By J. Keeler Johnson ("Keelerman") Twitter: @J_Keelerman

The Road to the Kentucky Derby continues on Saturday with the running of the $150,000 Jerome S. at Aqueduct. Contested over a one-turn mile, the Jerome awards Kentucky Derby qualification points to the top five finishers on a 10-5-3-2-1 basis.

That means every horse in the Jerome field will receive at least one Kentucky Derby qualification point, because only five horses have entered. And among the five, I'm confident #1 Drum Roll Please will take home top honors.

Despite the small field, the Jerome is packed with speed. For example:

#2 Khanate broke his maiden by 10 1/2 lengths in a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Keeneland, in which he settled less than one length behind an opening quarter-mile in :22.14 before taking over through half a mile in :45.72. Furthermore, Khanate has dueled for the lead in two of his other three starts.

broke his maiden by 10 1/2 lengths in a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Keeneland, in which he settled less than one length behind an opening quarter-mile in :22.14 before taking over through half a mile in :45.72. Furthermore, Khanate has dueled for the lead in two of his other three starts. #3 Sweet Soddy J has earned his strongest Brisnet Speed ratings when racing on the front end. He posted a 91 when wiring the seven-furlong Heft S. at Laurel Park by six lengths and a 90 when employing dueling tactics to finish fourth in the six-furlong James F. Lewis III S. over the same track.

has earned his strongest Brisnet Speed ratings when racing on the front end. He posted a 91 when wiring the seven-furlong Heft S. at Laurel Park by six lengths and a 90 when employing dueling tactics to finish fourth in the six-furlong James F. Lewis III S. over the same track. #4 El Grande O is the field's fastest entrant from a Brisnet Speed rating perspective, peaking with a 99 when wiring the seven-furlong Bertram F. Bongard S. at Aqueduct. He's set the pace in five of his last seven starts and enters off a gate-to-wire victory in the Sleepy Hollow S. racing one mile at Aqueduct.

is the field's fastest entrant from a Brisnet Speed rating perspective, peaking with a 99 when wiring the seven-furlong Bertram F. Bongard S. at Aqueduct. He's set the pace in five of his last seven starts and enters off a gate-to-wire victory in the Sleepy Hollow S. racing one mile at Aqueduct. #5 Regalo hasn't settled more than half a length off the early lead in any of his three starts. In a 1 1/16-mile $62,500 allowance optional claimer at Laurel Park last month, he vied for the lead for six furlongs before taking over to win by 4 1/2 lengths.

All of this speed figures to suit Drum Roll Please just fine. Not that Drum Roll Please is lacking in speed himself; when he broke his maiden in a one-mile maiden special weight at Aqueduct, he was never more than three-quarters of a length behind splits of :22.79 and :45.36. He actually took over the lead through six furlongs in a strong 1:10.15.

But Drum Roll Please is perfectly comfortable closing from farther behind. During the summer, in a one-mile maiden special weight at Saratoga, he tracked a modest pace from third place before finishing fast (final quarter-mile in approximately :24 2/5) to run second behind Locked, who returned to win the Breeders' Futurity (G1) and finish third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1).

Drum Roll Please arguably ran even better in the 1 1/8-mile Remsen (G2) at Aqueduct last month. Racing over a muddy track that played strongly in favor of speed horses all day long, Drum Roll Please spent the first six furlongs racing in seventh place, as many as 5 1/2 lengths off the lead. Despite occupying an unfavorable position, Drum Roll Please unleashed a strong rally around the far turn and early in the homestretch, advancing to third place by one length. He flattened out in the final furlong to finish 4 3/4 lengths behind the top pair, but held third place by a clear margin.

Assuming the track plays fairly for the Jerome, Drum Roll Please figures to settle behind the speed horses and launch a winning rally in the homestretch. The fact he broke his maiden over this track and distance adds to the appeal. Keeping in mind how trainer Brad Cox has been winning Road to the Kentucky Derby prep races in bunches over the past few years, Drum Roll Please is a compelling choice to win the Jerome.

For second place, I'm keen to support El Grande O, a three-time stakes winner who rarely runs a bad race. He did falter in his first Road to the Kentucky Derby foray, finishing a distant sixth in the Champagne (G1), but that effort came against a deep field and he actually finished ahead of next-out Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Fierceness, who similarly misfired while finishing seventh.

El Grande O has spent much of his career competing against fellow New York-breds, but the New York-bred juveniles were a tough bunch last year. In the six-furlong Funny Cide S. at Saratoga, El Grande O finished second by a head against The Wine Steward, who returned to finish second by half a length against Locked in the Breeders' Futurity.

I suspect one mile might be a little farther than El Grande O wants to run, but I believe his talent will allow him to outlast the other Jerome speed horses and secure the runner-up spot behind Drum Roll Please.

Now it's your turn! Who do you like in the Jerome?

*****

Want to test your handicapping skills against fellow Unlocking Winners readers? Check out the Unlocking Winners contest pagethere's a new challenge every week! (Please note: older contest entries can be found here.)

J. Keeler Johnson (also known as "Keelerman") is a writer, videographer, voice actor, handicapper, and all-around horse racing enthusiast. A great fan of racing history, he considers Dr. Fager to be the greatest racehorse ever produced in America, but counts Zenyatta as his all-time favorite.
Experts slam US media outlets after Thermo Fisher stops services in Xizang

Global Times) 09:47, January 05, 2024

On Thursday, Chinese analysts criticized baseless claims repeatedly sensationalized by some US media outlets that China is collecting DNA data in its Xinjiang and Xizang regions for surveillance purposes. The claims come after a US tech company said it halted sales of DNA technology in Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. Analysts said the claims are purely part of a propaganda narrative employed by certain US politicians to tarnish China's reputation and incite separatism.

Biotechnology company Thermo Fisher Scientific stopped selling their DNA collection products to Xizang following criticism from rights groups and pressure from the US Congress, which claimed Chinese police had purchased equipment from Thermo Fisher to engage in mass DNA collection in Xizang for surveillance and control of local residents, Axios reported citing the company.

Also, the Wall Street Journal reported the news and cited human rights groups to balloon the wrongly based theory that China is building a so-called "world's biggest DNA database" to monitor its own citizens, saying the halt in Xizang followed a similar halt of sales to the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

"We have often witnessed certain US politicians pressuring individual US companies in an attempt to uncover any seemingly reasonable evidence that supports their political agenda. It is absurd to repeatedly witness this narrative being portrayed on screen, as it is completely unfounded," said Zhu Weiqun, former head of the Ethnic and Religious Affairs Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Zhu told the Global Times that certain media acted as a helping hand of the US government to expand the lies and solidify the US political agenda to incite separatism in China without fact checking.

Several experts specializing in Xizang reached by the Global Times said the narrative that the "Chinese government is collecting DNA data in Xizang for surveillance" comes out of nowhere. Collecting DNA data in China has been an effective approach for public security organs in the country to trace missing children and combat human trafficking. Xizang has also carried out a crackdown on human trafficking using the same practice, the Global Times found.

A DNA database for abducted children, set up by the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) in 2009, has succeeded in helping a number of children reunite with their families, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

On May 9, 2023, when US Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused China of collecting human genomic data from ethnic minorities in Xinjiang and Xizang for control and surveillance, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin rebuffed the claims, saying they do not hold water and are nothing but manufactured sensational news items.

Wang said that China is a country governed by law. The privacy of all Chinese citizens, regardless of their ethnic backgrounds, are protected by law.

Diving into the US political narrative, these accusations are a reflection of the US logic in handling domestic race relations - racial lineage theory - which emphasizes racial differences, Shen Guiping, a professor specializing in ethnic affairs at Zhejiang University, told the Global Times.

Some US politicians, however, promote their theories of racial differences to the international community, which is destructive to the harmony of different regions, countries, and even ethnic or racial relations in other nations, Shen said.

The spokesperson from the ministry also noted that while the US is throwing mud on China, it actually widely collects and uses genomic information itself.

Citing the Wall Street Journal, the spokesperson stated that the Pentagon has formulated R&D plans for hitting opponents with genetically engineered weapons. Those involved disclosed that the genomic data of Asian Chinese, European Aryans and Middle Eastern Arabs are all being collected by the US military.

Additionally, according to the website of Russia-based RT, the US Air Education and Training Command (AETC) once issued a tender seeking to acquire samples of ribonucleic acid (RNA) and synovial fluid from Russians.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
As if acting as a counter to the destruction felt amidst the Ukraine-Russia war, people have taken an interest in safeguarding and sharing the country's culture and art. Be it through the conservation of sacred and priceless artworks or the exhibition of paintings saved from the battlefields, Ukrainian art is currently being celebrated throughout the world.

British photographer Daoud Sarhandi chips into this renewed appreciation of the country's brand of artistry with his new book "Ukraine at War: Street Art, Posters + Poetry" where he chronicled and curated a series of street art within the war-torn city of Kyiv.

Read Also: 'Hello Vincent': Paris Museum Invites Viewers to 'Converse' With Van Gogh Through Its AI-Powered Art Experience

Walking the Streets of Kyiv, Chronicling the Ukrainian Art

After finishing photobooks featuring art from similarly war-ravaged countries of Bosnia, Palestine, and Kosovo, Sarhandi flew to the city of Kyiv six months after the war against Russia broke out, as reported in The Guardian.

According to Sarhandi, he "literally walked the city" snapping over half a day's worth of pictures in a span of a month, saying, "I've probably walked Kyiv more than most residents have." The enormous bank of photographs he collected was then carefully organized until he had the finalized version of the book

Sarhandi said that he structured the collection as he would if he were making a film to reinforce the narrative immersion of walking down the stress of Kyiv and "discovering these things as they go along, turning a page as if you'd turn a corner." Throughout his time photographing the art in Kyiv, he was reportedly once by the police who exhibited a protective attitude toward the artworks.

This nature was digested by Sarhandi as a manifestation of the "wider importance of culture" in Ukraine which is coincidentally expressed through the "richness and diversity of the street art." He added that these artworks are not a product of passivity as "victims of war," but are rather a courageous and imaginative response filled with "hope."

Within the foreword of his book, Sarhandi is very clear in what he hopes to achieve for the reader and that is to let them experience present-day Ukraine as vividly and as grippingly as possible, more genuinely as "any future history might." Through this, he hopes to show the healing capability that "art in a time of war" can do.

One highlight of the overall curation of photos in the book is the 2014 collaboration piece between Julien "Seth Globepainter" Malland, a French artist; and Aleksey Kislov, a Ukrainian artist. The gargantuan mural depicts a Ukrainian woman, whose hair is braided using ribbons adorning the colors of the country's flags.

The figure is holding a tiny child who is sitting on her palm as she towers over a cityscape and a gentleman whose head is split open to reveal another house in place of where his brain would be. Kislov also noted the mural's reference to the traditional dress that Ukrainians wore on the day of Crimea's 2014 annexation.

Read More: New York's The Met Museum Acquires an Exemplary Tiffany Stained-Glass Window by Designer Agnes Northrop

 2024 Classicalite All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
From the Boiling Frogs on The Dispatch

A portrait of a failing presidential candidacy in two brief clips.

Clip one: In which right-wing media is faulted for not being harder on Donald Trump.

DeSantis calls out all the conservative grifters in the media and on fox news who are scared to death of criticizing Trump and who refuse to hold him accountable.



Bravo!  pic.twitter.com/F9ilus8u10  UnfilteredBoss (@Unfilteredboss1) January 4, 2024

Clip two: In which the candidate himself declines to be harder on Donald Trump.

DeSantis responds in Waukee, Iowa to a voter who argues he should go harder at Trump. pic.twitter.com/h3acvOkq9u  Hannah Knowles (@KnowlesHannah) January 3, 2024

What the media wants, DeSantis said, is they want Republican candidates to just kind of, like, smear [each other]. Thats just not how I roll.

My head swims with curiosity at which criticisms of Trump Ron DeSantis would categorize as smears. To you and I, a smear is an allegation of misconduct thats untrue. To Republican partisans, and therefore to candidates pandering for their votes, a smear seems to be any acknowledgment of Trumps rhetoric, behavior, or persona that Republican partisans would prefer to ignore.

Watching DeSantis grumble about right-wing media being too soft on Trump in one breath and declining his thousandth opportunity to call his opponent unfit for office in the next reminded me of the end of the 2016 primary.

According to Tim Albertas book, American Carnage, Ted Cruz celebrated his impressive victory in the Wisconsin primary that year by turning on Sean Hannitys Fox New show to find Hannity downplaying his achievement and touting how strong Trump looked in the primaries to come. Cruzs reaction is unprintable here, but he was still fumingin more measured toneswhen he appeared on Fox himself a few days later. You sure do defend Trump a lot, he complained to then-host Bill OReilly.

He was out of the race less than a month later. Per Alberta, Cruz told friends following the death of Fox News CEO Roger Ailes that he could only assume it was Ailes dying wish to see Donald Trump elected president.

Cruz 2016 and DeSantis 2024 have a lot in common beyond their employment of Jeff Roe and their shared, yet mistaken, belief that winning Iowa will lead to the nomination. Like Cruz, DeSantis spent most of the campaign pulling his punches with respect to Trumps character. Like Cruz, DeSantis thought his ideological purity would trump Trumps charisma among Republican voters. And like Cruz, DeSantis believed right-wing media would rally to his side, not wishing to be led into battle against Democrats by a probably unelectable charlatan.

Like Cruz, DeSantis will almost certainly be out of the race within a month of blaming the press, at least partly, for the failure of his candidacy.

Weve officially reached the cope stage of this grand disappointment. So it seems like a fine time to revisit a question I first asked in April, at the start of the governors campaign: Did the media, particularly right-wing media, let Ron DeSantis down?

DeSantis had a clearly defined media strategy when he entered the race. He cold-shouldered mainstream outlets, provided access to friendly right-wing platforms, and engaged in a sort of influencer arms race with Donald Trump aimed at dominating the social media conversation on the right.

It was of a piece with his broader campaign strategy to crack Trumps base by out-populist-ing the populist-in-chief. Shunning the dreaded MSM, sticking to chats with outfits like The Daily Wire, and prioritizing online politics was his way of showing MAGA voters that he shared their contempt for the enemy of the people more than Trump did. For all of his invective about the American press, Trump frequently grants reporters from big media an audience. By refusing to do the same, DeSantis was underlining the theme of his campaign: Trump talks the talk of populism but the governor walks the walk.

The problem with that strategy is that it was destined to make an already unsympathetic press corps that much more unsympathetic to him, as Rich Lowry explained in a piece for Politico on Thursday. If its true that the press has been less charitable to DeSantis than it might otherwise have been, its at least partly his own fault for declaring war on them preemptively.

Its also his own fault that there just hasnt been much good news for the media to report, something Lowry also acknowledges. From the glitchy announcement on Elon Musks platform to staff turmoil to months of anemic polling to the recent implosion of his super PAC, theres no avoiding the fact that DeSantis has grossly underperformed expectations. What was Americas political media supposed to say to put a cheery spin on all of that for undecided Republican voters?

Where Lowry and I part ways (I think) is on the question of whether DeSantis deserves the animosity of the press. The conventional wisdom of left-of-center opinion is that Trump is a rules-defying threat to the American system of government, he writes. Youd think that DeSantis would get some sympathy [from the media] based on not being a threat to the republic, and putting his reputation and career on the line to try to stop the man who supposedly is.

I agree that DeSantis is preferable to Trump, but manufacturing sympathy for one politician because his opponent is worse smells like the sort of thumb-on-the-scale media social engineering that conservatives typically abhor. (Although it does jibe with the New Right philosophy of adapting your enemys worst behavior to your own ends.) It also raises the question of how much sympathy would suffice. If the media showed some to DeSantis and his polling didnt budge, should it show more? What if the numbers didnt move then either? More still?

Is there a point at which a second Trump presidency looks so dangerous that the mainstream press should be faulted for not having gone completely in the tank for the governor of Florida? To believe that the media let DeSantis down is to believe that it had some obligation to him that it failed to fulfill. What was that obligation?

I think their obligation was to cover Trump at least as critically as they have the governor, and theyve done that. Reporting on Trumps legal jeopardy is voluminous, and the possibility that he might try to consolidate power autocratically in his next term has become a major subplot in campaign coverage. Just today, a story in the New York Times (based, to be fair, on a report drafted by House Democrats) alleges that, as president, Trump did precisely the sort of thing House Republicans want to impeach Joe Biden for.

Meanwhile, DeSantis own hair-raising illiberal excesses have been mostly ignored. Last week, he declared that on his first day in office hed fire Jack Smith, the special counsel prosecuting Trump over January 6, yet theres been no firestorm over it. On Wednesday, the surgeon general of Florida, a man handpicked by DeSantis in order to pander to anti-vax populists, horrified scientists by declaring that mRNA COVID vaccines are not appropriate for use in human beings. Thats arguably as irresponsible as anything Trump did as president prior to Election Day 2020, yet its barely a footnote in campaign coverage today.

If theres a criticism to be made of legacy media in how theyve covered DeSantis 2024, its a banal and familiar one: Theyve gotten sucked into horse-race drama instead of focusing on substantive differences between the candidates. Its not so much that the press refused to show sympathy for the governor as that his ongoing organizational struggles and failure to launch among Republican voters were so spectacular that they blinded reporters to everything else about him, good and bad. And perhaps that blinded Republican voters as well.

Too much horse-race coverage! is the lament of every presidential cycle in the modern era, though. And it was particularly inevitable, I think, in a race defined by the irresistible drama of a popular young prince trying to wrest control of the kingdom from a powerful monarch. No one much cares how DeSantis economic program differs from Trumps at the margins. Everyone cares whether Goliath might plausibly be slain by a guy running as Goliath but without the baggage.

Its ironic that the mainstream media might ultimately be blamed for covering DeSantis in a too-unflattering light when the whole point of his strategy, at least at first, was to wear their contempt as a badge of honor. I dont need the MSM, the governor thought, because Republican voters dont listen to the MSM. They listen to right-wing media, and right-wing media will be in my corner.

Right-wing media was not in his corner, it turned out. Or at least not enough. Did they let him down?

I dont think they let him down so much as he attributed to them a stature they didnt deserve.

DeSantis had good reason to believe that right-wing outlets might carry his water against Trump. I cant think of a populist platform online that hasnt cheered his culture war crusades since 2020, from opposing COVID restrictions to passing anti-woke initiatives to harassing Disney. The most influential conservative media conglomerate in the United States, the Murdoch empire, seemed firmly in his corner when rumblings of a presidential candidacy began in earnest in the fall of 2022. Even now, few right-wing platforms have declared the prospect of nominating DeSantis to be a dealbreaker for them the way nominating Nikki Haley would be.

What the governor forgot, or never quite learned, is that theres really no such thing as influence in right-wing media, especially when it comes to Trump. There are many popular broadcasters, some with enormous followings, but influence means more than popularity. It implies an ability to shape opinion.

Right-wing media figures rarely shape opinion. Rather the opposite: The biggest successes in the industry conform their own opinions to those of their audience.

Americas most influential right-wing news outlet is surely Fox News. Yet when push came to shove, Fox preferred to spend three-quarters of a billion dollars in defamation damages than risk trying to influence its viewers by telling them the truth about the 2020 election. Reflecting the views of the audience was still the shrewder business move, even at a cost as immense as that.

When a figure in the industry does go against the grain, the best he can plausibly hope for is to be politely ignored. Ben Shapiro is one of the most influential right-wing online commentators in online right-wing media and, to his credit, began making the case more than a year ago that its time to move on from Trump. He endorsed DeSantis before the governor formally entered the race. Hes a rare example of someone who didnt let fear of, or fealty to, Trump affect his opinion.

But if theres any evidence that his endorsement has mattered even a little, I dont know what it is. Since he made it, DeSantis support in national polling has essentially been cut in half, and he now trails Trump by more than 50 points.

To fault right-wing outlets for not being in DeSantis corner, in other words, is to assume that their being in his corner would have mattered. I dont think it would have, and members of the industry seem to understand that better than anyone. Its why Rush Limbaugh, the most influential figure in the history of modern conservative media, decided during the Trumpmania of 2016 that nominating the most conservative candidate wasnt necessarily the most important thing anymore. Its why Murdoch media quietly began distancing itself from DeSantis as it became clear that he wouldnt succeed at prying the party from Trumps grasp.

Its one thing to ask right-wing media hosts to take a professional risk and do whats best for America by opposing Trump if theres a chance their endorsements will move votes meaningfully. Its another to ask them to do so when they have every reason to think theres no chance at all. If Sean Hannity were to back the governor, inviting his viewers to follow his lead instead of Trumps, he knows who theyll choose. Hell have achieved nothing by his courage except handing an opportunity to some lean and hungry up-and-comer in right-wing media to swoop in and woo his audience away by making a spectacle of his own loyalty to Trump. The deference may be cowardly, but its not irrational.

The fundamental mistake in DeSantis media strategy was believing, at this late date, that theres any power center on the American right with the political juice to normalize harsh criticism of Trump among Republican voters. When he complains about Fox News hosts and conservative talk radio stars refusing to criticize the former president, hes indulging the fantasy that the base is still reachable if only some critical mass of influencers would simply muster the nerve to speak frankly.

Which is rich, given that DeSantis also still wont speak perfectly frankly about Trump himself. And ironic, considering how successfully the governor himself had exploited the relentless subservience of conservative media, in lobbyist Liam Donovans words, until recently.

If youre keen to blame right-wing media for DeSantis failure, youd do better to point to the culture of catastrophe that the industry has spent decades creating for its consumers. This graph posted by Atlantic writer Derek Thompson caught my eye on Thursday morning:

This seems like a phenomenon crying out for explanation.



It's been 20 years since a majority of Americans have said theyre satisfied with the way things are goinga drought with no precedent in modern polling.



And it's worse now then ever.



via @bpmehlman's new annual deck pic.twitter.com/t42CvyDyhY  Derek Thompson (@DKThomp) January 4, 2024

One cant help but notice that the right track/wrong track gap began widening as online political commentary took off after 9/11. Partisan outlets on both sides have solidified a feeling of permacrisis, in Thompsons words, which is certainly true of right-wing media. And no one seems better suited to thrive in a politics of permacrisis than Trumpthe American carnage candidate, the messianic strongman, the law-and-order authoritarian, the demagogue forever warning of the countrys downfall if he isnt immediately returned to power.

In short, to beat Trump, DeSantis would need a time machine. Some might set the dial on that time machine to eight months ago, to give the governor a do-over on how he should go about attacking his opponent. Some would set it to late 2020, when the fools and cowards of the Republican political and media establishment let Trumps rigged election propaganda harden into GOP mythology. Others, like DeSantis himself, might turn it back to the day before Trump was indicted in Manhattan to plead with Alvin Bragg not to give Republican voters cause to view him as some deep state martyr whom theyre tribally bound to support.

Id probably turn the dial back to the early 1990s, though, and try to come up with a clever plan to overhaul or short-circuit the entire conservative media project. In hindsight, a culture of perpetual permacrisis could only lead to an appetite among populist voters for a candidate as foul and illiberal as Trump. Or his imitators, like Ron DeSantis.

So, no, I dont think the mediamainstream or right-wingbears much direct blame for what will eventually be remembered as the DeSaster.

The governor and his aides bear plenty. The Republican base, afflicted with appalling cultishness, bears most of it. Insofar as the media is culpable, their guilt stems from how they promoted Trump incessantly in 2016. That helped create the conditions for the cult to flourish; now that it has, were all forced to live with it.

We should prepare to spend the next few months seeing DeSantis fans and assorted other anti-anti-Trumpers blame the press for his failure, though.

Thats not because (or not just because) the governors admirers will be loath to admit their disappointment in him. Its because partisans desperate for an excuse to stick with this repulsive party even after its tripled down on Trump will need a way to exculpate Republican voters for their terrible choice.

Scapegoating the media, Bragg, Biden, someone, anyone among the rights ideological enemies is that way. I made that point in April, and I stand by it here: Forced to choose between honestly confronting what kind of leader their party craves and contriving a reason that the left is somehow responsible for that craving, hack partisans will choose door No. 2 every time.

Either way, dont weep for DeSantis when he flames out of the race a few weeks from now. Hes a bad guy, or at least willing to enable bad guys for the sake of his own ambitionwhich is the curse of this entire movement. Hes just not as bad as the alternative.

Read more at The Dispatch

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Classical music has had more than just a few wins this year, from being featured on the big screen with a recent Netflix biopic to having one of the most historic and monumental live performances ever. That said, plenty more moments in classical music went fairly under the radar.

Thus, we have made a list of 7 of the best albums in the art form within 2023, featuring both new and old masters of the craft. Come explore what the best of this year could offer right below.

'Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 21 & 24' by Robert Levin

Kicking off the list is a collaboration album between American pianist Robert Levin and British period-instrument orchestra the Academy of Ancient Music. The project is the successor to their previous two-decade-old album together, "Mozart & Beethoven: Quintets for Piano & Wind Instruments," and has a production history just as old.

This current one is a masterful interpretation of Mozart's infamous keyboard parts, known to be tricky due to the Classical Era master's tendency to improvise, which is in huge part thanks to Levin's piano mastery and scholarly knowledge. Additionally, it also features performances of arguably two of the greatest concertos made, as conducted by Richard Egarr.

'Puccini: Turandot' by Antonio Pappano

Nowadays, studio recordings of operas are scarcely made, but Antonio Pappano has pushed out another Puccini masterpiece which has soaked over 30 years of the conductor's expertise. The "Puccini: Turandot" album was recorded in conjunction with the Rome-based Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia.

Soaring under the immensely detailed orchestration of Pappano, giving justice to Puccini himself, is the star-studded cast comprised of Sondra Radvanovsky, Ermonela Jaho, and Jonas Kaufmann.

'Byrd: The Golden Renaissance' by Stile Antico

2023 marks the 400th anniversary of the Shakespearean composer William Byrd and Stile Antico exemplifies this quadricentennial celebration with his album "The Golden Renaissance: William Byrd."

Antico iterates Byrd's Catholic masterpiece, "Mass for Four Voices," unabashedly composed during the Protestant era of Queen Elizabeth I, and combines it with other Byrd works in a set of vivid but poised performances.

Read Also: 8 Best Classical Pieces of Music for the Christmas Season

'Ravel: Daphnis et Chloe (Complete Ballet)' by John Wilson and Sinfonia of London

In a standard-setting recording, the Sinfonia of London Orchestra, helmed by British conductor John Wilson, brings about a precise iteration, mistakes and all, of one of Maurice Ravel's most beloved orchestral pieces.

For Wilson, the main charm of this edition is that it does not branch out from Ravel's performance of the ballet, but endeavors to reenact as best as he could the detailed irregularities that were birthed from numerous changes that Ravel made across rehearsals of the piece.

'Ades: Dante' by Gustavo Dudamel and Los Angeles Philharmonic

Originally a full-length ballet production that had its inaugural run at The Royal Opera House in London last 2021, "The Dante Project" has an incredible composition by Thomas Ades and a transformative choreography designed by Wayne McGregor.

Then, from Ades' score, Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra collaborated to produce a faithful iteration of the ballet that was originally a Tchaikovsky ballet masterpiece in their album dubbed "Thomas Ades: Dante."

'J. S. Bach: Goldberg Variations' by Vikingur Olafsson

In a 25-year-long production, Vikingur Olafsson undertook the gargantuan task of iterating one of the most beautiful arias in Bach's oeuvre, his "Goldberg Variations."

Although it took a long while, the project has bloomed into a collection of bold performances highlighted by Olafsson's almost dichotomous playing, a contrast of rapid piano melodies with a lossless articulation filled to the brim with clarity and meaning.

'Rodgers and Hammerstein: Oklahoma!' John Wilson and Sinfonia of London

Gracing this list with another entry is John Wilson with his Sinfonia of London Orchestra, undertaking a recording of the soundtrack belonging to the 1943 Broadway classic "Oklahoma!"

Once again, Wilson demonstrates his peerless ability to stay incredibly faithful to the source material, with this album doing justice to Rodgers and Hammerstein's original composition. To do this, the composer and the ensemble utilized the same original orchestration performed in the inaugural run of the play, with the same instruments used at the time.

Read More: What the Color Purple Represents in Oprah Winfrey's New Painting at the National Portrait Gallery

 2024 Classicalite All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Portland Public Schools has found its interim superintendent: Dr. Sandy Husk, who boasts 18 years of public school superintendent experience.

The PPS Board of Education announced the unanimous decision to appoint Husk Thursday evening. Husk matched the criteria set by board members Julia Brim-Edwards and Andrew Scott, the pair who led the recruitment process to find an interim superintendent, including promoting equity, having a proven track record as an effective school administrator, and having experience specifically in a large Oregon school district.

From 2006 to 2014, Husk served as the superintendent of Salem-Keizer Public Schools, an Oregon district second only to PPS in terms of size.

In our backyard at night: Dozens of RVs, cars return to NE Portland neighborhood

The board said in a release that Husk will begin on Feb. 12, overlapping slightly with current Superintendent Guadalupe Guerrero. Guerrero announced his resignation from PPS late last year, with his last day being Feb. 16. Husks tenure is expected to last five months until the end of the school year, through the end of June.

Still, Husk will have a lot on her plate in that short time. Husk wont be a candidate for the permanent superintendent role, with the idea being the board wanted a person who would focus on work that needed to be done and not spend that time trying to land a job.

We have really big work ahead of us so we cant afford to have a seat warmer or just holding the superintendents title and sitting in the office, Brim-Edwards said. We need somebody who is going to rebuild relationships with teachers, somebody who is going to help us pass a local option this spring, someone who will help us settle the remaining contracts.

Library underfunding impacts already overburdened staff throughout Oregon

Husk recognized the challenges lying ahead of her during Thursdays board meeting.

I want to acknowledge that there will be a whole lot more hard work in front of us even during this short time.

Husk steps into the role after a tumultuous past couple of months for PPS that included a month-long teachers strike. Though a new three-year contract was signed that included teacher pay raises, tensions between PPS staff and the administration proved high amid a truncated winter break that was shortened due to the strike.

For instance, hundreds of PPS teachers and thousands of students were absent for the make-up week during what would have been the break. In addition, the non-faculty staff of PPS  such as office workers, cafeteria staff and custodians  also voiced complaints to KOIN 6 News about the situation of suddenly having to show up for work on what was supposed to be a break.

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In the PPS Boards release about Husks appointment, they cited one of her immediate areas of focus would be working with the Board and PPS staff to rebuild relationships after the month-long teacher strike and implementing the new contract in partnership with the Portland Association of Teachers as well as finalizing contracts with other represented employees.

Husk acknowledged the challenging fall endured by teachers, staff, parents and students.

I have a strong belief in empowering all school employees with good data, best practices, and supports to promote student success in every classroom, every day.

Husk brings to the role a positive reputation from her seven-year tenure at the Salem-Keizer School District, having raised the districts graduation rate and lowered its dropout rate, among other accomplishments, the release said.

Library underfunding impacts already overburdened staff throughout Oregon

Though the board has appointed Husk as interim superintendent, the search for a permanent replacement is still underway.

Herman Greene, a school board member, cited the unique challenges that a permanent superintendent of Oregons largest school district will face as one reason theyre hoping to make sure that we dont just get the right person, but we get the right person thats right for Portland. Its not like everywhere else.

The permanent superintendent may come from within or outside of Oregon, but regardless, having Husk at the helm for now is something board members are excited about.

Although theyre not going to be the one to take us all the way, they are a very good bridge builder, Greene said.

Its unclear how long it will take for the board to find a permanent superintendent to take over once Husks temporary tenure concludes.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Family and friends of 1-year-old Aniya Robinson gather at 60th Street and Fond du Lac Avenue, where Aniya lost her life, along with four other people in a two-vehicle crash.

The Milwaukee woman who in May drove through a red light and crashed into another car, killing four children and one adult, pleaded guilty to five homicide charges Friday.

Anteyona J. Sandifer, 21, and two loved ones who attended Friday's hearing became emotional as she submitted her plea. The conviction exposes her to decades in prison.

A sentencing hearing before Milwaukee County Judge David Swanson is scheduled for Feb. 19.

In exchange for the guilty plea, six other felony charges against Sandifer were dismissed Friday. Assistant District Attorney Sara Sadowski said she would ask the court for a substantial prison sentence, but didn't specify further.

The crash devastated and angered everyone from the family of the victims to Milwaukees mayor and police chief, who made statements in the days afterward condemning reckless driving, one of Milwaukees biggest public safety issues.

Sandifer had six passengers in her car and was driving an estimated 80 mph when she ran a red light at the intersection of West Fond du Lac Avenue and North 60th Street, according to a report from the Milwaukee County Medical Examiners Office. And she was the godmother of the youngest victim, 1-year-old Aniya Robinson, according to her mother, Arneisha Beckworth.

Family members of the victims had suspected alcohol was involved in Sandifers behavior. Friday, Sadowski said Sandifer's blood-alcohol content was .167, more than twice the legal limit.

Family of the victims said Sandifer and her passengers were attending a party before they piled into a Kia Sedona minivan on the evening of May 14. It was unclear where they were going, although one family member thought the destination was a gas station.

The crash killed Aniya; Mercedez C. Brown-Weeks, 15; Mikayla Rattler, 15; Isreal Williams, 17; and Lorenzo Trotter, 32.

Sandifer suffered a collapsed lung and broken ribs in the crash, according to court records. Police said the sixth passenger, a 17-year-old girl, suffered life-threatening injuries and the driver of the vehicle that was struck, a 32-year-old woman, suffered serious injuries.

The other driver, who had a green light at the time of the crash, was initially arrested under suspicion of driving while intoxicated but wasn't charged, police said Thursday.

Contact Elliot Hughes at elliot.hughes@jrn.com or 414-704-8958. Follow him on X at @elliothughes12.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee driver pleads guilty in May crash that killed 5 people
Three people were killed in a head-on collision when a driver was traveling in the wrong lane of traffic, Florida police said.

The Orlando driver was traveling east in the westbound lane of State Route 40 in Volusia County on Thursday, Jan. 4, according to a Florida Highway Patrol news release. Then, the driver slammed head-on into an SUV carrying four people at about 9 p.m., state troopers said.

The SUVs driver, a 51-year-old Charlotte woman, and the front passenger, a 74-year-old woman from Brooklyn, were pronounced dead at the crash scene, troopers said. The wrong-way driver, a 55-year-old woman, was also killed in the crash while wearing no seatbelt, according to state troopers.

The SUVs other two passengers, 44- and 45-year-old women from Charlotte, had serious but non-life-threatening injuries, according to the highway patrol. The two injured SUV occupants were hospitalized,, troopers said.

The crash is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Authorities have not publicly released the identities of the victims.

Volusia County is about 50 miles northeast of Orlando.

What to do if youre in a car crash

More than 5 million traffic accidents were reported by police in 2020, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

No one wants to get into a car crash. But being prepared and knowing what to do if you are involved in an accident can save lives, reduce injuries and make the claims process simpler and easier, the Insurance Information Institute said on its website.

Here are 10 things you should do if youre in a car crash:

Pull the vehicle over to a safe place on the side of the road if possible.

Assess any possible injuries and make sure everyone is OK.

Call 911 if anyone is injured.

Assess the car damage and take photos if possible.

Dont leave the scene.

If the vehicle involved was unattended, leave a note with your name and phone number.

Note the names and contact information of everyone in the crash, the makes and models of the cars, and the location of the crash.

Ask other drivers for a license, car registration and insurance ID.

Report the crash to police or highway patrol.

File an accident report even if police cant come to the scene, and notify your insurance shortly after.

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The Houthis have introduced unmanned surface vessels (USVs) to their current array of threats to Red Sea shipping . While the Yemeni militant group has used crude drone boats before  they actually pioneered the operational use of kamikaze USVs years ago  these weapons have not appeared in the current crisis until today.

The USV detonated in international shipping lanes," Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, Commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT), told reporters, including from The War Zone. "Fortunately, there were no casualties and no ships were hit, but the introduction of a one-way attack USV is of concern.

The Houthis launched their first uncrewed surface vessel (USV) in the Red Sea since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, a top U.S. Navy admiral said Thursday. (Google Earth image)

The Houthis have staged 24 previous missile, aerial drone and manned boat attacks on Red Sea shipping since Nov. 18, including the Nov. 20 hijacking of the Bahamian-flagged vehicle carrier ship Galaxy Leader which you can see in the video below.

https://twitter.com/TreyYingst/status/1726643349418057846?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1726643349418057846%7Ctwgr%5E67f969cadd134c120c7381c5e7b0bf3da8e8f88e%7Ctwcon%5Es1_\u0026ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedrive.com%2Fthe-war-zone%2Fred-sea-maritime-coalition-kicks-off-as-tanker-hit-by-missiles

However this was the first time, Cooper told The War Zone, that one of their USVs was used since beginning their campaign they say was launched to help Palestinians suffering during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war .

They have previously employed them years past, he noted. We first reported about this capability in January 2017, when an explosive-laden Houthi USV struck a Saudi frigate, which you can see in this video. Iran developed various crude kamikaze USVs years ago and those weapons soon migrated to their Houthi proxies, which they were first used.

https://youtu.be/1kGJ_4aJTbE

The USV that attacked on Thursday transited about 15 miles into the waterway from the Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen, Cooper said, adding he did not know why it detonated.

The USV itself was also in the dense lanes, came within a couple of miles of merchant ships and U.S. Navy ships. And we all watched as it exploded.

Other than Cooper's description of this USV as a "low-profile unmanned surface vessel," we don't know many details about it. However, since the Houthis first introduced kamikaze USVs as a weapon, they have evolved greatly. Ukraine, as we have frequently reported , has made tremendous advancements in this field and used them extensively against Russian ships as well as in a destructive attack on the Kerch Bridge in July 2023.

https://twitter.com/nexta_tv/status/1691744422096982417?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1691744422096982417%7Ctwgr%5Eddf934ded9caa8bd2c727e3447e70c241b8f63a6%7Ctwcon%5Es1_\u0026ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedrive.com%2Fthe-war-zone%2Fnew-drone-boat-named-sea-baby-used-in-kerch-bridge-attack

Defensive Operation

Today's USV attack came hours before Cooper, leading a new international effort to protect Red Sea shipping called Operation Prosperity Guardian (OPG) , held a previously scheduled briefing to provide additional insights into how it's performed so far.

Despite these ongoing attacks, OPG is a defensive operation and will not be part of any retaliation against the Houthis, Cooper said. Yesterday, the U.S. and 12 other nations issued a joint warning to the Houthis demanding they stop these attacks or face unspecified consequences. You can read more about that in our initial reporting here .

https://twitter.com/CENTCOM/status/1742608009690517581?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1742608009690517581%7Ctwgr%5Ee850248530bcdf5598331eba1a2fdeb1efaa258e%7Ctwcon%5Es1_\u0026ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedrive.com%2Fthe-war-zone%2Fjoint-warning-to-houthis-cease-attacks-or-face-consequences

Cooper said OPG will have no role in that.

Anything that happens outside of the defensive aspect of this operation is a completely different operation, he stated.

There are currently five warships from three nations - the U.S., U.K. and France - working with OPG. Denmark and Greece have promised additional vessels.

The Type 45 destroyer HMS Diamond is one of the vessels protecting Red Sea shipping as part of Operation Prosperity Guardian (Royal Navy photo)

Those warships ships are operating in specific areas spread out over the length of the southern Red Sea, Cooper explained.

The vast majority of the time, they are very actively patrolling...alongside with and defending a large group of merchants who are transiting.

On rare occasions, he added, those warships will shift to escorting or being close to a group of ships for extra-close overwatch.

Aside from ships, there are also aviation assets working with OPG.

We have manned and unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, and as I think you've seen, we've seen tactical aircraft and jets from USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, the U.S. aircraft carrier deployed to the region, said Cooper.

Helicopters and F/A-18 Super Hornets from the aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower have defended against Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. (Eisenhower Facebook page photo)

As we reported previously , on Dec. 26, the Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS Laboon and F/A-18 Super Hornets from the Eisenhower Carrier Strike group shot down a dozen one-way attack drones, three anti-ship ballistic missiles, and two land attack cruise missiles.

Five days later, on Dec. 31, MH-60 Sea Hawk helicopters from the Eisenhower and the Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS Gravely responded to a distress call from a merchant vessel under attack from Houthi boats on Dec. 31.

A helicopter from the Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer USS Gravely took part in an attack on Houthi ships menacing a commercial vessel in the Red Sea. Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Ryan Seelbach

In the process of issuing verbal calls to the small boats, the small boats fired upon the U.S. helicopters with crew-served weapons and small arms, U.S. Central Command said at the time. The U.S. Navy helicopters returned fire in self-defense, sinking three of the four small boats, and killing the crews.

Cooper said that since the launching of OPG, participating warships have shot down 11 aerial drones, two cruise missiles and six anti-ship ballistic missiles. The U.S. Navy alone has downed 61 Houthi missiles and aerial drones since Nov. 18, Cooper highlighted.

Since the start of the operation, no Houthi UAV or missiles fired into international shipping lanes hit any merchant vessels, said Cooper. Some have come close but no hits. Meanwhile, about 1,500 vessels have safely transited through the Bab al-Mandab Strait since OPG became operational.

And while several warships have engaged Houthi weapons, there's no specific information that any U.S. [warship] has been directly targeted.

Additional Resources

OPG operates under the command of an 18-month-old international effort called Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) Task Force 153 , said Cooper. However, prior to the Houthis launching their attacks, there was no need for such a sustained presence of ships in the southern Red Sea. OPG was formed to add additional resources.

I think we have a sufficient number of assets to execute the tasking I've been given, said Cooper. It's not just about the surface ships. As I mentioned, we also have airborne reconnaissance And we have the strength of the Carrier Air Wing operating proximity.

F/A-18 Super Hornets from the aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower are part of the effort to protect Red Sea shipping. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jonathan Snyder/Released)

Reinforcements are on the way, he added, but that will take a little time.

In terms of our partners, really this is just a time, speed, distance challenge. You could probably do the math on how long it takes you to get from Denmark to all the way around Europe, through the Mediterranean, Suez Canal and down to the southern Red Sea. That takes a couple of weeks, and we'll look forward to them as well as other partners showing up then.

So far, there are 22 nations involved, though many have opted not to publicly announce their participation. The vast majority have committed staff officers, not vessels, but Cooper said he hopes that more will contribute warships as well.

The increased presence of warships in the southern Red Sea does a couple of things, said Cooper.

It serves as an assurance to the commercial industry. They've provided this feedback directly to us on multiple occasions. Particularly relevant is we're out operating at sea, and they see something, they can say something and get a very quick response. I think that's been very helpful.

In addition, by being present in a more persistent manner, given the Houthis' intent to continue these attacks, we've been able to defend commercial shipping. So I think our persistent presence has put us in the position with the greater defensive posture than had been."

OPG has not gone without some hiccups . Spain and Italy have opted not to send ships while questions have arisen about the level of participation from France. Some reporting has suggested France only wants to operate under the control of its own Navy or protect its own interests.

However, one French official told The War Zone that "France contributes to Operation Prosperity Guardian and more globally to restoring maritime security in the Red Sea. FS Languedoc has been deployed in the area for some time. There has been a number of fake news disseminated on social media about France leaving the operation. That is not the case."

The FREMM Languedoc, patrolling off the coast of Yemen, is France's contribution to Operation Prosperity Guardian. (French Navy photo)

Asked about the French participation, Cooper was vague.

"We are operating side-by-side virtually every day. It's going well. We're very appreciative."

The Houthis, meanwhile, are urging nations to opt against joining OPG.

https://twitter.com/M_N_Albukhaiti/status/1742980329969791247

So far, it appears that most Arab nations have heeded the Houthi request. Bahrain is the only one to publicly join OPG.

As we discussed in a previous story , while the Saudis have a huge stake in what happens in the Red Sea, they are both trying to end a long and costly conflict with the Houthis and mend fences with regional rival Iran .

Egypt, which owns the Suez Canal, also has a major interest in the success of OPG, with nearly $10B a yea r in revenue earned from canal operations.

Cooper said he was "proud" that Bahrain, the host nation for this effort, is taking part. Like other U.S. military officials in the past, he deferred questions about to the other Arab nations about their level of participation.

Whether they participate, and how many other nations ultimately contribute vessels and aircraft, remains to be seen.

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com
The wreckage stretched for miles from where Chucks Dairy Bar once stood in Rolling Fork, Mississippi. About five weeks before my visit in May, a tornado had ripped through, killing 17 people there and in the surrounding area and destroying swaths of this small town. On the restaurants plot fluttered an American flag, alongside a sign advertising Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster assistance. Looming nearby was a roughly 11-foot-high statue of a bull with a sign on its side: NO MORE BULL. FINISH THE PUMPS.

The slogan refers to the Yazoo Pumps, a federal project first authorized by Congress all the way back in 1941 to pump floodwater out of this sparsely populated part of the Mississippi Delta, known as the Yazoo Backwater, which routinely floods low-lying farmland. Less common are devastating floods like the infamous one in 1927 that displaced around 640,000 people across multiple states and prompted the passage of federal laws such as the one authorizing the pumps. Although the Army Corps of Engineers installed vast flood-control infrastructure in the backwater and elsewhere in the Delta, the pumps still havent been built. But the Biden administration has resurrected the project: While I was in Mississippi, the Corps and the Environmental Protection Agency declared they want to build the pumps, with the Corps promising to deliver an assessment this month. That, in turn, has reignited warring sides in a long-running debate that draws on deeply rooted tensions around race and class in this stretch of the Mississippi Delta.

The pumps would drain as much as 16 billion gallons of floodwater a day out of the area, but environmental groups have long opposed the plan because of its potential to empty much of the areas last wetlands. There are also concerns that the projects costwhich opponents say could top $1 billion, and which the Corps declined to estimate in response to my queriesmight not be the best way to invest in the Delta, one of the poorest regions in the country. While pump supporters regularly frame their case in terms of economic, environmental, and racial justice, the project would disproportionately benefit white landowners.

Since the tornado was not accompanied by flooding, the bull and its message have rankled some in the community. That tornado hit on March 24, and about 72 hours later that bull was placed right in there in that town in the middle of all that destruction, promoting that phrase, Finish the Pumps, said Ty Pinkins, a local attorney whos challenging Mississippis Republican Senator Roger Wicker for his seat in 2024. Pinkins said the pump supporters used the tornado as an opportunistic moment to place that message in the middle of all that, instead of using that energy to uplift community members.



A white farmer with a 6,500-acre agricultural operation owns the bull. Its placement in the days after the tornadoin a town where 81 percent of residents are Blackis symbolic of what critics say is the areas white farming elites cynical efforts to advance their own interests by suggesting the pumps will primarily benefit Black residents.

The two counties that make up the vast majority of the backwater, Sharkey and Issaquena, are 70 percent Black. Their poverty rates are significantly higher than Mississippis average, and more than triple the national average. Last May, the census identified them as two of 341 counties nationwide characterized by persistent poverty.

The regions unique history of slavery, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights stated in a 2001 report, with its debilitating legaciesthe sharecropping system, Jim Crow laws, the concentration of wealth in the hands of a minority white population, the political disenfranchisement of blacks, and the nearly total social segregation of the raceshas been well documented and is generally viewed as the most significant factor in the regions present position as among the poorest, if not the poorest, section of the nation based on virtually every socioeconomic measurement.

Pump proponents tend to focus on contemporary poverty in the Delta and ignore the historical reasons for its persistence. Talk about an environmental injustice, Mississippis Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith said in a 2022 congressional hearing after the EPA reasserted a 2008 veto of the pumps: This is a true minority community who live in true poverty. These arguments have gained traction within the Biden administration, as the announcement last May attests. But its far from clear how much the pumps would actually benefit the areas Black majority.

One Army Corps analysis found that 80 percent of the pumps financial benefits would flow to farmers (the prevention of damage to roads and other infrastructure makes up most of the remaining 20 percent). But after decades of discriminatory lending, racist government policies, outright theft, and industry trends hostile to small farms, many Black Delta farmers have been pushed off their land. At the beginning of the twentieth century, according to historian John C. Willis, two-thirds of farm owners in the Delta were Black; today, 92 percent of agricultural producers in Sharkey County and 87 percent in Issaquena are white. Black farmers are even being pushed out as farmworkers (and moreover, the EPA cautioned in 2008 that the pumps could worsen job prospects for farmworkers).

The case for the pumps was reenergized in 2019 after a devastating flood lasted over six months, putting 231,000 acres of farmland underwater and damaging hundreds of homes and other buildings. Two people drowned when their car drove off a road into floodwaters. The Delta Councila business group advocating for farming interests, of which the owner of the Rolling Fork bull is a board memberand some residents of a small, majority-white community banded together to promote the pumps by meeting with Mississippis senators, launching a pro-pumps website, and coordinating turnout at community hearings. Theyve been joined by the Army Corpss official local government partner, the Mississippi Levee Board, which has long focused on helping the areas agriculture industry.

In a 2021 press release supporting the pumps, the Levee Board said more than 90 percent of homes lost in the 2019 flood were owned by our Black and Indigenous people of color (BIPOC) neighbors. But Mississippi Emergency Management Agency data analyzed by environmental groups, as well as local reporting, appears to contradict that claim. The data shows the bulk of housing flood claims came from Warren County, of which only a sliver is inside the Backwater. While Warren Countys white and Black populations are nearly even at around 49 percent, Eagle Lake, the countys largest community of around 300 people in the Backwater, is over 90 percent white.

The Levee Board walked its claim back when I filed an open records request for data or evidence to back it. In a written response, the boards attorney described the buildings not as homes but as structures. Unlike the boards press release, he described them not as BIPOC-owned or occupied, but rather as located in minority areas. He told me the Levee Board based the claim on verbal remarks by an Army Corps official in 2021 who did not provide written documentation related to this assessment of minority ownership. The Army Corps did not answer questions.

It really is quite shocking that the Biden Administration would propose this project, Pinkins, who is Black, wrote in a June letter to the Corps and EPA, since its true purpose is to help already rich farm owners get even richer by planting more crops on their large low-lying farms while the needs and requests of Black community members continue to be ignored. In a follow-up letter in August, Pinkins was joined by 49 other community members in opposing the pumps.

Its worth noting that many Black community members do support the pumps, and somelike Tracy Harden, owner of Chucks Dairy Barmake environmental justice arguments for them. But it is far from clear whether the few Black-owned farms left in the area would benefit more from the pumps than from other flood mitigation measures. And backwater towns like Rolling Fork, where most of the areas Black majority live, generally do not get flooded since they are built on higher ground.

If you want to help folks in that area needing flood protection, you dont need pumps to do it, said Leonard Shabman, an economist with the nonprofit Resources for the Future. Shabman, who has served in government roles examining Army Corps projects, studied the issue for the EPA two decades ago. For far less money, he said, roads and homes can be elevated and more levees can be built.

In fact, the pumps could make things worse for some Black residents. The water pumped out of the Yazoo Backwater will exacerbate flooding downstream in a flood-prone, majority-Black neighborhood on the north side of Vicksburg. The Corps says the added risk is negligible. However, an expert consultant hired by environmental groups found the Corpss model of downstream impacts so flawed it cannot be trusted.

Ideally, the federal government would resolve these debates. The Army Corps is assessing the project, saying it has committed to conducting meaningful outreach to communities with environmental justice concerns. Its findings, which should offer a clearer picture of whom the pumps would benefit, are expected to be unveiled this month. But the EPA found major shortcomings with the Corpss last two environmental justice assessments, including insufficient data to address the projects benefits and a lack of an adequate evaluation of possible harm to downstream communities.

The Army Corpss past attempts at community engagement raise questions about how successful the outreach will be. The Corps did not mention any interviews with community members in its most recent environmental justice assessment in 2020. A 2007 assessment includes interviews with only 16 people. Because the Yazoo Backwater Area is largely rural, individual interviews were difficult, it said.

Insufficient outreach isnt the only problem. At an August 2022 listening session in Rolling Fork, the aggressiveness of some pump supporters led to accusations of intimidation. Black and white attendees expressed a range of views, mostly supportive of the pumps. But according to Charles V. Taylor Jr., the executive director of the NAACP Mississippi state conference, When people spoke against the pumps, the majority-white crowd heckled them. There was a lot of profanity, anger.

Taylors organization does not take a position on the pumps themselves. But he raised his concerns earlier this year with Mississippis Democratic Representative Bennie Thompson, and its clear theyre known to the Army Corps: Mike Connor, an Army assistant secretary, acknowledged as much when I spoke to him. I asked him if he thinks the Corps has had sufficient engagement with members of the Black community. I will never say weve heard enough, and we are keeping the doors open, he said. But there were only a handful of Black community members in the audiences at two listening sessions I attended in May.

Louie Miller of the Sierra Club and the Audubon Societys Jill Mastrototaro are among the most visible opponents of the Yazoo pumps. Both are white. They also documented problems during the August 2022 Rolling Fork meeting. In a letter to the White Houses Council of Environmental Quality, which convened the event, they said one of them was accosted by a drunk audience member that required the intervention of two law enforcement officers. They said a police officer took the initiative to escort us safely out of the building.

A Vicksburg Post article also notes law enforcement escorted Representative Thompson out of the building. Thompson has staked out a careful position on the pumps, calling on the governments decision-making to be driven by science and the law. He has been criticized online by pump supporters, and Senator Hyde-Smith said in 2021 that Thompson destroyed this project.

The Rolling Fork meeting was not the first time that pump supporters have lashed out at opponents. Even a local small-business owner well connected in state GOP politics has faced hostility for opposing the pumps. During the 2019 flood, pump supporters boycotted a store owned by William Van Devender, a white member of the fundraising committee of Tate Reevess first (and winning) campaign for governor. Van Devender had opposed the pumps in a letter to a Corps official, urging economic development of the area instead.

Nonetheless, some locals are still speaking out. For decades, the Yazoo Pumps has been held out as the promised solution to flooding in our counties and the rest of Mississippis Yazoo Backwater Area, wrote Pinkins and 49 other community members this August, but we are not fooled.

This story was produced in partnership with the Project on Government Oversight, or POGO.
Los Angeles Board of Water and Power Commissioners President Cynthia McClain-Hill, left, and former board member and President Mel Levine. (Unique Nicole / Getty; Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Two members of the Los Angeles Board of Water and Power Commissioners  a former Democratic congressman and a City Hall veteran  privately discussed a DWP contract with executives of a cybersecurity company, an exchange that is raising concerns from ethics experts.

Then-DWP commission President Mel Levine and then-Vice President Cynthia McClain-Hill held a roughly 36-minute phone call in 2019 with two executives to walk them through the utility's plans to award them a contract.

Weeks later, the commissioners voted to approve a 60-day, $3.6-million contract with the company and two other firms. Under the agreement, the cybersecurity company, Ardent Cyber Solutions, was estimated to get about 75% of the work.

The citys ethics law bars commissioners from privately participating in the review or negotiation of contracts that they will vote on. DWP board rules also bar commissioners from having private discussions about bids with vendors.

Both Levine's attorney, Daniel Shallman, and McClain-Hill said the conversation was proper. The aim was to ensure that the Ardent executives, who were working on DWP cybersecurity under a different contract, remained on the job at the utility, they said.

Both also said that protecting the DWP  which could face attacks on its water supply and electrical grid  was the goal.

On the call, which was secretly recorded, the commissioners discussed billing, when the DWP board would vote on the contract and the date the utility would give the company its first work order.

DWP commissioners are volunteers appointed by the mayor. They vote on multimillion-dollar contracts at public meetings, oversee the department and carry out the policies of the mayor.

FBI agents outside DWP headquarters in 2019. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)

Levine's attorney and McClain-Hill said the two commissioners were not involved in the vetting of Ardent as a vendor  or any other aspect of the competitive bidding process for cybersecurity work  because that was handled by the Southern California Public Power Authority.

The power authority is a group of about a dozen utilities, including the DWP, that enters into master agreements with vendors for its members.

In Ardent's case, the DWP opted for its own short-term contract with the company, rather than seek work through the power authority's agreement.

Read more: Read the transcript of a private call between two LADWP commissioners and two executives from a cybersecurity company

With its own contract, the DWP could set its own terms for Ardent's billing schedule, but also rely on the power authority's vetting process, McClain-Hill told the executives on the call.

McClain-Hill, now the president of the DWP commission board, acknowledged to The Times that it was unusual for her and Levine to involve themselves in the discussion that would normally be handled by staff.

"During my tenure as a member of the Board of Water and Power Commissioners I have always conducted myself ethically and have never engaged in any wrongful or unlawful conduct," McClain-Hill said.

Shallman, Levine's attorney, said that the transcript of the call shows that "Mel acted in the best interests of DWP and its customers, and fully complied with all applicable laws."

Levine represented the L.A. area for a decade in Congress until 1993, and left the DWP board in 2020.

Read more: Questions, anger after feds signal an end to DWP billing probe

Some ethics experts interviewed by The Times questioned whether the commissioners complied with city ethics rules.

Section 49.5.11 of the citys ethics ordinance states: "Except at a public meeting, a member of a City board or commission shall not participate in the development, review, evaluation, or negotiation of or the recommendation process for bids, proposals, or any other requests for the award or termination of a contract, amendment, or change order involving that board, commission, or agency."

Other sections of the ordinance forbid commissioners from revealing confidential information.

Even if the Southern California Public Power Authority picked Ardent for a contract, the DWP had the ultimate contracting authority, so "the communication is still improper," said Neama Rahmani, a former assistant U.S. attorney and former director of enforcement for the citys Ethics Commission.

Wrong, wrong, wrong. Period, said Laura Chick, the former L.A. city controller and City Council member. They shouldnt be having a separate conversation with a bidder. And they probably shouldn't be having a private conversation with them ever  unless staff are present.

Levine and McClain-Hill, who are both attorneys, were appointed to the DWP board by then-Mayor Eric Garcetti. The phone call first came to light in legal filings, but the full discussion has not previously been reported.

The Times reviewed a recording of the phone call and emailed a transcript to Levine and McClain-Hill.

The call appears to have been covertly recorded by Paul Paradis, a former attorney turned FBI informant in the government's corruption probe of City Hall.

Paradis said in federal Bankruptcy Court documents that he recorded Levine and McClain-Hill on April 5, 2019, as part of his work for the FBI. Paradis' court filing was reported in 2022 by Knock LA and Debaser.

Paradis declined to comment on the audio reviewed by The Times. U.S. Attorney's Office spokesperson Thom Mrozek also declined comment.

Paul Paradis, shown arriving at federal court in downtown Los Angeles in June, said he secretly recorded the conversation involving the two DWP board members, according to court documents. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)

The phone call took place as the corruption scandal was unfolding at the highest levels of the DWP and city attorney's office. It would spill into public view when the FBI searched the two city departments in July 2019.

The government's investigation focused on cybersecurity contracts, illicit payments and a bogus lawsuit over faulty DWP bills. Paradis worked on the lawsuit for the city and secured DWP contracts before helping the FBI.

The DWP's top executive, David Wright, later pleaded guilty to a bribery scheme involving Paradis' cybersecurity company.

Another top DWP executive, David Alexander, later admitted rigging passage of the Ardent contract through the Southern California Public Power Authority by manipulating the scoring through his role on the power authority's cybersecurity committee.

Prosecutors have never suggested that McClain-Hill, Levine or the two Ardent executives, Jeremy Dodson and Ryan Clarke, knew about Alexander's manipulation.

At the time of the phone call, Dodson and Clarke had been working at the DWP through Paradis' company, known as Aventador. Dodson and Clarke formed their own firm, Ardent, after the DWP board canceled the Aventador contract when media reports questioned Paradis' role in the bogus lawsuit.

On the call, McClain-Hill told Dodson and Clarke that the power authority was going to approve Ardent as a vendor. Then, she explained, the DWP would contract directly with Ardent so the utility could determine the frequency of the pay, the terms, and conditions of how that occurs."

Levine is heard assuring the cybersecurity executives that the two commissioners would back the contract when it came before the DWP board.

We need three votes, and you've got two of them right here, Levine said at one point, describing a timeline for approval.

Dodson and Clarke did not respond to requests for comment. Neither has been accused of wrongdoing.

The commissioners also discussed a strategy to shift public attention away from Ardent, with McClain-Hill telling the executives the plan is to "have the spotlight dim a little" on the company. Under the strategy, a second security company, Archer, and possibly a third would be added to the DWP contract, McClain-Hill said on the call.

Read more: Key lawyer in DWP corruption scandal gets 33-month prison sentence

McClain-Hill, who formerly served on the city's police commission, told The Times she didn't reveal any confidential information in the call and her "spotlight" comment was about protecting Dodson and Clarke's reputations amid the media scrutiny on Paradis.

She involved herself with Ardent because of her concerns at the time over the judgment of Wright, then the DWP's top executive, she told The Times.

Also, McClain-Hill said she knew that the Southern California Public Power Authority was going to pick Ardent as a vendor because Wright told her so before the April 5 call.

The power authority's cybersecurity committee formally recommended Ardent as a bidder on April 5. Weeks later  on April 18  the Southern California Public Power Authority board approved a master agreement with Ardent and the other firms.

McClain-Hill continued communicating with Clarke, telling him in a text message days before the DWP board vote that Garcetti's office wanted the contract broken into three separate agreements so that none would be a double-digit amount. The April 19, 2019, text was reviewed by The Times.

"We will approve a second contract in 45 days and a 3rd contract 45 days after that," McClain-Hill wrote to Clarke. We are finally at the end of this road ... hope this works for you."

On April 23, 2019, McClain-Hill, Levine and other members of the DWP board approved the utility's contract with Ardent, Archer and another firm.

Shallman, the attorney for Levine, when asked about assertions that the DWP had the ultimate contracting authority so commissioners shouldn't have been discussing the contract, said that Levine "fully complied with all applicable laws."

"Rather than showing any effort to improperly influence the contracting process or to engage in prohibited negotiations, the transcript shows a good faith effort to ensure continuity of service from qualified professionals in which DWP had already invested time and money," Shallman said.

"Simply put, Mel did not want to leave DWP vulnerable to cyberthreats because the experts they had hired were scared away by DWP bureaucracy or worried they wouldn't get paid," he said.

Sean McMorris, transparency, ethics and accountability program manager at California Common Cause, questioned why staff, rather than the commissioners, didn't talk to Ardent.

"If the meeting was to hash out the contract and tell the company that they're going to vote for them, and what the contract would look like  that sort of thing shouldnt be happening in a private forum," he said.

"Even if it's legal, it doesn't seem appropriate," McMorris added.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Early voting helped Virginia Republicans to avoid significant losses in November, yet legislation authored by conservative lawmakers to reduce the amount of time allowed for early voting are among the dozens of bills filed ahead of the 2024 Legislative session.

We lost by the skin of our teeth, it was excruciatingly close, Rich Anderson, chairman of the Virginia Republican Party said to a room full of party representatives from across the state.

Members of the Virginia GOP had gathered at a hotel in downtown Richmond for a state-central committee meeting in early December to discuss the recent November 2023 elections, when Democrats gained control of both Legislative chambers by a slim margin.

We significantly over performed, he said, and noted that the Virginia GOPs new early voting initiative, Secure Your Vote Virginia, played a significant role in helping Republicans to avoid a political slaughter on election day.

Yet, less than a month later, two Republican legislators had introduced bills to be considered during the 2024 session that would cut the time allowed for early voting nearly in half.

Early voting about-face

It moved the needle, it cut our losses, it was a major contributing factor to this razor-thin Democrat win, Anderson said.

Nearly 22% of Republican voters in the off-year election cast their ballot through early voting, virtually neck-and-neck with Democrats who saw nearly 23% of voters cast their ballot early. Democrats in Virginia, along with the Democratic National Committee, have long championed early voting methods.

Republicans plan to leverage Secure Your Vote, Virginia as well as the Republican National Committees nationwide early voting effort, Bank Your Vote, for the 2024 election, Anderson said in early December.

The abrupt about-face among conservative leaders has come after years of derision and allegations of ballot harvesting by the Republican Party toward early, absentee and mail-in voting.

What is really at issue here is how early should early be? I dont know what the correct answer for that is, Anderson said in an interview with USA Today at the start of January. I do believe 45 days is excessive.

Legislation to scale back early voting

In another about-face, two bills, filed by Republicans in the House of Delegates and Senate ahead of the 2024 legislative session, would change the amount time allowed for early voting. As it stands, early voting starts in Virginia 45 days before election day. A bill filed in the Senate on Dec. 18 by Sen. Mark Peake (R  Lynchburg), would decrease early voting time to 21 days before election day and a separate bill, filed in the House on Dec. 21 by Del. Chad Green (R  Hampton Roads) would limit early voting to 30 days.

"In our last election cycle, Governor Youngkin and the Republicans spent millions of dollars encouraging their supporters to vote early just to turn around now and try to limit access to early voting, Del. Marcia Price (D  Newport News), the incoming chair of the House Privileges and Elections Committee, said. These introduced bills just show that they dont even have the decency to be embarrassed by their hypocrisy.

Peake argued that he wrote his legislation to support registrars and elections workers. He noted that approximately two-thirds of early voters in Virginia cast their ballot in the last two weeks before election day, according to data provided by the Virginia Public Access Project.

To have our poor registrars and workers out there for 45 days, its just unnecessary. A hundred and thirty-five days of voting in 2024, he said  referring to the total number of days slated for early voting ahead of this years three elections  and called allegations that his bill would suppress voters ridiculous.

If they cant get out to the polls three weeks before election day, are we really suppressing it?

Registrars perspective

Christi Linhoss, registrar for Staunton, said that allocating resources for 45 days of early voting during each election can be difficult.

As a small locality with only myself and a part-time deputy registrar on staff, I would say, yes, the 45 days of Early Voting has a financial strain on the office, she said.

Linhoss hires two additional part-time staff members to support early voting in a city with a population of roughly 25,600 people. That equals roughly 530 hours of additional part-time help and the financial burden to staff the office for those 45 days is the responsibility of the locality, she said.

It puts a strain on the budget to fund other aspects of the office, she said. Personally, I certainly dont mind the extra work, its my job to ensure that all qualified voters have the opportunity to cast a ballot. However, from a purely financial standpoint, its tough.

Dawn Wilmoth, registrar for Petersburg, agreed with Linhoss. Petersburg has a population of roughly 33,400, and with 3 elections this year, Wilmoth anticipates that planning for each contest and its allotted 45 days of early voting could be stressful.

And staffing for the full 45 days can be hit or miss, she said, as the number of voters vary throughout the early voting period: The first day of early voting is often busy, followed by weeks of lulls before a steady stream of voters make it into the office in the remaining two weeks before polls close.

I know not all of my colleagues will agree in reducing the 45 days and their numbers may speak differently to them in daily turnout, she said. Every election is different and this is what makes that 45 days hard to plan for.

This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Legislation to limit early voting on the docket for the 2024 session
The claim: 2022 Tonga eruption emitted more CO2 than the Earth does in a year

A Dec. 19, 2023, Facebook post (direct link, archive link) shows a person talking about the 2022 eruption of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haapai, an underwater volcano in the South Pacific Ocean.

"When the Tonga volcano erupted in 2022, it emitted enough CO2 to cover the entire Earth's output for an entire year," he says. "So it doesn't matter how many solar panels, milk floats, yogurt pots you recycle, or anything like that."

The post was shared more than 1,000 times in less than three weeks.

More from the Fact-Check Team: How we pick and research claims | Email newsletter | Facebook page

Our rating: False

The 2022 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haapai eruption is estimated to have released significantly less CO2 than is emitted annually by humans or natural processes.

CO2 emissions from human activity dwarf emissions from 2022 Hunga Tonga eruption

Vivienne Payne, a lead scientist for the NASA Carbon Observatory missions  which monitor CO2 levels in the Earth's atmosphere  told USA TODAY that she is not aware of a published CO2 emissions estimate for the 2022 eruption. However, she said it is not possible that it produced the amount of CO2 that humans produce in a year because global atmospheric CO2 levels didn't increase more than usual in 2022.

CO2 produced by human activity has caused the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere to rise by more than two parts per million every year since 2012. If CO2 emissions from the 2022 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haapai eruption emitted a year's worth of human CO2 emissions, then the increase in atmospheric CO2 should have been significantly higher.

Instead, atmospheric CO2 concentrations grew by 2.17 ppm in 2022, the lowest amount of growth since 2017.

Can we count on renewable energy? Four ways wind, solar and water can power the US

There are published estimates of sulfur dioxide emissions from the 2022 eruption, and these can be used to roughly approximate CO2 emissions, researchers told USA TODAY.

"I would estimate that the eruption emitted on the order of 2 to 5 million metric tons of CO2," said Simon Carn, a volcanologist at Michigan Technological University who studied sulfur dioxide emissions from the eruption. "This is based on the actual sulfur dioxide emissions measured using satellite data and a reasonable estimate of the ratio of CO2 to sulfur dioxide in the emissions  based on data from other volcanoes."

Jake Lowenstern, chief of the Volcano Disaster Assistance Program at the U.S. Geological Survey, said that based on sulfur dioxide emissions estimates the volcano could have emitted up to around 34 million metric tons of CO2, but the number was likely lower.

Annual CO2 emissions from human activity, such as industry and energy production, are much higher, having reached 36.8 billion metric tons in 2022, according to the International Energy Agency.

"In general, we expect the volcanic emissions worldwide to be at least 100 times smaller than the anthropogenic emissions in any given year," Payne said in an email.

Natural CO2 emissions from all sources dwarf emissions from the Hunga Tonga eruption

Annual natural CO2 emissions from the "entire" Earth also dwarf emissions from the 2022 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haapai eruption. Earth emits and reabsorbs hundreds of billions of metric tons of CO2 annually through natural processes, according to the Global Carbon Budget.

Climate change is occurring because the additional CO2 added by human activity cannot all be absorbed by natural systems. Thus, it accumulates in the atmosphere, slowing the escape of heat into space and causing warming.

Fact check: CO2 from Grindavik volcano is tiny compared to amount produced by humans

USA TODAY has previously debunked false CO2 emissions claims involving other volcanoes. These include the recent eruption near Grindavik, Iceland, and an eruption of Italy's Mt. Etna, which social media users wrongly claimed had "put more than 10,000 times the CO2 into the atmosphere than mankind has in our entire time on Earth."

USA TODAY reached out to the Facebook user who shared the post for comment but did not receive a response.

Our fact-check sources:

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tonga underwater volcano CO2 dwarfed by other emissions | Fact check
Joe Locke, star of the hit Netflix series "Heartstopper," will make his Broadway debut in the revival of the Tony-nominated production "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street," starting his breakout performances as "Tobias Ragg" on January 31 of next year.

That said, Locke's inaugural stage performance took place in the Donmar Warehouse Thrust Theatre 2022 show "The Trials," written by Dawn King.

Locke's portrayal of "Noah" in this production earned him the "Best Professional Debut" award in the 2023 What'sOnStage Awards. Locke will be replacing Daniel Marconi as "Tobias," a character originally played in the recent revival by Gaten Matarazzo, who starred in Stranger Things, until his run ended last Nov. 5.

Read Also: Michael Blakemore, Two-Time Tony-Winning Director of Acclaimed Production 'Noises Off,' Dies at 95

What is the Sweeney Todd Play About?

This revival production was based on Christopher Bond's 1979 play of the same name which features its titular character "Sweeney Todd" and the series of murders he commits in London as an act of revenge against a dishonest and crooked judge, eventually employing the help of his future accomplice Mrs. Lovett, currently played by Annaleigh Ashford, who comes up with a disgusting way to hide the bodies using meat pies.

The yet-to-be-released revival will also feature the original orchestration by Jonathan Tunick which features a 26-piece composition, marking this the first time it had been featured in a "Sweeney Todd-related" production since the inaugural run of the original over four decades ago.

The revival will be musically supervised by Alex Lacamoire, a three-time Tony winner, and will be led by Tony-winning director Thomas Kail, who was awarded for his efforts in the Broadway sensation "Hamilton." Preceding this production, however, is a cast album that was released last September.

Currently, "Sweeney Todd" is headlined by Josh Groban as the titular barber, but will be succeeded by Tony-winning actor Aaron Tveit, along with Sutton Foster who will take on the mantle for "Mrs. Lovett" this coming February 9.

Read More: Indhu Rubasingham Chosen to be UK National Theatre's First Female Artistic Director

 2024 Classicalite All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
ASHEVILLE - The Ramada Inn property in East Asheville has been foreclosed on by lender Stormfield Capital after California-based developer Shangri-La defaulted on its $6.3 million loan.

Shangri-La made promises to transform the former motel into 113 units of permanent supportive housing for the city's homeless population. The project has been plagued by a series of delays and litigation. In December, a default judgment was granted against the developer after contractor Beverly-Grant alleged nonpayment for its work done at the property.

Shangri-La purchased the property in September 2022 for $9.75 million, according to prior Citizen Times reporting.

Initially, the property was intended to become a permanent high-access shelter, a project pursued by Asheville City Council until it abandoned those plans in December 2021.

The Ramada Inn is located on River Ford Parkway.

After outcry from the hotel's neighbors and uncertainty from financial partners, the city made a quick pivot away from the purchase of the Ramada, and authorized the assignment of its contract to purchase the property to Shangri-La, which announced it would convert the property into homeless housing.

The project was to be done in partnership with another California-based company and nonprofit, Step Up Inc. While Shangri-La was overseeing construction, Step Up was responsible for lease-up, supportive services and property management. The city pledged $1.5 million to fund the first three years of supportive services.

Tod Lipka, president and CEO of Step Up, told the Citizen Times Jan. 5 that Shangri-La has been solely responsible for the financing and construction on the project.

"Step Up has had no involvement on the financial side of the project," Lipka said in an emailed statement. The role of Shangri-La was to complete the project and deliver it to Step Up "move-in ready" for them to lease.

"We have been devastated by the problems at Shangri La," Lipka said. "Step Up is looking at all options that will enable the project to move forward as our most important focus is getting individuals housed."

According to court documents, the latest filed Dec. 6, River Ford  a "limited partnership" owned by Shangri-La CEO Andy Meyers and CFO Cody Holmes  originally borrowed $6.3 million in September 2022. They failed to make monthly payments per the terms of the lending document and were found in default.

By September 2023, the amount owed by Shangri-La, with interest, late fees and other charges, was $6.9 million. A report of foreclosure sale was filed Dec. 6.

Shangri-La and its attorneys have not responded to request for comment.

The foreclosure was first reported Jan. 2 by Blue Ridge Public Radio.

What's the city say?

From April 2021 to March 2022, the Ramada was temporarily used as emergency shelter. As of the March deadline, while some residents had secured housing, about 25 people were left with nowhere else to go.

A December 2022 groundbreaking at the property, located at 148 and 150 River Ford Parkway, was a hopeful day for the long-awaited project at the Ramada, but it has dragged months beyond its original planned opening.

"While it is important to note that the City of Asheville is not the owner or project manager for the permanent supportive housing project at the site of the former Ramada Inn, it is unfortunate to see this badly needed resource in our community not come to fruition at this time," said Mayor Esther Manheimer in a Jan. 3 emailed statement to the Citizen Times and other media outlets.

Manheimer said the city's funding for the project is contingent upon its completion. It will not be contributed until construction is complete.

"The City understands the importance of permanent supportive housing as a strategy to respond to homelessness and staff will continue to monitor the status of the project to determine if a viable financing plan is in place to proceed with the project as originally envisioned," Manheimer said.

More: Asheville contractor wins default judgment against Ramada homeless housing developer

More: Asheville's Ramada Inn breaks ground on 113 units of permanent supportive housing

Sarah Honosky is the city government reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. News Tips? Email shonosky@citizentimes.com or message on Twitter at @slhonosky. Please support local, daily journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Ramada Inn East Asheville homeless housing foreclosure
EAST PROVIDENCE  A Pawtucket man has been charged with shooting and robbing an East Providence man at an East Providence playground on the day after Christmas.

Jose Hernandez, 20, was arrested Wednesday morning in Pawtucket by the Rhode Island State Police Violent Fugitive Task Force, the East Providence police said in a press release.

Hernandez is accused of shooting a man in the leg and robbing him at the Hull Street playground at about 1 p.m. on Dec. 26.

Soon after starting their investigation, detectives Stephen DeMedeiros and Patrick Kelley were able to identify Hernandez as the suspect, the police said.

More: Shooting at East Providence playground leaves one injured

According to the police, Hernandez was arraigned on the following charges: assault with intent to commit a felony, first-degree robbery, using a firearm when committing a crime of violence, license or permit required for carrying a pistol, firing in a compact area and conspiracy.

Hernandez was also presented as a Superior Court probation violator on two previous first-degree robbery charges, the police said.

The victim has since been released from the hospital.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: East Providence playground shooting suspect arrested
The U.S. Postal Service intends to move some of its Knoxville operations northwest to Louisville, Kentucky. And East Tennessee's congressional delegation is not happy about it.

The proposed change is part of the post office's Delivering for America plan, which aims to slash delivery costs and make the postal system more efficient. Operations from local processing centers - like the ones in Knoxville, Johnson City and Chattanooga - will be consolidated into large regional centers. In this case, that's in Louisville.

The USPS had a public listening meeting in November explaining the plan, though some say it simply filled a requirement instead of offering detailed information about what the change means for workers and post office users.

Days later, U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett wrote a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy saying the meeting was a waste of time.

"Worse, the arrogance on display by the USPS and its management during this so-called meeting or listening session is unacceptable," he wrote, adding that members of his staff reported valid questions were not answered.

Burchett was joined by Reps. Diana Harshbarger and Chuck Fleischmann in a second letter to the post office in which they emphasized East Tennessee postal facilities employ more than 1,200 constituents.

They asked questions of the postmaster general, including:

When will a final decision about the future of handling centers be made?

What impact will changes to facilities have on delivery standards in East Tennessee?

What equipment changes are needed?

What plans are in place to prevent transportation costs and added delays?

Rachel Partlow, Burchett's communications director, told Knox News the postmaster general's office responded to the letter but did not answer any of the questions. DeJoy simply reiterated that there will not be layoffs.

Earlier this year: As Oak Ridge mail delivery problems continue, one congressman is 'frustrated'

Steve Hutkins, founder of the Save the Post Office worker advocacy group, told Knox News the claim is a technicality.

Upon consolidation, employees at Knoxville's processing and distribution center could face the choice to commute to Louisville, which is at least a 3 hour and 30 minute drive from Knoxville, transfer elsewhere or quit the post office altogether.

"That's what (USPS) is counting on," Hutkins said. "(Employees) will just have to leave and (USPS) will be able to say 'We didn't lay anybody off, but unfortunately people decided they didn't want the job.'"

USPS predicted in a release that 32 Knoxville positions will be moved.

Partlow said Burchett will continue to monitor the situation from a distance because it's not clear whether DeJoy will meet with him.

"A meeting with the Postmaster General could address the concerns about the lack of respect given to constituents who attended the meeting, concerns about the way changes could affect customers and employees in TN-02, and have a generally productive conversation about how our postal service can be improved without being detrimental to TN-02," she said.

Allie Feinberg reports on politics for Knox News. Email her: allie.feinberg@knoxnews.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @alliefeinberg.

Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Representatives demand answers on Knoxville post office changes
The Chicago Board of Education seems prepared to yank away more choices parents have about their childrens schools.

The board, made up nearly entirely of appointees by Mayor Brandon Johnson, has told principals it is considering eliminating all armed Chicago police officers within schools. For many years, Local School Councils have had the ability to decide on that safety measure. The board apparently thinks that level of local control is inappropriate and that it knows better than parents and staff at specific schools on what will make students feel safe and  more importantly  actually be safe.

This follows news less than a month ago of the boards proposed five-year plan, which includes proposals to do away with selective-enrollment schools. Those schools, some of which are among the nations best, give parents possibilities for their children outside their neighborhood, where the options often are unacceptable to them. The Chicago Teachers Union, whose support was critical to Johnsons election, long has opposed the proliferation of charter schools and is a harsh critic of the selective-enrollment system.

That plan has caused anguish among many parents with kids in Chicago Public Schools. This page condemned the proposal, saying it would cause flight from CPS  and in many cases the city itself  if implemented.

Now Johnsons school board is back at it, albeit with an issue in which the stakes are lower than the future of selective enrollment in Chicago. The tentative decision will only cause consternation among parents who want police in their schools and continue to shake the confidence of unaffected parents in the decision-making of Johnson and his board.

The arguments for removing all police from schools, such as we can discern them, are that they dont necessarily make students feel safer and that they tend to be in schools serving minority neighborhoods.

We agree that police officers in schools arent a surefire means of promoting safety. Certainly, theres reason to think carefully and weigh pros and cons before deciding to go that route.

But who should be making that call? The mayor and his board? Or the Local School Councils, made up of actual stakeholders in the individual schools  parents, teachers and administrators? Thats a no-brainer.

This is a decision best left to those on the ground who observe how their schools function every day. Whether as off-duty security guards or in uniform, Chicago police have been in public schools for roughly 50 years. LSCs long have determined whether they want that level of security or not.

Principals with police officers in their schools are generally supportive of retaining them, saying the officers protect students and staff from outside threats and develop positive relationships with the students, according to WBEZ-FM 91.5 reporting. Obviously, if that changes in the case of a specific school, it has recourse. The LSC can decide it no longer wants police officers. Problem solved.

Johnson has enough real issues on his plate without rattling more cages by providing solutions in search of problems. For someone who repeatedly has preached the virtues of collaboration, the mayor consistently has done precisely the opposite on a host of issues. He has shown an alarming tendency to ignore reasonable criticisms of proposed policies and opt for centralized, top-down initiatives. Predictably, his collaborative methods produce outcomes in line with the desires of his most progressive supporters.

Yes, keeping police officers in schools costs money. More than $10 million is budgeted for police officers in schools this year. But that is a tiny fraction of a budget that this year totals $9.4 billion. Clearly, this really isnt a dollars and cents question.

Mayor, move on, please. Let parents and school staff continue to manage this key safety question, as they have for years.

Join the discussion on Twitter @chitribopinions and on Facebook.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
The Education Department announced Friday that an additional 758,000 student loan borrowers faced billing mistakes last fall as payments resumed and it was moving to penalize three loan servicing companies for the errors.

The errors are the latest sign of a bumpy restart to federal student loan payments, which had been frozen for more than three and a half years since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. The new servicing hiccups, which included a failure to send timely statements, follow the Education Departments disclosure last year that more than 2.5 million borrowers were subject to similar problems in October.

As it did with that first batch of borrowers, the agency said on Friday it would suspend interest on the accounts of affected borrowers and not require them to make payments until the issues are resolved.

The department also said it would withhold compensation from three student loan servicers because of the errors: $2 million from Aidvantage for errors associated with nearly 697,734 borrowers; $161,000 from EdFinancial for 55,674 borrowers; and $13,000 from Nelnet for 4,616 borrowers.

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said in a statement that action showed that the Biden administration would not give student loan servicers a free pass for poor performance and missteps that jeopardize borrowers.

Aidvantage, which is owned by Maximus, services the loans of nearly 9 million borrowers in total. Upon our identification of this issue, we took immediate action to rectify the error and prevent any risk of future occurrence, a Maximus spokesperson said in a statement. We take all our contractual obligations seriously and are transparent and accountable for our performance.

A spokesperson for Nelnet noted that the errors affected less than 0.04 percent of the 14.5 million borrowers whose loans are serviced by the company. The spokesperson said at least some of the problems occurred because borrowers electing to move up their own due date, a functionality that the company is now planning to remove.

While we are confident the number of borrowers with Nelnet-caused billing statement errors is less than the number released we do take seriously our responsibility to borrowers and regret any mistakes made during the extraordinary circumstances of return to repayment, the Nelnet spokesperson said.

An EdFinancial spokesperson declined to comment, referring questions to the department.

An Education Department spokesperson said that the agency had not yet paid the $7.2 million it withheld from MOHELA last year as a result of its failure to send timely billing statements to about 2.5 million borrowers.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau separately on Friday released new data showing that borrowers have been having trouble accessing Bidens new loan repayment program because of a growing backlog of applications.

As of October, more than 450,000 applications for Bidens SAVE plan had been pending at loan servicers for more than 30 days without resolution, according to the CFPB. The bureau reported that the number of unprocessed applications at servicers increased consistently between August and October and that there were indications the backlog could continue to grow.

The CFPB noted that prolonged delays in processing of the applications can mean that borrowers miss out on interest subsidies and options for lower payments. The bureau also said that while its oversight of servicers is ongoing it had previously found that student loan servicers engaged in unfair acts or practices when they excessively delayed processing student loan program forms.

The resumption of student loan payments means that borrowers are making billions of dollars of payments each month, CFPB Director Rohit Chopra said in a statement Friday. If student loan companies are cutting corners or sidestepping the law, this can pose serious risks to individuals and the economy.

Scott Buchanan, executive director of the Student Loan Servicing Alliance, which represents the companies, faulted the departments poor planning and execution and a lack of resources for many of the operational problems.

Some minor billing delays were always to be expected and warned of given the speed of multiple massive changes being implemented all at once, he said in a statement.

Buchanan said that loan servicers asked the Education Department to make changes to the process for SAVE applications that would help alleviate backlogs but that their requests were denied or ignored.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, the top Republican on the Senate education committee, said that the Biden administration was seeking to pin blame on loan servicers for its own shortcomings. "The Department of Education missed deadlines and was unable to provide timely and basic information the servicers need to do their job," Cassidy (R-La.) said in a statement to POLITICO. "Now they are blaming the crisis they created on the servicers they set up to fail.
Education Department official Tariq Habash resigned from his position Wednesday with a letter stating that President Joe Biden has turned a blind eye to the atrocities committed against innocent Palestinian lives in Gaza.

In a two-page letter to Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, Habash, who is Palestinian American, outlined his reasons for leaving.

[T]he actions of the Biden-Harris Administration have put millions of innocent lives in danger, most immediately for the 2.3 million Palestinian civilians living in Gaza who remain under continuous assault and ethnic cleansing by the Israeli government. Therefore, I must resign, he said.

Here is my resignation letter in its entirety. My words: pic.twitter.com/xv9oVn94Vt  Tariq Habash (@tariqhabash_) January 4, 2024

In the letter, Habash described himself as a descendent of Palestinian Christians who lived through the violent 1948 mass relocation effort to create the Israeli state.

My grandparents, aunts, and uncles walked over 35 miles, from Yaffa to Lydda to eventually Ramallah, just to survive. For 75 years, my relatives have never been allowed to return to their familial homes, he said.

The U.S. has continued to supply Israel with resources to aid its offensive in the tiny Gaza Strip since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants. Last month, Biden said his commitment to Israel is unshakeable, while warning Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel is losing global support.

Millions of Palestinians have faced decades of occupation, ethnic cleansing, and apartheid, and the Biden Administrations passive acceptance of this status quo is wholly out of line with democratic values, Habash said, adding that U.S. military support has led to the deaths of children, journalists and medical professionals, violat[ing] our moral obligation as stewards of our countrys tax dollars.

He also criticized the Israeli governments claim that it aims only to destroy Hamas rather than all of Gaza. According to the Hamas-run health authority in Gaza, more than 22,000 people have been killed since the current conflict began.

In the letter, Habash also encouraged the Education Department to protect students right to protest the war, noting how alarming the violence against Palestinian and Muslim Americans has been due to the conflict.

Habash was appointed in the Biden administrations first two weeks to help lead the departments Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development, focusing on student loan borrowers. He previously campaigned for the president.

He is the second top official to quit over the U.S. handling of Israels war in Gaza. Josh Paul, a veteran State Department official, resigned in protest in October after more than a decade spent working in part of the department that handles weapons deals.

Related...
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The City of El Paso was awarded a $9.9 million Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to improve roadway safety and prevent collisions resulting in fatalities and serious injuries, according to a press release sent by the city.

According to the press release, the city will use the grant to to implement its Vision Zero Action plan through safety improvements along N. Yarbrough Drive in East El Paso, launching a Safe Routes to School program and expand El Pasos Vision Zero education and encouragement efforts.

The city says Yarbrough is the regions corridor with the second-highest number of vehicle collisions involving a bicycle or pedestrian, and it ranks among the top 10 roadway segments within the city limits for wrecks resulting in death or serious injuries.

The improvements planned for Yarbrough under this federally funded project include:

addressing right-angle, left turn, and rear-end crashes

enhanced signalization

reducing speeding

addressing driver inattention

The City of El Pasos Vision Zero Action Plan uses crash data to develop strategies and infrastructure projects aimed at improving roadway safety. This federal grant award is a significant step forward in making our roadway transportation network safer, Capital Improvement Department Grant Funded Programs Director Joaquin Rodriguez said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
Nobody knows the role of "Sofia" in the upcoming December 25 film adaption of "The Color Purple" better than Danielle Brooks. Before the big screen portrayal of the character, Brooks already had the chance to study and perform as her in the 2015 Broadway revival of the IP.

This previous portrayal has even earned Brooks a Tony nod and bagged her a Grammy win. In a red carpet interview during an exclusive screening of the film, Brooks told Vulture that the "core" of what identifies "Sofia" as a character is similar between the two iterations she took part in.

"The differences come from the environment and what I'm given," Brooks added, explaining that, unlike the controlled multi-shot scenes of a film, a theatrical performance can "stifle the actor" due to not being able to "change things" once the show starts. During her Broadway run, it would often be too late when it comes to incorporating things you learn along the way, the actor said.

In contrast, Brooks sang praises for the big screen adaptation, in terms of giving the performer artistic freedom, saying, "With the film, I was really able to spread my wings." The actor said she could even talk to the film's director, Blitz Bazawule, to try new ideas she came up with.

Read Also: Joe Locke, Star of Netflix's 'Heartstopper,' is Set to Make Broadway Debut in Tony-Nominated 'Sweeney Todd'

On Oprah Winfrey, the 1985 'Sofia,' Mentoring Danielle Brooks

In addition to having prior experience in the role-within a Broadway production, no less-Brooks was also able to get personal tips from the original film "Sofia" herself, Oprah Winfrey, who starred in Steven Spielberg's 1985 movie iteration of the IP.

Oprah's deep understanding of the role and the film's core identity regarding the color purple, proved to be huge for Brooks during filming, especially as Oprah attended the shoot of the crucial "Sofia" monologue scene.

According to Brooks, she was "freaking out" on the inside as it all played out, but in the end, she was able to focus on the performance itself and "let Sofia do her thing and live within me," finishing the scene flawlessly.

"I remember at the end, me and Miss Oprah embraced and we were both crying, and she actually said, 'You did it and it is well,' which just made me so happy," Brooks shared.

"The Color Purple" will be in theaters this upcoming Christmas day and is produced by Hollywood hard-hitters Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Scott Sanders, and Quincy Jones.

Read More: Adorned in Purple: Oprah Winfrey's Smithsonian Painting Revealed at the National Portrait Gallery

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Smoke over the city of Novorossiysk

100 people, including 15 children, were evacuated from a remote area near Sevastopol to destroy a missile, Russian propagandists claim occupation authorities head Mikhail Razvozhaev ordered on Jan. 4.

The evacuation is due to the "destruction of part of a missile in Chornorichchi after an attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on Sevastopol," the statement alleges.

The removal of the explosive object is scheduled for the morning of Jan. 5.

An air alarm was declared for the third time in a day in temporarily occupied Crimea on Jan. 4. Various monitoring sources reported drone attacks, explosions in cities, and Russian propagandists expressed dissatisfaction, characterizing it as one of the largest-scale attacks on occupied Crimea.

Read also: Crimea and the Battle for the Black Sea are keys to victory in 2024  Zelenskyy

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed 36 drones were eliminated in Crimea and an additional one in Russias Krasnodar Krai Oblast.

Later in the evening, an alarm was also declared in Belgorod, where explosions were heard.

Occupied Crimea experienced missile attacks, with explosions reported in different cities earlier on Jan. 4. The Ukrainian Armed Forces later confirmed the strike on a military unit near Yevpatoriya.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Washington  Harry Dunn, a former U.S. Capitol Police officer who has extensively spoken out about the violence he and other law enforcement experienced on Jan. 6, 2021, announced Friday that he is launching a campaign for Congress in Maryland.

File: U.S. Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn becomes emotional during the Select Committee investigation of the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol, during its first hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on July 27, 2021. / Credit: ANDREW HARNIK/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Dunn is running to succeed retiring Rep. John Sarbanes, a Democrat who represents Maryland's 3rd Congressional District, located west of Baltimore. He left the Capitol Police force late last year, ending a 15-year career.

"On Jan. 6th, 2021, I did my duty as a police officer and as an American and defended our nation's Capitol from violent insurrectionists," Dunn said in a statement announcing his candidacy. "Today, I'm running for Congress because the forces that spurred that violent attack are still at work and as a patriotic American, it is my duty to defend our democracy."

Dunn rose to prominence after he gave emotional testimony before the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack detailing what he and other officers experienced as they sought to defend the Capitol from a mob of former President Donald Trump's supporters.

During his testimony, Dunn spoke of being assaulted and called racial slurs by those who descended on the Capitol, where the House and Senate had gathered to tally state electoral votes and certify President Biden's victory.

"Is this America?" he recalled telling another Black police officer as he described to lawmakers what he endured Jan. 6.

Dunn published a memoir in October about the trauma he experienced after the riot. Mr. Biden awarded him and several other officers who defended the Capitol the Presidential Citizens Medal on Jan. 6, 2023, two years after the attack.

Dunn, running as a Democrat, joins a crowded field of candidates running to fill Sarbanes' seat, including five Democrats currently serving in the Maryland General Assembly.

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Jessica Vincent, a polo pony trainer based on a farm near Richmond, Virginia, "struck gold" as she shopped in a local Goodwill store when she unknowingly crossed paths with a rare artisan vase made by acclaimed Italian designer Carlo Scarpa.

This exquisite glassware, also known as the "Pennellate Vase" or the "Model 3664," was originally bought by Vincent for an incredible bargain of only $4, and recently, it went up the block in a Wright Auction House sale in New York with an estimated price of $30,000 to $50,000. In the end, it was sold for $107,000, over two-fold the original high estimate.

In a conversation with Artnet, auction house founder Richard Wright shared his sentiments on this "amazing story" of how such a precious piece of glasswork ended up in Virginia, saying, "It was expensive, not mass-produced, and it falls through the cracks all the way down to the Goodwill."

Wright continued expressing his astonishment, saying that the piece itself was in an amazingly pristine condition despite its mysterious journey. He added that the story's charm is in huge part thanks to Vincent, who he praised for being "smart enough to do her [own] research."

According to Wright, Vincent found out about the piece's potential worth in an Italian Facebook group that discusses glasswork, when members of the said group first offered her $10,000 for the vase, which she was "smart enough" not to accept.

Read Also: Rediscovered Rembrandt Painting Sold for Over $13.7 Million Against an Initial Valuation of $10,000 in a Sotheby's London Auction

About the Rare Venini 'Pennellate Vase' and Its Creator, Carlo Scarpa

Measuring about 13 and a half inches high, the vase is believed to have been made in 1947. It is made from an opaquely transparent glass material, fashioned in a way that mimics brushstrokes across its surface, a reference to its name of "pennellate" which is Italian for "brushstroke."

Although Scarpa himself was the designer of the sought-after piece, it was the Italian art glass maker Venini, based on the Venetian island of Murano, who manufactured it.

In their online auction listing for the piece, Wright Auction House said that the vase was a piece of incredibly high rarity, especially within the house's decade-spanning history of auctions. There is only one other known piece that is identical to this vessel and it is currently secured by an established private collector.

In terms of the most expensive Scarpa piece sold, that honor belongs to another Venini-made glassware, the "Laccati Neri e Rossi" dated 1940, which sold for an astounding $309,000 at a Christie's auction in Paris, last 2012. This sale, similar to the Wright Auction House sale, also soared past its original estimation, with this particular piece initially evaluated at $64,000.

The market's high regard for Scarpa's works makes sense when put within the context of his renown. With a background in architecture, the Italian designer gained international notoriety for his structural renovations and designs for both glassware and buildings.

Recently, his fame has reached new heights, as he was featured in an exhibition held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art that ran from 2013 to 2014. The showcase was dubbed "Venini Glass by Carlo Scarpa: The Venini Company, 1932-1947," which comprises collaborative works between Scarpa and Venini.

In The Met's online report on the exhibition, the museum explained that Scarpa "redefined the parameters of glassblowing in terms of aesthetics and technical innovation." The institution added that Scarpa also pioneered "techniques, silhouettes, and colors that thoroughly modernized the ancient tradition of glassblowing."

Read More: A Review Surrounding the Stolen Artifacts Incident in the British Museum Reveals They May Have Been Sold for Scrap

 2024 Classicalite All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
WARREN, Pa.  Michael C. Burham has received a sentence that is designed to keep the 35-year-old former prison escapee incarcerated for much of his life.

Burham, who used bedsheets to climb out of the Warren County Prison in July, has been sentenced to up to 50 years and 4 months in state prison for his guilty pleas to escape and to kidnapping charges related to the incident that landed him in the Warren County Prison to begin with.

"The defendant used all possible means to escape the consequences of his actions," Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry said in a statement following Burham's sentencing hearing in Warren County Common Pleas Court on Friday.

Michael C. Burham was arrested in the woods in Warren County on July 15, after escaping from the Warren County Prison on July 6.

"Today, thanks to hard work and collaboration between our office and the Pennsylvania State Police, the Warren County District Attorneys Office and the City of Warren Police Department, Michael Burham will be held accountable for his many crimes."

What is Michael Burham's total sentence?

Warren County Judge Gregory J. Hammond sentenced Burham to a total of a minimum of 25 years and two months to a maximum of 50 years and four months. Burham will not be eligible for parole until he serves the minimum sentence, when he will be about 60. If he is never paroled, he will be about 85 when he finishes serving the maximum sentence and is released.

In the kidnapping case, Hammond ordered Burham to serve 21 years and eight months to 43 years and four months, according to the Attorney General's Office. Hammond gave Burham another 3 to seven years in the escape case.

The Attorney General's Office prosecuted Burham in the escape case after the Warren County District Attorney's Office stepped aside because of the district attorney's membership on the board that oversees the Warren County Prison. The Warren County District Attorney's Office prosecuted him in the kidnapping case.

Burham, who has lived in Warren County and nearby Chautauqua County, New York, escaped from the Warren County Prison on July 6. He climbed onto exercise equipment in the open-air prison exercise yard, got onto the roof and rappelled to the street using bedsheets knotted together.

He went on the run in rural Warren County and became a figure of national interest as he evaded the Pennsylvania State Police until troopers caught him in Conewango Township, about 6 miles northwest of the city of Warren, on July 15. A barking dog signaled his presence to a couple who alerted authorities, leading to his capture.

How were Burham's kidnapping and escape cases related?

The kidnapping case against Burham started in the spring of 2023, when was on the run from questioning in a homicide in Jamestown, in Chautauqua County.

Police accused Burham of burglarizing the home of a Sheffield, Warren County, couple, 89 and 68 years old, on May 20 and stealing their SUV.

The couple was found unhurt in a cemetery in North Charleston, South Carolina, on May 22. The two told police that Burham kidnapped them at gunpoint at their house in Sheffield and forced them to drive to South Carolina with him in their SUV.

Michael C. Burham escaped from the Warren County Prison on July 6. The prison is located at the rear of the Warren County Courthouse on the corner of Market Street and West Fifth Avenue in Warren.

Two days later, the FBI and other law enforcement agencies arrested Burham without incident in South Carolina. Burham was eventually sent to Warren County Prison on June 19 and ordered held on $1 million bond.

Using the bedsheets, he escaped less than a month later.

His escape led officials in Warren County to undertake a number of improvements at the prison.

Burham pleaded guilty in the kidnapping and escape cases in November. The Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office said he is still under investigation in the homicide case in New York.

Contact Ed Palattella at epalattella@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNpalattella.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Ex-escapee Burham sentenced to long term for kidnapping, prison break
Following years-long investigations into alleged illegal gambling, election fraud, and other crimes, former Lodi council member Shakir Khan will spend two years in county jail after agreeing not to contest his charges.

District Attorney Ron Freitas shared details of Khan's plea agreement on Thursday.

"Today (Khan) pled to all 77 counts charged against him," Freitas said at Superior Court in downtown Stockton. "Today is a reminder that the law will be applied fairly to everyone in San Joaquin County, no matter what your title."

Khan pleaded no contest  meaning he has agreed not to pursue a trial and to accept jail time without formally admitting guilt.

The deal occurred on the eve of Khan's day in court: trial-related proceedings in the former councilman's cases had been scheduled for Thursday, court records show.

"We were prepared to start the trial," Freitas said. "We were prepared to actually start three trials  one for the gambling, one for the EDD fraud, and one for the election fraud. (But) by him admitting to all three of them, now his guilt is no longer an issue."

Khan's 77 counts include 41 charges of illegal gambling, money laundering, tax evasion, and grand theft; 12 charges of unemployment fraud involving COVID reimbursements; and 14 election fraud charges, Freitas said.

The plea doesn't mean Khan has agreed to the facts prosecutors laid out, his attorney, Allen Sawyer, said.

"Mr. Khan has chosen to take this path as a means to an end, ensuring that he can return to his family in the shortest time possible," Sawyer said in a statement.

The cases began in September 2021 under former District Attorney Tori Verber Salazar. Shakir Khan and his brother Zakir were charged with operating illegal gambling at two Stockton businesses and laundering the profits.

The election charges, first filed in February, against Shakir included registering people who were not entitled to registration to vote and "subscription of a fictitious name" to a nomination petition, among other charges.

DA spokesperson Erin Haight said Thursday she didn't know if Zakir Khan had also pleaded no contest.

The investigations that ultimately brought Shakir Khan to court were carried out by the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office's Special Services Division. The investigators included Capt. Art Harty; Lt. Andrew Theodore; and detectives Allison Barcetti, Greg DuPriest, and Rocky Bulen, Freitas said.

The DA added that the "77 counts will ensure that (Khan) can no longer ever hold office in San Joaquin County again."

A November opinion by California Attorney General Rob Bonta stated that Shakir Khan may sue to remove Ramon Yepez, the councilman appointed to his seat following his arrest on election charges in February.

However, the city of Lodi maintains that Shakir Khan resigned during a jail meeting with then-mayor Mikey Hothi. Shakir Khan insists he never resigned.

The ex-councilman hasn't decided whether to continue with litigation regarding the seat, Sawyer said.

This article originally appeared on The Record: Ex-Lodi councilman Shakir Khan to serve two years after plea deal: DA
Ukraine's historic feat of intercepting ten Kinzhal ballistic missiles has shattered Russias claimed "invulnerability," Former Supreme Allied Commander Europe, U.S. General Philip Breedlove, said in an interview with Voice of America on Jan. 5.

Breedlove detailed Russia's tactics used during a massive aerial attack on Jan. 2, noting that Ukraine's successfully defended against the mass strike, which occurred in three waves  drones, missiles, and in the third wave, Kinzhals.

Read also: NATO to supply more ammunition for Patriot air defense system

While Russia did manage to strike some of their intended targets, Ukraine's interception of the Kinzhals, hypersonic ballistic missiles that the Kremlin has claimed were invulnerable, has gone down in history.

Read also: Russia made one of the Kh-101 missiles downed over Kyiv in late 2023  Defense Express

Putin touted them as the best strike missiles, but now we see that's not the case, Breedlove said.

Particularly against the latest Patriot missiles and others we've supplied to Ukraine, they've proven capable of shooting down Kinzhals, even in such an attack.

Russia attacked Ukraine with 99 missiles on the morning of Jan. 2. The air defense forces intercepted 72, including all ten ballistic Kinzhal missiles. Over 60 missiles were shot down near Kyiv.

Ukraine first shot down this missile using an American Patriot air defense system on May 4, 2023. As of Dec. 31, a total of 15 Kinzhals had been destroyed.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Andrew Weissmann, a former federal prosecutor, suggested Donald Trumps attorneys have no control over their client and are simply pandering to the MAGA base after they asked a judge to hold special counsel Jack Smith in contempt of court.

Trumps attorneys submitted a filing on Thursday arguing that Smith, the prosecutor overseeing Trumps federal election subversion case, has violated a stay order put in place by Judge Tanya Chutkan because he submitted pretrial filings during the ongoing pause.

Chutkan put the cases legal proceedings on hold last month while Trump pursues an appeals process on the assertion that he is immune from prosecution.

I think that this is a real sign of the lawyers not being able to say no to their client, Weissmann told MSNBCs Lawrence ODonnell on Thursday. As somebody in the legal profession, it is disappointing.

Weissmann explained that the stay is in place largely to protect the defense, so Trumps team doesnt need to act until the appeal is resolved.

He also suggested that Smiths team was, if anything, being helpful by continuing to meet their deadlines, and noted that theres no requirement for Trumps team to look at the material.

They continued filing things and gave discovery to the defense. Usually thats not something that the defense complains about. They want discovery, he said.

Trumps team argued in the filing that Smiths motions contain partisan rhetoric and prosecutors are trying to weaponize the stay to spread political propaganda.

According to Weissmann, the idea that this issue would become the subject of a contempt motion says two things about Trumps lawyers: A, that they have no control over their client. B, theyre writing this for an audience unrelated to the court, meaning for sort of the MAGA base.

And its really not how you litigate, he added.

Trumps team have repeatedly leaned on performative antics and delay tactics in response to the four prosecutions against him, two of which he could quash if he wins his bid for a second presidency.

Trump has twisted his whirlwind of legal woes to his advantage by telling voters they are politically motivated witch hunts and fundraising off of it.

Related...
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

In December 2023, a user on X falsely claimed 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/.
An X user with 165,000 followers who goes by the handle Megatron claimed in a recent post that President Joe Biden had signed an executive order to send ammunition to Israel, bypassing Congress in the process. Another post by user AfroVT built on the claim by complaining that Biden declined to take similar actions on a host of other issues. It garnered 96,000 likes and more than 31,00 retweets. That claim, in turn, has also gone viral after being shared on Instagram.

He didn't do this for roe vs wade

He didn't do this for student loans

He didn't do this for COVID

He didn't do this for any climate issues

He didn't do this for BLM rallies

He didn't do this for school shootings

He didn't do this for Hawaii https://t.co/3nxj28dv57   Afro  (@AfroVT) December 30, 2023

The claim that Biden signed an executive order sending ammunition to Israel is false. On December 29, Secretary of State Antony Blinken approved the provisional sale of 155mm artillery projectiles to the Israeli government. He did so using emergency powers afforded by the Arms Export Control Act, not via executive order. Further, the Biden administration has issued executive orders related to many of the other policy issues mentioned in the post.

Since the October 7 attack by Hamas terrorists on Israeli civilian and military targets, the U.S. government hasin continuation of its historic diplomatic and military support of Israelsupplied the state with significant amounts of combat equipment. In early December, Blinken approved the sale of 120mm anti-tank cartridges to Israel and notified Congress of the deal. The December 29 sale represented an increase to a number of previous transfers approximating $96.51 million, and brought the total sales estimated value to $147.5 million.

Typically, congressional approval is required for major sales of military services or equipment to foreign governments. Under Section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Actpassed in June 1976the sale of munitions totalling $50 million or more must go through congressional review.

However, an emergency provision in the act delegates to the president the right to waive congressional review in cases where the immediate sale of equipment is a U.S. national security interest. Blinken, having determined and provided detailed justification to Congress that an emergency exists that requires the immediate sale to the Government of Israel of the above defense articles and services in the national security interests of the United States, waived congressional review requirements with the December 29 sale. Section 3(b) of the act specifies that consent for immediate emergency transfers to Japan, Australia, South Korea, Israel, New Zealand, or any NATO member state shall not become effective until 15 days following the submission of that consent, and Congress may enact a joint resolution within that period prohibiting the transfer.

Contrary to the claims made in the viral Instagram post, Biden has made a number of executive orders related to issues including abortion and reproductive rights, the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and gun crime. Following the June 24, 2022, Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization that overturned Roe v. Wade, the Biden administration issued two executive orders intended to protect abortion access. He has also issued 15 orders directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic and six pertaining to action on climate change.

No executive orders were made in direct relation to the 2023 Hawaii wildfires, though a federal disaster declaration was issued to support the state. Likewise, despite not issuing any executive orders specifically on school shootings, Biden did announce an order related to curbing broader gun violence in March 2023 following a shooting that killed 11 at a dance studio in Monterey Park, California. While it is undoubtedly true that Biden issued no executive orders related to the large-scale Black Lives Matter protests that rocked the country following the death of George Floyd in May 2020, these occurred well before his January 2021 presidential inauguration.

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Explosions during ceremony commemorating the death of late General Qassem Soleimani, in Kerman

By Michael Georgy and Jonathan Landay

DUBAI (Reuters) -Islamic State, the Sunni Muslim militant group which claimed responsibility for two deadly blasts in predominantly Shi'ite Iran this week, has been operating in the shadows since it was largely crushed by a U.S.-led coalition.

Here are some facts about the movement which experts say is weakened but not eliminated.

HISTORY

At the height of its powers, Islamic State imposed a reign of terror over millions of people and claimed control over swathes of the combined territories of Iraq and Syria.

Its fighters repeatedly defeated both countries' armies and carried out or inspired attacks in dozens of cities around the world. Anyone who opposed its brand of Islam faced torture and death.

Its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, declared his cross-border caliphate from the pulpit of Iraq's historic al-Nuri mosque in 2014 and vowed to rule it. Five years later he was killed in a raid by U.S. special forces in northwest Syria.

The caliphate collapsed in Iraq, where it once had a base only a 30-minute drive from Baghdad, and in Syria after a sustained military campaign by a U.S.-led coalition.

This week's attack in Iran is a sign that the group is seeking to rebuild its power and relevance, Aymenn Jawad al-Tamimi, a fellow at the Middle East Forum, told Reuters.

"The group's goals remain ever the same: waging jihad against all the group's enemies in order to establish the territorial Caliphate that should eventually rule the whole world," he said.

NEW TACTICS IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Islamic State has switched tactics since the collapse of its caliphate and a string of other setbacks in the Middle East.

Once based in the Syrian city of Raqqa and the Iraqi city of Mosul, from which it sought to rule like a centralised government, the group took refuge in the hinterlands of the two fractured countries.

Its fighters are scattered in autonomous cells, its leadership is clandestine and its overall size hard to quantify, although the United Nations estimates it at 10,000 fighters in its heartlands.

The movement went underground and formed sleeper cells that launch hit and run attacks, according to an Iraqi government security adviser who is part of a high level security unit that follows Islamic State activities in Iraq and neighbouring lands.

All key foreign fighters fled Iraq for countries such as Afghanistan, Syria and Pakistan. Most have joined Islamic State's Khorasan branch which is active along Iran's borders with Afghanistan and Pakistan.

A United Nations report last year estimated that in Egypt's Sinai province there may be between 800 to 1,200 fighters loyal to Islamic State.

In Libya, where it once held a strip of territory on the Mediterranean coast, the group is weaker, but could still exploit the country's ongoing conflict. In Yemen it has also been in decline.

AFRICA

Islamic State - often called ISIS, ISIL, or the pejorative Daesh - has made its mark in parts of Africa.

In Uganda, militants from Islamic State-allied rebel Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), have staged a series of attacks in recent months including a massacre at a boarding school, the murder of a honeymooning couple and, last month, a raid on a village that killed at least three people.

The group, that started as an uprising in Uganda, has largely moved its operations to neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo where it has staged multiple attacks.

Several other groups have pledged allegiance to Islamic State in West Africa and across the Sahel. Affiliates have control of large areas of rural Mali, Niger and northern Burkina Faso and into North Africa.

In January 2023, the U.S. military carried out an operation that killed a senior Islamic State leader in northern Somalia. A United Nations report raised concerns that groups like Islamic State could exploit the political instability and violence in Sudan.

OVERALL STRENGTH

The U.S. National Counterterrorism Center, in a report published in August, said the threat posed by Islamic State and Al Qaeda "is at a low point with the suppression of the most dangerous elements".

But it went on to warn that half of Islamic State's branches are "now active in insurgencies across Africa" and "may be poised for further expansion".

It said the group had lost three overall leaders and at least 13 other senior operatives in Iraq and Syria since early 2022 "contributing to a loss of expertise and a decline in ISIS attacks in the Middle East".

"Overall, ISIS has committed far less attacks in the last year than in previous years," Andreas Krieg, associate professor at King's College London, said.

"ISIS-claimed attacks have dropped significantly globally  Africa is the only area where (Islamic State) affiliates are still growing," he said.

(Additional reporting by Ahmed Rasheed; Writing by Michael Georgy; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Andrew Heavens)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives will be defending a narrow 220-213 majority in the Nov. 5 elections, but they will face their first electoral test on Feb. 13 when the seat formerly occupied by Republican George Santos is up for grabs.

Below are some of the races to watch as the Republican and Democratic parties battle for control of the chamber through 2024.

GEORGE SANTOS' OLD SEAT

Democrat Tom Suozzi and Republican Mazi Melesa Pilip are due to face off in what is expected to be a highly competitive Feb. 13 special election for the seat representing New York state's 3rd Congressional District, which opened up when the indicted Santos was expelled from Congress last month.

Suozzi had previously held the seat, which represents a small corner of New York City and some of its eastern suburbs, before resigning to mount an unsuccessful bid for governor in 2022. He will face Pilip, an Ethiopia-born former Israeli paratrooper who is now a county legislator.

The race is one of a half-dozen in New York for House seats that were held by Republicans but which Democrats are seeking to regain.

BILL JOHNSON'S EXIT

Republicans' narrow majority will shrink to 219-213 on Jan. 21, when Bill Johnson, who was elected in 2010, will step down to head a university in Ohio. Voters will pick Republican and Democratic candidates in a March 19 primary, with the special election for the seat on June 11.

Two state lawmakers are among the candidates for the Republican nomination. The district is heavily Republican.

KEVIN MCCARTHY'S SUCCESSOR

California's 20th District had been held by former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. But after he was ousted as House leader by a band of Republican rebels who joined with Democrats to boot him from that position, McCarthy resigned from Congress at the end of 2023.

The seat is unlikely to switch to Democratic control. But McCarthy's departure has set up a crowded Republican primary on March 5 to succeed him, with the former speaker endorsing Vince Fong, a former aide to McCarthy and current State Assembly member.

California state election officials initially said Fong was ineligible to run for the congressional seat, but a state court ruled in December that he could vie for the post.

The state will hold a primary election -- which under California law is nonpartisan, unlike the party primaries held in most of the U.S. -- on March 19. If no candidate emerges from that contest with more than 50% support, a special election to fill the seat will be held on May 21.

ALABAMA'S SECOND DISTRICT

A federal court ordered Alabama to implement a congressional map that created a second largely Black district. The decision is expected to give Democrats a rare opportunity to gain a seat in the conservative Southern state. At least 18 candidates have filed to run for the seat.

Legal battles over redistricting could play a role in the congressional maps for as many as 10 states and potentially tip control of the House.

LAUREN BOEBERT'S SWAP

Firebrand conservative Lauren Boebert, who won an unexpectedly narrow reelection bid in 2022 and who was facing a tough primary opponent in Colorado's 3rd Congressional District, has said she would run in the state's eastern 4th District instead. That is Colorado's most Republican district and is open, with lawmaker Ken Buck announcing he would not seek reelection.

Aside from Boebert, the crowded March 5 Republican primary also includes the top Republican in Colorado's General Assembly, two former state senators and a radio host.

The seat is not considered to be competitive for the Democrats in the general election.

REPUBLICAN BID TO UNSEAT PEREZ

First-term Democratic Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington state is seeking reelection, after initially edging out her opponent by 1 percentage point.

Hoping to face off against Perez is Joe Kent, who was the lawmaker's opponent in 2022. Kent, who had been endorsed by former President Donald Trump, had challenged the results of the 2020 election and raised conspiracy theories about the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Washington's primaries will be held on March 12. Also seeking the Republican nomination is Leslie Lewallen, a former prosecutor and member of a local city council.

POSSIBLE 2022 REMATCH IN OHIO

Republican J.R. Majewski is trying again to eject Marcy Kaptur, a Democrat who was initially elected in 1982 and who is the longest-serving woman in the House. Majewski had faced off against Kaptur in 2022, when reporting indicated he had fabricated his combat veteran status.

Ohio's primaries will take place on March 19. Another Republican who had drawn support ahead of the primary was Craig Riedel, a former state lawmaker. But he has since come under fire for negative comments he had made about Trump, with Elise Stefanik, a top House Republican, announcing she had withdrawn her endorsement over them.

A former small-town mayor is also seeking the Republican nomination.

(Reporting by Makini Brice; Editing by Scott Malone, Jonathan Oatis and Daniel Wallis)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. House of Representatives Republicans are working to rein in government spending in ways that would affect many federal social programs and could have a disproportionate impact on Black Americans.

Here is a rundown on some of House Republicans' spending proposals that will be discussed as Congress attempts to avert a partial government shutdown later this month and next:

RACIAL EQUITY

House appropriations bills would prohibit the use of federal dollars to carry out an executive order by Democratic President Joe Biden that aims to close racial gaps in wages, lending opportunities, access to higher education and other areas, according to the White House.

It was a tool used during the COVID-19 pandemic to help ensure vaccines were distributed equitably. More recently it is being used to help guard against artificial intelligence algorithms tilting against members of minority groups in housing programs, for example.

GUNS

House Republicans have moved to prohibit federally funded firearm and gun violence research.

Republican Representative Robert Aderholt, who chairs the House appropriations panel that oversees the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), defended the move, saying in an April statement the agency should focus "on infectious diseases, transmittable diseases, and certainly chronic diseases rather than on controversial, politically-charged activities."

Everytown, a group dedicated to ending gun violence, says Black Americans "experience 12 times the gun homicides, 18 times the gun assault injuries, and nearly three times the fatal police shootings of white Americans."

EDUCATION

Funding for low-income college students under the Pell Grant program, which most Black undergraduates obtain for tuition, would remain at last year's level under the bill approved by a House Republican-controlled subcommittee. That legislation has been stalled in the full committee.

During the 2019-2020 academic year (the most recent data available), nearly 60% of Black students relied on Pell Grants, according to the U.S. Department of Education. That compares with about 32% of white students, about 50% for Latino or Hispanic students and nearly 34% for Asian students.

DIVERSITY OFFICES

The U.S. Army's Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion would be eliminated under House Republicans' defense spending bill, as would other federal agencies'.

Republicans said the Army programs "serve to divide the military along racial, ethnic, or gender lines rather than unite servicemembers to provide for the common defense."

White enrollment over the past 12 years has fallen from nearly 62% of the Army's active soldiers in 2011 to 53.5% in 2023. Meanwhile, Black soldier numbers have remained steady at around 20% while Hispanic ones have risen to 17.6% from 11.4%.

As of Oct. 31, 2022, 69% of the Army's officers were white, with 11% Black, according to Army statistics.

LEAD PAINT CONTAMINATION

A federal program helping local governments remove lead-based paint from homes, which causes neurological problems in young children, would see funding cut by $65 million, to $345 million, just for this year.

Another $560 million would be clawed back that was appropriated for a three-year period under an arrangement designed to give officials time to vet state and local cleanup projects.

Children under 6 are particularly vulnerable to ingesting lead-based paint chips and dust because of their hand-to-mouth habits and because their bodies are developing in those early years.

The severity of blood lead levels in early childhood "are markedly worse for Black children compared to their white or Hispanic peers," according to a 2020 National Institutes of Health study.

House Republicans proposed a $10 million pilot program to explore new financing methods for the cleanup.

INFANT MORTALITY

Funding would be eliminated this year for the Department of Health and Human Services' "Healthy Start," which aims to attack high rates of mortality for pregnant women and their unborn children.

Around 60% of women participating in this program are Black, according to a 2020 analysis done for the department by Abt Associates. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a 2021 survey that the maternal mortality rate for Black women was 2.6 times the rate for white women.

Republicans argue the $145 million Healthy Start could be folded into a separate program focusing on improving early childhood development and school readiness. HHS says prenatal care is not authorized in the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting program.

HOUSING

The Home Investment Partnership Program offers U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department grants to states and local governments to expand the supply of affordable housing by rehabilitating existing homes or building new ones.

House Republicans want last year's $1.5 billion appropriation shrunk to $500 million. They argue that a COVID-era law provided $5 billion and nearly all of that has not yet been spent.

Robert Henson, a senior specialist at the National Council of State Housing Agencies, said the $5 billion is targeted at another program with a different mission.

The Republican spending cuts, Henson said, would result in about 17,000 fewer affordable homes built or rehabilitated this year, resulting in about 5,000 fewer households being helped.

As of Dec. 1, almost 40% of Home Investment Partnership Program rental units were to Black people and nearly 48% to white renters.

CIGARETTES

Last year the Food and Drug Administration proposed banning menthol cigarettes, which are heavily marketed in Black communities. House appropriators want to kill that effort.

The CDC said about 81% of Black adults who smoked cigarettes used menthol varieties compared with 34% of white adults.

The FDA has delayed issuing the regulation. The Washington Post in December reported the delay came amid administration concerns the move could anger Black smokers who are important to Biden's reelection in November.

(This story has been corrected to say that there have been no funding cuts to Pell Grants, instead of a $1,000 cut, in paragraph 9)

(Reporting by Richard Cowan; Editing by Scott Malone and Jonathan Oatis)
Former President Barack Obama speaks to attendees at the Obama Foundation Democracy Forum on Nov. 3, 2023, in Chicago, Illinois. Obama spoke about economic inclusion is fundamental to safeguarding and expanding democracies in countries around the world.

The claim: Obama

A Dec. 29, 2023, Instagram video (direct link, archive link) claims former president Barack Obama is encouraging illegal voting.

"Obama tells immigrants to show up at the polling place that they cannot be stopped to vote (sic) if you're not a US Citizen," reads the on-screen caption. "28th Amendment of the Constitution says different even a legal resident cannot vote a green card holder cannot vote."

The post was liked more than 50 times in five days. Similar posts spread on Instagram and X, formerly Twitter.

More from the Fact-Check Team: How we pick and research claims | Email newsletter | Facebook page

Our rating: False

Obama did not encourage non-citizens to vote. The original video was edited, and his remarks were taken out of context. The interview is from 2016.

Edited video misleads on Obama's point

The video shows Obama being interviewed by actress Gina Rodriguez for mitu, a digital news channel for Latinos, seven years ago. During the interview, Obama discusses the country's history of creating barriers for citizens, including Black people, to prevent them from voting.

"If you want to vote and you show up at your polling place, they can't stop you from voting," Obama says.

He is not talking about non-citizens voting, as the Instagram post claims.

Later in the interview, Rodriguez, a U.S. citizen, asks the then-president whether family members of immigrants who are in the country illegally should fear voting.

"So if I vote will immigration know where I live?" Rodriguez asks. "Will they come for my family and deport us?"

Obama answers that people in that position have no reason to be afraid.

"Not true, and the reason is, first of all, when you vote, you are a citizen yourself," Obama says. Voting rolls are not investigated, he adds.

In the original video, Obama goes on to explain why it is important for people in that position to vote and makes it clear he is talking about citizens.

"What is important for Latino citizens is to make your voice heard because you're not just speaking for yourself, you're speaking for family members, friends, classmates of yours in school who may not have a voice, who can't legally vote."

The Instagram version of the video omits this quote.

Fact check: Claim that voting noncitizens affected 2020 election outcome is unverified

There is no 28th Amendment in the US Constitution

The text in the post attributed its claim in part to the 28th Amendment to the Constitution.

But the Constitution has only 27 amendments. Some amendments specifically address voting rights. For example, the 15th Amendment granted African American men the right to vote in 1870 and the 19th Amendment extended voting rights to American women in 1920.

Additionally, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 protects citizens' voting rights, explicitly stating that no citizen shall be denied the right to vote.

In the United States, only citizens can vote in federal elections, according to Ballotpedia. Legal residents, including those with green cards, cannot vote, according to USA.gov.

There are some jurisdictions in the country where noncitizens can vote in local elections, however, including Takoma Park, Hyattsville and others in Maryland. In December 2021, New York City approved a law that would have allowed noncitizens to vote during local elections, but the New York State Supreme Court for Staten Island reversed the law. The Council of the District of Columbia approved a law in 2022 that allowed noncitizens to vote, but it now is facing legal challenges.

USA TODAY reached out to the user who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

Our fact-check sources:

Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or e-newspaper here.

USA TODAY is a verified signatory of the International Fact-Checking Network, which requires a demonstrated commitment to nonpartisanship, fairness and transparency. Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Meta.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Obama did not encourage noncitizen voting in 2016 | Fact check
Members of the Abu Jarad family, who were displaced by the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, eat breakfast at a makeshift tent camp in the Muwasi area, southern Gaza, Monday, Jan. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

MUWASI, Gaza Strip (AP)  Stranded in a corner of southern Gaza, members of the Abu Jarad family are clinging to a strict survival routine.

They fled their comfortable three-bedroom home in northern Gaza after the Israel-Hamas war broke out nearly three months ago. The 10-person family now squeezes into a 16-square meter (172-square foot) tent on a garbage-strewn sandy plot, part of a sprawling encampment of displaced Palestinians.

Every family member is assigned daily tasks, from collecting twigs to build a fire for cooking, to scouring the citys markets for vegetables. But their best efforts cant mask their desperation.

At night dogs are hovering over the tents, said Awatif Abu Jarad, an older member of the family. We are living like dogs!

Palestinians seeking refuge in southern Gaza say every day has become a struggle to find food, water, medicine and working bathrooms. All the while, they live in fear of Israeli airstrikes and the growing threat of illnesses.

Israels bombardment and ground invasion of Gaza, now in its 13th week, have pushed almost all Palestinians toward the southern city of Rafah along the Egyptian border. The area had a prewar population of around 280,000, a figure that has bulged to over 1 million in recent days, according to the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees.

Rafahs apartment blocks are crammed with people, often extended families who have opened their doors to displaced relatives. West of the city, thousands of nylon tents have sprung up. Thousands more people are sleeping in the open, despite the cool and often rainy winter weather.

Most of northern Gaza is now under the control of the Israeli army, which early in the war urged Palestinians to evacuate to the south. As the war progressed, more evacuation orders were issued for areas in the south, forcing Palestinian civilians to crowd into ever smaller spaces, including Rafah and a nearby sliver of land called Muwasi. Even these purportedly safe spaces are often hit by airstrikes and shelling.

The war broke out on Oct. 7 after Hamas militants stormed into southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and abducting 240 others. The fighting has killed over 22,400 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-run territory, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.

According to Nouman, Awatifs brother, the conflict drove the family the entire length of Gaza. They fled their home in the northern border town of Beit Hanoun on the first day of the war and stayed with a relative in the nearby town of Beit Lahia.

Six days later, the intensity of Israeli strikes in the border area sent them south to Al-Quds Hospital in Gaza City. As people started to evacuate the hospital two days later, they traveled to the Nuseirat urban refugee camp in central Gaza, making the 10-kilometer (6-mile) journey on foot.

They stayed in a cramped U.N. school building in Nuseirat for over two months, but left on Dec. 23 as the Israeli army turned its focus toward Hamas targets in central Gaza refugee camps.

They escaped to Muwasi on Dec. 23, believing it was the safest option. On the first night, they slept out in the open. Then they bought nylon and wood in a Rafah market to build a tent.

Nouman, an accountant, sleeps on the nylon-covered floor with his wife, sister, six daughters and one grandchild. They sleep on their sides to conserve space.

He said the tent cost 1,000 shekels, about $276. It is completely crazy, he said. In Rafah's demand-driven war economy, larger pre-built family tents now range from $800 to $1,400.

The family's hardship begins at 5 a.m. Nouman said his first job is to start a small fire to cook breakfast, while his wife and daughters knead dough for flatbread and then wash their utensils and metal cooking griddle.

After eating, their attention turns to fetching water and food, tasks that take up most of the daylight hours.

Nouman said he and several of his younger relatives collect jugs of water from one of the public pipes nearby, water that is exclusively used for washing and not suitable for drinking. Next, they head to one of the dozens of drinking water tankers dotted across the city, where they wait in line for hours.

A gallon of drinking water costs one shekel, or 28 cents. Some, so desperate for cash, wait in line just to sell their space.

After the water is fetched, family members move between several open markets to hunt for vegetables, flour and canned food for that evening's meal. Meanwhile, Nouman busies himself with scouring the ground for twigs and bits of wood to make a fire.

Food prices have soared. Gaza is facing acute food and medicine shortages and is dependent largely on aid and supplies that trickle in through two crossings, one Egyptian and one Israeli, and what has been grown in the recent harvest. More than half a million people in Gaza  roughly a quarter of the population  are starving, the United Nations said in late December.

Dalia Abu Samhadana, a young mother sheltering with her uncle's family in a crowded house of 20 in Rafah, says the only food staples at her local market are tomatoes, onions, eggplants, oranges and flour. All are virtually unaffordable.

A 25-kilogram (55-pound) bag of flour before Oct. 7 cost around $10. Since then it has fluctuated between $40 and $100.

My money has almost run out, said Abu Samhadana, unsure of how she will be able to feed her daughter.

Displaced Palestinians in Rafah are entitled to free aid if they register with the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, which hands out flour, blankets, and medical supplies at 14 spots across southern Gaza. They often spend hours in line waiting for the aid to be distributed.

Abu Samhadana, who is originally from the nearby southern town of Khan Younis, said she has tried to register for free aid several times but has been turned away due to the lack of available supplies.

The U.N. agency is simply overwhelmed and is already providing support to 1.8 million people in Gaza, according to Juliette Touma, its communications director. She said she did not know if the agency had stopped registering new aid seekers.

With few options left, some hungry Palestinians in Rafah have resorted to grabbing packages from aid trucks as they pass by. The U.N. refugee agency confirmed that some supplies of aid had been snatched from moving trucks but did not provide any details.

Hamas police escorting aid trucks from border crossings to U.N. warehouses have been seen beating people, mostly teenagers, as they try to grab what they can. In some cases, they have fired shots into the air. In one incident, a 13-year-old boy was killed when Hamas police opened fire.

Meanwhile, health officials warn of the growing spread of diseases, especially among children.

The World Health Organization has reported tens of thousands of cases of upper respiratory infections, diarrhea, lice, scabies, chickenpox, skin rashes and meningitis in U.N. shelters.

The rapid spread of disease is mainly due to overcrowding and poor hygiene caused by a lack of toilets and water for washing.

The Abu Jarad family dug its own makeshift toilet attached to the tent to avoid communal bathrooms. Still, the family is vulnerable to disease.

My granddaughter is 10 months old, and since the day we came to this place, she has been suffering from weight loss and diarrhea, said Majeda, Nouman's wife.

Going to the pharmacy offers little help. "We can't find any (suitable) medicines available, she said.
Christine Strobl, daughter of Wolfgang Schauble, speaks at the funeral service for Wolfgang Schauble. Philipp von Ditfurth/dpa

Several hundred people, including top politicians and family members, attended the funeral on Friday for the late German statesman Wolfgang Schauble.

The former interior and finance minister shaped German politics for decades.

He was recognized for having helped forge German reunification in 1990 and steering the eurozone through its debt crisis with sometimes unpopular prescriptions, like pressuring Greece into accepting tough austerity measures in 2009.

The conservative Christian Democrat, one of former chancellor Angela Merkel's most important confidants, also served as president of the Bundestag and was lauded for his commitment to work despite being paralysed after being shot by a mentally disturbed man in 1990.

Schauble died on December 26 aged 81 after a long illness.

The service at the Protestant church in the south-western city of Offenburg was carried out by the bishop of Baden, Heike Springhart.

Springhart described Schauble as an independent spirit, a persistent fighter for democracy and a far-sighted European.

"Wolfgang Schauble lived from a strength that was greater than himself. With his wisdom and the Black Forest's own mixture of perseverance and mischievousness, he shaped the democratic culture in our country and fought for the preservation of democracy to the very end," she said in her sermon.

During his career, he was a minister, CDU leader, parliamentary group chairman and president of the German Bundestag. No one was a member of parliament longer than him.

His work was recently honoured across party lines. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier called Schauble a "stroke of luck for German history."

Among the mourners were Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, CDU leader Friedrich Merz and Baden-Wurttemberg state premier Winfried Kretschmann.

Schauble's coffin was laid out in front of the altar with a black, red and gold flag and a federal eagle, flanked by six federal police officers. In front of it was a huge heart with red roses and a wreath from his family.

After the service, a military salute was planned. The cortege will then travel about a kilometre to the cemetery.

A memorial service will also be held in Berlin's Reichstag on January 22 when German President Steinmeier and other high-profile German and foreign guests, such as French President Emmanuel Macron, are expected to be in attendance.

(L-R) The family with Christine Strobl, daughter of Wolfgang Schauble, Ingeborg Schauble, his wife, and Thomas Strobl, Minister of the Interior of Baden-Wurttemberg and son-in-law of Wolfgang Schauble, arrive at the Evangelical City Church for the funeral service for Wolfgang Schauble. Uwe Anspach/dpa

Jens Spahn (L), former German Minister of Health, arrives with his husband, Daniel Funke, at the funeral service for Wolfgang Schauble. Philipp von Ditfurth/dpa
WOODLAND PARK, N.J.  Expressions of condolence from citizens, community leaders, officials, and clergy echoed across New Jersey after the beloved imam of Masjid Muhammad-Newark was fatally shot on Wednesday.

Many decried Hassan Sharif as a victim of gun violence that he had fought so hard to prevent. Sharif left the mosque after morning prayers at around 6:15 a.m. and was approached in the parking lot, where he was shot twice. He died hours later at University Hospital.

Police are still searching for the suspect and investigating the motive behind the attack.

"We want justice on this corner because he fought for justice on this corner," Newark Councilman Patrick Council said at an interfaith assembly outside the mosque Wednesday evening. "We want righteousness on this corner because he wanted righteousness on this corner. We want oppression to end on this corner because he wanted oppression the end on his corner. And we want the person that committed this time to turn himself in right now."

Sharif was active in rallies and actions against violence. He worked with young people to provide support through one-on-one interactions, community events, and at an afterschool program at the mosque with mentoring and homework help, said Jimmy Small, president of the Muslim League of Voters of New Jersey.

"Imam Hassan Sharif was younger, so could relate to them on that basis," Small said. "He made sure he worked with the community, thats how he could reach them. A lot of young people passed the masjid and got a free lunch. He was going out and talking to the youth about gun violence and how dangerous it was."

Sharif also provided space at the mosque for the Muslim League of Voters of NJ to serve hot meals to people in the community and host events to promote voting and U.S. Census participation. He had also recently hosted a dinner for senior citizens, Small said.

People stood outside the Masjid Muhammad-Newark, Wednesday night as they remembered Imam Hassan Sharif, who was shot and killed earlier in the day, January 3, 2024.

Keeping the city safe

The mosque was a safe house in Newarks Safe Surrender Program for people with non-violent arrest warrants to turn themselves in and have their cases resolved quickly without jail time, said Newark Public Safety Director Fritz Frage. The imam supported efforts to keep the city safe and his death was a deep loss, Frage added.

Sharif, a member of the Newark Interfaith Alliance, worked as an officer for the Transportation Security Administration. He was a husband, father, and a former boxer, said Imam Wahy-ud Deen Shareef, convener of the Council of Imams in New Jersey.

Shareef knew the imam personally. "When he got elected, he and I had a discussion about the roles and responsibilities of imams," said Sareef. "I gave him a history of the masjid he was imam of, where I embraced Islam many years ago."

Support also came from leaders of other faiths, including Cardinal Joseph Tobin, archbishop of Newark. "I join with the people of Newark and surrounding communities deeply distressed by the tragic loss of Imam Hassan Sharif of Masjid Muhammed Mosque," Tobin said in a statement.

Funeral arrangements were pending Thursday afternoon. In a video shared online, a mosque representative asked people to say prayers for the imam and his family.

A surge in Islamophobic incidents

The shooting comes amid concerns over attacks against Muslim Americans since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October. In early December, CAIR said the group received 2,171 complaints of anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian hate over the last two months  a 172% increase over the same period in the previous year.

Law enforcement officials in New Jersey vowed to increase patrols at mosques and synagogues following the start of the war. New Jersey has more than 320,000 Muslim American residents, New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin said in a post on X Wednesday, which commemorated Muslim Heritage Month.

Officials at the Essex County Prosecutors Office, which is investigating the case, said the killing did not appear to be a bias crime or act of domestic terrorism. Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura said the Essex County Crime Stoppers Program is offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons responsible. Anyone with information is asked to call (973) 621-4111.

Imam had faced gun violence before

The shooting was not Sharifs first encounter with gun violence.

In August, a man put a gun to his head as he exited his car to enter the mosque one morning, Sharif wrote in a Facebook post at the time. Sharif managed to wrestle the gun away from the man, who fled and was not caught.

In his post, he expressed compassion for the person who pulled a gun on him. He hoped the man would see God's mercy and turn his life around because "maybe not with me, whomever he does it to again, he may not make it through," he posted.

City government, interfaith leaders and citizens have much work to do to help turn people away from crime, Sharif wrote, adding that "I will die trying to see our people change in this world."

Contributing: Christopher Cann, Jeanine Santucci, and Minnah Arshad, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: New Jersey mourns imam killed in shooting as anti-violence activist
The greater Fayetteville area experienced at least five murder-suicides in 2023, which appears to be an increase over prior years.

While murders and suicides are tracked separately by law enforcement, one organization says its harder to track when the two are related.

According to the national nonprofit Violence Policy Center, comprehensive, up-to-date information specific to murder-suicides in the United States is not readily available, which has resulted in the organization collecting and analyzing news reports of murder-suicides since 2002."

The Fayetteville Police Department at times issues news releases stating whether authorities believe a killing was the result of a murder-suicide, but the departments quarterly and annual crime data only lists individual categories for homicide and suicide and has no separate category for murder-suicides.

"Homicides and suicides are tracked in separate categories," police spokeswoman officer Alexandria Pecia said in a statement Thursday.

Heres a look at Fayettevilles known murder-suicides for 2020-2023.

2023

All of Fayettevilles murder-suicides in 2023 appear to be cases of domestic violence, with men shooting female partners before killing themselves.

The oldest victim was 82 and the youngest was 18.

Reported incidents include:

 Gregg Melvin, 73, and Roslyn Mazzilli, 82, found dead Sept. 16 in the home they shared in the 1600 block of Kara Court.

In a Sept. 26 news release, authorities said Melvin was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound after calling 911 on Sept. 16. Melvin was pronounced dead at the hospital.

A preliminary autopsy determined Mazzilli died of a gunshot wound and had been dead "days prior to the 911 call," the release stated.

Crime scene tape and Fayetteville Police Department vehicles blocks off Kentyre Drive on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023, after a woman was found dead in a home there. The man suspected of killing her then killed himself in Moore County, Southern Pines police said.

 Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jessica Moore, 35, was found dead Sept. 14 in her home on Kentyre Drive.

Tito Matos of Fayetteville, who was in a "domestic relationship" with Moore, is believed to have killed her, police said.

Forty minutes after the discovery of Moore's body, Matos shot and killed himself during a traffic stop in Southern Pines, about 35 miles from Kentyre Drive,

Moore was an air traffic and airspace management technician for the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division and had been at Fort Liberty since February 2020.

Lewis Robinson, 50, and his wife, Sandra Robinson, 58, were found dead inside their Torbay Drive home about 3:15 p.m. on Sunday, June 18, 2023, the Fayetteville Police Department said.

 Sandra Robinson, 58, and her husband, Lewis Robinson, 50, were found dead of gunshot wounds on June 18 in their Torbay Drive home. A police official said the deaths appeared to be a murder-suicide.

 Tatiana Haywood, 18, was fatally shot May 24 at her home in the 3700 block of Carlos Avenue, according to a news release. The shooter, Nasir Scott, 18, died at the hospital of a self-inflicted gunshot. The young couple had previously been in a relationship.

Fayetteville Police Officer Domingo Tavarez-Rodriguez and his wife, Yenitza Arroyo Torres, were found dead at their Vandenberg Drive home on Friday night, according to police.

 Fayetteville Police Officer Domingo Tavarez-Rodriguez, 53, and his wife, Yenitza Arroyo-Tavarez, 44, were found dead April 29 in their home in the 1300 block of Vandenberg Drive by Tavarez-Rodriguezs supervisors after he failed to report to work. The State Bureau of Investigation, which handled the investigation, said Tavarez-Rodriguez died of a single gunshot and his wife died of multiple gunshots. The preliminary autopsy ruled the deaths were murder-suicide, an SBI release stated.

2022

There were at least four murder-suicides in 2022, with three of the four reported by authorities.

The deaths included a fatal stabbing, shootings and fire.

All of the women were killed by men.

They included:

 Tanisha Donnette Raeford, 47, who was stabbed to death Aug. 22, 2022, by her husband, John Lee Douglas, 53. Shortly after the killing, Douglas drove his vehicle into two parked semi-trucks in the area of AB Carter and John B. Carter roads in Cumberland County and died in the fiery wreckage, police said.

 Heather Lalla Melvin, 54, was fatally shot July 14 by her husband in a murder-suicide at the couple's Berkshire Road home.

According to an autopsy report, officers found Melvin dead on the floor of her home after she failed to report to work. The autopsy report stated that Melvin had "traumatic injuries" to her head and face and a penetrating wound to her lower body.

Law enforcement also found Melvin's husband in the living room with traumatic injuries to his head and a handgun by his right foot, the medical examiner's report stated.

Pecia said 55-year-old John Melvin was the suspect.

 Nakea Brooks, 27, and Marchellous Braddy, 33, of Raeford, were fatally shot May 16 in the 5700 block of Aftonshire Drive. Rhaim Mosies Santiago, 29, was sought in their deaths but killed himself in Smithfield as law enforcement closed in, officials said.

 Norelly Lockamy, 40, died following a fire set by her ex-boyfriend at her Lyon Road home July 17, according to a medical examiner's report.

The medical examiner's report states that the police report notes that Lockamy ran to her neighbor's house with severe burns and was "only able to say 'he burned me.'"

"Officers indicated that they suspect her significant other, who the decedent had a restraining order against, arrived at her residence and pour(ed) gasoline on her and set her on fire," the autopsy report stated.

The autopsy report stated that Lockamy's significant other was also burned and that law enforcement suspected "foul play."

Pecia said 41-year-old Herbert Wilson, who was in a domestic relationship with Lockamy was the suspect and also died in the fire.

2021

Authorities reported at least one murder-suicide in 2021, which was a shooting and involved a woman killed by her boyfriend.

Fayetteville police investigate an apparent murder-suicide Thursday morning on Miller Avenue.

 Xamegga Whitfield, 25, was shot Oct. 21, 2021, by her boyfriend Michael Culpepper, 20, in the road outside a Miller Avenue apartment.

As the first officer arrived on the scene, Culpepper, who was on his knees in the road holding a handgun, shot himself, police said.

Whitfield was pronounced dead at the scene, and Culpepper succumbed to his injuries at the hospital, a news release stated.

2020

Authorities reported at least one murder-suicide in 2020, which involved a Fort Liberty soldier killing his pregnant wife days before Christmas.

 Sarah Lewis, 34, planned to celebrate the birth of her baby who was due on Christmas Day in 2020. But on Dec. 20, 2021, Lewis was shot and killed in what police said was a murder-suicide in the 900 block of Willow Street.

The expectant mother and baby died at a hospital, while her husband Staff Sgt. Keith Lewis, 31, died at the scene from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said.

Murders and suicides but no murder-suicides

The Violence Policy Center's analysis of murder-suicides is published in a series of studies, called "American Roulette: Murder-Suicide in the United States." The latest study was released in October.

According to data from the study, murder-suicides are almost always committed by a man with a gun.

According to the analysis, "medical studies estimate that between 1,000 and 1,500 deaths per year in the United States are the result of murder-suicide."

The Violence Policy Center analyzed data from Jan. 1-June 30, 2021, finding there were 258 murder-suicide events resulting in 588 murder-suicide deaths, of which 258 were suicides and 330 were homicides.

A study released in July 2020 found 280 murder-suicide events during the first six months of 2019, which resulted in 620 deaths, including 280 suicides and 340 homicides.

The October report states that the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions surveillance system for violent deaths, the National Violent Death Reporting System, includes comprehensive information about homicides and suicides among other types of deaths, but information about murder-suicides is not publicly available.

North Carolinas Violent Death Reporting System also provides data on violent deaths from each county in the state from 2004 to 2020.

The systems latest analysis of 2020 deaths released in May found that statewide there were 1,436 homicides and 867 suicides.

In Cumberland County, there were 56 suicides and 40 homicides.

The data does not specify whether any of the homicide and suicide deaths were related and noted that Cumberland County was one of the top 20 counties in the state for homicides per 100,000 residents in 2020, with Guilford County having the most at 76.

There were 1,436 suicides statewide in 2020.

Do you know of a recent murder-suicide case that wasn't included in this report? Email news@fayobserver.com. Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-2528.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: What we know about Fayetteville's 2023 murder-suicides
The Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved Floridas request to import certain drugs from Canada, marking the first time a state has been authorized to buy lower-cost medications in bulk from abroad.

Floridas plan calls for importing medications for several illnesses for residents covered by certain public programs, including Medicaid enrollees and inmates.

The historic move is the latest salvo in the long-running battle to lower drug prices, one of Americans biggest health care headaches and a major element of President Joe Bidens reelection campaign. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is seeking the Republican presidential nomination, is also highlighting his importation proposal as he seeks to curtail drug costs.

After years of federal bureaucrats dragging their feet, Florida will now be able to import low-cost, life-saving prescription drugs, DeSantis said in a statement Friday. Its about time that the FDA put patients over politics and the interests of Floridians over Big Pharma.

While US law allows drug importation, it never gained traction because of federal health officials concerns over safety and actual savings as well as fierce opposition from American drug manufacturers and Republican lawmakers.

Former President Donald Trump, however, made drug importation a centerpiece of his effort to reduce drug costs and pushed for federal approval of Floridas proposal. In 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services issued a final rule establishing a path for states and certain other entities to set up drug importation programs. The next year, Biden issued an executive order directing the FDA commissioner to work with states that want to develop importation programs.

Though Biden, Trump and DeSantis are likely to take credit on the campaign trail for initiating drug importation in the US, major hurdles remain before Florida can actually start importing certain medications, and it could be a while before the state and its residents see savings. The drug industry is expected to continue its efforts to prevent the importation of drugs, and Canada has opposed the mass importation of its medications.

Floridas proposal

Florida, which filed its proposal with the FDA in 2020, initially wants to import drugs to treat chronic health conditions such as HIV/AIDS, mental illness and prostate cancer, the governors office said in a press release Friday.

The state would make the imported drugs available to patients at county health departments managed by the state Department of Health, inmates at state correctional facilities and certain others served by state agencies. The program would then expand to Medicaid enrollees.

Florida expects to save up to $180 million in the first year and around $183 million annually once the program is fully implemented, the state said.

Were creating a system with importers and vendors that we as a state will import drugs from Canada, relabel them, get them to Florida and send them out through various state programs that way, Floridas Agency for Health Care Administration secretary, Jason Weida, told state lawmakers last month. That guarantees safety. That guarantees cost savings.

Seven other states, including Colorado, Maine and Texas, have passed laws that would allow them to create state drug importation programs. Some are in various stages of seeking FDA approval. New Hampshires application was rejected in 2022 because it did not identify a Canadian wholesaler.

Florida must meet certain FDA requirements before drugs can be imported. It must submit additional drug-specific information for the agencys approval, ensure that the medications have been tested and comply with FDA standards, and relabel the medications consistent with FDA rules. In addition, the state must submit a quarterly report about the imported drugs, cost savings and potential safety and quality issues.

These proposals must demonstrate the programs would result in significant cost savings to consumers without adding risk of exposure to unsafe or ineffective drugs, said FDA Commissioner Robert Califf.

The states plan is authorized for two years from the date the FDA is notified of the first drug shipment.

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, known as PhRMA, quickly issued a statement that said it is considering all options for preventing this policy from harming patients.

We are deeply concerned with the FDAs reckless decision to approve Floridas state importation plan, said Stephen Ubl, CEO of PhRMA, the main industry group. Ensuring patients have access to needed medicines is critical, but the importation of unapproved medicines, whether from Canada or elsewhere in the world, poses a serious danger to public health. Politicians need to stop getting between Americans and their health care.

The Canadian government, which is concerned about its own drug shortages, and independent experts have questioned whether importation would do much to help lower prices in the US since Canadas drug market is relatively small. In 2020, Canada announced measures to protect its drug supply, including banning the distribution of certain drugs outside of the country that would cause or worsen a shortage. This includes all medications eligible for bulk importation to the US, according to Health Canada, which is responsible for national health policy.

The Government of Canada is taking all necessary action to safeguard the drug supply and ensure Canadians have access to the prescription drugs they need and has been clear in its position: bulk importation will not provide an effective solution to the problem of high drug prices in the US, Health Canada said in a statement Friday evening.

But others are more hopeful.

This is a significant step in moving towards wholesale drug importation and residents of the United States accessing the same drugs at a lower cost, said Maureen Hensley-Quinn, senior director of coverage, cost and value at the National Academy for State Health Policy, which developed drug importation model legislation that states can use.

This story has been updated with additional information.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is investigating whether semaglutide, the active ingredient of the weight loss drug Wegovy and the diabetes medication Ozempic, might cause hair loss and suicidal thoughts, CNN reports.

Semaglutide belongs to a category of drugs which work by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone in the gut, which can affect the secretion of insulin and how food passes through the stomach.

In a recent update, the FDA said its Adverse Event Reporting Systems (FAERS) received reports of patients using these GLP-1 drugs suffering a form of hair loss known as alopecia, as well as suicidal ideation, and instances of aspiration in which food and liquids accidentally enter the lung. As of December 12, the agency is "evaluating the need for regulatory action."

"The appearance of a drug on this list does not mean that FDA has concluded that the drug has the listed risk," the FAERS website says, as noted by CNN. "It means that FDA has identified a potential safety issue, but it does not mean that FDA has identified a causal relationship between the drug and the listed risk."

Wegovy, made by Novo Nordisk, has been hailed as a "miracle" for its ability to suppress a person's appetite. In the years since its approval in 2021, Wegovy, along with its technically only for treating diabetes cousin Ozempic that's often prescribed off-label, have virtually revolutionized weight loss (a remaining wrinkle: Wegovy is extremely expensive and not currently available on insurance.)

Officially, some of listed side effects of semaglutide drugs like Wegovy include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation.

Since their rise in popularity, though, more troubling side effects seemingly caused by the semaglutide drugs continue to emerge, such as its mocked drawback of supposedly causing facial aging, or "Ozempic face."

But some of its most severe alleged consequences include reports of the drugs causing stomach paralysis and serious bowel blockage. In addition, European regulators have already been investigating a risk of suicidal ideation from taking semaglutide and other GLP-1 drugs since last year.

It's unclear how prevalent these more harmful complications are, but the reports are evidently significant enough to warrant an investigation.

"If newly identified safety signals are identified, the FDA will determine what, if any, actions are appropriate after a thorough review of available data," the agency told CNN in a statement.

What those actions might be remain to be seen, but one course of action could be requiring an update to the labeling of these drugs, although more drastic measures  or none at all  aren't out of the question, either.

More on drugs: Semaglutide Patients Regained More Weight Than Theyd Lost After Stopping Their Injections
Update:

The Volusia Sheriffs Office said Friday morning that the girl has been found safe.

FOUND SAFE: The missing 15-year-old in Osteen posted here Thursday evening has been recovered and is OK. Thank you for all your shares and tips!  Volusia Sheriff (@VolusiaSheriff) January 5, 2024

Earlier story:

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has issued a Missing Child Alert for a teenager in Volusia County.

Clarissa Norvitz, 15, was last seen Thursday on Dixon Lake Road in Osteen, according to FDLE.

Agents said Norvitz may be traveling along State Road 415 and has also been known to visit the Osteen Bike Path and surrounding forest area.

FDLE has issued a Missing Child Alert for Clarissa Norvitz, 15, of Osteen.

Norvitz is described as:

5 feet 3 inches tall

120 pounds

Red hair

Brown eyes

Last seen wearing black shirt and black shorts

If you see her or know where she might be, youre urged to call 911 or Volusia Sheriffs Office at 386-943-8276.

READ: Police: Man carjacks driver in Ormond Beach, crashes into another driver

Stay with WFTV.com for updates on this story.

A Florida MISSING CHILD Alert has been issued for Clarissa Norvitz, a wht. fem. 15 y/o, 5'3", 120 lbs. red hair, brn eyes, seen on Dixon Lake Rd, Osteen, last seen wearing blk shirt, blk shorts, She may be traveling sb on SR 415. Contact Volusia County SO 386-943-8276 or 911. pic.twitter.com/xuFnH4wny8  FDLE (@fdlepio) January 5, 2024

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UPDATE: The Volusia County Sheriff's Office said Friday morning that Clarissa Norvitz was "found safe" in Osteen and "is OK."

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement issued a missing child alert for a 15-year-old Osteen girl early Friday morning.

Clarissa Norvitz was "last seen in the area of the 200th block on Dixon Lake Road in Osteen," the agency said in a social media post.

Norvitz went missing on Thursday. She is described as white with brown eyes and red hair, 5 feet 3 inches tall and 120 pounds.

A Florida MISSING CHILD Alert has been issued for Clarissa Norvitz, a wht. fem. 15 y/o, 5'3", 120 lbs. red hair, brn eyes, seen on Dixon Lake Rd, Osteen, last seen wearing blk shirt, blk shorts, She may be traveling sb on SR 415. Contact Volusia County SO 386-943-8276 or 911. pic.twitter.com/xuFnH4wny8  FDLE (@fdlepio) January 5, 2024

FDLE also said Norvitz "may be carrying a blue blanket," and that she "may be traveling southbound on State Road 415." She is known to frequent the Osteen bike path and the surrounding forest area.

News-Journal 2023: Here's a look at Daytona's top 10 local news headlines of the year

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Volusia County Sheriff's Office at 386-943-8276 or call 911.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: 15-year-old Osteen girl reported missing 'found safe,' police say
(KRON)  Crews responded to a fire that broke out Thursday at a house, the San Bruno Fire Department said on Facebook. The fire, which happened at a ranch-style home, was knocked down in 10 minutes, officials said.

The fire happened on the 400 block of Poplar Avenue. No injuries were reported. Officials did not say whether or not anyone was home at the time of the fire. Photos from the scene were posted by SBPD (below).

(San Bruno Fire Department)

(San Bruno Fire Department)

(San Bruno Fire Department)

The cause of the fire is under investigation, officials said.

SBFD posted on Facebook about the fire at 1:16 p.m. Central County Fire, South San Francisco Fire, San Bruno Police Department and American Medical Response all assisted in the response to the fire.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
When buying a new bed, customers should try out the main sleeping positions at their leisure and pay close attention to how their shoulders, waist and lumbar spine are supported. Christin Klose/dpa

Most people will spend about one-third of their life in their bed, so for healthy sleep it's essential to choose the model well - and preferably one that will last for many years.

"You don't buy beds in passing or on the internet," says Marc Bohle from the Association of Specialist Bed Shops in Cologne, Germany. "This is one purchase that needs to be well prepared."

However, there's a dizzying selection to choose from: single and double beds, family beds, box spring beds, sofa beds, solid wood beds, upholstered beds, futons, pull-outs and much more.

"Which model fits the bill depends mainly on the user's size and stature," says Bohle. "But available space and personal preferences also play a role."

Know what matters to you!

Start by considering some key points before you even set foot in a specialist shop. How wide and high should the bed be? How tall and heavy are the people who will sleep in it? Should you get two single mattresses for a double? Does the underlay - an extra layer of support you can place on the mattress - need to be a different firmness? Consider too whether the sleepers tend to sweat a lot.

Once you're in the store, be sure to "test lie" the mattress - and don't be shy. Customers should try out the main sleeping positions at their leisure and pay close attention to how their shoulders, waist and lumbar spine are supported.

"Take your time and ask the salesperson to look at your sleeping positions. They know from experience what issues can occur later," says Bohle, warning that a thorough bed testing can take half an hour.

Another factor is the dimensions of the sleeping surface. "People often buy beds that are too narrow or too short," the expert says. As a rule of thumb, the bed should be at least 20 centimetres longer than the occupant's height. A single should be 1.40 to 1.60 metres wide, a double ideally 1.80 by 2 metres.

A pull-out is not for the long-term

If you need to save space there are solutions, but you are advised against indefinitely sleeping on a folding sofa or pull-out couch. "This is at best a temporary emergency solution," says Detlef Detjen, the publisher of Germany's AGR (Healthy Back Campaign) seal of approval for back-friendly products.

"Comfort on such sofas quickly diminishes due to their flat base," says Bohle. However, they are suitable for occasional overnight stays in guest rooms.

Only if a bed is large and wide enough does it allow the sleeper to move around at night, which is essential for healthy rest. "People turn 60 times at night if the mattress allows it," says Detjen. "This is important so that the body and mind can regenerate during sleep."

These movements are also restricted if the bed is too soft, as the body sinks so deeply into the mattress that it is hard to get out.

Adapted to the sleeper

"A good bed must be customised to the body and provide support in every position," says Detjen. Modern bed systems do this, offering a precisely coordinated flexible slat base and matching mattress.

"Comfortable slatted frames have one or more adjustment options," explains Bohle. In the most sophisticated models, the frame can be bent at head, hip, thigh and knee height. This can provide relief for the joints.

Frame and mattress in harmony

Bear in mind that not every slatted frame and slat base can be combined with every mattress. If the mattress and frame don't match, the fine-tuning of the support and protective effects is reduced. It therefore makes sense to buy both together.

"However, if you absolutely want to keep your old slatted frame, you should take a photo of it when buying a mattress. This will ensure that the right mattress is selected," advises Petra Kerner from the German Mattress Industry Association in Essen.

A mismatched mattress on a slatted frame is not only uncomfortable, but can also cause damage, especially on adjustable and motorised slat bases.

It's important for all sleepers that the mattress is firm enough to support their body. On the other hand, the mattress must not be too hard, as this is not only uncomfortable, but also impedes blood circulation.

People's individual mattress requirements are always different: Do you freeze or sweat quickly? Do you want to snuggle into it, or should the mattress be a tad firmer?

"The general rule is: not too hard, but not too soft. The mattress should support and hold, and you should neither sink in nor float," says Kerner. But above all, your sleep must be deep and comfy.

Only if a bed is large and wide enough does it allow the sleeper to move around at night, which is essential for healthy rest. Christin Klose/dpa

Finding a good bed is essential for healthy sleep and requirements differ depending on the sleeper's size and and stature. Experts recommend a thorough in-store testing before committing to a model. Christin Klose/dpa
A view of the scene after explosions at a commemoration ceremony next to the tomb of Iran's Revolutionary Guards chief of foreign operations Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in the Saheb al-Zaman mosque. With around 100 people dead, Iran's government called the blasts a terrorist attack. The causes of the deadliest attack in the 45-year history of the Islamic Republic remain unclear. Fars/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

The first arrests have been made in connection with the suicide blasts in Iran that left more than 80 people dead two days ago, Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi said

According to the Iranian news agency Tasnim, the secret service arrested the suspects in five provinces.

The death toll of the Islamic State-claimed attack rose from 84 to 89 on Friday, according to state media.

At a mourning ceremony for the victims in the southern city of Kerman, representatives of the Iranian leadership threatened their enemies.

President Ebrahim Raisi said, "Be sure that the power of initiative is in the hands of our God-ordained troops." As usual, the speeches were accompanied by shouts of "Death to Israel" and "Death to America."

The terrorist milita Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack. According to the militant Sunni Muslim group, two suicide attackers detonated their explosive belts during mourning ceremonies on Wednesday to mark the fourth anniversary of the death of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.

It was the deadliest attack in the 45-year history of the Islamic Republic. According to Iranian media reports, a dozen children under the age of 15 were among the dead.

IS considers the predominant Shia majority in Iran to be apostates of Islam and despises them.

However, Rita Katz, head of the SITE Intelligence Group, which specializes in extremist propaganda, believes that the influence of IS in the region is limited.

IS has no recognizable leader and no central headquarters, the expert wrote in an analysis. According to her, the Islamist organization therefore has "no near-term prospects to regain the footing it once held in the Middle East."

A view of the scene after explosions at a commemoration ceremony next to the tomb of Iran's Revolutionary Guards chief of foreign operations Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in the Saheb al-Zaman mosque. With around 100 people dead, Iran's government called the blasts a terrorist attack. The causes of the deadliest attack in the 45-year history of the Islamic Republic remain unclear. Fars/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
Pine processionary caterpillars have fine stinging hairs that can cause skin irritation - DPA PICTURE ALLIANCE/ALAMY

Stinging caterpillars are invading Paris only weeks after a panic over bedbugs in the French capital.

Pine processionary caterpillars  whose name refers to how they travel in single file  have arrived three months earlier than usual because of unusually mild temperatures, experts say.

Entire neighbourhoods have reportedly been infested by the insects, which measure up to 4cm (1.6in) in length, live in groups and weave silk nests in colonised pine and oak trees.

While the caterpillars do not bite, their hairs are like microscopic needles or harpoons that detach from their bodies when they feel threatened and travel with the wind, Anses, the French health and safety agency, said.

The hairs contain a toxic protein that can cause blisters on the skin and a variety of allergic reactions. The caterpillars and their hairs can also be fatal for pets and toddlers who may inadvertently put them in their mouths.

A nest of pine processionary caterpillars on the floor of a pine forest - Judith/Alamy

In 2022, processionary caterpillars were designated by the government as harmful to human health.

After finding huge colonies nesting in his 15 metre-high pine tree, one homeowner in the northern department of Yveline was forced to cut down the tree, which he had planted 20 years ago.

I couldnt believe it, Emmanuel told Le Parisien. They came down from my pine despite the trap I set. They are devouring my tree and I am afraid for my dog.

In the final larval stages, pine processionary caterpillars descend along the trunk to bury themselves in the ground and transform into a chrysalis.

Its an invasion, Jean-Marc Pommier, the mayor of Bonnieres-sur-Seine, told Le Parisien. People are calling the town hall. We have entire neighbourhoods affected, we see trees covered with these horrible garlands.

The caterpillar invasion follows a major Paris bedbug scare that made locals and tourists skittish about travelling through the city.

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If your new years resolution is to make your money work harder in 2024, one way to achieve it is by investing in the stock market.

The sooner you start, the better. This is because a long period in the markets will allow you to make the most of compound returns  gains on your gains. Someone who invested 2,000 annually for 40 years would end up with a pot worth 256,000, assuming average returns of 5pc a year, whereas someone who invested over three decades would have 142,000.

Once you have decided to give investing a go, the first question is: what do you want to invest in? You may find you enjoy the research that picking individual shares requires. But keeping track of companies changing prospects can be extremely time-consuming.

If it is your very first time investing, you are probably better off keeping things simple. With collective investments such as funds, you can leave the hassle of choosing stocks to a professional, with the added advantage of reducing risk by having your money invested across a wide range of companies.

The next thing to think about is how much risk you want to take. Generally, the younger you are, the more risk you can afford to take. Rob Burgeman of the wealth manager RBC Brewin Dolphin said: If you are relatively young and have a decent length of time over which to invest, stocks have consistently provided the best returns, albeit the most volatile ones.

But even when you have made these key decisions, the huge choice of investments out there can be overwhelming. So we asked some investment experts which funds they would recommend for first-time investors.

The best one-stop funds for first-timers

Building a sufficiently diversified portfolio is one of the most intimidating aspects of investing as a beginner. This is where a so-called one-stop fund can help.

By giving you exposure to major companies from around the world, these funds can serve as the core holding of your portfolio, or even the sole component while you find your feet.

If you are happy to have the bulk of your portfolio in the stock market, an index tracker  which simply owns every stock in an index (such as the FTSE 100) and makes no attempt to pick winners and avoid losers  may be your best port of call.

Fidelity World Index fund

This index tracker aims to replicate the performance of the MSCI World Index, which is composed of more than 1,500 large and medium-sized companies from all over the world. With an annual cost of 0.12pc, it is a cheap way to access the global stock market.

JP Morgan Global Research Enhanced Index fund

The disadvantage of index trackers is that they cannot outperform the benchmark they track. For those who want a little more active management, the JP Morgan Global Research Enhanced Index Fund is built in reference to the MSCI World Index but adds in-house research on sectors and companies.

This means it puts more money into the stocks that JP Morgans analysts expect to outperform and less into the ones they think are overvalued.

At 0.35pc a year it is a little more expensive than the Fidelity World Index fund, said Mr Burgeman. But the fund has added value over the longer term, outperforming the MSCI World Index by around half a percentage point a year since launch, he added.

Such a small-seeming extra return can make a big difference if repeated over the decades.

Vanguard LifeStrategy range

The LifeStrategy funds spread your money across a variety of Vanguard trackers, giving you exposure to thousands of stocks and bonds from around the world, and are a common investment for first-timers.

The LifeStrategy 80pc Equity fund, for example, which has 80pc of its money in stocks and the rest in bonds, holds more than 10bn of investors money.

The funds have become extremely popular thanks in part to their low cost and simplicity. The annual cost is just 0.22pc, yet, unlike some other funds, the portfolios are rebalanced to maintain the stated proportion of stocks and bonds. If you have a long time horizon, opting for 80pc or 100pc exposure to the stock market is probably wise.

The best portfolio for beginners

If investing in one fund seems a little too boring, you may want to build a portfolio yourself.

Dan Boardman-Weston of BRI Wealth Management said the following funds should make suitable building blocks for a first-timers portfolio: Liontrust Special Situations, HSBC FTSE All World Index, Gravis UK Listed Property, Polar Capital Global Technology and iShares Emerging Markets Equity Index.

Liontrust Special Situations, run by long-serving manager Anthony Cross and his colleagues Julian Fosh and Victoria Stevens, gives investors exposure to small, medium-sized and large companies in Britain, while Gravis UK Listed Property invests in real estate investment trusts (Reits).

Property has performed well over the long term and the Gravis fund is ideally placed to deliver good returns over the longer term, Mr Boardman-Weston said.

However, these funds alone will leave you highly exposed to Britain and you will need some global stocks to balance them. This is why you may want to add funds such as HSBC FTSE All World Index and the iShares Emerging Markets Equity Index. Together these will give you access to some of the largest companies in the world while keeping costs low.

Mr Boardman-Weston also recommended the Polar Capital Global Technology fund thanks to its focus on one of the fastest-growing sectors of the past decade.

This should give you a flavour of how to build your own portfolio. You may decide that you want less exposure to Britain or that another sector interests you more than technology. The key is spreading your risk across different markets so that if one underperforms you have some protection from the fallout.

Tips for investing as a beginner

Before you do anything else, check that you have enough money in an emergency fund. Generally it is advised to keep at least three to six months salary in an easy-access account to cover any unexpected costs, for example in case you lose your job.

You should be prepared to tie up the money in your investment portfolio for at least five years, to give yourself the best chance of riding out volatility in the market. If you are saving for a goal in the very near future, it is better to keep the money youll need in cash.

Make the most of tax-free wrappers such as individual savings accounts (Isas) and self-invested personal pensions (Sipps). Which tax-free vehicle you should choose depends on whether you are saving for retirement or for a shorter-term goal.

Mr Burgeman said: Investing in a pension can boost the value of the investment with generous tax relief, but may make it inaccessible without large penalties before retirement. Lifetime Isas can also provide a boost, but access can, again, be restrictive.

A stocks and shares Isa is probably the most appropriate type of account if you want easy access to the money in your portfolio. You can save up to 20,000 a year into Isas and from April you can open more than one of the same type.

Above all, remember to keep a cool head. Try to take emotions out of investing and set up regular amounts that will be invested for you.

Timing the market is notoriously tricky and your emotions can be your own worst enemy when investing, Mr Boardman-Weston said.

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The National Rifle Association (NRA) announced on Friday that long-time CEO and executive vice president Wayne LaPierre will resign at the end of the month, marking an end of an era for one of the countrys most influential lobbying groups.

With pride in all that we have accomplished, I am announcing my resignation from the NRA, LaPierre said. Ive been a card-carrying member of this organization for most of my adult life, and I will never stop supporting the NRA and its fight to defend Second Amendment freedom. My passion for our cause burns as deeply as ever.

The 74-year-old cited health reasons for his resignation. Heres what you need to know:

LaPierre faces a crucial legal battle

LaPierres resignation announcement comes just days before he is set to go to trial in a New York civil case that alleges he and other executives took millions from the organization for their own gain.

New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) alleges LaPierre and other senior leaders diverted millions of dollars away from the groups charitable mission and towards luxury personal benefits.

Following an 18-month investigation, James said the NRA fostered a culture of self-dealing, mismanagement and negligent oversight, costing the group $64 million over three years.

The NRA and LaPierre have denied wrongdoing. The case initially sought to completely dissolve the NRA, but that provision was thrown out last year. James also demanded LaPierre and another executive be removed from their posts.

LaPierre remains a defendant in the case, which is set to go to trial starting Monday.

James celebrates the news

New York Attorney General Letitia James arrives at New York Supreme Court, Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

James hailed LaPierres resignation in a statement Friday while committing to continue the case.

While the end of the Wayne LaPierre era is an important victory in our case, our push for accountability continues. LaPierres resignation validates our claims against him, but it will not insulate him or the NRA from accountability, she said. Our case will move ahead, and we look forward to proving the facts in court.

The trial is expected to last about six weeks, with the future of the organization hinging on its outcome.

LaPierres lasting legacy

LaPierre led the NRA for over three decades and has been an employee since 1977. In that time, the group has grown from a modest gun safety advocacy group to one of the most powerful lobbying interests in Washington.

Championing legislation in Congress and statehouses across the country, the NRAs political influence could be felt in every major race, with the groups endorsements making or breaking many candidacies.

The group also spent hundreds of millions on legal services, challenging gun control measures nationwide.

The groups major legal victories include last years Supreme Court decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, which threw out New York state handgun regulation and started a wave of legal challenges to other gun control measures in dozens of states. The NRA supported the suit.

The NRAs slow downturn

Wayne LaPierre, CEO and executive vice-president of the National Rifle Association, addresses the National Rifle Association Convention, Friday, April 14, 2023, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Wayne LaPierre addresses the National Rifle Association Convention, Friday, April 14, 2023, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

The organization has faced legal and financial trouble in recent years. Outside the ongoing New York civil case, fundraising has fallen since its recent peak in 2016.

The groups fundraising and membership have fallen steeply in recent years, losing about a half-million members from 2021-22, according to gun violence news nonprofit The Trace.

The organization raised $213 million in 2022, about half of its 2016 total, according to the nonprofit Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.

As gun owners and activists begin to look to upstart rival advocacy organizations, the NRA has struggled to keep its title as the king of the gun lobby. Dwindling finances forced the organization to file for bankruptcy in 2021, though a judge ruled that the process could not go forward.

The NRAs future

The NRA has not been without LaPierre at its head since George H.W. Bush was president. The monumental shift that will likely come with his replacement will define the future of the group.

Long-time NRA executive and Head of General Operations Andrew Arulanandam will become the interim CEO & EVP of the NRA, the group announced Friday.

On behalf of the NRA Board of Directors, I thank Wayne LaPierre for his service, NRA President Charles Cotton said. Wayne has done as much to protect Second Amendment freedom as anyone.

Wayne is a towering figure in the fight for constitutional freedom, but one of his other talents is equally important: he built an organization that is bigger than him, he continued. Under the direction of Andrew Arulanandam, the NRA will continue to thrive  with a renewed energy in our business operations and grassroots advocacy. Our future is bright and secure.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Backers of a proposed constitutional amendment that would undo Floridas restrictive abortion laws have surpassed the required number of petition signatures to get on the 2024 ballot, according to data from the Florida Division of Elections.

But Floridians Protecting Freedom still faces the hurdle of state Supreme Court approval. Attorney General Ashley Moody has asked the Florida high court to disqualify the amendment from the ballot, saying the language could mislead voters.

The proposal would amend the states Constitution to explicitly protect abortion access until viability, which is estimated to be around 24 weeks.

It would undo the states current 15-week abortion ban and negate a six-week ban lawmakers approved to take effect pending the outcome of an ongoing Florida Supreme Court case.

The Florida group needed 891,523 verified petitions to make it on the ballot. As of Fridays count, the Division of Elections had verified 910,946. The campaign said it expects to receive official notification in the coming weeks.

More than 63,000 of those petitions came from Pinellas and more than 71,000 came from Hillsborough. The most validated petitions, at about 54,000, came from Congressional District 14, which is composed of parts of Hillsborough and Pinellas.

The fact that we only launched our campaign eight months ago and weve already reached our petition goal speaks to the unprecedented support and momentum there is to get politicians out of our private lives and health care decisions, Floridians Protecting Freedom Campaign Director Lauren Brenzel said in a statement. Most initiative campaigns never make it this far. The ones that do usually spend far more or take much longer to qualify, which is why were so confident that voters will approve our amendment once theyre given a chance to vote.

Brenzel also stressed that the issue is a nonpartisan one. In an internal analysis, Brenzel said about 15% of petitions came from Republicans and over 25% came from people affiliated with no major political party.

Since the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022 overturned Roe v. Wade  the 1973 case that declared abortion was constitutionally protected  seven states have had ballot measures related to abortion. In each case, voters have supported more abortion access or denied further restrictions. The most recent case was in Ohio, where about 57% of voters in November supported a measure that would protect abortion up until viability, similar to Floridas proposed amendment.

Brenzel on Friday said the campaign has been led by people in Florida, from campaign staff to volunteers to attorneys to key funders, but said the campaign has seen a boost in national support following Ohios election. Brenzel said she expects that support to continue, particularly because Florida is surrounded by other states where abortion is largely banned entirely.

We know that national partners who care deeply about abortion access and who have been carrying the charge since the overturn of Roe v. Wade will support Florida because this access to abortion is absolutely critical, Brenzel said.

Floridians Protecting Freedom, which is backed by organizations like Planned Parenthood and the ACLU of Florida, had raised nearly $16 million so far, according to the campaign.

According to data through September available from the Florida Division of Elections, the largest one-time donation, of $1 million, came from Democratic activist and philanthropist Marsha Laufer, who donated in late April shortly before the campaigns launch.

The next step for the campaign will depend on the conservative Florida Supreme Courts ruling. The court has scheduled oral arguments for Feb. 7. Moody raised concern over the amendments use of the term viability, which she says can be interpreted as having multiple meanings.

Florida law defines viability as the stage of fetal development when the life of a fetus is sustainable outside the womb through standard medical measures.

Helene Barthelemy, an attorney representing the campaign, said Moodys argument was disingenuous and said viability has long been defined as when life is sustainable outside the womb.

The truth is voters know what viability means, and they will see right through this effort to silence their voice, Barthelemy said.

If the amendment makes it onto the ballot, it can only pass with at least 60% of voters in support.
Abortion rights supporters rally at Orlando City Hall before heading out on a march through downtown in 2022. File Photo by Chris Chew/UPI

Jan. 5 (UPI) -- A petition in Florida has gathered enough signatures to place an amendment legalizing abortion up to 24 weeks on the ballot in November. Next the language of the amendment must pass the state Supreme Court.

Floridians Protecting Freedom, one of a coalition of groups working to place the amendment on the ballot, announced Friday that 910,946 signatures have been verified. The amendment requires about 891,000 signatures from at least 14 of the state's 28 congressional districts to be eligible for the ballot.

"Today is a big day for all Floridians!" Floridians Protecting Freedom tweeted. "The Division of Elections is reporting that #AbortionOnTheBallot has 910,946 verified signatures, enough to qualify for the 2024 election! What a huge milestone for abortion access in our state!"

The Division of Elections reported 911,027 signatures had been validated by Friday morning, including some from all 28 congressional districts.

The ballot measure still has hurdles to clear before November.

The Florida Supreme Court is weighing a 15-week abortion ban that was passed by the Florida Legislature and signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2022. Last year, DeSantis signed a new six-week ban. Neither is in effect due to court challenges. File Photo by Joe Marino/UPI

Florida's Republican Attorney General Ashley Moody is challenging the language of the proposed ballot measure at the Florida Supreme Court. Moody alleges the language of the measure -- the question voters would face on the ballot -- is designed to trick voters. She has asked the court to deny the ballot initiative despite it meeting signature requirements.

The proposed ballot title reads "Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion."

The ballot summary reads, "No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient's health, as determined by the patient's healthcare provider. This amendment does not change the Legislature's constitutional authority to require notification to a parent or guardian before a minor has an abortion."

Moody argues that the word "viability" is too broad or vague and could be understood to mean different things.

According to Florida's 2023 statutes, viability is defined as the "stage of fetal development when the life of a fetus is sustainable outside the womb through standard medical measures."

Oral arguments over the ballot measure are scheduled for Feb. 7.

The court is weighing a 15-week abortion ban that was passed by the Florida Legislature and signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2022. Last year, DeSantis signed a new six-week ban. Neither is in effect due to the challenge brought to the court by healthcare providers.

If the proposed amendment passes by vote in November, both bans would be effectively overruled.

For an amendment to Florida's constitution to pass, it must receive 60% approval from voters. This is a higher threshold than many states that require a simple majority to pass.

"Make no mistake: We will put abortion on the ballot in 2024 and take back the rights that have been stolen," state Sen. Lauren Book, Florida's senate minority leader, tweeted.

Several more states have similar ballot measures either collecting signatures or that have recently been placed before voters.

Maryland and New York will have changes to their constitutional language proposed on the ballot in November. Ohio voters approved an amendment last November that codifies the right to seek an abortion and for healthcare providers to provide an abortion without facing punishment.

Minnesota, South Dakota and Arizona are among other states that are circulating petitions to add similar amendments to the ballot this year.
A proposed constitutional amendment protecting abortion rights in Florida has enough signatures to qualify for the 2024 ballot, according to unofficial numbers posted on the states elections website Friday.

The Florida Division of Elections reported it has verified 910,946 petitions submitted by the campaign, almost 20,000 more than the required 891,523.

The amendments backers say the milestone shows that they have broad support needed to enshrine abortion rights in Floridas constitution.

The fact that we only launched our campaign eight months ago and weve already reached our petition goal speaks to the unprecedented support and momentum there is to get politicians out of our private lives and health care decisions, campaign director Lauren Brenzel said.

Floridians Protecting Freedom, the group backing the abortion amendment, is awaiting official confirmation from the secretary of state that the signature requirements have been met. The agency has until Feb. 1 to make that determination. A spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.

If the amendment makes the ballot, it must win at least 60% of the vote to secure passage.

The ballot initiatives summary states in part, No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patients health, as determined by the patients healthcare provider.

Last year, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill that bans most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. That law will take effect if the Supreme Court upholds a 15-week abortion ban passed last year.

The proposed amendment will need to clear another hurdle to get on the ballot, even if it is certified as having enough signatures.

The Florida Supreme Court, which is dominated by conservative justices, must approve the ballot initiatives language. The high court evaluates proposed citizen ballot initiatives to determine if the language is clear, wont mislead voters, and deals with a single subject.

Republican Attorney General Ashley Moody has argued that the ballot summary will confuse voters because it doesnt define the term viability. Supporters say the term has a well-understood, commonly accepted meaning as the point at which a fetus could survive outside the womb.

John Stemberger, president of the anti-abortion Florida Family Policy Council, called on the court to block the initiative, which he said isnt clear as to its scope.

The collection of the signatures is meaningless unless the Florida Supreme Court approves the language, he said. I think it is misleading.

A coalition is ready to oppose the measure if it does make the ballot, Stemberger said.

The high court is set to hear arguments on Feb. 7.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday approved Floridas plan to import certain prescription drugs directly from Canada, the first time a state has ever been allowed to do so.

The approval marks a major shift in U.S. drug policy and comes despite fierce opposition from the pharmaceutical industry, which is likely to sue. The FDA has also raised safety concerns about importing drugs from outside the U.S., because it cant guarantee their safety.

Individuals are allowed to buy from Canadian pharmacies, but states have long sought to purchase cheaper drugs directly from Canadian wholesalers.

Prescription drugs are cheaper in Canada, as in most other countries, because the government can directly negotiate the price with drug companies.

The approval marks a political victory for both President Biden and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican presidential candidate, both of whom have been prioritizing lowering drug prices.

The Trump administration in 2020 issued rules allowing states to apply for drug importation, and Florida was the first to apply. A 2021 executive order from Biden gave the policy new momentum and directed federal agencies to work with states on importation plans.

But FDA inaction led DeSantis to sue the agency, accusing it of reckless delay in approving the request.

According to Florida, the state will begin by providing prescription drugs in a small number of drug classes, including medications to help individuals who have chronic health conditions such as asthma, COPD, diabetes, HIV/AIDS and mental illness.

Only state programs, including Medicaid, the prison system and facilities run by the Department of Children & Families, would get the imported drugs.

The industry trade group Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) and two other groups sued the Trump administration in 2020 over the importation effort, but the lawsuit was dismissed by a federal judge last year.

In a statement Friday, the group said it was considering all options for preventing the policy from happening.

We are deeply concerned with the FDAs reckless decision to approve Floridas state importation plan. Ensuring patients have access to needed medicines is critical, but the importation of unapproved medicines, whether from Canada or elsewhere in the world, poses a serious danger to public health. Politicians need to stop getting between Americans and their health care, PhRMA President and CEO Stephen J. Ubl said.

PhRMA is considering all options for preventing this policy from harming patients.

Updated at 10:45 a.m. ET

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A Florida man irate with a U.S. congressman decided to share his thoughts with him in a series of voicemails. Instead of arguing about policies he disagreed with, he engaged in a verbal assault  including racist remarks and threats to kill the congressman.

Those words landed him behind bars, authorities said.

Michael Shapiro, a 72-year-old from Greenacres, was charged with using a communication device to threaten to injure another person. He was arrested Wednesday morning. In an initial federal court appearance, his bond was set at $250,000. It is unclear whether he remains in jail.

AP News reported the congressman was U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell, of California. In a statement, he said, No threat is going to stop me from representing my constituents, Swalwell said. MAGA Republicans have chosen violence over voting and this is what it looks like.

On Dec. 19, Shapiro left five voicemails for the U.S. congressman at his Washington, D.C. office. Within them contained threats to him, his family and racist jabs.

He said he was going to come after you and kill you  and continued stating he was going to come and kill your children, a complaint read.

Back in 2019, Shapiro pleaded guilty to making threatening communications to someone else, the complaint read. Its not clear if that person also was a political figure.
LAKELAND, Fla. (WFLA)  A teacher at Kathleen High School was arrested and charged with sex offenses due to an inappropriate relationship with a student, the Polk County Sheriffs Office announced Friday.

The Polk County Sheriffs Office Special Victims Unit arrested 33-year-old Brandon Adams of Lakeland after detectives said an investigation revealed he had a sexual relationship with a senior at the high school where he taught.

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Authorities said the victim, an 18-year-old student in her senior year during the 2021-2022 school year, claimed she was in a consensual relationship with Adams and that she had moved into his home in June of 2021.

This suspect used his position of authority over one of his students in the most egregious way. We will not tolerate this kind of behavior. Grady Judd, Sheriff

Adams had worked for Polk County Public Schools since August 2018, according to the school district. He was reportedly put on leave in November 2023, for an investigation unrelated to his arrest by the Polk County Sheriffs Office.

Adams has since been fired from his teaching job.

Im disgusted by the behavior described in this investigation. It is unacceptable for an educator to abuse their trust and authority by having a relationship with a student. We appreciate the work of the Polk County Sheriffs Office to help protect students, and ensure that people who commit these violations are punished and brought to justice. Superintendent Fred Heid

Adams faces one count of sex offense on a student by an authority figure.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
A Florida venue Thursday canceled an event featuring Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., that was to include a "private briefing" for "Super VIPs" on the Jan. 6 deadly pro-Trump mob attack on the U.S. Capitol. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI

Jan. 5 (UPI) -- A Florida venue canceled an event featuring Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene to commemorate the deadly Jan. 6 pro-Trump attack on the U.S. Capitol. It was to include a Jan. 6 "private briefing" for "Super VIPs" who paid $1,000 for a signed copy of Greene's book, MTG.

The venue barred the event after learning its purpose was not just a book signing as she had claimed.

The Republican Party of Osceola County was to host the event scheduled for Saturday but in a Thursday statement Westgate Resorts Kissimmee canceled it.

"Please be advised that Westgate was not made aware of the purpose of this event when we were approached to host a book signing," the resort said in an emailed statement to The Hill. "This event has been cancelled and is no longer taking place at our resort."

Details describing the event said "Super VIPs" paying $1,000 would get a signed copy of Green's book MTG plus "a special private briefing on J6 and D.C. in a closed-door session" with Greene.

In December 2022 Greene said of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack to stop the peaceful transfer of presidential power, "I want to tell you something: If Steve Bannon and I had organized that, we would have won, not to mention, it would have been armed."

After White House and Democratic criticism, she claimed her Jan. 6 comments were sarcasm.

The Osceola County Republican Party was still selling tickets to the event Friday despite the cancellation.

County Chair Mark Cross told The Hill the event was still on and the party would change venues if Westgate Resorts Kissimmee doesn't want it.

In March, Rep. Greene urged members of Congress to visit the Jan. 6 insurrectionist rioters in prison, alleging their incarceration for their Capitol attack was "human rights abuse."
FILE PHOTO: Election campaign posters of Awami League hang on a road as traffic moves past ahead of the general election, in Dhaka

By Ruma Paul and Sudipto Ganguly

DHAKA (Reuters) - Bangladeshi lawmaker Ranajit Kumar Roy is one of hundreds of independents running in Sunday's election, an unusually high number which the opposition says is part of a ruling party ploy to legitimise a vote seen by critics as a one-sided sham.

Many lawmakers and members from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League are among 436 independent candidates in the race that the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has boycotted for the second time in three elections.

This is the highest number of independent candidates since a 2001 election, leading to criticism from the BNP that the Awami League has propped up "dummy" independent candidates to try to make the election look credible.

The Awami League has denied the accusation.

A three-time lawmaker for the Awami league, Roy said he had decided to run as an independent thinking the candidate whom his party had chosen over him was going to be disqualified in a loan fraud case, although a court eventually allowed him to contest.

"How can I compete against my party? I have asked my supporters to vote for 'boat'", Roy said, referring to the Awami League's symbol.

Nearly 2,000 candidates overall are vying for the 300 directly elected parliament seats, though the BNP is sitting it out after Hasina refused to resign to make way for a caretaker government to run the poll. She is set for her fourth straight five-year term.

Some 30 Awami League members of parliament are contesting as independents and another 35 gave up various party posts to fight on their own, said an Awami League spokesperson. In total, almost 80% of the independents are party members of various ranks, the spokesperson added.

Awami League's Abdul Hamid is taking on party candidate and incumbent lawmaker Mokbul Hossain in a constituency in Pabna district, about 200 km (124 miles) west of the capital, Dhaka.

"It needs courage to contest against the incumbent member of parliament," said Hamid, 72, who rose from student politics to a senior leader in the party. "I'm contesting to win, not to lose. I have been working for the people and that's my strength."

The International Crisis Group, an independent think tank, has said the election lacks credibility due to the absence of the BNP, which has called it a fake election.

"The way this election is being stage-managed by way of putting up dummy candidates as well as through horse trading of some politicians undoubtedly confirms our apprehension of a fake election," BNP leader and former minister Abdul Moyeen Khan said.

The Awami League denied the charges and said it was the democratic right of citizens to contest elections.

Party member Tarikul Islam, from the northwestern district of Dinajpur, said he was contesting as an independent but Hasina was his leader.

"Our leader Sheikh Hasina has left the mandate to the people," said Islam, standing against Awami League lawmaker and former minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali. "She said anybody can contest the poll."

(Writing by Sudipto Ganguly; Editing by Krishna N. Das and William Maclean)
FOLEY, Ala. (WKRG)  The National Park Service has named Foley the American World War II Heritage City for Alabama.

Eleven communities nationwide have recently received the designation, and only one community can be selected to represent its state or territory as the designated American World War II Heritage City.

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Communities were recognized based on their contributions to the war effort and continuing to observe sacrifices made by veterans and those on the home front during World War II.

Foley played a critical role in this history, and we are pleased to recognize your jurisdiction as an American World War II Heritage City through the program, a statement from the National Park Service read.

Navy training aircraft line the runways at Barin Field in Foley during World War II. The National Park Service named Foley one of 11 new American World War II Heritage Cities. (Photo courtesy of the City of Foley)

Foleys Involvement in World War II

On Dec. 5, 1942, Barin Field training center opened in Foley for the United States Navys Pensacola Air Station.

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Over two years, 5,795 students entered the Barin Field log, and by 1945, 1,886 enlisted personnel and 165 officers had been assigned to the field.

Barin Fields presence impacted housing and other parts of the economy in Foley, which had 846 people at the time, according to the 1940 U.S. Census.

Navy personnel boarded about every vacant room in Foley, and up to five families shared a single home. To help, the National Housing Administration built 72 concrete modular apartments in 1943.

The Womens Club of Foley planted a live oak tree on Feb. 1, 1943, as a tribute honoring the young men and women of the community who are now or will soon be in the service of our country.

Navy personnel and local residents participate in a USO event in Foley during World War II. The National Park Service named Foley as the American World War II Heritage City for Alabama. (Photo courtesy of the National Park Service)

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On July 4, 1946, a flagpole and stone marker were dedicated at the same site. The site remains in Foleys Heritage Park to honor those who served in World War II. The Foley Revitalization and Beautification Advisory Board maintains it.

Max Griffin Park was also dedicated to World War II veterans. Two anti-tank guns were acquired from the U.S. Army and are at the park.

Foleys recognition by the National Park Service is an incredible recognition of our city and areas support of our military and veterans, Foley Mayor Ralph Hellmich said.

Even before World War II, our area was patriotic, but it certainly peaked during our nations World War II effort. We should all be proud of this recognition.

11 communities designated as American World War II Heritage cities:

Tempe, Arizona

Richmond, California

Wilmington, Delaware

Waterloo, Iowa

Baltimore County, Maryland

Johnson County and Warrensburg, Missouri (joint community nomination)

Hastings, Nebraska

Boulder City and Henderson, Nevada (joint community nomination)

Yonkers, New York

Bedford County, Virginia

Mobile police investigating Family Dollar robbery

Communities such as Pensacola, Pascagoula and New Orleans have also been designated American World War II Heritage Cities.

For more information on the American World War II Heritage Cities Program, visit the National Park Service website.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
Xinjiang issues revised regulations on religious affairs

Global Times) 10:00, January 05, 2024

Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Thursday issued revised regulations on religious affairs management, adding in a number of new clauses and a new chapter regarding the management of religious schools. The regulations emphasize the freedom of religious belief, noting that no organization or individual shall induce or coerce locals to believe or not believe in any religion.

Experts said the regulations truly reflect the freedom to believe or not believe in any religion and take into account a series of recent issues that the region has encountered by being more detailed and accurate. What's more, it clearly bans violent extremist forces from using religion as a pretext to forcibly convert people to a particular faith, which essentially prevents these forces from luring the public into engaging in acts of terrorism.

The regulations were passed by the Standing Committee of the People's Congress of Xinjiang on December 22, 2023, and will come into effect on February 1. The total nine chapters and 78 clauses include the management of religious organizations, religious venues, religious activities, and religious properties, reported Tianshannet, the region's largest media outlet, on Thursday.

The newly revised regulation stated that no organization or individual shall use religion to engage in activities that divide the country, spread religious extremism, incite ethnic hatred, carry out terrorism, undermine national unity, disrupt social order, or harm the physical and mental health of citizens, nor shall anyone use religion to obstruct the implementation of state administration, judiciary, education, and other systems.

If anyone discovers illegal religious organizations, preachers and activities, they should promptly report to the local township governments, subdistrict offices, or relevant departments of religious affairs, according to the regulations.

According to the Constitution, China is a country that upholds religious freedom, ensuring that individuals have the right to choose whether or not to have religious beliefs, Wang Jiang, deputy director of the Institute of China's Borderland Studies, Zhejiang Normal University, told the Global Times on Thursday. Under the framework of the Chinese Constitution and the laws and regulations related to religions, the Xinjiang region has further refined the legal framework regarding this sector, Wang said.

Xinjiang has witnessed the presence of violent terrorism that uses religion as a tool. These groups falsely claim to enforce religious beliefs, but their true intention is to coerce individuals into participating in terrorist activities. They manipulate the sincere religious sentiments of ordinary people and misguide them. It is crucial to establish relevant regulations to address the issue in this context, according to Wang.

The new version of the regulations specifies that newly constructed or renovated or expanded religious venues should reflect Chinese characteristics and style in terms of architecture, sculpture, painting, decoration and other aspects.

It also stipulates that religious schools should follow the path of Chinese characteristics in their educational approach, operate in accordance with the law, and improve the quality of education.

Religious schools should be established by religious organizations of the autonomous region, the regulation said. The schools should cultivate patriotic religious personnel, correctly interpret religious doctrines, and train in-service religious clergy.

Global Times reporters recently paid a visit to the Xinjiang Islamic Institute in Urumqi together with 15 representatives from Pakistani media and think tanks. Established in June 1987, the institute currently has a student body of around 1,000 people and is the only religious higher education institution in Xinjiang with eight branch campuses.

"Everyone has heard so many of the propaganda stories against Xinjiang," Moiz Farooq, an executive editor of Daily Ittehad Media Group, told the Global Times. "Now finally we have seen the truth, and it is great to say that seeing is believing."

"It is very happy for me to see the Muslims in Xinjiang are enjoying all the freedom," he said. "They have freedom to practice religion over here, with the best facilities in the institute."

Xinjiang residents who practice Islam and wish to go on a pilgrimage abroad shall follow the relevant regulations of the country and the region, and the China Islamic Association will organize pilgrimage activities, according to the regulations.

The foreign delegates expressed their appreciation for China's efforts in preserving the region's traditional culture, creating a harmonious and prosperous life for local people of different ethnic groups and those with religious belief, and fighting against terrorism and extremism, the Global Times has learned.

As of 2023, more than 100 foreign delegations have visited Xinjiang to experience the unique charm of this beautiful region, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said while refuting Western smears, noting that those who have actually visited the region highly praised its significant achievements in economic and social development, and appreciated the Chinese government's great efforts in protecting the multi-ethnic culture of the Xinjiang region and ensuring people's freedom of religious belief.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
A trial date has been set for a former Fort Worth police chief who alleged in a lawsuit that his 2019 firing was retaliation for his attempts to uncover corruption.

A Dallas County civil court will hear Joel Fitzgeralds whistlerblower case starting at 9:30 a.m. Monday at the George L. Allen Sr. Courts Building, 600 Commerce St.

Fitzgerald, who served as Fort Worths police chief from 2015 to 2019, was fired shortly after getting into an argument with a union leader during a police conference in Washington, D.C. City leaders also accused the former chief of an increasing lack of good judgment, saying he couldnt build relationships with other department heads and had mismanaged the police department budget, according to a letter from city manager David Cooke.

However, the Texas Workforce Commission ruled in July 2019 there was no evidence Fitzgerald had committed any work related misconduct, and in May 2020 a court ordered the city change his discharge designation to honorable.

Fitzgerald has also pointed to the fact that his firing came hours before he was scheduled to meet with federal investigators over concerns the city had violated the Criminal Justice Information Systems Act. He alleged city employees lied about the city being in compliance with regulations needed to access a federal law enforcement database, and that the employees destroyed evidence to cover it up.

The former Fort Worth police chief unsuccessfully sued to stop the city from hiring his replacement. He now works as the chief of police and emergency management for the Regional Transportation District in Denver.

Fort Worth initially allocated $500,000 to fight the Fitzgeralds lawsuit, but upped the amount to $900,000 in September 2023 to respond to Fitzgeralds attorneys numerous motions, and challenge many discovery requests that have no real relevance to Fitzgeralds claims, according to a city memo.

A city spokesperson declined to comment on the case, but said in an email that the city has not exceeded its $900,000 allocation.

Fitzgeralds lawyer Stephen Kennedy did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Star-Telegram.
Pierce Brosnan has faced his fair share of sticky situations while playing James Bond, but hes now in hot water in real life.

What happened?

BBC reported that Brosnan was charged by U.S. National Park Service rangers with trespassing in Yellowstone National Park. The 70-year-old actor, who was in the area shooting the Western Unholy Trinity that also stars Samuel L. Jackson, was caught going off trail near the Mammoth Hot Springs on Nov. 1.

Brosnan has yet to comment on the matter. He has been ordered to appear in court in Wyoming on Jan. 23.

Why was Brosnans crime so bad?

Brosnans act of trespassing carried potentially dangerous consequences. The park website notes that the ground near the hot springs is unstable and can, as the BBC put it, easily give way to the boiling hot acid pools beneath.

According to the BBC, more than 20 people have died after falling into the parks hot springs. Just this August, a Yellowstone tourist from Michigan deviated from the official trail, got thermal burns on one of his feet, and was arrested and banned from the park. In 2016, a man died in the Lower Geyser Basin after venturing too close off the boardwalk, and the result was so bad that authorities could not recover his body, which dissolved almost completely by the next day.

What can you do to avoid ending up like Brosnan?

While Brosnan is widely regarded as one of the smoothest actors to grace the silver screen, his misstep at Yellowstone puts him in the category of other tourons, which is a combination of the words tourists and morons and refers to people who do thoughtless things while traveling.

Tourons display a sense of entitlement and engage in reckless behavior that indicates a disregard for the environment that can be harmful to wildlife and other nature lovers. Violations such as Brosnans can ruin the experience for other people who want to enjoy the park. Also, animals that attack humans, provoked or unprovoked, face euthanization.

Climate and environmental awareness begins with respect for nature and the rules in place that are meant to protect both humans and animals. Its important to gain a better understanding of the natural world in order to recognize the need to protect it and not abuse it.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
MT. VERNON, Ohio (WCMH)  A former Knox County sheriffs deputy, facing up to 11 years in prison after stealing over $500,000 from an elderly woman, received his sentence.

A Knox County Court of Common Pleas judge issued Danial Bobo a 90-day prison sentence with two years of probation after he pleaded guilty to six felony charges related to theft from a woman with Alzheimers disease. In May 2022, Bobo, a former deputy sergeant for the Knox County Sheriffs Office, pleaded guilty to theft, three counts of telecommunications fraud and two counts of misuse of credit cards.

Man fakes blindness before showing gun in Centerburg bank

According to the Ohio attorney generals office, Danial and Elisabeth Bobo, of Gambier, befriended Kay and Richard Hoppe and helped the elderly couple move into a Mount Vernon nursing home. After Richard Hoppe died in 2018, the Bobos used a power of attorney granted by the Hoppes to Danial Bobo to access credit cards in the Hoppes name and bank accounts that contained the Hoppes assets.

Between Dec. 2017 and Nov. 2020, the Bobos used more than $500,000 for their own personal expenses. Kay Hoppe, who suffered from dementia related to Alzheimers disease, died in 2020 at age 78 and Danial Bobo was named the executor of the estate.

Danial and Elisabeth Bobo (Courtesy/Knox County Sheriffs Office)

Danial Bobo resigned from the sheriffs office on Sept. 3, 2022, a few weeks before being indicted by a Knox County grand jury.

In April 2023, Elisabeth Bobo pleaded guilty to one count each of misuse of credit cards and telecommunications fraud. She received the same sentence as Danial Bobo.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
The Dec. 12 cyberattack on Ukraines largest mobile operator, Kyivstar, was unrelated to the return of sanctioned Russian oligarch Mikhail Fridman from London to Moscow, the former head of the company, Petro Chernyshov, said in an interview with NV on Jan. 5.

Fridman had zero involvement with Kyivstars network or its IT systems, Chernyshov said.

He did not understand its structure as he is a financier, not a technical expert. Connecting these two events is, in my opinion, entirely impossible.

Fridman had previously owned 47.8% of Kyivstar shares, prior to their seizure by the Ukrainian state on Dec. 18. Other Russian oligarchs, Petro Aven, and Andriy Kosogov, controlled the rest of the shares, via a Dutch holding company called VEON Holdings B.V.

Describing the attack on Kyivstars network as a very complex story, Chernyshov suggested the possibility of prolonged infiltration, speculating that hackers obtained an employees password with significant IT system access.

We still dont know how they got this access, who gave it to them, and why  whether its tied to treason, money, or just an accident, said Chernyshov.

My hunch is someone was after some extra stars on their shoulder straps.

Read also: Russian hackers had access to Kyivstar network at least since May 2023, says SBU

He also dismissed the theory that the Russians disrupted the operators operations after the Ukraines SBU security service discovered Kyivstar SIM cards used for directing Shaheds for strikes in Ukraine.

On Dec. 12, Russian hackers took downKyivstars systems for three days. The SBU believes that the hackers have had access to Kyivstars network since at least May 2023.

Prior to this, Kyivstar had officially denied that Russian hackers had penetrated their systems and subscribers personal data for months.

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
Keishon D. Thomas, 20, of Milwaukee.

Prosecutors have secured at least one conviction after two Milwaukee police officers were charged in the 2022 in-custody death of Keishon D. Thomas.

Donald W. Krueger on Thursday pleaded no contest to a felony charge of misconduct in public office in exchange for the dismissal of another felony  abuse of residents of a penal facility.

No contest is a plea that allows a defendant to accept conviction without admitting guilt. Krueger faces up to three years and six months in prison and fines up to $10,000. He has a sentencing hearing before Milwaukee County Judge Kori Ashley on March 11.

Krueger, 50, served 25 years in the Milwaukee Police Department and retired in November 2022, three months before he was criminally charged in Thomas death, along with Marco A. Lopez, 41.

An attorney for Krueger didn't immediately return a request for comment Friday.

Lopez, who served 12 years for the Police Department and has been on full suspension for nearly two years, has been charged with a felony count of misconduct in public office. He also appeared before Ashley on Thursday but didn't change his plea of not guilty.

His next court hearing is scheduled for Jan. 11 and a jury trial is set for Feb. 19-23.

In February 2022, Thomas, 20, of Milwaukee was pulled over by police on the citys north side and arrested in connection with an outstanding warrant. He spent at least 16 hours in police custody before being found unresponsive in his holding cell.

An autopsy showed Thomas died of acute mixed drug intoxication. He was remembered as a happy and outgoing caretaker to a large family.

Benjamin Crump, a nationally recognized civil rights attorney, is representing Thomas' family. He did not immediately return a request for comment Friday.

According to the criminal complaint which drew on video evidence, Thomas admitted to Krueger during his booking process that he ingested various narcotics. He told the officer he didn't want to go to the hospital but was throwing up, dry heaving and sweating.

Krueger said he would call an ambulance but never did, the complaint said. He instead placed Thomas in a holding cell.

Lopez took over for Krueger after his shift ended. Lopez was required to make visible cell checks every 15 minutes but missed 10 checks over a nearly six-hour period. He spent that time on his cell phone, watching something on his computer and painting, the complaint said.

After Lopezs shift finished, another officer took over and found Thomas in need of medical assistance.

In 2021, Krueger was paid about $91,300 and Lopez was paid about $86,000, according to city salary records.

Contact Elliot Hughes at elliot.hughes@jrn.com or 414-704-8958. Follow him on Twitter @elliothughes12.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Former Milwaukee cop convicted in death of Keishon Thomas
Then Salem-Keizer Public Schools Superintendent Sandy Husk delivers the state of the schools address in 2013.

A former Salem-Keizer Public Schools superintendent will serve as the interim leader for Portland Public Schools starting Feb. 12.

Current PPS Superintendent Guadalupe Guerrero announced last month that hed be stepping down. His last day is Feb. 16, creating a four-day overlap for the transition.

Sandy Husk led Oregons second-largest K-12 school district from 2006 to 2014. Portland school board members unanimously approved Husk for the interim role during a special meeting Thursday night.

Board member Julia Brim-Edwards described Husk as a candidate with 18 years of experience as a public school superintendent, including her time leading Salem-Keizer. In Salem, Brim-Edwards said Husk had a track record of promoting and supporting student achievement and equity. Husk also led Salem-Keizer to pass, at the time, the largest capital bond in state history.

Read the full story from OPB here.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Sandy Husk, ex-Salem-Keizer leader, to lead Portland schools
More than 250,000 families in England with two-year-olds can now apply for 15 hours a week of free childcare, as the Conservatives roll out extra financial support for parents.

Working parents earning between 8,670 and 100,000 a year are encouraged to register early for the scheme, before it comes into force in April.

The Governments decision to widen the free childcare net  unveiled in last years Spring Budget  aims to ease the huge financial burden hanging over families with young children.

Under the current system, parents with three-to-four-year-olds can already claim at least 15 hours (and many 30 hours) of free childcare per week for 38 weeks of the year (during school term time).

But from April, this is being extended to cater for working families with two-year-old children. In September, it will expand further  enabling 15 hours of free care for children aged between nine months and two years.

Then finally, in September 2025, it will be widened again so that all eligible working parents (apart from those earning more than 100,000) can claim 30 hours a week for children aged between nine months and five years of age (see timetable, below).

Once fully rolled out, the Government expects parents with a two-year-old in care for 35 hours a week to save an average of 6,500 a year  reducing their annual childcare costs by up to 60pc. This will come at a cost of more than 4bn to the Government.

Who will get free childcare?

To qualify for the new two-year-old support package, all parents in a household must work the equivalent of at least 16 hours a week at minimum wage. This is to prevent those not in work from earning the benefit.

Each parent can earn up to 100,000 and still be eligible. For couples, the rules apply to both parents. For example, if one parent earned 101,000 and the other earned 10,000, they would not be eligible for free childcare, but if they both earned 99,000, they would be.

It is expected that 285,000 families will be able to benefit from the first wave of new support for those with two-year-olds.

A further 640,000 parents of children aged between nine months and two years will need to wait until September before they can be eligible for the same 15-hour benefit.

How to claim for free childcare

As of January 2, newly eligible families with two-year-olds can now register on the Childcare Choices page on the gov.uk website. Youll need a Government Gateway user ID to log in.

Once registered, youll get a code which you have to give to your provider - allowing you to receive the 15 hours of free childcare. To qualify for the support, your childcare provider must be registered with Ofsted and signed up to the scheme.

Parents will be asked to reconfirm they are still eligible for the support every three months. The Department for Education says the recommended time to register is between mid-January and the end of February so that parents wont need to reconfirm eligibility before taking up a place.

The DfE says it takes around 20 minutes to apply online.

How much will it save me?

From September next year when more families will qualify for 30 free hours, the Government has estimated the new policy will save parents with a two-year-old child an average of 6,500 a year.

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said the new measures will help make sure parents no longer have to choose between a career and a family.

The rollout cant come soon enough for thousands of families who spend huge sums on childcare. In November, research by the Fawcett Society found that about 250,000 mothers with young children had left their jobs over childcare pressures.

Its survey of 3,000 working parents of pre-school children found that one in 10 mothers had handed in their notice, while more than two-fifths had turned down a promotion or career development opportunity because they worried it would not fit in with childcare arrangements.

With such high costs, it is unsurprising the UK is the third most expensive country for childcare among members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)  coming behind only Switzerland and New Zealand.

Are there enough childcare spaces?

The Government is taking a staggered approach in rolling out the scheme, in an effort to ensure childminders and nurseries have time to prepare for increased demand.

More than 400m is being invested in increasing the amount providers receive per free hour over the next year, while cash incentives of up to 1,200 are being offered to encourage people to become childminders.

From April, the amount it pays providers to deliver childcare will increase to an average of 11.22 per hour for under-twos, 8.28 for two-year-olds, and 5.88 for three and four-year-olds.

Despite this, there are fears over a lack of supply in the childcare sector. Ofsted figures show childcare providers in England fell by 5pc in the year to August 2023, as nurseries, pre-schools and childminders struggled to absorb inflated energy and food prices.

Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Early Years Alliance, which represents nurseries and childminders, said parents hoping to access funded childcare will be disappointed as they battle to secure spaces for their children.

He said: With the early years sector facing its worst recruitment and retention crisis in recent memory, many settings simply wont have the staff needed to deliver places to additional children  and unless funding increases to a level that allows providers to pay early years professionals a decent wage, this is unlikely to change any time soon.

The Department for Education said it is confident in the strength of our childcare market to deliver the largest ever expansion in childcare in Englands history.

A spokesman added: Our data shows the number of early years staff and places increased in 2023  but we know there is more to be done. Thats why we will shortly be launching a national recruitment campaign and are looking to introduce a new accelerated apprenticeship route into the sector to help recruit new staff.

Are you going to go back to work as a result of extra nursery funding? We want to hear from you, email joe.wright@telegraph.co.uk

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WELLS, Maine  A local groups fight for fuller public access to the intertidal zones of Maines beaches is continuing into the new year, with an effort to change town signs to reflect what is allowed on privately owned properties at Moody Beach.

The group, Free Moody Beach, is claiming that town-erected signs at three rights-of-way at Moody Beach are misleading in their wording because they do not state Maine law accurately, according to spokesperson Jeannie Connerny.

The group claims that the signs, as written, serve to encourage beachfront homeowners who engage in aggressive tactics to intimidate beachgoers, according to its recent press release. The group added that it wants the signs to be accurate and balanced.

A sign at the boundary between North Beach in Ogunquit and Moody Beach in Wells, shown here in September 2017, advises beachgoers that Moody Beach is private "to the low water mark."

Currently, the signs read, Public Right of Way to Water, Private Beach on Either Side of the Public Way, and No Town Beach Services Available.

Free Moody Beaches is proposing the signs also have the language, Lawful on Entire Beach: Fishing Fowling Navigation, so that beachgoers can know what they are allowed to do in the intertidal zones.

We want Wells to state the total law, Connerny said.

The group has sent an email about its concerns about the signs to Wells Public Works Director Carol Murray but has not received a response, according to Connerny.

Murray confirmed this week that she had received the email. She said that given that her expertise is engineering and not the law, she forwarded the groups request to Town Manager Michael Pardue for legal review by the towns attorney.

The group said it would work within whatever policy review process the town has for changing local signs.

New homes, hotel, more: York, Kennebunk, Wells projects coming in 2024

Wells declined to join Free Moody Beach effort

The request comes three months after the town of Wells declined to join public-use advocates in their fight to gain more access to local intertidal lands that are privately owned.

Specifically, the group wanted the town to support Our Maine Beaches in its lawsuit against three Moody Beach property owners.

Our Maine Beaches filed suit in 2021 to return private beaches along the Maine coast to the public. While a judge ruled that the property owners owned the intertidal land, it did not address what constitutes acceptable public use.

In May, Our Maine Beaches, represented by attorney Benjamin Ford, filed a motion seeking a summary judgment declaring that 36 activities, from scientific research to birdwatching to building sandcastles, are legal and allowed on the state's beaches and intertidal lands under current law.

The judge has not yet ruled on the issue, Ford said.

A sign at the boundary between North Beach in Ogunquit and Moody Beach in Wells, shown here in September 2017, advises beachgoers that the beach to the left is private and the beach to the right is public.

Free Moody Beach urged Wells in a letter this fall to follow the same approach as Kennebunkport when it successfully argued, in a case decided in Maine Superior Court in 2019, that the town owned Goose Rocks Beach. In the letter, the group argued that the Kennebunkport case showed that legal pathways exist for Wells, despite a 1989 court ruling  in the case of Bell v. Town of Wells  that said certain intertidal zones on Moody Beach were privately owned.

The motion pursued by Our Maine Beaches has roots in that case settled more than 30 years ago.

In Bell v. Town of Wells, also known as the Moody Beach case, the state's top court ruled that the only public rights recognized in privately owned intertidal areas are those outlined in a colonial ordinance from the 1600s: fishing, fowling and navigating.

That means beachfront property owners along Maine's coasts have property rights down to the low-tide area, except for an easement to allow the public to engage in those three permitted activities.

Pardue responded to Free Moody Beachs letter in October. He told the group that Wells was not prepared to join its efforts or those of other advocates due to the pending legal matters in court.

York County's 10 top sales in 2023: Kennebunkport home sells for record $9M

Free Moody Beach vows to step up public access campaign

Pardues response in October prompted Free Moody Beach to declare that it would no longer make arms-length appeals to the town and instead would roll up our sleeves and do the work ourselves.

The group vowed to increase its civic activism in 2024 to push for the right of residents to freely use beaches and intertidal lands in Maine. Changing the wording on the right-of-way signs is the groups first task in that effort, the group said in a press release.

If direct participation in town government processes is required to effect change, then thats what well do, Connerney said.

Free Moody Beach cited a poll, conducted by Digital Research, Inc. and reported in the Maine Morning Star in October, that more than 70% of participants support measures to expand public access to Maine beaches and intertidal lands.

The machinery at town hall must begin working for the town's residents, the majority of whom want beach rights restored, Connerney said. Wells is supposed to be a democracy. We want it to act like one.

Murray said the request to change the signage is with the town manager. However, she suggested the sign proposed by Free Moody Beaches is too wordy and, therefore, likely would not be read in full by people if posted.

Thats a lot of words on a small sign, she said. With signs, we try to keep things as succinct as possible.

More: Center for Wildlife enters final phase of major expansion with 'limitless possibilities'

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Free Moody Beach calls for new signs amid public access dispute
LIVINGSTON COUNTY  Local residents have access to free radon test kits while supplies last at locations around the county in recognition of Januarys National Radon Action Month.

The free kits can help identify the presence of elevated radon levels, which can have health consequences, according to Livingston County Health Officer Matt Bolang. Exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA estimates approximately 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year are radon related.

A map shows radon levels across Livingston County. Free radon test kits are available in January 2024 for county residents

Indoor radon levels are higher in the winter when windows are closed and furnaces are running, Bolang said. Since radon is an invisible, odorless gas, it's virtually impossible to detect without proper testing. Radon is a result of the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water. The gas doesn't cause warning symptoms like headaches, nausea or fatigue.

Radon enters buildings through openings in the foundation floor or walls, and through areas like a sump pump opening, crawlspace, floor and wall joints, cracks, and more, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

There are no county regulations (for radon) so everyone should be testing on their own, Bolang said. We just happen to have high radon levels in Livingston County because of how the glaciers were formed.

One in eight Michigan homes is likely to have an elevated radon level, according to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. That agency has also indicated that elevated levels of radon exist in an estimated 40 percent of Livingston County homes.

The free tests can be picked up at the Environmental Health Division Office in Howell and at participating city and township offices throughout the county. Residents are encouraged to call ahead to ensure kits are still available. Test directions are included.

Residents should mail their radon sample to the department listed in the kit, and results might take a few weeks, Bolang said. If radon levels are high and mitigation is needed, resources are available on the county health departments website at milivcounty.gov by searching radon. An estimated radon map for the county is also available there.

Subscribe: Get all your breaking news and unlimited access to our local coverage

We encourage people to test their homes because theres no other way to test, Bolang said. This is the time of the year to do it.

Residents with questions should call the health department at 517-546-9858, or the Michigan Indoor Radon Program at 1-800-RADON-GAS.

 M. Alan Scott is a freelance writer for The Livingston Daily. Contact the newsroom at newsroom@livingstondaily.com.

This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Free radon test kits available in Livingston County
Your slice of the headlines in Ukraine. Daily. Friday, January 5, 2024.

 Former Ukrainian POWs require extensive treatment, suspected as having been tortured

The Ukrainian service members and civilians freed in the latest prisoner swap with Russia all lost extreme amounts of weight and require medical and psychological treatment after suspected torture, reports Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets on the national telethon.

 Ukraine releases video of burning Russian Su-34 in Chelyabinsk

Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) has shared a video of a Russian Su-34 fighter jet burning at an airfield in the Russian city of Chelyabinsk on the night of Jan. 4.

 Europe will be subject to a direct Russian attack in the next few years  Polish PM Tusk

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has issued a warning that Russia may launch an attack on Europe in the next few years, reported Polish news outlet Rzeczpospolita.

 Objective component of war: Zaluzhnyi and Umerov comment on increased mobilization at Parliament Committee

Increased mobilization is an "objective component of the war," Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Honcharenko wrote on Telegram on Jan, 4, citing comments made by Chief Commander of the Armed Forces Valerii Zaluzhnyi and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov during the Parliamentary Committee's review of the new conscription law.

 How Ukraine fortifies its energy facilities from Russianmissile and drone strikes

Ukraine made moves to fortify the countrys energy infrastructure in October 2023 in advance of Russias expected targeting in mass missile strikes during colder weather.

 White House finds no evidence of widespread corruption or misuse of US-supplied weapons in Ukraine

There is no indication of wide-scale corruption or misuse of weapons provided to Ukraine by the United States, White House National Security Council Coordinator John Kirby said during a press briefing on Jan. 3.

 Russian hackers had access to Kyivstar network at least since May 2023, says SBU

Russian hackers breached the network of Ukrainian telecom operator Kyivstar at least as early as May 2023, Illia Vitiuk, head of the cybersecurity department of Ukraines SBU security service, said in an interview with news agency Reuters on Jan. 4.

 Deadliest civilian strike on Kyiv of the war  Russias Dec. 29 missile attack death toll rises to 32

Two more bodies have been discovered in Kyiv at the site of the Russian strike on Dec. 29, bringing the death toll to 32, the Kyiv City Military Administration reported.

 US and allies continue discussions on transfer of frozen Russian assets to Ukraine  Kirby

The United States, along with its allies, is still in discussions regarding the transfer of frozen Russian assets to Ukraine, White House National Security Council Coordinator John Kirby said during a press briefing on Jan. 3.

 Finance Ministry to pause tax code reform until taxpayer trustincreases, says minister

The Finance Ministry will not implement changes to the tax code as proposed in the National Revenue Strategy without gaining taxpayer trust, Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko said during a discussion panel hosted by the Center for Economic Strategy on Jan. 3.

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
This week, the Border Force announced plans for more frictionless travel thanks to an intelligent border run by facial recognition cameras at e-gates. It means that when you travel through UK airports, although youll still need to carry your passport, you wont necessarily need to show it to officers or even passport-reading machines. While promising greater convenience, the plans might have hidden costs, introducing serious privacy threats, risks of technical failures and expenses for the taxpayer. Frictionless, it is not.

International travel is the most liberating activity in the world. And yet over the past 20 years, it has become punctuated by increasingly oppressive airport experiences, from pat-downs to full body scans. Then there are the dreaded passport queues  so most of us would do anything to make it all less stressful and quicker.

E-gates certainly have the potential to offer speed  though for non-British travellers, it may mean completing online forms and scanning your passport on a smartphone, something that may be more difficult for older passengers and people with disabilities. Furthermore, facial recognition technology currently suffers with inaccuracy and struggles with darker skin tones, ageing, and, of course, twins. Even so, a 1:1 biometric facial check, comparing a passport photo to the face looking at the camera, is widely accepted as a fast and secure way to verify an identity.

But behind these apparently convenient e-gates is a completely new, colossal infrastructure harvesting our digital information. Rather than showing a paper passport to a human officer like we all used to, the officer is now a machine and it already has your passport, your photos, your biometric data and potentially more of your information in a giant database. The emergence of smart borders is not simply a technological upgrade  it is a shift for our privacy rights.

E-gates offer speed but our writer questions potential privacy issues - Alamy

How intrusive this will be depends on how much data the Government decides to store and for how long. But in theory, e-gates of this type open the possibility of harvesting the travel data and biometrics of the population across our lifetimes, as well as detailed records of the tens of millions of visitors to the UK each year. That database would need extremely strong technological, human, political and legal protections to be used safely and not to the disadvantage of individuals. And yet, with the casual announcement of this major change made from the Border Force to the press, such protections dont get a mention.

How intrusive it will be also depends on whether we can choose to use e-gates. Currently, we can choose whether to use passport e-gates, and they require us to present our passport. But the difference with frictionless security is that the individual has less agency  your passport is effectively digitally pickpocketed by high-tech cameras that scan your face and decide whether to permit or deny your entry. Unless it is radically changed, the Governments Data Protection and Digital Information Bill, currently going through parliament, will significantly weaken our data rights, paving the way for a country with many more facial recognition cameras not only in airports but potentially everywhere.

Even if these next generation e-gates start on a consent basis, that would be highly unlikely to last. In fact, before the plans were barely uttered in public, director general of the Border Force Phil Douglas told industry bosses that the use of human passport desks will fall away in the next few years due to e-gates and the value of ID data to authorities. Although presented as an inevitable consequence of technological advancement, human services do not simply fall away in acts of nature but rather are stripped away, along with our privacy, by the latent techno-authoritarianism that underpins our time.

The use of human passport desks could fall away in the next few years due to e-gates - Alamy

For most of us, our passport is the most personal and sensitive item of information we have. We tuck it away in a drawer or safe at home  it is the thing we are most anxious about losing or being stolen. But changes like this take our passports out of our hands and further out of our control.

Mixed in with hundreds of millions of other peoples passports, photos, visas and biometrics on giant databases that are searched over a hundred million times a year, there are major new risks of loss, error  and even catastrophic hacks. Just three years ago in Estonia, the worlds most advanced digital society  also known as e-Estonia, a hacker downloaded close to 300,000 personal ID photos after obtaining personal names and ID numbers from a government database.

Some of the risks of digitalising critical infrastructure are more banal. During the May bank holiday last year, a routine system upgrade to the current passport e-gates brought British airports to a standstill, causing four-hour queues.

If taking your passport out of your pocket is to be reclassified as friction, perhaps it is a friction we should be willing to endure. It may be safer than the steady erosion of our privacy by a growing database state.

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In his New Years message, Chinas dictator Xi Jinping reiterated his promise that Taiwan will surely be reunified with China. Yet when the people of Taiwan, due to go to the polls to elect a new president in just over a week, look at Xis rule, it is unlikely that they will voluntarily choose his model of governance. That means the likelihood of China attempting to take Taiwan by force  militarily or by economic blockade or both  increases if Xis vision is to be fulfilled.

Xis relentless crackdown on human rights across China shows no sign of easing.

The genocide of the predominantly Muslim Uyghurs in Chinas western region of Xinjiang, with forced labour, forced abortion and forced sterilisation as the tools of terror alongside the incarceration of several million Uyghurs in concentration camps, reveals the true nature of the regime in Beijing.

The persecution of religion does not stop with the Uyghurs. Last month Human Rights Watch accused China of closing, destroying and repurposing mosques as part of a systematic effort to curb the practice of Islam. Christians also continue to face persecution, with the news this week of the re-arrest of the Catholic Bishop of Wenzhou, Bishop Shao Zhumin, who has been routinely jailed in recent years.

In Tibet, a system of colonial boarding schools are separating children from their families and stripping them of their Tibetan Buddhist identity in what amounts to a cultural genocide.

And across mainland China, dissidents and human rights defenders continue to be arrested and jailed, with the trial of activist Li Qiaochu beginning just before Christmas on charges of inciting subversion of state power.

But it is in Hong Kong where the decline is most stark. Over the past four years since the imposition of the draconian National Security Law in July 2020, freedom of expression, assembly, association and the press have all been stripped away. Hong Kong has turned from one of the most open cities in Asia, with a strong rule of law tradition, into one of the regions most repressive police states.

Jimmy Lai during an interview with AFP in 2020 - Anthony Wallace/AFP

Not surprisingly, over 190,000 Hong Kongers have applied for the UKs British National Overseas (BNO) visa scheme in the almost three years since it was established, and thousands more have moved to Canada, Australia, Taiwan and elsewhere. According to a survey last year, more than half of Hong Kongs professionals are considering leaving Hong Kong. It gives the lie to the Hong Kong governments propaganda slogan Happy Hong Kong.

Hong Kongs plight is illustrated most starkly this week with the trial of my friend Jimmy Lai, the 76 year-old Hong Kong entrepreneur, media tycoon and pro-democracy activist who has spent the past three years of his life in prison and may well remain there until he dies.

Accused of conspiring to collude with foreign forces, a crime under the National Security Law, and publishing seditious materials, in reality he is charged, as the head of his international legal team Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC puts it so brilliantly, with the crimes of conspiracy to commit journalism, for daring to publish stories and opinions which Beijing dislikes, conspiracy to talk about politics to politicians, and conspiracy to raise human rights concerns with human rights organisations. This farce must end.

In truth, Lai is a self-made billionaire whose rags-to-riches tale ought to be celebrated not prosecuted. After arriving in Hong Kong as a stowaway on a boat from mainland China at the age of 12, he worked as a child labourer in garment factories before working his way up the ranks to factory manager and then founded his own business, a chain of clothing stores known as Giordano, which became a huge success across Asia. He then branched out into the media industry, establishing Next Magazine and then the Apple Daily newspaper.

To see someone you profoundly admire, and have the privilege of calling a friend, unjustly jailed and outrageously prosecuted in a gross miscarriage of justice under a draconian law that has torn apart the freedoms of the city where you began your working life and to which you yourself can no longer return is heartbreaking.

To think of that hero, that friend, spending the rest of his life in jail, apart from the family he adores and which you know, love and respect, is heart wrenching.

To recall the lunches and dinners you had with that friend, to reflect that you may never see him again, and worse  to consider that every conversation you have had with him is now considered a crime scene, potentially used as evidence against him  is both gut wrenching and ludicrous.

And then, on top of that, to see several other friends accused in the same trial of being co-conspirators or collaborators makes you unsure whether you have walked into the pages of Lewis Carrolls Alice in Wonderland or George Orwells 1984 or some bizarre melange of the two.

This week, I was named as one of a number of foreigners with whom Lai had communicated or collaborated with. According to media reports, in court the prosecution displayed a chart labelled Lai Chee-yings external political connections, showing headshots of me, my friend Luke de Pulford and former US Consul-General to Hong Kong James Cunningham. A former US general, Jack Keane, and former US deputy defence secretary Paul Wolfowitz, were also named. I feel very honoured to be in such company.

As evidence, the prosecution produced a text message Lai had sent me in 2019, asking me to ask the last governor of Hong Kong Lord Patten to provide a comment to his Apple Daily reporters. It was surreal that a perfectly normal, legitimate, day-to-day journalistic activity is now cited as proof of a crime.

Heavy police security at a Hong Kong court hearing in the case of Jimmy Lai on December 18, 2023. Lai has now been in prison for more than 1,000 days - Paul Yeung/Bloomberg

The allegations against de Pulford and US-born financier and campaigner Bill Browder, both British citizens, and former Japanese Member of Parliament Shiori Kanno, as well as Lais assistant, US citizen Mark Simon, are more serious. They are accused of being co-conspirators with Lai, who is charged with being the mastermind of Hong Kongs pro-democracy movement and particularly the protests in 2019.

Such charges are utterly ludicrous. The idea that several million Hong Kongers took to the streets in 2019 at Lais command is so far-fetched as to be a fantasy. First, its an insult to them, as it suggests that they could not think and act for themselves. And second, it takes no account of the diversity within Hong Kongs democracy movement.

Lai is from the older, moderate generation of democrats in Hong Kong who never once challenged Chinas sovereignty, never once advocated violence and always argued only for peaceful protest and the basic rights and freedoms promised to Hong Kong at the handover in a UN-registered international treaty, the Sino-British Joint Declaration, and Hong Kongs own mini-constitution known as the Basic Law.

Not once has Lai promoted secession. Never has he advocated violence. On the contrary, he remonstrated with more radical protesters, condemned extreme action and opposed calls for independence. The portrayal of this successful entrepreneur as a radical political figure, as the lead prosecutor claimed, is simply a figment of Beijings paranoid imagination. It would be hard for Beijing to find a more reasonable opponent.

Lai is a British national. And while he must always remain our focus, three other British citizens  de Pulford, Browder and to a lesser extent myself  have been dragged into it. This must result in a response from the British government.

For much of the past three years, the British governments response to Lais case has been limp-wristed. From his arrest in December 2020, when then Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab issued a statement, until the end of 2022  two whole years  there was radio silence from Whitehall. In 2023, under growing Parliamentary and public pressure, the Foreign Office started to up its game, with Minister of State Anne-Marie Trevelyan meeting Lais son Sebastien several times and former Foreign Secretary James Cleverly raising Lais case at the United Nations and in Beijing. This was welcome, but not enough.

Last month, a very significant breakthrough came when new Foreign Secretary David Cameron met Sebastien, and called for Lais release, recognising him for the first time as a British citizen. It should never have taken so long, but it was nevertheless a very welcome step forward.

Now, with three other British nationals in the frame, the Foreign Secretary needs to step up again. He must condemn the unjust trial, the absurdity of dragging bogus allegations of contact with foreign nationals into the case, reject the whole charade as totally lacking anything to do with national security and as an entirely politically-motivated sham, and call for Lais immediate and unconditional release.

When Chinas human rights record is reviewed at the UN later this month, in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), a process which every member state goes through every four or five years, the British government must ensure that Hong Kong  and Lais case specifically  are raised prominently.

Theres one more thing he should also do. A year ago, Hong Kong Watch made an official submission to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), written by lawyers, with a cover letter by two of Britains top lawyers  Sir Geoffrey Nice KC and Baroness Helena Kennedy KC  advocating sanctions against Hong Kongs Chief Executive and Beijings quisling, John Lee.

A year on, the FCDO has yet to respond. It is time they did.

When one British national faces the rest of his life in jail, and three British nationals are dragged in to an Alice In Wonderland trial, the Foreign Secretary owes it to Britain to speak up and act. Not simply for us. But for our values as a country.

Benedict Rogers is co-founder and Chief Executive of Hong Kong Watch

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A US fugitive known as Nicholas Rossi, who is accused of faking his own death to avoid a rape charge in Utah, has been extradited to the United States, British media reported Friday.

Rossi, 36, whose legal name is Nicholas Alahverdian, is charged with sexually assaulting a former girlfriend in Orem, Utah, in 2008, according to the Utah County prosecutors office. He also faces multiple complaints against him in Rhode Island for alleged domestic violence.

In response to an inquiry from The Associated Press about reports that Rossi had been returned to the US, Police Scotland would only confirm it assisted other law enforcement agencies to extradite a 36-year-old man. It was not immediately clear when Rossi left Scotland or where he was destined.

Rossis run from the law took a bizarre turn when he was arrested in December 2021 after being recognized by someone at a Glasgow hospital while he was being treated for COVID-19. He insisted he was an Irish orphan named Arthur Knight and had never set foot on American soil.

The man had said he was framed by authorities who took his fingerprints while he was in a coma so they could connect him to Rossi. He repeatedly appeared in court in a wheelchair using an oxygen mask and speaking in a less-than-convincing British accent.

Rossi's legal name is Nicholas Alahverdian - Stuart Nicol Photography/Stuart Nicol Photography

After a protracted court battle, Judge Norman McFadyen of Edinburgh Sheriff Court ruled in August that the extradition could move forward. The judge called Rossi as dishonest and deceitful as he is evasive and manipulative.

McFadyen dismissed his claims of mistaken identity as implausible and fanciful. The judge said Rossi presented unreliable evidence and he wasnt prepared to accept any statement of fact made by him unless it was independently supported.

Rossi lost an appeal in December.

Rossi, who grew up in foster homes in Rhode Island, made a name for himself there as a critic of the states Department of Children, Youth and Families.

Four years ago, he told media in Rhode Island that he had late-stage non-Hodgkin lymphoma and had weeks to live. An obituary published online claimed he died February 29, 2020.

About a year later, Rhode Island state police, Alahverdians former lawyer and his former foster family, questioned whether he was dead.

Authorities in Rhode Island have said Alahverdian is wanted there for failing to register as a sex offender, though his former lawyer there, Jeffrey Pine, told the AP earlier this year that the charge was dropped when he left the state. The FBI has said he also faces fraud charges in Ohio, where he was convicted of sex-related charges in 2008.

Police in England said they also were investigating and seeking to interview Rossi in connection with an older rape allegation made in April 2022 in the city of Chelmsford.

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Funeral services have been announced for a local Spanish teacher who passed away on New Years Day.

>>PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Area school district mourning loss of high school Spanish teacher

News Center 7 previously reported that the Middletown City School District announced that Ellen Birchwell, 59, died on Monday.

She was a Spanish teacher at Middletown High School.

Visitation will take place today at Baker-Stevens-Parramore Funeral Home from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the 6800 block of Roosevelt Avenue, according to her online obituary.

The funeral is scheduled for tomorrow, Jan. 6, at 10 a.m. at the Holy Trinity Church at the 200 block of Clark Street.

Birchwell attended Franklin High School, Ohio University, and Wright State University.
Missing history?

Concerning the furor directed at Nikki Haley for answering a question about the origins of the Civil War without mentioning slavery, and instead asserted the states rights argument, articulating freedom from an oppressive national government:

After much push-back, former Gov. Haley retraced her steps and conceded of course the war was about slavery.

What has not been reported is the special South Carolina irony contained in her initial remarks.

I would hope every South Carolina high school student is taught that the first state to secede from the Union was South Carolina. The reasons were clear. They were spelled out in the South Carolina Declaration of Secession.

The authors believed the northern states were hostile to slavery, failed to enforce the Fugitive Slave Act, aimed at returning run-always, and sought to encourage the abolitionist movement including local slave revolts.

They particularly decried the election of Abraham Lincoln who they viewed as the epitome of the anti-slavery movement.

The Declaration of Secession was signed December 1860. Other Southern states followed suit. The war started with the firing on Ft. Sumter four months later.

Thats a lot of history that failed to be mentioned by a thoughtful resident.

John Kassel, Columbia

Money and power

Poor Nikki Hailey. Her campaign for vice president might be over, but she could have educated the country about the cause of the War Between the States.

She could have quoted Lincoln who said something like, If I could keep the Union together by abolishing slavery, I would do so. If I could keep the Union together by not abolishing slavery, I would also do so.

Freedom of the slaves was an issue seized upon by Lincoln later on in the war to justify the horrific loss of life.

It was much more palatable for grieving families in the North to think their loved ones had died in a glorious cause, than the real reason, which was to continue federal government dominion over the huge and prosperous land holdings in the South.

That war was about the same thing that all wars are about. Money and power. The South had lots of it, and the North did not want to give it up.

Is there any chance then or even today that a half million white men in the North would have given their lives to improve the conditions of Black folks in the South?

Were white folks ever that righteous?

John D Miles, Blythewood

Support Hate Crimes Act

South Carolina remains one of only two states in the entire United States without hate crime legislation as legislators continuously fail to pass the Clementa C. Pinckney Hate Crimes Act, session after session.

Considering that the state is home to 30 active hate groups according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, it is both dangerous and irresponsible to leave no legal measures in place to bring perpetrators of hate crimes to justice and safeguard affected victims.

As the president of the South Carolina NAACP Youth and College Division, I am committed to ensuring that minorities and communities that are at risk of falling victim to hate crimes receive the necessary protection and security against blatant acts of racism.

In my public role as a Black woman, I am part of the very communities that face these risks.

I refuse to allow intimidation or racial bias to persist unchecked in silencing my voice on crucial issues pertaining to race.

I urge the South Carolina General Assembly to adopt the Clementa C. Pinckney Hate Crimes Act in the upcoming session, and for constituents of the legislators stalling the passage of this act to reach out to their state representatives and senators.

We must act deliberately and expeditiously to stand against racism and advocate for the enactment of this vital act.

Courtney McClain, Spartanburg
GARDNER  The search for Aaron Pennington, suspected of killing his wife in their Cherry Street home in October, resumed in the woods of Gardner and Ashburnham Friday, according to state police.

Searches of remote sections in and around Camp Collier and other areas took place in the days after the killing.

On Friday, a search by foot and all-terrain vehicles covered power lines in the area. The search ended with no updates, according to the state police.

The whereabouts of Pennington, 33, remain a mystery.

He is charged in the shooting death of his wife, Breanne Pennington, 30. Her body was found in the bedroom of their home at 42 Cherry St. the morning of Oct. 22.

The discovery set off a search for Pennington.

Law enforcement officers returned to the area Friday morning. The Special Emergency Response Team of the state police, trained in search and rescue, was part of the effort. Periodic searches are part of the investigation, according to the state police.

"We have come to no conclusions as to whether Pennington is alive or dead," state police said in a statement Friday.

Pennington's abandoned car was found in a section of expansive Camp Collier a day after the shooting.

More: Court records: Breanne Pennington, slain Gardner woman, planned to move to Texas with kids

Breanne Pennington

The morning of Oct. 22, the Penningtons' four children went to a neighbor's house reporting that they could not find their father and that their mother was in her bedroom crying, according to court documents.

In a murder warrant in Gardner District Court, officials said a search of Aaron Penningtons phone turned up a note that had been written on the device Saturday evening, the night before his wifes body was found in the couples Cherry Street home. Breanne Penningtons death was determined to be a gunshot wound to the head.

Court records show the couple were having marital problems and that Breanne was planning to move to Texas with the children. The state Department of Family and Children's Services took initial custody of the children, ages 9 and under.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Gardner: Search for accused wife killer Aaron Pennington resumes
SAN DIEGO  San Diego County has started 2024 with a modest uptick in the average price of self-serve regular gasoline after a three-months retreat from last years over $6 high.

The average price on Jan. 1 was $4.779 at the countys pumps, according to figures from the AAA Oil Price Information Service  about $1.489 cheaper than the areas peak during an astronomical run-up in September of last year.

However, prices have started to level-off  and rise slightly  after this decline from the last few months that brought some much needed relief to drivers at the pump, keeping the county at a price that set a record for the highest-ever average on the first day of the year.

On Thursday, the price rose for the seventh time in nine days since hitting its lowest point in recent months on Dec. 22. According to AAA, the region stands at an average of about $4.782 per gallon of gas, up roughly three-tenths of a cent from Jan. 1.

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With this slight increase over the last week, San Diego drivers may be wondering what the trend could mean for gas price trends for the remainder of the year  and how long prices below $5 may last.

It is trending upward just a little bit, but not very quickly, said Marie Montgomery, spokesperson for the Auto Club of Southern California. As she explained, San Diego still closed out 2023 having paid less on average during the year than the record-breaking levels in 2022.

The rise in the final days of the year was mostly caused by unplanned maintenance at refineries near Los Angeles towards the end of December  something that typically contributes to the increases consumers see at the pump during the first quarter of the year.

Fuel analysts say consumers may not see the more substantial increases again until refineries start to make the switch to the summer-blend of gasoline that gets distributed across California starting in February.

The summer blend of gasoline, which is required by federal law to be used during the warm weather months, is refined to prevent its evaporation in warmer temperatures, reducing smog and other emissions.

For consumers, however, the switch to the summer blend can cost anywhere from 20 to 25 cents per gallon more at the pump, since it is more expensive to produce and refineries have to shut down briefly before processing it.

Additional reductions in output due to regular maintenance during this time add to some of the price changes that consumers see between February and April.

But before then, prices could go back down again slightly before the summer-blend transition.

Patrick De Hann, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, says fixes to some of the more recent refinery issues should be more or less sorted out in the coming weeks, possibly bringing down prices by a few cents a gallon. Recently reported increases in gasoline inventories on the west coast could also be an indicator of a small price drop coming.

I think theres a window of opportunity for the next several weeks that prices could come down gently, but its kind of the calm before the storm so to speak, De Hann said. By mid-February, I would expect prices to start going up again and I do think well probably rather easily hit $5 a gallon.

Exactly where prices will rise beyond that  and how quickly  will likely depend on whether the states supply can meet the demand.

Theres increased economic expectations this year of continued recovery from the pandemic and so that would of course, place a greater demand on gasoline usage, Montgomery said. As far as the supply side, this is really early days and we dont know whats going to happen  this may be an issue down the road.

One of those unknown impacts could be prolonged issues with shipping oil from the Middle East through the Suez Canal amid the war in Gaza. According to AAA, California imports about 59% of its oil from foreign sources  around half of which comes from the Middle East.

Whether production at Californias refineries will make it through the year without any major limitations to capacity also remains an open question.

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No major oil refineries have been built across the U.S. in decades, meanwhile Californias existing refineries have fallen from 17 in 2015 to 14 in 2023. This has led to reductions in output capacity roughly 5% above the national rate, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The number of refineries means that you are becoming more and more susceptible to even small disruptions, De Hann said. When refineries run normal in California, things are generally fine  its really more of a guess, on if any large scale issues will happen at Californias refiners to be able to accurately predict how high and how long the pain at the pump will go on.

California may have a bit of breathing room with this volatility, De Haan said, in part given the states push to transition to electric vehicles bringing the demand for gas down slightly. Something to watch will be how growing cities like Las Vegas and Phoenix, who rely on the states gasoline production, could offset changes in consumption.

Looking ahead, GasBuddy predicts that California drivers could be paying an average of about $4.26 to $4.65 per gallon at the pump this year. The companys outlook estimates that the highest daily average for cities in the state could range from about $5.35 to $6.35 per gallon.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego.
Gateway High School students, from left, Quinton Molnar, Devin Shannon and Christian Champ, help their carpentry teacher, J.T. Schurr drop off a life jacket loaner station at Lovers Key State Park on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. The station was built by the students at Gateway High School in partnership with Lee Health and others. Tina Fleming, a injury prevention specialist with Safe Kids Worldwide at Golisano Children's Hospital secured grants to get six stands built. Two are already placed. The stations offer life jackets to those who need them while visiting area beaches. Several Life jacket stands were lost in Hurricane Ian. It also offers the students to practice a trade they may be interested in pursing after high school.

Gateway High School carpentry class students are building life jacket loaner stations for distribution on Southwest Florida beaches.

Students and teacher J.T. Schurr dropped off Thursday one of six stations at Lovers Key State Park in Fort Myers Beach.

Tina Fleming, a injury prevention specialist with Safe Kids Worldwide at Golisano Children's Hospital in Fort Myers, received grants to rebuild the stations that were lost in Hurricane Ian.

She reached out to the carpentry class at the Fort Myers high school to get the stations built. The Children's Miracle Network, Safe Kids of Southwest Florida and others also contributed.

The stations offer a loaner life jacket for visitors who need them.

The previous stations were wiped out in Hurricane Ian in 2022. In total, six stations will be placed on Southwest Florida waterways.

According to the myflfamilies.com, 92 children died of drowning in the state in 2023.

Tina Fleming, a injury prevention specialist with Safe Kids Worldwide at Golisano Children's Hospital thanks Gateway High School students including Caleb Anderson for building a life jacket loaner station Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. The station was built by the students at Gateway High School in partnership with Lee Health and others. Tina Fleming, a child advocate at Golisano Children's Hospital secured grants to get six stands built. Two are already placed. The stations offer life jackets to those who need them while visiting area beaches. Several Life jacket stands were lost in Hurricane Ian. It also offers the students to practice a trade they may be interested in pursing after high school. Peyton Anderson is second from left.

Tina Fleming, A child advocate at Golisano ChildrenOs Hospital unloads life jackets to be placed in a life jacket loser stations built by Gateway High Schools students on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. The stand was built by the students at Gateway High School in partnership with Lee Health and others. Tina Fleming, a child advocate at Golisano Children's Hospital secured grants to get six stands built. Two are already placed. The stations offer life jackets to those who need them while visiting area beaches. Several Life jacket stands were lost in Hurricane Ian.

Gateway High School students, from left, Quinton Molnar, Caleb Anderson and Christian Champ, far right, help their carpentry teacher, J.T. Schurr , front right, drop off a life jacket loaner station at Lovers Key State Park on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. The stand was built by the students at Gateway High School in partnership with Lee Health and others. Tina Fleming, a injury prevention specialist with Safe Kids Worldwide at Golisano Children's Hospital secured grants to get six stands built. Two are already placed. The stations offer life jackets to those who need them while visiting area beaches. Several Life jacket stands were lost in Hurricane Ian. It also offers the students to practice a trade they may be interested in pursing after high school. Peyton Anderson is second from left.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Carpentry students from Gateway High build loaner life jacket stations
One of California Gov. Gavin Newsoms top 2023 budget priorities involved securing millions to construct a rehabilitation space at San Quentin State Prison. A high-level advisory council tasked with helping the governor has a different idea.

The San Quentin Advisory Council released a report on Friday with more than 150 pages detailing a vision for turning the maximum-security Marin County penitentiary into a facility modeled after Norwegian prisons that push services and support over punishment.

The council recommends the governor scale back a $380 million plan to convert an existing 81,000-square-foot space, Building 38, into an education center. Newsoms administration asked for $20 million for operations and $360.6 million in bond money to create the facility.

The report suggests cutting the $360.6 million by at least one-third to $240 million, and using the extra money to pay for other infrastructure projects, including improvements to housing, family visitation areas and gathering spaces.

The governors office did not respond to questions about the advisory councils Building 38 recommendations, instead providing a statement expressing gratitude to members.

Id like to thank the San Quentin Advisory Council and its co-chairs for this tremendous undertaking, Newsom said in the statement. California is at the forefront of innovation and groundbreaking transformation as we reimagine San Quentin to better serve our state  and improve public safety.

Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, who co-chaired the council, suggested the administration could recapture $120 million from the Building 38 project, plus the additional $20 million Newsom requested for operations costs.

This is especially important to the council because Californias government is facing a $68 billion budget gap, leaving few extra state dollars to spare. Newsom will present his budget proposal by Jan. 10.

There isnt a lot of money in the state budget, we know, Steinberg said during a Friday press conference on Zoom.

We just think that $360 million for a single building, that could be done differently, Steinberg told The Sacramento Bee on Thursday. And recognizing the fiscal situation, at least in the short term, freeing up $140 million to begin prioritizing these other needed capital changes strikes the right balance.

Changing California incarceration

Newsoms plan to reform San Quentin was one of his 2023 State of the State goals. He announced his initiative in March, saying he hoped the 3,447-inmate prison could be a model for the nation, a model for the world.

He proposed renaming the facility the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center and moving death row inmates to other prisons throughout the state. Newsom planned to use the advisory councils recommendations to develop the prison into a rehabilitation-focused facility that he could hold up as a model for the rest of Californias penitentiaries by 2025.

The councils primary suggestions include providing all residents with rehabilitation and re-entry plans, retraining correctional officers, reducing the prison population to allow inmates their own cells, improving staff housing and work space and creating re-entry beds to help transition inmates to a post-release life.

The report does not contain cost estimates outside of the money for Building 38. Doug Bond of the Amity Foundation, who also served as a council co-chair, said the state could accomplish some of the recommendations on a short-term basis, while other would take longer to implement.

Newsoms proposal comes after the state spent 15 years changing its sentencing and prison policies in response to severe overcrowding issues. A panel of federal judges in 2009 ordered California to reduce its inmate population, which resulted in legislation and ballot measures changing harsh sentencing policies from the 1980s and 1990s and shifting some prisoners to county jails.

The states prison population gradually declined following this shift. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation also released a significant number of inmates during the COVID-19 pandemic in an attempt to prevent virus transmission.

As a result, the Newsom administration has begun to close prisons, which saves the state a significant amount of money. The governor has closed or started the process of closing three facilities and a handful of prison yards.

San Quentin plan lacked key details

Many Democratic lawmakers have wanted to see Newsom close more prisons. They were less enthusiastic about providing money for his San Quentin plan, which contained few details before the reports release.

The Legislative Analysts Office in May criticized the governors administration for laying out an incomplete proposal that did not show goals, the full scope of the project or potential operating costs.

Lawmakers involved in the budget process called the information shortage insulting, as they were expected to approve funding for a project they knew little about.

I just want to be clear that I dont think that the role of the Legislature is to green-light a proposal without any ability to be able to weigh in, said Assemblywoman Mia Bonta, D-Oakland, during a hearing about the San Quentin plan.

Lawmakers eventually approved Newsoms funding, with assurances that CDCR would provide a report on prison conditions and the criteria it uses to make decisions about facility closures.

Criminal justice reform advocates were not supportive of the San Quentin plan, saying they would prefer to see California spend more money on re-entry services and community-based violence prevention efforts.

The advisory council acknowledges they face a possible dilemma. Reforming prison conditions will mean California needs to spend more money on prisons, but thats something advocates do not want to see.

But reducing funds also means that people who are still incarcerated will not have increased access to more programming or improved, less dehumanizing environments, the report said. Many consider it unethical to keep people incarcerated without immediately investing in creating more humane environments and interactions in prisons.

The council does not make funding recommendations, but it is clear the strategies it its report would require a significant investment of state money.

Bond of the Amity Foundation, who also served as a council co-chair, emphasized the importance of good community and prison services. The Amity Foundation provides programming at 19 California prisons to help inmates prepare for release.

Really look at it as both parts, Bond said. You cant wait until somebody is already back in the community to start investing in rehabilitation and their re-entry. You have to start that process inside. So it requires an investment on the inside, as well as on the outside.

The Bee Capitol Bureaus Jenavieve Hatch contributed to this story.
As ceasefire plans are formulated, more than 100 targets were hit in Gaza on Thursday - Anadolu

The fighting in Gaza continues with more than 100 targets hit on Thursday alone but beneath the hellfire the building blocks for a ceasefire are slowly being put into place.

Late on Thursday evening, for the first time since the war started, a senior Israeli minister outlined proposals for the future of Gaza once the fighting stops.

The four-point plan, presented to the Israeli cabinet by Yoav Gallant, the countrys defence minister, is the third in a series of little-reported initiatives that seem positive.

It follows a three-point plan for peace proposed by Egypt on Christmas Eve and the announcement on Monday that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has started withdrawing troops from Gaza.

The three initiatives are not formally linked but they have an uncanny symmetry.

Mr Gallants piece of the jigsaw was presented shortly before Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, arrived in the region on Friday for the fourth time since Oct 7.

It is almost as if the United States made his visit conditional on the Israelis publishing their plan.

The plan, which was shown to the United States in advance, proposes four pillars for civil rule in post-war Gaza.

Yoav Gallant, the Israeli defence minister, has outlined proposals for the future of Gaza once the fighting stops - VIOLETA SANTOS MOURA/REUTERS

First, a multinational force, led by the United States in partnership with European and moderate Arab nations, will take responsibility for the reconstruction and economic rehabilitation of the enclave.

Second, existing Palestinian administrative mechanisms will be maintained, provided that the officials within them are not affiliated with Hamas. Authorities that deal with health, sewage, electricity, water and aid will continue to operate, in collaboration with the new task force.

Third, Egypt  a major actor in the plan  will retain responsibility for the main civilian border crossing into Gaza, in coordination with Israel.

Fourth, Israel will retain military control on the borders and the right to take military and security action inside Gaza where deemed necessary.

Gaza residents are Palestinian, therefore Palestinian bodies will be in charge, with the condition that there will be no hostile actions or threats against the State of Israel, Mr Gallant said.

The plan has been presented as Mr Gallants own but it is clear it has the approval, for now at least, of his Likud colleague Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister.

It avoids mention of the two most contentious elements of any serious proposal for peace  a role for the Palestinian Authority and a Palestinian state  but nor does it rule them out.

Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, arrived in the region on Friday, for the fourth time since Oct 7 - EVELYN HOCKSTEIN/AFP

Yet it is the Israeli plans fit with the Egyptian proposals published on Christmas Eve that is most striking.

That plan  currently being debated by Hamas and Israeli representatives in Cairo and also familiar to Mr Blinken  offers a three-point route to a sustainable peace.

It starts with a two-week lull in fighting in which 40 Israeli hostages held by Hamas (women, children and sick adults) would be released in exchange for 120 Palestinian prisoners and more aid into Gaza.

In the deals second phase, a new ad hoc administration would be formed to oversee Gazas rehabilitation and prepare the enclave for elections  closely matching Mr Gallants vision.

The third and final phase would involve talks for a comprehensive ceasefire that will include the release of all Israeli hostages in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners and, once completed, Israels complete withdrawal from Gaza.

So finely balanced is Israeli politics that Mr Netanyahu himself has not directly mentioned either of the proposals, or indeed the ongoing withdrawal of a full five divisions of IDF troops from Gaza.

His ruling coalition government only needs five representatives to resign and it will fall, triggering new elections.

The far right ethno-nationalists propping up the current cabinet  men who have been openly calling for Gaza to be cleansed of Palestinians through export to places like the Congo  will almost certainly jump at some point.

Mr Blinkens job in the coming weeks and months is to somehow make that happen gracefully.

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Germany's Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck expressed concern about the mood in the country following the blockade of the ferry he was on by an angry crowd of farmers.

"What worries me, worries me indeed, is that the mood in the country is heating up so much," he said on Friday.

Habeck, who is also Germany's economy minister, finally made it to the German mainland early Friday, hours after the farmers prevented him from exiting a passenger ferry travelling from the North Sea island of Hallig Hooge.

"Protesting in Germany is a valuable asset," he added. "Coercion and violence destroy this good. We should oppose this in words and deeds."

Up to 300 people took part in the blockade of the pier on Thursday night, and police resorted to using pepper spray, a police spokesman said.

Farmers are outraged by the federal government's planned reduction in agricultural subsidies, including for fuel, although some of the measures have already been rolled back.

Habeck wants to seek dialogue with the farmers, both from the region and at a national level, his spokesman said on Friday. "It is part of his style to talk to people directly."

Germany's Farmers' Association distanced itself from the blockade.

"Personal attacks, insults, threats, coercion or violence are not acceptable," association president Joachim Rukwied said in a statement. "Blockades of this kind are a no-go."

"We are an association that upholds democratic practices," Rukwied added. Despite all the displeasure about the government's tax plans, his association respects the privacy of politicians, he said.

The farmers' association in the northern state of Schleswig-Holstein also distanced itself from the action.

"We realize that we are being infiltrated," said head of the association Klaus-Peter Lucht, adding: "We really don't know who organized this."

The public prosecutor in the German city of Flensburg has opened an investigation on suspicion of coercion following the blockade.

The office is also investigating whether other offences such as resisting law enforcement officers and breach of the peace have been committed, senior public prosecutor Bernd Winterfeldt told dpa on Friday.

An unknown person is currently being investigated, he added.

Habeck, a member of the Green Party who plays a major role in shaping the country's economic and climate policies, has come in for particular criticism from the farmers over the proposed cuts.

The cuts were part of a package of measures intended to plug a multibillion-euro gap in the government budget following a landmark top court ruling at the end of last year that sent the coalition's financial plans into disarray.

On Thursday, the coalition decided to partially scale back its plans, following repeated mass protest from farmers. Fuel subsidies would now be gradually decreased, rather than all at once.

Habeck's exit from the ferry had been blocked as the vessel came in to dock in Schluttsiel, near the tip of the German mainland near Denmark, on Thursday night.

The minister was not travelling on state business.

"Calls for a demonstration at the Schluttsiel ferry terminal, where Dr Habeck was due to arrive in the afternoon, were spread on social media," the Flensburg police department reported on Friday.

Some of the protesters tried to storm the ferry, video of the incident showed. No injuries were reported.

The ferry was forced to turn around and go back to Hallig Hooge, a small, low-lying island off northern Germany's west coast with only a handful of residents.

According to the managing director of the ferry's company, the storming of the ship had been narrowly avoided when the captain decided to turn around.

"If this decision had been made a minute later, the ferry would have been stormed," he said on Friday.

Habeck took a later ferry from Hallig Hooge island to the mainland and arrived home at around 2:30 am (0130 GMT). He was not met with protesters upon the ferry's docking, police said.

"Mr Habeck arrived home safely," a police spokesman in the northern city of Flensburg said on Friday morning.

Mainstream parties from across the political spectrum condemned the protest action.

Farmers prevent Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck, Germany's Economy Minister, from leaving a ferry. Habeck, Germany's vice chancellor and economy minister, finally made it to the German mainland early Friday, hours after angry farmers prevented him from exiting a passenger ferry travelling from a North Sea island. -/WestkustenNews/dpa
Annalena Baerbock, Germany's Foreign Minister, holds a press conference with Vincent Biruta (not pictured), Rwanda's Foreign Minister, following their meeting. Hannes P. Albert/dpa

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has honoured German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock with an Order of Merit for her support for his country.

Members of the German parliament Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann and Anton Hofreiter were also honoured with Ukrainian medals.

In the decree issued shortly before the New Year, the Ukrainian president honoured 32 foreign individuals. They had made "a significant personal contribution to strengthening inter-state cooperation and supporting the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine."

Strack-Zimmermann, chairwoman of the Defence Committee in the Bundestag, called the award a great honour. "It is also an incentive for me to continue to stand unwaveringly by the side of our brave friends," she said in Berlin on Friday.

She will continue to advocate "that Ukraine receives the support it needs in the fight against the brutal Russian attack."

The Free Democrat (FDP) politician is considered one of the most committed advocates of aid for Ukraine. She makes no secret of the fact that she considers the actions of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a Social Democrat, to be too hesitant.

Green politician Hofreiter, as chairman of the Europe Committee, is also in favour of military aid for Ukraine.

Baerbock, also a Green, has visited the attacked country several times and is in favour of a "Europe from Lisbon to Luhansk."

The foreign minister was awarded the third level of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise.

Strack-Zimmermann and Hofreiter were honoured with the third level of the Ukrainian Order of Merit.

Zelensky awarded the highest level of the Order of Yaroslav to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama.
Ghislaine Maxwell with the Duke of York and Virginia Giuffre in 2001. Lawyers for Maxwell claim a Daily Mail journalist prompted Ms Giuffre to fabricate stories" about the royal

Ghislaine Maxwell accused a British journalist of helping Virginia Giuffre concoct and fabricate sexual assault allegations against Prince Andrew.

A second tranche of unsealed documents related to Jeffrey Epstein and Maxwells sexual abuse were released on Thursday after a US judge ordered thousands of pages of files from a 2015 lawsuit to be made public.

The latest release includes a submission from Maxwells lawyers calling for Sharon Churcher, a former Mail on Sunday journalist, to be compelled to give evidence as part of the case.

Ms Churcher first interviewed Ms Giuffre  who accused Prince Andrew of abusing her as a teenager  in 2011.

Maxwells team claimed Ms Churcher prompted Ms Giuffre to fabricate stories regarding Prince Andrew and to invent stories regarding Alan Dershowitz.

Mr Dershowitz is a lawyer and former Harvard law professor

The lawyers referenced email exchanges between the two women in which Ms Churcher gives Ms Giuffre advice on ghost writers and agents for her book The Billionaires Playboy Club.

The 70-pages of emails, which were also released on Thursday, include a May 2011 exchange in which Ms Giuffre asks Ms Churcher for her help in recalling details about her abuse at the hands of Epstein.

I wanted to put the names of these assholes, oops I meant to say, pedos [sic], that J.E. sent me to, Ms Giuffre wrote.

Ms Churcher responded, saying: Dont forget Alan Dershowitz ... JEs buddy and lawyer  good name for your pitch as he repped Claus von Bulow and a movie was made about that case  title was Reversal of Fortune.

We all suspect Alan is a pedo and tho no proof of that, you probably met him when he was hanging put [out] w JE.

Mr Dershowitz has denied all wrongdoing and in 2022 Ms Giuffre said she could have been mistaken in identifying him as one of the men she was forced to have sex with as a teenager.

The Duke of York has strenuously denied all allegations - ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP

In another exchange from 2011, Ms Churcher gives Ms Giuffre advice on corroborating her claims she was given to the Duke.

Heres how: you had photos from that trip  taken in Granada and London  and you recalled going to Paris as well and Morocco, she wrote.

I found that itinerary in the logs (you landed at Luton airport near London) . Also Johanna [Sjoberg] had recalled being groped by Andrew one Easter at the NY mansion and that Ghislaine sat both of you on his knee. You had an identical memory and there was a flight to NY just before Easter in 01 that I found in the logs.

Around 60 of an estimated 250 documents have so far been released in connection with the case and more could be released as soon as this evening.

There is no suggestion Mr Clinton has done anything wrong and the Duke of York has strenuously denied all allegations.

Ms Churcher told The Telegraph: These claims are absurd and if they werent made in court papers they would be defamatory.

The entire conspiracy theory is absurd. I stand by my original reporting, not what other people are saying about it.

She said a team of journalists was involved in the original articles printed about Epsteins abuse and they were extensively researched.

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Reports of gang-style teen violence and assaults in the southeast Valley are leading three Gilbert Town Council members to launch a subcommittee to address residents' concerns over the "Gilbert Goons."

Knowledge of the attacks grew after The Arizona Republic began talking to parents and kids after the murder of 16-year-old Preston Lord in Queen Creek.

Many of the attacks in and around Gilbert were attributed to a group called the Gilbert Goons, they said. In December, the Gilbert Police Department reopened four criminal investigations involving teens, including attacks by Goons.

Community members marched in Gilbert Dec. 28 to call for justice for Lords murder and other violent attacks and to demand accountability for how the cases have been investigated. On the same day, Queen Creek police made criminal referrals against seven adults and juveniles to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office in the beating death of Lord.

'We still have more work to do': Gilbert marchers seek justice in Preston Lord murder case

Gilbert's elected leaders stood by their Police Department and its chief even as the council members moved to create a panel to look more deeply into the situation.

Councilmembers Scott Anderson, Chuck Bongiovanni and Jim Torgeson filed paperwork with the Town Clerks Office to discuss and approve a proposal to create a council subcommittee at Tuesdays meeting.

The trio said they decided to create the subcommittee to bring transparency, identify the scope of the attacks and better understand a slow police response that has outraged parents. Potentially, the panel could direct staff to form new policies.

Torgeson told The Republic the move comes in direct response to residents' growing and widespread concerns. Some parents have pointed the finger at authorities, accusing them of failing to act and questioning if the Goons were being protected.

Charges sought: Queen Creek police seek charges against 7 teens, adults in death of Preston Lord

The purpose of the subcommittee, if approved by a council majority, will be decided at Tuesdays Town Council meeting. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at 50 E. Civic Center Drive.

Why Gilbert wants to form a 'Goons' committee

Torgeson said hes not trying to find a bad guy but the truth. He sees the subcommittee as an opportunity to help the community find answers and dispel misinformation.

What I'm trying to do is that every possible angle in is looked at so that people's concerns are addressed. If there are improvements to be made, they will certainly be made, he said.

Reviewing cases: Gilbert police reopen investigations after The Republic connects 'Goon' beatings

Subcommittees have to be made up of less than a majority of a council, which in this case is three. They are set up for a specific purpose to make recommendations or consider to conduct to be voted on by the public body, according to state law.

The focus of the subcommittee will be determined at Tuesday's meeting.

Bongiovanni said he first wants the subcommittee to review the scope of teen violence in the town and dig into the data. From there, he said the city could evaluate how to work with the community to address its concerns.

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

Now that criminal referrals have been made in Lord's case, Anderson said it was time to take a proactive approach. He hopes the subcommittee is a catalyst to start working with (the) Police Department.

The subcommittee is not there to stir up emotions in the community but to provide transparency, Anderson said. For example, the group could come up with new policies or direct staff to relaunch its listening sessions with residents.

Does the subcommittee idea have council support?

Mayor Brigette Peterson, in a written statement to The Republic, said she looks forward to the meeting to learn firsthand the intent of the subcommittee on this topic.

I, like the public, appreciate the transparency in which council subcommittees operate, the goal-oriented nature of their existence and their ultimate objective of bringing forth a recommendation to the public body for action, she said.

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

Vice Mayor Kathy Tilque and Councilmember Bobbi Buchli held off from voicing outright support before they learn more about the intent at Tuesdays meeting.

However, Buchli said she saw it as a positive move.

Councilmember Yung Koprowski told The Republic she supports the creation of the subcommittee.

A father wonders and asks: If Gilbert police had acted sooner, would Preston Lord be alive?

Although Koprowski will miss Tuesdays meeting and won't be able to cast a vote on the motion, she said in a written statement that the subcommittee will provide an additional avenue for communication, adding, We must work collaboratively as a community and a society to address and prevent such incidents.

Does the council support its Police Department and chief?

The council largely stood united in its confidence and satisfaction with the Gilbert Police Departments performance.

Tilque said, I hope the community will provide our police with information and the time to process it to ensure action can be taken to eliminate teen violence within our community.

Buchli said she supports the department creating its own internal task force to address teen violence to put a quick stop to it.

Who are the 'Gilbert Goons'? What to know about teen gang accused of vicious attacks

The mayor did not respond to The Republic's questions asking about her confidence in how the department handled the investigations into the assaults. But a spokesperson later said Peterson "remains unwavering in her support" of Chief Michael Soelberg and the department.

In a statement on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, Peterson thanked "courageous" individuals who have come forward to report a crime and encouraged anyone with information to file police reports with tips.

"I also understand that the most difficult thing to do right now is to be patient and that people are frustrated with the investigative process, but thorough investigations take time. I know the Gilbert Police Department and town leadership remain focused on addressing issues including those related to the safety of teens within our community," she tweeted.

'He's our heart': Combs basketball team grieves death of teammate Preston Lord

Reporter Maritza Dominguez covers Mesa, Gilbert and Queen Creek and can be reached at maritza.dominguez@arizonarepublic.com or 480-271-0646. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @maritzacdom.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 3 Gilbert Town Council members propose panel to study 'Goons' violence
Rudy Giuliani called on a Georgia state judge Thursday to schedule a hearing over a motion to throw out his criminal indictment on election interference charges.

The demand comes nearly four months after the motion was originally filed on Sept. 8.

Giuliani pleaded not guilty to a set of charges surrounding the broad Georgia election interference case, which saw 19 people charged with crimes, including former President Trump. Prosecutors alleged Giuliani knowingly lied in attempts to sway Georgia electors to overturn the 2020 election results.

Attorneys for the former New York City mayor argued in the September dismissal motion that there were deficiencies in the original indictment.

Defendant moves this Court to quash the indictment against him, as it is not perfect in form and substance, fails to provide sufficient notice as to what he must defend against at trial, and the pleadings in said indictment are insufficient to protect him from double jeopardy in a separate prosecution, his attorneys wrote.

The motion describes the 98-page indictment against Giuliani and the other defendants as conspiratorial bouillabaisse consisting of purported criminal acts, daily activities, and constitutionally protected speech.

Four of the 19 defendants have pleaded guilty to crimes to avoid trial, including three of Trumps attorneys. A trial date is not yet set for the case, but prosecutors requested it begin in August.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Medicaid expansion was long politically impossible in Georgia.

Now its just unlikely.

Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns says he wants lawmakers to consider more health coverage in the state as their session begins Monday. But hes careful not to label it Medicaid expansion, and certainly not Obamacare.

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After North Carolina began offering Medicaid to uninsured adults on Dec. 1, there are 10 remaining states that dont cover people with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty line. Thats what was envisioned in President Barack Obamas 2010 health care overhaul.

Like in Georgia, theres a thaw in Mississippi, where GOP legislative leaders say theyre open to extending coverage, even if newly reelected Republican Gov. Tate Reeves remains vocally opposed.

Were fixing to look at every facet of Medicaid expansion, and if it makes sense, were going to do it, Rep. Jason White, newly elected as Mississippis House speaker, said last week.

But Robin Rudowitz, a KFF vice president who directs the nonprofit groups program on Medicaid and the uninsured, said theres little movement in other states. In Kansas for example, Republican lawmakers are spurning Democratic Gov. Laura Kellys pro-expansion campaign of events with business leaders, hospital administrators and health advocates.

Kelly argued in a recent interview that shes addressed every Republican argument opposing expansion and there really, truly is no good reason not to act.

Like other holdouts, Georgia Republicans long resisted participating. Lawmakers in 2014 even passed a law saying the governor couldnt expand Medicaid without their approval.

In July, Republican Gov. Brian Kemp launched a limited expansion offering coverage to able-bodied adults earning up to the poverty line  $14,580 for an individual or $24,860 for a family of three. But people must document 80 monthly hours of work, study, rehabilitation or volunteering to be eligible for Georgias Pathways program, and enrollment has plodded, with fewer than 1,100 people signed up through October.

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Opposition to broader expansion in Georgia began publicly wavering in November, when state House members held a hearing on how Arkansas uses Medicaid money to buy private coverage for residents. Like traditional Medicaid, the plan requires copayments of $5 or less for most services while paying medical providers more than Arkansas traditional Medicaid program.

Republican Arkansas State Sen. Missy Irvin told Georgia lawmakers that Arkansas cut uninsured visits to hospitals and clinics by half, calling it the best outcome for Arkansas.

Advocates of extending health coverage feel hopeful.

In the past it has been the Republicans that have said no to Medicaid expansion. Now we see more coming around, said Monte Veazey, CEO of the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals.

KFF projects more than 430,000 uninsured Georgia adults could gain coverage if Medicaid is broadened. Of those, 250,000 dont qualify for subsidies to buy individual policies, leaving them ineligible for both Medicaid and subsidized marketplace policies. Others are eligible for marketplace policies, but havent enrolled.

Nationwide, KFF estimates 3.5 million uninsured adults would become eligible if all states expanded Medicaid.

Any expansion would come as Georgia and other states are purging millions off the Medicaid rolls who had been retained during the pandemic without proving continuing eligibility. Georgia thus far has removed almost 450,000 people.

Democratic state Sen. Nan Orrock of Atlanta calls Kemps refusal to expand while so many are being purged a failure of governance.

Any Georgia deal could also reduce or eliminate permitting requirements for hospitals and health services. Thats been a top priority for Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, the Republican who presides over Georgias Senate, while the House has balked at loosening certificate of need rules. A similar deal to reduce permitting requirements helped clinch expansion votes last year in North Carolina.

Georgia Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch says his more ideologically conservative chamber isnt interested in full-blown expansion of Medicaid. But he suggests an Arkansas-style plan could succeed.

I believe theres an appetite there to make some changes to our certificate of need requirements that could include better access for all Georgians to health care facilities and services, the Dahlonega Republican said.

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Even then, Kemp could veto any plan. He invested years to win a legal fight with President Joe Bidens administration over the Pathways work requirement. In a 2022 letter to Georgias Democratic members of Congress, Kemp called full Medicaid expansion a failed one-size-fit-none policy.

But Kemp could face a difficult renegotiation on Pathways if Biden wins reelection. Georgia sought to extend the program past its September 2025 expiration, saying the legal fight delayed its start. Last month, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said it couldnt consider Georgias request because the state hadnt met extension requirements, including a public notice and comment period.

Kemp spokesperson Garrison Douglas said Thursday that the governor has championed and continues to support Pathways and a linked program that has subsidized private health insurance premiums. He declined to comment on the prospect of a broader expansion.

Kemp wouldnt necessarily have to sign any proposal. In Georgia, bills not signed or vetoed by the governor can automatically become law.

But without vocal support, Veazey said the inertia of entrenched opposition could defeat expansion. Thats especially true because all of Georgias 236 legislators face 2024 elections.

Weve got to have the leadership to come out with a plan, Veazey said. They have to have buy-in.

IN OTHER NEWS:
Ukrainians will need an unconventional approach to have a chance to break the cycle of another dark year of war.

On the eve of the new year, 2023, many in Ukraine and the world might have thought this would be the last year of war. Even if all the territories occupied by Russia were not liberated, Russia would be ready to negotiate, if not a settlement, then at least a truce amid the expected Ukrainian offensive.

At the end of 2023, there are no longer any particular hopes that this is how the situation will unfold. Not so much from a military perspective as from a political one, the war seems almost hopeless. It is becoming apparent to many observers that not every war ends at the negotiating table, and some conflicts continue without a chance of resolution.

The point is not even that the majority of citizens in Ukraine remain convinced that negotiations to end the war should take place only after the restoration of the country's territorial integrity. The point is that the Russian president does not care about the opinion of Ukrainian society at all. He is not going to conduct any negotiations. He treats Ukraine as a rebellious imperial province whose will to resist must be broken by years of war of attrition. Therefore, there is no smell of negotiations, and the war itself has turned into brutal positional battles without critical progress by the parties to the conflict.

What are we waiting for? The exhaustion of the parties' resources?

What are we waiting for? The exhaustion of the parties' resources? If Ukraine runs out of resources, Russia will simply occupy it or force it to a humiliating surrender and turn it into a vassal state, following the Belarusian example. If Russia runs out of resources, it will put the war into a more frozen status to replenish itself but not leave Ukraine in peace. Ukraine is like a deer whose body has already been clawed by a restless, greedy predator. How to get out of this trap?

First of all, we need to learn to think outside the box. We continue to live by the norms of the recent past, talking about the need to return to international law, recognized borders, etc. However, we should acknowledge that all of this no longer exists. Russia has destroyed international law, proved that one country can appropriate the territory of another while maintaining diplomatic relations with the vast majority of countries (which respect international law), and even has a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. Therefore, politically, there is no chance to go back. From a military point of view, Ukraine has an opportunity to regain its territories, but what if it is not used properly?

Keys to European integration

A non-standard approach is the understanding that the new international law is yet to be built. Until everyone is interested in it, including Russia, any peace formulas, international forums, and joint declarations are a beautiful imitation of political work. Today, one can prove one's case only by force rather than by resolutions. This will be the case until some new conference on security and cooperation, similar to the 1975 meeting in Helsinki.

But strength is not necessarily war. No, it is also the readiness to localize the conflict. It is the continuation of Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration, the search for a security guarantee mechanism that would signal to Russia that the expansion of the war zone could be dangerous for the Kremlin. Which model of security guarantees to choose is a topic for discussion.

However, these should be genuine, not declarative, guarantees, such as Article 5 for the territories of Ukraine controlled by the legitimate government or security guarantees from the United States after Ukraine is invited to join NATO, as happened with Finland or Sweden. The question is not even how such a "hybrid option" for Euro-Atlantic integration would be received in Kyiv. The question is whether the West should turn on the red light for Moscow and give a clear signal that the adventure to eliminate the Ukrainian state has failed. That Ukraine will be part of the West, part of NATO, even if the issue of restoring its territorial integrity cannot be resolved quickly.

It is precisely this non-standard approach that should be considered when it comes to European integration. If we do not agree on such an approach now, we must recognize that the keys to the Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine and Georgia and the European integration of Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova are still held in Moscow, not in Brussels. Putin will never let them out of his hands.

If we do not look for new approaches, we should tell ourselves that this is not only 2024 that will be another dark year of war for Ukrainians. The 20s of the twenty-first century will be a dark decade of war for Ukrainians. But this war, like a tumor, will poison the world and provoke new conflicts.

None of us is interested in this.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Glynis Johns fans on social media have reacted to the actors death aged 100 by paying tribute to the impact her performance of a feminist anthem had on their political awakenings.

Sister Suffragette was composed by songwriters The Sherman Brothers for Johns to perform in character as Mrs Banks in Disneys 1964 musical Mary Poppins.

In their autobiography Walts Time, the brothers recounted how Johns met with Walt Disney while under the impression that she was being approached to play Mary Poppins herself.

To soften the blow, Disney told Johns that a terrific new song had been written for her to perform.

Disney then called the songwriters and told them he was just about to take Johns to lunch and how she was looking forward to hearing the new song following the meal.

The Sherman Brothers worked through their own lunch break and had Sister Suffragette ready for Johns by the time she and Disney had finished eating.

The song, which appears early on in the beloved movie musical, has been heralded by fans.

On X/Twitter, one fan accompanied the clip with the caption: Glynis Johns taught me and many others in my generation (and beyond!) about feminism in MARY POPPINS.

Glynis Johns taught me and many others in my generation (and beyond!) about feminism in MARY POPPINS. #RIPGlynisJohns pic.twitter.com/jno2LOG5j8  Courtney Howard (@Lulamaybelle) January 4, 2024

Another wrote: RIP the incomparable Glynis Johns. I owe some of my feminism to her!

And one explained: Youll laugh, I know, but the character of Mrs Banks introduced me to the concept of feminism, and the history of how women fought for their right to vote. I cant imagine Mrs Banks as anyone other than Glynis Johns. What a remarkable career she had.

Youll laugh, I know, but the character of Mrs Banks introduced me to the concept of feminism, and the history of how women fought for their right to vote. I cant imagine Mrs Banks as anyone other than Glynis Johns. What a remarkable career she had.  pic.twitter.com/PPQpTo8GXe  David Chipakupaku  (@David_Chippa) January 4, 2024

While another added: For so many, Glynis Johns was our first glimpse into feminism, the sisterhood and smashing expectations.

The songs lyrics make reference to Emmeline Pankhurst, one of the founders of the Womens Social and Political Union in 1903.

Johns, a Tony Award winner, died peacefully at an assisted living home in Los Angeles on Thursday (4 January), her manager Mitch Clem confirmed. No cause of death was given.

In a statement to the PA news agency, Clem said his heart was heavy to lose the beloved star.

Glynis powered her way through life with intelligence, wit, and a love for performance, affecting millions of lives, he said. She entered my life early in my career and set a very high bar on how to navigate this industry with grace, class, and truth. Your own truth. Her light shined very brightly for 100 years.

She had a wit that could stop you in your tracks powered by a heart that loved deeply and purely. Today is a sombre day for Hollywood.
Glynis Johns: one critic described her as sounding like 'a princess who is turning into a frog' - 20th Century-Fox/Getty Images

Glynis Johns, the actress, who has died aged 100, rose to fame in the late 1940s and early 1950s in a series of film comedies; she became best-known for playing the suffragette mother Mrs Banks in the Walt Disney classic Mary Poppins, while on stage her distinctive, husky voice  described by one critic as sounding like a princess who is turning into a frog  was perfect for Send in the Clowns in A Little Night Music, the Broadway hit for which she won a Best Musical Actress Tony award.

She had mistakenly formed the impression that she was up for the title role in Mary Poppins, and was placated by Walt Disney, who told her that the songwriters Richard and Robert Sherman had written a big number for her that they would play for her after lunch. The brothers rapidly set to work and produced in short order the rousing Sister Suffragette.

There was no such confusion in A Little Night Music: Stephen Sondheim wrote Send in the Clowns especially for her, playing the role of the courtesan Desiree in a complicated tale of emotional and sexual entanglements.

Glynis Johns with, from left, Karen Dotrice, Matthew Garber and David Tomlinson in Marry Poppins (1964) - Alamy

The show had gone into rehearsal with both book and score unfinished, she recalled, and its director Hal Prince suggested that she and her co-star Len Cariou improvise a couple of scenes to give the book writer Hugh Wheeler a few ideas.

Hal said: Why dont you just say what you feel? When Len and I did that, he got on the phone to Steve Sondheim and said, I think youd better get in a cab and get round here and watch what theyre doing because you are going to get the idea for Glyniss solo.

Suitably inspired, Sondheim employed shorter phrasing to suit her smoky voice and her inability to sustain long notes. She described it as the greatest gift Ive ever been given in the theatre.

Throughout her long career Glynis Johns, who was billed at first as the girl with the upside-down eyes, was most often cast in comic roles; she played Deborah Kerrs jaunty military chum in Alexander Kordas Perfect Strangers (1945), a sophisticated mermaid in Miranda (1948)  which she said was her own favourite film  and its sequel Mad About Men (1954); she also appeared opposite Danny Kaye in The Court Jester (1955).

Glynis Johns in 1962 - De Carvalho Collection

Although she always presented a witty, vivacious public image, Glynis Johns was described by acquaintances as shy, wary and insecure. She claimed that she was the most intolerant, impatient person in the world and surprised her fans by her intense and highly disciplined approach to her profession.

Latterly she was better known in the US than in Britain. She appeared in a considerable number of network television series and for a time had her own show, Glynis. Continuing ill health stopped her from performing as often as she would have liked, and by the end of her career Glynis Johns was spending a great deal of her time meditating and resting. I have to have a lot of rest and be alone a lot of the time she said. If I can be alone, doing my exercises and puttering about, Im fine.

She admitted to a growing interest in Christian Science and metaphysics. I couldnt have got through my illness without metaphysics, she said. I firmly believe that what happens to the body is a manifestation of your thoughts. No doubt wanting to keep all options open, she also claimed that she believed in what she called little people, and insisted that she would take a firm stand on their existence until someone positively proved her wrong.

But her dedication to her craft was firmly rooted in the material world. As far as Im concerned, Im not interested in playing the role on only one level, she said in 1990. The whole point of first-class acting is to make a reality of it. To be real. And I have to make sense of it in my own mind in order to be real.

Glynis Johns as the mermaid in Miranda (1948), her favourite movie - Kurt Hutton

Glynis Margaret Payne Johns was born on October 5 1923 in South Africa while her parents, the actor Mervyn Johns and the pianist Alys Steele-Payne, were touring in a musical review, and she made her theatrical debut when three weeks old, appearing as the baby. Her maternal grandparents, members of a well-known Australian bell-ringing act, were devout Christian Scientists, as was her mother, and young Glynis was brought up to believe in the healing power of prayer.

The family moved back to London when Glynis was five. She attended South Hampstead High School, where she was a contemporary of Angela Lansbury. She studied ballet and became a child prodigy, gaining her teaching certificates aged 10 and making her professional debut two years later. I never had enough time to be silly as a child, she recalled. Mistakes on stage are too serious to make so I didnt make any. In 1935, aged 12, she appeared as the principal ballerina in the pantomime Buckies Bears; the child originally cast as the lead was taken ill and she stepped into the role with no rehearsal.

Glynis rapidly made a reputation for herself as a reliable child actress, appearing in a variety of plays including the lead in A Kiss for Cinderella (1937) and Miranda in Quiet Wedding (1938). She made her film debut in South Riding in 1938 after being given a contract by Alexander Korda and subsequently appeared in a series of British films including Michael Powells 49th Parallel (1942) and The Adventures of Tartu (1943).

Glynis Johns with Danny Kaye in Court Jester (1956) - Snap/Shutterstock

Glynis Johns gained film star status in 1945 when she played Deborah Kerrs tomboy friend in Perfect Strangers. In 1948 she starred in Miranda as the mermaid who tires of the sea and comes ashore. The film was a hit and led to offers of other lead roles.

Glynis Johns was divorced for the first time in 1948; she had married Anthony Forwood in 1942 and had a son, Gareth. Anthony Forwood would go on to become Dirk Bogardes partner and manager. In 1952 she was married for a second time, to David Foster, a Second World War hero who became the chairman of Colgate Palmolive International; that year she starred as a Channel Islander who helps to smuggle a prize cow out of Nazi hands in Appointment with Venus, opposite David Niven.

She also co-starred with Alec Guinness in The Card (1952), in which she played an ingenuous dance teacher. The following year she made an inauspicious Broadway debut in Gertie, which closed after only five performances.

She returned to Britain and made a sequel to Miranda: in Mad About Men (1954) she resumed the role of sophisticated mermaid, starring opposite Donald Sinden.

Glynis John with, from left, Peter Ustinov, Deborah Kerr and Robert Mitchum in The Sundowners (1960) - Alamy

When Glynis Johns moved to Hollywood in 1955, her combination of tomboy good-looks and husky, seductive voice confused casting agents. They cast her first as the virtuous Maid Jean opposite Danny Kaye in The Court Jester (1955) and then in a cameo role as Sporting Ladys Companion in Around the World in Eighty Days (1956).

By then she had begun to suffer from ill health; she was admitted to hospital for a stomach operation and returned to hospital for numerous operations throughout her career. The following year she was divorced for the second time and remained in Hollywood, taking leading roles in films for Universal, United Artists and Paramount.

In 1960 she appeared, again with Deborah Kerr, in the excellent The Sundowners, which starred Robert Mitchum; she was nominated for an Academy Award for her portrayal of a blowsy Australian innkeeper. In a quirk of casting, her suitor in the film was played by her own father. (Following the death of Olivia de Havilland in 2020, she became the oldest surviving actor to have received an Oscar nomination.)

For the remainder of the decade Glynis Johns stayed in the US, where she appeared regularly on television in shows such as The Naked City and General Electric Theatre. After her third divorce in 1962 (she had married Cecil Henderson in 1960) she underwent another operation for cancer of the stomach. Not living in harmony makes me ill, she recalled, Im sure these terrible worries have contributed to my cancer. But she made a remarkable recovery after her operation and three weeks later appeared in an episode of Dr Kildare.

In 1963 she starred in her own series, Glynis, playing a murder mystery writer who solves real murders. The series flopped badly and was taken off the air after 13 weeks, and she returned to making films, turning in good performances in The Cabinet of Dr Caligari (1962) and Mary Poppins two years later. She was married for the last time in 1964, to the writer Elliot Arnold.

In the late 1960s Glynis Johns retired from film and theatre work in order to devote herself to family life. Her health remained poor and she underwent several more operations for cancer. But she eventually decided that she preferred performing to domesticity and after 16 years in the US she returned to the theatre in Britain, starring in a 1966 run of the Anita Loos comedy The Kings Mare, but was forced to leave the show when she found the nightly two-hour performance too taxing.

For Mary Poppins her role was made into a suffragette to explain her absences and the need for a nanny. There was some criticism of the fact that, although she was a proto-feminist out of the house, at home she was conventionally subservient to Mr Banks (David Tomlinson); this, however, was not a decision made by her.

In 1970 she starred in John Mortimers Come As You Are. I used to suffer terribly from stage fright before that show, she recalled, but after having to do four little plays every night on a revolving stage with different characters, different accents and different costumes for each, I feel Ive conquered it.

Her performance in A Little Night Music in 1973 prompted one critic to praise her as adorable, while another described her as fitting her role as snugly as a Gibson Girls girdle, but her success was marred by another bout of illness which resulted in her leaving the show for some time.

In 1976 she returned to London for a production of Terence Rattigans Cause Celebre. Cast against type as an accessory to a murder, she received standing ovations. The production was extremely successful, but as in the past she had to pull out of the show because of ill health. She underwent another operation for cancer in 1977.

During the remainder of the 1970s and 1980s Glynis Johns appeared in very few productions. The fact is Im hardly ever offered anything I consider good, she said. If I was Id do more.

In 1978 she did appear in the ITV production Across a Crowded Room and followed it with a UK tour of Hay Fever opposite Christopher Plummer. After nearly a decade she returned to television in 1982 to play Lady Fitzpatrick Morgan in the mini-series Little Gloria... Happy at Last. That year she also appeared in the American sitcom Cheers, as an eccentric dowager. Two years later, in 1984, she toured Canada in The Boyfriend and in 1985 co-starred with Plummer again, in Peccadillo.

She returned to A Little Night Music in 1991, playing Desirees mother Madame Armfeldt, and for the rest of the decade she had a few cameo roles, including the 1995 romcom starring Sandra Bullock, While You Were Sleeping. Her final appearance was in the 1999 comedy Superstar.

When not acting Glynis Johns spent most of her time at her home. I do a lot she recalled, painting, dancing, playing the flute, writing poetry, doing my exercises, but I do it all slowly.

She was married and divorced four times and suffered from ill health for much of her career.

Glynis Johnss four marriages all ended in divorce. Her son Gareth Forwood predeceased her in 2007.

Glynis Johns, born October 5 1923, died January 4 2024

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It might not be enough to make a snowman, but El Pasoans could wake up to a light coat of white Monday morning.

"There is some chance for some snow late Sunday night to Monday early morning; not much snow, maybe a half inch accumulation," said Anthony Brown, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Santa Teresa.

The winter storm may bring a touch of snow between the hours of midnight and at 3 or 4 a.m. at the latest.

Teotle De Tlalli slides down a hill at Memorial Park in Central El Paso on Feb. 3, 2022. The Borderland has a chance of snow accumulation late Sunday or early Monday.

"By the time people hit the roads, it might be over," Brown said. "I'm not expecting major traffic issues."

El Pasoans are advised to break out the jackets for the Pacific storm bringing colder weather Monday and Tuesday.

"The cold wind chill will bring us to the upper teens to lower 30s," Brown said. "The wind will probably be about 25 miles an hour. And Tuesday morning, it will be pretty cold, too."

Snow blankets the Borderland on Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022. Mount Cristo Rey in Sunland Park, New Mexico, is shown rising above the snow.

The rest of the week might be in the upper 50s, with another possible cold snap may come the following weekend.

Are El Paso schools open?

All schools and offices in the El Paso Independent School District will open on a two-hour delay on Monday, Jan. 8, because of the wind chill and frigid temperatures expected overnight, EPISD said on Sunday. Transportation times will be adjusted accordingly.

Other area school districts on Sunday afternoon were monitoring the weather to determine any changes.

Fort Bliss delays, cancellations

Fort Bliss will have a late work call at 10 a.m. Monday for soldiers and civilians because of the weather. Child development centers on post will open no later than 9 a.m. Monday, Fort Bliss announced.

William Beaumont Army Medical Center will cancel and reschedule all appointments before 10 a.m., patients can voluntarily cancel and reschedule appointments through the MHS GENESIS online patient portal, the hospital stated.

Ruidoso weather

If you really want to build a snowman, you might head to Cloudcroft and Ruidoso, which has already experienced snow, some fresh on Friday. Areas around Cloudcroft received 10 inches of snow Friday morning.

Brown advises people to check their forecast Sunday night and give themselves more time to head out if needed.

When does winter end?

In the Northern Hemisphere, the first day of spring will be on March 19, 2024. This is also the start of the vernal equinox.

Famed groundhog Punxsutawney Phil forecasted a longer winter when he saw his shadow last Groundhog Day, but the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says theres no predictive skill for Phil. The groundhog has only gotten it right about 40% of the time.

Ruidoso Winter Park

Ruidoso's Winter Park is a destination every El Paso resident should try. The park is at the bottom of Sierra Blanca in Alto, New Mexico. In the winter, they offer winter tubing and VIP Igloo Packages.

Open daily Dec.15-Jan 8; Friday-Monday Jan. 9-March 24; located at 121 Ski Run Road

Ages 4 and up: $38; ages 3 and under are free.

Call 575-336-7079 for more info.

Click here for more info.

More: Gold's Gym expands with third location; Cheezus bids farewell to Downtown after 3 years

Maria Cortes Gonzalez may be reached at 915-546-6150; mcortes@elpasotimes.com, @EPTMaria on Twitter; eptmariacg on TikTok.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Winter storm this weekend: Light snow Sunday night, Monday morning
A U.S. Coast Guard boat passes below a suicide deterrent net on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023. A suicide prevention barrier at San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge has been completed as of Jan. 1, 2024 more than a decade after officials approved it.

If you or someone you know needs mental health resources and support, please call, text, or chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or visit 988lifeline.org for 24/7 access to free and confidential services.

The installment of a suicide prevention net at the Golden Gate Bridge is finally complete.

Officials announced on Wednesday that the stainless-steel nets are now secured on both sides of the 1.7-mile iconic San Francisco bridge.

"The net is already working as intended to save lives and deter people from coming to the Bridge to harm themselves," the bridge's Highway and Transportation District spokesperson Paolo Cosulich-Schwartz said in a statement to USA TODAY. "The net is a proven design that deters people from jumping, serves as a symbol of care and hope to despondent individuals, and offers people a second chance."

After spending 23 years in suicide prevention and long advocating for the net's installment, Kevin Hines said he is thrilled to know far fewer people will be able to jump off the bridge to their deaths. He said those who find themselves in the net will be rendered motionless, injured and soon rescued by operators.

'Bright as it was in 2020': Glowing bioluminescence waves return to Southern California beaches

Kevin Hines survived jump from Golden Gate Bridge

The installation means so much to Hines, who in 2000 miraculously survived his suicide attempt from the bridge when he 19 years old and struggling with bipolar disorder, becoming one of about 40 people to have ever survived the fall.

He said he is immensely proud of advocates' efforts to demand a bridge net, especially his father Patrick who served as the first president of Bridge Rail Foundation.

"Without his dedication and drive to get the message out there on social media, and make a big to-do about it, I think it would have been more difficult for everyone else to follow suit," Hines told USA TODAY on Thursday. "And everybody else involved. It warms my heart to know that they all never gave up."

Kevin Hines is seen looking towards the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco in May of 2019.

How many people have jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge

Since its competition in 1937, around 2,000 people are known to have jumped from the bridge to their deaths.

Over the past 20 years, an average of 30 suicides at the Golden Gate Bridge were confirmed each year. While the net was under construction in 2023, there were 14 confirmed suicides, less than half the average number.

Bridge officials began discussions on installing suicide barrier nets in 2008. Highway and Transportation District officials approved the project in 2014 for $76 million.

"For a long time, society did not discuss suicide or mental health like we do today, and early efforts to have a barrier approved were unsuccessful. The conversation around a suicide barrier on the Golden Gate Bridge began to change in the mid-2000s thanks to the efforts of advocates and family members," Cosulich-Schwartz said. "By sharing personal stories and speaking directly to our board over many years, advocates for the barrier were able to convince policymakers to move forward with the life-saving net that is installed today."

Documentary investigates delay in bridges safety net

The efforts to prevent suicides at the Golden Gate Bridge began not long after the bridge opened, with the formation of a 'bridge patrol' following the first suicide death, Hines said.

"While I do greatly appreciate the bridge district authority's efforts, energy hard work and time to build this net and the funds that they provided, they fought against us at every turn and and that can't be forgotten," Hines added.

Hine said he has been investigating the "harrowing issue that's lasted nearly 90 years" in a documentary that dives into "why it took this long to do the right thing from the start."

"The Net" is projected to be released either in late 2024 or early 2025.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Golden Gate Bridge nets in place to prevent suicides, cost $76 million
News of Sacramento City Councilman Sean Loloees resignation has spread across Sacramento, with several community activists and organizations rejoicing the decision.

The resignation, announced in a video message posted on YouTube Thursday, comes less than a month after Loloee was indicted by a federal grand jury on fraud, obstruction and other charges. The DOJ also determined Loloee, 53, does not live in the district that he represents, which The Sacramento Bee first reported in June 2022.

Its a good day in Sacramento, said Ramona Landeros, founder of the Benito Juarez Association. This was too much of a distraction for the City Council and North Sacramento deserves a chance at better representation.

Loloee was elected in 2020 to represent District 2, which primarily consists of North Sacramento and is nearly 40% Hispanic. Landeros is running for the District 2 City Council seat in this years election.

The federal indictment included allegations that Loloee employed undocumented immigrants, including minors, underpaid them, and threatened to have them deported.

Maria Grijalva, an activist and owner of the Latino Info Resource Center, called the resignation a relief. Grijalva has worked closely with former Loloee employees, advocating on their behalf because many are hesitant to speak out publicly.

This was an embarrassment to the city, Grijalva said. The nightmare is finally over.

The Sacramento Central Labor Council, a local union, also released a statement applauding the resignation. Last month, Fabrizio Sasso, executive director of the union, called for Loloee to step down at a City Council meeting.

This is a good step forward for Sacramento and the first step towards justice for the workers at Viva Supermarkets, wrote the Central Labor Council on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Landeros and other activists called for Loloees resignation for months, with some publicly speaking at a November City Council meeting. They spoke in place of former Loloee employees, who said they were underpaid, threatened with deportation, and did not receive breaks while working at Viva Supermarkets.

Thats the new form of slavery in this country, Landeros said.

In December, Loloee was federally indicted on many of these same allegations. He has continued to deny the criminal charges.

Landeros said she received messages from former workers on Thursday. Some were pleased with the news, while others felt hesitant to celebrate because of the pending court trial.

Were not all the way there yet, Landeros said.

Loloee is due in court on Feb. 12.

The Benito Juarez Association, a nonprofit civil rights organization, is working with about 25 former Viva Supermarket employees who are primarily Spanish-speaking. Landeros said the organization continues to be a voice for the workers, who are still hesitant to talk for fear of retaliation.
Gov. Hochul on Friday floated a proposal to build more pools and invest in more training for lifeguards, who have been in short supply in New Yorks sweltering recent summers.

The drowning deaths of children in city pools have been a deepening problem in New York City, and potent heat spells have heightened many New Yorkers desire to cool off at public pools.

Hochuls office said her blueprint is New Yorks largest investment in municipal swimming pools since President Franklin D. Roosevelts New Deal nine decades ago (Roosevelt, a one-time New York governor, also built a pool at the Executive Mansion in Albany.).

Folded into Hochuls plan, she said, is a $60 million investment in a city-state collaboration to build floating pools in New York waterways. The city plans to build a floating, water-filtering pool in the East River, in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge.

The pool is to open to the public next year, according to Mayor Adams office. It was unclear where exactly the pool would be located, but renderings show it in multiple East River locations, including two different possible spots by Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Hochul, a Buffalo Democrat, described swimming as one of her greatest pleasures.

I love it, Hochul said in a news conference at a Harlem community center. I want every person to love it. I want every child to have access to this. And I want to keep kids alive.

Overall, Hochuls proposal includes $150 million in grant money for 10 new public swimming pools in high-need areas across the state.

The governors proposal is an extension of her long-running efforts to bolster the states lifeguard ranks, and it came in a series of policy priorities for 2024 she has outlined ahead of a major address scheduled for next week.

Over the last two years, Hochul has lowered the minimum age for some lifeguards to 15, and has raised wages for lifeguards at state facilities, hoping to attract more lifeguards to watch over the states children at pool time.

Drowning is the most common cause of death for children ages 1 to 4, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. In 2020, some 230 New Yorkers died by drowning, Hochul said.

Its every parents nightmare, the governor said. But heres the challenge: the pain is not shared equally among the population. Low-income communities, communities of color have suffered decades of disinvestment in swimming facilities.

The city currently has 65 public pools, including 53 outside and 12 indoors, according to government data.

Last year, the city pledged a $55 million investment to build one new pool and renovate another in southeast Queens, and broke ground on a $141 million community center and pool in East Flatbush, Brooklyn.

But the city has seen its budget deeply strained by the arrival of tens of thousands of migrants since 2022, and Adams welcomed the governors pool expansion and lifeguard proposals.

Last year, the city Parks Department started its summer season with less than a third of its goal of 1,400 lifeguards.

The lifeguard shortage has stemmed from low salaries, stringent test requirements and slashed training programs. The city has tried to tackle the problem by running a months-long recruiting initiative and raising pay for first and second-year lifeguards to more than $21 per hour.

When asked how Hochuls plan would work in the face of such cuts on the city level, Adams told reporters after her announcement that were going to do it.

I got a good governor. Shes excited. Shes willing to help us, he said. We know we got tough choices, but now, what were going to do, were going to get folks who know how to swim to come and help, volunteer. All of us have got to be a part of this.

Hochul told reporters after her announcement that she wants to work with Adams to prevent beach closings due to lifeguard shortages next summer.

In past summers, those shortages have closed stretches of beach, limited swimming in some pools and curtailed public swim instruction and adult swim programs. Families have been left to scramble to get basic water safety classes for children and to trek farther distances to swim.

Adams, a Democrat, suggested the city has normalized the inaccessibility of pool access in some neighborhoods.

Today we are saying no to that, Adams said during Hochuls formal announcement. Your ethnicity should not determine your destiny, and it should not determine what you should have in your community.

Lets hop in, the mayor added, and lets swim.
Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday outlined plans to expand parental leave benefits for millions of New Yorkers and to broadly lift lingering barriers to doula access, moving to address rising maternal and infant mortality rates that she characterized as a crisis.

Hochul, a Democrat, proposed bolstering a statewide paid family leave program to include 40 hours of additional leave for mothers to pursue prenatal care. No state in the nation has enacted statewide paid prenatal leave, the governors office said.

The blueprint would expand the New Yorkers Paid Family Leave program, which covers more than 8 million people across the state, according to Hochuls office. Most state workers and employees in the private sector are eligible to participate in the program.

Hochul, the first mother elected governor of New York, said she had been dismayed by a recently reported national increase in infant mortality rates that began to reverse 20 years of sustained progress.

The data, she said, shook me to my core.

Mothers and babies are dying unnecessarily across the nation, and right here in New York, Hochul said in a news conference at a Brooklyn hospital.

In 2022, the infant mortality rate rose by 3% nationwide, according to provisional government data. And the number of maternal deaths surged by about 40% between 2020 and 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.

Black women are three times as likely as white women to die of a pregnancy-related cause, according to the CDC.

The New York City Health Department reported 29 pregnancy-related deaths in 2020, including 21 deaths of Black and Latina women, according to a city report.

Hochul also said Thursday that she would seek the passage of legislation allowing the state to lift a requirement that New Yorkers have medical referrals to receive care from doulas.

Doulas are trained to provide crucial counseling during the childbirth process, but do not deliver babies. Mothers who have the support of doulas are less likely to experience complications or to require Caesarean sections.

Starting this year, all New York mothers who receive Medicaid are entitled to doula services at childbirth. More than 7 million people receive health care coverage under New Yorks Medicaid program, according to the state Health Department.

Hochul said the next step is to make it easier and faster for all mothers to access doulas.

Its just common sense, said Hochul, who is currently outlining a series of priorities ahead of her State of the State address, which is expected to include the prenatal care proposals. Its a support system that women, particularly in Black and Brown communities, absolutely need. So, lets start removing the barriers for women to access them.

Hochuls proposals require passage by the state Legislature, according to the governors office.

_____
Attorney General Merrick Garland talks during a news conference on ongoing efforts to combat violent crime in cities across the United States Friday, Jan. 5, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)

WASHINGTON (AP)  More than 500 gun purchases have been blocked since a new gun law requiring stricter background checks for young people went into effect in 2022, Attorney General Merrick Garland said Friday, the day after a school shooting in Iowa left a sixth-grader dead.

The bipartisan law passed in June 2022 was the most sweeping gun legislation in decades and requires extra checks for any gun purchases by people under age 21. Those denied a gun purchase include a person convicted of rape, a suspect in an attempted murder case and someone who had been involuntarily committed for mental-health treatment, according to the Justice Department.

President Joe Biden applauded the news, calling it an important milestone.

Simply put: this legislation is saving lives, Biden said in a statement where he also called for additional measures such as universal background checks and a ban on firearms often referred to as assault weapons. The Democratic president said he was proud to have taken more executive action than any president in history to combat gun violence in America, and I will never stop fighting to get even more done.

The news came the day after the country was rocked by another school shooting, this one carried out by a 17-year-old armed with a shotgun and a handgun who killed a sixth grader and wounded five others on the new year's first day of classes at an Iowa high school, authorities said. The suspect, a student at the school in Perry, Iowa, died of what investigators believe is a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

It wasnt clear Friday how the shooter got the weapons, but people under 18 cant buy legally buy guns in purchases regulated by federal law.

The 2022 law was passed after a series of mass shootings, including the massacre of 19 students and two teachers at a Texas elementary school. The measure was a compromise that also included steps to keep firearms from more domestic violence offenders and help states put in place red flag laws that make it easier for authorities to take weapons from people found to be dangerous.

It mandates extra checks with state and local officials for young buyers, along with the FBI databases typically searched before someone is approved to buy a gun. Those steps have so far blocked 527 guns from being sold, Garland said.

Still, This is not a time to relax our efforts, he said in remarks that also touched on overall declines in homicides in many U.S. cities. We have so much more to do.
A 6th grader was killed and five others were injured in a shooting at Perry High School in Perry, Iowa, on Thursday.

American schools are expected to spend $3.5 billion on security this year, according to the research firm Omdia, part of a growing trend in spending on defense against active shooters.

Greg Vecchi, director of research and training at SafeDefend, says the company's technology can help people survive a shooting at schools and workplaces.

"Think of it as the fire alarm for active killers," he told CBS News.

In 2014, a gunman opened fire in the parking lot of a Jewish Community Center in Overland Park, Kansas, killing a man, his grandson and a third person who was nearby.

"To come in the building and see bullet holes, glass shattered, definitely an immediate loss of security," said Sandra Greason, an employee at the center.

Since then, the center has installed license plate readers, more cameras, armed guards, metal detectors, and now, SafeDefend devices.

The technology was created by Jeff Green, who left his job as an elementary school principal to work on it.

"No matter how much law enforcement wants to be there, there's a gap," Green said. "There's a time when we're on our own. And how do we survive until help arrives?"

Greason told CBS the center's new safety measures, which also include active shooter training, make her feel more secure.

"Preparedness is key, right? The more you're prepared, the better you feel and the more confident you feel," she said.

SafeDefend is just one part of what's become a booming industry aimed at protecting kids and employees from a rapid rise in mass shootings. Products range from gun detectors guided by artificial intelligence to bulletproof tables and automatically locking doors.

Odis Johnson Jr., executive director at Johns Hopkins Center for Safe and Healthy Schools, is skeptical these products are the answer to gun violence.

"We've seen year-over-year increases in death and injury," he said.



"We really do need a more comprehensive approach that includes gun safety and stiffer regulations for gun ownership," Johnson added.

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Orlando police say someone was shot Thursday night in Carver Shores.

Around 6 pm., officers responded to reports of a shooting at Raleigh Street near Lescot Lane.

On scene, they located an adult victim.

Police responded to Raleigh Street in Orlando Thursday night.

That person was transported to a hospital for treatment and is expected to survive, according to Orlando Police Department.

READ: Judge hits juror who lied, caused mistrial with max sentence

At last report, investigators said they were still working to figure out who shot the victim and why.

Stay with WFTV.com for updates on this story.

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Gypsy Rose Blanchard, who served eight years in prison for her role in the murder of her abusive mother, has said she wants her story to be a cautionary tale, in her first TV interview since she was released.

Blanchard, 32, was convicted of second-degree murder after her mother, Clauddine Dee Dee Blanchard, was stabbed to death in 2015. It emerged that Blanchard had been forced by her mother to pretend to be seriously ill and to endure unnecessary medical procedures.

Experts have said Dee Dee Blanchard had the psychological disorder Munchausen syndrome by proxy, where a parent or guardian exaggerates or invents their childs medical conditions. Blanchard was forced to use a wheelchair and feeding tube, which she did not need, and was beaten and chained to a bed.

In an interview with ABCs Good Morning America, aired on Friday, Blanchard said she was sharing her story so that the next person that might be in a situation like mine, they dont take the route that I did.

I dont believe my mother was a monster. She had a lot of demons herself that she was struggling with, Blanchard said.

I didnt want her dead. I just wanted out of my situation and I thought that was the only way out.

Dee Dee Blanchard was found stabbed to death in her home in Springfield, Missouri, in June 2015. Gypsy Rose Blanchard supplied her then boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn, with a knife and hid in a bathroom while he killed her mother.

Blanchard pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, and the case gained national attention after details of the abuse she was subjected to emerged. Dee Dee Blanchard told family members her daughter had muscular dystrophy and needed a wheelchair. She also lied about Gypsys age and other medical conditions.

Godejohn, who Blanchard met online, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

In the ABC interview, Blanchard was asked: Is it fair that he is incarcerated for life for killing your mum and youre out?

Blanchard said: Well, Im sure that we both have a lot of regrets. All I can really say is that I did my time, [and] hes doing his time for his part. And I wish him well on his journey.

Blanchard said she was addicted to painkillers and was high when she and Godejohn planned and carried out her mothers murder.

She added: I dont blame drugs. I dont blame anything. I dont make excuses.

Blanchard, who said she is now sober, has gained a new level of fame since she was released from the Chillicothe correctional center, in Missouri on 28 December.
Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley called for mental health reform following Thursdays deadly school shooting in Perry, Iowa.

We have to deal with the cancer that is mental health. We have to, Haley told voters at a CNN town hall in Des Moines. One in 3 people have a mental health issue, but if treated they can live a perfectly normal life. What we see is that 80 percent of mass shooters are in some sort of crisis at the time that they do that. We have got to do better. The problem is we dont have enough mental health therapists.

The second thing is we have got to secure our schools the same way we secure our airports and our courthouses, she continued. And that means we make sure we have whatever we need to make sure nothing comes through bulletwise or otherwise.

Haley said schools should have security officers at the front and at one point of entry, and a mental health counselor on duty.

A gunman opened fire at Perry High School in Dallas County, Iowa, on Thursday, killing one student and injuring four students and a school administrator. Police said the gunman died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to NBC News.

Haley first reacted to the news on X, formerly known as Twitter, offering her condolences to those who were impacted by the shooting.

No parent, student, or teacher should have to wake up and face news about a school shooting, she said. My heart aches for the victims of Perry, Iowa and the entire community.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Republican presidential contender Nikki Haley is finding herself on defense again after she said I had Black friends growing up during a town hall as she sought to clean up remarks she made around the cause of the Civil War.

During a CNN town hall in Des Moines, Iowa, on Thursday, Haley was asked to respond to criticism made by fellow GOP White House candidate Chris Christie after the former U.N. ambassador initially omitted slavery in her answer about the cause of the Civil War. Christie claimed she had answered the way she did because she was unwilling to offend anyone by telling truth.

No ones ever said that I am unwilling to offend. I offend plenty of people, because I call people out when they do something wrong, Haley said during the town hall.

What I will tell you is Chris Christie is from New Jersey. I should have said slavery right off the bat. But if you grow up in South Carolina, literally in second and third grade, you learn about slavery. You grow up and you have  you know, I had Black friends growing up. It is a very talked about thing, she added.

Haleys response prompted jabs from fellow Republican White House hopeful Ron DeSantiss campaign and criticism from pundits and political observers.

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DAY 9 of Nikki Haley trying to clean up her Civil War gaffe. I had black friends growing up, the DeSantis War Room account on X, formerly Twitter, wrote, attaching a clip of her remarks at the CNN town hall.

Can I do a public service announcement as the Black person on the panel? said The View co-host Sunny Hostin. Non-Black people: When you are trying to convince someone that you are not racist, do not say, I have Black friends.

During a joint interview with journalists from NBC News and The Des Moines Register on Friday, Haley defended her comments from the CNN town hall, saying she knew firsthand the pains of racism and that it was a source of pride to say she had Black and white friends.

We were the only Indian family in our small Southern town. I was teased every day for being brown. So anyone that wants to question it, can go back and look at what Ive said on how hard it was to grow up in the Deep South, Haley said.

What I will tell you is saying that I had Black friends is a source of pride. Saying that I had white friends is a source of pride. If you want to know what it was like growing up, I was disqualified from a beauty pageant because I wasnt white or Black, because they didnt know where to put me. So look, I know the hardships, the pain that come with racism, she added later.

Haley calls for mental health reform after Iowa school shooting

Her comments Friday are the latest in a series of remarks she made after initially seeking to clarify remarks she made in late December during a town hall in Berlin, N.H., when an attendee asked her what was the cause of the Civil War.

Well, dont come with an easy question, right? I mean, I think the cause of the Civil War was basically how government was gonna run, the freedoms and what people could and couldnt do, she said.

I mean, I think it always comes down to the role of government and what the rights of the people are. And we  I will always stand by the fact that I think government was intended to secure the rights and freedoms of the people. It was never meant to be all things to all people, Haley added.

The attendee later noted that she had not mentioned the word slavery in her reply, to which Haley responded, What do you want me to say about slavery?

However, Haley later attempted to clean up her remarks, saying during a radio interview, 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, she added.

The gaffes come at a critical moment for Haley, who has been seeing some momentum in New Hampshire polling, just a week out from the Iowa GOP caucus. At the same time, former President Trump continues to lead both DeSantis and Haley in both early-state and national polling.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The SpaceX logo is displayed on a building at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. On Wednesday, a U.S. labor agency accused the private space company of unlawfully firing employees who penned an open letter critical of CEO Elon Musk and creating an impression that worker activities were under surveillance by the rocket ship company. David J. Phillip/Associated Press file photo Elon Musk is interviewed at the 2023 New York Times DealBook Summit in Manhattan in late November. Federal labor officials accused the rocket company SpaceX this week of illegally firing eight employees for circulating a letter critical of company founder and CEO Elon Musk. AMIR HAMJA/New York Times

A U.S. labor agency has accused SpaceX of unlawfully firing employees who penned an open letter critical of CEO Elon Musk and creating an impression that worker activities were under surveillance by the private space company.

A Los Angeles-based regional director for the National Labor Relations Board on Wednesday filed a complaint that consolidates eight unfair labor practice charges against SpaceX. The cases stem from the companys alleged actions after the circulation of the employees letter back in June 2022.

The letter, among other workplace concerns, called on executives to condemn Musks public behavior on X  the platform then-known as Twitter  and hold everyone accountable for unacceptable conduct. Musks actions included making light of sexual harassment allegations against him, which the billionaire denied.

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As our CEO and most prominent spokesperson, Elon is seen as the face of SpaceX  every tweet that Elon sends is a de facto public statement by the company, the open letter said at the time. The letter also referred to Musks actions as a frequent source of distraction and embarrassment.

A total of nine employees were soon terminated for their involvement in the letter, according to a November 2022 filing made on behalf of one of the employees to the NLRB, although only eight are included in Wednesdays complaint.

In addition to the firings, the complaint accuses SpaceX of interrogating other workers about the letter, announcing that employees were terminated for their participation in the letter and inviting employees to quit if they disagreed with the behavior of Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk.

The complaint also alleges that some were shown screen shots of communications between employees about the letter, which created an impression among (SpaceXs) employees that their protected concerted activities were under surveillance.

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Reacting to the boards complaint, SpaceX sued the NLRB Thursday in federal court. The lawsuit says the NRLB is unconstitutionally structured and its action against the company unlawful.

Addressing the boards complaint in its lawsuit, SpaceX lawyers say the employees' letter caused significant distraction to SpaceX employees across the country. It said the employees involved in the letter were fired for violating a number of company policies.

Space X did not immediately respond to the Associated Press' requests for comment Thursday.
Fireworks light up the sky by the Tower of the Americas to ring in the new year in Downtown San Antonio, Texas, Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022. The citys official New Years Eve celebration was back on again after taking a hiatus last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News

2024 arrived with the boom of so many fireworks they created a haze over a city already dealing with mountain cedar and mold.

But in various parts of San Antonio, fireworks werent the only problem.

The problem was random, indiscriminate gunshots fired into the air as if what goes up doesnt come down.

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The phenomenon is called celebratory gunfire. Like fireworks, its illegal.

While laws punish such reckless behavior, residents may not be reporting the problem as they should.

Thats inertia both on the bureaucratic level and at the grassroots.

While neighborhoods like mine on the West Side seem to be experiencing more celebratory gunfire on New Years Eve  and really, on a daily basis  reports to police were low Sunday and Monday.

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People like me are part of the problem.

While I could call the police non-emergency number several times a week to report what I suspect is celebratory gunfire, I dont.

I used to call the non-emergency number, 210-207-7273, whenever I felt someone could be in danger.

But, like me, at least some residents have given up, retreating to their homes, and hoping for the best.

They may lack details that police need and arent about to investigate further.

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Sometimes, residents may know exactly whos responsible for celebratory gunfire but fear getting involved. Consider dangerous dogs, and residents too scared by the dogs and their owners to file a report.

City leaders havent taken up the charge either. Like us, theyre resigned to the presence of guns in our lives, weighed down by other issues or helpless to stem the tide of an armed citizenry.

Sgt. Washington Moscoso of the San Antonio Police Departments public information office explained the consequences this week.

The two charges most likely to be filed as it relates to celebratory gunfire are discharging a firearm, a Class A misdemeanor, or deadly conduct, a felony. Moscoso said both depend on the circumstances of each case.

Most suspected gunfire reports turn out to be fireworks, he said.

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Moscoso said police reports filed from 7 p.m. New Years Eve to 3 a.m. Jan. 1, that involved those two potential charges amounted to 11 calls citywide.

During the same period last year, police received five reports. In 2021, it was six.

That should be good news.

But residents like former Council Member Rosie Castro and composer and nonprofit leader George Cisneros beg to differ.

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There was an uptick on the use of firearms Sunday night, Cisneros said. Several years ago, he started noticing an increase in semi-automatic weapons being fired.

Last year, he heard gunfire from heavy-caliber handguns, single shots from perhaps 45-caliber Glocks.

This year he heard shots from much larger magazines  11 rounds or even larger.

Several years ago, Castro said she heard what sounded like rifle shots and went outside to investigate.

It was a bunch of guys, several doors down, shooting a rifle into the air, she said. One pointed the rifle at her. She hasnt seen them since.

Castro noted a post this week on the neighborhood app Nextdoor from a Loma Park resident who said she called police after discovering a bullet had come through her roof, landing in her sons room.

Calls are down because they dont do anything, Castro said.

She acknowledged police cant be everywhere, especially on New Years Eve, but wonders whether local government has been too focused on fireworks rather than celebratory gunfire. Thinking the use of fireworks will be restrained is also delusional.

Its almost like drunk driving, Castro said of gunfire. Weve let it go for so long, people think theres nothing wrong with it.

The issue at least deserves study, she said.

District 5 Council Member Teri Castillos office has heard constituents concerns, calling celebratory gunfire reckless and dangerous.

No doubt, the state of Texas must do better in the form of gun laws that encourage safe and responsible gun ownership, because our residents deserve to celebrate the New Year safely with their loved ones.

Castillo praised District 9 Council Member John Courages voluntary weapons exchange program and Bexar County for handing out portable handgun safes and handgun cable locks.

At a minimum, she encourages residents to report celebratory gunfire so city government is better aware of a major issue in their neighborhood.

Other cities have made efforts to stem celebratory gunfire by more openly recognizing it.

In Los Angeles, police launched a gunfire reduction campaign, announcing it wouldnt tolerate the use of indiscriminate gunfire.

In Houston, police reminded residents that celebratory gunfire is illegal and asked them to call 911 if they witness the act, or its non-emergency number if they hear it.

Some police departments place reminders about the dangers of celebratory gunfire on doorknobs, particularly in areas plagued by it.

That could help.
Semafor Signals

Insights from New York Times, Washington Post, and Semafor

NEWS

Former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn announced Friday that hes running for Congress, in a bid to work as a lawmaker in the same building he defended during the Jan. 6, 2021 riot.

Dunn, 40, has become a prominent voice in speaking out about what officers faced that day. He joins a crowded Democratic primary field looking to replace longtime Maryland Rep. John Sarbanes, who is not running for reelection this November.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Dunn was one of the most outspoken Capitol officers after Jan. 6

Sources: Semafor, New York Times

Dunn enters the race with a high profile in Washington as one of the first officers to speak to the press after the Jan. 6 attack. He told The New York Times that he did so to counter criticism of the Capitol Police officers that spread following the riot, and to document how bravely they fought. Theyre heroes, he said. He also spoke about the racist slurs that rioters hurled at him on Jan. 6, and testified before the House committee investigating the attack.

I never thought Id run for office, but then January 6 happened, Dunn told Semafor. Since then, Ive been on a mission for justice, to preserve our democracy, and to stand our ground against the extremists trying to tear our country apart.

Getting accountability for Jan. 6 a priority for Dunn

Sources: The Washington Post

Dunn wrote a memoir last year focused on his search for accountability and good trouble after the attack. Getting widespread accountability for Jan. 6 has been a dominant theme for Dunn; he has criticized Donald Trump and his acolytes for downplaying the events of that day, and said its not enough to only punish the people who physically attacked the Capitol. The American people deserve to know who played any role in planning or financing the events that led to the attack, he wrote in The Washington Post, and who failed to take timely action to warn of and prepare for the impending violence.

Jan. 6 will be a 2024 election theme

Sources: Semafor, NPR

Dunns race comes the same year as the U.S. presidential election, in which the events of Jan. 6 are likely to be a major theme. In a speech Friday, President Joe Biden is set to use the anniversary of the riot to cast his reelection bid as central to the ongoing fight for democracy. His campaign also has a new ad featuring footage from Jan. 6. Trump, meanwhile, has increasingly embraced Jan. 6 and its participants since leaving office, calling it a beautiful day and saying he will pardon many of the rioters.
Hartford is likely to get entirely new leadership with a new mayor at city hall and a new city council president likely to be appointed Monday.

Councilwoman Shirley Surgeon, who was first appointed to the council in 2020, is likely to assume the role of council president on Monday. A resolution, introduced by newly elected councilwoman Kelly Bilodeau, seeks to appoint Surgeon to the leadership role for the next two years.

I and the people of Hartford owe Maly Rosado our deepest gratitude for a job well done as Council President these past four years,  Surgeon said.  I look forward to working with Maly and the entire Council in continuing our work for the people of Hartford.

The move comes after the two-term councilwoman secured the most votes in last years municipal election. Surgeon received 4,463 votes compared to current Council President Maly Rosados 4,277 votes, according to data from the Secretary of the States Office.

Councilwoman Surgeon has the knowledge and understanding of how the city council can effectively function, Bilodeau said. With her expertise, I believe she can lead the council so that we can work together to best serve the city and the community.

Surgeon has served as a city council aide, as a registrar of voters and as an assistant to then-Gov. Dannel Malloy before being elected to the council. She currently serves on the board of the Upper Albany Neighborhood Revitalization Zone and is an election officer in the Secretary of States Office.

She has the majority support and I foresee her being the next council president, councilman Thomas TJ Clarke III said. She is a longtime serving Democrat and she had the highest votes this past election. She hasnt had a council leadership position and she now stands in the prime position to lead the council for the next term.

While not in the citys charter, Clarke said that usually the highest vote-getter is offered a leadership role of their choice. Surgeon, who placed second in the vote tally in 2020, declined any leadership position at the time.

This time around she expressed interest in the role, Clarke said. With the vote count, she was in a prime position to receive the leadership role.

Rosado, who has led the council since 2020, will serve her third term after filling a vacancy left by State Rep. Julio Concepcion in 2018. Rosado grew up in Puerto Rico, but has been a resident of Hartford for the last 30 years and is an employee of the citys Housing Authority.

I have served on city council since 2018 and though Ive accomplished a lot over the past few years, there is more work to be done. Our seniors need access to more resources, individuals experiencing homelessness need more support services, our youth need more programming, and the incredible organizations that support Hartford need additional tools to sustain their progress. This city is my home and I remain committed to seeing us all prosper, Rosado previously told the Courant.

According to city charter, all council members will be sworn in to begin their two-year terms at the councils organizational meeting on Jan. 8. Mayor Arunan Arulampalam will lead the swearing in and council members will officially decide new leadership roles.

Surgeon could not be reached for comment.

Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@courant.com
Falls police union is suing its lawyer alleging it made an unauthorized deal in its 2018 contract negotiations.

Rita Bellew, the Hatboro woman who unleashed a racist tirade last year on the Hispanic owners of a Montgomery County pizzeria which then went viral on TikTok, has been sentenced on counts of ethnic intimidation and harassment.

In the video recorded and uploaded in February 2023, a manager of Amys Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant is shown standing at the register, as a customer, later identified as Bellew, demands a refund during a profanity-laced verbal attack.

Bellew's lawyer, identified in court records as Patrick J. McMenamin Jr., did not return calls for comment.

Here's everything we know about Bellew's sentence and fallout from the incident.

Rita Bellew receives probation, must apologize as part of sentence

Court documents show that Bellew pleaded guilty to one count each of ethnic intimidation and harassment.

Bellew entered the plea in December, and was sentenced to 90 days of probation.

Bellew also has to meet several court-ordered conditions, including performing eight hours of community service, and complying with Montgomery County and Pennsylvania Board of Probation regulations.

Bellew will also have to pay a monthly offender supervision fee, and is ordered to stay away from Amys Pizzeria.

And lastly, Bellew must also submit a formal written apology to the victims and staff at Amys Pizzeria.

Amy's Pizzeria owner satisfied with sentence, community support

Amy's Pizzeria owner Omar Quinonez said he was satisfied with the outcome, but the situation has also brought about additional ups and downs.

Outpouring of support fro pizza shop: Amy's Pizzeria in Hatboro touched by support amid viral video of woman's racist rant at shop owner

"A lot of good things and bad things came out of it. The good is the business came out of it in pretty good shape, and local businesses and neighbors stopped by to show their support," Quinonez said. "The bad is that there are a lot of people like her out there saying the same racist things. We have received letters from Ohio that were much worse than what this woman said.

"Overall, it was a very bad experience," Quinonez added. "My son suffered before me, as she started yelling at him and then at me. It has been a great stress."

Racist tirade began with complaint, ends when police enter

In the viral video, Bellew unleashes a lengthly tirade against workers and ownership.

Whats wrong with that is youre not American dude. I will look you the (expletive) up and get you the (expletive) out of our town. (Expletive) you. Give me my money back. Im not giving my money to some illegal immigrant, the customer said.

Racist restaurant rant goes viral: Customer goes on racist rant at Amy's Pizzeria, verbally attacking employees in now viral video

The video, filmed by another employee, lasts nearly five minutes, ending just as a police officer walks into the store.

"This lady walked into our pizza shop and heard Spanish coming from our TV and started discriminating us. Not all Spanish speakers are Mexican and it was bold of her to assume so," the pizzeria said on their TikTok post showing the video. "Discrimination should NOT happen to anyone, no matter who they are nor what their background is. America is a country built by immigrants. I'm so sorry if you have ever experienced something like this."

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Hatboro woman sentenced for ethnic intimidation of pizza shop owner
A report into extremism in the military has been hailed by some as evidence the problem has long been overstated. But the report contains little data, and hardly reaches that conclusion. Meanwhile, record levels of anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim hate crimes contributed to a record-breaking year for hate crimes overall across the nations biggest cities. And a New Years Eve Texas drag show is canceled after a social media uproar from conservatives.

Its the week in extremism.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin testifies before a Senate Appropriations Committee on Capitol Hill on Oct. 31, 2023. The U.S. launched an airstrike on a facility in eastern Syria linked to Iranian-backed militias, in retaliation for what has been a growing number of attacks on bases housing U.S. troops in the region for the past several weeks, the Pentagon said.

Pentagon military extremism report: Good news or bad?

Last week, USA TODAY broke the story that the Pentagon had finally released a report into the extent of extremism in the US armed forces. Our analysis concluded the report contained little in the way of new data, and was thin on details about how bad the problem actually is. That hasnt stopped supporters of the military from claiming the report actually exonerates the armed forces.

A Wall Street Journal editorial on Jan. 1 titled The Militarys Phantom Extremists'  claimed The U.S. military isnt packed with violent extremists, a result that wont surprise Americans who have spent time in uniform, but it should calm the media frenzy about right-wing radicals in the armed forces.

As evidence, the Journal notes the researchers behind the study looked at court martials for extremism and only found one such case a year. But the authors of the report also acknowledged almost no cases of military extremism ever reach court-martials, since nearly all of these cases were addressed through administrative action, non-judicial punishment, or referral to command for appropriate action.

The report didnt provide any new data on those cases, and also noted that extremism has been rising in the military in recent years. Still, conservative media outlets used the report to conclude there was no evidence for concern about cases of military extremism and that the Biden administrations concerns in this regard are unfounded.

Thats in contrast to what extremism experts who viewed the report said: While it notes that extremist activity in the military vs. the total population of extremist activity isnt disproportional, there is some indication that the rate of participation by service members is slightly higher and may be growing. Leaders should be interested in how the authors arrived at that conclusion and what data it is based on, Bishop Garrison, who headed the militarys Countering Extremism Activity Working Group, told USA TODAY.

Heidi Beirich, who has studied extremism for decades and co-founded the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, told USA TODAY: Surely the Armed Forces should be held to a higher standard than the public when it comes to extremism, given the danger radicalized active-duty soldiers pose in terms of terrorism. Id suggest that the Pentagon not consider that comparison to be the appropriate one.

Surveillance images released by the New York City Police Department of a woman accused of pepper-spraying a 15-year-old Muslim girl in Brooklyn, New York, on Dec. 19. The case is being investigated as a hate crime, according to the NYPD.

Record levels of hate crime in big cities

Hate crimes in Americas 10 largest cities hit another consecutive record according to an annual report from the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University.

The study tallied preliminary data that 2,173 hate crimes were reported to police in 2023 in the 10 cities, an increase of 11% from 2022.

Anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim hate crime especially spiked. In New York, anti-Jewish hate crime rose 12.6% and in Los Angeles it rose 48%. In New York, anti-Muslim hate crime rose 22% and in Los Angeles it rose 40%, according to the study.

In a larger study of 25 American cities, hate crimes also increased an average of 15% from 2022.

Supporters of the show "A Drag Queen Christmas" gather to counterprotest Tuesday outside of the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Amarillo.

Texas restaurant cancels drag show

A restaurant in Grapevine, Texas, canceled a drag performer from its New Years Eve show Sunday after pressure against the event built on social media from conservatives.

The drag performance at Piaf Kitchen + Wine + Bar was canceled For the safety of our Performers, and Staff, and for a pleasurable experience for our Guests ... to ensure a more universally enjoyable and safe experience for everyone, the restaurant posted on social media.

The event was targeted with hundreds of online complaints after advertisments appeared for the show, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported.

A proposed law banning drag shows in Texas was struck down by a federal judge as unconstitutional in September.

In 2022, USA TODAY reported on how a drag show in nearby Roanoke Texas illustrated how drag shows have become a front-line in the US culture wars.

Insurrections loyal to President Donald Trump try to break through a police barrier, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, at the Capitol in Washington. The Department of Justice is prosecuting those who violently stormed the Capitol.

Statistic of the week: One in Four

Thats how many Americans believe it is probably or definitely true the FBI instigated the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, according to a new poll from the Washington Post and the University of Maryland.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hate crimes spiked to record levels in big cities in 2023
HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN)  On Thursday, Hays County said it is hand-delivering jury summonses to prospective jurors for an upcoming trial happening Jan. 8, the district said in a news release.

Hays County District Clerk Avrey Anderson Sr. said in the release more than 6,000 jury notices were affected throughout multiple county offices due to an error by a Hays County vendor.

Those jury summonses have since been printed and given to county constables. They will then hand-deliver the documents to those prospective jurors, according to Hays County.

Its an unfortunate situation due to the important nature of the cases that are currently on the dockets, Anderson Sr. said.

For anyone who has received a notice on their door or mailbox, the county said that is an official summons from the Hays County District Clerk.

Anderson Sr. said if the issue is not resolved by the end of this week, the county will continue to seek alternative methods to serve jury summons.

Anderson tells KXAN the notices were never sent out for some reason, he says something went wrong with the vendor.

We use a new software system called JMS with Tyler Technologies, Anderson said.

KXAN reached out to Tyler Technologies for comment, but at the time the story aired we did not receive a response.

On Thursday evening around 8 P.M. the District Clerk sent out a message stating the vendor issue had been fixed.

Jury summonses for the remainder of January and early February have been sent to prospective jurors. [The vendor] has corrected its mistake from what we know at this point, said Anderson. We will continue to follow up to ensure that we are in a certain and organized position so that this does not occur again.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Residents of a Charlotte-area neighborhood continued to raise questions and concerns about a potential electric substation in their backyards at a community meeting Thursday night.

Officials in Pineville say its a necessary project to keep the lights on as the community grows. But residents of the McCollough neighborhood  which stretches from the town across the state line into Fort Mill, South Carolina  are worried about the impacts on their property values, safety and health.

And on Thursday, some asked why the town hadnt considered future infrastructure needs more when deciding on past development deals.

All were asking you all to do with this project is take a step back, do the due diligence and explore a myriad of options so that we can find the best suitable location, one attendee said.

Whats planned in Pineville?

McCollough residents raised concerns about the project when they first heard about it in early December.

Pineville is working to buy about an acre at the intersection of Miller Road and Greenway Drive for a new electric substation to accommodate growth in the area and serve as a back-up source to an existing substation, the town said in a Dec. 5 news release. The town picked the site because it was the most economical and least obtrusive to the community, and the substation would be enclosed by a brick wall with plants around the outside, according to the news release.

A map shared by the Town of Pineville shows where a proposed electric substation would be built near the North Carolina-South Carolina border.

The town initially thought theyd have till 2026 or 2027 to get another substation online, officials said at Thursdays meeting, but accelerated growth moved up that timeline. Pinevilles population grew from 7,479 to 10,602 from 2010 to 2020, according to Census data. The towns 2022 population estimate, the most recent Census data available, puts Pineville at 10,886 residents.

The project would need to be completed by the end of 2025 to avoid issues, David Lucore, Pinevilles electric services manager and a systems manager for ElectriCities of North Carolina, said.

Pineville Electric, which provides electric services in the town, is a public provider thats part of ElectriCities, which provides services to member organizations. Public power providers differ from utility companies such as Duke Energy because they are part of local governments and often part of membership organizations such as ElectriCities.

The town picked the site out of 10 locations that were examined, town manager Ryan Spitzer and Lucore told the crowd Thursday.

Complications with the other sites included proximity to floodplains and wetlands and distance from usable transmission lines.

Theres not a whole lot of options, Lucore said.

Town staff will present more details to the Town Council at its Jan. 22 work session, and a public hearing will be held at the Town Council meeting on Feb. 13. Its likely the council wont vote on the issue until their March meeting, according to Spitzer.

Its estimated the project will cost more than $5 million, and it would be paid for by electric revenues rather than tax dollars.

Addressing residents concerns at community meeting

Although Spitzer and Lucore outlined why town staff are currently leaning toward the site neighbors dont want, both stressed that no decisions have been made.

We heard your questions, Spitzer told the crowd of more than 100 Thursday night.

One top concern: the potential impact of electromagnetic fields emanating from the substation on residents health. Lucore, citing studies shared by the World Health Organization, said hes found no conclusive evidence of such a threat from the levels that could be found at the site.

Experts say theres not a clear-cut connection between exposure to electromagnetic fields and health issues.

The possible link between electromagnetic fields and cancer has been a subject of controversy for several decades, the American Cancer Society says, because its not clear exactly how electromagnetic fields, a form of low-energy, non-ionizing radiation, could increase cancer risk.

The Environmental Protection Agency notes that, while the World Health Organization classifies extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans, scientific studies have not consistently shown whether exposure to any source of EMF increases cancer risk.

Some residents also shared concerns about safety in the wake of an attack on another North Carolina substation that drew attention nationwide. In December 2022, about 45,000 homes and businesses in Moore County lost power for days after an attack on an electrical substation.

Lucore pledged that if the project moves forward, it will be better protected than any other substation in the country.

Were going to put in as much security as were capable of putting in, he said.

Realtor Sean McGovern also spoke at Thursdays meeting about the potential impact of the project of property values. Homes in the neighborhood tend to range from around $390,000 to about $765,000, according to Charlotte-based Terra Vista Realty.

McGovern, who said hes also a McCollough resident and has his own issues with the plan, acknowledged that theres potential for decrease in value but that the long-term impacts on real estate are tough to say.

Residents: Consider our concerns, and other sites

McCollough resident Jen Kennedy, who was chosen to speak on behalf of the neighborhood at Thursdays meeting, said she and her neighbors appreciated town officials putting the event together.

You shared a lot this evening, and we do feel that we have a better understanding, she said.

But, she added, we do still believe that we are just started scratching the surface of understanding this process  we still have unanswered questions.

We believe that it is the responsibility of the town, and especially our elected officials, to provide us with all the information and allow our voice to be heard first and foremost before a decision of this magnitude is made, she said.

Multiple residents at the meeting questioned why more consideration hasnt been given to one of the other 10 sites that was examined.

That site is near the controversial site but further from the subdivision. It would cost about $1 million more than the currently chosen site, Lucore said, an expense that could be passed on to consumers through higher rates. But some at the meeting said theyd be willing to take on a slightly higher electric bill to pay that higher cost.

Both parcels in question are owned by the same family, who own and run Millers Flea Market on the land.

Spitzer indicated that the Miller family, through their attorney, have been resistant to sell either plot. But members of the family in attendance Thursday and their representatives spoke up to say theyd be more open to selling the other land than the controversial site.

Theyre concerned about the impact of the project on their business, including a loss of more than 100 parking spaces, they said.

If the Millers continue their opposition to a sale, there are other options the town has, Spitzer said.

That comment drew ire from the crowd, including concern about the potential use of eminent domain. Multiple attendees continued to question why town leaders didnt think ahead more about future infrastructure needs when considering developments and why the community wasnt informed about the substation earlier.

Some accused Spitzer of trying to take the easy route on the project.

If I was taking the easy route on this, we wouldnt be having this meeting, Spitzer said.
Federal authorities are responding to assist local police in a search in Plainville, officials said.

The FBI Bostons Evidence Response Team is among federal authorities taking part in a search in the area of 71 Messenger St. that is related to an ongoing local investigation, an FBI spokesperson confirmed Friday. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is also responding.

The FBI declined further comment on the matter, referring additional questions to local police.

Further details were not immediately available.

Plainville Police Chief James Floyd told Boston 25 on Friday afternoon that the police response is part of an investigation in a case that occurred two weeks ago. The police chief said the reason for the heavy police response is because they are small department.

Floyd said that Fridays response does not have anything to do with a homicide or any missing person. The police chief added that he could not release further details on the matter.

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

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MADISON  Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers wants U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson and a group of Republicans who posed as electors in 2020 to "pay a price" for their ties to former President Donald Trump's failed scheme to stay in power.

In an interview with the Journal Sentinel, Evers said the Republicans should face penalties that could include charges, fines or losing their jobs for participating in a plan to sign paperwork falsely claiming to be electors for Trump after he lost reelection and trying to hand those documents to then-Vice President Mike Pence on Jan. 6, 2021.

"He was part of the deal. Something should happen to him," Evers said of Johnson. "He knew. He knew. Why in the world would a U.S. Senator involve himself with something that is patently against the law?"

He said he did not think the actions warranted jail time.

Evers over the summer said that he thought the 10 Wisconsin Republicans who posed as electors for Trump should face charges, but his recent comments mark the first time a high-ranking Wisconsin official has said Johnson should be punished for his role in the scheme as well.

More: Here are the ways Ron Johnson, others with Wisconsin ties appear in the Trump Jan. 6 indictment

Johnson coordinated with attorney Jim Troupis, who represented Trump in Wisconsin during the 2020 election, to get the false elector paperwork to Pence on Jan. 6, 2021  hours before the U.S. Capitol was enveloped by violent riots. Pence refused to accept the documents.

Kenneth Chesebro, a Trump attorney who designed the false elector plot, told Michigan prosecutors in recent weeks Johnson was enlisted "to try to expedite" the documents to Pence, according to CNN.

Johnson has dismissed criticism and said his involvement lasted only "a few seconds." He previously said the state's false electors should not face criminal charges and labeled their actions "political activity."

"My chief of staff spent about an hour contacting people, found out the vice president wasn't accepting anything, and we never delivered them. So, my involvement, literally, my involvement took a few seconds. That's it," he told CBS 58 in December.

On Friday, Johnson accused Evers of "spreading dangerous disinformation in order to divide and mislead the American and Wisconsin public" and attacked the media for reporting the comments.

"Everything that I have said about this non-event has proven to be true," Johnson said in a statement to the Journal Sentinel.

Evers said Wednesday that Johnson should be held accountable for the actions.

"He's got to pay a price. I'm not sure what that price would be," Evers said after being asked whether he meant Johnson should be removed from office or face charges.

The Democratic governor made his comments a month after the settlement of a civil suit against the group of 10 Republicans who signed false elector paperwork. The lawsuit was filed by 2020 electors for President Joe Biden, who met in the state Capitol the same day the Republicans gathered to sign the false documents.

The group of Republicans included Wisconsin Elections Commission member Bob Spindell. Evers also said Spindell should resign.

Wisconsin prosecutors are interviewing Chesebro, according to CNN, but Attorney General Josh Kaul has refused to disclose details of what, if any, investigation is underway into the fake elector scheme.

The fake electors said they held the meeting to ensure the state's electoral votes were cast for Trump if a court later determined he was the true winner of the state. They contend they were "tricked and misled" into participating in the broader elector scheme.

Evers said he believes the Wisconsin Trump electors will eventually be part of a federal probe.

"I think the civil case is not the end," he said. "What they did was break the law in Wisconsin and the civil suit set aside, I think they should be held accountable ... I don't believe they should necessarily be thrown in jail but that is very bad behavior."

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Lawrence Andrea contributed to this report from Washington.

Molly Beck can be reached at molly.beck@jrn.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Evers says Ron Johnson should 'pay a price' for ties to Trump scheme
China's new forms of travel push continuous evolution of travel preferences

People's Daily Online) 11:26, January 05, 2024

New forms of travel emerged in China over the last year, with many triggered by the country's "Generation Z, which pushed the continuous evolution of travel preferences.

"Spending the least money and hit the most tourist attractions" is a key phrase of post-2000s college student Zhang Qing, who enjoys the "special forces-style tourism." After Zibo city, east China's Shandong Province shot to national fame earlier in 2023 because of its barbecue, Zhang and some friends swept through a number of major tourist attractions in the city in such a style. She believes this way of traveling is especially suitable for college students, as it allows them to see a lot while spending little time and money.

Diners enjoy barbecue in Zibo city, east China's Shandong Province (China News Service/Liang Ben)

Unlike the "special forces-style tourism," city walk, or meandering through the urban landscapes, emphasizes a leisurely travel style. Li Ran, a college student from Beijing, experienced a city walk in Jinan city, east China's Shandong Province, and developed a fondness for the ancient buildings in the old streets and alleys. What touched her the most was "as the sun set, people walked home with smiles on their faces and fruits and vegetables in their hands, greeting their neighbors." Although Jinan has many high-rise buildings, she was obsessed with the narrow alleys. Lie-down travel is another option for the young to relax. "Getting a bit of the sea breeze, tasting seafood, watching the sunset outside the hotel's floor-to-ceiling windows, this is as good as life gets," said Wang Lize, a post-95s tourist when traveling in Yantai city, Shandong. Wang believes this approach allows him to attain maximum happiness at the lowest cost.

Photo shows seagulls at a beach in Yantai city, east China's Shandong Province. (China News Service/Wang Jiaoni)

Another popular choice for a relaxing vacation is visiting less-known spots where people get a good experience without spending much. Places like Yichun city in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Baise city in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and Weihai city in Shandong are good choices for those who want to avoid crowds and explore hidden gems.

"Getting enthusiastic about experiencing new traveling modes is a reflection of social progress, showcasing the people's pursuit of freedom, individuality, and quality of life. It resonates with the rapidly developing society," observed Wang Chenguang, a professor at the School of Economics and head of the culture and tourism research center of Shandong University. Wang also called on the tourism sector to adapt to Generation Z's needs as this generation is becoming the new force of China's tourism market.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Hays County sheriff's deputies shot and killed a man at a home near Buda. mbbirdy/Getty Images

Hays County deputies shot and killed a man who was trying to break into a house near Buda on Friday morning, the Hays County Sheriffs Office said.

Just before 8 a.m. Friday, a caller to 911 said a man was trying to kick in the front door of a home on Hunter Creek Cove, which is southeast of Buda. The caller said the man was their daughters ex-boyfriend and was armed with two knives, the sheriffs office said.

When deputies arrived, they saw a man with a knife in each hand, the sheriffs office said. Deputies told him several times to drop the knives, but he did not comply and two deputies fired their guns, hitting the man, the sheriffs office said.

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Deputies and emergency medical services personnel attempted lifesaving measures, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene, the sheriffs office said.

READ MORE: Suspect injured in Hays County shootout with officers

Both deputies will be placed on administrative leave while an investigation is conducted by the sheriffs office, with assistance from the Texas Rangers. The office did not release the names of the deputies involved or the name of the man who was killed.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Detective David Maddocks at David.maddocks@co.hays.tx.us or 512-393-7896.

Fridays incident was the second officer-involved shooting in Hays County in the past four months. On Sept. 5, Lee Allen Elsbury was shot and injured after he was pulled over and pointed a gun at an officer, Buda Police Chief Bo Kidd said.

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Elsbury was driving an uninsured vehicle and had a felony warrant out of Austin for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, Kidd said at the time.
Mourners carry the coffins of Hamas officials Saleh al Arouri, Azzam al-Akraa and Mohamad al-Rays during their funeral procession. Arouri, Akraa and Rays as well as four other Hamas officials were allegedly killed by Israel on Tuesday evening in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital Beirut. Marwan Naamani/dpa

The chief of Lebanon's Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement, Hassan Nasrallah, vowed retaliation once again on Friday for the killing of Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri in an alleged Israeli strike earlier in the week in Beirut.

"The murder of al-Arouri ... will certainly not go without reaction and punishment," Nasrallah said during a speech via video link to commemorate the passing away of a Hezbollah official.

"If we remain silent about the killing of al-Arouri, Lebanon will be exposed ...," he said, adding that "the response will inevitably come."

The killing of al-Arouri on Tuesday in Beirut's southern suburbs, a stronghold of Hezbollah, raised fears that the Gaza war could spread to Lebanon.

However, Nasrallah refrained in his Friday speech from declaring war on Israel.

Since the beginning of the Gaza war following the massacre by terrorists from the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement and other extremists in Israel on October 7, there have been almost daily confrontations between Israel's army and Hezbollah in the border region.

Mourners carry the coffins of Hamas officials Saleh al Arouri, Azzam al-Akraa and Mohamad al-Rays during their funeral procession. Arouri, Akraa and Rays as well as four other Hamas officials were allegedly killed by Israel on Tuesday evening in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital Beirut. Marwan Naamani/dpa

Pro-Iranian Hezbollah supporters attend a mass as Secretary General of Hezbollah Hassan Nasrallah appears to give a televised speech to mark the 4th anniversary of the assassination of Abu Mahdi al-Mohandes, the deputy head of Iraq's Hashd al-Shaabi militia, and Iranian Quds Force commander Qasem Soleiman by a US drone in Iraq in 2020. Marwan Naamnai/dpa
Secretary General of pro-Iranian Hezbollah Hassan Nasrallah addresses his supporters through a televised speech in the city of Baalbeck. Marwan Naamani/dpa

The chief of Lebanon's Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement, Hassan Nasrallah, vowed retaliation once again on Friday for the killing of Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri in an alleged Israeli strike earlier in the week in Beirut.

"The murder of al-Arouri ... will certainly not go without reaction and punishment," Nasrallah said during a speech via video link to commemorate the passing away of a Hezbollah official.

"If we remain silent about the killing of al-Arouri, Lebanon will be exposed ...," he said, adding that "the response will inevitably come."

The killing of al-Arouri on Tuesday in Beirut's southern suburbs, a stronghold of Hezbollah, raised fears that the Gaza war could spread to Lebanon.

However, Nasrallah refrained in his Friday speech from declaring war on Israel.

Since the beginning of the Gaza war following the massacre by terrorists from the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement and other extremists in Israel on October 7, there have been almost daily confrontations between Israel's army and Hezbollah in the border region.

Nasrallah said his group has carried out 670 operations against Israel since October 8 and that these military operations have consolidated a "balance of deterence" on the northern border with Israel.

He called on the residents of northern Israel to demand their government stop "the aggression on Gaza" in order to calm down the northern front.

"The solution for the settlers of the north is to go to their government and demand that it stop the aggression against Gaza," Nasrallah said.

Nasrallah said when the war stops on Gaza and this page is turned Lebanon stands before the chance to liberate the rest of its land starting from Naqoura to Shebaa.

"We are now facing a historic opportunity to completely liberate every inch of our land" by opening the Lebanese front in south again, Nasrallah affirmed.

Israel has been demanding Hezbollah's military apparatus withdraw north of the Litani river, which is bout 30 kilometres north of the border, arguing that UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended Israel's 33-day war on Lebanon in 2006, had stipulated that.

A Lebanese military expert said that Hezbollah has refused to go back to the Litani river line but may reach a compromise of withdrawing between 6 to a maximum 7 kilometres from the Israeli border.

"But Hezbollah will not withdraw without benefits," the expert said.

Israel wants to push Hezbollah away from its northern border to prevent a similar terrorist act like the one that took place on October 7.

Supporters of pro-Iranian Hezbollah chant slogans during a televised speech of Hassan Nasrallah, Secretary General of the party in the city of Baalbeck. Marwan Naamani/dpa

Secretary General of pro-Iranian Hezbollah Hassan Nasrallah addresses his supporters through a televised speech in the city of Baalbeck. Marwan Naamani/dpa
Secretary General of pro-Iranian Hezbollah Hassan Nasrallah addresses his supporters through a televised speech in the city of Baalbeck. Marwan Naamani/dpa

The chief of Lebanon's Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement, Hassan Nasrallah, vowed retaliation once again on Friday for the killing of Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri in an alleged Israeli strike earlier in the week in Beirut.

"The murder of al-Arouri ... will certainly not go without reaction and punishment," Nasrallah said during a speech via video link to commemorate the passing away of a Hezbollah official.

"If we remain silent about the killing of al-Arouri, Lebanon will be exposed ...," he said, adding that "the response will inevitably come."

The killing of al-Arouri on Tuesday in Beirut's southern suburbs, a stronghold of Hezbollah, raised fears that the Gaza war could spread to Lebanon.

However, Nasrallah refrained in his Friday speech from declaring war on Israel.

Since the beginning of the Gaza war following the massacre by terrorists from the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement and other extremists in Israel on October 7, there have been almost daily confrontations between Israel's army and Hezbollah in the border region.

Israel and Hezbollah attacked each other again on Friday. Israeli fighter jets bombed Iranian-allied Lebanese militia facilities, the military said on Friday. These were Hezbollah military posts and places from which terrorists had prepared their attacks. Lebanese security sources confirmed the attacks.

Israel's military said it also registered several rockets that were fired towards Israel. The army then attacked the launch points of the shelling and a Hezbollah command centre.

Israeli artillery shells hit Hula and the outskirts of Tayr Harfa, Jebbayn, Yarine and al-Bustan, Lebanese security sources said. An Israeli drone also shot at a residential building in Mhaibib. Nothing was initially known about possible victims. Hezbollah also claimed responsibility for several attacks on Israel.

Nasrallah said his group has carried out 670 operations against Israel since October 8 and that these military operations have consolidated a "balance of deterence" on the northern border with Israel.

He called on the residents of northern Israel to demand their government stop "the aggression on Gaza" in order to calm down the northern front.

"The solution for the settlers of the north is to go to their government and demand that it stop the aggression against Gaza," Nasrallah said.

Nasrallah said when the war stops on Gaza and this page is turned Lebanon stands before the chance to liberate the rest of its land starting from Naqoura to Shebaa.

"We are now facing a historic opportunity to completely liberate every inch of our land" by opening the Lebanese front in south again, Nasrallah affirmed.

Israel has been demanding Hezbollah's military apparatus withdraw north of the Litani river, which is bout 30 kilometres north of the border, arguing that UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended Israel's 33-day war on Lebanon in 2006, had stipulated that.

A Lebanese military expert said that Hezbollah has refused to go back to the Litani river line but may reach a compromise of withdrawing between 7 to a maximum 7 kilometres from the Israeli border.

"But Hezbollah will not withdraw without benefits," the expert said.

Israel wants to push Hezbollah away from its northern border to prevent a similar terrorist act like the one that took place on October 7.

Meanwhile the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said that more than 76,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon since October due to growing tensions.

As of January 2, according to figures from the IOM Middle East office, there were 76,018 people who left their houses and apartments because of "armed confrontations," the office wrote on the online platform X on Friday.

In the last week of 2023, some 3,000 people were newly displaced, with 94% of the displaced people coming from three districts directly on the border with Israel. According to this information, only some 1,000 of them were accommodated in emergency accommodation, the others live with relatives and friends.

On the Israeli side, according to Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, more than 80,000 Israelis have been evacuated from their hometowns in the border area.

Supporters of pro-Iranian Hezbollah chant slogans during a televised speech of Hassan Nasrallah, Secretary General of the party in the city of Baalbeck. Marwan Naamani/dpa
By Riham Alkousaa and Maya Gebeily

BEIRUT (Reuters) -The head of Hezbollah said on Friday Lebanon would be "exposed" to more Israeli operations if his powerful Lebanese armed group did not respond to the killing of the deputy chief of Hamas on the outskirts of Beirut.

Saleh al-Arouri was killed in a drone strike on a southern suburb of Beirut on Tuesday, in what some analysts said could also be seen as a message to Hezbollah that its strongholds were vulnerable to attack.

Delivering a televised address for the second time in less than a week after nearly two months without doing so, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah said the group "cannot be silent about a violation of this level."

"This means that all of Lebanon will become exposed, all cities, villages, and figures will become exposed," he said.

Hezbollah launched rockets across the border on Oct. 8 in support of Hamas, one day after Hamas gunmen carried out the deadly attack on southern Israel that triggered Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip.

Nasrallah said Hezbollah had carried out some 670 operations on the Lebanese-Israeli border since then, destroying a large number of Israeli military vehicles and tanks.

He also said that if Israel managed to achieve its military goals in Gaza, it would then turn to Lebanon - but warned that any broader war would impact residents of northern Israel first.

"They are calling on their government to go to war on Lebanon or to have a military solution for Lebanon. I tell them: this choice is a mistake, for you and your government, and the first one who will pay for this mistaken choice is you."

He had on Wednesday warned Israel against expanding its war, saying there would be "no ceilings" and "no rules" to his group's fighting if Israel chose to launch a war on Lebanon.

"Whoever thinks of war with us - in one word, he will regret it," Nasrallah said.

He also said the end of the Gaza war could present a "historic opportunity" for Lebanon to restore its control over territory now occupied by Israel, including the Shebaa Farms, the town of Ghajar and other territory.

Israel has held the Shebaa Farms, a 15-square-mile (39-square-km) patch of land, since 1967. Both Syria and Lebanon claim the Shebaa Farms are Lebanese. Ghajar straddles the Israel-Lebanon border. Lebanon considers it to be its territory but its residents have professed allegiance to Syria.

In August, senior White House adviser Amos Hochstein said the U.S. was exploring the possibility of resolving the long-standing land border dispute between Lebanon and Israel.

The current demarcation line between the two countries is known as the Blue Line, a frontier mapped by the United Nations that marks the line to which Israeli forces withdrew when they left south Lebanon in 2000.

(Reporting by Maya Gebeily and Riham Alkousa, Writing by Ahmed Elimam; Editing by Alex Richardson and Timothy Heritage)
Sheriff Javier Salazar said this was one of two dogs found at the apartment. The dog was found extremely malnourished, he said. Bexar County Sheriff's Office Kamryn McKee, 24, was charged with animal cruelty after deputies found decomposing and malnourished dogs in her apartment. Bexar County Sheriff's Office Sheriff Javier Salazar said this was one of two dogs found at the apartment. The dog was found extremely malnourished, he said. Bexar County Sheriff's Office

The Bexar County Sheriffs Office arrested a 24-year-old woman after animal control found decomposed and malnourished dogs at her apartment.

Kamryn McKee was charged Thursday with animal cruelty, a third-degree felony.

During a news conference, Sheriff Javier Salazar said animal control was initially called to the apartment complex in far western Bexar County after being notified of a foul odor.

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Deputies were called to search the apartment and found the extremely decomposed remains of a pit bull in the garage. Another dog was found severely malnourished.

Pictured is the area where the two dogs were found. The dog remains are blurred out on the left. Bexar County Sheriff's Office

McKee was contacted by the sheriffs office and said she saw the dogs on Jan. 1 to give them food and water before getting her nails done. She said both dogs seemed fine at the time.

Salazar said McKees statement is false because of the severity of the decomposition and malnourishment of the dogs. McKee has a cold heart, the sheriff said.

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The House Judiciary Committee will mark up a resolution next week to hold Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress after he defied a subpoena by failing to appear for a deposition.

Biden, the presidents son, was due to appear last month before investigators from a trio of committees investigating his business dealings. Instead, he spoke on the Senate lawn reiterating his willingness to speak with the panels only in a public setting.

Lawmakers said last month they would hold Biden in contempt of Congress.

Were going to move forward with contempt proceedings.  Theres a process we have to follow, but we plan to do that, House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said Dec. 13.

After the Judiciary Committee votes on the resolution, it must be weighed before the full House.

Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, speaks during a news conference outside the Capitol, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023, in Washington. Hunter Biden on Wednesday lashed out at Republican investigators who have been digging into his business dealings, insisting outside the Capitol he will only testify before a congressional committee in public. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)

Biden attorney Abbe Lowell issued a statement Friday accusing the Republican committee chairs of continuing to play politics by seeking an unprecedented contempt motion against someone who has from the first request offered to answer all their proper questions. What are they afraid of?

While a public rebuke of a sitting presidents son in itself would be extraordinary, a contempt of Congress resolution largely serves as a recommendation to the Justice Department, which can choose whether to bring charges.

Thats a risky proposition for Hunter Biden, who is already facing felony tax charges in California as well as charges in Delaware related to buying a weapon without disclosing drug use.

But in his press conference on the Senate lawn, he nodded to an offer by House Oversight and Accountability Chair James Comer (R-Ky.), who prior to the subpoena said he would drop everything if Biden wanted to testify publicly, and accused the GOP of reneging on that claim.

More House coverage from The Hill

He also addressed the crux of the investigation into his father.

For six years, Ive been the target of the unrelenting Trump attack machine shouting. Wheres Hunter? Biden said in a statement to reporters. Well, heres my answer. I am here.

Let me state as clearly as I can: My father was not financially involved in my business. Not as a practicing lawyer. Not as a board member of Burisma. Not in my partnership with a Chinese private businessman, not my investment at all nor abroad, and certainly not as an artist, he said, running through a number of key aspects of the GOP probes.

Theres no evidence to support the allegations that my father was financially involved in my business, because it did not happen, Biden added.

The Justice Department in recent years has acted on just half of the contempt of Congress resolutions that have been referred by the House.

It pursued and scored convictions against both one-time White House strategist Steve Bannon and White House adviser Peter Navarro.

But it declined to bring cases against Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows or communications guru Dan Scavino.

Hunter Bidens willful refusal to comply with our subpoenas constitutes contempt of Congress and warrants referral to the appropriate United States Attorneys Office for prosecution. We will not provide him with special treatment because of his last name, Comer and Jordan said in a joint statement.

Democrats hit Comer on Friday for failing to uphold an earlier offer to let Biden testify publicly.

Instead of taking yes for an answer, Chairman Comer has now obstructed his own hapless investigation by denying Hunter Biden the opportunity to answer all the Committees questions in front of the American people and the world, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee, said in a statement.

Chairman Comer does not want Hunter Biden to testify in public, just as he has refused to publicly release over a dozen interview transcripts, because he wants to keep up the carefully curated distortions, blatant lies, and laughable conspiracy theories that have marked this investigation. However, the facts and the evidence all show no wrongdoing and no impeachable offense by President Biden.

Updated at 12:45 p.m. ET

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
WASHINGTON  House Republicans on the Judiciary and Oversight committees are prepared to move forward with a resolution to hold the presidents son Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress for defying their subpoena to appear for a closed-door deposition.

In an announcement first shared with NBC News, the Oversight Committee said it will hold a markup on Jan. 10 at 10 a.m. ET to prepare the contempt resolution for a vote in the House at a future date. Before the markup, both committees will release a report outlining their rationale for holding Hunter Biden in contempt.

Hunter Biden's team and House Republicans are in a showdown over his cooperation with the GOP's wide-ranging impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. The committees' chairmen, Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., and Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, have said they believe that Hunter Bidens foreign business dealings were the result of influence peddling based on his fathers political status. But Republicans have yet to present any hard evidence that the president personally benefited from his sons businesses.

Hunter Biden speaks at the Capitol on Dec. 13, 2023. (Drew Angerer / Getty Images file)

The impeachment inquiry, which has been underway for months, was formally approved along partisan lines by the full House of Representatives right before the Congress left for the holiday recess.

And the markup will be held the day before Hunter Biden is scheduled to be arraigned in Los Angeles on the nine federal tax-related charges stemming from a separate special counsel investigation into his finances and other matters. A committee source said the timing was coincidental  Jan. 10 is the first full day the House will be in session this year.

The committees had subpoenaed Hunter Biden to appear for a closed-door deposition. Instead of agreeing to the terms of the subpoena, Hunter Bidens legal team responded that he was willing to answer questions but only in a public setting, arguing that he believed that Republicans would selectively leak or misrepresent his testimony. The committee did not agree to those terms and warned that if he did not appear on the scheduled date he would be held in contempt.

Its clear the Republican Chairmen arent interested in getting the facts or they would allow Hunter to testify publicly, Hunter Biden attorney Abbe Lowell said in a statement. Instead, House Republicans continue to play politics by seeking an unprecedented contempt motion against someone who has from the first request offered to answer all their proper questions. What are they afraid of?

Instead of appearing for the deposition, Hunter Biden held a media event in front of the Capitol building where he took no questions, but stated emphatically that his father was not involved in any of his business dealings. There is no evidence to support the allegations that my father was financially involved in my business because it did not happen, Hunter Biden said.

Comer and Jordan said in a statement that they have "significant evidence suggesting President Biden knew of, participated in, and benefitted from his family cashing in on the Biden name."

"We planned to question Hunter Biden about this record of evidence, but he blatantly defied two lawful subpoenas, choosing to read a prepared statement outside of the Capitol instead of appearing for testimony as required," they said. "Hunter Bidens willful refusal to comply with our subpoenas constitutes contempt of Congress and warrants referral to the appropriate United States Attorneys Office for prosecution. We will not provide him with special treatment because of his last name."

Committee staff have not had any further conversations with the Hunter Biden legal team about his failure to comply with the subpoenas, the committees said.

The move to hold Hunter Biden in contempt comes as House Republicans aggressively kick their impeachment investigation into high gear. In addition to the markup on the contempt resolution, they are also planning to hold a closed-door transcribed interview next week with Georges Berges, who owns an art gallery in New York City, to discuss his involvement with the selling of Hunter Bidens art. Berges has a display of Hunter Bidens art that is available for purchase at his SoHo gallery and was subpoenaed by the committees after initially refusing to answer a voluntary request to appear. Republicans have suggested that Berges was selling Hunter Biden's art to supporters of the president seeking to curry favor, a charge Berges has denied.

Republicans are also moving closer to scheduling a deposition with Joseph Langston, a business associate and disbarred lawyer who did business with James Biden, the presidents brother. A committee source tells NBC News they are working with Langstons attorney to schedule a time to appear and where the interview will take place.

James Biden, who was also subpoenaed by the committees, remains an important witness target for the impeachment inquiry. Unlike their interactions with Hunters legal team, a House Oversight Committee spokesperson told NBC News that James Bidens legal team has remained in communication and the panel is hopeful that they can work out an agreement for him to appear.

We are in communication with James Bidens attorney about scheduling a time for him to appear, the spokesperson said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Hydroxychloroquine use during COVID pandemic may have induced 17,000 deaths, new study finds

The antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine may have induced nearly 17,000 deaths in six countries during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This molecule was presented during the pandemic as a miracle cure by a minority of health professionals, among them the French microbiologist Didier Raoult.

The scientists belief that the drug was a cure for COVID-19 was soon echoed by some policymakers. French President Emmanuel Macron notably visited his facility and US President Donald Trump recommended the drug in 2020, stating that he had already taken it.

The use of the drug sparked controversy as many health specialists noted the lack of research or scientific evidence of its effectiveness against COVID-19.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency use authorisation of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in March 2020 but revoked it in June.

The drug was found in particular to cause severe side effects such as heart rhythm abnormalities.

Nearly 17,000 deaths induced by hydroxychloroquine

A new study published in Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy now estimates the fallout from the drugs off-label use.

Researchers led by Jean-Christophe Lega, a Professor of Therapeutics in the Lyon, France hospital system, investigated studies conducted in France, the United States, Belgium, Italy, Spain, and Turkey from March 2020 until July 2020.

"HCQ use was associated with an 11 per cent increase in the mortality rate in a meta-analysis of randomised trials," the study noted, citing a meta-analysis published in 2021 in Nature which the researchers used to calculate the number of deaths induced by the drug.

The estimated number of deaths in European countries was roughly 240 in Belgium, 199 in France, 1,822 in Italy, and 1,895 in Spain.

"What we need to bear in mind is that this is a rough estimate, in the sense that it only concerns a few countries over a short period, and that the total number of deaths is probably much higher," Lega told French broadcaster France 3.

The results should be taken with caution as it is a statistical analysis. One limitation of the study was that in France, Turkey, and Belgium, in particular, data concerning exposure to the drug was scarce.

Yet the researchers say: "This result argues in favour of tightly regulating access to off-label prescriptions during future pandemics".
School maintenance funding. Abortion laws. Workforce training grants. Tax relief. Library materials.

The list of issues that will likely be heard during this years legislative session is long, with some controversial proposals that failed last year likely to get another shot at becoming law in the next few months.

Gov. Brad Little continues to emphasize education, after Little implemented a 16.4% increase in school funding last year. The state set aside $410 million in sales tax revenue for education in 2022.

My top priority from the get-go  and it will continue to be  has been education, Little told reporters Thursday at a preview hosted by the Idaho Press Club. Little likely will unveil another big education funding proposal in Mondays State of the State address.

At the same time, some Republican lawmakers are pushing for changes that would alter the landscape of public education.

Last years bid to implement education savings accounts for students whose parents home-school them or send them to private school  which failed  will return in some form.

Education savings accounts are commonly known as school vouchers and would allow students who dont attend public schools to use state education dollars to pay for their expenses. Opponents worry that such a proposal would inevitably divert money away from public schools. Ninety percent of Idaho youths attend public schools, said Sen. Melissa Wintrow, R-Boise. Idaho has consistently ranked among the bottom in spending per student and last in school infrastructure funding, according to national and state reports.

Sens. Lori Den Hartog, R-Meridian, and Scott Grow, R-Eagle, alongside Rep. Wendy Horman, R-Idaho Falls, announced a parental choice tax credit program on Thursday. The state lawmakers in the news release said it would help parents cover qualifying expenses, including private school tuition.

One of the things Im looking forward to working on is expanding more parental choice options in education, Den Hartog told reporters at a legislative preview Thursday.

Sen. Lori Den Hartog, R-Meridian, joins a panel of the Idaho Legislatures leadership to preview some of the issues lawmakers will address during the 2024 session.

Little also touted his workforce training grant program known as Idaho Launch on Thursday, which provides $8,500 for graduating high school seniors embarking on careers highly in demand. More than 12,500 have applied so far, according to the governors office, which is more applicants than will be able to receive funding.

But the program passed by a single vote in the House, with most GOP members opposing it, and in recent months it has been the subject of feuds between some legislators and their local Republican party branches.

Den Hartog said Thursday that she was disappointed in the analysis the state conducted to determine the most in-demand careers. The most in-demand career, as determined by the Idaho Workforce Development Council, was for office clerks. She said she was concerned students could receive the grants to work in general office jobs, when theres a higher need for trained workers in specific trade industries.

I dont think thats what the intent of the program is, Den Hartog said.

But the highest number of applicants for the program so far have been in more technical job categories, such as health care technicians, nursing and engineering, according to data from the council.

Den Hartog said she expects to see proposals this session tweaking the program.

Government handouts generally dont work so well, and this is a big government handout, House Speaker Mike Moyle, R-Star, said Thursday. He said some applicants wont be invested in the education their grants allow because it does not come at a price.

Generally when we start these programs, they dont turn out the way we think they will, Moyle said.

House Speaker Mike Moyle, R-Star, said he thinks the states workforce education grants are a big government handout.

Little said the program and other new funding are about investing in the states future.

We want Idaho to be a place where our children choose to stay, he said.

School building repairs

Disagreement among lawmakers about public school funding comes as many schools in Idaho face severe backlogs to repair or replace school buildings. Districts struggle to find the money for infrastructure in part because Idaho is one of two states that require two-thirds of voters to support school bonds, according to previous Idaho Statesman and ProPublica reporting.

Nearly four in five Idaho superintendents surveyed by the Statesman and ProPublica said they have five or more building issues that pose a significant challenge.

We hope we can finally address the billion-dollar backlog in school facilities needs so that children arent contending with overcrowded classrooms, leaky roofs or serious safety issues while theyre trying to learn, Rep. Lauren Necochea, D-Boise, said Thursday.

House Assistant Minority Leader Lauren Necochea, D-Boise, said she wants lawmakers to focus on maintenance backlogs in school buildings.

Some lawmakers are exploring the potential for changing that two-thirds bond threshold. Others are still opposed.

I dont support lowering it at all, Moyle said. But he said he expects to see expanded funding for public school facilities.

Den Hartog said she thinks its important that bond measures that involve decades worth of taxes have strong voter support. But she added that she is open to changing the threshold depending on voter turnout.

Abortion

Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Idaho has almost entirely outlawed abortion through a set of laws that ban the procedure in all cases except when a pregnancy would cause a patients death or when a pregnancy was the result of rape or incest that has been reported to law enforcement.

Abortion rights advocates have warned that the laws threaten womens health and equal rights and have sued the state. Some of those lawsuits are still working their way through court.

The state also shut down a maternal mortality committee last year, making Idaho the only state without such a working group, while the mortality rate for mothers rose 121.5% from 2019 to 2021, according to a report from Idaho Kids Covered, a health care advocacy group.

Theres some discussions there on ... what we can do to help our families and our women that have crises, Moyle told reporters Thursday.

Libraries

Den Hartog also said told reporters she expects to see more library bills.

Lawmakers last year passed a bill last year that would have allowed residents to collect $2,500 in damages for every time a minor obtained what Republican lawmakers believed was harmful material from a library. Little vetoed it.

This legislation makes sweeping, blanket assumptions on materials that could be determined as harmful to minors in a local library, and it will force one interpretation of that phrase onto all the patrons of the library, Little wrote in his veto letter.

When the House tried to override the veto with another floor vote, needing two-thirds of support, the bill failed by one vote.

Tax relief

Lawmakers last year passed a bill that provided an estimated $314 million in property tax relief and saved homeowners an average of 18% on their bills, according to the governors office. The move followed three prior years when lawmakers used large influxes of federal COVID-19 relief dollars to issue tax rebates to residents and consolidate income tax brackets to a flat tax rate, while also touting large budget surpluses.

This year, the House plans to do something similar.

You will see tax relief, at least on the House side, Moyle said, noting that he expects more income tax reform.

Moyle also voiced his concerns about Medicaid and said the state needs to rein in costs that he said keep going up.

The number of low-income Idahoans covered with Medicaid health insurance increased in 2020 following a popular voter initiative. Though the state would have to pay more for health services without the influx in federal funding that accompanies Medicaid expansion, many Republican lawmakers are still upset about the programs costs.

Sen. Melissa Wintrow, D-Boise, countered that the Medicaid budget has stabilized in the past five years and that it saves the state money on health care costs.

Democrats in the Legislature, which is dominated by a Republican supermajority, have also argued that the states surpluses are not actually surpluses.

In the last five years, weve given back over $2 billion in permanent and temporary income tax rebates that we could have used some of that to invest in the things that were talking about today, Wintrow said. Thats why I think its so important ... to make sure that we are taking care of what we have to take care of before we start returning revenue.

Senate Minority Leader Melissa Wintrow, D-Boise, said Idaho should make sure that we are taking care of what we have to take care of before we start returning revenue to taxpayers.
Experts say that Councilman Mark Whyte, pictured during a City Council meeting in August 2023, is unlikely to face repercussions with the Texas State Bar following a DWI arrest. Whyte owns a solo law practice that specializes in commercial litigation, property damage claims, business transactions and employment disputes. Billy Calzada/Staff photographer

City Council Member Marc Whyte, a business law attorney, is charged with driving while intoxicated  but that's unlikely to affect his law license.

Even if Whyte pleads guilty or is convicted of driving while intoxicated, a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 180 days in jail, the State Bar would not likely intervene.

"There are rules of professional conduct that attorneys in Texas must follow, and they have a pretty extensive list of what type of conduct is prohibited," said Michael Smith, an assistant professor of law at St. Mary's University. "But generally speaking, a misdemeanor DWI would not constitute a violation of those rules."

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Whyte owns a solo law practice that specializes in commercial litigation, property damage claims, business transactions and employment disputes.

The question of what will happen to Whyte's law license comes nearly a week after the council member, who represents District 10 on the Northeast Side, was pulled over by a San Antonio police officer who saw him allegedly driving erratically on a Northeast Loop 410 access road just south of San Antonio International Airport.

Whyte was traveling 80 mph in a 65-mph zone and was drifting between lanes without signaling, the officer wrote in an affidavit. Whyte smelled strongly of alcohol, his eyes were glassy and red, and he swayed back and forth after getting out of his car, the affidavit says.

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When the officer asked if he had been drinking, Whyte replied, I had a beer, according to the affidavit.

The council member then clarified that hed had one drink at El Mirasol restaurant on Northwest Military Highway and a second at Myrons Prime Steakhouse next door, the affidavit states. Whyte later told the officer he stopped for a drink at the nearby Thirsty Horse Dance Hall & Saloon, too. Whyte said he had three beers in all but was sober, according to the affidavit.

Whyte was released from the Bexar County Jail early Saturday. His bail was set at $2,000. A court hearing is scheduled for Jan. 30.

Whyte, in a statement after his arrest, said he did not feel intoxicated when he drove home. He was elected to City Council in May after then-District 10 Councilman Clayton Perry decided not to seek reelection following a guilty plea in a drunken driving and hit-and-run case.

I never get behind the wheel when I feel as if Ive had too much to drink," Whyte said in the statement. "But that isnt the point. Nobody should drive even if they have had just one drink. I take full ownership over my actions, and I apologize to the residents of District 10, my family, friends, council colleagues and anyone else who I have let down.

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State Bar discipline

Whyte received a business degree from Wake Forest University in 2002, before moving to San Antonio to attend St. Mary's University School of Law. He graduated from St. Mary's in May 2006 and received his license to practice law in November of that year.

He has no previous public disciplinary history with the State Bar, records show.

Claire Reynolds, an attorney who works in the Bar's Office of the Chief Disciplinary Counsel, said the State Bar handles disciplinary matters one of two ways.

The first is if someone files a grievance to the State Bar alleging that an attorney violated one of the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct. Reynolds said the Bar makes a determination based on "the underlying facts, which vary greatly from case to case." Generally speaking, though, a misdemeanor DWI likely wouldn't constitute a violation of the rules.

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READ MORE: Marc Whyte drove council colleague home before DWI arrest

If the Bar does rule that a violation occurred, a range of punishment is possible, Smith said  from a confidential admonishment to a public admonishment to outright disbarment.

The second way the State Bar can discipline an attorney is via a route called "compulsory discipline." That route is reserved for attorneys who have been convicted of a "qualifying" crime.

Reynolds said there is a body of case law regarding what constitutes a "qualifying" crime, but generally speaking, a first-time DWI does not qualify.

Crimes that do qualify include barratry, any felony involving "moral turpitude" (that is, crimes involving fraud, deceit or violence) and any misdemeanor involving theft, embezzlement and fraudulent or reckless misappropriation of money.

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"A very broad and simplified explanation would be that qualifying crimes are usually those that indicate that an attorney is a danger to his or her clients," Reynolds said. "So theft of client funds or a violent crime might qualify, but other crimes might not."

Discipline is pretty straight forward at that point. If the attorney is sentenced to jail time, other than as a condition of probation, the State Bar disbars the lawyer. If the criminal sentence is probated, the bar has the discretion to either temporarily suspend the attorney or disbar him or her.

But Smith noted that even if Whyte is not sanctioned by the State Bar, he could face consequences in other ways.

For example, City Council has the authority to remove a fellow council member from office  by a majority vote  if the elected official is convicted of a felony or misdemeanor that involves moral turpitude, or a shameful or vile act, according to the city charter.

"To say there are no consequences, that would be a limited conclusion in regards to the State Bar," Smith said. "There could be other potential consequences for a conviction or arrest."
Robert E. Crimo III., listens to Judge Victoria A. Rossetti during a case management conference at the Lake County Courthouse Friday, Jan. 5, 2024, in Waukegan, Ill. A case management conference is scheduled for a suspect in a mass shooting that left seven people dead during a July 4 parade in Highland Park, Illinois. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, Pool)

WAUKEGAN, Ill. (AP)  The man charged with killing seven people at a Fourth of July parade in suburban Chicago asked to again be represented by public defenders after firing them last month and insisting on handling his own case.

Robert Crimo III is charged with 21 counts of first-degree murder  three counts for each person killed  as well as 48 counts of attempted murder and 48 counts of aggravated battery. Dozens of people were wounded in the 2022 shooting in Highland Park, Illinois, including a 8-year-old who was left partially paralyzed.

Last month, 23-year-old Crimo told a judge he wished to represent himself at his trial, and asked to move his court date up by a year, to February of this year rather than next.

Lake County Judge Victoria Rossetti asked Crimo several times if he understood the possible penalties  including consecutive life sentences  if a jury finds him guilty, and then she granted both requests. In response to the judge's questions, Crimo acknowledged he has no law degree and said his highest level of education is high school. Rossetti suggested he reconsider his choice to represent himself.

Crimo appeared in court on Friday for just a handful of minutes. The judge reminded him of his right to an attorney, and suggested he exercise it. Crimo agreed, asking to reappoint Lake County public defenders. His long dark hair was pulled back into a bun and he wore a white cloth mask and red jail uniform.

Crimo's mother, Denise Pesina, and father, Robert Crimo Jr., attended the hearing but declined to comment on their son's decision to rehire lawyers. Crimo Jr. pleaded guilty in November to seven misdemeanors  one for every person who was killed in the parade attack  in a case that centered on how his son obtained a gun license.

The father was sentenced to 60 days and has since been released from Lake County Jail.

In 2019, at age 19, Crimo III was too young to seek his own gun license, but he could apply with the sponsorship of a parent or guardian. His father agreed, even though just months earlier a relative reported to police that Crimo III had a collection of knives and had threatened to kill everyone.

Authorities said in 2022 that Crimo III confessed to police in the days after the attack that he unleashed a hail of bullets from a rooftop in Highland Park and then fled to the Madison, Wisconsin, area, where he contemplated shooting up another parade there.

Lake County States Attorney Eric Rinehart, who is prosecuting the case against Crimo III, declined to comment on the defendant's legal representation.

The Lake County Public Defenders Office declined to comment, saying it does not comment on its cases. Attorneys Gregory Ticsay and Anton Trizna represented Crimo until last month.

Crimo's next court hearing is scheduled for Jan. 10. Rinehart said he anticipates discussion of the trial date.

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Savage is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
I grew up in the Midwest and visited Tennessee and Georgia for the first time.

I was surprised by the language and cultural differences between the two regions.

I also saw variations in regional foods, and new restaurant chains and grocery items.

After growing up in the Midwest and moving to the East Coast 10 years ago, I recently visited two Southern states for the first time.

Last summer, I flew to Knoxville, Tennessee, to check out Dolly Parton's theme park and hotel empire. In November, I went to Atlanta, Georgia, to visit friends and stop at Jimmy Carter's presidential library.

I hadn't spent time in the South before, and a few things surprised me during my visits to Knoxville and Atlanta. Of course, visiting these cities for a handful of days isn't enough to get a full picture of the South, which also includes states such as Louisiana, Mississippi, North and South Carolina, Alabama, and Virginia, but I left having learned more about the region.

Here are five small differences I picked up on between the Midwest and the South.

In the Midwest, cheese curds are a popular cheesy snack.

Cheese curds at Costco in Wisconsin. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Produced by harvesting curdled milk before it hardens into cheese, cheese curds are a beloved snack in the Midwest thanks to the region's large dairy industry.

In the South, I tried a new cheesy food: cheesy grits.

Cheesy grits. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

During my first visit to Atlanta, a local encouraged me to try cheesy grits, a Southern breakfast staple made from ground corn. I loved the creamy texture and fluffy consistency, and I enjoyed trying a completely different cheesy dish.

Midwesterners are known for being friendly and have their own unique slang.

A decorative sign celebrating Midwestern friendliness. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

For example, "ope" loosely translates as "Excuse me" or "Sorry" and is said when squeezing past someone in a narrow area or accidentally bumping into someone.

During my visits to the South, I found that Southern hospitality involves terms of endearment like "sweetie" and "honey."

A cafe in Maryville, Tennessee. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Midwesterners are friendly, but I experienced the warmth of Southern hospitality through almost every interaction I had with baristas, cashiers, and locals during my trip to Tennessee.

In Midwestern accents, vowels are pronounced differently than in other parts of the US.

Costco in Wisconsin, where it's pronounced "Cah-stco." Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Midwesterners speak with what's known as a cot-caught merger  they pronounce the vowel sounds in "cot" and "caught" the same way. This results in brands like Costco being known as "Cah-stco." Where I'm from in Wisconsin, people also pronounce the "a" sound in words like "bag" as "bay-g."

In the South, I didn't hear these same vowel sounds, and some Southerners I met spoke slower than I was used to in the Midwest.

The Tennessee Theater in downtown Knoxville. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

I noticed two things about Southern accents during my trips to Tennessee and Atlanta. First, some people's accents were much stronger than I anticipated  I thought I'd need to go further south to Alabama or Mississippi to hear thick Southern dialects. Second, some people I met spoke much slower than I was used to coming from the Midwest.

Midwestern fast-food chains like Culver's are local favorites.

The exterior of the Culver's in Chicago. Frank Olito/Business Insider

Culver's has been named one of America's best burger chains thanks to its famous ButterBurgers and fresh frozen custard. Since the Culver family opened its first location in 1984 in Sauk City, Wisconsin, the chain now has over 900 restaurants in 26 states, but remains largely concentrated in the Midwest.

When I visited the South, I learned about regional fast-food chains like Waffle House.

A Waffle House location in Atlanta, Georgia. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Waffle House chains are mostly located in Southern states like Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, the Carolinas, and Florida. While driving around Atlanta during my visit, I spotted a Waffle House every few blocks.

Midwest grocery stores stock regional items like Kringle pastries, bratwurst, and of course, many varieties of cheese.

A Kringle. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Kringle is Wisconsin's official state pastry. Danish in origin, it can feature a variety of fruit and nut fillings.

When I went grocery shopping in the South, I noticed classic staples like grits that I haven't seen on shelves in the Midwest.

Grits at Publix. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

I've seen Quaker oatmeal at stores across the US, but had never seen Quaker instant grits until I shopped at a Publix store in Knoxville.

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A bird flies past the newly built INS Chennai, Indias third indigenously designed guided missile destroyer, ahead of its commissioning into the Navy in Mumbai

By Krishn Kaushik

NEW DELHI (Reuters) -The Indian Navy on Friday rescued the crew of a merchant vessel after its attempted hijack in the Arabian Sea and said it had not found any pirates on board.

An Indian Navy warship intercepted the Liberian-flagged MV Lila Norfolk bulk carrier less than a day after it had received a report that the vessel had been hijacked about 460 nautical miles off Somalia.

About five to six armed people boarded the vessel on Thursday, according to a report received by the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency, which said the ship's crew had gathered in the ship's citadel.

The navy said all 21 crew on board, including 15 Indians, had been evacuated.

The vessel, which was chartered by miner Anglo-American, left the Acu port in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Dec. 6 carrying iron ore, the company said in a statement.

"The entire crew is safe and the ship is on its way to its destination, scheduled to arrive on Jan. 12," it said, without detailing the volume of iron ore the ship was carrying.

The vessel was destined for Khalifa bin Salman in Bahrain, according to British maritime security firm Ambrey.

"The attempt of hijacking by the pirates was probably abandoned with the forceful warning by the Indian Navy," the navy said in a statement.

The Indian Navy has increased its surveillance of the Arabian Sea after recent attacks in the region.

The hijacking and attempted hijacking of commercial ships in the Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea resumed in December after a six-year lull. Experts believe pirates have been encouraged by U.S.-led anti-piracy naval forces diverting their attention to the neighbouring Red Sea to thwart attacks there by Houthi rebels.

Data from the Indian Navy's Information Fusion Centre - Indian Ocean Region show at least three hijackings in December. The previous such incident was reported in 2017.

"The sudden revival in ship hijacking and attacks can only be attributed to the pirates' willingness to take advantage of the fact that the focus of anti-piracy maritime forces has largely shifted from the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea," Abhijit Singh, head of the Maritime Policy Initiative at the Observer Research Foundation think tank in New Delhi, said.

India is not part of the U.S.-led Red Sea task force.

(Reporting by Krishn Kaushik and Shubham Kalia in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Marta Nogueira in Rio de Janeiro and Roberto Samora in Sao Paulo; Writing by Shilpa Jamkhandikar, Shivam Patel and Peter Frontini; Editing by Christian Schmollinger, Michael Perry, Nick Macfie and Sandra Maler)
FILE- INS Chennai, a Kolkata class destroyer, is moored at a jetty in Mumbai, India, Friday, Nov. 18, 2016. The Indian navy said on Friday, Jan. 5, 2023, that it has deployed the ship and a patrol aircraft in the Arabian Sea following a hijacking attempt onboard a Liberia-flagged bulk carrier. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade, File)

NEW DELHI (AP)  Indian navy commandos safely evacuated 21 crew members from a Liberian-flagged bulk carrier involved in a hijacking attempt in the Arabian Sea, the navy said Friday.

The MV Lila Norfolk sent a message on the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations monitoring portal that said five or six armed people had boarded the vessel Thursday evening, the navy said in a statement.

India's navy diverted a ship deployed for maritime security operations to assist the carrier, and a group of commandos boarded the vessel after monitoring its movement for several hours, the statement said.

No hijackers were found on board during a search by the commandos, the navy said in an update.

"The attempt of hijacking by the pirates was probably abandoned with the forceful warning by the Indian navy, it said.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations monitor also reported on Friday that the search had been completed and no hijackers had been found on board.

Ambrey, a maritime intelligence firm, said earlier that the bulk carrier had started to drift 670 kilometers (420 miles) east of Hafun, Somalia.

A patrol aircraft flew over the Lila Norfolk early Friday and determined the safety of the crew, which included 15 Indians, the navy said. Cmdr. Mehul Karnik, a navy spokesperson, said the crew members relayed that they were operating the carrier from inside a strong room.

Following the evacuation, the Indian navy ship was providing support to restore power so the vessel could resume its voyage, the navy statement said.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the assault. There have been growing concerns about shipping in the region following attacks by Yemeni Houthi rebels.

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Jon Gambrell contributed from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Hosanna Honey Blue Sancho, 6, is seen on New Years Day. She was killed Wednesday at a Southwest Side apartment. Her death remains under investigation by San Antonio police. Courtesy Kenny Vallespin Nephiterea Nicole Sancho, 36, has been charged with capital murder of a child under 10. She is being held in lieu of a $1 million bond. Bexar County Sheriff's Office Hosanna Honey Blue Sancho, 6, is seen smiling in a family photo. She was killed Wednesday at a Southwest Side apartment. Her death remains under investigation by San Antonio police. Courtesy Kenny Vallespin Hosanna Honey Blue Sancho, 6, is seen striking a pose. She was killed Wednesday at a Southwest Side apartment. Her death remains under investigation by San Antonio police. Courtesy Kenny Vallespin Hosanna Honey Blue Sancho, 6, is seen smiling in a family photo. She was killed Wednesday at a Southwest Side apartment. Her death remains under investigation by San Antonio police. Courtesy Kenny Vallespin

The woman accused of killing the 6-year-old girl found dead at a Southwest Side apartment this week had a history of mental illness.

Nephiterea Nicole Sancho, 36, has been charged with capital murder of a child under 10. She is being held in lieu of $1 million bail.

Hosanna Honey Blue Sancho, 6, was found when police arrived at a chaotic scene around 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Frontera Crossing apartments in the 13000 block of Watson Road.

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A vigil is planned for Hosanna at 3 p.m. Sunday at Woodlawn Park, where she loved to swim, according to Pamela Allen, CEO of Eagles Flight Advocacy.

Police have not released how Hosanna and Sancho are related, but friends of the family said Sancho, who was found running around naked when police arrived, is Hosannas mother.

Sancho has a prior conviction of injury to a child.

KSAT reported she was found not guilty by reason of insanity and was sent to a state hospital in Vernon, near the Texas-Oklahoma border, in 2011. She was on outpatient treatment on parole until she stopped complying with treatment in 2021 and was arrested for parole violation.

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A report notes that officers were initially called to the scene because Sancho was acting erratic. The 6-year-old girl was found unresponsive inside an apartment.

Police immediately alerted EMS because Hosanna had an apparent wound to her upper body. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Hosannas death has left members of Eagles Flight in shock, sadness and anger. Kenny Vallespin, president of the Eagles Flight board of directors, knew Hosanna because she was often with his sister-in-law, who is Sanchos aunt.

Sancho is currently two months pregnant, Vallespin said.

He said when Hosanna was just 4 years old, her mother was admitted to a mental health facility. Nephiterea Sancho gave power of attorney to her aunt Billie Jo Sancho until her release from the facility.

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Since then, Billie Jo Sancho and her wife tried to keep Hosanna in their care as often as they could, Vallespin said. But Nephiterea still had full custody of Hosanna, who wanted to spend time with her mother.

Tuesday was such a day, and the family let Hosanna stay the night. The next morning, Nephiterea wasnt answering phone calls from her aunt.

Vallespins niece and nephew, ages 16 and 17, were among the first people to go into the apartment and discover Hosanna dead of what they thought were stab wounds. The Bexar County Medical Examiners Office has not yet confirmed Hosannas cause of death.

Its forever going to be ingrained in them, Vallespin said. She was like a little sister to them.

Hosanna was a bright, curious young girl who loved swimming. She had just learned the life skill last year.

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She told her aunts, or tias in Spanish, Good morning and I love you each day. She also gave them the biggest hugs, the family said. They added the cuddle bug was also a talented first-grader, the only one in her class who knew how to play the violin.

If she saw us talking, she would be doing cartwheels around us and ask, Do you know how to do a cartwheel? Vallespin said. She could do a perfect one. She had a great big smile, but she had an even bigger personality.

Hosanna loved being with her family and never met a stranger. She was looking forward to being a cheerleader and riding the bus for the first time.

The family never thought Hosannas mother had it in her to kill her daughter, Vallespin said.

Thats what grips our heart, he said. It hurts our hearts to know that a mother could do this to her daughter.

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Hosannas faith at a young age gives the family some solace.

As they were shopping a few days before Hosannas death, a relative told her she needed to behave or else the cucuy, a fictitious monster mentioned to settle children, was going to get her.

Hosannas next words are forever with Vallespin and his family: Im not afraid of the cucuy because Jesus is in my heart and Gods got me.

Vallespin said he hopes the case sheds light on the current system when it comes to children of people with mental illness. He said someone with such triggers should not have the right to have a child in their full custody if they cannot provide proof that they can take care of a child.

In the few encounters hes had with Nephiterea Sancho, Vallespin described her as zoned out, although physically present.
The recent post comes nearly a year after a picture of a student in blackface from another campus in the Southwest Allen County Schools went viral, prompting altercations and protests.

An Indiana school district is investigating an offensive social media post showing students in blackface.

According to 21 Alive News, Southwest Allen County Schools officials issued a letter to the media and district families on Thursday stating they were made aware of the post created on holiday break and featuring two unidentified middle school students.

The letter, signed by SACS Superintendent Park Ginder, said leaders in the Fort Wayne-based school district had contacted the students families and continue to monitor the incident.

Southwest Allen County Schools in Indiana is investigating an offensive social media post showing students in blackface. (Photo: Screenshot/YouTube.com/ABC21 WPTA)

This image does not represent the behavior we expect of students or our community, Ginder wrote.

Its important to recognize that images like these, whether intentionally racist or not, contribute to the perpetuation of distrust and hinder a community of belonging, he contended. Such posts are at odds with the principles upheld by Southwest Allen County Schools, where our commitment is to foster a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment for everyone.

The recent post comes nearly a year after a picture of a Homestead High School student donning blackface went viral, prompting altercations and protests at the predominately white SACS school, where parents and students claim racism is an ongoing issue, WFFT News reported.

At the time, Ginder met with and formalized an agreement with parent organization FAIR for All to address concerns about widespread racism, claiming the photo did not reflect district values.

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In his letter Thursday, the superintendent urged parents to talk to their children about appropriate internet conduct.

Addressing behavior and/or social media posts that are offensive requires a collective effort, and we can only achieve that by working together, Ginder maintained. We encourage parents to take this opportunity to have conversations with their children, regardless of their age, emphasizing that the use of slurs or derogatory language or imagery targeting a students ethnic or racial background, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, or disability are not acceptable.

Ginder also advised families to talk with their children about social media usage, including their choice and use of platforms and the content they follow or see.

Encourage an awareness that promotes responsible and respectful online behavior, he urged, 21 Alive reported, as well as an understanding that internet posts such as this can have ramifications that follow students for the rest of their lives.

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FILE- Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar addresses a press conference in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019. Jaishankar said Friday, Jan. 5, 2024, his visit to neighboring Nepal was successful where an agreement was signed to import 10,000 megawatts of electricity and expressed commitment to strengthen bilateral relationship. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup, File)

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP)  India's foreign minister concluded a two-day trip to Nepal on Friday, during which he signed an agreement to increase the amount of electricity India imports from its neighbor.

I assure you we are committed to extending our steadfast support and work with same earnestness to further realize the potential of the relationship for the full benefit of the people of the two countries, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said in Kathmandu Friday, just before flying home.

India, which surrounds Nepal on three sides, has major influence on the country's economy and politics.

Jaishankar arrived in Nepal Thursday where he met Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and President Ram Chandra Poudel and took part in a joint meeting where bilateral relations were discussed.

The two countries signed an long-term power trade agreement Thursday where India agreed to to strive to increase the ... export of power from Nepal to India to 10,000 megawatts within a timeframe of 10 years, according to a press statement issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.

During my visit this time we have signed some really important agreements both in the areas of power sector cooperation as well as project implementation, Jaishankar said. And I am very confident that these will positively impact the lives of the ordinary person in Nepal.

Nepal, which is mostly covered by mountains, currently only has a capacity of about 2,600 megawatts of electricity but has several hydroelectricity projects that are being built or planned.

Nepal depends on its giant neighbor for importing most oil products.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi, the government of India is committed to continue redefining its relationship with partners in our neighborhood, especially with Nepal, Jaishankar said.
An Indianapolis woman and former Indianapolis Public Schools police officer will soon reach her final resting place, orbiting the sun.

The partial remains of Jo Ann Holder will be included on an inaugural deep space flight, scheduled to launch on Jan. 8, thanks to Celestis Memorial Spaceflights, which helps send remains of loved ones into space.

Holder is included in the more than 200 other passengers whose remains or DNA will travel into space on the Enterprise Flight, which is Celstis first deep space voyage, that will eventually find its final position in space, orbiting the sun.

Once the spacecraft reaches its orbit of the sun, it will then be known as the Enterprise station and be the furthest humankind outpost in the solar system, according to a news release from Celestis.

More on space: See the path of totality for the 2024 solar eclipse in Indiana, U.S.

Holder worked in various IPS schools as a police officer for around 15 years and eventually rose to the rank of sergeant before her retirement.

Her son Joe Cassady told IndyStar that she had always had a love for space, ever since the 1960s moon race captured the nation, which led her to develop a passion for all things space-related.

Joe Cassady stands with his mother Jo Ann Holder, whose remains will be sent to space on Celestis' Enterprise Flight, a deep space voyage taking hundreds of people's remains or partial DNA into space with the goal of orbiting the sun for eternity.

Holders commitment to space travel even went so far as buying a condo near the Kennedy Space Center so that she could see launches, of which she witnessed over two dozen.

Cassady said making sure his mothers remains were on the Enterprise flight was a no-brainer.

His mothers deep love for space is what eventually motivated him to go to Purdue University and graduate with a degree in aeronautics, and he now works in the aerospace industry.

Cassadys connection to the Enterprise flight doesnt stop at just his mothers remains. He was also part of the team that helped assemble the Vulcan rocket that will help the spacecraft reach orbit.

Recent education news: Indiana high school graduation rate up from last year, waiver usage down

I kind of feel like Im helping her get to where she always wanted to go, Cassady said.

Cassady said he plans to be at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station to see his mother take flight on Jan. 8.

I feel like it is a tribute to her, Cassady said. She had so much potential, and probably if she could have been born about 20 years later, I think she would have ended up being an astronaut flying on the shuttle. So it's great to give her the chance to actually go and realize that dream.

Celestis has launched 20 memorial spaceflights since 1997 and has helped around 2,000 people send their remains into space.

Along with cremated remains, people can send their DNA on the memorial flights as well as MindFiles which are pieces of paper that customers can write whatever they want to send into space.

So there will be a repository of our civilization thats going to stay in our solar system forever, said Colby Youngblood, president of Celestis.

Celestis offers its customers various kinds of memorial spaceflights that range from orbiting the earth to the deep space voyages, like Holder will be traveling on. The price for these experiences can range from $3,000 to $13,000.

Celestis already has plans in the works for another deep space voyage flight to be launched sometime between 2025 and 2027 and plans for another lunar service launch sometime in 2025 and 2026.

Contact IndyStar reporter Caroline Beck at 317-618-5807 or CBeck@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter: @CarolineB_Indy.

Carolines reporting is made possible by Report for America and Glick Philanthropies. As part of its work in Marion County, Glick Philanthropies partners with organizations focused on closing access and achievement gaps in education.

Report for America is a program of The GroundTruth Project, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening local newsrooms. Report for America provides funding for up to half of the reporters salary during their time with us, and IndyStar is fundraising the remainder.

To learn more about how you can support IndyStars partnership with Report for America and to make a donation, visit indystar.com/RFA.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Celestis Memorial Spaceflight sends Indy woman's remains to deep space
The flu remains widespread in Tarrant County, and Texas has reached very high levels of influenza-like illness, according to the latest data from health authorities.

Flu remains the leading cause of emergency department visits caused by respiratory illness, according to Tarrant County Public Health, meaning that flu viruses sent more people to the ER than COVID-19 or respiratory syncytial virus in the last week of December.

More than 14% of all emergency room visits in Tarrant County were because of influenza-like illness, according to Tarrant County Public Health. Thats not quite as bad as last seasons peak, during which almost one in every four ER visits was caused by the flu.

The majority  74%  of all emergency room visits caused by the flu are in children under 18, according to Tarrant County Public Health.

One Texas child has died from a confirmed case of influenza this winter, although additional cases could be identified later, according to the state health department. Nationwide, there have been 27 flu deaths in children this season, according to the CDC.

Public health officials recommend everyone six months of age and older get a seasonal flu shot to reduce the risk of getting seriously ill from the virus. The vaccine can also be life-saving in children, and reduce their risk of severe complications, according to the CDC.

Cases of respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, remain high in Texas, although they appear to have peaked, according to state data. RSV is causing a little more than 1% of all ER visits in Tarrant County, and most of people going to the emergency room with the virus are children under the age of four, according to Tarrant County Public Health.

Hospitalizations caused by COVID-19 have stayed steady in Tarrant County, and increased slightly across Texas as a whole, according to local and state data. In the last week of December, an average of almost six Texans a day died from COVID-19, according to state data.
Rep. Bruce Skaug, R-Nampa, is co-sponsor of a bill that would make defendants in sex crimes cases against children under the age of 12 eligible for the death penalty.

Idaho legislators return to Boise on Monday to begin the next legislative session. Usually, there is little doubt that some far-right legislators will push hot-button, culture-war bills that seek to address imaginary problems.

Given that this year is an election year, its almost a certainty.

Chipping away at transgender rights or a citizens ability to vote, check out a library book, go to the bathroom at school or perform in a drag show are likely to be up for debate. Who knows what other made-up crises some lawmakers will come up with?

So what should they focus on instead? What are the real problems facing this state and everyday Idahoans that this elected body should address?

Abortion: Idahos extreme ban criminalizes necessary medical procedures, puts the government between patients and doctors, threatens the health of mothers, and is driving patients and doctors out of Idaho. Fix the language in the bill to stop this health care crisis playing out right before our eyes. We still disagree with banning abortions, but at the very least, fix the crisis youve created. And if legislators really want to reduce unwanted pregnancies, they could expand sex education in schools and expand access to contraception.

School buildings: As the Idaho Statesmans Becca Savransky, in partnership with ProPublica, has been reporting all year, many of Idahos school buildings are in deplorable condition. The Legislature can do a few things: Make more state money available for school repairs and new buildings; establish a revolving loan fund available to school districts; and reduce the current undemocratic supermajority requirement needed to pass bonds.

Support public education: Just say no to school vouchers. Dont spend our taxpayer dollars on private schools.

Support higher education: Idahos universities are the lifeblood of economic development. Idaho should be increasing state support and supporting university presidents in their efforts to run the universities the best ways they see fit. Its a competitive environment in higher education that will become more competitive in the coming years. Idaho doesnt need extremist legislators meddling and micromanaging decisions.

Child care: Amid a historic labor shortage, Idaho employers have to fight for workers. Unfortunately, Idaho, like many other states, has a child care shortage that some call a crisis. One easy step legislators can take through policy is to provide a tax incentive to build new child care centers. Beyond that, legislators can provide child care tax credits and expand the child tax credit. Idahos child tax credit is only $205, not enough to pay for a week.

Property taxes: Yes, we know legislators passed a complicated, mish-mash of a bill that took money from several buckets of state revenue to offset local property taxes, primarily school taxes. And it worked. For now. Its not a permanent solution  just a Band-Aid approach to solving the real problem of escalating residential property taxes. The real solution is to bring back the index to the homeowners exemption so that property taxes are more fairly distributed among different types of properties.

Build a state mental health facility: Idaho is set to become the last state in the country that houses people who are determined to be dangerously mentally ill in state prison, even though they havent been charged with any crime. Legislators should approve $25 million to build a state mental health facility for these patients and get them out of prison.

If that werent enough of a list, Idaho has plenty of other problems that would be appropriate for legislators to address: a physician shortage; lack of high-speed internet access, especially in rural areas; and a worker shortage.

Those are real problems that Idaho is facing, unlike the types of nonsense that far-right legislators generally focus on to dominate the start of the session. It would be nice if the lawmakers concerned themselves with solving problems rather than introducing bills to gin up extremists in an effort to scare up votes in a closed Republican primary.

Statesman editorials are the unsigned opinion of the Idaho Statesmans editorial board. Board members are opinion editor Scott McIntosh, opinion writer Bryan Clark, editor Chadd Cripe, newsroom editors Dana Oland and Jim Keyser and community members Mary Rohlfing and Patricia Nilsson.
This article was originally published in Iowa Capital Dispatch.

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.

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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. Contact Editor Kathie Obradovich for questions: info@iowacapitaldispatch.com. Follow Iowa Capital Dispatch on Facebook and Twitter.
(NBC News)  Perry High School principal Dan Marburger tried to calm down the shooter and distract him so students could flee, according to a Facebook post from his daughter, who said he was stable after getting shot.

Marburger was one of five people injured Thursday when a 17-year-old student at Perry High School in Iowa opened fire. A sixth-grade student at the middle school, which is connected to the high school, was killed. Police have not released the names of the victims.

Iowa school shooting suspect filmed TikTok video of himself morning of shooting

The gunman, identified as Dylan Butler, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, officials said.

For those of you who have reached out regarding Dad, I am sorry I havent gotten back to you. Please dont take it personally it has just been a day for us, for Dad, and for the community, Marburgers daughter, Claire Marburger, wrote. Dad was in surgery all day, and is currently stable.

Read the full story on NBCNews.com.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Sylvia Ann Lopez, 71, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for intoxication manslaughter after running over an elderly woman who was walking her dogs in her West Side neighborhood. Courtesy of Bexar County District Attorney's Office

A San Antonio woman has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for running over and killing an elderly woman who was walking her dogs in her West Side neighborhood.

Sylvia Ann Lopez, 71, was charged with intoxication manslaughter in the 2022 death of Irma Garcia Lozano, 78.

Lopez pleaded no contest Oct. 25 to the charge as part of a plea agreement that included a maximum of 12 years, which was reached between prosecutors Hunter Morris and Jessica Schulze, and defense attorney Ben Stephenson.

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Lopez had faced a maximum of 20 years in prison and had applied for probation, according to court records. The Bexar County District Attorneys Office said Lopez had no prior convictions.

Lopez was found guilty Thursday in a presentence investigation hearing by state District Judge Ron Rangel. He rejected the application for probation and sentenced Lopez to 10 years in prison.

Lozano had stopped to talk to a neighbor around 10:30 a.m. on May 11, 2022, while walking her dogs. She was on a sidewalk in her neighborhood, off Oak Hill Drive and Viva Max on the West Side, when Lopezs vehicle veered off the roadway and crashed into Lopez, according to reports and a statement from the DAs office. The vehicle then ran into a tree. Lopez had to be extracted from her vehicle.

Lozano died at the scene. She retired after working at Levi Strauss for 30 years when the plant closed in 1990, according to her obituary.

Lopez told authorities that she was disoriented and drowsy after she had taken several medications that day, according to the statement from the DAs office. Additionally, tests conducted on Lopez indicated that although she did not have alcohol in her system, several prescription medications were detected, including one that was above the therapeutic range.

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Mourners weep over the flag-draped coffin of their loved one who was killed in Wednesday's bomb explosion, during the victims funeral ceremony in the city of Kerman about 510 miles (820 kms) southeast of the capital Tehran, Iran, Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. Iran on Friday mourned those slain in an Islamic State group-claimed suicide bombing targeting a commemoration for a general slain in a U.S. drone strike in 2020. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

KERMAN, Iran (AP)  Iranian officials tried Friday to link Israel and the U.S. to an Islamic State group-claimed suicide bombing while speaking to a mass funeral for some of the 89 people killed in the attack, seeking to intertwine the assault with wider Middle East tensions from the Israel-Hamas war.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and the top commander of Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard sought to make the link without offering evidence for their claims. The gathered crowd in front of flag-draped caskets shouted in response: "Death to America!" and Death to Israel!

The enemy always sees the power of the Islamic Republic. The whole world is recognizing this power and this ability, Raisi said, without directly naming any country. "Be sure, the initiative is in the hands of our powerful forces. The place and time will be determined by our forces.

Iranian state television also sought to link America to the attack. At one point, it re-broadcast comments from 2016 from then-presidential candidate Donald Trump, who wrongly accused then-President Barack Obama of being the founder of the extremist group.

Critics have blamed Obama's decision to pull troops from Iraq in 2011 for allowing the group, once an affiliate of al-Qaida, to thrive and ultimately hold vast swaths of Iraq and Syria in its self-declared caliphate by 2014. U.S. troops under both Obama and Trump then battled alongside allied forces to retake that territory.

Gen. Hossein Salami, the commander of the Guard, similarly sought to make the connection.

"They can only act as agents and mercenaries of American politics and Zionism, Salami said. But we give them this warning,  wherever you are, we will find you. You cannot avoid divine punishment by disappearing. If you live for 1,000 years, we will find you.

In Wednesdays attack, one suicide bomber killed himself, then another attacked 20 minutes later as people and emergency workers tried to help the wounded in Kerman, about 820 kilometers (510 miles) southeast of the capital, Tehran.

On Friday, the intelligence ministry said in a statement published by its website, vaja.ir, that one of the two suicide bombers was a Tajik national. It said the others nationality was not clear yet. The statement added that after the attack, in the early hours of Thursday, the base of the bombers was identified on the outskirts of Kerman and that a total of 11 people have been arrested.

The attack targeted a commemoration for Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani, killed in 2020 by a U.S. drone strike as he led its expeditionary Quds Force.

Soleimani had been part of the Iranian response to the Islamic State group in Syria, while focusing on keeping embattled Syrian President Bashar Assad in power. He also had extensive ties to proxy groups around the wider Mideast, including Hamas. But the U.S., which killed Soleimani as part of wider tensions over its collapsed nuclear deal with world powers, saw Soleimani as the mastermind behind deadly roadside bombings targeting American soldiers in Iraq.

The two attacks on Wednesday killed at least 89 people and wounded about 280 others, authorities said Friday in an update of the death toll. The attacks have sparked condemnation from around the world, even amid Iran's wider tensions with the West over its nuclear program.

Pope Francis offered a condolence telegram to express his deep sadness over the "loss of life caused by the recent explosions in Kerman," the Vatican said on Friday.

Francis invokes upon all the people of Iran the Almightys blessings of wisdom and peace, the Vatican said.

The Islamic State group claimed the attack Thursday in a statement that named the two bombers and described it as part of a new campaign linked to Israel's war in the Gaza Strip. The statement bore some differences to previous claims made by the Islamic State group in other attacks it has claimed in Iran, though experts said it appeared to be legitimate and came from online channels associated with the extremists. Much of the group's leadership has been killed and replaced in the years since 2014.

Its unclear why the two Iranian leaders chose to focus on the U.S. and Israel, rather than on the Islamic State group, during their remarks Friday. Iran has retaliated in the past over IS-claimed attacks, including launching ballistic missiles into Syria.

However, the Islamic State group has grown stronger in recent years in neighboring Afghanistan, just some 360 kilometers (225 miles) east of Kerman, since the Western-backed government in Kabul fell to the Taliban in 2021.

Iran and the Taliban have maintained diplomatic ties since the takeover, though there have been border skirmishes and tensions over water supplies between the two nations. Iranian officials say at least 12 of the dead in Wednesday's bombings were Afghans.

___

Vahdat reported from Tehran, Iran, and Gambrell from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Associated Press writer Frances D'Emilio in Rome contributed to this report.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani on Friday said he would set up a dialogue to discuss the removal of the U.S. military presence in his country after an American strike killed an Iraqi militia leader in Baghdad on Thursday.

In an address, al-Sudani said the agreement under which American troops are based in Iraq states the equal sovereignty of both countries, which was violated by the U.S. strike.

We have repeatedly emphasized that in the event of a violation or transgression by any Iraqi party, or if Iraqi law is violated, the Iraqi government is the only party that has the right to follow up on the merits of these violations, al-Sudani said in remarks shared by his office.

We affirm our firm and principled position in ending the existence of the international coalition after the justifications for its existence have ended, he added.

The prime minister said he was in the process of setting up a bilateral dialogue with the U.S. to discuss the removal of some 2,500 American troops in his country.

It is a commitment that the government will not back down from, and will not neglect anything that would complete national sovereignty over the land, sky, and waters of Iraq, he said.

The U.S. strike on Thursday killed Mushtaq Taleb al-Saidi, the leader of an Iranian-backed militia group Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba (HHN), after landing near a security headquarters in Baghdad.

HHN is part of the Popular Mobilization Forces, a network of Iranian proxy groups and militias in Iraq. Iranian-backed groups have repeatedly attacked U.S. troops in Iraq, Syria and the Red Sea since the breakout of the Israel-Hamas war.

Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said Thursday the U.S. is in Iraq at the invitation of the Iraqi government to defeat the U.S.-designated terrorist group ISIS, but he stressed forces will take action to protect themselves.

This was a necessary, proportionate act, Ryder said, adding Iraq is an important and valued partner, which the U.S. seeks to maintain good ties with.

Al-Sudani, who is closely aligned with Iranian-backed militias, on Friday condemned the U.S. for the strike and said the Popular Mobilization Forces are an official presence affiliated with the state.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Israels defence minister has laid out the bare bones of a plan for Gaza once the war with Hamas is over  with pressure growing from Western nations to set out concrete proposals for what happens when the conflict ends.

Yoav Gallant said Israel would keep control of security in Gaza in place of Hamas, with an ill-defined Palestinian body, guided by Israel, running day-to-day administration of the territory, and the US, European Union and regional partners taking responsibility for reconstruction. Neighbouring Egypt would also have an unspecified role to play under the proposal.

Gaza residents are Palestinian, therefore Palestinian bodies will be in charge, with the condition that there will be no hostile actions or threats against the state of Israel, Mr Gallants outline said, without providing detail.

Under Mr Gallants plan, which is not official policy and has yet to be submitted to other ministers, Israels military offensive in Gaza would continue until all of the 240 hostages taken by Hamas in the 7 October attack inside Israel were freed, and Hamass military and governing capabilities dismantled.

Governance would then be assumed by what would likely be Palestinian civil bodies and communal leaders, a system that Mr Gallant said would build on the capabilities of the existing administrative mechanism in Gaza of local non-hostile actors.

In recent days, Israeli media reported that military and intelligence officials favoured dividing Gaza into regions overseen by civilian authorities, with the distribution of humanitarian aid in each area handed to local leaders. Mr Gallant said that Israel would reserve the right to operate inside the territory, but that there would be no Israeli civilian presence in the Gaza Strip after the goals of the war have been achieved.

Video footage showing Israeli soldiers in Gaza (Israel Defense Forces/Reuters)

The plan contains more practical elements than the suggestions offered by hardline members of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahus coalition government, and differs from Washingtons call for a reformed Palestinian Authority to take control of Gaza alongside fresh negotiations towards creating a Palestinian state. Mr Netanyahu has ruled out a role for the Palestinian Authority.

Palestinian leaders are also likely to reject Mr Gallants plan, instead pushing for Palestinians themselves to take control of the territory.

The proposals come as US secretary of state Antony Blinken begins his fourth visit to the region in three months. His visit will take him to Turkey, Greece, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the occupied West Bank and Egypt. His priorities will include pressing for a dramatic increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza and an effort to rein in the violence carried out against Palestinians in the West Bank by Jewish settlers.

Western nations also fear that the war in Gaza could spread and become a wider regional conflict, after a suspected Israeli drone strike killed a senior Hamas leader in Lebanon earlier this week. It is in no ones interest, not Israels, not the regions, not the worlds, for this conflict to spread beyond Gaza, US state department spokesperson Matthew Miller said ahead of Mr Blinkens trip.

The key elements to preventing this will be deterring attacks by Yemens Iran-backed Houthi rebels on commercial Red Sea shipping, deterring attacks on Israel by Lebanons Iran-backed Hezbollah, and deterring attacks on US military facilities and interests by Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria. The EUs top diplomat, Josep Borrell, was due to arrive in Lebanon on Friday to discuss the situation at the Israeli-Lebanese border.

German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock, who will visit Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories from Sunday, called for a new humanitarian pause. People in Lebanon fear that just one more spark could ignite the entire region. Such a regional conflagration must not happen, she said.

The US has also called on Israel to protect civilian lives in Gaza by moving to a more targeted approach against Hamas. In the wake of the 7 October attack, Israel launched an aerial bombardment of Gaza that health officials in the Hamas-run territory say has killed more than 22,000 people. The UN and aid agencies say that around 85 per cent of Gazas 2.3 million residents have been forced from their homes.

Mr Gallants plan outlined what he called a more targeted approach for the next phase of Israels war, seemingly taking on board US concerns. In the northern region of the Gaza Strip, we will transition to a new combat approach in accordance with military achievements on the ground, Mr Gallants office said. It said operations would include raids, demolishing tunnels, air and ground strikes, and special forces operations.

In the south of the besieged enclave, where most of Gazas 2.3 million population are now living after being forced from their homes by Israels airstrikes, the operation would continue to try to eliminate Hamas leaders and rescue Israeli hostages. It will continue for as long as is deemed necessary, the statement said.

The aerial bombardment has been backed by ground operations and a blockade that has left supplies of food, water, fuel and medicine running low. Some 162 people were killed in Gaza across the past 24 hours, according to officials from the Hamas-run Palestinian health ministry.

The Israeli government claims democracy and humanity but is inhumane, Abdel Razek Abu Sinjar told Reuters as he cried over the shrouded bodies of his wife and children, killed in a Thursday strike on his house in Rafah.

Reuters and Associated Press contributed to this report
A woman reacts at the site of the Nova festival, where people were killed and kidnapped - Tyrone Siu/REUTERS

Germany warned against an Israeli occupation of Gaza as it called for more humanitarian pauses in the war on Friday.

Annalena Baerbock, the German foreign minister, said: There must be no occupation of the Gaza Strip, no expulsions and no reduction in the size of the territory. And at the same time there must be no more danger to Israel from the Gaza Strip.

Ms Baerbock told a Berlin press conference that the Israelis and Palestinians would only be able to live side by side in peace if the security of the one means the security of the other.

Her remarks came after Israel presented its four-part plan for post-war Gaza, with Yoav Gallant, defence minister, announcing that neither Hamas nor Israel will rule the enclave in the future.

Gaza residents are Palestinian, therefore Palestinian bodies will be in charge, with the condition that there will be no hostile actions or threats against the State of Israel, he said, adding Israel will retain overall security control.

Israels war in Gaza will continue until Hamas is destroyed and the hostages taken on October 7 are returned, Mr Gallant said.

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04:00 PM GMT

Today's live coverage has ended

Todays live coverage is ending. Here is a roundup of the days main events:

Israel has set out its plans for post-war Gaza, with Defence Minister Yoav Gallant announcing that neither Hamas nor Israel will rule the enclave in the future.

Irans president and the commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps vowed revenge on Friday at the funeral for the victims of twin Islamic State bombings, which took place two days earlier.

More than 76,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon in almost three months of near-daily fighting along the border with Israel, the UNs International Organisation for Migration has said.

At least 22,600 Palestinians have been killed and 57,910 wounded in Israeli strikes on Gaza since October 7, the Gaza health ministry said in a statement on Friday.

Survivors have returned to the site of the Supernova music festival in southern Israel, where Hamas massacred hundreds of people and kidnapped others on October 7.

03:44 PM GMT

Armed drone attack hits airbase hosting US forces

An armed drone attacked an Iraqi airbase that hosts US and international forces on Friday.

Iraqi Kurdistans counterterrorism service did not elaborate on whether the attack on the Harir airbase in Erbil caused casualties or infrastructure damage.

The airbase was last attacked in November when air defences took down drones with no casualties.

03:29 PM GMT

Hezbollah chief warns response to Aruri killing 'inevitable'

Hassan Nasrallah, Lebanons Hezbollah chief, warned Israel on Friday that it will respond swiftly on the battlefield to the killing of Hamass deputy leader in one of its Beirut strongholds.

In a televised speech, Hassan Nasrallah said: The response is inevitably coming. We cannot remain silent on a violation of this magnitude because it means the whole of Lebanon would be exposed.

The decision is now in the hands of the battlefield, he said in his second speech since the killing of Saleh al-Aruri.

Fighters from all areas of the border... will be the ones responding to the dangerous violation in the suburbs, he added.

03:07 PM GMT

'All of Lebanon will be exposed', says Hezbollah chief

Hassan Nasrallah, Lebanons Hezbollah chief, said in a speech on Friday that all of Lebanon would be exposed if the group did not react to the assassination of deputy Hamas chief Saleh al-Arouri in Beirut.

Nasrallah added that its current operations on the southern borders opened a historic opportunity for Lebanon to liberate its land occupied by Israel and that the Islamic resistance in Iraq also has a historic opportunity to get rid of the U.S. presence in that country.

02:47 PM GMT

Survivors return to site of Hamas festival massacre

Survivors have returned to the site of the Supernova music festival in southern Israel, where Hamas massacred hundreds of people and kidnapped others on October 7.

As many as 360 young revellers were massacred at the site stormed by Hamas terrorists via gliders.

On Thursday, friends and relatives of the victims were photographed crying near memorials that had been fashioned from sticks, with photographs of their loved ones attached.

A woman reacts at the site of the Nova festival, where people were killed and kidnapped during the October 7 attack - REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

Some could be seen kissing the photos of those dead or kidnapped as a press conference took place.

Some 40 people were snatched away from the festival and ferried into Gaza as hostages.

The October 7 massacre was the largest terror attack in Israels history.

02:26 PM GMT

Hezbollah conducted around 670 military operations on Lebanese-Israeli border

Hassan Nasrallah, Lebanons Hezbollah chief, said in a speech on Friday that the Iran-backed militia had conducted around 670 military operations on the Lebanese-Israeli border since October 8.

Nasrallah added that Hezbollah destroyed a large number of Israeli vehicles and tanks.

02:03 PM GMT

Lebanon files complaint with UN

An official complaint to the United Nations Security Council has been filed by Lebanon.

The country says that Israel has fired six missiles in the attack that killed Saleh al-Arouri, the deputy chief of Hamas, earlier this week.

The complaint claimed that Israel has used Lebanese airspace to bomb Syria.

01:48 PM GMT

Israeli action in Gaza has 'gone way beyond a legitimate response', says Yousaf

The UK Government must make clear that Israeli action in Gaza has gone way beyond a legitimate response to the Hamas attack of October 7, Humza Yousaf has said.

In a statement released on Friday, the Scottish First Minister said the Government should tell Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, that they will be held accountable for civilian deaths in the territory. He said:

The time has come for the UK Government to speak out forcefully and make it clear that Israeli action has gone way beyond a legitimate response to the appalling Hamas attack of October 7. Hearing comments from an Israeli Government Minister urging displacement of Palestinians from Gaza is deeply disturbing and should be universally condemned. Gaza is Occupied Palestinian Territory and will be part of a future Palestinian state - Gazans should not be subject to forcible displacement or relocation from Gaza. The UK Government must make clear that prime minister Netanyahu, Israeli ministers and military commanders will be held accountable for the killing of thousands of innocent civilians and the deaths of tens of thousands more from starvation and disease if Israel does not immediately cease indiscriminate attacks and allow aid to enter Gaza on the scale needed to avert a humanitarian disaster. Hamas leaders must also be held accountable for the appalling attacks against Israeli civilians on October 7.

01:32 PM GMT

Six Gazans killed in overnight strike, according to reports

An apparent Israeli airstrike in the southern city of Rafah killed at least six people overnight, according to reports.

Rafah, one of the places Israel has told Gazans to seek refuge, is packed full of thousands of Palestinians.

Israeli forces are continuing to strike the area.

01:14 PM GMT

India providing security escort for container ships around Red Sea

Indias defence ministry is providing protective escorts to Indian container ships in the high seas around the Red Sea as the security situation there continues to simmer, a government source said on Friday.

Containers could face delays of 14 days in their turnaround time because they are taking a longer sea route around Africa, which is also causing higher transport and insurance costs, the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, added.

The cost of freight & insurance has risen due to ships being compelled to avoid the region and take a longer route. There is no shortage of containers, but we see a longer turnaround time, the source said.

Ships have been avoiding the Red Sea after the Houthi militant group stepped up maritime attacks.

Many consignments are being escorted with security in high seas with help from the Ministry of Defence, said the source, who has direct knowledge of the matter on Friday.

12:54 PM GMT

Germany foreign minister warns against occupation of Gaza

Annalena Baerbock, German foreign minister, said the existence and protection of Israel cannot be questioned on Friday, but called for more humanitarian pauses in the conflict and said there should be no occupation of the area afterwards.

Speaking to reporters alongside her Luxembourg counterpart Xavier Bettel, Baerbock also warned against the risk of the conflict widening in the region.

12:37 PM GMT

Israel-Gaza in pictures

Here is a roundup of the latest photographs from the Israel-Hamas war.

Residents of Al Nuseirat and Al Bureij refugee camps evacuate - MOHAMMED SABER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Members of Unit 669 of the Israeli Air Force preparing an Israeli soldier for evacuation - Israeli Army/AFP via Getty Images

A woman kisses a picture of Mercedes Oria Amar who was killed at the site of the Nova festival - REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

12:11 PM GMT

German foreign minister to tour Middle East

Annalena Baerbock, the German foreign minister, will travel to Israel on Sunday for her fourth visit since the outbreak of the war in Gaza, a ministry spokesman said.

Baerbock will hold talks with Israel Katz, Israels new foreign minister, as well as President Isaac Herzog, foreign ministry spokesman Sebastian Fischer told a regular press conference on Friday.

She will also meet with Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas and Riyad al-Maliki, Palestinian foreign minister.

Baerbock will subsequently travel to Egypt to meet with her counterpart Sameh Shoukry and also plans to visit Lebanon.

The talks will focus on the dramatic humanitarian situation in Gaza, the situation in the West Bank and the extremely volatile situation on the Israel-Lebanon border, as well as efforts to secure the release of more Hamas hostages, Fischer said.

11:57 AM GMT

22,600 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza

At least 22,600 Palestinians have been killed and 57,910 wounded in Israeli strikes on Gaza since October 7, the Gaza health ministry said in a statement on Friday.

Some 162 Palestinians were killed and 296 wounded in the past 24 hours, the ministry added.

11:28 AM GMT

Israel lays out plans for post-war Gaza

Israel has set out its plans for post-war Gaza, with defence minister Yoav Gallant announcing that neither Hamas nor Israel will rule the enclave in the future.

Mr Gallant told reporters that Gaza residents are Palestinian and that therefore Palestinians will be in charge after the war.

It will come with the condition that there will be no hostile actions or threats against the State of Israel, he added.

Under the new four corner plan, Israels war in Gaza will continue until Hamas is destroyed and the hostages taken on October 7 are returned.

Israel will also retain overall security control of the enclave, Mr Gallant said, with a multi-national force charged with rebuilding the territory after the conflict.

11:16 AM GMT

Central Gazan neighbourhood cleared of Hamas operatives

Tunnel shafts, booby-trapped homes and weapons were uncovered in a central Gazan neighbourhood as the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) completed an operation there.

The area, dubbed the towers neighbourhood, saw troops of the 646th Reserve Paratroopers Brigade and elite Yahalom combat engineering unit in the area for the last week.

The IDF said: The buildings of the neighbourhood were used as anti-tank missile and machine gun fire positions.

Hamas gunmen were killed by Israeli forces, it added, while several primed rocket launchers, booby-trapped buildings, tunnel shafts, and explosive devices were found.

A warehouse and chemical lab used to manufacture weapons was also uncovered.

10:49 AM GMT

Israel border violence displaces 76,000 in Lebanon

More than 76,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon in almost three months of near-daily fighting along the border with Israel, the UNs International Organisation for Migration has said.

The border area has seen a surge of violence since the Israel-Hamas war broke out in early October, with tit-for-tat exchanges of fire continuing on Friday between Israeli forces and Iran-backed Hezbollah, a Lebanese ally of Palestinian militant group Hamas.

In a report published on Thursday, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said that the escalation has displaced 76,018 people, mainly in areas of southern Lebanon bordering Israel.

Cross-border violence has left 175 people dead in Lebanon, including 129 Hezbollah fighters and more than 20 civilians, including three journalists, according to an AFP count.

10:18 AM GMT

A third of all Gazan hospitals 'barely functioning', UN and WHO say

A third of all hospitals in Gaza are barely functioning, with the rest out of action, according to the United Nations (UN) and World Health Organisation (WHO).

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a report that it was being delayed and denied.

They said this meant it could not deliver vital medical supplies, fuel and other aid to the territory.

The OCHA report said: The security situation, access, transport and deconfliction remain extremely challenging, especially for hospitals in the northern governorates.

Highlighting the desperate medical situation throughout Gaza, WHO reported that only 13 out of Gazas 36 hospitals are still partially functional; nine in the south and four in the north, it added.

10:02 AM GMT

Iraq prepares to close down US-led coalition's mission

The Iraqi government is forming a committee to prepare the closing down of the US-led international coalitions mission in the country, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudanis office said on Friday.

Sudanis statement came a day after a US strike killed a militia leader in Baghdad, prompting anger among Iran-aligned groups, which demanded that the government end the presence of the coalition in Iraq.

Government is setting the date for the start of the bilateral committee to put arrangements to end the presence of the international coalition forces in Iraq permanently, a statement from the prime ministers office said.

The committee would include representatives of the military coalition, a government official said.

09:47 AM GMT

End of Israel-Hamas war will be the end of Zionism, Iran claims

Ebrahim Raisi, the Iranian president, has vowed that the end of Al-Aqsa Flood will be the end of the Zionist regime.

Al-Aqsa Flood is the name Tehran uses to refer to the operation Hamas launched on October 7.

Raisi, speaking after the deadly bombing, which has been claimed by the Islamic State, said: The victory of the righteous and the elimination of the wicked is a divine promise.

He added: The Palestinian people and the resistance front are the victors and the Zionist regime has been defeated.

09:34 AM GMT

Hezbollah targets hit by IDF

Strikes against Hezbollah targets in the southern Lebanese districts of Ayta-ash Shab and Majdal Zoun have been carried out by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF).

A military site manned by Hezbollah operatives, infrastructure used by the terror group and an observation post was among the sites targeted, the IDF said.

Footage of the strikes was shared by the IDF.

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 ,        ,         pic.twitter.com/VVSYfBx6NP     (@idfonline) January 5, 2024

09:19 AM GMT

Iran leaders vow revenge at funeral for bomb attack victims

Irans president and the commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps vowed revenge on Friday at the funeral for the victims of twin Islamic State bombings, which took place two days earlier.

Nearly 100 people were killed at a memorial in the city of Kerman on Wednesday for top commander Qassem Soleimani, who was assassinated in Iraq in 2020 by a US drone.

Islamic State said on Thursday that two of its members had detonated explosive belts in the crowd that had gathered at the cemetery in the southeastern city.

Maj Gen Hossein Salami, IRGC commander, said at the funeral in reference to the Islamic State: We will find you wherever you are.

In a televised speech, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said: Our enemies can see Irans power and the whole world knows its strength and capabilities. Our forces will decide on the place and time to take action.

09:03 AM GMT

Body of Israeli man killed in Hamas attack held in Gaza

An Israeli man seized in the October 7 Hamas attack was killed on the same day and his body taken to the Gaza Strip, his kibbutz community said on Friday.

Tamir Adar was believed to be alive and held in Gaza by Palestinian militants, but the Israeli military has now confirmed that he was killed on the day of the attack, the Nir Oz kibbutz said in a statement.

The IDF (army) informed the family that he was murdered on October 7, and since then his body has been kept in Gaza, the statement said.

Adar, 38, was among some 250 people taken hostage from Israeli border communities and military posts.

His grandmother was also among them but has been released.

08:44 AM GMT

Blinken back to Middle East

Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State, headed back to the Middle East on Thursday for his fourth trip since the Israel-Hamas war began, expecting tough talks as he presses for immediate new aid for Gaza and regional de-escalation.

He will visit both Israel and the West Bank, home of the Palestinian Authority, and five Arab countries - Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates - the State Department said.

Mr Blinken will discuss immediate measures to increase substantially humanitarian assistance to Gaza, where the World Health Organisation has warned of the risk of famine and disease.

Matthew Miller, spokesman for the US State Department, told reporters: We dont expect every conversation on this trip to be easy. There are obviously tough issues facing the region and difficult choices ahead.

But the secretary believes it is the responsibility of the United States of America to lead diplomatic efforts to tackle those challenges head on, he said.

08:36 AM GMT

EU's Borrell to travel to Lebanon

Josep Borrell, the EUs foreign policy chief, will be in Lebanon from January 5 to January 7 to discuss the situation at the Israeli-Lebanese border and the importance of avoiding regional escalation, the EU said in a statement on Friday.

(Borrell) will re-emphasise the need to advance diplomatic efforts with regional leaders, the statement said.

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Shipping companies are diverting their cargo away from the Red Sea as attacks by the Houthi rebel group in Yemen intensify in response to the ongoing siege of Gaza.

The attacks by the Houthi rebels, officially known as Ansar Allah, are now sparking confrontations in other parts of the Middle East, and U.S. diplomats are moving to reassure allies and stanch a wider conflict.

The Houthis will bear the responsibility of the consequences should they continue to threaten lives, the global economy, and free flow of commerce in the regions critical waterways, the U.S., Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany and eight other countries said in a joint statement Wednesday.

There have been 25 attacks since Nov. 18 against merchant ships moving through the Southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of the Bahrain-based U.S. 5th Fleet, told reporters Thursday.

In December, the U.S. launched naval operation Prosperity Guardian along with the U.K., Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain to protect commercial ships from attacks by the Houthis.

Pentagon officials have been keeping in near-constant contact with merchant ships at sea using a tactical communications network, a senior defense official told The Hill on Thursday.

The U.S also sunk three small Houthi boats Sunday following an attack on a merchant ship, prompting Iran to send its Alborz destroyer to the Red Sea the following day.

But the Houthis remain unbowed, vowing to continue their attacks in response to the bombardment of Gaza by Israeli forces. More than 22,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 57,000 have been injured during the siege of Gaza, according to the Gaza health ministry.

The siege was prompted by an Oct. 7 attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas, which killed more than 1,000 Israelis and took hundreds more hostage.

Yemeni naval operations are ethical and will continue until the genocide crimes in Gaza are stopped and food, medicine and fuel are allowed to enter its residents, Ansar Allah spokesperson Mohammed al-Bukhaiti wrote Wednesday on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

We advise the countries that threatened Yemen in their joint statement to seek to stop crimes in Palestine, not to protect their perpetrators, and to address the causes of the problem, not its consequences, he wrote.

Economic fallout could have a significant impact

The economic fallout from the naval hostilities is growing as shipping giants redirect their cargoes around Africa as opposed to sending them through the Suez Canal, Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

Shipping costs are spiking across various indexes, including the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index, one of the industry standards, which hit 1,759 points Wednesday.

Thats up from recent levels around 1,000 but still way below the five-year peak of more than 5,100 points reached during the supply chain crunch in January 2022 that was set off by the pandemic.

Shippers are not happy about the security situation and its effect on their businesses.

[The] Red Sea task force [is] still proving insufficient, Judah Levine, head of research at the logistics platform Freightos, wrote on the company blog Wednesday.

The Houthis seem undeterred as attacks continued last week and as recently as Saturday, marking 23 commercial vessels targeted since mid-November, with the latest targeted vessels having no apparent ties to Israeli ownership or trade.

The primary Suez Canal trade route between Europe and Asia shepherded 15 percent of global container trade in 2022, according to data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, an equivalent of 24.2 million 20-foot containers.

The Red Sea route saves ships 10 days of transit, during which shippers pay additional fuel costs, seafarers wages, and other forms of overhead.

This could mean higher costs for goods, International Maritime Organization spokesperson Natasha Brown said in an email to The Hill. If more ships divert, there could be significant impact.

Economists are downplaying the immediate impact of the extra costs, noting they have a small chance of being felt directly by consumers.

Following attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, container ships are diverting to taking the longer Cape of Good Hope route from Asia to Europe. This has provoked suitably sensational comments about the longer time taken and the associated increase in freight costs. It all sounds dramatic and inflationary. It really isnt, UBS economist Paul Donovan wrote in a Friday analysis.

Where higher costs are shipping specific, as at the moment, the inflation impact is very small, he added.

Shippers steer clear of Red Sea at steep cost

Shipping company Maersk now lists dozens of vessels diverted around the Cape of Good Hope following a Dec. 30 incident with one of its ships, the Hangzhou.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing and we will continue to pause all cargo movement through the area while we further assess the constantly evolving situation, the company said in a Tuesday statement.

Shipper MSC confirmed a Dec. 26 attack on its ship the MSC United VIII while transiting the Red Sea and said it was told to engage in evasive maneuvers by a nearby coalition warship.

About 30 ships belonging to German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd have had to be rerouted since Dec. 18, spokesperson Nils Haupt told The Hill.

[The total volume of affected shipments is] difficult to say  but if you take 30 ships with very different sizes, but that make an average of 12,000 [20-foot equivalent units] per vessel, you will see that we talk about nearly half a million  and thats only us, he said.

A brewing diplomatic crisis could worsen the economic fallout

Beyond the Red Sea, the conflict has repeatedly crossed the Israeli border into Lebanon. Senior Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri was killed in a suspected Israeli strike in the country Tuesday, prompting threats of retaliation from Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the Iran-backed political group Hezbollah.

Israeli Interior Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also wrote Tuesday on X about the migration of hundreds of thousands from Gaza, further inflaming tensions.

This is a very dangerous moment. A region-wide war appears more likely by the day, U.S.-Iranian relations expert and advocate Trita Parsi wrote online Wednesday. As Israels attacks continue, Tehrans long-game strategy is coming under increasing strain as more voices in Iran argue that the absence of a strong response undermines Irans deterrence.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced travel to the Middle East on Thursday as the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians threatens to further engulf the region.

Hell engage in shuttle diplomacy, making stops in Turkey, Greece, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the West Bank and Egypt, the State Department said in a Thursday statement.

Throughout his trip, the Secretary will underscore the importance of protecting civilian lives in Israel and the West Bank and Gaza; securing the release of all remaining hostages; our shared commitment to facilitating the increased, sustained delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza and the resumption of essential services; and ensuring that Palestinians are not forcibly displaced from Gaza, the State Department said.

Brad Dress contributed.

Updated at 6:51 a.m. ET

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Ramon Preciado, 53, is arrested on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024, by the San Antonio Police Department in connection to the fatal shootings of pregnant teen Savanah Soto and her boyfriend, Matthew Guerra. His son, Christopher Preciado, 19, was also arrested and charged with capital murder, while Ramon was charged with abuse of a corpse, according to SAPD Sgt. Washington Moscoso. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Christopher Preciado, 19, center, is arrested on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024, by the San Antonio Police Department in connection to the fatal shootings of pregnant teen Savanah Soto and her boyfriend, Matthew Guerra. Christopher will be charged with capital murder. His father Ramon Preciado, 53, was also arrested and charged with abuse of a corpse, according to SAPD Sgt. Washington Moscoso. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Nineteen-year old Christopher Preciado was arrested for the murders of Savanah Soto and Matthew Guerra. Christopher is charged with Capital Murder. (San Antonio Police/TNS) TNS San Antonio police arrested 53-year old Ramon Preciado, who is charged with Abuse of a Corpse for helping his son Christopher Preciado move bodies after they were murdered. (San Antonio Police/TNS) TNS

San Antonio police have found the gun they believe is the murder weapon in the fatal shootings of pregnant teen Savanah Soto and her boyfriend, Matthew Guerra.

Police Chief William McManus said police found the gun when they executed a search warrant at the home of the father and son accused in the couple's deaths.

Christopher Preciado, 19, was charged with capital murder Wednesday. His father, Ramon Preciado, 53, was charged with abuse of a corpse.

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McManus said at a news conference with Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales on Friday that Christopher Preciado also will be charged with abuse of a corpse and that police added a charge for both men of altering, destroying or concealing evidence of a human corpse.

Soto, 18, was scheduled to give birth when she and Guerra, 22, were reported missing days before Christmas. Their bodies were found shot to death in Guerras car on the Northwest Side on Dec. 26. Police said they were killed late Dec. 21.

Sgt. Washington Moscoso, a San Antonio Police Department spokesman, said the killings resulted from a drug deal gone wrong, and McManus emphasized Friday that both Soto and Guerra are believed to have been involved in the sale of narcotics. Sotos family initially blamed Guerras lifestyle involving illegal activities when the two went missing.

Sotos family also noted Guerras history of assault. When the couple was killed, Guerra was on probation after pleading guilty to a charge of domestic violence causing bodily injury in connection with an assault on Soto on Christmas Day 2022.

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Will the DA seek the death penalty?

Gonzales said it is too early to tell if his office will seek the death penalty against Christopher Preciado. He added that a second capital murder charge is pending because the unborn baby is considered a life.

A murder charge can be heightened to capital murder  punishable by execution or life imprisonment without parole  if certain aggravating factors are present. Texas law allows for a capital murder charge in cases involving more than one person, as well as when a child under 10 years old is killed.

They (SAPD) intend to file three charges, listing three victims. We (the district attorney's office) have every intention of including the unborn child as an additional count for capital murder. Gonzales said.

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Under Texas law, defendants over age 18 who are convicted of capital murder must serve life in prison without parole if they are not sentenced to death.

Theyll take their last breath in prison, Gonzales has said.

Ramon Preciado was not charged with capital murder because detectives have not found any evidence that he was there when the couple was shot or knew about the shootings beforehand, the district attorney said.

That can change depending on the investigation, he added.

Gonzales said that when police turn the case over to him, a capital crimes committee will meet to discuss the facts that go into making the decision to seek the death penalty against Christopher Preciado. Then theyll take a vote, but Gonzales will have the final say.

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The DAs office has prosecuted more than 100 death penalty-eligible defendants during Gonzales tenure and has formally pursued the death penalty only twice. In one of those cases, the defendant pleaded guilty in return for life in prison without parole. In the other, a jury sentenced the defendant to death, and the sentence is on appeal, a process that takes years.

Was there a third person?

Its also possible a third person could be charged in connection with the case.

San Antonio police released a video Dec. 28 asking for help identifying two persons of interest seen on security video at the Colinas at Medical Apartments, where the bodies were found.

In the undated video, two vehicles pull up side by side in a parking lot. One is a Chevrolet Silverado pickup; the other is Guerras Kia. The driver of the pickup gets out and hands what appears to be a towel to the Kia's driver. The two men speak briefly before driving off in different directions.

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Police said they tracked the truck to Ramon Preciado and that they believe he was the one who got out of it to speak to his son, who was driving the Kia.

Its unclear in the video, but there may have been a second person in the truck who handed the towel to the elder Preciado. McManus said detectives are looking into that, but he would not comment further.

Soto was last heard from Dec. 21 when she texted her mom, Mom, dont be late for Saturday. She was pregnant with her first child, whom she planned to name Fabian, and was scheduled to have her labor induced Dec. 23.
Saturday is the third anniversary of January 6, the day Donald Trump incited an insurrection on the Capitol in order to nullify an election he lost. The country is still dealing with the fallout, and much is still unknown: Will Trump pay for his crimes? Will his co-conspirators? Will Trump be able to finish the job by seizing power this election cycle? But one dark outcome is coming more into focus: Republican voters are increasingly silencing their doubts about political violence, and are joining Trump's effort to rewrite history to portray January 6 in a positive light.

The Washington Post and University of Maryland conducted extensive polling about American attitudes regarding January 6, timed for the third anniversary. What they found is alarming, but unsurprising to anyone who understands the trajectories of authoritarian movements. Larger numbers of Republican voters embrace both conspiracy theories to minimize January 6 and the view that political violence is fine if it's their own people doing it.

A big development is the rapid spread of an asinine conspiracy theory that the FBI "instigated" Jan. 6. It's a lie that was heavily hyped by Tucker Carlson, who started invoking it very shortly after the riot itself. Carlson was fired last year from Fox News, but his hoax has spread to every corner of right-wing media and is frequently invoked by both Trump and Republican members of Congress. With that kind of all-hands-on-deck flogging of the lie, what's surprising is how the nonsense is not even more popular. Forty-four percent of Trump voters espouse the lie, with another 33% demurring with "not sure." Only 21% of Trump voters would admit that the FBI did not do January 6.

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As many people have pointed out, even by the low standards of a conspiracy theory, this one is especially illogical. One Trump supporter told the Post the violence was all from "the FBI, the police people that were put in there, the antifa and BLM hired by George Soros." It's silly to imagine such a massive conspiracy of unrelated people going off without a hitch or a leak. It's also disproved by the over 700 court convictions of Capitol rioters, every single one a loud-and-proud Trump lover.

The lesser version of the conspiracy  that Trump supporters were "whipped into a frenzy by the FBI," as another conspiracist told the Post  also doesn't make sense. For one thing, the rioters are grown adults who were not forced to riot, no matter how "whipped" they were. Also, while we have no evidence of any FBI agents "whipping" people, we do have video of Trump doing exactly that, with his infamous "fight like hell" speech. If imaginary FBI agents can be blamed for "whipping," then surely Trump is even more guilty because he whipped them up with a podium and microphone.

But of course, Republican voters don't look too closely at the flaws in their own conspiracy theories, because they don't really believe any of this nonsense they're spouting. "January 6 was an inside job" is merely a proxy for the real sentiment, which most Republicans don't want to utter out loud to a pollster or in mixed company: They support the aims of the people who used violence to try to overthrow American democracy.

People often resort to conspiracy theories when they know their true beliefs are indefensible. The conspiracy theory functions primarily as deflection. When people are arguing over whether the FBI instigated Jan. 6, what they're not doing is talking about who actually started it (Trump) or why he did it (to end democracy). If Trump gets into office and declares Jan. 6 a national holiday, perhaps his followers will become more comfortable just admitting outright that they support fascist violence. But right now, they know that's generally considered an immoral view, so they want to talk about anything other than their own shameful opinions.

The Washington Post poll has many questions that offer this proxy function: Is Trump culpable for January 6? Were the rioters violent or peaceful? Was Joe Biden's presidential win legitimate? Did January 6 threaten democracy? On every metric, Republican voters have drifted further away from the truth and into the land of conspiracy theories.

This is not because they've been presented with new information that changed their minds. On the contrary, the information that's emerged since January 6 has only confirmed everything we saw that day on TV: Trump did it, he wanted it to go further, and the rioters were well aware that they were trying to overturn an election. The reason Republican voters are moving in this direction is because increasing numbers of them have gotten on board with Trump's not-exactly-subtle agenda to destroy American democracy. They also tacitly agree with using violence to do so, which is why there's so much hand-waving and excuse-making for the violence that's already happened.

Ultimately, there's no coherent way to support Trump without supporting his fascist war on democracy. The cognitive dissonance is too great. Trump's fascist aims are not a minor issue. This is not the same thing, for instance, as disagreeing with Biden's stance on student loan relief but voting for him anyway. The centerpiece of Trump's campaign is "retribution" against everyone who stood in his way of seizing power illegally. Fascism isn't one aspect of Trump's agenda. It's the totality of it.

For better or worse, Trump's brazenness forces everyone, both his opponents and supporters, into a binary position: You are either against Trump or you're for fascist insurrection. Republicans may not be ready to admit that to a pollster, but it is the inescapable truth. There's only so much cognitive dissonance the human mind can take, and "I'm against insurrection, but backing the guy who calls the Capitol rioters 'hostages'" is well beyond the self-delusion powers of even the most cheese-brained QAnoner. As Election Day draws nearer and more voters pay attention to Trump's pro-January 6 rhetoric, I expect the number of Republicans who cite conspiracy theories to justify fascist revolt will rise.

The good news is that, as Aaron Blake at the Washington Post reports, there's no evidence that these conspiracy theories have persuasive power. There's a vanishingly small number of people who voted for Biden but have been swayed to Trump by some Facebook rant about the FBI and "antifa" working together. These conspiracy theories were never meant to win people over. They exist solely to give cover to Republicans who want to vote for Trump again without admitting out loud they are supporting the overthrow of democracy. Biden faces a lot of electoral obstacles going into 2024, but Trump's strategy of leaning into everything most people hate about him won't do him any favors.
FRANKFORT  Most Senate resolutions introduced during the first week of Kentucky's 2024 General Assembly were aimed at honoring political figures and other Bluegrass State icons who made their mark in the commonwealth. Senators, for instance, spoke at length Friday to recognize the life of former legislator and Gov. Julian Carroll.

But one resolution introduced on the fourth day of the session took a different tone  Senate Resolution 50 calls on the Kentucky Senate to "acknowledge the events of January 6, 2021, and recognize the citizens who have been held without due process."

Saturday marks the third anniversary of the events of Jan. 6, in which supporters of former President Donald Trump attempted to prevent the U.S. Congress from certifying results of the 2020 election, won by current President Joe Biden, by rioting at the Capitol in Washington, D.C.

More than 1,200 people have been federally charged over the insurrection attempt, according to the Associated Press, while more than 80 people believed to have been involved in the riot are still wanted. At least 24 people with Kentucky ties were among those arrested, a recent Courier Journal analysis found.

The resolution was put forward Friday by state Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield. The text claims many citizens who assembled that day in the nation's capital city were "wrongfully detained for exercising their constitutional rights" afforded to them by the First Amendment and have since been "unconstitutionally held without the right to due process and the right to a speedy trial by a jury of their peers."

The resolution does not call on the legislature to take action aside from acknowledging the events of Jan. 6 and to "recognize those citizens who have been wrongfully held without due process."

A release from the U.S. Department of Justice over the summer found more than 900 defendants have been charged with entering or remaining in a restricted federal building or grounds, including more than 100 accused of entering the grounds with weapons. Additionally, about 350 people have been charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers or employees.

Reach Lucas Aulbach at laulbach@courier-journal.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky senator's resolution honors January 6 insurrection rioters
Carolyn Oliver, from left, Samantha Gillespie and Justina Gonzalez question SA Prep board member Earl Blanche after the board fired the charter schools superintendent and founder, Stephanie Hall-Furman on Wednesday. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News SA Prep board member Earl Blanche, left, and the charter schools interim superintendent and board chair, Xavier Toson, at right talk with Leslie Conyers III on Wednesday after the board fired the superintendent and founder, Stephanie Hall-Furman. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Justina Gonzalez, left, a former counselor at the charter school SA Prep, smiles as she talks with parent Shawn Smith, center, and the schools former director of operations, Samantha Gillespie, right, while waiting for the schools board to finish meeting in executive session Wednesday. The board later fired the schools superintendent and founder, Stephanie Hall-Furman. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News SA Prep board member Milton Harris, left, talks with the charter schools new interim superintendent, Xavier Toson, as board member Douglas Ray, right, looks on following the boards firing of the schools superintendent and founder, Stephanie Hall-Furman. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Stephanie Hall-Furman, the founder and superintendent of SA Prep, adjusts her glasses during a special board meeting that ended with her firing Wednesday. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News SA Prep board member Earl Blanche, left, and Interim Superintendent Xavier Toson, right, confer with attorney Allen Keller during a special board meeting Wednesday that ended with the firing of the charter schools superintendent and founder, Stephanie Hall-Furman. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Mykailah Jones, 17, a former student at the charter school SA Prep, and sibling Averi Smith, 8, share a silly moment Wednesday at a meeting of the schools board. The board fired SA Preps founding superintendent, Stephanie Hall-Furman. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Stephanie Hall-Furman, the founding superintendent of the charter school SA Prep, talks with a supporter, Ryan York, after her firing Wednesday . Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Joyce Keys, left, gives a comforting squeeze to Nickalandra Witherspoon, right, as they attend a special board meeting on Wednesday that ended with the firing of the charter school SA Preps founding superintendent, Stephanie Hall-Furman. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

The governing board of a small local charter school fired its founding superintendent and CEO after hearing the results of a four-month investigation into allegations of misconduct.

As soon as it voted 4-0 to dismiss Stephanie Hall-Furman at a turbulent meeting Wednesday, the board of San Antonio Preparatory Schools, or SA Prep, was forced to defend the decision against a chorus of protest from a roomful of her supporters.

Theyve just killed the school, one called out after the vote, which drew exclamations of disapproval from the audience.

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SA Prep has fewer than 150 students in fifth through 11th grade, and has added grades every year since it opened on the Northeast Side near the small city of Kirby in 2020 with the goal of preparing kids for college. The Texas Education Agency gave it a C rating last year.

The board of San Antonio Preparatory Schools voted unanimously to dismiss Stephanie Hall-Furman, then had to defend itself against furious accusations. Melissa Manno

The board announced in the summer that it had received multiple complaints against Hall-Furman claiming noncompliance with laws and operating policies. In August, it placed her on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation by a law firm into a list of allegations that included mismanagement of funds and falsifying documents.

The probe couldnt confirm the more serious complaints but did find two instances in which SA Prep entered into contracts without receiving required board approval, including a lease with a third party that granted unauthorized use of the building.

At least three employees were hired without meeting bachelors degree requirements for their positions, said Allen Keller of the law firm Schulman, Lopez, Hoffer & Adelstein. Investigators found indications of misuse of school credit for third-party benefits, were unable to verify that criminal background checks had been done for some employees and volunteers, and some volunteers potentially had key card access to the building, he said.

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Hall-Furman didnt deny the findings but said in an interview that the board had not provided any guidance and had refused to evaluate her, a breach of her employment contracts requirement that it be done annually.

A former teacher and assistant principal with the large charter network IDEA Public Schools, she said she founded SA Prep with a vision of transforming education for students from diverse backgrounds, drawing from her own experiences as a Black student, mother and educator.

I came into this work very clear that Im an educator  not an operations director, not a facilities person, not all these extra things you have to be when you found a school, she said, adding that she approached unfamiliar tasks by saying, OK, this is not my expertise, but let me go ask good questions and find somebody that will give me the information I need so I can make an informed decision.

Hall-Furman grew emotional as she reflected on her relationship with the board, which she described as tumultuous since the charter school first opened for reasons she didnt understand.

My assumption is that its a power grab, so these Black men have a school, and they push the Black woman out, she said. Theres already a struggle with women just being in certain positions and men having a problem with women being in those positions and doing those positions really well.

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The investigation was derided by Ryan York, the former co-CEO of The Gathering Place, a charter school on the Northwest Side, who sat with Hall-Furman throughout the meeting.

Ty Grant addresses the governing board of the charter school SA Prep, which fired the schools founding superintendent, Stephanie Hall-Furman, on Wednesday. The meeting was packed with her supporters. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

If this law firm did that level of thoroughness at every charter school in San Antonio, not to mention ISDs, then you would end up with no schools, he said after the meeting.

York said the ousting of Hall-Furman was similar to his own experience in the charter world. He resigned in October from the charter network he helped start after being placed on administrative leave due to a breach of trust, leadership and duty of candor, according to Gathering Place officials.

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The tragedy of the charter school movement is that ultimately the people that hold the most power, which are board members, are often incredibly disconnected and aloof from the day-to-day work in the schools, he said. And so theyre left with purely taking in small bits of information they receive, which is very susceptible to ulterior motives.

Board chairman Xavier Toson, who was named interim superintendent in August, denied that terminating Hall-Furman was for any reason other than doing whats best for the safety and security of our students.

A founding member of the board, which began with seven directors and has since dwindled from resignations, Toson said there have been multiple complaints against Hall-Furman over the past few years, but nothing was substantial enough to trigger a full-blown investigation.

We were in lockstep with her to make sure that we could support her in that role, he said after the meeting. I think it got to a point where just overall our advice wasnt adhered to.

He and other board members were adamant that they had waited for a final investigation report to make up their minds.

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The Board of Directors applauds Ms. Hall-Furman for her many positive attributes leading to the flourishing of so many students, but these instances of misconduct have compromised the Boards confidence in her ability to continue to lead, Toson said in a post on the schools Facebook page announcing the decision.

When Hall-Furman was suspended on Aug. 24, students flooded the room, some crying as they delivered emotional statements about her impact.

CHARTER TURMOIL: Superintendent quits as TEA opens probe of Great Hearts Texas

Some of them approached the schools restorative justice counselor, Justina Gonzalez, and said they wanted to do something to protest the boards decision. On Aug. 25, Gonzalez assisted them in a walk-out from campus  a move she says led to her own termination three months later.

Toson said Gonzalez was fired because she never got approval to show up late to work that day or to stage the walkout.

As a counselor, its important that we not evoke emotions, he said. Our first priority is the safety and security of our students and that wasnt happening under her watch as an administrator.

Gonzalez sat at Wednesdays board meeting alongside Samantha Gillespie, SA Preps former director of operations, who said she was fired in July for conversations with parents or teachers. During the public comment portion of the meeting, Gillespie told the board that it had left the campus without any competent leadership.

Other speakers included Hall-Furmans husband, Ian Furman, who warned the board that his comments would exceed its one-minute limit.

Furman accused board members Milton Harris, the executive director of local nonprofit 100 Black Men, of verbally attacking his wife in front of staff and collaborating with another employee to defame her for personal gain.

As Furman continued well past the one-minute mark, board members were unsuccessful in attempts to stop his speech. Eventually, Toson called for a recess and the board exited the room in a moment of high tension.

Keep going! Embarrassing! audience members called out as they left.

Shawn Smith said she had home-schooled her kids but last year put her twins in SA Prep, which exceeded her expectations with its family culture. The way the investigation was handled has made her question the boards morals, she said, adding, I pulled my twins out because of this.

Her daughter, Mykailah Jones, 17, said more than a dozen of her classmates have also withdrawn because of the boards dispute with Hall-Furman.

Stephanie Hall-Furman, the founder of the charter school SA Prep, embraces her mother, Carolyn Oliver, after being fired as superintendent Wednesday at a special board meeting. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

Toson acknowledged the challenge of enrollment after the meeting. He said the school had around 600 students when it first opened and now has just 146.

Hall-Furman said she would seek legal advice on the boards decision to let her go without severance pay.
Here is a list of January programs at the Holmes County District Public Library. Visit the library, or call 330-674-5972 for more information or to register for any of the events.

Winter Reading Program: Jan. 2-March 2Choose Adult, Teen or Childrens, and read for a chance to win prizes! Registration is required.

Storytimes at the Central Library  10:30 a.m. Fridays Jan. 5, 12, 19 and 26. Kids ages 2  5, with an adult, are invited to join us for stories, songs, rhymes and more.

Little Learners Playgroup at the Central Library  11 a.m. Fridays, Jan. 5, 12, 19 and 26. Kids up to age 5, with an adult, will engage in activities to promote reading and social skills. Snacks will be provided.

Storytimes at the East Branch  10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31. Kids ages 2  5, with an adult, are invited to join us for stories, songs, rhymes and more.

Storytimes at the Killbuck Community Library  10:30 a.m. Tuesdays, Jan. 9, 16, 23 and 30. Kids ages 2-5, with an adult, are invited to join us for stories, songs, rhymes and more.

Nutrition 101  Central Library, 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 8 Jackie Kaufman, registered dietician nutritionist at Pomerene Hospital will discuss popular diets. There will be a door prize drawing for a Kinetics massage gift card.

STEAMkids Club  Central Library, 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9 School-age kids will make a light maze and solve the law of light reflection. Registration is required.

Paws to Read  Central Library, 11 a.m.-noon Saturday, Jan. 13 Kids are invited to read to a certified therapy dog from Caring Therapy Canines.

Author Gregg Olsen has written a book about the 1977 death of Ida Stutzman on her farm south of Dalton. He will present a program at the Holmes County Public Library on Jan. 19.

Author Gregg Olsen  Central Library, 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19This New York Times, USA Today and The Wall Street Journal award-winning author has been a guest on dozens of national and local television shows, including educational programs. Hear the story behind Justice for Ida when Gregg Olsen, discusses The Amish Wife. Registration is required.

Sasquatch Seekers  Central Library, 5:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 22Ages 10-15 are invited to explore the world of Bigfoot. Is he real or just a myth? Create Bigfoot pictures and receive some Bigfoot swag. Registration is required.

Bluey Wackadoo Day  Central Library, 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 Join a fun day enjoying all things Bluey, with games and crafts. Registration is required.

Adult book discussion, 1 p.m. Jan. 30 - Central Library reading The Bear and the Nightingaleby Katherine Arden, and 6 p.m. - Jitters Coffee House reading At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities by Heather Webber.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Author Gregg Olsen to visit Holmes library; Sasquatch Seekers, too
Officials remove the wreckage of a burnt JAL Airbus A350 plane after a collision with a Japan Coast Guard aircraft, in Tokyo

Officials remove the wreckage of a burnt JAL Airbus A350 plane after a collision with a Japan Coast Guard aircraft, in Tokyo

By Rocky Swift, Kaori Kaneko and Daniel Leussink

TOKYO (Reuters) -Crews at Tokyo's Haneda Airport began clearing the charred wreck of a Japan Airlines plane from a runway on Friday, as investigators sought to retrieve its cockpit voice recorder to discover what caused its deadly collision with a Coast Guard aircraft.

The Japan Airlines (JAL) widebody jet collided with a Coast Guard turboprop on the runway while landing in Tokyo on Tuesday. All 379 people on the JAL aircraft escaped before it was engulfed in flames, but five of the six crew on the Coast Guard craft died.

Excavators equipped with cutting equipment ripped off the Airbus A350's wing, while another lifted debris from inside the burnt-out cabin into a large lorry as around a dozen personnel in white overalls and hard hats watched on.

Officials have not yet retrieved the cockpit voice recorder from the JAL plane but have recovered the flight data recorder and both recorders from the Coast Guard wreck, said the Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB), which is leading an investigation by transport agencies into the crash.

Officials aim to complete the removal of the wreckage by Jan. 7 and it will be taken to its hangar for inspection, broadcaster TBS reported.

Haneda, the world's third-busiest airport, has seen hundreds of flights cancelled or delayed since the crash. The runway where the accident happened is expected to reopen on Jan. 8 if clearance operations go as planned, the transport minister said on Friday.

Additional personnel tasked with monitoring radar systems will reinforce the airport from Saturday as an emergency precautionary measure, the minister added.

As well as the investigation into the crash by transport authorities, Tokyo police are looking into possible professional negligence contributing to the accident, several local media outlets have reported.

The captain of the Coast Guard aircraft, the sole survivor, is under scrutiny after authorities released control tower transcripts appearing to show he was ordered to enter a holding area near the runway before the crash occurred.

He said he had permission to enter the runway, the Coast Guard said on Wednesday, acknowledging there was no indication of that in the transcripts.

The captain suffered severe burns as a result of the crash and could not be reached for comment.

EMERGENCY TRIP

The Coast Guard plane was making its third emergency trip to an earthquake zone within 24 hours when the collision occurred. On the day of the accident, Haneda was at full capacity, authorities have said.

Authorities have only just begun their investigations and aviation experts say it usually takes the failure of multiple safety guardrails for an airplane accident to happen.

The Coast Guard plane was on the runway for 40 seconds before the crash, local news outlets reported. A Civil Aviation Bureau official said they were aware of the reports but hadn't confirmed this. "We are checking it currently," the official said.

U.S. aviation safety officials will provide assistance to Japan in the reading of airplane recorders to get a clearer idea of what caused the deadly collision, according to the head of the main U.S. transport regulator.

The collision marked the first time a modern lightweight airliner has burnt down and is being seen as a test case for how well a new generation of carbon-composite airplanes copes with a catastrophic fire.

(Reporting by Rocky Swift, Daniel Leussink and Kaori Kaneko; Writing by John Geddie; Editing by Jamie Freed and Lincoln Feast.)
NEW ALBANY, Ohio (WCMH)  The development of New Albany, an affluent community further bolstered by a looming Intel semiconductor plant, can trace its evolution to the richest man in Ohio. But documents from years ago show its rise wasnt without influence from a dark presence.

The little farming community with under 500 people before the 1980s is scarcely recognizable in 2023, thanks to a project by billionaire Leslie Wexner, the founder of L Brands and a mogul with brands like Bath & Body Works, Abercrombie & Fitch and Victorias Secret. He joined forces with developer Jack Kessler as the 1990s approached to form the New Albany Company, and their vision for a Shangri-La for the wealthy in the village, according to the firms website.

The old saying that New Albany used to be a one-stop-sign town and then a billionaire moved to town and everything changed; that is kind of true, right? New Albany Mayor Sloan Spalding said in a 2022 NBC4 interview. Mr. Wexner came in and started purchasing land for what was going to be his estate and then started thinking bigger.

Planned development frustrates Licking County residents

New Albany Co. would eventually go on to manage the New Albany International Business Park, a 6,000-acre plot with the headquarters of Abercrombie & Fitch as a key tenant. It was New Albanys largest employer as of 2022, and the park as a whole helped usher in unprecedented growth for the city.

FILE  This July 25, 2013, file image provided by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement shows financier Jeffrey Epstein. The U.S. Virgin Islands has reached a settlement announced on Wednesday, Nov. 30. 2022, of more than $105 million in a sex trafficking case against the estate of financier Jeffrey Epstein. (Florida Department of Law Enforcement via AP, File)

As Kessler and Wexner began their plans for New Albany in the mid-1980s, however, Wexner also met and subsequently hired his new personal financial manager: Jeffrey Epstein. Now known in death as a sex trafficker who socialized with some of the worlds most powerful figures, Epstein was named Wexners power of attorney in 1991, giving him the ability to make hires, sign checks and buy and sell properties on the billionaires behalf. This legal relationship between the pair continued until 2007, around the same time that Wexner said he severed ties with Epstein, according to documents from the Franklin County Recorder.

While wielding Wexners power, Epstein was seemingly closely involved with the company responsible for New Albanys transformation as well. Business records from the Ohio Secretary of State showed Epstein named as president of the New Albany Co. alongside Wexner in 1998. While Wexner was largely the main financier of his developments in New Albany, a 2002 profile of Epstein in New York Magazine said he contributed a few million dollars of his own capital to the project as well. The article also quotes an investigator who called the groundwork of the New Albany construction a mess before Epsteins arrival and subsequent clean-up.

Throughout the 1990s and as he took part in New Albany Co.s project, Epstein owned at least two properties in the town. One home at 7558 King George Drive was an apparent gift from the billionaire to his financial manager; documents from the Franklin County Recorder showed Epstein received the property in a trust in 1990. NBC4 also obtained Franklin County Auditor records, which showed he later bought the house for $364,636 and resigned from the trust in 1995. Leslies wife, Abigail Wexner, took Epsteins place as trustee, but auditor records also showed Epstein sold the home to the billionaires wife for $0 in 2007.

A photo of 7558 King George Drive, one of Jeffrey Epsteins known properties in New Albany. (Courtesy Photo/Franklin County Auditor)

An aerial photo of 5025 East Dublin Granville Road, one of Jeffrey Epsteins known properties in New Albany. (Courtesy Photo/Franklin County Auditor)

Epsteins second New Albany property would be the focal point of a civil lawsuit with claims of sexual assault. He bought the home at 5025 East Dublin Granville Road for $3.5 million from JW & CPK & Co., a Kessler and Wexner company, according to Franklin County Auditor records. The building is around half a mile away from Wexners mansion and massive plot of land.

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A former Epstein employees lawsuit accused him and his longtime companion, Ghislaine Maxwell, of sexually assaulting her while visiting this home in 1996. Plaintiff Maria Farmer said in an affidavit that she had come to Epsteins home in New Albany to work on an art project. When she tried to run away from the home, Farmer said security guards from Wexners team refused to let her leave for around 12 hours.

The lawsuit prompted calls on Ohio State to investigate Wexners wife, who was a university trustee at the time. Her term on the board ended in May. A source close to the billionaire said in 2019 that Wexner himself had no knowledge of the situation Farmer described.

While not part of the billionaires property, a Wexner family guard told the Washington Post in 2019 that his security team monitored the home on Dublin Granville Road when Epstein owned it. Since 1991, it has been surrounded in nearly every direction by property personally owned by Wexner, or one of his or Kesslers companies like Whitebarn Organics and JW & CPK & Co. Whitebarn acquired the land on the west border in 2010. To get to the home, Franklin County Auditor records showed a visitor has to take roads through either Wexner or JW & CPK & Co. land.

Epstein sold the house in 1998 for $8 million to HHD & B LLC. Business records from the Ohio Secretary of State showed this entity has the same mailing address as the New Albany Co.

Trans candidate disqualified from running for Ohio House seat

In 2008, Wexners former financier made a deal with prosecutors to plead guilty to charges of prostitution and prostitution involving a minor in Florida. After being arrested again in 2019 on child sex trafficking charges and with new attention on his clientele, Epstein died by suicide in jail.

With the turn of the new year, documents unsealed from another victims lawsuit shared some previously known and unknown associates of Epstein, as well as some of the figures he met in passing. Wexner, while not accused of any wrongdoing in the documents, was mentioned six times in testimony and legal filings within the 943 pages.

Wexner denied knowledge of any of Epsteins actions in 2019. Around the same time as Epsteins 2008 conviction and when Wexner said he ended his relationship with his former financial manager, other famous acquaintances like former Presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump also abandoned him. However, Epstein continued to mingle with the rich and famous leading up to his arrest and death, often through philanthropic work.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Former president Bill Clinton faces renewed public scrutiny after being identified multiple times in the newly unsealed court documents detailing the associates of late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Clinton is described as a close personal friend of the disgraced financier, though he is not accused of any illegal activity, and reportedly did not take the bait when introduced to underage girls, according to the documents.

Clintons name appears almost 100 times so far in the material, tranches of which were released on Wednesday and Thursday, alongside other high-profile figures including Prince Andrew and Donald Trump.

Testimony from alleged Epstein victim Johanna Sjoberg claimed that the financier once told her that Clinton likes them young  referring to girls.

However, fellow Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre said that although Clinton spent time on Epsteins private island of Little St. James, in the US Virgin Islands, there was no evidence he was involved in wrongdoing.

Ms Giuffre claimed that she flew there with the former president in a helicopter piloted by Epsteins former girlfriend and partner in crime, Ghislaine Maxwell. I only met Bill [Clinton] twice but Jeffrey told me they were good friends, her testimony read.

The former president faces renewed public scrutiny after being identified multiple times in the newly unsealed court documents (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

We all dined together that night. Jeffrey was at the head of the table. Bill was at his left. I sat across from him Ghislaine was at Bills left and at the left of Ghislaine there were two olive-skinned brunettes whod flown in with us from New York.

Id say they were no older than 17, very innocent-looking Maybe Jeffrey thought they would entertain Bill, but I saw no evidence that he was interested in them.

She added that Epstein and Maxwell seemed to have a very good relationship with Clinton and that the trio had told blokey jokes around the dinner table.

But in later testimony, Ms Giuffre claimed that the former president attempted to threaten magazine Vanity Fair into not writing about Epsteins alleged sex trafficking.

In Thursdays tranche of documents, Ms Giuffre said that Mr Clinton had walked into the magazines office and pressured them not to write about his good friend J.E.

The alleged incident was described in a May 2011 email to journalist Sharon Churcher, then working for The Mail on Sunday, discussing the best way to publicise Ms Giuffres claims against Epstein.

When I was doing some research into VF yesterday, it does concern me what they could want to write about me considering that B Clinton walked into VF and threatened them not to write sex-trafficking articles about his good friend JE, Ms Giuffre wrote.

Clinton was described as having a very good relationship with Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein (VIA REUTERS)

Ms Giuffre did not say where the information she alleged came from.

A spokesperson for Vanity Fairs former editor Graydon Carter told The Daily Telegraph that the incident categorically did not happen.

Some former Vanity Fair journalists have previously claimed that Epstein himself put pressure on Mr Carter not to investigate his misdeeds, though Mr Carter has also disputed this.

The Independent has asked Mr Clinton and Mr Carter for comment, following the allegations.

Shortly before the documents were released this week, Clinton was seen visiting Mexico with his wife, Hillary Clinton.

The former president has vehemently denied any wrongdoing. Simply being included in these documents does not indicate any wrongdoing related to Epstein or anyone else.

A spokesperson for Clinton said in 2019: President Clinton knows nothing about the terrible crimes Jeffrey Epstein pleaded guilty to in Florida some years ago, or those with which he has been recently charged in New York.
The private jet once owned and used by Jeffrey Epstein to ferry the pedophile and his high-profile acquaintances around the world is set to be demolished and scrapped, The Daily Mail reported Thursday. The Boeing 727 aircraft was bought by World Aviation Services, whose boss told the Mail he didnt know who [Epstein] was or what he did with it. My business is aviation  not this Epstein shit. No offers by prospective buyers had been made on the jet since its association with Epstein was uncovered. Troves of new documents related to Epstein and his associates were released on Wednesday, giving fresh insight into the now-dead traffickers orbit.

Read it at The Daily Mail

Read more at The Daily Beast.
A new trove of unsealed documents was released Thursday from a lawsuit tied to disgraced financier and alleged sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

The documents mention prominent people including former President Bill Clinton and Prince Andrew, and include a reference to sometime around 2000, when the plaintiff in the case, Virginia Giuffre, said she first met Epstein's former girlfriend and convicted accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, while working at former President Donald Trump's private Mar-a-Lago Club.

The wealthy Epstein was linked to celebrities, politicians, and billionaires. He died by suicide in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.

Giuffre has claimed she was trafficked by Epstein and Maxwell to various men including Prince Andrew, who settled a lawsuit with her in 2022, although he didn't admit wrongdoing.

Some of the prominent figures named in the documents may have had nothing to do with Epstein, but were listed as possible witnesses in Giuffre's lawsuit against Maxwell, and in Maxwell's defense.

The papers include a reference to former FBI Director Louis Freeh. Attorneys for Maxwell named Freeh as a potential witness because he "may have knowledge concerning travel of Bill Clinton" in their efforts to discredit a claim by Giuffre that she had seen Clinton on Epstein's private island.

Epstein victim walks back claim of Clinton island visit

A release of documents Wednesday from a defamation lawsuit brought by Giuffre against Maxwell named Clinton and Trump, but didn't contain allegations of illegal activity against either former president. They did contain some details about Epstein's behavior, including comments he allegedly made about Clinton, Trump, and others.

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Geoffrey Berman speaks during a news conference, in New York, Monday, July 8, 2019. Federal prosecutors announced sex trafficking and conspiracy charges against wealthy financier Jeffrey Epstein.

One victim described Epstein saying "we'll call up Trump" and then visiting a Trump casino after a surprise plane landing in Atlantic City. She said Epstein had once told her, "Clinton likes them young," which she interpreted as referring to girls.

A 2011 Daily Mail article reported that Giuffre claimed Maxwell had flown Clinton to Epstein's island in a helicopter, and that during that trip Giuffre dined with the two of them, Epstein, and others. But Giuffre appeared to walk back that story in a 2016 deposition included in the documents.

"Ghislaine told me that she flew Bill Clinton in. And Ghislaine likes to talk a lot of stuff that sounds fantastical," Giuffre said, according to the transcript. "And whether it's true or not," Giuffre said during the deposition, she had told the reporter that "Ghislaine flew Bill Clinton onto the island, based upon what Ghislaine had told me."

Giuffre's claim that Clinton visited Epstein's island was a key point in Maxwell's efforts to discredit her, and contributed to Clinton's frequent appearance in the documents.

More: Clinton and Trump are named in Jeffrey Epstein documents; no wrongdoing alleged

More: 'He was the center of it': With Jeff Epstein dead, charging co-conspirators likely an uphill battle, experts say

Clinton and Trump disavowed Epstein after his 2019 sex trafficking arrest

"He's not spoken to Epstein in well over a decade, and has never been to Little St. James Island, Epstein's ranch in New Mexico, or his residence in Florida," a Clinton spokesman said in 2019, denying he knew anything about Epstein's illicit activities.

Trump spokesman Steven Cheung told Newsweek that any claim that Trump had an improper relationship with Epstein has been "thoroughly debunked." In 2019, Trump said he had long since broken with Epstein. "I wasn't a fan," he told reporters.

Conspiracy theories have swirled around Epstein for years  especially after Epstein's suicide. Trump and Clinton partisans quickly spread rumors that the other was responsible for Epstein's death in order to silence him. Speculation about Epstein's "client list" rises with every release of documents from a lawsuit filed years ago  which happened again this week.

More: Jeffrey Epstein document release highlights his sprawling connections across states

Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in sexually exploiting and abusing minor girls with Epstein over a decade. She was found guilty in late 2021 after a month-long jury trial.

Epstein served 13 months in a Florida jail for soliciting and procuring a minor for prostitution. The 2008 conviction was part of a much-criticized plea deal that ended a federal investigation in which he faced a potential life sentence.

More 'Epstein list' documents to come?

U.S. District Judge Loretta A. Preska issued an order in December for more documents to be unsealed, but provided two weeks for any appeals of that ruling. Shortly before the first batch was released Wednesday, she said two individuals identified as "Doe 107" and "Doe 110" had asked that their names remain sealed; they should remain protected until Preska rules on the requests.

On Thursday, the Miami Herald asked the court to partly unseal yet another record, which it said names everyone who isn't a party in the case but who is listed in at least one of the originally-sealed documents.

The paper, which has fought for years to get more documents released, said that particular record would help to clarify how figures assigned "Doe" pseudonyms match up with named individuals in the newly-unsealed papers.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: More details in latest 'Epstein list' document trove
On Dec. 15, 2015, after a two-month trial and four days of deliberation, a New Jersey jury found Sui Kam Tony Tung guilty in the brutal murder of his ex-wifes new partner, Robert Cantor.

Cantors sister, Leslie Padron, had been anxious about whether prosecutors could land the conviction: Authorities had no murder weapon, no DNA and no proof that hed even been in the same town as her brother the night of the killing. It was a relief when the jury returned its guilty verdict, she said.

But last year, after an appeals court overturned Tungs conviction over improper evidence, the anxiety turned to agony as another round of court proceedings got underway, Padron said.

We knew he was [going] to put us through this again, Padron said of Tung. To draw this all up to the surface, to make it so raw all over again, was just horrible.

In her first interview about her brothers murder, Padron spoke to NBCs Dateline about facing the man accused not once but twice of murdering her brother  and about what it was like to observe the prosecutions efforts to send Tung, 60, to prison for the murder of Cantor on March 6, 2011, at his home in Teaneck, New Jersey, just west of New York City.

Tung was convicted again in July, and he was sentenced to life in prison in November. He has denied killing Cantor, 59. In an interview after his first trial, Tung told Dateline he had no clue who was responsible for Cantors death.

How would I know? he said. Im in New York.

Set off by an affair

Prosecutors argued that the killing was motivated by rage. In early 2010, Tung installed spyware on a computer that belonged to his then-wife, Sophie Meneut, and discovered her affair with Cantor, according to the decision in Tungs appeal that overturned his conviction.

Rob Cantor (Courtesy Dateline)

Meneut later told a jury that her marriage was already in trouble when she began seeing Cantor, a computer scientist known for his curiosity and a love of food and running, several months before. After he learned of the relationship, Tung repeatedly went to Cantors home, according to the decision. Once he stayed three hours, telling Cantor to stop seeing his wife and asking to see where in the house theyd had sex.

On the night of March 6  the week Meneut filed for divorce  Cantors home burned. Authorities found Cantors body in the basement bedroom that hed shown to Tung. He was lying on the bed and had been shot once in the head with a .380-caliber pistol.

Rob Cantor's house after fire. (Courtesy Dateline)

Coincidences or connections?

No physical evidence connected Tung to the crime scene  prosecutors assembled a case built on circumstantial evidence.

Four months before the killing, for instance, Tung emailed a friend in Texas asking for a gun magazine. The friend didnt send the magazine, which was for the same caliber weapon used to fatally shoot Cantor, according to the decision. (Tung described the request to Dateline as a conversation starter.)

Hours after Cantors body was found, Tung wiped 2 gigabytes of information from his computer  something Tungs lawyer from the first trial said was a normal thing to do at that time of night.

And in an interview with police, Tung said that on March 6, hed remained at home for much of the night washing dishes and looking at his computer  even though forensic investigators found the device had been in sleep mode that night and a security camera showed Tung leaving his apartment after 10 p.m., according to the decision.

Its actually statistically impossible for all of these to be coincidences, Bergen County assistant prosecutor Joseph Torre told Dateline.

Still, the nature of the evidence concerned Cantors family: It was all circumstantial, Padron said.

An agonizing wait at the courthouse

Padron felt she needed to attend the trial because authorities had revealed little about what happened to her brother, she said. By the time the case went before a jury, it had been more than four years since he was killed.

When the jurys deliberations stretched to four days, Padron grew nervous. So did Mehrdad Sanai, a close friend of Cantors who also attended the trial.

We thought maybe they [would] call it a mistrial, he told Dateline.

Tony Tung at his second trial. (Courtesy Dateline)

When the jury finally returned a guilty verdict on the fourth day, Padrons reaction was complicated.

Guilty is what you want to hear, and you are so happy, and yet then you realize you got justice; you didnt get happy, she said. You feel like you should be celebrating, but you really dont feel like celebrating.

Tung was convicted of multiple charges, including first-degree murder, second-degree aggravated arson and second-degree desecration of human remains. He was sentenced to life in prison.

Enough for a new trial

Tungs lawyers appealed the verdict, arguing the trial judge improperly allowed evidence showing that Tung declined to let authorities search his property without consulting an attorney first. And during the trial, they said, the judge improperly allowed the officer to testify that he knew Tung was lying during the interrogation.

The appeals court agreed with Tungs lawyers, writing in a 2019 decision that the issues had deprived him of a fair trial. The three-judge panel overturned the conviction.

That was horrific, Padron said. Its one thing when youve been advised that they have new evidence. But in this case, she said, it was a few statements. They were nothing drastic, but in the legal system that was cause to give him a second trial. And we knew he knew he was guilty as hell.

Sanai was also floored by the decision.

I questioned this crazy justice system, he said.

I know a lot of innocent people are sitting, rotting out, Sanai added. You find out [Tung] needs a second chance, right, within four, five years. Are you guys kidding me?

During the first trial, Sanai said, he delivered a victim impact statement recalling his close friend as a very lovely human being and pleading with the judge to lock Tung up and throw away the key. But when the second trial got underway last year, he didnt attend, saying the proceedings made a mockery of the justice system.

Padron attended, however, and described having a different experience from the one she had had eight years before. The initial trial was emotionally intense, she said. The second was less so, she said, but her feelings about Tung had only grown more dismal: He did this to us again, she said.

Pandemic-related delays made the experience even more awful, Padron said. Still, when the trial began, she wanted to be there to show support for her brother. Her son-in-law, daughter and grandsons also attended.

We owed this to him, she said.

Padron said that on July 28, when the jury returned a verdict in less than three hours, her family wasnt even at the courthouse. They hadnt been prepared for it to conclude so quickly. But they soon learned hed been found guilty of eight crimes, including murder.

For Padron, there was a key difference between the two trials.

Now, she said, we knew this was over.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
A baker at La Michoacana Bakery prepares roscas de reyes, the traditional sweet bread of Dia de los Reyes Magos on Thursday, January 5, 2006. HELEN L. MONTOYA/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

Dia de los Reyes Magos, or Three Kings Day, is a holiday celebrated on Jan. 6 by Catholics and other Christians around the world.i

Also known as the Day of the Magi, the day honors the biblical story of the three kings  Gaspar, Melchior and Balthazar  who followed a star that led them to Bethlehem, where they brought the baby Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. It is believed the the three wise men reached Jesus on Jan. 6.

CHEAT DAY: 10 San Antonio restaurants to get your bacon fix in 2024

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Some celebrations of the holiday take place on the evening of Jan. 5, known as Vispera de Reyes.

Where is it celebrated?: Dia de los Reyes Magos is mostly celebrated in Spain, Latin America, and among many U.S. Latinos. In much of Spain and Latin America, children traditionally get presents on Jan. 6, which are attributed to the Three Wise Men instead of Santa Claus. The three kings came to symbolize the continents of Asia, Africa and Europe, according to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

How is it celebrated?: Traditions include exchanging small gifts, and some people leave a shoebox filled with grass or hay, sometimes with a glass of water or polished shoes, under the bed or by the front door. Those gifts are meant to help the three kings and their camels on their journey. When children awake on Three Kings Day, the grass and water or shoes are replaced with candy and small gifts, according to National Today, a website dedicated to various national holidays in the U.S.

LIFE SAVING TAMALES: Vintage photo captivates Facebook foodies

What do you eat?: Celebrations also include serving rosca de reyes, a sweet bread made in the shape of a king's crown. One recipe, from the recipe website Allrecipes, calls for candied citrus peels, lots of eggs and two packages of dry yeast for the sweet bread. While the pastry is similar in some ways to the Americanized Mardi Gras tradition of King cake, it tastes and looks quite different, according to Savor the Flavor, another recipe website.

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One of the similarities is that both contain ceramic or, in modern times, small plastic babies that are meant to represent the baby Jesus.

According to Yelp, several bakeries around the Alamo City feature the pastry, including La Panaderia, Bedoy's Bakery and Panifico Bake Shop.
I admired the force of his writing, even when I often didnt support what he wrote, and he was always warm when we met. So wrote John Simpson, the veteran BBC foreign affairs correspondent, on news of the death of the campaigning journalist John Pilger on December 30 at the age of 84.

Those who know of Pilgers work only in recent years and from the obscure far-Left websites that published it may struggle to imagine that he was once a big figure in print and broadcast media, when newspapers sold in the millions and there was only terrestrial television with three channels. But he was, and generous sentiments such as Simpsons have abounded in the past few days. Pundits, politicians and others have typically praised Pilger for his journalistic integrity while making clear that they did not necessarily share his politics.

Theres a more sceptical variant of the same message, which Ive noted especially among people of my generation, born in the 1960s and 1970s, who were impressed by Pilgers reports when we were young and he was at the height of his fame. It runs like this: though Pilger descended in later years into apologetics for repressive regimes, he was once a principled and vital foe of oppression and human rights abuses, and it is this side of his work that deserves to be remembered.

The dichotomy is unfortunately not raised at all in an obsequious and evasive Guardian obituary by Anthony Hayward, from which you will learn little. But more thoughtful admirers of Pilger are exercised by this question and do pose it: what made Pilger, the famed voice of radical conscience, go from his celebrated series of films on the plight of Cambodia to his defence of Slobodan Milosevic, Bashar al-Assad and Vladimir Putin and his furious denial of their amply documented war crimes?

I immodestly claim to have the answer to this conundrum. There is an essential continuity in Pilgers work. It is not, as many believe, that his judgment dramatically deteriorated as he got older: he was always that way, and his reputation has progressively adjusted downwards to match reality.

Pilger was not really an investigative journalist at all, for he never did investigations. As a reporter who once worked closely with him explained it to me, Pilger was a polemicist who went out looking for what he wanted to find.

Vulnerability compounded by weakness

Therein lies the essential transience of Pilgers lifes work, for while there is much suffering and evil in the international order, a journalists first duty, allowing for personal biases and partial information, is to describe the world as it is and not as they might wish it to be. Pilger, by contrast, fabricated his conclusions in order to accord with his premises. This was always his method and I will give examples of this malpractice from his output on two particular issues.

The first is his celebrated reporting from Cambodia, and the second concerns the wars in the former Yugoslavia, a region he neither knew nor understood.

There is no diplomatic way of saying it but, in his journalism, Pilger was a charlatan and a fraudster. And I use those terms in the strict sense that he said things he knew to be untrue, and withheld things he knew to be true and material, and did it for decades, for ideological reasons. If you know where to look, youll uncover his inspiration.

John Pilger in 1976 when he worked for the Daily Mirror - Trevor James Robert Dallen/Fairfax Media via Getty Images

In 1983, the newly established Channel 4 broadcast a series of interviews by Pilger with people who, in his words, have challenged orthodox ideas that lead us in the same direction; additionally, he or she must have demonstrated the courage of his or her convictions.

The series was titled The Outsiders. Some of the interviewees were genuinely courageous or at least of real historical weight and importance. They included Salman Rushdie, Jessica Mitford and the redoubtable anti-apartheid campaigner Helen Suzman. And there was also an interviewee called Wilfred Burchett.

Few people now have heard of Burchett but he was not like these others. He was, in his own words, a pioneering radical Australian journalist, though he travelled on a British passport. In Pilgers words, Burchett was the only Western journalist to consistently report events from the other side in the Korean War and the Cold War, and from China, the Soviet Union and Vietnam.

Thats quite some euphemism. Burchett didnt merely report from the other side: he literally repeated their propaganda and pretended it was news. He notoriously claimed the US was conducting biological warfare in the Korean War. He never presented a shred of evidence for this incendiary allegation, because it wasnt true.

For these efforts he was secretly awarded the (North) Korean Order of the National Flag. Not even the radical American journalist I.F. Stone, later exposed as having been a Soviet spy from 1936 to 1938, believed the germ warfare allegations and he publicly rejected them. It was later proved, from documents uncovered in Moscow in 1998, that the whole story had been a propaganda ruse concocted by the Chinese Communists.

Australian journalist Wilfred Burchett - Fairfax Media Archive

I am not, of course, suggesting Pilger was ever an agent of a foreign power. Im pointing to the model of his journalistic mentor, who lied to his dying day in order to serve what he believed to be the greater cause. And that is what, as I shall discuss presently, I charge Pilger with having done too.

If Im right (and I am) that Pilger operated with a combination of evasion, misdirection and fakery for decades, it is explicable though inexcusable. This was, after all, easier than the arduous and unglamorous tasks of fact-finding and fact-checking, for which Pilger was temperamentally unsuited.

Pilger was a man of such natural credulousness that he never thought to check his own story when, investigating child slavery in Thailand in 1982, he bought a girl and returned her to her family. It was a hoax. The girl had been prevailed upon to act the part by a Thai fixer who knew Pilger wanted to buy a slave. When the Far Eastern Economic Review pointed out Pilgers error, he responded characteristically with wild and irrelevant invective, accusing the journalist concerned of having CIA connections. Auberon Waugh then additionally pointed out in The Spectator the sheer improbability of this account, whereupon Pilger responded with bluster and libel writs. The case was settled out of court, with no payment made by the magazine.

The fiasco was due in part to Pilgers vanity, which took the form, among other things, of extreme sensitivity to any perceived slight, consistent rudeness to those he counted as the little people, and a hair-trigger litigiousness. He was the only journalist Ive come across who habitually wrote angry letters for publication in response to criticism of his articles by readers.

This is in my view an improper practice, even supposing the writer has a genuine point, which Pilger rarely did. The letters page of a periodical should be for readers, as writers already have all the other pages.

Pilgers vulnerability was compounded by the weakness of his technical grasp of almost any given subject. Sooner or later in public debate, and it was generally sooner, hed flounder. Fortunately for him it was rare that any top-notch scholar considered his work but this was a danger he continually ran.

In his book The Price of Peace: Living with the Nuclear Dilemma (1986), Lawrence Freedman, one such academic heavyweight, noted a tendentious television documentary which had sought to demonstrate how mendacious governments were in handling nuclear issues but which was in fact riddled with errors of its own. Freedman was too tactful to name this documentary, but it was Pilgers film The Truth Game (1983).

The gravamen of the film is as Freedman states it. Pilger purports to offer a critique of nuclear propaganda but his errors of fact are legion. Freedman, with William Shawcross, itemised numerous of these fallacious claims for the magazine New Society (since subsumed in The New Statesman), to which Pilger replied, and its worth digging out the exchange. Its not online but it should be available in a good university library (you can find it at Senate House in London).

Pilger plaintively thanks the many people who, on reading Freedman and Shawcrosss critique, sent him sources and information with which to counter it. The notion that he might have investigated sources and checked his claims before making the film rather than after had apparently not occurred to him.

Pilger made multiple documentaries around the world - Carlton

The general thesis of the film is extremely weak. Pilger argues that by using reassuring, even soothing, language  language which allowed the politicians and us to distance ourselves from the horror of nuclear war  this new type of propaganda created acceptable images of war and the illusion that we could live securely with nuclear weapons. His sources include Wilfred Burchett, whose very trade was deceit and treachery on behalf of the Communist bloc. And the evidence is overwhelming that, so far from seeking to diminish the threat of nuclear war, Western policymakers were anxious to stress that the bomb had changed everything.

In the much-quoted words of the American military strategist Bernard Brodie in The Absolute Weapon (1946), thus far the chief purpose of our military establishment has been to win wars. From now on, its chief purpose must be to avert them. It can have almost no other useful purpose. And in an extraordinarily prescient memorandum titled The Atomic Bomb in August 1945, shortly after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the new prime minister Clement Attlee wrote: While steps must be taken to prevent the development of this weapon in any country, this will be futile unless the whole conception of war is banished from peoples minds and from the calculations of governments.

Idleness and indecency

The theme of official deceit was an abiding theme of Pilgers work and he fancied himself a penetrating debunker of evasive language. Hence in The New Statesman on May 9 2013, he congratulated himself on the thoroughness of his early journalistic training: A style developed by a highly literate editor, Brian Penton, who had published poetry in The Daily Telegraph, instilled a respect for English grammar and the value of informed simplicity. Words like during were banned; in was quite enough. The passive voice was considered lazy and banned, along with most cliches and adjectives

As you will surely already have perceived, Pilger, in this brief passage, roundly condemns the passive voice while using three passive clauses himself. Indeed, the passive voice was considered lazy and banned is itself an agentless passive of the type almost universally (though in my view misguidedly) condemned by style guides.

Were it not for the fact that Pilger was famously humourless, youd have to wonder if he was being ironic here. The more plausible explanation is that, while he talked a lot about the power of language, he didnt know much about it, and he didnt know what he didnt know.

That sort of arrogance has its inadvertently comic side, but it could also be ugly. Pilger prided himself on his courage in rejecting what he derided as identity politics, but in truth he lacked even an elementary sensitivity to issues of ethnicity and gender. Employing a startlingly demeaning racial epithet, he lambasted Barack Obama in 2008 as a glossy Uncle Tom, and in 2013 lamented that the problem with media-run conversations on gender is not merely [sic!] the almost total absence of male participants, but the suppression of class. He considered Hillary Clinton a more dangerous presidential prospect in 2016 than Donald Trump.

Pilgers politics can fairly be described as anti-American, in that he reflexively saw the United States as a malevolent actor in any conceivable situation. That idee fixe in turn drove him to the conviction that any regime opposed by the US was automatically innocent or even benign. Interviewed on the state-propaganda outlet Russia Today in 2018, he declared the Putin regimes attempted murder of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury a carefully constructed drama in which the media plays a role. He said in December 2021, as if Ukrainians lacked any capacity to speak and act for themselves and were merely puppets of Washington: It was the US that overthrew the elected govt in Ukraine in 2014 allowing Nato to march right up to Russias western border.

The apotheosis of this approach was an article in 2016 in which Pilger claimed: The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague has quietly cleared the late Serbian president, Slobodan Milosevic, of war crimes committed during the 1992-95 Bosnian war, including the massacre at Srebrenica.

There was, I need hardly say, no truth whatever in this preposterous fabrication. With all too familiar legerdemain and gullibility, Pilger had alighted on an article on the Russia Today website and, without stating this was his source, plagiarised it. In my view this episode marks, in its combination of idleness and indecency, the nadir of Pilgers career, and it was a very low and shady point indeed.

Pilgers vanity took the form, among other things, of extreme sensitivity to any perceived slight - Don Arnold/Getty Images

This is not the place to set out the chronology of the Bosnian war but what the mainstream media (including The Guardian, through the exemplary reporting of Ed Vulliamy and Maggie OKane) said about it at the time was simply the truth. The war was not a cover for American power: it was a campaign of genocidal aggression conducted by Bosnian Serb forces covertly orchestrated from Belgrade, and in which Nato intervened against their positions far too late. It was also, as I have described here, a terrible augury of the barbarous assault that another European autocrat, Vladimir Putin, would direct against Ukraine 30 years afterwards.

What, then, of the earlier body of Pilgers work, before his alleged journalistic and ethical deterioration? In the nature of things, it was not always wrong, but it was always reductive. His condemnation of Australian recognition of Indonesias occupation of East Timor, in print and in his 1994 film Death of a Nation, was entirely correct. But to be right on a discrete issue was never enough for him. He would have to construct some overarching explanation (or, less politely, a conspiracy theory) in which to embed it. He hence charged that Australia was administering a hidden empire [that] stretches from the Aboriginal slums of Sydney to the South Pacific. Youd be hard put to find any such coherence in Australian foreign policy, which has often been made on the hoof and at the mercy of events.

When East Timor eventually achieved its independence, it did so to the fury of Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda. It was, in their eyes, an affront, for East Timor (whose population is overwhelmingly Roman Catholic) was properly a part of the Islamic world and belonged to Indonesia. This complaint was explicitly cited by bin Laden in justifying al-Qaedas bombing of the Indonesian tourist resort of Bali in October 2002, which killed 202 people including 88 Australians.

Pilger was usually quick to blame Western foreign policy for provoking terrorism  he referred to the 7/7 attacks in London in 2005 as Blairs bombs  yet here was a case where Western nations incurred the wrath of al-Qaeda for unequivocally (if belatedly) doing the right thing. The geopolitical situation was more complex than he had supposed, and than you would imagine from reading his output. He dealt with the disjunction of theory and fact in time-honoured fashion, by never mentioning it.

And then there is the case of Cambodia, the single best-known body of work Pilger did. His first film on the subject, Cambodia: Year Zero (1979) elicited a huge public reaction. (It made a big impression on me as a teenager.) It had two undeniable benefits, though one was more alloyed than the other. First, it raised a lot of money from the public to alleviate the desperate plight of Cambodians after the fall of the Khmer Rouge. Second, it dramatically raised public awareness of the issue.

The problem was that public awareness was not necessarily equivalent to public understanding, and Pilgers work didnt serve the latter. Pilgers message in this first film and still more so in its several successors was essentially propaganda on behalf of the Vietnamese puppet regime that had supplanted the Khmer Rouge and that was itself guilty of extensive human rights abuses. It was misleading and dishonest, and it involved defaming decent people trying to do their best for a ravaged nation.

1979: Pilger in Vietnam - Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

Let me first give a bit of background. Pilger is often thought (and he did nothing to dissuade people from believing it) to have been responsible for exposing the sufferings of Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge from 1975 to 1979. He wasnt. Journalists who broke this story, whose horrors were almost impossible to conceive of, as early as the summer of 1975 included Tony Paul of Readers Digest, Bruce Palling and Elizabeth Becker of The Washington Post, and Henry Kamm (no relation to this author) of The New York Times. They were the first writers to publicise refugee accounts, yet  for their pains  their reports were rubbished by some on the radical Left as media distortions.

Noam Chomsky, the famed theoretical linguist, and his co-author Edward Herman, a grotesque fabulist who went on to deny the genocides in Bosnia and Rwanda, wrote an infamous article in 1977 in which they complained that American newspapers were presenting a seriously distorted version of the evidence available, emphasising alleged Khmer Rouge atrocities and downplaying or ignoring the crucial US role, direct and indirect, in the torment that Cambodia has suffered.

But the refugee accounts of Khmer Rouge atrocities, under which about 1.7 million out of a total Cambodian population of eight million perished, were, in all essentials, accurate. Western journalists, in impossibly difficult conditions, had alerted the world to depravities that almost defied the imagination. Pilger was late to the story. This was due not to oversight on his part but to politics. He was a cheerleader for Vietnam, which had only just turned against the Khmer Rouge and invaded Cambodia.

Pilgers consistent theme was that Western governments and the United Nations were giving tacit support, including military aid, to the Khmer Rouge in order to undermine the Vietnamese-backed regime in Phnom Penh. And to muddy the truth that the Khmer Rouge had itself been supported by radical Left-wing pundits in the West, and that its leaders were all former members of the French Communist Party, he slyly and repeatedly compared the movement to the Nazis.

In, especially, his second film in this series, Cambodia Year One (1980), and thereafter Pilger developed the theme that the West was denying development aid to Cambodia while providing assistance to the resurgent Khmer Rouge. These were shocking fabrications with direct and baneful humanitarian consequences. The truth was that Vietnam was deliberately preventing food aid from reaching the starving people of Cambodia: it was using international aid as a political tool, choosing who would be fed and who would not. UN agencies and NGOs told Pilger this, so he accused them of lying.

1988: Pilger forms a human billboard with celebrities to share a message about Kampuchea (commonly known as the Khmer Rouge) - David Jones/PA Archive

The aid agencies were correct and Pilger was the one telling untruths, which he never retracted. In fact, the regime in Phnom Penh, along with the occupying Vietnamese forces, required every UN agency or NGO operating in Cambodia to pledge not to provide aid to starving Cambodians languishing at the border with Thailand. A real campaigning journalist would have exposed this scandal and inhumanity, but it was not Pilgers cause. His documentary Cambodia: The Betrayal (1990), in which he alleged that SAS members had trained the Khmer Rouge, provoked a libel writ that Central Television settled at substantial cost.

Pilger went on to engage in reckless and extravagant fakery in the case of Kosovo, a province (and since 2008 an independent country) that he showed no sign of having visited. Nato forces engaged in a military campaign, beginning in March 1999, to stop the Milosevic regime in Belgrade from assaulting the Albanian population of Kosovo. It was a desperate, last resort when diplomacy had failed. Though Pilger later depicted it as the forerunner of the Iraq war, the cases were nothing like each other.

A career in the service of deceit

The campaign against Milosevic was fought not for regime change or even for the independence of Kosovo, but for the single and specific reason of protecting a Muslim population from genocide. It was the right thing to do. Milosevics forces had already expelled some 300,000 Kosovans from their homes, killed almost 2,000 and destroyed dozens of villages. And they threatened to do much worse. After 78 days, and nearly 40,000 combat sorties, Nato forced Milosevic to back down.

This limited, just and necessary campaign was described by Pilger in apocalyptic terms (the truth is that the US and Britain are engaged in a form of nuclear warfare in the Balkans, he wrote in The Guardian on May 4 1999) that had absolutely no purchase on reality. But the reason I cite it in this context is that it elicited a series of demonstrable falsehoods by Pilger, all crafted to convey the message that Western governments were lying about the threat to Kosovo and the numbers of Milosevic;s victims. He later wrote: There was no genocide. The Nato attack was both a fraud and a war crime.

In the wake of the war itself, Pilger wrote in The New Statesman in November 1999: The numbers of dead so far confirmed suggest that the Nato bombing provoked a wave of random brutality, murders and expulsions, a far cry from systematic extermination: genocide. He was rubbishing the entirely accurate charge that Serb forces had engaged in systematic ethnic cleansing. And to make his point, he alleged that Western politicians had wildly exaggerated the numbers of victims of the Serbs. Hence, wrote Pilger: Figures were supplied. The US defence secretary, William Cohen, said: Weve now seen about 100,000 military-aged men missing . . . They may have been murdered.

But Pilger deliberately elided the context from this remark. This was an interview that Cohen gave on CBS television, and he was not suggesting that the Serbs might have murdered 100,000 military-age men. As Michael Ignatieff correctly pointed out in The New York Times in November 1999: In Mr. Cohens appearance on Face the Nation, his statements were actually much more complicated. While he said that 100,000 were missing, he also clearly stated that his reports showed that 4,600 Kosovars had been executed, a claim that has been confirmed by the forensic trail of evidence uncovered by war crimes investigators since June.

Ever after, Pilger claimed that the Nato allies had deliberately and vastly exaggerated the number of victims in Kosovo at the hands of Milosevics forces. It was completely untrue. He amplified his fakery by claiming that, during the Kosovo campaign, David Scheffer, US ambassador-at-large for war crimes, announced that as many as 225,000 ethnic Albanian men aged between 14 and 59 may have been murdered. Again, Pilger was lying. What Scheffer actually said, and Pilger trusted that his readers wouldnt check, was that these men were unaccounted for  a very different thing.

Pilgers career was replete with glamour and awards but it was in the service of deceit - Yui Mok/PA Wire

Then and thereafter, Pilger always referred to a final body count of 2,788 victims of the Kosovo war, to reinforce his message that Nato had maligned the Serbs with false claims of mass violence. Again, he was lying by misdirection. The accepted number of those who were killed or went missing during the war is a little more than 13,500. These included just under 1,800 Serb civilians, as well as more than 8,600 Kosovan Albanians.

Thousands, and perhaps tens of thousands, more would have perished under Milosevics orders had Nato not intervened. Pilger adopted the bizarrely literalistic view that someone could only be counted as dead if their body had physically been found. That is not the reality of war. In particular  as my family, friends and colleagues who reported Milosevics depravities observed directly  it was the aim of Serb forces to bury and hide their victims body parts far from any theatre of war, trusting these would never be found.

And here is the final weirdness of Pilgers coverage of the Kosovo war. He not only lied about the statements of Nato governments and denied the atrocities of Milosevics regime, but also sought to spread flagrant disinformation about the war itself. Writing in The Guardian on May 18 1999, some three weeks before Milosevic capitulated, Pilger dramatically claimed: Nato is suffering significant losses. Reliable alternative sources in Washington have counted up to 38 aircraft crashed or shot down, and an undisclosed number of American and British special forces killed. This is suppressed, of course.

Pilger gave no indication of who these reliable sources were, but they were anything but reliable. The aircraft that Nato lost in the entire campaign amounted to exactly two: an F-117 Nighthawk stealth attack aircraft and an F-16 fighter jet. And there were no allied fatalities.

This was before the digital age, and I did not take up the trade of journalism myself till several years later, but I did try to identify where Pilger was getting this stuff from. I never managed to track it down. Im familiar with the small circles of pro-Serb lobbyists but every inquiry failed to elicit a response. I wrote to Pilger, via The Guardian, asking for his sources but I neither expected nor got any reply. Its conceivable that someone, knowing Pilgers record of swallowing tall stories and never checking them, fed him these whopping falsehoods in order to see if hed put them in the public domain. But I have no direct evidence that any such third party existed.

The dispiriting but economical explanation is hence that Pilger himself invented the tale of extensive Nato losses which were being suppressed by the state and the news media, because he wished to stimulate popular opposition to government policy. He was spectacularly lying for the cause, which in this case was to assist a genocidal regime in its campaign of brutal repression.

I am sorry for Pilgers family that he is now dead but sympathy does not necessitate sentimentality. Pilgers career, at least till his more recent brutish outbursts, was replete with glamour and awards but it was in the service of deceit, and it exemplified indifference to human suffering and disregard for human rights.

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In the past year, residents of Corning and Steuben County have banded together, partnered against injustice and fought to make sure their voices were heard.

Our reporters at The Leader and the-leader.com, as well as our USA TODAY Network New York colleagues, have highlighted high school champions, dug deep through court records to publish investigative reports, and told firsthand stories about topics that matter most in the community.

Here are some of the stories that made a difference in 2023, told by Corning journalists and our New York State Team:

Sarah Tuttle, Northside Place resident manager, showing the kitchen at a built-to-rent home at Northside Place.

Its not every year that a new neighborhood springs up from scratch. That was the case on Cornings Northside in 2023, though, as a few dozen new homes were erected on the vacant site that formerly housed Northside Blodgett school. Built by developer Reidman Homes, the long-anticipated development battled through years of delays as Northside Place finally got off the ground in 2023. We were there as the first two-to-three bedroom, build-to-rent homes were rented out, sharing that rental prices start at nearly $3,000 a month. City officials called the construction of new homes a good addition to the citys aging housing stock. More will come on the market in 2024.

Read the story: These Northside Place homes are available for rent: How much it will cost

Addison was thrown into turmoil for much of 2023 as the Steuben County villages finances were investigated by the New York State Comptrollers Office. The early part of the year featured contentious board meetings and the election of a new mayor who resigned 10 days after being sworn into office. The other shoe dropped in November when longtime village clerk-treasurer Ursula Stone was charged with stealing some $1.1 million in public funds.

Addison Village Hall

The Leader informed readers about the turmoil in local government throughout the year, and detailed how the investigation alleged the theft of public money occurred over nearly two decades. A follow-up report detailed the impact to the local tax base and how Addison has changed village policies to prevent future abuses of public funds.

Read more: Former Addison village clerk stole more than $1 million over 19 years, comptroller says

Moe Newcomb shares his memories of his time in Vietnam

2023 marked 50 years since Corning resident Moe Newcomb was a POW in Vietnam. He remembers every moment. Reporter Jeff Smith profiled Newcombs harrowing experience during the Vietnam War. The Painted Post graduate was 27 when he started flying missions in North Vietnam. He was shot down on his 82nd mission in 1967 and spent years in captivity until his release in 1973. It was a sight you couldnt believe and never forget, Newcomb recalled in Smiths detailed profile.

Read the story: It's been 50 years since Moe Newcomb was a POW in Vietnam. He remembers every moment.

Renovations of an original portion of the Glen Motor Inn have been completed by The Hotel Laurel at Seneca

The Glen Motor Inn overlooking Seneca Lake has been a destination for visitors to the Finger Lakes for generations. The Inn was a popular landing spot for famous race car drivers and celebrities during trips to Watkins Glen International. You could go there and see George Harrison in there with Jimmy Stewart. And every racer was there, recalled one resident. The Inn reopened in 2023 under new ownership and with a new name, The Hotel Laurel at Seneca. The property received nearly $2 million in renovations detailed in our profile of the Inns past, present and future.

Read the story: This historic NY inn, where Hollywood stars mingled with racing elite, has a new look

Community profiles, from Hannabill Lecter to holiday volunteers

Not every story was a heavy hitter in 2023. We also took time to profile some of the people who make the area a great place to live and raise a family. Jeff Smith gave readers a behind the scenes look into how an army of volunteers hand out hundreds of free Thanksgiving meals each year, detailing what motivates the volunteers and how the meals impact recipients. A similar effort was underway on Christmas.

Corning-Painted Post Middle School Principal Frank Barber, also known as "Hannabill Lecter," cheers on the Buffalo Bills during a past game at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. Barber is among the NFL franchise's most recognizable fans.

This fall, meanwhile, we profiled Corning-Painted Post Principal Frank Barber, aka Hannabill Lecter on Buffalo Bills gamedays. Barbers alter ego continued to attract cameras during national television broadcasts of Bills games, and social media buzz. We gave readers a glimpse of the man behind the mask, and how he has used the notoriety for a good cause.

Read the story: Hannabill Lecter ensemble hailed as 'art'. Meet the Corning Bills fan behind the mask

Business boomed at the Steuben County seat in Bath throughout 2023. We profiled a number of development projects that came online or got underway in Bath over the course of the year, starting with the new Amazon distribution center at the former Mercury Aircraft building. In October, LP Building Solutions debuted its new multimillion-dollar, 90,000-square-foot prefinished home siding manufacturing facility on a long vacant 75-acre plot off state Route 54. The company revived an old rail system with plans to hire more than 60 employees in Bath.

Steuben County IDA Executive Director James C. Johnson speaks during a celebration of the opening of LP Building Solutions in the Town of Bath

Meanwhile, a homegrown company, T&R Environmental, is expanding with new jobs on Industrial Park Road. Baths housing stock also received a boost with a $21 million adaptive reuse of the former Dana Lyon School building creating 49 apartments.

Read the story: LP's new Bath facility, rail upgrades mark investment in Steuben County's future

Justice for Keli Collins was a rallying cry in Corning following the August 2022 murder of 26-year-old Keli Collins at her Walter Smith Terrace apartment in Corning. In May 2023, Steuben County Judge Philip Roche sentenced Brett R. Heffner, 28, of Corning, to 25 years to life after he pleaded guilty in March to second-degree murder.

Corning murder victim Keli Collins

The sentence will hopefully provide at least some sense of justice and closure for Collins' family, said Steuben County District Attorney Brooks Baker. The Leader previously profiled the mother of two, who was remembered as the kindest and most forgiving person.

More: 'You can never get justice': Corning man who confessed to murdering Keli Collins sentenced

The Southern Tier is no stranger to the fracking debate. When a new company approached landowners with the idea for a net-negative emissions way to drill into the Marcellus and Utica shales, the reception was not a quiet one. The proposal involved using carbon dioxide instead of water to extract gas. Local politicians reached out to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) with questions about the potential impact, and environmental activists called for an even tighter crackdown on drilling in New York.

Read the story: New York's latest fracking proposal promises cleaner method. How experts rated it

Utility billing issues plagued New Yorkers all over the state in early 2023, with hundreds saying they were being inaccurately billed, sometimes by exorbitant amounts, wrote New York State Team and local reporters Tom Zambito, Patrick Harney and Chris Potter.

A call for readers to tell us about their billing experiences brought in 118 comments, one of which was from Carl Popp, of Poughkeepsie, who told us he religiously read his own meter to keep from being overbilled after bad experiences in the past.

We followed up with Popp, featuring him in a how-to story. Popp later wrote in an email: I hope (the story) will help all the other people with high estimated bills and enlighten them on what they can do themselves to lessen the problem.

Read the story: A $345 utility bill became $68,000 as NYSEG, RG&E confront billing fiasco. What happened?

A USA TODAY Network investigation by New York State Team reporter David Robinson found a group of 17 hospitals and health systems sued about 1,600 New Yorkers to collect medical debts totaling $9 million since early 2022, despite a push to end the controversial practice.

When questioned about the lawsuits listed in court records, some hospital systems denied they filed lawsuits or pointed to the charity care they deliver each year. Others said they were phasing out the practice of suing patients over medical debt.

One health system, WMC Health, also appeared to have halted its debt lawsuits following the USA TODAY Network reporting in 2019 on its connections to a debt-collection law firm under federal investigation.

Read the story: Some NY hospitals nixed medical debt lawsuits. Others sued 1,600 patients for $9M

Dawn Burlew has been named president of Watkins Glen International, starting Jan. 3, 2024.

The internationally-renowned road course in Watkins Glen has new leadership entering 2024. Andrew Legare broke the news that veteran track president Michael Printup intended to retire. Printup oversaw $56 million of capital improvement projects during his tenure, which included seven consecutive NASCAR sellouts and popular concerts and wine festivals.

In December, longtime Corning Inc. executive Dawn Burlew, a native of nearby Erin, was named the racetrack's first woman president. Burlew said she will aim to rev up The Glens status as an economic driver for the region.

More: Erin native Dawn Burlew named first woman president of Watkins Glen International

Have a story tip in 2024? Email events@the-leader.com.

This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: The Leader stories that made an impact in Corning, beyond in 2023
In the past year, residents of Hornell, Steuben County and Allegany County have banded together, overcome challenges and fought to improve their communities.

Our reporters at The Spectator and eveningtribune.com, as well as our USA TODAY Network New York colleagues, have highlighted community members making an impact, dug deep through public records to publish investigative reports, and told firsthand stories about topics that matter most in the community.

Here are some of the stories that made a difference in 2023, told by Hornell journalists and our New York State Team. Have a story tip in 2024? Email news@eveningtribune.com.

Entrepreneurs open a flurry of small businesses in Hornell area

Dontae Mears has returned to where he grew up to found and open Terrace New York at 96 Main St. in Hornell. Terrace is an eco-friendly, sustainable business that produces and sells home goods, personal care items and house plants.

2023 was the year many local entrepreneurs took the leap and opened new small businesses. New enterprises were a constant theme throughout the year, providing additional jobs, services and tax revenue in Steuben and Allegany counties. We covered a flurry of business launches, including a new Ice Man setting up shop in the area, the debuts of Uncle Jacks Market, After Hours Archery, Belmont Wine & Spirits, Pookies Little Britches, Kubiak Style Cleaning, Dreambox Discounts and Terrace New York, along with a new home for Roots Combat Academy and Twin Tiers Chiropractic, plus a changing of the guard at Testani Tent Rentals, among others.

Changes to the dining, food scene in 2023

Danielle Blankenship, left, moved to 50 Park Drive in Hornell and opened Sprinkle This Cakery. The bakery features custom cakes, cupcakes and more. Tiffany Blankenship, Danielle's sister, helps display the new sign for the business.

The wave of new small businesses also extended to changes in the local food scene. Balloons East Restaurant opened to much fanfare in May at the former Club 57 on Seneca Road and abruptly closed in August. Other ventures had more success. Sprinkle This Cakery and the Dukes of Dough opened new locations in Hornell due to strong sales. Allegany Countys popular Birdsall Inn reopened under new ownership. The Dog Doctors, two retired Scio teachers, may serve up special hot dogs in a town near you. Book Cellars debuted its unique mix of wine, food and books on Wellsvilles Main Street.

The Canaseraga Soup and Coffee Company also took off in 2023. This week was very busy with folks who were just hearing of us! emailed owner Josie Kozlowski after The Spectators July profile of the business.

Hornell family grapples with loss after son struck by train

Tim Galusha was hit by a train and killed as he walked to his job at Consumer Square in Big Flats on Oct. 7. Galusha grew up in Hornell and graduated from Alfred-Almond Central School in 2014. His sudden death left family and friends searching for answers.

Timothy M. Tim Galusha

Reporter Neal Simon gave readers a window into who Galusha was, how friends from across four Southern Tier counties rallied around the family, and how those closest to him were grappling with the unexpected loss.

Read the story: Hornell mom left with questions after son struck, killed by train in Big Flats

A $345 utility bill became $68,000 as NYSEG, RG&E confront billing fiasco. What happened?

Utility billing issues plagued New Yorkers all over the state in early 2023, with hundreds saying they were being inaccurately billed, sometimes by exorbitant amounts, wrote New York State Team and local reporters Tom Zambito, Patrick Harney and Chris Potter. A call for readers to tell us about their billing experiences brought in 118 comments, one of which was from Carl Popp, of Poughkeepsie, who told us he religiously read his own meter to keep from being overbilled after bad experiences in the past.

We followed up with Popp, featuring him in a how-to story. Popp later wrote in an email: I hope (the story) will help all the other people with high estimated bills and enlighten them on what they can do themselves to lessen the problem.

Read the story: A $345 utility bill became $68,000 as NYSEG, RG&E confront billing fiasco. What happened?

Hospital expansion promises to change healthcare in Allegany County

A view inside construction at Wellsville's Jones Memorial Hospital, where a $25 million Transformation and Modernization Project is adding a new third floor and an MRI tower, among other renovations designed to improve healthcare in Allegany County.

Jones Memorial Hospitals $25 million expansion project made major strides in 2023, with the addition of a third floor and other major changes to the Wellsville facility taking shape over the course of the year. We reported how the project will change the nature of healthcare in Allegany County, consolidate more services under one roof, reduce the need to ship patients to Rochester, and bring more services to health care deserts in rural parts of the county. Jones Memorial also expanded care with the summer addition of a primary care facility in Andover serving southeastern Allegany County and nearby towns in Steuben County.

Read the story: How a $25M project at Jones Memorial Hospital will change health care in Allegany County

Major changes to Hornell landscape in 2023

The new Union Square Park at the corner of Seneca and Genesee features a covered stage. The city officially opened the park Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023.

The Hornell landscape underwent some historic changes in 2023. Union Square Park, funded by the citys Downtown Revitalization Initiative, debuted in the fall. The four-seasons park pays homage to Union Park, a popular downtown fixture that was lost to urban renewal programs in the early 1970s. The citys former Bryant Elementary School was repurposed into 39 workforce apartments in 2023, adding a much-needed affordable housing component to the citys rental options. Looking north, the citys first-ever business-class hotel, a four-story Hampton Inn by Hilton, opened in the fall. We also continued to track investments in city parks and infrastructure impacting the quality of life for Hornell residents.

Go inside: Take a sneak peek inside Bryant School Apartments, new Hornell housing option

Industry strengthens in 2023, boosting economic outlook

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks at Alstom in Hornell Tuesday, April 4, 2023, highlighting the impact of recent legislation on the rail industry and the Hornell workforce.

Both Alstom of Hornell and Ljungstrom of Wellsville had visits from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in 2023, highlighting their jobs growth and impact on the area economy. Ljungstrom continued to secure contracts in the offshore wind industry, while Alstom scored a $718.2 million contract from SEPTA. The growth of other industries in the area, such as HP Hood in Arkport and T&R Environmental in Bath, were also highlighted in 2023. Perhaps no figure played a larger role in Hornells industrial growth than Jim Griffin, who led the city IDA for nearly 50 years. We profiled Griffins outsized impact in August following his death at age 85.

Steuben County village rocked by investigation, arrest of former clerk-treasurer

Addison was thrown into turmoil for much of 2023 as the Steuben County villages finances were investigated by the New York State Comptrollers Office. The early part of the year featured contentious board meetings and the election of a new mayor who resigned 10 days after being sworn into office. The other shoe dropped in November when longtime village clerk-treasurer Ursula Stone was charged with stealing some $1.1 million in public funds.

Addison Village Hall

We informed readers about the turmoil in local government throughout the year, and detailed how the investigation alleged the theft of public money occurred over nearly two decades. A follow-up report detailed the impact to the local tax base and how Addison has changed village policies to prevent future abuses of public funds.

Read the story: Former Addison village clerk stole more than $1 million over 19 years, comptroller says

Some NY hospitals nixed medical debt lawsuits. Others sued 1,600 patients for $9M

A USA TODAY Network investigation by New York State Team reporter David Robinson found a group of 17 hospitals and health systems sued about 1,600 New Yorkers to collect medical debts totaling $9 million since early 2022, despite a push to end the controversial practice.

When questioned about the lawsuits listed in court records, some hospital systems denied they filed lawsuits or pointed to the charity care they deliver each year. Others said they were phasing out the practice of suing patients over medical debt.

One health system, WMC Health, also appeared to have halted its debt lawsuits following the USA TODAY Network reporting in 2019 on its connections to a debt-collection law firm under federal investigation.

Read the story: Some NY hospitals nixed medical debt lawsuits. Others sued 1,600 patients for $9M

This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: The Spectator stories that made an impact in Hornell, beyond in 2023
This article was produced for ProPublicas Local Reporting Network in partnership with Capitol News Illinois.

The judge responsible for the administration of a troubled juvenile detention center in rural southern Illinois abruptly moved to close it as of Dec. 31, citing staffing shortages that made it difficult to meet new state standards governing the treatment of youth in custody.

The Franklin County Juvenile Detention Center had been featured in a November report by Capitol News Illinois and ProPublica that exposed the states lax enforcement of its own standards, despite audits that repeatedly found poor conditions at the facility.

Those standards were updated by the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice in 2021. The changes aimed to improve education and mental health services for detained youths and to limit the use of restraints and seclusion, or locking kids alone in their cells for hours.

But in an inspection the following year, the state agency described the Franklin County Juvenile Detention Center as a facility in crisis: It did not provide the required mental health care, schooling and recreation for the children in custody, and staff locked youth in their rooms for up to 24 hours for behavioral infractions or because of short staffing. Facilities are only allowed to use seclusion to prevent someone from harming themselves or others.

That same year, the Illinois Supreme Court, which shares oversight of the states juvenile detention centers, also found that the Franklin County center did not meet its standards. In the summer of 2023, the facility was sued by the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, alleging it had violated youths constitutional rights by subjecting them to excessive forms of restraint and seclusion while denying them adequate education and mental health services. The facility had still not come into compliance as of the end of 2023.

In the face of these reports, in the late summer and fall of last year, the Franklin county board publicly debated the fate of the building, which is owned by the county. In hopes of keeping the juvenile detention center open, the board approved about $200,000 for upgrades. Earlier, workers salaries had also increased from $28,000 to $43,000 annually, according to the juvenile justice departments January 2023 audit.

The November article by Capitol News Illinois and ProPublica found that some of the conditions noted by state auditors more than a year prior had continued at the facility in Benton, as well as in some of the other 15 juvenile detention centers where problems had been identified.

The news organizations reporting also revealed that the centers staff often relied on backup from the local sheriffs office, which sometimes used restraints in ways that are not typical or not allowed in juvenile detention centers, as law enforcement records obtained by Capitol News Illinois showed. Franklin County Sheriff Kyle Bacon defended the actions of his deputies and said that he did not believe his office was bound by the state standards for juvenile detention centers as his office was not involved in the centers administration.

Despite these mounting concerns, the closure of the Benton detention center took some county officials, state lawmakers and employees by surprise. One longtime employee told county officials during a Tuesday night board meeting that staff were blindsided by the announcement four days before Christmas.

Two state lawmakers who represent the region, Rep. Dave Severin, R-Benton, and Sen. Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro, expressed frustration that they had not been made aware of closure plans in advance and had learned of them from an employee after the decision was made.

Melissa Morgan, chief judge of the 2nd Judicial Circuit Court of Illinois, who made the closure decision, declined an interview through her administrative assistant.

Her court issued a statement about the closure late last week. It did not mention the critical audits, but it did say workforce shortages made it difficult to comply with the new standards and laws.

Youth detention facilities in Illinois operate like adult jails and hold youth in custody while their cases are pending in court. When the 32-bed facility closed last month, it housed only a handful of youth, though it was designated as a holding place for 26 southern Illinois counties  the lower quarter of the state. Most youth from those counties will now be sent to facilities in metro-east Illinois, bordering St. Louis, or out of state, potentially moving them further from their support systems.

The news organizations November reporting highlighted the fact that Illinois officials charged with inspecting the detention centers have little authority to enforce compliance. State Sen. Rachel Ventura, D-Joliet, said that she is in talks with state and court officials about how to strengthen that oversight. She said the many layers of government involved complicates the process, but she plans to propose legislation in the spring session of the Illinois General Assembly that would streamline the process for closing facilities.

Kevin Fee, a staff attorney with the ACLU of Illinois, said that his organization sued the facility in June when it found that the troubling state audits had not led to improvements.

Lawyers for the court and the county denied the allegations in court filings in November. The case is pending, though it may be rendered moot because it sought to improve conditions for youth into the future, not to win remedies for those it alleged had been previously harmed.

I think that the closure of the facility is a good outcome, and we read it as an acknowledgement that the facility really has not been serving the youth that it houses adequately for some time, as we alleged in our lawsuit, Fee said. We hope that other facilities in the state that house youth will use this to measure their own conditions, and well continue to monitor them.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 04: Recently arrived migrants board a bus back to their temporary tent shelters at Floyd Bennett Field, a former airfield in Brooklyn, on January 04, 2024 in New York City. The isolated location on a road that leads to the Atlantic Ocean has forced migrants to depend on limited sources of transportation to get to schools, work or other locations. The 2,000-bed shelter, which opened in November to house migrant families, was chosen after the Eric Adams administration said hotels and other places of shelter had hit capacity, after New York became the main destination for buses from Texas. Spencer Platt/Getty Images NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 04: Recently arrived migrants board a bus back to their temporary tent shelters at Floyd Bennett Field, a former airfield in Brooklyn, on January 04, 2024 in New York City. The isolated location on a road that leads to the Atlantic Ocean has forced migrants to depend on limited sources of transportation to get to schools, work or other locations. The 2,000-bed shelter, which opened in November to house migrant families, was chosen after the Eric Adams administration said hotels and other places of shelter had hit capacity, after New York became the main destination for buses from Texas. Spencer Platt/Getty Images New York City Mayor Eric Adams speaks during a news conference in the Blue Room at City Hall, Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023. (Jeff Bachner/New York Daily News/TNS) Jeff Bachner/TNS Migrants are checked in for a bus headed to San Antonio, at Mission: Border Hope in Eagle Pass, Texas, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. A surge of migrants crossing has been seen in the area. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott started busing migrants from South Texas to Chicago and New York 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. After crossing the Rio Grande and surrendering to authorities, migrants are released to the shelter where they can buy a ticket to San Antonio for $50. Those with tickets to other destinations are taken to the airport or bus station in San Antonio. Those without tickets are taken to the San Antonio Migrant Resource Center. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News New York City Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs Commissioner Manuel Castro, center, welcomes migrants arriving at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on Sept. 6, 2023. Despite New York Mayor Eric Adams' recent rules restricting when buses can arrive, Southern states are sending buses of migrants to New Jersey, where many of them continue on to New York City. (Luiz C. Ribeiro/New York Daily News/TNS) Luiz C. Ribeiro/TNS FILE - Migrants queue in the cold as they look for a shelter outside a migrant assistance center at St. Brigid Elementary School on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023, in New York. Nervous officials in suburbs and outlying cities near Chicago and New York are giving migrants arriving from the southern border a cold shoulder. Edison, New Jersey, the mayor warned he would send people back to the border if they came to his city in buses. The moves come amid attempts to circumvent new limits on dropping migrants in the two cities, opening a new front in response to efforts led by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to pay for migrants to leave his state. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki, File) Andres Kudacki/Associated Press NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 04: Recently arrived migrants walk from their temporary tent shelters at Floyd Bennett Field, a former airfield in Brooklyn, on January 04, 2024 in New York City. The isolated location on a road that leads to the Atlantic Ocean has forced migrants to depend on limited sources of transportation to get to schools, work or other locations. The 2,000-bed shelter, which opened in November to house migrant families, was chosen after the Eric Adams administration said hotels and other places of shelter had hit capacity, after New York became the main destination for buses from Texas. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Spencer Platt/Getty Images A U.S. Border Patrol agent gathers migrants personal belongings after they surrendered to Texas National Guard by the Camino Real International Bridge in Eagle Pass, Texas, Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022. A surge of migrants crossing has been seen in the area. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott started busing migrants from South Texas to Chicago and New York 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

New York City is suing more than a dozen companies that have bused migrants from Texas at Gov. Greg Abbotts direction, the first major legal effort to thwart the Republicans campaign targeting Democratic cities.

The lawsuit, filed in New York Supreme Court, accuses the 17 companies of violating a New York state law that penalizes anyone who knowingly brings, or causes to be brought, a needy person from out of the state into this state for the purpose of making him a public charge.

New York officials are seeking $708 million from the companies  the amount they say the city has spent to care for tens of thousands of migrants who have arrived from Texas. Abbott announced last week that the state had bused more than 33,600 migrants to New York City since August 2022.

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New York City has and will always do our part to manage this humanitarian crisis, but we cannot bear the costs of reckless political ploys from the state of Texas alone, New York Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement.

Abbott, a third-term Republican, began busing migrants to Washington, D.C., in April 2022 in an effort to draw President Joe Bidens attention to an unprecedented surge of migration across the U.S.-Mexico border. He expanded the operation to New York City later that year, calling the city the ideal destination for these migrants, who can receive the abundance of city services and housing that Mayor Eric Adams has boasted about within the sanctuary city.

The lawsuit was filed by the citys Department of Social Services commissioner, Molly Wasow Park, as designated by the states penalty for bringing a needy person into the state law.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul backed the move, saying in a statement that if the companies are getting paid to break the law by transporting people in need of public assistance into our state, they should be on the hook for the cost of sheltering those individuals  not just passing that expense along to hard-working New Yorkers.

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Abbott called the lawsuit baseless and said it deserves to be sanctioned.

Every migrant bused or flown to New York City did so voluntarily, after having been authorized by the Biden Administration to remain in the United States, he said in a written statement. As such, they have constitutional authority to travel across the country that Mayor Adams is interfering with.

Several of the bus and transportation companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A San Antonio-area bus charter company  VLP Charter LLC of Von Ormy  is among those named as defendants.

Luciano Villpando, VLPs registered agent, hung up on a reporter when reached for comment Thursday. The Texas secretary of states website shows VLP hasnt filed a public information report since 2021.

The lawsuit comes as New York and other major cities have sought to restrict the flow of buses bringing migrants from Texas and other states. Adams last week issued an executive order requiring charter bus companies to provide 32 hours notice before dropping off migrants in the city, along with information on whom they are transporting. The order also requires the companies to drop off passengers at designated locations during specific daytime hours after Adams office described 14 rogue buses with migrants arrived from Texas in a single night.

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In a statement, Adams office said many of the bus companies named in the lawsuit are evading compliance with the executive order by busing migrants to New Jersey train stations and then having the migrants take a train to New York City.

Texas immigration policies also came under fire this week from the Biden administration, which sued to block a new Texas law that empowers state officials to essentially deport people who are suspected of crossing the border illegally.

In response, Abbott said Biden would rather sue Texas for our efforts to secure the border than enforce federal laws that would eliminate this crisis.

Texas will not back down, Abbott posted on X. We will continue to build new barriers, repel illegal crossings, and transport migrants to relieve overwhelmed communities.
Lawyers representing a Massachusetts woman accused of killing a Boston police officer have mounted their latest bid to defend their client  this time by filing a late Friday motion that seeks to get the indictments tossed over alleged prosecutorial misconduct.

The defenses motion also sheds new light on a federal investigation involving witnesses in the case.

Prosecutors have charged Karen Read with second-degree murder for allegedly killing her Boston police officer boyfriend John OKeefe by backing into him with her SUV and leaving him to die in a snowstorm on Jan. 29, 2022.

Boston 25 obtained the defenses Friday afternoon filing, in which Reads lawyers says the Norfolk County District Attorney has disclosed six letters dated May to November 2023 between the DAs office and the U.S. Attorneys Office, U.S. Department of Justice or the FBI.

The motion says in a May 18, 2023 four-page letter, Norfolk County DA Michael Morrissey told the Office of Professional Responsibility at the U.S. Department of Justice that he was aware that multiple state witnesses in the Read case had received subpoenas to appear before a Federal Grand Jury.

According to the defenses motion, that May 18, 2023 letter from Morrissey says that the first assistant at the U.S. Attorneys Office spoke with the DAs office disclosing the existence of a federal investigation involving a number of the witnesses in the Karen Read case.

The defenses motion says Morriseys letter also says: we have confirmed that witnesses testified before the Grand Jury.

But the defense motion also says that in a Dec. 4 notice of discovery, the DAs office said it had received no confirmation about whether any witnesses in the Read case had testified before a federal grand jury.

Compounding its failure to make timely disclosure to the defense of this information it knew about and that tended to negate the defendants guilt, the Commonwealth failed to make any disclosure at all until it was apparent that media outlets had gained the information and would be reporting it, reads the defense motion, referring to 25 Investigates reporting.

The Commonwealths assertion in its court-filed Notice of Discovery was patently false, the motion later reads.

The defense says Morrissey used that letter to argue that the U.S. Attorney office was targeted his office for investigation because of the then-outgoing U.S. Attorneys personal animosity toward me.

Reads defense team also argues that Morrisseys August video calling for an end to harassment of witnesses amounted to tainting the jury pool and unethical personally vouch[ing] for numerous, named Commonwealth witnesses

Reads team wants the judge to dismiss indictments against Read over Morrisseys alleged failure to adhere to ethics rules and constitutional due process requirements.

It was unclear Friday whether that argument would hold water with three months to go before the March 12 trial.

Morrisseys spokesperson David Traub said: The office is reviewing the defense filings but has no comment at this time.

Read appeared in Norfolk Superior Court Friday as her team continued its pre-trial fight to discredit prosecutors case against her.

Judge Beverly Cannone heard several motions filed by prosecutors and the defense team for Karen Read  the Massachusetts woman accused of killing her Boston police officer boyfriend John OKeefe by backing into him with her SUV and leaving him to die in a snowstorm.

Reads defense attorneys want the court to make public letters sent between the Norfolk County District Attorneys Office and federal authorities about the case.

Prosecutors want those letters impounded.

Judge Cannone said the defense should have legally served the U.S. Attorneys office to allow that office to weigh in on the issue.

Reads defense team also wanted communications  like texts or social media messages  between a witness in the case and a lead investigators family member who isnt a witness.

Cannone denied that motion and said Reads lawyer didnt show those communications would yield relevant, admissible evidence for trial.

But Judge Cannone allowed a motion for communications between the witness and the lead investigator, Trooper Michael Proctor.

The request comes weeks after 25 Investigates reported that Norfolk DA Michael Morrissey had sent a letter to the Department of Justice in May, requesting that the federal probe of the Karen Read case be transferred out of Massachusetts, based on potential conflicts with the U.S. Attorneys Office in Boston.

Morrisseys letter provided the first official confirmation that the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Massachusetts is looking into the arrest and prosecution of Read.

The Norfolk DAs office wants to impound that letter and others that Morrissey and his first assistant exchanged with federal authorities in Boston and at the U.S. Department of Justice. The DAs office shared the letters with Reads Defense team on December 4th as discovery.

OKeefes body was found just after 6 a.m. on Jan. 29, 2022, outside the Canton home of another Boston officer named Brian Albert. Police charged Read with second-degree murder and said she struck OKeefe while driving in reverse after dropping him off at the Albert home following a night of drinking.

Reads lawyers have alleged shes being framed as part of a wide-ranging conspiracy involving everyone from emergency response officials who arrived to the scene, to local and state law enforcement.

The defenses Friday motion argues that law enforcement officers participated in and furthered the cover-up of what happened to John OKeefe inside 34 Fairview Road, including by planting incriminating evidence falsely implicating the defendant in John OKeefes death.

Since spring 2023, her team has pointed to cell phone evidence, an apparent failure to seriously consider other suspects and photos posted on social media suggesting alleged connections between Albert party attendees and law enforcement and

Prosecutors say theyve amassed a pile of evidence  from interviews with numerous witnesses who said Read was asking if she hit OKeefe the morning his body was found, to forensic evidence of skull fractures that led to bruising on his face, to an apparent human hair found on Reads Lexus, to voicemails and text messages suggesting discord between OKeefe and Read, to records showing Read was still intoxicated the morning OKeefes body was found.

Norfolk Assistant District Attorney Adam Lally has said microscopic pieces of red and clear plastic were recovered on OKeefes shirt. Prosecutors have been comparing those pieces with pieces of broken taillight from Reads SUV.

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

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Kate Garraway will take a leave of absence from her presenting roles following the death of husband, former political adviser Derek Draper, aged 56.

On Friday (5 January), Good Morning Britain presenter Garraway announced that her husband had died after suffering long-lasting symptoms from Covid-19.

In a statement shared on Instagram, she wrote: Im sad to have to tell you all that my darling husband Derek has passed away.

As some of you may know he has been critically ill following a cardiac arrest in early December which, because of the damage inflicted by Covid in March 2020, led to further complications. Derek was surrounded by his family in his final days and I was by his side holding his hand throughout the last long hours and when he passed.

Following the announcement, Garraway, 56, will be taking a break from her TV and radio presenting roles for the time being. The presenter, who hosts GMB and her own show on Smooth Radio, plans to return to work in the future, the PA news agency understands.

After the Garraway shared the news on social media, Garraways famous friends rushed to offer their condolences, with RIP Derek trending on Twitter into Friday evening.

You can follow The Independents live blog for the latest tributes and updates.

Kate Garraway, with her husband Derek Draper and her parents Gordon and Marilyn Garraway (PA Archive)

Draper fell seriously ill with Covid-19 in March 2020 and spent 13 months in hospital before he was discharged. Despite being free of the virus, he had suffered long-lasting damage to his organs and required daily care.

In July 2022, Garraway confirmed that her husband, with whom she shares two children, had been readmitted to hospital and later that month it was reported that his condition had worsened.

In December, it was reported on GMB that Draper was in a very serious condition after suffering a cardiac arrest.

Writing about her husbands death on social media, Garraway thanked the medical teams who fought so hard to save him and to make his final moments as comfortable and dignified as possible.

She added: Sending so much love and thanks to all of you who have so generously given our family so much support. Rest gently and peacefully now Derek, my love, I was so lucky to have you in my life.

A former political lobbyist who later became a psychotherapist, Derek was remembered on social media by former prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, as well as former party leader Ed Miliband.

Blair said Draper was an important part of the New Labour story, at the centre of things right at the beginning who will be missed as a good colleague and great friend.

GMB and ITV stars were among those to pay tribute to Draper as a brilliantly clever and funny man and praise Garraway for being so strong and brave when helping her husband through his long illness.

Her co-star Ben Shephard shared a poignant tribute to Instagram with a picture of Draper kissing Garraway on the cheek.

On what has been the saddest of days @kategarraway Ive been reminding myself of the wonderful times and memories we have all shared together, he wrote.

This is how Ill always think of Derek  bringing you so much joy, your smile says it all, the size of which is matched only by his love for you, Darcey and Bill. Sending all our love Kate to you and all the family. He added: Also thank you to everyone who has reached out to me, I promise I will pass on your messages, I know they will bring Kate so much comfort as they have for the last few years.

Lorraine Kelly wrote on Instagram: This is just so sad. Our friend Kate Garraway has been so strong and brave. Thoughts with her and her children and family. She was right by his side until the end and did him proud. An astonishing woman.

In 2021, Garraway won a prize at the National Television Awards for the documentary Finding Derek, about her familys experience during the pandemic.

She followed the special up with Caring For Derek, and had a third ITV documentary planned. Garraway also brought out several books describing her experience.

Additional reporting by Press Association
Brett Kavanaugh, the US supreme court justice, will step up for Donald Trump and help defeat attempts to remove the former president from the ballots in Colorado and Maine for inciting an insurrection, a Trump lawyer said.

Related: Storm Trump is brewing - and the whole world needs to brace itself | Jonathan Freedland

I think it should be a slam dunk in the supreme court, Alina Habba told Fox News on Thursday night. I have faith in them.

The supreme court said Friday it will consider the Colorado matter.

You know, people like Kavanaugh, who the president fought for, who the president went through hell to get into place, hell step up. Those people will step up. Not because theyre pro-Trump but because theyre pro-law, because theyre pro-fairness. And the law on this is very clear.

Kavanaugh was the second of three justices appointed by Trump, creating a 6-3 rightwing majority that has delivered major Republican victories including removing the federal right to abortion and loosening gun control laws.

Habbas reference to Trump going through hell was to a stormy confirmation during which Kavanaugh was accused of sexual assault, which he angrily denied. Trump reportedly wavered on Kavanaugh, only for senior Republicans to persuade him to stay strong.

Observers were quick to notice Habbas apparent invitation to corruption.

Caroline Ciccone, the president of the watchdog Accountable.US, said: Former President Trumps lawyers are saying the quiet part out loud.

The Trump administration outsourced judicial selection efforts to [the rightwing activist] Leonard Leo and the Federalist Society, who hand-picked the current conservative majority, funded their confirmation battles, and have been rewarding them with off-the-books gifts and luxury travel ever since.

The former presidents lawyer asking judges the Trump administration appointed to step up to shield him from consequences is disgraceful and raises significant questions about the independence of the court.

Michael Kagan, a law professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, sounded a legal ethics alert, adding that if Kavanaugh feels in any way that he owes Trump and will step up, then [Habba] should be sanctioned by the bar for saying this on TV and thus trying to prejudice a proceeding.

Last month, the Colorado supreme court and the Maine secretary of state ruled that Trump should be removed from those states ballots under the 14th amendment to the US constitution, passed after the civil war to stop insurrectionists holding office.

Trump incited the deadly January 6 attack on Congress in 2021, an attempt to stop certification of his defeat by Joe Biden. Impeached but acquitted, he is now the frontrunner for the Republican nomination for the presidential election this year.

Trump appealed both state rulings. In a supreme court filing in the Colorado case, lawyers argued that only Congress could resolve such a dispute and that the presidency was not an office of state as defined in the 14th amendment.

The relevant text does not mention the presidency or vice-presidency. ABC News has reported exchanges in debate in 1866 in which those positions are covered.

On Fox News, Habba said Trump has not been charged with insurrection. He has not been prosecuted for it. He has not been found guilty of it.

She then made her prediction about Kavanaugh and other justices stepping up.
Everything Everywhere All At Once star Ke Huy Quan has landed his first lead role since becoming an Oscar winner.

Quan, who took home the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Everything, has signed on to star in upcoming action movie With Love.

With Love comes from Universal and David Leitch and Kelly McCormicks production company 87North.

Taylor Hill - Getty Images

Related: Loki boss addresses key character absence in season 2 finale

Directing will be Jonathan Eusebio, who is making his feature directing debut after a long career as a 2nd unit director and stunt coordinator.

Deadline reports that the film's plot details are under wraps. However, Luke Passmore is adapting an original script by Josh Stoddard and Matthew Murray.

Last March, Quan made history as the first Vietnam-born actor to win an Academy Award. He had previously been a child actor, starring as Data in The Goonies and as Short Round in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

Following the release of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny last year, the film's director James Mangold explained why Quan's character didn't make a return to the franchise.



PATRICK T. FALLON - Getty Images

Related: Loki boss confirms "no plans" for a season 3

We looked at all these different things, but the first thing we were trying to do was assemble a story that made sense in the present, meaning in the 1969 section of the movie," he said.

If you notice the only person we follow through the whole way is Indy himself  joined by Helena [Shaw, played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge], and I felt like we needed to have a female lead who challenged him.

"But we looked at all these different things and tried to figure out how they would work. I just didn't want another adult along for the ride."

Quan has also more recently starred in the second season of Disney+ series Loki, with one scene even including a fun tribute to his Goonies character.

Loki seasons 1-2 are streaming on Disney+.

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NASHUA  Kelly Ayotte, Republican candidate for governor of New Hampshire, announced she has received the endorsement of Ruth Griffin of Portsmouth, a longtime party stalwart in the state.

Griffin is a former state representative, state senator and 20-year member of the Executive Council. Ayotte is a former U.S. senator and was New Hampshire's first female attorney general.

Kelly Ayotte has been a lifelong friend and associate," Griffin said in a prepared statement released by the Ayotte campaign. "I trust her for New Hampshire without any hesitation. Kelly has the backbone and lots of strength behind her to get the job done.

Kelly Ayotte, left, hugs Portsmouth's Ruth Griffin in Portsmouth during a 2010 campaign event in Portsmouth. Ayotte was running for the U.S. Senate at the time and won the election.

Ayotte returned the compliment.

Ruth Griffin is one of New Hampshires most accomplished leaders and a true treasure of our state. She embodies the spirit of New Hampshire and is a testament to our states dedication to public service, Ayotte said in a prepared statement. Im honored to have Ruths support and I am forever grateful for her wisdom and mentorship. I look forward to continuing Ruths work to make New Hampshire the best place to live in the country.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Kelly Ayotte gets NH governor endorsement from Ruth Griffin
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced Thursday that the annual State of the State address would be held in a week.

On Jan. 11, Kemp will address a joint session of the Georgia General Assembly.

Doing so, hell speak on the past year in Georgia.

The event is expected to begin at 11 a.m. at the Georgia Capitol.

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Commenting on an earlier statement by a U.S. official that Washington may not provide aid to Kyiv on the level of the 2022-2023 period, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba clarified on Jan. 5 that this was not in reference to U.S. support in 2024.

The decrease referred to a future situation when Ukraine can stand on its feet and counter Russian aggression, Kuleba told journalist Vadym Karpiak in an interview published on Instagram.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Jan. 4 that Washington is committed to supporting Ukraine for "as long as it takes," but that does not mean the same level of military funding as was provided in the past two years.

Such support should not be necessary as the U.S.'s ultimate goal is to help Ukraine become more self-reliant and help the country rebuild its industrial and military base, Miller added.

"This (statement) is not about support in the year 2024. The State Department said that once Ukraine is firmly on its feet and has enough weapons and resources to counter Russian aggression, the support amount may be reduced," Kuleba commented.

"It is not about a reduction in 2024 because, as the State Department's representative said himself, Ukraine still currently... needs support in the declared amount."

Miller's comments come as other U.S. officials have acknowledged that there is essentially no money left for Ukraine aid absent legislative action by Congress.

The U.S. has been mired in an ongoing debate about authorized new funding for Ukraine, which has become an increasingly partisan issue. Senate Republicans blocked a bill containing $61 billion in aid for Ukraine in early December largely for domestic political reasons.

Seeing foreign supplies becoming less certain, Ukraine has been increasingly focused on upping its domestic military-industrial capacity, which President Volodymyr Zelensky said had tripled in 2023.

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

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  The Las Vegas judge attacked in court Wednesday has ordered the man who lunged over her bench, injuring her and several staff, to appear before her Monday by any and all means necessary, court documents said.

NEW: Video shows man charging at Las Vegas judge before attack

As the 8 News Now Investigators first reported, Deobra Redden, 30, a three-time felon, was in Clark County District Court Judge Mary Kay Holthus courtroom for sentencing on a charge of attempted battery with substantial bodily harm. As Holthus was getting ready to sentence Redden to prison, he lunged over the bench and attacked her.

Holthus was about to deny Reddens probation request when Redden ran up to her, jumped over the bench, and attacked her, video shared with the 8 News Now Investigators showed. Several other people then fought with Redden before throwing him to the ground.

Video shared with the 8 News Now Investigators shows several minutes of chaos after a man jumped a judges bench, attacking her. (KLAS)

After leaping over the bench, Redden allegedly slammed Holthus head against a wall, struck her once on the head, and pulled some hair out of her head, documents said. She then hid under her desk balled up covering her face. The ensuing struggle lasted several minutes.

Holthus marshal, identified as Shane Brandon, received 25 stitches to a gash on his face, documents said. Brandon was preparing to handcuff Redden at the time. He also dislocated his shoulder.

Redden also hit and punched a corrections officer who was present in the courtroom, documents said. Holthus law clerk, Michael Lasso, was cut several times on his hand in the melee.

Las Vegas Metro police released this booking photo of Deobra Redden, 30, taken after the court attack on Jan. 3, 2024. (LVMPD/KLAS)

After the attack, in a holding cell near the courtroom, Redden reportedly told an officer, Judge has it out for me, Judge is evil, Im sorry you guys had to see that, documents said. Another officer said Redden asked him if what he did was wrong.

Redden also told corrections officers he had a bad day and tried to kill her, according to documents the 8 News Now Investigators first obtained Thursday.

While at the Clark County Detention Center, Redden allegedly spit in a corrections officers face, police said. Chief Judge Jerry Wiese said Holthus returned to work Thursday.

Holthus was also working Friday, as indicated by the filing of new documents in the initial attempted battery case. The filing Friday ordered officers to bring Redden to court by any and all means necessary. Redden could still appear in court via teleconference from jail.

Redden faced 13 charges in connection with Wednesdays attack in a new court case. A Las Vegas Justice Court judge, not Holthus, will hear bail arguments in that case Tuesday.

As the 8 News Now Investigators reported Wednesday, Redden was previously in front of Holthus on charges of malicious destruction of property. Records show he served prison time on a domestic battery charge for a year, starting in 2021. In that case, a different judge sentenced Redden to prison for a term of 12-30 months. A board granted Redden parole in 2022.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Is Israel scaling back its attacks in the Gaza Strip? It appears so as the Israel Defense Forces confirmed that thousands of Israeli soldiers will soon be withdrawn from the Palestinian city.

As 2024 begins, many Palestinian and Israeli civilians are hoping that the Israel-Hamas war will soon end. But, the Israeli government said that the battle against the Palestinian terrorist group will still continue. Although this is the case, IDF officials announced the biggest known troop withdrawal from the Gaza Strip ever since the war officially began in October 2023.

IDF Confirms Mass Troop Withdrawal in Gaza

According to CNN World's latest report, the military withdrawal was announced by the Israel Defense Forces after confirming that it would expand operations in the southern and central Gaza Strip.

IDF officials said that the 14th and 551st brigades will be sent home to their families, allowing them to return to their civilian lives in the first week of January.

Meanwhile, Israel said that other brigades will return to their scheduled training sessions. These include the 460th (trains the armored corps), 261st (trains army officers), and the 828th brigade (trains squad commanders.

"Some of the reservists will return to their families and work this week," said IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari.

"This will allow considerable relief for the economy and will allow them to gather strength for the next activity in the coming year and the fighting will continue and we will still need them," he added via Euro News.

However, Hagari didn't confirm if the mass soldier withdrawal is a part of Israel's efforts to launch a new phase of war with Hamas terrorists.

Read Also: Israeli Airstrike Killed 2 Australians, Suspected Hezbollah Fighter in Lebanon

Is Israel Scaling Back Attacks in Gaza?

Although the Israel Defense Forces didn't confirm if it is scaling back its attacks in the Gaza Strip, a senior U.S. official said that this effort is a clear sign that Israel is gradually shifting to a lower-intensity phase of war.

Some military experts even claim that the mass military withdrawal could lead to a long-term scaled-back war phase against the Palestinian militant organization.

As of writing, U.S. officials are expecting that the military pull-out will demonstrate the willingness Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to move to a scaled-back intensity phase.

But, this doesn't mean that the war between the Israeli government and Hamas will soon be over.

Related Article: Biden Administration Sells Weapons to Israel, Bypassing Congressional Review
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Two people have been arrested, and another suspect remains outstanding, after a deadly shooting at a Las Vegas homeless encampment.

It took place on Dec. 1, 2023, at East Charleston Boulevard and North Honolulu Street near U.S. 95 at an encampment where five unhoused people were living.

Police allege that Cristobal Omar Perez, 31, was the suspected gunman, and his girlfriend Kylee Au Young, 21, was another suspect in the shooting.

Two people were killed in the shooting and were identified by police as Timothy Brenton and Ashley Burrell. Three other unhoused people were also injured during the shooting.

Police search for suspect after 5 unhoused people shot in east Las Vegas

Police told 8 News Now they believed the suspects had planned the shooting.

What we know now is this was clearly a targeted planned attack on these specific unhoused individuals that were living there in that encampment, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Lt. Jason Johannsen said at a news conference on Thursday night.

Before the shooting, Perez was allegedly dropped off in a neighborhood north of where the shooting occurred, according to police. He later waited for a black SUV to pick him up along Sandhill Road near Charleston. Once the SUV parked on Sandhill Road, Perez is accused of walking toward the homeless encampment where he immediately started shooting, police said.

East Las Vegas valley shooting leaves 1 dead and 4 injured near Charleston Boulevard and U.S. 95. on Dec. 1, 2023. (KLAS)

After the shooting, Perez left the area and met up with Au Young who was waiting in another getaway vehicle for him. They were then dropped off and the two drove home to their residences in the northwest Las Vegas valley, police said.

Las Vegas homeless population expresses safety concerns as killer remains at large

Metro detectives continue to look for another suspect in the case and are working to identify that person, according to Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Lt. Jason Johannsen.

On Thursday night, police said they were still investigating a motive in the shooting.

All signs indicate that there was some sort of dispute between a relative of Cristobal who lives in the area to the north of where this shooting took place and then as a result of this dispute this shooting occurred, Johannsen said.

Both Perez and Au Young face murder and battery with a deadly weapon charges, according to Las Vegas Metro police.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Ohio Pastor William Dunfree was found guilty Monday of federal charges for his role in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

The latest Ohioan convicted of crimes related to the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol is a pastor who federal authorities say preached election denialism to his Coshocton County congregation.

William Dunfee, 58, of Frazeysburg, was convicted Monday by U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton in a bench trial in Washington D.C. of obstruction of an official proceeding or aiding and abetting, civil disorder and entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds.

Dunfee, the pastor at New Beginnings Ministry in Warsaw, twice pushed a metal barricade against Capitol officers and used a bullhorn to rally the crowd, according to videos from Jan. 6, 2021.

Walton will sentence Dunfee on May 24.

Context: Some Ohioans sentenced for Jan. 6 insurrection blame actions on extremist media

Federal authorities continue to arrest and prosecute suspects and have charged 64 Ohioans as of the recent third anniversary of the attack that temporarily interrupted the certification of President Joe Biden's electoral victory in the 2020 general election. Biden also overwhelmingly won the popular vote.

With Dunfees conviction, 50 Ohioans have been convicted, at trial or by pleading guilty. Of those, 44 have been sentenced. Six defendants have been convicted and are waiting for sentencing and 14 suspects were charged, but their cases have not been resolved.

The most recent sentencing was of Ryan Swoope, 29, of Perry. U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden sentenced Swoope on Jan. 9 to four years and three months in prison followed by two years of supervised release.

Swoope previously pleaded guilty to one count of assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers. He pepper-sprayed a Capitol Police sergeant in the face, according to federal prosecutors.

Here is where all the cases stand for Ohioans who have been charged with participating in the Jan. 6, 2011, assault on the U.S. Capitol. Some ages were unavailable in court records, while some ages listed may be from the defendant's arrest or sentencing.

Pending cases

Jared Hunter Adams, 27, of Hilliard, was arrested in 2021 and charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building, violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, and knowingly engaging in disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building. His next court date is scheduled in February.

Therese Mauer Borgerding, of Piqua, was arrested in July 2021. She has since been charged in a superseding indictment with civil disorder, entering and remaining in a restricted building, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Court documents allege Borgerding, her husband and Walter Messer were there together. No charges have been filed against Borgerding's husband. According to the documents, a YouTube video shows Therese Borgerding moving metal barricades and entering Capitol grounds, and surveillance footage shows her inside. Her jury trial is currently scheduled for this month, but her attorney has asked the judge to postpone.

Trevor Cain, 38, of Aurora, was arrested in June and charged with felony obstruction of an official proceeding and multiple misdemeanor counts. His next court date is scheduled for March.

Shawndale and Donald Chilcoat, a couple from Celina, were both indicted in September 2022 on charges of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; entering and remaining in the gallery of Congress; disorderly conduct on the Capitol grounds; parade, demonstrate or picket in any of the Capitol buildings; obstruction or impeding any official proceeding. Their trial is still pending.

Joshua Coker, 45, of Oregon, Lucas County, in northwest Ohio, was arrested in July and charged with entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, entering and remaining in the Gallery of Congress, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.

Jonathan Joseph Copeland, 28, of Fort Shawnee, was arrested in August 2022 and accused of shoving a large metal sign into officers. He is charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers using a dangerous weapon or inflicting bodily injury; civil disorder; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. His jury trial is set for February.

Robert and Steven Hanna, 39-year-old twin brothers from Dayton, were arrested in July. Both Hanna brothers are charged with entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Their next court date is later this month.

Dean Robert Harshman, 36, of Waynesville, was arrested in July and charged with obstruction or impeding an official proceeding; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. His next court date is scheduled for Feb. 13.

Jared Kastner, 26, of Beavercreek, was arrested in December 2021 and charged with entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. His jury trial is scheduled for April.

Dustin Martin, 29, of Grove City, was arrested in June along with his friend, Cody Tippett (see below), whom he drove with to Washington. According to court records, Martin posted on Facebook: So now I can say Ive been hit with rubber bullets, bear mace, pepper spray, tear gas, and wrestle with Capital Police (sic)  Ill do it all over again too! Martin is charged with obstruction of an official proceeding; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building or grounds; parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. He remains free while his case continues in court.

Two Grove City men, Cody Lee Tippett and Dustin Martin, right, were arrested and charged by federal authorities with taking part in the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Martin's case is pending while Tippett pleaded guilty to two charges in December and will be sentenced later this year.

Adrian Schmidt, 25, of Cincinnati, was arrested in July and charged with obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. According to court records, Schmidt posted on Facebook after the riot: They felt us in their bones with every step they took as they fled the building that they have gotten way to(sic) comfortable in.

Benjamin Michael Shuler, 28, of Grove City, was arrested in September while in an Ohio prison in Lancaster, serving a sentence for aggravated vehicular homicide. He is charged with civil disorder; assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings. His case in federal court is pending.

Convicted, awaiting sentencing

Donovan Ray Crowl, 50, of Champaign County, was convicted in a bench trial by a judge on July 12 of conspiracy to obstruct the electoral college vote count and civil disorder. His sentencing is pending. Court records indicate Crowl was a member of the Ohio State Regular Militia, a dues-paying subset of the Oath Keepers led by Jessica Watkins. Crowl, who served with the U.S. Marine Corps in the Persian Gulf in 1990, was featured in a New Yorker article.

William Dunfee, 58, of Frazeysburg, the pastor of a Warsaw church, was convicted in a bench trial in January 2024 of obstruction of an official proceeding or aiding and abetting, civil disorder and entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds. His sentencing is scheduled for May 24.

Ethan C. Seitz, 34, of Sandusky, was convicted in August by a judge in a stipulated trial of obstruction of an official proceeding and disorderly or disruptive behavior in a restricted building. His motion to postpone his sentencing was granted until after the U.S. Supreme Court rules in Fischer v. United States, a case brought by a Jan. 6 defendant challenging the Justice Departments interpretation of the obstruction of an official proceeding charge. According to court records, Seitz posted about entering the Capitol building in real-time on Facebook. In one post, he wrote, Im goin (sic) in the capitol and in another, I just climbed in through a broken window.

Cody Lee Tippett, 32, of Grove City, was arrested in June along with Dustin Martin. According to court records, Tippetts former federal probation officer identified him in photos. He had a prior conviction in an OxyContin ring. Tippett pleaded guilty in December to disorderly conduct in a Capitol building and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. His sentencing is scheduled for April 4.

Michael Mackrell, 42, of Wellington, seen here, pleaded guilty in October to one count of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers, admitting he assaulted a U.S. Capitol Police officer in the District of Columbia. He is the father of Clifford Mackrell, who also pleaded guilty to his involvement and faces sentencing in March like his father.

Clifford Mackrell, 22, of Wellington, pleaded guilty in October to one count of assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers, admitting that he assaulted a U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) officer. His sentencing is set for March.

Michael Mackrell, 42, of Wellington, Cliffords father, pleaded guilty in October to one count of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers in the District of Columbia. His sentencing is also set for March.

Sentenced

Stephen M. Ayres, 39, of Trumbull County, pleaded guilty to disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds. Sentence: two years probation, 100 hours community service and $500 restitution.

Steven Billingsly, 45, of Richmond, pleaded guilty to disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds. Sentence: two years probation, 60 hours community service and $500 restitution.

Gabriel Burress, 22, of the Toledo area, pleaded guilty to parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Sentence: 18 months probation and $500 restitution.

Luke Faulkner, of Blanchester, pleaded guilty to parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Sentence: two years probation, 30 days home confinement, 60 hours community service and $500 restitution.

Troy E. Faulkner, 41, of Whitehall, pleaded guilty to destruction of government property. Sentence: five months in prison, three years supervised release and $10,560 restitution.

A still photo of video from insurrection rioting Jan. 6 at the U.S. Capitol showed Troy Elbert Faulkner, 39, of Whitehall, wearing the coat of his painting company as he kicked in and broke a window at the Capitol, according to a criminal complaint filed Friday in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Timothy Allen Hart, 52, of Huber Heights, was seen in a video knocking down barriers manned by police officers outside the Capitol and smoking in the rotunda. He pleaded guilty to civil disorder. Sentence: three years probation, $2,000 restitution.

James Matthew Horning, 46, of New Holland, pleaded guilty to entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds. Sentence: 30 days incarceration, one-year probation, 60 hours community service and $500 restitution.

Derek Jancart, 39, of Canal Winchester, pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in a Capitol building. Sentence: 45 days incarceration and $500 restitution.

Caleb Jones, 23, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Sentence: two years probation, including two months home confinement and $500 restitution.

Terry Lynn Lindsey, 53, of Piqua, pleaded guilty to violent entry and disorderly conduct in a restricted building and to parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Sentence: five months in prison, three years probation, 60 hours community service and $500 restitution.

Saul Llamas, 30, of Cleveland, pleaded guilty to one count of parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Sentence: one year and six months of probation, 120 hours of community service, $500 in restitution, and $2,500 fine.

Michael Scott Lockwood, 32, of Warren, pleaded guilty to one count of assaulting, resisting or impeding officers. Sentence: one year and one day in prison, 36 months of supervised release.

Robert Lyon, 28, of Reynoldsburg, pleaded guilty to disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds. Sentence: 40 days of incarceration, one year supervised release, $1,000 fine and $2,000 restitution.

Kenneth Duncan Massie, of Greenfield, pleaded guilty to demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Sentence: two years probation, 30 days home confinement and $500 restitution.

David Mehaffie, 63, of Kettering, was found guilty in a bench trial of four offenses, including aiding and abetting in assaulting, resisting or impeding law enforcement officers and interfering with a law enforcement officer during a civil disorder. Sentence: 14 months in prison and two years probation.

Walter J. Messer, 52, of Englewood, pleaded guilty to one count of parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Sentence: two years probation, $500 restitution.

Adam Miller, 41, of Smithville, pleaded guilty to parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Sentence: 30 days incarceration, three years probation, $500 fine and $500 restitution.

Brandon Miller, 34, of Bradford, pleaded guilty to one count of parading, picketing or demonstrating in a Capitol building. Sentence: 20 days incarceration, 60 hours community service and $500 restitution.

Stephanie Miller, 30, of Bradford, pleaded guilty to one count of parading, picketing, or demonstrating in a Capitol building. Sentence: 14 days incarceration, 60 hours of community service and $500 restitution.

Sandra Ruth Parker, 63, and her husband, Bennie Alvin Parker, 72, of Morrow, worked with Jessica Watkins and other members of the Oath Keepers on Jan. 6, 2021. A jury convicted the Parkers in March. Sandra was found guilty of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding; obstruction of an official proceeding; conspiracy to prevent members of Congress from discharging their duties; destruction of government property; obstructing officers during a civil disorder; entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds. Bennie was acquitted of some charges but found guilty of entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds. Sandra Parkers sentence: five years of probation, including one year of home confinement. Bennie Parkers sentence: five years probation, including six months of home confinement.

A photo from the criminal complaint against the Parkers shows Sandra, left, sitting inside the Capitol Building wearing tactical gear.

Madison Pettit, 20, of the Toledo area, pleaded guilty to parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Sentence: 18 months of probation and $500 restitution.

Christine Priola, 49, of Willoughby, pleaded guilty to obstruction of an official proceeding. Sentence: 15 months in prison, one year supervised release and $2,000 restitution.

Erik Rau, 43, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in a Capitol building. Sentence: 45 days incarceration and $500 restitution.

Oliver Louis Sarko, 27, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Sentence: 30 days incarceration, 36 months probation and $500 restitution.

Jordan Siemers, 25, arrested in Geneva, pleaded guilty to one count of parading, demonstrating of picketing in a capitol building. Sentence: one year of probation, 60 hours of community service, $500 restitution and $1,500 fine.

Paul Lee Seymour Sr., 61, of Butler County, pleaded guilty to parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Sentence: one-year probation, 60 hours of community service and $500 restitution.

Paul Lee Seymour Jr., 33, of Butler County, pleaded guilty to parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Sentence: one-year probation, 60 hours community service and $500 restitution.

Alexander Sheppard, 24, of Powell, was convicted at trial of five criminal counts, including obstruction of an official proceeding and disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building. Sentence: one year and seven months in prison.

Justin Michael Smith, 22, of Garfield Heights, pleaded guilty to one count of parading, demonstrating or picketing in the Capitol building. Sentence: three years of probation, $500 restitution.

Devin Steiner, 41, of Wooster, pleaded guilty to parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Sentence: 30 days incarceration, three years probation, $500 fine and $500 restitution.

Justin Stoll, 40, of Wilmington, pleaded guilty on Jan. 20, 2022, to transmitting a threat to injure. Sentence: two years probation.

Ryan Swoope, 29, of Perry, pleaded guilty to one count of assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers. Sentence: four years and three months in prison followed by two years of supervised release.

Cole Andrew Temple, 20, of Swanton, pleaded guilty to knowingly entering the U.S. Capitol building without permission and knowingly parading, demonstrating or picketing. Sentence: three years probation.

Jodi Lynn Wilson, 43, of Swanton, who is the mother of Cole Temple (above), pleaded guilty to parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Sentence: 20 days in prison, three years probation.

Dustin Byron Thompson, 38, of Columbus, was convicted by a jury of obstruction of an official proceeding and five misdemeanor counts after he argued at trial that Trump directed him to attack the Capitol, where Thompson stole a coat rack, a bottle of liquor and an officers pager. Sentence: three years in prison, three years supervised release and $2,000 restitution.

A photo from the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol that the U.S. Department of Justice says shows Dustin B. Thompson of Columbus with a wooden coat rack he was convicted of stealing from inside the Senate wing.

Kenneth Joseph Owen Thomas, 41, of East Liverpool, was convicted of assault charges and other offenses for attacking multiple officers. He is appealing his case. Sentence: four years and 10 months in prison, $20,000 fine and $2,000 restitution.

Colton Wargo, 27, of Westlake, and his mother, Kimberly Wargo, 57, of North Olmsted, both pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawfully parading, picketing and demonstrating in a Capitol building. Both were sentenced to two weeks in prison, three years probation and $500 restitution.

Jessica Watkins, 40, of Woodstock, was found guilty by a jury of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an official proceeding, interfering with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder and conspiracy to prevent an officer from discharging duties. Sentence: eight years, six months in prison and three years supervised release.

Ohioans Jessica Marie Watkins and Sandra Parker were part of a paramilitary "stack" formation that breached the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, federal court documents say. Many were wearing paramilitary clothing and patches with the Oath Keepers name, logo and insignia.

John Douglas Wright, 56, of Canton, pleaded guilty to obstructing an official proceeding and aiding and abetting. Sentence: four years, one month in prison, three years supervised release and $2,000 restitution.

Abigail Yazdani-Isfehani, 28, of Albany, pleaded guilty to parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Sentence: two years probation, 100 hours community service and $500 restitution.

Loammi (Elijah) Yazdani-Isfehani, 32, of Albany, pleaded guilty to parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Sentence: 14 days incarceration, two years probation, 100 hours community service and $500 restitution.

Loruhamah Yazdani-Isfehani, 34, of Logan, pleaded guilty to parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Sentence: two years probation, 100 hours community service and $500 restitution.

Abigail Yazdani-Isfehani, left; Loruhamah Yazdani-Isfehani, center, and, Loammi Yazdani-Isfehani, right, inside the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection. All three later pleaded guilty to charges. .

jlaird@dispatch.com

@LairdWrites

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio residents still getting arrested for Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection
Kansas City police said they called off a chase on Interstate 435 moments before a fatal head-on wreck, but traffic cameras show several patrol vehicles had followed the vehicle with their emergency lights on after the chase was allegedly terminated.

In a recording captured at 4:24 a.m. Tuesday, at least a dozen police cars are seen responding.

Another video shows a driver heading in the wrong direction on the divided highway around 4:28 a.m. Less than 20 seconds later, a police car with its emergency lights activated is seen in the correct lanes of travel. Several more patrol vehicles follow, according to footage from SafetyVid.com, which monitors and records traffic camera videos, in this case from KC Scout.

Moments later, the driver crashed into another car.

Alphonso Carroll, a 60-year-old innocent bystander, was killed in the head-on collision on I-435 near Missouri 210 highway.

The fleeing driver, Ollie Coldiron, 29, also died.

According to Officer Alayna Gonzalez, a spokeswoman for the Kansas City Police Department, the chase began near the Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City after a series of armed robberies at three Northland convenience stores.

The primary pursuing officer terminated/disregarded himself from the pursuit, by continuing to travel in the correct lanes of the highway ultimately losing sight of the driver, Gonzalez said in an email to The Star.

Under the Kansas City Police Departments pursuit policy, officers are permitted to chase parallel in the correct direction on a highway. Also, when a chase is terminated officers are to deactivate their lights and sirens, resume a safe speed and comply with traffic laws.

Gonzalez declined to disclose what time the chase began or was disregarded, but went on to say that it is not uncommon for officers to move into the area with lights and sirens in order to assist with the apprehension of a violent and dangerous subject.

Its unclear how many Kansas City police officers moved into the area to assist. An officer who witnessed the crash was moving into the area and was not involved in the pursuit, she added.

Gonzalez also said the Clay County Sheriffs Office and the Missouri State Highway Patrol were involved in the pursuit.

Sarah Boyd, a spokeswoman for the Clay County Sheriffs Office, said deputies got involved at 3:39 a.m. after a man robbed a gas station and fired two shots next to the clerk.

One of the deputies located the suspect exiting Argosy Casino at 4:22 a.m. Three Kansas City Police Department vehicles got in front of him and took over the pursuit, Boyd said.

Four deputies were involved at different points in the pursuit and two were in the area at the time of the crash, Boyd said.

According to Sgt. Andrew Bell, a spokesman for the highway patrol, one trooper was initially involved. The trooper fell behind two other police cars, joining the chase on 210 Highway at Ameristar Drive.

As the pursuit continued north on US-69 highway, the trooper lost sight of the suspect and deactivated his emergency lights. He heard the crash while listening to his police radio and responded to the crash scene, Bell said.
UPDATE: Lawrence officers have reported that Keith Schmitz was found safe, and the Silver Alert is canceled.

Good Samaritans found his car on the side of the road and took him to the nearest police station in Crescent, Oklahoma.

He is being checked out by EMS, and his family will head down to get him.



LAWRENCE, Kan.  The Lawrence, Kansas Police Department is asking the public for help locating a missing 84-year-old man who has dementia.

Police said Keith Schmitz is driving a 2001 Cadillac Eldorado (photo below) and had reason to believe he was in town but now believe he may be in Oklahoma.

FOX4 Weather: View the latest Kansas City forecasts, maps and radar

Family said he hasnt been seen all day and are concerned.

Anyone that sees him or the car are asked to call (785) 843-0250 or 911.

Lawrence police is working with partner agencies to get the word out.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
A lawsuit blaming Snapchat for a series of drug overdoses among young people can proceed, a Los Angeles judge ruled this week.

A group of family members related to children and teens who overdosed on fentanyl sued Snapchat maker Snap last year, accusing the social media company of facilitating illicit drug deals involving fentanyl, a synthetic opioid many times deadlier than heroin. Fentanyl, which is cheap to produce and often sold disguised as other substances, can prove lethal in even extremely small doses.

The parents and family members involved in the lawsuit are being represented by the Social Media Victims Law Center, a firm that specializes in civil cases against social media companies in order to make them "legally accountable for the harm they inflict on vulnerable users."

The lawsuit, originally filed in 2022 and amended last year, alleges that executives at Snap "knew that Snapchats design and unique features, including disappearing messages... were creating an online safe haven for the sale of illegal narcotics."

"Long before the fatal injuries giving rise to this lawsuit, Snap knew that its product features were being used by drug dealers to sell controlled substances to minors," Matthew P. Bergman, who founded the Social Media Victims Law Center, said at the time.

Snapchat rebutted the claims, noting that it is "working diligently" to address drug dealing on its platform in coordination with law enforcement. "While we are committed to advancing our efforts to stop drug dealers from engaging in illegal activity on Snapchat, we believe the plaintiffs allegations are both legally and factually flawed and will continue to defend that position in court," a Snapchat representative told TechCrunch.

In the ruling on Tuesday, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Lawrence Riff rejected Snap's effort to get the case dismissed. Snap had argued that the case should be thrown out on the grounds that the social media app is protected by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, a law that protects online platforms for liability from user-generated content.

"Courts in California and the Ninth Circuit have explicitly held that Section 230 immunity applies to communications about illegal drug sales and their sometimes-tragic consequencesthe exact circumstances herebecause the harm flows from third-party content that was exchanged by third parties on the defendants social media platform," Snap's lawyers argued in their brief last year.

Riff did dismiss four counts against Snap but overruled the company's efforts to throw out more than 10 others, including negligence and wrongful death. He also waded into Section 230's relevance to the case, but did not conclude that the law's legal shield should protect Snap outright:

Both sides contend that the law is clear and the legal path forward obvious. Not so. The depth of disagreement is revealed by the parties' inability jointly to label Snap's social media presence and activities: "service," "app," "product", "tool," "interactive course of conduct," "platform," "website," "software" or something else. What is clear and obvious is that the law is unsettled and in a state of development in at least two principal regards (1) whether "section 230" (a federal statute) immunizes Snap from potential legal liability under the specific allegations asserted and (2) whether concepts ofstrict products liability - usually applicable to suppliers of tangible products - already do or now should extend to specified alleged conduct of Snap.

That interpretation is likely to prove controversial and the latest in a flurry of recent cases in which a judge allowed a lawsuit that might be tossed out on Section 230 grounds to proceed.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A lawsuit accuses the Clark County School District and the teachers union of protecting educators accused of sexual assault.

It was filed at Clark County District Court on Wednesday and outlines a pattern of CCSD employees getting moved to different schools following an accusation.

Under the collective bargaining agreement, a teacher who does this, if theyre not convicted of a crime, they can be transferred to a new school. Theres going to be no documents or records about the abuse that occurred, Dennis Prince of the Prince Law Group said.

Prince filed the lawsuit on behalf of his client who was assaulted by Darryl Lancaster.

A former teacher at Jo Mackey Magnet Elementary School, Lancaster was arrested in May of last year for sexual misconduct. In a criminal complaint, North Las Vegas police claim he groomed his victim.

According to a lawsuit, Lancaster was moved to eight different schools over a 20-year span.

Prince believes there may be other victims.

The district needs to be extraordinarily diligent as well as at the school level of making sure that these abusers are removed. But under the collective bargaining agreement with the union, its almost impossible to remove them, Prince said.

In court filings, Prince cites portions of the 2021/2023 teacher contract where it states allegations of misconduct dont have to be in a teachers record.

If an educator is convicted of a crime, they can have it removed from their personnel file after three years, according to the lawsuit.

Prince said he believes the same language exists in the new teacher contract.

The new school administration, including the principal of the new school, would have no knowledge of what happened, Prince said.

Prince points to a pattern of bad teacher behavior at CCSD. From 2005-2015 more than 30 district employees were arrested on sexual misconduct allegations, according to the lawsuit.

Court records show Lancaster was arrested in January of 2023 for misconduct at Jo Mackey.

Lancaster pleaded no contest on July 31 in a plea agreement, avoiding jail time.

Clearly the school administration and principal of that school knew and was aware of this, Prince said.

Prince added that Lancaster was allowed to remain in the classroom and the abuse of his client continued to go unchecked.

According to court records, Lancaster pleaded guilty on Nov. 27 to attempted lewdness with a child and distribution of visual representation depicting sexual misconduct. The former teacher was originally charged with multiple counts of lewdness with a child, producing child porn, and luring a minor.

CCSD declined to comment on the lawsuit, citing pending ligation. The teachers union, CCEA, hasnt responded to a request for a statement.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Leading lawmakers in Washington discussed some of their legislative priorities for the upcoming 2024 session Thursday during the annual legislative preview leading up to the start of the session on Monday, Jan. 8.

Legislators will have a short 60-day window this year to pass a supplemental budget as well as policy bills.

They also will have to decide whether or not they will address six ballot initiatives that have been turned into the Secretary of State. Those initiatives, if passed by the legislature or voters, could impact funding from key areas such as the Climate Commitment Act, which lawmakers passed in 2021.

Lawmakers are constitutionally required to pass a supplemental budget during the upcoming session. Constitutionally, the ballot measures also have to be at the top of the list for lawmakers to address.

Separate panels of lawmakers  including budget writers, transportation leaders, and House and Senate leadership  sat before news media and the public to answer questions Thursday, Jan. 4. Gov. Jay Inslee made an appearance to discuss some of his priorities for the session as well.

Here are some of the issues lawmakers said they want to tackle.

Behavioral health

One of the biggest priorities mentioned by lawmakers Jan. 4 was increasing access to behavioral health, including substance abuse treatment, in the state.

Sen. June Robinson, D-Everett, serves as the chair for the Senate Ways and Means Committee. Robinson told reporters that she believes the state has been focused on institutional care, but a more balanced approach should be taken to address the issue moving forward. She said the state should be investing in behavioral health long before people need care in a hospital setting. The states failure to properly fund behavioral health in the past has resulted in having to make up for the shortfalls now, she said.

We have a long way to go to make up for under-investment, but Im proud that were making progress, Robinson said.

Rep. Timm Ormsby, D-Spokane, who serves as chair of the House Appropriations Committee, said the Legislature cant fully address behavioral health without looking at other factors such as the labor force that provides such care.

Sen. Lynda Wilson, R-Vancouver, the ranking Republican on the Senate Ways and Means Committee, said that addressing the fentanyl crisis is also an important part of behavioral health, and that holding individuals accountable is part of that issue.

We need to get these people into treatment, she said.

Housing

Speaker of the House Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, said that housing will continue to be a priority this session, following last years investments in building more housing and moving the homeless out of freeway encampments. She especially noted renters in the state, who make up more than 30% of the states population, and the issues they face as rents climb.

While mortgage holders know what their payments will be for years to come, renters have no predictability or stability, she said, and lawmakers need to look at how to help that. Jinkins mentioned several policies that could help that the House Democratic Caucus is already looking at such as a lot-splitting bill, and a bill introduced last year that would make transit-oriented development easier in certain areas.

Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig, D-Spokane, said that building new housing will take a few years, and he believes lawmakers need to find ways to split that timeline. This year, he said, lawmakers will likely take smaller but more meaningful steps on housing.

House Minority Leader Drew Stokesbary, R-Auburn, said the only meaningful thing lawmakers can do to ease homelessness is to build more housing supply. Increasing housing supply will lower the cost of housing, he said, but proposals such as rent control will end up as a failed policy and will in the end be counter-productive.

Leaders were questioned about whether they support Gov. Inslees $100 million proposal to expand his rights-of-way initiative to move individuals living in encampments into housing with services.

While Democrats said the rights-of-way initiative is one of the successful strategies to deal with homelessness, Republican lawmakers pushed back on the projects cost per person helped.

Wilson told media that although a price tag cant be put on fixing someone, the state can certainly do better. Wilson argued that the program does not address root causes, and that the goal should be to get people to be productive members of society but she doesnt believe that is happening.

Transportation

The skyrocketing costs of transportation projects and the struggling ferry system are among the biggest issues lawmakers are facing this upcoming session.

Sen. Marko Liias, D-Mukilteo, chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, told media that the first step for lawmakers and the public is to set realistic expectations. He noted that while its true that the Legislature has already made significant investments in the ferry fleet, its also true that lawmakers havent been able to get enough done.

The likelihood of getting new boats faster is not high, Liias said.

He noted that the states Climate Commitment Act is a critical component to funding the fleet, and that its estimated the soonest the ferries can be completed is in 2027.

But lawmakers also acknowledged that staffing the ferries has been a struggle, and that state is launching a program to help current ferry system employees climb the ladder to better jobs within the system as a way to attract and retain workers.

Rep. Jake Fey, D-Tacoma, noted that the CCA cannot be used for highway projects, and that any additional funding for the ferry projects on top of the money that has already been allocated will also come from the CCA. Fey said his observation is that for a long time ferries were a delinquent stepchild and not funded appropriately, and lawmakers now are trying to rectify that.

Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, the ranking minority member on the Senate Transportation Committee, said lawmakers need to be cautious about spending money from the CCA and that he thinks the state will even struggle to have new ferries by 2027.

King said lawmakers should look at funding from the automobile sales tax to keep important transportation projects in the pipeline.

None of the four transportation leaders supported delaying or canceling projects currently in the works.
A massive Nordic snowstorm stranded at least 1,000 vehicles for more than 24 hours before most motorists were rescued Thursday morning ,thanks to road crews, police and the army. Photo by Johan Nilsson/EPA-EFE

Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Stranded motorists who were trapped when a massive snowstorm stranded at least 1,000 vehicles on a major Swedish thoroughfare for more than 24 hours have been evacuated, officials reported late Thursday.

They were stuck along the main roadway between the Skane area and southern Sweden, and it took police, rescue crews and the army working through the night to free them, authorities reported. People were told they could retrieve their cars later.

"It is total chaos," police spokeswoman Evelina Olsson said. "The problem is that it is snowing so heavily that the road is covered in snow just half an hour after plowing."

The army was dispatched to deliver food and water to the stranded motorists, most of whom had been freed by Thursday morning. Officials said later in the day that they were still working to free about 180 trucks and their drivers stranded on the E22.

The travel chaos comes during a frigid Nordic blast and plummeting temperatures that left Sweden, Finland and Norway in the deep freeze. A snowstorm in Denmark trapped motorists on a roadway near Aarhus on Wednesday.

The official weather station in northern Sweden recorded its coldest night in a quarter century 25 years earlier in the week, and reported an overnight low of -43.6 degrees C.

The shutdown happened quickly as blizzard conditions made the E22 impassable in both directions about 9 a.m. local time Wednesday, and promptly forced hundreds of cars to grind to a halt in snow drifts between Horby and Kristianstad.

It took until Wednesday evening for snowplows to arrive to start working toward freeing people trapped in the vehicles, some of whom had medical issues, including diabetes, authorities said.

Many motorists reported starting their cars at regular intervals to stay warm.

Buses and trains were canceled in the region Thursday morning as rescuers continued to work toward freeing the stranded motorists by cutting through the road's central barrier.

Most of the vehicles were cleared by Thursday morning but authorities continued to warn against non-essential travel.
Oh, arent you going away in the next few weeks? Im so sorry, how embarrassing. Best not tell anyone about it because the hot January holiday has become quite the status symbol. Look, theres Millie Mackintosh in her Melissa Odabash bikini in Mauritius. Theres Catherine-Zeta Jones in Kerala. Theres Boris Becker (hang on, wasnt he just broke?), fresh out of prison and larking about topless on a West African island. Theres Lady Victoria Hervey in Barbados and Lady Daffodil Fish-Kettle in Antigua (I made the last one up).

Cape Towns the destination for swallows, those who fly south from the UK around now. (The way I see it, is why have one summer when you can have two? says one human swallow who I wont identify for his own protection.) Kenyas another popular one, and therell be a couple of Royals kicking about Mustique before long. Sri Lanka, too. Sri Lankas definitely the sort of place that certain smug gits head to now. I know because Im one of them, drifting about the south coast in a villa a coconuts throw from Galle Fort.

Up I leap every morning and fling back the shutters to the sound of the magpie-robin and pale-billed flowerpecker chirruping merrily outside (thank you to my brilliant bird ID app, Merlin, which I cannot recommend highly enough if youre enjoying yourself in, say, St Barts or Oman and need to identify the twittering in the nearby palm tree).

After a bit of bird spotting, I saunter to a large sofa on the covered terrace, or the hammock overlooking the pool, and loll about with a cup of tea brought to me by Rizwan, the villas excellent chef. At this hour, Im occasionally entertained by the sight of a water monitor loping across the lawn (not a crocodile, as I screamed on my first trip), or a monkey swinging across the roof. Various friends slowly emerge from their bedrooms and we sit down to a tropical breakfast of fresh mango, curd, fried eggs on toast and faintly dubious coffee before discussing where we should have lunch that day  this beach restaurant or that beach restaurant?

Oh its a glorious thing, the January holiday. You flee the darkness of the UK and step from a long-distance flight, blinking like Bambi in the brilliant sunshine. This is what warmth feels like! Youd almost forgotten! The first morning may feel a bit dicey because you have to heave on a swimming cossie after 873 mince pies and half a Stilton at home, but I find a lunchtime glass of something soon calms those neuroses. Perhaps a spot of backgammon? A card game? Poor sods shivering in the UK, you think, reaching for another slice of Rizwans banana cake at tea time. This is the life.

Or at least it would be if it had stopped raining in the past week. According to one in Sri Lanka who knows, climate change has pushed the rainy season back and weve been very literally drenched and deluged since arriving. Rain? Thats a bit rum, I thought, as we motored south from Colombo Airport last week, but no matter, the sun will be up before long.

No sun, however. So no sunbathing, no lolling by the pool, and, alright, theres been the odd beach restaurant for lunch but we were forced to eat grilled prawns and lobster sheltered by a corrugated iron roof while the rain beat down on top of us. At the villa, we lie on the sofas sulkily reading our books, scanning multiple different weather apps. Apparently we might get half an hour of sunshine tomorrow morning! I heard myself say a couple of days ago. Several roads have become impassable for tuk tuks and my hair has behaved so appallingly that I could have been mistaken for Struwwelpeter. We might as well be in London listening to the gurgle of the pigeons.

It feels especially unfair on my pal Oli, who decided to throw his 40th birthday here on New Years Eve in a villa with a vast stretch of lawn in front of it that ran to the beach and the rolling Indian Ocean beyond. Splendid. Except the lawn was flooded, the tables moved inside and my sequin jumpsuit ended up looking like Lizzie Bennetts petticoat after a long walk  at least six inches deep in mud. And what is the point in having the kind of preposterous friends who decide to throw birthday parties in glamorous, faraway places if the weathers going to behave as if its February in Wolverhampton?

You may be delighted to learn that the Maldives has also had a proper soaking in the past week or so. Its another popular choice for showing off at this time of year, especially among those whove starred on Love Island. Molly-Mae Hague, for instance, who Telegraph readers may not be especially acquainted with but whos been posting pictures from a sandy atoll in the past few days. You know its a good holiday when its rained every single day torrentially and youre still having the best time, she wrote in one Instagram story, above a bikini selfie, while sheltering in her bedroom. But I recognise that sort of bluster. Its the sort of thing you say defensively to friends back home when they suggest it looks a bit rainy in your Instagram post. No, its been lovely actually, Ive caught up with so much reading!

I wasnt absolutely averse to the idea of climate change when I thought it was simply going to warm the UK up a couple of degrees. Oddly, now its threatening my January holiday, Im less keen. If Storm Henks put a dampener on your week, console yourself with the idea that those of us abroad have been having a jolly hard time of it too.

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Police in Perry, Iowa, northwest of Des Moines, told reporters that there was an active shooting incident on Thursday, January 4 at the city's high school.

A woman who answered the Perry Police Department phone confirmed to the Associated Press that the shooting at Perry High School is currently being described as active but did not provide any further information.

NBC News reported that several victims have been transported to MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center. The number of victims and their conditions are currently unknown.

Read Also: New California Gun Law Facing Scrutiny in Court

The high school is part of the Perry Community School District, and that Thursday was the first day back in school for students following the December holiday break.

Phone messages left by reporters with the Perry School Board's president and vice president, as well as an email message left with Superintendent Clark Wicks, were not immediately returned.

Local media reported that police vehicles from multiple police departments have arrived at the scene to assist local officers in the shooting situation.

This is a developing story. Please follow HNGN for more updates.

Related Article: Authorities Evacuate Capitol Buildings After Mass Bomb Threats Sent Via Email
The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office is investigating three shootings involving children, two incidents claimed the lives of two teenagers.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

Action News Jax told you on Thursday morning when a four-year-old girl was shot during a drive-by shooting on the Northside.

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My niece was shot multiple times. My sister was also shot. They were just sitting in the car and somebody just came by and did a drive by shooting, Bernadette Field said. The gun violence in this city is out of control.

Just as 2023 came to a close, a Mandarin neighborhood was riddled with gunfire. Derek Pitts, 16, lost his life after he was shot outside a party near Old St. Augustine Road, according to the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office. Just three days later, Micah Thomas, 14, was killed by gunfire in Northwest Jacksonville.

Related Story: Teenage boy dies after getting shot at large party

According to Action News Jax records, based on information given to our crews by the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office during news briefings, there were 353 shootings in 2023, with 38 victims under the age of 18.

Map of children shot in Jacksonville.

We mapped out the shooting involving children from last year and found the majority were on the Northside and the downtown area. However, were still seeing shooting bleed into other neighborhoods.

Last September, we had a child killed over off AC Skinner for a dog deal gone bad, AJ Jordan recalled. We had another child killed off the Westside as somebody busted into an apartment and shot up and killed that child. So, its happening everywhere.

Related Story: Jacksonville Sheriffs Office said 14-year-old boy shot and killed in Sherwood Forest area

Jordan is the Outreach Coordinator for MAD DADS a non-profit that goes into neighborhoods encouraging people to speak up if theyve witnessed violence.

Lets do better Jacksonville, Jordan said. Its 2024, and we not off to a good start.

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Anyone with information is asked to call JSO at 904-630-0500, email jsocrimetips@jaxsheriff.org or call Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS.

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Stand up for your rights

The column by Dan Paul, the director of the Humane Society of the U.S., is typical of their stance on hunting, so I guess it shouldnt really surprise me. The HSUS is not about puppies and kittens, like most local Humane Societies. It is first and foremost an anti-hunting organization that knows all the tricks to inflame peoples emotions.

In a study done by a Virginia-based research company that focuses on outdoor recreation and natural resources, they found that 75% of Washington residents approve of legal, regulated hunting. What the HSUS does is throw in the word trophy whenever possible. Why? Because when the same question is asked with that word in the question, the approval rates dip down into the 40% range.

Stating that the wildlife commission wants to follow the science is a complete untruth. The Washington state Department of Fish and Wildlife gave the commission the science behind bear hunting in the spring based on real science. The commissions response? Until we get real science, we are canceling the bear hunt.

Real science? That is what the WDFW is there for! They are there to do the science for the commission to make the proper decisions. Unfortunately, the commission is appointed by the governor, who at this time is extremely anti-hunting, so his picks for the commission are nothing but mouthpieces for his agenda to stop hunting in Washington state altogether.

Stand up for our rights to hunt and fish, or they will be gone.

Patrick D. Ely, Tenino

Expand the Child Tax Credit to cut poverty

We can take steps to make sure we leave the world better than we found it.

It is with this idea that I proudly work with RESULTS, a citizens lobby to influence political decisions that will bring an end to poverty.

By Jan. 19, Congress needs to pass new spending bills for FY2024. It is also the unofficial deadline to pass legislation on the Child Tax Credit, global tuberculosis, and global education, critical issues to address poverty in our neighborhoods and the world.

If you had any doubt that Congress can make a difference, look no further than the Child Tax Credit (CTC). During the pandemic, expansion of the CTC to very low or no-income families cut child poverty nearly in half. When that funding expired, child poverty more than doubled.

Currently, families with high incomes get the full CTC (a family earning $400,000 will get the full $2,000 credit per child) while children from families with low incomes (an estimated 19 million) dont qualify for the full tax credit. Leaving out those with the lowest incomes translates to worsening inequities for people marginalized by race, geography, ability and more.

In January, congressional leaders hope to pass new tax breaks for corporations. If that tax package does not include an expansion of the CTC that significantly reduces child poverty, it should be rejected.

Call Congress. Create your legacy.

Carolyn Prouty, Elma

Humanitarian aid, not more war

I urge our government to focus its support in the Israeli-Gaza conflict on humanitarian aid to the civilians of Gaza and to use its influence to help establish a ceasefire.

Of course, the Hamas attack was appalling, but the Israeli governments continuing support for a devastating aerial bombardment is brutal as well. The bombing has expanded way out of proportion, with many thousands of civilians killed, vast areas destroyed, and the people of Gaza left homeless, without food, water, and medical care.

The current war did not occur in a vacuum. For years, Israel has restricted the people of Gaza to a small, occupied enclave (except to work temporarily in Israel). Both Palestinians and Israelis have ties to land in this area that go back hundreds or thousands of years. Intolerance by extremists on both sides enables retribution, which further escalates the intolerance and violence.

Right now, the people of Gaza, having suffered enormously, need humanitarian aid, not more war. A ceasefire must be established with guarantees of humanitarian access.

Sam Merrill, Olympia
To the editor: While I can appreciate columnist Jonah Goldberg's perspective of Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley's answer to the question regarding the cause of the Civil War, I have to disagree with his premise that this was a gaffe, or a misstep.

As a former resident of South Carolina during Haley's tenure as governor, I can assure Goldberg that this is simply who Haley is. Her answer completely embodies what she and the majority of South Carolinians believe: that slavery was not a major cause of the Civil War.

Having gone to high school at the beginning of Haleys tenure as governor, I can shed some light on what is actually taught to students in South Carolina about the Civil War.

We were taught that the Civil War was sparked by a debate on states' rights. We were taught that the Confederacy never signed a treaty to end the Civil War, and as horrifying as this sounds, we were instilled by those teaching us with the sense that the South can rise again.

To claim that this is a "gaffe" by Haley is preposterous. What she said is probably the most honest answer we could have expected from her.

AJ Shahin, Bakersfield

..

To the editor: Goldberg misses the elephant in the room when discussing Haley's so-called gaffe.

The Republican Party is on a mission to rewrite the history of our original sin, slavery, and its brutal legacy that is still experienced by African Americans. Furthermore, the party does not have the courage to rein its most rabid members.

We saw the Confederate flag inside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. This flag has the same meaning for Black Americans as the Nazi flag has for Jews, and I do not recall a single Republican leader denouncing the desecration of our temple of democracy with the presence of this flag.

If you are a Republican, it takes courage to say that the current plight of African Americans is a direct result of slavery and the discrimination that followed it. The party of Abraham Lincoln is now the party of Jefferson Davis.

Rene Childress, View Park-Windsor Hills





This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A married woman who was a guest on the Margaritaville at Sea cruise claims that her bartender raped her in her cabin, which resulted in her pregnancy.

An unidentified lady, only known as Jane Doe, from West Virginia sued the Classica cruise company in a federal court after bartender Hoobesh Kumar Dookhy's guilty plea to also sexually assaulting her cabinmate on the same night in May 2023. Doe chose to sue after Dookhy's conviction, even though she was first listed only as a witness to the attack.

Following the incident, Doe reportedly became pregnant and had to undergo a procedure to end the pregnancy. Regrettably, she experienced severe complications as a result, as stated in the lawsuit.

What happened last May?

According to the complaint, obtained by the Palm Beach Post, Doe and her vacation companion, who is only known as HB, purchased alcoholic beverages while traveling from Riviera Beach, Florida, to the Bahamas on May 5, 2023, aboard the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise.

The drinks were charged to their cabin number, which gave the bartenders access to their room key and shared cabin.

Dookhy reportedly broke into their cabin in the dead of night after the ladies had finished their drinks. Doe informed the Federal Bureau of Investigation that she was woken up by the sensation of Dookhy's hands on her face, sexually assaulting her. Despite her demands that he leave, she claims he continuously assaulted both her and HB.

Doe reported this incident to the ship's security the next day.

According to the media, authorities discovered the women's room key in the pocket of Dookhy's vest and a picture of the bartender next to the sleeping HB on his smartphone. Subsequently, Dookhy said that his contact with HB was consensual.

See Also: Producer Nigel Lythgoe Faces Second Sexual Assault Lawsuit From 'All American Girl' Contestants

Consequences and Damage

A life sentence in prison was first on the table for him due to a sexual assault accusation. But last November, he pled guilty to one count of abusive sexual contact, and the most severe charges were withdrawn as part of the settlement, as reported by the New York Post.

Next week, Dookhy will face a sentencing hearing where he might be handed a term of two years in jail and a fine of up to $250,000.

According to the source, US District Judge Robin Rosenberg rejected HB's plea for punitive damages against Classica, but she is still pursuing compensatory damages.

Physical, emotional, and psychological agony, humiliation, shame, ongoing mental suffering, "aggravation and activation of preexisting conditions, and sustained disability and the inability to lead a normal life;" These are some of the things she says she went through.

See Also: Florida Republican Party Chair Christian Ziegler Accused of Sexual Assault, Faces Possible Removal
Editors note: This story is available as a result of a content partnership between WFTV and the Orlando Business Journal.

The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District  formerly called Reedy Creek Improvement District  is inviting scrutiny.

The governing entity that oversees Walt Disney Worlds land published a request for proposals on Dec. 27. The bid opportunity is for an operational assessment that may kickstart widespread changes to the district, even creating new opportunities for Central Florida contractors that sell products and services Disney needs.

The invitation to bid was posted on PlanetBids, the vendor portal adopted after Reedy Creek Improvement District dissolved. Orlando Business Journal requested more information from the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, but the district had not responded by the afternoon of Dec. 29.

Read: Judge hits juror who lied, caused mistrial with max sentence

Click here to read the full story on the Orlando Business Journals website.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.




This is the third installment in a three-part series on the history of Wayne County's courthouses.

The red brick Federal-style courthouse in Wayne County's seat of Honesdale is a landmark opposite Central Park, a photo subject for generations of visitors and residents. It was dedicated in 1880, after what proved to be the most contentious governing crisis in Wayne County history.

Once the county seat was secreted away to Honesdale from neighboring Bethany in 1841, a wooden courthouse was erected two years later on the same parcel where the courthouse stands today, but nearer the street. It sported a tall belfry, capped with a dome. Although a source of community pride, detractors soon complained that it was too small, poorly ventilated and a fire trap. In the 1850s Honesdale had been rocked by a series of downtown infernos, often blamed on arson.

The call grew to replace the structure, over the shouts of those calling a new edifice a waste of taxpayer dollars, and claiming contentment with their present courthouse, not even 30 years old.

Part one: Honesdale's first courthouse built after county seat moved from Bethany

Part two: Honesdale's wooden courthouse subject of concerns about fire

County judges were describing the inadequacy of the wooden courthouse to grand juries. At the September 1867 and subsequent sessions, a grand jury recommended that the commissioners levy taxes and start planning for a new building.

An anonymous letter writer in the Wayne County Herald on Oct. 29, 1874, pointed out that a new courthouse had been built in Pike County, while "...we ought to be ashamed of ourselves for doing our law business in a building not much better than a barn and a general disgrace to our town besides..."

The advancing momentum for a new courthouse was slowed by a national recession that began in 1873. In February 1876, Wayne County President Judge Charles Waller and Associate Judges Otis Avery and Henry Wilson (who also was editor of the Citizen) signed a formal recommendation for a new courthouse.

At left is President Judge Charles P. Waller, a Republican, who served Wayne County between 1875 and 1882, while the courthouse controversy raged and the new courthouse in Honesdale was opened in 1880. He practiced law in Honesdale since 1844. Next to him in order are Associates Judges Henry Wilson and Otis Avery, who joined Waller in recommending a new courthouse.

May 1876, the county commissioners, Francis Oppelt, George Foote and Thomas Brown, passed a resolution to proceed. They reasoned that this was a favorable time with the low cost of labor and materials and the need to counter unemployment.

The commissioners visited other counties to view their courthouses, and commenced work that summer on the foundation, behind the old courthouse. A railroad trestle was erected across the Lackawaxen River in the back, to transport stone from a nearby quarry. The foundation cost $29,528.19. The commissioners hired architect J.A. Wood of New York.

We can imagine the size of the smaller, 1843 courthouse, which entirely fit on what became the front lawn between the sidewalk and the present structure.

This view of the Wayne County Courthouse in Honesdale, circa late 19th or early 20th century, shows two men standing on top the belfry. Another stands outside at lower right with a fourth man looking out the window at lower right.

Public agitation grew over potential costs, fearing higher taxes. Opponents of the project formed most of both political parties in the 1876 election. Organized factions arose trying to derail the plans.

Early in 1877, the commissioners sought financing. Without a referendum, they were only able to allow indebtedness no higher than 2% of the assessed valuation of $1,777,726. They proposed a 6% increase.

Both newspapers warned that the commissioners could circumvent a refusal to raise the debt limit by raising assessments, impacting everyones taxes. Voters nevertheless rejected three-to-one the county debt increase. The commissioners subsequently increased the valuation by $6.5 million. Soon, they raised the limit not exceeding $160,000, approximately 2% of the new valuation.

Bonds were secured and a tax levied to pay the interest and eventual retirement of securities.

This caused a general uproar; some assessors refused to increase assessments. The Anti-Courthouse crowd was emboldened, raising funds, and hiring three lawyers.

The Samuel E. Dimmick Mansion was built at the corner of Court and 9th streets, Honesdale, in 1869. In 1920, the Wayne County Memorial Hospital started there, and it was purchased in 1952 for the Honesdale Gospel Tabernacle. In 1997, after extensive restoration by the county, it was rededicated for county offices. The courthouse is at left. Other recent major county expansion projects have included opening of the Park Street Complex in 2004 at the former Stourbridge Elementary School annex; opening of the new county prison in Indian Orchard in 2008; and erection of the 911/Emergency Management facility in Berlin Township in 2009.

William Holbert and 46 other taxpayers filed suit against the commissioners. The county's defense was that they met the legal requirements by first having recommendations by two grand juries and the court to erect a new courthouse. The plaintiffs made a weak ploy, stating that several grand jurors alleged such recommendations were never made. The court backed the commissioners.

Conflicting county court opinions over handling the issuing of bonds landed it in the state supreme court, which ruled the commissioners could levy taxes for the project but not borrow money without court approval.

Anti-Courthouse sympathizers met at various locations, often at Bethany, to issue resolutions, raise funds for lawsuits and pick candidates. One resolution called for the county seat to return to Bethany where the air was purer than Honesdale, choked by coal dust.

Honesdale's two newspapers weighed in heavily. The Honesdale Citizen, the Republican paper, favored replacement and the Herald, a Democratic paper, opposed. Feeling that more of an editorial voice was needed backing the Anti-Courthouse view, Benjamin Haines, editor from Hancock, was invited to Honesdale and started a new journal: The Wayne Independent. The first issue was dated Feb. 7, 1878.

Apparently taken some time in 1878-1879, construction for the new Wayne County Courthouse is in the background, as seen from Central Park in Honesdale. The Civil War memorial was dedicated in 1869.

Tensions reached the ballot box in October 1877 with the addition of a third party, the Anti-Courthouse Party, which won overwhelmingly and installed Otis Avery as an associate judge and Godfrey Stevenson as treasurer.

The commissioners had the 1843 courthouse demolished in September 1877, stating that it hindered construction and required the costly expense of a guard to watch against arson. Windows and doors were salvaged. Two-thirds of the structure was sold, and the balance was given to the poor for fuel. Some of the foundation stones were used in the new foundation; the rest was secured by the borough to pave Park Street.

While the new courthouse was under construction, court was held until late 1878 at Liberty Hall, still standing on the southeast corner of 9th and Main.

To save rent money, the commissioners then relocated the court to the second floor of Weaver's Hotel on the northeast corner of 6th and Church streets. Today this is Vangorder's Furniture Store. Complaints arose that court was being held above a saloon.

This colorized postcard of the Wayne County Courthouse in Honesdale depicts the two cannons that sat on the front lawn for 45 years. Each weighing around 9,700 pounds and 13 feet long, they saw service in the 1860s and 1870s. They were presented by the Department of the Navy in 1897 to the Civil War veterans' post in Honesdale (Captain James Ham Post 198, G.A.R.). The Post subsequently presented them to the county. In August 1942, the county commissioners agreed to donate them to the nationwide scrap drive to aid the World War II effort. Inscribed granite stones telling the cannons' service may be seen alongside the old stone jail near the courthouse.

Judge Waller opposed relocating. He finally consented if the commissioners completed the new courthouse by Jan. 1, 1880.

In the spring of 1878, criticism boiled concerning Waller, with petitions sent to the state House of Representatives, calling for his impeachment and removal for being oppressive, tyrannical and partial in the administration of justice and regarded as the center of the new courthouse oppression. It was later ruled there were no grounds for impeachment.

Over $18,000 had been spent on the new courthouse in 1877. The commissioners had levied a 10-mill tax. In February 1878 they petitioned the court for permission to issue $100,000 in bonds. Both associate judges objected.

Judge Waller consulted with the grand jury, which recommended approval providing that the tax levy not exceed three mills. Solicitor William Dimmick advised the commissioners to rescind the earlier 10-mill tax since it couldnt be collected. Given the depressed economy, he advised only a minimal rate and to stop construction. The commissioners agreed.

This is a 2023 view of the Wayne County Courthouse in Honesdale, Pennsylvania.

That autumn, the Anti-Courthouse Party prevailed in electing commissioners William Holbert and William Hartwell; a Republican, John Riefler, also was elected.

Shortly after commissioners had halted construction, the architect warned that certain wood beams and mortar joints were deteriorating due to exposure to the weather. The commissioners considered auctioning off unused construction materials.

In May 1879, they committed to completing the building. On July 15, a contract was awarded with A.S. Phillips of Berwick for $25,889 to finish it. There were 25 laborers at first.

Public furor waned.

This is the marble tablet in the entryway to the Wayne County Courthouse lobby that has been displayed since the new courthouse was opened in 1880.

A $35 ornate marble tablet was prepared for the entryway to the courthouse lobby, listing the year of completion, the architect and builder, and the three commissioners then in office. This tablet became a symbol of resentment felt by the Anti-Courthouse people, sparking litigation and ridicule lasting four months. There was disdain for the commissioners who changed course and decided to finish it.

The Herald condemned the tablet, stating the county shouldnt pay for it. The Independent criticized the Herald, but agreed taxpayers should not foot the bill. Finally, in October 1881, a jury decided that the county should pay, not the commissioners.

The new courthouse was in use for the first time on Monday, March 8, 1880. The first regular court session held in the main courtroom was on May 4.

County clerk Samuel Brown estimated the total project cost at $130,000 ($3.9 million in 2023 dollars), not counting litigation.

The Wayne County Courthouse annex in Honesdale was completed in 1976.

Nearly 100 years after construction started on the new courthouse, in the winter of 1975, work was underway on the foundation for a large annex in back. Commissioners Ray Schweighofer, Frederick Holbert and Earl Simons authorized spending over $1 million in federal community development funds, which sparked protest. County functions moved into the annex in the spring of 1976.

The historic 1880 Wayne County Courthouse has what may be a reminder of the longer legacy of the county seat in Honesdale: the courthouse bell, displayed on the lawn.

The Herald, Feb. 12, 1880, detailed courthouse project expenses. It lists $75 paid to contractor Philips for "the old courthouse bell" which may have been the cost of its refurbishment and relocation to its new belfry. On special occasions it is still rung.

The Wayne County Courthouse bell, displayed on the front lawn of the county seat in Honesdale, is thought to have been first used in the 1843 wooden courthouse. The current red brick courthouse was finished in 1880. The bell is still rung at certain ceremonies.

Peter Becker has worked at the Tri-County Independent or its predecessor publications since 1994. Reach him at pbecker@tricountyindependent.com or 570-253-3055 ext. 1588.

This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: 'Courthouse Wars' split Wayne County in 19th century
Since I moved to Jacksonville in 2015, I've been proud to associate myself with the journalism produced by my colleagues at the Times-Union.

Last year, that pride grew when I became executive editor and got the chance to lead this newsroom full of talented, thoughtful journalists.

Local journalists are essential to the communities they serve. If I didn't firmly believe that, I wouldn't be doing this job.

I also believe that the Times-Union is still in the best position of anyone to provide that essential journalism in Northeast Florida.

We continue to serve as a community watchdog, keeping an eye on taxpayer money and covering fraud and various misdeeds of elected and appointed officials.

We'll keep a watchful eye on big-ticket items being discussed this year like the proposed stadium renovations and a potential relocation of the Duval County jail to ensure a transparent process where the public's business is being done in public and taxpayers have an accurate accounting of how their money is spent.

But local journalism is about more than investigations and accountability. It's about telling the story of who we are as a community.

It's about mourning community tragedies, like the racist killing of three Black people at a Dollar General store in August.

It's about celebrating community successes, like the dozens of local student-athletes who were recognized on our various All-First Coast teams this week.

And it's about shining a light on the community's needs, and what's being done to address them. Even seemingly small stories can have a big impact. But you don't have to take my word for it.

Last year, with the cost of eggs skyrocketing, a St. Johns County nonprofit aimed to help seniors living on a fixed income by delivering the nutritious staple to their homes. Veteran Times-Union reporter Beth Reese Cravey highlighted the Pie in the Sky Community Alliance's effort, and the outpouring of support from the community was overwhelming.

The nonprofit's director, Malea Guiriba, said her group was inundated with donations and offers of assistance as soon as the story was published. Guiriba was kind enough to share a note of thanks.

"Beth, you know it, and I know it, but I'm going to say it: This is what journalism is all about, and this is how important LOCAL journalists are to our community," Guiriba wrote.

"Your story, the power of your words, has inspired an already giving community to dig deeper and to see even more about what is happening in their community."

I couldn't have said it better myself.

There's a prevailing narrative about local media being on the decline that I feel compelled to push back against.

For one, the importance of objective and informative local journalism is as important now as it always has been.

But secondly, to paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of our death have been greatly exaggerated. Perhaps to the chagrin of some, the Times-Union isn't going anywhere. There is no death spiral, and we're not circling any drains.

In fact, while the Golden Era of newspapers may be in the past, we've found ourselves in a period of relative stability and are entering a period of growth. And it's all due to the support of readers like you.

Here are some facts:

Since the beginning of 2021, our number of digital subscribers has more than doubled. If you're among those subscribers, thank you. If you're not, please consider joining their ranks by visiting jacksonville.com/subscribenow.

In that same time period, our newsgathering staff has grown by more than 15%.

That growth in subscriber support and staff size has resulted in more journalism reaching more of our community. Tens of thousands of readers subscribe to our newsletters, featuring exclusively Times-Union content and sent directly to their inbox seven days a week. And millions more readers visited our website in 2023 than in 2022.

The fact is, there is no one in a position to do the journalism the Times-Union does in our community at the scale at which we do it.

You can help contribute to that essential work by continuing to read and, hopefully, subscribe.

Thank you as always for your support of the Times-Union, and local journalism more broadly.

Have a blessed new year.

Paul Runnestrand is the executive editor of the Florida Times-Union. He may be reached at prunnestrand@jacksonville.com.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Journalists at the Florida Times-Union are committed to serving Jacksonville
Jason Salley shows Chillicothe City Council the evidence bag he was given with his loved ones bloody clothes after she had been shot. He said the bag serves a s a reminder of the violence in the city.

CHILLICOTHE  At a recent city council meeting a resident, Jason Salley, pleaded with council members urging them to do something to end the gun violence in Chillicothe.

In the summer of 2023, Salley sent an email to the then-council members asking that something be done to help put an end to the gun violence in the city. Only one person responded to him.

Growing up in the area he said he knows the town could be safer, while he was passionate about ending gun violence then he became even more passionate when he received a call in December telling him a loved one had been shot. Salley told council members how he felt as he rushed to the hospital, saw the helicopter waiting to take another who had been shot to get more help and waited till he could see his loved one.

He also mentioned the various shootings that took place in Chillicothe over 2023, several involving young members of the community. Salley even brought the evidence bag that housed the bloody clothes that were worn the night of the shooting. He said the bag is a reminder to him of what happened that night.

Ohio permit-less concealed carry law 'didn't create a Wild West,' AG Dave Yost says

As he told his story he asked council to stand up and do something about this issue, not just sweep it under the rug. He said he hopes nobody in the community gets another call like he did last month from the hospital.

"We can't continue to have rampant gun violence in our town," said Salley.

Shelby Reeves is a reporter for the Chillicothe Gazette. You can email her at SReeves@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @Shelby_Reeves_

This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: Resident pleads with officials asking them to stand up to gun violence
State lawmakers from Orange County gathered Friday ahead of next weeks legislative session.

They talked about a bill meant to give Reedy Creeks control back to Disney.

It comes after Gov. Ron DeSantis led the charge to repeal the special district.

Watch: Power play: Disney handicapped new Reedy Creek board before handing over control

The change happened after Disney leaders spoke against the Parental Rights in Education Law.

Some lawmakers walked out of their last meeting because of this bill.

Watch: Reedy Creek: Internal investigation still unavailable to support claims of money wasted on DEI

Things got heated at the last delegation meeting, which is normally calm.

It is an opportunity for the lawmakers to recap things before they head back to Tallahassee for the next session.

Read: Reedy Creek mouse trap: What is the rule against perpetuities and why is King Charles involved?

The 2024 Florida legislative session kicks off on Tuesday, but Fridays agenda is dominated by a pivotal discussion surrounding state Sen. Linda Stewarts proposed bill. The delegation last met in November.

See more in the video above.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Families who have lost loved ones to suicide have long awaited a suicide prevention barrier at the Golden Gate Bridge.

As of January 1, 2024, the iconic San Francisco structure now has a continuous physical suicide barrier installed to the full length of the 1.7-mile bridge. This development marks the culmination of a tireless campaign advocated by families affected by suicide. According to BBC, around 2,000 people are known to have jumped to their deaths from the bridge since it opened in 1937.

"The purpose of the net is to reduce the number of deaths associated with individuals jumping off the Bridge." The Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District went on to say in a statement. The organization went on to reveal that "the net is a proven design that deters people from jumping, serves as a symbol of care and hope to despondent individuals, and, if necessary, offers people a second chance."

However, this was not an easy process. Despite the suicide prevention net being approved in 2014, construction did not start until four years later. There had been pushback from those who claimed it affected the view or was too high in cost.

Kevin Hines miraculously survived his suicide attempt in September 2000. The AP reported Hines is one of about 40 people who survived after jumping off the bridge. He had been battling with bipolar disorder, 19 at the time, when he released his hands from the rail and plunged the equivalent of 25 stories into the Pacific Ocean, breaking his back. Hines later said he regretted jumping off the bridge the moment his hands released the rail.

"Had the net been there, I would have been stopped by the police and gotten the help I needed immediately and never broken my back, never shattered three vertebrae, and never been on this path I was on," Hines, now a suicide-prevention advocate, told the Associated Press. "I'm so grateful that a small group of like-minded people never gave up on something so important."

The group had originally advocated for raising the height of the bridge's railing but the proposal was swiftly shut down because it would have blocked the sweeping views of the bay. They later advocated for a suicide net based on the success of similar installations in places like Bern, Switzerland.

The Guardian reported Heather Quisenberry, who lost her son to suicide at the bridge, described the completion as bittersweet. "On the one hand, I'm grateful that the net that we fought for, for so long will be complete and that it will stop future suicides from happening on that bridge," she said. "But on the other hand, if some suicide deterrent had been installed sooner, my son and others may have not had to die."

The barriers are already working as hoped, said Paolo Cosulich-Schwartz, the public affairs director for the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District [the entity that oversees the structure.] As the project neared completion in 2023, the number of people who jumped fell by more than half.

A commemoration ceremony to mark the completion of the net is expected to take place in April.
Longtime National Rifle Association leader Wayne LaPierre has announced that he will resign from the organization days before the organization is scheduled to stand trial on civil corruption charges in New York.

The National Rifle Association of America (NRA) announced today that Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre announced he is stepping down from his position as chief executive of the organization, effective January 31. Long-time NRA executive and Head of General Operations Andrew Arulanandam will become the interim CEO & EVP of the NRA, the organization wrote in a statement on Friday.

The resignation marks a seismic shakeup of the nations most formidable gun lobby. LaPierre first took power in 1991 and has been the unflappable public face of the NRA through six presidencies, guiding the group to historic victories in Congress, the Supreme Court, and state legislatures  vastly expanding the rights of gun owners, and entrenching firearms in American public life.

As head of the NRA, LaPierre has led conservative opposition to national gun control legislation, even as the United States is continuously rocked by an epidemic of mass shootings. The organization was criticized in the aftermath of several of the deadliest mass shootings in recent memory. Following the murder of 58 people by a gunman at Route 91 Harvest Music Festival in Las Vegas, the NRA quickly reaffirmed its opposition to additional gun control laws, and its support for concealed carry laws.

Following the 2018 mass shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School, the NRA called for an increase in the number of firearms in schools. In 2022, the organization went forward with its annual convention just days after a gunman killed 19 children at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. The conference, held in Houston, Texas, was subjected to protests and widespread criticism.

In December, a judge ruled against the NRAs bid to have New York Attorney General Letitia James probe into the organization dissolved, the trial is set to begin on Jan. 8. Among the remediations sought by James was the removal of LaPierre from his position as a chief executive of the anti-gun control organization.

In 2020, James filed a lawsuit against the NRA alleging that LaPierre and other top-level executives at the organization had engaged in illegal conduct because of their diversion of millions of dollars away from the charitable mission of the organization for personal use by senior leadership. The lawsuit sought the full dissolution of the NRA, as well as restitution payments for violations of New York tax laws.

In her original complaint, James accused LaPierre of having routinely abused his authority as Executive Vice President of the NRA to cause the NRA to improperly incur and reimburse LaPierre for expenses that were entirely for LaPierres personal benefit and violated NRA policy, including private jet travel for purely personal reasons; trips to the Bahamas to vacation on a yacht owned by the principal of numerous NRA vendors; use of a travel consultant for costly black car services; gifts for favored friends and vendors; lucrative consulting contracts for ex-employees and board members; and excessive security costs.

Three other members of the NRAs executive board, former Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer Wilson Woody Phillips, former Chief of Staff and Executive Director of General Operations Joshua Powell, and Corporate Secretary and General Counsel John Frazer, are also named as defendants in the lawsuit.

In November of 2020 La Pierre paid back $300,000 to the NRA for illicit excess benefits hed received, reportedly for personal travel expenses incurred between 2015 and 2019. LaPierre also came under fire for reportedly securing luxury Italian Zegna suits on the NRAs dime.

The wheels began to fall off at the NRA in 2019, when the gun lobby underwent a ugly breakup with its longtime public relations firm Ackerman McQueen, amid the high-profile collapse of the gun lobbys expensive media venture, NRATV. At the time, LaPierre fended off a coup attempt by then-NRA president Oliver North, who was reportedly in league with the PR firm. But dueling lawsuits and countersuits between the gun lobby and the PR firm ended up airing decades of dirty laundry, providing ammunition to prosecutors like James.

The NRA annoucement of LaPierres departure cited unspecified health reasons for his resignation. NRA president Charles Cotton vowed that the NRA will continue to thrive without its longtime leader. But the gun lobby LaPierre leaves behind is also ailing. The NRA has seen a precipitous decline in membership dues, while IRS documents indicate that the organizations overall budget shrank from $358 million in 2018 to just $227 million in 2021, the last year on record.

Gun control activists celebrated the news of LaPierres resignation. WE DID IT!!! wrote Moms Demand Action founder Shannon Watts. NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre is forced to resign after @momsdemand shined a light on his unethical, immoral and corrupt misdeeds for over a decade. We broke the powerbroker of the most powerful, wealthy special interest thats ever existed.

John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety another massive setback for an organization thats been in a doom spiral for years. LaPierres legacy, he added, will be one of corruption, mismanagement, and the untold destruction gun violence has brought to every American community.

For her part, James reacted to LaPierres resignation by calling it an important victory in our case. The attorney general insisted that the departure by the NRA honcho validates our claimes against him, but it will not insulate him from accountability.

James added: We look forward to presenting our case in court.

More from Rolling Stone

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This story has been updated after the filing period closed.

Now that candidates have filed for federal and state races, Utah has some pretty interesting races shaking out.

A rare open Senate seat has, of course, attracted a lot of interest. When filing closed, there were eleven Republicans, three Democrats, including outdoor influencer Caroline Gleich, and two candidates from the Independent American party. Heavy hitters in the Senate race include current Congressman John Curtis and former Utah House Speaker Brad Wilson, as well as Mayor Trent Staggs, and Brent Orrin Hatch, the son of the late Sen. Orrin Hatch.

With Curtis in the Senate race, that leaves an open seat in the Utahs Third Congressional District, and that race is crowded as well. State Sen. Mike Kennedy has announced he is running, as well as Roosevelt Mayor Rod Bird, Jr., former Utah County Republican Party chair Stewart Peay, current state auditor, John Dougall and perennial candidate Chris Herrod. There are ten Republicans and one Democrat in that race.

Utahs state races to watch

Curt Bramble has 3 Republican challengers

Former Rep. Brad Daw was the first to file against longtime incumbent Curt Bramble in the Republican primary for Senate District 24. Daw was in the Utah House from 2004 to 2013 and again from 2015 to 2021 and Bramble has been in the Utah Senate since 2001. Daws campaign website says one of his key issues is mental health. Earlier this year, he wrote an op-ed for the Salt Lake Tribune in support of legalizing psilocybin.

Next, former Utah Sen. Dan Hemmert filed to run. Hemmert previously represented the northern part of Utah County, but lives in Orem. Following redistricting, he now lives in SD 24.

Finally, current Rep. Keven Stratton has also filed for the same Senate seat. He told the Provo Daily Herald that his belief in the principle of term limits led to the decision that he should conclude his time in the Utah House.

Sen. Bramble said he looks forward to making the case for reelection based on his legislative record. A tax accountant by profession, Bramble is currently the chair of the Senate Business and Labor committee and the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee.

All four candidates have declared their intent to collect signatures.

Jeanetta Williams vs. Matt MacPherson

Utah NAACP President Jeanetta Williams has filed to run for Utah House District 26, that covers part of West Valley City and Magna. Williams, a Democrat who has been president of the local NAACP chapter for 30 years, is challenging Rep. Matt MacPherson, who was picked by 22 GOP delegates in October to replace Rep. Quinn Kotter, a Republican who stepped down during his first term.

Williams said she is running now because the people of the west side deserve an advocate on the hill who will put their interests, not a partisan agenda, first. Kotter first won the seat by fewer than 150 votes in 2022.

Daniela Harding vs. Trevor Lee

In House District 16, Rep. Trevor Lee is facing a primary challenge from Daniela Harding. Harding was the previous chair of the Davis County Republican Party and just ran the campaign for the newly elected mayor of Ogden, Ben Nadolski.

Lee, who defeated Republican incumbent Steve Handy in the 2022 cycle, has had his share of controversy. This cycle, he is supporting a bill to end universal mail-in voting and last session, voted for a bill that would disqualify a candidate who gathers signatures if a convention candidate got 70% at convention. However, he has declared his intent to gather signatures to get on the ballot in 2024, as has Harding.

John Johnson vs. Stacy Bernal

Stacy Bernal, the diversity, equity and inclusion manager for the Utah Jazz and a current member of the Ogden School Board, is running as a Democrat for Utah Senate District 3. Bernal will be running against Republican incumbent Sen. John Johnson. Johnson has been an outspoken opponent of DEI programs and critical race theory. He is the current chair of the Senate Education committee.

Other races of interest:

In the now open seat for House District 58, the seat currently held by Rep. Keven Stratton, four candidates have filed to run. They are Holly Sweeten, a staffer for U.S. Rep. Burgess Owens; Dave Shallenberger, a local business owner; Angela Moulton; and Democratic candidate Joshua Sorensen. Sweeten, Shallenberger and Moulton plan to gather signatures.

Former Rep. Fred Cox is running as a Republican in the open seat for House District 30. He served in the House in 2011-2012 and from 2015-2016. Current Rep. Judy Weeks Rohner (also a Republican) is running for the Senate. There are three Republicans and two Democrats in that race.

Once a longtime member of the Utah Republican Party, Michelle Quist is running for Utah Attorney General on the United Utah Party ticket. She is the former dean of admissions at BYU Law School and is currently of counsel at Holland and Hart.

Former Rep. Chad Bennion has filed to run against Republican Sen. Don Ipson, in Senate District 29. Ipson also faces an intra-party challenge from Cory Green and a general election challenge from Democrat Deidra Ritchhart.

Holly Richardson is the editor of Utah Policy
The snow storm that's been heading toward Ohio all week suddenly seems to be a bust.

Children and teens eager to sled now might have to wait until the middle of next week for hefty snowfall.

That depends on if the precipitation and perfect temperatures both reach the Buckeye State at the same time, according to Karen Clark, a meteorologist who works in the Cleveland office of the National Weather Service.

When that might happen is up to Mother Nature.

But it does have to snow at some point, right?

"I think it probably will," Clark said. "We've started off very warm, but as the winter goes on, I think that the potential will still remain for us to have some accumulating snow."

Calvin Boggs of Smithville cleans his windshield before leaving home Thursday morning. According to the National Weather Service, an anticipated heavy snowfall will not happen in the area this weekend.

'Probably just a dusting of snow'

Saturday's snow appears to be heading toward Pennsylvania and the East Coast.

"Areas up to New York and to Boston, I think, are where they're probably going to see the better potential for snow this weekend," Clark said.

Ohio will still be cold with highs statewide in the mid 30s each day through Monday, and lows several degrees below freezing.

There will still be some snow in the Buckeye State, but only barely for some areas. The heaviest Ohio snowfalls will be close to the state's border with Pennsylvania.

"We're looking at less than an inch for everybody," Clark said. "Those toward Mansfield and west of there, probably just a dusting of snow."

If it does snow in Ohio this weekend, it will probably happen Saturday morning.

"It still may be flurrying through the afternoon Saturday," Clark said. "For the most part, we're thinking anything that would stick would probably be in the morning."

'We could catch some snow'

Winter lovers shouldn't give up hope yet, because another opportunity for snow is on the horizon.

"We do have another system coming that we're watching," Clark said. "It's still a little bit far out, but next Tuesday into Wednesday we have a a wet system coming."

As of Thursday afternoon, statewide highs for Tuesday and Wednesday were projected to be in the 40s, which is a little too warm for snow.

"It looks like it's primarily going to be rain," Clark said.

Lows those nights, though, will be below freezing.

"We could catch some snow before the temperatures warm up too much," Clark said. "We will be watching Tuesday night for a chance of snow."

ztuggle@gannett.com

419-564-3508

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Chance of snow in Ohio drops this weekend as storm blows eastward
From banning the retail sales of dogs and cats to creating Louisville's first proactive lead abatement law to approving the yearly budget, the Louisville Metro Council has the power to make significant changes in the lives of Jefferson County residents.

Now Metro Council will have a major election year, with all 13 even-numbered council seats up for grabs in 2024. The primary will be May 21, with the general election Nov. 5.

As of 4 p.m. Friday, the candidate filing period has come to a close, giving residents their official list of options for a council representative from the two major political parties. Independents will only appear on the final ballot in November.

But based on those filings, there will be some significant primary elections. Several districts of Louisville only have candidates for one party running, meaning council campaigns for the two major political parties will likely ramp up in the coming months.

Here are the districts up for election, the incumbents who are not running and the races with candidates from only one political party vying for the seat.

Which districts are on the ballot?

Metro Council elections go in cycles between even- and odd-numbered council seats, and this year all the even-numbered seats are up.

Here are the even-numbered seats, where they are located and who currently represents them:

District 2, which includes the Newburg, Norfolk, Poplar Hills, and Buechel neighborhoods and is represented by Councilwoman Barbara Shanklin.

District 4, which includes Butchertown, California, Clifton Heights, Downtown, parts of Old Louisville, Parkland, Phoenix Hill, Portland, Russell and Smoketown and is represented by Councilman Jecorey Arthur.

District 6, which includes historic Old Louisville and is represented by Councilman Phillip Baker.

District 8, which encompasses the Highlands and includes parts of Bardstown Road and is represented by Councilman Ben Reno-Weber.

District 10, which includes parts of Petersburg, Buechel, West Buechel, Bashford Manor, Watterson Park, Audubon Ridge, Camp Taylor, Fincastle, Nightingale, Audubon Park, North Audubon, Schnitzelburg, Parkway Village, Germantown-Paristown, George Rogers Clark Park, Prestonia, and Belmar and is represented by Councilman Pat Mulvihill.

District 12, which includes Pleasure Ridge Park and parts of the Riverport, Valley Station and Shively neighborhoods and is represented by Councilman Rick Blackwell.

District 14, which includes parts of Valley Station, Pleasure Ridge Park and Kosmosdale areas and is represented by Councilwoman Cindi Fowler.

District 16, located in northeast Jefferson County, is currently represented by Councilman Scott Reed.

District 18, which includes parts of Douglass Hills, Hurstbourne, Jeffersontown, Lyndon and Anchorage and is represented by Councilwoman Marilyn Parker.

District 20, which includes other parts of Jeffersontown, Fern Creek, Eastwood and Fisherville and is represented by Councilman Stuart Benson.

District 22, which includes parts of southeast Jefferson County like Heritage Creek, Fern Creek and pieces of Jeffersontown and is represented by Councilman Robin Engel.

District 24, which includes portions of Highview, Fern Creek and Okolona and is represented by Councilwoman Madonna Flood.

District 26, which includes parts of Cambridge, Jeffersontown, Houston Acres, Lincolnshire, Meadowview Estates, Norbourne Estates and St. Matthews and is represented by Brent Ackerson.

Some geographic areas of Jefferson County are split between different council members. For example, multiple council members represent the area around Jeffersontown. Residents can find their council district by plugging their address into the Metro government's online district map.

Which current Metro Council members are not running again?

At least four current council members are not running for reelection this year: Arthur, Mulvihill, Engel and Flood.

Democrats are clamoring to win Arthur's seat, with over 10 people filed to run in the primary. Arthur won as a Democrat in the left-leaning district in 2020, making history as the youngest elected council member.

But he exited the party in 2023, switching to an independent while expressing frustrations with partisan politics.

"There was a lot of partisanship that I've noticed just being an elected official  it's such a distraction from the actual work that needs to happen," he said in August.

Months later, other officials began making announcements they would not run again in 2024.

Mulvihill said in November that he would not seek reelection after being part of the council since 2015. He currently chairs the council's Labor and Economic Development committee and is one of six members on the Charging Committee, which was created following the Ethics Commission's ruling on Councilman Anthony Piagentini.

Soon after Mulvihill's announcement, current state Rep. Josie Raymond revealed her bid for the District 10 seat he is vacating. In a surprising move, she is trying to leave state politics in favor of local government, citing a distaste for being in the minority party in Frankfort as a Democrat.

In my time in Frankfort, Republicans banned abortion and trans healthcare for kids, attacked labor unions, and cut state revenue by dangerous levels, Raymond said in a statement announcing her council bid. I fought them every step of the way for the wellbeing of our neighbors. Now I'm ready to join a majority working productively to improve people's lives. After years on defense, I'm ready to play offense.

She is running unopposed.

Engel and Flood, meanwhile, have served on the council since its inception in 2003.

Flood is the current chair of the Planning and Zoning Committee, which another council member will have to take on after December 2024.

"This has been an incredible journey serving the district and City, and I am deeply grateful for the trust and support you have shown me throughout my service," Flood said in a statement to constituents. "I encourage you to continue engaging in the political process, holding your elected officials accountable, and working together for the betterment of the community."

Engel serves as the vice chair of the Labor & Economic Development Committee, which will also need to be filled.

And in a move mirroring Raymond's, State Rep. Kevin Bratcher announced he would be running for District 22 to fill Engel's seat.

"The older I get the more interested I am on local issues such as planning and zoning," Bratcher told The Courier Journal in November.

He is running against another Republican, Robert Zoeller, and then potentially a Democrat, Rasean Crawley.

Which primaries have just one party running?

Out of the 13 seats up for grabs, six have candidate filings for just one party.

For example, there are only Democrats running in District 4. This means that whoever wins the Democratic nomination could be the only candidate on the General Election ticket, unless an independent files to run.

The other districts with just Democrats running are 2, 6, 8, 10 and 26. There is no district with only Republicans running.

And while some districts have members of one party on the ticket, their specific party identities may vary  like JP Lyninger, running for District 6, and Joshua Crowder, running for District 4  who both label themselves as Democratic Socialists rather than just Democrats.

Still, a little under half of the seats up for election will have just one party to vote for in May.

Reach reporter Eleanor McCrary at EMcCrary@courier-journal.com or at @ellie_mccrary on X, formerly known as Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville Metro Council candidates for the 2024 elections
Alexander Lukashenkos new law says he cannot be held accountable for actions committed in connection with exercising his presidential powers - PETER KOVALEV/TASS/GETTY

Belaruss authoritarian leader has granted himself lifelong immunity from criminal prosecution with a decree that also bars exiled opposition leaders from standing in presidential elections.

The law, signed by Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday, theoretically applies to any former president and members of his or her family.

In reality, it is only relevant to the 69-year-old himself, who has ruled Belarus with an iron fist for almost 30 years.

The new measure appears to be an attempt by Mr Lukashenko to shore up power and eliminate potential challengers in the countrys next presidential election, which is due to take place in 2025.

It tightens requirements for presidential candidates and makes it impossible to elect opposition leaders who fled to neighbouring countries in recent years.

Only citizens of Belarus who have permanently resided in the country for at least 20 years and have never had a residence permit in another country are eligible to run.

Fraudulent re-election

Belarus was rocked by mass protests during Mr Lukashenkos re-election in August 2020 for a sixth term, which the opposition and the West condemned as fraudulent.

At that time, Belarusian authorities detained more than 35,000 people, many of whom were tortured in custody or left the country.

Mr Lukashenko, dubbed Europes last dictator by critics, has also been accused of involvement in the illegal transfer of children from Russian-occupied towns in Ukraine to Belarus.

According to the text of the law, Mr Lukashenko, were he to leave power, cannot be held accountable for actions committed in connection with exercising his presidential powers.

The measure also says the president and members of his family will be provided with lifelong state protection, medical care, life and health insurance.

If he were to resign, the president would also become a permanent lifelong member of the upper house of parliament.

Sviatlana Tikhanovskaya, the Belarusian opposition leader, said the president will be punished according to international law - Eddie Mulholland

Ruined the fates of thousands of Belarusians

Sviatlana Tikhanovskaya, the opposition leader, who fled to neighbouring Lithuania in 2020, said the law is Mr Lukashenkos response to his fear of an inevitable future, suggesting he must be concerned about what happens to him when he leaves power.

Lukashenko, who ruined the fates of thousands of Belarusians, will be punished according to international law, and no immunity will protect him against this. Its only a matter of time, she said.

The countrys opposition is seeking an investigation into the disappearances of politicians and the removal of Ukrainian children from Ukraine.

We will ensure that the dictator is brought to justice, Ms Tikhanovskaya said, emphasising that there are still about 1,500 political prisoners behind bars in Belarus, including Ales Bialiatski, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

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An international architectural competition to design a memorial complex for military burials by Lviv City Council began on Jan. 5. reports Suspilne media.

Interested participants have the opportunity to register until January 21, and they are required to submit their competition proposals for evaluation by March 18. The unveiling of the competition results is scheduled for early April, with preliminary discussions on the outcomes set to take place with the families of the fallen heroes.

Read also:

Lviv's chief architect, Anton Kolomeytsev, elaborated on the project in previous comments to Suspilne, saying that the envisaged complex will comprise a columbarium. This multifaceted facility will include an information center, offering visitors insights into the Russian-Ukrainian war, alongside a chapel designed to function as an interfaith prayer hall, among other features.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
My late mother would repeatedly tell me that if she ever became a burden, I should put her out of her misery. A chronic alcoholic, she eventually drank herself senseless and I found myself looking for adult care for her when she was only in her early 50s.

By then, with her liver failing, the toxins had addled her brain to such an extent that she barely made any sense. Addiction had reduced this beautiful, vivacious and highly-intelligent woman to someone with the capabilities of a toddler. It was like a premature finale to Shakespeares Seven Ages of Man: Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

Things suddenly took a turn for the worse and I was summoned to her bedside at Hemel Hempstead hospital where I was met by a priest about to administer the last rites.

Having not had a lucid conversation with her in months, I embarked on what I imagined would be a monologue about an imminent first date with the man I would go on to marry, who she had known for years because he went to school with my older brothers.

Suddenly, completely out of nowhere, Mum perked up. Dominic, she said. He was always a lovely boy. It was the last thing she ever said to me. I went on the date that Friday night and by Sunday, she was gone.

My mother had very little quality of life in her final months. Had Dignitas existed back then, and she been compos mentis, she would no doubt have insisted on me taking her there.

It would certainly have been tempting versus the prospect of watching her deteriorate in a home I know she would have hated. But Im glad I didnt have that option. Because what I learned during that bizarre, final bedside exchange is that you lose something important when you make death predictable  since death is a part of life. You lose those unforeseen moments at the end of a persons life, when they may say something that loved ones carry for the rest of theirs.

I appreciate that people who have had to witness their nearest and dearest suffer an excruciatingly painful death may argue that they would willingly forgo such moments just to see them at peace. It is certainly a compelling argument to say that we treat our pets more humanely in death than we do our human companions.

But I am not comfortable with the idea of assisted suicide, despite its rebrand as assisted dying.

Camilla Tominey and her mother Lynne Tominey

According to the narrative on the BBC and elsewhere since Dame Esther Rantzen revealed she had joined the Swiss clinic in the wake of her lung cancer diagnosis, assisted suicide is a moral cause and it is only right that it should be approved by MPs.

Yet while many may agree that the law should catch up with what the country wants, we need a proper debate about this important issue rather than dissenters being bullied into submission. Those who oppose assisted suicide are already being treated like Luddites or fruitcakes  out of touch with the world around them. Some may feel silenced by liberals who claim the current policy is inhumane. Others are made to feel evil, simply for believing that nature should take its course.

Nonetheless, Im sure people on both sides of the debate were moved by former Labour MP Dame Joan Ruddocks revelation this week that she got a pillow ready as she considered ending the life of her dying husband who was in extreme discomfort. In desperation, she called an out-of-hours GP service at night, telling them: Either you come or I will end his life. I dont know what the consequences are, but I will do it.

A doctor eventually attended her husband, Frank Doran, also a former Labour MP, and administered pain relief. Doran died seven hours later.

Ruddock said she had considered how to end Dorans life using the pillow. I asked myself what will I have to do to ensure that, if he struggles, I can maintain the pressure  because it has to be ended, she told BBC Radio 4s Womans Hour.

But I dont believe that she actually wanted to end her husbands life. What it seems she really wanted was for his final hours to be eased. Indeed, there is a big difference between a morphine and a pillow-assisted death  and Im not quite sure we should be equating the two.

Many see the case against assisted suicide as a fundamentally religious one, but in reality there are also practical reasons why allowing it could be a slippery slope. Just look at Canada, where the countrys euthanasia programme, known as MAID (medical assistance in dying) has already faced criticism for moving too far, too fast.

The policy was originally launched in 2016 for adults with terminal illness but in 2021, the law was changed to include those with serious and chronic physical conditions, even if that condition was non-life threatening.

The country is now divided over plans to extend it even further to include some Canadians with mental illness. There is a risk that what started out as a compassionate bid to end the lives of those with no hope of recovery might quickly turn into an offer of assisted suicide to the suicidal. What happened to helping people through mental illnesses?

The rapidly expanding policy might well be making disabled people in Canada feel more vulnerable. Could they see assisted suicide offered up as a form of therapy? It would create a very disturbing social norm if those who lack access to disability services or psychiatric treatment were led to believe that death is a suitable alternative.

These are the problems we would have to confront in Britain, where society is arguably more divided than in other parts of the West. We would risk ending up with a tiered system, in which the privileged can fly off to a shiny clinic in Zurich while the poor have to put up with an NHS-style euthanasia system. Who could really trust our already-decrepit healthcare system to deal with such an intimate and sensitive matter?

Weve already seen red flags in the way our healthcare system handles early death, such as the increase in do not resuscitate (DNR) notices during the Covid pandemic.

Care homes were asked by NHS managers and GPs to place blanket DNR orders on all their residents at the height of the pandemic to keep hospital beds free, according to reports. And patients with mental illness and learning disabilities were given similar orders. One family told this publication that their sister  who was in a care home because of a learning disability and had schizophrenia  was given a DNR which recorded the reasons for the decision as these conditions. The woman, 58, subsequently died of a heart attack and was not resuscitated because of the decision by a doctor.

Such tragedies occurred without assisted suicide even being on the statute book. So while I dont condone unnecessary suffering, theres a very real prospect of patients being harmed rather than helped by this policy.

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.
Authorities have charged the parents of a 4-year-old girl with her death.

Police said the girl had overdosed on what appeared to be "rainbow fentanyl" pills in Washington state last week. A nationwide manhunt is underway after a $500,000 warrant was issued for Joseph E. C. Walker, 30, of Kennewick. Benton County Superior Court is charging the father with first-degree manslaughter and with violating a protection order. As of Thursday, Walker remains at large, and online records show he has not yet been booked into the jail. The girl's mother, Judy, Bribiescas, 39, is being held on $200,000 bail on a charge of first-degree manslaughter.

USA TODAY obtained a press release from the Kennewick Police Department revealing that officers responded to an Econo Lodge just after 9:30 p.m. for a report of a child who had stopped breathing. Walker allegedly lived, according to the Daily Chronicle, at the Econo Lodge on the 300 block of Ely Street with Bribiescas. However, a no-contact order had been issued in July 2022 to keep him away from her.

Security footage from the motel caught Walker, Bribiescas and the children walk into the motel room at 8:39 p.m. on Dec. 27. according to court documents acquired by the Daily Chronicle.

Their 8-year-old son told investigators the couple were in the bathroom for a long period. Police believe they were doing drugs and that's when 4-year-old Ryleigh swallowed at least two fentanyl pills and one pink pill, commonly known as "Skittles" fentanyl, was later found stuck in her nose. Emergency medical technicians performed first aid and transported the child to a local hospital 4 miles away, Trios Southridge Hospital, where the child later died.

Bribiescas originally told police she found the girl unresponsive and called 911.

What Did Walker Do?

Security video shows Walker open the motel room door with his daughter in his arms. Before he walks out, he hands the girl to Bribiescas and then runs to a nearby vehicle.

Police allegedly found more fentanyl pills after searching the motel.

Walker has a history of violating protection orders. He was sentenced to over a year in prison in July as part of a drug offender sentencing alternative. This is his fourth conviction for violating the protection order since July 28.

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid similar to but 100 times more potent than morphine and heroin. Its misuse and abuse can be extremely dangerous and potentially fatal. The case remains under investigation.
Macon-Bibb County Mayor Lester Miller sees a new national park, multi-million dollar East Bank development and a continued reduction in crime for 2024.

During the latest taping of Ask Mayor Miller, the mayor reflected on the past year and looked ahead to the next 12 months.

He noted that recently published reports that showed Macon had the highest crime rate in the state in 2022 were based on old data compiled by a personal injury law firm as a promotional campaign.

Its paid advertising, as far as I can see. They pulled some things from 2018 to 2022, Miller said. More importantly, its not current, its outdated. By the time you get these statistics in, theyre years outdated.

As of mid-December, Miller said crime was actually down 12% with homicides dropping about 47%. At the conclusion of 2023, the Bibb County Sheriffs Office reported 41 homicides down from a record 70 cases in 2022, which amounts to a 41% homicide reduction year over year.

He expects Macon to continue to fund the most successful Macon Violence Prevention programs that are producing results and garnering the attention of other Georgia municipalities, he said.

Miller said its frustrating for him and county commissioners who are held accountable for every action the sheriff does or does not do because Sheriff David Davis operates as an independent constitutional officer and does not formally answer to the local government that funds his department.

The mayor also pointed out that the news media focuses on the murder rate when the figures are high but fails to give as much attention to declining homicide numbers.

He will remember 2023 for construction of the amphitheater, Rhythm and Rally pickleball facility and the countys five-fold increase in spending for road repairs.

Were going to continue to pave a lot of roads leading into 2024. Its going to be one of the top initiatives. And of course, the blight continues to be, Miller said.

National park is still priority No. 1

Atop his 2024 wish list is national park status for the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park. Miller believes the enabling legislation could drop as early as January or February.

Macon-Bibb County recently requested proposals from developers to build on 21 acres of the old Bibb Mill site off Coliseum Drive. Miller considers acquiring and preparing that property for development as another highlight of his administration.

Proposals are due February 15 for the planned East Bank development on Coliseum Drive near Interstate 16.

The East Bank concept would combine a hotel, office space, retail and more than 800 dwellings on that site which could be the gateway to the future national park.

Muskogee Creek Nation citizen Tracie Revis took Sen. Raphael Warnock on a hike in the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historic Park. The park is tagged as a possible future national park.

The new Interstate 16 exit at Second Street will bring a new entrance to the Coliseum near the old Chamber of Commerce location. Miller also is working on plans for another major development on county-owned property off Emery Highway that used to be home to the health department. He plans to have a proposal ready for the 2025 SPLOST campaign.

SPLOST stands for Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, a 1-cent sales tax that the state allows counties to collect to fund specific improvement projects.

Miller also expects a substantial mixed-use development to be built along the river on the old Macon Transit Authority property near the Burger King. Former Mercer University President Kirby Godsey has been actively marketing the property in recent years and an announcement could come early this year, Miller said.

Plans for a new jail also are being discussed for the 2025 SPLOST funds. Miller would like to see the law enforcement center moved from downtown, but he did not discuss specific locations for a new facility.

Pedestrian safety measures are expected along Gray Highway and enhanced lighting is planned for Pio Nono Avenue, Miller said.

The mayor also is excited about the future growth of the Middle Georgia Regional Airport with the lengthening of the main runway and plans for a guitar-shaped facility for private flights and charter aircraft. Miller expects the airport renovation to spur more economic growth for the community and encourage development near Avondale Mill Road, which could include a new passenger terminal as the county tries to recruit a new airline to supplement Contours flights to Baltimore.

Ask the Mayor is a monthly interview conducted by Liz Fabian, Senior Fellow for the Center for Collaborative Journalism. Send your questions to mercerccj@gmail.com.
The world's biggest container ship, named the Maersk MC-Kinney Moller arrives at the port of Rotterdam, The Netherlands, on August 16, 2013. Maersk said none of its ships will sail the Red Sea in the "foreseeable future" on Friday. File Photo by Jerry Lampen/EPA-EFE

Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Global container ship giant Maersk said on Friday that it will divert all of its ships away from the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden citing continued threats in the area.

Maersk said in an update that it will avoid the troubled sea routes for the "foreseeable future," opting the sail around the southern tip of Africa at the Cape of Good Hope.

"The situation is constantly evolving and remains highly volatile, and all available intelligence at hand confirms that the security risk continues to be at a significant level," Maersk said.

Maersk, one of the world's leaders in global over-the-seas transport, announced on Tuesday an indefinite pause after the vessel Maersk Hangzhou was attacked by militants at the end of December. The ship was eventually rescued by the U.S. Navy, which deployed helicopters to sink most of the attacking boats.

"We understand the potential impact this will have on our logistics operations, but please rest assured that all decisions have been carefully considered and ultimately prioritized the safety of our vessel, seafarers and your cargo," the company said Friday.

Ships from Maersk and other companies using the Red Sea and the Suez Canal have come under attack from Houthi rebels since October. The militant group, which is financially supported by Iran, has been locked in a bitter long-running civil war against the Saudi-backed Yemeni government.

The Houthis said they are attacking the ships in solidarity with Hamas in their war with Israel.

In the meantime, the United States and some of its Western allies have promised to step up their presence in the Red Sea to protect ships and to keep the important commercial shipping lane open.
Google disabled cookies for 30 million Chrome users as part of the tech giant's crackdown to ensure tracking protection for people on the internet.

The effort is part of the company's attempts to end the practice of tracking users online. A new feature in the Chrome browser allows users to disable third-party cookies. These are small files stored on a device to collect analytic data, personalize online ads, and monitor browsing.

Google Disables Cookies for Millions

Initially, the disabled cookies would only affect 1% of global users, which equates to roughly 30 million people. The tech giant describes the new changes as a test phase as it has plans for a full rollout to eliminate the use of cookies later in 2024.

However, some advertisers have said that they will suffer as a result of Google's crackdown on cookies. The development comes as Google Chrome is the most popular internet browser in the world.

The company's browser has rivals, including Apple's Safari and Mozilla Firefox, which both account for far less internet traffic. These two already have options for users to block third-party cookies, as per BBC.

Google said that the users who will be asked whether or not they want to "browse with more privacy" will be randomly chosen. The company's vice president, Anthony Chavez said in a blog post that they are taking a responsible approach to phasing out third-party cookies in Chrome.

He added that if a site does not work without third-party cookies and Chrome notices a user having issues, it will prompt them with an option to temporarily re-enable third-party cookies for that particular website.

The tech giant said that it is working to make the internet more private for people who browse it. However, from the point of view of many websites, cookies are considered a vital part of selling the advertising on which they depend.

While the latest Chrome change only affects a small number of users, it is considered a milestone for the internet. Cookies have long been a part of the web and removing them completely has been difficult, according to CNET.

Read Also: Ukrainian Cyber Spy Chief Says Telecoms Operator Faced Prolonged Cyberattack From Russian Hackers

Ensuring Protection of Privacy

In 2021, the United Kingdom's Competition and Markets Authority intervened with concerns that Chrome blocking third-party cookies would give an unfair advantage to the company's advertising business. This is by letting the tech giant track behavior on its own websites without third-party cookies.

While there are privacy issues, cookies have several benign uses, such as remembering language preferences, protecting against fraud, or making it easier to return to a website without having to log back in.

However, many of these involve first-party cookies and not third-party ones that advertisers can set to show ads or social networks adding share buttons. Some users could feel uncomfortable when they see a particular item in an online store after looking at the product somewhere else on the internet.

Google's senior director of product management for Privacy Sandbox, Victor Wong previously said that they are making the largest changes to how the internet works. He said that this comes at a time when people are, more than ever, relying on the free services and content that the web offers, said Gizmodo.



Related Article: Microsoft Adds New Keyboard Key After 30 Years-Changing PC Keyboard Layout for the First Time!
Nicholas Rossi leaves Edinburgh Sheriff And Justice Of The Peace Court after an extradition hearing, in Edinburgh, July 12, 2022. Scottish authorities have signed an extradition order for an American fugitive accused of faking his own death to avoid a rape charge in Utah. | Andrew Milligan, Associated Press

An American man charged with rape in Utah has been extradited to the United States.

The fugitive was detained at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in December 2021 and claimed that he was an Irish orphan named Arthur Knight. In November 2023, the Edinburgh Sheriff Court ruled that the man claiming to be Knight is Nicholas Rossi.

It is understood Rossi  also known in the U.S. as Nicholas Alahverdian  left on a private flight from Edinburgh Airport on Friday, the BBC reported.

Rossi is charged with felony rape, according to court documents in Utahs 4th Judicial District Court. This incident allegedly occurred in September 2008. Filings in Salt Lakes 3rd District Court indicate that Rossi is charged with felony rape in Salt Lake County. This is a separate charge in relation to an incident that allegedly happened in December 2008.

Timothy Taylor, Deputy Utah County Attorney issued a statement confirming the extradition and indicating that Utah County will move forward with prosecution.

The Utah County Attorneys Office has confirmed that Nicholas Rossi was extradited to the United States. On September 10, 2020, the Utah County Attorneys Office filed a criminal Information charging Mr. Rossi with Rape, a first degree felony and a warrant was issued for Mr. Rossis arrest. Mr. Rossi was residing in Scotland at the time of the arrest warrant and authorities from the United States and Scotland have worked diligently over the past several years to extradite Mr. Rossi back to the United States. Now that Mr. Rossi has returned to the United States, the Utah County Attorneys Office will move forward with the prosecution. The Utah County Attorneys Office acknowledges the tremendous efforts from the Department of Justice, United States Marshalls Office, the Scottish authorities and many others to return Mr. Rossi back to the United States. Mr. Rossi is presumed innocent and will receive all of the due process rights that defendants are entitled to. The Fourth District Court has not yet scheduled an initial appearance for Mr. Rossi.

This is part of an on-going process; the extradition makes Nicholas Rossi available to be held accountable for his alleged crime in Salt Lake County. Consistent with established legal principles, Mr. Rossi is presumed innocent of the charges until proven guilty in a court of law, Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said in a statement.

Former Utah County Prosecutor David Leavitt  the attorney who initially pursued the Utah County case  said in a statement to the Deseret News, I want to express my wholehearted respect and gratitude for police and court agencies across the world who have sought to assure justice is sought by sending this individual back to stand trial. Now it will be Utah Countys turn to stand up for these victims. The victims deserve no less, and the world will be watching.

Related

Prosecutors allege that during the investigation, the agent discovered that Rossi had alleged involvement in criminal cases of sex assault, harassment and possible kidnapping in Rhode Island, Ohio, Utah and Massachusetts.

In each case, there is a consistent pattern of behavior, where the defendant will meet a female online, he will initially meet with them in public, eventually going somewhere alone with the female, and will initiate some inappropriate contact, leading the female to want to leave, filings in Salt Lakes 3rd District Court said.

An investigation allegedly revealed that the defendant faked his own death and was located living in Scotland, the court documents said.

The incidents of alleged rape both occurred in 2008, according to court documents. Years later, an obituary posted on or around Feb. 29, 2020, in Rhode Island described the death of Nicholas Alahverdian. Rhode Island authorities reportedly questioned whether or not he actually died.

Authorities in Rhode Island have said Alahverdian is wanted there for failing to register as a sex offender, though his former lawyer there, Jeffrey Pine, told the AP earlier this year that the charge was dropped when he left the state, The Associated Press reported. The FBI has said he also faces fraud charges in Ohio, where he was convicted of sex-related charges in 2008.

Rossis extradition was granted in September 2023 after Justice Secretary Angela Constance signed an order. He lost an appeal of the order in December 2023, the BBC reported.
CENTERBURG, Ohio (WCMH)  The Knox County Sheriffs Office is searching for a suspect who allegedly pretended to be blind during a Thursday morning robbery of a Centerburg bank.

A man carrying a cane and pretending to be blind successfully robbed the First Federal Bank in Centerburg of an unknown amount of cash, according to the Knox County Sheriffs Office. In a Facebook post, it said the suspect displayed a handgun in his waistband.

One dead after northeast Columbus shooting

A man pretending to be blind robbed a Centerburg bank on Thursday morning, investigators said. (Courtesy Photo/Knox County Sheriffs Office)

The suspect reportedly fled the scene on foot, possibly going into an alley behind a nearby Subway. The sheriffs office said a dark gray Jeep Latitude or similar vehicle with temporary tags may have been involved in the robbery.

Woman charged with permanently injuring former Columbus basketball player pleads guilty

The Knox County Sheriffs Office asked anyone with information to come forward and call the dispatch center at 740-397-3333 extension one. Knox County Sheriff Jay Sheffer told NBC4 that investigators have already begun to receive leads from people calling in.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A man was hospitalized after he was shot in the chest just east of the Las Vegas Strip.

It happened on Thursday shortly after 6 p.m. at Sands Avenue and Paradise Road.

Las Vegas police search for female suspect accused in southwest valley shooting

The man was taken to a nearby hospital for his injuries.

The cause of the shooting was unknown and the suspect had not been located.

Las Vegas Metro police detectives will continue to investigate the shooting.

North Las Vegas shooting leaves 2 men injured, 1 dead

As of 7:30 p.m., Sands Avenue was closed between Howard Hughes Parkway and Paradise Road in both directions.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  The man who attacked a Las Vegas judge as she was sentencing him Wednesday told corrections officers he had a bad day and tried to kill her, according to documents the 8 News Now Investigators obtained.

As the 8 News Now Investigators first reported, Deobra Redden, 30, a three-time felon, was in Clark County District Court Judge Mary Kay Holthus courtroom for sentencing on a charge of attempted battery with substantial bodily harm. As Holthus was getting ready to sentence Redden to prison time, he lunged over the bench and attacked her.

A photo showing blood on Judge Mary Kay Holthus courtroom bench from the attack on Jan. 3, 2024. (KLAS)

Holthus was about to deny Reddens probation request when Redden ran up to her, jumped over the bench, and attacked her, video shared with the 8 News Now Investigators showed. Several other people then fought with Redden before throwing him to the ground. The ensuing struggle lasted several minutes.

Holthus marshal, identified as Shane Brandon, received 25 stitches to a gash on his face, documents said. Brandon was preparing to handcuff Redden at the time. He also dislocated his shoulder.

Judge Mary Kay Holthus rubs her head after she stands up after a courtroom attack on Jan. 3, 2024. (KLAS)

After leaping over the bench, Redden allegedly slammed Holthus head against a wall, struck her once on the head, and pulled some hair out of her head, documents said. She then hid under her desk balled up covering her face.

Holthus described Redden as being big, strong and angry,' police said. Medical personnel treated her in the justice center. A family member later brought her to a hospital due to her continued pain.

Redden also hit and punched a corrections officer who was present in the courtroom, documents said. Holthus law clerk, Michael Lasso, was cut several times on his hand in the melee.

Photos showed a bloody scene, with blood on Holthus bench and on documents scattered in the area.

A witness who was in the courtroom on Wednesday described the attack to 8 News Now Investigators.

It was just a total chaotic commotion, Daniel Martin expressed. Honestly I was super surprised like Ive never seen anything like that in my whole life, that looked like something out of the NFL or something like that.

Martin said he wanted to help the judge, but his public defender told him to stay back.

I was in conflict cause as a natural man you want to protect a woman, Martin added.

After the attack, in a holding cell near the courtroom, Redden reportedly told an officer, Judge has it out for me, Judge is evil, Im sorry you guys had to see that, documents said. Another officer said Redden asked him if what he did was wrong.

A Hazmat crew then cleaned the courtroom, police said.

While at CCDC, Redden allegedly spit in a corrections officers face, police said.

Chief Judge Jerry Wiese said Holthus returned to work Thursday.

Also on Thursday, Redden refused to show up for his initial appearance in the same building where the attack happened the day before. He was scheduled to return to court on Jan. 9.

Holthus was scheduled to continue the sentencing hearing on her case on Monday, Jan. 8. The case is unrelated to the new charges related to the Jan. 3 incident.

Redden faced new charges as of Thursday:

Coercion w/force or threat of force

Extortion

Intimidate public officers/others, with the use of force

Disregard the safety of person/property

Battery by prisoner, probationer, or parolee

Unlaw act to excrete/fluid by a prisoner in a confined area

Battery on a protected person

Redden was previously in front of Holthus on charges of malicious destruction of property. Records show he served prison time on a domestic battery charge for a year, starting in 2021. In that case, a different judge sentenced Redden to prison for a term of 12-30 months. A board granted Redden parole in 2022.

Redden, who appeared in court with his mother, has three felony convictions and nine misdemeanor convictions on his record, according to documents the 8 News Now Investigators obtained. Some of those cases were transferred to mental health court.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
A man disguised himself as a delivery driver before police say he shot and killed a man dating his ex-girlfriend in Georgia, multiple news outlets report.

Donovan Carter, 33, faces malice murder and other charges after he gunned down Kenneth Cunningham II outside an apartment complex in Smyrna, according to the Marietta Police Department.

Officers were called around 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 3, and arrived to find a man on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds, police said in a news release.

Cunningham died at the scene.

Authorities said the shooting wasnt random, and further investigation revealed Cunningham was dating Carters former girlfriend, WXIA reported.

This was a preplanned, premeditated event that took place, Marietta police public information officer Chuck McPhilamy told the station. It also happened to be Cunninghams 40th birthday, he said.

Investigators said Carter drove to the apartment complex and pretended he was there to deliver a package, WAGA reported.

The suspect did wear a costume to appear like they were a delivery driver, McPhilamy told the station. They did use that to then lure that victim out of their own residence and then subsequently shoot them to death.

Carter ran immediately after the shooting, sparking an hourslong manhunt by multiple law enforcement agencies, according to the news release. He was later arrested in Gwinnett County and taken to jail.

Cunninghams family was in town from Chicago to celebrate his birthday but is instead planning his funeral, WSB-TV reported.

I pray for them, I pray for their healing, a neighbor told the station.

Carter was charged with aggravated assault, murder commission of a felony, malice murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, police said.

He remained in custody at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center without bond as of Jan. 5, jail records show.

Smyrna is about 20 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A man was rescued after being trapped inside a grain bin on Thursday in Poinsett County.

According to the Crittenden Emergency Services Unit, multiple agencies responded to the grain bin entrapment outside of Marked Tree, Arkansas where one person was found trapped.

photos via Crittenden County EMS

photos via Crittenden County EMS

photos via Crittenden County EMS

photos via Crittenden County EMS

After being stuck for over an hour, the man was finally rescued, reports state.

Alongside Crittenden EMS, the Lepanto Fire Department, Riverside Ambulance, Poinsett County Sheriffs Department, Hospital Wing, Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, Marked Tree and Marion Fire Departments, and West Memphis Fire Department Special Operations Team all assisted in the rescue efforts.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
US President Joe Biden's administration is facing internal dissent from within its own ranks regarding the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.

The latest blow came on Wednesday when Tariq Habash, a senior education official under Biden, resigned, citing the administration's perceived failure to protect Palestinian civilians in Gaza from Israeli forces.

Letter Criticizes Biden's Israel-Hamas Handling

Habash, a Palestinian-American and a political appointee specializing in student loans and college affordability, expressed his concerns in a letter to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona. In the letter, he stated, "I cannot stay silent as this administration turns a blind eye to the atrocities committed against innocent Palestinian lives, in what leading human rights experts have called a genocidal campaign by the Israeli government."

This resignation follows a trend as a group of 17 current Biden campaign staffers published a letter on Medium, anonymously calling out the President for his approach to the Israel-Hamas war. The staffers conveyed their concerns to President Biden, urging him to demand a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

"As your staff, we believe it is both a moral and electoral imperative for you to publicly call for a cessation of violence," the campaign staffers wrote. They also condemned the continuous 'unconditional' military aid being sent to Israel from US resources.

The letter outlined five demands for the President, including calls for de-escalation in the conflict region, particularly around the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and the Israel-Lebanon border. Additionally, the anonymous staffers demanded concrete steps to end what they perceive as the root causes of the conflict: apartheid, occupation, and ethnic cleansing, as per Daily Mail.

Read Also: Bill Ackman Wants Other University Presidents to Resign After Claudine Gay Departure from Harvard

Silent Response as Staffers Express 'Tough Love' to Biden

A campaign official refused to comment on the letter, maintaining President Biden's position that "Israel has a right and obligation to defend its people after the October 7 terrorist attack."

While the letter's signatories were granted anonymity to protect them from potential backlash, five of them confirmed the letter's legitimacy to West Wing Playbook. One staffer mentioned that their motivation was to provide President Biden with a form of 'tough love,' hoping it would prompt him to call for a ceasefire and demonstrate his true character to the world.

Despite growing internal discontent, the conflict in the Middle East shows no signs of de-escalation. Israel's recent drone strike in Lebanon's capital Beirut, targeting Hamas deputy leader Saleh al-Arouri, has raised concerns about the conflict spreading beyond the Palestinian enclave and engulfing the broader Middle East.

Arouri's assassination marked the first targeting of a senior Hamas political leader since the initiation of Israel's military campaign almost three months ago. Lebanon's Hezbollah group, a powerful Hamas ally, vowed to retaliate against any Israeli targeting of Palestinian officials in Lebanon, potentially escalating the conflict on Israel's northern border.

As tensions rise and criticism mounts within President Biden's own staff, the administration faces challenges in navigating the complex dynamics of the Israel-Hamas conflict. The internal dissent highlights the urgency for a reevaluation of the US approach to the situation in the Middle East, according to NY Breaking.

Related Article: Kim Jong Un's Sister Blasts South Korean President, Praises Predecessor
Elon Musk took to X to call DEI another word for racism, prompting the billionaire businessman and investor to share the significance of the organizational frameworks.

Mark Cuban is not one of the billionaires who believe that attempts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion are racist.

After Elon Musk opined on X Wednesday that DEI is merely another term for racism, the longtime businessman, Shark Tank panelist and former Dallas Mavericks owner briefed the Tesla Motors CEO on the significance of the organizational frameworks, according to Vanity Fair.

Good businesses look where others dont, to find the employees that will put your business in the best possible position to succeed, Cuban wrote in response to Musks assertion. You may not agree, but I take it as a given that there are people of various races, ethnicities, orientation, etc that are regularly excluded from hiring consideration.

Mark Cuban talks to reporters before a Dallas Mavericks game against the Chicago Bulls at American Airlines Center in November in Dallas, Texas. The former Mavericks owner recently took to X to inform fellow billionaire Elon Musk about the importance of DEI efforts in the workplace. (Photo by Tim Heitman/Getty Images)

Musks remarks on Wednesday came in response to fellow billionaire Bill Ackmans 4,000-word screed about DEI and its connection to Claudine Gay, who announced her resignation as president of Harvard University a day before.

DEI is just another word for racism, Musk posted, retweeting Ackmans Jan. 2 missive. Shame on anyone who uses it.

The X owner also hopped on the platform last month to write: DEI must DIE, VF reported.

Ackman claimed in his initial post that DEI initiatives are racist and expressed concern about reverse racism and racism against white people, decrying DEI as a powerful movement that has not only pervaded Harvard, but the educational system at large that needs to be stopped.

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Gay submitted her resignation on Tuesday  setting a record for the shortest-lived presidency at the Ivy League Institution  after weeks of controversy surrounding plagiarism allegations and her handling of antisemitism on Harvards campus.

Ackman, a Harvard alum, spearheaded an effort to oust Gay, Harvards first Black president, citing concerns about the universitys DEI efforts during the presidential search. He alleged that Gays race was a driving force behind her hiring.

Cuban shrugged off the other magnates efforts in his message to Musk on X.

By extending our hiring search to include them, we can find people that are more qualified, Cuban noted, VF shared. The loss of DEI-Phobic companies is my gain.

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

The post Mark Cuban schools other billionaires on why DEI is a good thing appeared first on TheGrio.
A man died after being run over by a carrier attempting to back up to the back parking lot area at the Mars Hill post office, located at 65 S. Main St.

MARS HILL - A man was killed after a mail carrier ran him over at the Mars Hill post office Dec. 27.

According to Chad Wilson, who was named Mars Hill police chief effective Jan. 1, the identity of the man has not been released yet.

Wilson said the man, 65, was a former math teacher and had recently moved to Marshall from Michigan.

According to Wilson, Madison County Emergency Operations Center received the 911 call at 2:48 p.m. stating that a motor vehicle crash had occurred involving a truck and a pedestrian.

Wilson said the carrier was attempting to back the box truck into the back parking lot area, where there is a loading dock, and backed into the man and running him over at the side of the parking lot, where there are six parking spots parallel to N.C. 213/Carl Eller Road.

"I arrived on scene, and bystanders and fire department personnel were performing CPR on the individual, and he was transported to Mission Hospital," Wilson said.

According to the police chief, the man was with his wife and planned to pick up their mail at the post office.

Wilson said his wife did not witness him getting run over, as she was getting out of the car.

"I hate it on her part, because she's in shock. Point blank, period, she's in shock," he said. "I just hate it. I hate it. Especially right after the holidays."

According to Wilson, the victim had recently celebrated his 65th birthday.

Wilson and Mars Hill Town Manager Nathan Bennett said they hoped the incident would spark discussion at the federal level about the location, general layout and building/parking lot infrastructure at the Mars Hill post office.

"There are only 11 parking spaces in that parking lot," Wilson said. "It's extremely tight. And with the amount of volume that that post office gets now, as much as Mars Hill has grown, we've outgrown that post office years ago."

Bennett agreed with Wilson, and said he felt it was time for a new location.

"I would think it's time for the Postal Service to look at a new post office location for Mars Hill," Bennett said. "It's just that they need a secure place. That just highlights how dangerous it is. We have numerous fender benders all the time. It's just such a tight, congested space."

The post office is located at 65 S. Main St., across from the Madison County Visitor Center and adjacent to the gazebo park and a number of businesses, including the popular barbeque restaurant Stackhouse.

On Dec. 27, a 65-year-old man died after a carrier driving a box truck ran him over while attempting to back up into the back parking lot, pictured here, at the Mars Hill post office.

Wilson said he spoke with the mail carrier, whose identity has also not been released.

"He is distraught, as anybody would be," Wilson said. "It's a sad situation on both sides, as well as the town itself. I mean, it happened one block from downtown Mars Hill."

Wilson said Jan. 4 he will meet with District Attorney Seth Banks to issue the Mars Hill Police Department's incident report. According to Wilson, Banks was scheduled to participate in a trial the week of Jan. 2-5.

Banks did not offer a comment on the investigation.

Wilson said he met with a Knoxville-based United States Postal Service investigator Dec. 28, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Phillip Bogenberger operates corporate communications for the United States Postal Service.

Bogenberger was not available by press time.

The incident is just the latest tragedy related to the Mars Hill post office.

On Sept. 5, the university went into lockdown after a man carjacked the vehicle of a Mars Hill U.S. Mail worker, Teresa Ramsay, and shot her in the head.

The man, Jaden Garay, 24, of Weaverville, was federally indicted Oct. 4 on charges of attempted first-degree murder.

More: Carjacking suspect indicted Suspect in Mars Hill attempted murder/carjacking of mail vehicle federally indicted

More: $18K raised for Mars Hill postal worker shot in carjacking; suspect gets new court date

A GoFundMe started by Ramsay's family to help "keep her and her family keep their home running and deal with upcoming expenses and basic needs" had raised more than $28,000 as of Jan. 4.

Kathy Little is postmaster at the Mars Hill post office.

"It's just crazy," Little said. "The fall and winter has been horrible. Absolutely."

Wilson said the impact of the man's death has been felt throughout the town.

"The impact is town-wide," Wilson said. "I hear it about every day, how bad it was, how horrific it was. Someone brings it up somewhere every day. It's still having the ripple effect."

Johnny Casey has covered Madison County for The Citizen Times and The News-Record & Sentinel for nearly three years. He earned a first-place award in beat reporting in the 2023 North Carolina Press Association awards. He can be reached at 828-210-6071 or jcasey@citizentimes.com.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Officials call for change after death at Mars Hill post office
The Texas Panhandle War Memorial Center, located at 4111 S. Georgia, will host its next monthly lecture/seminar this weekend. This month will feature Mary Parker as guest speaker for "Reflections on Military Service" for the Saturday, Jan. 6 talk.

Parker is a Gold Star family member and will speak on the efforts of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), in the recovery and identification of her uncle's remains. It took 72 years, and his remains were brought back to the U.S. and given full military honors, an announcement says. The DPAA looks for and identifies the remains of the 81,000 American service members who are still missing.

On each first Saturday of the month, the Texas Panhandle War Memorial hosts a one-hour lecture/seminar on topics related to military history. These lecture/seminars are free to the public and are held at 1:30 p.m. Snacks are available for the attendees.

The lecture/seminar series is made possible by a grant from the Mary E. Bivins Foundation.

Guests can also take advantage of the memorial's hours on Saturday, from 1 to 5 p.m., and tour the Education Center and military history museum, test their knowledge in the high-tech Education Center with five computer kiosks displaying information about 11 U. S. wars, and visit outdoor displays including a Huey helicopter, supersonic jet fighter/bomber, a piece of the USS Arizona deck and superstructure, and our monuments to the more than 1,550 Panhandle residents who gave their lives in wars.

Hours for the museum are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free for veterans; adults are $5, children and students $2.

For more information, call 806-350-8387. You can also follow them on Facebook or visit their website online at www.TexasPanhandleWarMemorial.com .

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Gold Star family member Mary Parker featured in monthly lecture series
BOSTON  Massachusetts has become the latest state where residents are attempting to bar former President Donald Trump from the Republican presidential primary and general election ballot.

Free Speech For People and Massachusetts-based civil rights firm Lichten & Liss-Riordan P.C late Thursday filed an objection with the Massachusetts Ballot Law Commission to have Trump's name on the ballot.

The challenge cites section 3 of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution, which prohibits the election of anyone who previously under an oath of office "engaged in insurrection or rebellion," according to a press release.

Former President Donald Trump speaks during a rally on Dec. 13, 2023, in Coralville, Iowa.

"Donald Trump violated his oath of office and incited a violent insurrection that attacked the U.S. Capitol, threatened the assassination of the Vice President and congressional leaders, and disrupted the peaceful transfer of power for the first time in our nations history," Ron Fein, legal director at Free Speech For People, said in a statement. "Our predecessors understood that oath-breaking insurrectionists will do it again, and worse, if allowed back into power, so they enacted the Insurrectionist Disqualification Clause to protect the republic from people like Trump. Trump is legally barred from the ballot and election officials must follow this constitutional mandate."

Voters have sought to remove Trump from the ballot due to his actions on Jan. 6, 2021, in several states, including Illinois, Colorado and Maine. The Colorado Supreme Court ruled that the former president was ineligible under the Fourteenth Amendment, and Maine's secretary of state recently barred him as well. Trump is appealing both of these rulings.

A spokesperson for Secretary of State William Galvin did not have a comment when asked about the objection on Thursday.

Galvin did weigh in on the topic earlier this week.

"I think there's been a lot of confusion between the ballot access issue and the issue of eligibility. The real issue presented by the Fourteenth Amendment is eligibility to be president," Galvin told reporters on Monday, adding that he hoped to see a "decisive decision" from the U.S. Supreme Court on Trump's eligibility.

The secretary said his office has heard from "a number of Democratic activists" recently on the topic, and he recalled telling some of them that Trump could still win the state Republican primary as a write-in candidate even if his name were not printed on ballots.

"I said, what do you suggest I should do if people write him in? Well, they said, don't count him. I said, are you serious?  Elections and primaries are about voters. They're not about candidates, they're not about offices, they're about voters. It's the opportunity to make a decision the voters have. We're not going to deprive voters of the right to cast a ballot. A lot of people have said this is about defending democracy. And as a citizen, I might agree with that. But I think the best way to defend democracy is to participate in democracy. And that opportunity's here for everyone in Massachusetts," Galvin said.

Trump is among seven Republican candidates set to appear on the March 5 presidential primary ballot in Massachusetts. The order that the candidate names will appear on the ballot was determined during a drawing overseen by Galvin on Tuesday.

Massachusetts Republican Party Chair Amy Carnevale did not immediately answer a request for comment Thursday.

Free Speech for People says the challengers in Massachusetts are "a mix of Republican, Independent, and Democratic voters and include former Boston Mayor Kim Janey and two leading law professors."

Filer Shannon Liss-Riordan of Lichten & Liss-Riordan ran for attorney general as a Democrat in 2022 and lost to Andrea Campbell.

"Todays legal action is not about partisan politics but about upholding our Constitution, and that is why Massachusetts voters across the political spectrum have joined together to challenge Donald Trumps wrongful placement on the Massachusetts ballot," Shannon Liss-Riordan said in a statement. "As two other states have already recognized, Donald Trumps instigation of and participation in the insurrection three years ago provide overwhelming cause for his disqualification from holding office in the United States."

The ballot law commission is made up of five people appointed by the governor, and no more than three members of the commission may be members of the same political party.

The Cape Cod Times mobile app gets you to the heart of the matter  fast. Whether breaking news, sports, entertainment or weather get succinct, personalized coverage along with award-winning videos, captivating photography, and interactive user features. Download the app.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Mass. joins fight to keep Donald Trump off GOP primary ballot
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2024 will feature MSI, Samsung's Bespoke, Robo Vaccum, and other tech that could revolutionize how tech fits into people's lives over the next few years, which will kick off in Las Vegas on Monday, January 8.

From the introduction of new TVs, smart home appliances, and gaming PCs, many AI features will probably be built in this year's huge tech event.

CES 2024: Tech, Devices to Look Forward

MSI posted a teaser video of its very first handheld gaming PC on Instagram. The video claimed a whole new breed of MSI dragon is coming and showed the placement of two joysticks and ventilation, which appears in the MSI logo on the back of the device.

The video also showed that more information regarding the handheld PC will be revealed at CES next week. However, a tweet from Intel gave a hint as to what was inside the device. Though a tweet from Intel hinted at what was inside the device now, they can only speculate how it looks on the outside.

The Asus ROG Ally, which adopts Microsoft's Xbox controllers' offset location, has joysticks positioned similarly. In the video, they are visible in an area of total darkness surrounded by RGB lights.

Although MSI has been producing gaming laptops for many years, handheld gaming PCs will be new for the brand. However, expanding into new markets was typical for MSI, which has recently gotten into high-end SSDs and routers. The company would be on par with several of its competitors, who have already introduced their own handheld PCs.

Read Also: New Mexico Governor Initiates 10% Spending Increase to Boost Housing, Healthcare Opportunities

Tech Giants' Best Devices in CES 2024

Samsung has announced a new vacuum cleaner lineup with advanced artificial intelligence. The Bespoke Jet Combo is a robot vacuum and mop that promises to simplify user cleaning with enhanced AI features and steam cleaning.

"I am thrilled to introduce our innovative vacuum cleaner lineup for 2024, which leverages our latest AI technology to meaningfully improve its usability. We firmly believe it will make cleaning more enjoyable for our customers." Moohyung Lee, EVP of Samsung Electronics, said.

According to Samsung, the Bespoke Jet Combo uses enhanced AI Object Recognition. The vacuum can recognize more objects because of its 3D sensor, which makes driving more accurate.

However, the most noteworthy development is that AI Object Recognition can now recognize stains and space. The model can also identify and classify mapped spaces, such as a living room and a kitchen. Furthermore, the vacuum automatically creates "no-go zones" that include the entrance, the veranda, and the bathroom.

When a stain is detected, Bespoke Jet Combo heats the mop pads with high-temperature steam and water. Spinning powerfully at 170 RPM (revolutions per minute), the mops can also clean hardened stains.

The machine can sense the floor type with AI Floor Detect for enhanced cleaning. The model also prevents the carpets from getting wet.

Related Article: Microsoft Adds New Keyboard Key After 30 Years-Changing PC Keyboard Layout for the First Time!




OREM, Utah (ABC4)  Authorities in northern Utah say the massive fire that destroyed an unoccupied multi-million dollar home in Orem last week was intentionally set.

At a news conference Wednesday, Orem Assistant Fire Chief Shaun Hirst said evidence found at the scene over the last several days led investigators to believe the fire was intentionally started and its rapid progression on the structure was aided.

PICS: Unoccupied $3.9M home burns down in Orem, no one hurt

No specifics were given as to what evidence investigators found at the home, located near 1600 North and 400 East. The home, which burned in a massive blaze on Dec. 26, was under construction and listed on Zillow for nearly $4 million.

Pictures from the scene of an Orem house fire, Dec. 26, 2023. (Courtesy of Brad Simmons)

Pictures from the scene of an Orem house fire, Dec. 26, 2023. (Courtesy of Brad Simmons)

Pictures from the scene of an Orem house fire, Dec. 26, 2023. (Courtesy of Brad Simmons)

Pictures from the scene of an Orem house fire, Dec. 26, 2023. (Courtesy of Brad Simmons)

Pictures from the scene of an Orem house fire, Dec. 26, 2023. (Courtesy of Brad Simmons)

Pictures from the scene of an Orem house fire, Dec. 26, 2023. (Courtesy of Brad Simmons)

Pictures from the scene of an Orem house fire, Dec. 26, 2023. (Courtesy of Brad Simmons)

Pictures from the scene of an Orem house fire, Dec. 26, 2023. (Courtesy of Brad Simmons)

Pictures from the scene of an Orem house fire, Dec. 26, 2023. (Courtesy of Brad Simmons)

Pictures from the scene of an Orem house fire, Dec. 26, 2023. (Courtesy of Brad Simmons)

Pictures from the scene of an Orem house fire, Dec. 26, 2023. (Courtesy of Brad Simmons)

Pictures from the scene of an Orem house fire, Dec. 26, 2023. (Courtesy of Brad Simmons)

Pictures from the scene of an Orem house fire, Dec. 26, 2023. (Courtesy of Brad Simmons)

Pictures from the scene of an Orem house fire, Dec. 26, 2023. (Courtesy of Brad Simmons)

Pictures from the scene of an Orem house fire, Dec. 26, 2023. (Courtesy of Brad Simmons)

Pictures from the scene of an Orem house fire, Dec. 26, 2023. (Courtesy of Brad Simmons)

Pictures from the scene of an Orem house fire, Dec. 26, 2023. (Courtesy of Brad Simmons)

Pictures from the scene of an Orem house fire, Dec. 26, 2023. (Courtesy of Brad Simmons)

Lt. Jeremy Jamison, with Orem police, told reporters at the news conference that there is currently no suspect in the case. He stressed that the department is asking the public for help, adding that anyone with information is asked to call a dedicated line at 801-229-7579.

According to Hirst, the home was a total loss, and the insurance company is making plans to demolish it. He added that the insurance company, which is working with the homeowner, will also determine the homes final value.



WATCH: Orem officials hold news conference on massive house fire

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
SOMERSWORTH  A new era for the city has begun with Mayor Matt Gerding sworn into office along with all the newly elected city councilors and School Board members Thursday night.

"I promise to work tirelessly for you and for this city," Gerding told the crowd at the Black Box Theater in Somersworth High School's Career Technical Center. "As an educator, a foster parent, and now your mayor, I am incredibly excited to get down to work for the people of Somersworth  with an eye towards results  so that we can make sure we all leave a positive stamp on our community."

Somersworth Mayor Matt Gerding is seen with his husband Coty Donohue, right, and their foster son, Logan Walker, left, during the city inauguration ceremony Thursday, Jan. 4, 2023 in the Black Box Theater at Somersworth High School's Career Technical Center.

Gerding, who is beginning a two-year term after his election in November, replaces Dana Hilliard, who did not seek reelection after serving 10 years as mayor.

Gerding said he is proud to lead the city he loves.

"Im standing before you tonight because we all lift up Somersworth as a shining example of what a true community is, and we all mean it. We are a city where everyone knows everyone  for better or for worse  where people will stop you in Target and ask you when their street is getting paved."

"We are a city of tolerance  one that detests bigotry and hatred, and steps up to support community members in need," he added.

He also hailed Somersworth as a cultural hub, mentioning the nearly 2,000 Indonesian Americans in the city. He paid tribute to Hilliard as the state of New Hampshire's first openly gay mayor and state Rep. Gerri Cannon, D-Somersworth, as one of the first transgender lawmakers.

"These things, among many others, are some of the many reasons Im so proud to call this place my home," Gerding. "These people, this sense of community, this accepting, kind, open place  who would want to live anywhere else?"

Gerding said he sees many opportunities that he is ready to take on, with the collaboration of city boards and staff.

"We can work to lower the cost of living for our community. Somersworth is currently working to join the New Hampshire Community Power Coalition which would allow residents access to lower electricity prices. We can also advocate for increased funding from the state for things such as educational costs, roads, and retirement for city staff, our teachers, firefighters, and police officers, all which will lower taxes here in the city and give our working families a little extra breathing room in their budgets.

"We can seriously begin to tackle the housing crisis by examining ways that Somersworth can change its ordinances and regulations to incentivize smart housing solutions that match the needs of our community, positively partner the city with developers, bolster economic growth, and lower the cost of living ... so our seniors can stay in their homes and young folks can start their careers and families here."

Matt Gerding is sworn in as Somersworth's new mayor during the city inauguration ceremony Thursday, Jan. 4, 2023 in the Black Box Theater at Somersworth High School's Career Technical Center.

He also called for increasing community engagement and communication with residents, and more arts and culture events, including a quarterly mayor's art show featuring work by residents."And last, but certainly not least, we should strive to make downtown thrive, by beautifying our community, improving our streets and sidewalks, making our community more accessible, and building housing in our downtown, all which will attract and keep more business in the heart of our community."

School Board leader remains in place

Somersworth School Board members Kari Clark, left, Maggie Larson, center, and Marcia Brown are seen during the city inauguration ceremony Thursday, Jan. 4, 2023 in the Black Box Theater at Somersworth High School's Career Technical Center.

Maggie Larson, who has served as chair of the Somersworth School Board, remains on the board, and could remain in the leadership role. The board will vote soon on those roles.

"I am excited for this term and joined by a compassionate, collaborative and dedicated group to move our district forward," Larson said.

"What is so wonderful about Somersworth is we are different yet so like-minded," said Marcia Brown, school board member. "We can all work together for the good of our city and schools. It's a beautiful thing."

School Board member sworn in were Brown, Ward 1; Barbara Carolyn Wentworth, Ward 2; Susan Tierney, Ward 3; Todd M. Marsh, Ward 4; (Ward 5 remains vacant); Kari Clark, at large; Krystle De St. Croix, at large; Larson, at large; Sarah OBrien-Hart, at large.

City councilors sworn in are Martin Pepin, Ward 1; Kenneth S. Vincent, Ward 2; Robert G. Gibson, Ward 3; Crystal Paradis-Catanzaro, Ward 4; Richard R. Michaud, Ward 5; David A. Witham, at large; Nancie Cameron, at large; Denis Messier, at large; Paul Goodwin, at large.

This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Matt Gerding begins new era as mayor of Somersworth
Ghislaine Maxwell claimed a journalist helped Virginia Giuffre concoct sexual assault allegations against Prince Andrew, court documents have revealed.

A US judge ordered hundreds of documents to be unsealed as part of Ms Giuffres previously settled civil claim against Maxwell, which was filed in 2015.

In one document from 2016, which was released on Thursday, Maxwells lawyers made submissions that journalist Sharon Churcher should be compelled to give evidence as part of the case.

The disgraced socialites legal team claimed Ms Churcher was aware the allegations made by Ms Giuffre against the Duke of York were false and said she helped manufacture some of the stories that have been denied.

The Duke stepped down from public life after the furore over his friendship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein and paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault case with Ms Giuffre, a woman he claimed never to have met.

The Duke was cast out of the working monarchy and no longer uses his HRH style after Ms Giuffre, who was trafficked by Epstein, accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was 17.

He strenuously denies any wrongdoing.

Virginia Giuffre said she was trafficked and abused by Epstein - AP

The document showed that Maxwells legal team accused Ms Churcher, who was working for the Mail on Sunday, of explaining to Ms Giuffre how she can corroborate a story to tell the FBI - that she was given to Prince Andrew.

Her legal team also alleged that a handwritten diary by Ms Giuffre, which contained information about her alleged encounter with Andrew, was a completely fabricated document.

So far just over 40 out of around 250 documents have been released in connection with the case.

The Duke of York and former US presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump were among those mentioned a string of times in the nearly 1,000 pages of documents released by a New York court on Wednesday night.

There is no suggestion Mr Clinton or Mr Trump did anything wrong and the Duke of York has denied all allegations.

02:57 AM GMT

What happened today

Thats it for our live coverage this evening. Heres a summary of what we learnt from the Epstein files today:

Follow the latest updates in our live blog tomorrow as more documents are set to be released.

01:50 AM GMT

Witness list provided by Giuffre

One of the documents released tonight is a witness list provided by Ms Giuffre.

The more than 80 people mentioned included US president Bill Clinton, who is described as having traveled with Epstein and Maxwell and its alleged he may have information on their sexual trafficking conduct.

There is no suggestion Mr Clinton has done anything wrong.

Prince Andrew is also listed as someone who has knowledge of Maxwell and Epsteins sexual trafficking conduct and interaction with underage minors.

The Duke of York has vehemently denied any wrongdoing.

01:24 AM GMT

Detective: dozens of girls were recruited for Epstein

A Palm Beach detective who investigated Epstein in the mid-2000s described how dozens of underage girls were recruited to give the sex offender massages, which was code for sexual acts.

In his 2016 deposition, Joseph Recarey said young girls would be encouraged to recruit their friends to work for Epstein as part of a lewd pyramid scheme.

When asked how many girls he had interviewed as part of his investigation, Mr Racarey said around 30, 33.

He said the majority were under the age of 18 and were not masseuses.

Jeffrey Epstein

12:57 AM GMT

New documents offer little insight into Epsteins network

The 19 documents released today have largely focused on legal arguments, including claims surrounding Ms Giuffres relationship with a British journalist.

The roughly 300 pages have been somewhat underwhelming, and have not offered much insight into individuals in Epstein and Maxwells orbit or the sexual abuse they were alleged to have perpetrated.

More documents - roughly 190 more - are expected to be released over the coming days.

12:21 AM GMT

Billionaires chef in tears while testifying

Billionaire Glenn Dubins private chef was left in tears while testifying about Ghislaine Maxwell, the latest documents claim.

Virginia Giuffres lawyers argued in one court document that Maxwell was not treating the defamation case with sufficient seriousness, and used examples from witnesses who had testified about Jeffrey Epsteins behaviour.

One witness, Rinaldo Rizzo, was in tears as he recounted [Maxwell] bringing a 15-year-old girl to his employers home who, in utmost distress, told him that [Maxwell] stole the young girls passport and tried to make her have sex with Epstein, and then threatened her, it said.

The attorney added: Mr Rizzo also testified that he watched Maxwell direct a room full of underage girls to kiss, dance, and touch one another in a sexual way for [Maxwell] and Epstein to watch.

Mr Rizzo was serving as Glenn Dubins private chef during the period Ms Giuffre said Epsteins abuse took place.

Mr Dubin and his wife have always strongly denied any accusations of involvement in Epsteins crimes. They described the claims as unsubstantiated statements.

Glenn Dubin denies any involvement in Epstein's crimes - GETTY IMAGES

12:04 AM GMT

Maxwell lawyers accused journalist of helping to invent Andrew claims

Ghislaine Maxwells lawyers accused journalist Sharon Churcher of helping to invent claims Prince Andrew had had sexual relations with Virginia Giuffre, according to a court filing.

Ms Churcher first helped Ms Giuffre tell her story of being abused by Jeffrey Epstein and Maxwell.

In a response to a motion to quash Ms Churchers subpoena, Maxwells lawyers argued that Ms Churcher had direct and actual knowledge that Plaintiff is a liar and helped orchestrate specific and incredible public lies in concert with Plaintiff relating to Prince Andrew and Alan Dershowitz.

11:38 PM GMT

19 more documents made public

Another 19 documents unsealed by a New York court have just been made public.

The files total about 200 pages.

The Telegraph is going through them now and will bring you the latest updates as we have them.

11:35 PM GMT

Judge orders clerk to strike five entries

The US judge who ordered the raft of Epstein-related documents to be unsealed has ordered the clerk to strike five entries because of privacy and safety concerns.

In a Thursday court filing, judge Loretta Preska said the parts of the documents should be redacted because they contain personally identifiable information, the disclosure of which could threaten the safety and privacy of named individuals.

11:20 PM GMT

Maxwell maintains her innocence

Lawyers for Ghislaine Maxwell have responded to the unmasking of Epsteins associates.

Ghislaines focus is on the upcoming appellate argument asking for her entire case to be dismissed, Maxwells lawyers Arthur Aidala and Diana Fabi Samson said in a statement.

She is confident that she will obtain justice in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. She has consistently and vehemently maintained her innocence.

Ghislaine Maxwell court sketch

10:18 PM GMT

Prince Andrew mentioned in new document just released

Prince Andrew was included in a list of 80 people who Ghislaine Maxwell believed could help disprove Virginia Giuffres claims about being sexually abused.

Exhibit DE 235-13 is the latest unsealed document related to Jeffrey Epsteins sexual abuse published by a New York court.

The 2016 filing provides a list of individuals likely to have discoverable information related to the disputed facts.

Among those listed are Ms Giuffre, Maxwell and Epstein.

The Duke of York is also mentioned.

The document states he has knowledge concerning Plaintiffs false statements to the press, in court pleadings, and in sworn testimony as well as the events of 1999-2002.

09:46 PM GMT

Epstein had dirt on Trump and Hillary Clinton, brother claimed

Jeffrey Epstein once boasted he had information about Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton that would have derailed the 2016 election if it were made public, his brother has claimed, Susie Coen and Rozina Sabur write.

The late, disgraced financiers links to the rich and famous have been underscored in a vast number of legal documents made public by a US court on Wednesday.

However, Epsteins younger brother, Mark, 69, has suggested his ties with powerful figures went further than has been disclosed.

Heres a direct quote: If I said what I know about both candidates, theyd have to cancel the election. Thats what Jeffrey told me in 2016, Mr Epstein told The New York Post.

Read more: Epstein had enough dirt on Clinton and Trump to destroy 2016 election

09:22 PM GMT

Clinton pressured Vanity Fair not to cover claims, according to Epstein accuser

Bill Clinton put pressure on Vanity Fair not to cover allegations about Jeffrey Epstein, Prince Andrews accuser claimed in newly released court documents.

Virginia Giuffre, who accused Prince Andrew of abusing her as a teenager, a claim he strongly denies, discussed selling a now infamous photo of the pair to Vanity Fair in a 2011 email exchange with another journalist.

In one email, Ms Giuffre was encouraged by a journalist to let Vanity Fair purchase the photo of the Prince with his arm wrapped around her waist.

Read more: Bill Clinton put pressure on Vanity Fair not to cover Epstein allegations, accuser claimed

07:54 PM GMT

Epstein said Bill Clinton 'likes them young'

The former US presidents name came up several times in the first tranche of unsealed documents.

In a deposition, Johanna Sjoberg, one of Epsteins alleged victims described how the sex offender told her Mr Clinton likes them young.

Ms Sjoberg, who claims she was recruited by Ghislaine Maxwell to perform sex acts on Epstein, said that one time the pair had discussed the former president.



Mr Clintons spokesman said in 2019 the former president knew Epstein and had used his private jet, but denied knowledge of his sex crimes and claims that he visited the financiers private island.

Read the full story here



07:23 PM GMT

Maxwell worried about being asked about the Duke and Clinton

In one of the files released last night, Ghislaine Maxwell told her lawyers in an email that she was worried about being questioned on her relationship with Prince Andrew.

The convicted sex trafficker and daughter of the media tycoon Robert Maxwell said she was out of her depth as she faced lawsuits against her and warned of a US legal nightmare the 2015 message shows.

In an email to her attorney and PR consultant, Maxwell said she was concerned about more questions over her relationship to [Bill] clinton and Andrew.

Read the full story here

07:10 PM GMT

Who was named?

Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson and Stephen Hawking were among the names identified in the newly released court filings.

Not all of those named are accused of wrongdoing and a raft of the individuals had already been named publicly prior to Wednesday nights disclosure.

The files released by the court did not produce a client list detailing co-conspirators of Epstein.

Read about some of the individuals who have been named so far.

07:07 PM GMT

What happened yesterday?

The first 40 of around 250 unsealed documents describing Jeffrey Epsteins abuse of underage girls were released by a New York court.

The highly-anticipated files included the unredacted names of some of the Epsteins associates, including the Duke of York, Bill Clinton and Donald Trump.

While there were no explosive revelations, the documents gave a fascinating insight into Epsteins relationship with the rich and powerful.

Last nights release was just the first round of what is expected to be thousands of documents in the coming days.



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Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas appeared to dodge a question Thursday about stepping down if the House were to impeach him.

The House will begin a series of impeachment hearings against Mayorkas next week. When a Fox News anchor asked Mayorkas if he would step down in the event the House impeaches him, the Homeland Security secretary appeared to avoid answering the question.

I lead 260 incredibly dedicated and talented men and women at the Department of Homeland Security, Mayorkas said. I will continue to lead them, in advancing the mission of protecting the American people.

Thats what we do, in the area of immigration, the area of cybersecurity, in our fight against human trafficking, in saving communities devastated by extreme weather events, Mayorkas continued.

Next Wednesday, the House Homeland Security Committee will take a look at how migration has impacted the Midwest. The hearing follows a months-long review of the Cabinet members leadership at the border.

Our investigation made clear that this crisis finds its foundation in Secretary Mayorkas decision-making and refusal to enforce the laws passed by Congress, and that his failure to fulfill his oath of office demands accountability, Homeland Security Committee Chair Mark Green (R-Tenn.) said in a statement.

Last week, a migrant caravan of reportedly at least 6,000 people left a city in southern Mexico heading toward the U.S. According to a CBS News report, Customs and Border Protection processed 225,000 migrants in the first 27 days of December  a record-high count.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A court arrested Anton Kravets, the founder and co-owner of the Ukrainian Kyivguma company, in connection to a case of alleged tactical medical equipment supplies to Russia, Ukrinform reported on Jan. 5, citing undisclosed sources in law enforcement agencies.

Later the same day, the Security Service of Ukraine's (SBU) press service confirmed in a comment for Interfax-Ukraine that "one of the Kyivguma company's founders" has been detained for 60 days without bail.

The SBU searched the premises of the Kyiv-based rubber goods producer, as well as the residences of the company's owners, on Jan. 4.

The SBU said on its Telegram channel it had exposed "one of the largest rubber and plastic producers in Ukraine" based in "Kyiv Oblast" for shipping tactical harnesses and bandages to Russia.

Between 2022 and 2023, the company supplied products worth over Hr 40 million ($1.05 million), the Security Service said. The goods were allegedly transported via an "illegal route" running through European countries to Russia.

Some of the products that ended up in Russia were then provided to Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine, the SBU said.

Kyivguma's director and co-owner, Andrii Ostrohrud, confirmed on social media that the company was searched by law enforcement officers but denied the accusations.

"Since February 2022, we have completely stopped cooperation with the aggressor country! There has not been a single delivery!" Ostrohrud said.

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The director said that European companies named in the SBU's case are Kyivguma's long-term customers, who re-sell the Ukrainian company's supplies as their own products elsewhere in the EU and the Middle East.

He had also denied that the medical supplies supplied to these companies would be military grade.

One of Ukrinform's sources said that contrary to the company's statements, enough evidence has been collected confirming supplies to Russia. These include invoices and direct correspondence with Russian clients, according to the source.

"A lot of interesting information was also found in the computer of Kyivguma's general director, Andrii Ostrohrud," the source claimed.

In November, an investigation by the independent Russian news outlet Important Stories claimed that several Ukrainian companies were providing military parts to Russia amid the full-scale war.

The state-owned enterprise Ukrainian Defense Industry (UkrOboronProm) denied the report.

Read also: Investigation: Italian company makes sure Russian war machine has the steel it needs

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Generic and blurry police lights from a cruiser vehicle and car headlights behind yellow crime scene do not cross caution tape at night.

One of the hundreds of gunshots recorded in Memphis struck and killed a 3-year-old boy celebrating the new year with his family Sunday night.

Brayden Smith was hit by a stray bullet from celebratory gunfire while inside his apartment at around 6 p.m. on Dec. 31, which was around the time Memphis Police received a call in reference to the shooting, the department posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Brayden was rushed to a local childrens hospital in critical condition, dying early Wednesday morning, police spokesperson Christopher Williams said.

Assistant Police Chief Don Crowe told a local news station that, preliminary information suggests a random bullet may have come from a different part of the apartment complex.

Weve tried to stress that this month: Celebratory gunfire is illegal and celebratory gunfire leads to tragic events like this and we just have to stop shooting these guns, Crowe reportedly said.

The department said they received records of more than 327 gunshots by the departments gunfire detection software and that dispatchers received about 195 calls of shots fired, Williams confirmed.

The incident is still under investigation, as the police have yet to identify and apprehend the person that shot the gun that evening. "Our investigators are working tirelessly and diligently to bring those responsible to justice. Our hearts and prayers go out to his family and friends during this difficult time," according to Williams.

Boys family raises funds to help alleviate financial burden

A person close to the family created a GoFundMe Wednesday, hours after Brayden died to share the heartbreaking news.

Jaleesha Brown, the woman organizing the fundraiser beings the post by detailing the circumstances that led up to his death.

He was struck by a stray bullet on New Year's Eve and our hearts are aching beyond repair at the loss of such a young and innocent life, the post stated.

The fundraiser was created to help support Brayden's family during this unimaginably difficult time, stating that now was the best time to come together as a community.

By donating to the fundraiser, we can help alleviate the financial burden of the funeral expenses and show our love and support for Brayden's loved ones. Let's honor Brayden's memory and provide comfort to his family by standing together in this time of sorrow.

The fundraiser has raised $2,473 as of Wednesday.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 3-year-old Memphis boy killed by celebratory gunfire on New Year's Eve
A speeding Mercedes-Benz driver died Friday after colliding with a private garbage hauler making a U-turn in a Brooklyn intersection, said police.

The collision is the latest fatal crash involving New York Citys private carting industry, which has been accused of running roughshod over the five boroughs as its trucks go from pick up to pick up.

The 54-year-old driver for Cogent Waste Solutions was making a U-turn in his 2018 Mack truck past the corner of Gerritsen and Florence Aves. in Gerritsen Beach about 12:30 a.m. when the Mercedes slammed into the big rig, cops said.

The Mercedes driver, identified by relatives as Patrick Donovan, 42, was rushed to Brookdale Medical Center, but he did not survive.

He was a good brother. He was a great father, Donovans brother Michael said Friday as he and his relatives lit candles and placed flowers at the scene of the crash.

Donovan, a machine operator, grew up in tightly-knit Gerritsen Beach. He had just moved back to the neighborhood when the fatal crash occurred, his brother said.

His death left a gaping hole in his extended family, which includes his parents, a 17-year-old son, three sisters, two brothers and a number of nieces and nephews.

It hurts, his brother Michael said. This happened too soon. Its still so surreal.

Donovans 17-year-old son was also at the crash site, but too grief stricken to talk Friday.

Relatives remembered Donovan as a friendly, generous man who would give the shirt off his back.

He enjoyed anything with a motor, really. He loved life, the grieving brother said. He liked everyone around him, [for his] family to be together.

The Mercedes-Benz was traveling at a high rate of speed when it collided with the garbage truck, sources with knowledge of the case said.

The trash trucks driver remained at the scene and did not immediately face any charges, cops said. An investigation into the crash was continuing.

Ara Chekmayan, a spokesman for Cogent, said that multiple witnesses told him that the Mercedes-Benz was speeding before it slammed the rear of the garbage truck.

We are saddened by this tragic loss of life. We are fully cooperating with the investigation, Chekmayan said.

Private haulers are expected to be given a new zone system run by the city which would limit the areas in which private companies can pick up trash in order to tamp down on crashes and vehicular fatalities.

The City Council authorized the new program in 2019 after private garbage truck drivers sparked a series of fatal crashes while driving long routes across the city. In an effort to boost profits, many trash haulers assigned crews to routes that cover wide areas and in some cases take more than 12 hours to complete.

The new program will split the city into 20 zones. The Sanitation Department will grant commercial trash-hauling rights in each zone to as many as three companies. Only the companies assigned by the Sanitation Department will be allowed to collect trash from businesses in their zones.

The zone system should be in place by the end of 2024, city officials said.
National Guard officers seize illegal routers and antennas being used by the drug cartel - Facebook

A Mexican drug cartel created its own makeshift Wi-Fi service and warned terrified residents they had to pay increased prices to use it or risk being killed.

In what has been called a narco-antennas scam by local media, the gangs system involved setting up internet antennas in various towns in the central state of Michoacan built with stolen equipment.

The cartel charged approximately 5,000 people elevated prices of between 400 and 500 pesos (18.50 to 23) a month, the Michoacan state prosecutors office told the Associated Press. That meant it could rake in some $150,000 (118,500) a month from the scheme.

People were terrorised to contract the internet services at excessive costs, under the claim that they would be killed if they did not, prosecutors said, although they didnt report any such deaths.

Local media identified the criminal group as the Los Viagras cartel. Prosecutors declined to say which cartel was involved because the case was still under investigation, but they confirmed Los Viagras dominates the towns forced to make the Wi-Fi payments.

Law enforcement seized the equipment late last week and shared photos of the makeshift antennas and piles of equipment and routers with the labels of the Mexican internet company Telmex, owned by Carlos Slim, the powerful Mexican businessman. There was no suggestion that Telmex and Mr Slim were involved in the cartels scheme.

Law enforcement officers detained one person.

A National Guard officer with some of the seized illegal internet equipment - FACEBOOK

Mexican cartels have long employed a shadow network of radio towers and makeshift internet to communicate out of authorities earshot.

But the use of such towers to extort communities is part of a larger trend in the country, said Falko Ernst, a Mexico analyst for Crisis Group.

Mr Ernst said the approximately 200 armed criminal groups active in Mexico no longer focus just on drug trafficking but are also becoming de facto monopolists of certain services and other legal markets.

He added that as cartels have gained firmer control of large swaths of Mexico, they have effectively formed fiefdoms.

Gangs in some areas are charging taxes on basic foods and imported products, Mr Ernst said, noting they have also infiltrated Michoacans lucrative avocado business and lime markets as well as parts of local mining industries.

Its really become like an all around game for them. And its not specific to any particular good or market anymore. Its become about holding territory through violence, he said.

Its not solely about drugs anymore.

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The slate of so-called fake electors in New Mexico who falsely claimed former President Trump won the state in the 2020 presidential election will not face criminal charges, the states attorney general announced Friday.

It is disgraceful that New Mexicans were enlisted in a plot to undermine democracy and thwart the peaceful and orderly transfer of power, New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez (D) said in a statement. However, like the fake electors in Pennsylvania, their misconduct is not subject to criminal prosecution under current state law.

The state attorney generals office began investigating the alternate electors in 2023, after a referral to federal authorities reaped no determination over whether the pro-Trump electors acted unlawfully, according to a press release.

As part of the probe, investigators interviewed the five alternate electors in New Mexico, and other individuals tied to the false certificate.

More Courts coverage from The Hill

Ultimately, investigators determined that Trumps team and campaign provided the fake certificate and instructions for completing and submitting it. However, the New Mexico document would only be valid if the signatories were later determined legitimate electors  unlike the documents in other states, the attorney generals office said.

The New Mexico attorney generals office issued a 29-page report on its investigation and requested that Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) ask the state Legislature to change its election code to give prosecutors greater latitude to prosecute these types of cases in the future.

Torrez specifically recommended making falsely acting as a presidential elector a crime and expanding the state crime of falsifying election documents to include additional documents and eliminate an unnecessary mental state requirement.

Given the extraordinary threat that this type of misconduct poses to our democracy, it is essential that the New Mexico legislature amend the election code to provide clear legal authority for prosecuting similar misconduct in the future and enhance the security of the electoral process, the report reads.

Fake electors allegedly convened in Georgia, Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Nevada and Wisconsin, claiming without basis that they were duly elected electors from their states.

The scheme, spearheaded by Trump lawyers, relied on former Vice President Pence to certify the slates of Trump-supporting electors in battleground states instead of the true electoral votes cast for Biden.

On Jan. 6, 2021  the day of the election certification  Pence declined to go along with the plan. A pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol later that day in protest of the election results and Pences refusal to overturn them.

Investigations in Georgia, Michigan and Nevada have so far turned up charges against the fake electors. Arizonas probe is ongoing, while the attorneys generals offices in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania have previously declined to comment on whether the alternate electors are being investigated.

Updated at 4:17 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Jet2, the third largest airline in the United Kingdom, faced an alarming incident after one of its passengers was found dead inside the airplane toilet.

The air transportation service provider said that the incident happened on Tuesday, Jan. 2, after some passengers complained about the toilet being locked for a long period.

Since the duration of the cubicle being locked is quite unusual, Jet2 airplane staff were alerted. Although they quickly responded to the incident, it was already too late since the passenger died inside the cubicle.

Jet2 Incident: Passenger Found Dead in Airplane Toilet

According to The Daily Mail UK, the Jet2 airplane involved in the incident was flying from Tenerife (an island in Spain) to Manchester (a city in England).

However, the flight was interrupted because something unusual happened inside the airplane's cubicle. Because of the incident, the flight was forced to land in Ireland (Cork) instead.

"Flight LS918 from Tenerife to Manchester diverted to Cork Airport on Tuesday Jan. 2, due to a customer requiring medical attention," said the British airline's spokesperson via the Independent UK.

The original landing schedule of the Jet2 passenger plane was at 8:30 p.m. However, due to the commotion and the waiting time for another plane to carry the passengers, the flight arrived in Manchester at 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 3.

One of Jet2's travelers shared her disappointment, saying that they were devastated to know the passenger died inside the toilet. She even accused the U.K. airline's staff of being dismissive.

"My husband reported someone had been in [the] toilet a long time and he thought he was dead. Tragically he was right," said the woman.

She added that when her husband informed the crew, Jet2's employees were dismissive towards him.

Read Also: Idaho Man Steals Plane From Nevada Airport, Flies to California Desert

Why Did Jet2 Passenger Die?

The explanation provided by Jet2's spokesperson is unclear. The official said that they sadly announced the death of the passenger.



Despite all the best efforts of the British airline's "highly-trained" crew members, who quickly responded to the scene, they were still unable to save the traveler. "This was an extremely difficult situation for our crew and we would like to thank them for their efforts," said the Jet2 spokesman.



"Our thoughts are with the customer's family and friends at this very difficult time," he further stated.



As of press time, the main cause of the man's death hasn't been confirmed yet. Jet2 also didn't clarify if it will provide an update once its investigation is finished (if they are still investigating the incident).



Related Article: Greece Island Rhodes Wildfire: Jet2, TUI Cancel ALL Flights! Will Other Airlines Follow?
Florida lawmakers filed a pair of bills Thursday that would make changes to a controversial law passed last year to incentivize workforce and affordable housing in a state with an affordability crisis.

The bills  Senate Bill 328 and its identical companion, House Bill 1239  would amend the Live Local Act, which offers developers tax breaks and lets them sidestep some local regulations if they agree to make 40% of units in a project affordable to people making up to 120% of an areas median income.

The law received bipartisan support in Tallahassee last year. But it triggered a wave of backlash from local governments as developers began to introduce new projects, including a planned 18-story workforce housing tower at the site of the famed Clevelander Hotel and Bar on Ocean Drive that then-Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber called the worst idea ever, saying it would ruin the iconic Ocean Drive skyline.

The nightlife hot spots owners have argued the project offers much-needed workforce housing and would help tame the party atmosphere in South Beach.

The bills filed Thursday would revise language in the Live Local Act, seemingly in an effort to address concerns about the legislation from both developers and local leaders.

One of the proposed changes would clarify that local governments cant use floor-area ratio, or FAR  a calculation used by some cities to regulate building size  to limit the size of projects submitted under the Live Local Act. Miami Beach officials had seized on the lack of any mention of FAR in the law passed last year to suggest the Clevelander proposal couldnt comply with the citys regulations.

While that change would be a boon to developers, the bills filed Thursday also proffer changes that would give local governments more control over building heights.

The law currently lets developers build as tall as local zoning allows within one mile of a new project that meets the Live Local Acts affordability requirements. The bills filed Thursday would change that radius to one-quarter of a mile.

The bills would also allow local governments to restrict the height of Live Local projects to three stories if each of the adjacent buildings is no more than three stories tall.

Both bills were filed by Miami Republicans: Alexis Calatayud in the Senate and Vicki Lopez in the House.

Calatayud asked a Miami Herald reporter to email questions about the bill, but did not respond by publication time. A staffer for Lopez said the representative could not answer questions until next week.

Florida Sen. Alexis Calatayud filed a bill Thursday to revise parts of the Live Local Act, a sweeping housing bill she sponsored in 2023.

Republican Florida Rep. Vicki Lopez represents a district that includes Key Biscayne and parts of Coral Gables and Miami.

In Miami Beach, officials have discussed reducing allowable building heights in much of South Beach due to concerns that the Live Local Act would bring unwanted towers to Art Deco neighborhoods. The Clevelander owners 18-story proposal came after they initially said they could build up to 30 stories.

Proposals under the Live Local Act have also been controversial in Hollywood, Weston and Doral.

In Doral, the City Council sought to impose a building moratorium amid outrage over a developers proposal for several new 10- and 12-story towers with more than 600 new apartments. The council approved a settlement agreement with developer The Apollo Companies in October to reduce the height of the buildings to eight stories.
Michelle Obama: White House tests you in ways that you never anticipated

Michelle Obama says life in the White House challenged her in ways she never anticipated.

The former first lady is poised to open up about the experience in a forthcoming episode of On Purpose with Jay Shetty, which premiers Monday.

In an exclusive clip obtained by ITK, Shetty asked Obama what being part of the first family at the White House revealed to her about herself.

That Im pretty strategic and smart and resilient, Obama, 59, replied.

The White House tests you in ways that you never anticipated, the mom of two said.

And the fact that we came out as a family, as individuals, the four of us, me and our two daughters  that was us, Obama added. That was our values, our compassion, our smarts, our strategy, that got us through.

In a promotional clip shared by Shetty on Friday ahead of the podcasts release, Obama weighed in on her 31-year marriage to former President Obama, and the price of fame.

I tell young people this, especially young people who think they want fame: Do you know what that is? Obama said.

When you become famous, you lose your anonymity. Thats a tough thing to lose, the Becoming author told Shetty. I never wanted to feel so high that I was closed off and suspicious.

I dont want people looking at me and Barack like #couplesgoals, Michelle Obama said of her relationship with the former commander in chief.

No, no. There are some broken things that happen even in the best of marriages, Obama said.

Its not the first time that Shetty has interviewed a member of the first family. He sat down with President Biden at the White House for a wide-ranging conversation focused on mental health last July.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
As the war in Gaza rages on, the grim toll on human life continues to pile up as children and young adults have their lives irrevocably altered due to the bombs and explosions that have wreaked havoc upon their lives following the vents of October 7.

Reuters is reporting that more than 1,000 children have lost limbs due to the fighting in Gaza and the West Bank. Amputees need special medical attention. Most of the injuries have come due to blast and crush injuries resulting from retaliatory strikes in densely populated civilian areas.

Amoung them, as Reuters also revealed, is Noor. Noor, an eleven-year-old from Jabalia, Gaza, suffered severe injuries to her left leg during an explosion that struck her home in October. Currently, her right leg, equipped with a substantial metal bar and four screws implanted into the bone, is at risk of requiring amputation.

"It hurts me a lot ... I'm afraid that they'll have to cut off my other leg," she expressed while lying in her hospital bed, as Reuters disclosed.

"I used to run and play, I was so happy with my life, but now when I lost my leg, my life became ugly and I got sad. I hope I can get an artificial limb."

The Israeli military has said that they do their best to avoid civilian casualties and pointed out that Hamas' strategy of hiding amid civilian structures is largely to blame.

The collapse in the medical infrastructure of Gaza means many children aren't getting the much-needed follow-up care they need as their bones continue to grow.

One estimate finds that only 30% of pre-conflict medics are still working, according to the World Health Organization.

According to UNICEF, nearly a quarter of amputation injuries occur among children. Poor hygiene and a lack of medical supplies are making many of the injuries unsurvivable.

The enclave's main prosthetic limb center, the Qatari-funded Hamad hospital in Gaza City, was shuttered weeks ago after being hit by Israel, Gaza health authorities say.

"Many limbs that apparently had been saved, will go on to require amputation. And many (people with) amputations and limbs that we think have been saved may still go on to die of the longer term consequences ," said Dr. Chris Hook, doctor specializing in emergency medicine from the United Kingdom, affiliated with the medical charity MSF, arrived back from Gaza in the latter part of December.

"I try as much as I can to make things easier for them as a nurse, but no matter what you do, they have severe psychological problems, they feel incomplete with lots of pain," said nurse Wafa Hamdan told the Reuters.

More than 9,000 children have been injured in the Gaza Strip. UNICEF statistics claim that 12% of Palestinian children aged 2-17 faced one or more functional difficulties, while 21% of households in Gaza included at least one member with physical or mental disabilities before the war. Despite limited data currently available, estimates suggest a significant rise in the incidence of disabilities among children.
Keller school board members voted unanimously Wednesday to appoint a new member to replace long-time trustee Ruthie Keyes, who resigned in December.

Heather Washington will begin serving immediately, according to a news release from the school district.

I am humbled and honored to serve on the Keller ISD Board of Trustees, Washington said.

Washington and her husband David have two children in the school district, where they have lived for 16 years.

Washington has volunteered with the PTA and with Keller 4-H. She is also vice president of membership for the Bear Creek Intermediate PTA for 2022-23, according to the district.

We know Heather is committed to our students, our excellent teachers, and our amazing parents, board president Charles Randklev said.

Keyes, who served on the Keller school board for 12 years, resigned during a heated discussion on a resolution to allow chaplains to serve as volunteers. Keller officials said chaplains would have to go through background checks and meet other requirements to volunteer and that they would not replace counselors.

Keyes told the Star-Telegram previously that her resignation was a culmination of a number of concerns, which included the chaplain resultion and book bans.
A man tried to run his girlfriend and her three kids off the road, causing them to crash into an occupied home, Louisiana police said.

Hes charged with nine counts of attempted second-degree murder, the Houma Police Department said in a Jan. 4 news release.

The woman and her 31-year-old boyfriend were involved a domestic dispute Jan. 1, and he asked to be taken to his mothers home, police said.

Fearing for her safety, the woman said as they were on the way, she escaped and fled in her car with her three young children, according to police.

However, her boyfriend got in an SUV and began chasing her, trying repeatedly to run her off the road, police said. Authorities added he caused her to crash into an electric pole, but she continued driving away.

At another point during the chase, the man rammed the SUV into the womans car and sent it crashing into a home with an unsuspecting family inside, police said.

Video footage captures the moment the SUV and the car round a corner, and the mans vehicle rams into hers. Both appear to have crashed into a home off-camera before the cars reverse and the chase continues back down the street.

Each vehicle sustained extensive damage, the video shows.

The man fled before police arrived on the scene, authorities said, and a warrant was obtained for his arrest.

As of Jan. 4, police were still searching for him. McClatchy News could not immediately reach investigators for an update Jan. 5.

In addition to the nine counts of attempted second degree murder, the man also faces charges of marijuana possession, aggravated criminal damage to property, hit and run, and reckless operation of a vehicle, police said.

Houma is about 60 miles southwest of New Orleans.

McClatchy News is not naming the suspect to protect the identities of the woman and children.

If you are experiencing domestic violence and need someone to talk to, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline for support at 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788.

Driver rams ex-boyfriends vehicle then hits him as he checks damage, California cops say

Man eludes capture for days after 73-year-old woman found shot and burned, MS cops say

Man kills girlfriend and shoots her family in fight over shoes and laundry, CT police say

Man poses as delivery man, then shoots and kills exs new boyfriend, Georgia cops say
EYEWITNESS NEWS (WBRE/WYOU)  Cryptic notes found across Pennsylvania have seemingly resurfaced en masse in the last few months, sparking public interest and prompting officials to start investigations into the notes origins.

28/22 News first reported on the mystery notes on December 26 when a man from Luzerne County reached out to the I-Team, as well as the FBI to report he had found one of the notes in a box of cereal.

Found a Note? Contact the I-Team

Since that report, 28/22 News has been flooded with 100 emails, phone calls, and private messages from viewers recalling finding a variety of similar notes in a myriad of different food and cosmetics products at almost a half dozen Pennsylvania retailers.

In addition to the notes in food products, residents are also reporting finding these notes pinned to trees in nature areas and state forests.

Reports of notes are coming in from as far east as Brodheadsville, Monroe County, to as far west as Huntingdon County, just south of State College. Many notes are reported to have been found in Luzerne County and as far south as the Lehigh Valley and Harrisburg areas and beyond.

On January 2, the Lycoming Regional Police Department said they received a complaint of a suspicious note in a package of eye drops in Jersey Shore, Lycoming County.

The box of eye drops had been sealed and did not have any visible indications of being tampered with, police said in their report.

Courtesy: Lycoming Regional Police Department

Individuals should use caution with any product they believe may have been tampered with and not utilize the product, they added.

While the notes may be new to many, reports of these bewildering messages have been coming in for several years in online communities found by 28/22 News.

At this time, several agencies are looking into the source of these notes. For a full list of our reports, visit the Mystery Notes section of our website.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com.
A Colorado Springs woman who is accused of killing her two children and seriously injuring a third had been going through a contentious divorce and custody dispute with her former spouse, his attorney detailed in a news release to CNN earlier this week.

During the contentious battle that began in September 2018, Kimberlee Singler made egregious allegations of child abuse and domestic violence, against her ex-husband Kevin Wentz, his attorney Jennifer Darby said in a news release.

Last September, Singler alleged Wentz brandished a knife toward her and filed and was granted a request for a Temporary Protection Order in El Paso County, the news release detailed.

Wentz denied brandishing a knife and a hearing on the matter was rescheduled for January 24, according to the release.

In November, the Larimer County Court held a hearing on Singlers Emergency Motion to Restrict Parenting time related to the same knife allegation.

Once the court found no imminent threat, it ordered Wentz to have family time with his children around Thanksgiving and again around Christmas. Exchanges of the kids were set to occur at two police stations, according to the news release.

A hearing was set for January 11 to address a contempt motion against Singler after she failed to follow previous parenting time orders and at another date in January, the court was to address modifying parenting time, the news release detailed.

Singler was scheduled to bring the children to one of the stations on December 16, but she did not, and she did not respond to Wentz or his divorce attorney, Darby said in the news release.

An emergency motion to involve law enforcement in enforcing Wentzs parent time was filed and granted, and Singler was ordered to appear in court with the children on the matter on December 20, the news release said.

Aden Wentz is seen in an undated photo. - Kevin Wentz

A clerk for the court left a message for Singler about the court order on December 18.

Singlers 7-year-old son Aden Wentz and her 9-year-old daughter Elianna Ellie Wentz were found dead in Singlers Colorado Springs home on December 19. Her unnamed 11-year-old daughter was also found seriously injured.

CNN has reached out to an attorney who once represented Singler in the divorce proceedings before withdrawing from the case.

Singler was arrested in the United Kingdom on December 30 and faces four counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder, CNN previously reported. The charges for each alleged crime were doubled due to the children being under the age of 12.

Singlers next court appearance abroad is scheduled for January 29, according to a spokesperson for the UKs National Crime Agency.

The arrest records for Singler will remain sealed as the courts navigate the extradition process from the UK, the Colorado Springs Police Department said earlier this week.

Kevin was devastated when he learned the news of his childrens death. Mr. Wentz fully cooperated with the police investigation, Darby said. Kevin and his family are suffering a tremendous amount of grief and shock.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family with funeral costs and to help care for the surviving child. A private funeral will be held sometime this week, Darby said.

CNNs Andi Babineau and Eve Brennan contributed to this report.

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ALLIANCE  University of Mount Union has announced Dr. William Cunion as vice president for academic affairs.

Cunion will begin his new role at some point during spring semester.

He previously served on Mount Unions faculty and as an administrator for more than a decade. He will be returning to campus after serving in the administration at Cuyahoga Community College since 2014, most recently as academic dean since 2019.

Bill has extensive experience in academic leadership on a college campus, in addition to having the personal qualities and vision that make him an outstanding fit for the vice president for academic affairs role at Mount Union, said Mount Union President Greg King 89. As higher education continues to face challenges  challenges from which Mount Union is not immune  I believe that Bill has the right combination of skills and attributes to ensure that the academic mission of the institution not only survives but thrives as we face this turbulence.

Cunion began his higher education administrative career at Mount Union, serving as the associate academic dean from 2010 to 2014. He provided oversight for the entire university curriculum, supervised numerous administrators and program directors and provided leadership and coordination for the overhaul of the college curriculum. He also taught American government and basic statistics for social science, first as an assistant professor of political science (2003-2009) and then as an associate professor of political science (2009-2014).

He also served as chair of the Department of Political Science, and as internship director.

Cunion received Mount Unions prestigious Great Teacher Award in 2006.

Prior to arriving at Mount Union, Cunion was a visiting assistant professor at Ohio University from 2000 to 2003.

Cunion is a Massillon native who earned his bachelors degree in political science from Xavier University; masters in political science from Ohio University; and doctorate in political science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His dissertation proposed a means of analyzing presidential rhetoric as a measure of leadership.

Mount Union is a special place that has shaped so many lives so profoundly, including my own, Cunion said. These are very difficult times in higher education, but I see a path for Mount Union to prevail through the disruption. It is a university that is fully engaged in looking forward as an institution that has continuously evolved to meet student needs for nearly 200 years. I am so proud to have been a part of its past, and Im even more eager to join the University as part of its future.

This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: William Cunion heads back to Mount Union as a vice president
"Everything was done as insidiously as possible," MP Mariana Bezuhla, a member of the ruling Servant of the People party, wrote on Facebook on Jan. 5, in response to a recommendation to recall her from the deputy head position of parliamentary Committee on National Security.

Bezuhla accused the committee's head, Oleksandr Zavitnevych, of holding a vote in her absence after she warned him that she would be late for a committee meeting. She also noted that the committee's recommendation was not a final decision, as the recall can only take place in the session hall with the support of more than 226 MPs, according to the law.

"I will never give up and no amount of blackmail will make me deviate from my principles, work, struggle and truth," she wrote, adding that she was also "sorry" for her colleagues on the committee.

"If everyone actively participated in the work with the national security and defense sector and did not make opportunistic decisions about what is profitable to say and what is not, then there would be completely different realities. We are at war! So the work and the struggle goes on."

Read also: Parliament begins review of new conscription law with top military leadership in attendance

Earlier, a source told NV said that Bezuhla had been recalled from her position in the Committee. The decision was made unanimously, but it now has to be supported by more than 226 members of the Parliament. Meanwhile, Bezuhla will remain a member of the committee.

This development comes after Bezuhla said that Ukraines military leadership must go due to the absence of a clear plan for 2024.

On Nov. 7, MP Volodymyr Ariev, citing a reliable source, released information claiming that Defense Minister Rustem Umerov had purportedly submitted a request to the Supreme Commander-in-Chief (Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy) to dismiss Ukraines top general Valerii Zaluzhnyi, from his post. Russian channels amplified Arievs post. Later, Ariev retracted the statement, citing many other sources that, according to him, contradicted the claims of the initial source.

On the same day, Umerov denounced Arievs statement on Facebook as disinformation. Umerov said that, unscrupulous politicians today are attempting to divide Ukrainian society, likening these actions to those of Russian propagandists.

Read also: Objective component of war: Zaluzhnyi and Umerov comment on increased mobilization at Parliament Committee

In an earlier series of articles in the Economist, General Zaluzhnyi warned that the war might transition into an arduous positional phase for Ukraine. Subsequently, the Presidents Office issued several statements indirectly refuting the generals assertions.

Information surfaced on Nov. 3, regarding the dismissal of Special Operations Forces Commander Viktor Khorenko without the knowledge of Khorenko and Zaluzhnyi. The Presidents Office clarified that Umerov had submitted a dismissal request for the commander in accordance with the law.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
South Korean rapper G-Dragon (real name Kwon Ji-yong) was spotted heading to the United States as he is expected to attend the upcoming CES 2024.

The celebrity appeared at the airport after he was cleared of drug allegations. These accusations were stated when an inquiry into the BigBang boy band rapper's alleged use of illegal drugs.

All the charges against him were dropped after he tested negative in all the narcotics tests he went through. Aside from this, there was no strong evidence proving that he was using drugs.

Being cleared from all drug allegations comes at the best time since the G-Dragon is quite busy this year as he is about to attend the CES 2024.

G-Dragon To Attend CES 2024

According to ALLKPOP's latest report, the BigBang rapper was barred from leaving South Korea during the drug investigation against him. Now that he's cleared, he can continue his travels. And this is what the celebrity is doing.

On Friday, Jan. 5, G-Dragon was seen departing for Los Angeles, as local news site Nate reported. People who saw him said the South Korean superstar wore a long beige coat, black sunglasses, a red hat, and a mask.

Those who recognized the K-pop celebrity greeted him with a smile. His appearance at the airport is the first time he went in public after facing drug allegations.

His latest appearance is a strong sign that he will attend the CES 2024 event in Los Angeles. For those unfamiliar with the Consumer Electronics Show, it is the world's largest consumer electronics and IT exhibition.

According to The Verge, the CES 2024 will kick off on Jan. 9 and run until Jan. 12.

Read Also: Logan Paul CryptoZoo Scam Update: YouTuber-Boxer Launches Buyback Program-Here's the Catch | HNGN - Headlines & Global News

G-Dragon Getting Busy After Drug Allegations

G-Dragon's schedule for 2024 is pretty hectic. On Tuesday, Jan. 2, the South Korean rapper met with other superstars. These include Lee Min-ho, Jung Woo-sung, and Lee Jung-jae.

They joined forces to commemorate G-Dragon for proving that he was innocent and that drug allegations against him were all false. The superstars even dubbed their event as an "Innocent Until Proven Guilty" party.

Aside from attending the CES 2024 and having a victory party, G-Dragon also launched his anti-drug foundation called "JUSEACE." G-Dragon, together with his new agency, Galaxy Corporation, made efforts to establish the new non-profit organization.

The South Korean rapper even donated $231,000 to the JUSEACE foundation. The name of his new anti-drug foundation came from the words "justice" and "love," with the slogan "Guard the Peace & Love of Justice / Justice of Love."

Related Article: Park Seo Joon Back in the Philippines After 4 Years; Korean Actor Shares Acting Advice With Filipinos
Partial service was restored Friday evening on the Nos. 1, 2 and 3 subway lines in Manhattan as investigators revealed that half of the cars on one train in a derailment and collision that hurt two dozen straphangers Thursday had no working motors or brakes.

The service restoration at W. 96th St. and points north came as the three subway lines remained snarled in Midtown going into the evening rush hour.

Word that five cars of one of the crashed trains at W. 96th St. had five cars without motors or brakes came from the National Transportation Safety Board, whose investigators were at the scene Friday.

It was a 10-car train in two sections, explained Jennifer Homendy, the NTSB chair. The rear five cars were operational  they were running normal: full brakes, full power. The leading five cars [had] no power, no brakes.

The train operating without a full compliment of brakes was taken out of service after a vandal or vandals pulled multiple emergency brakes while the train was operating on the No. 1 route near the W. 79th St. station.

The crew was instructed to cut [brakes and power] so they could move the train, Homendy said. Frankly, they couldnt move the train at the time because [on] one of the cars, the brake wouldnt reset.

Based on crew interviews, Homendy said, investigators determined that MTAs rail control instructed the vandalized trains crew to use the five working cars to push the five dead cars up beneath Broadway toward the 240th St. Yard in the Bronx, at the northern end of the No. 1 line.

The result was a train whose first five cars had no braking power  and thus could not be stopped by track devices designed to keep trains from running red signal lights.

It also meant the vandalized train had to be operated by a crew member in its middle cab with the aid of another crew member, a flagger, at the helm of the trains lead car.

That flagger, when youre operating the train from the middle of the train, is the eyes of the train, NYCT President Rich Davey explained.

The status of communications between the flagger and the conductor operating the train from the middle cab remains under investigation.

At the time of the incident, the passenger-carrying No. 1 train had a green signal to switch tracks  while the vandalized, out-of-service train had a red signal and no permission to proceed, Davey told reporters.

As a result, it [the out-of-service train] bumped into the [No. 1] train. Why? We dont know, Davey said. Thats still under investigation.

FDNY and MTA officials said 24 people were injured in the crash, none seriously.

Richard Davis, president of Transport Workers Union Local 100, which represents the citys subway workers, said Friday that four transit workers were injured in the smash-up.

The conductor who was serving as the flagger in the lead car of the vandalized train received the most serious injuries, to her neck and legs, Davis said. Her injuries were not considered life-threatening.

Four transit workers were riding in the vandalized train at the time of the incident, and MTA officials estimated roughly 300 people were aboard the No. 1 train.

Crews worked all day Friday to restore service on the Nos. 1, 2 and 3 lines.

There is an army of people that have been down there overnight. They havent slept, MTA Chairman Janno Lieber said Friday morning outside the station at W. 96th St. and Broadway.

Nine out of the 10 cars of the passenger (carrying) train that was involved in the collision have been re-railed and moved out of the area, Lieber said.

All 10 cars of the vandalized, out-of-service train involved in the incident remained on the local track for much of Friday, and needed to be cleared before full service could be restored to the line, MTA officials said.

Service on the No. 1 was suspended between the 137th St.-City College station and Times Square during daytime hours Friday, while service on the No. 3 was suspended between 135th St. in Harlem and Times Square. No. 2 train service ran Friday on the East Side along the No. 4 and 5 train tracks.

The front car of the out-of-service, inadequately-braked train required extensive repairs before it could be removed from the tunnel, Davey said.

The train is currently sitting on ties, railroad ties, literally wooden blocks, Davey said, explaining that on one car, the front truck  which contains wheels, their brakes and electric motors  was been mangled in the crash.

The last piece of this would be to bring [a] new truck, put the car on top of it, and then roll it out, he said. With only inches to spare in this tunnel, its an incredibly delicate process.

The crash took place shortly after 3 p.m. Thursday, after No. 1 trains were routed to the express track to get around the disabled, vandalized train at W. 79th Street.

That vandalized train was on its way to the Bronx train yard via the local tracks when it collided with a No. 1 train switching back to the local tracks from the express tracks at W. 96th St.

The vandalized train collided with the No. 1 train roughly at its midpoint, at the third car, a transit source told the Daily News.

Asked how the collision could have happened, Davey said it was still under investigation.

Keep in mind, this was a disabled train, he said of the vandalized train.

This was not a train that was functioning appropriately, which is why you had a several-man crew there, he said. In any other scenario, these are two trains working  one wouldnt have been able to proceed.

Davey reiterated Friday that the MTAs initial investigation indicated no problems with switching or signaling equipment.

But Homendy, the NTSB boss, cautioned against characterizing the incident as human error.

Its easy to blame humans, she said. Human error is always a symptom of a system that needs to be redesigned.

She criticized the MTA for not having inward or outward facing cameras on subway cars, and for not having black-box style data recorders on board to track train telemetry such as speed, throttle position and brake activation.

This is the second accident on New York City Transits property in 37 days, Homendy said when asked why the feds were investigating a relatively low speed crash with minor injuries. Thats not typical.

Thursdays derailment came just over a month after the November death of track worker Hilarion Joseph, who was hit and killed by an uptown D train while working on a track-cleaning crew near the 34th St.  Herald Sq. station.

Josephs death remains under investigation by the MTA, the TWU, and the NTSB.

The NTSB has been very focused on system safety, so we wanted to take a look, Homendy said.
Oklahoma, one of the worst states in the country for child hunger, has rejected a federal program that would have provided food for low-income children over the summer.

The summer EBT benefits program launched nationwide in 2023, after being pilot-tested for a few years. Under the program, eligible families would have received $40 per eligible child, per month, in the form of a pre-loaded card that can be used to buy groceries. The benefits work in conjunction with other food aid programs such as SNAP and WIC.

The deadline for states to indicate they intended to opt in to the program was on January 1. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitts office said they were concerned that states had to opt in before the exact rules of the program had been finalized. Stitts office also said that the program could incur new administrative costs. (All of the benefits are funded by the federal program, and states simply have to pay half the cost to run the actual program.)

But gubernatorial spokeswoman Abegail Cave argued that the summer EBT program was unnecessary. Oklahoma already has multiple programs to serve food-insecure children across Oklahoma, she said.

Chris Bernard, the president and CEO of Hunger Free Oklahoma, pointed out that about 20 percent of children in Oklahoma currently experience food insecurity, while about 60 percent rely on free or reduced-price school lunches.

Were one of the worst in the nation, and thats been true for a while now, Bernard said. Parents are going to skip meals, or youre going to stretch meals farther. The charitable side will try and fill that gap. But there are going to be some struggles.

Although Oklahoma has rejected the summer program, the Cherokee and Chickasaw Nations, both of which are located in the Sooner State, are opting in. The Cherokee Nation joined the program when it was still in its pilot stage, and leaders reported helping feed 7,000 children in the summer of 2023.

I wish Oklahoma was participating. Its frankly mystifying as to why theyre not participating for a relatively small administrative cost, bringing federal tax dollars back home in the form of a benefit for low-income families. Thats, to me, as much of a no brainer as you could get. Im baffled as to why the state of Oklahoma is not participating, said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr.

Its not just Oklahoma: A total of just 39 states, territories, and tribal nations have indicated they plan to join the program this summer, according to the U.S. Food and Nutrition Service.

This, unfortunately, follows a larger trend of politicians apparently wanting kids to go hungry. In June, the Republican Study Committee released a proposed budget for 2024. One of the partys professed priorities is to eliminate the Community Eligibility Provision, or CEP, from the School Lunch Program, because CEP allows certain schools to provide free school lunches regardless of the individual eligibility of each student.
Currently the National Weather Service has two scenarios for the storm coming to Peoria early next week, predicting anywhere from two to more than six inches of snow. The forecast will firm up 72 before the weather event.

PEORIA  Snowfall estimates for a storm heading into central Illinois early next week are still up in the air, but at this point its looking closer to two inches than six.

We have about a 60 percent chance of seeing greater than two inches of snow out of this system, said Kirk Huettl, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Lincoln.

It all depends on how soon freezing temperatures arrive.

"Initially when it comes in, it looks like Monday night is mainly in the form of rain, and then during the day Tuesday, we got some cold air coming. It will probably be switching over to a mix and then, eventually, to snow by late Tuesday afternoon, Tuesday evening, said Huettl.

If temperatures in Peoria drop below freezing earlier in the day, when rainfall is likely to be heaviest, residents could see more snow accumulation  maybe six inches or more.

Forecasters won't have a firm estimate on snowfall levels until 72 hours before the storm is due to come in, said Huettl.

When we get to 72 hours out, three days, we kind of pinpoint snow accumulations, where we have graphics to support it as well, he said.

A good website to keep an eye on is www.weather.gov/ilx/winter, which provides firm estimates three days before a precipitation event.

How cold will it get in Peoria next week?

In addition to cold and snow, the storm will bring wind gusts of 30 to 40 miles per hour, so blowing snow may be an issue Tuesday evening, said Huettl.

Northwest areas of Illinois, including Galesburg, will likely see more snow, as cold temperatures are expected to descend sooner there.

Temperatures in Peoria will reach a high of 39 degrees Friday and low of 30 degrees Friday night with a chance of light snow, according to the NWS. Saturday the high will be 37 degrees, with a low of 30. Sunday's forecast calls for a high of 36 degrees and a low of 27.

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This article originally appeared on Journal Star: How much will it snow next week in Peoria
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Multnomah County commissioners unanimously voted in favor of the new drug treatment center that Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek announced earlier this week.

On Wednesday, Koteks office revealed that the governor, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson and local organization Central City Concern had all finalized a contract to buy property that would serve as a behavioral health facility.

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The announcement revealed that the temporary housing center would cost $17.25 million in total, with $6.25 million coming from the county if commissioners officially approved the funding.

During Thursdays Multnomah County Board meeting, Commissioners Jesse Beason, Julia Brim-Edwards and Lori Stegmann all joined Chair Vega Pederson in backing the budget modifications.

When introducing the resolution, the chairwoman expressed that it was the countys responsibility to make resources available to the residents who need them.

Right now, as we gather together in this room, 83 out of 100 [people] who are served in a detox or stabilization exit back to the street, Vega Pederson added. In doing so, they lose their progress, their stability, and our community continues to lose them and all their potential. This is absolutely unacceptable and we cannot let it continue.

Multnomah County asks legislators for statewide ban on public drug use

The county leader went on to champion the proposed treatment center, saying that it would build on Multnomah Countys previous efforts to offer housing for people in recovery.

The new treatment center would be located on Southeast 16th Avenue and East Burnside Street in a building that was first constructed in 2021. It would provide 70 treatment beds, with 24-hour staffing and a projected 200 people served every year.

Similarly, Central City Concern operates the Hooper Detoxification Stabilization Center in North Portland. But according to CCC Director of Community Development Mary-Rain OMeara, the community still needs expanded services.

Multnomah County urges action on threat of toxic gasses in Cascadia earthquake

We served 3000 people annually and we are required, based on lack of stepdown services, to send 1000 people annually back onto the streets, Mary-Rain OMeara said.

If the purchase is finalized, the treatment center is expected to open in fall 2024. OMeara said CCC would commit to community engagement leading up to the opening.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Multnomah County commissioners are urging lawmakers to address the threat of deadly gasses being released in the event of a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake.

During a roundtable held Wednesday with state lawmakers, Multnomah County commissioners said addressing the threat is among their legislative priorities during the 2024 legislative session running from Feb. 5 to March 10.

Commissioner Jesse Beason asked lawmakers to respond to the countys 2023 Hazardous Materials Report, prepared by Portland State University, which found that in the event of a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake, toxic plumes from storage tanks could kill thousands of people and sicken tens of thousands.

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Citing the report, the county says hazardous gasses could emerge from over 1,000 above-ground chemical storage tanks that were built in North and Northeast Portland before current seismic standards. The county says the storage tanks are on soil that would liquefy when the ground moves and would cause the tanks to rupture.

Additionally, the report found 70 toxic chemical facilities mostly located in soil zones that could liquefy.

Based on the scope of the study, researchers focused on 27 hazardous material facilities in Northwest and North Portland. Researchers found that 23 of these facilities were assumed to be vulnerable to earthquakes.

A 2023 Portland State University study found 70 Tier II facilities in Multnomah County, with most located in soil zones that could liquefy and lead to chemicals being released from the facilities in the event of a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake (Multnomah County.)

During the roundtable, Beason said addressing the threat is a first step to prevent deaths.

The report warns The best-known threat of earthquake-induced hazardous material releases in Multnomah County is the Critical Energy Infrastructure (CEI) Hub located along the Willamette River. Estimates suggest that during a Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ) earthquake, the CEI Hub may release between 65 and 194 million gallons of petrochemicals.

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Such a catastrophic release will threaten the health of the more than 45,000 people who live or work near the CEI Hub with exposure to toxic concentrations of evaporating petrochemicals and the impacts of fires that are likely to start during the earthquake. These threats would arrive at a time when public response operations will be limited and will face significant barriers, including widespread infrastructure damage, the report continues.

The report relied on a 2018 Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries regional impact analysis of magnitude 9 conditions. PSU notes this is an initial study and encourages further studies to guide mitigation efforts.

PSU adds that the scenarios in the report are one of many potential scenarios in terms of what facilities could have uncontrolled releases.

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These warnings come as officials warn of a looming earthquake in the Cascadia Subduction Zone.

Oregon lies at a convergent continental boundary where two tectonic plates are colliding, the Oregon Shakeout website, operated by the Oregon Department of Emergency Management and other state and federal agencies, states. The Cascadia Subduction Zone is actually a 600-mile long earthquake fault stretching from offshore northern California to southern British Columbia. This fault builds up stress for hundreds of years as the Juan de Fuca and North America Plates push against each other. Eventually, the two plates rip apart, creating some of the largest earthquakes and tsunamis on earth.

The Oregon Office of Emergency Management says the state has the potential for a 9.0+ magnitude earthquake on the Cascadia Subduction Zone.

The office states The Cascadia Subduction Zone has not produced an earthquake since 1700 and is building up pressure where the Juan de Fuca Plate is subsiding underneath the North American plate. Currently, scientists are predicting that there is about a 37% chance that a megathrust earthquake of 7.1+ magnitude in this fault zone will occur in the next 50 years. This event will be felt throughout the Pacific Northwest.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
MUNCIE, Ind.  A Muncie man convicted of murder was sentenced Friday to 112 years in prison.

A Delaware Circuit Court 3 jury on Dec. 8 found 31-year-old Brandon C. Hodge guilty of that charge, along with conspiracy to commit murder and obstruction of justice.

On Feb. 28, 2021, Hodge fatally shot Robert Eugene "Trey" Scott III, near the victim's westside home.

During the trial, prosecutors Zach Craig and Maricel Driscoll told jurors Hodge shot Scott three times with a 12-gauge shotgun, with the last blast striking the victim in the back.

Defense attorney John Quirk maintained his client fired the shotgun because he believed Scott was armed with a firearm and intended to kill him.

In a post-conviction proceeding, the jury also found Hodge was eligible to receive a sentence enhancement over his use of a firearm.

Hodge was sentenced Friday by Judge Doug Mawhorr.

The judge imposed a 60-year sentence for the murder conviction, 35 years for the conspiracy count, two years for obstruction of justice and 15 years as the firearm penalty.

Hodge received credit for 1,041 days already spent in the Delaware County jail.

In his sentencing order, Mawhorr indicated evidence in the case reflected Hodge "fancied himself a hitman."

He also said Hodge had "demonstrated an extreme indifference for human life."

In May, Hodge's co-defendant, 29-year-old Morgan Bell, was found guilty of aiding, inducing or causing murder, and obstruction of justice. Bell  who was the shooting victim's former girlfriend  later received a 57-year sentence.

Douglas Walker is a news reporter for The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Muncie man gets 112 years for murder, obstruction convictions
(Reuters) - A Myanmar rebel alliance has gained control of a key town along the country's volatile northern border with China after weeks of fierce fighting with junta troops, the alliance and the junta said.

The Three Brotherhood Alliance, as the group is known, said on Friday it had taken took over Laukkai town after the military's regional headquarters located there surrendered.

The fall of Laukkai is the rebels' latest victory in a sweeping offensive that began in October and has become the most significant threat to Myanmar's military government since it seized power in a 2021 coup.

"All Kokang (Laukkai) region has become a land with no Myanmar Military Council anymore," the rebels said in a statement.

Junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun told local media Popular News on Saturday that the military had decided to surrender after "great consideration."

The alliance comprises three groups with extensive fighting experience - the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Ta'ang National Liberation Army and the Arakan Army.

They were accompanied by people from the loosely organised People's Defence Force, supported by Myanmar's parallel National Unity Government, suggesting that the rebellion is taking on an increased level of coordination and planning.

Armed conflict between the military and rebel groups has surged in Myanmar's north since late October. Neighbouring China, which has facilitated dialogue between the two sides, has called for a ceasefire.

The capital of Myanmar's restive Kokang region, Laukkai has a reputation as a gambling den and a hub for online scam operations. China, a key junta ally that also has close relations with some ethnic Chinese militias along the frontier, has grown increasingly frustrated in recent months by the Myanmar's junta lack of action on closing down the scam centres.

At the start of the offensive, the Three Brotherhood Alliance said its key objectives included cleaning up the scam centres.

In late December, China urged its nationals to leave the Laukkai area, citing security risks.

Laukkai is a former headquarters of the MNDAA.

The surrender of Laukkai "marks the first Regional Operation Command to fall," political analyst Ye Myo Hein said in a post on social media platform X.

Myanmar's military has over a dozen regional operation commands spread across the country.

(Reporting by Reuters Staff; Editing by Devjyot Ghoshal and William Mallard)
On Friday Dylan Butler, a 17-year-old student, walked into a school class and killed a sixth grader and wounded five others.

The suspect was a student in Perry, Iowa died of what authorities believe was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Perry High School Principal Dan Marburger was among the five people wounded in the shooting, which occurred as students returned from spring break.

Mitch Morvedt, the state investigation division's assistant director, said during a news conference that an improvised explosive device was found after the shooting.

Law enforcement officials said federal and state investigators were interviewing the alleged shooter's friends and family, as well as looking through his social media posts, to try and discern and motive.

Before the shooting, according to an article by the Associated Press, Butler posted a photo to TikTok from inside a school bathroom with the caption "now we wait" and the song "Stray Bullet" by the German band KMFDM. Investigators found other photos Butler posted posing with firearms, according to the official, who spoke to AP on condition of anonymity.

Aftermath

Three gunshot victims were treated at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, a spokesperson said. Others were taken to a second hospital, a spokesperson for MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center confirmed.

Citizens attended a candlelight prayer vigil as they heard clergy from different faiths share messages of hope in English and Spanish.

Authorities said Butler had a pump-action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun.

A post on the high school's Facebook page said it would be closed Friday and counseling services would be available for students, faculty, and others in the community.

In an initial briefing with reporters following the shooting, Dallas County Sheriff Adam Infante said that a deputy responded to the scene within minutes of the school's request for assistance.

Two classmates of the alleged shooter told reporters that Butler had been the victim of constant bullying since he was younger and it escalated when his younger sister began being bullied as well.

"He was hurting. He got tired. He got tired of the bullying. He got tired of the harassment," one of them said, as revealed by the AP article. "Was it a smart idea to shoot up the school? No. God, no."
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  A suspect in a burglary across the street from Ohio State University sampled the victims record collection after forcing his way inside, according to investigators.

The Columbus Division of Police shared a still photo of a shirtless man inside a home in the 100 block of East 18th Avenue. A sergeant told NBC4 that the full security video, captured Dec. 27, showed the suspect walking around naked in the room and listening to records from the victims collection.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

The victim told police that his home was vacant while everyone living there was gone for the holidays. He added that the burglary suspect threw a rock through the front window to get inside, and then forced open another five doors inside the home.

The victim told police that the suspect didnt appear to have stolen anything. Alongside the victims music, however, the burglar also helped himself to the bathroom and took a shower in the home.

Columbus police asked anyone with information that could identify the suspect to call one of their detectives at 614-645-2159, or send them an email.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Nearly three years ago, Harry Dunn was a Capitol Police officer who came face to face with a violent mob of supporters of former President Donald Trump. Now retired, he wished to serve his Maryland constituents by vying for a House seat in his former workplace.

On the eve of the January 6, 2021, Capitol Hill attack anniversary, Dunn launched a campaign in Maryland's 3rd congressional district, joining a crowded Democratic primary to replace Democrat representative John Sarbanes.

From Cop to Catalyst

The 15-year veteran of the US Capitol Police has since shared his story about how he was physically attacked by and even received racial slurs from the mob.

Since the incident, he admitted that it was difficult to put on his police uniform due to the trauma he received that day. However, his experience also served as one of his biggest motivators when he weighed whether to run for Congress, which prompted him to resign from the force on December 17.

Dunn has since delivered an emotional testimony at the House committee on the mob attack and has been often outspoken about the experience he and other officers had on that day. He also participated in several congressional hearings and even wrote a book late last year pushing for accountability, NBC News reported.

Dunn also observed and testified in multiple court hearings regarding the Capitol Hill attack since then, including Trump's first court appearance last summer.

Read Also: Pennsylvania Man Sentenced in Secret for His Role in U.S. Capitol Riot

Candidacy in a Crowded Ticket

Before even being able to contend for a congressional seat, Dunn would have to best other candidates in an already crowded Democratic primary to represent the district, which is located south of Baltimore.

While he respected his fellow Democrat candidates and their expertise, Dunn insisted that he was the "best person for the job" due to his time as a Capitol Police officer. When asked on which issues to focus on in his campaign, Dunn said that he pointed to road infrastructure to and from Baltimore, as well as mental health and crime. He would also move to the third district of Maryland if he gets elected.

Whoever wins the Democratic primary would be favored to win by November, as Sarbanes won his final term in 2022 by 20 percentage points. The district was also constantly blue as President Joe Biden won there by 26 points in 2020, according to calculations from Daily Kos Elections.

Related Article: Judge Sentences Former Proud Boy Member to 10 Years in Prison Over Role in Jan. 6 Capitol Hill Riot
Israel's bombardment and ground invasion of Gaza have pushed most Palestinian residents toward the southern city of Rafah along the Egyptian border.

One family in particular, the Abu Jarads, was forced to abandon their once comfortable home in northern Gaza when the Israel-Hamas war erupted nearly three months ago, forcing the family members to adhere to a strict survival routine to cope with the devastating conditions. Every family member is designated a daily task, either collecting twigs to build a fire to cook, or scouring the city's markets for vegetables. But even their best efforts can't mask their state of despair.

An older member of the family, Awatif Abu Jarad, told the Associated Press, "We are living like dogs!" Every day has become a struggle to find food, water, medicine, and working bathrooms whilst living in fear of Israeli airstrikes and the growing threat of illnesses. The AP also reported that the southern city of Rafah had a prewar population of around 280,000, a figure that has skyrocketed to over 1 million in recent days, according to the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees. Rafah's apartment blocks are overloaded with people as extended families have opened their doors to displaced relatives. Thousands of nylon tents are spread to the west of the city. Thousands of Palestinians are sleeping in the open, despite the cold and rainy winter weather.

Northern Gaza is now under the control of the Israeli army after orders demanded that the residents evacuate to the south. Palestinian civilians were forced to crowd into even smaller places, including Rafah and a nearby sliver of land called Muwasi. These alleged safe spaces are still hit by Israeli airstrikes and shelling. The onslaught has killed over 22,400 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-run territory, as reported by the AP.

Awatif's brother, Nouman went on to tell AP, that the conflict drove the family the entire length of Gaza. The intensity of Israeli strikes in the border area sent them south to Al-Quds Hospital in Gaza City. People were then told to evacuate the hospital pushing the Abu Jarad family to travel the 10-kilometer journey on foot until they reached the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. Like many other Palestinian families, they stayed in an overcrowded U.N. school building for over two months, however, left on Dec. 23, as the Israeli army turned its focus toward Hamas targets in central Gaza refugee camps.

What Was Next?

The family was able to escape to Muwasi, assuming it was the safest option. Nouman, once an accountant, sleeps on the nylon-covered floor with his wife, sister, six daughters, and one grandchild. They sleep out in the open and on their sides to conserve space.

Health officials warn of the growing spread of diseases, especially among children. The World Health Organization has reported tens of thousands of cases of upper respiratory infections, diarrhea, lice, scabies, chickenpox, skin rashes, and meningitis in U.N. shelters. The rapid spread of disease is mainly due to overcrowding and poor hygiene caused by a lack of toilets and water for washing.

The Abu Jarad family dug its own makeshift toilet attached to the tent to avoid communal bathrooms. Still, the family is vulnerable to disease.

"My granddaughter is 10 months old, and since the day we came to this place, she has been suffering from weight loss and diarrhea," Majeda, Nouman's wife, told the outlet.

Nouman said he and several of his younger relatives collect jugs of water from one of the public pipes nearby, water that is exclusively used for washing and not suitable for drinking. Next, they head to one of the dozens of drinking water tankers dotted across the city, where they wait in line for hours.

Food prices have shot up as Gazans are facing acute food and medicine shortages and are largely dependent on aid and supplies that trickle in through two crossings, one Egyptian and one Israeli. More than half a million people in Gaza - roughly a quarter of the population - are starving, the United Nations said in late December.
(Bloomberg) -- North Korea fired some 200 artillery shells near a South Korean border island off the west coast of the peninsula, turning up pressure on Seoul after leader Kim Jong Un said it was impossible to unify with his neighbor.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The shells were fired Friday to the north of Yeonpyeong Island, South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a message sent to reporters. People on Yeonpyeong were told to evacuate to shelters, a county official said by telephone.

There is no damage to our people or military as a result, and the point where they hit the water is the northern area of the NLL, the JCS said, referring to the Northern Limit Line. The boundary was drawn unilaterally by US-led forces after the Korean War, and waters around the area have been the site of clashes, including a 2010 incident in which South Korea claimed North Korea torpedoed one of its warships south of the line, killing 46 sailors.

In response to North Koreas actions, South Korea carried out a military drill from 3 p.m. near the western sea border, according to a statement from the Defense Ministry.

Read: When Chinese Trawlers Vanish, Worries Mount on South Korea Isle

South Korea respond strongly and in kind in accordance with the policies the government has maintained against North Koreas provocations, Defense Minister Shin Wonsik said in the statement.

South Korea lifted the evacuation order for residents on Yeonpyeong island at about 3:40 p.m., according to an official from the district office.

The firing came after the US and South Korea completed their first joint military drill from Pocheon, north of the capital of Seoul. It went for a week from Dec. 29, aimed at strengthening the alliances operational capabilities, South Koreas Defense Ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

In November 2010, the island of about 2,000 inhabitants  including hundreds of military personnel  suffered the first attack on South Korean soil since the end of the Korean War. At the time, North Korea shelled targets for more than an hour, killing two civilians and two marines. The flurry damaged almost 300 structures and set wooded areas ablaze.

Read: North Korea Plans 3 Spy Satellites in 2024 After Earlier Success

In a policy-setting meeting of top party officials that ended last week, Kim said North Korea should no longer make the mistake of considering South Korea as a counterpart for reunification because Seoul has declared Pyongyang a main enemy, the states official Korean Central News Agency reported.

Defense-related stocks gained in Seoul trade. Huneed Technologies, a maker of military communications gear, advanced 4%, and armored vehicle maker Firstec Co. rose 1.5% on Friday.

--With assistance from Shinhye Kang and Yoolim Lee.

(Updates with Seouls response and share moves from the fourth paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
In this photo provided by South Korea Defense Ministry, South Korea's tank fires during a fire exercises at the Northwest Islands area in South Korea, Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. (South Korea Defense Ministry via AP)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  The rival Koreas fired artillery rounds into the sea as part of provocative drills along their disputed sea boundary Friday, in violation of the fragile 2018 inter-Korean agreement, and threatened strong responses against each other if provoked.

The development is expected to escalate tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The last two years have seen North Korea performing a record number of missile tests and South Korea and the U.S. expanding their defense exercises in a tit-for-tat cycle. Experts say North Korea will likely intensify a run of weapons tests ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November.

South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea fired more than 200 rounds in the waters north of their western sea boundary on Friday morning. It was North Koreas first front-line maritime firing exercise in about a year.

Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson Lee Sung Joon told a televised briefing that the Norths artillery firing was an act of provocation that threatens peace and heightens tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Lee said South Korea suffered no damage.

In a corresponding step, South Korea's Defense Ministry said it had its troops on two border islands fire artillery rounds south of the sea boundary later Friday. Local media said South Korea fired 400 rounds. A Defense Ministry statement said the military will maintain a firm readiness to strongly punish any provocations by North Korea.

North Korea's military later said that its firing drills were a sort of natural countermeasure against the South's other military drills earlier this week. It said the military gangsters" of South Korea must not shift blame for tensions to the North.

If the enemies commit an act which may be regarded as a provocation under the pretext of so-called counteraction, the (North) Korean People's Army will show tough counteraction on an unprecedented level, the KPA's General Staff said in a statement.

Ahead of the South Korean drills Friday, authorities blared broadcasts via street loudspeakers and sent text messages to residents on the five major border islands, asking them to evacuate to safe places. They worried North Korea could conduct a new round of firing training in response but lifted the evacuation order a few hours later as they detected no suspicious activities by the North's military, according to local officials.

The Koreas poorly marked western sea boundary witnessed bloody naval clashes in 1999, 2002 and 2009. The Norths alleged torpedoing of a South Korean warship killed 46 South Korean sailors in March 2010, and the Norths artillery bombardment of Yeonpyeong Island  one of the five border islands where the evacuation order was issued on Friday  killed four South Koreans in November 2010.

The 2018 agreement  reached during a short-lived era of reconciliation between the two Koreas, requires them to halt live-fire exercises and aerial surveillance in buffer and no-fly zones established along their border. But the deal is in danger of collapsing after both Koreas took steps to breach the accord amid bickering over the Norths first successful military spy satellite launch in November.

South Korea resumed front-line aerial surveillance in protest at the Norths satellite launch. North Korea responded that it would deploy powerful weapons at the border and wont abide by the 2018 deal any longer. South Korea later accused North Korea of restoring front-line guard posts that it had dismantled under the 2018 deal.

South Korea has previously accused North Korea of having already breached the deal numerous times with firing drills at the buffer zones, including one as recently as December 2022 off the Korean Peninsulas east coast.

North Korea is now in the stage of finding a justification for provocation after scrapping the 2018 military agreement, said Lee Sang Sook, a research professor at the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security. There is a possibility for North Korea to ramp up provocation steadily, so big and small provocations along the western sea boundary and the land border are expected this year.

In a recent key ruling-party meeting, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un fired off fierce, derisive rhetoric against South Korea, saying South Korea must not be considered as a partner for reconciliation or unification. He ordered the military to use all available means  including nuclear weapons  to conquer South Korea in the event of a conflict.

Experts say Kim likely believes that a boosted military capability would increase his chances of wresting U.S. concessions if former President Donald Trump is reelected in the U.S. presidential election. In the ruling party meeting, Kim vowed to expand the countrys nuclear arsenal and launch three additional military spy satellites this year.

Earlier Friday, North Koreas state media said Kim ordered authorities to increase production of mobile launch vehicles for missiles during a visit to a munitions factory. Kim said the role of the factory producing transport erector launchers, or TELs, is very important in bolstering North Korea's national defense because of a looming military showdown with its rivals.

Mobile launch vehicles give North Korea the ability to move missiles around its territory, making it more difficult for adversaries to detect their launches in advance.

Yang Uk, an analyst at Seouls Asan Institute for Policy Studies, said that North Korea is estimated to have more than 200 such launch vehicles, about 20-30 of them likely for intercontinental ballistic missiles designed to attack the U.S. mainland.

Kims factory visit may also be related to the Norths purported shipments of conventional arms to Russia for its war in Ukraine in return for receiving high-tech Russian weapons technologies.

U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Thursday that recently declassified intelligence showed that North Korea has provided Russia with ballistic missile launchers and several ballistic missiles. The U.S. and South Korea have previously accused North Korea of supplying ammunitions and artillery to Russia.

The Russia-Ukraine war is really a good opportunity for North Korea. It's likely operating its weapons factories at their full capacities to satisfy Russia, a big customer, Yang said.
Passengers watch the news on North Korea's latest artillery provocation at a ferry terminal in Incheon. -/YNA/dpa

North and South Korea have each held artillery firing drills near their maritime buffer zone on Friday, as tensions ratchet up again on the peninsula.

North Korea fired more than 200 rounds off its west coast into the Yellow Sea, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff.

While the artillery shells fell into the water north of the disputed sea border known as the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the shelling triggered warnings on South Korea's Baengnyeong and Yeonpyeong islands, where residents were told to seek shelter as a precautionary measure.

South Korea's military responded with its own firing exercises using self-propelled howitzers and other artillery.

Yeonpyeong island was the target of a North Korean artillery attack that killed four people in 2010.

Following a series of missile tests in 2022, the self-proclaimed nuclear power North Korea once again tested nuclear-capable missiles several times last year in violation of UN prohibition resolutions.

The United States and South Korea have expanded their joint military manoeuvres.

The Yonhap news agency reported that the armed forces of South Korea and the US began an artillery exercise near the border with North Korea on Thursday. Friday's firing by North Korea was seen as a response.

After the North Korean launch of a spy satellite two months ago, South Korea had partially suspended a bilateral military agreement from 2018 on detente measures on the border. North Korea responded by announcing that it would no longer adhere to the entire agreement.

The area around the maritime border has been the scene of skirmishes between warships from both countries in the past. The Northern Limit Line is not recognized by North Korea. It was drawn unilaterally by a UN command in 1953.
China confirmed that giant pandas will soon return to the United States. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced this during the 45th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the Asian country and the U.S.

In 2023, Beijing pulled out three giant pandas from the Nationa Zoo in Washington, D.C. These are specifically Tian Tian, Mei Xiang, and their cub, Xiao Qi Ji.



Wit that, the National Zoo (aka National Zoological Park) was left with an empty panda exhibit with no certainty that these creatures would return.

Now, the Chinese foreign minister confirmed that China is willing to return its pandas as part of their effort to make peaceful coexistence between it and the U.S.

China Confirms Giant Pandas' Return to US

According to Fox News' latest report, Wang Yi said on Friday, Jan. 5, said that the U.S. and China should have a peaceful coexistence, urging the two nations to transcend their differences.

Wang Yi said that the U.S. and China should do what they did when they were just establishing diplomatic relations 45 years ago.

"China-U.S. cooperation is no longer a dispensable option for the two countries or even for the world, but a must-answer question that must be seriously addressed," said the Chinese foreign minister. via Fortune.

Wang Yi said that the world is undergoing profound changes that were never seen before in the century.

"We must think about how to calibrate the direction of the large ship of China-U.S. relations (and) avoid hidden reefs and dangerous shoals," explained Wang Yi.

To show that China is willing to cooperate with the U.S. once more, Wang Yi also confirmed that giant pandas will soon return to the U.S.

Read Also: 'Bring Ya Ya Home': US Panda's Return to China Ignites Nationalist Sentiment

Pandas Could Return to US

In 2023, a total of 17 giant pandas from across the world returned to China. Among these were the giant pandas in Washington, D.C., and Memphis, Tennessee.

When China pulled out its giant panda bears, many people, especially officials, were concerned as they believed Beijing could stop lending these animals to American zoos.

They fear this possibility because the tension between the two superpower nations is intensifying. But, in November 2023, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited San Francisco and told his American audiences that he was considering the return of giant pandas to the United States.

But he was specifically referring to California. This January, Wang Yo backed the recent statement of Xi Jinping, saying that preparations are ready for a giant panda return to California before the year ends.

However, he didn't clarify how many or if they would allow other U.S. states to have these giant bears.

Related Article: UK: Giant Pandas of Edinburgh Zoo Returning Back to China After 12-Year Agreement
North Korea fired over 200 artillery shells toward a South Korean island.

Local media said South Korea later fired 400 rounds in a live-fire drill, AP reported.

South Korea called the incident a "provocative act," North Korea says it was a "natural response."

North Korea launched over 200 rounds of artillery shells off its west coast toward South Korea's Yeonpyeong island between 09:00 to 11:00 local time, said Seoul's military, the BBC reports.

South Korea responded by ordering civilians on the island to seek shelter and conducting live-fire drills as a countermeasure.

Yeonpyeong island, home to a military base and 2,000 people, is a few miles from the North Korean coast. It was a conflict flash point in 2010 when a North Korean artillery barrage killed two soldiers and two civilians.

South Korea retaliated by ordering marines on two border islands to fire artillery shells south of the sea boundary later on Friday, its Defense Ministry said. Local media said South Korea fired 400 rounds, AP reported.

Despite South Korea condemning the action as a "provocative act," North Korea denied that its barrage posed any threat. They did not breach South Korean territory, and all projectiles landed in the buffer zone between the two countries, it said.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said that the artillery fire caused "no damage to our people or military" but stressed that such actions "threaten peace on the Korean peninsula and raise tensions," the BBC reported.

Authorities on nearby islands, Baengnyeong and Daecheong, also directed civilians to seek shelter in response to the escalating situation, the BBC reported.

Prepare 'for a great event'

A North Korean soldier (L) and a South Korean soldier stand guard at the truce village of Panmunjom in the demilitarised zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas in Paju, about 55 km (34 miles) north of Seoul. Reuters/Jo Yong-Hak

Tension along the Korean Demilitarized Zone has been mounting.

Last week, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the state news agency of North Korea, leader Kim Jong Un will "no longer seek reconciliation and reunification" with South Korea, per CNN.

He added that the Communist state's armed forces should prepare "for a great event to suppress the whole territory of South Korea," per the Financial Times.

South Korea's Defense Minister Shin Won-sik said it had to amp up military readiness to deter further provocations.

The KCNA justified its firing drills as a "natural response" to a weeklong US-South Korean military exercises involved thousands of troops, artillery, tanks, armored vehicles, and warplanes.

The cooling of relations began when Pyongyang said it launched a spy satellite into space in November, prompting South Korea to resume surveillance flights along the border.

US National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said Washington condemned the satellite launch, saying it "raises tensions and risks destabilizing the security situation in the region and beyond." She said it involved technologies directly related to North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile program, AP reported.

North Korea claims it will launch three more spy satellites in 2024, according to reports.

The Korean War, which divided the peninsula into North and South Korea, ended in 1953 with an armistice. The two countries remain technically at war.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Dutton Ranch may only exist on Yellowstone, but a North Texas entrepreneur is hoping to bring the spirit of the television brand into a new venture.

Kevin Rizer, co-founder and creative director of LFG Product Solutions, has partnered with Paramount Consumer Products on a line of Yellowstone-inspired dog treats called, Dutton Ranch Dog Treat Co..

The organic beef treats aim to encapsulate the spirit of the Dutton Ranch in its natural authenticity, leaving artificial flavorings and preservatives at the door, the company says.

Typically these are the types of treats that you might find only at a really specialty type of pet store, Rizer, a Plano native, said. Were able to do it in a big way because of the name recognition and the prowess of the Yellowstone and the Dutton ranch name.

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The Yellowstone-themed treats are the first major project from Rizer and co-founder Christian Verhoevens new company LFG Product Solutions.

Around two years ago, the entrepreneurial pair were looking into an idea for a new dog treat line that paired natural and organic products with a little bit rough and tumble Americana. Rizer said. After thinking about possible brands to partner with, a light bulb went off about Yellowstone.

The shows authenticity, storytelling and modern western archetype are to thank for the partnership, Rizer said. Paramount felt the same way, almost immediately giving a green light to Rizer and Verhoevens dog treat pitch.

That was in April or May of [2023], so this has happened very quickly, Rizer said. Oftentimes [ideas] can take years to develop, but this one has moved very quickly which is exciting.

Cole Hauser as Rip Wheeler (left) chats with a cowboy friend on Yellowstone, Season 5, episode 4. Courtesy of Paramount Network

Dutton Ranch Dog Treat Co. will launch with nine different treats when they go on sale next month.

Amazon and Chewy will get first dibs when they launch online in late February and early March. Conversations are ongoing with major retailers about in-store releases, which Rizer said will be scattered throughout the year.

Beef strips, brisket and heart are just a few of the dog treats available at launch.

Certainly by the time the final installment of [Yellowstone] season five comes out this fall, theyll be widely available nationwide, Rizer said.

Rizer and crew have big plans for the Dutton Ranch Dog Treat Co., as he calls this inaugural wave of products the first season of a hopefully long-running series.

Future seasons could see the line explore different proteins such as bison, or get into baked treats and long-lasting chews. However, no matter what the product is, Rizer said it will have to stay in focus with the lines high standards.

My passion for getting into the pet space a decade ago was caring about dogs and caring about the things that we give them, the things that we treat them and feed them, Rizer said.
Norway gave Denmark two F-16 fighter jets for Ukrainian pilots training.

Source: European Pravda with reference to the Norwegian Armed Forces on Twitter (X)

Details: The landing of Norwegian F-16s in Denmark was "an important step in our ongoing support for Ukraine," the report said.

Quote: "After over 40 years in service, these aircraft will now train Ukrainian military personnel, reinforcing our commitment to Ukraine's defence," the Norwegian Armed Forces added.

Norwegian F-16s land in Denmark, marking an important step in our ongoing support for Ukraine. After over 40 years in service, these aircraft will now train Ukrainian military personnel, reinforcing our commitment to Ukraine's defense.  #StrongerTogether #SupportUkraine pic.twitter.com/3fjttX7Z41  Norwegian Armed Forces | Forsvaret (@Forsvaret_no) January 5, 2024

Background:

Norway announced this week that it will send two F-16 fighter jets as well as 10 instructors to Denmark.

Belgium will send two two-seat F-16 fighters and roughly 50 personnel to Denmark for the purpose of training Ukrainian pilots.

Ukrainian pilots are to be trained in Romania, Denmark, the USA and the UK. The first six Ukrainian pilots have completed basic training with the UKs Royal Air Force and are currently learning to fly F-16 fighter jets in Denmark.

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Norwegian F-16 fighter jets had landed in Denmark to support the training program for Ukrainian personnel, the Norwegian Air Force announced on Jan. 5.

Earlier this week, Oslo said it is sending two F-16s along with 10 instructors to a facility in Denmark where instruction for Ukrainian aviators is underway.

One of the 13 countries of the "fighter jet coalition," Norway pledged to help train Ukrainian pilots on F-16s as Kyiv expects to receive the U.S.-made jets from its partners.

"After over 40 years in service, these aircraft will now train Ukrainian military personnel, reinforcing our commitment to Ukraine's defense," the Norwegian Air Force said on the social media platform X.

Belgium also announced on Jan. 4 that it is deploying two of its F-16 jets and 50 personnel to Denmark as part of the training program.

Next to Denmark, flying lessons for Ukrainian pilots are also ongoing in the U.S. and a training hub was opened in Romania last November.

Pentagon spokesperson General Pat Ryder said on Jan. 4 that the training in the U.S. would be complete "later this year" without giving a more precise deadline.

The Washington Post reported that according to official estimates, Ukrainian pilots would be ready to fly F-16s no earlier than summer 2024.

It also remains unclear when Ukraine will receive the aircraft. Some Ukrainian lawmakers have suggested that they will not be in operation until late spring in the best-case scenario.

Apart from the two jets allocated for training, Norway has also pledged to hand over some of its F-16s to bolster Ukraine's Air Force without specifying the number. According to the NRK broadcaster, Oslo plans to send between five and 10 planes.

The Netherlands will deliver 18 F-16 aircraft to Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Dec. 22, following a call with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Denmark pledged to provide 19 of its aircraft.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The attack on Russia's military facilities in occupied Crimea on 4 January destroyed not only a command post but also severely damaged the Russian defence system on tge peninsula. Ukraine's Defence Forces also targeted the new deployment of Shahed kamikaze UAVs on the peninsula.

Source: Nataliia Humeniuk, Head of the Joint Press Centre for Operational Command Pivden (South), in a comment to Suspilne, Ukraine's public broadcaster

Quote: "Not only was a command post hit, but a serious combat activity took place over the past 24 hours, including severe damage to the defence system on the Crimean Peninsula."

Details: Humeniuk says this is not the first such case that prompted the Russians to seriously reshape their defence system.

"They are now once again experiencing the same hysteria with relocations, trying to manoeuvre and place both the defence systems and the assets they protect in other places," the official said.

Furthermore, Humeniuk noted that the Russian military has recently relocated launch sites for the Shahed UAVs. Although they mostly used Cape Chauda before, some launches were recorded near the settlement of Balaklava after several high-impact strikes by the Ukrainian forces.

"This is the focus of the Defence Forces' efforts, to make the enemy not feel so safe in these areas and to always remember that Crimea is Ukrainian, and we are fighting for it," she said.

The official also believes that the explosions near the Crimean Bridge are more of a smokescreen, "an attempt to protect this redundant configuration target."

Quote from Humeniuk: "However, the very concern and fears for its fate are not groundless. Our combat work is ongoing, there are still many sites we need to deal with. And we will definitely report on every tangible result if it is worthy of announcement."

Details: A resident of the village of Lisnivka, Yevpatoriia district (formerly Sakskyi district), told Suspilne.Krym that he had heard four strong explosions at different intervals late on the evening of 4 January, which shook the windows.

"I heard four explosions at different intervals at night. I heard the first two at 21:30, then two more around 23:00. The explosions were intense, the windows were shaking," he said.

Background:

On 4 January, powerful explosions struck the cities of Yevpatoriia and Sevastopol (Crimea). The traffic on the Crimean Bridge was suspended at the time. One of the Ukrainian missiles hit the command post in Yukharyna Balka airfield in Sevastopol.

The Office of Strategic Communications of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed the damage to the command post in Sevastopol. Mykola Oleshchuk, Commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, praised the Ukrainian pilots and everyone involved in planning the operation in occupied Crimea on 4 January for their "impeccable combat work".

At the same time, the Atesh military partisan movement reported that the Ukrainian forces, following a tip-off from the partisans, also struck a Russian military unit in Yevpatoriia, where the Russians had moved their radar systems.

Mikhail Razvozhayev, Russian-appointed sham "governor" of Sevastopol, claimed that one person was injured when the wreckage crashed into a house, and that missile wreckage fell on different streets.

In the late evening of 4 January, reports circulated of explosions in the Kerch Strait area, repulsion of attacks near Sevastopol, evacuation of a hundred people, and strikes near the town of Saky.

On 4 January, the Russian Defence Ministry claimed that ten missiles had been shot down over Crimea and one drone over the Black Sea, while on the night of 4-5 January, another 36 drones had supposedly been shot down over the peninsula.

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Democrats

The Lefts increasingly frantic and apocalyptic predictions of Armageddon should Donald Trump win the election in November would be hilarious if they werent being matched by increasingly desperate, authoritarian and clearly unconstitutional actions to prevent it.

Nothing he did during his four years in office remotely suggests the abuses that Douglas Siddoway and so many other Democrats predict.

It is Democrats who have been perpetrating those abuses. From the relentless persecution/prosecution of Trump, his family and his supporters, to the wildly overcharged prosecution of Jan. 6 protesters, including many who never entered the Capitol, to the latest efforts by, as of today, two states to absurdly invoke the 14th Amendment to exclude Trump from the ballot (roundly condemned even by such Trump opponents as Gavin Newsom and widely predicted to be reversed by the Supreme Court); it is Democrats who are undermining and subverting our democracy.

The ends justify the means worked for Macchiavelli or Marx, but it is anathema to our Constitutional Republic. It is Democrats, not Donald Trump or any Republican, who have adopted it as they thrash away for a way, any way, to prop up the failing Joe Biden and prevent Americans from reelecting Donald Trump.

Stephen D. Leonard, Boise

Rep. Simpson

I recently received a letter from Congressman Mike Simpson bragging about Idaho wins from a bill he recently got passed in the House of Representatives.

The wins included: 1) slashing the Environmental Protection Agency budget by 39%; 2) repealing President Bidens Waters of the United States rule; and 3) prohibiting the listing of the greater sage grouse. Simpson calls this bringing Idaho values to Washington.

Really?

The WOTUS rule attempted to expand U.S. waters subject to cleanup under the Clean Water Act, including wetlands. That rule has already been undercut by the U.S. Supreme Court in the Sackett decision. Apparently now Simpson wants to finish it off.

As you may have noticed, we are experiencing a climate crisis and other environmental disasters, and our birds and wildlife are fading away. The livability of the Earth is being compromised daily.

Simpsons solution to those problems is to eviscerate federal environmental regulation, allow the pollution of wetlands (and ultimately our drinking water), and send a precious, unique bird to extinction.

Idaho values? Young voters, and older ones, too, is this the Idaho you want? Simpson, not to mention our other federal elected representations, are working hard to achieve it.

Alyson Rene Martin, Boise

Labrador

Raul Labrador is an embarrassment to the state of Idaho. Labrador does not seem to have a grasp on the U.S. Constitution by continually supporting bills that are unconstitutional and bringing his faith into government politics. Its time the people of Idaho and Labrador educate themselves on the Constitution and the rights associated with it. Labrador may not agree with certain groups and their beliefs, but that does not give him the right to support laws that violate the Constitution.

The judge that stated Labrador was not qualified to represent the state in the latest abortion lawsuit summed it up pretty well. I personally do not think he is qualified to be the state attorney.

The same people who do not want the government in their life are fine with politicians making health care decisions for women and are content with them dying because they cannot get an abortion when needed. These decisions are based on misguided religious beliefs. Its time our politicians refamiliarize themselves with separation of church and state. This is an important part of the Constitution because it is a fundamental part that keeps fanatics from imposing their beliefs on everyone else.

Randal Hetz, Boise

States rights

The Republican Party is usually supportive of states making their own determinations. But when Colorado decided to keep a candidate off its primary ballot because he violated the 14th amendment of the Constitution, the GOP became opponents of states rights.

The U. S. Supreme Court also cited states rights as being important when they overturned Roe v. Wade. In 1964, Alabama refused to allow Lyndon Johnson on its general election ballot even though Johnson was the Democratic nominee for president. The U. S. Supreme Court did not force Alabama to put Johnson on the statewide ballot. There were two choices for president in Alabama in 1964. One was Republican Barry Goldwater and the other choice was unpledged Democratic electors. Lyndon Johnson got no votes in Alabama. If Alabama could keep Lyndon Johnson off its general election ballot without the U.S. Supreme Court intervening, why cant Colorado keep Donald Trump off its primary ballot in 2024? The GOP strongly supports states rights but only on certain issues such as abortion.

Sidney Asker, Boise

Generous donation

In just days, Katies (not her real name) life changed. I met Katie hanging out at Corpus Christi Day Shelter. Her motorized wheelchair had been trouble all year and its replacement was about to be returned for lack of the $140 required co-payment. It was cold outside, she had been saving for months, and was discouraged.

Days later, she excitedly told me a story too good not to share.

The week before Christmas she had been returning to Interfaith Sanctuary, her home for the past 2 years due to a combination of mobility and health issues and loss of a job. She was fighting the old wheelchair and struggling with a friend to cross 16th Street. Without introduction, a gentleman pulled to the curb, approached her, and tucked $100 in her hand. She was astonished then, and still delighted as she tells the story days later.

Sometimes gifts are a combination of mysterious things  the present itself, the thoughtfulness, the recognition and dignity paid to the receiver. She feels TRULY gifted, and days later was driving her fully functional new chair.

Thank you to this unknown stranger, and the many strangers among us. Know that you truly change lives with your kindness.

Denise Caruzzi, Boise
Next week the House Judiciary Committee will prepare a resolution to hold Hunter Biden, the embattled son of President Joe Biden, in contempt of Congress after he reportedly defied a subpoena and failed to appear for a deposition.

The younger Biden was due to appear before several committees last month to explain his business dealings. Hunter Biden spoke on the Senate lawn instead, reiterating his willingness to speak with the panels only in a public setting. "We're going to move forward with contempt proceedings. ... There's a process we have to follow, but we plan to do that," House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said on Dec. 13.

After the Judiciary Committee votes on the resolution, it must be weighed before the full House.

A Contempt of Congress resolution is largely a recommendation to the Justice Department, which has discretion as to whether or not it will pursue charges. Hunter Biden is currently facing felony tax charges in California, as well as charges in Delaware that stem from him purchasing a firearm without disclosing the use of a controlled substance.

Some Background

Prior to the subpoena, The Hill revealed, the House Oversight and Accountability Chair James Comer (R. Kentucky) said that he would "drop everything" if he wanted to testify in public. Biden believes the deal has been reneged upon with the subpoena announcement.

"For six years, I've been the target of the unrelenting Trump attack machine shouting. 'Where's Hunter?'" Biden said in a statement to reporters. "Well, here's my answer. I am here."

"Let me state as clearly as I can: My father was not financially involved in my business. Not as a practicing lawyer. Not as a board member of Burisma. Not in my partnership with a Chinese private businessman, not my investment at all nor abroad, and certainly not as an artist," he said, examining various crucial facets of the GOP investigations. .

"There's no evidence to support the allegations that my father was financially involved in my business, because it did not happen," Biden added.In recent years the Justice Department has acted on about half of the contempt of Congress recommendation that it was asked to consider.

The Justice Department levied convictions against both one-time White House strategist Steve Bannon and White House adviser Peter Navarro.

But it declined to bring cases against Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows or communications head Dan Scavino.

"Hunter Biden's willful refusal to comply with our subpoenas constitutes contempt of Congress and warrants referral to the appropriate United States Attorney's Office for prosecution. We will not provide him with special treatment because of his last name," Comer and Jordan said in a joint statement.
After years on the run, Scotland-based con man and registered sex offender Nicholas Rossi has been extradited across the pond on Friday (Jan. 5) to face a US court at a future date.

Rossi - a 36-year-old man also known by his real name Nicholas Alahverdian and his alias Arthur Knight - has been suspected of faking his own death in 2020 and hiding out in the UK to avoid sexual abuse charges. He lost his final appeal against being extradited to the US on December 14.

He was previously caught while being treated for COVID-19 at a Glasgow hospital in December 2021.

Scottish Justice Secretary Angela Constance signed an order approving the decision last September.

Officers in Essex have been investigating Rossi in connection with a non-recent rape allegation which was reported to them in April 2022. He is currently on bail in connection with such an investigation.

Read Also: UK Police Investigate First Virtual Sex Assault Case Where Girl's Avatar Becomes Victim of Gang Rape

Life On the Run

Rossi was first found guilty of sexual imposition and public indecency while he was a student at Sinclair College in Dayton, Ohio, in 2008. He also allegedly attacked a former girlfriend in Utah, pushing her onto a couch and forcing her to have sexual intercourse while ignoring her pleas to stop.

However, Rossi maintained that he was a victim of mistaken identity, maintaining that he was Knight after officers detained him at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

The Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard that his tattoos and fingerprints matched Rossi's, with Sheriff Norman McFadyen ruling that he was indeed the fugitive in November of last year.

However, Rossi claimed that he had been given the tattoos as part of an attempt to frame him while he was lying unconscious in hospital.

Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf told the BBC that he did not want to "prejudice any potential inquiry or court case" in the future but praised the cooperation of Scottish authorities with American colleagues during the trial saga.

Former Utah county attorney David O. Leavitt welcomed the news that the extradition process had been completed, saying that it would have been impossible if not for the cooperation of officials from both sides of the pond.

"This wouldn't have happened without them," he added.

Related Article: From Cop to Candidate: Ex-Capitol Police Harry Dunn Runs for Capitol Hill
U.S. Verizon faced a class action lawsuit in a New Jersey courtroom in December.

The plaintiffs alleged that Verizon harmed wireless subscribers with a bogus scheme where extra charges were not properly disclosed. The telecom titan denies any wrongdoing but has agreed to the nine-figure payout. The lawsuit, which originated in New Jersey, where Verizon is headquartered, contends that U.S. Verizon customers with particular wireless service plans were charged higher monthly rates than advertised and promised by adding an "administrative charge" to their monthly bills.

A company spokesperson explained to CNN Business that the charge "helps our company recover certain regulatory compliance and network-related costs." In a statement, Verizon said that it "clearly identifies and describes its wireless consumer admin charge multiple times during the sales transaction, as well as in its marketing, contracts and billing."

Despite the $100 million settlement, Verizon continues to deny any misconduct and according to Forbes, has stated that it will continue to charge administrative fees in the future and that those fees may increase. Nonetheless, as part of the settlement, the company pledges to make fees more transparent to customers.

"Verizon clearly identifies and describes its wireless consumer Admin Charge multiple times during the sales transaction, as well as in its marketing, contracts, and billing," Verizon spokesperson Rich Young said in a statement to USA TODAY. "This charge helps our company recover certain regulatory compliance, and network-related costs."

Last October, after grabbing the attention of the Biden Administration, the Federal Trade Commission unveiled, according to the aforementioned CNN Business article, a proposed rule that would ban businesses from charging hidden or misleading fees and require companies to show full prices upfront.

A "fairness hearing" is scheduled for March.

Who Qualifies for the Verizon Settlement?

Current and former Verizon mobile customers in the United States (based on their last known billing address) who paid any administrative charge and/or "telco recovery charge" between January 1, 2016, and November 8, 2023, are included in the settlement class.

How Much Can You Get?

The Verizon class-action lawsuit payout will vary by customer depending on multiple factors, including how long you were/are a Verizon customer and the number of valid claims submitted.

According to the settlement, eligible parties may receive up to $100. Depending on court costs and the number of eligible claims, the final amount could be lower.

To apply, a special website has been launched to fill out a form with the required information. Customers who don't file a claim "will give up any right you may have to sue Verizon about the issues in this lawsuit," the website said.

The deadline to file electronically is April 15, 2023.
Semafor Signals

Insights from The Citizen, SABC News, and The Conversation

NEWS

South African Paralympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius  who murdered his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Feb. 14, 2013  has been released on parole after being behind bars for more than seven years as part of his 13-year sentence.

The South African criminal justice system released few details about his release, only confirming that Pistorius was now at home. He will remain under parole until 2029 and is required to abstain from alcohol, attend therapy for anger management and gender-based violence issues, be limited from leaving his home in Pretoria, and barred from talking to the media.

Pistorius trial and ultimate conviction sent shockwaves across the world, with people fascinated about his turn from a celebrated national hero to a murderer. In South Africa, his case ignited a public debate about gender violence and racial overtones in the criminal justice system.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Steenkamps family accepts the parole, but the pain is still raw

Sources: The Citizen

Reeva Steenkamps mother, June Steenkamp, had initially opposed Pistorius bid for parole in her belief that he had deliberately killed Reeva. But in a statement Friday, she said that although the pain of her daughters death was still raw, she had accepted that parole is part of South Africas legal system and she would not contest his release. But she questioned if Pistorius had spent enough time in prison, saying, There can never be justice if your loved one is never coming back, and no amount of time served will bring Reeva back. We, who remain behind, are the ones serving a life sentence.

Parole sends wrong message to victims of gender-based violence in country with high femicide rate

Sources: SABC News

Steenkamps murder was considered a wake up call for the high rates of gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa. But Pistorius release is a setback for survivors and activists working to strengthen laws against GBV, one womens rights organization leader told SABC news. We really lack greatly in accountability, she said, adding that Pistorius parole is a message to those who might commit femicide that you wont serve your full sentence. South Africa ranks among one of the most dangerous countries for women in the world with a femicide rate of about 9.1 murders per 100,000 women, according to 2021 data. That rate far outweighs countries like Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico, and Brazil.

South Africa's racial politics inescapable in Pistorius case

Sources: The Guardian, The Conversation

That Pistorius initial trial was presided over by a Black woman  Judge Thokozile Masipa  was a source of pride for many black South Africans, journalist Mondli Makhanya wrote for the Guardian in 2014. But that turned into a target of derision after she acquitted him of murder and found him guilty of manslaughter. Many argued that South Africas legal system still had undercurrents of racism because of the perception that white wealth equals access to superior justice. The cases racial overtones were only amplified when the state successfully appealed Masipas ruling before a white male judge, ultimately upgrading Pistorius charge to murder. The appeals judge, while disagreeing with Masipas ruling, had to defend her competence and ability in court filings because South Africa remains an inherently prejudiced society in which incompetency is associated with race, law researcher Fola Adeleke wrote in 2015.
Oscar Pistorius, the double-amputee Paralympic and Olympic sprinter, was released from prison on parole on Friday, more than a decade after shooting his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, in a killing that shocked the world.

A parole board granted Pistorius petition in November on the grounds that he had served half of his 13-year sentence for murdering Steenkamp, making him eligible according to South African law.

Singabakho Nxumalo, a spokesperson for South Africas Department of Correctional Services (DCS), told CNN that Pistorius was released from Atteridgeville Correctional Centre, west of Pretoria, on Friday morning. He will be subject to parole conditions until his sentence expires in 2029.

Despite a gathering of media outside Atteridgeville Correctional Centre, Pistorius was not seen leaving the prison or returning home on Friday. A police van was pictured Friday morning outside his uncle Arnold Pistoriuss home in the affluent Pretoria suburb of Waterkloof; local media have reported he will be living at that residence for the duration of his parole, although this has not been officially confirmed.

A South African Police Service (SAPS) vehicle is seen outside Oscar Pistorius' uncle's house in Waterkloof, a suburb of Pretoria, on January 5, 2024. - Olympia de Maismont/AFP/Getty Images

The Department of Correction Services said in its statement on Wednesday that details in terms of transportation plans and time of release shall not be made public and that disclosing such details may result in a security threat for the inmate and other stakeholders involved.

In a statement Friday, Steenkamps mother said her only desire following Pistorius release is that she would be allowed to live her remaining years in peace.

There can never be justice if your loved one is never coming back, and no amount of time served will bring Reeva back, June Steenkamp said. We, who remain behind, are the ones serving a life sentence.

Pistorius shot Steenkamp four times through a locked bathroom door in his home in Pretoria on February 14, 2013. He has maintained that he did not kill her in a fit of anger during a Valentines Day argument, as prosecutors argued, and said instead he had mistaken her for an intruder.

Oscar Pistorius poses next to his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in Johannesburg on January 26, 2013. - Waldo Swiegers/AFP/Getty Images

During the trial, which garnered global attention, Pistorius pleaded not guilty to one charge of murder and a firearms charge associated with Steenkamps killing.

He was initially convicted of manslaughter in 2014 and sentenced to five years. But a higher court overturned the conviction and upgraded it to murder a year later, increasing his sentence to six years in prison.

The ruling was appealed by prosecutors who claimed the sentence was too lenient. Pistorius sentence was increased to 13 years and five months by South Africas Supreme Court of Appeal in 2017.

Pistorius became eligible for parole in March 2023, due to a law for inmates who have served half of their sentence and met conditions such as good behavior. The legislation is part of the countrys Restorative Justice process, which gives offenders the opportunity to acknowledge and take responsibility for their actions.

Prison officials search a car at the main entrance of the Atteridgeville Prison in Pretoria, South Africa on January 5, 2024. - Themba Hadebe/AP

According to the DCS, Pistorius will complete the remainder of his sentence in the countrys community corrections system.

He will have to attend programs on gender-based violence and continue therapy sessions on anger management, Reuters reported, citing a lawyer for the Steenkamp family.

The DCS said in a statement Wednesday that general parole conditions will apply, including Pistorius being required to be home at particular hours of the day. He will not be allowed to consume alcohol or prohibited substances and will be required to participate in programs identified by the Correctional Supervision and Parole Board.

Just like other parolees, Pistorius is restricted from conducting media interviews, the statement added.

Pain is still raw and real

Steenkamps mother has been vocal in her criticism of his release. In a victim impact statement in November, she said that while she had forgiven Pistorius, she did not believe his version of events.

At this time, I am not convinced that Oscar has been rehabilitated, she said.

Rehabilitation requires someone to engage honestly with the full truth of his crime and the consequences thereof. Nobody can claim to have remorse if they are not able to engage fully with the truth.

If someone does not show remorse, they cannot be considered to be rehabilitated. If they are not rehabilitated, their risk of recidivism is high.

She also raised concerns for the safety of other women once he was released on parole.

Oscar Pistorius enters the dock before court proceedings at the Pretoria Magistrates court June 4, 2013. - Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters/File

I do not know to what extent this behavior still exists or was evident during his time of incarceration, but I am concerned for the safety of any woman should this not have been addressed in his rehabilitation.

In her statement Friday, June Steenkamp described February 14, 2013, as the day life changed forever.

Now, almost 11 years later, the pain is still raw and real, and my dear late husband Barry and I have never been able to come to terms with Reevas death, or the way she died, she said.

She said the conditions imposed by the parole board on Pistorius include anger management courses and programs on gender-based violence.

The athlete  known as the Blade Runner for his carbon-fiber prosthetic legs  was once feted as an inspirational figure, having competed against able-bodied athletes in the Olympics in 2012.

He failed to win a medal, but Pistorius presence on the track was hailed as a triumph over adversity and a victory over critics who claimed his blades gave him an unfair advantage over others.

At his second court sentencing in 2016, the judge described him as a fallen hero.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Whatcom County overdose deaths rose by about 43% last year, fueled by a cheap and easily available drug cocktail, coupled with growing misery among the areas poorest and most vulnerable people.

Figures for December were still waiting final toxicology, but Dr. Greg Thompson told The Bellingham Herald that as of Monday, there were 130 overdose-related deaths in 2023, up from 91 deaths in 2022.

Numbers for 2023 might not be final for a couple of months, but theres no question that overdose deaths are rising sharply, he said. Thompson is one of the two top doctors at the Whatcom County Department of Health and Community Services.

Almost all overdose deaths involved the powerful opioid fentanyl, and many were blamed on a combination of fentanyl and methamphetamine, Thompson said Tuesday.

We have the epidemic of two very serious drugs on top of the epidemic of deaths of despair, Thompson said.

Hospital ER visits for overdoses of all kinds rose from 700 in 2022 to 861 in 2023, according to county Health Department figures. About half of those visits were for opioids.

Alcoholism and suicide are rising along with overdoses and overdose deaths, Thompson said.

There were 55 suicides in 2022, up from 37 in 2021 and 26 in 2012, according to the Whatcom County medical examiners annual reports.

Drug overdoses have been one of two leading causes of accidental deaths in Whatcom County since 2000, according to the medical examiners annual reports and previous Herald reporting.

In 2022 about 30% of all accidental deaths were linked to drugs, according to the medical examiners most recent annual report. Drugs were the second-leading cause of accidental death after falls in 2022, amounting to 77 deaths out of 272. Opioids were present in 62 deaths.

Earlier this year, Bellingham and Whatcom County formed a Multi-Agency Coordination Group to manage the opioid epidemic as they would a natural disaster such as an earthquake.

Further, the county has hired a specialist to provide support and services in accordance with the new opioid settlement funding, local planning efforts and the statewide Opioid Response Plan, a Health Department official said.

Over the past year, Health Department officials gave away more than 5,300 two-dose kits containing Narcan, a drug that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, and the countys EMS agency has given away about 500 kits, officials said.

We have been distributing a lot of Narcan. We know there are lives being saved every day, Thompson said.

Narcan, also known by its generic name, naloxone, is available for free to anyone and can be ordered online.
For weeks, a couple in Canada ignored their dogs odd barking. When they finally investigated, they were surprised to find a furry intruder  a big black bear  making a den under their house.

Crystal Weavers bulldog Coco had been barking like crazy for weeks at their house in Duncan, British Columbia, she told CTV News in a Jan. 3 article.

Shes a bit of a silly girl, so we didnt think too much of it, Weaver told the Canadian outlet CHEK News.

But then Weaver and her husband heard weird sounds coming from under the deck, she told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. We thought maybe some raccoons were having a bit of a party down there.

Weavers husband checked under the deck on Dec. 29 and found himself staring at a big black bear, Weaver said.

Ive never seen him move so fast, she told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

A video shared on TikTok by @cocobeansandcrew on Dec. 29 shows the black bear tucked under a deck. From the far corner of the deck, the bear appears unbothered by the attention.

This black bear thought the space under our deck might be a great place to spend winter, @cocobeansandcrew wrote in the caption.

This bear was quite at home. (It) looked at us and curled back up, the videos poster wrote in comments.

I thought it was kind of funny that I ignored (the dog), and she was right about it the whole time, Weaver told CHEK News.

Weaver told CTV News that they called conservation officers to help scare the bear away. The officers were successful in evicting the bear without issue.

The couple intend to keep the bear away, but their efforts have not been totally successful.

We have spread cayenne pepper under there in hopes that the odor would definitely deter him from being back, but we will be putting some fencing up on the exposed side now to keep him out of there as well, Weaver told CHEK News.

Weaver told McClatchy News on Jan. 5 that the bear came back this morning and we had to once again run it off. The couple are putting up more fencing to try keeping the animal out for good.

Duncan is on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, and about 50 miles southwest across the water from Vancouver.

Terrified young moose flees garbage truck chasing it, Alaska video shows. Disgusted

Watch as escaped kangaroo fights team of police officers trying to rescue it in Canada

Days-old orca with sweet little face seen off WA, photos show. Heart nearly stopped
Alex Saab is a big reason tens of thousands of desperate Venezuelans are crowded on the U.S. southern border these days  a big reason, in fact, that Venezuelans are now one of the largest national groups crossing the border illegally.

In other words, Alex Saab is a big reason for Americas border crisis.

In other words, Alex Saab is a big reason President Bidens re-election poll numbers are so low.

In other words, we need to talk about whether freeing Saab just before Christmas was the smartest thing Biden could have done for Venezuela  and for himself.

If youre not familiar with Saab, let me assure you he was sitting in a Miami jail cell awaiting trial in a U.S. federal court for very, very good reasons.

More Tim Padgett: Haiti military-style guns trafficking case has ties to South Florida

For years, the Colombian-born businessman was allegedly a mastermind of the monstrous corruption perpetrated by Venezuelas authoritarian socialist regime  and of the laundering of the hundreds of millions of dollars all that corruption ransacked from Venezuelas economy. As President-Dictator Nicolas Maduros embezzlement henchman, Saab helped engineer the worst humanitarian crisis in modern South American history  which has forced a fifth of Venezuelas population to flee abroad.

Thats because the alleged Saab schemes involved government officials and their business cronies gaming contracts like food imports, public housing construction, oil production and currency exchange  essentials that the countrys micro- and macro-economic life depends on.

More Tim Padgett: Padgett: Reformist Pope Francis threatens church democracy by stifling dissent | Opinion

So its no exaggeration to suggest Saab shares responsibility for the malnourished Venezuelan refugee children my colleagues and I have watched drift into Colombian border cities like Cucuta in recent years.

As former U.S. prosecutor Dick Gregorie, who was involved in investigating Saab, told me shortly before Saab was extradited to the U.S. in 2021 from Cape Verde, where hed been arrested during a flight stopover: Saab is the master of trade-based money-laundering, and Venezuela has been robbed blind with every transaction that he does.

Nevertheless, the Biden Administration released Saab on Dec. 20 and sent him back to Venezuela in exchange for 10 Americans who were imprisoned there.

Ill admit that, as someone who has covered Saabs intrigues for years  including the fact that a once trusted expert source of mine, former University of Miami professor Bruce Bagley, pleaded guilty in 2020 to actually helping Saab move his crooked cash  I was jolted by news of the Saab swap.

Im of course glad to know Americans caught in Venezuelas kangaroo justice system were back home for the holidays. And I understand that Biden felt such U.S. interests outweighed finishing Saabs prosecution here. Those interests include getting Maduro to hold a fair and transparent presidential election later this year so we can finally see democracy return to Venezuela  and, in turn, persuade all those Venezuelan refugees on our border to go back home, too.

I get that calculation. I just hope Biden comprehends whats surely going on inside Maduros demented head now.

More Tim Padgett: Supporting open-border policies, liberals cost themselves wide support on immigration | Opinion

If the U.S. had traded someone lower on the Venezuelan regimes larcenous totem pole, Id be less nervous about the consequences. But because Saab is no less than Maduros own top Harry Lime, Maduro is bound to wonder if hes got more palanca, or leverage, in these negotiations than he first imagined.

The U.S., for example, says that if Maduro doesnt allow widely popular Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado to face him in this years presidential contest, it will re-impose economic sanctions against his regime. Maduro might not take such threats as seriously anymore.

And if he doesnt, the U.S.  and Bidens re-election campaign  could end up seeing the Venezuela-driven border crisis worsen even more seriously.

Tim Padgett is the Americas Editor for WLRN, covering Latin America, the Caribbean and their key relationship with South Florida. Contact Tim at tpadgett@wlrnnews.org

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Padgett: Release of alleged Venezuela corruption king could hurt Biden
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley on Thursday attempted to clean up her answer omitting slavery as a cause of the Civil War last month by citing her Black friends growing up.

Haley last month came under criticism after a New Hampshire town hall in which she failed to mention slavery as a root cause of the Civil War.

If you grow up in South Carolina, literally in second and third grade, you learn about slavery. You grow up and you have, you know, I had Black friends growing up. It is a very talked about thing. We have a big history in South Carolina, when it comes to, you know, slavery, when it comes to all the things that happened with the Civil War, all of that, the former South Carolina governor said at an Iowa CNN town hall.

I was thinking past slavery, and talking about the lesson that we would learn going forward. I shouldnt have done that. I should have said slavery but in, in my mind, thats a given that everybody associates the civil war with slavery, she said, citing her childhood in the only Indian family in a small, rural town.

It was not just slavery that was talked about, it was more about racism that was talked about, she said. We had Black friends, we had White friends, but it was always a topic of conversation.

Haley: "I knew half of South Carolinians saw the Confederate flag as heritage and tradition ... my job wasn't to judge either side ... that is the way we have to work on issues that try and divide us ... a leader doesn't decide who's right." pic.twitter.com/YaemKNEn2O  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 5, 2024

Haleys comments were panned during a post-town hall panel on CNN.

The former U.N. ambassador hasnt learned the critical issue of cleaning things up, which is sometimes less is more, said Republican strategist Scott Jennings, according to The Washington Post. It unspools and it unspools  less is more here, take the L and move on.

Former Trump White House communications director Alyssa Farah Griffin added that she did herself no favors, and she kind of put herself back where she was at the beginning of this issue.

CNN host Van Jones called Haleys remarks painful.

She was cleaning it up with a dirty rag. I mean it wasnt a cleanup at all. Its painful; I dont get it. I think it says something about her; I think it says something about the Republican base, he said.

I think it says something about the Republican base that she is so afraid that theres some big number of people that cant hear that, that shes got to tiptoe through every tulip she can find and wrap herself around the axle avoiding saying stuff thats true, he added. I found it painful. I mean, not personally painful, but its awkward to watch a grown woman not be able to say what any kindergarten teacher could say, any third grade teacher could say, because theres either something off about her or about this party that will not be able to speak the truth.

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

Haley during the town hall also defended her vow to pardon former President Donald Trump.

When you talk about a pardon, the person has already been found guilty. You know, when it comes to President Trump, he still has to face and well find out whether hes guilty or not. But if were talking about a pardon lets  youre assuming hes guilty because nobody gets pardoned if youre not guilty, she said.

For me, its not about guilt or innocence. Its about whats in the best interest for the country. And I dont think our country will move forward with an 80-year-old president sitting in jail that allows our country to continue to be divided, she added.

Wow. Nikki Haley just went full MAGA, saying shed pardon Trump and she doesnt even care if Trump is guilty or not: Its not about guilt or innocence.



She says you cant have an 80 year old sitting in jail. pic.twitter.com/V7TuLD7rgq  No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen (@NoLieWithBTC) January 5, 2024
Two men accused of racking up more than $8.5 million in a scam run on the vacation rental sites Airbnb and Vrbo were indicted on fraud charges, federal prosecutors announced Thursday.

Shray Goel, 35, of Miami, and Shaunik Raheja, 34, of Denver, are accused of a double-booking, bait-and-switch scam connected to more than 10,000 reservations for properties across 10 states, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Central District of California said in a statement.

Goel and Raheja were charged in a superseding indictment Wednesday with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and 13 counts of wire fraud. Goel is also charged with two counts of aggravated identity theft, prosecutors said.

Goel, Raheja and their employees were managing about 100 properties throughout the country by 2019, prosecutors said. They collected about $7 million in payouts via about 10,000 reservations on Airbnb and about $1.5 million in reservations through Vrbo, prosecutors said.

The business used multiple names, including Abbot Pacific LLC, prosecutors said.

The defendants would double-book properties through numerous listings of the same property, prosecutors said.

They then invented bogus last-minute excuses  often claiming plumbing problems  to cancel overbooked guests or trick them into moving to inferior replacement accommodations, the U.S. attorney's statement said.

Members of the conspiracy profited from the scheme by running a secret bidding war for the properties  meaning they posted multiple listings for the same property at different prices for the same night, allowed the highest bidder to rent a particular property, and then cancelled or switched the lower-paying guests to a different property in the area," it said.

The defendants would decide whom to rent to based in part on racial prejudice and discrimination, avoiding renting to guests they perceived to be Black, prosecutors said.

Goel was arrested Dec. 27 in Florida, prosecutors said. Raheja has not been arrested, said a spokesperson for prosecutors in the Central District of California.

The defendants are expected to be arraigned in federal court in Los Angeles in the coming weeks, prosecutors said.

U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said the defendants were "fueled by greed."

This deplorable scheme victimized thousands of consumers and families across the country, some of whom allegedly were discriminated against because of racial bias," Estrada said in the statement, adding that their alleged actions left people scrambling to find last-minute replacement accommodations."

Attorney Michael Freedman, who is representing Goel, said in a statement Thursday that his client "fully denies these allegations and looks forward to defending against them in court."

An attorney representing Raheja could not be reached for comment.

An Airbnb spokesperson said in a statement that the company "is built on trust, and bad actors have no place in our community."

We have taken multiple steps to strengthen our defenses against deceptive behavior, including measures like identity and listing verification which we believe will help further deter already rare instances of this type of activity," the spokesperson said.

Vrbo could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday.

In addition to potential renters, prosecutors said, Airbnb and Vrbo were also victimized and defrauded.

Goel and Raheja used fake host names and other peoples identities to list properties, prosecutors said.

They also used fake host accounts to hide their own identities, to double-book properties and to post fake positive reviews. The pair were banned from Vrbo in 2015 because of repeated host cancellations and guest complaints, prosecutors said.

Conspiracy and wire fraud charges each carry maximum penalties of 20 years in federal prison, prosecutors said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The Houston Chronicle, one of the largest newspapers in the United States, was founded in 1901 and was acquired by Hearst in 1987.

In addition to delivering in-depth coverage of local issues, the Chronicle is committed to covering state, national and international news. The newspaper operates a news bureau in Washington, D.C., that provides coverage of issues of special interest to residents of Houston and Texas.
Describing how they saw a man with a knife being held at gunpoint  by what they wrongly believed were law-enforcement agents  two Palm Springs police officers spoke publicly Friday for the first time about the chaotic standoff that led to the man's death at the hands of a convicted felon working as a bounty hunter.

The killing of David Spann led to murder charges against two people and changes to state law intended to prevent a person with a felony criminal history doing bounty hunter work.

The officers testified Friday at a court hearing in Indio for one of the two people charged, Lisa Roberta Vargas, 56. Her son and fellow defendant, Fabian Hector Herrera, 38, shot and killed Spann on April 23, 2021, on the second floor of his condo on Via Escuela in Palm Springs. Herrera had been sent to arrest the man by a bail agent.

Neither was legally permitted to do bounty hunter work, and Herrera was barred from possessing a firearm due to his prior felony conviction. Vargas is accused of buying him the weapon he used that night.

But the police officers who showed up shortly before the shooting knew none of that, they testified Friday.

Herrera and Spann had both separately called the Palm Springs Police Department reporting they were in a confrontation. The department sent two police officers into the bedlam, and moments later Herrera shot and killed Spann after one of the officers failed to incapacitate him with a Taser.

During several hours of tense questioning, the two officers, Rhett Arden and Emmi Kramer, reiterated points their department has previously made: They believed the two bounty hunters were cops and there wasn't time enough to check credentials before the situation escalated.

They added that the dress and badge of Herrera, his Ford Crown Victoria and "Agent" emblazoned on the back of a ballistic vest all sustained the ruse that he was in fact a cop in need of backup  a deadly misunderstanding they would only later learn of.

"It was hard to decipher who was saying what to who, we were just responding to a call for service," Arden said. "There was a lot going on, and you're trying to make quick decisions, and the right decisions."

"I didn't know who this fugitive task force was, I would assume someone with credentials," Kramer said.

A fugitive task force

David Spann, seen in 2019.

Defense attorney Lori Myers called the two officers to the stand during a hearing to determine if there was enough evidence for Vargas' case to go to trial. Myers and her co-counsel repeatedly asked the two why they thought the bounty hunters were police, and proceeded to back them up in the tense moments leading to the fatal shooting rather than remove them from the house.

Both officers said their dispatch had informed them a "fugitive task force was serving a domestic violence warrant at the address," in Arden's words.

Herrera had, in fact, called the department earlier that night and told them he would be attempting to arrest Spann. It's unclear if dispatch knew Herrera was a bounty hunter and not a sworn officer when the call for service was broadcast. There was no active warrant for Spann's arrest at the time. The officers repeatedly said on the stand that they believed Herrera and Vargas were cops when they arrived at the scene and stepped through a shattered front door with guns drawn.

Kramer, who was at the bottom of the stairs during the confrontation, and couldn't directly see Spann, said she believed Arden was attempting to calm the situation down. "A Taser is de-escalation," she testified.

But any attempts at de-escalation were ineffective at stopping Spann or getting him to drop the knife. And the officers added their misperception that Herrera's "partner" was in a room on the second floor near Spann only heightened the situation.

"Did you ask if they were police officers?" Myers asked

"I don't think we had time," Kramer responded.

"I was going to assist a fellow law enforcement officer in what they are dealing with," Arden later said of his mindset, adding: "My whole thought process was de-escalation."

The fact that Herrera, who you believed was a law enforcement officer, was telling you that his partner who is also a law enforcement officer is upstairs, did that impact the way you handled the situation?" asked Deputy District Attorney Patrick Farrell.

Absolutely, Arden responded.

Drop it. Shoot.

Arden repeatedly told Spann to drop the knife, while Herrera held the man at gunpoint. Spann repeatedly told all of them to get out of his home, and proceeded to ask questions indicating that he did not believe they had the authority to be there.

Myers asked both officers Friday about how they interpreted Spann's statements, captured on body camera, that he did not believe they were police and seemed to mockingly suggest they were going to shoot him "with ketchup."

Both officers said they did not recall Spann's statements and if they had heard them clearly in the moment, wouldn't have known what to make of them. Myers suggested the video shows Spann appears to be the only one questioning Herrera's authority during the tense confrontation.

When it came to arguably the most consequential words uttered in the last moments of David Spann's life, both officers said they had little or no recollection of what exactly happened.

Soon before Arden shot Spann with a Taser, he asked Herrera if he had "lethal," meaning that if the Taser failed he had a gun drawn and ready to fire. Herrera confirmed he did. When the Taser failed, and Spann stepped toward the bounty hunter and the officer, Arden can be heard on body camera footage saying: "Drop it. Shoot."

When asked what he meant by that, Arden said on the stand: "I don't recall," adding after a moment, "I don't recall saying those words."

He was repeatedly asked to clarify what he meant, with Farrell again asking if he had an independent recollection of what he meant. "I do not," Arden answered.

But soon after Spann's death, Arden told a sheriff's investigator he'd said "Shoot" not as a command to use lethal force, but to express frustration that his Taser hadn't worked. The account came to light when the investigator testified in a 2021 court hearing.

Regardless of what Arden meant, Herrera immediately fired the lethal shots and Spann died in the landing of his condo minutes later.

A kidnapping and murder?

Riverside County Superior Court Judge Anthony Villalobos asked Arden if it was common for him to help bounty hunters apprehend fugitives. Arden said no, but added that he does help other officers to apprehend fugitives. Villalobos then asked if it was normal for police to be arresting a fugitive around 2 a.m.

"It would be rare for a law-enforcement agency to do that without an actual warrant," Arden said.

Farrell told the judge Vargas bought a gun for her son, knowing doing so was illegal, and accompanied him to make an arrest that was illegal as neither was permitted to be a bounty hunter. Because the bail agreement did not legally apply to them, Farrell argued, the arrest was actually a kidnapping, and the shooting a murder.

"The peoples theory is that Ms. Vargas was acting as as an aider and abettor to Herrera in committing a burglary and attempted kidnapping because neither was acting lawfully as a bail agent or bail recovery agent of any kind, said Farrell.

Myers conceded that Vargas bought the gun, but argued there was no way for her to know what Herrera was going to do with it.

"Mr. Herrera is something different; he had a gun in his hand and shot it," Myers said, later adding he did so at the order of Arden. "Whether he remembers saying 'Shoot' or not, he gave the command directly after asking Herrera if the gun was loaded."

Villalobos ultimately ruled that the murder case against Vargas could proceed to trial, saying that neither she nor her son should have been in Spann's home at that hour. The felony they appear to have committed when forcing entry to his home, Villalobos said, justifies the subsequent murder charges.

"They could have waited until the morning to get him. They could have waited outside until he came out," said Villalobos. "The biggest factor I see here, is this is at 2 in the morning. Whos not going to be freaked out by that?"

Evidence presented during Vargas' hearing, which has happened on and off over several months, shows she bought a Glock 19 handgun from a gun shop in Colton in January 2021, and texted Herrera that doing so could put her in jail.

There were more firearms found in the car Herrera drove to the scene. Riverside County sheriff's Investigator Nicholas Jones earlier testified he found three handguns, a paintball gun that looked like a real firearm and a substantial amount of ammunition in Herreras trunk.

Herrera was sent by Melissa Lippert, Spanns bail agent, to detain him after she said he had violated his terms of bail. Lippert said during a subsequent hearing, in which she successfully argued to keep her bail agent license despite the killing, that she had asked another bail agent, Jose Navarro, to send a certified bail fugitive recovery agent to make the arrest. Herrera had recently begun working with Navarro as a bounty hunter and was sent.

Spann had been released on bail and was required, according to his bail agreement, to wear an electronic monitoring device. Lippert said Spann was not keeping the device on and wasn't complying with other conditions of their agreement.

Security footage played in several court hearings shows Herrera attempt to kick in Spann's front door, then go retrieve a sledgehammer and smash the door before entering the condo.

In the chaotic moments after the shooting, police struggled to both identify Herrera and Vargas and make sense of what they were doing at the scene, body cam footage obtained by The Desert Sun shows. It wasn't until the sheriff's department took over the investigation the following morning that Herrera was found to be a felon and not a licensed bail agent.

It was announced soon after that Herrera would be charged with murder for the shooting. Vargas, meanwhile, was at large for about a month before being arrested in Whittier that May. Both have been incarcerated since.

Following The Desert Sun's reporting in the case, the California Legislature passed a law that took effect last year requiring bounty hunters working in the state to be licensed.

Christopher Damien covers public safety and the criminal justice system. He can be reached at christopher.damien@desertsun.com or follow him at @chris_a_damien.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Palm Springs officers describe seeing bounty hunter shoot man to death
Barbecue tray and sides at Beckman's Barbecue J.C. Reid/Contributor Beckman's Barbecue J.C. Reid/Contributor Jennifer and Adam Beckman of Beckman's Barbecue J.C. Reid/Contributor Beckman's Barbecue J.C. Reid/Contributor Adam Beckman of Beckman's Barbecue J.C. Reid/Contributor Barbecue tray and sides at Beckman's Barbecue J.C. Reid/Contributor

Most of the barbecue joints I write about fall into distinct categories of experience and tradition.

There are family dynasties, like the Bracewells of Southside Market & Barbeque in Elgin, who have been in business since the late 1800s. In the past decade, craft-style joints like CorkScrew BBQ in Spring have brought a new generation to Texas barbecue. And then there are the brand-new brick-and-mortar joints like Bar-A-BBQ in Montgomery, whose owners have recently gone full time in barbecue.

Its rare that I get to write about an establishment that is only a few weeks old, mainly because it often takes months or years for a freshly minted pitmaster to find his sea legs in the commercial barbecue arena.

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On a recent visit to Beckmans Barbecue in The Woodlands, the quality of the service and food suggested it had been open for quite a while. Later, I found out that this tiny trailer, helmed by Adam and Jennifer Beckman, had been open all of six weeks.

Still, it hasnt been an overnight success. Adam, who got his start cooking for friends and family in his backyard, spent the past few years laying the groundwork for going pro with weekend pop-ups.

Like most ambitious pitmasters, it all began innocently enough with a Weber-style kettle grill that transitioned into a Kamado Joe ceramic grill. In 2018, Beckman inherited an offset barrel smoker with a vertical cabinet attachment.

Beckmans Barbecue Check Beckman's social media for future pop-up dates; instagram.com/beckmans_barbecue.

I cooked on that for two years, and thats when I really got the passion for barbecue, says Beckman. I would start briskets and sleep outside and get up every 30 minutes to stoke the fire, and thats when I knew I could do this.

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In May of 2020, he reached out to Moberg Smokers in Dripping Springs to build a commercial 500-gallon, trailer-mounted offset barrel pit. With the blessings of his wife, Jennifer, he placed the order and received the pit in early 2022.

Beckman began dialing-in that pit in his backyard while searching for a trailer from which to prepare and serve the barbecue. This past summer, when Cooper Abercrombie of Bar-A-BBQ moved into his permanent location, he put his small, retro-style trailer up for sale. Beckman bought it immediately.

All the pieces were in place. In October, he and Jennifer announced their first pop-up. Though it was a learning experience, they pulled it off and havent looked back.

We announced an 11 oclock opening and I still had meat on the smoker at 10:45, and people were starting to lineup and Im freaking out, says Beckman. I think we ended up opening 11:15 or 11:30, and we finally got everything situated.

Fortunately, several family members and friends stepped in to help, and thats continued through the latest pop-ups.

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Its definitely good to have family and friends that support you, says Beckman.

For the near future, the Beckmans plan to have two or three pop-ups per month on the weekends. They both still have day jobs; he works in oil and gas and Jennifer is a teacher in Magnolia.

That means starting to make the sausage on Fridays and firing up the smoker on Saturdays for the pop-up on Sundays.
Automatic obstacle avoidance, automatic parking and lane changing, automatic recognition of traffic lights... The unmanned express delivery vehicle has a "technology core" built-in under its cute appearance. Lidar and high-definition cameras are its "ears" and "eyes", with high-precision perception positioning and machine vision driving capabilities. Autonomous driving is effortless, with an average running speed of 15 kilometers per hour, and each time it can deliver more than 300 pieces of express delivery automatically towards the destination of the "order" distribution.

Ji Wen, deputy general manager of Anhui Mashangdao Smart Technology Co., Ltd., introduced to reporters that at present, there are 54 unmanned express delivery vehicle routes in Nanling County, basically covering all the post stations in the urban area. The unmanned express delivery vehicle has obtained the right to run on designated routes in Nanling County and has carried out normal operation. In recent years, Nanling County has seized the strategic opportunity for the transformation and upgrading of the express industry, promoting the coordinated development of industrial chain, supply chain, innovation chain, capital chain, talent chain, and policy chain, making the express logistics intelligent equipment industry cluster bigger and better, and striving to build a world-class landmark of 'China Post Valley' express logistics industry. Nanling County's express logistics intelligent equipment industry has ushered in an important period of high-quality leapfrog development. Up to now, the county's intelligent sorting equipment production capacity ranks first in the country, and its intelligent warehousing equipment, last-mile delivery equipment, and green packaging products have a high market share in China.

Source: anhuinews.com
Kim Nguyen, pharmacist, prepares a flu vaccine at CVS, 12550 Louetta Rd., Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023, in Cypress. Less than half of American adults have received a flu vaccine this year, according to CDC data. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer

Texas is among the U.S. states experiencing a surge of respiratory illnesses after the holidays, with COVID-19 and the flu responsible for much of the uptick in Houston.

Texas is experiencing very high levels of respiratory illness, according to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data released Thursday. Its among 38 states experiencing high or very high levels of transmission.

Houston doctors believe the number of infections will continue to rise over the next few weeks. Respiratory illnesses tend to increase around this time of year, said Dr. Luis Ostrosky, chief of infectious diseases and epidemiology with UTHealth Houston and Memorial Hermann.

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Typically, we see things kind of surging late December, early January with all the holiday parties and travel, Ostrosky said. I think were in for a few more rough weeks, and then its going to start going down.

Locally, Houston Methodists online tracker shows that COVID-19 infections have increased over the last month, while flu cases were highest just before Christmas. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) appears to be declining after peaking around Thanksgiving.

The holidays arent the only reason for the uptick, doctors said. The most recent spike of COVID-19 in the Houston area occurred in late summer. The natural immunity that comes from an infection has waned for many people who got sick during that surge, said Dr. Wesley Long, medical director of diagnostic microbiology at Houston Methodist.

Additionally, data from the CDC shows that only 44.9% of adults in the United States had received an annual flu shot as of Dec. 30. Just 19.4% of adults had received the latest COVID-19 vaccine.

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Ostrosky and Long said there's still plenty of time to get either shot. The U.S. typically sees flu activity ramp up in October before peaking from December through February.

You dont have to suffer and be sick, Long said. We have tools available that can prevent illness.

Heres what you need to know about the latest surge of respiratory illnesses in Houston.

How does JN.1 compare to prior COVID-19 variants?

The COVID-19 uptick coincides with the emergence of the JN.1 subvariant, which the CDC estimates is responsible for an estimated 61% of infections in the U.S.

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Long believes that part of the reason the variant has taken hold is that its circulating as many who were infected during a fall surge of COVID-19 are now seeing the natural immunity they gained from those infections start to wane.

I dont think theres anything particularly special about JN.1, Long said. I think its just whats circulating right now as people have waning immunity.

The variant appears to be as transmissible as prior Omicron variants. The good news, Long said, is that it does not appear to be causing more severe disease. It also appears to be treatable with the therapeutics that have been used to treat prior subvariants of the virus, Ostrosky said.

How does the flu in Houston compare to last winter?

The 2022-23 flu season was a bit unusual in Houston because infections peaked dring the fall. The current flu season is more typical, Long said.

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Ostrosky said U.S. infectious disease experts were expecting a tough flu season after seeing it spike in Australia. Temperate regions of the Southern Hemisphere are often predictive of flu season in North America.

As a result, though, Ostrosky noted that hospitals were prepared for a higher number of flu patients.

We are seeing more this year than last year, but we are completely managing the load, he said.

Doctors also noted that this years version of the flu shot appears to be highly effective against the strains of flu that are circulating.

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Long cautioned that its important to get the flu shot, even if youre otherwise healthy. The flu caused an estimated 360,000 hospitalizations and 21,000 deaths last winter, according to the CDC.

I think one of the things that people lost sight of during the pandemic is that flu can be pretty severe, Long said. Its important to remember that flu can make even very healthy young people very sick.

What is RSV? How bad is RSV this season?

Last winter, infectious disease experts worried that a concurrent surge of COVID-19, the flu and RSV could overwhelm hospitals. But this year, RSV appears to have peaked in Houston and elsewhere in the U.S.

We are still seeing a trickling of cases, but I think the worst is over for us, Ostrosky said.

RSV typically causes coldlike symptoms, but infections can be serious in infants or older adults. Adults ages 60 and older are eligible to receive an RSV vaccine, but CDC data shows that just 17.7% of Americans in the age group had received the shot as of Dec. 30.

When should you get tested for COVID-19 or the flu?

You may be hesitant to be tested for COVID-19 or the flu if youre just experiencing a runny nose or a cough. Ostrosky recommends you reconsider because the most effective therapies for either disease are more effective if theyre taken sooner than later.

Knowing you have an illness will also help you take precautions, such as quarantining, to avoid passing it to others, he said.

If youre having symptoms, and youre high risk in particular, you should make the effort to get tested, he said.
WPc Yvonne Fletcher was only 25 years old when she died - LONDON METROPOLITAN POLICE

Scotland Yard has banned serving police officers from taking part in a memorial service to mark the 40th anniversary of the murder of WPc Yvonne Fletcher.

Organisers of the event wanted 40 women in uniform to provide a guard of honour at the ceremony, which will take place in St Jamess Square on April 17.

But Met police bosses have refused permission for any serving officers to attend or play an official role in the service.

As a result, organisers have been forced to appeal for retired WPcs to volunteer and have been inundated with more than 500 offers.

The decision to ban serving officers from paying tribute to their fallen colleague has caused anger, dismay and confusion among current and former ranks.

WPc Fletcher was only 25 years old in April 1984 when she was killed by shots fired from the Libyan Embassy in St Jamess Square.

Her colleague John Murray, who has tirelessly campaigned to bring to justice those responsible for the murder, has organised a small commemoration to mark her sacrifice annually since her death.

The spot where WPc Fletcher fell in St James's Square, where the memorial will take place in April - Belinda Jiao

He had hoped that the 40th anniversary memorial could be held on a larger scale and came up with the idea of 40 current female officers forming a guard of honour between the East India Club, in one corner of St Jamess Square, and the memorial marking the spot where Miss Fletcher fell.

Mr Murray, who cradled his colleague as she lay dying 40 years ago, said that he had been left baffled and upset by the Mets position.

He told The Telegraph: It was my suggestion that we have 40 serving female officers who form a guard of honour across the square to the spot where Yvonne was shot.

I spoke to the borough commander who was at the memorial service last year and she was all in favour.

The borough commander had actually arranged it all and it was all going to be done. but she then told  presumably by her bosses  that she couldnt do it and they were no longer able to support us.

They didnt want to be involved in it at all. They will police the event but they wont take part.

Serving officers have also been told they cannot turn up to the event in uniform. I have no idea why.

The excuse given was that Yvonnes family didnt want to be involved in any memorial service.

But the family not wanting to be there doesnt mean the police cant support it. It is an abysmal excuse.

It is an absolute disgrace. Its abysmal. Its a slap in the face not only to me and Yvonne but to the hundreds of people who support us.

The window from which the fatal shots were fired in 1984 - Belinda Jiao

He continued: We set up a campaign on Facebook and we put out a request for 40 retired female police officers to step in.

We have had 550 responses from all over the UK and beyond. That means a lot to us. We are going to do that. We are going to have a guard of honour of female retired officers instead.

I have done this every year and I will continue to do it. We want to keep Yvonnes memory alive and we just want justice.

Following WPc Fletchers death, Britain severed ties with Libya. Nobody has ever been charged in connection with the murder.

But in 1999, the government in Tripoli admitted culpability in the shooting and paid compensation to her family.

In 2015, Saleh Ibrahim Mabrouk, a close former aide to Muammar Gaddafi was arrested at his home in Reading.

Two years later, however, the criminal case against him was dropped after Scotland Yard was prevented from using key evidence on the grounds of national security.

WPc Fletcher's killer has never been brought to justice - PA

Mr Murray launched a civil action and in a groundbreaking ruling in the High Court in November 2021, Mr Justice Martin Spencer ruled that Mabrouk was jointly liable for the shooting of WPc Fletcher.

He is now planning a private prosecution and the case is expected to be lodged a fortnight before the ceremony marking the 40th anniversary of her murder.

Mr Murray said: At the end of the memorial service we will walk to Downing Street  we cant have a march or demonstration  with a Justice for Yvonne banner.

WPc Fletchers mother, Queenie, died in 2020 without seeing her daughters killer brought to justice.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: There is no guard of honour involving serving officers planned. This is in accordance with the wishes of PC Yvonne Fletchers family.

There will be a ceremonial team and senior police officer in attendance at the ceremony. A significant number of retired colleagues are also expected to attend.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
A Louisiana police chief seeminglyadmitted to cheating on his sheriff deputy wife in an open letter on Wednesday that addressed how infidelity led to another police officer shooting them bothlast month.

The circumstances leading to this unfortunate incident are deeply personal, and I want to be forthright with you, Opelousas Police Chief Graig LeBlanc wrote. My actions have caused pain and distress, not only to my family but also to our community.

Opelousas Police Officer Savannah Butler, 42, turned herself in on Monday after allegedly shooting LeBlanc and his wife, St. Landry Parish Sheriffs Deputy Crystal LeBlanc, on Dec. 22, the sheriffs office said in a release.

Opelousas Police Department Chief Graig LeBlanc via Opelousas Police Department Facebook.

Opelousas Police Department Chief Graig LeBlanc via Opelousas Police Department Facebook.

According to deputies, Crystal LeBlanc went to Butlers home that night to speak to her husband, who was inside, and thetwo engaged in a heated argument.

Butler then approached the pair at the doorway, allegedly armed with a gun. She fired a shot and Graig LeBlanc put his hand in front of the weapon in an attempt to disarm her, deputies said.

The bullet shot through the chiefs hand and struck his wife in the arm, the release stated.

While the chief and his wife admitted themselves into a local hospital, Butler allegedly cleaned up the crime scene in an attempt to cover up the evidence before calling authorities.

In his letter published on Wednesday, Graig LeBlanc said infidelity on his part led to the alleged incident.

Infidelity is a breach of not only the personal commitments I made but also the professional standards we all expect from those in public service, the police chief wrote.

Its unclear whether infidelity referred to an affair with Butler. The police chief said he is initiating an internal review within the police department and committed to restoring the community trust.

Butler was placed on administrative leave following her arrest and was taken into custody on charges of obstruction of justice, illegal discharge of a firearm and negligent injuring, deputies said.

Graig LeBlanc was also placed on administrative leave pending the investigation and was issued a summons for trespassing onto Butlers property.

I want to express my sincere apologies to my wife, my family, all parties involved, and to each and every member of our community, he wrote.

Related...
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  The Metropolitan Police Department said a dog was shot Thursday night.

DC Mayor Muriel Bowser reverses course, awards more SNAP funding to residents

The shooting happened in Southwest, D.C. at the 200 block L St.

Police did not released the condition of the dog or anything about the shooter.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
An armed and dangerous man who police said shot three people in Forest Park Friday, killing one, beat previous murder charges, records show.

Victor Demetrious Baymon, 33, was taken into custody on Friday night after an hours-long manhunt.

Police said that around 10 a.m. Friday morning, Baymon walked into a tax filing business and shot two people, killing one of them. He then stole a car outside the business, wrecked it at a nearby apartment complex, then stole a Gray Dodge Avenger at gunpoint, police said.

Police said he then drove to a home on Old Jonesboro Road and shot a construction worker who was working at the property.

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Police said they believe the shootings were random.

The victims have not been identified. The surviving victims were in surgery, police said, but their conditions have not been released.

In 2017, Forest Park Police confirmed that Baymon was arrested and charged with the murder of 27-year-old Priscilla Colbert on April 10.

Police found Colbert face-down with a gunshot wound in a home in Stockbridge.

Deputies spotted Baymon driving a U-Haul truck behind a Golden Corral restaurant on April 11 and tried to pull him over.

Deputies said when they tried to pull him over, he rammed one of the patrol cars with the truck before being arrested.

He was charged with malice murder, two counts of felony murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm, kidnapping, two counts of aggravated assault of an officer and fleeing police. He was found not guilty on all but count nine, fleeing police, and was sentenced to five years in prison.

Baymon was released in 2022.

According to her obituary, Colbert was a military wife and mother who left behind children ages 7 and 2 at the time.
The winding path alongside Patio Park Lake in the new Royal Brook community. The final village in the Kingwood area is already about half done. Courtesy/Friendswood Development / Submitted

Houstons Kingwood community, known as the livable forest for its abundance of trees, is now drawing attention for its friendliness after a new study released by All Star Home. The home improvement firm unveiled a list of Americas friendliest neighborhoods, with Kingwood ranking second in the nation.

You dont hear friends and colleagues looking through real estate ads to find a neighborhood full of discontent and aggression, a spokesperson with All Star Home said in a release. Instead, people clamor to find real neighborhoods that feel like the friendliest TV towns, such as Stars Hollow, Pawnee and Schitts Creek.

Using data analyzing the 200 most-viewed city neighborhoods in the United States on Zillow during 2022, All Star Home compiled a list of popular communities. The study also included a probe of nearly 150,000 Google reviews from the past year of businesses in those areas. The rankings culminated from using the percentage of reviews with the term friendly to describe the neighborhoods and companies, ranging from coffee shops to grocery stores.

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Joining Kingwood on the list of top friendliest neighborhoods includes Magnolia, a community in Seattle, Washington, claiming the top spot followed by Highland in St. Paul, Minnesota, taking third. Rancho Bernardo in San Diego, California; South Boulevard-Park Row Historic in Dallas, Texas; Casas Adobes in Tucson, Arizona; Mount Tabor in Portland, Oregon; Catalina Foothills in Tucson, Arizona; Rancho Penasquitos in San Diego, California; and East Colorado Springs in Colorado Springs, Colorado, round out the top 10.

In April, the Chronicle reported HouseFresh, a publication focused on air quality by indoor air quality experts, dubbed the livable forest as the most sought-after city in Houston. The study examined daily views of Zillow listings in 100 major American cities plus the length of time homes stayed on the market.

Kingwoods sprawling 14,000-acre community received 12,600 daily views from potential home buyers. According to HouseFresh, its vast landscape and amenities likely contributed to its top position in comparison to other Houston neighborhoods.

Trader Joes, The UPS Store, Great Clips, Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, Meijer, Circle K, Target and Shell topped the top 10 list of friendliest well-known businesses.
Authorities arrested a man in Virginia accused of a deadly attack outside a Dominos Pizza last month.

Akim Alleyne, 33, of Manchester, is charged with manslaughter and habitual offender.

On December 7, officers responding to the area of 212 Lowell Street around 12:30 p.m. for a report of a fight found 46-year-old Te-Jay Thomas of Manchester unconscious on the sidewalk, according to Manchester Police. Thomas was transported to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Witnesses allegedly told police Thomas and Alleyne were arguing when Alleyne knocked Thomas to the ground and began beating him. Alleyne then fled the scene, returned briefly, then left again. Officials say he was on probation for a June burglary during this incident.

The high school instituted a stay-in-place order during the investigation as a precautionary measure.

Alleyne was arrested in Richmond, Virginia in late December and was transported back to Manchester on Thursday afternoon, according to police.

At the time of his arrest, Alleyne reportedly had warrants for burglary and stalking stemming from an October incident.

The investigation remains ongoing.

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European Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski said he wants new restrictions on Ukrainian agricultural imports as the Commission mulls the extension of the free trade regime with Ukraine until 2025, the Polish radio RMF24 reported on Jan. 5.

The flow of cheaper agricultural produce from Ukraine, one of the world's leading producers, sparked worries among European farmers and governments about uneven competition and risks to domestic production.

Wojciechowski, an EU commissioner from Poland, unofficially threatened to withdraw his support for continued trade liberalization with Ukraine if his conditions are not met, RMF24 reported. Following the latest extension, the agreement is set to expire on June 5.

The commisoner's homeland has been at the forefront of the grain imports dispute with Kyiv. Polish Agriculture Minister Czeslaw Siekerski said on Jan. 4 that the embargo on Ukrainian grain would continue "indefinitely."

Speaking to RMF24, Wojciechowski said that he demands protective clauses and quantitative restrictions, particularly on poultry meat and sugar from Ukraine.

"My big task for 2024 is to ensure that the new regulation  if issued  introduces sufficiently strong protective clauses so that no oversupply crisis happens again," the commissioner commented.

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Following the outbreak of Russia's all-out war against Ukraine and threats to Black Sea shipping, the EU temporarily lifted restrictions on Ukrainian imports in June 2022.

The resulting influx of Ukrainian goods caused logistical bottlenecks and pushed down prices in several neighboring countries. After an appeal by Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, and Slovakia, the EU temporarily banned grain and several other select agricultural goods between May and September 2023.

Poland was one of the countries that had prolonged the embargo unilaterally after its expiration. Polish farmers currently block one of the crossings with Ukraine, demanding governmental subsidies and other support in fear of Ukrainian competition.

The EU Commission's deputy director for agriculture, Pierre Bascou, said in early December that he does not see very significant adverse effects on European markets by Ukrainian goods.

He nevertheless admitted that "some vulnerability and risk" had been identified in sectors like poultry, eggs, and sugar. Imports of these products have been on the rise recently, pushing down prices within the European bloc.

Not all EU officials share Wojciechowski's position. Valdis Dombrovskis, the commissioner for trade, wants to weaken the existing clauses and eliminate the possibility of temporary EU bans like the one introduced last year.

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In the upcoming decision on the extension of the EU free trade agreement with Ukraine, Polish European Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski will push for the introduction of specific restrictions for agricultural products imported from Ukraine.

Source: Wojciechowski in an interview with RMF FM, reports European Pravda

Details: The European Commission is already working on a draft solution for a new extension of the trade agreement with Ukraine without duties and quotas, which was introduced until 2025 as a temporary measure to support it in war conditions. The current decision will expire on 5 June.

The European Commissioner for Agriculture and representative of Poland said that he insists on including certain protectionist provisions and quantitative restrictions for Ukrainian agricultural products in this decision and sent a corresponding letter to the president of the European Commission.

Quote: "This is my big task for 2024, to make sure that in the new solution, if there will be one, sufficiently strong protective provisions are implemented so that we do not have any crisis related to excessive supply again," he told RMF FM.

Unofficially, journalists learned that Wojciechowski threatened not to support the future decision if these conditions were not met.

Wojciechowski detailed that he would insist on restrictions in particular for poultry meat and sugar from Ukraine, because imports of these products have recently grown very much.

"Imports are growing in such a way that it threatens the competitiveness of European business, including the Polish production of poultry and sugar. So I'm talking about the need to limit the quantitative import of these two types of products," said Wojciechowski.

According to him, this impact of Ukrainian imports is noticeable in almost all EU countries and sugar producers are already complaining to the European Commission.

The Polish Commissioner also believes that if you leave the European market completely open for Ukrainian imports, it "helps Russia to consolidate its achievements".

He argues that Russia has ousted Ukraine from markets in Asia, forcing it to reorient itself to the European market, and this creates destabilisation in Poland and other neighbouring countries. Wojciechowski believes that Moscow will "win twice" because Russia is entrenched in new markets, and disputes are growing in the EU over the Ukrainian agricultural import.

Instead, European Commissioner for Trade Valdis Dombrovskis wants to weaken the current safeguards, especially the possibility of a temporary import ban on specific products in the event of a sharp influx. The EU imposed such a ban this summer, and it was in effect until 15 September. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen appears to be of similar opinion.

On 4 January, Polish Agriculture Minister Czesaw Siekierski stated that the Polish-Ukrainian border will not be open to Ukrainian goods and the embargo on exporting them to Poland is to continue indefinitely.

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After beating back federal public corruption charges last year, Andrew Gillum is publicly reemerging with a new gig in politics, though as a commentator, not a candidate.

The former Tallahassee mayor and 2018 Democratic nominee for Florida governor is co-hosting a new podcast, Native Land Pod, for iHeartPodcasts. Gillum, who previously had his own podcast, is sharing the mic this time with Tiffany D. Cross, a political analyst and writer who formerly hosted a show on CNN, and Angela Rye, a TV host and attorney.

The new weekly series, which kicks off Jan. 11, will guide the audience through the political landscape wielding insights and unapologetic analysis, while unraveling the threads that connect Black Americans and marginalized communities to a place they can courageously call home, iHeartPodcasts said in a Thursday news release.

Former Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum and his defense team speak with the media after a jury found him not guilty on making false statements while deadlocking on all other charges Thursday, May 4, 2023.

In the announcement, Gillum, himself a former cable news pundit, said the podcasts listeners can expect to be invited into our conversations and finally find a home where their lived experiences are reflected and where their ideas are validated.

Im excited to join Angela and Tiffany for some much-needed tough talk about our politics, our people and our collective work to reshape the way political conversations are had that ultimately inspires listeners to do the work that leads to our greater freedom and political liberation, Gillum said.

The one-time Democratic Party star, who narrowly lost the governors race to Ron DeSantis before personal scandal upended his political career, will also reportedly dish about the corruption charges that ended in acquittal and dismissal, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

I wasnt guilty, but we can talk about who was  and who still is, Gillum said. Im prepared to unpack a lot of this.

IHeartPodcasts said Native Land Pod will serve as the flagship show for a new political podcast network, Reasoned Choice Media, which will launch later this year. Its designed to provide a platform for diverse voices and perspectives through the 2024 presidential election.

In one teaser for the podcast, Gillum said the shows title was a reclamation of this space as ours, not being created by anyone else other than ourselves." In another, talking about the news, he said, Its The Matrix, right? Just insert whomever. But the system is programmed to produce a particular result.

Former Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum leaves the federal courthouse after a jury found him not guilty on making false statements while deadlocking on all other charges against him on Thursday, May 4, 2023.

Gillum and Sharon Lettman-Hicks, his longtime friend and political adviser, were arrested in 2022 on conspiracy and wire fraud charges involving allegations that they funneled campaign donations to themselves. Jurors in his trial last spring deadlocked on those counts and found Gillum not guilty of lying to the feds.

After the trial, a group of jurors took the extraordinary step of publicly calling for charges to be dismissed against Gillum, saying the jury would have acquitted on all counts were it not for a couple of holdouts. Prosecutors, who initially signaled plans for another trial, dropped the case soon after.

The former mayor previously hosted the "Real Talk with Andrew Gillum" podcast under the Quake Media banner. The subscription podcast service went off the air last year, according to news reports.

Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@tallahassee.com or 850-599-2180.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Andrew Gillum re-emerges from court win as political podcast co-host
President Biden is slated to deliver remarks Friday on the state of democracy during a campaign stop at Valley Forge Landing Zone in Philadelphia.

The event is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. EST.

Watch the video above.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A male peacock stands on guard in the front yard of a home in a Memorial neighborhood Thursday, Jan. 4, 2023. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer

Kellie Donoghue proceeds with trepidation when she takes her four dogs for a walk. Even though its broad daylight, she scans the streets before she makes a turn, vigilant for the omnipresent threat thats taking over her Memorial-area neighborhood.

Shes checking the roads, tree tops and bushes for peacocks.

For decades, peacocks  more accurately called peafowl  have stalked Donoghue's Heathwood neighborhood, shrieking from homes and trees and charging at humans and pets.

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The peafowl, she said, are prone to attacking humans, animals and cars and can cause serious property damage to homes. They walk into traffic without hesitation, creating unsafe driving conditions for motorists.

I saw seven of them smashing into a car the other day, she reported. They tear up roofs and break windows. Once they even chased a group of kids.

Compounding the issue, said Heathwood resident Linda Aber, is the fact that all the birds started out as one small, privately owned flock. Aber believes the birds are all inbred, which she said raises ethical questions about whether they should be allowed to continue to reproduce.

A male peacock causes a traffic hazard when it darts out in front of a car as it crosses a street in a Memorial neighborhood Thursday, Jan. 4, 2023. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer A male peacock stands on guard in the front yard of a home in a Memorial neighborhood Thursday, Jan. 4, 2023. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer A male peacock stands on guard in the front yard of a home in a Memorial neighborhood Thursday, Jan. 4, 2023. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer A male peacock stands defiantly in the driveway of a home in a Memorial neighborhood Thursday, Jan. 4, 2023. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer

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The Heathwood flock are notorious among Texas ornithologists and invasive species experts.

Fred Collins is a wildlife biologist and former president of the Texas Audubon Society advisory board who has been studying the birds since they were introduced to Houston in the late 1950s.

The peafowl were brought to the area by Vargos restaurant, which closed in 2012. Many of the birds left Vargo's property, he said, settling in the nearby neighborhoods.

What started out as a small flock of birds grew well into the hundreds by the 2010s, he said, and the flock has continued to expand.

While the birds drifted into most of the neighborhoods surrounding the Buffalo Bayou, Collins stated that the birds causing issues in Heathwood have congregated in such dense numbers because theyre being fed by residents.

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Without owners to manage the flock, the birds are breeding out of control.

While many residents feed them seed and dried cat food, none of the flocks in that area are managed, he said. No one has actively managed any of the Houston flocks since at least 2000. These birds seem well adapted to a feral existence in urban environments with large yards and adjacent woods.

A male peacock stands on guard in the front yard of a home in a Memorial neighborhood Thursday, Jan. 4, 2023. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer

In addition to breeding out of control, flocks without management will become more aggressive towards humans.

This peafowl population has also gone from a more domesticated situation at Vargos to a feral structure which can make them more aggressive, said Ashley R. Morgan-Olvera, director of research and education for the Texas Invasive Species Institute at Sam Houston State University.

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Like Collins, Morgan-Olvera is familiar with the Heathwood flock due to its notoriety as a problematic feral flock.

Several studies on peafowl population management in non-native habitats across the globe highlight the aggressive nature of the feral populations and it is especially heightened during the mating season, she said.

Mating season, according to Ric Urban, curator of birds at the Houston Zoo, occurs year-round in Houston. Peafowl in their native India will mate in the spring, but with Houstons warm climate and omnipresent humidity, breeding season in Houston never ends.

That means any bird at any time can exhibit mating aggression, and this is what causes peafowl to attack cars and windows, Urban said.

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Peacocks arent very intelligent, and theyll see their reflection in a shiny surface like glass or metal, and they think its a rival peacock, so they attack it, he said. They can cause a lot of damage.

A male peacock strolls casually through a Memorial neighborhood Thursday, Jan. 4, 2023. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer

The feral birds are a nuisance, said Daniel Brooks, coordinator of the Texas Invasive Bird Project and curator of vertebrate zoology at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, but he argued that theyre probably not as aggressive as residents believe.

Brooks, who specializes in invasive bird species, said peafowl are naturally inquisitive and have little fear of humans, which could cause them to run directly up to people. Given the Heathwood flock is being fed by residents, the birds would be even more prone to rushing at humans.

He does not believe the birds mean any real harm.

Theyre very curious by nature, and theyre large, loud birds, and theyll definitely charge at someone if theyre curious about them, especially if they think they might get fed, Brooks said. I would not think they would actually attack with their claws and beaks, though. I think they would stop short of that.

Brooks acknowledged residents claims that the birds are inbred, but said the level of inbreeding is not severe enough to warrant direct interference.

Were talking about a flock that started with two or four birds and now numbers in the hundreds, so of course theyre all the results of inbreeding, he said. Unless we see some very serious deformities like missing eyes or extra toes, theyve probably muscled through the inbreeding, and I dont really see an issue with allowing them to reproduce.

If the Heathwood peafowl continue to populate without management, Morgan-Olvera said, it could cause problems for native plants and wildlife.
The Harris County Sheriff's Office is continuing to ask for the public's help in locating suspects involved in the murder of 21-year-old Angel Muniz-Acosta. Harris County Sheriff's Office

Authorities are asking for help in finding those responsible for the fatal shooting of a 21-year-old Houston man during a road rage incident in November.

Angel Muniz-Acosta was in his car when he was shot on Nov. 19 near Freeport and Muscatine in the Cloverleaf area, according to the Harris County Sheriff's Department.

SPRING ISD ARREST: Janitor accused of putting cameras in employee bathrooms at elementary school, records show

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Around 4:08 p.m., Muniz-Acosta was seen backing out of a private driveway on Muscatine, according to the sheriff's office. At the same time, another vehicle, a silver-colored 4-door Toyota Camry sedan, turned onto Muscatine and was speeding so fast that it had to swerve around an SUV.

The two vehicles would encounter one another near Freeport, the sheriff's office said. At some point, the Camry slowed down and a man pointed a handgun at Muniz-Acosta's car.

The shooting caused Muniz-Acosta's car to drive into a ditch, according to the sheriff's office. The suspect fled west on Muscatine, leaving Muniz-Acosta to die from his injuries. A 21-year-old woman in the vehicle was not injured.

"Help us solve his murder," Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said Thursday in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Muniz-Acosta's father told KHOU his son worked two jobs to support his family.

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MAYOR VOWS TO MAKE HOUSTON SAFER: Mayor John Whitmire pushes back against crime stats, vows to make Houstonians feel safer
A U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspection station on Interstate 35, Wednesday, May 26, 2021, in Laredo. Marie D. De Jesus, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

A Texas woman nicknamed Boss Lady pleaded guilty Thursday in a Houston federal court to leading a multimillion-dollar human smuggling organization that assisted in the illegal movement of hundreds of migrants across the U.S.-Mexico border.

Erminia Serrano Piedra is facing a maximum of 20 years in prison and, as a part of the plea agreement, will have to pay a nearly $1 million money judgement and forfeit two properties with one valuing over $2 million, according to a Justice Department news release.

Piedras attorney, Heriberto Medrano, has not commented as of Thursday afternoon.

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SMUGGLERS THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX: Smugglers often 'think outside the box' using candy boxes, potato chip bags to move drugs

Piedras organization was primarily funded through payments that migrants or their families made for smuggling services, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. Drivers would pick up the migrants at the border and take them into the U.S. where they would be harbored in stash houses in Laredo and across Texas. The smugglers would receive upfront payments of $3,000 in Mexico, and then another $5,000 once the migrants made it into the U.S.

Migrants were hidden in suitcases, crammed into tractor-trailers, covered in the back of pickup trucks, stuffed in water tankers and placed in wooden crates that were strapped to flatbed trailers, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.

Payments would travel through numerous bank accounts across the U.S. until they reached Piedra and other leaders in the organization, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. Piedra admitted to authorities that she had been smuggling for a lifetime already and was not planning on retiring.

Along with Piedra, 14 others were indicted for being members of the organization, court documents show. Ten of the indicted members have pleaded guilty to various crimes and are awaiting sentencing. Some of Piedras co-conspirators recruited people in the construction industry to help with moving smuggling proceeds, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.

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Harris County Precinct 1 deputy constables tasered and detained a man after the arrest of Food Not Bombs volunteer Shere Dore on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024, in front of Houston Public Librarys Julia Ideson Building in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

Shortly after Mayor John Whitmires inauguration, the Houston Police Department issued its 86th ticket Wednesday evening to a Food Not Bombs volunteer providing free meals outside the Central Library downtown. Two volunteers were taken away in handcuffs that evening by Harris County Precinct 1 deputy constables for reasons not directly related to the food serving.

The ticket and arrests come as volunteers and people who receive meals are trying to discern whether Whitmire will continue efforts to move the volunteers away from the Central Library, a strategy previous Mayor Sylvester Turner took up in the final months of his administration. Turner has said on social media that he believes the meals bring the homeless to the area and discourage families from using the library. Some considered the arrests on Whitmires third day in office a troubling sign, saying they felt targeted.

The people arrested were Shere Dore, who has volunteered with Food Not Bombs at the location for about a decade, and Jerrode Brown, also a longtime volunteer. Like many he served, Brown was without a home, according to other volunteers.

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Shere Dore is arrested by Harris County Precinct 1 deputy constables as she prepares to feed homeless people with other volunteers from Food Not Bombs on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024, in front of Houston Public Librarys Julia Ideson Building in Houston. The arrest was not directly related to the feeding of the homeless community. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

A spokesperson for Whitmires office said in an email that the new mayor had made no determination about whether to continue ticketing Food Not Bombs volunteers or litigating the tickets already issued against them. We reject the idea that what happened to Ms. Shere Dore had any connection to Mayor Whitmire taking office, said the spokesperson.

Harris County constables said they were enforcing a Brazoria County warrant for Dore, and Brazoria County records show the warrant was for allegedly violating probation following 2019 and 2020 fraud charges. Brown was shocked with a Taser and detained during the commotion following Dores arrest.

The lawyer representing Dore for the Food Not Bombs tickets, Paul Kubosh, said he found the decision to make an arrest for a parole violation as she volunteered unusual.

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Shere Dore is arrested by Harris County Precinct 1 deputy constables as she prepares to feed homeless people with other volunteers from Food Not Bombs on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024, in front of Houston Public Librarys Julia Ideson Building in Houston. The arrest was not directly related to the Food Not Bombs work, according to public records. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer A Harris County Precinct 1 deputy constable talks with people filming an arrest with their cell phones Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024, in front of Houston Public Librarys Julia Ideson Building in Houston. The deputies handcuffed two volunteers with the group as they prepared to feed homeless people at their regular meal distribution. One was arrested for an alleged parole violation, according to court records; the other was detained during the commotion that followed. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

They normally send out a notice saying, Heres what happened, you need to come in,  Kubosh said. They dont send constables out at night to arrest somebody and then hold them and then transport them over.  Thats a waste of resources on someone thats going to turn themselves in.

Jeff McShan, public information officer for Harris County Precinct 1 Constables office, said officers were responding to a be on the lookout notice the U.S. Marshals issued to local law enforcement that day. They said they expected her to be downtown on Mondays and Wednesdays at that hour, he said. The U.S. Marshal Service in the Southern District of Texas and the Brazoria County Sheriffs Office have not responded to a request for comment.

Food Not Bombs volunteers have racked up 86 tickets seeking more than $21,000 in fines since March 1, four weeks before visitors began pouring into downtown for the Final Four. The one case that has gone to trial resulted in a not guilty verdict; other hearings have been repeatedly reset.

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Food Not Bombs volunteer John Locke takes a ticket from Houston Police officers as others from the group feed homeless people meals during their regular food distribution Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024, in front of Houston Public Librarys Julia Ideson Building in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

The Houston law they were charged with violating  an ordinance against giving away meals unless you have permission from the property where youre doing it, even if the property is public  was enacted by City Council in 2012. But it had largely gone unenforced for over a decade, municipal records show. In response to widespread protest over the charitable food ordinance, then-Mayor Annise Parker gave permission to Food Not Bombs to continue giving away meals outside the downtown library, where they have been for roughly two decades.

In an ongoing federal lawsuit, the city said in 2023 that starting to enforce the law on the volunteers outside the library was necessary for food safety. The city is asking people giving away food to do so in a police parking lot near the municipal courthouse, where it provides portable restrooms, a hand-washing station and a Dumpster. We shouldnt have to lose the central library to feed the homeless, Turner wrote on social media on August.

As volunteers gathered outside Central Librarys Julia Ideson building Wednesday evening before the ticket and arrests, they wondered what the new year held.

A woman collects cards with numbers, that function as meal tickets, as Food Not Bombs volunteers feed homeless people Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024, in front of Houston Public Librarys Julia Ideson Building in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

Dore chatted with the familiar Houston Police Department officers who arrived every Monday and Wednesday to issue a ticket. They did not receive one on Christmas Day when a television news crew filmed them serving meals, nor did they on New Years Day. She reported back to volunteers that the officers had not yet heard if the plans for tickets would change with the new administration.

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The volunteers serve fresh vegetarian food four times a week. Lit by the twinkling glow of Christmas lights wrapping live oaks in the library courtyard, the volunteers unloaded pizza boxes, stacks of tortillas and foil-covered trays. There were pallets of water and bags filled with winter blankets. In all, roughly 20 volunteers set up the serving line, including David Garza and his 10-year-old son, who were there for the first time. They learned about the work on Instagram and came to serve those less fortunate than themselves.

Shere Dore is arrested by Harris County Precinct 1 deputy constables as she prepares to feed homeless people with other volunteers from Food Not Bombs on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024, in front of Houston Public Librarys Julia Ideson Building in Houston. The arrest was not directly related to the feeding of the homeless community. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

Suddenly, there was a commotion. Roughly half a dozen officers from Harris County Constable Precinct 1 placed Dore in handcuffs. Her daughter screamed. Others shouted for the constables to stop, asking why she was being arrested. Constables said little beyond that there was a warrant.

Recordings captured by volunteers show Brown shouting at an officer, demanding information. You know what? the officer said in the video. Turn around. Brown appeared to struggle as the officer moved to restrain him. Soon, the Chronicle witnessed two officers pinning Brown to the sidewalk, one pushing up his shirt to press a Taser into his back. It crackled.

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Brown, too, was led away in handcuffs. The Harris County Sheriffs Office website indicated that Brown was still in jail as of Friday afternoon on a $20,000 bond for the charge of assaulting a peace officer. Food Not Bombs volunteers say that Brown fractured one of his wrists during the altercation and have since set up a GoFundMe asking for help with medical expenses and the bond.

They said we were making a scene.  You wanted to cause a scene, Dores daughter, Mya Thomas, 20, said afterward. They shouldve talked to the cops who know us to pull us aside.

Kubosh likened the arrest to the theater surrounding sending a group of officers to arrest a politician.

Harris County Precinct 1 deputy constables press a taser into a man's back after the arrest of Food Not Bombs volunteer Shere Dore on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024, in front of Houston Public Librarys Julia Ideson Building in Houston. Volunteers from the group were preparing to feed homeless people at their regular meal distribution. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

Afterward, many said they were shaken but soon settled into their routine.

Servers took their stations, those there for meals lined up, and the volunteer John Locke went to receive his warning from the police officers as another Food Not Bombs member filmed a video for social media. They passed numbers to those in line and began calling them up for meals. After the sixth meal was served (the city ordinance is against handing out more than five), Locke went back to the officer, who printed out his ticket.

Houston City Hall is seen in the background as volunteers with Food Not Bombs film a video after a member was ticketed for feeding the homeless during a regular meal distribution Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024, in front of Houston Public Librarys Julia Ideson Building in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

It was the groups 86th ticket, Locke stated for the camera. We thought, with the new mayor, things would change.

Locke was angered and disappointed by the arrests, he said. But a man who picked up meals for himself and others said he maintained a measure of hope.

Whitmire is mayor, said the man, who is known on the streets as Candy Man for his practice of selling candy outside of the District Courthouse. He had watched Whitmires inaugural speech two days before from the YMCA, where he is a member. When Whitmire said he would do better on the homeless issue, Candy Man took note. Im taking him for his word, he said.

Food Not Bombs volunteer Eric Harris, center, takes a meal tray from fellow volunteer Britt Villalobos as they feed homeless people during a regular meal distribution Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024, in front of Houston Public Librarys Julia Ideson Building in Houston. Harris said he used to come to the distribution and eat a few years ago, but his circumstances had improved. He said he now brings donations and food and volunteers his time. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

After the food was served and the water and blankets passed out, the volunteers formed a circle to discuss what had happened.

This was out of the ordinary, Rebecca Lavergne told the new volunteers.

Garza smiled.

We arent scared, he said, hand on his sons shoulder. Well be coming back.

Food Not Bombs volunteers share a light moment after a tense meal distribution Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024, in front of Houston Public Librarys Julia Ideson Building in Houston. A volunteer with the group was arrested and another was detained by Harris County Precinct 1 deputy constables before the distribution. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer
United Launch Alliances Vulcan rocket undergoes testing at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The rocket is scheduled to launch Monday. ULA The Peregrine lander, which is carrying cremated remains collected by Houston-based Celestis and San Francisco-based Elysium Space, is scheduled to land on the moon Feb. 23. Billy Calzada/Staff photographer A rare blue supermoon peaks through the clouds as it rises behind the Tower Life Building in August. The Peregrine lander, which is carrying cremated remains collected by Houston-based Celestis and San Francisco-based Elysium Space, is scheduled to land on the moon Feb. 23. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News

The Navajo Nation is condemning a Houston companys plans to send cremated remains to the moon, claiming its tantamount to desecration of this sacred space.

Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren would like to delay Mondays launch as it includes a lunar lander thats carrying cremated remains collected by Houston-based Celestis and San Francisco-based Elysium Space.

ANOTHER MOON MISSION: Houstons Intuitive Machines hopes to be 23rd mission to softly land on the moon despite challenges

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It is crucial to emphasize that the moon holds a sacred position in many indigenous cultures, including ours, Nygren wrote in a Dec. 21 letter sent to NASA and the Department of Transportation. We view it as a part of our spiritual heritage, an object of reverence and respect.

Celestis CEO and co-founder Charles M. Chafer said the companys clients consider the mission an appropriate celebration  the polar opposite of desecration.

He also said religion is not considered when approving space missions.

No one, and no religion, owns the moon, Chafer said in a statement, and were the beliefs of the worlds multitude of religions considered its quite likely that no missions would ever be approved. Simply we do not and never have let religious beliefs dictate humanitys space efforts  there is not and should not be a religious test.

Elysium Space could not be reached for comment.

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This isnt the first time the Navajo Nation has objected to putting cremated remains on the moon. Nygren said the issue arose in the late 90s when NASA sent the Lunar Prospector probe to orbit the moon. The probe crashed into the lunar surface at the end of its life, carrying the cremated remains of planetary geologist Eugene Shoemaker. Celestis provided those remains.

According to Nygrens letter, NASA apologized and promised to consult tribes before authorizing future missions that send human remains to the moon. Nygren argued that NASA did not uphold the commitment.

NASA is not directly overseeing Monday's mission. Celestis and Elysium Space placed cremated remains onboard a lunar lander owned and operated by Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic Technology. NASA provided funding and guidance, but it is not in charge. It is one of many customers onboard the Peregrine lander, which is scheduled to land on the moon Feb. 23.

The remains will be sent into space on the inaugural flight of United Launch Alliances Vulcan rocket. United Launch Alliance is a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin. Its Vulcan rocket is scheduled to launch from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida during a window that opens at 1:18 a.m. CST.

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We recognize that some non-NASA commercial payloads could be a cause for concern to some communities, said Joel Kearns, deputy associate administrator for exploration in NASAs Science Mission Directorate. And those communities may not understand that these missions are commercial and theyre not U.S. government missions.

An intergovernmental meeting was held Friday afternoon with its participants including the Navajo Nation, NASA, the White House, the Department of Transportation and the Department of Commerce.

We take concerns like those expressed from the Navajo Nation very, very seriously, Kearns said. And we think were going to be continuing on this conversation.

Nygren said the Navajo Nation isn't against space exploration or going to the moon. But he said sending human remains to the moon doesn't advance science or technology, and he wasn't satisfied with Friday's meeting as officials did not commit to removing the cremated remains from Monday's launch.

"We're born here," Nygren said, "and we should be left here as well when we move on ... because of the animals, the insects, the species, the plants."
September 12, 2022; Houston, Texas: VIPER, NASAs lunar rover on display at Rice during the 60th anniversary commemoration of JFK's moon speech at Rice Stadium on the campus of Rice University. Maria Lysaker/Contributor

People can send their names to the moon aboard VIPER, NASA's first robotic lunar rover, thanks to a new campaign.

The public has until 10:59 p.m. on March 15 to sign up on the NASA website for their names to be included on the rover, a news release announced. The plan is to launch VIPER, which stands for Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover, later this year.

FROM BACK IN 2019: NASA developing new lunar rover to the moon to drill for water ice

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In addition to having their names attached to the project, people who sign up will also get create a digital souvenir in the form of a boarding pass.

It will explore the lunar South Pole for 100 days, looking for resources such as ice water. The data will be used to help NASA's Artemis mission put astronauts on the moon.

"With VIPER, we are going to study and explore parts of the Moon's surface no one has ever been to before  and with this campaign, we are inviting the world to be part of that risky yet rewarding journey," Nicola Fox, associate administrator, science mission director at NASA Headquarters in Washington, said in a statement. "Just think: Our names will ride along as VIPER navigates across the rugged terrain of the lunar South Pole and gathers valuable data that will help us better understand the history of the Moon and the environment where we plan to send Artemis astronauts."
Residents and stakeholders share their thoughts on how

to make getting around the Houston-Galveston region safer and better for years to come. H-GAC

Remember those nervous moments ticking toward the new millennium and the threat of Y2K? Remember waiting to see if all those zeros in the year 2000 would confuse computer systems worldwide? Remember wondering whether everything from banking to elevators would fail?

You know how that ended: The clock struck midnight; the banks and the elevators hummed along smoothly; we all exhaled and proceeded to party like it was still 1999.

In a way, the Houston region is experiencing a similar sort of exhale now  albeit on a much smaller and wonkier scale.

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Heres the setup: Proposition B, a city of Houston ballot item, threatened that Houston would secede from our areas regional planning council unless our behemoth urban municipality got more say.



To state the obvious, Houston is the biggest player in the Houston-Galveston Area Council. H-GAC, as wonks familiarly call the consortium, represents 13 counties and more than 100 member cities. And its decisions involve everything from highway projects to workforce programs.

Its highly unusual for a central city to threaten to withdraw from a regional governance body, and before and even after the election, some warned of the dangers of Houstons leaving. Passage of the measure would result in major delays or cancellations of future transportation projects in and around Houston, thundered former Harris County Judge Ed Emmett. Even mayoral candidate U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee worried that it was not the best pathway forward.

This editorial board endorsed Prop B: Houston, we believe, wasnt getting its fair share of things like federal funding for Hurricane Harvey recovery. Fort Bend County Judge KP George and Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis also supported Prop B, noting that a new voting structure for H-GAC  one that accounted for population  could benefit the regions big suburban areas too.



In November, 65% of voters agreed. Would disaster ensue?



Now, after several meetings of special committees considering the composition of the planning bodies, were happy to report that Proposition B appears to be working as intended. The risk of calamity seems minor.

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Brace yourself for the details. For six hours Tuesday, members of the committee for the transportation policy council gathered in a glassy Greenway Plaza monolith to hammer out a proposed compromise. Next, theyll have a formal vote to recommend the item to the larger transportation council for another vote. A parallel process is unfolding for bylaw changes to the H-GAC as a whole.

So far, the talks have been eminently reasonable. And its no wonder: Houston does not really want to leave H-GAC, and H-GAC doesnt want to see it go.

Ive just tried to be really mindful of the interests of the surrounding regions coupled with ours because we want a consensus, said Houston City Council Member Sallie Alcorn after Tuesdays meeting.

The group looking at the transportation arms voting structure put forward a sort of bicameral approach. Every initial vote would still use the current structure: with Houston claiming three of 28 votes on the eight-county transportation policy committee and an arguably even smaller share of the votes on the 13-county H-GAC board of directors. For a small number of particularly contentious and close decisions, theyd take another vote, this time one weighted by population, to help decide. If neither vote yields a definitive result, then its back to the drawing board. Phoenixs Maricopa Association of Governments uses a similar model.

There has been some pushback even so, with Why are we even doing this? kinds of questions. These questions arent entirely off base. H-GAC did its own analysis of which areas got the most funding, they found overall it was largely proportional to population. But a few high-profile decisions, including approving an expansion plan for I-45 against strong local opposition in Houston, showed the weaknesses of the voting structure.

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How much headache could we have avoided on that long-delayed project had the concerns of local leaders been heard more strongly years earlier?

The conversation were having is a really important conversation, finding ways to balance regional voices, said Chuck Wemple, CEO of H-GAC. Im pleased with the way discussion and the process is moving forward.

So are we.



Yes, disaster is still possible. Both committees have to get approval from larger bodies. And eventually Gov. Greg Abbott will have to sign off on the plan for the transportation council in particular too. But because the council plans to submit these changes with broad support and alongside several other needed updates (new boundaries and growing jurisdictions), trouble there seems less likely.

Emmett told us Wednesday that hes still concerned about a worst-case scenario. Technically, it appears that Houston wouldnt really be able to exit if a compromise isnt reached  just stop participating. That would be bad for both Houston and the region. But we think thats an unlikely scenario, especially given the good-faith progress weve seen so far.

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We are really heartened and excited, said Ally Smither, one of the organizers of the campaign that got the proposition on the ballot.
Judge Victor Trevino III conducts the swearing-in ceremony during inauguration event at the Wortham Center with Mayor John Whitmire and his daughters, Whitney Whitmire Jenkins, left, and Sarah Whitmire, right, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024 in Houston. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer

With Mayor John Whitmires swearing-in came his first mayoral address. Much of it mirrored what weve heard during his campaign and in post-election interviews: Public safety is a top priority, with on-time trash pickup, flooding, infrastructure and finances following suit.

To me, a line that flew under the radar was the most important because it encapsulates the spirit of the city. Were all public servants, Whitmire said. Each and every one of you and every Houstonian that can hear my voice, youre a public servant, whether youre ever on the ballot or not.

It shares the sentiment of one of my favorite quotes: The misgovernment of the American people is the misgovernment by the American people. Lincoln Steffens wrote this in his 1904 book, The Shame of the Cities, a compilation of essays chronicling municipal corruption in American cities. This quote would have rung true in the hundreds of years before it was written, and it still rings true today.

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Steffens believed that no one group  elites, electeds or otherwise  was solely responsible for the corruption in municipal government, but that the responsibility is also shared by the citizens. This is because our system of government, from the federal to the local, cannot function effectively without citizen participation.



And that, sadly, is sorely lacking today. One of the easiest ways to participate is to vote. But in the most recent city election, only 17% of Harris Countys electorate did that.

Its easy to blame elected officials, their appointees and public employees for the problems that Houston faces and, to be fair, they sign up to take on that responsibility. But when citizens dont participate, we are complicit.

Often people believe that putting their name on the ballot is the only way to serve, but thats not the case. If anything, holding office is one of the more self-serving areas of public service. And yes, participation can mean that you show up to weekly council or monthly commissioners court meetings, testify, or sift through hundreds of pages of agendas in preparation. But there are other ways, too.

Consider just a few of the ways that people across our city contribute. My friend and well-known activist Tomaro Bell has been involved in the Houston Super Neighborhood Alliance for years, and she also helps put on the Super Feast to feed families in need every Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Volunteer Jaya Koka carries the tray and assists a family with selecting holiday meal items inside the George R. Brown Convention Center during the Christmas Super Feast event Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023 in downtown Houston. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer

Doug Smith, an Alief community member, misses city council committee and budget hearings only in case of sickness or natural disaster. Hes always on hand to question department and division directors when something doesnt smell right.

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Third Ward activist Travis McGee spends his time encouraging his community to hold elected officials accountable. When hes not doing that, hes paying out of pocket to feed the homeless.

April Aguirre, who lost her niece to gun violence, is relentless in her pursuit of keeping public safety as the top priority for local officials.

Other local heroes report every issue they see to 311. Or theyve mastered the Texas Public Information Act, despite its barely being effective, to try to increase local transparency. Many are quick to lend a hand when their neighbors are in trouble.

When a disaster hits, Houstonians dont hesitate to show up en masse. Its in our DNA. Images of lines of volunteers following Hurricane Harvey and Winter Storm Uri come to mind, but that determination to help our city needs extend beyond disasters.

Alfredia Brooks asked to hug each of the volunteers from ICNA Relief USA and Qalam Institute, Houston and Dallas, who gutted out her Hurricane Harvey flooded home Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018, in Houston. Steve Gonzales, Staff Photographer / Houston Chronicle

Fort Bend County resident and volunteer Stevie Irby, left, thanks Chef Dawn Burrell, right, for helping to prepare thousands of meals for people in need at the North Richmond Neighborhood Resource Center, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Richmond. Marie D. De Jesus, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Theres no best way to participate in the governance of our city, but we should all find a way we can contribute  lest we be complicit in our citys misgovernment.
GLOBALink | Cuban expert hails China's strength in clean energy development Pub Date:24-01-05 09:44 Source:Xinhua A Cuban expert has spoken highly of China's strength in clean energy development, noting that China leads the world in clean energy investments and production. Produced by Xinhua Global Service Editor:Zheng Chen

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Mayor John Whitmire speaks to the Houston Area Chiefs of Police during a public safety summit at Houston Crime Stoppers on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

Houston Mayor John Whitmire said after meeting with local law enforcement that he wouldnt debate crime statistics, which generally show a recent decrease in Houston, but that hed judge his tenure as mayor based on whether people felt safer by the end of it.

The new mayor attended a Houston Area Police Chiefs Association meeting Thursday  a meeting Whitmire touted as an opportunity to improve collaboration and communication among the regions various agencies.

While offering scant detail about specific policy plans, Whitmire said all options were on the table for improving public safety  from seeking additional state funding for more officers to personally involving himself in police recruiting.

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Mayor John Whitmire arrives to speak to the Houston Area Chiefs of Police during a public safety summit at Houston Crime Stoppers on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

The public and I know that we can do better, Whitmire said.

Statistics show crime down in Houston

Mayor John Whitmire speaks to Rania Mankarious, CEO of Crime Stoppers of Houston, after he spoke to the Houston Area Chiefs of Police during a public safety summit at Houston Crime Stoppers on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Mayor John Whitmire speaks to the media following a speech to the Houston Area Chiefs of Police during a public safety summit at Houston Crime Stoppers on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Rania Mankarious, CEO of Crime Stoppers of Houston, left, Mayor John Whitmire, center, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner, gather for a news conference after the mayor spoke the Houston Area Chiefs of Police during a public safety summit at Houston Crime Stoppers on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Mayor John Whitmire is greeted by former Houston Police Chief C.O. Bradford as he arrives to a meeting with the Houston Area Chiefs of Police for a public safety summit on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024, in Houston. Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle

As of late December, homicides in Houston were down 20% from the previous year, outpacing a historic decline in killings nationwide. The city logged 339 homicides through Dec. 18, down from 425 over the same period in 2022, according to the Houston Police Department. Between 2019 and 2023, the average number of daily crimes declined from about 622 to 618, data shows.

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Jeff Asher, who runs New Orleans-based analytics company AH Datalytics, wrote in a Dec. 4 post that people have a hard time perceiving crime trends because they generally have a squishy definition of what crime means. Asher wrote that 77% of respondents of a Gallup poll said there was more crime in the country than a year ago, a trend that has mostly continued each year despite a decline in overall crime numbers.

Mayor John Whitmire talks to Pct. 3 Constable Sherman Eagleton as he arrives to speak to the Houston Area Chiefs of Police during a public safety summit at Houston Crime Stoppers on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

Whitmire and several other attendees said their jobs moving forward would be not just to reduce crime but to make people feel safer, which the mayor said is measured by "common sense and talking to people about whether they feel safer."

Whitmire pushed back against questions after the meeting citing data showing crime had declined in Houston in 2023. Residents have adjusted their lives because of concern about crime, he said.

Meeting addresses issues such as communication

The public and journalists werent allowed into the meeting, but Whitmire and other police chiefs and officials organized a news conference in the minutes after it ended. Attendees such as Harris County Sheriffs Office Assistant Chief Thomas Diaz said discussion included how to better communicate among law enforcement agencies and the public.

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For years, agencies have upgraded technology in hopes of a more seamless connection among departments, Diaz said. Experts also have discussed ways in which they can make the public feel safer and more positive about interactions with law enforcement.

In around 60% of the Sheriffs Offices 140,000 traffic stops in 2023, deputies issued warnings rather than writing a ticket, he said.

Mayor John Whitmire sits with Houston Police Chief Troy Finner as he sits down for a meeting with the Houston Area Chiefs of Police for a public safety summit on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024, in Houston. Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle

Mayor wants to explore city audits, help from other agencies

Whitmire presented ideas after the meeting, including sponsors to cover the cost of buying a firearm for cadets, echoing a claim he made earlier in the week. He said all city departments would undergo an audit early in his tenure in a bid to find savings for public safety.

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Following up on a campaign promise to bring additional troopers from the Texas Department of Public Safety to Houston, Whitmire said troopers were already in the city. Houston Police Chief Troy Finner interjected, saying he hoped to depoliticize the issue and that state troopers had long worked with city police and would continue to do so.

Sgt. Stephen Woodard, a spokesman for DPS, told the Houston Chronicle after the meeting that there were troopers in the city but that they were the same ones who had been stationed there.

Whitmire said he hoped Thursdays meeting might be the first step in helping law enforcement agencies collaborate more.
Jay Zeidman and Cathleen Chang at Hermann Park's annual Evening in the Park in 2019. Gary Fountain/Contributor

Mayor John Whitmire announced his plan to appoint Jay Zeidman, a venture capital executive who supported Whitmires mayoral bid, as the board chairman at Houston First Corporation.

Houston First is a local government corporation that oversees the management of the George R. Brown campus and many other city-owned convention facilities, buildings, venues and parks. It also acts as Houstons destination promoter in charge of drawing tourists, meetings and special events into the city.

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Zeidman, who has served on Houston Firsts board since 2017, is the managing partner at health care venture capital firm Altitude Ventures. He has been an active donor in conservative political circles and has given tens of thousands of dollars to support Republican groups and politicians, including U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and the presidential campaign of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis

He and several family members also donated to Whitmires mayoral campaign in recent years. His parents, Fred and Kay Zeidman, each gave Whitmire the maximum amount of $5,000 in December 2022. He and his wife, Anat Zeidman, each made a $5,000 contribution in September 2023.

David Mincberg, the corporations board chair for the past eight years, submitted his letter of resignation to Whitmire on Monday. City Council is set to review and vote on Zeidmans appointment next week.

Zeidman expressed gratitude about Whitmires decision on Thursday.

I am truly grateful to Mayor Whitmire and would be honored to serve in the role as Chair of the Board of Houston First, he said. Through my service on the board the past seven years, I have seen firsthand just how important this organization is to our amazing city.

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Whitmire said he is optimistic about handing over the leadership role to Zeidman.

Im pleased to appoint Jay to this important post with one of our citys leading organizations, Whitmire said. Houston First has consistently shown its capacity to do big things and positively promote Houston around the world. Under the able leadership of CEO Michael Heckman and the management team, and with guidance from Jay and the board, Im confident in the organizations ability to continue to grow our regions hospitality and tourism industry.

The mayor also highlighted a state bill he authored last year, which allows the city and Houston First to collect more hotel taxes from certain downtown hotels for up to 30 years. The additional revenue, estimated at $1.8 billion, will go toward funding upgrades to Houston facilities.

I also look forward to HFC executing a game-changing plan of using SB 1057 to reimagine the George R. Brown Convention Center and the surrounding district, Whitmire added.
Tech companies have all been pre-occupied with AI including the part where it can be used in vehicles to make them automated. Simple thing things like smart home platform integration have been overlooked, but that won't be true for long with Hyundai.

SmartThings in Hyundais

Samsung Electronics is collaborating with the Korean carmaker to make it easier for owners to monitor their homes while in their cars, as well as vice versa. It comes after both signed a Memorandum of Understanding, which aims to develop future lifestyles for cars and homes.

Hyundai and Kia vehicles including EVs will be connected to SmartThings so that users can monitor as well as control their cars from the Samsung app. The integration can be found in the car's infotainment system, which can be used for home energy management services.

With this function, drivers will be able to control appliances from their cars, as long as they are connected to SmartThings. Users will be able to access devices and electronics like TVs, air conditioners, and EV chargers before they even get out of their car or arrive home.

The integration works both ways, as they can also control their cars while users are still in their homes. Through the smart home platform, they can start the car, assuming it has that capability, along with controlling air conditioning, opening and closing windows, and checking EV charging status.

Energy information about EVs will be available through the app, and users can adjust the time for charging. This way, drivers can control the schedule of charging as they factor in different pricing by time of day and other factors, as per Samsung.

SmartThings has a feature that prepares the home appliances depending on the schedule. For instance, a "good morning" routine will prompt curtains to open and televisions to turn on. This will extend to vehicles where the user's car will adjust to the right temperature before the driver gets in.

Executive Vice President at Samsung Electronics, Chanwoo Park said that the collaboration will "enable communication from Home-to-Car and integrated home energy management services that are optimized for future lifestyles."

Read Also: Hyundai, Motional Join Together to Manufacture Robotaxi in Singapore

Tesla is Adopting the Same Tech

Hyundais and Kias will not be the only car brand jumping into the smart home platform integration. Tesla, known for its EVs, is collaborating with Samsung to utilize its smart home technology for the Powerwall home battery.

Through the app, users can monitor their power usage as well as energy production. This also applies to other Tesla products like the electric vehicle itself, the Solar Inverter, and Wall Connector charging solutions, as per The Verge.

It syncs with Tesla's Storm Watch feature which shows the current weather and if it's good enough for driving conditions. The information will be displayed through a Samsung phone or TV in one's home.

The collaboration will take advantage of Tesla's API. Samsung said that SmartThings Energy is the first to make use of the tool. It's likely that these new features will be demonstrated at this year's CES event.

Related: 10 Devices You Can Access Through Samsung's SmartThings App
Microsoft is finally adding a new key to its PC keyboard design, replacing the Windows shortcut with a dedicated to its Copilot AI assistant.

Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft's consumer chief marketing officer, announced in a blog post the integration of a "one-click access" to Copilot in the upcoming Windows 11 PCs this year.

Were excited for 2024 to be the year of the AI PC. An important first step is the introduction of a Copilot key for Windows 11 PCs, which will enable one-click access to Copilot! Learn more: https://t.co/3FHre8YdWn pic.twitter.com/PvadEPfZBb  Yusuf Mehdi (@yusuf_i_mehdi) January 4, 2024

Windows 11 users can currently only have one shortcut key command with Copilot via the Win + C combination. The Copilot key is expected to replace one of the two "Alt" keys on the keyboard.

The Copilot key will not work for other PCs not running Windows 11 OS and instead will only prompt up the standard Windows Search, according to Ars Technica.

The dedicated AI key will debut in Microsoft's appearance at the CES convention next week.

Microsoft Pushes Copilot AI to More Windows Devices

Since it was first released on Windows 11, Microsoft has been pushing the reach of its AI assistant throughout 2023.

Just recently, the tech giant secretly launched an app version of Copilot for both Android and iOS devices. This follows after Windows added the feature in its last update on Windows 10.

Copilot is currently one of Microsoft's biggest projects as the "platform shift driven by AI innovation continues to grow rapidly and powerfully."

The AI assistant is currently available as a search assistant for its Bing-based web browsers, a generative chatbot, and a navigation assistant for the Windows system.

Copilot is initially Microsoft's improved replacement to Windows 10's Cortana.

Also Read: Microsoft Copilot is Now Available on Google Play Store, Android Devices

PCs That Will Have the Copilot AI Key

Microsoft has already listed down several upcoming and recently released PCs, primarily laptops, that will receive the dedicated Copilot AI key.

The Acer Predator Triton Neo 16 is expected to receive the feature for the future batch of releases.

Other laptops that run Windows OS like ASUS, HP, Dell, Lenovo, Samsung Galaxy Book, and Microsoft Surface are expected to have the dedicated key to some of the models it will release this year.

Microsoft has already attempted the same thing with Toshiba before after encouraging it to include a dedicated key for the Cortana assistant.

Related Article: Microsoft Windows 10 Will Soon Have the Copilot AI Assistant
(Photo : Unsplash/Jonathan Kemper)

Many generative AI tech vendors argue that fair use entitles them to train AI models on copyrighted material scraped from the internet, even if they don't get permission from the rightsholders. But some vendors, such as OpenAI, are playing it safe due to concerns about the ongoing infringement lawsuits.

In Discussions with Publishers for Licenses

OpenAI is actively negotiating with numerous publishers to license their articles, aiming to gather diverse content for training its artificial intelligence models. According to Tom Rubin, OpenAI's chief of intellectual property and content, the discussions are progressing well, deals have already been announced, and more are expected.

Axel Springer and Associated Press' Partnership

OpenAI has revealed a new partnership with Axel Springer, the owner of Business Insider and Politico publications, that allows OpenAI to train its generative AI models using Axel Springer's content and integrate into OpenAI's viral AI-powered chatbot, ChatGPT. This marks OpenAI's second collaboration with a news organization, following its previous announcement about licensing some of The Associated Press archives for model training.

In the future, ChatGPT users will receive summaries of "selected" articles from Axel Springer's publications, even those typically behind a paywall. These snippets will include attribution and links to the complete articles.

Axel Springer will be compensated by OpenAI with undisclosed payments at regular intervals in exchange for the content partnership. The agreement, lasting several years, does not impose exclusivity on either party. Axel Springer is committed to supporting the outlet's AI-driven initiatives leveraging OpenAI's technology. Dopfner expressed enthusiasm about the unprecedented global partnership between Axel Springer and OpenAI, highlighting their goal to explore the potential of AI-empowered journalism that aims to elevate the quality, societal relevance, and business model of journalism to new heights.

Publishers and generative AI vendors have a strained relationship, especially regarding publishers expressing concerns about potential copyright infringement and the fear of generative models diminishing website traffic. An example of this tension is Google's new generative AI-powered search experience, SGE, which can decrease traffic to traditional search results by as much as 40% by pushing those links further down the search results pages.

New York Times' Ongoing Lawsuit

Last week, The New York Times Co., a company that OpenAI had been negotiating with, filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft Corp. for using the newspaper's articles without authorization.

READ ALSO: OpenAI, Microsoft Face Copyright Infringement Lawsuit from NYT, Potentially Accountable for Billions in Damages

The lawsuit against OpenAI by The New York Times Co. presents a significant threat to OpenAI's business. If The Times prevails, OpenAI might face substantial financial liabilities in the billions and the potentially burdensome task of erasing any training data that incorporates The Times' work. Additionally, the lawsuit immediately complicates OpenAI's ongoing negotiations and collaborations with the media industry.

Rubin emphasized that the current situation is unlike publishers' past challenges with search engines and social media. In this case, the content is employed to train a model, not to replicate or substitute the content.

The Times disagrees with OpenAI, asserting that ChatGPT is directly replicating its journalists' work without compensation. In the lawsuit, the publisher presented instances where ChatGPT generated entire paragraphs resembling The New York Times text. Some have noted that ChatGPT was explicitly prompted to reproduce Times content in a few cases. The publisher contends that this serves as evidence that OpenAI utilized New York Times data.

"If Microsoft and OpenAI want to use our work for commercial purposes, the law requires that they first obtain our permission," The New York Times said in a statement.

RELATED ARTICLE: Businesses and Tech Groups Warn EU Against Over-regulating AI Foundation Models

 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(Photo : Unsplash/Shahbaz Ali)

McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski stated that the ongoing "war and associated misinformation" in the Middle East is hurting the company's performance, which has continued into its fourth month.

Israel-Hamas War

On October 7, militants from Hamas, a Palestinian Islamist organization controlling the Gaza Strip, initiated a significant attack on southern Israel that resulted in over 1,200 deaths and 240 people taken hostage. Israel declared war as a response, launching a counteroffensive against Hamas in Gaza. According to the Hamas Health Ministry, over 22,000 people in the territory have been killed, which has led to protests and boycotts of Israeli and American businesses in the Middle East.

McDonald's Facing Backlash

McDonald's depends on numerous independent businesses to own and operate most of its over 40,000 stores globally. Approximately 5% of these stores are situated in the Middle East.

Primarily consisting of locally owned franchises, McDonald's received early criticism when reports suggested that some locations in Israel provided free meals to Israeli soldiers after the war began. This action faced an immediate backlash that prompted owners in Muslim-majority countries to release statements distancing themselves from the controversy.

READ ALSO: Companies Facing Backlash from Consumers: "It Only Takes one Wrong Marketing Campaign" to Stain Reputation

In a LinkedIn post, Kempczinski highlighted that McDonald's franchises in Muslim countries, facing boycott calls over alleged support for Israeli soldiers, are owned by local operators dedicated to serving their communities and employing thousands of fellow citizens. Kempczinski condemned "violence" and "hate speech." McDonald's hasn't expressed support for Israel or the Gaza war, calling the backlash disheartening and ill-founded. Despite calls for boycotts in the Middle East, the global sales of the American burger chain still increased by 10.9% in Q4 2023.

Kempczinski's post comes amid escalating tensions over the recent boycotts. The pro-Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS), which had not previously officially targeted McDonald's, has now called for a boycott of the brand.

McDonald's Malaysia, supported by a Saudi firm, filed a $1.3 million lawsuit against the Malaysia BDS group, alleging "false and defamatory statements" that harmed its business. BDS urged McDonald's to sever ties with its franchisee in Israel and Malaysia unless it withdrew the lawsuit. The group expressed that McDonald's Malaysia and its Saudi owner are attempting to silence voices supporting the Palestinian liberation struggle in Malaysia rather than pressuring the parent company to end its franchise agreement in Israel. They called for action, stating, "We cannot let this pass. Let's show McDonald's what grassroots boycotts can do."

McDonald's, facing boycotts over its franchise in Israel, did not comment on a lawsuit filed by McDonald's Malaysia against the Malaysia BDS group. Instead, they referred to a previous statement where CEO Mr. Kempczinski expressed the company's condemnation of all violence and opposition to hate speech, reaffirming their commitment to welcoming everyone.

Companies Beyond the Food Industry Also Face Criticism

Companies beyond the food industry have encountered criticism for marketing choices, like the fast-fashion retailer Zara, which faced boycott calls following advertisements that depicted models in a rubble-filled environment with mannequins missing limbs in December. The ads sparked outrage on social media, with many condemning them for trivializing the ongoing conflict. Zara deleted the ads and apologized, attributing the situation to a "misunderstanding" and stating that the photos were taken in September before the war in Gaza started.

RELATED ARTICLE: McDonald's Blames Hackers On Nasty Tweet About Trump

 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(Photo : Unsplash/Magnet.me)

"Resenteeism," identified as one of the top 10 workplace trends of 2023 on TikTok by project management software provider Workamajig, is a term playfully derived from "presenteeism." which refers to being visibly present for their managers but not fully engaging.

What Is Resenteeism?

Resenteeism is the modern version of 'quiet quitting,' initially coined at a Texas A&M economics conference. Quiet quitting is doing the bare minimum at work instead of putting in extra effort to advance. The idea isn't trivial, serving as an apparent reaction to burnout. Gen-Z, in particular, has embraced this concept as a smart way to work, focusing on efficiency rather than excessive effort.

Trends like "resenteeism" are a response to the previously glorified "hustle culture," according to Esther Cohen, the director of marketing at Workamajig. She noted that these trends, particularly noticeable among younger workers, reflect a shift towards prioritizing work-life balance over traditional career ambitions. Workers seek autonomy, control, flexibility, and better pay and benefits, based on data from TikTok hashtag trends as of May 22, 2023.

Being unable to leave a job due to financial reasons but don't want to stay either is a sign that you may engage in "resententism." This tendency is more common in job markets favoring employers, where employees are less confident about quickly finding another job if they decide to quit.

READ ALSO: Quiet Quitting Explained: A Coping Mechanism After Pandemic Where People Just Work for the Money

What Are Signs of Resenteeism?

Resenteeism in the workplace creates issues for both employers and employees. When you resent your job and feel trapped with no alternatives, it becomes challenging to be engaged or enthusiastic about your role.

From an employer's standpoint, having mentally and emotionally disengaged employees during work hours leads to poorly or incompletely performed tasks.

"Productivity declines," noted Cenedella. In addition to a negative attitude and a general lack of enthusiasm, employers may observe signs of resenteeism, such as tardiness, leaving work early, absenteeism, and performance issues. More subtle indicators may include a decrease in company loyalty, like a team member no longer displaying company branding on their belongings or skipping company events they previously attended.

Why Do People Experience Resenteeism?

To grasp resenteeism in the workplace, it's essential to understand the root cause of resentment. Cenedella notes resentment often arises from feeling undervalued or unappreciated at work, home, or school.

"At work, it may occur when an employee perceives a lack of advancement opportunities," he explained. "Poor management and insufficient pay and benefits can also play a role."

Why Can People Do About Resenteeism?

Many people find it frightening to consider leaving their employment, particularly in the face of difficulties. Employee dissatisfaction may reach a significant level due to a combination of post-Christmas work blues, the impact of quiet quitting, and stagnant salaries. Here are five strategies for addressing this expanding trend in the workplace:

1. Communicate Your Concerns

Be open with your manager or HR department about what you're going through and what is causing your dissatisfaction.

2. Identify Potential Solutions

Be open with your manager about your expectations regarding career growth, work-life balance, and job satisfaction.

3. Take Care of Yourself

Avoid letting resentment overwhelm you by always prioritizing your physical and mental well-being.

4. Look for Other Opportunities

Explore professional development opportunities within your company, or begin searching for a new job that aligns with your values and career goals if you don't see improvements.

5. Keep Perspective

As much as your job is essential, it's not the only aspect of your life, and it's okay for a job to be just a job.

RELATED ARTICLE: Unveiling the Workplace Burnout: "It's Not Me, It's You" -Addressing the Root Causes

 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
By Yi Whan-woo

A newly introduced housing plan to encourage owners of a single home to buy an additional home in rural areas is drawing mixed responses over whether the plan can successfully tackle demographic crisis in rural communities as intended.

Addressed in the governments 2024 economic policy directions announced on Thursday, the plan aims to significantly reduce the tax burden for homeowners in Seoul, Incheon and some parts of Gyeonggi Province when they purchase a second home in any of 89 selected regions across the country.

The plan marks a turnaround after multiple homeowners have been levied with heavy taxes in the name of stabilizing the property market, especially in the greater Seoul area where housing demand is high.

Simply put, such two-home owners will be virtually regraded as a single homeowner and will receive corresponding tax benefits even after owning an extra home in regions other than the greater Seoul area, a Ministry of Economy and Finance official said.

Experts assessed the plan is on the right track concerning its purpose.

They noted that, while Korea as a whole struggles with the worlds lowest fertility rate and rapidly aging society, the demographic crisis has been especially serious in rural areas where young people are leaving in pursuance of better-paying jobs and higher quality of life.

In particular, the risk of depopulation is extremely severe, in the 89 aforementioned regions, according to the finance ministry. It did not disclose the names or other further details concerning the 89.

The government came up with the plan in a timely manner considering farming and fishing villages are literally disappearing, said Kim Je-kyung, a chief consultant at real estate agency Tumi.

He sided with the government that the plan possibly can prompt affordable homeowners from the greater Seoul area to get a summer house in those rural regions, spend time there more often and contribute to revitalization of the regional economy.

Kim, nevertheless, reckoned the plan offers limited benefits and that it may not succeed in inducing homebuyers if the benefits are not widened to a satisfactory level.

For instance, I am not sure why the government did not include acquisition tax as a set of benefits, he said.

The property tax, comprehensive real estate holding tax and capital gains tax were addressed by the government on the list of benefits but not acquisition tax.

He warned that only popular tourist destinations, including the ones in Gangwon Province and Jeju Island, can benefit from the plan. It should be devised more carefully to equally contribute to a balanced regional economy, he said.

Kwon Dae-jung, a real estate professor at Sogang University, voiced a similar view, although he said his view of the housing plan was generally positive.

He pointed out that the plan should be specific in addressing the size of administrative districts and prioritize saving villages and towns, over some major cities that also face risk of depopulation but are more capable of withstanding the risks than smaller peers.

People otherwise will exploit the plan and get a second home in major cities for purposes of speculation, Kwon said.
North Korea has provided Russia with ballistic missiles and missile launchers that were used in recent attacks on Ukraine in a major escalation of support for Moscow, the White House said Thursday.

Russia is also looking to obtain missiles from its ally Iran as it runs short of arms nearly two years into President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, it said.

The Pyongyang-supplied missiles with ranges of around 900 kilometers (550 miles) were fired by Russia in two attacks on Ukraine within the past week, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.

"Our information indicates that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea recently provided Russia with ballistic missile launchers and several ballistic missiles," Kirby told reporters in a briefing at the White House.

"This is a significant and concerning escalation of the DPRK's support for Russia."

The development underscored the need for the U.S. Congress to pass a package of vital military aid for Ukraine, without which the pipeline of support will soon run dry, Kirby added.

Air defenses for Ukraine, which has come under a barrage of aerial attacks by Russia in recent days, were "absolutely" a priority, he said.

"It's critical that Congress meets this moment and responds by providing the Ukrainians what they need to defend themselves. The time for Congress to act is now," he said.

Russian forces launched at least one of the North Korean-supplied missiles on Dec. 30, which landed in an open field in the Zaporizhzhia region, Kirby said.

Moscow's forces then fired "multiple" ballistic missiles into Ukraine as part of a mass aerial attack on January 2, he added.

Intensifying strikes

The United States and its allies will now raise the matter at the U.N. Security Council as it represents a breach of U.N. sanctions against North Korea, said Kirby.

Britain said it "strongly condemns" Russia's use of North Korean missiles.

"Russia is turning to North Korea for its weapons in pursuit of its cynical and ill-conceived military aims in Ukraine. This is symptomatic of its isolation on the world stage and a sign of its desperation," a Foreign Office statement said.

North Korea would pay a "high price" for breaching U.N. sanctions, it added.

Russia also intends to purchase missiles from its ally Iran and talks are under way on the purchase of close-range ballistic missiles although no agreement has yet been reached, Kirby added.

The United States said in October that North Korea had delivered more than 1,000 containers of military equipment and munitions to Russia, but it was the first time it had reported the use of such arms.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-.un traveled to Russia's far east in September and met Putin, sparking concern among Kyiv's allies over the possibility of a potential arms deal.

Putin, who launched his invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, promised to intensify strikes on Ukraine after an unprecedented attack on the Russian city of Belgorod over the weekend.

Kyiv says the latest attacks underline the need for Western allies to speed up delivery of air defense equipment, combat drones and long-range missiles.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vowed in his New Year's address last week to wreak "wrath" against Russian forces in 2024, warning Kyiv had upped domestic production. (AFP)
North Korea fired some 200 artillery shells into waters off its western coast Friday morning, Seoul's military said, in its latest saber-rattling after it scrapped a 2018 inter-Korean military accord in November.

The move prompted an emergency evacuation order for civilians on the South Korean western border islands of Yeonpyeong and Baengnyeong. Also in response, the South Korean military staged live-fire artillery drills.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the artillery firings from Jangsan Cape and Deungsan Cape, both in the North's southwestern coastal areas, from 9:00 a.m. to 11 a.m.

The shells splashed into the maritime buffer zone north of the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto maritime border in the Yellow Sea. The buffer zone, where artillery firing and naval drills are banned, was set under an inter-Korean military accord signed on Sept. 19, 2018, to reduce border tensions.

The JCS said there was no reported damage to South Korean citizens and the military or losses of human life from North Korea's firing.

The South Korean military called the North's move a "provocative" act and warned of its corresponding measures.

"We gravely warn that the entire responsibility of such crisis-escalating situations lies with North Korea and strongly call for its immediate halt," JCS spokesperson Col. Lee Sung-jun said in a press conference.

"Under close coordination between South Korea and the United States, our military is tracking and monitoring related activity, and will conduct corresponding measures to North Korea's provocations."

In the afternoon, South Korean Marines on the northwestern border island of Yeonpyeong conducted live-fire artillery drills with K9 self-propelled howitzers, according to military officials.

It marked the first such exercise by the Marines on the northwestern border islands since the signing of the 2018 agreement.

Last November, North Korea unilaterally scrapped the 2018 accord after Seoul partially suspended the deal in protest of the North's successful launch of a military spy satellite.

Pyongyang last fired artillery shots into a maritime buffer zone in the East Sea on Dec. 6, 2022.

The 2018 accord, signed under the previous liberal President Moon Jae-in, was designed to dial down military tensions, prevent accidental clashes and build mutual trust.

It included setting up maritime buffer zones, a land buffer zone banning artillery drills and regiment-level field maneuvers, as well as no-fly zones near the border to prevent accidental aircraft clashes.

North Korea's latest saber-rattling came after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un defined inter-Korean ties as relations "between two states hostile to each other" and called for stepped-up preparations to "suppress the whole territory of South Korea" at a year-end ruling party meeting.

South Korea's spy agency said last month that North Korea is highly likely to carry out military provocations or cyberattacks in early 2024 ahead of the South's parliamentary election in April and the U.S. presidential election in November.
GLOBALink | 'For me, China has a bright future,' says Indonesian scholar Pub Date:24-01-05 09:44 Source:Xinhua "I saw the progress in infrastructure, technology, and the level of comfort, which had changed completely my previous imagination about China that people had told me about." Kaula Fahmi, an Indonesian scholar who studied in China, has said. #GLOBALink Produced by Xinhua Global Service Editor:Zheng Chen

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By Kim Hyun-bin

Tensions are rising on the Korean Peninsula, as North Korea is stepping up its military provocations, including firing of artillery shells and rebuilding demolished guard posts.

The moves follow the North's November decision to scrap an inter-Korean military pact which was inked in 2018 to reduce border tensions.

On Friday morning, North Korea fired approximately 200 artillery shells into waters off its west coast, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.

The artillery was fired from Jangsan Cape and Deungsan Cape, both situated in the North's southwestern coastal areas, and continued for two hours starting from 9 a.m. The shells landed in the maritime buffer zone north of the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto maritime border in the West Sea. This buffer zone was set under the 2018 military accord.

There were no reported casualties or damage to South Korean civilians or military.

"We gravely warn that the entire responsibility of such crisis escalation lies with North Korea and strongly call for its immediate halt. Under close coordination between South Korea and the United States, our military is tracking and monitoring related activity, and will conduct corresponding measures to North Korea's provocations," JCS spokesperson Col. Lee Sung-jun said.

In response to the artillery firing, the South Korean military conducted live-fire drills on the northwestern border islands in the West Sea later in the day.

Along with Friday's firing, it was confirmed that North Korea has been using concrete to reconstruct frontline surveillance guard posts.

Following the military agreement signed on Sept. 19, 2018, both South and North Korea had demolished 10 out of the 11 guard posts each operating within the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), withdrawing forces and equipment. After the North's announcement to scrap the agreement in November, the South Korean authorities have noticed the North moving to restore the guard posts.

In addition to the guard posts' reconstruction, North Korean forces were observed planting land mines on the Gyeongui railway line within the DMZ, a symbolic route for inter-Korean exchange and cooperation. Military authorities interpret this as a signal from North Korea to block and prevent future use of the train tracks.

Pyongyang announced the annulment of the 2018 pact after Seoul partially suspended the deal in protest of the North's successful launch of a military spy satellite. North Korea also fired artillery on Dec. 6 into a maritime buffer zone in the East Sea in violation of the accord.

Recently North Korean leader Kim Jong-un characterized inter-Korean ties as "relations between two states hostile to each other" during a ruling party meeting last month.
North Korea said Friday it had carried out naval artillery live-fire exercises as a "natural response and countermeasure" to South Korean drills, slamming Seoul's claim it had threatened peace on the Korean Peninsula, state media reported.

Pyongyang's drills did "not even have any indirect impact on Baengnyeong Island and Yeonpyeong Island," where residents were told to evacuate by local authorities, according to KCNA's report. (AFP)




South Korea renewed its call Friday for Russia to stop arms transactions with North Korea in violation of international sanctions it has voted for, as the United States revealed the North's delivery of ballistic missiles and other equipment to Moscow.

The White House said Thursday (local time) the North recently provided Russia with several dozen ballistic missiles and ballistic missile launchers, some of which Moscow used in its latest attacks on Ukraine as early as Tuesday.

"It is self-contradictory for Russia, a party to the United Nations Security Council's (UNSC) sanctions resolutions against North Korea, to receive North Korean weapons and use them in the war in Ukraine," a foreign ministry official said.

"We once again strongly urge an immediate stop to this," the official said.

In close cooperation with the U.S., South Korea has been closely watching any developments in the military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow, including the White House's announcement on the weapons provision, the official said.

The government will work closely with the international community, including the U.S. and Japan, to strictly deal with the issue, the official added, saying such arms deals are an act that threatens peace and security around the world beyond the Korean Peninsula, the official added.

South Korea and the U.S. are expected to raise the issue with the UNSC at an upcoming meeting next Wednesday (local time).

"As a newly elected member of the U.N. Security Council, we plan to strongly condemn the sanctions violations committed by North Korea and Russia at the upcoming UNSC meeting," the official said.

South Korea began its two-year term as a nonpermanent UNSC member this month.

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield lambasted the North and Russia for "blatantly" violating the sanctions banning any trades of arms and related materials with the North or procurement from it.

The U.S. and its allies believe Pyongyang is seeking military assistance from Moscow, such as technical assistance for advanced weapons, in return for its arms support. (Yonhap)




Civilians on the western border islands of Yeonpyeong and Baengnyeong were ordered to evacuate to shelters Friday, officials said, as North Korea fired hundreds of artillery shells off its west coast.

The emergency evacuation order was given at 12:02 p.m. and again at 12:30 p.m. on Yeongpyeong at the request of the South Korean military, according to the Ongjin County office in the western port city of Incheon.

A similar alert was issued for the western border island of Baengnyeong around the same time.

South Korea's military said it detected the artillery firings from Jangsan Cape and Deungsan Cape, both in the North's southwestern coastal areas, from 9:00 a.m. to 11 a.m.

"We announced the evacuation after receiving a call from a military unit saying it was carrying out a maritime strike on Yeongpyeong Island as it has a situation with a North Korean provocation," a county official said, adding no casualties were reported.

A passenger ferry, scheduled to depart from Incheon for Yeonpyeong at 1 p.m., was moored due to the evacuation order, according to officials.

The shells fired by North Korea splashed into the maritime buffer zone north of the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto maritime border. The buffer zone was established under an inter-Korean military accord signed on Sept. 19, 2018, to reduce border tensions.

Last November, North Korea unilaterally scrapped the accord after Seoul partially suspended the deal in protest of Pyongyang's successful launch of a military spy satellite. (Yonhap)
By Kim Hyun-bin

Korea has officially commissioned its first-ever female submariners, becoming the 14th nation to include women in submarine crews.

The Republic of Korea Navy said on Friday that nine female submariners  two officers and seven noncommissioned officers  completed the rigorous submarine basic training program, along with another 116 sailors, in a graduation ceremony at the Jinhae Naval Base.

The inclusion of female sailors in submarine crews followed a decision made during a naval policy meeting in July 2022, which aimed to expand opportunities for female service members. The recruitment process took place between January and March last year, with the nine successfully selected after physical examinations and interviews.

The newly commissioned female submariners are set to play integral roles in operating the 3,000-ton class medium-sized submarines, including the ROKS Dosan Ahn Changho and the Ahn Mu.

Their assignments cover a range of critical responsibilities, such as combat information gathering, navigation, sonar operation, electronics management and propulsion system maintenance.

Lieutenant Yoo Hyo-jin, who is assuming the role of combat information officer on the Dosan Ahn Changho, exemplified the dedication and accomplishments of the first female submariners.

"With a profound sense of duty, I will safeguard the seas of Korea alongside submarine comrades. In the face of provocation, we will respond immediately and decisively under the strong spirit of winning, relentlessly retaliating to eliminate the enemy," Yoo said.

She entered the Naval Academy in 2015 and was subsequently chosen as an exchange student at the U.S. Naval Academy, completing the education program there from 2016 to 2020.

Korea's move to integrate female sailors into submarine crews reflects a global trend that began in 1985 in Norway.

The expansion of female participation in submarine operations now spans 13 other countries, including Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Australia, Spain, Germany, Canada, United States, United Kingdom, Argentina, France, Netherlands and Japan.
The suspect in the stabbing attack against opposition leader Lee Jae-myung expressed resentment toward politicians, and the nation's political and economic circumstances in a note written before his crime earlier this week, police said Friday.

The police have yet to disclose the eight-page note seized after Tuesday's attack, but a newspaper on Friday quoted the 67-year-old suspect, surnamed Kim, as saying in the note that the national economy will collapse, no matter who wins April's general elections.

Kim stabbed Lee, the chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), in the neck during Lee's visit to the southeastern port city of Busan. The assailant was put under formal arrest Thursday after a court issued a detention warrant for him.

In the note, Kim was also quoted by the newspaper as writing: "During the previous government, the economy was ruined due to real estate policy failures and humiliating diplomacy toward North Korea. After the Yoon (Suk Yeol) government was inaugurated and Lee Jae-myung became the opposition leader, the DPK has dedicated itself to saving Lee. If everything goes like this, the economy will collapse, whoever wins the general elections."

The Busan Metropolitan Police Agency said in a media briefing that Kim's remarks reported in the media do not completely match what he said in the note, but some of their content is similar.

Kim reportedly mentioned the word "history" several times in the note in an apparent effort to justify the motive for his crime and denounced some politicians.

But the police agency said it cannot reveal the politicians mentioned in Kim's note because of its ongoing investigation.

Kim, a realtor operating in the central city of Asan, arrived in Busan on Monday to prepare for his crime, according to the police agency.

The agency said it has yet to confirm whether the attacker has a history of mental illness, adding it is considering disclosing his identity, including his full name and facial photo. The current law permits the disclosure of the identity of suspects in violent crimes, as long as there is sufficient evidence, and a need to meet the public interest and right to know.

The police said they plan to announce the final results of their investigation next week. (Yonhap)
A Korean tourist was killed in a gun attack in the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam earlier this week, the foreign ministry said Friday.

The victim was shot by an armed robber on Thursday and was rushed to a hospital but died, according to the ministry. The ministry did not provide any further details about the victim.

The Korean Consulate General in Guam had dispatched a consular official to the hospital immediately after the incident to provide assistance, it said.

According to media reports in Guam, the man was shot in the Tumon tourist district.

Guam is a popular tourist destination among Koreans. The Guam Visitors Bureau said on its website that 330,940 Koreans traveled to Guam in the first 11 months of last year, accounting for 56 percent of its total visitors during that period. (Yonhap)
President Yoon Suk Yeol on Friday vetoed two opposition-led special investigation proposals, one of which involves allegations against first lady Kim Keon Hee, his office said.

Yoon exercised his veto power by endorsing a motion demanding the National Assembly reconsider the independent counsel bills that the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) railroaded through the Assembly last week.

The motion was approved during a Cabinet meeting minutes earlier.

The ruling People Power Party (PPP) boycotted last week's vote, denouncing the bills as the opposition's political ploy to negatively paint the Yoon administration ahead of April's general elections. The DPK has rejected the argument, saying there should be no sanctuary in investigations.

First lady Kim has been accused of involvement in manipulating the stock prices of Deutsch Motors, a BMW car dealer in Korea, between 2009 and 2012. She has denied the allegations.

The other special probe proposal is about allegations that six prominent people of the so-called 5 billion club were promised 5 billion won ($3.8 million) each from an asset management firm involved in a corruption-ridden development project in the Daejang-dong district in Seongnam, south of Seoul.

"If the two bills are enacted, they may, on the contrary, interfere with the exercising of the people's precious voting rights in fair elections and only create confusion in national affairs," Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said while presiding over the extraordinary Cabinet meeting.

The presidential office expressed "deep regret" over the opposition party's unilateral passage of the two special counsel bills, which it called "evil laws meant for the general elections."

"The president has a responsibility to protect human rights and constitutional values as the guardian of the Constitution and the rule of law, and to fairly oversee the elections," Yoon's chief of staff, Lee Kwan-sup, said during a press briefing.

"Accordingly he has the obligation to demand a reconsideration of the special counsel bills that contradict such principles."

Lee said the allegations involving the first lady date back 12 years, before she and the president got married, and were investigated during the preceding Moon Jae-in administration but led to no summonses, let alone indictments.

Meanwhile, the proposal for a special counsel investigation into the so-called 5 billion club is aimed at shielding DPK leader Lee Jae-myung, the chief of staff said, as Lee was mayor of Seongnam when the development project took off, and anyone who allegedly took the 5 billion won would have been a person close to him.

It was the fourth time that Yoon has exercised his veto power. He had previously rejected a pro-labor measure known as the "yellow envelope law," a nursing act aimed at defining the roles and responsibilities of nurses, and a revision to the grain bill requiring the government's purchase of surplus rice. (Yonhap)
The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) on Friday accused President Yoon Suk Yeol of abusing his presidential veto power to cover up his family's irregularities after Yoon vetoed two opposition-led investigation proposals, including one involving the first lady.

The DPK's floor leader, Rep. Hong Ihk-pyo, made the remarks after Yoon endorsed a motion demanding the National Assembly reconsider two special investigation bills that the main opposition railroaded through the parliament last week.

"Yoon will be recorded in history as the first president to abuse his veto rights to shield his family's irregularities," Hong said in a leadership meeting. "The president has chosen to fight against the people to protect his family."

Hong warned Yoon and the ruling People Power Party will face judgment and resistance from the people, as no one, including the presidential family, is above the law.

First lady Kim has been accused of involvement in manipulating the stock prices of Deutsch Motors, a BMW car dealer in Korea, between 2009 and 2012. She has denied the allegations.

The other special probe proposal is about allegations that six prominent people of the so-called 5 billion club were promised 5 billion won ($3.8 million) each from an asset management firm involved in a corruption-ridden development project in the Daejang-dong district in Seongnam, south of Seoul.

Yoon exercised his veto power on Friday, with the prime minister saying in a Cabinet meeting the two bills could interfere with people's voting rights and cause confusion in national affairs.

Lawmakers from the DPK and other minor opposition parties held a protest rally in front of the main building of the National Assembly after Yoon rejected the bills. (Yonhap)
The first coronal images captured by China's Spectral Imaging CoronaGraph were published by the Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics last month, setting a new global standard for precision.

The achievement marked the successful completion of work on China's first independently developed ground-based coronagraph.

Zhang Hongxin, a researcher at the institute, said the coronagraph, sitting at an altitude of 3,200 meters at the Lijiang Yulong Astronomical Observatory in Yunnan province, had three key components: an optical imaging lens, an optical filter and an equatorial mount.

Zhang's team began researching the optical imaging system in December 2019, setting the groundwork for the coronagraph's successful development and becoming pioneering researchers in the field in China.

Scientific data obtained from the coronagraph has been lauded internationally, with the instrument recognized as the world's foremost ground-based coronagraph thanks to its sub-0.5-nanometer optical glass accuracy.

Jointly developed by Shandong University, the institute in Changchun, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Nanjing Institute of Astronomical Optics and Technology, and CAS' Yunnan Observatory, the coronagraph is a testament to China's advances in astronomical instrumentation.

Zhang said observing the sun's corona, the outermost layer of its atmosphere, was important for various scientific purposes. However, capturing the coronal signal, which is significantly weaker than the brightness of the solar sphere, posed a considerable challenge due to atmospheric light scattering.

To address the challenge, Zhang and his team pioneered the precision polishing of optical glass to below 0.5 nanometers to suppress stray light. They simulated an artificial sun in the laboratory and used meticulous calculations, filtering and testing to achieve the desired precision.

Zhang said the project had significantly enhanced the team's scientific research capabilities, marking a new starting point in their field. It now plans to conduct debugging and testing, and optimize the equipment's operation.
President vetoes bill swiftly despite opposition's protest

By Nam Hyun-woo

Rival parties are locking horns over the scheduled second vote on a bill to launch a special counsel investigation into first lady Kim Keon Hee, after it was returned to the National Assembly on Friday following President Yoon Suk Yeols veto.

Parties are seeking to exploit the second vote for a political advantage in the lead-up to the general elections in April. The ruling People Power Party (PPP) is seeking to hold the second vote at the earliest Assembly plenary session to repeal it. In the meantime, the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), which endorsed the bill, is considering requesting the Constitutional Court to review the jurisdiction dispute between the Assembly and the president in an effort to delay the second vote and annul another veto by Yoon.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Friday presided over a Cabinet meeting and decided to request the Assembly to reconsider the bill on investigating the first lady's alleged involvement in stock price manipulation, as well as a separate special counsel bill to investigate six people accused of receiving at least 5 billion won each in bribes in relation to a land development scandal in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. President Yoon immediately approved them.

We express our deep regrets over the DPKs unilateral passing of the two special counsel probe bills which are unrelated to the public livelihood, while neglecting pending bills for the people, presidential chief of staff Lee Kwan-sup said in a press briefing.

Lee said the special counsel bills are designed to manipulate the public sentiment before the general elections as it is feared to violate the peoples right to choice through an opposition-leaning special counsels press briefings on the cases during the election period.

The bill about the first lady passed the National Assembly on Dec. 29, following the DPKs push to investigate her alleged involvement in a stock manipulation scandal involving a licensed BMW dealership in Korea by appointing an independent counsel recommended by the opposition side.

The possible probe was anticipated to be the one of the biggest political controversies before the general elections, as the investigation was expected to reach its peak in March. The Yoon administration and the PPP expressed their intention to veto the bill, claiming it was a trick of the DPK coming into the general elections.

As the president requested the Assembly reconsider the special counsel bill on his wife, it now requires the attendance of more than half of all registered lawmakers and approval by two-thirds of attending legislators for the act to be passed again. This is more difficult than the initial condition of half-attendance and half-approval.

Though the DPK, holding 167 out of 298 seats in the Assembly, was able to pass the initial bill unilaterally on Dec. 29 with its majority, the bill now requires approvals from at least 199 lawmakers. Even if the DPK join hands with minor opposition parties and liberal independent lawmakers, the most it can secure is approximately 180, meaning the party needs approval from PPP members.

Given this, the PPP is seeking to hold the second vote as early as possible, so that it can wrap up political squabbles surrounding the issue and prevent any adverse impact on its election campaigns.

Postponing the vote is unacceptable in terms of political morality, PPP floor leader Rep. Yun Jae-ok told reporters, Friday. The basic principle for a bill that came to the Assembly is put it for vote in the earliest plenary session. And we will demand voting under that principle.

PPP spokesperson Rep. Park Jeong-ha said the DPK is threatening to take the case to the Constitutional Court, but it is nothing more than a blatant trick, and added that the bill must be voted on again during a Jan. 9 plenary session.

The DPK is criticizing Yoon for using his veto power to safeguard his family, saying holding another vote on Jan. 9 is impossible.

If they are innocent, the president and his family should reveal this before the public, but the president has kicked that opportunity away, DPK floor leader Rep. Hong Ihk-pyo said. We will accomplish the special counsel probe and make the president and the ruling party kneel before the public.

DPK spokesperson Rep. Kang Sun-woo said the party is taking a comprehensive look at all possible measures, but its lawmakers are already hinting at filing a Constitutional Court review on disputes over jurisdiction, which will postpone the second vote until a ruling is made.

The DPKs intention to delay the second vote is interpreted as a tactic to keep the issue alive during the election campaign period and seek approval from PPP members.

For the general elections slated for April 10, rival parties are now setting up committees to recommend their candidates for constituencies. If some sitting PPP lawmakers fail to get recommendations during that process, they may change their minds on the first ladys special counsel investigation. To take advantage of this, the DPK is seeking to hold the second vote in February or later.
By Baek Byung-yeul

Samsung Electronics and Tesla agreed to collaborate in electric vehicles (EVs) and home energy management, making it possible to check the charging status of Tesla's EV batteries and the amount of power generated by solar panels on Samsungs Internet of Things (IoT) platform SmartThings Energy, Samsung said Friday.

Through this collaboration, Samsung's SmartThings Energy will be connected to Tesla's solar panels, home energy storage device Powerwall and EVs, allowing users to monitor and control the amount of electricity through the app.

Tesla Energys customers can now manage and monitor the power status of their homes through SmartThings Energy and Samsung devices in addition to the Tesla app, ensuring more access and connectivity, Park Chan-woo, executive vice president of Samsung, said. This new collaboration is a key milestone for Samsung Electronics in making our solution more widely available beyond home appliances.

Samsung said that it will allow visitors to experience the ongoing collaboration with the U.S. EV giant at the CES tech trade show in Las Vegas, starting Jan. 9. The company added that the collaboration between the two companies will begin in the U.S. from the second quarter of this year.

Also, by linking with Tesla's Storm Watch app, users can receive notifications on Samsung TVs or mobile devices during bad weather such as typhoons or heavy snow.

Not only that, but before or during a power outage, the AI Energy Mode of SmartThings is activated to automatically reduce the power consumption of connected appliances, helping to extend the usage time of Powerwall.

Samsung has been working on expanding its alliance for its SmartThings platform to offer consumers more connected experience both at home and outside. On Thursday, Samsung announced it signed a memorandum of understanding with Hyundai Motor Group to develop a home-to-car and car-to-home IoT service.

Through the collaboration, users of Samsungs SmartThings app will be able to operate air conditioning, open doors and activate other systems of vehicles made by Hyundai Motor and Kia. Conversely, they will be able to control home appliances from their cars using SmartThings.
Business lobbies of Korea and Japan will hold their annual meeting early next week to discuss joint projects between the business communities of the neighboring countries, industry sources said Friday.

The 30th Korean-Japan Business Council, co-hosted by the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) and the Japan Business Federation, or Keidanren, will take place over two days in Tokyo from Wednesday.

Members of the FKI leadership, including Chairman Ryu Jin and Vice Chairman Kim Chang-beom, are expected to attend the gathering first held in 1982.

The last meeting was held in July 2022 in Seoul. Next week's gathering will mark the first held in Tokyo since November 2019.

The two sides are expected to discuss joint projects involving a bilateral partnership fund created in March of last year to promote private exchanges between the two countries.

The FKI and Keidanren have each agreed to donate 1 billion won ($762,195) and 100 million yen, respectively, to the fund. Observers say the two sides could come up with concrete measures in terms of the management of the fund. (Yonhap)
Taiwan's election next week poses challenges for Washington no matter who wins, with a victory for the ruling party sure to exacerbate tensions with China while an opposition triumph may raise awkward questions about the island's defense policies.

The Jan. 13 presidential and parliamentary contests represent the first real wild card in 2024 for the Biden administration's goal of stabilizing ties with China.

Beijing claims Taiwan as its own territory and has gone as far as to cast the island's elections as a choice between war and peace across the Taiwan Strait, warning that any attempt to push for Taiwan's formal independence means conflict. Taiwan's government rejects China's sovereignty assertion.

U.S. officials have been careful to avoid appearing to steer or to interfere with the island's democratic process.

"Our strong expectation and hope is that those elections be free of intimidation or coercion, or interference from all sides. The United States is not involved and will not be involved in these elections," U.S. ambassador to China Nicholas Burns said in December 2023.

Such detachment has proved tricky in the past. The Obama administration raised eyebrows before Taiwan's 2012 election when a senior U.S. official aired doubts about whether then-presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen could maintain a stable relationship with China.

Tsai, of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), lost that year but won the presidency in 2016 and reelection in 2020 and tensions with China soared, raising fears Beijing might act on its vow to bring Taiwan under its control by force if necessary.

Term limits bar Tsai from running again, but China has branded this year's DPP candidate and current Taiwan Vice President Lai Ching-te as a separatist, and analysts expect Beijing to ramp up military pressure should he prevail.

Both the DPP and Taiwan's largest opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), say only they can preserve the peace and have committed to bolstering Taiwan's defenses. Both say only Taiwan's 23 million people can decide their future, although the KMT says it strongly opposes independence.

Washington also says it does not support independence, but there is some concern in the U.S. capital that a victory by the KMT's Hou Yu-ih could undermine U.S. efforts to beef up Taiwan's military deterrence. The party traditionally favors closer ties to China, though denies being pro-Beijing.

"Administration officials' lips say they are neutral, but their body language, reflected in overall policy statements about China, say they support the DPP they know rather than the KMT they are unsure about," said Douglas Paal, a former unofficial U.S. ambassador to Taiwan.

Paal said there is ambivalence in Taiwan about heavier investment in defense, and that the KMT sees better ways to maintain peace than military spending, which would mean higher taxes with no prospect of matching China's capabilities.

"With wars in Gaza and Ukraine, American capacity stretched, and its future direction debated at home, the status quo has to look preferable to many in Washington," he said.

Laura Rosenberger, chair of the American Institute in Taiwan, a Virginia-based office that manages unofficial U.S. ties with Taiwan, met both Lai and Hou on their U.S. visits last year.

"U.S. policy on Taiwan will remain the same regardless of which party is in power. We look forward to working with whomever Taiwan voters elect," a State Department spokesperson said.

Some U.S. officials are bracing for China to increase pressure on Taiwan militarily, economically and diplomatically regardless of who is elected.

"This will likely be a period of heightened tensions that requires diplomacy, clear channels of communication, and reiteration of the importance of peace, stability, and the status quo," a senior U.S. administration official told Reuters.

"We've been pretty clear in the meetings (with China), expressing our concern about military, economic and other coercion across the board," the official said.

Buy time for defense?

One person familiar with U.S. policy said U.S. officials had "developed deep relations" with each candidate and had stressed the "importance of continuity in key policy areas," including on defense and maintaining the cross-Strait status quo.

Over the years, Washington has stressed that it cannot take the issue of Taiwan's defense more seriously than the island itself, and has pushed Taipei hard to make itself a "porcupine" against possible Chinese military action by investing in cost-effective, mobile and harder-to-destroy military assets.

U.S. congressional support for Taiwan is strong, but one of the few things that could erode this would be any move by the wealthy island to pause or reverse commitments to improve its own self-defense capabilities, analysts say.

Any defense policy paralysis in Taiwan should the elections yield a split between a new Taiwan administration and majority control over its parliament would likely cause consternation in Washington.

While some question whether the KMT would be as committed to defense reforms and spending as the DPP, a KMT win could let some steam out of cross-Strait dynamics, which China says is the most dangerous issue in U.S.-China relations.

Kharis Templeman of Stanford University's Hoover Institution said questions about the KMT's commitment to defense cooperation were valid, but there were genuine differences of opinion in Washington about which candidate would be best for U.S. interests.

"A Hou presidency could help stabilize cross-Strait relations, lower the near-term threat level, and buy more time for Taiwan's defense reforms to be implemented," Templeman said. (Reuters)
Two trains collided on Indonesias main island of Java on Friday, causing carriages to buckle and overturn and killing at least four people, officials said.

The accident happened about 500 meters from Cicalengka train station in West Java province, said Ayep Hanapi, a spokesperson for PT Kereta Api Indonesia, the national railways.

He said the Turangga express train carrying 287 passengers was traveling from Surabaya, the capital of East Java province, when it plowed into a Bandung Raya commuter train with 191 passengers heading to Padalarang from Haurpugur station at about 6:03 a.m.

All passengers of the two crashed trains have been evacuated safely, Hanapi said, adding that 37 people were injured and treated at several hospitals. By Friday afternoon, only two passengers were still hospitalized, he said.

Passenger Heri Aliyudin said the lights were knocked out in his cabin in the third carriage of the Turangga train. He recalled suitcases and bags fell onto several passengers. Those who were still asleep were thrown from their seats.

I was so shocked, I couldnt move for a moment, it was total confusion, Aliyudin told Kompas TV in an interview, Then I grabbed my suitcase and shoved my way outside.

West Java Police spokesperson Ibrahim Tompo said at least four train crew members were killed  the driver and his assistant on the commuter train and a steward and a security guard on the express train.

Television video showed several carriages overturned or badly mangled. One carriage plunged into a nearby rice field. People screamed as panicked passengers tried to get out of the train. Some walked through the fields carrying suitcases and other items as ambulances evacuated the injured.

Transportation ministry spokesperson Adita Irawati apologized for the accident and for the disruption of railway services across Java island.

She said the cause of the accident was being investigated and that rescuers had evacuated all passengers and were working to remove the trains to restore service.

This accident will be subject to further evaluation so that a similar incident will not happen again in the future, Irawati said.

Major local media reports said a preliminary investigation found that the commuter train was given the go-ahead to proceed when the express train was almost at Cicalengka station. Usually, the commuter train stops at Haurpugur Station to give way to the express train before proceeding.

PT Kereta Api Indonesias president director Didiek Hartantyo would not be drawn to comment on whether poor communication was to blame for the accident.

Dont assume. We dont want to speculate before the investigation is completed, Hartyanto said, Lets give time for the National Transportation Safety Commission to carry out a thorough investigation.

Train accidents are common on Indonesias aging railroad network, especially at crossings.

In October 2013, a passenger train slammed into a minibus that was carrying families of hajj pilgrims at an unguarded crossing in West Javas Indramayu district, killing 13 people. A train from the capital, Jakarta, in 2010 plowed into the rear of a train that was sitting at a station in Central Java province, killing 36 people.

The government has spent billions of dollars on improving infrastructure, including roads, railways, airports and power plants, in the worlds largest archipelago nation, home to more than 270 million people.

A $7.3 billion high-speed railway, Southeast Asias first, has been operating commercially since October. The 142-kilometer railway, a key project under Chinas Belt and Road infrastructure initiative, has drastically reduced travel time between Jakarta and Bandung from three hours to about 40 minutes. (AP)
China has opened an anti-dumping investigation on brandy imported from the European Union, a step that appears to be mainly targeted at France and adds to ongoing trade disputes between Beijing and Brussels.

The investigation announced by China's commerce ministry on Friday will focus on brandy in containers of less than 200 liters from the EU. The news knocked shares in French spirits companies Remy Cointreau and Pernod Ricard lower.

It was prompted by a complaint submitted by the China Alcoholic Beverages Association on behalf of the domestic brandy industry, the ministry said.

China imported $1.57 billion worth of spirits from distilled grape wine in 2023 through November and France accounts for 99.8 percent of all EU brandy exports, according to Chinese customs data.

Trade disputes between China and Europe have been mounting over the past year, with both sides exchanging accusations of unfair competition and protectionism. Most recently, the EU said in December it would begin an anti-dumping investigation into biodiesel imports from China.

France's cognac industry association said it would fully cooperate with Chinese authorities but it believes the probe is linked to a broader trade row rather than the liquor market.

"We are confident that our products and commercial practices fully comply with Chinese and international regulations," the Bureau National Interprofessionnel du Cognac (BNIC) said in a statement to Reuters.

Remy Cointreau declined comment. Pernod Ricard, LVMH and the European Commission did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

"China moves are a shot across the bow to let Europe know that it too can plan hardball against rising protectionism in Europe," said Shaun Rein, founder and managing director of Shanghai-based China Market Research Group.

He said Beijing's move against European brands was a "counter-strike" to the EU's anti-subsidy probe in September into China's electric vehicle imports.

Shares in French spirits companies Remy Cointreau were down more than 11 percent at their lowest since early 2020 at 1151 GMT and the biggest faller in percentage terms on the pan European STOXX 600 index, while Pernod Ricard was down 4.8 percent.

The companies sell cognac, brandy from the Cognac region of France, under brands including Remy Martin and Martell.

The move comes as concerns have grown about slowing demand for luxury goods in China, the world's No. 2 economy, as a property crisis derails hopes of a post-pandemic spending spree.

Pernod Ricard derives 10 percentof its group sales from China and cognac accounts for over 50 percentof Pernod Ricard sales in China.

Shares in LVMH, Europe's second most valuable listed company which owns Hennessey were down 1.9 percent in Paris.

Italy's Campari, was down 2 percent. Last month, the company bought French cognac brand Courvoisier, aimed at expanding its footprint in China, which represents about 9 percent of revenues. It did not immediately respond to a request for a comment.

At their December summit, EU leaders said Europe would not tolerate "unfair competition" from China, and Beijing told the EU it expected Brussels to exercise prudence when introducing "restrictive" trade policies.

In September, China blasted a European Union anti-subsidy probe backed by Paris into Chinese-made electric vehicles, that was launched in September, as "protectionist."

China has opened trade probes during past spells of political tensions. In 2020, during a diplomatic dispute with Australia, China levied anti-dumping and anti-subsidy tariffs on Australian wine and other imports.

Beijing has since lifted trade limits on most Australian exports as relations improved and in November said it would review the need for the curbs on Australian wine.

Max Zenglein, chief economist at the Berlin-based Mercator Institute for China Studies, a leading European think tank, said Beijing now appeared to be following a similar script with Brussels.

"This is a first, very targeted response, and aims to serves as a warning towards the EU to tread carefully," he said.

"It is still far from the escalation between China and Australia, but China is following a well-established pattern on applying economic pressure while limiting the damage to its own economy. (Reuters)




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Ayumi Hamasaki has announced a donation of 10 million yen to the Japanese Red Cross Society to support the areas affected by the earthquake that struck the Noto Peninsula on January 1st.

On her social media account, Hamasaki expressed her solidarity with senior artist YOSHIKI, who is based in Los Angeles, stating, "Following the great example set by @YoshikiOfficial, I will also donate 10 million yen to the Japanese Red Cross Society. To everyone in the disaster-stricken areas and those involved in rescue efforts, please stay strong! I hope for the swift arrival of nights where you can sleep in peace."

Hamasaki has previously shown her philanthropic spirit during the COVID-19 pandemic by donating 10 million yen to the National Center for Global Health and Medicine, following in the footsteps of YOSHIKI.
TOKYO, Jan 05 ( News On Japan ) - Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) has made critical announcements regarding the upcoming University Entrance Examination, affirming its commitment to accommodate students affected by the recent Noto Peninsula earthquake.

Minister Moriyama declared that the main test for the University Entrance Examination will proceed as initially planned on the 13th and 14th of this month. Recognizing the challenges faced by disaster-affected students, the Ministry has also announced the availability of make-up exams.

Originally, these make-up examinations were to be conducted in Tokyo and Kyoto. However, in a bid to provide more accessible options for students in the earthquake-hit regions, the Ministry has now decided to establish additional examination centers in Ishikawa Prefecture. These centers will cater to students who might be unable to attend the main examination due to the earthquake's impact.

The make-up exams are scheduled for the 27th and 28th of this month, with special measures in place to ensure that all affected students have the opportunity to participate. This decision underscores the Ministry's dedication to ensuring no student is disadvantaged due to unforeseen natural disasters.

Further details on application procedures and other relevant information for these examinations will be disseminated through the Ministry's official website and social media channels. This move is a part of the Ministry's broader effort to provide full support to the disaster victims, ensuring their educational journey is not hindered by the calamity.

Website: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modis recent Lakshadweep trip and pictures from the island triggered series of Google searches about the Archipelago and created a strong buzz about the unexplored but potential tourism destination of the country.

As Prime Ministers breathtaking pictures from Lakshadweep caught the imagination of netizens, a debate broke out on social media whether it can replace neighbouring Maldives as tourism hotspot for domestic as well as foreign travelers.

Notably, Lakshadweep is an archipelago, made of cluster of 36 islands and boasts of pure blue & pristine beaches while Maldives is highly popular among tourists for its customized & expensive overwater resorts.

Lakshadweep tops Google search trends on Day 2

While netizens debate about Lakshadweeps scenic beauty & pristine beaches would be answer to Maldives beach resorts, the Indian archipelago continues to rank at top of Google searches.

For the second consecutive day, Lakshadweep ranked on top of Google search trends, thereby indicating peoples soaring interest in the island after PM Modis scenic pictures.

For the uninitiated, PM Modi underwent snorkeling in the blue oceans of Lakshdweep and also shared pictures of taking a walk on the clean beaches. Sharing pictures from the island, PM Modi hailed the tranquility & freshness that the visitors were filled with during visit here.

India searched Lakshadweep after PM Modis pics

After PM Modi shared pictures of sitting in the lap of nature near blue water bodies and also taking a walk, it went viral and prompted others to comment upon it.

Yesterday, Lakshadweep became the ninth most searched word on Google in India. Google Trends registered a sharp uptick in volume collated between Dec 29  Jan 3 to Dec 29  Jan 4.

On January 4 alone, about 50,000 people searched about Lakshadweep, reports said.

And those early morning walks along the pristine beaches were also moments of pure bliss. pic.twitter.com/soQEIHBRKj  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 4, 2024

Among the phrases that were searched included Lakshadweep, Lakshadweep island, Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep flight, Lakshadweep airport & more.
A shooting at Perry High School on Thursday provided a sobering reminder of the threat of gun violence in schools.

The attack in the Dallas County school left a sixth-grader dead along with the 17-year-old suspect, who is believed to have died by a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

School districts around Iowa and across the nation have taken precautions, put plans into place and coordinated with local law enforcement about how to handle a possible shooter in the buildings.

One southwest Iowa school district was already in the process of implementing a technological solution aimed at reducing the risk of a shooting incident.

A new security system in the Woodbine Community School District will be in place when students and teachers head back to class.

It goes live next week, Superintendent Justin Wagner told the Nonpareil as he lavished praise on the new system, called ZeroEyes.

The artificial intelligence system is designed to use video feeds to detect guns while providing what the company calls a "intelligent situational awareness platform" to school officials.

This is an aggressive platform in keeping students and staff safe, Wagner said Thursday morning.

Wagner said Woodbine has not had anyone trying to bring guns onto school grounds. Instead, the ZeroEyes system is being deployed as a proactive measure to mitigate the risk of such threats.

We dont want to wait until something happens and that it might be too late," Wagner said. "This is an aggressive proactive step. This is being 100% proactive. We are deeply committed to the safety and security of our students and staff.

Wagner said the ZeroEyes system can identify a gun being brandished and alert both school officials and first responders within seconds, potentially allowing law enforcement to engage with a school shooter sooner.

It cuts down on reaction time, and seconds can save lives, Wagner said. We are trying to do whatever we can.

The system works by having the AI software identify when a gun is visible on campus. The system sends images to an operation center staffed 24/7 by specially trained veterans of the U.S. military and law enforcement agencies.

Those experts verify if a threat is legitimate, not the AI system, by determining if the image is a firearm or a toy gun, water gun or similar object. If there is a threat, an alert is dispatched  including a visual description, gun type and last known location  to both the school and first response.

The ZeroEyes system is intended to go from a gun being spotted to an alert within 3 to 5 seconds.

We dont want a lockdown if it is not an illegally-brandished gun, Wagner said. This would eliminate an unnecessary disruption of a false positive.

ZeroEyes was founded by military special forces and technology experts, according to a company news release.

Mike Lahiff, co-founder and CEO, said in the release that the ZeroEyes AI gun detection system integrates with existing digital security cameras to deliver clarity among chaos  ultimately saving lives.

The company touts that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has recognized ZeroEyes as a promising anti-terrorism technology, designating it for developmental testing and evaluation.

"We're proud to see Woodbine Community Schools adopt our AI gun detection technology, Lahiff said. We see it as our duty to help create a safer learning environment for children."

Woodbine had to upgrade its security system, including cameras, to implement ZeroEyes. Wagner said former U.S. Navy special forces members with ZeroEyes went through a system check last week at the rural Harrison County school district.

The district has a five-year contract with the Philadelphia-based company. The system is one of several improvements it is making for safety and security, Wagner said.

Last March, Woodbine voters approved a $119,000 general obligation bond for various school safety improvement measures.

This is one of our series of safety enhancements funded by those bond proceeds, Wagner said. This is new to this area as schools nationwide are looking at ways to identify gun detection. Its unique.
Cmdr. Vance Scott (center) and Lt. j.g. Jenny Li pose for a photo in the USS Nebraska's wardroom. The Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine crew has named its working and living spaces after communities throughout the state of Nebraska. USS Nebraska is one of eight ballistic-missile submarines stationed at Naval Base Kitsap - Bangor.
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Two journalists added to scores of colleagues and people who have been arrested for expressing dissent, in a trend that worries rights defenders.

After Zied El Heni was detained pending his trial, Al Jazeera journalist Samir Sassi was arrested by an anti-terrorism unit of the national guard, the Tunisian Journalism Union said.

Security forces took Sassi to an unknown destination without telling his family why he was arrested, the Union and Al Jazeera Tunis bureau chief Lotfi Hajji said.

El Heni was arrested and detained on 28 December, following critical comments on Trade Minister Kalthoum Ben Rejeb in a broadcast on the private radio station IFM.

His detention was described by rights defenders as part of a crackdown on independent journalists and dissent since Presidents Kais Saied power grab in 2021.

In 2023, 30 journalists were arrested in Tunisia, according to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).

In an open letter to Saied published on Thursday, the IFJ expressed its deepest concern at the frequent imprisonment of journalists, in total contravention of the provisions of the Tunisian constitution in respect of freedom of expression and the media.

Last summer, the UN human rights chief, Volker Turk, said he was deeply concerned about the crackdown on media in Tunisia, with vaguely worded legislation used to criminalize criticism.

Seventeen journalists in Tunisia currently face trial, according to local media.

Heni and some other journalists have been prosecuted under the provisions of decree 54, which punishes those accused of spreading false news with a prison sentence of up to 10 years.

The legislation is being used to silence journalists and opponents of the president, Anthony Bellanger, the general secretary of the IFJ, said earlier this week, accusing the Tunisian government of attacking journalists.
Two Coast Guard vessels and a High-Seas Patrol boat of the Royal Navy successfully intercepted two canoes carrying a total of 124 Sub-Saharan migrants, including 8 minors. The operation, part of national waters monitoring, took place at approximately 75 km west of the Southern city of Dakhla.

According to a statement from the General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces, the intercepted canoes were en route to the Canary Islands. The Navy units acted swiftly to apprehend the vessels and ensure the safety of those on board.

Medical care was provided onboard by the Navy units to the intercepted individuals. The would-be immigrants were transported to the port of Dakhla and were handed over to the Royal Gendarmerie to undergo standard administrative procedures, the statement said.

Another statement by the General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces said that FAR units, in cooperation with law enforcement authorities, intercepted some 87,000 would-be irregular migrants in 2023, the majority of whom being of sub-Saharan origin.

Intensified surveillance and control of waters under national jurisdiction led, over the past year, to providing rescue and necessary assistance to over 22,000 would-be irregular migrants often found aboard makeshift nautical means in distress, the statement said.

These interception operations are part of efforts to monitor the Kingdoms borders and maritime areas and combat cross-border threats.
Ayman Soliman, Chief Executive Officer of the Sovereign Fund of Egypt (SFE) unveiled plans for upgrading downtown Cairo and the Ministries Square, including the establishment of 2,600 hotel rooms, the development of 15,000 square meters of green spaces, and the revitalization of historical buildings, Ahram Online reported Thursday.

Soliman speaking at a meeting of the parliamentary Planning and Budget Committee indicated that hotel accommodations are one of the key components of tourism in Egypt.

Egypt now has 216,000 hotel rooms capable of accommodating 15 to 16 million tourists. The country aims at attracting 30 million tourists annually by 2028.

The SFE which serves as the investment and development arm of the State was established in 2018 to offer and manage investment opportunities in State-owned assets.

Soliman reportedly said seven assets have been transferred to the SFE. More than 16 other assets in downtown Cairo are being prepared for transfer. The Egyptian government is currently to convert the seven-building complex that served as the headquarters of the Ministry of Interior for decades into a multi-purpose destination.

The new design will include a tech and business hub, a French University, serviced apartments, and a hotel as per a deal signed between the SFE and real estate development company A Developments.
Madagascars recently re-elected President Andry Rajoelina has re-appointed on January 4 his former Prime Minister Christian Ntsay for the same position, as he begins a second term in office following November disputed elections.

Rajoelina Thursday told lawmakers of his party and allies that three criteria led him to choose Ntsay as Prime Minister.

Loyalty is a sacred and precious thing to me, he said. Loyalty is a difficult thing these days because the people we trust often betray us, he added. The 49-year-old President argued that his choice was also motivated by Ntsays experience.

We need someone who has a firm grasp of development projects and objectives, he said.

For him, the man who had been his Premier since 2019, knows his style of work and has a good grasp of the vision and objectives set.

The appointment of the Prime Minister comes two weeks after Rajoelinas inauguration as President for a second term in office, following his victory at November 16th elections whose results were rejected by the opposition.

The elections were marred by a low turnout and violent campaigns.

Ntsay will serve as Prime Minister until the legislatives set to be organized in the first quarter of 2024.

I believe that winning the majority in the next elections will allow us to define and put in place a person who will be trained and who will lead us towards change, Rajoelina added.
Mali received Thursday January 4 a fresh shipment of Turkish combat drones to be used in the fight against terrorism and the supervision of the countrys airspace.

The drones, unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs), were delivered during a ceremony attended by the interim leader of Mali, Col. Assimi Goita and the Turkish ambassador to the country Efe Ceylan.

The shipment is made of two dozens of TB2 drones and is the second batch after a first one was delivered in March 2023.

The TB2 can fly for more than 20 hours at 27,000 feet, can carry a load of up to 120 kilograms (265 pounds), and weighs only 650 kilograms.

The Malian transitional leader argued that the drones will help improve the airstrike capacity of Malian armed forces and the tools for intelligence of the Army.

These acquisitions are in addition to those already received, including transport and combat equipment, he added. The West African country slid into chaos in 2013. The central government lost vast swathes of the territory, including the key region of Kidal until November 2023.

Goita declared in November 2023 the liberation of Kidal from Touareg rebels believed back by France. The Army engaged in several months of fierce fighting with rebels with the help of private security company Wagner.
Two Lincoln men  one in state court and one in federal court  appear to be among the first in Nebraska to mount legal challenges to their gun charges, arguing their conduct is protected by the Second Amendment following recent decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court.

A stream of others could follow. Though, they are sure to face an uphill battle.

The issue cropped up in Michael Doxon's and Clifton Davis Jr.'s cases.

The Lancaster County Attorney's Office charged Doxon this spring with three felonies, including being a convicted felon in possession of a dangerous weapon and unlawfully possessing a firearm.

And this summer, a grand jury in the U.S. District Court of Nebraska indicted Davis for making false statements to acquire firearms (for not indicating he was an unlawful user of marijuana) and being a drug user in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Doxon's case involves his arrest just after 1 a.m. April 28. In court records, Lancaster County Sheriff's Investigator Jeremy Schwarz said he had gotten information that Doxon was selling drugs out of his home on Judson Street and had firearms and swords there.

Schwarz said after watching his house and observing what they believed was a drug deal, they got a warrant to search and found four firearms: a single- and a double-barrel shotgun and two German-manufactured pistols. They also found 25 military knives and swords, meth, marijuana and THC wax.

By Nebraska law, he said, Doxon can't legally possess any of the weapons because he's a convicted felon four times over.

Once Doxon's case got to district court, his attorney, Bob Creager, filed what's called a motion to quash, challenging the constitutionality of the statute Doxon was accused of violating.

In a brief, Creager argued that Nebraska's law prohibiting certain people  among them convicted felons  from possessing knives and firearms "facially violates the Second Amendment" as interpreted by a 2022 decision called New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen and a 2008 decision called District of Columbia v. Heller.

The former struck down a New York law requiring people applying for a concealed carry license to show why they need to carry a firearm. In the 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court said the ability to carry a pistol in public was a constitutional right guaranteed by the Second Amendment.

The latter, a 5-4 decision, struck down the District of Columbias Firearms Control Regulation Act, which for 30 years had banned the carrying of handguns and other dangerous weapons. The majority decision said the Second Amendment guarantees the right to possess firearms and use them for self-defense.

The rulings, particularly last year's, cast doubt on gun-control laws and led to a flurry of filings around the country and here in Nebraska.

At a hearing in a Lincoln courtroom in August, Creager argued that Doxon had possessed the knife and firearms found during the search for self-defense or other lawful reasons.

The core question then was whether the legal analysis under the decisions applied only to the rights of law-abiding citizens to possess weapons or to everyone.

Creager said that question is a "developing one."

"Simply stated, Bruen held that the test did away with the conventional presumption in favor of any law and replaced it with a presumption of that any facial limitation on the possession was a violation of the Second Amendment," the defense attorney argued.

Creager said the test now is whether a facial restriction  like a ban on convicted felons possessing firearms and knives  was consistent with the Second Amendment when it was adopted and ratified.

"In seeking that answer, the government now bears the burden of showing that there were ... similar prohibitions recognized in the law, at that time," he said.

On the other side, Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Morgan Smith said prior to the Bruen decision federal circuit courts have considered constitutional challenges to laws like this one and have unanimously upheld the statutes.

"Further, the Supreme Court took special care to note in Heller that 'nothing in our opinion should be taken to cast doubt on longstanding prohibitions on the possession of firearms by felons,' he wrote.

Smith said, in fact, they are "presumptively lawful," according to a concurring opinion.

He said the Second Amendments plain text would not cover a felon in possession of a firearm, and other courts that have gotten to that step in the analysis have agreed.

Smith said Doxon's challenge must fail.

In a recent decision, the judge agreed.

Lancaster County District Judge Kevin McManaman said the plaintiffs in the Bruen case and Heller case before that all had been ordinary, law-abiding adult citizens.

"The court concludes that (Nebraska law) does not violate the Second Amendment because the U.S. Supreme Court has said  several times  that its Second Amendment caselaw does not cast doubt on felon bans. There is no need to apply Bruen's historical-tradition test. The Supreme Court has already said that felon-in-possession laws are OK, and that is enough," the judge wrote.

This month, U.S. Magistrate Judge Cheryl Zwart recommended a similar finding in Davis' federal case, where he's accused of lying on ATF forms to get guns at Bigshots Indoor Range and Thunder Alley Indoor Shooting Range earlier this year when he failed to indicate he was an "unlawful user" and later acknowledged he occasionally smoked marijuana.

Assistant Public Defender Korey Reiman filed a motion to dismiss the indictment, saying Davis possession of the firearm and the ammunition is "presumptively protected" and the law prohibiting unlawful users or addicts from possessing guns is unconstitutionally vague.

"Because the government cannot demonstrate that prohibiting such conduct is consistent with the nations historical tradition of firearm regulation, the indictment must be dismissed," he said.

Reiman said the court should be concerned that how the federal statute at issue is written "affords the government and law enforcement the power to arbitrarily prosecute gun owners and possessors."

In her report and recommendation earlier this month, Zwart said: "While the landscape of Second Amendment jurisprudence in the Eighth Circuit may shift post-Bruen, as to the facial constitutionality of (the federal law at issue), the Eighth Circuit must take the lead. Until the Eighth Circuit says otherwise, this court must follow Seay," she wrote, referring to prior case law.

Davis' attorney still can object to the findings until early next month.

Top Journal Star photos for December 2023
Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

One moment, from about a year ago, still plays on a loop in the minds of many people close to Joe Biden. It was the final days before a midterm election that nearly everyone assumed would hobble his presidency. The president was putting the finishing touches on a speech he wanted to give about the imperiled state of American democracy, and the cacophonous second-guessing was coming not just from media critics and Republicans but even from fellow Democrats  including the former top political advisors to both Barack Obama and Bernie Sanders. To this crowd, it was obvious that Biden was missing a chance to talk to undecided or unmotivated voters by not focusing on topics like the economy or crime; to Biden, whose aides still sometimes reminisce about that weeks MSNBC segments and tweets, it was clear the political class was simply missing the moment. In the aftermath of that speech and that election  in which Democrats outperformed expectations, beating dozens of election deniers  the president made no secret of his sense of vindication. Nor has he hidden his conviction that Americans have yet to have their final say over Donald Trumps January 6 insurrection. In the year since, as his attention has turned more fully to his own re-election campaign, that feeling has only deepened.

It was no surprise to Bidens closest allies, then, that he wanted to open 2024 answering all the fears about his electoral standing and his slow-and-steady campaign pace by returning to his favorite theme, the one that his senior-most advisers say animates him most when hes with them in the Oval Office. His speech outside of Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, on Friday represented not just his harshest criticisms yet for Trump  who, Biden noted disbelievingly, has been using language reminiscent of Nazi Germany  but also his clearest articulation yet of his belief that the defense of American democracy is not just righteous and necessary but, as a result, an obvious political winner, too.

When the attacks of January 6 happened, there was no doubt about the truth. At the time, even Republican members of Congress and Fox News commentators publicly and privately condemned the attack. And as one Republican senator said, Trumps behavior was embarrassing and humiliating for the country, Biden recalled. But now as time has gone on, politics, fear, money have all intervened, and those MAGA voices who know the truth about Trump and January 6 have abandoned the truth and abandoned our democracy. Theyve made their choice. Now the rest of us  Democrats, independents, mainstream Republicans  we have to make our choice. I know mine, and I believe I know Americas.

The speech does not stand alone. It was a continuation of a yearslong argument Biden has been making and adapting to fit the fluctuating political moment. On Friday, he spoke as a candidate whose plan to keep his dangerous predecessor from office relies on Americans seeing the election as a stark choice, and not as a referendum on his own time in office. We all know who Donald Trump is, he reminded his crowd, and the millions he expects will see clips of the speech that his campaign has been promoting as a major event. The question we have to answer is: Who are we?

As he spoke, Biden returned to the notion that America is an idea that needs defending, a point he made most prominently when he first announced his campaign for the presidency with a video in April 2019 that began with the words Charlottesville, Virginia and a denunciation of Trumps embrace of extremism after the white supremacist rally there. The initial rationale for his candidacy articulated in that video was that The core values of this nation, our standing in the world, our very democracy, everything that has made America America is at stake.

When Biden announced his re-election campaign exactly four years later, much had changed  this time the video opened with images of January 6 and protests against the Supreme Courts Dobbs decision  but the driving animus against extreme Trumpism hadnt. By then, he was framing his broader task as protecting freedom, as personal freedom is fundamental to who we are as Americans, and MAGA Republicans were out to negate voters say in elections as well as their right to choose and to read whatever books they wish. Biden-allied strategists had found in the midterms that this was an effective frame for younger and minority voters, even those skeptical of Bidens handling of the economy.

And now, nearly a year later and facing grim polling, the unpopular Biden returned to his most powerful argument to stop Trump from returning to office, putting an end to drawn-out internal debates over when was the right time to turn fully to Trump even as the GOP primary technically drags on.

On Friday, Bidens personal frustration with having to make the case at all was obvious. At times he veered off-script in fury. He called Trump sick and a loser and clenched his fists as he recalled Trumps derogatory remarks about veterans who were killed in battle. Biden remembered thinking about that while visiting the grave of his own son Beau. How dare he? Biden asked. Who in Gods name does he think he is?

Biden: At his rally, he jokes about an intruder, whipped up by the big trump lie, taking a hammer to Paul Pelosi's skull, and echoing the same words used on January 6th, where's Nancy, and he thinks that's funny. He laughed about it. What a sick pic.twitter.com/rG8yLrf1Hx  Acyn (@Acyn) January 5, 2024

What was also clear was Bidens determination that voters pay attention. Atypically, aides previewed the speech and another he will soon make in South Carolina as major ones. Biden, who loves scheduling speeches in venues full of historical symbolism, further signaled this ones importance to the news media by speaking at Valley Forge, near where George Washington and the American army organized and dug in to survive. Biden had long been eyeing the site as a potent one. Weve been blessed for so long with a strong, stable democracy that its easy to forget why so many before us risked their lives to strengthen democracy, what our lives would be without it, he said on Friday, recalling Washingtons decision to relinquish power as a contrast to Trumps attempt to overthrow an election.

And his team paired the event with its first ad of the new year, which tied together the themes of Bidens two kickoff videos with clips from both the Charlottesville and the Capitol riots, using clips of another symbolic Biden speech  one he made last year in Arizona to honor John McCain and criticize McCains party. Even before the speech, his campaign had made plans to spend half a million dollars spinning off of it by airing the new ad nationally and in the seven most important swing states for the next week.

Still, much like the Biden teams broader push in recent weeks to warn voters of an authoritarian second Trump term, the set-piece was also an implicit acknowledgement that in a binary campaign, the presidents own record only gets him so far. Coming to terms with the necessary political consequences of this fact has been no simple task for Biden, no matter how often he repeats his old aphorism, Dont compare me to the almighty, compare me to the alternative.

In private, at least, hes begun signaling that, with his approval rating bottoming out, he gets it. Late last month, at his final campaign fundraiser of the year in Bethesda, Maryland, he gazed out at a crowd of about 120 donors gathered in a backyard and ran through a series of his accomplishments. Then he pivoted. We all know that progress is at stake in the next election, but I want to talk about what I think is even more at stake in this next election: literally the future of American democracy, and it makes everything possible, he said. Trump is a unique threat, he suggested, before backing up for a second to inform the audience that just about every foreign leader he meets tells him Youve got to win. He paused. That, he conceded, is Less about me, unfortunately, I think, than about the other guy.

On Friday, he gave this story another spin. This time, in front of the cameras, he said those world leaders had a slightly different message  a slightly more straightforward one: He cant win.

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Brittany Watts had been sick for days when a police officer entered her Warren, Ohio, hospital room and asked about her miscarriage. The detective, Nick Carney, interviewed her for over an hour while a nurse rubbed Wattss shoulders and assured her all would be well, the Washington Post reported. Two weeks later, Carney arrested Watts on charges of felony abuse of a corpse for how she handled the remains from her pregnancy, the Post reported. Watts would eventually learn that the nurse who comforted her had turned her in to the police.

Prosecutors have presented her case to a grand jury, which will decide whether to indict her for abuse of a corpse. Watts, who is Black, faces up to a year in prison along with a fine of up to $2,500, her attorney told the Post. Her case highlights the precarity of the post-Dobbs landscape, which leaves women vulnerable to this form of prosecution. A pernicious ideology is on display. Those who assail Watts  the nurse who turned her in, the prosecutor who pursued the case  presume the fetus is a person. Wattss own personhood is under attack.

Though experts concluded that Wattss nearly 22-week fetus was not viable and had died in utero, prosecutors have charged her for her behavior after the miscarriage. After miscarrying into her toilet at home, Watts tried to scoop out the remains and left them near her garage outdoors. She cleaned her bathroom, showered, and went to a hair appointment to maintain appearances with her mother, who did not know about the pregnancy, the Post reported. But she didnt look well, and the hairdresser called her mother and told her to take Watts to Mercy HealthSt. Joseph Warren Hospital, a Catholic facility. Watts had already visited the hospital several times over the preceding days, where doctors told her the pregnancy was nonviable. Her last trip to the hospital would upend her life.

Police reports, recordings, medical records, and interviews obtained by the Post paint a revealing picture. Advised by risk management to contact Warren City Police to investigate the possibility of the infant being in a bucket at the patients residence, reads a hospital note signed by the nurse, who later called police. In a call recording, the same nurse says, I had a mother who had a delivery at home and came in without the baby and she says the babys in her backyard in a bucket. I need to have someone go find this baby or direct me on what I need to do. To the nurse, the nonviable fetus was an infant or a baby. The prosecuting attorney seems to agree. The issue isnt how the child died, when the child died  its the fact that the baby was put into a toilet, large enough to clog up a toilet, left in that toilet, and she went on [with] her day, Lewis Guarnieri said in court.

Watts, then, has been prosecuted for her emotional response. In the eyes of the nurse and, eventually, the law, she failed to show appropriate grief. Her fetus was a person; she was not. Stigmatized twice over because of her gender and her race, she fell prey to people who never had her interests in mind. After Dobbs, the inadequacies and outright prejudices that plague our health-care system may easily be weaponized. Roe was a clear legal roadblock to charging felonies for unintentionally harming pregnancies, when women were legally allowed to end their pregnancies through abortion, Grace Howard, assistant professor of justice studies at San Jose State University, told the Associated Press. Now that Roe is gone, that roadblock is entirely gone.

Black women are uniquely vulnerable to such forms of prosecution. Michele Goodwin, a law professor at the University of California, Irvine, and author of Policing the Womb, told the AP that, according to studies, Black women who visited hospitals for prenatal care were ten times more likely than white women to have child protective services and law enforcement called on them, even when their cases were similar. Now, post-Dobbs, Black women like Watts are canaries in the coal mine for a hyper-vigilant type of policing that may arise in the absence of Roes protections for women, Goodwin said.

Fetal personhood also haunts the Watts case. When agents of the law treat the fetus as a person  an infant or a child, in the words of the nurse and the prosecutor  the woman bearing it becomes something else. She is not quite human; she is a mere vessel. The prosecutor has thus stripped Watts of her humanity in her time of need. I am grieving the loss of my baby, she told the Post. I feel anger, frustration and, at times, shameful. In pursuing the case, prosecutors deny Watts the full expression of her grief. They deny her the right to feel pain and shock at her miscarriage, to act like a traumatized human being. Even if the grand jury does not indict her, she has experienced hell. A woman with no criminal record is demonized for something that goes on every day, her attorney, Traci Timko, said in court. Watts, of course, is no demon but a human being. It should not be radical to insist on her personhood, but her case says it is necessary all the same.

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Its hard to think of a scenario where Republicans reject Donald Trump as their presidential candidate. Despite his 91 criminal charges and one attempt to overturn an election, enough GOP voters have remained loyal to the former president that he has wide leads over his rivals for the nomination. But not everyone who votes in a Republican primary is a Republican: Many states have open primaries where anyone can participate regardless of party affiliation.

One of those states is New Hampshire, where unaffiliated voters make up a plurality of the electorate and can participate in the primary of their choice. They have repeatedly determined the winner of the first-in-the-nation presidential primary in the past, and if enough of them back Nikki Haley, it might just cost Trump the state on January 23.

That is what Robert Schwartz hopes to make happen. Hes the leader of a group called Primary Power that looks to push Democratic-leaning independents to vote against Trump in the GOP primary. Schwartz said the group has raised more than $670,000 through small and large donations, though as a 501(c)(4), its contributors are not publicly disclosed. A Democrat who spent his career working in foreign policy focusing on countries like Venezuela and Nicaragua that have suffered significant backsliding toward dictatorships, Schwartz said he is trying to make sure the same thing doesnt happen in the U.S. with a second Trump presidency. At this point, hes settled upon Haley as the option. She seems to respect the Constitution, Schwartz said. We would have a peaceful transfer of power and free and fair elections with her as president.

His goal is pretty simple. If he can increase the number of unaffiliated voters who cast a ballot in New Hampshires Republican primary just enough, it might cause an upset that could damage Trumps chances of returning to the White House. Trump is getting something like 40 percent in the polls, and if his percentage of the vote can be pushed down into the mid-30s, it could permit Haley to win. There are more than enough independents in the state for this to happen, and theyve long been a mainstay of New Hampshire politics: John McCain famously won Republican primaries in 2000 and 2008 in the state with a motley coalition of moderates and independents. By the early-October deadline to change registration, roughly 4,000 voters dropped their Democratic affiliation in order to have the ability to take a Republican ballot.

Haley has been surging in the New Hampshire polls in recent weeks as Ron DeSantiss campaign has collapsed into infighting and finger-pointing. A recent poll from St. Anselm College in New Hampshire has shown Trump stuck in the mid-40s as Haley, buoyed by the endorsement of the states incumbent governor, Chris Sununu, has seen her support double and put her in second place with 30 percent support.

Haley has been open about her desire to win over nontraditional voters in the Granite State. If we get independents, if we get conservative Democrats, thats what the Republican Party should pursue, she told reporters in mid-December, according to Semafor. Our goal is to get as many people in the tent as we can. Stop pushing people away from the party. Instead, bring people in. The Haley campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

When Schwartz launched his project, there seemed to be no downside for Democrats to switch, given that Bidens name wouldnt appear on the ballot, leaving author Marianne Williamson  who received 99 votes in the states 2020 primary after dropping out a month earlier  as the best-known candidate. One hiccup, though, is Dean Phillips, the Minnesota congressman who launched a long-shot campaign against Biden and who has the potential to lure voters to cast their ballots in the Democratic contest. Schwartz expressed his fear that Phillips is targeting many of the same left-of-center, undeclared voters. Were hoping to offer voters the strategic choice to vote against Trump. So while hes offering for these people to vote against Biden, and embarrass Biden, we are offering the same voters the chance to vote against Trump and damage Trump. In his view, Phillips is simply running a kamikaze campaign  If hes truly interested in stopping Trump, he would not try to take away 5,000 to 10,000 voters, potentially, from Nikki Haley.

Of course, Schwartz is still counting on Democratic-leaning voters casting a ballot for an anti-abortion, conservative former governor of South Carolina who served as Trumps ambassador to the United Nations.

Ray Buckley, the chair of the New Hampshire Democratic Party, didnt think that Schwartzs efforts to convince Democratic-leaning independents to back Haley would amount to much. You might, after an enormous amount of effort, get 5,000 Democratic-leaning independents, he said. Its not going to be very successful.

Nikki Haley is no John McCain, Buckley continued. Her record, on issue after issue, is either identical to Donald Trumps or worse. However, even that slim margin could determine who wins and who loses. Bernie Sanders won the 2020 Democratic primary by less than 4,000 votes over Pete Buttigieg, and that reshaped the narrative of the race.

In the meantime, Schwartzs group was going to keep up its efforts regardless and try to do what it could to chip away at those voters. He said that the group has already budgeted for mail and text messages to target people who had voted in Democratic primaries but were not registered as Democrats. After all, he said, the most important thing is just getting the word out about this possibility so that when people are sitting at the dinner table, this is one of the options that theyre discussing if theyre undeclared voters.

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Henan province, in Central China, plans to promote a growing technique that allows farmers to plant corn more densely and increase yields this year, the provincial government said.

The method has been adopted by 70 corn growing counties across the province and applied in more than 46,700 hectares of cornfields, the province's agriculture and rural affairs bureau said.

The technology, developed by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences' Zhongyuan Research Center, will be expanded to another 20 million hectares of land this year, the bureau said.

Ping Xishuan, the bureau official in charge of promoting farming techniques, said Henan is a major area for growing corn, and many cornfields are equipped with irrigation facilities, which is a prerequisite for expanding the dense planting technique.

Li Shaokun, a plant scientist at the research center, said it had tailored the technique for the sunlight, temperature and access to irrigation water in Henan, where the average corn output of 6 metric tons per hectare trails the national average.

The approach, which also involves the control of fertilizers and pesticides, can help increase yields by up to 4.5 tons per hectare while also increasing the efficiency of water use.
Opelika police have reached their $15,000 fundraising goal to build a custom bronze statue memorializing Amore Wiggins, the young Opelika girl whose remains went unidentified more than 10 years after her death.

Allison Duke, OPDs community relations administrator, has sent renderings and images of Wiggins to Bronzeman, an art dealer based out of Thousand Oaks, California. Theyre building a clay mold for the sculpture.

Being able to memorialize her in this way allows our department and the entire community to honor her short life. Opelika is a special place, and this is a small way to honor a child who became a part of our family, Duke said.

The clay will allow OPD to get the most accurate depiction of what Wiggins would have looked like if she lived to age. Once finalized, a mold will be created from the clay to use for the bronze statue.

Wiggins mother Sherry Wiggins has expressed her gratitude to the Opelika community, detectives and those who donated to the memorial project. .

Without the over pouring love and support, honestly, I probably wouldnt be having the little strength that I have. I probably wouldnt have regained it as soon as I did, Wiggins said in an earlier interview.

Duke said the custom bronze statue costs $12,500, said theyre in the process of ordering a bench. Its unclear how much the bench will costs, but any remaining funds will be donated to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in Wiggins name.

When a child is reported missing to law enforcement, federal law requires that child be entered into the FBIs National Crime Information Center (NCIC).

In 2022, there were 359,094 NCIC entries for missing children, according to the FBI. In 2021, the total number of missing child entries into NCIC was 337,195.

As the national clearinghouse on missing and exploited children issues, NCMEC identifies trends and creates educational resources to address the changing needs of children, families and communities. The agency provides safety and prevention resources for families and child-serving professionals.

NCMEC helped authorities identity Wiggins, whose remains were unrecognizable when authorities found them in a wooded area near Brookhaven Trailer Park off Hurst Street on Jan. 28, 2012.

Investigators learned that the remains belonged to a young girl between the ages of 4 and 7. They determined she was killed in 2010 or 2011. Evidence shows she suffering from malnourished and physically abuse, according to Opelika police.

In August 2016, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children released updated composite images of the victim. New technology allowed NCMEC to create a new facial reconstruction and complete new forensic testing.

The photo showed a young girl with medium-length black hair that was styled in small, tight curls. She was wearing the shirt that was recovered with her remains, a long-sleeve pink shirt with heart buttons and ruffles on the neckline.

In January 2023, investigators identified the young girl as Wiggins.

Her biological father, Lamar Vickerstaff Jr., and his wife, Ruth Vickerstaff, were charged and taken into custody. Lamar Vickerstaff faces one count of murder, while Ruth Vickerstaff faces one count of failure to report a missing child.

Since her remains were discovered in January 2012, our officers worked tirelessly to not only identify this innocent child but get justice for her, Duke said.

PHOTOS: Amore Wiggins memorial service
What does a plane-friendly version of John Wick even look like?

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I saw john wick 3 on a plane and it was normal?

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Ive only watched the first one and iirc it wouldve been cut for sure

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American flights never cut violence, just lgbtq content 

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I wonder if they have ever accidentally shown a movie with a plane crash during a flight.

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I know in the past scenes involving any flight danger were cut out.

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i was on a plane with a bunch of flight attendants and we all were watching mayday lmao

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Ticket to Paradise has some minor plane turbulence in it lol.

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watched a man called otto the other day & that is def not a film id wanna watch on a plane

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A man called Otto made me cry, dont watch that shit on a plane

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I usually end up watching stuff I didn't get to in theaters and am not really invested in on planes. My husband and I both watched the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie on our flight back to LA last week. It was okay - definitely not mad we didn't prioritize seeing in theaters. Ayo was great, but the pop culture jokes probably won't age well.



I'll occasionally watch an old fave if there's nothing promising showing, so I suppose that falls under the "comforting favorite" banner.

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I do the same - rarely rewatch anything familiar and instead find international flights are the best way to catch up on stuff I never got round to.



Might be an attention-span/adhd/anxiety thing; a lot of the time at home I shy away from watching something new because I don't want to commit my full attention to it, whereas on a plane there's nothing else to do.

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Comedies or maybe a mindless action film.

Can't handle stressful movies, being a nervous flyer. And I don't want to cry in front of strangers. I always end up watching animated films.

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I always watch old films (black and white, preferably) on planes, they turn into radio plays generally if you need to shut your eyes for a bit. And they're always pretty PG.

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The one time I was on a plane with a screen (most of my flights are less than an hour so we don't get those planes), I watched a solid 15 minutes of the Ben Hur remake from 2016 and couldn't tell anyone apart. Most of the time I'm listening to a podcast and looking at the clouds.

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I watched The Blackening and No Hard Feelings back in October.

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last summer i had an international flight where i watched dungeons and dragons (rewatch), the pope's exorcist (great plane movie), and antman: quantumania (bad even for being on a plane) and my flight still wasn't over

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bad even for being on a plane



feeling like you wasted time watching something on a damn plane... the worst!

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I watched the first 3 John Wick movies when I was flying to Europe lol. I had recently seen the 4th movie so I decided to watch the other 3 and boy did that not help my jet lag lol

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for some reason, watching or reading anything on a plane makes me feel sick. I wish I could, to pass the time since god being stuck in that seat is terrible, but it's like motion sickness despite it being a smooth ride

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Ugh, travel sickness is the absolute worst type of nausea. I'm like that in cars etc, boats (my sworn enemy), trains and small planes, but luckily do okay on big international flights - though even on those I can't read for long without a headache and wooziness.



Podcasts are a godsend for we travel sickness sufferers.



Drugs, also.

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Give me some alcohol, my earbuds, pillow and eye mask and leave me alone until we land.

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I watched A Man Called Otto with my parents and that garbage film deserves its place on the back of a (reclined) plane seat

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Also I know it's barely 2024 but I've already seen so much antisemitic shit on my socials.

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I get that they want to acknowledge other kids that he saved too, but they didn't acknowledge what other kids were there either so why bother making a politically charged movie....without specifying the politics?!

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I really feel like there's a whole gross happy holocaust industry that is designed to appeal to goys and the final step is just completely ignoring the fact that Jewish people (especially children and babies!!!) were targeted by the nazis.



This is not the first time I've seen people attempt to decentralize Jewish people from holocaust memorials. It's revolting.



It would have been so easy to include all the children by talking about "Jewish children and other children targeted by the Nazis" but noooooo.

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Yeh it's getting insane levels

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At an NHL game recently, people started loudly booing when they put Happy Hanukkah on the screen.



Edited at 2024-01-05 05:06 pm (UTC)

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Me too, I've had to block a lot of accounts on social media lately

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The trailer came out 3 months ago and didn't mention the word "Jewish" at all. The description does, but that could've been easily changed following the controversy. Hitler is mentioned and there's nazi flags visible, maybe they thought that enough? IDEK.







Edited at 2024-01-05 02:06 am (UTC)

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oh i was wondering if this was the story of the guy who was surprised by all the kids he saved on tv when they were all adults!

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I've noticed this in academia, too, as someone who has a related focus on Jewish history and arts. Students want to fight against the notion of the history of the Holocaust as focusing on Jewish extermination. Lots of "but what about the XYZ population?" Yes, of course people of different identities died, and they should be acknowledged, but this was very much a targeted genocide against Jewish people...



But I don't teach much anymore, tbh. The "what about" shit is exhausting and I can barely get anything done without being accused of some shit. (Not me personally, but colleagues certainly have been. My Black colleague being accused of "upholding white supremacist values" by a white girl... I'm tired.) And yes I'm liberal etc. but it's still exhausting.

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As someone who studied medieval history and religion (focus on Christianity) the glossing over of Jewish suffering during that period truly astounded me while I was at university. I had classmates that were confused as to why we were studying medieval Jewish history. I was stunned.

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This made me realize I don't really know anything about Jewish history in the medieval period.

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whataboutism is a disease lately

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pretty much. i'm not jewish, but we had family die in the holocaust. that fact doesn't discount that the main target and victim groups were jewish people.

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Its really crazy. I have Jewish friends who had entire branches of their family tree killed in the Holocaust, its really not that far removed from today. The Jewish population still hasnt recovered, there are still only 14 million Jews globally.



If Im going to be completely honest, I think that because most Jews, or the image of Jews in media, are mostly white or white passing that younger generations cant really comprehend discrimination against Jews or what it looks like.

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Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in Hello! Your entry got to top-25 of the most popular entries in LiveJournal!Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in FAQ

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Harvard's president resigned the other day. Not because she wouldn't denounce people calling for the genocide of Jews...because of plagiarism allegations.

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were the students actually calling for the genocide of jews or were they just asking for a ceasefire/palestine's freedom???

i'm asking this genuinely bc i've seen plenty of zionists equate "free palestine" and a ceasefire with antisemitism and act like people want to all jews dead and not just palestinians alive

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I mean, in her Congressional hearing testimony, she would not even state that Harvard was against students calling for the genocide of Jews.

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The thing about antisemitism is that people have a much, much higher tolerance for it. It's always ambiguous, it always comes with caveats. Westerners will immediately drop the hammer on people saying "All Lives Matter" or "Blue Lives Matter" because we all know what those mean, but "from the river to the sea" or "Intifada", let's debate those, who can really say, maybe it means something else, etc.



Jewish people have explained that that chant is, and has always been, about the land being free of Jews from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. Nobody cares.

Frozen

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Yes. Yes they were. Also, when Jewish students kept saying how unsafe they feel, action shouldve been taken immediately. Not to mention that she was asked do you think calling for the killing of Jews wrong and she said hmmmm depends on context.

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Being anti-Israel or anti-zionist is not antisemitic, and I dont believe people on ONTD are in supporting Palestine. But I think theres a blatant disregard or lack of reconciling that for a lot of people outside of progressive online spaces, there is a LOT of conflation of Zionists with Jews and and a current rise in antisemitism within the Free Palestine movement. See, what I said above which is that there was loud, active booing at a hockey game when the screens posted Happy Hanukkah - Ive never seen that before, and it was in Detroit with a large pro-Palestine and Arabic population and its hard to not see that in connection with whats happening in Palestine. So when we say being pro-Palestine is not antisemitic, thats true for most of us, for many people outside of certain spaces they DO see Israel and Jews as one and the same and I feel like people dont want to address it - for fear of harming the pro-Palestine movement or seeming pro-Israel or something? Im not sure.



To be clear, I support a free Palestine but things like this are concerning and scary for many Jews.

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I cant believe Elise pick me Stefanik come out on top during that.

She used to be a purple-ish, then the MAGA worms ate her brain.

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the rise in antisemitism and just general way people have been treating jews the past few months has been horrifying

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A lot of times I feel like marketing is far too often just a succession of terrible, idiotic choices tbh

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I'm a little confused (and maybe naive?), because isn't it obvious that most of the children were Jewish? Who else would he have saved at that particular time and in that particular place? The post gives the impression that omitting the word was a conscious and malevolent choice, but at a linguistic level it feels like saying, "the match was watched by 50,000 people, the majority of whom were football fans". Who else would it be?



Do people think the studio consciously omitted "Jews/Jewish/etc", or is it just that the current climate means that they should have been more conscious of including it? (Does that make sense?)



Edited at 2024-01-05 03:54 am (UTC)

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The reason not to omit it is because the Holocaust was about Jews and there are many who would seek to deny this happened.





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i first saw this clip a long time ago and still watch it periodically because it's so touching

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The moment when he realizes who is in the audience always gets me.

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oh I've seen this clip before, it's beautiful. I didn't know that was what this movie was about.

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Wait. They did not use Central European? What did they use then?

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ANYWAYS, I'm just not surprised by anything anymore. We're all fucked. And I definitely won't be able to watch this, literally, because I will be crying too much to see. Shoah movies make me sob.

Interesting that Helena Bonham Carter is in this -- her grandparents on both sides (maternal were Jewish) helped lots of European Jews flee -- https://www.algemeiner.com/2024/01/02/helena-bonham-carter-says-she-was-born-play-role-film-holocaust-rescuer-nicholas-winton/ ANYWAYS, I'm just not surprised by anything anymore. We're all fucked. And I definitely won't be able to watch this, literally, because I will be crying too much to see. Shoah movies make me sob.

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Movies about the Shoah break my heart. Im Jewish on my dads side and while my direct family came here in the late 1800s because of antisemitism and pogroms I know I must have distant relatives who didnt survive. And even that maybe is enough to make me cry. Ugh, Im tearing up now. The vile hatred is still painful to this day.

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I saw a comment on Instagram on Hanukkah that said being openly Jewish right now is rude and insensitive. And when I asked if theres a time to be Jewish and a time not to be that person said yes. So really, at this point. Not surprised. About anything.

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I saw that people were all over Pink's instagram for making a Hanukkah post. so infuriating.

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This was everywhere and continues in all Jewish spaces. I mean. hell, you shouldve seen the commentary on the Chanukah posts from Sesame Street. Elmo was being called all kinds of names.

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Winton helped save the lives of over 600 children  the majority of them Jewish  from the Nazis during World War II. I would think that even if the word 'Jewish' is not mentioned in the trailer/publicity stuff people would know enough about the 2 World War to know he saved (mostly) Jewish kids... I don't get the big deal.

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what was that survey recently that 1/5 American young people think the Holocaust is a hoax? assuming people know things is a big leap nowadays

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ty The reason not to omit it is because the Holocaust was about Jews and there are many who would seek to deny this happened. Coping whatsaid above:

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Despite a decline in the number of drilling rigs, U.S. crude oil production jumped to record-high levels last year to blunt the impact of OPECs oil supply-management policies. The growth in U.S. shale over the past year was one of the biggest surprises on the market; while everyone expected production to increase, few had predicted that the rise in output would be so fast and so high.

The year 2023 saw the U.S. hit a record crude oil production level of over 13.2 million barrels per day (bpd)more than any other country in history.

Booming output was typical of the previous shale booms of 2012-2014 before the 2015-2016 price crash, and 2018-2019 before the Covid-inflicted price collapse and pain on the industry.

A decade of booms and busts and global marketsalso influenced by decisions made by OPEC+ and OPECappears to have finally imparted a lesson to U.S. producers: drilling for the sake of drilling and raising production without profitability and returns to shareholders is doomed.

After the pandemic crushed demand, sank prices, and triggered another round of bankruptcies in the shale patch, the U.S. oil industry now looks changed, and in a much better position to ramp up or maintain production even at lower oil prices.

This time, the industry mindset is different from the previous cycles. Capital discipline, returns to investors, and paying down debts have taken precedence over increasing production at any cost. Meanwhile, efficiency has improved, allowing shale producers to pump more oil with fewer rigs by drilling longer lateral wells and deploying the rigs to the highest-yielding areas.

Efficiency

Despite the falling rig count, U.S. crude oil production hit monthly record highs in the third quarter of 2023, boosted by productivity gains and more efficient operations. U.S. exploration and production companies are drilling longer laterals and deploying rigs to the most promising areas to get more bang for their buck. Related: Freezing Weather To Test Europes Natural Gas Supply Resilience

The oil and gas firms operating from the Permian to Marcellus shale plays are drilling increasingly deeper lateral wells as drilling rigs are fewer, but wells are longer.

Despite the loss of active drilling rigs, shale firms are producing more oil and gas and have even exceeded some skeptical projections from earlier in 2023.

The total rig count was 622 in the last week of 2023, Baker Hughes estimated. In one year, the U.S. industry had lost 157 active drilling rigs, but U.S. oil production has grown by 1.377 million bpd, according to the most recent EIA data published on Friday.

The U.S. shale patch is now looking to do more with less as it seeks capital and operational efficiency to prove to shareholders that it has turned the page from growth at all costs to measured growth accompanied by higher returns to investors.

Even some of the most prominent industry leaders have been surprised by the surge in U.S. oil production in 2023.

For example, Scott Sheffield, chief executive of Pioneer Natural Resources, which will be acquired by Exxon, told the Financial Times in December that he was very surprised by the U.S. oil production growthdouble the increase Sheffield expected one year ago.

Because of that theres a good chance we may reach 15mn barrels a day within five years, Sheffield told FT, referring to the expected U.S. crude oil production.

U.S. oil output overwhelmingly exceeded earlier forecasts and grew at a much faster pace in 2023, offsetting much of the OPEC+ efforts to push up prices by coordinated supply reductions.

U.S. production hit a new monthly record of 13.252 million bpd in September and kept the pace at 13.248 million bpd in October, according to data from the EIA.

Many analysts predict that the U.S. oil output increase will slacken in 2024. But others, including industry officials, see the estimates of production growth by the EIA as too conservative for 2024 and believe that U.S. shale production could top projections again.

Discipline

Thirty-three percent of U.S. industry executives expect their firm to increase slightly capital spending in 2024 compared to 2023, according to the latest Dallas Fed Energy Survey from December. The second most selected response was remain close to 2023 levels, selected by 26%, followed by decrease slightly, selected by 18%.

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The shale patch isnt busting the capital discipline adopted after the price crash of 2020 and relies on productivity and efficiency gains.

Those efficiency gains may not peak in 2024, according to Robert Clarke, Vice-President, Upstream Research, at Wood Mackenzie.

While total upstream capital spending in the Lower 48 states is set to drop this year, for a second year in a row, total Lower 48 production of both oil and gas will continue to rise, setting new records for each, Clarke said in WoodMacs 10 predictions for energy in 2024.

Muted movement in the rig count will be more than offset by continued improvement in drilling speeds and pad cycle times, completion efficiencies and improved project execution, Clarke added.

All this serves as a reminder of just how lean and mean US shale has become.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
- The long-anticipated launch of the Trans Mountain Expansion (TMX) pipeline has been a rallying call for Canadian upstream producers to ramp up operations, benefitting from a new export conduit. - Delays in TMXs commissioning have restrained Canadas export options, with the WTI-WCS spread widening from a $12 per barrel discount in July to -$25 per barrel over the winter months, as exporters need to rely on costly crude-by-rail options. - Despite weak differentials and protracted wildfires earlier in 2023, crude production from Albertas oil sands are still set to increase by 3% year-on-year, adding 90,000 b/d to a new record level of 3.345 million b/d. - With Canadas oil industry expecting the start of pipeline fills in the 590,000 b/d TMX lines between March and May, the price of Canadas benchmark WCS is expected to strengthen to a $13-15 per barrel discount to WTI again.

Numbers Report  January 05, 2024 In the latest edition of the Numbers Report, we will take a look at some of the most interesting figures put out this week in the energy and metals sectors. Each week well dig into some data and provide a bit of explanation on what drives the numbers. Lets take a look.

Numbers Report  January 05, 2024



In the latest edition of the Numbers Report, we will take a look at some of the most interesting figures put out this week in the energy and metals sectors. Each week well dig into some data and provide a bit of explanation on what drives the numbers.

Lets take a look.

1. 2024 Should Have Been Canadas Year, Might Still Be

- The long-anticipated launch of the Trans Mountain Expansion (TMX) pipeline has been a rallying call for Canadian upstream producers to ramp up operations, benefitting from a new export conduit.

- Delays in TMXs commissioning have restrained Canadas export options, with the WTI-WCS spread widening from a $12 per barrel discount in July to -$25 per barrel over the winter months, as exporters need to rely on costly crude-by-rail options.

- Despite weak differentials and protracted wildfires earlier in 2023, crude production from Albertas oil sands are still set to increase by 3% year-on-year, adding 90,000 b/d to a new record level of 3.345 million b/d.

- With Canadas oil industry expecting the start of pipeline fills in the 590,000 b/d TMX lines between March and May, the price of Canadas benchmark WCS is expected to strengthen to a $13-15 per barrel discount to WTI again.

2. China Becomes Worlds Largest LNG Buyer, Overtaking Japan

- Benefitting from its first full year of post-pandemic normality, China has regained the title of the worlds largest buyer of LNG, surpassing Japan as it imported nearly 71 million tonnes LNG in 2023.

- China is set to drive global LNG demand growth despite lower economic growth at home, with its imports slated to increase by almost 20% to 84 million tonnes through 2025, adding a further 50 million tonnes to its import tally by 2030.

- Natural gas still accounts for a mere 8.5% of Chinas total energy mix and the countrys goal of gradually lowering its exposure to coal might trigger a price war between Europe and East Asia for incremental LNG volumes.

- According to Kpler data, Australia and Qatar were the top suppliers to China, accounting for 34% and 23% of the market, respectively, with US imports of LNG still subdued around 3 million tonnes, a quarter of their 2021 aggregate.

3. US Solar Firms Rail Against White House Tariff Moratorium

- US solar companies are challenging the Biden administrations moratorium blocking tariffs on solar panels produced in Southeast Asia, believed to be used as Chinese tariff circumvention tactics by assembling equipment in Vietnam, Thailand or Malaysia.

- Module-makers Auxin Solar and Concept Clean Energy argue that the White House had no legal basis to introduce a tariff holiday for these countries, providing Chinese firms with unfettered US market access.

- Even though US solar service firms have amassed huge stocks of panels in anticipation of a tariff snapback come June 2024, should the US Court of International Trade side with the plaintiffs, the solar industrys supply chains might come under severe pressure again.

- As direct US imports of solar panels from China have declined, the four Southeast Asian countries (Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and Cambodia) account for 77% of all incoming solar shipments.

4. UK Nuclear Generation Plummets to 40-Year Lows

- The United Kingdom is aiming to reach net zero emissions by 2050, intending to more than triple its nuclear generating capacity from 7 GW to 24 GW by 2050, however in the interim operational delays might jeopardize its low-carbon targets.

- Electricity generation from Britains nuclear power plants slumped to the lowest level since the early 1980s last year, coming in at 37 TWh following the closure of two Hinkley Point reactors earlier in 2022.

- The first UK nuclear plant to be built in more than three decades, the $30 billion Hinkley Point C, has been plagued by cost overruns and project delays and even its current start-up date, 5 years later than initially assumed, might be too ambitious.

- As London would need to add more than 16 GW of nuclear capacity in the next decade at a cost of more than $190 billion, industry watchers are starting to doubt if the UKs nuclear ambition can match its real capabilities.

5. US Ethanol Industry Firms Up on Solid 2023 Margins

- The US ethanol industry is still hoping on policy support from the Biden administration after ethanol prices plunged to their lowest levels since January 2021 by year-end 2023, driven by weaker gasoline sentiment and high production.

- The US Environmental Protection Agency is expected to issue a final rule on the year-round sale of E15 gasoline by March 28, a decision that could be a huge victory for ethanol producers, as lobbied by eight Midwest states.

- According to S&P Global, ethanol production in the United States should trend sideways in 2024, slightly above the 1 million b/d mark, despite domestic demand increasing to 910,000 b/d.

- For the first time in the past decade, margins for US ethanol producers have remained positive throughout 2023, buoyed by tight stocks (especially in the East Coast) as well as cheap corn prices.

6. China Consolidates Its Clout As the Worlds Top Cobalt Producer

- Chinas CMOC Group has become the largest cobalt producer globally after boosting its production of the metal by more than 170% last year, churning out 55,526 metric tonnes from its giant Congolese mines.

- Surpassing Glencore that only produced 42,000 tonnes this year, CMOC has been the main culprit for the steep decline in cobalt prices that started 2023 at $52,000/mt and ended it at a meagre $29,150/mt.

- The surplus in global cobalt markets is set to remain in place throughout 2024, widening even to 25,000 metric tonnes as supply of refined cobalt is expected to grow a further 15.8% year-on-year to 257,000 metric tonnes.

- Cobalt is also facing pressures from no-cobalt EV technologies such as lithium-iron-phosphate batteries (LFP), also prompted by human rights concerns as cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo has seen a flurry of child labour scandals.

7. Libyas Internecine Fights Lead to Shut Production Again

- The relative lull in Libyas troubled oil politics has come to end after protestors took over and shut down the 300,000 b/d El Sharara field, the largest in the country, just as project operator Repsol was readying to start exploration drilling around the field, for the first time in years.

- The protests were reportedly driven by grievances related to poor government services and lack of infrastructure spending, however, they have also coincided with Libyas ongoing dilemma over a new $5 billion oil project.

- Libyas Tripoli-based prime minster Abdelhamid Dbeibeh backtracked on the NC-07 project, to be jointly developed by ENI, TotalEnergies, ADNOC and Turkish Energy, after domestic opposition decried the 40% share of production for the Western consortium.

- According to Kpler, the blockade of the Sharara stream did not immediately halt export flows as the Minerva Sophia tanker loaded a full cargo of the Libyan grade on January 4, two days after the protests started.

Thats it for this weeks Numbers Report. Thanks for reading, and well see you next week.
-Two of Talos Energys nat gas deepwater discoveries in the GoMtied back to its Ram Powell tension-leg platformcame online in December, the company said this week. The two discoveries, Lime Rock and Venice, achieved a rate of 18,500 boepd, 45% of which is oil, in late December. The combined gross ultimate recoverable resources of the discoveries

-Lebanon has launched its third oil and gas exploration licensing round, with bids for the nine blocks offered due by 2 July 2024, despite the ongoing threat of conflict with Israel. Blocks 1-10 will be auctioned off, with the exception of Block 9, which went to a consortium of TotalEnergies, Eni and Novatek in 2017.

-Protests in Libya that have led to the shutdown of the Sharara oilfield, the countrys largest, are also putting upward pressure on oil prices. Protesters are demanding better public service and development in southern Libya. The Sharara field has a 300,000 barrel-per-day capacity and has been the target of protests in the past, most recently in July this year. Libya is currently producing around 1.2 million bpd and is targeting a ramp-up to 2 million bpd by 2030. Oil prices reacted to this shut-in (and rising Middle East tensions) earlier in the week by rising, gaining as much as 3% at one point on Wednesday. However, on Thursday, fears of a loss of Libyan supply were counterbalanced by fears of slackening demand.

Politics, Geopolitics & Conflict

-Protests in Libya that have led to the shutdown of the Sharara oilfield, the countrys largest, are also putting upward pressure on oil prices. Protesters are demanding better public service and development in southern Libya. The Sharara field has a 300,000 barrel-per-day capacity and has been the target of protests in the past, most recently in July this year. Libya is currently producing around 1.2 million bpd and is targeting a ramp-up to 2 million bpd by 2030. Oil prices reacted to this shut-in (and rising Middle East tensions) earlier in the week by rising, gaining as much as 3% at one point on Wednesday. However, on Thursday, fears of a loss of Libyan supply were counterbalanced by fears of slackening demand.

-Lebanon has launched its third oil and gas exploration licensing round, with bids for the nine blocks offered due by 2 July 2024, despite the ongoing threat of conflict with Israel. Blocks 1-10 will be auctioned off, with the exception of Block 9, which went to a consortium of TotalEnergies, Eni and Novatek in 2017.

Discovery & Development

-Two of Talos Energys nat gas deepwater discoveries in the GoMtied back to its Ram Powell tension-leg platformcame online in December, the company said this week. The two discoveries, Lime Rock and Venice, achieved a rate of 18,500 boepd, 45% of which is oil, in late December. The combined gross ultimate recoverable resources of the discoveries are between 20 and 30 million boe.

-Galp Energia reported signs of hydrocarbons from its Mopane-1X probe in Namibias Orange basin in PEL 93. The company said it is too early to call it a discovery.

-Dubais Dragon Oil has kicked off production of oil from the Al Wasl offshore oilfield in Egyptits first in the country. Production began at a rate of 3,000 bpd.

Deals, Mergers & Acquisitions

-APA Corp.--the parent company of Apache Corporationwill buy Callon Petroleum in a deal worth $4.5B in an all stock deal. This will give APA prime acreage in the Permian. APA will retire Callons $1.9B of debt.

-Civitas Resources closed its deal this week with Vitols Vencer Energy for the acquisition of 44,000 acres in the Permians Midland Basin. Estimated production is 62,000 boepd. This will bump up Civitas production in the area to 170,000 boepd, 50% of which is oil. Included in the sale were 400 development locations.

-Iberdrola SAs US unit Avangrid has canceled the $4.3B agreement to purchase New Mexicos utility PNM Resources Inc due to final regulatory approvals not being received by year end. New Mexico regulators had blocked the deal in 2021, and while PNM had agreed to an extension beyond Dec 31, 2023, Avangrid backed out when the deadline expired.

-Pattern Energy Group closed an $11B financing deal and has commenced construction on the SunZia Transmission and SunZia Wind projectswhich it hails as the largest clean energy infrastructure project in the U.S with the ability to transport 3,000MW of wind-generated electricity across Western states.

-Australias Karoon Energy closed a $720 million acquisition of a 30% stake in the Who Dat and Dome Patrol oil and gas fields and a 10% stake in the Abilene field offshore Louisiana from LLOG Exploration Offshore and LLOG Omega Holdings.
Angola is planning to maintain oil production above 1 million barrels daily, which is why it left OPEC, the natural resources minister of the West African country has revealed.

The second-largest OPEC producer on the continent quit the cartel at the end of last year, surprising many observers of OPEC policies.

"This organization no longer aligns with Angola's values and interests," Diamantino Azevedo, minister of natural resources, said this week, as quoted by Bloomberg. He added that OPEC had assigned "production quotas challenging our actual capabilities and needs, we made the formal decision to withdraw our country."

In fact, per an OPEC breakdown of the individual production quotas for members, Angola is supposed to be producing above 1 million barrels daily this year: its quota was last set at 1.11 million bpd, per the latest OPEC agreement. However, it is a palpable reduction from a previous quota, agreed in November, which saw the country's production rate at 1.28 million bpd for this year.

That reduction of 170,000 bpd clearly went against the grain in Luanda, which has ambitions in oil production growth after a decade of continual decline due to depletion and underinvestment in new exploration. Related: Germany Slashed Natural Gas Imports by 33% in 2023

Ten years ago, Angola was pumping some 1.8 million bpd. Last year, its output dipped below 1 million bpd before rebounding around the 1.0-million-bpd mark. The latest data shows a rate of production of 1.14 million bpd for October and 1.08 million bpd for November.

Meanwhile, Equinor announced the purchase of stakes in two exploration blocks in the West African oil producer. The Norwegian major is already a big investor in Angolan oil and is now deepening this commitment.

"To continue our mission to create sustainable value and meet the future's energy needs, we believe that new exploration is still needed," a senior Equinor executive said on LinkedIn in comments on the deal. The blocks will be operated by a joint venture with two other oil majors: BP and Eni.

Angola's exit from OPEC came amid reports about disagreements about the new 2024 quotas. The sources of the disagreements: Angola and Nigeria. Both countries were reported to be unhappy with their new quotas because they wanted to boost production rather than keep it at current levels or even reduce it.

At the time, some commentators suggested the disagreements might lead to a breakup within OPEC, and they turned out to be right. Even earlier in the year, in June, when Angola was once again in opposition to quotas, nobody seemed to expect it to leave. It appears they should have.

"The seeds of this exit were laid in June," RBC Capital Markets' Helima Croft told the FT in December after Angola announced its exit. At the June meeting, OPEC decided to have a third party establish a baseline for oil production to be used to set the quotas. Angola was not a fan of the idea.

"In addition, Angola has been one of the moodier members, having staged multiple meeting walkouts in recent years at the secretariat," Croft also said at the time.

In other words, Angola's exit from OPEC should have been expected, and for a while now. It is not the first time a member leaves, and it probably won't be the last. It has happened before when a member finds its own energy policy goes against OPEC's, just like Angola has now.

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The country needs greater oil revenues to fill its empty coffers. To do that, it would need higher production. But to do that, Angola would need a major increase in oil investments. According to some, these investments would most logically come from the international supermajors, although others have noted that it may open a wider window for Chinese investments in the West African oil producer.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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In Iraq, the U.S. military carried out an attack in Baghdad targeting a pro-Iranian militia (Harakat al Nujaba) leader said to be behind recent attacks on U.S. personnel in Iraq. The Iraqi prime ministers military spokesperson condemned the attack on an Iraqi security entity operating with the PMs authorization. Of course, the PM (Sudani) is beholden to pro-Iranian militia figures who helped him win the election and who also happen to have a highly influential bloc in the ruling coalition. This aspect of the Middle

In the Red Sea, Maersk found five container ships stranded, managing to reroute four of them back through the Suez Canal. Last Saturday, the Houthis attacked another Maersk ship.

With respect to Iran, two explosions presumed to be by suicide bombers along the road to the cemetery to mark the 2020 assassination of prominent Iranian general Qassem Soleimani killed as many as 100 people earlier this week. While initially no one claimed responsibility, the Islamic State claimed the attack just a day later, with Iran vowing revenge. While IS has claimed responsibility, Iranian government-controlled TV was airing footage of crowds across the country chanting Death to Israel and America.

While Israel is now withdrawing forces from Gaza under pressure to pursue lower-level combat operations, external incidents continue to escalate from Lebanon and Iraq to the Red Sea shipping lanes and inside Iran.

While Israel is now withdrawing forces from Gaza under pressure to pursue lower-level combat operations, external incidents continue to escalate from Lebanon and Iraq to the Red Sea shipping lanes and inside Iran.

With respect to Iran, two explosions presumed to be by suicide bombers along the road to the cemetery to mark the 2020 assassination of prominent Iranian general Qassem Soleimani killed as many as 100 people earlier this week. While initially no one claimed responsibility, the Islamic State claimed the attack just a day later, with Iran vowing revenge. While IS has claimed responsibility, Iranian government-controlled TV was airing footage of crowds across the country chanting Death to Israel and America.

In the Red Sea, Maersk found five container ships stranded, managing to reroute four of them back through the Suez Canal. Last Saturday, the Houthis attacked another Maersk ship.

In Iraq, the U.S. military carried out an attack in Baghdad targeting a pro-Iranian militia (Harakat al Nujaba) leader said to be behind recent attacks on U.S. personnel in Iraq. The Iraqi prime ministers military spokesperson condemned the attack on an Iraqi security entity operating with the PMs authorization. Of course, the PM (Sudani) is beholden to pro-Iranian militia figures who helped him win the election and who also happen to have a highly influential bloc in the ruling coalition. This aspect of the Middle East conflict is highly likely to escalate further. There has been a clear increase in momentum and intensification of attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq by pro-Iranian militias. These attacks are primarily used to provoke a response (such as that from earlier this week) that gives pro-Iranian groups power to pressure Baghdad to get the Americans out.

Retaliation is also high on the agenda in Lebanon, where a suspected Israeli drone strike was used in the assassination of senior Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri, placing Hezbollah in a tricky position as it has been trying to avoid full-on war with Israel.

There are a million moving, external parts in what started as a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7. There are just as many agendas  an Israeli leader who required this development in order to form a unity government; Yemeni Houthis who have seen an opportunity to gain regional leverage by jumping on the anti-Israel bandwagon (very successfully); the Saudis, who are performing a high-risk balancing to maintain newly restored diplomatic relations with Iran; and Iraq, which gets torn down the middle each time there is a ripple of upset in the Middle East.
Asias LNG imports jumped in December to a record-high for any month in history as China regained the top importer spot from Japan and lower spot prices incentivized purchases.

Last month, imports of LNG into Asia rose to 26.61 million metric tons, per data from commodity analysts Kpler cited by Reuters columnist Clyde Russell. Imports increased from the November level of 23.35 million tons and were also higher than the previous Asian LNG import record of 26.15 million tons set in January 2021, according to the data Kpler has compiled.

China, Japan, and South Korea all saw higher LNG imports in December, with Japanese purchases at the highest level since January 2023 and South Korean imports at their highest since February 2021, per Kplers estimates.

Despite the surge in LNG imports, Asias spot LNG prices fell at the end of 2023 to their lowest level in four months, as Asian demand was tepid in the autumn and exports from the top LNG exporters, the United States, Australia, and Qatar, also surged.

In the week to December 29, the average LNG price for February delivery into northeast Asia fell to $11.70 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) from $11.90 per MMBtu in the previous week, to the lowest levels since August, industry sources told Reuters.

In 2023, China regained the top LNG importer spot from Japan, as Beijings LNG imports increased by 12% to nearly 71 million tons, ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg showed earlier this week.

High LNG import levels in China and the rest of Asia could create more competition for LNG supply to Europe, which is now more dependent on the super-chilled fuel for its natural gas supply after the loss of a large part of the Russian pipeline gas supply.

The relative calmness in the LNG market in recent months could turn into volatile turbulence again if fresh supply concerns emerge and if this winter is really cold in Europe and/or Asia.

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As early as next week, a prolonged cold snap is forecast to grip most of northwestern Europe to last for most of January, testing Europes natural gas supply and energy infrastructure.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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GAIL (India) has signed a long-term LNG deal with Vitol, under which the top commodity trader will supply around 1 million metric tons of LNG annually for 10 years starting in 2026, the Indian state-held firm said on Friday.

As part of the deal, Vitol will deliver LNG from its global LNG portfolio to GAIL in India. GAIL owns and operates a network of over 16,000 kilometers (9,942 miles) of natural gas pipelines in India and works on multiple pipeline projects to further enhance the gas supply and coverage. GAIL has around 70% market share in gas transmission and a share of over 50% in gas trading in India.

The agreement will contribute to bridging Indias demand and supply gap of natural gas, GAIL chairman and managing director Sandeep Kumar Gupta said in a statement.

India is a significant and growing LNG market and we are excited to bring LNG supply from our global LNG portfolio to meet this rising natural gas demand in India, Vitol Groups chief executive Russell Hardy said.

India plans to significantly increase its natural gas consumption as it looks to boost its share in the energy mix from 6.3% now to 15% by the end of this decade.

But the country and its LNG importers are particularly sensitive to surging spot LNG prices and often retreat from the spot market when prices jump. Therefore, India and its large state firms are looking to sign long-term LNG supply deals.

Earlier this week, Indias Oil Secretary Pankaj Jain said that Petronet LNG, the largest natural gas importer in India, expects to sign later this month an agreement to extend its LNG supply deal with Qatar beyond 2028.

We are pretty close to signing the deal, Jain told reporters in New Delhi on Wednesday, as carried by Reuters.

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Qatar, one of the worlds top LNG exporters, prefers to sign long-term agreements with its buyers, and had given its Indian customers until the end of 2023 to negotiate possible extension and/or renewal of the current agreements beyond 2028.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Home > 2024 > India and the World: Loud claims, little ground support | Apratim (...)

Of late, Narendra Modis loud declarations and slogans are failing to match the ground realities. One can easily point out this inadequacy in the case of three specific instances in the sphere of foreign policy. As in all other sectors of governance, foreign policy is no longer the domain of foreign office diplomats and experts but is solely determined by the Prime Minister himself.

The concerned Minister S. Jaishankar has proved himself to be a faithful associate whose main job now is to communicate with Modis interlocutors, explain to them what the Indian leader wants on a specific issue, and get back to his superior to explain the global perception of a particular policy or stand that India has publicly taken, and travel around the world to sell Modis concepts and Indias claim to be advancing so fast that in a few years time this country will be beyond most nations reach.

However, we will examine how the outlier states are responding to Modes claims and demands. Take, for example, how the Maldives has just knocked out its giant neighbour in a subtle, well-executed manoeuvre to extinguish Indian presence in its territory. Of course, the Maldives latest India-specific policy would not have come about without encouragement from a very friendly, devilishly cunning China which is now easily sliding into the chair India has been obliged to vacate.

Indias present humiliating position vis-a-vis the Maldives did not come as an unpleasant surprise. Two likely developments were in the knowledge of New Delhi. One, that the previous friendly government would most likely be replaced by the present government which would fight the 2023 election on an anti-India plank. And two, that this is what has since happened. The Mohamed Muizzu government has been quick to change its policy towards India on the expected line. The most visible sight of Indian prevalence in the archipelago was the rather large presence of Indian soldiers on its soil. Thus, the Muizzu government has ensured that this irritating sight was removed at the very first opportunity.

However, the Muizzu governments decision not to renew the 2019 agreement under which India could conduct hydrographic survey in the Maldives territorial waters has been viewed in New Delhi as both anticipated and unfortunate. For one thing, this is in sharp contrast to various other countries in whose territorial waters India has conducted hydrographic surveys, and they are Kenya, Mauritious, Mozambique, Oman, Seyc helles, Sri Lanka and Tanzania. Males decision appears to be a function of domestic politics rather than diplomatic or economic interest. The recently-elected government of President Mohamed Muizzu campaigned on an India Out plank,. (The Indian Express editorial, December 16, 2023)

In November 2023, the country requested India to withdraw its troops from its territory, and earlier In December the same year the Maldves Vice-President Hussain Mohamed Latheef attended the Indian Ocean Forum organized by China while he skipped the Colombo Security Dialogue that involves India and other Indian Ocean states. The Muizzu Governments decision to withdraw from the agreement on the survey thus appears to be a clear signal that Male is not toning down its anti-Indian stance ignoring the recent meeting between Muizzu and Indian Prime Minister Modi on the sidelines of the COP28 in Dubai.

As has happened several times since the late-1940s, the domestic politics of individual South Asian countries have an outsize impact on their external policy determinants. Two factors appear to be rather salient in this respect. First, as the dominant economic and military power in the region., Indias position, role and attitudes make for easy political slogans. Second, Chinas substantive influence in the same region and its readiness and ability to deploy resources has given several regional countries a bargaining chip. The Maldives and Sri Lanka, for instance, have leveraged their geographical and geopolitical

To play all major powers---to name one such country, the USA---against each other in an era of renewed geopolitical competition. By itself, this is comprehensible---nations grat and small---use the hand they are dealt to maximize their interests. What is unfortunate in the current scenario is the Muizzu governments sacrificing of long-term common interests for the sake of short-term political gins.(ibid)

The Gaza Moment

Narendra Modis strengths, in a manner of speaking, are also causes for his weaknesses. Populism, which has brought about immense benefits to his domestic policies, has now begun to expose the weaknesses in his foreign policy. Populism and nationalism seem to have generated a belief in his own invincibility; and this was proved when, following the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, the Indian Prime Minister rushed to sympathize with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on October 10 to express his shock at the news of terrorist attacks on Israel. One may discern the absence of any Foreign Office advice in the making of this telephone call. It would be evident that as the United Nations General Assembly on October 12---just two days after Modi had talked with Netanyahu---a majority of the UN member-states had formed a different opinion of the Israel-Hamas conflict. This would imply that New Delhi had not consulted any other capital on the issue, and had not even considered Indias long association with the Palestinians, the only victim of the Israeli assaults on the Gaza Strip which was already in full swing.

The dynamics of international affairs moves very fast and at most times unpredictably so. Two days later Israels staunchest ally and protector from global animosity, the US President Joe Biden criticised for the first time Israels behaviour. Reuters reported from Cairo on December 13 that amid growing isolation, Biden said the indiscriminate bombing of civilians was costing international support. As a matter of fact, it was Netanyahus policy of giving the Israeli Defence Force a free hand to eradicate the Hamas, a recognized terror group, had clearly shot Israel in its foot. The undeclared Hamas attacks on Israel had initially shocked the whole world, and almost every non-Arab country had stood with the worlds only Jewish state. But as in retaliatory attacks, Israel showed its utter content for human lives and humanitarian values the world very quickly turned against Tel Aviv.

On December 22, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) managed to adopt a watered-down resolution calling for immediate speeded-up aid deliveries to hungry and desperate civilians in Gaza but without the original call for an urgent suspension of hostilities: between Israel and Hamas. The long-delayed vote in the 15-member council was 13-0 with the US and Russia abstaining. The vote came immediately after the United States vetoed a Russian amendment that would have restored the call for an immediate suspension of hostilities. That vote was ten countries in favour, the US against and four abstentions. The final-vote US abstention averted a send American veto of a Gaza resolution following the surprising Hamas attacks on October 7 inside Israel. A visibly relieved American ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the SC after the resolution was carried that This was tough but we got there. (Associated Press)

But Russias UN ambassador Vassily Nebenza called the resolution entirely toothless and accused the US of shameful, cynical and irresponsible conduct and resorting to tactics of gross pressure, , blackmail and and twisting arms to avoid a US veto. The final resolution, with some late changes on the morning of December 22, culminated a week and a half of high-level diplomacy by the United States, United Arab Emirates on behalf of Arab nations and others.

We, hence, come back to the question: Where was India all this time?

Definitely not on the side of the persecuted Palestinians, though that had been the Indian policy until Modi came on the scene. India is not presently among the GA member-nations who are periodically elected to the UNSC. But that would not restrict a non-SC member from campaigning on behalf of the Palestine Authority.

The US Alert

The Indian prime minister appears to be intent on maintaining that US-India relations are at an upward trajectory, and yet cold-shoulders the consistent American pressure to acknowledge that its men were involved in assassination attempts on the Khalistani activist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. In the latest exchange between the US and India, he allowed himself to say which would like setting up an escape toute in case of future difficulties, namely, that If someone gives us any information, we would definitely look into it. If a citizen of ours has done anything good or bad, we are ready to look into it. Our commitment is to the rule of law. (The Indian Express, Dec. 21, 2023) While this was the first time the Prime Minister spoke on the alleged involvement of Indian nationals, he has not acknowledged till date the role of any involvement of any Indian official in the plot. However, the Indian government has already begun to work on the US complaint, a committee has been formed on November 18; but the whole development is still under wrap.

Yet, the Indian governments consistent denial has been more than matched by the Western reaffirmation of the accusation against Modis government. The indictment of Nikhil Gupta, presently imprisoned in the Czech Republic and following the intervention by US federal law, has expanded into a major crisis in the US-India relationship. The threat to these relations is so threatening that the Indian-origin US lawmakers have felt it necessary for them to intervene in order to repair this vital relationship. Ami Bera, Pramila Jayapal, Ro Khanna, Raaja Krishnamoorthy, and Shri Thanedar, have jointly issued a statement highlighting thir concerns about the allegations against Gupta, an Indian government official implicated in a murder-for-hire scheme targeting Pannun, the Sikh separatist. A classified briefing by the Biden administration officials prompted their response. (The Indian Express, US-India Partnership At Risk: Lawmakers Alarmed Over Foiled Murder Plot, Dec. 1, 2023)

The US administration is perceived to have seriously taken up the matter with its Indian counterpart, and the latter too appears to be equally serious and concerned and conscious of the gravity of the situation, and has already launched a high-level inquiry into the allegations. Much will depend on whether the result of the Indian probe would satisfy the Biden administration. Time will show if the US-India relationship would survive this development. But the fact that one single incident could be so deadly for bilateral relations should be a major lesson to Modi that not the entire world has accepted him as a Gospel-mandated world leader.

(Author: Apratim Mukarji covered the Ministry of External Affairs for a Delhi-based newspaper for many years)
Iran seeks higher prices for its crude going to its top customer, China, and has been withholding some supply, Reuters reported on Friday, citing trading and refinery sources.

China has continued to buy cheaper crude from Iran even after the U.S. re-imposed sanctions on Iranian oil in 2018.

But now Iran is reportedly seeking narrower discounts to Brent for its crude supply to China, which has led to a stalemate between Iran and its Chinese customers.

Iran has sought discounts of $5 to $6 per barrel for its light crude for December and January compared to Dated Brent, trading sources who handle the crude have told Reuters. The deals for December and January were agreed in November at prices of around $10 per barrel discounts to Brent.

Its not clear if the Chinese refiners would accept the new price, a trading executive based in China told Reuters.

At least one independent refiner based in Shandong has accepted the higher prices and bought a cargo at the narrower discounts in late December, trading sources told Reuters.

The buyers are still struggling to find a solution as the new prices are too high, a Chinese buyer based in Shandong.

But since they have limited choices and the Iranian side is very tough, the room for price negotiations is difficult and is not favouring Chinese buyers.

Higher prices for Iranian crude would squeeze profit margins for the independent refiners who havent shied away from buying supply from Iran after the U.S. sanctions were re-imposed. Moreover, the increase in Irans crude prices for Chinese customers could also reduce the availability of cheap crude supply for the worlds largest crude oil importer, which is saving billions of U.S. dollars by purchasing sanctioned oil.

China was estimated to have saved $10 billion on crude oil imports between January and September 2023 as it imported record volumes of cheaper oil from Russia, Iran, and Venezuelaall three under U.S. and Western sanctions, a Reuters analysis showed last year.

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Denmarks Maersk said it will reroute 80% of its ship traffic originally bound for the Suez Canal to the longer route around the Cape of Good Hope following the latest Houthi attack in the Red Sea.

On Thursday, the Houthis detonated an unmanned vessel in the area although they did not target any ships. The detonation came a day after a group of countries led by the United States issued a warning that there would be consequences unless the attacks stopped.

It came within a couple of miles of ships operating in the area  merchant ships and US Navy ships  and we all watched as it exploded, Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of the U.S. Navy forces in the Middle East, told media, as quoted by Arab News.

Maersk was among shipping majors that reacted to the series of attacks by Houthis on ships in the Red Sea by rerouting those en route to the Suez Canal. When the U.S. announced it was setting up a coalition to step up military presence in the area, the Danish company said it would return its ships to the Red Sea.

The flip-flopping suggests that the situation remains complicated for global shippers, and, in turn, for supply chains across industries.

Carriers re-routing ships around Africa indicates that a quick fix is considered unlikely (otherwise they would wait in the Red Sea) and indeed disruption has now been ongoing for over a month, JP Morgan wrote in a note this week, as cited by the Financial Times.

Since November 18, there have been 25 attacks in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, Vice Admiral Brad Cooper said.

For now, oil traffic has not been disrupted but the very fact of the threat hanging over merchant ships in the area has had a mild bullish effect on prices, especially coupled with the possibility of the Israel-Gaza war spreading to neighboring countries.

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The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) increased its crude oil production in December, collectively pumping 27.88 million barrels per day, according to a new Reuters survey published on Friday.

OPECs production rose by an average of 70,000 barrels per day (bpd), the survey showed, with production increases seen in OPECs 2nd largest producer, Iraq, as well as Angolaaccounting for 60,000 bpd of the overage. Nigeria also saw a production increase.

The groups most prolific producer, Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, saw its production decrease.

While OPECs crude oil production is up from November to December, it is still 1 million bpd below December 2022.

At their latest meeting, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its partners, led by Russia, agreed to reduce their combined production of crude oil to some 2.2 million barrels daily. Saudi Arabia again agreed to the largest cuts. But production wind-downs are rarely instantaneous and require a bit of a wind-down period. Decembers increase could indicate that the group will be unable to comply with its own rates set for January.

To monitor compliance, OPEC+ will hold a Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC) meeting in early February, media sources revealed earlier this week.

One member who will not face the scrutiny of the JMMC is Angola, who withdrew from OPEC last month in a surprise move, with the countrys minister of natural resources saying that OPEC no longer aligns with Angolas values and interests. Angolas production quota, according to the latest agreement made in November, was set at 1.11 million bpd, down from the 1.28 million bpd quota that it was supposed to have this year per a prior agreement.

The Reuters survey is based on shipping data provided by external sources, Refinitiv Eikon data, and other sources, including Petro-Logistics, Kpler, oil companies, OPEC itself, and consultants.

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A U.S. government agency has proposed fining an Omaha beef plant nearly $275,000 after an investigation determined that the plant violated numerous federal safety standards that resulted in an employee getting severely injured.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administrations investigation into Nebraska Beef began after a June incident when an employee caught their fingertip in a forklift attachment. The employee ultimately lost their hand in a medical amputation three weeks later, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Labor.

The employee had been helping a forklift operator move materials when the incident occurred, according to the press release.

As OSHA investigated the incident, it found that Nebraska Beef failed to develop and employ lockout/tagout procedures for hydraulic dock plates and enclosures, the press release said. In addition, OSHA determined that Nebraska Beef lacked safety procedures for material handling and exposed workers to live electrical parts.

Other deficiencies against Nebraska Beef highlighted by OSHA consist of:

Failure to isolate energy during service and maintenance of dock levelers.

Unsafe working surfaces.

Fall hazards on platforms and ladders.

No readily available eye wash and drenching facility.

Electrical hazards.

Lack of kits to handle chemical spills.

Improperly trained forklift operators.

Unsafe battery maintenance.

OSHA cited Nebraska Beef for two willful violations and 11 serious violations. OSHA proposed fining Nebraska Beef $274,569.

An employee of Nebraska Beef Ltd. suffered a permanent injury because the company knowingly ignored safety measures that are meant to prevent this very type of incident, OSHA Area Director Matthew Thurlby said in the press release. The company must reassess its safety training and procedures immediately to keep other employees from suffering needless injuries.

Nebraska Beef has 15 business days to comply, request an informal conference with OSHAs area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Omaha World-Herald's top news photos of 2023
The conviction and sentence of an Omaha man who was found guilty of killing his friend more than a decade ago was affirmed by the Nebraska Supreme Court on Friday.

Bernard BJ Turner, now 28, was convicted by a jury in 2022 of first-degree murder for the 2013 killing of 19-year-old Julius Vaughn. Turner was 18 at the time of Vaughns killing, and the two were close friends and members of the same gang.

Turner appealed his conviction and sentence to the Nebraska Supreme Court last year, arguing that there was insufficient evidence to support his conviction and that his attorney was ineffective and failed to zealously advocate for him. On Friday, the court affirmed Turners conviction and sentence of life in prison without parole.

According to previous reporting from The World-Herald, Vaughn was found shot nine times in his neck and chest in a car outside an apartment complex near 23rd and Vinton Streets on Oct. 18, 2013. Though it would take years for an arrest to be made, family and associates of Vaughn were immediately suspicious of Turner.

The break in the case came when a man awaiting trial on federal drug charges told authorities he had given Turner a ride away from the scene of Vaughns killing. At trial, the witness testified that Turner called him shortly after the shooting and requested a ride. The witness then drove Turner to a storm drain so he could dispose of the gun.

When the witness led police to the storm drain seven years later, the gun was still there  though ballistics tests couldnt be completed because of rust and water damage.

On appeal, Turner questioned the credibility of the witness and said his testimony was riddled with discrepancies, which the Nebraska Supreme Court found unpersuasive. The court also found no merit to Turners claims of ineffective assistance of counsel.
Today is Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. Let's get caught up.

Keep scrolling for celebrity birthdays and a look back at this date in history. Plus, check out our daily news podcast:

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Jeffrey Epstein documents: Here's what we know so far

Dozens of previously sealed court documents related to Jeffrey Epstein were made public late Wednesday, as a court releases more records from a years-old lawsuit connected to the late financier.

Theyre likely to disappoint sleuths online, where the plan to release documents prompted rumors of a list of clients or co-conspirators. In fact, the judge who made the call wrote in December that she was ordering the records released because much of the information within them is already public.

The first 40 documents, of around 250 expected to eventually be unsealed, largely mention figures whose names were already known, including high-profile friends of Epsteins and victims who have spoken publicly.

Heres what we know about the documents released so far:

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MORE TOP STORIES

Biden and Trump both make the Jan. 6 riot a political rallying cry

With Biden and Trump now headed toward a potential 2020 rematch, both are talking about the same event in very different ways and offering framing they believe gives them an advantage. The dueling narratives reflect how an attack that disrupted the certification of the election is increasingly viewed differently along partisan lines  and how Trump has bet that the riot won't hurt his candidacy.

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A Texas father and son arrested in the killings of a pregnant woman and her boyfriend

A father and son in Texas have been charged in the killings of Savanah Nicole Soto, 18, and Matthew Guerra, 22, whose bodies were found in the parking lot of a San Antonio apartment complex, a crime scene that the city's police chief originally described as very, very perplexing.

Sotos family has said she was overdue to deliver her baby and had been scheduled to have an induced labor when she went missing the weekend before Christmas.

The killings have drawn attention beyond Texas and Moscoso said misinformation" about the case had taken off on social media.

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Iran says at least 84 were killed in blasts at a ceremony honoring slain general

Two bombs exploded and killed at least 84 people at a commemoration for a prominent Iranian general slain by the U.S. in a 2020 drone strike, Iranian officials said, as the Middle East remains on edge over Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for what appeared to be the deadliest militant attack to target Iran since its 1979 Islamic Revolution. Iran's leaders vowed to punish those responsible for the blasts, which wounded at least 284 people.

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84 dead, dozens still missing after earthquake on Japan's western coastline

Rescue workers are braving the cold to save people still trapped under collapsed buildings in western Japan. More soldiers have been ordered to bolster the rescue operations Thursday, providing those in need with drinking water, hot meals and setting up bathing facilities after a magnitude 7.6 quake hit Ishikawa Prefecture and nearby regions Monday. So far, 84 people have been reported dead.

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South Korea views the young daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as his likely successor

The young daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is seen as her fathers likely heir apparent, South Koreas spy agency said Thursday, its first such assessment on the girl who was unveiled to the outside world a little more than a year ago.

There has been intense outside debate and speculation about the girl, reportedly about 10 years old and named Ju Ae, since she made her first public appearance in November 2022, when she watched a long-range missile test-launch with her father.

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MORNING LISTEN

"The Ethical Life" hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada are off this week, so we looked back though our show archives and are sharing four of our favorite ethical dilemmas from the past year. Topics include whether to help a stranger in emotional distress and what to say if the table next to you at a restaurant has unruly children.

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TODAY IN HISTORY

Today in history: Jan. 4 In 1999, former professional wrestler Jesse Ventura took the oath of office as Minnesotas governor.

Today in sports history: Jan. 4 In 2013, Mikaela Shiffrin becomes the first American woman to win two World Cup races before turning 18. The 17-year-old captures a slalom in 

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TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS

Celebrity birthdays: Jan. 4 Doris Kearns Goodwin
Take a look at trending topics for today, Jan. 4:

Nevada judge attacked by defendant during sentencing in Vegas courtroom scene captured on video

LAS VEGAS  A Nevada judge was attacked by a defendant in a felony battery case who leaped over a defense table and the judge's bench, landing atop her and sparking a bloody brawl involving court officials and attorneys, officials and witnesses said.

In a violent scene captured by courtroom video, Clark County District Judge Mary Kay Holthus fell back from her seat against a wall and suffered some injuries but was not hospitalized, courthouse officials said.

A courtroom marshal was also injured as he came to the judges aid and was hospitalized for treatment of a bleeding gash on his forehead and a dislocated shoulder, according to the officials and witnesses.

Read more:

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Police say 17-year-old killed a sixth grader and wounded five in Iowa school shooting

PERRY, Iowa (AP)  Police said a sixth grader was killed and five other people were wounded by a 17-year-old suspect in the shooting Thursday at a small-town Iowa high school.

Get the latest updates:

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Margot Robbie pours cold water on Barbie sequel

Margot Robbie has played down the prospect of a "Barbie" sequel.

The 33-year-old actress played the title role in last summer's hit blockbuster and explained that so much went into the picture that a follow-up isn't a priority for her or director Greta Gerwig at this moment in time.

Read more:

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Americans spent a record $222 billion shopping online this holiday season

Americans ramped up their online shopping this past holiday season, splurging on a record-setting $222 billion worth of electronics, toys and other items.

The spending haul between November 1 and December 31 marks a 4.9% increase from the previous holiday shopping season, according to an Adobe Analytics report released Thursday.
LINCOLN  Attorney General Mike Hilgers unveiled three legislative priorities Thursday aimed at better protecting vulnerable Nebraskans.

One measure would help victims of financial scams. The second seeks to protect people from Delta-8 THC, a drug compound made from hemp. The third aims to stop sex assault survivors and others from being further victimized online.

We wanted to bring high-impact, thoughtful bills that we think the Legislature has time to get passed, Hilgers said, noting that the bills would give his office more tools to protect those who are exploited by bad actors both here in Nebraska and elsewhere around the country.

Two of the bills were introduced this week. The third is expected to be introduced early next week.

State Sen. Carolyn Bosn of Lincoln, a former prosecutor, sponsored Legislative Bill 934. The measure would give the attorney general a new way to go after scammers and those who use unfair or deceptive business practices.

Under the bill, the attorney general could ask a court to freeze the assets of Nebraska individuals or businesses alleged to have defrauded someone. Such a freeze would make it easier to get money and property back to the victim of a scam, Hilgers said.

He noted that the measure would not help in cases where people have been scammed by unknown parties or by someone overseas.

Sen. Teresa Ibach of Sumner introduced LB 999. It would rewrite the Nebraska Hemp Farming Act to close the door on sales of Delta-8 and related products, which Hilgers said pose a danger to Nebraskans health and target children.

Delta-8 is derived from hemp, which can be legally grown in the state. The state law that allowed hemp farming placed a 0.3% limit on Delta-9 THC, the main intoxicating ingredient in marijuana, in the plants. The law did not limit the concentration of Delta-8 THC or similar compounds, making its legal status murky.

In October, Hilgers filed a series of consumer protection lawsuits against retailers that had been selling Delta-8 products. The suits claimed the products are likely to attract consumption by children and fail to properly label the concentration of THC and other compounds found in the products.

Hilgers said Thursday the proposed bill would make it clear that Delta-8 is illegal in Nebraska. The bill also would turn over regulation of Nebraskas hemp farming industry to the U.S. Department of Agriculture instead of the State Department of Agriculture.

The third measure, to be introduced by Sen. Christy Armendariz of Omaha, would allow the attorney general to seek an injunction stopping internet content providers from distributing sexual material without consent of the people depicted.

Hilgers said such material includes videos and other content that features people who have been sexually assaulted, trafficked for sex or victimized through child sexual assault.

Its really disgusting stuff, he said.

Omaha World-Herald's top news photos of 2023
As the elective two arms of government are being inaugurated across the country, several established political and state actors have been observed to be missing in action either in the executive or the legislative arm of government. This is not unconnected with the political holocaust from the 2019 general elections which demystified several political godfathers and dismantled some political dynasties.

National Daily inquiry found that the 2019 general elections relatively demystify several political godfathers, threatened to liquidate or liquidated political dynasties built over the years. Several political godfathers not only failed to unilaterally decide candidates for the various elections but also lost their own elections. Thus, some of the godfathers were temporarily eliminated or retired from the mainstream political machines deciding who gets what, when and how much from the commonwealth either in the federal or state government.

Significant established political authorities who suffered setback in the 2019 general elections include Dr. Bukola Saraki, former President of the Senate and former Governor of Kwara State, leader of the Saraki dynasty in Kwara; Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, leader of the Kwakwansiyya Movement and former Governor of Kano State; Senator Godswill Akpabio, former Governor of Akwa Ibom State; Senator George Akume, former Governor of Benue State; Senator Barnabas Gemade, kingmaker in Benue State politics; former Governor Abiola Ajumobi of Oyo State; among others.

The political casualties in Kwara State were devastating. The Saraki dynasty lost everything from the governorship to the senatorial elections. Saraki was defeated in Kwara Central and Senator Rafiu Ibrahim lost in Kwara South.

Saraki lost to Ibrahim Oloriegbe, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who had 123,808 votes to defeat the Senate President who had 68,994 votes,

Former Governor Godswill Akpabio who many celebrated as political giant in Akwa Ibom State from 2007 to 2015, was defeated by Christopher Ekpenyong of the PDP, a former deputy governor in the state, who had 118,215 votes to defeat the former Minority Leader who had 83,158 votes.

National Daily learned that Akpabio in his hay days could make and unmake a governor, lawmakers, or who gets executive appointments in the state. He was speculated to be aspiring for the President of the Senate in the Ninth National Assembly.

In Benue State, the political godfather who made two governors and unmade several others, Senator George Akume, was among the victims of the 2019 elections holocaust. Akume, who represented Benue North-West Senatorial district in the National, was defeated in his fourth return to the Senate, by Orker Jev, a member of the House of Representatives and PDP candidate. Iev defeated got 157,726 votes to defeat Akume who got 115,422 votes.

Akume was the kingmaker who made former Governor Gabriel Suswam and Governor Samuel Ortom.

ALSO READ: Okorocha hits back at Ihedioha

Also, Senator Barnabas Gemade, who represented Benue North East in the National Assembly, lost to Gabriel Suswam of the PDP. Gemade contested the election on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Another colossal defeat was encountered in Kano State where Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former Governor of Kano State, who represented Kano Central in the National Assembly was flatly beaten by the APC candidate. Kwankwaso is the leader of the Kwakwansiyya Movement in the Kano State, and the predecessor of incumbent Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

Former Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State who had held sway in the state in the past could not only install a successor but also lost in his bid to retire from the Government House, Ibadan to the Senate of the National Assembly.

National Daily investigation, however, found that in most instances the federal might was maximized by APC to deal a severe blow on certain political principals who were perceived to have constituted stumbling blocks to the APC government at the centre. In Kwara State, Saraki simply acknowledged that he was rigged out. Kano State was also identified to be another theatre where the federal might was displayed. The APC political machine in Kwara State was coordinated by Lai Mohammed, former Minister of Information and Culture.

However, National Daily also found that in some other instances, those who lost even under the umbrella of the federal might were preponderantly rejected by their people who needed new leaders and representatives. This was gathered to be case in Akwa Ibom, Benue and Oyo states.

National Daily survey found that 66 senators in the Eighth National Assembly sought re-election in the 2019 elections; 33 lost the primary elections of their parties; while 25 were defeated in the general elections.

Other statistics, however, showed that among the 109 senators in the Ninth National Assembly, 69 are new senators and 40 old members. The returning senators are led by former Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, former Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan, including the controversial senator, Dino Melaye.

Several stakeholders have expressed the view that the 2019 general elections swept away the old order ad liquidated the hegemony of established godfathers and kingmakers in several parts of Nigeria.
The Nigerian Government has granted temporary asylum to the former Sierra Leonean president, Ernest Bai Koroma, who faces treason charges from his successor, Julius Maada Bio.

The offer, confirmed in a letter dated January 2, 2024, with reference number ECW/PC/DC/2024-001/oat, was signed by Omar Alieu Touray and addressed to President Bio of Sierra Leone.

The letter outlined the agreement reached during a high-level ECOWAS delegations mission, led by Presidents Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of Ghana and Macky Sall of Senegal.

According to the letter, the Nigerian government has offered to host President Koroma in Abuja temporarily, a proposition that the former president has accepted. The proposed departure date is Thursday, January 4, 2024.

The letter read: I refer to the mission to Freetown on 23 December of the high-level ECOWAS delegation led by His Excellency, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana, and His Excellency, Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal.

I am pleased to inform Your Excellency that as part of the agreement reached during the mission, the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has offered to host His Excellency, Ernest Bai Koroma, former president of Sierra Leone, in Abuja on a temporary basis. The former president has accepted the offer to be hosted in Nigeria.

Subject to your approval, arrangements will be made to fly former President Koroma out of Freetown on Thursday, 4 January 2024. He will be accompanied by his office manager and personal assistant.

In addition to seeking Your Excellencys approval for the departure from Sierra Leone of the former president on or around the date indicated above, I would like to seek your confirmation that once President Koroma leaves Sierra Leone, the following arrangements (as agreed during the mission) will be put in place.

The arrangements, as per Tourays letter, include discontinuing all legal and administrative procedures against Koroma, ensuring the disbursement of benefits as a former president, securing his residences in Sierra Leone, and considering refunding medical and travel expenses incurred by the former president.

The unrest began in last year when gunmen raided a military armoury and prisons in Freetown, resulting in the release of nearly 2,000 inmates.

President Bio narrowly won a disputed election five months prior to the attempted coup in November 2023.

Facing four counts of treason in connection with the coup, Koroma has been under house arrest, denying any involvement in the attack that claimed about 20 lives.

.ECOWAS leaders attempted to broker a deal for Koromas exile in Nigeria, contingent on dropping the charges, which he had agreed to in a letter.

Twelve additional individuals, including one of Koromas former bodyguards, were charged in connection with the attempted coup on Tuesday.
Home > 2024 > Remembering Chandra Shekhar | Jeevesh Gupta

I am just an ordinary political worker. Intellectuals are those who talk of something which is beyond them. Were the words of Chandra Shekhar when he was asked whether he was an intellectual in politics during his 7 month tenure as Prime Minister of India. These lines very well reflected this mans political ethos.

In spite of the paradoxical streams in his political practice, this socialist from a farmers family in Ibrahimpatti village (Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, India) never lost his basic moorings and perspective.

For him the nation and its people came first. At the time of attack on the Indian Parliament in December 2001, this die hard rustic socialist stood against the majority view of the parliament. Most of the members were in favour of waging a war against Pakistan whereas he felt that the war was not the solution. He felt that we should protect our house and put it in right order to ensure security of one and all. In case we declared war, it would simply mean loss of life and further insecurity and distress across the nation. The very next day, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the then Prime Minister, compared Chandra Shekhar with one of the character from the Mahabharata called Shalya. The PM said that Chandra Shekhar like Shalya drove the chariot of Karna (read as India) and praised the chariot of Arjuna (read as Pakistan). Such was Chandra Shekhars larger than life demeanour that he chose not to respond to a comment made by a highly regarded PM. But India never went to war.

Being as succinct as he was, he delivered a landmark extempore speech at the SAARC summit in Male. On being invited by the Pakistani Prime minister, Nawaz Sharif for tea the same evening after his speech, he discussed the militancy issue in Kashmir and Punjab. His relations with Nawaz Sharif paid off and he managed to gather his support for reducing tension in Punjab. Nawaz Sharif mentioned his inability to help in Kashmir as that was a much wider issue in Pakistan.

An octogenarian journalist based in Delhi remembers Chandra Shekhar as someone who always fought for human rights. He remembers one of the instances where he approached Chandra Shekhar to speak about the great Iranian leader, Ayatollah Khui, who had refused to cooperate with the dictatorial government of Saddam Hussein and was put under house arrest. Chandra Shekhar was to leave for Lucknow and promised Nawab Sahib (the way he addressed this journalist) that he would speak on the arrest of Khui at the Chota Imambara in Lucknow during his meeting with the Muslim community. Chandra Shekhar spoke at great length and condemned the arrest of Khui which sent ripples across the entire community. This was his commitment to issues related to humanity where he or his country was not even involved in the faintest manner.

Remembering Chandra Shekhar as the iron man would not be wrong. We can never forget this man who refused to succumb to political condescension and resigned from the post of The Prime Minister of India. As soon as the largest member of his coalition (Indian National Congress) started threatening him, he decided that he could not run the largest democracy being dictated by others.

The only message he had for the youth was that they should stop practicing hypocrisy. He once said, Everyone wants to be a politician but he will still say that he wants to keep away from politicians. I know no one who will openly say that he is close to a politician. But if he does not get a chance to meet the politician when in power, that person gets hurt.
A survivor of the Christmas Eve attacks on three communities in Plateau State has recounted the heartbreaking story of losing three relatives in the assault.

The victim, whose identity was kept anonymously, spoke to a team of Middle Belt Patriots that visited Internally Displaced Persons camps in the affected communities of Mangu, Bokkos, and Barkin-Ladi on Wednesday.

The video of the visit and interview was shared by an X user, Kangyang Pwayok, on Thursday.

One of the houses burnt by the attackers. PHOTO CREDIT: Kangyang Pwajok (X)

The victim, a resident of the Mangu community, while narrating the incident, disclosed that the attackers killed his mother and two brothers, one of whom was mutilated and left headless.

On the 24th of December, around 7.30 pm or 7.45 pm, we started hearing gunshots nonstop. The attackers sent everyone out. My mother, while trying to escape, was hit by a bullet in the chest.

Then, my junior brother, they macheted him, and another of my brother, after he was killed, they mutilated him. We have to bury him without the head (sic), he narrated.

He added that contrary to some reports that the attack was orchestrated by fellow Mangu residents, he said the attackers thronged their village in over 30 motorcycles, killing his people and burning down houses.

Meanwhile, the X user, Pwayong who was part of the Middle Belt Patriots delegation shared images of the deplorable living conditions in some of the IDP camps.

Some of the IDPs sleep on the floor of classrooms used for makeshift camp. CREDIT: Kangyang Pwajok (X).

In one of the images, the IDPs were sleeping on the floor of classrooms that have been turned into a makeshift camp for them.

According to Pwayok, the IDPs have been depending on donations from individuals for food.



They cook and eat once a day (sometimes they dont even have food at all in a day) and depend on donations from individuals. Most of the parents had gone out to look for food when our team arrived so we met mostly children, she posted.

The IDPs depend on individual donations for food. PHOTO CREDIT: Kanyang Pwajok (X).

Over 150 persons were reportedly killed and over 10,000 displaced in the December attack that has been described by North Central governors as similar to the Rwanda genocide.

Though the Federal Government has promised to bring the perpetrators to justice, the state governor, Caleb Muftwang, disclosed that the attacks were well coordinated and executed with heavy weaponry, and unraveling the masterminds was beyond him.
The Future African Leaders Awards (FALA), hosted by the Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International, says efforts will be concentrated in the area of education, Entrepreneurial skills, Agriculture, Technology and many more when mentoring African youths as it grooms more African youths in 2024.

Speaking at Press Conference in Lagos on Thursday where the 2023 FALA Star Prize winner, Mariam Gendemeh and nine other winners were presented to the world, Senior Executive Officer of Future Africa Leaders Foundation, Dr. Olajumoke Akisanya, said ensuring peace and security on the continent will be one of the main objective of the Future African Leaders Foundation.

Ensuring we have peace and security across the African continent will be of utmost priority to us in FALF because it is important for growth to take place on the continent. Therefore, all our Ambassadors will be engaging in activities that will foster peace in their various continents.

23-year-old Mariama Gendemeh from Sierra Leone emerged as the 2023 FALA Star Prize Winner at the just concluded epochal Global New Years Eve Service with Pastor Chris.

READ ALSO: FALA: Expediting Africas Systemic Change Through Young Leaders

Great cheers followed the recognition of young Gendemeh, whose laudable achievements throughout the year significantly contributed to improving the lives of dozens in her country and transforming their standard of living altogether.

This year, 30 individuals from 30 African countries were nominated for the highly-coveted global recognition awards, which will produce a Star Award Winner with a token of $25,000 as a show of encouragement and $10,000 each for other nominees from the founder and chief motivator of the Future Africa Leaders Awards, Rev. Chris Oyakhilome.

Speaking on her emergence as the Star Prize winner, Gendemeh who was ecstatic, said she considered the award as not just an honour to her as person but also to her home country of Sierra Leone.

READ ALSO: FALF announces 30 nominees for 2023 Future Africa Leaders Awards

It means so much to me and my country because we have suffered so much. I facilitated the distribution of food and relief items to 3,000 people in 10 communities, and also championed a Save the malnourished kids  project reaching 10,000 children annually.

I also spearheaded several outreaches in 110 communities, providing essential sanitation materials and empowering over 500 girls with leadership skills in six schools.

As a catalyst of change, my company which I founded when I was 19 years old has the largest vegetable farm in Kenema impacting over 1,300 people with ripe farm produce, she added.

Joining the brilliant Sierra Leonean as winners of the FALA 2023 vis-a-vis their commitment to changing lives in their respective countries and the African continent were 9 other young leaders who were also honoured at the nights event.

With several community initiatives, leadership programs, fundraising campaigns, empowerment summits, skill acquisition conferences, distribution of food and relief items and other commendable humanitarian acts, these young leaders redefined leadership across the African continent and distinguished themselves aptly as true patriots of Africa.

The Future Africa Leaders Foundation is an initiative aimed at exploring and expanding the leadership potentials in Africa and for Africa.

It is for identifying, celebrating and supporting young Africans who have demonstrated exemplary leadership by impacting their generation positively through education, youth empowerment and mentoring through other projects aimed at building young people and preparing them for a positive future.
A disturbing trend has been reported in Borno State among the youth population which poses a serious risk.

In this regard, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has brought to light the disturbing trend of youths in Borno state resorting to drinking fermented human urine, preserved for over 10 days, as a substitute for hard drugs. Commander Iliyasu Mani, in charge of narcotics for NDLEA in Borno state, expressed his concern in a statement issued in Maiduguri on Thursday, January 4.

He revealed, Let me state categorically here that these new psychoactive substances that are commonly abused today include Cannabis Sativa, skunk, Cough syrup with codeine; Ice, Tramadol, Rohypnol, Diazepam, Pentazocine, rubber solution, glue, gutter dirt, toilet fumes, lizard dung.

Continuing with the alarming discoveries, Mani disclosed, Others include Lipton soaked in gin, camel urine, Mentholated spirit in soft drinks; 10-day-old human Urine, and so on.

Despite the efforts of the NDLEA in combating drug abuse, Mani acknowledged the escalating challenge, particularly involving young teens and women in the abuse of new psychoactive substances. However, he expressed hope and highlighted the agencys commitment to prevention through the establishment of a remodeled counseling/rehab center within the Borno State Command premises.

Mani emphasized, Despite all these, we must not lose our hope as the agency has strengthened its efforts towards prevention strategy through the establishment of remodeled counselling/rehab centre within the premises of Borno State Command.

Mani also highlighted the establishment of drop-in centers across tertiary institutions, serving as drug abuse research centers. Under his leadership, the NDLEA command in Borno state has seized 4.5 tonnes of illicit substances, resulting in the arrest of 863 suspects. Among those arrested, 53 have been convicted, and 736 are currently undergoing counseling.
Attacks by bandit in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have resulted in two police officers sustaining gunshot wounds, with seven family members being abducted.

Daily trust reports that a middle-aged man, simply identified as Alhaji, who led policemen to foil the kidnapping of the seven family members, was shot dead by the bandits.

It had been reported that in recent days, bandits had been been invading villages under Bwari Area Council, abducting and killing residents.

A resident of Bwari, Isaiah Samuel, who spoke to our correspondent on the telephone on Friday, said the incident happened in the early hours of Wednesday, when the bandits invaded Zuma 1 in Bwari central ward of the council.

He said the bandits positioned themselves at strategic places after they had identified their victims house, saying the victims upon suspecting a strange sound immediately placed a call to a relation identified as Alhaji (deceased).



It was when the man suspected a strange sound in front of his house that he immediately called his brother, popularly called Alhaji to alert the police, he said.

Alhaji was said to be leading a team of police to the house when one of the bandits hiding at a corner shot him dead.

Samuel said the police also immediately started exchanging fire with the bandits, which he said led to two of the officers sustaining gunshot wounds.



The bandits eventually succeeded in whisking away the man and his family members, because the distance from the victims house to where the police engaged the bandits is far, he added.

Samuel also recalled how the bandits in the early hours of Tuesday, invaded Barangoni, still in Bwari central ward and abducted three persons, while injuring a vigilante member.

He called on the authorities of the council to come to the aid of the residents by liaising with security agents to tackle incessant kidnapping in the area.



The truth is that Bwari area council is under siege, because for the past two weeks now, bandits have been moving from one community to another killing and abducting people, he said.

When contacted, the spokeswoman of the FCT Police Command, SP Adeh Josephine, in a reply to a text message sent to her phone said, I will get back to you please.
with prayers and thanksgiving, it can be better in four years for Nigeria

Abiodun, Daniel, Adebutu, Olowu eulogize him

Former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has disclosed that there was no option for the next generations of Africans to relief the continent from her huge debts.

It would be recalled that Obasanjo as the countrys President in 2003 secured a debt relief for Nigeria likewise his counterpart from Algeria at the same period.

In a release by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi on Wednesday, Obasanjo made this disclosure during an engagement with 2023 awardees of the Future Africa Leaders Foundation, an initiative of Pastor Chris Oyakhilome.

He noted that with the level of mismanagement of the previous debts written off for the country, it will be almost impossible for any administration to get similar gesture in the continent.

Obasanjo declared that the debts were a trap that no individual or nation should fall into as it constitutes an albatross on any economy.

The former president who asserted that leadership was the number one problem facing the continent summed: the coming generations will have no choice but pay the current debt being incurred by different countries in the continent.

He commended Pastor Oyakhilome for the efforts putting into building leaders adding that the nation needs more people like him to address the leadership crisis facing the continent.

Highlighting the qualities a leader during the questions and anwers session, Obasanjo said, a leader should be able to set good examples, being bold and courageous when making decisions, accepting mistakes and learning from them as well as having a realistic dream, Obasanjo stated.

In a related development, the former Obasanjo has assured that the countrys socio-economic situation could be better in another four years or thereabout with prayers and thanksgiving.

He made this disclosure at the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Ogun State 5th Thanksgiving service of his conferment as the Asiwaju Onigbagbo, Ogun State, held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta on Tuesday.

In a release by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, the former President said that it was a clear indication that the socio-economic situations of the country are not in good stead, but, mercy has been with us and if that is so, why should we not thank God.

Think about it. If you have breathe the free air of God, you should have cause to thank God. So, things are bad, they may be good in a space of whatFour years? and who knows for Nigeria, things that are bad today, may be good tomorrow.

That is our prayer and that is why we must never stop thanking God. In all situations, give thanks to God, Obasanjo told the congregation even as he bursted into a joyful song.

The former President thanked brothers and sisters in the vineyard of God for their continuous and persistent prayers for the country, restating that at times like this, it is such a difficult time. And when they are talking of being in fellow of mercy, mine is more than a Fellow of Mercy, mine is Fellow of Grace and Mercy of God, any one that is not enjoying this should put up his hand. If that is so, why should we not thank God? He queried.

The governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, represented by the deputy, Engr, Noimot Salako, former governor, Sen. Gbenga Daniel, the Oluwu of Owu Abeokuta, Prof. Saka Matemilola and the Odole Oduaa, business Mogul who is also the Otun of Asiwaju Onigbagbo Ogun State, Chief Adebutu Kessington and Rev. Mother Ester Ajayi eulogized Obasanjo, noting that he is not only a leader in Nigeria, but, also a global phenomenal.

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The tenure of Governor of Edo, Mr Godwin Obaseki, will end on November 11, 2024, and going by Section 178(2) of the amended 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, election into the office shall hold not earlier than 150 days and not later than 30 days before the expiration of the tenure of the last holder of the office.

The latest date for election into the office of Governor of Edo State is October 12, 2024. Thus, by the provision of Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed the governorship election on September 21, 2024, and also published the timetable for activities leading to the poll.

According to a statement by INEC on September 26, 2023, the Edo State primaries will hold from February 1 to 24, 2024, while the submission of the list of nominated candidates, via the online portal, will start on March 4, 2024 and close on March 24, 2024.

The final list of candidates will be published on April 23, 2024, while campaign in public by political parties commences on April 24, 2024 and ends 24 hours prior to election day on September 19, 2024, the statement said.

Since the INEC announcement, political activities have assumed an upsurge, and a drastic change, with governorship aspirants and their campaigns hauling brickbats at opponents, especially those viewed as formidable, and more likely to have a go at the tickets of the political parties, particularly the leading platforms of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC) and Labour Party (LP) in Edo State.

Its on this premise that attempts are made by some aspirants to undermine the genuine and inspirational aspiration of Barrister Asue Ighodalo  who leads the pack in the PDP  on the ground that he cannot speak Esan (language), because he is a Lagos boy, and not a homeboy, and had to hire an interpreter when he intimated his community about his governorship ambition.

Its on Sunday, December 3, when Mr Ighodalo met with members of his ward in Ewohimi, Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State, to solicit their support and cooperation in his bid for Governor in 2024.

As he told the anxious and excited crowd: I want us to stand as one. If we stand as one, the whole of Esan will take us seriously and we will be the pride of Edo State.

I want everybody to go and register so that we can all vote as one body for the goodness and greatness of our land.

You must have water, road, jobs and light. By the grace of Almighty, if we get this governorship, we will get everything, and Edo State will be the greatest state in Africa.

Normally at important gatherings in Esanland, the people need a streetwise interpreter, to further break down the message, even delivered in the local dialet. So, it wasnt out of place for Mr Ighodalos political message to be simplified for proper understanding of the audience.

This was what critics deviously termed hiring of an interpreter  which went viral in the media  to score some undeserved political points. But unfortunately for them, it didnt scratch the surface, talkless of achieving the intended mileage.

While some social media posts have lapped on the engagement of an interpreter to talk to ones kinsmen as a sign of age-long disconnect from the people, others defended Mr Ighodalo, urging, focus on the progress he could bring to Edo State, as local language would not bring investments.

Edo people may want to ask those trying to blackmail Mr Ighodalo for unable to speak Esan because he isnt a homeboy: Since when has speaking in the mother tongue a criterion for qualification for the Office of Governor or any other elective position under the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria?

For the record, for the position of a Member of the Senate; a Member of the House of Representatives; a Member of the State House of Assembly; the President and Vice President; and Governor and Deputy Governor, the qualification requirements are spelt out in Sections 65, 106, 131 and 177, respectively thus:

(a) he is a citizen of Nigeria by birth;

(b) he has attained the age of 35, 30, 30, 40 and 35 (applicable to each office accordingly);

(c) he is a member of a political party and is sponsored by that political party; and

(d) he has been educated to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent.

And under Interpretation in Section 318 of the Constitution, School Certificate or its equivalent means in (c)(iii) the ability to read, write, understand, and communicate in the English language to the satisfaction of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Clearly, only INEC has the power to determine whether a candidate has the ability to read, write, understand, and communicate in the English language  and not in their local language  which medium Mr Ighodalo deployed to address his kinsmen.

By the way, how many of us are grounded in the local language to be able to communicate without mixing it with the English language or better still, pidgin, whichs the unofficial lingua franca of Edo and Delta states carved out of the old Mid West or Bendel State?

Indeed, as one Osagie Steven wrote on his Facebook page: The official, acceptable and most proficient language of communication in Edo is English. Stop the unnecessary brouhaha.

Luckily for Mr Ighodalo, his communitypeople of Ewohimi didnt  on account of his alleged inability to speak Esan  reject him, his vision and mission, and Blue Print for the Governorship of Edo State in 2024.

Rather, reports spoke of enthusiastic reception for him amid pump and ceremony. And which local folks wont accord their illustrious son or daughter a befitting homecoming, to announce officially to them that theyre gunning for the highest office of the state?

God willing, if Mr Ighodalo becomes the Governor of Edo State, his community will be high on his agenda, and every man or woman of Ewohimi will become Governor. Thats the simple interpretation that local people give to any office that their son or daughter is elected or appointed into. Ewohimi and Esanland wont be the exception!

Critics have even visited the sins of the father on the son  here the sins of Governor Godwin Obaseki on Ighodalo  reported as political godson of the governor. The argument being that if elected as Governor, Ighodalo will also underperform  as Obasekis been accused of  because he is not a homeboy!

Hasnt Edo State produced a couple of homeboy governors since 1999 when democracy returned in Nigeria? What was their impact on the socio-economic lives of the people?

Arent the people still clamouring for a saviour to wave the proverbial magic wand to alleviate their conditions and improve their lives  which Mr Ighodalos promised to do if given the opportunity as Governor of Edo State in 2024?

Critics overlook the individual differences, as explained in Individual Differences Theory, which proposes that people vary significantly in their characteristics, traits, abilities and needs. No two individuals are exactly alike. We all have unique personalities, temperaments, motivations, skills, and preferences. These contrasts affect how we behave, think, feel, and perform.

They should let Mr Ighodalo be, as hes different from Mr Obaseki! Needless to bandy his record of achievements, and the high and numerous positions held in the corporate world, which speak for themselves. Let him be guaged, judged and measured on his ability, capability, capacity, and competence in his chosen field, in other endeavours, and in giving back to the society.

The New Edo State of our dreams doesnt need the old broom that knows all corners to even hide dirts, but a new broom that sweeps clean the house. Edo people are tired of non-performing or under-achieving aspirants boasting only longevity and experience in politics; they need new faces that have tangible, traceable achievements, and are capable of delivering on their promises to the people.

Thats the kind of intimidating credential, and experience that Barr. Asue Ighodalo brings to the table. Other aspirants should showcase theirs, too, rather than resort to blackmail, to pull him down, probably out of envy or jealousy, or both! Time for tricks and deceit is over in Edo State!

* Mr Ezomon, Journalist and Media Consultant, writes from Lagos, Nigeria .
By Hon. Josef Omorotionmwan

December 19, 2023

CONVENTIONAL wisdom dictates that if you give a man a piece of job, you are under moral obligation to provide the basic implement to do that job. For the duration of that job, the labourer deserves some basic comfort.

In our local farming situation, for instance, where the farm owner is not in the farm, he must tell the labourer where the yams are for him to roast and eat when he becomes hungry. He must point to the direction of the stream where the labourer could go and fetch drinking water.

Regrettably, this is not what we have today when it comes to the electorate and the elected representatives.

There is this awkward ambivalence: We want the representative to perform at his optimum level  spend sleepless nights to provide perfect representation. But we will be happy if the representative sleeps under the bridge; happier, if he rides a bicycle to work; and happiest, if he is placed below the minimum wage of N30,000 per month.

With this mind frame, at the inception of every Assembly, there is this violent acrimony about what cars the legislators are given, to the extent that whatever vehicle they get, must be through the back door.

As usual, the National Assembly (NASS) has found a convenient way of giving those SUVs to the legislators. They are official vehicles meant to facilitate the legislators performance of their oversight functions.

Meanwhile, the vehicles do not bear NASS numbers. Rather, they are registered in the names of the individual legislators, which simply suggests that they were boarded even before they were purchased! Ha ha.

There is the absurd argument that the Labour Party legislators should have rejected the vehicles. How? Without the prior consent of the legislators, vehicles have been procured for all of them. If the LP legislators rejected their vehicles, what were you going to do with the rejects? Return them to the vendors?

There are limits to opposition. There are abundant policy issues ahead on which they could stand on the roof-top and shout hoarse. For now, lets keep our gunpowder dry.

True, we are told that each legislator has just been assigned a car that costs some N160million. Thats quite some money. But whose fault? Why has the legislator suddenly become the soft target of attack?

Essentially, if a car costs N160million, how much will an airplane cost? We are in a country where those vehicles could have been supplied at twice the original cost, which means that some people, somewhere, must have made a kill out of those vehicles.

Those vehicles were procured long before the legislators arrived Abuja. We are now making it look as if immediately the legislators arrived, we put N160million in their hands to go and buy their vehicles.

Meanwhile, we are, as usual, pursuing the shadow and leaving the substance. The people who made a kill of some billions of Naira are quietly enjoying their loot; and we are busy making the legislators who did not get a kobo out of the deal, look like common criminals. This is a classic case of displaced aggression. It happens all the time.

In the particular case of the vehicles, it is certainly not too late in the day to redirect the war and aim it against the real targets. In this age of the internet, you do not need to travel to Japan to know the basic cost of any Toyota car. Let the correct heads roll.

Give our legislators a chance. They are in Abuja in representative capacity  to do for us all, what we should have ordinarily assembled in Abuja to do for ourselves. It is not a just way of rewarding them by making them look like villains all the time! Our procurement methods are to blame. They habour men and women who hide somewhere with the sole objective of sucking the establishment dry.

The Second Republic took off in October 1979. This writer was one of the pioneer allottees of the 1004 flats in Victoria Island, Lagos. By every standard, those flats were furnished to the teeth.

Towards the end of March 1981, I returned from work one evening to meet my house in total disarray. A contractor and his team were at work to change every item of furniture in the house, including the rug, the air conditioners and just everything.

I told the contractor to stop work and that there was nothing wrong with the furniture in the apartment.

The contractor went on his knees, begging me to allow him to execute the contract. I rushed to the apartment of my immediate boss who also lived in the estate, to report what looked like an invasion.

I met his house in a similar situation like mine. After listening to me carefully, he asked me to go and sign the contractors invoice. They thought I had gone, but I was still behind the door, putting on my shoes. He was telling his friend This Americana doesnt understand the system yet.  And they laughed.

I went back, apparently in shame and when the contractor completed the assignment, I signed the invoice for him as instructed.

What happened here was that the financial year was coming to an end; and every amount in the budget must be squandered to pave way for the coming years appropriation. Thats government for you! It is a bundle of waste!

The war against corruption cannot be won by the loss of our sense of history. The sudden displacement of aggression against the political class is not helpful either.

We are quick to point to the politicians of the First Republic, each time we look for the righteous politicians.

So soon, we have forgotten that those politicians also had the good life. We did not give them bicycles and mobylettes to go to work. Even where the legislators were on part-time basis, we gave them the American Chevrolets, which were the best in those days. In fact, they were the land jet of the era.

We recollect how, at the approach of every village along the Benin  Agbor Road in then Midwest Region, Dr. D. N. Oronsaye, our representative in the House of Representatives, used to blast the horn in a special way that produced the sound papan  papan , which we interpreted to mean Oronsaye  Money boku. We all ran out to catch a glimpse of him. Those the man waved at, went home to celebrate.

The First Republic legislators lived in the LEGICO FLATS, which were really exclusive and different from the ordinary. They lived the good life but today, the legislator is looked upon with disdain. What has really changed over time?

The Founding Fathers were right to see political leaders as the mirror into the future. If a leader was well treated, the youths of today would see him as a symbol worth emulating. Such youths would work hard to attain the level of the leader. Thats a sound psychology of human development.

In all we do, the Holy Book provides a guide. We are enjoined to constantly pray for our leaders because it is only when they are at peace that we can be at peace. And in a democracy, leadership begins with those we have freely chosen to represent us. Mutual respect provides a binding therapy.
President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State on his 61st birthday.

Governor Kabir Yusuf is of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP).

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, in a statement indicated that President Tinubu recognized the steadfastness implicit in the political trajectory of Governor Yusuf, rising through the political rung from personal assistant, commissioner to governor of the state.

The statement read:

Presidency Nigeria

@NGRPresident

President Tinubu congratulates Kano Governor on 61st birthday

President Bola Tinubu congratulates Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State on his 61st birthday.

President Tinubu recognizes the steadfastness implicit in the political trajectory of Governor Yusuf, rising through the political rung from personal assistant, commissioner to governor.

The President wishes the Governor success in the discharge of his duties.

The President also prays that the Almighty grant the Governor many more years in good health and strength.
The crew eventually opened the door, and found that the man had died, before the plane was diverted to Cork airport in Ireland.

A crew of a Jet2 plane have been left shocked after finding out that a passenger had died in the planes toilet.

The incident happened during a flight from Tenerife to Manchester.

During the journey on Tuesday, fellow travellers on the Jet2 plane noticed the cubicle had been locked for some time, prompting them to alert staff, The Mirror reported.

The crew eventually opened the door, and found that the man had died, before the plane was diverted to Cork airport in Ireland.

Flight LS918 from Tenerife to Manchester diverted to Cork Airport on Tuesday 2nd January, due to a customer requiring medical attention, a Jet2 spokesperson told MailOnline.

Regrettably, we can confirm that the customer sadly passed away, despite the best efforts of our highly-trained crew who intervened as soon as they became aware.

This was an extremely difficult situation for our crew and we would like to thank them for their efforts.

Our thoughts are with the customers family and friends at this very difficult time.

One passenger onboard told the newspaper that their husband noticed the toilet door had been locked for some time and he said that he thought he was dead. Tragically he was right.

The passenger said the crew were initially dismissive towards their husband, before they checked the cubicle. They believe the person was travelling alone.

They added that the plane was due to land in Manchester at 8.30pm on Tuesday, but that passengers had to wait for another plane in Cork, eventually arriving at 1.30am.
Ekiti State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on his re-election for another four years to be at helm of affairs.

The State Chairman, Barr. Paul Omotosho described the victory as an act of God which was beyond human comprehension, urging the opposition party to accept gods project in good faith.

Omotosho disclosed that the victory was a litmus test on the Presidents integrity, and performance in the last four years.

He made this disclosure during a victory rally in Ado Ekiti to felicitate with the president on his resounding victory at the polls, stressing that it was a victory for democracy and Nigerians as a whole.

The chairman described Buhari, as a man of peace and integrity who conducted the most peaceful, transparency, credible and fair elections ever in Nigeria.

Omotosho further ascribed the victory to the performance recorded by the President in his four years administration, saying his scorecard was exceptional on the scale of merit.

While commending President Buhari for his commitment and hard work towards eradicating insurgency, resuscitation of the economy and corruption in Nigeria, he lauded governor Fayemi for his doggedness and commitment to ensuring that the state recorded victory at the polls.

He commended the international communities, election observers and the Ekiti people for their peaceful conduct before, during and after the election.
Kano State Government has denied viral reports that it banished Muhammed Sanusi from the state after he was dethroned as emir of Kano.

KanyiDaily had reported that Sanusi was dethroned on Monday, March 9, 2020, over alleged disrespect to the office of the state governor and other government agencies.

Consequently, it was widely reported by newspapers that the monarch was banished to Nasarawa State where hes expected to spend the rest of his life in exile.

However, during an interview on Channels Television on Wednesday, the attorney-general of Kano, Ibrahim Muktar, said that the state government did not at any time banish Sanusi.

According to him, the state government was clear in its press statement on Monday that Sanusi was dethroned, but never made any reference to any banishment. Muktar said:

If you listen to the Secretary to the State Government when he was addressing the press on the issue of the removal of the emir from office, there was nowhere he stated that the emir was banished from Kano State. So, the decision of the government when the emir was removed on Monday was that he was removed from office and a new one appointed. The issue of banishment was not part of the decision of the Kano State Government. We have been hearing from the media that he has been banished but what I know is that he was taken out of Kano State but banishment was not part of our decision. There is no such decision to the best of my knowledge.

Muktar said security agents decided to whisk Sanusi away from Kano State due to intelligence reports they had.

He said it was normal practice for deposed emirs to be moved away to maintain peace in the state, adding that such an action was not in contravention of the constitution which guarantees freedom of movement.

The AG further stated that Sanusi was not removed because of the corruption probe but strictly because of insubordination. He said:

The state government has not taken the law into its hands. Let me explain that the decision to remove the emir from office is administrative and was not based on the issues pending before the court. All the issues pending before the court have not to do with the removal of the emir or the dethronement.

When asked if the anti-corruption agency in Kano would continue with Sanusis probe, Muktar responded, No decision on that actually. I cannot pre-empt the position of the government on whether investigation will stop or will continue. I cannot say as of now.

Sanusi has been in Nasarawa State since his removal on Monday and has been denied access to visitors, according to his lawyers who had vowed to take legal action against Kano State Government.




The Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) in Ogun State on Thursday confirmed that five persons died while 36 others sustained injuries in road accidents that happened in the state between Aug. 8 and Aug. 20,





Mr Babatunde Akinbiyi, the spokesperson for TRACE, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abeokuta, that 17 road traffic accidents were recorded during the period involving 23 vehicles and one motorcycle.





He said 63 persons were involved in the accident out of which 36 persons, 23 males and 13 females sustained various degrees of injuries.





Akinbiyi said those who died included four males and one female.





He said that 45.73 per cent of the accidents was caused by speeding, 22.84 per cent by dangerous driving, 9.80 per cent by bad tyres, 2.45 per cent by driving against traffic and 19.18 per cent by other causes.





Furthermore, 57 motorists and 25 motorcycle operators were apprehended for 125 offences, he said.





Akinbiyi stressed that the resolve to reduce road accident deaths and injuries in the state would be pursued vigorously in 2019.





The spokesman appealed to motorists and other road users to obey traffic rules, adding that no traffic offender in the state would be spared.
SPRINGFIELD  A familiar face is switching places.

Former WAND-TV news anchor Dawn Sterling, who signed off in November after nearly 20 years with the Decatur-based station, will join WICS-TV in Springfield later this month, the station confirmed Friday.

Sterling will co-anchor WICS newscasts at 5, 6 and 10 p.m. alongside fellow former WAND colleague Stacey Skrysak. She will also make appearances on FOX Illinois' newscasts at 5:30 and 9 p.m.

Sterling and her husband live in Decatur and the children are in school here, and she has no plans to change that, she told the Herald & Review on Friday.

"I'm still a champion for the area," she said. "When I was brought here in 2004, my husband moved his career here, and we decided to raise our family here. Everybody has been so warm and welcoming in Central Illinois and I love Decatur. People are just kind and look out for one another, and it's a great environment to have a family in. I did not want to leave here. My kids have friends here, we have friends who have become family and it was really important to stay here."

At WICS, she'll be working with an all-female news team, she said.

"Women's empowerment was a big thing going there," she said. "It's an all-female news cast, two female anchors, a female news director, and it made me feel really good to walk into an environment where women are valued and their perspective is important."

News Director Heather Nodine said the company was looking to "take our local newscasts to the next level."

"What better way to do that than to bring in an anchor with years of experience in the local market," she said. "I see this as a win, not only for us, but for Central Illinois viewers."

Sterling said once she met Nodine and General Manager Robert Richardson "I knew it was time for a change. I am so excited to get started at WICS.

Sterling's first job out of college after her 1999 graduation from Central Michigan University was with a station in Binghamton, New York, moving to another station in Terre Haute, Indiana nine months later, where she covered the execution of Timothy McVeigh, for the 1995 bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City in which 168 people were killed.

In 2004, Sterling joined WAND, where she became known for her pairing with news anchor Sean Streaty on the evening newscasts.

WAND general manager Clay Koenig told Herald & Review in November that Sterling had "decided not to renew her contract," adding that her departure provided "an opportunity for WAND-TV to develop our already successful bench strength or go outside to hire a real heavy hitter from another television market."

A permanent replacement for Sterling as not yet been named at the Decatur station. Sterling's first day at WICS will be Jan. 15.

Both WAND and WICIS, along with Champaign-based WCIA-TV, cover the Champaign-Springfield-Decatur media market.

Valerie Wells contributed to this report.

A look back at Decatur-area broadcast personalities WAND executives WSOY Herald & Review, February 1990 Dick Westbrook Del Rosso Herald & Review, May 1998 WSOY basketball broadcast 1965 WAND projection machine Anita Norfleet WTVP Edwin Pianka, assistant chief engineer WTVP sales staff WAND weatherman WSOY announcer Ashonti Ford WAND Fultz, J.C. (James) WSOY engineer WSOY record library
BLOOMINGTON  A 37-year-old Decatur man is facing a new burglary charge after police said stolen car keys were located in a vehicle he was occupying off of Interstate 55 in Bloomington.

Nicholas A. Alexander appeared in a Thursday detention court hearing, about two weeks after he was first charged with possession of a stolen vehicle and driving while license revoked. A grand jury indicted him Wednesday on a new felony charge of burglary, and two misdemeanor counts of theft.

On Thursday, Assistant States Attorney David Fitt said the owner of Carlock Auto Servicenter, 302 W. Washington St., Carlock, reported that two vehicle keys had been taken from his business.

Fitt said security camera footage showed Alexander had driven to the business in a stolen vehicle on Dec. 17, and then taken the car keys from behind the shop counter.

Later that day, Fitt said state police found Alexander in the driver seat of a vehicle that had left the I-55 roadway near the Market Street exit in Bloomington and gone down an embankment.

Alexanders defense counsel said in a hearing two weeks ago that the defendant had been a passenger in the vehicle when they ran out of gas, and his friend had been gone for two hours to get the vehicle refueled. The defendant said he had moved over into the drivers seat while he waited.

Fitt said Alexander later admitted to taking the keys in Carlock, per a statement given to McLean County sheriffs deputies.

A judge approved the December petition to deny Alexanders pretrial release in the first felony matter.

Similar to the previous December custodial hearing, Fitt argued that Alexander ought to be detained on the willful flight standard, in that he would likely thwart prosecution if released. Alexander faces several other pending criminal cases in multiple counties, the prosecutor said.

Assistant Public Defender Matt Butler said his client disputes the new allegations brought forth in court Thursday.

Judge Scott Black approved the state's detention petition on the new case and ordered Alexander to be held pending trial.

The defendant appeared in court Friday for arraignments in both cases.

His next court date will be Feb. 1.
Representatives for Democratic President Joe Biden and Republican challengers led by former President Donald Trump filed petitions Thursday to gain a spot on Illinois March 19 partisan presidential primary ballots.

After Trumps papers were filed Thursday, a group of five voters filed an objection asking the State Board of Elections to disqualify him from the primary ballot. The elections board previously has said the matter is for the courts or the Illinois legislature to address.

The objectors are backed by Free Speech for People, an organization that has pursued efforts nationwide to have Trump disqualified from state ballots.

Representatives for two other Republican candidates, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley, also were in line to file candidacy petitions when the doors to the State Board of Elections opened at 8 a.m., starting a two-day window for presidential candidates and their delegate slates to file for the ballot.

Candidates who filed first thing Thursday earned a chance for the top ballot spot, while candidates who wait until 4 p.m. Friday to file earn a chance for the bottom spot.

As of mid-day, the only other Republican candidate to file was little known Ryan Binkley, a Dallas, Texas, businessman and pastor. Bidens nominal Democratic challengers, U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota, and Marianne Williamson, filed petitions for the presidential preference portion of the ballot but did not put in paperwork for any delegates.

About two dozen people stood outside the board of elections office before the doors opened, many of them supporters or delegate candidates for former president Trump.

Myles Nelson, a Trump delegate candidate, said that its a foregone conclusion Trump will be the Republican nominee, but that his supporters need to work hard nonetheless.

We have to just keep fighting in the general election, trying to change peoples minds, make them realize the disastrous policies of Joe Biden and the Democrats, Nelson said. Theyre scared to death of the thought of him getting back in office and Making America Great Again.

Smaller groups lined up for Haley, a former governor of South Carolina, and DeSantis.

Cynthia Lamar, a delegate candidate for DeSantis from Central Illinois, said she thinks Republicans generally agree on the big issues, even while supporting different candidates.

Primaries are tough. You know, your best friends on the other campaign, Lamar said. But were all, as far as in Sangamon County, everybodys a good sport and supportive of each other.

Chris Dunn, a delegate candidate for Biden, said that despite the countrys political polarization, the different presidential camps remained cordial as they waited to file. Liz Brown-Reeves, another delegate candidate for Biden, agreed.

Look, you can be professional and cordial. We do this at the statehouse everyday, said Brown-Reeves, a veteran State Capitol lobbyist. But, you know, fundamentally we are very different and I think the president supports all people.

While the signature requirements for both Democratic and Republican presidential candidates are identical, each requiring between 3,000 and 5,000 signatures of valid voters, the process for nominating convention delegates differs significantly.

Illinois Republicans will send 64 delegates to the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee from July 15-18, with 51 of them directly elected in the March GOP primary. The top three delegate candidate finishers in each of the states 17 congressional districts, running as pledged to a candidate or uncommitted, earn a spot at the national convention.

GOP voters also will select the same number of alternate delegates, who serve if a nominated delegate cannot participate in the convention.

State Republican Chair Don Tracy and the states GOP national committeeman and committeewoman are automatically delegates, and another 10 at-large delegates will be selected at the partys state convention in May.

The 51 elected delegates are bound to support the candidate to whom they are pledged. The 13 party officials and at-large delegates must support the winner of the statewide presidential preference voting.

Trump, DeSantis and Haley all filed full delegate slates Thursday.

Trumps candidates included Steve Balich of Orland Park, the Will County Board Republican leader and Homer Township supervisor; Chicago 2nd Ward GOP Committeeperson Eloise Gerson; and downstate U.S. Rep. Mary Miller of Hindsboro, a member of the far-right Freedom Caucus.

Filing as Trump delegates in the downstate 12th Congressional District were U.S. Rep. Mike Bost of Murphysboro and unsuccessful 2022 GOP candidate for governor Darren Bailey of Xenia. Bailey is challenging Bost in the March primary and both candidates have been soliciting Trumps endorsement.

Delegate candidates for DeSantis included Shannon Adcock of Naperville, president of Awake Illinois, a conservative group that has fought battles over public school and library materials; DuPage County GOP chair and county board member Jim Zay of Carol Stream; Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau; state Sens. Dave Syverson of Rockford and Sue Rezin of Morris; and former Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis.

Haleys delegate candidates included Elizabeth Doody Gorman, former Cook County Board member and former county GOP chair; state Sens. Don DeWitte of St. Charles and Dan McConchie of Hawthorn Woods; and state Rep. Ryan Spain of Peoria.

A Republican presidential candidate needs the support of an estimated 1,235 delegates nationally to win the nomination. But its questionable whether Illinois primary will be relevant to either partys presidential nomination by the time ballots are cast.

Super Tuesday is March 5, two weeks before Illinois primary, when 15 GOP primaries and caucuses will be held including contests in delegate-heavy California and Texas. If Super Tuesday fails to decide the matter, Illinois primary date is shared with the key presidential election states of Ohio and Florida.

The formal filing of candidacy papers on behalf of Trump opens the door to a challenge of his qualifications for the office under the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution based his role in fomenting the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capital.

Challenges in some states have been dismissed but Colorado and Maine have both bumped Trump from the ballot.

Trump is appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court a ruling by the Colorado Supreme Courts Democratic majority that he is disqualified from the presidency under the constitutions insurrection clause, which was primarily used to prevent supporters of the Confederacy from holding office after the Civil War.

Trump also is appealing to a state court a ruling by the Maine secretary of state that he be removed from the primary ballot.

Under Illinois law, Trumps petition package must include a statement of candidacy in which he provides a notarized signature affirming that he is legally qualified for the office he is seeking.

Biden, facing only nominal opposition within his party, needs to win an estimated 1,895 of pledged Democratic delegates on the first ballot when the party holds its national convention in Chicago from Aug. 19-22.

Bidens full slate of delegate candidates included many Democratic state lawmakers and several Chicago aldermen. Also filing were Illinois AFL-CIO President Tim Drea of Springfield and Robert Reiter, the president of the Chicago Federation of Labor.

The Democratic delegate process is governed by national rules regarding race and ethnicity, sexual identity, youth and people with disabilities.

A total of 177 nominating delegates from Illinois will be attending the partys national convention. Of those, 96 will be elected in the March primary from the states congressional districts, with the number of delegates ranging from three to eight based on past Democratic turnout.

A Democratic presidential candidate must get at least 15% of the votes in the presidential preference voting within the congressional district to be entitled to a delegate. The delegates are awarded proportionally by the preference vote in each district, an an effort is made to provide an even number of men and women. Candidates who identify as nonbinary are counted separately.

The 96 district delegates chosen by voters will meet on April 29 to approve 32 at-large delegates and 19 party leaders and elected officials such as Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker, U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth and the states 14 U.S. House members and Democratic National Committee members from Illinois are among another group of 30 automatic delegates.

The 10 Senate seats most likely to flip in 2024 1. West Virginia 2. Montana 3. Ohio 4. Pennsylvania 5. Arizona 6. Nevada 7. Wisconsin 8. Michigan 9. Texas 10. Florida Analysis: Pennsylvania moves up list of contested Senate seats in 2024
How Time Flies is a daily feature looking back at Pantagraph archives to revisit what was happening in our community and region.

100 years ago

Jan. 5, 1924: So rapidly and so completely have the ranks of veterans of the Civil War been depleted in Maroa that the Lingle post, G.A.R., is about to be disbanded. This post was organized many years ago and has been a strong organization for over 40 years. Just three members remain: A.W. Kinnamon, John Smelz and J.M. Wright.

75 years ago

Jan. 5, 1949: Martha TenEyck, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Lynn H. TenEyck of Normal, has been selected to participate Jan. 16 on a national broadcast of New York Philharmonic Symphony orchestra. Martha is a junior at University High School.

50 years ago

Jan. 5, 1974: The time of sunrise and sunset will change, and there will be an hour more of darkness in the morning when the Twin Cities convert to Daylight Saving Time because of the energy crisis. Only a few residents interviewed by The Pantagraph expressed opposition to the new time scheme.

25 years ago

Jan. 5, 1999: Central Illinois residents continued navigating the aftermath of a blizzard that brought nearly 14 inches of snow to the region. That brought the snowfall for the winter to approximately 17.5 inches, about 13 inches short of the amount that historically is recorded in Bloomington-Normal during the entire winter season.
WARMING CENTERS IN MCLEAN COUNTY

Bloomington

Bloomington Public Library, 205 E. Olive St., 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday; available space is limited

Walmart, 2225 W. Market St., 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Connect Transit bus, parking lot of McLean County Health Department, 200 W. Front St., availability determined on a case-by-case basis depending on available resources and weather

Normal

Meijer, 1900 E. College Ave., 6 a.m. to midnight

Normal Public Library, 206 W. College Ave., 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday

Uptown Station, 11 Uptown Circle, daily until last train at 9 p.m.

Arrowsmith

Call the METCOM non-emergency number, 309-888-5030, for a fire chief to assist.

Bellflower

Bellflower Community Center cafeteria, 104 W. Center St., 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday

Chenoa

Chenoa Fire Department, 920 E. Cemetery Ave.; contact the METCOM non-emergency number, 309-888-5030, to ensure the station is manned.

Cooksville

Call the METCOM non-emergency number, 309-888-5030, for the village president or fire chief to assist.

Downs

Downs Fire Department, 102 W. Main St., open 24 hours, call 309-378-2021 to make sure the station is staffed.

Heyworth

Call the METCOM non-emergency number, 309-888-5030, for a fire chief to assist.

Hudson

Call the METCOM non-emergency number, 309-888-5030, for a fire chief to assist.

LeRoy

Love's Travel Stop, 505 S. Persimmon Drive, 24 hours

Additional places will be available if requested, visit the LeRoy Police Department, 110 S. East St., 309-962-3310

Lexington

Call the METCOM non-emergency number, 309-888-5030, for a fire chief, police department or emergency management agency to assist.

McLean

Road Ranger Truck Stop, 315 E. Dixie Road, 24 hours

Saybrook

Call the METCOM non-emergency number, 309-888-5030, for a fire chief to assist.

Stanford

Call the METCOM non-emergency number, 309-888-5030, for the fire department to assist.
In 2000, Eddie Vedder, the Pearl Jam baritone and outspoken proponent of abortion rights, threatened to move to a different country if George W. Bush were elected president.

With three Supreme Court positions opening in the next administration, Im frightened to think of a Republican in office, he said.

The same year, Alec Baldwin reportedly said hed leave if Bush won. So did the late director Robert Altman.

Bush won. Vedder stayed. Baldwin stayed. Altman stayed. The right-wing joke about huffy posturing by celebrities was born.

Indeed, the threat to leave the United States if X or Y is elected  or B or T  is usually both bombastic and empty. The common wisdom is its better not to make the threat at all. Its like divorce. Youre not supposed to mention it unless youre ready to follow through.

But with pollsters telling us that dread tops the list of Americans feelings about the 2024 election, and with former President Donald Trump hoping for an explicitly dictatorial White House comeback, the prospect of decamping for more democratic shores has fresh appeal. Hollow threats are foolish. But its worth remembering a fundamental freedom: to move.

Ive hardly ever thought about leaving the U.S. in political protest. Even after the elections of Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, whose politics diverged steeply from my own, expatriating didnt cross my mind. Those two were democratically elected by an American majority.

Yes, being forced to accept presidents who were opposed by the majority of the American electorate  George W. Bush in 2000 and Donald Trump in 2016  was demoralizing. Presidents who slide into the Oval Office courtesy of the ever-more-imbalanced electoral college, with flagrant assists from the Supreme Court (Bush) or the Kremlin (Trump) are terrible for morale in a democracy.

Still, I havent yet fired up listings for rentals in Auckland, New Zealand or Vancouver.

But accepting a leader who installs himself in the White House with a violent insurrection, as Trump tried to do just three years ago? Thats where the expatriation fantasy kicks in in earnest.

In last years sweeping history of human civilization, The Dawn of Everything, authors David Graeber and David Wengrow propose that human society requires three priceless freedoms: to disobey, to reimagine society and to move away.

To remember that we can indeed escape this country if the American experiment is hijacked is to send a signal to the nervous system that were still free  in all three ways. Until all the borders and harbors and highways close, until every single plane is grounded and martial law instituted, were not stuck here.

Its a deeply worthwhile practice of citizenship to visit the question of whether America has finally failed. After all, the origin story of many American families is escape. Consider it a thought experiment: What would it take for you to leave?

According to Gallup, record numbers of Americans seriously considered leaving the United States during Trumps term. Sixteen percent said they wanted to split for good. This was considerably higher than during the administrations of George W. Bush (11%) and Barack Obama (10%). Most notably, 40% of women under 30 told Gallup in 2019 that theyd like to leave. According to data collected last year by the Washington Post, the desire to get out spiked again after Roe vs. Wade was overturned in June 2022.

When I asked ChatGPT about emigrating to Canada I didnt exactly get the kindly Come on in! message Id hoped for. Instead, it told me to try my luck with the Canadian bureaucracy  visas and family sponsorship, Express Entry and the Provincial Nominee Program.

If you can find a foothold abroad, its easier than ever to support yourself in foreign lands. Pandemic-era workforces remain far-flung. Last year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that around 28% of private-sector establishments had employees teleworking some or all the time. You might be able to leave the U.S. and take your job with you.

And plenty of people do leave. In 2020, a prominent American legal journalist took her family to Canada, where she grew up. Shes content no longer to live in the long shadow of our sold-out, far-right Supreme Court. A 26-year-old gay American, who presciently fled stateside political instability for Norway in 2019, convened a Reddit group called r/AmerExit to help others considering a move. One member, Richard Altfeld, headed to the Netherlands with his wife, Tiana Esperanza. A biracial couple, Altfeld and Esperanza were  among other things  fed up with American racism.

The urge to escape, of course, isnt only felt by liberals. Another Gallup poll finds that pride in being American is at near-record lows for Republicans.

If theyre casting around for new homelands, Republicans might look to Trump for inspiration. On the stump hes been lavishing praise on the dictatorships in Hungary, China, Russia and North Korea. His followers have at least four solid options for expatriation if President Joe Biden wins reelection.

But, of course, actually leaving isnt easy. The hitch in moving to Canada may be bureaucracy. But the hitch in moving to the autocracies that are richest in Trumpian values is that they also tend to be hostile to immigrants.
In a significant move towards advancing education and empowering students, Mr. Nuhu Bayorbo Mahama has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Student Loan Trust Fund (SLTF).



The announcement, conveyed in a letter from the Office of the President, underscores the government's commitment to ensuring accessible and sustainable financial support for tertiary education in Ghana.



Background on the Appointment



Pursuant to Section 13 (1) of the Students Loan Trust Fund Act, 2011 (Act 820), as amended, Mr. Mahama's appointment was officially communicated in a letter dated January 2, 2024. The letter, signed by the Chief of Staff, Mrs. Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, highlighted the President's confidence in Mr. Mahama's ability to lead the SLTF. This appointment is pending receipt of the constitutionally required advice of the governing Board of the Fund, in consultation with the Public Services Commission.



Key Details in the Appointment Letter



The letter, with reference number Of5101/1/24/02, officially designates Mr. Nuhu Bayorbo Mahama as the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the SLTF. The President's decision aligns with the broader vision of fostering educational accessibility and financial support for students pursuing higher education.



Mrs. Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, extended warm congratulations to Mr. Mahama on his appointment. The letter also emphasized the President's confidence in his leadership capabilities and encouraged a response within 14 days to confirm acceptance of the role.



Significance of the Appointment



Mr. Mahama's diverse background, encompassing over a decade of experience in the financial sector, insurance industry, and political leadership, positions him as a strategic choice for steering the SLTF. His proven track record in mobilization, research, and leadership roles, coupled with academic achievements, aligns well with the Fund's mission.



Looking Forward



As Mr. Nuhu Bayorbo Mahama assumes the role of CEO, the educational landscape in Ghana anticipates positive changes under his stewardship. His leadership is expected to contribute to the continued success and impact of the Student Loan Trust Fund, ensuring that financial barriers do not hinder the educational aspirations of Ghanaian students.



The Vice President, the Secretary to the President, the Minister of Education, the Chairperson of the Public Services Commission, and the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees at SLTF were all copied on the appointment letter, reflecting the collaborative efforts involved in the decision-making process.



This appointment marks a new chapter in the SLTF's journey, symbolizing a commitment to educational development and student empowerment under the capable leadership of Mr. Nuhu Bayorbo Mahama.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
The management of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) has opened the portal for applications from businesses and job seekers in the country to participate in its Business and Employment Assistance Programme (BEAP).



Interested entities are obliged to submit their applications through the YEA portal at www.yea.gov.gh or apply.yea.gov.gh.



According to a statement by the YEA, this initiative is to assist Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) with the opportunity to enhance their businesses and generate additional employment.



"This announcement follows management's decision to expedite the registration process, ensuring prompt enrollment of jobseekers and providing Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) the opportunity to enhance their businesses and generate additional employment. This initiative reaffirms the Agency's commitment to encouraging eligible MSMEs to participate in the programme.



"It aligns with the formal introduction and launch of the YEA Business and Employment Assistance Support Programme (BEAP), aimed at aiding businesses adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The YEA's objective is rooted in its mandate to assist MSMEs that experienced a decline in turnovers post-pandemic, leading to layoffs. The goal is to help these businesses rehire employees, bring in new talent, and equip them with the necessary skills for productivity", portions of the statement read.



Read full statement below:



YEA ANNOUNCES CONTINUED OPENING OF BEAP PORTAL FOR BUSINESS APPLICATIONS



The Management of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) is pleased to notify the public, especially the business community and companies interested in participating in the Business and Employment Assistance Programme (BEAP), that the portal remains accessible for business applications.



The portal is also available for jobseekers seeking opportunities with any of the beneficiary companies across various sectors of the economy.



Interested jobseekers, potential employers, and businesses can submit their applications through the YEA portal at www.yea.gov.gh or apply.yea.gov.gh.



This announcement follows management's decision to expedite the registration process, ensuring prompt enrollment of jobseekers and providing Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) the opportunity to enhance their businesses and generate additional employment.



This initiative reaffirms the Agency's commitment to encouraging eligible MSMEs to participate in the programme. It aligns with the formal introduction and launch of the YEA Business and Employment Assistance Support Programme (BEAP), aimed at aiding businesses adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.



The YEA's objective is rooted in its mandate to assist MSMEs that experienced a decline in turnovers post-pandemic, leading to layoffs. The goal is to help these businesses rehire employees, bring in new talent, and equip them with the necessary skills for productivity.



Under the Agency's disbursement plan, each beneficiary MSME is expected to hire an average of two (2) employees, including those previously laid off. These employees will receive a monthly allowance of GHS500 as a supplement to their remuneration package from employers, lasting for a 12-month period.



For further clarification or inquiries, please contact Miss Adoma Odoom, at 0241777600, or Mr. Joseph Bannerman , at 0570410749



YEA remains steadfast in its commitment to youth employment and the overall development of MSMEs, aiming to expand and create more meaningful opportunities for the youth.





ISSUED BY: CORPORATE AFFAIRS DIRECTORATE









Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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New Africa Foundation is delighted to host The Convention 2024.



This event is scheduled to take place on the 7th of January 2024 at the Kwame Nkrumah Independence Square, coinciding with Ghanas Constitution Day.



This event will encompass different facets of African excellence, including thought leaders and artists, all before an eclectic audience, including every stratum, community and group that constitutes the country, a microcosmic representation of the macrocosmic continent. New Africa Foundation, in partnership with Afrokids, will give out 5,000 pairs of shoes to levelled people as part of the activities at the event.



Confirmed speakers slated for the median Convention are:



Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao, a trailblazing leader and Pan-African advocate from Zimbabwe. With a medical background and a commitment to fostering unity among African nations and the diaspora, Dr. Chihombori-Quao has actively dismantled barriers and created opportunities for collaboration in various fields. Her efforts in empowering women, promoting gender equality, and championing education and healthcare initiatives contribute to a legacy transcending border.



Professor P. L. O. Lumumba, a distinguished African legal scholar and passionate advocate for good governance and Pan-Africanism from Kenya. With a significant tenure as the former Director of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission, Lumumba has gained global recognition through compelling speeches dissecting African politics and socio-economic challenges. He remains a dynamic force in pursuing African unity and development, inspiring the youth and championing justice.



Joining us from South Africa we have Julius Malema, a dynamic and influential politician who has captured the hearts of many with his impassioned commitment to social justice and economic equality. As the founder and leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) since 2013, Malema has led a fervent crusade for the rights of the marginalized and the transformation of South Africa's economic landscape. With his distinctive red beret symbolizing the fight for justice, Malema's charisma and eloquence have endeared him to a diverse range of supporters who appreciate his bold vision for a more inclusive and equitable society.



Finally, we have Peter Obi, a luminary in Nigerian politics with unwavering integrity and exceptional leadership acumen. With a background in economics and a successful stint in business, Obi brings a unique blend of financial acuity and social consciousness to the political arena.



Serving as the Governor of Anambra State from 2006 to 2014, Obi garnered acclaim for his transformative policies, focusing on education, healthcare, and infrastructure. His frugality and prudent financial management earned him the moniker "the Okwute" (the Rock), symbolizing his resilience and steadfast dedication to the welfare of his people.



Visit www.theconventionafrica.com for more info and free registration to attend.







Source: Peacefmonline.com









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In a latest development regarding the New Patriotic Partys (NPP) parliamentary primaries, the Greater Accra Regional vetting committee has disqualified two aspirants from contesting, according to report.



Richard Hagan from Okaikoi South, challenging Dakoa Newman and Samuel Owusu Amankwah from Ayawaso West Wuogon, challenging Lydia Seyram Alhassan have been disqualified for different reasons.



Hagan was disqualified due to the late submission of his nomination forms, while Amankwah was disqualified for not being a member in good standing.



Despite their disqualification, the committee has approved 11 other aspirants from six constituencies in the region. These aspirants have met all the constitutional requirements set by the party.



Among the approved candidates are Dakoa Newman from Okaikoi South, Dr. Adomako Kissi (the incumbent MP for Anyaa Sowutuom) and his contender Elder Emmanuel Tobbin, Nana Boakye and Robert Richard Siapim from Tema West.



The incumbent MP for Dome-Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo, Michael Oquaye, and Sheila Oppong Sakyi have also been approved by the committee.



In Bortianor Ngleshie Amanfro, the incumbent MP Sylvester Tetteh, along with two contenders  Vida Agyekum Acheampong and Eric Kojo Kuranchie  have received approval.



Dr. Adomako Kissi, the incumbent MP for Anyaa Sowutuom, expressed his confidence in his chances of retaining the seat.



He believes that maintaining him as the parliamentary candidate in the constituency will improve the partys chances in the upcoming general election.



Adwoa Safo, the incumbent and aspirant for Dome-Kwabenya, also expressed confidence in winning the partys primaries and retaining the seat in 2024.



Michael Oquaye, on the other hand, expressed his confidence in beating Adwoa Safo and retaining the seat for the NPP in the next general election.



Daniel Parker Odarlai France, the Greater Accra regional secretary of the NPP, expressed satisfaction with the vetting process so far.

He mentioned that there was chaos during the orphan constituency vetting, but the process was quiet and orderly this time.



Regarding the disqualification of the two aspirants, France explained that they failed to meet certain aspects of the partys constitution.



Hagan was disqualified for not submitting his nomination forms before the deadline, while Amankwah was disqualified for not being a member in good standing due to unpaid dues.



In an interview after his disqualification, Hagan stated that he would not appeal the decision. However, he assured his continued support for the sole aspirant and the party to ensure victory in the 2024 general election.



The NPP is set to hold elections for constituencies with sitting MPs on January 27, 2024.



The Greater Accra Region will see elections in 14 constituencies.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com









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Hollywood megastar Will Smith has made a surprise call to a Guinean man who cycled across Africa to get to university.



Last year, Mamadou Safayou Barry captured the headlines over his 4,000km (2,500 mile) trek.



In a video call to Cairo, where Mr Barry is studying, Smith told him he was "deeply moved" by his efforts and gifted him a new bike and a laptop.



He learnt about the epic trip from a BBC Instagram post last September.



"I want the world to hear your story," the lead in numerous blockbusters said.



On a short film uploaded to Smith's YouTube channel, the student appeared shocked to be talking to the Men in Black star. "This is Will Smith!" a smiling Mr Barry said. "A lot of your films I love."



"I don't know how to thank you Wallahi [I swear]! I don't know how to thank you," he said later when he heard about the gifts.



Smith's publicity team had contacted the BBC after the story of Mr Barry's odyssey had been published saying that it had touched the actor. They wanted to see how they could speak to him.



Last May, the 25-year-old set off from the West African country of Guinea for Egypt's prestigious Al-Azhar University, hoping he would be accepted.



The married father of one could not afford the cost of a flight, so instead got on his bike and took four months to pedal through Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, Niger and Chad.



He travelled through regions where jihadist fighters often stage attacks, and which have seen several military coups.



He was arrested and detained three times for no good reason - twice in Burkina Faso and once in Togo.



However, Mr Barry's luck turned when he reached Chad. A journalist interviewed Mr Barry and posted his story online, prompting some good Samaritans to fund a flight to Egypt for him.



Once he got to Cairo he was offered a university place, initially for Islamic studies and then onto engineering, and a full scholarship.



"When you commit to a journey, the universe conspires to help you," Smith told a beaming Mr Barry, citing author Paulo Coelho.



On the video, someone can be seen wheeling in a bicycle to give to the student, as well as handing him the laptop.



Smith has also donated vouchers so that he can buy flights either back to Guinea to visit his family, or so they can visit him.

Source: BBC









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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

In a recent study examining the accuracy of self-estimation in evaluating technology use, researchers analyzed data from more than 300 iPhone users in China. The findings indicate a moderate correlation between self-reported usage and actual screen time. However, a notable finding is that the longer individuals engage with social media or smartphones, the less accurate their self-reporting of use becomes.

Self-estimation refers to an individual's subjective assessment or perception of their behavior. In the present study, published in the International Journal of Mobile Communications, it refers specifically to the use of smartphones and social media.

Gefei Li and Jialong Li of Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan and E. Qinyu of the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology and Xia Li of Shanghai Jiaotong University in Shanghai, China, have examined the psychological factors influencing the precision of recall of smartphone and social media use.

The team found that loneliness is one factor that correlates with discrepancies in estimating social media use, suggesting that the lonelier an individual feels, the more they overestimate their use. Conversely, those who reported greater life satisfaction were less likely to underreport their actual smartphone use. Fundamentally, the study suggests that as individuals spend more time on smartphones and social media, the reliability of their self-reporting of how long they spend on them diminishes.

The team suggests that one practical implication of these findings is that researchers should be questioning the adequacy of traditional self-reporting measures for assessing how much we use these digital technologies.

The team recommends a standardized time perception approach, which could challenge the common practice of subjective time measurement in studying behavior. The researchers also introduce the concept of "screen time," which could be used to provide a more accurate measure of smartphone usage and so mitigate underreporting. This tool could offer valuable data for researchers studying the impacts of digital technology use on our digital habits.

The findings and implications of this study may well extend beyond the immediate results, suggesting that screen time reports could be a valuable resource for researchers in communication studies, cognitive psychology, and neuropsychology. By adopting a more precise measurement approach, researchers might gain a deeper understanding of the implications of digital technology use on our lives or at the very least glean more accurate data than self-estimation might offer so that future studies can give us clearer results.

More information: Gefei Li et al, What influences our recall of the use of social media and smartphones An exploratory study based on a sample of Chinese iPhone users, International Journal of Mobile Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1504/IJMC.2024.135696

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A herd of elephants in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe. Credit: Prof. Rudi van Aarde

Conservation measures have successfully stopped declines in the African savanna elephant population across southern Africa, but the pattern varies locally, according to a new study.

The evidence suggests that the long-term solution to elephant survival requires not only that areas are protected but that they are also connected to allow populations to stabilize naturally, an international research team says.

Their study, published on January 5 in Science Advances, collected survey estimates and calculated growth rates for more than 100 elephant populations in southern Africa between 1995 and 2020, accounting for an estimated 70% of the global savanna elephant population. The published paper is titled, "Protecting and connecting landscapes stabilises populations of the endangered savannah elephant."

"This is the most comprehensive analysis of growth rates for any large mammal population in the world," said co-author Rob Guldemond, director of the Conservation Ecological Research Unit (CERU) at the University of Pretoria, in South Africa.

Overall, the survey's results are positive. There are the same number of elephants now as there were 25 years ago, a rare conservation win at a time when the planet is rapidly losing biodiversity. However, the pattern is not consistent across regions. Some areas, such as south Tanzania, eastern Zambia, and northern Zimbabwe, experienced severe declines due to illegal ivory poaching. In contrast, populations in other regions like north Botswana are booming.

Map of elephant population growth rates across southern Africa. Credit: Huang et al. 2024 (DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adk2896)

"Unchecked growth isn't necessarily a good thing, however," says study co-author Stuart Pimm, the Doris Duke Professor of Conservation at Duke University in North Carolina. "Rapidly increasing populations can outgrow and damage their local environment and prove hard to manageintroducing a threat to their long-term stability," Pimm says.

In addition to documenting local growth rates, the team also looked at the features of the local populations to identify what makes them stable, that is neither growing nor declining.

Elephant populations in well-protected but isolated parks, sometimes called "fortress conservation," grow rapidly in the absence of threats but are unsustainable in the long term. These elephants will likely need future conservation interventions, such as translocation or birth control, which are both costly and intensive endeavors.

The team found that the most stable populations occur in large, core areas that are surrounded by buffer zones. The core areas are defined by their strong levels of environmental protection and minimal human impact, whereas the buffers allow some activities such as sustainable farming, forestry, or trophy hunting. Unlike the insular fortresses, core areas are connected to other parks, allowing herds to move naturally.

Elephants take a dust bath to stay cool in Botswana. Credit: Prof. Rudi van Aarde

Baby elephant in South Luangwa National Park, Zambia. Credit: Ryan M. Huang

"What's crucial is that you need a mix of areas with more stable core populations linked to more variable buffer areas," said lead author Ryan Huang, a Duke Ph.D. now doing postdoctoral research at CERU.

"These buffers absorb immigrants when core populations get too high, but also provide escape routes when elephants face poor environmental conditions or other threats such as poaching," Huang said.

Connecting protected areas means elephants can freely move in and out. This allows a natural equilibrium to occur without human intervention, sparing conservationists from using their limited resources to maintain balance.

"Calling for connecting parks isn't something new. Many have done so," Huang said. "But surprisingly, there has not been a lot of published evidence of its effectiveness so far. This study helps quantify why this works."

"Connecting protected areas is essential for the survival of African savanna elephants and many other animal and plant species," said Celeste Mare, co-author and doctoral student at Aarhus University in Denmark. "Populations with more options for moving around are healthier and more stable, which is important given an uncertain future from climate change."

More information: Ryan Huang et al, Protecting and connecting landscapes stabilises populations of the Endangered savannah elephant, Science Advances (2024). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adk2896. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adk2896 Journal information: Science Advances
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Credit: Mikhail Nilov from Pexels

"Pupil stabbed to death at Gauteng school had suffered history of bullying." "Grade 6 learner commits suicide after bullying." "Grade 11 learner takes her own life after taunts over her appearance."

These are just some headlines about the occasionally tragic effects of violent school bullying in South African schoolsand, unfortunately, the problem runs deep. In 2015 the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, which also collects information on the factors that affect academic performance, found that 64% of South African grade 9 learners (most aged between 14 and 16) experience bullying (social, verbal, physical or cyber) on at least a monthly basis. A similar rate, 65%, was found in 2019.

The Department of Basic Education introduced the National School Safety Framework in 2015. This aimed to empower schools in identifying and addressing security threats, aligning with international conventions and national legislation on child rights and safety. It draws on substantial policy frameworks, including several key pieces of legislation. However, this framework has had limited effects.

Now, in what seems like a last resort, the department is promoting the use of Section 2(4) of the Protection from Harassment Act. It empowers children to apply for a protection order without their parents' help.

I am an education policy analyst and, over the past decade, I have focused on how school environments affect learner achievement. Parts of any school's environment are the quality of relationships among learners, feelings of safety, learner's sense of belonging, and the prevailing attitudes and values of learners and teachers. My research thus includes school bullying. My work explores factors influencing bullying and its outcomes, informing policies for safer schools. Research I've conducted with colleagues on the nature of bullying in South African schools unfortunately shows that such measures are likely ineffective.

That's because bullying is complex. Our research findings point to cycles of bullying where learners can be victims of bullying in some contexts and perpetrators in others. We call these learners bully-victims. When they are repeatedly victimized, some individualsseeking power and controlturn to bullying as a coping mechanism. Our results provide evidence that bullying and victimization should not be thought of strictly as opposing behaviors, but as a symbiotic relationship. Understanding this complexity is important for shaping effective anti-bullying programs, which should focus on the school as a system rather than on individual learners.

What learners told us

Our study drew from self-reported data provided by 12,154 grade 9 students who participated in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study in 2015. Its purpose was to understand the risk factors associated with being a victim of bullying and the relationship between perpetrators and victims. It was the first nationally representative study of this kind, where learners were asked about the types of bullying that they were victims and perpetrators of.

We found that for all forms of bullying, being a perpetrator was significantly related to being a victim of bullying. This was true for being made fun of (verbal bullying), being hurt (physical bullying) and being left out of games (relational bullying). The highest odds were found for having information posted online (cyber bullying), students being forced to do things that they did not want to do and students being threatened. Learners who had information about them posted online were 13 times more likely to post information online about others.

The findings indicate that it is important to identify bully-victims as a distinct group from those who are just victims or perpetrators. Bullying and victimization should not be thought of strictly as opposing behaviors. This will help policymakers and schools to design appropriate interventions.

What lowers the risk of bullying?

An important finding in the study is that the school environment, or at least the students' feelings towards the environment, was associated with bullying behavior.

Students who reported feeling secure and that they belonged at school were less likely to be bullied. Students who felt exposed to unfair treatment by teachers were more likely to be bullied. These trends were very similar across the types of bullying. It is clear that school principals and teachers need to foster a positive and inclusive school environment where all students feel valued and supported.

Students should also be encouraged to get involved in building a positive culture. This could lead to the co-creation of schooling norms that build values and protect learners.

Parents have an important role to play, too. The Department of Basic Education has resources available such as "Tips for Parents", which shows parents how to teach children about different forms of bullying, how to recognize it, and the importance of reporting any incidents. The booklet also describes the warning signs of being bullied. Some of these tips include assuring children that you will immediately investigate and report the situation with the school principal rather than trying to be a "fix-it" parent by calling the bully's parents.

Targeted programs

In the pursuit of safer schools, the discourse must move beyond awareness to designing targeted programs that are based on evidence. Only through such comprehensive insights can we hope to develop strategies that genuinely resonate with the complex realities faced by students in the country.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Gros Morne National Park, Canada. Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

In late 2023, the federal government, British Columbia and the First Nations Leadership Council signed a $1 billion Nature Agreement to protect 30% of B.C.'s lands by 2030.

The agreement stressed the full collaboration of Indigenous Peoples in alignment with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The Nature Agreement follows a series of historic federal investments in nature conservation over the past several years. Like the previous announcements, the 2023 Nature Agreement includes funding for Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas, or IPCAs.

Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault stated about the agreement, "I think people will look at this agreement and say, 'OK, this is how it needs to be done going forward now in Canada' It's nature, it's conservation, it's restoration, but it's also about reconciliation."

However, despite advances in Canadian conservation policy and practice, our research has shown that First Nations advancing IPCAs can still face significant challenges.

Unless Canadian governments meaningfully address these challenges, the reconciliatory potential of IPCAsand new funding agreements intended to support themwill be undermined.

Indigenous protected and conserved areas

IPCAs present vast opportunities for nature conservation and reconciliation. However, they also face multiple pressures. Unlike regular parks and protected areas in Canada, IPCAs are established and maintained by First Nations, Metis and Inuit governments.

Indigenous governments establish IPCAs under their own Indigenous laws, while some also choose to pursue protection under Canadian law.

IPCAs are varied, but typically support ecological restoration or protection and local economic development while centering Indigenous cultures, languages, knowledge and laws. At the heart of IPCAs is Indigenous governance over lands and waters for future generations.

The Indigenous-led conservation movement in Canada is gaining momentum along with growing awareness of how wilderness conservation has disenfranchised Indigenous Peoples through displacement, criminalization and limiting access.

Simultaneously, efforts to advance reconciliation in Canada and recognize inherent Indigenous rights are more widespread.

While a few First Nations in B.C. established the first tribal parks in the early 1980s, IPCAs have been emerging across the country since 2018, some with support from federal funding programs.

In 2018, the Indigenous Circle of Experts, a national Indigenous-led advisory group, advocated for IPCAs as a solution for Canada to achieve its nature conservation targets while advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.

Since 2018, Environment and Climate Change Canada has funded 59 Indigenous-led conservation proposals and a First Nations National Guardians Network.

Roadblocks to reconciliation

One of the biggest challenges for IPCAs is the pressure of resource extraction. Even once an IPCA is declared, it may not be safe from resource extraction, as was the case with Dasiqox Nexwagwezan, an IPCA in B.C.

Canadian governments continue to grant tenures and licenses to companies for logging, mining, fish farms and other impactful activities inside IPCAs against the wishes of Indigenous nations.

These actions go against the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and its foundational principle of free, prior and informed consent. Canada and B.C. have both implemented legislation on the declaration.

Video produced by the Coastal First Nations articulating the importance of IPCAs for environmental protection and justice.

This dynamic is not surprising since many Indigenous nations establish IPCAs precisely because Canadian governments do not respect their governance and decision-making authority around extractive industry.

Indigenous governments are sometimes forced to compensate companies by buying out tenures to ensure protection of their IPCAs.

While there are examples of tenure buyouts that enabled Indigenous nations to establish IPCAs, these are extremely costly, impractical and should not be considered the norm.

Another option is for "cooling-off periods" that pause resource extraction while IPCA planning and negotiations are underway.

These challenges are particularly acute in instances where IPCAs are not designated under Canadian protected area legislation. The vast majority of Canadian governments have not created new legislation or amended existing legislation to explicitly enable the designation and protection of IPCAs.

This means that Indigenous governments seeking additional legal protection for their IPCAs must make do with regular protected area designations that limit Indigenous authority, even under co-management arrangements.

Indigenous governments establishing IPCAs also face financial struggles. Previous federal investments in Indigenous-led conservation revealed high demand for funds but resulted in only a small percentage of projects getting funding, sometimes due to IPCA visions clashing with resource extraction aims.

A further issue is that funding is only for IPCA establishment and not ongoing stewardship.

At the core of these challenges are fundamental conflicts regarding the Crown's continued assertion of its ultimate authority. This assertion is in spite of the Canadian government's own guidance for reconciliation and legal pluralismincluding the recognition of Indigenous rights and building equal relationships with Indigenous Peoples.

Systemic change will advance reconciliation

Canadian governments increasingly view IPCAs as a means of meeting their conservation targets under the Convention on Biological Diversityespecially the goal of protecting 30 percent of Canada's lands and waters by 2030. This requires roughly doubling the total protected area in Canada.

At the recent COP28 climate conference, parties underscored the need to take action on biodiversity loss, climate change and land degradation in a "coherent, synergetic and holistic manner." This includes cutting global greenhouse gas emissions by 43 percent, compared to 2019, by 2030 in order to keep global warming under 1.5C.

While the most recent conservation funding announcement is commendable, it is unclear how the $500 million of new federal funding, which includes previously announced funds, will be distributed. Additionally, internal government records allegedly show that B.C. may use the agreement to avoid federal efforts to protect species at risk in the province.

The challenges IPCAs surface can be embraced as catalysts for reconciliation. This involves changing mindsets, behaviors, practices, policies and laws at multiple scales. It is the kind of transformative work that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission called for in all sectors of society.

IPCAs offer tremendous potential for addressing the biodiversity and climate crises and repairing relationships with Indigenous Peoples.

As such, how Canadian governments and the conservation sector respond to the roadblocks encountered by Indigenous governments advancing IPCAs is crucial. Only by assisting these initiatives can we build meaningful and lasting IPCAs which not only restore and protect ecosystems but also advance reconciliation through Indigenous governance, laws, and knowledge systems.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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A large Polyrhachis pruinosa ant feeds on sweet nectar secretions on the underside of an N. gracilis pitcher lid. Credit: Ulrike Bauer

An international team of researchers led by Dr. Ulrike Bauer from the University of Bristol investigated two tropical pitcher plant species separated by 4,000 km of open ocean: The Slender Pitcher Plant (Nepenthes gracilis) found in Borneo, and Nepenthes pervillei from the Seychelles islands off the East coast of Africa.

Dr. Bauer and her team found that both plants had independently evolved the same unusual "springboard" mechanism to capture insects. When falling raindrops hit the roof-like trap lid of the pitcher plant, insects standing on the underside of the trap lid are catapulted into the trap below. The work is published in the journal Science.

This springboard trapping mechanism only works if three independent traits come together. First, the lid needs to be horizontal so that the catapulted prey land inside the trap. Second, the lid needs to act as a spring so that the impact energy of the raindrop is transferred to the insect. Finally, the underside of the lid is covered with a layer of fine wax crystals that give it just the right level of slipperinessgrippy enough for insects to walk upside down under the still lid, but slippery enough for them to lose grip when a drop hits.

All three components are necessary for the trap to work. Springboard trapping is what Dr. Bauer calls a "composite trait."

Evolutionary biologists struggle to explain the emergence of such composite traits. "We learn in school that evolution works by natural selection acting on naturally variable traits," Dr. Bauer explains. Individuals with advantageous traits have more offspring, and thus over time, the frequency of genes underlying the advantageous traits increases in the population."

The wax crystals on the underside of the N. pervillei pitcher lid are visible to the naked eye as a glaucous sheen. Credit: Ulrike Bauer

"This simple concept explains how giraffe necks got longer and cheetahs got faster over time, but it struggles to explain the emergence of entirely novel traits, especially where these originate from a combination of multiple, previously unrelated components, such as the pitcher plant's springboard mechanism."

Dr. Bauer and her team developed an alternative hypothesis for composite trait evolution: Spontaneous coincidence, or in other words, a chance encounter of a new beneficial combination.

"Our research showed that in the majority of Nepenthes pitcher plant species, the three component traits of the springboard trapping mechanism are unusually variable," Dr. Bauer said.

"This increased the pool of possible trait combinations, and therefore the likelihood of a beneficial new combination. In this case it is actually the absence of strong selection that facilitates evolution, as it allows the traits to be more variable, in turn increasing the number of 'tickets' in the evolutionary lottery."

More information: Guillaume Chomicki et al, Convergence in carnivorous pitcher plants reveals a mechanism for composite trait evolution, Science (2024). DOI: 10.1126/science.ade0529 Journal information: Science
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

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 controlwas 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 in the last 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.

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.

"It's very disturbing that in particular attacks on civilian water infrastructure seem to be on the rise," said Peter Gleick, the Pacific Institute's 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.

Not every case involves injuries or deaths, but many do.

In African countries including Nigeria, Somalia and South Sudan, fighting has erupted between farmers and herders over water sources and land.

"There have been a growing number of incidents where drought has led to violence associated with disputes over control and access to freshwater," Gleick said.

In South Africa, protests over lack of access to clean water have turned volatile, with people burning tires and throwing rocks at police. During droughts in Iran and India, protests over water shortages have also sparked violence.

"We know that climate change is worsening severe droughts, and that makes me worry that these kinds of incidents will become more common," Gleick said.

Parsing the mix of factors that lead to water conflicts is complicated and an area Gleick and his colleagues plan to study furtherincluding the role climate change is playing in worsening scarcity and contributing to violence.

During the last two years, they have also seen a large increase in the number of "casualty" incidents, in which water infrastructure is targeted.

The latest additions to the database include 56 incidents from the Russia-Ukraine war, many of them involving attacks on water infrastructure.

In 2022, Russian troops bombed a water system in Kherson and a pumping plant in Chernihiv, and were blamed for deliberately cutting off the water supply to the city of Mykolaiv. Ukraine's military also flooded lands north of Kyiv to block a Russian assault on the capital.

Last year, Russian forces destroyed dams and other infrastructure, and disrupted water supplies for 35,000 people during an assault on Marhanets.

The destruction of Kakhovka Dam has eliminated irrigation for large areas of agricultural land in southern Ukraine, harming food production and the Ukrainian economy.

Many of these attacks appear to violate the Geneva Conventions and other international treaties that prohibit attacks on civilian water infrastructure during war, Gleick said.

The latest data show there have been 107 conflicts over water reported in the Middle East since the start of 2022, with about 60% of those involving incidents between Israelis and Palestinians.

In various cases in the West Bank, Israeli military forces have destroyed Palestinian-owned wells and water systems. Israeli settlers have demolished water tanks and pipes belonging to Palestinians, and seized control of wells and water sources.

And Palestinians have repeatedly clashed with Israeli troops in disputes over wells and springs, including a case in which violence erupted after troops prevented Palestinians from digging a well.

Because the researchers have yet to analyze reports of conflicts during the last six months, they don't have detailed information about water-related violence in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

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.

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 don't want a dam built, they don't want their forests to be destroyed, and their rivers to be destroyed," Shimabuku said.

Gleick said one of the goals in tracking data about conflicts is to shed light on connections between water and peace and security.

"Understanding what's driving these events can help us develop strategies to reduce the risk of violence over water," Gleick said.

The history of water-related conflicts and the recent rise in violence are among the subjects Gleick analyzes in his book, "The Three Ages of Water: Prehistoric Past, Imperiled Present, and a Hope for the Future."

In it, Gleick presents a wide-ranging and meticulously researched examination of humans' relationship to water throughout history, from ancient Mesopotamia to the present, and shares a hopeful vision for how societies can address water challenges and move toward a more sustainable future.

He calls for new thinking and approaches to address lack of water access, worsening pollution, overtapped rivers and aquifers, and collapsing ecosystems. He also envisions a peaceful future where conflicts are dealt with peacefully and water-related violence is fading.

Gleick traces the history of conflicts to the first known war over water nearly 4,500 years ago between the ancient Sumerian city-states of Lagash and Umma in what is now southern Iraq. The conflict's history was carved into clay tablets and limestone monuments that archaeologists excavated in the floodplains of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

He discusses other conflicts over water through the centuries, including the recent example of Syrian civil war, which was ignited in 2011 by a mix of factors including anger at the repressive government, years of drought and the worsening impacts of climate change.

Gleick writes that today violence triggered by water is worsening around the world for reasons including "weak or corrupt governments and water laws, uneven access to scarce water, inequitable distribution of water rights, and extreme droughts that threaten the health and stability of economies and communities."

Gleick says he believes that "just as water has been a source of conflict and violence, it can be a source of peace, cooperation and sustainable development."

He described it as an effort to avoid the sort of dystopian future of fighting over water depicted in movies such as "Mad Max."

Gleick pointed out that in the past there has been bloodshed over water in the western United States, including a conflict between ranchers in 1892 in Johnson County, Wyo.

There are few recent U.S. conflicts in the database. Part of the reason such violence has faded, Gleick said, is because U.S. laws and institutions are stronger than they once were.

"We've moved to the courts," Gleick said. "And while there's still too many conflicts over water, fighting over things with lawyers is better than fighting over things with guns."

Globally, many conflicts triggered by water happen where institutions are weak, water management is poor, water rights are disputed, or laws are unfairly enforced. A solution, he said, "is to make sure that everyone has access to safe water and sanitation, basic needs, and that the institutions for sharing and allocating water resources, and resolving disputes over water resources, are strong."

In the book, Gleick writes that our age, which he calls the Second Age of Water, is coming to an end in a series of crises. He offers his vision for how to move toward a more sustainable and peaceful Third Age of Water, calling for multiple solutions, such as ending "water poverty" for the many who lack access to safe water, carrying out an "efficiency revolution" in water use, reforming water institutions, and reaching more water-sharing agreements among countries.

"The overarching point is that what appears to be a growing trend of violence associated with water is a symptom of the broad water crises we face," Gleick said. "But it's also an opportunity to tackle the underlying problems of water poverty, of poor institutions, of weak governance, of inequitable access to water and inadequately enforced water laws. And if we can address those challenges, we really have an opportunity to reduce violence associated with water problems."

2024 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

An aerial photograph of the newly-discovered Imperial Cult ruins by Douglas Boin, Ph.D., and his team. Credit: Douglas Boin, Ph.D.

Douglas Boin, Ph.D., a professor of history at Saint Louis University, made a major announcement at the annual meeting of the Archaeological Institute of America, revealing he and his team discovered an ancient Roman temple that adds significant insights into the social change from pagan gods to Christianity within the Roman Empire.

"We found three walls of a monumental structure that evidence suggests belonged to a Roman temple that dates to Constantine's period," Boin said.

"It dates to the fourth century AD and it would be a remarkable addition to the landscape of this corner of Italy. It will significantly aid in the understanding of the ancient town, the ancient townscape and city society in the later Roman Empire because it shows the continuities between the classical pagan world and early Christian Roman world that often get blurred out or written out of the sweeping historical narratives."

Boin and his excavation team made the monumental discovery over the summer. Boin, an expert in ancient Roman and its religious transitions, had been digging in the town of Spello, the famous medieval hilltop city about 20 minutes from Assisi and 2.5 hours north of Rome. Boin selected the town based on a rescript of a 4th-century letter from Emperor Constantine to the townspeople regarding a religious holiday.

This rescript, which was discovered in the 18th century, allowed the people of Spello to celebrate a religious festival in their hometown rather than travel a great distance to another festival. However, in order to do so, the town was told it must erect a temple to Constantine's divine ancestors, the Flavian family, and worship them, showcasing how multicultural Roman society was at the time.

"There was a remarkable religious continuity between the Roman world and the early Christian world," Boin said.

"Things didn't change overnight. Before our find, we never had a sense that there were actual physical, religious sites associated with this late 'imperial cult practice.' But because of the inscription and its reference to a temple, Spello offered a very tantalizing potential for a major discovery of an Imperial cult underneath a Christian ruler."

Boin traveled to Spello and oversaw underground imaging to determine if there were any potential ruins below the surface that needed to be uncovered. After many weeks, and almost by chance, Boin finally received promising images underneath a parking lot where the temple was suspected to be.

Very carefully, the team dug into the ground until they found two adjoining walls. More digging unearthed what Boin believes to be the inside walls of the temple. This temple immediately became what Boin calls the largest evidence ever of the Imperial Cult in both fourth-century Italy and the late Roman Empire..

"There's evidence from other places throughout the Roman world that Christian rulers supported imperial cult practices," Boin said.

"We've known that pagans worshiped at their temples in the fourth century, but those findings have all been small and inconsequential. And we've known that Christians supported the imperial cult, and we've known that without any sense of where it would have happened."

"This temple bridges those two landmarks, and in that respect, it is unlike any temple that I know about from the Mediterranean world of the fourth century Roman Empire. Any study of the imperial cult in the fourth century Roman Empire is now going to have to take account of this temple, which is an incredible discovery to make."

With the discovery, Boin now can show how the societal changes of the time moved very slowly. Though Constantine was the first Roman emperor to famously convert to Christianity, it would take almost 70 years for Christianity to become the official religion of the Roman Empire, under the Emperor Theodosius. During that time it still took many convincing and gradual shifts for those who worshiped pagan gods to convert to Christianity.

"This changes everything about how we perceive the pace of social change and our impression of the impact of social and cultural change," Boin said.

"This building, in a very radical way on its own, shows us the staying power of the pagan traditions that had been on the ground for centuries prior to the rise of Christianity, and it shows us how the Roman emperors continued to negotiate their own values, their own hopes and dreams for the future of the emperor and the Empire without knocking down or burying the past."

Boin and his team will return to Spello next summer to completely excavate the area to examine the full temple, where he hopes to make even more significant discoveries.

"We are on the cusp of giving people a very visible piece of evidence that really upends the neat and tidy ways people think about big moments of cultural change," Boin said.

"Cultural changes are never as big as we think they are when living through them, and there's a lot of gray area in between people's customs and the broader society and culture. And a lot of those can be left out of the story. So to have this temple potentially be a temple dedicated to Constantine's divine ancestors as a way to worship the emperor in an increasingly Christian world at the time, it's so weird and I love that we can bring it to light."
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In 2023, as floodwaters rushed toward the San Joaquin Valley city of Corcoranhome to roughly 20,000 people and a sprawling maximum-security state prisonemergency workers and desperate local officials begged the state for help raising their levee.

Corcoran had been sinking, steadily, for years because of persistent over-pumping of groundwater by major landowners in the Tulare Lake Basin that has sent the valley floor into a slow-motion collapse. And the levee raises made in 2017a multimillion-dollar effort funded by local property tax hikes and the prison systemwere no longer up to the job. Ultimately, the state agreed to pour $17 million into another round of levee engineering in an effort to save the town.

Farmers, meanwhile, were frantic as the basin's phantom lake reemerged for the first time in 25 years and floodwaters surged onto croplands that had not flooded in modern times. The same over-pumping that was sinking Corcoran had caused geologic transformations across the basin. What was once high ground suddenly wasn't; infrastructure critical to drainage had in some cases shifted; water flowed in unexpected ways.

Lost in the chaotic scramble was the fact that just months before the water began rising in the ancient Tulare lakebed, the local agencies responsible for managing groundwater pumping had insisted that subsidenceand the subsequent flooding and destruction it might causewas not an immediate problem.

It was an assessment they'd doubled down on in reports to state regulators, despite evidence that the ground had been sinking in some places at a rate of more than one foot a year, fracturing roads and irrigation channels and depleting drinking water stores.

Since 2015, Corcoran has experienced nearly 5 feet of subsidence, while areas just outside the town have sunk as much as 6 feet. Before the 2017 emergency work, the 14-mile earthen levee that protects the town had been repaired twice by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in 1969 and 1983.

Now, the state is finally trying to enforce the requirements of a nearly 10-year-old law limiting groundwater pumping that major landowners in a half-dozen regionsincluding the Tulare Lake Basinhave blatantly resisted. In October, state water regulators announced they're taking the first step toward putting the Tulare Lake region on "probation" for its lack of progress.

The move sets the stage for a confrontation, at long last, between state regulators and the powerful land barons who have long controlled water use in the heavily farmed Tulare Lake Basin. If the State Water Resources Control Board deems an area " probationary," it has the power to require the big landowners to install meters on the wells they draw from for irrigation, start reporting how much they are pumping and begin paying fees based on the water they draw.

The state's crackdownor at least threat of a crackdownfollows years of foot-dragging by the legacy farming families and agribusiness conglomerates that run massive operations in the Tulare Lake Basin to fall in line with state regulations that call for major reductions in groundwater pumping.

Under a 2014 state law, the five water agencies that make up the Tulare Lake sub-basin were supposed to be working as a team to craft a plan for reducing pumping to levels that would stabilize groundwater levels and ease the subsidence as of 2040.

But those water agenciessome of which are run by representatives of the biggest landownershave made virtually no progress toward that goal. Infighting among agencies was fierce; board members resigned in frustration and water officials wrote accusatory letters to state officials about each other's failings. The group's first plan, submitted in 2020, was deemed "incomplete." Two years later, the group submitted a revised proposalwhich was then rejected as inadequate.

It was the second proposal, called the amended Tulare Lake Groundwater Sustainability Plan, that sparked the state's pending disciplinary action. Rather than providing a blueprint for sustainability, the plan allows groundwater levels to drop even furtherby as much as 319 feet below historical lows in some areasand fails to address what that might mean for subsidence in the region.

The State Water Board staff's critique of the Tulare Lake plan spans 176 pages and lists multiple "deficiencies." A Times analysis of the proposal, the staff critique and various other responses found:

The proposal fails to provide details on how much water landowners in the basin extract. It notes that some landowners preferred to keep their data private.

It fails to provide details about the risks that further subsidence would pose to critical infrastructure in the southern San Joaquin Valley such as roads, railroad tracks, bridges and levees.

It calls for a level of groundwater pumping that, according to state estimates, could result in nearly 700 domestic drinking wells in the region going dry between now and 2040.

It appears to cherry-pick water quality data in a way that allows the local water districts to eschew responsibility for drinking water contamination associated with lowered groundwater tables.

Regulating groundwater in the West has never been easy, especially in a region where decisions about water and land use have, for decades, predominantly been decided by a small group of farming clans and farming companies hostile and unaccustomed to government interference. And some of the basin's biggest landowners have sent seething responses to a state effort they see as unnecessary regulatory overreach.

J.G. Boswell Co., the area's largest landowner, grows tomatoes, cotton and other crops on vast acreage in the Tulare lakebed. Wall Street analysts have valued the company not just for what it grows, but for its access to that most precious resource of the American West: water. The company objected to the state's actions in a letter to the State Water Board, saying the regulators' draft report contains false assumptions and "many deficiencies."

Nathan Metcalf, a lawyer representing Boswell, wrote in the letter that the company believes the area's groundwater plan "can be revised to avoid probationary status." He made clear the companylike other big landownersprefers that water remain under local control.

Metcalf objected to the state's proposed pumping fees of $300 per well and $40 per acre-foot of water extracted, calling those amounts "excessive," and said the state lacks authority to impose such fees. He said based on the amount of water pumped annually from an estimated 2,300 wells in the area, those fees could total more than $31 million.

Doug Verboon, a fourth-generation farmer in the region and a member of the Kings County Board of Supervisors, isn't sure he wants the state coming in, either. But he recognizes problems with the lack of government oversight when it comes to the Tulare Lake Basin and its wateralthough not the same ones the state has identified.

Verboon suspects some big landowners are pumping the groundwater beneath Kings County, even as they sell some of their water supplies at exorbitant rates to water-hungry farming interests in other counties. Details on water sales are scant, but state records indicate that Boswell in 2019 agreed to sell up to 35,000 acre-feet of surface water to a Kern County water agency in an exchange deal that also involved another water district.

Another large landowner in the basin, John Vidovich, has acknowledged selling water in the past, though recently he has declined to discuss the issue.

After his election to the board in 2014, Verboon crafted an ordinance that would require a permit to transfer groundwater across county lines. It took him until last year to get the board to consider and approve the measureand it's now tied up in a lawsuit brought by the El Rico Groundwater Sustainability Agency, a Boswell-controlled entity that encompasses roughly 43% of the sub-basin's land area.

"The people that are taking the water are very powerful," Verboon said. "I was told that I better get a bodyguard."

Farmers have been heavily pumping groundwater in the San Joaquin Valley for generations. But it wasn't until recent decadesas farming operations expanded and landowners drilled far more wells at ever deeper elevationsthat the effects became hard to ignore.

Wells went dry, canals collapsed, roads cracked, railroad tracks warped and levees sank. The reason has been extensively documented in scientific studies: As groundwater is pumped at levels not easily replenished, the soil beneath compacts and the valley floor sinks.

A 1969 study by the U.S. Geological Survey showed that in the Tulare Lake region, "800 square miles had undergone more than 1 foot of subsidence, and as much as 12 feet of subsidence had occurred locally since the first detailed topographic maps were prepared in 1926."

A famous 1977 photo taken just outside the town of Mendota, 65 miles northwest of Corcoran, shows Joseph Poland, a USGS scientist wearing a trilby hat and brown pants, standing next to a utility pole with signs reading 1925, 1955 and 1977. The 1925 sign is 30 feet above the groundthe amount the land had sunk over 50 years.

In the early 2000s, government researchers called the San Joaquin Valley the "single largest alteration of the land surface attributed to humankind." And the Tulare Lake area is now the epicenter of the most rapid subsidence since 2015, part of the reason the 2023 floods sent water coursing into areas that emerged unscathed in previous floods.

During the past decades, when drought conditions gripped the state and surface water dwindled, farmers around the basin's dry lakebed ramped up their pumping and drilled deeper, below the Corcoran Clay, a dense layer several hundred feet underground. It's an area, say scientists, that when overpumped is complicated to recharge because the thick clay blocks water from percolating.

In recent years, the demand for groundwater was amplified as basin farmers joined a broader shift in the Central Valley toward planting lucrative nut crops such as pistachios and almonds, rather than seasonal crops such as tomatoes and cotton. In bad water years, land devoted to seasonal crops can go dormant. But nut orchards require sustained irrigationin wet years and dry onesto survive.

"Why is that area subsiding more than others? It's because it has more clay than some parts of the valley," said Ryan Smith, an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at Colorado State University. "But it's also because there's just a lot of pumping going on there right now."

As the drought worsened in 2014 and the NASA satellite imagery showed the bowl depressing even further, state lawmakers grew increasingly concerned. It wasn't just a matter of sinking farmland, after all. It was taxpayer money going down the drain to pay for damaged infrastructure.

According to some experts, subsidencein terms of road and rail repair, canal and levee restructuring, the retrofitting of bridges and buildingshas cost the state and federal government billions of dollars, said Jim Borchers, an independent hydrogeologist in Davis.

Take the California Aqueduct, which runs along the western part of the Tulare Lake sub-basin and transports water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to Southern California. The concrete aqueduct is vulnerable to land shifting beneath it. The Department of Water Resources has spent more than $80 million since 2017 to protect and retrofit the structure.

In 2014, lawmakers penned a landmark law, the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, that aimed to combat the widespread problems of overpumping and declining water levels across the state. The law called for the creation of local groundwater sustainability agencies, or GSAs, and required them to develop plans to curb overuse.

The Tulare Lake Basin is one of 21 groundwater basins deemed to be " critically overdrafted," where local agencies are required to achieve sustainability goals by 2040. The law broadly defines sustainability as managing groundwater in a manner that doesn't cause "undesirable results." And it specifies several types of " undesirable results" to be avoided, including chronic lowering of groundwater levels and "significant and unreasonable" land subsidence.

Most of the 21 basins now have sustainability plans in place that are state-approved and underway. In contrast, Tulare Lake is among six sub-basins in the San Joaquin Valley whose plans have been deemed inadequate. Also dinged were local agencies in Chowchilla, Delta-Mendota, Kaweah, Tule and Kern, which together encompass large portions of San Joaquin Valley farmland.

In their Oct. 12 critique of the Tulare Lake plan, State Water Board staff recommended the board put the region on probation and impose requirements to manage groundwater pumping. The board is scheduled to consider the recommendation at an April 16 hearing.

"Designating the sub-basin probationary is critical for getting the sub-basin back on track to achieve sustainability," the staffers wrote.

First order of business: Installing well meters to quantify how much water is being extracted.

Among the concerns cited by staff was the lack of concrete information regarding the amount of groundwater being withdrawnand no plan to slow it down. Although some wells in the basin are set up with technology that can monitor groundwater levels, many others are not, the Tulare water agencies said in their plan. In other cases, they noted, that information might be available, but landowners have decided not to share.

As a result, state staff noted a sparse network of "representative" monitoring wells in the sub-basinthat shrank as the years went by. In 2020, the agencies claimed to have 70 such wells across the sub-basin. By 2022, that number had mysteriously been reduced to 56.

In addition, the state had called on sub-basin agencies to set minimum thresholds for their groundwater tables, levels that represent the lowest depth water could be drawn before trouble would occur. While most sub-basins set minimum thresholds at or above historic lowsmeaning groundwater tables would rise or at least drop no furtherthe Tulare plan calls for minimum thresholds in a portion of the aquifer that are on average 65 feet below the historic lows.

It is unclear how drawing water to depths far below recorded levels "would not cause significant and undesirable results," the staffers wrote.

The state law calls for the sub-basin agencies to list critical infrastructure and assess susceptibility to subsidence. For instance, a bridge might become unstable should the ground drop another foot. Or, a levee that protects a major town and prisonsuch as the Corcoran leveecould become useless if it sinks an additional 5 feet.

In the first go-around, the Tulare proposal neglected to mention any infrastructure other than the California Aqueduct, which runs through the western part of the basin. The Corcoran levee wasn't mentioned. Nor were any roads, bridges, canals or railroad tracks.

Regulators told the local agencies they needed to address infrastructure that protects towns or allows people to move and travel. In the second proposal, Tulare leaders listed broad categories and stated subsidence would be a problem only if such structures "cannot be operated as designed, requiring either retrofitting or replacement to a point that is economically unfeasible."

The proposal offers no details on what they'd consider economically unfeasible. They opted to exclude roads altogether.

Especially alarming to advocates for farmworker communities, whose residents tend the basin's fields and orchards, was the state estimate that were the plan to be adopted, roughly 700 domestic drinking water wells could dry up.

"Overall, we support the state's recommendation to put the basin into probation," said Nataly Escobedo Garcia, policy coordinator for the group Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability. "We don't have confidence that the way that the plan is written right now is actually going to protect domestic wells and small water systems.

"Most of those boards do not represent the folks that we work with," she added. "That is really a big problem."

The local agencies also failed to account for potential worsening of groundwater contamination linked to declines in aquifer levels. In many areas, groundwater is recharged by snowmelt and stormwater. As these waters seep into aquifers, they can carry contaminants from the surface, such as nitrate from dairy operations. As pumping draws down groundwater levels, the water often contains higher concentrations of toxic contaminants.

State regulators were particularly concerned about five contaminants in the sub-basin's groundwater. These include arsenic, nitrate, uranium and a group of contaminants known as total dissolved solids. More than one-fifth of the Tulare basin wells sampled had concentrations of contaminants exceeding regulatory standards.

Groundwater sustainability agencies are not responsible for water quality before 2015, when the law took effect. However, the law requires that they monitor groundwater quality and establish a level at which action needs to be taken. In the case of the Tulare Lake proposal, local leaders chose to use the highest level detected pre-2015 as their baseline. Anything they found below thatanywhereno need to intervene.

Water board staffers "strongly" objected, saying the approach would allow for an overall degradation of water quality.

It was this kind of approachcherry-picking datathat alarmed the sub-basin's neighbors.

Just west of the Tulare Lake sub-basin is the Westside sub-basin, administered by the Westlands Water District, where state officials have approved the local groundwater plan. Westlands' managers set minimum thresholds for the amount of groundwater that could be drawn and laid out objectives for the future.

But for Westlands' plan to be successful, its leaders noted in communications with the state, agencies in the Tulare Lake sub-basin also need to maintain water levels. Russ Freeman, Westlands' deputy general manager, said that continued lowering of groundwater levels in the Tulare Lake sub-basin would "adversely affect" Westlands' ability to implement its plan.

Although the general manager, Allison Febbo, was reluctant to speak about her neighbor to the east, she said one difference between the two areas is that in Westlands, there are hundreds of groundwater pumpers, "not just a few making the decision."

For now, at least on paper, state regulators appear ready to move forward with disciplinary action against the Tulare water agencies. State Water Board officials said they expect to issue a "draft resolution" in March to support putting the sub-basin on probation.

"What we need them to do is fix the subsidence problem," said Karla Nemeth, director of the Department of Water Resources.

Instead, powerful interests in the basin appear to be gearing up for a fight.

Many of the landowners have a long tradition of refusing to talk to the media or making their business dealings public. And the groundwater agencies they control often follow suit. Despite requests, officials at the five local groundwater agencies failed to respond to requests for comment for this story.

But their responses to the state bristled with the kind of litigious language often deployed in legal filings to overturn government decisions. In his letter, Boswell's lawyer employed phrases such as "arbitrary and capricious decision-making," "violates equal protection" and "without adequate reason."

In the city of Corcoran, which for a time appeared at risk of being swallowed in this year's flooding, officials largely echoed the message of the region's big landowners. City Manager Greg Gatzka said in his letter to the water board that the city is "gravely concerned with the potential unintended financial consequences" resulting from "excessive fines and penalties to our rural agricultural region." The city's letter didn't once mention the word "subsidence."

The power of big farmers is such that many residents contacted by The Times were loath to be quoted on the issue of pumping and subsidence, with some saying it was too political.

Margaret Lirones, who has lived in Corcoran for a decade, was one of the few who voiced concerns that the town is subsidizing growers engaged in an unsustainable practice. She described subsidence in the area "like an elevator, very slowly going down," but so slowly you don't notice.

What she has noticed, she said, is the bill to pay for the fallout. She paid more than $500 in property tax assessments as part of the financing for the 2017 levee work, and even more on behalf of her church, which turned to its congregation to cover the tax bill.

"Everybody is paying to raise the levee," she said. And though the state stepped up to fund more levee work, she said it wasn't clear who would pay the next time it needs raising.

"California taxpayers are basically subsidizing overdraft of groundwater," she said, "subsidizing the profits of a few who take a resource that is shared by all."

2024 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

While some U.K. farmers see the advances in the development of cultured, or cell-based meat, as potential competition to traditional meat production, others from the farming community have suggested it could create a premium for pasture-reared meat.

Research into farmers' attitudes towards cultured meat, led by a team from the University of Lincoln and Royal Agricultural University (RAU), and published in the journal Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, reports the views of U.K. farmers about this potentially disruptive technology.

The farmers also talked about public health effects of the new technology, how it could lead to consolidation of power in the food system, and how it might affect rural life.

While there have been many academic papers about the opportunities for cultured meat, very little work has been undertaken to ask how it might affect farming.

Now, a team of farmers, researchers, and start-ups is looking to redress this balance.

Dr. Lisa Morgans, Senior Lecturer in Animal Health and Welfare at the RAU, who led the focus group research said, "The perspectives shared by farmers on the research so far have been critical in developing our understanding of how cultured meat could affect the farming sectors here in the U.K.

"They have shared insights that we would not have known about, or appreciated, without involving farmers in a meaningful way. To ensure disruptive technologies like cultured meat are developed in an ethical and responsible way, it is essential that we engage with, and include, farmers in the research process."

Cultured Meat & Farmers is a two-year study looking at farmers' attitudes to cultured meat, potential opportunities and risks, and how, if production is scaled up, it could affect U.K. agriculture.

The paper reports the first phase of the projectinvestigating farmers' attitudes to the technology.

The study summarizes discussions with 75 farmers, from six focus groups representing a wide range of sectors, across the four nations in the U.K.

Professor Louise Manning, from the University of Lincoln, is a lead author on the paper. She said, "This research is so important to consider how we ensure a just transition for farmers and food processors across the country, many of them microbusinesses, if edible protein is produced using this technology.

"Informing consumers about how the protein is produced, and ensuring the whole process of regulatory approval, process validation, and scale-up is transparent, is also essential to gain societal trust. This project is mapping how cultured meat might be produced at scale and what the consequences might be for both rural and urban communities."

Among the threats that were discussed were potential effects on health, and where the product would be pitched in the market, as either a high value or low value proteinwould it compete with steak or mince, chicken breast or chicken nugget? A common concern was the lack of information on the technology.

One farmer in the study said, "There's so much money being thrown at [cultured meat] that we can't afford to ignore it. We need to be raising all sorts of questions about things like waste products and sourcing the inputs and that sort of thing. We should be pinning them down on that now. They're telling us this is the future; they've got to tell us what it means."

Some participants saw opportunities too. One extensive lamb and beef producer thought that marketing their produce as "the real stuff" might give them a competitive edge compared to protein produced in a bioreactor. Others could imagine new markets where farms supply plant or animal based raw materials for the process.

The focus group discussions have informed the next phase of the study, mapping how cultured meat might affect different sectors within agriculture. The farmers talked about far-reaching impacts across the whole livestock industry where margins are small and the industry is under financial pressure.

The team is now partnering with nine case study farms spread across the U.K. and representing a wide range of farming systems. Together, they will explore how each farm could respond to this new technology, for example how it could best compete, or how it could supply ingredients, or even produce cultured meat, on farm.

The findings will be used to produce a heat map of the winners and losers in future scenarios where cultured meat is on sale in the U.K. The outputs from the project will support policymakers and investors to consider the technology's multiple impacts on farming and rural communities. These further findings are due to be published late in 2024.

More information: Louise Manning et al, Threat or opportunity? An analysis of perceptions of cultured meat in the UK farming sector, Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems (2023). DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2023.1277511 Journal information: Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
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Cuban treefrog (Osteopilus septentrionalis). Credit: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

An invasive species of carnivorous tree frogs that feed on native wildlife are now breeding in Georgia, a sign that the amphibians have gained a stronger foothold in the state, biologists say.

Cuban treefrogs, Osteopilus septentrionalis, are a mostly canopy-dwelling species native to the Caribbean. It's unclear exactly when they made the leap across the Straits of Florida, but the species was first documented in Florida in the mid-1900s.

In the decades since, the frogs have spread across the Southeast and beyond. They were discovered in Georgia in 2004, but were likely in the southern part of the state long before that, said Daniel Sollenberger, the state herpetologist and a senior wildlife biologist with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Cuban treefrogs can reach five and a half inches longbig enough to cover most of an adult human's hand and much larger than any of Georgia's native tree frogs. And the frogs will eat "anything they can put in their mouth," Sollenberger said, from insects and lizards to other tree frogs and even small rodents.

Last year for the first time, a breeding population of the frogs was discovered in a pond along the Georgia coast, Sollenberger says. Breeding populations mean more individualsand more opportunities to spread.

Sollenberger says Georgia's chilly winters have so far limited the frogs' proliferation outside of developed areas along the coast. To survive, the frogs stay close to civilization, riding out the winter months in artificially heated environments, like transformer boxes or beneath buildings.

But Georgia, like the rest of the planet, is heating up due to human-caused climate change. The warming trend is most pronounced in the winter months, and in the long-term, Sollenberger said it's possible the frogs' territory could expand.

With the frogs drawn to the warmth of campers, RVs and other modes of transportation, it's possible that successful stowaways could increase numbers outside of the coastal areas where they are most common currently.

For now, Cuban tree frogs are mainly a threat to backyard populations of native amphibians. And compared to other invasives, like the Argentine tegu, the frogs are far less problematic. If the teguswhich feed on the eggs of native birds and reptilesare a 9 on a scale of 110, the frogs are a 4, Sollenberger said.

"Cuban treefrogs are concerning, but they're a distant second because of their reliance on human habitation," he said.

Sollenberger said DNR would like to remove the frogs from the landscape and encouraged Georgians to document sightings.

2024 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Credit: AI-generated image (disclaimer)

One of the greatest challenges of modern physics is to find a coherent method for describing phenomena, on the cosmic and microscale. For over a hundred years, to describe reality on a cosmic scale we have been using general relativity theory, which has successfully undergone repeated attempts at falsification.

Albert Einstein curved space-time to describe gravity, and despite still-open questions about dark matter or dark energy, it seems, today, to be the best method of analyzing the past and future of the universe.

To describe phenomena on the scale of atoms, we use the second great theory: quantum mechanics, which differs from general relativity in basically everything. It uses flat space-time and a completely different mathematical apparatus, and most importantly, perceives reality radically differently.

In the quantum description, the phenomena around us are only wavering probabilities of events that we can only measure with limited accuracy.

In an article, published in Frontiers in Physics, I managed to demonstrate that there is a method that combines the above descriptions, although it leads to quite a surprising conclusion.

Can curved space-time be straightened?

It turns out that there is a certain mathematical object called the Alena Tensor, which allows the description of physical phenomena in such a way that the curvature of space-time can be smoothly adjusted as if using a slider. In curved space-time, equation naturally transforms into Einstein Field Equations, and in flat space-time it allows the use of classical methods of relativistic physics and, most importantly, it is subject to quantum description.

So far, I have managed to demonstrate that such a space-time slider works for gravity and electromagnetism, and that the Alena Tensor allows to add further fields. It therefore seems possible to reconcile previously contradictory descriptions for other known fields.

A side effect of using the above method is that a certain element of the equation (the field invariant) behaves like a cosmological constant in Einstein Field Equations, which may help explain the nature of dark energy. It also turns out that there must be an additional force in addition to gravity, which could help explain the nature of dark matter.

However, everything that looks beautiful has its price...

What is the universe around us?

The conclusions of the article do not mean the end of work on combining both great theories. The proposed method requires much further research and careful adjustment of field descriptions. There is certainly new hope and a promising new direction for further research, so perhaps we will soon hear about more fields aligned with the space-time slider.

However, there is a certain price associated with using the proposed method, which seems to be the biggest challenge. If the method I have developed turns out to be the right one that we have been looking for 100 years, it will also mean that the entire world around us is just a constantly waving field, and space-time itself is only a way of perceiving this field. This is the most extraordinary conclusion resulting from the equations described by Alena Tensor.

This story is part of Science X Dialog, where researchers can report findings from their published research articles. Visit this page for information about ScienceX Dialog and how to participate.

More information: Piotr Ogonowski, Developed method: interactions and their quantum picture, Frontiers in Physics (2023). DOI: 10.3389/fphy.2023.1264925. www.frontiersin.org/articles/1  89/fphy.2023.1264925

Piotr Ogonowski is a researcher, manager and lecturer with over 20 years of experience. He currently works as a lecturer for Kozminski University, Wasaw, Poland.
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Supernova remnant N132D lies in the central portion of the Large Magellanic Cloud, a dwarf galaxy about 160,000 light-years away. XRISMs Xtend captured the remnant in X-rays, displayed in the inset. At its widest, N132D is about 75 light-years across. Although bright in X-rays, the stellar wreckage is almost invisible in the ground-based background view taken in optical light. Credit: Inset, JAXA/NASA/XRISM Xtend; background, C. Smith, S. Points, the MCELS Team and NOIRLab/NSF/AURA

The Japan-led XRISM (X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) observatory has released a first look at the unprecedented data it will collect when science operations begin later this year.

The satellite's science team released a snapshot of a cluster of hundreds of galaxies and a spectrum of stellar wreckage in a neighboring galaxy, which gives scientists a detailed look at its chemical makeup.

"XRISM will provide the international science community with a new glimpse of the hidden X-ray sky," said Richard Kelley, the U.S. principal investigator for XRISM at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. "We'll not only see X-ray images of these sources, but also study their compositions, motions, and physical states."

XRISM (pronounced "crism") is led by JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) in collaboration with NASA, along with contributions from ESA (European Space Agency). It launched on Sept. 6, 2023.

It's designed to detect X-rays with energies up to 12,000 electron volts and will study the universe's hottest regions, largest structures, and objects with the strongest gravity. For comparison, the energy of visible light is 2 to 3 electron volts.

The mission has two instruments, Resolve and Xtend, each at the focus of an X-ray Mirror Assembly designed and built at Goddard.

XRISMs Xtend instrument captured galaxy cluster Abell 2319 in X-rays, shown here in purple and outlined by a white border representing the extent of the detector. The background is a ground-based image showing the area in visible light. Credit: JAXA/NASA/XRISM Xtend; background, DSS

Resolve is a microcalorimeter spectrometer developed by NASA and JAXA. It operates at just a fraction of a degree above absolute zero inside a refrigerator-sized container of liquid helium.

When an X-ray hits Resolve's 6-by-6-pixel detector, it warms the device by an amount related to its energy. By measuring each X-ray's energy, the instrument provides previously unavailable information about the source.

The mission team used Resolve to study N132D, a supernova remnant and one of the brightest X-ray sources in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a dwarf galaxy around 160,000 light-years away in the southern constellation Dorado. The expanding wreckage is estimated to be about 3,000 years old and was created when a star roughly 15 times the sun's mass ran out of fuel, collapsed, and exploded.

The Resolve spectrum shows peaks associated with silicon, sulfur, calcium, argon, and iron. This is the most detailed X-ray spectrum of the object ever obtained and demonstrates the incredible science the mission will do when regular operations begin later in 2024.

"These elements were forged in the original star and then blasted away when it exploded as a supernova," said Brian Williams, NASA's XRISM project scientist at Goddard.

XRISM's Resolve instrument captured data from supernova remnant N132D in the Large Magellanic Cloud to create the most detailed X-ray spectrum of the object ever made. The spectrum reveals peaks associated with silicon, sulfur, argon, calcium, and iron. Inset at right is an image of N132D captured by XRISM's Xtend instrument. Credit: JAXA/NASA/XRISM Resolve and Xtend

"Resolve will allow us to see the shapes of these lines in a way never possible before, letting us determine not only the abundances of the various elements present, but also their temperatures, densities, and directions of motion at unprecedented levels of precision. From there, we can piece together information about the original star and the explosion."

XRISM's second instrument, Xtend, is an X-ray imager developed by JAXA. It gives XRISM a large field of view, allowing it to observe an area about 60% larger than the average apparent size of the full moon.

Xtend captured an X-ray image of Abell 2319, a rich galaxy cluster about 770 million light-years away in the northern constellation Cygnus. It's the fifth brightest X-ray cluster in the sky and is currently undergoing a major merger event.

The cluster is 3 million light-years across and highlights Xtend's wide field of view.

"Even before the end of the commissioning process, Resolve is already exceeding our expectations," said Lillian Reichenthal, NASA's XRISM project manager at Goddard. "Our goal was to achieve a spectral resolution of 7 electron volts with the instrument, but now that it's in orbit, we're achieving 5. What that means is we'll get even more detailed chemical maps with each spectrum XRISM captures."

This composite image shows supernova remnant N132D. It uses data from NASAs Chandra X-ray Observatory (purple and green) and Hubble Space Telescope (red). N132D is among the brightest X-ray remnants in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a nearby dwarf galaxy. Credit: NASA/STScI/CXC/SAO, processing by Judy Schmidt, CC BY-NC-SA

Resolve is performing exceptionally and already conducting exciting science despite an issue with the aperture door covering its detector. The door, designed to protect the detector before launch, has not opened as planned after several attempts. The door blocks lower-energy X-rays, effectively cutting the mission off at 1,700 electron volts compared to the planned 300.

The XRISM team will continue to explore the anomaly and is investigating different approaches to opening the door. The Xtend instrument is unaffected.
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(Left) Uncrewed surface vehicle observations depicting depth and nitrate concentrations in Daljeonji Reservoir / (Right) A high-resolution map illustrating the total nitrate, derived from data collected by the vehicle (November 26, 2021). Credit: POSTECH

In a recent tragic incident, approximately 100 elephants in Africa perished due to inadequate access to water. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) warned that around 2.5 billion people worldwide could face water scarcity by 2025. In the face of water shortages affecting human society and the entire ecological community due to the climate crisis, it becomes crucial to adopt comprehensive measures for managing water quality and quantity to avert such pressing challenges.

A research team led by Professor Jonghun Kam and Ph.D. candidate Kwang-Hun Lee from the Division of Environmental Science and Engineering at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), has implemented an advanced technique employing an uncrewed surface vehicle to concurrently assess the reservoir water depths and nitrate (NO 3 ) concentrations from the reservoir water surface. The findings from their research were featured in the journal Water Resources Research.

Monitoring available water quantity and quality uses indicators such as water depth and nitrate concentration. Nitrates, originating from atmospheric and soil nutrients, enter streams through various pathways, posing a potential threat to aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity when their levels become excessive. Fluctuation of precipitation and water usage further impact water quality, and rising water temperatures contribute to decreased dissolved oxygen, resulting in diminished water quality.

Effective management of water resources requires the dual monitoring of nitrate concentration and water depth. However, these measurements can vary significantly based on the timing and location of the assessment. Traditional water depth measurement, typically taken at a single point, introduces uncertainty in estimating the total reservoir water volume.

In recent times, uncrewed devices or instruments have been introduced to address this challenge, yet simultaneous measurement of nitrate concentration and water depth has proven challenging.

The research team has achieved the simultaneous measurement of nitrate concentration and water depth using an uncrewed surface vehicle. Over the course of a year, starting in 2021, an uncrewed boat equipped with electrochemical sensors and acoustic doppler current profile sensors was employed to gauge nitrate concentration and water depth in a reservoir (Daljeonji) in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province in South Korea.

The 30 measurements revealed seasonal variations with nitrate levels ranging from 1 ton to 4 tons. Following intense rainfall, the observed nitrate amount was up to 17% lower than previous readings due to rapid water expansion. This underscores the importance of considering timing and weather conditions in water quality assessments, as measurements may lead to over- or underestimation.

Furthermore, the team successfully generated a high-resolution map illustrating the cumulative nitrate content in Daljeonji Reservior based on data collected by the uncrewed surface vehicle. Despite a one-year measurement period and the study's confinement to Pohang, its significance lies in the independent development of technology capable of simultaneous measurement of nitrate concentration and water depth.

Professor Jonghun Kam who led the research explained, "Our study has outlined both the possibilities and constraints of employing uncrewed robotics in water environment research." He added, "It is envisioned that this research will provide a guiding framework for the development of the next generation of the Korean national water resources management system, leveraging advanced technologies like uncrewed aerial vehicles to enhance prediction accuracy and optimize water management."

More information: KwangHun Lee et al, High Resolution Mapping of Nitrate Loads of a Reservoir Using an Uncrewed Surface Vehicle: Potential Opportunities and Challenges, Water Resources Research (2023). DOI: 10.1029/2023WR034665 Journal information: Water Resources Research
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Crack propagation angles of oblique cracks at (a) tape center and (b) tape edge. Both cracks had an initial angle of 60. The crack propagations deflected from the initial crack angles. Credit: hirong Yang, Yi Li, Peng Song, Mingzhi Guan, Feng Feng, Timing Qu.

In the realm of superconductivity, the durability and efficiency of materials like REBCO (Rare Earth Barium Copper Oxide) tapes are crucial for application in various high-tech fields. However, these materials face challenges, particularly when it comes to maintaining their superconducting properties under stress.

A recent study delves into the intricate relationship between mechanical stress and the superconducting capabilities of REBCO tapes, offering new insights that could pave the way for more robust and reliable superconducting materials.

At the heart of this study is examining edge cracks caused by the slitting process in REBCO tapes when subjected to tensile stress. These tapes, known for their high critical current capacity, are essential in many superconducting applications, from medical imaging equipment to particle accelerators. It was widely believed that even minor edge cracks could propagate and cause premature degradation of REBCO tapes when subjected to stress, raising concerns about the longevity and reliability of these materials in practical applications.

The research team, led by scientists from Tsinghua University, the University of Houston, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, employing advanced microscopic and computational techniques, meticulously analyzed how these edge cracks impact the tapes' ability to carry supercurrent without resistance.

The team examined commercial REBCO tapes manufactured by different processes and found that when the stress intensity factor at the crack tip is below a certain threshold (KIC = 2.3 MPam), edge cracks do not propagate, concluding that these cracks will not cause premature degradation.

One of the key takeaways from the research is a model using multiple edge crack properties to evaluate stress intensity factors. This model is particularly valuable for manufacturers, as it suggests that by controlling these factors, it might be possible to enhance the resilience of REBCO tapes against mechanical stress.

The research is published in the Superconductivity journal.

The implications of this study extend beyond the confines of the laboratory. In real-world applications, where superconducting tapes must often endure various forms of stress and strain, understanding the impact of physical imperfections becomes paramount. This research not only sheds light on the edge crack behavior of REBCO tapes but also provides guidance for the slitting process and opens up new avenues for creating more durable and efficient superconducting materials, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the world of superconductivity.

More information: Zhirong Yang et al, Effect of edge cracks on critical current degradation in REBCO tapes under tensile stress, Superconductivity (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.supcon.2022.100007

Provided by Shanghai Jiao Tong University Journal Center
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An example training scenario for teachers. Credit: University of Pennsylvania

In New York City, law enforcement regularly monitors the social media use of young people who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), compiling binders of Twitter and Facebook posts to link them to crimes or gangs.

Something as benign as liking a photo on Facebook can be used as evidence of wrongdoing in a trial, so when police officers misinterpret social media postswhich often include slang, inside jokes, song lyrics, and references to pop cultureit can lead to serious consequences.

To prevent these kinds of misinterpretations, SAFELab, a transdisciplinary research initiative at the Annenberg School for Communication and the School of Social Practice and Policy, has launched a new web-based app that teaches adults to look closer at social media posts: InterpretMe.

The tool is currently open to members of three groupseducators, law enforcement, and the press.

"These are the people who come into contact with young people regularly and have influence over their lives," says Siva Mathiyazhagan, research assistant professor and associate director of strategies and impact at SAFELab. "Yet many of them don't have the cultural context to understand how young people talk to one another online."

A closer look at social media

Development of the app began when SAFELab Director Desmond Upton Patton, the Brian and Randi Schwartz University Professor at Penn, was an associate professor at the Columbia University School of Social Work in New York.

Students from the School of Social Work met weekly with youth at the Brownsville Community Justice Center, a community center designed to reduce crime and incarceration in central Brooklyn, asking them for help in interpreting and annotating social media posts made by people their age.

"The young people at the Brownsville Community Justice Center understood how emojis, slang, and hyper-local words are used online," Mathiyazhagan says. "Their insights were key to building the platform."

The SAFELab team used this pseudo-dictionary created by the students to create online social media training for teachers, police, and journalists.

During this training, users are placed in a fictional scenario in which they encounter a potentially harmful social media post, such as a student seeming to be depressed or potentially violent, and must decide how to react.

While walking through the scenario, users gather context about the post, by doing things like looking at the young person's previous posts or asking friends about their social life. At the end of a module, a user must decide how they will proceedwhat they'll say to their editor or principal about the studentand are invited to reflect on the reasoning behind it.

SAFELab tested the training with 60 teachers, 50 journalists, and 30 law enforcement officials in phase one.

Before and after the training, they all took surveys to judge how bias might affect their social media interpretation skills. Across all groups, bias scores decreased after using the training, Mathiyazhagan says.

A web app is created

InterpretMe is built on the insights the SAFELab team gained after creating and testing their training modules. Instead of walking users through a carefully crafted scenario, InterpretMe allows users to upload real life social media posts and then takes them through a set of exercises built on the SAFELab training.

After uploading a post, educators, police officers, and members of the press are walked through five steps:

Learn: Users are prompted to learn more about the author of the post by looking at their social media engagement, interests, and other activities.

Reflection: Users are asked to reflect on the post as if they were an immediate family member of the poster. They are then asked to reflect with a friend or a colleague who has a similar identity and lived experiences of the poster.

Contextualize: Users are asked to consider the "social circumstance, cultural background, and linguistic expressions" behind the post and then whether the post was made under circumstances of mental health challenges and whether the post was influenced by mass media content like song lyrics or movie lines.

Interpret to Act: Users are prompted to share their final interpretation of the post.

Act: Users choose whether the post may cause no harm, possible harm, or probable harm.

After completing the exercise, users are sent a report of their interpretation.

InterpretMe 2.0

SAFELab plans to incorporate machine learning into the next version of InterpretMe, Mathiyazhagan says.

The SAFELab team has long been experimenting with AI. With the help of both computer scientists and formerly gang-involved youth in Chicago, they created a machine-learning model trained to detect gang signs, slang, local references, and emotion in the hopes to prevent violence.

While the model is based on data from Chicago, it could be expanded to include context for any area, the team says.

"Through artificial intelligence, we might be able to not only speed up the interpretation process, but also fill in cultural gaps," says Mathiyazhagan.

A single person might miss song lyrics in a Facebook post, but a machine trained on community insights could flag them and stop a misunderstanding from happening.
A flammable liquid caught fire during a garage fire on Mattison Road in Hudson Falls on Thursday, Jan. 4. The fire took place in a detached garage at a private residence.

There was a little bit of heat damage to the side of the house. The owner was in the house  down in the cellar  and he came up and saw the flames shooting out the back of the garage, said Michael Gould, second assistant chief of the West Fort Ann Volunteer Fire Company.

The resident of the property called in the fire, but the cause remains unknown.

We arrived, and the first unit was already here. We just got the hot spots and there was some sort of flammable liquid here in the front corner. Now we wait for investigators to tell us if they have a determination, and we will go from there, said Gould.

Fire crews extinguished the flames from the garage, and no further damage was incurred.

It went pretty well today. We had enough help, said Gould.

Jamie Shaw is listed as the owner on the Washington County website.

Fire departments assisting consisted of West Fort Ann Volunteer Fire Company, Fort Ann Volunteer Fire Company, and Bay Ridge Volunteer Fire Department.
Jan. 5, 2:46 p.m.: Glens Falls Hospital has reported that of the 12 patients involved in the accident on I-87, none are in critical condition.

Gov. Kathy Hochul released a statement on the issue. She reiterated what happened and said, "To allow first responders to do their jobs, I-87 southbound is closed between exits 23 and 22 and drivers are encouraged to find alternate routes. I join the people of New York in praying for the well-being of all involved in this horrific incident and am deeply grateful for the heroic efforts of our first responders."

Jan. 5, 2:36p.m.: Glens Falls Hospital has reported that 12 patients have been admitted due to the accident on I-87. The hospital was unable to share their conditions at this time.

More are expected to arrive.

Jan. 5, 1:55: Non- or lightly-injured people are arriving soon at the Lake George Village Firehouse. First Assistant Chief Jim Barber says that is an unknown number of people will be on the school bus, or buses, that bring them.

"We're provide out station to do minor triage and warm the patients," Barber said.

Jan. 5, 1:35 p.m.: Our reporter Luke Mosseau is reporting numerous people on stretchers with a bus turned over near the construction zone between Northway Exits 22 and 23. 20 to 30 emergency vehicles are on site. At least two helicopters responded, according to scanner traffic. There is no official number of injuries yet.

Jan. 5 1:20p.m.: According to emergency scanner traffic, a bus rolled over on Adirondack Northway Interstate-87 causing a major pile-up and many injured people. We have reporters on the way.

Helicopters and emergency vehicles have been sent to the scene to evacuate casualties. Emergency responders are asking which hospital has room for emergency patients.

Lake George Elementary and High School are being used as emergency landing zones for air transportation.

The cause of the rollover is under investigation. The Post Star will update this story as details come in.
The Lower Cape May Regional High School wrestling won the final four bouts en route to a 41-24 victory over the Blue Devils in a Cape-Atlantic League American Division meet Thursday. Lower improved to 6-0. Hammonton fell to 4-3.
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CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE  Cape May County made history Thursday as Melanie Collette became the first Black woman sworn in as a member of the county governing body.

Designated as the Board of Chosen Freeholders for more than 200 years, the name of county governing bodies in New Jersey was changed to Board of County Commissioners in 2021 with the idea that the former name reflected a time when only white men could be elected.

But freeholder or commissioner, there had not a Black person to hold the office in Cape May County until a little after 4 p.m. Thursday, when Collette took the oath of office administered by former Middle Township Mayor Tim Donohue, whom Collette has often described as a big brother.

As I assume the role of county commissioner, I pledge to uphold the values and the way of life that Cape May County residents hold dear, Collette said at the meeting, held in the auditorium of Cape May County Technical High School. The historic nature of my election to this board is not lost on me. Im very proud of that accomplishment. And Im proud to be a part of our diverse community.

But much more of the meeting focused on thanking the family members who joined each commissioner, on the county voters and on the county employees. Returning to the board were longtime member Will Morey and former Ocean City Council member Bob Barr, appointed to the board over the summer to fill an unexpired term and elected in November to keep his seat.

Several on the board also spoke of Donohues brother, Mike Donohue, a former judge and the Republican leader in Cape May County, who was described as one of the architects of the county party that got the members elected, along with the reelection of Bob Nolan as county sheriff and the election of E. Marie Hayes to a full term as the county surrogate.

It was Hayes departure from the county board in favor of the Surrogates Office that opened a seat for Barr, while Collette ran for the seat formerly held by Jeffrey Pierson, who decided not to seek another term.

Republicans have dominated Cape May County government for generations, with only a few Democrats elected to the board during the 20th century. One of those, former Freeholder Jeff Van Drew, attended to administer the oath to Barr, with whom he has had a close relationship for years.

Donohue praised at last Middle Township meeting Middle Township Mayor Tim Donohue received a glowing sendoff from community members, township staff and elected officials last week during his final meeting as a member of the governing body.

Now a congressman representing South Jersey, Van Drew is a Republican, making national headlines when he changed parties in favor of then-President Donald Trump.

Faith was at the forefront at the meeting, with the officials thanking God and praying for support and guidance in their positions. As takes place at most reorganization meetings, it opened with an invocation, presented by Pastor Scott Durbin of Cape Fellowship Church, and closed with a benediction offered by Erik Simonsen, one of two assemblymen representing the county.

The meeting was unusual in other ways. Len Desiderio, reappointed as the director of the board for a second year after replacing longtime director Gerald M. Thornton last year, said it was the first time three members of the five-person board were sworn in at one meeting in about 20 years.

It also was unusual for dissent over the election of Desiderio as director and the assignment of departments to board members. Morey abstained from those votes, saying there had been insufficient deliberation.

He said there had not been discussion within the board about who would oversee which departments.

This is new and unacceptable ground for me, he said.

Although it would be difficult to confirm through the historic record, the reorganization meeting may have also broken records for the number of times Happy Birthday was sung at a county reorganization. The first was at Barrs request, to celebrate his aunt, who attended the meeting to support him rather than to celebrate. Later, Desiderio started another round, this time for Thomas DePaul, director of the Public Safety Training Center.

Current and former elected officials from multiple county towns attended the event.

Mounted officers heading to Cape May County for training Training for mounted officers will take place in several areas, including a formation ride on the beach in Cape May on Wednesday afternoon. Cape May Countys mounted officer with the Sheriffs Office said there are advantages to an officer on horseback unlike any other means of transportation.

In his comments, Desiderio stressed the countys investments in infrastructure and opposing plans for offshore wind farms, praising Mike Donohues work on those efforts. Both will continue in 2024, Desiderio said.

He also said the county provided services to the most vulnerable while maintaining fiscal responsibility and improving the quality of life for residents.
WILDWOOD  The city has a new mayor, sort of, with the return of former Mayor Ernie Troiano to the top seat at the Wednesday reorganization of the Board of Commissioners.

I am not new at this job, Troiano said. I spent 20 years fighting for this city.

The city has been without a mayor since former Mayor Pete Byron resigned in September. Now, the city is without an administrator and a city attorney. Neither was appointed at the reorganization.

Byron resigned under pressure from the state after pleading guilty to federal tax charges over the summer. The deputy mayor, Krista Fitzsimons, was not named mayor.

Now, she is no longer deputy mayor either, with that job going to Troianos running mate, Steve Mikulski. Fitzsimons and Mikulski, who formerly ran together with Byron, were in opposition in the last election.

Family members and supporters crowded the Wildwoods Convention Center for the event, during which Trioano emphasized community, unity and teamwork, and a promise to put Wildwood first.

It is not a cliche that we are putting you first, Troiano said. We are asking for your help. Lets put our differences aside and move forward.

A statement issued by the city also emphasized unity, quoting Fitzsimons as being focused on working together.

No sign of renovations at North Wildwood senior high-rise Its been more than two years since the North Wildwood Planning Board approved large-scale expansion plans at Marina Bay Towers, where a dwindling number of residents have endured leaky corridors and other issues. There has not been any indication of work starting since then.

I will be here to support my co-commissioners, all City Hall employees and this community in every way possible. I am looking forward to continuing to network and work with changemakers and leaders from our county and beyond, the statement quoted her as saying after the meeting.

Still, it was not all honeymoon. Fitzsimons voted against Troianos appointment as mayor and Mikulski being named deputy mayor, giving the three-member board its first 2-1 splits of the year. She also voted against her own designation as commissioner.

In Wildwoods form of government, the members of the board choose a mayor at the reorganization. In some communities, there has been a tradition that the highest vote getter gets the mayors seat, but that has not been the case in Wildwood, where Fitzsimons drew the most votes in the past two elections.

Troiano, Mikulski and Byron remain under state indictment, accused of accepting state health benefits that the state attorney general alleges they were not entitled to. In December, a judge declined a request from Troiano to dismiss the charges, and all three are set for a status conference Jan. 26.

That puts Wildwood back in the position of having two-thirds of its governing body under indictment.

The mood at the reorganization remained celebratory and defiant, with several mentions of false accusations and promises to support the citizens of Wildwood.

Mikulski said he would put Wildwood over the interests of big business, although he did not elaborate.

Today means hope, Mikulski said. I am here to give voice to the voiceless. Im here to advocate for the powerless.

Another no vote came from Fitzsimons on a motion from Troiano to remove the Cape May Herald as one of the papers of record for Wildwood, instead using only The Press of Atlantic City. Troiano did not give a reason.

A similar move in Middle Township resulted in legal action from the Herald, and its reinstatement in 2023.

Louis Hornstine, a former Superior Court judge, administered the oath of office to Mikulski and Trioano, but first addressed each of their wives. He praised Donna Troiano for her grace, describing it as totally unexpected in politics.

You gave all of us self-confidence that we can do it. We can prevail against all negativity that was spewed against Ernie and Steve, he said. In several instances, he made reference to false accusations.

He also praised Jackie Mikulski, who battled cancer during the campaign and attended events after sessions of chemotherapy.

You gave all of us the belief that we needed to fight the negativity, the false accusations and the overwhelming financial benefits that others have against us, he said.

State campaign finance reports indicate that most of the 14 candidates in the November race did not raise enough money to require filing a detailed report. Troiano and Mikulski raised $7,350, a December report showed, while Fitzsimons raised a little over $6,000. But a joint report filed with running mates Phil Swetsky and Todd Kieninger showed the team raised $20,000 for the election campaign, including a $2,500 donation from Moreys Piers in late October.

For now, the spot for a city administrator on the citys website remains blank. Mikulski did not respond to a question about who would likely succeed Steve OConnor, while Fitzsimons said she did not know. She said the city is set to receive proposals from potential attorneys and will likely have someone to vote on at the next meeting.

Beaches coming back to Strathmere Sand is being added to the badly eroded beaches in the Strathmere section of Upper Township. In North Wildwood, a similar project remains years away, with little progress seen locally.

An honor guard of firefighters opened the meeting, followed by the singing of the national anthem. Troiano praised police, firefighters and city workers, and promised to support them while thanking them for their efforts protecting Wildwood.

He was joined onstage by an extensive entourage of his family members.

Troiano said the commission members will work 24/7 for Wildwood, including Fitzsimons in the comment, and said he is excited by the direction of the city. He also said he would work with neighboring communities, including North Wildwood and Wildwood Crest, to improve the entire barrier island.

There are no fences on 26th Street or Cresse Avenue. We are one community, one island, he said.
Davenport may provide animal control services in-house if the city and the nonprofit Humane Society of Scott County cant come to a funding agreement.

But council members have expressed a willingness to continue negotiating.

Representatives from the Humane Society, a nonprofit, say the current cost of providing animal control to Davenport is $1.388 million.

Davenports contract  approved by the council in June 2022  agreed to an annual fee of roughly $400,000, plus a city-provided car, fuel and dispatch radios, and funds for kennels.

In August, the Humane Society notified Davenport it wanted to terminate its agreement in February because it was underfunded.

After months of negotiations, the Humane Society and Davenport did not come to a long-term agreement but did agree to continue services until at least July.

With that extension, the city would pay an additional $250,000 to continue services through the end of the current fiscal year. City Council members expressed support on Wednesday for it and are expected to vote on the extension next week.

But how stray animals will be handled in the city of Davenport after July 1 is still to be determined.

Supporters of the Humane Society of Scott County attended Wednesday nights City Council meeting to urge aldermen to continue contracting with the Humane Society for animal services and to increase the organizations pay.

The Humane Society provides an animal shelter and animal services officers who respond to calls for assistance.

Citing wanting more time to receive information and negotiate with the Humane Society, Davenport aldermen agreed to delay voting on an agenda item that would have directed city staff to form an internal animal services unit as a subdivision of the police department and negotiate agreements with shelters.

I do think that more information is necessary so that we can move forward and make the best decision for everyone, At-Large Alderman Jazmin Newton said before making the motion to table the vote for two cycles, which passed unanimously.

At-Large Alderman Kyle Gripp said he was hopeful the city and the Humane Society could still come to an agreement on a collaborative approach.

Because there are ways that we can get there, Gripp said. I dont think the city writing a $1.4 million dollar check each year out of the general fund is how were going to get there. Thats my personal opinion, but I would also like the Humane Society to continue to offer these services.

Erika Gunn, the Humane Society of Scott Countys executive director, told the council that the city of Davenport makes up 87% of the services the societys animal protection services unit provides for the whole county.

I understand this is a sticker shock. This is a big number, Gunn said. Thats just 0.57% of the entire budget. So for less than 1% of the entire city budget, animal control and animal shelter services could be paid in full.

Additional funds could also help with a lack of animal control officers, Gunn said.

This is where a lot of the cost is coming from, she said. It is not cheap to hire enough animal control officers to provide correct services for your city. I think one of our biggest complaints that we get is that we do not have officers responding in enough time. If we were paid appropriately, we could provide that.

Other cities operate their own animal services. Iowa City budgeted $974,000, Cedar Rapids budgeted $1.361 million and Peoria pays $1.643 million for its animal services, Gunn said. She added each has a higher euthanasia rate than Scott County.

In an email Thursday, Gunn said she thought the meeting was a great step in the right direction to finding an agreement between the Humane Society and the City of Davenport.

"Our organization has remained open these last few months to discussing ways our longstanding partnership with the city can come to a mutually beneficial point," Gunn wrote. "We have been unable to speak directly with council members up until this point in the negotiations and have previously been limited to discussions with city staff only. The council's willingness to work towards a collaborative process is promising."

In other business

New council members were sworn into office Wednesday by Supreme Court Justice Thomas Waterman. Half of the 10 aldermen were first elected this November, meaning there will be new faces and new opinions on the council, which faced significant personnel turmoil this past fall. Newton, 2nd Ward Alderman Tim Dunn, 4th Ward Alderman Jade Burkholder, 7th Ward Alderman Mhisho Lynch and 8th Ward Alderman Paul Reinartz Jr. were all elected to first terms this past November. {/span}

Annie Wittenmyer: The council is expected to hold a public hearing Jan. 17 on whether to convey property at the historic Annie Wittenmyer Complex to a developer, Chris Ales, whose plan would be to convert many of the structures to affordable rental housing, according to the city, including 52 units for seniors and 47 units for families.

The campus includes about 32 acres on Eastern Avenue. Several structures are from the 1800s when the property was built as an orphanage in the Civil War era. In the 1950s, it was converted for use in behavioral services, and the city took over ownership of the campus in the 1970s.

None of the 1800s-era structures on the campus would be demolished under the plan, according to City Council documents. The city would allow Ales one year to secure funding and tax credits, and if successful would transfer the property to Ales by September 2025. If financing efforts are unsuccessful, the agreement would expire, according to the City Council documents. During that time, existing tenants such as the Davenport Junior Theatre will continue either on-site or at a new location.

According to council documents, city staff have begun to explore a potential partnership with the Davenport Community School District and the developer has offered to allow the city to lease or buy-back the current theater building if more time is needed.

Main Street Landing: Next week, the City Council will formally vote on a grant agreement from the Iowa Economic Development Authoritys Destination Iowa program. The city received $9.6 million from the state to go toward a $24 million total for several projects, which include the Main Street Landing riverfront destination, Skybridge LED Lighting, Railroad Quiet Zones and the Figge Art Museums external lighting.

The city announced the grant in 2022, which adds to $6 million of city ARPA funds, $6 million in railroad settlement funds, and $2.4 million of privately raised funds by the Figge. City staff said this agreement did not change those funding sources or the cost of the project.

Photos: Davenport City Council Oaths of Office
A Buffalo man is dead after a single-car accident early Friday.

The Scott County Sheriff's Department has not released the identity of the man.

Deputies from the Scott County Sheriff's Department were dispatched at 6:12 a.m. Friday to the 11700 block of Coon Hunters Road in Blue Glass. The road is a paved two-lane located north of Buffalo and east of Blue Grass.

A news release said the Scott County Sheriffs Office Accident Investigation Team responded to the scene, and the initial investigation found a white 2018 Nissan Sentra was traveling northbound on Coon Hunters Road and left the roadway at the beginning of a curve.

Investigators think the Sentra slid sideways through a ditch before hitting an embankment adjacent to a driveway. The release said the Sentra became airborne and struck a tree.

The Sentra was driven by a 30-year-old male from Buffalo, Iowa, who was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident remains under investigation by the Scott County Sheriffs Office Accident Investigation Team.

How do people die in U.S. traffic collisions? How do people die in U.S. traffic collisions? What events or objects cause the most traffic deaths? Other vehicles cause the most traffic fatalities, but there are a surprising array of other causes Regional differences paint an unusual picture of national road safety The most common cause of fatal crashes in each state
Group O, a marketing and packaging company operating since 1974, is laying off 87 people at its Rock Island location.

A notice was published on the Illinois Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) page, stating the layoffs were first announced Dec. 1, 2023, and would start Jan. 30, 2024, with the last layoff Feb. 13.

The layoffs are listed as permanent and the reason cites business slowdown. The Rock Island office is located at 2916 78th Ave. W.

Friday afternoon Group O released a statement in which CEO Kevin Kotecki said a long-time client brought production of one of its products back in-house. This resulted in a necessary reduction in staff to support that decision.

"When industry trends and the needs of our clients change, Group O must align with the adjusted demand. Although at times difficult decisions must be made to ensure long-term success, we make every effort to minimize the impact on our valued employees," he said. "In this situation, we were able to move a number of the affected employees into other roles in the company.

The changes will not effect any other Group O locations, Kotecki said.

The company was started by Bob Ontiveros who originally named it Bi-State Packaging. The company has grown over the decades to now being ranked by the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce as one of the top five Latino-owned businesses in the country, according to the Group O website.

Headquartered in Milan, Group O employs more than 1,200 people, according to its website. Outside of the Quad-Cities, Group O has additional locations in Texas and Minnesota.

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A 38-year-old Rapid City man was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in prison for violating no contact orders.

Presiding Judge Craig Pfeifle told Leon Few Tails he had exhibited "dangerous and aggressive behavior," and a prison sentence is the "only way to ensure" he doesn't continue to violate court orders.

Pfeifle handed down a total of three prison sentences  five years for felony violation of a protection order, and five years each for two different violations of no contact order cases.

Pfeifle ordered one of the no contact violation sentences to run concurrent to the protection order case, making for a 10-year prison sentence. He also applied time served to Few Tails' sentences: 299 days for the first case, 210 for the second, and 196 for the third.

The charges, normally misdemeanors, increased to felonies because Few Tails has past convictions for violating protection orders.

In February 2022, Few Tails was convicted in Morton County, North Dakota of a fourth offense violation of a protection order  a felony. He was convicted in January and February 2023 of the same crime in Meade County.

The first Pennington County case he was sentenced for on Friday was filed in March 2023. It originally accused Few Tails of second-degree rape, violation of a protection order, simple assault, and interference with emergency communications.

Few Tails was arrested and booked into the jail for the charges. In June 2023, he was charged with 11 counts of violation of a no contact order. The indictment alleged he contacted the victim in the rape case throughout May and June 2023.

A month later, Few Tails was indicted on 13 more counts of violation of a no contact order. Those contacts to the same woman also took place in May and June of 2023.

Few Tails ultimately pleaded guilty to the protection order violation in the first case, and one no contact order violation in each of the subsequent cases. The state dropped the remaining charges.

Deputy Pennington County State's Attorney Roxanne Hammond said at Few Tails' sentencing that he sent the woman 60 texts and called her 20 times while in the jail and encouraged her not to provide a DNA sample for the pending rape charge. Hammond asked the court for a prison sentence.

"He's had so many opportunities to follow through on court orders," she said. "He will not leave the victim alone."

Paul Brankin, Few Tails' defense attorney, asked the court to consider either probation or time served for his client.

Few Tails apologized on his own behalf and told the judge he wants to be able to support his children, one of whom is a four-month-old baby.

"I want to be there for them," he said.

Pfeifle told Few Tails he appreciated the recognition of how his actions affect his children, but he wished he would have taken the time to think of that while he was committing his crimes.

The judge said probation was "not appropriate" for Few Tails.
A four-person crew out of Ellsworth Air Force Base is safe after ejecting from their B-1B Lancer Thursday afternoon.

According to a release from Ellsworth Public Affairs, the crash happened around 5:50 p.m. while the B-1B was attempting to land at Ellsworth. The crew was on a training mission at the time.

Ellsworth Public Affairs confirmed Friday three of the aircrew who ejected during the crash were treated on base for minor injuries and released. The fourth airman was being treated at a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries at the time.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the aircrew and their families as they recover from this event, said 28th Bomb Wing Commander Col. Derek Oakley. "It is important that we support each other as we work to learn more about what occurred.

Posts in local social media groups indicated the explosions could be heard across the city of Box Elder.

Ellsworth did not release the condition of the plane or the nature of the damage from the crash. More details will be provided as they become available, the release said. The Air Force is investigating the crash.

B-1B Lancers are among the largest long-range bombers in the U.S. Air Force and carry guided and unguided munitions, according to an Air Force fact sheet. The B-1B made its combat debut 25 years ago  in Dec. 1998  in support of Operation Desert Fox on Shaikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain.

Ellsworth is one of only two B-1B bases in the world and is home to 3,800 airmen and DoD civilians and 27 B-1B Lancers. Ellsworth's B-1B unit is known as the 28th Bomb Wing.

According to the Aviation Safety Network, the B-1B Lancer has been involved in 14 incidents since 1984, the most recent being in April 2022, when a plane suffered catastrophic fire and engine failure while undergoing maintenance on the main ramp at Dyess Air Force Base in Texas.

The most-recent crash listed involving the 28th Bomb Wing was in Aug. 2013, when a displaced fold-down baffle in the left overwing fairing led to a fuel leak and series of explosions. The crew in that incident were able to safely eject before the aircraft crashed near Broadus, Montana. A report by the Air Force valued the plane at over $317 million at the time.

In Dec. 2001, a B-1 crashed into the Indian Ocean near the island of Diego Garcia. The cause of that crash has never been determined. The pilot and co-pilot were from Ellsworth.

In Sept. 1997, a B-1 from Ellsworth crashed near Alzada, Montana while practicing a typical defensive maneuver. That crash resulted in the death of all four crew members, who were stationed at Ellsworth.

There have been numerous incidents involving the B-1B's operation. The nation's fleet of B-1B Lancers was grounded in 2005 after the nose gear collapsed on a B-1 from Ellsworth. The planes were inspected and put back in service. In Sept. 2005, a plane caught fire after landing at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam after leaking hydraulic fluid came in contact with hot brakes. In Aug. 2007, a B-1B made an emergency landing at Kandahar Air Base in Afghanistan after an engine caught fire.
More than 60 people filled the Council Chambers at City Hall in Hamilton Wednesday night for a meeting of the Ravalli County Planning Board regarding the proposed Sapphire Heights subdivision on Hamilton Heights Road in Corvallis.

County planning staff recommended conditional approval of the subdivision to the planning board. Numerous citizens lined up to voice their disapproval of the development.

The proposed 121-acre 12-lot Sapphire Heights subdivision northeast of Hamilton has been the subject of multiple reviews since its introduction. Ten lots are proposed to be built on 84 acres on the north side of Hamilton Heights Road, and two lots would be built on 37 acres on the south side. The proposed lots are to be served by individual septic systems, along with individual wells for domestic use and irrigation. In addition, irrigation water will be provided from an existing ditch system that crosses the subdivision.

The acreage proposed for development sits on the Foley Ranch and borders other historical agricultural lands in the valley, including the 472-acre Weber Ranch which is preserved under a conservation easement. Other nearby conservation easements include the 160-acre Triple J Bar Ranch and the 52-acre Steele easement. The proposed development is also less than a mile from the Calf Creek Wildlife Management Area, a primary winter range for local elk.

Nearby ranchers and landowners who oppose the development gave emotional testimony on Wednesday.

Fourth-generation Bitterroot Valley rancher Andy Makis family has worked their farm near the proposed subdivision for more than 100 years. The Maki family opposes the proposed development and believes the subdivision will hurt existing water rights in the area. Water rights on the property owned by the Makis were established in the 1860s. The family has worked to protect their land from neighboring proposed developments in the past and has spent years in court defending their water rights.

First thing I want to do, is I want to acknowledge the Foleys, Andy Maki said as he crossed the room to shake the hands of the two Foley brothers seated in the crowd.

My family, the Foley family  we've been neighbors, we've been friends for close to 100 years, Maki said. This family history, it goes way back. For the planning board, I want you guys to understand, I want you guys to look in my eyes and look across this room of people. It is not easy for me to be up here today. We have been pallbearers at each other's funerals. My Uncle Jack is dead, and Johnny Foley who's dead, they were best men in each other's weddings  so these family ties, they're strong. And this, for us, this is a heartbreaking day today. So I just want to get that on the table right here, right now, how much your decision means. And your decision, it means everything for this county and it means everything for this state. Your decision today is what do you want your state to look like?

Maki as well as others who neighbor the proposed development accused WGM group of misrepresenting their water-use data in the subdivision proposal, citing their own well-water withdrawal rates as proof.

They're misrepresenting the well water, and they're clearly misrepresenting the irrigation water, Maki said.

Comparing well records

WGM denies cherry-picking well data for the proposal. Jeff Smith of WGM Group, representing the developers, gave a presentation at the meeting and answered questions from the board regarding changes to the subdivision proposal, with Jamie Erbach joining in via Zoom.

Our application includes 31 of the well logs that were that were available within these two drainages," Smith said, citing data from the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology.

Smith also noted that the Sapphire Heights proposal is similar in density to existing housing near the Foley property.

The Foleys proposal for division of land is similar in a lot of ways to the divisions that have already been completed in the vicinity, Smith said. The Foleys are proposing to subdivide about 120 acres into 12 home lots, for an average density of one home for 10 acres. We break this project into parts for discussion. The lots south of Hamilton Heights Road are both about 18 acres in size  set those aside and compare the northern 80 acres of this proposal to the 80 acres directly east on Grey Fox Lane. There are 10 homes planned on the 80 acres of Sapphire Heights compared to the 11 homes on 80 acres served by Grey Fox Lane. The density is very similar, with Sapphire Heights being slightly less dense.

Changes to the subdivision proposal since the last meeting in June include well-withdrawal rate changes, and the recommendation of cisterns as well as arsenic testing and filtration of individual water systems. They also made revisions to the planned drain field and added advanced septic treatment to the individual septic systems that will serve the proposed development. The proposal also includes a 150-foot no-fence zone along Willow Creek.

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation reviews water rights before final approval of a subdivision can be given, and the state Department of Environmental Quality reviews sanitation and the wells, planning board member Penny Howe-Canton told the crowd while explaining the approval process. "There's a couple of federal or state agencies that we depend on for the final decisions," she said.

DNRC has already weighed in on the water rights, Howe-Canton added. The DEQ is the thing key on this one. So everybody, you know, don't send us the death threats.

Other concerns

Although water rights and scarcity topped the list of concerns of those present Wednesday night, some nearby residents spoke about negative impacts to wildlife, increased traffic on Hamilton Heights Road and the affect additional septic systems could have on water quality in the surrounding area. Some also voiced opposition to the proposed subdivision of what has historically been working agricultural land in the Bitterroot Valley, citing voters overwhelming approval of the countys Open Lands Bond.

Jerry Downey lives on Willow Creek Road near the proposed subdivision. His family preserved their nearby ranch under a conservation easement years ago, and he fears what they meant to preserve may be at risk if the development is approved.

When my family put a conservation easement on our family's ranch in 2011, the easement went through the machinery of county government in order to obtain approval, Downey told the planning board. Among the qualities the ranch possessed that made it worthy of approval were its values in fostering wildlife and conservation. If this development is approved, the county would be jeopardizing the very resources they agreed were valuable enough to spend county taxpayers money in the form of the open lands bond to promote. I see a contradiction there, if you don't, I do.

Residents have also voiced concern that once the road has been built to access the lots within the northern portion of the proposed Sapphire Heights subdivision, the road will then be used to unlock another 80-acre plot of the Foley Ranch for additional development. The plot adjoins the proposed subdivision currently under deliberation.

The meeting was continued until next Wednesday, Jan. 10, and will be held at Hamilton City Hall in the second-floor Council Chambers.
Multiple Montana courthouses in Missoula, Bozeman and Great Falls reported being the target of bomb threats Thursday morning, according to press releases.

Sandra Barker, a spokesperson with the Salt Lake City FBI field office which helps to oversee Montana, said that their office has no information to indicate that any of the threats were credible.

"As Missoula County employees reported for work this morning an anonymous threat was received via email by the Clerk of Court stating there were explosives in the Missoula County Courthouse," according to a press release from Missoula County. "We are also aware that the threat was sent to multiple state and local agencies across the nation."

A release from the Gallatin County Sheriff told a similar story: The Clerk of District Court received an anonymous email "claiming that bombs were put into courtrooms in Gallatin County District Court, Justice Court, and Bozeman Municipal Court."

Nothing suspicious was found in Gallatin or Missoula County buildings following sweeps by law enforcement, according to releases from those counties.

The Cascade County Sheriff's Office received a bomb threat targeted at the county courthouse early Thursday, but roughly an hour later the building was reopened for business, according to emails from Sheriff Jesse Slaughter.

It is still unknown who made the threat on the Great Falls building and how it was communicated.

Yesterday the Montana State Capitol in Helena, along with capitol buildings around the country, was the subject of a bomb threat that was found to be not credible.

The Cascade County Sheriff's department did not immediately respond to request for comment.

"At this time, nothing suspicious has been found," a press release from Missoula County read. "We are working closely with the FBI to further investigate what appears to be an unfounded threat."

The Associated Press reported Mineral County Justice Court was also the subject of a bomb threat.

The Montana Attorney General's office said that it's coordinating with federal authorities, but it's unable to provide anymore details "due to the ongoing nature of these incidents."

"The FBI is aware of the numerous hoax bomb threats sent to various government buildings and other facilities in Montana," Barker said in an email. "The FBI takes hoax threats very seriously because it puts innocent people at risk...We urge the public to remain vigilant, and report any and all suspicious activity and/or individuals to law enforcement immediately."
Curtis has been charged with robbery, assault and petit larceny in the incident, police said.

Hanover police initially responded to the Boot Barn at 11700 Lakeridge Parkway at around 8:50 p.m. on Dec. 27 for the report of a robbery. Detectives said their investigation indicated that Curtis entered the store, produced a weapon and threatened an employee before running out of the store with merchandise.
The Henrico Education Association says it is making a push for the approval of collective bargaining rights before the end of the year.

The HEA has effectively been a union for over four decades, albeit but only as an advocacy role without the ability to actually negotiate a hard contract for educators.

The HEA includes all school workers from teachers, school nutrition workers, instructional assistants and support staff to engineers, custodians, office clerks and other Henrico County Public Schools employees.

Educators would be able to negotiate contract terms such as pay, overtime and specific details such as more planning time. The HEA has spoken before the School Board advocating for guardrails around average class sizes, working conditions and better communication between principals and teachers.

The School Board will first have to approve a resolution to approve collective bargaining. That resolution would spell out what points the association is allowed to negotiate.

Local government employees were long banned from collective bargaining in Virginia.

But legislation passed by the Virginia General Assembly in 2020 allowed local governments to approve collective bargaining for the first time. Richmond Public Schools was the bargaining unit in the state to gain collective bargaining rights when the School Board voted 8-1 in favor in 2021.

Members of the Henrico Education Association said the union has been organizing its effort for collective bargaining rights over the past three years through both educating teachers about the benefits of collective bargaining and garnering signatures.

The School Board could be compelled to vote on a resolution should 50.1% of teachers sign authorization cards  a document allowing a union to negotiate on behalf of an employee. There are around 7,500 total employees in HCPS.

Were confident that within the next year, the School Board could vote without being forced by the hands of teachers signing a petition, said HEA member Spencer Billett.

The five-member board turned over two seats in the November election. The Fairfield District has a new member, Ryan Young, while the Three Chopt Districts newest member is Madison Irving.

Tuckahoe District member Marcia Shea said in an email that it would be premature to talk about collective bargaining as she had yet to speak with the new School Board members about the topic, and that the HEA had yet to approach the board with a resolution.

Some of the HEAs priorities when it comes to possible negotiations are increased planning time, support for special education teachers and guardrails that keep teachers from being overworked.

HEA member Liz Broda said planning time is crucial because it allows teachers to tailor their overarching lesson plans to the individual needs of students across all of their classes. In many cases, she said, teachers are having their 90-minute planning times, or even lunchtime, infringed for other duties.

Broda said that especially affects special education teachers, who have more complicated needs working with their students.

Theyre also lesson planning. Theyre also assessing. Theyre also doing all the other things that a general education teacher would do, Broda said. Plus, theyre doing all of the individualized case management, so they actually have more to do.

She added that many issues such as working conditions, acceptance of teacher feedback and effective hiring practices can vary widely from school to school.

Were finding those teachers (with better conditions) are less likely to be eager for collective bargaining, Broda said. Its about the bigger wider picture and the systemic issues of our contract that can be solved through collective bargaining.
Three years later, the aftershocks of the deadly Jan. 6 attempt by violent loyalists of Donald Trump to stop Congress from confirming Joe Bidens 2020 presidential victory still ripple through Virginia politics.

In the electoral realm and in policy debates, Virginia has regularly confronted the episodes convulsions. In recent days, Trumps foes have turned to the federal and state courts, arguing that his role in the insurrection renders him constitutionally ineligible for Virginias primary and general election ballots.

For Trumps allies  even those attempting to slip his grip, such as Gov. Glenn Youngkin, briefly a potential rival for the GOP presidential nomination  the continuing debate over the attack and its aftermath nonetheless compels expressions of obeisance to 45.

The storming of the U.S. Capitol was thwarted by Capitol and Metropolitan police reinforced by Virginia state troopers, who would be greeted by cheering members of the U.S. House and Senate as though they were cavalrymen galloping to the rescue, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., later recalled.

But the behind-the-scenes details of the attempted coup were far more somber, as laid out in an investigation by a bipartisan House committee whose members included a Virginia Democrat, U.S. Rep. Elaine Luria of the 2nd District, along the states Atlantic coast.

In the Senate, the Virginia Democrat who leads the intelligence committee  Mark Warner  cited the assault on the Capitol as the basis for an investigation into the influence of Russia and other hostile foreign powers on U.S. extremists.

Lurias loss

Lurias role in the House inquiry  she became a regular on cable television and was frequently quoted by the national press  dramatically elevated her profile but, by the 2022 elections, had only made her a bigger target for the GOP, even in her Biden-carried district.

Midterm jitters over Biden  largely attributed to the coronavirus-addled economy  allowed Republicans to change the subject from Luria attempting to hold Trump accountable for suspected sedition to her allegiance to the Democratic president and liberal congressional leaders.

Luria, handicapped by redistricting that denied her friendly voters in Norfolk, where 40% of residents are Black, would be defeated for a third term, falling to a Republican state senator from Virginia Beach, Jen Kiggans. She finds herself  much as Luria did  under steady criticism for Trump-related controversies.

Among them: Kiggans refusal to say whether Biden was legitimately elected  as a candidate, she ran from reporters rather than answering that question  and her support of the Biden impeachment inquiry pressed by the Trump-loyal House Republican leadership.

5th District primary

More than 100 miles from the 2nd District  in the rolling countryside reaching west of Richmond toward Charlottesville  Trump, devotion to the defeated president and the assault on Congress are overarching issues in a Republican congressional primary.

Rep. Bob Good, R-Charlottesville, chairman of the stoutly conservative Freedom Caucus and among the Republicans who brought down Kevin McCarthy as House speaker, is seeking reelection in the 5th District. Goods opponent wants him to answer for disloyalty to Trump.

State Sen.-elect John McGuire, R-Goochland, who attended the pre-riot rally in Washington, D.C., at which Trump implored supporters to descend on the Capitol, depicts as indefensible Goods endorsement of Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida for the partys presidential nomination. Good insists the GOP needs a fresh face for 2024.

Two other Trump loyalists in the Virginia legislature learned the hard way that devotion to 45 is not without risk.

In the Richmond suburb of Chesterfield County, state Sen. Amanda Chase  the pistol-packing, self-styled Trump in heels  was censured by the Democratic-controlled Senate shortly after the attempted siege of Congress for endorsing the attack and making baseless claims that the election was stolen.

Two years later, seeking renomination in a freshly redrawn district, Chase narrowly lost to Glen Sturtevant, a former state senator who depicted himself as no less conservative than Chase but far less confrontational.

In the increasingly blue, outer-Washington suburb of Loudoun County, Del. Dave LaRock, among the state GOPs most combative culture warriors, was attacked by local Democrats for attending the Trump-addressed Stop the Steal rally and publicly claiming that Bidens win was fraudulent.

Lumped in a hostile House district, LaRock moved to rural Clarke County to run for the state Senate. He was defeated in an eight-candidate race by a comparative moderate he derided as a Democrat and who would cruise to victory this past November.

Mixed consequences

The electoral consequences in Virginia of Jan. 6 remain mixed, however.

Ten months after the attack, Virginia  which Biden carried over Trump by 10 percentage points, and where he is favored to win the state again in a rematch in 2024  narrowly elected a Republican as governor. Youngkin skillfully embraced elements of Trumpism while not fully embracing Trump, though he welcomed the former presidents multiple endorsements.

That Youngkin was flirting with a presidential bid  that is, until Republicans two months ago lost the legislature to Democrats  occasionally exposed him to Trumps ire, with Trump once suggesting in a racially tinged poke at the governor that his last name sounded Chinese.

It is an indignity Youngkin must endure, given Trumps seemingly unshakeable appeal to grassroots Republicans who helped lift the former financier to the governorship over Democrat Terry McAuliffe and whom he must accommodate to remain relevant within the party.

It should come as no surprise, then, that Youngkin was quick to welcome the decision of a federal judge in Alexandria just ahead of the long New Years weekend that preserves Trumps place on the Virginia ballot.

Plaintiffs are now turning to the state courts, arguing that Trump disqualified himself by  in contravention with the U.S. Constitution  participating in a rebellion against the federal government to which he had sworn allegiance.

That Youngkin and other prominent Virginia Republicans would apparently cower before Trump stands in contrast with alarming displays of candor by those no longer enamored with the former president, including a young graduate of Virginias Christopher Newport University who held a privileged position on the White House staff.

Cassidy Hutchinson, a New Jersey native and an aide to Trumps chief of staff, Mark Meadows, laid out for congressional investigators in televised testimony details of the presidents behavior on Jan. 6, saying that he angrily confronted his Secret Service bodyguards because they refused his order to drive him to the Capitol ahead of the attack.

Cheney at UVA

Even the General Assembly, ordinarily preoccupied with smaller-stake, nuts-and-bolts issues, has seen its agenda shaped by the trauma of Jan. 6.

Democrats introduced legislation in 2023 that would have disqualified those convicted of participating in the attack from holding elective and appointive office as well as jobs in education or law enforcement. The Houses then-GOP majority quietly killed the bill without debate.

Beyond Richmond, the debate over Jan. 6 continues at the state level and has been anything but quiet.

At the University of Virginia, already a hotbed in Youngkins war on woke-ism, the lead Republican in the House investigation  former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming  accepted a teaching position at the schools Center for Politics, headed by political analyst Larry Sabato, no fan of Trump.

Cheney, defeated for renomination last year by a Trump-backed challenger, is using her new forum to underscore a point, rooted in the seditious chaos at the Capitol, that her critics claim is getting old: that the former president remains a threat to democracy.

As she told CBS News last month: In my view, fundamentally, there is a choice to be made. You cant both be for Donald Trump and for the Constitution. You have to choose.

The second Jan. 6 hearing by the numbers The second Jan. 6 hearing by the numbers 5 witnesses were scheduled to testify in the second hearing 3 of the 5 key states needed to flip for Trump to win Tens of thousands of votes were needed for Trump to win in a recount 5-10% chance of Trump winning, according to his campaign manager Thousands of citizens overseas who cast their vote in Arizona were alleged to be illegal citizens of the US 8,000 dead people were alleged to have voted in Pennsylvania in another false claim $250 million was raised by Trump after the election 2 teams emerged from the Trump camp
Virginias constitution still includes a prohibition against same-sex marriage, but Democratic lawmakers are hoping to remove it.

Though such unions are protected at the federal level by a 2015 U.S. Supreme Court ruling and Congress 2022 Respect for Marriage Act, if they were reversed, those marriages would not be legal in Virginia.

Approving a constitutional amendment in Virginia requires a multiyear process. The measure would need to pass the General Assembly two years in a row, with an election in for the House of Delegates in between, before appearing on ballots for statewide approval in a referendum as early as 2026.

While the lawmakers have introduced such measures before, they could have a better chance now that Democrats will control the House and Senate  pending the House elections in 2025. A proposed constitutional amendment does not require a governors signature.

If passed, the amendment would remove prohibitions that Virginia first enshrined in 2006, recognizing marriage as only a union between one man and one woman  which Ebbin called a discriminatory stain on the constitution. The language has been rendered moot since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of same-sex marriages nine years ago.

Virginians want a chance to remove the noxious marriage language that was added to our constitution in 2006, Sickles said in a release. Over the years, minds have changed and over 1.8 million voters have come of age  this is not the constitution they want.

An effort cleared the state Senate with bipartisan support early last year before failing in the GOP-led House. Another attempt cleared both chambers in 2021, when Democrats controlled the House and Senate, before being defeated in 2022 when Republicans controlled the House. While Democrats have largely pushed for the law, it has occasionally garnered support from the other side of the aisle. Then-Del. Tim Anderson, R-Virginia Beach, had also carried a similar measure.

However, the matter is starting to feel more urgent for some, amid concerns that Obergefell v. Hodges  the 2015 Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide  could be undone.

When the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the decision that protected abortion access, justices diverged in their opinions on whether the latest ruling could lead to reopening other decisions.

Justice Samuel Alito, who wrote the majority opinion in the abortion case, stressed that nothing in this opinion should be understood to cast doubt on precedents that do not concern abortion.

But Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in a concurring opinion that the due process clause in the 14th Amendment at most guarantees process and does not secure any substantive rights.

Thomas asserted that in future cases, the court should reconsider all of this Courts substantive due process precedents, including cases that guaranteed married adults the right to obtain contraceptives, the right to engage in private, consensual sexual acts and Obergefell v. Hodges.

In early 2023 when the most recent attempt to enshrine same-sex marriage in Virginia was voted down, a representative from The Family Foundation  an advocacy group that opposes same-sex marriage  noted that the Supreme Courts actions on abortion could mean action on marriage is likely, too.

With the courts precedent in Dobbs, the abortion ruling, the court is clearly in a position to reverse its erroneous 2015 decision, Todd Gathje said. And if and when it does, Virginias constitution should continue to reflect the truth about marriage.

The Family Foundation believes marriage is only between a man and a woman.

Narissa Rahaman, executive director of Equality Virginia, says the matter is personal. Her organization has lobbied in support of Ebbins and Sickles bills and supports laws that benefit LGBTQ people. Rahaman also became engaged to her partner shortly after the Supreme Court removed federal abortion protections.

It was like a bit of a jolting moment, Rahaman said of potentially losing the same rights that opposite-sex couples have.

In the meantime, Del.-elect Rozia Henson Jr., D-Prince William, is introducing a bill to ensure the issuance of marriage licenses without regard to the sex, gender or race of the two adults seeking to enter into a marriage.

Ebbin also has a Senate version of the measure.

Henson said in a release that while efforts to enshrine protections in the constitution may get underway over the next two years, putting protections into state code could take effect sooner should Congress or the Supreme Court undo a decision at the federal level.

That is why Senator Ebbin and I have also introduced legislation to codify marriage equality in Virginias Code  not just its Constitution  so that marriage equality is protected under Virginia law beginning July 1, 2024, he said.

From the Archives: The Capitol Hotel
When Gov. Glenn Youngkin challenged the General Assembly last month to eliminate the hated car tax, he acknowledged that his proposed two-year state budget does not mention a way to do it.

Instead, Youngkins administration held its first meeting with local government officials two days after the governors budget presentation on Dec. 20 to talk about how to repeal a local tax on personal property that counties and cities depend on to help pay for their share of public education and other services to their residents.

Nor did the administration let local governments know in advance that the governors proposed budget would not include state money to fulfill a promise that he and lawmakers made two years ago. That was a pledge to replace money that localities lost when the state eliminated a portion of the sales tax on groceries and personal hygiene products that helps pay for public education.

We just feel left out, said Dean Lynch, who represents all of Virginias 95 county governments as executive director of the Virginia Association of Counties.

As a newly elected General Assembly prepares to convene on Wednesday with Democratic majorities in both chambers, Youngkin faces skepticism in both parties over tax policy proposals that are central to his proposed $185 billion two-year budget. His proposals to cut income tax rates, expand a nonrefundable low-income tax credit, raise the sales tax and broaden its application to digital services would cost the state a net $1 billion over two years.

Retiring Sen. Emmett Hanger, R-Augusta, a longtime champion of local government interests, said he is hesitant to critique the governors proposal, but added that it will (be) difficult to accomplish meaningful and appropriate tax reform without building consensus around a publicly vetted plan that has broad support from the majority of the legislature as well as local government buy-in.

Youngkin spokesman Christian Martinez said, In the weeks leading up to Governor Youngkin challenging the General Assembly to work with him to eliminate the hated car tax, the administration reached out to local government officials to obtain information related to car tax repeal. The administration had sought information about car tax collections from local commissioners of the revenue the week before the speech.

Offsetting lost funds

Youngkins administration has tried to reassure local governments that his proposal to raise the sales and use tax and broaden its application to digital services would raise money to help offset the loss of an estimated $229 million in state funds over two years to localities based on their school-age population. That represents most of what the state teachers association has blasted as a $300 million cut to state funding for K-12 schools.

Thats a big piece of the puzzle at $229 million from reneging on that promise, said Chad Stewart, policy analyst at the Virginia Education Association.

Martinez, in the governors office, strongly challenged assertions that the proposed budget would cut K-12 funding.

There is no reduction in direct aid for public education, he said. In fact, there is a $330 million increase in K-12 aid over the biennium. The pandemic, with various Federal relief funding and the Commonwealths recent response to learning loss in the Chapter 1 budget, introduced several one-time sources of funds. Those one-time funds were treated as that  one-time funds.

Administration officials say the money to replace the lost sales tax revenue was never meant to be a long-term solution, even though it was written into state law as well as the current two-year budget, and that tracking the amount of revenue lost in each locality is difficult because the money is no longer collected.

But legislators in both parties say the state must honor its commitment to replace local money lost in the grocery tax cut that was part of Youngkins $4 billion tax cut package in his first year in office.

Absolutely, said Del. Joe McNamara, R-Roanoke County. He sponsored the legislation that cut the 1% of the grocery tax returned to localities based on school-age population and 0.5% used to pay for transportation, a hole that the assembly did not attempt to fill.

While Youngkin is counting on adoption of his proposals to raise the sales tax by 0.9% and broaden its application to digital services, that hasnt happened yet, and I dont know if that will happen, said McNamara, a certified public accountant. McNamara intends to propose legislation again this year to repeal the 1% local sales tax on groceries that the assembly left intact.

Cool reception

Del. Vivian Watts, D-Fairfax, the incoming chair of the House Finance Committee and a longtime student of Virginia tax policy, was more blunt.

Here we are, right out the gate, and the governor reneges on the commitment to replace the lost grocery tax money for localities, she said.

Watts flatly opposes the governors proposals to cut income tax rates across the board in all five income brackets and partly offset the cost by raising the sales tax. She said both proposals would make Virginias tax code less fair by putting more of a burden on low- and middle-income Virginians. She said they would not benefit as much from the proposed income tax cuts as high earners, while paying more at the register for the basics of the household.

However, she is keenly interested in Youngkins proposal to broaden the application of the sales tax to some services. Youngkins plan would not go nearly as far as the plan she laid out two years ago and plans to reintroduce this year to begin taxing consumer services instead of just goods, as most states already do.

Tax reform debate

Tax reform is at the center of the table, Watts said.

What thats likely to mean in the upcoming session is a hard look at expanding the sales tax to some services. It will also mean a politically difficult debate over how to restructure Virginias income tax code to apply a higher tax rate to those with greatest ability to pay, as Democrats want, while improving the states competitiveness with states that have lower income taxes  or none at all  as Youngkin wants.

Youngkin says the current sales tax application is not fair because, for example, it applies to the purchase of compact discs or records, but not to downloading songs on phones and computers. That is a good, not a service, he said of music downloading in an interview before his budget presentation.

His proposal would tax digital streaming, data storage and other information age services, just as Virginia did with internet sales after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 2018 opened the door for states to tax online sales instead of just those at brick-and-mortar stores.

Youngkin explicitly ruled out taxing other traditional services like barbers, lawn care services, or professional services.

But Watts plans to introduce legislation that would also tax sales of many of those services, as long as they are not considered medically necessary. For example, she would favor taxing a massage by a masseuse, but not by a massage therapist, because one is discretionary and the other a necessity.

Watts agrees with the governor that Virginia needs to reduce its reliance on income taxes, which currently generate about 70% of revenue, by broadening the use of the sales tax.

I want a robust and accurate discussion of tax reform that addresses the ever-growing gap in ability to pay that our tax code is not recognizing, she said.

In that regard, Watts also intends to introduce legislation that would propose a new top tax bracket for the highest income earners, applying a 7% rate to the adjusted gross income of $600,000 a year or more. The idea is one of the ways that the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission suggested two years ago to make the income tax code more progressive, with higher earners paying more.

The idea is not likely to get past Youngkin, even if the assembly approves it, because he wants to take the tax code in the opposite direction by reducing the tax rate in every bracket. Watts argues that Youngkins proposed 12% cut would reduce the tax rate in the highest bracket by three times the reduction in the lowest bracket.

The governors office argues that Youngkin has made the tax system more fair with $5 billion in one-time and permanent cuts over the past two years. Those cuts include increases in the standard deduction that help low- and middle-income filers who cannot itemize deductions to lower their tax liability and making a portion of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit refundable so that eligible families can benefit, even if they do not have a high enough tax liability.

These actions have made Virginias tax code more progressive, said Martinez, noting that the proposed budget would lower tax rates for all income tax levels and expand the nonrefundable portion of the tax credit for low-income working families.

The net effect of all tax actions signed or currently proposed by Governor Youngkin is to make Virginias tax code fairer and more competitive, he said.

Still, Youngkins proposal to raise the sales tax by 0.9% could face opposition in both political parties in that it would increase costs for all consumers, regardless of their ability to pay.

McNamara, when asked whether he would support the proposal, replied, I dont know. I think that it would be problematic.

Four deck chairs

Del. Barry Knight, R-Virginia Beach, the outgoing House Appropriations chairman, says he is willing to consider all of the governors tax proposals, including the elimination of the car tax, as long as the net result is not a tax increase.

No one on our side is going for a tax increase in totality, Knight said. Im fine with a no-net-gain.

He compares the coming tax policy debate to four deck chairs: reducing the income tax, raising the sales tax, taxing the sale of services and eliminating the car tax.

I dont care how they shuffle them as long as theres no net loss, no net gain for the locals and the state, Knight said.

Legislators are not sure how seriously to consider the proposal to repeal the car tax, given that the Constitution of Virginia explicitly empowers local governments to levy it and the administration is still collecting information from localities. Theres just not a whole lot of push behind it, said Lynch at the Virginia Association of Counties.

The car tax

The debate has raged for more than 25 years, since Gov. Jim Gilmore won office in 1997 on a no car tax pledge but was able to achieve only a partial repeal of the tax, with the state committed to sending $950 million a year back to localities to compensate them for losing a portion of the revenue.

Its 2.8 billion bucks, McNamara said of full repeal. Thats not inconsequential.

On the other hand, Knight said, People dont like the car tax.

The tax on personal property is the second-largest source of revenue for local governments, which rely primarily on taxing the assessed value of real estate.

It youre going to replace it, youve got to do it with something serious, said Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Charlottesville, a member of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee and one of the Senates budget negotiators last year.

Funding schools

Democrats say the debate over tax policy also has to consider the need for additional state funding of K-12 public education, which a JLARC report estimated last year at up to $4 billion to make up a gap with the other states that it pegged at $1,900 per student compared with the 50-state average.

Youngkins proposed budget still leaves us a billion dollars short of meeting our obligations at a time when weve got to focus on the JLARC report for K-12 education, Deeds said.

Knight says the report did not reflect more than $645 million added to the budget for public education last year, including a pot of $418 million in one-time funding that local school divisions can use to address learning loss and other critical needs after the COVID-19 pandemic. The governor includes that one-time money in his base budget for the next two years.

The Virginia Education Association, representing public school teachers, immediately accused the governor of using smoke and mirrors in the budget by cutting educational funding, primarily the money meant to offset the loss of revenue from the grocery tax, and using an additional $400 million in federal aid to supplant state funding for education. The federal aid deduction is customary in every budget, but its much larger this year because of the pandemic.

School divisions were not thinking about using that money to cover basic instructional costs, said Chad Stewart at the VEA.

Jim Regimbal, a fiscal consultant to local governments in Virginia, said funding for K-12 public education is essentially flat in the proposed budget, compared with the current two-year spending plan that expires June 30.

The budget does not include much new money to help localities build or renovate obsolete school buildings, he said. An expanded Literary Fund is able to make school construction grants, but Youngkin is also relying on it to help pay the states share of teacher pension costs, as the state constitution provides.

Given the headwinds facing the governors tax package, Regimbal said: Dont do it, and then youve got a billion dollars to spend.

7 bills to watch in the upcoming Virginia legislative session Raising minimum wage Mental health support Attempts to reverse Clean Car Act Gun laws Rights restoration Reproductive rights
A new Democratic House member who quietly flipped a Chesterfield County district long held by Republicans wants Virginia to rethink its decades-old ban on radar detectors.

Virginia was for decades the only state to ban radar detectors for private vehicles. Mississippi is the only other state to ban them, under a law enacted in 2020.

The radar detector bill (House Bill 180), filed by Del.-elect Debra Gardner, D-Chesterfield, would allow drivers  except for those in commercial vehicles such as delivery trucks or tractor-trailers  from equipping vehicles with radar detectors.

It is one of two bills the new delegate introduced with important changes to Virginia criminal law.

Gardner, who was not immediately available for comment, is also proposing to end a requirement that sentences for people convicted on multiple charges when the charges involve certain crimes be served consecutively  one after the other  rather than concurrently. This is House Bill 179.

The result has been prison terms of 100 years or more.

Gardners radar detector bill would retain language dating to 1998 that bans devices that interfere with radar or laser speed monitoring devices.

The measure is likely to draw opposition from law enforcement agencies.

This would interfere with the enforcement of speed laws, said Dana Schrad, executive director of the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police.

Violation of speed laws has led to a serious problem with speed-related crashes, she said. We will oppose this legislation.

The great radar detector debate has been an off-and-on discussion in the Virginia legislature for decades.

In 2010, Del. Joe T. May, R-Loudoun, got a bill to remove the prohibition to the floor of the House, where it was defeated. In 2015, Del. Dave LaRock, R-Loudoun  who had defeated May in a 2013 GOP primary  introduced a repeal bill that was left to languish in a House Transportation committee and never reached the floor.

One rationale that proponents of radar detectors espouse is that the devices help motorists avoid speed traps. In 2011, a Hopewell traffic-enforcement program ran 14 hours a day, seven days a week along a 1- to 2-mile section of Interstate 295 through the city. Hopewell nabbed so many motorists who exceeded the 70 mph speed limit as they briefly passed through the city that the stretch came to be known as the million-dollar mile.

Eleven Hopewell sheriffs deputies, all but one of whom were part time, wrote 14,778 tickets in 2011 with $2,056,387 in assessed fines, with more than $1.6 million of that being collected, the Sheriffs Office said in February

2012. Of those cited, 75% were from out of state.

Police say one reason to continue to bar radar detectors is that routine traffic stops sometimes lead to arrests in more serious crimes. They also say it is a common-sense prohibition.

In 2003, state police spokesman Dave Chewning told the Richmond Times-Dispatch: Why equip thousands of officers across the state with equipment to combat speeding and then allow the citizens to go out and buy equipment to try to defeat it?

Opponents also note that speed is a key contributing factor to traffic crashes in the state. In 2022, Virginia had 122,434 crashes, with 1,005 fatalities and 59,404 injuries, according to the annual Crash Facts report from the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Virginia Highway Safety Office.

The report noted that 24,877 of the crashes were speed-related and involved 441 fatalities and 13,051 injuries. Speed was a more prevalent factor than alcohol. The report found that 6,910 of the crashes were alcohol-related and involved 274 fatalities and 4,174 injuries.

Consecutive sentences

Gardners consecutive sentence law would eliminate language that says mandatory minimum sentences for some crimes have to be served consecutively.

This language, like the mandatory minimum requirement itself, means judges have no discretion to modify a sentence, no matter what the circumstances of a crime.

In Virginia, the mandatory minimum sentences imposed for some 200 crimes, most dealing with drug or firearms offenses, cannot be served concurrently.

Consecutive mandatory minimum sentences are also required when a person is convicted for three or more times of violating a protective order and of being involved in gang activity on school grounds.

A similar bill last year, sponsored by state Sen. Joe Morrissey, D-Petersburg, passed the Senate after he told the story of a juvenile sentenced to 33 years after accompanying two adults who robbed seven people; the juvenile was convicted of seven firearms charges; but what would have been at most a five-year term for any them turned into a 33-year sentence because they had to be served consecutively. Because the adults arranged a plea deal that dropped some of the charges, the sentence for one was 6 years and for the other was 12 years.

Morrisseys bill died in a House Courts of Justice subcommittee on a party-line vote but, this year, that panel will have a Democratic majority.

Gardner, a longtime social worker and counselor, was elected Nov. 7 in House District 76, a Democratic-leaning part of Chesterfield. She defeated Republican Duc Truong, receiving 64% of the vote.

Virginia lawmakers convene Jan. 10 for a scheduled 60-day session that will be highlighted by efforts to reach agreement on a two-year budget for July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2026. Democrats are likely to hold a 51-49 edge in the House and a 21-19 edge in the state Senate pending the outcome of two special elections on Jan. 9.

7 bills to watch in the upcoming Virginia legislative session Raising minimum wage Mental health support Attempts to reverse Clean Car Act Gun laws Rights restoration Reproductive rights
Virginia smokers with Affordable Care Act coverage are getting a health insurance break this year, a State Corporation Commission report shows.

A new state law bans the tobacco use surcharge that insurers issuing Obamacare policies had been levying.

That translates to average savings for covered smokers of $25.62 a month to $122.48, according to the SCCs review of insurance company rate filings.

The commission said elimination of the surcharge should cut the number of uninsured Virginians by 14,000.

The states Joint Commission on Health Care has suggested eliminating the surcharge to encourage more people to buy coverage.

That means savings for non-smokers, too, the joint commission said. The theory is that when more people have coverage, the cost of providing health care is spread over a larger pool and the cost to each person in the pool should go down.

The Affordable Care Act allowed insurers to charge tobacco users up to 50% more than non-users. Virginia insurers premiums for tobacco users were 5% to 20% higher than for non-users.

Six other states  California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont, along with Washington, D.C.  have banned the surcharge.

The SCC review also reported on smoking rates across the state.

The Richmond areas rates are all above the state average of 13.6%. In the city of Richmond, 17.2% of residents smoke; in Henrico County, the rate is 14.3%; in Chesterfield County, 14.7%; in Hanover County, 14.3%; in Goochland County, 14%; in Powhatan County, 16.4%; and in New Kent County, 15.9%.

Among other Virginia cities: Danvilles rate is 23.4%, Bristols 23.2%, Lynchburgs 18%, Waynesboros 19.2% and Charlottesvilles 15.9%.

The lowest rate was in Falls Church, where just 8.4% of residents smoke. The highest was in Buchanan County in Southwest Virginia, where 27% of people smoke.

From the Archives: Philip Morris Philip Morris 60s and 70s Philip Morris 60s and 70s Philip Morris 60s and 70s Philip Morris 60s and 70s Philip Morris 60s and 70s Philip Morris 60s and 70s Philip Morris 60s and 70s Philip Morris 60s and 70s Philip Morris 60s and 70s Philip Morris Phillip Morris Phillip Morris Phillip Morris Philip Morris Philip Morris Philip Morris Philip Morris Philip Morris Philip Morris Philip Morris Philip Morris Philip Morris Philip Morris Philip Morris Philip Morris Philip Morris Philip Morris Philip Morris Philip Morris
Fonatur transfers management of Cancun Hotel Zone and Cozumel Marina to state

Riviera Maya, Q.R.  The National Fund for the Promotion of Tourism (Fonatur) has transferred management of the Cancun Hotel Zone and the Cozumel Marina to the state government.

The transfer was made official Thursday with the signing of an agreement that will now allow the state to manage those two areas. Three other agreements regarding state tourism infrastructure were also signed.

Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa signed four agreements to strengthen the tourism infrastructure of the Comprehensively Planned Center of Cancun and the Comprehensive Tourism Project in Cozumel.

In a statement, she says the agreements will benefit these destinations with a strategy of modernization and beautification of the most important tourist areas.

With the signing of these documents, work to increase the competitiveness of the tourist spots that FONATUR operated and maintained is made official. They can be transferred to the Government of the State of Quintana Roo under the recovery, modernization and improvement strategy.

The strategy presented by Governor Mara Lezama and her Cabinet contemplates an increase in investment to modernize and improve services, as well as beautifying the most emblematic areas of the Hotel Zone and the Cozumel Marina.

In November, a group from the Cancun Hotel Zone had purposed the creation of a mayors office to manage the area with the phasing out of Fondo Nacional de Fomento al Turismo (Fonatur). However, Cancun Mayor Ana Patricia Peralta said the proposal to create a second mayors office to serve the Hotel Zone was not viable.
BLACKSBURG  Some members of the town Police Department will be spending their night shifts helping to thin out deer populations for the next few months.

Officers will be parked in unmarked cars throughout the town, using hunting rifles to help cull deer. Its an operation that has been undertaken annually by the department for the last 20 years, according to Lt. Kale Craver, spokesperson for the Blacksburg Police Department.

The culling, referred to as Sharpshooter Operations by members of the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, is meant to reduce the occurrence of car accidents involving deer, and to control the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) among local deer.

CWD, a neurological disease that, much like mad cow disease, is caused by an abnormal protein called a prion, has been infecting deer in Virginia for more than a decade. In 2021, Montgomery had its first confirmed case of a deer infected with CWD. Since then, eight more cases have been confirmed.

While CWD poses no known threat to humans, its spread could devastate deer populations if left unchecked. The disease is spread through bodily fluid transmission from one deer to another, and if many deer are competing for limited food resources, the spread will increase much faster.

Blacksburg is not the only municipality that uses its police force to cull deer populations. The city of Radford has also used its police force to cull herds in the past, and is currently considering doing so again, according to Justin Folks, the deer project manager for the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. Fairfax also culls herds in the offseason using its police.

The city of Roanoke outsources off-season deer culling to an outside contractor, rather than using the police force for the job.

Craver specified that while the Blacksburg Police Department has been issued special permits to shoot deer, this is not an extension of the hunting season, and off-season culling is not authorized for riflemen or urban archers in Blacksburg.

The way we do it is very, very controlled, Craver said. The people I choose to do this follow a lot of safety measures.

To control the number of deer killed in the operation, a cap is set by the Department of Wildlife Resources as part of the permitting process.

Once the deer are killed, the meat is tested for CWD and, if the test is negative, the meat is donated to Hunters for the Hungry, a charity based in Bedford County.
The Roanoke County School Board voted Thursday to reappoint Brent Hudson as its chairman and chose Cheryl Facciani as vice chairwoman.

The swift 4-0 votes  Hudson and Facciani each abstained on the votes for their own positions  began the school boards first meeting of the new year. It also was the first meeting for new school board member Shelley Clemons, who was elected in November to the Cave Spring District seat, replacing Mike Wray.

Hudson, the boards chairman last year, won a four-year term in November to represent the Catawba District. He had previously been appointed to the board to fill an unexpired term.

Tim Greenway, who was the boards vice chairman for 2023, nominated Hudson and Facciani. There were no other nominations and no discussion before the votes.

The organizational choices were the only votes Thursday as board members settled into a work session  and by consensus said no to an electric bus, maybe to solar power and yes to reviewing pavement conditions at county schools play areas.

The electric bus discussion came up as school staff presented an application for a federal grant that would contribute $250,000 toward the cost of a heavy-duty, electric-powered school bus. Roanoke County applied for the grant before but did not get it. This year, the federal application has a new requirement that school board members sign off that they will accept the grant if it is given.

Board members voiced skepticism about the electric buses, with Facciani saying, Im trying so hard not to laugh like Kamala Harris at the yellow bus, a reference to a 2022 appearance that the vice president made to tout federal support for electric school buses.

Facciani said that electric buses can blow up and need to be parked separately from diesel buses, and board member David Linden noted that the county would need a charging station and someone trained to work on electric vehicles if it got such a bus. Other board members questioned if the electric buses were suitable for mountainous terrain.

Hudson asked about the cost of the electric bus and was told that a Northern Virginia locality recently obtained one for $360,221, while a diesel school bus usually costs about $120,000. Hudson said that he thought the electric vehicle technology would be right for the schools eventually but wasnt there yet.

Clemons said that she would like to hear more from the schools transportation staff. But as other board members continued to describe safety concerns and other issues, Hudson said that staff should not spend any more time on the grant application.

Another electricity question before the board Thursday came in a presentation from Charlottesville-based Sun Tribe, which pitched a plan to install and operate solar panels on school roofs  and to guarantee the school system lower electricity costs for the next 25 years.

Sun Tribe would sell electricity to the schools, and draw from American Electric Powers grid for whatever demand exceeds what is generated by the solar panels.

Todd Kageals, the schools director of facilities and operations, noted that the school system spent about $1 million more than budgeted last year on utilities. He said that the Sun Tribe proposal would save the schools nearly $2 million across the 25-year length of the agreement, and would give the schools a known electricity cost to budget for each year.

Katherine Knight of Sun Tribe said that the company would pay all costs to install, operate and maintain the solar panels, and also would supply curated curriculum content to teach students about renewable energy if the school system wanted to use the educational modules. This could include students at the countys career and technical education center, she said, describing how students at a similar facility in Louisa County learn about solar panel installation by putting together an array together each year.

Knight said that the company is working with a number of other Virginia school systems, including those in Henrico and Chesterfield counties and Newport News, and is also beginning a similar project with Virginia Tech.

Board members asked Kageals to gather feedback from schools that have signed agreements with Sun Tribe, and said they would consider the matter at future meetings.

Also Thursday, board members asked Kageals to hold off on an estimated $95,000 re-paving of two hard-surface play areas at Bonsack Elementary Schools until they reviewed paving needs at the countys other schools.

Linden, whose Hollins District includes Bonsack Elementary, said that he knew the schools pavement was in bad shape but thought there might be greater needs at other facilities.

Kageals said that before the boards February work session, he would put together an assessment of pavement conditions across the school system  at least of the pavement in play areas like at Bonsack; roads and driveways already have plans, Kageals said.
A new interactive light projector to provide inclusive, sensory stimulation has been launched at Boyle Library.

Provided in Boyle thanks to Dormant Accounts funding from the Department of Rural and Community Development, the projector is designed by Social-Ability and manufactured in the UK.

The Happiness Programme uses interactive games to connect library users with each other. Research shows the concept improves the wellbeing of people living with dementia and other cognitive challenges.

Using interactive light projections, The Happiness Programme, which can be played independently or in a group, stimulates movement by inviting participants to take part in all sorts of different fun activities.

Pictured at the launch of The Happiness Programme in Boyle Library were: Kieran Shaughnessy, Acting County Librarian; Marina Bruen and Eithne McDermott, staff librarians, Boyle; Cllr John Cummins, Leas Cathaoirleach, Roscommon County Council who launched the initiative and Fiona Ni Chuinn, Director of Services, Roscommon County Council.

Among the activities are popping bubbles, playing the piano, colouring in pictures, sweeping leaves, or interacting playfully with fish. Games are rich in colour, movement, and detail, and allow people of all ages to play in a safe and comfortable environment.

The Happiness Programme is portable so it can be used wherever those using it feel most comfortable to do so. It can be projected onto floors, ceiling and walls and allows for a range of games that change seasonally.

The programme covers 14 different categories, so there will always be something new for service users to try. Its portability also means the library will also have the option to bring the projector to various outreach and community events.

James and Katelyn from Cootehall National School, enjoying the launch in Boyle Library of The Magic Table part of The Happiness Programme.

Speaking at the launch, Leas Cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council Cllr John Cummins commended library staff and the many stakeholders who have collaborated to ensure delivery of the programme:

I am thrilled to announce the distribution of the Happiness Programme across the local library service here in Boyle. It is fantastic to see an investment of this size to reach the most isolated in society and improve wellbeing.

The Happiness Programme will progress the mission of our library service in sparking laughter and happiness, not just here in Roscommon but nationwide. I look forward to hearing the wonderful stories and care outcomes that are achieved through the Happiness Programme which can make a real difference in peoples lives and those of their families, said Cllr. Cummins.

Katelyn, Michael and Danny from Cootehall NS at the launch of The Happiness Programme in Boyle.

Social-Ability is a leading health care technology service provider whose mission is to make society happier. The Happiness Programme is a first of a kind service that sparks laughter and happiness for everyone living with cognitive challenges.

Social-Ability works together with innovative care providers and libraries across the UK and Ireland.

Find out more about Social-Ability by visiting their website: www.social-ability.co.uk.
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J. Mark Powell is VP of Communications at Ivory Tusk Consulting, a former TV journalist and author of the political thriller Tell It Like Tupper. He wrote this for InsideSources.com.
The Ministry of Health will conduct tuberculosis screening for stallholders and employees at the ABC Brickworks Market and Food Centre. (PHOTO: Screenshot/Google Maps)

SINGAPORE  The Ministry of Health (MOH) will conduct mandatory and voluntary tuberculosis (TB) screenings from 11 to 15 January for an estimated 3,000 residents and workers of the following areas:

Blocks 1 and 3 Jalan Bukit Merah,

ABC Brickworks Market and Food Centre,

Thong Kheng Seniors Activity Centre@Queenstown at Block 3 Jalan Bukit Merah.

The ministry said in a media release on Friday (5 January) that this screening comes after the detection of 10 new TB cases between February 2022 and July 2023, after an initial detection of seven cases linked to Block 2 Jalan Bukit Merah in 2022.

These 10 cases have started on treatment since diagnosis, and do not currently pose any public health risk, as active TB disease rapidly becomes non-infectious once treatment starts.

"Genetic analysis conducted by the national TB programme in September 2023 revealed that all 10 cases have similar genetic make-up as the cases in Block 2 Jalan Bukit Merah. This suggests that there had possibly been spread beyond Block 2 Jalan Bukit Merah to the immediate vicinity," MOH said in the media release.

"The extended on-site TB screening is offered by MOH as a precautionary measure, to protect residents living in the area by identifying any undetected active TB disease cases, and prevent further transmission as far as possible."

Voluntary screening for four other groups

In addition, voluntary screening will be offered to these groups:

Frequent visitors to Blocks 1, 2 and 3 Jalan Bukit Merah and ABC Brickworks Market and Food Centre between November 2021 and January this yeat. These persons must have spent a cumulative total of more than 12 hours per month at the locations;

Persons living or working at Block 2 who did not undergo TB screening during the previous mass screening exercise from May to August 2022;

Former residents and tenants of Blocks 1 and 3 Jalan Bukit Merah;

Teachers and students of PCF Sparkletots@Queenstown in Block 3 Jalan Bukit Merah.

Story continues

As the risk of transmission to persons who are not close contacts of a TB case is very low, screening is not necessary for those who had only occasionally visited the vicinity.

The screening process involves administering a blood test to detect latent TB infection. Both mandatory and voluntary screening are free of charge, with priority given to those for whom screening is mandatory.

Screening stations at open-air car park

From 11 to 13 January, staff from MOH and the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) will be going door-to-door to conduct mandatory screenings in the homes of residents of Blocks 1 and 3 Jalan Bukit Merah. They will also be visiting all units at the affected blocks and stalls at the ABC Brickworks Market and Food Centre from 6 to 9 January, to engage residents and stallholders and to address any questions they may have.

Screening stations will also be set up at the open-air car park adjacent to Block 2 Jalan Bukit Merah from 11 to 15 January, to cater to persons working at the blocks or ABC Brickworks Market and Food Centre. Residents who are unable to undergo screening in their homes can request to be screened at the screening stations instead.

Persons who are offered voluntary screening can make an appointment for screening at the car park of Block 2 Jalan Bukit Merah from 14 to 15 January. Screening is strictly by appointment only.

TB is curable, spread is preventable: MOH

Those who test positive for latent TB infection will be required to undergo additional evaluation, which includes chest x-ray, clinic review and other tests such as sputum testing. They will be offered preventive treatment to reduce their risk of developing active TB disease in the future.

Those with an abnormal chest x-ray will be further evaluated at the TB Control Unit and if diagnosed with active TB disease, treatment will commence promptly. Contact tracing for each active TB disease case will be conducted in accordance with current contact tracing protocols to identify and evaluate close contacts.

Persons with latent TB infection do not exhibit symptoms of TB, are not infectious and therefore do not pose a public health risk. Transmission of the TB bacteria from active cases usually requires prolonged exposure - days to weeks, rather than minutes to hours. A person cannot get TB from sharing cups, utensils or food, and TB is also not spread through shaking hands, kissing, touching bed linens or toilet seats.

MOH said that active TB disease is curable, and the spread of TB is preventable. Early detection and prompt treatment of cases remain important in helping those infected and rendering them non-infectious.

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I wear many hats here at the paper, including this silly column. But one hat I've never tried on? Investigative reporter.

I'm OK with this. We have an amazing staff of people who do that sorta stuff. Occasionally I pass them in the hallways. They always look like they're running late for something important. Frankly, I don't need that kind of stress in my life. But last Friday night, I maybe felt what it was like to be one of them for a few minutes.

It was 6 p.m. and I'd just gotten home from the office. Normally, my house is full of sound. There's always a TV on. Quite often, there's a stereo blaring at the same time. If that's not enough, I've usually got the comforting steady buzz of an air purifier running. Without its reassuring lullaby, I stand a chance of being able to hear my own conscience, and no one wants that, least of all me.

But that night, I was in a rush. I had a DJ gig later that night, and I was woefully unprepared. As I ran around the house grabbing laptops and prepping playlists, I heard it. WHIRR-RRR-RRR-RRR-RRR-RRR. Somewhere outside, there was a weird industrial noise. It was loud enough to hear from inside the house.

I live in Rock Island, and I'm used to her delightful urban symphony. Police sirens. Freight trains. Lawn mowers. People who spend three-quarters of the year souping up their cars for those two magical months they can drive around going "RNN-RNNN-RNNNNNN!" at stoplights hoping to impress the .001% of the populace who somehow think that's cool. And let's not forget Rock Island's favorite game: Was-That-Fireworks-Or-Gunshots?

But this? This was different. This was a noise I'm not used to hearing the outside world make. "Weird," I thought to myself, "it must be a street sweeper or something." You know, because street sweepers are such a common occurrence at 7 p.m. on dark wintry weekend nights. Regardless, I shrugged it off, turned the TV on and went about my prep work. But I forgot to turn the air purifier on  and an hour later, when the TV went quiet for a second, I realized the outside noise was still noising.

"What the...?" I said in my best responsible adult voice while cracking open the back door. The mystery sound was permeating the whole neighborhood. It was deep, ominous, and definitely mechanical in nature, with a pulsating WHIRR-RRR-RRR like a giant fan or motor emanating from parts unknown. I texted a friend who lives six blocks away: U HEAR THIS WEIRD NOISE OUTSIDE? She did. I texted another friend who lives six blocks in the other direction. He was hearing it, too.

My mind suddenly flashed to a few years prior, when I was driving back solo in the pitch middle of the night from a late Chicago concert. My only comfort during that commute was the infamous late-night radio show Coast To Coast AM, the wayward home for conspiracy theorists and lovers of all things that go bump in the night. That evening, the entire show was devoted to The Hum.

Around the world, people have reported hearing persistent and invasive mechanical-sounding hums. One of the most famous instances happened in Taos, New Mexico, where multiple residents in the 1990s reported hearing a pervasive droning noise of unknown origin. In 2011, Canadian officials actually asked the U.S. for help in determining a mysterious noise plaguing the residents of Windsor, Ontario. The source was never determined.

The internet is rife with theories about The Hum. YouTube is full of purported audio recordings of it. Some claim the hums align with underground gas pipelines. Others say it might be an effect of low frequency radio signals. Some think it's the Earth's shifting fault lines. One extremely weird website purports the noise is generated by the mating rituals of something called the "Midshipman fish," an erotic display I think we can all agree is left best unseen.

Of course, the wilder corners of the internet are convinced it's some sort of evil government experiment. Some claim The Hum causes autism and is responsible for sociopathic behavior. A few hums are purported to sound like blaring trumpets, which of course had caused people to speculate it's a sign of the Apocalypse. And there's always the internet's go-to answer for everything unexplained: ALIENS. I like to think I'm more level-headed than to assume a weird noise is clear proof of extraterrestrials, but I can't lie: At one point when I was looking out my back door, I instinctively looked up, half-expecting to see the Parliament Mothership about to abduct me to Planet Funk.

I guess that's when my journalist instincts kicked in. I had a few minutes, so I dropped everything, grabbed my keys, and set off determined to find the cause of the hum. For the next half hour, I drove around Rock Island, employing the best scientific methodology I could muster: pulling over, rolling down my window and listening.

After 30 minutes attempting to triangulate the source of the phenomenon with all the cunning street smarts I could muster, I can confidently conclude that the sound was coming from: somewhere.

I honestly couldn't figure it out at all. Best I could tell, it was somewhere along the river on the west end of town. I rolled down my window once more for a full analysis of the situation  and my window wouldn't roll back up, which obviously means THE GOVERNMENT HAS SECRET CHIPS IN ALL OF OUR CARS TO DEPLOY WHENEVER ANYONE GETS CLOSE TO THE TRUTH.

Regardless, it was too cold for conspiracy theories and I was in no condition for Arctic investigations, so I went home and fixed my car window in the comfort of my garage. By the time I got home from the DJ gig, the noise had subsided. I swear I heard it again tonight as I got home from work, only much quieter.

My foray into investigative journalism concluded with neither bang nor whimper, but with a hum. If anyone really knows what our Hum was, I'm all ears. Otherwise, by my best guess, it was a noisy barge. Or the government. Or aliens. Or weird fish doing unspeakable acts under the river. Back to you, Geraldo.

Major conspiracy theories of the last century and the stories behind them Major conspiracy theories of the last century and the stories behind them Lizard people rule the world Is Mars' face a sign of alien life? Philadelphia Experiment Ebola was created in a lab Atlantis is real, but where is it? Bilderberg Meeting Shroud of Turin Black helicopters Nazi Escape Submarine Varig Cargo Flight 967 Was Ronaldo drugged? ld? Who killed JFK? Elvis is not really dead Red Scare Torn-jean messages Who Bombed the Moscow apartments? Centralia's coal Was Jack the Ripper a royal? Princess Diana's death was planned U.S. moon landing was a fake The Illuminati rule everything Who took Shergar? Earth is flat Jesus's descendants Denver International Airport was built for occult practices Who's Prince Harry's father? Was Canberra designed for cult activity? Coffee at Tim Hortons is addictive Who killed the Grasberg mine workers? J.K. Rowling is an actress Marilyn Monroe's death was political KGB killed Albert Camus Schapelle Corby was set up Natalie Wood was murdered Lindbergh baby is alive Aliens landed in Roswell
SIOUX CITY -- As a registered nurse, Susan Wen is accustomed to working with needles. But Wen is now using these sharp instruments in a very creative way at Inkspired Atelier, a new tattoo studio she opened last month in Southern Hills Mall. "Atelier" is a French word for an artist's studio or workshop.

Wen, who completed an apprenticeship at a local tattoo shop, has been tattooing for roughly a year.

"It was natural for me because I've been an artist for a long time. It's just, you could say, a different medium for me," Wen, dressed in black scrubs, said of tattooing as she sat cross-legged in her pristine neutral workspace. To her right, colorful bottles of plant-based ink sat neatly lined up on shelves beside an oval mirror and a bulletin board tacked with tattoo sketches -- a shark donning an old school nurse's cap and polka-dotted innertube, dogs depicted as astronauts, detailed dragons and intricate floral designs.

"I'm kind of a go-getter. If I see an opportunity, I will go for it; and I'll do everything I can to make sure I meet my goals. I'm very goal-oriented and detail-oriented," said Wen, who remarked that she never thought she would be her own boss or own her own business. "It's awesome. And it feels good that people come in and they see that it's clean and that it's kind of different from other tattoo studios."

Inkspired Atelier tattoo studio Susan Wen, owner of Inkspired Atelier, laughs while answering a question during an interview at her tattoo studio in Southern Hills Mall.

Wen acknowledged that getting a tattoo for the first time can be intimidating. So she went above and beyond to create a spa-like atmosphere at Inkspired Atelier. She wants her clients to feel welcome, comfortable and safe in her modern studio.

In a corner, stuffed "emotional support nuggets" rested in a basket. Wen also has a variety of stress-relief toys on hand that clients can squeeze while they're seated in her tattoo chair. Wall hangings remind them to "inhale" and "exhale." If a client were to pass out and stop breathing, Wen could perform CPR on them, although she would rather not have to resort to that.

"It feels like cat scratches. That's what I usually tell people," said Wen, who has spent seven or eight hours at a time tattooing a client. "I always prep them before -- 'Make sure you take some Tylenol. Make sure you get a good night's sleep. Make sure you eat. You don't want to do this on an empty stomach. Make sure you hydrate yourself.' It's basically nursing stuff."

Art as therapy

Growing up in Union, New Jersey, Wen loved to paint with oils, acrylics and watercolors and draw with pastels, charcoal and ink pen. When she was in high school, her peers even suggested she become a tattoo artist.

"That was kind of frowned upon at the time, though. My teacher would be like, 'No. She's going to do something better than be a tattoo artist,'" Wen recalled. "From there, I kind of lost my way, I felt like, because a lot of people were like, 'You can't make money with art.' That was where my passion mostly was."

Inkspired Atelier tattoo studio Susan Wen, owner of Inkspired Atelier, prepares tattooing equipment Wednesday at her tattoo studio in Southern Hills Mall.

Wen left fast-paced Jersey for a more rural setting -- Iowa City, where she studied psychology and art at the University of Iowa. While she was attending college, Wen also met her future husband, Yuan, who is from Siouxland. The couple married and moved to the Sioux City metro.

"I ended up doing nursing here," said Wen, who also worked as a CNA at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics. "I was at Mercy for five years as a nurse and, then, now, I've been at (UnityPoint Health) St. Luke's for three years. I don't know if I want to let go of nursing yet, because that's still a part of me."

Nursing allows Wen to think critically and help people, while being part of a team. She currently works parttime in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit, or PACU, at St. Luke's. Wen also has experience working in the ICU. All throughout her nursing career, she continued to make art, which she successfully sold online. Wen discovered tattooing was "a kind of therapy" for her. After finishing her shift at the hospital, she would go to her apprenticeship at the tattoo shop.

"It was kind of nice. It was just me relaxing and talking with people," said Wen, who noted that there's more to tattooing than "ink into the skin." "You have to know your fundamentals. You have to know what looks right."

Inkspired Atelier tattoo studio Susan Wen, owner of Inkspired Atelier, wants her clients to feel welcome, comfortable and safe at her tattoo studio in Southern Hills Mall.

Some tattoo artists are "really heavy handed" and go deep into the skin, according to Wen. She said that's not necessary, as "the dermis is not that deep."

"If you go like, basically, a nickel width, just a little bit into the skin, that's all you need. That's something that's really important. You don't have to go that deep. It's kind of like surgery," she said chuckling.

Challenging stigma

One of Wen's business aims is to "challenge stigmas surrounding the tattoo industry." She encourages anyone thinking about getting inked to do their research and really get to know their tattoo artist.

"You can ask other people, 'Hey, what do you think about this place?'" she said. "It's kind of scary not knowing what kind of tattoo artist you're going into. And, then, you come out and it looks terrible. Make sure that you look at their art, come see their place and know what it's like before you decide on something that's going to be permanently on your body."

Since some people have an allergic reaction to red ink, Wen said it's important to discuss skin sensitivities with your tattoo artist. She said the pain associated with a tattoo depends on the area of the body that is being tattooed.

"A lot of people say the back hurts, like on the spine. I've had people say the back of the arm near the armpit area is very tender. I've had quite a few people say the hand kind of hurts, if you do a whole hand tattoo," she said.

Inkspired Atelier tattoo studio Susan Wen, owner of Inkspired Atelier, wants her clients to feel welcome, comfortable and safe at her tattoo studio in Southern Hills Mall.

Wen said it's true that tattoos can fade and blur over time. As one ages, she said skin changes and loses elasticity. However, how artists make their tattoos also plays a role, she said.

"Some needles are bigger than others. They always say, once you put a line down on a tattoo, it'll get like twice as big as time goes on. That's why I like to use fine line tattoos. It's just kind of common sense with age, honestly. It's what happens," she said.

Wen has a knack for tattooing flowers and she loves to use color. However, she said she's probably best known for her stipple shading abilities. This tattooing technique uses dots to create shading.

"People like that style and I like it, too," she said. "It's really nice."

Going forward, Wen said she plans to offer paramedical tattooing. She hopes to be able to replicate the areola on a woman's reconstructed breast and camouflage scars and other skin imperfections.

"That's something I've been thinking about for a while, just because I'm in the medical field. I see people with mastectomies. I see them with scars," she said. "That's something that I would love to do for people -- just making them feel comfortable in their own body and not feel out of place because of what happened to them."

Inkspired Atelier tattoo studio Susan Wen, owner of Inkspired Atelier, reaches for a glove while preparing her tattoo equipment Wednesday at her tattoo studio in Southern Hil
Leighton Jones, 42, pleaded guilty in August in U.S. District Court in Sioux City to one count of possession of child pornography. He was sentenced to 51 months in prison and ordered to pay $14,000 in restitution to several victims. He also must serve five years on supervised release after completing his prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Jones had more than 1,500 images of child pornography stored on six electronic devices from Jan. 1, 2012, to Dec. 7, 2017. He told officers he downloaded the images in approximately 2012 and had no interest in them but kept them because they were "different" and he "knew he would not be able to get it again if he deleted it."
SERGEANT BLUFF, Iowa  The death of a missing Sioux City man whose body was found in Sergeant Bluff Thursday is under investigation.

The Sergeant Bluff Police Department made the announcement about the death of 20-year-old Dau Deng Ador in a Facebook Post Thursday evening. A message left for Police Chief Scott Pack was not immediately returned Friday.

According to a social media post from the Sioux City Police Department, volunteers searching for Ador found his body at 11:30 a.m. Thursday in the 500 block of E St. in Sergeant Bluff.

"Sergeant Bluff Police Chief Scott Pack says Ador died from exposure to the elements and no foul play is suspected," the Sioux City Police Department's post said.

Ador was reportedly last seen Dec. 25 in Sergeant Bluff.
SAC CITY, Iowa -- The Sac County Sheriff's Office reiterated Friday in a Facebook comment that investigators are "using every resource available" in David Schultz's missing persons case.

Schultz, a 53-year-old Wall Lake truck driver and father of 10-year-old twin boys, disappeared under mysterious circumstances shortly before Thanksgiving.

"The Sac County Sheriff's Office and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation have and are using every resource available to us. We have not and will not release details of this investigation while it is ongoing, which leads to wild speculation that we are not doing anything. This could not be further from the truth," the comment, which was posted to the sheriff's office's Facebook page, said.

Schultz's case has attracted the attention of locals and online sleuths worldwide. Many have joined Schultz's wife, Sarah, in her pleas for FBI involvement.

Sarah Schultz 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." During a Dec. 14 interview with The Journal, Schultz expressed frustration with local law enforcement and said she feels the case is more than "small-town police" can handle.

"This is not normal. This is like an abduction  like someone took him," she said. "They need help. I want the FBI. It's been long enough."

That same day, Sac County Sheriff Ken McClure told The Journal he is confident his office and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation will eventually solve the case.

At that time, McClure said the FBI wasn't involved in the case and that there was no indication a federal crime was committed and "no proof" that state lines were crossed.

"The Division of Criminal Investigation and their resources are just as capable of getting the information we need and, really, we're looking for the proverbial needle in a haystack," he said.

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.

Anyone with information about Schultz's disappearance is encouraged to call the Sac County Sheriff's Office at 712-662-7127 or email Brown@Saccountyiowa.gov.
DAKOTA CITY -- A South Sioux City man charged with sexually assaulting two girls has been sentenced to at least 14 years in prison.

Jose Cruz Delao Murguia, 44, had pleaded no contest in November in Dakota County District Court to two counts of incest, and District Judge Bryan Meismer entered guilty judgments against him.

Meismer on Friday sentenced Delao Murguia to 14-20 years in prison. Delao Murguia also will have to register with the Nebraska Sex Offender Registry for the rest of his life.

Three counts of first-degree sexual assault of a child, two counts of child abuse and single counts of incest and third-degree sexual assault of a child were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

Authorities were notified of the assaults on June 2, 2022, when a girl being seen at the Siouxland Community Health Center reported she'd been sexually assaulted on three occasions in May and June 2022 in a South Sioux City home.

Delao Murguia sexually assaulted the other girl on more than one occasion between June 2018 and June 2022. Delao Murguia denied the girls' allegations.

The children and their siblings were removed from the home.
SIOUX CITY  In the winter, warming the car before heading off to work can be convenient, but leaving it unattended creates an opportunity for car theft, Sioux City Police warn.

When temperatures start dipping, many people begin the process of starting their cars before getting ready for work. While many modern cars come with auto-start, requiring just a few clicks on the remote, other cars require the keys to be left in the ignition.

While the weather this year has been unseasonably warm, people are still warming up their cars and leaving them unattended. On Dec. 14, Sioux City Police Sgt. Tom Gill said four vehicles were stolen between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m.

Each one was left running with the keys in the ignition, Gill said.

In the last year, 306 cars were stolen in Sioux City, some due to people leaving their cars running unmonitored. There were 284 cars stolen in 2022, 233 stolen in 2021 and 273 stolen in 2020.

Gill said most vehicles were recovered within 24 hours with minimal damage.

If someone who stole the vehicle is planning on keeping it for a while, they will remove the plates and make cosmetic changes to it, such as painting it, Gill said. Another reason the vehicle could be damaged is if the police officer chooses to pursue the vehicle.

He said officers, especially at night, are vigilant for stolen vehicles in Sioux City. He said stealing a vehicle is a class D felony, which fits the Sioux City Polices policy for conducting a pursuit. At night if the driver does not comply with stop attempts by police, it will most likely become a pursuit, Gill said.

The damage comes from a vehicle pursuit because the vehicle ends up crashing or hitting a parked car, he said. Nine times out of 10 the vehicle will crash.

He said the reasons behind the thefts vary, but more often than not it is just a crime of opportunity. Crimes of opportunities are not planned and are committed in the spur of the moment. Many of the vehicles were stolen because they left running while parked on the street.

Some stolen cars in Sioux City are used to commit other crimes. Gill said two times stolen cars were used to transport stolen goods out of stores.

[The store] had them on camera pushing a shopping cart full of items out the door without paying for them, loaded them up in a car and took off and the license plate was clearly visible on camera, Gill said. Well, that car had been stolen so they didnt care if they saw the license.

Gill said some of the more concerning car thefts include ones where there were children or weapons in the vehicle. He recalled two separate occasions where someone put their child in the car, went to get other items out of the house and seconds later the vehicle was gone.

He said the person stealing the car most likely did not realize there was going to be a child in the car and both times the cars were recovered quickly.

In both, the vehicle was found pretty close to where it was stolen, he said.

Gill said it is surprising how many people leave weapons in their vehicles. He said often if a vehicle is stolen with a weapon inside of it, the gun will be used in the commission of a crime.

For example, Gill said a man forgot to close his garage door one night with the keys and two weapons in his truck. It was stolen and later, a convenience store was robbed at gunpoint with the stolen gun and the vehicle was found a few blocks away.

Gill recommends people stay with their cars when warming them up if they do not have an auto-start, make sure to lock unattended vehicles and keep weapons out of unmonitored vehicles.

Motor vehicle theft by population has steadily increased in the United States since 2019, with 721,852 cars reported stolen in 2022, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation Uniform Crime Reporting Program. The data also shows that motor theft by population in Iowa has decreased since 2020.

The American Automobile Association, AAA, states its a myth that cars need to run for a few minutes before taking off in the winter. The organization recommends allowing the car to idle only for the time it takes to fasten your seat belt or clear snow and ice from the windshield.

This ensures that lubricating oil gets to all of the engines vital parts. Driving the car normally and avoiding hard acceleration brings the engine to a warmer temperature faster, and also reduces wear and exhaust emissions, according to AAA.
ANNAPOLIS, Md.  A former police officer who defended the U.S. Capitol against rioters on Jan. 6, 2021, announced Friday that he is running for Congress in Maryland.

Harry Dunn announced his candidacy a day before the third anniversary of the violent attack at the Capitol by a mob of Donald Trump supporters that disrupted the certification of Joe Biden's 2020 presidential election win.

"This moment that we are in requires everybody to step up and step into their role in defending and preserving democracy, and I'm stepping into mine right now," Dunn said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Dunn said he has long been interested in public service, and the announcement in October by Maryland Rep. John Sarbanes, a Democrat, that he would not seek reelection provided the opportunity to run in what has become a crowded Democratic primary for Maryland's 3rd Congressional District, a heavily Democratic jurisdiction that stretches between Baltimore and the nation's capital.

Dunn announced his candidacy early Friday morning on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, saying Trump was "hell-bent on finishing what he started" three years ago.

"On January 6th, I defended our democracy from insurrectionists as a Capitol Police Officer. After, President Biden honored me with the Presidential Citizens Medal," Dunn wrote. "Today, I'm running for Congress to stop Trump's MAGA extremists & ensure it never happens again."

Dunn said he has been thinking about Jan. 6 every day for the past three years, describing it as "a roller coaster ride of emotions," feelings that included anger, sadness and even joy at seeing participants in the rioting convicted in court.

More than 1,230 people have been charged with federal crimes in the riot, ranging from misdemeanor offenses like trespassing to felonies like assaulting police officers and seditious conspiracy. About 730 people pleaded guilty to charges, while about 170 were convicted of at least one charge at a trial decided by a judge or a jury, according to an AP database.

Dunn said he still has a sense of "horror about the track that the country is on."

"I don't think it's farfetched to say that we are one election cycle away from extinction of democracy as we know it today," Dunn said in the AP interview.

Sarbanes, who served nine terms, is one of about two dozen Democrats who are not seeking reelection in the House. Fourteen Republicans said they are not seeking another term.

"A lot of people are leaving, because I don't know of a better way to say it, it's a very toxic place," Dunn said. "But I do believe that in times like this it is important for good people to stand up, so the bad guys, so to speak, do not win."

Dunn, 40, said he believes his experience as a Capitol police officer would be valuable in Congress.

"I've been on the front lines, physically fighting for democracy, seeing the infighting on the floors in the halls of Congress, seeing members of Congress not even be able to have common decent discussions with each other," he said. "And I think that I would offer a very unique perspective  one as a person who has physically defended them and then two, who has seen the ins and outs of it every day, and ideologically going to push back against these individuals trying to destroy our democracy."

Dunn said he stepped down from his police job several weeks ago to run for Congress, after 15 years as a Capitol police officer.

Dunn, who testified before the Jan. 6 committee in Washington, told lawmakers about an exchange he had with rioters who fully bought in to Trump's false claims that the election was stolen and believed "nobody voted for Joe Biden."

In his testimony before Congress in 2021, Dunn, who is Black, described how rioters yelled racial slurs at him after he told them that he voted for Biden and his vote should be counted. Dunn said the crowd of intruders yelling slurs at him was something that never happened before while he was on duty there.

Images of chaos: AP photographers capture US Capitol riot
Xi sends condolences to Iranian president over serious terror attacks

Xinhua) 08:08, January 05, 2024

BEIJING, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday sent a message of condolences to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi over the serious terror attacks in the country.

Xi said he was shocked to learn that serious terror attacks have taken place in Iran's Kerman, causing heavy casualties.

On behalf of the Chinese government and people, Xi expressed deep condolences to the victims and sincere sympathy to the injured and the bereaved families.

Xi stressed that China opposes all forms of terrorism, strongly condemns terrorist attacks and firmly supports Iran's efforts in safeguarding national security and stability.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
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Financial issues for BART and other transit agencies led one state lawmaker to propose a merging of the 27 systems in the Bay Area. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

A Bay Area legislator proposed legislation Wednesday to combine all of the regions 27 public transit agencies into one in the wake of continuing financial challenges to public transportation.

State Sen. Aisha Wahab, D-Fremont, amended an existing bill to ask the California State Transportation Agency to come up with a plan to consolidate the public transit agencies across all nine Bay Area counties. The new language replaces legislation that would have created a state program to install and maintain free electric vehicle service equipment at rest stops.

Heres the reality: it does not make sense to anyone to have 27 different public transportation agencies in nine Bay Area counties, Wahab said. The goal is we need an independent agency to be able to look at, where are the gaps, how can we streamline, how can we make it more efficient?

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Wahabs proposal has no specific details or deadline, instead simply asking CalSTA to develop a plan to consolidate all transit agencies that are located within the geographic jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission is a regional agency that runs the Clipper card program and coordinates how transit agencies respond to earthquakes, among other duties. But individual agencies arent explicitly required to follow MTC policy. In a December report, MTC staff noted that making policy is inherently challenging given that it requires consensus among over two dozen individual operators.

In 2021, the commissions Blue Ribbon Transit Recovery Task Force published a Bay Area Transit Transformation Plan laying out a three-year plan for attracting riders back to public transit. The plans action items include synchronizing schedule changes across transit operators and standardizing maps. Rebecca Long, MTCs director of legislation and public affairs, said the commission did not provide any input on Wahabs legislation but said it was dedicated to advancing policies that would attract more riders and improve their experience on public transportation.

The idea of consolidating the 27 agencies in some form has been floated for well over a decade. In 2007, MTC, Caltrain, BART and the California High-Speed Rail Authority commissioned a report on improving the Bay Areas passenger rail network and noted consolidation could lead to better coordination on schedules, fares and procurement. Five years later, two graduate students at UC Berkeley conducted a study interviewing local transit officials and found most supported some type of consolidation  such as merging all of the operators that move people in and out of San Francisco  but not combining into just one agency.

Consolidation has gained increased support as the Bay Areas public transit agencies struggle to cope with a steep decline in ridership during the pandemic.

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Since 2020, transit agencies have been fighting an uphill battle to regain ridership, with some agencies having more success than others. Muni had recovered about 70% of its pre-pandemic ridership as of September, while BARTs November numbers were only 43% of what they were in 2019.

Instead, transit agencies have relied on federal and state money to avoid service cuts. Over the summer, state lawmakers and Gov. Gavin Newsom reached a deal to provide $5.1 billion to California transit agencies over the next several years.

In MTC polling conducted in October, 55% of respondents designated merging BART and Caltrain as a priority. Just over 60% said creating one regional agency responsible for setting fares, coordinating service schedules and creating consistent maps was a priority.

That same month, BART Board President Janice Li called for the agency to have real conversations about system consolidation given their financial struggles, though BART is not actively considering consolidation at this time, according to BART spokesperson Alicia Trost.

BART and the Bay Area Transit agencies are focused on working with the MTC to implement the Transformation Action Plan to make Bay Area transit easier to use, Trost said in a statement. BART specifically is focused on improving safety, cleanliness, and reliability.

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Spokespersons for BART, Oakland-based AC Transit and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority said they had not reviewed the legislation before it was proposed. Wahab said shed spoken to a number of agencies about her proposal, but did not name any specifically.

BART and AC Transit said their respective boards of directors would review the legislation before taking a stance. But VTA said it would be requesting its board to oppose the legislation due to the lack of outreach and concerns that consolidation could disrupt transit service.

There have been many attempts to consolidate the numerous transit operators in the Bay Area over the years. None have been successful. There are real, practical reasons for the system as it has evolved, VTA said in a statement. Safe, affordable transit service is a challenge that will not be solved by some potential consolidation. It would replace local decision-making regarding service planning, scheduling and fare structure with centralized planning far removed from local concerns.

While Wahabs current legislation calls for all 27 agencies to be consolidated, several other alternatives have been raised in the past. A 2021 report by Seamless Bay Area, a nonprofit advocating for transit reform, examined the benefits of total consolidation while also proposing options such as increasing MTCs authority over transit fares and schedules or designating a lead agency among the existing transit operators.

The report noted total consolidation could pose issues given agencies different labor contracts  a concern also identified by the 2007 rail report and the 2013 UC Berkeley study.

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Ian Griffiths, Seamless Bay Areas policy director, said the group had an informational conversation with Wahab several months ago but was not consulted on the exact language of the legislation. If the bill moves forward, Griffiths said legislators should consider amending it to allow CalSTA to explore different scenarios beyond total consolidation and to clarify what the agency should prioritize in its decision-making  be it efficiency, customer service, service expansion or more.

As of now, Griffiths said policy makers lack detailed research into exactly how total consolidation could happen or how it would impact public transit in the Bay Area.

There have been a number of studies that have pointed in the direction of a lot of benefits, but a more concrete study that outlines how to actually get it done and what the full cost and what the full benefits are would be valuable, he said. We dont have the appropriate level of analysis that would give us comfort that it would surely improve our key challenges.

Wahabs legislation, SB397, is scheduled to be heard by the Senates Transportation Committee on Tuesday.
DALLAS  The family of former U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson said Thursday that the trailblazing Texas congresswoman, who died last weekend at age 89, passed away after getting an infection and accused a Dallas rehabilitation facility of neglect.

Johnson, who was the first registered nurse elected to Congress, died Dec. 31 at her Dallas home. Les Weisbrod, her family's attorney and Johnson's longtime friend, said at a news conference that her death was caused by an infection in her spine that developed after she was left in her own feces at Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation following back surgery.

Weisbrod said he has given notice to Baylor Scott & White Health System and Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation that the family intends to file a lawsuit for medical negligence over her death.

In a statement Thursday, Baylor Scott & White Health called Johnson "an inspiration to all," and said they are committed to working with her family and attorney.

Weisbrod said it's a case that Johnson herself asked him to pursue weeks ago after she began suffering from complications from the infection.

"I thought it was going to be a case for the pain that she went through and the additional procedures she went through and the medical bills and that she was going to recover," he said. "And so it's very distressing for me that she succumbed to this."

On Sept. 21, her son found her lying in her own feces and urine at the rehabilitation facility, according to a news release from Weisbrod's office. Kirk Johnson said at the news conference Thursday that he went to the facility after his mother called to tell him she was getting no response from the call button. He said he arrived about 10 minutes later.

"Deplorable," he said. "She was being unattended to. She was screaming out in pain and for help."

The news release said that when Kirk Johnson couldn't find any nurses on the floor, he went to the administration office and the CEO accompanied him to his mother's room. When they arrived, staff members were cleaning up the feces.

The news release said Eddie Bernice Johnson's orthopedic surgeon noted in his record that Johnson had some complications after the operation after being found in bed sitting in her own feces and three days later she began having "copious purulent drainage from the low lumbar incision."

The surgeon performed a surgical repair on the infected wound, and she was moved to a skilled nursing facility on Oct. 18 and went home on hospice care mid-December, the news release said.

The news release said that laboratory wound culture reports showed organisms directly related to feces.

Johnson served in the House for three decades, leaving office last January after repeatedly delaying her retirement. Johnson, who was the first Black chief psychiatric nurse at Dallas' Veterans Affairs hospital, became the first Black woman to chair the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and she also led the Congressional Black Caucus.

Today in history: Jan. 5 1914: Henry Ford 1925: Nellie Tayloe Ross 1933: Golden Gate Bridge 1943: George Washington Carver 1949: Harry Truman 1998: Sonny Bono 2004: Airports 2011: John Boehner 2012: Barack Obama 2017: Donald Trump 2017: Gretchen Carlson 2018: Peter Martins 2018: Rose Bowl 2021: Georgia 2021: Kenosha 2022: Grammy Awards 2022: Kyrie Irving 2022: Novak Djokovic returns to the tennis court
Today is Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. Let's get caught up.

Keep scrolling for celebrity birthdays and a look back at this date in history. Plus, check out our daily news podcast:

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Takeaways from CNNs town halls with DeSantis and Haley

A week and a half from the Iowa caucuses, two 2024 Republican presidential contenders attempted to convince voters that former President Donald Trump isnt a lock to win the nomination  and prove their own electability.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley warned Iowa Republican voters Thursday night that nominating Trump again could cost their party the White House in November.

Here are six takeaways from their CNN town halls:

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MORE TOP STORIES

Two companies will attempt the first US moon landings since the Apollo missions

Two private companies are aiming to get the U.S. back in the moon-landing business, more than five decades after the Apollo program ended. Since then China and India have successfully landed on the moon, while recent attempts by Russia, Japan and Israel have ended up in the lunar trash heap.

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Trump's lawyers want Jack Smith held in contempt in 2020 election interference case

Lawyers for former President Donald Trump on Thursday pressed to have special counsel Jack Smiths team held in contempt, saying the prosecutors had taken steps to advance the 2020 election interference case against him in violation of a judge's order last month that temporarily put the case on hold.

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Families in Gaza search desperately for food and water, wait in long lines for aid

Palestinians seeking refuge in southern Gaza say every day has become a struggle to find food, water, medicine and working bathrooms. All the while, they live in fear of Israeli airstrikes and the growing threat of illnesses.

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Survivors are found in homes smashed by Japan quake that killed 94 people. Dozens are still missing

Despite rescue efforts, the death toll Friday grew to at least 94 people, and the number of missing was lowered to 222 after it shot up the previous day.

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MORNING LISTEN

Will "Barbie," "Oppenheimer" and "Succession" crush the competition? On the latest episode of Streamed & Screened, the hosts make their predictions for Sunday's Golden Globes.

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TRENDING TOPICS

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TODAY IN HISTORY

Today in history: Jan. 5 In 1998, Sonny Bono, the 1960s pop star-turned-politician, was killed when he struck a tree while skiing at the Heavenly Ski Resort on the Nev

Today in sports history: Jan. 5 In 2017, the Columbus Blue Jackets lose 5-0 to the Washington Capitals ending their winning streak at 16 games, one shy of the NHL record.

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TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS

Celebrity birthdays: Jan. 5 Bradley Cooper Brooklyn Sudano Carrie Ann Inaba Chris Stein Clancy Brown Diane Keaton Franz Drameh Iris Dement January Jones Jessica Chaffin Ricky Paull Goldin Robert Duvall Shea Whigham Ted Lange Troy Van Leeuwen Vinnie Jones
DALLAS  A man accused of punching a flight attendant later kicked a police officer in the groin and spit on officers who were removing him from the plane in Texas, according to a newly released report by an FBI agent.

Keith Edward Fagiana faces charges of interfering with a flight crew and could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted. He is scheduled to make his first federal court appearance Monday in Amarillo, Texas.

Fagiana was a passenger on an American Airlines flight Wednesday from Fort Worth, Texas, to Bozeman, Montana. Pilots landed the plane in Amarillo instead.

The FBI agents account was in unsealed court documents Friday.

A flight attendant told the FBI that another passenger complained that Fagiana was violently kicking their seat. The flight attendant said when he asked Fagiana to stop, the man swore at him, punched him in the stomach, then stood up and hit him three more times.

The attendant and other passengers subdued the man and put flex cuffs on him until the plane landed in Amarillo.

An FBI agent said in an affidavit that while officers were putting steel cuffs on Fagiana, he spit at officers and kicked one. They put a spitting mask on his face.

The agent wrote that Fagiana said he didnt remember anything about the flight but admitted he had drunk some Captain Morgans  a brand of rum  at bars before the flight.

It was not clear whether Fagiana has a lawyer; court records Friday did not list one.

Video taken by another passenger captured the confrontation with the flight attendant.

Stop, stop, stop. What the (expletive) are you doing? the flight attendant yelled at a man hitting him.

Airlines reported more than 2,000 incidents of unruly passengers to the Federal Aviation Administration. That is down from a peak of nearly 6,000 in 2021, when far fewer people were traveling because of the pandemic.

In one of the most serious cases, a California woman was sentenced to 15 months in prison and ordered to pay nearly $26,000 in restitution for punching a Southwest Airlines flight attendant in the mouth and breaking her teeth.

10 of the world's longest flightsand what to do if you're on one 10 of the world's longest flightsand what to do if you're on one How the 10 flights stack up What to do if you're on one of the world's longest flights
In a terse ruling this week, a district court judge denied a repeated effort to negate guilty verdicts for a man accused of stealing trees from the state.

An attorney for Jason Levant Ferguson, 41, of Rolfe, argues that a jury erred in November when it convicted him of felony theft and 50 timber violations.

In separate requests for a new trial and for an arrest of judgment, attorney Kevin Fors of Harcourt has insisted in recent weeks that Ferguson is entitled to cut firewood and timber from public land to be used for heat and shelter.

Fors has used Englands Charter of the Forest  which established the rights of commoners to use public lands about 800 years ago  to justify Fergusons takings from the Stoddard Wildlife Management Area in northwest Iowa. Ferguson was accused of stealing more than 100 trees from the public area, including a bur oak that was about six feet wide at its base.

In December, District Court Judge Derek Johnson rejected the motion for a new trial because he said the English charter does not apply to forests of the United States.

On Wednesday, the judge rejected a recent request to not impose the jurys unanimous guilty verdicts.

For the reasons stated in the Courts ruling of December 19, 2023, the Defendants motion in arrest of judgment is DENIED, Johnson wrote.

Ferguson is set to be sentenced during a court hearing on Jan. 26. He faces up to five years in prison for the theft charge and one year for each of the 50 timber violations.

Ferguson had also faced numerous felony drug charges and decades in prison when searches of his rural property uncovered evidence of marijuana and methamphetamine production, but the judge decided the evidence was obtained with improperly approved search warrants. Those charges were dismissed.

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.
At the request of Nebraska's attorney general, a state lawmaker will introduce a bill this week seeking to outlaw the sale and use of Delta-8 and similar THC products in the state, Attorney General Mike Hilgers announced Thursday.

Sen. Teresa Ibach's bill  which hasn't yet been filed with the Legislature's clerk but was outlined at a news conference Thursday morning  marks the state's latest attempt to crack down on the hemp-derived cannabinoid, which has been available at various dispensary-type shops in Nebraska for nearly three years.

Though marijuana remains illegal in Nebraska even for medical use, a provision in the 2018 Farm Bill federally legalized the regulated production of hemp. The law requires that the plant contain no more than 0.3% of Delta-9 THC, but no limits were placed on the hundreds of other cannabinoids present in hemp, including Delta 8, essentially creating a loophole for businesses to sell it.

Hilgers in October hinted that he intended to close that loophole when he remarked that Delta-8 "shouldnt be sold at all" as he announced a series of consumer protection lawsuits his office filed against THC retailers in at least 10 counties across the state.

Those lawsuits followed a string of police raids in August targeting Delta-8 shops across the state, which appear to have been coordinated by Hilgers' office, which has declined to comment on the seizures carried out by police.

At Thursday's news conference where the attorney general announced the bill and two other of his office's legislative priorities, Hilgers insisted Delta-8 retailers are operating only in a "perceived loophole" that, he said, does not actually exist within state law.

His office nonetheless partnered with Ibach to introduce the legislation meant to make clear that Delta-8 and similar products are contraband in Nebraska.

"I think making sure that there is no uncertainty as to what the rules of the road are, I think, will help those retailers and will create a statewide solution," Hilgers said, adding: "I want to be clear: our view is that the current law does not allow the sale of Delta-8. People are exploiting what they perceive to be a loophole in the law."

Hilgers, who served in the Legislature before he was elected attorney general in 2022, was among senators who in 2019 voted for the Nebraska Hemp Farming Act that brought the state in alignment with federal law.

That act gave the state's Department of Agriculture the authority to regulate the growing, processing, handling and brokering of hemp in Nebraska  and created the "perceived loophole" that Ibach's bill would close.

Facing questions over why the sale of THC products has continued in Nebraska if the loophole doesn't exist in statute, Hilgers said it "can be difficult to ... actually enforce a criminal prosecution" given what he cast as a "high bar" for prosecution.

"And so the consumer (protection lawsuit) aspect that we've taken so far, we think, is a much more efficient litigation strategy," he said. "But the truth is that to the extent that anyone thinks there is a perceived loophole, we just need to close the loophole and make sure everyone knows that there's no opportunities to sell these types of products."

Ibach said her bill, if made law, would also transfer regulation of hemp farming in the state back to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which she said is more equipped to regulate hemp farming.

She clarified that the production of hemp in Nebraska would remain legal under the bill, as would the sale of CBD products.

"We do not want to inhibit the sale of CBD products, because it's a legal product," she said. "But we want to cap it there. We want only CBD products to be sold."

If Ibach's bill becomes law, Delta-8 and similar hemp derivatives would be considered marijuana, which remains criminalized in Nebraska in all quantities, at least to some degree. In Lincoln, possession of less than an ounce of marijuana is an infraction punishable by a fine.

Hilgers  who has pinned his opposition to Delta-8 and other cannabinoids on their mysterious production processes, mislabeling, unknown health effects and deceptive marketing  said Thursday that his crusade to outlaw the products had not caused him to rethink his opposition to legalized marijuana.

"In fact, if it does anything, it makes me double down on that opposition," he said. "These types of compounds  Delta-8 in particular  have significant health impacts on people. They're dangerous to children."

Still, the bill is likely to draw flak from the state's proponents of legalized marijuana.

Organizers of the latest bid to legalize cannabis for medical use through a petition drive, who say their 2024 campaign is outpacing previous efforts, pointed to the state's October lawsuits against retailers as evidence as evidence in support of their own cause.

"This is exactly why we have been pushing to legalize medical marijuana for the past five years so that we can have a safe and accessible regulatory system," former state Sen. Adam Morfeld, a co-sponsor of the latest petition drive seeking to put the issue to voters, said in a social media post in October.

Sen. Loren Lippincott of Central City introduced a bill (LB972) Thursday that would prohibit certain types of kratom as a controlled substance. Derived from the leaf of a tropical evergreen tree in Southeast Asia, the herbal substance is often sold in the same shops that offer Delta-8 in Nebraska.

Ibach's THC bill is among three of Hilgers' priorities in the 2024 legislative session, which kicked off Wednesday and is scheduled to end in April.

Lincoln Sen. Carolyn Bosn introduced another of the attorney general's priorities Thursday when she put forward LB934, which would allow civil judges to freeze assets linked to fraud or deceptive practice cases being pursued by Hilger's office under the Consumer Protection Act.

The bill would also allow the attorney general to pursue jury trials in consumer protection cases.

And Sen. Christy Armendariz of Omaha is set to bring a bill that would allow Hilgers' office to pursue legal action against internet content providers when those websites allow depiction of seemingly non-consensual sex to be shared on or distributed through their websites, Hilgers said.

Photos: Nebraska Legislature gavels in for first day of 2024 session
In a sign of the times, this years Americas Sweetheart is a girl who helped murder her mom. Gypsy Rose Blanchard is poised to be the biggest tabloid superstar of 2024, and as she exits prison, shes being wreathed with an unprecedented amount of adoration and fame for a convicted felon. In fact, despite the horrific nature of her crimes, its fair to say that most people are rooting for her.

If you find that surprisingor have never heard her storyheres whats going on.

Why is Gypsy Rose Blanchard famous?

To put it simply, she was involved in a very weird murder. In 2015, Gypsy Rose murdered her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard, with the assistance of her then-boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn. She pleaded guilty in 2016, and just finished up a 10-year prison sentence last year. (She was granted parole and formally left jail on Dec. 28.) She celebrated her liberation with a selfie posted to her 6.5 million followers on Instagram. (Queen touched down, reads one of the top comments.)

There has to be more to it than that, right?

You could say that! When police investigated Gypsy Roses murder of Dee Dee, they unveiled one of the strangest and saddest sagas of child abuse in criminal history. From the day Gypsy Rose was born, Dee Dee instilled the idea in Gypsy Roses head that she suffered from a variety of serious (and mostly unspecified) health disorders like sleep apnea, muscular dystrophy, chromosome disorders, and more. Dee Dee pulled Gypsy Rose out of school after second grade and essentially raised her like someone who was in perpetual hospice care. Gypsy Rose used both a walker and wheelchair, and her mother frequently shaved her head to give her the look of a patient going through chemo.

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There was just one problem: Gypsy Rose wasnt sick. Like, at all. All of those medical afflictions were total bunk. Dee Dee essentialy indoctrinated her daughter into believing that she was disabled, fragile, and completely dependent on her mother. She even went as far as to lie about her age, forging a birth certificate that said Gypsy Rose was born in 1995and therefore, a minor. (In reality, Gypsy Rose was born in 1991, and was a full-grown adult by the time of the murder.) Dee Dee cashed in on the scam at every turn, reaping the benefits offered to her from national charities like the Ronald McDonald House and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. (She even received a Habitat for Humanity home.)

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Jesus, thats grim. Isnt there a technical term for that kind of brainwashing?

Munchausen syndrome by proxy is what youre looking for. Munchausen syndrome refers to anyone who internalizes the idea that theyre sick when they are not, so Munchausen by proxy is when someone elseusually a caretakermanipulates both a child and the people around a child into believing that they possess a specific set of afflictions. The U.S. government categorizes Munchausen by proxy to be both a mental illness and a form of child abuse, which is to say that Dee Dee wouldve been facing a ton of legal ramificationspossibly even jail timeif her fraud came to light.

So how did she get murdered again?

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In 2014, when Gypsy Rose was older and more acutely aware of her general well-beingand the fact that she could easily walk on two legsshe met a man named Nicholas Godejohn on a Christian singles dating site. The two fell in love over the internet and eventually made plans to someday elope. Gypsy Rose and Godejohn met in person a year later in 2015 and quickly mapped out her escape from her mothers yoke. In their minds, this necessitated a murder. Here its probably important to mention that Godejohn was previously arrested for masturbating in a McDonalds for nine hours, and generally seems like a bit of a wing nut. But the less said about that, the better.

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On June 14, 2015, Gypsy Rose let Godejohn into her house after Dee Dee went to sleep. Armed with a small serrated knife, he stabbed Dee Dee in the back 17 times, killing her. Afterward, the pair hooked up in Gypsy Roses bedroom and skipped town from her native Missouri to Godejohns family home in Wisconsin. (They were tracked down by police shortly afterward and were extradited back to the scene of the crime.) It was then that the police discovered that Gypsy Rose didnt have any of the medical frailties Dee Dee said she did. For what its worth, the newly emancipated victim of Dee Dees abuses demonstrated little remorse for her slain mother. On Facebook, right after the murder, Gypsy Rose posted, That Bitch is dead!

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Wait, all of this sounds weirdly familiar. Was this story immortalized in some sort of prestige miniseries?

Youre thinking of 2019s The Act. It was on Hulu and starred Patricia Arquette, who eventually won an Emmy for her portrayal as Dee Dee. The whole series was based on a long-form retelling of the Gypsy Rose saga published in BuzzFeed News back in 2016, which is when the story first became a national sensation. Both are worth your time, honestly, if only because its rare to find a more sympathetic depiction of matricide.

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Yeahmurder definitely is wrong, but Im sort of on her side?

Thats the whole point! Thats what makes this case so fascinating. Its so rare for a mother to be stabbed to death in her sleep while still maintaining her status as a villain. But I suppose thats what you get when youre shaving your child bald and strapping her to a wheelchair she doesnt need, then profiting off the sympathy. The state of Missouri understood this, by the way. They deliberately did not seek the death penalty for either Gypsy Rose or Godejohn due to the extraordinary and unusual nature of the circumstances.

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The public was just as sympathetic. If you asked anyone who followed the story back in 2015, theres a good chance theyd be totally unapologetic about their support for Gypsy Rose. If you dont believe me, I recommend perusing the many teary-eyed adulations billowing up on her subreddit.

Related From Slate Why Is George Santos Doing This to Us? Read More

What happened to Godejohn, anyway?

Oh, hes never getting out of jail. A Missouri jury sentenced him to life behind bars, because no matter how you slice it, he did murder a 48-year-old woman in cold blood. (All Gypsy did was aid and abet.) The two are no longer together.

And meanwhile, Gypsy Rose is just  free to go?

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Shes free and shes thriving! Gypsy Rose is metamorphosing into a full-blown influencer right before our eyes. Shes already stopped by Good Morning America and The View, and has postured herself well as an advocate for child-abuse victims everywhere. (Shes also demonstrated a ton of regret about the death of her mother, which, contrived or not, has certainly made her whole brand more palatable to the mainstream.) There is also a Gypsy Rose book coming out next week, as well as another documentary on Lifetime airing right now. Im sure the rest of the influencer tool kitCameo bookings, sponsored CBD tinctureswill soon follow.

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Additionally, Gypsy Rose is making some semi-explicit posts about her new husband, and the quality of his lovemaking, so, for the first time ever, she seems to be living her best life.

This seems strange for, you know, someone convicted of second-degree murder.

Heres the thing. Gypsy Rose is charming! Shes cute, shes funny, and shes currently living one of the most unique lives on planet earth. Her effervescence translates in every interview shes given, andIm going out on a limb hereI dont think shes ever going to assist in a murder ever again. America is home to so many disreputable scammers who find a second life on social media: Rod Blagojevich is showing up on podcasts, Anna Delvey is back to her old tricks on Instagram, O.J. Simpson, of all people, is taking selfies with fans at Bills games. Gypsy Rose, meanwhile, is a million times more sympathetic than all of those low lifes, and she should be allowed to enjoy the fruits of her fame.

Do you think shes going to fully crossover? Like, are we going to be living in a world where Gypsy Rose is a movie star or something?

Im not ready to go quite that far. But as a stunt-casting in an upcoming Safdie joint or something? Maybe. Probably?

Whats her favorite Taylor Swift song?

Karma.

Oh  OK I get it.

Let her cook!
An article by Philip Zelikow in the latest issue of Foreign Affairs, titled The Atrophy of American Statecraft, argues that the U.S. is having a hard time dealing with all the problems in the world because our government no longer has the breadth or depth of competencethe capabilities and know-howthat it once did.

There may be something to this. Todays diplomats, shrewd and talented as many of them are, couldnt honestly claim peerage with the likes of George Kennan, George Marshall, Dean Acheson, or the other eminences who shaped the frameworks and crafted the policies that kept the West free and prosperous in the years after World War II.

We live in a period of high crisis, writes Zelikow, himself a former official and a diplomatic historian. The crises include a major war in Europe; threats of conflict throughout East Asia; war and turbulence in the Middle East; hostile relations with Russia and China, as well as North Korea and Iran; democracies in decline; and all new threats or uncertainties from climate change, pandemics, and A.I.

Yet this long list of challengeswhich Zelikow rattles off in his first paragraphundermines his thesis. For it is doubtful that, compared with our current roster of strategists and tacticians, reincarnations of Kennan or Marshall (once fully briefed on the vast array of problems) would be much more adept at solving them.

In some ways, our Cold War pioneers had it easy. The United States emerged from WWII with an atomic-weapons monopoly, half of the worlds GDP, most of its hard-currency reserves, andwith the return of its soldiersthe foundations of an enormous economic boom, while much of the rest of the world still lay shattered from the wars destructiveness.

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True, those pioneers devised a policy of containing an expansionist Soviet Union without provoking another major war. They recognized, with the Marshall Plan, that spending billions to rebuild Europe and Asia would create markets for U.S. goods and thus redound to our economic benefit as well. They created an international financial system that would help make the world safe for democracy (and for capitalism).

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None of this should be minimized. But the structure of international politicsthe carving of the world into two spheres, led by the U.S. and the USSR, with no strong powers in betweenmade it fairly easy for Washington to impose its will, at least within its sphere. And the structure of domestic politicsa broad consensus on foreign policy, rooted in a strongly Democratic Congress loyal to a Democratic presidents internationalist agendamade it possible for Washington to do the imposing with little resistance at home.

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It is changes in these structures that have sparked some of todays crisesand have made all of them much harder for the U.S., or any other single power, to manage.

These changes began, and have since evolved or devolved, 30 years ago, with the end of the Cold War. The Cold War was, in many ways, a dreadful time, but it was also a system of international securitya system that worked to the advantage of the two superpowers. As long as the Soviet threat hovered across the horizon, Washington could persuade or arm-twist allies, and even some neutral countries, to go along with U.S. policieseven when those policies didnt suit their interests. Once the Soviet Union imploded, the looming threat vanished as well, and those countries, including some that generally aligned with U.S. interests, could go their own way, when they wanted.

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For instance, in 1971 Egyptian President Anwar Sadat decided to end his politico-military relationship with the Soviet Union. As the leader of a medium-size regional power on a continent of Cold War proxies and rivalries, he needed protection from some major power, so he turned to the United Statesstarted buying weapons from its arsenals, sent his officers to its military academies: morphed into a U.S. ally. He had no choice: Given the global structure, the safe move was to be aligned with one of the superpowers; leaving the Soviet sphere, he joined the American sphere.

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Today, Egypts president, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, buys arms not only from the U.S. but also from France, Germany, Italy, and even Russia.

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In a more striking illustration of global complexity, the tiny emirate of Qatar has been declared a major non-NATO ally of the United States; it hosts the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East, a hub of U.S. military operations throughout the region, and, just this week, quietly signed a deal to extend the lease for another 10 years. Yet its leader, Emir Tamim bin Hamad al Thani, is also a major ally and chief economic supplier of Hamas, the terrorist organization that Israel is trying to crush in Gaza, mainly with U.S.supplied arms.

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Turkey is a member of NATO, but it also trades extensively withand buys advanced anti-aircraft systems fromRussia. Hungary is a member of the European Union but practically allies itself with Moscow and has blocked EU efforts to ramp up aid to Ukraine. Many countries in the global Southones that were once called less developed or part of the third worldpick and choose sides to favor or oppose, depending on their own interests (or lack of interest) in the issue at hand, in many cases aligning with the U.S. on some matters and with Russia or China on others.

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Domestic politics are also frayed. Back in Zelikows golden age, Americas two major parties were run from the top down. The party leaders selected and funded candidates. (Not until the 1970s did popular primaries bind a majority of delegates at presidential conventions.) As a result, presidents had considerable leverage over their parties lawmakers. In the past few decades, parties have lost much of their power to political action committees and populist insurgents. President Joe Bidenwho has a keener grasp of congressional politics than any occupant of the White House since Lyndon B. Johnsonis having a hard time passing a $60 billion aid package to Ukraine, which a majority of Americans and legislators favor (yes, its a dwindling majority but a majority nonetheless) because his Republican opponents are tying the aid to the passage of a Senate bill shuttering the U.S.Mexico border so tightly that, when the bill came before the House last spring, not a single Democrat voted aye. (It passed with unanimous Republican support, but with the understanding that the Senate would vote it down.)

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In other words, the United States is having a hard time getting its way in the world, or effectively managing global challenges, not because our officials lack skill at practical problem-solving but because the problems are so damn hard to solve. The United States enjoys less influence because the world is less susceptible to any single nations influenceand because, even when a president figures out how to deal with a problem, Congress can all too easily block his way.

In fact, when it comes to the sheer abilitythe know-how, as Zelikow puts itto solve problems, American officials are in many ways more adept, and have more efficient tools, than their predecessors. With the expanding bureaucracies have come more specialists, including technical specialists (economists, environmental experts, medical teams), who have in fact dealt with the complexities of trade, energy, climate change, and pandemics much more skillfully than anyone could have half a century ago. Whether their efforts have impact often depends on domestic and international politicsand there, were back to the structural transformations of the postCold War era.

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And by the way, the Cold War era of American statecraft wasnt so uniformly glorious either. Before we get too entombed in nostalgia, its worth recalling such strategic disasters as the Vietnam War, the secret bombing of Cambodia, the Bay of Pigs, the CIA-led coups in Iran and Chile, and a host of approved-at-the-top black-bag jobs that did our country little good in the end.

Zelikows article concludes:

The operational talent that Western policymakers displayed in the 20th century was not in their genes. It was the accumulation of hard-earned experience and an accompanying culture that reinforced practical professionalism, including new and difficult habits of cooperation with international partners. There is only one way to recover these skills: practice them again.

If only it were that easy.
The U.S. media, and particularly the New York Times, have gotten some flak for their voluminous coverage of the controversy over how Israel is discussed on elite college campuses, particularly Harvard. Its shameful, the argument goes, that this is getting more attention than the situation in Gaza itself. But theres a key thing those criticisms are missing, Ben Mathis-Lilley argues: These Ivy League debates have stakes that reach beyond the walls of campus.

Plus, in case you missed it: Nitish Pahwa examines the ulterior motives of the billionaire who made it his mission to oust Harvard President Claudine Gay.

Joe Biden could never 

The 2024 presidential candidates are all missing something that Obama had. Luke Winkie laments the decline of the culturally plugged-in president.

Putting the gold in Golden Wedding 

Gerry and Theresa are walking away with each other, a free party, andwed guessa giant check. Scott Nover digs into what the Golden Wedding, airing tonight, is really about.

Quit quitting social media 

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Maybe you, too, dream of quitting social mediabut find its hard to make that resolution stick, given how woven into the fabric of contemporary life these apps are.

This year, Shannon Palus is finally facing reality and quitting the idea of quitting social media. Heres what shell try to make her screen time more tolerable instead.

De-Bill-itating 

Nikki Haley asked her husband to stop going by the name Bill. Hes Michael now. What? Heather Schwedel considers whether this move shows another kind of executive leadership, or possibly sociopathy.

Skip or snip 

One of the worlds oldest surgeries involves the penisand its controversial. Frieda Klotz takes us inside the continuously complicated debate over circumcision.

Today, Slate is   FATIGUED BY ALL THIS END-TIMES RHETORIC

 much like small-dollar donors may be, based on recent trends in giving. Ryan Teague Beckwith takes a closer look at this beloved grassroots aspect of American democracy, and its potential darker side.

Thanks so much for reading! Well see you back here tomorrow.
The war in Ukraine has been grinding on for 22 months now, with tens of thousands of deaths on both sides. In all that time, with all that loss, the battle lines have barely budged. But last weekend, Russia tried to take a sledgehammer to that stalemate. I asked Slates Fred Kaplan what happened.

Russia usually launches a few rockets at a time, or maybe a dozen is a lot. They launched something like 180 rockets all at once, he said. If somebody had guessed the day before whether Russia even had that many missiles ready to go, they might have doubted it.

Dozens were reportedly killed in this attack. Afterward, Ukraine fired its own rockets into Russian territory as retaliation. They also killed civilians. It seemed to me like a new kind of escalation after two years of day-to-day battle on the ground. One security expert said that it wasnt just the sheer number of missiles Russia fired that surprised them, it was the way they seemed to elude any defense, with some flying in circles before looping around to their targets.

It was coordinated across the entire stretch of the RussiaUkraine border. In other words, it indicates that Russia still has some kind of integrated command system, Kaplan said. Were beginning to realize that Russia has a lot more reserves than anybody thought, not just in weapons, but in manpower. It is a military that has begun to learn some lessons of its failures in the past and has made adjustments, which means they could last longer than had been calculated.

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As Russias Ukraine war enters a new phase, we spoke to Kaplan on a recent episode of What Next about whether the West will come up with the cash to hold Putin off. Our conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity.

Mary Harris: What would you say the state of play in Ukraine is right now?

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Fred Kaplan: The state of play is still a stalemate, but at more intense and more highly destructive levels.

What do you mean by that?

Well, if youre looking at how much territory has been captured, that has been almost unchanged for the last nine months, and it continues to be essentially unchanged. Ukraine might take over a town, or Russia might take over a town, but its kind of a net zero. On the other hand, Ukraine has started to step out of its former limits. It used to hold back on attacking targets inside Russia. Now, there are actual rocket attacks, like the attack on Belgorodthis was clearly stuff fired from Ukraine.

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This attack on Belgorod, this happened right after the blitz on Ukraine.

It was in response. In other words, it was: OK, we are going to show you that we still know how to play asymmetrical warfare. You fire 150 missiles at cities. Well, we go after something in Russia. This is stepping up the battle. This is: Youre not respecting our borders. Were not respecting yours anymore either.

Does that concern you? Because you mentioned how when youre attacking inside Russia, it becomes something potentially bigger, potentially drawing in more combatants.

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These red lines are subtle to the point of questioning whether theyre meaningful. The U.S. has always said that U.S. weapons will not be used for that purpose, which was one reason why, for quite a long time, President Biden was reluctant to ship long-range missiles to Ukraine. They didnt want to give them a missile from which they could hit Russian targets. Well, he let up on that idea, but he still said, Dont use this to attack targets in Russia. Then it became, Well, if you want to use your own weapons or other countries weapons to attack targets in Russia, thats OK. Just dont use ours.

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Does that mean really that if, say, they used one of our weapons to attack targets in Russia, that Putin would start attacking targets inside NATO? I dont think so. I think a lot of these red lines, which people feared at the beginning of the war, have dissolved or turned very pink anyway. And it could be that Putin is realizing that he can just hang on.

So if Im hearing you right, what youre saying is that this new phase of the war is this realization that Russia has a lot more people and maybe a little more coordination and maybe a few more missiles than we thought, which is alarming. But also that Ukraine is stepping up its guerrilla tactics a little bit, tactics inside Russia. And thats interesting to me because those approaches, they dont seem symmetrically matched. And I wonder what you think that means about what happens now.

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In any war that has settled into a stalemate, each side is looking for advantages, and if there are no advantages in the head-to-head conflict, then you look for asymmetrical advantages. For Ukraine, its loosening some of the rules of engagement. With Russia, its relying on a reserve of manpower or missiles that is much larger than had been thought.

We really havent seen since World War I the use of people, of new recruits, as cannon fodder to the degree that weve seen with Putin. Three hundred fifty thousand soldiers lost in a war thats not quite two years oldand most of those just in the last six months. They go through almost no training. Theyre just rushed into the lines to soak up Ukrainian ammunition, whose supply is being depleted. Thats what cannon fodder means. Its just soaking up the cannon fire of the other side.

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In 10 years of the Afghan war, the Soviet Union lost, I think, 15,000 soldiers. And that helped lead to the crumbling of the Soviet regime. To lose 350,000 people in not quite two years is just extraordinary. Theres been almost nothing like it ever.

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Youve been saying for a while that this war in Ukraine is at a stalemate. But I wonder how you reacted when you saw that back in November, the Ukrainian army commander in chief said in an interview with the Economist that the war had settled into a stalemate. It seems to me to be one thing when you, Fred Kaplan, say it and another when the Armys commander says it.

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It was rather impolitic for him to say, and President Zelensky was very upset about it. He denied it. He then had his army go attack a Russian ship near Crimea. And it was then that he rushed to make a tour of the West to say, Look, were still doing well, but we need your weapons. Still, it was an alarming thing for the chief of staff of the Army to say.

With Russia content to throw seemingly limitless numbers of troops into battle, Ukraine says it needs aid to fight back. Before the holidays, President Zelensky came to Washington, hat in hand, hoping to secure the passage of a bill that would send $60 billion of aid his way, a renewal of full support. He had to settle for a measly $250 million weapons package.

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The Department of Defense says thats the end of it, unless Congress gets its act together. But House Republicans say they wont pass anything bigger without strict border regulations attached. And Senate Democrats say thats a nonstarter.

Biden is in kind of a spot. If he gives in to the Republicans on every part of this bill, it might not get passed in the Senate. And yet the Republicans are, at least for the moment, demanding that he give in on everything. There were some negotiations before the holiday recess, but they didnt go anywhere. So well see what happens.

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There are a lot of Republicans who, if you just took away 2024 politics and everything else, are very much in favor of continuing to aid Ukraine. If it was just a one-time bill at 2 in the morning with no media coverage, that bill would win.

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But we should say the Republican approach here, its tracking with U.S. public opinion in general, like Gallup polling from November shows 41 percent of Americans think were doing too much to help Ukraine. Last June, that number was 29 percent. Why do you think Americans are cooling here?

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Its still a majority in favor of aiding Ukraine. It is not as large a majority as before, thats true. Part of it is that at the beginning of this war, Ukraine performed so well and Russia performed so poorlythere were people saying that next week Ukrainian troops are going to be on the Russian border. Theyre going to be storming the Kremlin. Some of the claims were wild. As Ukraine went back on the offensive and Russia went to the defensive, things changed. If somebody is looking at whats going on and looking at these remarks about stalemate, and they think, Oh, Jesus, is this going to go on for the next 10 years?, or Is Biden and any future president going to keep coming back for another 60 billion, another 60 billion every three months, and this is going to go on for the rest of my life? Lets bring this to an end.

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Congress is back in session on Monday, and theyre going to come back to this issue, Im sure. Whats happening in the meantime in Ukraine? Whats going to happen without the money going out? Has time already run out here?

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I think theyre fine for the next few months. But yeah, beyond that, if the U.S. doesnt renew its package, theyre going to be in serious trouble. Theyre going to have a severe shortage of ammunition, of missiles, of air defense missiles, which is a big thing. Probably by the spring, theyre going to be in deep trouble.

It feels like however these negotiations play out over the next few weeks over Ukraine aid, Republicans have successfully shifted the Overton window when it comes to Ukraine. Even President Biden seems to be changing the way he talks about the war. In December, when Zelensky was visiting, Biden gave a press conference, and he said that the U.S. is going to support Ukraine, but really that Ukraine has had an enormous victory already. Putin has failed. Which seems to be, like, Were coming to our conclusion here, versus, like, Were in the fight, lets do it.

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Some of the rhetoric has changed from as long as it takes to as long as we can. And then there has been some background source news stories that talk about what the strategy is going to be to help Ukraine continue to stave off any additional Russian advances, which is very different from helping Ukraine rack up another successful counteroffensive.

Feels a little bit like Ukraines in hospice care.

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What it will take to enable Ukraine to push the Russians out of Ukraine entirely by force is way beyond what anybody is going to give them. Thats just not going to happen. And so then you say, Well, what can we do? We can keep Russia from taking over any more territory in Ukraine. And that becomes a very different thing.

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And youve pointed out the fact that Putins got every reason to hold tight here, because if Trump wins the 2024 election, he might be able to not give in on anything.

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Thats right. There have been several former aides to Trump who said that had he won the election in 2020, he was going to pull out of NATO. And I dont see anything that Trump has said lately that calls that into question for what hell do in 2024. And Ukraine isnt even part of NATO. Trump respects Putin. Trump wants to restore relations with Russia. It is widely viewed and feared all throughout Europe that if Trump gets back in, the U.S. alliances with Europe in general are basically severed.

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So if youre Antony Blinken, secretary of state, are you like, Oh, gosh, Ive got like six to nine months to hammer out whats happening in Ukraine?

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But what really needs to happenunless you just want to give upis that the aid has to be restored, that there has to be a deal between the White House and Congress. Otherwise it could collapse. And heres the thing: Im usually not the kind of guy who talks in these sorts of terms. I dont generally believe in domino theories and things like that. But if it is shown that after all this effort and trouble and time and money, the U.S. just kind of caves because its getting too hard, and Putin wins in a meaningful way, this sends a message to China about what they might be able to get away with in Taiwan.

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It also sends the same message to our allies in Asia, especially Japan and South Korea, which might say, Jesus, we cant really rely on the United States. Wed better build our own nuclear arsenal as a deterrent, which will then provoke a real nuclear arms race with China. And North Korea might also build more nuclear weapons. In the Middle East, it might tell foes and friends that the U.S. deterrent really isnt as severe or as certain as some of the leaders of the U.S. say. Its going to make the world, which is already a fairly anarchic place, much, much more freewheeling and anarchic and not in our favor at all.

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Youre saying the U.S. is showing its backside a little bit?

There used to be this phrase politics stops at the waters edge.

What does that mean?

Well, it means that were united on foreign policy. That all the squabbles between parties, at the waters edgeonce you get involved in foreign relationsthat that all ends, that the United States is a solidly united country. Thats never really been true, but its been truer than it is now. Politics dont stop at the waters edge at all. And that situation can be exploited quite easily.

So this Ukraine funding mess, its really about way more than Ukraine.

Ukraine is about way more than Ukraine at this point and has been for quite a while.
People watch the waves near Pacifica Municipal Pier on Dec. 28 as the powerful surf rolled ashore. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Waves are seen in a time exposure at Pacifica Municipal Pier on Dec. 29. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle A man carries a dog as he runs away from crashing waves near Pacifica Municipal Pier on Dec. 28. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

The Pacifica Pier will be closed for at least three weeks as city officials evaluate structural damage caused by last weeks high tides and large waves.

Engineers from the Pacificas public works department, collaborating with a structural engineering consultant, have declared Californias most popular fishing and crabbing pier unsafe. They point to the significant damage on its west-facing wall and concrete railing sustained on Dec. 28.

California weather: More rain, snow expected before potential fierce weekend storm

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An expedited structural review of the Pacifica Municipal Pier was expected to conclude by Jan. 25. The reopening date to the public will depend on the findings of this assessment.

The L-shaped public pier, where fishing is open to all without charge, previously faced closure in 2021 due to storm damage, disrupting the plans of thousands of individuals and multigenerational families who frequent the pier during the recreational Dungeness crab season.

The pier serves a unique function in the Bay Area, allowing crab fishing without a license and without the hazards of navigating rocky jetties or dangerous waves. Beyond fishing, it is a popular destination for sunset strolls, photo shoots, whale watching, and occasional great white shark sightings.

Constructed in 1973, partly to facilitate a sewage line into the ocean, the Pacifica Pier has endured repeated damage during high swells, especially in the winter. Three years ago, king tides caused a railing to crumble, leaving a 40-foot hole.

Concerns are growing among regular visitors about the possibility of losing the pier permanently. Other public piers in San Mateo and Berkeley have closed permanently in recent decades due to similar structural damage.
Are you looking to start your entrepreneurial journey and need some ideas? Here are 25 cash flow business ideas you can start. These small businesses are easy to start, require little up-front investment, and generate a consistent flow of income. Lets get started!

What are the Characteristics of a Good Cash Flow Business?

Having a steady cash flow business with recurring income is important for small business owners. Here are five characteristics of a good cash flow business:

Low Overhead Costs A business with low overhead ensures that a significant portion of the revenue isnt eaten up by fixed and variable costs. Its the foundation of sustainability. Less money spent on essentials like rent, inventory, and equipment means more profit at the end of the day.

Scalable A scalable business model is a gem. This means as the business grows, the increase in profits outpaces the increase in costs. It allows entrepreneurs to expand their reach, tap into new markets, or introduce new products/services without proportionally increasing their expenditure.

Recurring Revenue The magic of recurring revenue is its predictability. Businesses that have a steady and consistent income stream, such as subscription models, can plan better, reinvest with confidence, and ensure stability even in volatile markets.

High-Profit Margins Profit isnt just about making money; its about keeping it. Businesses with high-profit margins have the advantage of being able to reinvest in their growth, weather economic downturns, and provide returns to stakeholders while still maintaining a healthy bottom line.

Simple to Operate Simplicity is efficiency. If a business model doesnt require extensive efforts in areas like marketing, customer service, or daily operations, it means the entrepreneur can focus on strategic growth. Such businesses often have streamlined processes, clear value propositions, and require less micromanagement.



READ MORE: What is Cash Flow?

Criteria for Choosing Cash Flow Business Ideas: Our Methodology

To guide entrepreneurs towards business ventures with strong cash flow potential, we use a specific set of criteria. These criteria help in identifying opportunities that are likely to generate steady, positive cash flow. Each criterion is rated on a scale from 1 to 5, where 1 indicates the least importance and 5 the highest importance:

Low Initial Investment and Startup Costs Importance: 5

Business ideas that require minimal initial investment and startup costs are preferred, as they reduce the financial burden and facilitate quicker cash flow positivity. High Demand and Market Viability Importance: 5

We assess the market demand for the product or service. High demand and a strong market presence indicate a quicker and more sustainable cash flow. Quick Turnaround of Inventory or Services Importance: 4

Businesses that can quickly turn over inventory or deliver services in a short time frame are ideal, as this accelerates cash flow. Recurring Revenue Model Importance: 5

Business models that facilitate recurring revenue, such as subscription services or repeat client business, provide a more predictable and stable cash flow. Low Overhead and Operational Costs Importance: 5

Keeping overhead and ongoing operational costs low is crucial to maintain positive cash flow and profitability. Scalability and Growth Potential Importance: 3

The ability to scale the business and grow the customer base without significantly increasing expenses can enhance cash flow over time. Payment Terms and Collections Efficiency Importance: 4

Efficient invoicing and collections processes, as well as favorable payment terms with suppliers, can significantly impact cash flow management. Flexibility and Adaptability to Market Changes Importance: 3

The ability to adapt to market changes and pivot operations if necessary can help sustain cash flow under varying economic conditions.

By applying these criteria, our goal is to identify business ideas that not only have the potential for high revenue generation but also maintain manageable costs, leading to strong and sustainable cash flow.

25 Amazing Business Ideas with High Cash Flow Potential

If youre looking for the best cash flow businesses, we have some amazing ideas and business models below. Many of which are businesses that make money right away.

1. eCommerce Store

Starting an eCommerce store to sell online is a great way to get started in the business world.

Not only do you have low startup costs, but you can also reach a global audience with your products and enjoy simple, quick transactions.

2. Consulting Services

A consulting business is a great way to earn money while helping others.

You can offer your services to businesses or individuals, and youll be able to set your own rates. Many consultants also work with clients on an ongoing basis, leading to predictable payments.

3. Local Businesses

Having a local business is a great way to build a steady flow of cash. You can offer services or products that people in your community need, and youll have a loyal customer base.

READ MORE: Small Business Ideas for Beginners

4. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is one of those businesses that make money fast, it helps you make a great passive income, doesnt require a down payment like real estate, and requires a low initial investment.

Successful affiliate marketers know to promote quality products in a popular niche like weight loss to increase the chances they make a lot of money quickly.

5. Freelancing Writing and Editing

By leveraging platforms like Upwork or Medium, you can tap into a global client base.

Offering your services to businesses or individuals, and setting your own rates can be empowering. Furthermore, with the rise of digital content and the need for high-quality writing across various industries, the demand for skilled writers and editors has soared.

Specializing in niches like technical writing, SEO content, or grant writing can also fetch premium rates.

6. Dropshipping

With dropshipping, you sell products that are shipped directly to the customer from the supplier. It eliminates the need for inventory and reduces overhead costs. Its a low-cost way to start a business and create a steady, positive cash flow.

By focusing on niche products and targeted marketing, one can build a loyal customer base.

Integrating customer reviews and offering excellent customer service can differentiate your brand in a competitive marketplace.

7. Food Truck Business

Food trucks are not only a trendy dining option but also a great way to start a business with low overhead costs. By gauging local tastes and preferences, you can offer a variety of unique and tantalizing food options to customers.

The mobility of the business model allows you to operate in multiple locations, catering to various events or shifting to high-footfall areas during peak times. Collaborating with local businesses for special promotions or events can also boost visibility.

8. Niche Franchise

Niche franchises can be a great way to start a business with high cash flow potential. Because these high cash flow businesses are focused on a specific area or market, they tend to be more successful than general franchises.

9. Dog Walking and Pet Sitting

With the growing number of pet owners and their busy schedules, starting a Dog Walking and Pet Sitting business can be both rewarding and profitable.

Not only do you have low costs to get started, but you can also set your own rates and hours in this in-demand industry.

By offering additional services such as grooming, training, or pet transportation, you can diversify your income sources. Building trust through reviews and recommendations is crucial in this industry.

10. Graphic Design Services

Graphic design is pivotal in the modern digital landscape. As a graphic designer, you can work with businesses or individuals, helping them enhance their brand identity by designing logos, business cards, websites, and more.

The demand for eye-catching and functional designs is ever-increasing.

By specializing in certain areas, like UX/UI design or animation, you can cater to specific high-demand segments. Building a portfolio and showcasing your work on platforms like Behance or Dribbble can attract higher-paying clients.

11. Vending Machines

Starting a vending machine business can be a lucrative endeavor with healthy cash flow potential. You can easily buy a vending machine online which could pay for itself in less than a year if you place your vending machines in high foot traffic locations.

12. Social Media Management

Being a social media manager could be the perfect way to turn your passion for social media into a career while doing social media marketing on various social media channels for other business owners. This can be a recurring business model, and provides opportunities for scaling over time.

13. Digital Course Creator

As a digital course creator, you can create online courses and sell them on sites like Udemy or Skillshare. You can create an online course on pretty much any topic.

14. Create a Blog

Creating your own website or blog can be a great way to extra cash while sharing your passion with the world. You can offer content that is helpful, informative, or entertaining while earning ad revenue.

15. Starting an App or SaaS Product

Starting an app or SaaS (software as a service) business is a great way to earn an income while creating awesome apps people can use daily in their personal or professional lives.

16. Piggyback off another Business idea

If have a small business thats using a successful business model and already generating a positive cash flow, then you can piggyback off of it to generate another revenue source.

For example, if you have a brick-and-mortar store that sells products and an internet connection, you can begin selling those same products online.

17. Invest in Dividend Paying Stocks

When it comes to generating passive income, dividend stocks are a great option. Not only do they offer the potential for capital gains like real estate investing, but they also provide an annual cash flow.

18. Landscaping and Lawn Business

Landscaping business owners are responsible for providing all of the services their customers need, including lawn care, planting and maintenance, snow removal, and more. Enjoy simple transactions and a recurring business model by providing excellent service to clients.

19. Photography Business

If youre an amazing photographer and know how to use photo editing software, then starting your own business in photography could be a great way to earn an income.

20. Event Planning

Planning events involves organizing and coordinating resources to ensure that an event is successful. Project management is a critical skill for event planners.

21. Finance and Insurance

Not only is there the potential to make a great deal of money in finance and insurance, but this type of business can also provide a much-needed service to people and businesses.

22. Real Estate Rental Property

Owning rental properties is an amazing way to make more money and build wealth. Its a business that can be very passive, yet still provide a steady stream of income.

As property values typically appreciate over time, not only do you earn from monthly rent, but you also stand to gain from the long-term appreciation of the property. Furthermore, tax benefits associated with property investments can also enhance profitability.

Leveraging property management can further simplify the process, making it even more passive. And this is a recurring business model with steady payments coming in each month.

23. Social Assistance and Health Services

A social assistance and health services business can be a very profitable and very rewarding way to make a difference in peoples lives.

24. Makeup Artist

Being a makeup artist is a very creative and lucrative business. Its a business that can be very portable, so you can take it with you wherever you go. With the rise of social media platforms, especially visual platforms like Instagram and YouTube, makeup artists now have more avenues to showcase their skills and gain clients.

Personal branding, collaboration with influencers, and conducting workshops can further enhance ones reach and income.

25. Child Care Services

Starting a Child Care Services business can be a very rewarding way to make a difference in the lives of children and families. It can also provide you with a consistent income stream.

Given the busy lives of modern parents, reliable childcare is in high demand.

By ensuring a safe environment, hiring qualified staff, and incorporating educational activities, you can stand out in the market and command premium rates.

Furthermore, expanding to after-school programs and offering additional services can also diversify revenue sources.

READ MORE: 12 Ways to Increase Your Cash Flow

Cash Flow Business Ideas Summary Table

Business Idea Highlights / Description eCommerce Store Low startup costs, global audience reach. Consulting Services Offer services to individuals or businesses; set own rates. Local Businesses Serve local community needs with a loyal customer base. Affiliate Marketing Passive income with low investment; promote popular niche products. Freelancing Writing and Editing Use platforms like Upwork; specialize in niches for premium rates. Dropshipping Low-cost business without inventory; niche products can gain loyal customers. Food Truck Business Low overhead costs; operate in multiple locations. Niche Franchise Focus on a specific market; tried-and-tested blueprint. Dog Walking and Pet Sitting Low startup costs; diverse services like grooming. Graphic Design Services Cater to high-demand segments; showcase work on platforms like Behance. Vending Machines Lucrative with machines in high foot traffic locations. Social Media Management Turn passion for social media into a career; handle marketing for businesses. Digital Course Creator Create and sell online courses on platforms like Udemy. Create a Blog Share passions, offer valuable content, and earn ad revenue. Starting an App or SaaS Product Develop apps for daily personal or professional use. Piggyback off another Business idea Use existing business models to generate additional revenue. Invest in Dividend Paying Stocks Generate passive income and potential for capital gains. Landscaping and Lawn Business Offer diverse services from lawn care to snow removal. Photography Business Combine photography skills with photo editing for income. Event Planning Organize and coordinate events with project management skills. Finance and Insurance Provide essential services to people and businesses with high earning potential. Real Estate Rental Property Passive income with steady cash flow; potential property appreciation. Social Assistance and Health Services Profitable avenue to make a significant difference in lives. Makeup Artist Portable business with opportunities in social media platforms. Child Care Services Offer services in high demand; ensure safe environment for premium rates.

What is the Best Passive Income Idea?

The best idea to create a passive income stream yourself really depends on your personal skill set and interests. However, some of the best ideas include being a service provider, creating digital courses, investing in stocks that pay dividends, or starting a blog.

What is the Most Profitable Business on the Cash Flow List?

While buying a dividend stock, dropshipping, consulting, and other businesses on the list are great ways to earn money consistently, real estate is the most profitable and best business idea.

Real estate has made 90% of the worlds millionaires. So its a great way to generate a high income.
Social media marketing is constantly evolving, becoming an indispensable tool for businesses, particularly for small enterprises. This landscape offers opportunities for growth, engagement, and brand visibility. For small businesses, mastering the art of social media is not just an advantage; its a necessity. In this article, we will delve into a treasure trove of social media ideas for small businesses, each designed to enhance your online presence and foster a deeper connection with your audience.

Why Social Media Posts are Crucial for Small Business

Imagine a world where your brands voice reaches the right ears, where every post strengthens the bond with your customers. This isnt just a dream  its the power of social media content ideas for small businesses. Leveraging social media channels effectively is more than just keeping up with trends; its about creating a community, enhancing brand loyalty, and establishing a relatable, humanized online presence. Every tweet, every Instagram story, and every Facebook post can be a game-changer, turning casual viewers into loyal customers.

Maximizing Social Media Platforms for Business Growth

The digital landscape is dotted with a myriad of social media platforms, each with its unique flavor and audience. For small businesses, the key to success lies in not just being present, but being powerfully engaging on these platforms. Whether its the visual appeal of Instagram, the conversational nature of Twitter, or the professional network of LinkedIn, each platform offers a different path to connect with your target audience. The upcoming social media content ideas are tailored to help small businesses like yours harness the full potential of these platforms, ensuring your message not only reaches but resonates with your audience.

Social Media Post Ideas to Engage Your Audience

In the bustling world of social media, standing out requires creativity, authenticity, and a pinch of strategic thinking. Small businesses, with their unique stories and personal touch, are perfectly poised to make a significant impact online. Heres a list of 75 creative social media post ideas that can elevate your online presence, deepen customer engagement, and showcase the heart and soul of your business.

Social Media Post Idea Description 1. Share A Day In The Life Of A Small Business Owner Humanize your brand by showcasing your daily routine and dedication. 2. Highlight Customer Testimonials Boost credibility and show client appreciation with customer testimonials. 3. Behind-The-Scenes Look At Business Operations Build trust by revealing the inner workings of your business. 4. Share Success Stories Or Case Studies Inspire and persuade with stories of how your products/services impact customers. 5. Offer Industry-Relevant Tips Or Advice Establish your brand as an expert and a go-to resource. 6. Host Q&A Sessions Encourage interaction and value your followers' opinions. 7. Feature Employee Stories Showcase your company culture and celebrate your team. 8. Create How-To Videos Provide practical value and demonstrate the usefulness of your offerings. 9. Share User-Generated Content Engage and appreciate your customer community with their content. 10. Exclusive Promotions Or Discounts Reward and attract followers with special social media offers. 11. Conduct Polls Or Surveys Engage and gain insights from your audience. 12. Celebrate Company Milestones Share your growth journey and customer loyalty. 13. Post About Community Events Demonstrate community involvement and deepen local relationships. 14. Share Throwback Photos Or Stories Engage with nostalgia and show your business's evolution. 15. Sneak Peeks Of New Products/Services Create buzz and keep your audience engaged with previews. 16. Celebrate Holidays With Themed Posts Align content with holidays for festive engagement. 17. Behind-The-Scenes Look At Product Creation Offer insight into your product story and process. 18. Share Inspiring Quotes Motivate and create positive associations with relevant quotes. 19. Post Before-And-After Photos Showcase the effectiveness of your work or products. 20. Educational Posts About Your Industry Engage and educate your audience as an industry authority. 21. Host Contests Or Giveaways Increase engagement and audience reach. 22. Customer Spotlight Or Success Story Value and showcase customer experiences with your products/services. 23. Offer Virtual Tours Invite your audience into your business world. 24. Why You Started Your Business Share your founding story, passion, and vision. 25. Share Blog Posts Boost website traffic and provide valuable content. 26. Highlight Company Culture Showcase what makes your company unique. 27. Post Infographics Share easily digestible data or facts. 28. Photo Collage Of Team/Workspace Personalize your social media presence. 29. Celebrate Customers Or Community Foster strong relationships and show appreciation. 30. Product-Related Advice Or Tips Enhance customer experience with useful tips. 31. Share Humorous Memes Engage with humor and brand personality. 32. Time-Lapse Video Of A Typical Day Provide a captivating look into daily business operations. 33. Overcome Business Challenges Story Share inspiring stories of resilience and authenticity. 34. Industry Awards Or Recognitions Highlight your achievements and expertise. 35. Host Social Media Takeovers Fresh perspectives with guest content contributors. 36. Share Customer Reviews/Feedback Build trust with endorsements from customers. 37. Highlight A Team Member Personalize your brand with employee stories. 38. Industry Updates Or News Keep your audience informed about industry happenings. 39. Exclusive Social Media Deals Attract and reward social media followers. 40. Video Testimonials From Customers Powerful social proof through customer experiences. 41. Interesting Facts Or Trivia Engage with unique aspects of your business. 42. Tutorials Or Demonstrations Educate customers on product/service usage. 43. Day Out/Team-Building Posts Humanize your brand and show company culture. 44. Discuss Industry Trends Position your brand as up-to-date and informed. 45. Must-Have Items Or Tools List Provide educational content relevant to your industry. 46. Charitable Causes Or Initiatives Reflect your values and community commitment. 47. Tips On Product Usage Enhance customer experience with practical tips. 48. Funny Or Light-Hearted Posts Boost engagement with a fun side of your brand. 49. Series Highlighting Business Aspects Cover various facets of your business comprehensively. 50. What Sets Your Business Apart Highlight your unique selling propositions. 51. New Product Video Demonstrations Compelling showcase of new product features. 52. Customer Story Or Experience Personal touch with relatable customer stories. 53. Upcoming Sale/Event Sneak Peek Build anticipation for sales or events. 54. Current Industry Challenges Transparency and engagement on industry issues. 55. Business's Early Days Photo/Story Share inspiring beginnings and growth. 56. Employee Work Anniversary Celebration Appreciate and highlight your team members. 57. Industry Insights Or Thought Leadership Spark discussions and showcase expertise. 58. Business Trivia Engage with fun facts or trivia questions. 59. Satisfied Customer Testimonials Leverage powerful endorsements. 60. Product Usage Tips Or Tricks Show commitment to customer satisfaction. 61. Team Community Event Participation Showcase social responsibility and community connection. 62. Staying Inspired Or Motivated Share personal motivations and inspire others. 63. Behind-The-Scenes Of A Workday Offer a relatable glimpse into daily operations. 64. Meaningful Customer Interaction Story Demonstrate the impact of your business. 65. Business Milestone Celebration Invite audience to share in your success. 66. Long-Term Customer Testimonial Build trust with long-term customer experiences. 67. Business/Industry Fun Fact Engage with interesting facts. 68. Customer Success Story Or Case Study Show real-world value and impact. 69. Upcoming Product/Service Preview Generate excitement for new offerings. 70. Recent Team Outing Or Event Showcase a relatable, personable side of your business. 71. Interesting Business Aspect Photo/Story Intrigue and engage with unique business aspects. 72. Industry Resources Or Tools List Provide valuable industry-specific resources. 73. Volunteer Work Or Community Service Inspire with your commitment to giving back. 74. Customer Review Highlighting Strengths Reinforce positive business aspects. 75. Product Maximization Advice Demonstrate dedication to customer experience.

1. Share A Day In The Life Of A Small Business Owner

Take your audience on a journey through your daily routine. This humanizes your brand and builds a personal connection, showing the hard work and dedication behind the scenes.

2. Highlight Customer Testimonials On Your Social Media Page

Customer testimonials are among the best social media post ideas. They are gold. Sharing these on social media not only boosts credibility but also shows appreciation for your clients support.

3. Post A Behind-The-Scenes Look At Your Business Operations

People love to peek behind the curtain. Showcasing the inner workings of your business helps build transparency and trust.

4. Share Success Stories Or Case Studies

Highlight your achievements and how your products or services have positively impacted customers with creative social media ideas. Success stories are inspiring and persuasive. Incorporating social media business ideas can further enrich these success stories.

5. Offer Tips Or Advice Relevant To Your Industry

Position yourself as an expert by sharing valuable insights. This not only educates your audience but also establishes your brand as a go-to resource.

6. Host A Q&A Session On A Social Media Platform

Engage directly with your audience through Q&A sessions. This encourages interaction and aligns well with strategies on how to use social media for marketing.

7. Feature Employee Stories Or Spotlight Their Achievements

Celebrate your team! Sharing employee stories or achievements fosters a sense of community and showcases your company culture.

8. Create How-To Videos Related To Your Products Or Services

How-to videos are immensely popular. They offer practical value to your audience and can help demonstrate the usefulness of your offerings.

9. Share User-Generated Content From Your Customers

Reposting content from your customers not only provides authentic endorsements for your brand but also engages and appreciates your customer community.

10. Offer Special Promotions Or Discounts Exclusively On Social Media

Create exclusive offers for your social media followers. This not only rewards them but also aligns with effective social media campaign ideas.

11. Conduct Polls Or Surveys To Engage Your Audience

Interactive polls or surveys are a fantastic way to engage your audience while gaining valuable insights. They can be fun, thought-provoking, or industry-related, offering a direct line to your customers preferences and opinions.

12. Share Posts Celebrating Company Milestones Or Anniversaries

Celebrating your companys milestones or anniversaries with a social media post not only marks your achievements but also allows your audience to feel a part of your journey. Its a celebration of both your businesss growth and customer loyalty.

13. Post About Community Events Or Involvement

Showcase your involvement in local community events. This demonstrates your commitment to the community and can deepen local customer relationships.

14. Share A Throwback Photo Or Story Related To Your Business

Throwback posts create a sense of nostalgia and show the growth and evolution of your business over time. They can be particularly engaging and relatable to your audience.

15. Provide Sneak Peeks Of Upcoming Products Or Services

Use a social media post to build excitement and anticipation by offering sneak peeks of new products or services. This not only keeps your audience engaged but also creates buzz around your upcoming offerings.

16. Celebrate Holidays With Themed Posts

Tailor your content to align with various holidays throughout the year. These posts can be festive, fun, and a great way to resonate with the celebratory mood of your audience.

17. Offer A Behind-The-Scenes Look At Product Creation

Giving your audience a glimpse into the product creation process can be fascinating and informative. It adds depth to your product story and enhances customer appreciation for what you offer.

18. Share Inspiring Quotes Relevant To Your Business Or Industry

Inspirational quotes that resonate with your business ethos or industry can be powerful. They can motivate, uplift, and create a positive association with your brand.

19. Post Before-And-After Photos Of Your Work Or Products

Before-and-after photos are compelling visual evidence of the effectiveness of your products or services. They are persuasive and can showcase your impact in a clear, relatable way.

20. Create A Series Of Educational Posts About Your Industry

Educational content positions your business as a knowledgeable authority in your field. A series of informative posts can engage and educate your audience, adding value and deepening trust.

21. Host A Contest Or Giveaway On Your Social Media Accounts

Social media contest ideas or giveaways are excellent for increasing engagement and reach. Theyre fun and interactive and can rapidly grow your audience and brand visibility, fitting perfectly with ideas for free advertising.

22. Share A Customer Spotlight Or Success Story

Feature a customer who has had a positive experience with your product or service. This not only showcases real-world applications of your offerings but also makes your customers feel valued and heard.

23. Offer A Virtual Tour Of Your Business Or Workspace

A virtual tour of your business or workspace invites your audience into your world, offering an intimate glimpse of where the magic happens.

24. Create A Post About Why You Started Your Business

Sharing your founding story can be incredibly powerful, highlighting your passion, vision, and the journey that led you to where you are today.

25. Share A Blog Post From Your Website

Direct traffic to your website by sharing interesting blog posts on your social media. This not only boosts your website traffic but also provides valuable content to your followers. This is an effective way how to make money on social media.

26. Highlight The Unique Aspects Of Your Company Culture

Show what makes your company special. Highlighting your unique company culture can attract both customers and potential employees who share your values and vision.

27. Post Infographics With Interesting Data Or Facts

Infographics are a visually engaging way to share data or facts about your industry or business. They are easily digestible and shareable, making them great for social media.

28. Share A Photo Collage Of Your Team Or Workspace

A photo collage gives a more personal touch to your social media presence, showcasing the people and environment behind your brand.

29. Create A Post Celebrating Your Customers Or Community

Acknowledging and celebrating your customers or community helps foster a strong, loyal relationship and shows that you value their support.

30. Offer Advice Or Tips For Customers Related To Your Products

Providing useful tips or advice related to your products positions you as a helpful resource and can enhance the customer experience.

31. Share A Humorous Or Relatable Meme

Humor is a great way to engage. A well-chosen, relatable meme can boost engagement and show your brands personality.

32. Create A Time-Lapse Video Of A Typical Day At Your Business

Time-lapse videos are visually captivating and can provide a quick, insightful look into a day in the life of your business.

33. Share A Story Of A Challenge Youve Overcome In Your Business

Sharing challenges and how youve overcome them can be very inspiring to your audience and adds a layer of authenticity to your brand story.

34. Post About Industry Awards Or Recognitions Youve Received

Celebrate your achievements! Sharing awards or recognitions enhances your credibility and showcases your expertise in your field.

35. Host A Social Media Takeover

Allow a team member, influencer, or partner to take over your social media for a day. Social media takeover can provide fresh content and perspectives.

36. Share Customer Reviews Or Feedback

Positive customer reviews and feedback are powerful endorsements. Sharing these can build trust and influence potential customers.

37. Post A Photo Or Story Highlighting A Team Member

Highlighting individual team members puts a face to your brand and helps build a more personal connection with your audience.

38. Share Updates Or News About Your Industry

Keep your audience informed with the latest industry news or updates, establishing your brand as a knowledgeable source in your field.

39. Offer Exclusive Deals To Your Social Media Followers

Exclusive deals for your social media followers can encourage more people to follow and engage with your accounts.

40. Post A Video Testimonial From A Satisfied Customer

A video testimonial is a powerful form of social proof and can significantly influence the decision-making process of potential customers.

41. Share Interesting Facts Or Trivia About Your Business

Engage your audience with fun facts or trivia about your business. This can include your origin story, unique processes, or quirky aspects that make your business stand out.

42. Post A Tutorial Or Demonstration Of Your Product Or Service

Tutorials or demonstrations not only showcase your products or services but also educate your customers on their best usage, adding value to their experience.

43. Share A Post About A Day Out Or Team-Building Activity

Showcasing team outings or activities humanizes your brand and portrays a positive company culture, encouraging a sense of connection with your audience.

44. Create A Post Discussing Trends In Your Industry

Keep your audience informed by discussing current trends in your industry. This positions you as a knowledgeable and up-to-date source.

45. Share A List Of Must-Have Items Or Tools Related To Your Business

Provide a blog post list of essential items or tools that are relevant to your business or industry. This can be educational and helpful for your audience.

46. Post About Any Charitable Causes Or Initiatives You Support

Use your social media accounts to share your involvement with charitable causes reflects your businesss values and can resonate deeply with your audience.

47. Offer Tips On How Customers Can Best Use Your Products

Providing tips on the best use of your products can enhance the customer experience and demonstrate your commitment to their satisfaction.

48. Share A Funny Or Light-Hearted Post To Engage Your Audience

Humor is a universal language. A light-hearted post can boost engagement and show the fun side of your brand.

49. Create A Series Of Posts Highlighting Different Aspects Of Your Business

A series of posts can effectively cover various facets of your business, from your products to your team, giving a well-rounded view of your brand.

50. Share A Post About What Sets Your Business Apart From Others

Highlight what makes your business unique. This could be your customer service, product quality, or something unique to your brand story.

51. Post A Video Of A New Product In Action

Videos of a new product in action can be very compelling, providing a clear and dynamic showcase of its features and benefits.

52. Share A Customers Story Or Experience With Your Business

Customer stories add a personal touch and can be more relatable and impactful for your audience.

53. Offer A Sneak Peek Of An Upcoming Sale Or Event

Build anticipation and excitement with sneak peeks of upcoming sales or events, encouraging your audience to stay tuned for more details.

54. Share A Post About A Challenge Currently Facing Your Industry

Discussing current challenges in your industry demonstrates transparency and can engage your audience in meaningful conversations.

55. Post A Photo Or Story About Your Businesss Early Days

Share your beginnings. Early days stories are often inspiring and can illustrate your growth and journey.

56. Share A Post Celebrating An Employees Work Anniversary

Celebrating work anniversaries shows appreciation for your team and highlights the people behind your business.

57. Offer Insights Or Thought Leadership On Industry Topics

Providing your insights or thought leadership on industry topics can spark discussions and position you as an expert in your field.

58. Post A Fun Fact Or Trivia Question About Your Business

Engage your audience with a fun fact or a trivia question about your business, inviting interaction and interest.

59. Share A Testimonial Or Review From A Satisfied Customer

Testimonials and reviews are powerful endorsements that build trust and credibility with potential customers.

60. Offer A Tip Or Trick For Using One Of Your Products

Sharing tips or tricks for using your products can enhance user experience and show your commitment to customer satisfaction.

61. Post A Photo Of Your Team Participating In A Community Event

Showing your team involved in community events not only highlights your social responsibility but also creates a sense of belonging and connection with your local audience.

62. Share A Post About How You Stay Inspired Or Motivated

Personal insights into what keeps you inspired or motivated can be encouraging to others and add a human touch to your brand.

63. Offer A Behind-The-Scenes Look At A Typical Workday

A glimpse into a typical workday can be intriguing and relatable, offering a closer look at the people and processes behind your products or services.

64. Share A Story About A Meaningful Customer Interaction

Stories of meaningful customer interactions demonstrate the impact of your business and can resonate emotionally with your audience.

65. Post A Photo Or Story Celebrating A Business Milestone

Celebrating business milestones shows your progress and success, inviting your audience to share in your achievements.

66. Share A Testimonial Or Review From A Long-Term Customer

Long-term customer testimonials underscore the quality and reliability of your business, building trust with potential customers.

67. Post A Fun Or Interesting Fact About Your Business Or Industry

Interesting facts can engage your audience and offer unique insights into your business or industry.

68. Share A Customer Success Story Or Case Study

Success stories or case studies highlight the practical applications and benefits of your products or services, offering real-world proof of your value.

69. Offer A Sneak Peek Of An Upcoming Product Or Service

Sneak peeks generate excitement and anticipation, keeping your audience engaged and looking forward to your new offerings, a vital aspect of how to grow your small business.

70. Share A Post About A Recent Team Outing Or Event

Team outings or events showcase your company or organizations culture and the people behind your brand, creating a more relatable and personal connection with your audience.

71. Post A Photo Or Story Of An Interesting Aspect Of Your Business

Captivating stories or photos of unique aspects of your business can intrigue and engage your audience, offering a deeper understanding of what sets you apart.

72. Share A List Of Resources Or Tools Beneficial For Your Industry

Providing a list of helpful resources or tools can be incredibly valuable to your audience, positioning you as a helpful and knowledgeable source in your industry.

73. Create A Post About Volunteer Work Or Community Service

Highlighting volunteer work or community service projects showcases your commitment to giving back and can inspire your audience.

74. Share A Customer Review Highlighting Your Businesss Strengths

Customer reviews that specifically highlight your strengths can be persuasive and reinforce the positive aspects of your business.

75. Offer Advice On How To Get The Most Out Of Your Products

Providing advice on maximizing the benefits of your products enhances the customer experience and demonstrates your dedication to their satisfaction.





FAQs: Social Media Ideas for Small Business

How often should small businesses post on social media?

Small businesses should aim to post on social media regularly, but the frequency can vary based on the platform and resources. A general guideline is 3-5 times per week for platforms like Facebook and Instagram, and at least once a day for Twitter. The key is consistency and quality over quantity.

What is a good first social media post for a business?

A great first post could be an introduction to your business, sharing your story, mission, or what customers can expect from your brand. Its an opportunity to set the tone and start building a connection with your audience.

What is the future of User-Generated Content in social media strategies?

User-Generated Content (UGC) is expected to become increasingly significant in social media strategies. It offers authenticity and builds trust, as customers often find content created by their peers more relatable and credible. Incorporating UGC can also foster a sense of community and engagement around a brand.
The nationalist party leader claims that people want to know who would be Peter Pellegrinis First Lady.

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The Slovak National Party (SNS) is signalling that its support for Hlas leader Peter Pellegrini's expected presidential run will only come at a significant cost  and that it will use bare-knuckle tactics to get what it wants.

I dont know what in life is free, SNS leader Andrej Danko told the Hospodarske Noviny (HN) daily on January 4.

SNS and Hlas are, at least notionally, allies in the current coalition government.

Although Pellegrini appears to be the most popular potential candidate for the presidential election due this spring, he has not yet formally declared his candidacy and other candidates may still join the race. According to public opinion polls from recent months, only former foreign minister and senior diplomat Ivan Korcok  who entered the race in August last year  has a serious shot at defeating the Hlas leader. Yet Pellegrini continues to lead the polls - for now.

It is Pellegrini who, as the current speaker of parliament, who will announce the official election date. The first round should take place in late March, and a second round could be held in early April.

If Pellegrini wins, Danko argues, the coalition deal should also change. It has been reported that the SNS could be interested in obtaining the jobs of economy minister and speaker (Danko is currently one of four deputy speakers of parliament). Danko has not denied these reports.

However, Hlas has so far refused to re-open the coalition deal. It argues that that deal is based on the results of the parliamentary, not the presidential, elections.

No respect for Pellegrini
A crucial miracle, a cosy miracle and a mysterious miracle light up one family's Christmas.

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The Zinchenkos' Christmas tree. (Source: I. Z.)

Christmas is considered to be a special holiday and a special time  a time of miracles. Of course, they happen sometimes on other days, but now I want to tell you about the magic of my recent Bratislava Christmas.

The first two months in Slovakia were really hard for me  especially because my family had no normal home, just a small room. But winter came, and a chain of events filled our life with real miracles.

The most important miracle

For a long time our family had been searching for a home in Slovakia. For almost two months, almost every day, we had called real estate agencies and apartment owners, gone to meetings, and seen dozens of flats.

But with every visit, our hopes melted. In the queue of those who wanted to rent any flat, we were the last - because of our dog, Pablo.

Once, in the middle of November, for the first time, I went to view one flat alone. As soon as I entered it, I saw bowls for food and water and understood that a dog lived there. Indeed, a man with an old dog lived there. Surprisingly, the 13-year-old pet suggested that we play together. In this single moment, I realised that I was in the right place. It became so clear to me. The details no longer mattered.

The owner of the flat turned out to be a wonderful and kind person, and he understood our situation. In the end, our family settled in a very nice flat in a convenient and cosy area of Bratislava-Ruzinov with all the necessary infrastructure and excellent transport connections.

For us, all of it was really amazing, considering how long the search for a new home took. After moving to the new flat, a feeling of home and peace appeared deep in my soul. This was what I dreamed of from the first day in Slovakia.

The dream came true right before the lighting of the first Advent candle.

The cosy miracle

As most families in Europe, we have a tradition of putting up a Christmas tree, decorating it with toys, garlands and lights.

However, this year, because we were low on finances, we decided to not have any tree. But scrolling through Facebook, I came across a post that said a lady from Bratislava was donating 30 Christmas trees to Ukrainian families. I added my name to the list, but there were already more than 30 people there.

Yet, the next morning, we received a message that we could come and pick up the Christmas tree. For me, it became a real Christmas miracle. As I learned later, that lady decided to give away 50 more trees.

If she reads this - thank you so much, Andrea! The marvellous tree brought the festive spirit to our new home and made this time very joyful.

The mysterious miracle

About seven months ago, when we were still staying in Albania, I accidentally lost my favourite silver earring. I was searching for it for a long time and persistently  both on the street and at home, checking all my clothes and pockets, but with no result.

Then the time to move to Slovakia arrived. All our things were washed, folded and sorted. I had already forgotten about the lost earring  until the day before Christmas. After doing the laundry, I noticed a small object in the washing machine. I took it out... and what did I see? Any guesses? The earring that I lost in Albania! The metal was a little darker, but the stone remained intact.

Such an unexpected find surprised and delighted me. The answer to the question "How has this happened?" may remain a secret forever.

Maybe for some of you, readers, my Christmas miracles will seem common and ordinary but for me, these events were really amazing. I wish, dear readers, you experience plenty of pleasant events that will surprise and delight you, and will restore your faith in miracles.

PS: Happy New Year!
Colder weather will hit Slovakia at the weekend, Ukrainian refugee's three miracles, and Slovaks' bizarre Google searches.

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Good evening. Here is the Friday, January 5 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.

Saturday, January 6, is Epiphany, a public holiday in Slovakia. Most shops will be closed (Delia and Malina will be open).

Turkish giant to arrive in Slovakia

The Turkish e-commerce giant Trendyol, which primarily sells fashion, is planning a major expansion into the eastern European market. By the end of 2024, the firm plans to have two million customers in this region, the Daily Sabah website writes.

In the first quarter of 2024, Trendyol wants to come to Romania, Greece, Hungary and the Czech Republic. Later, Slovakia will also follow.

Trendyol will operate in Slovakia as an online marketplace through which external merchants sell goods. Similar platforms, including About You, Answear, Zoot and Zalando, already operate on the Slovak market.

Trendyol was founded 14 years ago by entrepreneur Demet Mutlu. The Chinese group Alibaba currently owns an 86 percent stake in it. In addition to the platform for the sale of goods from external merchants, the firm has its own clothing brand, transport infrastructure, and runs an online thrift shop.

More stories from The Slovak Spectator website

Politics: SNS leader Andrej Danko is seeking to make Speaker Peter Pellegrini's sexuality a topic ahead of the presidential race in the spring.

SNS leader Andrej Danko is seeking to make Speaker Peter Pellegrini's sexuality a topic ahead of the presidential race in the spring. Business: The R&D super-deduction, a very simple tax relief tool, is available to all businesses in Slovakia that invest in research and development.

The R&D super-deduction, a very simple tax relief tool, is available to all businesses in Slovakia that invest in research and development. Good news: Slovaks made some most strange Google searches in 2023.

If you like what we are doing and want to support good journalism, buy our online subscription with no ads and a print copy of The Slovak Spectator sent to your home in Slovakia. Thank you.

OPINION FOR FRIDAY

A Ukrainian refugee's three Christmastime miracles

(Source: Pixabay)

In her second column, Ukrainian psychologist and refugee Iryna Zinchenko shares three miracles that happened to her in Slovakia around Christmas.

WEEKEND IN SLOVAKIA

Slovakia's first 'Bird Hour'

Birdwatching in Bratislava (Source: Courtesy of watching.sk)

This weekend the Vtacia Hodinka (Bird Hour) project will take place. The project allows for anyone who is interested in observing birds and promoting their well-being to help with counting and gathering data on the feathered animals.



See how to spend your weekend in Slovakia well.

More things that happened in Slovakia:

One day after the police discovered the body of a dead woman in the Bratislava borough of Ruzinov , they found two more dead bodies on Friday. The latter two were found in the borough of Nove Mesto.

Amid speculation that criminal suspect and Smer MP Tibor Gaspar might become Slovakia's next spy agency chief, there are now reports that Marian Zetocha, who also faces serious criminal charges, could be his deputy . The latest claims come from ex-defence minister Jaroslav Nad. Zetocha is a former National Crime Agency (NAKA) official. Like Gaspar, he faces charges as part of the Ocistec (Purgatory) case, in which prosecutors allege that corruption and an organised crime group existed within the police force during previous Smer-led governments. The Slovak Information Service (SIS), Slovakia's main intelligence agency, did not comment on Nad's claim.

An opposition-led protest will take place on SNP Square in Bratislava next Thursday , January 11, at 18:00. Similar protests, all of them demanding that the government halts its planned changes to the Criminal Code, will be held in other towns too.

In Bratislava, a regional prosecutor filed charges against convicted fraudster Marian Kocner and four other men for the illegal surveillance of journalists and other well-known people, including Special Prosecutor Daniel Lipsic. Kocner is alleged to have been the leader of the group.

Czechia and Poland have extended controls on their borders with Slovakia until February 1-2 . Slovakia has decided not to extend border controls after late January; the illegal migration situation is stable, says Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Hlas).

Ex-foreign minister Ivan Korcok, a presidential hopeful, is considering filing a criminal complaint against people who are spreading a hoax about him having a US passport. Korcok says that he has only a Slovak passport.

On Thursday afternoon, January 4, a 28-year-old Bulgarian crashed his car at high speed into the filling station at the D1 highway's Cervenik rest stop, in Trnava Region. His alcohol test came out negative.

WEATHER FOR THE WEEKEND: Saturday will be cloudy, misty and rainy. At higher altitudes, snow will fall instead of rain. The highest daytime temperature will range from 3C to 8C.

The skies will mostly be cloudy on Sunday. Rain, freezing in some places, is expected to fall across a wide area, although it will not last the whole day. Prepare for cold and windy weather as the day progresses. Daytime temperatures will range from 2C to 8C.

On Monday, a frost is expected across the whole country. (SHMU)

NAME DAYS IN SLOVAKIA: Antonia (Jan 6), Bohuslava (Jan 7), Severin (Jan 8)

Thank you for subscribing and reading. It means a lot to us.

P.S. If you have suggestions on how our news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk.

Follow The Slovak Spectator on Facebook and Instagram (@slovakspectator).
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240105/biden-unable-to-explain-what-endgame-is-of-supporting-ukraine---desantis-1115986263.html

Biden Unable to Explain 'What Endgame is' of Supporting Ukraine - DeSantis

Biden Unable to Explain 'What Endgame is' of Supporting Ukraine - DeSantis

Sputnik International

US President Joe Biden is unable to tell the American people "what the endgame is" of supporting Kiev in the Ukraine conflict, Florida Governor and 2024 US presidential candidate Ron DeSantis said on Thursday.

2024-01-05T09:22+0000

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2024-01-05T09:23+0000

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us

us arms for ukraine

joe biden

ron desantis

2024 us presidential election

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"Biden can't even tell us what the endgame is. He will not articulate this," the candidate said during a CNN Town Hall hosted by Kaitlan Collins. The US should focus on defending its own southern border against pressuring migration and against China, but Washington is ignoring these security threats and keeps sending "an awful lot of money" to Ukraine, including money paying for "pensions for bureaucrats, salaries," DeSantis said while questioning "how is that something benefiting the American people." DeSantis vowed not to allow US troops to be sent to fight in Ukraine if he becomes president in 2024. "I think that the pitfall of the US foreign policy over the past 25 years really since the Cold War is getting involved in conflicts where we don't have a clear conception of what we're trying to achieve," DeSantis said, adding that "Biden's weakness invited a lot of the problems that we're seeing around the world." Western countries, including member states of the European Union, have been providing military and financial aid to Kiev since the start of Russia's military operation in Ukraine in February 2022. The Kremlin has consistently warned against continued arms deliveries to Kiev, saying it would lead to further escalation of the conflict. In April 2022, Russia sent a diplomatic note to all NATO countries on the issue of arms supplies to Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned that any cargo containing weapons for Ukraine will become a legitimate target for Russian strikes.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231230/gaza-conflict-gave-biden-admin-chance-to-extricate-itself-from-ukraine-fiasco--expert-1115895855.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231231/5-key-factors-affecting-bidens-chances-to-win-in-2024-1115905542.html

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us presedential elections, ron desantis, desantis slams biden, us arms for ukraine
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240105/big-brother-how-israeli-military-censors-shape-one-us-networks-gaza-coverage-1116004275.html

Big Brother: How Israeli Military Censors Shape One US Networks Gaza Coverage

Big Brother: How Israeli Military Censors Shape One US Networks Gaza Coverage

Sputnik International

Whether it's cultural affinity or the Israel's status as a US ally, its known mainstream US media favors Israel in their ongoing Gaza conflict. One outlet is making an odd effort to ensure Israelis are OK with their reporting.

2024-01-05T21:58+0000

2024-01-05T21:58+0000

2024-01-05T21:54+0000

world

us

israel

palestine-israel conflict

gaza strip

israel-gaza conflict

mainstream media

cnn

israel defense forces (idf)

israeli military censor

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0c/18/1115780829_0:147:3116:1900_1920x0_80_0_0_62526a3914b0285c873a3466afbaee90.jpg

Whether due to cultural affinity or the countrys status as an important US ally, its long been observed that mainstream media in America tends to favor Israel in their ongoing conflict with the Palestinians. But one outlet in particular makes an unusual effort to make sure Israeli authorities are satisfied with their reporting.Analysis published Thursday documented how the television channel CNN treats their coverage of the Palestine-Israel conflict unlike any other journalism the network produces, ensuring Israeli military censors are able to exercise control over its content.Every single Israel-Palestine-related line for reporting must seek approval from the bureau, said one CNN employee who spoke anonymously about the policy. Jim Naureckas of the group Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting slammed the policy. When you have a protocol that routes all stories through one checkpoint, youre interested in control, and the question is who is controlling the story? he said.When reached for comment, a representative for CNN defended the practice. The policy of running stories about Israel or the Palestinians past the Jerusalem bureau has been in place for years, the spokesperson claimed. It is simply down to the fact that there are many unique and complex local nuances that warrant extra scrutiny to make sure our reporting is as precise and accurate as possible.But the policy imbues Israeli reporters and government officials with an air of legitimacy not granted to their Palestinian counterparts. In October, the networks News Standards and Practices division sent an email to employees instructing them how to cover Israels ongoing military operation in Gaza.Hamas controls the government in Gaza and we should describe the Ministry of Health as Hamas-controlled whenever we are referring to casualty statistics or other claims related to the present conflict, read the message.Quotes and information provided by Israeli army and government officials tend to be approved quickly, while those from Palestinians tend to be heavily scrutinized and slowly processed, confirmed the CNN spokesperson.The control exercised by Israeli journalists in the Jerusalem bureau is reportedly stringent at times, with people there even determining specific terms and language that can be used. The bureau isnt obligated to submit content to the IDF before publishing, but censors in the military have intervened against reporting found to be unacceptable in the past. People working there would likely be well aware of the governments preferred line.In another voluntary act of cooperation with Israeli officials, CNN recently agreed to send all footage shot in the Gaza strip to the IDF for approval before its release. The agreement was reached in exchange for IDF protection in the besieged enclave. Executive vice president of the Quincy Institute Trita Parsi slammed the move, saying, In other words, CNN has agreed not to be an independent news outlet. Writer Shailja Patel called the network, officially an IDF propaganda outlet.Several prominent personalities at CNN like anchor Jake Tapper are strong public supporters of Israel. Wolf Blitzer, perhaps the channels most prominent on-air figure, is a self-avowed Zionist who formerly worked for the lobbying group American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).Analyst John McEvoy recently documented how government agencies covertly shape news coverage of Israel on CNN and other media outlets. After the bombing of Gazas al-Ahli Arab Hospital in October sparked massive controversy, think tanks with ties to Western and Israeli intelligence served as sources for analysis in British state media that absolved the IDF of responsibility for the atrocity. The incident reveals one way US-aligned state actors are able to mold reporting even when its presented by more ostensibly neutral journalists.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231124/bbc-journalists-accused-corporation-of-double-standards-in-covering-gaza-conflict-media-reports-1115196950.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20211119/israel-reportedly-fed-us-edited-intelligence-to-justify-downing-gaza-tower-hosting-media-outlets-1090856960.html

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what is the state of the gaza conflict, palestine-israel conflict, why does cnn filter reports through israeli military, us mainstream media coverage of gaza conflict
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240105/does-ukraine-have-any-chance-of-winning-war-of-attrition-1116000626.html

Does Ukraine Have Any Chance of Winning 'War of Attrition'?

Does Ukraine Have Any Chance of Winning 'War of Attrition'?

Sputnik International

The Russian military has a clear advantage in an unfolding war of attrition' in Ukraine, as it quickly gets advanced and upgraded weapons, whereas the Ukrainian army is struggling to operate its "hodgepodge" of legacy NATO equipment, US military veteran Mark Sleboda told Sputnik.

2024-01-05T18:29+0000

2024-01-05T18:29+0000

2024-01-05T18:29+0000

ukraine

russia's special operation in ukraine

opinion

us

russia

military

kiev

t-80

t-90

nato

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Upgraded T-80BVM tanks have been supplied to the Russian units fighting in the Zaporozhye area of the special military operation. The armored vehicles boast a fundamentally new communications system and additional armor modules which enable them to withstand strikes from drones and anti-tank missiles.On the other sides of the barricades, complaints have been heard about the poor performance of the much-lauded German-made Leopard tanks. As it turned out, very few of the Leopard 1 and 2 tanks delivered to Ukraine by Germany were operational with logistics and spare part dilemmas amplifying the problem.According to Mark Sleboda, a Moscow-based international relations security analyst and US military veteran, Ukraine has little if any odds of winning a war of attrition with such equipment.The most interesting upgrades that the new T-80BVM is getting are anti-drone units, according to Sleboda. These are electronic warfare units that are fitted to each individual tank to help jam and stop first-person view and other drone attacks on the tank. The expert pointed out that the reports from the field show very good results with this EW equipment. "The drones are being dragged out of the mud when they're attacking these things," the security analyst remarked.What's more, Russia is not having the logistical problems that the Kiev regime is having with their tanks, the military expert continued. The crux of the matter that the Russians are producing their own tanks; they have spare parts and therefore are capable of repairing their armored vehicles; the Russians have an enormous fleet of older machines they could upgrade; and on top of that the Russian military has been extensively trained to operate those tanks, Sleboda explained.For their part, Ukrainians are "stuck with a hodgepodge of dozens of different systems, a few Challengers, a few Abrams, a few Leopard 2s, a hundred or so Leopard 1s," he noted.In March, Russian President Vladimir Putin told journalists that the Russian Federation would produce more than 1,600 tanks a year, while the total number of these combat vehicles would be more than three times the number of the same equipment in Ukraine's possession.A war of attrition means smashing an adversary's physical capacity to fight, its ability to replenish its stockpiles of weapons and replace its fallen soldiers. It appears that Ukraine does not have much chance of prevailing in this sort of a conflict given the Kiev regime's huge losses on the battlefield (about 160,000 people over six months); dwindling military supplies from the West; and inability to launch full-scale military production in its territory.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240104/russian-troops-in-special-op-zone-receive-upgraded-t-80bvm-tanks-1115973269.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231225/ukraine-seeing-ammo--manpower-dry-up-while-russia-boosts-arms-production-1115808686.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231229/ukraines-pm-panicking-over-wrecked-economy-begging-for-aid---report-1115865257.html

ukraine

russia

kiev

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russia, ukraine war news, war of attrition in ukraine, leopard tanks, soviet tanks, russian military production, russian military industry, t-80bvm tanks, ukrainian logistic problems, dwindling western aid to ukraine, ukraine manpower losses
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240105/ex-pentagon-analyst-mideast-crisis-may-spiral-out-of-control-after-beirut-and-kerman-blasts---1115991140.html

Ex-Pentagon Analyst: Mideast Crisis May Spiral Out of Control After Beirut and Kerman Blasts

Ex-Pentagon Analyst: Mideast Crisis May Spiral Out of Control After Beirut and Kerman Blasts

Sputnik International

The situation in the Middle East may soon intensify with more attacks expected after blasts in Lebanon and Iran, former Pentagon senior security policy analyst Michael Maloof told Sputnik.

2024-01-05T15:23+0000

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middle east

world

palestine-israel conflict

opinion

ebrahim raisi

michael maloof

israel

iraq

iran

pentagon

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Two powerful blasts killed close to 100 people in the Iranian city of Kerman this week, with Daesh (ISIL/ISIS)* claiming responsibility for the terror attack. However, former Pentagon senior security policy analyst Michael Maloof does not rule out that the terrorist group "might be trying to take credit for something as a cover for somebody else."In the wake of the attack, Iranian authorities had suggested that the bombing might be linked to Tehran's opposition to Israel's Gaza war, assuming that Tel Aviv or Washington could have been behind it. President Ebrahim Raisi's deputy, Mohammad Jamshidi, tweeted that: "Make no mistake. The responsibility for this crime lies with the US and Zionist regimes (Israel) and terrorism is just a tool."The US and Israel have strongly denied having a hand in the deadly bombing, claiming that Sunni radical groups, including Daesh, could have carried out the attack. Shortly after, a post on Daesh's Telegram account popped up saying that the terrorist group was behind the blasts. In a statement, the terrorist organization named Omar al-Mowahid and Sayefulla al-Mujahid as the perpetrators.Nonetheless, the bombing has raised a lot of questions, especially given that Saleh al-Arouri, deputy head of the political bureau of Hamas, was killed in a drone strike in southern Beirut just a day before. Al-Arouri's assassination is widely believed to be committed by Israel.The Wall Street Journal claimed on December 1 that Israel's intelligence services were preparing to kill Hamas leaders around the world. Extraterritorial targeted killings of individuals designated as terrorists by Tel Aviv is Israel's decades-long practice touted as a way to prevent terrorist attacks and scale down "collateral damage." Likewise, the use of proxy groups is nothing new for Israel or the US, as per Sputnik's interlocutor.For its part, the US has recently launched a military operation against Houthi rebels in the Red Sea and stepped up attacks on Shiite groups, belonging to the so-called Axis of Resistance, in Iraq."There was what seemed to be a further retaliation this morning against one of the Shia leaders in Baghdad of one of the militant groups," said Maloof. Maloof explained that Iraq is a strategic point for the US, particularly in guarding the troops that are still in Syria. However, the US contingent in Iraq and Syria has been increasingly under attack after the Israeli-Hamas war began."We've had over 100 episodes now within Iraq of US assets being attacked. And responses have been sporadic. But this one was directed against a leader of a Hezbollah faction within Iraq, against Shia militia. I think the United States is trying to do all it can not to escalate things." The former Pentagon officer believes that neither Iran nor Hezbollah seek to escalate tensions further. However, over the past few days the situation has turned tough in the Middle East and there's more to come. "We are in a free fall," he warned."There are going to be others [attacks] unless someone begins to tamp this down a little bit and begins to try and bring some reasoning. But there's no adults in the room anymore," Maloof said.Neither the US nor the EU are regarded as credible when it comes to the Gaza conflict, according to the analyst, who argued that the international community needs to get the UN more activated, but "they tend to be dead on arrival."* Daesh (also known as ISIS/ISIL/IS/Islamic State) is a terrorist group banned in Russia and many other countries.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240104/how-could-deadly-iran-bombing-reshape-emerging-middle-eastern-crisis--1115977714.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240104/dc-think-tank-israels-beirut-bomb-forces-hamas-hezbollah--iran-to-retaliate-1115976026.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240105/several-suspects-in-terrorist-attack-in-iran-detained---interior-minister-1115989267.html

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kerman terror attack, kerman blasts, iran, hamas, al-arouri killing in beirut, lebanon, hezbollah, us military operation against houthis in the red sea, shiite militia's attacks on us bases, us strikes against shia militias in iraq and syria
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240105/germany-sends-ammo-for-leopard-tanks-marder-fighting-vehicles-to-ukraine-1115984882.html

Germany Sends Ammo for Leopard Tanks, Marder Fighting Vehicles to Ukraine

Germany Sends Ammo for Leopard Tanks, Marder Fighting Vehicles to Ukraine

Sputnik International

Germany has supplied another batch of military assistance to Ukraine, including ammunition for Leopard 2 main battle tanks, Marder infantry fighting vehicles, Skynex air defense system and other equipment, the German government said.

2024-01-05T06:13+0000

2024-01-05T06:13+0000

2024-01-05T06:13+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

ukraine

ukrainian crisis

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"Delivered military support to Ukraine: ... ammunition for LEOPARD 2 A6, 90 infantry fighting vehicles MARDER with ammunition and spare parts ... IRIS-T SLM missiles, 1 air defence system SKYNEX with ammunition, 8 air surveillance radar TRML-4D, 44,970 rounds 155mm ammunition," the German government said in a statement on Thursday. Berlin's military shipment to Kiev also included 16 mine clearing tanks Wisent 1, 14 bridge-laying tanks Beaver with spare parts, 212 drone detection systems, 56 ground surveillance radars Go12, 358 vehicles, including trucks, mini-buses, all-terrain vehicles, and 305 assault rifles MK with 47.85 million rounds of ammunition for firearms, the statement read. Germany's arms exports increased by 40% in 2023 and reached a record 11.71 billion euros ($13 billion) as of mid-December 2023, the DPA news agency reported, citing the German Economy Ministry. More than a third of approved arms exports, or 4.15 billion euros worth of weapons, were intended for Ukraine, followed by Norway with 1.2 billion euros, Hungary with 1.03 billion euros and others, the news agency reported. Western countries, including member states of the European Union, have been providing military and financial aid to Kiev since the start of Russia's military operation in Ukraine in February 2022. The Kremlin has consistently warned against continued arms deliveries to Kiev, saying it would lead to further escalation of the conflict. In April 2022, Russia sent a diplomatic note to all NATO countries on the issue of arms supplies to Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned that any cargo containing weapons for Ukraine will become a legitimate target for Russian strikes.Moscow also repeatedly stressed that any Western military equipment used by Ukraine would eventually be decimated by Russian Armed Forces.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240103/leopard-2-tanks-supplied-to-ukraine-are-non-operational--german-mp-1115956739.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231110/ukraine-risks-losing-entire-fleet-of-leopard-tanks-1114870287.html

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russia's special operation in ukraine, ukrainian crisis, arms supplies for ukraine, leopards
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.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240105/jeffrey-epsteins-brother-believes-his-relative-killed-by-federal-govt-in-prison-1115985356.html

Jeffrey Epstein's Brother Believes His Relative Killed by Federal Gov't in Prison

Jeffrey Epstein's Brother Believes His Relative Killed by Federal Gov't in Prison

Sputnik International

Mark Epstein, the brother of American financier Jeffrey Epstein allegedly involved in sex trafficking, on Thursday expressed the belief that his relative had not committed suicide in his prison cell but had been killed by the federal government.

2024-01-05T07:30+0000

2024-01-05T07:30+0000

2024-01-05T07:41+0000

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jeffrey epstein

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"When I first heard he was dead from suicide, I had no reason to doubt it. So I accepted that. But then, after the autopsy, and after Billboard made that asinine statement, I said this was not a suicide ... Well, that's a scary thought that you can be killed in prison by the government," Mark said in an interview with US media personality Tucker Carlson, when asked whether he believed in his brother's suicide. Mark cited a doctor attending the autopsy as saying that Jeffrey's death did not "look like a suicide" but was rather "a homicide." It was Chief Pathologist Barbara Samson who declared suicide to be the cause of Jeffrey's death, Mark recalled, noting that Samson herself had not attended the autopsy. Mark expressed the belief that Samson's decision had prompted the authorities to stop the investigation into the cause of death. "When they call it a suicide, they stop investigating, because if there's a suicide, there's really nothing to investigate ... Case closed. So that's how they can just sort of cover it up. They never did an investigation. They didn't interview the EMTs that were called to the jail. They never interviewed the hospital personnel where his body was shipped," Mark told Carlson. Mark added that he had not been able to reach Samson to ask her questions about the death of Jeffrey, with Carlson saying that she had refused to speak to him as well. The media host recalled Samson's statement in which she declared the death to be a suicide because Jeffrey had previously tried to kill himself, to which Mark replied that Jeffrey's attorney said his brother had been attacked by his cellmate but refused to report it because "he was afraid of retaliation." Mark also said that it "makes no sense" that Jeffrey had killed himself just days before his hearing for a possible bail, adding that he "could see if he went for bail and it was denied" then he "can see him taking himself out," but "not a few days before." Jeffrey's brother also cited some of his own sources as saying that cell blocks had been left unlocked on the night of Jeffrey's death. Moreover, he stated that some other procedures had also been violated, including the shipping of the body, adding that there were a lot of inconsistencies between the facts and the autopsy report, in particular with regard to the circumstances of Jeffrey's death. Last month, a US federal judge ordered the release of nearly 200 names tied to the Epstein case, including accusers and witnesses. Epstein, a convicted sex criminal, died in 2019 while awaiting trial on new sex trafficking charges. Authorities claim that Epstein committed suicide, although his death has been the subject of scrutiny and conspiracy. Epstein, who worked in the financial sector, maintained ties to a number of celebrities and public officials. Epstein owned private islands in the Caribbean Sea, where he would frequently fly associates, fueling speculation about potential criminal activities there.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240104/epstein-files-unsealed-what-have-highly-anticipated-docs-revealed-1115969948.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240101/court-documents-unveiling-150-associates-of-sex-offender-jeffrey-epstein-to-be-made-public--1115923928.html

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america, us, epstein, sex trafficking, jeffrey epstein death
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240105/legitimate-authority-required-to-end-all-foreign-military-presence-in-libya---un-official-1115986598.html

Legitimate Authority Required to End All Foreign Military Presence in Libya - UN Official

Legitimate Authority Required to End All Foreign Military Presence in Libya - UN Official

Sputnik International

A legitimate authority is required to end the foreign military presence in Libya, UN Special Representative for Libya Abdoulaye Bathily told Sputnik.

2024-01-05T09:35+0000

2024-01-05T09:35+0000

2024-01-05T09:35+0000

world

libya

muammar gaddafi

the united nations (un)

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"Ending all foreign military presence in the country cannot be achieved unless there is a legitimate authority that extends its control over the entire Libyan territory and enjoys the trust of all Libyans," Bathily said. The UN official pointed out that a peaceful settlement and real progress in unifying the military and security institutions in Libya is not possible in conditions of political division. At the same time, Bathily said he was satisfied with the statements made by the military leaders in the 5+5 Joint Military Commission (JMC). "In all our meetings, I sensed their high sense of patriotism. They expressed willingness to reunite the Libyan army when the political division is resolved and legitimate institutions are elected," he said. Bathily also said that the JMC achieved some progress on the issue of the presence of foreign military forces in Libya but acknowledged that more work remains to be done to restore respect for Libya's sovereignty. "The degenerating situation in Sudan and the Sahel has compromised efforts to prepare for mercenaries and foreign fighters to return to their countries," he added. In February, the JMC approved the establishment of an integrated mechanism for joint coordination and data exchange to facilitate the full withdrawal of mercenaries and foreign fighters from Libya. Libya has been grappling with multiple crises after the 2011 collective West orchestrated the overthrew of the country's longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi and created a power vacuum that split the nation into rival factions. The United Nations has attempted to fill the void by helping Libyans hold a general election, although internal divisions led it to cancel the vote set for 2021.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231127/libya-closer-than-ever-to-elections---high-state-council-head-1115235040.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230920/obamas-hypocrisy-in-begging-aid-for-libya-after-destroying-country-in-2011-1113522896.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240105/london-police-say-no-probe-launched-into-prince-andrew-after-epstein-files-unsealed-1116003206.html

London Police Say No Probe Launched Into Prince Andrew After Epstein Files Unsealed

London Police Say No Probe Launched Into Prince Andrew After Epstein Files Unsealed

Sputnik International

London police will not probe claims against Prince Andrew after anti-monarchy campaign group Republic filed a report against the royal in connection to new court documents pertaining to the late US financier Jeffrey Epstein.

2024-01-05T19:42+0000

2024-01-05T19:42+0000

2024-01-05T19:38+0000

world

prince andrew

jeffrey epstein

ghislaine maxwell

london

virginia roberts giuffre

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On Thursday, Republic reported Prince Andrew to the police after a US federal court released the first batch of documents that include the names of witnesses and accusers tied to Epstein's case. In the files, Prince Andrew is accused by a woman named Johanna Sjoberg of touching her breast in Epstein's house in 2001. "We are aware of the release of court documents in relation to Jeffrey Epstein. As with any matter, should new and relevant information be brought to our attention we will assess it. No investigation has been launched," the Metropolitan Police were quoted as saying by Sky News. In December, a US federal judge ordered the release of nearly 200 names tied to the Epstein case, including accusers and witnesses. According to the documents, one of the witnesses testified that they had been present during an interaction between Epstein, his then-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, Prince Andrew and Virginia Giuffre, who years later said that the Duke of York raped her when she was 17 years old. Another witness claimed that Prince Andrew had visited Epstein's island. An unnamed woman also claimed that Prince Andrew had got access to her with Maxwell's help.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240105/new-documents-show-bill-clinton-made-threats-to-vanity-fair-to-protect-epstein-himself-1115986830.html

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how is prince andrew tied to jeffrey epstein, what have epstein documents revealed, who has been named on released epstein filings
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240105/new-york-attorney-general-wants-trump-to-pay-370mln-in-civil-fraud-trial---court-documents-1116002963.html

New York Attorney General Wants Trump to Pay $370Mln in Civil Fraud Trial - Court Documents

New York Attorney General Wants Trump to Pay $370Mln in Civil Fraud Trial - Court Documents

Sputnik International

New York Attorney General Letitia James wants to make former president Donald Trump and his fellow defendants pay nearly $370 million for their alleged financial fraud, court documents filed on Friday showed.

2024-01-05T19:33+0000

2024-01-05T19:33+0000

2024-01-05T19:34+0000

americas

donald trump's indictment

donald trump

us

letitia james

new york

fraud

allen weisselberg

presidential race

2024 us presidential election

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"Defendants reaped hundreds of millions of dollars in ill-gotten gains through their unlawful conduct. Record evidence, including the substantively unrebutted testimony of Plaintiffs banking expert Michiel McCarty, supports disgorgement of $370 million, plus pre-judgment interest," New York Attorney General Letitia James argued in the filing. Additionally, the attorney general asked for Trump and his co-defendants, including Allen Weisselberg and Jeffrey McConney, to be barred permanently from serving as officers or directors of any New York corporation. Two of Trump's sons, however, were offered a less stringent outcome, with the AG's office asking for a five-year ban on participating in the real estate industry in the state of New York or serving as an officer or director of any New York corporation or legal entity. The document, which spans almost 100 pages, proceeds to summarize evidence from court, including incidences when both Trump and his associates testified during trial. James brought the civil fraud case against Trump and his associates for allegedly lying about the value of Trump properties. Trump has consistently denied wrongdoing, characterizing the case as a political witch hunt to prevent his re-election. His attorneys have also argued in separate briefs that no fraud has occurred, instead blaming misstatements on accidental accounting errors. The filing comes less than a week before closing arguments in the ongoing civil fraud trial are set to begin on January 11. Penalties are expected to be decided by the presiding judge some time afterward.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240105/us-house-report-reveals-trump-firms-earned-millions-in-foreign-payments-during-presidency-1115980713.html

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/20240105/rival-white-house-spokespeople-caught-in-power-struggle-over-podium-1115998913.html

Rival White House Spokespeople Caught in Power Struggle Over Podium

Rival White House Spokespeople Caught in Power Struggle Over Podium

Sputnik International

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby have a tense relationship sharing the podium, Axios reported on Friday, citing White House sources.

2024-01-05T15:32+0000

2024-01-05T15:32+0000

2024-01-05T15:32+0000

americas

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karine jean-pierre

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While Jean-Pierre holds the sole press secretary position, in practice, she tends to speak on domestic policy matters, while Kirby handles foreign policy, because President Biden reportedly wants both of them to function as spokespeople for the White House. While Kirby ostensibly works for the National Security Council, his role was reportedly ambiguous from the start and he does not report to the councils communications director. When Biden originally offered Jean-Pierre the position, he awkwardly mentioned that she would work with Kirby as a team, leaving her upset and confused as to how things would operate, according to three sources cited in the report. White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain reportedly met with Jean-Pierre to reassure her that she had the role. Furthering tensions, Kirby, a veteran bureaucrat who has previously worked as the press secretary for the Defense and State departments, has reportedly expressed ambitions to eventually hold the White House press secretary position. Kirby has become more influential in Bidens administration, especially as he has taken charge of the White Houses press response to Israels war on Gaza. Kirby has accompanied Jean-Pierre on nearly all press briefing and gaggles since the war. Biden also asks to be personally briefed by Kirby and to have him accompany him on both domestic and international trips, Axios reported.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230906/white-house-rejects-ridiculous-claim-that-staffers-treat-biden-like-a-baby-1113141443.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240105/russian-air-defense-systems-destroy-ukrainian-neptune-anti-ship-missile-over-black-sea-1115988075.html

Russian Air Defense Systems Destroy Ukrainian Neptune Anti-Ship Missile Over Black Sea

Russian Air Defense Systems Destroy Ukrainian Neptune Anti-Ship Missile Over Black Sea

Sputnik International

Ukrainian forces have been carrying out increasing drone and missile strikes against Russian territory lately, with most of these attacks targeting civilian infrastructure.

2024-01-05T10:59+0000

2024-01-05T10:59+0000

2024-01-05T13:19+0000

military

ukrainian crisis

black sea

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Russian air defense systems have destroyed Ukrainian anti-ship missile Neptune over the northwestern part of the Black Sea, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday. "On January 5, 2024, at around 12:30 Moscow time [09:30 GMT], the Kiev regime's attempt to carry out a terrorist attack using the Neptune anti-ship missile at objects in Russian territory, was prevented. The Ukrainian missile was detected and destroyed over the northwestern part of the Black Sea by the air defense systems on duty," the Defense Ministry said.The ministry further noted that the Russian military destroyed eight Storm Shadow cruise missiles, 14 Tochka-U tactical missiles, three S-200 missile systems, 107 rockets for HIMARS, Olkha and Vampir MLRS, three HARM anti-radar missiles and 253 unmanned aerial vehicles in a week. The R-360 Neptune missile weighs 870 kilograms and can carry a warhead weighing 150 kilograms. Its launch range is up to 280 kilometers, its speed is about 900 kilometers per hour. The Ukrainian Armed Forces regularly try to strike Russian territory with Neptune missiles, but Russian air defenses intercept and destroys the shells.Enemy Losses in South Donetsk DirectionRussia's Armed Forces inflicted sustainable damage to Ukrainian troops and equipment in South Donetsk direction. According to Ministry of Defense, enemy losses amounted to up to 950 soldiers and 12 armored vehicles. The ministry specified that the armed forces thwarted five Ukrainian attacks in the area, adding that artillery and aviation inflicted damage to Ukrainian troops near several cities, including Ugledar.Enemy Losses in Kherson DirectionRussia's Armed Forces destroyed up to 225 Ukrainian troops in Kherson direction, as well as tank, Buk air defense system and ammunition depot. In addition, the Russian Army destroyed two armored vehicles, 28 automobiles, 14 boats, 11 artillery guns and a radio-electronic warfare station.High-Precision Strikes on Ukrainian Military InfrastructureRussia's Armed Forces conducted 41 strikes on Ukrainian military infrastructure, including defense firms, air bases, ammunition depots, and fuel storage facilities, as well as locations housing troops, including foreign mercenaries.The strikes were conducted with high-precision weapons and drones.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231110/why-ukraines-neptune-missiles-arent-the-wunderwaffe-kiev-dreams-of-1114869139.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240105/some-1200-trucks-stuck-on-ukrainian-polish-border-due-to-resumed-blockade-1115992413.html

Some 1,200 Trucks Stuck on Ukrainian-Polish Border Due to Resumed Blockade

Some 1,200 Trucks Stuck on Ukrainian-Polish Border Due to Resumed Blockade

Sputnik International

About 2,000 Ukrainian trucks are stuck on the Ukrainian-Polish border after Polish carriers resumed the blockade of the Shehyni-Medyka checkpoint, the Ukrainian Border Guard Service said on Friday.

2024-01-05T15:10+0000

2024-01-05T15:10+0000

2024-01-05T15:10+0000

world

ukraine

poland

border

border crossing

farmers

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"Yesterday after 9 a.m. [07:00 GMT] the blocking of the Medyka checkpoint, which is on the Polish side, resumed ... As of this morning, there is a queue in the direction of Ukraine on the Polish territory of almost 600 cargo vehicles ... Another 1,400 vehicles are in queues in three directions, which are also blocked. Let me remind you that these are the directions to the checkpoints of Rava-Ruska, Krakovets and Yagodin," border guard spokesman Andriy Demchenko told a Ukrainian news telethon. On December 24, truck traffic through the Shehyni-Medyka checkpoint was resumed after Polish carriers and farmers ended their blockade of the border crossing the day before. Polish truckers started blocking automobile checkpoints on the border with Ukraine in early November 2023 to protest what they said was the Polish government's inaction over their loss of business to foreign competitors. Their discontent is associated with the fact that Ukrainian truckers have been exempt from obtaining permits to cross the Polish border since February 2022, which has made their services cheaper and more attractive to customers. The protesters demand the reintroduction of restrictions on Ukrainian truckers entering Poland and a ban on Poland-based transport companies with capital from outside the European Union. The strike was previously expected to last until January.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231203/over-2500-trucks-stuck-at-ukrainian-polish-border-amid-strike-by-drivers---border-guard-1115356002.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240105/south-korea-orders-evacuation-on-yeonpyeong-island-over-norths-shelling--reports-1115984675.html

South Korea Orders Evacuation on Yeonpyeong Island Over North's Shelling  Reports

South Korea Orders Evacuation on Yeonpyeong Island Over North's Shelling  Reports

Sputnik International

South Korea has ordered civilians of Yeonpyeong Island, which borders North Korea in the north, to evacuate to shelters amid "apparent signs of a military provocation" by Pyongyang, South Korean news agency reported on Friday, citing officials.

2024-01-05T05:27+0000

2024-01-05T05:27+0000

2024-01-05T05:27+0000

asia

asian version of nato

north korea

south korea

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The emergency evacuation order was issued at 12:02 p.m. local time (03:02 GMT) and repeated at 12:30 p.m. local time (03:30 GMT) on Friday at the request of the South Korean military, the report cited the local county office as saying."We announced the evacuation after receiving a call from a military unit saying it was carrying out a maritime strike on Yeongpyeong Island as it has a situation with a North Korean provocation," the official was quoted as saying.Earlier it was reported that the North Korean military fired 200 artillery shells into its own territorial waters near South Korean islands of Baengnyongdo and Yeonpyeong.No civilians or South Korean military personnel were reportedly injured, and the shells fell north of the de facto maritime border. The shelling came in the wake of reports that the US and South Korean militaries were conducting "decapitation drills" - in other words, training to assassinate North Korean leaders, including Kim Jong Un himself.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240105/biden-white-house-eyeing-another-firefight-in-asia-with-rok-us-decapitation-drills-1115983312.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240105/ukraine-de-facto-became-natos-testing-ground-for-digital-warfare-against-russia--moscow-1115984386.html

Ukraine De Facto Became NATO's Testing Ground for Digital Warfare Against Russia  Moscow

Ukraine De Facto Became NATO's Testing Ground for Digital Warfare Against Russia  Moscow

Sputnik International

Artur Lyukmanov, the director of the Department of International Information Security of the Russian Foreign Ministry shared with Sputnik key insights about US-backed cyberwar against Russia, waged from Ukrainian territory.

2024-01-05T04:27+0000

2024-01-05T04:27+0000

2024-01-05T04:32+0000

military

ukrainian crisis

us arms for ukraine

cyberwarfare

cyberwar

cyberweapon

scam

online scam

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Ukraine has de facto become a NATO ground for testing methods of fighting Russia in the digital space, Artur Lyukmanov, the director of the Department of International Information Security of the Russian Foreign Ministry, has told Sputnik."Indeed, in the past two years, the domestic information infrastructure has become the target of regular computer attacks. Most of them are carried out from the territory [of Ukraine] or in the interests of [Ukrainian President] Volodymyr Zelensky's regime," Lyukmanov said.He added that "the Kiev authorities, who in the West pose themselves as victims of 'Russian cyber aggression,' boast of sabotage against Russia using information and communication technologies."In November 2023 alone, the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry claimed responsibility for several cyberattacks on Russian information resources, Lyukmanov said."This country has de facto become a NATO testing ground for the methods of warfare in the digital space," Lyukmanov said, adding that "the entire information security sector of Ukraine has been handed over to the external management of Western curators."Ukrainian Army of IT-Scammers Threatens EuropeRussia has repeatedly warned Western countries that Ukraine's US-backed "IT army" would become a problem for Europeans, and this is what exactly has happened as there are more than 1,000 "call centers" in Ukraine that are engaged in the extortion of money, Artur Lyukmanov, the director of the Department of International Information Security of the Russian Foreign Ministry, has told Sputnik."As for the 'IT army,' we are talking, in fact, about a bunch of hackers and telephone fraud, who are mainly engaged in trivial theft. According to our data, there are more than 1,000 'call centers' on the territory of Ukraine engaged in the extortion of money. We have repeatedly warned Western countries that the "IT army" created in spite of Russia and supported by the United States would sooner or later become a problem for ordinary Europeans. After all, this is what exactly has happened," Lyukmanov said.The Russian official recalled that Hungarian authorities said in November 2023 that most of the funds stolen in Hungary "as a result of crimes using information and communication technologies and telephone fraud end up in Ukraine," adding that "the geography and scale of criminal activity of these 'fighters for independence' is much wider and is not limited to Europe."Western Information Security Funds EmbezzledAnglo-Saxon countries send their special services' cyber units to Ukraine to train their hackers engaged in activities against Russia, and the majority of Western funds provided to Ukraine for information security are being embezzled, Artur Lyukmanov, the director of the Department of International Information Security of the Russian Foreign Ministry, has told Sputnik.Lyukmanov said Ukraine's entire information security sector has been handed over to the external management of Western curators."Cyber units of special services and armed forces of Anglo-Saxon countries are sent there [to Ukraine] to train and coordinate hackers engaged in activities against Russia. Substantial technical and financial assistance is provided for this, which, of course, is mostly embezzled. We have no doubts that a significant portion of the budget of the US Cyber Command, which has bloated to a record $13.5 billion, will be spent at the Ukraine direction," Lyukmanov said.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231231/scott-ritter-belgorod-attack-meant-to-provoke-russian-overreaction-prevent-west-from-dumping-kiev-1115918481.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231229/is-talk-of-peace-in-ukraine-a-washington-deception-1115885032.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240105/ukraine-running-law-on-air-defense-supplies-as-russia-steps-up-attacks-1115990324.html

Ukraine Running Low on Air Defense Supplies as Russia Steps Up Attacks

Ukraine Running Low on Air Defense Supplies as Russia Steps Up Attacks

Sputnik International

Late December saw the Russian army conducted a whole array of airstrikes on Ukraines military infrastructure as part of Moscows ongoing special operation.

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Ukrainian forces are "running low" on vital supplies for their air defense systems following intense Russian bombing of Ukraines military infrastructure, Newsweek has reported.This comment came shortly after Oleg Starikov, a retired colonel from the Security Service of Ukraine, declared on his YouTube channel that the Russian military continues to put increasing pressure on the positions of the Ukrainian army.He added that Russian troops are simultaneously conducting intensive offensives in several directions and capturing Ukrainian positions.This came after White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby admitted that there was no more US money for military aid to Ukraine.He was referring to the 54th Presidential Drawdown Authority package, worth up to $250 million, announced on December 27. The package included additional ammunition for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missiles Systems (NASAMS) and more Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS) for the US-supplied M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS).The President [Joe Biden] signed out the last security assistance package for which we had replenishment authority funds. That's it. We need the supplemental [package] passed so that we can provide additional security assistance to Ukraine, the White House National Security Council spokesman stated. He warned that ''there's no other magical pot to dip into to try to get support for [Kiev]."In late December, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that the country's armed forces had carried out a series of missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian military targets, including facilities of the military-industrial complex, military airfields, arsenals and weapons depots.All designated targets were hit as a result of the strikes, which were conducted as part of the ongoing Russian special military operation.Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, for his part, has emphasized that any cargo containing weapons for Ukraine will become a legitimate target for Russia. According to him, the US and NATO are directly involved in the Ukrainian conflict by supplying weapons and training soldiers in the UK, Germany, Italy and other countries.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231211/waning-funding-us-voters-and-gop-aligned-on-ukraine-aid-1115517968.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231207/is-ukraine-aid-dead-analyst-notes-growing-political-opposition-to-us-support-1115441694.html

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A planned $80 million expansion of the Santa Rita Jail in Alameda County has been indefinitely postponed. Noah Berger/Special to the Chronicle 2020

A planned $80 million expansion of the Santa Rita Jail in Alameda County has been indefinitely postponed, the countys General Services Agency told the Board of Supervisors last month, citing operational delays.

The plan, which would have included $26 million in county funds and established a mental health wing inside the 34-year-old facility, faced steep opposition from criminal justice reform and faith-based organizations that argued the project was a poor solution to the jails ongoing challenges, which include more than 50 deaths and at least 15 suicides in the past decade.

State Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, also opposed the project in a Dec. 5, 2023, letter to the director of the State Public Works Board, which is responsible for allocating the state funding needed to complete the project. Citing the jails declining daily population, Skinner questioned whether the project was the best way to meet the terms of a 2022 consent decree obligating the facility to improve access to mental health services.

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The consent decree, reached after a 2018 class-action lawsuit that alleged inhumane treatment of incarcerated people, especially those with mental disabilities, requires the jail to reduce its dependence on solitary confinement, ensure everyone is given at least 14 hours a week outside their cells and to improve access to mental health care.

Specifically, the consent decree requires the jail to find more confidential spaces for people to meet with mental health clinicians and to establish a therapeutic housing unit for those with significant mental health needs. The settlement requires Alameda County to hire more sheriffs deputies and mental health practitioners to work in the Dublin facility, an outcome many incarcerated people and advocates objected to.

We have to do better care inside and we have to have better care outside, Micky Duxbury, who helps run the Stop Deaths in the Jail campaign for the nonprofit Interfaith Coalition for Justice in Our Jails, told the Chronicle before the countys announcement. But the board has not made that happen. They have not worked with people in the community to figure out how to have a facility that meets the needs of the seriously mentally ill.

In November, the coalition presented a letter to the board signed by 78 of its members, including 20 clergy members, that called for better mental health support in the community rather than in the jail, the fifth largest in the nation, and for more stakeholders to be consulted about how to handle mental health in the facility going forward.

Alameda Countys steps to improve access to mental health care in the two years since the settlement has been a mixed bag, said class counsel Amy Xu, an attorney for Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld, the law firm that represents plaintiffs in the class.

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While the county pursued construction of a new wing to house mental health treatment, its plans to make best use of their current space have not been prioritized, Xu said. The county is missing construction deadlines, even for changes to its existing building, she said.

The jail should push forward on the plans to create the confidential spaces in the jail itself, Xu said. Its not absolutely necessary to develop a new space.

Santa Rita Jails population has substantially declined in the last decade, falling from an average daily population of over 3,200 in 2014 to about 2,000 in 2022. That should make more resources and space available to provide mental health support in the community, said Joy George, an organizer for community nonprofit Restore Oakland.

Restore Oakland has been holding demonstrations calling for more investments in community-centered care and treatment, which would decrease the need for mental health care in the jail, making staffing and space issues more manageable while better serving people, she said.

The decision to halt the expansion comes in the wake of a highly publicized settlement over a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Maurice Monk, who died at Santa Rita Jail after being sent there for missing a court date in 2021. Monks family alleged that he was severely neglected for days despite being visibly in crisis. The familys lawsuit also alleged that an internal investigation found that sheriffs deputies may not have checked on Monk and may have forged records that indicated otherwise.

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The county settled with Monks family for $7 million in November and the incident is being investigated by the Alameda County District Attorneys Office and FBI.

The Alameda County General Services Agency declined to comment for this story.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240105/us-house-panels-say-considering-contempt-of-congress-charges-against-hunter-biden-1115999526.html

US House Panels Say Considering Contempt of Congress Charges Against Hunter Biden

US House Panels Say Considering Contempt of Congress Charges Against Hunter Biden

Sputnik International

The US House Judiciary and Oversight panels said on Friday that they are considering contempt of Congress charges against Hunter Biden for seemingly defying a subpoena to testify in a closed-door deposition.

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Hunter Biden blatantly defied two lawful subpoenas when he did not appear for his December deposition. Next week, we will consider a resolution and accompanying report to hold him in contempt of Congress for violating federal law, the House Oversight Committee said in a statement via social media platform X. Biden was set to appear for questioning on December 13, but instead held a press conference that day, where he said he would only answer questions in an open hearing. House lawmakers are investigating the Biden family for alleged criminal activity, including foreign influence peddling and bribery. Both the House judiciary and oversight panel said on Friday that they will hold markups on January 10 to consider a report recommending that the House of Representatives cite Biden for contempt of Congress  a federal criminal offense. In December, the White House said that US President Joe Biden was aware of his sons plans to defy the congressional subpoena. The chairs of the aforementioned House committees consequently wrote a letter to White House Counsel Edward Siskel to inquire about whether Biden may have engaged in a conspiracy to help his son obstruct a proceeding of Congress. On Thursday, US Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene said that Congressman Eric Swalwell likely broke federal law as well by helping Hunter Biden disobey the subpoena; Swalwell attended the press conference alongside Biden and appeared very involved in the matter, Greene said.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240105/us-house-report-reveals-trump-firms-earned-millions-in-foreign-payments-during-presidency-1115980713.html

US House Report Reveals Trump Firms Earned Millions in Foreign Payments During Presidency

US House Report Reveals Trump Firms Earned Millions in Foreign Payments During Presidency

Sputnik International

A report from House Democrats titled "White House For Sale" has revealed payments made to Trump-owned businesses by foreign entities while he was in office.

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Former US President Donald Trumps companies received millions of dollars from foreign governments and companies while serving in the White House, new documents released by House Democrats have revealed.The transactions were detailed in a report titled White House For Sale released on Thursday. It details millions in transactions received by Trump-owned companies, including from China, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and United Arab Emirates among other nations.The biggest spender was China, which spent $5.5 million in total on business connected to Trump, including from Chinas Embassy in the US, a state-owned bank and Hainan Airlines Holding Company.Saudi Arabia placed second, spending more than $615,000 at Trump-owned hotels.There were no payments in the report from Russian entities, despite the long running Democrat conspiracy known as "Russiagate" that Trump conspired with Russia to influence the 2016 election.As the report notes, while Trump handed over the day-to-day operations of his companies to his sons, he declined to divest his assets, as is typical for presidents before entering office. The report claims Trump maintained personal ownership and control of the companies, including the ability to draw on funds without outside oversight.The report seemingly reflects accusations that Republicans have made against President Joe Biden and his family. Last month, House Republicans opened an informal impeachment inquiry into Biden, focusing on foreign business deals made by the presidents family members.Responding to the report, US Rep. James Comer (R-KY) argued the situations are not comparable. The son of the former president, Eric Trump, argued that his fathers hawkish stance on China while in office proves he was not compromised. That narrative is insane, there is no president in United States history who was tougher on China than Donald Trump, he said, noting that the Chinese embassy had signed a 20-year lease in Trump Tower in 2008, long before the elder Trump entered office.The report, however, argues that while some payments were coming in, those same countries were lobbying the Trump administration for certain policies.It also points to comments Trump made during a campaign rally in 2015, bragging about his relationship with Saudi Arabia.Saudi Arabia, I get along great with all of them, he said, according to the report. They buy apartments from me. They spend $40 million, $50 million. Am I supposed to dislike them? I like them very much!The report urges Congress to consider new disclosure rules that will help them obtain more information. The documents come from years of litigation by Democrats to access a portion of Trumps business records. However, once Republicans gained control of Congress, those efforts were halted.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240105/us-house-speaker-considering-direct-talks-with-biden-on-ukraine-aid-border---reports-1116000413.html

US House Speaker Considering Direct Talks With Biden on Ukraine Aid, Border - Reports

US House Speaker Considering Direct Talks With Biden on Ukraine Aid, Border - Reports

Sputnik International

US House Speaker Mike Johnson is contemplating having direct talks with President Joe Biden on the issues of aid for Ukraine and the migrant crisis on the US border with Mexico, Bloomberg reported on Friday.

2024-01-05T16:34+0000

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2024-01-05T16:34+0000

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Johnson is still hopeful that the US Senate finds an acceptable solution, the report said citing a source familiar with the matter. White House officials are currently negotiating with senators regarding Biden's request for $106 billion in supplemental funds of which more than $60 billion for Ukraine. The White House is reportedly leaning toward supporting stricter immigration policies and strengthening border security in exchange for Republicans agreeing with the request on supplemental funds. The United States ran out of funding for Ukraine on December 30 and the Biden administration repeatedly urged Congress to approve more funds.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231231/there-is-no-stomach-in-us-to-continue-funding-ukraine---ex-pentagon-official-1115908133.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240105/us-navy-pays-lockheed-115bln-more-to-build-new-maintenance-sites-for-f-35-1115990710.html

US Navy Pays Lockheed $1.15Bln More to Build New Maintenance Sites For F-35

US Navy Pays Lockheed $1.15Bln More to Build New Maintenance Sites For F-35

Sputnik International

The US Navy has awarded a more than $1.15 billion contract extension to Lockheed Martin to create more maintenance and sustainment sites to ensure the operation of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter fleets of the US armed forces, the Department of Defense announced in a press release.

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"Lockheed Martin Corp., Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded a $1,153,427,771 cost-plus-incentive-fee, fixed-price-incentive-fee modification (P00007) against a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract," the release said on Thursday. The contract extension increases the ceiling to provide site activation and hardware requirements, to include site activation events and training devices, as well as contract management, planning and readiness reviews for the aircraft, the most expensive in history. "Additionally, this effort provides production readiness requirements and production engineering for training device production lines in support of F-35A, F-35B and F-35C aircraft initial sustainment activities for the Air Force, Marine Corps, [and] Navy," the release said. Most of the work on the contract will be performed at Lockheed Martin facilities in Orlando, Florida (82.5%) and Fort Worth, Texas (14.3%) over the next five years and is expected to be completed in December 2028, the Defense Department said.Overhaul of Nuclear Attack SubmarinesThe US Navy is paying a Virginia shipyard an additional nearly $284 million to complete the engineering overhaul of a nuclear attack submarine, the Department of Defense announced in a press release."Huntington Ingalls Industries [of] Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News, Virginia was awarded a $283,939,994 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-15-C-4301) for completion of the USS Columbus (SSN 762) engineered overhaul," the release said on Thursday.Work on the project will be performed in Newport News, Virginia over the next two years and is expected to be completed by December 2025, the Defense Department said.The Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, DC will oversee work on the project, the Defense Department added.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231227/scott-ritter-us-sustainability-in-jeopardy-as-world-turns-against-hegemony-1115837656.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240105/us-reportedly-preparing-for-gaza-war-to-broaden-into-regional-conflict-1115982158.html

US Reportedly Preparing for Gaza War to Broaden Into Regional Conflict

US Reportedly Preparing for Gaza War to Broaden Into Regional Conflict

Sputnik International

The United States is preparing contingency plans for the chance the war in Gaza turns into a regional conflict, Politico reported citing sources familiar with the matter.

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Citing sources familiar with the matter, US media reported on Thursday that US officials are concerned that the risk of the Gaza conflict escalating into a regional conflict is growing. The United States through back channels urged Iran for months to persuade its so-called "proxy forces" to scale back attacks on US forces in the Middle East, but so far no shift in the level of violence is evident, the report said. US intelligence officials are reportedly looking into ways to deter attacks by proxy militants against US forces in Iraq and Syria. The United States is also putting together plans to potentially strike Houthi targets in Yemen if the group's attacks against commercial vessels near the Red Sea continue, according to the report. The sources also claimed that a possible escalation could lead to President Joe Biden becoming more deeply involved in the Middle East as his 2024 election campaign is seeking to focus on domestic issues. The insiders warned that the scenario of a wider conflict in the Middle East is "perilous for Bidens reelection chances."Iran has sternly rejected accusations from Western countries over Tehran's alleged involvement in the Houthi attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea. In addition, Iran emphasized that resistance groups in the Middle East, such as the Houthis, do not receive any instructions from Iran.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231220/journo-us-israel-in-quagmire-as-yemen-expands-gaza-war-into-regional-conflict-1115707682.html

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Two-time O'Brien Award winner and Canada's leading driver for the third consecutive year in 2023, James MacDonald, rung in the new year at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Thursday (Jan. 4) evening with a driving clinic as he won six of the 10 carded races.

As only the second day of racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park for the new season, MacDonald rose his name back to the top of the leaderboard and he kicked off the win series with King Fury in the opener. MacDonald and the Jeff Gillis student got away sixth through the opening panel before racing first over on the outside for the remainder of the mile. With a speedy :28.3 last quarter, King Fury overtook the pacesetting favourite Handsome Hank (Sylvain Filion) at the wire to win by a neck in 1:58. Jonny Boots (Brett MacDonald) completed the triactor.

A sophomore son of Chapter Seven, King Fury ($16.10) added the $17,000 conditioned trot to his resume as his first career victory for owners Gillis and Mac Nichol.

MacDonald followed up in race two with 2023 Pop Up Series victor Goldies Rockin, using a pocket trip and winning by a half length in 1:54 over Golden Leader (Louis-Philippe Roy) and Always B A Star (Jody Jamieson) for owners Sylvain Cote and Robert Bernicky. The Richard Moreau trained five-year-old mare is a winner of 14 races in 69 starts with $106,372. As the designated bettors' choice in the $11,000 distaff claimer, the daughter of Rockin Image paid $5.80 to win.

Returning to victory lane in race five, MacDonald and Stephen Gassien conditioned Gypsy Merlot made every pole a winning one in the $8,000 distaff claiming pace. D Gs Magicmoment (Tyler Borth) finished second and Bookie Baby (Bob McClure) completed the top three. Gypsy Merlot is owned by Beth Doyle for her 35th career victory to go along with $242,266 from 163 career starts. The eight-year-old Feelin Friskie mare paid $6.10 to win from 2-1 odds as the second choice.

Moreau and MacDonald teamed up for a double victory after Hillbilly Jet ($8.80) won by a neck in 1:55 over Playa Duharas (McClure) in second and Greystone Treasure (Guy Gagnon) back in third. The daughter of Ponder won the distaff claiming pace worth $9,000 for owner Normand Beausoleil, moving her career tally to 31 wins with $256,442 banked from 229 track appearances.

Hestonator ($6.30) won by a nose at the light over Stars Treasure in 1:54 for the team of driver MacDonald, trainer Carmen Auciello, and owner Denarben Stables. The four-year-old gelded son of Heston Blue Chip won his second career race from 23 starts in a new career mark, lowering his previous time of 1:54.4. The Serpent (Filion) rounded out the top three.

To complete a six-win night and collect a pair of bookend victories, MacDonald closed out the card with Mcvera ($3.50) from post nine in the distaff claiming pace worth $11,000. The four-year-old daughter of Mcardle won her eighth career race after she won by two lengths in 1:54.4 over Miss Maycee (McClure) and Handbagofcheezies (Austin Sorrie).

The Thursday night six-pack lifted MacDonald's totals to 3,519 career victories with nearly $64 million in purse earnings.

To view Thursday's harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.

(Standardbred Canada)
Longtime horseperson Donald 'Donnie' Robert MacKinnon passed suddenly early Saturday morning, Dec. 30 at his residence in Sydney, N.S.

A father, brother, uncle and friend who will be missed by many, and especially his friends who often gathered at 'Robins,' in Sydney, whom he held the highest regard. Also, his dart buddies in Sydney.

Donnie was predeceased by his parents, Donald 'The Boo' and Anna MacKinnon of New Waterford.

Left to mourn are his precious daughter, Hailey, whom he cherished; his sister, Kay Currie (Sheldon); and his brother, Johnnie (Debbie).

Kay's daughters, with whom Donnie lived with for a number of years while the girls were very young, and as such shared a special bond. Along with both nieces, Anna Coady (Nick) of Ajax, Ont., and Lindsay (Aaron Ross), of New Waterford, Donnie leaves behind his grandnephew, Cole Coady and his grandniece, Charlee Ross. 'Uncle Donnie' is also survived by nephews, Lyle MacKinnon (Danielle Lamey) of New Waterford and Aaron MacKinnon (Kristin) and his grandniece, Lillian MacKinnon, New Brunswick. Donnie also will be sorely missed by his best buddy, confidant, and practically lifetime friend, John Jessome.

Donnie had a lifetime love of animals, most especially his passion for Standardbred horses. Horses, and 'the races,' along with the many horsemen he befriended over the years, were the things he spoke ever so fondly of.

The family is thankful they got to spend a lovely Christmas together shortly before his untimely passing.

Donnie's remains have been entrusted to the care of Basil (whom Donnie held great respect for as a former employee) and the staff of V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home, New Waterford. Cremation has taken place. A visitation will be held on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024 from noon until the time of the service at 2 p.m. all in V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home Chapel, New Waterford. Father Jim Oliver officiating. A reception will follow in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Nova Scotia SPCA - Cape Breton Shelter. Online expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at the V.J. McGillivray website.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Donnie MacKinnon.
Stephanie Lynn Bossence of London, Ont. passed away at Parkwood Hospital on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023 at the age of 37.

Beloved partner of John Shore and his children Riley and Blayne. Loving daughter of Pam Hall and Steve Bossence. She will be greatly missed by her sister Samantha Hall (Denny Firby) and her nephew Caleb.

Stephanie had a special bond with her Aunt Linda and cousin Jason. She will be missed by her uncle Mark and Aunts Patti, Barb and Jean.

Stephanie was an animal lover. Nothing gave her more joy than being on the trail on her trusted horse Stripper and with her dog Maggie. Stephanie was a team leader at Toyota in Woodstock.

Cremation has taken place. A celebration of Stephanies life will be held at the Western Fair Raceway (third floor lounge) on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024 from 1-6 p.m. with words of remembrance at 2 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Josephs Health Care Foundation (Parkwood Hospital Palliative Care) would be appreciated and will be received through the funeral home. Share memories or condolences at the Kebbel Funeral Home website.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Stephanie Bossence.
Due to the recurrent targeting of residential neighbourhoods and public facilities, Idleb University took the precautionary measure of suspending the working hours for both students and staff on Monday.

On the third consecutive day of artillery and rocket attacks by pro-Assad forces in Idleb city and Aleppo countryside, a tragic toll unfolded as nine civilians lost their lives, and over 34 others sustained injuries.

The most recent onslaught occurred on Monday when Assads forces directed their firepower towards the city of Darat Azza and the villages of Kabashin and Burj Haidar in the western countryside of Aleppo. This brutal assault resulted in the death of five civilians and left 11 others wounded.

Among the casualties were children and women, as reported by the White Helmets.

The relentless shelling involved over 50 rockets, impacting critical infrastructure such as an electricity utility facility, a bakery, a mosque, and the bustling market of Darat Azza.

A disturbing video circulated on social media, capturing the magnitude of the rocket shelling inflicted upon the densely populated city.

Focus on Idleb neighbourhoods

On Sunday night, a barrage of rockets launched by Assads forces from the city of Saraqeb struck residential neighbourhoods in Idleb City. According to a correspondent from al-Souria NEt, the attack claimed the lives of 7 civilians and caused substantial damage to both residential and commercial buildings.

In a separate incident on Saturday, another missile bombardment by Assads forces led to a tragic incident in the bustling market of Idleb city. This relentless assault resulted in the death of four civilians, with more than 15 others sustaining injuries, marking a devastating toll on the popular city.

Violation of international norms and conventions

Over the course of the three days of escalating violence, the bombardment extended its reach to encompass the towns of Sarmin and Afes in the eastern countryside of Idleb.

The White Helmets, in a damning report, emphasized that the deliberate targeting of city centers by the Assad regime is clear evidence of its repeated violation of international norms and conventions. The report further highlighted, These crimes committed by regime forces and Russia come within the context of the escalation that Syrians have endured for more than 12 years of war.

On December 25th, a Russian aircraft carried out a horrific massacre against a family residing on a farm near the town of Armanaz in the western countryside of Idleb. This targeted attack resulted in the tragic loss of five civilians from the same family, including a man, his wife, and three of their children. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the devastating toll inflicted upon innocent lives amidst the ongoing conflict.

Suspension of schools and universities

Due to the recurrent targeting of residential neighbourhoods and public facilities, Idleb University took the precautionary measure of suspending the working hours for both students and staff on Monday.

Simultaneously, the Idleb Educational Complex issued a decree halting school hours in Idleb and surrounding villages. Ahmed al-Hassan, the director of education, justified the decision, stating, This action is a direct response to the intense missile bombardment carried out by the criminal regimes forces. Our primary concern is the safety of our children and staff in the face of such threats.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
The Area Agency on Aging and Disabilities of Southwest Washington reports the board will hold its next bimonthly meeting at 1 p.m. Friday at 201 NE 73rd St., Vancouver.

People who want to view the meeting online or people with disabilities who need accommodations should call 360-735-5721 three days before the meeting to ensure their needs are met.

The group is a public agency that supports older adults, adults with disabilities and family caregivers in Cowlitz, Clark, Wahkiakum, Klickitat, Skamania counties, according to its website.
Over 150 children in foster care in Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties had their Christmas wish lists fulfilled by community toy and money donations this holiday season.

In partnership with the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families, Fibre Federal Credit Union created Christmas tag wish lists for the children and placed the tags in Fibre branches along with donation barrels.

Donors could purchase gifts listed on the tags, donate general use items or give money directly to the fund to support the childrens holiday wish lists. Once the initial phase of the drive ended, volunteers used donated funds from community members to fill out the tags that hadnt been fulfilled.

Fibre Federals partnership with the department spans back to the early 2000s, according to Crystal Garrison, manager of marketing and community development for Fibre Federal.

The credit union has a history of giving back to communities it operates in, and it donated almost $200,000 to organizations throughout that range in October. Many of those funds went to Lower Columbia College and PeaceHealth St. Johns Food Farmacy.

Ahead of the drive, Fibre pledged to fill all tags regardless of how many community donations it received, Garrison said. All gifts were purchased, donated and distributed prior to the holidays.
Wow, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray said as she walked through the Cowlitz Indian Tribes mobile medication-assisted treatment van Wednesday.

The van  which offers substance use and mental health treatment to address the impacts of the opioid epidemic  is an effort Murray is hoping to expand through government funding.

I love the van. I think its an amazing vehicle with all the facilities that seems to really allow them to be creative in the future as they see where the needs are, said Murray, D-Wash. To go where people are is a really critical part of health care.

Murray also stopped by the Cowlitz Tribes Vancouver health and human services clinic to talk with Patty Kinswa-Gaiser, the tribes chairwoman, and other tribal leaders.

Their story about what theyre doing, in terms of working with patients in a whole person way, is really intriguing, and so Ive been helping them with some federal funds, Murray said.

Murray, who is the chairwoman of the Senate appropriations committee, has worked to address the growing opioid epidemic by making it a priority in government funding bills.

In December 2022, Murray secured $765,000 in federal funding for the Cowlitz Tribe to renovate its mental health clinic in Longview.

This year, Murray is seeking $700,000 for the Cowlitz Tribe to expand its mobile substance-use treatment services.

Murray said the state has a tremendous need for substance-use disorder treatment, in a statement. She said the Cowlitz Tribes mobile unit is making a difference for those who may not have the resources or ability to travel to resources.

The opioid epidemic is an urgent crisis for every community in Washington state, especially for our tribes, Murray said in a statement issued after the visit. Im absolutely committed to continuing to work at the federal level to provide the resources and support that communities need to address this crisis and break down barriers in access to mental health care and addiction treatment.

The mobile van is operated by the tribes health and human services staff. The van will incorporate primary care, behavioral health, medication-assisted treatment, substance-use treatment and pharmacy services.

Sen. Patty Murray continues to demonstrate a profound understanding for addressing the mental health and substance-use disorder crisis impacting too many of our people, Kinswa-Gaiser said in a statement. Sen. Murrays leadership is enabling culturally appropriate healing, saving lives, and keeping families together across Indian Country and Washington state.
In the annals of Olympias failure and mismanagement, few disasters can match the one happening right now. The states program to replace barriers for salmon and steelhead migration to spawning grounds has spiraled out of control, leaving Washington taxpayers on the hook for a massive bill.

You may have driven past some parts of this out-of-control program. Construction crews are replacing culverts, pipes that allow smaller streams and creeks to run under roads and highways, with larger pipes or bridges. These projects are intended to allow the streams and creeks to flow more naturally and to let spawning fish swim upstream to the gravelly areas where they like to lay their eggs. Its an admirable goal. The problem is the cost.

During a recent legislative hearing at the state Capitol, the Washington State Department of Transportation admitted its culvert-replacement program will cost $7.8 billion. Thats more than four times the original $1.88 billion estimate provided in a federal court case that mandates such work. And more than double the $3.5 billion estimate from just a year ago.

This skyrocketing price tag isnt just a slap in the face to fiscal responsibility. Its a punch in the gut (another, really) to Washingtons working families  who will pay the price in higher fuel prices, grocery bills and taxes.

How did this happen? To answer that, we need to go back a decade. In 2013, a federal court ruled in favor of a group of Native American tribes who filed a lawsuit over the states failure to maintain its culverts well enough for fish, mostly salmon and steelhead, to reach spawning grounds. The court ordered the state to develop a plan and schedule for replacing culverts in and around the Central Puget Sound region.

The state devised a plan, albeit somewhat tentatively, that progressed at a sluggish pace. In contrast, in 2018, a bipartisan group of state legislators came up with a proposal that would have completed the program. However, the governor rejected that proposal. A separate plan would have used federal COVID-relief money to fund culvert replacements. The governor and his supporters ignored that. Then, a few years later, the governor agreed to a poorly-drafted $3.5 billion proposal that allowed work to begin. At that point, some legislators raised questions about the reliability of the governors proposal. He dismissed our concerns.

So, we werent entirely surprised by WSDOTs recent testimony. We expected cost overruns on the $3.5 billion estimate. But the amount of the overruns, more than twice price of the governors proposal, was shocking.

The chair of the states Senate Transportation Committee recently complained to the media that tough choices lie ahead as the culvert-replacement program pulls money away from other transportation projects. But this problem isnt about money or budgets. Its about a state bureaucracy plagued by poor oversight, insufficient project supervision, and decades of one-party control.

For years, as the culvert replacement obligation ballooned in cost, the governor, his bureaucrats at WSDOT, and his allies in the Legislature dithered. They whined about the court orders. They pointed fingers and tried to blame Olympia Republicans. In the meantime, the clock tolled.

At this point in time, each individual fish passage barrier removal averages a staggering $20 million  with some costing up to $100 million, due to complex circumstances like the need to purchase property or build new roads and roundabouts.

And is there any real return on these billions of dollars of Washington taxpayers money? When asked how many of the replaced culverts have resulted in more fish reaching spawning grounds, WSDOT officials said roughly half of the sites are seeing the fish return. But, in many cases, it will take years to see improvements in their numbers. Maybe.

So, where will the money come from to complete this sort-of-effective, out-of-control culvert-replacement project? Will Washington taxpayers be slapped with even higher taxes at the pump? Washington drivers are already facing the third-highest gasoline prices in the nation, behind Hawaii and California. Raising prices even higher will make driving impossible for many working Washingtonians.

There is a solution: The money generated from the governors unpopular cap-and-trade program, more than $2 billion in the last year alone, is not being allocated exclusively to transportation projects, as gas taxes are. Instead, this windfall is being spread across all three of the states primary budgets  operating, transportation and capital. Olympia should direct that money to the culvert-replacement program.

That would help cover the cost overruns. But it wont fix the underlying problem: bureaucratic bungling and delay. These are more than just inconveniences; they are a betrayal of the public trust. Washingtonians deserve better  better oversight, better fiscal responsibility, and better management of state projects. The cost of these failures should not be borne by hardworking individuals and families already grappling with the economic fallout. Its past time for a commitment to managing taxpayer dollars with the competence deserved.
Dell Technologies has introduced ObjectScale version 1.3, a groundbreaking software innovation that redefines the landscape of object storage. This latest release is offered as a fully integrated, turnkey solution, and takes the form of ObjectScale XF960, an all-flash appliance that brings unprecedented speed, sustainability, and security to object storage architecture.

Object storage has rapidly evolved, gaining prominence as primary storage for demanding high-growth workloads like analytics, generative AI (GenAI) and related cloud-native application development. Dell ObjectScale, the scale-out, high-performance containerized object storage built for next-generation demands, empowers organizations to innovate faster with a global namespace, strong S3 compatibility, powerful performance and enterprise-grade security.

The ObjectScale experience reaches new heights with the introduction of ObjectScale version 1.3. The new ObjectScale XF960, built on the latest-generation Dell PowerEdge server, offers unparalleled flexibility, going beyond the software-defined options already available with ObjectScale. ObjectScale is now available as the worlds most powerful object storage appliance custom-built on Kubernetes.

Saravanan Krishnan, general manager, Unstructured Data Solutions, Asia Pacific and Japan, and Greater China, Dell Technologies, said, The latest ObjectScale innovation as a fully integrated, turnkey solution marks a significant step forward in the world of unstructured data management  meeting speed and security demands to drive AI and more, said . With its all-flash appliance XF960, ObjectScale helps organizations to simplify the management and harness the full potential of unstructured data, enabling sophisticated workloads to be flexibly deployed while balancing performance and sustainability.

Optimize and Flex Cloud Environments for GenAI and More

ObjectScale offers exceptional flexibility, allowing organizations to scale from their current requirements to petabytes and beyond. Customers can select between OpEx or CapEx pricing models, providing a seamless experience similar to public cloud services. ObjectScales software-defined solution is ideal for data ingest at edge locations, while the XF960 appliance is designed for robust processing in data centers. When combined with Starburst, ObjectScale sets the foundation for a high-performance, infinitely scalable lakehouse on-premises and across multi-cloud environments, providing endless possibilities.

Furthermore, ObjectScale provides customers with two distinct software-defined options. The Software Bundle enables deployment on organizational infrastructure while Dell manages ObjectScale and Kubernetes. Separately, the As-an-Application option places the responsibility for ObjectScale with Dell, while customers deploy and operate it on Red Hat OpenShift, the industrys leading hybrid cloud application platform powered by Kubernetes.

Red Hat OpenShift offers a more consistent, reliable platform to build, deploy and manage applications across hybrid cloud environments, said Chris Morgan, Senior Director, Hybrid Platforms, Red Hat. By running ObjectScale As-an-Application on Red Hat OpenShift, organizations can more seamlessly provision and scale high-performance object storage for optimized flexibility.

Speed Innovation with Added Performance and Sustainability

AI, machine learning, analytics and cloud-native applications often depend on millisecond latency for optimal performance. The ObjectScale XF960 addresses these requirements by delivering a powerful combination of scale and performance, catering to the need for training algorithms with extensive data within on-premises cloud environments.

ObjectScale presents a solution that leverages microservices and Kubernetes orchestration, backed by one of the highest S3 compatibility levels in the market. The XF960 appliance accelerates development cycles through its robust, latest-generation PowerEdge server performance and full-stack NVMe connectivity, enabling up to 4.3GB/sec reads and 3.3GB/sec writes per node for rapid data access and transfer.

This exceptional XF960performance is complemented by cutting-edge sustainability and efficiency features. Notably, the PowerEdge Smart Cooling technology uses intelligent thermal algorithms and Dells innovative Smart Flow chassis to optimize cooling in critical areas. The new appliance also offers double the density of the previous generation, flexible consumption options to reduce waste and emissions, and comprehensive professional services options including secure data sanitization and destruction.

The latest ObjectScale update shows Dell Technologies is putting even stronger, more intuitive modern object storage technology into the hands of app developers, said Alex Arcilla, Senior Validation Analyst, Enterprise Strategy Group (ESG). The advances of the XF960 all-flash appliance help them move faster to insights and results, backed by the simple turnkey experience from Dell.

Establish Zero Trust at Enterprise Scale

ObjectScale is built from the same codebase as Dell ECS and inherits its trusted, enterprise-proven pedigree. As the first provider to deliver a commercial content-addressable storage (CAS) systemDell CenteraDell Technologies has over 20 years of leadership in object storage. With ObjectScale, customers have the opportunity to apply Dell Technologies established Zero Trust mindset, which incorporates comprehensive built-in security and data protection.

The latest software update and XF960 introduce new features to advance capabilities beyond whats available with public cloud alone. These enhancements include strengthening auditing and compliance through new S3 bucket logging and enhanced S3 replication. Additionally, the
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 was with the department for four years. Provided by Oakland Police Department

Two men charged with murder in the fatal shooting of an undercover Oakland police officer were ordered Thursday to remain held in custody without bail.

The alleged shooter, Mark Sanders, 27, and co-defendant Allen Brown, 28, did not enter pleas during a brief arraignment at Wiley Manuel Courthouse in Oakland. A hearing for them to enter pleas was set for Jan. 18.

Sanders also faces a special allegation that he knew Le was a police officer, among other allegations and charges.

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A third co-defendant, Sebron Russell, 30, was charged with second-degree commercial burglary. Alameda County Superior Court Judge Elena Condes set his bail at $275,000.

Le, 36, was shot about 4:30 a.m. Friday after he and other officers responded to a reported burglary at a cannabis business on Embarcadero near Fifth Avenue, according to police.

Sanders attorney, Annie Beles, on Thursday expressed her condolences to the family and friends of Le and said she didnt have enough evidence to speak about the allegations in detail.

Every person who is charged with a crime is presumed to be innocent unless and until the contrary is proven beyond a reasonable doubt, Beles said outside the courtroom after Sanders arraignment. He is presumed innocent.

Sanders could face life without the possibility of parole if convicted of all charges and allegations.

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Attorneys for Brown and Russell declined to comment or did not respond to requests for comment.

The shooting occurred after a third report of a burglary at the same cannabis business, according to police and court records.

After the third report, officers found an unsecured building and several suspects running from the front door toward awaiting vehicles in a parking lot, according to court records. As the suspects took off east on Embarcadero, at least one of them fired a shot at an undercover vehicle and struck Le in the drivers seat, according to the records.

Investigators allege Sanders fired the gun while Brown was driving their getaway vehicle.

Les fellow officers rushed him to a hospital, where he died about four hours later.

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Interim Police Chief Darren Allison previously said there were two reports of a burglary in progress at the business, and that the first report came in at 1 a.m. At that time officers took a report, investigated and left, Allison said.

According to court records, the business was targeted three times within a few hours. Investigators allege Sanders, Brown and Russell took part in the three burglaries at the cannabis business. Surveillance footage showed that the burglars broke in with tools and took marijuana products, which they loaded in their vehicles, according to court records.

Sanders was arrested about 12:30 a.m. Tuesday in Livermore and booked into Santa Rita Jail, according to jail records. His criminal history includes a manslaughter conviction in Alameda County, according to court records. The East Bay Times reported that Sanders pleaded no contest to the charge in connection with the shooting of an 18-year-old man in 2014 when Sanders was 17.

Brown was arrested about 9:35 p.m. on New Years Eve and Russell was arrested about 1 a.m. New Years Day.

Russells criminal history includes two convictions for second-degree burglary in Alameda and Contra Costa counties, according to court records. He was on probation at the time of Fridays shooting.

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On Thursday, his attorney, Tom Knutsen, asked Condes, the judge, to set bail at $50,000, saying in part that while Russell faced burglary charges, he was not charged in connection with the fatal shooting of Le. Condes set his bail at $200,000 for the burglary charges and $75,000 for an alleged parole violation. The judge cited Russells criminal history.
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:

At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, AI will be featured in homes, sound systems, automobiles, televisions, baby bottles, beds and more.

The annual tech industry fair known as the Consumer Electronics Show is regaining momentum after the pandemic, with artificial intelligence (AI) infusing everything from bicycles to baby bottles.

The gadget extravaganza referred to as CES formally kicks off Tuesday in Las Vegas, boasting more than 3,500 exhibitors and expecting some 130,000 visitors.

CES exhibitor and attendee numbers have jumped each year since the COVID-19 pandemic caused it to be an online-only event in 2021.

"After COVID some people thought they were not going back," Creative Strategies analyst Carolina Milanesi told AFP.

"But, smaller companies that don't have the brand power to get attention they deserve at their own events are deciding to be part of the conversation at CES."

While the show is increasingly a showcase for startups, big brands such as Amazon, Google, Intel, Netflix, Samsung, Sony and TikTok will also be there next week, according to the Consumer Technology Association organizing the event.

AI abounds

Analysts expect it to be the year of AI when it comes to product pitches at CES.

"I do not suggest anyone create a game at CES to take a drink any time someone says AI, because you will be drunk before CES even starts," Techsponential analyst Avi Greengart quipped.

Models on which AI is built have improved dramatically since last CES and the debut of OpenAI's ChatGPT, and they are being applied in meaningful ways for consumers, according to Greengart.

"There is little doubt that the tech ecosystem gathering in Las Vegas will focus on AI everywhere and on-device generative AI," said Forrester principal analyst Thomas Husson.

"The biggest theme will be about how AI can power new invisible and immersive consumer experiences."

Innovations on display at CES will include technology-packed glasses for the blind from Lumen that let wearers know where it is safe to walk, even avoiding puddles, according to the startup.

Meanwhile, Shift Robotics will let people try out its latest Moonwalkers shoes that let people walk at a running pace without breaking a sweat.

AI will be featured in homes, sound systems, automobiles, televisions, baby bottles, beds and more, according to pitches sent out by exhibitors.

"There is going to be a lot of AI and AI-washing similar to the green washing we saw a few years ago," Milanesi said, noting that not all products will deliver.

Car tech galore

Eye-popping televisions from LG and others will be on display, along with automotive innovations as cars and the technology built into them are showcased.

"CES has become an automotive show," analyst Greengart told AFP.

"Cars have become rolling software platforms, or consumer electronics with wheels, and you can be sure there are going to be a lot of announcements."

Chip makers including Intel will spotlight their latest semiconductors designed to handle complex computing tasks. Nvidia plans a special address at CES on Monday focusing on consumer technologies and robotics.

Nvidia chips are in hot demand by companies looking to power generative AI.

Greengart expects health to be among the big CES themes, with sensors built into mirrors, wearables and more to measure vital signs.

L'Oreal chief executive Nicolas Hieronimus will be among the CES keynote speakers for the first time, joining peers from Walmart, Qualcomm and Siemens on the show roster.

Snap co-founder and chief Evan Spiegel will take part in a panel discussion on brand loyalty.

Sustainable progress?

With the recent release of Meta's Quest 3 virtual reality headset and with Apple expected to hit the market early this year with its Vision Pro, a lot of small companies at CES are expected to show off gear to compete in the "spatial computing" and mixed-reality market.

Sustainability promises to be a more meaningful trend at CES than in the past as more companies adopt practices such as environmentally friendly packaging and using recycled materials in products and rechargeable batteries, according to analysts.

"Some of the sustainability gains are starting to get real," Greengart said.

 2024 AFP
A multimillionaire developer and his nephew, accused of bribing San Francisco City Hall employees, pleaded guilty in federal court on Friday. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

A multimillionaire developer and his nephew accused of bribing building inspectors and plan-checkers with cash, meals and interest-free loans pleaded guilty Friday morning to fraud charges, part of an ongoing federal corruption probe that has brought down a widening ring of prominent businesspeople, developers and city bureaucrats.

Siavash Sia Tahbazof, 73, was charged Nov. 9 with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, as were his business partner, Reza Khoshnevisan and his 39-year-old nephew, Bahman Ghassemzadeh. All three men had previously denied the allegations.

Tahbazof and Ghassemzadeh are accused of bribing former senior building inspector Bernie Curran and former plan-checkers Rudy Pada and Cyril Yu to hasten building permits and obtain favorable building inspections.

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Before the proceedings, Tahbazof sat with his wife, Samaneh Sami Tahbazof, and Ghassemzadeh in a mostly empty courtroom.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David Ward said in court that prosecutors would have been able to prove that Ghassemzadeh bribed Pada and Yu with more than $15,000 in cash, meals and drinks.

Ghassemzadeh entered his plea first, acknowledging to Judge Susan Illston that he was giving up many of his rights regarding the charge against him.

Everything in here is true, he said, under questioning whether his plea agreement was accurate.

Tahbazof appeared immediately afterward, answering the same questions, as his wife and nephew looked on.

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Ward said Tahbazofs bribery scheme began as far back as 2003  at the instigation of Pada  in return for Pada signing off on his plans. Ward said Tahbazof also directed his former business partner to make similar payments to Pada, and arranged for him to receive an interest-free loan which he later repaid. Ward also said prosecutors would prove Tahbazof directed his nephew to pay bribes to Yu and that he paid bribes to Curran and loaned him $260,000.

Yu and Pada face their own federal fraud charges. Neither still work for the city. Pada, 68, pleaded guilty in December, and Curran has already been sentenced to a year in federal prison. Khoshnevisans next court date is set for Jan. 12.

Tahbazof and Ghassemzadeh are targets in a multiyear federal corruption probe that has resulted in a growing number of criminal convictions. Prosecutors have charged Mohammed Nuru, former chief of San Francisco Public Works. He was sentenced to seven years in prison for fraud. Also convicted earlier this year was Harlan Kelly, former general manager of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.

Tahbazof and his co-defendants face up to 20 years imprisonment and fines of up to $250,000, but because of sentencing guidelines are likely to face far lower sentences. In court, Tahbazofs attorney said prosecutors and defense counsel had agreed on a suggested sentence of three years probation; six months home confinement, and a $50,000 fine, but Illston warned him that such a sentence was only a suggestion.

I may agree with the government, or not, she said. You understand that?

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Master Xin Xin Shi of the Fa Yun Chan Temple, center, leads a prayer Friday at a vigil in Oakland for police officer Tuan Le, 36, who was shot and killed while responding to a burglary last week. Paul Kuroda/Special to the Chronicle

Incense smoke drifted into the air at Oaklands Pacific Renaissance Plaza on Friday as three Buddhist nuns chanted prayers during a traditional Buddhist ceremony Friday honoring Oakland police officer Tuan Le, who was shot and killed in the line of duty a week ago.

Several community leaders remembered Le for his smile and ability to build bridges between the Oakland Police Department and residents and business owners of Asian descent.

The ceremony took place in a vacant suite at the plaza in the heart of Chinatown, where attendees chanted Buddhist prayers. A large photo of Le, in his police uniform, was placed in the corner of the room.

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Carl Chan, president of the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, said Les family is Buddhist.

Le was born in Vietnam and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2001.

Master Xin Xin Shi of the Fa Yun Chan Temple performs a prayer at a vigil Friday for Oakland police Officer Tuan Le, 36, who was shot and killed while responding to a burglary last week. Paul Kuroda/Special to the Chronicle

The 36-year-old officer was shot about 4:30 a.m. Friday after he and other officers responded to a reported burglary at a cannabis business on Embarcadero near Fifth Avenue. As the suspects took off, at least one of them fired at an unmarked police vehicle and struck Le in the drivers seat, police said.

For many community members of Asian descent, the tragedy felt like losing a family member, Chan said Friday.

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Many of them are afraid of police or dont trust them, Chan said, but Le understood Asian cultures and spoke Vietnamese and a little bit of Chinese.

He was able to bridge the gap, Chan said.

Jennifer Tran, president of the Oakland Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce, described Le as an exemplary public servant.

Tran said Le continued to show up for our communities and businesses.

A memory book for Oakland Police Officer Tuan Le, who was shot and killed while responding to a burglary last week, is displayed at a vigil Friday at the Pacific Renaissance Plaza in Oakland. Paul Kuroda/Special to the Chronicle

Alameda County Supervisor Lena Tam said she met Le at various community events in the citys Chinatown and Little Saigon neighborhoods. Tam said Le was proud to be a police officer and protect the community. She, too, said Le was instrumental in bridging the divide between police and the community.

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Oakland Council Member Noel Gallo said Le attended Oakland High School at the same time as his three daughters.

Were going to miss you, Gallo said from the front of the room.

He added that Oakland needs to get our act together to make streets safer.

Two men were charged this week with murder and other charges in connection with the shooting death of Le. A third man was charged with second-degree burglary in connection with the incident.

Father Jayson Landeza, an Oakland police chaplain, Chan and others praised Le for putting his life on the line to protect the city.

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Unfortunately for the men and women in uniform, when they say goodbye, they know it could be goodbye forever, Chan said.

Among the attendees were Oakland police officers and volunteers known as Blue Angels, a group that patrols the citys Chinatown.
Theyre back. The 2024 Legislature convened on Wednesday. One can expect proposed bills and discussion of some hot button issues as well as what could be a protracted debate on rules. Its likely that state Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon will have something to say about guns in schools.

The Education or Revenue committees will likely address school financing and the Executive Council will seek discussion about putting legislative committee clerks in a pool to provide uniform training while avoiding partisanship.

The council also will offer something to deal with legislative oversight of corrections and social services.

Who should be allowed to carry a gun on school property, beyond on-duty law enforcement officers?

Brewer, a military veteran and gun rights advocate who has been shot at and missed more often than the ducks I hunted as a youth, held forth in an interim study on the question with invited testimony from rural and private school officials, firearms experts and security contractors. No teachers or teachers unions or leaders or school board members from public schools in Nebraskas largest cities made that list.

While he said he hasnt decided on wording for his next gun bill after successfully passing last year a bill eliminating training requirements for carrying concealed handguns, there were some likely targets identified during the hearing, according to the Nebraska Examiner.

Among them: allowing certified law enforcement officers to carry service weapons on school property and at school events when off-duty; giving elected local school boards the authority to allow armed teachers and staff at schools; requiring updated digital mapping of school buildings compatible with mapping software and equipment used by local and state law enforcement.

We dont have enough money to put school resource officers in every school, Brewer said. For those schools  that dont have that advantage, I think we owe it to them to do what we can.

On another gun-related matter, a recent opinion from state Attorney General Mike Hilgers said that executive orders signed by the mayors of Lincoln and Omaha to prohibit firearms on properties owned, leased or managed by the city, including parks and public spaces, are non-binding and cant be enforced. Some senators may want to revisit that issue.

Likewise, lawmakers are expected to look for a solution to another Hilgers opinion concerning ombudsmen for corrections and child welfare issues. Hilgers wrote earlier that such offices, created by the Legislature, were overreaching, and interfered with functions of the executive branch.

Speaker of the Legislature John Arch of Omaha and Clerk of the Legislature Brandon Metzler have discussed placing legislative committee clerks in a separate office instead of the offices of committee chairs to de-politicize the position and to provide training aimed at much-needed adherence to clerks fulfilling the things necessary to perform the tasks with which they are charged.

Arch said that more than 80 corrections were made last session to reports used as a historical and legal record for the work of legislative committees this year. The corrections rate was four times as many as were made in both the 2021 and 2019 sessions, which were also 90 days long.

Eight committee clerks failed to turn in completed reports detailing the efforts of senators on those working groups to the clerks office by the Oct. 1 deadline this year, while three end-of-session reports from the 2023 session are still missing.

One committee clerk forgot to turn on the recording equipment during an interim hearing at the Capitol, meaning no record was created for a portion of the proceedings, while in other situations, recording equipment has been left on to capture senators private conversations.

They have suggested creation of a new Legislative Committee Support Office to provide clerks with uniform training and supervision from legislative staff rather than from state senators who chair committees and hire the clerks as part of their staff.

Metzler said the centralized office would allow the Legislature to operate with fewer committee clerks than it does currently because clerks could be assigned to multiple committees.

Several senators, mostly those who now serve as committee chairs, bristled at the idea of moving the clerk outside of their office, which they said would cut down lines of communication and potentially slow the Legislatures work. Several said clerks work best when they work closely with senators.

Omaha Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh, who is not a committee chair, said she believed having a clerk that was part of the professional staff and not a political ally or former campaign member would benefit the institution as a whole.

Your committee clerk should not be helping you get your bill out; their job is to run the meeting and keep a record, Cavanaugh said. This shouldnt be a political position, and they shouldnt be in control over who is running the record of the Legislature.

Stay tuned. Trust me, the 2024 Legislature will be an interesting session.
Three Conestoga Mall businesses  Dees Hallmark, the Incredible Bulk and LensCrafters  will close their doors this month.

Dees Hallmark and the Incredible Bulk have no plans to reopen anywhere else in Grand Island. An employee at LensCrafters, which will close Jan. 20, said the company hasnt given any indication if it will reopen elsewhere.

The leases for both the Hallmark store and the Incredible Bulk are expiring.

They are among the stores currently operating in the south end of the mall, as Conestoga Mall is being transformed into Conestoga Marketplace.

As part of its going-out-of-business sale, Dees Hallmark is selling everything in the store at a 50% discount.

The store needs to vacate its space by Jan. 31, but may close before then, said owner Colleen Belitz, who lives in Columbus.

Belitz used to own a total of three Hallmark stores  in Columbus, Beatrice and Grand Island. Now the only one left will be in Beatrice. Shes owned the Grand Island business for about 10 years.

The Grand Island Hallmark store originally operated at the south end of the mall before moving to the north end. The business then returned to the south end of the mall because of the demolition of the north end, Belitz said.

Belitz has checked other possible sites in Grand Island. We have, yeah. Since we werent provided a spot in the redevelopment, shes been looking around for eight or 10 months.

She talked to several landlords in Grand Island. Theyve all been really helpful, but we just could not find a spot that worked.

Initially, it looked as though Dees Hallmark could stay in the mall.

When this first started, they did come in and ask if we were interested in a space. And we of course said yes. But she found out later that we werent in their plans for what they wanted the redevelopment to be.

Thats when they told us that we would not be granted a lease, but they did give us the option to move down the hall until we found another spot. It was very nice of them to do that. They didnt have to do it, but they did, Belitz said.

However, she still couldnt come up with a spot that was going to work for us.

The Hallmark store has a good following. We do have fabulous customers, and we wouldnt have those fabulous customers without our fabulous staff. They have just been great throughout this whole process, Belitz said.

She hates the fact that we cant provide them with a job in the future. But there was not much we could do about it without a spot to move to.

Still, Belitz wants to give the staff credit for the great, loyal customer base that we have, because the customers wouldnt come back if we didnt have a great staff to welcome them back and provide a great shopping experience.

The customers allowed the store to stay open all these years.

Theyve just been fabulous over the years and we were fortunate to have the business that we did have with those loyal customers, she said.

The Incredible Bulk, a part of the mall since 1988, will close its doors either Saturday or Sunday. When it does, the mall will say goodbye to two of its fixtures.

Manager Kathy Schmidt would have celebrated 28 years at the store in May. Her coworker, Candy Brooks, has worked at the store 23 years. Since COVID, theyve been the stores only two employees.

Randy Price of Lincoln has owned the Incredible Bulk for 24 years.

Because of reduced foot traffic in the mall, This last year has been horrible, Price said.

The number of tenants has been reduced from more than 100 to about 15, he said. And its just cost me money every month.

The mall is being redeveloped by Woodsonia Real Estate.

Price believes Conestoga Marketplace will be an asset to Grand Island. But he doesnt like the way Woodsonia has treated the current tenants.

He doesnt believe he could have stayed in the mall after his lease expires Feb. 1.

They offered me so many different things, he said. The last thing Woodsonia representatives told him, in nice words, was that they dont want little mom and pop stores anymore in here, he said. They said we wont renew your lease. So could I have gone on? Nope, I dont think so.

I think what theyre doing in Grand Island to that mall is fantastic for Grand Island. But what they did to Incredible Bulk was classless. And thats a fact, he said.

The Incredible Bulk stayed open because Price felt he owed it to Schmidt and Brooks to remain open. I told them Id stay there till the end. And I did.

With the stores closure imminent, people have been taking nostalgic pictures with Kathy and the sign, said Price, who formerly owned two Incredible Bulk stores in Lincoln.

A Hastings woman has purchased the Incredible Bulk name and a sign from Price. So a store of the same name will probably continue in Central Nebraska.

Price feels a loyalty to Schmidt and Brooks. And I love Grand Island. Grand Island treated me awesome. These people that bought the place did not.

He appreciates Woodsonias development abilities.

Ill say it again: What theyre doing for Grand Island is awesome. Thats going to be fantastic for you guys. They could have just done it with a little bit of class.

Schmidt appreciates the Incredible Bulks customers. Shes become friends with some of them. After Schmidt announced the stores closure on Facebook Dec. 27, shes received an outpouring of support.

Much of the stock is also depleted. If you go in there this weekend, dont expect to find any chocolate-covered peanuts.

What will Schmidt do after the store closes?

Im not sure. I havent really looked, she said. Im going to take some time off. I deserve it after working here so long and having to deal with all this closing and stuff like that.
While many have been wondering about the lack of the fluffy white stuff so beloved (or hated) in the winter, the National Weather Service in Hastings has released information on an early-week winter weather storm set to impact the Central Nebraska area.

Travel impacts should be anticipated, said NWS-Hastings Meteorologist Mike Moritz, though as of Friday morning the system didnt seem to be major. That isnt to mean that there wont be a lot of different impacts, however.

Monday afternoon and Monday evening are set for the worst conditions, including snow and wind. Others in the area could also see snow accumulation Monday morning. Activities and events may be impacted. Favored areas for heavier snow include all of north-central Kansas and east of Highway 281 in south central Nebraska.

Heavier snow amounts range from 3-6 inches, with lighter totals estimated in the range of 1-4 inches. The Highway 281 corridor (Columbus down to the state line) appears likely to have heavier amounts.

The system is moving, so the snow should wrap up from west-to-east Monday night, Moritz wrote in the weather notification to media partners. Wind will be an issue beginning about midday Monday through Tuesday midday.

Winds should peak Monday night with gusts up to 40 mph. This will cause snow to drift into Tuesday morning in some areas. Blowing and drifting snow may be problematic for rural areas in relation to visibility and post-snow cleanup.

Other details shared by Moritz include that the snow may start with a wetter consistency initially, before becoming a more dry snow with time. There may be a snow/light rain mix southeast of Hastings and into Kansas early Sunday night or Monday morning. Ice accumulation is generally not expected to be a major factor. Freezing rain is also not generally expected, but the resulting wet from any rain, followed by a change to snow, will freeze on roads and surfaces.

Winter driving safety from NDOT

Know before you go. Before you ever plan to drive, check 511.nebraska.gov or your 511 app for current road conditions.

Make sure you have enough fuel. Keep at least half a tank.

Clear all snow from the hood (especially the air intake vents), roof, windows, and lights. Clear all windows of fog.

If you are forced to stop at the side of the road, put on emergency flashers.

Carrying a cell phone gives you an edge in an emergency. A car charger for the phone battery, or an extra charged battery is also a good idea. Never use the phone while you are driving the car.

Give yourself extra time to travel, plan your route and let someone know your destination, the highways you will travel on, and when you will be expected.

Keep to the main roads. Avoid passing another vehicle when weather conditions are bad.

Wear warm clothing that does not restrict movement. Dressing in layers is always a good idea.

Pack a Vehicle Survival Kit and keep it in the trunk of the car at all times.

For more winter driving safety tips and resources, visit the Nebraska Department of Transportations website.
Debt rescheduling circular to be extended if needed: central bank

By Minh Hue Fri, January 5, 2024 | 5:59 pm GMT+7

The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) will consider extending a circular on debt rescheduling to remove difficulties for businesses and ease the economic situation if needed, a senior official has said.

If the economy and businesses still need Circular 02, about three months before the expiration date, we will propose the government extend it, SBV deputy governor Dao Minh Tu said at a press conference in Hanoi Wednesday.

Circular 02, which provides instructions for credit institutions and foreign branch banks on debt rescheduling and retention of debt category to assist borrowers, was issued in April 2023 and is set to expire on June 30, 2024.

However, debt rescheduling must deliver practical results and avoid potential bad debts in the economy, he stressed.

State Bank of Vietnam Deputy Governor Dao Minh Tu addresses a press conference in Hanoi, January 3, 2024. Photo courtesy of SBV.

Also at the press conference, head of the SBVs Department of Credit for Economic Sectors Ha Thu Giang said that after nearly eight months of implementing Circular 02 (from April 24, 2023 to November 30, 2023), over VND171 trillion ($7.02 billion) worth of principal and interest were restructured and had debt category unchanged by credit institutions, with 175,581 customers benefiting.

Due to difficult economic conditions, bad debt on banks balance sheets has sharply increased, currently at 4.95%, not to mention a large amount of debts sold to the SBV-run Vietnam Assets Management Corporation (VAMC), she added.

Regarding the monetary policy management orientation in 2024, Tu said the State Bank of Vietnam will promote drastic and effective implementation of a project to restructure the system of credit institutions associated with handling bad debts in the 2021-2025 period, with a focus on effectively handling weak banks.

It will direct credit institutions to accelerate the handling and recovery of bad debts, striving to have an on-balance sheet bad debt ratio (excluding debts of weak commercial banks) of below 3% in 2024, he said.

According to MBBank Securities (MSB), extending the validity of Circular 02 will help reduce the pressure of increasing bad debt on banks with a high proportion of real estate loans such as Techcombank, MBBank and VPBank in the context of stuck cash flows from both borrowers and project developers.

Borrowers will have more time to arrange money to repay debt, thereby completely resolving potential bad debts of the banking system, the brokerage said.

In addition, the extension will help gradually reduce provisioning pressure on commercial banks when business results in 2024 are expected to be more positive, increasing their provision buffers, it added.
Singapore-invested firm to build $4.3 mln wastewater treatment factory in southern Vietnam

By Tri Duc Fri, January 5, 2024 | 6:10 pm GMT+7

Koastal Eco Industries Co., Ltd., under Singapores Koastal Group, has signed an EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) contract to build a $4.3-million wastewater treatment plant in Vietnams southern province of Tay Ninh.

The facility, with a daily capacity of 15,000 cubic meters, is set to process all wastewater from plants in the Thanh Thanh Cong Industrial Zone, invested by the namesake company, under conglomerate TTC Group JSC.

Executives of Thanh Thanh Cong and Koastal Eco Industries sign an EPC contract in Tay Ninh province, southern Vietnam, on January 2, 2024. Photo courtesy of Koastal Eco Industries.

Construction of the facility is set to begin later this quarter. The facility, also Koastal Eco Industries sixth project in Vietnam, will process the post-treatment mud into compost fertilizer.

The Thanh Thanh Cong Industrial Zone is now home to over 100 businesses with over 30,000 laborers in Tay Ninh and nearby provinces. A majority of businesses in the industrial park are in the sector of dyeing fabric. The industrial park will be expanded by 500 hectares, to 1,520 hectares in total, with a goal of becoming an eco-industrial park.

Tay Ninh province recorded a gross regional domestic product (GRDP) growth of 6.12% in 2023, according to provincial data. The growth was driven by an 8.08% increase of the industry sector, 2.96% of agriculture, 7.64% of construction, and 6.05% of services. The province's index of industrial production (IIP) rose 9.03% last year.
Vietnam welcomes 395,000 new securities accounts in 2023

By Anh Minh Fri, January 5, 2024 | 11:08 am GMT+7

Vietnam recorded 395,290 new securities accounts in 2023 despite a massive number of inactive accounts being removed during the year.

There were nearly 7.25 million accounts registered under Vietnamese names, including 7.23 million individuals, or 99.77% of domestic traders, data from the Vietnam Securities Depository showed.

During the year, 392,617 domestic accounts were opened, including 1,508 institutions.

Meanwhile, the number of foreign accounts increased by 2,673 last year, including 223 institutional players.

In December, 39,600 new accounts were opened, marking the first increase after two months of decline as brokerage houses deleted inactive accounts at the request of the government.

The VN-Index, which tracks the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange, rose 3.27% last month, leading to a full-year increase of 12.2%.

Under a newly-released strategy for stock market development, the government aims to have nine million securities accounts in 2025 and 11 million in 2030, with priority given to developing institutional, professional, and foreign traders.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in mid-December asked the ministries of Finance and Public Security to review investor data before cleaning up at securities companies to improve stock market safety.
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WASHINGTON  Nikki Haley's rivals for the Republican presidential nomination are ratcheting up their attacks on her as Iowa's first-in-the-nation voting draws closer.

Election 2024 Haley Republican presidential candidate former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley greets voters at a town hall campaign event, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024, in Rye, N.H.

The barbed news releases, attack ads and amped up back-and-forth come as the former South Carolina governor and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis battle for a distant second place to former President Donald Trump with less than two weeks until Iowa's leadoff caucuses. DeSantis and Haley each appeared on CNN Thursday night for separate town halls in Iowa.

For months, Trump has trained his focus on DeSantis, who has long argued that he's the party's best chance at unseating Trump from atop the field. But in recent weeks, Trump's campaign has increasingly shifted its target to Haley, calling her a "sellout" and criticizing her stances on taxes and the U.S.-Mexico border.

Her campaign on Thursday said Trump's attention to Haley, who served as his United Nations ambassador, reflects his concern that she is gaining on him.

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DeSantis, who is preparing to face off against Haley next week in their first one-on-one debate, jumped on Haley, too, for telling a roomful of likely voters Wednesday night in New Hampshire  the first-in-the-nation GOP primary state  that they would have the opportunity to "correct" the decision made by Iowa caucusgoers. The comment could signal that she not only doesn't expect to win Iowa but that she doesn't expect to place second to DeSantis.

"You know, Iowa starts it," said Haley. "You know that you correct it ... and then my sweet state of South Carolina brings it home."

DeSantis' campaign called Haley's comments "insulting" to Iowa voters. In a radio interview Thursday, he said her characterization was "disrespectful."

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, who has endorsed DeSantis, posted on X, "I trust Iowans to make their own decisions. No 'corrections' needed!"

Asked by CNN Thursday night about her characterization of the caucuses  and drawing an initial groan from the crowd  Haley made light of her comments, saying the early states have a friendly rivalry, faulting politics for being "too serious and too dramatic" and pointing out, "If I didn't love Iowa, I wouldn't keep coming to Iowa."

DeSantis has also been critical of Haley's omission last week of slavery when a voter asked her about the causes of the Civil War  a response she walked back 12 hours later.

"You know, I noticed that Nikki Haley has had some problems with some basic American history," DeSantis said last week in Iowa.

Haley was asked again about her Civil War answer Thursday night, giving a wide-ranging response that ran from facing discrimination as a girl of Indian descent growing up in rural South Carolina to her push as governor that the state remove the Confederate battle flag from its Statehouse grounds.

Moments later, DeSantis' campaign posted a clip on X with the comment, "DAY 9 of Nikki Haley trying to clean up her Civil War gaffe." It also pointed to a quote from her response: "I had Black friends growing up."

Trump's conservative allies have recirculated an old clip of the then-South Carolina governor urging an audience not to reference people who entered the U.S. illegally as "criminals." Those comments came a month after Trump's 2015 launch speech, in which he said immigrants from Mexico are bringing drugs and crime with them.

Make America Great Again Inc., Trump's super PAC, sent out a release blasting Haley's 2015 border comments  without pointing out when they occurred. In her presidential campaign, Haley has argued for more border security, visiting the U.S.-Mexico border and arguing that "we need to do whatever it takes to actually stop this inflow of illegal immigrants."

On Wednesday, Trump's campaign went up with an ad characterizing Haley as weak on immigration and lumping her in with President Joe Biden in opposing Trump's commitment to a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

In response, Haley's campaign sent out a fact check, pointing out that she had said in 2015 that more than a wall was needed to secure the border and that, as governor, she had fought to implement E-Verify. That program required South Carolina employers to substantiate workers' permission to work legally in the state  something she has pledged to take nationwide if elected president.

Haley's campaign said Trump's increasing focus on her showed that he was getting nervous.

"Donald Trump must be seeing the same Nikki momentum we're seeing, and he's clearly threatened," spokesperson Olivia Perez-Cubas said. "This is a two-person race between Nikki and Trump."
COLUMBIA  A longtime former Columbia city council member will join the South Carolina Senate, becoming just the sixth woman currently serving in the 46-member legislative chamber.

Democrat Tameika Isaac Devine won a special election Tuesday to take the Columbia-area seat previously held by the late John Scott, a Democratic lawmaker who spent more than 30 years in the South Carolina General Assembly before his death this August.

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Isaac Devine got over 85% of the vote in the Democratic stronghold, according to unofficial results from the South Carolina Election Commission. Only 7.5% of registered voters reportedly turned out for the contest.

The results are expected to be certified Thursday ahead of next week's start to the 2024 legislative session.

Isaac Devine lost a tight runoff in the 2021 Columbia mayoral race. A real estate attorney, she served on the Columbia City Council from 2002 to 2021. Her campaign touted her leadership on a training program for unemployed citizens, as well as efforts to establish a criminal domestic court and homeless court. She also founded a consulting firm that helps working mothers balance professional success with family life.

Bob Coble, the Columbia mayor when Isaac Devine first joined the city council, wrote that the senator-elect will "work with all sides" like she did at the local level.

Congratulations also came from independent state Sen. Mia McLeod, a member of the all-woman bipartisan coalition recognized nationally for their filibuster last year of a near-total abortion ban.

"and then there were 6!!!" McLeod wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. "Thank you, Senate District 19, for sending us another strong Sister-Senator!!"
Heres a list of seven Bay Area problems that deserve the diss track treatment. Gennadiy Kravchenko/Getty Images

When I think of famous rap diss tracks, a few artists come to mind: Nicki Minaj, Jay-Z, Eminem, and now, San Franciscos own Chino Yang.

Admittedly, Id never heard of Yang until December, when he posted the music video for his song San Francisco Our Home on YouTube. In the self-described diss track, the Kung Food and Aceking BBQ restaurant owner is critical of San Francisco Mayor London Breed, citing ongoing problems like property crime (his restaurants have been broken into multiple times), violence against the Asian community and a drug epidemic that he says has turned the city into a zombie land.

Yang also raps that Breed aint nothing but a clown and invites listeners to throw your two middle fingers up to the mayor.

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But it wasnt the diss track itself that caught my attention: It was the news that San Francisco NAACP president Rev. Amos Brown held a news conference Dec. 28, defending the mayor against the track.

Things got weirder when Yang issued a video apology (of sorts) to Breed after he said he received threats from an unnamed person who told him they had connection to presidents, senators, all the top elites.

Yang later alleged Brown was the person who threatened him, which Brown denies. Most recently, Brown apologized to Yang, saying Even though it is not my intention, I acknowledge the words that I used could be interpreted as intimidating and silencing. What happened was unfortunate. But we understand each other now."

Breed herself has not commented on the video.

Who knew San Francisco politics had so much in common with the movie 8 Mile?

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In an homage to Yang and other local rappers, I offer my takes on some other Bay Area fixtures worthy of diss tracks.

A screenshot from rapper Andy Chino Yangs video for his track, San Francisco Our Home, which has been denounced by some local leaders as divisive and disrespectful of Mayor London Breed. Screenshot via YouTube

The smell on BART

Whats the smell? What the hell? Its gross, it stinks, its foul. Did someone lose control of their lower bowel? Stop the engine and halt the motor, I gotta get off and escape this odor. I thought the removal of the carpets would help, but that awful rubbery/body odor/oil/rotting smell that has long been a signature of Bay Area Rapid Transit trains lingers. In December, the odor was commented on so much in Oakland that it made the news. Im not saying all BARTs declining ridership issues would be solved by eliminating the odor, but it couldnt hurt.

Painting houses black

Over the past decade, one of the new signs your neighborhood is being gentrified is a once colorful Victorian house being given the black paint treatment. Whenever I see a house newly painted like the Grim Reaper, I automatically assume rents in the area will go up. If you see more than three black houses in a two-block radius, start looking for a new place immediately.

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Painting a Victorian black is hella wack. What gives you cause? Draining hoods of their color is a reverse Wizard of Oz and it makes a native pause. Pour one out for the rainbow houses of yesterday, cant wait for this colorless trend to go away. When Jefferson Airplane famously painted its neoclassical house on Fulton Street black in the 1960s, it was daring and edgy (according to my friends who were there). Now a black house just feels like a way of spotting new money.

Broken bus stop glass

Broken glass, what a dumbass.You puncture seniors walkers and make dog paws bleed. Forget fare inspectors, cleanup agents are what Muni needs! Bus stops surrounded by their own broken glass have become so common in San Francisco that the shard could be the citys new mascot. Generally, where theres broken bus stop glass theres also a broken electronic schedule. Like the smell on BART, these are not things that entice one to use public transit. I once pointed out a destroyed stop to a Muni fare inspector, but he was more interested in ticketing a college student who lost his transfer than dealing with the public safety risk.

Entitled Tesla drivers

The Tesla gonna mess ya. Stop signs are a suggestion, well cut you off to avoid traffic congestion. Whats a turn signal, and do I have to obey the light? Na, traffic laws are for chumps, come at me if you want to fight. It takes a lot to get an environmentally conscious San Franciscan to have bad feelings about an electric car, but Tesla has two things working against it: CEO Elon Musk, and some of the exceptionally entitled people who drive its vehicles. Its like they think the extra karma credit they earn from not driving a fume-spewing vehicle allows them to flout traffic laws and basic courtesy.

Housing prices

The cost of housing is too high, lots of natives will say goodbye. We love this place yet Realtors dont love us back, but its not housing the region lacks. Speculators, flippers and out-of-town investors helped create this mess, how can a person who lives here not be stressed? When I recently saw a small house two blocks from one of the larger unhoused encampments in San Francisco sell for $2.4 million, it felt bitterly ironic. When starter homes are selling for that much and the rents keep rising, its painfully discouraging for people who want to remain in the Bay Area.

Public Works incompetence

In all seriousness, we havent had crosswalks in about six months in my neighborhood since a sewer project was finished, and half the roads in San Francisco are like taking a spin on Mr. Toads Wild Ride at Disneyland.

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Bump, bump, bounce down OFarrell. Cruise our roads at your peril. Filling potholes is for suckers, driving here must be terrifying for truckers. And why do I have to walk so many blocks to throw away my trash? Is the city really that low on public works cash? And where are all the garbage cans? If the city can pull it together for DreamForce and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, why cant they make San Francisco functional for the people who live here?

Public figures who try to stifle criticism

Not thinking of anyone in particular here, but adults who enter politics know that being criticized is a part of their job. Trying to suppress legitimate dissent isnt just distasteful, its un-American.
SAVANNAH, Ga.  The Georgia Department of Transportation said Wednesday it has chosen a general contractor to oversee a $189 million project to raise Savannah's towering suspension bridge so that larger cargo ships can pass underneath and reach one of the nation's busiest seaports.

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Maintenance and construction on the Eugene Talmadge Memorial Bridge are expected to begin in the first quarter of 2025, the DOT said in a statement announcing that Kiewit Infrastructure South Co. will serve as general contractor.

Built in 1991, the bridge spans the Savannah River at the Georgia-South Carolina state line. Cargo ships passing Savannah's downtown riverfront must sail underneath the bridge to reach the Port of Savannah, the fourth-busiest U.S. port for cargo shipped in containers.

Officials with the Georgia Ports Authority began more than five years ago calling for the bridge to be replaced, saying its 185 feet (57 meters) of clearance will eventually be too low to accommodate growing classes of cargo ships.

The DOT's solution, at least for now, is to replace and shorten the bridge's massive cables to raise its center span up to an additional 20 feet (6 meters). The agency says most of the work can be done without closing the bridge to traffic.

"That's something we're confident can be accomplished in a safe fashion," said Kyle Collins, a Georgia DOT spokesman, "though there will have to be some temporary closures."

The DOT's board signed off on the Savannah bridge raising a year ago, seeking to hire a general contractor early so the firm could consult on the project while it's still in the design phase.

Kiewit Infrastructure South was awarded $6.5 million for pre-construction services, Collins said. The company will provide the DOT with additional costs for construction once there's a final design. The current total cost estimate is $189 million, Collins said.

Griff Lynch, president and CEO of the Georgia Ports Authority, has called out the Talmadge Bridge as an impediment to future growth at Savannah's port, which handled 5.4 million container units in the fiscal year that ended June 30.

The authority is spending $1.9 billion to grow Savannah's cargo handling capacity. Lynch says that investment needs to be met with taxpayer-funded infrastructure upgrades. Less than two years after the Army Corps of Engineers finished a $973 million deepening of the Savannah River shipping channel, the authority is already seeking congressional authorization to study another round of dredging.

Meanwhile, even as it prepares to raise the Talmadge Bridge, the Georgia DOT is simultaneously studying a long-term project to either replace it altogether with an even taller bridge or build a tunnel allowing cars to travel beneath the river. A September 2022 report estimates costs could reach $2 billion.

Unless Georgia lawmakers intervene, the bridge will still be named for Talmadge, a segregationist who served three terms as Georgia's governor between 1933 and 1942. Over the past decade, Savannah's city council and others including the Girl Scouts of the USA, which was founded in Savannah, have sought to strip Talmadge's name from the bridge.

In written responses to public comments on the bridge project last August, the DOT noted that the power to name roads and bridges rests with Georgia's state legislature.
Illegal firearms and ammunition recently handed over to the police by two citizens.

The focus is to enhance and improve community safety and security by reducing the threat of illegal firearms and ammunition as well as reducing the likelihood of illegal firearms getting into the hands of criminals.





That was the objective outlined by Enville Williams, Acting Commissioner of Police (CoP) as he announced a 90-day gun amnesty scheduled to begin on March 1 and run until May 31, 2024.





"We are asking persons in possession of illicit firearms and ammunition to turn them in to the police without being prosecuted for them, the CoP said at a press briefing on January 3.





A series of consultations are expected to begin soon throughout the country, he said, to bring members of the public up to speed on the details of the amnesty.





If anything else, the hierarchy of the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) seem to be optimistic as it relates to the success of the pending gun amnesty.





According to the CoP, during 2023, six illegal firearms and 33 rounds of ammunition were turned over to the police.





He appealed to residents who might be in possession of illegal firarms to contact your local police station, and he gave the assurance that that they will not be prosecuted.





Williams told members of the media that the police were able to seize 29 illegal firearms and 290 rounds of ammunition in 2023.





And according to him, operation Operation TIFOS  Take Illicit Firearms Off the Streets, was expected to continue in 2024 as law enforcement authorities continue to deal with gun violence in the country and an increasing murder count.





Of the 52 murders committed in 2023, 43 were gun related, this according to Trevor Bailey, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) in charge of crime.
Basdeo Panday, a former prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago who was the first person of Indian descent to hold that position, passed away on Monday 1st January, 2024 in Jacksonville, Florida where he had gone for treatment of an undisclosed illness. He was 90.





He was born on May 25, 1933, in South Trinidad, to a family that had been brought from British India to Trinidad under indentureship.





His death was announced in a statement that his daughter, Mickela Panday, posted on social media.





She wrote: "It is with deep sorrow, we would like to share that our loving husband and father, Basdeo Panday passed away on 1st January 2024, surrounded by his family.





"In life and death he was a fighter. He passed with his boots on, keeping everybody around him on their toes with his wit and humour. He will live on in all of us, remembered as a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, leader, and friend.





"He was an inspiration to his family and everybody that knew him. We will continue to celebrate his life and treasure the time we were able to spend with him,





His political travails

Panday served twice as prime minister from 1995 to 2001 following key elections that marked a turning point for the Indo-Trinidadians community on the twin-island nation, whose population is currently 1,221,047 (July 2021 est.) as follows: East Indian 35.4%, African descent 34.2%, mixed - other 15.3%, mixed - African/East Indian 7.7%, other 1.3%, unspecified 6.2%.





Shortly after beginning his first term as prime minister, Panday granted the Spiritual Baptists a national holiday, known as Spiritual/Shouter Baptist Liberation Day and celebrated annually on March 30.





He also decreed that Indian Arrival Day (May 30) would forever be named as such, rather than simply "Arrival Day after 1996.





Basdeo Panday was well known for his religious pluralism and often quoted from the scriptures of the different religions in Trinidad and Tobago.





He was a lawyer, politician, trade unionist, economist, actor, and former civil servant.





Wilipedia writes: "On 8 February 1975, amidst the backdrop of labour struggles, Panday, then President General of the All Trinidad Sugar and General Workers Trade Union, met with fellow union leaders George Weekes and Raffique Shah. Together, they founded the United Labour Front. All three were arrested on 18 March during an attempted march from San Fernando to Port-of-Spain, but were found not guilty on 22 April on the charge of leading a public march without permission.





He was also co-founder of the political parties National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR), and the United National Congress (UNC) which is today the Parliamentary Opposition in Trinidad and Tobago.

He served as leader of the UNC until 2010.





In 2005, Panday and others were charged with corruption and arrested in a case related to an airport construction contract. The charges were later dropped, with supporters claiming the allegations were political persecution.





In 2006, he was convicted of failing to declare a bank account in London and imprisoned; however, on 20 March 2007, that conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal.





The measure of the man





Panday celebrated his 90th birthday on May 25, saying he had no intention of being anywhere else in the world other than his beloved Trinidad and Tobago, with family and friends.





So when his family suggested a celebration in the Maldives or Disney World, Panday declined, saying, "My desire was not to be anywhere else on this my 90th birthday than to be with my family and dear friends whom I have neglected for so many years while I was consumed with politics.





To please him, a religious celebration was held in his honour.





Panday said during the celebration he was grateful to those responsible for helping him exceed his biblical allotment of three score and ten by 20 years.





And in his usual jovial manner, Panday explained why: "Two former sugar workers were arguing over the reason I lived so long and one said boy somebody up there likes him. The other one said, boy dont be stupid, nobody up there likes him...somebody up there know him.





He continued, "And if he should come up here, the first thing he would do is ask for shorter hours and higher wages for the angels. And if he doesnt get it, first thing he would do is strike, lock out, go slow. So leave that fella right down there.





Panday said his wish "before going to the great beyond would be to spend time with his family and very good friends.




"Haiti is not hopeless, the President of the UN General Assembly said on Monday during a meeting addressing the multiple crises besetting the Caribbean nation, alongside the presidents of the UN Security Council and Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).





Dennis Francis, a veteran diplomat from Trinidad and Tobago, said he had returned from a visit to Haiti at the end of last month "with hope and the full knowledge that while Haiti is facing extraordinary challenges, its future holds indomitable promise.





The country has seen almost 4,000 killed and 3,000 kidnapped in gang-related violence just this year, following a political, economic and security crisis that has left much of the country descend into lawlessness.





Driving in the streets of Port au Prince, I saw visible signs of hope  sustained by the undying resilience and perseverance of the Haitian people  who seem to create inventive ways to meet the daily challenges, Mr. Francis told the meeting.





"There is, in my view, no shortage of potential in Haiti  and it is not too late that, as the international community, we must do something to accompany the Haitian people, further, he said noting that the most pressing need is for greater security.





"Uncontrollable violence has robbed and continues to rob the Haitian people of their freedoms and rights; and it is stifling the countrys path to sustainable development, he said.




The St. Johns RC Church in Mesopotamia as it looks today.

St John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Parish celebrated the 100th anniversary of the church in Mesopotamia with a Programme of Activities from December 6th 2022 to June 4th 2023, under the theme "ONE PEOPLE OF GOD JOURNEYING TOGETHER IN CHRIST.





The church, which was pioneered by Fr Hubert Putz since 1901 and completed by Fr Charles Verbeke, was consecrated by Archibishop John P. Dowling on June 3rd 1923, with an estimated 2,000 persons assembling at the Da Costas bridge, and marching in the area of the Police Station, towards the church at Cane End. The occasion was remembered as an occasion of great solemnity.





The activities which were held to commemorate this milestone included a Media Launch on December 6th 2022; Community Concert on December 11th 2022, celebration of the Feast of St John the Evangelist, the Patron Saint to whom the church was dedicated, on December 27th 2022; Prayer breakfasts for men on February 18th 2023 and March 18th 2023.





The final event was a solemn Procession and Holy Mass on Sunday June 4th 2023, which was presided over by His Lordship Bishop Gerard County, Bishop of the Diocese of Kingstown.





To record the 100th anniversary events and the history of the church in Mesopotamia and sister communities, the Pastors and Parishioners are making available to members of the public, friends and supporters a Commemorative Magazine, which they refer to as a "Masterpiece; a "remarkable consummate piece of workmanship, covering the life, work, and journey of the church during the period June 3rd 1923 to June 4th 2023.





Copies can be purchased at a modest cost of $40.00 by calling the Parish Office at 1 784 458 5233 or e-mailing [email protected]





St John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Parish is grateful to all who have made these celebrations a huge success, and look forward to your continued support in next years celebrations.




Kenroy Peters had no way of knowing that his last day alive would have been the last day in 2023.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines has recorded a record 55 homicides for 2023.





The latest homicide victim is Kenroy Peters of Old Montrose. He was found dead in Old Montrose sometime after 11: 40 p.m. on Sunday 31st of December, 2023, with what appeared to be multiple gunshot injuries.





Preliminary information revealed that the deceased was walking along the Old Montrose Public Road towards his place of abode, when he was accosted by a masked assailant with a gun who shot him multiple times in his upper body and head.





A resident in the community told THE VINCENTIAN that Peters was a hardworking man and they are of the opinion that he was killed because of "bad mind and jealousy.





Another resident said that the shooting took place sometime around 11:50 p.m. "It wasnt even New Year as yet, said the female resident.
Claudette Thomas-Butler, (standing front row 2nd from right) holds plaque, in photo with Council Member Mercedes Narcisse (second row, right) and members of VINCI.

The Brooklyn, New York-based group Vincentian-American National Charities, Inc. (VINCI), three Sundays ago, honoured three outstanding members of the community during its 40th anniversary gala celebration at El Caribe Country Club in Brooklyn.





VINCI bestowed its Outstanding Achievement Award on Vincentian Soca Monarch and Cultural Ambassador Delroy "Fireman Hooper; Award of Distinction on Atiba T. Edwards, the newly-appointed Chief Executive Officer and President of the Brooklyn Childrens Museum; and the Sylvia Wilson Humanitarian Award, named after VINCIs deceased, former president, on Claudette Thomas-Butler, a philanthropist.





"Our honorees, over the years, have covered the wide spectrum of Vincentian society, and this year is no exception, said VINCI President Wayne Raguette, adding, VINCI is "extremely proud to honour these three outstanding persons.





In addition, VINCI, during the 5 -hour-long ceremony, recognized four outstanding members for their "dedication and hard work. The four: Jean and Ossie Lewis, Deloris Providence and Cynthia Billinghurst.





All honorees were also presented with proclamations and citations by Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, who represents the 9th Congressional District; State Assemblywoman Monique Chandler-Waterman, the daughter of Jamaican and Barbadian immigrants, who represents the 58th Assembly District; and Mercedes Narcisse, the Haitian-born representative for the 46th Council District  all in Brooklyn.





St. Vincent and the Grenadines Ambassador to the United States Lou-Ann Gilchrist and Consul General to the United States Rondy "Luta McIntosh extended congratulations, through the souvenir journal, to the honorees and VINCI.





Delroy Hooper





In introducing Hooper, Enisha Fern Dopwell, VINCIs Public Relations Officer, who served as Mistress of Ceremonies, noted: "Tonight, were so honored that hes here to be honored, said Dopwell before reading the long list of the 12-time Soca Monarchs accomplishments, following which a video of Hoopers performances was shown on a huge screen.





Hooper described the honor, in a VINCENTIAN interview, as "out-of-this world.





"The most important thing is being disciplined, said Hooper, who also won the Ragga Soca crowns in Vincy Mas in 2010, 2014 and 2022, and Road March tiles in 2014 and 2023. "Discipline is the key to success.





"Its always good for people to recognize you for what youre doing, he added, flanked by his mother, Eltina Hooper, and youngest brother, Mackell.





"So, my friends are responsible for getting me on this journey, continued Hooper, thanking "each and everyone from the VINCI organization for recognizing me for such an award; and, theres more to come once I keep working.





Atiba Edwards





When he was confirmed last month as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Brooklyn Childrens Museum, Edwards, who was born in St. Vincent and the Grenadines but grew up in Brownsville, Brooklyn, became the first Black to head the museum since it was founded in 1899.





"We can do what we want to, Edwards told patrons in his acceptance speech to loud applause and a standing ovation. "Mom, dad, I made it; I reach.





Afterwards, he told THE VINCENTIAN that he felt "a tremendous amount of generational pride in that both my family and extended family have come out to roaring applause, but also a community that knows the hard work ahead, and showing up and offering support in whatever way needed.





"As I move into this next chapter, I know that I have an amazing team, community and country that are rooting for me, said Edwards.





Claudette Thomas-Butler





VINCI said that Thomas-Butler, a former netballer and member of several community groups in Brooklyn, loved to give.





"Her generous spirit meant she would give not because she had a lot but because she insisted on helping others in need, said VINCI in its souvenir journal. "She joined friends and organizations that were community-oriented. Once, it was about building community and helping those in need, Claudette was all in.





She would also readily avail her talents  dancing, acting  to her community organization, to celebrate SVGs independence, or to raise funds., and you do not have to say another word. It was done.





"She is generous of spirit and caring to a fault, VINCI continued. "She gives not because she expects anything in return. She cares little about public attention or recognition.





After accepting her award, Thomas-Butler, the sister of prominent lawyer Jomo Thomas, thanked her mother and other family members, her co-honorees and VINCI, stating that she does community service not looking for any reward.
Billie Joe Armstrong from Green Day performs during the second day of Outside Lands Music Festival at Golden Gate Park in 2022. Some fans think the bands new single sounds strikingly similar to Pinks 2008 hit, So What. Michaela Vatcheva/Special to The Chronicle

Discerning music fans have noted that Green Days latest single, One Eyed Bastard, bears a striking resemblance to Pinks 2008 hit, So What.

The similarity primarily lies in the opening guitar riff of the East Bay punk-pop trios new song, echoing the synth-driven na-na-na intro of So What, which weaves throughout the revenge anthem.

Its worth noting that So What itself has drawn comparisons to Deep Purples 1970 song, Black Night, as pointed out by Consequence of Sound, which first reported the likeness between the Green Day and Pink tracks.

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Despite the similarities, Green Days Billie Joe Armstrong attributes a completely different inspiration for the song released on Friday, Jan. 5.

 One Eyed Bastard started off as just a riff that I had  a shuffle, almost like a Black Sabbath kind of riff, he said in an announcement for the single.

Some fans think Green Days single One Eyed Bastard sounds strikingly similar to Pinks 2008 hit, So What. Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

He added, Lyrically, I was just reflecting on bad times in life. Thats the thing about nostalgia, sometimes you think, That was an awful time. Everybodys got that ugly place in their life where they have to deal with ugly thoughts  it could be like revenge or whatever. Thankfully, I have an outlet in songwriting.

One Eyed Bastard serves as the fourth and final preview single from Green Days upcoming 14th studio album, Saviors, available on Jan. 19. It follows the release of the haunting Dilemma, the rock anthem The American Dream Is Killing Me and the energetic punk song Look Ma, No Brains!

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Mike Dirnt of Green Day during the second day of Outside Lands on Aug. 6, 2022. Michaela Vatcheva/Special to The Chronicle

Grammy-winning producer Rob Cavallo, known for his work on Green Days 1994 release Dookie and 2004s American Idiot, played a role in recording Saviors.

Earlier this week, Green Day made headlines after its performance on ABCs Dick Clarks New Years Rockin Eve, during which Armstrong tweaked the lyrics of the bands song American Idiot to take a swipe at Donald Trump. The move stirred reactions from several right-wing figures, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

Culinary expert Gail Simmons, left, chef Roy Choi, Pink and Liam Mayclem share the Culinary Stage at the BottleRock Napa Valley music festival on May 28, 2022. Jungho Kim/Special to The Chronicle

The band, hailing from Berkeley and consisting of Armstrong, bassist Mike Dirnt and drummer Tre Cool, has plans to embark on a global stadium tour after the release of Saviors. The tour kicks off with European dates in May, followed by a North American leg in July.

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Their performance at San Franciscos Oracle Park, set for Sept. 20, will be supported by Berkeley natives Rancid, alt-rock veterans the Smashing Pumpkins and Los Angeles girl group the Linda Lindas.

More Information Green Days Saviors tour: 5:30 p.m. Sept. 20. $93-$1,688. Oracle Park, 24 Willie Mays Plaza, S.F. 415-972-2000. www.ticketmaster.com
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Community members are raising money for the funeral arrangements of a 20-year-old man, who died after allegedly being stabbed multiple times near Riverton by an unknown assailant.

Lawrence J. Oldman III, who was known as Larry YellowBear, was life-flighted Tuesday to Casper with multiple stab wounds in the stomach area...sadly he didnt survive, a GoFundMe page, which was organized by his sister, Mouusie Yellowbear, states.

There was a stabbing reported shortly before 2 p.m. Tuesday near the 7000 block of Riverview Road, according to the Riverton Police Department daily call log. It was near a county line, so the investigation is being handled by federal authorities.

The FBI is investigating a death that occurred after a Tuesday incident on the Wind River Indian Reservation, Vikki Migoya, spokesperson for the FBI Denver Field Office, said in an email.

The identity of the decedent and the cause and manner of death will be released by the coroners office, Migoya said. As this is an ongoing investigation, no other information is available at this time.

No arrests have been made, Migoya said.

The guy who stabbed him hasnt been caught yet, the GoFundMe page reads. Its an ongoing investigation, and I pray we get justice for him.

Larry was the happiest guy around, who would always look on the bright side of things, the page states. He was a handsome, good person and a funny character. He was one of six siblings.

Any donated funds will be going towards the cost of Larrys funeral, the page states. People have donated $175; there is a goal of $2,000.

I want to make sure my baby brother has a good funeral, the page states. He deserves that because he didnt deserve what happened to him.

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.
Happy new year and happy birthday to the Cowboy States youngest residents.

These three Wyoming families welcomed new years babies into their lives this week.

Caspers New Years baby came a day after the new year began: Casperites Destiny and Shawn McMackin welcomed daughter Ulah Dawn McMackin on Jan. 2 at 10:40 a.m. According to a post on Banner Healths Facebook page, she weighed 8 pounds, 3 ounces and measured 20 inches long.

In the same post, Ulahs mother Destiny expressed excitement over another little girl. (The couple also has a 1-year-old daughter).

I have two brothers and grew up with all boys, she said. We needed some girls.

In Rock Springs, Monica and Alec Zumbrennen of Rawlins welcomed baby boy Hayden Zumbrennen into their lives at 6:54 a.m. on Jan. 1, making him the first new years baby that the Star-Tribune received notice about. He was born at the Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County Auxiliary.

He came into the world ... weighing 8 pounds, 15.9 ounces, and measuring 21 inches, a release from the hospital says.

The hospital celebrated by giving his parents a gift basket.

In Cheyenne, parents Tho Phuoc Ngo and Hong Thi Le Hoang welcomed baby girl Angel Ngo at 6:58 p.m. on Jan. 1 at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center. She weighed 5 pounds, 10.7 ounces and measured 18.75 inches in length. She is her parents first child.
A new camera system is being installed along this countrys roadways with the aim of tackling traffic congestion and reducing the countrys crime.

This was said yesterday by Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan, who spoke with the media at the intersection of the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway and Golden Grove Road in Piarco.
A portrait of Paul Yamazaki at San Franciscos famed City Lights Bookstore, where he has worked since 1970. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

It sounds like the kind of legend that gathers fictional flourishes over time, but the details check out. In 1970, when he was a 20-year-old student at what was then called San Francisco State College, Paul Yamazaki joined a strike to demand the establishment of a Black studies department and a School of Ethnic Studies. In the streets, stopping traffic, he was arrested.

The punishment: two concurrent six-month sentences.

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I dont know if I served 90 days, 120 days, Yamazaki says on a drizzly December afternoon, wedged between shelves of forthcoming books and a file cabinet bearing a magnet with George W. Bushs face crossed out.

He does know that he was in the County Jail on Bryant Street when he got word from his activist friend Francis Oka that City Lights was offering him a job. Thus Yamazaki was let out of jail early to pack books into boxes for shipping, launching his 53-year tenure at the landmark North Beach bookstore.

City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco features signs of the counterculture ethos that has marked its history. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

They never wanted me to work the register, Yamazaki recalls with a shy grin, as dozens of visitors browsed shelves amid the soft, steady hiss of cars driving up Columbus Avenue.

These days, Yamazaki finds himself pulled into a late-career public-facing role.

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Last fall, the National Book Foundation honored Yamazaki with its lifetime achievement Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the Literary Community, a laurel previously presented to the likes of Maya Angelou and radio host Terry Gross. He flew to New York for the 74th National Book Awards ceremony  you know, the Oscars of the book world, he says, still incredulous.

Paul Yamazaki, left, receives the 2023 Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community at the National Book Award ceremony. Former Literarian Award winner Mitchell Kaplan is pictured at right. Beowulf Sheehan

I took it as recognition for what weve accomplished at City Lights, the 74-year-old went on. I think as a culture we have a hard time recognizing collective achievement, so we tend to focus on individuals instead of group history.

On this day, as every day, Yamazaki wears his uniform: black orthopedic shoes, black Dickies trousers and a black button-up shirt.

I love that he refuses to capitulate to conspicuous consumption, staff bookseller Joan Toledo says of Yamazakis fashion.

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His conversational style is as humble as his dress; at every possible juncture, Yamazaki turns the spotlight from himself. But after two hours, it becomes clear that Yamazaki is both right and wrong about the award not being for him. After all, culture  especially counterculture  is passed down from person to person. And as City Lights enters a new era of surprising staying power, Yamazaki stands as a key link in an unbroken chain.

Paul Yamazaki at City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

He hardly knew anything about the Beats or City Lights co-founder Lawrence Ferlinghetti and the scandalous 1956 publication of Allen Ginsbergs poem Howl when he arrived in San Francisco in 1967. He only knew that he wanted to escape the San Fernando Valley, and along with it the upper-middle-class life hed led as the son of second-generation Japanese Americans. Strolling the bayfront one day, he was handed a flyer about the Black Panther Party and a screening of the now-famous 1966 film about Algerian rebellion, The Battle of Algiers, at the Surf Theatre on Irving Street in the Outer Sunset. He admired the Panthers, but it was his stint in jail that deeply changed him.

In the San Fernando Valley, there were very few people of color at my junior high and high school, he recalls. Seeing James Brown in concert as a teenager, getting into blues music, I just thought of it as stuff I dug. But being incarcerated 24/7 with people with a different history and social experience, I saw how systems of injustice acted on peoples lives, every day.

Considering himself just a reader who worked in a bookstore, Yamazaki fit right in with the ethos of a business that advocated books not bombs and rejected class hierarchies and consumerism. He worked at the bookstore part time, also taking jobs as a cabdriver and a dockworker.

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City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco originally sold only paperbacks before bookseller Paul Yamazaki recognized that keeping hardcovers off the shelves kept browsers from seeing and buying books by new authors. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

It was a bohemian existence with an unanticipated long-term outcome: Today Yamazaki is a living history lesson on the cultural crucible that made City Lights possible.

Ferlinghetti understood that the literary community needed not just a bookstore, but a gathering place, Yamazaki says of the late writer, who was San Franciscos first poet laureate.

Explaining why it mattered that City Lights was the first bookstore in the nation to sell only paperbacks, Yamazaki notes that in the 1950s, most bookstores exclusively sold hardcovers because paperbacks were considered vulgar. The leftist literary community was burgeoning after the devastation of World War II  which both Yamazakis father, a pediatrician, and Ferlinghetti experienced in military service  and book culture exploded.

But by the 1980s, City Lights was on the verge of closing.

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Shig Murao, the clerk who had been arrested in 1957 for selling Howl, and who worked his way up to manager and partner, had suffered a heart attack, so Ferlinghetti relieved Murao of his duties  without consulting him. It was a terrible misunderstanding, Yamazaki says. Shig never set foot back in the store.

Paul Yamazaki at City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco. He was recently honored with the National Book Foundations prestigious Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the Literary Community. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

At the same time, City Lights was interconnected with the radical publishers Grove Press and New Directions. Grove would run out of titles that customers came to City Lights for, books by writers like Henry Miller, then Id open up the next shipment and it was all this Victorian porn  oh, my God, Yamazaki recalls.

By 1984, City Lights was a month from financial collapse. But Ferlinghetti recognized the crisis and asked Nancy Peters, an employee since 1971, to become co-owner. She and Ferlinghetti saw that the revitalized store would fail again if it became a Beat mausoleum.

Thats where Yamazakis promotion to lead book buyer became vital. He recognized that by selling only paperbacks, City Lights was missing out on carrying new books by rising voices like Toni Morrison, Salman Rushdie and Edward Said.

But Yamazaki did more than open City Lights up to hardcover releases. He also began talking directly with book editors about upcoming titles and trends.

That wasnt a thing before Paul, says bookseller Caitlyn Wilde, who has worked at the store with Yamazaki for nine years. And hes always excited to share what he learns over a martini.

San Franciscos City Lights Bookstore celebrated its 70th anniversary this year. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

Indeed, these days Yamazaki is more likely to be found working at nearby Tosca or Vesuvio than at the bookstore. But just as Ferlinghettis presence can be felt throughout the store (Stash your SELL-phone and be here now, reads one of the many hand-lettered signs Ferlinghetti posted before his death in 2021), so can Yamazakis. His Staff Pick notes  Its the best novel Ive ever read about the cost of activism, reads his note on Tim Murphys Christodora  abound on the shelves. And soon, City Lights will be selling a book by Yamazaki himself.

Reading the Room, a series of edited conversations with Yamazaki, will be released by Chicagos Ode Books in April. Among the many impressive names already lauding the book is San Francisco author Rebecca Solnit, whose blurb states, Paul Yamazaki of City Lights Books is a legend in the literary world, a man who has made bookbuying  that is, curating a bookstore  into an art, an ethic, an adventure, and not infrequently an insurrectionary act.

On this rainy day at the store, when Toledo notices a visitor jotting down titles on a notepad, she turns suspicious. Often, the clerk explains, customers look up titles on Amazon and try to force City Lights to match the lower price. This is the primary thing the public doesnt understand about how in-person literary culture works, Yamazaki says.

Stores that can net out at more than 2% are extremely rare. That means that for every dollar of book sales, if we net a penny, were doing well, he explains.

Yet, Yamazaki proudly notes, City Lights pays its 19 employees a living wage, with health insurance and benefits. And despite the rise of the sell-phone and the dominance of Amazon, Yamazaki remains optimistic about book culture.

Paul Yamazaki in his office at City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco on Dec. 19. Yamazaki, an employee at the legendary bookstore since 1970, was recently honored with the National Book Foundations lifetime achievement award. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

Its my contention that these last five to 10 years have been one of the best periods in American literature, just as strong as the postwar period of 1945, he says, citing the rise of writers like Colson Whitehead and pointing to forthcoming books by Elwin Cotman and Oaklands Tommy Orange.

As for bookstores, hes heartened by the longevity of San Franciscos Green Apple Books and its former employee spinoffs, like Point Reyes Books, run by Stephen Sparks.

And were starting to see more bookstores run by people of color, he adds, reeling off half a dozen favorite examples, from Medicine for Nightmares in the Mission District to Mahogany Books in Washington, D.C., and Word Up Community Bookshop in Manhattan.

Packing his copy of Cotmans forthcoming story collection, Weird Black Girls into his bag, Yamazaki prepares to head out for a martini.
With ten people murdered between Thursday and Saturday, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley took to Facebook yesterday to assure citizens that State agencies will not give up the fight to rid our streets and other places of the evil that is now widespread as a gun culture in Trinidad and Tobago.

And in a voice note to the media, Commissioner of Police Erla Christopher said, We are determined to dismantle criminal gangs and make a difference in transforming impacted communities.
The University of Arizona has received an anonymous $1 million donation to its Wildcat Philanthropic Seed Fund, it announced Thursday.

The seed fund is an early-stage fund meant to help support UA startups launched to commercialize ideas and innovations stemming from the work of university faculty, staff and students, the universitys announcement said.

The gift is meant to kickstart establishment of an evergreen funding source to help young companies get through the so- called valley of death, or the period at the beginning of a venture when theres a high risk of failure due to lack of early-stage financial support.

The fund will also provide hands-on investing experience for students, UA said.

It will be spearheaded and administered by Tech Launch Arizona, an office at the university that works with faculty, staff and students to commercialize inventions stemming from their research and innovation.

Im excited by this programs engagement of students in the investment world, as well as the potential the fund has for infusing this ecosystem with new and exciting innovations, the anonymous donor said in the announcement. I hope this contribution helps seed the ground for further growth of these kinds of resources to help our newest and most innovative Wildcat investors and entrepreneurs to go out there and make their mark on the world.

The goal is for the fund to reach $2 million before making any investments, and for the fund to grow to $5 million, said Associate Vice President for Tech Launch Arizona Doug Hockstad. The target is to make investments ranging from about $25,000 to $250,000, Hockstad said.

Along with investments, a key feature of the Wildcat Philanthropic Seed Fund will be to involve students helping with due diligence and investment decisions, he said in the announcement. Theyll have a seat at the table, and through the experience we hope to plant the seeds that will inspire them toward impactful entrepreneurship in the future.

Donors will be able to make gifts to the fund through the University of Arizona Foundation, which will hold any equity resulting from fund investments.

Additionally, proceeds resulting from successes, such as when startups are acquired or go through an initial public offering, will go back into the fund for future investments.

UA President Robert C. Robbins expressed his enthusiasm for the project in the announcement.

The University of Arizona is committed to leading the innovation ecosystem in Southern Arizona by fueling discoveries and inventions, commercializing intellectual property and fostering entrepreneurship, he said. Access to capital is often one of the biggest hurdles to commercializing the inventions of our researchers and students, and the Wildcat Philanthropic Seed Fund provides a new resource to bridge that gap between launch and revenue generation.
Raytheons Tucson-based unit will make 1,500 more copies of a new precision-guided bomb and ramp up work on a new hypersonic missile for the Air Force under year-end contract awards totaling more than $750 million.

The U.S. Air Force awarded Raytheon a $345 million contract to produce and deliver the latest production run of the air-launched GBU-53B StormBreaker smart bomb, a network-enabled weapon that can engage moving targets in all weather conditions with a multi-effects warhead and tri-mode target seeker.

Raytheon also was recently awarded a $408 million contract modification for work on the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile-Southern Cross Integrated Flight Research Experiment, or HACM-SCIFiRE.

Work on the StormBreaker contract, which follows a $320 million contract award for production last March, will be performed in Tucson and is expected to be completed by the end of August 2028, the Defense Department said in a contract notice.

This contract includes production allies Norway, Germany, Italy and Finland, the Pentagon said.

The StormBreaker, also known as the Small Diameter Bomb II, is fielded on the F-15E Strike Eagle and F/A-18E/F SuperHornet jets, with testing underway on all variants of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Across those platforms, StormBreaker completed 28 test drops in 2023, Raytheon said.

The weapon  roughly six feet long and about 7 inches in diameter  features a tri-mode millimeter-wave radar, infrared and semi-active laser target seeker, along with jam-resistant GPS and inertial navigation. It has a two-way data link to send and receive updated targeting information, allowing to identify and classify targets.

With this contract, well continue to evolve StormBreakers production to meet the needs of servicemembers for years to come, Paul Ferraro, president of air power at Raytheon, said in announcing the contract.

The Air Force and Navy initially planned to buy a combined 17,000 StormBreakers, but that number was upped to more than 26,000 in 2022.

Meanwhile, the HACM contract line item represents new work under a parent contract awarded to Raytheon in September 2022, which has a potential value of up to $985 million, Raytheon said.

Raytheon rivals Lockheed Martin and Boeing had also bid for the competitive program, which is among several hypersonic missile programs fast-tracked in the face of advanced development of hypersonics by Russia and China.
The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:

A letter from a north side reader calling the current trial in NY a fraud showed up on my tablets browser, and I felt it merited a reply. As a lifelong New Yorker, my perception is that much of the country knew nothing about Donald Trump before the TV program The Apprentice presented him as a successful businessman and tycoon. His actual record is not quite as stellar, however.

I see the Tucson area has five operating casinos. How many of these have gone through bankruptcy? Trump built three casinos in Atlantic City, NJ  others financed them, and Trump managed the construction and operations. All three Trump-run casinos went bankrupt, the only Atlantic City operations to do so. Around the same time, what began as the Eastern Air Lines Air Shuttle, a low-cost hourly service connecting Boston, New York, and Washington DC (I used it to get to my grandparents in Massachusetts as a teenager in the summer of 1958 for $10), was sold to Trump. The only profitable part of the EAL business when sold to Trump, and having a 40% market share in its service area a month after taking over the operation in June 1989, the Shuttle ran out of cash and defaulted in September 1990, partly due to mismanagement by Trump. Some Google searches will result in other examples of Trumps prowess.

Arguing that Attorney General Leticia James won her election on a get Trump platform infers that was the only plank in her platform. Were that the case, she would not be AG; New York voters are smarter than that.

To say that there were no victims in this case ignores that the banks involved were cheated out of loan interest funds that would have benefited their stockholders and taxing jurisdictions of revenues that could have eased the burden on middle-class taxpayers.

The trial itself is in its second stage, penalty determination. Trumps complaints about the lack of a jury are the fault of his legal team, as there was a check-off box on the form to request a jury trial that was left blank. This left it to Judge Engoron to consider the evidence. For him to rule as he did, he would have had to, and did, see substantial evidence of fraud.

Regarding asset valuations, there may well be added value attributable to the owners brand, the difference between Trumps claimed billion-dollar-plus value for Mar-a-Lago and the assessed value, which was actually set by the Palm Beach County Assessor and only quoted by the Judge, not set by him, is nothing short of ludicrous (2300% above the assessors valuation? Lets get real!). Ill be interested in the Trump familys reaction if the Assessor revises the countys taxable valuation to be closer to what they claim it to be, and I bet Ill marvel at how fast they challenge the change.

Regarding the 34-count indictment brought by the New York County (Manhattan) DA, I note that this is just a case of getting the goods on Trump. The hush money payments were illegally made from either from campaign or corporate funds, and the statute of limitations hadnt expired. Trumps history of delaying and deflecting court cases brought against him, which he learned from disgraced and disbarred McCarthy Committee lawyer Roy Cohn, has cost dozens of subcontractors cheated and losing their businesses and livelihoods.

Yes, this case is political, but only because Donald Trump inserted himself into politics and took advantage of the office of POTUS for financial gain (I wont go into his January 6 actions, as thats a different, though related subject). Had he not done so, he probably would have gotten away scot-free with all the scams pulled previously.

Thus, to me, the trial is no fraud, but the fraudster is finally on trial.
Michael Dekker Tulsa World Business Writer Follow Michael Dekker 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

Oklahoma moved up nine spots from 39th a year ago to 30th in the nation for economic competitiveness, the head of the State Chambers research arm said Thursday.

The 2024 Oklahoma Scorecard evaluates the states competitive position compared to other states across several metrics, including taxes, unemployment rate, labor participation rate and education outcomes.

Theres no reason Oklahoma cant be at the top in all these rankings, said State Chamber Research Foundation Executive Director Ben Lepak.

The report is intended as a tool for policymakers and the business community, he said.

Lepak held a Zoom meeting with reporters to outline this years report.

The State Chamber Research Foundation  the think tank for the chamber and the state, Lepek said  first began compiling the report in 2022.

Lepak lauded the states jump from a national ranking of 30th in tax competitiveness in 2022 to 19th in 2024, mainly due to elimination of the states franchise tax  a tax that is basically for anyone who wants to do business in the state  and a low corporate income tax.

Thats very significant improvement, he said.

The report estimates that Oklahoma will be in the top 10 in tax competitiveness by 2025.

Lepak said areas where the state needs to improve are workforce and educational outcomes.

Our workforce rating continues to lag from other states, he said.

The states labor force participation rate was 33rd, despite ranking in the top half of states in prime working-age population, the report says.

Oklahomas K-12 ranking declined again this year, from 43rd in last years ranking to 48th in the 2024 ranking, due to a continued fall in achievement levels measured in the National Assessment of Educational Progress and poor marks in post-secondary readiness benchmarks, the report says.

The states overall workforce ranking was modestly improved this year due to inclusion of a new variable that measures the degree of educational choice available for families.

With the passage of landmark universal school choice legislation, creation of a statewide charter school authorizer, and the introduction of open transfer in public school districts, Oklahoma now ranks in the top 10 in educational choice nationwide, the report says.

An area where the state has shown improvement is infrastructure, improving from 13th nationally last year to 12th in the 2024 rankings.

Oklahoma ranked first in the energy infrastructure subcomponent and seventh in transportation (roads and bridges) infrastructure, according to the report.



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Update (5 p.m. Thursday): Police identified the victim as Steven Bruner, who was set to turn 13 in March.

A 12-year-old boy was killed in a shooting late Monday at a home rented for a party, Tulsa police said amid the first homicide investigation of 2024.

It couldnt be any more tragic for our first homicide, Capt. Richard Meulenberg said in an interview with the Tulsa World.

Officers responded around 10:30 p.m. Monday to the residence in the 1900 block of East 14th Street. The victim was found in the homes entryway with multiple gunshot wounds; he was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to investigators, an out-of-state individual rented the home online for a party. Police said five or six juveniles and one adult teenager were present at the time of the shooting. Witnesses reported hearing gunshots while the victim was on the porch.

Three juveniles came forward with their parents for questioning.

The preliminary investigation indicates that the victim was not the intended target, police said Tuesday in a news release.

A 16-year-old and 15-year-old at the party reportedly told investigators about some previous conflicts, adding that their residence was targeted in two separate shootings in the past year.

There may be an ongoing dispute with some of these juveniles with another group, Meulenberg said.

Evidence at the scene just south of the Broken Arrow Expressway included numerous shell casings and bullet strikes to the house. Police say the evidence suggests that the shooting occurred near the street.

We can only speculate as to how this took place, Meulenberg said, as police are working with no eyewitness accounts.

The investigation is ongoing, with detectives seeking additional witnesses.

It is believed this was not a random act but a targeted attack linked to the location of the party, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Tulsa Crime Stoppers at 918-596-COPS. Tipsters may remain anonymous.
Elena Kadvany joined The San Francisco Chronicle as a food reporter in 2021. Previously, she was a staff writer at the Palo Alto Weekly and its sister publications, where she covered restaurants and education and also founded the Peninsula Foodist restaurant column and newsletter.

She can be reached at Elena.Kadvany@sfchronicle.com.
The government has approved the allocation of over VND8.24 trillion (US$338 million) to state energy group PetroVietnam (PVN) to offset the offtake prices for products provided by the Nghi Son petrochemical complex, Vietnams largest petrol and oil refinery.

The facility, officially known as Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical LLC (NSRP), is a joint venture that commenced commercial operations in December 2018.

With a total investment of $9 billion, it has an annual capacity of processing 10 million metric tons of oil.

PVN holds more than 25 percent of the capital, with the rest having been contributed by Kuwait Petroleum International, Japan-based Idemitsu Kosan Co. Ltd., and Mitsui Chemical International.

According to a 10-year agreement signed between the investors and the Vietnamese government, PVN must buy any products that NSRP wants to sell for the same price as imported products plus seven percent for refinery products, five percent for LPG, and three percent for petrochemical products.

During those 10 years, if Vietnam lowers its import tax on gasoline to a level below its Most Favored Nation (MFN) tariff, PVN must be on the hook to compensate for any discrepancies.

In recent years, Vietnam has been successful in reducing its import tax on gasoline to a level lower than its MFN tariff.

As a result, during the sixth National Assembly (NA) sitting last November, the NA deliberated on the price compensation for NSRP, including the outstanding balance for the 2018-23 period, which amounted to over VND8.24 trillion, plus an anticipated amount of approximately VND9.65 trillion ($396 million) for 2024, according to news site VnExpress.

The NA passed a resolution, approving only compensation for the latter.

On December 29, Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai signed a budget estimate decision which allocated VND8.24 trillion to PVN for compensating product offtake during the period from 2018 to 2023, VnExpress reported.

In 2023, NSRP produced nearly 7.6 million metric tons of oil and petrol products, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

The company achieved a net revenue of $6.4 billion last year and contributed $820 million to the state coffers.

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Students at Trung Ly Semi-Boarding Middle - High School in Thanh Hoa Province, north-central Vietnam enjoy lunch and dinner for just VND24,000 (US$1) per day thanks to a program backed by the state budget which allocates VND720,000 ($30) per student per month.

The school, located in Thanh Hoas mountainous Muong Lat District, has 441 students who study, eat, and play together.

It is the largest semi-boarding school in Muong Lat.

According to Ha Thi Anh Thu, a seventh grader at Trung Ly, the menu changes each day to include some combination of pork, chicken, fish, beans, eggs, vegetables, and steamed rice.

The meals, Thu said, are reminiscent of the food many of the students enjoy when they are at home with their families, most of whom live 10-50 kilometers from the school.

The food served at Trung Ly is provided by local distributors which meet legal and food safety regulatory criteria.

These food distributors are able to provide lunch and dinner portions, costing $0.5 apiece, for each student for VND720,000 per student per month, while the cost of breakfast is borne by the students parents.

Meanwhile, the VND3 million ($125) per month salary for each of the schools kitchen staff is covered by the provincial administration.

Vietnams GDP per capita for 2023 reached VND101.9 million ($4,245), up $160 year on year.

Teachers from the school board pay daily visits to the school dining facility to check on the food quality and health regulations, as well as collect feedback from the students.

The school also keeps track of how many meals each student eats per month and refunds the difference of the allotted VND720,000 per student to parents.

Nguyen Duy Thuy, principal of Trung Ly, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the school has always tried its best to provide the students with nutritious meals so that they can stay healthy and be ready to learn.

School meals are offered decently. Photo: Ha Dong / Tuoi Tre

Semi-boarders have dinner at Trung Ly Semi-Boarding Middle - High School in Thanh Hoa Province, north-central Vietnam. Photo: Ha Dong / Tuoi Tre

A $0.5 meal offered at Trung Ly Semi-Boarding Middle - High School in Thanh Hoa Province, north-central Vietnam. Photo: Ha Dong / Tuoi Tre

School meals are always served hot at Trung Ly Semi-Boarding Middle - High School in Thanh Hoa Province, north-central Vietnam. Photo: Ha Dong / Tuoi Tre

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Vietnam strongly condemns the bombings in Kerman, a city in southeastern Iran, on Wednesday, which left hundreds of deaths and injuries, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Pham Thu Hang announced on Thursday.

We would like to extend our deep condolences to the government and people of Iran and the families of the victims, and we believe that those who staged the deadly attacks must be punished appropriately, the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported, citing Hang.

She was speaking in response to reporters questions about Vietnams reaction to two deadly explosions in the city of Kerman in southeastern Iran on Wednesday which killed nearly 100 people and wounded dozens more.

The twin blasts, with the second coming 20 minutes after the first, occurred at a ceremony to commemorate Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, who was killed by a U.S. drone in 2020, Reuters reported, citing Iran's state television.

On Friday, the BBC reported that the Islamic State group took responsibility for the attacks.

The death toll was revised down to 84 from an earlier number of 95 originally reported by the head of Iran's emergency services on Thursday.

Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong on Thursday extended his condolences to his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi over the fatal bombings in Kerman.

Vietnams Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue did the same to Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, respectively, on the same day.

Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son has also sent a condolence message to his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.

Vietnam and Iran have a long-standing friendly relationship that dates back more than 1,000 years to when Persian merchants came to do business and trade in Vietnam, opening the door for cultural exchanges between the two peoples, according to the VNA.

Since the two countries officially established diplomatic relations in 1973, the bilateral relationship has developed fruitfully in all fields for the sake of the two peoples and for peace, stability, and cooperation in the region and the world.

On August 4 last year, the Union of Vietnam Friendship Organizations and the Vietnam - Iran Friendship Association coordinated with the Iranian Embassy in Vietnam to hold a ceremony to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between two countries.

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After technical issues were resolved at Phu Quoc International Airport on Phu Quoc Island off Kien Giang Province in southern Vietnam, an Airbus A330-202 with registration number EAZ212, operated by Eznis Airways, took off at 1:37 pm on Thursday, with 200 passengers bound for Mongolia.

Nguyen Minh Dong, director of Phu Quoc International Airport, said on Thursday that the flight departed the airport at about 3:00 am on Wednesday.

However, the aircraft encountered a technical problem and had to revert to a holding pattern for three hours.

It later landed safely at Phu Quoc International Airport.

Airport authorities coordinated with relevant agencies to take the flights passengers to local hotels so that they could rest before boarding the flight again.

After the issues were resolved, the flight took off at 1:37 pm on Thursday and arrived in Mongolia at about 7:30 pm the same day.

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"I would marry you tomorrow," the Bravo newcomer told Taylor Ann Green on Thursday's 'Southern Charm' season 9 finale

Clifton Prescod/Bravo via Getty, Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty, Maarten de Boer/NBCUniversal/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty 'Southern Charm' stars (from left) Taylor Ann Green, JT Thomas and Austen Kroll

The Charmers went hardcore at a softcore cottage party.

On Thursdays Southern Charm finale, Whitney Sudler-Smith invited the cast over to his newly renovated cottage/pub/office for a party inspired by sexploitation auteur "Russ Meyers 60s softcore movies like Return to Valley of the Dolls and Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!

Prior to the party, Rod Razavi stopped by Jarrett JT Thomass place and JT, 38, confessed his feelings for Taylor Ann Green.

Ive always had a crush on Taylor, but since Jamaica, the feelings are not just a baby crush, the feelings are like getting real, JT said in a confessional interview.

JT asked Rod, 40, if he should tell Taylor, 28, how he felt. Thats definitely what I would do, Rod advised.

Related: Southern Charm: Taylor and Shep End Up in Bed After a Fight While Rod's Prospects with Olivia Don't Look Bright

Paul Cheney/Bravo via Getty Madison LeCroy and Brett Randle

Elsewhere, Madison LeCroy and her husband Brett Randle popped champagne while getting ready  but Madison, 32, couldnt drink it because she felt nauseated from taking her vitamins on an empty stomach. Talk of getting pregnant didnt help, either.

Im a little freaked out about having another baby. Like, selfishly, I dont want to like do all that, Madison said in a confessional while gesturing to her stomach. But its definitely worth it. Its just hard at the beginning.

Related: Madison LeCroy Slams Mom-Shamer Who Said to 'Cover Up': 'Do You Suggest I Wear a Turtleneck?'

While getting ready with her friend Louise, Taylor said her ex Shep Rose told her he wanted to have a conversation at Whitneys party. I sometimes hope that there might still be something there, Taylor confessed.

Also, Austen Kroll told his sister Katie as they prepped for the fete that he hoped Olivia Flowers would apologize for coming after him and calling him a piece of s--- in Jamaica.

Story continues

THE 60s CELEBRATION STARTS OUT ROUGH

Unfortunately for Taylor, Shep didnt want to reconcile.



I might not at this point in time be able to have a friendship with Taylor because its just not working, Shep, 43, said in a confessional. And I just want to finally draw some lines in the sand.



Before he could get to Taylor at 55-year-old Whitneys party, JT did.



I better just say something now and get it off my chest, JT said to Taylor. I mean, every time we hung out it was just constant laughter, constant joy. Thats rare to find.



Taylor told JT, I love our friendship. I know that you love our friendship.



JT wanted Taylor to know he loved more than just their friendship.



I love you, JT said. I would marry you tomorrow.



Taylor didnt feel the same way. I think I just need some time to process and heal and move forward, she replied.



To the cameras, Taylor conceded, Im just more attracted to the assh---s.



Shep pulled Taylor to talk and JT decided, Ill go back to suppressing [my feelings].

Related: Taylor Ann Green Explains Why She Sent Whitney Sudler-Smith a Nude Photo: 'God Created the Naked Body'

Stephanie Diani/Bravo Shep Rose

Shep started his conversation with Taylor by asking her whether she and JT hooked up in Jamaica. God no! Taylor declared.



The Average Expectations: Lessons in Lowering the Bar author segued to talking about how he and Taylor took a really cool step over the last few months in being able to be friends.



My cool step, it was in hopes with something more, Taylor said.



Shep asked whether Taylor wanted to get back together.



Possibly, she said.



Shep didnt mince words, telling her: "'Us' is over. I dont think this is repairable."



He ended the talk with Taylor by telling her he hoped they could coexist and be supportive.



Related: Southern Charm's Shep Rose Rejects Taylor Ann Green's 'Booty Call'  but She Says It Was 'Not a Mistake'

Gabe Ginsberg/Getty

ANOTHER CONVERSATION DERAILS

Austen, 36, sat down with Olivia, 31, to address the discrepancies in their relationship.



I know its been inconsistent with us, but its not a good friendship, Olivia told Austen. It just seems like nothing is genuine. Thats not friendship.



Austen said just wanted to be there for Olivia, but she didn't see it that way, pointing out: Look at the paper trail of pissed off women you leave.



The TropHop beer founder acknowledged he wanted an apology from Olivia.



If you took your head out your narcissistic assh--- for a couple seconds, you would see that Im going through a couple things right now, Olivia said in a confessional. And apologizing to your weird ass is not one of them.

Austen thought theres definitely a major f---ing disconnect here, and Olivia agreed.

Related: Olivia Flowers Calls Filming Southern Charm an 'Escape' After Her Brother's Unexpected Death at 32 (Exclusive)

Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Olivia Flowers

After the conversation, Austen told Craig Conover, Dude, Im done with Olivia.



When Austen and JT reconvened at Whitneys bar, JT started feeling bitter toward Austen. I cant stop thinking about the fact that Taylor kissed Austen. Kissed, JT said in an interview. She doesnt want me, an actual successful, good, positive man.



JT kneeled on a barstool and proposed a toast to Shep for some reason, to which Austen responded with, I did tell you to get on a chair the next time you talk to me.



JT deemed Austen a snake and a coward, calling him the genesis of why theres so much pain and tears among the cast.



Related: Southern Charm's Shep Rose Calls Austen Kroll Hooking Up with Ex Taylor Ann Green 'Reprehensible'

JT hit a nerve when he shouted, You f---ed [Shep's] girlfriend! Austen instinctively pushed him off the barstool before they started physically fighting. Production tried to break up the fight, and JT vowed to Austen, Ill see you never again.

Shep sided with JT.



He did wrong. He was a bad friend, Shep said in a confessional. And it hurts. I hate to say it, but Austen kind of deserves it.

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Welcome Guest! You are here: Home  India

All Indians on-board Liberian cargo ship rescued safely

In a special operation, the Indian Navy Commandos on-board destroyer INS Chennai boarded the Liberian-flagged bulk carrier MV Lila Norfolk and evacuated the crew members. Read More

Friday January 5, 2024 10:04 PM , ummid.com with inputs from Agencies

Mumbai: All 21 crew members, including 15 Indians, on-board the Liberian cargo ship that was hijacked near the coast of Somalia in the Arabian Sea, have been rescued safely, the Indian Navy said Friday January 05, 2024.

In a special operation, the Indian Navy Commandos on-board destroyer INS Chennai boarded the Liberian-flagged bulk carrier MV Lila Norfolk and evacuated the crew members.

MV Lila Norfolk was hijacked by around five-six armed hijackers late Thursday evening, the cargo ship said in an SOS on UKMTP portal.

Responding to the concerning situation, the Indian Navy launched an MPA and diverted INS Chennai deployed for Maritime Security Operations to assist the hijacked vessel.

'Pirates abandoned the hijacked ship'

INS Chennai helicopter and MQ-9B Predator drones hovered above the hijacked ship when MARCOs commandos boarded MV Lila Norfolk to rescue the crew members.

According to reports, Somalian pirates abandoned the hijacked ship and ran away as soon as INS Chennai arrived.

Sanitisation by MARCOs has confirmed absence of the hijackers personnel, a statement by the Navy said and added that the attempt to hijack was probably abandoned with the forceful warning by the Indian Navy.

"INS Chennai is in the vicinity of MV and rendering support to restore the power generation & propulsion, and commence her voyage to next port of call", the Indian Navy spokesperson said.

The hijacking of the Liberian-flagged cargo ship is the third incident of its kind in the high seas on the country's west coast in the past one month or with the Indian Navy rising to the occasion with a rescue and relief operation.

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Futomaki from a Sushi Salon pop-up in Berkeley. Owners Joji Nonaka and Anna Osawa will now offer their high-end cuts at a new permanent location. Sushi Salon

Need a new favorite restaurant for the new year? From upscale sushi to vegan tacos, Decembers newest restaurant openings will surely encourage a few dinner trips around the East Bay. If you feel like a drink, two Jack London Square arrivals offer Irish classics like Guinness and whiskey, while another focuses on Mexican-inspired cocktails made with mezcal.

Click here for a list of notable East Bay restaurants that opened in November.

Sushi pop-up opens anticipated restaurant

Hit pop-up Sushi Salon has finally welcomed diners to its cozy eight-seat restaurant. The new Oakland omakase will continue serving high-grade fish and rare catches like Japanese soldierfish and unicorn leatherjacket. Owners Joji Nonaka (previously the executive chef at Utzutzu in Alameda) and Anna Osawa said the location came after a two-year search.

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4008 Martin Luther King Way, Oakland.sushi-salon.com

Homestyle tacos land at Jack London Square

Bite into fried potato tacos and others stuffed with homestyle recipes at Mia Comida Casera, a new Mexican restaurant in Jack London Square from a co-owner of longstanding Mexican restaurant Tamarindo. Alfonso Dominguez told the Chronicle he is looking to explore several taco styles, from Bajas beer-battered fish and shrimp, to Sonoran steak and Yucatans cochinita pibil. Mia Comida Casera doesnt limit itself to tacos, with other plates like sopes, thick masa rounds topped with your choice of ingredients, and chilaquiles in red sauce. The cocktail program will lean heavily into mezcal, such as the Benito Juarez made with tamarind and smoked sea salt.

439 Water St., Oakland. instagram.com/miatacosmezcal

Oakland Irish pub reopens

Guinness by the pint is flowing once again at Slainte in Oaklands Jack London Square. The Irish pub closed in October, citing a drop in business and increasing costs. A message on the pubs website states former employees joined owner Jackie Gallanagh in reviving the spot. The new iteration of Slainte is easing back in with a limited menu and hours. The East Bay Times first reported the reopening.

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Blake Cole pours a pint of Guinness at Oakland Irish pub Slainte, as seen in 2017. The pub recently reopened after a brief closing. Paul Chinn/The Chronicle

Vegan taqueria locks in permanent location

After years of pop-ups, La Venganza, one of the Bay Areas most popular vegan taquerias, now has its own brick-and-mortar in North Oakland. Expect chef-owner Raul Medinas tacos stuffed with chorizo made from beets or carne asada made from mushrooms.

6419 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. venganzafoods.com

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Vegan tacos from Taqueria La Venganza. The meat-free operation opened a brick-and-mortar location in Oakland. Provided by Raul Medina

Anime-inspired restaurant revs up

Find Japanese bites like hand rolls, chicken karaage and tofu salads at Fujiwara Tofu Bistro in Fremont. To sip, there are iced floral and fruit teas, smoothies and milk teas. The interior includes references to auto racing anime Initial D, which has already drawn car enthusiasts inside, according to Yelp.

43773 Boscell Road, Fremont.

Indian chain expands into Bay Area

Yelp users report vegetarian restaurant Kailash Parvat, a chain from India with locations on the East Coast, opened its first East Bay location in December. The restaurant offers Punjabi dishes like chole bhature, chickpea curry with fried bread, as well as southern Indian options.

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3982 Summit Road, Dublin.kailashparbatgroup.com

Oakland restaurant opens second location

Temescals beloved deli and restaurant Clove and Hoof has a new location in downtown Oakland. Expect to find the tried-and-true menu of Philly cheesesteaks, burgers and pulled pork sandwiches. East Bay Nosh first reported the opening.

578 14th St., Oakland. cloveandhoofoakland.com

Filipino hot bar returns

Filipino cafeteria Manila Good-Ha is back in the East Bay. After closing last year, a new location has opened in Union City, according to Yelp users. The hot bar offers traditional dishes like crispy sisig, kare kare, garlic rice and dinuguan as plate meals with rice or in individual containers.

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31802 Alvarado Blvd., Union City.

Oakland Chinatown restaurant debuts

A new Chinese restaurant, Hay Yue, is now open in Oaklands Chinatown, East Bay Nosh reports. It takes over a space thats had several restaurant tenants in the past with dim sum and staples like fried rice.

337 8th St., Oakland.

San Franciscos Korean rice bowl restaurant Saucy Asian opened a new Emeryville location. Provided by Andrew Shinn / Saucy Asian

Korean-style restaurant comes to the East Bay

Saucy Asian, San Franciscos Korean-inspired bowl restaurant, opened its second location at Emeryvilles Bay Street mall. The formula remains the same: Choose among a rice bowl, burrito or tacos, and from proteins like spicy pork, bulgogi beef and pan-fried tofu. Other entrees include a bulgogi beef cheesesteak and Korean instant noodles.

5614 Bay St., Emeryville. saucyasian.com

Wraps and more arrive in the Tri-Valley

Theres a new casual Mediterranean spot, Pikaso, in Dublin, Yelp users report. The menu is a bit broader than at traditional Mediterranean restaurants, veering into burgers and pizzas with toppings like Indian chile paneer.

3980 Summit Road, Dublin. pikasoeats.com

San Ramon gets a casual sushi restaurant

Concords Kinja Sushi recently rolled out a new location in San Ramon, according to Yelp users. Just like the first location, diners can find casual staples like California and tempura rolls. Sashimi and cooked entrees like chicken katsu are also available.

3110 Crow Canyon Pl., Suite D, San Ramon. kinjasushi.com

Halal-Chinese restaurant opens

Habibiz, a fast-casual Halal Chinese restaurant, is now open in Fremont, as first reported on Yelp. As at similar restaurants, diners pick between rice and noodles, then their choice of entrees. Items include beef and broccoli, kung pao chicken and fried fish. It is the second recent Halal Chinese restaurant to open in the area, following Lizhou City in Union City a month prior.
HA NOI  Viet Nams durian export is heading for US$3.5 billion in revenue this year after jumping by 5 times to finish at more than $2 billion in 2023.

Statistics of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development showed that durian became the top export fruit of Viet Nam with a revenue of $2.2 billion, accounting for nearly 40 per cent of the countrys total fruit and vegetables export and playing a key role in helping the sector set a new export revenue record at $5.5 billion in 2023.

Deputy Minister Phung uc Tien said that the push came from the Chinas opening for official export of fresh durian into this huge market of 1.4 billion people in July 2022.

If a protocol on exporting frozen durian is signed with China in 2024, Viet Nams durian export would increase more, he said.

Nguyen Quy Duong, Deputy Director of the ministrys Plant Protection Department, said that negotiations are underway for frozen durian export into China, which would open significant opportunities to boost durian export.

He added that there is significant room to increase durian exports to other markets, also.

Vietnamese durian is now exported to eight markets, among which China accounted for 97 per cent of the total export volume.

Durian export to Czech increased by over 28 per cent in 2023 to reach $10 million. Exports to Canada, the US and Papua New Guinea also saw three-digit growth.

Notably, Thailand, the worlds largest durian exporter, spent $96.9 million purchasing Vietnamese durian in November.

Not only China, but other markets are also acquiring a taste for durian, oan Nguyen uc, chairman of Hoang Anh Gia Lai Group said, adding that this is the reason his group is expanding durian plantation area from 1,200  2,000ha in the next two years.

He said the Chinese market has high potential for durian because to date, only around 10 per cent of the population typically eat durian.

Vu Kim Hanh, Chairwoman of the Business Association of High-Quality Vietnamese Products, estimated that Chinas durian market could reach $20 billion and the global durian market $28.6 billion by 2025, with an average annual growth rate of 7.2 per cent.

According to ang Phuc Nguyen, General Secretary of the Viet Nam Fruit and Vegetables Association, Viet Nam has an advantage in exporting durian because the country harvests durian all year round, while others only harvest seasonally.

For example, this time of year, only Viet Nam is harvesting durian so prices from the field are quite high, around VN100,000 -120,000 per kg for Ri6, VN135,000  160,000 per kg for Monthong and VN160,000  190,000 per kg for Musang King.

Durian export might reach $3.5 billion this year as higher durian output is projected coupled with more planting area and packaging facilities being granted codes for exports to China, Nguyen predicted.

The agriculture ministrys statistics showed that the durian plantation areas total around 112,000ha, of which more than 60,000ha are harvested with an output of around 840,000 tonnes. The remaining 51,000ha might be harvested starting from this year.

China has granted codes for 422 growing areas and 153 packaging facilities.

Viet Nam needs to focus on ensuring durian quality and investing in processing to increase added value rather than expanding rapidly in term of plantation area.

Nguyen inh Tung, general director of Vina T&T Group which exported 400 containers of fresh durian to China last year, said that the demand for durian is high but it is vital to ensure compliance with quality standards of importers to export sustainably.

Prices at too high a level cannot be sustainable, he said.

Focus should be placed on building brand and increasing processing to raise added value and economic efficiency, Le Quoc Doanh, former Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development said.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at a meeting with farmers late last week urged them to keep the market in strict compliance with importers requirements.  VNS
HCM CITY  Vietjet has been once again listed among the worlds safest airlines for 2024 by AirlineRatings, the worlds famous airline safety and product rating website.

In making its annual evaluation, AirlineRatings monitored 385 global airlines by considering the airlines incident records in recent years, fleet age, results of audits conducted by the governing body of aviation, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and other aviation authorities.

Vietjet and other notable low-cost peers in the world such as Ryanair, easyJet and Frontier have been honoured in the top 10 for many consecutive years, rewarding their excellent performances in flight safety for flight crew and passengers.

AirlineRatings.com Editor-in-Chief Geoffrey Thomas said: Vietjet's dedication to maintaining a culture of safety across all aspects of operations is commendable, especially when it is actively expanding the flight network.

"The implementation of robust safety management system and strict compliance with international regulations have contributed to the airlines excellent technical reliability indicators. This, in turn, ensures the highest level of safety for their operations in many years.

AirlineRatings also rates Vietjet at seven-star level, the highest ranking for aviation safety in the world for many consecutive years since 2018.

Vietjet has continuously added new aircraft to its modern and fuel-efficient fleet, with technical reliability at 99.72 per cent among top operators in the region and the world.

The airline has been constantly investing in training, aircraft engineering and MRO services to ensure the highest standard in terms of safety and quality.

In a recent move, Vietjet Aviation Academy (VJAA) officially became a training partner of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to ensure high quality aviation workforce.

In addition, Vietjet and Lao Airlines have joined forces to operate an aircraft maintenance center at Wattay International Airport in Vientiane, Laos. This collaboration enhances the airline's proactive approach to aircraft maintenance management.

AirlineRatings rates the safety, in-flight product, and has been used by millions of passengers from 195 countries and has become the industry standard for safety, product rating.  VNS
HA NOI  The Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) and Vietnam Airlines Corporation (VNA) signed a strategic cooperation agreement on January 3, 2024 to leverage the strengths, experience, and resources of the two leading aviation entities under the Committee for Management of State Capital at Enterprises.

The agreement outlines various areas of collaboration between ACV and Vietnam Airlines. One key aspect is the joint research and development of new products and services aligned with global aviation industry trends. This partnership will enable Vietnam Airlines to enhance its service quality, with ACV actively supporting the airline and its member units in this endeavour.

In addition, both corporations will optimise advertising and communication activities by leveraging their respective strengths. They will also collaborate extensively in the fields of information technology and digital transformation.

The cooperation established through this agreement serves as a platform for sharing vision, management expertise, and operational experience. By doing so, it aims to improve operational efficiency and facilitate business development for both entities. Furthermore, this collaboration is expected to enhance the passenger experience and make a positive contribution to the growth of Viet Nam's aviation industry, as well as the overall economic and social development of the country. - VNS
By Luong Huong

In Vietnamese culture, the image of a dragon holds profound and significant meanings. The sacred symbol. representing strength, power, luck and protection, has become the inspiration for the latest collection by lacquer artisan Nguyen Tan Phat from uong Lam Ancient Village on the outskirts of Ha Noi.

The collection, entitled Con Rong Chau Tien (Offspring of the Dragon and the Fairy), features 1,000 distinctive items made from various materials  wood, lacquer, ceramics and metal.

The number of dragon items in the collection, 1,000, corresponds to Viet Nams 1,000-year cultural heritage," Phat told Viet Nam News.

"No item in the collection looks alike, which aims to represent the creativity of the Vietnamese people. Meanwhile, its diverse materials reflect the diversity of traditional craftsmanship.

According to the artisan, the collection is inspired by a legend of the same name that tells about the origin of the Vietnamese people. In the legend, the Vietnamese people are descendants of Lac Long Quan (a holy dragon) and Au Co (a fairy bird). The term Offspring of the Dragon and the Fairy is commonly used to refer to Vietnamese people in literary works with the intention of promoting unity among different ethnic groups.

The image of the dragon that is mainly portrayed in the collection is that of the Ly Dynasty (1010-1225) as it represents a pure image of the Vietnamese dragon and fully embodies the characteristics of the Vietnamese people, he said.

The highlight artwork is a 1,65m-high and 2m-wide chair crafted from lacquer on ebony wood and adorned with 24k gold plating. It took Phat nearly two years to complete the sophisticated chair.

Phat said the legend Lao Long Huan Tu (Father Dragon Teaches Son) is the idea behind this special dragon chair.

Many bas-reliefs in Mong Phu Temple in uong Lam Ancient Village depict this concept  the image of a larger dragon at the top turning the head as if talking to a little one below. The motif embodies educational values and the characteristic family affection in the scholarly land of uong Lam, which has produced many generations of intellectuals. These bas-reliefs could still be found in the temple today.

Dragons are mythical creatures, and their image is born out of human aspirations for perfection. In this dragon depiction, I emphasise the reverence for the dragons during the Ly Dynasty, incorporating details such as leaf-shaped tails, inspired by Buddhist symbolism, and the dragon's strong and powerful five-clawed feet.

The golden dragon is represented using lacquer painting on wood. The image of the fairy is arranged abundantly in the space above the dragon, symbolising the harmony between the dragon and the fairy.

He added: The legend Offspring of the Dragon and the Fairy helps me complete the dragon-inspired chair, with the dragon's body poised to soar into the air.

The creation of the dragon collection has been implemented since December 2023 and expected to be finished by February 22. The artworks are being crafted and exhibited at the artisans workshop that allows visitors to witness the crafting process.

Phat was born in Ha Noi suburb's Son Tay Town. As the only lacquer artisan in the town, he has contributed to passing down the craft to the next generation and inspiring young artists in his homeland, as well as creating jobs for dozens of locals.

In 2017, he was among the youngest honoured as a typical Ha Noi Artisan by the municipal People's Committee.

The Oriental zodiac animals of recent Lunar New Years have become sources of inspiration for the artisan to launch new lacquer collections. He made 1,010 buffalo statues on the occasion of the 1,010th anniversary of Ha Noi in 2021, 2,022 small tigers to welcome 2022, the Year of the Tiger and 2,023 feline statuettes last year. VNS
HA NOI A poetry collection by a 16-year-old student from HCM City has won the highest prize at the Literature and Arts Awards 2023.

Minh Anh, a member of the HCM City Union of Literature and Arts Associations, has won an A Prize at the awards with her poetry collection Mot Ngay Tu Ben Trong (A Day from Within).

The collection has been praised for its highly innovative and unprecedented nature in Vietnamese poetry, from its content to its modern style of expression, with extremely captivating language.

The Literature and Arts Award has been annually held by the Vietnam Union of Literature and Arts Associations (VULA). Over its 30 years of organisation, the award has been expanding in scale and attracting the participation of numerous artists from across the country.

According to the organisers, the award council has been able to select the best quality works in terms of content and artistic value, and at the same time discover and nurture young talents through each award ceremony.

In 2023, the council received 372 entries from authors and author groups from 58 out of 63 provincial and city Literature and Arts Associations. As a result, 60 works of different categories from 35 associations were awarded, including four A prizes, 14 B prizes, 19 C prizes, 18 consolation prizes, and 5 prizes for Young Authors.

Besides Minh Anh, another three A prizes were awarded to the painting Ky Uc (Memories) by Huynh Minh Ngoc from An Giang Literature and Arts Association, the photo collection Hoang Hon Sai Gon (Saigon Sunset) by Tran Ngoc Dung from HCM City Literature and Arts Association, and prose collection Lam Re Mien Tay (Becoming a Son-in-Law in the Mekong Delta) by Nguyen Hoi from Long An Literature and Arts Association.

The Council of the Literature and Arts Award has also awarded nine prizes to outstanding works recommended by the Central specialised Literature and Arts Associations.

Chairman of the VULA, musician o Hong Quan, said the Literature and Arts Award has selected outstanding works of the year. These works have been published, exhibited, or publicly presented, recognised by the audience, and mentioned in the media.

The youngest winner of the awards, Minh Anh, said she was surprised and honoured, adding that she never imagined receiving it.

Her poetry collection, A Day from Within, revolves around the thoughts and emotions from the inner world of a young child who has not yet experienced much of life. It serves as the writers diary preserving thoughts and emotions that originate solely from her deepest inner self.

across the sea scattered are pieces of myself I am the sad sand forever waiting for my remaining self to one day reunite forever together. (Discover - Minh Anh)

The 16-year-old poet revealed she completed the collection in eight years, with some of the writings dating back to when she was eight years old. At that time, she visited caves in the central province of Quang Binh where the stunning rock formations inspired her budding creativity.

Anh's favourite themes involve the connection between the past and the future, as well as concepts such as happiness, freedom and success.

"Poetry is the essence of a person. It represents the individual's ways of thinking and serves as a profound exploration of the mind without the use of technology. Each person possesses a unique beauty that neither technology nor poetry can fully express.

I believe that poetry has the capacity to capture many aspects of human beauty. However, it can never capture everything," she said.

In the future, Minh Anh hopes to continue writing many more poems and experiment with different writing styles beyond A Day from Within.  VNS
SOFIA  Ambassador o Hoang Long, representing Viet Nam in Bulgaria, emphasised the significance of the official visit to Viet Nam by Speaker of the National Assembly of Bulgaria Rosen Dimitrov Jeliazkov from January 5-9, during an exclusive interview recently granted to the Vietnam News Agency.

Ambassador Long underscored that this marks the first visit by a high-ranking Bulgarian leader to Viet Nam in over a decade, following Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev's visit in October 2013. Notably, it is deemed a reciprocal visit following the official Bulgaria visit by Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Vuong inh Hue in September last year.

This demonstrates the appreciation and sentiment that the Bulgarian State and people always extend to Viet Nam as a traditional, reliable, and loyal friend and one of the most important partners in Southeast Asia, he said, adding that the visit will contribute to opening up opportunities to enhance bilateral cooperation both bilaterally and multilaterally, towards celebrations for the 75th anniversary of Viet Nam-Bulgaria diplomatic ties.

With the above significance, the visit will, on one hand, focus on further nurturing the already robust political relations between the two countries through the Party, State, Government and people-to-people channels. On the other hand, it will present an opportunity for both sides to engage in discussions on global and regional issues of mutual concern; intensify substantial and effective bilateral ties, particularly in areas of their strengths such as trade-investment, education, health care, culture, tourism, labour, and locality-to-locality cooperation.

Through a busy agenda between the Bulgarian delegation and Vietnamese high-ranking leaders, ministries and agencies, he said the Vietnamese side will affirm its consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversification of ties for peace, cooperation and development. It will also convey Viet Nam's message of being a reliable and responsible partner in the international community, seeking continued invaluable support from the European country on issues of shared interest, he added.

The ambassador highlighted the two countries' good friendship and cooperation since Viet Nam and Bulgaria set up their diplomatic ties in 1950.

Addressing cooperation between the two legislatures, he underlined efforts to facilitate visits, hold conferences, and engage in thematic discussions. The focus is on sharing information and experience in parliamentary activities and consulting each other at global and regional conferences and inter-parliamentary forums.

In the realms of culture and tourism, both nations are actively selecting cultural and art activities to collaborate on, such as Cultural Day, art exhibitions, film week, music performances and food fairs, contributing to stepping up cultural and people-to-people exchanges. They will also make it easier for firms to bring skilled workers in tourism sector to each other for long-term or seasonal work.

Universities from both countries have regularly engaged in the exchange of lecturers, students and graduates; scientific research, and holding international workshops on various fields of strength such as health care, biotechnology, agriculture, environment and natural resource management, he said.

Ambassador Long also saw ample opportunities to further elevate bilateral ties to a strategic partnership and hoped that the upcoming visit will yield consensus on the progress of cooperation documents to effectively develop joint efforts between the two legislatures.  VNS
HA NOI  The Ministry of Education and Training held a conference to review the work in 2023 and deploy tasks for 2024 in Ha Noi on Thursday.

Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son said 2023 was an important year in the roadmap for innovation in preschool, general, and higher education; a year with many significant tasks, challenges overcome, and practical achievements gained.

The education and training sector has gained more trust, support, consensus, and understanding from the leadership of the State, Party, National Assembly, Government, National Assembly deputies, and the people.

Within the sector, there is also great unity and agreement. "This is the strength for us to continue the challenging work in 2024," said minister Son.

The education chief noted that 2024 is a crucial year with a turning point in the innovation of general education, as the final grades are entering the implementation and preparation for the assessment of the entire reform cycle.

Alongside this, a series of tasks will need to be carried out according to the conclusions of the National Assembly's supervisory committee on the reforms of the curriculum and textbooks for general education.

Minister Son stressed 'Determination - Practicality - Quality - Spread' as keywords guiding the spirit of implementation for 2024.

"Innovation is never easy. We must demonstrate consistency and determination to continue the path of innovation. Additionally, education at all levels must always use quality as a measure for all activities," Son remarked.

The education sector will need to address issues of resources for innovation, especially human resources, tackling the shortage of teachers and improving the quality of the teaching staff.

The ministry will also work to submit to the Government the planning for the university and teacher training education network for 2021-30, with a vision to 2050; and planning for a specialised education system for people with disabilities and a system of centres supporting the development of inclusive education for 2021-30, with a vision to 2050.

Other work areas highlighted by the minister include intensifying the construction of a learning society with lifelong learning, institutional activities, and building legal documents, including the draft Law on Teachers, which is a significant task for 2024.

In 2023, the education ministry continued to promote administrative reform in association with digital transformation, implement online public services in education and training, and build a database for the education sector and connect this database with national databases on population and insurance.  VNS
HA NOI  Across the nation, many operations are being deployed by police in a fierce crackdown on crime before the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday, with many criminals finding themselves locked up.

On January 4, the Investigative Police Agency of central Quang Binh Province announced the initiation of criminal proceedings, the indictment, and the temporary detention for four months of Duong Thi Thieu (residing in Loc Thuy Commune, Le Thuy District, Quang Binh Province) on the charge of "embezzlement of property" as stipulated in Clause 3, Article 353 of the 2015 Penal Code.

According to the preliminary investigation results, during her tenure as the store manager of the Aluminum Company Yangli Vietnam in ong Hoi, Quang Binh, Duong Thi Thieu exploited the trust of the company, intentionally manipulated records, and misappropriated nearly VN1 billion (US$41,030) for personal purposes.

This is one of the many achievements of the Quang Binh provincial police in the ongoing high-intensity campaign against crime. In the past 20 days, the provincial police have investigated and uncovered 13 out of 15 cases involving 22 individuals violating social order; discovered 19 cases involving 39 individuals for drug-related offences; detected and investigated four cases involving six individuals in economic crimes; found nine cases of commercial fraud; and identified 23 cases violating laws on resources and the environment.

On January 1, the Drug Crime Investigation Department's Special Task Force, in collaboration with other units, apprehended three individuals, Nguyen Minh Tu and Tran Thanh Binh from Nam Ly Ward, ong Hoi City, and inh Tran Ngoc Phi from Bac Ly Ward, ong Hoi City. The operation also resulted in the seizure of over 10kg of diverse synthetic drugs.

Ha Tinh clamp down on illegal fireworks trade

Ha Tinh provincial police announced a joint effort with the Border Guard forces in the area, successfully apprehending multiple individuals involved in the trade of fireworks, totalling 144kg.

The Loc Ha District police collaborated with the Cua Sot Border Guard Station and discovered the presence of a group smuggling a large quantities of fireworks, with complex and inter-provincial characteristics, requiring suppression and dismantling.

On December 29, 2023, the Loc Ha District police conducted a search operation, swiftly arrested and brought in for questioning four suspects residing in Thinh Loc Commune and Loc Ha Town on charges related to the illegal possession and trade of prohibited goods. Following this, law enforcement personnel from Loc Ha, Thach Ha districts, and Ha Tinh City confiscated 34kg of various types of fireworks.

In an expanded investigation on December 30, 2023, the Loc Ha District police, working with the Economic Police Department (Ha Tinh Province), executed a search warrant and urgently apprehended To Xuan Toi (born in 1993, residing in Hoa Loi Ward, Ben Cat Town, Binh Duong Province). The authorities seized 76 units of various types of fireworks, weighing approximately 110kg, along with various related items and documents.

The Loc Ha District police issued a decision to initiate a criminal case regarding the possession of prohibited goods and the illegal trade of goods within the locality, resulting in the confiscation of a total of 144kg of fireworks. Law enforcement agencies are continuing to gather evidence to proceed with legal actions against the suspects.

Drunk driver arrested

The Bac Giang City police (Bac Giang Province) recently issued a decision to initiate criminal proceedings, charge, and detain Nguyen Thanh Tam (born in 1984, currently residing at 225-B5 Tan Mai Street, Hoang Mai District, Ha Noi) for resisting law enforcement during an alcohol content check.

Around 8pm on December 31, 2023, the Traffic Police Team of Bac Giang City conducted an operation on Hoang Hoa Tham Street, in the section passing through Song Mai Commune. They signaled stop to a pickup truck with licence plate 29K-055.41 due to suspicious behavior, traveling towards Bac Giang City - Tan Yen District for inspection. However, the driver did not comply, instead turning around and fleeing, prompting the task force to pursue. The audacious driver collided with a specialised police vehicle and continued to resist arrest.

Upon being stopped, the violator refused to exit the vehicle, leading the police to break the windows and subdue him. Following an alcohol content check, Tam was found to have violated with a level of 0.595 mg/1 litre of breath.

At the police station, Tam confessed that he had consumed beer and alcohol before driving his car from Dong Village, Huong Gian Commune (Yen Dung District), to Cao Xa Commune (Tan Yen District). Upon reaching the Hoang Hoa Tham Street section, he encountered the patrolling team. VNS
ASML said in a statement late Monday the Dutch government had recently revoked a licence for shipping an unspecified number of machines "impacting a small number of customers in China."

ASML chip machines blocked from export to China, Source: asml.com

Semiconductors, which power everything from mobile phones to cars, have become a geopolitical battleground, with the West seeking to restrict China's access over fears they could be used for advanced weaponry.

In October, the United States announced tighter export curbs on state-of-the-art artificial intelligence chips, sparking fury in Beijing.

Citing unnamed sources, financial news agency Bloomberg News reported that US officials contacted the Dutch government and ASML late last year in a bid to halt the shipments.

In Beijing, foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin lashed out Tuesday at what he called Washington's "bullying behaviour."

Such action "seriously violates international trade rules, seriously damages the global semiconductor industry layout, and seriously impacts the security and stability of international industrial and supply chains," said Wang.

ASML said the export curbs would not have a "material impact" on its financial outlook. However, shares in the firm dropped 1.3 percent in early afternoon trading, while Amsterdam's blue-chip AEX index was down 0.4 percent overall.

Amid trade tensions with China, there are also concerns that Beijing may introduce its own export controls on gallium and germanium -- two rare earth metals critical for the manufacture of semiconductors.

China said last month it would halt the export of a range of rare earth metal processing technologies.

Wang warned the United States would "inevitably suffer the consequences of its own actions."

A Dutch foreign minister spokesman declined to comment on the individual case but noted that export licences are assessed "on a case-by-case basis based on the national security of the Netherlands."

Vietnam's semiconductor market predicted to reach $8.1 billion by 2028 Vietnam's semiconductor market is predicted to reach $8.1 billion by 2028, exhibiting a growth rate of 12.6 per cent over the 2023-2028 period, according to a report by IMARC Group released on December 21.

PM visits northern region's first semiconductor chip factory in Bac Giang Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on December 23 visited Hana Micron Vina Ltd., a company invested by the Republic of Korea (RoK) and the first semiconductor chip manufacturer in the northern region, which is located in Van Trung industrial park, Viet Yen district , the northern province of Bac Giang.

Foxconn's ShunSin Technology to establish semiconductor subsidiary ShunSin Technology is planning to open a subsidiary in Vietnam costing $20 million.
The relief aid is handed over to Vietnamese workers in Ishikawa prefecture. (Photo: VNA)

Tokyo - The Vietnamese Embassy in Japan on January 4 sent a working delegation, led by Minister Nguyen Duc Minh, to Ishikawa prefecture, which was hardest hit by the earthquake that occurred on January 1 to assess the situation and provide assistance for Vietnamese citizens facing difficulties there.

At a working session with the delegation, a representative of the prefecture authorities reported that no Vietnamese casualties have been reported so far.

Among some 5,000 Vietnamese people living, working and studying in Ishikawa, around 600 are residing on Noto Peninsula, the epicentre of the recent major earthquake.

The representative committed to paying close attention to the embassy's suggestions regarding tight coordination with labour unions, host companies receiving apprentices, and Vietnamese volunteer groups to ensure the safety and provide necessary aid for Vietnamese apprentices and citizens in the prefecture.

On this occasion, Minh handed over a letter of sympathy from Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu to the Governor of the prefecture.

The Vietnamese Embassy promised to maintain contact with the prefecture authorities, labour unions, companies receiving apprentices, and Vietnamese associations to update the situation, and provide timely and effective support for Vietnamese citizens affected by the earthquake.

No Vietnamese reported dead or injured in Japan earthquake As of 9 pm on January 1, there had been no Vietnamese people reported dead or injured in the 7.6-magnitude earthquake that hit central Japan earlier the same day, according to Vietnam Embassy in Japan.

IM Japan says all Vietnamese interns under its management remain safe in earthquake The Public Interest Foundation International Manpower Development Organization (IM Japan) has affirmed the safety of all Vietnamese interns under its management who are working in Toyama, Fukui and Ishikawa prefectures that were hit by the massive earthquake on January 1.

No casualties among Vietnamese citizens in Japan due to earthquake recorded: Embassy There had been no casualties among Vietnamese citizens recorded due to a recent earthquake in Japan as of 9pm on January 2, according to the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan, citing notifications from the National Police Agency of Japan.
Europe's biggest economy emitted 673 million tonnes of the greenhouse gases last year, 9.8 percent lower than in 2022, according to the energy think tank Agora Energiewende.

German emissions at 70-year low as coal use drops, illustration photo/ Source: freepik.com

The figure was 46 percent lower than in 1990, getting closer to the European Union's 2030 target to have cut emissions by 55 percent compared with the same reference year.

In fact, Germany's emissions were at their lowest point "since the 1950s", Agora said in a statement, while warning that the government had work to do to further reduce pollution.

The drop was "largely attributable to a strong decrease in coal power generation", Agora said.

Germany resorted to the fuel in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, when Moscow cut off gas supplies to the European giant. But since then, Berlin has managed to pare back its use significantly.

Electricity generation from renewable sources was over 50 percent of the total in 2023 for the first time, while coal's share dropped to 26 percent from 34 percent, according to figures published by the federal network agency on Wednesday.

The cut in coal use accounted for a reduction of 46 million tonnes in CO2 emissions, the think tank estimated.

The renewables record brought Germany closer to its target to produce 80 percent of its electricity from wind and solar by 2030, Agora chief Simon Mueller said.

"When it comes to the generation of electricity, we are on a very good path," Economy Minister Robert Habeck said in a statement.

The reduction in emissions however also reflected the frailty of German industry, while economic growth has hovered around zero.

Industrial emissions fell by 20 million tonnes, as production in energy-intensive industries dropped sharply.

The decrease was however "not a sustainable development", Mueller said.

"The crisis-related slump in production weakens the German economy. If emissions are subsequently relocated abroad, then nothing has been achieved for the climate," he said.

In all, the think tank estimated that only 15 percent of the reduction in 2023 constituted a "permanent emissions savings".

To hit its climate targets, Germany needs a "barrage of investments" to modernise industry and reduce the carbon footprint from heating, Mueller said.

Coal supply moves shoring up generation of power As Vietnam faces the prospect of a coal shortage and the challenges of securing supply, more actions are needed to ensure a long-term coal supply for power generation.
The Republic of Korea is working to open a logistics centre in Vietnam. Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

Seoul  The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) of the Republic of Korea (RoK) said on January 5 that it has kicked off a corporate body in Vietnam, paving the way for the operation of a logistics centre in the Southeast Asian country to support small- and medium-sized enterprises.

The launch of K-UPA came as the ministry has been working with the state-run Ulsan Port Authority to open the centre in Vietnams southern province of Dong Nai to help Korean firms store goods under room or low temperatures.

Under the collaboration with Korea-based logistics firm KCTC, the project valued at 18.8 KRW (14.3 million USD), focuses on the construction of a 12,000-square-metre centre which is able to store 4.3 million pallets of goods.

The Ulsan Port Authority holds an 80% stake in the project, with the Vietnamese KCTC taking up the remainder.

Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Kang Do-hyung said when the centre opens its doors, it will significantly enhance the export competitiveness of Korean firms operating in Southeast Asia.

The centre is expected to become operational in December this year, with the full service set to begin by July 2025. It will offer discounts of around 10-15% for small and medium-sized companies of the RoK.

Thailand, RoK address issue on visa, illegal workers Thailand and the Republic of Korea (RoK) committed to solving their concern relating to tourism and illegal workers.
As reported by newswire Yonhap, the K-UPA centre will be located in Dong Nai to allow South Korean SMEs to store goods at room or low temperatures. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has been working with the state-run Ulsan Port Authority to launch the project in collaboration with South Korean logistics firm KCTC.

With an estimated capital of $14.3 million, the facility will feature 12,000 square metres of warehouse space with a storage capacity of 4.3 million pallets of goods.

Under the joint venture, the Ulsan Port Authority will hold an 80 per cent stake, while the Vietnamese subsidiary of KCTC will retain the remaining 20 per cent.

"When the centre opens its doors, it will significantly enhance the export competitiveness of South Korean firms operating in Southeast Asia," Oceans Minister Kang Do-hyung said.

The centre is slated to be put into preliminary operation in December 2024, with full service being scheduled to begin by July 2025. South Korean SMEs will enjoy discounts of around 10-15 per cent.

Established in 2008, KCTC Vietnam has become one of the leading third-party logistics companies in the country, providing optimal solutions to meet the needs of all customers.

Meanwhile, as the port's governing body, the Ulsan Port Authority has developed its site into a competitive hub for shipping and logistics.

South Korean M&A investment leans towards green and digital transitions Energy and infrastructure, as well as tech-related businesses, are emerging as the main sectors for South Korean merger and acquisition (M&A) investment in Vietnam. Cha Sung Wook, deputy director of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agencys Hanoi Office, talked to VIR s Bich Thuy about the current interest in the domestic market.

Hyosung Group unveils $720 million investment in Vietnam Hyosung Group, a South Korean industrial conglomerate, has announced plans to invest $720 million in a biotech fiber manufacturing plant in Vietnam.
Crews work near derailed BART cars on the eastbound tracks between Orinda and Lafayette stations on Monday, Jan. 1. Bronte Wittpenn/The Chronicle

Regarding BART train derails, catches fire in East Bay  several passengers injured, (Bay Area, SFChronicle.com, Jan. 1): Its easy to see that transit, and BART in particular, have a grave image problem. Thats even true among young liberals, many of whom want desperately to patronize transit.

But with dirty cars, frequent delays, disorderly riders, and now this recent derailment, it can be tough to wholeheartedly back BART, which is in desperate need of positive PR.

The BART holiday sweaters  beloved on social media  and the accompanying BART-themed holiday sweater party, while obviously fairly trivial, are a fun and low-cost way of making transit more fashionable. Ideas in that vein should be encouraged, but must also be accompanied by improvements to nuts and bolts services like cleaning and safety.

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The future of BART, for better or worse, is going to largely rest on the perception of it, and how hard citizens are willing to fight to save it.

If BART is to survive, the agencys leadership must demonstrate that the agency is open to change, receptive to public complaints, and incentivized enough to make the most of limited resources.

Brian Wagenaar, San Francisco

Sell properties to lower debt

Regarding How Debt Ballooned in S.F. Schools, (San Francisco, SFChronicle.com, Dec. 27), San Francisco residents are informed that the district will be $421 million in the red by the 2025-2026 academic year and that Superintendent Matt Wayne is recommending a 10% overall reduction in staffing.

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Months ago, we learned via the Chronicle that SFUSD owns the property under the Westfield Center. On Aug. 3, the Chronicles Jill Tucker informed us that SFUSD has a property portfolio of 19 million square feet, and that 10 of the sites are identified as surplus (https://www.sfgate.com/education/article/S-F-school-district-s-property-portfolio-3223079.php).

This is crazy-making! Why doesnt the district sell or lease this unused valuable property to reduce its deficit?

Bonnie Baron, San Francisco

Why not fix S.F.?

Came back to San Francisco to visit our daughter and stayed in a hotel nearby since her place is a single-bedroom apartment. A short three-night stay and the total bill was $809.57, but the key thing was $209.62 taxes and fees. In fact, was even charged a tax on a fee which I find ridiculous. Per night: Occupancy tax, tourism tax, Moscone tax, another state tourism tax, sustainability fee, tax on sustainability fee.

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No wonder why people dont want to come to San Francisco anymore, and we are not even talking about the crime, car-jackings, car break-ins, homeless problem beyond comprehension, open drug usage everywhere, filth and smell.

I remember when San Francisco was a beautiful place to visit and enjoy a dinner out, a show, events, shopping ... not anymore. The city has been destroyed and I want to know why people there dont give a damn. I mean if they did, they would fix it.

Charlie Brenner, Scottsdale, Ariz.

S.F. better than advertised





San Francisco has absolutely seen better days, but its far from the hellscape thats reported on unrelentingly in your newspaper.

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Last Friday, I was in the Western Addition at dinnertime, and my family and I walked to Japantown for dinner. It was so busy that we had some trouble finding a table. People were out, spending money, having fun and enjoying the things that make San Francisco a world-class city.

This wasnt an isolated instance. North Beach, Noe Valley, the Mission, the Sunset, the Richmond  they all seem to be doing fine. Reporting on every restaurant closure and every crime committed without offering any sort of balance has done some real harm to the city. I recently relocated to the Sacramento area, and at least a dozen people Ive met wont travel to San Francisco out of fear.

San Francisco is currently the fastest-growing county in the California, population-wise. The city needs much more balance in your reporting.
Presented in collaboration with Danang People's Committee and Sun Group, blazing fireworks are set to illuminate the sky over the coastal city with beautiful explosive colours once more.

Danang People's Committee held a working session with various departments and major developer Sun Group on December 19 to discuss several aspects related to the planning of DIFF 2024.

Sun Group will remain a corporate partner for the organisation of the festival and its sideline events, with the venue set to be similar to that of 2023, with the Han River Port area earmarked for the fireworks display and Tran Hung Dao street designated for the artistic performances.

DIFF 2024 is set to host eight participating teams, comprising seven international teams: France, Italy, the United States, Germany, Poland, China, and Finland, with the Danang team representing Vietnam. The US, Germany, and China are new to the event.

DIFF 2024 will follow the same format as the previous year, consisting of five competition nights, with four qualifying rounds and one final night.

The opening night is planned for June 8, with a fireworks display scheduled for every Saturday evening in each of the following weeks, except for the week before the final night. The teams will each perform a 20-minute display according to the theme decided upon by the event organisers. The anticipated date for the final night is July 13.

While the key theme has yet to be chosen, Danang leaders have emphasised that the aim of DIFF 2024 is to convey a message for a peaceful, fair, harmonious, and compassionate world.

Last year's DIFF served as a significant boost for Danang's tourism post-pandemic, surpassing growth expectations. In the first six months of 2023, Danang welcomed nearly 3.5 million visitors, showing a 116 per cent jump on-year. Among these were 930,000 international visitors, a more than 11-fold rise from the previous year, while the number of domestic visitors approached 2.6 million, reflecting a nearly 68 per cent increase over the same period.

Danang city leaders have emphasised that the aim of DIFF 2024 is to convey a message for a peaceful, fair, harmonious, and compassionate world.

During the event, the number of flights to Danang International Airport reached 150 per day at certain times, an increase of about 50 per cent.

The city's room occupancy grew by about 70 per cent, with 4-5-star hotels reaching 80-85 per cent, representing significant growth compared to DIFF 2019, when the city's overall room occupancy was 65-70 per cent, and 4-5-star hotels ranged from 75-85 per cent.

2024 marks the 12th year of the DIFF event, with the first-ever Danang International Fireworks Competition being held in 2008 as part of the city's liberation celebrations, offering many locals and tourists their first experience of fireworks choreographed to music.

In 2017, the city renamed the contest to the DIFF and shifted its funding to a social-financial approach, thanks to the sponsorship and partnership of Sun Group.

Throughout that journey, the DIFF has emerged as a popular event, making the city a highlight for those seeking family-friendly festivities in the summer months.

2024 an optimistic year for tourism & hospitality Vietnamese tourism has exceeded the goals set for 2023, with the number of international tourists in 2023 reaching over 12 million, equivalent to 70 per cent of pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

A strategy fit for success to ensure 2024 targets are met Vietnams economy grew at a lower-than-expected rate in 2023. Shantanu Chakraborty, Vietnam country director for the Asian Development Bank, talked with VIRs Thanh Tung about how the economy has performed and key impetuses for the next 12 months.
Kasikornbank (KBank) is focusing on expanding its international banking business this year in Vietnam and Indonesia. (source: Thaiger)

Bangkok  Kasikornbank (KBank), Thailands second-largest lender by total assets, is focusing on expanding its international banking business this year in Vietnam and Indonesia, given the two ASEAN economies high growth potential.

KBank chief executive Kattiya Indaravijaya said Vietnam and Indonesia are expected to post strong economic growth as compared with regional peers.

The World Bank forecast long-term Thai GDP growth of 3%; therefore, the banks regional expansion is said to facilitate its business growth as Thai companies have branched out to regional markets.

For KBank Vietnam, the goal is to be among the top 20 banks by asset size in the market by 2027 following a branch opening in Ho Chi Minh in August 2022, she said, adding digital bank is a key strategy for growing business in the market.

Around 1.3 million people are using its mobile banking app, K-Plus, in Vietnam.

As of September 2023, the banks total loan portfolio amounted to 2.49 trillion THB (over 72 billion USD).

It has been present in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnm.

For the digital platform, the bank provides cross-border multi-currency settlement, cross-border THB direct settlement and cross-border retail payment.

Additionally, it has partnered with 80 banks in 14 countries.
Vietnam - safest country to visit in Asia: Travel Off Path, Tourists in Hoi An (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi - World-leading indie travel news source Travel Off Path has listed Vietnam as the safest country to visit in Asia for 2024.

According to Travel Off Path, safety is a primary concern for Americans traveling abroad, especially amid the current climate where conflicts are breaking out internationally and security is decreasing across a number of destinations.

Over the last few years, Asia has been no exception, but Vietnam has proven to be remarkably stable and safe for tourists, said the website.

It cited the latest Global Law and Order Index indicating Vietnam is not only the most peaceful state in Asia, but also the seventh worldwide.

Travel Off Path also shared that Vietnam is both prosperous and peaceful, as it enjoys low rates of crime and impressive political stability.

In terms of tourist offers, the website noted that Vietnam is ideal for slow travelers and backpackers seeking to reconnect with nature and expose themselves to a culture that is almost entirely different from their own, especially for those coming from the Northern Hemisphere.

The travel news source suggested that visitors should definitely take time to stroll around the charming, yellow-washed streets of Hoi An which is a UNESCO World Heritage site internationally recognised for its numerous historical temples and French colonial architecture.

Also not to be missed is neighboring Hue, home to an imposing moated citadel; further down the coast, the sandy beaches and forested reserves of Da Nang are a mandatory stopover, as are the golden sand dunes and sleepy coastal towns lining the laid-back Mui Ne section of the coast, said the website.

It stressed that from vibrant city breaks in Ho Chi Minh City, the busy coastal port of Nha Trang, the capital of Hanoi, to escapes into nature in Ninh Binh which is famous for its rice fields and monumental geological formations, travellers can truly never exhaust their to-do list while exploring the country.

It also revealed that Vietnamese Government are welcoming tourists with open arms, recently moving to ease visa requirements for foreigners.

Vietnam gets major haul at 2023 World Travel Awards Vietnam was honoured in 45 categories of the 2023 World Travel Awards, one of the leading tourism awards in Asia, which is dubbed as the Oscars of Tourism.
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McLennan County prosecutors have waived the death penalty in a 2021 Robinson capital murder case in which a man is accused of setting a fire that killed one person and injured two others.

McLennan County Assistant District Attorney Kristen Duron said during a status conference Thursday in Wacos 19th State District Court that the state will not seek the death penalty when Willie Joe Lloyd, 41, of Teague, stands trial on a capital murder charge in the 2021 burning death of his former boyfriend, Cargin Madison, 25, of Robinson.

Madison died from serious burns Aug. 23, 2021, 11 days after Robinson police say Lloyd set fire to a home in the 100 block of Bentwood Drive. Willie Lloyds brother, Jason Lee Lloyd, 39, of Waco, also is charged with capital murder in the case, but a status conference for Jason Lloyd set for Thursday was rescheduled because his attorney was not present.

Willie Lloyd was arrested on three counts of attempted capital murder after the early morning fire Aug. 12, 2021, sent Madison and another man to a burn unit in Dallas, police reported at the time. A woman also suffered smoke inhalation in the blaze and was treated at a Waco hospital, police said.

One charge was upgraded to capital murder when Madison died. The indictment against Willie Lloyd lists a capital murder charge from Madisons death and a first-degree felony attempted capital murder charge from the burns the other man suffered. No charge is listed for the womans smoke inhalation injuries.

Police reports say Willie Lloyd broke into the house while Madison was sleeping, poured gasoline on the bed and set it on fire. Lloyd also set the living room couch on fire before fleeing, Robinson police reports say.

Robinson police said at the time Madison was the primary target.

Willie Lloyd told detectives at the time he had been with his brother the night of the incident, according to an arrest affidavit. A Robinson officer identified Jason Lloyd in a photo array as someone he saw walking away from the scene the night of the fire, according to police reports.

Both Lloyd brothers remain in McLennan County Jail. Judge Thomas West said additional status conferences will be set for both mens cases, and that he would like them to go to trial this year.
A Douglas County jury took less than five hours last week to convict a man on two counts of first-degree murder among other felonies in a 2020 double homicide at an Omaha hotel.

John Parks Sr., 41, was found guilty Dec. 19 of two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of use of a firearm to commit a felony, two counts of possessing a firearm as a felon and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The charges are in relation to the killings of Michael Harbour, 35, and Nicole Hatten, 36.

The killings took place in the parking lot of the Best Western Plus at 4706 S. 108th St. in the early-morning hours of July 30, 2020. Investigators previously said Parks shot and killed the two after he mistook a video on Harbours phone as depicting his sons murder.

Michael Meckna, Parks defense attorney, filed a motion on Tuesday requesting a new trial because of numerous evidentiary issues and alleged violations of Parks constitutional rights. Though Meckna declined to elaborate on the exact issues, he previously filed a motion to exclude the aforementioned video from evidence, which was overruled. He has also raised speedy trial issues throughout the case.

According to court documents and previous testimony from Omaha police detectives:

Parks had a registered address in Texas and was in Omaha at the time of the killings to attend the funeral of his son, John Parks Jr., who was fatally shot in Omaha just days earlier. Police said at the time that they had no reason to believe Harbour or Hatten were involved in the killing of Parks son.

Harbour and Parks were friends, according to court documents. They had gathered at the hotel to celebrate the birthday of one of Hattens friends.

But as Parks, Hatten, Harbour and two women were drinking and smoking marijuana in a hotel room in the early-morning hours of July 30, Parks came across something that caught his eye as he was scrolling through pictures of cars on Harbours phone: a video of a man being shot and killed. Though the video was later found to be a completely unrelated video of a man being gunned down in Mexico, Parks thought the video depicted his sons murder.

Without confronting the two about his assumptions, according to previous testimony, Parks shot and killed both Harbour and Hatten in the hotel parking lot as they went to the car to retrieve incense.

Charges were filed against Parks in May 2021 and he was extradited to Omaha from Texas the next month. Parks filed an appeal with the Nebraska Court of Appeals in late 2022, claiming that he had been denied his right to a speedy trial. The appeal was denied.

After six days of testimony, the case was submitted to the jury at 11:41 a.m. on Dec. 19. They returned a verdict of guilty on all counts at 4:20 p.m. the same day.

Unless Mecknas motion for a new trial is granted, Parks will be sentenced to life in prison in March. First-degree murder convictions carry an automatic life sentence without the possibility of parole.
NEW YORK  Microsoft is adding a Copilot key that summons an AI-powered assistant with the click of a button in its biggest update to the Windows keyboard in three decades.

The software giant said Thursday that the Copilot key will be coming soon to some new PCs made and sold by a variety of manufacturers that run on the Windows operating system, as it heralded the year of the AI PC.

This means that with the click of a single button, PC users will soon be able to engage with Copilot, the software giants AI-powered chatbot, to ask questions or help draft emails.

This will not only simplify peoples computing experience but also amplify it, making 2024 the year of the AI PC, Yusuf Mehdi, the executive vice president and consumer chief marketing officer at Microsoft, said in a company blog post announcing the Copilot key.

The new key will ultimately make it seamless to engage Copilot in your day to day, Mehdi added. Copilot, notably, is propelled by OpenAIs underlying technology after Microsofts $13 billion investment into the AI startup.

If Copilot is not yet available in your country or not enabled on your device, pressing the Copilot key will launch Windows Search.

The new key features a Copilot ribbon logo and sits on the lower right side of the keyboard, near the Space bar and Alt button.

The addition marks the first major change to the Windows PC keyboard since Microsoft added the Windows key back in 1994. That button appeared on laptop and desktop keyboards sold by companies such as Dell, Lenovo and HP.

The move by Microsoft was announced just ahead of next weeks CES tech convention, where more AI product updates are expected to be unveiled from a slew of companies. Over the past year, Big Tech companies have raced to develop and integrate AI tools across their range of products.

In the company blogpost announcing the Copilot key, Mehdi also teased a significant shift coming in 2024 for Microsoft, where AI will be seamlessly woven into Windows from the system, to the silicon, to the hardware.

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10 tech innovations that have improved driving safety since 2000 10 tech innovations that have improved driving safety since 2000 Rear-view cameras Lane departure warnings Driving mode on phones Crash detection Red light cameras Blind spot detection V2V communication Car telematics Smart traffic control systems Automatic emergency braking
GILBERTVILLE  The city of Gilbertville recently received a $500,000 federal grant to help cover the cost of a new Emergency Services building.

The funds, announced in December, come from the U.S. Department of Agricultures Rural Development Community Facilities Grants program. Gilbertville is one of 16 Iowa communities to receive funding.

The grant brings the total money available for the building to more than $2.5 million, including $500,000 in federal funding allocated in January 2023 as part of an omnibus appropriations bill, $1.25 million from a bond measure approved by voters in March, $225,000 from the Black Hawk County Gaming Association as part of its fiscal year 2023 spring grant cycle, between $250,000 and $300,000 raised by the community and $200,000 made available by the county.

Mayor Mark Thome said the money set aside by the county will be the last money in.

We will try very hard not to use those funds, he said. They are the last contingency.

Cardinal Construction will be the general contractor for the $2.3 million project.

They started moving dirt at the end of October, said Fire Chief Curt Bovy. The ground is level, sewer and water have been run and storm drain piping is in place. They will shut down and start up again in March, when they will pour the footings and foundation. We have a completion date of December 2024.

The new 12,400-square-foot structure, which will house the fire and police departments and emergency medical services, will be located just north of Caseys on the north side of town.

Bovy said discussions about the need for a new building started about 20 years ago.

And its finally coming around, he said.

Every time we go to replace or purchase a vehicle, we have to customize it or revamp part of the station. We wont have any trouble with height requirements in the new building. The existing station, 1406 Fourth St., was built in the 1930s, so its about 70 or 80 years old.

I really want to thank the community for all the support, he said. We wouldnt be where we are  starting a new building  without them.

There is interest in purchasing the (current) fire department property, said Thome. So we will sell it and put that money toward the new building.

The existing police department, 419 14th Ave., will likely be used for record storage, he said.

Its all very exciting, Thome said. We appreciate the county helping us out, and Rep. Ahsley Hinson has been instrumental in helping us secure funds. The police and fire departments have been holding steak suppers and other fundraisers for years. As for the citizens, if you ask, the people of Gilbertville usually find a way to make things happen.

This is one of the main reasons I ran for re-election, to see it through and get this building open. We look forward to the future under one roof.

Thome said the city will hold a groundbreaking ceremony from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday at the construction site. Hinson is expected to attend. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved to City Hall, 1321 Fifth St.
Stethoscope with dollar shaped cord standing on turquoise background. Vignette effect applied. adventtr/Getty Images

Last fall, a federal court began hearing the case of United States v. Google LLC, in which the Department of Justice and a group of states allege that Google has smothered and eliminated its competition in part through illegal acquisitions, preventing the use of competing products.

The outcome of the case will undoubtedly have a major impact on business practices across Big Tech. But theres another industry in which the same allegations being made against Google and other Big Tech companies also applies that far fewer people are aware of: health care.

Anticompetitive behavior in health care has been happening for decades in the United States to the detriment of consumers. Heres the common playbook: A health care system or hospital chain buys another facility (i.e., another hospital or a group of providers) with the rationale that once they have more control of these resources, they can share their fixed costs; this increased operational efficiency will then be passed down to patients through lower prices and increased quality.

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Except it seems that rarely if ever happens. Even almost 20 years ago, researchers showed that, across the country, hospital consolidation raised prices. In fact, a 2015 study found that when the hospitals that merged were geographically close to each other, prices increased by a whopping 40% to 50%. The same study also found that these mergers had ripple effects, showing how neighboring hospitals would also increase their prices to match the new market price. As for the impact on the quality of care, mergers also did not improve that. Rather, many studies have shown the practice often results in a lower quality of care.

In the United States, more than 80% of our hospitals are privately owned. This means that they act just like any other economic entity  if they can squelch the competition, they will. Even government and nonprofit hospitals have been shown not to be aligned with their charity care obligations despite their tax designation status.

But in recent years, the drive for profits has intensified  driven largely by the increasing involvement of private equity, which invests more than $200 billion per year in health care and over the past 10 years has bought over 8,000 hospitals and other health care firms. The addition of these investors, who seek to quickly maximize their returns above all else, is also leading to new business practices that, while not technically illegal, are definitely making health care worse.

For example, Prospect Medical, a company backed by private equity investment, shuttered the maternity ward, I.C.U. and E.R. of a Pennsylvania hospital as well as several other hospitals it owns across the country in no small part due to a $1.12 billion dollar loan the company took out in order to pay itself and its private equity shareholders a $457 million dividend. In order to pay back the loan, Prospect Medical then sold off the land and buildings of hospitals it owns to a real estate investment trust, which it now leases the hospitals back from  costing the hospitals millions of dollars in rent.

The federal government understands these practices are a problem. The Federal Trade Commission has already sued several hospital mergers based on anticompetitive behavior for what are called vertical mergers that consolidate suppliers all along a supply chain (e.g., a hospital, a physicians practice, a lab facility, an imaging facility) as well as for horizontal mergers, where a hospital acquires practices that provide overlapping services and therefore reduce competition. And last month, two U.S. senators launched a bipartisan investigation into private equity firms involvement in health care. But with anticompetitive practices flushed with private equity money rampant throughout the system, there are currently few too resources to pursue so many cases at once.

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So what can done? First, our current legal and regulatory mechanisms need stronger teeth. The primary tools for state and federal entities to regulate the industry  namely, antitrust and anti-kickback laws  are woefully outdated. Given how rapidly the health care landscape is changing, current laws are not able to keep up with how the industry is being financed and delivered. Congress can also empower federal regulatory agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission, Securities and Exchange Commission, and U.S. Department of Justice to prevent the kind of profiteering that private equity is currently engaging in at the expense of our health care system.

For their part, states can also play a role by passing and updating laws that require reporting of potential mergers of health care entities before they happen, since reversing these mergers is nearly impossible. States can also prohibit anticompetitive contracts between insurers and providers. In California, existing law requires the Department of Managed Health Care or the Attorney General to review most health care transactions, and new assembly bills including AB 1092 and AB 1091, if passed, would expand oversight authority and further empower these entities to safeguard against anticompetitive practices.

The good news is that there has been an increase in the enforcement of antitrust law in health care from federal entities such as the FTC, but its not enough.
WAVERLY  Lena Anderson likes teaching rabbits new tricks.

The 10-year-old Waverly entrepreneur teaches bunnies commands like come and sit. She claims she once taught a sheep how to shake.

Lena breeds and sells the animals, some as big as a few feet in length and 40 pounds.

As owner of Lenas Giant Rabbits, she is the teacher in those instances.

But she has recently gained attention for being a high-achieving student of government and politics.

Some have called her a political freak after she became one of the youngest people ever to earn a perfect score on the United States civics test. The test developed by Citizenship and Immigration Services is also administered as part of the curriculum for children two grades ahead of Lena.

Lena now wants to become the youngest person ever to hold one of the state offices in Iowa.

She really loves to apply herself, said her mother, Heather Anderson. Shes always been interested in history and learning about this country and learning about how the government works, but I really think Vivek inspired her the most.

Thats Vivek Ramaswamy, the wealthy business owner and current Republican candidate for president. He has proposed 18-year-olds be required to score at least 60% on the test in order to vote, since that is a requirement for attaining citizenship. If you cant meet that threshold, he proposes, you have to wait until youre 25 to vote.

Critics say that would disenfranchise voters. When skeptics heard about Lenas support of Ramaswamy on social media, they pointed out  sometimes disparagingly  that she might have to wait 15 more years to vote under his plan.

I wanted to prove that if a 10-year-old can do it, then an 18-year-old can do it, Lena said. All the naysayers lit a fire under my butt, and so I put that fire out.

She practiced for four days with flash cards and study guides. She answered all 100 questions correctly in about 90 minutes on a written version of the exam administered by a Tripoli teacher. Shed previously done an oral version of the test in which she answered only one question incorrectly.

The feat was impressive. Questions touched on the principles of American democracy, its system of government, and rights and responsibilities under the Constitution. She had to know about geography, symbols, and national holidays as well as the history of the colonial period, independence, and the 1800s.

Lena wants to become a veterinarian or lawyer when shes older, but also plans to become Iowas youngest state senator and break the record set by former Sen. Jake Chapman. He was 28 when first elected.

Lenas interest in government began percolating at 7 years old while reading textbooks on government and history for school. Shes currently home-schooled, and has spent time in Iowa Virtual Academy and Tripoli public schools.

I liked reading about politics and was interested in the three branches of government, Lena said. The executive branch is one of my favorites. I also like learning about the House and Senate and Congress and like all aspects of politics. Its fascinating.

She was named class president as a 9-year-old fifth grader. Now shes hoping to become the youngest-ever youth delegate for her precinct during the Republican caucuses Jan. 15. According to the party, in that role she would get to take part in a mini caucus and talk about planks in its platform.

This kind of civic engagement is what we hope for and expect in all our students. Shes an excellent example of the best of Waverly, said Mayor Mark Anderson (whos not related).

Shes only eight years from voting. The more engaged young people are, the better. I had two high school students on my campaign committee for that very same reason. They added a lot of enthusiasm and bring to the table the concerns of their generation, Anderson said.

Lenas not old enough to vote, but she has become a viral sensation. Her exchanges with and letters to Ramaswamy have been captured by her mother and posted online, then reposted on his campaigns social media pages.

A couple of posts drew about a million views. The most recent was a video about Lenas story involving politics and Ramaswamy.

The presidential candidates reaction is one of awe and hope.

Lena is one of those people that doesnt hide her excellence, and Im proud of her for that, Ramaswamy told The Courier. I think she sets a good example for kids across this country and embodies the kinds of characteristics that Id want to see in my kids when theyre her age.

Lena handed Ramaswamy a letter at a September event  she met him for the first time a month prior  expressing her appreciation for how nice, kind, and encouraging he was. Later that fall she gave him a second letter about her perfect civics test.

He brought my inner politician out, she said. Not only does he tell the truth, but he calls out corruption and is doing everything, in my opinion, a politician should be doing. I was inspired by that.

Her political engagement has led her to attend several other candidates events, including Ron DeSantis, Larry Elder, and Tim Scott. But shes a big Ramaswamy supporter. Lena has attended close to two dozen of his events since her first one Aug. 27.

Along the way, she has become a friend of Ramaswamy, his family and campaign staff.

In other ways shes a typical 10-year-old girl. She likes spending time with her family, including her three younger siblings, and riding horses. In fact, some of her profits from her rabbit venture help pay for horse camp.

Aside from her political prowess, she was already a success with her business, which once made $1,000 in one day.

I used to have many rex rabbits. They can be super small, she said. But I decided I wanted to go bigger, and so I went a lot bigger.

And Ive now turned my fun into money.
DES MOINES  Iowa statehouse Democrats will push to reverse a decision from state officials to opt out of a federal food assistance program for low-income children, party leaders said during a forum Thursday.

House and Senate Democratic leaders made the remarks during the Iowa Capitol Press Associations annual Legislative Session Preview Forum. Republican leaders and Republican Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds declined to attend the forum.

The state Department of Health and Human Services announced in December that it would not participate in the 2024 Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children program. The program would have given $40 per child for each of the summer months for families who qualify for free and reduced lunch during the school year.

Instead, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said the state would expand existing programs that leverage partnerships with community-based providers and schools who understand the needs of the families they serve.

Federal COVID-era cash benefit programs are not sustainable and dont provide long-term solutions for the issues impacting children and families, Reynolds said in a statement in December. An EBT card does nothing to promote nutrition at a time when childhood obesity has become an epidemic.

The HHS department noted the state would have been required to spend $2.2 million in administrative fees to cover their share of the program.

On Thursday, Senate Democratic Leader Pam Jochum of Dubuque said she had reached out to Republican colleagues, who make up the majority in both chambers, asking them to join Democrats in reversing the decision to reject the aid.

Some of the arguments the governor has made in terms of why she has rejected that funding just don't wash, Jochum said. They just dont wash. It has nothing to do with obesity, even though she may claim that.

Democratic Sen. Izaah Knox issued a statement last week calling for collaboration among all stakeholders to address food insecurity in the wake of the states decision to opt out of the federal program.

Republican Sen. Mike Costello, the vice chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, said its unlikely Republicans will pursue legislation to increase funding for food assistance for low-income families.

He said he supports state officials decision to pass on the federal program and focus attention on existing state programs.

The department has  a lot of different programs for feeding children, Costello said. And they feel like they can work with the latitude they already have to meet those needs.

In an email, Reynolds' spokesperson Kollin Crompton said the state is exploring using federal funds from the American Rescue Plan to incentivize school districts and other sites to participate in other federally-funded summer feeding programs, while asking other districts to expand their programs. The state will also explore ways to connect Medicaid-eligible Iowans with food assistance.

He said existing state programs offer more nutritious alternatives to EBT cards, which do not have a nutritional requirement.

"The Summer Food Service Program and the Seamless Summer Option, already run through the state, are required to provide Milk, fruits, vegetables, grains, and meats / proteins  all based around age-appropriate meal patterns,' Crompton said. "These nutritional standards provide well balanced, prepared meals for children in a healthy, safe environment.

Rep. Jennifer Konfrst of Windsor Heights, who leads House Democrats, said she is skeptical there will be any support from Republicans to reverse the decision or expand funding for low-income families to make up for the federal dollars.

I dont know that there are bipartisan opportunities, but Democrats are ready to work on those, Konfrst said. I just dont believe Republicans are willing to stand up to the governor on this really disastrous and offensive decision.
A 41-year-old Winona woman was arrested Wednesday after police said she threatened to kill a man and was combative against officers.

During an argument inside of a garage on the 50 block of Lenox Street, Sarah Ann Jorgenson allegedly threatened to kill a man who she had been in a relationship with, while coming at him with a pair of scissors, according to police.

The man was able to exit the garage and enter the residence before calling the police at 3:38 p.m. When police arrived, statements were gathered from Jorgenson, the victim and a witness.

Officers then decided to arrest Jorgenson, who became resistive.

She allegedly attempted to throw a power drill at an officer, according to police. The drill missed the officer's head. She also allegedly kicked another officer in the knee before she was taken to the ground and handcuffed.

Jorgenson was arrested for second-degree assault, fourth-degree assault, domestic assault and obstructing the legal process.

Jorgenson allegedly told officers that she was experiencing a panic attack, so she was brought to Winona Health after her arrest. During the ambulance ride to the hospital, Jorgenson allegedly spit on an officer.

She was cleared at Winona Health and then brought to jail.
Southeast Minnesota residents with an idea to strengthen sustainability in their community can now apply for partnership support from the University of Minnesota Extension Southeast Regional Sustainable Development Partnership.

Southeast RSDP supports local innovation by connecting community ideas to University of Minnesota resources. Community members work on diverse project teams that research, design and plan local sustainability projects with university students, faculty and staff.

Southeast RSDP has several resource opportunities to support community-university partnerships. Residents and organizations are encouraged to submit their sustainability project ideas through the RSDP idea brief application. This annual call for ideas has supported hundreds of sustainability projects in the southeast region for over 25 years. RSDP is also seeking applications from local farmers interested in building a deep winter greenhouse using the latest university researched design.

Additionally, RSDP is launching a new program, Empowering Small Minnesota Communities, to help small Minnesota communities benefit from federal, state and local investments. This program is seeking applications from communities interested in collaborating with the university to advance or plan projects that support sustainable economic, social or transportation infrastructure.

We are seeking ideas and expertise from southeast Minnesota residents that help to shape resilient communities where all people have the opportunity to thrive, said Southeast RSDP executive director Andi Sutton. I encourage people to get in touch with me to talk about their ideas for making our communities more sustainable places.

Applications for all resources are being accepted through Feb. 14. Visit the link z.umn.edu/RSDPIdeaBrief to read more about the programs and to apply. Community members are encouraged to contact Sutton directly at sutto364@umn.edu or 857-928-4196 to discuss their ideas and ask questions. Successful projects are selected by the Southeast RSDP community-university governing board through a competitive process.

The Southeast RSDP serves Blue Earth, Faribault, Dodge, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, LeSueur, Mower, Nicollet, Olmsted, Fillmore, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca and Winona counties and the sovereign Native Nation of Prairie Island Indian Community.
From the early 1980s to around 2008, U.S. oil production fell from 10.7 million barrels per day down to just 7.8 million, while oil imports mo
Rashad Nelson was days away from fatherhood. Aaron Willis left behind a daughter and an unborn child. Aajayah Ray was a very loving tomboy.

The Dane County Medical Examiner's Office on Friday confirmed the identities of the three people who were killed Monday night when their vehicle crashed into a tree as the driver tried to elude Monona police. Autopsies were done Wednesday and Thursday, but the cause and manner of death are pending, the medical examiner's office said in a statement.

Friends of the three identified them Thursday to the Wisconsin State Journal, describing the three as bright, loving and compassionate individuals.

Ive spent holidays with these kids, and theyve helped me and given me good advice and helped me stay grounded in my time of need, friend Crystal Wilson said. They were loved and adored by everyone they came in contact with.

At about 9 p.m. Monday, officers tried to pull over a vehicle near the corner of Nichols Road and Monona Drive in Monona. The vehicle fled, and police pursued. At some point, the Dane County Sheriffs Office deployed a tire-deflation device to stop the vehicle, and it crashed at the corner of Femrite Drive and Buckeye Road in the town of Cottage Grove, according to the state Department of Justices Division of Criminal Investigation, which is investigating the incident.

Its not clear why police sought to pull the vehicle over, nor why the driver chose to speed away. Citing the ongoing investigation, officials havent released many details of the crash. But the incident has renewed scrutiny of policies that govern when law enforcement can pursue fleeing vehicles.

In the wake of the crash, Monona has tightened its policy on police pursuits, at least for now, the third time the city has re-evaluated the policy since 2020.

In a statement to the Monona City Council Wednesday night, Police Chief Brian Chaney said the department has decided to temporarily focus our priorities on suspects who we believe to be involved in dangerous and violent felony offenses. This revision is put in place while members of the Monona community and its elected officials have the opportunity to weigh in on what is best for Monona.

In developing policies for when they will pursue fleeing vehicles, law enforcement and officials weigh the desire to apprehend criminal suspects with the potential danger of chasing them, a pursuit that can threaten the safety of the people in the fleeing vehicle as well as the public.

In November 2022, the Monona City Council approved a change to the policy governing when police can engage in vehicle pursuits, removing the requirement that the people being pursued must be suspected of having committed a violent felony or that they were about to commit one.

The new policy included a dozen factors for officers to consider when deciding whether to pursue a fleeing vehicle, including whether the suspect represents a serious threat to public safety, the safety of the public in the area of the pursuit and whether the person fleeing has been identified and could be safely arrested later.

That expanded a previous policy, adopted in 2020, in which the City Council changed the requirement that police have reasonable suspicion that a violent felony had been committed to instead permit pursuits if police had probable cause that such a crime had occurred.

Having a years experience with the old policy, in my opinion it was simply far too restrictive, Ald. Doug Wood said. It was so restrictive that in too many instances people could simply refuse to stop for the police even when their emergency lights and sirens were operating. That laissez faire attitude was in itself a threat to public safety.

Chaney on Tuesday declined to say whether the people fleeing Monday were suspected of a violent felony.

On Thursday, citing the advice of city attorneys, Monona Mayor Mary OConnor referred questions from the State Journal to Chaney. Chaney said he will answer questions about the situation on Friday.

Took care of everyone

Nelson, 30, had been a man of strong faith, something Wilson said the two had bonded over in the seven years theyd known each other. Nelson and his longtime girlfriend, with whom hed been about to start a family, stole my heart, Wilson recalled.

Rashad loved his entire family and would do anything to keep them safe and on track, she said. He took care of everyone who called on him, and everyone did.

Nelsons caring nature extended to 19-year-old Ray, the very loving tomboy who Rashad took under his wing, according to Wilson.

We all loved her like family. She was sweet, smart, respectful and loving every time I saw her or interacted with her.

She only had nothing but time to grow, another friend, who goes by Sway Dolo, told the State Journal via Facebook Messenger. She just grew on me.

Friends of Ray have started a GoFundMe campaign to help her mother with funeral expenses and other things.

Dolo had known Willis, 30, since childhood and said he had been trying to get his life together in recent years after the deaths of his mother and sister.

Wilson admired him for his devotion to his family, his heart of gold and loyal beyond measure nature.

He was a devoted father to his daughter and a loyal man to his significant other, she said. I know hes in heaven with his mother and sister now with angel wings because he was truly an earth angel.

Vehicle was suspicious

Authorities havent said what prompted the attempted traffic stop in Monona on Monday night that escalated into the chase and crash. In a statement, DCI said only that police had deemed the vehicle suspicious.

The Dane County Sheriffs Office assisted Monona police in the pursuit, but the ongoing investigation prevents us from providing specific details concerning that incident, sheriffs office Capt. Kerry Porter said in a statement Thursday afternoon.

While details of the crash are still unknown, Porter said the use of road spikes has proven safe and effective in ending pursuits, noting that the system is designed to avoid causing a blowout by using hollow tubes that act as valves, releasing air from the tires at a slow and controlled rate.

The officers involved in Mondays chase have been placed on administrative duty, per agency policy, while DCI investigates the incident with assistance from the Wisconsin State Patrol. Monona police and Dane County Sheriffs Office squad cars are equipped with dashboard cameras, DCI said.

DCI said it will turn over its reports to the Dane County District Attorneys Office when the investigation is concluded.

The Washington, D.C-based Police Executive Research Forum, which conducts research and makes recommendations on police policy, last year released a report showing an increase in the number of fatal crashes involving a police pursuit, from 311 in 2015 to 455 in 2020.

It recommends that departments should adopt restrictive vehicle pursuit philosophies that permit pursuits only for a limited and serious set of circumstances and that pursuits should only be allowed for violent crimes and where failure to immediately apprehend the suspect presents an imminent threat to the public based on the suspects criminal actions.

To engage in a vehicle pursuit, Madison police are required to have probable cause to believe that the vehicle driver and/or occupant(s) has recently committed, is committing, or is about to commit a violent felony, under that departments policies.

State Journal reporter Chris Rickert contributed to this report.
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President Joe Biden (left) and Gov. Gavin Newsom take part in an AI event at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco in June. Newsom has signaled he might be interested in a slower approach to regulating AI than some lawmakers are. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/TNS

SACRAMENTO  Some California lawmakers want the state to lead the nation in regulating artificial intelligence, but a looming budget deficit could hamstring their efforts.

Theyve already announced a flurry of AI bills, with more on the way. Their proposals include efforts to require the state to set new safety standards, create an AI research hub and develop protections against deepfake videos and photos that look real but have been digitally altered to mislead the viewer.

Gov. Gavin Newsom is also interested in preventing malicious uses of the new technology, his Deputy Chief of Staff Jason Elliott said. Preventing AI harms is important to ensure the safety of Californians, Elliott said, but also because Newsom wants the industry to grow as an economic force in the state.

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The governor is actually enthusiastic about this as an industry in California, Elliott said. Whats happening in San Francisco right now is exciting. We want more of that, not less. In order for that to take hold and flourish, more good things need to happen than bad things.

But the budget deficit could prompt Newsom to veto AI bills with high price tags. The newly introduced bills have not yet been given cost estimates, but any requirements to hire people to implement the legislation or other related costs will likely run up against the reality of a massive budget deficit. The nonpartisan Legislative Analysts Office has estimated the state faces a $68 billion shortfall this year, which will likely require Newsom to propose cuts when he releases his budget plan next week.

Elliott suggested AI bills with significant costs should be considered as part of the budget process, or risk what he called the boilerplate veto language Newsom often uses to explain why he rejects proposed laws: They are too expensive.

The governor has also signaled he might be interested in a slower approach than some of the lawmakers. He unveiled an executive order in the fall directing state agencies to evaluate the risks AI poses to Californias infrastructure, develop guidelines for the state to purchase AI technology and to draft a report on AIs potential benefits.

Elliott said the administration is talking to OpenAI and other tech companies, academics, consumer protection advocates, scientists and other experts. He said the governor intentionally didnt propose legislation as part of the order because the process of determining whether new laws are needed is ongoing.

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Newsom has told legislative leaders they should ensure any bills they send him are cohesive, Elliott said.

If you get 10 different bills that pull in 10 different directions at 10 different orders of magnitude  so one is trying to set up a regulatory structure and the other is trying to legislate a very, very specific end use  thats challenging, he said.

In the meantime, lawmakers have already proposed many new laws, including:

Padilla praised Newsom for addressing AI through his executive order, but said the Legislature also needs to pass laws to regulate the technology.

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This needs to be codified beyond any single administration, he said. This needs to be a legislative framework, not just dealt with in an EO.

Padilla acknowledged that his proposals will cost some money, but he said he thinks addressing AI needs to be prioritized in the budget.

We have to move, he said, noting how quickly the technology is developing. Were behind already.

For AI regulation to be effective, some academic experts caution that government needs to hire more people with specific expertise in AI, which is a challenge.

A recent paper published by Stanford researchers argues low salaries for government workers, as well as long, burdensome hiring processes, are causing an impending workforce crisis that undermines efforts to address climate change, cybersecurity, and tech governance.

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Daniel Ho, who co-authored the paper and also serves as an AI adviser to the Biden administration, said the staffing problems threaten state governments ability to regulate AI.

The talent pipeline into government is probably the single most important thing to get right to craft effective forms of AI regulation, he told the Chronicle. Government cannot govern AI if it does not understand AI.

Ho said creating partnerships where academics already working at colleges and universities do rotations or fellowships working for government could help address that issue without costing the state more. He also said creating a public reporting system about problems that arise from AI, similar to ones already used by the government to monitor health issues, could help keep the government informed about issues it should respond to related to the new technology.

Bauer-Kahan said she hopes the state will find a solution but said she is worried the budget deficit will make it harder for the state to hire the people it needs to regulate the emerging industry.

We need new talent in our agencies to really get this issue right, and were hampered in our ability to do that, she said. Im hopeful that we can partner with the folks that will help us figure this out, and at the same time hire folks who can get this right.
Berkeley police officers stand guard Thursday on Haste Street as workers stack shipping containers next to Peoples Park while protesters rally at the intersection of Telegraph Avenue and Haste. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle

UC Berkeleys plan to build student housing at Peoples Park has won support from state lawmakers and Gov. Gavin Newsom, and police and Highway Patrol officers have barricaded the site to keep protesters out. But neighborhood groups opposing the project still have a case before the state Supreme Court, which could require the university to take a closer look at the local impacts of its housing construction  at least in future cases.

Whether housed by UC or not, students will generate social noise impacts off campus in Berkeleys neighborhoods and streets, and the University of California should be required to consider alternatives that would be less disruptive, lawyers for Make UC a Good Neighbor and the Peoples Park Historic District Advocacy Group said in their most recent filing with the states high court.

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The universitys $312 million project would build housing for about 1,100 students and for more than 100 of the homeless people who regularly camp on the 2.8-acre site south of the Berkeley campus. The court agreed last May to hear UC Berkeleys appeal of a lower-court ruling that said UC had failed to consider alternative housing sites or the impact on neighborhood residents of noise generated by the students.

Lawyers for Gov. Gavin Newsom, who supported the appeal, had told the court last April that the case provides an opportunity for the Court to reaffirm that CEQA (the California Environmental Quality Act) is a tool to ensure public participation, informed decision-making, and thoughtful development  but not an instrument to block necessary progress or deny to others safe, healthy, and affordable housing.

Then in September, the governor signed AB1307 by Assembly Member Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland, which exempted UC Berkeley from any previous legal requirement to consider other sites for the project, and also said noise from future residents was irrelevant to environmental reviews of a housing project. That law effectively resolved the case, the universitys lawyers contended.

AB1307 means that Californias environmental law, which requires review of the impact of state-approved construction, can no longer consider people as pollution, attorney Jeremy Rosen told the court, quoting Wicks description of her bill. Rosen urged the justices to uphold UCs approval plan quickly so that the construction on the urgently needed Peoples Park project can resume.

Not so fast, said Thomas Lippe, a lawyer for the neighborhood groups.

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UC Berkeley has more than 45,000 students and has forecast adding 8,500 more in the next 12 years, along with 3,600 employees. While AB1307 exempts the university from considering the neighborhood impact of noise from residents of the planned Peoples Park housing, Lippe wrote, state law still requires UC to find alternatives to noise impacts throughout Berkeleys neighborhoods caused by all of the students included in the  projected enrollment-driven population increase, whether housed in UC residential projects or not.

This noise will be caused, not just by UCs residential project occupants and their guests, but by all of the persons added to Berkeleys neighborhoods, many of whom UC will not house, Lippe told the court.

And even though the new law means the court no longer has to decide whether UC Berkeley should have considered sites outside Peoples Park for new student housing, the attorney said, the Court should decide the issue anyway because it raises issues of broad public interest that are likely to recur.

After granting a review, the court generally schedules a hearing only after reaching a tentative majority vote among its seven justices, as a ruling is legally required no more than 90 days later. No hearing has been scheduled, but the justices have given no indication that they plan to dismiss the neighborhood groups case without hearing arguments and issuing a ruling. Until then, construction of the housing is on hold.

The case is Make UC a Good Neighbor v. UC Regents, S279242.
In this interaction with Adgully, Ankit Kataria, Director of Marketing, AB InBev India, speaks about the force behind Budweisers dynamic presence in Indias festival landscape. He dives into the heart of Budweisers commitment to elevating the festival experience, exploring its unique partnerships, immersive initiatives, and the brand's conscientious approach to environmental sustainability.

Could you tell us about Budweisers involvement in the festival season and how the brand is enhancing the consumer experience?

Budweiser has built great equity by delivering unique experiences, initiatives, and campaigns across music, sports, and culture. Music has been and continues to be a passion point for the brand to engage with our consumers.

Over the years, weve brought home notable international IPs including EDC, Sensation, Mixmag, DGTL, Boiler Room, and Lollapalooza, elevating Indias electronic music and hip-hop landscape. Weve also partnered homegrown IPs like Magnetic Fields and Echoes of Earth, making Budweiser synonymous with high-energy moments.

Our partnerships grow every year, and we double down on curating differentiated experiences for our consumers. For example, weve teamed up with top brands and designers for exclusive merchandise drops at each festival were part of. These hype drops represent a tangible connection to the music, art, and culture that Budweiser is championing.

Through our initiatives to elevate festival-goers experiences, brand experience zones, and partnerships that drive music culture in India, were transforming the festival experience. This allows attendees to revel in the vibrant atmosphere and artistic essence of each event, while engaging with our brand in unique ways.

What inspired Budweiser to partner with festivals like DGTL, Magnetic Field, and Echoes of Earth? How do these partnerships align with the brands values and objectives?

Our decision to partner with music festivals like DGTL, Magnetic Fields, Echoes of Earth, Lollapalooza, and others is driven by our commitment to elevate Indias music scene, while engaging with our consumers in meaningful ways.

The partnerships weve undertaken closely align with our values in many ways. First, we recognise that music is a strong passion point for our consumers. Through our associations with music festivals, we tap into the vibrant and dynamic music scene, connecting with our consumers through a shared love of music.

Second, our partnerships span both global and homegrown music IPs, highlighting a balanced approach that helps us foster a global platform for local talent. This allows Budweiser to contribute to the growth of electronic music and hip-hop in India, while bringing international acts to Indian audiences.

Third, our involvement with festivals goes beyond just music. We are actively working on creating immersive experiences for consumers, working with partners to create merchandise for events, and more- fostering a tangible connection to cultural elements of each event. This integration of music, art, and fashion reinforces Budweisers role in championing diverse cultural expressions.

Immersive experiences have become increasingly important in the festival scene. How is Budweiser incorporating immersive elements into these events, and what can attendees expect? Could you share some specific examples of the immersive experiences Budweiser is offering at these festivals? How do these experiences connect with the music and overall atmosphere?

Budweiser delivers immersive experiences at festivals, seamlessly integrating them with the music and the overall atmosphere. We do this in different ways.

Weve taken over key stages at festivals, like the BudX Generator Stage at DGTL, BudX North Stage at Magnetic Fields and more. These stages showcase an exceptional lineup spanning genres, offering attendees a diverse set of artists to listen to. Weve also recently launched BudX Uncovered - an initiative where the brand spotlights emerging acts, many of whom will perform in India for the first time. This initiative reflects Budweiser's commitment to nurturing creativity and innovation in the music space, bringing together a diverse range of artists and music enthusiasts to create unforgettable moments. As part of BudX Uncovered, we will also launch Budweiser Anthems with key artists, capturing the journey of songs that have become synonymous with their genres.

Finally, Budweiser goes beyond being a stage at a festival by creating experience zones that are tailored to each festivals theme. For example, at DGTL, we created the Budweiser Brew District, where attendees could engage with attractions like an anamorphic bar, an AI prompt station, and even tattoo and piercing stations. These experience zones enhance the immersive experiences we offer consumers, providing them interactive elements that extend beyond musical performances.

Music festivals often attract a diverse audience. How is Budweiser tailoring its immersive experiences to appeal to a wide range of festival-goers?

Budweiser excels in tailoring the immersive experiences, to have them resonate with wide ranging audiences. First is through themed on-ground engagements, which are meticulously designed in line with festival themes. For instance, at Lollapalooza 2022, Budweiser paid homage to the spirit of Mumbai, through installations like Bud Local. This concept instantly invoked nostalgia surrounding the city that was home to the first edition of the event, resonating with festival-goers across ages.

We also leverage our brand portfolio to offer a spectrum of experiences catering to varied preferences. Through a wide range of beverage options and experiences, we ensure that our engagements across portfolio brands appeal to the diverse tastes and interests of the festivals attendees.

Sustainability and eco-friendliness are important aspects of some of these festivals. How is Budweiser addressing environmental concerns in its festival activations, especially at events like Echoes of Earth?

We are conscious of and actively addressing environmental considerations at music festivals across the board. At Echoes of Earth, our initiatives reflect a commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. This is in line with growing consumer expectations for brands to be accountable for their environmental impact.

In 2022, Budweiser installed a solar powered bar at Echoes of Earth. This year, the brand will take over the Serpent stage, which will be made entirely from recycled materials. These efforts reflect an awareness of the expectations of environmentally conscious festival-goers and a dedication to promoting positive change within the live events industry.

Collaboration with artists and musicians can be a key part of enhancing festival experiences. Are there any notable collaborations or performances that Budweiser is excited about this festival season?

We recently launched BudX Uncovered, an initiative where the brand spotlights emerging acts, many of whom will perform in India for the first time. This initiative reflects Budweiser's commitment to nurturing creativity and innovation in the music space, bringing together a diverse range of artists and music enthusiasts to create unforgettable moments. As part of BudX Uncovered, we will also launch Budweiser Anthems with key artists, capturing the journey of songs that have become synonymous with their genres. At DGTL 2023, the surprise artist uncovered by Budweiser was Ukranian techno DJ and producer, Dana Montana. Stay tuned as we uncover more such acts across the music festivals weve partnered with!

With the growth of digital and social media, how is Budweiser leveraging technology and online platforms to engage with festival attendees before, during, and after the events?

We recognise the significance of technology and online platforms in engaging with festival attendees throughout their event journey.

Before festivals, we use social media to generate anticipation and create excitement for events. This includes the creation of exclusive content, running ticket giveaways and featuring outtakes from our preparations.

During events, our innovations involve using technology to create a seamless experience for attendees. For example, for DGTL 2023, we introduced Budweisers Fast Lane Access Card through which consumers could unlock the best beer offers, benefit from wait-free beer experiences, and get the chance to meet & greet artists performing at the event.

Beyond the festival, were exploring synergistic partnerships that tie in with our goal to elevate and transform the music scene. For example, Budweiser has collaborated with Spotify for a cross-cultural celebration of the extraordinary talent shaping the future of music. BudX on Spotify is a global collaboration that unveils the unique stories and sounds of emerging artists. Budweiser will soon launch curated playlists, artist recommendations, exclusive merchandise, and tickets to its own music experiences as part of this collaboration.
We, at Adgully, have always saluted and honoured women managers and leaders across diverse fields. W-SUITE is a special initiative from Adgully that has been turning the spotlight on some of the most remarkable women achievers in the M&E, Advertising, Marketing, PR and Communications industry. In the refurbished series, we seek to find out how women leaders have been managing their teams and work as well as how they have been navigating through the toughest and most challenging times brought about by the global pandemic.

Meeta Gutgutia and Vikaas Gutgutia co-founded FNP in 1994. They have pioneered the concept of flowers, plants and gifting in the online space and have systematized the unorganized wedding marketplace. Being the creative brain of FNP, Meeta has bagged many awards and accolades. Her aesthetic and design sensibility have made FNP - The Design Leader. Her baby projects, Sipping Thoughts and Women Listed are digital media brands, which focus on women centric programming and reaches to over 1 million women monthly.

In an exclusive interaction with Adgully, Meeta Gutgutia, Co-Founder, FNP, and Founder Women Listed and Sipping Thoughts, shares with us about her entrepreneurial journey as a woman and the subsequent hardships faced on the way to success. She also shares about her projects, Women Listed and Sipping Thoughts, and how they are helping women to evolve as individuals.

How has your professional journey been from 1994 to 2023? How have you evolved as a business woman?

I was a Fashion Designer by profession, but when I met, fell in love and married Vikaas Gutgutia, who was a florist, my career path changed very naturally. One of the reasons was obviously because as newly married, we wanted to spend as much time together as possible, and building a business together gave us that chance. Secondly, flower industry intrigued me a lot because that time there was nothing organised about this space and we saw a huge untapped potential here.

Vikaas and I created FNP with a vision to serve the consumers with the best quality and a variety of floral arrangements. We identified the existing gaps in the largely unorganized flower market and availed the opportunity to open the first floral boutique in South Extension, Delhi, in 1994.

Initial seven years of the professional journey saw a lot of struggles. Coincidentally those were also the first seven years of our marriage as well. We have often heard of the seven-year-itch theory but for us it was first seven years in career so we never got to think about anything else apart from our business during those initial days.

It was after those struggling seven years that we found our solid footing in the space. And we knew we were on the right path, the path to success. Businesswise, there was no rulebook or guidelines for us to follow in this industry as it was such an unexplored and unorganised sector. And personally, we both didnt have any safety net, security or anything to fall back on. So we had no other option but to hustle our way towards growth and success, not just for ourselves but for everyone else involved with us.

While we were establishing FNP, I gained all sort of experience from admin to creative to crisis management to handling orders and finances. During our first wedding anniversary, instead of celebrating with each other, I was packing boxes of flowers which had to be shipped. The journey was hard, but it also made me who I am today. We created a business which is a unique model and along with that I grew as a person and a businesswoman. It gave me a very enriching experience.

You saw success with FNP. How has the brand grown over the last two decades?

We started with one shop in 1994, which soon grew into a one-of-its-kind retail space. And then, we started ecommerce and at a time when ecommerce was a new concept. When we launched FNP.com in 2001, at that time there were hardly any other ecommerce platforms in India.

We had a desire to create an exceptional brand and this led us to introduce a new edge to the flower gifting culture in the country. From Ferns N Petals to FNP, today the brand has evolved from a single flower store to a multi-category gifting company with over 400 outlets in more than 130 cities pan India. As a brand, we have not just grown in the metros but also have been well-received in Tier 2 and 3 towns. We boast of a robust online presence with 70% of our business coming from FNP.com. Today the brand gets over 10,000 orders daily, delivering to 99% pin codes in the country. We have expanded our footsteps internationally as well to UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Singapore.

From flowers it became biggest gifting platform slowly and steadily. Today, flowers are now just one part of the business. We deliver a range of well curated, well designed products across various categories, such as cakes, plants, chocolates and personalised merchandise.

In 2017, FNP ventured into confectionary services with FNP Cakes which currently has over 160 stores across India. With a 43% YOY growth FNP wishes to be the gifting solution for all occasions.

Both I and my husband have always believed in creating multiple success stories. The brands other ventures  FNP Venues (which provide end to end wedding solutions), Udman Hotels, FNP Media, Baby Bless, Last Journey  which not only bear testimony to the accomplishment, but I feel that after 30 years of existence, we have managed to become a ubiquitous name closely connected with every emotion in our customers life.

We have always been ahead of the times and trends. And, it was our futuristic vision that contributed a lot to our brands success.

What are your thoughts about women in the gifting industry? Are they more apt for this profession?

There is no doubt that over the past decade the gifting industry in Indian has seen a massive growth and transformation. As far as I have observed in my journey in this space, the gifting industry is largely managed by women. Generally, women are known to have a more creative, thoughtful and patient approach which this industry needs.

Even at homes, it is largely women who take charge of gift giving, be it selecting the gifts or packing them. Even when it comes to the small homepreneurs in the gifting industry, it is mostly women. This industry gives a lot of opportunities to women and, I have observed, they are good at it given their creativity and organizational skills.

What made you to start Sipping Thoughts and Women Listed? How does it empower women?

Sipping Thoughts started with challenges I saw around me as a woman entrepreneur, wife, mother, and even as a woman in general. I have always been very observant of things around me, and every conversation, dialogue, roadblock that I experienced made me think of the challenges that everyday women are facing which nobody understands. I found the lack of conversations that meant for Indian women or that Indian women could relate too. Whatever content we found was mostly coming to us from International sources and speakers, which was not too relevant for us and other Indian women.

Thus came, Sipping Thoughts, a multi-platform digital media and conversation channel for women with a tag line - 'Real Women Real Lives' as its aim to have an open dialogue without any judgment.

It was my journey as the Co-Founder of FNP and Sipping Thoughts that led me to gain insights into the issues that working women and female entrepreneurs face in India, leading to the launch of Women Listed. I built Women Listed with a mission to create a listing platform for professional women, which will facilitate them in their journey towards financial freedom. It is a first of its kind visibility platform for women entrepreneurs, homepreneurs, and practitioners.

With Women Listed, the aim is to bring every working Indian woman on this app and provide them with a strong support system. But, we are also dedicated to providing a platform that goes beyond mere listing, building a supportive environment where women can learn, connect, market their ventures, and network with like-minded individuals. By promoting visibility, learning, marketing, and networking, we aspire to catalyse positive change, creating opportunities for women to excel, innovate, and leave an indelible mark on the global business landscape.

Talking about empowering women, I do not believe in the word empower per say. I believe in creating an open space that encourages conversations and discussions that are relevant to women, be it their personal or professional lives. And maybe that is what and how, Sipping Thoughts and Women Listed, bring their own sense of comforting and relatable empowerment that everyone can feel together and share. And, this is reflected in the fact that we are reaching more than 5 million women and have had conversations with more than thousand women experts from diverse background guiding and supporting the audience to navigate the challenges of modern world.

You are multifaceted. FNP, Women listed, Sipping Thoughts, TEDX Speaker, a mother, what all do you have in your plate?

Some people feel that you should be good in one thing, but I believe, if you are able to do more and do justice to it, then why not. Ive multiple sides and roles, then why should I restrict myself to one. Yes, currently I have FNP, FNP Flagship, Sipping Thoughts, Women Listed, my family, the women community groups, and more on my plate, but these are not separate parts for me. It is all a beautiful amalgamation for me and I do not wish to change that.

It is difficult to achieve work-home balance. How do you manage to balance all these brands along with your home?

Honestly, I feel maintaining a work-life balance is a challenge regardless of gender. And yes, it is even tougher for women, because of the social expectations from them.For me it is about being where it is important. If I am working, it doesnt mean I cannot be there for my children. Some days, work takes precedence and other times, maybe your kids and family need you more.

Being an entrepreneur is actually a 24X7 job, but yes, I take out my windows during the day to do justice to my work and family. I start my day early, and work towards prioritising my tasks based on their importance or urgency. Also, thanks to digital advancements you can handle your work from any place, at any time. Technology allows us to be more flexible with our time and availability.

And, as I said before, I have created a space for myself where everything in my personal and professional life compliments each other, and thats how I am able to manage everything and enjoy it as well.

Out of all these ventures, which is one is the dearest to you as a woman entrepreneur?

This I feel would be the toughest question to answer for an entrepreneur. It is like asking a mother to choose favourites among her kids. All my ventures are dear to me and I tend to give them equal time. But yes, whichever is the newest one or still in growing stages, might require a bit more attention and time than the others.

Like, Women Listed is a start-up and each day we are scaling newer heights, so it might need more of my attention right now at times. With mission and vision that we have for Women Listed and its growth, we know that this special attention on this is the need of the hour for me and the entire team. But yes, having said that, I am equally involved with each and everything related to all the other ventures as well.

Being a mother, do you think it is difficult for women to achieve perfect work-life balance?

Yes, I feel there is no exact concept of work-life balance for an entrepreneur. Being a working mother you are always questioning and doubting yourself. Whatever you give to your work or your child never feels enough, and you always live in guilt. Balancing work and life is not a problem, but guilt at times becomes a second nature as a working mother. Perfect work-life balance is a myth, and thats what fuels this guilt that women have even further.

In your life has there been any moment in which you felt your child needs you more?

Yes, a few times I had to take the decision to change gears in my career because my kids needed me more. There was a time when my daughter told me that she needed me to be more present, and I consciously decided to step away from the wedding and events side of the business which was a bit time consuming, so I could dedicate my time. That, I feel, was a major turning point in my life. But even if I had to step away from some aspects of the business, I made those decisions knowingly and on my own.
In an exciting development for food lovers, Swiggy, India's leading on-demand convenience delivery platform has partnered with Pret A Manger to offer the brands freshly made favourites and organic coffees on delivery for the first time in India. This new partnership aims to make it easier than ever for customers to enjoy Prets delicious menu from the comfort of their own home helping to grow the brands presence in Mumbai and Delhi.

After opening the first Pret shop in Mumbai last year, this new partnership with Swiggy will help Pret deliver its freshly made food to more customers than ever before, wherever they are. Prets entire shop menu, which consists of fan-favorite dishes like Chicken Super Club granary sandwich, Posh Cheddar Baguette including their range of organic coffees can now be ordered online and delivered in minutes. All freshly made in Pret kitchens each and every day by Pret team members, the menu can now be ordered direct to customers homes or offices in Mumbai and Delhi

Mirroring the shop dining experience customers will have the flexibility of tailoring their Barista-made drink orders, meaning Swiggy users can customize which milk or additional add-ons they would like to have in their drink. To ensure the same Pret freshness you get in Pret shops, Pret has implemented strict guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to guarantee that high standards of food quality and packaging are maintained during delivery.

Announcing the launch on social media, the brands shared a CGI coffee cup being dropped at Gateway of India garnering maximum eyeballs towards this partnership. The post can be viewed here.

Speaking about this partnership, Sidharth Bhakoo, National Business head at Swiggy said, "Swiggy is always looking for ways to bring the best of culinary experiences to consumers. Pret A Manger has been well-loved by users since its debut in India last year. Swiggy is excited to bring them online for the first time to delight and meet the demands of millions of people on the platform."

Eira Jarvis, Managing Director Pret A Manger, Asia said, We opened our first Pret shop in Mumbai last year and since then have continued to grow across the country. We have had great success so far and now have nine shops open across Mumbai in Delhi. Weve had lots of great feedback from all the customers who have popped in to one of our shops and, with this new partnership, we look forward to continuing to offer even more customers across India our freshly made food and organic coffees wherever, whenever they want.
TATA AIG, one of Indias leading general insurance companies, released its latest campaign, "Expect the Expected," featuring the dynamic actor-director duo of Bollywood, Ranbir Kapoor and Rohit Shetty, directed by Razneesh Ghai, AKA Razy. Its a full funnel campaign, created and executed by Martech network, Wondrlab.

This innovative campaign is based on the brands ability to deliver on its promises in their entirety, because with TATA AIG one is always expected to get complete claims.

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Our campaign uses the humorous analogy of expecting the expected when it comes to tropes in a Rohit Shetty film and equates it to the similar certainty and expectedness from Tata AIGs Health Insurance, where claims are expected to be complete as promised.

Amit Akali, Co-founder & Chief Creative Officer, Wondrlab, says At Wondrlab, we believe that work thats built on popular culture and conversations, is work that truly succeeds. Thus, getting Ranbir and Rohit together, the campaign not only entertains but also serves as a compelling reminder for individuals to secure their future with TATA AIG's comprehensive insurance offerings through a blend of humour, action, and a touch of expected Bollywood magic. Crashing a few cars and breaking some bones, while we were at it!

Riaan Rodrigues, Sr. Vice President  Digital Business & Marketing at TATA AIG, expressed enthusiasm about the campaign, stating, Tata AIG always believes in transparency. This belief is at the core of everything we do. Our fun new campaign brings it alive in a fresh and unexpected manner.
The Enforcement Directorate on Friday searched the premises of Baramati Agro, a company owned by MLA Rohit Pawar, the grand nephew of NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, and linked entities as part of a money laundering probe into the alleged Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank scam, official sources said.

At least six locations in Baramati, Pune, Pimpri, and Aurangabad are being searched, they said.

The office of Baramati Agro in Baramati town is also being covered.

Rohit Pawar, 38, is NCP MLA from Karjat-Jamkhed seat in the Maharashtra assembly and is the owner and CEO of Baramati Agro.

Rohit is the nephew of Baramati MP Supriya Sule and Ajit Pawar, the Deputy chief minister of the state and MLA from Baramati.

The probe against his firm pertains to allegations of diversion of funds and deposit of earnest funds of a company that bid for the purchase of a Maharashtra-based ailing cooperative sugar factor (CSF).

The MSCB money laundering case stems from an August, 2019 FIR of the Mumbai Police Economic Offences (EOW) wing.

The police complaint came after the Bombay High Court issued an order on August 22 that year to investigate the allegations of selling sugar factories in the Maharashtra cooperative sector through alleged fraudulent means and also that they were sold at throwaway prices.
Since the day the NCP got divided between Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar, the pressure has mounted on those leaders who still remain with senior Pawar. Ajit launched scorching attacks on his uncle and advised him to support the BJP but senior Pawar gave him befitting replies on various occasions.

The Enforcement Directorate has now searched the premises of Baramati Agro, a company owned by MLA Rohit Pawar, grandnephew of NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, and linked entities as part of a money laundering probe into the alleged Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank scam. Various locations in Baramati, Pune, Pimpri, and Aurangabad are being searched. The office of Baramati Agro in Baramati town is also being covered.

The ED launched the probe in response to a FIR filed by Mumbai Polices Economic Offence Wing (EOW) in 2019 under various sections of the IPC and the PMLA Act. The FIR was filed on the orders of the Bombay High Court in response to claims that the cooperative sugar plants were unfairly sold at low rates to linked organisations by then-officials and directors of Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (MSCB) without following necessary procedure. The EOW submitted a closure report in the case at the Mumbai Sessions Court in 2020, while the ED filed an intervention in opposition to the closure report.

The ED announced in July 2021 that it had seized assets worth more than 65 crore, including land, buildings, and machinery from Jarandeshwar Sahakari Sugar Mill in Maharashtras Satara district. The seizure was made under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) of 2002 as part of an investigation into the MSCB scam. The assets, which were registered under Guru Commodity Services Pvt Ltd. and leased to Jarandeshwar Sugar Mills Pvt Ltd., were seized by the ED as part of the investigation.

During its investigation, the ED discovered that Sparkling Soil Pvt. Ltd., a company associated with Ajit Pawar, the former deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, and his wife Sunetra Pawar, held a significant majority of shares in Jarandeshwar Sugar Mills.

The Mumbai Police EOW told the court for MLAs and MPs in October 2022 that it has begun investigating the concerns highlighted by protest petitions and the ED. The probe against his firm pertains to allegations of diversion of funds and deposit of earnest funds by a company that bid for the purchase of a Maharashtra-based ailing cooperative sugar factory (CSF).

Rohit Pawar, 38, is the NCP MLA from Karjat-Jamkhed in Maharashtra and the owner and CEO of Baramati Agro. Rohit is the nephew of Baramati MP Supriya Sule and Ajit Pawar, the states Deputy Chief Minister and a Baramati MLA. Rohit Pawar was very vocal when his uncle joined the BJP. He and Supriya Sule were hell-bent on defending Sharad Pawars stand.

Discussions about Sharad Pawar contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Baramati have taken place. Supriya Sule has also reacted to this. The family has been working in this constituency for ages. And generations. Rohit is the face of progressive thought, having preserved and promoted Maharashtrian culture for generations.

Since the BJP returned to power, and before that, central agencies raided only opposition leaders and morally broke them to come to the table. They succeeded in grabbing many politicians through pressure politics. Lets see how Rohit Pawar comes out of this mess and what mandate votes have for him.
Incarcerated men spend time in the yard at San Quentin State Prison on July 26. Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to convert the 171-year-old North Bay prison from a maximum-security lockup to a rehabilitation and education center. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

Fleshing out Gov. Gavin Newsoms plan to transform San Quentin State Prison into a more humane enclave, his advisers say the population of Californias oldest prison should be reduced by 30% or more, guards should be retrained to foster a more rehabilitative culture and Death Row should be replaced by dignified housing.

The only way to make the environment more livable and rehabilitative, and to give all who are incarcerated at San Quentin access to its strong programming, is to reduce the population and fund efforts to improve the living conditions of those who are still incarcerated, Newsoms Advisory Council on San Quentin said in a report released Friday. From a humanitarian, public health, and public safety perspective, it is time for change.

Newsom announced plans in March to convert the 171-year-old North Bay prison from a maximum-security lockup to a rehabilitation and education center that would focus on preparing inmates for their return to civilian life. He said it would be modeled on prisons in Norway and other Scandinavian countries, where treatment is less punitive and their conditions are more like those in civilian life.

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Little has changed at the prison so far. Newsom ordered San Quentins Death Row dismantled after declaring a moratorium on executions in California during his first months in office in 2019. But the death penalty is still part of California law, approved by the voters, and Newsom has not granted clemency to any of the states 652 condemned prisoners, who could face execution once he leaves office.

Overall, Californias prison population, which had risen to 173,000 in the mid-2000s after passage of three strikes and other mandatory-sentencing laws, has dropped to 93,000, its lowest in more than 30 years. The U.S. Supreme Court ordered the state to reduce its prison population in 2011 after findings that overcrowding had led to shoddy health care that violated constitutional standards, and the state then rolled back some of its laws and transferred thousands of inmates from state prisons to county jails.

But the Advisory Council said California still incarcerates 549 people for every 100,000 in its population, compared to 54 per 100,000 in Norway.

Over the past few decades, with the purported intention of addressing interpersonal harm, California built and litigated our way into a bloated and punitive prison system that is expensive, ineffective, unhealthy, and that undermines human dignity, the report said. Prisons were used as a solely punitive measure and a site for warehousing people.

In San Quentin, the council said, 5-by-11-foot cells designed to house one inmate now hold two in bunks, and when those cells ran out of space, 200-person dormitories were added. The prison, with a designed capacity of 3,084, now holds 3,447 inmates.

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We strongly recommend eliminating mandatory double-celling (unless it meets the personal needs of the individual), the report said. This will result in a reduction in population at San Quentin from its current level of over 3,400 to between 2,200 and 2,600.

Meanwhile, the panel said, training of prison guards must extend beyond a focus on security and maintaining order to include equal amounts of training in rehabilitation, normalization, behavior change (and) trauma-informed care.

Newsom has proposed demolishing an old factory at the prison and replacing it with a building that would house classrooms and other educational facilities, at a cost of $360 million. The Advisory Council said the funding should be cut by at least $120 million, which should instead be spent on other priority capital projects at San Quentin, such as store, cafe, town square, family visitation areas, housing improvements.

The recommendation drew a limited endorsement from a group called Californians United for a Responsible Budget, which favors substantial cuts in prison spending and closure of more state prisons.

This key recommendation from the Governors own council echoes our long-standing position  this building is too expensive, the groups deputy director, Brian Kaneda, said in a statement. However, instead of reallocating saved funds to other costly infrastructure, we advocate for a general shift in fiscal priorities towards community-based programs like re-entry initiatives.

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The Advisory Council report said prison programs should focus more on education and job training. The report said more teachers and other mentors should be hired, and the prison should also conduct restorative justice sessions between inmates and their victims or survivors.

The state should also consider establishing one or two 200-person re-entry campuses on San Quentins property (outside prison walls) with the highest priority given to San Quentin residents, the council said. Statewide, the report said, California should do more to provide services to prisoners who are re-entering society after serving long sentences.
The title of Howell Raines new Civil War book on Alabama troops who fought for the Union suggests it tells two stories. In fact it tells at least four, and while they dont all pack the same punch, they combine to deliver a mountain of insight into the states history and identity.

That title is Silent Cavalry: How Union Soldiers from Alabama Helped Sherman Burn Atlanta  and Then Got Written Out of History. It promises action and intrigue, and delivers plenty of both.

Story No. 1 is right up front: Union soldiers from Alabama. Many in Alabama have heard of the free state of Winston, usually summed up by the trite explanation that when Alabama seceded from the United States, Winston County tried to secede from Alabama. But theres a lot more to it than that: In a region around Winston County, a substantial portion of the white populace wanted no part of war against a nation their forefathers had helped build. Given their druthers, theyd back the Union  though their real preference was to be left alone by both sides.

This was intolerable to the elites whod driven the call for secession and who wanted to present it as a unanimous uprising of the states population. Their response started with manhunting gangs sent to capture and forcibly enlist unwilling soldiers. From there it ranged to murder and what essentially was state-sanctioned terrorism. This in turn helped drive many resisters into the Union army, where some of them became the core of the First Alabama Cavalry, U.S.A.

Just as the title says, this group played a distinctive role in Shermans march to the sea. Knowing the lay of the land and Southern ways, they were an adept scouting force. It was dangerous business, and Raines argues convincingly that Shermans decision to keep them close to him, and to make them the tip of the spear, reflects the high value he put upon them.

Raines approach here is both entirely respectable and somewhat frustrating: He absolutely refuses to novelize the battle action. The record is full of gaps, when it comes to precise details of the Firsts actions, and its tempting to want them filled in with a little literary license. Raines instead lets the scattered data add up to an impression that the First spent plenty of time taking the measure of hostile territory.

He does occasionally provide some understated context. As guides, the First Alabama repeatedly probed [Confederate Maj. Gen. Joe] Wheelers skirmish lines and pickets, Raines writes of Shermans campaign in Georgia. Skirmishing is a catchall term used dismissively by Civil War writers whove never been shot at. But its extremely dangerous work that cost a number of First Alabama troopers their lives. At this stage of the war, skirmishes meant encountering potshot artists armed with fast-loading carbines who would unleash a volley and then dash back to their own lines. Andrew Hickenlooper, who had risen to lieutenant colonel in his role as [Union Maj. Gen. Frank] Blairs adjutant, devised a method of inviting such contacts that must have seemed exhilarating to survivors.

If Story No. 1 is about the First Alabama Cavalry, Story No. 2 is about the lies that doomed the unit to obscurity despite its unusual place in the war.

The lies go all the way back to Alabamas secession conference, which produced a lukewarm 61-39 vote to leave the Union. That fell short of the preferred narrative, that the good people of the state were rising up en masse against tyranny, with only a few traitorous or cowardly outliers dissenting.

In the short term, that let to payback against unionist regions, fueling internecine guerrilla warfare that in some cases devolved even further into marauding. In the long term, it resurfaced in the Lost Cause mythology that dominated Civil War history in the South for a century after the war: The pervasive effort to whitewash the Confederacys motivations and failures and to portray it as a nobler culture undone by a morally inferior but materially overwhelming foe.

AL.coms Kyle Whitmire won a 2023 Pulitzer Prize in commentary for State of Denial, a yearlong series showing how 150 years of whitewashed history and a rigged political system have left the state stunted. Raines goes deep in the same territory, so itll come as no surprise that you meet some of the same figures. Marie Bankhead Owen, longtime director of the Alabama Department of Archives and History, a champion of Lost Cause legendry who injected it into public education, looms large.

Raines considers Owen and other key figures from multiple perspectives: That of a native son, a descendant of hill country unionists who sensed that something about the official narrative was a little off. That of a journalist earning his stripes as the civil rights movement gained steam. That of a historian, methodically holding predecessors to account. It has a way of connecting the dots, to borrow one of the authors section titles.

That leads us to Story No. 3, which might be called The Vendetta. Early on, Rainess tendency to whale repeatedly and at length on purveyors of false history becomes a theme. Especially if its someone he personally encountered, like onetime University of Alabama chief librarian William Stanley Hoole or conservative Montgomery opinion leader Will Hill Tankersley.

This reader was reminded of a statement once made on Saturday Night Live by A. Whitney Brown: I could go on and on  but theres really no use in beating a dead horse. I mean, except for the pure joy of it.

Raines joy, in this regard, is exceedingly pure. You cant be dead and gone enough for him to lay off. But theres more to it. Its a pretty easy thing to point the finger and say, These people should have known better. But Raines displays the doggedness of a veteran journalist in wanting to show that in fact they did know better. Time and time again, he finds archival materials showing that people who downplayed the First Alabamas record, or strategically opted not to mention it, knew at least something of the truth.

The value of that doggedness is that it brings out the objective side of this historical debate. Revisionism is often a pejorative label in history; Raines celebrates revisionism that exposes the willful omissions and distortions of the moonlight-and-magnolias take on Southern history, and he provides the receipts to show that its a matter of fact rather than a matter of changing sensibilities.

That brings us to the fourth story, which well call The Search. In some ways, its the most frustrating part of the book. Raines had a particularly personal motivation for digging into the story of Alabamas unionists and the First Alabama Cavalry. His familial connection to those unionists, and even to the First Alabama itself, became a source of pride: Pride in showing that his ancestors had been on the right side of history, and so had he. As he writes at one point. to preserve every scrap of Union sympathy in my family  was the raison detre for this book.

Sometimes the personal scrapbook illustrates the larger historical narrative, sometimes it doesnt fit in so smoothly. Part I of the book is a 90-page overture that criss-crosses geography, politics, family history and the political landscape of pre-secession Alabama. The first chapter of Part II is titled How the First Alabama Almost Saved Atlanta From Burning, which leads one to believe that, finally, the tales of battlefield derring-do are about to start.

Then comes this momentum-killer of an opening: In the 1980s, I took a long break in my First Alabama research. As I climbed the [New York] Times career pyramid, all the writing I did in my spare time went into a sporting memoir, Fly Fishing through the Midlife Crisis. It became a bestseller in 1993, the only book with fly fishing in the title ever to appear on the Times list, so far as I can determine.

That would have made a fine footnote. As a lede, its a real marvel. Some discussion of a potentially pivotal battle near Resaca, Ga., follows, but its 150 pages later before the encounter and its significance are fully fleshed out. At that point, Shermans unstoppable and well-documented advance provides the action and urgency promised by the books premise.

Despite the digressions, it is The Search that gives Silent Cavalry its strong final charge. Raines research might have been a low-key lifelong effort, often on the back burner, but even so it kept turning up key pieces of evidence in unusual places, including several unpublished academic theses in far-flung university libraries. In the end, he finds unexpected treasure in the Alabama state archives. Newly indexed materials from the long reign of Marie Bankhead Owens and her predecessor, her husband, Thomas McAdory Owen, turn out to contain the biggest they did know of all.

As eloquently stated by Raines in his closing words, the discovery doesnt just bring fresh details to the story of the First Alabama. It brings fresh hope that in Alabama, even after 150 years of effort to bury it, truth can be uncovered. If the Silent Cavalry can be given a voice, who knows what else might yet come to light?

Silent Cavalry: How Union Soldiers from Alabama Helped Sherman Burn Atlanta  and then Got Written Out of History, by Alabama native Howell Raines, Pulitzer Prize winner and former executive editor of The New York Times, was published in December by Crown.
Trowbridges Ice Cream & Sandwich Shop is an iconic spot in Alabama, known for its old-school charm and delicious orange-pineapple ice cream. The sweet treat has been making customers smile at the soda fountain in Florence for more than a century, and has been featured on the Alabama Tourism Departments list of 100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama.

Now Trowbridges is getting extra kudos from Southern Living, which has named the ice cream parlor as one of The Souths Most Legendary Restaurants. The opinionated list, published in mid-December, highlights 18 eateries that have stood the test of time.

As far as were concerned, that description certainly applies to Trowbridges, which has been drawing customers to its location at 316 N. Court St. since 1918. Visiting the shop is a special experience, from the vintage decor to the warm hospitality to the Southern favorites on the menu. (Pimento cheese sandwiches, anyone?)

Need a sweet treat to hold you over until tomorrow? Try Trowbridge's Orange Pineapple Ice Cream! pic.twitter.com/GaWOGpqwqX  Alabama Food (@AlabamaFood) October 30, 2016

Heres what Southern Living had to say about Trowbridges:

At Alabamas oldest ice-cream shop, consistency has always been key. Step inside today, and itll feel just like what Paul Trowbridge envisioned when he first opened for business in 1918. Back then, Trowbridge, a dairy farmer from Texas, passed through the small Alabama town and became so enamored that, by the time he got home, hed decided to turn right back around. Today, the shop is still owned by the same family, and though ice-cream production was turned over to Nashvilles Purity Dairy, all the flavors and familiar sights remain: vintage Coca-Cola signs, checkered mint green floor tiles, and lots of ice cream and nostalgic Southern snacks. Generations have found joy in a freshly scooped cone or cup of their favorite variety.

Trowbridges is the only Alabama restaurant hand-picked for the list by Southern Living, but its in good company with eateries that include Jones Bar-B-Q Diner in Marianna, Arkansas; Ajax Diner in Oxford, Mississippi; Berthas Kitchen in Charleston, South Carolina; Brennans in New Orleans; and Princes Hot Chicken in Nashville.

Alabama is home to several old-fashioned ice-cream parlors, of course, such as Carlisles in Alexander City, Toomers Drugs in Auburn and Gilchrist in Mountain Brook. Theyre all worth a visit, even during the winter months. And if you havent sampled the orange-pineapple ice cream at Trowbridges, we think it deserves a spot on your must-have list for 2024.
Following months of protest and civic unrest, authorities in north Alabama charged a Decatur police officer in the shooting and killing Stephen Perkins in his front yard.

Morgan County District Attorney Scott Anderson announced on Friday that Bailey Marquette was indicted on a murder charge. Marquette was fired from the Decatur police force in early December, a little over two months after the fatal shooting.

Marquette, 23 of Hartselle, was taken into custody Thursday by Sheriff Ron Puckett at the Morgan County Jail, the sheriffs office announced. He was booked on $30,000 bond and he bonded out soon after his booking this morning.

This was not an easy thing to do. It was not easy for the grand jury and it was not easy for me, Anderson said.

Breaking: Grand jury indicts officer who shot Stephen Perkins with murder, DA Anderson announces now. pic.twitter.com/VOKmeTckry  Kayode Crown (@kayodecrown) January 5, 2024

Anderson said the 18 member grand jury was a good representation of Morgan County, consisting of eight men, 10 women, 15 of them white, and three Black, and ranging in age from 30 to 78.

They come from all walks of life. Theres retirees, professionals, plant workers, there was a stay-at-home mom, members of the clergy, nurses and teachers, Anderson said.

They were from all over Morgan County...and they were charged with a very tough task and they rose to that occasion. They all took an oath to seek the truth and do justice and to show no partiality or favor between the powerful and the weak, the rich and the poor, Anderson said.

Former Decatur police officer Bailey Marquette, charged with murder in the death of Stephen Perkins.MCSO

Anderson said he is not releasing body camera footage because of its importance in the trial but would grant the family to see it.

Our community as a whole has suffered, Anderson said. The shooting has prompted multiple protests.

Three other officers fired or suspended by Decatur and named in a federal lawsuit, Christopher Mukkadam, Joey Williams, and Vance Summers, were not indicted. The officers have appealed those actions by the city, as has Marquette.

A Decatur police officer shot and killed Stephen Clay Perkins, 39, on Sept.29, 2023.

Anderson said the grand jury found the other three officers did not violate the law. I agree completely, Anderson said.

I understand fully that there are some of our community that think there should have been more than one officer charged in this situation. Theres also some who think that no one who should have been charged, Anderson said.

Only the grand jury know all the facts of the case, Anderson said.

On the night of his Sept. 29 death, police have 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.

Perkins family has continued to demand justice and sued the city, the officer involved in his death, the tow truck company, and the vehicle finance company.

The federal lawsuit alleges excessive force, wrongful death, civil rights violations, and unfair debt collection practices.

Morgan County District Attorney Scott Anderson announced the indictment of an officer who shot Stephen Perkins. Catrela Perkins, Stephen Perkins' widow, and Nick Perkins (2nd right), his brother, were at the press conference at the district attorney's office on Jan. 5, 2024.Kayode Crown

Stephen Perkins' family supporters at the Morgan County District Attorney's office doorway on Jan. 5, 2024.Kayode crown

Catrela Perkins, who is Stephen Perkins widow, said that the $30,000 bond for Marquette was too low.

I mean, a 30, 000 bond for murder? Come on. Thats ridiculous, she told AL.com after the announcement of the indictment. I see other people who have gotten murder charges, bonds are like $300,000. You are talking about a $30,000 bond for murder. Im not happy about that.

Catrela Perkins was at the press conference this morning at the Morgan County DAs office for the indictments announcement.

Perkins died after being shot in his front yard. 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 and an officer shouted for Perkins to get on the ground. A split second later, 18 gunshots rang out.
Montgomery County Circuit Judge James Anderson issued a temporary restraining order Wednesday on the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission issuing licenses to integrated companies, which was scheduled to happen on Jan. 9.

The court order and the issues raised by unsuccessful license applicants raise new doubts about when the commission can issue the licenses needed to start the states new medical marijuana industry, an effort stalled now for six months.

Anderson noted the need to move the process along and get medications to patients. Twice before, in June and in August, the commission has awarded and then rescinded license awards.

The judge also acknowledged the arguments by companies scheduled to receive licenses and that oppose further delays. But he said the legal questions justify another pause.

While the court understands those parties frustrations, the court also notes that all three rounds of awards have been challenged as legally infirm: the first two rounds of awards were abandoned by action of the commission itself, and now there is a serious question as to whether the third round is also invalid, Anderson wrote.

The Alabama Legislature legalized medical marijuana in 2021 and created the commission to oversee the new, fully intrastate industry. Patients with qualifying conditions such as chronic pain as certified by a doctor will receive a card allowing them to buy the gummies and other products in dispensaries.

Officials say products could be available within several months of the start of cultivation.

On Dec. 29, the commission issued licenses for cultivators, processors, secure transporters, and a state testing lab. The commission was scheduled to issued dispensary licenses that day, too, but Anderson put those on hold.

The temporary restraining order issued Wednesday applies to licenses for integrated companies, which will perform multiple functions, cultivating, processing, transporting, and dispensing.

The law limits the number of licenses that can be awarded in some of the categories, including a maximum of five integrated licenses. There were more than 30 applicants for integrated licenses.

The temporary restraining order issued Wednesday came at the request of six of the unsuccessful applicants for integrated licenses, including some that were awarded licenses during at least one of the first two rounds of license awards in June and August but passed over on the third round of awards made Dec. 12.

For that third round of awards, the commission discarded scores compiled by anonymous, third-part evaluators. The use of the scores had been one of the most disputed parts of the first two rounds of license awards. The commission agreed to discard them as part of a mediated settlement with companies that sued the commission.

But some companies that were awarded licenses during the first two rounds, when the scores were used, but passed over in the third round, are objecting to the discarding of the scores. The commission also faces allegations of violating the state Open Meetings Act, the Alabama Administrative Procedures Act and its own rules and regulations.

Along with the temporary restraining order, Anderson granted a motion for expedited discovery, which means that the companies suing commission can take depositions and request documents from the commission and its staff. Those must be completed by Jan. 19.

Anderson has scheduled a hearing in the case for Jan. 24 in the lawsuit, which is a consolidation of much of the litigation against the commission.
A man is in custody and en route to a hospital for mental health treatment after he jumped naked into the massive aquarium at The Bass Pro Shop Leeds Thursday night.

Police Chief Paul Irwin said the incident happened about near closing time.

The 42-year-old man was reported to be acting erratically and drove a vehicle into a pole in the store parking lot.

After the crash, he got out of his vehicle, took off his clothes, ran into the Bass Pro Shop and jumped into the aquarium.

Video taken by bystanders showed the man do a cannonball into the aquarium and later stand under the waterfall.

As two Leeds police officers began to walk up the stairs, the man exited the water, yelled something to the officers and then dove back into the water.

A man is in police custody after he stripped and jumped into the massive aquarium at the Bass Pro Shop in Leeds. He was evaluated at a hospital for mental issues and then booked into the St. Clair County Jail.(Special to AL.com)

He continued to shout something to officers before he climbed over the side of the aquarium and dropped to the concrete floor below, appearing to have been knocked out by the fall.

Officers handcuffed the man, who then woke up and began to try to struggle.

Someone covered him with a blanket as officers took him from the store.

Irwin said the man was only in the water for about five minutes before officers arrived.

He was taken to a hospital for a mental evaluation and then booked into the St. Clair County Jail.

Jail records show George Owens, of Sterrett, is charged with public lewdness, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, assault on a police officer, two counts of first-degree criminal mischief and two counts of reckless endangerment.
A Mississippi deputy and his apparent killer are both dead after the deputy was shot during a traffic stop in George County in southeastern Mississippi Thursday afternoon.

Jackson County (Miss.) Sheriff John Ledbetter issued a release on the incident on behalf of George County Sheriff Mitchell Mixon.

In the release, Ledbetter said the shooting occurred in on Mississippi Highway 98 near the intersection of Brushy Creek Road -- about seven miles from the Mississippi-Alabama state line.

Although not mentioned in the release, a Dollar General store sits at that location and the stores parking lot is the only available place where a traffic stop could have been conducted.

According to Ledbetter, George County Deputy Jeremy Malone was shot and killed during the traffic stop about 5:15 p.m. Thursday.

According to his social media profile, Malone attended both Perry Central High School in Perry County, Miss., and East Central High School in Hurley, Miss., and later the Mississippi Law Enforcement Training Academy. He was married.

The suspect, according to the release, fled the scene and led other law enforcement officers and agencies on a pursuit and was shot and killed when the pursuit ended in Perry County. Ledbetter said the suspects identity would be released later.

We ask that you keep Deputy Malones family, as well as the George County Sheriffs Office and community, in your thoughts and prayers, Ledbetter wrote at the end of the release.

The incident is being investigated by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. Other details were not released.
Brigadier General David Pritchett, an Alabama native and Auburn University graduate, was recognized as the new adjutant general of the Alabama National Guard at a change of command ceremony in Montgomery on Friday.

Pritchett takes over the leadership position from Major General Sheryl Gordon, who retired after more than six years as adjutant general.

Pritchett, who started his military career with the Marine Corps in 1988, returns to his home state after serving as director of the Joint Staff of the Wyoming National Guard as well as a deputy commanding general for field artillery at the Fires Center for Excellence at Fort Sill.

Hundreds of National Guard members, former members, public officials, and others attended the program to see Gordon, Pritchett, and Gov. Kay Ivey participate in the flag presentations that commemorate the leadership change.

Ivey, as commander in chief of the National Guard, had picked Gordon as adjutant general in 2017 and named Pritchett as Gordons replacement when she announced her retirement in November.

In an interview before the ceremony and again during his remarks to the crowd, Pritchett talked about Americas challenges in dealing with China, Russia, and growing instability in the Middle East.

We live in a very dangerous world, Pritchett said. I would argue that whats going on in our world right now, we certainly have not seen anything on this scale in my lifetime and I would say all the way back to pre-dating World War II.

Pritchett said his main goal is making sure the approximately 12,000 soldiers and airmen in the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard are ready to respond.

We owe it to the soldiers, the airmen, their families and the citizens of this state and the citizens of our country to make sure they are the most properly trained and equipped, so that if they have to deploy for domestic operations or to fight and win our nations wars overseas, that they are best prepared and equipped to do that, Pritchett said. And that will be my main goal, to make sure our soldiers, the airmen, and the families are taken care of.

Pritchett said recruiting is a strength for the Alabama National Guard and said there is a need to add force structure, which means additional platoons, companies, and jobs for soldiers and airmen.

Currently we have more soldiers specifically than there are spots for those soldiers in the Alabama National Guard, Pritchett said. So were over 100% strength. So force structure would mean we need additional units to place those soldiers.

The flip side to that is the states that arent recruiting as well, they will likely lose that force structure. So thats a conversation well have to have to try to bring that right type of structure to Alabama to have additional jobs for our soldiers and airmen here.

Ivey saluted Gordon for her service and welcomed Pritchett back to the state.

First and foremost, I want to express my sincere gratitude, to the 12,000 men and women and their supportive families who serve as protectors and defenders of our great state, Ivey said. Let there be no mistake. You form an integral part of the United States military mission readiness.

Gordons retirement marks the end of a military career that stated in April 1980. Gordon called the National Guard family again and again during her remarks at the ceremony.

Today is a very exciting day for the Alabama National Guard, Gordon said. We are getting a fantastic new leader to take over the helm of what I have been privileged to run for the past six and a half years. So its a great day for us as individuals, but also for our guard family in the state of Alabama.

Gordon was the first woman to serve as adjutant general for the Alabama National Guard.

I tend to forget that Im a female because I have this mindset of Im a soldier, Gordon said. But she said believes her example will lead to more women rising to the top of the leadership ranks.

I have been able to work with our young female soldiers, officers and enlisted, to talk to them, to mentor them, to lead them, Gordon said. And to serve as a role model to say, You, too, can do this. And you will do this.

Gordon said one of the accomplishments she is proud of during her time as adjutant general is the development of a closer working relationship between the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard, which both fall under the adjutant generals command.

Gordon said the Alabama National Guard has expanded a partnership with Romania that started as a military-to-military exchange about 30 years ago to help the former Eastern Bloc nation become a member of NATO and the European Union. Officials from Romania were recognized in the audience at Fridays ceremony.

Weve done a lot of humanitarian efforts with them, building schools and training camps, Gordon said. And theyve come and trained with us and helped us. They sent a team over with us during COVID. And so we just continue to build that relationship and were going to expand it beyond just the military in the civilian and educational sectors.

Maxwell AFB, Ala. - Official portrait of Major General Sheryl E. Gordon, who has retired as Adjutant General, Alabama National Guard taken Mar. 17, 2021. (US Air Force photo by Melanie Rodgers Cox) Air University Public Affairs

Gordon said her best advice to Pritchett was to take care of the family.

And I mean the Guard family and his personal family, Gordon said. And they will take care of you. Because we are so blessed to have the outstanding airmen and soldiers within our organization. I talk about servant leadership. And Ive known General Pritchett for a long time. And I know that he is the right person to continue that servant leadership mindset and to take our organization to new heights.
A DeKalb County man has been charged with torture and willful abuse of a child.

Sherriff Nick Welden hasnt released many details following the arrest Thursday night.

Tracy Lee Ray, Jr. , 30, of Sylvania is being held in DeKalb County Detention Center and awaits a bond hearing. He also faces a failure to appear charge.

Welden did not release any other details, due to the sensitivity of this case.

Situations involving our children are so hard on everyone involved, Welden said in a statement. I would like to thank our investigations and DHR for taking care of this so quickly and always making our children a top priority.
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Stops and starts

You knew folks were going to have tough time getting medical marijuana through the Alabama Legislature. Once they did, you might not have figured on how tough a time itd be issuing licenses to businesses so they could get the industry going.

In the latest on that front, AL.coms Mike Cason reports that a Montgomery County circuit judge has issued a temporary restraining order to keep the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission from issuing licenses to integrated companies.

That was supposed to begin next week. Over the past sixth months the Commission has twice given out and taken back license awards because of legal issues raised by companies that werent awarded.

Judge James Anderson acknowledged the need for medications to be produced and for companies who are being awarded licenses to get to work. But he also said the legal arguments justify hitting the pause button again.

Licenses have been issued to some businesses such as cultivators, processors, secure transporters and a state testing lab. This weeks restraining order affects integrated companies thatll be doing more than one function in the industry. It was requested by six unsuccessful applicants, some that were selected during the first two rounds but werent this time around.

Theres a hearing scheduled for Jan. 24.

Police chiefs dismissal

Mount Vernon is out one police chief after the town council voted to fire Duncan Herrington on Thursday, reports AL.coms Howard Koplowitz.

Herrington was arrested on Dec. 15 on a misdemeanor domestic-violence charge. Mount Vernon police said he was the aggressor in an incident with a family member and jailed him for 24 hours before releasing him on bond. A Class A misdemeanor in Alabama can get you up to a year in prison and up to a $6,000 fine.

The councils decision came after Herrington pleaded his case during an executive session.

An aquarium plunge

Thursday night got pretty wild even by Bass Pro Shops standards when a man in the Leeds store took off his clothes and jumped into the aquarium.

AL.coms Carol Robinson reports that police say the man may have knocked himself unconscious falling out of the aquarium and that he was taken to a hospital for a mental evaluation. According to police, he had already driven a vehicle into a pole in the parking lot before coming into the store near closing time.

So its worth praying the man gets his situation cleared up so he can put this behind him and try to forget it. Even if he has a couple buddies wholl never let him.

Watching the weather

There are a couple chances for severe weather to affect the southern parts of the state between now and Monday, so keep an eye on the latest forecasts.

Quoting

You just look around this place and you look at all this. It is the standard, theres no doubt about it.

Drew Gilmer, upon being announced Thursday as the new Hoover High School football coach.

More Alabama news

Born on this date

In 1923, Sun Records founder Sam Phillips of Florence.

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State Treasurer Young Boozer said this week that Birmingham-Southern College has not fixed a key shortcoming that he cited in his decision to deny the colleges application for a $30 million state loan in October.

In a dispute that has gone on publicly for months, Birmingham-Southern and the state treasurer give different accounts of their discussions about the proposed loan and what the college can or has offered in collateral.

Boozer said Birmingham-Southern has still not shown that it can provide the state a first secured position on its collateral assets, including the 192-acre campus.

The college disputes that and maintains that it has provided assurance of adequate collateral and points to a letter from its main creditor, ServisFirst Bank.

Boozer said the letter, dated Dec. 6, is highly conditional and does not provide the assurances that the college claims.

Boozer said his position to deny the application has not changed and that Birmingham-Southern would need to submit a new application and more financial information to be considered again. The college said it is willing to do that.

Birmingham-Southern, a private liberal arts college, is seeking the state assistance as a bridge to keep its doors open while it raises private funds. Birmingham-Southern said its goal is to raise $150 million to $200 million that would fund a new endowment to support the colleges operations. Birmingham-Southern said it has about $46 million in pledges so far.

Boozer spent a career in banking before entering government service and has been elected state treasurer three times, in 2010, 2014, and 2022.

Last year, the Legislature created the Distressed Institutions of Higher Education loan program last year in response to Birmingham-Southerns request for $30 million in state funds. The legislation put the program under the authority of the state treasurer.

Boozer, in his denial of the application back in October, said Birmingham-Southern failed to meet the minimum requirements set in the law, including a first position on the colleges collateral assets to back the loan.

Birmingham-Southern owes ServisFirst Bank $16.5 million, and the bank holds the colleges collateral, including the campus.

On Dec. 8, the college sent Boozer a proposal and said the bank had agreed to restructure its loan to allow the state to have a first lien on the collateral. The college included a Dec. 6 letter from ServisFirst Executive vice president and commercial sales manager Paul Schabacker to Birmingham-Southern President Daniel Coleman.

The letter says the bank is willing to release its lien on all assets securing its loan to Birmingham-Southern provided the bank receives adequate substitute collateral from other sources of a nature and amount that is acceptable to the Credit Committee of the Bank and the participants in our loan group.

The letter goes on to say it is a non-binding expression of willingness.

Birmingham-Southern, in its Dec. 8 email to Boozer, wrote: This release will enable the College to provide the State with a first security interest in its collateral assets, a minimum requirement in the Act that established the Distressed Institutions of Higher Learning Revolving Loan Program. (The school included the bold type.)

But Boozer said he does not have confidence the letter means the state can receive the required first position on Birmingham-Southerns collateral.

I do not share your opinion that the highly conditional release of all collateral from ServisFirst Bank will address the collateral issue, Boozer wrote in a Dec. 13 response to Coleman.

Boozer said he requested but has not received any detailed information about any acceptable additional or alternative collateral assets that the college can offer.

Birmingham-Southern said it could not disclose the substitute collateral that it could offer the bank to allow it to release its lien on the campus.

While the details of the loan application to the state are public, we are not at liberty to disclose the details of a pending negotiation with a private entity, Virginia Loftin, Birmingham-Southerns vice president for advancement and communications, said in an email.

Schabacker told AL.com that ServisFirst would not comment about its business dealings with its clients.

Boozer said the Dec. 8 email did not provide any documentation that supports the assertion that Birmingham-Southern has met the requirements to provide the collateral to back a $30 million loan.

I remain willing to view such documentation, including sufficient available collateral of a nature and amount that is acceptable and a solid financial restructuring plan to provide repayment of a loan, if provided to me, Boozer wrote.

On Dec. 22, Coleman and Birmingham-Southern Board of Trustees Chair Rev. Keith Thompson wrote to Boozer to reassert the colleges position that it has offered adequate collateral. They said that includes the main part of the campus, which has a liquidation value of $22 million, the Hilltop Apartments on the campus, with an appraised value of $9.45 million, the headquarters of the Consolidated Pipe and Supply Co., which is on the campus and has an appraised value of $2.46 million, and a life insurance policy valued at about $1 million.

In total, we are offering the State a first secured interest in $35 million of assets -- an amount that is more than adequate to cover a $30 million loan, Coleman and Thompson wrote. In other words, our application meets the minimum statutory qualifications for receiving credit from the Alabama Distressed Institutions of Higher Education Revolving Loan Program.

Boozer said he does not have confidence that the assets carry as much value as collateral as the college says.

The facts are that the $35 million in total proposed collateral is a combination of dated market and liquidation values of the various assets proposed by the College as security for the requested loan, Boozer said in an email Thursday. In the event of liquidation, it is improbable that these properties, as part of an abandoned college campus with extremely limited alternative use, would offer sufficient value to adequately secure a loan of $30 million.

Birmingham-Southern disputed Boozers characterization of the value of the assets. The college said it is based on a November 2022 appraisal. The college said the liquidation value of the campus, $22 million, is $32 million below its appraised value and takes into account the complexities of selling an empty campus.

Boozer said Birmingham-Southern has not submitted an adequate financial restructuring plan that shows its ability to repay the loan, as required by the law. He said the college has not provided requested documents, including current annual audited and interim financial statements. He said the restructuring plan submitted with the loan application has not proved credible because, for example it assumed the college would have reached a goal of $100 million in pledges for its new endowment by January 2024.

Birmingham-Southern said Boozers denial of the loan and what the college claims was his unnecessary delays in making that decision hurt its fundraising and its ability to recruit and retain students. As for the lack of financial documents, the college said its auditing firm had to rewrite portions of its latest audit because of the denial of the loan and it is awaiting the audit.

After Boozer denied the loan in October, Birmingham-Southern filed a lawsuit disputing Boozers claims that it failed to meet the minimum qualifications and said Boozer had exceeded his authority and undermined the intent of the Legislature when he turned down the loan application.

Montgomery County Circuit Judge James Anderson granted the states request to dismiss the lawsuit, after saying in court that the law gave the treasurer the discretion to deny the loan.

State Sen. Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills, who sponsored the bill creating the Distressed Institutions of Higher Education loan program, said he and Rep. David Faulkner, R-Mountain Brook, met with Boozer in December and left the meeting encouraged about the prospects for the loan.

We had a very positive meeting and we left there with some hope, Waggoner said.

Asked if the Legislature might revisit the law to make it more likely that Birmingham-Southern could get the loan, Waggoner said that was possible.

I would not rule that out, but nobody has talked about it yet, Waggoner said.

AL.com first reported in December 2022 that Birmingham-Southern was in financial distress and was in danger of closing. Birmingham-Southern formed from a 1918 merger of Southern University, dating to 1856, and Birmingham College, dating to 1898, both founded by the Methodist Church. The college has about 700 students and about 290 employees.

Birmingham-Southern said its financial problems started with a building program in the mid-2000s that drew heavily from the colleges endowment and put the college in significant debt.

In late November, the Birmingham City Council approved $5 million in loans to the Birmingham-Southern.

Coleman called that a step in the right direction and said Birmingham-Southern should be able to open in the fall of 2024. Coleman said the college would also seek money from the Jefferson County Commission.

Birmingham-Southerns plan last year was to seek $5 million from the city and $2.5 million from the county along with the $30 million from the state.

Read more: President says Birmingham-Southern College more likely than not will return next fall with city funding

Boozer said Birmingham-Southern will need to submit a new application to be considered again.

We are waiting on them to send us financial information, Boozer said. It would seem to me since that has been denied, they would have to make another application. And I would expect they would do that once they have this information together. And wed be more than happy to take a look at it.

Birmingham-Southern said it meets the qualifications as outlined in the enabling legislation for the loan program and will continue to make its case.

For full coverage of Birmingham-Southern College, click here.
A protester is seen sitting behind a police barricade at Telegraph Avenue and Dwight Way near Peoples Park in Berkeley on Thursday. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle A demonstrator holds a sign reading Our People Our Park as protesters rally at the intersection of Telegraph and Haste Street near Peoples Park in Berkeley on Thursday. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle

The thing to remember about Thursdays protests seeking to save Berkeleys Peoples Park is that theyre not really just about saving Peoples Park.

Theyre more about saving an ideal. And here, the dwindling number of park preservationists has lost the plot. In all ways.

They refuse to acknowledge that Californians have become YIMBYs. Yes, even in Berkeley, long known as NIMBY central. Now, even the man in the last half-century of this saga  aka UC Berkeley  is on the side of the people. California desperately needs to build more housing. Scores of UC Berkeley students live in their cars or couch surf because of a lack of student housing. Peoples Park is a place where the university plans to build housing for 1,100 students and supportive dwellings for roughly 100 homeless people, perhaps many of those who live there now.

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But few standing on the civilian side of a police barricade Thursday near the intersection of Haste and Telegraph were ready to acknowledge any of that.

To them, the park represents a utopian vision of all the free speech and people-power virtues about Berkeley that are idealized  rightfully so, in many cases  as well as a stand-in for all their grievances about the city, the university and the world. As the buttons many demonstrators were wearing Thursday said, You cant spell f without UC.

Its hard for anyone who doesnt spend much time in Berkeley to understand why people are so attached to this 2.3-acre city block. When I moved here more than three decades ago, it was a place to buy weed  and to avoid, because of some of the folks who hung out there. Now you can buy weed legally in a dispensary  and 76% of likely voters say California needs more policies geared toward making home buying and rental housing more accessible, according to a Public Policy Institute of California survey last month. Nearly 8 in 10 said housing affordability is a problem in the state.

Former Berkeley Mayor Loni Hancock has lived through the arc of the Peoples Park story. She remembers how the University of California took over the property by eminent domain in 1967, paying a total of $1.3 million to landowners, and bulldozed the brown-shingle single-family homes there. And she recalled how Gov. Ronald Reagan called in the California National Guard to put down the protests that ensued during Berkeleys heyday as a civil rights/counterculture/free speech/anti-Vietnam War mecca.

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Then a young mother, Hancock packed some flowers into a red wagon and walked with her kids to plant them in Peoples Park in its earliest days. It was part of the effort, she told me Thursday, to make something beautiful out of what had been made ugly. That continued when she was mayor two decades later, when she famously said that building on the park would be akin to building a dormitory at the site of the iconic Gettysburg Civil War battlefield.

When I said that there was still a vestige that it was a symbol of the community making something beautiful that had been rendered ugly by a big institution, Hancock, who said she is now neutral on building housing there. What the park is now is not beautiful, and I think the symbolism has been lost. Housing is a great need. Now the question is, are there many other places the university could be building?

Yet, even some people born decades after Peoples Park was established want it saved. Like Berkeley native Lev Marcus, 28.

His parents and their friends used to protest efforts to build in the park. During the pandemic, he regularly played chess in the park. He doesnt want to see housing go up there because its the only place that isnt bought and paid for in some way. Its a really unique place. In that alone, its incredibly valuable to me. That theres a place that isnt being paid for by a controlled entity or used for profit.

But the university owns the land.

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Well, they claim to, Marcus said. And the people claim to also. And thats why were here today.

But what about the need for housing? Marcus said he had to move to Oakland because Berkeley had gotten too expensive. Wouldnt it be a tribute to the ideals of Peoples Park to address the desperate need for student housing and provide help for homeless folks?

I definitely agree that theres this desperate need (for housing) and Im glad that weve been able to build a huge amount of housing in Berkeley in the last year, Marcus said. But he said there are many other places the university could build on in the city. I think Peoples Park is really special and its worth holding on to.

That worth is hard to quantify.

The first place that Sylvia Tree, 25, went when she came to Berkeley as a student from San Diego was Peoples Park. It is not just historically significant, but something thats significant in peoples lives every single day, she said.

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Peoples Park is part of the social fabric of Berkeley, Tree, who lives nearby, told me. It is the heart of the counterculture that we all hear so much about. Peoples Park is the heart of the street community, the homeless community. (Removing it) would be like taking up a piece of the social fabric.

A man who identified himself only as Mac from the Funky Nixons (billed as the House Band of Peoples Park) would like to see it become a real park. Because we actually need the open space. Its not just a trophy to the hippies. We really dont have a lot of parks around.

Wait, theres Willard Park a few blocks away and the massive East Bay Regional Park system within eyeshot.

We really dont have enough space, insisted Mac, who owns a home in Berkeley. Plus, as a longtime anti-war activist, we need a place where we can rally and talk against the war. Unfortunately, the university regents are part of the war machine, he said.

Never mind that Sproul Plaza  another storied home of the Free Speech movement  is a few blocks away on the UC campus and remains a regular stop for demonstrations of all kinds.

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To Mac, Peoples Park represents something more. It is the last stand against a powerful university that has long thrown its weight around the city where he is a taxpaying homeowner.

Thats what weve stalled for 50 years, and if nothing else that was a good reason, Mac said. To let the university know that theres another community here, you know, the workers, the small businesses, the artists. They just dont see the small guys. They want us all to move out to Antioch. You know, they have a vision. Were in the way of their vision.
The Mount Vernon Town Council on Thursday voted to fire the towns police chief more than two weeks after he was arrested on a domestic violence charge.

Duncan Herrington was fired and given two months severance pay by the council, WKRG reported.

The councils decision came after Herrington pleaded his case with the body during an executive session.

Herrington, whose contract was set to expire in November, was arrested Dec. 15 on 1st Avenue in Saraland, where he resides.

Mount Vernon police said Herrington was the aggressor in an incident involving himself and a family member.

Herrington was held for 24 hours in the Saraland jail before being released, as required under state law. Herrington posted bond, believed to have been $1,000, and was released Dec. 16

Third-degree domestic violence is a Class A misdemeanor in Alabama, punishable by up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $6,000.
 Officials expect theyll likely ask lawmakers for additional appropriations once plans and costs are finalized

OKLAHOMA CITY  The Department of Corrections is working on plans to completely revamp the antiquated security technology in all of its correctional facilities in an effort to improve safety behind bars for inmates and correctional employees.

Kay Thompson, a spokesperson for the agency, said the planned changes will include new perimeter fencing, security cameras and other components that will improve the entire system. As it builds a new security plan, the agency is looking at best practices adopted in other states while focusing on increasing staffing.

We are going to do a massive revamp of everything, Thompson said.

The expected cost is still unknown, she said. Needs at facilities will vary based on the layout and overall prison security level, but DOC officials expect theyll likely ask lawmakers for additional appropriations once plans and costs are finalized.

This will be a multi-year, probably multi-million-dollar project that we will roll out over several years, Thompson said. She said it will take at least three years to make all the necessary security improvements.

The agency is currently using its existing budget to replace aging equipment as it fails, but Thompson said the cost of the upgrades will exceed the current allocation.

Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, who chairs the Houses criminal justice committee, said he 1,000% supports adding new security equipment but wants DOC to find efficiencies in its existing funding.

He said modernizing the technology would allow correctional employees to monitor an entire prison, control gate access remotely and screen inmates and visitors more efficiently. Humphrey said hed also like DOC to invest in technology that disables cell phone usage in prisons and allows the agency to locate cell phones being used in the prison recreation yard.

He said illicit cell phone usage contributes to gangs communicating with inmates in other prisons and those who arent incarcerated.

Humphrey said every prison should also have the capability to conduct X-ray screenings of all belongings being brought in.

Theres a lot of technology that would massively improve security and safety, he said, adding that this upgrade is going to be expensive.

Humphrey said he believes Oklahomas prisons have become more dangerous in the past year. Hes heard reports from both inmates and correctional staff that theres been an increase in stabbings and overall violence, though he hasnt yet seen any statistics to back that up.

Bobby Cleveland, director of Oklahoma Corrections Professionals, said hed welcome technology upgrades. He attributes the violence behind bars to a lack of security cameras, but also issues with understaffing and contraband being smuggled into prisons.

I feel like that they have an obligation to keep the inmates safe as well as the other employees safe, and they have failed on that, he said.
Condoleezza Rice famously lamented, or perhaps proclaimed with admiration, that Americans are ungovernable. Yes. Yes, we are.

The British learned that when they set their former countrymen loose on this land, beginning with the landing at Plymouth Rock, and thought wed remain good Englishmen and just sit down and shut up. In spectacular fashion, we did not. Donald Trump taps into that ungovernable-ness in us, and for those who do not fear it, we love him for it. And hopefully, those who seek to destroy our country will learn this lesson all over again.

For those who do not understand the phenomenon of Donald Trump, what follows is a small essay explaining the chord he has struck in the American body politic, even among those who are not so sure about him. He is ungovernable, and he reminds us that we are, too. And thank God we are, and are beginning to show signs of remembering this.

Recently, I saw a clip of an interview between Vivek Ramaswamy and Piers Morgan. The interview picked up with Vivek asking Piers if he would be upset or offended if Vivek pointed something out to him.

The essence of what Vivek said is the essence of what the rest of the world both envies and loathes about Americans: our insistence on adherence to the First and Second Amendments, which make all of the amendments that follow work. We say and do as we please. We confront our government when we think it has gone haywire.

At the end of the day, the Second Amendment is not about skeet shooting. It is about defense  defense from enemies foreign and domestic. This makes the rest of the world uncomfortable with Americans. And old Piers smiled self-deprecatingly for the camera and admitted that, yes, he really is uncomfortable with Americans and perhaps doesnt really like us, as he professes to do, except from afar, because we are a bit scary.

Certainly, Trump and his support have made elements of our government uncomfortable. The full-throated support of the First and Second Amendments certainly hasnt done anything to allay that discomfort. But the truth is that Americans are not uncomfortable with the First Amendment. We celebrate it. We are not uncomfortable with the 2nd Amendment, even those of us who do not own guns; we recognize its necessity. And we are quite comfortable that the First and Second give power to the our constitutional republican system. They are how we can be ungovernable.

Unfortunately, some in America are very uncomfortable with our ungovernable nature and our insistence on saying and doing what we want. Those folks want Americans to be compliant, governable, modeled after European submission and passivity. Believing that they are better than the ungovernable among us, they want a European capitalist-socialism, where the rich live on yachts and in luxurious homes, go to fancy restaurants, and comport themselves like the royals they discarded years ago, while the peasants  everybody else  eke out a government-supported existence at the sufferance of their betters. Those people are not comfortable with Trump or the campaign or the First and Second Amendments, or really any of our constitutional framework, because they know that this system allows Americans  un-transformed  to be a bulwark against the old world of a decayed and degenerate Europe. And they know that these Amendments are the prime tool to mitigate against such a transformation.

These Europhile globalist and one-world socialists hide their faces and their deeds from the light, pulling the strings of weaklings like Joe Biden and elevating the weak links of our society: the beta males; the uber-alpha, faux-educated females with degrees in communications and studies who hate men; the mentally ill; the depressed; the forlorn; the unsuccessful, whiny losers who could not get a date in high school and have never gotten over it; and their fellow lunatics and enablers, who wish to fundamentally change America, who are hoping we Americans forget our ungovernable nature and accede to this European model of socialism, submission, confusion, narcissism, and nihilism.

But we have not forgotten everything about who were are. Trump came along and reminded many Americans that we are the living human embodiments of our constitutional system, which allows us to be ungovernable but live within the bounds of the law. Our entire system is one of limitation of the power of government so that our citizens are governed only in keeping with our desire to be un-governed. The entire Trump campaign is an exhortation to remember ourselves, our freedom, and our independence, and what we have sacrificed to secure our liberty and to be buoyed by Americas past achievements and to look to its promising future.

When Trump says Make America Great Again, he reminds us of who we were, who we are, and what we can yet become. He reminds us that we are different, and that because of that difference, we will not succumb to decay and despair. He reminds us of Americas reality and promise at the same time. We have it in us to roll up our sleeves and create ourselves and this nation, every day, all over again. He reminds us that we can do  we can fix it. We have done great things, and we can do great things again.

Let us continue to remain the ungovernable, somewhat scary creatures we are.

Image via Pxhere.
[Black former law professor and Harvard grad Winkfield] Twyman claimed [Claudine] Gay  disrupted the careers of prominent black male professors  [and] coordinated a witch hunt against [black Harvard] economics professor [rising star] Roland G. Fryer Jr. after his research into the [police] killings of unarmed black men in Houston, Texas, found no racial disparities [contradicting the liberal narrative].

--New York Post, Dec, 29, 2023

In response to widespread criticism of her disastrous testimony on Capitol Hill, in which she declined to say that calling for the genocide of the Jews is inconsistent with Harvards Code of Conduct because this depends on the context, Harvard President Claudine Gay issued a typical non-apology apology,

There are some who have confused a right to free expression with the idea that Harvard will condone calls for violence against Jewish students. Let me be clear: Calls for violence or genocide against the Jewish community, or any religious or ethnic group are vile, have no place at Harvard, and those who threaten our Jewish students will be held to account.

Gay is right about that because she herself confused the right to free speech with calls for violence against Jewish students.

Her sudden grasp of the obvious appears to have been generated by her realization that her job as Harvard president was at stake.

However, the damage had been done and calls by the students at Harvard for her to resign, coupled with proliferating accusations of a long career of plagiarism, Gay finally resigned her position as Harvard president, making her time in the position the shortest term (6 months) in history. Unfortunately, her resignation letter and New York Times editorial after the fact show that since she still doesnt grasp her errors, she should have been fired.

In her resignation letter, after stating how hard the resignation has been, Gay states how painful it has been to:

witness the tensions and divisions that have riven our community in recent months, weakening the bonds of trust and reciprocity that should be our sources of strength and [mutual] support 

Yes, especially since Gay herself is a major source, in her testimony on Capitol Hill and her moral ambiguity prior to that in dealing with the threats against Jews on campus, of those tensions that have riven the community.

Gay then states how distressing it has been to:

have doubt cast on my commitments to confronting hate and to upholding scholarly rigortwo bedrock values that are fundamental to who I am.

Unfortunately, it was Gay herself who cast doubt on her commitment to these bedrock values  in her stubborn refusal to state the obvious in her testimony, and in her moral equivocation dealing with threats against Harvards Jewish students. That is why she was called to Capitol Hill. Has she forgotten?

Gay then states that these last weeks have:

 helped to make clear the work we need to do to  combat bias and hate in all its forms, to create a learning environment in which we respect each others dignity and treat one another with compassion, and to affirm our enduring commitment to open inquiry and free expression in the pursuit of truth.

Note first that Gay here does not admit any mistake on her part but merely affirms the platitude that we need to combat bias and hate. However, it was Gays own moral equivocation that failed to combat hate and bias in all its forms at Harvard in leaving Jewish students on campus fearing for their safety. It was her moral equivocation that failed to extend compassion to respect the dignity of Jewish (and other) students on campus and treat them with compassion. It was her fault more than anyone elses in that period after the October 7 attacks on Israel that pro-Hamas demonstrations on the Harvard campus led to these fears.

Gay only states a highly abstract defense of open inquiry and free expression when, in fact, Harvard finished dead last in the 2024 College Free Speech Rankings from  the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.

Gay still seems to think that all the problems at Harvard just fell on her from the sky with no culpability on her part.

Gay begins the next paragraph in her letter talking about herself:

When I became president, I considered myself particularly blessed by the opportunity to serve people from around the world who saw in my presidency a vision of Harvard that affirmed their sense of belongingtheir sense that Harvard welcomes people of talent and promise, from every background imaginable, to learn from and grow with one another.

It is not clear why Gay thinks her feeling of blessedness upon being appointed president of Harvard is relevant to the crisis that resulted in her resignation, except, perhaps, that it may have distracted her from doing her job. The Left is always talking about how historic an appointment is but one is not appointed to be historic. One is appointed to do a job and it appears that Gay was too focused on her historical significance to do hers properly. Similarly, it is not clear why Gay thinks that the fact that many people saw in [her] presidency a vision of Harvard that affirmed their sense of belonging is relevant to the crisis that resulted in her resignation except that she let them down. The appointment of the first black woman at Harvard will now be seen as a failure that exposed the perils of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion program.

Gay concludes by praising her own significance:

When my brief presidency is remembered, I hope it will be seen as a moment of reawakening to the importance of striving to find our common humanityand of not allowing rancor and vituperation to undermine the vital process of education.

On the contrary, Gays brief presidency will be remembered as a period in which the rancor and vituperation literally rose, through her woke failures, to dangerous levels, and all the fluff in her resignation letter will not change that.

As bad as her resignation letter is, her New York Times editorial is worse.

It seems that Gay, the daughter of some of Haitis wealthiest and most politically connected, and possibly corrupt, men, is the victim here.

As Gay sees it:

at a congressional hearing last month, I fell into a well-laid trap

...as...

demagogues sought to weaponize [my] presidency.

Actually, no!

New York's Republican Rep. Elise Stefanak asked her a simple question with an obvious answer but Gay, incomprehensibly, gave irresponsible answers that even eventually led Harvard students, not the vast right-wing conspiracy or white racists to call for her resignation. Gay still does not understand that her appointment as Harvard president was not about her. It was about the proper free and open education of Harvard students.

Thirty years ago, black Democrat Texas congresswoman Barbara Jordan inspired praise from both sides of the aisle because she spent less time thinking about herself and more time about doing her job with the highest standards of fairness to both sides.

Claudine Gay is no Barbara Jordan. If she were, she would still be the president of Harvard.

Image: Twitter screen shot
Behold: Its the leprechaun-logistics theory of magic migration that tells us hordes of clean, fed, and comfortably shod invading migrants miraculously and spontaneously appear at the America end of their personal rainbows, where they demand pots of U.S. taxpayer gold.

But with no backpacks to carry water, energy snacks, or even spare socks for their journey? Shoot, our children dont go off to neighborhood elementary schools without backpacks full of supplies. So how is it these folks walk the 1,300-mile south-to-north expanse of Mexico, not to mention trekking from Central and South America, without backpacks?

Watching thousands of illegals daily pour across Americas southern border forces recognition that this mass invasion didnt just pop out of the woodwork or happen organically. The magnitude and duration of this invasion demands answers to four core questions: 1) Who organizes these people? 2) Who provides water, food, and critical support for these hundreds of thousands of people? 3) Who arranges and distributes the go-to-this-enabler contact lists these invaders are given and then carry with them so they know with whom to connect when they step off free-pass buses and gratuitously ticketed airplanes? And 4) Who recruits, coordinates, and supports the many enablers named on these contact lists  located in cities across America  who connect the invaders with free-to-them services and unending support?

Media tell us that many invaders traveled far distances and have endured harrowing conditions. But they dont look all that travel-worn. Any reader who has traveled in developing countries, especially in adventure-travel mode (ostensibly, walking through the Darien Gap and the length of Mexico qualifies) knows that it is a neat trick to keep self and clothes clean and body hydrated and nourished.

By absence of any mention, mainstream media imply that this is all organic. Its all just happening. Relax, folks  theres nothing hidden here. This faux non-explanation is not believable on its face. The big lie lives in all of this, and the big liars are journalists who dont do their jobs and politicians whove been doing a job on America through the full spell of this invasion.

Now bring to this that remittances from the U.S. given to Mexicans in Mexico reached a record $55.9 billion in 2022 and American taxpayers could pay up to $451 billion to care for migrants who entered the US illegally. This steals needed greenbacks from American household budgets.

How can largely unskilled and relatively uneducated migrants, who  thanks to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and its partners in Congress  often work under the table for less than minimum wage, manage to send to their families in Mexico an average $390 per month? Historian Victor Davis Hanson explains:

Much of this gifting is made possible by generous American state and federal subsidies to illegal aliens. Frequent subsidized housing, health care, legal assistance, education and food in the United States are often used to free up cash for illegals, who then send it to Mexico.

When trusted people and institutions repeatedly ignore the obvious, this breach of trust can induce confusion and self-doubt in the trusting person, which is the aim of gaslighting.

Consider four historical examples of media malfeasance  psy ops, really:

1) The Soviet Union, where its enemies of the people were forced to confess to crimes they had not committed  and the people acquiesced to Pravdas promoted show trials.

2) Nazi Germany, whose propaganda machine targeted certain groups to justify persecution  and the people subscribed and consented.

3) North Korea, where Dear Leader uses the machinery of mass communication to shape and control the thoughts and beliefs of his people  and people weep and worship at the sight of him.

4) China, whose propaganda engine manipulated public opinion and suppressed dissent  and the people passively assented while tens of millions died.

Is national suicide Americas fate? If not, the necessary singular rallying point must be for rank-and-file Americans to resolve absolutely that America is for Americans, and beyond that, only for a measured number of legal immigrants and visa-holders, who must follow our laws and rules, speak intelligible English, embrace and support the American ethos, and have skills to sell on the legal labor market. Allowing anything less writes large that the American Experiment is failing, rapidly and irreversibly.

To turn this around, to save America, we the little people must clearly and forcefully communicate to political power players that they are to 1) stop all illegals from crossing our borders and 2) reverse the flow of illegal migration. Illegals now in America must return to their home countries or to other nations that accept them. America has reached the point where We the People must be heard and heeded.

This is winner-take-all. Either American citizens win or the invaders win. One political party supports this invasion. One political party allows this invasion. And your and my tolerating politicians wrong actions or their feckless inaction is killing Americans, especially paycheck-dependent working-class Americans.

There are four ways to force these fixes on our elected leaders and the administrative state to whom these leaders sell public trust.

The most difficult and critical one first, trite as it is: 1) Clean political house. Vote out career status quoprotectors, and vote in a nasty breed of mission-first hard-charging restorers of American sovereignty.

2) Post articles that critically challenge quick-buck media channels  as I have done here  to uncover and broadcast truth.

3) Publish open letters to named journalists and policy experts respectfully, if sharply, demanding answers to the four questions presented at the top of this article.

4) Ask wealthy conservatives to set up and support multiple teams of skilled, honest, and fearless investigators to find answers to the four core questions and others that emerge from their deep investigations.

The Greek Stoic philosopher Epictetus taught his students that words and theory without action are meaningless. This article is this Stoics action. Now it could be your turn to act, for history is showing that this is Americas Stand or Die order.

Greg Moo is a former high school principal, Alaskan commercial fisherman, college teacher, certified all-position welder, organization development consultant, and author of articles and a still relevant old book.

Image: woodleywonderworks via Flickr, CC BY 2.0.
A YouTube video presents the story of the El Salvadoran dictatorship that has eradicated the criminal gangs, which, for decades, tormented families in that small nation. A lawless nation has, for now, been tamed by a lawless government. Will it happen here? Must it?

In El Salvador, the problem of gangster crime had become unbearable for most of the population. The murder rate was extremely high and growing. The killers were unspeakably brutal. Tortures were often gruesome beyond description. Rapes were all too common, even in public places. Extortion was breaking the back of private enterprise. Children were sometimes killed for the amusement of remorseless snipers. The government seemed helpless to control the worsening crisis.

History has shown that when such conditions exist, the political situation is ripe for the emergence of a strong man. Some of the most infamous dictators have seized power in that milieu and, whether in countries large or small, have wrought misery on the population that once had clamored for them to take firm action.

The philosophy expressed during the American Revolution is that those who value peace and security more than they value freedom will soon lose both. It is true, but in El Salvador, the situation is different, in degree and character, from the American experience of 1776. As insufferable as was the British oppression of the Colonies, the Tommies were not barbaric. Their officers were civilized gentlemen. The Salvadoran gangsters associated with MS-13 are cruel savages. President Trump referred to them as animals.

Democratic, constitutional efforts in El Salvador had previously failed to relieve the citizenry of the agony wrought by the gangs. Moreover, the prevalence of unrestrained barbarism had posed the possibility of anarchy, a failed state, or some other existential threat.

The question then arises: which is the worse evil? Is it the dictatorship of an establishment government or the dictatorship of an unelected, street-level thugocracy? Clearly, both are evil, but when ones home is being invaded, ones family brutalized, then the enemy at hand is undoubtedly the priority, regardless of constitutions and laws.

To combat the gangs, President Nayib Bukele used the iron-fisted approach. He ramped it up far beyond expectations  and then he kept doing more of it, without letting up. Police broke into homes searching for any sign of gang affiliation in the house. A weapon, a drug, even a tattoo was enough for young men to be chained and dragged off to prison. Thousands of suspected criminals were incarcerated, thrown into hell-holes of steel and concrete, without even the semblance of humane treatment. Some actually starved to death, not in hunger strikes, but due to deprivation.

The murder rate, as a result, declined sharply, almost to the levels found in Canada. The public viewed this as miraculous. People who once dreaded to venture onto the street, to shop for food, began to feel a freedom they had never known: the freedom from fear. Children could safely play outdoors. Girls and women no longer had to endure routine groping, not to mention the ever-present prospect of rape. Businesses no longer had to face the choice between endless extortion and sudden death, death for both the owners and their families.

Consequently, Bukele has become the national hero, with approval ratings at eighty-five percent.

The downside is awful for the several thousand completely innocent citizens who were rounded up in the same dragnets that swept violent criminals off the streets. Taken suddenly from their families, the law-abiding bystanders found themselves packed into cages with ruthless murderers, and also with brutal prison guards who never hesitated to inflict painful beatings. For some, the nightmare was fatal.

Only after the gangs were almost completely removed as a factor from society has there been an effort to free the innocent, with some seven thousand (!) being released. The situation continues. It remains to be seen whether history will sorrowfully repeat itself or whether El Salvador will find a way to reap the benefits of its extreme measures, without the curses of a permanent dictatorship that, almost certainly, would eventually become the worse evil: the one at hand.

There is a lesson in this for the United States. The difference here is that our federal and state governments are the ones who are enabling and subsidizing criminal behavior, along with promoting destructive perversions that are becoming an existential threat to the culture. As government officials increase the range and intensity of their abuses, we are seeing signs that the general population is reaching the point of desperation. A flashpoint must eventually occur. The question of how much more of this we can take will be answered decisively.

We in America will soon run out of effective procedural remedies for an increasingly out-of-control government. The Constitution, which normally provides those remedies, is being made into a suicide pact. As that fact becomes increasingly clear to Americans, the urgency to act against the enemy at hand, whether by local sheriffs, state legislatures, or vigilantes, will result in unpredictable outcomes, none of which is likely to be tranquil.

Lets hope that those outcomes do not empower a strong man. They always have. Will it be different this time? Have we any choice?

Image via Pexels.
Perhaps the most telling commentary on Claudine Gays plagiarism came from a particularly clueless Matt Egan of CNN:

We should note that Claudine Gay has not been accused of stealing anyones ideas in any of her writings. She has been accused of sort of more like copying other peoples writings without attribution. So, its been more sloppy attribution than stealing anyones ideas.

Copying other peoples writings without attribution is the very definition of plagiarism. Gays defenders are, of course crying racism! This is CNN.

I never imagined Id agree with former Obama apparatchik Ben Rhodes:

The average reporter we talk to is 27 years old, and their only reporting experience consists of being around political campaigns. Thats a sea change. They literally know nothing.

Rhodes knew not much more, but he did know that.

Image: Babylon Bee. Used with permission.

What Gays excusers, and Gay, are primarily doing, however, is avoiding personal responsibility. Thats the underlying principle of Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity (DIE) and Critical Race Theory (CRT). Accepting no responsibility means no merit, no standards to attain. No need to perform and no need to apologize. Every failure is someone else's fault. There are two types of people: oppressors and the oppressed, though there are many sub-victim groups within the latter. Oppressors can do no right, only evil. The Oppressed can do no wrong; they are eternally blameless and no standards of performance or character apply to them. To them, personal responsibility is foreign.

Among the essential lessons one must learn on the way to eventual adulthood is individual responsibility. No one is responsible for our failures, our lies, our excuses and evasions, but us. Refusing to take responsibility forever mires us in childhood and delusion. A nation of self-deluded children contribute to the degradation of America. They apparently also go to Harvard.

Oppressors, primarily white males, are responsible for all evil in the world, and Donald Trump is their Hitlerian leader and inspiration. Only oppressors have the dubious distinction of being personally and collectively responsible for sins, real and imagined. Personally, in that they can be prosecuted for non-crimes. Collectively, in that theyre a class of never-ending political scapegoats for every imaginary wrong the Self-Imagined Elite (SIE) must right, yet never seem to get around to righting. Among those wrongs is hate, and its companion, institutional racism.

The only reasons Claudine Gay had to resign, tragically and shamefully consigned to a near-million-dollar annual tenured professorship, were hate and racism. She was blameless, a social justice martyr, because she was committed to confronting hate and upholding rigorous scholarship. We know because she said so. In a university that valued personal responsibility, Gays serial plagiarism, dual demolition of donor cash and Harvards reputation, and her spectacular lack of rigorous scholarship and qualifications for the Harvard presidency would have been the story. Instead, the story was people noticing all of the above, and daring to speak about it. Republicansoppressors--pounce!

Men now comprise the minority on college campuses. In part, this is due to the overt hostility they find there. Theyre more than willing to accept personal responsibility for their actions, willing to be judged on merit, but they face the very real risk of DEI kangaroo courts. Share a mutually consenting dalliance with a coed and they might find themselves branded, without a hint of due process, a rapist. Ultimately, it is the dual standard of no personal responsibility for the favored victim groups of the oppressed--in this case women--that is driving them from academia. That, and an ever-shifting hierarchy of victimhood. Some of the oppressed, it seems, are more oppressed than the rest, thus more deserving of absolution.

If our universities, if America, is to regain its moral center, its preeminence in the world, the acceptance of personal responsibilityrestoring merit to its essential, rightful placeis essential. Yet merit is what the SIE fear as vampires fear sunlight. Until Americans are no longer collective members of favored, oppressed victim groups or disfavored oppressors, but individuals judged as Martin Luther King hoped, by the content of their character, by their words and deeds, our national decline will continue, and Republicans will continue to need to pounce.

Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, 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.
Progressive Democrats have successfully turned a figurative septic tank into a literal onethe open sewage system that is left-controlled Portland is currently grappling with a highly infectious illness that spreads through fecal matter and if that isnt the very definition of poetic irony, then I dont know what is. Heres the lede from a Fox News item published today:

Portland, Oregon, is grappling with a cluster of a highly infectious illness that spreads through fecal matter and puts the citys large homeless population at high risk, according to health officials.

The waste-borne illness known as shigellosis is caused by the Shigella strain of bacteria, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that symptoms include bloody or prolonged diarrhea, and feeling the need to pass stool (poop) even when the bowels are empty. As Fox also reported, cases are skyrocketing across the area:

The data provided by Multnomah County shows that Shigella cases have increased in recent years, skyrocketing in 2023 by 131% compared to 2021 in counties surrounding Portland.

As one might guess, the population defecating in the streets and living by the thousands in tents and under bridges without running water, and engaging in prostitution and anal sex, is at a significantly higher risk than the average Portlander; also via Fox News:

Homeless individuals in Portland have accounted for a large portion of those infected, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported last month, with health leaders finding that sex was likely the most common way the bacteria was spreading.

(I highlight the homosexual prostitution aspect because after spending two years volunteering with an organization that sought to alleviate the social isolation experienced by Portlands homeless population, it was clear that this is an undeniable reality.)

Now, since Democrats love to yammer about overpopulation, is this the herd-thinning about which they speak? We all know how much the left loves Hegels ethics, and large numbers of useless eaters dying from dehydration in their tents seems like a successful Hegelian policy. New flash: when Upton Sinclair penned The Jungle, his depiction of Chicagos Bubbly Creek was supposed to be brutal takedown of polluted city life, not an ideal to which politicians should aspire.

Progressive Democrats and their idea of utopia-building sure isnt my cup of tea, but to each their own I guess? If keeping Portland weird means keeping Portland poopy, wouldnt the people want to normalize it? I guess not, because as one might also guess, the health experts and government officials are just monitoring the situation, not changing policy or adjusting fire to actually fix the problem, and there doesnt seem to be too much outrage from the residents still wallowing in the sewage. Who knew that fecal matter for brains meant a fecal matter disease too?

With third world politics comes third world diseases (leftism and shigellosis), and the only treatment is voting for conservative morality and governance.

Image generated by AI.
An academic, who happened to be a black woman, finally resigned from the position of university president of a supposedly prestigious and elite institution just weeks after she was unable to condemn students and professors who think it is O.K. to promote the killing of Jews, and after it was unearthed that she had few (if any) independent thoughts. Somehow she managed to allegedly plagiarize more than fifty times in the few papers she wrote.

But instead of taking accountability, Gay and many media pundits assert she is a victim of racism, sexism, or some other -ism, and didnt do anything that deserves firing.

It is a good thing that she wasn't a conservative white male, or she would have been fired immediatelybut then again, she wouldnt have been hired in the first place.

This victim is staying on at Harvard to gouge students with her near-million dollar salary. She clearly will never be able to discipline students for cheating or plagiarizing on their papers. Now they have a perfect defense. Harvard doesnt really care.

Here, an obvious genius (note the heavy sarcasm), blames right-wing conservative propagandists for her firing, via MSN:

Its the unfortunate end to a weeks-long, cynical campaign led by a roster of right-wing chaos agentsconservative propagandist Christopher Rufo and Rep. Elise Stefanik in particular. They and their allies successfully weaponized multiple issues (academic integrity, freedom of speech, antisemitism) that they couldnt genuinely care less about.

Heaven forbid that left-wing propagandists care about a cheater who couldnt condemn people who want to kill Jews!

This writer says that right wing conservatives dont really care about academic integrity, freedom of speech, and antisemitism, but it is clearly the media and other Democrats who seem to lack care on those subjects.

Academic integrity. Do universities who care about academic integrity keep people who are serial plagiarizers, no matter what race or sex they are?

Freedom of speech. It is a joke to say that colleges care about freedom of speech. They block conservative speakers all the time, and you better not tell the truth that the climate has always changed cyclically and naturally, or you will be labeled a climate change denier. If you dare think that men and women are different, or misgender someone, you will be severely chastised, or even expelled.

Anti-semitism. It is the leftists at universities who have obviously instilled this hate for Jews, along with the congressional Squad. It is not Trump, nor Republicans. Hitler was far left, not far right.

The media and other Democrats claim they are for diversity, equity, and inclusion but they exclude people who dont go along with their radical agenda to remake or destroy America. They say they support people of color but they actively discriminate against Asians and whitesand white people are people too.

Summary: If a college president or professor is a serial plagiarizer, they should immediately be fired no matter what race or sex they are. Furthermore, if the school had properly vetted the person (instead of selecting a candidate to fill a quota), they wouldnt have been hired in the first place. How can schools hold students to account for cheating or plagiarizing when special people are given exceptions?

Image generated by AI.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed speaks Thursday at a news conference on the results of a Stanford University study on the impacts of Urban Alchemy street ambassadors on crime. J.D. Morris/The Chronicle

Urban Alchemy set out to provide a new model for public safety on downtown San Francisco streets afflicted by addiction, mental illness and homelessness. And according to Stanford University researchers, theyre on the right track.

A new independent study from Stanford found that when Urban Alchemy workers are stationed at an intersection, crime plummets  and the rates continue to decrease the longer Urban Alchemy is in place. The study was commissioned and funded by Stanford, not San Francisco or Urban Alchemy.

A key in San Franciscos efforts to address its homelessness and drug addiction crises, Urban Alchemy hires mostly formerly incarcerated workers to monitor the citys downtown streets. But the nonprofits approach can be controversial. Critics have accused its workers of inappropriately policing public spaces, sometimes using violence. They also argue that the city jeopardizes oversight and accountability by outsourcing government functions to nonprofits.

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Urban Alchemys ambassadors, as theyre called, patrol 40 intersections in the Tenderloin, SoMa and Mid-Market and facilitate conflict resolution. They are unarmed and do not hold state licenses like private security guards. Their responsibilities include instructing unhoused residents to move their belongings off of the sidewalk, discouraging drug users from shooting up in public and stepping in to reverse what could be one of the citys mounting fatal overdoses.

The Stanford Ethnography Lab, run by sociology professor Forrest Stuart, gathered data from San Francisco police and analyzed reported crimes near all 40 intersections served by Urban Alchemy. The study compared crime levels during the nonprofits hours of operation  7 a.m.-7 p.m.  from 12 months before to 12 months after an ambassador was placed at each intersection.

The results of the study found that crime rates at Urban Alchemy-served intersections dropped by 52% over the course of the year while drug crime rates plunged by 80%, according to Stuart. The Tenderloin saw an overall 11% drop in crime from 2022 to 2023, according to Mayor London Breed.

The researchers also factored in upticks in criminal activity at nearby intersections to ensure that criminal activities werent merely moving a block or two over  a routine argument made against city encampment sweeps and Urban Alchemys work  and did not include any crime reduction data that could be attributed to such displacement.

Stuart said he embarked on the study kind of by coincidence.

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Urban Alchemy worker Russel McCloud, left, takes a selfie with San Francisco Mayor London Breed on Thursday, while Urban Alchemy CEO Lena Miller watches. At the news conference, Breed touted the results of a Stanford University study on the impacts of the organizations street ambassadors on crime. Maggie Angst/The Chronicle

In summer 2021, he was walking by Hyde and Eddy streets when he noticed an open-drug and stolen-goods market taking place on one side of the street and a clean, quiet sidewalk on the other side.

The difference? Workers wearing green vests with Urban Alchemys logo on the calm side, he said. The study would later prove what he was seeing.

If you take the Urban Alchemy corners out of the Tenderloin, the crime reduction rates dont look so great, Stuart said in an interview Thursday. So its as if the whole neighborhood is kind of riding on the back of Urban Alchemy.

The city awarded Urban Alchemy more than $19 million this year for its 225-employee ambassador program, according to the city contract. The nonprofit also receives additional public money to operate city shelters.

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Lena Miller, founder and CEO of Urban Alchemy, said that the studys results validate the nonprofits positive impact on the community. She hopes it will help quiet critics who say things like all youre doing is standing around, or the city is spending too much money on this.

This is not a fluke, Miller said during a news conference Thursday with Breed. Something special is happening here.

Breed touted the studys findings Thursday.

Its significant because the people that would have been attacked, the people who would have died from drug overdoses, the people who would have been in other situations are no longer in those situations because of Urban Alchemy and Urban Alchemy alone, Breed said. This is an important institution filled with people who care about the community.

Thursdays event furthered Breeds unwavering support for a nonprofit she lauds as cleaning up the citys downtown streets and making them safer. But the agencys approach has drawn fire from critics.

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In July, Urban Alchemy suspended a community ambassador after a video surfaced that appeared to show him pulling out a knife as he talked to a member of the public while on the job. Also last year, an Urban Alchemy worker was convicted and sentenced for felony gun possession after engaging in an on-duty shootout in the Tenderloin two years prior.

Another worker was charged with attempted murder for allegedly shooting a man in November 2022 outside the Urban Alchemy-run homeless shelter at 711 Post St.  a situation that Urban Alchemy tried to distance itself from and was not disclosed publicly until months after the event.

Aaron Peskin, president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, said those events  and a lack of transparency around them  caused a lot of crisis of confidence. Although no major issues have come up since then, Peskin said he continues to keep an eye on them.

I think that they have been a positive force, Peskin said in an interview Thursday. But its always important that the city makes sure all of its contractors are performing adequately.

Brandon Mason, a formerly homeless 25-year-old who spends some nights in his single-room-occupancy unit and others on the streets, calls many of the Urban Alchemy workers he deals with power hungry.

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The workers who have been around longer are nicer, but the new ones come at you really aggressively, Mason said about instances where hes been asked to relocate or put away his drugs.

Over the past two years, San Francisco has devoted millions of dollars to expanding the organizations footprint. But it hasnt been without challenges.

In addition to the criminal cases against several Urban Alchemy workers, the city has faced financial problems with the nonprofit. In July, the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing found that the nonprofit billed the city for staffing levels higher than those approved in the citys contracts, overspent a contract by more than $55,000 and failed to pay its vendors on time. In one case, Urban Alchemys late payments resulted in a lien on a property, according to a corrective letter sent to the agency by HSH.

In a follow-up letter sent last month, HSH indicated that Urban Alchemy was taking steps to address the issues.

Urban Alchemys expansion is part of Breeds broader tough love approach to the citys drug addiction crises. While increasing the number of Urban Alchemy ambassadors on San Franciscos streets, the mayor has also made a push for more law enforcement presence, arrests of drug users and dealers. Users are offered treatment, but few have accepted.

Despite local, state and federal law enforcement flooding the Tenderloin and SoMa, open dealing continues and fatal overdoses reached a historic level last year. A recent report by the Chronicle found that the crackdown from law enforcement has shifted the citys illicit drug market to the nighttime, when Urban Alchemy workers are off the clock.
Ever wonder why Harvard's now-ex-president, Claudine Gay, could have such a hard time condemning calls for genocide against Jews in her congressional testimony?

Sure, part of it, as she said, was that she "got caught up" with her questioner, GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik, whom she obviously thinks has cooties.

The other part, though, might be this, as Campus Reform reports:

The Biden administrations Department of Education opened an investigation into San Diego State University after an administrator sent an email condemning Hamas and offering support after the Oct. 7 terrorist attack, according to a school official. A spokesperson for San Diego State University told Campus Reform it received a notice from the Department of Education on Tuesday about a complaint that the school discriminated against Islamic, Arab and/or Palestinian students by sending an all-campus email on Oct. 9. The Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights opened a shared ancestry investigation into the university on Tuesday, government records show. The complaint, according to the SDSU official, alleges that the email promoted hate and racism against Arabs and Muslims.

So San Diego State, that lowly state school that has been rising in the university rankings lately, did the opposite of what Claudine Gay did, openly condemned the orgy of rape and murder of Jews put on by Palestinian Hamas, and now finds itself investigated by Joe Biden's minions for "Islamophobia." Bad, bad, San Diego State, whose president can't quite hedge and waffle on an obvious issue the way Harvard's can. Call the cops.

So what exactly was in the statement that was so very Islamophobic, so Islamophobic so as to require a federal investigation complete with federal investigators raining down on the school?

Take a gander:

Dear SDSU community,



Throughout this weekend and today, SDSU has been in direct communication with dozens of impacted community members after the horrific reports of killings and kidnappings following the Hamas attacks on Israel during Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah, a major Jewish holy day. What is being reported is heartbreaking. We have heard from SDSU community members who have family, close friends and colleagues in the region. Many have spent several terrifying days praying for their safety. Some have not had those prayers answered. We cannot express to you the depths of emotion and anguish we have felt and encountered since Saturday.



We are grieving for all those who are suffering in the wake of this outburst of violence. We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, any act of violence, especially those against innocent civilians. We are deeply struck by the sheer scale of the loss of life  of innocent Israelis, Palestinians, and countless others. We also recognize that this follows a long history of loss of life of civilians in this region. It is our utmost priority that SDSU respond by setting a different tone  one of compassion, learning and dialogue, and, above all, empathy for what our campus community may be experiencing. To be sure  understanding that the events from this weekend will affect members of our diverse campus in different ways, we are writing to share our encouragement to utilize the support services available to all our students, faculty and staff.



We also urge all members of our campus community to do the following: Seek support as you need it. Rely on the range of support services available, including counseling support, and, for university students, emergency financial assistance by filling out the online form.



Rely on the range of support services available, including counseling support, and, for university students, emergency financial assistance by filling out the online form. Check in on your peers and colleagues. Many members of our community are hurting. We encourage you to check in on them and offer support during this time.



Many members of our community are hurting. We encourage you to check in on them and offer support during this time. Read the SDSU Principles of Community for guidance in connecting with and speaking to others. We urge all members of our one SDSU community to abide by principles that encourage open dialogue and that also remind us to treat others with dignity and respect.



We urge all members of our one SDSU community to abide by principles that encourage open dialogue and that also remind us to treat others with dignity and respect. Report issues of concern. The university does not accept any instance of harassment and discrimination based on a persons background. Rely on online tools to report harassment and discrimination



The university does not accept any instance of harassment and discrimination based on a persons background. Rely on online tools to report harassment and discrimination Connect with community and learn more. SDSU is fortunate to have faculty with extensive knowledge of the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We encourage you to connect and learn more about the history of the conflict from them. Many SDSU centers will be hosting events, speaker series and community gatherings in the coming weeks to foster this dialogue. No matter your background, we encourage you to become informed and engaged. As with any time of conflict and unrest that may impact our SDSU community, we ask that you come together to support one another. This is our most important role, as we each cope with the impact of this ongoing tragedy.



Adela de la Torre, Ph.D.

San Diego State University President



Christy Samarkos

Interim Vice President for Student Affairs and Campus Diversity

You see anything?

Me neither. Nobody does -- except for maybe a Hamas supporter looking for another way to twist words into a propaganda victory. San Diego State University, by coincidence, has a large Arabic and Muslim community, some of whom are big fans of the terrorist set globally.

Seems that even San Diego State President Adela de la Torre's own "diversity-hire" status at San Diego State wasn't enough to keep a DoE investigation off her back.

Condemning Jew-hate is, by extension, in the logic of Biden's DoE at least, Islamophobic.

Any questions as to why Gay didn't want to condemn genocide against Jews in her testimony to Congress? Had she done that, she, too, would have been subject to an "Islamophobia" investigation by Joe Biden's political operatives crawling around at the Department of Education, looking for ways to support Hamas.

The U.S. government must be full of them -- remember this bug-eyed ditz from the deep state surveillance apparat? CIA bigshot Amy McFadden was caught posting pro-Palestinian "stickers" to her social media in the days after the Hamas rape-and-torture-and-murderfest ... and nothing happened. The CIA put out a statement reminding employees not to get caught letting the American public know what their views were on social media, so as to allow the public relations office to promote the lie that none of these people have a bias in the world, let alone Jew-hate.

The CIA, though, probably has some poor souls in it who see the truth of matters here and there. The Department of Education? Highly dubious. They're solid woke.

Campus Reform asked around about what these characters were saying about this disgusting investigation and found this ridiculous, yet very Biden-administration-style answer:

The Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights has previously said that the opening of an investigation doesnt necessarily mean that the government agency believes the complaint has merit, according to the Jerusalem Post.

So they spend thousands of dollars on an obviously junk claim that no reasonable person could possibly construe as "Islamophobic" and then go on to say 'not really.' I'll bet that makes Adela and her colleague feel a little queasy here as they await the outcome of the investigation into how racist they are.

It's the same kind of Biden-like incapacity to distinguish sh** from shinola that we see at the Department of Homeland Security where every asylum claim from an illegal border crosser, no matter how ridiculous, no matter how obviously economic, is a valid political asylum claim to be taken with absolute seriousness and issued a full and taxpayer-costly court date for ten years down the line.

People can see through this crap and can obviously discern that DoE is harassing San Diego State for not getting the memo Claudine Gay and her two fancy-pants university-president colleagues got about not condemning Hamas, Jew-hate, and genocide of Jews.

SDSU, see, is too, too, gauche, no different from a flyover university in their world, so a common-sense condemnation of Hamas terrorism that contained zero, zilch, nada "Islamophobia" but plenty of unequivocal condemnation for killers, gets the DoE investigation, and not Harvard where real Jew-hate is going on.

Is this a disgusting administration, or what? My sense is the public has had a bellyful of this kind of double standard, this black-is-white logic amounting to disguised Jew-hate, and its ridiculous call of "Islamophobe" which is little different from "raaaacism." Apparently, you can't condemn any terrorist act put on by Islamist terrorists without getting a federal investigation thrown at your school.

The creeps who did this at DoE owe Adela de la Torre and her colleague an apology for this harassment investigation. I'd like to see Rep. Sara Jacobs of San Diego, who represents that area, and whose family is Jewish, take that one up, but given that she's been bunking with former politician Ammar Campa-Najjar, whose PLO grandpa once helped murder Israeli athletes in Munich in 1972, I won't hold my breath.

What we learn here is that Claudine Gay may have had one eye on the threat of a DoE investigation if she dared condemn Hamas and its filthy genocidal Jew-hate policies. San Diego State couldn't see that because they aren't as well connected with Joe Biden's swamp. That's a problem.

Image: Felton Davis, via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 2.0
Under the Mummified Meat Puppet Administration (MMPA), our military is prepared to fight the trans/pronoun wars, not the real thing. But the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is getting ready to go to actual war. It appears the environment needed more protection than anyone could have imagined:

A resurfaced report that initially flew under the radar claims that President Joe Bidens Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has spent millions of dollars in taxpayer funding to stockpile military-grade equipment and weaponry. In a letter sent to the EPA in September, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a ranking member on the Senate Budget Committee, wrote, As of September 14, 2023, the Biden administration EPA has already spent $2,892,770 on these items, which is 143 percent more than what was spent during the entire Trump administration.

Image: EPA Boat at Scanlon Reservoir. Wikimedia Commons.org. Public Domain.

Wow. I know guns and ammunition are expensive, but thats a lot of hardware! Whats an agency that issues bureaucratic rules and enforces its fiats with paper and lawfare doing arming up?

The congressional investigation into the EPA followed a report from a government watchdog organization that discovered non-law enforcement federal agencies had spent almost $4 billion since 2006 in taxpayer funding to purchase military-style equipment, guns, and ammunition. The very same EPA that proposed slapping red tape on nearly every farmers ditch in Iowa now appears to be armed to the teeth, Grassley told The Washington Free Beacon. The Biden EPA already has a reputation for overstepping its bounds, and that makes the agencys militarization all the more frightening. We need to know what exactly EPA is doing with this equipment, and whether it serves the interests of the American people. Since 2006, the EPA has spent roughly $10 million on advanced weaponry, including unmanned aircraft, night vision, and radar equipment, according to The Washington Free Beacon. The outlet reported that while the EPAs spending has occurred under multiple presidential administrations, it seemingly increased under former President Barack Obama and President Joe Biden.

Oh, thats a surprise, and so is the idea the EPA could be "serv[ing] the interests of the American people."

According to Grassleys letter, the EPA spent $6,584,473 on armor, guns, radar equipment, mobile command posts, and other weaponry during the Obama administration. During former President Donald Trumps administration, the agency spent about $2 million on similar purchases. In his letter, Grassley contrasted the Trump administration with the Biden administration, under which the EPA had spent almost $3 million on advanced weaponry by September of 2023.

"Mobile Command posts?" Perhaps some of that money might have been better spent spooling up our domestic arms industry? It would appear we, and our allies, are running a bit short of artillery ammo, smart bombs and other ordinance.

For example, Grassley asked the EPA to answer, How much equipment does EPA own that is classified in the PSC Manual as part of Group 10, Weapons? The GOP senator added, Please list each type of equipment, the volume purchased, the total cost for purchase, and the statutory authority for the purchase. Please include the agencys written policies for the agencys use of this equipment.

Good questions all. What most Americans dont realize is just how many federal agencies have arrest powers, and how many have been, since the Age of Obama, stockpiling military-gradefully automatic long arms and other large caliber, offensive weaponsarms and ammunition. Even agencies such as the Department of Education and the Fish and Wildlife Service are up-arming. Apparently, fish and education grant applicants are a far greater risk to our democracy than anyone previously realized.

The EPA has long been a severe pain in Americans collective backsides. It is a law unto itself, issuing, without accountability, rules and mandates with the force of law. When Americans complain because the EPA declares a mudpuddle on their farms a wetland and imposes millions in fines, the EPA judges the complaint and invariably finds itself entirely correct as it imposes even greater fines. Occasionally, a brave judges reins in the EPA, but not nearly often enough.

The EPA has no jurisdiction outside America, which means the only target for its growing arsenal is Americans, and while the EPA has gone after major polluters, they seem to pursue the little guy--farmers, ranchers, and everyday Americans--with gleeful arrogance. Ive recently optimistically noted here at American Thinker most of our military and most police officers wont oppress fellow Americans should the MMPA decide thats necessary to protect our democracy. Could the MMPA be building an alternate army of federal bureaucrats that will?

Apparently, there are a lot of domestic terrorist fish, education grant applicants and ranchers with insurrectionist mud puddles out there.

Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor.
On January 5, 2023 an armed robbery occurred in a Taqueria in Houston, TX. The robber, 30-year-old Eric Eugene Washington, picked the wrong taco stand and ended up seriously dead when a legally armed customer ended the robbery, shooting Washington nine times.

Shooting Washington was legally justified under Texas law. Generally, one lawfully uses deadly force when a reasonable person in like circumstances would believe they, or another, is facing the imminent threat of serious bodily injury or death. There are several legal elements to consider. Ive understood elements like these under a variety of terms, including some taught by the FBI, for decades, but Im using the terms the current American self-defense guru, attorney Andrew Branca, employs.

Youtube: screenshot

Innocence: in this case, the 46-year-old citizen who shot Washingtonhe has never been identifiedwas innocent. He was not the initial aggressor, and had no argument with Washington.

Avoidance: that doesnt apply under Texas law, but where it does apply, was the victim doing what he reasonably could to avoid conflict? In this case he was. He was eating, and a gun was stuck in his face by the robber, who robbed him and the other customers present. States with stand your ground or castle doctrine laws dont generally require avoidance.

Imminence: a reasonable person must believe the threat to be imminent, happening within seconds, or already happening. The entire robbery, from entrance to shooting, took a handful of seconds.

Proportionality: harsh words cant be answered by gunfire. In this case, apparent deadly force was met with lawful deadly force.

Reasonableness: would a reasonable person in like circumstances believe deadly force was reasonable?

The law would seem to be clear. Washington was in the process of committing an armed robbery. He robbed everyone in the store, and was heading for the door, his back to the shooter, when he was shot. But there is the law, and there are emotions. Washington was black, the victim was not. Emotions immediately kicked in.

Emotion: It turned out the gun was a plastic, 1:1 replica of a real handgun. The victim shot Washington in the back, and shot him several times after he had fallen to the floor. The victim shot Washington nine times.

The story has a just ending. A grand jury no-billedno chargesthe victim, but it could easily have gone the other way. We can reasonably assume the prosecutor presented a factual, legal case rather than an emotional, politicized case. The old saying that a prosecutor can get a grand jury to indict a ham sandwich is entirely true. A grand jury hears only what the prosecutor wants them to hear. No defense attorneys--no defense case--are allowed.

But what about the plastic gun? The standard is whether a reasonable person would have believed they were facing an imminent threat of serious bodily injury or death. The gun was a replica, but looked like the real thing, particularly when it was being pointed at everyone in the Taqueria. Its unreasonable to think people under that kind of stress can differentiate between a replica and the real thing, particularly when the robber is acting like its the real thing.

He shot him in the back! Washington was leaving! Was he? The robbery took seconds. Washington was hyped up, erratic, threatening everyone, individually, but in no particular order. He was pointing his gun at a customer seated near the door when shot. Could a reasonable person have believed he might turn and eliminate every witness? Of course they could. If one is legally justified in shooting, they dont have to wait for an old-west, high noon showdown. Theyre entitled to take every advantage.

He shot him nine times! If one is justified in shooting, the number of rounds fired is legally irrelevant. One shoots to stop, to end the threat, not to kill. If an armed robber dies as a result of being shot, he shouldnt have forced that choice on his victim.

This is the most troublesome of the emotional elements. Nine times! He shot him nine times! He shot him when he was down! The problem is handgun ammunition just isnt very powerful. More than 80% of people shot with handgun rounds do not die. There are many cases where criminals have absorbed ridiculous numbers of bullets and continued their murderous rampages, even though they were mortally wounded. There is no way for the reasonable man or woman to know how an attacker will respond to being shot, so the reasonable person shoots until the threat ends, then immediately stops shooting.

The victim was lucky it happened in Texas. Were he in California or another blue state, hed likely be behind bars regardless of the law. The ultimate lesson: if at all possible, avoid any kind of confrontation, deadly or not.

Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor.
Despite what the Democrat/socialist/communist (D/s/c) media would have us believe, school attacks remain, thankfully, rare. Also despite what they would have us believe, not every attack is committed with an AR-15 wielded by a white male Republican. A case in point is the January 4th attack on Perry High School in Perry, Iowa, a town of about 8000:

A school shooting occurred in Iowa on Thursday morning. According to reports, the shooter injured at least three people before turning the gun on himself.

Fox News notes at least five people were shot, and one was killed.

This attack is already, only a day later, receiving scant media attention. Why? Isnt a primary media axiom if it bleeds, it leads? Absolutely, unless the killer was trans or some shade of LGBTQ etc. or used a weapon other than an AR-15.

Image: X screenshot

Dylan Butler, who is a senior at Perry High School, was named as the suspected gunman by local news outlet WHO 13. Police have not confirmed the identification. One of the three people injured was the school's principal, Dan Marburger, who was rushed to hospital and is currently in surgery for his gunshot wounds. Hours before the shooting took place at 7.37 am, Butler posted a TikTok posing in what appeared to be the school bathroom, with the caption: 'Now we wait.' The senior pulled an odd face, as a blue duffle bag sat on the ground of the stall. At the moment, it doesnt appear that local law enforcement has tied Butler to the LGBTQ community, but according to his social media accounts, he appeared to have been an LGBTQ activist and part of that community. His social media accounts include pride flag emojis, transgender flag emojis, transgender slogans, and even a Reddit post where he implied that he wanted to transition.

The Nashville Covenant shooter was trans and apparently used a common 9mm carbine rather than an AR-15, facts all but covered up by the D/s/c media who quickly lost interest in the case. She may have carried an AR-15 variant, but was depicted on school video wielding the 9mm.

"There have been four mass shooters that we know by those who have identified as transgender, which means that 1.3 percent of mass shooters have been transgender, I wrote at the time. Citing widely available statistics, I found that people who identify as transgender make up 0.6% of the population, but 1.3% of mass shooters. This means that transgender people are more than twice as likely to be mass shooters than non-transgender people. I even ran the numbers based on other sources and definitions of mass shootings. For example, based on the left-wing rag Mother Joness number of how many mass shootings have taken place, "2.83 percent of mass shooters have been committed by transgender people, which means that transgender people are nearly five times as likely to be mass shooters as non-transgender people."

Fox also reported the shooter had a pump action shotgun and a small caliber handgun on him, though no media account Ive been able to find indicated which of the two weapons was used. With that cautious formulation, its probable the handgun was a common .22. This is interesting:

Authorities also found a "rudimentary" improvised explosive device inside the school, which was rendered safe, [Mitch] Mortvedt [Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Assistant Director] added at the 4 p.m. ET press conference, without going into any more detail.

Commenting on any school attack or other mass shooting is limited by working from media accounts, which as any police officer knows, virtually always turn out to be substantially wrong. The narrative requires AR-15s and evil, white male Republican domestic terrorists. Most journalists know little or nothing about firearms, but they do know the narrative and how to protect it. Nothing garners more media protection these days than the increasing number of trans shooters.

That narrative requires trans be depicted as superior versions of humanity, people seeking their "truth," their truest selves, a higher, purer form of man, fighting bravely against the oppression of Normal Americans who want to kill them all in a trans genocide.

Unfortunately, as recent mass shooter trends indicate, trans are mentally ill, in need of psychological treatment, not hormones, surgery and political affirmation as a way of sticking a thumb in the eye of normal America. Few know, for example, there is evidence the Uvalde shooter was trans. Unsurprisingly, the media has shown little or no interest in following up on that potentially definitive element of that attack.

Can we be certain the Perry shooter was trans? Considering the media, we can be certain of little other than that there was an attack and some unknowable number were injured. We can be certain, however, if he was trans, media interest in reporting that fact will be minimal.

Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor.
Samsungs Galaxy S24 flagships may cost less than the Galaxy S23 in Europe. If leaks are accurate, all storage variants of the smaller two models will see a price cut. The price of the 256GB Ultra model may go up. This is likely because of the upgrade from 8GB to 12GB RAM. The Plus model is also jumping from 8GB RAM to 12GB across the board but the rumored switch to the Exynos chipset might have allowed the company to lower the price.

Galaxy S24 prices may go down in Europe

If you recall, Samsung shipped the Galaxy S23 series with Qualcomms Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor globally. It equipped the smaller two models and the 256GB Ultra with 8GB RAM. The 512GB and 1TB storage variants of the latter have 12GB RAM. This year, the company is giving 12GB RAM as standard on the Plus and Ultra models. The vanilla Galaxy S24 still has 8GB RAM.

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Additionally, Samsung is rumored to use the Exynos 2400 processor on the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+ in Europe, with the Ultra getting the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 globally. The switch to the in-house Exynos processor lowered the BOM (bill of materials) cost of the former duo. It is seemingly passing the benefit to customers. Reliable tipster Roland Quandt says the phones will cost 50 less than their respective predecessors.

The vanilla Galaxy S24 will be priced at 899 for the 128GB storage variant and 959 for the 256GB variant. For the Plus model, Samsung will charge 1,149 for 256GB storage and 1,269 for 512GB storage. However, if you grab the 256GB Galaxy S24 Ultra, you will have to shell out 1,449, 50 more than the 2023 model. Its 512GB and 1TB variants will cost 1,569 and 1,809, respectivelywhich is a 10 price cut.

Of course, these arent official prices. Samsung wont share the pricing details of the new flagships before launch. However, the figures come from reliable tipster Roland Quandt via X. While the source says the prices are specifically for Italy, we expect similar figures in most European countries. Dutch publication GalaxyClub reported the same prices for the Galaxy S24 trio last week.

Samsung has priced the new flagships aggressively

If the Galaxy S24 series arrives with this pricing in Europe, it would be an aggressive move from Samsung. The new flagships dont bring many hardware upgrades but there are plenty of new software features to look forward to. The company has baked AI into the system, delivering unparalleled on-device AI capabilities. It remains to be seen how Samsung prices the phones in other markets. There are rumors about a price increase in its homeland, South Korea.
Samsung will soon drop three new flagship Android smartphones in the market. The company will launch the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 Ultra on January 17. Ahead of that, it is busy hyping up the device. Samsung is also simultaneously working on obtaining regulatory certifications for the phones. It just picked up the IMDA certificates for the Galaxy S24+ and Galaxy S24 Ultra in Singapore.

Galaxy S24 phones receive another regulatory approval

Over the past few months, Samsungs Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 Ultra have received approval from several regulatory bodies around the world. The FCC in the US, BIS in India, KTR in South Korea, TKDN in Indonesia, and NBTC in Thailand are to name a few. Singapores IMDA has now joined this list. As of this writing, it appears to have certified only the latter two models. But the vanilla Galaxy S24 should also soon receive the IMDA approval.

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Spotted by MySmartPrice, the Singaporean regulatory agency has certified the Galaxy S24+ and Galaxy S24 Ultra with the model numbers SM-S926B/DS and SM-S926B/DS, respectively. These are the global versions of the phone with dual-SIM support. The listing on the IMDAs official website doesnt reveal any specs. It says the devices boast 5G cellular connectivity, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and UWB (Ultra Wideband).

However, this isnt all we know about Samsungs upcoming flagships. Leaks have already revealed detailed specs and alleged prices for some regions. The company has slightly redesigned the Ultra model to include a flat display and a titanium frame. The device also replaces the 10x zoom camera with a 5x solution. The rest of the hardware is mostly unchanged, including the display size, battery capacity, and the other four cameras.

On the inside, Samsung has equipped the Galaxy S24 Ultra with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and 12GB of RAM as standard. This chip may also power the Galaxy S24+ in most countries, with some regions getting the companys in-house Exynos 2400 chip. Both variants have 12GB of RAM. The vanilla model, on the other hand, has 8GB of RAM and will arrive with the Exynos processor in most markets, excluding the US, Canada, and China.

The new Samsung flagships bring tons of AI features

The Galaxy S24 series does not bring many hardware upgrades over the Galaxy S23. The 2023 flagship lineup already boasts a capable camera system and a solid build. Samsungs focus this year is to improve the user experience. It has built AI into the system, allowing for groundbreaking on-device and cloud-based AI features on the Galaxy S24. Time will tell whether the bet pays off. The new flagships are expected to go on sale at the end of this month.
Google is initiating tests in its Chrome browser to disable third-party cookies. It reportedly impacts analytics data collection, personalized online ads, and browsing monitoring. Initially, this feature will be available to 1% of Chrome users across the globe, approximately 30 million people, with plans for a full rollout later in the year.

Google will randomly select users and ask if they want to browse with more privacy. Google asserts that the changes are part of a test phase, and it plans a full rollout to eliminate third-party cookies globally. However, some advertisers express concerns about potential adverse effects on their industry.

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Googles Chrome, the worlds most popular internet browser, follows the footsteps of Apples Safari and Mozilla Firefox, which already offer options to block third-party cookies. Anthony Chavez, Googles vice president, described the approach as a responsible phase-out of third-party cookies.

Users experiencing issues on sites that rely on these cookies will be prompted to temporarily re-enable them. This move aligns with Googles broader commitment to enhancing internet privacy.

Google aims to limit tracking by third-party cookies and enhance privacy through its Chrome Privacy Sandbox initiative

Cookies play a crucial role for many websites, supporting advertising, analytics, and personalization. For advertisers, cookies are instrumental in tracking user activities, providing targeted ads, and enhancing the overall user experience. However, Google aims to limit tracking through third-party cookies and enhance privacy through Google Chrome Privacy Sandbox initiative. This initiative aims to phase out third-party cookies globally in the latter half of 2024. However, the plan is pending approval from the UKs Competition and Markets Authority, which will address any remaining competition concerns.

While Google emphasizes its commitment to user privacy, critics, especially in the advertising industry, argue that the changes primarily benefit Google. Phil Duffield, UK vice president at The Trade Desk, suggests that Googles solution, the Chrome Privacy Sandbox, may only benefit Google and calls for solutions that protect consumer privacy without hindering publishers revenue.

The UKs Competition and Markets Authority retains the authority to block Googles plans if it determines potential harm to other businesses. As Google begins testing Tracking Protection, concerns about the impact on advertisers and the broader digital ecosystem become persistent.
A U.S. federal judge has set a March 2025 trial date for Texas antitrust lawsuit against Google, which alleges that the company illegally used its market position to grow its advertising services. Texas is joined by 16 other states in the case that will be decided by a jury in federal court over an estimated four-week trial. Google has previously denied any wrongdoing in this case, and called Texas suit deeply flawed, according to Reuters.

The scheduling for the antitrust trial, decided by U.S. District Judge Sean Jordan on Jan. 2, appeased neither Google nor the states lawyers. Texas and the other states pushed for an August 2024 trial date, as they argued that delaying the trial would allow Google to continue its illegal market activities for longer. They said the lengthy delay was allowing Google to abuse its market power for longer, at the expense of American consumers. However, Googles lawyers pushed for an even later start date, requesting one after April 2025.

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We appreciate the courts rigorous schedule and anticipate being ready for trial on the date given, said W. Mark Lanier, who is an attorney for Texas and the conglomerate of states. The judge said the trial will begin March 31, 2025, and be held in Plano, Texas  a town roughly 20 miles north of Dallas. Jury selection is set to start on that date, and the trial could stretch into May 2025.

Google is facing legal challenges from all angles due to antitrust allegations over advertising

Googles upcoming federal trial is far from the only legal challenge the company has faced in recent memory. It is one of three federal cases hinging upon the same alleged digital advertising monopoly. Plus, Google settled a $700 million lawsuit last month that was related to a potential monopoly over its Google Play Store app distribution platform. Just last week, Google agreed to settle a lawsuit related to its incognito mode tracking in Google Chrome browsers. The exact terms of the settlement havent been released yet, but the plaintiffs were asking for a whopping $5 billion from Google.

These are just a few of Googles legal troubles in the U.S., and there are even more happening abroad. Google has faced immense scrutiny from the European Union, which has labeled it a gatekeeper under the new Digital Markets Act. The EUs strict advertising policies have also been used to target Google as well. Were eager to see how Google fares in these lawsuits, but it will be a while before they are all concluded.
Samsung has recently announced a strategic partnership with Hyundai Motor Group to extend its SmartThings platform to support connected cars, particularly electric vehicles (EVs). This collaboration, initiated with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on January 3, aims to create integrated solutions that seamlessly blend smart home functionalities with connected cars. The focus areas include the development of Home-to-Car and Car-to-Home services, allowing users to control and monitor their cars from their smart homes and vice versa.

The Home-to-Car and Car-to-Home services, facilitated by Samsungs SmartThings platform, will enable users to remotely manage various aspects of their vehicles, such as starting them, adjusting air conditioning, controlling windows, and checking charging status. In return, users can control home appliances, including TVs, air conditioners, and EV chargers, directly from their cars infotainment system. The integration will provide users with a seamless experience and the ability to create routines that automate specific tasks, such as adjusting temperature and displaying EV battery status.

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Aside from working on SmartThings, Samsung is also working closely with HARMAN to enhance Car-to-Home services

Furthermore, the partnership aims to introduce an integrated home energy management service. This service will offer insights into energy consumption across different connected devices in users homes and provide optimal charging times for their EVs. The intelligent system will consider factors such as electricity pricing, power demand response programs, photovoltaic (PV) and energy storage system (ESS) data, and time-specific carbon emissions.

Samsung emphasizes the potential for users to utilize SmartThings through routines, streamlining their daily activities across both smart homes and connected cars. The collaboration represents a significant step toward enhancing the overall customer experience in smart living.

The companies have not provided a specific timeline for the rollout of these services. As the tech and automotive industries continue to converge, partnerships like this one highlight the growing importance of seamless connectivity and integrated solutions for future lifestyles.

In a complementary effort, Samsung is working closely with HARMAN, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics, to enhance Car-to-Home services. HARMANs Ready Upgrade digital cockpit package allows users to install SmartThings functions, unlocking a range of Car-to-Home services, further bridging the gap between smart homes and connected vehicles.
Weather models predict heavy snow across the Sierra Nevada on Saturday. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning, and Lake Tahoe can expect up to a foot of snow, with up to 2 feet along the Sierra crest. Baron/Lynx

A cold winter storm is anticipated to bring widespread mountain snow to the Intermountain West this weekend, and the Sierra Nevada is expected to be in the bulls-eye.

Snow will begin over the Cascade Mountains of Washington and Oregon on Friday night, arriving at Californias Mount Shasta by daybreak Saturday. Blizzard-like conditions are possible along I-80 by the late morning, continuing into the evening. The Southern Sierra will eventually get hit by the snow in the later afternoon.

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The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for the Siskiyou Mountains and Sierra Nevada from Saturday morning through Sunday morning. At Lake Tahoe, a half-foot to a foot of snow is expected, while higher elevations, including Donner Summit, should accumulate 1 to 2 feet.

Weather service meteorologist Nathan Rick said it is expected to be a quick-moving system, kicking out of here by late Sunday morning.

Major travel impacts

Travel could be very difficult to impossible due to whiteout conditions, according to the weather service warning. The worst conditions are expected to be between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. Saturday, but lingering impacts are possible Sunday morning. Gusty winds up to 50 mph, combined with the snowfall rates of 3 inches per hour, will likely lead to whiteout conditions and could snap tree limbs and cause power outages.

A major winter storm is forecast along Interstate 80 and Highway 50 heading to Lake Tahoe on Saturday. Whiteout conditions are expected to make travel difficult to impossible. Baron/Lynx

While there is high confidence in blizzard-like conditions along I-80 and Highway 50 in the afternoon, there is lower confidence in how heavy snow showers will be during the evening and overnight. Some weather models predict several more inches of snow through Sunday morning, while others predict dry conditions will quickly follow Saturday night.

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Snowfall totals are expected to range from 1 to 2 feet above 7,000 feet and up to a foot at Lake Tahoe. Mammoth Mountain and Tioga Pass are forecast to receive between 8 inches to a foot, while Yosemite Valley is likely to exceed a foot of fresh powder.

The weather pattern is favorable for additional snowstorms in the near future. Two more storms are expected next week, on Wednesday and Friday. If the current forecast holds, the Sierra snowpack may be inching closer to normal by mid-January.

Coastal cold

While the Sierra Nevada is forecast to get pounded by heavy snow, the weekend storm is unfavorable for heavy rain at the coast due to its inland trajectory. Less than a quarter-inch of rain is forecast across the Bay Area on Saturday. However, the systems Canadian origin means it will be cold.

Friday will likely be the warmest day for at least the next week across the Bay Area. High temperatures are expected to be in the upper 50s to lower 60s before much colder air arrives over the weekend.

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Saturdays light rain will be accompanied by overcast skies. Highs may struggle to crack the lower to mid-50s, and wind gusts of 20 to 30 mph will make it feel even colder. Mount Hamilton could get dusted with light snow accumulations. By Sunday morning, the valleys of the North, East and South Bay are expected to be near freezing.

Another chilly day is on tap Sunday, with highs in the 50s. Sunday night will likely be even colder, with a widespread freeze possible inland, with upper 30s to lower 40s along the bay shoreline and at the coast. San Jose could record its first freeze of the winter on Sunday night.

Weekend breakdown

San Francisco: Friday might be San Franciscos last day of above-normal temperatures for the next week. Highs are expected to be near 60 degrees compared to the normal of 57 for the date. Some high clouds will move in during the afternoon. Lows will be in the mid-40s.

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The cooling trend begins Saturday, with highs in the mid- to upper 50s and light rain showers totaling up to about a tenth of an inch. Gusts up to 30 mph are possible at the Golden Gate and atop Twin Peaks. Rain showers should taper off overnight, with lows dropping to the lower 40s.

Sunnier skies return Sunday, but highs will struggle to surpass the mid-50s with the cold air in place. Sunday night is expected to be the coldest night in the city so far this winter, in the lower 40s. A few areas such as Diamond Heights and Noe Valley could drop to the upper 30s.

North Bay: Fridays 60-degree temperatures in Santa Rosa, San Rafael and Napa might be the last time the North Bay reaches the 60s for a couple of weeks, as colder air is expected to arrive over the weekend. Clouds will slowly increase Friday afternoon and evening. Lows will be around 40.

While Saturday isnt expected to be a washout, it will feel much colder due to cloudy skies, light rain, gusts up to 25 mph and highs in the mid-50s. About a tenth to a quarter-inch of rain is expected in Sonoma and Marin counties, with Napa and Solano counties in the lower part of that range. Lows are expected to drop to the mid- to upper 30s.

Sunday is expected to mark the return of sunshine, but temperatures will remain cold. Highs should be in the mid-50s, but overnight is when the real chill arrives. Valleys are expected to flirt with the freezing mark, while Vallejo, Tiburon and Sausalito could drop to the upper 30s.

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East Bay: A tranquil Friday is expected to top out in the upper 50s in Oakland, Berkeley, Hayward and Fremont and the lower 60s in Concord, Dublin and Livermore. Clouds will increase overnight, with lows in the lower to mid-40s.

Saturdays weather may feel a bit gloomy, with overcast skies, light rain showers, gusts up to 25 mph and highs in the mid-50s. While lowland areas arent expected to receive too much rain  generally less than a tenth of an inch  the Oakland and Berkeley hills will act as an atmospheric sponge, squeezing out a quarter-inch or more. Rain will taper overnight, with lows dropping quickly to the mid-30s inland to lower 40s along the bay shoreline.

The chilly air mass will take over the East Bay on Sunday, with areas of morning frost and fog. Highs will remain in the mid-50s despite sunny skies, while the Tri-Valley may struggle to surpass the lower 50s. Lows will drop sharply Sunday night, into the upper 30s on the bay shoreline and near freezing inland.

Pacific Coast and Peninsula: A gloomy Saturday will be sandwiched between sunny weather Friday and Sunday, but temperatures are expected to take a nosedive over the weekend.

Friday will be mostly sunny, with highs in the upper 50s at the coast to lower 60s in Millbrae, San Mateo and Redwood City. Lows should drop to the mid-40s. Saturdays highs will drop toward the mid-50s, with light showers adding up to about a quarter-inch of rain at the coast and a tenth of an inch along the bay shoreline. Gusts up to 30 mph are possible at the coast.

The real chill arrives Saturday night, with Sunday morning starting out in the lower 40s at the coast and upper 30s in San Mateo, Menlo Park and Redwood City. Highs will struggle to surpass the mid-50s again despite abundant sunshine. Lows will likely drop even further, close to 40 at the coast and in the mid- to upper 30s for the bay shoreline.

South Bay and Santa Cruz: Residents in the South Bay and Santa Cruz should enjoy the sunshine Friday, because no more 60s are in the forecast for at least the next week. Highs will be in the upper 50s in the Santa Cruz Mountains and lower 60s elsewhere. Lows will be in the upper 30s in the valleys to lower 40s at the coast.

Saturday is shaping up to be gloomy. Rain showers are expected to add up to about a tenth of an inch  except in the Santa Cruz Mountains where up to a quarter-inch is possible  winds could gust up to 25 mph and highs will struggle to crack the mid-50s. Lows will plummet overnight, to the mid-30s in the Santa Cruz Mountains and Santa Clara Valley and upper 30s near Monterey Bay.
Samsung may soon launch two new fast chargers for Galaxy devices. The company is readying an updated 45W power adapter and a 50W dual-charger. Neither of these charging solutions will ship bundled with the Galaxy S24 series, though. The Korean firm stopped providing chargers in the retail box long back. They might be available as a separate purchase alongside the new flagships, which debut on January 17.

Samsung could release two new fast charges alongside the Galaxy S24

According to reliable X tipster Roldan Quandt, Samsungs upcoming 50W dual-charger has the model number EP-T5020. Aptly called the Charger Duo, it can simultaneously fast charge two Galaxy devices via USB-C at up to 50W speed. Unfortunately, the companys smartphones dont go beyond 45W charging speed. The Galaxy S24 flagships top out at 45W too, with the base model limited to just 25W charging.

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If you plan to grab the Galaxy S24+ or Galaxy S24 Ultra and dont already have a 45W charger at home, Samsung reportedly has a new 45W power brick in the pipeline. It bears the model number EP-T4511 and appears to be an updated version of the existing solution (EP-T4510). It is unclear how the new charger will differ from the current one. Whether Samsung has upgraded the internals, well know once it arrives on the market.

Considering the imminent developments in the coming weeks, the Korean behemoth could start selling the new chargers alongside the Galaxy S24 lineup. We dont have confirmation but that would be a logical move. However, as said earlier, you wont get either of them in the box. The retail box will contain the phone, a USB-C cable, a SIM ejector pin, and some paperwork. Thats about it.

While Samsung hasnt announced the release date for the Galaxy S24 trio, rumors say the new flagships will go on sale on January 30. Pre-orders will begin in most markets, including the US, on the launch day itself. The grand unveiling of the trio will take place in San Jose on January 17 at 10 AM PT/6 PM GMT. Due to the time difference, the event falls in the early hours of January 18 in some eastern countries, including Samsungs homeland South Korea.

You can watch the launch event live

Depending on where you live, the kick-off time of the Galaxy S24 launch event will vary. However, the event will be streamed live globally on Samsungs official YouTube channel and website. The company is offering a $50 credit if you reserve the new phones ahead of launch. The credit will be redeemable while purchasing accessories once you pre-order a Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, or Galaxy S24 Ultra. You can make your reservation from here.
The Government is pushing for an upgraded trade deal with Turkey, as Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch visits Istanbul.

The two countries have a deal which covers goods but not services, digital or data.

Investment in manufacturing, tech and transport is also expected to be discussed during the visit, with Ms Badenoch saying that Turkey presents huge opportunities for UK businesses.

While in Istanbul, the Conservative MP will meet her Turkish counterpart, minister for trade Omer Bolat.

Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch said Turkey presents huge opportunities for UK businesses (James Manning/PA)

They are expected to discuss how to boost UK-Turkish trade ahead of the launch of talks later in the year on an upgraded deal covering services and digital.

In the coming year the Government has said it wants to progress services-focused deals with countries such as Turkey, Switzerland and South Korea, and the Gulf region.

Ms Badenoch said: Im delighted to be in Turkey ahead of talks to upgrade our existing trade deal to make it fit for the 21st century.

The UK is the second biggest exporter of services in the world  UK lawyers, accountants and architects are in high demand across the globe.

With its major economy and strategic position, Turkey presents huge opportunities for UK businesses. And Im excited to start discussions on ensuring our new trading relationship with Turkey unlocks those opportunities.

While in Istanbul, Ms Badenoch will visit Turkish Airlines, which recently contracted UK aerospace company Airbus to supply them with 220 planes.

For much of the fleet, the wings will be designed in Bristol and built in North Wales, with Rolls Royce supplying engines made in Derby,

The Secretary of State will also meet UK and Turkish investors, including Ford and Mott MacDonald, to discuss how the UK and Turkey can boost investment in sectors such as manufacturing, tech and transport.

TheCityUK managing director Nicola Watkinson said: Turkey holds tremendous growth potential through the rising Middle East to Asia growth corridor. The UK is well-positioned to forge innovative and forward-looking trade agreements and be part of these exciting opportunities.

This visit not only demonstrates the UKs commitment to fostering stronger economic relationships but also sets the stage for an ambitious Free Trade Agreement that promises benefits for our industry.

The head of strategy at Mott MacDonald Group, Simon Harrison, said: Turkey continues to play a key geostrategic role in the world and shares the UKs position of being a large economy adjacent to the European Union, and hence a partner with whom trade ties matter.

The UK-Turkey relationship is warm and longstanding, with many complementarities  for example UK professional services and Turkish construction are both world renowned, and these trade discussions provide an opportunity to build from a position of strength for both nations.
MBABANE  Unemployment figures are expected to rise, as one of the biggest group of companies in the country is going through a restructuring that will leave a number of its employees without jobs.

The festive season was not merry for some employees under Inyatsi Group Holdings as some had to choose between voluntary exit packages or settling for a pay cut so they could save their jobs. Inyatsi Group Holdings has subsidiary companies that include Maloma Colliery, The Clinic Group, Lidwala Insurance, Eswatini Mobile, Infracast, Construction Associate and the recent edition Eswatini Meat Industries, among others. Some of the employees who were affected by the looming job losses were employed under the telecommunications company, Eswatini Mobile, as well as Maloma Colliery.

According to some of the employees, the company started engaging them in November 2023. They were informed that the companies were not able to accommodate them anymore, hence it was looking at cutting costs. On November 30, 2023, the company, through a consultant that was engaged, started serving the employees with memorandums.

According to a memorandum that was sent to the employees, which this publication is in possession of, the organisation was going through a restructuring process. The content of the letter says the voluntary exit was open to all employees. In line with the ongoing organisational restructuring process, a decision has been made to offer you a voluntary retrenchment/exit programme.

Please note that the following conditions apply: The programme is open to all full-time and part-time employees; it is entirely voluntary and you are under no obligation to participate. The application window is from Friday 1st December 2023 to 7th December 2023. If you are interested in participating, please complete the attached application form. Should your application be successful, you will be required to sign a Voluntary Exit Agreement and your employment shall terminate.

Upon termination, you will be paid terminal benefits based on the statutory severance package and your leave pay (being accrued leave that was not taken) Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to the People and Culture Department or your immediate Supervisor, reads the memorandum.

Window

An email that was sent to the employees stated that the application window for the voluntary exit was from December 1 to 7, 2023. Over the month of December, it was a gloomy period for some of the employees, as they had to make a decision. Some employees under Eswatini Mobile and Maloma Colliery were said to have signed the voluntary exit forms.

In the same period, some of those who had not signed the voluntary exit forms were offered new contracts with a lesser salary offer. This has seen one of the affected employees, Happiness Lapidos, approaching the Industrial Court for a legal recourse. She wanted the court of equity to interdict the company from proceeding with the intended consultation.

Inyatsi Group Holdings Marketing and Public Relations Manager Ncobile Dlamini, confirmed that the group had offered voluntary-exit packages to employees. The manager clarified that the voluntary exit was open to all employees, not targeting certain employees. The process of voluntary exit packages was opened to everyone within the group. There was no specific criterion used; hence it is called a voluntary exit package. People volunteered themselves, she said.

Confidential

When asked how many employees within the group had taken the voluntary exit packages, she said: Unfortunately, we cannot divulge the number or names of people who took the packages as employer and employee information is confidential. These job losses occur just after His Majesty King Mswati III declared poverty as a national disaster. Some of the catalysts of poverty in the country is the high rate of unemployment.

According to statistics by the African Development Bank, unemployment remained high, at 33.3 per cent in 2021, exacerbating the poverty rate of 58.9 per cent. The proportion of the population living below the national poverty line fell moderately from 63 per cent in 2010 to 58.9 per cent in 2017, driven by improvements in educational attainment, the coverage of social protection and labour incomes. It is even higher among young people, with those between 15 and 24 years facing an unemployment rate of 59.1 per cent in 2021.
Doctor Who star David Tennant has been announced as the host of the 2024 Baftas.

The Scottish actor, 52, said: I am delighted to have been asked to host the EE Bafta Film Awards and help celebrate the very best of this years films and the many brilliant people who bring them to life.

The ceremony will be held at the Royal Festival Hall at Londons Southbank Centre on February 18 and broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Tennant, who has appeared in TV series including Broadchurch and Good Omens, recently returned to the long-running BBC series Doctor Who for the shows 60th anniversary episodes, where he played the 14th Time Lord.

David Tennant recently returned to the long-running BBC series Doctor Who for the shows 60th anniversary episodes (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

He starred with Catherine Tate, who reprised her role as Donna Noble, a companion of the 10th Doctor, also played by Tennant.

Jane Millichip, chief executive of Bafta, said: We are over the moon that David Tennant will be our host for the 2024 EE Bafta Film Awards.

He is deservedly beloved by British and international audiences alike.

His warmth, charm and mischievous wit will make it a must-watch show next month for our guests at the Royal Festival Hall and the millions of people watching at home.

She added: The EE Bafta Film Awards recognise exceptional films and the talented people who make them.

More than 7500 of our Bafta members, creatives from all corners of the British and global film industry, have been voting over the holidays and we will be publishing their chosen longlists later today.

We're thrilled that the hugely talented Naomi Ackie and Kingsley Ben-Adir will be announcing the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2024 nominations LIVE on Thursday 18 January at 12pm GMT. Watch the full livestream on X or on our YouTube channel  #EEBAFTAs pic.twitter.com/Jx3AwO7yUF  BAFTA (@BAFTA) December 18, 2023

We hope it will inspire people to watch more films and encourage everyone to join in the conversation on who should win a Bafta next month.

The longlists for all 24 categories of the Baftas, including best film and director, will be published on Friday at midday.

English actress Naomi Ackie and Barbie actor Kingsley Ben-Adir will announce the Bafta nominations via livestream on Thursday January 18 at midday.

The nominations for the EE rising star award, the only Bafta where the winner is selected by the British public, will be announced on Wednesday January 10 during an event at the Savoy.

Last year the awards ceremony was hosted by Saltburn actor Richard E Grant and This Morning host Alison Hammond, and the year before by Australian actress and comedian Rebel Wilson.

In 2023 Tennant appeared with Tate, 54, at the TV Baftas to present the best features award to Joe Lycett VS Beckham: Got Your Back At Xmas.

The stage and screen actor has appeared in films including Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire (2005), What We Did On Our Holiday (2014) and Mary Queen Of Scots (2018).

On stage he has played Richard II and Hamlet and he is currently starring in a production of Macbeth at the Donmar Warehouse in London.

He has collected best actor awards for his performances in both Doctor Who: Doomsday and The Escape Artist from Bafta Cymru and Bafta Scotland respectively.
More than 1,000 properties across England have flooded amid heavy downpours this week, as temperatures look set to plummet at the weekend.

Hundreds of flood warnings and alerts remained in place on Friday, with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issuing a cold weather alert from Saturday.

The Environment Agency said significant river flooding impacts were expected on Friday and Saturday across parts of the Midlands on the River Trent and in Gloucester.

It said areas of the South West on the River Avon would also be affected, adding that ongoing impacts are likely across much of England over the next five days because the ground is completely saturated.

Data from the Environment Agency shows almost every river in England to be exceptionally high with some rivers reaching their highest flow on record, such as the River Itchen in Southampton which saw a flow double its previous record in December.

Caroline Douglass, the agencys flood director, said the River Trent has been at some of the highest levels weve seen in 24 years.

(PA Graphics)

She told BBC Breakfast more than 1,000 properties have been flooded across England this week, with that figure likely to rise. Ms Douglass said: We have had very wide rainfall.

Over November and December, following Storm Babet and Storm Ciaran, the ground was incredibly saturated right across the country, particularly in the east.

But also thats just been topped up over the pre-Christmas period. That rainfall from this week has just added to that, so theres really nowhere for the water to go.

The ground is completely saturated so in that situation we get more flooding and greater impacts than weve seen and probably in areas where people arent used to.

The UKHSA has issued a yellow cold weather alert from 9am on Saturday until 12pm on January 12.

Floodwater surrounds houses in Summer Way, Radcliffe-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire (Callum Parke/PA)

The Met Office said the cold snap will be caused by high pressure building over the UK into next week, with drivers urged to be cautious of ice.

It said temperatures will drop to minus 4C in parts of rural south-west England on Saturday night and minus 6C in rural areas along the Welsh border in Shropshire and north Herefordshire on Sunday night.

The UKHSA said: A brisk easterly wind developing across the south over the weekend will make it feel much colder, with the added wind chill.

Temperatures are likely to be a few degrees below average, across much of the UK, especially overnight, with more widespread frosts than of late.

Ice is likely to be an issue for many given the very wet ground in most areas. It is probable this cold spell may last well into the following week.

Met Office spokesman Oli Claydon said conditions were turning considerably drier, adding that the weather service has no rain warnings issued for the first time in quite a while.

He said the spell of rain that hit southern England on Thursday is moving eastwards across the North Sea, leaving some scattered showers across parts of the UK, mostly in the northeastern parts of Scotland.

Mr Claydon told the PA news agency: Were heading to a more settled spell of weather, which will be very welcome for many people across the UK after whats been a very wet start to 2024.

The Shipbuilders of Port Glasgow sculpture in Coronation Park, Inverclyde, is reflected in large puddles after heavy downpours (Jane Barlow/PA)

He said things will turn a bit chillier on Monday because of an easterly flow of cold air across the southern half of the UK, adding that the breezy conditions will make it feel really cold.

Stefan Laeger, flood duty manager at the Environment Agency, said flood impacts were expected to continue in parts of England over the next five days despite a change to drier weather, as rivers and groundwater levels remain high.

He added: Significant river flooding impacts are still expected today and on Saturday across parts of the East Midlands on the River Trent downstream of Nottingham, the River Severn including Gloucester and Tewkesbury and also today in the South West on the River Avon due to the recent prolonged wet weather and intense rainfall.

South Western Railway services were disrupted on Friday across its entire network, with major issues on its west of England routes.

The operator said: Whilst we expect water levels to drop and most of the network to reopen today, we will not be able to operate services between Yeovil Junction and Exeter because of a landslip near Crewkerne.

Disruption to the rest of the network is expected to last throughout today due to displaced trains and crews.

We would urge everyone to check before they travel to see whether their train is running as planned.

Great Western Railway warned there was significant disruption to its services.

Flooding in Wellingborough due to rising levels of the River Nene (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

In a travel warning to passengers, the operator said: Due to the flooding a significantly reduced level of service can only be provided and will be subject to further short-notice cancellations throughout the day.

Customers are advised to travel as early as possible or consider delaying their journey.

A serious incident near Reading last night, where police closed the railway for several hours, has left trains and crew in the wrong place for the start of service, which alongside localised flooding, continues to hamper our ability to run trains.

Flooding has closed the railway between Swindon and Bristol Parkway and between Reading and Taunton.

It comes after disruption caused by strong winds and rain from Storm Henk earlier in the week, which has left the ground saturated and more prone to flooding.

Nottinghamshire County Council declared a major incident on Thursday due to rising levels along the River Trent and several residents of Radcliffe Residential Park, an estate of static caravans for the over-55s just to the east of the city, were evacuated.

Parts of southern England including Gloucestershire were submerged  with some riverside areas of Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire also underwater on Friday.

In east London, around 50 people were led to safety by firefighters overnight after a canal burst its banks in Hackney Wick, causing flooding in an area of around 10 acres.

The River Great Ouse in Bedford town centre, which has burst its banks following heavy rainfall (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

A fine artist with a studio in Hackney Wick, Erin Lawlor, 54, said she had to wade into water to save her belongings after knee-high water flooded the area around the building.

She told PA: I got a call shortly after 10pm last night from a neighbour telling me that our studio building was flooding.

By the time I arrived, the emergency services had cordoned off the area but we were able to wade in and salvage what we could.

The water was knee-high in front of the building, and at least five or six inches in the corridors.

The highest rainfall totals recorded on Thursday were 35.2mm at Otterbourne in Hampshire, with a wide range of 20-30mm across much of the southern counties of England.

Labour has accused the Government of being asleep at the wheel over flood warnings.

The party wants Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to convene a Cobra-style taskforce to protect homes from further damage.

In a joint statement shadow Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden and shadow environment secretary Steve Reed said: The Conservatives have brushed over the risk of flooding for too long and communities are paying the price.

Handout photo taken with permission from the X feed of James Beech of flooding on Mill Lane between St Neots and Little Paxton, Cambridgeshire, following heavy rainfall (James Beech/PA)

The Liberal Democrats said Mr Sunak should visit areas impacted by flooding.

The partys spokeswoman for housing and communities, Helen Morgan, said: The Prime Minister should see for himself the devastation caused by these floods.

Peoples homes and businesses have been ruined yet again.

The period between July and December last year was the wettest on record dating back to 1890, according to the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH).

Since September, the start of the storm year, there have been eight named storms to hit the UK, which is the highest number in a season to be named by the Met Office since it began naming them in 2015.

This has turned the country into what hydrologist Professor Hannah Cloke, from the University of Reading, described as a sopping wet sponge.
Farmers are likely to see huge losses after a relentless season of storms, one flood-hit grower has said, as the National Farmers Union (NFU) said there should be compensation for those holding flood water in their fields.

Nottinghamshire County Council has declared a major incident, and the level of the River Trent has reached some of its highest points since 2000, according to the Environment Agencys flood director Caroline Douglass.

Farms across England, as well as more than 1,000 homes, have been affected, and the NFU is calling on the Government to make changes to flood defences and support schemes to better protect rural businesses.

Peter Gadd, a farmer in Nottinghamshire and chairman of the NFUs crops board in the East Midlands, said Storm Babet and Storm Ciaran in the autumn hit within 10 days of him having sown a crop of wheat and barley  40% of which washed away before emerging from seed.

He believes he has lost about 14,000 to 15,000 in the current floods, though he can only tally the total once the water has cleared, for which he will receive no compensation or insurance payout.

On the south side of Nottingham there are huge areas of land now under water and some of those areas will have three or four feet of water in them, he told the PA news agency.

Now all that waters got to get away, and many of those ponded areas will have growing crops underneath them at the moment.

So its going to be quite a while yet before it dries up until we know what weve actually lost. But as an absolute minimum, theres going to be huge losses.

Weve just got to see what we can retrieve in the spring, but many of the crops that have been sown and those that were unharvested that are now under water will not be retrievable.

Flooding from the River Trent has also affected houses (Callum Parke/PA)

Mr Gadd said that one of the reasons his area floods is that the Environment Agency is not maintaining the rivers properly and is allowing too much silt to build up.

He said officials are generally apathetic about river maintenance, which could end up jeopardising the nations food security.

A Defra spokesman said: We are acutely aware of the impact extreme weather can have on the farming community, who work tirelessly to provide public goods and protect nature.

Since 2015, we have protected over 700,000 acres of agricultural land from the impacts of flooding and are also investing 5.2 billion to better protect communities from flooding and coastal erosion, including those who live in rural areas.

Landowners are entitled to compensation for losses and damages as a result of temporary flood storage areas and we encourage farmers to take up new flood mitigation options that are available to them.

Since September, the start of the storm year, eight named storms have hit the UK, the highest number in a season since the Met Office began naming them in 2015.

They have turned the country into what hydrologist Professor Hannah Cloke of the University of Reading described as a sopping wet sponge.

Heavy rainfall is causing river levels to rise in some parts of the country  Please stay away from swollen rivers, as the current can be strong enough to sweep you off your feet. Stay safe and sign up for alerts: https://t.co/fEmOrgjEkn pic.twitter.com/OVXZlH9Pk7  Environment Agency (@EnvAgency) January 5, 2024

Data from the Environment Agency shows almost every river in England to be exceptionally high, with some rivers reaching their highest flow on record, such as the River Itchen in Southampton, which had a flow double its previous record in December.

Debbie Wilkins, a farmer in Gloucestershire, has decided it is too risky to grow crops in her fields alongside the River Severn.

Instead, she leaves them to work as floodplains, which she said stores water upstream that would otherwise pass through urban areas and put properties at risk, and provides a habitat for wildlife.

She said: Probably about a third of the farm, about 300 acres, is flood plains and thats all under water at the moment.

But those are flood plain meadows and they do flood regularly. I think it used to be every four or five years and now its two or three times a year, so it seems to be increasing.

Theyre species-rich grassland that we cut hay from in the summer and graze cattle in after, so theyre quite resilient because of that.

Ms Wilkins hopes the new support measures announced by the Government on Thursday, designed to reward farmers for maintaining habitats, will make her method more profitable and said it could encourage other farmers growing crops in flood plains to follow suit.
Disgraced British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell claimed she never introduced Prince Andrew to Jeffrey Epstein in an interview under oath, court documents have revealed.

The third tranche of files connected with paedophile financier Epstein were published on Friday, including the video-taped interview with Maxwell in April 2016.

In the video-taped evidence, known in the US as a deposition, the socialite described Epstein victim Virginia Giuffres alleged meetings with the Duke of York as a tissue of lies.

Epstein was found dead while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges (US Department of Justice/PA)

Andrew stepped down from public life after the furore over his friendship with Epstein, and paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault case with Ms Giuffre, a woman he claimed never to have met.

He was cast out of the working monarchy and no longer uses his HRH style after Ms Giuffre, who was trafficked by Epstein, accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was 17.

The duke strenuously denies any wrongdoing.

A US judge ordered hundreds of documents to be unsealed as part of Ms Giuffres previously settled civil claim against Maxwell, which was filed in 2015.

In an exchange with Ms Giuffres lawyer Sigrid McCawley during her deposition, Maxwell was first asked: Do you know Prince Andrew?

I do, she replied.

Ms McCawley continued: How long have you known him?

Maxwell said: A very long time.

The lawyer then asked Since you were a child?

I really  its so long, its really a long time ago. I just dont recall, Maxwell said.

Questioned if she remembered how she first met him, the convicted sex trafficker said: No I do not.

Ms McCawley then asked: Did you introduce him to Jeffrey?

Maxwell responded: That would be another of Virginias lies and the lies you perpetrate.

I never introduced Prince Andrew to Jeffrey Epstein at any time ever, so just add that the (sic) to long list of lies.

Ms McCawley continued: Did Jeffrey know Prince Andrew?

Maxwell replied: Clearly he knew him.

Pressed on whether she knew how Andrew met Epstein, Maxwell said: I do not know (sic) Jeffrey met Prince Andrew.

Andrew stepped down from public life after the furore over his friendship with Epstein (PA)

What I do know is that I did not introduce them.

That is one of the many lies. Are we tallying all the lies?

Ms McCawley went on: Do you know when Jeffrey met Prince Andrew?

Maxwell said: I do not know when Jeffrey met Prince Andrew.

Ms McCawley then asked: Did you ever introduce Prince Andrew to any girls under the age of 18 who were not friends of your children?

The socialite responded: I have not introduced Prince Andrew to anyone that I am aware of other than friends of mine who have kids under that age that he may have met socially through me.

Questioned on whether she introduced the duke to Ms Giuffre in London, Maxwell said: I understand her story about London but, again, her tissue of lies is extremely hard to pick apart what is true and what isnt.

Actually I wouldnt recollect her at all but for her tissue stories about this situation.

Ms McCawley asked again: So did you ever introduce Prince Andrew to Virginia in London?

I have no recollection, Maxwell replied.

Maxwell described Ms Giuffres alleged encounters with Andrew as a tissue of lies (US Department of Justice/PA)

The Metropolitan Police have said officers are not investigating allegations made against the duke.

Also included in the third tranche of documents were provisional search terms used by lawyers to find relevant files on Maxwells computers.

Amongst the terms on a list were Andrew, Prince, Royal PA, Kensington, Duke and York.

Epstein was found dead in his cell at a federal jail in Manhattan, New York, in August 2019 while he awaited trial on sex-trafficking charges. The death was ruled a suicide.

Maxwell has been imprisoned since July 2020 despite attempts by her defence counsel to have her released on bail.

She was sentenced to 20 years in prison at the federal court in the Southern District of New York in June 2022.

The socialite indicated her desire to appeal shortly after her conviction, with her lawyers claiming victims had faded, distorted and motivated memories.

Her appeal is scheduled to be heard in November next year.
Ghislaine Maxwell claimed she never introduced Prince Andrew to Jeffrey Epstein in an interview under oath, newly released documents show.

The disgraced British socialite, in a video-taped interview in April 2016, known in the US as a deposition, described Epstein victim Virginia Giuffres alleged meetings with the Duke of York as a tissue of lies.

Andrew stepped down from public life after the furore over his friendship with the paedophile financier, and paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault case with Ms Giuffre, a woman he claimed never to have met.

Maxwell told Ms Giuffres lawyer Sigrid McCawley that she had known Andrew a very long time.

Questioned if she remembered how she first met him, the convicted sex trafficker said: No I do not.

The Duke of York strenuously denies any wrongdoing (Joe Giddens/PA)

Ms McCawley then asked: Did you introduce him to Jeffrey?

Maxwell responded: That would be another of Virginias lies and the lies you perpetrate.

I never introduced Prince Andrew to Jeffrey Epstein at any time ever, so just add that the (sic) to long list of lies.

Ms McCawley continued: Did Jeffrey know Prince Andrew?

Maxwell replied: Clearly he knew him.

Pressed on whether she knew how Andrew met Epstein, Maxwell said: I do not know (sic) Jeffrey met Prince Andrew.

What I do know is that I did not introduce them.

That is one of the many lies. Are we tallying all the lies?

Ghislaine Maxwell with Jeffrey Epstein in a picture shown to the court during the sex-trafficking trial of Maxwell (US Department of Justice/{PA)

Ms McCawley went on: Do you know when Jeffrey met Prince Andrew?

Maxwell said: I do not know when Jeffrey met Prince Andrew.

Ms McCawley then asked: Did you ever introduce Prince Andrew to any girls under the age of 18 who were not friends of your children?

The socialite responded: I have not introduced Prince Andrew to anyone that I am aware of other than friends of mine who have kids under that age that he may have met socially through me.

Questioned on whether she introduced the duke to Ms Giuffre in London, Maxwell said: I understand her story about London but, again, her tissue of lies is extremely hard to pick apart what is true and what isnt.

Actually I wouldnt recollect her at all but for her tissue stories about this situation.

Ms McCawley asked again: So did you ever introduce Prince Andrew to Virginia in London?

I have no recollection, Maxwell replied.

Epstein was found dead in his cell at a federal jail in Manhattan, New York, in August 2019 while he awaited trial on sex-trafficking charges. The death was ruled a suicide.

Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison in New York in June 2022 after being found guilty of helping recruit his underage victims.
Huge amount of flooding across parts of England, says minister

A huge amount of flooding has been seen across parts of England, the floods minister has said, as temperatures look set to plummet at the weekend.

Hundreds of flood warnings and alerts remained in place on Friday after more than 1,000 properties across England were flooded this week, with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issuing a cold weather alert from Saturday.

The Environment Agency said significant river flooding impacts were expected on Friday and Saturday across parts of the Midlands on the River Trent and in Gloucester.

It said areas of the South West on the River Avon would also be affected, adding that impacts are likely across much of England over the next five days because the ground is completely saturated.

Speaking to the media on the banks of the Trent in Nottingham on Friday afternoon, floods minister Robbie Moore said the Government had absolutely provided enough money for flood prevention.

The Keighley MP said: In those hard-hit areas weve experienced a huge amount of flooding, a huge amount of rain, not only here in Nottinghamshire but down in the Severn Valley in Gloucestershire, as well.

Asked if there would be compensation for people affected by the flooding, Mr Moore said the Government was absolutely looking at what measures we can put in place.

He added that the amount of funding for flood resilience plans had been doubled from 2.6 billion to 5.2 billion.

Data from the Environment Agency shows almost every river in England to be exceptionally high with some rivers reaching their highest flow on record, such as the River Itchen in Southampton which saw a flow double its previous record in December.

Caroline Douglass, the agencys flood director, said the Trent has been at some of the highest levels weve seen in 24 years.

(PA Graphics)

She told BBC Breakfast more than 1,000 properties have been flooded across England this week, with that figure likely to rise.

She added: Over November and December, following Storm Babet and Storm Ciaran, the ground was incredibly saturated right across the country, particularly in the east.

But also thats just been topped up over the pre-Christmas period. That rainfall from this week has just added to that, so theres really nowhere for the water to go.

The ground is completely saturated so in that situation we get more flooding and greater impacts than weve seen and probably in areas where people arent used to.

An Environment Agency spokeswoman said the East Midlands was feeling the effects of climate change, and that greater flood resilience is needed across the country.

Alex McDonald, speaking near the River Trent in Nottingham, told the PA news agency: Were seeing a large number of big events, and this winter has been particularly bad since October onwards.

We are feeling the effects of climate change in the East Midlands, and as a nation we need to be more resilient to flooding.

It comes as the UKHSA issued a yellow cold weather alert from 9am on Saturday until 12pm on January 12.

Floodwater surrounds houses in Summer Way, Radcliffe-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire (Callum Parke/PA)

The Met Office said the cold snap will be caused by high pressure building over the UK into next week, with drivers urged to be cautious of ice.

It said temperatures will drop to minus 4C in parts of rural south-west England on Saturday night and minus 6C in rural areas along the Welsh border in Shropshire and north Herefordshire on Sunday night.

The UKHSA said: A brisk easterly wind developing across the south over the weekend will make it feel much colder, with the added wind chill.

Temperatures are likely to be a few degrees below average, across much of the UK, especially overnight, with more widespread frosts than of late.

Ice is likely to be an issue for many given the very wet ground in most areas. It is probable this cold spell may last well into the following week.

Met Office spokesman Oli Claydon said conditions were turning considerably drier, adding that the weather service had no rain warnings issued for the first time in quite a while.

Mr Claydon told the PA news agency: Were heading to a more settled spell of weather, which will be very welcome for many people across the UK after whats been a very wet start to 2024.

The Shipbuilders of Port Glasgow sculpture in Coronation Park, Inverclyde, is reflected in large puddles after heavy downpours (Jane Barlow/PA)

He said things will turn a bit chillier on Monday because of an easterly flow of cold air across the southern half of the UK, adding that the breezy conditions will make it feel really cold.

South Western Railway services were disrupted on Friday across its entire network, with major issues on its west of England routes.

The operator said: Whilst we expect water levels to drop and most of the network to reopen today, we will not be able to operate services between Yeovil Junction and Exeter because of a landslip near Crewkerne.

Great Western Railway also warned of significant disruption to its services.

Flooding in Wellingborough was caused by rising levels on the River Nene (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

In a travel warning to passengers, the operator said: Due to the flooding a significantly reduced level of service can only be provided and will be subject to further short-notice cancellations throughout the day.

Customers are advised to travel as early as possible or consider delaying their journey.

A serious incident near Reading last night, where police closed the railway for several hours, has left trains and crew in the wrong place for the start of service, which alongside localised flooding, continues to hamper our ability to run trains.

It comes after disruption caused by strong winds and rain from Storm Henk earlier in the week, which left the ground saturated and more prone to flooding.

Nottinghamshire County Council declared a major incident on Thursday due to rising levels along the River Trent and several residents of Radcliffe Residential Park, an estate of static caravans for the over-55s just to the east of the city, were evacuated.

Parts of southern England including Gloucestershire were submerged  with some riverside areas of Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire also underwater on Friday.

In east London, around 50 people were led to safety by firefighters overnight after a canal burst its banks in Hackney Wick, causing flooding in an area of around 10 acres.

The River Great Ouse in Bedford town centre, which has burst its banks following heavy rainfall (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Erin Lawlor, 54, an artist with a studio in Hackney Wick, said she had to wade into water to save her belongings after knee-high water flooded the area around the building.

She told the PA news agency: I got a call shortly after 10pm last night from a neighbour telling me that our studio building was flooding.

By the time I arrived, the emergency services had cordoned off the area but we were able to wade in and salvage what we could.

The water was knee-high in front of the building, and at least five or six inches in the corridors.

Rishi Sunak insisted that people should be reassured by the response to flooding, as opposition parties accused ministers of failing to take the danger seriously with the Prime Minister urged to visit affected areas.

Labour accused the Government of being asleep at the wheel over flood warnings and said Mr Sunak should convene a Cobra-style taskforce to protect homes from further damage.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer vowed to make flood defences fit for purpose, writing on social media that peoples lives shouldnt be upended by extreme rain.

Flooding affected Mill Lane between St Neots and Little Paxton, Cambridgeshire, following heavy rainfall (James Beech/PA)

The Liberal Democrats said Mr Sunak should visit areas affected by flooding.

The partys spokeswoman for housing and communities, Helen Morgan, said: The Prime Minister should see for himself the devastation caused by these floods.
Disgraced British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell claimed a journalist helped Virginia Giuffre concoct sexual assault allegations against the Duke of York, court documents have revealed.

A US judge ordered hundreds of documents to be unsealed as part of Ms Giuffres previously settled civil claim against Maxwell, which was filed in 2015.

In one document from 2016, which was released on Thursday, Maxwells lawyers made submissions that journalist Sharon Churcher should be compelled to give evidence as part of the case.

The socialites legal team claimed Ms Churcher was aware the allegations made by Ms Giuffre against Prince Andrew were false and said she helped manufacture some of the stories that have been denied.

Andrew stepped down from public life after the furore over his friendship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein and paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault case with Ms Giuffre, a woman he claimed never to have met.

The duke was cast out of the working monarchy and no longer uses his HRH style after Ms Giuffre, who was trafficked by Epstein, accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was 17.

He strenuously denies any wrongdoing.

The document showed that Maxwells legal team accused Ms Churcher, who was working for the Mail on Sunday, of explaining to Ms Giuffre how she can corroborate a story to tell the FBI  that she was given to Prince Andrew.

Her legal team also alleged that a handwritten diary by Ms Giuffre, which contained information about her alleged encounter with Andrew, was a completely fabricated document.

So far just over 40 out of around 250 documents have been released in connection with the case.
Kate Garraway has been hailed for helping to shine a light on the selfless care many family members give to their loved ones across the UK and the very real challenges they face.

The Good Morning Britain (GMB) presenter had been open about her familys journey after her husband Derek Draper fell seriously ill with Covid-19 in March 2020.

He was left with long-lasting damage to his organs and in need of daily care.

Garraway created two documentaries detailing her familys life as Draper fought long-term illness, with both programmes winning a National Television Award in the authored documentary category.

Kate Garraway, with her husband Derek Draper and her parents after being made an MBE (Andrew Matthews/PA)

She also wrote two books, The Power Of Hope and The Strength Of Love: Embracing An Uncertain Future With Resilience And Optimism.

She has been praised for sharing her familys experience.

Carers Trust chief executive Kirsty McHugh, said: Were saddened to hear the news about Derek Drapers death and our thoughts go out to his family.

Dereks illness and Kate Garraways devoted care for him touched the hearts of so many of us.

By sharing her own experience, Kate shone a light on the selfless care that millions of family members give to their loved ones across the UK.

All too often, unpaid carers are hidden away but Kate laid bare the very real challenges so many families face and the support they need.

Helen Walker, chief executive at Carers UK, said Garraway embodied the very personal and difficult journey that millions of families face up and down the country  caring behind closed doors  for someone that they love with a long-term illness or disability, or who are elderly and need support.

She added: There are a staggering 5.7 million carers in the UK who continue to face challenges like these.

Many will have hugely identified with Kates experiences and admired her bravery and determination in raising awareness of caring and also the support that families desperately need.

Garraway, in an interview last year, acknowledged she has been in a luckier position financially compared with many other carers, and said she therefore wanted to speak up on their behalf.

On the financial challenges caring for a loved one can present, she said the costs go through the roof.

She told the Sun it had been tough and described the changes to their lives, including having to take long periods off work when her husband first became ill, adding and of course it affects the overall income for the family as he can no longer work.

She said: We had to wind up the business we had together, and also Ive had to take on assistants so that I can focus on Derek when not on air.

But she said she was still in an incredibly lucky position compared to so many, which is why I want to speak up now on behalf of everyone else.

Garraway was made an MBE in the 2022 New Year Honours, but said this was for services to broadcasting, journalism and charity, rather than her care for her husband.

She said she had received some negative comments about the honour, saying there had been a few from people saying Why has she got this? I look after my loved one.

She added: I havent got it for looking after Derek. It is for broadcasting and I think also charity work. But you know, theres lots of people that you feel deserve it more. So its a strange feeling.

Garraway has also been described as an important voice in highlighting the very real danger that a Covid infection poses.

The Long Covid SOS charity said it was deeply saddened by the news of Derek Drapers death.

Ondine Sherwood, the groups co-founder, said Garraway has been constantly by his side through her husbands illness, adding that she was a hugely important voice in the mainstream media highlighting the very real danger that a Covid infection poses.

Another group, Long Covid Support, tweeted: The spotlight you & Derek shone on how cruel an illness #COVID19 is, and your astounding strength, will never be forgotten.

The presenter confronted former health secretary Matt Hancock on how families who were affected by his coronavirus policies felt about his decision to compete on Im A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!

Garraway questioned him about his appearance on the reality show, for which he was paid 320,000, 10,000 of which he donated to charity.

She put it to him that he had gone to the Australian jungle to do the show and accept the money at a time when people still feel very raw about his handling of the pandemic.

She told him: I suppose the problem is that because you were health secretary and because at that time I couldnt visit Derek in hospital, he couldnt see his kids, thousands of others couldnt go and see the people they loved for various reasons, because they were following the guidelines.

It gives the impression that you still dont get why people are upset because that amount of money is vast to everybody.

Mr Hancock told her at the time: I get all that, I really do, and I really feel it.
Former lobbyist and political adviser Derek Draper was part of one of Britains most prominent media power couples with his marriage to TV presenter Kate Garraway.

The New Labour spin doctor reached great heights of influence in the 1990s but became best known for his involvement in the lobbygate scandal.

A former researcher for Blairite Peter Mandelson, Mr Draper became a director of lobbying firm GPC Market Access in 1996 and set up the New Labour organisation Progress with Liam Byrne, who went on to become an MP.

It was while working at GPC that Mr Draper was caught on tape boasting to an undercover journalist of his government connections.

Derek Draper in 1998 (Tony Harris/PA)

In one of the first sleaze scandals to hit Tony Blairs fledgling administration, he reportedly claimed: There are 17 people who count in this government, and to say I am intimate with all of them is the understatement of the century.

Mr Draper insisted he had done nothing wrong in the so-called cash for access scandal dubbed lobbygate but admitted he did have a big mouth.

The incident appeared to spell the end of any bigger political ambitions for the famously champagne-swilling New Labour stalwart and he travelled to the United States, where he trained as a psychotherapist.

In 2005, Mr Draper married Kate Garraway, the GMTV co-presenter who is now part of the Good Morning Britain team on ITV and appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2007 and Im A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! in November 2019.

Happy Anniversary to my beautiful, amazing wife @kategarraway. Best decision she ever made X pic.twitter.com/clNv83TM7W  Derek Draper (@derekdraper) September 10, 2019

In 2008 he returned to the Labour spotlight as the head of the website LabourList, a left-wing rival to online portals such as Conservative Home.

He hit the headlines again in 2009 and stepped down as editor of LabourList after email correspondence between him and Damian McBride, one of Gordon Browns key aides, was leaked.

In the emails, Mr McBride proposed a campaign of unfounded personal smears against senior Conservatives on a new blog called RedRag, an idea praised by Mr Draper as absolutely, totally brilliant.

In a resignation statement released to the Guardian, Mr Draper acknowledged that his continued presence at LabourList  which was originally set up to discuss serious policy ideas  was detracting from the website.

Kate Garraway with her family after the 2019 series of Im A Celebrity  Get Me Out Of Here! (Steve Parsons/PA)

I regret ever receiving the infamous email and I regret my stupid, hasty reply. I should have said straight away that the idea was wrong, he said.

I do ask people to remember that its contents were never published by me, or anyone else, involved in the Labour Party and they would never have seen the light of day were it not for someone hacking into my emails and placing them into the public domain.

Because of that, a silly idea ultimately destined for the trash can became a national scandal.

Mr Draper was once again consigned to the Labour wilderness and became chief executive of a leadership consultancy, compiling weekly emails summarising the best content for business and HR leaders.

In 2019 he announced he was resigning his Labour Party membership.

Mr Draper was among the first in the UK to fall seriously ill with Covid-19 and was admitted to an intensive care unit as the country entered lockdown in March 2020.

He was placed in an induced coma and it was not until more than a year later, in April 2021, that he was able to return home to his family.

His case attracted much media attention, partly because of his marriage to Garraway, who produced an award-winning documentary about his illness, and partly because of the length of his hospital stay.

Some media reported that he had become the nations longest-suffering patient after spending 13 months in hospital.

Despite now being free of the virus, Mr Draper had suffered long-lasting damage to his organs and required daily care at home.

In early July 2022, Garraway disclosed he had been readmitted to hospital and later that month dropped out of presenting Good Morning Britain as his condition worsened.

The February following, the ITV series Kate Garraway: Caring for Derek aired on ITV, and documented Drapers arrival home from the hospital while also following Garraway as she navigated the myriad challenges of the social care system and its complexities.

Months later, the couple were invited to be Sir Elton Johns guests of honour at his Farewell Yellow Brick Road concert at Londons O2 Arena in the April.

Draper was photographed by his wifes side in June, despite being in and out of hospital, when she collected her MBE from the Prince of Wales in an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle.

In December, The Sun reported Draper had suffered a massive heart attack and said Garraway was keeping a 24/7 vigil by his bedside.

Draper had two children with Garraway  a son, William, and a daughter, Darcey.
Products featured in this Yahoo article are selected by our shopping writers. We will earn a commission from purchases made via links in this article. Pricing and availability are subject to change.

Quick, snap it up while it's only 13. (John Lewis / Yahoo Life UK)

As far as we're concerned, animal print is the ultimate wardrobe staple that stands the test of time.

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The beautiful bespoke animal print makes a stylish statement. (John Lewis & Partners)

The elastication and tie at the back gives it a flattering silhouette. (John Lewis & Partners)

The subtle slit means it's comfortable and easy to move in. (John Lewis & Partners)

13 45 at John Lewis

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This stunning skirt features the same bespoke animal print. (John Lewis & Partners)

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This article was originally published on Yahoo Life UK.
MANZINI  The Luke Commission turns back over 200 patients seeking medical treatment on a daily basis.

After suspending outpatient department (OPD) services for 17 days between December 22, 2023 and January 7, 2024, TLC will open the department one day per week from January 8, 2024.

This was revealed by Lindani Sifundza, the Director of Public Relations at TLC, yesterday. TLC is a healthcare facility which attends to about 300 000 emaSwati annually. Since October 2023, it started downscaling its operations due to financial challenges. Despite serving as a referral hospital and carrying a large share of the national healthcare framework, Sifundza said TLC received less than two per cent of the resources allocated to the Ministry of Health.

Deteriorated

He said the long-standing mismatch between demand and resources had taken a great toll on them and the financial situation of the facility had deteriorated. He highlighted that since October 2023, when they started to downscale operations, they continued to attend to 15 000 patients per month.

However, in December 2023, the facilitys downscaling of operations went even further, as it announced the closure of OPD services at the Miracle Campus (Sidvokodvo) and the Matsapha Clinic, between December 22, 2023 and January 7, 2024.

It continued with funded programmes, whereby they invited eligible patients via text messages or phone calls. Some of the funded programmes were specialty care and snakebites. Also, the facility continued with admissions for intensive care unit (ICU), paediatric, labour services, while aggressively working to secure funds to support these programmes.

On top of that, it also reduced staff members significantly, through layoffs and contract non-renewals. In fact, on December 13, 2023, about 160 staff members were affected, as they were placed on layoffs, while some had their contracts not renewed. It also cut-off the much-loved tradition of providing Christmas food hampers for staff members.

Suspended

However, the director of public relations said, since they were turning back over 200 patents on a daily basis as the OPD services were suspended, they had thought of means to prioritise their clients. As a result, he said from January 8, 2024, they would open the OPD, at the Miracle Campus, but limit its operations to a day per week. We will also limit Matsapha Clinic outpatient department operations to a day per week, starting from January 9, 2024, the director of public relations said.

He also highlighted that recently, they restructured and reposted as many staff as possible, to funded or enterprise units, including digital chain solutions and renewable energy projects, among others. He said they prayed that their demonstrated commitment to efficiency, technology, digital solutions, accountability, transparency and integrity would one day be scaled nationally and that they would be able to continue to serve the nation indirectly, through the focus areas outlined above.

Again, he said their heart continued to be with the nation in the deepest of ways. He added that while their first love was to deliver compassionate, comprehensive healthcare via direct service delivery, they would never stop dreaming for the nation. He added that many of these dreams were in various stages of development. Therefore, they were looking forward to sharing the dreams with the nation in due course.

To Their Majesties, he said they would forever be grateful to them for gracing the facility with their presence at the Miracle Campus in 2023 (during official opening). He said after 18 years of serving the nation, Their Majesties visit was definitely the highlight of their year and a day they would never forget. You (Their Majesties) have blessed us and we believe their blessing, along with those from the Lord, will carry us through this difficult season, the director of public relations said.

Challenges

Since the institution started facing financial challenges, it had been asking government to intervene and recently, the Minister of Health, Mduduzi Matsebula, toured the Miracle Campus at Sidvokodvo and he committed that, as an administration of the country, they would support TLC.

It is worth highlighting that the downscaling of services at TLC saw the nearest referral healthcare facility; Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospitals bed occupancy increasing by at least 10 per cent so far. This was revealed by Eswatini Nazarene Health Institution (ENHI) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mazwi Mavuso, when the Minister of Health, Matsebula, visited the RFM Hospital recently.

The CEO said in the past three months, their bed occupancy at RFM Hospital was at 42 per cent. However, he said currently it was at 52 per cent, which showed an increase of 10 per cent. TLCs hotline is available 24/7 every day on 7613 8814.
A serving Metropolitan Police officer has denied a charge of causing a male to engage in penetrative sexual activity, which he allegedly committed 10 years ago.

Sergeant Elliot Butler, 31, of Romford, Essex, who is attached to the Central East Command Unit, spoke to confirm his name and enter a plea when he appeared in the dock at Southwark Crown Court on Friday.

He has also been charged with attempted rape but has yet to enter a plea.

The alleged offences are said to have taken place between December 31 2012 and January 3 2013 when he was a Met special constable.

Butler was conditionally bailed to next appear at Southwark Crown Court on March 4.

A trial date was set for June 23 2025.
There were no security-related deaths in Northern Ireland in a calendar year for the first time since police records began in 1969, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has said.

However, the forces annual security statistics for 2023 show a rise in paramilitary activity including shootings, bombings and assaults.

Amnesty International said the statistics represent a huge number of lives ruined and communities living in fear due to terrorist activity.

The PSNIs Security Situation Statistics covering the 12 month period 1st January 2023 to 31st December 2023 have been published today. The publication is available on the @PoliceServiceNIwebsite at https://t.co/l9aU89SuSu pic.twitter.com/athohe1siL  NISRA (@NISRA) January 5, 2024

Recording deaths directly attributed to terrorism or security force activity, the PSNI bulletin said: There were no security-related deaths during the last 12-month period, compared to one during the previous 12 months.

This is the first calendar year since records began in 1969 that there has not been a security-related death.

The bulletin said there were 33 shooting incidents during 2023, compared with 29 in the previous 12 months.

The statistics include the shooting of senior PSNI detective John Caldwell by dissident republicans in Co Tyrone in February 2023.

There were 12 shooting incidents in Belfast, nine in Londonderry and Strabane and seven in Ards and North Down.

Detective Chief Superintendent John Caldwell (Brian Lawless/PA)

The PSNI bulletin said there were eight bombing incidents in 2023, compared with five in 2022.

It said there were 31 casualties of paramilitary-style assaults in 2023, compared to 25 the previous year. Belfast had the greatest number of assaults with 12, followed by Mid and East Antrim with seven.

All 31 victims of paramilitary-style assaults during the 12-month period were aged 18 or above.

There were 19 casualties of paramilitary-style shootings during 2023, compared with eight in 2022.

The statistics show that the PSNI found 20 firearms during 2023 and recovered 3.22kg of explosives and 1,013 rounds of ammunition.

There were 104 security-related arrests under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000 in 2023, compared with 110 during the previous 12 months.

Patrick Corrigan (Amnesty International/PA)

There were 21 people charged with terrorism offences.

Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty Internationals Northern Ireland director, said: These latest police figures show a worrying increase in paramilitary activity including shootings, bombings and assaults.

Every single statistic represents a violation of peoples right to live lives free from violence.

So-called paramilitary-style beatings and shootings seem to have become accepted as a fact of life here, but they are nothing less than a brutal abuse of human rights which can never be acceptable.

What the figures dont show is the huge number of lives ruined and communities living in fear across Northern Ireland. Nor do they take account of the increasing number of racist and sectarian attacks carried out by these violent groups.

These attacks must stop and those responsible must be held to account before the law.
A private spacecraft carrying an instrument built by UK scientists is due to make history as it begins its journey to the moon.

Built by US space company Astrobiotic, the Peregrine Mission One (PM1) is set to become the first private probe to land on the lunar surface.

It is also slated to be one of the first US moon landings since the final mission of the Apollo programme  Apollo 17  more than 50 years ago.

Onboard will be an instrument known as the Peregrine Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer (PITMS), which was developed in the UK by scientists from The Open University (OU) and the Science Technology Facilities Council (STFC) RAL Space  the UKs national space lab.

(PA Graphics)

The device will analyse the thin lunar atmosphere as well as find out more about how water might be moving around the moon.

For many years, scientists believed the moon was bone dry and any water detected in the samples from Apollo missions were thought to be contamination from Earth.

However, more recent missions have revealed the presence of water and, in 2020, Nasa confirmed the presence of water molecules in sunlit areas of the moon.

Dr Simeon Barber, of The Open University, said: Various new data in the last decade has overturned the Apollo-era notion of the moon as a bone-dry place.

We have seen hints of ice at the cold lunar poles, and suggestions of water (or the related hydroxyl molecule) globally, as well as new analyses of Apollo samples showing small pockets of water within the lunar rock itself.

Understanding the lunar water cycle is crucial for future exploration of the moon.

Water is a key resource for sustaining human presence on the moon  providing drinking water as well as supporting various industrial processes.

Dr Barber added: We are interested in how these water molecules travel through the lunar exosphere (atmosphere) under the influence of day-night temperature cycles, eventually reaching the super cold polar regions where they accumulate slowly as frost or ice layers.

Moon ready  Our @NASA science is safely stored in @Astrobotics Peregrine lunar lander and @ULALaunch's Vulcan rocket ahead of launch on Jan. 8 as part of the agency's Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative @NASAArtemis program. Check out our full coverage plans: pic.twitter.com/xn9eZblWZK  NASA's Kennedy Space Center (@NASAKennedy) January 2, 2024

This transport through the exosphere is the link connecting the various sources of water, and their eventual fate locked up in polar cold traps.

PITMS will measure the composition and density of the lunar exosphere through the lunar day, allowing us to deduce the processes at play on the moon today, and by extension, throughout the moons history and on other similar planetary bodies.

The launch window for the Peregrine lander opens on January 8 at 7.18am UK time.

The spacecraft will blast off aboard a Vulcan Centaur rocket, built by US aerospace manufacturer United Launch Alliance, from Cape Canaveral in Florida.

It is part of Nasas Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative, which aims to involve commercial companies in the exploration of the moon.

The initiative, meanwhile, is part of Nasas broader Artemis programme, which plans to return humans to the moon.

Libby Jackson, head of space exploration at the UK Space Agency  which provided 14 million in funding to develop the instrument through its European Space Agency membership, said: The Peregrine lunar lander will help pave the way for further exploration of our solar system.

Dr Simeon Barber of The Open University, who developed the PITMS instrument (The Open University)

Witnessing the first instrument from the UK, and indeed Europe, launch to the moon is a hugely exciting moment.

We are looking forward to seeing Peregrine safely on the surface and the return of important data from PITMS to help unlock the secrets of water on the moon.

Its fantastic to see our skilled UK experts at the heart of an international mission that will support future long-term presence in space.

Chris Howe, production and software group leader at STFC RAL Space, said: The utilisation of the moons water could prove vital for future human endeavours in space, so were incredibly proud to have had the opportunity to help develop PITMS and are delighted to see it safely on its way.

Assuming it launches on January 8, officials say the spacecraft could attempt a lunar landing on February 23.

Its destination is an area in the Gruithuisen Domes, a series of volcanic domes named after the German astronomer Franz von Gruithuisen.

Once its on the surface, the Peregrine lander is designed to operate for roughly two weeks  or one lunar day.

Mr Howe said: The technology from PITMS will now help underpin future missions, such as the Rosalind Franklin Rover, so whilst PITMS will only operate for one lunar day on the moon, its legacy will be felt for years.

Science and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan said: The upcoming launch of the Peregrine Lunar Lander reflects the unwavering dedication of our brilliant British scientists, working hand-in-hand with international partners.

The first British science instrument set to touch the lunar surface will mark a pivotal moment for the UK space industry, and the beginning of an exciting journey in understanding how we can sustain a prolonged human presence on the moon.
An 18-year-old man has been charged with the murder of a suspected gunman during a shooting at a Dublin restaurant on Christmas Eve.

Two men appeared at Blanchardstown District Court charged in relation to Tristan Sherrys death at Brownes Steakhouse in Blanchardstown at around 8pm on December 24.

David Amah, 18, with an address in Hazel Grove, Portrane Road, Donabate, was charged with the murder of Mr Sherry.

Sergeant Emma Ryan told the court that Amah was charged on Thursday and made no reply after being cautioned.

A legal representative said Amah is not working and an application for legal aid was made.

Amah, who appeared in court wearing a grey tracksuit, was remanded in custody until his next appearance at Cloverhill District Court at 10.30am on January 9.

Wayne Deegan, 25, with an address in Linnetsfield Avenue, Phibblestown, was charged with assault causing harm to Mr Sherry, producing a knife in a way likely to intimidate or injure, and committing violent disorder.

Wayne Deegan arrives at Blanchardstown District Court (Brian Lawless/PA)

Garda Sean Kelly said Deegan was charged in the early hours of Friday morning and made no reply to the charges.

A legal representative said there was no application for bail but one might be made next Friday.

The court heard that Deegan, who appeared in court wearing a red jacket, is not working and receives a disability payment.

He is to appear in person at Cloverhill District Court at 10.30am on Friday January 12.

Mr Sherry, who was one of two suspected gunmen involved in the Christmas Eve shooting, suffered fatal injuries during the incident.

Jason Hennessy Snr, who received multiple gunshot wounds in the initial gun attack, died on Thursday.

A second murder investigation has been launched after his death.

Last week, Michael Andrecut, 22, of Sheephill Avenue, Corduff, appeared at a special sitting of the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin charged with Mr Sherrys murder.
A 17-year-old boy was killed when the car he was in crashed into a tree after failing to stop for police.

West Midlands Police said the crash, which happened moments after the car failed to stop for officers in Halesowen in the early hours of Friday, had been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

Two 16-year-olds who were also in the car have been arrested on suspicion of theft.

The scene in Coombs Road, Halesowen. (Matthew Cooper/PA)

Both were taken to hospital with injuries which are not believed to be serious.

A police statement said: The 17-year-old boy was in a car which failed to stop for police moments before hitting a tree, near the junction of Coombs Road and Amber Way, at just after 3.15am.

Sadly nothing could be done to save him and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The road has been closed while emergency services and collision reconstruction experts establish the circumstances of the collision.

The matter has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct as is normal procedure.

The police watchdog said the car hit a tree after a short pursuit (Matthew Cooper/PA)

A spokesman for the Independent Office for Police Conduct said the crash happened following a short pursuit involving West Midlands Police and Staffordshire Police.

The spokesman said: We are independently investigating the circumstances of a fatal collision following a police pursuit in the Halesowen area at around 3.15am today.

The driver was confirmed dead at the scene and two passengers were taken to hospital with injuries.

We declared an independent investigation at 5am. Our thoughts are with all those affected by this incident.

The watchdog added that it had sent investigators to the scene and was gathering evidence including police dash cam footage.
Scotlands First Minister has urged the UK Government to make clear to Israel its actions in Gaza have gone way beyond a legitimate response to the October 7 attack by Hamas.

In a statement on Friday, Humza Yousaf called for UK ministers to use their influence as a key Israeli ally to push for an end to hostilities.

Mr Yousaf also said in an interview later in the day that he is unsure if his wife Nadias family  who live in Gaza  are alive or not.

His call to the UK Government came as the UN claimed 1.9 million people in Gaza have been displaced as a result of the Israeli action.

Mr Yousaf also said UK ministers should make clear Israeli officials  including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu  must be held accountable for the deaths of civilians if the country does not immediately cease indiscriminate attacks in Gaza.

The First Minister condemned comments by Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, who said the country should encourage migration of Palestinians from Gaza, drawing international condemnation, including from the US.

Mr Yousaf said: The time has come for the UK Government to speak out forcefully and make it clear that Israeli action has gone way beyond a legitimate response to the appalling Hamas attack of October 7.

Hearing comments from an Israeli government minister urging displacement of Palestinians from Gaza is deeply disturbing and should be universally condemned.

Gaza is Occupied Palestinian Territory and will be part of a future Palestinian state  Gazans should not be subject to forcible displacement or relocation from Gaza.

The UK Government must make clear that Prime Minister Netanyahu, Israeli ministers and military commanders will be held accountable for the killing of thousands of innocent civilians and the deaths of tens of thousands more from starvation and disease if Israel does not immediately cease indiscriminate attacks and allow aid to enter Gaza on the scale needed to avert a humanitarian disaster.

Hamas leaders must also be held accountable for the appalling attacks against Israeli civilians on October 7.

Talk of a sustainable ceasefire from the UK Government has made no difference on the ground, as the situation has worsened for the people of Gaza.

The UK Government must use its voice and influence to stop the killing  directly with the Israeli government, and indirectly with the US.

The UK Government has been contacted for comment.

A Palestinian boy sits on the rubble of a building destroyed in an Israeli air strike on the southern Gaza Strip (Fatima Shbair/AP)

This week, the UK Government released a statement responding to Mr Smotrich, with a spokesman for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office saying: Gaza is Occupied Palestinian Territory and will be part of a future Palestinian state.

The UK firmly rejects any suggestion of the resettlement of Palestinians outside of Gaza.

We share the concerns of our allies and partners that Gazans should not be subject to forcible displacement or relocation from Gaza.

Mr Yousafs brother-in-law and his family live in Gaza. The First Ministers parents-in-law became trapped in the territory at the outbreak of hostilities following a trip to visit their relatives there.

Elizabeth and Maged El-Nakla, from Dundee, were eventually able to leave Gaza through the Rafah crossing.

Speaking to Bauer Radio on Friday, the First Minister said he is not sure of the safety of his wifes family.

My brother-in-law is still working in a hospital, Nadia still has her gran there, still has her step-mother there, still has many cousins, he said.

We havent heard from them since last night when they told us that Israeli tanks were just a few kilometres from them.

So I cant tell you in all truth whether or not Nadias family is alive this morning or not  well keep trying as we can.
Its the border bill that could cause a government shutdown.

Congressional Republicans are threatening to shut down the government if Democrats dont pass House Resolution  or H.R. 2  a sweeping bill that would drastically restrict the asylum process while establishing a vast new surveillance system to forcibly freeze regional migration and crack down on the existing undocumented population.

Republicans say that the bill, which passed the GOP-controlled House last year with no Democratic support, is necessary to stop hundreds of thousands of migrants  including thousands of unaccompanied children  from coming across the U.S. southern border.

And they have repeatedly sought to tie its passage to Democratic priorities  such as military aid to Ukraine or, this week, the passage of a federal budget.

Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and everybody else  they do not want to do the simple job of securing the border, and so now [is] when you have a massive catastrophe which they created, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) told Fox News.

The answer is simple, follow House Republicans H.R. 2. Its the plan, he added.

That has been a non-starter to Democrats.

We cant lose our values in this thing, Rep. Greg Meeks (N.Y.), the senior Democrat on the Foreign Affairs Committee, said last month.

We think that we need to deal with certain things on the border. We can work together to get certain things done. But not the draconian moves  a lack of human rights, etc.  that the Republicans want and put forward in H.R. 2. That is a red line.

Heres what the bill would do.

Purges the U.S. workforce of undocumented workers

Under H.R. 2, employers would be required to verify  under penalty of prison  that all their workers were documented.

The method for doing so would be the E-Verify system, a voluntary program set up under a 1996 immigration bill passed under then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) that cross-references an employees employment paperwork against the social security database.

That program is currently optional under federal law, although 22 states require all employers to use it, and several  including Michigan and Texas  require it for federal contractors.

Data on whether requiring the program successfully forces undocumented immigrants from the labor force is contradictory.

A Southern Economic Journal study suggested that states that used E-Verify saw wages fall for undocumented Mexican men  but more labor force participation by Mexican women, who may have had an easier time entering the informal economy as domestic workers.

The study also suggested that E-Verify meant more employment and higher wages among Mexican-born men who were U.S. citizens  though no significant benefits for white Americans.

And a study in the IZA Journal of Migration found that states with E-Verify laws had fewer less-educated prime-age immigrants from Mexico and Central America.

Thats a category the IZA authors correlated with undocumented migrants. But that association is imperfect  as is the assumption that those who fail to pass an E-Verify check are undocumented.

U.S. government records found that about 57,000 citizens were erroneously flagged as undocumented by the program  a number that the National Immigration Forum argues is a serious undercount, because recording such an error requires employers to know they can contest a false positive.

And a 2019 report by the libertarian Cato Institute found that E-Verify catches fewer than 1 in 6 undocumented workers.

Even catching that share could impact industries that rely on undocumented labor, however. That includes the agriculture industry, as about 40 percent of all farmworkers in the U.S. are undocumented, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

According to the USDA, that number is highest in California  and a reason Rep. John Duarte (R) was one of just two Republicans to vote against H.R. 2 in May.

The program would have been devastating for food producers or would have been devastating for farmworker families, he said.

Slashes asylum

Under existing law, immigrants who can make a credible claim of being refugees can stay in the U.S. while that claim is assessed  and if granted asylum, they are allowed to stay.

Republicans have long argued that this system suffers from rampant abuse, and they have argued that Biden administration asylum policies are tantamount to an open invitation to migrants.

As such, H.R. 2 makes it far harder for migrants to claim asylum and makes the process far more onerous for those able to stay long enough for that claim to be processed.

For example, the bill denies people the ability to claim asylum unless the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer who processes them believes their ultimate case would more likely than not be accepted, adds a $50 fee to make an asylum claim and bars migrants from making an asylum claim anywhere but at an official port of entry.

This last measure represents a paradox, because it is precisely the backups and closures at ports of entry that help push migrants to venture into the desert between official crossings.

The bill also provides for even those who are found to have credible claims to be held in detention for the years while their cases drag on  and requires the Department of Homeland Security to expand detention facilities to hold them.

When the bill passed the House, co-author Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) told reporters it was necessary to stem a tide of horrors.

He pointed to classrooms packed with non-English speaking students, hospitals flooded with illegals demanding uncompensated care, violent criminal cartels and gangs introduced into our communities  suppressed wages for working Americans, and the collapse of the social safety net that was supposed to take care of Americans in need.

These are not asylum-seekers, he said. Asylum is not an open invitation to bum rush our borders. But the Democrats have made it precisely that.

McClintock asserted that under the current system, you make a fraudulent asylum claim, you are guaranteed to receive immediate admission into our country, you get cash, a range of free goods and services, indefinite residency and indefinite work authorization.

In fact, under the Biden administration, the asylum system has already been significantly restricted. In August, a three-judge panel upheld the administrations asylum ban, which bars most migrants who have transitioned through a third country from applying for refugee status.

In a blistering dissent, Judge Lawrence VanDyke wrote that the Biden administrations immigration policy was not meaningfully different than the Trump administration ban that judges threw out  which representatives including McClintock have portrayed as belonging to a halcyon era of low immigration.

This new rule looks like the Trump administrations Port of Entry Rule and Transit Rule got together, had a baby, and then dolled it up in a stylish modern outfit, complete with a phone app, VanDyke wrote.

A historical example suggests the argument that asylum protections lead to an increase in undocumented immigrants is erroneous, argued David J. Bier of the Cato Institute.

In December, Bier noted that when the Biden administration lifted the COVID-era Title 42 restrictions, which included a ban on asylum applications, Republicans  and even some Democrats  forecast a huge increase in illegal migration.

They were wrong, he wrote. Instead, the number of crossings post-Title 42 fell by 15 percent  and covert crossings fell by half.

Ending Title 42 shows that security isnt at odds with accepting immigrants, Bier wrote in an op-ed for The Hill.

Politicians create a false choice between a secure and welcoming border. Americans deserve  and can have  both.

Build a wall while slashing immigrant services

H.R. 2 would require the federal government to wall off at least 900 miles of the U.S.s roughly 2000-mile border with Mexico, resuming all Trump-era plans that were interrupted by the former presidents electoral defeat in 2020.

To do so, the bill would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to waive all legal requirements  such as environmental review or historical site review  to get the wall built as quickly as possible.

It also would offer $110 million per year to the border forces being set up by states including Texas, often in open defiance of the federal government  with money that would in part be balanced out by defunding any nonprofits that provide services to undocumented immigrants.

And it would require CBP to solicit policy recommendations specifically from those negatively impacted by illegal immigration.

The bill would further ban asylum-seekers who do make it out of detention from using their DHS-provided identification to get on a plane.

And it would revive long-ignored language from a 2006 bill that would allow DHS to close the border entirely if it determines doing so is necessary to block undocumented crossings.

In 2006, the George W. Bush administration passed the Secure Fence Act, which gave the DHS a sky-high goal for maintaining operational control over the southern border.

According to that act, control means the prevention of all unlawful entries into the United States, including entries by terrorists, other unlawful aliens, instruments of terrorism, narcotics, and other contraband.

This has never come anywhere close to being accomplished.

Ends protections for migrant children

H.R. 2 would roll back many protections for minors created under the Flores settlement, which resulted from a 1993 court case and has since guided federal immigration law, aside from a brief hiatus under Trump.

It would require DHS to reestablish family detention, and once again allow families with children to be detained indefinitely.

The bill would also make it far harder for unaccompanied migrant children to claim special immigrant juvenile status  something youth can currently claim if they cant reunite with one or both parents, and which H.R. 2 would restrict to those whose parents have neglected or abandoned them.

It would also fast-track deportations of unaccompanied minors, lengthen the time that children can be held in adult facilities on the border from 3 to 30 days and bar states from creating licensing requirements for those border detention facilities  even in cases where state law should require such oversight.

And in a particularly stark move, H.R. 2 would require the Department of Health and Human Services to provide details on local sponsors of unaccompanied migrant children to DHS  and require DHS to begin deportation proceedings in 30 days if those adults are undocumented.

Doesnt address legal immigration

Perhaps just as notable as what H.R.2 includes, however, is what it doesnt: any path for citizenship, bolstering of pathways to legal immigration or alternative means of supporting a U.S. workforce  and particularly food system  that relies on undocumented labor.

In addition to not offering any expansion to the countrys sclerotic and backlogged legal immigration pathways, H.R. 2 wouldnt provide funding to expand the capacity of official ports of entry  the only place where it would allow asylum claims to be made.

And GOP lawmakers including Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) have pushed to cut DHSs funds if the Biden administration and the Senate dont pass H.R. 2.

This lack of action on legal immigration stands out as even key Republican constituencies like the Chamber of Commerce, which is part of a vast array of state and national business groups  from the National Milk Producers Federation and the National Restaurant Association to Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association  call for comprehensive reform of the legal immigration system.

Shortly before H.R. 2 passed the House in May, these groups launched the so-called Legal Immigration and Border Enforcement Reform This Year campaign, which directly linked the wave of undocumented crossings to failures in the legal immigration system.

Our legal immigration system has been outdated for decades, which has directly contributed to the significant security challenges on our southern border, the groups wrote Congress.

The groups pushed for significant increases to legal immigrations, expanded scopes for essential worker programs and new visa programs  and argued that the math on immigration restrictions simply doesnt add up.

Right now, we have over 8.8 million jobs open in the U.S. and 5.8 million unemployed workers, a Chamber report wrote.

The groups push roughly aligns with what President Biden himself proposed in a 2021 House bill that created an eight-year path to citizenship for millions of undocumented migrants, along with increases in visa quotas.

Momentum for such reforms is largely absent from the ongoing border talks in Washington, however. The Senate appears to be negotiating a deal that would accept broad swaths of the far-right Republican platform  like wall construction and drastic rollbacks in asylum rights  in return for aid to Ukraine.

Even given those apparent concessions, a wide array of House Republicans told CNN on Wednesday that it was H.R. 2 or nothing.

I will not help the Democrats try to improve [Bidens] dismal approval ratings. Im not going to do it. Why would I? [Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.)] has had H.R. 2 on his desk since July. And he did nothing with it, Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) told CNN.

Amid the acrimony, Bier of the Cato Institute wrote that bipartisan consensus has been reached on one key point: Powerful factions in both parties have bought into the idea that the solution to the current border situation is more restrictions.

But in fact, Biers asserted in December, those restrictions are the root of the problem. Nearly everything that politicians now use to justify immigration restriction can be traced to the restrictionist policies already in force.

In other words, immigration restrictionists create the problems and then demand ever more restrictions to fix them, he added.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Christian Oliver is an actor from movies like 'The Baby-Sitters Club,' 'Speed Racer,' 'Valkyrie' and more

Jerod Harris/Getty Christian Oliver in Los Angeles on Feb. 9, 2020

Four people, including actor Christian Oliver and his two young daughters, were killed after a plane they were in crashed in the Caribbean Thursday.

A statement from the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force on Thursday said the incident occurred off the island of Bequia. The small single-engine aircraft was traveling from the J.F. Mitchell Airport in Paget Farm to St. Lucia.

Moments after taking off, the aircraft experienced difficulties and plummeted into the ocean, said the local authorities. Fishermen and divers from Paget Farm went to the scene of the incident in their boats to render assistance. The SVG Coast Guard was informed and quickly traveled to Paget Farm, Bequia, to lead in the rescue efforts.

The three passengers aboard the aircraft were identified by authorities as Christian Klepser, 51, and his two daughters, Madita, 10, and Annik, 12. The pilot was identified as Robert Sachs, who also owned the plane.

Authorities said the bodies of the pilot and the passengers were recovered from the aircraft and waters by the SVG Coast Guard. The victims were later pronounced dead.

Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic Christian Oliver on March 1, 2018.

According to multiple outlets, including NBC News, Deadline and local outlet the St. Vincent Times, Klepser was an actor who also went by the name of Christian Oliver. His credits included the films The Baby-Sitters Club, The Good German,Speed Racer and Valkyrie.

On Jan. 1, Oliver wrote on Instagram with a beach photo: "Greetings from somewhere in paradise! To community and love 2024 her we come!"

In an Instagram post, actress Bai Ling shared a tribute to the late actor, where she shared how she had been told of the news of his death.

"Dear Christian Oliver @christianoliverofficial with tears in my eyes I cannot express the sorrow I felt when our direct Nick called me not long ago, that the plane he took had crashed, including his beautiful 2 daughters and the pilot had all passed! In the Caribbeans. He was having holidays," she wrote, in part, in her caption on Friday, alongside a photograph of herself with the actor.

"I just could not believe it is the truth, the last we worked filming in #hollywood was December 20th 2023, just right before Christmas," added Ling, 57.

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic Christian Oliver with Jessica Mazur and daughters at the Los Angeles premiere of 'Home' on March 22, 2015.

The RSVGPF added in its statement that the bodies of the victims were taken to a mortuary where post-mortem examinations will determine the cause of death.

As reported by the St. Vincent Times, several residents said they heard a sputtering sound made by the plane upon takeoff. It sounded like when a vehicle is struggling  you know, stalling, struggling for power to go up a hill, local resident Danroy Joseph told the outlet.

Jerod Harris/Getty

The RSVGPF also said in their Thursday statement that the investigation into the incident is ongoing, adding, The RSVGPF expresses condolences to all who are negatively affected by this tragic incident."

Reps listed for Oliver did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment Friday.

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Read the original article on People.
WASHINGTON  When he inked his 100th new judge in early 2023, President Joe Biden was outpacing former President Donald Trump at putting judicial nominees on the federal bench.

But as he enters his fourth year in office, Biden and the Democratic-led Senate have fallen behind the speed at which Trump and the GOP-controlled chamber were churning out new judges.

To date, Biden has secured 166 confirmed judges  126 on district courts, 39 on appeals courts and one on the Supreme Court.

At this juncture, Trump had secured 187 confirmed judges  133 on district courts, 50 on appeals courts, two on the Supreme Court and two on the U.S. Court of International Trade.

Biden will need to steer 68 more judges through the Senate this year to catch Trumps four-year total. Democrats have a 51-49 majority in the chamber and have enjoyed broad party unity behind Bidens nominees, even winning some Republican votes for many of them.

Russ Feingold, a former Democratic senator who is president of the liberal American Constitution Society, said the slowing pace is alarming and accused Democrats of taking their foot off the gas by allowing some current Biden nominees to carry over into 2024.

This is an unfortunate development because things were going very well for the first two years, Feingold said. Its pretty clear what happened this past year was the Senate simply did not prioritize judicial confirmations in 2023.

The relative slowdown is also a product of other factors, including fewer vacancies available to Biden than Trump enjoyed, a Senate courtesy for home-state senators that allows Republicans to block district court nominees, and some turbulence last year when an extended medical absence by the now-late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., prevented Democrats from voting judges out of committee without GOP support.

The deceleration calls into question whether Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer can meet his stated goal of surpassing Trumps total of 234 confirmed judges during Bidens first term. Filling the courts with diverse judges from an array of professional backgrounds has been a goal for Biden and Schumer after Trump stacked the judiciary with young conservatives  mostly white and male  who are positioned to shape American law for generations.

Currently, there are four vacancies on appeals courts and 55 on district courts, according to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. That number will grow with additional retirements.

Feingold said theres still time for Democrats to catch up and even surpass Trump. He advised them to expand the Senate calendar by holding more votes on Mondays and Fridays, cancel the August recess and use the lame-duck session to confirm more judges. He said Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin, D-Ill., should end the blue slip tradition that gives individual senators a veto over district court picks in their home states to prevent Republicans from keeping a slate of red-state judgeships open.

It is possible to do much better than Trump did in his re-election year, Feingold said. But its going to take a serious prioritization.

Bidens judges are uniquely diverse

One judge at a time, this Democratic Majority is making the federal bench look more like America," Schumer said in a statement to NBC News. "Of the more than 160 judges confirmed by the Democratic-led Senate under President Biden, two-thirds are women, and we have confirmed more women of color to the bench than any other presidents entire time in office. Weve had a good pace while having to balance other nominations, important legislation, and Republican obstruction. We will keep at it.

Liberal advocates, too, are celebrating the diversity of the 166 judges Biden has confirmed so far.

Eighty of them have worked as public defenders or civil rights lawyers, if not both, according to a recent report by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition of advocacy groups.

The report said that among Bidens judges, 108 are women, 110 are people of color and 70 are women of color. Three-fourths of Bidens circuit court judges, who have the last word on most matters of federal law, are women. Fifty-three of his judges are Black (including 33 Black women), 32 are Hispanic, 29 are Asian American and nine are openly LGBTQ.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said Bidens judges are radicals and lamented the unity among Senate Democrats in confirming them.

I have never seen judges as extreme as the Biden judicial nominees, Cruz told reporters. Ive joked that Biden did something I thought would be impossible: He made me long for Barack Obama because, by comparison, Obamas judicial nominees  which were extreme nominees, but, they appear relatively moderate compared to the partisan zealots that Biden keeps nominating and that Senate Democrats rubber-stamp.

An open question is whether Biden will appoint another Supreme Court justice. Currently, none of the nine justices is expected to retire in 2024. Trump appointed three justices in four years, due to an unusual mix: one retirement, one death and one inherited vacancy after then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refused to let former President Barack Obama fill an empty seat in his second term.

The contrast between Trumps and Bidens nominees highlights the stakes for the courts in the 2024 Senate and presidential elections  the latter of which is trending toward a rematch between the two men. If Biden wins re-election but loses the Senate, for instance, Republicans would effectively gain veto power over his judge picks. Schumer has promised to continue confirming Bidens judicial nominees in the new year and add to his total.

Its just enormous, Feingold said of the stakes of the election.
The leader of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, said in a televised speech on Friday the Iran-backed militant group and political party must respond to the killing of a Hamas official or face exposure to further operations by Israel's military.

He said Hezbollah "cannot be silent about a violation of this seriousness," referring to the airstrike in Beirut that killed Saleh al-Arouri on Tuesday. While Nasrallah, Lebanon state media and others blamed Israel for the attack, no party has yet claimed responsibility.

Arouri, who had a $5 million U.S. information bounty on his head, was believed by Israeli and U.S. national security officials to be involved in the funding and training of Hamas militants who carried out the Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and saw another 240 or so dragged back to the Gaza Strip and held hostage.

Israels air, ground and sea assault on Gaza has killed more than 22,400 people, two-thirds of them women and children, according to the territory's health ministry.

In a statement credited to Hezbollah earlier in the week, the group vowed not to let Arouris death go unpunished, characterizing it as a dangerous development in the course of the war between the enemy and the axis of resistance.

Nasrallah said about 670 operations have been carried out by Hezbollah along the border between Israel and Lebanon since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. He said the group's operations have "destroyed a large number of Israeli vehicles and tanks" and killed "a large number of Israeli troops." He did not provide any specific number. The Israeli military has said at least nine of its soldiers have died in the skirmishes along the country's northern border.

Palestinian demonstrators wave Hamas and their national flags during a protest against the killing of top Hamas official Saleh Arouri in Beirut, in the West Bank town of Arura, on Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. Arouri, the No. 2 figure in Hamas, was killed in an explosion blamed on Israel. He is the highest-ranked Hamas figure to be killed in the nearly three-month war between Israel and Hamas.

Developments:

 The Israeli military said it struck over 100 targets throughout Gaza on Friday, killing an unspecified number "of operatives" and destroying multiple "operational command centers and military sites."

 The Palestinian Red Crescent, an independent humanitarian aid group, said on X that its headquarters in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis was hit by an Israeli airstrike. The group also said Israeli forces aimed gunfire at one of its ambulances in Central Gaza. The crew inside the vehicle reportedly survived.

 At least six people were killed in an apparent Israeli airstrike on a home in Rafah overnight, according to the Associated Press. Rafah, the southern-most area of Gaza, is where over a million Palestinians have crowded after they fled from their homes. About 85% of Gaza's 2.3 million people have been displaced by the war.

 France announced a joint operation with Jordan to airdrop 7.7 tons of medical aid to a Gaza field hospital. The humanitarian situation remains critical in Gaza, French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday on X, formerly Twitter. In a difficult context, France and Jordan delivered aid to the population and to those who are helping them.

 Former Vice President Mike Pence said on Friday he visited Israels Northern Command and met with soldiers near the Lebanon border. Ever since October 7th, these courageous Israelis, several of whom are also American citizens, left families and home to stand strong for Israel. God Bless Them All, Pence said.

UN: 'Death and despair' in Gaza

The United Nations' relief chief on Friday called for the international community to use its influence to end the war, and described "death and despair" unfolding in Gaza since Oct. 7.

"Gaza has simply become uninhabitable. Its people are witnessing daily threats to their very existence  while the world watches on," Martin Griffiths, undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, said in a statement.

Griffiths said people in Gaza are experiencing the highest levels of food insecurity ever recorded; families are sleeping out in the open while temperatures drop; areas previously declared safe are under bombardment; and a health crisis is underway.

Tens of thousands of people, mostly women and children, have been killed or injured, he said.

"We have seen how violence cannot resolve differences, but only inflame passions and build new generations of danger and insecurity," Griffiths said.

Watchdog group warns of unauthorized Israeli settlements during war

A record number of unauthorized outposts by Israeli settlers have cropped up in areas of the occupied West Bank since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war, according to a new report by Israeli watchdog group Peace Now.

Nine outposts and 18 roads have been created by settlers since Oct. 7, a record for any three-month span since settlements began in the 1990s, Peace Now said in its report. The report also said settlers have constructed roadblocks, restricting the movement of Palestinians.

According to the report, the settlements are in parts of the West Bank under full Israeli control, according to 1990s accords. Israel says the territory is disputed and that the fate of settlements should be negotiated. The international community considers settlements illegal, because the Fourth Geneva Convention bars an occupying power from transferring parts of its civilian population into occupied territory.

More than half-a-million Israelis live in settlements in the West Bank and in east Jerusalem, areas Palestinians seek for a future state.

The new outposts include tents or simple structures, but many similar outposts have been developed into more permanent settlements over the years.

"They persist in constructing outposts on private Palestinian lands, defining open areas, and restricting Palestinian movement in the West Bank," Peace Now said.

According to the U.N., 2023 was the deadliest year for Palestinians in the West Bank at 507 people killed since the agency began recording casualties nearly two decades ago. It was also a record year for the number of Israelis killed in the West Bank and Israel from attacks by Palestinians at 36 fatalities recorded.

Since Oct. 7, 314 Palestinians  including 80 children  have been killed in the West Bank, according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Israeli forces have injured 3,949 others, including 593 children, OCHA added.

Blinken heads to Middle East to prevent escalation of war

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is traveling to the Middle East amid increasing tensions in the region that are threatening to broaden the Israel-Hamas war.

Blinken will travel to Israel, the West Bank, Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, Greece, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, according to a statement from Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State.

During his meetings, Blinken will underscore the "importance of protecting civilian lives" in Gaza and the West Bank, ensuring Palestinians are "not forcibly displaced from Gaza," and the secure release of hostages, who remain in captivity, Miller said.

The top U.S. diplomat will also "discuss urgent mechanisms to stem violence, calm rhetoric, and reduce regional tensions," including deterring the attacks of Houthi rebels on vessels in the Red Sea and avoiding escalation in Lebanon.

Josep Borrell Fontelles, the European Union's top diplomat, is expected in Lebanon on Friday to meet with leaders in an effort to deter a broader conflict. Amos Hochstein, a senior adviser to President Biden, met with Israeli officials on Thursday also to tamp down conflict on Israel's northern border, where Israel and Hezbollah fighters have traded airstrikes and targeted attacks for months. Israel has evacuated thousands of residents from their homes near the country's border with Lebanon.

This week's diplomatic meetings come amid surging tensions across the Middle East after Arouri's death on Tuesday in an apparent Israeli airstrike in Beirut. On Thursday, the Islamic State claimed responsibility for two bombings that killed dozens at a remembrance for a slain general in Iran.

Meantime, the Pentagon has acknowledged launching an airstrike that killed a senior commander of an Iran-backed militia in Baghdad, an attack condemned by the Iraqi military. And also on Thursday, Houthi rebels sent a drone over the Red Sea just hours after the U.S. and a dozen of its allies issued a final warning, telling the rebels to stop attacking commercial ships or face potential military engagement.

2nd Biden administration official quits over war

A Department of Education policy adviser appointed by the Biden administration quit this week over the White Houses handling of the Israel-Hamas war.

Tariq Habash became at least the second official, and the first known official of Palestinian origin, to resign from the administration in protest of President Joe Bidens actions regarding the war. State Department veteran Josh Paul resigned in October as the U.S. accelerated arms transfers to Israel.

Habash confirmed on X, formerly Twitter, that he resigned Wednesday.

I cannot represent an administration that systematically dehumanizes Palestinians and enables their ethnic cleansing. The President must call for a permanent ceasefire, he said.

Habash had been among staffers of Middle East, Muslim and Jewish background taking part in meetings with senior White House officials and others in the administration regarding concerns over the U.S. role in the war. Habash described the sessions as briefings from higher-ups rather than opportunity for staffers to be heard.

The former Biden administration appointee worked in the education department to help overhaul the student loan system and address inequities in higher education.

UNICEF: Gaza's 1.1 million children face malnutrition, diseases

Cases of malnutrition and indications of deteriorating health conditions have surged among Gaza's 1.1 million children as well as other vulnerable populations, including pregnant women, UNICEF said in a statement on Friday.

About 90% of children under 2 years old are consuming two or fewer food groups, according to a UNICEF survey conducted on Dec. 26. Most families who participated in the survey said their children were only eating grains or milk, meeting the definition of severe food poverty," UNICEF said.

And among pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, of which there are over 155,000 in Gaza, 25% said they ate only one food type the day before, while almost 65% said two.

The U.N. agency also said cases of diarrhea in children under 5 years of age rose from 48,000 to 71,000 in one week in mid-December  "a strong indication that child health in the Gaza Strip is fast deteriorating."

Children in Gaza are caught in a nightmare that worsens with every passing day, Catherine Russell, UNICEFs executive director, said in a statement. The futures of thousands more children in Gaza hang in the balance. The world cannot stand by and watch. The violence and the suffering of children must stop."

With Gaza's overwhelmed and understocked hospitals focusing on the large number of wounded patients, they are "unable to adequately treat disease outbreaks," according to UNICEF.

Additionally, the lack of clean water makes it nearly impossible for Palestinians to maintain the necessary hygiene levels needed to prevent disease. The World Health Organization said this week over 180,000 people in Gaza are suffering from upper respiratory infections; more than 5,000 chickenpox cases have been reported; and lice and scabies are affecting 55,000 people.

Israeli hostage, 38, dies in captivity

Tamir Adar, a 38-year-old Israeli who was taken hostage on Oct. 7, has died in captivity, according to the the Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum. A cause of death was not provided.

Adar lived in Kibbutz Nir Oz community, where 40 people were abducted during Hamas' deadly attack in Israeli border communities, which left 1,200 people, mostly civilians, dead. Of the 250 people taken hostage, the Israeli military says about 113 are still being held captive in Gaza following a weeklong cease-fire in November.

Adar's grandmother, 85-year-old Yaffa Adar, was taken hostage in the incursion. She was among more than 100 hostages released during the temporary cease-fire.

Israeli official lays out vision for next phase of war

Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in a statement on Thursday presented his vision for the next phase of the war in Gaza and how the territory would be run after Israel achieves its stated goal of defeating Hamas.

Gallant said operations in northern Gaza, where entire neighborhoods have been destroyed, would slow to a less intensive, more targeted "combat approach" in which military forces would focus on raids, destroying tunnel networks, air and ground activities and special operations." Israel has in recent days began to withdraw troops from northern Gaza, signaling a potential scale-down in operations.

Meanwhile, combat in southern Gaza, where most of Gaza's displaced population has sought refuge, will go on "for as long as necessary," Gallant said.

Gallant added that, after the war, Israel will hold onto military control in the region while Palestinian local civil servants or communal leaders would run the territory, with Israel providing information to guide civilian operations." The U.S. would be in charge of a task force that would lead a rebuilding effort.

The vision is a stark contrast from proposals from U.S. officials, including Biden, who had previously said he'd like the Palestinian Authority to take control of the region.

Contributing: The Associated Press; Jorge L. Ortiz, John Bacon, Josh Meyer; USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Israel-Hamas war live updates: Hezbollah says it must retaliate
MANZINI  Four demands is what the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) wants government to address, before the opening of schools.

SNAT Secretary General (SG) Lot Vilakati said they met with officials from the Ministry of Education and Training yesterday, to present their demands on what they anticipated to be done before the opening of schools for the year 2024.

Vilakati said, among these issues, was the shortage of food for the schools feeding schemes, shortage of teachers in schools and the casualisation of their profession. He said government, through the Teaching Service Commission (TSC), should employ 4 000 teachers in schools on a permanent and pensionable basis as keeping them on contracts was costly to educators.

Available

He further stated that the posts were already available, as they had been created by some educators who resigned due to various reasons, while others exited due to natural attrition. He said: TSC should employ 4 000 permanent teachers to ease the workload. Schools should not open without recruiting teachers. Many teachers have resigned, died and retired. This burdens the minimal teachers.

The SG said government should also hire teachers for Grade 0 and have all schools enrolling learners for this class. This, he said, was necessary, as government was permitting private colleges and government-sponsored institutions to enrol students for this course, yet after graduating, they were not employed. He said the personnel should have posting letters before the opening of schools, failing which; the union would convene a general council (GC) to deliberate on the next step to be taken by the union.

Also, he said they implored government to recruit teachers on a permanent basis, as hiring them on a contract basis had no benefit and, therefore, they were working with no pension, which would result in their next-of-kin getting nothing when they passed on. This, he said, was to their detriment, as there was also a stipulation that government did not recruit people above the age of 50. Vilakati said their cadre aged while working on contract, which limited their pension, despite that they were qualified graduates.

Female teachers also dont get maternity leave, as they are on contract despite that civil servants are awarded three months, he said. Vilakati also said some contract teachers ended up having many lessons to teach, as they were threatened with the non-renewal of their contracts. He said teachers also ended up having extra hours despite that there was no overtime for them. Another challenge, he said, was the renewal of contracts for those recruited on this term.

Challenges

Vilakati said some teachers faced challenges when their contracts were not renewed, as they accrued arrears. He said contract teachers should have their contracts renewed before the school calendar for the year begins. On another note, he said government should ensure that schools had food for the feeding scheme when they opened. This, he said, would be achieved by delivering the food on time to all schools. It is worth noting, that recently, the Ministry of Education and Training presented that government was currently feeding 874 public schools. From these schools, 594 are primaries, while the difference are secondary and high schools.

It was said in the Hhohho Region, 160 primaries were benefitting, while 70 secondary and high schools were enrolled under the Eswatini Schools Feeding Programme. In the Manzini Region, it was said there were 158 primary schools and 74 secondary or high schools, while there were 145 primary schools and 71 secondary and or high schools in the Shiselweni Region. In the Lubombo Region, pupils from 131 primaries and 65 secondary and or high schools were benefitting.

Meanwhile, Vilakati said government should pay all related to the operation of schools. These grants are the free primary education (FPE) and also the orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC) grants, which are contributed by government for pupils. The FPE grant has since been increased with E120, from E560 per year to E680 for every pupil enrolled in government schools, while the OVC grants vary as they cater for high school learners.

Vilakati said they were calling for government to release the aforementioned grants, because schools were in arrears, had no running water and or electricity. This, he said, rendered the schools unfit to operate, as these basic services were essential for their day-to-day operations.

Another demand, he said, was the supply of stationery to schools before they opened for the year. Vilakati said the opening of schools without meeting the four demands was detriment to the learners, as they twiddled their hands all-day-long and or broke early. This, he said, contributed to the poor results at the end of the year, which reflected badly on teachers. He said the assumption was that teachers were falling short in executing their duties, yet they were without the adequate resources to execute what was expected of them.
Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic; Rick Friedman Photography/Corbis/Getty Images

Cameron Diaz is insisting she did not know Jeffrey Epstein after being mentioned in the recently unsealed court documents.

Cameron never met Jeffrey Epstein, nor was she ever in the same place as him or had any association with him whatsoever, regardless of the fact he may or may not have mentioned her name or implied that he knew her, Diazs rep said in a statement to Page Six on Friday, January 5.

One of Espteins accusers Johanna Sjoberg, who worked for him as a masseuse, testified that the late financier liked to brag about his connections to Hollywood.

When I spoke about them, it was when I was massaging him, and he would get off  he would be on the phone a lot at the time, and one time he said, Oh, that was Leonardo, or, That was Cate Blanchett, or Bruce Willis. That kind of thing, Sjoberg, 42, said, per her testimony from the unsealed court docs.

Jeremy Piven, Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, Sexual Misconduct, Hollywood, Sexual Harassment

While Hollywood may appear to be all glitz and glam on the surface, the industry has seen its fair share of scandals through the years. The New York Times and the New Yorker first published investigative pieces in 2017 that accused disgruntled movie producer Harvey Weinstein of decades of sexual assault and harassment. Soon after, Weinstein stood trial and was []

Sjoberg was asked whether she thought Epstein was name-dropping at the time, which she affirmed. Following her response, Sjoberg was asked if she met Diaz, 51, and responded no.

40 exhibits were released on Wednesday, January 3, following federal judge Loretta A. Preskas December 18 ruling. The suit was initially filed in 2015 against Ghislaine Maxwell, Epsteins former girlfriend, who was convicted in 2021 of participating in Epsteins sex crimes.

Diaz was hardly the only star referenced in the lawsuit.

Did you ever meet anybody famous when you were with Jeffrey? Sjoberg was asked, replying that she had met Michael Jackson. She also noted that she met magician David Copperfield, who performed during a dinner.

Sjoberg also recalled Epstein speaking to her about former president Bill Clinton, saying, He said one time that Clinton likes them young, referring to girls. When asked whether Clinton was a friend of Epsteins, Sjoberg alleged that the pair had dealings.

Stars Who Left Hollywood Behind: Cameron Diaz, Michael Schoeffling and More

Celebrities such as Cameron Diaz and Rick Moranis rose to stardom in Hollywood  only to leave their acting careers in the past. Diaz got her start with a role alongside Jim Carrey in the 1994 film The Mask. The actress continued to find success with movies including My Best Friends Wedding, Theres Something About []

Clintons spokesperson Angel Urena denied claims regarding Clintons involvement with Epstein in 2019. President Clinton knows nothing about the terrible crimes Jeffrey Epstein pleaded guilty to in Florida some years ago, or those with which he has been recently charged in New York, she wrote via X (formerly Twitter) at the time.

In addition to Sjobergs deposition, Virginia Giuffre, who also accused Epstein and Maxwell of sexual abuse, also took the stand. In her deposition, Giuffre claimed that Maxwell ordered her to have sexual contact with several public figures including Prince Andrew, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, an unnamed prince, the owner of a large hotel chain and others.

While Giuffre settled her lawsuit against Maxwell in 2017, she sued Andrew over the alleged sexual abuse four years later. They settled in early 2022, with the former royal vehemently denying any wrongdoing. Andrew later stepped down from his royal duties in 2019 after his association with Epstein made headlines.
China is opening an investigation into the price of brandy imported from the European Union in a move seen as retaliation for the blocs probe into an influx of cheap Chinese electric cars into Europe.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce told reporters Friday that it had launched the anti-dumping investigation at the request of local liquor producers. Dumping refers to the practice of exporting goods to a country at prices that do not reflect their cost.

The European Commission was assessing documentation received from Chinese authorities, and would assist in the investigation in close cooperation with EU liquor companies, Commission trade spokesperson Olof Gill said in a statement.

China is an important market for European brandy producers, and news of the probe sent shares of luxury consumer goods groups tumbling.

Agatha Kratz, director at Rhodium Group, said the vast majority of the companies that could be affected by Beijings investigation were French cognac brands.

China has become such a big market for spirits, and French spirit companies, she told CNN. In 10 years, (China has) become one of their key revenue drivers and growth drivers.

Shares of Pernod Ricard fell nearly 4% in Paris. The company owns Martell, a maker of cognac dating back more than 300 years. Remy Cointreaus stock plummeted over 11%, while Bernard Arnaults LVMH, which owns Hennessy cognac, dropped 1%.

Jessica Whyte, a spokesperson for Pernod Ricard, said that the company was confident that (its) products and commercial practices fully comply with Chinese and international regulations.

China could eventually impose tariffs on imports of French brandy, just as it did to imports of Australian wine in 2020 following an anti-dumping investigation. The tariffs crippled many Australian wine exporters.

Retaliation

Kratz, at Rhodium Group, said she believes the move was in retaliation for Frances strong support for the EU probe into suspected anti-competitive trade practices by China.

A lot of French companies (toward) the end of the year were telling us that (they) hadnt seen any retaliation and were feeling good, she said, adding that the new investigation provides a cold shower for the industry.

In September, the European Commission said it had launched an investigation into Beijings possible use of huge state subsidies to keep prices for its electric vehicle exports artificially low.

Global markets are now flooded with cheaper Chinese electric cars, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a speech. This is distorting our market, she added.

Brussels has clamped down on cheap Chinese imports in recent months. In November, the European Commission imposed temporary tariffs of up to 24% on certain plastic products imported from China following an anti-dumping investigation.

Then, in December, the EU opened another anti-dumping investigation into Chinese biofuel imports, which local producers have claimed are seriously harming their industry.

We expect 2024 to be a pretty tense year in EU-China relations, and we expect the EU Commission to potentially launch more investigations into certain Chinese exports, Kratz said.

Maya Szaniecki contributed reporting.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
The couple began their journey to London at Brisbane airport. TK Kurikawa / Shutterstock.com

An Australian couple faced a huge last-minute expense over a name discrepancy on a ticket.

The husband bought his wife a ticket under "Kate" instead of "Katherine," the name on her passport.

The couple had to pay more than $3,000 before they could start their journey to the UK.

An Australian couple had to pay more than $3,000 to board their flight to the UK because of a name discrepancy on one of their tickets.

Australia's Nine Network reported that Phil and Kate from Brisbane, whose surnames were not disclosed, bought two return tickets to London for 4,800 Australian dollars, or about $3,200.

They bought the flights on a travel website named StudentUniverse.

The couple had booked to fly from Brisbane to Melbourne with Virgin Australia and then to London via Doha on Qatar Airways, "A Current Affair" reported.

But at the Brisbane check-in counter, the couple was informed of an issue with one of their tickets.

Phil had booked his wife's ticket under "Kate," but the name on her passport is "Katherine," Nine reported.

"It was an administrative error  I think I married Kate in church and not Katherine," Phil told the program.

The report said Virgin advised the couple that they could make the small change on the booking website for a small administrative fee.

But StudentUniverse told them they would need to cancel Kate's ticket, with only a partial refund, and buy a new ticket under "Katherine," Nine reported.

The network said the ticket cost them AU$4,700, or $3,141.

"They didn't have time  that was their reasoning  to issue a name change on the ticket. But they had time to sell us a new ticket," Phil told the Nine Network.

Kate added: "I begged them on the phone: 'Please, you can't do that. That's all our holiday money gone in a flash.'"

Phil told "A Current Affair" he felt exploited by the response: "They've just taken advantage of the entire situation, particularly peak travel season, and time was of the essence."

A StudentUniverse representative told Business Insider in a statement it was required to adhere to change and cancellation policies set by airlines.

"In this instance, name changes were not permitted, meaning the only option was to cancel and rebook the ticket. As we were only made aware by the customer of their error within 3 hours of the flight departure, this led to further airline imposed charges which could have been avoided by acting earlier," the representative said.

Virgin Australia did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI, sent outside normal business hours.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A group of more than 30 Democratic senators is pushing major automakers to remain neutral amid worker efforts to unionize.

In a letter Thursday, the lawmakers asked 13 car manufacturers to pledge to not interfere with any efforts to unionize at their plants.

We believe a neutrality agreement is the bare minimum standard manufacturers should meet in respecting workers rights, especially as companies receive and benefit from federal funds related to the electric vehicle transition, the senators wrote.

We believe the electric vehicle transition will not and cannot come at the expense of workers ability to form a union and collectively bargain for the fair wages, said the letter, which was led by Democratic Sens. Gary Peters (Mich.), Debbie Stabenow (Mich.), Alex Padilla (Calif.), Laphonza Butler (Calif.) and Sherrod Brown (Ohio).

The letter follows an agreement between the United Auto Workers union and automakers General Motors, Ford and Stellantis.

Following that agreement, the union said it would push to organize workforces at automakers that currently do not have unions.

The senators addressed their letter to the same 13 companies the union is targeting: BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Lucid, Mazda, Mercedes, Nissan, Rivian, Subaru, Tesla, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo.

The letter also expressed concerns about reports that some companies have acted illegally to block unionization efforts.

It invoked the National Labor Relations Board, saying the labor rights agency found Tesla employed multiple illegal tactics aimed at stopping organizing efforts including online harassment, employee interrogations, and retaliatory firings.

It also said employees have accused Volkswagen managers of confiscating and destroying pro-union materials and alleged that supervisors at Hyundai banned pro-union materials in non-work areas outside of working hours.

A spokesperson for Hyundai denied the accusations, saying in an email that the unions recent accusations regarding Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama are not accurate, and we remain in compliance with the rules of the National Labor Relations Board.

For Hyundais operations in the U.S., the decision to be represented by a union is up to our team members, the spokesperson said. Hyundai provides excellent wages and benefits and maintains a strong culture of safety, quality, and continuous improvement in all our operations.

A spokesperson for Volkswagen also provided a statement denying the accusations.

Volkswagen refutes any claims of union-busting, intimidation or illegal violations of worker rights at our Chattanooga plant. The UAW has said Volkswagen confiscated and destroyed pro-union materials in the break room, but the reality is the break room was simply cleaned by maintenance staff as it is routinely, the statement said.

We respect our workers right to decide the question of union representation. And we remain committed to providing accurate information that helps inform them of their rights and choices, it continued.

The Hill has attempted to reach all the companies addressed in the letter. Many did not immediately respond; Rivian and Subaru declined to comment.

The senators letter was first reported by Reuters.

Updated at 3:56 p.m. Jan. 4

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
PALM SPRINGS, Calif.  "The Golden Wedding" had everything you could ever want in a reality TV primetime event.

Gerry Turner, 72, exchanged tear-filled vows with Theresa Nist, 70, before family, friends, Bachelor Nation alumni and "Golden Bachelor" cast members  including the other women who had vied to win Turner's heart on the first senior version of ABC's reality dating show.

There was emotion, drama, drones, confetti cams and even another reality-show marriage proposal during the reality-show wedding celebration. Respectful lookie-loos peered over the high walls of the lush La Quinta Resort to watch it all play out along with millions of viewers on "The Golden Wedding" (now streaming on Hulu).

But even the company of cameras could not capture all the drama witnessed by USA TODAY. We were among the 150 guests at the intimate TV affair. Heres what you didnt see at The Golden Wedding.

Golden Wedding recap Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist are married! See what made us tear up

After lifetimes of love and loss and a whirlwind journey on "The Golden Bachelor," Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist walk down the aisle to begin their next chapter, happily ever after.

Kathy miraculously turns GOAT as Golden correspondent

Kathy "Zip it!" Swarts pulled off an amazing turnaround as "The Golden Wedding" correspondent, working the gold carpet with wit and a gold microphone. This is mind-boggling, considering Swarts was booted from Turner's orbit after fueling a feud with Nist in the Bachelor Mansion.

Before cameras rolled on Thursday, it was still looking dire. Swarts seemed visibly nervous and was having trouble with her correspondent's earpiece that receives instructions from the show producers.

"I didn't put the earpiece in. Oh my God," Swarts said, wide-eyed, just before cameras rolled. Suddenly, the earpiece started working. "OK. We are good."

Like the most polished GOAT, Swarts kicked into high-larious gear once the camera's red light flipped on, interviewing guests with fellow correspondent Charity Lawson.

Even as a ceremony guest, you couldn't take your eyes off Swarts. When Nist referred to Swarts' infamous "Zip it!" line during her wedding vows, Swarts laughed heartily and raised her hands in mock exasperation, turning to the crowd for support. It was priceless. Swarts was last seen over the closing credits, waving her hand in the air like she didn't care while dancing with her fellow single "Golden Bachelor" castmates. Winning!

Brayden Bowers had permission to pop the question to Christina Mandrell at "The Golden Wedding."

Brayden Bowers had the golden blessing for that wedding proposal to Christina Mandrell

A couple proposing at someone else's wedding is always going to be an odd event, and doubly odd when it's a televised wedding. But "Bachelor in Paradise" star Brayden Bowers popped the question to his girlfriend, Season 27 "Bachelor" cast member Christina Mandrell, during the pre-ceremony drinks in front of "Golden Wedding" cameras.

After cameras moved for the actual wedding, Mandrell giddily jumped onto Bowers, wrapping her legs around his waist in joy before showing off her Neil Lane engagement ring to anyone who'd look.

Bowers told USA TODAY they had golden clearance for the act. "I actually reached out to Gerry and Theresa, and asked them if they'd be OK with (the proposal)," said Bowers. "They said they would be OK with it. They are such an inspiration."

Bowers has only been dating Mandrell for about four months: "It's been short," he admitted. "But in the last year, I feel like I've experienced 10 years. We're already moving in together. I have no doubts about this."

Proposal criticism: 'Bachelor' fans slam Brayden Bowers for proposing to Christina Mandrell at 'Golden Wedding'

Joey Graziadei needed a drink for his hands

After being interviewed by his "Bachelorette"-ex Lawson on the carpet, upcoming "Bachelor" star Joey Graziadei asked, "Is it OK if I get a beverage now?" before heading to the bar for an Old Fashioned. Graziadei, 28, explained that the drink quest had nothing to do with talking to Lawson, who ultimately chose Dotun Olubeko over him in "The Bachelorette" Season 20 finale.

"We're in a very unique spot; I was very close to Dotun," Graziadei said. "I'm just happy for them and I can only hope for the same kind of love for me."

The drink was needed for wedding nerves. "I run to the bar whenever I get a chance just to hold something, because I never know what to do with my hands," he said.

Gerry Turner walks up the aisle on "The Golden Wedding."

Gerry loved walking up the wedding aisle so much, he did it twice

As the six-piece string orchestra kicked into a sublime wedding song, Turner began a solo walk up the aisle toward officiant extraordinaire Susan Noles. Noles smiled and touched her hand to her heart to show her support.

Approaching the candlelit altar, Turner suddenly stopped, broke into a big grin, and turned around. The walk was a rehearsal during a commercial break.

Turner flashed a wide "It's-me-again!" smile when he started Aisle Walk II. But he snapped into emotion immediately, and the ceremony had profound moments. The trademark Turner tears began to fall watching his two daughters, Angie and Jenny, follow him up the aisle as Nist's bridesmaids.

Just after getting married to the Golden Bachelor, Theresa Nist is surrounded by friends and former contestants from the show.

Leslie and Gerry hugged it out on the dance floor

"Golden Bachelor" runner-up Leslie Fhima was a major wedding presence. The last time Fhima appeared on camera with Turner, she tearfully called out The Golden Bachelor during the "After the Final Rose" special for disingenuously leading her on before proposing to Nist.

But Fhima overcame heartbreak and a recent hospitalization to attend the wedding. At night's end, Fhima approached Turner and Nist on the dance floor during "Don't Stop Believin. She hugged Nist, then Turner.

"I told him that I'm really happy for him," said Fhima, who stoically watched the ceremony. "Most of it was great; some of it was fine. Anytime you go through something like this it's going to be difficult at times. But I wanted to be here to finish a journey," she added.

It was easy hugging her Bachelor Mansion friend Nist. "I just told Theresa, 'I'm so happy for you, you look beautiful, I love you,'" said Fhima.

Theresa can't dance when Gerry is stepping on her dress

The night rolled to an end with Nist rocking it on the dance floor with her Golden Bachelor friends Swarts, Noles, April Kirkwood, Natascha Hardee and Edith Aguirre. But Nist's dancing was abruptly curtailed when an oblivious Turner accidentally stepped on her gown while socializing. Aguirre had to swoop in and remove Turners offending dress shoe, freeing Nist to dance once more.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Golden Wedding': Behind the scenes at Gerry and Theresa's vows
By Alexandra Valencia

QUITO (Reuters) -Former Ecuadorean Vice President Jorge Glas, convicted twice for corruption, has asked Mexico for political asylum, arguing he is being persecuted by the attorney general's office, his lawyer said on Friday.

Glas, who was vice president under the leftist government of Rafael Correa between 2013 and 2017, has been inside the Mexican embassy in Quito as a "guest" since the weekend.

The attorney general's office had asked Glas to meet with them about a case involving public funds collected to aid the reconstruction of coastal Manabi province after a 2016 earthquake.

"There has been a political persecution since 2017 which has been scaled up recently by the attorney general, who arbitrarily is trying to process and detain Jorge Glas, who is innocent," lawyer Eduardo Franco Loor told Reuters by phone, confirming Glas requested asylum on Wednesday. "There is tremendous political hatred."

The Mexican government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Ecuador's foreign ministry said in a statement it has given documentation of Glas' legal status to Mexico.

"To Ecuador, an eventual granting of diplomatic asylum by Mexico would not be legal," the statement said, adding that the country would "deplore" such a measure.

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.

The legislature on Thursday declined to authorize a trial over the Manabi case, but the attorney general's office said in a statement it was insisting on charging Glas.

The Mexican government has given asylum to several former officials in Correa's 10-year government, who have argued they are subject to political persecution.

(Reporting by Alexandra Valencia in Quito, additional reporting by Laura Gottesdiener in Monterrey, Mexico; Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
Groups of voters from Illinois and Massachusetts on Thursday filed motions to remove Donald Trump from the 2024 ballot, adding to the list of states where the former president faces a challenge to his candidacy under the 14th Amendments so-called insurrectionist ban.

In Illinois, the challenge filed in conjunction with the liberal advocacy group Free Speech For People, asks the Illinois Board of Elections to hold a hearing on the matter and bar Trump from appearing on both the primary and general election ballots because of his role in the January 6, 2021, US Capitol attack.

Donald J. Trump, through his words and actions, after swearing an oath as an officer of the United States to support the Constitution, engaged in insurrection or rebellion, or gave aid and comfort to its enemies, as defined by Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment, the voters wrote in their petition to the board of elections.

The petition adds that Trump has never expressed regret that his supporters violently attacked the U.S. Capitol and threatened lawmakers inside, and that Trump has not apologized to anyone, either on his own behalf or on behalf of his supporters, for the January 6 attack.

The party affiliation of the voters, if any, was not listed.

The same advocacy group on Thursday filed a challenge to Trumps eligibility to appear on Massachusetts ballots for both the primary and general presidential elections in the state.

The challengers include former Boston Mayor Kim Janey, a Democrat, as well as a mix of Republican, Independent, and Democratic voters, the group says.

The challenges come as the US Supreme Court is widely expected to review a state court ruling in Colorado which found that Trump is ineligible to run for office. Though the Colorado ruling only applies to that state, any decision from the justices could settle the matter for the entire nation.

Each state has different rules for how challenges like these are adjudicated. Some challenges start in the courts, while others are initially handled by state election officials, like a Secretary of State.

Last week, Maines secretary of state removed Trump from that states 2024 primary ballot, and the former presidents team on Tuesday appealed that decision in state court.

The Oregon Supreme Court could soon rule on another bid to remove Trump from that states primary and general election ballots because of his role in the January 6 insurrection.

Judges in Michigan and Minnesota, however, rejected bids to block Trump from appearing on the primary ballot in those states.

Free Speech for the People has backed the efforts in Oregon, Michigan and Minnesota.

This story has been updated with additional developments.

CNNs Holmes Lybrand contributed to this report.

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By Laura Gottesdiener and Diego Ore

MONTERREY, Mexico (Reuters) -The armed men who kidnapped 32 migrants in northern Mexico over the weekend aimed to extort money from them and their families in the United States, Mexico's president said on Thursday, one day after the migrants were released from captivity.

He said that the migrants, who were found on Wednesday, were abandoned by their kidnappers in a parking lot in a commercial center in the northern Mexican city of Reynosa in the state of Tamaulipas.

"It was for the extortion of relatives in the United States," President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said in his daily morning press conference.

"Because there was a strong deployment (from Mexican authorities), they decided to free them, safe and sound," Lopez Obrador added.

The case has highlighted the risks faced by the hundreds of thousands of migrants who cross through Mexico en route to the U.S. border each year, who are targets of extortion and kidnapping by powerful criminal groups.

Human rights activists have been warning for months about an escalating kidnapping crisis along the Tamaulipas border, especially in Reynosa, where last year Reuters documented a pattern of kidnappings - and at times sexual assault - of migrants and asylum seekers.

The 32 migrants were abducted on Saturday from a commercial bus that had departed the northern industrial city of Monterrey destined for Matamoros, across from Brownsville, Texas, according to Mexican officials. They were forced off the bus and whisked away in five cars by armed men while traveling through Reynosa, officials added.

INVESTIGATION OPENED

The group was discovered after an anonymous caller tipped off authorities to their whereabouts around 1 p.m., the spokesman for the state security agency, Jorge Cuellar, told Reuters.

Of the 32 migrants, the majority were from Venezuela, Cuellar said. Of the group, they ranged in age from a 71-year-old man to a 1-year-old baby girl, with a total of 11 minors, he said.

Authorities had previously said 31 migrants had been kidnapped, but upon their release they discovered the baby girl who had not been counted.

The Honduran consulate in Monterrey told Reuters that six of the migrants were from Honduras, including one mother and her two teenage daughters.

The state attorney general's office said the migrants had given their testimonies and that the office has opened an investigation.

They are now in the custody of Mexico's National Immigration Institute, the agency confirmed.

No one has been arrested so far in the case, Cuellar said.

A record number of migrants traveled across Central America and Mexico in 2023 aiming to reach the United States, fleeing poverty, violence, climate change and conflict.

Earlier this week, a 4,000-person caravan traveling through southern Mexico dispersed after leaders said migration authorities had promised to provide travel permits if the caravan was split up to be processed at several migration centers.

However, the caravan's leader, Luis Garcia, said in a statement on Thursday that some migrants had been "abandoned on the street" by authorities and had not been let into shelters.

Venezuelan migrant Paola Fuentes shared similar with Reuters and said she had been made to sign a document without being allowed to read it.

Mexico's migration institute did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

(Reporting by Laura Gottesdiener in Monterrey and Diego Ore in Mexico City; additional reporting by Gustavo Palencia in Tegucigalpa and Jose Torres in Chiapas; Editing by Aurora Ellis)
The family of a pregnant Texas woman, killed in what investigators believe was a narcotics deal "that went bad," insisted Thursday she didn't use drugs and was unduly influenced by the man killed alongside her.

San Antonio police arrested two men in connection with the slayings of Savanah Soto, 18, and Matthew Guerra, 22, who were found shot to death inside his car just after Christmas.

Christopher Preciado, 19, was charged with capital murder while his father, Ramon Preciado, 53, was charged with abuse of a corpse. Police alleged he helped move the bodies.

"It appears to be a narcotics-related deal that went bad," Police Sgt. Washington Moscoso told reporters early Thursday.

Soto, who was pregnant and due to be induced just before she disappeared, didn't do drugs and was even sensitive to secondhand tobacco smoke, her brother Jordan Corona told NBC News.

Savanah Soto. (via Facebook)

Corona said he has no knowledge of Guerra's dabbling in narcotics  but worried about his sister's relationship with her abusive boyfriend.

"My sister was a little sweetheart. She didn't even like being near smoke," Corona said. "I guess it was just one of those wrong-place, wrong-time situations. She doesn't get around that type of stuff [drugs]. Of course, her boyfriend was the way he was, but as far as her [involvement with drugs], no."

Guerra was arrested on Christmas Day in 2022 for beating Soto.

A doorbell camera captured Guerra kicking Soto in the face after he screamed at her: "F--- you b----, you betrayed me," according to a San Antonio police report shared with NBC News.

Guerra "then began to punch [Soto] in the face with a closed fist 4 times on the left side of the face," the report said. Soto told detectives that Guerra later stood over her and kicked her "in the face multiple times," it said.

"It was an abusive relationship. We didn't approve of it," Corona said of his sister and her boyfriend. "We tried to tell her, 'That's not what you need.' Of course, at that age, you feel like you know everything. Love is powerful at that age. We couldn't separate them."

Guerra was placed on probation after he pleaded no contest to assault causing bodily injury on a domestic partner, court records showed.

Guerra's defense attorney Christopher Castro said the couple were "together as soon as they could be again.

"I met Savanah, and she seemed nice," he said.

Castro also said he has no knowledge of his former client's having issues with drugs. The couple seemed to be on good terms despite the disturbing elements of the Christmas Day 2022 incident.

"I can tell you every time I called Matthew, Savanah was with him," Castro said.

Soto and Guerra were found Dec. 26 in a Kia Optima belonging to Guerra. The alleged murders took place five days earlier, just before midnight on Dec. 21, police said.

Police found Soto's body in the front passenger seat. Guerra's body was found in the back seat, and it appeared he had been dragged into the Optima, because he had "apparent drag marks on his back," according to an affidavit for an arrest warrant filed in Bexar County and obtained by NBC News.

A search of the Optima also turned up a shell casing but no gun, the affidavit said.

Security camera video police released after the bodies were discovered showed a heavy-set man driving a dark Chevrolet Silverado and another driving Guerras Kia. The two appeared to speak to each other out of the vehicles before driving away in separate directions.

Authorities suspect the victims were dead in the Optima when the video was taken, the affidavit said.

Police spoke with the families of Soto and Guerra right after their bodies were found. The affidavit said investigators learned Guerra sold drugs and would post money and drugs on Instagram.

"It was stated that people wanted to rob the boyfriend and it was stated the boyfriend had been shot before," the affidavit said.

Police connected the suspect's Silverado seen on security video to Ramon Preciado, who admitted driving his truck near where the Optima was found and said he was seen on the security video, the affidavit said. The elder Preciado also said he met his son, Christopher, who was driving Guerra's Optima at the apartment complex, where it was later found.

Christopher Preciado told police Guerra and Soto drove to his house, a few blocks from where the Optima was discovered, to sell him marijuana. Preciado's statements then were inconsistent with evidence found at the crime scene, the affidavit said.

"Christopher claimed the male victim pointed a weapon at him and Christopher was able to manipulate the weapon resulting in the female being shot," according to the affidavit. "Christopher then stated that ... the weapon pointed at him again and he manipulated the weapon again resulting in the male victim being shot."

Soto's cellphone played a pivotal role in leading police to the suspects' truck, officials said.

It wasnt immediately clear Thursday afternoon whether Christopher and Ramon Preciado had hired or been assigned attorneys.

Soto was slain 19 months after her 15-year-old brother, Ethan Soto, was gunned down in what has been described as a dispute over money.

"It gives us a little peace knowing my sister's little family, that the person who killed them, is going toward justice," said her brother, Corona, 30, a warehouse supervisor. "Nothing will fill the emptiness of not having her and my nephew around."

Its still too early for prosecutors to decide whether to charge Christopher Preciado with the death of Sotos unborn child, who was to be named Fabian, Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales said in a statement Thursday.

"Under Texas law, an unborn child is included in the definition of a person. Therefore, Christopher Preciado can be charged with an additional count of capital murder for the death of baby Fabian," Gonzales said. "The District Attorneys Office will await the filing of the complete case investigation in order to thoroughly review the facts and make the appropriate charging decisions."

Soto's family hopes charges in the death of Sotos unborn child will come soon.

Were burying her with her baby in her arms, Corona said. Its a human. Were not laying her to rest with the baby in her stomach. It was a full-term baby. The baby will be in her arms.
'Central World Bangkok Countdown 2024' event was celebrated to mark the conclusion of 2023 at Bangkoks Central World, known as the 'Times Square of Asia.

Hosted by Central Pattana, Thailand's premier real estate developer, Central World at the heart of Bangkok, has been the iconic New Year's Eve destination for over two decades.

The event featured ore than 65 award-winning artists, spectacular showcase of cityscape fireworks and futuristic displays on one of the world's largest Panoramix screen.

Renowned artists, including K-Pop sensation Youngjae GOT7, C-Pop star Patrick-Nattawat Finkler, and top Thai talents PP Krit, Billkin-Putthipong, BOWKYLION, Nont Thanont, and Ink Warunthorn, performed at the event.

Dr Nattakit Tangpoonsinthana, Chief Marketing Officer of Central Pattana, emphasising the event's significance in Thailand's New Year celebrations.

The Central World Bangkok Countdown 2024 has become a symbol of joy, paralleling iconic countdown landmarks worldwide. For five consecutive years, centralwOrld has featured in Times Square, New York, marking the culmination of the global New Year's Eve celebration, he said.

Bidding farewell to the year with a 180-degree Futuristic Fireworks show, the event seamlessly blended real fireworks with artistic displays on the Panoramix screen.

The unique event, where K-Pop, C-Pop, and T-Pop artists shared the stage, contributed to the festive year-end atmosphere while boosting the nation's economy, a statement said.

The artists' performances were divided into five captivating concepts: The Futuristic, The Master, The Collab, The New Legendary, and The Phenomenon. Each segment, meticulously designed by renowned Thai artists Pai-Thana Saengsorn and Nuea-Jakkrit Anantakul, delivered a powerful message of hope, creativity, collaboration, excellence, and celebration, it added.  TradeArabia News Service
NEW DELHI (AP)  Indian navy commandos safely evacuated 21 crew members from a Liberian-flagged bulk carrier involved in a hijacking attempt in the Arabian Sea, the navy said Friday.

The MV Lila Norfolk sent a message on the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations monitoring portal that said five or six armed people had boarded the vessel Thursday evening, the navy said in a statement.

India's navy diverted a ship deployed for maritime security operations to assist the carrier, and a group of commandos boarded the vessel after monitoring its movement for several hours, the statement said.

No hijackers were found on board during a search by the commandos, the navy said in an update.

"The attempt of hijacking by the pirates was probably abandoned with the forceful warning by the Indian navy, it said.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations monitor also reported on Friday that the search had been completed and no hijackers had been found on board.

Ambrey, a maritime intelligence firm, said earlier that the bulk carrier had started to drift 670 kilometers (420 miles) east of Hafun, Somalia.

A patrol aircraft flew over the Lila Norfolk early Friday and determined the safety of the crew, which included 15 Indians, the navy said. Cmdr. Mehul Karnik, a navy spokesperson, said the crew members relayed that they were operating the carrier from inside a strong room.

Following the evacuation, the Indian navy ship was providing support to restore power so the vessel could resume its voyage, the navy statement said.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the assault. There have been growing concerns about shipping in the region following attacks by Yemeni Houthi rebels.

___

Jon Gambrell contributed from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Rifts in the Israeli government emerged publicly on Friday as members of the cabinet argued over plans for the post-war future of Gaza and how to handle investigations into the security failings around Hamas October 7 attacks.

The public sniping followed what one source described as a fight at a meeting of the the security cabinet on Thursday. Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said there had been a stormy discussion, while former Defense Minister Benny Gantz said a politically motivated attack had been launched.

The developments illustrate the fault lines emerging in the governing coalition of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after three months of war with Hamas. If the government collapses, Israel would likely face new elections that Netanyahu is widely expected to lose.

Thursdays security cabinet split was over how to handle investigations into the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, including the Israeli militarys failure to foresee it, as well as how to prosecute the war from now on.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant outlined plans for the next phase of the war in Gaza, and provided details of what might follow that, in a three-page document entitled the Day After.

He described a new combat approach with a sustained focus on targeting Hamas leaders in southern parts of the strip. In northern Gaza, he said the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) campaign would encompass raids, the destruction of terror tunnels, aerial and ground activities, and special operations.

After the war, the Israeli military would maintain operational freedom of action in the Gaza Strip and Israel would continue to carry out the inspection of goods entering the territory.

Gallant, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus center-right Likud party, said that once the goals of the war have been achieved there would be no Israeli civilian presence in the Gaza Strip, appearing to rule out the re-establishment of Israeli settlements in Gaza that Israel unilaterally removed in 2005.

The defense minister also unveiled the concept of a US-led multinational task force charged with the rehabilitation of the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, pictured on December 18, proposed a post-war plan for Gaza on Thursday. - Violeta Santos Moura/Reuters

But the ministers plan provided scant detail on the future governance of the enclave, merely saying that the Palestinian entity controlling the territory would build on the capabilities of local non-hostile actors already present in Gaza.

The plan prompted a fiery discussion, according to a source. After a break in the meeting, the source said, Transportation Minister Miri Regev went on the attack. After the break Miri Regev came back and launched this fight that was leaked, said the official, who asked not to be named discussing internal political discussions.

Regev, who is also a member of Likud, did not respond to a CNN request for comment.

Gantz, who joined the government from opposition after October 7, said: What happened yesterday was a politically motivated attack in the middle of a war. I participated in many cabinet meetings  such conduct has never occurred and must not occur.

He did not say who had launched the attack, but he criticized Netanyahu. The cabinet should have discussed strategic processes that will affect the continuation of the campaign and our security in the future. It did not happen, and the prime minister is responsible for that, Gantz said, urging Netanyahu to choose between unity and security on the one hand and politics on the other.

Netanyahus Likud party then lashed out at Gantz. During a war, when the people are united, Gantz is expected to act responsibly and stop looking for excuses to break his promise to remain in the unity government until the end of the war, it said in a statement.

Gantz is widely considered a likely successor to Netanyahu when an election is called.

Tensions spill out in public

Gallants plan was criticized Friday by Smotrich, who along with far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has advocated for resettling Gazans outside the enclave. Their comments have drawn condemnation from the United States, United Nations officials and several Arab states.

Smotrich wrote on Facebook that The Day After is a rerun of The Day Before on October 7, referring to the date of the Hamas terror attack in which 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 taken hostage.

The solution in Gaza requires thinking outside the box and changing the concept by encouraging voluntary migration and full security control including the renewal of settlement, Smotrich added.

Israels deadly bombardment and besiegement of Gaza has turned swathes of the Palestinian enclave into a wasteland, leaving more than 2.2 million people at risk of severe dehydration, starvation and disease. At least 1.93 million Palestinians have been displaced, according to the United Nations.

Regional actors in the Middle East have repeatedly likened the mass movement of Palestinians in Gaza to the Nakba, or catastrophe, the Arabic term for the expulsion or flight of Palestinians from their towns during the founding of Israel in 1948.

Since October 7, Israeli attacks on Gaza have killed at least 22,600 people, 70% of whom are women and children, the Haman-run health ministry said on Friday.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich (left) and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir (right) have advocated for the mass relocation of Palestinians outside of Gaza to make way for Israeli settlers, restoking fears of a Palestinian exodus. - Getty Images

International criticism

Smotrich previously said the removal of Gazans from the strip could pave the way for Israelis to make the desert bloom while Ben Gvir had suggested that the current war represented an opportunity to concentrate on encouraging the migration of the residents of Gaza.

Smotrich, a Jewish nationalist, has denied the existence of a Palestinian people or nationhood. Ben Gvir was previously convicted of inciting racism against Arabs and supporting a terrorist organization.

Earlier this week, State Department spokesperson Matt Miller roundly condemned the inflammatory and irresponsible comments made by Smotrich and Ben Gvir, saying the US had been told repeatedly and consistently by Israel that such statements do not reflect the policy of the Israeli government.

Responding to the US statement, Ben Gvir on Tuesday called the US a good friend but said the emigration of hundreds of thousands from Gaza would allow Israeli settlers to return and live in security.

Smotrich also responded to the US State Departments rebuke, posting on X: More than 70% of the Israeli public today supports a humanitarian solution of encouraging the voluntary immigration of Gaza Arabs and their absorption in other countries.

Other foreign officials, from Europe to Saudi Arabia, have fiercely condemned the rhetoric pushed by Israeli far-right cabinet ministers, while a UN official warned the forced displacement of Palestinians outside Gaza is an act of genocide.

Forcible transfer of Gazan population is an act of genocide especially given the high number of children, Balakrishnan Rajagopal, the UNs special rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, posted on X on Friday.

Gaza is Palestinian and its future is not up to Israel to decide, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna told CNNs Isa Soares on Friday. Its not up to Israel to determine the future of Gaza, which is Palestinian land; we need to return to the principle of international law and respect it.

On Thursday, the UNs human rights chief Volker Turk said he was very disturbed by high-level Israeli officials statements on plans to transfer civilians from Gaza to third countries.

The EUs foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Wednesday, Forced displacements are strictly prohibited as a grave violation of IHL (International Humanitarian Law) & words matter.

US officials have previously said they ultimately envision both Gaza and the occupied West Bank being ruled by a unified government led by a revitalized Palestinian Authority. At present, the Palestinian Authority exercises limited self-rule in the West Bank, having lost control of the Gaza Strip to Hamas in 2007.

An Arab delegation comprising officials from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Turkey and the Palestinian Authority emphasized in a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in December that Arab states will need assurances that there is a path toward a Palestinian state if they are going are to play a role in the reconstruction of Gaza.

CNNs Tim Lister, Mitch McCluskey, Jennifer Hansler, Priscilla Alvarez, Natasha Bertrand, Irene Nasser, Alireza Hajihosseini, Manveena Suri, Abeer Salman, Eyad Kourdi and Abbas Al Lawati contributed reporting.

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A national Latino legal and civil rights organization has been going after financial institutions for allegedly implementing policies that discriminate against eligible DACA recipients by denying them loans and other services based on their immigration status, according to 10 lawsuits filed over the past seven years.

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, better known as MALDEF, filed its two most recent lawsuits last week.

"It's a big problem," Thomas Saenz, president and general counsel at MALDEF, said in an interview with NBC News on Thursday. In addition to the lawsuits they have already filed, MALDEF is investigating "at least half a dozen more" similar cases. "Every time we file one of these cases, we get contacted by people saying, 'Hey, this happened to me at another bank or credit union.'"

Nearly 580,000 undocumented young adults, many of them Latino, who came to the U.S. as children can work and study without fear of deportation under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA. With the employment authorization card and social security number they receive under the Obama-era program, DACA recipients can apply for certain types of loans to buy a house or a car as well as access other kinds of financial services. Their DACA status must be renewed every two years.

On Wednesday, MALDEF sued Noble Credit Union on behalf of a 28-year-old DACA recipient from California who was denied a car loan based on the credit union's "limited and arbitrary immigration-status requirements," according to the lawsuit first obtained by NBC News on Thursday.

Noemi Peraza Lopez applied for a $35,000 auto loan this past summer and got approval from Noble, according to the complaint, which was still being processed, pending acceptance by the court Thursday.

Noble then denied the loan after seeing that Peraza Lopez's drivers license states it's for limited-term, meaning its renewal aligns with the DACA recipient's renewal status every two years.

Following the incident, Peraza Lopez applied for another loan at a different bank and received it. But the terms were less favorable than the one Noble initially approved and denied, causing Peraza Lopez "to feel the deleterious effects of discrimination," according to the lawsuit.

NBC News called Noble Credit Union to request comment Thursday afternoon.

MALDEF filed another lawsuit last Friday against an Oregon-based credit union for "unlawfully denying a home equity loan to a DACA recipient based on his immigration status," the organization said.

The plaintiff on the case, Ismael Rodriguez Perez, applied for a home equity loan at a First Tech Federal Credit Union location in California this past summer. The 31-year-old DACA recipient was initially told he was approved for the loan, according to the lawsuit. But the credit union conditioned the approval on Rodriguez Perez having a green card, which only permanent residents have, not DACA recipients.

Rodriguez Perez was later denied the loan after a First Tech representative told him his employment authorization card  which he had previously used to purchase a home in Washington state, obtain employment and open various bank and retirement accounts  would be insufficient on its own to get the loan, the lawsuit alleges.

I applied for a loan convinced that as a taxpayer and property owner, I qualified. I was denied a loan based on my immigration status and despite the equity of my home and my credit worthiness. Such discrimination is simply wrong, Rodriguez Perez, a battery materials scientist, said in a statement.

Since DACA started in 2012, this section of the population has contributed $108 billion to the U.S. economy, as well as $33 billion in combined taxes, according to the immigration advocacy group FWD.us.

Ive been a DACA recipient for more than a decade and am constantly reminded that I am not fully accepted in this remarkable nation, Rodriguez Perez added.

First Tech Federal Credit Union told NBC News in a statement Wednesday evening that it "does not engage in unlawful discrimination against loan applicants."

"While we are now aware of the lawsuit, the credit union has not yet been served with the complaint or otherwise notified," the statement reads. "As a result, we have just started the investigation of the claims and are not in position to evaluate the allegations contained in the article or provide further comment on this pending litigation.

2017 marked the first time MALDEF legally challenged a financial institution for discriminating against DACA recipients based on their immigration status.

That year, MALDEF sued Wells Fargo, arguing that the banks policies making DACA recipients ineligible for unsecured consumer credit cards and loans violated federal and state civil rights laws. Wells Fargo eventually settled the class-action suit in 2020 and was required to pay more than $18.7 million to affected DACA recipients and change its lending policies.

'A lack of awareness'

Last year, settlements were reached in three other similar cases involving a bank headquartered in Utah and two credit unions, one based in Chicago and another in California. Saenz said the case involving the bank "is over and money has been distributed" to members of the class-action lawsuit. The credit union cases are in different stages of the settlement approval process.

Last week, "a confidential resolution" was reached in another lawsuit filed by MALDEF of behalf of a DACA recipient from Tampa, Florida. According to the lawsuit filed in October 2022, Nanci Palacios Godinez was denied a credit card at GTE Federal Credit Union because she wasn't a permanent resident. GTE has denied all allegations brought in the lawsuit.

Two other cases remain in "active negotiations," Saenz said.

"The reason these cases tend to settle is that, oftentimes, it seems to be longstanding policies that have never been questioned," Saenz said. "When you have that context of quick settlements, it means there's just a lack of awareness at the high levels of these institutions about what their longstanding policies do."

As these cases emerged, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Department of Justice released a joint statement warning creditors and borrowers about how over-relying on immigration status in the credit-decision process "may run afoul of Equal Credit Opportunity Act's anti-discrimination provisions and could also violate other laws."

Part of the reason MALDEF continues to try these cases is to "get a definitive ruling" from the Supreme Court, since federal laws are not very clear when it comes to issues of discrimination based on immigration status or against subgroups of immigrants, Saenz said.

"If we can't get a definitive ruling, then it would be best to get the Congress to be clearer," he said. "A clear congressional statement that discrimination against subgroups of immigrants is unlawful ... would prevent potential discrimination against a large class of conditional residents who are in the process of legalization," not just DACA recipients.
Israel appears far from achieving its goals of crushing Hamas and freeing an estimated 129 hostages still held in Gaza nearly three months after the group's surprise cross-border attack and the Israeli government's declaration of war.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant says several thousand Hamas fighters remain in northern Gaza, where entire neighborhoods have been blasted into rubble. Heavy fighting is also underway in central Gaza and the southern city of Khan Younis, where Israeli officials say Hamas military structure is still largely intact.

Gallant on Thursday laid out a personal vision for a scaled-down combat approach in northern Gaza and a proposal for how the territory would be run after the war  with Israel keeping security control while an undefined Palestinian body runs day-to-day administration. His office emphasized the ideas were his own and not official policy.

Thousands of people took to the streets of Beirut on Thursday for the funeral of top Hamas commander Saleh Arouri, who was killed earlier this week in an apparent Israeli airstrike on an apartment in the Lebanese capital.

Hamas' Oct. 7 attack from Gaza into southern Israel killed around 1,200 people, and some 240 others were taken hostage. Israels air, ground and sea assault in Gaza has killed more than 22,300 people, two-thirds of them women and children, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-ruled territory. The count does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.

Currently:

 Israeli defense minister lays out vision for next steps of Gaza war.

 Blinken heads to the Mideast again as fears of regional conflict surge.

 Israels Mossad chief vows to hunt down Hamas members.

 The mother and American uncle of a U.S. service member are rescued from Gaza in a secret operation.

 Find more of AP's coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war.

Here's what's happening in the war:

RELATIONS BETWEEN SPAIN AND ISRAEL HAVE IMPROVED, OFFICIAL SAYS

JERUSALEM  Israels foreign minister announced Thursday that the Israeli ambassador to Spain will return to Madrid, after a diplomatic spat over Israels war in Gaza prompted the ministry to pull her back to Jerusalem.

Israel recalled ambassador Rodica Radian-Gordon in late November after Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez questioned the legality of Israels offensive in Gaza. The Israeli Foreign Ministry said Thursday that relations between the two countries had improved since then.

In light of an improvement in the Spanish governments statements, the ministry said, it was decided that the ambassador will return to Madrid and continue her activities to promote support for the right of the State of Israel to protect its citizens against the terrorist organization Hamas.

NETANYAHU SEEKING A FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE ON BORDER WITH LEBANON

TEL AVIV, Israel  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a U.S. envoy on Thursday that he is seeking a fundamental change on Israels border with Lebanon.

The comments came days after a suspected Israeli strike on Beirut killed a top Hamas operative, raising tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. The Lebanese militant group, which provides support to Hamas, has vowed to avenge the killing.

Netanyahu did not specify what his plans entailed, but said he was committed to resettling evacuated residents from Israels north back in their homes safely. Netanyahu also said he hopes to resolve the conflict with Lebanon diplomatically but indicated that Israel would not shirk from a wider conflict.

Israel, after the murderous attack on Saturday of Oct. 7, is determined, bolder and more united than ever before, said Netanyahu. Those of our neighbors who have not yet understood this will understand this very well in the future.

Netanyahu spoke during a meeting with Amos Hochstein, a U.S. envoy who mediates between Israel and Lebanon.

Israel has demanded that Hezbollah respect a 2006 U.N. cease-fire agreement requiring the group to pull back from the Israeli border.

Israel and Hezbollah have engaged in light cross-border skirmishes through Israels war against Hamas. But the sides have appeared reluctant to enter a broader conflict.

ISRAEL AND SAUDI ARABIA CAN STILL NORMALIZE TIES, GRAHAM SAYS

TEL AVIV, Israel  U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham says it is still possible for Israel and Saudi Arabia to normalize ties.

Israel and Saudi Arabia had been moving toward the establishment of official diplomatic relations earlier this year. But those efforts were upended by Hamas Oct. 7 attack and Israels ongoing war against the Islamic militant group.

Speaking in Tel Aviv, Graham said he believes a window of opportunity for normalization remains open until June, when the U.S. will turn its attention to the 2024 president campaign.

The South Carolina Republican said he plans to push the issue with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman when he visits Saudi Arabia in the coming days.

I think Oct. 7 was motivated not exclusively, but primarily, by the Iranians to stop the reconciliation process, Graham told reporters Thursday. The nightmare for Iran is for the Arab world to reconcile with Israel and move the region toward the light away from the dark side.

Graham said that he was in Israel to share lessons America learned after trying and failing to eradicate the Taliban in Afghanistan. Graham added that he hoped an Arab-led coalition would lead rebuilding efforts in Gaza, and that he wouldnt invest even 15 cents of American money in the Palestinian Authority. The White House has said a reformed PA should play a role in postwar Gaza.

Graham, the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, is leading a bipartisan delegation of 10 senators to Israel. The trip included a visit to Kfar Azza, a kibbutz that was severely damaged during the Hamas attack on Oct. 7.

ISRAEL SAYS IT HAS UNCOVERED A HAMAS WEAPONRY LAB

JERUSALEM  The Israeli military said Thursday that it raided a Hamas military compound along the central coast of the Gaza Strip, destroying a tunnel network it said stretched for hundreds of meters. The military said that one of the tunnels led to a facility that was used by Hamas to manufacture weapons, guarded by doors that were blast-proof and booby-trapped. It did not provide footage of the weaponry lab.

Military spokesperson Daniel Hagari said that the facility had been used to create long-range rockets and was stocked with explosives. The damage to the production sites and Hamass rocket launch capability and its reduction, as is carried out throughout the war, continues to be one of the main objectives of the military operation, Hagari said.

Videos released by the military showed soldiers digging massive holes in the sand to unearth the tunnel shafts prior to destroying them. Soldiers found a collection of weapons in the area, from grenades to mortar shells.

DIPLOMATIC AGREEMENT WITH HEZBOLLAH IS STILL POSSIBLE, ISRAEL SAYS

TEL AVIV  Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant said Thursday that a diplomatic agreement with Lebanons Hezbollah was still possible, days after a suspected Israeli strike on a Hamas leader in Beirut threatened a dramatic escalation between the two countries.

We find ourselves at a junction. There is a short window of time for diplomatic understandings, which we prefer, Gallant told Amos Hochstein, a White House envoy, at a meeting in Tel Aviv.

Gallant said a top priority was ensuring some 80,000 Israeli civilians forced to evacuate northern communities near the Lebanese border could return to their homes safely. The area was evacuated after Hezbollah began shelling northern Israel, shortly after the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war. Israel has demanded that Hezbollah respect a 2006 U.N. cease-fire requiring it to pull back from the Israeli border.

Gallants comments came two days after the deputy head of Hamas was killed in a suspected Israeli strike in Beirut. Hezbollah, which has offered shelter and support to Hamas leaders, has vowed to avenge the attack.

Israel and Hamas have engaged in low-level exchanges of fire for nearly three months, but both sides have been hesitant to engage in all-out war.

10 CHILDREN, 2 ADULTS KILLED BY ISRAELI AIRSTRIKE IN SOUTHERN GAZA

RAFAH, Gaza Strip  An Israeli strike has flattened a home in an area of southern Gaza that the military had declared a safe zone, as Israeli troops pressed their assault in the nearby city of Khan Younis.

The strike hit a house in Mawasi, a small rural strip on Gazas southern coastline where Israels military has said Palestinians should flee to escape the combat zone. The blast killed a man and his wife, seven of their children and three other children ranging in age from 5 to 14, according to a list of the dead who arrived at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis.

There was no immediate response from Israels military.

Israeli troops pushed into Khan Younis in early December and have been battling Hamas militants there for weeks. The military said Thursday that its troops uncovered a large tunnel hundreds of meters (yards) long with an entrance in a field next to a mosque.

FORMER U.S. VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE PLEDGES SUPPORT WHILE IN ISRAEL

SDEROT, Israel  Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence visited war-battered southern Israel on Thursday to express support for the country in its war against Hamas.

Standing next to the ruins of a police station in the city of Sderot, home to a fierce battle between Hamas militants and police officers on Oct. 7, Pence said the United States stood with Israel, which is under international pressure to end its ground and air campaign in Gaza. Next week, the U.N.s top court is expected to begin examining a South African case accusing Israel of genocide.

The world community always seems to find its way eventually to criticizing Israel, particularly in places like the United Nations,  Pence said. And in this dark hour, I wanted to do my part to make sure the people of Israel know that the people of the United States are with you and that we will stand with you.

Pence, who served under former President Donald Trump, is a longtime supporter of Israel. He dropped out of the 2024 presidential race in October after struggling to raise money and gain traction in the polls.

FUNERAL HELD FOR HAMAS COMMANDER KILLED IN LEBANON

Thousands of people took to the streets of Beirut for the funeral of top Hamas commander Saleh Arouri, who was killed earlier this week in an apparent Israeli airstrike on an apartment in the Lebanese capital.

Draped in Palestinian and Hamas flags, Arouris coffin along with those of two of his comrades were first taken to a Beirut mosque for prayers Thursday before being carried to the Palestine Martyrs Cemetery. Arouris automatic rifle was placed on his coffin at the prayer service.

The funeral was attended by Palestinian officials, including top Hamas official Moussa Abu Marzouk, as well as representatives of some Lebanese political groups. People tried to touch the coffins surrounded by Hamas members wearing green caps. Some of the Hamas members were armed.

The enemy is running away from its failures and defeats (in Gaza) to Lebanon, senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said in a speech aired during the funeral. He added that the killing of Arouri in Beirut is a proof of (Israels) bloody mentality.

Lebanese officials and state media said an Israeli drone fired two missiles Tuesday at an apartment in Beiruts southern Musharafieh district, which is a stronghold of Lebanons powerful Hezbollah group, instantly killing Arouri along with six other Hamas members.
DES MOINES, Iowa  Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis escalated his attacks on former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, calling her phony and a darling of the Never Trumpers in a joint interview with NBC News and The Des Moines Register.

I'm just thinking to myself, you know, 'She's phony.' You know, she doesn't have a core set of convictions, DeSantis said, adding, She's coming in here. She's trying to be relatable, but just doesn't get Iowa. And I think that's becoming more and more apparent. "

DeSantis pointed to an incident last week in which Haley called Iowa Hawkeyes basketball player Caitlin Clark the wrong name, saying "Caitlin Collins" instead, and Haley saying in New Hampshire this week that state would "correct" Iowa's choice later this month.

Ron DeSantis speaks during an interview. (Jamie Kelter Davis for NBC News)

The Florida governor reserved significant criticism for former President Donald Trump in the interview as well. He also spoke about Thursday's school shooting in Iowa, said his campaign is in the 2024 primary for a "long process," and detailed how Trump's upcoming trials will affect the election and stressed his faith in the Iowa and national election systems.

But the sharp comments on Haley reflect how DeSantis has gotten drawn into competition with her in Iowa in recent months, including an expensive TV ad war featuring their allied super PACs, while Trump has maintained a consistent polling lead there ahead of the Jan. 15 caucuses.

Asked to name one state where DeSantis could predict a victory in the next few months, he responded, Were going to be able to win a lot of states.

He added later that to say that weve put all the eggs [in one basket] is not true. We have great organization and field programs in the early states. And were going to compete in all of them."

In Iowa, DeSantis charged that Haley is not conservative enough for the state.

Nikki Haley cant get conservative voters. Shes playing for voters who are not even core Republicans, DeSantis said.

At the same time, DeSantis accused Haley of running to be the vice president, saying: Shes the darling of the Never Trumpers. And yet, when shes asked, 'OK, will you just categorically put this to bed and say you will not accept the vice presidential nomination?' she will not answer that question."

Still, DeSantis denied that hes in a race for second place with Haley, claiming that hes the only candidate who can beat Trump for the GOP nomination.

They wouldn't be spending that money if we weren't the top. I'm the only one that has a chance to beat Trump and win the general election, he said.

While DeSantis hammered Haley, he also bashed Trump for not showing up to the Hawkeye State enough ahead of the Jan. 15 caucus.

We think Iowans appreciate when you go to all 50, or all 99 counties, and you show up, and you answer questions. I'm the only one that's done that. I mean, Donald Trump will not go answer questions. He won't even participate in debates," DeSantis said.

The governor also said that as the Republican nominee, he could focus on policy issues facing American voters, rather than the legal cases facing Trump.

Practically speaking, Republican voters just have to look at this and say, 'OK, do we want the election to be about the issues that the American people are facing?'" DeSantis said, adding, Do we want to be able to hold Biden and the Democrats feet to the fire for their failures and offer a way to a better future for Americans? Or do we want the election to be about Donald Trumps conduct, about Jan. 6, about criminal cases and all this?"

Still, DeSantis didnt spell out a clear path to victory for the Republican nomination if he fails to win the Iowa caucuses. But he did predict the campaign would be "a long process" that he would win in the end.

We can have a lot of great organizations throughout Super Tuesday. So youre going to see this is very dynamic. Youre going to see its a long process. And were going to be able to win," DeSantis said.

Trump as a general election distraction

DeSantis expanded on his case that Trump as the nominee would turn the 2024 election into more litigation of his legal woes.

Additionally, DeSantis asserted that in a general election against President Joe Biden, having Trump on the ballot would incentivize Democrats to turn out and vote.

He does a better job inspiring Democrats to come out to vote than Democrat candidates are able to do, and I think thats one of the reasons why Biden and the Democrats want to run against Trump, DeSantis said.

With Trump as the nominee, DeSantis argued, the election would be a referendum on Trump.

Just practically speaking, you dont want the election to be a referendum on Donald Trump and all these issues from the past, he said.

No new federal action to address shootings

In the wake of a school shooting in Iowa on Thursday, DeSantis repeatedly declined to identify whether there was a federal policy that he would change to make shootings less common.

We obviously, you know, have a responsibility to create safe environments. The federal government is probably not going to be leading that effort, DeSantis said.

He added that the issue is more about mental health than about guns.

Thats an underlying sickness in society. And I think that involves things like mental health.

Jan. 6 anniversary

Ahead of the third anniversary of the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol, DeSantis downplayed the severity of the event, saying: I know that this is a, like, Christmas Day for the media to talk about Jan. 6. I know its a big deal in a lot of the corporate outlets. I get that. Ive not had a single question in Iowa about Jan. 6."

He blamed the left for politicizing the event, adding, Im not going to spend time, you know, in my campaign either now or in the general election talking about rehashing that.

And, looking forward, DeSantis said he was confident in Iowa's election system and mocked Trump for not accepting the results of his 2016 caucus loss.

But DeSantis did not commit to accepting the results of the 2024 presidential election if Biden wins.

If it was a transparent victory, obviously you accept the results. But I dont know what Democrats have up their sleeve, DeSantis said.

I mean, what, youre saying if there was fraud, Im just supposed to turn a blind eye? No, Im not going to do that, he added.
South Koreas military condemned its northern neighbor on Friday after Pyongyang fired artillery rounds that fell within a maritime buffer zone that has long been a flashpoint between the two.

North Korea fired more than 200 rounds between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m off its west coast, near South Koreas Baengnyeong and Yeonpyeong islands, according to South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).

The artillery fell north of the Northern Limit Line (NLL), a disputed de facto border drawn up by the United Nations at the end of the Korean War in 1953.

The incoming rounds did not harm any civilians or military, the JCS added, calling the incident a provocative act that threatens peace and heightens tension on the Korean Peninsula.

In response South Koreas military held its own maritime shooting exercise on Friday afternoon, with the defense ministry saying it was to respond to North Koreas provocation of shooting artilleries inside the no-hostile act zone this morning. There were no unusual movements by the North Korean military during the exercise, it said.

Ahead of the exercise, Yeonpyeong residents were ordered to evacuate to nearby shelters and refrain from doing outdoor activities, according to a government website message, and a local resident who told CNN they received the same message via text.

Photos from the island showed people gathering near designated shelters, some sitting inside and others milling around outside.

South Koreas military held its own maritime shooting exercise on Friday afternoon in response to fire from North Korea - South Korea's Defence Ministry

Yeonpyeong, a tiny island that only measures 3 square miles, is home to more than 2,100 people, according to its local office website. Baengnyeong island, about 18 square miles, has more than 4,900 residents.

It is not unprecedented for North Korea to fire shells into the maritime buffer zone but such acts do raise tensions.

The hermit nation resumed firing artillery within the buffer zone after scrapping an inter-Korean military agreement last November, the JCS said. Multiple rounds were also fired in the same area in late 2022.

The military agreement was signed in 2018 as part of efforts with the United States to contain the threat of war on the Korean Peninsula, and broaden the buffer zone between the two Koreas.

But relations have deteriorated since, with Seoul pulling back from the agreement, and both sides stepping up military exercises and weapons tests.

The South Korean military is now working with the US to track related movements, and will take actions corresponding to North Koreas provocation, the JCS said Friday.

It is not unusual for North Korea to fire artillery into the West Sea during its winter exercises, said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. Whats different this year is the two Koreas have recently backed away from a military confidence-building agreement, and Kim Jong Un has publicly disavowed reconciliation and unification with the South.

On Sunday, North Korean state-run news agency KCNA reported that the hermit nations leader Kim Jong Un had said the state will no longer seek reconciliation and reunification with South Korea.

Kim said inter-Korean relations have become a relationship between two hostile countries and two belligerents at war, according to the KCNA report. He reportedly added that if the US and South Korea attempt a military confrontation with the North, its nuclear war deterrent will not hesitate to take serious action.

Flashpoint maritime border

The Northern Limit Line runs 3 nautical miles from the North Korean coastline and put five islands close to the coast under South Korean control.

North Korea has proposed a different line that would roughly extend the demilitarized zone (DMZ) between the two nations southwest into the Yellow Sea, rather than hug North Koreas shoreline.

Yeonpyeong Island lies off South Koreas northwest coast, right by the border with its northern neighbor  and has been the location of hostilities between the two sides before.

In November 2010, Pyongyang launched an attack on the island, killing two marines and two civilians. The attack also injured 15 South Korean soldiers and three civilians, South Korea said. It prompted an island-wide evacuation, and South Korean forces returned fire.

The North blamed the South at the time for provoking that attack by holding an artillery drill in the waters near Yeonpyeong.

The island shelling also came half a year after North Korea torpedoed a South Korean Navy corvette, killing 46 of the 104 sailors aboard, during joint US-South Korea naval exercises. North Korea denied the sinking, which a Seoul-led multinational investigation team concluded had come from a torpedo fired by a North Korean midget submarine.

The 2010 clash was one of the worst flare-ups of violence in years; at the time, the secretary general of the United Nations called North Koreas attack one of the gravest incidents since the end of the Korean War.

The war has technically never ended; an armistice brought hostilities to a halt in 1953  but theres never been a peace treaty.

Though diplomats in Seoul and Washington have in recent years discussed an agreement to end the war, those efforts have faltered as tensions in the Korean Peninsula rose again  especially with Pyongyang ramping up its weapons development program and missile testing.

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CAIRO (Reuters) -Sudan's army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan on Friday vowed to continue a nine-month war between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), rejecting the latest peace efforts.

RSF head Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo agreed earlier this week to a ceasefire proposed by civilian groups, contingent on the military agreeing also. But observers responded sceptically in light of the paramilitary force's prior unfulfilled promises.

The U.S. has accused both the army and RSF of war crimes, and it says the RSF is also responsible for crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing.

"The whole world witnessed these rebel forces committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in West Darfur and the rest of Sudan. For that reason, we have no reconciliation with them, we have no agreement with them," Burhan, who is also Sudan's head of state, told troops gathered in Port Sudan in video released by his office.

He was referring to ethnic cleansing in and around the West Darfur city of El Geneina.

The war that began on April 15 has devastated wide swathes of Sudan and displaced more than 7.5 million people.

With the RSF appearing to gain the upper hand in the fight, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, an African trade bloc, got Burhan and Dagalo, known as Hemedti, last month to agree to an in-person meeting.

But Burhan on Friday ruled that out and called his rival a "clown", "traitor" and "coward". He rejected the ceasefire deal Dagalo signed in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, this week.

Burhan also criticised leaders of African countries including South Africa, Ethiopia and Kenya who received Dagalo as a statesman during visits this week and Sudanese politicians who met him in Ethiopia.

"He is humiliating the Sudanese people, he is killing them, insulting them, and some people are clapping for him and laughing with him," Burhan said.

POPULAR RESISTANCE

The RSF has faced growing popular resistance in northern Sudan after it last month raided Gezira State and ransacked farming villages.

Burhan said he would arm Sudanese people who wanted to fight the RSF and urged them to join the military. The country faces the threat of falling under "bondage and colonialism," Burhan said. It was an apparent reference to the United Arab Emirates, which the army accuses of supporting the RSF.

Dagalo has shared photos in which he was disembarking from a jet owned by an Emirati airline that flight records show has gone to the places on his regional tour.

(Reporting by Nafisa Eltahir; Editing by Alison Williams and Cynthia Osterman)
WASHINGTON  The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to consider whether former President Donald Trump could be deemed ineligible to run for federal office again because of his actions leading up to the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol  a case that could have a seismic impact on the presidential election.

The justices will review a decision by the Colorado Supreme Court that said Trump could be barred from the Republican primary ballot in that state, but the U.S. Supreme Court ruling is likely to have national repercussions, potentially setting guidelines that would determine how every other state would handle the issue.

The brief order said the case would be argued on an accelerated schedule on Feb. 8, indicating that a ruling will follow soon after.

One other state, Maine, has issued a similar decision saying that Trump cannot appear on the ballot. Like the Colorado ruling, the Maine decision is on hold while litigation continues. Trump remains on the ballot in both states.

Were glad that the Supreme Court will definitively decide whether Donald Trump can be on the ballot. We look forward to presenting our case and ensuring the constitution is upheld," the government watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, which represents the six plaintiffs who sued, said in a statement.

Donald Trump arrives to speak at a

Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, a Democrat, said in a statement that the American people "deserve clarity on whether someone who engaged in insurrection may run for the country's highest office." The court, she said, should "prioritize this case and issue a ruling as soon as possible."

If the Supreme Court rules for Trump, then he would stay on the ballot. But should the court uphold the Colorado ruling, then other states could be encouraged to follow suit.

There is also the possibility that if Trump is kicked off the ballot, Republicans could take retaliatory action by doing the same to President Joe Biden. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has already floated such a move.

The Colorado Supreme Court ruled on Dec. 19 that Trump was ineligible to appear on the Republican primary ballot in the state, although it put the ruling on hold to allow for appeals of its decision. In the meantime, Maines top election official reached a similar conclusion, further heightening the stakes. Unless the Supreme Court acts quickly, any decision could have limited impact during the primaries, but the logic would likely apply to the general election as well.

After the U.S. Supreme Court issued its order Friday, Trump praised the three justices he nominated to the Supreme Court: Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh.

I fought really hard to get three very, very good people, and theyre great people, very smart people, and I just hope that theyre going to be fair, Trump said at a campaign rally in Iowa.

Earlier, the Trump campaign said it was "confident" that the court would "unanimously affirm the civil rights of President Trump."

"We welcome a fair hearing at the Supreme Court to argue against the bad-faith, election-interfering, voter-suppressing, Democrat-backed and Biden-led, 14th Amendment abusing decision to remove President Trumps name from the 2024 ballot in the state of Colorado," spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement Friday.

The Colorado Supreme Court based its ruling on language in the Constitutions 14th Amendment that prohibits those who engaged in insurrection from running for various federal offices. Among the novel legal questions presented by the case are whether the language applies to candidates for president and who gets to decide whether someone engaged in an insurrection.

The state high courts decision reversed a lower courts ruling in which a judge said Trump had engaged in insurrection by inciting the Jan. 6 riot but that presidents are not subject to the insurrection clause of the 14th Amendment because they are not an officer of the United States.

Trump and his allies have raised that point as well as other arguments that the 14th Amendment cannot be applied.

Republicans, including Trump's primary opponents, broadly support his claim that any attempt to kick him off the ballot is a form of partisan election interference. Some Democrats including California Gov. Gavin Newsom have also expressed unease about the 14th Amendment provision being used as a partisan weapon.

The plaintiffs, as well as Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, agreed with Trump and the Republican Party that the Supreme Court needed to take up the case. They asked for a quick ruling ahead of primary season.

In Colorado, the deadline for candidates being certified for the primary ballot was Friday. Colorado is one of more than a dozen states that has its primary election on March 5.
London, Jan 5 (UNI) UK actress Glynis Johns, who is known for her role as Winifred Banks in 1964's "Mary Poppins" musical fantasy comedy film, has died at the age of 100 in Los Angeles, CNN reported, citing the actress's manager.



Mitch Clem was quoted as saying that Johns died "peacefully" on Thursday morning at an assisted living home, where she has lived for the past several years.



"Glynis powered her way through life with intelligence, wit, and a love for performance, affecting millions of lives," Clem said in a statement on Thursday, as quoted by CNN. "She entered my life early in my career and set a very high bar on how to navigate this industry with grace, class, and truth."



A cause of death has not yet been determined, the report said.



Johns was born on October 5, 1923, in Pretoria. Her screen debut took place in "South Riding" (1938). Johns became famous in the 1940s after appearing in the war drama film "49th Parallel" (1941) and starring roles in "Miranda" (1948) and "Third Time Lucky" (1949).



The actress has a long list of films she has starred in, including "Perfect Strangers" (1945), "State Secret" (1950), "Personal Affair" (1953), "Mad About Men" (1954)," Around the World in 80 Days" (1956), "Shake Hands with the Devil" (1959), "Nukie" (1987), "The Ref" (1994), "Superstar" (1999), and others.



Throughout her career, she was awarded by the National Board of Review in the category of Best Acting in "49th Parallel," the Laurel Awards for Female Supporting Performance in "Mary Poppins," the Tony Award, and the Drama Desk Award for best and outstanding actress in a musical dubbed "A Little Night Music." She was also honoured with the Disney Legends Award.

UNI/ SPUTNIK XC SSP
Pistorius will be monitored by an official until his sentence expires in Dec. 2029. (AP Foto/Themba Hadebe, Archivo) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Oscar Pistorius was released on parole Friday, almost 11 years after the former South African Paralympic star killed his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.

Steenkamp's mother, June, released a statement on Friday saying she hoped to live "in peace" now that Pistorius is free.

There can never be justice if your loved one is never coming back, and no amount of time served will bring Reeva back, June Steenkamp said. We, who remain behind, are the ones serving a life sentence.

On Feb. 14, 2013, Pistorius shot the 29-year-old Steenkamp four times through a bathroom door. After being accused of murdering her in anger, Pistorius claimed he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder. A year later he was convicted of manslaughter, which was ultimately upgraded to murder.

In 2017, Pistorius' sentence was increased from five years to 13 years and five months by South Africas Supreme Court of Appeal. He was allowed house arrest in 2015 during a brief hearing for one of the many appeals in his case. He was imprisoned again afterward.

A parole board decided in November that Pistorius, now 37, would be allowed to be freed after completing more than half of his sentence, which made him eligible under South African law.

June Steenkamp said in a victim impact statement in November that while she had forgiven Pistorius, she still did not believe him.

At this time, I am not convinced that Oscar has been rehabilitated, she said.

Rehabilitation requires someone to engage honestly with the full truth of his crime and the consequences thereof. Nobody can claim to have remorse if they are not able to engage fully with the truth.

If someone does not show remorse, they cannot be considered to be rehabilitated. If they are not rehabilitated, their risk of recidivism is high.

...

I do not know to what extent this behavior still exists or was evident during his time of incarceration, but I am concerned for the safety of any woman should this not have been addressed in his rehabilitation.

Pistorius will be monitored by an official until his sentence expires in Dec. 2029 and will have to contact the official if he moves to a new address. He will also be prohibited from consuming alcohol and conducting media interviews and will be required to continue going to therapy for anger management and attend classes on gender-based violence as part of his parole.

Nicknamed "Blade Runner," Pistorius gained stardom in the 2010s. The Paralympic star became the first double-amputee to compete in the Olympics when he ran the 400-meter dash at the 2012 London Games. His murder trial was followed globally, unfolding at the height of his professional success. Steenkamp was working as a model after completing law school and had been dating the athlete for three months.
Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) warned of a real, present, and urgent threat to Americas democracy in an op-ed in The Atlantic on Friday, marking three years since the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

Pelosi, who was Speaker at the time of the insurrection, detailed her experience attempting to certify President Bidens victory when pro-Trump protestors breached the Capitol and many specifically called after the Democratic leader.

The threat to our democracy is real, present, and urgent, she wrote. The parable of January 6 reminds us that our precious democratic institutions are only as strong as the courage and commitment of those entrusted with their care. We all share a responsibility to preserve American democracy, which Lincoln called the last best hope of earth.'

While Pelosi does not name Trump in the article, she refers to him by his title and says the then-president resorted to insurrection in the Capitol after failing to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in the courts.

January 6 was another perilous moment for our democracy. But on that dark night, Congress again projected Americas strength and resolve, Pelosi wrote. Now, three years later, we are called to do the same.

Pelosi has repeatedly warned of the dire consequences if he returns to the White House.

Dont even think of that, Pelosi said in an August interview about Trumps reelection. Dont think of the world being on fire. It cannot happen, or we will not be the United States of America.

If he were to be president, it would be a criminal enterprise in the White House, she added at the time.

In Fridays Atlantic article, Pelosi detailed her experience reentering the chamber on the evening of Jan. 6 to continue its debate over certifying Arizonas election results. She criticized House Republicans, who earlier that day were barricading themselves in their offices, hiding under desks and chairs, and witnessing so much pain and trauma  yet still voted against certifying some state election results.

She called out former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) for their objecting votes after they listened to her, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) plea for help from the National Guard.

She also thanks then-Vice President Pence for ultimately carrying out his duty to certify the election in favor of President Biden.

I also recognized the courage and commitment of the members and staff, who returned to the chambers that night and stayed until about 4 a.m., when we finally adjourned the January 6 session, she added.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Parisa is hard to find outside Medina County, Texas.

Courtesy of Palm & Pine

Have you ever heard of parisa? The dish (pronounced pah-ree-saa) is a South Texas speciality that is similar to steak tartare, but has its own Texas flair. Its a hyper-regional recipe, found almost exclusively in Medina County, Texas, next door to San Antonio.

The raw meat dish departs from the French version in a few key ways, including the addition of cheese. Well admit that it can sometimes resemble an uncooked meatball mixture, but dont let looks fool you, because Medina locals and visitors alike love it.

What Exactly Is Parisa?

Like any dish, recipes vary, but generally it's a raw ground meat dish, most commonly made with beef but can also be made with venison, especially during deer season, or bison. The meat is mixed with cheese (often American or Cheddar), jalapenos or another pepper (which can be pickled), citrus juice (lime or lemon), and onions. Some recipes include additional seasonings or garlic. Its fresh tasting, with a slight heat and acidity rounded out by the creaminess of the cheese.

Its usually enjoyed simply with a sleeve of saltines, as a starter or snack the same way you might enjoy pimiento cheese, but its also likely to show up at celebratory events, like weddings or tailgates.

Origins Of Parisa

This dish is a result of Alsatian immigrants in this part of Texas. Alsace is a region in France bordering Germany and Switzerland that has a French cuisine with a prominent German influence.

Aside from parisa, theres plenty of food in this part of the state influenced by the historic immigration, including Habys Alsatian Bakery in Castroville. The influence of both this kind of European cuisine, as well as local Texas and Mexican cooking traditions, collide in parisa, which is deeply tied to Medina county, and is relatively unknown in other parts of Texas, let alone the country.

Although inspired by French tartares, there is an obvious Tex-Mex influence, from the inclusion of chile peppers to how its prepared. The dish is often referred to as "cowboy ceviche," because of the fresh citrus juice included, which is part of traditional raw seafood ceviche preparations. The citrus lightly cures the beef in parisa, but doesnt cook it through.

Parisa is also linked to hunting in the region, and can be made with venison. You'll find many of the places serving it in Medina County double as wild game processing businesses, and it has a history as a hunting camp dish.

A New Take On Parisa

At Palm & Pine in New Orleans, Texas-born chefs Amarys and Jordan Herndon, have reimagined parisa. Despite being from the state, Jordan wasnt that familiar with the dish, so he embarked on a research trip to Medina County. He spent a day trying out local parisas, mostly enjoying them on the hood of his car in between stops, and came back with fresh inspiration for his own version.

"It would be easy for us to just copy the exact dish, but its our responsibility to showcase it in a different light as a restaurant," says Jordan, "We marry parisa with some of the traditional steak tartare flavor profiles. We zhuzh it up."

Palm & Pines parisa (pictured above) includes fermented serrano peppers, havarti, and an egg jam (a nod to classic tartares served with a raw egg on top). Instead of grinding the beef, its chopped, highlighting the high-quality local beef, and even the salt and pepper used gets an upgrade. The pair use smoked pepper and flaky Maldon salt. Its decidedly fancier, but a lovely homage to a traditional parisa.

A Few Places To Try Parisa

If you're ready to embark on your own parisa research trip, here are a few spots Jordan recommends trying out in Medina County.

Dziuks Meat Market: Selling a variety of Alsatian-style sausages, cured meats, and fresh cuts, this Castroville business also sells parisa made fresh daily.

Silver Creek Specialty Meats and Gourmet Coffee: Located in Hondo, Texas, this butcher and coffee shop sells among many items, their own take on parisa that they call, "the go-to party dish of Medina County." Jordan suggests trying their ghost pepper parisa.

Alvarez Food Mart: Also in Hondo, this is Jordans favorite spot to pick up the raw beef delicacy. Youll know youve arrived at the right place when you see their sign, with their specialities (steak, parisa, and sausage) listed front and center.

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Read the original article on Southern Living.
Donald Trump made his name in New York real estate, and he plastered it on towers, plazas and skating rinks for half a century.

Now, the state's attorney general wants to take it down and bar him from ever again working in the industry, at least in New York.

In a filing Friday before closing arguments in Trump's civil fraud trial, lawyers for New York Attorney General Letitia James said they also want Trump and other defendants billed $370 million for "ill-gotten gains," plus additional interest. The filing, a sort of preview of the arguments scheduled for Jan. 11, claims "the myriad deceptive schemes they employed to inflate asset values and conceal facts were so outrageous that they belie innocent explanation."

The $370 million figure is a significant increase from the $250 million clawback James' office initially said it was seeking when it filed suit against the Trumps in September 2022.

A New York judge found Trump, his two adult sons, their company, and two former executives liable for a decade of fraud in September. The trial in the case, on allegations related to conspiracy, falsification of business records and insurance fraud, ran from October through early December.

James' office argues in its filing that it proved Trump and the company purposefully juiced their estimates of property values  and his overall net worth  in financial statements used to get unusually favorable deals on loans and insurance.

During the trial, the state's lawyers showed internal corporate spreadsheets and communications that they said bolstered their case of a yearslong, coordinated effort to vastly misrepresent Trump's wealth.

"Direct evidence from multiple witnesses establishes Trump made known his desired target net worth each year.which his CFO and Controller then dutifully set out to hit by reverse-engineering the asset values," James' attorneys wrote in Friday's filing.

They said Trump "failed to present any legally relevant response to the People's proof."

Christopher Kise, an attorney for Trump, said in a text message to CBS News that the request for $370 million by New York Attorney General Letitia James is "unconscionable, unsupported by the evidence, untethered from reality, and unconstitutionally excessive."

In a filing Friday, lawyers for Trumps wrote that "The Attorney General has woefully failed to prove her case and is not entitled to any of the relief sought in this action."

Trump and his co-defendants have vehemently denied the allegations. During testimony in November, he accused James and Judge Arthur Engoron of targeting him unfairly.

In addition to the lifetime New York real estate ban for Trump and the former executives, Allen Weisselberg and Jeffrey McConney, James' office is also seeking five-year bans for Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump.

Engoron's final ruling in the case is expected weeks after the Jan. 11 closing arguments.

Charles Osgood, longtime host of "Sunday Morning," dies at 91

Breaking down the New Hampshire primary results

Trump will win New Hampshire primary, CBS News projects
Former President Trump and former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley have made gains among likely Republican primary voters in New Hampshire, according to a recent survey.

The American Research Group poll found Haley polling at 33 percent among likely Republican primary voters in the Granite State in a survey taken between Dec. 27 and Jan. 3  up four points from a December survey.

Former President Trump also made some gains, as the survey now shows him at 37 percent versus 33 percent last month. Trump and Haley still maintain a distance of 4 points in the more recent survey, similar to the earlier survey.

Last month, the former president expressed his distaste with the earlier survey in a post on Truth Social.

Fake New Hampshire poll was released on Birdbrain, Trump said about Haley, using a nickname for her. Just another scam! Ratings challenged FoxNews will play it to the hilt. Sununu now one of the least popular governors in the U.S. Real poll to follow.

Haleys rise also comes despite recent controversy she has faced over an answer she gave at a town hall in New Hampshire about the cause of the Civil War, during which she did not mention slavery.

Well, dont come with an easy question, right, Haley said at the time. I mean, I think the cause of the Civil War was basically how government was going to run, the freedoms and what people could and couldnt do.

The voter then criticized her answer and said it was astonishing that in 2023 she did not mention slavery when discussing the cause of the Civil War.

What do you want me to say about slavery? the former United Nations ambassador asked.

The survey was conducted from Dec. 27 to Jan. 3 and features 600 interviews of likely Republican primary voters in New Hampshire. It has a margin of error of 4 percentage points.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
By Jack Queen

NEW YORK (Reuters) -Donald Trump should be permanently barred from New York's real estate industry for "outrageous" fraud, the state's attorney general said in a court filing on Friday ahead of closing arguments in a civil case against the former U.S. president.

Attorney General Letitia James and lawyers for Trump and the other defendants filed their final briefs ahead of closing arguments scheduled for next Thursday in Manhattan in a case that threatens to strip him of prized real estate assets.

In their filing, Trump's lawyers accused the attorney general's office of overstepping its authority by trying to bar Trump from "any and all" business activity, a penalty "far more substantial than the mere loss of money."

Trump's lawyers said the state failed during the three-month trial last year to show any "real-world impact" from Trump's financial statements to banks, which according to the judge presiding over the case overstated his net worth by billions of dollars.

The attorney general's office in its filing said Trump's "myriad deceptive schemes" to "inflate asset values and conceal facts were so outrageous that they belie innocent explanation."

Trump is the frontrunner for the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic President Joe Biden in this year's U.S. election.

Justice Arthur Engoron will hand down his verdict sometime after the closing arguments. Engoron already found Trump liable for fraudulently overstating his wealth to secure better loan terms.

The trial focused on damages. James, an elected Democrat, is seeking at least $370 million in penalties from Trump and his co-defendants, as well as restrictions on Trump's ability to do business in the state.

Trump has denied wrongdoing and called the case a political witch hunt. He said in a social media post on Friday that there were "no victims" in the case.

Trump separately has been charged with crimes in four other cases, pleading not guilty in each. His maelstrom of legal troubles has not diminished his commanding lead over Republican rivals in the presidential race.

During defiant and meandering testimony in October, Trump boasted about his business acumen and railed against what he said was political bias against him by James and Engoron.

Three of his adult children - Donald Jr., Eric and Ivanka Trump - also testified in the trial. They said they had little to no involvement with their father's financial statements while running the Trump Organization, an umbrella company for his wide-ranging business ventures. Unlike her brothers, Ivanka Trump is not a defendant.

Lawyers for Donald Jr. and Eric Trump said in their own filing on Friday that there was no evidence that either had "anything more than a peripheral knowledge or involvement in" the preparation of their father's financial statements.

The future of Trump's empire hangs in the balance after Engoron in September ordered the dissolution of companies controlling crown jewels of his New York portfolio, including Trump Tower and 40 Wall Street in Manhattan.

That order is on hold while Trump appeals. Some legal experts have said Engoron may lack the authority to issue such a sweeping order.

Trump is under indictment in Washington and Georgia for his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Biden, in Florida for his handling of classified documents after leaving office, and in New York over hush money paid to a porn star ahead of the 2016 election.

The first of his criminal trials is scheduled to begin in New York in March, but that is subject to change as Trump's crowded legal calendar complicates court schedules.

(Reporting by Jack Queen; Editing by Will Dunham, Noeleen Walder, Daniel Wallis and Nick Zieminski)
By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -White House budget director Shalanda Young said Friday she is not optimistic about reaching a deal to avoid a partial government shutdown later this month.

"I wouldn't say pessimistic but I'm not optimistic," Young said at a breakfast meeting with reporters sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor, citing a trip by House Republicans this week to the U.S.-Mexico border and comments by some lawmakers advocating for a partial shutdown with two weeks remaining. "The rhetoric this week has concerned me that (a shutdown) is the path that House Republicans are headed down."

Congress returns to Washington next week to tackle Jan. 19 and Feb. 2 deadlines for settling government spending through September, amid Republican demands to reduce fiscal 2024 discretionary spending below caps agreed in June.

Lawmakers also hope to pass emergency aid for Ukraine and Israel, possibly with unrelated U.S. border security provisions attached.

Young urged House Republicans to reach a deal on border security and policy reforms. Republicans are not going to "get everything they want and people have to know how to take a deal."

She again made an urgent call for Congress to approve more funding for Ukraine. "We have got to get to a deal, not start from scratch with new talks," Young said. "This is dire."

She said it is not just about the direct funding to Ukraine from the United States "but what signal that sends across the world."

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)


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Marysville, CA (95901)

Today

Partly cloudy. High 76F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 49F. Winds light and variable.
Yamaha announces special Pongal offers

Chennai, Jan 5 (UNI) To celebrate the harvest festival of Pongal in the state of Tamil Nadu, Yamaha Motor India on Friday announced special offers for its customers in the state.

Valid till January 31, 2024, the exclusive offers are currently applicable on Yamahas 150cc FZ model range, FZ16 and 125cc Fi Hybrid Scooters.

A company release said the offers included benefits upto Rs. 6,000 or Rs.1,999 Down Payment on 150cc FZ-S Fi V4, FZ-S Fi V3 and FZ Fi; Benefits upto Rs. 7,000 or Zero Down Payment on FZ-X; Benefits upto Rs. 4,000 or Zero Down Payment on 125 Fi Hybrid Scooters - RayZR and Fascino.

Yamahas current product portfolio includes YZF-R3 (321cc), MT-03 (321cc), YZF-R15 V4 (155cc), YZF-R15S V3 (155cc), MT-15 V2 (155cc); FZS-Fi Version 4.0 (149cc), FZS-Fi Version 3.0 (149cc), FZ-Fi (149cc), FZ-X (149cc), and scooters like Aerox 155 (155cc), Fascino 125 Fi Hybrid (125cc), Ray ZR 125 Fi Hybrid (125cc) and Ray ZR Street Rally 125 FI Hybrid (125cc).

UNI GV 1817
YEREVAN, JANUARY 5, ARMENPRESS. 223 people, including 5 children, were killed in Nagorno-Karabakh in the 19-20 September 2023 Azerbaijani attack, a senior law enforcement official in Armenia has said.

Argishti Kyaramyan, the Head of the Investigative Committee of Armenia, told First Channel News that the number of those wounded was 244.

He said that the Investigative Committee launched criminal proceedings on ethnic cleansing and the circumstances of the forced displacement of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh are being investigated within the framework of that probe.

223 people, of whom 25 were civilians, were killed as a result of the September 19-20, 2023 Azerbaijani aggression in Nagorno-Karabakh. The death toll includes five minors, Kyaramyan said.

Another 244 were wounded, including 76 civilians (10 children).

20 people, including 5 civilians, are missing.

Over 20 cases of desecration of bodies were documented.

Over 70 others died en route from NK to Armenia, as well as shortly after arrival. This is mostly due to the severe psychological impact that our compatriots went through, Kyaramyan said.
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."

I still believe its support for Ukraine is necessary and its support for the genocide of innocents in Gaza is deplorable.

Smoke rises following an Israeli bombardment in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. (AP/PTI)

Ugliness proves Darwin was right!

In the beginning was the Word

and the Word was OM

If God writes books,

isnt he bound to win every literary prize?

AI will put all liars out of business!

From WhatcanIdo by Pukka Naidu (Tr from Ardhamaghadi by Bachchoo)

My mobile phone, especially WhatsApp, now overflows with messages about peace on earth and goodwill to all men. These are well-meant or oblivious greetings from associates who wish for divine or political intervention to achieve these extremely unlikely goals or cant see whats happening.

In all my short and happy life, there may have been a New Year with more wars, killing of innocents, terrorism, natural disasters, than this year -- but I cant recall one!

Some friends opposed me for opposing Russias invasion of Ukraine. I never bought into the conspiracy theory that the West, wherever that is, had designs on Russian territory. I regarded it as Vladimir Putin, in charge of an undemocratic mafia-ruled country, initiating a thuggish invasion of a young and virtual democracy.

Friends say that puts me in a camp which supports the United States in all its international stances. It doesnt. I still believe its support for Ukraine is necessary and its support for the genocide of innocents in Gaza is deplorable. And I have never thought that its disastrous invasion of Vietnam and its meaningless invasion of Iraq were just. They are worthy of prosecution as war crimes. Of course, no authority exists to hold any regime to account. (Come back God, all is forgiven?)

And apart from the indiscriminate genocide in Gaza and the slaughter in Ukraine, the wars in Yemen and the natural disasters of earthquakes in Japan on the celebratory day, there comes news of the terrorist bombs that killed pilgrims to Gen. Qasem Soleimanis tomb at Kerman in Iran.

No doubt the victims of these terrorist attacks were ideological supporters of the nasty Iranian regime. This regimes fascistic repression of its female population and of those who espouse democracy and free speech are not stances which inspire welcoming reaction or optimism. Nevertheless, these terrorist bombs, perpetrated by democratic enemies of the Islamic regime or by foreign agents or by Sunni dissidents from the Shia hegemony of the regime, have killed over a hundred victims who may have supported the regime but shouldnt die because they did.

I must admit here, that as a cultural Zoroastrian and with Parsi heritage, I really want to go back to Iran -- and no, gentle reader, I didnt come away from that country in the 8th century AD. My ancestors certainly did, but when I say go back, I mean that in the 1970s, I visited Iran several times for short periods as my parents were in Isfahan, where my father, a retired Indian Army engineer, was employed to build the iron and steel works in that city.

I want to go there now to visit the ancient Zoroastrian sites of Persepolis, Pasargadae and the remnants of the religion in Yazd -- and maybe other sites I dont, in my dilettante way, know about. But of course, I wont go for fear of being arrested on some trumped-up charge as so many such as Naznin Zaghari Radcliffe were.

My 1970s visits to Isfahan were memorable. My last one in 1976 was to my fathers funeral.

He died in that city and his body was taken to be buried in an isolated Zoroastrian cemetery in the wilderness.

On an earlier visit, in British school holidays, as I was then earning my daal-roti as a London schoolteacher, I landed up and my mother said: Theres someone who wants to see you. I asked who, and she said: You remember Gita Singh?

Of course, I do, from our Kanpur days, the unattainable beautiful girl.

Yes, Mum said, she went to the USA, to Michigan University, and shes married to Karl Kranke, who studies Persian mountain dialects, and thats why they are here. They said theyd come to see you soon.

Gita and Karl turned up and I quit my family house and went with them to their two-room house transported by his powerful motorcycle, sitting three squeezed up. I spent most of that holiday in their house.

Remember this was during the Pahlavis regime, with the Shah running the show. Karl and Gita had cultivated a group of leftist radicals dedicated to the overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of a socialist regime.

I spent several opium-smoking days and nights with these radicals, discussing all manner of left-wing ideology. Karl would smoke opium with us, but hed regularly ride out on his thundering bike to the hills to pursue his dialect studies.

My holidays being over, I went back.

After my fathers death, Iran was done. I went to India, to Delhi, and my mother said: Gita is here and managing a luxury hotel. Shed like to see you.

And Karl? I asked.

Divorced. Shell tell you why, Mum said.

I went to see Gita. Yes, theyd returned to the US and shed discovered that the man she married may have been a Persian dialect scholar but was working for the CIA and had, by identifying and reporting on the young radicals whom we discussed and smoked opium with, betrayed them to the Shahs police, who had them and their families killed. Befriend to betray!

(Come back, Zarathustra, all is forgiven?)
A team of international lawyers has filed a complaint with the UN in connection with the trial of the Apple Daily publisher. The prosecution wants Andy Li  a pro-democracy activist arrested trying to reach Taiwan on a boat  to testify against the former media mogul. Convicted in mainland China for illegal expatriation, Li has been held in a psychiatric hospital since he was returned to Hong Kong. He is expected to testify against Lai before going on trial himself under the National Security Law.

AsiaNews (Hong Kong/Agencies)  Jimmy Lais international legal team today filed an urgent appeal with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Alice Jill Edwards.

Lai is a pro-democracy businessman held in prison in Hong Kong for more than three years, accused under Chinas National Security Law. His legal team has serious concerns over the treatment of Andy Li (Li Yu-Hin), a key prosecution witness in Jimmy Lais ongoing trial.

The team contends that there is credible evidence that Mr Li was subjected to torture in a detention centre in mainland China before confessing that he conspired with Mr Lai to collude with foreign entities in order to endanger national security.

In August 2020, Li and eleven other people were arrested while trying to reach Taiwan by boat. Taken to mainland China, they were tried and sentenced to up to three years for illegal border crossing.

Andy Li was sent back to Hong Kong in March 2021, to be indicted under the National Security Law following his guilty plea. He is due to be tried after giving evidence against Jimmy Lai, and after the conclusion of Jimmy Lais trial.

In December 2023, the Washington Post published the results of a year-long investigation, which concluded that Andy Li and the others had been mistreated during Chinese detention.

Although the report claims that most of the 12 were not physically abused, it reports that "seven people familiar with conditions at the center said screaming could 'consistently' be heard coming from one cell: Lis.

Since he was sent back in March 2021, Li has been held in a secure psychiatric facility in Hong Kong, not in a prison. This fact evidently raises further fears about his condition.

Despite all this, the Prosecutor's Office announced that Li was going to be a key prosecution witness in Jimmy Lais trial and that he would be called to testify in the coming weeks.

However, international law prohibits reliance on evidence derived through torture, inhuman or degrading treatment, said Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, commenting on today's urgent UN appeal.

Such statements are involuntary, inherently unreliable, violate the right to a fair trial, and reliance upon them indirectly legitimises torture and taints the justice system, added Gallagher, who heads the international legal team acting on behalf of Jimmy Lai.

Hence, the UN body was asked to ensure that Lis testimony is discarded, as it cannot be considered reliable.
Two Hindus who pretended to be Muslims were detained by Indian special forces after posting messages announcing attacks at the disputed holy site in Uttar Pradesh where Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate a new Hindu temple on 22 January. Their social media profiles show links to the Bharatiya Janata Party. For the bishop of Lucknow, it is a serious thing to fuel further tensions in a society already polarised along religious lines. Meanwhile, in Ayodhya, preparations are underway to consecrate the prime minister rather than the holy place.

Ayodhya (AsiaNews)  Two men pretending to be Muslims were arrested last Wednesday after they threatened to kill Uttar Pradeshs chief minister and blow up the Ram temple in Ayodhya, a sacred city for Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains.

Omprakash Mishra and Tahar Singh, both residents of Gonda district, were arrested in Lucknow, a city in Uttar Pradesh, thanks to the intervention of special forces.

Threats were sent to the chief minister and the head of the special forces from two email accounts created using the fake names of Alam Ansari Khan and Zubair Khan.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Pramesh Kumar Shukla, who is leading the investigation, the two acted on the instructions of a third man, Devendra Tiwari, now on the run.

Tiwari, who runs two nonprofits and heads the Indian Institute of Paramedical Sciences, where both Misha and Singh worked, posted threats on Twitter, attracting the attention of the police.

"The threats to the chief minister and to the Ram temple are serious things," said Bishop Gerald Mathias of Lucknow, speaking to AsiaNews.

"Some elements want to be in the limelight, but the malicious act of using false names, Muslim in this case, is meant to fuel further tensions in a society already polarised along religious lines, the prelate lamented, adding that It is necessary to take strict measures against the culprits so that such things do not happen again.

An investigation by the Indian digital news publication Scroll has highlighted the growing practice by some who pretend to be Muslim and publish provocative posts on social media.

The social media accounts of Tiwari, Misha and Singh clearly show their ties to representatives of the ruling party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The city of Ayodhya has, however, been at the centre of religious tensions and controversies for decades; in 1992, a Hindu demonstration led to the destruction of the Babri mosque, which according to Hindu ultranationalist groups stood on the remains of an ancient Hindu temple.

Over the years, violent outbreaks and terrorist attacks have continued, until the Supreme Court awarded the site to Hindus in 2019, providing, however, for the construction of a mosque elsewhere.

In August 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of a new temple at the site believed to be the birthplace of the god Rama, which will be officially inaugurated this coming 22 January after a week of religious activities.

In 2021, a viewing point was created so that anyone could admire the works progress. But among the most extremist Hindu groups that adhere to Hindutva ideology, many have expressed opposition to the project.

On social media, many have pointed to the involvement of Muslim craftsmen in the construction of the holy site, or criticised certain architectural motifs for being too Islamic.

The BJP, in particular, has been accused of trying to exploit the inauguration of the Ram temple for political purposes, undermining the religious nature of the ceremony.

It is us who started the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, but BJP is now behaving like it is the thekedaar [contractor] of the temple, said Sunil Kumar, the general secretary of one of Indias oldest Hindutva groups, the Hindu Mahasabha, which was instrumental in the destruction of the Babri mosque.

We are delighted that the temple will finally be inaugurated but the BJP alone should not get credit for that, he added.

In the past, several Hindu leaders had stressed that the temple is a historic place, not a branch office of the BJP, which has been slammed for politicising the whole thing.

For its part, the Hindu Mahasabha announced that it will not attend the temples inauguration ceremony.

Meanwhile, on 30 December, during a visit to the site, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced infrastructure projects worth US$ 1.3 billion in Ayodhya over the coming years.

Indias next general election is set for this spring, and Modi could win a third term. The temples inauguration on 22 January thus seems more like Modis own consecration as Indias political (and religious) leader than that of a holy site.

(Nirmala Carvalho contributed to this article)

INDIAN MANDALA IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO INDIA. TO RECEIVE A WEEKLY UPDATE EVERY FRIDAY, CLICK HERE.
by Sumon Corraya

Observers expect an uncontested victory for Sheikh Hasina, in power since 2009, after the opposition decided to boycott the poll. Religious minorities, particularly Hindus, have complained about threats, while Christians are throwing their support behind the ruling Awami League.

Dhaka (AsiaNews)  Bangladeshis will go to the polls this Sunday in what everyone expects to be another victory for Sheikh Hasina, leader of the Awami League, who has governed the country since 2009, after the main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), recently announced its intention to boycott the vote.

About 120 million people (out of a population of 170 million) are eligible to vote, including 15 million first-time voters.

In recent months, following a period of strong growth, more and more people have become disgruntled because of economic hardships as well as the prime ministers move towards authoritarianism.

In October last year, the government violently cracked down on peaceful protests and arrested several BNP members and officials, thus preventing a credible opposition leader from running.

In recent months, the BNP has been calling for a caretaker government to be set up ahead of the poll, a request Prime Minister Hasina has repeatedly rejected.

In the past year, at least 70 people have been killed and 7,000 wounded in incidents of political violence, local media say.

In addition to the boycott, the BNP has announced a hartal, a strike from Saturday to Monday, asking its supporters not to show up at work and close their businesses.

The really important number will therefore be voter turnout, while fears are growing about political tensions over the election weekend.

Yesterday, Rana Dasgupta, general secretary of the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC), issued a statement, expressing his concern about the growing pressure on religious minorities.

According to the association's monitoring body, several cases of provocative and divisive statements have been made, with some political candidates targeting specific communities.

In particular, Muslim representatives have threatened the Hindu minority, stating that a non-vote will result in negative consequences for the entire community.

The BHBCUC general secretary gave several examples, but one stands out. Supporters of the Awami League candidate in the Jhenaidah-1 parliamentary constituency, Abdul Hai, threatened members of minorities saying that if they did not put a cross on the "boat symbol"  the Awami League logo on the ballot paper  they will be driven from their homes.

Dasgupta stressed that swift and decisive action by the Election Commission and security forces is crucial to prevent violence against minority communities, especially Hindus, once the election results are announced.

Only two Christians are running in these elections, one in Natore and the other in Mymensingh. Neither reported threats against their constituents. Most Christians support the ruling Awami League.

Recently, Home Affairs Minister, Asaduzzaman Khan, who is running in the Dhaka-12 constituency, met with the Christian community in Tejgaon.

Hemanta Corraya, secretary general of the Bangladesh Christian Association, said that Christians will support him at the polls.

I want to pledge today, representing the Bangladesh Christian Association and the Christian community of Bangladesh, that on 7 January, we, as Christians, will vote for Asaduzzaman Khan, he said, stressing, however, the need to boost security measures during the election.

In all previous elections, from 2001 to 2018, members of religious minorities suffered persecution by the ruling party.

On 16 November 2001, for example, some 200 Hindu women and girls, aged 8 to 70, were gang-raped by members of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party in Charphaysan Upazila, Bhola district.
Officially emigrating for work, Nepalis have been recruited into the Russian army to fight. At least 10 Nepalis have already fallen in Russian regiments. For migrants, the promise of Russian citizenship is an incentive to join up. The Nepali government has decided to block permits and is asking Russia to repatriate its citizens sent to war.

Kathmandu (AsiaNews/Agencies)  Nepal has stopped issuing permits to its citizens to work in Russia and Ukraine until further notice, following the death of at least 10 Nepalis killed while serving in the Russian army.

Nepal has also formally asked Russia not to recruit its citizens into the Russian army, to immediately send all Nepali soldiers back home, and to compensate the families of the fallen.

According to Nepali government estimates, up to 200 Nepalis might be in the Russian army, while about 100 Nepalis are missing.

Moscow offers Russian citizenship to foreigners who agree to fight in Ukraine, a major incentive in Nepal, a country where Gurkhas have served in the British and Indian armies after independence in 1947.

Millions of Nepali nationals are employed in civilian jobs abroad, mainly as labourers in industries and construction sites in South Korea, Malaysia, and the Middle East.

Nepali Migrants must receive permission from their government to work abroad, which entitles them to state support in the event of an emergency or compensation to families in case of death.

Reuters has reported that more than 800 Nepalis have been issued work permits for non-military activities in Russia over the past two years. No data are available for Ukraine.

Nepali police last month arrested 10 people on suspicion of sending unemployed young people to Russia for illegal recruitment into the army after charging them large sums of money for travel visas.

The government decided to temporarily halt work permits for Russia and Ukraine to minimise the loss of life and this will remain in place until further orders, said Kabiraj Upreti, director at the Department of Foreign Employment.
NORTH KOREA-SOUTH KOREA

North Korea fired more than 200 artillery shells off its western coast, toward the southern island of Yeonpyeong. South Korea condemned the move, calling it a "provocative act" and immediately issued an evacuation notice for civilians on the island. The new incident is part of the extremely tense climate between Pyongyang and Seoul which led to the suspension of the military agreement which was aimed at improving relations.

ISRAEL-GAZA

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has presented a four-point plan for managing the Gaza Strip after the end of the ongoing war with Hamas. The plan provides for the Israeli army to maintain full military control but not the civil administration which would be entrusted to local Palestinian authorities under the control of an international coalition led by the United States, Egypt and moderate Arab countries. There are no plans to resettle Israeli settlers in Gaza. Gallant's is the first detailed project by a high-ranking Israeli official for the Strip after the war, but it does not represent an official political position: as soon as he made it known he was strongly criticized by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a member of the far-right nationalist .

CAMBODIA

Cambodia's Ministry of Labor has expressed alarm over reports that a labor recruitment agency is offering Cambodians job opportunities in Israel despite the ongoing Gaza war. The ministry has categorically denied that any labor recruitment agreement exists with Israel.

MYANMAR

Myanmar's military regime has announced the release of 9,652 prisoners, including 114 foreigners, as part of an amnesty to mark the country's independence day. None of the political prisoners serving long-term sentences appear to be among those released from prison. To be released they will only be sentenced to sentences of between two and three years and therefore now close to the scheduled date of release.

CHINA

A sculpture along the river in the Chinese city of Wuhan depicting a mother, a father and an only child entitled "A Better Future" in 2017, has been "updated" according to the new political directives of the Chinese Communist Party in the face of the increasingly demographic crisis evident: the sculptor was asked to create two more children. The renewed monument has sparked many comments on the Chinese social network Weibo, including those from those who have not forgotten how until a few years ago the same authorities imposed forced abortions on those who transgressed the one-child imperative.

RUSSIA

The President of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, admitted the possibility of executing relatives of wanted criminals. If we don't find them - he declared - we stop looking for them and go and get their relatives, as has always been done by us: our fathers promised revenge against their brother or father, even if one rejects their relatives, until take out one, the score remains pending.

CENTRAL ASIA

The heads of state of the Central Asian countries did not hold extended press conferences at the end or beginning of the year. The latest was the 2019 meeting with journalists of Kazakh President Kasym-Zomart Tokaev, who promised they would become traditional, but then never did, while Sadyr Zaparov of Kyrgyzstan says they are a waste of time .
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Chief Minister congratulates recipients of New Years Honours

The Chief Minister, the Hon Fabian Picardo KC MP, has congratulated the recipients of New Years Honours Awards.

In particular, the Government has said it is proud to note the award of a CBE to former Minister for Digital and Financial Services, the Hon Albert Isola, for his services to the Financial and Digital Industries in Gibraltar.

The deserving recipient of an OBE for his services to Banking in Gibraltar, Mr Lawrence Podesta was the CEO of Gibraltar International Bank from its inception in 2014 until his retirement earlier this year. Following a long and distinguished career in Gibraltars Banking industry, Mr Podesta worked closely with Albert Isola on behalf of the Government to create and establish a retail bank owned by the people of Gibraltar.

The Government also wishes to commend Air Terminal Director Terence Lopez, who has been granted the Gibraltar Award for his services to the provision of Aviation services in Gibraltar, and Jack Prior, who is the recipient of the Gibraltar Award for his services to Sport in Gibraltar.

The Chief Minister, the Hon Fabian Picardo KC MP, said: As every year, all of the award recipients have made significant contributions to Gibraltar in their respective fields. My heartfelt congratulations and thanks go to all of them.

I particularly want to applaud my dear friend and colleague the Hon Albert Isola CBE, acknowledging the value of his contributions to Gibraltars Digital and Financial Services industry, a core pillar of our economy accounting for approximately 50% of our GDP, during his tenure as a GSLP/Liberal Government Minister. I warmly congratulate and thank Albert on behalf of the Government, my Cabinet and the people of Gibraltar. His family can be now prouder than his Cabinet and party colleagues are of this magnificent and well-deserved recognition of a man who has done so much for Gibraltar.

'Terence has dedicated so much of his life to Gibraltar Airport that today this recognition will be well received throughout Gibraltar by all those who have benefitted from his expertise and commitment.

'Lawrence's sterling work in the establishment of the Gibraltar International Bank has been to the benefit of all of Gibraltar at a crucial time when banking facilities where being lost. He is worthy recipient of this award that rightly recognises just how well Lawrence and his team did in the establishment of the GIB.

'Jack has made all of Gibraltar proud with his magnificent achievements and, in particular, how he has flown the Gibraltar flag internationally as part of the British Family of Nations in sport. Jack's achievements are, no doubt, inspiring other young people in sport in Gibraltar to see what can be achieved through dedication and hard work alongside family support. I have no doubt that Jack will continue to impress and inspire us all in the months and years to come.'
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For people who are into horses, this kind of animal doesn't get any better than a quarter horse. That's because the name is an umbrella term for horses no matter their breed that are stocky and extremely fast over short distances. A perfect choice, then, to designate a new kind of hypersonic aircraft.

If you've been watching our coverage of what's going on in this field, then you know the Quarterhorse is a product of a company called Hermeus and the precursor of what is described with no trace of modesty as the "world's fastest aircraft"  a piece of tech that will be called Darkhorse.How fast will the Darkhorse be? Well, consider this. Back in 1976 the American SR-71 Blackbird spy plane reached speeds of Mach 3.3, or 2,193.2 mph (3,529.6 kph). In doing so it set an absolute speed record for a crewed aircraft flying in the atmosphere of our planet.The Darkhorse, being hypersonic and all, will go over Mach 5 (3,800 mph/6,100 kph). Unlike the Blackbird, this aircraft is being designed not only with military uses in mind, but, believe it or not, civilian ones as well.Before the Darkhorse gets here, however, Hermeus still has to test if its ideas work as advertised. That's what the Quarterhorses are for, and one of them, a vehicle called Mk 0, just completed its first series of major tests.The procedure marked the first time a fully integrated vehicle in this family was subjected to validation procedures for "all major aircraft subsystems in a real-world environment." And the tests were indeed comprehensive, covering all major aspects of an aircraft, except for the actual flying.Among other things, the machine proved it could be remotely controlled and can taxi safely down a runway, its comms systems were put to the test, and the pilot-in-the-loop steering and controls were put through their paces.The tests took place at the Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) in Tullahoma, Tennessee, and are the first in a series that will culminate later this year with an actual flight of a Quarterhorse.Hermeus plans to build four such prototypes, each of them adding new layers of complexity to the system. You may argue that coming up with three other prototypes and flying one by the end of the year may be a bit of a stretch, but you should consider the fact the Mk 0 was put together in just six months.Mk 1 will be the first test flight vehicle (the one that will fly by the end of the year), and it will be used to test remote-controlled takeoff and landing. Mk 2 is the one meant to break the sound barrier, and go to speeds just below Mach 3. The final Quarterhorse , Mk 3, will be used to demo turbojet to ramjet transition and go after the record set by the Blackbird. It's unclear exactly how this attempt will be made.At the time of writing the Quarterhorse family of vehicles is meant to use General Electric-supplied engines, with thrust levels sitting at 5,000 pounds.The Quarterhorse was selected at the end of last year by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to be part of the High-Cadence Airborne Testing Capabilities (HyAT) program, which also includes the DART AE made by Australian company Hypersonix, Rocket Lab's Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron (HASTE), and an unnamed drone made by Fenix Space.
Auto shows across the world are slowly dying. No event goes by without a major carmaker  or more  dropping out of it. Online presentations are way cheaper. This time, it is Stellantis giving up on the participation. The auto conglomerate has dropped out of every single event scheduled for the past fall and this winter.

This means that we will not be seeing any Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler, Fiat, or Ram at the upcoming car shows in North America. Parent company Stellantis blames the "challenging automotive market" and gives up on the exposure that such events might have brought to its brands.The announcement does not come as a surprise. Stellantis also pulled out of the Los Angeles Auto Show that took place last November. The event would have marked the comeback of the Fiat 500 to the American market, this time as an electric car, bearing the 500e designation.They also gave up on the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. It was the costs of the United Auto Workers (UAW) strikes that forced them to retire from all displays and presentations scheduled at the CES that opens its gates to visitors on January 9 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.The automotive giant also retired from the 2024 Speciality Equipment Market Association ( SEMA ), that also took place in Las Vegas between October 31 and November 3, a move that they had announced in October.Stellantis announces that from now on, it will be up to dealers to decide if they go to local events in their respective cities or decide to skip them.As Stellantis US spokesperson states for Automotive News that they are evaluating their participation in auto shows on a case-by-case basis, while "prioritizing opportunities for consumers to experience our vehicles firsthand." Which is obviously not going to happen on auto shows any time soon.This leaves potential buyers with a visit to the dealerships as the only way to get close to the cars they are interested in. For the past few years, most carmakers have chosen digital unveiling of their new models. Following the online presentation, the model ends up at the dealership or only in the online configurator.The decision to retire from all the events set to take place in the fall and winter should help Stellantis steer the budget previously allocated to the events to other sectors and mitigate the financial impact of the UAW strikes. The car giant is planning on becoming a mobility tech company through other means than participating in car shows.Stellantis currently integrates 14 car brands: Abarth , Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroen, DS Automobiles, Dodge, Fiat, but also Jeep, Lancia, Maserati, Opel, Peugeot, Ram, Vauxhall. None of them will be present at the car shows this winter.
An Arizona man recently figured this out in a painful way, both literally and figuratively.Craig Ricketts was on his way to meet his son for Christmas when he used GPS navigation to cross the border from Mexico to the United States using the Lukeville checkpoint.Because it was closed, the man turned to the sat-nav software on the dashboard to look for an alternative, and the suggestion didn't have any red flags at first. The driver was sent to the Sasabe border, a hot region that even the Department of State says you should avoid.The region that includes the Sonora Desert is often the war of Mexican smuggling gangs who want to control the land for obvious reasons. However, they're often involved in violent conflicts, with families in the region forced to flee due to the occasional shootouts.Without having a clue that the Sasabe border is a dangerous location, Craig Rickets followed the sat-nav's indications, driving towards the checkpoint.Out of nowhere, somebody started shooting at him, with two bullets hitting him in the arm and the left leg. He was shot at 16 times, so his Chevrolet Suburban was riddled with bullet holes. The man survived and ended up in a hospital in Tucson.Authorities in multiple regions have previously asked navigation software developers to provide additional context on certain routes suggested to users, especially when drivers are sent through hot points known as dangerous and posing various risks. However, such warnings are yet to be integrated into navigation applications, so the best drivers can do is to do their homework before they begin the journey.It's not the most convenient solution to a problem that can be easily addressed with a software update. When you're driving, and the sat-nav software suggests a new route, you can't pull over and search the web to determine whether a destination is safe. However, not spending a minute or two for such information can have serious consequences, as drivers typically trust their navigation apps blindly, following every direction shown on the screen.Ricketts was lucky, escaping with non-life-threatening injuries, but the Attorney General's Office in Sonora says it wasn't the only victim involved in a gang war in the region. Last month, another driver was caught in the fire between the rival gangs in Sonora, so if you can use another checkpoint, you'd better avoid the region at all costs when crossing the border.
At the end of this year we'll see whether all the efforts made and the money spent on the Artemis Moon exploration program are worth it. The Artemis II mission will depart for Luna, and even if it doesn't land humans there, it will still prove the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion spacecraft are safe for humans to use.

If all goes according to plan, 2025 will see the launch of Artemis III, and the actual landing at the lunar south pole. And that will really open the doors for (hopefully) the human colonization of the Moon.Before all that gets to happen NASA is giving all humans on this planet a chance of reaching the place in the sky before its actual astronauts do.The American space agency has made a habit of allowing people to send their names along for the ride on extraplanetary missions. Most recently, it shipped the names of no less than 11 million human names to Mars, on board the Perseverance rover.In October 2024, a mission called Europa Clipper will take off, destination Jupiter's moon Europa, and it too will carry with it the names of human beings  we don't know how many, as the campaign just closed at the end of last year, but we expect updates on that soon.Just as we stepped into the new year, NASA announced another major such campaign, this time targeting the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER). The machine is part of the Artemis program as well, and also the agency's first rover to be meant for use on the Moon.It will be deployed roughly in the same area where astronauts will land two years from now, and it will use three spectrometers and a drill to look for signs and traces of water on the lunar surface. It will then analyze them to create a sort of map of the distribution, physical state, and composition of ice deposits on the Moon.Aside from the scientific tools it will take up there to complete its mission, the rover will also carry with it human names. That's right, NASA just opened a campaign giving people a chance to reach the Moon, at least in name, before Artemis crews.The Send Your Name with VIPER campaign was announced this week and it will run until March 15. According to NASA, the names collected during this time will be attached to the rover, but it's unclear at this point in what fashion.All one has to do is visit a specially created website that also gives people a virtual souvenir in the form of a boarding pass for the VIPER mission.The rover will depart our planet at the end of the year (date is yet to be announced) on board a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. It will be delivered to the Moon by a lander called Griffin Mission One, made by Astrobotic Technologies.The mission is scheduled to last 100 days, but as we've seen so many times in space exploration, that may be extended indefinitely if the conditions are right.
Rivian finished 2023 beating its annual guidance, with the BEV manufacturer from Michigan reporting 50,122 deliveries. Be that as it may, Rivian also ended 2023 with a safety recall concerning 7,873 examples of the R1T pickup and R1S utility vehicle.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Photo: Rivian

NHTSA

AWD

SUV

More specifically, documents published by thereveal that Rivian has recalled 2022 model year R1T and R1S electric vehicles produced between June 10, 2021 and October 31, 2022. As a brief refresher, both are manufactured in Normal, Illinois at a facility where Mitsubishi used to make the Outlander Sport.The issue can be summed up as the accelerator pedal not detecting when the driver releases it, therefore failing to activate the auto-hold and park functions. Rivian claims that it had already fixed the problem with an OTA software update, but that's only half the remedy. As per the report attached below, the original accelerator pedal needs to be replaced with a revised one. What's the issue with the original design?If exposed to high cabin temperatures, the accelerator pedal may drift outside of the dead band in such a way that the pedal may fail to register as 0% applied when the driver takes their foot off the pedal. That's why the auto-hold and park features don't operate as intended. The iffy pedals were supplied by Precision Varionic International Sensor from Swindon, UK.Back in March 2022, the automaker received the first warranty report concerning this condition, with the customer reporting that the vehicle wouldn't go into sleep mode. Between March 2022 and December 2023, the automaker received no fewer than 35 service requests. It's not clear when Rivian started investigating this problem, but we do know that Rivian identified the root cause on December 14.On December 21, a little over 50 percent of the 7,873-strong recall population had the software update (version 2023.46.01 or 2023.50) installed over the air. Rivian isn't aware of any property damage, injuries, or worse related to the aforementioned condition. Dealers will be informed no later than February 16. Owners will be notified via first-class mail by then as well. Rivian hasn't provided a VIN list, but on the upside, owners can determine whether their vehicles qualify for a replacement accelerator pedal by running the VIN on the's website.If you're in the market for an R1T to the detriment of the Cybertruck and alternatives from legacy automakers, bear in mind that pricing kicks off at $71,000 for the Adventure grade with dual-motorand the Standard pack. The Large pack adds $6,000 to the tally, whereas the Max pack is a staggering $16,000. Then again, the most expensive battery choice also enables the most driving range, with Rivian promising 410 miles (670 kilometers).The Performance specification is $5,000 more than the dual-motor AWD, whereas the quad-motor AWD adds $8,000 to the final price of the R1T. Capable of hitting 60 miles per hour (97 kilometers per hour) in as little as 3.0 seconds flat, the zero-emission pickup can be furthered with the $3,850 All-Terrain pack.The Rivian R1S is the three-rowtake on the R1T, with prices starting at $78,000 at the moment of reporting. The off-road upgrade is slightly more affordable in this case, with Rivian charging $3,600.
As most cities across the globe are seeking more sustainable alternatives to car-based transportation, the urban landscape is changing at a rapid pace, with electric micro-mobility solutions gaining more and more traction. In the last few years, electrically powered scooters, bicycles, kick scooters, skateboards, and more have invaded the public space.

Photo: Tozz Bike

The two-wheel urban mobility niche is turning into a burgeoning industry, and considering the significant growth it is experiencing, many e-bikes and e-scooters are starting to look the same. However, there is still room left for creativity, and Istanbul, Turkey-based startup Tozz Bike is here to prove it with its sustainable, offbeat e-mobility solutions. The company's latest creation is the Joyce'90, an electric motorbike concept designed for the younger generation.Developed in collaboration with Joyce Technology, the new two-wheeler is more than just an eye-catching electric motorbike; it creates a new sub-segment in the micro-mobility market, as the designers describe it as "a shrunken version of an electric motorcycle using high-quality e-bike equipment."The Joyce'90 hip e-moto strays away from the mainstream and is designed to evoke the spirit of the '90s with a blend of features that remind riders about that era. Boasting a sturdy appearance, the e-bike is built around a steel chassis with a polypropylene bodywork and looks like a harmonious fusion between a dirt bike and a grand tourer. Vibrant colors and high-contrast decals highlight its modern visual beauty.For the kids who grew up in the nineties, it might be easier to recognize the similarities between this electric motorbike and Honda 's Cub EZ90, a mini moto introduced in 1991 that was often used as a trail or pit bike.Apart from its angular-lined body design, two special features make the vintage-inspired Joyce'90 electric motorbike stand out from the crowd: the peculiar pop-up headlights and the integrated Bluetooth boombox, which turn it into a true party machine. The pop-up headlights feature RGB LEDs that will surely attract plenty of attention, while the 150W 2.1 Bluetooth speaker is concealed underneath the body but will allow the riders to start the party wherever they are.Since Joyce'90 is aimed mainly at city commuters, don't expect stellar performance. The electric motorbike is powered by a 750-W rear hub motor that will produce up to 80 Nm (59 lb-ft) of torque and will allow the bike to reach a top speed of 45 kph (28 mph). The company says it will limit the power to 250 watts and the speed to 25 kph in Europe to keep up with local regulations.A removable battery will feed the electric motor and will offer up to 45 km (28 miles) per charge, but prospective buyers can opt for an upgraded unit that will double the capacity.The use of top-of-the-shelf e-bike components is one of the standout aspects of the design, as it means it will be easy to maintain and customize. Unlike other e-bike models with specially designed components, finding spare parts for the Joyce'90 won't be an issue.The Joyce'90 is still in the prototype stage at the moment, and the company will eventually license it as a pedelec, which means owners will be able to ride it on bike lanes in Europe. No pricing or availability details for the Joyce'90 have been revealed yet, but the motorbike is expected to enter production in March of 2024, and it will be built in Joyce Technology's facility in Ankara, Turkey.
For the largest part of its existence, the Prius was hampered by its exterior design. The sedan-bodied first generation was  hands down  the ugliest duckling of the bunch. The Prius grew larger for the second generation, which kickstarted the hatchback trend for the best-selling hybrid vehicle of all time.

ICE

Photo: Toyota

FWD

Be that as it may, the Prius continued to be ridiculed for its exterior design. Better late than never, Toyota made things right with the fifth generation. Revealed in November 2022 as a 2023 model, the XW60 has been voted 2024 North American Car of the Year.Veteran auto writer, NACTOY juror, and former autoevolution contributor Matt DeLorenzo picked the Prius over all other 2024 North American Car of the Year candidates due to its looks and for blending the traditional with the modern during a time when everyone and their dog wants a purely electric vehicle such as the Tesla Model Y. "Of particular note is the plug-in version, which offers more than 40 miles [make that 64 kilometers] of pure electric range, allowing most owners to skip regular gas station visits."John Voelcker of Green Car Reports and Car and Driver said: "The Toyota Prius was the butt of jokes for its looks so long that the new one is unrecognizable  and stunningly attractive." There's no denying the fifth generation will appeal to prospective customers who previously wouldn't have considered the Toyota Prius over direct competitors.Despite having a higher drag coefficient than the XW50, the XW60 is more frugal than its predecessor. As far as the hybrid is concerned, the numbers are 57 miles per gallon (4.1 liters per 100 kilometers) compared to 56 (4.2) for the 2022 model. For the Prius Prime, all-electric range improved from 25 to 45 miles (40 to 72 kilometers) to the detriment of gas mileage inmode. More specifically, 52 mpg (4.5 l/100 km) versus 54 (4.4) in the XW50's case.One of the most efficient passenger vehicles on sale today, the Prius is no slouch. The front-drive Prius belts out 194 horsepower at full chatter, whereas the all-wheel-drive setup is rated at 196 ponies. The Prius Prime improves to 220 horsepower. When it comes to 0-60 acceleration, estimates range between 7.2 seconds for the Priusand 6.6 for the FWD-only Prius Prime. It's a bit of a shame the Prius Prime cannot be had with all-wheel drive, but then again, this option would redirect customers from the more expensive RAV4 Prime to the Prius Prime.Another forte of the 2023-and-newer Prius is price. At $27,950 for the Prius FWD and $32,975 for the Prius Prime, the compact-sized hatchback is within the reach of many customers. Being a hybrid-assisted internal combustion-engined passenger vehicle, the Prius also appeals to those who still can't get over the biggest niggles of electric vehicle ownership.From the limited range  especially in cold weather  to the spotty charging infrastructure and the 30 minutes of fast charging as opposed to only a handful for pumping gas into the fuel tank, the Prius makes plenty of sense. Up there with the industry's most reliable cars, the Prius is a highly capable daily driver with enough for room five and a large trunk.Toyota advertises the XW60 with either 23.8 cubic feet (674 liters) or 20.3 cubic feet (575 liters) behind the second-row seats. By comparison, the Corolla Hatchback offers 18 cubic feet (504 liters). As opposed to the Corolla Sedan, the Corolla Hatchback isn't available with hybrid oomph because it would cannibalize the Prius. At the moment of reporting, the Corolla Sedan Hybrid LE stickers at $23,500.
5 January 2024 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Nigar Hasanova Read more

Iranians have observed a day of mourning following twin bombings in the city of Kerman that killed and wounded numerous people at a commemoration ceremony for the late Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, marking the fourth anniversary of his assassination. The blasts resulted in at least 84 casualties, as reported by Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi.

The death toll was revised down on Thursday morning by the head of Iran's emergency services from an earlier figure of 95.

ISIS took responsibility for the attack through its Telegram channel. ISIS welcomed the 2020 death of General Soleimani, whose militias fought against them. Iranian officials said at least one blast was caused by a suicide bomber.

Speaking to Azernews regarding the bloody attacks, political expert Sadradding Soltan noted that on the 4th anniversary of Qassem Soleimani's death, Iranian authorities have been actively promoting the late General Qassem Suleimani, aiming to set an example for the new generation in the country. He said that the attacks can be interpreted as a form of social protest against the regime's neglect of various sections, particularly the low-income segment. This event sends a message to the Iranian authorities, indicating discontent within the society.

Sadraddin Soltan pointed out that while similar incidents have occurred in the past, this attack holds significance as a regional-level protest against the Iranian government. It comes amid Iran's attempts to influence neighboring countries, particularly during the Hamas-Israel conflict in the region. The commentator suggests that this might be a broader message of regional dissent against Iranian authorities.

"It is true that there have been similar incidents of attacks and explosions in Iran in the past. An explosion occurred in the mausoleum of the imam in a mosque in Mashhad, or explosions occurred in separate mosques. In 2018, there was an armed attack on the SEPAH parade in Ahvas. Many people were killed and injured. In other words, a message of protest is sent to the Iranian authorities and it is conveyed that there are protests in the society. This can be considered as a regional level message against the Iranian authorities. Because it is the Iranian regime that is trying to create chaos in all countries against the backdrop of the Hamas-Israel war in the region. In Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, it is the Iranian government that is most active in the territory of these four countries. Iranian government is trying so that Hamas can bring the Israeli war to a large-scale level in the region and expand it to the territory of 4-5 countries. The second version may be the message of the regional protest to the Iranian authorities," Sadraddin Soltan said.

Expert downplays the potential impact on the world's energy market, stating that it is unlikely for Iran to seriously affect global energy prices or close the Strait of Hormuz, given the resulting expansion of sanctions. He cites Ayatollah Seyyedali Homeini's call for restraint and a reduction in military operations against the US and Israel as an indication of Tehran's attempt to de-escalate tensions in the region:

"It is unlikely that this event will have such a serious impact on the world's energy market, or that the Iranian authorities will close the Strait of Hormuz after that. Because closing the Strait of Hormuz by Iran will expand sanctions and actions against it at the regional and international level. This may make it more difficult in Iran's current situation. From this point of view, I think it is difficult for Iran to seriously affect the price of energy carriers in the world market or to close the Strait of Hormuz. The Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Seyyedali Khomeini, even said yesterday that it is necessary to refrain from open military operations against the US and Israel, and also to limit attacks on US military bases in Syria and Iraq. With this, Ayatollah Khomeini is also evaluated as an attempt by Tehran to reduce tension in the region or to show that they are against any military conflict that may occur in the region in the future. In conclusion, I want to say that it is impossible for the Iranian authorities to close the Strait of Hormuz if the Iranian authorities choose to avoid a direct confrontation with the USA and Israel," the expert said.

Regarding the impact on Azerbaijan and the South Caucasus, expert notes that while no country is entirely immune to such attacks, Azerbaijan is less likely to be directly affected due to the absence of visible support for Soleimani or his ideologies in the country. Nonetheless, the events in Iran create regional tension, affecting relations to some extent within the South Caucasus and Azerbaijan:

"It is unlikely that these events will have such a serious impact on the South Caucasus. It is true that no country is immune from a bomb attack. Let's say that there are very few or no bloody events in Azerbaijan, according to the essence of Qassem Soleimani's ceremony. Because there are no SEPAH followers or those who love him in Azerbaijan, or if there are, they are not visible, and these events have no effect on Azerbaijan. It just creates tension in the region. Because the events in the territory of the neighboring country affect international relations in one way or another. Therefore, its impact on the South Caucasus and Azerbaijan may be of concern and human aspect," he added.

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5 January 2024 13:00 (UTC+04:00)

Elnur Enveroglu Read more

Although the Garabagh issue is unequivocally closed for Armenia, official Yerevan still cannot part with its old dreams. There is no reason left to claim. There are no roads to block, no food shortages, and "genocide" crises. All problems were solved within 23 hours. But some of the signs left behind and some of the places that were later called "historical monuments" are a means of perpetuating the claims.

We are talking about the so-called khachgar monument belonging to the Armenians in the Kalbajar region, which was freed from the Armenian occupation. Armenia claims that the monument built in the name of the invader Tigran Abrahamyan and his comrades-in-arms, who died in Omr Pass (Omr Asrm), was destroyed by Azerbaijan. Armenian Azerbaijani scholar Varsik Simonyan shared the pictures of the mentioned monument on the website.

This is only one side of the matter. On the other hand, Armenia accused Azerbaijan, even UNESCO, the Council of Europe, and the International Court of Justice of the destroyed so-called monument. Armenia notes that the aforementioned institutions and organizations were allegedly indifferent to the demolition of the "monument" belonging to Armenians on the territory of Azerbaijan.

As if this was not enough, Armenia, speaking on behalf of the International Court of Justice, tried to present the territory of Azerbaijan as its own and presented Azerbaijan as having occupied the territory of Kalbajar.

In fact, Armenia cannot be blamed for all these baseless claims. A sick soul can never have logical thinking. For this reason, trying to prove something against such thinkers is nothing more than a waste of valuable time.

The side of the claim related to international organizations is extremely interesting. Here, Armenia is trying to make fools of itself and international organizations. However, the only fool in the middle is Armenia itself. Understanding the reason is as simple as drinking a glass of water.

First of all, let's start with the simple: if Armenia is an independent state, then there must be a state institution, government, and legal bodies that regulate the country's legislation. If they exist, then their decisions are valid and must be implemented unequivocally.

Now let's go to the second stage: the Armenian leadership, that is, the Prime Minister, who is the supreme leader of the government, has repeatedly officially recognized that Garabagh, which was freed from the Armenian occupation, is the territory of Azerbaijan. This makes any Armenian claims directly related to Garabagh illegal. The opposite of this is breaking the law - as Armenia, first of all, disrespects its own legislation, and secondly, bends international institutions. So, a logic emerges here, why Armenia is not punished by the International Court of Justice for such illegal behavior?

As for UNESCO, it is not only the fault of the Armenians but also the fault of some appropriate organizations, such as UNESCO or UN ICJ that today both of them have been turned into string puppets in the hands of a group of Armenians. This situation would not arise if every organization fulfilled its mission properly. However, sometimes getting some of the organizations politicized and acting inappropriately leads to bitter consequences later.

This is not the real disgrace - the real one is the genocide against the monument of Khurshidbanu Natavan, who is considered a historical figure of Azerbaijan in Evian-les-Bains, the city of France, and all Azerbaijans cultural monuments in France. Unfortunately, UNESCO ignores this disgrace "in the very center of civilization". Therefore, rather than discussing the ongoing construction works in Azerbaijan's Garabagh, it would be better for the relevant organizations to discuss fists the disgrace in Frances Evian-les-Bains and come to a conclusion.

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Elnur Enveroglu is AzerNews Deputy Editor-in-Chief, follow him on @ElnurMammadli1

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5 January 2024 19:44 (UTC+04:00)

By Elnur Enveroglu and Abbas Ganbay

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is experiencing serious problems. The largest Armenian lobbying organization is losing international influence and partners. One by one, sponsors are turning away from ANCA, and partners in America and Europe are leaving.

The reason for this failure is Azerbaijan's reputation and its globally growing influence. The factor of successful leadership of President Ilham Aliyev led Azerbaijan to victory in the war with Armenia and the separatist regime in Garabagh and then allowed Azerbaijan to consolidate these achievements in the field of foreign policy.

These successes dealt a serious blow to the positions of the ANCA. The former influence and authority are no longer there, the flow of money from numerous organizations and partners is also disappearing. All that remains for ANCA is to churn out absurd lampoons and pictures on social networks.

Besides, changes taking place in the USA, in their grave form, have also affected the Armenian lobby, which tirelessly continues to sow the myths of "great Armenia" propaganda and hatred towards Azerbaijan. As much they get indulged in Western support, the Armenian lobby tries to get support from Joe Biden to put pressure on Azerbaijan for which the latter liberated its ancestral territories from the separatist clan after 30 years. It is quite illogical and absurd to pursue such a stupid policy by the USA towards Azerbaijan.

For decades Garabagh has been under the occupation of Armenians and its unseparable separatist clan who have inflicted heavy damage to the flora and fauna. During the occupation period, shadowy companies affiliated with the clan depleted the rich lands of Garabagh, destroyed all cultural monuments and landmarks, and used mosques and holy places as sables, stalls, and pigsties.

Biden's administration did not support the ANCA, and they in turn, in their Armenian style, threatened the administration of the President of America to not support them, by the votes of a million Armenians in 6 states.

Consequently, they have moved to the other side of the "bargaining chip", they don't care about left and right, they will support anyone with "the great gold of Artsakh" who puts in a good word for them. An example of this is the American presidential candidates Vivek R., and John. R.K. that depending on the heaviness of the bag of gold and meetings with ANCA representatives put in a good word about "Artsakh".

"Biden's rejection of the 120,000 Christian Armenians in Artsakh is likely to cause repercussions in "swing" states where the Armenian American community carries significant voting weight.

"President Biden made his choice (arming Azerbaijan, giving up Artsakh).

Now we will make ours," said ANCA.

It is worth noting that the same ANCA once advocated the assassination of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in order to close the way to peace with Azerbaijan for the benefit of the South Caucasus.

The head of the Washington office of the largest Armenian lobby in the United States (ANCA), Aram Suren Hamparian, shared a post on social media that was perceived as a "call for the assassination" of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

In another post, Hamparian urged Pashinian's bodyguards to "act by listening to the voice of the heart rather than thinking about the wallet" and added: "The moment has come when an Armenian defending Pashinyan values his soul more than a cheque."

"Calling for the assassination of the elected leader of a country that is a partner of the United States is incompatible with American values. Violence has no place in politics," he said in his post.

On the evening of 24 September 2023, 8 people were detained in Armenia on charges of attempting a forceful seizure of power and killing the prime minister and members of the government.

The actions of the Armenian National Security Service and the Investigation Bureau resulted in the detention of 8 people, 7 of whom were members of the organization "Military-Patriotic Society "Crusaders".

In a nutshell, ANCA is known to be not only a lobbying organization but also supports Armenian terrorist organizations and terrorists operating in the USA.

Murad Topalyan, who has been associated with the organization since the 1970s, was arrested on charges of "terrorism" in 1999 when he was president of the ANCA and was sentenced to prison after a trial.

The ANCA worked hard to secure the release of Hampig Sasunyan, the Armenian terrorist who assassinated Kemal Arkan, the Turkish Consul General in Los Angeles, in 1982.

On 10 March 2021, California Governor Gavin Newsom directly notified the ANCA of his decision to release Sassounian.

Thus, in the end, we witness again that Armenian organizations serve terrorism. It is not a tool for creating a state but for overthrowing states, creating chaos, and hindering peace. It is a very disappointing fact that the West supports this. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev also mentioned this in his speech.

"Double standards prevail in the West today, the Azerbaijani people know it well. At the same time, it knows well that despite the pressure, all the threats, and unfounded accusations, we will do what we consider necessary. And from now on we will do what we did before."

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5 January 2024 18:01 (UTC+04:00)

The Azerbaijan National Museum of Art will host a lecture "Creative world of Tofig Agababayev" on 7 January, Azernews reports.

Lecture will be organized within the framework of the exhibition "Dialogue with Time" dedicated to the 95th anniversary of the outstanding artist, Commander of the Order of "Shohrat", People's Artist Tofig Agababayev.

The lecture, which will be conducted by Khanym Askerova, Doctor of Philosophy in Art History, will review the individual stages of the artist's work, covering more than 60 years of activity, as well as his rich creative heritage in the field of fine and decorative-applied arts.

Tofig Agababayev made a significant contribution to Azerbaijani art, creating works of high artistic expressive power in such genres as portrait, landscape, narrative and thematic still life.

Works of the artist are currently kept in national museums and galleries, as well as in museums and galleries of many foreign countries, in private collections and collections.

Tofig Agababayev is a painter whose works have a national colour, a real Azerbaijani spirit. His works are the result of great creative searches, in each work of Tofig Agababayev one can feel unbreakable rhythm and unity of colours.

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5 January 2024 10:28 (UTC+04:00)

Preparations are underway for the participation of Azerbaijanis living in different countries of the world in the extraordinary presidential elections to be held on 7 February 2024, Azernews reports.

In order to ensure the electoral rights of Azerbaijanis living in foreign countries, intensive work is being carried out to set up polling stations in Azerbaijan's diplomatic missions in these countries, in the administrative buildings of embassies and consulates.

The Embassy of Azerbaijan in Washington has appealed to Azerbaijani citizens over 18 years of age, permanently or temporarily residing in the United States or on a long-term business trip, to provide information about themselves to be added to the voter list.

In addition to the capital, it is expected that Azerbaijani compatriots living in New York and neighbouring regions will also vote at the polling station to be set up at the Azerbaijani Embassy in Washington:

"The work continues in the same spirit. The Consulate operating in Los Angeles will also inform the public about the activity of the Election Centre to be established in this region in the coming days".

It should be noted that extraordinary presidential elections will be held in Azerbaijan on 7 February this year.

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5 January 2024 11:18 (UTC+04:00)

CEC receives signature sheets of four more people as presidential candidates. Signature lists of four more people whose candidacy for the post of president is accepted by the Central Election Commission (CEC), Azernews reports.

The signature sheets of Fazil Mustafa, presidential candidate of the Great Creation Party, Elshad Musayev, presidential candidate of the Great Azerbaijan Party, Gudrat Hasanguliyev, presidential candidate of the All Azerbaijan People's Front Party, and Fuad Aliyev, whose candidacy for the post of president was nominated by himself, were submitted to the CEC together with the necessary documents.

It should be noted that earlier the signature sheets of Zahid Oruj, whose candidature he nominated himself, and Razi Nurullayev, presidential candidate from the National Front Party, were submitted to the electoral body.

It should be noted that 17 people have been nominated for the presidency so far.

On 19 December, the CEC approved Ilham Aliyev's candidacy for the post of president from the ruling New Azerbaijan Party. On December 26, PEA submitted to the CEC signature sheets with 50,000 signatures of voters collected in defence of Ilham Aliyev, as well as other documents stipulated by Article 58.1 of the Electoral Code. Ilham Aliyev's candidacy for the post of President was registered at the CEC session held on 30 December.

Earlier, at the CEC session held on 21 December, Zahid Oruj and Fuad Aliyev, self-nominated presidential candidate from the Great Creation Party Fazil Mustafa, Elshad Musayev, presidential candidate from the Great Azerbaijan Party Gudrat Hasanguliyev, presidential candidate from the All Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, national candidate Razi Nurullayev, presidential candidate from the All Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, was approved.

At the CEC meeting held on 26 December, the issue of approving the candidacy of Sarvan Karimov, Matlab Mutallimli, Abutalib Samadov, Fikret Yusifov, Yusif Bagirzade, Arzuman Abdulkarimov, Yunus Oguz and Gulamgusein Alibayli, nominated by himself, was put up for consideration. On 30 December Safarov's candidacy was confirmed.

On 31 December, the CEC endorsed Avaz Temirkhi, a candidate nominated by himself.

Extraordinary presidential elections will be held in Azerbaijan on 7 February 2024.

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5 January 2024 13:12 (UTC+04:00)

During a briefing, U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, responding to a question that Moscow has urged foreign governments not to interfere in the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, said that Russia is not preventing the United States from carrying out important diplomatic efforts to normalise relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Azernews reports.

"Russia is in no way preventing us from pursuing the important diplomatic efforts that we believe are necessary for Armenia and Azerbaijan, and we will continue to pursue them," Miller said.

Referring to the possible next meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia in the US, he emphasised that Washington will make a statement when the meeting is scheduled.

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5 January 2024 13:57 (UTC+04:00)

Western Azerbaijani Community reacted to US Secretary of State's statement: "We categorically reject this list", Azernews reprots.

Azernews reprots, Western Azerbaijani Community statement says:

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrogantly included Azerbaijan in some so-called list related to religious freedom. First of all, no one has authorised the US to make any conceivable reports, lists on religious freedom in the countries of the world, and the use of such practice by the US is a manifestation of false "American exceptionalism".

It was noted that the U.S. "bills" dozens of countries in its world by placing countries whose policies it considers hostile on such an undervalued list. The hypocrisy of those who turn a blind eye to Armenia's destruction of the Azerbaijani people's cultural heritage, mosques, cemeteries, religious and ethnic prejudices, crusader mentality is disgusting:

"At a time when" Epstein's list "to the American public, from lies to peace shaken morality, conscience, human rights, the rule of law by mischievous acts of those who "passed the lesson", about whom, about what" the U.S. itself is concerned, look, it is incomprehensible. Instead of meddling in the affairs of other countries, the US should go and deal with its own domestic problems, including securing the rights of indigenous peoples it has historically suppressed.

The "logic" of US diplomacy is also "striking." On the one hand, the U.S. invites Azerbaijan to the Washington platform, while on the other hand, it takes one hostile step against Azerbaijan after another.

The US list on religious freedom has no force, no weight and we categorically reject it".

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5 January 2024 14:25 (UTC+04:00)

Last year, 1,438 citizens of Azerbaijan travelled to Germany and sought asylum in official Berlin. This is stated in the response of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees of Germany, Azernews reports.

It was noted that last year a total of 1,222 applications of Azerbaijani citizens were considered. Only 53 of them were recognised as refugees and received residence permits in Germany. The deportation decision was cancelled for 6 people, and 10 were granted residence permits on the basis of family reunification.

The Federal Office reported that last year 667 Azerbaijani citizens' applications for refugee status were answered negatively. They were asked to leave the country voluntarily. Some of them lived in Germany illegally despite the warning. The cases of these persons were sent to local administrative courts.

According to the IOM, 325,801 people arrived in Germany and applied for asylum in 2023. Compared to the same period in 2022, this is an increase of 60.3 per cent. In 2023, 21,287 initial applications concerned children born in Germany under the age of one year.

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5 January 2024 14:50 (UTC+04:00)

The Nizami Ganjavi International Centre (NGIC) will hold the XI Global Baku Forum, Azernews reports.

The event will be attended by about 400 world-renowned professionals, as well as former and current world leaders, ministers and Nobel laureates. The forum is scheduled to be held on 14-16 March 2024.

Recall that many countries and prominent international organisations were represented at the previous Global Baku Forum, which was held in March 2023.

Four presidents, two prime ministers, six speakers and ministers, heads of five UN organisations, 25 former presidents, 21 former prime ministers and deputy foreign ministers from 23 countries attended the event. The Forum was marked by the presence of 360 representatives from 61 countries.

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5 January 2024 17:16 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

Secretary of Baku Diocesan Administration, Rector of Holy Mirgorod Women's Archimandrite Cathedral Alexei Nikonorov said that the position of US Secretary of State Anthony Blinke on religious freedom in Azerbaijan is absolutely biased, Azernews reports.

It should be reminded that exactly two months ago on the air of the American news channel Fox News, the president of a certain "International Christian Concern" Jeff King has already presented a report on the "chase of the year" and that in 2023 he will be among the top 10 countries "on the scale of persecution of Christians".

It is clear to the erudite reader that a large number of Western, mainly American human rights organisations do not have sufficient bureaucracy and infrastructure to obtain and process their own reliable information on religious freedom in a given country using their own analytical strategies.

They rely on information from a variety of diverse, not always reliable and often biased sources and analysts, including contradictory sources. Such data naturally do not contain the honest positions of the informants. And not surprisingly, these results often have nothing to do with reality," he said.

Archimandrite Alexis Nikonorov believes that behind the statements of the US Secretary of State are anti-Azerbaijani lobbyists interested in discrediting Azerbaijan, creating its negative image in front of international political and public structures.

"Our country has accumulated centuries-old unique experience of peaceful coexistence and interaction of Muslim, Christian and Jewish population, joint creative activity. It is a unique phenomenon that Azerbaijan has practically no problems hindering the development of inter-religious dialogue at the everyday level between ordinary citizens in many states and societies," he explained.

Archimandrite Alexis Nikonorov emphasised that Azerbaijan pays special attention to cultural diversity in society and acts as a guarantor of the rights and freedoms of every citizen, regardless of their religious and national affiliation.

"The Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan ensures equality of all citizens before the law, regardless of their nationality, religion and language. At the same time, the State provides comprehensive support to non-Muslim communities in their legally established activities and promotes interreligious and multicultural dialogue. It is no secret that during the 30-year territorial conflict in the Karabakh region there appeared forces wishing to give this conflict a religious tinge. But thanks to the wisdom of our people, the political will of Sheikhulislam Allahshukur Pashazade, the religious leader of the Muslims of the Caucasus, as well as the mediating role of the Russian Orthodox Church, all such attempts were completely stopped.

It is obvious that Azerbaijan's successes, full restoration of territorial integrity, unity of society and other positive factors do not give rest to our enemies who are interested in weakening the political position of our country and its obvious leading role in the South Caucasus. They are trying to present Azerbaijan's success in liberating its territory from occupation as a struggle between Christians and pan-Turkist forces. It is no secret that by Christians we mean the earning of political forces on "refugees" of purely Armenian population resettled from the Karabakh region to the neighbouring republic.

Thus, the position voiced by Antoni Blinke seems completely plausible and biased. I am confident that this will not prevent Azerbaijan from moving forward, strengthening its political and economic power through full consolidation of public and civil institutions, continuing to show an example of inter-religious and inter-ethnic relations," Archimandrite Alexis Nikonorov said.

On 4 January, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced the inclusion of a number of countries, including Azerbaijan, in the "watch list" for observance of religious freedom.

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5 January 2024 18:44 (UTC+04:00)

A document on this was signed between Azerbaijan Technological University and Polish Bialystok Technological University, Azernews reports.

The University reports that the double diploma agreement on the programme "transport logistics" at the master's level was signed by acting rector of Azerbaijan Technological University Yashar Omerov and rector of Bialystok Technological University Marta Kosior-Kazberuk.

Admission to the programme is envisaged from the next academic year. Master's students will study two semesters at the Azerbaijan Technological University and two semesters at the Bialystok Technological University and will eventually receive a master's degree from both universities.

It should be noted that in the dual degree programme the teaching will be in English.

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5 January 2024 23:24 (UTC+04:00)

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus reports that the organisation of high-level visits between Azerbaijan and Belarus was discussed, Azernews reports.

Azerbaijani Ambassador to Belarus Maharram Aliyev handed a copy of his credentials to the head of the Foreign Ministry of the Eastern European country, Sergei Aleinik. During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on the state and prospects of the Belarusian-Azerbaijani relations.

In addition, the diplomats paid special attention to the organisation of the upcoming high-level and top-level visits, strengthening trade and economic cooperation, and agreeing on a roadmap for the development of cooperation between the two countries.

At the same time, the sides confirmed that they pay attention to the further development of relations between Belarus and Azerbaijan in line with the Strategic Partnership.

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5 January 2024 09:00 (UTC+04:00)

In 2023, renewable energy sources (RES) in Germany provided up to 60% of electricity generated, the German Institute for Solar Energy Systems of the Fraunhofer Society reported, Azernews .reports, citing Kun.uz News Agency.

Wind farms produced about 140 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity, up 14% from last year. The share of wind turbines in the overall structure of the German electric power industry was 32%.

Last year, energy production from solar power plants increased by 30%  from 46 to 60 TWh. The German government planned to launch new solar power plants for 9 GW, but in the end the plan was exceeded by more than half.

On July 7 at 13:15, solar panels were generating more than 40 GW. This means that at that moment Germany received 68% of its energy from the sun.

The total renewable energy capacity amounted to 260 TWh, an increase of 7.2% compared to 2022. Thus, the share of green energy that households received from electrical outlets increased from 50.2 to 57.1%.

In addition, the production of electricity from brown coal in Germany decreased by 27% (1963 level), hard coal  by 35% (1955 level).

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5 January 2024 10:00 (UTC+04:00)

Imports of agricultural products, mainly fruits and vegetables, increased markedly in Kazakhstan in 2023, accounting for about 70-80% of the supply in the country's markets and shops, Azernews reports.

The total value of tomato imports during the period was $38.5 million. Of this amount, $27.3 million came from Turkmenistan, while $6.4 million came from Uzbekistan. In addition, tomatoes were also supplied from China, Iran and Russia.

Exports of greenhouse tomatoes from Turkmenistan continue to grow at a high rate, which has a significant impact on the supply of the market in Kazakhstan and can be attributed to both an increase in consumer demand and the competitiveness of Turkmen products in the market.

Other Vegetable Imports

Onions, both shallots and regular, were imported at a total cost of $20.9 million, including $13.8 million from Uzbekistan and $6.4 million from Tajikistan. Other sources of onion supplies were Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Russia.

Cauliflower and broccoli imports totalled $3 million and came from Uzbekistan, China, and Iran. Carrots and turnips were purchased for $2.5 million from Uzbekistan, Russia, and Kyrgyzstan.

Cucumbers were imported from Iran, Uzbekistan, and China, totalling $6.2 million. Potato imports to Kazakhstan reached $3.8 million, with shipments originating from Pakistan, Russia, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and Belarus.

Garlic was imported from China ($2.1 million) and Uzbekistan ($0.6 million).

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5 January 2024 12:26 (UTC+04:00)

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) fired about 200 artillery shells from the west coast towards the South Korean islands. It is worth noting that in 2010, residents of Yeonpyeong Island, an island under South Korean control that was subjected to North Korean artillery fire, were ordered to evacuate immediately because of Pyongyang's "possible provocation", Azernews reports.

Immediately afterwards, South Korea issued a warning to evacuate civilians on the island, although it did not confirm whether it was related.

The South condemned the move, calling it a "provocative act." North Korean artillery shelled Yeonpyeong Island several times in 2010, killing four people.

The artillery shells fired on Friday between 09:00 and 11:00 local time (00:00 and 02:00 GMT) did not hit South Korean territory as they all fell in the buffer zone between the two countries.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the incident caused "no damage to our people or military" but added that the act "threatens peace on the Korean Peninsula and raises tensions".

The latest incident comes months after North Korea completely suspended a military agreement with the South aimed at reducing tensions.

Pyongyang has since said it will cancel all measures "taken to prevent military conflict in all areas, including land, sea and air" and deploy "more powerful armed forces and new-type military equipment" to the border region.

The last time North Korea fired artillery shells into the sea was in December 2022, with nine such incidents this year alone.

Yeonpyeong Island, home to a military base and a small civilian population of about 2,000, is 3 km from the disputed maritime border in the Yellow Sea and 12 km from the North Korean coast.

It has been the scene of inter-Korean maritime clashes for many years.

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5 January 2024 20:56 (UTC+04:00)

Finland may stop buying Russian LNG in 2025 as a result of the gas market reform agreed in December 2023, Azernews reports.

Helsingin Sanomat reported this from the words of Climate and Environment Minister Kai Mykkanen.

"I don't want to promise a specific date, but hopefully next year we will be in a situation where the ban will come into force," the minister said.

According to the minister, a simpler solution would be for the European Union to adopt appropriate sanctions, but some countries are not ready for that.

The minister emphasised that Finland imported a small volume of Russian LNG, but "this issue is not significant".

The gas reform allows EU countries to ban the purchase of pipeline and liquefied natural gas on security grounds. The regulation is due to come into force in the spring, after which the government will be able to submit its proposals to ban imports for a limited period of time. Latvia and Lithuania have already banned Russian gas imports, but Finland has been pushing for gas market reform to come into force so that the decision is simple and has greater legal certainty.

Russia sold about 16 million tonnes of LNG to European countries in 2023. Together with the reduction in pipeline gas pumping, LNG supplies have increased. The largest buyers of Russian LNG were Spain (first place among the other suppliers), France, Belgium and the Netherlands. The contract for pipeline gas supplies to Finland from Russia was terminated in May 2022.

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5 January 2024 20:27 (UTC+04:00)

Justifications for the presence of the US-led international coalition forces in Iraq have ended, and Baghdad intends to take concrete measures to end the foreign military presence in the country. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani told Al-Sumaria, Azernews reports, citing TASS.

"The government reaffirms its firm position to end the presence of the international coalition in the country after the excuses for this ended," al-Sudani pointed out.

The Iraqi prime minister noted that the country's authorities are now "determining the date for the start of negotiations within the framework of the bilateral committee that was established to work out measures to end the presence of coalition forces in Iraq."

Al-Sudani condemned the latest attacks by coalition forces on the positions of al-Hashd al-Shaabi militias, which he said "are official formations subordinate to the state and an integral part of the Iraqi army."

On 4 January, Abu Taqwa, one of Hezbollah al-Nujaba's commanders, was killed in a US drone strike in Baghdad, with at least six others injured. Abu Taqwa led the movement's 12th Brigade and was also a supporter of Iraq's al-Hashd al-Shaabi militia. On 26 December, U.S. Central Command reported strikes on Kataib Hezbollah facilities in Iraqi territory in response to attacks on coalition forces in Iraq and Syria. The Iraqi government then regarded the US military strikes on targets in the republic as a hostile act that violated the country's sovereignty.

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5 January 2024 21:20 (UTC+04:00)

A new criminal case has been opened against the former Deputy Chief of General Staff of Armenia, Azernews reports.

The Armenian Prosecutor General's Office has opened a new case against the former deputy chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Haykaz Baghmanyan.

He is accused of laundering 251 mln drams ($600,000). Since the beginning of last year he was accused of hiding his property and large sums of income, as well as enrichment by illegal means.

It should be noted that Baghmanyan was also deputy head of the CSTO Joint Staff from March 2018 to December 2020.

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5 January 2024 22:30 (UTC+04:00)

Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi has announced the detention of a number of people involved in the terrorist attack on a cemetery in Kerman province, Azernews reports.

"A number of individuals involved in the incident have been detained and their information will be announced later by the security services," he said.

Iran raised a red flag of revenge on the dome of Jamkaran mosque over the terrorist attack near a cemetery in Kerman.

The last time a red flag of revenge was raised over this mosque was after the assassination of Qasem Suleimani on 3 January 2020.

It was taken down after the Iranians attacked the US base of Ain al-Asad in Iraq with ballistic missiles in retaliation for Suleimani's murder.

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By Darlene McCormick Sanchez at The Epoch Times

Nearly 170 health professionals have signed an open letter to the American Psychiatric Association (APA) condemning its new gender-affirming care textbook as unacceptable, unethical and unsafe.

Their open letter to the organization appears on the website of the Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism, a free speech and civil liberties watchdog group. The signatories demand that the APA explain why it glaringly ignored many scientific developments in gender-related care and to consider its responsibility to promote and protect patients safety, mental and physical health.

The letter calls for the APA to suspend publication of the textbook, Gender-Affirming Psychiatric Care, released on Nov. 8. The textbook is intended to be used as a teaching tool for doctors in training.

We seek an unbiased scientific investigation and discussion of the harms and benefits of all types of care offered to those with gender-related distress, the letter states. Until those concerns are addressed and the textbooks errors corrected, we call on the APA for its withdrawal.

Within 24 hours, more than 700 additional names had been added to the list of signatories.

The APA did not immediately respond to a request for comment by The Epoch Times. Study Findings In Question

The tomes foreword declares it to be the first textbook dedicated to providing affirming, intersectional, and evidence-informed psychiatric care for transgender, non-binary, and/or gender-expansive (TNG) people.

Its 26 chapters are written by 56 authors, 50 of whom either identify as transgender or dont identify as male or female, according to the foreword.

But other health professionals are questioning the wisdom of relying on the authors personal experiences, just because of their gender identities.

They also object to backing up those testimonies with limited scientific studies, some with heartily disputed results.

The textbook also presents neo-Marxist critical theories focused on calling out the so-called oppression of particular identity groups, critics point out.

Yet the textbook will be seen as a gold standard of care because it comes with the considerable clout of the APA behind it, concerned doctors told The Epoch Times.

Thats despite the fact that the textbook presents as evidence some studies that have come under fire for being flawed.

Those include the famous Dutch protocol study that became the basis for recommending puberty suppression, the use of cross-sex hormones, and other gender-affirmative procedures for people who identify as the opposite sex.

Transgender activists say puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgery can save the lives of gender-confused adults and children who may feel suicidal.

Others dispute that idea. And new research backs up that way of thinking. A recent Finnish study found that mental health issues for people who medically transition continue despite receiving gender-affirming care. An analysis of data showed the need for psychiatric care was greater for people with gender dysphoria, both before and after medical transitioning, when compared to a control group.

Millions of Children at Risk

The signature of Dr. Lauren Schwartz, a psychiatrist in Oklahoma, appears first on the letter. She worries that using the textbook to train doctors could lead to harming millions of children, she told The Epoch Times.

She and fellow professionals hope their letter will raise awareness among parents and providers on how radically the American Psychiatric Association has shifted away from medicine and science in the publication of this book, she said.

There are so many false, harmful statementsones rooted not in medicine or science, but in an inconceivable ideological foundation and medical misinformation, both of which will harm patients and their families, she wrote in a text message.

Other professionals who signed the letter include psychiatrists Miriam Grossman and Az Hakeem. Both have written books denouncing transgender ideology.

Dr. Grossman, a childhood and adolescent psychiatrist, wrote Lost in Trans Nation: A Child Psychiatrists Guide Out of the Madness. Her book excoriates gender ideology as a repudiation of reality and a mockery of basic male and female biology. She has been outspoken against transitioning children.

Dr. Hakeem, a London psychiatrist, formerly worked at the Tavistock gender clinic. He is the author of Detrans: When Transition is Not the Solution, which argues that no one is born in the wrong body.

He maintains that transitioning becomes a false solution to a different problem at a time of increasing pressure to affirm a persons belief that he or she was born the wrong sex.

The idea of affirming gender confusion and medically altering a persons body to fit a new gender identity is under scrutiny from clinicians and scientists worldwide.

Yet, those methods are recommended by the books authors.

Critics of the textbook argue in their letter that reviews of gender-affirming care in Sweden and England also did not support the idea that transitioning improves the mental health of patients.

They point out that the textbook relies on evidence-informed information, instead of the scientific standard that typically requires evidence-based information.

And they question why the textbook dismisses the idea of scientific neutrality and depends, instead, on the lived experiences and community impact of authors who identify as transgender.

Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, board chairman of the Do No Harm organization, said he signed the letter because his organization is concerned about potential harm to children.

New evidence out of Europe indicates that medically transitioning children to help them try to resemble the opposite sex is doing more harm than good, he told The Epoch Times.

We dont have any study that shows that this is long-term beneficial, he said.

And the Dutch studies finding that gender-affirming care helped people with gender dysphoria or confusion were not successfully duplicated by researchers in England, Dr. Goldfarb said.

The newest studies coming out of Europe suggest that whats best for children with gender dysphoria is intensive, long-term psychiatric care before any medical intervention, he said.

The lack of acknowledgment of the latest scientific research in the textbook is, he said, quite extraordinary. Dangerous Decisions

While adults can make their own decisions, children lack the maturity to make life-altering changes to their bodies, Dr. Goldfarb said. And the risk of harm for children taking puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones is real and serious.

Puberty blockers stop the development of the sexual reproductive system, meaning children who dont go through puberty would never fully develop sexuality. Theyre also likely to lose the ability to have children, he said.

It sort of depends on how far into puberty they are before they start blocking its progression, he said. It depends on how many hormones they take and for how long they take it.

Dr. Goldfarb and other health professionals objecting to the textbook take issue with the authors assertion that puberty blockers for children are fully reversible.

And the textbook is disturbingly nonchalant, the letter states, about the high rate of mental and behavioral health issues simultaneously affecting people with gender dysphoria. Autism, ADHD, anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and suicidal thoughts often coincide with gender dysphoria in youths.

The textbook is disturbing, said Alan Hopewell, a prescribing neuropsychologist in Texas with experience treating transgender-identifying patients.

He told The Epoch Times, This is nonsensical gibberish which has no foundation whatsoever in science.
Newark, Del.-based ChristianaCare has paid $42.5 million to resolve allegations of healthcare fraud under the federal False Claims Act and Delaware False Claims and Reporting Act.

In 2017, ChristianaCare's former chief compliance officer claimed the company illegally paid non-employee surgeons in the form of ancillary support providers to inpatients at Christiana Care hospitals, according to a Jan. 4 news release from the Justice Department.

The ancillary providers looked for the surgeons to refer their patients to ChristianaCare hospitals, creating a financial relationship between ChristianaCare and non-employee providers. Based on the complaint, the company's claims to Medicare and Medicaid for care provided referred patients violated the Anti-Kickback Statute and the Stark Law, the release said.

The claims resolved in the settlement are allegations and there was no determination of liability.

ChristianaCare has three hospitals and additional healthcare facilities in Northern Delaware and the surrounding area.
Optum, parent company of ASC chain SCA Health, already is poised to make two major moves in 2024.

Optum is eyeing the acquisition of the physician-owned Corvallis (Ore.) Clinic, which operates 11 locations and an ASC. The partnership aims to stabilize the financial losses the clinic experienced in the last 12 months, despite a 15% cut in the physician owners' compensation more than a year ago.

According to a Dec. 28 notice from the Oregon Health Authority, physicians would seek employment elsewhere if the transaction is not completed, decreasing care access in the area.

The move would be in line with Optum's aggressive physician acquisition strategy. The company added 20,000 physicians to its portfolio and inked three major physician deals in 2023.

Additionally, Optum and St. Louis-based SSM Health ended their administrative partnership. The partnership aimed to improve inpatient care management, digital transformation and revenue cycle management.

Optum formed similar partnerships with three other health systems in the last year with Brewer, Maine-based Northern Light Health, Owensboro (Ky.) Health and ProHealth Care.
Saint Mary's Health Network and Renown Health, both based in Reno, Nev., have reached a temporary agreement in an ongoing monopoly dispute, according to a Jan. 4 report from the Reno Gazette Journal.

The agreement allows Saint Mary's patients to seek care from Renown cardiac surgery specialists. In December, Renown refused a deal with Saint Mary's allowing cardiac patients to seek care at the system.

In response, Saint Mary's parent company, Prime Healthcare Services, filed a lawsuit against Renown alleging monopolistic practices for cardiology services and claiming that Renown improperly ended an agreement to provide Saint Mary's access to cardiology specialists working with Renown. The short notice for the termination left Saint Mary's "without an essential part of its cardiovascular program," according to the lawsuit.

In late December, a judge approved a temporary restraining order against Renown to allow Saint Mary's patients access to cardiologists while the case was ongoing.

Renown then opted to extend the temporary deal to Saint Mary's, telling the Gazette that it was doing so "despite providing adequate notice of an expired contract."

The deal gives Saint Marys patients access to Renowns cardiothoracic surgeons through April 15.

Saint Mary's "has been and will continue to identify permanent solutions," a spokesperson told the Gazette.
Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente is enhancing its digital pharmacy as health systems and payers compete with new entrants such as Amazon Pharmacy, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Kaiser Permanente, for instance, is rolling out digital prescription-refill reminders, according to the Jan. 4 story. "The experience itself is like what you're used to as a consumer in other industries, like how you order your coffee or groceries," Chief Digital Officer Nari Gopala told the newspaper.

Organizations such as payer Elevance Health are also shifting toward a smartphone app-based, mail-order pharmacy experience, as companies work to match disruptors in the field, the Journal reported. "Healthcare lags almost any other industry in terms of its digital maturity and its consumer experience," Kate McCarthy, vice president and team manager at IT consultant Gartner, told the news outlet. "So they have quite a bit of work to do."
As more hospitals continue to be picked up by private equity firms, recent studies have tied these acquisitions to adverse patient outcomes.

"I'm concerned by rural hospitals that are scooped up by anyone that threatens their independence and their ability to continue to treat their patients in a meaningful way," David Schreiner, PhD, president and CEO of Dixon, Ill.-based Katherine Shaw Bethea Hospital, told Becker's.

KSB is an 80-bed independent hospital with 950 employees. The hospital also has a family medicine residency program with the University of Illinois.

"The thing that I think of is that healthcare is best provided locally," Dr. Schreiner said. "In many times, the rural hospitals are the economic driver in the communities that we live in. I think that allows us to tailor to patients both broadly and individually. And that's more difficult to do when you have absentee owners."

Dr. Schreiner said that while quality of care is important, one positive aspect that comes from private equity firm hospital acquisitions is access to capital.

"That's something that I know for our organization and many rural hospitals since the pandemic began. We've had a very difficult time capitalizing and that leads to lack of new equipment and even improvement to our existing facilities. PE can help with that," he said.

In early December, Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, ranking member and chair of the Senate Budget Committee, launched an investigation together into the effects of private equity hospital ownership. The senators argue that many hospitals have experienced reduced care quality and workforce cuts under private equity ownership.

Even though rural hospitals are under financial duress, Dr. Schreiner said personal attention is more present than in other places run by larger organizations.

"Several of the business office functions are taken out of the community. I think that also impacts healing, because part of the entire patient experience starts when they decide to see a caregiver, and it ends with the billing process. If they don't have the ability to call and have personal touch from someone often that lives in their community in rural hospitals, then I think that's not as positive," he said.

To combat rural hospitals feeling the pressure to consider being acquired by private equity companies, Dr. Schreiner said there needs to be fundamental reform.

"The current model doesn't work. I think throughout the United States, we have to look at how we support our rural hospitals. I think many people think about rural hospitals as critical access hospitals. There are many of us that are the tweeners, so to speak. We're larger than 25 beds and we're smaller than academic medical centers or academic hospitals. The tweeners need to be taken care of and they often get lost in the conversation. I think private equity can make that worse."














Oregon Health & Science University said it will search for a new CEO of its healthcare operations as OHSU and Legacy Health work through the due diligence phase of combining.

The health systems, both based in Portland, are still working on finalizing a merger agreement. In August, the entities announced they had signed a nonbinding letter of intent with plans to create a 10-hospital system of more than 32,000 employees. The combined system would be the largest Portland metro area employer.

Amid the anticipated merger, John Hunter, MD, who has served as executive vice president and CEO of OHSU Health since 2017, will step down from his role.

"We have engaged Nexus Search Partners, a leading executive search firm, to expeditiously identify candidates with experience in integrating health systems and improving financial performance," Danny Jacobs, MD, OHSU president, said in a statement shared with Becker's.

Dr. Jacobs said Dr. Hunter will continue as OHSU Health CEO until June 30, or at least until a new health system CEO is hired. He will continue to serve as a tenured faculty member with patient care responsibilities in the university medical school's surgery department.

Brooke Baldwin, DNP, OHSU chief nursing executive, and Donn Spight, MD, OHSU vice president of health equity, will co-chair the search committee for the next CEO of OHSU Health.

"Dr. Hunter led the OHSU health care mission through the pandemic with compassion and a people-first focus. We are grateful for his leadership and service as we transition to the next phase of developing a seamless, comprehensive health system for the people of Oregon, the Pacific Northwest and beyond," Dr. Jacobs said.
Elizabeth Wako, MD, began her career in healthcare as a bedside nurse for behavioral health patients. What she learned during those days has shaped her leadership style as she became a physician, administrator and, in November, president and CEO of Swedish Health Services in Seattle, an affiliate of Providence.

"Healthcare is its own ecosystem. You can enter in any kind of job," said Dr. Wako. "Healthcare is a small city in and of itself. There is no job that exists in the real world that doesn't exist in healthcare. There are so many avenues to enter, and once you enter, anything is achievable. Even being the CEO of a hospital."

Dr. Wako has spent more than 30 years in healthcare and built a career learning many different aspects of healthcare delivery. Then, in 2023, she became interim CEO for seven months before being named the five-hospital health system's permanent leader. Now when she connects with new entrants into the healthcare space, she delivers a simple message: stay open to new opportunities and be creative in how they're thinking about healthcare delivery.

"I always like to connect with new entrants in healthcare because they see things differently and give us a new perspective that we don't see because we are so embedded in it," she said. "Never think that an idea is too small. It's the small things that are going to change how we deliver care."

As a leader, Dr. Wako has been supporting the sort of transformational change in healthcare delivery she wants to see from her team and is focused on building growth. The number one challenge she hears from the community is access to care, and particularly primary care services. Not enough physicians and nurses are entering the field to meet the growing demand for healthcare services. But redefining the way hospitals think about the healthcare front door through virtual care and technology.

"We have to redefine what is the front door in healthcare," she said. "Historically, it has been the doctor's office, but with the healthcare shortages we have right now, that door won't look the same and probably shouldn't look the same in the next few years."

Telemedicine and virtual visits will play a new role in healthcare delivery, connecting with patients more efficiently than in the past. Hospitals are also looking for ways to keep patients with non-urgent issues out of the ER and acute settings and move them into the primary care setting to manage resources and truly deliver value-based care and population health.

Swedish is also transforming its clinician processes for a more team-based model of care instead of one-on-one healthcare delivery.

"When you look at healthcare over time, it does ebb and flow in a sine wave. When the patient population expands and the clinician population contracts, we adapt. Team models for healthcare delivery, whether it's clinicians or APCs, whether it's virtual care or using AI to automate services or triage, we have to change on a regular basis and make it easier for physicians to get to the right decisions quicker."

Technology investment can help solve the access to primary care challenges Swedish and many other hospitals are facing, but another problem remains: how to function with fewer caregivers across the board and ease the way for caregivers so they're able to work to maximum productivity, said Dr. Wako.

"In the end, if we aren't delivering the best clinical and highest quality care, then we aren't living up to our commitment to our patients," said Dr. Wako.

Swedish is also piloting a new virtual nursing model for acute care called Co-caring. The virtual nurses can remotely connect with the patient's room and provide support through bi-directional audio-visual platform.

"Imagine the patient is at the end of their stay and they are ready to discharge, and the nurse goes over things and answers a lot of questions. This person can be the liaison between the clinician and the patient. If the patient or family visits and wants an update, the virtual nurse can come in and summarize care, and let them know what is ahead."

Swedish is building a new medical tower at the First Hill campus to provide high acuity care for patients and it will include a design for more team-based care and innovative leadership.

"The tower will be built with the future in mind," said Dr. Wako. "The virtual nurse program, AI and telemedicine were all considered during the design. The hospital will also decrease our carbon footprint, which is huge."

In the system's legacy hospitals, Swedish leadership are working on ways to bring technology into clinical care, including surgical robots and devices that may not have been available a few years ago. The technology includes wayfinding and virtual care.

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Two health system CEOs recently shared with Becker's what they are most optimistic about in the new year, from adjusting to long-term changes to addressing maternal mortality:

Russ Johnson. President and CEO of LMH Health (Lawrence, Kan.): In 2024 I think we will fully emerge from the "pandemic years." While there are clearly long-term results and changes from our last four years, they will begin to assimilate into our usual and routine operations being seen less as changes and more as new paradigms resulting from that time. I am optimistic about this because it allows leadership to shift from a reactionary mode where we are adjusting our operations and processes based on what we think may be temporary measures and making deeper and broader organizational adjustments to respond to the industry and market as we now know it to be. This may be most evident in the arena of workforce, where many of us have scrambled to make sense of new expectations, demands for greater flexibility, the financial challenges of contract and agency labor and, in my opinion, the more concerning phenomenon of workers feeling disconnected from their sense of purpose and unity with the broader organization. In 2024, I am optimistic that we can reconnect on the deeply meaningful and important work that our employees make happen every day in our hospitals.

Michael Young. President and CEO of Temple University Health System (Philadelphia): We are committed to reducing maternal mortality and morbidity in North Philadelphia, which are rising nationwide particularly among women of color. Addressing this crisis requires understanding, innovation, expertise, resolve and resources. Temple Health's new Women & Families Hospital launches [in 2024]. And with strong community partnerships, grants and state and philanthropic support, our new hospital campus will offer expert, trauma-informed care that addresses personal, clinical and social determinants of health while also providing employment opportunities to our community members.










Duluth, Minn.-based Essentia Health and Marshfield (Wis.) Clinic Health System have ended efforts to combine into a 25-hospital regional health system.

The systems announced the conclusion of a merger pursuit Jan. 5, more than a year after they began merger talks and five months after they signed an integration agreement. Essentia and Marshfield Clinic shared a timeline to formally combine by the end of 2023 pending regulatory approval.

The Midwestern health systems "have chosen not to move forward with their proposed integration," according to their joint news release shared with Becker's. "We have decided that a combination at this time is not the right path forward for our respective organizations, colleagues and patients."

Asked whether Marshfield's financial situation drove this decision, a spokesperson for Essentia said it was the primary factor. Marshfield recorded an operating margin of -5.4% in early 2023 and in November 2023, it moved to cut employee pay and benefits, including suspension of 401(k) employer match and employee retirement plans, including for executives.

Essentia just barely broke even in fiscal 2023.

"Financial stability is a critical component of Essentia being able to fulfill our mission for our patients and communities," the Essentia spokesperson said. "We appreciate the incredible contributions of our colleagues, whose hard work ensures we are a growing organization that provides excellent, accessible care to our communities." Regulatory reviews did not affect the outcome, according to the spokesperson.

Combined, Essentia and Marshfield Clinic would have shared a presence in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan and North Dakota with 3,800 providers and 150 sites of care, including 25 hospitals. Fourteen of those hospitals would have come from Essentia and 11 from Marshfield Clinic. Essentia CEO David Herman, MD, was set to serve as the chief executive of the combined organization.

"As we've explored this opportunity, I appreciate the relationships we've built with the skilled Marshfield Clinic providers, staff and leaders who share our dedication to excellent care," Dr. Herman said in the release.

Marshfield Clinic saw a change in leadership throughout the merger pursuit. Susan Turney, MD, the first CEO of Marshfield (Wis.) Clinic Health System, stepped down in September 2023 after nine years in the role. Brian Hoerneman, MD, is leading the system now as interim CEO.

"Essentia Health and the Marshfield Clinic Health System are high-performing, well-respected, community-focused organizations. Those similarities served as the basis for efforts toward a combination. As we now move our separate ways, Marshfield Clinic looks forward to advancing our 100-year legacy of providing compassionate and accessible care to the communities we serve," Dr. Hoerneman said in the release.
Being part of a regional healthcare system will give Fort Payne, Ala.-based DeKalb Regional Medical Center access to local resources it does not have, Huntsville (Ala.) Hospital Health System CEO Jeff Samz told al.com in a Jan. 4 report.

Huntsville (Ala.) Hospital Health System is planning to acquire the 134-bed rural hospital in a deal expected to close March 31.

Mr. Samz said Huntsville Hospital can help DeKalb with recruitment, contracting "any number of issues that are local where they need regional scale."

He said in a news release announcing the acquisition that Huntsville Hospital's mission "includes helping rural communities maintain local access to quality care." The system said it is committed to employee retention and indicated that employment will continue "for substantially all employees in good standing at the time of transition."

Mr. Samz told al.com that talks have been happening over the past year while "looking for a model that would be sustainable.

"Our efforts at first will revolve around recruiting additional doctors to the community and getting its core services shored up," Mr. Samz told the news outlet.

A report released in 2022 found that nearly half of Alabama's rural hospitals were in danger of closing due to financial losses on patient services, according to al.com. Seven rural hospitals in the state have closed since 2005. Nationwide, a July 2023 report found that more than 300 rural hospitals are at immediate risk of closure because of the severity of their financial problems.
Large language and multimodal models that respond with text explanations and ambient documentation in healthcare are on the cusp of change, UC San Diego Health's first chief health artificial intelligence officer, Karandeep Singh, MD, told the La Jolla Light in a Jan. 4 report.

Dr. Singh said artificial intelligence will influence the change healthcare will see regarding large language and multimodal models that respond with text explanations as well as with ambient documentation.

"Let's say someone is ready to go home and they've been in the hospital for a month. It can be a lot of work to accurately pull together, sort of in a nutshell, everything that happened to this person during that time," he told the publication. "And that can also be a challenge when a patient is handed off from one physician to another. So accurate summarization to reduce the documentation burden is another idea that's coming soon."

Regarding ambient documentation, Dr. Singh said instead of clinicians jotting down notes while looking at a computer screen, AI could allow physicians to have natural conversations with patients with the encounter being processed in real time.

He said with AI, this could go beyond simple transcription, encompassing the formatting of information in a manner that suits clinicians' documentation needs.

"That kind of technology is being tested now in a few places, but we haven't yet seen the big study that tells us whether it works or not," he said.
Researchers have created an artificial intelligence model they say can accurately predict a person's lifespan, the Boston Globe reported.

A computer scientist at Boston-based Northeastern University joined researchers from Denmark in developing the Life2vec system that uses a large language model to scan massive amounts of people's data to identify patterns, including when they are likely to die, according to the Dec. 31 story. The study was published Dec. 18 in Nature Computational Science.

The tool predicted which of 100,000 Danish citizens between the ages of 35 and 65 had lived and died with 78% accuracy, according to the story. "We now live in an era where we can look at all the data all at once," co-author Tina Eliassi-Rad, PhD, a computer science professor at Northeastern, told the newspaper. "It means you can pay attention and learn correlations between every piece of data we have."

While the tool is "strictly in the lab for now," the researchers say it could one day be used in the U.S. to figure out the best health behaviors for Americans based on their demographics, personalities and social activities, the Globe reported.
In the last month, two New York health systems have received cease-and-desist letters from the state Department of Health.

Albany, N.Y.-based St. Peter's Health Partners' president and COO, Steven Hanks, MD, received a Dec. 26 letter, obtained by Becker's, from the state's DOH ordering against the closure of beds or services at the system's Troy, N.Y.-based Samaritan Hospital's Burdett Birthing Center without the state's approval.

"Closing beds or services without approval is unlawful and may result in civil penalties of $2,000 per day for each day that the beds or services are closed without approval," the letter said.

The health system had previously delayed closure plans for the hospital's birthing center last October due to community concerns over care access and transportation barriers.

"Our maternity unit staffing plan for the month of January is complete, and is intended to meet all needs of the unit's expected patient volume," a spokesperson for St. Peter's Health told Becker's. "We want to re-emphasize that Samaritan Hospital has not closed beds or reduced services on its maternity unit."

St. Peter's Health has now submitted its closure plan, which is under the department's review.

However, the directive of the letter remains in effect, as the department has not fully reviewed or approved the plan, the state's DOH said in a statement shared with Becker's.

New York City-based Mount Sinai Beth Israel was also ordered by the state DOH to "cease and desist" closure of its beds and services without the department's approval in a Dec. 21 letter to the hospital's president and CEO.

A fine of $2,000 per day and a right to seek a court order were mentioned in the letter should the hospital close its beds or services.

"The department was recently informed by local officials that Beth Israel was ending services without authorization from the state department of health," Erin Clary, a spokesperson for the department, said in a Dec. 21 statement shared with Becker's.

Ms. Clary said the department expects a written confirmation from the hospital that the closures would end.

"We have received the letter and are reviewing it. As we have always said, the health and safety of our patients are  and must remain  our top priorities," Loren Riegelhaupt, a hospital spokesperson, shared with Becker's in a statement.

New York City-based Mount Sinai Health System initially announced plans to close its Beth Israel campus in early 2023. The hospital's closure plan was submitted for the state DOH's review and approval in October. The hospital submitted an addendum to the plan in November to close quicker due to patient utilization decreases and staff resignations due to the planned closure.
Medford, Ore. police on Jan. 3 confirmed they are investigating medication theft and concerns of adverse patient care at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center  a day after local news outlets reported on allegations from sources at the hospital who say several patient deaths may be tied to a nurse's actions.

"In early December 2023, the Medford Police Department was contacted by officials from Asante in regards to a former employee that they believe was involved in the theft of controlled substances prescribed to patients," Lt. Geoff Kirkpatrick said in a statement. "Additionally, there was concern that this behavior resulted in adverse patient care, though the extent of the impact on those patients is yet to be determined. MPD is actively working on investigating these claims."

The police statement described the investigation as "complex and ongoing," adding that no further details will be released at this time.

Over the New Year's weekend, the Rogue Valley Timess and NBC affiliate KOBI-TV reported that "multiple sources" at the Medford, Ore.-based hospital who declined to be identified alleged that a nurse had been taking fentanyl from IV bags and replacing it with unsterile tap water, which they claim led to severe infections caused by pseudomonas and multiple patient deaths.

Officials at Asante Rogue Regional previously confirmed to the Rogue Valley Times that police are investigating one death. Becker's previously reached out to the hospital regarding the allegations; the hospital provided the following statement sent to multiple news outlets and declined to comment further:

"We were distressed to learn of this issue. We reported it to law enforcement and are working closely with them," a spokesperson said in the Dec. 31 statement.

In their Jan. 3 statement, Medford police said they have received "numerous calls" from people asking if they or a family member had been affected by the "suspected actions of the former Asante employee."

"Asante has informed MPD that they have identified the involved patients and have notified or are in the process of notifying them or their families," police said.

Families of two patients who died at the hospital over the past year told the Rogue Valley Times they were recently notified by Asante officials that the deaths of their family members were allegedly caused by infections after their pain medication was tampered with.

Becker's continues to follow this story and will provide updates as more information becomes available.
Health system violence and violence against physicians and practitioners has continued to rise in the last few years, with the healthcare and social services industry recording 453,200 nonfatal injuries in 2021  more than any other industry.

From hospital shootings to direct attacks on physicians and nursing staff, healthcare workers continue to face newfound and escalating dangers every day.

Now, several systems, and even legislative members, are introducing efforts to improve safety for the workers who risk their lives to provide care for others.

Brian Uridge, deputy director of public safety and security at the University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor, told Becker's what his team is doing to prioritize patient and physician safety in the new year.

Question: What are you most looking forward to in 2024?

Brian Uridge: We are looking forward to the implementation of our concentric rings of security strategy becoming operational. Our most exciting challenge for 2024 is a violence reduction initiative in the health system focused on reducing both the risk and anxiety of our patients, staff and visitors. We refer to it as concentric rings of security. Each ring serves as an equally important safety prevention layer of defense within the concentric rings of security. The outermost ring provides an opportunity to evaluate and plan for potential safety risks before reaching the perimeter of the institution. As one progresses through each ring, the tools identified below offer a sort of "Swiss cheese" approach. If a potential security concern advances through the first ring/barrier, the consecutive rings create additional safety layers/barriers designed to prevent and/or reduce chances for harm to workforce, patients and visitors. The rings include preparedness, engagement and training, external perimeter cameras with analytics, visitor management, mobile duress alarms, armed law enforcement, K-9s and metal detectors.

Q: What is your system/team prioritizing this year?

BU: Our team is prioritizing violence reduction focused on trust, training and technology as described above. One of the training programs that has taken off is our scenario-based home healthcare training called REACT. Rapid environmental assessment and control training.This training is focused on teaching situational awareness to home health care professionals. "Home health and personal care aides are some of the fastest-growing occupations, with a projected growth of 34% from 2019 to 2029; in 2019, the workforce numbered 3.5 million with a projected 1.1 million additional jobs through 2029," according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Q: What are the biggest challenges you anticipate facing this year?

BU: The hiring of security officers is one of the biggest challenges we are facing.
Despite rising respiratory infections nationwide, Kim Bennion, the enterprise director of research and respiratory care at Salt Lake City-based Intermountain Healthcare, is optimistic about what 2024 may hold for respiratory care, thanks in-part to advances in technology like artificial intelligence. The advancements promise to streamline pulmonary care and could eventually be used to also monitor more acute respiratory conditions like COVID-19 or the flu.

Her optimism for what the technology promises for respiratory care comes as the CDC reports an eighth consecutive week of increasing outpatient visits for respiratory viruses. In a single week alone  the most recent week of CDC data as of Dec. 23  there were 29,059 hospitalizations for COVID-19 and 14,732 for the flu nationally, according to CDC data.

Ms. Bennion had retired from a 47-year career in healthcare, but came out of retirement after just two weeks when Intermountain received a $4 million grant to work on a project that would integrate AI technology with pulmonary metrics into an easy-to-use platform for clinicians.

"Based on some preliminary research that we've done, I think this is going to revolutionize respiratory care," Ms. Bennion told Becker's. "We just want to do the right thing for chronic lung patients."

The goal was to expand the capacity of pulmonary disease navigators who remotely monitor patients to handle more, provide increased 24/7 access to specialists, and get care at the right time in the right location at the lowest cost, she explained.

So far, the platform has been able to increase the number of patients that can be remotely monitored from 50 per specialist to 250.

The platform is also one Intermountain has used for diabetes care and heart failure with success. So further customizing it for pulmonary care only made sense, Ms. Bennion said.

"We're going to provide patients with extremely timely care we can view about 500 patients' info from a screen, and they'll show up as red, yellow, or green based on the cues of some specific metric," she said. "If their saturation falls to a certain level, they'll show up yellow, or they'll show up red, that says you know we need to get a hold of them right now. They'll have this high touch personalized care."

All information is relayed back to the patient's care team and primary care provider to make decisions about how to adjust care.

While the platform now is only for certain pulmonary conditions, Ms. Bennion said further work in years to come could allow for monitoring more acute respiratory conditions like COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus and flu.

"What we will never do is take the patient or the healthcare personnel  ultimately the human aspect out of that," she said. "All of the intelligence that we get, the physiologic monitoring prompts and data, has to be analyzed. Yes, artificial intelligence will help us, but you can't give that high touch personalized care by taking the human care provider out of the patient's life. That just doesn't work."

Within the next year, Ms. Bennion hopes to have 2,000 patients on the new pulmonary platform for monitoring and continue research with the team working on the technology to eventually advocate for funding and possibly scale its use.

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Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban has made substantial progress in the healthcare and pharmacy space in nearly four years, and he's learned a lot about its costs for employers and workers in that time, too.

Mr. Cuban co-founded Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Co. in May 2020 with Alex Oshmyansky, MD, PhD. The online pharmacy launched eight months later and today offers more than 2,000 of the most highly utilized and/or high-cost generic medications. The drugs are sold with a 15% markup for price, a $5 fee to pay the pharmacists it works with and a $5 fee for shipping. The prices are significantly less than what Americans typically pay through insurance.

The company and its growing list of partners brought Mr. Cuban closer to self-insured employers and their CEOs, most of whom "don't know and don't really want to know where their healthcare benefit dollars are going," he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, Jan. 3.

Mr. Cuban said CEOs are indifferent to healthcare outcomes because they are not viewed as a core business competency. "As a result they waste a sh-tload of money on less than quality care for their employees, and more often than not it's their sickest and lowest paid employees that subsidize the rebates and deductibles," he said.

Nearly half of Americans receive health insurance through an employer. Average costs for U.S. employers that pay for employees' healthcare will increase 8.5% in 2024 to more than $15,000 per employee, according to a projection from Aon. The increase is nearly double the 4.5% bump to healthcare budgets that employers experienced from 2022 to 2023.

This forecast builds on recent cost increases: The annual premium for family coverage in 2022 averaged $22,463, with the worker contributing $6,106 annually  an increase of 20% over the previous five years and 43% over the previous 10 years.

While employers' healthcare costs increase, scrutiny of them does not, Mr. Cuban posits. He likened companies' passive spending on healthcare insurance to halfhearted diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

"Like healthcare, DEI is not seen as a core competency in most companies. It's just a huge expense," Mr. Cuban said. "Intellectually, [CEOs] see the benefit of DEI. But they don't have time to focus on it. So it turns into a check box that they hope they don't have to deal with beyond having HR do a report to the board and legal tells them they are covered.

"When anything that impacts all of your employees is pretty much a check list item to the CEO, there is a good chance that it's not going [to] work well and you are going to have employees who are not comfortable for a lot of different reasons. Which in turn creates resentment towards DEI policies and training. Which in turn makes it harder on the managers trying to implement it."

Mr. Cuban's commentary arrives at a time when employers' passivity with healthcare costs is poised for change. Employers have a menu of cost containment strategies for healthcare costs that they have been slow to use due to fierce competition for talent, but that may change as the labor market settles down.

"The strong U.S. economy and a general labor shortage have collectively served as a great buffer for payers and providers, but in recent conversations with employers and their advisors, we hear that employers' ability to continue to invest in rising healthcare costs is fraying (one advisor described employers as approaching a 'benefits cliff') and they are willing to consider healthcare cost management options they had not seriously considered in the past," Joyjit Saha Choudhury, managing director with Kaufman Hall, wrote in an analysis last fall.

What does this mean for hospitals and health systems? Most directly, greater healthcare cost management could take shape as increased scrutiny or measurement of care quality and outcomes, which vary widely for covered employees.

If employers and payers lean more heavily on providers to demonstrate appropriate, high-quality care, it will be a long time coming. Few employers by name have publicly stepped forward to command greater control over healthcare costs and outcomes; some have tried but even backed away. In a time when employers are miscalculating union tactics and demands while seeking stabilized talent, it would make sense if large corporations turned up the heat as healthcare purchasers.
Hartford, Conn., residents will have a new option to receive healthcare where they shop.

Hartford Healthcare, in partnership with OnMed, launched a new form of healthcare delivery, according to a Jan. 4 press release shared with Becker's. The OnMed care station simulates a private physician's office, where patients are connected to clinical professionals for virtual healthcare visits.

The OnMed care station is located at the Killingly Stop & Shop in Hartford and provides users with easy access to care during their visit to the supermarket. Patients can use the Stop & Shop pharmacy for access to medications prescribed during their visit.

Patients are given treatment for many common illnesses, like heartburn, headaches and respiratory infections. For any ailments that the medical professional is unable to treat, the patient will be provided with a referral to another provider.
Oklahoma City-based SSM Health and SSM Health Bone and Joint Hospital patients may have been caught in a data breach impacting SSM's business partner Navvis, according to a Jan. 3 report from News9.

Navvis had a data breach in July 2023, determining that there was suspicious activity in its network between July 12 and July 25.

The types of information affected include names, date of birth, Medicaid/Medicare ID numbers, health plan information, medical treatment information, medical record numbers, patient account numbers, case identification numbers, provider and physician information, health record information, and Social Security numbers.

"Navvis, a business partner that provides health management services to SSM Health, has recently experienced a data security incident that may have resulted in the compromise of protected health information for a limited number of SSM Health patients. Navvis has sent notice letters to these impacted individuals offering free credit monitoring and identity protection services," SSM wrote in a statement on its website.
Brad Sparks, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at the Alaska Fracture & Orthopedic Clinic in Anchorage, has become the first surgeon in the state to offer the Jiffy Knee procedure for joint replacements.

The procedure is designed to offer patients less pain and faster recovery times, using special instruments to avoid cutting muscles and tendons.

Dr. Sparks has also added OrthAlign's Lantern system, a handheld device that provides surgeons intraoperative information in total knee replacements to deliver patient-specific care.

The device, which works like a smartphone, provides streamlined workflows to improve accuracy and reduce OR times without the investment, equipment or preoperative imaging required by many robotic systems, according to a Jan. 4 press release.
The retail park will also benefit from new retail units, according to the plans

The plans for Sprucefield Retail Park include a new 87 room hotel, shown in an artist's impression

The owners of Sprucefield Retail Park have filed a planning application for the multi-million-pound extension of the Lisburn shopping spot which boasts major tenants like Sainsburys and Next Home.

Consultancy firm MCE released details of the 20m proposed extension last year, which will see over 200 new retail and hospitality jobs created.

The planning application, submitted just before Christmas on December 22, follows a public consultation which concluded in October 2023.

Belfast-based architects and planners Ostick and Williams drew up the plans for the proposed extension which includes extended parking, additional retail units, new restaurant facilities and a hotel.

According to the planning application, a new retail warehouse parade of approximately 8,362 sq m will be located on the eastern side of the side.

Two new restaurant units are also being introduced, a new restaurant unit of around 324 sq m will be located centrally and will have 24 car parking units.

The retail park will also benefit from new retail units, according to the plans

Plans also include a smaller cafe/restaurant pod measuring around 250 sq m located within the existing three food and beverage units, with four parking spaces.

A highlight of the plans is a new hotel on the northern side of the site, to the west of the existing Sainsburys unit.

Spread over four storeys, the 87 room hotel will cover an area of approximately 2,978 sq m and will include 113 parking spaces.

In 2019, the retail park was bought over by the real estate investment trust NewRiver for 40m.

The proposed plans by NewRiver look to develop the Co Down site to full capacity.

A retail statement submitted with the planning application said: The existing park is not adequately providing for the needs of its customers or fulfilling its role.

"The owner wants to ensure that the retail park remains a vibrant shopping location in the future providing for the needs of the communities it serves.

It added that the works would extend and improve the retail park and would improve the range and choice of shops and facilities for customers, and providing new accommodation for potential tenants looking for representation.

"There is a need for more hotel accommodation in this area to meet the objectives of the tourism strategy for Northern Ireland. The provision of the hotel at Sprucefield Park will help meet this need, the statement said.

"There are no available sites within Lisburn city centre that could accommodate the proposed hotel.
Changes are to be implemented from January 19, with the first four hours of parking to remain free.

Under the current policy, customers can park for four hours for free, after which there is a charge of 100, reduced to 60 if paid within 14 days from Smart Parking.

With the new changes, customers will now have the option to extend their stay for up to six hours by paying a fee of 2.

This means that the automatic PCN charge from Smart Parking will no longer apply after four hours, but it will apply after six hours.

In a Facebook post, the south Belfast shopping centre further explained that any stay over six hours will still be considered unauthorised and will result in a PCN from Smart Parking".

"To facilitate the payment process, we will have pay machines at each entrance to the centre, as well as the option to pay using the RingGo app. Signage will be placed at each pay station to provide instructions on how to make the payment.

"However, it is important to note that any stay over six hours will still be considered unauthorised and will result in a PCN from Smart Parking. The maximum stay allowed in our carpark will remain at six hours.

"If you have any further questions or need assistance, please feel free to reach out to our guest services team. They will be available to provide any help or clarification you may require.

Forestside also thanked customers for feedback on parking, noting: "We understand that this has been a concern for many customers, and we have taken your feedback into account.

The popular shopping spot, located just off the Saintfield Road, was sold to former KFC tycoon Michael Herbert for 42m back in September 2023.
With 1,122 new registrations, the Peugeot 208 ranked third in NI's best-selling cars

The Ford Puma came in second in the chart of NI's best-selling cars

Northern Irelands most popular car has been revealed as the Hyundai Tucson, as new car registrations in the region continue to grow year on year.

Sales of new cars in Northern Ireland during 2023 were up 18.2% on the previous year, slightly outperforming the UK average of 17.9%, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

A total of 45,363 new cars were registered in NI during the year, compared to 38,381 in 2022.

England also recorded an annual uplift of 18.2%, while Wales and Scotland recorded uplifts of 16% and 15.6%.

After a strong year, the Hyundai Tucson was revealed as Northern Irelands top selling car with 1,409 new registrations during 2023.

With 1,285 new registrations the Ford Puma came in as the second most popular car, while the Peugeot 2008 ranked third with 1,122 new registrations.

According to the SMMT, 2023 delivered the best performance since 2019 for the new car market with nearly two million new car registrations across the UK.

December was a strong month for the sector across the UK, with Northern Ireland coming in as the top performing region.

Sales for the month were by 17.9%, compared to a UK average of 9.8%, with England seeing a 9.3% lift, Scotland on 12.9% and Wales on 12.4%.

The December figures wrapped up the 17th month of consecutive growth for the sector, said the SMMT.

The uptake of electric vehicles (EVs) across the UK reached record volumes during the year, with almost 314,3687 registrations.

According to the SMMT more EVs reached the roads over the last year, than in 2020 and 2021 combined.

But with mainstream consumer demand flat the SMMT have called on the government to support private buyers by halving VAT on new EVs for three years.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said, With vehicle supply challenges fading, the new car market is building back with the best year since the pandemic. Energised by fleet investment, particularly in the latest EVs, the challenge for 2024 is to deliver a green recovery.

Government has challenged the UK automotive sector with the worlds boldest transition timeline and is investing to ensure we are a major maker of electric vehicles. It must now help all drivers buy into this future, with consumer incentives that will make the UK the leading European market for ZEVs.

Looking ahead to 2024, the latest market outlook  published in November  anticipates 2024s new car market to reach 1.97 million units, with 439,000 EVs taking a 22.3% market share.
On Your Behalf presenter Linda McAuley MBE is retiring from the BBC consumer rights radio show after an almost 50-year broadcasting career, Belfast Telegraph can reveal.

Ms McAuley, who started out on Downtown Radio in 1976 reading dog and horse racing results, told BBC bosses on Thursday of her decision to move on after sorting out listeners problems since 1995.

Linda, whos soon to celebrate her 70th birthday, told the Belfast Telegraph: Ive been thinking about it for a while, and I feel that coming up to a certain significant birthday this year that its time, and I think that I would like to do different things which Im not able to when Im tied into one particular programme. I would like to explore other options in the great big world of consumer issues.

But she said she was proud to have continued for so long in a high-profile broadcasting role.

Im very proud to have been in the BBC since 1989, and in Downtown Radio starting in 1976, and I feel very proud that Im representing women in the field of broadcasting. Perhaps Im lucky that its radio.

Im really delighted that Ive had such a lengthy and rewarding career that I have absolutely loved from beginning to end, from starting in Downtown Radio reading the dog racing and horse racing results, to going on to present a two-handed programme on the station, to reading the news.

She also became a mother to sons Neil, Michael and James during her Downtown career. I feel very privileged to have been able to work at the same time.

Linda McAuley in 1985

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Linda joined BBC in 1989, taking over as a presenter of evening show Change Gear from Wendy Austin.

Then in 1995 I was asked by the-then head of Radio Ulster Anna Carragher to start a brand new programme, and she named it On Your Behalf, she said.

Linda said she had enjoyed her relationship with listeners of the programme.

I feel really and truly blessed to have been able to interact with listeners. Ive been out in their homes, Ive been to their places of work and talked to people on the street and talked to people all over NI, as were not Belfast-centric.

Its been a most wonderful career that Im really lucky to have had.

The show has developed in which consumers embraced the internet for transactions with companies, leaving them much more exposed to wrong-doing.

There will always be bad people and scamsters about, its just the way they do it thats different.

Its not men knocking on the door out there, its people on the internet. There always were scams out there and there always will be. The only way that we can help consumers is by educating them.

Im very fortunate to have had the strength of the BBC behind me because I do feel that customer service has slipped dreadfully in recent years.

Whereas a big company might have responded to a customer, now it seems it has to be the clout of the BBC that makes them do the right thing, so to speak.

And she said she was unsure about what other direction her career might take in the world of consumer issues.

Itll have to wait until opportunity knocks.

"I just dont want to disappear and I would like to keep a consumer hat on because I think consumers need someone who can speak on their behalf.

"I was very proud that my MBE in 2017 was for services to consumers.

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Linda praised the work of organisations and people in Northern Ireland who fight for consumers and the public, such as Advice NI, the Consumer Council and the NI Public Services Ombudsman. And she lauded the work of those who advised on the roll-out of Universal Credit in NI, including the late Professor Eileen Evason, the benefits expert on On Your Behalf.

Shell be able to spend more time with her 91-year-old mother Carol, her three sons, and grandkids Isabella (5) and three-year-old Arthur, who live in Bangor. She also has two step-grandkids, 11-year-old twins Meghan and Abigail, who live in England.

But Linda said shell miss the immediacy or her relationship with listeners.

Im going to miss that connection with people. Radio is about people, getting into their homes and hearts. Radio is the centre of the home to me.

The BBC said it had no comment on whether the one-hour Saturday morning show would continue in Lindas absence.
Doctor Who star David Tennant has been announced as the host of the 2024 Baftas.

The Scottish actor, 52, said: I am delighted to have been asked to host the EE Bafta Film Awards and help celebrate the very best of this years films and the many brilliant people who bring them to life.

The ceremony will be held at the Royal Festival Hall at Londons Southbank Centre on February 18 and broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Tennant, who has appeared in TV series including Broadchurch and Good Omens, recently returned to the long-running BBC series Doctor Who for the shows 60th anniversary episodes, where he played the 14th Time Lord.

David Tennant recently returned to the long-running BBC series Doctor Who for the shows 60th anniversary episodes (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

He starred with Catherine Tate, who reprised her role as Donna Noble, a companion of the 10th Doctor, also played by Tennant.

Jane Millichip, chief executive of Bafta, said: We are over the moon that David Tennant will be our host for the 2024 EE Bafta Film Awards.

He is deservedly beloved by British and international audiences alike.

His warmth, charm and mischievous wit will make it a must-watch show next month for our guests at the Royal Festival Hall and the millions of people watching at home.

She added: The EE Bafta Film Awards recognise exceptional films and the talented people who make them.

More than 7500 of our Bafta members, creatives from all corners of the British and global film industry, have been voting over the holidays and we will be publishing their chosen longlists later today.

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We hope it will inspire people to watch more films and encourage everyone to join in the conversation on who should win a Bafta next month.

The longlists for all 24 categories of the Baftas, including best film and director, will be published on Friday at midday.

English actress Naomi Ackie and Barbie actor Kingsley Ben-Adir will announce the Bafta nominations via livestream on Thursday January 18 at midday.

The nominations for the EE rising star award, the only Bafta where the winner is selected by the British public, will be announced on Wednesday January 10 during an event at the Savoy.

Last year the awards ceremony was hosted by Saltburn actor Richard E Grant and This Morning host Alison Hammond, and the year before by Australian actress and comedian Rebel Wilson.

In 2023 Tennant appeared with Tate, 54, at the TV Baftas to present the best features award to Joe Lycett VS Beckham: Got Your Back At Xmas.

The stage and screen actor has appeared in films including Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire (2005), What We Did On Our Holiday (2014) and Mary Queen Of Scots (2018).

On stage he has played Richard II and Hamlet and he is currently starring in a production of Macbeth at the Donmar Warehouse in London.

He has collected best actor awards for his performances in both Doctor Who: Doomsday and The Escape Artist from Bafta Cymru and Bafta Scotland respectively.
Irishmans Knighthood pride: I now drive a Rolls-Royce but went to school with no shoes

Sir John Griffin, who is being knighted for his services to charity and industry, talks about his background, Irish-UK relations, and peace in Northern Ireland.

Sir John Griffin with his partner Lady Rita.

Stephen Fernane  Kerryman Fri 5 Jan 2024 at 21:26

In 1935, Kerry native John Griffin stood watch at the gates of Buckingham Palace as a member of the Royal Irish Guards. Almost 90 years later, his son, Sir John Griffin, will drive through the same palace gates to receive a knighthood from King Charles III for his services to industry and charity in Britain.
Founder of Hinch Distillery, Dr Terry Cross OBE with his son, Patrick Cross, and James Nesbitt. (Picture by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye)

Actor James Nesbitt has joined up with the Ballynahinch-based Hinch Distillery for a new business endeavour.

The Irish whiskey and gin producer established its brand in 2019, and opened its 15m Co Down site in 2021.

Together, the Coleraine celebrity and Hinch have said they hope to promote Northern Irelands rich heritage and craftsmanship.

Hinch Distillery founder Dr Terry Cross said: We are delighted to welcome James Nesbitt to the Hinch Distillery family. His passion for our craft and commitment to Northern Irelands talent perfectly aligns with our values.

This partnership is not just about endorsements; its about shared passion and vision and an appreciation of all the good things to come out of Northern Ireland.

Nesbitt is set to be actively involved in the companys initiatives and will help to connect with the brands audience.

Im thrilled to be joining forces with Hinch Distillery, said the Bloodlands star.

As a proud Northern Irishman, I have always admired the dedication and craftsmanship that goes into creating Hinch Irish whiskeys and Ninth Wave Irish gins. This partnership is an opportunity to celebrate the best of our region and its iconic brands.

Sitting on the outskirts of Belfast, Hinch produces a variety of whiskeys and its own Ninth Wave Gin, which have a presence in more than 30 markets internationally, including the United States, despite being under five years old.

Hinch also recently invested to increase its production from 500,000 to 1.2 million litres of pure alcohol a year by the end of 2023.

It has earned a place on the tourism map here with its guided distillery tours and hospitality offering, including the recent addition of a dog-friendly cafe.

Nesbitt is the latest famous face to join the local alcohol business, which has become a lucrative move for household names worldwide.

Actors Jean-Claude Van Damme and Liev Schreiber have also entered the Irish whiskey category with new brands, while Conor McGregors Forged stout have Proper Twelve whiskey lines have also become well-known on the market.
Leading loyalist Winston Irvine will find out next month if he is to stand trial for allegedly having guns and ammunition in the boot of his car.

The 48-year-old and his co-accused Robin Workman, 52, face charges connected to the haul of weapons seized in Belfast 18 months ago.

Preliminary enquiry proceedings against the pair were adjourned today to allow defence lawyers more time to examine the case against them.

It is understood that prosecutors have compiled more than 1,000 pages of evidential material.

Irvine, of Ballysillan Road in the city, and Workman, a self-employed joiner from Shore Road in Larne, were arrested following an alleged exchange in June 2022.

Both men are charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition in suspicious circumstances, possessing a prohibited firearm, possession of a handgun without a certificate, and having ammunition without a certificate.

Police claim Workman transported the guns in his van to a meeting in the Glencairn area.

Previous courts were told that officers stopped Irvines car a short time later at Disraeli Street.

Two suspected pistols, an air gun, magazines and more than 200 rounds of ammunition were discovered inside a leather Calvin Klein holdall in the boot of the vehicle.

Irvine has denied knowing anything about the contents of the bag.

Workman was arrested the same day following a hospital appointment in Ballymena, Co Antrim.

Detectives believe he was the driver of the van involved in the alleged handover.

The case against the two accused includes CCTV evidence and statements from forensic scientists.

Both men were due to appear at Belfast Magistrates Court today for a preliminary enquiry to establish if they will be returned for trial.

However, Workmans solicitor, John Greer, argued that the hearing could not go ahead at this stage.

Mr Greer told the court defence representatives needed more time to go through voluminous papers served by the prosecution.

The judge agreed to an adjournment and listed the case for a further hearing next month.

Irvine and Workman remain on bail until that stage.
Family members of some of the victims of the Kingsmill massacre at a commemorative service at the site of the ambush (Claudia Savage/PA)

A memorial service for the 48th anniversary of the Kingsmill massacre has heard that the loss for the victims families is still raw.

The memorial was held at the site in south Armagh where 10 Protestant workers were shot dead in 1976.

The Rev Graham Middleton said it was a privilege and an honour to lead the service.

The service marked the 48th anniversary of the Kingsmill massacre (Claudia Savage/PA)

I guarantee you each one of those families, to each one of them, its just like yesterday because its still raw, he said.

The textile workers were shot when their minibus was ambushed outside the village of Kingsmill on their way home from work on January 5 1976.

They were asked their religion, and the only Catholic was ordered to run away.

The killers, who had hidden in hedges, forced the 11 remaining men to line up outside the van before opening fire.

Alan Black was the sole survivor.

Rev Graham Middleton speaking at the service (Claudia Savage/PA)

The attack took place close to where Catholic brothers John Martin Reavey, 24, and Brian Reavey, 22, had been shot dead a day earlier by the UVFs Glenanne Gang.

A third brother, Anthony, 17, died several weeks later from his injuries.

Family members of those killed during the Kingsmill ambush lay flowers below plaques bearing the names and ages of the victims.

Jacqueline Semples brother Kenneth Worton one of the 10 men killed in the attack.

He was 24 at the time and Ms Semple was 22.

Jacqueline Semples brother Kenneth Worton was one of 10 men killed (Claudia Savage/PA)

She said losing her brother was terrible.

There was five of us in the family and we just played normally and had a normal good upbringing and this was just devastation. Never in your wildest dreams  such a tragedy, she said.

It was just hard. I was a bridesmaid at his wedding and then he was my best man and, like, theres only really a year and a half between the two of us and we were so close.

Ms Semple said it was raw to return to the site of the ambush.

You have to be here. You know, its 48 years now and were coming here 48 years, she said.

Im not one for graveyards. I mean, theyre up there, theyre in your heart. But this is nice to have somewhere to go.

Mourners sang a hymn and a two-minute silence was held (Claudia Savage/PA).

Mourners sang a hymn and a two-minute silence was observed after the names of the 10 victims were read aloud.

As the 50th anniversary of the attack approaches, Ms Semple said her family will always remember Mr Worton.

We speak about him all the day, his photographs up, were always talking about him.

And then his two daughters, they were only six and three, and its just, its a brother, youve lost as a whole.

This was a big thing, like, in 76. I mean, it felt like something out of a different country.

It brings it all up. Its hard. Its hard. Hes always there. Hes always mentioned. Never forget, until the day we die.
A 31-year-old man has been charged following reports of a disgraceful hate crime at business premises in Belfast city centre on Thursday (January 4).

The man in question has been charged with using disorderly behaviour, criminal damage and threats to damage property.

He is due to appear before Belfast Magistrates Court on February 1st.

As is usual procedure all charges will be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service.

Superintendent Finola Dornan said: This was a disgraceful incident. There is no place for hate crime in Belfast and there are no excuses for such behaviour.

I am pleased that the victim had the confidence to come to us for help and we will continue to ensure that support is in place for any victim of these types of crimes.

Our actions demonstrate the commitment of local police officers to tackling hate motivated offending in partnership with the local community.
A meteorological expert is set to be among the witnesses when an inquest into the killing of a man in disputed circumstances in Co Londonderry almost 40 years ago resumes.

Francis Bradley, 20, was killed in disputed circumstances in an incident involving soldiers near Toomebridge on February 18 1986.

The inquest opened in April and is being heard in modular format, with the hearing of an opening tranche of evidence that was not considered controversial before it was adjourned for further preparation work.

A previous review hearing was told it was envisaged the inquest would proceed in February 2024.

On Friday morning at Belfast Coroners Court, a preliminary hearing was told that a meteorological expert has been engaged to give evidence around moonlight, cloud cover and visibility on the night of Mr Bradleys death.

Coroner Peter Irvine was also updated on preparations for the hearings.

He heard statements have been finalised from two retired police officers from the time, with work ongoing with several others and applications are expected to be made by former soldiers to give evidence to the inquest remotely.

The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act has placed a pressure on inquests to be heard in the coming months before a cut-off date of May 1 for legacy inquests which have not concluded.

A public interest immunity (PII) hearing for documents for the inquest was described as crucial and as a lynchpin in bringing proceedings forward.

While the hearing was told the PSNI has its PII certificate in place, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) was told its should be in place for next Friday.

A representative for the MoD said the documents have been provided to the relevant minister in accordance with the timetable they previously set out, and conveyed to the minister the urgency of the matter and the gravity of the matter.

Now, its with the minister and his office essentially  its outside our direct control. Were sincerely hoping that the certificate will be available by next Friday but we simply cannot give an absolute assurance, he added.

At the time of the killing, the IRA said Mr Bradley was not a member.

However, his name was later added to the organisations roll of honour.

In 2010, then-attorney general John Larkin KC ordered a fresh inquest into the controversial killing.

Another preliminary hearing is set to take place next Friday.
Ulster Unionist MLA Mike Nesbitt has called on BBC Northern Ireland to rethink its proposal to drop the daily business news slots on its Good Morning Ulster programme.

The Belfast Telegraph revealed on Thursday that the business bulletins would be cut from BBC NIs flagship radio show, with an understanding that the change was announced internally at Broadcasting House last month.

Mr Nesbitt, who is also the UUPs economy spokesperson, said he has written to the Director of BBC NI, Adam Smyth, asking for an urgent meeting to hear his rationale, because I do not understand the decision.

"It strikes me as sending entirely the wrong message. Think no further than the work Joe Kennedy III is doing as President Bidens Special Envoy for Economic Affairs, trying to attract foreign direct investment here, continued the Strangford representative, who also previously presented Good Morning Ulster from 1986 to 1990 during his journalism career.

Its a negative message for potential investors to read online that the state broadcaster does not rate the economy highly enough to justify a daily bulletin.

In March last year, the channel axed radio programme Inside Business in response to budget pressures, which Mr Nesbitt further referenced.

Remember, the BBC have already dropped the weekly business programme that used to run for half an hour on a Friday afternoon.

I understand there is an eternal argument between having fixed, daily slots for specific areas or covering developments on the basis of how newsworthy they are. But if this is a move to the latter, then why business news rather than sport? Or is sport to be next? These are important issues and it is incumbent on BBC NI to be transparent and accountable.

The loss of business updates is the latest cut to output following the cancellation of separate farming news bulletins.

Broadcasting House in Belfast

Ann McGregor, the former chief executive of NI Chamber, also conveyed her dismay at the news.

It cant quite believe it is happening, she said.

"It highlights how little the private sector is valued and shuts down the opportunity to highlight positive developments and opportunities within our business base. A very poor decision.

BBC NI declined to confirm the latest change, but said: We know how much audiences value the BBCs specialist coverage of business and the economy.

How we deliver this service is always developing, including in response to digital opportunities.

We want to maximise the impact and benefits of our newsrooms expertise and to deliver the best service we can.
Paramilitary-style shootings and assault are on the rise. Credit Pacemaker (picture posed)

Bombing incidents, paramilitary-style assaults and paramilitary-style shootings in Northern Ireland are on the rise, according to the latest PSNI figures.

There have been no deaths directly attributed to terrorism or security force activity in the last 12 months, however, for the first time since records began in 1969.

In 2023 there were eight bombing incidents, compared to five in 2022.

There were 33 shooting incidents last year, 19 of which were classed as paramilitary-style, compared to 29 shootings in 2022, eight of which were paramilitary-style.

Last year saw 31 paramilitary-style assaults, an increase of six from the previous year. Of the 31 assaults in 2023, 12 were in the Belfast area.

There was a slight decrease in security-related arrests under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000, from 110 in 2022 to 104 last year.

Of the 104 of the 21 people arrested under the Terrorism Act last year, 21 were subsequently charged, compared to 13 over the previous 12 months.

Under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act police officers have the power to arrest individuals suspected of terrorism-related offences without a warrant.

In 2022 there was one security-related death here, while there were none in 2023.

The death attributed to paramilitaries in 2022 was the October murder of 42-year-old Sean Fox, who was gunned down in a west Belfast social club in front of more than 100 people.

Police believe the murder was carried out by the same gunmen behind the murder of Mark Hall in west Belfast the previous December. While the PSNI did not attribute the two killings to a particular group, they said both murders bore the hallmarks of dissident republican killings.

The latest PSNI security situation figures also show a huge increase in explosive seizures, with 3.22kg of explosives found last year compared to 0.65kg during the previous 12 months.

In September of 2023 alone, 2.29kg of explosives were recovered  the most found in a single month since June 2020.

The SDLPs Mark H Durkan is a member of the Policing Board.

There has been a worrying increase in paramilitary activity and capacity over the last year, he said.

An increase in recorded shooting and bombing incidents is clearly a cause for significant concern and points to paramilitary gangs becoming bolder over the last 12 months.

He added that those involved in this criminality need to understand that there is no support for the violent gangsterism that they are inflicting on communities across Northern Ireland.

The time has long since passed for these gangs to give up, go away and respect the wishes of people who want to live in peace, he said.

Alliance Party MLA John Blair said the latest security statistics highlight once again the serious and damaging impact of paramilitarism in our communities.

The increase in paramilitary assaults and the more than doubling of shooting incidents show clearly the need for paramilitaries to leave the stage and leave our communities in peace, he said.

Until then any information on their activities should be reported to police.
Local politicians insist theyre prepared for anything as PM hints at poll in latter half of 2024

Northern Irelands political parties are prepared for a general election despite the Prime Minister suggesting it wont happen until the latter half of 2024.

Rishi Sunak yesterday appeared to rule out a poll this spring.

My working assumption is well have a general election in the second half of this year, he said.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer accused Mr Sunak of squatting in Downing Street while the country wants change.

Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie said: The UUP is continuously prepared for elections, the general election is no different... it would be foolish not to prepare for an earlier election.

UUP leader Doug Beattie

The UUP failed to win a seat in 2019.

The DUP insisted it was also ready for any poll.

However, director of elections Gordon Lyons MLA said the focus was currently on securing a successful conclusion to negotiations over post-Brexit trading arrangements.

He added the party continues to work for an outcome as soon as possible, as he referred to the Secretary of States previous claim there was no deadline for the process.

The mandate for our position was given to us by the people of Northern Ireland and has been endorsed again since then, Mr Lyons said.

We are already well prepared for the general election and will put our case to the people whenever the Prime Minster calls it.

One of the biggest shocks in 2019 was Nigel Dodds losing his North Belfast seat to Sinn Feins John Finucane.

Mr Finucane defeated the DUP veteran by just under 2,000 votes.

The DUP lost a second seat in South Belfast, where the SDLPs Claire Hanna topped the poll to oust Emma Little-Pengelly by a massive 15,000-plus votes.

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson with party colleagues Gavin Robinson and Gordon Lyons

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said the next Westminster poll cant come quick enough.

This Tory government is a busted flush and the sooner we remove them from office, the better for everyone in Northern Ireland, he said.

Weve been fighting them every day for the last four years and Im not surprised theyre trying to hold on as long as possible.

2024 will be the year we have the opportunity to get rid of the Tories and the best way to do it is to vote for SDLP MPs who will go to Westminster to cast our votes for a new government that better understands the needs of people here.

The SDLP gained two seats in 2019 after seeing its vote share increase by 3.1% compared to 2017, when it lost three MPs.

Meanwhile, the Alliance Party is hoping to build on a 8.8% surge in its share of the vote to 16.8% five years ago.

Votes for Sorcha Eastwood jumped from 5,000 to 13,000 in Lagan Valley, but it was not enough to unseat Sir Jeffrey Donaldson.

SDLP leader Colm Eastwood

Stephen Farry claimed Alliances only seat in North Down to succeed independent unionist Lady Sylvia Hermon.

The UK should have a general election as soon as possible, as the current government has run out of road, Alliance said.

However, whatever the date chosen by the Prime Minister, Alliance remains ready to fight any election based on our progressive and positive record, offering people the opportunity to embrace the politics of hope and ambition, while rejecting the politics of fear and negativity espoused by others.

Sinn Fein did not reply to requests for a comment, but it will be confident in retaining its seven seats after gaining almost 23% of the total vote here in 2019.

The TUV, led by Jim Allister, its only MLA, said the party will make its decisions on the general election in due course.
The flight from Tenerife was diverted to Cork Airport

A passenger has died on a Jet2 plane, forcing the flight to divert to Cork Airport.

The man is said to have been found dead inside the toilet on Tuesday after fellow travellers noticed the door had been locked for a while and alerted staff.

The flight, which was supposed to be travelling from Tenerife to Manchester, was forced to land in Cork Airport instead.

A spokesperson for the airline told The Independent: Flight LS918 from Tenerife to Manchester diverted to Cork Airport on Tuesday 2nd January, due to a customer requiring medical attention. Regrettably, we can confirm that the customer sadly passed away. Our thoughts are with the customer's family and friends at this very difficult time.

One passenger said all those on board were very upset by the devastating incident.

They told the Mirror: My husband reported someone had been in [the] toilet a long time and he thought he was dead. Tragically he was right. He informed the crew.

The customer added that those on board consequently did not land in Manchester until around five hours after their scheduled arrival time.

They said the plane should have landed in Manchester at 8.30pm.

However, the diversion to Cork and the wait for another plane meant the passengers arrived in Manchester at roughly 1.30am instead.
Farmers will not know what they have lost exactly until the water clears (Gareth Fuller/PA)

Farmers are likely to see huge losses after a relentless season of storms, one flood-hit grower has said, as the National Farmers Union (NFU) said there should be compensation for those holding flood water in their fields.

Nottinghamshire County Council has declared a major incident, and the level of the River Trent has reached some of its highest points since 2000, according to the Environment Agencys flood director Caroline Douglass.

Farms across England, as well as more than 1,000 homes, have been affected, and the NFU is calling on the Government to make changes to flood defences and support schemes to better protect rural businesses.

Peter Gadd, a farmer in Nottinghamshire and chairman of the NFUs crops board in the East Midlands, said Storm Babet and Storm Ciaran in the autumn hit within 10 days of him having sown a crop of wheat and barley  40% of which washed away before emerging from seed.

He believes he has lost about 14,000 to 15,000 in the current floods, though he can only tally the total once the water has cleared, for which he will receive no compensation or insurance payout.

On the south side of Nottingham there are huge areas of land now under water and some of those areas will have three or four feet of water in them, he told the PA news agency.

Now all that waters got to get away, and many of those ponded areas will have growing crops underneath them at the moment.

So its going to be quite a while yet before it dries up until we know what weve actually lost. But as an absolute minimum, theres going to be huge losses.

Weve just got to see what we can retrieve in the spring, but many of the crops that have been sown and those that were unharvested that are now under water will not be retrievable.

Flooding from the River Trent has also affected houses (Callum Parke/PA)

Mr Gadd said that one of the reasons his area floods is that the Environment Agency is not maintaining the rivers properly and is allowing too much silt to build up.

He said officials are generally apathetic about river maintenance, which could end up jeopardising the nations food security.

A Defra spokesman said: We are acutely aware of the impact extreme weather can have on the farming community, who work tirelessly to provide public goods and protect nature.

Since 2015, we have protected over 700,000 acres of agricultural land from the impacts of flooding and are also investing 5.2 billion to better protect communities from flooding and coastal erosion, including those who live in rural areas.

Landowners are entitled to compensation for losses and damages as a result of temporary flood storage areas and we encourage farmers to take up new flood mitigation options that are available to them.

Since September, the start of the storm year, eight named storms have hit the UK, the highest number in a season since the Met Office began naming them in 2015.

They have turned the country into what hydrologist Professor Hannah Cloke of the University of Reading described as a sopping wet sponge.

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Data from the Environment Agency shows almost every river in England to be exceptionally high, with some rivers reaching their highest flow on record, such as the River Itchen in Southampton, which had a flow double its previous record in December.

Debbie Wilkins, a farmer in Gloucestershire, has decided it is too risky to grow crops in her fields alongside the River Severn.

Instead, she leaves them to work as floodplains, which she said stores water upstream that would otherwise pass through urban areas and put properties at risk, and provides a habitat for wildlife.

She said: Probably about a third of the farm, about 300 acres, is flood plains and thats all under water at the moment.

But those are flood plain meadows and they do flood regularly. I think it used to be every four or five years and now its two or three times a year, so it seems to be increasing.

Theyre species-rich grassland that we cut hay from in the summer and graze cattle in after, so theyre quite resilient because of that.

Ms Wilkins hopes the new support measures announced by the Government on Thursday, designed to reward farmers for maintaining habitats, will make her method more profitable and said it could encourage other farmers growing crops in flood plains to follow suit.
The mast of the Bar & Co boat, which was moored at Temple Pier (James Manning/PA)

A London party boat which is a floating bar, restaurant and nightclub has sunk in the River Thames amid heavy rainfall.

It sank on Thursday as rain battered the capital.

A yellow weather warning for rain has been issued by the Met Office until 3am on Friday.

A spokesman for the Bar & Co boat, which was moored at Temple Pier, told the PA news agency: Likely it sunk because of weather conditions.

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An HM Coastguard spokesman said: A restaurant vessel sank at Temple Pier in London on January 4.

The alarm was raised at about 12.30pm and everyone is accounted for.

The Port of London Authority has advised vessels to pass Temple Pier with great caution.

A Royal National Lifeboat Institution vessel, a Metropolitan Police boat and a London Fire Brigade boat were sent to the scene.
General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo signs a power sharing document with Sudans pro-democracy movement and the ruling military council in Khartoum in 2019. (AP)

Sudanese paramilitary leader General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo said he was committed to a ceasefire to end the devastating war that has wrecked his country.

Gen Dagalo, leader of the Rapid Support Forces, was speaking following a meeting in Pretoria with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

He said he had briefed Mr Ramaphosa on the considerable efforts taken to end this war, but there has been no progress on proposed peace talks with Sudan military chief General Abdel-Fattah Burhan.

I emphasised our unwavering commitment to cease hostilities, said Gen Dagalo, who did not say if or when he would meet with his rival.

Sudanese refugees gather outside a field hospital in Acre, Chad, in August (AP)

The warring generals agreed last month to a face-to-face meeting and to start talks over a possible ceasefire, according to the East African regional bloc IGAD, but no date or location for the talks have been announced.

During Thursdays meeting, Mr Ramaphosa said he hoped there would be an imminent face-to-face dialogue between the general and called for an immediate ceasefire, his spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said.

Gen Dagalo met with Kenyan President William Ruto on Wednesday following visits to Uganda, Ethiopia and Djibouti.

Tensions between the former allies erupted into an all-out war in mid-April in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum and across the country.

A destroyed military vehicle in Khartoum (AP)

The fighting has killed more than 12,000 people, according to the United Nations, while doctors and activists say the actual death toll is higher. More than seven million people have been forced to leave their homes.

Last month, UN undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs Martin Griffiths said more than 500,000 people were forced to flee their homes in Jazeera province, which had become a safe haven for civilians after the RSF attacked and took its capital, Wad Medani.

The US State Department has said that both the RSF and the Sudanese military have committed war crimes or crimes against humanity during the nine-month conflict.

Mr Griffiths said nearly 25 million people across Sudan will need humanitarian assistance in 2024, but the bleak reality is that intensifying hostilities are putting most of them beyond our reach.
Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, talks to reporters at the US Capitol in Washington (Jose Luis Magana/AP)

House Republicans plan to move forward next week with holding Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress after the US presidents son defied a congressional subpoena to appear for a private deposition last month.

The Republicans who lead the House Oversight and Accountability Committee and the Judiciary Committee announced on Friday that they will hold votes on contempt charges against Hunter Biden as the Republican party moves into the final stages of its impeachment inquiry.

If the committees approve the charges, the full House would get a final vote.

Hunter Bidens wilful refusal to comply with our subpoenas constitutes contempt of Congress and warrants referral to the appropriate United States Attorneys Office for prosecution, said Republican representatives James Comer and Jim Jordan in a joint statement.

We will not provide him with special treatment because of his last name.

Hunter Biden and his lawyers have repeatedly slammed the Republican-issued subpoena for the closed-door testimony, arguing that information from those interviews can be selectively leaked and manipulated. Hunter Biden has insisted that he would testify only in public.

Its clear the Republican chairmen arent interested in getting the facts or they would allow Hunter to testify publicly, Hunter Bidens lawyer, Abbe Lowell, said in a statement.

Instead, House Republicans continue to play politics by seeking an unprecedented contempt motion against someone who has from the first request offered to answer all their proper questions.

He added: What are they afraid of?

For months Republicans have pursued an impeachment inquiry seeking to tie the Democratic president to his sons business dealings. So far, Republican politicians have failed to uncover evidence directly implicating President Biden in any wrongdoing.

While Republicans say their inquiry is ultimately focused on the president, they have taken particular interest in Hunter Biden and his overseas business dealings, from which they accuse President Biden of personally benefiting.

Republicans have also focused a large part of their investigation on whistleblower allegations of interference in the long-running Justice Department investigation into the younger Bidens taxes and his gun use.

The hearings planned for Wednesday on contempt of Congress will come a day before Hunter Biden is scheduled to make his first court appearance on tax charges filed by a special counsel in Los Angeles.

He is facing three felony and six misdemeanor counts, including filing a false return, tax evasion, failure to file and failure to pay.

His lawyer has accused special counsel David Weiss of bowing to Republican pressure in the case.
A candlelight vigil was held following a shooting at Perry High School in Iowa (AP)

A teenager armed with a shotgun and a handgun killed one pupil and wounded five other people at an Iowa high school on the first day of classes in the new year, US authorities said.

People took shelter in classrooms, barricaded offices and fled the barrage of bullets fired by the suspect, a 17-year-old pupil at the school in Perry, who died of what investigators believe was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Perry High School principal Dan Marburger was among the five who were injured on Thursday as students returned from their winter break, authorities said.

He was wounded while trying to protect students from the attacker, police said.

In a Facebook post later that day, Mr Marburgers daughter said he was in surgery all day, and is currently stable.

Claire Marburger called her father a gentle giant who would want more attention on the other victims and their families, and less on himself.

The victim, a sixth grader (aged 11-12), has not yet been named.

The shooter was identified as Dylan Butler by authorities, but no information was provided about a possible motive.

Two friends and their mother who spoke with The Associated Press said Butler was a quiet person who had been bullied for years.

Authorities said Butler had a pump-action shotgun and a small-calibre handgun.

Mitch Mortvedt, the state investigation divisions assistant director, said during a news conference that authorities also found a pretty rudimentary improvised explosive device and rendered it safe.

One person was killed in the shooting at Perry High School, while the teenage gunman is said to have taken his own life (AP)

The suspects motive was being investigated and authorities were looking into a number of social media posts he made around the time of the shooting, Mr Mortvedt added.

A law enforcement official said federal and state investigators were interviewing Butlers friends and analysing his social media profiles, including posts on TikTok and Reddit.

Shortly before Thursdays shooting, Butler posted a photo on TikTok inside a toilet at Perry High School, the official said.

Iowa governor Kim Reynolds called the shooting a senseless tragedy (AP)

The photo was captioned now we wait and the song Stray Bullet by the German band KMFDM accompanied it.

Investigators also found other photos Butler posted posing with firearms, according to the official.

Sisters Yesenia Roeder and Khamya Hall, both 17, said alongside their mother, Alita, that Butler had been bullied relentlessly since elementary school, but matters escalated recently when his younger sister was picked on, too.

His parents brought the matter up with the school, they said, and that was the last straw for Butler.

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He was hurting. He got tired. He got tired of the bullying. He got tired of the harassment, Yesenia Roeder Hall said. Was it a smart idea to shoot up the school? No. God, no.

Perry High School senior pupil Ava Augustus was awaiting a counsellor in a school office when she heard three shots. Unable to flee through a small window, she and others barricaded the door and were ready to throw things at the assailant, if necessary.

She said: And then we hear: Hes down. You can go out.

And I run and you can just see glass everywhere, blood on the floor. I get to my car and theyre taking a girl out of the auditorium who had been shot in her leg.

Three gunshot victims were treated at Iowa Methodist Medical Centre in Des Moines, a spokesperson said.

Others were taken to a second hospital.

Those who were injured are said to include the Perry High School principal (AP)

Mr Mortvedt said one person was in a critical condition, but the injuries did not appear to be life-threatening, and the others are stable.

Hundreds of people gathered for a candlelight prayer vigil on Thursday evening at a local park where, hours earlier, pupils had been brought to reunite with their families after the shooting.

Bundled up against freezing temperatures, they listened to pastors from many faiths and heard a message of hope in both English and Spanish.

A post on the high schools Facebook page said it would be closed on Friday and counselling services would be available for pupils, faculty staff and others in the community.

Governor Kim Reynolds said: This senseless tragedy has shaken our entire state to its core.

In Washington, US President Joe Biden and US attorney general Merrick Garland were briefed on the shooting.
Russian air defences downed dozens of Ukrainian drones aimed at occupied Crimea and southern Russia (Russia Emergency Situations Ministry telegram channel via AP, File)

Russian air defences have downed dozens of Ukrainian drones in occupied Crimea and southern Russia on Friday, officials said.

The move comes as Kyiv presses its strategy of targeting the Moscow-annexed peninsula and taking the 22-month war well beyond Ukraines borders.

Air raid sirens wailed in Sevastopol, the largest city in Crimea, and traffic was suspended for a second straight day on a bridge connecting the peninsula, which Moscow seized illegally a decade ago, with Russias southern Krasnodar region.

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The span is a crucial supply link for Russias war effort.

The Russian defence ministry said its defences intercepted 36 drones over Crimea and one over Krasnodar, part of an emerging pattern of intensified Ukrainian aerial attacks in recent days.

A Ukrainian Neptune anti-ship missile also was destroyed over the north-western part of the Black Sea, the ministry said.

The developments came after three people were injured on Thursday night by other Ukrainian rocket and drone attacks on the Russian border city of Belgorod and the surrounding region, said Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.

Ukrainian attacks on December 30 in Belgorod killed 25 people, officials there said.

A Ukrainian attack on military facilities in Crimea on Thursday affected a command centre and the peninsulas air defence system, according to a spokesperson for Ukraines southern joint forces, Nataliia Humeniuk.

She said the Russian military recently relocated its Crimean launch sites for Shahed drones.

It was not possible to verify either sides claims.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has pledged to strike more targets on the Crimean Peninsula and inside Russian border regions this year.

Mr Zelensky is pressing a strategy of targeting the Moscow-annexed peninsula and taking the 22-month war beyond Ukraines borders (AP)

The goal is to unsettle Russians as President Vladimir Putin seeks another six years in power in a March 17 election.

Following a drone strike deep inside Russia last year, Mr Zelensky said Ukraine had developed a weapon that can hit targets 400 miles away. He said last month Kyiv plans to produce one million drones, which have become a key battlefield weapon.

Other Ukrainian officials said it aims to manufacture this year more than 10,000 attack drones with a range of hundreds of miles, as well as more than 1,000 longer-range drones that can hit targets well behind the front line and inside Russia.

Both sides are raising the stakes of their long-range warfare as soldiers remain bogged down on the wintry battlefield.

The UKs Ministry of Defence said ground combat has continued to be characterised by either a static front line or very gradual, local Russian advances in key sectors.

A firefighter works to extinguish a fire of a gas pipe line damaged by a Russian rocket attack, in Kyiv, Ukraine (AP)

The Kremlin, meanwhile, has acquired ballistic missiles from North Korea and fired at least one of them into Ukraine on December 30, the White House said, citing recently declassified US intelligence.

It also is seeking close-range ballistic missiles from Iran, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.

UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said Pyongyang would pay a high price for supporting Russia, although he did not say in what way, and he accused Moscow of violating a UN embargo on arms shipments to and from North Korea.

The world has turned its back on Russia, forcing Putin into the humiliation of going cap in hand to North Korea to keep his illegal invasion going, Mr Shapps said on X, formerly Twitter.

Ukraine said it stopped 21 out of 29 Russian Shahed drones launched late on Thursday and early on Friday. The assault injured two people, including a 14-year-old, and was the latest of almost daily Russian drone attacks in the new year.

On Thursday, Mr Zelensky thanked Germany for a delivery of military aid, especially air defence materiel that he said is timely and focused on our priorities.

Ukraine should look to continue degrading Russias ability to wage war by conducting an escalating campaign of air strikes on targets far behind the front lines throughout occupied Ukraine and inside Russia itself, according to Mykola Bielieskov, a research fellow at Ukraines National Institute for Strategic Studies.

This could include attacks on troop concentrations, military bases, and munitions stores along with logistical hubs and armament production facilities, he wrote in an assessment published by the Atlantic Council, a US think tank.
Then-U.S. President Donald Trump greets then-Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington, Sept. 12, 2017.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump received millions of dollars from 20 foreign governments including Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand during the first two years of his presidency, said a Democratic Congressional report released Thursday.

The U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Democrats alleges in its 156-page report that Trump received $7.8 million during the first two years of his presidency from payments to four of his properties. They included the Trump International Hotel in Washington along with a Las Vegas hotel and two properties in New York  the Trump Town on Fifth Avenue and the Trump World Tower at United Nations Plaza.

As a result, the $7.8 million detailed in this report, based on records for just two years of his presidency, involving four of his more than 500 businesses, is likely just a small fraction of the payments former President Trump received from foreign governments while in office, in violation of the Constitutions Foreign Emoluments Clause, said a news release accompanying the report.

China was top spender at more than $5.5 million, it said.

The report highlighted lavish spending by former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and his entourage in September 2017 even as the U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) was investigating him for his role in the theft of billions of dollars from sovereign fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

Najib and the Malaysian delegates spent $248,962 on room charges and amenities from Sept. 7 to 15, and Sept. 27, 2017, when Trump hosted Najib on an official state visit, the report said.

By the time the two leaders met, the DOJs investigation into 1MDB  which would become its largest ever kleptocracy case  had been underway for more than a year, the report said. The DOJ later found that $4.5 billion had been stolen from the 1MDB.

Najib visited Washington less than a year before the May 2018 elections.

Flanked by officials from both countries, then-U.S. President Donald Trump (center left) meets then-Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak (center right) in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, Sept. 12, 2017. [Kevin Lamarque/Reuters]

The Washington-based research group Center for Strategic and International Studies said Najib would have been happy if his visit had demonstrated to Malaysians that the U.S. investigation is really a relatively minor issue and that he could be welcomed to the Oval Office as an important Southeast Asian leader.

Despite those efforts, Najib was forced from power after losing the election and has since been imprisoned following his conviction on charges linked to a 1MDB subsidiary.

Breaking down the Malaysians hotel bill, the report noted that Najib stayed in the presidential suite at a cost of $10,000 per night. Additional charges included $750 for furniture movement (dressing room) for Embassy of Malaysia, $1,500 for a personal trainer and thousands of dollars to have a butler assist in serving multiple meals.

The hotel also charged the U.S. Secret Service (the organization charged with protecting the president) more than $9,000 for rooms for the detail protecting Najibs delegation. The room rate of $650 per night was more than double the governments $231 per diem lodging rate for Washington.

Political undertones

A delegation from another Southeast Asian nation, the Philippines spent nearly $75,000 at Trumps Washington hotel for a National Day reception  a move the Philippine Ambassador to the United States acknowledged had political undertones.

A month after the June 12, 2018, reception, Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez announced Manila would begin negotiating a proposed free trade deal with Washington. The deal did not materialize.

In addition, the report alleged that Trump received millions of dollars while in office from the Trump Tower Manila apartment building which opened in 2017. Referring to a New York Times story, the committee said Trump underreported income from the complex in financial disclosures.

Another troubling aspect of the project was when then-President Trumps image was used to promote the Manila tower project after he took office despite assurances from The Trump Organization that such overseas marketing campaigns would be halted during his presidency, the report said.

This disturbing episode followed a similar marketing campaign for a Trump project in India. Both demonstrated Donald Trumps unabashed willingness to do business as president.

The committee report detailed spending by Thailand as well, which was much lower than that of Malaysia and the Philippines. The Thai minister for agriculture and cooperatives and other officials spent $11,340 at Trumps Washington hotel between Aug. 18 and 24, 2018.

The reports news release blamed House Republicans led by Committee Chairman James Comer for blocking the investigation into Trump who is seeking the Republican nomination to run for president against Joe Biden who defeated him in the 2020 election.

Despite these efforts, todays report makes clear that former President Trump put lining his pockets with cash from foreign governments seeking policy favors over the interests of the American people, said the committees ranking member, Jamie Raskin, D-Maryland.
A Philippine Air Force FA-50PH jet fighter joins the maritime patrol of the Philippines and the United States over the Batanes islands in the Luzon Strait and areas in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), Nov. 21, 2023.

The Philippines on Friday defended its joint South China Sea patrols with the United States against a Chinese claim that they were provocative, saying the maneuvers took place within its territorial waters and were consistent with international law.

But Manila remains open to diplomatic discussions with China, Filipino National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano said, a day after the Philippine and U.S. militaries completed a second joint patrol in the disputed waterway.

We wish to clarify that the joint maritime activities between the Philippines and the United States were clearly conducted within our exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and are consistent with international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), so how can they be deemed provocative? Ano said in a statement.

The Philippines is merely exercising its sovereign right to engage in such activities within its territory.

On Thursday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin had called the Philippine-U.S. patrols irresponsible, saying they were detrimental to management and control of the maritime situation and related disputes.

Other nations must respect efforts of countries in the region to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea, he said.

The Philippine national security adviser said Manila was committed to maintaining regional peace.

Our joint patrols with the United States and potential future activities with other allied countries shows our mutual commitment to a rules-based international order and for promoting peace and stability of the region, Ano said in a statement.

The national security adviser said Manila wanted to maintain a cordial rapport with all countries.

The Philippines remains open to diplomatic discussions with China and reaffirms its commitment to fostering good relations with all nations, Ano said. We believe that through peaceful dialogue and adherence to international law, we can achieve a resolution that serves the best interests of all parties involved in the region.

A U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon patrol and reconnaissance plane circles past a Chinese coast guard ship during a resupply mission by a civilian boat chartered by the Philippine navy to deliver supplies to Manilas outpost on Second Thomas (Ayungin) Shoal in the disputed South China Sea, Aug. 22, 2023. [Ted Ajibe/AFP]

In 2016, the Philippines won a landmark ruling in the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague that threw out Chinas expansive claims in the South China Sea. Beijing, however, has ignored the ruling and carried on with its military expansionism in the strategic waterway, including building artificial islands.

As was the case with the first round of joint patrols, which were launched in late November, this weeks patrols took place in the waters and skies of the Philippines exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The first joint sea and air patrols between the two allies, a three-day program, was meant to demonstrate bilateral muscle-flexing in the face of perceived Chinese aggression in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait.

Those maneuvers involved three navy ships and three fighter-jets from the Philippine military, and one littoral combat ship and an aircraft from the American side.

The governments of both nations have been allies since they signed their Mutual Defense Treaty in 1951.

Message that Philippines is not alone

On Friday, Filipino military spokesman Col. Xerxes Trinidad said the second patrol, a series of operations held Wednesday and Thursday, required complete coordination between Philippine and U.S. assets to enhance the operational capabilities and interoperability of both forces.

For the activity, the Philippine military sent four ships, a multi-role helicopter, and an anti-submarine helicopter, while the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, deployed an aircraft carrier, the USS Carl Vinson, and its strike group that included a cruiser, and two destroyers.

Maritime security expert Ray Powell, a retired U.S. Air Force officer, said the joint activity increased Manilas leverage internationally.

These exercises send the message that the Philippines is not alone in the West Philippine Sea, but must be considered by potential adversaries as part of a network of military allies and partners, Powell told BenarNews on Friday.

Two weeks earlier, the Philippines said it intended to expand multinational patrols in the South China Sea. He said France, Canada, India, the U.K. and New Zealand had expressed an interest in joining such patrols.

All these nations support the 2016 arbitration courts ruling that invalidated Chinas sweeping claims to the sea.

In recent months, China has been harassing Filipino forces delivering supplies to its forces at its military outpost in Second Thomas (Ayungin) Shoal. Last month, a civilian-led convoy carrying Christmas gifts to forces there was forced to turn back after a Chinese ship shadowed it relentlessly.

Jeoffrey Maitem in Davao City, southern Philippines, contributed to this report.
Thai school children visit Krue Se Mosque in Pattani to learn about the history of conflict in the region, Dec. 25, 2018.

Imron Yusohs voice cracks with weariness as he speaks.

Seven members of my family have been killed in violence  shot or bombed. Yet, the authorities still suspect me, as if we who suffer the most are somehow complicit, the resident of Yala, one of the provinces in Thailands Deep South, told BenarNews.

Thursday marked the 20th anniversary of the start of a series of violent events in 2004 that convulsed this mainly Muslim Malay border region and reignited a separatist insurgency, which dates back to the 1960s and has no end in sight.

Twenty years on, the region remains heavily militarized and there is a general mood of suspicion and deep skepticism that peace talks being pursued by Thailands new government will achieve any breakthrough after a decade of fruitless efforts.

The conflict has left thousands dead and displaced countless others since that watershed year of 2004. And for Imron and others in the region, the constant state of surveillance breeds distrust and hinders reconciliation.

I doubt next year, the 21st anniversary of the conflict, will bring any resolution, Imron said.

Villagers endure constant hardship and suspicion from authorities. Peace talks havent yielded tangible results, yet I cling to the hope that they might someday.

On Jan. 4, 2004, a raid and theft of more than 400 weapons from the Pileng military camp by rebels in Narathiwat and subsequent events marked a turning point that led to a surge in the deployment of security forces in the Deep South. Over 75,000 soldiers, police and volunteer guards descended upon the region to quell violence from a series of incidents that followed the raid on the weapons depot.

On April 28, separatists launched widespread pre-dawn attacks on 11 security checkpoints and government locations in Pattani, Songkhla and Yala provinces. Initial reports said there were 108 fatalities on both sides, but Thai authorities later reported that 107 suspected insurgents and five members of the security forces had been killed.

The attacks led to a massacre at the historic Krue Se Mosque, when 32 suspected insurgents who had been hiding in a small concrete structure were killed after a general ordered an all-out assault.

Six months later, seven demonstrators were killed when authorities opened fire on protesters who had gathered at a playground near a police station demanding the release of six volunteer security guards who were accused of supplying rebels with stolen government-issued weapons.

Police and soldiers then rounded up and arrested protesters, stacking 1,370 face down like a pile of logs, with their hands bound behind their backs in military trucks. Officials said 78 people suffocated while they were being transported to a military camp 150 km (93.2 miles) away in Pattani province.

The last incident, perhaps the most infamous one of 2004, remains known throughout the border region as the Tak Bai Massacre.

Thai military special forces members patrol in Narathiwat province, southern Thailand, just days after the raid at the Pileng military camp, Jan. 7, 2004. [Pornchai Kittiwongsakul/AFP]

While the number of security forces has fallen to about 50,000 by 2023, the military presence continues to be a source of tension.

Deep South Watch, a non-profit organization monitoring the conflict in Thailands southern border provinces, released a report stating there have been over 22,200 incidents of violence in the region beginning in January 2004. The report also found that 7,540 people have been killed and 14,021 injured over the last two decades.

Despite the Thai governments 2013 launch of the Peace Dialogue Panel, lasting peace remains elusive in the Deep South. Psychological scars and lingering distrust cast a shadow over reconciliation efforts.

The pain of our friends being harmed by officials left us with no choice, separatist group member Mah, whose surname was withheld over safety concerns, told BenarNews.

We sought revenge, but before we could act, fate intervened. Now, we live in fear and suspicion, constantly watched by officials who see us as enemies, Mah said.

This approach wont bring peace. If it could, we wouldnt be here after 20 years.

Mahs words echo the frustration felt by many in the region.

While the recent appointment of a civilian to lead the governments peace panel in talks with BRN rebels offers a glimmer of hope, the path to lasting peace is fraught with challenges.

After years of military-led efforts, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin in November appointed Chatchai Bangchuad, deputy secretary general of the National Security Council (NSC), as the head of the Peace Dialogue Panel.

This marked the first time a civilian was assigned to this role.

The move aligns with proposals leading up to the May 2023 elections. Between May 2014 and August 2023, Thailand was ruled by a government with deep military ties and headed by a former army chief, Prayuth Chan-o-cha, who had spearheaded a coup a decade ago.

Many in the Deep South have called for a reduction in military presence and a greater emphasis on civilian-led initiatives to address the complex issues plaguing the region. The regional branch of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) was specifically mentioned as being seen as redundant and ineffective.

Chatchais team is tasked with negotiating with the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), the main insurgent group in the region. The BRN is represented at the negotiations table by a group led by Anas Abdulrahman.

Next-door neighbor Malaysia is acting as a broker for the talks.

The appointment of a civilian to lead the governments side of the peace efforts reflects a growing recognition of the need for a different approach in the south.

Military patrols are common along the coastal road leading to Sai Buri district in Thailands southern border provinces, Dec. 25, 2018. [Yostorn Triyos/BenarNews]

Still, security forces in the region remain a significant factor  Srettha, whose coalition government includes officials with ties to the military, maintains that ISOC is vital and should not be disbanded.

His 2024 budget allocates 6.65 billion baht (about U.S. $191.7 million) for integrated plans in the southern border provinces, Srettha said while announcing his spending plan on Jan. 3. This represents a 400 million baht ($11.5 million) increase over 2023.

Meanwhile on Thursday, the day marking the 20th anniversary of the start of the conflicts resurgence, Maj. Gen. Santi Sakuntanak, commander of the 4th Army Region and director of the ISOC-4 Forward Command, reiterated that troops in the region were prepared.

He also emphasized the importance of Thailands multicultural identity and unity.

Thailand cannot be divided, Santi said Thursday, the 20th anniversary of the Pileng raid. We are a diverse society, culturally rich. If the situation improves, with no violence or weaponry, normality will return.

While the region has a large Muslim population, the primary issue is livelihood, and we are promoting measures for local communities to thrive.
Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Overcast. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Temps nearly steady in the mid to upper 30s. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Variable clouds with snow showers. Low 28F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 50%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.
PAWLET  Daniel Banyai, under an outstanding arrest warrant, was the target of a planned sting operation by the Vermont State Police and Rutland County Sheriff David Fox on Dec. 20. Banyai, however, never showed up in person for the meeting.

Instead, Banyai called in to his parole officer, as he is allowed, from a location outside of Vermont, foiling plans for his arrest in his ongoing battle with the Town of Pawlet over land use.

According to recently-filed paperwork by both the VSP and Sheriff Fox, Banyai is reportedly residing somewhere outside of Vermont  possibly in New York State  and, according to Fox and the VSP, had no immediate plans to return.

Both agencies also confirmed they are actively pursuing Banyai, with VSP Lt. Douglas Norton stating that the VSP had been at the Briar Hill property 14 times since the new arrest warrant was handed down.

Documentation was required by the court as part of an updated and extended mittimus, after an inspection of Banyais property was deemed insufficient in late November by Environmental Judge Thomas Durkin.

Both Sheriff Fox and Norton outlined a dated and detailed checklist of their combined efforts to arrest Banyai over the past 30 days. Fox  who received the latest arrest warrant on Dec. 4  and Norton included details on a planned sting operation that was to take place on Dec. 20, when Banyai was due to report at his parole officers office for a scheduled meeting in a prior case.

Fox reported that members of the VSP Rutland barracks and Fox himself awaited Banyais arrival, only to be told that Banyai had already called in to the meeting to cancel. According to Rutland Probation and Parole, Banyai cancelled his meeting due to concerns from his current situation.

Other notes from the reports included the fact that Banyai was no longer in Vermont and that both Banyai and the Town of Pawlet were back negotiating a resolution as of the next day, a fact confirmed by Town of Pawlet attorney Merrill Bent.

As for negotiation, Bent wrote in an email, The Town has left the door open to discuss and agree on how to bring this to a final resolution, to no avail.

Toward the end of his report, Fox said he was provided with information for a lead on Banyais whereabouts. He did not mention that location in the report. The reports also noted Banyais failure to turn himself in to authorities by the court-imposed deadline, which came and went Dec. 22. An affidavit from the Marble Valley Correctional facility in Rutland confirms Banyai did not surrender as required by the Judges order.

Banyai  long in the middle of a legal dispute with the town over his 30-acre property known as Slate Ridge  currently remains free after several years of tangling with neighbors, the Town Select Board, and the state over what the town and neighbors describe as an unlicensed paramilitary training facility.

Mr. Banyai remains eternally hopeful that a sensible and fair compromise can be reached with the Town of Pawlet, said Banyai's attorney, Robert Kaplan. The affidavits filed by law enforcement memorializing efforts to arrest Mr. Banyai for claims of non-compliance with zoning ordinances are quite stunning. Given the skyrocketing levels of serious crimes such as murder, shootings, violent assaults, and car-jacking, as well as out-of-control property crimes, which are transforming Vermont, the allocation of this level of law enforcement capacity to capture a person who may not be in compliance with zoning regulations is difficult to comprehend.

The VSP and the Rutland Sheriff are due to report again in 30 days.
BENNINGTON  The trial of a defendant in a brutal Searsburg murder in 2019 is scheduled to begin this coming May for a rare 10-day trial, according to filed paperwork at the Bennington Courthouse.

Deven Moffitt, 33, was officially charged in June 2022 with murder in the second degree in the death of Jessica Hildenbrandt, 47, after a 33-month investigation revealed a violent and abusive relationship that started when Moffitt was a Vermont prisoner.

On a sunny day in mid-September 2019, a man walking through a gravel pit in Searsburg discovered what appeared to be a human jawbone on the ground. Vermont State Police soon arrived and started searching the area. What they found launched a long homicide investigation that ended in Moffitts arrest after a joint operation made up of Bennington Police, FBI, Homeland Security, and Vermont State Police, and ended with Moffitt being chased and then tackled on Jefferson Avenue in Bennington.

After searching the area in and around the gravel pit for several days after the 2019 discovery, police found a shallow grave nearby on Somerset Road. The grave was covered with dirt, rocks, and tree branches. It was apparent to investigators that the grave had been disturbed by animals.

According to police affidavits, Hildenbrandt was in a tenuous and abusive relationship with Moffitt while he was serving time in Vermont for leaving the scene of a crash with property damage and escaping custody. It started as a respectful relationship, but Moffitt became controlling and possessive at some point in the phone and email-only relationship, threatening Hildenbrandt and accusing her of being with someone else.

The 10-day trial, the first since 2007 in Bennington, will begin with attorneys choosing the jury on May 7, followed by the trial the next day. The schedule calls for an early morning start on each day, ending on May 21, when the jury will be given the case for deliberation barring any last-minute plea deals.

It is unclear if the jury in the lengthy trial will be sequestered or allowed to return home daily. Moffitt faces a mandatory life sentence if he is found guilty. He is awaiting trial at the Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans under a federal hold without bail. Moffitt also currently faces several charges in Windsor County, including aggravated assault, weapons, and drug charges. He also faces federal gun and drug charges, which are also still pending.
ADAMS  The Red Carpet Restaurant building, which housed the former beloved restaurant until the end of 2019, will soon open its doors again  just not for hungry patrons.

Smith Brothers-McAndrews Insurance intends to open up the storefront for its business in a renovated Red Carpet building at 69 Park St. Adams native David Bissaillon, president of the insurance company, recognizes the significance of his purchase.

The Red Carpet had been such a big part of Adams for so many years, he said. I knew when I made this decision thered be some folks disappointed the restaurant wont be coming back, but at the same time, were giving it a new life.

According to property records, Bissaillons company 69 Park Street LLC bought the property from 97 Commercial Street LLC  the company of Kenneth Dedominici, a business and real estate owner in Adams  on Dec. 21, 2023, for $235,000.

The plan for Bissaillon and his business is to convert and renovate the defunct restaurant into an insurance agency, with the help of local contractor B&B Quality Construction. Theyve removed the booths, and have provided area restaurants with kitchen equipment.

Folks were interested in some of the light fixtures, and they all wanted a piece of the old Red Carpet, Bissaillon said. New floors, new ceiling, new lights, new furniture, and we want to get in there as soon as we can.

The Red Carpet was Berkshire County's longest-standing, full-service family restaurant when it closed Dec. 31, 2019. It had been operating for 69 years. The youngest generation of the long-standing family business had no desire to continue the legacy, and the building has been conspicuously absent since.

Bissaillon explained his reasoning in buying the building as he and others were tired of being in a temporary space. A problem at their 45 Park St. building last year moved them into a new space at 35 Park St. Now, the company owns its building, which includes an upstairs apartment, and in that sense controls its destiny.

Ive been a resident my entire life, and I couldnt be more proud to own a commercial building in town, Bissaillon said.

The insurance agency has been on Park Street for more than 100 years, and weve always been a tenant, Bissaillon said.

When this opportunity presented itself, I looked around and saw whats happening downtown with the theater, the news up at the glen as recent as last night, we just feel really good about investing in the town, he said. Itll give our staff a brand new space we can call our own as we continue to serve our hundreds of insurance customers here in north county.

Bissaillon has been part of the Adams business community for years; he says hes never felt more optimistic about the towns economic development.

When I look at the whole picture and the work being done by the public and private sector, it's a really good time to invest in Adams, he said, and Im putting my money where my mouth is.
This Story in History is selected from the archives by Jeannie Maschino, The Berkshire Eagle
LEE  The Lee Select Board intends to refile its lawsuit against the current owners of former PCB manufacturer Monsanto this month. And its found powerful evidence for its case.

The town cites an agreement, signed Jan. 21, 1972, in which GE agreed not to sue Monsanto for claims arising from the environmental and health harm caused by the chemical it used in building power transformers in Pittsfield  and dumped into the Housatonic River.

The agreement  which the town sees as evidence that GE and Monsanto could be liable for engaging in a civil conspiracy as defined by state law  is an attachment in a letter sent by the Lee Select Board to state and federal elected officials including President Joe Biden, as well as local and national media.

Attorney Cristobal Bonifaz of Conway, who is representing Lee in its PCB litigation, said the agreement is authentic and has been filed elsewhere as evidence in unrelated litigation against Monsanto.

"They're going to face a major lawsuit," Bonifaz said. "They knew in 1972 when they signed onto it that PCBs were harmful to humans and the environment. They knew it. Both of them kept making money."

In its letter, the Select Board says it does not believe the GE-Monsanto agreement had been disclosed when EPA and the Rest of River Municipal Committee negotiated the revised 2020 cleanup plan. Nor does the town believe the agreement was known to the U.S. 1st Circuit Court of Appeals when it denied activists bid to stop the cleanup and its plans for a landfill in Lee.

In an interview with The Eagle, Select Board Chair Bob Jones and town Administrator Christopher Brittain said Bonifaz found the document as part of another lawsuit against Monsanto not related to the Housatonic River cleanup.

It wasnt relevant to their case. It certainly is to ours, Brittain said, adding it is rather damning, quite frankly.

The parties acknowledge that PCBs are harmful to the environment and to people, and they continue to agree to sell them and use them despite that  thats the simplest way to put it, Brittain said.

Additional attachments include an affidavit from PCB researcher David Carpenter, raising his serious concerns about landfill failure and airborne exposure to the chemical, listed as a probable cause of cancer and other health problems. Another attached document is a list kept by Monsanto of employees who had been sickened or died as a result of handling PCBs.

As the town with the lowest income among the five Rest of River communities, Lee considers the revised permit  with plans for trucks on Lees downtown streets and a landfill sited near the Housatonic and over a major groundwater aquifer  as an environmental injustice, the letter says.

Based on the information the town has found, the town said it will continue to pursue all avenues for a cleanup remedy where all involved parties are held responsible and all contaminated sediment is removed from Lee and the Berkshires."

As for the letter's assertion that the GE-Monsanto agreement amounted to a conspiracy, the state Attorney General's Office did not return calls seeking comment by press time.

A number of lawmakers named as recipients spoke in support of the revised cleanup permit when it was announced, and when the lawsuit challenging it was rejected by the U.S. 1st Circuit Court of Appeals. Jones is hoping the new information might change their minds.

The mediation that led to the revised permit was structured to keep the average citizen in the dark, Jones said. Aside from GE and EPA you had 21 people, and select boards from five towns or their representatives, making decisions for tens of thousands of people. It never would have gotten this far had people known about it to begin with, and that includes the town of Lee.

But EPA, in a statement issued Friday, said the cleanup permit is final and was affirmed by the courts.

"Nothing in the letter from the Town of Lee, including the attached indemnity agreement, affects the finality of the cleanup plan or the Courts approval of that plan," the agency said.

It also asserted that the toxicity of PCBs  the overarching theme of the evidence Lee cited  is why the cleanup is happening.

"[EPA's] peer-reviewed risk assessments demonstrated unacceptable ecological and human health risks posed by GEs PCBs to the Housatonic River and floodplain. Thats why we are working to move the cleanup of the River forward to address the current risks caused by the PCBs in the river," the agency said.

INDEMNIFIED

In the indemnity agreement, GE acknowledged it is aware and has been advised by Monsanto that PCBs tend to persist in the environment; that care is required in their handling, possession, use and disposition; that tolerance limits have been or are being established for PCBs in various food products. It was signed by General Electric Vice President and corporate counsel Walter A. Schiotterbech and a Monsanto vice president whose name cannot be deciphered from his hand-written signature.

The agreement further specifies that GE shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless Monsanto, its past, present and future directors, officers, employees and agents, from any and all liabilities, claims, damages, penalties, actions, suits, losses, costs and expenses, whether they received, bought, possessed, used or resold PCBs, on their own or in mixtures. That indemnity included any contamination of or adverse effect on humans, marine and wildlife, food, animal feed or the environment by reason of such PCBs.

In a company statement, Monsanto said the 1972 agreement "was a routine commercial agreement between two sophisticated companies that were doing business together, and we deny that it was improper in any way. The agreement is only between GE and Monsanto, it did not (and could not) release any party from liability to third parties. The agreement had (and has) no impact on any legal liability adjudged by courts or assigned through administrative agencies like the EPA."

In April, when the town of Lee sued Bayer, the company said: There is no legal basis for imposing liability on Monsanto for the lawful sale of PCBs into the stream of commerce more than four decades ago, over which Monsanto had no control."

Asked if the new disclosure contradicts that statement, Monsanto asserted it does not.

We stand by our statement as Monsanto manufactured bulk industrial PCBs and sold them to sophisticated third party companies, including GE, who used them in the manufacture of building materials like transformers and fluorescent lights which they, in turn, sold to customers. Monsanto provided information to its own customers about the risks and benefits of these products  which the Town itself acknowledges," the company said.

It further said that at the time, a federal Interdepartmental Task Force "concluded that PCBs should not be banned entirely as their continued use for transformers and capacitors in the near future is considered necessary because of the significantly increased risk of fire and explosion and the disruption of electrical service which would result from a ban on PCB use.'"

Jones said the town is in the process of vetting larger law firms who would be able to help handle a case of this magnitude. So far, Bonifaz has provided services pro bono, and the town would not pay legal costs unless it won the case, Jones said.

Because they were chemically stable, fire-resistant and had electrical insulating properties, PCBs were used in hundreds of industrial and commercial applications, including electrical equipment, as plasticizers in paints, plastics and rubber products, and in carbonless copy paper. They were banned in 1979.
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GREAT BARRINGTON  Hotel rooms for migrant families staying in Great Barrington and Pittsfield for temporary emergency shelter could cost the state around $1.5 million.

And thats just a sliver of the total statewide cost of Massachusetts' emergency shelter program that is being pushed to its limits. Some lawmakers worry about the financial viability of this short-term solution  a program estimated to cost nearly $2 billion by the end of the next fiscal year  to a long-term problem.

The hotel in Pittsfield alone is costing the state $210.25 per night for each of the 15 rooms being used until the contract is up on June 26, according to a spokesperson from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities.

The Great Barrington hotel costs $198 per night for each of the 19 rooms until June 15.

Those prices reflect the average nightly rate for those hotels, said EOHLC Press Secretary Kevin Connor.

A daily breakfast and snack, weekly housekeeping, as well as secure wireless internet service are included, according to a contract between the state and a hotel consulting firm being used to broker these agreements. The contract was obtained by The Eagle through a public records request.

A number of other services, like language assistance, must also be provided.

The hotels also have to be ready to accept new placements between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m.

The two Berkshire County hotels are included in the $26.8 million contract with the state for 32 hotel rooms statewide brokered by the Waltham-based Park Lodge Hotel Group.

Robert Clement, a consultant with Park Lodge, directed all questions to the state, but confirmed that the state pays on a monthly basis.

More than 80 hotels across the state are being used for shelter, Connor said. But this is in flux and decreasing because of Gov. Maura Healey's program cap of 7,500 families.

Connor could not say whether these two hotels in the Berkshires would continue to serve as family shelters beyond June. But as long as people remain eligible for the program they will continue to receive shelter, he said, though it may be in a new location.

In late October, a total of 84 people, mostly from Haiti, arrived at the two hotels  which The Eagle is not naming on the basis of safety.

The National Guard is helping on the ground with services like meal deliveries  not all of which are included in the hotel contracts.

A number of community nonprofits are also helping with everything from medical care to transportation, translators and school enrollment.

They need absolutely everything, said Gwendolyn VanSant, CEO and founder of Multicultural BRIDGE, of the migrants when they first arrived.

RIGHT-TO-SHELTER

The right-to-shelter law, enacted 1983, makes Massachusetts the only state in the country that has a legal obligation to shelter unhoused families.

The use of hotels as emergency shelter began as desperation mounted to house those who entered the state's overflowing program.

Not all are immigrants, but a wave of immigration from other countries to Massachusetts had pushed it to the brink. The state's shelter program reached a crisis point last summer and the state has scrambled to find temporary housing both for new arrivals and current residents.

Applications for emergency shelter soared last year and Gov. Maura Healey declared a state of emergency. Healey then capped the number at 7,500 families, shunting the rest onto a waitlist and some into overflow sites.

The waitlist keeps rising. It went from 242 on Dec. 12 to 391 on Dec. 28, according to a State House News Service report on Tuesday.

The cost of the program also keeps going up. It could reach a total of $2 billion for the current and following fiscal years, according to another SHNS report about the Healey administrations accounting of shelter spending.

The program would have to pay for two years of sheltering for families to give them time to get support and training to make their way to stable housing, SHNS reported.

An open check book

The contracts Scope of Services for the two hotels in the Berkshires stipulates a long list of what the hotel has to provide.

This ranges from bed bug inspections and ensuring the rooms meet safety code, to providing toiletries and weekly laundry service for towels and sheets. The state can inspect the rooms at any time.

Damage or wear-and-tear on rooms lies with the hotels. Also, the rules say that hotel staff cant speak to the press about the program or families, and staff must treat families with respect and acknowledgement of trauma [that] many have experienced.

One local lawmaker says that while the shelter program is a noble one, the current and projected spending threatens the states ability to cover its yearly nut  including those other critical programs for the vulnerable.

Its an open checkbook, said state Rep. William Smitty Pignatelli, D-Lenox. Its a good short-term plan, but whats the long-term plan?

In a community without enough affordable housing as it is, Pignatelli said he also worries about where the sheltered families will go after the hotel contracts are up.

The federal government bears responsibility for this $2 billion dollar problem, he added, and it should help solve it.

That's in the works. U.S. lawmakers from Massachusetts last month are worried that interior states are not getting the federal money to feed and house people amid a surge in migration.

Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, as well as Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, co-signed a Dec. 6 letter with eight other legislators to ask that $1.4 billion in supplemental federal money for shelter programs be increased. They also asked for equitable distribution of it between interior and border states.

The letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell noted that more families are arriving daily to the state than are exiting the shelter system.

The discrepancy in these numbers, they wrote, has crippled the Commonwealths ability to house and feed both migrant and unhoused families in need."

Independently, Warren has worked with the Biden administration and Healey to quicken the pace of work permits for immigrants in the state, she told The Eagle through a spokesperson.

But the work doesnt stop there, Warren said. Its critical that our federal government steps up to support Massachusetts as it works to cover shelter expenses and help families secure stable, long-term housing.
Northern Berkshire EMS is poised to take over as the primary ambulance provided for Savoy, according to the state Department of Public Health.
Former President Donald Trump greets supporters as he arrives at a commit to caucus rally on Dec. 19 in Waterloo, Iowa. Massachusetts is the latest state where residents are attempting to bar him from the ballot.
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The challenges of the bioprocess supply chain during the COVID-19 pandemic have given many new players with opportunities for growth. Now, these suppliers are no longer limited to the local market and have started actively exploring a broader market.

Among them, India stands out as an important emerging bio-pharmaceutical market. The bio-pharmaceutical industry here has experienced rapid growth in recent years, attracting the attention of an increasing number of bio-processing suppliers. These suppliers believe that India is key to supporting sustainable business growth. Duoning is one such bioprocessing supplier. One year after officially announcing its entry into the Indian market, BioSpectrum Editorial spoke with Leo Xie, Senior Vice President of Duoning Biotechnology Group, to learn about the company's current operations in India and its future plans.







How do you perceive the market space for life science service companies in India?

India's pharmaceutical industry is developing rapidly and has strong policy support. India has a vast demographic dividend and significant unmet medical needs. The Indian healthcare industry has expanded rapidly in recent years and is expected to surpass $500 billion by 2025. At the same time, the local government has been actively promoting the development of the pharmaceutical industry, which includes establishing funds to produce pharmaceutical ingredients domestically. As the pharmaceutical industry develops, the country is emerging as a high-potential market for life sciences services. This is backed by strong government support, rising private investments, and a growing trend of outsourcing to emerging Asian markets.

Improving efficiency and reducing financial stress are the primary objectives for the development of local biopharmaceutical companies. The Indian pharmaceutical industry accounts for a substantial share of the global pharmaceutical industry, and it is projected that pharmaceutical exports will reach $30 billion by 2025. Biopharmaceutical startups often face financial challenges due to the unique nature of their products. They require extensive research and development, as well as rigorous trials, to bring products to market. Therefore, increasing the efficiency of biopharmaceutical development and reducing development costs have become essential requirements.

The biopharmaceutical manufacturing industry has become a key driver of development. As the pharmaceutical industry continues to evolve, ensuring the integrity and efficiency of the supply chain is critical. Key areas of the Indian pharmaceutical industry are experiencing continued growth, including the expansion of physical and manufacturing capabilities, enhancement of cold chain and packaging capabilities, improvement of process capabilities, and increased investments in research and development (R&D), among others. This provides opportunities for life science service companies to enter the Indian market.

How does Duoning fulfill market demands, and what business progress has it made this year?

Duoning is dedicated to providing comprehensive bioprocessing solutions and assisting customers in establishing a seamless connection between all stages of bio-pharmaceutical development. This is achieved through solutions that encompass both the upstream and downstream processes. At the same time, biotechnology is a highly regulated industry, and internationally unified quality standards also enable us to serve the global market. The interconnected process flow from Duoning can reduce data errors in bio-pharmaceutical validation and better align the development needs of bio-pharmaceuticals at each stage. This, in turn, reduces development costs and improves efficiency.

In 2023, we expanded our product line and production capacity even further. Through the acquisition of Prefluid, a specialized supplier in the development and production of peristaltic pumps, we have expanded our product portfolio in fluid management and added a manufacturing site spanning approximately 10,000 square meters. Moreover, we anticipate that our new manufacturing site for bioreactors and fluid management systems will be completed and operational in the first quarter of 2024. At present, Duoning has 12 sites that cover a wide range of products, including cell culture media, bioreactors, filters, chromatography resins, single-use technologies, peristaltic pumps, and other process-related products. These facilities are capable of meeting the demands of mainstream bio-pharmaceutical production, including antibodies, mRNA, cell and gene therapies, and ADCs.

What are Duoning's plans for the Indian and other Asian markets?

The uniqueness of the Indian market lies in the burgeoning bio-similar industry, which necessitates large-scale production. Therefore, we will focus more on direct sales of biotechnology products and expand our coverage to include South and Southeast Asian countries, with India as a hub. In addition, considering India's diverse pharmaceutical manufacturing market, we will also provide technical services to offer customized product portfolios.

For other Asian countries, Duoning will rely more on economic cooperation policies among nations. This can help us overcome regional barriers more effectively and establish a network to distribute our products or even build new facilities to produce products locally.

In fact, India and several other Asian countries are expected to emerge as significant players in the global bio-pharmaceutical market. The current substantial investment in bio-manufacturing infrastructure in these regions will be a crucial factor contributing to the high growth potential of these markets. We hope to seize this opportunity and be a part of it.

What challenges do you expect life science services companies to encounter when expanding into the Indian market?

For the biopharmaceutical supply side, there are primarily market and policy challenges. For biopharmaceutical manufacturers, the quality of products provided by suppliers is always the primary consideration, followed by stable supply chain and cost factors. The COVID-19 pandemic has provided small suppliers and those from emerging markets with an opportunity to expand. However, as the market recovers, it remains uncertain whether these suppliers can sustain their success against mainstream suppliers. This is true for many markets worldwide, including the Indian market. Therefore, in the future, we will focus more on product quality and technological innovation. While ensuring a faster and more stable supply chain, we will also listen to the genuine needs of our customers and provide "tailor-made" products to better support biopharmaceutical manufacturing.






First hospital in the district to adopt 24/7 wireless patient monitoring solution

SSM Multispeciality Hospital, a leading hospital in Hassan district of Karnataka, has partnered with LifeSigns, a healthtech startup which offers continuous remote patient monitoring solution provider. LifeSigns brings advanced wireless patient monitoring to SSM Hospital by deploying its wearable wireless biosensor for continuous monitoring of patient vitals. The partnership was formally unveiled at an event held at SSM Hospital on January 3, 2024.

The solution from LifeSigns captures, records, and transmits crucial parameters such as ECG, Pulse Rate, temperature, heart rate, posture, blood pressure, and SPo2. This marks a historic moment for healthcare innovation in Hassan, Karnataka, as this is introduced for the first time in the region where patients will be monitored anytime & anywhere.

Commenting on the partnership, Dr Vinayak Narayan, CEO, SSM Hospital, said, The primary goal behind introducing this is to improve patient experience, enhance patient care and satisfaction. Whenever a patient's condition deteriorates, it gives an early warning to the doctors and nurses to address the patient's condition well in advance and save lives. Over the years, SSM Hospital has been known for introducing technologically advanced medical facilities with an extensive focus on affordability and quality of care. This partnership is a step in that direction. We look forward to introducing many more such offerings to the people of Hassan.

Dr Girish Chandra, Co-Founder & Director, LifeSigns said, "The key advantage lies in the early detection of warning signs, paving the way for timely interventions and improved patient care. This collaboration will represent a significant leap towards a more connected and technologically advanced healthcare system in Hassan that is accessible to all".
Jem's Birding & Ringing Exploits in the Eastern Province and elsewhere in Saudi Arabia
Amazon has officially announced the implementation of advertisements on Prime Video, with limited ads set to appear on movies and TV shows starting 29 January.

In an email to customers, Amazon explained that this move is aimed at sustaining investments in compelling content and ensuring a gradual increase in such investments over an extended period. The company also stated its intention to have significantly fewer ads compared to traditional TV and other streaming providers.

While the introduction of ads was previously disclosed in September, the specific date had not been set until now. Initially launching in the US, the UK, Germany, and Canada, other markets, including France, Italy, Spain, Mexico, and Australia, are expected to follow later in the year.

Amazon Prime has also confirmed that Jeremy Helfand, who advanced from a role at Hulu to oversee advertising innovation across Disney's interactive businesses, will now assume the role of vice president and head of advertising for Amazon's Prime Video.

This announcement was made by Helfand in a post on LinkedIn on Thursday.
As we welcome the new year, it's the perfect time to reflect on the achievements and challenges of the philanthropy sector in 2023, in order to build on the successes achieved and find ways to address any problem areas.

Image source: Cathy Yeulet  123RF.com

The philanthropy space in South Africa is a vital source of sustenance for those in need of social support. When taking into consideration the wide range of causes that require help - from those assisting humans and animals to the environment - its vital to ensure that the philanthropy sector is in a healthy state.

NPOs were the most supported beneficiaries

The Annual Review of South African Philanthropy 2023 reports that non-profit organisations (NPOs) were the most supported beneficiary type this year. This is generally an advisable method of impact giving, as there is a paper trail and it helps givers to avoid scams.

Strategic tech involvement in fundraising

The rise of digital platforms like social media has enabled more efficient and transparent fundraising, while also increasing the quality of impact measurement.

Dalit Shekel, key accounts manager at Relate Bracelets, a not-for-profit social enterprise that raises funds for social upliftment initiatives, says tech is increasingly a key enabler in philanthropy.

Tech connects the market and allows for seamless interaction. Other benefits of tech include the increased ability for people to make purchases of charity related products online, linking information sharing platforms like social media and sites with the payment gateway, where purchases and donations can be made at the drop of a hat. In our case, weve seen this with the sales of bracelets that we manufacture and sell to support charitable causes, she says.

Ongoing economic impact of the pandemic

The year 2023 saw significant shifts in the focus and priorities of impactful philanthropic giving locally. One of the main drivers of change was the Covid-19 pandemic, which continues to have a devastating impact on the well-being of society. The impact is felt in various ways, including economically and mentally.

Shekel says, People lost family members, including breadwinners, and many families are still trying to recover financially. The pandemic exposed and worsened the deep inequalities and vulnerabilities that plague South Africa and also highlighted the resilience and innovation of its people. As tough as our people are, there is still a need for philanthropic support due to the socio-economic aftermath of the pandemic.

The Annual Review of South African Philanthropy 2023 report states that Most high net worth givers did not change their giving practices in response to the pandemic; and one-third increased their focus on immediate needs.

A collective sense of community

Shekel says, In the face of trials, our collective strength and sense of community became a guiding light. The World Health Organisations recent recognition of loneliness as a pressing health threat has struck a chord, leading to a new Commission on Social Connection  echoing what we've always championed: the vital importance of human connection and community.

In relation to Relates 2023, she says, We have witnessed growth in philanthropy in areas like clean water, education, and mental health  fundamental human needs gaining the attention they deserve. Philanthropy's growth aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 6  ensuring access to water and sanitation for all. In 2024, our focus at Relate will heavily involve initiatives related to access to safe water, a basic human need for health and well-being.

The way forward

Looking ahead, Shekel says, Approaching 2024, a wave of change is sweeping across industries. It's not just about brand activations; it's about creating a 360 brand experience in unexpected places, tapping into the 'Fomo' culture, which means having divided attention span because of other things that could be happening on the internet at the same time, and the power of belonging as we dive into a new era.
What, in essence, is the job of a curator supposed to achieve?

A dispute raising these questions arose in the Western Cape High Court recently, related to a woman seriously injured in an accident, and our family law and estate departments explain more.

Carmelita Cornelius (referred to by the courts as the patient), was seriously injured in an accident during 2008. An advocate was appointed to litigate on her behalf, and in 2017 he succeeded in obtaining R2.28m for her from the Road Accident Fund. But the advocate had concluded that she wasnt able to manage her own affairs, and so he recommended the appointment of a curator of her property ("curator bonis").

A few months later, the high court officially declared that the patient wasnt capable of managing her affairs and appointed Leon Jansen van Rensburg as a curator bonis of her property. The court came to the conclusion that she needed the help of a curator bonis after receiving two specialists reports, one from a psychiatrist and the other from a neuropsychologist. Among other findings, the court heard that Cornelius was functionally illiterate, while her score for conceptual reasoning was profoundly low.

Then, in February 2022, the patients daughter, Candice Cornelius, successfully applied to the high court for a declaration that her mother was no longer ... incapable of managing her own affairs.

Assess the situation by clinical neuropsychologist

The daughter wanted the curator bonis removed and full control of her finances given back to her mother. The daughter produced a report from Dr Naz Daniels, a psychiatrist who said the mother had sufficiently recovered from the accident to be able to take charge of her own affairs and supported the removal of the curator.

By agreement between both sides, the advocate who had originally acted for the patient drew up a report on the question of whether a curator bonis should continue to manage her property.

His recommendation was that a clinical neuropsychologist should assess the situation and give some guidance on whether release from curatorship was a good idea. In his view, if the patient refused the reassessment, then it would be in her best interests that she should remain under curatorship.

Implication of donations tax

The curator bonis himself, opposed the application by Candice for the curatorship to end, saying there was no change in the reasons that had initially justified imposing a curator.

He said the patient would be at risk if the curatorship were ended. She was unable to read, understand or interpret financial advice and he pointed to several examples where she had wanted to give large sums of money to her family directly or indirectly.

For example, she had wanted to give away more than R1m to family and friends  without any concept of the implication of donations tax. She said she wanted to invest R1.2m for herself and her young child, but she couldnt explain how she would do this when the person on whom she said she would rely for advice about the matter was deceased. And when he asked her about certain documents she had brought to him, she became upset and incontinent.

Pressured by family members

The curator bonis also contested several aspects of the report by Daniels. She didnt give any reasons for her view that the curatorship should end, nor had she found that the patient would be able to understand financial advice and invest large sums of money.

He also pointed to errors in the Daniels report. For example, the specialist had written that the patient had not sustained a head injury in the original accident, when all the medical records indicated that she had.

According to the curator bonis, the patient became unhappy when he turned down what she had proposed to contribute to her mothers funeral and there was clear evidence that [she] had been pressured by family members to incur large expenses.

The patient, along with others that he didnt know, demanded that he pay R50,000 from her funds towards the funeral, when a relative was the undertaker and the coffin was said to cost R35,000. Since the Master of the court had a policy to allow R10,000 towards funeral costs of close family members, that is the amount that the curator paid out.

Strained relationship

According to him, the patient in this case remains a vulnerable person and that status would continue even if the curatorship was ended. He supported the proposal that she should be re-assessed by a neuropsychologist for advice on whether her circumstances had in fact changed. But pending that assessment, he believed curatorship should continue, even if someone else took over from him since he accepted that the relationship between the two of them had become strained.

Faced with these widely differing views on whether the curatorship should be lifted, the acting judge who heard the application Nolundi Nyathi, accepted that the patients daughter who had brought the application, had her mothers interests at heart, and held that she had legal standing to bring the action.

But if the patient didnt want the curatorship to continue, was it fair to disregard her wishes, the judge asked. Was it fair to continue to subject [her] to the standards and expectations of people who are better educated or have higher levels of intelligence? It was unpalatable, said the judge, to require her to undergo a psychiatric test to decide her sophistication level. It was her right not to accept the benefits of curatorship, given that she was of sound mind and that there was no evidence that she was unable to manage a large estate.

Cultural misplacement should not be allowed

Two paragraphs in that judgment stand out: To continue subjecting the patient to curatorship ... would be tantamount to endorsing the unfortunate and unfounded belief that only those who are sufficiently schooled in the Western ways of doing things have an inherent right and can be trusted to properly manage large estates. In our country ... where people have a culture of living communally, it would not be fair to condone this kind of attitude. A cultural misplacement should neither be allowed nor promoted.

The judge added, The courts must be alive and adept enough to put a halt on pure commercial tendencies from undermining the working and established practices of people who do not conform to the popular Western expectations.

She was critical of both the curator bonis and the Master for failing to be creative in guiding the patient, and for not adopting less foreign ways of addressing their concerns about the patients perceived inability to manage a large estate. And she criticised them for castigating [the patient] as someone who will never be able to understand the management of her newly found riches according to the Western paradigm.

Relying on Ubuntu

The court also found that the curator bonis had tried to force the patient to learn Western ways without looking for middle ground such as might have been provided by relying on ubuntu instead.

Keeping her under curatorship would amount to a grave affront to her dignity, said the judge. And if she had been allowed to pay for the R35,000 coffin this would have been a lasting token of her appreciation for her mother and the patient had the right to make such choice.

There was no point in having any further medical assessment, said the judge, because the challenges the patient faced were social.

Trite legal principles not taken into account

Faced with this judgment, the curator appealed. What would the appeal judges find, after this damning decision?

First, they held that the patients daughter did not have legal standing to have brought the earlier application and that the judge didnt take trite legal principles into account in deciding the question of standing. On that issue alone, the original decision could not stand.

But even if the daughter had had legal standing to bring the case, the court below made findings that were simply not borne out by the material before it, the judges said.

Risk being exploited by those around her

Daniels, who gave key evidence for the daughters case, had had to back down from her findings because she didnt have all the reports she needed, the appeal judges pointed out.

She also recognised that the patient risked being exploited by those around her and could be at financial risk in managing large amounts of money. Ultimately, Daniels conceded that she couldnt continue to support a recommendation that curatorship be terminated.

But the crucial question for a wider readership lay elsewhere: what would the appeal judges make of the lower courts view that curatorship was a means of ensuring that Western ways of doing things would prevail?

Compelling reasons

That view was unfounded, said the appeal judges. There were compelling reasons why courts put appropriate protections in place to protect and preserve both the dignity and interests of vulnerable people from all walks of life, where this is necessary. And such a system was used not only in South Africa, but in other countries around the world.

The suggestions by the acting judge in the court of first instance, that these protections reflect the imposition of Western ways imposed on people who do not conform to popular Western expectations were without merit, the appeal judges said.

The patient was free to obtain a neuropsychological report, a move the curator recommended, and a suggestion that Daniels supported. If it turned out that that report supported releasing the patient from curatorship, then the court would have to be approached to make an order to that effect.

Firm restatement by appeal judges Le Grange ADJP, Savage J and Cloete J

The high courts initial judgment had been a strong challenge to the very idea of curatorship as a means to protect the estate and affairs of vulnerable people, with the judge suggesting that it was merely to prop up Western values. But the appeal judges put paid to that proposal, with their firm restatement that it was a system widely practised, to protect the most vulnerable from all walks of life.


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There were no security-related deaths in Northern Ireland in a calendar year for the first time since police records began in 1969, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has said.

However, the forces annual security statistics for 2023 show a rise in paramilitary activity including shootings, bombings and assaults.

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Amnesty International said the statistics represent a huge number of lives ruined and communities living in fear due to terrorist activity.

The PSNIs Security Situation Statistics covering the 12 month period 1st January 2023 to 31st December 2023 have been published today. The publication is available on the @PoliceServiceNIwebsite at https://t.co/l9aU89SuSu pic.twitter.com/athohe1siL  NISRA (@NISRA) January 5, 2024 Advertisement

Recording deaths directly attributed to terrorism or security force activity, the PSNI bulletin said: There were no security-related deaths during the last 12-month period, compared to one during the previous 12 months.

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This is the first calendar year since records began in 1969 that there has not been a security-related death.

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The bulletin said there were 33 shooting incidents during 2023, compared with 29 in the previous 12 months.

The statistics include the shooting of senior PSNI detective John Caldwell by dissident republicans in Co Tyrone in February 2023.

There were 12 shooting incidents in Belfast, nine in Derry and Strabane and seven in Ards and North Down.

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Detective Chief Superintendent John Caldwell (Brian Lawless/PA)

The PSNI bulletin said there were eight bombing incidents in 2023, compared with five in 2022.

It said there were 31 casualties of paramilitary-style assaults in 2023, compared to 25 the previous year. Belfast had the greatest number of assaults with 12, followed by Mid and East Antrim with seven.

All 31 victims of paramilitary-style assaults during the 12-month period were aged 18 or above.

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There were 19 casualties of paramilitary-style shootings during 2023, compared with eight in 2022.

The statistics show that the PSNI found 20 firearms during 2023 and recovered 3.22kg of explosives and 1,013 rounds of ammunition.

There were 104 security-related arrests under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000 in 2023, compared with 110 during the previous 12 months.

Amnesty Internationals Northern Ireland director, Patrick Corrigan (Amnesty International/PA)

There were 21 people charged with terrorism offences.

Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty Internationals Northern Ireland director, said: These latest police figures show a worrying increase in paramilitary activity including shootings, bombings and assaults.

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Every single statistic represents a violation of peoples right to live lives free from violence.

So-called paramilitary-style beatings and shootings seem to have become accepted as a fact of life here, but they are nothing less than a brutal abuse of human rights which can never be acceptable.

What the figures dont show is the huge number of lives ruined and communities living in fear across Northern Ireland. Nor do they take account of the increasing number of racist and sectarian attacks carried out by these violent groups.

These attacks must stop and those responsible must be held to account before the law.
A mechanic has been found guilty of assault after a court heard he tried to throw a Dublin Airport security official from a Ryanair plane during a seating row.

Sergejs Laurenouies (38), of Ballytrasna, Ballycullane, Co Wexford, was handed a six-month suspended sentence following his hearing at Dublin District Court.

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Judge John Hughes also fined the father of two 1,000 and ordered him to pay 1,000 compensation to Dublin Airport officer Barry Nevin.

Judge Hughes further directed that Laurenouies could not board any flight from the State unless he was sober, and must also present himself to airport officials four hours before departure.

The judge said the accused must also prove he has completed anger management and alcohol awareness courses and remain on supervised probation for two years.

Laurenouies had denied attacking Mr Nevin on a Ryanair flight from Dublin to Majorca on October 22nd, 2022, at Terminal 1.

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Judge Hughes noted the flight was delayed, and the captain refused to take off when Laurenouies refused to sit away from his family.

Laurenouies had complained that another passenger was in his booked seat. He was offered an alternative seat, but he said it did not have enough legroom.

The plane was fully boarded and ready to depart when Laurenouies became agitated, and there was a strong smell of alcohol on him, the court heard.

He was asked to sit down three times before the captain intervened and refused to take off with Laurenouies onboard.

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Mr Nevin and two colleagues boarded the flight, but the court was told Laurenouies was abusive and attempted to throw him out the door of the plane.

The air bridge was not in place, so Mr Nevin held onto the railings, resulting in abrasions and cuts to his hands.

Arrest

Laurenouies denied attacking the officers and claimed he suffered two broken arms and had to wear a cast as a result of being hurt during his arrest.

However, the court heard he was seen by a doctor when he was taken to a Garda station, and he did not provide medical evidence to support his claim.

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Convicting him for assault, Judge Hughes said he did not accept Laurenouies evidence.

The judge described the incident as serious, adding that travel was stressful at the best of times, and Laurenouies holiday plans turned into a nightmare.

Prosecuting Garda Emmet OByrne said the accused spent most of the night of his arrest in Garda custody after repeatedly refusing to sign a bail bond.

The Latvian national has lived and worked in Ireland for 20 years and has no prior criminal convictions.

Following legal submissions from defence solicitor Michael French, Laurenouies was cleared of a connected charge for being intoxicated to the extent that he was a danger to himself and others on the plane.
Russian air defences have downed dozens of Ukrainian drones in occupied Crimea and southern Russia on Friday, officials said.

The move comes as Kyiv presses its strategy of targeting the Moscow-annexed peninsula and taking the 22-month war well beyond Ukraines borders.

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Air raid sirens wailed in Sevastopol, the largest city in Crimea, and traffic was suspended for a second straight day on a bridge connecting the peninsula, which Moscow seized illegally a decade ago, with Russias southern Krasnodar region.

Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine  05 January 2024.



Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/7zEENJIlQk #StandWithUkraine  pic.twitter.com/7hf2mrXxee  Ministry of Defence  (@DefenceHQ) January 5, 2024 Advertisement

The span is a crucial supply link for Russias war effort.

The Russian defence ministry said its defences intercepted 36 drones over Crimea and one over Krasnodar, part of an emerging pattern of intensified Ukrainian aerial attacks in recent days.

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A Ukrainian Neptune anti-ship missile also was destroyed over the north-western part of the Black Sea, the ministry said.

The developments came after three people were injured on Thursday night by other Ukrainian rocket and drone attacks on the Russian border city of Belgorod and the surrounding region, said Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.

Ukrainian attacks on December 30th in Belgorod killed 25 people, officials there said.

A Ukrainian attack on military facilities in Crimea on Thursday affected a command centre and the peninsulas air defence system, according to a spokesperson for Ukraines southern joint forces, Nataliia Humeniuk.

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She said the Russian military recently relocated its Crimean launch sites for Shahed drones.

It was not possible to verify either sides claims.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy has pledged to strike more targets on the Crimean Peninsula and inside Russian border regions this year.

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Mr Zelenskiy is pressing a strategy of targeting the Moscow-annexed peninsula and taking the 22-month war beyond Ukraines borders (AP)

The goal is to unsettle Russians as Russian president Vladimir Putin seeks another six years in power in a March 17th election.

Following a drone strike deep inside Russia last year, Mr Zelenskiy said Ukraine had developed a weapon that can hit targets 400 miles away. He said last month Kyiv plans to produce one million drones, which have become a key battlefield weapon.

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Other Ukrainian officials said it aims to manufacture this year more than 10,000 attack drones with a range of hundreds of miles, as well as more than 1,000 longer-range drones that can hit targets well behind the front line and inside Russia.

Both sides are raising the stakes of their long-range warfare as soldiers remain bogged down on the wintry battlefield.

The UKs Ministry of Defence said ground combat has continued to be characterised by either a static front line or very gradual, local Russian advances in key sectors.

A firefighter works to extinguish a fire of a gas pipe line damaged by a Russian rocket attack, in Kyiv, Ukraine (AP)

The Kremlin, meanwhile, has acquired ballistic missiles from North Korea and fired at least one of them into Ukraine on December 30, the White House said, citing recently declassified US intelligence.

It also is seeking close-range ballistic missiles from Iran, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.

UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said Pyongyang would pay a high price for supporting Russia, although he did not say in what way, and he accused Moscow of violating a UN embargo on arms shipments to and from North Korea.

The world has turned its back on Russia, forcing Putin into the humiliation of going cap in hand to North Korea to keep his illegal invasion going, Mr Shapps said on X, formerly Twitter.

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Ukraine said it stopped 21 out of 29 Russian Shahed drones launched late on Thursday and early on Friday. The assault injured two people, including a 14-year-old, and was the latest of almost daily Russian drone attacks in the new year.

On Thursday, Mr Zelenskiy thanked Germany for a delivery of military aid, especially air defence materiel that he said is timely and focused on our priorities.

Ukraine should look to continue degrading Russias ability to wage war by conducting an escalating campaign of air strikes on targets far behind the front lines throughout occupied Ukraine and inside Russia itself, according to Mykola Bielieskov, a research fellow at Ukraines National Institute for Strategic Studies.

This could include attacks on troop concentrations, military bases, and munitions stores along with logistical hubs and armament production facilities, he wrote in an assessment published by the Atlantic Council, a US think tank.
Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi has said the United States and China must insist on peaceful coexistence and transcend their differences, as they did when they established diplomatic relations 45 years ago this week.

Mr Wang also promised that giant pandas would return to the US  and specifically California  by the end of the year.

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China-US cooperation is no longer a dispensable option for the two countries or even for the world, but a must-answer question that must be seriously addressed, he said.



Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi hosted a reception for the Commemoration of the 45th Anniversary of China-US Diplomatic Relations (AP)

Mr Wang struck a largely conciliatory note at a lavish banquet marking the anniversary with 300 guests at a hall in the sprawling Diaoyutai state guest house complex in the Chinese capital.

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The two countries are trying to navigate  and avoid a war  in what may be their most difficult waters since the US ended official ties with Taiwan and recognised the communist government in Beijing as the government of China on January 1 1979.

Chinas rise as an economic and military power is challenging long-standing American leadership in the Asia region and globally.

The world is currently undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, Mr Wang said.



Mr Wang said he hoped the two countries could transcend their differences (AP)

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We must think about how to calibrate the direction of the large ship of China-US relations (and) avoid hidden reefs and dangerous shoals.

Both Mr Wang and David Meale, the deputy chief of mission at the US embassy, cited congratulatory letters exchanged by Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden on Mondays anniversary.

Mr Meale, who spoke after Mr Wang, said Mr Biden expressed his commitment to managing the relationship responsibly and said he looked forward to building on the progress made by past leaders of the two countries.

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Mr Wang did criticise the use of the big stick of sanctions and engaging in power games, charges that China often levels at the United States.

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He denied that China seeks to supplant any other country and called on the US to respect Chinas development path and core interests.

The giant pandas in Memphis, Tennessee, and Washington, DC, were returned to China last year, and some feared that China would stop lending pandas to American zoos because of the tensions between the two countries.

But Mr Xi raised hope for California in November when he told an audience in San Francisco that China was ready to continue cooperating with the US on pandas and do our best to meet the wishes of the Californians.

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Mr Wang told Fridays banquet audience that preparations are ready for a giant panda return to California within the year.
Disgraced British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell claimed she never introduced Prince Andrew to Jeffrey Epstein in an interview under oath, court documents have revealed.

The third tranche of files connected with paedophile financier Epstein were published on Friday, including the video-taped interview with Maxwell in April 2016.

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In the video-taped evidence, known in the US as a deposition, the socialite described Epstein victim Virginia Giuffres alleged meetings with the Duke of York as a tissue of lies.

Epstein was found dead while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges (US Department of Justice/PA)

Andrew stepped down from public life after the furore over his friendship with Epstein, and paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault case with Ms Giuffre, a woman he claimed never to have met.

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He was cast out of the working monarchy and no longer uses his HRH style after Ms Giuffre, who was trafficked by Epstein, accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was 17.

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The duke strenuously denies any wrongdoing.

A US judge ordered hundreds of documents to be unsealed as part of Ms Giuffres previously settled civil claim against Maxwell, which was filed in 2015.

In an exchange with Ms Giuffres lawyer Sigrid McCawley during her deposition, Maxwell was first asked: Do you know Prince Andrew?

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I do, she replied.

Ms McCawley continued: How long have you known him?

Maxwell said: A very long time.

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The lawyer then asked Since you were a child?

I really  its so long, its really a long time ago. I just dont recall, Maxwell said.

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Questioned if she remembered how she first met him, the convicted sex trafficker said: No I do not.

Ms McCawley then asked: Did you introduce him to Jeffrey?

Maxwell responded: That would be another of Virginias lies and the lies you perpetrate.

I never introduced Prince Andrew to Jeffrey Epstein at any time ever, so just add that the (sic) to long list of lies.

Ms McCawley continued: Did Jeffrey know Prince Andrew?

Maxwell replied: Clearly he knew him.

Pressed on whether she knew how Andrew met Epstein, Maxwell said: I do not know (sic) Jeffrey met Prince Andrew.

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What I do know is that I did not introduce them.

Maxwell described Ms Giuffres alleged encounters with Andrew as a tissue of lies (US Department of Justice/PA)

That is one of the many lies. Are we tallying all the lies?

Ms McCawley went on: Do you know when Jeffrey met Prince Andrew?

Maxwell said: I do not know when Jeffrey met Prince Andrew.

Ms McCawley then asked: Did you ever introduce Prince Andrew to any girls under the age of 18 who were not friends of your children?

The socialite responded: I have not introduced Prince Andrew to anyone that I am aware of other than friends of mine who have kids under that age that he may have met socially through me.

Questioned on whether she introduced the duke to Ms Giuffre in London, Maxwell said: I understand her story about London but, again, her tissue of lies is extremely hard to pick apart what is true and what isnt.

Actually, I wouldnt recollect her at all but for her tissue stories about this situation.

Ms McCawley asked again: So did you ever introduce Prince Andrew to Virginia in London?

I have no recollection, Maxwell replied.

The Metropolitan Police have said officers are not investigating allegations made against the duke.

Epstein was found dead in his cell at a federal jail in Manhattan, New York, in August 2019 while he awaited trial on sex-trafficking charges. The death was ruled a suicide.

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Maxwell has been imprisoned since July 2020 despite attempts by her defence counsel to have her released on bail.

She was sentenced to 20 years in prison at the federal court in the Southern District of New York in June 2022.

The socialite indicated her desire to appeal shortly after her conviction, with her lawyers claiming victims had faded, distorted and motivated memories.

Her appeal is scheduled to be heard in November next year.
President Joe Biden warned on Friday that Donald Trumps efforts to retake the White House in 2024 pose a grave threat to the country, the day before the third anniversary of the violent riot at the US Capitol by then-president Trumps supporters aiming to keep him in power.

Speaking near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, where George Washington and the Continental Army spent a bleak winter nearly 250 years ago, Mr Biden said that January 6 2021 marked a moment where we nearly lost America  lost it all.

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He said the presidential race  a likely rematch with Mr Trump, who is the Republican frontrunner  is all about whether American democracy will survive.





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The speech, the presidents first political event of the election year, was intended to clarify the expected choice for US voters this autumn.

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Mr Biden, who re-entered political life because he felt he was best capable of defeating Mr Trump in 2020, believes focusing on defending democracy to be central for persuading voters to reject Mr Trump once again.

We all know who Donald Trump is, Mr Biden said. The question we have to answer is who are we?

Mr Biden laid out Mr Trumps role in the Capitol attack, as a mob of the Republicans supporters overran the building while members were counting Electoral College votes that certified Democrat Mr Bidens win.

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US President Joe Biden speaking at a campaign event at Montgomery County Community College in Pennsylvania on Friday (Stephanie Scarbrough/AP)

More than 100 police officers were beaten and attacked by the rioters who overwhelmed authorities to break into the building.

Whats Trump done? Hes called these insurrectionists patriots, Mr Biden said, and he promised to pardon them if he returns to office.

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He criticised Mr Trump for glorifying rather than condemning political violence.

At least nine people who were at the Capitol that day died during or after the rioting, including several officers who died from suicide, a woman who was shot and killed by police as she tried to break into the House chamber, and three other Trump supporters who authorities said suffered medical emergencies.

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Mr Biden said that by trying to rewrite the facts of January 6, Trump is trying to steal history the same way he tried to steal the election.

Mr Trump, who faces 91 criminal charges stemming from his efforts to overturn his loss to Mr Biden and three other felony cases, argues that Mr Biden and top Democrats are themselves seeking to undermine democracy by using the legal system to thwart the campaign of his chief rival.

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Donald Trumps campaign is about him, Mr Biden said, saying it was Mr Trumps aim to get retribution on his political enemies. Not America. Not you. Donald Trumps campaign is obsessed with the past, not the future.

He added: Theres no confusion about who Trump is or what he intends to do.

Before his remarks, Mr Biden, joined by his wife Jill, participated in a wreath laying ceremony at Valley Forge National Arch, which honours the troops who camped there from December 1777 to June 1778.



Rioters loyal to Donald Trump gather at the US Capitol in Washington on January 6 2021 (Jose Luis Magana/AP)

In the days after the attack, 52% of US adults said Mr Trump bore a lot of responsibility for January 6, according to the Pew Research Centre. By early 2022, that had declined to 43%. The number of Americans who said Mr Trump bore no responsibility increased from 24% in 2021 to 32% in 2022.

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A Washington Post-University of Maryland poll released this week found that about 7 in 10 Republicans say too much is being made of the attack.

Mr Biden said that politics, fear, money have led many Republicans to abandon their criticism of Mr Trump.

On the second anniversary, Mr Biden presented the nations second highest civilian award to 12 people who were involved in defending the Capitol during the attack.

Fridays appearance included supporters and young people motivated by the attack to get involved in politics, campaign advisers said.
North Korea fired artillery rounds near its disputed sea boundary with South Korea on Friday in violation of a fragile 2018 military agreement, officials in the south have said.

South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea fired 200 rounds in the waters north of their disputed western sea boundary, and they would take carry out similar drills in response.

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People living on the frontline island of Yeonpyeong said the South Korean military has asked them to evacuate because it plans to launch maritime firing drills on Friday.

The sea boundary has been the site of several bloody inter-Korean sea battles since 1999. North Korea also launched artillery strikes on Yeonpyeong island, killing four South Koreans, in 2010.



A sign of North Korea is seen on a map at the unification observatory in Paju, South Korea (AP)

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The 2018 agreement requires both countries to halt live-fire exercises and aerial surveillance in no-fly and buffer zones established along their border, but the deal is in danger of collapsing amid bickering since the Norths first military spy satellite launch in November.

South Korea accused North Korea of restoring frontline guard posts that it had dismantled under the 2018 deal after South Korea resumed aerial surveillance in protest of the satellite launch.

Earlier on Friday, North Koreas state media said leader Kim Jong Un ordered authorities to increase production of mobile launch vehicles for missiles because the country faces a looming military showdown with its enemies.

The official Korean Central News Agency said Mr Kim made the comments during a visit to a factory that produces transport erector launchers (TELs) without saying when he went or where the factory is.

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TELs are mobile launch vehicles which give North Korea the ability to move missiles around its territory, making it more difficult for its adversaries to detect launches in advance. Some South Korean experts have estimated that North Korea has about 100-200 such vehicles.

Mr Kim said the factorys role is very important in bolstering North Koreas national defence given the prevailing grave situation that requires the country to be more firmly prepared for a military showdown with the enemy, KCNA reported.

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In a key ruling party meeting last week, Mr Kim vowed to expand the countrys nuclear arsenal, launch three additional military spy satellites and take other steps to build up the military this year to acquire overwhelming war readiness to cope with what he called US-led confrontation.

He cited the expansion of US-South Korean military drills that sometimes involve US long-range bombers and a nuclear-armed submarine.
Strikes by London Underground workers will go ahead from Friday evening after last-ditch talks failed to resolve a pay dispute.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) will walk out throughout the next week, causing huge disruption to services.

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The union is in dispute over a 5 per cent pay offer and other issues including travel facilities.

The action will begin at 6pm on Friday when maintenance train workers at Ruislip Depot will walk out for 24 hours.

 #tubestrikes to go ahead after talks fail to make progress

London Underground workers will take strike action during the next week, over pay, grading structures and travel facilities https://t.co/3fB8jYCUVs Advertisement  RMT (@RMTunion) January 5, 2024

Control staff will strike on Sunday for 24 hours and from Monday to Wednesday nearly 10,000 RMT members will strike across the Tube.

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An RMT spokesperson said: Transport for London has failed to avert this strike by not offering a deal that was acceptable to our members on London Underground.

We do not take strike action lightly but we are determined to get a negotiated settlement on pay, travel facilities and a grading structure that means our members will not lose out.
A fugitive suspected of faking his own death has been extradited from Scotland to the US to face charges including rape following a lengthy case in the Scottish courts.

Nicholas Rossi (36) had claimed he had been the victim of mistaken identity  telling courts he is an Irish orphan named Arthur Knight.

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But a sheriff ruled he is Nicholas Rossi, and Scottish ministers signed an extradition order last September.

Rossis appeal against extradition was dismissed in December, paving the way for him to be removed from the country.

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A spokesperson for Police Scotland said on Friday: We assisted partner agencies with the extradition of a 36-year-old man.

Rossi is wanted in the US for allegedly raping a woman in Utah in 2008 and also faces domestic abuse charges.

He is alleged to have faked his own death before hiding out in Scotland.

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It is understood police in Essex are also investigating him in relation to a non-recent allegation of rape.

He was arrested last year in connection with that investigation and has been bailed until March.

Rossi initially came to the attention of authorities when he was in the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow in 2021, where he was being treated for Covid-19.

The subsequent case gathered international attention for its bizarre nature, with Rossi  who would be taken into court in a wheelchair while using an oxygen mask  steadfastly claiming he was Knight.

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In his appeal against extradition heard in the autumn, Rossi  who repeatedly criticised his own lawyers  represented himself, making claims including that he would not receive a fair trial in the US because he was investigating those seeking to extradite him, that he had been denied medical care in prison, and hitting out at what he called a media circus surrounding the case.

But the decision of Lady Dorrian, Lord Malcolm and Lord Armstrong said much of the material Rossi had included in his note of appeal had absolutely no relevance to it and the only vaguely recognisable ground he submitted was that of defective representation.

Rossi fought a long-running court battle to avoid being removed from Scotland (Andrew Milligan/PA)

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The decision concluded with a reference to a sheriffs previous statement about facets of Rossis character complicating what he considered to be a straightforward case.

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It said: We agree with the sheriff that the appellants case is, at its core, a straightforward one.

The evidence supporting that the appellant is Nicholas Rossi was overwhelming. He did not, nor does he now, produce anything which would suggest to the contrary.

The conspiracy theories which he tendered in explanation were properly rejected. The sheriff carefully considered the submissions made on the appellants behalf as to the potential barriers to his extradition.

Having heard evidence from various medical witnesses, there was quite simply nothing to support that he was suffering from any mental health condition, far less one which would render it unjust or oppressive to extradite him.

They said nothing placed before the court demonstrates that the appellants trial would either be unfair or that any of his other convention rights would be violated if extradited.
Team leaders at Suncorp develop hybrid work plans for their teams which reflect varying degrees of face-to-face interaction required by different roles. Credit: FFX In October, Origin also linked office attendance to its annual performance review process. A company spokesperson said that included the modest expectation that our people spend a minimum of 40 per cent of their working month in an Origin office. Most staff at ANZ can work up to half of their time  averaged over a calendar month  remotely. If hybrid working expectations are not met, this may be taken into consideration in performance and remuneration reviews at the end of the next year. If you are one of our people who are yet to be spending more than half your time in the workplace, we need you to adjust your patterns unless you have a formal exception in place, ANZ said in an internal email to staff. ANZ employees with exceptional circumstances may be considered for a temporary period of greater flexibility of up to two months. Longer periods of flexibility require a formal exception signed off by several leaders.

Tech firms backtrack on working from home These large ASX-listed companies arent the only ones ramping up the pressure on staff who prefer to work from home. Many big employers in the technology sector  which embraced work from home during the pandemic  are now quickly and aggressively shifting their workers back into the office. Australian fintech start-up Futurerent is one tech company to have bucked the remote-first trend. Its staff is back in the office four days a week, a move that chief executive Godfrey Dinh says is about prioritising collaboration gains over potentially losing talent. The default position for Futurerent chief Godfrey Dinh is for staff to come into the office. Credit: AFR Our team works together in the office four days per week, with most people working from home on Fridays, Dinh says. They can always choose to work from home whenever they need, but the default is to come into the office.

Dinh says that most companies are still trying to find the balance that works for them, but given his start-up is relatively new  and still a small team  being in the office together is the best option. I dont buy the idea that unless WFH [work from home] is your default workplace policy, you wont attract top talent, he says. Ive found an incredible team that thrives on each others energy and wants to win together. But by the same token, as the business grows and you need to hire remotely, you need to enable workplace flexibility and find ways to spend time together physically where there are team members who are remote. Airbnb lets its employees effectively live and work from anywhere in the world for up to 90 days a year per country. Credit: Getty I do think you need to provide a nice environment with small conveniences like coffee and soft drinks. You only need to offer incentives when your office culture has gone too far one way or you have the wrong people on board and you need to correct it. Many of the US-headquartered global tech giants are also winding back their pandemic work-from-home policies. Amazon, which employs about 7000 Australians, has mandated that its employees spend at least three days a week in the office. It has also barred workers who work from home more than twice a week from getting a promotion unless they have further leadership approval. Facebook parent company Meta, Google parent company Alphabet and collaboration software maker Zoom have also asked employees to return to the office.

Mitesh Mangaonkar is the lead data engineer for Airbnbs global trust and safety unit, helping to mitigate fraud on the companys platform. He says hes been working remotely for the past five years  even before the pandemic  and that while Airbnb has long embraced the work-from-home model, the companys approach runs deeper. Airbnb lets its employees effectively live and work from anywhere in the world for up to 90 days a year per country. We are indeed reaching a pivotal point in the WFH debate. But its not just about location, its about rethinking work paradigms, emphasising outcomes over hours and fostering a culture of trust and autonomy, Mangaonkar says. Its time for companies to accept that full-time office work is a thing of the past for many employees. The future is hybrid  And businesses should focus on building systems and cultures that support this.

While bonuses or incentives seem appealing, they are not a long-term solution to encourage office returns. The key lies in understanding employees preferences and concerns. At Airbnb, instead of incentives for returning to the office, we focus on creating an office environment conducive to collaboration, social interaction and innovation  things that are harder to replicate in a remote setting. We view our offices more as collaboration hubs rather than mandatory daily workspaces. National Australia Bank and Westpac have policies requiring most employees to be in the office for a minimum of two to three days a week but do not currently tie remuneration to office attendance. A NAB spokesperson said employees could apply for flexible working arrangements in accordance with the national employment standards. In July, the Finance Sector Union filed a dispute in the Fair Work Commission against Commonwealth Bank, claiming the bank had failed to consult employees over their direction for employees to return to the office at least 50 per cent of the time each month. A CBA spokesperson said the bank gave office-based staff two months notice in May and, since July, the vast majority of its people now spent 50 per cent of their working month in the office. Our approach to hybrid working has always been about finding the right balance between our long-standing commitment to flexible working and ensuring we deliver the best outcomes for our customers, the spokesperson said. Research has shown that connection, innovation and the ability to build and strengthen relationships is absolutely fundamental to how we continue to work.

Google parent company Meta has asked employees to return to the office. Credit: Bloomberg CEO nostalgia for nine to five Despite a survey in October suggesting most chief executives predict a full return to the office in three years, Hopkins says thats highly unlikely to happen. If you look around the world at occupancy rates in commercial real estate, they really tell a story and theyre not heading north by any means, he says. I think CEOs might be a little bit far away from the coalface to know whats happening on an operational level. PwC Future of Work leader Caitlin Guilfoyle says there has been a stronger pull to get workers back into the office in sectors such as financial services.

I think there is some element of chief executives having nostalgia for what has worked previously, she says. We have a long history where people working Monday to Friday, nine to five, worked really well. Loading Guilfoyle says while employers are increasingly mandating a return to the office, hybrid work is definitely here to stay and that organisations should not make any sudden moves or mandates if they havent walked the process through with employees and leaders to work out what is right for them. Organisations should also be cautious about providing financial incentives for office attendance, Guildfoyle says, because it can create inequity within organisations. We know that more women, more parents and people with neurodiverse needs are more likely to have a high proportion of working from home, she says.

Hopkins also cautions against tying office attendance to remuneration, saying it can weaken productivity and workplace diversity. Where the problems lie is when people are being forced into the office simply to meet quotas from a mandate and they end up doing work there that they would do better at home, he says. If youre looking at having a diverse workforce, forcing people to come into the office who clearly dont want to is a dangerous policy and you will end up with a lot less diversity. Instead, businesses looking to see increased office attendance, social connection and collaboration could consider personal and professional development and mentorship, mental health and wellbeing initiatives and workplace access to amenities such as cafes, gyms and childcare, Guilfoyle says. While there are benefits to working from home, Hopkins says the office still has a role to play. A lot of individual, administrative and thinking work can actually work better at home or in locations where you can have a bit more space, time and flexibility, he says. But there are things that work well when were physically together, and if youre working from home for long periods of time, it can become isolating, so its important to take breaks and maybe take your laptop along to a cafe for the social interaction.
Nearly 20,000 Australians were diagnosed with skin cancer in 2022 and more than 1000 died from it. While Australias death rate from melanoma is dropping, cases are not falling as much, experts say. Melanoma of the skin incidence rates have been decreasing for people under 40 since the late 1990s, but continue to rise for over 50s, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data reveals that 7 per cent of patients delayed or did not see a GP in 2022-23 due to the cost, up from 3.5 per cent over the previous 12 months. Surveys show major barriers to early detection include inadequate take up of skin checks and cost-related reasons  including a lack of bulk-billing for skin checks  according to a State of the Nation in Melanoma report by Insight Economics in 2022. While most people go to their GP for a skin check, others might see a dermatologist or specialist skin cancer clinic, particularly if they have a history of skin cancer. Cancer screenings are free for some Australians at risk of other cancers, including breast and bowel cancer.

Health charity Skin Check Champions runs free pop-up clinics for communities in remote and regional Australia, and in high-risk communities where people spend a lot of time outdoors, such as at Bondi Beach. We started this service because a lot of people did not have access to a skin specialist or found it too expensive, said Scott Maggs, the organisations founder and chief executive. Skin Check Champions chief executive and founder Scott Maggs with his sun-spot mannequins. Credit: Ken Butti Maggs said many visitors to the clinic had previously been quoted $300 for a full-body skin check with a dermatologist and $140 for a check with a GP. This masthead is aware of one Melbourne GP clinic charging $275 for a full-body skin check. One Sydney skin cancer clinic is charging $395 for a comprehensive skin check using mole-mapping technology.

Maggs said some people were facing three-month waits for a check, which he said could be enough time for a skin cancer to become life-threatening. Loading Professor Charlotte Hespe, who runs a GP practice in Glebe in Sydneys inner-west, said the clinic conducted skin checks as part of a standard consultation at a cost of $90 for most of her patients, with a Medicare rebate of about $41. She said some patients with extensive sun damage required a longer consultation, which costs $140. Hespe said she would like to see more government incentives for GP clinics to perform annual skin checks.

We screen for cervical cancer and breast cancer, and we should be doing that for skin too, she said. Maggs founded Skin Check Champions in 2010 after he lost a 26-year-old friend to skin cancer. He said that while Australia has a world-class approach to treating and preventing skin cancer, there were huge gaps in early detection. The charity detects about one skin cancer in every 30 people it checks, he said. More than 70 per cent of its clients have never had a skin check before. Tamara Dawson, founder of the Melanoma and Skin Cancer Advocacy Network, said it was difficult for many regional and rural Australians to secure an appointment with a GP for a skin check because demand outstripped supply.

Its also tricky to get in to see a dermatologist, and it is expensive, said Dawson, who is a melanoma survivor. She said cost-of-living pressures and rising GP fees  the average out-of-pocket fee is now $40.10 in Victoria  meant that more people were skipping important checks. RACGP president Nicole Higgins. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Royal Australian College of General Practitioners president Dr Nicole Higgins said GP clinics broke even or made a loss when excising a suspected melanoma. The procedure also requires equipment, materials and nursing expertise. This is why the gap [of what it costs to cut out a potential skin cancer versus the Medicare funding that covers it] has been increasing, and thats being passed on to patients, she said.

GPs are also not allowed to charge for the cost of dressings or materials for patients if theyd bulk billed them. Higgins said skin checks were part of the bread and butter of a general practice, and GPs should be better remunerated for the time they spent with patients. Anne Gately at Coogee Beach. Credit: Flavio Brancaleone Anne Gately was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma in 2018 after seeing a string of doctors about what she believed was a gym injury. I had pain across the back of my shoulders, she recalled. The pain didnt go away and spread throughout my body, all through my bones, my ribs, spine and legs.

A scan revealed Gately was riddled with melanoma and doctors told her she had less than two years to live. Fortunately, she was able to access cutting-edge immunotherapy treatment that eradicated the cancer in three months. Loading While Gately, who lives in the beachside Sydney suburb of Coogee, can afford to see a dermatologist for regular full skin checks, shes concerned others are missing out. For a doctor to do a full skin check, it would take more than a standard appointment, which will cost more, she said. If there is a cost barrier, it is something people will put down their list.
Despite a strong tiara game, impeccable grooming and a wardrobe stuffed with stiff gowns, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, by way of Australia, trails Princess Catherine of Wales and numerous Dior-mad European royals in the fashion stakes.

This is one of many reasons Mary is crown-ready, following the surprise Christmas abdication announcement by Queen Margrethe, who has reigned for more than 51 years.

At each banquet, reception and ribbon-cutting Mary attends, the lasting impression is of royalty rather than the latest jacket from Chanel.

Marys fashion choices arent obvious and she is not a slave to high fashion, opting for well-made or sustainable styles that will stand the test of time, says Mattie Cronan, style director of the Australian Womens Weekly.
If laws were made in the first week of January, some suggestions could be: loss of drivers licences for stupid overtaking and jumping merge queues on highways; restrictions on visitors to previously charming coastal towns such as Berry, Milton and Brunswick Heads; a cap of one minute on boring firework displays, ordering operators to ignite every available cracker at once and put on a fun show; and mandatory redistribution of the acreage of textiles on beaches away from shelters and towards swimwear.

A law to make more of less? It would only require a redistribution of fabric. Credit: Alamy

But laws are not made in January, when politicians are on their holidays driving stupidly, jumping queues, visiting Berry, et cetera. Instead, laws are made throughout the year and often come into force on January 1, when we wake up to new rules that invite us to make some sense of this world we are creating.

As of January 1, 2024, disposable non-prescription vapes can no longer be imported. A big yay. If youve been to Britain and seen a vape shop on every block, you would know that these things are a cancer on society, as well as just a cancer. Children will be healthier as a result of the ban, and adults will be free to worry about other things.

A million people on Centrelink payments will get a rise of 6 per cent to keep up with inflation, so the welfare-dependent will not be getting poorer as quickly as they were. Seniors will be able to earn more through working before their wages cut into their pension payments; apprentices will get more direct financial support and loan assistance; and casual workers will get long-service leave entitlements more like those given to permanent employees. Aside from those parliamentarians who voted against them, its hard to think of many Australians who would not think our country is better off for these changes.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has blasted as an absurd conspiracy the notion that he and then Qantas boss Alan Joyce discussed a bid by Qatar Airways to gain a greater share of the Australian market.

Transport Minister Catherine King has said she decided to reject Qatars application on July 10, 2023  a decision the Coalition labelled a sweetheart deal protecting Qantas at the expense of consumers.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce. Credit: Louie Douvis

Release of Albaneses diaries this week confirmed he met with Joyce in November, 2022. Joyce also met with King on May 10, 2023, and with both Albanese and King on August 9, 2023.

Addressing the suggestion Joyce lobbied Albanese on the Qatar bid, Albanese responded indignantly.
To help in solving the problem, the loan facility will be providing a maximum of $300,000 to eligible builders with up to $60,000 per property provided in instalments. An independent property adviser will be overseeing the progress of projects and builders, who will be receiving taxpayer funds to have projects finished in a span of eight months.
I think that where AI can get really exciting is where it works hand in hand with the broker to provide a hybrid experience, allowing customers to make their own decisions on how they interact with technology, Stewart said.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will inquire into the supply of substandard medicines in three government hospitals run by the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi.

The inquiry was ordered by the Ministry of Home Affairs on Friday, following a recommendation by Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena in December last year. The Delhi LG had flagged a vigilance committee report into irregularities in the supply of certain medicines. Click here to follow our WhatsApp channel

According to the report, 43 samples of drugs were sent to government laboratories, of which three had failed the standards test. These samples were then also sent to private laboratories, where five out of the 43 samples failed the standards test.

Test reports for eleven medicinal samples are still pending with the government labs.

These 43 samples were taken for testing by the state vigilance department from three hospitals managed by the Delhi government, namely Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital, Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS), and Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital.

Addressing a press conference, Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said that while the term not of standard quality has been used many times in the vigilance report, it is nowhere mentioned that the drugs are fake, imitation, poisonous, or spurious.

The drugs that were found to be of substandard quality include Pantoprazole, which is used to treat gastroenteritis, anti-epilepsy drug Levetiracetam, hypertension medication Amlodipine, steroid Dexamethasone, and Cephalexin, an antibiotic, he added.

Questioning the basis of giving substandard rating, Bharadwaj said that while the reason for NSQ rating has been mentioned as failed dissolution tests, the salt in the drugs fell well within the specified range.

The minister also alleged bias, saying that these drugs have been procured by all state governments in India and that only Delhi hospitals are being singled out for having substandard drugs.

The vigilance department report also highlighted the need to investigate if the substandard medicines were distributed through the Mohalla Clinics. "It also needs to be investigated whether the same drugs which have been procured by the Central Procurement Agency (CPA) are also being distributed to the patients through the Mohalla Clinics or not," the communication stated.
An Indian Navy aircraft has been monitoring the hijacked ship MV Lila Norfolk, which was hijacked near Somalia's coast.

"The objective of the experiment was to assess Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel cell operation in space and to collect data to facilitate the design of systems for future missions," Isro said.

"It provided a wealth of data on the performance of various static and dynamic systems that formed part of the power system and the physics at play," the space agency said.

Indian economy is estimated to grow by 7.3 per cent in current fiscal against 7.2 per cent expansion in FY23, according to government estimates.INS Chennai has reached the harbour hijacked vessel MV Lila Norfolk off Somalia coast, news agency ANI reported today citing military officials. INS Chennai launched its helicopter and warned pirates to leave the hijacked vessel. The Liberia-flagged vessel is carrying 15 Indian crew members.The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today slammed the West Bengal government after an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team was attacked in West Bengals North 24 Parganas district when it tried to raid the house of block-level functionaries of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).In another development, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today nominated Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal as its candidate for the January 19 Rajya Sabha elections and renominated Sanjay Singh and ND Gupta for a second term in the Upper House of Parliament. As per media reports, Sushil Kumar Gupta, whose tenure will end this month as a member of the Rajya Sabha, has conveyed his aspiration to fully immerse himself in the electoral politics of Haryana where the AAP wants to fight elections later this year.The Indian Navy has deployed its maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) P8I and INS Chennai to assist hijacked vessel MV Lila Norfolk, it said today. The vessel is carrying 15 Indian crew members. Responding swiftly to the developing situation, Indian Navy launched an MPA and has diverted INS Chennai deployed for Maritime Security Operations to assist the vessel, the Navy said.Also, in another development, space agency Isro today said that it has successfully flight-tested a fuel cell to assess its operation in space. 180 W power was generated from Hydrogen and Oxygen gases stored onboard in high pressure vessels, during the short duration test onboard POEM.External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday visited Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu. Jaishankar arrived in Nepal on Thursday for his first visit of 2024. He stated that he looked forward to the engagements in the Himalayan country. Nepal's Foreign Secretary and other senior officials also welcomed him at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu.
The Supreme Court collegium headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud has recommended five names to the Centre for appointment as additional judges in four high courts.

The collegiums, also comprising justices Sanjiv Khanna and B R Gavai, also recommended the names of additional judges -- justices Rahul Bharti and Moksha Khajuria Kazmi, both from the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, for appointment as permanent judges.

One of the recommendations said additional judge Justice Abhay Ahuja be also considered for appointment as permanent judge in the Bombay High Court.

Several collegiums resolutions, uploaded Thursday night on apex court website, provided details of the deliberations leading to recommendations of names of judicial officers and advocates for judgeship in high courts.

The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the name of Smt. Chaitali Chatterjee (Das), Judicial Officer, for appointment as Judge of the High Court at Calcutta in the following terms..., one of the resolutions said.

It also forwarded the names of Arvind Kumar Verma, a judicial officer, for appointment as a judge of the High Court of Chhattisgarh.

Another resolution asked the Centre to consider appointing Rohit Kapoor, an advocate, as a judge of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana.

The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the names of (i) Ms Shamima Jahan, Advocate and (ii) Ms Yarenjungla Longkumer, Judicial Officer, for appointment as Judges of the Gauhati High Court..., it said.

While making the recommendations, the apex court collegiums made clear that the seniority of those, whose names were recommended prior to Kapoor for appointment as judges of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana, be not disturbed.

The Collegium further resolves to recommend that two advocates namely S/Shri (i) Harmeet Singh Grewal and (ii) Deepinder Singh Nalwa, whose names have been approved by this Collegium earlier in point of time i.e. on 17 October 2023, be given precedence in the matter of appointment over Shri Rohit Kapoor. The inter se seniority of all the three Advocates be fixed as per the existing practice, it said.

The collegiums took assistance of consultee apex court judges besides considering the inputs of respective governments and the professional competence of persons before recommending the names for judgeship.
SJVN Green Energy Ltd has signed a pact with Uttarakhand Power Corporation Ltd (UPCL) to supply 200 MW solar power from a 1,000 MW Bikaner project in Rajasthan.

State-owned SJVN, through its wholly-owned subsidiary SJVN Green Energy Ltd (SGEL) has signed a Power Usage Agreement (PUA) with UPCL.

The solar project is being developed by SJVN through SGEL in Rajasthan under CPSU (Central Public Sector Undertaking) scheme of IREDA (Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency), a statement said on Friday.

The development cost of the project, which is under construction, is Rs 5,491 crore. It is being developed under the domestic content requirement mode and is scheduled to be commissioned by April 2024.

The power generated from the project will be used by government entities, either directly or through discoms.

President Droupadi Murmu laid the foundation stone for the Bikaner solar power project in January 2023.

The project is expected to generate 2,455 million units in the first year and about 56,838 million units cumulatively over a period of 25 years, while reducing carbon emissions by 27,85,077 tonnes.
In a bid to reduce the price of its proposed most affordable car in India, Elon Musk-led Tesla is planning to bring in smaller fast-charging batteries and it has conveyed the same to the Centre, Mint reported on Friday.

These smaller batteries are already being used by the company in China and could be key for Tesla to reduce the cost of the car it has proposed to bring to India. Currently, the price of its most affordable car in India, Model 3, starts from around Rs 33 lakh. It is reportedly conceptualising a car which may be priced at around Rs 20 lakh.

Notably, batteries are the biggest chunk of the cost of an electric vehicle (EV).

The report added that Tesla is also exploring technologies that will reduce charging time, even with the fast charging currently available in India. In June last year, reports suggested that the company is engaging with Israeli startup StoreDot to examine "extreme" fast-charging battery technology.

However, experts in the Mint report suggested that smaller batteries require customers to get used to frequent charging. It also needs a wide public network of fast chargers and current infrastructure in India may be inadequate. The country currently has 9,300 public chargers, much lower than 138,000 in the USA.

Tesla has committed to invest up to $2 billion in India for setting up its factory. However, it has asked for a concessional duty of 15 per cent on imported cars for the first two years of the factory's operations. Currently, the duties are in the range of 70-100 per cent.

The Centre has been engaging with the company in discussions around its entry into India.
Ahead of Sunday's general elections in Bangladesh, the country's Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan asserted that Dhaka will never permit its territory to be used for any anti-India activity or terrorism, as long as the Awami League is in power.

The senior minister in the Sheikh Hasina government also expressed confidence that Chinese investments in his country should not be a cause for concern, emphasising that nothing can be compared to the enduring Indo-Bangladesh relations, that are set to strengthen further in the coming days.

In a telephonic interview with PTI from Dhaka, Khan stated that the Awami League government is for free and fair general elections on January 7, and claimed that the main opposition BNP has boycotted the polls "out of fear" of not securing a majority.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has boycotted the elections after the Awami League refused to cede power to a caretaker government to conduct the polls.

"The BNP and Jamaat, during their tenure, had given shelter to anti-India divisive forces in the northeastern states of India. After we came to power, we eradicated them. As long as we (Awami League) are in power, Bangladesh will never allow its territory to be used for any anti-India activity, terrorists, or divisive forces," he said.

Highlighting the close ties developed with India by the Awami League government, Khan claimed that the relations between the two neighbours have always suffered and minorities have faced atrocities whenever the BNP came to power.

When asked whether bilateral relations with India would be affected if the Awami League is not in power in Bangladesh, he asserted, "Of course, it will. In the past, we have seen that this has happened."



Discussing Indo-Bangla relations, Khan said, "India has been a friend in need for Bangladesh Our relationship with India is special, and the role it played during the Bangladesh Liberation War has always been lauded by us."



Regarding the "growing closeness" between Dhaka and Beijing, Khan said that the ties between India and Bangladesh cannot be compared with any other relationship.

He said, "Our foreign policy is friendship with all and malice to none. So, we have relationships with all countries. China has made investments in power plants, infrastructure, and has engaged in aggressive marketing on the economic front. But the relationship with India is different, and this won't have any impact on Indo-Bangla relations," he said.

When asked about attacks on Hindus, who are a minority in Bangladesh, the country's home minister said, "The government has taken stern and prompt action against the miscreants."



He continued, "We believe in secular ideals. We don't believe in majority or minority. Whenever there has been any atrocity, we have taken stern action against the culprits. The Hindus constitute nearly 10 per cent of the population."



Claiming that the ratio of crime against the Hindus is much less when compared to the overall crime, he said Unfortunately, those incidents (crimes against Hindus) get highlighted."



Speaking on general elections in Bangladesh, Khan stated that the country will have free and fair elections.

"All arrangements have been made to ensure that people can vote freely. The BNP is apprehensive that it will never get a majority in the polls. The party has been losing public support with each passing day," he said.

The Awami League has been in power in Bangladesh since 2008, and the polls are scheduled for January 7.
President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus signed a new law on Thursday that gives him lifelong immunity from criminal prosecution and prevents opposition leaders living abroad from running in future presidential elections.

The law theoretically applies to any former president and members of his or her family. In reality, it only is relevant to the 69-year-old Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus with an iron fist for almost 30 years.

The new measure appears aimed at further shoring up Lukashenko's power and eliminating potential challengers in the country's next presidential election, which is due to take place in 2025.

The law significantly tightens requirements for presidential candidates and makes it impossible to elect opposition leaders who fled to neighboring countries in recent years. Only citizens of Belarus who have permanently resided in the country for at least 20 years and have never had a residence permit in another country are eligible to run.

Belarus was rocked by mass protests during Lukashenko's controversial re-election in August 2020 for a sixth term, which the opposition and the West condemned as fraudulent. At that time, Belarusian authorities detained more than 35,000 people, many of whom were tortured in custody or left the country.

Lukashenko also has been accused of involvement in the illegal transfer of children from Russian-occupied towns in Ukraine to Belarus.

According to the text of the new law, Lukashenko, were he to leave power, cannot be held accountable for actions committed in connection with exercising his presidential powers.

The law also says the president and members of his family will be provided with lifelong state protection, medical care, life and health insurance. After resigning, the president would also become a permanent lifelong member of the upper house of parliament.

Opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who fled to neighbouring Lithuania in 2020, said the new law is Lukashenko's response to his fear of an inevitable future, suggesting Lukashenko must be concerned about what happens to him when he leaves power.

Lukashenko, who ruined the fates of thousands of Belarusians, will be punished according to international law, and no immunity will protect him against this, it's only a matter of time, Tikhanovskaya said.

The country's political opposition is seeking an investigation into the disappearances of opposition politicians and the removal of Ukrainian children from Ukraine.

We will ensure that the dictator is brought to justice, Tikhanovskaya said, emphasizing that there are still about 1,500 political prisoners behind bars in Belarus, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski.
Sudanese paramilitary leader Gen Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo said Thursday he was committed to a cease-fire to end the devastating war that has wrecked his country, even as fighting continues and there has been no progress on proposed peace talks between Dagalo and Sudan military chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan.

Dagalo, leader of the Rapid Support Forces, said in a statement following a meeting in Pretoria with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa that he had briefed Ramaphosa on the considerable efforts taken to end this war.

I emphasized our unwavering commitment to cease hostilities, Dagalo said, although he didn't say if or when he would meet with Burhan. The warring generals agreed last month to a face-to-face meeting and to start talks over a possible cease-fire, according to the East African regional bloc IGAD.

No date or location for the talks have been announced.

During Thursday's meeting with Dagalo, Ramaphosa said he hoped there would be an "imminent face-to-face dialogue" between Dagalo and Burhan and called for an immediate cease-fire, Ramaphosa's spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, said.

Dagalo is on a tour of African countries. He met with Kenyan President William Ruto on Wednesday following visits to Uganda, Ethiopia and Djibouti.

Tensions between former allies Dagalo and Burhan erupted in all-out war in mid-April in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, and elsewhere across the country. The fighting has killed more than 12,000 people, according to the United Nations, while doctors and activists say the real death toll is higher. More than 7 million people have been forced to leave their homes.

Despite talk of a cease-fire, the conflict has intensified. Last month, U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said more than 500,000 people were forced to flee their homes in Jazeera province that had become a safe haven for civilians after the RSF attacked and took its capital, Wad Medani.

The RSF takeover prompted fears among Wad Medani residents that they would carry out atrocities in their city as they are accused of doing in Khartoum, and the Darfur region in western Sudan.

The U.S. State Department has said that both the RSF and the Sudanese military have committed war crimes or crimes against humanity during the nine-month conflict.

Griffiths, the U.N. undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs, said in a statement Thursday that "the same horrific abuses that have defined this war in other hotspots - Khartoum, Darfur and Kordofan - are now being reported in Wad Medani.

Given Wad Medani's significance as a hub for relief operations, the fighting there - and looting of humanitarian warehouses and supplies - is a body blow to our efforts to deliver food, water, health care and other critical aid, he said.

Griffiths said nearly 25 million people across Sudan will need humanitarian assistance in 2024 but the bleak reality is that intensifying hostilities are putting most of them beyond our reach.

Deliveries from Chad to Darfur continue, but efforts to get aid elsewhere are increasingly under threat, he said, and deliveries across conflict lines have ground to a halt.

Griffiths said the international community, especially those with influence on the parties, must take decisive and immediate action to stop the fighting.
Junks petitioners reliance placed on OCCRP report to suggest that Indias market regulator was lackadaisical in its probe

Directs Indias capital market regulator to probe whether short positions by certain entities violated Indian law



Indias Supreme Court on Wednesday disposed-off the public interest litigations (PILs) filed last year after a short seller published a report making malicious and baseless claims against the Adani Group. The conglomerate had dismissed the report as being a malicious combination of selective misinformation and stale, baseless and discredited allegations.

Commenting on this, Mr. Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group, said, Truth has prevailed. I am grateful to those who stood by us. Our humble contribution to India's growth story will continue.

The Supreme Court directed the countrys market regulator and investigative agencies to probe into whether the loss suffered by Indian investors due to the conduct of Hindenburg Research and any other entities in taking short positions before the reports publication involved a violation of the law.

The judgment also addressed the petitioners use of a report published by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) that made certain claims based on closed cases. The Apex Court observed that reliance placed by the petitioners on newspaper reports and third-party organisations like the OCCRP to question the investigation by Indias capital markets regulator is misconceived and does not inspire confidence.

The Adani Group has continued its growth trajectory despite the developments during the last year. In December, the Group announced that it will invest USD 100 billion in green energy transition over the next ten years. Five of its portfolio companies have set a target to become net zero by 2050. The Adani portfolio of companies have demonstrated robust financial performance while further enhancing credit profile in the first half of fiscal year 2024. During the period, the portfolio level EBITDA stood at Rs 43,688 crore (USD 5.3 billion), up 47% YoY. This growth outpaced the portfolio's historical five-year Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) trajectory of 26.3%.

The Adani Group also received important endorsement from the US government as it received $553 million financing for a port terminal in Sri Lanka. The financing from International Development Finance Corp. (DFC) for the deep-water West Container Terminal in Colombo is the US government agencys largest infrastructure investment in Asia, and among its biggest globally. It will bolster Sri Lankas economic growth and its regional economic integration, including with India, a key partner to both countries, the DFC had said in a statement.

About The Adani Portfolio of Companies

Headquartered in Ahmedabad, the Adani Portfolio is the largest and fastest-growing portfolio of diversified businesses in India with interests in Logistics (seaports, airports, logistics, shipping and rail), Resources, Power Generation and Distribution, Renewable Energy, Gas and Infrastructure, Agro (commodities, edible oil, food products, cold storage and grain silos), Real Estate, Public Transport Infrastructure, Consumer Finance and Defence, and other sectors. Adani owes its success and leadership position to its core philosophy of 'Nation Building' and 'Growth with Goodness'  a guiding principle for sustainable growth. The Group is committed to protecting the environment and improving communities through its CSR programmes based on the principles of sustainability, diversity and shared values. Further information at www.adani.com.

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First-in-class ompenaclid (RGX-202) currently in Phase II development for RAS-mutated advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer

Collaboration includes exclusive license outside the US with option to co-develop and co-promote ompenaclid in the US, as well as global co-development and co-commercialization rights for follow-on compounds

Strategic agreement builds on the heritage of ERBITUX (cetuximab) and complements the companys expertise and ongoing development programs in colorectal cancer

Merck, a leading science and technology company, today announced a licensing agreement with Inspirna, Inc. (New York, NY) for ompenaclid (RGX-202), a first-in-class oral inhibitor of the creatine transport channel SLC6A8, and SLC6A8-targeting follow-on compounds. Ompenaclid is currently being evaluated in a Phase II study for the second-line treatment of RAS-mutated (RASmut) advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

Over the past decade, the treatment paradigm for patients with RAS-mutated CRC, accounting for approximately 45% of the second-line population, has not seen major innovation, said Victoria Zazulina, MD, Head, Development Unit, Oncology for the Healthcare business sector of Merck. With our expertise in the treatment of CRC, and based on the encouraging early data for ompenaclid, this agreement with Inspirna offers the opportunity to advance a potential new first-in-class therapy that may improve outcomes for patients.

Ompenaclid is a first-in-class oral inhibitor of the creatine transport channel SLC6A8. Data from the Phase Ib/II study of ompenaclid in combination with FOLFIRI and bevacizumab showed encouraging efficacy and safety for second-line treatment of RASmut mCRC. Results presented at the 2023 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress showed that, as of the September 18, 2023 data cutoff, median progression-free survival was 10.2 months and median overall survival was 19.1 months across all 41 patients with RASmut mCRC. Of the 30 patients evaluable for response, the objective response rate was 37%, with 11 partial responses. Ompenaclid was well-tolerated, with no dose-limiting toxicities observed in the dose-escalation cohort and combination safety profile comparable to FOLFIRI plus bevacizumab backbone treatment. Inspirna has initiated a Phase II double-blind randomized controlled trial in second-line RAS-mutant advanced or metastatic CRC comparing ompenaclid versus placebo plus FOLFIRI and bevacizumab.

The collaboration with Inspirna builds on Mercks long-standing commitment to the colorectal cancer community. 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of the introduction of ERBITUX, for which the company has marketing rights outside the U.S. and Canada, as a backbone treatment in mCRC; today, multiple active clinical trials continue to evaluate ERBITUX in this disease. The company is also developing M9140, a CEACAM5-targeting antibody-drug conjugate with an exatecan payload currently being evaluated in an ongoing Phase Ia/b study in patients with mCRC.

We are excited to partner with Merck, a leader in the oncology field with global drug development and commercial expertise in colorectal cancer specifically, to help bring our novel therapies to more patients in need, said Dr. Usman Oz Azam, MD, Chief Executive Officer of Inspirna. The data to date validates our belief in ompenaclid as a potential first-in-class therapy for advanced colorectal cancer and underscores the power of our proprietary target discovery platform RNA-DRIVEr. We look forward to working closely with Merck as we continue to evaluate ompenaclid in the ongoing Phase II randomized controlled trial.

Under the terms of the license agreement, Merck will receive an exclusive license to ompenaclid outside of the United States and an option to co-develop and co-promote ompenaclid in the US. Furthermore, the parties agreed to collaborate on Inspirnas SLC6A8 follow-on compounds for which Inspirna will retain US co-development and co-commercialization rights. Inspirna will receive an upfront payment of $45 million. Upon the achievement of certain development and sales milestones for ompenaclid, Inspirna is eligible to receive milestone payments with tiered royalty rates in the low teens on net sales outside of the US. Inspirna is eligible to also receive development, regulatory and sales milestone payments for each follow-on compound targeting SLC6A8 along with up to double-digit royalties on net sales outside of the US.

About ERBITUX (cetuximab)

ERBITUX is an IgG1 monoclonal antibody targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). As a monoclonal antibody, the mode of action of ERBITUX is distinct from standard non-selective chemotherapy treatments in that it specifically targets and binds to the EGFR. This binding inhibits the activation of the receptor and the subsequent signal-transduction pathway, which results in reducing both the invasion of normal tissues by tumor cells and the spread of tumors to new sites. It is also believed to inhibit the ability of tumor cells to repair the damage caused by chemotherapy and radiotherapy and to inhibit the formation of new blood vessels inside tumors, which appears to lead to an overall suppression of tumor growth. Based on in vitro evidence, ERBITUX also targets cytotoxic immune effector cells towards EGFR-expressing tumor cells (antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity [ADCC]).

ERBITUX has already obtained market authorization in over 100 countries worldwide for the treatment of RAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer and for the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Merck licensed the right to market ERBITUX, a registered trademark of ImClone LLC, outside the U.S. and Canada from ImClone LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Company, in 1998.

All Merck press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck website. Please go to www.merckgroup.com/subscribe to register online, change your selection or discontinue this service.

About Merck

Merck, a leading science and technology company, operates across life science, healthcare and electronics. More than 64,000 employees work to make a positive difference to millions of peoples lives every day by creating more joyful and sustainable ways to live. From providing products and services that accelerate drug development and manufacturing as well as discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices  the company is everywhere. In 2022, Merck generated sales of  22.2 billion in 66 countries.

Scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to Mercks technological and scientific advances. This is how Merck has thrived since its founding in 1668. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed company. Merck holds the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the business sectors of Merck operate as MilliporeSigma in life science, EMD Serono in healthcare, and EMD Electronics in electronics.

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Sourcefit, a leading international business processing outsourcing (BPO) provider with operations centers in the Philippines, South Africa, Dominican Republic and Armenia, has successfully closed a significant strategic investment, attracting investments from prominent players 9 Basil, NextGen Ventures, and Rocket Equities. This financial milestone marks a pivotal moment in Sourcefit's growth trajectory.

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The strategic investment round demonstrates a decisive vote of confidence in Sourcefit's business model and potential. Rocket Equities, acting as the financial advisor and investor, helped structure the deal for all parties.

Andy Schachtel, CEO of Sourcefit, expressed gratitude for the support, stating, Sourcefit is entering an exciting phase of our growth and we plan to use the recent funding round to expand our award-winning BPO and staffing services globally. With a dynamic team of over 1,700 employees, we will continue to deliver comprehensive solutions to a diverse set of clients across a range of industries, helping them to lower costs and significantly improve results.

In addition to these expansion plans, Sourcefit will continue development of its AI-infused team engagement and digitalization platform. This platform forms the technological backbone of Sourcefit's operations, facilitating seamless collaboration and productivity among remote teams and providing a framework for the complete digital transformation of both the companys operations and those of clients. This equity financing round underscores the companys ambition to redefine the boundaries of BPO solutions and set new standards in the industry.

Kris Panijpan, Managing Partner of 9 Basil Group, an independent private investment group with a Southeast Asian mandate, added, We aim to leverage our network, expertise in various sectors, and extensive experience in capital markets to identify exceptional growth opportunities for Sourcefit.

Jimmy Quach, CEO of NextGen Ventures, noted: Sourcefit is a customer-centric BPO that delivers exceptional value to clients through cutting edge technology enablement; including its AI and digitalization platform and its awarding-winning best-place-to-work culture for high employee engagement and productivity. We look forward to working with Andy to better serve Sourcefits customers by assisting with Sourcefit's expansion goals and advising on the technology roadmap.

As Sourcefit embarks on this exciting phase of growth, the investment round and strategic partnerships underscores the resilience and potential of the company.

About Sourcefit

Sourcefit is a leading international business processing outsourcing (BPO) provider with operations centers in the Philippines, South Africa, Dominican Republic and Armenia. Focused on providing custom offshore and nearshore staffing solutions, the company currently supports a wide range of processes for over 200 clients in various industries, including IT, Finance, Healthcare, Retail, E-Commerce, Legal, Real Estate, Telecom, and Advertising. The company has a track record of over 14 years and employs over 1,700 dynamic, hard-working professionals.

About 9 Basil Group

9 Basil Group is a Southeast Asia-focused independent private investment group. Recognized as a preferred local partner and value-enhancing investor, we strategically partnered with several well-established families and institutions across the SEA region. Our distinguished reputation is founded on the ability to deliver immediate, concrete value as a trustworthy and discreet partner. The team has diverse backgrounds, leveraging accumulated expertise across various sectors, extensive experience in capital markets, and a profound understanding of the local market network.

About Nextgen Ventures

Nextgen Ventures is a family office based in Singapore with investment in companies across the Asia-Pacific Region. Our entrepreneurial roots and track record allows us to partner with founders and their management team to scale up businesses at the intersection of brands, service, and technology, while creating and delivering outstanding returns to our stakeholders and partners. We leverage our human and financial capital to help companies build sustainable businesses and achieve their full potential.

About Rocket Equities

Rocket Equities is a Southeast Asia-focused financial advisory firm. We work with market leaders to raise capital via debt & equity markets, enable market expansion through M&A, and create a lucrative exit for founders by leveraging our network of 300+ professional investors composed of Venture Capital, Private Equity, Corporates, and Sovereign Wealth Funds in APAC.

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Achieving a dream home in Ireland is a journey that blends aspiration with meticulous planning. Across the verdant landscapes, from the rugged Atlantic coastline to the rolling hills of the countryside, the opportunity to construct a personalised sanctuary is an aspiration for many. With the right approach, this vision is entirely attainable. It starts with comprehensive research, an understanding of the local planning laws, and a clear outline of one's budget. By balancing desires with pragmatic considerations, one lays the groundwork for a successful home-building project.

The quest for constructing a dream home in Ireland also involves being well-informed about the building methods and materials suitable for the Irish climate and geography. Embracing sustainable practices and energy-efficient designs not only aligns with Ireland's environmental guidelines but also ensures that the dream home is both comfortable and cost-effective for the long term. With a methodical and informed approach, the dream of a custom-built home in Ireland is within reach.

Planning Your Dream Home

When setting out to create your dream home in Ireland, crucial steps include the creation of a unique house design, securing planning permission, and managing a precise budget. These core elements lay the groundwork for turning your vision into reality.

Designing Your Home

One first envisions their home and then engages with a professional designer or an architect to refine this vision. The expertise of an architect is invaluable in designing a home that is not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional and compliant with local regulations. They work closely with the homeowner, interpreting their desires and needs into a tangible plan that balances creativity with practicality.

Obtaining Planning Permission

Acquiring planning permission is a mandatory step in Ireland for anyone who wishes to construct a new building or make significant changes to existing structures. The process involves submitting detailed house design plans to local authorities for approval. This ensures that the construction complies with zoning laws, building codes, and that it meshes well with the community's development plan. It's imperative to factor in the time and potential adjustments required for this phase, as it can greatly affect the project's timeline.

Budgeting Effectively

A well-structured budget is the foundation of any successful home building project. It should account for all foreseeable expenses including:

 Architect fees

 Planning permission fees

 Construction costs

 Interior finishing

 Contingency funds

It's recommended to consult with professionals to receive accurate cost estimations for the completion of your home and to monitor expenses closely throughout the project. Budgeting effectively ensures that resources are allocated wisely, potentially saving one from overspending or having to cut corners later in the process.

Assembling Your Building Team

When embarking on the journey to build or renovate a home in Ireland, one's success hinges on assembling a skilled and cohesive building team. This team must have the ability to work collaboratively, ensuring all components of the home construction are expertly managed from start to finish.

Choosing the Right Builder

The builder is paramount to the construction process, transforming plans into reality. It is imperative to choose a builder with a strong reputation and the necessary experience in the type of home project one is undertaking. They should demonstrate clear communication, a professional manner, and a portfolio of past projects. For a quality guaranteed experience, one may consider a builder recognised for meeting the ISO 9001:2015 standard.

 Credentials: Check for proper licensing and insurance.

 Past Work: Request and review their portfolio.

 References: Speak to past clients about their experiences.

 Quotes: Obtain detailed and transparent quotations for comparison.

 Contract: Ensure a comprehensive contract is in place before work commences.

Hiring Architects and Designers

An architect or designer brings vision and expertise to the project, tailoring the design to one's specific needs and desires. It is essential to seek out a RIAI Registered Architect who can guide the process with professional insight and creativity. The chosen professional should be adept at navigating planning permissions and delivering a design that aligns with the home owner's objectives.

 Qualifications: Verify their registration with architectural bodies.

 Compatibility: Their design style should resonate with the home owner's vision.

 Portfolio: Evaluate their previous designs.

 Communication: They must be able to articulate and interpret ideas effectively.

Roles of Engineers and Contractors

Engineers and contractors are critical for the structural integrity and execution of the design. Their roles involve detailed oversight of the build's technical aspects, ensuring it meets all safety standards and building codes. The right contractor will efficiently manage the construction, overseeing subcontractors and maintaining the project timeline. Engineers should be employed to advise on structural soundness and the integration of home systems.

 Specialisations: Choose based on the structural and mechanical needs of the build.

 Track Record: They must have an impeccable record of safety and compliance.

 Coordination: They should demonstrate the ability to collaborate with architects and builders.

 Budgeting: Expect detailed cost assessments and adherence to financial plans.

By carefully selecting each professional based on these criteria, one paves the way for a well-managed project and the realisation of their dream home.

Construction Fundamentals

In constructing a dream home in Ireland, one must carefully consider the materials, methods, and systems integration for the build. This focus ensures the longevity, efficiency, and comfort of the home.

Selecting Building Materials

Materials form the cornerstone of any construction project. In Ireland, builders often prefer materials that are not only durable and robust but also suitable for the local climate. Popular choices include concrete for its longevity and insulation properties, and locally-sourced stone or brick for weather-resilience and aesthetic appeal. Timber is chosen for its sustainability and warmth but requires treatment against moisture. Importantly, the choice of materials will influence not just the look but also the thermal performance of the house.

Understanding Construction Methods

The building methods utilised must adhere to current Irish Building Regulations which prioritise safety and energy efficiency. Traditional construction often involves masonry walls and concrete foundations. However, there's an increasing use of modern methods such as timber framing or modular construction which can expedite the building process. The method selected can have a significant impact on cost, timeframes, and the environmental footprint of the build.

Integrating Systems for Comfort

Integrating electrical and water systems early on is essential to avoid future complications. A well-planned electrical system should provide sufficient and conveniently located outlets, incorporate renewable energy solutions like solar panels, and allow for future upgrades or expansions. Water systems need to be robust, with considerations for insulation to prevent freezing and efficient heating systems for supply. Proper integration of these systems is critical not only for comfort but also for ensuring the house functions seamlessly as a cohesive unit.

Ensuring Quality and Compliance

Achieving your dream home in Ireland requires careful attention to detail and adherence to national standards. This section outlines the necessary steps to ensure your home meets quality and compliance benchmarks.

Navigating Building Regulations

In Ireland, building regulations are designed to provide for the safety, health, accessibility, and sustainability of constructed environments. Homeowners must ensure that construction or renovations comply with the Building Control Regulations, which mandate standards across structural integrity, fire safety, and energy performance. Engaging with a qualified architect or surveyor is crucial to successfully navigate building regulations.

Implementing Quality Control

Quality control is integral to the construction process, safeguarding against defects and ensuring the longevity of the property. Developers and builders should implement a rigorous quality control plan that aligns with the Quality Housing for Sustainable Communities guidelines, encompassing site layouts, materials, and construction methods. Regular inspections by qualified professionals throughout construction are essential to maintain the highest standards.

Securing Adequate Insurance

Insurance plays a vital role in safeguarding your investment during and after the construction of your home. Builders should obtain construction insurance to protect against any onsite accidents or damage. Once the home is completed, homeowners are advised to secure home insurance that covers structural and contents insurance, based on a proper valuation of the property, ensuring peace of mind against future uncertainties. Consulting with a trusted insurance provider will help in obtaining the appropriate coverage for your needs.

Interior and Exterior Design

Designing the interior and exterior of your dream home in Ireland involves a harmonious blend of aesthetics and functionality, along with careful consideration of the natural landscape and architecture. Expert knowledge from designers is crucial in bringing this vision to life.

Aesthetical and Functional Interiors

Interiors should marry form with function, creating spaces that are both beautiful and practical. For the kitchen, often considered the heart of the home, a contemporary kitchen design can offer a refined use of materials and modern aesthetics. In living spaces, walls and windows play a key role; walls define the character through colour and texture, while windows shape the lighting and atmosphere of rooms. High-quality materials and finishes are recommended for longevity and visual appeal.

External Appearance and Landscaping

The home's exterior should reflect individual style and blend seamlessly with its surroundings. Landscaping is not just about planting; it's about creating a cohesive outdoor space that complements the architectural style of the home. Thoughtful placement of shrubbery and trees can enhance the property's privacy and aesthetic value. Additionally, the choice of external materials for walls, whether brick, stone, or render, will influence the home's energy efficiency and maintenance needs.

Advanced Home Features

When envisioning a modern dream home in Ireland, homeowners consider advanced features that enhance energy efficiency, incorporate smart technology, and prioritise sustainability.

Incorporating Energy Efficiency

Homes with excellent energy efficiency reduce utility costs and support a sustainable environment. A critical aspect of achieving this is through effective insulation which minimises heat loss. Homeowners are advised to undertake a home energy assessment to pinpoint areas for thermal optimisation.

Leveraging Modern Technology

Modern technology in home design goes beyond basic amenities. It encompasses advanced systems for managing the property's functionality with ease. From high-tech security systems to intuitive heating and cooling controls, technology ensures that comfort and convenience are at the forefront of home living.

Smart Systems and Renewable Energy

Smart homes integrate systems that learn from your habits and adapt to your lifestyle, promoting an energy-efficient and customised living experience. Renewable energy solutions, such as solar panels, work in tandem with smart systems to maximise energy production and savings. These technologies are not just about innovation; they significantly contribute to a home's sustainability credentials.

Project Management and Final Touches

When bringing a dream home in Ireland to life, effective project management bridges the gap between vision and reality, while final touches add personal flair. Guided by a meticulous project manager, each phase transitions smoothly into the next, ensuring that both renovation projects and extensions are executed with precision and are reflective of the homeowner's feedback and relationship with the crafting space.

Coordinating Project Phases

A project manager plays a pivotal role in orchestrating the sequence of construction activities. They ensure that timelines are adhered to and that resources are allocated efficiently. Communication is the bedrock of their duties, providing consistent updates and gathering feedback to refine the process. This continuous engagement builds a robust relationship between the homeowner and the construction team, fostering an environment where final touches truly capture the homeowner's tastes and desires.

 Initial Planning: Align project scope and set expectations.

 Phase Scheduling: Sequence tasks and manage timelines.

 Resource Coordination: Organise materials and labour.

 Constant Communication: Keep lines open for feedback and adjustments.

Handling Renovations and Extensions

Renovating an existing structure or adding an extension requires a distinct approach. A renovation project may involve intricate care, particularly when preserving the essence of a property. Extensions, while they offer more creative freedom, must seamlessly integrate with the existing architecture and intent of the home.

 Renovation Focus:

Preservation of character

Structural integrity

Aesthetics and functionality

 Extension Care:

Complementing design

Spatial harmony

Planning permission adherence

The final stage entails a keen eye for detail, ensuring that finishes are polished and that any feedback is translated into the home's final presentation. It's this level of tailored attention that distinguishes a house from a dream home.

Moving Into Your Dream Home

Moving into a dream home in Ireland, after all the planning and building, is an exciting yet daunting process. They must approach the move with an open mind and be prepared to tackle the tasks ahead. A checklist is crucial for keeping the move into their dream home organised and stress-free.

Before the Move:

Sort and declutter personal belongings to ensure only necessary items are moved to the new home.

Arrange a reputable house clearance service for a smooth transition of belongings from the old place to the new.

Request feedback from friends or family who recently moved to learn from their experiences.

On Moving Day:

Keep essential items like documents, chargers, and food in a clearly marked essentials box.

Confirm arrangements with the removal service to ensure timing and logistics are understood by all parties.

Upon Arrival:

Conduct an initial inspection of the property to identify any immediate concerns.

Begin unpacking by setting up critical areas such as bedrooms and the kitchen to quickly establish a sense of normalcy.

After the Move:

It is important to maintain an open mind and expect some teething problems as they settle into their new environment.

They should be open to making adjustments and improvements to the home as they start living in it and discovering its quirks.

Transiting into a dream home is an exciting milestone. By staying pragmatic and methodical, they can make the process as smooth as possible, transforming a house into a treasured home.
You could say that a lot is riding on the Lexus LBX. Not only is it Lexus first three-letter named model after the LFA supercar, but becaus...
Pakistan sees drop in 1HFY23-24 dispatches

ICR Newsroom By 05 January 2024

Pakistan's cement dispatches increased by 4.6 per cent in December 2023 to 4.06Mt against 3.881Mt dispatched in December 2022. Out of this total, according to the data released by All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA), local cement dispatches were 3.536Mt compared to 3.676Mt in December 2022, showing a decline of 3.8 per cent. However, more positive news came from the overseas markets as export dispatches increased by a considerable 155.9 per cent as the volumes jumped from 205,061t in December 2022 to 524,656t in December 2023.



A spokesman of APCMA expressed serious concerns over the negative growth in domestic dispatches over the last four months. The association hopes the government will speed up its Public Sector Development Programme projects to increase cement demand and address operational problems. Two major issues currently being faced by the cement industry are related to the new axle load regime and the track and trace system. APCMA said it has contacted the concerned functionaries and expects a positive response.



North-south dispatches

In December 2023 cement mills based in the north of the country dispatched 3.012Mt cement against 3.01Mt dispatches in December 2022, showing almost flat growth. On the contrary, south-based mills dispatched 1.048Mt cement during December 2023, which was 20.5 per cent higher than the dispatches of 0.87Mt during December 2022.



North-based cement mills dispatched 2.936Mt cement in domestic markets in December 2023, showing a decline of 0.7 per cent against 2.956Mt dispatches in December 2022. South-based mills dispatched 600,073t of cement in local markets during December 2023, which was 16.6 per cent less compared to the dispatches of 719,721t during December 2022.



Exports from north-based mills increased by 39.6 per cent as the quantities increased from 54,427t in December 2022 to 75,967t in December 2023. Exports from the south also increased by 197.9 per cent to 448,689t in December 2023 from 150,634t during the same month last year.



Cumulative dispatches in 1HFY23-24

During the 1HFY23-24 (July-December 2023), total cement dispatches (domestic and exports) were 23.876Mt, which is 9.7 per cent higher than the 21.764Mt dispatched during the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year. Domestic dispatches during this period were 20.223Mt against 20.030Mt the previous year, showing an increase of one per cent. Export dispatches were substantially higher by 110.66 per cent as the volumes increased to 3.653Mt during the 1HFY23-24 compared to 1.734Mt exports in the 1HFY22-23.



North-based mills dispatched 16.772Mt cement to the domestic market during the 1HFY23-24, showing an increase of 1.5 per cent to cement dispatches of 16.522Mt from July to December 2022. Exports from the north increased by 33.4 per cent to 771,173t during July to December 2023 compared with 578,074t exported during the same period in the previous year. Total dispatches by north-based mills increased by 2.6 per cent to 17.543Mt in the 1HFY23-24 from 17.1Mt in the previous financial year.



Domestic dispatches by south-based mills from July to December 2023 were 3.451Mt, showing a reduction of 1.6 per cent over 3.508Mt cement dispatched during the last fiscal year. However, exports from the south substantially increased by 149.3 per cent to 2.882Mt from July to December 2023 compared with 1.156Mt exported during the same period last year. Total dispatches by southern mills increased by 35.8 per cent to 6.333Mt during the first six months of the current financial year from 4.664Mt in the previous financial year.

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CRH completes lime divestment

05 January 2024

On 22 November 2023, CRH plc announced that it had reached an agreement to divest its lime operations in Europe for a total consideration of around US$1.1bn. This company is pleased to announce that the first phase of the transaction, comprising the groups lime operations in Germany, Czech Republic and Ireland, is now complete.





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A fledgling program for University of Tennessee at Chattanooga students in recovery or treatment for substance misuse has received full accreditation.The Mocs Recovery Program, a collaboration between the Center for Wellbeing and the Counselor Education Program, has been fully accredited through the Association of Recovery in Higher Educations Standardized Review for Collegiate Recovery Advancement. As a result of the ARHE review, the Mocs Recovery Program received the designation of a fully reviewed program with an overall score of 92 percent.Universities seeking fully reviewed program status need a minimal score of 80 percent.This is a true testament to the hard work that folks in this campus have put into this program from the very beginning, Center for Wellbeing Director Megan McKnight said.Folks who have not had recovery or even substance misuse education as a part of their job description have cared enough about this work to do it and do it well, and it was exciting to receive such a high score in a review process that also included campuses that were much larger than ours.UTC is one of the first 10 campuses in the country to go through the accreditation process and the youngest, having launched its collegiate recovery program in early 2022.A lot of large state schools were part of this pilot, Ms. McKnight said, and we were the smallest and the youngest. We came out of that and showed that we had all the necessary requirements for our program to stand up and be seen as a valuable and supportive environment for our students.The mission of the Mocs Recovery Program is to provide students in recovery with the support they need to grow personally and academically.In its external review and findings summary, the ARHE said the UTC program exhibited a well-defined organizational structure aligned with the broader institutional mission and boasted a robust staffing structure committed to recovery principles.Notably, the strategic plan is well-articulated, but opportunities for regular reviews and updates are highlighted to ensure ongoing responsiveness to the evolving needs of the collegiate recovery community, the ARHE report stated. The programs engagement with stakeholders, both on- and off-campus, is commendable, but theres room for further expansion and diversification.In terms of recovery promotion, the program excels in fostering a robust recovery culture, yet there are opportunities for greater visibility of student achievements and the introduction of formalized recognition programs. Commitment to equity and social justice is evident, with recommendations for creative approaches within state law constraints.
E.J. Pelton, Co., a presence in the business community of Chattanooga for over 48 years, announces a merger with Friday Walker & Associates, CPA.

The combined entity will operate under the E.J. Pelton, Co. banner, leveraging the strengths and expertise of both organizations, said officials.

The new office will be at 103 Jordan Dr. #4, Chattanooga, TN 37421, near Lee Highway and Shallowford Road.

Founded in 1976, E.J. Pelton, Co. has been providing comprehensive financial solutions to individuals and businesses in the Chattanooga area. The merger with Friday Walker & Associates, CPA, renowned for its dedication to professional integrity and client satisfaction, represents a strategic move to broaden the range of services offered, said officials.

Two new partners, Olga Lebed and Jacob Mashburn, join the leadership team at E.J. Pelton, Co. They also welcome Larry Stophel, CPA, to the tax and accounting team.
Sheriff Austin Garrett announced that the HCSO School Resource Deputy Unit (SRD) is now fully staffed.

The Sheriff's Office recently hired nine new personnel, three of which have been assigned to the HCSO School Resource Deputy Unit. These three individuals, along with other SRDs previously hired since August of 2023, will fill the remaining vacant HCDE middle and high schools within our agencys coverage agreement as well as the remaining unfilled Charter School assignments once their training is completed. These new SRDs will now undergo several weeks of specialized training, field training, and mentorship before being assigned to their respective schools.

Sheriff Garrett said, Since I assumed the office of sheriff in September of 2022, we have successfully recruited 19 deputies to serve in our School Resource Deputy Unit. In order to make this unprecedented success a reality, my staff and I, along with support from County Mayor Weston Wamp and the Hamilton County Commission, implemented an agency-wide pay increase for our personnel and established a new and robust recruitment campaign to help recruit qualified and experienced personnel not only in our School Resource Deputy Unit, but throughout our entire agency. We have stayed the course and remained committed to filling these vacancies and we are now seeing the fruits of our labor. These efforts, supported by the newly implemented State-wide School Resource Officer Program Grant funded by Governor Bill Lee and the Tennessee General Assembly, have allowed us to get to this monumental point in our operations and demonstrates how the HCSO continues to lead the way in providing the best law enforcement services available not only for the citizens of Hamiton County, but most importantly, our communitys children.

There are currently eight charter schools in Hamilton County, two of which were recently staffed in the fall of 2023 by School Resource Officers from the Soddy Daisy Police Department. The Chattanooga Police Department provides two School Resource Officers who serve alongside HCSO SRDs as part of our county-wide program at Brainerd High School and Howard High School. The East Ridge Police Department has also assumed the responsibility to staff four HCDE schools within their city limits as well. With the HCSO School Resource Deputy Unit now fully staffed, once all training has been completed by the new recruits, every designated HCDE school and charter school within our agencys coverage agreement will be covered by a School Resource Deputy.

Sheriff Garrett said, I am grateful for the support and partnership we have received from the Soddy Daisy, Chattanooga, and East Ridge Police Departments with providing personnel as we as a community endeavor to expand the School Resource Deputy Program throughout our county and ensure our children have a safe, productive place to learn and grow.

Much of this expansion of the School Resource Deputy Program in Hamilton County into our local charter schools was possible due to a new Statewide School Resource Officer (SRO) Program Grant funded by Governor Bill Lee and the Tennessee General Assembly, it was stated.

Senator Bo Watson said, "As a senior state senator, public safety  particularly in our schools  remains a top priority. This includes attracting and recruiting qualified school resource deputies and officers to serve and protect in our schools across Hamilton County. This is no easy task, and I want to personally commend Sheriff Garrett, his team and our community who worked hard to bring this together  including the state delegation, Hamilton County and surrounding municipalities which helped ensure it was funded.

The School Resource Deputy Officer Program Grant provides funding to local law enforcement entities to place one full-time, POST-certified SRO in each K-12 public school and public charter school in Tennessee. Local law enforcement agencies are eligible to apply for funding not to exceed $75,000 per year, per SRO, per school for which they are responsible for providing SRO services.

The HCSO School Resource Deputy Unit currently consists of 36 School Resource Deputies, four sergeants, and one lieutenant. HCSO SRDs cover 36 schools throughout the HCDE system.
Senator Colton Moore from Dade County on Thursday said he was calling for "an immediate declaration of an alien and drug invasion in Georgia."

He said, "Over 11 million illegal aliens are now in the U.S. - more than Georgia's entire population. In 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol identified 167+ known terrorists who entered the U.S. through our unsecured border. This has injured our state and country.



"Law enforcement is overwhelmed and underpaid. The unprecedented amount of human trafficking, terrorist activity, and illegal drugs has killed over 71,238 American citizens in the past year.

Our state cannot afford this crisis."Governor Kemp, Attorney General Chris Carr, and the Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis must declare an Illegal Alien and Illegal Drug Invasion and take action now."We need to support our law enforcement, protect our communities, and save Georgia.
The Governors Council for Judicial Appointments met Thursday to consider six applicants for an upcoming vacancy on the Tennessee Supreme Court. The vacancy was created by the upcoming retirement of the Honorable Roger A. Page, effective August 31, 2024.

After holding a public hearing and conducting public interviews, the Council selected the following applicants:

J. Ross Dyer

Camille R. McMullen

Mary L. Wagner

The Council has forwarded these three names to Governor Bill Lee for his consideration. The Governors selection will then move through the confirmation process before the General Assembly.




A 16-year-old girl testified in General Sessions Court that 22-year-old Edwin Aldo Mendez-Perez told her that her brother "is not going to exist after this day."

The witness said less than five minutes later she saw Mendez-Perez's hands covered in blood, and he was carrying a gray pocket knife that was also bloody.

Rosalio "Charlie" Gomez-Gutierrez was taken to the hospital with several stab wounds. He died at the hospital.

First-degree murder charges were bound to the Grand Jury against Mendez-Perez by Judge Lila Statom in the Nov. 26 incident on Garfield Street.

The girl said she first heard loud arguing and yelling around midnight, and she said Mendez-Perez cut her brother at that time. She said after the first incident her brother told her he was going to put Mendez-Perez in jail.

She said Mendez-Perez returned around 3 a.m. and made the statement about killing her brother.

The witness said Mendez-Perez was drunk during both incidents.

She said of the claims he would kill her brother, "I didn't think he would do it."

She said she was watching videos in her room when she heard running and then spotted a bloody Mendez-Perez. She said he came into her room looking for his car keys. She said he drove a large green vehicle.

A detective said a green Toyota 4Runner was seen leaving the residence a minute after the stabbing was called in.

The knife, nor the green vehicle, were located, it was stated.

Mendez-Perez was arrested in Michigan in early December and brought back to face the Hamilton County charge.
Police received an unknown trouble call at 1:55 a.m. from a phone number around the 2800 McCallie Avenue area, where the call-taker heard arguing in the background. At 2:37 a.m., police received an unknown trouble call around the 1600 block of McCallie Avenue area, with no signs of distress in the background, from the same phone number. Police determined that this number is related to an Hispanic man and that he is often accompanied by a certain woman. Police searched the area for the two, but were unable to locate them. A ping was initiated and found the phone traveling through East Ridge, in what police presume to be a vehicle, considering the time lapses between the pings. ERPD searched the locations of the ping and were unable to locate them. Police ceased the ping due to the likely uncertainty of any criminal offenses taking place, which is partially based on their Watson report history.



* * *

A woman on Sequoia Drive told police her vehicle had been broken into and the steering column was taken apart. Police observed damage to the rear driver's side window, the driver's door lock and steering column. There is no suspect information.

* * *

Officers were notified by employees at Enterprise car rental, 305 W 20th St., of a found firearm in the a vehicle that was returned. The firearm was checked through NCIC and is not stolen. The firearm was turned into CPD Property and the owner was made aware.

* * *



Police were en route to another call and observed a busted out window on the rear driver's side of a red Kia in a driveway on Shawnee Trail. Police stopped and approached the vehicle. Police observed the steering column had been broken on the vehicle. Police made contact with the owner of the vehicle, who was unaware the vehicle was damaged. There is no suspect information.

* * *

The manager at the Chattanooga Rescue Mission told police a man came to the mission intoxicated. The manager wanted him to leave the property and to have him trespassed. Police spoke to the man, who was indeed intoxicated, and asked him if he would like to be transported to E. 11th Street for the warming shelter. The man agreed to be transported to E. 11th Street. Police also informed him he is trespassed by Chattanooga Rescue Mission, and if he returns, he will be arrested for criminal trespassing. The man responded, "I don't give a --," and exited the police vehicle at E. 11th Street.

* * *

An employee at WNA American Plastics, Inc., 5930 Quintus Loop, told police an unknown substance was found on the floor in the workshop and it is unknown where it came from or what the substance was. The employee turned the substance over to police and it was turned in to Property for destruction.

* * *



A man told police he noticed his vehicle (a Nissan Guest, TN tag) was damaged on the left passenger side. He said he believes this happened about four days ago in the Home Depot parking lot at 1944 Northpoint Blvd., although he is unsure because he was not in his vehicle when it happened. He said it looks like someone might have been backing out, and in the process scratched his vehicle. Since a suspect is unknown, vehicle is unknown and the timeline is unclear, police are unable to know if it was a wreck or possibly a vandalism that caused the damage.

* * *

A woman told police her vehicle broke down in the middle of the road, so she pushed it into the Circle K at 5501 Hwy.153. Sometime between Friday-Sunday, the vehicle was broken into by the front passenger side window. Several items were stolen, such as a lightbar, radar and dashcam. She said the items cost about $600 altogether, not including the broken window. Police watched footage from the security cameras at the Circle K, and could not determine a suspect, due to the camera angle. During the vehicle break in, an airsoft face mask was left behind in the victim's car. The mask was turned into Property.

* * *



While on scene for another call at Sherman and Reilly, W. 33rd Street, police were notified by a man that his car had been stolen. He said he left his keys in his vehicle and, when he returned outside, he could not find his vehicle. He said he was notified by a co-worker and fellow victim that his vehicle was taken by several black males who exited a Toyota RAV (AZ tag) and stole his vehicle at approximately 9:18 p.m. Police entered the man's vehicle into NCIC as stolen. An Auto Crimes investigator was notified of the incident.

* * *



A woman on Gateway Avenue at Gateway Towers told police that her camera system cut off at noon that day. She said she believes that someone in the basement is cutting off her camera.

* * *



A theft was reported at the Juicy Crab, 2020 Gunbarrel Road. Video footage showed a man enter the restaurant, sit down next to a woman, then pick up a Christmas gift under the tree and walk outside. The man then entered a white two-door sedan that was parked in front on the restaurant. The woman remained inside the restaurant, as she was there to pick up a delivery order. After the woman left the restaurant, she got into the driver's seat of the white two-door vehicle and drove away. Police were unable to identify the license plate number due to camera issues. No charges will be filled at this point due to lack of identification for the man and woman.

* * *



The manager of the Speedway, 6121 Lee Hwy., said an unknown black SUV was pulling through and sideswiped the pump, causing damage to the card reader and nozzle. Speedway management said they did not get any info for the vehicle and just requested a property damage report for documentation.

* * *



An employee at the Taco Bell, 4115 Rossville Blvd., reported to police a situation involving a white male wearing blue jeans in the parking lot. According to the employee, this man bothered customers and created an uncomfortable environment. Despite multiple requests, the man refused to leave the premises. The employee requested that the man be trespassed from the property. Police approached the man and inquired about his presence on the property. He said he was hanging out. Police then informed him of the complaints regarding his behavior that made customers uncomfortable. In running the man's information through Dispatch, it confirmed no active warrants. Police informed the man of his trespassing status from the property. He complied and left the premises without any further incidents.

* * *



A woman told police she was driving from Gunbarrel Road to Shallowford when she encountered a white Mercedes that was driving erratically. She said she honked at the vehicle. She said she then got on 75 NB and the Mercedes pulled over to the side of the road. She said she passed the vehicle and the vehicle then began to follow her. She then pulled over to the side of the road and the Mercedes pulled in behind her. She then called Police and the vehicle left. She said it was an older white male driving the vehicle. She said the man never got out of his car.

* * *



Police responded to a vehicle fire at E. 23rd Street/Rossville Boulevard. The driver told police he bought the vehicle three hours earlier. He said he changed out the alternator, and, while he was driving down E. 23rd Street, he smelled some burning plastic. He stopped the vehicle and the engine caught on fire. He said he attempted to put out the fire with fire extinguishers, but was unsuccessful. Fire responded and put out the fire. Hancock responded and towed the vehicle.
Joseph Brown Buck Shrader, Jr., passed away on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, at Storypoint Assisted Living on Mountain Creek Road, where he had resided for several years.





Mr. Shrader lost his wife of 35 years, Martha Chaddick Shrader, in August of 1999. His parents, Joseph Brown Shrader, Sr., and Inez Lively Shrader of Chattanooga and grandparents, John Edward Shrader and Nora Gleason Shrader of Pearisburg, Va., and Judge John J. Lively and Edna Lively of Lookout Mountain, Tn., and his loving companion of many years, Wilma Scaro, also preceded him in death.





He is survived by his loving companion of many years, Wilma Scaro of Birmingham, and formerly of Trenton.





Joe was raised in North Chattanooga living within walking distance of Normal Park Elementary School. His father worked for the IRS. After graduating from Chattanooga High School and attending the University of Chattanooga, Mr. Shrader transferred to the University of Florida School of Architecture & Design from which he received a degree in advertising design. After three years in the Army (1954-1956), he then studied watercolors and illustration at the art Institute of Chicago and later illustration and graphic design at the American Academy of arts in Chicago. He then launched a career in art, illustration, and design working at a large Chicago advertising agency where he made designs for major companies such as Brach Candy. Some of his designs were featured in magazines such as Life. Subsequently, he worked for one of this countrys best-known technical illustrators like A. E. Ruhl of Chattanooga.





Moving back to the Chattanooga area in 1959, Mr. Shrader had his own technical illustration business for 24 years with numerous clients in North Georgia and East Tennessee. After closing his business, Joe concentrated on the art of watercolor and was featured in many local shows and galleries. His wife, Martha enjoyed working these shows with him. An unassuming man, Mr. Shrader contributed much to Chattanoogas development as an art center. His artistic talents also extended to music, and as a young man he played French horn for both his high school and college bands. Mr. Shrader was a member of Rivermont Presbyterian Church.





The family will receive friends from 2-3 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 11, at the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home.





The graveside service will follow at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, at the Chattanooga Memorial Park with The Reverend Doctor Clay Thomas officiating.





In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army, 822 McCallie Ave., Chattanooga 37403 or Rivermont Presbyterian Church, 3319 Hixson Pike, Chattanooga 37415.





. Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com





Arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson, Tn. 37343.
Hamilton County lawyer Charles Gammons Wright, Jr. has received a public censure from the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Tennessee Supreme Court.

The Board said, "Attorney Wright agreed to represent his client in pursuing a civil claim. Mr. Wright delayed in taking action in this matter and failed to pursue his clients legal objectives. Additionally, Mr. Wright failed to communicate with his client throughout the representation.

"By these acts, Mr. Wright has violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3 (diligence), 1.4 (communication), 3.2 (expediting litigation), and 8.4(d) (conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice) and is hereby publicly censured for this violation."

A public censure is a rebuke and warning to the attorney, but it does not affect the attorneys ability to practice law.
Tennessee Tech University journalism alumna and WDEF-TV weekend anchor Amelia Greer is known for her warm, sunny personality that greets viewers across the Tennessee Valley each Saturday and Sunday night  but the weather outside during her first visit to Tech was quite the opposite.

It was a rainy, nasty day, said Ms. Greer, recalling her 2018 campus visit. But I loved the energy there. Something about it felt right. I just remember stepping foot on campus and saying, I love it here. My parents told me, If you love Tech on a day like today, youll really love it when its nice outside.'

After a meeting with Tech communication faculty like Colleen Mestayer, Ms. Greer was sold. She enrolled at Tech the following year with an eye toward a journalism career. The decision was inspired in part by Ms. Greers admiration of Ida Tarbell, the famed pioneer of investigative journalism during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

I always knew growing up that I liked to talk to people and I wanted to connect with others, said Ms. Greer. I was very English minded. When I got to Tech, I remember being in one of my first classes and getting that taste of journalism. I thought I really want to pursue that.

Ms. Greer supplemented her courses with a role as a student worker in the universitys Office of Communication and Marketing and credits staff like Bailey Phonsnasinh, director of Brand Communications, for sharpening her storytelling chops.

I was able to find my love for telling stories and jotting down peoples experiences and ideas, said Ms. Greer. I got to interview faculty members and people at Tech I might never have had the privilege to know if not for that job.

Ms. Greer graduated from Tech in the spring of 2023 and, 10 days later, was hired as a reporter for WDEF, the CBS affiliate in Chattanooga  not far from her hometown in Dunlap. The interviewer at the station had seen Ms. Greers on-screen delivery in various social media videos for Tech and was impressed.

He told me, You have a way of connecting with people through a camera. It doesnt seem like youre talking to camera, it seems like youre talking to a person, Ms. Greer recalled.

A few months into her time at WDEF, Ms. Greer was promoted to weekend anchor  something she calls a whirlwind of opportunities and learning.

It was validating, said Ms. Greer. Even though I had just graduated college, still very green, very new, they saw the potential in me and were willing to take a chance.

Dutch Terry, news director for WDEF, says that chance has paid off. We are extremely happy that Amelia joined the WDEF team, said Mr. Terry. Shes a natural talent and brings a true local voice to our newsroom.

Reflecting on her career journey, Ms. Greer is quick to give thanks to her alma mater.

It really did feel more personal, more like a community at Tech, said Ms. Greer. You arent just a number in a classroom. Professors took the time to be intentional, to teach and be helpful.

Ms. Greer recalls specific experiences at Tech that shaped her approach to journalism, such as her advanced interpersonal communication class, during which students visited a local assisted living facility to speak with residents and learn more about their stories, and a public speaking course where Ms. Greer first realized her natural talent for speaking in front of an audience.

For some people, thats their worst fear and I thought I can do it. I did 4-H speeches. Who cares? Ms. Greer said.

Colleen Mestayer, the lecturer Ms. Greer met during that first campus visit, would ultimately become Ms. Greers most impactful on-campus mentor. For her part, Ms. Mestayer says she is thrilled by Ms. Greers early career success.

I have taught many students over the years, and I try to remember all of them, but there are certainly a few like Amelia who always stand out because they have one thing in common: the self-confidence to believe me when I tell them they are capable of doing great things, said Ms. Mestayer. Amelia believed me and look at her now!

Viewers in the Chattanooga region can catch Ms. Greer behind the anchor desk each Saturday and Sunday at 11 p.m. local time and can find her stories for WDEF online at www.wdef.com.
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti has joined an amicus brief, urging the U.S. Supreme Court to hear an appeal from a Colorado Supreme Court decision that prevented former President Donald Trump from appearing on the ballot for the state's Presidential Primary Elections. The coalition of 27 states, including the Arizona Legislature, argues that the Fourteenth Amendment grants Congress the authority to determine a person's eligibility for office, and state courts should not encroach upon this exclusive power.

"The president is chosen by the American people, not a small cadre of insulated elites, said Attorney General Skrmetti in a statement. It is incredibly dangerous for courts to insert themselves into the democratic process absent a clear legal mandate. The application of the Fourteenth Amendment in the Reconstruction Era is not consistent with the current effort to disqualify Donald Trump.



The lawsuit was initially filed by six Colorado voters who claimed that Trump's alleged involvement in the Jan. 6 incident at the U.S. Capitol disqualified him from office under a Civil War-era insurrection clause in the Fourteenth Amendment. However, a district judge ruled that the insurrection clause does not apply to the presidency, allowing Trump to be included on the ballot. Subsequently, the Colorado Supreme Court issued a ruling barring Trump from the GOP primary ballot under the Fourteenth Amendment.



Joining Tennessee in the West Virginia- and Indiana-led brief include Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wyoming, and the Arizona Legislature.

You can read the brief in its entirety here.
The king of the United Kingdom is a night owl. Here's what keeps him up until the wee hours of the morning.

A royal insider claims King Charles has a bizarre bedtime ritual that keeps him awake until sunrise. His night owl lifestyle suits the king of the United Kingdom but allows for little rest. Here are the details.

King Charles is a night owl, and his bizarre bedtime ritual keeps him awake

Actor Sophie Winkleman is married to Lord Frederick Windsor. He is the son of the late Queen Elizabeths first cousin, Prince Michael of Kent.

Winkleman knows King Charles well and has shared details regarding his night owl lifestyle. She reveals that the 75-year-old works late into the evening and early morning hours, stopping just before sunrise.

Winkleman calls Charles a very dear friend. She reveals she knows his bedtime ritual after visiting him at home.

I spend a bit of time with him, Winkleman told Tatler. She admitted the monarch stays up until the sun is close to rising.

However, his bizarre bedtime ritual is writing letters. Winkleman says this keeps Charles up until the early morning hours.

You see how he works all day long, has a quick supper, and then disappears until about 4 am to write letters. He cares about so many things, and he comes up with brilliant solutions, Winkleman revealed.

The actor, who recently appeared in the feature film Wonka with Timothee Chalamet, also shared details of her relationship with other royal family members. Heres what she had to say.

Sophie Winkleman cites Queen Elizabeths advice helped her recovery after a devastating car crash

After being driven home from the set of Trust, Danny Boyles TV drama about the Getty kidnapping, Sophie Winkleman a crash that left her trapped in the back seat of the upside-down car. She spent three months in the hospital recovering from breaking three bones in her back.

It was quite sobering. Physio left me in so much pain, it wasnt working, Winkleman admitted.

However, after speaking with Queen Elizabeth, Winkleman found the advice she sought. The monarch suggested a therapy often used at Buckingham Palace for her horses.

She asked how I was, Winkleman explained. She said, We cant have that. You have to go in the water.

The queen shared that when horses had broken backs, they swam, and so she let me use her pool at Buckingham Palace. Thats the reason I got better. It was so typically thoughtful, she added.

King Charles also instructed his cook at Clarence House to supply Winklemans family with meals twice a day for months. It was lifesaving, having this massive thing twice daily that I didnt have to worry about, she admits.

Is she close with other royal family members?

King Charles and Sophie Winkleman are photographed together at Royal Ascot in 2023 | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Sophie Winkleman is really good friends with all of her in-laws. She praises their character above all.

Its a really daft thing to say, but behind the camera, theyre really fun, clever, kind people, Winkleman claims.

I love Sophie Edinburgh, Sarah Chatto, Zara, the York girls, Tim and Princess Anne, Fergie, all the Kents and Gloucesters, she admits.

I love Catherine and William, but theyre so busy and dont live in London, so I dont see them much., she Winkleman continued. She did praise William for his concern after her accident, learning he asked an air ambulance colleague to take good care of her while Sophie, Countess of Wessex, visited her in the hospital.

Sophie Winklemans husband, Lord Frederick Windsor, is 53rd in line for the throne. The couple has two children, Maud and Isabella.
'The Golden Bachelor' wedding cost ABC quite a lot of money. Here's an estimate on how much the network likely spent on the first-ever Golden Wedding.

ABCs The Golden Bachelor wedding is finally here, and fans cant wait to see Theresa Nist and Gerry Turner tie the knot. Theresa and Gerry fell in love in the series first season, and ABC is now footing the bill for the first-ever Golden Wedding. So, how much does such an event cost? Heres an estimate.

How much did The Golden Bachelor wedding cost? Heres an estimate

The Golden Bachelor wedding is a momentous event, and fans cant wait to tune in to watch Theresa Nist walk down the aisle and marry Gerry Turner. Gerry and Theresa wont have to pay for the wedding from their own pockets, as ABC is footing the bill. So, how much will The Golden Wedding cost?

Gerry and Theresa are getting married at the La Quinta Resort & Club in La Quinta, California. An estimate from Wedding Spot predicts their wedding sits around $25,000 for the venue and outside vendors, but numerous variables exist to consider. For 100 guests in an off-season wedding on a Thursday, the venue cost will be on the relatively lower side. Theresa mentioned she plans on having 125 guests, so the Golden Wedding will likely be above the $25,000 mark. For around $250 a head, the wedding will cost over $31,000.

Thats just for the wedding, of course. ABC likely provided Theresa with a beautiful gown worth thousands of dollars. Gerry and Theresa also mentioned that contestant Susan Noles will be officiating through her own company, which will be an additional cost. The wedding and reception also include floral arrangements, music, and two cakes.

Additionally, ABC is likely flying each guest in for the wedding. That means the network will pay for over 120 plane tickets, adding thousands of dollars to the wedding cost.

Given these numbers, we imagine the first-ever Golden Wedding will cost the network hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not more.

Of course, Gerry and Theresa will also make money with the network thanks to their choice to televise the event. ABC will quickly make their money back.

The Golden Bachelor stars Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist | Disney/John Fleenor

How much does their honeymoon cost?

Along with The Golden Bachelor wedding, Theresa Nist and Gerry Turner get an all-expenses-paid trip to Italy for their honeymoon.

Its unclear how much ABC is shelling out for the trip. According to World Wide Honeymoon, couples should expect to pay $3,140-6,030 for a seven-day trip, or $4,048-7,180 for a 10-day trip. Of course, because ABC is footing the bill (and theyre likely giving Theresa and Gerry an incredible place to stay), we imagine Gerry and Theresas honeymoon will be even more expensive than the average.

Theresa and Gerry have yet to decide when theyre heading out for their honeymoon. They decided to wait until the wedding ended to confirm their Italy plans. Theres been so much going on since the show ended, Theresa told People. After the wedding, were going to be able to sit together and really decide, because its been a whirlwind. There will be plans for trips and looking for homes and going to Italy, so therell be so much to look forward to.

Will ABC help Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist relocate?

Its unclear if The Golden Bachelor couple Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist will receive financial assistance from ABC regarding relocating. When they finally move, the network likely wont help them financially.

Gerry lives in Indiana, while Theresa lives in New Jersey. Theyve candidly discussed where they hope to live after their wedding. Initially, the couple decided theyd both relocate to South Carolina. But after visiting Theresa in New Jersey, Gerry changed his tune.

I like that area, and Theresas home is 15 minutes from the ocean, and that is so attractive to me, he told People. So, we have more than one option to explore. Well find the spot that were both happy with.

For more on the entertainment world and exclusive interviews, subscribe to Showbiz Cheat Sheets YouTube channel.
Those hoping for tax relief in Washington state in 2024 might want to watch paint dry instead.

Current state leadership is choosing to tax us more even in times of budget surplus. Contrast this with the many states, including Idaho, California and New York, who recently chose tax relief for their state residents. Or compare Washingtons tax ways with the state of Oregon, where taxpayers are used to tax refunds of hundreds, even thousands, of dollars in budget years with revenue excess because of a decades-old kicker law. Oregon expects to be issuing a record $5.6 billion refund to its taxpayers this coming spring.

In Washington state, instead of returning excess money to working families, lawmakers have been deciding they can better spend the cash on a host of new government programs and offerings.

The sentiment that the state should be providing for people instead of expecting personal responsibility and self-sufficiency when its possible reared its budget-bloating head in comments from supporters of keeping WA Cares as-is this week. It makes some sense out of the states practice of keeping taxpayer money even when it is not needed. (WA Cares is the state-imposed long-term-care program fueled by a payroll tax that started in July.)

Jessica Gomez-Barrios, the political and advocacy coordinator for SEIU 775, a union representing paid caregivers  a group that will grow under WA Cares  said of the initiative effort trying to make participation in WA Cares optional that the initiative would force workers to deplete their savings to qualify for Medicaids long-term-care (LTC) assistance. (Gomez-Barrios is also the campaign manager of We Care For WA Cares, a coalition of organizations advocating for the LTC program and tax increase.)

This argument is one the state often makes for WA Cares when trying to convince Washingtons workers, including low-income ones, that they should like the new long-term-care program theyre forced to fund.

Wait. Shouldnt we deplete our savings before asking other taxpayers to pay for our many life needs, including homes, food, transportation, or, in this case, possible long-term care? Everyone has life needs. They are all different. And as supporters and the state make clear, Medicaid LTC assistance is available for people without adequate resources who need care.

Gomez-Barrios added, Millions of working Washingtonians are counting on the WA Cares Fund to help pay for their care in case of injury, illness, or age. If thats true (its not), it is the states fault. It has had a full-press marketing campaign telling people they can have peace of mind because theyre paying into WA Cares. Workers cant count on the WA Cares Fund. Because of program eligibility requirements, many workers who pay into WA Cares  even those needing long-term care someday  wont benefit. Also, the lifetime benefit amount of $36,500 wont usually be enough for LTC needs.

Supporters of WA Cares have the wrong idea: We need as many workers as possible using their own money on their own needs. Taxpayer help should be a last resort. State and federal safety nets need to be protected and strengthened, not widened for people who arent in need.

 Elizabeth Hovde is the director of the Centers for Health Care and Worker Rights at the Washington Policy Center. Email her at ehovde@washingtonpolicy.org.
Denmark | Mehmet A./Pixabay

A US government-affiliated religious freedom watchdog agency, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), has condemned a recently passed Danish law criminalizing the "inappropriate treatment" of religious texts. They argue that the law is incompatible with democratic principles and international law.

The law, passed by the Danish Parliament in December 2023, was spurred by recent Quran burnings and a perceived "terrorist threat." It specifies that "inappropriate treatment" includes acts like burning or defacing texts of major religions. Violators face fines or imprisonment for up to two years.

USCIRF characterizes the law as a blasphemy law, emphasizing that such laws conflict with human rights protecting freedom of speech and expression. They argue that criminalizing acts deemed disrespectful to religion only worsens the situation for religious minorities.

Commissioner David Curry of USCIRF strongly condemns the burning of religious texts but insists criminalizing blasphemy is a misguided approach. He predicts it will fuel harmful stereotypes and worsen the situation for religious minorities in Denmark.

He said, 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.

Another USCIRF Commissioner Stephen Schneck concurs, calling the law an example of governments sacrificing human rights in the pursuit of national security. This amendment will only serve to propagate harmful stereotypes that could worsen the situation of religious minorities in Denmark.

He urges Denmark to work with religious communities to tackle hatred and intolerance instead of restricting expression.

Denmark rejects accusations of violating international law and cites Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, recognizing limitations on freedom of expression when necessary for national security or public safety. Existing Danish law already criminalizes insulting foreign nations or their symbols.

While freedom of expression is generally protected, it can be limited under certain circumstances in a democratic society. These limitations can be imposed if prescribed by law and deemed necessary for various reasons, including national security, public safety, preventing crime, protecting health or morals, shielding personal reputations and safeguarding confidential information or judicial integrity.

Denmark's existing law exemplifies this principle. Before the recent amendment targeting religious texts, it already restricted speech by making it illegal to publicly insult foreign nations, their flags or emblems. This demonstrates that Denmark acknowledges the tension between free expression and other societal needs, even before the addition of the blasphemy provision. This context is crucial when evaluating the new law and its potential implications for freedom of expression within Denmark.

While Denmark seeks to address security concerns, USCIRF and others worry the new law is a dangerous step toward religious censorship.
Franklin Graham / Facebook

Franklin Graham, an American Evangelist has blasted against The Methodist Church in the United Kingdom. This stems from the church's release of an "Inclusive Language Guide," which advises Methodists to refrain from employing gendered terms such as "husband" and "wife." This directive, viewed as an attempt to alter biblical language to align with contemporary societal shifts, has sparked sharp criticisms.

This move has drawn strong criticism from figures like evangelist Franklin Graham, who accuses the church of "trying to edit what the Word of God says" and compromising its core values. He argues that using terms like "husband" and "wife" is essential to upholding biblical truth and that Christians should focus on sharing God's word, not on appeasing cultural trends.

The Methodist Church in the UK is trying to edit what the Word of God says to be more appealing to the changing whims of culture. As Christians, we arent called to avoid what might offend peoplewe are called to share the Truth of Gods Word, Graham said in his X post on Tuesday.

However, the Methodist guidance, released in December, argues that gender-specific terms could be "offensive" as they make assumptions about personal and family life that might not align with reality for many individuals. It encourages the use of more neutral terms like "parent," "partner," "child" and "carer" and emphasizes the importance of adopting language inclusive of LGBT+ individuals.

The denomination claims that using inclusive language fosters positive engagement with diverse communities, aiming to prevent unintentional exclusion or harm caused by language.

This development comes amidst a larger debate within the Methodist Church, both in the United Kingdom and the United States, regarding the acceptance of LGBT+ individuals within the clergy and same-sex marriage, despite the denominations Book of Disciplines prohibition on same-sex marriages and LGBT-identified clergy ordination.

In the U.S., there has been a schism within the church over these issues, leading to the departure of thousands of congregations and the establishment of alternative denominations like the Global Methodist Church.

The potential consequences of this linguistic shift are a matter of concern for some. John Lomperis, an observer of global Methodism, warns of a "slippery slope" where continuous adaptation to cultural trends ultimately dilutes the church's core message. He argues that simply echoing secular values is not a compelling reason for people to attend church.
The most popular verses for Brazilians in 2023 focused on the provision of God.

Those digitally cracking open their Bibles were most likely to search Joshua 1:9, followed by Jeremiah 29:11 and Isaiah 41:10, according to YouVersion.

Valdemar Kroker, who pastors Igreja Irmaos Menonitas in Curitiba, a city of nearly two million in southern Brazil, found the results unsurprising.

Its not surprise to me that Joshua 1:9 is the top verse, he said. Ive heard my father sing this passage countless times.

Nearly all the verses that made Brazils Top 10 are Old Testament texts that ring with a sense of promise, according to Paulo Won, a Presbyterian pastor, theology professor, and content creator.

The focus is on what God can do in us, in the sense of granting us victories in life, more than on how we can be molded to Gods will, and thus live the discipleship that presupposes eventual difficulties and tribulations, he said. Its a clear diagnosis that our way of living the gospel is largely triumphalist.

The appearance of these verses suggest that Christians arent learning the Bible as a grand narrative or always being given the larger context of where these words come from, says Cynthia Muniz, a biologist and theologian.

The Brazilian evangelical scene itself has been strongly influenced by triumphalist theologies, so that some of these texts can be understood as personal promises of prosperity and victory, including material ones, she said.

YouVersions apps include tools designed to help people read the Bible more frequently and pray more regularly. These were downloaded 11.2 million times in 2023, an increase of 112 percent compared to 2022. (YouVersion also noted that they worked with 150 partners to launch 330 new Bible plans in Portuguese last year.)

This year, our team really focused on expanding partnerships in Brazil because we want everyone to have easy access to quality biblical content in their native language, said Bobby Gruenewald, founder and CEO of YouVersion. More than anything else, we want to help people experience Gods love, and our ministry would not be possible without these incredible partners we work with in Brazil who are passionate about investing in the spiritual growth of their communities.

Daily YouVersion Bible use increased 27 percent in Brazil in 2023. But this fervor to read Gods Word wasnt limited to digital texts. According to the Brazilian Bible Society, on average, the country prints seven Bibles per minute.

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Despite this energy around Bible engagement, a close reading of YouVersions verse list offers some feedback for the Brazilian church. Beyond identifying a triumphalist tone among the popular passages, theologians also noted the dearth of Bible verses quoting Jesus. Out of the ten verses on the list, only two were found in the Gospels and only one contained Jesus words (Matt. 6:33).

We are, in fact, not only reading too little but also preaching too little from the Gospels, said Won. We associate the gospels with stories about Jesus, which often dont carry the prosperity emphasis that many of our churches favor.

For example, Matthew 6:33 is part of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus main teachings to his disciples and full of instructions on how to embody his values to the world. But todays churches pay too little attention to Matthew 57, says Muniz.

This is worrying, because the gospels are at the heart of the New Testament message, she said. Furthermore, as followers of Jesus and called to be his imitators, it is essential that we meditate on his words and be inspired by his actions. There is no doubt that we have a lot to learn from Jesus.

Muniz and Won also expressed concern about Brazilian Bible readers tendency to separate a verse from the larger passage.

For example, Romans 8:28 reads, And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Its part of a larger section of text where Paul is discussing the adversities of the present time, the effects of sin, and our participation in Christs sufferings so that we can also share in his glory, said Muniz.

This text is a good example of how not taking the context into account and reading the verse by itself can lead to misinterpretations," she added.

The idea of victory that Paul notes in Rom. 8:28 does not refer to prosperity in this life or the conquest of anything worldly, said Won.

The victory is over death and sin, over principalities and powers, he said. It is Christs ultimate victory in which, in him, we have a share. In this sense, reading the text as a simple hope for believers is not only an inappropriate reading but a diabolical misrepresentation of the true triumph we have in the Lord.

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According to Won, the Brazilian church needs to read Matthew 11:29 more, where it says, Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart.

We are experiencing the intensification of polarization in various areas of society. For me, Jesus call to meekness and serenity must not be forgotten, he said.

Kroker emphasizes that Jesus needs to be our greatest example. Brazilian church leaders need to devote more sermons to the Gospels, specifically focusing on Jesus nature, actions, and mission, he said.

We need narrative sermons that more vividly highlight the example of all the qualities and attitudes that are expected of us and that is in the life of Jesus.

Editors note: CTs regional analyses of the YouVersion top Bible verses of 2023 include Africa Brazil , the Philippines Singapore , and Ukraine

[ This article is also available in Portugues. ]
On Tuesday, I received an email from the president of Harvard University, Claudine Gay, announcing her decision to resign. It was addressed to members of the Harvard community, to which I belong as an alumnus (MDiv 14) and a Harvard chaplain for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

Harvard is a community I care about deeply. And the last few months have demonstrated that many other people care deeply about Harvard toopeople well beyond the list Gay emailed. Her announcement came after a series of Harvard-centered media frenzies, some about Gays December congressional testimony and subsequent plagiarism allegations, and some about student groups response to the horrific Hamas attacks of October 7 and the ensuing Israel-Hamas war.

Ive been asked many times for my opinion of whats happening, and, initially, my instinct was to provide the nuance those headlines always seem to miss. But as the stories kept coming, increasingly, Ive found myself giving a different answer: Perhaps you should care about Harvard less.

In one sense, the interest was understandable. This round of media attention started with a truly reprehensible statement by a Harvard student organization after October 7, a statement that laid all blame for the violence on Israel and that was signed by a number of other student groups.

I raised an eyebrow when I saw it, but I also know firsthand what student groups can be like: passionate, informal, chaotic. I would later learn that some groups were surprised to see their name attached to the statement, and others had not seen the statement before it was published.

This is going to cause a stir on campus, I thought.

Boy, was I wrong. It did not just cause a stir on campus. It caused a stir nationwide. And why was it a national news story? Probably for the same reason youre reading this very article: Were obsessed with Harvard. Harvard gets clicks.

Along with a few other top academic institutions, Harvard has a special way of occupying the minds of the American public. The name alone evokes a strange mixture of awe and envy. The brand conveys a significance that fascinates us. For a second, we forget Christs wordsthe last will be first, and the first will be last (Matt. 20:16)and are taken with Harvards prestige.

Ive experienced this myself. When I got the opportunity to study at Harvard in 2011, I was drawn in by its reputation. I didnt really reflect on whether it was the right choice for me or part of Gods plan for me. I saw the H at the top of my acceptance letter, broke up with my girlfriend of six days (sorry!), and bought a one-way ticket to Boston.

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Everyone at Harvard knows the power of the name. Its why Harvard students say, I study in Boston, not, Im at Harvard. No one wants to drop the H-bomb on an otherwise polite conversation!

As I started my ministry with Harvard grad students, I learned a key lesson from my mentor, Jeff Barneson, who has been a campus minister at the university longer than Israel wandered the desert: We all must reach the point where we repent of the reasons we came to Harvard. Why? Because, to some degree, we all came here because we were enamored of the worldly success that is synonymous with the Harvard name.

Harvard has rightly earned much of its reputation through centuries of world-class scholarship. That ought to be applauded. But sound scholarship is not the reason Harvard stories go national while we ignore whats happening at local community colleges or state schools to which were far more likely to have a personal or communal connection. Our increasingly interconnected world is causing our attention, along with our anger, to be pulled toward remote narratives.

Too often we fail to scrutinize where our attention goes and why were focusing less on our own communities and more on faraway people and places. We dont notice the fruit of giving too much attention to glittering names like Harvardand it is not good fruit.

First, caring too much about Harvard makes us more likely to oversimplify and misunderstand distant stories and people, which risks distorting our attitudes. Its a symptom of Gell-Mann amnesia, a term author Michael Crichton coined to describe how we notice misleading statements and errors when we read news stories on topics within our expertise, then read uncritically on topics outside of our experience.

Because few of us know Harvard and similar institutions well, we are likely to be misled by flawed reporting and to caricature the people involved. Instead of seeing the image of God in them, we see simplistic representations of ideas we hate. We miss the reality of the situation and fail to regard people from Christs perspective (2 Cor. 5:16).

Relatedly, caring too much about Harvard often has us spending time and care on problems too big and far for us to helpwhile neglecting smaller, nearer circumstances where we could actually make a difference. If every person who wrote an angry comment at the bottom of a Harvard article spent that same energy on their city, school district, or church, theyd likely find something more constructive to say and something more useful to do.

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Jesus gave his attention to the people in front of him (Matt. 14:14). He gave little credence to the colossal institutions that trusted in their own significance (Mark 12:1317). We would do well to imitate him.

Finally, our over-attention to Harvard exacerbates the very imbalance of which its critics often complain. Even an anti-Harvard obsession helps to concentrate power in Harvard and institutions like it.

The world is full of brilliant people and outstanding universities. As a society, we would do better to recognize that brilliance wherever it is found, rather than assessing people based on their association with a brand like Harvard. Harvard has no monopoly on brilliance and does not deserve a monopoly on our attention.

The point is not to bash Harvardthough, certainly, it does deserve scrutiny and even criticism for a great many things. Rather, it is to redirect our attention toward better objects. Theres a quote, often misattributed to C. S. Lewis but more accurately credited to Rick Warren, which explains that humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.

Something like that applies here. For most of us, the right response to all this clamor isnt to think less of Harvard, but to think of Harvard less.

Pete Williamson is the team leader for InterVarsitys Graduate and Faculty Ministries at Harvard University and a Harvard chaplain.

[ This article is also available in espanol, , and . ]
This week on The Bulletin, hosts Mike Cosper, Nicole Martin, and editor-in-chief Russell Moore welcome the new year with lively conversation about race and power, politics, and the fatigue we often feel when we look at the headlines. Discussion includes Harvards decision to remove its first African American president Claudine Gay and Republicans struggle to find a leader in advance of January caucuses. The episode ends with Mike, Nicole, and Russells favorite holiday movies and books.

The Bulletin is a production of Christianity Today

Executive Producer: Erik Petrik

Producers: Clarissa Moll and Matt Stevens

Associate Producer: McKenzie Hill

Editing and Mix: TJ Hester

Music: Dan Phelps

Show Design: Bryan Todd

Graphic Design: Amy Jones

Social Media: Kate Lucky
When Jan Gibbs began proofreading Bibles 14 years ago for Peachtree Publishing Services, which celebrated in December the distribution of a billion copies of its works, she first had to learn to draw lines.

In the Bibles poetry books in particular, primary, secondary and tertiary vertical lines designate the indentation for each horizontal line of text. Line placement must match the translators desires to a tee.

Mastering poetry alignment, she moved to proofreading running heads to conform to each publishers order. Then footnotes. Then word breaks.

Cumbersome to many, to Gibbs its mothers milk.

I find it fascinating, said Gibbs, who today is Peachtrees vice president of Bible proofreading. My husband said that this would absolutely drive him insane.

When proofreading Gods inerrant Word, theres no room for error.

Peachtree proofreads 80 percent of the English Protestant Bibles in the US, proofreads many Catholic Bibles and serves publishers worldwide, Peachtree president Chris Hudson told Baptist Press.

We are making sure everything is as perfect as can be, he said. We want people to find God when they read the Bible, not find a mistake.

But surely, with so many details in play, someone must have made an error somewhere in Peachtrees history, one could presume.

We dont get a lot of feedback of mistakes. Mostly were catching lots of mistakes before its printed, Hudson said. Every step along the way gets looked at at least twice by different people. Through our electronic and our people checks were catching most things. But we are human, so occasionally well get (feedback) that we missed a spelling of a word here or there, but its not very often.

Preserving Gods inerrant Word in perfect text is Peachtrees key theological motivation.

We have the Bible he wants us to have, and therefore we want to preserve it exactly as God intended. Its why our people work for us, Hudson said. We could all be making more money doing something else, but were driven to protect and advance Gods Word and help people engage the Bible. Its that genuine theological drive that motivates us.

An evangelistic heart to spread Gods Word at home and globally inspires Peachtrees team of introverted people to sit at their desks and check text for hours. In 2023, Peachtree proofread Bibles in 12 languages with a capacity to reach 94 countries.

Among Peachtrees more than 45 clients are B&H Publishing, Harvest Ministries, Thomas Nelson, Zondervan, the Museum of the Bible, the American Bible Society, and Moody Publishing, as well as Catholic Bible publishers.

Gibbs recalls an error being made on a project she oversaw. One of the scanners on her team missed a detail in a portion of the red-letter text. The publisher spotted the error during printing. A couple of pages would have to be pulled and the correct pages inserted. It was expensive.

I was just devastated, Gibbs said. It was like at the end of a red-letter section. I want to say it was like the ending punctuation was missed. It was something like that. On some red letters, youll have a red single quote that ends a section, then the double quote next to it would need to be black. But it was just horrible.

Peachtree had to recheck the entire red-letter section with no additional compensation before the publisher finalized the print.

Needless to say, ever since then, she said, I almost always go through and check red letter sections for jobs Im in charge of. We are humans and we do miss things sometimes. Its crushing when we do, because its such an important book.

Peachtree checks more than 300,000 details on any given Bible before publication, including the biblical text, supplemental material, study and devotional content, cross-reference systems, concordances, and indexes. About 20 fulltime workers and additional contract employees do the work, all remotely since the COVID-19 pandemic. Hundreds of hours are poured into each project, usually spanning as much as three months, Hudson said.

Peachtree has its roots in the 1960s work of Mildred and Frederick Tripp. Mildred, a solo proofreader, gained clients after she developed a unique method of proofreading at Oxford University Press, according to Peachtrees website. Doug and June Gunden purchased the concept from the Tripps and formed Peachtree Editorial Services in 1981, refining the method to include a systematic team approach to proofreading.

Hudson has incorporated software tools to work in concert with the human hand, which he describes as merging the best of both worlds. Its not artificial intelligence, he said, but he speculates that AI might be used in the future to improve the software programs in use.

The proofreading process has changed since Gibbs began at Peachtree, but shes as motivated as ever.

Ive spent the last 13 years learning it, and I still love it, she told Baptist Press. I still love the work I do.
Home News Air National Guard commander resigns in protest of Biden's abortion travel policy

The governor of Arkansas is urging the Biden administration to end its policy of paying the travel expenses of service members who go out-of-state to obtain abortions after a high-ranking military official stepped down from his post in protest.

In a letter sent to President Joe Biden and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin Tuesday, Arkansas Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders explained how former Commander of the 188th Wing of the Arkansas Air National Guard Colonel Dillon Patterson resigned from his position on Dec. 18. Her letter elaborated on the reasons for his resignation and pointed the finger directly at a federal government policy.

Unfortunately, Col. Patterson was forced to personally choose between either continuing his command or adhering to his sincerely held religious beliefs against abortion, she wrote. Because he adhered first to his faith instead of overtly political mandates, he voluntarily resigned his command.

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The overtly political mandate Sanders was referring to is a Department of Defense policy that involves using taxpayer dollars to fund the travel, meals, and lodging, associated with out-of-state servicemember travel for procurement of an abortion procedure. Sanders also noted that maybe equally as egregious, the DoD now requires that commanding officers  regardless of any sincere and deeply held religious convictions to the contrary  are forced to approve such abortion leave.

Sanders lamented that Patterson found himself forced to resign because he was a man of conviction led by senior Department of Defense leadership who had disregarded his service and abandoned his most fundamental constitutional rights in favor of more fashionable political and social experiments. She concluded her letter by urging the Biden administration to rescind this policy immediately.

As Sanders pointed out in her letter, the establishment of the abortion travel policy followed the U.S. Supreme Courts 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, which determined that the U.S. Constitution does not contain a right to abortion. Following the Dobbs ruling, two dozen states, including Arkansas, enacted pro-life protections that either restricted abortion to the first trimester or banned the procedure altogether.

In Arkansas case, the state implemented a near-total abortion ban. The pro-life group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America estimates that Arkansas pro-life protections will save 3,133 babies from abortion on an annual basis.

The Department of Defenses abortion travel policy is designed to enable female service members living in states with strong pro-life protections to travel to states that allow abortion through the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. In the October 2022 memo unveiling the policy, Austin insisted it was necessary to assuage concerns about his departments ability to recruit, retain, and maintain the readiness of a highly qualified force.

For her part, Sanders insisted that the Biden administration's abortion travel policy is one of the factor's hindering the Department of Defenses ability to recruit, retain, and maintain the readiness of a highly qualified force.

Sanders added: At a time when nearly every military branch has failed to meet recruiting thresholds, it is difficult to imagine a more irresponsible and short-sighted bureaucratic mandate. As relevant here, nationally, the Air National Guard missed its most recent recruiting goals by a shocking 40%.

Sanders isn't the only Republican elected official to call on the Pentagon to abandon its abortion travel policy. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., held up military promotions for nine months in protest of the policy and continues to block high-ranking appointments.

In a 221-213 vote last summer, the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives approved an amendment to the Department of Defenses funding bill for fiscal year 2024 that would nullify the policy. However, the amendment did not make it into the final version of the bill after going through the Democrat-controlled Senate and reaching Bidens desk.

In addition to the Pentagon policy of paying the travel expenses for female service members seeking to obtain abortions out of state, the Biden administration has authorized the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to perform abortions at hospitals maintained by the government agency in cases where a health care professional determines that the life or the health of the pregnant veteran would be endangered if the pregnancy were carried to term or the pregnancy is the result of an act of rape or incest.

The VA's policy has the effect of circumventing statewide bans on abortions by allowing hospitals in states with such laws to perform the procedure in some cases.

Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., insisted that performing abortions at the VA ran afoul of the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992 that authorizes VA hospitals to provide general reproductive healthcare specifically excluding abortions, but the Biden administration implemented the policy anyway.
Home News Reflections on the year ahead

As I sit in my study writing this column, I find myself in a contemplative mode. I have just experienced a Christmas season unlike any other in my experience. The Sunday before Christmas, my wife of 52 years broke her hip and had to have surgery followed by intense rehab. She just came home from rehab earlier this week.

So Christmas and New Years celebrations were unique to our entire family. Without my wife to coordinate the family ballet, the usual smooth harmony was missing, and much was left undone. But it did not really matter. We were together as a family. We love one another, and it put me into a real attitude and posture of gratitude. I cannot begin to adequately describe how grateful we are for our two sons-in-law and our daughter-in-law.

I am so grateful that we live in a community where the first responders arrived 7 minutes after my 911 call. The responders could not have been more professional or solicitous. I followed them to the hospital and the ambulance driver weaved through parking lots to avoid speed bumps out of consideration for my wifes comfort.

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The care she received from the emergency room forward was impeccable and her prognosis for full recovery is quite high. The surgery was successful. I am so grateful that the medical emergency was something that could be fixed. Our familys experience has made us all aware of how life can change in a moment, in the literal twinkling of an eye.

Life is precious. Tell your loved ones how much you love them and what they mean to you. A medical emergency focuses the senses and highlights priorities.

As I look ahead to the coming year  2024  I have spent much time thinking about my country. It feels increasingly like our country has been drifting toward a decision point, and 2024 might be the year when we will truly reach a fork in the road, and we will decisively turn left or right, or up or down, depending on ones perspective.

One of the benefits of having lived a length of years (in my case, I am in my eighth decade) is that you have a historical perspective. I see an America that is more divided at the social fabric level than at any time since 1968. The political divisions are reflective of deeper social divisions.

The different views that Americans have for how they want their families and themselves to live their lives have propelled an increasing internal migration of Americans moving from blue states to red states.

About a quarter of a century ago, the British magazine The Economist, writing from the European perspective, ran a cover story about Americas Two Futures: California or Texas? Those two states were used to symbolize two very different visions of American society and the differences have been, and are, accelerating in recent years.

When one compares life in California and life in Texas or Florida, one understands the division is far deeper than traditional Republican vs. Democrat.

And the political system seems increasingly ill-equipped to channel the disagreements and divisions in productive and manageable ways. When more than half of Americans wish that someone other than the current frontrunners for the Republican (Trump) and Democrat (Biden) presidential nominations would be nominated, the system is clearly not working.

One of the most important factors that should be utilized in addressing the social crises we face is memory. Many of us in the boomer generation (b. 1946-1964) can remember a very different America than the one we experience today where approximately 25% of our children are being reared in homes without a natural, adoptive or stepfather. Father absence has been catastrophic for Americas children, and our fatherlessness rate is much higher than any other society on Earth.

So why is memory so important? I visited the Soviet Union in the last year of its existence (1991). Among other Americans I was traveling with, I was struck by the hopelessness and ennui, particularly of young people. A Russian Evangelical leader explained it his way:

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania went communist in 1940. Poland, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania and Yugoslavia went communist between 1945-1948. China went communist in 1949. There are people in all those countries who can remember before communism and can tell others about how it was. Russia went Communist in 1917 and nobody can remember before the soul-numbing death that is communism.

Baby boomers can remember when, as the Judds put it so poignantly in Grandpa (Tell Me Bout the Good Old Days)":

"Grandpa, Tell me bout the good old days Sometimes it feels like This worlds gone crazy Grandpa, Take me back to yesterday When the line between right and wrong Didnt seem so hazy Did lovers really fall in love to stay And stand beside each other come what may? Was a promise really somethin people kept Not just somethin they would say? Did families really bow their heads to pray? Did daddies really never go away? Whoa-oh, Grandpa Tell me bout the good old days."

In 1940, 4% of babies were born without fathers. Today its 40%. This is catastrophic news for babies and for America.

Were things perfect for the baby boomers? Of course they were not. Too much racism and too much sexism were two major failings and blind spots. Still, we were taught respect for parents, teachers and the law. We were taught patriotism, and we were taught some things were always right and some things were always wrong.

As the Judds put it in another verse of Grandpa (Tell Me Bout the Good Old Days)":

"Grandpa, Take me back to yesterday When the line between right and wrong Didnt seem so hazy.

As I have watched the news just this week and viewed the looting, violence and criminality in our cities, I was reminded once again of the incomparable C.S. Lewis and his trenchant observation about the destructive nature of moral relativism in The Abolition of Man (1943):

In a sort of ghastly simplicity, we remove the organ and demand the function. We make men without hearts and expect of them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor, and are shocked to find traitors in our midst. We castrate and bid the geldings to be fruitful.

If you are concerned, as am I, about the crumbling of the family in America, what are we to do? First, pray for spiritual revival and awakening in America. How desperately we need it. Second, commit to helping to rebuild the family in America. PRACTICE FAMILY. Talk to young people Bout the Good Old Days and help young people understand what a great country America is and how fortunate we are to be able to call ourselves Americans.

Let us all commit to being better fathers and mothers, sons, daughters, husbands, wives, aunts and uncles and model before our nation what healthy, supportive families look and feel like.

You will be doing a noble service for our country and for our posterity.
Home Opinion America must reject the false choice between our Southern border and Ukraine

U.S. leaders are locked in a power struggle over whether to prioritize helping Ukraine or addressing the crisis on our Southern border.

I believe we need to do both  urgently.

To explain why, let me share the story of the Ukrainian refugee mom I met one night in Eastern Poland.

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Not long after the war started, my colleagues and I traveled there to help the thousands of refugees fleeing the brutal Russian attacks.

What we witnessed was stunning: A human stream of refugees lining up at the border station, shivering in the dark. Many were elderly and single moms with children fleeing the Russian artillery and missile barrages.

We were there to bring them food and emergency supplies on behalf of our global network of churches. Later, we partnered with hundreds of churches to set up safe houses inside Poland and Moldova where refugees could find shelter.

We soon realized, however, that our most precious gift was hope. Hope stemming from the fact that complete strangers from America whom theyd never met, had traveled thousands of miles to assure them they werent facing Vladimir Putin alone.

Ill never forget seeing families stagger across the border whod walked miles through the bitter cold after theyd endured long, packed train rides.

One elderly woman collapsed a few feet away. I lifted her to her feet and said, Youre safe now.

America? She asked. Yes, I replied. I am an American.

An expression of pure joy spread over her weathered visage. America! she said. I love America!

Later, as I followed the large caravans of families, I spotted a makeshift tent harboring young women and their children. They were escaping the cold and hiding from the skulking predators who were lurking about, men looking for a chance to take advantage.

In the corner was a young mom clutching her baby boy. Somehow she resembled one of my own daughters. Through the interpreter, I told her, Youre going to be okay.

With that, she began to sob uncontrollably. Separated from her family, exhausted from a long and difficult journey, worried sick no doubt over the fate of her infant son  I could only guess what shed been through.

I leaned over and hugged her. I could feel she was shivering. But as I pulled away, she held on for dear life and pulled me back.

Please dont leave me, she said over and over. Please, dont leave me!

We wont leave you, I promised. By then the tears were streaming down my face as well.

Thank God I was able to keep that promise. We immediately connected her with a local pastor and his wife to ensure that she and her child would be transported to a safe place. I am relieved to report that thanks to our church partners and generous donors, CityServe has been able to provide humanitarian relief across Ukraine, Poland, and Moldova  several million meals, clothes, electrical generators, homes, and more.

To this day, I still cant forget that moms expression of utter human desperation.

With that in mind, Im quite concerned that the attention span of our leaders on Capitol Hill seems to be waning over the war in Ukraine.

Were witnessing an either/or negotiating strategy, and it works like this: Either we address our own chaos at the Southern border that appears to be a growing threat to our national security, or we continue to support the Ukrainian war effort against Putin. Many ideologues demand we cant or shouldnt do both.

Now, I certainly agree with those on Capitol Hill who warn the status quo with the migrant crisis is unacceptable. Security must always remain a priority. Yet that doesnt mean a compassionate humanitarian response to those seeking refuge here has to be on the chopping block. An orderly system must prevail over extreme positions in either direction.

Yet I believe America, as the de facto global guardian of democracy, must also continue to support Ukraine. Putins heartless assault on a free nation must not go unanswered.

This is certainly not an either/or situation, especially considering Putin has made it clear his real enemy isnt Ukrainians, a people whose national identity he denies. His real enemy, he says, is NATO and the West. He and his henchmen regularly flaunt the nuclear saber at the West. We pray thats a bluff, of course. But do we dare dismiss it?

The growing list of countries whose sovereignty Putin has threatened includes Moldova, Romania, the Baltics, Poland, and the United Kingdom, to name only a few.

Now, I realize that with Russias military setbacks in Ukraine, Putins imperial ambitions may strike some as absurd. But let us not forget that Western intelligence agencies largely dismissed the probability of a Russian invasion of Ukraine  until Putin launched the largest assault on a European country since WWII.

This brings to mind one of WWIIs most tragic lessons: If your enemy declares he wants to annihilate you, believe him.

This insight explains why long-neutral Sweden and Finland are now seeking shelter under the NATO umbrella, and why the Polish president announced hes diverting weapons from Ukraine to protect Polands own Eastern borders.

Putins intimidating threats and bluster, once seen as geopolitical gamesmanship, must now be taken seriously. Giving Putin any space to claim a victory in the special military operation he launched to supposedly denazify Ukraine  a European nation led by a Jewish president  would seriously damage U.S. deterrence around the globe. How long would it be before Russia, China, or Iran target their next victim?

To any student of history, it's clear that evil placated only grows stronger. Anyone who believes Putin will be content and stop after pillaging and fully infiltrating Ukraine is calling balls and strikes from outside the stadium.

Pitting border control against aiding Ukraine is a false choice. In both cases, our vital national interest hangs in the balance. We must answer the call to do both.
Home News 5 of the most powerful political figures named in the Epstein files: list

Dozens of previously sealed court documents from a lawsuit involving Jeffrey Epstein are now in the public domain and include mentions of some of the late sex traffickers high-profile alleged friends and associates, including two former presidents and a former vice president.

While the newly-released documents are the latest in thousands of other filings made public in lawsuits involving Epstein, there are roughly 250 more slated to be released.

In July 2019, Epstein was indicted on sex trafficking and sex trafficking conspiracy charges and was being held in Metropolitan Correctional Center awaiting trial. He was found dead in his cell on Aug. 10, 2019, after what officials claimed was a second  and successful  suicide attempt.

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A 2020 Rasmussen Reports survey found that only 21% of the American public believe Epstein killed himself, while another 27% are undecided. Most respondents (52%) believe Epstein was murdered, the survey found.

Here are five of the most powerful names mentioned in the Epstein files.
Home News 'A step forward' or 'contradictory'? Catholic reactions to approval of blessings for LGBT couples

Catholic Church leaders and prominent lay Catholics in American politics and culture have offered mixed reactions to the Vatican's recent declaration "Fiducia Supplicans."

The document issued by the Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith was approved by Pope Francis on Dec. 18, allowing priests to "bless couples in irregular situations and same-sex couples without officially validating their status or changing in any way the Church's perennial teaching on marriage." The Vatican advises that "one should neither provide for nor promote a ritual for the blessings of couples in an irregular situation."

While some praised the Vatican for what they viewed as an overdue gesture, others lamented the development as a contradiction to traditional Catholic teaching.

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The following pages highlight nine reactions to "Fiducia Supplicans."
Home News Priest defiant after being excommunicated for calling Pope Francis 'usurper,' 'Jesuit Freemason' Father Ramon Guidetti said he intends to frame excommunication decree, hang on wall

A Roman Catholic priest in Italy is defiant after his bishop excommunicated him for delivering a homily on New Year's Eve proclaiming Pope Francis as an "antipope usurper."

Father Ramon Guidetti, 48, of the Diocese of Livorno in Tuscany, marked the one-year anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI's death by claiming that his successor is "a Jesuit Freemason," which prompted applause from his congregation at his Church of San Ranieri in Guasticce, according to The Pillar.

During his homily, Guidetti referenced reports of lightning striking a statue of St. Peter on Dec. 17 at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary of St. Nicolas in the pope's home province of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

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Earlier this week, a local journalist confirmed the unusual lightning strike to CatholicVote.org, noting that the bolt obliterated both the statue's halo and the keys in its hand, despite the shrine's many lightning rods.

The outlet said it "confirmed that the lightning episode has sparked concern and speculation in San Nicolas and Buenos Aires, especially since the shrine was turning 40 years old and many thought of 2023 as an emblematic year."

Dec. 17 was Pope Francis' 87th birthday and one day before the Vatican released "Fiducia supplicans," which has caused an eruption of controversy among Catholic prelates worldwide for allowing "spontaneous pastoral blessing" for "same-sex couples" and other couples in "irregular situations." The guidance noted that the blessing is not akin to marriage and that such relationships are still sinful.

And what did [the lightning] go on to incinerate?" Guidetti asked during his homily. "The halo and the keys. The halo because Peter is no longer holy, because there is a Jesuit Freemason linked to world powers, an antipope usurper. And the keys because the good Benedict kept those."

Guidetti went on to claim that Pope Francis has not been the legitimate pope for the past decade, according to Catholic News Agency.

On Jan. 1, a day after Guidetti's homily, Bishop Simone Giusti slapped the priest with a decree of excommunication, accusing him of violating canon 751 of the Code of Canon Law, which prohibits schism as defined by "the refusal of submission to the Supreme Pontiff or of communion with the members of the [Catholic] Church subject to him."

Giusti claimed the priest "publicly committed a schismatic act" during the Mass on Dec. 31 and was therefore automatically excommunicated. His punishment bars him from performing any ministerial office or receiving the sacraments.

"The priests and faithful are admonished not to participate in any of his celebrations or other worship practices, as they would ipso facto [by that very fact] incur the very serious penalty of excommunication," the diocese said.

Guidetti has taken his excommunication in stride, telling Radio Domina Nostra host Alessandro Minutella on Tuesday that he intends to frame the decree and hang it on his wall.

"The Church should be maternal, in reality it is a tyrant," he told the Catholic outlet.

Bishop Giusti told local Italian media that Guidetti had been warned previously not to exhibit a schismatic attitude, but noted that the priest had already packed his bags, given his keys to a woman in the parish, and left before the decree of excommunication was handed down.
Inside The U.S. Epicenter Of Transgender Ideology And Activism

link to download the audio instead. link to download the audio instead. 34:13 34:13

For several reasons, the state of California is where ideological trends in the United States originate and spread, and the furtherance of transgender ideology is no exception. The largest and most populous state in the union is also home to Hollywood and Silicon Valley and thus shapes the culture in important ways. Meanwhile, the state legislature is one of the most left-wing in the country and has rubber-stamped many public policies that have advanced gender identity in every sphere of society.

In episode two of the latest season of "Generation Indoctrination," The Christian Post examines the Golden States influence on the nation, and why resistance is necessary even in areas where the proverbial deck appears to be stacked against opponents of gender ideology. A crucial player in the California legislature is state senator Scott Weiner, a homosexual man who represents portions of San Francisco and has sponsored numerous bills advancing transgender ideology, including the bill that enabled men to transfer into womens prisons. We scrutinize his influence and what motivates him.

As states across the U.S. South and Midwest pass legislation banning gender medicalization of children  puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and trans surgery on minors  these California advocates insist that the battle against gender ideology must be fought and won in California, not only because those children matter, but because the state laws now enable kids from other states to come to California and be harmed.

Among those resisting the onslaught are two lifelong yet now-disaffected Democrat women  a parent activist whose daughter became caught up in the trans craze and a longtime lesbian activist from San Francisco. Also featured in this installment are a Christian conservative activist with the California Family Council, a tenacious endocrinologist trying to get answers via FOIA requests from the federal government about controversial medical research on gender-confused children, and a formerly incarcerated woman who is now advocating for females who are forced to share prison quarters with trans-identifying males because of the California legislatures moves in recent years.

Tune in to Generation Indoctrination on all podcast platforms.

For several reasons, the state of California is where ideological trends in the United States originate and spread, and the furtherance of transgender ideology is no exception. The largest and most populous state in the union is also home to Hollywood and Silicon Valley and thus shapes the culture in important ways. Meanwhile, the state legislature is one of the most left-wing in the country and has rubber-stamped many public policies that have advanced gender identity in every sphere of society.

In episode two of the latest season of "Generation Indoctrination," The Christian Post examines the Golden States influence on the nation, and why resistance is necessary even in areas where the proverbial deck appears to be stacked against opponents of gender ideology. A crucial player in the California legislature is state senator Scott Weiner, a homosexual man who represents portions of San Francisco and has sponsored numerous bills advancing transgender ideology, including the bill that enabled men to transfer into womens prisons. We scrutinize his influence and what motivates him.

As states across the U.S. South and Midwest pass legislation banning gender medicalization of children  puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and trans surgery on minors  these California advocates insist that the battle against gender ideology must be fought and won in California, not only because those children matter, but because the state laws now enable kids from other states to come to California and be harmed.

Among those resisting the onslaught are two lifelong yet now-disaffected Democrat women  a parent activist whose daughter became caught up in the trans craze and a longtime lesbian activist from San Francisco. Also featured in this installment are a Christian conservative activist with the California Family Council, a tenacious endocrinologist trying to get answers via FOIA requests from the federal government about controversial medical research on gender-confused children, and a formerly incarcerated woman who is now advocating for females who are forced to share prison quarters with trans-identifying males because of the California legislatures moves in recent years.

Tune in to Generation Indoctrination on all podcast platforms.
"Lukewarm Christianity" At Passion 2024, Cyber Kidnapping In Utah, Over 4,200 Churches Join New Methodist Movement

link to download the audio instead. link to download the audio instead. 09:01 09:01

Subscribe here for Season 3 of Generation Indoctrination

Top headlines for Friday, January 5, 2024

In today's episode, we discuss Jonathan Pokluda's criticism of lukewarm American Christianity and Sadie Robertson Huff's call to engage with the Bible's transformative power despite shifting cultural norms. We'll also cover the gripping case of a Chinese exchange student victim of a cyber-kidnapping, located in Utah, and a concerning incident in North Carolina involving a pastor, an altercation, and a McDonald's employee. The shadow of tragedy in western Uganda gets discussed next - the brutal murder of a grandmother and her grandchildren on Christmas Day. Updates on Kim Davis' legal consequences over refusing to issue same-sex marriage licenses will be mentioned as well. Lastly, we will explore the alarming surge in a cult, Santa Muerte, and its consequences in Mexico, and the impressive growth of a recent addition to churches in the United Methodist Church realm.

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Subscribe here for Season 3 of Generation Indoctrination

Top headlines for Friday, January 5, 2024

In today's episode, we discuss Jonathan Pokluda's criticism of lukewarm American Christianity and Sadie Robertson Huff's call to engage with the Bible's transformative power despite shifting cultural norms. We'll also cover the gripping case of a Chinese exchange student victim of a cyber-kidnapping, located in Utah, and a concerning incident in North Carolina involving a pastor, an altercation, and a McDonald's employee. The shadow of tragedy in western Uganda gets discussed next - the brutal murder of a grandmother and her grandchildren on Christmas Day. Updates on Kim Davis' legal consequences over refusing to issue same-sex marriage licenses will be mentioned as well. Lastly, we will explore the alarming surge in a cult, Santa Muerte, and its consequences in Mexico, and the impressive growth of a recent addition to churches in the United Methodist Church realm.
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is initiating a project to enhance living conditions for displaced individuals from Ukraine and the local community in the North of the Republic of Moldova. The primary objective is to commence a pilot light to medium shelter repair response for an estimation of 100  135 Shelters, focusing on critical elements like roofs, windows, doors, and WASH facilities. Additionally, priority will be given to upgrading household energy systems, including heating infrastructure and passive energy efficiency measures. The works will be implemented in 4 different cities of Moldova (Ocnita, Soroca, Edinet, Donduseni).

The purpose of this Expression of Interest is to verify the market availability for the requested types of works and services for the NRC project for Shelter (houses) repairing services. The companies who respond to this Call for the Expression of Interest might be contacted and requested to submit their technical and financial offers once the project tender is initiated.

Valid offers shall include:

Filled and signed EOI. Copy of companys recent Extras. Filled and signed Annex 1 - Mapping of shelter repairing service providers (in either of three languages EN, RO or RU). Signed Annex 2 - Supplier ethical standards declaration. Copies of all licenses / certificates (if any) as mentioned in Annex 1, section 1  Basic Information. References from previous clients (if any) as mentioned in Annex 1, section 5  Experience and References. Copy of the last audited financial statements or bank references as mentioned in Annex 1, section 8  Financial stability.

Qualified companies are requested to submit their proposals to md.tenders@nrc.no before the close date on 31 January, 2024

All relevant documents can be accessed at the following link: EoI - Shelter

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Identificarea furnizorilor de servicii pentru executarea lucrarilor de reparatii

Consiliul Norvegian pentru Refugiati (NRC) initiaza un proiect de imbunatatire a conditiilor de viata pentru persoanele stramutate din Ucraina si comunitatea locala din nordul Republicii Moldova. Obiectivul principal este de a incepe o interventie pilot de reparare usoara pana la medie a adaposturilor cu o estimare de 100  135 de locatii pentru adapost, concentrandu-se pe elemente critice precum acoperisuri, ferestre, usi, componente si instalatii sanitare (WASH) . In plus, se va acorda prioritate modernizarii sistemelor energetice casnice, inclusiv infrastructurii de incalzire si masurilor pasive de eficienta energetica. Lucrarile vor fi implementate in 4 raioane diferite (Ocnita, Soroca, Edinet, Donduseni).

Scopul acestei exprimari de interes este de a verifica disponibilitatea pietei de a oferi servicii de reparatii adaposturi (case) pentru tipurile de lucrari si servicii necesare proiectul NRC. Companiile care raspund la acest apel de exprimare de interes ar putea fi contactate si solicitate sa isi depuna ofertele tehnice si financiare odata cu initierea licitatiei pentru proiectul mentionat.

Conditiile minime pentru validarea ofertelor:

CEI completat si semnat. Copia extrasullui din Registrul de stat al persoanelor juridice valid. Anexa 1 completata si semnata  Identificarea furnizorilor de servicii pentru executarea lucrarilor de reparatii ale adaposturilor (case) (completata in una din cele trei limbi: EN, RO sau RU) Anexa 2 semnata - Declaratie privind standardele etice ale furnizorului. Copii ale tuturor licentelor/certificatelor (daca exista), asa cum este mentionat in Anexa 1, sectiunea 1 - Informatii de baza. Referinte de la clienti anteriori (daca exista), asa cum este mentionat in Anexa 1, sectiunea 5 - Experienta si referint Copii ale rapoartelor de audit independent ale situatie financiare a companiei sau referinte bancare, asa cum este mentionat in Anexa 1, sectiunea 8 - Stabilitate financiara.

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Contractare si Achizitie Bunuri Anunturi de Angajare Granturi - Finantari Burse de studiu Stagii Profesionale Oportunitati de voluntariat Toate Articolele
Anunt concurs pentru post vacant Institutia Publica Centrul de Consiliere Agricola si Rurala (CCAR) este in cautare de un profesionist dinamic si dedicat, pentru pozitia de Sef/a de Sectie la sectia Inovare si transfer de cunostinte in cadrul institutie
New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the arrest and arraignment of a New Jersey man for allegedly stealing more than $1 million that was intended to be paid to doctors who provided medical care to injured workers covered under workers compensation.

Prosecutors said Amrish Patel, who provided billing services to a Brooklyn-based orthopedic surgery practice, allegedly submitted falsified claim forms to the New York State Insurance Fund (NYSIF) to steal at least $1.1 million in workers compensation reimbursements for himself.

Patel and his two companies  Medlink Services, Inc. and Medlink Partners, LLC  have been charged with 27 felony counts for the thefts they allegedly committed from January 2012 through January 2019.

The charges are accusations only and Patel is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

According to the 27-count complaint, Patel diverted payments that were intended for surgeons who provided health care services to workers compensation claimants.

Under the law, authorized providers are reimbursed for their treatment of injured workers by the insurance carrier for the employer. Under the terms of their client agreement, Patel submitted bills for surgical procedures to NYSIF, the workers compensation carrier in this instance, and then the payments would subsequently be issued directly to the surgical practice or its doctors. In exchange for these transactions, Patel and his companies were paid monthly service fees.

However, Patel allegedly submitted falsified claim forms to NYSIF and requested that the payments be sent to his companies instead of the doctors. In total, Patel allegedly stole at least $1.1 million in payments originally intended for three doctors for services provided between January 1, 2012 and January 4, 2019.

Fraud in any part of the workers compensation system is detrimental to trust and hurts the entire system, including medical providers, carriers, businesses, and injured workers, said NYSIF Executive Director Gaurav Vasisht.

Source: New York Attorney General
Insurer GEICO has been dealt a setback in its efforts to get back $2.3 million in what it alleges were fraudulent medical and chiropractic service charges it paid to several clinics under New Jerseys no-fault insurance law.

The 14 counts in GEICOs original complaint alleged violations of the New Jersey Insurance Fraud Prevention Act (IFPA) and the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), and it cited common law fraud and unjust enrichment.

The U.S. District Court for New Jersey affirmed that RICO, unjust enrichment, and common law fraud claims related to PIP benefits are subject to arbitration under New Jerseys no-fault insurance statute. The court dismissed those 12 charges, agreeing with the doctors and clinics and their defense.

However, the court allowed two of the charges relating to the IFPA to proceed. The court said details in the complaint provided a plausible basis for GEICOs claims that the defendants knowingly engaged in, and misrepresented various aspects of their services.

GEICO had argued that its allegations of fraud were not subject to arbitration under the no-fault law or under its treatment review rules. The insurer maintained that fraud-based claims go beyond the type of routine PIP disputes for which arbitration is mandatory under New Jersey law.

The insurer cited cases including a 2022 U.S. district court ruling, GEICO v Elkholy, to support its position.

However, the district court found that GEICO mischaracterized the case law when it asserted that the overwhelming weight of authority in this district holds that RICO, common law fraud, and unjust enrichment claims regarding PIP benefits are not subject to arbitration. In fact, in the Elkholy case the court dismissed counts brought by GEICO that were unrelated to IFPA violations, holding that claims for damages under the IFPA must be resolved in court and not by arbitration  which is the conclusion the district court reached in this latest case as well.

New Jerseys no-fault insurance statute contains an arbitration provision that states: Any dispute regarding the recovery of PIP benefits arising out of the operation, ownership, maintenance or use of an automobile may be submitted to dispute resolution on the initiative of any party to the dispute.

Nothing in the statute provides that fraud-based claims warrant special treatment or should be carved out from mandatory arbitration, nor can the court find any independent reason to do so, the court wrote.

The court and defendants also pointed out that GEICOs own Decision Point Review Plan, which allows providers to submit PIP benefits claims to GEICO for certain medical services they provide following a car accident upon an assignment of the patients PIP benefits to the providers, also contains an arbitration provision.

GEICO brought the charges in April, 2023 against physician Serge Menkin and chiropractor Lawrence Petracco, and their Center for Joint & Spine in New Jersey, as well as two other clinics owned by Menkin  United Medical in New York and Advanced Pain in New Jersey  through which GEICO said many of the services were provided and billed since 2018.

The insurers complaint alleged that these medical and chiropractic services, to the extent provided at all, were not medically necessary and often were not legitimately provided in the first instancerather, they were provided pursuant to pre-determined fraudulent protocols designed to financially enrich the defendants.
BANGKOK (AP)  The swift and safe evacuation of a Japan Airlines jet that caught fire after hitting a Coast Guard aircraft while it was landing Tuesday at Tokyo`s Haneda airport reflects a dogged dedication to safety and training by the airline, and hard experience from past disasters.

JAL set up a Safety Promotion Center at the airport in 2006 to reflect lessons learned from the Aug. 12, 1985, crash of Flight 123 into a mountain north of Tokyo. It was the worlds worst single-aircraft disaster, killing 520 people with only four survivors. JAL staff maintain a memorial at the site at Otsuka Ridge and new employees climb to it to pay their respects.

In the face of the pain and grief of the bereaved families and public distrust in airline safety, we pledged we would never again allow such a tragic accident to occur, the airline says on its website.

Only 17 people suffered slight injuries when fleeing the Airbus 350 via evacuation slides and running for their lives Tuesday evening as the plane blazed. Five people on the Japan Coast Guard`s Bombardier Dash-8 plane were killed and the pilot survived with serious injuries.

International aviation safety organizations use a 90-second benchmark for evacuating all passengers during emergency drills. Such drills must be done once a year and all crew members and flight attendants must pass the test, JAL spokesperson Keiko Miyoshi said.

Airline safety analysts credited the rapid evacuation of Tuesday`s flight to stringent training and passengers who heeded instructions and left their belongings behind.

A crash at Moscow`s Sheremetyevo Airport in May 2019 illustrated the hazards of trying to bring bags along in an evacuation after a Sukhoi SSJ100 jet caught fire in a hard emergency landing, killing 41 of the 78 people on board. Some of the 37 survivors were seen on video carrying hand luggage as they plunged down an inflatable slide from the planes forward section, raising questions about whether grabbing their baggage might have impeded the evacuation in which every second could separate life from death.

JAL reported no serious aircraft accidents in 2023. But like any other airline, it occasionally is caught slipping up. Last month, it posted a written apology for multiple inappropriate cases at its subsidiary JAL Engineering after receiving a warning from the Transport Ministry.

During Tuesday`s accident, the aircrafts announcement system malfunctioned, the company said, so flight attendants had to use megaphones and shout to clear the plane using three emergency slides. Videos posted by passengers showed people covering their mouths with handkerchiefs as they ducked down and moved toward the exits in an orderly way.

All slid down the escape chutes within 20 minutes of the landing as smoke filled the cabin of the burning aircraft.

It`s an exercise airlines all over the world prepare for and part of the training at both Japan Airlines and its rival All Nippon Airways that has become legendary, portrayed in manga comics, TV series and films like Attention Please,  a movie based on a 1970s comic strip that has been remade at least twice, and Good Luck, which features an up-and-coming young pilot.

The training center exhibits debris from the JAL 123 crash, information on the history of aviation safety learned from accidents, and safety pledges written by employees. JAL staff carry a card with the company`s safety charter on it, which calls for them to never rely on assumptions and to take any safety concern seriously.

Yamaguchi contributed from Kyoto, Japan.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
(This is CNBC Pro's live coverage of Friday's analyst calls and Wall Street chatter. Please refresh every 20-30 minutes to view the latest posts.) Nvidia and a cloud stocks were in focus among Friday's analyst calls. Bank of America named Nvidia a top pick, calling for $100 billion in free cash flow for the company by 2025. Meanwhile, RBC Capital Markets initiated Snowflake with an outperform rating and a price target that indicates more than 25% upside. Check out the latest calls and chatter below. 8:47 a.m. ET: Stifel lists Wynn, Bowlero and Royal Caribbean as top stock picks in 2024 Stifel thinks Wynn Resorts , Royal Caribbean and Bowlero are the top stock ideas heading into the near year. The firm reiterated buy ratings on all three stocks in a Thursday note, and raised its target prices on Wynn and Royal Caribbean. Stifel's $133 price target for Wynn implies more than 41% upside moving forward, while the firms $160 forecast on Royal Caribbean calls for nearly 70% upside. The firm maintained its $21 per share target on Bowlero, or about 56% upside. "We believe owning a combination of those three names will allow investors to capture the Macau/LV Strip/cruise upside opportunity as well as a highly controversial/ misunderstood story in BOWL," analyst Steven Wieczynski said. Wynn shares are up 3% this year, while Royal Caribbean and Bowlero are down.  Brian Evans 8:24 a.m. Et: Wells Fargo names Carnival a top pick, upgrades to overweight Wells Fargo sees upside ahead for Carnival , upgrading the stock to overweight and naming it a top pick for 2024. The bank pointed to the solid demand Carnival is enjoying, as well as material deleveraging of its debt. The entry point is attractive given its 10% pullback after its fourth quarter earnings report, analyst Daniel Politzer said in a note Friday. "CCL's fundamentals, mgmt execution, and communication have improved, and with its recent 4Q report, we believe CCL threaded the needle for upward est. revisions over the course of 2024," he wrote. While cruises may face some tough comps and geopolitical risks, they are still one of the few discretionary sectors where demand is robust and there is upside for pricing, Politzer noted.  Michelle Fox 8:23 a.m. ET: Oppenheimer downgrades McDonald's, cites tougher setup for same-store sales in 2024 Oppenheimer is moving to the sidelines on shares of McDonald's as the fast-food giant faces a tougher outlook for same-store sales in the new year. "Following outsized double-digit EPS revisions in '23, we are unable to identify another round of catalysts to the consensus model," wrote analyst Brian Bittner in his downgrade to perform. "We also predict an "in-line" SSS year as pricing benefits subside and share gains with low-end consumers may remain stuck in neutral." Bittner is bracing for a period of normalized growth in 2024 after a strong 2023 expected to exceed 9% same-store sales growth and 17% EPS growth "above historic norms." Global unit growth may continue accelerating for the company, but no longer represents a stock catalyst, with management's new unit growth algorithm already anticipating 4%-to-5%-unit growth. "Into 2024 we are not calling for SSS downside, but are unable to uncover clear drivers for traffic/mix reversals despite drivers such as "better burger", unmatched marketing, and accelerating digital," he wrote.  Samantha Subin 8:03 a.m. ET: Occidental, Chevron and Exxon provide most upside in oil sector, Bank of America says Big oil will have some of the greatest value in 2024 as the major players see tailwinds from big acquisitions, according to Bank of America analyst Doug Leggate. Leggate has selected Occidental , Chevron and Exxon as his top picks. All three companies entered into major deals in 2023 that could accelerate cash flow expansion and dividend growth, Leggate wrote. Chevron is purchasing Hess for $53 billion, Exxon is buying Pioneer Natural Resources for $60 billion, and Occidental is acquiring CrownRock for $12 billion. Bank of America is broadly cutting stock price targets in the oil and gas sector on a declining oil curve. But Leggate's top picks "represent some of the greatest absolute upside we see for the broader sector in 2024, while avoiding exposure through outsize commodity volatility," he wrote. Leggate's top pick overall is Occidental. He believes the CrownRock deal will reset the company's ability to shift value from debt back to equity. He has set Occidental's price target at $80, implying 35% upside. Exxon's target is $140, suggesting nearly 37% upside, while Chevron has 19% upside with at a target of $180.  Spencer Kimball 7:33 a.m. ET: Jefferies downgrades Palantir, cites 'overhyped AI euphoria' Jefferies said Palantir's artificial intelligence advantage has been overhyped in the near-term and sees more risk than reward for the stock. The firm downgraded the data analytics stock to underperform from hold on Friday, and lowered its price target to $13 per share from $18. Jefferies' forecast implies about 20% downside from Thursday's close. "While we do believe the company has an AI technology advantage in the long-term, we are concerned that the stock has rallied to unsustainable valuation levels primarily on the back of AI euphoria (and retail trading momentum) with no monetization strategy," analyst Brent Thill said. To be sure, the analyst added that the firm still believes "that the company has potential to gain share in an underpenetrated and large TAM," but noted that "there is more risk than reward at current levels, even when factoring in upward estimate revisions." Palantir shares more than doubled in 2023. In Friday's premarket, however, they fell 3.8%. PLTR 1D mountain PLTR falls  Brian Evans 7:16 a.m. ET: BTIG downgrades PayPal over long road to regain revenue growth BTIG said PayPal's return to revenue growth will extend beyond 2024, leading it to downgrading the stock to neutral from buy. "Our concern is that the core branded checkout business of PYPL is facing headwinds at a greater rate than Braintree is adding transaction margin dollars. As such, [chief executive officer Alex Chriss] will be seeking to improve Braintree margins while also stabilizing branded checkout trends." Shares have slipped nearly 5% so far in 2024.  Brian Evans 6:33 a.m. ET: Piper Sandler says Tesla and Rivian will outperform peers Electric vehicle companies Tesla and Rivian are best positioned to navigate a constantly evolving auto picture thanks to their respective vertical integration. The firm reiterated an overweight rating on Tesla as well as a neutral rating for Rivian on Thursday, with price targets of $295 and $21, respectively. Piper Sandler's forecast implies about 24% upside for Tesla and roughly 8% for Rivian. Analyst Alexander Potter said that as automakers pull back on orders for components connected to advanced driver assistance systems after stocking up during the pandemic, "this development reinforces our view that vertically-integrated automakers (e.g. TSLA and eventually RIVN) are best-positioned to navigate the rapidly-changing automotive landscape." Tesla shares are down 4.3% in early 2024, but remain more than 115% higher over the past 12 months. Rivian has already lost nearly 17% this year.  Brian Evans 6:22 a.m. ET: Wells Fargo names Boeing a top stock pick for 2024 Wells Fargo says aviation giant Boeing can continue to grow despite already high valuations in the aerospace sector. Analyst Matthew Akers named the stock a top pick, reiterating an overweight rating and raising its price target to $280 from $230. UBS' forecast implies about 14% upside from Thursday's close. "In the end however, what matters most for BA is FCF, and we remain ahead of consensus for 2024 cash. In particular, we estimate the re-start of deliveries to China could unlock ~$0.5-1B of cash on 737 inventory liquidation, along with another ~$0.5B on 787," Akers said. Boeing shares soared 36.8% in 2023. In early 2024, however, they've lost 6%.  Brian Evans 6:05 a.m. ET: Jefferies downgrades Okta Jefferies thinks the outlook for Okta is looking murky. The firm downgraded the cybersecurity stock to hold from buy on Friday. Analyst Joseph Gallo cited a recent security breach as a negative overhang for the stock, but noted he still remains positive on the overall strength of the company. "In order for shares to warrant a re-rating further past our PTs 6x CY25 rev multiple, we believe further improvement in execution and re-acceleration of growth is required which will take time," Gallo said. To be sure the analyst raised his price target on the stock to $95 per share from $85, or about 14% above Thursday's close. The stock has slipped about 8% from the start of the year. Gallo also mentioned peer Zscaler as a top pick in the note, noting the company can benefit from an improving macroeconomic outlook.  Brian Evans 5:43 a.m. ET: Bank of America forecasts $100 billion in free cash flow for Nvidia by 2025, names it a top pick Nvidia's generative artificial intelligence prominence will continue for at least the next two years and help grow free cash flow and expand new initiatives, according to Bank of America. The firm reiterated a buy rating on the chip stock in a note with a $700 per share price target and labeled Nvidia a top pick. BofA's forecast implies nearly 46% upside from Thursday's $479.98 close. Analyst Vivek Arya asserted that Nvidia's dominance can help push free cash flow to as much as $100 billion in 2024 and into 2025, while about $65 billion to $75 billion of those funds could be used for new growth opportunities. "NVDA's relatively depressed trading multiple  just 24x/20x CY24/25E PE versus 67%/26% EPS growth  is partly due to uncertainty in CY25 growth prospects, and partly due to a very hardware dependent business unlike other large-cap software/internet peers that have recurring revenue profiles," Arya said. "In our view NVDA's solid FCF generation creates optionality in addressing these concerns, and in helping to expand its trading multiple back to its historical median 35x-40x," Arya added. Nvidia had a monster year in 2023, rallying more than 200%. The stock, however, is down 3% in the first week of 2024. NVDA 1Y mountain NVDA in past year  Brian Evans 5:43 a.m. ET: RBC initiates Snowflake with an outperform rating Snowflake is coming off a strong year, and RBC thinks there are more gains ahead. The bank initiated the coverage of the cloud company with an outperform rating and a price target of $230 per share. That forecast implies upside of 25.2% from Thursday's close. "Cloud remains the center of gravity for data," analyst Matthew Hedberg wrote. "Despite 2023 cloud optimization trends, we believe platforms that can support a multi-cloud, cross-cloud strategy will win." He also said he's bullish on Snowflake's long-term "growth opportunity and think upside to consensus estimates seems likely. Key catalysts include improving cloud optimization trends, rapid adoption of Snowpark, and over time, adoption of new GenAI offerings." Snowflake shares rallied more than 38% in 2023. However, they got off to a slow start for 2024, losing 7.7% in the first few sessions of the year.  Fred Imbert
Apple CEO Tim Cook listens as President Joe Biden speaks during a roundtable with American and Indian business leaders in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on June 23, 2023.

Apple shares slid less than 1% on Friday after The New York Times reported that the U.S. Department of Justice is preparing an antitrust lawsuit against the iPhone maker, which could be filed as soon as this year.

The agency's lawsuit could target how the Apple Watch works exclusively with the iPhone, as well as the company's iMessage service, which is also solely available on Apple devices. It could also focus on Apple Pay, the company's payments system, according to the report.

The lawsuit, if it comes to pass, would be the biggest antitrust risk for Apple in years. The U.S. is Apple's largest market, and Apple says the way in which iMessage and the Apple Watch work are essential features that distinguish iPhones from Android phones.

The news comes as investors and analysts have started to fret about the various regulatory risks facing Apple, including new regulations in Europe over the company's App Store's control over iPhone software distribution, as well as a recent Justice Department trial targeting Google's search deals, including its lucrative arrangement with Apple.

"While Apple's share price increased by 48% in 2023, our concerns regarding Apple's legal risks have intensified in recent months," CFRA analyst Nick Rodelli wrote in a note Friday.

Apple CEO Tim Cook will meet with the European Commission's top antitrust enforcer, Margrethe Vestager, next Thursday.

A representative for Apple declined to comment. The Department of Justice did not immediately respond to CNBC's requests for comment.



Don't miss these stories from CNBC PRO:
BYD's new luxury brand Yangwang is selling its first model, the U8, for more than 1 million yuan (US$160,000).

BEIJING  BYD has overtaken Tesla again by the sheer number of new energy vehicles produced in 2023, thanks in part to the Chinese automaker's hybrids and wide range of offerings in a lower price range.

While Tesla's Model Y was the best-selling purely battery-powered car in China for the six months ending in November, BYD vehicles accounted for four of the top 10 such cars sold during that time. When including hybrids, seven BYD cars made the top 10 list.

That's according to China Passenger Car Association data cited by consumer information site Autohome.

Here are the five best-selling BYD new energy vehicles in China, according to the data:
watch now

Chinese electric vehicle company Xpeng told CNBC on Friday that its newly launched X9 model could be a "game changer" for the industry. Xpeng launched the X9 large 7-seater EV on Jan. 1, a car built on its SEPA2.0 architecture for the Chinese market. The X9 series are priced between 359,800 yuan to 419,800 yuan (about $50,360 to $58,760) with immediate deliveries. "For X9, we actually anticipate this to be a game changer for the battery electric vehicles segment for MPVs (multi-purpose vehicles)," Brian Gu, vice chairman and co-president of Xpeng, told CNBC's Emily Tan in an exclusive interview. "We believe this could be the top seller in its category ... because I think it has some very innovative technology and design as well as superior handling, industry leading smart driving technology  packed into a very beautifully designed product," said Gu.

Xpeng's new launch comes as several domestic EV players such as Nio , Huawei and Zeekr recently revealed new electric vehicles. Even Chinese consumer electronics company Xiaomi is launching its first EV to compete in the market.

We anticipate in 2024, we will be growing much faster than the industry growth which means that we can expand our market share. Brian Gu Vice Chairman and Co-President, Xpeng

Xpeng has laid out ambitious plans to roll out driver-assist technology in China by end of last year and in Europe by the end of 2024. The Chinese EV maker also entered into a cooperation framework agreement with Guangdong Huitian on Jan. 2 to manufacture, develop and sell flying vehicles, where Xpeng will provide research and development, technology consulting services and sales agent services to Guangdong Huitian. "We anticipate in 2024, we will be growing much faster than the industry growth which means that we can expand our market share," said Gu, adding that the firm will be looking to increase profit margins with greater scale and better product mix. "The X9 will be a very high margin product for us," said Gu.

Stiff competition

Competition is intensifying in the Chinese EV market, with BYD, Li Auto and Geely among the small number of players that have hit their annual sales targets. Xpeng and Nio were among those that missed their targets. Xpeng delivered a total of 141,601 units in 2023, a 17% increase from a year ago. This fell short of the firm's target of delivering 200,000 vehicles for the year as reported by local media. "The focus of investors [for 2024] is whether the company can maintain decent delivery momentum with new launches and improve profitability in a challenging pricing environment, in our view," said Morningstar analyst Vincent Sun in a Nov. 16 note on Xpeng.

2024 will be a very competitive year with obviously a number of new models as well as new brands launching in the segment. Brian Gu Vice Chairman and Co-President, Xpeng

Nio delivered 160,038 vehicles in 2023, representing an increase of 30.7% compared to a year ago  but it still was well below its target of about 245,000 cars based on management's target to "double the volume" of 2022 during their fourth quarter earnings call. Li Auto delivered 376,030 vehicles in 2023  meeting its annual delivery milestone of 300,000 vehicles. In terms of sales, BYD met its 3 million target in 2023 and surpassed Tesla as the world's top-selling EV brand in the fourth quarter, selling more battery-powered vehicles than its U.S. rival. BYD produced 3.05 million vehicles in 2023 while Tesla said it made 1.84 million vehicles that same year.

Gu is optimistic on China's EV market in 2024 despite challenges, saying that "2024 will be a very competitive year" with new model and brand launches. "I think that the EV sector in China ended on a very high note in the fourth quarter, if you look at the penetration rates approaching 40% towards the end of this 2023, which is the high point that we have seen in the industry," said Gu. "So all that points to a strong momentum." According to TrendForce, Chinas new energy vehicle penetration rate exceeded 40% for the first time in November and "optimistic growth" is anticipated by 2024.
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 09: In this photo illustration, a flipped version of the Coinbase logo is reflected in a mobile phone screen on November 09, 2021 in London, England. The cryptocurrency exchange platform is to release its quarterly earnings today. (Photo illustration by Leon Neal/Getty Images)



Coinbase plans to offer crypto-linked derivatives in the European Union, and it's planning to acquire a company with a license to do so.

The U.S. cryptocurrency exchange told CNBC exclusively that it entered into an agreement to buy an unnamed holding company which owns a MiFID II license.

MiFID II refers to the EU's updated rules governing financial instruments. The EU updated the legislation in 2017 to address criticism that it was too focused on stocks and didn't consider other asset classes, like fixed income, derivatives and currencies.

It's part of a long-standing ambition by Coinbase to serve professional and institutional customers.

The company, which began 12 years ago, has been seeking to expand its offering to institutions such as hedge funds and high-frequency trading firms over the last several years, looking to benefit from the much higher sizes of transactions done by these kinds of traders.

If and when Coinbase completes the deal, the move would mark the first launch of derivatives trading by the company in the EU.

With a MiFID II license, Coinbase will be able to begin offering regulated derivatives, like futures and options, in the EU. The company already offers spot trading in bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

The deal is subject to regulatory approval and Coinbase expects it will close later in 2024.

"This license would help expand access to our derivatives products by allowing Coinbase to offer them to eligible European customers in select countries across the EU," Coinbase said in a blog post, which was shared exclusively with CNBC on Friday.

"As the industry leader in trusted, compliant products and services, we aim for the highest standards for regulatory compliance, and before operationalizing any license or serving any users, this entity must achieve our Five-point Global Compliance Standard."
In 2022, only 2.1% of venture capital investments in the U.S. went to businesses that are founded solely by women. But some say the gap may be closing. Maskot | Digitalvision | Getty Images

Starting a business is always challenging. While women have historically faced additional challenges, some female founders say the landscape is changing for the better. "It's an amazing time to raise funding as a female founder," Victoria Zorin, founder of Australian crowd analytics software company Nola Technologies, told CNBC at the Forbes 30 Under 30 Summit Asia in Singapore. Zorin was also among this year's list of honorees. More women are starting their own businesses, accounting for nearly half of new entrepreneurs in recent years according to a report from Gusto, which operates a payroll, benefits and HR platform. In 2020, women made up 47% of new business owners, a significant jump from 29% in 2019, the report showed. That figure has held near that level  at 49% in 2021 and 47% in 2022  signaling a stable trend rather than a one-off surge, the report said.

Is the funding gap closing?

Still, there is no doubt a funding gap exists. In 2022, only 2.1% of venture capital investments in the U.S. went to businesses that were founded solely by women, according to a Pitchbook report. While the entrepreneurial landscape has become more supportive of women-led businesses in recent years, female founders still face discrimination in fundraising, Olivia Cotes-James told CNBC. Cotes-James founded menstrual health startup Luuna and was named in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list in 2021. "I have been able to point to many instances where you are asked questions that you know a male counterpart would not be asked during the pitching process and hurdles that exist due to gender. But truthfully, from my perspective, I do think it's oftentimes or has been a little bit different now," she said. Cotes-James shared that because her company was able demonstrate a compelling vision and good growth, raising funds gradually became easier. Today, Luuna has advocates from all genders, she added.

Olivia Cotes-James, founder of Luuna aims to destigmatize menstruation and advance gender equity by providing safe menstrual care products and educational programs at workplaces and campuses. Veronica Sanchis Bencomo | Afp | Getty Images

Zorin noted that "there's been a big shift in the last eight years  because people have invested into programs and awareness ... and now investors are expected to invest into female-led startups." In 2022, the funding rate for women-owned businesses rose to 41%, slightly higher than the 37% for businesses owned by men, according to a report by Biz2Credit, an online funding platform for small businesses.

Every woman in my network I know is as willing to reach out ... [and] fight for her business, fight for her dream, fight for her mission .... I think that it's sometimes harder for us to be heard, and that can wear you down over time. Olivia Cotes-James Founder of Luuna

Although the glass ceiling may be thinning, there is still room for improvement. In 2022, the average funding size for women-owned companies was $55,898  still significantly lower than the $93,976 average for businesses owned by men, the Biz2Credit report stated. "I feel since in some cases, 'supporting women,' 'supporting female founders,' has become a trend over the last few years, and that can provide opportunities, [but] it can also skim over the deeper rooted issues at hand," Cotes-James highlighted.

Breaking stereotypes

Cotes-James said female founders still face misconceptions that they are not good at building companies. "There's this misguided belief that we are not as ambitious, not as driven to achieve commercial success, and that is absolutely wrong. I know that for a fact," she said. Even when women and men delivered similar pitches, investors still favored male-led start ups, a report by UBS showed. The report noted that as majority of startup CEOs are white men, investors may perceive male entrepreneurs as more capable.

Luuna works with large organizations in Asia Pacific, as well as schools and universities to provide access to sustainable menstrual products. Veronica Sanchis Bencomo | Afp | Getty Images

Cotes-James, who founded a menstrual health startup, said she did not expect personal opinions to override data in the pitching process. At times, if an investor "or somebody that they had asked within their circle  if it was a man  said that [because] there was no way that they would try our products, that personal opinion was able to eradicate all of the data and the proof points that we had which I think speaks to the very, I suppose, personal stigma that people carry with them," Cotes-James said. But despite the challenges, Cotes-James' Luuna successfully raised over $1.5 million within two rounds of seed funding. Luuna has since worked with companies like UBS, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to supply free menstrual products  paid for by the organization just like they would for toilet paper  in women's bathrooms, Cotes-James told CNBC. Beyond gender, Zorin recounted that age and a lack of experience was her "biggest hindrance."

Victoria Zorin is founder of Nola Technologies, a crowd analytics software company that helps entertainment venues monitor visitor experience, revenue leakage and optimize real time operations. Source: Nola Technologies

"Especially dealing with more enterprise customers, there tend to be more senior executives .... When you have less experience, you can be taken advantage of more easily," she said. Zorin emphasized that it is important to have a well-rounded view and not solely depend on one mentor. Within three years, Nola Technologies raised 200,000 Australian dollars ($136,200) in pre-seed investments, and the company is projected to reach cashflow positive in March 2024, Zorin told CNBC.

Advice for young entrepreneurs

Don't be afraid to stand for what you believe in, Cotes-James said. "Every woman in my network I know is as willing to reach out ... [and] fight for her business, fight for her dream, fight for her mission .... It's sometimes harder for us to be heard and that can wear you down over time," she noted. Although starting a business isn't easy, finding a cause that you are passionate about and understanding your customer will push you ahead, Zorin advised. Sophie Chapman, honoree of Asia's 2023 Forbes' 30 Under 30 list, said her biggest advice for young women is to embrace opportunities even if they aren't completely confident they can excel right away.

Sophie Chapman, co-founder of EcoBricks said the company's largest project to date upcycled 12 tonnes of plastic to make 50,000 bricks for a pavement at Olympian city in Hong Kong. Source: EcoBricks
Loaded containers stacked on top of a cargo ship sailing in a canal on Janvier 20, 2017 in Suez Canal, Red sea, Egypt.

WASHINGTON  The strong December jobs report released Friday capped off a year of economic wins for the Biden administration. Now, global shipping delays caused by attacks on cargo vessels in the Red Sea are threatening to blunt the momentum.

The Labor Department reported that employers added 216,000 jobs in December, beating economists' estimates by over 40,000 jobs. The unemployment rate also remained steady at 3.7%.

But Danish shipping company Maersk announced that it will continue diverting its fleet from the Red Sea indefinitely, amid ongoing attacks from Houthi rebels in the region. Maersk was one of several shipping companies that began diverting more than $200 billion in trade away from the Suez Canal in December.

White House officials are keenly aware of the risk that shipping holdups could trigger a domino effect within the U.S. supply chain, which only recently appeared to recover from the impacts of COVID-19.

"Given what occurred during the pandemic we're very sensitive to the impact of supply chains and logistical logjams on the economy," said Jared Bernstein, chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, on a call with reporters Friday.

Shipping ports experienced lengthy backups in the first years of the pandemic, preventing some $24 billion worth of goods from finding their way into the U.S. market.

Lael Brainard, director of the National Economic Council, said that so far, the delays have had "a minimal impact," on energy costs.

"You've seen very little effect actually on prices at the pump," Brainard told CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" on Friday, though she called Maersk's actions "unacceptable."

Brainard did not mention the potential fallout for global manufacturing and consumer goods if the Red Sea remains too dangerous for major shipping lines to enter.

Current delays have already affected several companies that sell products in the U.S., including Sweden-based Ikea and British appliance firm Electrolux.

Biden's national security team is "working with a broad coalition of partners and in close contact with shippers on this," said Brainard.
Aircraft carriers and warships participate in the second phase of Malabar naval exercise, a joint exercise comprising of India, US, Japan and Australia, in the Northern Arabian Sea on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020. The four countries form the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or the Quad.

An Indian Navy warship was moving towards a hijacked Liberian-flagged vessel in the Arabian Sea, and aircraft were closely monitoring the situation, the Indian navy said on Friday.

At least 15 Indian crew members were on board the MV Lila Norfolk, which was hijacked near Somalia's coast and the navy received information about it on Thursday evening, Indian news agency ANI, in which Reuters has a minority stake, reported earlier, citing military officials.

The ship sent a message on the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations portal saying five to six unknown armed personnel had boarded on the evening of Jan. 4, the Indian navy statement said.

An Indian warship, the INS Chennai, was diverted and deployed to assist the vessel, the statement said, adding that a naval aircraft overflew the hijacked vessel on Friday and had established contact with it.

The Indian navy has increased its surveillance of the Arabian Sea after a recent spate of attacks in the region.

Earlier this week, the navy said it had investigated a large number of fishing vessels and boarded vessels of interest in the North and Central Arabian Sea.

"India plays the role of a net security provider in the entire Indian Ocean region. We will ensure that maritime trade in this region rises from the sea to the heights of the sky," Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said last month of the increased surveillance in the region.
Gautam Adani is the richest person in Asia again, according to Bloomberg Billionaires Index's updated figures Friday.

The founder and chairman of the Adani Group regained pole position in Asia after dethroning Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, who took the top spot after Hindenburg Research accused the Adani Group of "brazen stock manipulation and accounting fraud" over decades.

The report eroded investor confidence and wiped out billions in market value for Adani Group companies.

Adani's victory came just days after the Indian supreme court announced that no further inquiries were needed beyond the ongoing scrutiny by market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), which is currently investigating the conglomerate following allegations made by Hindenburg Research last January.

The Adani Group has 10 publicly listed companies, including Adani Port which was 2.8% higher on Asia's Friday afternoon trading session. Shares of those companies have been slowly inching higher since the Hindenburg debacle.

As of Friday, Adani's net worth stood at $97.6 billion and he was the world's 12th richest person, while Ambani's wealth stood at $97 billion and he was in 13th place, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Adani's wealth surged by $13.3 billion since the beginning of the year, while Ambani's climbed by $665 million year-to-date.
Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant speaks during a joint press conference with US secretary of defence, in Tel Aviv on December 18, 2023. Alberto Pizzoli | AFP | Getty Images

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Thursday outlined his plans for the next stage of Israel's war in Gaza and his vision of a future arrangement that would see the enclave run by a Palestinian body under overall Israeli security control. He said the military would base its strategy on a new, more targeted approach in the northern section of the enclave and a continuing pursuit of Hamas leaders in the south. The announcement came as Israel continued drawing down its forces in Gaza to allow thousands of reservists to return to their jobs after growing international pressure to shift to less intense combat operations. "In the northern region of the Gaza strip, we will transition to a new combat approach in accordance with military achievements on the ground," Gallant's office said in a statement it said outlined the guiding principles reflecting Gallant's vision for the next phases of the war.

Israeli military tanks roll near the border with the Gaza Strip on Dec. 3, 2023, amid continuing battles between Israel and the militant group Hamas. Menahem Kahana | AFP | Getty Images

He said operations would include raids, demolishing tunnels, air and ground strikes, and special forces operations. In the south of the besieged enclave, where most of Gaza's 2.3 million population is now living, many in tents and other temporary shelters, the operation would continue to try to eliminate Hamas leaders and rescue Israeli hostages. "It will continue for as long as is deemed necessary," the statement said.

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Israel launched its offensive in Gaza following the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas gunmen who killed about 1,200 people in communities near Gaza and took around 240 into captivity as hostages, according to Israeli estimates. The offensive has killed more than 22,000 people, according to Palestinian health authorities, forced most of the population out of their homes and reduced much of Gaza to rubble. No Israeli civilians on Gaza After the war, Gallant said Hamas would no longer control Gaza and Israel would reserve its operational freedom of action, with a multinational task force led by the United States in partnership with the European Union and regional partners taking responsibility for rehabilitating the territory. But he ruled out a return of the Israeli settlements in Gaza withdrawn in 2005, saying there would be no Israeli civilian presence and that Palestinian bodies would govern the enclave.

Palestinian children in need queued to receive food as some Palestinian volunteers prepare meals for families who had to migrate in Rafah, Gaza on January 02, 2023. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Anadolu via Getty Images) Yasser Qudih | Anadolu | Getty Images
Another Wall Street analyst has thrown their support behind Coterra Energy , adding to Jim Cramer's belief that the oil and gas producer is a stock to watch in the new year. Bank of America on Friday upgraded Coterra to buy from a hold-equivalent rating, becoming the fourth research firm in less than a month to turn positive on the Club holding. Within a few days of each other in December, Citi, UBS and Wells Fargo all recommended clients buy Coterra . More than 60% of analysts covering Coterra now have a buy-equivalent rating on the stock, according to FactSet. "I think Coterra is either going to get bought [by another company] or have a huge year because there are too many people who are behind for me to think there's just, like, 'Well, let's buy it for no reason,'" Jim said Friday. "People just feel like this is the year they can have the breakout." Coterra on Friday rose nearly 1% to just over $25 per share as the Club considers whether to buy more of the stock. Both oil and natural gas were up on the session. Our most recent Coterra purchase came Dec. 6  just $25 per share, as investors dumped the stock aggressively during what proved to be a five-day losing streak. Coterra has underperformed the S & P 500 over the past six months, gaining about 1.6% compared with a nearly 6% gain for the broad U.S. stock index. The S & P 500 Energy Sector was up about 4% over the same stretch. CTRA .SPX 6M mountain Coterra versus S & P 500 over the past six months While there's no public indication that Coterra could be imminently acquired, Jim's comments reflect an awareness of the flurry of dealmaking across the energy sector in the wake of ExxonMobil 's $60 billion takeover of Pioneer Natural Resources . Weeks later, Exxon's rival oil major Chevron in October announced a plan to buy Hess for $53 billion. Meanwhile, smaller deals  such as Occidental Petroleum 's $12 billion bid for privately held CrownRock  also have transpired. The latest consolidation move came on Thursday when Apache parent APA said it planned to buy Callon Petroleum for $4.5 billion. Volatile oil and natural gas prices remain an important driver of Coterra's stock. Coterra's revenues are split roughly 50-50 between oil and natural gas. In general, the higher the commodities trade, the more money Coterra will eventually have left over to return to shareholders through stock buybacks  and, to a lesser extent, dividend payouts. Investors in the energy patch, including us at the Club, care deeply about capital returns. @CL.1 @NG.1 6M mountain Oil versus natural gas over the past six months Crude prices have been in the low-to-mid $70s per barrel since early December, a far cry from the more-than-$90 a barrel levels seen in late September. However, mounting tensions in the Middle East  amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war and, more recently, shipping attacks in the Red Sea  have emerged as a key factor that could push oil higher. After falling by more than a third between the start of November and mid-December, natural gas prices have started to drift higher. On Friday, U.S. natural gas traded around $2.84 per million British thermal units, up about 20% from its recent low on Dec. 12. A warm winter so far in the Northern Hemisphere has crimped demand for natural gas needed to heat homes and other buildings, weighing on the commodity's price. To be sure, investors in exploration-and-production companies like Coterra pay attention to more than just the day-to-day fluctuations in crude and natural gas prices. Analysts, including those at Bank of America, have touted Coterra's improving well productivity as a reason to like the stock. In its upgrade, Bofa also said Coterra's strong balance sheet is a positive differentiator, making the stock a bit more defensive compared to oil-and-gas-producing peers who carry higher debt loads. Cost savings for Coterra's drilling operations could prove to be another tailwind for its stock this year. The company has estimated about 5% deflation in 2024, which, if it comes to pass, could help keep capital expenditures restrained, leaving more money available to return to shareholders. The eventual refilling of the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which the Biden administration drained to combat surging energy prices tied to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and the rise in liquified natural gas exports expected in 2025 represent two additional long-term factors to consider. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long CTRA. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED.

An oil tank and an oil pumpjack are pictured in the Permian basin, Loco Hills regions, New Mexico, U.S., April 6, 2023. Liz Hampton | Reuters
Meta Platforms ' savvy use of artificial intelligence and untapped potential in business messaging are reasons why we see more upside ahead for the stock in 2024. Meta reached a 52-week high of $361.90 per share on the second to last trading day of 2023. The stock nearly tripled last year and was the second-best performing Club stock behind Nvidia . META 1Y mountain Meta Platforms 1-year Like most tech stocks, Meta pulled back to start 2024, which is understandable given last year's incredible rally, which started after CEO Mark Zuckerberg ushered in a year of efficiency. Multiple rounds of layoffs and cost-control efforts in 2023, alongside a recovering digital advertising market, boosted revenue and profit. While still dabbling in the metaverse, Meta has become hyper-focused on implementing AI to optimize ad creation and impressions as well as the delivery of contextual content on Facebook and Instagram  especially on the company's answer to short-form TikTok videos, Reels, which spans both social media platforms. Here's a timeline of Meta's stock performance around earnings in 2023. After the bell on Feb. 1, Meta reported fourth-quarter 2022 earnings. Zuckerberg kicked off his year of efficiency. Meta shares surged nearly 24% the next day. On April 26, the tech giant reported after-the-close a strong first quarter 2023, achieving efficiency gains by optimizing costs while still investing in AI. Meta soared nearly 14% on the news. After the bell on July 26, the company had a stellar second quarter , showing investors how its use of AI led to higher user engagement and better ad performance  and most notably, helped it navigate Apple's privacy changes for apps. Meta jumped nearly 4.5% in each of the next two sessions. On Oct. 25, Meta yet again delivered a strong third quarter , continuing cost optimization efforts and solid advertising sales. But when management issued conservative fourth-quarter revenue guidance due to macro uncertainties, the stock dropped more than 3.5% on the news. There was a sell-off in the Magnificent Seven stocks in October that coincided with Meta's third-quarter report. During that time, Jim Cramer had suggested that investors could buy on weakness. In November, the size of our Meta position reached an almost 5% weighting in our portfolio. That's when we executed our discipline and sold 60 shares , which at the time brought the weighting down to about 4%. We aim to own 30-plus stocks at any given time and try not to exceed a 5% to 6% weighting in any one position. Currently, Meta has a 3.7% weighting. A major catalyst supporting Meta's growth this year is its investments in generative AI. In a research note last month, UBS said Reels and its updated algorithms "can drive sustained engagement growth for the next several years." Outside of AI, Meta continues to grow its successful business messaging across its services. Meta offers messaging tools on Facebook for businesses to connect with their customers by highlighting products and services with a business profile. Business messaging is the "next major pillar of our business," Zuckerberg said during Meta's post-Q3 earnings call. It offers a "big opportunity on monetization," he added. We're also optimistic that advertising can continue its strength in 2024. While management noted softer ad spending at the beginning of Q4 due to the Israeli-Hamas war, Reels is doing a great job at ramping monetization and challenging competitors. Given that TikTok's Chinese owner ByteDance is facing backlash from U.S. officials, a potential TikTok ban in the U.S. would be a major catalyst for Meta stock. To be sure, heading into 2024, we already know Meta will continue to accumulate billions worth of losses from Reality Labs, its business that makes virtual reality and augmented reality hardware and software. Zuckerberg is making a big bet on Meta's Quest Pro headset, a competitor to Apple 's upcoming Vision Pro. We hope to see this money-losing metaverse operation turn into a winner that gains mainstream appeal. The company also said it anticipates higher infrastructure, operating costs, and payroll expenses in 2024. But if the tech giant continues to deliver on its strengths and the higher expenses don't threaten margins, we will continue to be believers in the stock. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long META, NVDA, AAPL. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED.

A logo of Meta Platforms Inc. is seen at its booth at the Viva Technology conference dedicated to innovation and startups, at Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris, June 17, 2022. Benoit Tessier | Reuters
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Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, right, greets OpenAI CEO Sam Altman during the OpenAI DevDay event in San Francisco on Nov. 6, 2023. Justin Sullivan | Getty Images News | Getty Images

Two nonfiction book authors sued Microsoft and OpenAI in a would-be class action complaint alleging that the defendants "simply stole" the writers' copyrighted works to help build a billion-dollar artificial intelligence system. The lawsuit, filed Friday in Manhattan federal court, comes more than a week after The New York Times sued Microsoft and OpenAI, which created the AI chatbot ChatGPT, in a similar copyright infringement complaint that alleges the companies used the newspaper's content to train large language models. Microsoft is an investor in and supplier to OpenAI. The new suit by authors Nicholas Basbanes and Nicholas Gage notes that on the heels of the Times' suit, the defendants "publicly acknowledged that copyright owners like Plaintiffs must be compensated for Defendants' use of their work." The Times suit seeks "billions of dollars" in monetary damages. Basbanes and Gage said in the suit that they seek to represent a class of writers "whose copyrighted work has been systematically pilfered by" Microsoft and OpenAI. "They're no different than any other thief," the suit says.

That class, the suit says, would include all people in the U.S. "who are authors or legal beneficial owners" of copyrights for works that have or are being used by the defendants to "train their large language models." The suit estimates the size of that class to be tens of thousands of people. The suit seeks damages of up to $150,000 for each work that the defendants infringed. In September, a group of prominent American fiction writers, among them George R.R. Martin, Jonathan Franzen and Michael Connelly, sued OpenAI for copyright infringement, seeking to represent a class of fiction writers in Manhattan federal court. Mike Richter, the lawyer representing Basbanes and Gage, said their new lawsuit would cover a broader class of plaintiffs and for that and other reasons should be designated the lead class action claim on the issue. Richter told CNBC that what OpenAI has done by copyrighted work without permission is "pretty outrageous," and compared it to a homeowner arguing that he should not have to pay for insulation, plumbing and other material hidden behind the walls of a house because it is not visible. "For some reason, companies seem to devalue the work of writers," said the lawyer, who is Basbanes' son-in-law. The new lawsuit says OpenAI's system relies on being trained by ingesting "massive amounts of written material," which includes books written by Basbanes and Gage. CNBC has requested comment from Microsoft and OpenAI on the new lawsuit. Basbanes is a longtime journalist whose works as an author include several books about books and people who collect them, among them "A Gentle Madness: Bibliophiles, Bibliomanes, and the Eternal Passion for Books."
According to a 2023 survey, 51% of US workers say they would consider quitting their jobs if the company's environmental actions don't align with theirs, and 35% said they already have. The number of quitters rose to 44% within Gen Z and Millennial workers, who also said that they would take a pay cut to work for a company that shared their values.

The figures come from the 2023 Net Positive Employee Barometer, a survey led by former Unilever CEO Paul Polman, which looked at over 4,000 employees across the US and the UK. The study found that 73% of American workers were anxious about climate change, and 61% said they want to see their company take a stronger stance on the environment. Only 34% found their company's current commitments enough.

When it came to considering a new job, 77% of Gen Z and Millennials said the company's commitment to the environment would be an important consideration. With Gen X and older respondents, the number was lower but still significant, with 69% agreeing.

A KPMG study from early 2023 found that one in three 18- to 24-year-olds in the UK have rejected a job offer based on the company's ESG record.

This rising trend among workers across the globe, is called "climate-quitting" and it's happening as part of a wider trend of "conscious-quitting," where employees quit firms that don't align with their greater societal values.

"Employees are asking themselves 'Do I want to work for an organization that is not responsible, that doesn't have a purpose or meaning?'" Tom Lakin tells CNBC Make It. Lakin, who is the global practice director at recruitment company Robert Walters Group and an expert on the future of work and ESG, says the term gained traction in early 2023.

As America is facing its hottest year on record in 2024, the anxiety over climate change is set to only grow, and so will public calls for companies to do more, experts estimate. Here is what they suggest managers do to respond to these calls, and what unsatisfied employees do to enact change.
Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (L) visit a construction site of the Angara rocket launch complex on September 13, 2023 in Tsiolkovsky, Russia.

Russia has hit Ukraine with missiles supplied by North Korea, Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak said Friday, following an earlier assertion by Washington.

The White House on Thursday said its intelligence shows Russia has begun using missiles supplied by North Korea in its strikes on Ukraine.

National security spokesperson John Kirby described the move as a "significant and concerning" escalation in the countries' military support for each other.

The U.S. says Russia recently took delivery of ballistic missile launchers and several dozen ballistic missiles from North Korea, and is also looking to acquire close-range ballistic missiles from Iran.

Russia has intensified air strikes across Ukraine from late last year into the new year.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the acquisition of additional air defense systems and missiles was its "number one" diplomatic and military priority.
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The Maersk Sentosa container ship sails southbound to exit the Suez Canal in Suez, Egypt, on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023. Stringer | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Danish shipping giant Maersk said Friday it would extend its diversion of vessels from the Red Sea for the "foreseeable future" due to safety concerns amid a spate of attacks by Houthi militants. "The situation is constantly evolving and remains highly volatile, and all available intelligence at hand confirms that the security risk continues to be at a significantly elevated level," Maersk said in a statement. It added that it hoped to now bring customers "more consistency and predictability," despite delays to deliveries. The diversion means avoiding the quickest path between Europe and Asia through Egypt's Suez Canal, and taking the longer Cape of Good Hope route around southern Africa.

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Several European firms, including Sweden's Ikea, British retailer Next and appliance firm Electrolux, have warned of delays on some products due to supply chain disruption. Maersk had resumed travel through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden after a December pause, but halted it again on Tuesday after one of its vessels was attacked. Uncertainty for firms has not eased despite a U.S.-led multinational military operation in the region, which aims to provide a "persistent defensive presence in the Red Sea" and has fired on Houthi boats. The Houthis are a Yemen-based group backed by Iran. Its leadership has said it is targeting Israel-bound vessels in support of the Palestinian people amid the war in Gaza, but ships bound for multiple destinations have been attacked.

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Traveling around Africa can add between two and four weeks to a ship's transit time between Asia and Europe depending on the speed traveled, Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc told CNBC in a December interview. Nearly 15% of global seaborne trade transits the Red Sea, according to the U.S. Analysts broadly do not see the current disruption as causing as much upheaval to supply chains as was seen during the coronavirus pandemic due to a sharp increase in supply capacity since 2021. Maersk's Europe-listed shares were choppy after the announcement. It has been one of the top European performers of the new year, gaining more than 16% this week. Investors see the company  along with its peers  benefiting from reduced capacity in the market, which has already driven ocean freight rates higher.

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German shipping firm Hapag-Lloyd has also said it will continue to divert vessels away from the Red Sea amid Houthi attacks. "What we can say for the moment [is] we don't see the passage through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal as safe," Nils Haupt, head of corporate communications at Hapag-Lloyd, told CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe" on Friday. "We had an attack in December, you can't imagine how hard that was, not only for us as a company but especially for our crew. There were several attacks in the last days and as long as the passage through the Red Sea and Suez Canal is not safe, we won't pass," he added.
A shelter for protecting residents from potential North Korean attacks stands on Yeonpyeong Island, South Korea, on Friday, June 26, 2020. On the sleepy island of Yeonpyeong, the threat of conflict is constant with North Korean coastal howitzers just 11 kilometers (7 miles) away and propaganda banners visible through binoculars.

South Korea has reportedly ordered civilians on the border island of Yeonpyeong to move to shelters after North Korea fired 200 artillery shells into the sea near the island, local news media said on Friday.

"We announced the evacuation after receiving a call from a military unit saying it was carrying out a maritime strike on Yeongpyeong Island as it has a situation with a North Korean provocation," an official told Yonhap News. The emergency evacuation order was issued at 12:02 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. local time on Friday, the report said.

"The North Korean military fired more than 200 rounds from around 9:00 to 11:00 today in the area of Cape Jangsan, north of Baengnyeong Island, and Cape Sansan, north of Yeonpyeong Island," South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said, according to NBC News. No injuries have been reported so far.

In response, the South Korean marine corps requested the evacuation of citizens of Yeonpyeong and scheduled a "maritime shooting exercise" for the afternoon, Chosun Ilbo reported, citing an official from the Yeonpyeong township office.

The official added that most residents have gone to the shelters, and that the end time for the evacuation exercise not yet been determined.

The Chosun Ilbo added: "It is known that the Marine Corps' maritime shooting training was a response to this," referring the to North Korean firing.

Yeonpyeong Island is close to what is known as the "Northern Limit Line," the de facto maritime border that separates the two Koreas. None of the shells fired on Friday crossed the NLL, Reuters said.

In a major escalation of tensions in November 2010, the island was bombarded by North Korean artillery, killing two South Korean marines and two civilians. At least 18 people were injured at that time, and more than 100 buildings damaged.

At the time, then United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon called it one of the "gravest incidents" since the Korean War.

North Korea and South Korea are formally still at war, as the Korean War in 1953 ended with an armistice and not a formal peace treaty.
Check out the companies making headlines in midday trading. Peloton  Shares of the fitness company soared nearly 10%, after adding 14% in the prior session, on news of its partnership with TikTok. Peloton will create a new fitness hub on the social media platform in an effort to boost subscribers and attract new customers. Constellation Brands  The beer, wine and liquor stock gained more than 2% after posting better-than-expected earnings. The company made $3.19 per share, beating an LSEG estimate of $3 per share. Constellation Brands posted revenue that fell short of estimates, however. Costco Wholesale  Shares added 1.2% Friday after Costco reported a whopping sales increase in December, posting Thursday that its sales last month jumped 9.9% year over year to $26.15 billion, led by its e-commerce segment. Its comparable sales also saw a 3% benefit from December's additional shopping day due to the timing of New Year's Day, the company said. Elanco Animal Health  The animal health stock rallied more than 6.2%. Stifel upgraded shares to buy from hold, citing a powerful pet health pipeline and opportunities for multiple expansion. Agilon Health  The health-care stock sank 28% after Agilon cut its revenue guidance for 2023 due to heightened expenses from higher-than-expected specialist visits. Agilon Health also announced the retirement of its chief financial officer and garnered a downgrade to neutral by analysts at JPMorgan. Palantir  Shares of the data analytic company pulled back nearly 2% in midday trading. Jefferies downgraded Palantir to underperform over concerns that the company may be overhyped in the near-term over artificial intelligence optimism that has pushed the company to an "unsustainable valuation." Medical Properties Trust  Shares of the real estate investment trust cratered 29%. Medical Properties Trust said Thursday that it's working with its largest tenant, Steward Health Care System, on a plan to recover $50 million in unpaid rent .  CNBC's Michelle Fox, Brian Evans and Pia Singh contributed reporting.
Rohit Chopra, director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, speaks during a Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee hearing in Washington, D.C., Dec. 15, 2022.

When student loan servicers make errors by cutting corners or sidestepping the law, it can "pose serious risks to individuals and the economy," said Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Rohit Chopra.

Chopra's comments are part of an "issue spotlight" released by the bureau Friday, outlining a number of problems borrowers faced when their payments resumed in October after the pandemic-era pause of more than three years expired.

Borrowers experienced long phone hold times with their servicers, significant delays in the processing of their repayment applications, and inaccurate and untimely billing statements, the bureau found.

The U.S. Department of Education announced Friday that it would withhold payments to three student loan servicers as part of its efforts to hold the companies accountable.

The federal government contracts with different companies to service its student loans, and pays the servicers a total of more than $1 billion a year to do so, according to higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz.

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Aidvantage, EdFinancial and Nelnet "all failed to meet contractual obligations to send timely billing statements to a combined total of 758,000 borrowers for the first month of repayment," the department said.

As a result, it is withholding $2 million from Aidvantage, $161,000 from EdFinancial and $13,000 from Nelnet, it said, based on the number of borrowers affected by each company's errors.

"Today's actions make clear that the Biden-Harris Administration will not give student loan servicers a free pass for poor performance and missteps that jeopardize borrowers," Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a statement.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump looks on during a campaign event in Waterloo, Iowa, on Dec. 19, 2023.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear an appeal challenging a court ruling that disqualified former President Donald Trump from appearing on the Republican primary ballot in Colorado due to his incitement of the 2021 Capitol riot.

The Supreme Court said it will hear oral arguments in the case on Feb. 8.

Colorado's Republican primary is scheduled to be held March 5. Trump is by far the front-runner for the GOP presidential nomination.

Colorado's own state Supreme Court in a Dec. 19 ruling barred Trump from the primary ballot due to a provision in the U.S. Constitution, reversing a trial court judge's earlier decision in the case.

Plaintiffs in the case argued that Trump was disqualified from being a presidential candidate because he had spurred the insurrection that sought to overturn his 2020 election loss to President Joe Biden.

Section 3 of the Constitution's 14th Amendment says "no person" can serve as an officer of the U.S. who, having previously taken an oath of federal office, "engaged in insurrection or rebellion" against the U.S.

The state Supreme Court's ruling was on hold since it was issued to give Trump or the Colorado Republican Party time to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to hear an appeal of the decision. The state party did that last week and Trump followed suit Wednesday.

Colorado was the first state to block Trump from a ballot due to his efforts to reverse his loss to Biden. The secretary of state of Maine last week disqualified Trump from the Republican primary there on those grounds.

Trump is appealing that ruling in Maine state court.



Don't miss these stories from CNBC PRO:

Correction: This article has been updated to correct how a Colorado trial judge ruled on a challenge to Donald Trump's appearance on the state GOP's primary ballot.
Bella Lin, 17, started a side hustle to give her guinea pigs more quality of life. Last year, it brought in more than $410,000 in revenue.

At age 12, Bella Lin had a problem. Her guinea pigs were disappearing. In those days, Lin let her three guinea pigs roam her parents' grassy, fenced-in backyard just outside of San Francisco. It was better than the alternative, she thought: The two-pound creatures "looked miserable" in their cramped, "prison-barred" cage, Lin, now 17, tells CNBC Make It. She assumed the first, Snoopy, had escaped and she continued letting her guinea pigs outside  until her dad watched an eagle fly away with another, she recalls. Determined to keep the pets out of traditional cages, she started drawing prototypes. Lin, a senior at Khan Lab School in Mountain View, California, went through several models and invested roughly $2,000 from her savings to launch her side hustle GuineaLoft on Amazon in November 2022. It sold nearly 11,000 cages and brought in more than $410,000 last year  roughly $34,000 per month, on average  according to documents reviewed by Make It. In addition to a full academic course load, extracurriculars and college applications, Lin works about 20 hours per week on GuineaLoft, she says. Here's how she built a side hustle so successful that she's considering delaying college to concentrate on her business.

An unprofitable side hustle led to an 'epiphany'

Lin told her dad, a computer programmer, that she wanted to create a better cage. He had a connection to a family-owned factory in China through a former client, and he made an introduction, Lin says. After a year of mocking up prototypes, Lin got distracted by a different idea: She wanted to sell athleisure for girls at a lower price point than large, trendy brands. She researched, found another factory in China, connected with it, and made a business plan to sell leggings starting at $23.

GuineaLoft's first prototypes were built from her parents' dining room table using office supplies, Lin says. Bella Lin

That side hustle, called TLeggings, launched in July 2019. It brought in roughly $300,000 in revenue in 2020, she says. It also earned Lin a spot at BizWorld, a project-based entrepreneurship program for 16- to 22-year-olds. She completed a 12-week curriculum and worked with a business mentor, but failed to win the pitching contest  and any prize money  at the end of the program. It was one of a few signs that TLeggings was fizzling out: Despite the lofty revenue numbers, the company was never profitable, and Lin struggled to keep up with her competitors. She shuttered it in early 2022, and refocused on GuineaLoft. "I had a weird epiphany [where] I kind of realized there are a lot of other companies trying to [make leggings]," Lin says. "There was no innovation there, whereas with GuineaLoft, I could fill a really big gap in the market."

Tinkering between classes and late at night

Lin realized her early prototypes were promising, but imperfect. Traditional guinea pig cages are made with bars, roofs and either tarp or plastic bottoms. They are difficult to clean, Lin says, and often reek of excrement. Her early glass, open-floor enclosures allowed for more visibility and mobility, and featured a two-tiered bottom. Dirty bedding could be pushed into a removable plastic tray. But the glass was too expensive to ship, and her smaller guinea pigs' feet got stuck in the floor.

Lin's pets roaming around freely in their GuineaLoft enclosures Bella Lin

Lin rearranged her schedule so she could do her homework in between periods at school. She stayed up late to research and virtually test products with her six-person team in China  a manufacturing lead who works for the factory, and five full-time GuineaLoft employees who'd previously worked with Lin's dad or the factory's leadership. Those six people source, manufacture, package and photograph the products, says Lin. She manages GuineaLoft's product design, pricing, marketing  TLeggings taught her a lot about social media in particular, she says  and overall business strategy. Ultimately the company went with acrylic instead of glass and constructed replaceable bottoms from biodegradable, wax-coated paper  similar, Lin says, to "airplane barf bags." The bottoms are easy to throw out, which is good for business: Once satisfied GuineaLoft customers run out, they have to come back to Lin's Amazon store to restock.

Winning a $10,000 competition

The factory produced 100 cages in its first batch. Lin was elated when three sold in the first couple of hours. Within two weeks, GuineaLoft all 100 were gone "with no marketing," she says. She re-applied to BizWorld last year, and won $10,000 in investment funds from the pitching competition. That money will go toward adding accessories and new cages for different types of small pets, like rabbits and hamsters, she says.

Lin has owned guinea pigs for years, and has kept up to 10 at one time, she says. Bella Lin
Even the most socially agile person can find themselves dumfounded by some of life's more awkward situations. There is no obvious way to deal with a friend negging you or an in-law asking you rude questions. It's in these moments, though, that Harvard-trained etiquette expert Sara Jane Ho sees herself as a resource. Ho is the founder of the finishing school Institute Sarita, host of the Netflix show "Mind Your Manners," and author of an upcoming book, also called "Mind Your Manners." She's even given advice on The Drew Barrymore Show about how to break up fights at family gatherings and the right way to bring flowers to a party. "I feel that part of etiquette is about putting people around you at ease," she told CNBC Make It last year. "Instead of etiquette being a restricting convention, I see it as being an empowering tool." Here's how Ho would handle six awkward scenarios that happen all too often.

1. When someone is rude to you

If you find yourself on the receiving end of a sassy remark, you can counter it with kindness and class with just one question. "If a friend is rude to you in a social setting, I like to use a three-word answer: 'Are you okay?'" she says. Those three words can signal that even if you don't take the comment personally, you didn't really appreciate it. "You are letting them know they cannot walk all over you, but you're being nice at the same time," she says. Be sure to say it in a friendly tone, Ho says, like you are expressing concern for them.

If a friend is rude to you in a social setting, I like to use a three-word answer: "Are you okay?" Sara Jane Ho Etiquette Expert

2. Covering when you can't remember someone's name

"If you've met somebody multiple times but still cannot remember their name, you should never let on that you've forgotten their name," Ho says. To avoid a potentially awkward situation, tell the person you'd like to keep in touch. "What I like to do is say, 'I got a new phone recently, and all my contacts were wiped out. Can you put in your number again?'" she says. Another option is enlisting the help of a friend. "If you're at a party, just introduce them to someone else," says Ho. "That way, they'll introduce themselves."

3. Exiting an uncomfortable conversation

The best way to get out of a conversation with someone is to introduce them to somebody else, Ho says: "It's so seamless they won't even notice." She offers up the following script: "Have you met my friend? You really have to meet her. She's so impressive." Then, make your exit.

4. Getting out of lunch with co-workers

If there is a co-worker who consistently asks you to lunch and doesn't take any hints that you don't want to eat with them, your instinct might be to continue to make up excuses. Instead, Ho suggests just saying "yes." "Say, 'Oh, that's a great idea. Can we get Tim and Alison as well?,'" she says. "And then once you organize it, cancel last minute, and let them go." Your colleague will interpret your inviting others as a sign that you did want to come to lunch, without you actually having to attend the meal.

Once you organize it, cancel last minute, and let them go. Sara jane Ho Etiquette Expert

5. Confronting a friend who never pays you back

"If you want to confront a friend who never pays you back, you can either send them friendly reminders via email or in person saying, 'By the way, do you have the $100 that I lent you last week?'" she says. If they continue to ignore your requests for months, it's safe to say they aren't planning to pay you back and you'll have to eat the cost. And while you might have lost money, you hopefully gained some useful knowledge about this person going forward. "My father always used to tell me two things. Firstly, 'neither borrower nor a lender be,'" she says. This, from Shakespeare's Hamlet, means don't put yourself in the position of loaning money to friends or borrowing money from them and indebting yourself to someone else. "Secondly, only lend as much as you're willing to lose," she says. "If they really don't want to pay you back, then you've kind of learned a lesson."

6. Dealing with rude family members
Energy investors will have a tough time navigating the market in 2024 with oil expected to remain volatile on geopolitical risks in Ukraine and the Middle East as well as OPEC policy, according to Bank of America. Analyst Doug Leggate is recommending defensive stocks with big oil poised to demonstrate some of the greatest value this year, as the major players see tailwinds from big acquisitions. Leggate has selected Occidental , Chevron and Exxon Mobil as his top picks. All three companies entered into major deals in 2023 that could accelerate cash flow expansion and dividend growth, Leggate wrote. Chevron is purchasing Hess for $53 billion , Exxon is buying Pioneer Natural Resources for $60 billion , and Occidental is acquiring CrownRock for $12 billion. Bank of America is broadly cutting stock price targets in the oil and gas sector on a declining oil curve. But the bank's top picks "represent some of the greatest absolute upside we see for the broader sector in 2024, while avoiding exposure through outsize commodity volatility," he wrote. OXY 1Y mountain Occidental shares over the past 12 months Leggate's top pick overall is Occidental, arguing the CrownRock deal will reset the company's ability to shift value from debt back to equity. He has set Occidental's price target at $80, implying 35% upside. Chevron's acquisition of Hess addresses questions over cash flow and dividend capacity, positioning the company for the "biggest rate of change in its portfolio depth" among the oil majors, Leggate said. The analyst has a price target of $180 for Chevron, suggesting the company's stock could rise 19% from here. Exxon's target is $140, suggesting nearly 37% upside, while Chevron has 19% upside with a target of $180. "Having navigated the collapse in oil prices with its dividend intact, XOM continues to lead the sector with a long list of organic growth opportunities but with the pending acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources accelerating an inflection in c/flow that is expected to more than double vs pre-COVID levels by 2027," Leggate said. XOM 1Y mountain Exxon Mobil shares over the past 12 months
Ukrainian soldiers patrol around the town as the Russia-Ukraine war continues in Avdiivka, Donbas, Ukraine on December 4, 2023.

Russia recently used short-range ballistic missiles, or SRBMs, sourced from North Korea to conduct multiple strikes against Ukraine, the White House said on Thursday, citing newly declassified intelligence.

National security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters the United States will raise the development with the United Nations Security Council.

Kirby called North Korea's arms transfer to Russia a "significant and concerning escalation" and said the United States would impose additional sanctions against those facilitating the arms deals.

Both Moscow and Pyongyang have denied conducting any arms deals, but vowed last year to deepen military relations.

The use of the missiles drew condemnation from Britain, as well as South Korea, which had reported in November that North Korea may have supplied SRBMs to Russia as part of a larger arms deal that also included anti-tank and anti-air missiles, artillery and mortar shells, and rifles.

"Our information indicates that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea recently provided Russia with ballistic missile launchers and several ballistic missiles," said Kirby, using the official name of North Korea.

On Dec. 30, he said, "Russian forces launched at least one of these North Korean ballistic missiles into Ukraine," adding that it appeared to have landed in open field.

Then on Tuesday Russia launched "multiple" North Korean missiles as part of a broader wave of heavy air strikes, Kirby said. Washington was still assessing the impact of those missiles.

Russia recently has launched some of its most intense strikes on Ukraine since the war began almost two years ago. Kyiv on Tuesday said that Russia had launched well over 300 attack drones and missiles of various kinds at cities across Ukraine since Friday.

"Just like the artillery and munitions, this all helps prolong Russia's warfighting efforts," said Jenny Town, director of the Stimson Center's 38 North Program, which studies North Korea.

While the White House would not say specifically what type of missiles Pyongyang had sent to Russia, Kirby said they had a range of about 900 km (550 miles) and released a graphic that appeared to show KN-23 and KN-25 missiles.

Such missiles are new, solid-propellant SRBMs that North Korea began testing in 2019, said Ankit Panda, of the U.S.-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

"This is the first known combat use of these North Korean missiles," he said.

Joost Oliemans, a Dutch researcher and expert on North Korea's military, said images from Ukrainian social media accounts clearly show fragments of the ring housing the control vanes that are characteristic to North Korea's Hwasong-11 family of missiles, which includes the KN-23 and KN-25.

Kirby said the U.S. expects Russia and North Korea to learn from these launches, and anticipates Russia will use additional North Korean missiles to target Ukraine.

He said Iran has not delivered close-range ballistic missiles to Russia, but Washington believes Russia intends to purchase missile systems from Iran.

Moscow has been heavily reliant on Iran for drones and other weaponry for use against Ukraine.
EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager will meet the chief executives of Apple, Alphabet, Broadcom, and Nvidia in the United States next week, her communications advise said on Friday.

The meetings come a month after Vestager resumed her job following her failed bid to head the Luxembourg-based European Investment Bank, with antitrust experts expecting her to show a tougher line towards companies in both merger and competition investigations.

Vestager will meet Apple CEO Tim Cook, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai and its chief legal officer Kent Walker, Broadcom CEO Hock Tan and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang in San Francisco and Palo Alto on Thursday and Friday, her adviser Christina Holm Eiberg said.

She will also meet OpenAI Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati and its Chief Strategy Officer Jason Kwon.

The meetings will focus on European digital regulation and competition policy.

The meeting with Cook comes as the iPhone maker last year offered to let rivals access its tap-and-go mobile payments systems used for mobile wallets in an effort to settle Vestager's investigation and stave off a possible hefty fine.

The European Commission is likely to seek feedback from rivals and customers this month although a final decision has not been made, people familiar with the matter told Reuters last month.
Sometimes, you have to pay people money, and thats unfair. Really, they should be paying you, considering all the crap you have to put up with.

Even so, some charges are worse than others. For example, its good that the bar charges money for beer, because if they didnt, all the beer would be gone by the time you show up. The following fees, however? They dont make quite as much sense.

5 The Kid Who Had to Pay His Parents Back for His Birth The Boy Scouts of America was founded in 1910, combining a series of earlier groups. One of these was a Connecticut program called the League of Woodcraft Indians, created by Ernest Thompson Seton, whod go on to be one of the Boy Scouts founders. In 1901, Seton fenced off his property to prevent trespassers from coming by and hunting, and kids responded by cutting holes in the fence to break in. Seton concluded that kids in the neighborhood had a thirst for outdoorsy skills, so he invited them in and made their hobbies official. Library of Congress Within two days, all the boys had grown mustaches. He took on a fatherly role, one different from the role his own father had played. Seton had gained his own outdoors skills as a boy by fleeing to the woods to escape his fathers beatings. His fathers tamer attacks, meanwhile, involved reprimanding his son for looking at him. At whom are you staring, sir? pa would say. A more modest demeanor would comport more suitably with your station. Seton studied art in London and then returned home, now 21 years old. His father presented him with a bill  not for his studies (hed received a scholarship for that) but for the entire cost of raising him. This bill included even the hospital expenses for delivering him 21 years earlier. He paid this bill, over time, before cutting off all ties with his father. Alternatively, he could have simply screamed, I owe you nothing. I didnt ask to be born. Actually, thats something we can all scream, to the heavens. Advertisement

4 Pay the Government to Abandon the Government If youre particularly angry at the Unites States, because the president marked Thanksgiving by pardoning a turkey who clearly deserved to be eaten, you have the right to renounce your citizenship. Renunciation comes with a fee. Currently, that fee is $2,350. For comparison, Japan charges nothing to renounce Japanese citizenship. Germany charges $28 to renounce German citizenship. Polands fee is rather more, at $404, and Americas was $450 till 2014, when they suddenly multiplied the price by five. The issue, claimed the government, was that it takes a lot of labor to process all that paperwork, and yet, no other country charges nearly that much. At the start of last year, the State Department announced plans to drop the fee back down to $450, but still havent actually done so. Wesley Tingey/Unsplash They must be having trouble processing the paperwork. Advertisement Usually, people renounce American citizenship not out of political protest but for tax reasons. Knowing that so many of these quitters are multimillionaires, you might think the $2,350 figure is no big deal. But the renunciation fee isnt about targeting those fleeing rich folk. Those people also owe a much larger exit tax, which is so huge, you cant even calculate it without hiring a team of lawyers. No, the renunciation fee is a flat charge that every renouncer must pay. Its money you must pay the American government, for cutting ties with the American government. Advertisement

3 A Fine for Relatives After Suicide According to one stereotype, the Japanese are all overworked and suicidal. Their suicide rate has gone down a bit in recent years (its now less than Americas), but its still a problem, and one big spot for people on the edge is the train station. Enough people jump in front of train tracks that the country needs to run studies on different methods of train-station suicide prevention. Blue lights might calm people down, says some research. Or stations could erect barriers, but blue lights are cheaper. Tennen-Gas/Wiki Commons Blue was chosen because people were felling blue. Advertisement If someone does throw themselves in front of a train, their family may be in for a surprise. Two surprises, with the second one being a bill from the Central Japan Railway Company. One time in 2007, for example, they sent a family a bill for the equivalent of $55,000. The company reasoned that the accident affected 34 trains and 34,000 passengers, and the family should be held to account. This private company does not, in fact, have the legal authority to fine families, so the family ignored the bill. The company then took them to court, and a judge sided with the company. Japanese media sometimes dismiss it as an urban legend, this idea that train companies bill families of suicides. Its an urban legend, note these publications, because train companies actually bill all families of people who are hit by trains, whether the departed purposely took their own life or not. Most such deaths, however, are suicides. With suicides, at least, there's an implied unstated motive: Maybe the shame of burdening their family with the bill will give some jumpers pause. Advertisement Advertisement

2 Pay for the Bullet That Kills You In the horrendously specific genre of tales of families billed following a loved ones death, we think we might have the last story beat. In 2009, 19-year-old Kaveh Alipour died at a protest in Iran. We dont know whether he was participating in the protest or he was just passing through. Security forces shot him dead. It was a week before his wedding day. His family did not realize at first what had happened to him. They treated him as missing and searched hospitals and morgues. Authorities finally did inform them of the death and also billed them the equivalent of $4,000. This is whats known as the bullet fee, the price of the bullet that killed Kaveh, and theyd have to pay it to get possession of the body. Velizar Ivanov/Unsplash $4,000 bullets? Military spending really is out-of-control. Advertisement The family talked their way out of the bill by pointing out that $4,000 was more than the total value of everything they owned. Authorities settled for an alternative demand: The family could have the body, so long as they took it out of Tehran and buried it somewhere far away. So, a win-win situation.
Wayne LaPierre, the NRA chief, is projected on a large screen as he speaks at the annual CPAC.
If you thought clubbing was solely a pursuit for teens and twentysomethings, then think again - a raft of new dance events are inviting an older audience to rediscover their dancing shoes.

Former Radio 1 DJ Annie Macmanus, known as Annie Mac, launched Before Midnight in 2022, offering older clubbing fans everything they might once have enjoyed at a 90s rave - strobe lighting, big venues, a killer sound system - but all with the promise of an early bedtime.

The Irish DJ, 45, who has two children with her husband, fellow DJ Toddla T, set out her stall that while she still wanted to party, she didn't want to see the sun come up - and her hunch that other people might feel the same way has seen her perform a string of high profile Before Midnight dates since.

Broadcaster and DJ Annie MacManus launched Before Midnight last year, and has seen the dance music sets - which kick off at 7pm - become a huge success

The fun begins at 7pm and ends, as the name suggests, before the clock strikes midnight. Most standard UK nightclubs barely get going before 11pm.

And this year, Line of Duty star Vicky McClure has offered up a similar proposition, only even earlier in the day.

The 40-year-old British actress has been plugging her DayFever disco project to her nearly 750,000 Instagram followers - and will appear as a guest DJ.

The first event hit Sheffield on December 23rd, with a central London date lined up in February. Doors open at 2pm, and close at 8pm - tickets are around 17, roughly the same price as London club night Fabric.

After receiving her MBE from King Charles at Windsor Castle, the TV star shared a clip saying she would be celebrating the honour at the February DayFever event.

Pointing at her MBE medal, she told fans: 'I am going to celebrate this. Get your tickets now because it's going to sell out and we are going to party!'

The DJ pictured at London's Finsbury Park ahead of a Before Midnight set earlier this year; the Irish broadcaster said it was a misnomer that clubbing was for young people only

And Line of Duty actress Vicky McClure - in collaboration with friends - has launched the DayFever disco, an afternoon rave that lasts from 2pm to 8pm

One OAP, 87, attending the Early Night Club told the Bridgwater Mercury: 'I thought Id be sitting on the sidelines and watching, but as soon as my music, the Beatles, started nothing could keep me in my seat.'

Posting after receiving her MBE in December at Windsor Castle, the actress announced a second date for her DayFever project in London in February

It isn't just fortysomethings being invited back onto the dancefloor either.

In the Somerset town of Bridgwater in September, a club night for over 60s at the Palace nightclub, organised by Age UK, saw an enthusiastic turn-out, with more than 200 clubbing pensioners arriving to party.

In an article with the New York Times earlier this year, Annie Mac said there was 'an inherent belief that clubbing is for young people.'

The DJ told the US newspaper: 'Theres now a generation of people who experienced clubbing in its most popular guise, and still want to do that, but dont feel like they belong there anymore.'

Her own attempts to keep saying yes to late night sets had left her, as a parent of two young children, feeling like she had 'jet lag', she said.

After each of the Before Midnight events, Macmanus posts clips and photos to her 570,000 followers on Instagram - with the feedback from those who've attended universally positive.

One happy customer penned: 'So much fun, incredible night. Please come back so we can do it all over again.'
Now that Christmas is over, supermarkets are already in a rush to flog their Easter stock.

And Nestle fans are already raving about their favourite Easter egg, which they say is 'hands down the best' after seeing it return to the shelves of Tesco.

A snap of the sweet treat was uploaded by @newfoodsuk on Instagram, where it gained over 4,000 likes.

The Easter egg causing the stir is the KitKat Caramel Cookie Collision Incredible Egg.

However, it's not just the big egg inside that fans are raving over but the smaller eggs also included in the box, a bag of KitKat Cookie Dough Mini Eggs.

Nestle fans are already raving about their favourite Easter egg claiming it is 'hands down the best' one which was spotted in Tesco

The egg, which has a caramel-flavoured chocolate shell and real cookie pieces included, is boxed up with two KitKat Chunky Caramel bars and a bag of KitKat Cookie Dough Mini Eggs.

The post was captioned: 'KitKat Cookie Dough Mini Eggs are back!! We are so glad these beauties are back!! These were included in with the KitKat Caramel Cookie Collision Easter Egg from Tesco!'

Many rushed to the comments to share in their delight for the return of the chocolate treats.

One person wrote: 'Need to do them individually but this is hands down the best Easter egg.'

Another said: 'Absolute fave' while someone else simply said: 'WOW!!'

A fourth user told her friend: 'If you see these eggs, get me them please.'

The Easter egg was spotted in Tesco but it's also currently being sold for 10 at ASDA.

It comes after Cadbury Creme Egg fans wondered what the Creme Egg gooey filling is made from.

A snap of the sweet treat was uploaded by @newfoodsuk on Instagram, where it gained over 4,000 likes. The Easter egg causing the stir is the KitKat Caramel Cookie Collision Incredible Egg

However it's not just the big egg inside that fans are raving over but the smaller eggs also included in the box, a bag of KitKat Cookie Dough Mini Eggs

One person who had pondered the question took to Twitter to find out and asked: 'What's inside a Creme Egg? Why is the cream orange and white?'

And other people were surprised to learn that the sticky filling is actually made up of fondant, which itself is made from icing sugar, and a bit of food colouring.

One Twitter user responded: 'The cream resembles an egg white and yolk! Or so I've heard.'

Cadbury says the iconic middle of the Egg is made of sugar, milk, glucose syrup, cocoa butter, invert sugar syrup, dried whey, vegetable fats and dried egg white.

One person wrote: 'Life isn't the same anymore when you realise the filling inside the Cadbury Creme Egg is just icing sugar.'

But while this Twitter user was disappointed to learn the answer, others did not seem put off at all.

Many rushed to the comments to share in their delight for the chocolate treats return

One user commented: 'I would drink gallons of the Cadbury Creme Egg filling.'

Another wrote: 'If I knew how to make the Cadbury Creme Egg filling I would eat an entire bowl of it.'

A third penned: 'Who else finds the creamy filling in the Cadbury Creme Egg, to be both absolutely disgusting, yet somehow wonderful?'

Two thirds of the total number of Creme Eggs are consumed by UK citizens alone.

Cadbury has claimed that more than 500 million Creme Eggs are made year-round and not just at Easter time, which averages out to more than 1,369,000 each day.

But they aren't exactly one of your five-a-day. Each 40g egg contains 26.5g of sugar, 6.1g of fat and 3.7g of saturated fat.
Though seemingly pricey, the purchase was a steal for a cookware brand

The set included pots, pans and more - with most in the brand's iconic cerise hue

One lucky woman was treated to the sprawling cookware haul by her husband

A woman got quite the surprise this Christmas when her husband gifted her a sprawling set of cookware by esteemed French-Belgian brand Le Creuset.

The lucky wife, named Val, who goes by @.valpac on TikTok, revealed the sweeping assortment of items, most in the shade of cerise, in a 35-second video that has racked up more than 250,000 likes on the platform.

In the clip, the family gradually unboxes the 157-piece set, which the husband nabbed for a cool $4,500 at Costco, unveiling a range of pots, pans and baking dishes as well as everyday items like cups and plates.

Most of the massive haul came in Le Creuset's signature enameled cast-iron or stoneware-style ceramic.

One lucky woman named Val got a 157-piece cookware set by esteemed French-Belgian brand Le Creuset from her husband for Christmas

The haul was on offer from Costco for the bargain price of $4,500 - relatively low for the brand, from which individual heavy-duty pieces generally cost in the hundreds of dollars

The set came in roughly eight individual boxes, delivered all together on a wooden pallet

'Crying, screaming, throwing up right now at my Christmas gift from my husband 157 piece Le Creuset set from Costco, delivered on a pallet as promised,' Val gushingly captioned the post.

Indeed, the items all started out in approximately eight separate boxes, all stacked together on a wooden pallet.

Among the pieces Val showed off in the clip was the the brand's mini-cocotte, best for small-scale, slow-cooking projects.

She also flaunted both cast-iron and non-stick pans, a series of differently sized cast-iron pots, and a bunch of miscellaneous cooking utensils, including spatulas and wooden stirring spoons.

Winning the prize for most adorable item? No doubt the cheminee pour tarte - or 'pie bird' - a hollow ornament meant to be placed on the center of a pie as a venting mechanism.

At the conclusion of the clip, Val revealed the entirety of the haul laid out across her floor, a nearby table - and even along the bannister of a staircase.

'Am I the only one sweating and panicked from the pieces on the stair railing? Ma'am with great power comes great responsibility,' one commenter fretted of the display.

For many, $4,500 might not sound like much of a bargain, even for all of 157 well-crafted pieces of cookware.

The brand is best-known for its enameled, cast-iron pots and pans

Val got several types and various sizes of pots and pans in the set

The cheminee pour tarte - or 'pie bird' - is a hollow, bird-shaped ornament meant to be placed on the center of a pie as a venting mechanism

But, for Le Creuset, the normal price for merely a nine-piece set of cast-iron cookware is nearly $1,200 - with a single cast-iron Dutch running close to $450.

Meanwhile, individual heavy-duty stoneware items go for roughly $100 and up.

As one viewer hyperbolically characterized the steal: 'According to my calculations that's about a $1.5M set Phenomenal gift- congrats!!'

Thousands more commenters were quick to heap praise on the high-quality, endlessly useful Christmas gift.

'This is what dreams are made of,' one rhapsodized.

'This is the biggest kitchen flex of 2023,' a second agreed, with a third echoing, 'This the biggest flex on the internet right now.'

She also received cooking utensils, including wooden stirring spoons, spatulas and more

At the end of the video, Val showed off the sprawling haul, spread out across her floor, a table, and even the bannister of a staircase

Thousands took to the comments to offer their congratulations for - and otherwise comment on - Val's massive and forever-useful Christmas present

'It hurts watching others live your dreams,' a fourth lamented.

'Does your husband have a single brother???' wondered one go-getting woman.

'Dude, I CRIED when my chef stepdad gave me his used set. Congratulations, the red is gorgeous,' someone else applauded.

Yet another chimed in of her own Christmas spoils: 'Honestly all I got was the skillet and Dutch oven and seeing this I should have asked for more' - to which Val cheekily responded, 'Go start a fight.'

As a different woman declared of the husband's present: 'Sounds like he's done Christmas shopping for the rest of the decade! What a man, what a man, what a mighty good man!'
Hoda has admitted to falling into 'old habits' with an ex, hinting that she may have had a post-breakup liaison with her former fiance, Joel Schiffman.

The Today host, 59, made the confession on Wednesday's show while chatting with her co-star Jenna Bush Hager, 42, about Cardi B hooking up with her estranged husband, Offset, in Miami on New Year's Eve.

Kotb shared that she could relate to their predicament, saying she once found herself in a similar situation with an unnamed former flame.

'I have fallen into old habits,' she told Bush Hager, seemingly referring to Schiffman, her most recent public relationship.

Hoda Kotb, 59, admitted to falling into 'old habits' with an ex on the Today show Wednesday, seemingly referring to her former fiance, Joel Schiffman

The host made the confession while chatting with her co-star Jenna Bush Hager about Cardi B hooking up with her estranged husband, Offset, in Miami on New Year's Eve

'And I did regret it after the old habit happened,' she added. 'It's like one of those things that you say to yourself, "Just a little more willpower and I would have been fine."'

Kotb and Schiffman, 65, were together for eight years and engaged for two when she announced their split on the Today show in January 2022.

The broadcast journalist said she could understand how Carbi B, 31, and Offset, 32, may have had a temporary lapse in judgment following their split.

'After youve been with someone for seven years, and you see them, and its New Years Eve, sometimes if youve been broken up for even a month or two or whatever it issometimes you forget what it was that was bugging [you],' she said.

'There are times where youre like, "What was so bad about that?"'

Bush Hager insisted that Christmas and New Year's are 'major traps' that will have you feeling sentimental and tempted to reach out to a former love.

'All the Hallmark movies are looking like a Christmas tree farmer and a librarian are coming together, and you think, "Maybe I should call my ex,"' she said.

'Just to say hi. Just a text. "Hey, just wanted to wish you happy holidays." That's all,' Kotb chimed in.

Kotb (pictured with Schiffman) shared that she could relate to their predicament, saying she once found herself in a similar situation with an unnamed former flame

Kotb and Schiffman were together for eight years and engaged for two when she announced their split on the Today show in January 2022. They share adopted daughters Haley and Hope

'Don't do that,' Bush Hager warned, saying it could lead to a 'You up?' message and a regrettable rendezvous.

Cardi B confirmed her separation from Offset in December after six months of marriage. They share two children, daughter Kulture, five, and son Wave, two.

Despite their recent Christmas outing with their kids and New Year's Eve hookup, she has shut down speculation that they had reconciled.

Kotb also has two children with Schiffman, adopted daughters Haley Joy, six, and Hope Catherine, four.

The former couple met at a book signing in 2013, and they immediately hit it off. They had been together for six years when he popped the question during a trip to Mexico in 2019.

The former couple have remained dedicated to co-parenting their daughters, and they wore matching rainbow costumes when they took their children trick-or-treating on Halloween

Kotb had a Christmas stocking for Schiffman hanging inside her New York City apartment over the holidays

They had to postpone their destination wedding three times due to the pandemic before they called off their engagement at the start of 2022.

Kotb insisted there was no bad blood between them, explaining that their relationship had merely run its course.

'I don't regret one day, not one minute, not one second of our time together because it brought me here. I have two incredible children I share with him,' she said.

'And it's because of Joel that I have Haley and Hope, without question. I think I might have been too afraid to do it alone. That's not something I love to admit, but it's true.'

Kotb and Schiffman have remained dedicated to co-parenting their daughters, and they were both present when their girls had their first day of school in September.

They wore matching rainbow costumes when they took their children trick-or-treating on Halloween, and Kotb had a Christmas stocking for Schiffman hanging inside her New York City apartment over the holidays.
It's a challenge that has toppled even the most decorated Hollywood actors over generations - the British accent.

Stars from Dick Van Dyke to Anne Hathaway have faced criticism and mockery from viewers over their attempts at a British accent over the years, leaving Britons wondering if Americans will ever be able to successfully mimic the UK tone.

However, one woman from the US, who claims to have lived there almost her 'entire life' after being born in Nigeria, has lefts Britons stunned with her near-perfect South London impression.

TikToker Mona, who is based in Maryland, posted a video on her channel in which she slips in and out of a typical South London accent - leaving viewers utterly bewildered.

Mona explained that consuming a great deal of British pop culture led her to start copying the accent of native Brits, but admitted that she was hazy on local lingo. Nonetheless, viewers have questioned her true accent after being so convinced by her London mimickry.

Mona left fans in shock and even fooled them into thinking she was British herself

But the TikToker, who was born in Nigeria actually hails from Maryland, USA

In an impeccable emulation of South London twang, Mona explained: 'Naturally, I'll start, like copying them, even sometimes without knowing. Do you get what I mean?'

Mona continued: 'The way the voice sounds, I really like it. Especially, like, when I'm watching...' before she dramatically switched to her American drawl almost an instant to finish the sentence: 'Like, videos and stuff like that.

'Like, makeup videos. I'm like, oh, execute.'

She then switched back to her London accent to say: 'I'm watching this podcast, like, it's UK people, so as I'm listening to them, I start talking like them'.

She confessed: 'The accent might not be the best, I live in Maryland. I just do it [the accent] too often. If I was a UK babe, it's long.'

As viewers were left shocked by the accuracy of her impression, they urged her to take the plunge and move to the Big Smoke - seeing as she already had the accent down.

Others went one step further and speculated where she was born - with some suggesting her birthplace was Guy's Hospital in Southwark.

TikTok users were stunned at how similar Mona sounded to native South London Britons

One Londoner said: 'As a London babe, you sound legit', and another agreed: 'Woah, yeah that's spot on, except when you said podcast'.

Another was in disbelief: 'Girl you from South London, and another said: 'I refuse to believe you're not a UK import'.

A different user chimed in: 'Nah the accent is bang on, I've never heard an American nail our accent like that before'.

And another praised her distinctive London pronunciation of 'Dyaknawawhat I mean'.

Other Americans confessed they had attempted the accent before: 'Omg this is how I think I sound'.

Another joked: 'Me after a couple seasons of Love Island', and another also found watching British television shows like Skins helped curate a better accent.'

One said: 'As a Londoner it's giving I was born in Guys Hospital.'
The Princess beamed as she was driven into the Royal Lodge

Princess Beatrice today visited her father at the Royal Lodge in Windsor just hours after it was claimed he knew Jefferey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell were trafficking children for sex.

Beatrice, 35, smiled as she was driven into the home her divorced parents share, showing no sign of turmoil within the Firm.

With her hair tied back and opting for a lowkey, make-up free look, the Princes looked at ease as she went to meet her scandal-ridden father.

It comes as a second batch of unsealed files relating to Epstein's sexual abuse of teenage girls was released last night. They relate to a 2015 US defamation case brought by Virginia Giuffre against Maxwell and follow an earlier tranche published on Wednesday.

One of the documents released last night is a list of witnesses Ms Giuffre's lawyers wanted to subpoena, with each name accompanied by an alleged justification.

Under Prince Andrew's name, the list - dated March 31, 2016 - states: 'Has knowledge of Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein's sexual trafficking conduct and interaction with underage minors, including Virginia Giuffre.'

Another document claimed Andrew had an orgy with underage girls and touched a woman's breast while posing with a puppet of himself.

The document showed the Duke of York's address as Buckingham Palace. Andrew has vehemently denied any wrongdoing.

Princess Beatrice today visited her father at the Royal Lodge in Windsor

Beatrice, 35, smiled as she was driven into the home her divorced parents share, showing no sign of turmoil within the Firm

Beatrice appeared to treat business as normal as she visited her scandal-ridden father

The Duke of York, pictured here with Virginia Giuffre (centre) and Ghislaine Maxwell (right), has always denied wrongdoing in his relationship with Epstein

One of the documents released last night is a list of witnesses Ms Giuffre's lawyers wanted to subpoena, with each name accompanied by an alleged justification

Princess Beatrice and her sister Eugenie, 33, have never spoken about the claims against their father.

However they remain close to him, as does their mother Sarah Ferguson.

Andrew was reported to the Metropolitan Police by anti-monarchy Republic last night after he was referenced multiple times in both the first and second tranches of files.

This was matched by similar calls from a US attorney who represented some of Epstein's victims, who said police in Britain have a duty to investigate Andrew as he 'still refuses to fully account for his time' with the paedophile.

It is a fresh setback for the late Queen's second son who, just 10 days ago, walked to church on Christmas Day with the King and the rest of the royal family, symbolising his gradual rehabilitation within the monarchy after his public appearance at his brother's coronation in his garter robes in May.

The first batch of documents included allegations Andrew had an orgy with underage girls and touched a woman's breast while posing with a puppet of himself.

In the second batch, Maxwell's lawyer is seen attempting to have Ms Giuffre's defamation claim dismissed by referencing a statement issued by Buckingham Palace.

'Buckingham Palace issued a statement flatly denying the claims made by the plaintiff here,' Laura Menninger wrote.

The newly released court files may finally scupper Andrew's bid to reenter the royal fold, with well-placed sources telling the Mail that while the court claims were not a surprise, they will have served to 'crystallise' King Charles's determination to solve the 'Andrew problem' decisively.

Plans were already in train to evict him from Royal Lodge, his ten-bedroom Windsor home since 2003, and move him to a smaller residence in keeping with his 'downgraded' status.

Prince Andrew pictured in the background alongside the rest of the Royal Family as they attend the traditional Christmas Day service at St Mary's Magdalene Church on the Sandringham Estate last month

Graham Smith, CEO of anti-monarchy group Republic, said he had reported Prince Andrew to the Metropolitan Police. Pictured: Mr Smith outside Westminster Abbey prior to the Commonwealth Service in March 2023

In a tweet on the Republic X account, the group said it is 'time for the Met Police to act' over the allegations against Prince Andrew

US attorney Spencer Kuvin (pictured), who has represented some of Jeffrey Epstein's victims, has also called for police to investigate Prince Andrew

The 63-year-old prince, who has previously strenuously denied the allegations, paid millions a year ago to settle a civil case out of court with Virginia Giuffre with no admission of guilt after she accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was 17.

But he is mentioned more than 70 times in nearly 1,000 pages of interviews and transcripts.

The names of more than 170 people who were either associates, friends or victims of Epstein are being made public following a judge's order last month, including high-profile figures such as former US president Bill Clinton .

Graham Smith, chief executive of the anti-monarchy group Republic, said yesterday that he had reported Andrew to the police, accusing the Met of failing to conduct a serious criminal investigation into the case.

The force said in August 2022 that it was taking no further action over allegations made against Epstein and that any future probes into human trafficking by the sex offender were focused on activities outside the UK.

It also previously said it stood by its 2015 decision not to investigate claims by Ms Giuffre that she was sex trafficked to London by Epstein.

Mr Smith said: 'To date, there appears to have been no serious criminal investigation, no interview of the accused or other witnesses, and no clear justification for taking no action.

'I am calling on the Met Police to reopen this case, I am calling on MPs to debate this affair in Parliament, and I am calling on Charles to make a public statement, in front of the press and taking questions, to respond to these allegations and what they say about the monarchy.

'How can we not expect a response from the Government and head of state? At the time of the alleged offences, Andrew was a government trade ambassador and an active member of the royal family.

'They fudged and obfuscated for 11 years before taking any definitive action.'

Mr Smith added: 'The question many people will be asking is simple: if the accused were anyone else, do we believe they wouldn't have been investigated and prosecuted?'

Meanwhile, US attorney Spencer Kuvin, who has represented some of Jeffrey Epstein's victims, said people associated with the wealthy financier such as Andrew, deserve a higher level of scrutiny.

Mr Kuvin told the Mirror: 'Andrew still refuses to fully account for his time with Epstein and has failed to speak with US investigators about what he knows.

'British police need to do their duty and reopen their investigation into his conduct.'

He added that Epstein is probably 'one of the worst sexual predators of the century'.

Buckingham Palace, which no longer speaks on behalf of the duke after he stepped down as a working royal in 2019 over his friendship with Epstein, has not commented on the documents.

Prince Andrew at Sandringham on Christmas Day, 2023. He is said to have avoided prosecutors questions in 2019 despite publicly vowing to assist with the investigation into Epstein

Documents released this week claimed Andrew called financier Jeffrey Epstein (pictured) weekly and jetted to his private Caribbean retreat

Evidence from Johanna Sjoberg, who worked for Epstein as a masseuse, alleged Andrew touched her breast while sitting on a couch inside Epstein's Manhattan apartment as he posed for a photo with a caricature of himself in 2001.

The claim, which has been alleged previously, is thought to refer to a Spitting Image puppet of the duke.

Ms Sjoberg said, while giving evidence in May 2016: 'Ghislaine told me to come upstairs, and we went into a closet and pulled out the puppet, the caricature of Prince Andrew, and brought it down.

'And there was a little tag on the puppet that said 'Prince Andrew' on it, and that's when I knew who he was.'

Ms Sjoberg was asked what the puppet looked like and replied: 'It looked like him.

'And she brought it down and presented it to him; and that was a great joke, because apparently it was a production from a show on BBC.

'And they decided to take a picture with it, in which Virginia and Andrew sat on a couch.

'They put the puppet on Virginia's lap, and I sat on Andrew's lap, and they put the puppet's hand on Virginia's breast, and Andrew put his hand on my breast, and they took a photo.'

Other mentions of the duke include previous allegations that Epstein 'forced Jane Doe #3 to have sexual relations with was a member of the British Royal Family, Prince Andrew (a/k/a Duke of York)' at three locations including on Epstein's private island 'in an orgy with numerous other under-aged girls'.

The document claimed that Epstein instructed Jane Doe #3 to give Andrew 'whatever he demanded' and that Maxwell 'facilitated Prince Andrew's acts of sexual abuse by acting as a 'madame' for Epstein'.

Prince Andrew pictured attending the Easter Mattins Service at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in April 2023

Prince Andrew and King Charles III speak following a vigil in memory of Queen Elizabeth II at St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh in September 2022

The then-Prince Charles and Prince Andrew share a word from the balcony of Buckingham Palace while their mother Queen Elizabeth II looks on during Trooping The Colour in 2019

Ms Giuffre has claimed she was trafficked by Epstein to have sex with Andrew three times when she was 17 and a minor under US law at Maxwell's London home, in Epstein's New York home and during an orgy with Epstein at Caribbean island.

She was questioned over the whereabouts of the famous photograph showing her with the duke, who has his arm around her, with Maxwell grinning in the background.

READ MORE: Why Prince Andrew can't seem to shake THAT infamous photo of him and his teenaged accuser as it emerges at the centre of documents relating to Jeffrey Epstein Advertisement

Ms Giuffre added it may have been in storage boxes that were 'full of Nerf guns, my kids' toys, photos' at her mother and father-in-law's home in Sydney, Australia.

She said she gave the picture to the FBI in 2011 but had last seen it before she packed up her home to emigrate to Australia from Colorado.

Among the documents appears to be an email sent by Maxwell expressing her fears she would be questioned about her own relationship with Andrew.

It reads: 'I have already suffered such a terrible and painful loss over the last few days that I can't even see what life after press hell even looks like - statements that don't address all just lead to more questions... what is my relationship to Clinton? Andrew on and on.'

In Maxwell's videotaped deposition in 2016, she claimed she could only recall the duke visiting Jeffrey Epstein's private island in the US Virgin Islands once.

The Met Police and representatives of the Duke have been approached for a comment.
In Baccarat in Harrods, a mocktail made up of vinegar and juice costs 18

Whether you are a non-drinker or are simply trying to cut back during Dry January, mocktails can seem like a great option.

But as more and more people turn their backs on booze, the price of an alcohol-free tipple has soared.

Some British bars have been slammed by customers for charging as much as 18 for their mocktails, and for offering alcohol-free options at almost the same cost as alcoholic versions.

As customers are left baffled by what they consider to be inflated prices of alcohol-free drinks, experts told FEMAIL the cost of ingredients in a mocktail can often equal the cost of drinks containing booze.

One drinks boss even claimed that offering mocktails at higher prices actually increases their appeal - arguing punters are more likely to splash the cash on an expensive drink if they believe it to be 'luxury'.

One of the drinks on offer at Mr Fogg's Pawnbrokers in Soho, London, is called Max's Mysterious Elixir, costing 10.50 (pictured). Its manager claims the cost of making it justifies the high price

If you fancy a 'virgin' tipple at Harrods in Knightsbridge, it could set you back a whopping 18. The Baccarat bar offers two drinks (pictured is The Manhattan Project) on its menu for just shy of a score - both of which are made up of vinegar and juice.

The price of a mocktail varies depending on location, but customers have been taking to social media to complain about costs upwards of 8 for drinks that don't contain spirits.

And if you fancy a 'virgin' tipple at Harrods in Knightsbridge, it could set you back a whopping 18.

The Baccarat bar offers two drinks on its menu for just shy of a score - both of which are made up of vinegar and juice.

As they complain about expensive mocktails, customers are comparing eye-wateringly high prices to the more moderate-costing beverages.

One person shared a picture on X, formerly Twitter, of a menu where they cost just 3.75, adding: 'This is how much a mocktail is supposed to cost.'

Another person wrote: 'Somewhere I went recently mocktails were something like 9 with the option to add alcohol for 1. Nine pounds for JUICE?!'

On Facebook, someone said: 'The one that gets me is a virgin mojito! Soda water, sugar syrup, limes and mint. Must be the biggest profit margin of any drink!' to which someone replied 'We went to a brunch where alcohol was included, I was pregnant, ordered a virgin mojito and it was 11!'

Helen Garlick, 65, of North Devon, told FEMAIL that since being sober it was 'tempting' to go for mocktails, as they are something 'new and different' to drink when out.

'But the sky high price of them is now a joke, so when out these days I usually opt for sparkling water,' she said. 'With a slice of lime ideally - no ice. All of the bubbles and none of the flavoured ethanol.'

She has even created her own mocktail cabinet at home so she can treat herself in a more affordable way.

But a hospitality chief has challenged the claim that the prices are unjustifiably high.

Simone Spagnoli, head of bars at Mr Fogg's, Cahoots, Barts, Control Room B and Bunga Bunga, said some mocktails contain non-alcoholic spirits, which are are made from botanicals, such as leaves, roots, flowers and spices, and follow mostly the same production process of being distilled - meaning they can cost the same amount to make.

And he also claimed even without the spirits, the effort of making a mocktail justifies the price.

People have taken to social media to express their rage at mocktail prices, with one person sharing a picture of a menu where they cost just 3.75. 'This is how much a mocktail is supposed to cost, btw,' the person wrote

Catering company owner Lianna Bellis Jewel disputed the claim that mocktails cost the same amount to make as regular cocktails, citing her 6 Cranberry Spritz

'Non-alcoholic cocktail creation is nearly or sometimes just as expensive as the alcoholic counterparts,' he said.

'At our bars, we use the same premium ingredients that go into our alcoholic cocktails as we do in our non-alcoholic cocktails, just in non-alcoholic form.'

One of the drinks on offer at Mr Fogg's Pawnbrokers in Soho, London, is called Max's Mysterious Elixir, inspired by new Hollywood film Poor Things, costing 10.50. It is made up of Martini Vibrante non-alcoholic aperitif, Caleno Light & Zesty non-alcoholic spirit, cranberry juice, fresh lime juice and agave syrup.

However catering company owner Lianna Bellis Jewel disputed the claim that mocktails cost the same amount to make as regular cocktails, citing her 6 Cranberry Spritz.

'I run a catering company and our non-alcoholic options are around 6 while our cocktails range from 9-12,' she said.

'We put great care into the non-alcoholic options, balancing the flavours in the same way as we do our cocktails but as they don't contain alcohol, they cost far less to produce.'

Of mocktail prices, someone on Facebook said: 'The one that gets me is a virgin mojito! Soda water, sugar syrup, limes and mint. Must be the biggest profit margin of any drink!' to which someone replied 'We went to a brunch where alcohol was included, I was pregnant, ordered a virgin mojito and it was 11!'

Ms Jewel, who runs Sabel Food, added: 'I wonder if places are adding non alcoholic spirits to a mocktail which would make it as expensive as one with alcohol. In our opinion you don't need to do this.'

And bartender and pop-up bar manager James Bore, 40, from London, suggested that brands are intentionally raising the prices of their alcohol-free drinks as they claim customers are actually more likely to buy them when they cost more.

'Non-alcoholic spirit vendors often find that their sales increase when they raise the prices near to equivalent alcoholic drinks, because people are thinking luxury and mentally setting them to equal value,' he said.

'When they're cheaper they're more just soft drinks, therefore don't give that special occasion vibe.'

Mr Bore added: 'With mocktails, the margins are going to be huge either way, but the margins on soft drinks are already significant - so having a more premium "luxury" mocktail menu for special occasion drinkers, even if it decreases sales, is going to increase the profits and make them comparable to cocktails when people are ordering a round.'
Heir to the Spanish throne turned 18 on October 31st and is set for a higher profile in 2024

Spain's future queen, the daughter of King Felipe and Queen Letizia, will take part in the country's annual military parade for the first time tomorrow.

Princess Leonor, who turned 18 in October, will join her parents at the prestigious Pascua Militar ceremony at the Royal Palace in Madrid on Saturday, which also marks Epiphany, known as Day of the Kings, a national holiday in Spain.

This weekend sees the sovereign return to public duties after the two-week-long Christmas break.

It's the first time the teenage heir has attended the parade, which dates back to the 18th century, and her appearance is a sign of the young Princess embracing her role in public life.

The future queen of Spain, who turned 18 on October 31st, has been making solo appearances and training at the General Military Academy in Zaragoza to ensure she's ready for her future in the monarchy.

Stepping up: Princess Leonor of Spain, left, turned 18 in October and is set to attend the country's historic Pascua Militar ceremony at the Royal Palace in Madrid this weekend

Both the royal and her sister Infanta Sophia, 16, have been taking a bigger role in the spotlight as they come of age - with Leonor giving yearly speeches at the Princess of Asturias awards and often taking centre stage on family outings.

Unlike Prince Christian of Denmark - who is just two weeks older than her and also a future European monarch - Leonor's 18th birthday celebrations were decidedly low-key.

The heir to the Spanish throne swore an oath to the country's constitution before the Congress and Senate, with the Royal Mint of Spain creating a limited edition 40 Euro coin to mark her birthday.

Up to one million of the coins were put into circulation by the Bank of Spain.

The teenage royal pictured during her military training in the Pyrenees in December

Queen Letizia and King Felipe of Spain are preparing Princess Leonor to enter the spotlight after she turned 18. Princess Leonor (right) and Princess Sofia of Spain attended a workshop on creativity, innovation and teamwork in Gironda in the summer

The future queen of Spain has been making solo appearances and training at the General Military Academy in Zaragoza to ensure she's ready for her future in the monarchy. Pictured in a recent ceremony

Princess Leonor is seen giving a speech during the Princess of Asturias awards in 2022

Princess Leonor with her mother Queen Letizia of Spain in July - she often takes centre stage at family events

The coin weighs 18 grams and is made of a mixture of silver and copper with the effigy 'Her Royal Highness the Princess of Asturias' engraved on it.

The teen recently underwent military training at the General Military Academy in Zaragoza.

The school dubbed Spain's equivalent to Sandhurst and follows a strict timetable, but the princess was able to return home at the weekends if she is not on manoeuvres.

Before starting at the academy, she took place in her first engagement without her parents as she headed to Gironda with sister Sofia.

She has also cut a professional figure at the Princess of Asturias Awards.

The UNESCO-approved awards reward scientific, technical, cultural, social and humanitarian work. She has delivered a speech at each one since the age of 13.

She has also cut a professional figure at the Princess of Asturias Awards. The UNESCO-approved awards reward scientific, technical, cultural, social and humanitarian work. She has delivered a speech at each one since the age of 13

After the Princess's year in Zaragoza, before moving to a naval school and will then spend her third and final year of training at the General Air Academy.

Images shared by the Royal Household show Princess Leonor of Spain (pictured) getting stuck into a training exercise

Leonor appeared regal in military uniform while standing in formation alongside her fellow cadets. Pictured right: As per tradition, the ceremony saw Leonor kiss the Spanish flag after swearing an oath of allegiance to her King

After the Princess's year in Zaragoza, before moving to a naval school and will then spend her third and final year of training at the General Air Academy.

The heir to the Spanish throne will become commander-in-chief of the armed forces once she is monarch.

Snaps shared by the Royal Household last month suggested that this is a role Leonor will be comfortable in- despite saying she was feeling 'a little nervous' when she was dropped off at military school.

One of the snaps, taken during a training exercise, shows the princess smiling with her fellow cadets, while dressed in fatigues and holding what appears to be an automatic rifle.

Another of the photos shows her posing with fellow students, dressed in camo and protective gear.

The princess revealed her enthusiasm for being a cadet at the Princesa de Girona Foundation award ceremony in Girona, in Catalonia, on July 5.

She said: 'I have just finished high school and I am about to start a new stage with a period of military training.

'I am happy because I know how much the Spanish value our armed forces... it is an important moment in my life and I feel very excited and determined to continue learning and giving my best effort.'

Meanwhile, to celebrate turning 18 Princess Leonor will also receive the symbolic Collar of the Order of Charles III from her father on her birthday.

Princess Leonor of Spain looked radiant in white as she joined her parents to visit the military academy where she now studies

Infanta Sofia and her older sister, Princess Leonor, have been stepping into the limelight in recent years as they prepare to enter adulthood on the world stage

The Collar is a historic gift, created by Carlos III in 1771, and represents the possibility that Princess Leonor will one day assume the crown.

King Felipe VI received the Collar of the Order of Charles III on his 18th birthday in January 1986.

Princess Leonor will be given it in a ceremony attended by the royal family, senators and elected representatives. This will be the second honour the Princess of Asturias has received from her father King Felipe VI.

In 2015, on the day before her tenth birthday, he granted her the Order Of The Golden Fleece. The Order Of The Golden Fleece is a Catholic order of chivalry that was established in 1430 by the Duke of Burgundy.

Princess Leonor's 18th birthday celebrations will mark the end of a busy month for the heir to the Spanish throne.

Before starting at the military academy, Princess Leonor was a pupil at the UWC Atlantic College in the Welsh county of Vale of Glamorgan.

The cadets smiled as they took part in the flower offering ceremony at the Spanish cathedral last week

Queen Letizia and King Felipe of Spain looked every inch the proud parents as they watched Princess Leonor take part in her flag swearing-in ceremony

Princess Leonor, Queen Letizia, Queen Sofia and Infanta Sofia leave a restaurant over the summer holiday

Sofia and Leonor are taking on a bigger role at royal engagements

The school is often referred to as 'Hippie Hogwarts' thanks to its progressive approach to education and picturesque castle setting.

Leonor's sister, Infanta Sofia of Spain, 16, began her studies at UWC Atlantic this autumn.

In September last year the Spanish palace announced that Princess Leonor will go to university to study law once her three years of military training have been completed.

While Leonor's choice of university is unknown, the Princess's academic background already bears a resemblance to that of her father King Felipe.

After graduating from high school at Lakefield College in Canada, Felipe returned to Spain and attended the General Military Academy of Zaragozo, and went on to study at the Naval Military School in Marin.

He ended his training with a stint at the General Air Academy in San Javier.

His also completed his military training with a stint on the shop Juan Sebastian Elcano aged 18 in 1987, and went on to study law at the Autonomous University of Madrid.
A former FLDS member has revealed how she was abandoned by her husband and his four other 'plural wives' after they were forced out of the cult - leaving more than 20 children behind inside the polygamist sect.

Ceci Hendrickson appeared on a recent episode of the Cults To Consciousness podcast to discuss her experience living within the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints Church (FLDS) in Utah.

FLDS was a break away group which branched off from the original Mormon church when the mainstream religion ceased practicing polygamy.

Ceci candidly laid bare the 'traumatic' experience of having her family torn apart at the hands of former self-appointed leader Warren Jeffs.

Ceci Hendrickson appeared on a recent episode of the Cults To Consciousness podcast to discuss her experience as part of the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints Church (FLDS)

Ceci (left) candidly told to host Shelise Ann Sola (right) about the 'traumatic' experience of having her family torn apart at the hands of former self-appointed leader Warren Jeffs

Ceci began by explaining to host Shelise Ann Sola how she grew up as part of FLDS under the reign of Rulon Jeffs before son Warren - who is now in prison for child sexual assault - took over when she was just 12.

'When Rulon Jeffs was the prophet, there were rules in the ways of how you dress, how you would carry yourself as a FLDS member and the beliefs were very similar to the Mormon church.

'But the things that changed were Warren Jeffs becomes the prophet and then all of sudden instead of just wearing a dress, it was a dress with very specific collars cuffs it had to be a certain length, the women had to wear their hair styled a certain way, you had to go to bed at a certain certain time, be up at a certain time.

'The rules that they had went from almost reasonable... to extreme. Every moment of your day was planned out for you.'

Ceci was prepared for marriage from 13 years old and admitted that even though it was her 'normal' she had 'always been kind of a wild spirit.'

But she fought back her rebelliousness for the sake of her family and said she had seen other people break away from the church unsuccessfully.

'I watched many, many people leave and then become drug addicts or end up on the street with the wrong people and I didn't want that,' Ceci explained.

'That was a big fear if I leave that could be what my life looks like - going from a comfortable home, even though I don't exactly love it here with the dynamic that I was dealing with, but I would take that over going out and living on the street.

Ceci was prepared for marriage from 13 years old and admitted that even though it was her 'normal' she had 'always been kind of a wild spirit'

Ceci grew up as part of FLDS under the reign of Rulon Jeffs before son Warren (pictured together) - who is now in prison for child sexual assault - took over when she was just 12

Ceci said that she 'poured her whole heart and soul into becoming wife worthy' before marrying an 'assigned partner' at 16 years old

'And if that meant that I had to be married and given to someone that already had a wife... I took what made sense to me as to be the safest option.'

Ceci said that she 'poured her whole heart and soul into becoming wife worthy' before marrying an 'assigned partner' at 16 years old.

She became the second wife to a man 19 years her senior, who already had five children with his first partner.

'I loved him but I never was in love with him and a big part of that reason was to do with the fact that a lot of men from the FLDS aren't able to to emotionally connect,' she explained.

Ceci got pregnant five months after tying the knot and went on to welcome three more kids with her husband while also juggling the jealousy of becoming just one of five women he married.

'The only way to really survive - because that's really all you're doing is surviving - is to just make friends with the people that you live with even if you don't totally get along.

'At some point you just have to be like okay we live here in this house together, we have kids that we're raising together.'

She continued: 'Every woman that came had their own set of children... the family just gets bigger and bigger by the time our family was the size it was when I left we had 20 something - I don't even remember the exact number - children under one roof...

'There's just nothing easy about providing and and taking care of that many children.'

During Warren's time at the helm, he began sending people away from the group for 'various reasons' which tore families apart.

'It happened very quickly... our family was one of the first to have that happen to them.

'It was just a random weekday and all of a sudden all the women and my ex got into a vehicle and just left.

'I'm just sitting there - they didn't ever do that without being like "we're running to the store" or this or that.

'I was actually scared s**tless at the time because I thought maybe they were going to get church blessings of some kind and I was being left behind...

'I was super stressed out going over everything that had happened over the past few months wondering what I had done to create this situation where I wasn't involved in what they're doing.'

In 2011, Warren Jeffs was sent away for life after he was convicted of two felony counts of child sexual assault for having sex with two girls aged 12 and 14

She continued: 'But when they came back later that day then my ex pulled me aside and said we need to talk...

'He just broke down and was sobbing and he could barely even get the words out.

'He said, "I'm losing my family, I'm losing everything, I have to be gone by tonight and all I can take is what I need to survive."

'Then he told me the exact words that were said to him and one of the phrases was, "You need to leave and go far away to repent and never come back."

'He said, "And all the other wives have to come with me - you are the only one that can stay."'

Ceci branded it as a 'traumatic and emotional day for everyone,' adding: 'Everyone was just wailing in tears because they had to leave their children behind.'

She said that the children of the other four wives were distributed among relatives before Ceci moved back in with her father's family with her own four kids.

'It was just this huge purge of people that left hundreds and thousands of children parentless,' the mom said.

Ceci eventually moved out to an apartment an hour away from the community and fell pregnant again with a man she had been dating who subsequently turned his back on her.

'I thought I would have support with my four children and being pregnant but that fell out from underneath me.

'The church obviously at that point was like you're on your own and they came picked my kids up and I became homeless at that point.'

Ceci was separated from her kids for more than a year before eventually saving up the resources to be able to return and get them back.

She has since remarried, welcomed further kids with her new husband and started her own clothing line.

In 2011, Warren Jeffs was sent away for life after he was convicted of two felony counts of child sexual assault for having sex with two girls aged 12 and 14.

He is currently serving a life sentence plus 20 years for the charges, however, it has previously been reported that he has continued to preach to FLDS' remaining members from his prison cell.

As of 2018, the Guardian reported that there were still around 10,000 active members of the church.
Today marks Twelfth Night, when Christmas decorations should be taken down and packed up for another year.

However, for some, it's just too early to bid farewell to the twinkling lights and decorative garlands that cheer up some of the bleakest months of the year.

According to tradition, trees should be taken down on the 12th night of the festive calendar, also known as Epiphany, which falls on January 5th.

In the Christian calendar, Epiphany, which comes from Greek word meaning 'manifestation', commemorates the day that a star led the three kings or wise men, to the baby Jesus.

On social media, many have said they're going to defy the tradition and instead revert to marking the medieval Candlemas - also known as 'long Christmas' which deems it acceptable to keep things festive until February 2nd.

The owner of this Christmas beautiful tree told X that it will stay up 'until Feb', adding: 'Best bit of Xmas tbh'

Social media was awash today with people saying they wouldn't be dismantling trees, or pulling the plug on festive lights, with many saying the biggest reason was the decorations cheered them up during the most dismal months of the year.

One person wrote: 'January is depressing. Pretty fairy lights make me happy. I'd like to start a petition for everyone to keep their Christmas lights (not trees or other decs, just lights) up until the end of January. Who's with me?'

Plenty agreed, with some saying they leave their houses festooned all year around.

One person wrote: 'I have a unit with Christmas ornaments on display all year. My excuse is their to delicate to pack away. It makes me happy every time I walk past it.'

On X, formerly known as Twitter, hundreds of people shared images of their windows still illuminated with coloured lights and trees very much still up

Another added the emotive reason why they're reluctant this year to put away a seasonal village, writing: 'I decided to leave the village out until the end of January. Christmas was sad this year since my 89 yr old mother's health is declining. She lives with us and loves looking at the village. Time with her is becoming more precious.'

One person said they'll stay up until' Valentines Day, when they get replaced by romantic candle light and flowers in romantic anticipation of the end of winter and the coming spring.'

Scandinavian countries, particularly Sweden, are keen on keeping fairy lights up throughout the darkest months of the year.

According to historian Dr Michael Carter, the tradition that it is bad luck to keep decorations up after Twelfth Night is a 'modern invention' which may derive from the medieval superstition that adornments left up after Candlemas eve would become possessed by goblins.

He told MailOnline last year: 'I'm of the opinion that, after the year we've all had, we certainly deserve to keep the Christmas cheer going a little longer.'

English Heritage's senior properties historian explained: 'In the Middle Ages, houses would be decorated with greenery for the Christmas season on Christmas Eve day.

'The feast of Christmas started at around 4pm on Christmas Eve afternoon and continued until the Epiphany on January 6.

'But contrary to popular belief, the Christmas season actually continues right through to Candlemas on February 2, so there's no real reason why you should take your decorations down earlier.'
The Aussie neighbours of a European family who just moved to Sydney have been left shocked by their new friends' relaxed attitude to nudity.

An expat shared her confusion over her Australian neighbours' shock at her and her family's lack of clothing when they're at home.

She said she has heard some off-hand comments from her neighbours complaining about her family walking around their home and swimming in their backyard nearly naked.

'For us, being naked is normal. Of course we wear appropriate clothes if we're outside our house, but usually inside my husband, children and I will be naked or close to it. If we're outside the children (all under 10) are usually naked,' the mum said in a Reddit post.

'My husband and I always wear some kind of bottoms, usually shorts for him and a wrap or some kind of bikini bottoms or similar for me if we are outside in our back or front yard.'

An expat shared her confusion over her Australian neighbours' prudery to her and her family's lack of clothing when they're at home (stock image)

The woman said she, her husband and kids are 'newish' to Australia, living on Sydney's North Shore, and have a 'good relationship' with most of the people living nearby.

'We do regular street parties, events at each other's houses, help with minding children etc,' she explained.

'However, I've heard of a few comment flying around about our family being naked.'

She explained that her family often swim naked in the pool that only a few neighbouring houses would have to stretch to see.

'If we're inside, again it's very hard to see inside but it is possible if you really look. Of course if we have guests of any kind, we are fully covered up,' she said.

'My question is, what is appropriate for Australia? I want to fit in and not cause any problems or offence to anyone.'

She said she has heard some off-hand comments from her neighbours complaining about her family walking around their home and swimming in their backyard nearly naked (stock image)

The query attracted hundreds of responses from Australians, most of whom were more concerned about the European family being sun safe.

'Naked outside in Australia is a bad idea though. You get burnt FAST. Someone from Europe will get a cultural shock in no time flat. Spent quite a bit of time in Miami, and the sun there is like this little light bulb by comparison,' one explained.

'Should be worried about skin cancer, the Aussie sun is no joke,' warned a second.

'Remember to slip slop slap!' a third chimed in and a fourth said: 'If people are commenting on your nakedness then you're probably not as private about it as you think you are.'

Others were of the opinion the family should be allowed to dress however they want in their own house.

'You do you inside your house and if your backyard is as private as you say then all good also. People shouldn't be looking so it's their problem not yours if they do!' one user said.

'In the front yard/public I'd definitely be entirely covered (t-shirt and shorts minimum), but I imagine a bra and shorts, bikini etc would be fine,' another added.

'Not sure how kids are treated in that regard these days. I remember running around naked as a kid, but times might have changed since then.'

'Swimming in your pool = fine. Belt sanding the front deck = not so fine,' laughed a third.

'Culturally no one cares what you do inside your house. However I would strongly advise staying away from windows if you are fully naked,' someone replied.
Strangers often mistake them as family because of the age difference

The Perth couple met on a 'sugar daddy' website and fell in love

Scarlet, 24, and Scott, 56, have been together for almost four years

An Australian couple with a 32 year age gap have opened up about how they met - and turn a blind eye to the haters and strangers who ask if they're 'related'.

Scarlet, 24, and Scott, 56, have been dating for nearly four years and say while they're not perfect - they're perfect together.

'We really don't pay much attention to other people - we focus on each other. If someone comes up and presumes we are related, we just try laugh it off,' Scarlet told FEMAIL.

Before they met, Scott was going through a divorce and was ready to give up on love.

In a TikTok video, the FIFO worker explained he turned to 'sugar daddy' websites and sought to 'make an arrangement'. But things took an unexpected turn and the pair fell in love instead.

Scarlet, 24, and Scott, 56, have been dating since 2019 and fell in love after meeting on a 'sugar daddy' website

The couple speak about their relationship online and ignore any haters

'I have never been in this for any financial gain at any time. It's always been about support, mentoring, company, unconditional friendship, and true feelings,' Scarlet told FEMAIL.

Together the couple, from Perth, have helped each other through tough times and mental health struggles.

'I had just come out of a marriage was struggling with being overwhelmed by loneliness, which triggered anxieties. Scarlet has a massive heart and is very empathetic so we started talking,' Scott said.

Scarlet said when coping with her own struggles, Scott was the 'only one who truly supported her'.

Many have criticised the pair and claimed they wouldn't have any common interests due to their age gap - which Scarlet slammed as 'ridiculous'.

'Good music is good music, a great movie is a great movie, interest are timeless,' she said.

Scarlet told FEMAIL: 'We have never been in this for any financial gain at any time. It's always been about support, mentoring, company, unconditional friendship, and true feelings'

On TikTok under the moniker @agegap5ever the couple have spoken openly about their relationship.

Like any couple they have challenging days but the Scarlet said they 'balance each other out' and share the same life values.

'We do we talk about a long happy future together all the time - we aren't perfect but we are perfect together,' Scarlet said.

'We do we talk about a long happy future together all the time - we aren't perfect but we are perfect together,' Scarlet said

They've also received mixed reactions from others about their age gap but choose to steer clear from responding to any negative comments.

'We want to help people share a bit of joy, love give other people the same as us. We hope each time we go live [on TikTok] we want just one person to feel better about themselves,' Scarlet said.

In the comments of a video one person wrote, 'You two are so cute together' and another said, 'Beautiful couple.'
The NHS will begin logging evidence of the harm caused to patients by striking junior doctors' refusal to help struggling hospitals.

Officials have already warned that the impact of the six-day walkout could be felt for 'weeks and months', with up to 200,000 operations and appointments cancelled.

Under strike protocols, hospital trusts can ask the British Medical Association (BMA) to allow medics return to work if staff shortages are compromising patient safety.

But the the union behind the walkout has rejected more than a dozen of these requests since their latest walkout began on Wednesday and accepted just one, claiming the health service is attempting to undermine its strike.

In a furious response, NHS chiefs told the BMA it would now 'evidence harm and near misses which might have been avoided' in all hospitals where requests for junior doctors to return to work were rejected.

Under strike protocols, hospital trusts can ask the British Medical Association (BMA) to allow medics return to work if staff shortages are compromising patient safety. But the the union behind the walkout has rejected more than a dozen of these requests since their latest walkout began on Wednesday and accepted just one, claiming the health service is attempting to undermine its strike

In a furious response, NHS chiefs told the BMA it would now 'evidence harm and near misses which might have been avoided' in all hospitals where requests for junior doctors to return to work were rejected. Pictured, striking junior doctors in the picket line outside Homerton Hospital in London yesterday

Just over 20 requests  labelled derogations  have been made by hospitals calling on doctors to return to work, but some may have submitted more than one.

All but one have been rejected.

Last night the union confirmed it had granted a single derogation for just one junior doctor to work today on the neonatal unit at University Hospital Lewisham.

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, the BMA added: 'The trust have informed us that alternative sources of staffing have been exhausted. Our priority is patient safety.'

Yesterday the union accused NHS bosses of undermining the derogation process by submitting requests well in advance of the strike and suggested they were being made due to 'political pressure'.

Junior doctors' pay - the truth Junior doctors were awarded a pay rise of 6 per cent plus a consolidated payment of 1,250 in July, in line with the recommendation of the Independent Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration. The package was equivalent to an average increase of 8.1 per cent from 2022/23 to 2023/24, or 10.3 per cent for those in their first year of training. Average basic pay for a first year doctor increased from 29,384 to 32,397, while a junior doctor who had been a specialty trainee for six years or more saw their pay rise from 58,398 to 63,152. Many are paid a higher sum for working overtime and receiving enhanced rates for working unsociable hours. Junior doctors pocketed the extra money despite vowing to continue striking, with some boasting the additional income would subsidise further walkouts. Steve Barclay, who was Health Secretary from October 2022 until November 2023, and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had described the settlement as final and insisted there would be no more talks about pay. But the British Medical Association has held further negotiations with officials and ministers in the Department of Health and Social Care since October, resulting an offer of an extra 3 per cent, which has been rejected by union representatives. The BMA has claimed that junior doctors have seen their pay eroded by more than a quarter in real terms over the past 15 years. The trainee medics have been demanding full pay restoration  worth around 35 per cent  and have said they would not settle for anything less, although senior figures within the union have suggested they may compromise. Advertisement

Other requests failed to illustrate what steps they had taken to mitigate the need for junior doctors to work, it said.

But in a furious response, NHS England last night wrote to the BMA and said it was 'regrettable' that it had called into question the 'integrity and motive' of clinical leaders who are doing 'whatever is necessary to maintain safe care for patients through periods of action'.

In the letter, signed by Emily Lawson, interim NHS chief operating officer, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, national medical director and Navina Evans, chief workforce officer, they said the union had rejected urgent requests for help or been slow to respond when patients were at risk during previous strikes.

Health officials will now follow up every case where derrogation requests have been rejected, in order to compile a picture of the impact on services, they said.

Hospitals will also record every safety incident logged during the action, 'so that we can evidence harm and near misses which might have been avoided', they added.

It comes as Health Secretary Victoria Atkins, who has already sketched out deals with consultant and specialist doctors, argued it was 'absolutely right' for NHS leaders to seek mitigations.

She said: 'It is absolutely for NHS leaders to decide which services need to be protected, I trust their medical judgment, their clinical judgment with these mitigations that they're seeking.

'I absolutely support them in seeking these mitigations, but it is for local health leaders who know their hospitals, know their patients and know their rotas, it is for them to make those decisions and I trust them and their judgment.'

Yesterday, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also insisted that NHS leaders are 'completely independent of Government' but added that they have his 'backing' when making derogation requests.

Speaking during a visit to MyPlace Youth Centre in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, he said: 'These strikes are disrupting people's lives. They are causing an enormous amount of concern to people.

'It's absolutely right that NHS leaders, completely independent of Government, are making clinical decisions on the ground. And requesting that extra support where they feel that they need it. Of course they have my backing in doing that.'

On the first day of walkout action on Wednesday, critical incidents were declared at both Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust and Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board.

Lewisham and Greenwich Trust and Oxford University Hospitals also declared an 'operational pressures escalation levels' (OPEL) rating of four, indicating services are 'unable to deliver comprehensive care', leaving 'increased potential for patient care and safety to be compromised'.

Meanwhile, more than a dozen other hospitals said their emergency services were busy, with some reporting 'extreme heightened pressure'.

The days after the New Year, however, are when the NHS usually hits peak winter pressures. NHS England modelling is forecasting this to hit around the middle of the month.

Yesterday, sources told Manchester Evening News that one patient in their 90s had to wait more than 25 hours for a hospital bed in one of the city's hospitals.

Another patient, in their 80s, was also left waiting more than 21 hours.

Just over 20 requests  labelled derogations  have been made by hospitals calling on doctors to return to work, but some may have submitted more than one. All but one have been rejected. Last night the union confirmed it had granted a single derogation for just one junior doctor for the neonatal unit at University Hospital Lewisham today for a day shift. Pictured, Health Secretary Victoria Atkins speaking with paramedics yesterday during a visit to the winter control centre at the London Ambulance Service NHS Trust in central London

Yesterday the BMA accused NHS bosses of undermining the derogation process by submitting requests well in advance of the strike and suggested they were being made due to 'political pressure'. Pictured, Health Secretary Victoria Atkins speaking with paramedics yesterday during a visit to the winter control centre at the London Ambulance Service NHS Trust in central London

On the first day of walkout action on Tuesday, critical incidents were declared at both Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust and Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board. Pictured, Jeremy Corbyn MP addressing striking junior doctors on the picket line outside Homerton Hospital in London yesterday

More than a dozen other hospitals said their emergency services were busy, with some reporting 'extreme heightened pressure'. The days after the New Year, however, are when the NHS usually hits peak winter pressures. NHS England modelling is forecasting this to hit around the middle of the month. Pictured, Jeremy Corbyn MP with striking junior doctors on the picket line outside Homerton Hospital in London yesterday

In a post on X, one medic also revealed that the average wait in their emergency department had reached 10 hours, while around 20 patients had been waiting for more than 24 hours and one had been waiting three days.

The NHS worker, whose message was shared anonymously on social media, also revealed that 10 ambulances were stuck waiting outside their hospital.

It comes as Ms Atkins, during a visit to the London Ambulance Service yesterday, also offered to get back to the negotiating table within 20 minutes if the BMA called off the strike.

She said the action was resulting in 'very serious consequences' for patients and other NHS workers, arguing that the NHS 'doesn't just belong' to the BMA.

Ms Atkins said: 'I've said throughout this that, please, to the junior doctors' committee, the moment you call off the strikes I'll get back around the table with you within 20 minutes.

'It's just we have to have the strikes called off, because the NHS belongs to us all.

'It doesn't just belong to the junior doctors' committee, and for the 1.3 million people who work in the NHS, as well of course for the tens of millions of people it looks after, the NHS cannot be switched on and off on whim.'

But union leaders argued the Government has made a 'political choice' not to negotiate during strike action.

Professor Philip Banfield, BMA council chairman, said: 'It is a political choice for this Government to stick rigidly to its dogma of not negotiating while strikes are planned.

'In the past, the Government waived this principle for the barrister strikes, so there is no reason for them to waste time and money by refusing to talk now.

'We are clear: we are ready to talk 24/7. Get back around the table, give us a credible offer and we can end these strikes right now.'

Today marks the third day of junior doctor latest walkouts, the 31st day of industrial action by the medics since they first took to the picket lines last March.

Ministers had initially offered junior doctors an 8.8 per cent pay rise, on average, for the 2023/24 financial year.

However, the uplift was higher for first year medics, who were given a 10.3 per cent boost.

Junior doctors in their first year now have a basic pay of 32,300, while those with three years' experience make 43,900. The most senior earn 63,100.

Ms Atkins offered the medics an additional three per cent on top of this rise.

However, Dr Robert Laurenson and Dr Vivek Trivedi, who co-chair the BMA's junior doctor committee, said this sum was still 'completely insufficient' and pressed ahead with fresh walkouts in December and January.

The Health Secretary said the pair left negotiations before the Government had made its final offer.

The BMA has claimed that junior doctors have seen their pay eroded by more than a quarter in real terms since 2008.

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn yesterday joined medics on the picket line at Homerton Hospital in east London.

Junior doctors in their first year now have a basic pay of 32,300, while those with three years' experience make 43,900. The most senior earn 63,100

Health chiefs have already warned the impact of the six-day walkout could be felt for 'weeks and months', with as many as 200,000 operations and appointments cancelled. Pictured, junior doctors on Tuesday outside the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle

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In a post on X, he said: 'Solidarity is at the root of our movement  thats why I will always support healthcare workers in their fight to restore their pay, protect their patients and save our NHS.'

Trainee medics have been demanding full pay restoration  worth around 35 per cent  and have said they would not settle for anything less.

On Tuesday, however, Dr Trivedi revealed the BMA would accept its uplift demand to be spread 'over a number of years'.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme: 'All we want is a credible offer that we can put to our members and we don't need to strike ever again.

'We're not asking for any uplift or pay restoration to happen overnight. We're not even saying it has to happen in one year.

'We are very happy to look over deals that would span a number of years  but what we need to do is to start a way towards that and not further that pay erosion.

'That three per cent pay uplift would still have amounted to pay cuts for many doctors this year.'

Later he also said: 'I hope they [the Government] come back to the table now. But from all of the signals they are sending it won't be until our strike action finishes.

'And I hope at that point we can come to a resolution.'

Health service bosses have repeatedly blamed medic strikes for heaping extra pressure onto already struggling hospitals.

But officials have continued to urge Brits to still seek care if they need it.

NHS England's national medical director, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, said: 'Although staff are doing the very best for patients with extensive preparations in place, there is no denying the NHS has started the year in a very difficult position.

'This latest round of strike action will not only have an impact on this week but will have an ongoing effect on the weeks and months ahead as we struggle to recover services and cope with heavy demand.

'Our message for patients remains the same - continue to come forward for care using 999 and A&E in life-threatening emergencies and 111 online for everything else.'
Covid and flu hospitalisations in England have up to doubled in just two weeks, official figures have revealed.

NHS data shows there were nearly 4,000 Covid patients taking up beds in the week to December 31, up by more than two-thirds since the start of December.

Meanwhile, more than 1,000 flu patients a day were in hospital, twice as many as logged a fortnight earlier.

Health leaders today warned that the 'double whammy' of the surge in respiratory viruses and junior doctor strikes is a 'perfect storm' heaping pressure on the NHS.

The medics are in the midst of a devastating six-day walkout, which is expected to see around 200,000 appointments cancelled.

Sir Julian Hartley, chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents trusts, urged the Government and British Medical Association (BMA) to end their dispute for the sake of patients and staff, who are suffering intolerable stress.

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The NHS data gives a snapshot of pressures on hospitals in the week to December 31, a time when the health service was finalising its contingency plans for dealing with the walkouts.

The number of hospital patients testing positive for Covid increased for a fifth week running.

An average of 3,929 Covid patients were taking up beds in each day in the week to New Year's Eve, up eight per cent from the previous week and 68 per cent higher than at the start of December.

An average of 1,312 people were in hospital each day last week with flu, including 81 in critical care beds, according to NHS England.

The total is up over a third (39 per cent) from 942 in the previous week and more than double the 648 recorded a fortnight earlier.

Ambulance arrivals at hospitals hit highest levels of winter Ambulance arrivals and calls for health advice hit their highest levels of the winter last week as it braced for junior doctors strikes. Some 93,576 patients arrived at hospital by ambulance in England, with crews wasting 24,384 hours due to handover delays. A third of patients arriving by ambulance waited more than 30 minutes to be handed over to doctors, up from 23 per cent the week before. Meanwhile, NHS 111 answered 444,285 calls, which is almost 34,000 more than the same week the previous year, the new figures from NHS England show. Advisors answered almost two-thirds of calls (62 per cent) within a minute, compared with only a quarter (26 per cent) a year earlier. Staff absences across the NHS stood at an average of 47,779 each day last week, down 4 per cent from the previous week. And 11,478 beds each day were filled with patients who were considered medically fit for discharge but were unable to leave. This was up slightly from 11,439 the previous week. Rory Deighton, director of the NHS Confederation's Acute Network, said: 'Ambulances are still being delayed outside of hospitals and too many patients who are fit enough to go home are stuck in hospital beds.' Advertisement

It is the highest figure so far this winter but still well below the equivalent number at this point a year ago (5,441) when the UK was in the middle of its worst flu season for a decade.

However, levels of the winter vomiting bug norovirus fell 16 per cent in a week, taking up an average of 377 adult hospital beds compared to 451 the previous week.

Sir Julian said the new data show 'considerable pressure continuing to mount throughout the health system'.

'The effects of a six-day strike by junior doctors this week, hard on the heels of a three-day stoppage before Christmas, will be felt right across an already hard-pressed NHS,' he added.

'In winter, guaranteed to be one of the busiest times of year for the NHS, a double whammy of walkouts on top of sustained pressure including more Covid-19 hospitalisations is a perfect storm.

'With longstanding, severe staff shortages  more than 121,000 vacancies today across NHS trusts in England  staff morale is low as heavy workloads take their toll.

'At the last count, stress, anxiety, depression and other mental illnesses were behind more than 27 per cent of all sickness absences across the NHS.

'The Government and unions must act fast to settle this long-running dispute and prevent more walkouts for the sake of patients and staff.'

The latest industrial action by junior doctors began at 7am on Wednesday and runs until 7am next Tuesday. It follows a 72-hour walkout in the week before Christmas.

Both strikes are part of a long-running dispute over pay, which has already seen 1.2million inpatient and outpatient appointments rescheduled.

Rory Deighton, director of the NHS Confederation's Acute Network, said the NHS is 'clearly struggling to cope' as it battles one of the worst winters it has ever faced.

He said patients are 'paying the price' for the industrial dispute and warned severe weather is causing further difficulties, with staff forced to deal with the impact of flooding.

Health leaders today warned that the 'double whammy' of the surge in respiratory viruses and junior doctor strikes is a 'perfect storm' heaping pressure on the NHS. Pictured: striking junior doctors in the picket line outside Homerton Hospital in London yesterday

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Junior doctors in their first year now have a basic pay of 32,300, while those with three years' experience make 43,900. The most senior earn 63,100

Mr Deighton added: 'Multiple trusts have declared critical incidents this week and our members are worried about how much capacity they have to deal with rising demand.'

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust declared a critical incident at 9am today, 'due to the sustained pressure across the hospital, with high attendances to our emergency department over the last three days'.

It is among a number of hospitals that have declared critical incidents this week and have asked the public to rapidly collect relatives who are ready for discharge in order to free up beds for new arrivals.

Professor Julian Redhead, national clinical director for urgent and emergency care at NHS England, said the health service had started 2024 'in a very difficult position', while praising the 'incredible hard work' of staff for dealing with rising levels of winter viruses on top of industrial action plus a spike in demand following Christmas bank holidays.

He added: 'This latest round of strike action will not only have an impact on this week but will have an ongoing effect on the weeks and months ahead, as we struggle to recover services and cope with heavy demand.'

A number of hospitals have pleaded for medics to leave picket lines and get back to work due to safety concerns.

More than 20 such applications have been submitted to the BMA, with the majority rejected.

NHS England said it will compile a dossier of all patients who come to harm or suffer near misses as a result of the BMA rejections.
An outbreak of measles that began with a patient in Philadelphia's top children's hospital has already sickened up to six patients  with health officials fearing more could be infected.

Three unvaccinated pediatric patients at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), as well as an unvaccinated parent, tested positive for the highly infectious virus after an infected infant admitted to the hospital spread the disease to two other hospitalized children.

Additionally, after a patient ignored quarantine orders and attended daycare last month, at least two other patients are also being monitored for suspected infections.

Experts said people catching the disease are not vaccinated against measles, adding the risk to the vaccinated is low.

Unvaccinated people are being urged to get the measles shot, which is more than 97 percent effective against infections with the virus.

Measles is a highly infectious disease that is fatal in up to 15 percent of people that it infects.

Three children and a parent at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (pictured) have tested positive for measles. It took two days to diagnose the initial patient, by which time the virus had spread to two others

'We are seeing cases of measles that have spread to vulnerable individuals, including young children,' said city Health Commissioner Dr Cheryl Bettigole.

'[This is] due to people declining vaccination and also failing to adhere to quarantine recommendations.'

Measles is one of the most infectious diseases on record, triggering infections through tiny airborne droplets or via contact with contaminated surfaces.

Patients experience flu-like symptoms in the early stages before a characteristic rash appears, through which the disease is normally diagnosed.

The illness is particularly dangerous for children under five years old, pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems.

The outbreak was triggered when a child with flu-like symptoms who had recently returned from a country where measles is common was admitted to the CHOP late last month, local reports say.

It took two days for the hallmark rash to emerge, which then led to a measles diagnosis  by which time two patients in adjacent rooms had been infected.

For the 2022-2023 school year three percent of kindergartners had a vaccine exemption from one or more required vaccines. This is an increase from 2.6 percent during the 2021-2022 school year and the highest the US has ever recorded

The above map shows the state by state rates of vaccination exemptions for the 2022-2023 school year, highlighting the top five states with the highest percentages of exemptions

The additional cases included a child who was too young to be vaccinated and one whose parents refused to get their child vaccinated.

One of the parents of the unvaccinated child later also tested positive for the virus.

CHOP officials say the patients have been placed into quarantine for at least 21 days until their symptoms resolve, making it 'absolutely safe' for people needing to visit the hospital.

Philadelphia health officials are following up with people who may have been exposed after visiting four hospitals in the city  CHOP, St Christopher's Hospital for Children, Nazareth Hospital and Jefferson Health.

They are also calling parents whose children attended Multicultural Education Station day care in Philadelphia between December 20 and 21.

Measles was once widespread in the United States, but the roll out of vaccines led to the disease being declared eradicated in the US in 2000.

About 1,200 cases of measles are now diagnosed in the US every year  often linked to international travel to countries where measles is still endemic.

Two doses of the vaccine against the disease  dubbed the measles mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine  are 97 percent effective against an infection with the virus.

Patients are offered the first dose between the ages of 12 to 15 months, with the second administered at least 28 days later.

Adults can also get the vaccine, and are offered two doses spread apart by at least 28 days.

Dr Bettigole added: 'Children under 12 months and adults who are immunocompromised remain vulnerable to measles but are generally protected because of the wall of immunity created by high community vaccination levels.

'If you have not been vaccinated against measles or have not vaccinated your children who are 12 months of age or older, please reach out to your healthcare provider to do so immediately.

'If you or your child has been exposed to measles, please follow public health guidance to avoid exposing additional children.'

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned over falling vaccination rates, saying more than a quarter of a million unvaccinated kindergartners entered schools last year.

Data showed seven percent of children were not up to date on their vaccines, above the target level of five percent or lower.

At the same time, the share of children who are 'exempt' from having their school vaccinations is continuing to rise  hitting a record high.

Experts say anti-vaccine sentiment fueled by the Covid pandemic is triggering the rise in people avoiding shots, as well as vaccine fatigue.

There was also an outbreak in central Ohio in February last year which led to 85 cases, mostly among children who were not fully vaccinated.

And in October last year health authorities in Idaho were also reporting cases of the disease.
'Wild west' online pharmacies are selling fatal doses of prescription-only addictive medications without adequate safety checks, an investigation has revealed.

The probe attempted to purchase three restricted drugs - painkillers as well as sleeping and anti-anxiety drugs - from online pharmacies.

It identified 20 that were touting at least one of the medications without appropriate checks, such as approval from a patient's GP.

The investigation secured 1,600 prescription-only pills, including a 'potentially fatal dose of the drug used to treat anxiety'.

Customers could buy the medications within minutes after completing online questionnaires, which one site said was as 'easy as ordering your groceries online'.

An investigation has found UK online pharmacies are selling restricted drugs, sometimes in fatal doses, without appropriate checks, such as approval from a patient's GP (stock photo)

The probe, carried out by the BBC, found that three pharmacies sold the anti-anxiety drug, nine sold the painkiller and 14 sold the sleeping medication without appropriate checks.

Some pharmacies even sent reminder emails about 'fabulous' items in their online shopping baskets urging customers 'to buy before time runs out'.

Such promotional marketing language shouldn't be used for the sale of prescription only medications, according to regulators.

The BBC added that each of the 20 online pharmacies that sold to the reporters did issue a disclaimer urging them to notify their GP about their purchase.

The broadcaster chose not to identify either the online pharmacies or the exact drugs they purchased online for public safety reasons.

But, shockingly, these were from registered online pharmacies, legitimate retailers, as opposed to illicit black-market sellers.

READ MORE: Too many patients are prescribed drugs they don't need. So here's a radical solution: Let pharmacists de-prescribe Many prescribed medicines can be harmful as well as helpful. This is especially true when people are taking multiple drugs that may interact badly, or overburden patients' bodies (file image) Advertisement

Thorrun Govind, pharmacist and former chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society said patients' lives are being put at risk by current 'vague' guidance for online pharmacies.

'The current guidance basically tells pharmacies to be robust, but do that in your own way, and we know that under this current system, patients have died,' she said.

'This has led to such a variation, with some online pharmacies asking for checks like video consultations, while others seem to let you simply click on the drug you want and go forward to pay.'

The families of Brits who have died after taking medications supplied by online pharmacies issued renewed calls for action in response to the findings.

Christine Taylor's daughter, Katie Corrigan from St Erth in Cornwall, died after buying painkillers and an anti-anxiety medication online without notifying her GP.

The 38-year-old had originally been prescribed them by her GP for neck-pain.

However, Mr Corrigan's doctor stopped handing the pills over due to concerns she was taking too much.

An inquest confirmed none of the online pharmacies that supplied her with the drugs had contacted her GP to check the drug was safe for her.

Christine told the BBC: 'It's far too easy - it's people's lives, and it's a disaster waiting to happen.'

Pharmacy regulator, the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPC), states that online pharmacies must secure 'all the information they need' to ensure they are supplying drugs safely and appropriately for a patient.

Any 'high risk, habit forming' drugs shouldn't be sold without proper safeguards, it warns.

Responding to the investigation, GPC chief executive Duncan Rudkin said it raised 'very serious concerns'.

'We have asked the BBC to provide further information so we can urgently look into these concerns and take action to protect patients and the public,' he said.

'Our guidance for registered pharmacies providing services at a distance, including on the internet states clearly that selling and supplying medicines at a distance brings different risks which need to be appropriately managed to protect patient safety.

'Medicines are not ordinary items of commerce and must not be treated as such.'

Mr Rudkin added that the GPC expected pharmacists to carry out appropriate safety checks when suppling medicines to patients particularly those at risk of misuse like opioids and painkillers.

He said the GPC takes regulatory action on any online pharmacy not following appropriate checks.

'We have identified cases where some online pharmacies have supplied these high-risk medicines to patients without appropriate steps being taken by the pharmacy owner, prescriber, responsible pharmacist, or other members of the team to check that the medicine being prescribed and dispensed was clinically appropriate for the patient,' he said.

'In response, we have taken enforcement and regulatory action where appropriate against the owners of these registered pharmacies, as well as individual pharmacy professionals involved in both the prescribing and supply of medicines where their conduct may have fallen short of professional standards.'
But manufacturers and lobbying groups are expected to sue to block its efforts

Florida estimates it could save up to $150million on medications in the first year

The Food and Drug Administration has granted permission to Florida to be the first state allowed to import less expensive medications from Canada, in a major policy shift that could allow Americans to access cheaper versions of drugs that cost thousands of dollars.

While people in the United States are allowed to make direct purchases from Canada, the decision will make Florida the first state to be allowed to purchase less expensive drugs in bulk from Canadian wholesalers.

In making their case to the Food and Drug Administration, Florida officials claimed critical prescription drugs in the state can cost nearly $400 per pill, putting a significant burden on patients who need life-saving medications.

And the US has some of the highest prescription drug costs in the world, with prices 218 percent of those available in the country's neighbor to the north.

For name-brand, non-generic versions of medications, that expense is 294 percent of Canadian prices, meaning drugs in Canada are only 46 percent and 34 percent, respectively, the cost of American medications.

By importing Canadian medications, Florida officials estimate the state could save up to $150million in the first year.

The FDA's approval is the first step in the win for Florida, but now it must send the FDA details on which drugs it wishes to import and how the state plans to do so.

Drugs to be imported in the beginning of the partnership will include those to treat HIV, AIDS, diabetes, hepatitis C and some psychiatric conditions.

An FDA official told The New York Times that Florida will be able to buy medications in bulk to use in US government clinics, prisons and Medicaid programs.

Colorado, Maine, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Texas, Vermont and Wisconsin all have laws allowing the importation of drugs, with some having applied for the same permission from the FDA

EXCLUSIVE US drug shortages hit record high and lawmakers warn they could mean 'life or death for MILLIONS of patients' Shortages of life-saving medications have reached record highs in the United States, putting millions of Americans at risk of major relapse  and even death. Advertisement

However, the states have yet to receive a response from the federal drug agency.

While the decision is a win, Florida has red tape to get through.

Now, it must send the FDA details on which drugs it wishes to import and how the state plans to do so.

The state can expect significant push back from lobbying groups and drug makers.

One of the pharmaceutical industrys largest lobbying group, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), which has filed suits challenging past importation efforts, is expected sue once again to prevent Florida from enacting its plan.

Additionally, some drug manufacturers have agreements with Canadian drug wholesalers that do not allow the export of their medications.

The Canadian government has also already taken steps to block Florida's efforts when it comes to importing prescription drugs in short supply.

Experts say importing drugs from Canada, a country with a population of 40 million people, will hardly help with drug shortages and prices in the US.

Florida's population alone is near 22million, with the US home to 332million people.

Maryse Durette, a spokeswoman for Health Canada, told the Times: 'Canadas drug supply is too small to meet the demands of both American and Canadian consumers.

'Bulk importation will not provide an effective solution to the problem of high drug prices in the U.S.'
One of the FTSE 100s highest-paid bosses has been sacked after making an irregular payment of nearly 5m.

Sebastien de Montessus, the chief executive and president of Canadian gold firm Endeavour Mining, was ousted late last night for serious misconduct.

This followed an investigation by the board into an irregular payment, worth an estimated 4.7m, made by the Frenchman.

CEO and president Sebastien de Montessus ousted for serious misconduct

Endeavour became aware of it during a review of its acquisitions and sales of parts of the business.

It is unclear where the payment was directed and a review is ongoing into the details.

De Montessus, 49, who has led the gold miner since 2016, also faces separate allegations over his personal conduct with colleagues  plunging it into even further scandal about its culture.

The allegations were reported in October through a confidential whistleblowing channel and prompted an external investigation, the company said in a statement to the London market.

Endeavours Canadian-listed shares plunged as much as 10pc on Thursday to hit a more than two-month low of C$25.86. London-listed shares also fell 1.3pc in after-hours trading.

The company is one of the biggest west African gold producers with mines across the Cote dIvoire, Burkina Faso and Senegal.

And de Montessus has consistently topped the list as one of the best earners in the City.

In 2021 he was the highest-paid FTSE 100 boss, earning as much as 18.8m as a reward for the company successfully shifting its primary listing from Canada to London.

More than 80pc of his pay was weighted towards company performance. And he later raked in 8.9m in 2022, according to the most recent annual report.

But despite de Montessuss hefty pay packet, he has been no stranger to alleged impropriety.

In 2019, he was investigated over a corruption scandal at Areva, a state-owned French nuclear energy manufacturer he used to run.

The gold miner is listed on the FTSE 100

The accusations were made around the groups 1.5bn hostile bid for the London-listed miner Centamin. De Montessus denied the allegations.

Prior to Endeavour, de Montessus led mining investment company La Mancha between 2012 and 2016.

Endeavour has appointed Ian Cockerill, the deputy chair of the board, as its new chief executive.

He has four decades of experience in the gold industry and was chief executive of Gold Fields and Anglo Coal, which is a subsidiary of Anglo American.

The group posted revenues of over 1bn in its recent quarter and has pinned hopes on a strong performance in the three months to the end of December.

But Wayne Lam, analyst at Royal Bank of Canada, said the de Montessus ousting could create substantial near-term uncertainty for Endeavour.

And the announcement makes de Montessus the second high-profile FTSE 100 chief to be ousted in recent months over serious misconduct.

Former BP chief executive Bernard Looney quit in September after the oil giant said he committed serious misconduct in misleading its board about past relationships with colleagues.

The board, led by industry veteran Helge Lundy, has since stripped Looney of 32m in pay and bonuses.

Other bosses who were also recently exposed include former NBC Universal boss Jeff Shell, who missed out on a 34m stock award in April after being fired for having an inappropriate relationship with a CNBC presenter.

And Steve Easterbrook, the British former chief executive of McDonalds, handed back 84m in severance pay after he was fired in a probe over his relationships with employees

In a statement, Sebastien de Montessus said:

In 2021 I instructed a creditor of Endeavour to offset an amount owed to the company to pay for essential security equipment to protect our partners and employees in a conflict zone. The decision had no additional cost to the company and did not benefit me personally in any way. I omitted to inform the board that I had arranged for this offset, which I have freely accepted was a lapse in judgement.

This week I was given 48 hours notice of the concerns and no proper opportunity to answer them. As to the other investigation: no misconduct of any kind was discovered because none occurred. I am proud of what we have built together at Endeavour over the past 8 years. I will take my time to consider my position with my advisers.
The American owner of Boots said yesterday a potential 7bn listing of the chemist on the London stock market was still on the table.

Tim Wentworth, chief executive of Walgreens Boots Alliance, added that he was evaluating all strategic options to drive sustainable long-term shareholder value.

Among the possibilities is listing on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) in what would be a huge shot in the arm for the City.

Boots is evaluating all strategic options to drive sustainable long-term shareholder value

His comments follow reports in December that Walgreens had resumed discussions to sell the British chain.

It could be valued at 7bn, the same price tag the business was put up for sale with in 2022 before Walgreens backtracked a few months later.

It blamed an unexpected and dramatic change in market conditions as its reason for ditching the sale.

Private equity giants Apollo, TDR Capital and Sycamore made pitches but Walgreens later said no one made an adequate offer.

Should Boots, which began as a family herbal medicine shop in Nottingham in 1849, return to listing in London, it would be a desperately needed vote of confidence for UK markets. B

oots cheered a 9.8pc increase in sales in the three months to the end of November.  TUI bosses have called on shareholders to back plans to leave the London Stock Exchange.

The travel group, listed in both London and Frankfurt, has recommended investors vote in favour of simplifying its structure.

The LSE has seen a flurry of companies quit in the past year. Shareholders vote on the proposal on February 13
The construction industry isn't all about muddy sites and hard hats.

So says the boss of Women in Property, a group that aims to improve the gender balance on building sites.

Only around 15pc of the construction workforce is female, according to the Office for National Statistics, a number that has stayed stubbornly low despite industry efforts.

Safety first: Kelly Cartwright

It drops even further when you head to the coalface, with the Home Builders Federation (HBF) estimating just 4pc of people on residential sites are women. Yet some figures in the world of construction are spearheading change.

Of the three housebuilders in the FTSE 100, Taylor Wimpey has a female chief executive in Jennie Daly and Barratt Developments has a female chairman in

Caroline Silver.

Anne Billson-Ross, who heads recruitment at Taylor Wimpey, told the Mail: 'There is no doubt that diversity is an area that requires more effort in the housebuilding sector, which has traditionally attracted fewer women and people from ethnic minorities.

'While progress is being made, the sector needs to fully reflect the UK's diversity and continue attracting necessary skills to deliver homes the country needs.'

It is a view echoed by Kelly Cartwright, the boss of her own building site recruitment firm Core Recruiter, who made headlines last year when she turned up at an awards ceremony in a dress made entirely out of high-vis.

The floor-length dress was designed by a seamstress who was given the brief to make Cartwright, 31, feel at ease.

'I don't feel comfortable rocking up in a ballgown so I thought I'm going to wear something I do feel comfortable with,' she tells the Mail. She says it is at big industry events her sense of being an 'imposter' kicks in, especially when the rooms are predominantly filled with men.

Behind the glamorous dresses lies a much bigger point. Calling it an 'untapped labour pool', Cartwright reckons getting more women into the sector could go some way to solving the well-documented gaps in the industry.

According to estimates from the Construction Skills Network, the industry needs to recruit 45,000 workers per year to meet the demand by 2027. This will mean an additional 225,000 workers.

There is also the issue of an ageing population. In 2011, it was estimated that one in every five UK-born construction workers was 55 and over, meaning by last year these people will have nearly all have reached retirement age.

High rise hopes: Building's still a man's world

Cartwright argues that encouraging children at school level could be the answer. 'Construction doesn't seem to be on their radar,' she says.

'We would have had a generation coming through with trades because their fathers and grandfathers had done it. We just don't see this now. There is a dying generation of construction.

'We are not getting the younger generation coming through and filling these needs.'

And if that doesn't change, the UK will lack the volume and calibre of skilled builders, a situation that feels even more urgent following Brexit and the pandemic.

Chithra Marsh, chair of Women in Property, believes early education would drive change, as the industry is far from inclusive.

'Much of this starts in school, where most children and young people have no idea of the breadth and depth of careers available to them in the industry - construction isn't all about muddy sites and hard hats,' she said.

Steve Turner, director of the HBF added: 'Housebuilding faces an acute and deepening skills shortage, and if we do not tackle it, we will not be able to solve the housing crisis. We need the Government to work with industry, colleges, and training providers to ensure students emerge with the skills they and businesses need.'
Ithaca Energy's boss has stepped down as it tries to bounce back from a disappointing year.

The North Sea oil and gas giant said Alan Bruce will leave to 'pursue new opportunities' after two years in charge.

Ithaca shares sunk over a fifth in the past year as the windfall tax continues to put pressure on North Sea producers.

Struggle: Ithaca Energy said Alan Bruce will leave to 'pursue new opportunities' after two years in charge

Yesterday they dropped 0.7 per cent, or 1p, to 142.2p.

Bruce, 42, joined in 2021 and was given the top job a year later after his predecessor Bill Dunnett died.

He led the group during initial public offering in London in November 2022 and later its promotion into the FTSE 250.

But Ithaca, which is owned by Tel-Aviv-listed Delek Group, has struggled to woo investors. The windfall tax has been hugely unpopular in the oil industry, which argues that it discourages investment in the UK.

The Aberdeen-based company has publicly criticised the windfall tax, which imposes an effective 75 per cent corporate tax rate on the energy industry.

It added North Sea operators 'are reconsidering the attractiveness' of investment in the UK.

And in August Ithaca said it was writing off 58million as a direct impact from the levy.

Bruce will be temporarily replaced by Iain Lewis, who is finance chief, until it finds a permanent boss.

Bruce said he was 'extremely proud of what Ithaca Energy has accomplished over the past several years' and was leaving it in a 'strong financial and strategic position'.
China has launched an investigation into French brandy imports as tensions with Brussels continue to rise.

Chinese officials have said they will probe whether European producers of drinks are dumping their products on its market.

This is the process of exporting goods to a country at prices that do not reflect their costs.

It can ultimately push local producers and manufacturers out of business.

And Chinese authorities said the move was prompted by complaints from local producers.

Probe: Brandy is the most-imported spirit into China and comes primarily from France

Brandy is the most-imported spirit into China and comes primarily from France. But the probe from China comes just months after the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen revealed a similar investigation into imports of Chinese electric cars.

'Global markets are now flooded with cheaper Chinese electric cars,' she said in September, despite warnings that this could lead to retaliation from Beijing.

China is a crucial market for European brandy producers, and the news of the tit-for-tat anti-dumping measure sent shares of luxury consumer goods groups tumbling across Europe.

Pernod Ricard fell 5 per cent in Paris. Diageo shares slumped 1.6 per cent in London despite the group not directly importing brandy to China.

But analysts said the company have an indirect exposure at 2-3 per cent of income through its stake in a joint venture with luxury giant LVMH.
Virginia Roberts-Giuffre claimed that Bill Clinton marched into the offices of Vanity Fair and demanded the magazine halt planned publication of a story about Jeffrey Epstein, newly-released court documents show.

Roberts-Giuffre's claim was made in a May 2011 email discussing an interview to promote her planned book.

She said Clinton 'walked into VF and threatened them not to write sex-trafficking articles about his good friend JE'.

There is no evidence for her wild claim, and it seems highly unlikely that the former president would intervene in such a public way. He is currently believed to be on vacation in the Mexican city of San Miguel de Allende.

A spokesman for Vanity Fair's then-editor, Graydon Carter, told The Telegraph: 'This categorically did not happen.'

Epstein himself did, however, allegedly prevent Vanity Fair from publishing reporting by journalist Vicky Ward - who had interviewed sisters Maria and Annie Farmer about their abuse by the pedophile financier.

Ward said in her 2022 podcast that Epstein threatened her, telling her: 'I have reports here about you, your husband - I have everything under the sun that was sent to me by people who want to be helpful.' Vanity Fair said the claims of sexual abuse were not included in her 2003 published article because they were added late and did not meet legal standards.

Roberts-Giuffre's correspondence was published on Thursday as part of a tranche of documents from her 2015 defamation case against Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's right-hand woman. Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence: Epstein died by suicide in jail awaiting trial, in August 2019.

Thursday's release of documents is the second tranche of files to be unsealed by the Manhattan court.

Bill Clinton is pictured with Jeffrey Epstein in an undated photograph

Roberts-Giuffre in her email claimed that Bill Clinton 'walked into VF and threatened them not to write sex-trafficking articles about his good friend JE'

In her May 2011 email, Roberts-Giuffre discussed whether to speak to Vanity Fair to promote her book.

'I am looking at both sides to the picture,' Roberts-Giuffre writes.

'On the upside it will give exposure to build up publicity for the case and the story, but like you said it must be carefully written and not give any notions about the upcoming book and or any new info.

'When I was doing some research into VF yesterday, it does concern me what they could want to write about me considering that B. Clinton walked into VF and threatened them not to write sex-trafficking articles about his good friend J.E.'

Ward insists that the then-editor of Vanity Fair, Graydon Carter, removed her damning allegations about Epstein in 2003. Carter said that the reporting did not meet their legal standards, and his editors alone made the decision.

The former president, now 77, has long insisted that his connections to Epstein were on a professional basis, to aid the work of the Clinton Foundation. He insisted in 2019 that during his four trips on Epstein's private jet, in 2002 and 2003, he was always accompanied by a retinue of staff and Secret Service agents.

But court documents from June 2016 - part of a defamation suit filed by Roberts-Giuffre against Epstein's right-hand woman, Ghislaine Maxwell - paint a different picture, after another document saw Epstein accuse Clinton of 'liking them young.'

Roberts, in her filing, is seeking permission from the judge to force more people to sit for a deposition, to bolster her case.

Bill Clinton is pictured greeting Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein in the White House in 1993

Clinton is seen with Jeffrey Epstein inside the White House in 1993, at an event for donors to the White House Historical Association. Epstein attended the event after donating $10,000 to the fund. Ghislaine Maxwell is pictured beside Epstein

Virginia Roberts, who was recruited by Ghislaine Maxwell in 2000, when she was a 17-year-old working at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago club

Roberts, in her June 2016 filing, argued that Clinton should be forced to sit for a deposition

Roberts - using her married name, Virginia Giuffre - argues that Clinton was close to both Maxwell and Epstein, who died in jail awaiting trial in August 2019.

'In a 2011 interview, Ms. Giuffre mentioned former President Bill Clinton's close personal relationship with Defendant and Jeffrey Epstein,' the court document states.

'While Ms. Giuffre made no allegations of illegal actions by Bill Clinton, Ms. Maxwell in her deposition raised Ms. Giuffre's comments about President Clinton as one of the 'obvious lies' to which she was referring in her public statement that formed the basis of this suit.

'Apart from the Defendant and Mr. Epstein, former President Clinton is a key person who can provide information about his close relationship with Defendant and Mr. Epstein and disapprove Ms. Maxwell's claims.'

Clinton is mentioned 50 times in the almost 950-pages of evidence.

Another woman who claimed she was sexually abused by Epstein, Johanna Sjoberg, said in her deposition that Epstein told her 'Clinton likes them young, referring to girls.'

It is unclear how Clinton and Epstein met, but Roberts was not the only one to claim the pair were close.

On Wednesday, hours before the court documents were unsealed, Jeffrey Epstein's brother Mark, a New York-based property developer, said his sibling claimed to have information about Donald Trump and Bill Clinton which was so explosive it would derail the 2016 presidential election.

AMONG THOSE NAMED IN THE JANUARY 3 EPSTEIN LIST Bill Clinton Donald Trump Prince Andrew Glenn Durbin Stephen Hawking Michael Jackson Tom Pritzker David Copperfield Jean-Luc Brunel Bill Richardson Advertisement

Mark Epstein, younger than Jeffrey by 18 months, said his brother never provided details.

Mark, 69, told The New York Post: 'Here's a direct quote: 'If I said what I know about both candidates, they'd have to cancel the election.' That's what Jeffrey told me in 2016.'

Hillary Clinton was not known to spend time with Jeffrey Epstein, but her husband was a friend from at least 1993.

Epstein and Maxwell were pictured in 1993 greeting Bill Clinton inside the White House, at an event for donors to the White House Historical Association. Epstein attended the event after donating $10,000 to the fund.

The pedophile financier made at least 17 visits to the White House, presidential logs show, and Bill Clinton also flew on Epstein's private jet - making trips to Europe, Asia and Africa in 2002 and 2003.

Mark Epstein said that flying with Bill Clinton was a key mistake of his brother's, because it suddenly shone a spotlight on his activities.

'Jeff first took Clinton and I think it was Chris Tucker and some other people to Africa  which was a mistake my brother made by doing that, because prior to that he was under the radar; nobody was looking at him.

'But when he flew Clinton there, it was like, 'Who's this guy flying Clinton?''

Bill Clinton's spokesman Angel Urena said in July 2019, when Jeffrey Epstein was arrested, that he 'knows nothing about the terrible crimes' that Epstein was accused of, and that Clinton had not spoken to Epstein 'in more than a decade.'

There is no evidence that Clinton ever visited Epstein's Caribbean island, Little St. James.

The first batch of documents, dumped on Wednesday, was 900-pages long. It included Bill Clinton, Stephen Hawking, Michael Jackson and others.

Most of the individuals named were peripheral to Epstein's crimes and did not have knowledge of them, according to the papers.

The 'list' does not suggest that those included had any role in his crimes or sex trafficking ring, but serve as a more detailed map of Epstein's impressive social connections.

Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell in an evidence photo from her trial

One bombshell that was included in Wednesday's documents, however, is a claim that Prince Andrew participated in an 'orgy' on Epstein's Caribbean island.

The allegation is made by Jane Doe #3, who says she was forced to have sex with Andrew in London, at Ghislaine Maxwell's house, in New York and in the Caribbean with other girls.

Andrew has long denied the allegations.

To date, the only person prosecuted in addition to Epstein is Maxwell, who remains behind bars in New York.

She is still protesting her innocence, claiming she has been the scapegoat of Epstein's crimes in a sexist justice system.

Epstein was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell in August 2019.

While medical examiners and the Attorney General insist he died by suicide, some close to him have long claimed he was either murdered or assisted in taking his own life.
Republicans have warned the next terror attack on American soil will be linked to an illegal border crosser after a visit to the hotspot of the migrant crisis this week.

'We have no idea how many terrorists have come in,' Speaker Mike Johnson said on the bank of the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass, Texas, noting that 312 people from the terrorist watchlist had been caught at the border since Biden took office.

'I am 100 percent certain that we are going to suffer another terror attack U.S. soil and you're going to be able to trace it back to this,' Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., a former FBI agent who spent his career in counterintelligence, told DailyMail.com.

Nearly 24,000 Chinese nationals crossed into the U.S. from the southern border in fiscal year 2023.

'You can't tell me of those 24,000 all truly just want to live the American dream. Even if it's just 10% [sabotaging the U.S. for China] that's 240 people last year, waiting to do damage. That scares me,' said Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Texas.

The lawmakers insist the high risk for a terror attack is another reason why they will move forward impeaching Department of Homeland Security Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas - even as they try to hash out a major immigration deal with him.

A group of over 60 House Republicans, led by Speaker Johnson, watched as desperate migrants threw themselves at border agents to be let into the country in Eagle Pass, Texas this week shouting 'help me!'

Johnson called the border an 'unmitigated disaster' during a press conference Wednesday

They left seeming more frustrated and discouraged about the possibility of a negotiated deal - and with a greater resolve to remove the Homeland Security secretary from office.

'We're waiting for them to make us an offer,' House Homeland Security Chair Mark Green told DailyMail.com of the Senate-led border negotiations when asked whether impeaching the secretary could distract from the deal.

'My job is to get rid of this guy, I mean he's putting the American people at risk.'

Next week the Homeland Security Committee will hold its first impeachment hearing after completing a five-pronged report on the secretary's 'dereliction of duty.'

'I have absolutely no faith in the negotiations. So let's impeach,' said Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas.

Eagle Pass has become the epicenter of migration in recent months as migrants pass the Rio Grande into the small community of about 28,000. Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered shipping containers placed along the river and has the National Guard patrolling along the top of those containers.

And in a move that the Biden administration has now taken him to court over, Abbott installed concertina wire with blades deployed at the river to detract migrants.

Mayorkas is also set to visit Eagle Pass next week, in between trips to Capitol Hill to hash out border reform.

Even Fitzpatrick, who is a centrist who chairs the bipartisan Problem Solvers' Caucus, predicted impeaching the secretary could be bipartisan.

'I think some Democrats might end up supporting it,' he told DailyMail.com. 'I'm not going to prejudge the hearings before they occur, but my god, this border, I mean the numbers don't lie.'

As House Republicans return to Capitol Hill, they'll have to contend with impeachment hearings for Mayorkas as well as an impeachment inquiry into President Biden.

Currently, many migrants who claim asylum are released into the interior and told to show up for a court date that could be years into the future. Few ever do

Fitzpatrick blamed Democrats for lacking the will to cooperate for holding up the immigration deal, which is expected to include foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.

'We do need our Democrat colleagues to be honest brokers with us,' he told DailyMail.com.

'This is a huge problem. I want to fund Ukraine. I want to fund Israel. I want to fund Taiwan, all that's being held up because of this. And it shouldn't be.'

Since Biden took office, there have been seven million border crossings on paper, and even more who were not recorded and evaded border patrol.

And while legislative immigration reform remains in limbo, Speaker Johnson and top Republicans are insisting the best way to stem the flow is for President Biden to declare an emergency and reinstate the Trump-era border policies he undid at the start of his administration.

'The best way' to stem migration is an emergency declaration, said Judiciary Chair Rep. Jim Jordan.

'The second best way is H.R. 2,' he said, referring to House Republicans' border bill.

And as government funding deadlines approach on January 19 for some agencies and February 2 for others, some have floated the idea of attaching a provision to every funding bill that stipulates no tax dollars can be used to process and release migrants into the interior.

Johnson said he was told by law enforcement on the border that by reinstating Trump's Remain in Mexico policy, which required migrants to stay south of the border while their asylum claims are being processed, it would curb illegal immigration by as much as 70 percent.

The migrant kids then crawled up the river bank and stepped through the concertina wire fence

Currently, many migrants who claim asylum are released into the interior and told to show up for a court date that could be years into the future. Few ever do.

Rep. Fallon predicted that Republicans would sweep the 2024 election if Democrats could not come to agreement on border reform. 'Biden is being handed a gift wrapped in a bow for him if he takes this deal.'

'If they don't, they are going to lose this election in November based number one on this. It could be surprising, some of these states, Nevada, I think you'll see Minnesota as a battleground, Virginia could be a battleground, Colorado.'
Dog owners should not use any loopholes to rehome American XL bullies in Scotland after they were banned in England and Wales, a minister has said.

The UK Government recently passed legislation making it illegal to breed, sell or walk the animals without a lead and muzzle.

But the same restrictions are yet to be introduced in Scotland, leading many to bring the dogs north of the Border.

One man in England claimed to have driven 30 dogs to Scotland for rehoming purposes.

Legislation: XL bullies are banned in England

Scotlands community safety minister Siobhian Brown said the Scottish Government was weighing up evidence on whether to impose a similar ban.

She told BBC Radio Scotlands Drivetime programme: It is concerning to hear reports that the XL bully dog is being moved to Scotland for rehoming.

We have made it clear to the UK Government that people in England and Wales should not use any loopholes that could be created to get rid of their dogs north of the Border or anywhere else in the UK.

Weighing up evidence: Siobhian Brown

Under the new laws, owners must apply for a permit, take out insurance, neuter their dogs and pay a 92.40 fee.

The breed has been linked to a series of attacks including the death of a man in Staffordshire.

First Minister Humza Yousaf previously said no firm decision had been made on any changes to the law in Scotland following the UK Governments decision.

Ms Brown said consultation with victims of dog attacks, animal charities, police and trade unions was ongoing.

Campaign group Bully Watch, which was formed in response to a series of high-profile attacks by the dogs, has accused the Scottish Government and SSPCA of being asleep at the wheel.

It has called for action in Scotland before it is too late.

A spokesman said: It is not just how you raise them. Genetics matter. An XL bully is genetically a pitbull bred for exaggerated size and musculature.

Due to poor breeding, some of these dogs have a much lower threshold for arousal and a heightened one for prey.

Allowing these dogs to be placed in inexperienced Scottish households is a recipe for disaster.

Ms Brown said no timeline was in place for a Scottish Government decision, but added that further consultation was required before any legislation could be put forward.

She added: Any dog attack is atrocious, but we need to have a balanced view and we will make a decision based on evidence.

Ive got a dog. If I had an XL bully living next to me, and this is what I would say to everybody if youve got a Rottweiler next to you or a German Shepherd next to you, and you do not feel safe, you should be getting in touch with your local authority if that dog has behavioural problems so that the dog control notice can be put in place.

But if the dog was under control and was a family member of the house next door, I wouldnt have concerns. I couldnt say that just because of the breed.

It comes as the owner of a Scots dog charity set up a fundraiser for a sanctuary for XL bullies.

Kerryanne Shaw, from Glasgow, owns the All Bullie Charity Rescue which operates UK-wide to take in dogs other rescue centres refuse.

After generating 20,000 in donations, the 38-year-old is planning to set up a safe haven in Dundee for bully breeds banned south of the Border.

Ms Shaw said the breeds are misunderstood and the dogs can make great pets in the right homes with the right owners.
A young couple are lucky to be alive after a massive tree crashed on top of their caravan during a wild storm.

Taylah Brown and her partner Griffin Rowe were holidaying at Tawonga Tourist Park, near Mount Beauty in Victoria's north-east when a tree flattened their vehicle on Wednesday.

The destruction left the caravan a crumpled wreckage.

Ms Brown feared the worst during the terrifying ordeal as she initially couldn't see her partner who had been lying on the couch at the time.

'I looked to my left, I couldn't see Griffin, I just thought that was it. It was pretty traumatising,' Ms Brown told Nine News.

Mr Rowe added: 'I was laying down on the couch as the roof was basically over the top of my face, so I just had to slide out.'

The couple escaped uninjured.

The pair and their families are still in shock following the terrifying ordeal.

Ms Brown's father David added: 'When I jumped in the car, all I heard was crash on top of the car and I had my grandkids in there. Yeah, it was hard mate.'

Several other campers also felt the brunt of the wild weather.

Hundreds of tourists staying at the campsite were forced to evacuate due to damaged caused in the wild storm.

Taylah Brown (left) and Griffin Rowe (right) narrowly avoided being seriously injured after a massive tree crashed onto their caravan

Tawonga Park remains closed at its busiest time of the year as emergency crews work around the clock to restore power.

It's a popular camping ground visited by locals and tourists for hiking and fishing.

The park is also known for its stunning views of Mount Bogon and Kiewa Valley.

SES crews spent almost two hours freeing a man who was trapped after a tree collapsed onto him at a Discovery Parks in Bright in Victoria's alpine region.

His distraught wife and daughters watched on as the man was treated by paramedics before rushed to hospital.

The huge tree which crashed onto their vehicle during a damaging storm left their caravan in a crumpled wreck (pictured)

Victoria has been slammed with severe weather in recent with strong winds and heavy rain causing flash flooding and widespread havoc across Melbourne and in regional areas

Tens of thousands of residents were left without power on Tuesday night while the strong winds damaged dozen of properties.

Eastern parts of Victoria was also hit with another round of rain and thunderstorms on Thursday afternoon with the wet weather set to return on Sunday.

'The next stormy outbreak is on the way through the second half of the weekend,' Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Angus Hines said.
An inmate found naked in his girlfriend's cell within the walls of Australia's largest prison had been repeatedly refused permission to marry her behind bars.

The lovestruck couple managed a brief private encounter at Clarence Correctional Centre in northern NSW last Saturday after the male prisoner scaled two fences to get to his lover.

The privately run jail near Grafton is a maximum- and minimum-security facility for men and women with 1,700 beds, and has been operated by UK-based Serco since it opened in July 2020.

NSW Minister for Corrections Anoulack Chanthivong told Daily Mail Australia an investigation was underway into how the male inmate got into his sweetheart's cell.

An inmate found naked in his girlfriend's cell within the walls of Australia's largest prison had been repeatedly refused permission to marry her behind bars. Stock image of NSW prisoner

The inmate was extracted from his lover's cell at Clarence Correctional Centre after a chemical agent was deployed. Stock image of NSW Corrections immediate action team members

'Thankfully, officers were able to respond to this incident in a matter of seconds, keeping everyone at the facility safe,' Mr Chanthivong said.

'Prison isn't a holiday camp, so both inmates will face significant consequences for their actions.

'The outcomes of the investigation will help strengthen procedures and prevent similar events in the future.'

Daily Mail Australia understands both inmates were in protective custody within what are known as Special Management Area Placement sections of the jail.

Once the male inmate reached the female SMAP unit the pair barricaded themselves inside his girlfriend's cell until prison officers deployed tear gas.

The male inmate was naked and according to one source 'ready to go' when he was extracted from the cell.

It is understood both inmates were in protective custody within what are known as Special Management Area Placement sections of the jail. Clarence Correctional Centre is pictured

Another source told Daily Mail Australia the pair had made requests to get married in jail but their applications had been rejected because they did not meet the administrative requirements.

Depending on the outcome of the investigation, the likely punishment for the couple would be the withdrawal of privileges such as visits or 'buy-ups'.

If it was found there had been a degree of planning or communication between the pair prior to the tryst, one or both of the inmates might be moved to another jail.

'To get to where he got to is significant,' a prison source said. 'You have to go over two fences, at least.'

That source described both inmates' criminal records as 'pretty run-of-the-mill' and said neither was high-profile.

A spokeswoman for Clarence Correctional Centre confirmed the incident, saying ''a tactical plan was executed promptly with chemical agent deployed'.

Clarence Correctional Centre (above) is a maximum and minimum security facility for men and women with 1,700 beds which has been run by UK-based Serco since it opened in July 2020

'Responding officers safely secured the inmates. No staff or inmates were injured during the incident.

'The inmates involved - one male and one female - are known to be in a relationship.

'An investigation into the incident has commenced.'

The escapade is understood to have been over within ten minutes and it was not known if the pair had time to complete any sexual act.

Users of a Facebook page popular with serving and former prison officers made light of the incident, but also drew attention to security concerns.

'The best thing is if she's pregnant our future careers are secured!!' one wrote on The Last Governor's page.

'Well he had a happy New Year,' wrote another.

Other comments included 'Neither bars, locks, fences or motion cameras can get in the way of true love' and 'You just can't make this s*** up'.

Clarence is one of three NSW prisons operated by the private sector.

Junee Correctional Centre has been run by the US-owned GEO Group since it opened in 1993 but the company's contract will not be renewed when it expires in 2025.

Parklea Correctional Centre is managed by MTC-Broadspectrum.
Hospitals are urging families of patients to 'be on hand' to take them home to ease pressure on the NHS as the junior doctors' strike continues.

Their pleas came as Health Secretary Victoria Atkins accused the medics of acting as if they own the health service after they rejected pleas to abandon the strike in the interest of patient safety.

Her comments came after a number of trusts asked the British Medical Association to allow some of its members to cross picket lines to relieve the intolerable pressure on the NHS.

But the BMA has rejected at least 20 such requests, claiming the agreed protocol is being 'undermined' by the NHS, which has caved in to 'political pressure'.

Meanwhile, some hospitals have asked families of patients to 'be on hand' to help during the crisis.

Victoria Atkins has accused medics of acting as if they owned the health service after refusing to abandon their strike in the interest of patient safety

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust called on family members to 'collect relatives who are ready to go home to free up beds for those needing emergency care'.

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust said: 'Collecting family and friends from hospital as soon as they are ready to be discharged helps to free up beds for those who need them.'

In response to the BMA's accusation, NHS England wrote to the union saying it was 'regrettable' that it had called into question the 'integrity and motive' of clinical leaders who are doing 'whatever is necessary to maintain safe care for patients through periods of action'.

About 200,000 operations and appointments are expected to be cancelled in the present walkouts.

Bosses are particularly concerned about their ability to manage cancer patients who need time-sensitive treatment and pregnant women who require urgent Caesareans, the letter added.

Under a system agreed between the NHS and BMA, hospital leaders can ask for a number of junior doctors to return to work if there are patient safety concerns in a particular area - known as a request for a derogation.

NHS chiefs had sought national derogation for services such as urgent maternity care, but these were turned down.

NHS England will now compile a dossier detailing all patient harms and near misses which result from the BMA's failure to agree to derogations  methods of maintaining safe staff levels on strike days  or when they are slow to respond.

During a visit to the London Ambulance Service, Ms Atkins said the strikes were resulting in 'very serious consequences' for patients and other NHS workers. She offered to get back to the negotiating table within 20 minutes if the BMA called off the strike.

Ms Atkins backed managers who say they need additional support from striking junior doctors.

She said: 'We have to have the strikes called off  because the NHS belongs to us all. It doesn't just belong to the junior doctors committee. And for the 1.3million people who work in the NHS and, of course, for the tens of millions of people it looks after, the NHS cannot be switched on and off on a whim.' The medics began a six-day walkout on Wednesday, which comes as the NHS battles with seasonal pressures.

The BMA said junior doctors' pay has been cut by more than a quarter since 2008, and is demanding a path to full pay restoration - a rise of around 35 per cent (Pictured: Junior doctors striking in London on Thursday)

Hospital admissions in England for people with flu or Covid are running at their highest level so far this winter, figures show.

Admissions for flu rose last week for the sixth week in a row, to 6.8 per 100,000 people, a level classed as having 'medium impact' on hospitals, although about half of last year's level.

Admissions of people testing positive for Covid-19 stood at 5.2 per 100,000 last week after the fifth weekly rise.

During a visit to Nottinghamshire, Mr Sunak said: 'It's absolutely right that NHS leaders, completely independent of government, are making clinical decisions on the ground and requesting that extra support where they feel they need it.'

On the first day of the strike, critical incidents were declared at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth and by the NHS in Nottingham. More than a dozen hospitals said emergency services were busy, with some reporting 'extreme heightened pressure'.

The BMA said junior doctors' pay has been cut by more than a quarter since 2008. It is demanding a path to full pay restoration, which would require a rise of about 35 per cent.

Yesterday Dr Robert Laurenson, co-chairman of the BMA junior doctors committee, posted on X: 'Year after year the NHS leaders have presided over deteriorating conditions and patient harm.

'The NHS leaders have failed and now they're closing ranks with the Government to throw doctors under the bus during our biggest whistleblowing exercise. The NHS hates doctors.'
A 32 year-old Louisiana high school teacher sexted a 15 year-old boy and told him she wanted to take his virginity, then molested him while in her car with her baby, prosecutors allege.

Tatum Hatch, an ex-teacher at West Monroe High School was arrested following an investigation that began December 15 when deputies with the Ouachita Parish Sheriffs Office were tipped off to an inappropriate student-teacher relationship.

Hatch is alleged - among several lurid accusations - to have come to her victim's home and gotten him into her car, where she's accused of touching his genitals with her infant child in the car.

Authorities then contacted the 15-year-old male student's father, who confronted his son.

The son allegedly told his father that his relationship with Hatch had been carrying on for a year and a half.

Tatum Hatch, 32, an ex-teacher at West Monroe High School was arrested following an investigation that began December 15 when deputies with the Ouachita Parish Sheriffs Office were tipped off to an inappropriate student-teacher relationship

Hatch also moonlights as a photographer and is seen in an image from her professional Facebook page

Deputies met with the 15-year-old victim and monitored his cell phone, finding an Instagram message thread that they screen recorded.

In the thread, Hatch told the child that she wanted them to have sex, telling him to come through her bedroom window.

Hatch is also accused of sending naked selfies to the victim in what's known as 'Vanish Mode,' where the pictures eventually disappear.

Later, police discovered more messages where Hatch asked the victim about their eventual sexual conquest.

The 15-year-old told Hatch that he was scared, with Hatch responding that she was scared too.

Hatch then told the victim that she was worried that he would find another person to take his virginity.

Police continued to find conversations between the victim and Hatch over the span of several months.

After obtaining a search warrant for the Instagram messages, authorities located a nude photo of the teacher.

Hatch is alleged - among several lurid accusations - to have come to her victim's home and gotten him into her car, where she's accused of touching his genitals with her infant child in the car

One of their conversations even took place at a school function that took place after dismissal, where Hatch allegedly tried to get the boy to sit with her.

Police took Hatch in for questioning on December 16, one day after they were tipped off to her alleged behavior.

Hatch refused to answer several questions about what she sent to her alleged victim, fearing she would lose her children.

She did, however, admit to talking to the victim via Instagram messages.

Authorities later found out that Hatch allegedly gave the victim between $500 and $600 after she became afraid of a rumor she heard about the boy.

The local school board confirmed Thursday that Hatch resigned December 26. She had been on administrative leave since December 15.

Hatch was arrested Wednesday on a charge of computer-aided solicitation of a minor.

She has been released after posting $10,000 bond. Her next appearance in court is scheduled for Friday.
A man has tragically drowned in a river on the NSW far south coast as the national summer toll rises to more than 40 lives lost in just five weeks.

Emergency services were called to the Yowaka River at Nethercote near Eden about 3pm on Thursday.

The 53-year-old man had reportedly been struggling in rough water.

Police and ambulance paramedics attended the scene, but the swimmer was unable to be revived.

The number of summer drownings so far is more than at the same time last year, as Australians flock to waterways across the country.

A man , 53, drowned in the Yowaka River at Nethercote near Eden on the NSW far south coast

READ MORE: Perth boy and his cousin are pictured for the first time after tragic drowning on NZ holiday Advertisement

There have been 40 drownings across Australia since the start of December, compared to 34 this time last year, according to Royal Life Saving Australia.

Of the 90 people who drowned during the 2022-23 summer, one quarter occurred between Christmas and New Year

This week, a 50-year-old woman died after being caught in a rip along with a child on the NSW north coast.

The woman was swimming with the young family member when they were swept out to sea on Tuesday evening at Park Beach in Coffs Harbour.

The child was brought safely to shore.

Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steven Pearce said the ripple effect both on the woman's family as well as responders will be untold for many years to come.

It follows a particularly deadly Christmas and New Year period, which commonly sees more drownings than at any other time.

The man was unable to be revived, despite frantic efforts by paramedics (stock image)

A four-year-old girl and six-year-old boy died after they were found unconscious in Perth's Swan River near where revellers had gathered for New Year celebrations.

The children, from separate families, were spotted in the water at a popular family picnic spot and were unresponsive when members of the public pulled them from the river.

Two days after Christmas, a two-year-old girl died after being pulled unconscious from a backyard pool in northern NSW.

Irish tourist John Holland, 63, was on a 'holiday of a lifetime' visiting his daughter when he drowned at Victoria's Hutt Gully Beach, south of Anglesea on the Great Ocean Road on Monday.
A man has died after waiting more than 10 hours for an ambulance with ramping at hospitals still 'unacceptably high' despite promises to fix the issue.

In pain and vomiting, an Adelaide man's 000 call should have resulted in an ambulance picking him up in no more than 60 minutes.

But on December 27, after a 10-hour wait, with ambulances backed up at hospitals across the city, the 54-year-old died an agonising death with no help in sight.

That night, a Code White was declared for emergency departments across Adelaide, meaning all treatment rooms were being used.

Unable to unload their passengers, ambulances were stuck 'ramped' outside hospitals instead of being available for the community, leading to long delays in ambulance responses.

An Adelaide man died on December 27 after making a 000 call and waiting 10 hours for an ambulance

A video posted by the Ambulance Employees Association to X, formerly Twitter, shows at least 10 vehicles waiting outside the Royal Adelaide Hospital on the night.

'This tragic death is a stark reminder that when ambulances are ramped at hospitals, patients waiting for help in the community are left without care for unacceptably and dangerously long periods of time,' AEA industrial officer Josh Karpowicz said.

'Ramping takes ambulances off-road and puts patients at risk of deterioration in an environment where there is no one available to help them.'

SA Ambulance Service chief executive Rob Elliott said very high triple zero demand and significant ramping on the night of the man's death meant ambulances had to prioritise more urgent calls.

The man was initially listed as a priority five, which the union says should have resulted in a pick up within 60 minutes. But after 10 hours his condition deteriorated and a subsequent triple zero call resulted in him being bumped up to a priority one.

Mr Elliott said ambulance crews responded four minutes after the priority was lifted.

Three calls were made between the patient and dispatchers on the night, he said.

Performance on the night against procedures for calling back patients experiencing ambulance delays will be assessed as part of a review into the incident.

Ambulance ramping was a key issue that helped propel Labor to power at the 2022 state election.

The Malinauskas government has ploughed millions of dollars into expanding hospital capacity in a bid to fix the crisis, yet ramping has increased by almost a third under its stewardship.

In December, 3,595 hours of ambulance availability were lost to ramping across Adelaide.

An ambulance was unable to pickup the man due to a backlog of patients (pictured, 'ramped' ambulances waiting outside Royal Adelaide Hospital on December 27)

Claims ambulance patients were being fast-tracked into emergency rooms over waiting room patients to reduce ramping statistics prompted the government to launch a clinical review in December.

But the union says high ramping levels and the man's tragic death demonstrate that this is not the case and patients in the community are being put at risk because of delayed transfers of care.

Opposition health spokeswoman Ashton Hurn said despite Premier Peter Malinauskas' promises to fix ramping, the issue was worse under his watch.
Drastic shortages of sailors have forced the Royal Navy to decommission two of its warships, it was reported last night.

HMS Westminster and HMS Argyll were allegedly retired so their crews could transfer to the service's new Type 26 frigates. The news comes as UK sailors were sent to the Red Sea to protect merchant vessels from Houthi rebels.

The retirement of HMS Westminster is controversial as it underwent expensive repairs in 2017 and only recently returned to service.

James Cartlidge, minister for defence procurement, told MPs in October that the estimated cost for refitting HMS Westminster was 100million.

The decommissioning of the ships comes as record numbers of sailors, such as navy divers and engineers, are signing off. Many have been headhunted by private sector companies who can double their wages.

HMS Westminster (front of image) is reportedly being pensioned off so its sailors can be transferred to a new vessel  despite only recently returning to service

HMS Argyll (right) is also being scrapped, according to reports. It is the Navy's longest serving Type 23 frigate

Defence procurement minister James Cartlidge told MPs last year that the refitting of HMS Westminster had cost around 100m

A Houthi military helicopter flies over the Galaxy Leader cargo ship in November. The hijacking of the ship and kidnapping of its crew sparked a major international protection operation in the Red Sea, for which the Royal Navy has provided a ship

Whitehall sources quoted in the Daily Telegraph justified the pensioning off of older ships so the Royal Navy can perform as a 'modern, hi-tech fighting force'.

A source said: 'It is always emotive when ships with long histories come to the end of their working lives. But decommissioning is the right decision.

'The new Type 26 frigates will be in service before those ships can be refitted.'

According to official statistics, the Royal Navy has performed the worst of the services for recruitment in the last 12 months.

Its intake of recruits dropped by 22.1 per cent in the 12 months to March 2023, while the RAF dropped by almost 17 per cent and the Army by nearly 15 per cent.

In response to the crisis serving Royal Marines have been offered 500 to persuade friends on 'civvy street' to enlist.

Last night, former head of the Royal Navy Admiral Lord West said that Britain's warships were 'dropping like flies'.

He added that the UK needs a much bigger surface fleet, as the Royal Navy is presently limited in what it is able to achieve.

Shadow defence secretary John Healey has accused the government of failing to get a grip on problems within the armed forces.

Last year, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, the head of the UK's armed forces, admitted the Royal Navy had just '11 or 12' frigates and destroyers which were fully operational.

A Royal Navy spokesman said: 'The operational requirements of the Royal Navy are kept under constant review.

'The Ministry of Defence is committed to ensuring the Royal Navy has the capabilities it needs to meet current and future operational requirements.'

Earlier this week the UK joined an international coalition intended to protect merchant vessels in the Red Sea from attacks by Houthi terrorists based in Yemen, which began with the hijacking of the Galaxy Leader in November.

But at present only one warship, HMS Diamond, has been committed to the role, joining American and French warships in a US-led international taskforce dubbed Operation Prosperity Guardian.

The UK has called for an 'immediate end' to attacks on container ships by the Iranian-backed rebels, joining 11 other countries to issue a final warning to militants to cease hostilities along the important maritime trade route.

Allied nations including the US, Australia, Denmark, Germany, Japan and New Zealand have warned that the Houthis would 'bear the responsibility of the consequences should they continue to threaten lives'.

The Yemeni rebels say they are targeting Israel-linked or Israel-destined ships, and aim to end Israel's air and ground offensive in Gaza following the attack by Hamas on October 7.

Asked on Tuesday whether Britain was considering more armed support to protect the vital global shipping route, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'Planning is under way for a range of scenarios. No decisions have been made.

'We will continue to pursue all potential routes, including diplomatic routes.'
For the first time in four years, Prince Andrew was invited to join senior members of the Royal Family on Christmas Day for their annual public promenade to church at Sandringham.

This was seen as a gesture by the King to bring his younger brother back from the wilderness, with a view to possibly rehabilitating him as a working royal.

Given how he has dragged the monarchy's reputation through the mire over lurid allegations about his personal life, that always seemed profoundly unwise.

Now, after publication in the US of copious court documents concerning Andrew's links with the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, it simply cannot happen.

This 900-page dossier brings the squalid affair back into the public spotlight and re-emphasises the Duke of York's lamentable lack of moral judgment in allowing himself to become embroiled in it.

For the sake of the monarchy's future, Charles must set aside fraternal feelings and consider banishing his brother from 'the Firm' once and for all

Prince Andrew pictured walking with Jeffrey Epstein in New York's Central Park in 2011

He denies any illegality and he has not been convicted of any offence. But after admitting his friendship with Epstein and making an out-of-court payment to a woman who claims to have been directed by Epstein to have sex with him when she was 17, Andrew cannot escape the taint of sleaze.

When Queen Elizabeth was alive, Andrew could be dismissed as an errant son and of little significance. With her death, however, he is part of the family's ruling generation.

For the sake of the monarchy's future, Charles must set aside fraternal feelings and consider banishing his brother from 'the Firm' once and for all.

The institution is already under intense pressure to modernise and slim down. Keeping Andrew close could damage the King's reputation. To Queen Elizabeth, he was an embarrassment. To King Charles, he has become a dangerous liability.

Talking Britain down

Margaret Thatcher believed the way to fight elections was to inspire the voters with leadership and vision, rather than merely trashing opponents. 'We want to govern because we can do better,' she once said, 'not because we couldn't possibly do worse.'

Judging by his miserabilist New Year speech, Sir Keir Starmer takes the opposite view. Under the Tories, Britain is a 'downtrodden country' and 'in despair', he claimed. This was a ludicrous and insulting exaggeration. As proved over centuries, we Britons don't do downtrodden.

There may be many things wrong with this country, but it is a vibrant and boisterous democracy, not the hell-hole he paints.

Under the Tories, Britain is a 'downtrodden country' and 'in despair', Sir Keir Starmer claimed. This was a ludicrous and insulting exaggeration. As proved over centuries, we Britons don't do downtrodden

And despite his trade union friends' efforts to drive us into penury with reckless strikes, the economy continues to defy all predictions of diving into recession. Indeed, there are signs the cost of living crunch is easing.

The truth is Sir Keir campaigns negatively because he has no inspiring vision to offer. Until 2019 a hard-Left Corbynite and now apparently a Blairite centrist, he is a shameless political shape-shifter, hoping to win power by default. If he does, we may soon know the real meaning of despair.

Stamp of ineptitude

As postal affairs minister during the Coalition, Ed Davey was alerted to the Horizon scandal in 2010 by campaigning postmaster Alan Bates, played by Toby Jones in a new ITV drama.

Mr Bates pleaded for a meeting, but was snubbed by the now Lib Dem leader, who said it wouldn't 'serve any useful purpose'.

Today, Mr Davey regrets his grievous mistake, claiming he was misled by Post Office bosses about the computer malfunction, which led to the hounding of thousands of innocent postmasters and mistresses, many of whom were convicted of thefts that never happened.

There is another interpretation: He was either grossly incompetent, or asleep on the job  or both.
Diners have slammed a beachside restaurant which has hiked up their prices during the summer holiday period by labelling the peak season surcharge as 'b****** greed'.

Pavilion Geelong will add an extra 10 per cent the bills of patrons who visit the popular eatery south-west of Melbourne until Australia Day later this month.

The shock new surcharge has been in place since December 27.

A photo of the menu which listed the new charge in small print was posted to Reddit by an outraged customer.

'No need for a peak season surcharge,' the customer wrote.

'Set your prices year round and absorb this bulls**t.'

Patrons have slammed a restaurant for adding a peak season surcharge to their restaurant bill, labelling it as 'greed'

Pavilion Geelong restaurant added an extra 10 per cent to customers who dine between December 27 and Australia Day

READ MORE: Why this Aussie restaurant's dish has been named the second best in the world for 2023 Advertisement

While regular restaurant and cafe diners will be familiar with Sunday and public holiday surcharges to help cover higher staff costs, the latest surcharge was a step too far for many.

'The only reason for this peak rate b******t is greed,' one wrote.

'Because they can't make you tip, so they gouge the taxes,' another wrote.

'Ive basically given up on eating out its too expensive,' one said.

Many were confused why the waterfront restaurant would need extra money.

'Surely being busy makes it easier to make money???' one said.

'You pay more because we're busier - yea .... Nah,' another wrote.

'So theyre charging customers extra for being busy and making more money? Charging more for the more business theyre getting during this season? LOL ok,' another said.

Regular restaurant and cafe diners will be familiar with Sunday and public holiday surcharges to help cover higher staff costs, the latest surcharge was a step too far for many. Pictured is a bill with the recent surcharge

Others questioned whether the surcharge would also be applied to the existing 20 per cent public holiday menu fee.

'I wonder if they stack the 10 per cent peak season surcharge on top of the 20 per cent public holiday surcharge? Like over New Year...,' one wrote.

However, many were quick to defend the restaurant and the hospitality industry that has suffered since the pandemic.

'This place is extremely seasonal. During the entirety of winter, hardly anyone goes here. I'm sure they are losing money during the non-summer months,' one wrote.

'Covid obliterated the industry and it hasnt recovered - thats why. Staff are hard to find, costs are skyrocketing and margins are poor. Places are closing left and right.' another added.

The operators of Pavilion Geelong have since hit back at the backlash to defend their decision.

Only Hospitality Group general manager Georgia McInnes said that the extra fee covered the cost of housing they had to supply to extra workers during the busy holiday period.

'As a business we have had to rent out a house nearby with the sole purpose of housing multiple staff members that have needed to relocate from Melbourne and from surrounding areas throughout this period,' she explained in a statement.

'Unfortunately the venue is unable to absorb the costs associated with the accommodation as they are very significant.'

The restaurant says Pavilion Geelong wouldn't have been able to remain open busy the busy summer period without the peak season surcharge

The surcharge will remain in place until Australia Day (previous diners pictured)

Ms McInnes said the restaurant wouldn't be able to stay open without the new fee.

She also said they chose to have the surcharge rather than increase their year-round prices so loyal locals wouldn't be impacted.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the restaurant and Only Hospitality Group for further comment.

Surcharges aren't illegal as long as they are clearly outlined on the menu, according to Australian Consumer and Competition Commission.

'They don't need to include this charge in the total price displayed for their products, as an exemption under the law applies to them,' the consumer watchdog states.

'However, if they charge such a surcharge, they must include these words on the menu 'A surcharge of [percentage] applies on [day or days]'.

'These words must be at least as prominent as the most prominent price on the menu.'

Australian Retail Association chief industry affairs officer Fleur Brown told Sunrise on Friday that the hospitality industry had experienced a terrible few years.

Surcharges aren't illegal as long as they are clearly outlined on the menu. Pictured is the Pavilion Geelong

'A lot of them are carrying increased wages, increased energy costs, the cost of goods and services from overseas,' Ms Brown explained.

'That cash flow side of thing is quite critical for them.

'They need might a surcharge, in other cases closing their doors on certain days of the week if they're not getting the traffic'.

However many diners disagreed with the surcharge, as they thought it would turn customers away and others labelled it 'sneaky'.

'Problem occurs when you first notice the small print when you're done eating. Then you're unable to just 'don't go',' one wrote.

'This is Australia. We see the price, we pay that price. None of this screwing around with percentages like they do in the states,' another said.
Sophie Winkleman, aka Lady Frederick Windsor, wails that she knew virtually no one at her 2009 wedding, organised by mother-in-law Princess Michael of Kent.

She might wish that it had been two years later when bridegroom Freddie could have followed the example of his cousin William.

When he and Kate received the names of 700 guests for their 2011 wedding, drafted by dad Charles's officials, they knew virtually no one. This prompted William to pick-up the phone to his granny.

The Queen told him to discard it and send officials the names of everyone the couple wanted to be present. As William later said, 'Granny knows best.'

When William and Kate received the names of 700 guests for their 2011 wedding, drafted by dad Charles's officials, they knew virtually no one. This prompted William to pick-up the phone to his granny

The Queen told him send officials the names of everyone the couple wanted to be present. As William later said, 'Granny knows best'

The Times Literary Supplement is unimpressed with Nicholas Shakespeare's monumental biography of James Bond creator Ian Fleming. 'Fleming was a minor literary talent,' pontificates the TLS.

'For all the scrupulous diligence of his researches, and the detail he is able to amass and make highly readable, Nicholas cannot make Fleming's life or his writings assume great significance.'

Surely after four years of scribbling and 800 pages Shakey should be indulged with a TLS licence to thrill?

Directing blockbuster Argylle, Matthew Vaughn was disappointed by an acting cat hired at enormous expense. 'It was just a cat,' he tells Total Film.

'So I was like, 'This isn't going to work. I need to borrow Chip.' Chip the feline of his wife Claudia Schiffer miaowed to the rescue. 'It's a bit weird,' adds Matthew.

Chip the feline of Matthew Vaughn's wife Claudia Schiffer miaowed to the rescue

'Sharing a car at six in the morning with a cat and the cat sitting next to me in the trailer.' Shouldn't Chip have been rewarded with a diva list of Sheba Flakes and delicacies from the Perle Gourmet Collection?

Striding up to the oche broadcaster Jon Sopel suggests that Hollywood star Tom Cruise should play Luke 'the Nuke' Littler in a biopic.

Why?

'Because Tom looks 25 years younger than he is and Luke looks 25 years older,' says Sopel adding: 'Tom might have to bulk up a bit.'

Sir Christopher Meyer's widow Catherine, blames the diplomat's 2022 death partly on his mugging on London's Tube in 2018. Lady Meyer, who has put the finishing touches to his last novel Survivors, takes comfort in his authorship of the last sentence in the late Queen's moving tribute to the victims of 9/11: 'Grief is the price we pay for love.'

Former Spandau Ballet heartthrob Tony Hadley shares some good and bad news. The glad tidings are that his popularity as a solo artist prompts female fans to throw their underwear at him on stage.

And the grim disclosure? They are now sized XL.

'Yes! The pants have just got bigger,' he wails. With his middle-aged spread requiring jumbo Y-fronts isn't it a case of Tony's pot calling the kettle black?
An elderly tourist visiting Australia has been tragically killed after he was struck by a packed train south of Adelaide.

Emergency services were called to Hayward St in McCracken, just north of Victor Harbour on Thursday afternoon after a pedestrian was struck by the iconic Cockle Train.

The 87-year-old male overseas tourist died at the scene in South Australia's Fleurieu Peninsula.

Victor Harbor Mayor Moira Jenkins described the incident as an 'absolute tragedy' and said her thoughts were with all those impacted by it.

'Our thoughts, prayers and sincere condolences go out to this person's family,' she said.

A man has died after he was hit by a train (pictured) near Victor Harbour, in Adelaide's south on Thursday afternoon

READ MORE: British woman and two other tourists in horror crash in Victoria Advertisement

'Our thoughts are also with the driver of the Steam Ranger and all those involved in the incident.'

The train driver was transported to hospital after suffering shock. He's now assisting police with their inquiries.

Horrified passengers seated at the back witnessed the crash.

Some were left 'quite distressed' by the harrowing scenes.

Mark Robinson, 40, told The Adelaide Advertiser that it looked like the man had been trying to cross the tracks when he was hit.

'It looks like someone's been hit and they've been flung under the train or to the side and landed at the back of the train,' Mr Robinson said.

The elderly tourist was hit by the train (pictured) with one passenger saying the man appeared to be crossing the tracks before he was struck

'We looked out our window and saw a white sheet at the back of the train.'

At least 150 passengers on board the train were taken from the scene in buses and transported to their stop along the train's usual route.

The Cockle Train will remain on site until police and the Office of National Rail Safety Regulator representatives attend the incident site.

Anyone who witnessed the incident but has not yet spoken to police can provide their details via Crime Stoppers.

The 170-year-old Cockle Train is popular with tourists and locals along the oldest steel railway in Australia.

The train travels from Goolwa to Victor Harbor, starting its trip at the wharf precinct near the Murray Mouth and finishing in the Victor Harbor town centre.
The Government is pushing for an upgraded trade deal with Turkey, as Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch visits Istanbul today.

The two countries have a deal which covers goods but not services, digital or data.

Investment in manufacturing, tech and transport is also expected to be discussed during the visit, with Ms Badenoch saying that 'Turkey presents huge opportunities for UK businesses'.

While in Istanbul, the minister will meet her Turkish counterpart, minister for trade Omer Bolat. They are expected to discuss how to boost UK-Turkish trade ahead of the launch of talks later in the year on an upgraded deal covering services and digital.

In the coming year, the Government has said it wants to progress services-focused deals with countries such as Turkey, Switzerland and South Korea, and the Gulf region.

Kemi Badenoch will push for an upgraded trade deal with Turkey covering services on her visit to Istanbul today

It comes after No10 targeted deals with individual US states, with the Business Secretary signing a huge agreement with Florida at the back end of last year.

Ms Badenoch said: 'I'm delighted to be in Turkey ahead of talks to upgrade our existing trade deal to make it fit for the 21st century.

'The UK is the second biggest exporter of services in the world - UK lawyers, accountants and architects are in high demand across the globe.

'With its major economy and strategic position, Turkey presents huge opportunities for UK businesses. And I'm excited to start discussions on ensuring our new trading relationship with Turkey unlocks those opportunities.'

While in Istanbul, Ms Badenoch will visit Turkish Airlines, which recently contracted UK aerospace company Airbus to supply them with 220 planes.

For much of the fleet, the wings will be designed in Bristol and built in North Wales, with Rolls Royce supplying engines made in Derby.

The Secretary of State will also meet UK and Turkish investors, including Ford and Mott MacDonald, to discuss how the UK and Turkey can boost investment in sectors such as manufacturing, tech and transport.

While in Istanbul, the Secretary of State is expected to visit Turkish Airlines which recently placed an order for 220 Airbus aircraft. Much of the fleet will be designed and built in Britain

TheCityUK managing director Nicola Watkinson said: 'Turkey holds tremendous growth potential through the rising Middle East to Asia growth corridor. The UK is well-positioned to forge innovative and forward-looking trade agreements and be part of these exciting opportunities.

'This visit not only demonstrates the UK's commitment to fostering stronger economic relationships but also sets the stage for an ambitious Free Trade Agreement that promises benefits for our industry.'

The head of strategy at Mott MacDonald Group, Simon Harrison, said: 'Turkey continues to play a key geostrategic role in the world and shares the UK's position of being a large economy adjacent to the European Union, and hence a partner with whom trade ties matter.

'The UK-Turkey relationship is warm and longstanding, with many complementarities - for example UK professional services and Turkish construction are both world renowned, and these trade discussions provide an opportunity to build from a position of strength for both nations.'
As her fellow Democrats have called for the banning of stock trades by members of Congress, former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi saw a 65 percent return on her investments in 2023, beating the overall market.

Pelosi came around on the ban but initially defended the practice, leading to Senator Josh Hawley introducing The Preventing Elected Leaders from Owning Securities and Investments (PELOSI) Act in 2023, which has yet to pass.

The longtime Democrat Congresswoman, 83, got a 65 percent return on her investments in 2023, well over double the S&P 500's overall 24 percent gain.

That's an even bigger return than in December, when DailyMail.com used a tool dedicated to tracking her investments, revealing her portfolio returned a remarkable 50 percent in the previous 12 months.

It was an excellent year following a down one for Pelosi, who saw her portfolio drop 19.8 percent in 2022. Lawmakers trading stocks have been accused of benefitting from insider knowledge of planned or proposed legislation that could affect share prices.

As her fellow Democrats have called for the banning of stock trades by members of Congress, former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi saw a 65 percent return on her investments in 2023

Her 2022 dip came after she and husband Paul Pelosi announced a sale of 25,000 shares of Nvidia at $165.05 a share amid the controversy over Congressional stock buys.

Securities filings in December showed the Pelosis buying back about 50 call options worth $2million in the company late in 2023, according to the New York Post.

'Pelosi bet millions on $NVDA in November using call options. Using a deceptive tactic, she purposely disclosed this on the Friday before Christmas weekend to avoid media coverage,' Congresstrading, a watchdog on politician stock activity, posted.

The ex-Speaker has profited hugely from massive gains this year in the stock price of Nvidia, the chipmaker whose valuation has passed $1 trillion thanks to the AI boom.

She also owns millions of dollars worth of Microsoft and Apple stock, which have both risen by around 55 percent since the beginning of the year.

Pelosi is known as one of Congress' wealthiest members, owning several properties across the country.

Along with property tycoon husband Paul, 81, she currently spends most of her time in Washington D.C where she has a $2.6m condo in the upscale Georgetown district.

She also owns a four-bedroom San Francisco home that sits in the middle of her congressional district and was purchased in 2007 for $2.2m but is thought to be worth at least $6m now.

The longtime Democrat Congresswoman, 83, got a 65 percent return on her investments in 2023, over double the S&P 500's overall 24 percent gain

Pelosi owns a four-bedroom San Francisco home that sits in the middle of her congressional district and was purchased in 2007 for $2.2m but is thought to be worth at least $6m now

The couple also have a 65-acre wine estate in St Helena, 65 miles north of San Francisco, that boasts a Palladian style house and a Z shaped pool. According to Roll Call, the property is now worth between $5m and $25m

The San Francisco home was the site of Paul Pelosi being attacked by David DePape , a former nudist from Canada, who entered the Pelosis' mansion through a back door in the early hours of October 28, 2022

That home was the site of Paul Pelosi being attacked by David DePape, a former nudist from Canada, who entered the Pelosis' mansion through a back door in the early hours of October 28, 2022.

The couple also have a 65-acre wine estate in St Helena, 65 miles north of San Francisco, that boasts a Palladian style house and a Z shaped pool.

According to Roll Call, the property is now worth between $5m and $25m and provides the Pelosis with an annual windfall of up to $15,000 from grape sales.

Pelosi also owns a second Napa Valley property worth $1m which is rented out for up to $50,000 a year according to her financial disclosure forms.

A second rental property worth up to $5m is located in the upscale Sugar Bowl Ski Resort near Norden, California.

The Pelosis have a combined net worth of around $46 million.

The former speaker has long maintained that she doesn't discuss stocks with her husband. But video footage from Pelosi's daughter's documentary on the former speaker highlighted just how often Paul is in the room while Pelosi is conducting business by phone.

Banning congressional stock trades has bipartisan support on Capitol Hill - last Congress there were a number of bills introduced in both the House and Senate.

Pelosi has profited from massive gains this year in the stock price of Nvidia, the chipmaker whose valuation has passed $1 trillion. She also owns millions of dollars worth of Microsoft and Apple stock, which have both risen by around 55 percent since the beginning of the year

Her yearly gains are an even bigger return than in December, when DailyMail.com used a tool dedicated to tracking her investments, revealing her portfolio returned a remarkable 50 percent in the previous 12 months

Many Americans had hoped to see stock ban legislation last Congress after reports revealed hundreds of lawmakers regularly trade stocks directly related to their work in Congress.

In September Pelosi backed a bill to ban congressional stock trades that some government reform advocates said didn't go far enough. The legislation never went anywhere for the rest of her speakership.

An Unusual Whales study showed that only eight members of Congress saw a higher return on investments in 2023. At least a third of them did better than the S&P 500.

Brian Higgins, a New York Democrat who represents the Buffalo metropolitan area, led all Congressmembers with a staggering 238 percent return.

Ironically, he is not particularly active on the stock market but saw huge boosts in Nvidia holdings he bought in 2021.

Democrats - who tend to buy more on big tech - saw returns averaging 31 percent while Republicans - investing in banking and oil - gained 18 percent.

Current rules allow members of Congress to trade stocks freely, but they must report their trading and they are barred from using non-public information to inform their purchases.

But the fine for lawmakers who break the rules is typically just $200.

Earlier in 2023, Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Republican Senator Josh Hawley formally introduced the 'Ban Stock Trading for Government Officials Act', which would prevent members of Congress, the president, vice president and other White House officials - along with their relatives - from trading stocks.

Since 2012, Congress members have been bound by the STOCK Act which requires they report stock transactions of $1,000 or more by themselves or their family members within 45 days. Members of Congress are also supposed to be confined by insider trading laws.
When picking your next holiday, thoughts might naturally turn to the beaches of Bali or the slopes of Chamonix.

But families should perhaps look a little closer to home, as travel bosses have hailed the county of Shropshire as one of the top ten global 'destinations to watch' this year.

It is the first time anywhere in the UK has made the list by travel trade organisation Abta, which described Shropshire as a 'rural gem' with 'beautiful landscapes, towns and villages'.

Other destinations on the 2024 list include the tropical islands of Aruba in the Caribbean and Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, as well as Vietnam, Zambia, the Spanish region of Extremadura and Saxony in Germany.

In its report, released today, Abta hails Shropshire, on the Welsh border, as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution.

Mark Hooper, head of Visit Shropshire, said the county was becoming increasingly popular among tourists

Shropshire was among ten 'destinations to watch' in 2024 according to travel trade organisation Abta

It says: 'History lovers must make a trip to Coalbrookdale in the Ironbridge Gorge with its elegant eponymous bridge, the first ever built in the world.

'Sports lovers should visit the nearby town of Much Wenlock  pretty as it undoubtedly is, it was also the site of the first attempt in 1850 to revive the Olympic games.'

Mark Hooper, head of Visit Shropshire, said the county was becoming increasingly popular among tourists, adding: 'This is fabulous news and we are, of course, delighted to be named. Travellers are increasingly looking for space, authenticity, history, nature and great food  and we have it all in our little county.'

Abta's most recent consumer research found 64 per cent of people plan to go abroad this year and 58 per cent plan to take a UK holiday.

Tomorrow is 'Sunshine Saturday' for the travel industry as it is one of the busiest days of the year for holiday bookings.

Abta described Shropshire as a 'rural gem' with 'beautiful landscapes, towns and villages'. Pictured: A view of St Laurence Church in Ludlow, Shropshire

Blue Hour, Ironbridge, Shropshire - the World's first Iron Bridge, erected over the River Severn in 1779

Abta director of communications Graeme Buck said: 'Our team of experts has put together a list of 10 destinations to watch which offer varied and memorable experiences around the globe.

'Some are a little unexpected, and all are well worth a visit. They showcase the amazing range of experiences that our world offers to holidaymakers.'
Prince Andrew has been reported to the police by an anti-monarchy campaign group after allegations of sexual assault were made against him in unsealed court documents.

The Duke of York, who has always denied any wrongdoing, was reported to the Metropolitan Police by Republic after he was referenced multiple times in files relating to disgraced paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

This was matched by similar calls from a US attorney who represented some of Epstein's victims, who said police in Britain have a duty to investigate Andrew as he 'still refuses to fully account for his time' with the paedophile.

The unredacted documents, which were released on Wednesday in the United States, included allegations Andrew had an orgy with underage girls and touched a woman's breast while posing with a puppet of himself.

It is a fresh setback for the late Queen's second son who, just 10 days ago, walked to church on Christmas Day with the King and the rest of the royal family, symbolising his gradual rehabilitation within the monarchy after his public appearance at his brother's coronation in his garter robes in May.

Prince Andrew pictured walking with Jeffrey Epstein in New York's Central Park in 2011

The Duke of York, pictured here with Virginia Giuffre (centre) and Ghislaine Maxwell (right), has always denied wrongdoing in his relationship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein

It may see the end of his bid to reenter the royal fold, with well-placed sources telling the Mail that while the court claims were not a surprise, they will have served to 'crystallise' King Charles's determination to solve the 'Andrew problem' decisively.

Plans were already in train to evict him from Royal Lodge, his ten-bedroom Windsor home since 2003, and move him to a smaller residence in keeping with his 'downgraded' status.

The newly released court documents are believed to have strengthened the King's resolve that Andrew will never be allowed to resume royal duties.

The 63-year-old prince, who has previously strenuously denied the allegations, paid millions a year ago to settle a civil case out of court with Virginia Giuffre with no admission of guilt after she accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was 17.

But he is mentioned more than 70 times in nearly 1,000 pages of interviews and transcripts released in the US in connection with a 2015 defamation case brought by Virginia Giuffre against Ghislaine Maxwell, who was jailed for sex trafficking young girls for Epstein.

The names of more than 170 people who were either associates, friends or victims of Epstein are being made public following a judge's order last month, including high-profile figures such as former US president Bill Clinton.

The Duke of York has been reported to the police by the campaign group Republic after allegations of sexual assault resurfaced in unsealed court documents.

Graham Smith, chief executive of the anti-monarchy group Republic, said on Thursday that he had reported Andrew to the police, accusing the Met of failing to conduct a serious criminal investigation into the case.

The force said in August 2022 that it was taking no further action over allegations made against Epstein and that any future probes into human trafficking by the sex offender were focused on activities outside the UK.

It also previously said it stood by its 2015 decision not to investigate claims by Ms Giuffre that she was sex trafficked to London by Epstein.

Mr Smith said: 'To date, there appears to have been no serious criminal investigation, no interview of the accused or other witnesses, and no clear justification for taking no action.

Prince Andrew pictured in the background alongside the rest of the Royal Family as they attend the traditional Christmas Day service at St Mary's Magdalene Church on the Sandringham Estate last month

Graham Smith, CEO of anti-monarchy group Republic, said he had reported Prince Andrew to the Metropolitan Police. Pictured: Mr Smith outside Westminster Abbey prior to the Commonwealth Service in March 2023

In a tweet on the Republic X account, the group said it is 'time for the Met Police to act' over the allegations against Prince Andrew

US attorney Spencer Kuvin (pictured), who has represented some of Jeffrey Epstein's victims, has also called for police to investigate Prince Andrew

'I am calling on the Met Police to reopen this case, I am calling on MPs to debate this affair in Parliament, and I am calling on Charles to make a public statement, in front of the press and taking questions, to respond to these allegations and what they say about the monarchy.

'How can we not expect a response from the Government and head of state? At the time of the alleged offences, Andrew was a government trade ambassador and an active member of the royal family.

'They fudged and obfuscated for 11 years before taking any definitive action.'

Mr Smith added: 'The question many people will be asking is simple: if the accused were anyone else, do we believe they wouldn't have been investigated and prosecuted?'

Meanwhile, US attorney Spencer Kuvin, who has represented some of Jeffrey Epstein's victims, said people associated with the wealthy financier such as Andrew, deserve a higher level of scrutiny.

Mr Kuvin told the Mirror: 'Andrew still refuses to fully account for his time with Epstein and has failed to speak with US investigators about what he knows.

'British police need to do their duty and reopen their investigation into his conduct.'

He added that Epstein is probably 'one of the worst sexual predators of the century'.

Buckingham Palace, which no longer speaks on behalf of the duke after he stepped down as a working royal in 2019 over his friendship with Epstein, has not commented on the documents.

Prince Andrew at Sandringham on Christmas Day, 2023. He is said to have avoided prosecutors questions in 2019 despite publicly vowing to assist with the investigation into Epstein

Documents released this week claimed Andrew called financier Jeffrey Epstein (pictured) weekly and jetted to his private Caribbean retreat

Evidence from Johanna Sjoberg, who worked for Epstein as a masseuse, alleged Andrew touched her breast while sitting on a couch inside Epstein's Manhattan apartment as he posed for a photo with a caricature of himself in 2001.

The claim, which has been alleged previously, is thought to refer to a Spitting Image puppet of the duke.

READ MORE HERE: Jeffrey Epstein's victim claims she was groped by Prince Andrew at the disgraced financier's Manhattan mansion in newly released court documents Advertisement

Ms Sjoberg said, while giving evidence in May 2016: 'Ghislaine told me to come upstairs, and we went into a closet and pulled out the puppet, the caricature of Prince Andrew, and brought it down.

'And there was a little tag on the puppet that said 'Prince Andrew' on it, and that's when I knew who he was.'

Ms Sjoberg was asked what the puppet looked like and replied: 'It looked like him.

'And she brought it down and presented it to him; and that was a great joke, because apparently it was a production from a show on BBC.

'And they decided to take a picture with it, in which Virginia and Andrew sat on a couch.

'They put the puppet on Virginia's lap, and I sat on Andrew's lap, and they put the puppet's hand on Virginia's breast, and Andrew put his hand on my breast, and they took a photo.'

Other mentions of the duke include previous allegations that Epstein 'forced Jane Doe #3 to have sexual relations with was a member of the British Royal Family, Prince Andrew (a/k/a Duke of York)' at three locations including on Epstein's private island 'in an orgy with numerous other under-aged girls'.

The document claimed that Epstein instructed Jane Doe #3 to give Andrew 'whatever he demanded' and that Maxwell 'facilitated Prince Andrew's acts of sexual abuse by acting as a 'madame' for Epstein'.

Prince Andrew pictured attending the Easter Mattins Service at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in April 2023

Prince Andrew and King Charles III speak following a vigil in memory of Queen Elizabeth II at St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh in September 2022

The then-Prince Charles and Prince Andrew share a word from the balcony of Buckingham Palace while their mother Queen Elizabeth II looks on during Trooping The Colour in 2019

Ms Giuffre has claimed she was trafficked by Epstein to have sex with Andrew three times when she was 17 and a minor under US law at Maxwell's London home, in Epstein's New York home and during an orgy with Epstein at Caribbean island.

She was questioned over the whereabouts of the famous photograph showing her with the duke, who has his arm around her, with Maxwell grinning in the background.

READ MORE HERE: Why Prince Andrew can't seem to shake THAT infamous photo of him and his teenaged accuser as it emerges at the centre of documents relating to Jeffrey Epstein Advertisement

Ms Giuffre added it may have been in storage boxes that were 'full of Nerf guns, my kids' toys, photos' at her mother and father-in-law's home in Sydney, Australia.

She said she gave the picture to the FBI in 2011 but had last seen it before she packed up her home to emigrate to Australia from Colorado.

Among the documents appears to be an email sent by Maxwell expressing her fears she would be questioned about her own relationship with Andrew.

It reads: 'I have already suffered such a terrible and painful loss over the last few days that I can't even see what life after press hell even looks like - statements that don't address all just lead to more questions... what is my relationship to Clinton? Andrew on and on.'

In Maxwell's videotaped deposition in 2016, she claimed she could only recall the duke visiting Jeffrey Epstein's private island in the US Virgin Islands once.

The Met Police and representatives of the Duke have been approached for a comment.
Travelers on the 15 Freeway between Nevada and Southern California were impacted by heavy snow fall on Thursday.

Videos taken by drivers on the freeway showed the intense snowfall hitting their windshields on a road that had not yet been treated for the slushy weather.

One such driver, who posted a video of the storm to X, said he got 'caught in a bit of a snow storm,' but was pleased that California had opted not to close the road.

According to the Las Vegas Review Journal, several roads were closed elsewhere, causing pauses to businesses that rely on the transportation of agricultural goods from California across the border into Arizona.

The video was recorded several miles south of an agricultural checkpoint in San Bernardino County, California. The driver had just crossed the state line into Mountain Pass, Nevada, which has an elevation of 4,730 feet.

California is beginning 2024 with a below-normal mountain snowpack a year after it had one of its best starts in decades with storms that eventually pulled the state out of drought

Prior to Thursday's storm, a winter weather advisory was issued for the mountains of Los Angeles County, which border San Bernardino.

The National Weather Service reported that the winter storm system had deposited between five and eight inches of snow.

In Nevada, a storm deposited five inches of snow in Lee Canyon before continuing on its path - the area was under winter weather advisory until early Thursday morning.

NWS says a second winter storm is expected to arrive in SoCal over the weekend, which will likely bring more snow and moderate to strong winds.

Despite the snow near Los Angeles, California has gotten less snow than usual this winter, which is impacting the Sierra Nevada in Northern California.

The limited winter weather could spell trouble for a state that relies on melted snow pack for a significant portion of its water supply.

The California Department of Water Resources reported Tuesday that the whole of the Golden State has an average snowpack just about 25 percent of its annual average.

However, despite the potentially alarming lack of snow in some parts of California, state officials have also told Californians to brace for potential 'climate whiplash,' a phenomenon that includes potentially dangerous flooding after months of drought.

5 inches of snow and counting up at @LeeCanyonLV today! As the center of this storm tracks over Southern Nevada this afternoon, mountain snow and valley rain will be off and on through the rest of the day. A Winter Weather Advisory continues for the Spring Mountains through 4 AM pic.twitter.com/0eFbEqWmcG  Sam Argier (@SamArgier) January 3, 2024

A winter weather system moved from California into Nevada earlier this week, leaving several counties under weather warnings

A snow plow clears a road in Mammoth Lakes on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024 - Last winter, California experienced record high amounts of snow

Last winter, California experienced record high amounts of snow, enough to take major swaths of the state out of what had been a long drought.

The state's snowpack catapulted to 237 percent higher than the yearly average. This season seems like it will look different.

Thursday's winter storm and the one expected over the weekend arrive just days after a storm in the eastern Pacific Ocean beat up the California coastline with enormous waves and an ocean swell that reached as high as 20 feet.

Eight onlookers in Ventura County were injured as they watched the water walls crash into the coast.
A male nurse has been struck off after he told a female colleague she was a 'sex bomb'.

Gareth Pritchard texted the woman late at night with the message along with a string of other sexualised comments, a tribunal was told.

The experienced nurse told the woman she was 'sexy' and encouraged her to 'get your knickers off'.

Pritchard also made another female colleague feel 'uncomfortable' by telling her 'my first instinct is just sex'.

The long-serving nurse, who was working in a care home at the time, has now been struck off following a Nursing and Midwifery Council [NMC] tribunal.

A male nurse has been struck off after he told a female colleague she was a 'sex bomb' in a late night texting session (stock photo)

Pritchard qualified as a nurse in May 1988 and at the time of his latest offences was specialising in learning disabilities in Conwy, Wales, at an undisclosed home where he worked since 2021

He had landed himself in hot water with the NMC in 2017, when he was suspended for starting a relationship with the mother of a patient.

Pritchard qualified as a nurse in May 1988 and at the time of his latest offences was specialising in learning disabilities in Conwy, Wales, at an undisclosed home where he worked since 2021.

In April 2022 he sent a string of messages to a co-worker, named only as Colleague A, including: 'You are quite the sex bomb. You don't even know it. Just a presence.'

A tribunal report said: 'On April 6, 2022, Mr Pritchard sent Colleague A inappropriate texts of a sexual nature, including calling her a "sex bomb".

'[He sent a] text sent around midnight saying "sleep is for sleepy people. Get your knickers off."

Colleague A said the texts became 'more inappropriate' as the evening went on.

It was heard he also told her: 'Sorry for thinking you are sexy.'

Colleague A raised the messages with the home manager and Mr Pritchard was 'embarrassed' and apologised.

In July 2022, he sent sexualised messages to another colleague on social media.

He made one comment to Colleague B about 'bend you over' and said in another 'my first instinct is just sex'.

The tribunal report said: 'Colleague B explained that she didn't block Mr Pritchard straight away and tried to brush the incident off; however, as the messages became more sexual in nature, she blocked Mr Pritchard.

'Colleague B stated that Mr Pritchard's messages made her feel very uncomfortable and that she felt uncomfortable to work with Mr Pritchard again.

'Colleague B appeared to be upset and highlighted that she did not want to get Mr Pritchard into trouble.'

Pritchard was sacked from the home in August 2022 after an investigation, admitting that his messages were 'embarrassing and shameful'.

Gareth Pritchard texted the woman late at night with the message along with a string of other sexualised comments, a tribunal was told (stock photo)

Pritchard has not returned to nursing since and is seeking early retirement, the tribunal heard.

The NMC panel dismissed him.

Concluding, the panel said: 'In this case, the concerns raised are serious and highlight a deep-seated attitudinal issue.

'The evidence does not suggest that this was an isolated, one-off event as the behaviour was reported by two colleagues and occurred between April and July 2022, so there remains a risk of repetition.

'It is also worth noting that Mr Pritchard previously received a 12-month suspension order in 2017 for initiating a personal relationship with the mother of a service user.

'The panel determined that Mr Pritchard's actions did fall seriously short of the conduct and standards expected of a nurse and amounted to misconduct.

'The panel noted that the charges involved incidents concerning two female colleagues, which showed that this was a pattern of behaviour as opposed to a one-off act.'
Owner David Rasavong, 41, has now re-opened his Thai restaurant under a new name and is 'optimistic' about business

The racist rumors came after a next door house was accused of abuse after an animal welfare crusader claimed their pit bull was being mistreated

A Thai restaurant in LA was forced to close after a flurry of rumors claimed dog meat was being used

A family-owned Thai restaurant in Los Angeles was forced to close after being accused of animal abuse - including claims that the owner was serving dog meat from a local pit bull.

David Rasavong is the owner of Love & Thai in Fresno, California - a restaurant packed with nods to his family's Thai heritage in the dishes and decor.

The proud restaurant owner was forced to temporarily his restaurant in May 2023 after wild rumors based on the stereotype that Asian people eat dog meat began circulating online.

Rasavong, 41, had only opened his previous restaurant, named Tasty Thai, seven months before the racist claims emerged.

The rumor was sparked by Maria Alvarez Garcia - who uploaded a video back in May claiming that the restaurant was serving dog meat.

A family-owned Thai restaurant in Los Angeles was forced to close after being accused of animal abuse - including claims that the owner was serving dog meat from a local pit bull

David Rasavong is the owner of Love & Thai in Fresno, California - a restaurant packed with nods to his family's Thai heritage in the dishes and decor

The proud restaurant owner was forced to temporarily his restaurant in May 2023 after wild rumors based on the stereotype that Asian people eat dog meat began circulating online

The rumor was sparked by Maria Alvarez Garcia - who uploaded a video back in May claiming that the restaurant was serving dog meat

Garcia - a so-called animal welfare crusader - raised concerns about animal welfare at a house next door to the restaurant - and then suggested that the food establishment was connected with the household and their alleged dog abuse

Garcia - a so-called animal welfare crusader - raised concerns about animal welfare at a house next door to the restaurant - and then suggested that the food establishment was connected with the household and their alleged dog abuse.

Rasavong denied the accusation in a statement and shared that he had been forced to close down his restaurant in an attempt to protect his immigrant family in light of the racism he was facing.

A day after Garcia's bombshell video, Rasavong was flooded with vitriolic statements, voicemails and calls.

Rasavong's body still tenses up when recounting, in particular, a call from an elderly woman.

'She was so disgusted by me and yelling and screaming, and the only thing I can remember hearing her say at the end was 'Go back to the country you came from you dog-eating mother-effer,' Rasavong told The Associated Press.

Garcia denied making negative comments about the restaurant, but admitted that she had insinuated that the establishment was selling dog meat.

Fresno police conducted an investigation at the time and debunked all of the claims about the restaurant and their rumored animal abuse.

Back in May - the Fresno Police Department shared an update on their Facebook that detailed their investigation into the claims.

Rasavong denied the accusation in a statement and shared that he had been forced to close down his restaurant in an attempt to protect his immigrant family in light of the racism he was facing

Fresno police conducted an investigation at the time and debunked all of the claims about the restaurant and their rumored animal abuse

Now that Rasavong has re-opened his new Thai restaurant, Love & Thai - he is optimistic about keeping up business

'Recently, a short video depicting a female pit bull was uploaded to multiple social media accounts,' the post read.

'The video alleged the pit bull was being abused. Fresno Police officers were quickly alerted to the situation and thoroughly investigated the incident.'

'The short video posted on social media was a snapshot and did not show the complete and thorough picture of the incident.'

'We are happy to report that the investigation revealed the dog is not abused. She recently had been purchased by a neighbor, but she has since been returned to her original owner.'

Now that Rasavong has re-opened his new Thai restaurant, Love & Thai - he is optimistic about keeping up business.

Rasavong also hopes his situation will remind others to think before they speak.

'People say these jokes and they think it's just fun and just light-hearted,' he said. 'There are certain things that you shouldn't say that really do cross a line.'
Move has been blasted by Jewish leader as 'divisive'

The Qantas stewardess who wore a Palestinian flag badge on a flight has asked for help in 'fighting' against the person who reported her to the media.

Emma Ale, along with a number of other cabin crew members, wore the 'divisive' pins on a flight from Melbourne to Hobart on December 20.

A photo of Ms Ale wearing the Palestine badge taken by a passenger quickly began circulating on social media this week, forcing Qantas to respond.

Now, the stewardess has contacted Palestinian Christians in Australia to ask for 'all the help' to 'fight against the person who reported me to the media'.

'I am praying you view this! I am a flight attendant who works for Qantas and a strong advocate for Free Palestine,' she wrote in a Facebook message to the group.

Emma Ale, along with a number of cabin crew members, wore the 'divisive' pins (pictured above her name tag) on a flight from Melbourne to Hobart on December 20

Now, the stewardess has contacted Palestinian Christians in Australia to ask for 'all the help' to 'fight against the person who reported me to the media' (pictured)

'My photo is being posted all over Sky News Australia for wearing a Palestinian pin during my shift, I need all the help possible.

'I am yet to have a conversation with my company and where my employment leads.

'However, if this jeopardises my career, I need all the help I can get to fight against the person who reported me to the media.'

READ MORE: Bizarre four words to cabin crew that sparked a mid-air meltdown on a Qantas flight from Bali to Melbourne Advertisement

Qantas is understood to have spoken to Ms Ale after the photos began gaining traction online on Wednesday and again on Thursday.

The airline confirmed staff members are only permitted to wear flag badges if they spoke the national language of the country.

'During a recent flight from Melbourne to Hobart, some of our cabin crew wore a Palestinian flag badge,' a Qantas spokesperson said in a statement.

'Cabin crew are not allowed to wear any badges unless they are part of the approved uniform, such as a name tag.

'Every customer should feel safe and respected when flying on a Qantas aircraft.'

The uproar came after a passenger, who is not Jewish, said they were 'intimidated' by the pin and posted photos of Ms Ale wearing the badge.

'I saw a bunch of staff working for Qantas - they were all wearing Palestinian flags,' the passenger told Sky News.

'They say that it's not allowed, but Qantas have a history of doing this  they've done this time and time again.

Qantas said staff were being 'reminded' of the uniform policy in lieu of the incident

'It's so disappointing to see a major Australian airline carrier that receives so much government money getting so involved in politics time and time again.'

Chief executive of the Australian Jewish Association Robert Gregory blasted the badges as 'divisive' and said airplanes were no place for political activism.

'Political activism doesn't belong in sport, it doesn't belong in the theatre, and it doesn't belong in airplanes while Australians are heading off to enjoy their holidays. All Australians should feel safe while flying,' Mr Gregory said.

'If employees are found to be using their roles for political activism while passengers are essentially captive in the air, they should be dismissed.

'These incidents aren't isolated and Qantas management should address the divisive political activism coming from their staff.'

Qantas said staff were being 'reminded' of the uniform policy in lieu of the incident.
Prince Andrew was about to be subpoenaed after being listed as a potential witness in the defamation trial of Ghislaine Maxwell, 62, with his full address listed as Buckingham Palace.

The list of prospective witnesses was included in the latest batch of documents released on Thursday night.

The documents were particularly direct alleging the prince 'has knowledge of Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein's sexual trafficking conduct and interaction with underage minors, including Virginia Giuffre.'

Prince Andrew denies all claims of wrongdoing.

Still, in the 24-page release, the documents suggested plans were afoot to subpoena Prince Andrew's travel records in order to pinpoint him to a particular place in time.

As part of what would have been a bombshell body of evidence as Giuffre's lawyers prepped for trial, they advised obtaining 'all documents and information relating to Prince Andrew's travel, including to New York City and the Caribbean between 1999 and 2002.'

Jeffrey Epstein had homes in both New York City and a private island in the Caribbean near St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Prince Andrew was identified as a potential witness in Ghislaine Maxwell's defamation trial with any subpoena addressed to him at Buckingham Palace. Pictured, the prince walking with Jeffrey Epstein in New York's Central Park in 2011

The court papers list Buckingham Palace as the address where Prince Andrew would have received a subpoena

Giuffre said she had sexual encounters with the royal when she was 17. The Duke of York, 63, who has always vehemently and repeatedly denied all allegations against him, settled the lawsuit in 2022 claiming never to have met Giuffre.

The court documents being released now are related to the 2015 lawsuit that Giuffre brought against Maxwell.

Thousands of pages of documents in that lawsuit had been made public previously, but some sections had been blacked out because of privacy concerns.

Andrew's association with Epstein and claims he slept with Giuffre are not new, but her claim that he took part in an 'orgy' with 'other underage girls' at Epstein's home in the US Virgin Islands is among the most serious new allegations.

The palace has not commented on the allegation, citing a policy that it does not comment on non-working royals. Andrew stepped down from official duties in 2019 after his association with Epstein was pored over in the wake of the pedophile's death.

A 2019 investigation into Epstein's network put Andrew in its sights, but prosecutors say he was uncooperative and their work led nowhere.

The Duke of York, pictured here with Virginia Giuffre, middle, and Ghislaine Maxwell, right, has always denied wrongdoing in his relationship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein

Prince Andrew has been living at the 30-room Royal Lodge since 2003 but will be 'forced out' after documents relating to pedophile Jeffrey Epstein detailing sexual assault allegations have 'crystallizes' King Charles' determination to act

U.S. District Judge Loretta A. Preska ordered last month that those redactions be lifted, mostly because names in the documents had already been made public through news coverage or through other court proceedings.

They didn't offer much new insight into individuals in Epstein and Maxwell's world or the sexual abuse they were alleged to have perpetrated.

Among the more interesting documents released on Wednesday was the May 2016 deposition of Johanna Sjoberg, who worked as a masseuse in Epstein's household.

Sjoberg said she once met Michael Jackson at Epstein's Palm Beach, Florida, home, but that nothing untoward happened with the late pop icon.

Epstein also had homes in Manhattan, New Mexico and the Virgin Islands.

She also described an April 2001 trip to New York in which she said Prince Andrew touched her breast while they posed for a photo at Epstein's Manhattan town house.

It is a fresh setback for the late Queen's second son who, just 10 days ago, walked to church on Christmas Day with the King and the rest of the Royal Family symbolizing his gradual rehabilitation within the monarchy after his public appearance at his brother's coronation in his garter robes in May.

Andrew at Sandringham on Christmas Day, 2023. He is said to have avoided prosecutors questions in 2019 despite publicly vowing to assist with the investigation into Epstein

Prince Andrew and King Charles III speak following a vigil in memory of Queen Elizabeth II at St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh in September 2022

It may see the end of his bid to reenter the royal fold, with well-placed sources telling the Mail that while the court claims were not a surprise, they will have served to 'crystallise' King Charles's determination to solve the 'Andrew problem' decisively.

Plans were already in train to evict him from Royal Lodge, his ten-bedroom Windsor home since 2003, and move him to a smaller residence in keeping with his 'downgraded' status.

The newly released court documents are believed to have strengthened the King's resolve that Andrew will never be allowed to resume royal duties.

Andrew is mentioned more than 70 times in nearly 1,000 pages of interviews and transcripts released in the US in connection with a 2015 defamation case brought by Virginia Giuffre against Ghislaine Maxwell, who was jailed for sex trafficking young girls for Epstein.

The names of more than 170 people who were either associates, friends or victims of Epstein are being made public following a judge's order last month, including high-profile figures such as former US president Bill Clinton.

Prince Andrew pictured in the background alongside the rest of the Royal Family as they attend the traditional Christmas Day service on the Sandringham Estate last month

Giuffre has claimed she was trafficked by Epstein to have sex with Andrew three times when she was 17 and a minor under US law at Maxwell's London home, in Epstein's New York home and during an orgy with Epstein at Caribbean island.

She was questioned over the whereabouts of the famous photograph showing her with the duke, who has his arm around her, with Maxwell grinning in the background.

Giuffre added it may have been in storage boxes that were 'full of Nerf guns, my kids' toys, photos' at her mother and father-in-law's home in Sydney, Australia.

She said she gave the picture to the FBI in 2011 but had last seen it before she packed up her home to emigrate to Australia from Colorado.

Among the documents appears to be an email sent by Maxwell expressing her fears she would be questioned about her own relationship with Andrew.

It reads: 'I have already suffered such a terrible and painful loss over the last few days that I can't even see what life after press hell even looks like - statements that don't address all just lead to more questions... what is my relationship to Clinton? Andrew on and on.'

In Maxwell's videotaped deposition in 2016, she claimed she could only recall the Duke visiting Jeffrey Epstein's private island in the US Virgin Islands once.
A speed camera operator has narrowly avoided serious injuries after he and his vehicle were allegedly attacked by a group of men.

The five offenders allegedly jumped on top of the speed camera vehicle while it was parked on Nicholson St in Coburg in Melbourne's north early Friday morning.

The group allegedly threw items at the car and smashed several windows before fleeing the scene.

Photos of the car afterwards showed extensive damage to the smashed front and rear windscreens.

A speed camera operator's car (above) was attacked in a late-night ambush early Friday

READ MORE: Hilton-Taylor accused of murdering an intellectually disabled man heading to the bus Advertisement

The speed camera operator, 36, from St Albans, managed to drive away, despite being injured in the frightening attack.

He was treated at the scene for minor cuts.

Victoria Police have launched an investigation into the incident.

No arrests or charges have yet been laid.

Police have since released images and CCTV of men they believe may be able to assist with the inquiries.

It comes as tensions continue to rise between speed camera operator Serco and the workers' union.

More than 1,500 hours of work have been lost to strikes as workers bargain for wage rises and improved safety conditions following a spate of recent attack.

Serco employees have been instructed to walk off the job for two hours on Friday and Saturday ahead of an eight-hour strike on Sunday.

Anyone who witnessed or has vision of Friday morning's incident is urged to call Crime Stoppers.
Properties with grim histories usually hit the market with much more affordable price tags, but not many house-hunters are willing to overlook the bad juju that comes included.

When a charming home in Yorktown, Virginia, was listed for just $250,000 it caught the attention of 44-year-old attorney James Fiorito.

Fiorito was baffled by the shockingly low price, considering houses of the same size in the area usually sell for at least $450,000.

He toured the property with a flashlight, because it didn't have electricity, and asked the real estate agent what the deal was - they told him the previous owner had been a hoarder.

After putting in a cash offer for the house, Fiorito did some further digging and discovered that a man had actually murdered his sister and mother in the home and then kept their bodies in the empty pool in the backyard.

When a charming home in Yorktown, Virginia, was listed for just $250,000 it caught the attention of 44-year-old attorney James Fiorito - who did some further digging and discovered that a man had actually murdered his sister and mother in the home and then kept their bodies in the empty pool in the backyard

The harrowing incident had taken place in March, 2020. Andrew Donald Buchert, 55, murdered his 83-year-old mother Patricia and 63-year-old sister Linda

Poll Could you live in a house where someone had been murdered? Yes No Could you live in a house where someone had been murdered? Yes 45 votes

No 59 votes Now share your opinion





The harrowing incident had taken place in March, 2020. Andrew Donald Buchert, 55, murdered his 83-year-old mother Patricia and 63-year-old sister Linda.

Their bodies were dumped in the abandoned swimming pool of 201 Aspen Blvd - the house that Fiorito would later almost purchase.

'I think it's the proximity to evil and the reminder that there are terrible things in the world,' Fiorito explained his decision to the Wall Street Journal.

The disturbing site of Buchert's murder would go on to sell for $285,100 and the buyer is unknown.

Living in a home with an unsettling history is a sticky situation because the house will likely be difficult to sell, but the residents probably want to escape the memories and association of the house with whatever unfortunate circumstances were faced there.

The effect that a frightening happening can have on a property's reputation depends on the the notoriety of the event, according to Deanne Rymarowicz, associate counsel for the National Association of Realtors.

'If it was violent and the police were called and it appeared in the newspapers, it could affect the value,' Rymarowicz said.

The infamous Los Angeles mansion where the tragic murder of Sharon Tate and others took place at the hands of members of the 'Manson Family' had to be demolished in 1994 to retrieve some of its value in the very expensive neighborhood.

The cursed home of Roman Polanski and Sharon Tate at 10050 Cielo Drive was on the market in August 2019, showing an estimated price of $97 million.

It again was on the market in January 2022 for $85 million, reduced in price in June 2022 to just under $70 million.

The so-called Los Feliz Murder Mansion in Los Angeles is being rebuilt after a group of investors purchased the home for $2.35 million in 2020. In 1959 - the home was the scene of a tragic murder-suicide involving a successful doctor who murdered his wife and then killed himself, attacking his daughter in the process

The so-called Los Feliz Murder Mansion in Los Angeles is being rebuilt after a group of investors purchased the home for $2.35 million in 2020.

In 1959 - the home was the scene of a tragic murder-suicide involving a successful doctor who murdered his wife and then killed himself, attacking his daughter in the process.

Dr. Harold Perelson brutally struck his wife to death with a hammer before beating his 18-year-old daughter and ending his own life using a mixture of water, acid and tranquillizer pills.

After some serious renovations, the house was listed for $5.5 million in July 2022 and then delisted in January 2023.

A proposed L.A. Wildlife Ordinance could limit the size of future homes being built in the area - so the group of investors decided to grasp the opportunity before the new rules kick in to make the most of the land.

Ephi Zlotnitsky, a managing partner of the investment group, said he believes the house could bring 'north of $17 million' when they finally complete the construction and put it back on the market in a year.

Different states have different rules when it comes to notifying prospective buyers about the gruesome history of certain properties.

In California, sellers must reveal if a death has occurred in the home at any point in the last three years - including death by natural causes.

In Alaska and South Dakota, murders or suicides must be disclosed - but only f they happened within the past year.

For Nevada - sellers only have to disclose a death on the property if it was down to a defect in the construction, for example - if someone died because a staircase collapsed.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott appears set for a huge victory on the border crisis, as President Joe Biden and Washington Democrats look likely to cave on Republican demands for a crackdown on migrants.

The Republican posted to X on Tuesday, announcing the success of his program to bus illegal migrants to Democrat-led cities.

He said his initiative has amounted to the transfer of nearly 100,000 migrants to cities such as New York, Boston, Denver, and Chicago - where leaders are being forced to find accommodation for them.

Those Democrat-led areas bill themselves as 'sanctuary cities' that welcome migrants.

But the New York Times reported that their mayors are so perturbed by the migrant crisis, they've been pleading with the White House for help - with the president likely to offer Republicans previously-unthinkable concessions on migration laws.

What Republicans appear to be targeting is what's known as a 'credible fear interview', where asylum seekers argue they should stay in the U.S. because they would be in danger if they returned to their home country.

That is an early hurdle for prospective asylum seekers that, if the likes of Abbott get their way, would have them sent back home much earlier in the migration process, according to the New York Times.

The White House and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is also considering rules that would allow faster deportations of illegal migrants, considered a pipe dream at the beginning of the Biden administration.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott appears set for a huge victory on the border crisis, as President Joe Biden and Washington Democrats appear set to cave on Republican demands for a crackdown on migrants

Republicans are demanding severe asylum restrictions and tying it to military funding for Ukraine and Israel - two huge Biden priorities in an election year - in order to extract concessions from Democrats.

Lawmakers in both parties, including those liberal mayors of large cities that face crises of their own, have called for more border funding.

Abbott, upon sending the 95,000 migrants to New York, Boston, Denver, and Chicago, said that the problem is so extreme that there's still more to come.

'Sanctuary cities like NYC & Chicago have seen only a FRACTION of what overwhelmed Texas border towns face daily,' wrote Abbott.

'We will continue our transportation mission until Biden reverses course on his open border policies.'

Last fiscal year, the Biden presidency saw the single highest number of encounters at the border on record.

At least 2.4million migrants streamed across the US' southern border in fiscal 2023, and that figure just represents the encounters border patrol agents had - there are plenty of illegal crossers who did not come into contact with DHS officers.

A bus with migrants arrives at Secaucus Junction in New Jersey

Police officers await the arrival of migrants arriving in NJ

Migrants were dropped off in NJ train stations in an attempt to bypass New York City Mayor Eric Adams' executive order that has limited arrivals from Texas

New Jersey officials are deploying cops to send migrants on Manhattan-bound NJ Transit trains as soon as they get off their buses in the Garden State

A police officer gives instructions to migrants before they take a train to New York City at Secaucus Junction in New Jersey on January 4, 2024

Officials were called by NJ to send the migrants right back to NY

Migrants disembark of a bus after arriving at Secaucus Junction in New Jersey on January 4, 2024

Families are seen carrying their belongings as they disembark the bus

While some liberals and big city mayors have decried Abbott as pulling a political stunt, it appears set to pay off, with President Joe Biden set to consider negotiating a more conservative-friendly policy at the border in Texas

Migrants pick up blankets near a Migrant Assistance Center at St. Brigid Elementary School in New York City

Texas has transported over 95,000 migrants to sanctuary cities.



Sanctuary cities like NYC & Chicago have seen only a FRACTION of what overwhelmed Texas border towns face daily.



We will continue our transportation mission until Biden reverses course on his open border policies.  Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) January 2, 2024

That 2.4million figure breaks down to an average of about 6,575 encounters per day, which means it would take just over two full weeks for 95,000 illegal crossers to enter the US.

And many more make it across the border without ever being intercepted.

It comes as the GOP in Washington is having it's own push on private companies toward doing something about the problem.

Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz has written to Delta Airlines demanding an investigation into claims migrants are being flown from the southern border into the US aboard their flights.

The Florida representative penned an open letter to CEO Ed Bastion on Friday seeking answers about how 'non-resident aliens' are able to 'book and travel' on Delta flights.

He stated that NGOs are using federal money to purchase flights for migrants who may not have passed verification checks, posing a security risk.

'Even more alarming than American taxpayers footing the bill for non-resident aliens to be transported into our communities is that they may not be properly vetted,' Gaetz wrote.

'I am concerned the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) may be allowing non-resident aliens to board flights, including those operated by Delta Airlines, with an alternate form of identification that meets a weaker standard than that used to verify the identities of American citizens.'

Gaetz posed four questions of 'utmost importance and great concern' that he is seeking immediate answers for, including how many migrants have been transported and how the airline is paid for their tickets.

Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz is demanding answers from Delta Airlines over its alleged policy of flying illegal migrants into the US

His request came after a Delta passenger and right-wing commentator claimed she had seen migrants being flown from Arizona to New York on the same flight as her

He also asked if there is any incentive for the airline to transport the migrants and what forms of ID are being accepted.

Despite the seemingly high figure being touted by Abbott, it represents just a small fraction of the total number of unvetted foreigners coming into the US annually.

Even some of the Democratic mayors are reckoning with the fact that their cities are not equipped to stomach such a significant onslaught of migrants.

In New York City in particular, Mayor Eric Adams has repeatedly asked Abbott to stop shipping the migrants to the Big Apple, where locals in midtown have been horrified for close to a year at the numbers of migrants being semi-housed in formerly expensive cosmopolitan hotels.

Adams announced Thursday that he is suing 17 charter bus companies in Texas for $708 million in an effort to stop the state's Governor Greg Abbott from bussing the migrants into New York from the Lone Star state.

Adams is seeking millions for the resources New York City has expended to provide shelter and services to thousands of asylum seekers, putting a strain on the the city's schools, shelter system and budget over the last 18 months.

City officials allege that the Texas governor has transported more than 33,000 migrants from his city to the Big Apple since spring 2022 when the migrant crisis first began.

Adams' office stated the bus charter actions were a violation of New York's Social Services Law, CBS News reported.

NYC Mayor Eric Adams announced on Thursday that he is suing 17 charter bus companies in Texas for $708 million in an effort to stop Texas Governor Greg Abbott from bussing migrants to New York from the Lone Star state

Dozens of migrants line up waiting to board a charter bus at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, Texas

'New York City has and will always do our part to manage this humanitarian crisis, but we cannot bear the costs of reckless political ploys from the state of Texas alone,' Adams said.

'Today's lawsuit should serve as a warning to all those who break the law in this way.'

'Texas Governor Abbott's continued use of migrants as political pawns is not only chaotic and inhumane but makes clear he puts politics over people,' the mayor continued.

In a statement, Abbott responded to the suit furiously and said the mayor may see legal consequences of his own.

'This lawsuit is baseless and deserves to be sanctioned. It's clear that Mayor Adams knows nothing about the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution, or about the constitutional right to travel that has been recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court,' he wrote.

'Every migrant bused or flown to New York City did so voluntarily, after having been authorized by the Biden Administration to remain in the United States. As such, they have constitutional authority to travel across the country that Mayor Adams is interfering with. If the Mayor persists in this lawsuit, he may be held legally accountable for his violations.'

Adams was shown support by New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who also accused Abbott of using 'human beings as political pawns' in a separate statement.

'It's about time that the companies facilitating his actions take responsibility for their role in this ongoing crisis.'

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu:

"Every human being has the legal right to come to the United States and seek asylum or shelter."



pic.twitter.com/tLcN0O11b1   Pismo  (@Pismo_B) January 1, 2024

Twenty-two-year-old Maria Silva (center), of Venezuela, carries her belongings to a bus outside the 6th District police station before being taken to a shelter with other migrants who had been staying at the station Wednesday Dec. 13, 2023 in Chicago

Migrants after being processed in El Paso, Texas are loaded on to buses and shipped off to Denver, Colorado

'We're getting close to anywhere from 2,500 to peaking at 4,000 a week,' Adams said Tuesday in an interview, during which he also proclaimed in no uncertain terms that NYC in 'out of room' for the incoming migrants.

'We were not just saying we're out of room as a soundbite,' Adams answered, citing the more than 161,000 migrants whom have arrived and sought city aid since spring 2022.

'We're out of room, literally', the Democrat declared.

'People are going to be eventually sleeping on the streets.'

Fox 5's longtime anchor Rosanna Scotto asked Adams what exactly it would take, ass chief executive of the city, for him to 'close the front door' to more migrants.

Adams replied that he simply could not, due to laws that prohibit both state and local officers from enforcing federal immigration laws.

'I don't have the authorization to tell people that they can't come into New York City,' Adams explained.

When Scotto asked him why not, he replied, a little irate: 'It's against the law.'

Migrants in El Paso standing outside a church for food and anyone who would give them a ride

Migrants, including women and children, prepare to cross the Rio Grande to reach the United States border to seek humanitarian asylum in Ciudad Juarez

Adams is seeking millions for the resources New York City has expended to provide shelter and services to thousands of asylum seekers, putting a strain on the the city's schools, shelter system and budget over the last 18 months

Friends Vivienna, 44, and Selena, 22, from Ecuador, were the only two women in the hundreds-strong queue to sleep in a church after shelters reached capacity on Thursday afternoon

Speaking in Spanish, Vivienna and Selena said they fled 'danger' in the South American country, only to sleep on the streets in New York where they don't feel any safe

The huge line outside St. Brigid School in the East Village where migrants wait for shelter and food

Landry, 40, from Congo, told DailyMail.com he spent his life savings of $9,000 traveling to the United States, taking the difficult decision to leave his wife and 14-year-old son behind four months ago

Landry is trying to learn Spanish in the hopes of eventually securing a job at a Latino restaurant. Many of the other migrants in the queue had similar stories

Migrants in line on East 7th Street in Manhattan's East Village on Thursday

He added that he does not think NYC is currently enforcing its 'sanctuary' status the way it was originally intended to be used, but his hands are legally tied.

'We cannot by law tell someone if they come into the city, you cannot come into the city,' he said. 'We can't even turn them over to ICE.'

During Adams' progressive predecessor, Bill De Blasio's, tenure in office, the former mayor signed a number of laws that dramatically reduced the city's cooperation with the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.
The grieving family of a young dad who was tragically killed in a horror crash on New Year's Eve have broken their silence.

Tyler Matthews-Burnes, 24, was on his way to work after a car crashed into the motorbike he was riding at the intersection of Robe Terrace and Fitzroy Terrace, in North Adelaide last Sunday night.

He was rushed to Royal Adelaide Hospital in a critical condition where he later died, 11 days short of his 25th birthday.

Mr Matthews-Burnes leaves behind behind his partner Katie and a three-year-old daughter Aubrey.

His older brother Dillon Burnes recalled the phone call which confirmed the devastating news.

The young father (pictured left with his daughter) was remembered as an amazing dad

READ MORE: Five dead after car ploughed into a Melbourne pub Advertisement

'It just doesn't happen to people like me, that was the first thing I thought of, and what an amazing father, brother, son, and everything he was to everyone,' Mr Burnes told Seven News.

'It's heartbreaking.'

'It's amazing to see what kind of father he was and I strive to be like him to be honest, even though I'm the elder brother.'

Mr Burnes remembered his brother as a kind and caring person who loved anything with a motor.

He also opened up about their family's wishes for Tyler's daughter.

'I just want the best for Aubrey, growing up,' Mr Burnes said.

His wife added Alix Moeahu added: 'As a mother myself, I can't imagine what kind of process it is to explain that to a child.'

Tyler Matthews-Burnes (pictured) was killed when a car collided with his motorbike in Adelaide on New Year's Eve

A GoFundMe page set up on Thursday has already raised $2,665 with $5,000 the target.

A friend who organised the fundraiser said donations would help cover funeral costs and support his young family.

'A beautiful soul taken way too soon in a tragic accident. A son, brother, father and friend,' they wrote.

'I can't take away their pain but I may be able to help raise some money for funeral costs and for his little girl.'

The driver, 30, of the vehicle that allegedly collided into Tyler's bike was charged with causing death by dangerous driving and for driving recklessly.

He was bailed to appear in Adelaide Magistrates Court on March 31.

Mr Matthews-Burnes was the 117th life lost on South Australia's roads in 2023, compared to 71 in the previous year.

Tyler Matthews-Burnes (pictured) was kind and compassionate and loved anything with a motor
The family, originally from Colombia, had recently marked the one year anniversary of their arrival to the United States

A one-year-old orphan is fighting for her life in the hospital after her entire family was killed in a brutal New Year's Eve crash in South Los Angeles.

Just forty-minutes shy of the new year, Hanna Sofia Cortes Bernal, her mom, dad and five year-old sister were hit by a speeding driver who had blown past a stop sign as he fled a hit-and-run.

He slammed into the family's sedan so violently that is crashed through a street sign and a fence before becoming engulfed in flames.

The dead include 49-year-old Jose Manuel Pasgagasa, 26-year-old Luisa Bernal, and their five-year-old daughter Mia Pasgagasa.

Jose died on the scene, having been trapped inside the vehicle. Luisa and Mia were both pronounced dead at the hospital later that night.

Hanna Sofia Cortes Bernal - pictured second from left in a white romper suit - is the only surviving member of her family of four, after a terrible New Year's Eve car crash

The sole survivor from the sedan is almost two-year-old Hanna, who is still being kept in the pediatric intensive care unit.

Ryan Moreno, an LAPD detective said during a news briefing that the toddler was not originally expected to survive, but has miraculously been showing signs of recovery in the days since the crash.

The family moved to Southern California from Colombia just over a year ago, hoping to find a better life.

According to a GoFundMe established by a daughter of Jose who remains in Colombia, the family crossed the border into the United States on November 13, 2022.

She says she is now trying to raise funds to bring her family's bodies back to Colombia.

A candlelight vigil was established Tuesday by members of the community in Los Angeles, some of whom heard the crash and ran to help.

Eyewitnesses said the impact of the white SUV - a Chevy Tahoe - slamming into the sedan sounded like an explosion.

The driver of the SUV, 22-year-old Jordan Kahari, remains hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

According to Moreno he is facing several possible murder charges, and if Hanna survives, an attempted murder charge.

Law enforcement officers are still awaiting a toxicology report, but they believe Kahari was driving under the influence the night of the crash. He was fleeing a previous hit-and-run when he slammed into the family and killed them, cops believe.

The Tahoe's impact was so forceful, it rammed the family's sedan through a stop sign and a fence

LAPD Detective Ryan Moreno says the suspect will likely face murder charges

The destroyed family vehicle being attended to by emergency responders

Scattered debris and blood stains at the scene of the fatal crash

The Los Angeles Fire Department responds to the scene of the crash that had been so loud, neighbors thought it was an explosion

The White Chevy Tahoe driven by the suspect in the aftermath of the crash

Neighbors, including Amilcar Lopez told ABC7 that they rushed over when they realized there had been a significant crash.

'As soon as I saw the little kids in bad condition, with blood all over them, I couldn't hold it and I just started crying,' said Lopez.

The Deputy Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, Donald Graham, told reporters that there were four fatal crashes over the long weekend.

'Weve just come through the holidays, which should be a time of celebration and renewal for all of our communities,' he said.

'And yet weve had four (fatal crashes) over the weekend that (have) resulted in the loss of six human lives in the city of Los Angeles due to traffic collisions. Last year, were going to end up with almost as many people killed in traffic collisions as we did by violent homicide.'
A Queensland couple were forced to shell out thousands of extra dollars on their European holiday after they made a simple mistake on their plane tickets.

Phil and Kate were excited to visit family in the UK and spend a month travelling through Europe but hit their first roadblock before they'd boarded their flight.

Phil had booked their flights for what he thought was a good price through a third-party travel website called Student Universe in July last year.

However, when filling out the details for their tickets, he accidentally used his wife's nickname, Kate, rather than her birth name, Katherine.

The couple were flying from Brisbane to Melbourne with Virgin, then Melbourne to London via Doha on Qatar Airways for the cost of $2,400 each, return.

Virgin spotted the name on Kate's plane ticket didn't match the one on her passport, and informed her she wouldn't be able to board without fixing the discrepancy.

The information needed to be the same so it matched the rest of the couple's documents, including their visas.

While most airlines offer detail changes for a small or administrative fee, third-party websites often charge exuberant rates for the service.

The couple claimed Student Universe told them to cancel Kate's original ticket, from which they received a small refund, and buy a new one with the correct information.

'They didn't have time, that was their reasoning, to issue a name change on the ticket - but they had time to sell us a new ticket,' Phil told A Current Affair.

Queensland couple Phil and Kate (above) were forced to spend thousands of extra dollars on their European holiday after using Kate's nickname on her plane ticket instead of her birth name, Katherine

However, because they were now buying a last-minute flight, Kate's new ticket cost $4,700.

'I begged them on the phone: 'Please, you can't do that - that's all our holiday money gone in a flash',' Kate recalled.

While Phil has taken responsibility for the mistake, the pair feel they'd been unfairly undone by Student Universe.

'They've just taken advantage of the entire situation, particularly peak travel season and time was of the essence,' he said.

When approached by Daily Mail Australia for comment, a Student Universe spokesperson said it is 'obligated to adhere to the change and cancellation policies as set by the airlines'.

The couple (above) booked the ticket through Student Universe and were told to cancel it and buy a new airfare

'In this instance name changes were not permitted, meaning the only option was to cancel and rebook the ticket,' they said.

'As we were only made aware by the customer of their error within three hours of the flight departure, this led to further airline imposed charges which could have been avoided by the acting earlier.

'We advise all customers that they should carefully review and advise us immediately of any errors in names.

'In most cases where an error is flagged on the same day as the booking is made, the customer would incur no penalties to cancel and rebook inline with standard airline policy.'
A Philadelphia man was pushed onto the subway tracks and fatally struck by an oncoming train just days after the city's new mayor vowed to crack down on crime.

The man was brawling with another male on the SEPTA platform around 4:30 pm on Thursday when tragedy struck at the 34th street station.

Bystander video footage caught the tragic moment unfold as one of the men punched the other, sending him stumbling onto the tracks.

Just moments later, a SEPTA train on the Market-Frankford Line arrived at the platform and killed the man.

A SEPTA spokesperson confirmed that the man throwing punches in the video has been taken into custody - but it remains unclear whether he will be facing charges.

A Philadelphia man was pushed onto the subway tracks and fatally struck by an oncoming train just days after the city's new mayor vowed to crack down on crime

Bystander video footage caught the tragic moment unfold as one of the men punched the other, sending him stumbling onto the tracks

The man was brawling with another male on the SEPTA platform around 4:30 pm on Thursday when tragedy struck at the 34th street station

The person killed is yet to be identified, but a user on X claims that both of the two men involved are 'known to SEPTA police'

Just moments later, a SEPTA train on the Market-Frankford Line arrived at the platform and killed the man

The person killed is yet to be identified, but a user on X claims that both of the two men involved are 'known to SEPTA police'.

Retired Sgt. Mark Fusetti said on X: 'These two men are known to Septa police.

'They are homeless and live in the subways. Theyre called, by Septa, destination-less riders.'

'They take the EL & Subway all day and night. They use the trains as toilets and beds. This in another crime that couldve been prevented if Septa didnt allow them to live in their trains.'

This tragic incident came as Philadelphia's new mayor Cherelle Parker was sworn in - becoming the city's first female leader.

Cherelle Parker, the newly sworn-in 100th mayor of Philadelphia, delivers her inauguration address during the ceremony on Tuesday

Parker is seen swearing in the new police commissioner for Philadelphia, Kevin Bethel, on Tuesday

Cherelle Parker, a 51-year-old Democrat and long-serving councilwoman, campaigned on a centrist platform of safety, jobs, and city services.

She promised on the campaign trail to hire 300 more police officers, including community officers, and restore 'constitutional' stop-and-frisk. She also put forth the idea of making school year-round, to reduce juvenile delinquency.

Her plans will include increasing the number of police officers on the streets with a focus on community policing - a policy she championed when on the city council.

'Officers there as guardians and not warriors, getting to know the people they are sworn to protect and serve,' she said on Tuesday night, during her inaugural address.

Parker takes over a city where violent crime is declining - homicides are down by more than 20 percent year on year, and non-fatal shootings are down 28 percent.

But Philadelphia in 2020 and 2021 had the grim reputation as one of America's most dangerous cities, with over 500 murders each year - significantly more than New York, which is five times as large.

Kensington, which up until the 1950s was a bustling industrial district, is now described by The Philadelphia Inquirer as 'the poorest neighborhood in America's poorest big city'

Exclusive pictures of Philadelphia's Kensington neighborhood reveal a shocking scene of drug devastation with addicts injecting themselves in broad daylight

And theft on Philadelphia is rocketing, with reported vehicle theft up 72 percent. Retail theft is also soaring, and has risen 28 percent in the last year.

Parker said that her Public Safety Emergency will 'expeditiously get every available resource into neighborhoods struggling with the scourges of crime, gun violence, drugs, and addiction.'

She said her new police commissioner, Kevin Bethel, has been tasked with creating plans for those crises and for quality-of-life crimes including car theft, shoplifting and illegal ATV use.
Presidential candidate Nikki Haley said she might pardon former boss and current rival Donald Trump, while Ron DeSantis accused the president of being pro-abortion at town halls held in Iowa Thursday.

Haley and DeSantis are both still considered large underdogs to Trump in the Republican primary but Haley has seen her campaign gain steam in recent weeks, with one poll showing her within four points of Trump in New Hampshire.

Speaking to Iowa caucus voter Thursday, Haley struck a conciliatory note on Trump regarding his legal issues, suggesting she would pardon the ex-president.

'I don't think our country will move forward with an 80-year-old president sitting in jail that allows our country to continue to be divided. We have to move on past that.' she told a voter.

Trump faces over a half dozen court cases related to election interference, the January 6 riots and falsifying business records.

Speaking to Iowa caucus voter Thursday, Nikki Haley struck a conciliatory note on Trump regarding his legal issues, suggesting she would pardon the ex-president

Just like they did with Nixon.



Nikki Haley says she would pardon Trump: It's not about guilt or innocence. It's about what is in the best interest of the countryPardoning Trump and moving on is in the best interest of the country. pic.twitter.com/mBtoUe5Ipy  Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) January 5, 2024

While there are civil cases among them, Trump faces the possibility of prison time if convicted in some of the cases.

Haley, who served as Trump's ambassador to the United Nations, added that the pardon would be in the vain of Gerald Ford's 1974 pardon of Richard Nixon.

'It's about what's in the best interest for the country,' she added.

Meanwhile, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis attempted to hit Trump from his right flank at his town hall, which followed Haley's.

DeSantis, who has seen his poll numbers drop largely at the expense of the former South Carolina governor, attacked Trump on abortion.

'Donald Trump has said that pro-life protections even at the state levels are a quote 'terrible thing,' and he said that in relation to bills like the heartbeat bill.'

He cited the need for a commander-in-chief who would defend conservative states' wishes to make abortion illegal.

'This was a guy who spoke at the March For Life in January of 2020 and he said that all life was a gift from God, he said the unborn was made in the image of God, he said there should be protections.'

DeSantis, who has seen his poll numbers drop largely at the expense of the former South Carolina governor, attacked Trump on abortion

DeSantis argued that Trump, who blamed 'The Abortion Issue' from Republican losses in 2022, was not pro-life

"Do you think Donald Trump is not pro-life?"

Gov. DeSantis: "Of course not." pic.twitter.com/spZMpVwzSP  Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) January 5, 2024

'That's what he was saying when he was president, now he's saying it's a terrible, terrible thing. So how do you reconcile those two views?'

When asked by CNN's Kaitlin Collins if Trump is pro-life, he responded: 'Of course not.'

'Some issues are pretty fundamental. How do you flip flop on the sanctity of life?'

Trump, for his part, has blamed 'the abortion issue' for the Republicans' worse than expected performance in the 2022 midterms.

'It was the "abortion issue", poorly handled by many Republicans, especially those that firmly insisted on No Exceptions, even in the case of Rape, Incest, or Life of the Mother, that lost large numbers of Voters,' he posted to Truth Social at the time.

Not only does former President Trump believe that going all-in on abortion lost them voters, but that those who'd seen Roe v Wade overturned then disappeared from the political process altogether.

'The people that pushed so hard, for decades, against abortion, got their wish from the U.S. Supreme Court, & just plain disappeared, not to be seen again,' he said.

DeSantis and Haley duked it out at the CNN town hall Wednesday with both positioning themselves as the alternative to Trump while still espousing many of his policies.

Nikki Haley is moving up in the polls. Now she is attracting fire from the campaigns of Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis as we reach the business end of the nomination contest

A New Hampshire poll published Thursday shows Haley cementing her position as the candidate best placed to beat Donald Trump when Republicans in the state pick their favorite later this month.

She is only four points behind Trump, according to pollsters at American Research Group.

The gap is the same as it was in December, but those two candidates have pulled further away from the pack, picking up voters who said they were undecided last time around.

The full results have Trump in front on 37 percent with Haley on 33. Former New Jersey Gov. Christie has dropped back to 10 percent (from 13), with DeSantis in fourth on five percent (from six), and tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy on four percent (from five).

Haley has seen her strong debate performances and key endorsements convert into poll momentum in recent weeks as candidates approach the business end of the race.

Iowa is the first state to pick its preferred candidate on January 15. Trump is way ahead in the polls there, but a strong showing by DeSantis or Haley could see them crowned the best challenger.

New Hampshire holds its primary on January 23, and Haley has made clear that she is targeting a win.

Her momentum has turned her into target number one for both Trump and DeSantis, who have kept up a steady stream of attacks.

JL Partners polled 984 likely voters across the nation from December 15 to 20. The results carry a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points but show that former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley does best out of Republican contenders against Joe Biden

A rolling average of Iowa polls maintained by statistics website FiveThirtyEight puts DeSantis on 18.4 percent and Haley on 15.7 percent. Trump is way out ahead with 50 percent of the vote.

Caucuses are notoriously difficult to predict, but the numbers suggest that Haley's best bet may be in New Hampshire where she is 19 points behind Trump, and way ahead of DeSantis.

Several strong debate performances and key endorsements have given her momentum as the race gets to its business end.
A B-1 bomber crashed Thursday evening at the Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota.

All four crew members who were flying the Lancer bomber ejected safely, according to the Air Force. The aircraft was not carrying nuclear weapons.

In a statement, the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth said the aircraft crashed 'at approximately 5:50 p.m. today while attempting to land on the installation. At the time of the accident, it was on a training mission. There were four aircrew on board. All four ejected safely.'

The B-1 bomber's original escape system was a large ejection pod that fit all airmen aboard the plane. The unit was ejected by several rockets and descended with the use of three parachutes.

A set of old-fashioned air bags under the escape capsule helped cushion the impact of landing, which Air Force engineers were worried would cause spinal damage to crews.

B-1 bombers are standard issue supersonic planes that first came into service by the Air Force in the 1980s

South Dakota's Ellsworth Air Force Base, where on Thursday evening four crewmen safely ejected from a B-1 Lancer bomber that crashed

@aotwnews Currently, there is a large emergency response underway after a B1 Bomber crashed outside the Ellsworth Air Force Base in Box Elder, South Dakota. Ellsworth Air Force Base Public Affairs has confirmed an incident on the base tonight. Fire trucks were dispatched to the scene, where multiple witnesses reported hearing numerous explosions. Reports indicate that the four crew members successfully ejected and are safe. The incident has been contained to the base, and investigators are currently on the scene.  original sound - All of The World News

The original escape capsule - the F-111 - was large, it took up the entire cockpit area of the plane, and was costly to the US government.

It was ultimately replaced by the somewhat less cumbersome and also cheaper ejection seat system.

Prior to Thursday evening's crash, visibility was reportedly poor, temperatures were below freezing, and there was low hanging cloud coverage.

The B-1 aircraft is a standard issue supersonic bomber plane that first came into service during the Reagan Administration in the 1980s.

Just 100 B-1s were originally built, though fewer than 60 remain in service today and are kept at the Dyess Air Force Base in Texas and South Dakota's Ellsworth base.

The planes have been used to support US bomber presence in the Asia-Pacific region and to conduct close air support missions during US operations in Afghistan.

The aircraft are not used to carry nuclear weapons.
Black-footed cats like Gaia are tiny but deadly and have a 60 per cent hunting success rate

Gaia, eight-month old black-footed cat, is pictured gazing adorably at the camera in her new home

A Utah zoo has released new picture of their latest arrival

The newest resident at a Salt Lake City area zoo has been pictured settling into her new home and even though she is the world's most lethal African wild cat, Gaia is adorable.

On December 28, Utah's Hogle Zoo introduced Gaia, an eight-month old black-footed cat, to their Small Animal Building.

Recent pictures show Gaia getting comfortable at the zoo as she snuggles in a little basket within her enclosure and gazes adorably at the camera.

Gaia can be seen scoping out her surroundings in new video as the three pound cat peacefully sits in her tiny little bed.

The zoo took in Gaia upon breeding recommendation from the Black-Footed Cat Consortium and said she is 'small in size but large in her feisty personality.'

The newest resident at a Salt Lake City area zoo has been pictured settling into her new home and even though she is the world's most lethal African wild cat, Gaia (pictured) is adorable

Recent pictures show Gaia getting comfortable at the zoo as she snuggles in a little basket within her enclosure and gazes adorably at the camera

Gaia's arrival is part of a larger effort to conserve the at-risk species of deadly and dainty cats.

The creatures are projected to successfully capture their prey 60 per cent of the time - according to Amanda Collins, vice program leader for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums black-footed cat consortium.

Numbers of black-footed cats in the wild are decreasing despite their impressive hunting skills, and the species was listed as vulnerable - just one step before endangered - by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resource.

A 2016 assessment revealed that only around 9,700 of the killer cats are living in the wild in Botswana, Namibia and South Africa.

Black-footed cats are carnivores - they prey on rodents, birds, reptiles, insects and spiders.

Whilst the small but deadly felines may bite in self-defense, they do not prey on humans.

'Her arrival marks an important step in the conservation of her species; with only 29 black-footed cats in the Consortium, successful breeding could significantly contribute to the program,' said the zoo.

Black-footed cats look similar to tabby cats, but get their name from having black or dark brown soles or pads in their paws.

The zoo took in Gaia upon breeding recommendation from the Black-Footed Cat Consortium and said she is 'small in size but large in her feisty personality'

The Hogle Zoo (pictured) took in Gaia upon breeding recommendation from the Black-Footed Cat Consortium and said she is 'small in size but large in her feisty personality'

Research shows the black-footed cat has a predation success rate of 60 percent and kill and average of 10 to 14 rodents or small birds every night

The Hogle Zoo is home to a male black-footed cat named Ryder that they plan on introducing to Gaia in the future.

'Gaia's introduction to Ryder, the male black-footed cat, is in the cards, but we'll let these two feline friends get acquainted when Gaia reaches maturity,' said the zoo.

In September, the zoo announced the passing of the oldest recorded black-footed cat in an Association of Zoos and Aquariums accredited zoo.

Hogle Zoo was home to 18.5 year old black-footed cat, Sanura, who also holds the record for the oldest black-footed cat to give birth to a successful litter at age 14.

'Sanura had 4 successful offspring, representing an important contribution to the vulnerable species,' said the zoo.
Flooding misery spread across Britain today as hundreds of people were evacuated, cows drowned, rail lines were blocked and roads turned to rivers amid torrential rain.

Police were called to the village of Sawley in Derbyshire after drivers on the nearby M1 saw cows stranded in floodwater - with four of the animals later confirmed dead.

While officers and firefighters rescued four other cows, more animals are thought to be missing - and the incident prompted a multi-agency animal welfare investigation.

Major rivers including the Thames and Trent broke their banks in places while the Environment Agency issued more than 600 flood alerts or warnings in England.

Trains on Great Western Railway, Southern, South Western Railway and Southeastern were blocked today due to a mixture of flooding, landslips and trees on the line. And some schools were closed due to flooding - including in Wiltshire and Berkshire.

In East London, 50 people were evacuated after streets turned into rivers in Hackney Wick with ten fire engines and 70 firefighters called to the scene when water started racing down the banks of the canal into residential streets and ground floor flats.

And Nottinghamshire County Council declared a major incident 'due to rising levels along the River Trent', telling residents in flood-risk areas to prepare to evacuate.

Environment Agency data revealed every river in England is now exceptionally high with some rivers reaching their highest flow on record, such as the River Itchen in Southampton which saw a flow double its previous record in December.

Today, there were 302 flood warnings and 332 alerts in England plus 13 alerts and two warnings from Natural Resources Wales - giving a UK total of 649. It comes as:

1,000 properties have been flooded this week, including hundreds overnight;

Peaks along the River Trent could near the highest levels on record from 2000;

A party boat which acts as a floating bar and nightclub sank in the River Thames;

Sandown's 100,000 racing meeting tomorrow is off due to waterlogged track.

Following 40 days of continuous rain, showers continued into this morning affecting parts of south-western and eastern areas as well as parts of Wales and Scotland.

But the weather is set to improve this weekend - with more settled, colder conditions moving in and bringing an increased chance of sunshine and frosty nights.

The UK Health Security Agency has issued a cold weather alert covering the whole of England valid from 9am tomorrow until 12pm next Tuesday, with temperatures likely to be below average especially overnight with ice forming on the very wet ground.

The mercury could drop to -4C (25F) in rural south west England tomorrow night and -6C (21F) in rural areas along the Welsh border in Shropshire on Sunday night.

A woman pushes a child through a flooded street at Longford near Gloucester this morning

Flooding around Tewkesbury Abbey and the Gloucestershire town this morning

A man carries a child through floodwater next to the River Thames in Henley this morning

Radcliffe Residential Park in Nottinghamshire has been deluged by floodwater

Sue and Hans Oosthuizen, residents trapped by floodwater at Radcliffe Residential Park after the River Trent burst its banks following Storm Henk

Vehicles are driven through a flooded road at Aldingbourne in west Sussex this morning

Doreen Cole surveys the damage to her property this morning after heavy rain and sewer system overflows caused the River Cherwell to break its banks in Islip, Oxfordshire

A narrowboat next to a road bridge over the river in Barrow-on-Soar in Leicestershire today

Cars make it through a flooded road in Essex this morning as the severe weather continues

The highest rainfall totals recorded yesterday were 35.2mm (1.4in) at Otterbourne in Hampshire, with a range of 20mm (0.8in) to 30mm (1.2in) across much of the South.

READ MORE Floods LIVE: Trains cancelled across UK in Storm Henk chaos as party boat sinks and schools close Follow MailOnline's weather liveblog for updates today as hundreds of flood warnings remain in place and commuters face more travel disruption after further heavy downpours following Storm Henk. Advertisement

The Environment Agency revealed more than 1,000 properties had been flooded this week in England, including hundreds overnight and into this morning.

The agency's executive flood director Caroline Douglass told BBC Breakfast: 'We're a country that's wet and we always do get a lot of rainfall. Over November and December, following Storm Babet and Storm Ciaran, the ground was incredibly saturated right across the country, particularly in the east.

'That's been topped up over the pre-Christmas period. Rainfall from this week has just added to that, so there's nowhere for the water to go. In that situation we get more flooding and greater impacts than we've seen and probably in areas where people aren't used to it.'

In Gloucestershire, police warned of road closures due to rising water levels around Tewkesbury.

An evacuation centre was set up in the nearby village of Walton Cardiff while people living on Alney Island, between two branches of the River Severn, in nearby Gloucester were urged to leave their homes for a nearby leisure centre.

As for the rescued cows yesterday, a Derbyshire Constabulary spokesman told MailOnline: 'We were called to fields of Wilne Road, Sawley, just before 1.40pm following concerns from passing M1 motorists about a number of cattle which appeared to be stranded in water nearby.

'Officers attended along with Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service. Eight cows were rescued and four died. A number of animals are believed to be missing.

The Environment Agency issued hundreds of flood alerts (in amber) and warnings (in red)

The Environment Agency has issued a map showing the peak levels of rivers in the Midlands

Recorded peak levels of rivers in the Midlands are shown in this Environment Agency map

A submerged car sits in a car park after heavy rain and sewer system overflows caused the River Thames to break its banks at Wallingford in Oxfordshire this morning

Clayfield Copse has turned into a flooded quagmire this morning in Dunsden, Oxfordshire

Flooded fields at Woodford in North East London this morning amid weather chaos

Cows drowned in the village of Sawley, Derbyshire, last night - prompting an animal welfare investigation by Derbyshire Constabulary, which tweeted this picture of the cows it had saved

'The owner of the cattle has been made aware, and the RSPCA, Derbyshire Trading Standards and the Animal and Plant Health Agency have all been notified. A multi-agency investigation is likely to be carried out to further establish the circumstances behind the incident.'

Racing off at Sandown amid waterlogged track Sandown's racing meeting tomorrow, set to feature the 100,000 Unibet Veterans' Handicap Chase, has been abandoned due to a waterlogged track. Clerk of the course Andrew Cooper and his team called an 8am precautionary inspection today as though the track was raceable at the time, heavy rain was forecast yesterday evening. The predicted worst-case scenario was up to 20mm (0.8in) of rain, but even more fell at the Esher venue with 34mm (1.3in) recorded and it has left the course saturated with no hope of improvement in time for racing. Mr Cooper said: 'We've had 34mm of rain, which started at about 2pm yesterday afternoon and finally eased off at about 4am this morning. 'I would say there are multiple areas on both courses (chase and hurdle tracks) of waterlogged, false ground and areas of standing water and there are no options in terms of realignment. 'I think there is an element of judgement that it isn't going to be materially better in 24 hours and we don't think it will be sufficiently better in 24 hours. It's basically saturated ground that is going to sit like that for a number of days now. 'It was just the wrong amount of rain at the wrong time for us, on top of what has already been a fairly wet spell, certainly since Christmas anyway.' Advertisement

Over in Leicestershire, a narrowboat was pushed sideways against a bridge as water streamed past it on the River Soar in Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire, amid widespread flooding in the Midlands.

Local resident Sam Harper Ard, 27, said: 'I live in the village and take my kayak out regularly on that stretch of the River Soar and I've never seen it so high.'

The PR manager said that 'narrowboats are a real part of the community here' so seeing a canal boat affected by the flooding was 'really sad'.

'I hope the owners and everyone involved is safe,' he said.

Meanwhile a political backlash grew today, with Labour accusing the Government of being 'asleep at the wheel' over flood warnings.

The party wants Rishi Sunak to convene a 'Cobra-style taskforce' to protect homes from further damage.

In a joint statement shadow Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden and shadow environment secretary Steve Reed said: 'The Conservatives have brushed over the risk of flooding for too long and communities are paying the price.

'Rishi Sunak has been asleep at the wheel and he must act now or risk further damage to lives and livelihoods.

'This is not about extra money. This is about ensuring that the budget already committed to flood defences is used to maximum effect. If that doesn't happen, homes across the country will remain exposed.

'Labour would create a Cobra-style Flood Resilience Taskforce to coordinate flood preparation and protect more households from the threats posed by climate change and flooding.'

Meanwhile the Liberal Democrats said Mr Sunak should visit areas impacted by flooding.

The party's spokesman for housing and communities Helen Morgan said: 'The Prime Minister should see for himself the devastation caused by these floods. People's homes and businesses have been ruined yet again.

'If Rishi Sunak actually met with people impacted by this annual carnage, then he might do something about it.

A man from Worcestershire has protected his property by building a flood wall around it

Nick Lupton, who lives next to the Severn, built the wall after being flooded 11 times since 2016

The property in Worcestershire has been protected from major flooding because of the wall

A BMW i3 was hit by a falling tree on the A25 near Godstone in Surrey on Thursday

The tree smashed through the windscreen of a driver's BMW i3 in Surrey on Thursday

The car was hit by a falling tree on the road near Godstone on Thursday after the storm hit

'Under this Government flood protection plans for homes have been disgracefully slashed. This must be reversed immediately.

READ MORE Storm Henk flood chaos: Map reveals where sewage has been discharged into the sea at nearly 100 south coast beaches after rain and heavy winds battered Britain Advertisement

'This has to be the last year areas like mine in Shropshire are left to fend for themselves against floods.'

But Mr Sunak has said that people should be 'reassured' by the response to flooding in badly affected areas.

Speaking to broadcasters in Stockport today, the Prime Minister said: 'I spoke to people in the East Midlands yesterday who had been affected and talking to them about how devastating the impact of flooding is.

'I just want people to be reassured that the Environment Agency has got people on the ground in all the affected areas, also hundreds of high volume pumps are in practice right now making a difference and it is important that people follow the advice that has been given in local areas where there are flood warnings that have been given.

'People should be reassured. The Environment Agency have people in the ground everywhere, who absolutely recognise the urgency of what is happening and they are responding appropriately and with all due haste.'

Ken Button works at Kirk and Bill's, a furniture workshop in Farndon Road, Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire.

Water has risen up through the floorboards and drains due to flooding caused by the storm, submerging the workshop.

Mr Button has been pumping water out today, after a major incident was declared along the River Trent in Nottinghamshire, which runs near to the workshop.

Matthew Bloodworth stands in his flooded home

Damage caused to Matthew's home on Gloucester Road in Tewkesbury today

Matthew stands outside his flooded home opposite Tewkesbury Abbey today

The flooded kitchen at his home

Matthew wades through floodwater outside his home

A flooded living room at Matthew's home

He said: 'This is the second time I can ever remember it happening.

Cold weather alert issued by UKHSA A cold weather alert has been issued by the UK Health Security Agency with temperatures set to plummet over the coming days. The Met Office added that the cold snap will be caused by high pressure building over the UK into the next week, with drivers urged to be cautious of ice. The UKHSA said: 'A brisk easterly wind developing across the south over the weekend will make it feel much colder, with the added wind chill. 'Temperatures are likely to be a few degrees below average, across much of the UK, especially overnight, with more widespread frosts than of late. 'Ice is likely to be an issue for many given the very wet ground in most areas. It is probable this cold spell may last well into the following week.' The warning comes into force at 9am tomorrow and expires at noon on January 12. Advertisement

'The last time was around 2000, and the building is well over 100 years old, and it hasn't been a problem in the past, but for some reason or other it is now, which is presumably a sign of climate change.

'It's been a terrible start to the new year. We'll have to see what we can salvage. I suppose the long-term solution is to raise the floor up, but at a cost.'

The flooding caused significant delays and cancellations on trains today, with Great Western Railway warning of 'major disruption' until the end of the day.

National Rail said: 'Great Western Railway are experiencing significant disruption on the network and customers are advised to please check your journey before you travel.

'Flooding and a serious incident near Reading last night, which involved police taking control of the line, has left trains and crew in the wrong place.

'Short-notice cancellations and a reduced level of service on long-distance routes are expected throughout the day.'

Due to flooding, GWR lines were closed today between Swindon and Bristol Parkway; Reading and Castle Cary; and Liskeard and Looe.

CrossCountry and Transport for Wales said flooding between Gloucester and Lydney meant that all lines were blocked.

There was disruption on Southern services between Horsham and London Victoria due to a tree blocking the line at Ockley, meaning trains could not call at stations between Horsham and Dorking.

Elsewhere, a landslip at Arlesey in Bedfordshire was causing disruption to journeys between Stevenage and Peterborough which affected six operators - Grand Central, Great Northern, Hull Trains, LNER, Lumo and Thameslink.

Debbie McGee's home is surrounded by floodwater today after the Thames broke its banks

The home of Debbie McGee, the widow of magician Paul Daniels, is surrounded by floodwater

Floodwater surrounds the home of Debbie McGee which is located next to the River Thames

Kirk and Bill's, a furniture workshop in Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, is flooded

Flood water being pumped outside of Kirk and Bill's in Newark-on-Trent this morning

Southeastern had major disruption this morning due to a landslip at Maidstone East.

READ MORE Heavy rain and flooding from Storm Henk reveals outline of English Civil War fort built in 1643 by Oliver Cromwell's forces Advertisement

It meant services could not run between Maidstone East and Otford, with passengers told to change at Otford for services to London Bridge, Waterloo East and London Charing Cross.

On the line from London Victoria to Ashford via Maidstone East, services were diverting via Paddock Wood between Otford and Ashford and were not call at any stations on the Maidstone East line. Passengers were told to change at Otford for a bus replacement running to Ashford via Maidstone East.

On the line from Ashford to London Victoria via Maidstone East, trains were running but could be delayed.

Separately, Southeastern added that a landslip at Robertsbridge meant trains running through the station were being cancelled.

Teams of engineers were on site this morning with disruption expected until at least 6pm - and trains were not running on the Hastings line between Battle and Tunbridge Wells.

Elsewhere, South Western Railway said services running across the whole network may be cancelled, delayed or revised due to the heavy rainfall and multiple incidents of flooding as well as a landslip.

The National Rail website said: 'The sheer amount of rain falling on already wet and waterlogged areas, so close after Storm Henk earlier this week, meant that in many locations trains were unable to run as it would not have been safe to do so.

Flooding around Tewkesbury Abbey and the Gloucestershire town this morning

Doreen Cole surveys flooding damage to her property this morning in Islip, Oxfordshire

Major flooding at Alney Terrace on the outskirts of Gloucester this morning

Major flooding in Worcester city centre today after the River Severn burst its banks

Radcliffe Residential Park in Nottinghamshire has been deluged by floodwater this morning

Flooding around Tewkesbury Abbey and the Gloucestershire town this morning

A narrowboat next to a road bridge over the river in Barrow-on-Soar in Leicestershire today

A dog looks out of a vehicle driving along a flooded road today in Henley-on-Thames, Berkshire

Woodford in North East London is among the areas of Britain facing flooding misery today

Flooding around Tewkesbury Abbey and the Gloucestershire town this morning

Major flooding in Worcester city centre today after the River Severn burst its banks

Residence check on their property on Gloucester Road opposite Tewkesbury Abbey today

Doreen Cole surveys flooding damage to her property this morning in Islip, Oxfordshire

A submerged car sits in a flooded car park at Wallingford in Oxfordshire this morning

'Whilst we expect water levels to drop and most of the network to reopen today, South Western Railway will not be able to operate services between Yeovil Junction and Exeter because of a landslip near Crewkerne.

'Disruption to the rest of the network is expected to last throughout today due to displaced trains and crews. South Western Railway urges everyone to check before they travel to see whether their train is running as planned.'

Today, experts warned the impact of surface water and river flooding will continue to be 'significant' across parts of England following heavy rainfall.

Stefan Laeger, of the Environment Agency, said: 'Significant surface water and river flooding impacts are possible across parts of the Midlands and the south and east of England due to heavy localised rainfall falling on already very saturated catchments.

'Ongoing minor impacts are also likely across much of England over the next five days as some larger rivers slowly respond to recent and forecast rain.'

It comes just days after disruption caused by strong winds and rain from Storm Henk, which has left the ground saturated and more prone to flooding.

Nottinghamshire County Council said forecasts were showing that peaks along the River Trent could 'come close to the highest levels on record from the year 2000', adding that residents in areas along the Trent valley should be 'prepared for flooding'.

Flooding around Tewkesbury Abbey and the Gloucestershire town this morning

Doreen Cole surveys flooding damage to her property this morning in Islip, Oxfordshire

A submerged car sits in a flooded car park at Wallingford in Oxfordshire this morning

Major flooding in Worcester city centre today after the River Severn burst its banks

Flooding near a Richer Sounds shop in Oxford this morning following heavy rainfall

Flooding around Tewkesbury Abbey and the Gloucestershire town this morning

Road closures and signs in Islip, Oxfordshire, today after the River Cherwell broke its banks

Major flooding in Worcester city centre today after the River Severn burst its banks

A narrowboat next to a road bridge over the river in Barrow-on-Soar in Leicestershire today

Flooding around Tewkesbury Abbey and the Gloucestershire town this morning

Doreen Cole surveys flooding damage to her property this morning in Islip, Oxfordshire

A narrowboat next to a road bridge over the river in Barrow-on-Soar in Leicestershire today

Road closures and signs in Islip, Oxfordshire, today after the River Cherwell broke its banks

A man negotiates the floodwater on Gloucester Road opposite Tewkesbury Abbey today

Flooding around Tewkesbury Abbey and the Gloucestershire town this morning

A submerged car sits in a flooded car park at Wallingford in Oxfordshire this morning

A man stranded on his shed roof by floodwater was rescued by a crew from Highfields Fire Station who used a boat to bring him safely to land.

READ MORE Moment drivers get trapped in flood water before being rescued by police as heavy rainfall caused by Storm Henk causes chaos on roads Advertisement

In a statement, the council said: 'Key tributaries which feed in to the river Trent, including the river Derwent, the river Soar and the river Dove, have already reached their peaks and high water levels will now pass down the Trent, which is likely to lead to flooding to properties and roads.

'Residents who live in the flood-risk areas are being asked to ensure they have preparations in place in case they are asked to evacuate.

'Councils, emergency services and the Environment Agency have been providing emergency support to communities impacted and will continue to provide support across the county.'

Several residents of Radcliffe Residential Park, an estate of static caravans for the over-55s just to the east of the city, were evacuated due to high water levels.

Dramatic aerial photographs showed how the caravan park had been completely cut off by floodwater.

The widespread flooding has also left some locals unable to leave their homes amid 'disaster-like movie' scenes at the estate for over-55s.

Apprenticeship tutor Sue Oosthuizen, 63, and husband Hans, 65, are currently trapped in their caravan with their cat and two pet chickens.

Major flooding at Hackney Wick in East London overnight saw firefighters called to the area

A couple make their way through floodwater at Hackney Wick in East London this morning

Flooding at Hackney Wick overnight saw firefighters called to the area

Firefighters at the scene in Hackney Wick overnight as the flooding continued

Flooding on Osney Bridge in Oxford this morning following heavy rainfall in recent weeks

Police closed off the A264 near Crawley in West Sussex today following major flooding

Roads in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, are also closed today after it was badly hit by flooding

Motorists drive through floodwater in the Brent Cross area of North West London overnight

Motorists drive through floodwater in the Brent Cross area of North West London overnight

Water fills an underpass running under Hendon Way in Brent Cross, North West London, today

A landslip near Maidstone East station in Kent overnight has caused train chaos this morning

Network Rail engineers assess the landslip near Maidstone East station in Kent this morning

Southeastern is reporting flooding on its network this morning has flooded the line in Kent

She said: 'We're completely cut off from all sides and it's the worst flooding we have ever known here. The only way you can get in and out is with waders as the water is at least two metres in deep in most places.

READ MORE Expert advice on what to do in Storm Henk-style floods and the crucial error that could lead to tragedy Advertisement

'Several of our neighbours needed to be evacuated, including one poorly elderly neighbour. The electricity has gone in some homes too, we're lucky ours hasn't. We also have two pet chickens, Agnes and Precious, who are now in the house with us as well as our 12-year-old cat Peppi.

'We moved them indoors when we saw the water levels rising. The fact we're on stilts has saved the water from coming into our home. We just hope the levels will start to subside now. Although we're stranded, we've had lots of help and support from the community.'

Another local resident, Phil Walker, 55, added: 'I've never known anything like it, the whole site has become an island. People were marooned and couldn't get out.

'It just got higher and higher, it was quite frightening and like something from a disaster-movie.

'You've got to feel for the people at the bottom nearest the river as they will have suffered some nasty damage I imagine. It is really concerning.'

Following rainfall in London, a party boat which acts as a floating bar, restaurant and nightclub sank in the River Thames.

The Met Office had issued a yellow weather warning of rain from 12pm yesterday until 3am this morning.

Forecasters had said there was a 'small chance' that communities could become cut off by flooded roads.

The period between July and December last year was the wettest on record dating back to 1890, according to the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH).

Since September, the start of the storm year, there have been eight named storms to hit the UK, which is the highest number in a season to be named by the Met Office since it began naming them in 2015.

This has turned the country into what hydrologist Professor Hannah Cloke, from the University of Reading, described as a 'sopping wet sponge'.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has hit back at criticism over his meeting with former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce just weeks before the airline submitted plans by rival carrier Qatar to boost local flights should be rejected.

Asked about what was discussed at the November 2022 meeting, Mr Albanese called the controversy an 'absurdity' and that meeting with the outgoing Qantas chief had been on the record since at least September, 2023.

'I've answered questions in parliament where I say that, and I repeat again now - Qatar was not raised, nor were the probably 10 to 15 air service agreements and applications from different airlines at the time.' Mr Albanese said.

'What Alan Joyce came to see me about - just like the heads of BHP, the heads of the Business Council of Australia and a range of others - was industrial relations legislation being discussed at that time.

'The Coalition need to stop their nonsense of conspiracy theories'.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has hit back at criticism over his meeting with former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce. They are pictured with Mr Albanese's partner Jodie Haydeon

Mr Albanese said the Coalition had sided with Mr Joyce in defending what the then Qantas boss had called 'unfair labour practices' which undermined enterprise bargaining, and that Mr Joyce had also met with independent Senator David Pocock.

The criticism of the meeting followed the release on Wednesday of the Prime Minister's diary which, while fought against by the Prime Minister's Office, confirmed the meeting between Mr Joyce and Mr Albanese.

The date of the meeting was previously detailed in documents tabled by Qantas in September to a Senate inquiry into cost of living, and occurred six weeks before the airline's submission regarding Qatar airlines.

The embattled national carrier submitted in October of that year to the Department of Transport that the Middle Eastern airline's bid to increase regional services ought to be rejected by the government.

Ultimately, the government decided to reject Qatar Airline's bid for 28 additional weekly flights into the nation's major cities. The move came to light until a week later and faced widespread criticism.

Mr Albanese has repeatedly and empathically denied making the decision to block the application nor receiving any lobbying, with the call ultimately falling to Transport Minister Catherine King.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton on Thursday renewed the Coalition's attacks on the government, calling on the prime minister to come clean on 'serious questions' over the refusal of Qatar's bid.

Ultimately, the government decided to reject Qatar Airline's bid for 28 additional weekly flights into the nation's major cities

'I think there are some serious questions for the prime minister to answer here because the decision has had a direct negative effect on the travelling public,' Mr Dutton told Nine Radio.

'It appears [Mr Albanese] has met with the CEO has surely would have lobbied on this issue on behalf of his company, and the prime minister didn't want us to know anything about it.'

The Minister's decision to reject the application ultimately sparked significant controversy, fuelling claims that the government was stifling competition in the aviation sector and ensuring Qantas maintained its share of the Australian aviation market.

A Coalition-led Senate inquiry into the matter, which Ms King refused to front, recommended the government immediately review its decision.

In December, the Albanese government approve an application by Turkish Airlines to increase its flight capacity to Australia to 35 flights a week, bolstering connections to Europe.
Israel's defence minister Yoav Gallant this morning outlined a plan for the future of Gaza as he announced Israeli forces would shift to a scaled-down 'new combat approach' in the next phase of the conflict.

Under the loosely defined plan, Israel would keep total security control of the Palestinian enclave while an as yet undefined, Israeli-guided Palestinian body would handle day-to-day administration and governance.

Gallant also said a multinational conglomerate, including the United States, would oversee the rebuilding of devastated infrastructure in a document entitled a 'Vision for Phase 3' of the war.

His office said the phase had not yet begun, and the ideas were Gallant's alone and were not official policy, which would have to be set by Israel's war and security cabinets.

But Gallant is a member of both cabinets, and his plans were issued ahead of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's talks in Israel and other countries in the region this weekend, suggesting they are likely to form some part of a future official policy.

It comes as Washington continues to press Israel to shift to lower-intensity military operations in Gaza that more precisely target Hamas after nearly three devastating months of bombardment and ground assaults.

Israel's campaign in Gaza has killed more than 22,400 people, more than two-thirds of them women and children, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-run territory.

Israeli soldiers operate in a location given as Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in this screengrab from a handout video released on January 4, 2024

Israeli army humvees and vehicles move along a dirt road in the Gaza Strip

An Israeli military vehicle operates in a location given as Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas

Israel Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant

Smoke rises over buildings following the Israeli attacks on Khan Yunis, Gaza on January 04, 2024

A picture taken from Rafah shows smoke billowing over Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip during Israeli bombardment on January 5, 2024

Gallant's statement underlined that the war would go on until Hamas' military and government capabilities were eliminated and the more than 100 hostages still in captivity returned.

In the north, the statement said, forces will shift to a new approach that includes raids, destruction of tunnels, 'air and ground activities and special operations', focusing on 'eroding' the remaining Hamas presence.

He said forces would continue to fight Hamas in the south of the territory 'for as long as necessary.

There was no word whether northern Gaza's population, which has almost entirely been driven south, would be allowed to return to their homes in the north.

After the war, the statement said, Israel will keep security control, taking military action in Gaza when necessary to ensure there are no threats and maintaining inspections of all goods entering the territory.

This aligns with previous statements made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has on multiple occasions said any solution to the Israel-Palestine conundrum must see Israel maintain overall security control of the whole region.

But Gallant said there would be no Israeli civilians in Gaza, shutting down calls from some in Israel's far-right government for a return of Jewish settlers to the territory.

Palestinian entities - apparently local civil servants or communal leaders - would run the territory, with Israel providing 'information to guide civilian operations,' the statement said.

Mourners react next to the bodies of Palestinians killed in an Israeli strike, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, at Abu Yousef Al Najjar hospital, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, January 5

A Palestinian boy sits on the rubble of a destroyed building after an Israeli strike in Rafah

Israeli soldiers operate in a location given as Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in this screengrab from a handout video released on January 4, 2024

A Palestinian man stands next to a house damaged in an Israeli strike, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, January 5, 2024

This handout picture released by the Israeli army on January 4, 2024 shows members of Unit 669 of the Israeli Air Force preparing an Israeli soldier for evacuation at a beach in the Gaza Strip

Blinken is now set to arrive in Israel as part of a whirlwind tour of the Middle East.

The top American diplomat will visit both Israel and the West Bank, home of the Palestinian Authority, and five Arab countries - Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

But first Blinken will visit Turkey - an uneasy US ally that is the home of key Hamas leaders despite being one of the few Muslim-majority countries to recognise Israel - followed by Greece.

He will discuss 'immediate measures to increase substantially humanitarian assistance to Gaza,' where the World Health Organisation has warned of the risk of famine and disease.

'We don't expect every conversation on this trip to be easy. There are obviously tough issues facing the region and difficult choices ahead,' State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.

'But the secretary believes it is the responsibility of the United States of America to lead diplomatic efforts to tackle those challenges head on,' he said.

Blinken on previous trips sought to keep the war isolated to Gaza. But he returns to a region that has seen attacks in or from Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, Syria and Iran.

An apparent Israeli strike that killed a top Hamas leader in Beirut earlier this week stirred fresh fears that the conflict could expand into other parts of the Middle East - a prospect that is also likely to be high on Blinken's agenda.

Intense Israeli army activity in Gaza seen from Kibbutz Be'eri as Israeli attacks continue in Be'eri, Israel on January 04, 2024

Smoke billowing over the Palestinian territory during Israeli bombardment on January 4, 2024

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant (R) and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken shake hands prior to a meeting in Tel Aviv on November 30, 2023

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken waves before boarding an aircraft at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, to travel to the Middle East on January 4, 2024

The killing of Saleh Arouri on Tuesday prompted warnings of retaliation from Hamas' ally, the Lebanese Hezbollah militia.

But there was no immediate escalation in the daily exchanges of rocket fire and shells between Hezbollah and the Israeli military over the two countries' border.

Then on Wednesday, Iran was hit by one of the deadliest attacks since its 1979 Islamic revolution, with twin blasts killing at least 84 people gathered to commemorate Qassem Soleimani, a Revolutionary Guards general killed on January 3, 2020 by a US drone strike.

Tehran initially blamed Israel and the United States for the bombing, although the Islamic State group later claimed responsibility and US officials rejected any US or Israeli role.

Elsewhere in the Middle East, tensions climbed as a US airstrike killed an Iranian-backed militia leader in Iraq and as Yemen's Houthi rebels continued attacks on ships in key Red Sea shipping lanes.

At the same time, Israel has stepped up warnings of tougher military action against Hezbollah unless it pulls its fighters out of the border region, as called for under a UN-brokered 2006 cease-fire.

Israel says that is the only way tens of thousands of Israelis who evacuated from communities in the north can return.

Gallant said on Thursday that there was a 'short window of time' for diplomacy with Hezbollah.

But he said Israel was determined to bring about 'a new reality in the northern arena, which will enable the secure return of our citizens.'
Ruth Perry, 53, took her own life after report downgraded her Caversham school

Ruth Perry's sister has warned the new Oftsed chief about his 'sticking plaster' improvements to the school inspection system.

Mrs Perry took her life last January aged 53 after an Ofsted report downgraded the school she led for more than a decade, Caversham Primary in Reading, from the highest grade to the lowest.

In a meeting yesterday, her sister Professor Julia Waters told Ofsted boss Sir Martyn Oliver, who started the role on January 1, that it was not enough 'to tell inspectors to be nicer' after an Oftsed inspection contributed to the headteacher sister's suicide.

Today, she told Good Morning Britain: 'Something that I made very clear to Sir Martin yesterday in our meeting is that it's not good enough to train Ofsted inspectors to be decent human beings and to identify stress.

'The inspectors in Ruth's inspection wrote in their evidence that she was clearly very distressed but they carried on regardless.

Professor Julia Waters (pictured) told Ofsted boss Sir Martyn Oliver, who started the role on January 1, that it was not enough 'to tell inspectors to be nicer'

Ruth Perry, 53, took her own life last January after an Ofsted report downgraded the school she led for more than a decade, Caversham Primary in Reading, from the highest grade to the lowest

'It's not enough to come in and have these sticking plaster things to sort out the symptoms.

'It's the system that creates that stress that needs to be addressed.

'My sister had no mental health problems prior to the inspection.

'It was the inspection that caused her mental health deterioration and eventually, tragically, led to her death.

'It's the system that needs to change rather than simply coming and in and trying to tell inspectors to be nicer people.'

An inquest had ruled that Mrs Perry took her own life after the watchdog downgraded her primary school from 'outstanding' to 'inadequate'.

The headteacher was left 'completely devastated' in the weeks following the watchdog's 'intimidating' inspection into Caversham Primary School in Reading last year, following safeguarding concerns, the coroner heard.

An inquest had ruled that Mrs Perry (pictured) took her own life after the watchdog downgraded her primary school from 'outstanding' to 'inadequate'

Sir Martyn Oliver (pictured) is the new chief inspector of education. He started in his position as Ofsted chief on January 1

Caversham Primary School, where Mrs Perry was headteacher before her death

Julia Waters, sister of Ruth Perry, with other family members speaking in Reading Town Hall at the end of the inquest for the headteacher

Speaking on behalf of Mrs Perry's family after the verdict, her sister said: 'Ruth was more than a victim of an inhumane schools inspection system. She was more than a headteacher. Ruth was a wonderful human being.

'Ruth's death has left a deep void in our lives. We all miss her deeply. We miss her every day.'

She continued: 'The Coroner's conclusions validate what our family has known for a long time  that Ruth took her own life as the direct result of the process, outcome and consequences of an Ofsted inspection of the school she led and loved, Caversham Primary School.

'The inquest into Ruth's death has shown the brutal inhumanity of the system of Ofsted inspections. Ofsted likes to judge people with single-word labels. We could judge the current Ofsted system with our own labels: callous, perverse and inhumane.

'Ruth's death, and this inquest, have laid bare the imbalance of power that exists in our education system.'

In an emotive tribute read out to the inquest by the coroner, her husband Jonathan said: 'Ruth was a wife. I first met Ruth when I was 12. I said to myself, one day I will marry that girl. And many years later I did.

'I was proud to be Ruth's husband. Marrying Ruth was the best thing I have ever done. She was the best thing in my life.'

But Mrs Perry's husband told the court that she had felt the lead Ofsted inspector was a 'bully' with an 'agenda', and feared the grading would end her career.

He said his wife subsequently began having 'dark thoughts' about suicide, and sought support for her mental health from her GP following the inspection.

Ending the inquest, Senior Coroner Heidi Connor found that Mrs Perry's mental health deterioration and death were 'likely contributed to' by the inspection

. She added: 'I find that the Ofsted inspection was carried out in a manner that lacked fairness, respect and sensitivity. It was at times rude and intimidating. Part of the inspection was done to rather than with this school.'

The coroner also criticised the whole structure of an Ofsted inspection. She questioned the need for the the 'conduct' of the inspectors, single word judgment, the need for 'confidentiality' and the 'delay' of publication.

She said: 'The contribution of the Ofsted inspection is a central issue in this case. Ruth Perry was a headteacher at Cavendish Primary School in Reading Berkshire.

'She had no relevant mental health history until after this inspection. She took her own life on 8th January. She was declared dead at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading.'

Turning to Mrs Perry's emotional family at the hearing, the coroner said: 'The composure and dignity you have displayed throughout is remarkable. She is your Ruth, not our Ruth.'

Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman apologised on behalf of the schools regulator to the family and friends of Mrs Perry following the ruling.

Ms Spielman added Ofsted has made changes to reduce pressures felt by school leaders and 'will do more' to address concerns raised by the coroner.

She said: 'Ruth Perry's death was a tragedy that deeply affected many people. My thoughts remain with her family, the wider Caversham school community, and everyone else who knew and loved her. On behalf of Ofsted, I would like to say sorry to them for the distress that Mrs Perry undoubtedly experienced as a result of our inspection.

'After Mrs Perry's death we made changes to the way we work, to help reduce the pressure felt by school leaders. We will do more. The Coroner highlighted a number of areas of concern. We will work hard to address each of these as soon as we can, and we are starting that work straight away.'

Caversham Primary School has since been recategorised as good.
Tate Modern has put a trigger warning on a puppet show saying that visitors may be offended as it features 'dead bodies'.

The film by Egyptian artist Wael Shawky shows marionettes 'acting out historical events'.

But bosses at the London attraction felt compelled to add warnings at the film's entrance - even though it only includes puppets.

According to the gallery's biography, Wael, who was born in 1971, 'tackles notions of national, religious and artistic identity through film, performance and storytelling'.

His piece Cabaret Crusades: The Horror Show Files was created in 2010 and is on display in Tate Modern's Artist and Society section.

The Tate Modern has put a trigger warning on a puppet show saying that visitors may be offended as it features 'dead bodies'

The film by Egyptian artist Wael Shawky shows marionettes 'acting out historical events' and 'tackles notions of national, religious and artistic identity through film, performance and storytelling'

Cabaret Crusades: The Horror Show Files was created in 2010 and is on display in Tate Modern's Artist and Society section

Shawky 'carefully' built the stage sets by hand. They include intricately embroidered costumes and miniature palaces - reflecting the period of the events

The film reconstructs events that took place between 1095 and 1099, in the first of the Crusades.

These military campaigns were initiated and supported by Roman Catholic Church leaders against the Islamic rulers and inhabitants of Jerusalem.

READ MORE: James Bond films are given a trigger warning: Cinemagoers are told 007's adventures may UPSET them in absurd alert from British Film Institute snowflakes Cinema-goers have been warned about some of the themes and language used in classic 1960s Bond films Advertisement

Shawky 'carefully' built the stage sets by hand. They include intricately embroidered costumes and miniature palaces - reflecting the period of the events.

The piece has already toured New York's Museum of Modern Art, where Shawky was pictured with Lady Gaga.

It comes after the iconic James Bond spy films were given a trigger warning from the British Film Institute.

The Ian Fleming James Bond franchise has been on the big screens since 1962. However, 007's seducing and ruthless killing has now led to viewers being given a warning at the start.

Film buffs attending a season of classic movies have been warned Bond's adventures 'will cause offence today', with big screen hits like Goldfinger and You Only Live Twice containing language and themes that were 'prevalent' in the 1960s.

Instead of actors, Shawky decided to use 200-year-old marionettes to portray the characters and they are voiced in classical Arabic, with the film subtitled.

The traditional Italian marionettes were borrowed from the Lupi family collection in Turin.

An explainer on the Tate's website adds: 'Their strings are intentionally visible throughout the video.

'This highlights the marionettes' skilled manipulation and connects with questions of power and agency in the work.'

But a sign outside the performance, which plays on a loop in a darkened room, warns: 'Content guidance. This film features marionettes acting out historical events.

Wael Shawky with Lady Gaga at MOMA New York in 2015

Bosses at the London attraction felt moved to add warnings at the film's entrance - even though it only includes puppets

'It depicts acts of violence and dead bodies.'

Other films in the same section also carry warnings, including the 2019 production Salacia by Tourmaline, which features depictions of 19th century sex worker Mary Jones and warns there are 'references to sexual activity and discrimination based on race and gender identity'.

It isn't the first time the Tate galleries have added warnings.

In 2019, art lovers going to the William Blake exhibition at Tate Britain were told they may find the exhibition 'challenging'.

Before entering, they were warned his artwork contains 'strong and sometimes challenging imagery' and 'depictions of violence and suffering'.

A spokesman for Tate Modern said of the latest warnings: 'Like other art galleries, performance spaces and cinemas, we offer our visitors content guidance where useful, and we have done so for many years.'
A naked man has been captured on CCTV wandering around one of the ritziest suburbs in Australia stark naked after he broke into a house.

NSW Police have released footage showing a man wandering down the middle of Patrick Street in North Willoughby on Sydney's North Shore at 3:30am on Thursday.

The man, who is of Caucasian appearance and about 160cm tall, had just broken into a home while completely nude and woke up the resident inside.

A stark naked man allegedly broke into a house in a ritzy suburb on Sydney's North Shore and woke up the person inside before leaving and wandering down the street

CCTV captured the man, who is of Caucasian appearance and about 160cm tall, wandering down the middle of Patrick Street in North Willoughby (pictured) at 3:30am on Thursday

Detectives in the neighbourhood have launched an investigation to identify the man and find out what he was doing

'Police were told a nude man entered the home of a local resident and awoke them, before leaving the location,' NSW Police said.

'As inquiries continue, police have released the description of a man seen in the area at the time of the incident.'

The offender is said to be medium build with short dark hair.

Police are now appealing to anyone who has seen a man matching this description or who may have additional CCTV footage of the night.
The FBI is facing fresh calls to release hundreds of 'missing' pieces of evidence raided from Jeffrey Epstein's $51 million New York townhouse following the release of a new list of his associates.

Among the items said to be missing are tapes, CDs, passports and pictures all located inside a safe within the property during a siege on the home in July 2019, shortly after Epstein was arrested.

FBI agent Kelly Maguire previously testified the agency broke open a safe at his home in July 2019 to reveal the cache of evidence, along with 'loose diamonds' and 'large amounts of US currency'.

Speaking at the sex-trafficking trial of Epstein's madam Ghislaine Maxwell, she told the court the agents only photographed the contents as they did not have a warrant for its removal, the Telegraph reports.

When the agency returned to seize the evidence on July 11, it had vanished according to Maguire who claimed it was subsequently returned in two suitcases by Richard Kahn, Epstein's former lawyer and executor of his estate.

She could not confirm if the content on the CDs was the same as the ones photographed but said all items had been accounted for.

The agency alluded to the contents of the safe in an application to a judge to deny Epstein's bail.

Boxes of CDs and hard drives were also discovered in several rooms in Epsteins Upper East Side, including in a massage room.

On the fifth floor FBI agents found meticulously labelled CDs in black binders which they said contained photos.

The disclosure fueled speculation that Epstein may have been running a honeypot entrapment operation, gaining valuable 'kompromat' material to blackmail political and business elites.
One of Jeffrey Epstein's most prominent victims pleaded with an FBI agent to help her in her quest to stop the pedophile financier's sex trafficking ring all the way back in 2014.

As part of the tranche of newly released documents relating to the highly controversial case, emails that Virginia Giuffre sent to the feds show the difficulties she faced in continuing her campaign against Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell.

In April 2014, Giuffre wrote to FBI agent Jason Richards to tell him that she was back in the USA, having previously lived in Australia, and that she was trying to keep a low profile while keeping her case against Epstein moving.

'I am here to get this BS non-prosecution agreement thrown out and speaking w Jude Paul Cassal [sic] he suggested trying to get ahold of any photos and/or video recordings released by the FBI to assist our case further in proving how much pedophilia occurred by Jeffrey and the many other monsters he obliged w underage girls,' she wrote.

The non-prosecution agreement referenced by Giuffre is the sweetheart deal that Epstein received at the hands of Republican prosecutor Alexander Acosta in 2008.

Virginia Roberts Giuffre holds a photo of herself at age 16, when she says Palm Beach multimillionaire Jeffrey Epstein began abusing her sexually

Giuffre shown with Prince Andrew in a picture that was taken at Ghislaine Maxwell's London home in March 2001

Pedophile Jeffrey Epstein's powerful friends and acquaintances were exposed as part of a vast unsealing that a judge ordered just before the New Year

In her email, Giuffre referenced the non-prosecution agreement that Jeffrey Epstein had been given by Republican prosecutor Alexander Acosta

Under the 2008 non-prosecution agreement  also known as an NPA  Epstein pleaded guilty to state charges in Florida of soliciting and procuring a minor for prostitution.

That allowed him to avert a possible life sentence, instead serving 13 months in a work-release program. He was required to make payments to victims and register as a sex offender.

In response to Giuffre, Richards says that he can't release information from FBI records to her and advises her to make a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request in order to gain access.

Giuffre replies and says that she just needs some dates confirmed involving interviews she gave to federal government.

She adds that she 'turned the Wilton Manors police dept upside down and come up w nada.' Giuffre then asks for the name of the agent who took her statement about Ron Eppinger, the sex trafficker who abused her in her early teens.

In a 2016 deposition, Giuffre (pictured in August 2019) said that she was advised by former Judge Paul Cassell to contact the FBI and to see if she could get access to any of their files

'I'm really racking my brain about this!! It would be a personal favor to me and I am so very much appreciative of anything you might now!!,' she concludes in her email.

'Feel free to reach out any time. Take care. Jason,' he simply responds.

In the next email, Giuffre wishes him well and says that she will not 'bother' him again.

Giuffre also reached out to another agent, Christina Pryor, who now works with the DEA, in an attempt to gain the same information.

She began her email to Pryor by saying: 'I was wondering if you remember me from Sydney Consulate.' Giuffre, whose husband is Australian, previously lived in a Sydney suburb.

Ghislaine Maxwell, 59, is accused of procuring underage girls for Epstein

In a 2016 deposition, Giuffre said that she was advised by former Judge Paul Cassell to contact the FBI and to see if she could get access to any of their files. She also revealed that Cassell was acting as her lawyer at the time.

The roughly 60 documents released as of Thursday largely mention figures whose names were already known, including high-profile friends of Epstein's and victims who have spoken publicly.

In fact, the judge who made the call last month to release the information said she was doing so largely because much of it is already public.

The plan to release the documents had prompted rumors that they contained a list of 'clients' or 'co-conspirators,' and misinformation about their contents is continuing to run rampant on social media.

Still, the records do include some fresh details about the financiers sexual abuse of teenage girls, and offer a reminder of how he leveraged his powerful connections to recruit his victims and help cover up his crimes.

The documents unsealed this week are the latest of thousands previously made public in lawsuits involving Epstein. About 250 more are expected to be released in the future.
This is the moment a suspected shoplifter was stopped by a group of Good Samaritans teaming up in shocking footage filmed by a shopper.

The four men believed a man was trying to steal an item from a Costcutter in Stockwell, south London, when they decided to intervene.

The alleged thief, who looked to be holding an item in his hand, tried to leave the shop but was pulled back in by a man who grabbed his t-shirt, and he swung a punch at him.

At that moment, two more men decided to wade in and help.

In a chaotic scene, the suspected shoplifter was bundled into a display near the doors.

A man pushed him back and the others restrained him as one punched the suspected thief.

After a physical altercation, the man managed to escape and flee down the street.

The four men believed a man was trying to steal an item from a Costcutter in Stockwell, south London when they decided to intervene

The alleged thief, who looked to be holding an item in his hand, tried to leave the shop but was pulled back into the shop by a man who grabbed his t-shirt, and he swung a punch at him

The incident came to a conclusion when the man was knocked to the floor but managed to get up and run off down the street - forcing one surprised woman to move out of his way

When the men restrained him as the fourth held up his fist, the suspected thief shouted: 'Stop, stop stop! Let go. What's your problem?'

One of the four men is heard on the footage asking: 'Why? Why?' repeatedly as they whack him over the head, but he retaliated by punching one of them in the face.

A gasp of 'Ooohh' came from a shopper who filmed the shocking moment in a 24 second clip on their mobile phone.

The incident came to a conclusion when the man was knocked to the floor but managed to get up and run off down the street - forcing one surprised woman to move out of his way.

Local Jonathan Wong said that the altercation showed how important self-defence and grappling manoeuvres are.

He added: 'This highlights the importance of learning basics in grappling.

'Don't waste your time grabbing his clothes.

'Plenty of opportunities to get a bodylock, use your weight to stop him fleeing.'

Local Sam Edoho said 'there's no excuse for stealing' and Stuart Ellison added 'if only any of them could punch.'

One added: 'Bro said stop when he realised the guy he grabbed had back up.'

Another, named John, said: 'There is no excuse for stealing. But there is a crisis.

'A worldwide food crisis. We have precious little social cohesion in Britain today.

'Our social fabric is fragile. Fear for our futures.'

It comes after the Justice Secretary said last month that first-time shoplifters could be tagged with tracking devices in a major crackdown on the high-street crime epidemic.

Alex Chalk told The Mail on Sunday the electronic ankle tags will hang 'like a sword of Damocles' over those who consider reoffending, adding: 'They know, if they step one inch out of line, they are liable to go to prison.'

Britain's most prolific shop thieves will have 'exclusion zones' imposed on them that ban them from high streets  or even certain stores  under threat of prison. The tags, which use GPS-monitoring technology, can immediately alert the police if offenders stray into areas they are banned from.

Figures show that more than 200,000 shoplifting cases went unsolved in the past year  an average of 560 a day, it was reported previously.

The number of cases in England and Wales closed without a suspect identified rose by a third to 205,676 in the year to July.

This represents 57 per cent of all shoplifting incidents in the past year  a record proportion since 2019.

The overall number of unsolved shoplifting cases since 2019 was 843,406.

And just one in seven cases in the past year resulted in a suspect being charged or summonsed  compared with more than one in five in 2019.
Personal items belonging to a woman missing since for two weeks have been found close to a river as concerns for her safety grow, the police have said.

Lucy Charles, 39, was last seen on Station Road, Bangor-on-Dee, Wrexham at 5.34pm when she was captured on CCTV walking past the Royal Oak pub on December 22.

North Wales Police said personal items belonging to Lucy had been found during the search on the bank of the River Dee close to the Severn Trent Water Treatment Works.

They have renewed an appeal for public help but also warned about getting too close to the River Dee, which they said is in a 'very dangerous state of flooding at this time'.

Chief Inspector Stephen Roberts of North Wales Police said yesterday evening: 'Tomorrow, Lucy will have been missing for two weeks.

Lucy Charles, 39, went missing on December 22 and the force said searches are continuing for the woman who was last seen in Bangor-on-Dee

North Wales Police said personal items belonging to Lucy had been found during the search on the bank of the River Dee close to the Severn Trent Water Treatment Works

Anyone who thinks they might have seen Lucy Charles on December 22 is asked to contact North Wales Police

'It has been a particularly difficult time for Lucy's family, especially given that we just had the Festive period.

'Lucy was last seen on the 22nd of December in Station Road, Bangor-on-Dee at 5.34pm when she was captured on CCTV walking past the Royal Oak.

'Since this time extensive searches have taken place which have led us to find personal items of Lucy's on the bank of the River Dee close to the Severn Trent Water Treatment Works. During the last two weeks we have carried out extensive enquiries and searches of both the river Dee and the local area.

'I would like to thank everyone who has assisted in the searches including the local mountain rescue team, the fire service, the police helicopter and the police under water search team who have carried out extensive water based searches in difficult weather and water conditions, from Bangor on Dee to Chester. Their searches continue to take place.

Lucy Charles, 39, was last seen on CCTV footage walking past the Royal Oak pub (pictured) which was captured on December 22 last year

'I would also like thank members of the public who have responded to our earlier appeals.

'My ask is for anyone who was in Bangor on Dee on these dates to think back- did you see Lucy at all? She was wearing a navy padded coat, significantly with a Hi-Viz vest, khaki-coloured leggings and black boots.

'If you feel that you did then please contact North Wales Police either online or 101, even if you are not certain it was Lucy, please let us know.

'The River Dee is in a very dangerous state of flooding at this time and I would urge members of the public not to venture near the river. Our searches continue; and Lucy's family are being kept informed. Finally, my thoughts remain with Lucy's family at this difficult time.'

Anyone who may have information is asked to contact North Wales Police urgently via their website or by calling 101, quoting reference number 46914.
A spurned woman lied she was pregnant with her ex's baby, accused him of bullying her into having an abortion and pretended she had given birth in a 'campaign of harassment' after they split.

Stephanie Mahoney, 32, subjected her former partner and his mother to a torrent of online abuse but has now been spared a prison sentence after going on trial at Liverpool Crown Court.

She 'made his life hell' by bombarding her ex and his mother with a string of vile messages on Facebook and Instagram, 'lying about being pregnant' and posting pictures of aborted foetuses online.

She alleged he had 'bullied' her into having a termination though also posted a picture of a newborn baby and suggested her ex was the father, the court heard.

Mahony, from Wavertree in Liverpool, has been given 18 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, after pleading guilty to stalking and breaching a stalking protection order.

Stephanie Mahony, from Wavertree in Liverpool, bombarded her ex and his mother with online abuse in a 'campaign of harassment' after their break-up, Liverpool Crown Court heard

Mahony, pictured outside court, has been given an 18-month suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to stalking and breaching a stalking protection order

The 32-year-old mother of a ten-year-old son made her victim's life 'hell', he told the court - while his mother counted 25 fake social media accounts created by Mahoney

Mahoney, from Wavertree in Liverpool, had been in a relationship with her victim between July 2020 and July 2021.

Simon Leong, prosecuting, described how Mahoney 'claimed she was pregnant with his child' but 'that did not salvage the relationship'.

After their break-up, Mahoney 'began a campaign of harassment and stalking' against both him and his mother.

That included posting his home address, where he lived with his 84-year-old grandmother, to Facebook and Instagram - alongside 'false allegations' he had 'forced her to get an abortion'.

Mahoney was said to have created dozens of fake accounts on the two social media platforms and sent a string of distressing messages to her ex, his relatives and friends.

She eventually 'turned her attention' to his mother as he 'did not have much social media presence' and posted 'a number of disturbing and unpleasant photographs, including of aborted foetuses', Mr Long told the court.

One was accompanied with the caption suggesting it was what her victim's mother 'wants her grandchild to look like, in pieces'.

In another post, Mahoney added: 'Why do you want your grandchild to be ripped apart?'

She also wrote a post in September 2021, accompanied by the complainant's address, saying: 'Let's get the truth out once and for all.'

She also branded him a 'bully' who had been 's***ging all kinds of dirty s**gs'.

In another, in February 2022, she stated: 'This is the boy who gets girls pregnant and then bullies them into abortions.'

Mahoney again posted the man's address and urged others to 'get down there', while she also wrote: 'It's all going off tonight.'

Meanwhile, she posted pictures of a newborn child online and said her ex's mother 'wanted this child killed', adding: 'He is an innocent newborn baby boy.'

Mr Leong told the court: 'It was always refuted by [the victim] that there was ever such a baby and that any such child was born.'

Mahoney's behaviour was reported to the police and the fake accounts were linked to her IP address.

She denied being responsible, when interviewed, and claimed that her ex was 'behind all the fake profiles and this was his attempt to get at her'.

The courts imposed a stalking protection order on her in December 2022.

This banned her from contacting her victims and having more than one profile on any given social media platform - but she still 'retained multiple accounts', including one which branded her ex-partner's mother a 'grandchild killer'.

In a statement which was read out to the court on behalf of Mahoney's former partner, he stated that she had posted pictures of him and his family members on a 'paedophile page' and that her actions had led to him being admitted to hospital due to stress.

He alleged she also sent him 'fake baby scans', 'falsely claimed she was a nurse' and subjected him to the months of abuse 'because she couldn't have what she wanted'.

His statement added: 'No one should have to suffer like this. She lied about being pregnant on more than five occasions.

'I was walking on eggshells constantly - she's made my life hell and that's what she wanted to do.

'This has destroyed my family. I have never had to deal with anything like this before.

'My mum was no more than a stranger to her - she has never done anything to her.

'Never did I think I would have to drag my family through court because of a girl I got involved with stupidly.'

'To be accused of these horrific things is unbearable - I have been unable to sleep and am constantly worried about my elderly mum. I'm a shadow of myself.'

His mother meanwhile said in her own statement she had 'counted around 25 fake accounts' targeting the two of them.

Kate Morley, mitigating, said Mahony had been feeling 'so emotionally traumatised, hurt and at an all-time low with feelings of abandonment that she emotionally lashed out and regrettably caused deep hurt and distress'.

Ms Morley added: 'She must have wanted to lessen her pain by transferring it to others.

'Following the break-up, Ms Mahoney's life completely unravelled. She withdrew from friends and family and entered a deep depression.

'She has been honest and frank in saying that she couldn't stop. She has demonstrated deep remorse and regret.

'She recognises how harmful her actions were. She is embarrassed and ashamed of her actions.

'She wishes to apologise. She wants them to hear that she is sorry for the distress she has caused.'

Ms Morley told the court that Mahoney, single mother to a 10-year-old son, was 'determined to re-enter work' and had not repeated the behaviour during the past year.

As well as the suspended prison sentence, Mahoney was given a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 25 days, told to complete 160 hours of unpaid work, and made to pay 500 each to her former partner and his mum, as well as 400 in court costs.

She continues to be subject to an indefinite stalking protection order.

District Judge Gwyn Jones told her in court: 'You have heard the impact it has had not only on the male you were in a relationship with, but the extended family.

'There was a significant risk that others may have taken the law into their hands and act - it is extremely fortunate for you that people did not act on the comments you made.'
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has told mothers in Italy to return to the office, saying that if she can run the country with a seven-year-old daughter, so can they.

An animated Meloni bounced back from a bout of illness from a vertigo-inducing ear infection to urge mothers to combine motherhood with working.

Meloni, whose Brother's of Italy party has made it a priority to reverse the country's declining birth rate and promote the traditional family, said if she and other world leaders including Ursula Von Der Leyen can have a career and children, mothers in Italy can too.

Asked about her party's promotion of motherhood and the traditional family, Meloni told a three-hour press conference: 'If I were asked to choose between the role of prime minister and my daughter, Ginevra, I would have no doubts, like any other mother, because motherhood gives something that nothing else can give.'

But Meloni, who separated from her partner last year after he was recorded asking a colleague for a threesome, said she doesn't believe that motherhood can or should stop women from holding down a job or pursuing a political career.

She said: 'Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, has seven children. Roberta Metsola, the president of the European Parliament, has four children. You can do it.'

An animated Meloni bounced back from a bout of illness from a vertigo-inducing ear infection to urge mothers to combine motherhood with working

Meloni, whose Brother's of Italy party has made it a priority to reverse the country's declining birth rate and promote the traditional family, said if she and other world leaders including Ursula Von Der Leyen can have a career and children, mothers in Italy can too

An animated Meloni bounced back from a bout of illness from a vertigo-inducing ear infection to urge mothers to combine motherhood with working

Meloni, who separated from her partner last year after he was recorded asking a colleague for a threesome , said she doesn't believe that motherhood can or should stop women from holding down a job or pursuing a political career

Meloni, who had been forced to postpone the press conference in December due to a vertigo-inducing ear infection, has had to deal with personal and political pressures in recent months.

In October, Meloni, 46, separated from her seven-year-old daughter Ginevra's father, Andrea Giambruno, after he was caught on tape boasting of an affair and asking for a threesome.

And last month, she was spotted at COP28 holding a phone case with phrases such as 'I've got my back' and 'I give myself permission to take a break' on it.

In the past few days, Meloni has been dealing with the fallout after one of the politicians in her party, Emanuele Pozzolo, 38, took a loaded gun to a New Year's Eve party at which someone was shot in the leg with the pistol.

Pozzollo has admitted owning the mini revolver but says he did not fire it. A guest was shot in the thigh, although not seriously injured, in an incident that prompted criticism from opposition politicians and made headlines across the world.

When asked about the incident, Meloni failed to hide her frustration about what happened.

She said Pozzollo had been suspended pending a decision from the party commission about the incident.

Such a situation was not acceptable for any Italian, 'let alone for a parliamentarian, let alone for a Brothers of Italy lawmaker', a frustrated Meloni said.

'I am not prepared to live this life, with this responsibility on my shoulders, if the people around me do not understand this responsibility.'

'On this I intend to be strict, as you can see,' she added.

Prosecutors have launched an investigation into the incident, looking into possible offences including involuntary or negligent injury and failure to safeguard a weapon.

They said in a statement they have also seized the gun, a North American Arms 0.22 handgun, and the bullet.

The victim is reported to be the son-in-law of a bodyguard of junior justice minister Andrea Delmastro, whom newspapers said also attended the party in Rosazza, near Turin.

Pozzolo, 38, said in a statement earlier this week that 'the shot was accidentally fired from a pistol I legally owned but it was not me that fired'.

Possession of firearms in Italy is strictly regulated, although Meloni's party last month proposed to reduce to 16 the minimum age for obtaining a permit for a hunting rifle.

Meloni, who had been forced to postpone the press conference in December due to a vertigo-inducing ear infection, has had to deal with personal and political pressures in recent months

When asked about the shooting incident, Meloni failed to hide her frustration about what happened

Meloni, who separated from her partner last year after he was recorded asking a colleague for a threesome , said she doesn't believe that motherhood can or should stop women from holding down a job or pursuing a political career

When asked about the shooting incident, Meloni failed to hide her frustration about what happened

When asked about the shooting incident, Meloni failed to hide her frustration about what happened

Multiple 'hot mic' recordings  conversations that took place when Giambruno didn't realise his microphone was still on  revealed the true character of Andrea Giambruno, the partner of the Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni

Opposition politicians expressed astonishment at the incident and had asked for Meloni to take action.

Meanwhile during the press conference, Meloni said supporting African development and tackling the posed by artificial intelligence (AI) will be two key themes for Italy during its one-year presidency of the G7.

Meloni also said that Italy would maintain its support for Ukraine in the war against Russia and warned that a further escalation of the conflict in the Middle East could have 'unimaginable consequences'.

'I am hugely concerned about the impact (of AI) on the labour market,' she said. 'Today we are faced with a revolution where (human) intellect is in danger of being replaced.'

She told reporters that supporting African development would also be a central theme of her G7, saying it was vital to boost local economies and living standards to dissuade would-be migrants from heading to Europe.

'What I think needs to be done in Africa is not charity. What needs to be done in Africa is to build cooperation and serious strategic relationships as equals not predators. What needs to be done in Africa is to defend the right not to have to emigrate... and this is done with investments and a strategy.'

Among other issues likely to dominate Italy's presidency is the war in Ukraine and the conflict in Gaza between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Meloni spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy late on Thursday in her first call to an international leader as G7 president, her office said.

On the Gaza conflict, Meloni called on Israel to avoid civilian casualties and said that a more permanent solution needed to be found for the Palestinian issue.

'I believe...it's an error to say 'First let's destroy Hamas and then we'll talk about it',' Meloni said.

'One of the best ways of calling the bluff of Hamas, which has no interest in the Palestinian cause, is to work for a structural solution of the Palestinian question,' she added, saying the European Union should play a more prominent role in diplomatic initiatives.

Meloni, who took power in October 2022 as Italy's first woman prime minister, said she believed that the West should continue to supply arms and material support to Kyiv.

'The only way to reach any kind of diplomatic solution in Ukraine, any kind of negotiation, is to maintain the balance between forces on the ground.'
A party boat sunk and dozens of people had to be led to safety after heavy rain and flooding battered London amid Storm Henk.

The party boat, which is a floating bar, restaurant and nightclub, sank in the River Thames as torrential rainfall hit the capital.

A spokesman for the Bar & Co boat, which was moored at Temple Pier, said it likely sunk because of weather conditions.

A HM Coastguard spokesman added: 'A restaurant vessel sank at Temple Pier in London on January 4.

'The alarm was raised at about 12.30pm and everyone is accounted for.'

The damage after party boat Bar and Co sunk at Temple Pier in London, following the heavy downpour brought on by Storm Henk

The mast of the Bar & Co boat, which was moored at Temple Pier juts from the water

The London party boat which acts as a floating bar, restaurant and nightclub sunk in the River Thames

Major flooding at Hackney Wick in East London overnight saw firefighters called to the area

A couple make their way through floodwater at Hackney Wick in East London this morning

The Port of London Authority has advised vessels to pass Temple Pier with 'great caution' as they tweeted that a 'vessel has sunk on the inside of Temple Pier.'

A Royal National Lifeboat Institution vessel, a Metropolitan Police boat and a London Fire Brigade boat were sent to the scene.

Meanwhile around 50 people were led to safety by firefighters overnight when a canal burst its banks in Hackney Wick, causing flooding in an area of around 10 acres and affecting nearby properties.

Firefighters carried out welfare checks on around 100 people who were able to stay in their unaffected properties.

Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters were called to flooding between Dace Road and Wick Road.

Station Commander Dan Capon, who was in Hackney Wick, said: 'Firefighters worked through the night to ensure the scene was safe and evacuated a number of people from surrounding buildings.

'We urged people to avoid the area where possible. Remember - if your property is affected by flooding, move to a higher level where possible. If you are in immediate danger, call 999. Follow the advice of the operator.'

The Brigade was called at 2216 and the incident was over for firefighters by 0150. Fire crews from Bethnal Green, Leytonstone, Millwall, Plaistow, Islington and surrounding fire stations attended the scene.

Firefighters at the scene in Hackney Wick, East London, overnight as the flooding continued

Residents of a building in Hackney Wick, East London, clean up this morning after flooding

A yellow weather warning for rain has been issued by the Met Office until 3am on Friday.

Hundreds of flood warnings remain in place and commuters face travel disruption on Friday after heavy downpours across parts of the UK.

Homes across the Midlands were inundated on Thursday while parts of southern England including Gloucestershire were also submerged.

On Friday morning, a total of 302 flood warnings were in place in England, as well as 13 in Wales, with forecasters predicting showers could continue.

Train companies have also been affected by the deluge, with Great Western Railway warning that several lines remain closed due to flooding, including between Swindon and Bristol Parkway, Reading and Castle Cary, and Liskeard and Looe in Cornwall.

A landslip at Arlesey in Bedfordshire was also affecting Thameslink services.

Motorists drive through floodwater in Brent Cross, north London, as Storm Henk causes heavy prolonged rain

Floodwater surrounds houses in Summer Way, Radcliffe-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire

A major incident was declared in Nottinghamshire on Thursday due to flooding from the River Trent

The highest rainfall totals recorded on Thursday were 35.2mm at Otterbourne in Hampshire, with a wide range of 20-30mm across much of the southern counties of England.

The Environment Agency said ongoing impacts are likely across much of England over the next five days.

It comes after disruption caused by strong winds and rain from Storm Henk earlier in the week, which has left the ground saturated and more prone to flooding.

Nottinghamshire County Council declared a major incident on Thursday due to rising levels along the River Trent and several residents of Radcliffe Residential Park, an estate of static caravans for the over-55s just to the east of the city, were evacuated.

Caroline Douglass, the Environment Agency's flood director, said the Trent was at 'some of the highest levels we've seen in 24 years'.

She told BBC Breakfast more than 1,000 properties had been flooded across England this week, with that figure likely to increase.

She added: 'We have had very wide rainfall.

'Over November and December, following Storm Babet and Storm Ciaran, the ground was incredibly saturated right across the country, particularly in the east.

'But also that's just been topped up over the pre-Christmas period. That rainfall from this week has just added to that, so there's really nowhere for the water to go.

'The ground is completely saturated so in that situation we get more flooding and greater impacts than we've seen and probably in areas where people aren't used to.'

Elsewhere, a number of cows drowned in the village of Sawley, Derbyshire, prompting an animal welfare investigation.

In Gloucestershire, police warned of road closures due to rising water levels around Tewkesbury.

An evacuation centre was set up in the nearby village Walton Cardiff while people living on Alney Island, between two branches of the River Severn, in nearby Gloucester were urged to leave their homes overnight for a nearby leisure centre.
An Islamist terrorist who plotted to launch a gun attack at London's Hyde Park has had his jail sentence increased by eight years.

Edward Little, 22, from Brighton, who was just 10 minutes from getting a gun when he was arrested by armed police, was originally sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 16 years at the Old Bailey on December 15.

But, following a hearing at the same court yesterday, a judge revised his life sentence to a minimum of 24 years, the Old Bailey said.

Counter-terrorism police said the new hearing was held under the 'slip rule' - Section 155 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 - which allows judges to re-sentence if fresh information comes to light.

Little travelled in a taxi from Brighton to the capital with 5,000 to buy a firearm and bullets when he was arrested on September 23 2022.

Edward Little considered attacking Queen Elizabeth's funeral but dismissed the idea as 'too late'

Little planned to use this gun to murder Hatun Tash, a former Muslim and convert to Christianity

He had targeted a Christian preacher who regularly appeared at Speaker's Corner, but could have killed anyone who got in the way, police said.

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Little pleaded guilty to preparing acts of terrorism in May last year, and refused to come to the Old Bailey for his sentencing.

Three members of a crime gang were also jailed for conspiring to provide Little with the gun, although they did not know what it was for.

Little settled on the plan after rejecting a mass gun attack on the late Queen's funeral in Westminster.

Footage showed him trying to attack a police officer who was trying to interview him.

Previously, the court heard how UK-born Little converted to Islam at Cookham Wood Young Offender Institution in Kent and at HMP Deerbolt in County Durham, after he turned 18.

He downloaded extremist propaganda, including copies of the al-Qaida publication Inspire, in the summer of 2022, and spoke of his desire to get hold of a Mac-10 submachine gun and AK-47 assault rifle in encrypted chats on the Threema messaging platform.

Little was being quizzed by police when he jumped up from his chair and attacked a police officer

Footage shows Little leaning forward and staring straight at the officer before launching himself from his chair and over the table, his fists clenched and swinging both arms towards the officer's face

The vehicle was searched and police found around 5,000 in cash, split into bundles of 1,000, each wrapped in clingfilm, inside a plastic carrier bag within a black rucksack

At one point, he wrote: 'I don't think there has been an attack in the UK with guns so a semi-automatic rifle would send an even stronger message.'

Little agreed to pay a taxi driver 300 to take him from Brighton to Lewisham, south London, on September 23 2022, saying money was no problem.

The plan was scuppered when armed police moved in to arrest him in south London.

Prosecutor Duncan Penny KC had said Little planned to kill the Christian preacher, Hatun Tash, at Speaker's Corner in Hyde Park, anyone with her, as well as any police officers or soldiers in the area.

A rucksack carried by little that contained 5,000 in cash, split into bundles of 1,000, each wrapped in clingfilm, inside a plastic carrier bag

The bag of cash Little was found carrying in a taxi
A police firearms officer who shot dead an unarmed ex-soldier while officers raided a house will not face criminal charges despite his family's call for justice.

Sean Fitzgerald, 31, died from a single gunshot wound to his chest while West Midlands Police raided a house in Coventry on January 4, 2019.

The force said at the time that the raid was part of a 'long-running intelligence-led criminal investigation'.

Mr Fitzgerald was hit by a single round as he emerged from the back of the property while officers gained entry at the front.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) issued a gross misconduct notice to the officer who fired the bullet in April 2021 before announcing a year later that they were being investigated for potential homicide offences.



Sean Fitzgerald, 31, died from a single gunshot wound to his chest while West Midlands Police raided a house in Coventry on January 4, 2019

Mr Fitzgerald was hit by a single round as he emerged from the back of the property while officers gained entry at the front

Police officers stand at the scene on Burnaby Road in Coventry after the fatal shooting in 2019

But yesterday, the IOPC said it had decided not to refer the case to the Crown Prosecution Service. The officer may still face an internal misconduct hearing but a final decision on this is yet to be made.

Two 26-year-olds were arrested during the house raid on suspicion of being concerned in the production of cannabis. No firearms were found in the property.

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Mr Fitzgerald's family say he was visiting friends.

MailOnline has asked West Midlands Police whether the two men arrested during the raid were ever charged.

Relatives of Mr Fitzgerald say they are still 'left in darkness' over what happened, adding that there had been 'no explanation as to why he was shot by police'.

They said: 'To this day, we have had no answers, no accountability and no explanation as to why he was shot and killed by police.

'No compassion has been shown to the family and it is absolutely unacceptable for it to have been five years and nothing but silence.

'How are we as a family meant to grieve with the news of his sudden death and then left in limbo for half a decade?

'Sean was a good man, kind hearted and would have done anything for anyone, and deserves justice.'

A protest was held yesterday in the car park of the Pilot Pub on Burnaby Road, Coventry

A protest was held yesterday in the car park of the Pilot Pub on Burnaby Road, Coventry.

In a statement, the Justice For Sean Fitzgerald group said: 'In solidarity, in honour, in memory and with love in our hearts. We need to show the world we will not let Sean be forgotten and his memory and name will live on forever.

'A peaceful protest will be a slow march up Burnaby Road from the roundabout straight up to the Pilot Pub, stopping outside the house at 5:30pm and having a two minute silence in memory of Sean.

'Please wear jumpers, bring signs and help us get justice for Sean.'

The IOPC said: 'We can confirm that the final report from our investigation has been shared with West Midlands Police (WMP) along with our opinions on whether any officer has a case to answer for misconduct, gross misconduct or no case to answer.

'As required by law, we must consider the views of WMP once we receive them before we make our final decisions and then notify the parties involved, including Sean Fitzgerald's family.

'Last October [2023], following careful consideration of the evidence, we decided not to refer a file to the Crown Prosecution Service to consider whether a WMP officer should face a criminal charge.

'Sean Fitzgerald's family and other parties, including the coroner, were updated at the time.'
The horrifying moment when a small aircraft plunged into the sea, killing an American actor, his two pre-teen daughters and the pilot, off of a tiny Caribbean island was caught on video.

The tragedy occurred Thursday in the waters off Bequia, which is part of St. Vincent, around noon.

In one video circulating on social media, a person recording can be heard saying: 'The plane crashed! Call the Coast Guard!'

The victims have been named by the local police as Christian Klepser, 55, his daughters, Madita, 10, and Annik, 12. The pilot was Robert Sachs. He also owned the plane involved. The family arrived in the area on December 26.

Klepser was a German born actor who went by the stage name Christian Oliver. He appeared in major movies such as Speed Racer and Valkyrie. Among his first roles in the US was a long-standing stint on Saved by the Bell: The New Class in 1995.

The group were en route to St. Lucia when the crash occurred, authorities said. Moments after taking off from JF Mitchell Airport in Bequia, the plane got into unspecified difficulties.

Oliver, shown here with screen legend Al Pacino in 2020, had over 60 credits on IMDb page

A few seconds into a social media clip that is circulating online, the plane can be seen speeding towards the water

A massive splash occurs as all four on board are killed by the impact

After the crash, the plane can be seen bobbing in the water. Local fishermen and divers descended on the scene in order to help with the rescue effort

Robert Sachs' Bellanca 17-30A Super Viking shown here in a post on Facebook

Local fishermen and recreational swimmers who were in the area helped in the initial search, police said in a statement. The depth of the water is thought to be around 70 feet.

St. Vincent-based news outlet Searchlight reports that Sachs radioed the tower shortly after takeoff to tell them he was experiencing trouble and was turning back. That was the last communication.

In an interview with local media outlet iWitness News, a local fisherman criticized the coast guard's response to the tragedy.

'We explained to them that the tide was now starting to run so if you left it (the wreckage) there, it was a (possibility) that we wouldnt find the plane again, that it would drift off,' he said.

He added that the tide's trajectory would have taken the plane to open water. Using ropes and a buoy to mark the location, the fishermen took the decision to retrieve the bodies themselves.

While another official told the outlet that the coast guard should have kept personnel in the area until the wreckage was fully recovered.

The unnamed fisherman said that he was close to the area where the plane impacted the water and arrived at the scene as it sank to the seabed.

When the coast guard arrived, the fisherman said that they were told to wait for official divers to arrive before the bodies could be retrieved.

Local fishermen and recreational swimmers who were in the area helped in the initial search, police said in a statement

Rescue crews are shown recovering the bodies of the deceased in the moments after the crash

Bequia, 5-mile long, half-mile wide island thats part of the Caribbeans St. Vincent and the Grenadines, is a magnet for the yachts often dotting Admiralty Bay

Cornell Campbell, who witnessed the crash, told iWitness that the plane drew is attention because of the 'sound of the plane, the engine, the propeller.'

'Everything shut off the first time. So, I told my friend, "That plane is going to crash." But the plane kicked up back again like it built up back a power,' he said.

Campbell explained that the plane regained power but had lost altitude during the initial failure. As the pilot attempted to correct the dive, the power appeared to go again and it 'just dived down.'

"But when it sinking, something went "Bouff!" in the water and that is why I said it exploded. So that is the only thing I heard when the plane was sinking. It went "Bouff!" under the water,' Campbell said.

Another witness, Tyrone Durham, a retired coast guard officer described his view of what happened to iWitness.

'It seems as though the power cut out or the engine failed and then I came out from under the tree and looked at the plane. It seems as though it was turning to head back to the airport but then with the wind, because I dont think it had reached the [cruising] altitude so it was apparently going back to the airport,' he said.

'Thats when the wind took control of it and it came down and plunged into the water.'

According to his LinkedIn page, Sachs operated a diving business in Bequia alongside his wife, Cathy. He was a native of Springfield, New Jersey, who had been living in the Caribbean for close to 40 years.

One unnamed witness told iWitness that Sachs had taught him how to scuba dive around five years ago. He also used to work for the pilot calling him a 'good friend, close to the family.

The cause of the plane crash remains under investigation.
Circus acrobats were sent flying when a trampoline spring seemingly exploded during a trapeze act.

Footage shows six acrobats from China's Shanghai City Circus performing a flying trapeze act in which a performer jumps from one trapeze to another over a massive trampoline.

Meanwhile, five other performers can be seen standing on the trampoline below and waiting to join the act named 'Time and Space Journey' when one of the springs suddenly snaps.

All five acrobats are sent flying to the corners of the trampoline, with one even violently being thrown several feet down to the floor.

The show was quickly halted after the shocking accident and the audience was led out ten minutes early.

Five performers can be seen standing straight up on the trampoline and waiting to join the act named 'Time and Space Journey' when one of the trampoline springs suddenly snaps

All five acrobats are sent flying to the corners of the trampolin, with one even being violently thrown several feet down to the hard floor (pictured bottom)

Circus staff later revealed that all performers, including the one who fell to the ground, were found to be in good condition after undergoing medical checks.

The trampoline underneath the trapeze act is supposed to act as a safety net, but this is not the first time it has failed to keep performers from crashing to the ground.

In April 2022, a trapeze star lost his grip and plunged more than 10 feet to the ground in front of a shocked audience.

Eduardo Elenilson Gama, 20, fractured his pelvis in the accident during a performance by Circo Puerto Rico in Caucaia, north-eastern Brazil.

Video filmed from the audience captures him hitting the floor with a sickening thud after missing the safety net.

Footage shows the performer apparently struggling to make a turn, before he loses his grip.

The audience gasp and scream as he crashes to the ground before three circus workers rush over to help him. He ended up having a fractured pelvis.

It seems even more dangerous for circus acrobats who perform their daring acts without a safety net underneath.

Last September, a 25-year-old trapeze artist fell 25 feet from the top of a 'Wheel of Death' circus act in Hungary but miraculously survived the terrifying incident amid screams from the crowd.

Raul Alexander survived after he flew off the spinning contraption during a performance in Hodmezovasarhely, southeast Hungary.

The drop was 25 feet, and miraculously, after an initial loss of consciousness, Mr Alexander came away with 'no serious injuries'

Despite the accident, and trauma since, he has insisted that he intends to continue performing once fully recovered.

Phone footage from an audience member shows the stunt starting as planned with two performers moving two connected wheels around in a circle, before Mr Alexander falls out to gasps from the crowd.

With no safety net to land on, he slammed onto the ground with and was unable to get back up while the audience screamed.

The young El Salvadorian reportedly lost consciousness after flying off the top of the 25-ft tall wheel.
A jaunty pair of slippers and a woolly night cap that were worn by the 1st Duke of Wellington are to go on display for the first time.

He may be best known for military pomp, but Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley liked nothingmore than to relax in his comfy shoes and nightcap.

A household name after defeating Napoleon at Waterloo and lauded by Tennyson as 'the last great Englishman' upon his death in 1852, the remarkable life and legacy of the famous duke endures to this day.

However, while countless books have been written about him, historical dramas filmed and famous portraits painted, there remain some aspects of Arthur Wellesley's life that are less well known.

And it seems he was a fan of creature comforts, as evidenced by a new raft of the duke's belongings that are to go on display later this year.

A jaunty pair of slippers and a woolly night cap that were once owned by the 1st Duke of Wellington are to go on display for the first time. The slippers are in near perfect condition, with just a hint of fading and the backs trodden down from use

A household name after defeating Napoleon at Waterloo and lauded by Tennyson as 'the last great Englishman' upon his death in 1852, the remarkable life and legacy of the famous duke endures to this day

From March 27, visitors to Apsley House - Wellington's London home - will get new insights into his character, with never-seen-before items he once owned.

The slippers are in near perfect condition, with just a hint of fading and the backs trodden down from use.

Also among the items are five of Wellington's military dress uniforms - three of which have never been on public display before - and a pair of duelling pistols.

They will be shown in the opulent setting of the Striped Drawing Room.

An amazingly preserved woollen nightcap, complete with silk ties and a 'W' logo, is in incredible condition considering it is almost 200 years old - there are just a few holes in the top.

'In contrast to the splendour of his dress uniforms, Wellington's woollen nightcap and a rather snazzy pair of slippers; a gift from Lady Douro in 1841, which he regarded as "too fine for a veteran", shed light on his most informal and personal attire,' a spokesperson for Apsley House said.

An amazingly preserved woollen nightcap, complete with silk ties and a 'W' logo, is in incredible condition considering it is almost 200 years old - there are just a few holes in the top

This pair of duelling pistols once owned by the Duke will also be on display at his former home

This handwritten battle order, penned by the Duke of Wellington in 1815, is also in the exhibition

Wellington's Field Marshal Austria hat is in the new exhibition at Apsley House

Wellington's Grenadier Guards bearskin hat, another object in the new exhibition

Wellington's Field Marshall of England. The treasured objects will be on display to the public

In recognition of his military victories in the Napoleonic Wars, Wellington was awarded the highest military rank of Field Marshal, or its equivalent, in eight nations' armies.

Four of the uniforms on display represent his appointments as Marshal-General of the Portuguese Army (1809), Captain-General of the Spanish Army (1809), Field Marshal of the British Army (1813) and Field Marshal of the Austrian Army (1818).

The fifth uniform is that of Colonel of the Grenadier Guards (1827), the most senior infantry regiment in the British Army.

For each of these appointments, Wellington had a dress uniform for formal occasions and an undress uniform for everyday wear.

Although some generals wore undress - or even dress - uniform in battle, Wellington was renowned for wearing civilian clothing - pale breeches, a dark coloured frock coat, a cloak and a cocked hat.

Other new items to be displayed will include a writing set he used in the field, along with battle orders from 1815, a telescope he used to survey battlegrounds and a pair of handmade boots.

Other objects include portrait miniatures of Wellington and his wife, Catherine, 1st Duchess of Wellington, plus a letter written to her, plighting his troth.

An original plaster death mask, made three days after his death at Walmer Castle in 1852, bears the impressions of the fabric of the original mould and is the most authentic likeness of him in old age.

It comes as Apsley House will embark on a major rehang of Wellington's collection of Dutch paintings in 2025.

From March 27, visitors to Apsley House - Wellington's London home - will get new insights into his character, with never-seen-before items he once owned

The stunning interior or Apsley House, where the new exhibition is being held from March 27

The house was purchased in 1816 by the 1st Duke of Wellington after his victory at Waterloo and became known as 'Number 1 London'.

Dr Olivia Fryman, Keeper of the Wellington Collection, Aspley House said that the next two years promise to be 'exceptional' for Apsley House.

'With over 30 rarely seen objects going on public display and an exhibition about the 1st Duke of Wellington as an art collector, there will be so much more for our visitors to enjoy,' she added.

Arthur Charles Valerian Wellesley, the 9th Duke of Wellington, said: 'The Dutch paintings, which the 1st Duke collected during his life, are of the highest quality and show that he had a good eye for such artworks.

'His collection is comparable with major collections of Dutch pictures bought by other collectors during this period.

'By hanging them as a single group, visitors will be able to appreciate them in a way that is not so easy, given their current, various locations.'
A farmer stalked his university crush over WhatsApp for five years which left her living in such fear that she asked a male friend to be on standby to protect her.

Isaac Aidley, 27 who hails from a strict Baptist family had a secret unrequited crush on Isabella Knowles when they studied together at agricultural college in Nantwich, Cheshire.

But after they left, his obsession developed into him sending Miss Knowles unwanted messages declaring his love for her even after she told him she had a steady boyfriend.

Miss Knowles who lives in a village near Nantwich, initially ignored the messages but alerted police when he kept promising he would 'see her soon'.

She eventually became so terrified of Aidley turning up at her home that she asked a platonic male friend to be on standby to protect her whenever her partner was away.

Isaac Aidley, 27 who hails from a strict Baptist family had a secret unrequited crush on Isabella Knowles when they studied together at agricultural college

But after they left, his obsession developed into him sending Miss Knowles (pictured) unwanted messages declaring his love for her even after she told him she had a boyfriend

Miss Knowles who lives in a village near Nantwich, Cheshire initially ignored the messages but alerted police when Aidley (pictured) kept promising he would 'see her soon'

At Chester magistrates court, Aidley, a specialist cheese maker whose family have been farming at Alpraham near Nantwich since 1938 admitted stalking involving serious alarm or distress and was made subject of a restraining order banning him from contacting Miss Knowles for ten years.

He was also sentenced to 26 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months and was ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation days with the probation service. He is now in a relationship with another woman.

Miss Knowles, who works as a Farm Business Consultant said she lives in fear of seeing Aidley around the village where she lives.

She added: 'My partner was away for a weekend, so I asked my friend to be on standby in case Isaac came down to try and enter the house to hang around. He knows where I live. I am terrified of him coming to my address.

'My friend Jack gladly obliged. He knows the stress it has caused me. To this day I have remained worried about the future and having to see Isaac. I am very worried about him doing this to somebody else.

'It took me five years to work out that this was not right. A younger girl may not realise at all.

'Every time I think about it I feel anxious and worried. I still feel that he won't care and won't own his actions.'

Miss Knowles (pictured), who works as a Farm Business Consultant, told of how Aidley had been part of a 'great group of friends' when they were studying at Reaseheath college

Miss Knowles told of how Aidley had been part of a 'great group of friends' when they were studying at Reaseheath college which offers degrees in Animal Science, Equine Science and Rural Business Management.

She described Aidley as being timid and coming from a very religious family where the sons did not go out very much and did not have girlfriends until they were older.

'I would have classed him as a real gentleman,' she said. 'Throughout the whole time in university I had been in a relationship with someone else. I had never been in a relationship with Isaac and he was fully aware of my circumstances.

'I never gave Isaac the impression that there would be any more between us other than a friendship at most. When we left university we did not see each other much.'

Miss Knowles said that initially Aidley would send occasional texts and sometimes picture of puppies or piglets from the farm and sometimes depicted what a good wife she would be, which she though she thought was odd but believed was innocent.

But after four or five years the messages started to become more frequent, she said, going from one per month to five or six per month, with some phone calls and videos.

'I never answered the phone calls,' she said, 'I explained that I was still in a relationship with my partner Olly.'

Miss Knowles said that she sought medical help for depression and while acknowledging it was not entirely related to Aidley's harassment, it was a significant factor.

'It had a large part to play in my low moods and stress,' she said, 'It was putting a strain on my relationship. It was a source of multiple arguments between my partner and I. He thought I should block him.

'I am friends with the same group of friends and did not want to make the situation awkward. After many months of feeling harassed I began swearing in the texts and telling him I did not want him to contact me.

'He did not seem to care for my stress or anxiety issues or read the messages I was sending. He proceeded to tell me he was going to see me soon.

'That scared me so much. That was the time I phoned the police to report him.'

Aidley a specialist cheese maker whose family have been farming at Alpraham near Nantwich since 1938 admitted stalking involving serious alarm or distress

Miss Lisa McGuire, prosecuting, said: 'The parties are known to each other having attended the same university.

'The victim describes the defendant as a casual friend but says he began sending her numerous unwanted texts and WhatsApp messages in January 2022 asking to go for a walk.

'She replied stating that she had a boyfriend and the messages needed to stop. The defendant replied that he understood but subsequently during April 2022 to January 2023, there were nine messages sent and WhatsApp pictures were sent of the defendant himself and messages wishing Miss Knowles a happy birthday.

'She did not reply but again in January a message was sent asking Miss Knowles to go for a walk. At this time, she confirms that she is upset and told him again that she has a boyfriend and then the messages need to stop.

'The messages continued. The defendant makes further contact with Miss Knowles about her profile picture on a social media website. She doesn't reply but it continued in March and April. With the defendant continuing to message her, Miss Knowles confirms at this point that she will be contacting police.

'During March and April there were 12 WhatsApp messages received by Miss Knowles, some of them saying 'I love you always'. The defendant also attempted to contact her by telephone.

'There has been significant psychological harm and stress caused to the victim. She has been caused to make lifestyle changes to avoid contact with the defendant. She requested a friend to come and stay when her partner was away.

'There has been a persistent action by the defendant over a prolonged period.'

Aidley had no previous convictions. Defence solicitor Catherine Higham said: 'The offence arises from him not knowing where the boundaries were, or respecting the boundaries that were put in place by the complainant.

'He understands what has happened and understands the effects on the victim..'

Sentencing Aidley, JP Jeffrey Langham said: 'This is not a great set of circumstances that led you to be here today.

'But we have given you some credit for your guilty plea. The credit for that is reflected in the fact that we are not sending this matter to the crown court for sentencing which has greater sentencing powers than we do.

'You are not to approach the victim for 10 years. You are not to approach or contact Miss Isabella Knowles by any means including by social media.'
In its mission to eradicate Hamas, Israel has vowed to hunt down every member of the terror group involved in the October 7 attack - no matter where they are.

Just this week, the deputy head of the Iran-backed group was killed in a suspected Israeli strike in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, demonstrating that Israel is not afraid to strike targets outside the Palestinian territories of Gaza and the West Bank.

And in comments on Wednesday, the chief of Israel's Mossad intelligence service suggested the country would be willing to go further.

While a small number of its military leaders are believed to still be inside the Gaza Strip itself, others are sheltering in other Arab states, such as Qatar and Turkey.

And although there are more senior members in Hamas's organisational structure, one in particular is believed to have financially enabled the deadly October 7 attack from outside of Gaza: Zaher Jabarin, the 'CEO of Hamas'.

Zaher Jabarin, 55, oversees the Hamas finance empire that is estimated to be worth half a billion dollars, and which funds the group's military operations.

According to the publication, Jabarin's influence is thought to be so great that US and Israeli security officials believe he enabled Hamas to pay for the weapons and wages for its fighters who mounted the shocking October 7 attack (pictured)

Jabarin, 55, oversees the Hamas finance empire that is estimated to be worth half a billion dollars, and which funds the group's military operations.

He manages the terror group's financial relationship with Iran - its main benefactor - and handles the process of moving cash from Tehran to the Gaza strip, officials say.

The group does this via money transfers using the informal hawala system, and more recently cryptocurrencies, the Wall Street Journal reports.

On top of that, he also looks after a portfolio of companies that deliver annual income for Hamas as well as running a network of private donors and businessmen who invest in the Islamist group that is hell-bent on destroying Israel.

As a result, he was personally sanctioned by the United States in 2019, but has nevertheless been able to continue operating.

According to the publication, his influence is thought to be so great that US and Israeli security officials believe he enabled Hamas to pay for the weapons and wages for its fighters who mounted the shocking October 7 attack.

Heavily armed gunmen assaulted southern Israel, killed around 1,200 people and kidnapped 240 more, dragging them into Gaza.

Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed more than 22,400 people, more than two-thirds of them women and children, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry.

'Jabarin played a huge role because he handles all of Hamas' finance outside Gaza,' Uzi Shaya, a former Israeli security official who has researched illicit finance, told the Journal. 'Jabarin is the CEO of Hamas.'

Jabarin was close to Saleh al-Arouri, the Hamas official killed on Tuesday in a precision strike in Beirut, attributed to Israel.

Together, Jabarin and Arouri helped found Hamas's military wing in the West Bank - the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades - and both have ties to Iran.

Arouri even wrote the introduction to a book that Jabarin published after his release from prison in 2011, as part of a prisoner exchange that saw Israel swap 1,000 Palestinian inmates for one Israel soldier.

Yahya Sinwar, the current leader in Gaza, was also released under the same deal.

'Days have not weakened his resolve,' Arouri wrote of Jabarin, the Journal reports. 'He is continuing, god willing, to complete this journey, which is the path of jihad.'

eople gather outside a damaged building following a massive explosion in the southern Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh, Lebanon, Tuesday. The suspected Israeli strike killed Saleh al-Arouri - the deputy head of the Iran-backed group - demonstrating that Israel is not afraid to strike targets outside the Palestinian territories of Gaza and the West Bank

Saleh al-Arouri was killed in the stroke in Beirut in what is believed to have been an Israeli strike

Israel has vowed to hunt down all Hamas leaders responsible for the October 7 terror attack. Pictured: Yahya Sinwar, head of the political wing of the Palestinian Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip, attends a rally in support of Jerusalem's al-Aqsa mosque in Gaza City in 2022

According to his book, seen by the Journal, Jabarin was born in 1968 and grew up in Salfit, a town in the northern West Bank.

He found religion as a boy and attended the local mosque, reading works by the founder of the Muslim Brotherhood of which Hamas is an offshoot.

According to an interview he gave, he led a gang in his late teens called 'The Shooting Squads' and joined the 1987 uprising against Israel, known as the first intifada. He told Felesteen newspaper that he wrote anti-occupation graffiti in Salfit.

But he soon turned to more violent means, obtaining weapons, some of which he purchased by borrowing money from his mother.

The Journal reports that one of his early contributions to Hamas was recruiting a Palestinian named Yahya Ayyash, who learned how to make explosive devices.

Jabarin was arrested in 1996 over the killing of an Israeli soldier, was convicted of murder and handed a life sentence.

While behind bars, he learned Hebrew, studied for a degree, and began writing his book - published the year after his release in 2011.

Meanwhile, during his 15-year imprisonment, Hamas grew into the group that it is today - a popular faction in the West Bank and Gaza and an internationally recognised terror organisation which took control of the coastal strip in 2007.

This allowed it to levy taxes in Gaza, boosting its ability to raise funds.

By the time Jabarin was released, Hamas had established a network of companies that provided the group with the income it needed, as well as a method with which to launder money so that it wasn't associated with the group to avoid sanctions.

US officials say the base of operations was at first in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

There, Hamas is said to have moved millions of dollars from Iran to its military operations in Gaza. However, under US-imposed pressure, Saudi Arabia forced Hamas's finance officials from the country's capital.

But they soon found a new home in the form of Turkey.

Hamas's financial office is now based in a building in Istanbul where the group holds stakes in companies, including shares in a real-estate firm listed on Turkey's stock exchange, according to the Wall Street Journal, citing US sanctions.

Jabarin has for years evaded Western sanctions to use financial systems in Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, the UEA, Sudan and Turkey to found companies and move money into the hands of Hamas, a source told the Journal.

The US imposed sanctions on him directly in 2019, saying he had become the architect behind 'a financial network that allowed Hamas to raise, invest and launder vast sums of money' from the headquarters in Turkey.

A few years later, the US said that Jabarin - working with other Hamas officials - had developed a real estate portfolio which makes up the bulk of the group's $500 million worth of assets around the world.

The Hamas financial machine is so strong in fact, that officials in the US and Israel fear that even if the group is defeated on the battlefield in Gaza, Hamas will still have deep coffers to draw from in order to continue attacks and rebuild.

And in poverty-stricken Gaza, the promise of a regular paycheck from Hamas means the group is able to easily recruit more soldiers to its cause.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to eradicate Hamas and its leadership

In an interview, Jabarin told the journal that he sees it as an 'honour to get funds for Hamas,' but denied his own involvement in raising money for the group.

He admits to now being part of the Hamas as a political party, and not the organisation's military al-Qassam Brigades.

Politically, he told the publication, Hamas has relationships with many countries including Turkey, Iran and Russia, but distances the group from the military wing.

'Israel tries to mix apples and oranges,' he said, according to the Journal. 'Al-Qassam has its own ties, far away from Hamas the political party.'
Family doctors are also calling for the mandatory use of masks in hospitals

The Covid and flu epidemic in Spain is becoming so bad that a number of holiday regions are reintroducing the obligatory mask-wearing rule in certain cases.

Health authorities across the country are reporting saturated hospitals and health centres, with patients once again lying in corridors or waiting hours for treatment.

Family doctors are also calling for the mandatory use of masks in health centres and hospitals across the whole of Spain, saying the winter surge of Covid and flu is getting out of control.

The Spanish government hasn't made any announcement about the return of obligatory mask wearing but regions such as Valencia - where tourist hotspots Benidorm and Alicante are located - are already imposing their own rules again.

Valencia's health department has today implemented the mandatory use of masks in health centres due to the rise in respiratory infections.

This preventive measure is considered relevant given the incidence in the Valencian community, with a rate of 1,501 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

Holidaymakers wear face masks in Benidorm, Spain, in June 2021. Valencia's health department has today implemented the mandatory use of masks in health centres in locations such as Benidorm due to the rise in respiratory infections

The objective is to stop infections and protect vulnerable people.

The department is also relaying the message that health centres will vaccinate against flu and covid-19 starting next Monday without the need for an appointment.

Masks must be worn in the following situations in Valencia: Symptomatic people when in shared spaces

Professionals who care for symptomatic cases

People who work in intensive care units and units with vulnerable patients

In hospital or primary care emergencies

In places where patients and families are concentrated (primary care waiting rooms, hospital consultations etc.) Advertisement

From today, it will be mandatory to wear a mask when entering health centres and hospitals throughout the Valencian community.

The Ministry of Health established the mask protocol due to the spike in flu cases and respiratory infections in recent weeks.

The last weekly report for influenza, covid-19 and other respiratory viruses in 2023 marked a global rate of acute respiratory infection in primary care of 908.6 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, when the previous week the figure was 806; and in general at all levels of care of 1,501 cases per 100,000 inhabitants

The Department of Health has sent the health departments of three provinces an instruction from the General Directorate of Public Health that establishes the mandatory use of masks in health and social health centres as a preventive measure in the face of the resurgence of respiratory virus infection.

Valencia says its health services are at the point of collapse due to the surge in Covid and flu cases after Christmas and is having to send patients to provide hospitals in order to cope.

The wave is expected to peak in the third week of January.

There are hospitals in the Valencia province at 96 per cent occupancy and family doctors are seeing 15 off-schedule patients a day due to these infections, with influenza A in seven out of ten cases.

The Spanish Society for Family Doctors is calling for obligatory mask wearing in hospitals and medical centres across Spain to stop the spread of flu and Covid.
Prince Andrew knew Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell were trafficking children for sex, new court documents claim.

A second batch of unsealed files relating to Epstein's sexual abuse of teenage girls was released last night. They relate to a 2015 US defamation case brought by Virginia Giuffre against Maxwell and follow an earlier tranche published on Wednesday.

One of the documents released last night is a list of witnesses Ms Giuffre's lawyers wanted to subpoena, with each name accompanied by an alleged justification.

Under Prince Andrew's name, the list - dated March 31, 2016 - states: 'Has knowledge of Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein's sexual trafficking conduct and interaction with underage minors, including Virginia Giuffre.'

The document showed the Duke of York's address as Buckingham Palace. Andrew has vehemently denied any wrongdoing.

The Duke of York, pictured here with Virginia Giuffre (centre) and Ghislaine Maxwell (right), has always denied wrongdoing in his relationship with Epstein

One of the documents released last night is a list of witnesses Ms Giuffre's lawyers wanted to subpoena, with each name accompanied by an alleged justification

Andrew was reported to the Metropolitan Police by anti-monarchy group Republic last night after he was referenced multiple times in both the first and second tranches of files.

This was matched by similar calls from a US attorney who represented some of Epstein's victims, who said police in Britain have a duty to investigate Andrew as he 'still refuses to fully account for his time' with the paedophile.

It is a fresh setback for the late Queen's second son who, just 10 days ago, walked to church on Christmas Day with the King and the rest of the royal family, symbolising his gradual rehabilitation within the monarchy after his public appearance at his brother's coronation in his garter robes in May.

The first batch of documents included allegations Andrew had an orgy with underage girls and touched a woman's breast while posing with a puppet of himself.

In the second batch, Maxwell's lawyer is seen attempting to have Ms Giuffre's defamation claim dismissed by referencing a statement issued by Buckingham Palace.

'Buckingham Palace issued a statement flatly denying the claims made by the plaintiff here,' Laura Menninger wrote.

The newly released court files may finally scupper Andrew's bid to re-enter the royal fold, with well-placed sources telling the Mail that while the court claims were not a surprise, they will have served to 'crystallise' King Charles's determination to solve the 'Andrew problem' decisively.

Plans were already in train to evict him from Royal Lodge, his ten-bedroom Windsor home since 2003, and move him to a smaller residence in keeping with his 'downgraded' status.

The 63-year-old prince, who has previously strenuously denied the allegations, paid millions a year ago to settle a civil case out of court with Virginia Giuffre with no admission of guilt after she accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was 17.

But he is mentioned more than 70 times in nearly 1,000 pages of interviews and transcripts.

The names of more than 170 people who were either associates, friends or victims of Epstein are being made public following a judge's order last month, including high-profile figures such as former US president Bill Clinton.

Graham Smith, chief executive of the anti-monarchy group Republic, said yesterday that he had reported Andrew to the police, accusing the Met of failing to conduct a serious criminal investigation into the case.

The force said in August 2022 that it was taking no further action over allegations made against Epstein and that any future probes into human trafficking by the sex offender were focused on activities outside the UK.

It also previously said it stood by its 2015 decision not to investigate claims by Ms Giuffre that she was sex trafficked to London by Epstein.

Mr Smith said: 'To date, there appears to have been no serious criminal investigation, no interview of the accused or other witnesses, and no clear justification for taking no action.

Prince Andrew pictured in the background alongside the rest of the Royal Family as they attend the traditional Christmas Day service at St Mary's Magdalene Church on the Sandringham Estate last month

Graham Smith, CEO of anti-monarchy group Republic, said he had reported Prince Andrew to the Metropolitan Police. Pictured: Mr Smith outside Westminster Abbey prior to the Commonwealth Service in March 2023

In a tweet on the Republic X account, the group said it is 'time for the Met Police to act' over the allegations against Prince Andrew

US attorney Spencer Kuvin (pictured), who has represented some of Jeffrey Epstein's victims, has also called for police to investigate Prince Andrew

'I am calling on the Met Police to reopen this case, I am calling on MPs to debate this affair in Parliament, and I am calling on Charles to make a public statement, in front of the press and taking questions, to respond to these allegations and what they say about the monarchy.

'How can we not expect a response from the Government and head of state? At the time of the alleged offences, Andrew was a government trade ambassador and an active member of the royal family.

'They fudged and obfuscated for 11 years before taking any definitive action.'

Mr Smith added: 'The question many people will be asking is simple: if the accused were anyone else, do we believe they wouldn't have been investigated and prosecuted?'

Meanwhile, US attorney Spencer Kuvin, who has represented some of Jeffrey Epstein's victims, said people associated with the wealthy financier such as Andrew, deserve a higher level of scrutiny.

Mr Kuvin told the Mirror: 'Andrew still refuses to fully account for his time with Epstein and has failed to speak with US investigators about what he knows.

'British police need to do their duty and reopen their investigation into his conduct.'

He added that Epstein is probably 'one of the worst sexual predators of the century'.

Buckingham Palace, which no longer speaks on behalf of the duke after he stepped down as a working royal in 2019 over his friendship with Epstein, has not commented on the documents.

Prince Andrew at Sandringham on Christmas Day, 2023. He is said to have avoided prosecutors' questions in 2019 despite publicly vowing to assist with the investigation into Epstein

Documents released this week claimed Andrew called financier Jeffrey Epstein (pictured) weekly and jetted to his private Caribbean retreat

Evidence from Johanna Sjoberg, who worked for Epstein as a masseuse, alleged Andrew touched her breast while sitting on a couch inside Epstein's Manhattan apartment as he posed for a photo with a caricature of himself in 2001.

The claim, which has been alleged previously, is thought to refer to a Spitting Image puppet of the duke.

Ms Sjoberg said, while giving evidence in May 2016: 'Ghislaine told me to come upstairs, and we went into a closet and pulled out the puppet, the caricature of Prince Andrew, and brought it down.

'And there was a little tag on the puppet that said 'Prince Andrew' on it, and that's when I knew who he was.'

Ms Sjoberg was asked what the puppet looked like and replied: 'It looked like him.

'And she brought it down and presented it to him; and that was a great joke, because apparently it was a production from a show on BBC.

'And they decided to take a picture with it, in which Virginia and Andrew sat on a couch.

'They put the puppet on Virginia's lap, and I sat on Andrew's lap, and they put the puppet's hand on Virginia's breast, and Andrew put his hand on my breast, and they took a photo.'

Other mentions of the duke include previous allegations that Epstein 'forced Jane Doe #3 to have sexual relations with was a member of the British Royal Family, Prince Andrew (a/k/a Duke of York)' at three locations including on Epstein's private island 'in an orgy with numerous other under-aged girls'.

The document claimed that Epstein instructed Jane Doe #3 to give Andrew 'whatever he demanded' and that Maxwell 'facilitated Prince Andrew's acts of sexual abuse by acting as a 'madame' for Epstein'.

Prince Andrew pictured attending the Easter matins service at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in April 2023

Prince Andrew and King Charles III speak following a vigil in memory of Queen Elizabeth II at St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh in September 2022

The then-Prince Charles and Prince Andrew chat on the balcony of Buckingham Palace while their mother Queen Elizabeth II looks on during Trooping The Colour in 2019

Ms Giuffre has claimed she was trafficked by Epstein to have sex with Andrew three times when she was 17 and a minor under US law at Maxwell's London home, in Epstein's New York home and during an orgy with Epstein at his Caribbean island.

She was questioned over the whereabouts of the famous photograph showing her with the duke, who has his arm around her, with Maxwell grinning in the background.

READ MORE: Why Prince Andrew can't seem to shake THAT infamous photo of him and his teenaged accuser as it emerges at the centre of documents relating to Jeffrey Epstein Advertisement

Ms Giuffre added it may have been in storage boxes that were 'full of Nerf guns, my kids' toys, photos' at her mother and father-in-law's home in Sydney, Australia.

She said she gave the picture to the FBI in 2011 but had last seen it before she packed up her home to emigrate to Australia from Colorado.

Among the documents appears to be an email sent by Maxwell expressing her fears she would be questioned about her own relationship with Andrew.

It reads: 'I have already suffered such a terrible and painful loss over the last few days that I can't even see what life after press hell even looks like - statements that don't address all just lead to more questions... what is my relationship to Clinton? Andrew on and on.'

In Maxwell's videotaped deposition in 2016, she claimed she could only recall the duke visiting Jeffrey Epstein's private island in the US Virgin Islands once.

The Met Police and representatives of the Duke have been approached for a comment.
A deluge of sewage has swamped nearly 100 beaches on England's south coast after Storm Henk battered Britain.

Popular seaside tourist spots including Hove, Folkestone and Newquay were among those drenched in filth after the country's sewer system struggled to cope with the heavy downpours of rain in recent days.

Storm Henk saw heavy flooding across much of England which brought travel chaos as roads and rail lines flooded.

Swimming in the sea at affected areas could be unsafe as data from water companies shows raw sewage has been dumped into the sea for days at a time over the past week.

Thames Water dumped sewage into rivers at over 270 locations during Storm Henk, i news reported, after parts of England and Wales saw more than 40mm of rain in 24 hours from January 2.

Popular seaside tourist spots including Hove, Folkestone and Newquay were among those drenched in filth

A member of the public walks past a submerged car after the River Great Ouse burst its banks in Sotm Henk

A home is surrounded by flood water from the River Severn after heavy rain from Storm Henk

The majority of the UK depends on a Victorian era 'combined sewage system', which transports rain water and sewage in the same pipes.

To prevent sewage backing up into people's homes during exceptional periods of rainfall, water companies are allowed to discharge raw sewage into bodies of what at particular points called combined sewers overflows (CSO).

READ MORE: Moment Driver Gets Trapped In Flood Water Before Being Rescued By Police Advertisement

There 35 bathing areas along the south east coast and the Isle of Wight which had been potentially affected by release of sewage over the last three days, according to Southern Water's map.

At Folkestone in Kent, there was a potential 27 hours release of sewage which Southern Water is investigating to see if it is genuine.

There has also been a probe launched into concerns of an 18 hour discharge at Hove in East Sussex which started on January 2.

At a CSO close to Brighton, there was a 154-hour sewage discharge which began before Storm Henk started battering Britain.

There 60 beaches which had potentially been affected by sewage spills, according to South West Water's map, including popular beaches at Lyme Regis, Torquay, Plymouth and Newquay.

A number of the discharges appeared to have begun last year - before Storm Henk came to Britain.

A submerged car sits in a car park after heavy rains and sewer system overflows caused the River Thames

Two people struggle through knee high water during Storm Henk

Flooding around Tewkesbury Abbey and town, Gloucestershire

Clean water campaigners have been critical of how much sewage water companies have been releasing into Britain's rivers.

Professor Hannah Cloke, Professor of Hydrology at the University of Reading, warned that Britain's 'creaky' sewers mean the situation will continue to get worse.

She said: 'Storm after storm this autumn and winter has made Britain a sopping wet sponge and there is nowhere for any extra rain to go.'

'It is a reminder that we need to invest a lot more into our water system to deal with increasing risks of flooding in the years ahead, which we know is likely to get worse.'

Ed Acteson from the campaign group SOS Whitstable said water companies have 'arrived at this point' where 'basically sewage is released every time it rains for the entire duration of any rainfall and before it starts sometimes and definitely after it finishes'.

That shouldn't be a normal state of affairs,' he said.

A spokesperson for Southern Water said: 'We have seen a number of longer storm overflow releases recently as a result of weeks of heavy rainfall, where either surface water has run off saturated ground into our sewers, or groundwater has forced its way into our pipes as pressure builds.

A submerged road sign as water levels remain high after the River Great Ouse burst its banks

A narrow boat sinks after breaking from its mooring during flooding on the River Soar during Storm Henk

'We agree with campaigners and our customers, that storm overflow releases are not acceptable and that's why we have launched our innovative 1.5bn Clean Rivers and Seas Plan to reduce spills as quickly as we can across our region.'

South West Water said: 'We want our customers to know that we really care about reducing storm overflows and we are investing record amounts to do so.

'Our plan is working, and we are improving, but unfortunately there have been spills at beaches over the last week due to the very heavy, prolonged rainfall and stormy conditions. '
A new wave of LGBTQ+ housing is coming to the UK amid concerns about the 'deadliest rise' in homophobic attacks in a decade.

London has already seen its first residential hub for elderly members of the LGBTQ+ community opening up, following access to a 5.7million loan facility from city mayor, Sadiq Khan.

The fancy apartment block, built by St James Group Ltd on behalf of Tonic Housing, overlooks Westminster and is a stone's throwaway from Vauxhall, Waterloo and Tate Britain.

Over the summer, another group - First Brick Housing - received backing for its plan to build homes for 'marginalised' gay Londoners to ensure LGBTQ+ people are 'free from oppression', with City Hall stumping up 5,000 towards it.

Meanwhile, in Manchester, a proposal to construct a purpose-built, LGBTQ+ majority housing site for the over-55s was unveiled this week, in what city leaders and activists hailed as a 'landmark' scheme.

Critics have accused supporters of the new schemes of 'virtue-signalling causes based on fashion and not need'. But campaigners insist the need has never been greater and comes amid a worrying surge in homophobic attacks.

Plans were revealed earlier this week for a new LGBTQ+ majority extra care housing scheme in Manchester

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), hate crimes on the basis of sexual orientation are up by 112 per cent in the last five years, with Home Office statistics finding homophobic hate crimes ballooned by 41 per cent in 2022.

It was branded the 'deadliest' rise in violence against gay people in a decade, according to the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA-Europe).

Meanwhile, the recent report 'No Place Like Home?'  which surveyed and spoke to 260 LGBTQ residents  found that 32 per cent felt their neighbourhood was not a safe place to live in as an LGBTQ person.

READ MORE: New LGBT housing scheme is unveiled in Manchester in 'landmark' move Advertisement

While in 2020 a survey of 624 LGBTQ+ Londoners over 50, commissioned by a number of organisations including Tonic, found 56 per cent would favour living in an LGBTQ retirement community compared to just one per cent who would consider moving to general retirement scheme.

At the Tonic accommodation hub in the capital, residents there say they feel safer being in an 'affirmative community' together with other LGBTQ+ people.

Retired nurse Ong Chek Min was one of the building's first residents, having swapped west London for SE1 in February 2022, amid fears he and his partner could face discrimination elsewhere.

'My partner, Tim, and I talked a lot about where we might spend our later years,' Min told the Guardian. 'We knew we wanted to find somewhere LGBT-friendly, where we wouldn't have to worry about discrimination and bullying.'

The Home Office says the increased debate of 'transgender issues' could be behind the surge in offences, while campaign groups put it down to an boom in extreme minority views since the lockdowns.

'Attacks on LGBTI people with a conscious and deliberate will to kill and injure have increased to unprecedented levels,' a recent report by ILGA claimed, pointing to the recent terror attacks at LGBTQ+ venues in Norway and Slovakia in 2022, which left four people dead and 22 injured.

'We have been saying for years now that hate speech in all its forms translates into actual physical violence. This phenomenon is not only in countries where hate speech is rife, but also in countries where it is widely believed that LGBTI people are progressively accepted,' added Evelyne Paradis, ILGA-Europe's executive director.

London's LGBTQ+ community have warned the scale of persecution has reached levels not seen in more than two decades.

'It's going back to what it was in the 1990s,' one owner of an LGBTQ+ venue in Soho, who has seen an rise in customers being harassed in recent months, told the Evening Standard.

'We shouldn't be treated like second-class citizens,' added Robbie de Santos, 38, director of external affairs for the LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall, who was the victim of a homophobic hate crime himself 19 years ago.

First Brick Housing said it aimed to create new accommodation to support 'marginalised' Londoners and provide homes specifically for LGBTQ+ people to ensure they are 'free from oppression'

As well as having the backing of Mr Khan's office, the bid also has the support of Greenpeace.

A description of the First Brick Housing project in a breakdown of City Hall funding provides the summary: 'Homes for marginalised LGBTQ+ Londoners.

Project that seeks to provide homes where this community can live safely and free of oppression.

The extra care housing development will see 120 flats built for people aged 55 and over on the vacant site of Spire Hospital in Whalley Range, Manchester (pictured)

First Brick's website claims there is 'systemic inequality' in housing for LGBTQ+ people, with housing in general found to be less safe for transgender individuals.

The group's mission statement says: 'What connects us is the feeling that something isn't quite right about the housing that is currently on offer.

'That the homes we live in weren't made for us, weren't designed by us and weren't the place we wanted to call home.'

It adds: 'By being an LGBTQ+ housing provider who understands our community from our own lived experience, we hope our community won't need to self-censor their homes.'

It's bid was supported by the Mayor of London's Building Strong Communities Fund. But use of public cash to support the effort has led to criticism from some quarters.

Howard Cox Lindon of Reform UK, Mr Khans London mayoral rival, said his opponent's regime of the mayor 'dishes out cash to virtue-signalling causes based on fashion not on need.'

'If we go down the route of each identity group getting its own housing, we will see a more divided society,' he told the Telegraph.

In Manchester, extra care housing development has been proposed which will see 120 flats built on the vacant site of Spire Hospital in Whalley Range.

The ground-breaking proposal has been revealed by Great Places Housing Group, which plans to build two new apartment blocks on the demolished hospital plot.

A public consultation meeting is set to take place on January 12 between 2pm and 8pm at the site in Russell Road and again from midday to 2pm the following day. People have until March 8 to give their views.
German tourists have been awarded compensation after losing a sunbed battle at a Greek hotel.

Managers at the hotel in Rhodes have been operating a strict no-hogging policy that meant guests who put down towels in their 500 beds had to use them within 30 minutes.

But now they've been ordered to pay 280 to German holidaymakers who told Hanover District Court they'd been unable to get any loungers one morning.

The plaintiffs, who spent 4,532 on the break last summer, told the court that staff at the TUI Kids Club Atlantica Mikri Poli hotel failed to implement the policy.

That meant, they said, that on one morning they'd been unable to find loungers around any of the resort's six pools.

Managers at the hotel in Rhodes (pictured) have been operating a strict no-hogging policy that meant guests who put down towels in their 500 beds had to use them within 30 minutes

The plaintiffs, who spent 4,532 on the break last summer, told the court that staff at the TUI Kids Club Atlantica Mikri Poli hotel (pictured) failed to implement the policy

Judges ruled that the hotel had deprived the family of a portion of their holiday and ordered them to pay them 278.

It was estimated at about 7 per cent of the cost of their stay.

The family had initially demanded 687 in compensation from TUI, local media reported yesterday.

Both parties can still appeal the verdict of the trial and the ruling is not yet legally binding.

The sunbed wars between holidaymakers to get the best loungers seem to have escalated over the last year, with many frustrated holidaymakers sharing their outrage on social media.

The lounger-saving tactics have become so hostile that many hotels now use timers to limit lounger time and hire security guards equipped with warning whistles.

People queue for sun loungers at Hotel Estival Torrequebrada near Malaga  many brought chairs and a good book as they waited for almost two hours before the beach and pool opened

Some people start queuing at dawn, set their towels in a line outside the pool gates or even use their children to beat other holidaymakers.

On the Costa Del Sol, some waited for up to two hours for prime spots at the four-star Hotel Estival Torrequebrada, near Malaga, in July last year, as exclusive MailOnline pictures revealed.

In a very British scene in southern Spain, men and women were pictured turning up long before the beach and swimming pools opened to ensure they get the best spot  and most brought a chair and a good book to pass the time.

But one witness said that once the gate opened each morning, 'madness' ensued, with 'people literally running in'. Some parents even shoved forward their children to sprint in and grab a sunbed because they are fitter and faster.

Footage from the same month shows a huge queue of people in holiday attire standing in a line as they hope to get their hands on the best beds.

It comes after tourists in Tenerife were slammed as 'sunbed warriors' after they were spotted laying out loungers at 6.30am  three-and-a-half hours before the pool was due to open.
Dead koalas have been mysteriously dumped in cardboard boxes and left to rot by the side of the road until the gruesome find was discovered by a passing local.

Duane, 77, found the fly-blown corpse of one dead male koala next to another even more decomposed stuffed inside a box near a wind farm on rural Thistle Road in Portland, Victoria on Thursday.

This latest discovery comes just days after Helen Oakley found a third dead male koala 100 metres away on Tuesday, which has since vanished.

Authorities have now removed the other two animals but are still seeking the person who left them there and the reason the beloved marsupials died.

Members from the Conservation Regulator, which is tied to the Department of Environment (DEECA), is now investigating the matter.

Duane, 77, found a dead male koala on the side of a dirt road and another stuffed into a cardboard box near a wind farm on Thistle Road in Portland, Victoria, on Thursday

This latest discovery comes just days after Helen Oakley found another dead male koala was found 100 metres away on Tuesday, which has since been removed

READ MORE: Koala storms into servo The 5.7kg female koala walked through the front doors of the Ampol service station in the Adelaide Hills over the weekend. Advertisement

Duane, who suffers from cancer and takes daily walks around the area to help cope with the pain, almost cried when he realised what he had found.

'I thought, "Oh Christ" when I first saw the first one... I love animals. After I found the koalas I stood there and thought I could cry,' he told Yahoo.

Ms Oakes, who is a koala advocate, returned to the area on Thursday to inspect the latest discovery by Duane and said that the smell was horrendous.

'The smell was disgusting. When I got home I could still smell the stench on my clothes, so I had to get out of them and wash them right away,' she said.

The area is close to an aluminium smelter whose management, Alcoa, reported the findings to a regulator under the requirements of the Wildlife Act.

There is no suggestion the koalas' deaths were in any way linked to the smelter.

But authorities are appealing to the public to help them figure out what keeps killing koalas in the area.

Leader of wildlife rescue group Blessings of the Bush Koala Shelter, Janet Murray, said the placement of the bodies is what made the scene so suspicious.

Despite there being plenty of trees on Thistle Road the corpses were left out in the open which Ms Murray believes might mean that more will be found.

Ms Oakes, who is a koala advocate, returned to the area on Thursday to inspect the latest discovery by Duane and said that the smell was horrendous
A man and a woman have been charged after the bodies of two babies were found in South Wales.

Police launched a probe after the bodies of two babies were found at an end-terrace home in Maes-Y-Felin, Wildmill, Bridgend, on November 26 2022.

The infants, thought to be twins, were found in the three-storey property after police arrived on the scene just before 8pm.

Zilvinas Ledovskis, 48, and Egle Zilinskaite, 30, have been charged in relation to the incident with two counts of concealing the birth of a child and two counts of preventing the lawful and decent burial of a dead body.

The couple are expected to appear at Cardiff Magistrates Court on February 20.

Zilvinas Ledovskis (pictured), 48, and Egle Zilinskaite, 30, have been charged after the bodies of two babies were found in South Wales

Ledovskis and Zilinskaite (pictured) have been charged in relation to the incident with two counts of concealing the birth of a child and two counts of preventing the lawful and decent burial of a dead body

The couple are expected to appear at Cardiff Magistrates Court on February 20

Police at the scene in Maes-Y-Felin, Bridgend, in November 2022

A South Wales Police spokesman said: 'Detectives investigating the discovery of the bodies of two babies at an address in Wildmill, Bridgend in November 2022 have charged two people.

'Egle Zilinskaite, 30, and Zilvinas Ledovskis, 48, have both been charged with two counts of concealing the birth of a child and two counts of preventing the lawful and decent burial of a dead body.

'They will appear before Cardiff Magistrates Court on February 20th.'
Victims of the Horizon scandal have taken aim at ex-Post Office chief Paula Vennells as they relive the anxious wait to be arrested when they were wrongly accused of theft and fraud.

More than 700 postmasters and postmistresses were wrongly accused of theft, fraud and false accounting between 1999 and 2015 as a result of the faulty Horizon IT system.

The scandal is seen as one of the UK's biggest miscarriages of justice and has gained recent national attention over recent days thanks to Mr Bates Vs The Post Office airing on ITV.

Jo Hamilton, 66, who is depicted by Bafta-winning Monica Donlan in ITV's four-part drama, has accused Ms Vennells of having 'no moral compass'.

Ms Hamilton, who now works as a part-time cleaner, has called on the former Post Office chief to give back the CBE she was awarded in 2019 for services to the organisation.

Ex-Post Office chief executive Paula Vennells has come under increasing pressure to give back the CBE she was awarded in 2019 following ITV's four-part drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office

Jo Hamilton, 66, who is depicted by Bafta-winning Monica Donlan in ITV's four-part drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office, has accused Ms Vennells of having 'no moral compass'

'Youd think anyone with a moral compass would give it back,' she said

'She didnt physically prosecute us, Im not sure when she knew, but when she did find out, why didnt she say lets draw a line under this and sort it out.

'But no, they fought us and dragged it out for 10 years - thats the crime.'

Hamilton lost her post office in South Warnborough, Hampshire, after she was accused of stealing 36,000.

Pensioner Pamela Stubbs is portrayed by Downton Abbey star Lesley Nicol in Mr Bates vs The Post Office.

Ms Stubbs, who was left in tears when she watched a screening of the show, told how she was left anxiously waiting to be arrested.

Speaking to Bracknell News, she added: 'The Post Office decided that I was just one old lady running the branch on my own.

'What they didn't realise is that I was a stroppy old woman and wasn't going to cave in.'

Pamela Stubbs was suspended and stripped of her post office after glitches in the new Horizon IT system claimed she had 'lost' 27,000. She is portrayed in the new drama by Lesley Nicol

Mrs Stubbs was suspended and stripped of her post office after glitches in the new Horizon IT system claimed she had 'lost' 27,000.

She was never told bosses privately suspected losses at Barkham Post Office in Berkshire were 'related' to problems with the computer software.

When Ms Stubbs refused to pay the money, she was kicked out of the business she had run for 23 years  including ten by herself after her husband died  in 2010.

The pensioner, from Wokingham, was sent a bill every month for her 'debt', and the Post Office even said it would take a cut of her earnings from any future jobs.

A criminal investigator came round to interview her, but despite being unable to prove she had taken the money, the business was never returned to her.

However, Ms Stubbs did not end up being among the workers who were arrested or prosecuted.

She believes this was because she kept paper records of each transaction due to the problems she was having with the Horizon system.

Ms Stubbs eventually gave evidence in the successful court case in 2021 that led to 39 convictions being quashed.

Penny Williams was wrongly accused of embezzling 20,000 at her post office in Manaccan, on the Lizard, in Cornwall, and is still waiting for compensation

Former postmaster Alan Bates, who is portrayed by Toby Jones in the new drama, led and won the initial legal battle after himself falling victim to the faults

Penny Williams was wrongly accused of embezzling 20,000 at her post office in Manaccan, on the Lizard, in Cornwall, and is still waiting for compensation.

She was declared bankrupt after losing the post office and the pub she had been running in the village since 1997.

Ms Williams now runs a pie shop - Penny's Pies - and detailed the impact it had on her.

'Many of us have had interviews with psychologists,' she said.

'Most of us are okay now. We have had to pick ourselves up and go on after our lives veered off in an unpleasant way. Many people were worse off than I was but what happened to us was not okay and it certainly has had an impact on people's mental health.'

In 1999, the Post Office rolled out the Horizon accounting IT system, but faults in the software led to shortfalls in branch accounts.

Relying on the faulty IT evidence alone, the Post Office pursued subpostmasters and postmistresses for the money it said they owed.

Those who failed to reimburse it from their savings were prosecuted and some when to prison.

Mr Bates, now 69, and Ms Sercombe used their life savings to buy a Post Office Branch in Llandudno, North Wales, in 1998

Former postmaster Alan Bates, who is portrayed by Toby Jones in the new drama, led and won the initial legal battle after himself falling victim to the faults.

By last month, 142 appeal case reviews had been completed out of 900 people who were convicted in the scandal.

So far, 93 convictions have been overturned and 54 have been upheld, withdrawn or refused permission to appeal.

Last September, ministers said that every branch owner-operator who has had their conviction overturned would receive 600,000 in compensation.

However, last month it emerged that the Post Office had almost halved the money set aside for compensation because fewer owner-operators than expected had either won or brought appeals.
A passenger has been found dead in a plane toilet during a flight from Tenerife to Manchester.

During the journey on Tuesday, fellow travellers on the Jet2 plane noticed the cubicle had been locked for some time, prompting them to alert staff, The Mirror reported.

Upon opening the door, the crew made the shocking discovery that the man had died, and the plane was diverted to Cork airport in Ireland.

'Flight LS918 from Tenerife to Manchester diverted to Cork Airport on Tuesday January 2, due to a customer requiring medical attention,' a Jet2 spokesman told MailOnline.

'Regrettably, we can confirm that the customer sadly passed away, despite the best efforts of our highly-trained crew who intervened as soon as they became aware.

A passenger has been found dead in a plane toilet during a flight from Tenerife to Manchester. During the journey on Tuesday, fellow travellers on the Jet2 plane noticed the cubicle had been locked for some time, prompting them to alert staff, according to a report

'This was an extremely difficult situation for our crew and we would like to thank them for their efforts.

'Our thoughts are with the customer's family and friends at this very difficult time.'

One passenger on board told the newspaper that their husband noticed the toilet door had been locked for some time 'and he said that he thought he was dead. Tragically he was right'.

They added that the plane was due to land in Manchester at 8.30pm on Tuesday, but that passengers had to wait for another plane in Cork, eventually arriving at 1.30am.

A spokesman for Britain's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office told MailOnline: 'We are supporting the family of a British man who has died and we are in contact with the local authorities.'
Two female prison staff are due in court today accused of having a relationship with the same inmate at the same time.

Aleesha Bates, 29, and Jodie Wilkes, 27, are both charged with misconduct in public office after allegedly 'engaging in a relationship with a prisoner' while working at HMP Buckley Hall, in Rochdale.

Due to appear alongside them in the dock at Bolton Crown Court is Michael Cronshaw, 36.

He is charged with two counts of intentionally encouraging/assisting the commission on an indictable offence - namely misconduct in public office - by engaging in a relationship.

Cronshaw is also charged with possessing an unauthorised mobile inside a prison.

Aleesha Bates, 29, is charged with misconduct in public office after allegedly 'engaging in a relationship with a prisoner' while working at HMP Buckley Hall, in Rochdale

Prison colleague Jodie Wilkes, 27, is also charged with the same offence

Bates, from Heywood, Rochdale, is accused of having a relationship with Michael Cronshaw between December 2019 and June 2020 while she was a prison officer. Wilkes allegedly had her relationship between April and June 2020

Bates, from Heywood, Rochdale, is accused of having a relationship with Cronshaw between December 2019 and June 2020 while working as a prison officer at the Category C male prison, which has a capacity of 450.

Operational support grade Wilkes, from Horwich, Bolton, is said to have conducted her relationship with him between April and June 2020.

The OSG role involves 'supporting the smooth and safe running of the prison' and contact with prisoners tends to be limited.

All three appeared at Manchester Magistrates' Court in November and have yet to enter pleas to the charges.
The Metropolitan Police says no investigation into Prince Andrew has been launched despite him being named in a tranche of Jeffrey Epstein documents released.

The Duke of York had been reported to the Metropolitan Police by anti-monarchy campaign group Republic after allegations of sexual assault were made against him in unsealed court documents.

Andrew was referenced multiple times in files relating to disgraced paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

In a short statement today, Scotland Yard said: 'We are aware of the release of court documents in relation to Jeffrey Epstein.

'As with any matter, should new and relevant information be brought to our attention we will assess it. No investigation has been launched.'

The Duke of York, pictured here with Virginia Giuffre (centre) and Ghislaine Maxwell (right), has always denied wrongdoing in his relationship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein

Calls for the duke to be investigated were matched by a US attorney who represented some of Epstein's victims, who said police in Britain have a duty to investigate Andrew as he 'still refuses to fully account for his time' with the paedophile.

The unredacted documents, which were released on Wednesday in the United States, included allegations Andrew had an orgy with underage girls and touched a woman's breast while posing with a puppet of himself.

It is a fresh setback for the late Queen's second son who, just 10 days ago, walked to church on Christmas Day with the King and the rest of the royal family, symbolising his gradual rehabilitation within the monarchy after his public appearance at his brother's coronation in his garter robes in May.

It may see the end of his bid to reenter the royal fold, with well-placed sources telling the Mail that while the court claims were not a surprise, they will have served to 'crystallise' King Charles's determination to solve the 'Andrew problem' decisively.

Plans were already in train to evict him from Royal Lodge, his ten-bedroom Windsor home since 2003, and move him to a smaller residence in keeping with his 'downgraded' status.

The newly released court documents are believed to have strengthened the King's resolve that Andrew will never be allowed to resume royal duties.

The 63-year-old prince, who has previously strenuously denied the allegations, paid millions a year ago to settle a civil case out of court with Virginia Giuffre with no admission of guilt after she accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was 17.

But he is mentioned more than 70 times in nearly 1,000 pages of interviews and transcripts released in the US in connection with a 2015 defamation case brought by Virginia Giuffre against Ghislaine Maxwell, who was jailed for sex trafficking young girls for Epstein.

The names of more than 170 people who were either associates, friends or victims of Epstein are being made public following a judge's order last month, including high-profile figures such as former US president Bill Clinton.

The Duke of York has been reported to the police by the campaign group Republic after allegations of sexual assault resurfaced in unsealed court documents.

Graham Smith, chief executive of the anti-monarchy group Republic, said on Thursday that he had reported Andrew to the police, accusing the Met of failing to conduct a serious criminal investigation into the case.

The force said in August 2022 that it was taking no further action over allegations made against Epstein and that any future probes into human trafficking by the sex offender were focused on activities outside the UK.

It also previously said it stood by its 2015 decision not to investigate claims by Ms Giuffre that she was sex trafficked to London by Epstein.

Mr Smith said: 'To date, there appears to have been no serious criminal investigation, no interview of the accused or other witnesses, and no clear justification for taking no action.

Prince Andrew pictured in the background alongside the rest of the Royal Family as they attend the traditional Christmas Day service at St Mary's Magdalene Church on the Sandringham Estate last month

Graham Smith, CEO of anti-monarchy group Republic, said he had reported Prince Andrew to the Metropolitan Police. Pictured: Mr Smith outside Westminster Abbey prior to the Commonwealth Service in March 2023

In a tweet on the Republic X account, the group said it is 'time for the Met Police to act' over the allegations against Prince Andrew

US attorney Spencer Kuvin (pictured), who has represented some of Jeffrey Epstein's victims, has also called for police to investigate Prince Andrew

'I am calling on the Met Police to reopen this case, I am calling on MPs to debate this affair in Parliament, and I am calling on Charles to make a public statement, in front of the press and taking questions, to respond to these allegations and what they say about the monarchy.

'How can we not expect a response from the Government and head of state? At the time of the alleged offences, Andrew was a government trade ambassador and an active member of the royal family.

'They fudged and obfuscated for 11 years before taking any definitive action.'

Mr Smith added: 'The question many people will be asking is simple: if the accused were anyone else, do we believe they wouldn't have been investigated and prosecuted?'

Meanwhile, US attorney Spencer Kuvin, who has represented some of Jeffrey Epstein's victims, said people associated with the wealthy financier such as Andrew, deserve a higher level of scrutiny.

Mr Kuvin told the Mirror: 'Andrew still refuses to fully account for his time with Epstein and has failed to speak with US investigators about what he knows.

'British police need to do their duty and reopen their investigation into his conduct.'

He added that Epstein is probably 'one of the worst sexual predators of the century'.

Buckingham Palace, which no longer speaks on behalf of the duke after he stepped down as a working royal in 2019 over his friendship with Epstein, has not commented on the documents.

Prince Andrew at Sandringham on Christmas Day, 2023. He is said to have avoided prosecutors questions in 2019 despite publicly vowing to assist with the investigation into Epstein

Documents released this week claimed Andrew called financier Jeffrey Epstein (pictured) weekly and jetted to his private Caribbean retreat

Evidence from Johanna Sjoberg, who worked for Epstein as a masseuse, alleged Andrew touched her breast while sitting on a couch inside Epstein's Manhattan apartment as he posed for a photo with a caricature of himself in 2001.

The claim, which has been alleged previously, is thought to refer to a Spitting Image puppet of the duke.

READ MORE HERE: Jeffrey Epstein's victim claims she was groped by Prince Andrew at the disgraced financier's Manhattan mansion in newly released court documents Advertisement

Ms Sjoberg said, while giving evidence in May 2016: 'Ghislaine told me to come upstairs, and we went into a closet and pulled out the puppet, the caricature of Prince Andrew, and brought it down.

'And there was a little tag on the puppet that said 'Prince Andrew' on it, and that's when I knew who he was.'

Ms Sjoberg was asked what the puppet looked like and replied: 'It looked like him.

'And she brought it down and presented it to him; and that was a great joke, because apparently it was a production from a show on BBC.

'And they decided to take a picture with it, in which Virginia and Andrew sat on a couch.

'They put the puppet on Virginia's lap, and I sat on Andrew's lap, and they put the puppet's hand on Virginia's breast, and Andrew put his hand on my breast, and they took a photo.'

Other mentions of the duke include previous allegations that Epstein 'forced Jane Doe #3 to have sexual relations with was a member of the British Royal Family, Prince Andrew (a/k/a Duke of York)' at three locations including on Epstein's private island 'in an orgy with numerous other under-aged girls'.

The document claimed that Epstein instructed Jane Doe #3 to give Andrew 'whatever he demanded' and that Maxwell 'facilitated Prince Andrew's acts of sexual abuse by acting as a 'madame' for Epstein'.

Prince Andrew pictured attending the Easter Mattins Service at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in April 2023

Prince Andrew and King Charles III speak following a vigil in memory of Queen Elizabeth II at St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh in September 2022

The then-Prince Charles and Prince Andrew share a word from the balcony of Buckingham Palace while their mother Queen Elizabeth II looks on during Trooping The Colour in 2019

Ms Giuffre has claimed she was trafficked by Epstein to have sex with Andrew three times when she was 17 and a minor under US law at Maxwell's London home, in Epstein's New York home and during an orgy with Epstein at Caribbean island.

She was questioned over the whereabouts of the famous photograph showing her with the duke, who has his arm around her, with Maxwell grinning in the background.

READ MORE HERE: Why Prince Andrew can't seem to shake THAT infamous photo of him and his teenaged accuser as it emerges at the centre of documents relating to Jeffrey Epstein Advertisement

Ms Giuffre added it may have been in storage boxes that were 'full of Nerf guns, my kids' toys, photos' at her mother and father-in-law's home in Sydney, Australia.

She said she gave the picture to the FBI in 2011 but had last seen it before she packed up her home to emigrate to Australia from Colorado.

Among the documents appears to be an email sent by Maxwell expressing her fears she would be questioned about her own relationship with Andrew.

It reads: 'I have already suffered such a terrible and painful loss over the last few days that I can't even see what life after press hell even looks like - statements that don't address all just lead to more questions... what is my relationship to Clinton? Andrew on and on.'

In Maxwell's videotaped deposition in 2016, she claimed she could only recall the duke visiting Jeffrey Epstein's private island in the US Virgin Islands once.

The Met Police and representatives of the Duke have been approached for a comment.
The converted 17th century house is located on the banks of the River Severn in Pixham, Worcestershire

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A retired engineer has been dubbed the modern-day King Canute after building a wall to protect his 600,000 home from Storm Henk flooding.

Nick Lupton, 60, and his wife Anne, 50, live in a converted 17th century house on the banks of the River Severn.

Since they moved into the four-bedroom detached property in Pixham, Worcestershire in 2016, the house and one-acre of land has been flooded 11 times.

The couple became so fed up with the costly clear-ups, they decided to surround the entire property with a 7ft-high flood defence.

They spent four months constructing the brick barrier before finally finishing it last October - just weeks before Storm Henk swept Britain.

 Slide me  Nick & Anne Lupton's 600,000 property before and after the Storm Henk floods. Their wall is keeping the water at bay

The house and one-acre of land has flooded 11 times since the pair moved in 2016. But now Nick Lupton has built defences

The couple live in a converted 17th century house on the banks of the River Severn - it is surrounded by water but currently dry

The couple became so fed up with the costly clear-ups, they decided to surround the entire property with a 7ft-high flood defence

They spent four months constructing the brick barrier and pumps. After testing it in October, it is now in use for first time

The couple have never had to claim on insurance having been able to keep their home dry with various measures

They finally finished their flood defence last October - just weeks before Storm Henk swept Britain. He won't have to claim on insurance

READ MORE: COWS drown in a flooded field and rail lines and roads turn to rivers: Chaos across UK as Thames and Trent break their banks and 1,000 homes are evacuated amid 302 flood warnings Flooding around Tewkesbury Abbey and the Gloucestershire town this morning Advertisement

Stunning drone images show the black-and-white house and courtyard surrounded by flood waters after the River Severn burst its banks earlier this week.

Nick said: 'We bought the house with our eyes wide open.

'We've been flooded 11 times since 2016.

'We live in a beautiful part of the world, right next to the River Severn, with one drawback - we get flooded.

'We finally decided to build ourselves a wall around the house.

'We built it last summer and it took about four months to complete.

'We finished it in the middle of September and we tested it the middle of October.

'This flood is quite a high one, it's close to the record in 2020, so it's a really good test of it and so far it's stood up to that.'

Part of the property was once the River Ferryboat's Inn. When it was a pub, the sound of floating beer barrels in the cellar was a sign of the rising water.

Before building the flood wall, Nick and Anne added barriers in front of the doors and pumps under the floors to keep the flood water out.

Over 300 flood warnings have been issued across England

A man uses his kayak to cross flooded meadows in the aftermath of Storm Henk, at Henley-on-Thames

A woman pushes a child through a flooded street at Longford near Gloucester this morning

A narrowboat next to a road bridge over the river in Barrow-on-Soar in Leicestershire today

The Environment Agency issued hundreds of flood alerts (in amber) and warnings (in red)

The couple remortgaged to pay for the flood wall and said they hoped it would add value to their home as a result.

Residents living nearby have congratulated the couple for taking action to protect their home.

One said: 'Nick's a fabulous fella and we all applaud him for what he's done.

'Flooding is such a problem around here. It's not just the fields that flood, it's roads and homes.

'The powers that be must act soon to stop this misery happening again and again or people will simply move away.'
Seven thrill-seekers on a rollercoaster were stuck 100ft in the air after the ride broke down with their seats facing straight up.

Six adults and one child were left trapped on the rollercoaster for around half an hour.

The ride was going up a steep incline when it stopped, leaving the riders in a near vertical position.

The rollercoaster, named Krater, stopped working at the Parque del Cafe, in Montenegro, west of Bogota, Colombia, on January 3.

Other park customers captured the moment the thrill-seekers were rescued by the emergency services using a service lift.

Six adults and one child were left trapped 100ft in the air for around half an hour

The ride was going up a steep incline when it stopped, leaving the riders in a near vertical position (pictured)

Other park customers captured the moment the thrill-seekers were rescued by the emergency services using a service lift (pictured bottom)

Following the incident, a park spokesperson reiterated their commitment to public safety and praised the actions of the emergency workers who took part in the rescue (pictured centre)

READ MORE: Rollercoaster nightmare as Universal Studios Japan ride breaks down at its 150ft height - UPSIDE DOWN Advertisement

One video shows two rescuers standing at the top of the ride, apparently comforting the seven strapped-in passengers.

Meanwhile, two other emergency workers are seen ascending the ride on the service lift to assist with the rescue operation.

After around 30 minutes, the group made it safely back to the ground without injury.

Following the incident, a park spokesperson reiterated their commitment to public safety and praised the actions of the emergency workers who took part in the rescue.

One local said: 'Something always happens to that attraction.'

The Krater rollercoaster, the park's main attraction, opened in 2015.

The ride was opened to celebrate the park's 30th anniversary.

The rollercoaster has several 360 and 180 degree turns and can reach speeds of up to 53mph.
The shoplifting epidemic in the UK is now so bad that 1.25 bars of Galaxy chocolates are being put in locked security cases to deter crooks.

The confectionery has been given the kind of protection more often provided for high-risk products such as razors or expensive alcohol.

Shoppers were shocked that retail crime has become so widespread that even 1.25 treats are deemed to need guarding against shoplifters.

The move comes as Britain's high street retailers suffer a shoplifting epidemic costing 1billion each year, with police accused of going soft on serial thieves.

The clear cases containing chocolate were seen on shelves at a branch of the Co-op supermarket chain in Milton Road, Cambridge.

Bars of Galaxy chocolate costing just 1.25 have been put in locked security cases at a store in Cambridge to stave off crooks in the latest symbol of the UK's shoplifting epidemic

Shocked shoppers told of their sadness at seeing the latest security measures being needed

The cases have been introduced at a Co-op store in Cambridge and comes after extra security has been introduced for everyday products including coffee

One shopper said: 'I did a double take when I saw it. It used to just be expensive items, but now a bar of chocolate that costs just over 1? It's very sad.'

Galaxy chocolate products have traditionally been seen as more upmarket than those by rival confectionery firms Cadbury and Mars, but it was unclear why these products were in cases were similarly-priced items on nearby shelves were not.

But the Co-op has revealed which products are now being added to security cases in their latest efforts to deter shoplifters.

A spokeswoman today told Mail Online these include not only 'higher-value chocolates' but also coffee, washing powder and laundry gels.

Shoppers encouraged to take dummy display cases to tills to exchange for the actual product.

The measures come as shoplifting offences recorded by police in England and Wales soared by a quarter in the previous 12 months, according to an Office for National Statistics report last October.

And new data last week revealed more than 200,000 shoplifting cases went unsolved in the past year, an average of 560 each day and more than half all cases.

The British Retail Consortium says theft is costing the industry 1billion annually.

The amount of cases across England and Wales closed without a suspect being identified leapt by a third to 205,676 in the year to July - equivalent to 560 per day

Paul Gerrard, the Co-op's director of public affairs, has condemned police for failing to respond to enough call-outs as he told of the dangers shop workers face each day

Co-op chiefs have been especially outspoken on the shoplifting epidemic their stores across the country are enduring and the dangers faced by shop staff.

Last May the Co-op opted to take extra precautions to protect instant coffee from being stolen, the same day food prices in the UK hit a new high.

Dummy 'display only' coffee jars were put on shelves after 200g Kenco Smooth instant coffee rose 13 per cent in price, while Nescafe Gold Blend was also taken down after increasing to 9.35.

And one of the Co-op's directors criticised police for failing to respond to call-outs, as he revealed gangs of thieves were attempting to steal entire sections of stores.

Paul Gerrard, the Co-op's director of public affairs, told last November how raiders were regularly entering shops and trying to take large quantities of meat, spirits and other high-value items.

He said the firm had suffered a 43 per cent rise in crime over the previous year, while abuse was up 39 per cent and violence 35 per cent.

A Freedom of Information request by the Co-op found police did not respond to 76 per cent of serious retail crimes reported.

Bosses at Aldi, Boots, M&S and Sainsbury's were among dozens of firms signing a letter to the government calling for assaults on staff to be better recorded, as it was revealed one in three public-facing retail workers were considering quitting.

Co-op stores have also been putting coffee in security cases to prevent theft

Justice secretary Alex Chalk, pictured here in Downing Street last April, last month told the Mail on Sunday he wanted first-time shoplifters tagged with tracking devices

The Justice Secretary last month suggested first-time shoplifters could be tagged with tracking devices in a new crackdown on high-street crime .

Alex Chalk told The Mail on Sunday electronic ankle tags would hang 'like a sword of Damocles' over those thinking of reoffending, adding: 'They know, if they step one inch out of line, they are liable to go to prison.'

The Metropolitan Police has told of introducing its own 'game-changing' facial recognition technology to capture prolific shoplifters, matching retailers' CCTV imagery with Scotland Yard's custody shots.

Meanwhile, an ex-Scotland Yard detective now heads a company dubbed Britain's first 'private police force' in a bid to tackle crime such as shoplifting - working with retail giants such as Apple, Fortnum & Mason, Louis Vuitton, Mulberry.
Former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair has led tributes to Derek Draper, describing the one-time political adviser as a ruthless political operative and 'an important part of the New Labour story'.

Mr Draper, who has died aged 56 after suffering long-lasting symptoms from coronavirus, was part of one of Britain's most prominent media power couples with his marriage to TV presenter Kate Garraway.

Sir Tony was among the New Labour era heavyweights leading tributes to Mr Draper, who worked for Blairite Lord Mandelson and set up the Progress organisation with Liam Byrne, who went on to become an MP.

He called him a 'tough, sometimes ruthless political operative' and a 'brilliant advisor', but added that he was also a 'loving, kind, generous and good natured man.'

Another former Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, wrote on social media: 'So sad that after such a brave struggle Derek Draper has lost his life as a result of Covid.

'I will remember him as brilliant, creative and multitalented, and our thoughts are with Kate, Darcey and Billy.'

Alastair Campbell, a fellow prominent New Labour figure in the 1990s, described Mr Draper as 'a huge character'.

Former lobbyist and political adviser Derek Draper was part of one of Britain's most prominent media power couples with his marriage to TV presenter Kate Garraway

Derek Draper (circled) is seen standing next to Labour grandees including Neil Kinnock, John Prescott and Peter Mandelson (right). The footage was in BBC2's The Rise of the Murdoch Dynasty

In 2005, Mr Draper married Kate Garraway, the GMTV co-presenter who is now part of the Good Morning Britain team on ITV and appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2007 and I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! in November 2019. Above: The couple in 2008

Mr Draper is seen with his wife and children at their home in a scene from a documentary about his battle with Covid

Sir Tony said in his tribute: 'I am so sad to hear the news about Derek. My heart goes out to Kate and their children William and Darcey.

'It is extraordinary and remarkable that Derek survived so long after the ravages of Covid. And that was in large measure due to the love Derek had for his family and they for him. This also says something very special about Derek.

'He was a tough, sometimes ruthless political operative, a brilliant adviser and someone you always wanted on your side.

'But underneath that tough exterior he was a loving, kind, generous and good natured man you wanted as a friend.'

Sir Tony added: 'He was an important part of the New Labour story, at the centre of things right at the beginning. But most important of all, he was a good colleague and great friend. And we will miss him deeply.'

Mr Campbell, who was Sir Tony's director of communications for much of his time in Downing Street, added on X, formerly Twitter: 'Very sad to hear the news about Derek Draper.

'He was a huge character, a giver not a taker, and had so much more to give before Covid took its toll.'

Former Labour leader Ed Miliband said: 'I am deeply sorry to hear of the death of Derek Draper.

'He was someone of deep intelligence, values and wit who was the life and soul of the many worlds he inhabited, including politics.'

The shadow climate minister added: 'I first met Derek 30 years ago and, like anyone who met him, I was drawn into his orbit by his charisma and love of life. He was a loyal and good friend to so many.

'The last few years have been a living nightmare for him and his family.

'All of my deepest condolences go out to Kate, Darcey and Billy and all his family.'

Labour MP Chris Bryant said: 'Absolutely gutted to hear that Derek is no longer with us. I first met him long before 1997.

'He was a clever, witty sometimes mischievous friend and a great campaigner. Much love to Kate.'

Mail on Sunday columnist Peter Hitchens said: 'RIP Derek Draper, and my condolences to his family and especially to @KateGarraway on their sad loss.

Sir Tony Blair was among the New Labour era heavyweights leading tributes to Mr Draper, who worked for Blairite Lord Mandelson and set up the Progress organisation with Liam Byrne, who went on to become an MP. He called him a 'tough, sometimes ruthless political operative' and a 'brilliant advisor', but added that he was also a 'loving, kind, generous and good natured man'

Alastair Campbell and former Prime Minister Gordon Brown also paid tribute to Mr Draper

Other tributes included those from presenter Dan Walker and Labour MP Chris Bryant

'Derek and I together presented a programme on the old Talk Radio in the late 1990s, and came to respect each other despite being fierce opponents on all things.'

Financial expert Martin Lewis said: 'I'm sad to hear of Derek Draper passing. We had a few dinners out together with Kate and Derek and he was also a great big, warm, fun man.

'That's how he should be remembered - he would've liked the attention :) Wishing Kate and the family love and ease through the pain.

'I hope they are left to grieve in peace & privacy, and the end of this tragic chapter lets them move on and recover the joy in their lives.'

Shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds wrote: 'When I was a student at Manchester Derek was still talked about around University of Manchester.

'When I met him I always found him thoughtful and kind, quite different to his public image at the time.

'Prayers for him and his family.'

Shadow Paymaster General John Woodcock said: 'He was already a very senior figure in the Labour party, he was playing a big part and he played a big part in our famous, historic 1997 Labour victory.

'He was such a force of nature, he had such a big personality. He had razor sharp wit.'

The New Labour spin doctor reached great heights of influence in the 1990s but became best known for his involvement in the 'lobbygate' scandal.

A former researcher for Blairite Peter Mandelson, Mr Draper became a director of lobbying firm GPC Market Access in 1996 and set up the New Labour organisation Progress with Liam Byrne, who went on to become an MP.

It was while working at GPC that Mr Draper was caught on tape boasting to an undercover journalist of his government connections.

In one of the first sleaze scandals to hit Tony Blair's fledgling administration, he reportedly claimed: 'There are 17 people who count in this government, and to say I am intimate with all of them is the understatement of the century.'

Mr Draper insisted he had done nothing wrong in the so-called 'cash for access' scandal dubbed 'lobbygate' but admitted he did have a 'big mouth'.

The incident appeared to spell the end of any bigger political ambitions for the famously champagne-swilling New Labour stalwart and he travelled to the United States, where he trained as a psychotherapist.

In 2005, Mr Draper married Kate Garraway, the GMTV co-presenter who is now part of the Good Morning Britain team on ITV and appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2007 and I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! in November 2019.

In 2008 he returned to the Labour spotlight as the head of the website LabourList, a left-wing rival to online portals such as Conservative Home.

He hit the headlines again in 2009 and stepped down as editor of LabourList after email correspondence between him and Damian McBride, one of Gordon Brown's key aides, was leaked.

In the emails, Mr McBride proposed a campaign of unfounded personal smears against senior Conservatives on a new blog called RedRag, an idea praised by Mr Draper as 'absolutely, totally brilliant'.

A former researcher for Blairite Peter Mandelson, Mr Draper became a director of lobbying firm GPC Market Access in 1996 and set up the New Labour organisation Progress with Liam Byrne, who went on to become an MP. Above: Mr Draper in 1998

Mr Draper was among the first in the UK to fall seriously ill with Covid-19 and was admitted to an intensive care unit as the country entered lockdown in March 2020. Above: With his wife and her parents at Windsor Castle last June after Ms Garraway was made a member of the Order of the British Empire for her services to broadcasting

The New Labour spin doctor reached great heights of influence in the 1990s but became best known for his involvement in the 'lobbygate' scandal

In a resignation statement released to the Guardian, Mr Draper acknowledged that his continued presence at LabourList - which was originally set up to discuss serious policy ideas - was detracting from the website.

'I regret ever receiving the infamous email and I regret my stupid, hasty reply. I should have said straight away that the idea was wrong,' he said.

'I do ask people to remember that its contents were never published by me, or anyone else, involved in the Labour Party and they would never have seen the light of day were it not for someone hacking into my emails and placing them into the public domain.

'Because of that, a silly idea ultimately destined for the trash can became a national scandal.'

Mr Draper was once again consigned to the Labour wilderness and became chief executive of a leadership consultancy, compiling weekly emails summarising the best content for business and HR leaders.

In 2019 he announced he was resigning his Labour Party membership.

Mr Draper was among the first in the UK to fall seriously ill with Covid-19 and was admitted to an intensive care unit as the country entered lockdown in March 2020.

He was placed in an induced coma and it was not until more than a year later, in April 2021, that he was able to return home to his family.

His case attracted much media attention, partly because of his marriage to Garraway, who produced an award-winning documentary about his illness, and partly because of the length of his hospital stay.

Some media reported that he had become the nation's longest-suffering patient after spending 13 months in hospital.

Despite now being free of the virus, Mr Draper had suffered long-lasting damage to his organs and required daily care at home.

In early July 2022, Garraway disclosed he had been readmitted to hospital and later that month dropped out of presenting Good Morning Britain as his condition worsened.

The February following, the ITV series Kate Garraway: Caring for Derek aired on ITV, and documented Draper's arrival home from the hospital while also following Garraway as she navigated the 'myriad challenges of the social care system and its complexities.'

Months later, the couple were invited to be Sir Elton John's guests of honour at his Farewell Yellow Brick Road concert at London's O2 Arena in the April.

Draper was photographed by his wife's side in June, despite being in and out of hospital, when she collected her MBE from the Prince of Wales in an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle.

In December, The Sun reported Draper had 'suffered a massive heart attack' and said Garraway was keeping a 24/7 vigil by his bedside.

Draper had two children with Garraway - a son, William, and a daughter, Darcey.
Derek Draper's final outing with his wife Kate Garraway was at the wedding of his former boss Peter Mandelson last October.

The former political aide, who has died aged 56 following a long battle with Covid, was seen sitting in a wheelchair next to his wife as he clasped Lord Mandelson's hand.

The couple were among high-profile guests who attended the Labour grandee's wedding at Old Marylebone Town Hall in London.

Lord Mandelson, 70, tied the knot with his long-term partner Reinaldo Avila da Silva, 51.

Derek Draper's final outing with his wife Kate Garraway was at the wedding of his former boss Peter Mandelson last October. The former political aide, who has died aged 56 following a long battle with Covid, was seen sitting in a wheelchair next to his wife as he clasped Lord Mandelson's hand

Mr Draper worked as a researcher for leading New Labour figure Lord Mandelson when he was the MP for Hartlepool in the early 1990s.

He went on to become a director for lobbying firm GPC Market Access in 1996 and then set up New Labour organisation Progress.

It was while working at GPC that Mr Draper was caught on tape boasting to an undercover journalist of his government connections.

In one of the first sleaze scandals to hit Tony Blair's fledgling administration, he reportedly claimed: 'There are 17 people who count in this government, and to say I am intimate with all of them is the understatement of the century.'

Mr Draper went on to become a psychotherapist after leaving politics but then became one of the UK's most high-profile coronavirus victims.

He was admitted to an intensive care unit as the country entered lockdown in March 2020.

He was placed in an induced coma and it was not until more than a year later, in April 2021, that he was able to return home to his family.

However, he still required round-the-clock care and was in permanently frail health.

Derek Draper (circled) is seen standing next to Labour grandees including Neil Kinnock, John Prescott and Peter Mandelson (right). The footage was in BBC2's The Rise of the Murdoch Dynasty

Derek and Kate are seen together when she starred in I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! in 2019

Ms Garraway documented her husband's struggles in an award-winning TV documentary.

She revealed today that he died after suffering a heart attack before Christmas.

The Good Morning Britain star, 56, announced the passing of her husband on Instagram this morning, and revealed she was holding his hand when he died.

She said: 'I'm sad to have to tell you all that my darling husband Derek has passed away.

'Derek was surrounded by his family in his final days and I was by his side holding his hand throughout the last long hours and when he passed.

'I have so much more to say, and of course I will do so in due course, but for now I just want to thank all the medical teams who fought so hard to save him and to make his final moments as comfortable and dignified as possible'.

Ms Garraway and Mr Draper married in 2005 and have two children, Darcey and Billy.
Sky News' Ian King paid moving tribute to Derek Draper during a live broadcast after learning about the death of his 'great friend'.

Mr Draper died after suffering a heart attack before Christmas following a long and tragic battle with Covid, his wife Kate Garraway revealed today.

A crestfallen Mr King, who studied at University of Manchester with 56-year-old Mr Draper, paid tribute to his friend in an emotional statement on air.

He said: 'Derek was a sufferer with Covid right from the outset [and] very, very severely affected by that.

'[It's] awfully sad news  and very personal for me too because I was at university with Derek more than 30 years ago and I considered him a great friend. My condolences to the family.'

Mr Draper died after suffering a heart attack before Christmas following a long and tragic battle with Covid, his wife Kate Garraway revealed today

Kate Garraway announced the news of her husband's death in a heartbreaking post on Instagram today

'I was at university with Derek more than 30 years ago and I considered him a great friend'

On GB News Pip Tomson, who is a former Good Morning Britain colleague of Kate's, also choked back tears at the news.

READ MORE: Kate Garraway's husband Derek Draper dies aged 56 after long Covid battle Advertisement

'I just want to bring you some incredibly sad, breaking news that we've heard in the last few minutes,' she said.

'The husband of ITV presenter Kate Garraway  I'm sorry I worked with Kate for a long time so this is really difficult, such a strong woman  her husband Derek Draper who has been in a very serious condition after suffering Covid, he has passed away.'

Good Morning Britain star Kate, 56, announced the news of her husband's death in a heartbreaking post on Instagram today - in which she revealed she was holding her husband's hand as he died.

She said: 'I'm sad to have to tell you all that my darling husband Derek has passed away.

'Derek was surrounded by his family in his final days and I was by his side holding his hand throughout the last long hours and when he passed. I have so much more to say, and of course I will do so in due course, but for now I just want to thank all the medical teams who fought so hard to save him and to make his final moments as comfortable and dignified as possible'.

Mr Draper was a former researcher for Blairite Peter Mandelson who became a New Labour spin doctor and later retrained as a psychotherapist after a series of political and lobbying scandals.

A crestfallen Mr King, who studied at University of Manchester with 56-year-old Mr Draper, paid tribute to his friend in an emotional statement on air

Kate Garraway and husband Derek Draper at the National Television Awards in 2007

Tragically he was among the first in the UK to fall seriously ill with Covid-19 and was admitted to an intensive care unit as the country entered lockdown in March 2020.

He was one of the country's longest-suffering COVID patients after being in hospital but never fully recovered after the virus left long-lasting damage to his organs and meant he needed 24/7 care.

He suffered a massive heart attack last month and MailOnline understands he died on Wednesday night in a North London hospital, surrounded by his family.

Mr Draper was among the first in the UK to fall seriously ill with Covid-19 and was admitted to an intensive care unit as the country entered lockdown in March 2020.

He was placed in an induced coma and it was not until more than a year later, in April 2021, that he was able to return home to his family.

Derek Draper in 2021 with his wife Kate and children Darcey and Billy after returning home from hospital, where he was Britain's longest suffering covid patient. He has died age 56

His case attracted much media attention, partly because of his marriage to Garraway, who produced an award-winning documentary about his illness, and partly because of the length of his hospital stay.

Some media reported that he had become the nation's longest-suffering patient after spending 13 months in hospital.

Despite now being free of the virus, Mr Draper had suffered long-lasting damage to his organs and required daily care at home.

In early July 2022, Garraway disclosed he had been readmitted to hospital and later that month dropped out of presenting Good Morning Britain as his condition worsened.

The February following, the ITV series Kate Garraway: Caring for Derek aired on ITV, and documented Draper's arrival home from the hospital while also following Garraway as she navigated the 'myriad challenges of the social care system and its complexities.'

Months later, the couple were invited to be Sir Elton John's guests of honour at his Farewell Yellow Brick Road concert at London's O2 Arena in the April.

Draper was photographed by his wife's side in June, despite being in and out of hospital, when she collected her MBE from the Prince of Wales in an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle.

In December, The Sun reported Draper had 'suffered a massive heart attack' and said Garraway was keeping a 24/7 vigil by his bedside.

Celebrity friends of Derek have today been paying tribute to the 56-year-old.
A family on their way home from a ski trip have relived the horror of being caught in the terrifying Japan Airlines fireball crash in Tokyo which killed five.

Hailee O'Sullivan, 17, was travelling with her brother, mother and father on JAL flight 516 when it hit a coastguard aircraft on the runway at Haneda Airport on Tuesday.

Her brother Jakob said that his family did not realise the full extent of the damage until they evacuated the aircraft and saw that the engines were on fire.

Hailee O'Sullivan and her brother Jakob were on a ski trip in Japan with their parents when JAL flight 516 crashed into a Coast Guard aircraft at Tokyo's Haneda Airport on Tuesday

The siblings said that they weren't even aware what had happened until they escaped the cabin and were able to see that both engines had been engulfed in flames

READ MORE: How cabin crew pulled off the miracle evacuation Advertisement

Both Hailee and Jakob thought the plane would explode at any minute but all the jet's passngers and crew miraculously escaped unharmed.

'We thought it was going to blow up - luckily it didn't [but] I was in a way waiting for it to blow up,' Hailee told 9News.

Flight staff on board directed passengers in Japanese to put their face masks on and despite not speaking the language, the O'Sullivan's quickly followed the instructions.

The family had barely escaped the the plane before looking back to see it completely engulfed in flames by the time they had reached the terminal.

A video recorded by the the siblings that was filmed throughout the excavation showed the cabin rapidly filling with smoke as those inside begin panicking.

Towards the end of their footage the pair turn back towards the plane and capture a shot of a fireball erupting from the wreckage.

'The whole inside's on fire, we would be dead right now,' one can be heard saying.

Despite the destruction clearly visible from the terminal, Jakob insisted that they were completely unaware of what had happened until they Googled it.

Japan's Transport Ministry and Police have since launched seperate investigations into the circumstances which led to the collision

The family nervously boarded their repatriation flight to Brisbane on Wednesday and safely landed back in Queensland later that day.

Although the scenes they saw online of the accident were chaotic, Jakob said he was relieved that the family had managed to escape before fireball erupted.

Japan's Transport Ministry and the local police have since launched separate investigations into the incident to find out what went wrong.

On Wednesday the Transport Ministry released a transcript of air traffic control communication from just before the crash which showed that there was no takeoff approval for the coastguard plane.

Instead Tokyo air control had given the JAL Airbus A350 permission to land on Runway C first.

At the same time those onboard the coastguard plane confirmed to traffic control that they were taxiing to the same runway before they were instructed to proceed to the stop line ahead of the runway.

Police in their investigation are focusing on possible professional negligence which could have been to blame for the crash.
Presidential candidate Nikki Haley attempted to clean up her flubbed Civil War comments by mentioning she had 'black friends growing up' following backlash.

The 2024 hopeful faced a barrage of criticism and hate comments last month for answering a question at a New Hampshire town hall on what the Civil War was about without once mentioning slavery.

She has since walked back her response, saying 'of course' the war was about slavery and suggested that the question was poised by a Democrat 'plant' trying to get the media to attack her.

Responding to a question by an Iowa caucus voter during a CNN hosted town hall last night, former South Carolina Governor Haley acknowledged she should have brought up slavery in her initial response and invoked her own experience growing up in the south in an Indian family.

'I should have said slavery right off the bat,' she began. 'If you grow up in South Carolina, literally in second and third grade, you learn about slavery. You grow up and you have, you know, I had black friends growing up,' she told host Erin Burnett.

'It is a very talked about thing. We have a big history in South Carolina, when it comes to, you know, slavery, when it comes to all the things that happened with the Civil War, all of that,' Haley said during the town hall.

Nikki Haley's parents, Ajit and Raj Randhawa, are in the center surrounded by their children. Nikki is in the jumper on the left

Then-South Carolina Governor-elect Nikki Haley shares a hug with her mom Raj Randhawa after speaking to voters at Hudson's Smokehouse on November 3, 2010

Speaking to Iowa caucus voter Thursday, Nikki Haley struck a conciliatory note on Trump regarding his legal issues, suggesting she would pardon the ex-president

'It was not just slavery that was talked about, it was more about racism that was talked about,' she continued. 'We had Black friends, we had White friends, but it was always a topic of conversation.'

'I was over  I was thinking past slavery, and talking about the lesson that we would learn going forward. I shouldnt have done that,' she told the Iowa voter.

Haley also made waves during the town hall when she said she might pardon former boss and current rival Donald Trump, while Ron DeSantis accused the president of being pro-abortion at town halls held in Iowa Thursday.

Haley and DeSantis are both still considered large underdogs to Trump in the Republican primary but Haley has seen her campaign gain steam in recent weeks, with one poll showing her within four points of Trump in New Hampshire.

Speaking to Iowa caucus voter Thursday, Haley struck a conciliatory note on Trump regarding his legal issues, suggesting she would pardon the ex-president.

'I don't think our country will move forward with an 80-year-old president sitting in jail that allows our country to continue to be divided. We have to move on past that.' she told a voter.

Trump faces over a half dozen court cases related to election interference, the January 6 riots and falsifying business records.

While there are civil cases among them, Trump faces the possibility of prison time if convicted in some of the cases.

Haley, who served as Trump's ambassador to the United Nations, added that the pardon would be in the vain of Gerald Ford's 1974 pardon of Richard Nixon.

'It's about what's in the best interest for the country,' she added.

Meanwhile, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis attempted to hit Trump from his right flank at his town hall, which followed Haley's.

DeSantis, who has seen his poll numbers drop largely at the expense of the former South Carolina governor, attacked Trump on abortion.

'Donald Trump has said that pro-life protections even at the state levels are a quote 'terrible thing,' and he said that in relation to bills like the heartbeat bill.'

He cited the need for a commander-in-chief who would defend conservative states' wishes to make abortion illegal.

'This was a guy who spoke at the March For Life in January of 2020 and he said that all life was a gift from God, he said the unborn was made in the image of God, he said there should be protections.'

Nikki Haley as an infant growing up in South Carolina

Just like they did with Nixon.



Nikki Haley says she would pardon Trump: It's not about guilt or innocence. It's about what is in the best interest of the countryPardoning Trump and moving on is in the best interest of the country. pic.twitter.com/mBtoUe5Ipy  Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) January 5, 2024

DeSantis, who has seen his poll numbers drop largely at the expense of the former South Carolina governor, attacked Trump on abortion

DeSantis argued that Trump, who blamed 'The Abortion Issue' from Republican losses in 2022, was not pro-life

"Do you think Donald Trump is not pro-life?"

Gov. DeSantis: "Of course not." pic.twitter.com/spZMpVwzSP  Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) January 5, 2024

'That's what he was saying when he was president, now he's saying it's a terrible, terrible thing. So how do you reconcile those two views?'

When asked by CNN's Kaitlin Collins if Trump is pro-life, he responded: 'Of course not.'

'Some issues are pretty fundamental. How do you flip flop on the sanctity of life?'

Trump, for his part, has blamed 'the abortion issue' for the Republicans' worse than expected performance in the 2022 midterms.

'It was the 'abortion issue', poorly handled by many Republicans, especially those that firmly insisted on No Exceptions, even in the case of Rape, Incest, or Life of the Mother, that lost large numbers of Voters,' he posted to Truth Social at the time.

Not only does former President Trump believe that going all-in on abortion lost them voters, but that those who'd seen Roe v Wade overturned then disappeared from the political process altogether.

'The people that pushed so hard, for decades, against abortion, got their wish from the U.S. Supreme Court, & just plain disappeared, not to be seen again,' he said.

DeSantis and Haley duked it out at the CNN town hall with both positioning themselves as the alternative to Trump while still espousing many of his policies.

Nikki Haley is moving up in the polls. Now she is attracting fire from the campaigns of Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis as we reach the business end of the nomination contest

A New Hampshire poll published Thursday shows Haley cementing her position as the candidate best placed to beat Donald Trump when Republicans in the state pick their favorite later this month.

She is only four points behind Trump, according to pollsters at American Research Group.

The gap is the same as it was in December, but those two candidates have pulled further away from the pack, picking up voters who said they were undecided last time around.

The full results have Trump in front on 37 percent with Haley on 33. Former New Jersey Gov. Christie has dropped back to 10 percent (from 13), with DeSantis in fourth on five percent (from six), and tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy on four percent (from five).

Haley has seen her strong debate performances and key endorsements convert into poll momentum in recent weeks as candidates approach the business end of the race.

Iowa is the first state to pick its preferred candidate on January 15. Trump is way ahead in the polls there, but a strong showing by DeSantis or Haley could see them crowned the best challenger.

New Hampshire holds its primary on January 23, and Haley has made clear that she is targeting a win.

Her momentum has turned her into target number one for both Trump and DeSantis, who have kept up a steady stream of attacks.

JL Partners polled 984 likely voters across the nation from December 15 to 20. The results carry a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points but show that former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley does best out of Republican contenders against Joe Biden

A rolling average of Iowa polls maintained by statistics website FiveThirtyEight puts DeSantis on 18.4 percent and Haley on 15.7 percent. Trump is way out ahead with 50 percent of the vote.

Caucuses are notoriously difficult to predict, but the numbers suggest that Haley's best bet may be in New Hampshire where she is 19 points behind Trump, and way ahead of DeSantis.

Several strong debate performances and key endorsements have given her momentum as the race gets to its business end.
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Kate Garraway's husband Derek Draper has died following a tragic three-year battle with Covid.

The 56-year-old was taken dangerously-ill in December having suffered a heart attack, after being struck down by Covid in March 2020.

The father-of-two died on Wednesday surrounded by his family, with his loving wife Kate, 56, holding his hand as he slipped away.

It was the heartbreaking end to a love story that stretched back 20 years, to when Kate and Derek were introduced by ex-GMTV political editor and former MP Gloria De Piero, in 2004.

The pair first went out for drinks at Claridges in a group but it wasn't love at first sight, with Kate telling The Times: 'Derek arrived thinking it was a date and that I was being incredibly cool by ignoring him.'

She did however then agree to a date with the former political advisor and psychotherapist. Their loved blossomed and the pair were married the following year, tying the knot in Camden, North London, in September 2005.

Such is her devotion to her late husband, Kate reportedly has never removed her wedding ring since their marriage. Together they have two children - daughter Darcey, born March 2006 and William 'Billy', born in July 2009.

Later, Derek became one of the longest hospitalised Covid patients in Britain, returning home 13-months after being admitted. He suffered a torrid couple of years of heartbreaking setbacks after this, before passing away on Wednesday.

A picture of love: In one of the first shots of the couple together, Derek Draper shares a kiss with Kate Garraway after a romantic lunch in July 2005

The image came days after they were seen together at a summer party in London's Ritz Hotel on July 12

A loving hand: Derek and Kate are pictured smiling in during a public outing together in October 2005, at the Pride of Britain Awards

Besotted Derek then moved in for a cheeky peck as a beaming Kate giggles

The pair met in 2004 and married a year later in September 2005 after a whirlwind romance

Dapper Derek arrives in a stylish suit to St Mary The Virgin Church on his wedding day

In March 2006, the loved-up couple welcomed their first child, Darcey, into the world

Now parents, Kate and Derek attend the red carpet event marking the 10th anniversary of OK! Magazine in May 2006

A few months later they were seen attending Labour Party Conference in Manchester in September 2006 - both grinning broadly as they embraced for photos at the event

Arriving at the National Television Awards in October 2007, it was clear to see how much the couple loved one another, with Derek pecking his wife tenderly on the cheek

The fun continued for the glamourous duo, who were seen hugging during the National Television Awards before Derek holds his wife's leg up as the pair beam for the cameras

Derek is joined by dancer Anton Du Beke - who was Kate's partner on Strictly Come Dancing in 2007 - as the pair lift up Garraway during the NTAs at Royal Albert Hall

Derek and Kate were once again seen embracing, this time as they attended the Embassy London's seventh birthday party in November 2008

In April 2009, Derek launched his book 'Life Support'. Wife Kate was seen loyally by his side at the event in English Speaking Union Dartmouth House Mayfair

Derek may have been wearing a rubber ring during the trail to promote his book in 2009...

... But wife Kate was always there by his side, as his rock keeping his head above water (the couple are pictured in April 2009)

Kate and husband Derek arrive at the Galaxy British Book Awards at Grosvenor House later in April 2009, looking as glamourous as ever

In July 2009 a new addition was welcomed into the Garraway Draper household, with little William being born on July 28, weighing 7lb 12oz

One big family: Kate and Derek attend the premiere of 'Alvin and the Chipmunks 2 - the Squeakquel' at the Empire Leicester Square in December 2009 with their children and Derek's mother (left)

A picture of family bliss: Father of two Derek shares a loving hug with his children William and Darcey during and event for Disney's 'The Princess and the Frog' in January 2010

Kate also attended the event at London's swanky Mayfair Hotel (she is pictured holding William)

Kate Garraway with Her Husband Derek Draper Daughter Darcey and Son William 'Yogi Bear in 3D' at Leicester Square's Vue cinema in February 2011

Another family outing in March 2011 saw Kate, Derek and their children attending the premier of animated movie, Rio

Proud father Derek is pictured with his children Darcey and William during the 'Rio' Gala Screening at the Empire Leicester Square in March 2011

Festive fun - Kate and Derek pose with crackers and tinsel at their Christmas tree

Derek and Kate as snapped as they head to Jonathan Shalit's 50th birthday party in April 2012

A kiss once more: Kate pecks her husband on the lips at Piers Morgan's Christmas party in 2018

Derek with children Darcey and William as they appeared on 'Good Morning Britain' in November 2019 while Kate was on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!

Derek was there to welcome his wife as she left the I'm A Celebrity jungle in December 2019

Kate Garraway, with husband Derek and their children in Australia in December 2019 following her stint in the jungle on I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!

Derek and Kate stand side by side after she left the I'm a Celebrity jungle in December 2019

Kate Garraway, alongside her husband Derek Draper and two children Darcey, 13, and William in December 2019 as they arrived home from Australia

But in March 2020, tragedy struck as Derek was ravaged by Covid-19. This is the first picture of him in hospital with the illness

Later, Kate is pictured looking worried as she video called her husband from his hospital bed

Derek became one of the longest hospitalised Covid patients in Britain, returning home 13-months after being admitted. He is pictured waking up from a coma

In December 2021, Derek is seen finally being wheeled out of hospital looking frail but with a huge smile on his face as he was greeted by family and friends

In 2022, a heartbreaking documentary - Kate Garraway: Caring for Derek - revealed how the virus had impacted him, with Kate looking after her husband

Kate converted part of the family home to tend to her husband as he battled back from Covid

The determined mother-of-two would tend to her husband, doing all she could to help him

Derek is pictured with his children as they celebrated at home following his return from hospital. The image was captured in the ITV documentary about his recovery battle in 2022

An emotional Derek is later embraced by his daughter during the documentary in 2022

Kate revealed that she accompanied Derek on a 11,000-mile trip trip to Mexico for cutting-edge medical treatment amid his recovery from the debilitating condition

Kate and husband Derek are pictured with her parents Gordon and Marilyn Garraway in July 2023 as she collected her MBE at Windsor Castle
An 18-year-old man has been charged with the murder of a suspected gunman during a shooting at a Dublin restaurant on Christmas Eve.

Two men appeared at Blanchardstown District Court charged in relation to Tristan Sherry's death at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown at around 8pm on December 24.

David Amah, 18, was charged with the murder of Mr Sherry.

Sergeant Emma Ryan told the court that Amah was charged on Thursday and made no reply after being cautioned.

A legal representative said Amah is not working and an application for legal aid was made.

David Amah (pictured), 18, was charged with the murder of Mr Sherry

Two men appeared at Blanchardstown District Court charged in relation to Tristan Sherry's (pictured) death at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown at around 8pm on December 24

The man, who was aged in his late 40s, had been in hospital since sustaining multiple gunshot wounds at Browne's Steakhouse (pictured) in Blanchardstown

Amah, who appeared in court wearing a grey tracksuit, was remanded in custody until his next appearance at Cloverhill District Court at 10.30am on January 9.

Wayne Deegan, 25, from Phibblestown, was charged with assault causing harm to Mr Sherry, producing a knife in a way likely to intimidate or injure, and committing violent disorder.

Garda Sean Kelly said Deegan was charged in the early hours of Friday morning and made no reply to the charges.

A legal representative said there was no application for bail but one might be made next Friday.

The court heard that Deegan, who appeared in court wearing a red jacket, is not working and receives a disability payment.

Wayne Deegan (pictured above arriving at the court), 25, from Phibblestown, was charged with assault causing harm to Mr Sherry, producing a knife in a way likely to intimidate or injure, and committing violent disorder

He is to appear in person at Cloverhill District Court at 10.30am on Friday January 12.

Mr Sherry, who was one of two suspected gunmen involved in the shooting, suffered fatal injuries during the incident.

The man who was shot in the initial gun attack in the restaurant died on Thursday, gardai said.

Jason Hennessy Snr, who was in his late 40s, sustained multiple gunshot wounds.

A second murder investigation has been launched after his death.

Last week, Michael Andrecut, 22, of Sheephill Avenue, Corduff, appeared at a special sitting of the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin charged with Mr Sherry's murder.
A campaign has been launched calling for an immediate halt on the development of further pumped storage hydro schemes in the Loch Ness water over fears it could harm its wild fish.

The Ness District Salmon Fishery Board (DSFB) says dramatic fluctuations in the level of the loch due to hydro power 'industrialisation' could spell disaster for its fragile ecosystem and the Ness's already beleaguered wild salmon.

The campaign follows the submission of a planning application for the Loch Kemp pump storage scheme by Statera and the acquisition of the previously approved Red John scheme by Europe's largest hydro power generator Statkraft.

A petition calling for a halt on new and larger developments on Loch Ness - famously known as the site of claimed Loch Ness Monster sightings - has already gathered more than 500 signatures in a week.

The fictitious monster - nicknamed Nessie - is often described as large, long-necked with a hump which people claim they've been protruding from the water since 1933.

A campaign has been launched calling for an immediate halt on the development of further pumped storage hydro schemes in the Loch Ness water over fears it could harm its wild fish

A petition calling for a halt on new and larger developments on Loch Ness - famously known as the site of claimed Loch Ness Monster sightings - has already gathered more than 500 signatures in a week. Shown is a famous picture of 'Nessie' taken by Robert Wilson, in 1934

The fictitious monster - nicknamed Nessie - is often described as large, long-necked with a hump which people claim they've been protruding from the water since 1933. Pictured is a photo of what a shocked man claimed to be the monster, taken last year

Brian Shaw, director of the Ness DSFB, said that when operational the Loch Kemp and Red John schemes, combined with the existing Foyers scheme, will be able to raise or lower the level of Loch Ness by as much as 73cm (2ft 5ins) overnight.

'Such dramatic, indeed astonishing, fluctuations in water levels will play havoc with the shoreline ecology, disrupt natural currents within the loch and potentially raise the temperature of Loch Ness,' he said.

He said that flows down the River Ness would fluctuate constantly but would be at rock bottom level more often with potentially lethal consequences for fish being left stranded.

Mr Shaw said no appropriate measures had been put forward by the Loch Kemp developers to mitigate the impacts.

'Loch Ness is an iconic natural resource and it should not be subjected to what amounts to an unregulated goldrush with minimal regard for the environmental consequences,' he said.

'Salmon numbers in the Ness catchment have fallen markedly in recent decades and we need to resist any additional pressures if we are to halt the decline. Salmon are a critical part of the Ness catchment's ecosystem.

'There should be no further pump storage hydro development unless it can be proved definitively that the salmon population will not be adversely affected.'

Volunteers on board of the Loch Ness Project Research Vessel, Deep Scan, take part in the Loch Ness Monster hunt in August last year

One man claimed he saw the Loch Ness monster and it was as big as a double-decker bus

He also warned the loss of salmon could impact on the dolphins which gather at Chanonry Point.

'The famous dolphins at Chanonry Point are only there for one reason,' he said.

'Lose the Ness salmon and the greatest wildlife spectacle in the Highlands goes with them.'

The Ness DSFB says its concerns are reinforced by a new independent report by the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research which concludes the current environment impact assessment and environmental scoping report for the proposed pump storage hydro projects lack concrete evidence to back up claims that salmon will not be significantly impacted.

'We are keen to emphasise that we are not against pump storage hydro per se, but we believe strongly that any such schemes should be located where the environmental, and societal, risks are lower,' Mr Shaw said.

'We are aware of at least one such location within the Ness catchment which is already under consideration, where there are no salmon and which would be capable of producing very significant amounts of energy.'

Statera said it was disappointed at the petition from Ness DSFB with whom it had had many discussions.

David Rodger, business development director Scotland for Statera, said: 'There seem to be some aspects of pumped storage hydro schemes which are causing them concern and we are happy to have the opportunity to address these.

'Far from causing problems for water levels in Loch Ness, the opposite is the case.

'Pumped storage hydro schemes can help tackle the issues being caused by climate change by releasing water during dry periods and storing water to help flood management.

'The impact of the Kemp scheme is likely to marginally increase the fluctuations in Loch Ness but no more so than occurs through natural weather patterns today.

'The shoreline ecology thrives despite these fluctuating levels and there is no reason that will change.'

He said it would not increase the temperature or impact on the natural currents of Loch Ness, or have any negative impact on dolphins in the Moray Firth.

'There is no evidence that the Foyers scheme has any detrimental impact on salmon smolt and we will be installing the same protective measures at our inlets as exist at Foyers,' Mr Rodger said, adding extensive assessments in the last two years were in the environmental impact assessment.

'Loch Kemp offers a range of benefits including better water management, substantial carbon savings, improved energy security and a boost to local jobs.

'We are happy to discuss the project with anyone who has concerns about it.'

But Ness DSFB added: 'How about this as an example of the scale of water movements within Loch Ness due to pump storage - people of Inverness will recall the spate of February 1989, when the railway bridge was washed away. The flow down the river Ness that day was 800 tonnes per second.

'If Kemp were to get the go-ahead, the combined amount of water pumped in and out of Loch Ness would be over 820 tonnes per second, every day.

'These schemes will pump more water, on a daily basis, than the highest flow ever recorded in the river Ness. Someone needs to investigate and understand the impact of these huge water movements on Loch Ness because we think that the natural hydrology of the loch is at risk of being destroyed.'
A woman was found stabbed to death in a crashed Lexus just minutes before a young man was killed by a train in a 'linked' tragedy.

Police are searching a 2.5million mansion in the quiet rural village of Pangbourne, Berkshire, as a part of a murder probe after the tragic incidents happened yesterday evening.

Officers were first called to a reported road traffic collision involving a car on the A340 Tidmarsh Road at the junction with Flower's Hill at around 5.45pm.

Within the vehicle a 56-year-old woman had suffered a fatal stab wound and died at the scene despite receiving medical attention.

Shortly after, at around 6.15pm, Thames Valley Police and British Transport Police officers were called to a death on the railway track near Pangbourne - where an 18-year-old man died at the scene.

Neither victim has been formally identified but the next of kin for both have been informed and specially trained officers are supporting them.

Neighbours said they had rushed to help the woman in the car but she died at the scene at the junction of Tidmarsh Road and Flowers Hill.

Police are investigating the deaths of two people in the village of Pangbourne, Berkshire

At around 11.30am today, forensic specialists were seen to recover a black-handled kitchen knife near Pangbourne station

Senior Investigating Officer Detective Superintendent Kevin Brown, Head of the Major Crime Unit, said: 'We have launched a murder investigation after the death of a woman near Flower's Hill, Pangbourne, and the associated discovery of a deceased man at Pangbourne railway station.'

Police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incidents.

Mr Brown added: 'Firstly, I would like to send my condolences on behalf of the force to loved ones of both at this extremely difficult time.

'We are in the very early stages of this complex investigation, but we are not currently looking for anyone else in connection with either death.

'We are still investigating but are treating the two deaths as linked; we are keeping an open mind as to the circumstances of each. There is no wider threat to the public from these sad and tragic incidents.'

Villagers in Pangbourne have been left in shock by tragic events that began yesterday.

Police are linking the two deaths and have cordoned off a seven-bedroom detached mansion on Flowers Hill - known as 'millionaires' row'.

Forensic investigators also recovered a black-handled kitchen knife close to the train station at Pangbourne as part of the ongoing probe into the two deaths.

A crime scene investigator in a white suit entered a substation, opposite the Aston Martin dealership on Station Road, at around 11.30am today to photograph, swab and collect the blade.

The electricity company were also in attendance, and are thought to have turned off the power to allow police safe access. The area was cordoned off and watched over by two officers.

The knife was then placed into a knife tube and an evidence bag.

Officers, thought to be part of a specialist search team, attended the location after leaving the Flowers Hill property a short time prior.

The police added: 'We would ask anyone with information about the deaths to please call 101 or make a report on our website, quoting reference number 43240005369.

A crime scene investigator wearing a white suit entered a substation, opposite the Aston Martin dealership on Station Road, to photograph, swab and collect the blade

Forensics were seen to recover a black-handled kitchen knife near Pangbourne station

'After initial significant disturbance to the roads and railway network both scenes have been released and normal transport arrangements for both have resumed. I would like to say thank you to those affected for your patience.

'Members of the public are likely to see an increased police presence while we continue to investigate and we would advise anyone with any concerns to please speak to one of our uniformed officers.'

A British Transport Police spokesman previously said: 'Officers were called to the line near Pangbourne railway station at 6.11pm yesterday (4 January) to reports of a casualty on the tracks.

'Paramedics also attended and a person was pronounced dead at the scene.

'British Transport Police are working closely with Thames Valley Police to establish the circumstances leading up to their death.'

Officers are guarding a 2.5million home in Flowers Hill following the fatal incident, and specialist search officers were at the scene.

A police cordon is also still in place at the railway station. Thames Valley Police last night confirmed that they were dealing with two incidents in the area.

A spokesman previously said: 'Our officers are currently in Pangbourne dealing with two incidents.

'Road closures are in place on the A340 at the Flowers Hill and Tidmarsh Road junction following a collision involving a vehicle.

'A woman received medical treatment at the scene but sadly died.

'There has also been an incident on the railway line at Pangbourne Station.

'Because of these incidents, there are a number of road closures in place in the area, and trains are not running through the station.

The property being searched is a seven-bedroom freehold detached house spread over 5,748 square feet

'People are advised to avoid the area and to plan their journeys in advance to ensure they are not delayed.

'The exact circumstances of these incidents is currently unclear, but we will provide an update when we are in a position to do so.'

The property being searched is a seven-bedroom freehold detached house spread over 5,748 square feet. It was bought by current owners in 2014 for 1.95m and is now valued at more than 2.5m.

Neighbours on the 'millionaires' row' have spoken of their horror at the incidents that unfolded.

One said: 'It's horrible, I can't believe what happened. We rushed out to help but the police were already here and then ambulances arrived.

'We were told to go home and they cordoned it all off.'

Another neighbour said the woman who lives at the mansion with her adult children is 'lovely' and that she 'keeps herself to herself'.

He said: 'I'd always wave over when I walked past, she is a lovely woman. I hope nothing bad has happened to her.

'When we saw all the police last night it was like a horror movie scene... they were running around all over the place.

'And then we heard another person had died at the train station. It's shocking for our little quiet village. So unusual.'

One onlooker near the station said: 'There was a police presence here overnight after the sad incident on the railway. Now they've taped it off and are taking photos of a knife in the substation.

'Trains aren't stopping at Pangbourne today so I'm guessing this is why. It's very worrying if it's linked to that poor woman's death.'
Will call Trump a danger to Democracy as race for White House heats up

Joe Biden will call Donald Trump a danger to the U.S. and try to echo George Washington on Friday in a speech marking the third anniversary of January 6.

The president will argue that freedoms are under threat if his predecessor is re-elected in remarks to kick off his campaigning in 2024 in the key battleground state of Pennsylvania.

He will speak near Valley Forge, where 250 years ago, the then-General Washington organized the alliance of colonial militias during a bleak winter and 'united' them to fight for democracy against the British in the Revolutionary War.

Biden will use the birthplace of the American army to accuse Trump of attempting to 'dismantle and destroy our democracy' by provoking his supporters to riot when he did not win reelection in 2020.

It's the start of a more aggressive approach by Biden in attacking Trump, who he is trailing in national polls with 11 months until the general election.

The former president, who is dominating Republican polls with 10 days until Iowa, has tried to flip the script on Biden with his campaign claiming he is the real threat to democracy because he is 'waging war against it'.

President Joe Biden will kick-off 2024 by campaigning in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania to juxtapose George Washington's winter there with his claims that Donald Trump is trying to undermine democracy

George Washington and the Continental Army spent a bleak winter at Valley Forge 246 years ago as they fought for U.S. democracy during the Revolutionary War

'This Saturday will mark the three-year anniversary of when, with encouragement from Donald Trump, a violent mob breached our nation's Capitol' Biden campaign manager Julie-Chavez Rodriguez said. ;It was the first time in our nation's history that a president tried to prevent the peaceful transfer of power

On Monday, Biden will head down to Charleston, South Carolina to campaign at the church where a white supremacist gunman opened fire on black congregation members in 2015, killing nine people.

The campaign events come as Biden continues to trail former President Trump in national polls, including in a DailyMail.com survey last month that puts the president four points behind his predecessor.

His stop there attempts to juxtapose the efforts to establish a Democracy with what Democrats claim was Trump's attempt to tear it down when his supporters descended on the U.S. Capitol in efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results.

Meanwhile, Trump will continue this weekend to campaign through Iowa with less than two weeks until the first-in-the-nation primary contest.

Rather than touting his record in upbeat events to kick-off 2024, Biden plans to bring Americans through some of the country's darkest moments as his team highlights the importance of November's results.

Biden plans on Saturday to characterize Trump as a serious threat to the United States' founding principles.

The president's team promised that Biden would be 'out in full-force' in 2024 after a slow start to his reelection campaign last year and criticism from those claiming the 81-year-old is no longer mentally or physically fit for office.

Biden and his pundits will be out campaigning fiercely around January 22 to mark the anniversary of Roe v. Wade after the Supreme Court ruled two years ago to overturn the 50-year-old decision that legalized abortion on a federal level.

Biden plans on Saturday to characterize Trump as a serious threat to the United States' founding principles.

The president's predecessor, who is facing 91 criminal charges related to his efforts to overturn Biden's election win, has built a commanding lead among his Republican competitors in the primary election. But Democrats, as well as some GOP contenders, claim Trump will undermine democracy if he wins a second term.

In a conference call with reporters, Biden's campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez said: 'We are running a campaign like the fate of our democracy depends on it, because it does.'

Besides the cases related to the electron, Trump is also facing three other felony cases.

Biden's first campaign event of the year comes on the three-year anniversary of the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack

Biden will claim that Trump will 'dismantle democracy' if he gets another term in office

The former president and GOP frontrunner claims that Democrats are actually the ones looking to undermine democracy by using legal systems to prevent him from running in the 2024 election and winning another term.

'Joe Biden and his allies are a real and compelling threat to our Democracy,' Trump campaign senior advisers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles wrote in a memo this week.

They added: 'In fact, in a way never seen before in our history, they are waging a war against it.'

The claims come as states seek to keep Trump off the ballot, including Colorado and Maine, which both ruled that he is disqualified because he 'engaged in insurrection.'

Colorado Republicans immediately appealed the state's decision last month to the U.S. Supreme Court, claiming that Trump has never been actually charged with insurrection.

Meanwhile, Trump on Tuesday evening appealed Maine's Secretary of State ruling that keeps him off the ballot in the northeastern state.
A former Australian spy has suffered a suspected heart attack and died while trying to row 4,800km across the Atlantic in a gruelling epic ocean race.

Alisdair Putt was skippering the Aussie Old Salts four-man rowing team in the punishing Atlantic Challenge of the World's Toughest Row competition.

Mr Putt was a former ASIO agent, prosecutor and reserve navy officer, and was leading his team of retired and current military servicemen - aged between 40 and 62 - on the trip from the Canary Islands to Antigua in the Caribbean.

The team set off on December 12 but on Thursday, Mr Putt collapsed on the deck of their boat around 2.15pm UTC and could not be resuscitated.

A statement from the race organisers confirmed the death 'with heartfelt sadness' and said Mr Putt's next of kin had been informed, while his crew had been picked up and were being transported to dry land.

'Despite the rest of the crews continuous efforts, resuscitation was not successful,' it added. 'The crew are now safely onboard a vessel heading for land.

'Our most sincere condolences are wholeheartedly offered to the families, friends and supporters of the Putt family, and the whole of the Aussie Old Salts team.

Former Australian spy Alisdair Putt (pictured) has suffered a suspected heart attack and died while trying to row 4,800km across the Atlantic in a gruelling epic ocean race

Alisdair Putt was skippering the Aussie Old Salts four-man rowing team (pictured) in the punishing Atlantic Challenge of the World's Toughest Row competition

'We are in constant contact with the crew, all emergency contacts, as well as the Marine Rescue Coordination Centres involved, and will continue to support all involved.'

It added: 'This tragedy will of course also have a profound impact on the other 37 teams we have still racing across the Atlantic.

'The family of Alisdair have asked for understanding and support in respecting their privacy during this period of mourning.'

Mr Putt, from Mount Hawthorn in Perth, had been working as a war crimes investigator for the UN in Rwanda prior to the start of the race, having earlier run his own law firm in Perth, Western Australia.

The father, married to wife Kathy, had previously been a public prosecutor and an investigator for the International Criminal Court, as well as a war crimes investigator in the Balkans in the late 1990s

His rowing team had been raising funds for the Veterans Transition Centre, a local charity in Western Australia assisting Australian veterans transitioning to civilian life.

They were also said to be raising money for a domestic violence shelter in the remote Kimberley region of north-west WA.

The four-man team - made up of Stuart Moore, Andreas Koenig, Alastair Horton and Mr Putt - were planning to split their shifts on a constant rolling basis.

Mr Putt and Mr Koenig would row for two hours before the pairs swapped over - and they would continue to row for 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for an estimated six weeks.

Mr Putt was a former ASIO agent, prosecutor and reserve navy officer, and was leading his team of retired and current military servicemen - aged between 40 and 62 - on the trip from the Canary Islands to Antigua in the Caribbean

The four-man team - made up of Stuart Moore, Andreas Koenig, Alastair Horton and Mr Putt (pictured) - were planning to split their shifts on a constant rolling basis

The team set off from La Gomera in the Canary Islands (pictured) on December 12

Before he set off, Mr Putt told his local newspaper: 'Our attempt to be the first ever WA team to row the Atlantic Ocean is, in part, to publicise the work of the Veterans Transition Centre at Jarrahdale, and hopefully raise some money for its great work.'

News of his death shocked race-watchers who spoke fondly of the celebrated skipper.

'Today has been a profoundly sad day for all of Al's family and so many friends, said one post on the team's Facebook page.

'He was a remarkable man who lived a remarkable life. Lots of love to Kathy and family. Our thoughts are also with the crew.'

'Sad news indeed, but what a hero, his family although saddened, should be very proud,' said one.

'Thinking of the crew, family, friends - he is a hero, and he followed his dreams. What a legacy,' added another.
Russia has yet to comment on a swirl of unconfirmed rumours that Vladimir Putin's top war commander General Valery Gerasimov was killed in a strike on a military command post in Crimea on Thursday.

An explosion and a trail of smoke were visible in a clip of a suspected Storm Shadow strike at the military site in Yukharin Balka. Another target in the village of Uyutnoye, near Yevpatoria was also reportedly hit.

A flow of ambulances was reported by Ukrainian sources at both locations, and Putin-appointed Sevastopol governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said: 'It was the most massive [attack] in recent times.'

Gerasimov has not been seen since December 29 when footage showed him presenting awards to 'military personnel who distinguished themselves during the liberation of Marinka' in occupied Donetsk region, Ukraine.

Ukraine claims to have struck two major Russian military bases in the occupied Crimea, in what Putin-appointed Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev described as 'the biggest attack to date' on Crimea

Russia has yet to comment on a swirl of unconfirmed rumours that Vladimir Putin's top war commander General Valery Gerasimov (pictured) was killed in one of the strike

General Valery Gerasimov with Vladimir Putin

Ukrainian outlets have reported the rumours, and air force commander in Kyiv, Lt-Gen Mykola Oleshchuk praised the 'impeccable combat work' of his crews.

However, Ukraine has not outwardly made a claim that 68-year-old Gerasimov - who is also Putin's first deputy minister of defence - was at the command post, or that he was killed.

Nataliya Humenyuk, spokeswoman for the Ukrainian southern defence forces, said: 'We are collecting the information that you are currently interested in. As soon as it has appropriate confirmation, it will be made public.

'At the moment, we can only state what is already known - the control point has been hit.'

The rumour of Gerasimov's death appears to have begun circulating after a Russian Telegram channel called 'Ordinary Tsarism' posted an unconfirmed report.

It read: 'According to preliminary data, Valery Gerasimov, who was in a command post near Sevastopol at the time of the attack, was killed in the attack on Crimea.'

The message then disappeared, with the channel giving no evidence for the claim.

Putin's senior war commander and head of the Russian armed forces - has not been seen since December 29, when he presented military awards

The rumour of Gerasimov's death appears to have begun circulating after a Russian Telegram channel called 'Ordinary Tsarism' posted an unconfirmed report

There is no independent evidence that the general - a foe of slain warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin - was in Crimea, nor that he was hit in the Crimean strike

Ukrainian Telegram channel Crimean Wind said: 'The media write that Valery Gerasimov died during yesterday's attack in Crimea.

'He is the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces and the First Deputy Minister of Defence of Russia.

'At the moment, the information has not been officially confirmed.'

RBK-Ukraine reported: 'Information began to spread on the Internet today that the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Valery Gerasimov was allegedly killed as a result of yesterday's strikes on Crimea.'

There is no independent evidence that the general - a foe of slain warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin - was in Crimea, nor that he was hit in the Crimean strike.

Soon after the strike, Oleshchuk was quoted saying: 'I once again give thanks to the [Ukrainian] Air Force pilots and everyone who planned the operation for their impeccable combat work.'

He warned Russian propaganda may give misleading accounts of the strikes.

'I expect the same epic report from enemy propaganda from Sevastopol and Yevpatoria on January 4 [as on earlier denials of Ukrainian strikes],' he said.
An official collection of ninety-four available MAGA hats from Donald Trump's run for president in 2020 has gone on the market for a whopping $250,000.

An eBay listing shows an image of the iconic hat collection, with nearly 100 different styles for sale, including 'Farmers for Trump' and 'Cops for Trump.'

The package also includes 'women for Trump,' 'MAGA mama,' 'space force,' and even a couple of specialty hat for Halloween, Christmas and St. Patrick's Day.

'Full and Complete Donald J. Trump MAGA/ Make America Great Again Hat Collection Cali Fame,' states the listing.

'All these hats are authentic and directly licensed and sold by the Donald J Trump presidential campaigns 2015-2024.'

An official collection of all 94 available MAGA hats from Donald Trump's run for president in 2020 has gone on the market for a whopping $250,000

An eBay listing shows an image of the iconic hat collection, with nearly 100 different styles for sale, including 'Farmers for Trump' and 'Cops for Trump'

The package also includes 'women for Trump,' 'MAGA mama,' 'space force,' and even a couple of specialty hat for Halloween, Christmas and St. Patrick's Day

'Over the course of my collecting days I have accumulated 94 different styles of campaign-licensed MAGA hats/caps.'

'Although they're new a few of them have signs of wear from sitting in my closet stacked together with other hats.'

The collection is listed at US $250,000.00 or UK 197,949.25 with the option of bidding 'Best Offer.'

The seller claims the hats are all brand-new, unused, unopened and undamaged items.

Twenty-three users are actively watching the sale, according to the eBay listing.

Other specialty hats include 'Space Force' and 'Freedom' hats and the items range from the year 2017 to 2024.

The hats come in a variety of vibrant colors and shapes - from hot pink, neon green to gold and multicolored letter editions.

Other specialty hats include 'Space Force' and 'Freedom' hats and the items range from the year 2017 to 2024

The collection is listed at US $250,000.00 or UK 197,949.25 with the option of bidding 'Best Offer'

In 2018, a life-size statue of the former president was up for sale on eBay - the priciest Trump memorabilia item available for purchase at the time

The listing currently appears to remain active on eBay

In 2018, a life-size statue of the former president was up for sale on eBay - the priciest Trump memorabilia item available for purchase at the time.

The listing currently appears to remain active on eBay.

Zinga Land, which sells a wide range of things including trampolines and novelty tees, is offering Trump megafans the opportunity to own a realistic replica of the president.

The statute is made of silicone wax and bares a pretty striking resemblance to Trump  and it costs a whopping $15,900.

Not much is given by way of description on Zinga Land's listing, except that the statue is life-size and ships from Minnesota. Images show a wax version of Trump with his orange-tinged skin tone and wispy blonde hair, with a face baring a tough expression.

Though the statue is dressed in a suit and tie, the seller says that the clothing is actually removable  though it is unclear what the body looks like underneath.

EHOO Wax Figure, a Chinese company that appears to have manufactured the statues, lists the height at 187cm (6 feet, 1.5 inches)  about an inch and a half shorter than the real Trump. It weighs 74.96lbs., which is definitely less than the real Trump.

The price for the statues is high, though the seller page gives the option of making an offer. It's not known whether anyone has bought one yet, though 13 eBay customers are 'watching' the page.
He was jailed for six months for lying to investigators and destroying evidence

Trevor Daniel Jacob faked engine failure and bailed out of the plane on camera

Days from being locked up for six months for intentionally crashing a plane to get YouTube views, Trevor Jacob is till smirking.

Jacob, who is also a former Olympic snowboarder, crashed the small aircraft on November 24, 2021, after he took off for a solo flight at Lompoc City Airport.

He bailed out of the plane as it was going down, as was the plan, and tried to destroy the wreckage strewn across a Californian hillside afterwards.

A judge last month sent him to prison for six months, which will begin on January 29, but Jacobs still claims he didn't realize he was doing anything wrong.

Trevor Daniel Jacob deliberately crashed a plane on November 24, 2021, then posted the video online and later destroyed the wreckage

"When I jumped out of the plane, I'm like, 'you just made the biggest mistake of your life.'"



YouTuber Trevor Jacob, who intentionally crashed a plane as part of a stunt, speaks to @kaynawhitworth ahead of his prison sentence later this month. pic.twitter.com/Vpzj8DtWiX  Good Morning America (@GMA) January 5, 2024

Jacob smirked as he recalled to Good Moring America how he planned the stunt and admitted he 'acted' to sell the lie that it was an accident.

'I did pretend the engine died and made the saga of the video... when I jumped out of that plane I had no idea I'd committed any type of crime whatsoever - it turned out that I actually committed five felonies,' he said.

However, he now admits the whole debacle was an awful mistake that was not worth the internet fame it brought him.

'When I jumped out of the plane, I jumped and I'm like, "you just made the biggest mistake of your life",' he said.

'Let's learn from this mistake and not get stuck in this disgusting feedback loop of dopamine and adrenaline and views and likes, and I'm happy to be looked at as the idiot to show kids, hey, don't do this type of stuff.'

The YouTuber said he made sure there was no fuel in the plane that could start a fire and that no one was around, but took full responsibility and didn't think 'that type of behavior' was acceptable.

The aircraft, circled in red, is seen resting in hills of the Los Padres National Forest

This image, shot by one of the many cameras mounted on the plane, captured the aircraft just moments before is smashed nose-first into a dry brush area of the forest near Santa Maria

Jacob used cameras placed around the plane and on a 'selfie stick' to record the crash and parachute jump and edited it into a 13-minute video titled 'I Crashed My Airplane'.

He said he posted the footage, which was watch more than a million times, despite realizing the stunt was a mistake because he was 'grateful to be alive' and discovered the footage was intact so he 'may as well put it online'.

Jacob said he was given 'illegal advice' to remove and destroy the wreckage, after lying to investigators about where the crash site was.

He later pleaded guilty to one count of destruction and concealment with the intent to obstruct a federal investigation, the crime he was jailed for.

'[Jacob] most likely committed this offense to generate social media and news coverage for himself and to obtain financial gain,' prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum

'Nevertheless, this type of "daredevil" conduct cannot be tolerated.'

Prosecutors said Jacob 'secured a sponsorship from a company that sold various items' and showed off a wallet in the video.

Before takeoff, he set up several cameras and a selfie stick inside the plane, and about 35 minutes after taking off, he threw himself off the aircraft.

Video shows Jacob landing in a thicket and complaining of cuts and scrapes after he ejected himself from the plane and parachuted to the ground

Jacob appeared to struggle with the door as he went on to exit the plane mid-flight

The video showed him parachuting to the ground just after he soared above the Los Padres National Forest.

The many cameras inside the plane made it possible for the crash to be recorded from when it took off, to when it smashed into the dry brush area near Santa Maria.

Jacob hiked to the crash site straight after safely landing his parachute and recovered the footage.

He fessed up to the National Transportation Safety Board two days after the stunt, but did not tell the whole story.

The board launched an investigation a day or so later and told him that it was his responsibility to collect and preserve the damage for examination purposes.

He agreed to provide the agency with coordinates of the crash site and the video, and three days later the Federal Aviation Administration launched its own investigation.

'In the weeks following the plane crash, Jacob lied to investigators that he did not know the wreckage's location,' prosecutors said.

Two days after the crash Jacob reported it to the National Transportation Safety Board. He then said he would share all information with them about the crash, but investigators said he lied about details

Trevor Jacob is a former Olympic snowboarder (pictured) who competed in the Men's Snowboard Cross 1/8 Finals on day eleven of the 2014 Winter Olympics at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park

Jacob and his friend flew via helicopter to the crash site on December 10 to access the damage for himself, prosecutors said.

He strapped pieces of the wreckage to the helicopter and carried them to Rancho Sisquoc in Santa Barbara.

The evidence was then loaded onto the back of Jacob's truck and taken to the airport where the plane originally took off from.

He then 'cut up and destroyed the airplane wreckage' and disposed of the parts in rubbish bins across the airport and in other places.

Prosecutors Jacob did so 'with the intent to obstruct federal authorities from investigating the November 24 plane crash'.

'Jacob did not intend to reach his destination, but instead planned to eject from his aircraft during the flight and video himself parachuting to the ground and his airplane as it descended and crashed,' the US Attorney's Office said.
The couple have been fostering since 2008 and were invited to the White House to receive a national Adoption Excellence Award

An award-winning Wyoming foster dad hailed as a 'model father' has been accused of sexually abusing children in his care and kicking one off the roof for misbehaving.

Steven Marler, 48, is charged with 20 counts of child sex abuse against four children between 2014 and 2021 as well as battery and child endangerment charges.

Marler and his wife Kristen have been fostering since 2008, adopting six children and hosting dozens more in their Casper home over the years. In 2014, the couple were invited to the White House and honored with an Adoption Excellence Award.

Marler was arrested last week and charged with 26 charges in total. The sexual abuse claims include groping, sexual intrusion and committing sexual acts against one child inside a treehouse.

Prosecutors say Marler gave a child a nose bleed by punching them in the face and 'kicked' another off the roof, according to court documents obtained by Cowboy State Daily.

Award-winning Wyoming foster dad Steven Marler is charged with 26 counts of child abuse including battery, child endangerment and sexual abuse. Pictured: Marler with wife Kristen

The couple have been fostering children since 2008 and adopted six children. They were recognized with a national Adoption Excellence Award in 2014

One of the alleged victims described the Marler home in Casper, Wyoming (pictured) as a 'house of horrors'

Meanwhile it emerged that his wife previously pleaded no contest to child endangerment in 2022, after a child in her care was found to be severely underweight and with feet like 'cantaloupe' from allegedly being forced to stand for hours on end as a form of corporal punishment.

Kambria Marler, now 20, was found in the 'skeletal' condition at age 17 after she escaped what she refers to as the 'house of horrors'. Her 'excruciating' swollen feet and emaciated state were picked up by a medical examination and reported to Child Services.

She claims her adoptive father began to molest her when she was nine-years-old and alleges both parents would withhold food and become physical as a means of punishment.

Kambria alleges that the Marlers would beat their children with pipes, boards and an 'obedience paddle'.

'I'm pretty sure all of us have had concussions,' she told K2 Radio, also claiming that she was given just a potato for breakfast and resorting to scavenging dog food and raw meat to get by.

Kambria claimed the alleged abuse ramped up after she told her family she wanted to move out.

'After she told her parents she no longer wanted to live with them, she no longer received fruit, vegetables or dairy products, and she was not allowed to eat the meal that was prepared for the rest of the family,' an affidavit states.

Her account casts doubt over the picture-perfect image of the Marlers which earned them national acclaim.

Kristen Marler previously pleaded no contest to child endangerment charges after one of her wards was found emaciated and with 'cantaloupe' feet from allegedly being forced to stand for hours on end as form of punishment

Steven Marler is accused of sexually abusing four children, including carrying out sexual acts against one child in a treehouse

The Administration for Children for Children and Families praised the couple for extending, 'Honesty, integrity, and compassion' to their wards.

'The Marlers motivation for becoming foster parents was to support biological parents who are unable to care for their children.

The community in which Mr. and Mrs. Marler live has come to respect and admire them as leaders in the area of foster care. The Marlers often serve as community spokespersons, sharing their stories and inspiring their community.'

In 2014 Wyoming's then-Governor Matt Mead paid tribute to the couple in his annual address, hailing them as 'amazing' and highlighting their award.

A preliminary hearing on the charges against Marler is set for January 19 in the Natrona County Circuit Court.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer put pressure on Scotland Yard to open a criminal probe into the Duke of York today after the King's brother was named in court documents about millionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

The Metropolitan Police says no investigation into Andrew has been launched over details in unsealed US papers about the that have been released into the public domain.

The disgraced royal had been reported by anti-monarchy campaign group Republic after allegations of sexual assault were made against him.

Sir Keir, a former chief prosecutor, said today that 'credible accusations' should be investigated.

The former former head of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: 'Wherever there's a complaint made, it's inevitable that it should be looked at.

'We have to start with the victims here and look at what allegations have been made.'

However Prime Minister Rishi Sunak declined to endorse the call for a probe.

The Duke of York, pictured here with Virginia Giuffre (centre) and Ghislaine Maxwell (right), has always denied wrongdoing in his relationship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein

Sir Keir, a former chief prosecutor, said today that 'credible accusations' should be investigated. The former forme

However Prime Minister Rishi Sunak declined to endorse the call for a probe.

Speaking to reporters on a visit to Marple, Cheshire, the Prime Minister said it would not be right for him to comment on police matters.

He said: 'Look, its long-standing convention you wouldn't expect me to comment on police matters, that's not right.

'The police have operational independence from politicians, that's right that they do that, and obviously the police make those operational decisions.

'The police are operationally independent of government and politicians, it's not right for me to start directing the police on operational matters.'

In a short statement today, Scotland Yard said: 'We are aware of the release of court documents in relation to Jeffrey Epstein.

'As with any matter, should new and relevant information be brought to our attention we will assess it. No investigation has been launched.'

Andrew was referenced multiple times in files relating to disgraced paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Calls for the duke to be investigated were matched by a US attorney who represented some of Epstein's victims, who said police in Britain have a duty to investigate Andrew as he 'still refuses to fully account for his time' with the paedophile.

The unredacted documents, which were released on Wednesday in the United States, included allegations Andrew had an orgy with underage girls and touched a woman's breast while posing with a puppet of himself.

It is a fresh setback for the late Queen's second son who, just 10 days ago, walked to church on Christmas Day with the King and the rest of the royal family, symbolising his gradual rehabilitation within the monarchy after his public appearance at his brother's coronation in his garter robes in May.

It may see the end of his bid to reenter the royal fold, with well-placed sources telling the Mail that while the court claims were not a surprise, they will have served to 'crystallise' King Charles's determination to solve the 'Andrew problem' decisively.

Plans were already in train to evict him from Royal Lodge, his ten-bedroom Windsor home since 2003, and move him to a smaller residence in keeping with his 'downgraded' status.

The newly released court documents are believed to have strengthened the King's resolve that Andrew will never be allowed to resume royal duties.

The 63-year-old prince, who has previously strenuously denied the allegations, paid millions a year ago to settle a civil case out of court with Virginia Giuffre with no admission of guilt after she accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was 17.

But he is mentioned more than 70 times in nearly 1,000 pages of interviews and transcripts released in the US in connection with a 2015 defamation case brought by Virginia Giuffre against Ghislaine Maxwell, who was jailed for sex trafficking young girls for Epstein.

The names of more than 170 people who were either associates, friends or victims of Epstein are being made public following a judge's order last month, including high-profile figures such as former US president Bill Clinton.

The Duke of York has been reported to the police by the campaign group Republic after allegations of sexual assault resurfaced in unsealed court documents.

Graham Smith, chief executive of the anti-monarchy group Republic, said on Thursday that he had reported Andrew to the police, accusing the Met of failing to conduct a serious criminal investigation into the case.

The force said in August 2022 that it was taking no further action over allegations made against Epstein and that any future probes into human trafficking by the sex offender were focused on activities outside the UK.

It also previously said it stood by its 2015 decision not to investigate claims by Ms Giuffre that she was sex trafficked to London by Epstein.

Mr Smith said: 'To date, there appears to have been no serious criminal investigation, no interview of the accused or other witnesses, and no clear justification for taking no action.

Prince Andrew pictured in the background alongside the rest of the Royal Family as they attend the traditional Christmas Day service at St Mary's Magdalene Church on the Sandringham Estate last month

Graham Smith, CEO of anti-monarchy group Republic, said he had reported Prince Andrew to the Metropolitan Police. Pictured: Mr Smith outside Westminster Abbey prior to the Commonwealth Service in March 2023

In a tweet on the Republic X account, the group said it is 'time for the Met Police to act' over the allegations against Prince Andrew

US attorney Spencer Kuvin (pictured), who has represented some of Jeffrey Epstein's victims, has also called for police to investigate Prince Andrew

'I am calling on the Met Police to reopen this case, I am calling on MPs to debate this affair in Parliament, and I am calling on Charles to make a public statement, in front of the press and taking questions, to respond to these allegations and what they say about the monarchy.

'How can we not expect a response from the Government and head of state? At the time of the alleged offences, Andrew was a government trade ambassador and an active member of the royal family.

'They fudged and obfuscated for 11 years before taking any definitive action.'

Mr Smith added: 'The question many people will be asking is simple: if the accused were anyone else, do we believe they wouldn't have been investigated and prosecuted?'

Meanwhile, US attorney Spencer Kuvin, who has represented some of Jeffrey Epstein's victims, said people associated with the wealthy financier such as Andrew, deserve a higher level of scrutiny.

Mr Kuvin told the Mirror: 'Andrew still refuses to fully account for his time with Epstein and has failed to speak with US investigators about what he knows.

'British police need to do their duty and reopen their investigation into his conduct.'

He added that Epstein is probably 'one of the worst sexual predators of the century'.

Buckingham Palace, which no longer speaks on behalf of the duke after he stepped down as a working royal in 2019 over his friendship with Epstein, has not commented on the documents.

Prince Andrew at Sandringham on Christmas Day, 2023. He is said to have avoided prosecutors questions in 2019 despite publicly vowing to assist with the investigation into Epstein

Documents released this week claimed Andrew called financier Jeffrey Epstein (pictured) weekly and jetted to his private Caribbean retreat

Evidence from Johanna Sjoberg, who worked for Epstein as a masseuse, alleged Andrew touched her breast while sitting on a couch inside Epstein's Manhattan apartment as he posed for a photo with a caricature of himself in 2001.

The claim, which has been alleged previously, is thought to refer to a Spitting Image puppet of the duke.

READ MORE HERE: Jeffrey Epstein's victim claims she was groped by Prince Andrew at the disgraced financier's Manhattan mansion in newly released court documents Advertisement

Ms Sjoberg said, while giving evidence in May 2016: 'Ghislaine told me to come upstairs, and we went into a closet and pulled out the puppet, the caricature of Prince Andrew, and brought it down.

'And there was a little tag on the puppet that said 'Prince Andrew' on it, and that's when I knew who he was.'

Ms Sjoberg was asked what the puppet looked like and replied: 'It looked like him.

'And she brought it down and presented it to him; and that was a great joke, because apparently it was a production from a show on BBC.

'And they decided to take a picture with it, in which Virginia and Andrew sat on a couch.

'They put the puppet on Virginia's lap, and I sat on Andrew's lap, and they put the puppet's hand on Virginia's breast, and Andrew put his hand on my breast, and they took a photo.'

Other mentions of the duke include previous allegations that Epstein 'forced Jane Doe #3 to have sexual relations with was a member of the British Royal Family, Prince Andrew (a/k/a Duke of York)' at three locations including on Epstein's private island 'in an orgy with numerous other under-aged girls'.

The document claimed that Epstein instructed Jane Doe #3 to give Andrew 'whatever he demanded' and that Maxwell 'facilitated Prince Andrew's acts of sexual abuse by acting as a 'madame' for Epstein'.

Prince Andrew pictured attending the Easter Mattins Service at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in April 2023

Prince Andrew and King Charles III speak following a vigil in memory of Queen Elizabeth II at St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh in September 2022

The then-Prince Charles and Prince Andrew share a word from the balcony of Buckingham Palace while their mother Queen Elizabeth II looks on during Trooping The Colour in 2019

Ms Giuffre has claimed she was trafficked by Epstein to have sex with Andrew three times when she was 17 and a minor under US law at Maxwell's London home, in Epstein's New York home and during an orgy with Epstein at Caribbean island.

She was questioned over the whereabouts of the famous photograph showing her with the duke, who has his arm around her, with Maxwell grinning in the background.

READ MORE HERE: Why Prince Andrew can't seem to shake THAT infamous photo of him and his teenaged accuser as it emerges at the centre of documents relating to Jeffrey Epstein Advertisement

Ms Giuffre added it may have been in storage boxes that were 'full of Nerf guns, my kids' toys, photos' at her mother and father-in-law's home in Sydney, Australia.

She said she gave the picture to the FBI in 2011 but had last seen it before she packed up her home to emigrate to Australia from Colorado.

Among the documents appears to be an email sent by Maxwell expressing her fears she would be questioned about her own relationship with Andrew.

It reads: 'I have already suffered such a terrible and painful loss over the last few days that I can't even see what life after press hell even looks like - statements that don't address all just lead to more questions... what is my relationship to Clinton? Andrew on and on.'

In Maxwell's videotaped deposition in 2016, she claimed she could only recall the duke visiting Jeffrey Epstein's private island in the US Virgin Islands once.

The Met Police and representatives of the Duke have been approached for a comment.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre plans to stay in her position through the 2024 election and beyond, but has expressed frustration with sharing the podium with the National Security Council's John Kirby.

Axios reported Friday on the tensions between President Joe Biden's top spokespeople, with Jean-Pierre only appearing solo one time since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, which has brought Kirby's foreign policy expertise front-and-center.

The report said that Jean-Pierre was wary of Kirby from the beginning.

When Biden told Jean-Pierre she was being promoted to press secretary in 2022, he then awkwardly told her that Kirby - then the Pentagon's spokesperson - would be joining the team as well.

Three sources told Axios that Jean-Pierre left the meeting upset and confused about whether she had the job and what Kirby's position would be.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre (left) plans to stay in her position through the 2024 election and beyond, but has expressed frustration with sharing the podium with the National Security Council's John Kirby (right)

Axios reported Friday on the tensions between White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre (left) and National Security Council spokesman John Kirby (right), with Jean-Pierre only appearing solo one time since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel

Kirby was a veteran government spokesperson who had been the State department's flack during former President Donald Trump's administration before coming over to the Pentagon for Biden.

After Biden told Jean-Pierre about the job, then White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain met with her and reassured her she had the press secretary gig, while working out an arrangement alongside senior adviser Anita Dunn.

The report also said that the reason why Jean-Pierre and Kirby are sharing the podium is because Biden likes it.

Kirby has developed a close relationship with the 81-year-old president and Biden has asked him to travel on board Air Force One on both foreign and now domestic trips.

Behind the scenes, Kirby has told people he wishes to be press secretary, though a White House official told Axios that Kirby never volunteers that information.

That same official also brushed off reports of tension between the spokespeople.

'I don't recognize this description of their relationship at all. The truth is the opposite - they talk all the time and have a collegial and collaborative rapport,' the official said.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was told by President Joe Biden that she was being elevate to the press secretary job but that Kirby, the Pentagon spokesman, would be joining her

But some of Jean-Pierre's allies told the news organization that the arrangment has made her difficult job harder.

And some black Democrats in the administration and on Capitol Hill said the optics were insulting, as it appeared that the first black press secretary needed her hand held on foreign policy issues by a white man.

Others have been critical of Jean-Pierre's performance, including of a recent gaffe in which she was asked about rising antisemitism and gave an answer about Islamophobia instead.

She later said she misheard the query.

Jean-Pierre continues to control the briefings, picking which reporters ask Kirby questions, a practice he has become irritated by, Axios said.

When National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan takes over the podium, he's allowed to call on reporters, but Jean-Pierre has not extended this privilege to Kirby.

Sources told Axios they believed that was further evidence of Jean-Pierre being insecure.

The report also said that Jean-Pierre has also had a bumpy relationship with her principal deputy Olivia Dalton.

Dalton has voiced frustration that she hasn't gotten the opportunity to brief from the podium despite several months of practice sessions.

Jean-Pierre's deputy has only conducted one White House briefing, though has gaggled on Air Force One more frequently recently.

A White House aide who has worked closely with both women knocked down reports of any tension.

'They have been friends for over a decade and a strong relationship,' the aide told Axios.
Former Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter has denied Virginia Roberts-Giuffre's claim that Bill Clinton marched into the magazine's offices and demanded it halt the planned publication of a story about Jeffrey Epstein.

She made the claim in a May 2011 email discussing an interview to promote her planned book.

Roberts-Giuffre said Clinton 'walked into VF and threatened them not to write sex-trafficking articles about his good friend JE.'

But a spokesman for Carter told The Telegraph: 'This categorically did not happen.'

There is no evidence that the former president intervened to stop Vanity Fair from publishing a story. Clinton is currently believed to be on vacation in the Mexican city of San Miguel de Allende.

Former Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter (picture) has denied Virginia Roberts-Giuffre's claim that Bill Clinton marched into the magazine's offices and demanded it halt the planned publication of a story about Jeffrey Epstein

Bill Clinton is pictured with Jeffrey Epstein in an undated photograph

Roberts-Giuffre in her email claimed that Bill Clinton 'walked into VF and threatened them not to write sex-trafficking articles about his good friend JE'

Epstein himself did, however, allegedly prevent Vanity Fair from publishing reporting by journalist Vicky Ward - who had interviewed sisters Maria and Annie Farmer about their abuse by the pedophile financier.

Ward said in her 2022 podcast that Epstein threatened her, telling her: 'I have reports here about you, your husband - I have everything under the sun that was sent to me by people who want to be helpful.'

Vanity Fair said the claims of sexual abuse were not included in her 2003 published article because they were added late and did not meet legal standards.

Roberts-Giuffre's correspondence was published on Thursday as part of a tranche of documents from her 2015 defamation case against Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's right-hand woman. Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence: Epstein died by suicide in jail awaiting trial, in August 2019.

Thursday's release of documents is the second tranche of files to be unsealed by the Manhattan court.

In her May 2011 email, Roberts-Giuffre discussed whether to speak to Vanity Fair to promote her book.

'I am looking at both sides to the picture,' Roberts-Giuffre writes.

'On the upside it will give exposure to build up publicity for the case and the story, but like you said it must be carefully written and not give any notions about the upcoming book and or any new info.

'When I was doing some research into VF yesterday, it does concern me what they could want to write about me considering that B. Clinton walked into VF and threatened them not to write sex-trafficking articles about his good friend J.E.'

Ward insists that the then-editor of Vanity Fair, Graydon Carter, removed her damning allegations about Epstein in 2003. Carter said that the reporting did not meet their legal standards, and his editors alone made the decision.

The former president, now 77, has long insisted that his connections to Epstein were on a professional basis, to aid the work of the Clinton Foundation. He insisted in 2019 that during his four trips on Epstein's private jet, in 2002 and 2003, he was always accompanied by a retinue of staff and Secret Service agents.

Bill Clinton is pictured greeting Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein in the White House in 1993

Clinton is seen with Jeffrey Epstein inside the White House in 1993, at an event for donors to the White House Historical Association. Epstein attended the event after donating $10,000 to the fund. Ghislaine Maxwell is pictured beside Epstein

Virginia Roberts, who was recruited by Ghislaine Maxwell in 2000, when she was a 17-year-old working at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago club

Roberts, in her June 2016 filing, argued that Clinton should be forced to sit for a deposition

But court documents from June 2016 - part of a defamation suit filed by Roberts-Giuffre against Epstein's right-hand woman, Ghislaine Maxwell - paint a different picture, after another document saw Epstein accuse Clinton of 'liking them young.'

Roberts, in her filing, is seeking permission from the judge to force more people to sit for a deposition, to bolster her case.

Roberts - using her married name, Virginia Giuffre - argues that Clinton was close to both Maxwell and Epstein, who died in jail awaiting trial in August 2019.

'In a 2011 interview, Ms. Giuffre mentioned former President Bill Clinton's close personal relationship with Defendant and Jeffrey Epstein,' the court document states.

'While Ms. Giuffre made no allegations of illegal actions by Bill Clinton, Ms. Maxwell in her deposition raised Ms. Giuffre's comments about President Clinton as one of the 'obvious lies' to which she was referring in her public statement that formed the basis of this suit.

'Apart from the Defendant and Mr. Epstein, former President Clinton is a key person who can provide information about his close relationship with Defendant and Mr. Epstein and disapprove Ms. Maxwell's claims.'

Clinton is mentioned 50 times in the almost 950-pages of evidence.

AMONG THOSE NAMED IN THE JANUARY 3 EPSTEIN LIST Bill Clinton Donald Trump Prince Andrew Glenn Durbin Stephen Hawking Michael Jackson Tom Pritzker David Copperfield Jean-Luc Brunel Bill Richardson Advertisement

Another woman who claimed she was sexually abused by Epstein, Johanna Sjoberg, said in her deposition that Epstein told her 'Clinton likes them young, referring to girls.'

It is unclear how Clinton and Epstein met, but Roberts was not the only one to claim the pair were close.

On Wednesday, hours before the court documents were unsealed, Jeffrey Epstein's brother Mark, a New York-based property developer, said his sibling claimed to have information about Donald Trump and Bill Clinton which was so explosive it would derail the 2016 presidential election.

Mark Epstein, younger than Jeffrey by 18 months, said his brother never provided details.

Mark, 69, told The New York Post: 'Here's a direct quote: 'If I said what I know about both candidates, they'd have to cancel the election.' That's what Jeffrey told me in 2016.'

Hillary Clinton was not known to spend time with Jeffrey Epstein, but her husband was a friend from at least 1993.

Epstein and Maxwell were pictured in 1993 greeting Bill Clinton inside the White House, at an event for donors to the White House Historical Association. Epstein attended the event after donating $10,000 to the fund.

The pedophile financier made at least 17 visits to the White House, presidential logs show, and Bill Clinton also flew on Epstein's private jet - making trips to Europe, Asia and Africa in 2002 and 2003.

Mark Epstein said that flying with Bill Clinton was a key mistake of his brother's, because it suddenly shone a spotlight on his activities.

'Jeff first took Clinton and I think it was Chris Tucker and some other people to Africa  which was a mistake my brother made by doing that, because prior to that he was under the radar; nobody was looking at him.

'But when he flew Clinton there, it was like, 'Who's this guy flying Clinton?''

Bill Clinton's spokesman Angel Urena said in July 2019, when Jeffrey Epstein was arrested, that he 'knows nothing about the terrible crimes' that Epstein was accused of, and that Clinton had not spoken to Epstein 'in more than a decade.'

There is no evidence that Clinton ever visited Epstein's Caribbean island, Little St. James.

The first batch of documents, dumped on Wednesday, was 900-pages long. It included Bill Clinton, Stephen Hawking, Michael Jackson and others.

Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell in an evidence photo from her trial

Most of the individuals named were peripheral to Epstein's crimes and did not have knowledge of them, according to the papers.

The 'list' does not suggest that those included had any role in his crimes or sex trafficking ring, but serve as a more detailed map of Epstein's impressive social connections.

One bombshell that was included in Wednesday's documents, however, is a claim that Prince Andrew participated in an 'orgy' on Epstein's Caribbean island.

The allegation is made by Jane Doe #3, who says she was forced to have sex with Andrew in London, at Ghislaine Maxwell's house, in New York and in the Caribbean with other girls.

Andrew has long denied the allegations.

To date, the only person prosecuted in addition to Epstein is Maxwell, who remains behind bars in New York.

She is still protesting her innocence, claiming she has been the scapegoat of Epstein's crimes in a sexist justice system.

Epstein was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell in August 2019.

While medical examiners and the Attorney General insist he died by suicide, some close to him have long claimed he was either murdered or assisted in taking his own life.
An American actor died tragically alongside his two daughters, ages 10 and 12, as their plane nose dived and crashed into the waters off of a small Caribbean island.

Christian Klepser, 51, who went by the stage name Christian Oliver, was confirmed to have been killed in the accident, along side his children, Madita and Annik. The plane's pilot, Robert Sachs, was also killed.

During his career, Klepser appeared in major movies such as Speed Racer and Valkyrie and recently had a part in the latest installment of the Indiana Jones franchise.

Among his first roles in the US was a long-standing stint on Saved by the Bell: The New Class in 1995. He also appeared as a character in the hit video game Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond.

The tragedy occurred Thursday in the waters off Bequia, which is part of St. Vincent, around noon.

Oliver pictured with his ex-wife, Jessica Muroz, and their two daughters in March 2015

Oliver in character as antagonist Snake Oiler in 2008's Speed Racer

Oliver, shown here with screen legend Al Pacino in 2020, had over 60 credits on IMDb page

Among those paying tribute to Oliver was his co-star Bai Ling. The pair recently completed filming Forever Hold Your Peace together

Two days before his death, Oliver posted a photo showing a beach in a tropical setting with the caption: 'Let love rule. Wishing all of you the best for 2024'

The group were en route to St. Lucia when the crash occurred, authorities said.

Moments after taking off from JF Mitchell Airport in Bequia, the plane got into unspecified difficulties.

Local fishermen and recreational swimmers who were in the area helped in the initial search, police said in a statement. The depth of the water is thought to be around 70 feet.

St. Vincent-based news outlet Searchlight reports that Sachs radioed the tower shortly after takeoff to tell them he was experiencing trouble and was turning back. That was the last communication.

The bodies were transported to St. Vincent and taken to the Kingstown Mortuary where post-mortem examinations will be done to determine the causes of death.

Oliver will appear in the upcoming movie Forever Hold Your Peace, which he also produced, and just filmed his last scenes on December 20.

The director of his latest movie, Nick Lyon, paid tribute to Oliver, posting a picture on their last day of filming saying: 'We talked about producing a film together for years and finally did it! Thank you for being a great colleague, actor and friend.'

While his co-star, Bai Ling, was among the first to mourn Oliver on social media, saying that she wrote the post 'with tears in [her] eyes.'

'It was our first and last film together, I loved working with him so much.'

'He was so nice, works so hard and such a brave actor and a beautiful gentle person, we played lovers in this film, just so so so sad,' she wrote.

According to local reports, he arrived with his daughters in the Caribbean on December 26.

A few seconds into a social media clip that is circulating online, the plane can be seen speeding towards the water

A massive splash occurs as all four on board are killed by the impact

After the crash, the plane can be seen bobbing in the water. Local fishermen and divers descended on the scene in order to help with the rescue effort

Two days before his death, Oliver posted a photo showing a beach in a tropical setting with the caption: 'Let love rule. Wishing all of you the best for 2024.'

Oliver's former wife, Jessica Muroz, previously worked as an LA-based showbiz reporter for German media.

Online records show that the actor filed for divorce from his wife in December 2021.

Following the release of 2008's Speed Racer, in which he played one of the antagonists, Snake Oiler, he spoke about finally being able to afford a Harley-Davidson and buying a 1972 Buick Centurion around the same time.

'(They were) part of my American dream, what we Europeans and what I grew up imagining: the great wide open spaces and freedom. And that's what this beautiful machinery still means to me.'

In a 1995 interview with People Magazine, Oliver said that he did a year as an exchange student in North Carolina when he was 16 which began his love affair with the US. The article refers to him as a 'Eurohunk teen idol.'

At the age of 21, he moved to the US and quickly was cast in a jeans commercial and a toothpaste ad prior to landing a starring role on Saved by the Bell.

In a separate 2008 interview, Oliver said that that he was raised in a Berlin suburb and that he was preparing to follow his father into a career in banking until he 'fell in love with the American way of life' while in North Carolina.

In one video of the tragic crash, a person recording can be heard saying: 'The plane crashed! Call the Coast Guard!'

Oliver pictured alongside Cate Blanchett in 2006's The Good German

Cate Blanchett, Christian Oliver & Steven Soderbergh Promote The Good German At The 57Th Berlin International Film Festival

Robert Sachs' Bellanca 17-30A Super Viking shown here in a post on Facebook

In an interview with local media outlet iWitness News, a local fisherman criticized the coast guard's response to the tragedy.

'We explained to them that the tide was now starting to run so if you left it (the wreckage) there, it was a (possibility) that we wouldnt find the plane again, that it would drift off,' he said.

He added that the tide's trajectory would have taken the plane to open water. Using ropes and a buoy to mark the location, the fishermen took the decision to retrieve the bodies themselves.

While another official told the outlet that the coast guard should have kept personnel in the area until the wreckage was fully recovered.

Local fishermen and recreational swimmers who were in the area helped in the initial search, police said in a statement

Rescue crews are shown recovering the bodies of the deceased in the moments after the crash

Bequia, 5-mile long, half-mile wide island thats part of the Caribbeans St. Vincent and the Grenadines, is a magnet for the yachts often dotting Admiralty Bay

The unnamed fisherman said that he was close to the area where the plane impacted the water and arrived at the scene as it sank to the seabed.

When the coast guard arrived, the fisherman said that they were told to wait for official divers to arrive before the bodies could be retrieved.

Cornell Campbell, who witnessed the crash, told iWitness that the plane drew is attention because of the 'sound of the plane, the engine, the propeller.'

'Everything shut off the first time. So, I told my friend, "That plane is going to crash." But the plane kicked up back again like it built up back a power,' he said.

Campbell explained that the plane regained power but had lost altitude during the initial failure.

As the pilot attempted to correct the dive, the power appeared to go again and it 'just dived down.'

"But when it sinking, something went "Bouff!" in the water and that is why I said it exploded. So that is the only thing I heard when the plane was sinking. It went "Bouff!" under the water,' Campbell said.

Another witness, Tyrone Durham, a retired coast guard officer described his view of what happened to iWitness.

'It seems as though the power cut out or the engine failed and then I came out from under the tree and looked at the plane.

Oliver is seen here alongside fellow actor and star of Lethal Weapon Danny Glover

Oliver will appear in the upcoming movie Forever Hold Your Peace, which he also produced, and just filmed his last scenes on December 20

The actor is seen here alongside former undisputed boxing champion Evander Holyfield, in a post shared to his Instagram

Director Nick Lyon, seen here with the late actor, paid tribute to him, sharing an image of the two taken just last month after wrapping up his last film 'Forever Hold Your Peace'

'It seems as though it was turning to head back to the airport but then with the wind, because I dont think it had reached the [cruising] altitude so it was apparently going back to the airport,' he said.

'Thats when the wind took control of it and it came down and plunged into the water.'

According to his LinkedIn page, Sachs operated a diving business in Bequia alongside his wife, Cathy. He was a native of Springfield, New Jersey, who had been living in the Caribbean for close to 40 years.

One unnamed witness told iWitness that Sachs had taught him how to scuba dive around five years ago. He also used to work for the pilot calling him a 'good friend, close to the family.

The cause of the plane crash remains under investigation.

Since his passing, tributes have been made to the actor on his social media profile.

One person commented: 'My deepest sympathy to his wife on the unimaginable loss of Husband and two daughters. There are no words.'

Another said: 'So sad. My sincere condolences to his family and to all who are affected by this tragedy. A big hug for the children mom. I wouldn't dare to imagine your pain.'
Hundreds of families are preparing to spend the night away from their flooded homes in the wake of Storm Henk after they were forced to evacuate as torrential downpours submerged Britain underwater.

Britain's weather chaos will deepen this weekend as a cold weather alert is activated with temperatures set to fall to -6C (21F) amid a major ice risk on saturated ground.

Severe flooding has led to hundreds of people being evacuated, cows drowning, rail lines being blocked and roads turning to rivers amid torrential rain.

Following 40 days of continuous rain that has brought flooding misery to towns and villages across the UK, showers continued affecting some areas throughout today.

In East London, 50 people were evacuated after streets turned into rivers in Hackney Wick with ten fire engines and 70 firefighters called to the scene when water started racing down the banks of the canal into residential streets and ground floor flats.

And Nottinghamshire County Council declared a major incident 'due to rising levels along the River Trent', telling residents in flood-risk areas to prepare to evacuate.

Drivers attempting to navigate through the Eashing Lane in Eashing, near Godalming, in Surrey, after torrential downpours led to the River Wey bursting its banks

Eashing Lane in Eashing, Surrey now resembles a river after being hit by Storm Henk

Three foot deep water after heavy rain caused a car park to go underwater in Oxfordshire

Seagulls feeling a little closer to home in Marlow, Buckinghamshire which flooded after heavy rain

Hiring a boat in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, might be a good idea after the Thames burst its banks

Fields and roads in Newark-on-Trent are flooded after the River Trent burst its banks with a major incident declared in Nottinghamshire

Flooding on Mill Lane between St Neots and Little Paxton, Cambridgeshire, following heavy rainfall

A river overflowing in Cambridgeshire today after it burst its banks

High water levels on the Thames have submerged the surrounding Mill and Marsh Meadows, Thames Path, River & Rowing Museum and car park after another night of heavy rainfall

Heavily flooded residential streets in Newark after the Trent water levels rose

A woman pushes child through a flooded street at Longford near Gloucester this morning

The streets of Marlborough, Wiltshire have been submerged after heavy rain in Storm Henk

Paul Cuff at his flooded home in Maisemore, Gloucestershire, today

Flooding around Tewkesbury Abbey and the Gloucestershire town this morning

A man carries a child through floodwater next to the River Thames in Henley this morning

Radcliffe Residential Park in Nottinghamshire has been deluged by floodwater this morning

Sue and Hans Oosthuizen, residents trapped by floodwater at Radcliffe Residential Park in Nottinghamshire today after the River Trent burst its banks following Storm Henk

While more settled conditions are on the way this weekend, it will be significantly colder as the mercury drops to -4C (25F) in rural south west England tomorrow night and -6C (21F) in rural areas along the Welsh border in Shropshire on Sunday night.

The UK Health Security Agency has issued a cold weather alert covering the whole of England valid from 9am tomorrow until 12pm next Tuesday, with temperatures likely to be below average especially overnight as ice forms on the very wet surfaces.

The alert means there is an increased health risk for people aged over 65, those with pre-existing health conditions and other vulnerable groups, such as the homeless.

A major flood risk also continues, with 302 warnings and 332 alerts in England plus 13 alerts and two warnings from Natural Resources Wales - giving a UK total of 649. It comes as:

1,000 properties have been flooded this week, including hundreds overnight;

Peaks along the River Trent could near the highest levels on record from 2000;

A party boat which acts as a floating bar and nightclub sank in the River Thames;

Sandown's 100,000 racing meeting tomorrow is off due to waterlogged track.

Police were called to the village of Sawley in Derbyshire after drivers on the nearby M1 saw cows stranded in floodwater - with four of the animals later confirmed dead.

While officers and firefighters rescued four other cows, more animals are thought to be missing - and the incident prompted a multi-agency animal welfare investigation.

Major rivers including the Thames and Trent broke their banks in places while the Environment Agency issued more than 600 flood alerts or warnings in England.

Trains on Great Western Railway, Southern, South Western Railway and Southeastern were blocked today due to a mixture of flooding, landslips and trees on the line. And some schools were closed due to flooding - including in Wiltshire and Berkshire.

Environment Agency data revealed every river in England is now exceptionally high with some rivers reaching their highest flow on record, such as the River Itchen in Southampton which saw a flow double its previous record in December.

Vehicles are driven through a flooded road at Aldingbourne in West Sussex this morning

The flooded kitchen at Matthew Bloodworth's home in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, today

Doreen Cole surveys the damage to her property this morning after heavy rains and sewer system overflows caused the River Cherwell to break its banks in Islip, Oxfordshire

A narrowboat next to a road bridge over the river in Barrow-on-Soar in Leicestershire today

Cars make it through a flooded road in Essex this morning as the severe weather continues

London Road in Marlborough has experienced severe flooding due to the rain

The highest rainfall totals recorded yesterday were 35.2mm (1.4in) at Otterbourne in Hampshire, with a range of 20mm (0.8in) to 30mm (1.2in) across much of the South.

READ MORE Floods LIVE: Trains cancelled across UK in Storm Henk chaos as party boat sinks and schools close Follow MailOnline's weather liveblog for updates today as hundreds of flood warnings remain in place and commuters face more travel disruption after further heavy downpours following Storm Henk. Advertisement

The Environment Agency revealed more than 1,000 properties had been flooded this week in England, including hundreds overnight into this morning.

The agency's executive flood director Caroline Douglass told BBC Breakfast: 'We're a country that's wet and we always do get a lot of rainfall. Over November and December, following Storm Babet and Storm Ciaran, the ground was incredibly saturated right across the country, particularly in the east.

'That's been topped up over the pre-Christmas period. Rainfall from this week has just added to that, so there's nowhere for the water to go. In that situation we get more flooding and greater impacts than we've seen and probably in areas where people aren't used to it.'

In Gloucestershire, police warned of road closures due to rising water levels around Tewkesbury.

An evacuation centre was set up in the nearby village Walton Cardiff while people living on Alney Island, between two branches of the River Severn, in nearby Gloucester were urged to leave their homes for a nearby leisure centre.

As for the rescued cows yesterday, a Derbyshire Constabulary spokesman told MailOnline: 'We were called to fields of Wilne Road, Sawley, just before 1.40pm following concerns from passing M1 motorists about a number of cattle which appeared to be stranded in water nearby.

'Officers attended along with Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service. Eight cows were rescued and four died. A number of animals are believed to be missing.

The Environment Agency issued hundreds of flood alerts (in amber) and warnings (in red)

The Environment Agency has issued a map showing the peak levels of rivers in the Midlands

Recorded peak levels of rivers in the Midlands are shown in this Environment Agency map

A submerged car sits in a car park after heavy rain and sewer system overflows caused the River Thames to break its banks at Wallingford in Oxfordshire this morning

The River Great Ouse in Bedford town centre, which has burst its banks, pictured today

Clayfield Copse has turned into a flooded quagmire this morning in Dunsden, Oxfordshire

Flooded fields at Woodford in North East London this morning amid weather chaos

Flood waters from the River Ouse approach properties in Barcombe Mills, East Sussex, today

Cows drowned in the village of Sawley, Derbyshire, last night - prompting an animal welfare investigation by Derbyshire Constabulary, which tweeted this picture of the cows it had saved

'The owner of the cattle has been made aware, and the RSPCA, Derbyshire Trading Standards and the Animal and Plant Health Agency have all been notified. A multi-agency investigation is likely to be carried out to further establish the circumstances behind the incident.'

Racing off at Sandown amid waterlogged track Sandown's racing meeting tomorrow, set to feature the 100,000 Unibet Veterans' Handicap Chase, has been abandoned due to a waterlogged track. Clerk of the course Andrew Cooper and his team called an 8am precautionary inspection today as though the track was raceable at the time, heavy rain was forecast yesterday evening. The predicted worst-case scenario was up to 20mm (0.8in) of rain, but even more fell at the Esher venue with 34mm (1.3in) recorded and it has left the course saturated with no hope of improvement in time for racing. Mr Cooper said: 'We've had 34mm of rain, which started at about 2pm yesterday afternoon and finally eased off at about 4am this morning. 'I would say there are multiple areas on both courses (chase and hurdle tracks) of waterlogged, false ground and areas of standing water and there are no options in terms of realignment. 'I think there is an element of judgement that it isn't going to be materially better in 24 hours and we don't think it will be sufficiently better in 24 hours. It's basically saturated ground that is going to sit like that for a number of days now. 'It was just the wrong amount of rain at the wrong time for us, on top of what has already been a fairly wet spell, certainly since Christmas anyway.' Advertisement

Over in Leicestershire, a narrowboat was pushed sideways against a bridge as water streamed past it on the River Soar in Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire, amid widespread flooding in the Midlands.

Local resident Sam Harper Ard, 27, said: 'I live in the village and take my kayak out regularly on that stretch of the River Soar and I've never seen it so high.'

The PR manager said that 'narrowboats are a real part of the community here' so seeing a canal boat affected by the flooding was 'really sad'.

'I hope the owners and everyone involved is safe,' he said.

Meanwhile a political backlash grew today, with Labour accusing the Government of being 'asleep at the wheel' over flood warnings.

The party wants Rishi Sunak to convene a 'Cobra-style taskforce' to protect homes from further damage.

In a joint statement shadow Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden and shadow environment secretary Steve Reed said: 'The Conservatives have brushed over the risk of flooding for too long and communities are paying the price.

'Rishi Sunak has been asleep at the wheel and he must act now or risk further damage to lives and livelihoods.

'This is not about extra money. This is about ensuring that the budget already committed to flood defences is used to maximum effect. If that doesn't happen, homes across the country will remain exposed.

'Labour would create a Cobra-style Flood Resilience Taskforce to coordinate flood preparation and protect more households from the threats posed by climate change and flooding.'

Meanwhile the Liberal Democrats said Mr Sunak should visit areas impacted by flooding.

The party's spokeswoman for housing and communities Helen Morgan said: 'The Prime Minister should see for himself the devastation caused by these floods. People's homes and businesses have been ruined yet again.

'If Rishi Sunak actually met with people impacted by this annual carnage, then he might do something about it.

A man from Worcestershire has protected his property by building a flood wall around it

Nick Lupton, who lives next to the Severn, built the wall after being flooded 11 times since 2016

The property in Worcestershire has been protected from major flooding because of the wall

The man from Worcestershire has managed to keep his home dry after building the flood wall

A BMW i3 was hit by a falling tree on the A25 near Godstone in Surrey on Thursday

The tree smashed through the windscreen of a driver's BMW i3 in Surrey on Thursday

The car was hit by a falling tree on the road near Godstone on Thursday after the storm hit

'Under this Government flood protection plans for homes have been disgracefully slashed. This must be reversed immediately.

READ MORE Storm Henk flood chaos: Map reveals where sewage has been discharged into the sea at nearly 100 south coast beaches after rain and heavy winds battered Britain Advertisement

'This has to be the last year areas like mine in Shropshire are left to fend for themselves against floods.'

But Mr Sunak has said that people should be 'reassured' by the response to flooding in badly affected areas.

Speaking to broadcasters in Stockport today, the Prime Minister said: 'I spoke to people in the East Midlands yesterday who had been affected and talking to them about how devastating the impact of flooding is.

'I just want people to be reassured that the Environment Agency has got people on the ground in all the affected areas, also hundreds of high volume pumps are in practice right now making a difference and it is important that people follow the advice that has been given in local areas where there are flood warnings that have been given.'

'People should be reassured. The Environment Agency have people in the ground everywhere, absolutely recognise the urgency of what is happening and they are responding appropriately and with all due haste.'

Ken Button works at Kirk and Bill's, a furniture workshop in Farndon Road, Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire.

Water has risen up through the floorboards and drains due to flooding caused by the storm, submerging the workshop.

Mr Button has been pumping water out today, after a major incident was declared along the River Trent in Nottinghamshire, which runs near to the workshop.

Matthew Bloodworth stands in his flooded home opposite Tewkesbury Abbey this morning

Damage caused to Matthew Bloodworth's home on Gloucester Road in Tewkesbury today

Matthew Bloodworth stands outside his flooded home opposite Tewkesbury Abbey today

Matthew Bloodworth stands in his flooded home opposite Tewkesbury Abbey this morning

Matthew Bloodworth walks outside his flooded home opposite Tewkesbury Abbey today

A flooded living room at Matthew Bloodworth's home in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, today

Paul Cuff at his flooded property in Maisemore, Gloucestershire, this afternoon

Paul Cuff examines the flooding at his home in the Gloucestershire village of Maisemore today

Paul Cuff at his flooded property in Maisemore, Gloucestershire, this afternoon

He said: 'This is the second time I can ever remember it happening.

Cold weather alert issued by UKHSA A cold weather alert has been issued by the UK Health Security Agency with temperatures set to plummet over the coming days. The Met Office added that the cold snap will be caused by high pressure building over the UK into the next week, with drivers urged to be cautious of ice. The UKHSA said: 'A brisk easterly wind developing across the south over the weekend will make it feel much colder, with the added wind chill. 'Temperatures are likely to be a few degrees below average, across much of the UK, especially overnight, with more widespread frosts than of late. 'Ice is likely to be an issue for many given the very wet ground in most areas. It is probably this cold spell may last well into the following week.' The warning comes into force at 9am tomorrow and expires at noon on January 12. Advertisement

'The last time was around 2000, and the building is well over 100 years old, and it hasn't been a problem in the past, but for some reason or other it is now, which is presumably a sign of climate change.

'It's been a terrible start to the new year. We'll have to see what we can salvage. I suppose the long-term solution is to raise the floor up, but at a cost.'

The flooding caused significant delays and cancellations to trains today, with Great Western Railway warning of 'major disruption' until the end of the day.

National Rail said: 'Great Western Railway are currently experiencing significant disruption on the network and customers are advised to please check your journey before you travel.

'Flooding and a serious incident near Reading last night, which involved police taking control of the line, has left trains and crew in the wrong place.

'Short-notice cancellations and a reduced level of service on long-distance routes are expected throughout the day.'

Due to flooding, GWR lines were closed today between Swindon and Bristol Parkway; Reading and Castle Cary; and Liskeard and Looe.

CrossCountry and Transport for Wales said flooding between Gloucester and Lydney meant that all lines were blocked.

There was disruption on Southern services between Horsham and London Victoria due to a tree blocking the line at Ockley, meaning trains could not call at stations between Horsham and Dorking.

Elsewhere, a landslip at Arlesey in Bedfordshire was causing disruption to journeys between Stevenage and Peterborough which affected six operators - Grand Central, Great Northern, Hull Trains, LNER, Lumo and Thameslink.

Debbie McGee's home is surrounded by floodwater today after the Thames broke its banks

The home of Debbie McGee, the widow of magician Paul Daniels, is surrounded by floodwater

Floodwater surrounds the home of Debbie McGee which is located next to the River Thames

Kirk and Bill's, a furniture workshop in Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, is flooded today

Flood water being pumped outside of Kirk and Bill's in Newark-on-Trent this morning

Kirk and Bill's, a furniture workshop in Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, is flooded today

Southeastern had major disruption this morning due to a landslip at Maidstone East.

READ MORE Heavy rain and flooding from Storm Henk reveals outline of English Civil War fort built in 1643 by Oliver Cromwell's forces Advertisement

It meant services could not run between Maidstone East and Otford, with passengers told to change at Otford for services to London Bridge, Waterloo East and London Charing Cross.

On the line from London Victoria to Ashford via Maidstone East, services were diverting via Paddock Wood between Otford and Ashford and were not call at any stations on the Maidstone East line. Passengers were told to change at Otford for a bus replacement running to Ashford via Maidstone East.

On the line from Ashford to London Victoria via Maidstone East, trains were running but could be delayed.

Separately, Southeastern added that a landslip at Robertsbridge meant trains running through the station were being cancelled.

Teams of engineers were on site this morning with disruption expected until at least 6pm - and trains were not running on the Hastings line between Battle and Tunbridge Wells.

Elsewhere, South Western Railway said services running across the whole network may be cancelled, delayed or revised due to the heavy rainfall and multiple incidents of flooding as well as a landslip.

The National Rail website said: 'The sheer amount of rain falling on already wet and waterlogged areas, so close after Storm Henk earlier this week, meant that in many locations trains were unable to run as it would not have been safe to do so.

Flooding around Tewkesbury Abbey and the Gloucestershire town this morning

Doreen Cole surveys flooding damage to her property this morning in Islip, Oxfordshire

Major flooding at Alney Terrace on the outskirts of Gloucester this morning

A van avoids flood water from the River Ouse in Barcombe Mills, East Sussex, this afternoon

Major flooding in Worcester city centre today after the River Severn burst its banks

Radcliffe Residential Park in Nottinghamshire has been deluged by floodwater this morning

Flooding around Tewkesbury Abbey and the Gloucestershire town this morning

A narrowboat next to a road bridge over the river in Barrow-on-Soar in Leicestershire today

A dog looks out of a vehicle driving along a flooded road today in Henley-on-Thames, Berkshire

Woodford in North East London is among the areas of Britain facing flooding misery today

Flooding around Tewkesbury Abbey and the Gloucestershire town this morning

Major flooding in Worcester city centre today after the River Severn burst its banks

Residence check on their property on Gloucester Road opposite Tewkesbury Abbey today

Doreen Cole surveys flooding damage to her property this morning in Islip, Oxfordshire

A submerged car sits in a flooded car park at Wallingford in Oxfordshire this morning

Flooding in Maisemore, Gloucestershire, today as the country battles with severe weather

'Whilst we expect water levels to drop and most of the network to reopen today, South Western Railway will not be able to operate services between Yeovil Junction and Exeter because of a landslip near Crewkerne.

'Disruption to the rest of the network is expected to last throughout today due to displaced trains and crews. South Western Railway urges everyone to check before they travel to see whether their train is running as planned.'

Today, experts warned the impact of surface water and river flooding will continue to be 'significant' across parts of England following heavy rainfall.

Stefan Laeger, of the Environment Agency, said: 'Significant surface water and river flooding impacts are possible across parts of the Midlands and the south and east of England due to heavy localised rainfall falling on already very saturated catchments.

'Ongoing minor impacts are also likely across much of England over the next five days as some larger rivers slowly respond to recent and forecast rain.'

It comes just days after disruption caused by strong winds and rain from Storm Henk, which has left the ground saturated and more prone to flooding.

Nottinghamshire County Council said forecasts were showing that peaks along the River Trent could 'come close to the highest levels on record from the year 2000', adding that residents in areas along the Trent valley should be 'prepared for flooding'.

Flooding around Tewkesbury Abbey and the Gloucestershire town this morning

Doreen Cole surveys flooding damage to her property this morning in Islip, Oxfordshire

A submerged car sits in a flooded car park at Wallingford in Oxfordshire this morning

Major flooding in Worcester city centre today after the River Severn burst its banks

Flooding near a Richer Sounds shop in Oxford this morning following heavy rainfall

Flooding around Tewkesbury Abbey and the Gloucestershire town this morning

Road closures and signs in Islip, Oxfordshire, today after the River Cherwell broke its banks

Major flooding in Worcester city centre today after the River Severn burst its banks

A narrowboat next to a road bridge over the river in Barrow-on-Soar in Leicestershire today

Flooding around Tewkesbury Abbey and the Gloucestershire town this morning

Doreen Cole surveys flooding damage to her property this morning in Islip, Oxfordshire

A narrowboat next to a road bridge over the river in Barrow-on-Soar in Leicestershire today

Road closures and signs in Islip, Oxfordshire, today after the River Cherwell broke its banks

A man negotiates the floodwater on Gloucester Road opposite Tewkesbury Abbey today

Flooding around Tewkesbury Abbey and the Gloucestershire town this morning

A submerged car sits in a flooded car park at Wallingford in Oxfordshire this morning

A man stranded on his shed roof by floodwater was rescued by a crew from Highfields Fire Station who used a boat to bring him safely to land.

READ MORE Moment drivers get trapped in flood water before being rescued by police as heavy rainfall caused by Storm Henk causes chaos on roads Advertisement

In a statement, the council said: 'Key tributaries which feed in to the river Trent, including the river Derwent, the river Soar and the river Dove, have already reached their peaks and high water levels will now pass down the Trent, which is likely to lead to flooding to properties and roads.

'Residents who live in the flood-risk areas are being asked to ensure they have preparations in place in case they are asked to evacuate.

'Councils, emergency services and the Environment Agency have been providing emergency support to communities impacted and will continue to provide support across the county.'

Several residents of Radcliffe Residential Park, an estate of static caravans for the over-55s just to the east of the city, were evacuated due to high water levels.

Dramatic aerial photographs showed how the caravan park had been completely cut off by floodwater.

The widespread flooding has also left some locals unable to leave their homes amid 'disaster-like movie' scenes at the estate for over-55s.

Apprenticeship tutor Sue Oosthuizen, 63, and husband Hans, 65, are currently trapped in their caravan with their cat and two pet chickens.

Major flooding at Hackney Wick in East London overnight saw firefighters called to the area

A couple make their way through floodwater at Hackney Wick in East London this morning

Major flooding at Hackney Wick in East London overnight saw firefighters called to the area

Firefighters at the scene in Hackney Wick, East London, overnight as the flooding continued

Flooding on Osney Bridge in Oxford this morning following heavy rainfall in recent weeks

Police closed off the A264 near Crawley in West Sussex today following major flooding

Roads in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, are also closed today after it was badly hit by flooding

Motorists drive through floodwater in the Brent Cross area of North West London overnight

Motorists drive through floodwater in the Brent Cross area of North West London overnight

Water fills an underpass running under Hendon Way in Brent Cross, North West London, today

A landslip near Maidstone East station in Kent overnight has caused train chaos this morning

Network Rail engineers assess the landslip near Maidstone East station in Kent this morning

Southeastern is reporting flooding on its network this morning has flooded the line in Kent

She said: 'We're completely cut off from all sides and it's the worst flooding we have ever known here. The only way you can get in and out is with waders as the water is at least two metres in deep in most places.

READ MORE Expert advice on what to do in Storm Henk-style floods and the crucial error that could lead to tragedy Advertisement

'Several of our neighbours needed to be evacuated, including one poorly elderly neighbour. The electricity has gone in some homes too, we're lucky ours hasn't. We also have two pet chickens, Agnes and Precious, who are now in the house with us as well as our 12-year-old cat Peppi.

'We moved them indoors when we saw the water levels rising. The fact we're on stilts has saved the water from coming into our home. We just hope the levels will start to subside now. Although we're stranded, we've had lots of help and support from the community.'

Another local resident, Phil Walker, 55, added: 'I've never known anything like it, the whole site has become an island. People were marooned and couldn't get out.

'It just got higher and higher, it was quite frightening and like something from a disaster-movie.

'You've got to feel for the people at the bottom nearest the river as they will have suffered some nasty damage I imagine. It is really concerning.'

Following rainfall in London, a party boat which acts as a floating bar, restaurant and nightclub sank in the River Thames.

The Met Office had issued a yellow weather warning of rain from 12pm yesterday until 3am this morning.

Forecasters had said there was a 'small chance' that communities could become cut off by flooded roads.

The period between July and December last year was the wettest on record dating back to 1890, according to the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH).

Since September, the start of the storm year, there have been eight named storms to hit the UK, which is the highest number in a season to be named by the Met Office since it began naming them in 2015.

This has turned the country into what hydrologist Professor Hannah Cloke, from the University of Reading, described as a 'sopping wet sponge'.
A mysterious flyer on a vacant Washington storefront urged shoplifters to unite and ransack the local Safeway grocery stores.

The signage was posted on Irving Street outside of a store in the neighborhood of Columbia Heights located in Northwest D.C., said in part, 'Shoplifters unite! Take everything that's not nailed down. Bust windows.'

DailyMail.com obtained a copy of the flyer that features a slew of accusations against the national grocery retail chain including, 'Safeway is racist against black people... Safeway is racist against black disabled people... Safeway is racist against people who support Gaza.'

A photo of a man in a wheelchair in what appear to be a library is featured on the flyer.

The person or group behind the flyer was not identified but it supported 'Black Lives Matter,' and encouraged people to 'boycott' their store, 'slip and fall inside Safeway to get $$$rich$$$' and to post on TikTok and share on social media.

The flyer (pictured) that was posted outside the vacant storefront on Irving Street urges shoplifters to band together and ransack their local Safeway store with the words: 'Shoplifters Unite.' 'Take everything that's not nailed down. Bust Windows'

Safeway, is a supermarket chain headquartered in Pleasonton with more than 900 stores nationwide and located in seventeen different states

The flyer had many misspellings also a number profanities. It is unclear what day the flyer was posted.

The second portion of the flyers alleges that a 'white redneck manager told a disabled black person he was not allowed to bring his wheelchair in the store because he had a Gaza flag on his wheelchair.'

The sign also claimed that the 'white manager then said. Get out of my store disabled N-word, you and your wife, security guard joined in'.

When DailyMail.com contacted Safeway, they were unavailable for comment, at the time of publication.

DailyMail.com also reached out to some of the local constituents about the verity of the flyer. They did not respond yet at the time of publication.

Safeway is a supermarket chain that not only sells groceries, but has a pharmacy, dry cleaner, gas station and Western Union.

The billion dollar company that is headquartered in Pleasanton, California has 904 stores in approximately approximately seventeen states.

Some shoppers spoke to local Fox News about the ominous flyer with one person saying, in part, 'I think its a bunch of crap.'

The Metropolitan Police Department's Office of Communications issued a statement to DailyMail.com about the matter.

'The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) continues to work closely with our law enforcement and DC government partners to ensure safety and security for all who live and work in the District. MPD does not provide specific information on operations, tactics, or staffing.

'MPD does not tolerate illegal activity of any kind, and we will continue to work to ensure that those who commit crimes within the District of Columbia are apprehended. We urge individuals to remain vigilant and help our community stay safe. If you See Something, Say Something.'

There has been a surge in shoplifting at many stores in the area as part of a nationwide problem.

Footage from CVS shows a security guard manning a store with bare shelves and armed guards at Target.

The Five and Below located near where the flyer stood recently changed its hours to close at 5pm and on January 14 will be closing that location permanently.
The Commons was embroiled in chaos today after announcing plans to fly the Palestinian flag - only to abruptly shelve the idea.

A diary note circulated by the House suggested Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle would display the flag to mark a visit by the 'Palestine Ambassador' next week.

However, critics said the move was 'baffling' as the UK does not recognise the state of Palestine.

There is also only a Palestinian 'mission' in London rather than an embassy, which would be required to have a diplomat with the status of ambassador.

As a backlash erupted, the Speaker's office released a statement saying there is no meeting scheduled.

'A routine internal planning email was sent in error. We can confirm no meeting with the Palestinian Ambassador is scheduled to take place,' it said.

A spokesman had another attempt at clarifying the situation later, blaming 'diary pressures' and saying Sir Lindsay still hopes to meet the envoy - thought to be Husam Zomlot.

'Following a routine diary review meeting this morning, it became clear that the Speaker could no longer attend due to other diary pressures,' they said.

'An internal planning email was sent in error ahead of this meeting. He hopes to reschedule when diaries allow.'

But the Parliamentary authorities did not say whether the Palestinian flag will be flown should the meeting take place.

A diary note circulated by the House suggested Sir Lindsay Hoyle (pictured) would display the flag to mark a visit by the ' Palestine Ambassador' next week

As a backlash erupted, the Speaker's office released a statement saying the diary note had gone out 'in error' and there is no meeting scheduled

A Commons source added that flags are flown 'when an Ambassador, Speaker or High Commissioner from another country visits Parliament'. However, that does not appear to cover a visit by the Palestinian envoy.

Sir Lindsay met the Israeli ambassador at a Hanukkah event before Christmas, and visited Israel to show solidarity in November.

The plans were spotted by the Policy Exchange think-tank, which questioned whether it was appropriate for the Speaker to take a 'controversial position'.

Many on the Labour benches have been heavily critical of Israel's military response to the October 7 massacre perpetrated by Hamas.

However, Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer have backed Israel's right to defend itself and prevent further terrorist attacks while urging restraint to avoid civilian casualties.

Iain Mansfield, Director of Research at Policy Exchange, said: 'This is baffling behaviour by the Speaker. The UK does not recognise the state of Palestine.

A protester waving a Palestinian flag outside Parliament in October

'Should the Speaker be committing the entire House of Commons to such a controversial position on the current conflict?

'Is Speaker-led diplomacy really appropriate in this case? It is hardly impartial.

'Mr Speaker has serious questions to answer - not least from the many Parliamentarians who may not share his views.'
The heartbroken mother of a beautician killed by Hamas terrorists as she tried to flee the Nova festival today kissed her daughter's picture at a memorial service for those killed in the massacre.

Overcome with grief, Rachel Amar bent down to plant a kiss on the photograph of her daughter Marsdas Amar's beaming face at the memorial set up at the Nova Music festival site where more than 360 youngsters were killed by terrorists.

Marsdas was one of scores of screaming revellers who tried in vain to flee the festival as they were pursued by the black-clad gunmen. But as she and her friends tried to escape in their car, they were ambushed and shot dead by Hamas terrorists.

Today, her mother said an emotional goodbye to her 'beautiful' daughter along with scores of other heartbroken families whose relatives were either killed at the festival or kidnapped and taken into Gaza where they remain.

During the emotional memorial service, a young Israeli soldier was so overcome with grief that she crumpled to the ground and knelt in front of the pictures of her relatives Tair and Hodaya David - two sisters who were killed as they tried to flee the festival.

The heartbroken mother of a beautician killed by Hamas terrorists as she tried to flee the Nova festival massacre today kissed her daughter's picture at a memorial service for those killed in the terror attack

Overcome with grief, Rachel Amar bent down to plant a kiss on the photograph of her daughter Marsdas Amar's beaming face at the memorial set up at the Nova Music festival site where more than 360 youngsters were killed by terrorists

Marsdas (pictured) was one of scores of screaming revellers who tried in vain to flee the festival as they were pursued by the black-clad gunmen. But as she and her friends tried to escape in their car, they were ambushed and shot dead by Hamas terrorists

At the memorial today, families were overcome with emotion and consoled each other as they stood next to the photographs of their loved ones who will never come home to them

During the emotional memorial service, a young Israeli soldier was so overcome with grief that she crumpled to the ground and knelt in front of the pictures of her relatives Tair and Hodaya David - two sisters who were killed as they tried to flee the festival

Tair, 23, (right) and her sister Hodaya, 26, (left) had been dancing with their friends on October 7, not noticing the black-clad paragliders descending on the fields surrounding the festival with their grenades and machine guns.

Tair, 23, and her sister Hodaya, 26, had been dancing with their friends on October 7, not noticing the black-clad paragliders descending on the fields surrounding the festival with their grenades and machine guns.

But the young revellers soon heard the sound of air raid sirens and saw the rockets streak overhead as gunfire came closer and closer.

Tair and Hodaya had been on the phone to their father, Uri, as they tried to flee the festival. They hid in a ditch and were holding hands, Uri said, before the line cut out. He later learned that they were killed by the Hamas terrorists.

At the memorial today, families were overcome with emotion and consoled each other as they stood next to the photographs of their loved ones who will never come home to them.

Marsdas's mother kissed her daughter's picture after paying tribute to her in which she said 'nothing will return to being the same without you'.

Rachel wrote on Facebook: 'Everyone who knew you loved you and will continue to love you. My incredible girl, my baby, my youngest child, nothing will return to being the same without you, my love.

'Instead of marrying you off I am putting you in the ground with great sadness. Dear grandpa will watch over and protect you.'

It's been three months since Hamas unleashed the horrors on Israelis across southern Israel on October 7 - but for the families who have been left behind, the grief will never leave them.

Marsdas's friend, Milana Lutchenko, wrote on social media that 'nothing will be the same without you'.

She continued: 'The joy won't be the same joy, the sadness won't be the same sadness, the experiences won't be the same experiences. The difficulties will not pass in the same way.'

According to police, 364 people were shot, bludgeoned or burned to death at the Nova festival in a stretch of tree-dotted brush near Kibbutz Reim. Another 40 people were taken hostage by Hamas back to the Gaza Strip 2 miles away.

Marsdas's friend, Milana Lutchenko (pictured together), wrote on social media that 'nothing will be the same without you'

People visit the site of the Nova festival, where people were killed and kidnapped during the October 7 attack by Hamas gunmen from Gaza on Friday

An Israeli soldier weeps at the marker for a loved one killed at the Nova festival on Friday

During the emotional memorial service, a young Israeli soldier was so overcome with grief that she crumpled to the ground and knelt in front of the pictures of her relatives Tair and Hodaya David - two sisters who were killed as they tried to flee the festival

A woman cries during the memorial service at the Nova music festival site on January 5

Hadas (R) and Nassim (L) Hamoy plant a tree at the site where their 26-year-old duaghter Ella was killed when Hamas militants attacked the Supernova music festival on October 7 on Friday

People walk past photos of victims at the Nova music festival site on January 5 in Re'im, Israel

Relatives of hostages held by Hamas hug each other during a press conference at the Nova music festival site on January 5

A woman kneels at the site of the Nova festival, where people were killed and kidnapped during the October 7 attack on Friday

Video from that day taken from a terrorists' truck showed how the gunmen ruthlessly slaughtered their victims as they tried to flee the festival on foot or in their cars.

It was on one road that the gunmen, drawn to the sound of crackling gunfire up ahead, saw hundreds of screaming youngsters running across the next field from the Supernova festival where they had seen their friends shot dead by Hamas terrorists.

Without hesitation, two gunmen raised their assault rifles and began firing shots one after the other at the fleeing revellers. Within seconds, dozens of other terrorists jumped out of their pickup trucks and began taking potshots too.

Some fire from a machine gun-mounted truck, while one gunman jumps onto the bonnet of a slain victim's abandoned car to shoot over the trees at the screaming revellers, mowing them down one by one with their hail of bullets.

The sickening sound of gunshots continues for 40 seconds - the terrorists unrelenting in their savagery. Apparently deciding that there were no more victims to shoot, the gunmen are seen turning back to their trucks before the video cuts out.

Survivors have told how they ran through that open field as the terrorists mowed down their friends and other revellers with bursts of automatic gunfire. Many of the victims were shot in the back as they ran.

What was supposed to be an all-night rave quickly turned into the scene of a massacre during one of the bloodiest days in Israel's history.

As the young revellers danced, they didn't see the black-clad paragliders descending on the fields surrounding the festival with their grenades and machine guns. But they soon heard the sound of air raid sirens and saw the rockets streak overhead.

And then the gunfire started. And then the screams.

Many of the revellers, including Maya Alper, 25, jumped into their cars and raced to the main road. But it was at the intersection that she saw crowds of panicked festivalgoers, shouting at the drivers to turn around.

They heard more gunshots and then saw panicked men and women staggering down the road just in front of her fell to the ground in pools of blood.

It was at this moment, hundreds of the young revellers sprinted for their lives. But as the latest video released today shows, eager Hamas terrorists lay in wait ready to unleash a hail of bullets at their fleeing bodies.

'We were hiding and running, hiding and running, in an open field  the worst place you could possibly be in that situation,' said Arik Nani, from Tel Aviv, who had gone to the festival to celebrate his 26th birthday.

'For a country where everyone in these circles knows everyone, this is a trauma like I could never imagine.'

It was here that the gunmen, their ears pricking at the sound of crackling gunfire up ahead, saw hundreds of screaming youngsters running across the next field from the Supernova festival where they had seen their friends shot dead by Hamas terrorists

Israelis could be heard shouting, running, and hurriedly getting into cars as they attempt to escape

As the carnage unfolded before her, Alper pulled a few disoriented-looking revellers into her car from the street and accelerated in the opposite direction.

One of them said he had lost his wife in the chaos and Alper had to stop him from breaking out of the car to find her. Another said she had just seen Hamas gunmen shoot and kill her best friend. Another rocked in his seat, murmuring over and over, 'We are going to die.'

In the rear-view mirror, Alper watched the dance floor where she had spent the past ecstatic hours transform into a giant cloud of black smoke.

Festival-goers who managed to make it to the road and parking lot where their vehicles were parked found themselves trapped in a traffic jam, with the terrorists stalking the cars and spraying those inside with gunfire.

Alper told how she saw a gunman shout 'God is Great' just metres away from her as she drove. She and her new companions sprinted out of the car and sprinted through the open field towards bushes on the other side.

Alper felt a bullet whiz past her left ear. Aware the gunmen would outrun her, she plunged into a tangle of shrubs.

Peering through thorns, she said she saw one of her passengers, the girl who had lost her friend, shriek and collapse as a gunman stood over her limp body, grinning.

'I can't even explain the energy they (the terrorists) had. It was so clear they didn't see us as human beings,' she said. 'They looked at us with pure, pure hate.'

Videos show the gunmen executed some of the wounded at point-blank range as they crouched on the ground. Some of the militants even rifled through the vehicles of their victims, grabbing purses and backpacks.

Within the festival site, the gunmen, brandishing AK-47 assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades, opened fire on those still there. Others waited near bomb shelters, gunning down people who were seeking refuge.

Israeli communities on either side of the festival grounds also came under attack, with Hamas gunmen abducting dozens of men, women and children  including elderly and disabled people  and killing scores of others in the unprecedented surprise attack.

For over six hours, thousands of festivalgoers hid without help from the Israeli army as Hamas militants sprayed automatic gunfire and threw grenades. Dashcam footage from an abandoned car shows how a reveller was spotted as he hid.

Cowering on the ground behind a vehicle, he is approached by a terrorist and executed. Moments earlier another terrorist had fired at an injured reveller before marching him off at gunpoint.

Chilling video showed the terrified revellers hiding in the undergrowth, desperately trying to avoid the hail of bullets from Hamas gunmen.

Survivors of the attack posted clips showing them crawling under bushes and recording hushed farewell messages to their loved ones as they watched victims get slaughtered.

Many lay petrified for more than five hours as the killing carried on around them, only emerging when they heard security forces speaking in Hebrew.
Hunter Biden is filming top-secret DOCUMENTARY with Hollywood power player 'sugar brother' to 'set the record straight'

Republicans will formally begin proceedings to hold Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress next week.

The move comes weeks after Hunter defied a subpoena requiring him to sit for a closed-door deposition as part of their impeachment investigation into whether President Joe Biden was connected to or profited from his son's shady business deals.

'Hunter Biden blatantly defied two lawful subpoenas when he did not appear for his December deposition,' House Oversight Committee Republicans wrote on X Friday.

'Next week, we will consider a resolution and accompanying report to hold him in contempt of Congress for violating federal law,' the lawmakers said. The hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, January 10 at 10 a.m. ET.

The House Judiciary Committee will also hold a markup.

Hunter appeared outside of the Capitol in December to deliver a dramatic tirade slamming 'shameless' Republicans, and declared that he would be skipping his deposition.

Biden was pictured visiting Morris at his home on December 27

Hunter Biden shockingly showed up Capitol Hill on the morning of his mandatory deposition to acknowledge 'mistakes' he made due to his crack cocaine addiction while blasting Republicans investigating him for 'turning his 'dad's love into darkness'

Republicans said that his 'obstruction' of their investigation has forced them to take the president's son to court to compel his cooperation - or he will face jail time.

If Hunter is held in contempt of Congress by a committee vote, his case would be referred to the Biden-led Department of Justice. If DOJ agrees to prosecute the case, which is unlikely, he could face up to 12 months jail time or a fine of up to $100,000 if convicted.

GOP leadership held a vote to formalize their ongoing impeachment inquiry into Joe on December 13.

The 221-212 party-line vote opened the door for the GOP to get more evidence about schemes that have seen the Biden family get millions from countries including China, Ukraine and Romania.

And the Bidens will now have more of their bank records, mortgage details, emails, text messages and mobile phones subpoenaed, along with anything else Congress wants to see.

Just this week, it was revealed that the man infamously known as Hunter Biden's 'sugar brother' who has donated millions to the president's son is reportedly working on a documentary to set the record straight about him.

Kevin Morris, a Hollywood lawyer who made a fortune from a South Park TV deal, was dubbed Hunter's 'sugar brother' after he reportedly paid off up to $2.8 million of the First Son's tax bill in an attempt to placate prosecutors.

Hunter Biden received a staggering $4.9 million from Morris, an IRS whistleblower claimed in December, to help cover Biden's housing, legal fees, car payments and payments to advisors, most of which came in October 2021.

Kevin Morris, the man infamously known as Hunter Biden's 'sugar brother' who has donated millions to the president's son is reportedly working on a documentary to set the record straight about him

The first son also said his father was 'not financially involved' in his controversial business dealings and that there was no evidence because it 'did not happen.'

Comer and Jordan questioned what Hunter meant when that his father was not 'financially' involved in his dealings.

'Exactly how was Joe Biden involved?' they questioned in the statement. 'Evidence shows Joe Biden met with Hunter's business associates and his name was at the center of the family business strategy.'

Hunter was subpoenaed by Republicans last month along with James Biden, the president's brother, and Biden family associate Rob Walker. Attorneys for James have been in touch with the committee and they are working on scheduling a time for his closed-door testimony.

Hunter Biden made a shock appearance on Capitol Hill where he defiantly declared that his father is innocent of corruption allegations and accused Republicans of being 'shameless' for trying to impeach him.

Hunter delivered an emotional public statement in which he tore into the 'unrelenting Trump attack machine' and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene for showing naked photos of him in Congress.

Hunter admitted making 'mistakes' in his life due to his crack cocaine addiction but went on to blast Republicans investigating him and accused them of 'turning my dad's love into darkness.'

Republicans have threatened to begin the process of holding Hunter Biden in Contempt of Congress if he doesn't show up for his impeachment probe deposition at 9.30am on Wednesday

Speculation is swirling around Washington D.C. over whether the first son will show up for his closed-door interview in the GOP investigation into his father's involvement in foreign business deals

Hunter said: 'I am here today to acknowledge I have made mistakes in my life. Im also here today to correct how the MAGA right has portrayed me for political purposes.
Authorities have launched an investigation into how an inmate became pregnant while in custody - with her family denying rumors that another convict provided her with a glove full of his semen.

Daisy Link, 28, has been held without bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center (TGK) in Miami, Florida on a second-degree murder charge since 2022.

She is now three months pregnant with her sister Crystal Barreto telling WPLG that Link claimed she had been 'sexually assaulted'.

Link's pregnancy was confirmed via a 'thorough medical exam', a Miami-Dade Corrections spokesperson said, adding that there is 'no evidence of sexual battery' and the circumstances surrounding her pregnancy are 'under active investigation'.

But an anonymous tipster told the news outlet that the rumor spreading around TGK is that a male inmate that is housed above Link ejaculated into a glove and passed it to her through an air conditioning vent.

Barreto has dismissed the rumor as 'crazy' and 'propaganda' and is seeking a thorough investigation into what happened to her sister.

Daisy Link, 28, (pictured) has been held without bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami, Florida on a second-degree murder charge since 2022. She is now three months pregnant

Link's pregnancy was confirmed via a 'thorough medical exam', a Miami-Dade Corrections spokesperson said, adding that there is 'no evidence of sexual battery' and the circumstances surrounding her pregnancy are 'under active investigation'. Pictured: Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center

Link told Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation (MDCR) staff that she believed she was pregnant on December 23 last year.

Her condition was confirmed through a 'thorough' medical evaluation conducted by the jail's Correctional Health Services partners, a MDCR spokesperson told MailOnline.

'The care, safety, and rehabilitation of all those in our custody remains our top priority,' the spokesperson said.

'And while there is no evidence of sexual battery against our inmate at this time, the circumstances surrounding the pregnancy are currently under active investigation.'

It is currently unclear how or by whom Link become pregnant, but a rumor amongst inmates is that she got pregnant using a glove filled with a male inmate's semen.

The tipster told WPLG that Link and the male inmate 'have never even seen each other', but alleged that inmates 'often speak to each other through the vents'.

Barreto has slammed the rumor and blasted the jail for its handling of the situation, alleging staff at MDCR 'mocked', 'laughed at' and 'never tried to help' her sister.

'They never tried to exactly get the whole true story, they never took her to get a rape treatment,' said Barreto.

'They never really tried to help her out until we reached out to the media, which they asked us not to do. Now theyre trying to come up with all kinds of different scenarios about what happened to her.'

The MDCR told MailOnline today that it has 'healthcare procedures in place to ensure the safety of all those in our custody, any unborn child, and staff, in any case of pregnancy while in our care'.

A spokesperson added: 'Pregnant inmates receive timely and appropriate prenatal care; specialized obstetrical services, when indicated by the CHS; and time for postpartum recovery.

'Additionally, any housing assignments for pregnant inmates are made in consultation with Correctional Health Services, and when necessary, the inmates outside obstetrician.'
Donald Trump lawyer Alina Habba predicted Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh would 'step up' in rule in favor of the president who appointed him  issuing an usual public reminder of Trump's effort to secure his lifetime appointment.

She made the comment to Fox News host Sean Hannity, just days after confirming Trump's concerns that the high court could rule against him when considering a Colorado Supreme Court decision to knock him off the ballot there.

'I think it should be a slam dunk in the Supreme Court,' she told Hannity. 'I have faith in them. You know, people like Kavanaugh, who the president fought for, who the president went through hell to get into place, he'll step up,' she said.

'Those people will step up. Not because they're pro-Trump, but because they're pro-law, because they're pro-fairness. And the law on this is very clear,' she said.

Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh will 'step up' on the Colorado ballot case, Trump lawyer Alina Habba precicted

Her comments, flagged by Mediaite, come in a 2024 presidential election where the Supreme Court figures to have a critical role.

Trump wants the high court to toss the Colorado decision that Trump is ineligible to be on the ballot due a 14th Amendment clause barring offices for 'those found to have have engaged in insurrection or rebellion.'

Trump's team argues the language does not apply to the presidency.

She spoke after Hannity said 'nobody that I know has even been charged with anything involving insurrection, let alone convicted of it.'

'He has not been charged with insurrection. He has not be prosecuted for it. He has not been found guilty of it,' Habba said.

'Insurrection under the 14th Amendment, let's not forget, Sean, was to prevent people from a war, who were pro slavery, who were anti-American from taking office. That is not this.'

She was earlier referencing Kavanaugh's brutal 2018 confirmation battle, while facing sexual assault allegations. The confirmation was a big win for Trump. He was the second of three nominees Trump was able to put on the Supreme Court to establish a 6-3 conservative majority.

Habba and Fox host Sean Hannity agreed Trump did been convicted of 'insurrection'

Habba made reference to Kavanaugh's brutal confirmation fight and said Trump 'went through hell' to get him on the court

Habba's comments came days after she said the former president is concerned the U.S. Supreme Court could rule against him on cases that would keep him off state ballots in the 2024 election.

Habba told Fox News that conservatives 'get nervous' and are wary of being seen as 'pro-Trump'  even on the high court where Trump installed three of its nine members during his single term.

She spoke after host Martha McCallum asked if Trump was concerned the court might rule against him despite his role in establishing a conservative supermajority.

Trump's legal team has filed an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court asking it to overturn a Colorado Supreme Court ruling that took him off the ballot there, citing the 14th Amendment's clause on insurrection.

'That's a concern that he's voiced to me, he's voiced to everybody publicly, not privately. I can tell you that his concern is a valid one,' Habba said Wednesday.

Trump lawyer Alina Habba says the former president has voiced concern that the Supreme Court might rule against him on a day his team appealed a Colorado Supreme Court decision that knocked him off the ballot there

'You know, Republicans are conservative. They get nervous. They unfortunately sometimes shy away from being pro-Trump because they feel that even if the law is on our side, they may appear to be swayed much like the Democratic side would do, right?'

'So they're trying to look neutral that sometimes they make the wrong call. I just encourage them to look at the law and the Constitution.'

She said there should be 'no politics' in the decision, it's 'just simply American,' she added.

She was asked about New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman's comment on CNN that Trump and his advisors believe he will prevail, but that Trump 'is concerned that they are going to look as if they're trying not to rule in his favor and might rule against him.'

Habba has been at Trump's side throughout his New York fraud trial

'You know, Republicans are conservative. They get nervous. They unfortunately are sometimes shy away from being pro-Trump,' Habba said

That came even as some Trump critics raised concerns that the rulings in Colorado and Maine could win Trump sympathy while denying voters the chance to determine his fate.

Habba's latest comments came as Trump's lawyers wrote in their appeal that the Colorado ruling, 'if allowed to stand, will mark the first time in the history of the United States that the judiciary has prevented voters from casting ballots for the leading major-party presidential candidate.'

They wrote that the issue of eligibility is 'properly reserved for Congress, not the state courts, to consider and decide.'

It was not 'insurrection' and President Trump in no way 'engaged' in 'insurrection,' they argued.

Habba has been at Trump's side throughout his separate New York fraud trial. She was also pictured partying with him at Mar-a-Lago on New Years Eve, including in one image that drew criticism on X for what posters said was a crude attempt at photo-shopping the former president.
A Kentucky nurse who woke up from a routine kidney stone surgery to find she'd had a quadruple amputation due to sepsis has begun physical therapy.

Lucinda Mullins, 41, went in for kidney stone removal surgery but she became septic following an infection, resulting in her losing both of her legs and arms.

Her family have shared updates on her condition since the operation took a dark turn and she has started her journey to recovery.

Mullins was pictured grimacing as she took part in physical therapy with a doctor who was seen raising her amputated leg.

She was visited in hospital by a friend who brought her a box of cupcakes and she posed alongside it before getting into her wheelchair.

A Kentucky nurse who woke up from a routine kidney stone surgery to find she'd had a quadruple amputation due to sepsis has begun physical therapy

Lucinda Mullins, 41, went in for kidney stone removal surgery but she became septic following an infection, resulting in her losing both of her legs and arms

Her family have shared updates on her condition since the operation took a dark turn, and she has started her journey to recovery

Mullins began her recovery on Tuesday and has remained in high spirits despite the tragedy, which saw her lose all her limbs.

She has been regularly seen smiling bravely despite being covered in bandages and in a wheelchair.

The mother-of-two was pictured engaging in physical therapy with a doctor from her hospital bed on Wednesday.

'Cindy had another great day of therapy. She also had a wonderful visitor that brought her some delicious sweets. Lets pray that every day gets a little bit better,' her friend Heather Beshears wrote on her GoFundMe page.

'She had a great first day of therapy! She was so excited and did so well.'

In a recent photo, her youngest son Easton helped feed her dinner.

She has been moved to Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, where she will stay for several weeks before having any more surgery.

Mullins' sister Luci Smith previously thanked people for their 'support, love, prayers, cards, food and visits' and said that Mullins would soon transfer to Cardinal Hill for a few weeks.

She said: 'We would like to thank everyone again for all of the support, love, prayers, cards, food and visits (her favorite) You guys are amazing. In the next few days we will move to Cardinal Hill for a couple weeks and then come back for hopefully her final surgery.

'Each day is a blessing from God and we will continue to praise him for the miracles he has performed. Today she got to leave the room and we ventured outside for some fresh crisp air. Keep praying and she'll keep fighting until we are finally home.'

She was visited in hospital by a friend who brought her a box of cupcakes and she posed alongside it before getting into her wheelchair

Mullins shared a moving photo of her youngest son helping feed her

The 41-year-old nurse is pictured being kissed on the cheek by her sister and friend. Mullins has been moved to Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky

Mullins told LEX 18 last week: 'I've lost my legs from the knees down bilaterally and I'm going to lose my arms probably below the elbow bilaterally.

'The doctor I used to work with, he kind of was like, "This is what they had to do to save your life. This is what's happened."'

When asked how she was staying upbeat, Mullins said: 'I just said these are the cards I've been dealt and these are the hands I'm going to play.

'I'm just so happy to be alive. I get to see my kids. I get to see my family. I get to have my time with my husband. Those are minor things at this point.'

Apart from her family and friends, the mother also found support within her community.

'At one time, I think they told 40 people were in the waiting room here. The calls and the texts, the prayers and the things people have sent. The little words of encouragement.

Mullins has put on a brave face throughout the life changing event and shared a hospital bed selfie with her husband, DJ

Lucinda Mullins, 41, a mother of two boys, went for a regular kidney stone surgery which became infect and went septic - causing her to lose both of her legs and arms

As the former nurse prepares for rehab, physical therapy and prosthetics, a GoFundMe page has been set up for her to deal with medical bills

Mullins said: 'I'm just so happy to be alive. I get to see my kids. I get to see my family. I get to have my time with my husband'

'I just can't fathom that people are doing things like that for me,' Mullins said while in hospital.

As the former nurse prepares for rehab, further physical therapy and prosthetics, her GoFundMe has raised more than $200,000 toward its $250,000 goal.

Common complications involved in kidney stone surgery are infection, blood loss during the procedure, stones not breaking down and injury to other organs.

When the kidney stone became septic she was first taken to Fort Logan Hospital in Stanford and from there to a University of Kentucky hospital in Lexington on an ambulance.

But doctors had to amputate both of her legs and informed her she would lose both of her arms below her elbows too.
A bus driver who caused the death of a pedestrian today walked free from court as a judge suspended his sentence over a 'very high prison population'.

Olusofa Popoola, 61, killed 32-year-old commuter Melissa Burr outside London's Victoria railway station when pressing his vehicle's accelerator instead of the brake.

Ms Burr's family wept in court as he walked free from the dock today.

Judge Rebecca Trowler handed Popoola an 18-month jail sentence at the Old Bailey but suspended it for two years - as she drew attention to the UK's packed jails.

She accepted the defendant's 'personal mitigation' while saying she also had 'regard to the impact on prisons with a very high prison population'.

Olusofa Papoola, pictured here outside Westminster Magistrates' Court at an earlier hearing in August 2022, has been spared jail for causing a pedestrian's death by dangerous driving

Melissa Burr, 32, from Rainham in Kent, was killed when Popoola's bus accelerated and shunted a stationary bus into her outside London's Victoria station

Popoola had accidentally accelerated into the back of a stationary bus, shunting it forward into Ms Burr who died from multiple injuries.

The other bus's driver Diana Mathuranayagum suffered a fractured eye socket.

Married father-of-four Popoola, from Peckham in south-east London, admitted causing Ms Burr's death by careless driving.

He told jurors he pressed the accelerator by mistake.

After a retrial, he was cleared of the more serious charge of causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury to the other driver.

During the hearing, Judge Trowler said Popoola's driving fell 'just short of dangerous driving'.

She told him today: 'Having considered carefully all the evidence in the trials, I am satisfied you failed to look ahead sufficiently and that certainly, at times, you were pressing the accelerator thinking it was the brake.

'I am also satisfied Melissa Burr made no contribution to her own death.'

Emergency services were called after the tragedy shortly before 8.30am on August 10 2021

Popoola, 61, from Peckham in south-east London, told jurors he accidentally pressed the accelerator instead of the brake despite having 20 years' experience as a bus driver

But in sentencing, the judge said: 'Notwithstanding the fact this serious offence resulted in the loss of a dear life I do exercise my discretion in favour of a suspended sentence.'

She told the court she had also considered the 'impact on prisons of the current very high prison population'.

Outlining the facts of the case, the judge described how Ms Burr, from Rainham in Kent, had been travelling to work 'as usual' on the morning of August 10 2021.

She was using a pedestrian walkway at the busy railway station shortly before 5.30am and crossed towards the door of Ms Mathuranayagum's parked 507 bus.

The judge told Popoola: 'As she did so, that bus was shunted forward from behind by the bus that you were driving.

'Melissa Burr was hit by the front bus. The impact knocked her to the ground and the bus was then shunted forward by your bus and over Melissa's body.

'She was later pronounced dead at the scene.'

The judge said Popoola had lost control of his vehicle for around 10 seconds, even after he realised he had hit the bus in front.

She also acknowledged the Burr family's 'distress and devastation' and described the victim as 'deeply loved'.

During two trials, jurors were shown distressing CCTV footage to assess how Popoola drove.

Judge Trowler recognised the 'dignity' Ms Burr's family had shown in court as the moments of her death were described 'over and over again'.

Reading statements in court, Ms Burr's mother Trish and brother Graham Burr told how they struggled to understand how Popoola, a bus driver with 20 years' experience, could have made such a mistake.

Mrs Burr sobbed as she read hers, saying: 'My daughter was not stupid. She was the completely innocent victim of one man's incompetent driving.'

She told Popoola he was more fortunate because she had been handed a 'life sentence' without her kind and talented daughter.

She said: 'Having your actions described as a careless mistake is so hard to hear.

You are a professional driver with 20 years' experience - I know you didnt go out that day to kill anyone, however I struggle to comprehend what you did.

Passengers put their trust in drivers who are in command of a very large and powerful vehicle.

We have to believe you are fully in control of them.

Only you know if you were fully concentrating or if your mind was elsewhere.

'You were not even looking forward - you appear to have been totally unaware of what you were doing with your feet.

Fortunately for you you only killed one person - there could be so many more families here.

I appreciate it all happened quickly, however you are far more fortunate than I am - your life will go on with your family while mine is absolutely devastated.

'Our lives will never be the same again.

Mr Burr told of being on holiday with his wife and children when he heard about the accident on the news.

He said he fell to his knees 'crying, speechless, numb, confused and hurt' - and likened the impact to having a 'china vase smashed into a thousand pieces'.

The court was told that Popoola lost his job as a result of the accident and had since begun studying cyber-security.

Dan Jones, defending, said Popoola was devoutly religious and 'haunted' by the fact he had taken a life.

As part of his punishment, Judge Trowler handed Popoola 140 hours of unpaid work and a driving ban of three years.

At a previous hearing last September, she had warned Popoola he was facing jail when sentenced - saying: 'Plainly the guidelines relating to causing death by careless driving indicate a starting point of custody.'
The age and origin of a bomb found washed ashore in Pajaro Dunes, California, has shocked beachgoers.

The explosive was discovered after high surf hit the Monterey Bay coastline, located 22 miles south of Santa Cruz, which caused flooding in low-lying areas.

On December 31, the Santa Cruz Sheriff's bomb team responded to reports of an object on the beach around 2pm.

Technicians from the Travis Air Force Base Explosive Ordnance Disposal team determined the device was a Mk15 Mod 2 practice bomb via X-ray scan.

Officials examined the device after the bomb team confirmed it was safe before revealing its age and use of the object.

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office confirmed in a Facebook post it was a wayward weapon.

'The recent storms washed up what was determined to be an inert military ordnance,' they wrote.

'As a precaution our bomb team responded, deemed it safe, and had it removed from the beach.

'Thank you to Travis Air Force Base personnel for responding and collecting it.'

The bomb was created for the US Navy during the World War II-era and was built in the 1960s.

According to the US Naval Academy, 'the bomb was designed for training, incorporating working mechanics but lacking explosive materials.'

'Every few years, we will see military ordnances wash up,' said Ashley Keehn, public information officer for the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office via Los Angeles Times.

'We occasionally see sea flares uncovered. This washing up on shore goes to show the intensity of the high surf we saw this past week,' she added.

The bomb will be stored at the Travis Air Force Base.

Facebook users have tagged others to see the post and the photos that were made by the Santa Cruz Sheriff's Office.

Facebook users have tagged others to see the post and the photos that were made by the Santa Cruz Sheriff's Office

'Ordnance, I get pick with this one. Ordnance is ammunition and the like, and the like, an ordinance is like a law,' wrote Andrew Quist when explaining a term in the Facebook post.

Other users enjoyed what 'the ocean spits up' and that they assume the bomb is from World War II.

'There were submarine torpedos fired near the coast,' commented Sarah Culley.

Daily Mail has contacted the Santa Cruz Sheriff's Department for comment.

The Santa Cruz Sheriff's bomb team discovered the device after responding to a call on December 31 and removed by the Travis Air Force Base

The bomb washed onshore after a high shore hit the Monterey Bay coastline, which is located 22 miles south of Santa Cruz

Officials examined the device after the bomb team confirmed it was safe and discovered the shocking age and use of the object

The bomb was created for the US Navy during the World War II-era and determined to be built in the 1960s
A rape suspect who faked his own death has been extradited from Scotland to the US after a long-running legal battle.

Scottish ministers signed an order in September last year giving permission for Nicholas Rossi, 36, to be extradited.

Last month, appeal judges had quashed Rossi's bid to avoid extradition, paving the way for him to be removed from Scotland to face serious sex charges in the US.

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: 'We assisted partner agencies with the extradition of a 36-year-old man.'

The order followed a battle in Scotland's courts in which Rossi was ruled to be wanted by authorities in Utah for the alleged rape of a woman in 2008.

Officials in the US believe he is a fugitive who faked his death and fled to the UK to evade justice.

But Rossi has repeatedly claimed he is the victim of mistaken identity and says he is an Irish orphan called Arthur Knight.

Rape suspect Nicholas Rossi (pictured at court in July) has been extradited from Scotland to the US after a long-running legal battle

Rossi (pictured in July last year) has claimed this is a case of false identity and said he is an Irish orphan named Arthur Knight

Police believe Rossi staged his own death in 2020 to escape sex and fraud charges

The suspect, who was born Nicholas Alahverdian before changing his surname to that of his adoptive stepfather, David Rossi - claimed he had been diagnosed with stage 4 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in late 2019 and told friends he was dying.

An obituary appeared online for Rossi in early 2020 saying he had died and that his ashes had been scattered at sea.

But the following year he was arrested on a Covid hospital ward in Scotland, where he was registered as Arthur Knight.

It was then ruled that the fugitive - who appeared throughout his court dates in a wheelchair, using an oxygen mask - is indeed Rossi after he was identified through DNA and distinctive tattoos, which were described in an Interpol alert.

Under the guise of Arthur Brown, Rossi is believed to have met his wife, Miranda Knight, in Bristol in 2019 and married her in early 2020, assuming the name Arthur Knight.

They moved to Glasgow shortly afterwards but in 2021, Rossi became so ill with Covid that he had to be hospitalised at the city's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

In July 2020, DNA allegedly linked him to a 2008 rape in Utah which is ultimately what led to his discovery in Scotland.

He was arrested on December 13, 2021 at the Glasgow hospital by police officers who served him with an Interpol red notice.

A mugshot from the arrest of Nicholas Rossi by police in Massachusetts in 2010

He also faces multiple complaints against him in Rhode Island for alleged domestic violence (pictured in 2008 in Utah)

His wife Miranda Knight seen leaving Edinburgh Sheriff Court after a hearing last year

With the assistance of medical staff at the hospital, the patient initially named as Arthur Knight was identified as Rossi.

There has never been an official version of events from Rossi because he continues to insist he is Arthur Knight and that the authorities have the wrong man.

In one interview with Dateline, Rossi is seen speaking in what appears to be an English accent and he angrily insists he is a British man called Arthur Knight.

He also theatrically tried standing to prove that he was unable to walk before throwing himself back down.

Rossi appeared alongside his wife British wife, Miranda who shouted: Woah, before trying to stabilize him

'I am not Nicholas Alahverdian. I do not know how to make this clearer,' he told NBC in a bizarre accent, muffled by an oxygen mask over his mouth and nose.

In court appearances, he has maintained his pained English accent, with an Irish lilt whenever he mentions the word Dublin, where he claims to have been born.

Miranda has continued to stand by her husband's side since he was first arrested in December 2021.

'I'm here with Arthur,' she told the Daily Record in February. 'I know my husband, I love my husband, and he's always been the perfect gentleman to me and he's always wanted the best for me.

'I know what I've read about this other person,' she continued. 'The claims and what he's done is black and white to who I'm married to.

Rossi was interviewed alongside his wife, Miranda Knight, whom he met in Bristol after fleeing to the UK to escape allegations of sexual assault in the US

Rossi appeared at the court by video link in August after claiming to be unwell

Nicholas Rossi's wife Miranda Knight arrives for a hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court in June this year

'When you live with someone and are married to them you know everything about them.

'You can't change a person, and someone who has done sexual assaults or rapes, which I've read about this person - that person would just continue.

'There's absolutely nothing I've ever seen which shows Arthur isn't the loving husband he's always been,' Miranda said. 'I honestly believe you can't hide that type of personality if you have those tendencies.'

Last year, his stepfather, David Rossi - an Engelbert Humperdinck impersonator - revealed an old photograph of a floppy-haired teenager on a motorcycle, who, despite lacking a breathing aide and looking many pounds lighter, bears a striking resemblance to the man in court.

Nicholas Rossi as a child sitting on his stepfather's motorbike in Providence, Rhode Island

Rossi has maintained he is Arthur Knight, who has never been to the United States, but American prosecutors say he is an American fugitive

The man accused of being Nicholas Rossi has previously attempted to restrict media access to his court proceedings in Edinburgh saying they should be held in contempt of court for 'continually referring to me as Nicholas Rossi'

Miranda, his third wife, arrives for the hearing at the Edinburgh court in July

In a wide-ranging interview, he described his estranged stepson as 'the devil's spawn' and said he was an 'evil' child who punched his mother and grandmother.

He told DailyMail.com: 'He'll do anything to hide from the law. The wheelchair, the mask. It's c**p. There's nothing wrong with him. Everything about him is Nicky.

'My first impression of Nicky was that he had mental problems. He just got worse with every day.

'He would urinate in his brother's bed just to get his brother in trouble. Jump out of windows and run away in his underwear.

'[Rossi's mother] Diana said this is why you don't get involved. But I stuck with it. I felt that they needed a father.'
As lawmakers have put the movement to ban congressional stock trading on ice, around 32 members beat the S&P 500 and many continued to make trades in companies related to their committee work.

Still, the volume of transactions is down from previous years and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is no longer Congress' best trader through her husband Paul.

Democratic Rep. Brian Higgins, N.Y., took the cake with the greatest returns at 238 percent, according to a recent analysis of public financial disclosures by Unusual Whales.

Higgins already announced that he'll vacate his seat after 19 years in Congress before next year's election.

He's followed by Republicans Mark Green, chair of the Homeland Security Committee who had 122 percent returns and Rep. Garret Graves, a close ally of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy who had 107 percent returns.

Democratic Rep. Brian Higgins, N.Y., took the cake with the greatest returns at 238 percent

He's followed by Republicans Mark Green, chair of the Homeland Security Committee who had 122 percent returns

In total members of Congress made about 11,000 transactions in 2023 - down from a high of 17,000 during Covid year 2020 and 14,000 in 2022. The trades amounted to nearly $1 billion in volume.

Democrats beat Republicans in terms of performance and volume of transactions. In total 33 percent of traders in Congress beat SPY. About a fifth of members traded, down by around 33 percent from 2020 to 2022.

House Democrats filed about 7,000 transactions, House Republicans filed 3,000.

The members with the largest number of transactions did not necessarily perform the best. Rep. Rho Khanna, D-Calif., reported 4,253 transactions.

But Khanna under performed the S&P 500, which had 25 percent returns - he only had 13 percent returns.

Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, had 1,826 transactions but only 11 percent returns.

Members of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee purchased healthcare stocks in 435 separate transactions and financial services stocks in 392. Members of the Armed Services Committee made 392 transactions in healthcare stocks and 277 in financial services stocks.

Pelosi, meanwhile, saw a 65 percent return on her investments in 2023, beating the overall market.

As speaker, the California Democrat was initially resistant to the movement to ban congressional stock trading.

She came around on the ban after initially defending the practice, leading to Senator Josh Hawley introducing The Preventing Elected Leaders from Owning Securities and Investments (PELOSI) Act in 2023, which has yet to pass.

The longtime Democrat Congresswoman, 83, got a 65 percent return on her investments in 2023, well over double the S&P 500's overall 24 percent gain.

That's an even bigger return than in December, when DailyMail.com used a tool dedicated to tracking her investments, revealing her portfolio returned a remarkable 50 percent in the previous 12 months.

It was an excellent year following a down one for Pelosi, who saw her portfolio drop 19.8 percent in 2022. Lawmakers trading stocks have been accused of benefitting from insider knowledge of planned or proposed legislation that could affect share prices.

As her fellow Democrats have called for the banning of stock trades by members of Congress, former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi saw a 65 percent return on her investments in 2023

Her 2022 dip came after she and husband Paul Pelosi announced a sale of 25,000 shares of Nvidia at $165.05 a share amid the controversy over Congressional stock buys.

Securities filings in December showed the Pelosis buying back about 50 call options worth $2million in the company late in 2023, according to the New York Post.

'Pelosi bet millions on $NVDA in November using call options. Using a deceptive tactic, she purposely disclosed this on the Friday before Christmas weekend to avoid media coverage,' Congresstrading, a watchdog on politician stock activity, posted.

The ex-Speaker has profited hugely from massive gains this year in the stock price of Nvidia, the chipmaker whose valuation has passed $1 trillion thanks to the AI boom.

She also owns millions of dollars worth of Microsoft and Apple stock, which have both risen by around 55 percent since the beginning of the year.

Pelosi is known as one of Congress' wealthiest members, owning several properties across the country.

Along with property tycoon husband Paul, 81, she currently spends most of her time in Washington D.C where she has a $2.6m condo in the upscale Georgetown district.

She also owns a four-bedroom San Francisco home that sits in the middle of her congressional district and was purchased in 2007 for $2.2m but is thought to be worth at least $6m now.

The longtime Democrat Congresswoman, 83, got a 65 percent return on her investments in 2023, over double the S&P 500's overall 24 percent gain

Pelosi owns a four-bedroom San Francisco home that sits in the middle of her congressional district and was purchased in 2007 for $2.2m but is thought to be worth at least $6m now

The couple also have a 65-acre wine estate in St Helena, 65 miles north of San Francisco, that boasts a Palladian style house and a Z shaped pool. According to Roll Call, the property is now worth between $5m and $25m

The San Francisco home was the site of Paul Pelosi being attacked by David DePape , a former nudist from Canada, who entered the Pelosis' mansion through a back door in the early hours of October 28, 2022

That home was the site of Paul Pelosi being attacked by David DePape, a former nudist from Canada, who entered the Pelosis' mansion through a back door in the early hours of October 28, 2022.

The couple also have a 65-acre wine estate in St Helena, 65 miles north of San Francisco, that boasts a Palladian style house and a Z shaped pool.

According to Roll Call, the property is now worth between $5m and $25m and provides the Pelosis with an annual windfall of up to $15,000 from grape sales.

Pelosi also owns a second Napa Valley property worth $1m which is rented out for up to $50,000 a year according to her financial disclosure forms.

A second rental property worth up to $5m is located in the upscale Sugar Bowl Ski Resort near Norden, California.

The Pelosis have a combined net worth of around $46 million.

The former speaker has long maintained that she doesn't discuss stocks with her husband. But video footage from Pelosi's daughter's documentary on the former speaker highlighted just how often Paul is in the room while Pelosi is conducting business by phone.

Banning congressional stock trades has bipartisan support on Capitol Hill - last Congress there were a number of bills introduced in both the House and Senate.

Pelosi has profited from massive gains this year in the stock price of Nvidia, the chipmaker whose valuation has passed $1 trillion. She also owns millions of dollars worth of Microsoft and Apple stock, which have both risen by around 55 percent since the beginning of the year

Her yearly gains are an even bigger return than in December, when DailyMail.com used a tool dedicated to tracking her investments, revealing her portfolio returned a remarkable 50 percent in the previous 12 months

Many Americans had hoped to see stock ban legislation last Congress after reports revealed hundreds of lawmakers regularly trade stocks directly related to their work in Congress.

In September Pelosi backed a bill to ban congressional stock trades that some government reform advocates said didn't go far enough. The legislation never went anywhere for the rest of her speakership.

An Unusual Whales study showed that only eight members of Congress saw a higher return on investments in 2023. At least a third of them did better than the S&P 500.

Brian Higgins, a New York Democrat who represents the Buffalo metropolitan area, led all Congressmembers with a staggering 238 percent return.

Ironically, he is not particularly active on the stock market but saw huge boosts in Nvidia holdings he bought in 2021.

Democrats - who tend to buy more on big tech - saw returns averaging 31 percent while Republicans - investing in banking and oil - gained 18 percent.

Current rules allow members of Congress to trade stocks freely, but they must report their trading and they are barred from using non-public information to inform their purchases.

But the fine for lawmakers who break the rules is typically just $200.

Earlier in 2023, Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Republican Senator Josh Hawley formally introduced the 'Ban Stock Trading for Government Officials Act', which would prevent members of Congress, the president, vice president and other White House officials - along with their relatives - from trading stocks.

Since 2012, Congress members have been bound by the STOCK Act which requires they report stock transactions of $1,000 or more by themselves or their family members within 45 days. Members of Congress are also supposed to be confined by insider trading laws.
National treasure Professor Stephen Hawking has posthumously wound up in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal alongside other famous names after bombshell court documents were released this week.

The files are part of a defamation case brought against Epstein's madam Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving 20 years in jail for sex trafficking underage girls to him.

She was sued by Virginia Roberts, now known as Virginia Giuffre, who claims she was forced to have sex with the Duke of York three times in 2001 when she was 17 - claims the duke vehemently denies.

Epstein told Maxwell she could offer money to Giuffre's friends if they could help disprove claims Hawking took part in an 'underage orgy', the newly released documents suggest.

In an email sent from Epstein to Maxwell on January 12, 2015, the paedophile financier suggested Giuffre had made allegations relating to the British physicist and former US president Bill Clinton.

Stephen Hawking pictured in 2006 during a conference hosted by Epstein in the US Virgin Islands

During the trip, Professor Hawking took a cruise on a submarine that Epstein had specially adapted for him

Epstein's motivation for wanting to disprove the orgy claims is not made clear

Epstein said she had claimed Mr Clinton had dined on his private Caribbean island - something the Democratic politician strongly denied - and that Professor Hawking 'participated in an underage orgy'.

The email read: 'You can issue a reward to any of Virginia's friends, acquaints, family that come forward and help prove her allegations are false.

'The strongest is the Clinton dinner, and the new version in the Virgin Islands that Stephen Hawking participated in an underage orgy.'

Epstein's motivation for wanting to disprove the orgy claims is not made clear.

A copy of the email was among almost 1,000 pages of documents unsealed by a US court.

Professor Hawking, who died in March 2018 aged 76 after living for more than 50 years with motor neuron disease ALS, was hosted by Epstein in March 2006, five months before the financier was charged for the first time with one count of soliciting prostitution.

Pictures that emerged in 2015 show the celebrated physicist enjoying a barbecue before taking a cruise on a submarine that Epstein had modified especially for Professor Hawking - who'd never been underwater before.

He was among 21 internationally-renowned scientists attending a conference on gravity funded by Epstein.

It took place at the five-star, 1,500-a-night Ritz-Carlton hotel on the island of St Thomas, nearby Epstein's private 'Island of Sin', Little Saint James.

A post on the blog of the 'Jeffrey Epstein VI Foundation' includes details about the conference, called 'The Energy of Empty Space That Isn't Zero'.

This is a copy of the email Epstein appears to have sent to Ghislaine Maxwell urging her to push back against allegations against Professor Hawking

Hawking died in March 2018 at the age of 76 after living for more than 50 years with ALS, a fatal motor neuron disease

It states that guests 'could meet, discuss, relax on the beach, and take a trip to the nearby private island retreat of the science philanthropist Jeffrey Epstein, who funded the event'.

It appears guests split their time between St Thomas and Little Saint James, where Epstein personally hosted them.

It is not clear on which island Professor Hawking was pictured.

There were three Nobel laureates on the trip besides Hawking. Among those pictured is Professor Lawrence Krauss, a theoretical physicist who taught at Arizona State University.

Legal documents have claimed Epstein's properties were covered with images of naked adolescent girls, but Professor Krauss - speaking in 2015 - said that he saw nothing of the sort.

Epstein was said to surround himself with prominent scientists and called himself a 'science philanthropist'.

He made large donations to scientific causes and at one stage was allegedly giving as much as $20m a year to fund scientists, according to the Guardian.

Though it is said that many of the scientists and researchers distanced themselves from him after his arrest.

Accounts reportedly claimed he would speak to guests at science parties but would soon turn conversations into jokes or change the topic.

The New York Times reportedly found that Epstein was fixated on 'transhumanism' - a belief that the human species can be deliberately advanced through technological breakthroughs such as genetic engineering and artificial intelligence.

It was reported that Epstein would sometimes steer conversations to be about how to improve the human race genetically.

He reportedly told people that he wanted to impregnate as many women as he could to distribute his genes.
McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski said several markets in the Middle East and some outside the region were experiencing a 'meaningful business impact' due to the Israel-Hamas conflict as well as 'associated misinformation' about the brand.

It follows a dispute in October when McDonald's Israel announced it had donated thousands of free meals to IDF troops involved in the war.

The move triggered a backlash from critics of Israel's military action in Gaza, including some asking for a consumer boycott.

Major Western fast-food chains including McDonald's and Starbucks have seen largely spontaneous, grassroots boycott campaigns over their perceived pro-Israeli stance and alleged financial ties to Israel.

Writing on LinkedIn on Thursday, Kempczinski spoke out against misinformation surrounding brands like McDonald's.

Writing on LinkedIn on Thursday, McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski said the misinformation surrounding brands like McDonald's was 'disheartening and ill-founded' (File Photo)

Israeli soldiers take part in a drill at the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, on January 4, 2024

A picture taken from Rafah shows smoke billowing over Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip during Israeli bombardment, on January 5, 2024

He said: 'We abhor violence of any kind and firmly stand against hate speech, and we will always proudly open our doors to everyone.

'I also recognise that several markets in the Middle East and some outside the region are experiencing a meaningful business impact due to the war and associated misinformation that is affecting brands like McDonald's.

'This is disheartening and ill-founded. In every country where we operate, including in Muslim countries, McDonald's is proudly represented by local owner operators who work tirelessly to serve and support their communities while employing thousands of their fellow citizens.

'That local community connection is the genius of the McDonald's System.'

He did not mention how the company had been affected.

In October, McDonald's Israel also highlighted 'false information' as it denied that it had been showing support for Palestinian organisations.

Kempczinski said: 'We abhor violence of any kind and firmly stand against hate speech, and we will always proudly open our doors to everyone' (File Photo)

It wrote on social media that more than 100,000 meals had been handed out to 'all those who are involved in the defence of the state, hospitals, and surrounding areas'.

The move to donate meals to troops was later renounced by McDonald's franchises in some Muslim countries, highlighting the polarized regional politics that global corporations navigate during war.

Some of the Western brands are feeling the impact of boycotts in Egypt and Jordan that have now caught on in some countries outside the Arab region including Muslim-majority Malaysia.

In December, McDonald's Malaysia blamed a boycott from pro-Palestinian activists for a drop in its profits, which it said had led to job cuts and closures.

It came as the company announced legal action against Malaysia's Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign over social media posts which called on consumers to avoid McDonald's over Israel's 'genocidal war'.

As well as calls for a boycott, there have also been protests against McDonald's in the UK, while live rodents were thrown into at least two Birmingham branches in incidents that appear to be linked to the row.

Around 1,200 Israelis were killed by Palestinian terrorist group Hamas on October 7. Israeli bombardments have since killed more than 22,400 in Gaza.

As of fiscal 2022, the company franchised and operated about 40,275 McDonald's restaurants across more than 100 countries. The fast-food chain reported total annual revenue of $23.18 billion (18.2 billion) in the year.
When they returned days later the evidence had vanished, according to FBI agent Kelly Maguire

The documents were photographed but not removed as the FBI had no warrant

The FBI is facing fresh calls to release hundreds of 'missing' pieces of evidence raided from Jeffrey Epstein's $51 million New York townhouse following the release of a new list of his associates.

Among the items said to be missing are tapes, CDs, passports and pictures all located inside a safe within the property during a siege on the home in July 2019, shortly after Epstein was arrested.

It comes as speculation continues to swirl that Epstein was working as an agent for Israeli intelligence agency Mossad prior to his suicide while awaiting trial for child sex offences.

FBI agent Kelly Maguire previously testified the agency broke open a safe at his home in July 2019 to reveal the cache of evidence, along with 'loose diamonds' and 'large amounts of US currency'.

Speaking at the sex-trafficking trial of Epstein's madam Ghislaine Maxwell, she told the court the agents only photographed the contents as they did not have a warrant for its removal, the Telegraph reports.

Pressure is mounting on the FBI to release a tranche of evidence uncovered at Jeffrey Epstein's Manhattan townhouse which subsequently went missing

Among the 'missing' items said to have been found were tapes, CDs, passports and pictures all located inside a safe within the property

The raid took place in July 2019 shortly after Epstein was arrested for child sex offences

When the agency returned to seize the evidence on July 11, it had vanished according to Maguire who claimed it was subsequently returned in two suitcases by Richard Kahn, Epstein's former lawyer and executor of his estate.

She could not confirm if the content on the CDs was the same as the ones photographed but said all items had been accounted for.

The agency alluded to the contents of the safe in an application to a judge to deny Epstein's bail.

Boxes of CDs and hard drives were also discovered in several rooms in Epsteins Upper East Side, including in a massage room.

On the fifth floor FBI agents found meticulously labelled CDs in black binders which they said contained photos.

The disclosure fueled speculation that Epstein may have been running a honeypot entrapment operation, gaining valuable 'kompromat' material to blackmail political and business elites.

Former Israeli spies have gone on record stating as much and claiming that Epstein was brought into the spy game by Ghislaine Maxwell's father Robert Maxwell, who was also identified as a Mossad agent by Ari Ben-Menashe, who worked worked for Israel 's Military Intelligence Directorate from 1977 to 1987.

FBI agent Kelly Maguire testified her team located the items within a safe in a property but did not have a warrant to remove them

When the FBI agent returned the items were reportedly missing, according to agent Maguire

Maguire stated the items were eventually returned by Epstein's former lawyer Richard Kahn

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene is among those to accuse the FBI of 'hiding' evidence

Reports at the time of the raid on Epstein's home also stated that stacks of lewd photographs of children were uncovered in the safe.

The mansion had 40 rooms which took the FBI 12 hours to sweep, according to Maguire.

The townhouse was given to Epstein by lingerie tycoon Leslie Wexner who reportedly gifted it to him for just $1.

Wexner was among several high profile names who appear on the new associate list, which also includes Bill Clinton and Donald Trump.

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene is among those raising questions over the FBI's conduct.

'The FBI raided Epstein's island in 2019 and confiscated tapes and evidence of child rape and human trafficking,' she wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

'If the FBI was legit the child rapists would be in jail but instead they hide the evidence and protect the rich and powerful elites in order to keep them under control.'

DailyMail.com has contacted lawyers for Kahn for comment.
A couple lost nearly 11,000 of savings in a spray foam insulation scam that left their house unsellable.

Fiona and Andre Barton, both 60, received a cold call in December 2022 urging them to look into their home insulation during the cost-of-living crisis.

The couple agreed to a free loft survey from the company, and when the surveyor arrived, he informed them that their home in Midlothian, Edinburgh would benefit from spray foam insulation.

The surveyor offered them a limited time discount if they signed up for the installation there and then - and they agreed to pay the 4,926 to have the substance installed.

Six months later, Andre and Fiona had made an offer on another property and were in the process of selling their home - until another surveyor arrived to write the home report and gave them shocking news.

A couple lost nearly 11,000 of savings in a spray foam insulation scam that left their house (pictured) unsellable

Fiona and Andre Barton, both 60, (pictured) received a cold call in December 2022 urging them to look into their home insulation during the cost-of-living crisis

They were told that homes with spray foam insulation are 'un-mortgageable' - and they would have to pay for removal if they had any chance of selling their house.

After finding a specialist company based in Liverpool, Fiona and Andre forked out another 5,490 for the removal of the spray foam insulation and the two skips needed to haul it away.

Now, the couple are eager to raise awareness of professional-seeming insulation scams, in the hopes that others can avoid the cost and stress they have faced.

'They sounded very professional and believable, otherwise we wouldn't have gone ahead with it,' Fiona said.

'The chap said he could come and have a look at our loft, because it may need to be upgraded with insulation.

'I thought our loft was fine because we'd had lots of insulation put in - but he came back down, and he had pictures on his iPad showing us that the loft was damp.

'They arrived at just the right time, it was -5C outside, it was Christmas time, and they spun the story of our loft not being adequate.

'He'd taken some readings on a machine and said that it was looking pretty bad - but he had a solution with this spray foam insulation, and would we like to hear further about it?

'We said yes, so a chap arrived that evening and gave us all this information about how marvellous it was and how it would definitely help to keep our house warm.'

The couple were later told that homes with spray foam insulation are 'un-mortgageable' - and they would have to pay for removal if they had any chance of selling their house

She added: 'He said it would reduce the cost of our fuel - and given the cost-of-living crisis, it seemed to be the right way to go.

'Spray foam insulation was something I'd never heard of before. I did a quick search for the company's website and of course the reviews were all five stars.

'He also said that if we decided to go ahead with it there and then, he would give us a reduction in the price.

'We decided that it sounded quite reasonable, and we'd go ahead with it - and they quickly had it installed.

'When we had decided to sell our house, a surveyor came to do a survey for the home report.

'He started in the loft, so I opened up the hatch - and he said, 'Oh. You've got spray foam insulation.'

The couple were told that spray foam insulation can heavily affect the ability of prospective buyers to get a mortgage on the property - and their only real solution was to remove it entirely.

According to the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, spray foam is often applied incorrectly, preventing ventilation and stopping surveyors from assessing roof conditions.

As a result, many lenders take a zero-tolerance approach to properties with this kind of insulation.

The couple were told that spray foam insulation can heavily affect the ability of prospective buyers to get a mortgage on the property

'The surveyor told me we couldn't put it to market at the moment, and asked if we had any information or contracts,' Fiona said.

'I looked at my emails and found nothing - the only way I knew the company that had done it was because I'd paid by credit card, and I had the receipt.

'That was when the alarm bells started going - I thought, 'Oh my god, we've been duped'.

'The surveyor said it was becoming an increasingly common problem for him, he was seeing it more frequently, and they seemed to target older customers.

'It was very stressful. We'd put in the offer for the property we're in now, so we only had a month legally to get our own property under offer.

'We found a company down in Liverpool who sold themselves as the UK's specialist foam removal.

'They were charging an eye-watering amount - more than it had cost to install it, but we had no choice.

'We went with them, and it took them two and a half days. There was such a large amount that they had to remove from our loft.

'My world fell apart. We'd already bought our next house and we had to sell in order to move.'

The couple were able to have the insulation removed over the space of two days - with the removal and installation costing a total of 10,956.

Figures from Trading Standards Scotland show that as of mid-December 2023, 158 complaints had been received from consumers about insulation scams, a 42% rise since 2021.

TSS is urging people to check in with their older relatives to ensure that they do not fall victim to similar scams.

Councillor Maureen Chalmers, chair of Trading Standards Scotland's Governance Board, said: 'Dishonest traders and companies are attempting to exploit the cost-of-living crisis and are targeting those who want to make their homes more energy efficient, providing misleading information about products and implying that funding or grants are available for their products.

'We strongly advise homeowners to consult with a mortgage adviser who is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority before having spray foam insulation installed.

'Don't engage with cold callers offering 'free' loft or roof surveys and never accept information offered from these sources without doing independent research, particularly if they tell you that there are grants or funding schemes available.

'Before agreeing to have any work done, have an impartial assessment carried out on your home to find out which energy efficiency measures will actually be beneficial to your property.

'Don't agree to get an assessment done by a company who cold calls you - they will not be impartial.

'We would also ask people to look out for family members, friends and neighbours who may be vulnerable and to report any suspicious behaviour to Police Scotland.'
The Iowa high school principle who was shot and injured by shooter Dylan Butler, tried to distract the gunman so students could flee, his daughter claimed in a Facebook post.

Hours before the shooting, the gunman posted a TikTok posing in what appeared to be the school bathroom, with the caption: 'Now we wait.' The video was accompanied by the song 'Stray Bullet' by KMFDM, the same song used on the website of one of the shooters of the notorious Columbine High School massacre.

One of the five people injured in Thursday's shooting was the school's principal, Dan Marburger, who was rushed to hospital to undergo surgery for his gunshot wounds.

In a Facebook post, Claire Marburger, expressed her devastation upon hearing about the tragic incident and claimed her father began speaking to the shooter - attempting to talk him down and allow students to flee, she said Thursday night.

She said she 'instantly had a feeling' that her father would place himself in harms way to save students and staff.

'As I heard of a gunman, I instantly had a feeling my Dad would be a victim as he would put himself in harms way for the benefit of the kids and his staff,' she wrote. 'It is absolutely zero surprise to hear he tried to approach and talk Dylan down and distract him long enough for some students to get out of the cafeteria. That's just Dad.'

Principal Dan Marbuger was among those shot and injured. He tried to distract the gunman so students could flee, his daughter claimed in a Facebook post Thursday night

In a Facebook post, Claire Marburger, expressed her devastation upon hearing about the tragic incident and claimed her father began speaking to the shooter - attempting to talk him down and allow students to flee, she said Thursday night

Dylan Butler, 17, a senior at Perry High School, opened fire Thursday morning - shooting dead a 6th grader and injuring 5 others. Hours before the shooting, Butler posted a TikTok of himself, posing in what appeared to be in the school bathroom, with the text: 'Now we wait'

'Knowing Dad, Dad is devastated about what happened today, he would be devastated about Dylan, devastated about the victims, devastated for the community as every single community member is a victim to this tragedy.'

Claire said her father takes 'things like this that he takes personally.. what more could he do, what did he not do that he could have he'd be extremely saddened the trauma and negative memories that are associated with his building and school now for many.

'Knowing Dad he would also say his ugly face is popping up too much online, as he is getting attention as he is a deserving hero, please reach out to the other victims families,' she added.

'Show grace to the Butler family, as we are not our kids mistakes and actions or our parents mistakes and actions. Remember this is something Dylan's family has to live with too, as well as losing their child.'

She said that her father is known to be a 'gentle giant' and an 'amazing Dad and just amazing person.'

'He does anything for us kids, including driving 7 hrs round trip on school nights to catch my college games in Decorah. Stayed long enough to slip me a $20 tell me I played well, give me a hug, and head out,' she said.

According to his daughter, Marburger is currently in stable condition in the hospital.

She said she 'instantly had a feeling' that her father would place himself in harms way to save students and staff

In December, just weeks before the shooting, Butler posted another video on the same social media account of him sitting on children's playground equipment with a friend, pretending to be in a gun fight using sticks

The teenage Iowa school shooter - who killed one child and injured five others, including his principal - turned the gun on himself after his rampage, cops said.

Dylan Butler, 17, who was a senior at Perry High School, opened fire on Thursday morning - shooting dead a sixth grader who attended Perry's Middle School.

Butler was armed with a pump-action shotgun and handgun - both of which are illegal for a 17-year-old to obtain in Iowa. He also had a rudimentary explosive device - which was undetonated and was later rendered safe by fire marshals.

The 17-year-old died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound by the time first responders arrived at the school, shortly after 7.40am. The ordeal triggered a mass evacuation of 1,785 students on their first day of classes after winter break. Cops have yet to provide a possible motive.

One of the five people injured was the school's principal, Dan Marburger, who was rushed to hospital and is currently in surgery for his gunshot wounds.

The other four people injured were students. Of the five, one is in critical condition - although police did not confirm if this was the principal or a student.

Hours before the shooting took place at 7:37 am, Butler posted a TikTok posing in what appeared to be the school bathroom, with the caption: 'Now we wait.'

The TikTok used the same song that one of the high school shooters involved in the notorious Columbine massacre cited online.

Gunman Eric Harris infamously wrote about the song 'Stray Bullet' by rock group KMFDM.

The senior pulled an odd face, as a blue duffle bag sat on the ground of the stall.

Butler posted the TikTok selfie with the song 'Stray Bullet' playing in the background.

Law enforcement officers work at the scene of a shooting at Perry High School in Perry, Iowa on Thursday January, 4, 2024

Dallas County Sherriff Adam Infante confirmed at a press conference at 11am that police officers arrived at the high school seven minutes after the first call was made

In December, just weeks before the shooting, Butler posted another video on the same social media account of him sitting on children's playground equipment with a friend, pretending to be in a gun fight using sticks.

Butler gets 'shot' by the stick, and falls down the children's slide.

On Thursday morning, there were hundreds of emergency services at the scene - which is 25 miles northwest of Des Moines. Ambulances, police units, air ambulances, and firefighters were called to the school at 7.37am.

The Dallas County Sheriff's Office confirmed the shooting, which happened on the first day of classes. The FBI Omaha Des Moines was on the scene, as was the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive.

County Sherriff Adam Infante said at a press conference at 11am that police officers arrived at the high school seven minutes after the first call was made.

The first responders found 'multiple gunshot victims' inside the school - and at a press conference at 3pm, police confirmed the number of injured was five.
The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard will air tonight on Lifetime

Gypsy Rose Blanchard and the new husband she married while behind bars were spotted in New York today putting on an amorous display as she continued her post-prison media tour.

The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard - a new docuseries detailing her crime and eight-year sentence - will air tonight at 8pm EST on Lifetime. To promote it, Gypsy and her husband Ryan Anderson are in New York City.

The pair were spotted exiting an SUV in midtown Manhattan this morning, hours after her first TV interview about her ordeal aired.

Gypsy, now 32, was 23 when she instructed her boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn to stab her mother, Clauddine 'Dee Dee' Blanchard to death. She had endured years of abuse from her mother, who falsely claimed she suffered from an array of illnesses including leukemia and muscular dystrophy.

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Gypsy Rose Blanchard and husband Ryan Scott Anderson in midtown Manhattan on January 5 as she continues her post-prison media tour

Anderson towered over his new bride, who hopped out of a chauffer-driven SUV

Blanchard said she was not looking for fame and was only doing what 'anyone would do' under the circumstances. She spent eight years in prison for concocting the murder of her abusive mother

Dee Dee shaved Gypsy's head, forced her into a wheelchair, had some of her teeth removed and paraded her at charitable events as a sickly child.

In July 2015, Godejohn stabbed Dee Dee 14 times in her bedroom in the family home in Springfield, Missouri. He and Gypsy were promptly arrested and both were sentenced to various prison terms in the following years.

In an interview with ABC that aired in part on Good Morning America today, Gypsy said she was addicted to prescription pain killers when she and Godejohn, who she'd met online, concocted Dee Dee's murder.

'I don't believe my mother was a monster. She had a lot of demons herself that she was struggling with.

Clauddine 'Dee Dee' Blanchard told the world her daughter was terminally ill

'I had to kiss a few frogs': Gypsy Rose with new husband Ryan Anderson in their first interview

In their 2015 mugshots, Gypsy Rose, left, and boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn, who remains behind bars

'I didn't want her dead, I just wanted out of my situation and I thought that was the only way out.

'I share my story to be a cautionary tale so that the next person that might be in a situation like mine they don't take the route that I did.'

She said she was 'high' when she instructed Godejohn to kill her mother, and had developed an addiction to pain medication.

'This is really hard to talk about because it took me down a really dark path. But I felt like it was my only way to cope for a time.

'I don't blame drugs, I don't blame anything. I don't make excuses. Now I'm sober, I haven't used in four years and I don't feel the need to.'

In a 2019 prison interview, Godejohn said he wished he'd run away with Gypsy rather than murder her mother

Godejohn remains behind bars serving a life sentence whereas Gypsy was released on December 28.

She and Anderson are settling into their new life in Louisiana.

Asked if it was fair that Godejohn should remain behind bars while she walks free, Gypsy said: 'I am sure we both have a lot of regrets.

'All I can say is I did my time, he is doing his time for his part and I wish him well on his journey.'

Gypsy Rose and husband Ryan Anderson leave their hotel after spending their first night together following her prison release

Dee Dee told the world that Gypsy was disabled, suffering from leukemia, muscular dystrophy and other illnesses

As a child, Gypsy's mother forced her into unnecessary surgeries and even had dentists remove some of her teeth

While behind bars, Gypsy married Ryan Anderson, who had written to her. The pair are now living together

She is not allowed to contact Godejohn - whose attorneys continue to fight for an appeal - while he remains behind bars.

His attorneys filed their latest appeal this week following Gypsy's release.

In 2022, while still incarcerated, Gypsy married Ryan Anderson.

Since her release, the pair have showcased their romance on social media, attracting praise from fans but harsh criticism from others.

She has defended him against critics, and says they are now happy 'enjoying' their life.

'Of course I feel conflicted. Fame is not what I'm looking for. I always said I think I'm infamous and then I came out famous.

'I'm a very shy person, I'm not doing anything that anyone else wouldn't do,' she said today in response to questions about their newfound social media fame.

Gypsy was 23 when she was arrested on a second degree murder charge. She is shown in court in 2015

The pair plan to start a family at some point in the future, she added.

In a 2019 jail interview, Godejohn - who is autistic and had prior offenses for indecent exposure at the time of his 2015 arrest - said he wished he had never carried out the killing.

'If I had to change anything at all, of course, one of the obvious ones is that I wouldve ran away with Gypsy. I dont want to be staying with a murder on my hands.

'Being labeled as a killer  I dont want to stay with that, but Ill live with it.

'I want to let everyone know that Im not this cold killer that doesnt have any feelings. Im a human being.

'Human beings make mistakes' he told Oxygen in a documentary.

Since her release, Gypsy has also accused her grandfather of sexually abusing her as a child.

He insists it was the other way around, claiming that she tried to 'touch him' from the age of four, and that he always turned down her advances.
Elon Musk's Tesla electric vehicle company is recalling more than 1.6 million cars in China, the country's market regulator said Friday.

The announcement marks another blow for the US firm days after it was surpassed in EV sales by China's BYD.

The recall - sparked by the discovery of problems with assisted driving functions and door-locking systems - will be conducted through remote over-the-air (OTA) updates to the cars' software, meaning owners likely won't have to visit service centres.

Tesla Model S, X, 3 and Y electric vehicles exported to China are affected.

China is a vital component in Tesla's global layout, both as a large consumer market and the host of a major manufacturing plant in Shanghai.

Elon Musk's Tesla electric vehicle company is recalling more than 1.6 million units in China, the country's market regulator said Friday.

'Starting from now, a total of 1,610,105 imported Model S, Model X, and Model 3, and domestic Model 3 and Model Y electric vehicles with production dates between August 26, 2014 and December 20, 2023 will be recalled,' the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) said in an online statement.

'For vehicles within the scope of this recall, when the automatic assisted steering function is turned on, the driver may misuse the level two combined assisted driving function, increasing the risk of vehicle collision and posing a safety hazard,' it added.

The recall also includes 7,538 imported Tesla models made between October 26, 2022 and November 16, 2023, which were found to have 'a problem with the door unlock logic controls'.

In 2022, the firm recalled nearly 128,000 cars in China due to a rear motor inverter defect.

And last month, Tesla initiated a recall of over two million vehicles in the United States and Canada due to risks associated with the autopilot software.

The recall followed a two-year investigation by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that found the system was defective.

It looked at a series of crashes that happened while the Autopilot partially automated driving system was in use. Some were deadly.

The latest recall in China comes just days after local competitor BYD surpassed Tesla to become the world's leading deliverer of electric vehicles, according to fourth-quarter sales data.

Tesla's Shanghai production facility - its first 'gigafactory' to be built abroad - delivered 947,000 vehicles in 2023, Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua reported earlier this week.

China, the world's biggest polluter, has heavily encouraged sales of electric and hybrid vehicles through subsidies.

It is aiming to have a majority of cars powered with clean energy by 2035.

The announcement marks another blow for the US firm days after it was surpassed in EV sales by China's BYD. Pictured: Elon Musk is seen in a Tesla car in Beijing, May 2023

Tesla Model S, X, 3 and Y electric vehicles exported to China are affected by the recall

During a trip to China last spring, Tesla boss Elon Musk praised the country's 'vitality and promise'. He said that he 'was willing to continue deepening mutually beneficial cooperation', according to a readout provided by Beijing.

The recall also comes as Tesla is facing problems in the Nordic region, where a labour dispute between Tesla and Swedish trade union IF Metall has drawn in a host of unions all urging the automaker to sign a collective bargaining agreement.

About 130 workers affiliated with IF Metall began a strike on Oct. 27, sparking sympathy strikes - a solidarity tactic by unaffected workers - from dockworkers, cleaners and car dealerships.

Sympathy strikes are generally legal in the Nordic countries, in a stark contrast to the US where such actions are largely prohibited.
Voters in Illinois and Massachusetts have joined the battle to kick Donald Trump off the 2024 election ballot by claiming he was part of an 'insurrection' on January 6.

Free Speech for People is the organization behind the nationwide effort to disqualify the Republican frontrunner that is heading to the Supreme Court.

The liberal advocacy group claims he can't run for election because he violated the insurrection clause of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution.

They have now filed two new petitions following the controversial decisions in Colorado and Maine that Trump is ineligible to run for office because of his role on January 6.

The Supreme Court is set to hear at least one of the cases trying to end Trump's 2024 election candidacy after his lawyers appealed.

Voters in Illinois and Massachusetts have joined the battle to kick Donald Trump off the 2024 election ballot by claiming he was part of an 'insurrection' on January 6

But there is still effort in Oregon to ensure the ex-president is taken off the primary ballots.

Trump is back on the ballot in Colorado, and will remain there if the Supreme Court doesn't take up the case or rules in favor of the decision to kick him off.

Attorney Alina Habba said on Thursday night that she believes Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who Trump nominated to the court, will step up and 'fight' for the former president.

Free Speech for People also challenged his eligibility in Minnesota and Michigan, but the cases were thrown out.

Trump still dominates the rest of the GOP field in the polls with just 10 days until the crucial Iowa caucuses.

He and his campaign have called bids to kick him off the ballot 'election interference'.

Many political commentators have also suggested that the moves boost his approval ratings and solidify his support among Republican voters.

In Illinois, voters have asked the state's Board of Elections to hold a hearing on whether Trump should be barred from both the primary and general election ballots.

Free Speech for People has filed two new petitions following the controversial decisions in Colorado and Maine that Trump is ineligible to run for office because of his role on January 6. Demonstrators gather to protest Trump's Muslim travel ban in Boston in 2017

'Donald J. Trump, through his words and actions, after swearing an oath as an officer of the United States to support the Constitution, engaged in insurrection or rebellion, or gave aid and comfort to its enemies, as defined by Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment,' the petition reads.

The petition also claims Trump has 'never expressed regret' or 'apologized' on behalf of his supporters for January 6.

The Illinois State Board of Elections had yet to set the petition for hearing by Thursday afternoon.

The board is set to hear 32 other objections to the proposed ballot at its January 11 meeting.

Former Boston Mayor Kim Janey, a Democrat was part of the challenge in Massachusetts.

A mix of 'Republican, Independent, and Democratic voters' also signed onto the petition, Free Speech For People said.

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'

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'

'Donald Trump violated his oath of office and incited a violent insurrection that attacked the U.S. Capitol, threatened the assassination of the Vice President and congressional leaders, and disrupted the peaceful transfer of power for the first time in our nation's history,' said Ron Fein, Legal Director at Free Speech For People.

'Our predecessors understood that oath-breaking insurrectionists will do it again, and worse, if allowed back into power, so they enacted the Insurrectionist Disqualification Clause to protect the republic from people like Trump.

'Trump is legally barred from the ballot and election officials must follow this constitutional mandate.'

'Today's legal action is not about partisan politics but about upholding our Constitution, and that is why Massachusetts voters across the political spectrum have joined together to challenge Donald Trump's wrongful placement on the Massachusetts ballot,' said attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan.

'As two other states have already recognized, Donald Trump's instigation of and participation in the insurrection three years ago provide overwhelming cause for his disqualification from holding office in the United States.'
The family of Texas Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson claimed their mother died a 'terrible, painful death' after developing a deadly infection when she was left to sit in her own feces after back surgery.

The 89-year-old congresswoman died at her home on Sunday months after getting an infection at Baylor Scott & White Health System's rehabilitation center.

Family lawyer Les Weisbrod said Johnson died of an infection of her lumbar spine, according to her death certificate.

'She was expected to go home and be fine,' he said. 'Instead, she got this infection at the Baylor Institute of Rehabilitation because they didn't protect her wound properly and because they left her in her own feces unattended.'

On Thursday, Weisbrod announced at a press conference that the family plans to file a lawsuit against Baylor Scott & White Health System alleging negligent care at the rehab center that led to the congresswoman's death, The Dallas Morning News reported.

Johnson's son, Kirk Johnson, who was present at the conference, grew emotional when he said if his mother 'had gotten proper care at that facility, she would be here today.'

Pictured: Eddie Bernice Johnson, 89, affectionately called 'EBJ' died Sunday night at the Baylor Scott & White Health Rehabilitation Center after developing a deadly infection a week after back surgery. Her death certificate cited 'a bone infection in her lumbar spine' family lawyer Les Weisbrod said

On Thursday, during a press conference, family attorney Les Weisbrod (pictured left) and the congresswoman's son Kirk (pictured right) said the family intends to file a lawsuit against Baylor Scott & White Health System alleging negligent care at the rehab center that led to her death, The Dallas Morning News reported

It was reported that Johnson went to the rehab facility at her surgeon's recommendation post surgery aftercare that included physical therapy and wound care

In September, Johnson underwent surgery to correct degenerative conditions to help her walk.

At her surgeon's recommendation, she went to the rehabilitation institute for post surgery aftercare that included physical therapy and wound care, but later died.

Kirk recalled his mother had told him that she needed help and rang the bell several times but no one responded while under the care of the rehab center.

Weisbrod said the congresswoman was 'lying in her own urine and feces,' as per the press release.

Her devastated son called the condition 'deplorable.'

'She was not attended to,' he said, 'she was screaming out in pain and for help.'

He later learned that many of the staffers were in training the day of the ordeal.

Another administrator, who was already in the room, said someone else had been reassigned to care for EBJ.

When he spoke to the hospital's CEO David Smith, he allegedly told Kirk 'this shouldn't have happened'.

Weisbrod claimed Johnson 'was abandoned,' and in need of help for at least an hour.

According to medical records from Johnson's orthopedic surgeon, she 'was found in bed sitting in her own feces, which was not being cleaned up'.

The doctor wrote in an entry that she began having 'copious purulent drainage'  a sign of an infection  from the surgical incision, and a fever, the lawyer said.

The congresswoman was given a second surgery to remove the infected tissue and replace the hardware in her spine.

'It was a complex and difficult surgery to go through twice, particularly for someone Eddie Bernice's age,' Weisbrod said.

In mid-October, she was transferred to a nursing facility and then later moved to her home on December 18, where she was under hospice care, as per the release.

Kirk said his mother knew her condition was dire, and sad that 'she thought that she wouldn't live three weeks, and she didn't.'

She died on New Year's Eve while under hospice care at her home.

Eddie Bernice Johnson was a nurse before she entered politics and was known as a trailblazer. She spent decades as one of the most powerful Democrat's in North Texas. She was also the first registered nurse elected to Congress

The lawyer sent the hospital a letter on Thursday informing them of the allegations, and a mandatory notice that a formal lawsuit will be filed within 60-days.

Weisbrod said he has been in touch with the hospital's legal team and is hopeful a resolution may be reached before the end of the mandatory time frame.

'Congresswoman and Kirk and the family, they dont want this to happen to anybody else, so by putting this story out, if this prevents this from happening to one other person, then that would be what she would have wanted,' Weisbrod said, as per the

Johnson, known affectionately as 'EBJ,' was a nurse before she entered politics and was known as a trailblazer.

She spent decades as one of the most powerful Democrat's in North Texas. She was also the first registered nurse elected to Congress.
Former Tory minister Chris Skidmore is to quit Parliament 'as soon as possible' in protest at Government support for new new oil and gas drilling.

The Kingwood MP is the former Net Zero tsar and a strong supporter of environmental issues. He has previously criticised the government for slowing action against climate change.

In a statement he attacked the PM's Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill, which opens the way to new drilling for oil and gas in UK waters and which is due to start its way through Parliament next week.

He had already announced he would stand down at the next election, but now seems set to present Rishi Sunak with yet another by-election headache.

The Tories are already facing spring by-elections in Wellingborough and Blackpool South constituencies they held in 2019.

Mr Skidmore won with an 11,220 majority over Labour but the seat is due to be abolished at the next general election. So any elected MP might only be in place for a matter of months.

The MP told the PA news agency he plans to formally quit when Parliament returns from its Christmas break on Monday.

The Kingwood MP is a strong supporter of environmental issues and has previously criticised the government for slowing its action against climate change .

He had already announced he would stand down at the next election, but now seems set to present Rishi Sunak with yet another by-election headache.

In a lengthy statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, he said: 'This Bill would in effect allow more frequent new oil and gas licences and the increased production of new fossil fuels in the North Sea. It is a Bill that I have already stated my opposition to, by not voting in the King's Speech debate in protest at the Bill's inclusion in the Government's legislative programme.

'As the former energy minister who signed the UK's net zero commitment by 2050 into law, I cannot vote for a Bill that clearly promotes the production of new oil and gas.'

He went on: 'To fail to act, rather than merely speak out, is to tolerate a status quo that cannot be sustained. I am therefore resigning my party whip and instead intend to be free from any party-political allegiance.'

The MP for Kingswood, in Gloucestershire, added that his decision to resign the whip meant his constituents 'deserve the right to elect a new Member of Parliament'.

He said: 'I therefore will be standing down from Parliament as soon as possible.'

Mr Skidmore warned MPs who vote for the Bill next week that the future will judge them 'harshly'.

His statement went on: 'It is a tragedy that the UK has been allowed to lose its climate leadership, at a time when our businesses, industries, universities and civil society organisations are providing first-class leadership and expertise to so many across the world, inspiring change for the better.

'I cannot vote for the Bill next week. The future will judge harshly those that do. At a time when we should be committing to more climate action, we simply do not have any more time to waste promoting the future production of fossil fuels that is the ultimate cause of the environmental crisis that we are facing.'

Labour's shadow climate change minister Ed Miliband said: 'Well done to Chris Skidmore for standing up to this desperate Conservative government. Their irresponsible, reckless attempt to double down on fossil fuels wont cut bills, undermines energy security and is a climate disaster.'
Kate Garraway has been hailed for helping to shine a light on the 'selfless care' many family members give to their loved ones, as she campaigned for her husband after he fell seriously ill.

The Good Morning Britain presenter, 56, announced the death of her husband of 18 years, Derek Draper, on Instagram this morning.

She said: 'Rest gently and peacefully now Derek, my love, I was so lucky to have you in my life.'

He had suffered a heart attack before Christmas following a long battle with Covid.

She had been open about her family's journey after her husband fell seriously ill with Covid-19 in March 2020.

Kate Garraway, 56, announced the death of her husband of 18 years, Derek Draper, on Instagram this morning. Pictured: The couple in 2007

Kate has been praised for sharing her family's experience

He was left with long-lasting damage to his organs and in need of daily care. Kate previously described Derek as one of the sickest patients with Covid-19 doctors had treated.

In an interview in June 2020, just a few months after Derek contracted the virus, she told Good Morning Britain: '(The doctors) have never seen this before.

'My doctors say to me he is the worst affected person they've had to treat. They said he is one of five cases in the world like this.'

She created two documentaries detailing her family's life as Derek fought long-term illness, with both programmes winning a National Television Award in the authored documentary category.

Kate also wrote two books, The Power Of Hope and The Strength Of Love: Embracing An Uncertain Future With Resilience And Optimism and has been praised for sharing her family's experience.

Carers Trust chief executive Kirsty McHugh, said: 'We're saddened to hear the news about Derek Draper's death and our thoughts go out to his family.

'Derek's illness and Kate Garraway's devoted care for him touched the hearts of so many of us.

'By sharing her own experience, Kate shone a light on the selfless care that millions of family members give to their loved ones across the UK.

'All too often, unpaid carers are hidden away but Kate laid bare the very real challenges so many families face and the support they need.'

Derek Draper in 2021 with his wife Kate and children Darcey and Billy after returning home from hospital, where he was Britain's longest suffering Covid patient. He has died age 56

Derek, 56, returned home from hospital after 13 months but he never fully recovered (pictured with his family in their garden)

Helen Walker, chief executive at Carers UK, said Kate 'embodied the very personal and difficult journey that millions of families face up and down the country - caring behind closed doors - for someone that they love with a long-term illness or disability, or who are elderly and need support'.

She added: 'There are a staggering 5.7 million carers in the UK who continue to face challenges like these.

'Many will have hugely identified with Kate's experiences and admired her bravery and determination in raising awareness of caring and also the support that families desperately need.'

Kate, in an interview last year, acknowledged she has been in a luckier position financially compared with many other carers, and said she therefore wanted to 'speak up' on their behalf.

On the financial challenges caring for a loved one can present, she said 'the costs go through the roof'.

She told the Sun it had been 'tough' and described the changes to their lives, including having to take long periods off work when her husband first became ill, adding 'and of course it affects the overall income for the family as he can no longer work'.

Derek had suffered a heart attack before Christmas following a long battle with Covid. Pictured: Kate, with husband Derek and her parents Gordon and Marilyn Garraway

Kate previously described Derek as one of the sickest patients with Covid-19 doctors had treated. Pictured: The couple in 2008

She said: 'We had to wind up the business we had together, and also I've had to take on assistants so that I can focus on Derek when not on air.'

But she said she was still in 'an incredibly lucky position compared to so many, which is why I want to speak up now on behalf of everyone else'.

Kate was made an MBE in the 2022 New Year Honours, but said this was for services to broadcasting, journalism and charity, rather than her care for her husband.

She said she had received some negative comments about the honour, saying there had been a few from 'people saying 'Why has she got this? I look after my loved one'.'

She added: 'I haven't got it for looking after Derek. It is for broadcasting and I think also charity work. But you know, there's lots of people that you feel deserve it more. So it's a strange feeling.'

Kate has also been described as an important voice in highlighting the 'very real danger that a Covid infection poses'.

She said that by June 2020 Derek was 'Covid-free', but 'it's wreaked extraordinary damage on his body and we don't know if he can recover from that'.

During his time in hospital in 2020, Mr Draper was put on a ventilator and placed in an induced coma for several weeks.

But just over a year after contracting Covid, Mr Draper was able to leave hospital and return to his family home in north London, with round-the-clock care.

In August 2022 he was taken to hospital with sepsis but managed to pull through.

The Long Covid SOS charity said it was 'deeply saddened by the news of Derek Draper's death'.

Ondine Sherwood, the group's co-founder, said Kate has been 'constantly by his side' through her husband's illness, adding that she was 'a hugely important voice in the mainstream media highlighting the very real danger that a Covid infection poses'.

Another group, Long Covid Support, tweeted: 'The spotlight you & Derek shone on how cruel an illness COVID19 is, and your astounding strength, will never be forgotten.'

The presenter confronted former health secretary Matt Hancock on how families who were affected by his coronavirus policies felt about his decision to compete on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!

Kate questioned him about his appearance on the reality show, for which he was paid 320,000, 10,000 of which he donated to charity.

Kate has been described as an important voice in highlighting the 'very real danger that a Covid infection poses'. Pictured: The couple in Australia, 2019

Just over a year after contracting Covid, Mr Draper was able to leave hospital and return to his family home in north London, with round-the-clock care

Kate and Derek at the National Television Awards in 2007 - two years after they married

She put it to him that he had gone to the Australian jungle to do the show and accept the money at a time when 'people still feel very raw' about his handling of the pandemic.

She told him: 'I suppose the problem is that because you were health secretary and because at that time I couldn't visit Derek in hospital, he couldn't see his kids, thousands of others couldn't go and see the people they loved for various reasons, because they were following the guidelines.

'It gives the impression that you still don't get why people are upset because that amount of money is vast to everybody.'

Mr Hancock told her at the time: 'I get all that, I really do, and I really feel it.;

When it comes to long Covid, data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in February last year, the last dataset available, showed that about six in 10 people with long Covid in the UK were likely to have been suffering symptoms for a year or more.

The data also showed an estimated two million people living in private households in the UK were experiencing self-reported long Covid.

While some people suffer more serious complications, the most common symptoms of long Covid cited on the NHS website are extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, loss of smell and muscle aches.

Other people have also reported problems with memory and concentration, chest pain, insomnia, heart and lung problems, joint pain, depression, anxiety, diarrhoea, stomach aches and loss of appetite.

The syndrome is still being studied and the NHS has set up services to help those worst affected.
A wildlife charity has shared footage of a 'knackered' mole swimming in water and attempting to reach dry land at a flooded nature reserve.

The small mammal was spotted at Attenborough Nature Reserve on Thursday, January 4, paddling at rapid speed to stay afloat in flood water after Storm Henk drenched Britain earlier this week.

A Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust team monitoring the floods noticed the mole swimming towards them and took the opportunity to film its escape attempts.

The team tried to offer their help to the animal, but it was not needed as it found the safety of dry land all by itself, as one of the team members can be heard shouting: 'You look knackered.'

The clip was posted to the Trusts' Facebook page and has gone viral, with people commenting on how cute the plucky creature looks as it attempts to swim to safety.

The small mammal was spotted at Attenborough Nature Reserve on Thursday, paddling at rapid speed to stay afloat after Storm Henk drenched Britain earlier this week

A Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust team monitoring the floods noticed the mole swimming towards them and took the opportunity to film it as it came towards them

The team tried to offer their help to the animal, but it was not needed as it found the safety of dry land all by itself

The clip was posted to the Trusts' Facebook page and has gone viral, with people commenting on how cute the plucky creature looks as it attempts to swim to safety

Meanwhile, not all viewers were amused and expressed concerns for the moles safety

In a post on Facebook, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust said: '[It is] amazing to see such resilience in a rarely seen species and brings hope that wildlife can survive and adapt to these events that are ever increasing in the face of climate change.'

One user commented: 'Go little guy', while another said: 'Look at him GO!!!'

Meanwhile, not all viewers were amused with one person writing: 'Please tell us that its ok, poor little thing.'

When social media users asked for an update on the moles' safety, the charity confirmed it had reached dry land

A fourth posted: 'Poor little thing. it's absolutely terrified without a clue what's going on, totally unnatural for him/her'

When social media users asked for an update on the moles' safety, the charity commented: 'We can confirm that the mole was ok.

'The team were monitoring the floods on the reserve and spotted the mole so took the opportunity to film it as it came towards them and try to help it but it didn't need help and found dry land itself.'

Last month, a mole with a shimmery golden coat deemed extinct in 1936 after all traces of the species had disappeared has been rediscovered on a beach in South Africa.

Known as De Winton's golden mole, the blind burrower with 'super-hearing powers' was rediscovered in Port Nolloth on the west coast of South Africa by a team of researchers from the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) and the University of Pretoria.

The tiny mammal, about the size of a hamster, spends most of its life underground and avoids humans, making it easy to miss.

Researchers began their hunt in 2020, using samples from De Winton's sister species, the endangered Van Zyl's golden mole, to see if the technique was viable.

Golden moles are native to sub-Saharan Africa, and the De Winton's had only ever been found in the Port Nolloth area.

After the successful results of the pilot study, the team set out in 2021 to the west coast in search of the elusive animal.
Shocking video footage has captured the moment an Arizona couple's pets were left to run out into a busy road while being looked after by the 'world's worst dog sitter.'

Brooke Gambino and Mohammad Kabiri were stunned when they reviewed their Ring camera and saw beloved dogs Goose and Bernardo being allowed to run around unsupervised in the darkness.

The couple had left their pets with a sitter found through the app Rover while away in Costa Rica. However, it wasn't long before 'red flags' cropped up, including the sitter sending a photo of the wrong dog claiming it was theirs.

It was only once they returned home and found their home in disarray that they decided to review the Ring footage and were left shocked by the results.

The video shows Gustav and Bernardo running into the road outside the couple's Arizona home and toward a moving car for 30 minutes before anyone chases after them.

An Arizona couple were left horrified after they reviewed their Ring doorbell footage to find their dogs had been allowed to run into a busy road while they were supposed to be being watched by a dog sitter

Brooke Gambino and Mohammad Kabiri found the sitter through Rover and were assured she had been thoroughly vetted

Eventually, the sitter's boyfriend realizes what has happened and is heard yelling: 'Where are those dogs? What have you done?'

The dogs miraculously returned unscathed, but Gambino said their treatment over the trip away had been a 'disaster'.

'This is a busy street right here. Our dogs ran out, they were gone for 30 minutes, she didn't even chase after them,' Gambino told 12News.

When they returned home, the couple found mystery stains and trash everywhere, as well as unidentified possessions.

During their trip, they received a text from the sitter stating she had been taken to hospital and that the dogs would now be watched by her partner.

However, the footage showed her boyfriend returning for just minutes at a time, leaving the dogs shut up in crates for almost three days.

'No one is home with the dogs for 23 hours, plus. They're crated for three days straight,' Gambino added.

The couple left their beloved dogs Goose and Bernardo with the sitter whilst they went to Costa Rica

But they immediately began to panic after they were sent a picture of the wrong dog, which the sitter claimed was theirs

On returning home they found their home in total disarray and realized by reviewing Ring footage the dogs had been left shut in crates for three days without proper supervision

'Nothing happened to our dogs by luck. Like, just by pure luck. We would never want someone to have to deal with that.'

Rover said it will issue a full refund to the couple and has suspended the sitter while it is investigating the 'unusual' situation.

'As part of our booking process, we encourage pet owners to conduct a Meet & Greet with prospective sitters and carefully outline expectations for caring for their pets,' a statement from the company said.

'All sitters on Rover must pass a background check, complete a safety quiz, and have their profile reviewed by a member of our team prior to listing their services on the platform.

'Safety is at the heart of everything we do at Rover.'
Cambridge University is embroiled in an antisemitism row after a college refused to discipline students who called for an 'intifada' and 'mass uprising' against Israelis.

Queens' College said the statements did not violate the college's policies, sparking outrage among some 400 students and alumni.

Cambridge Jewish society, as well as the Union of Jewish Students (UJS), tonight called for the discipline of the students, emphasising the severe violations of the student disciplinary procedure and the IHRA definition of antisemitism.

The motion suggested that only a mass uprising could free the Palestinian people.

The investigation, lasting two months, concluded that there was no breach of Queens' College disciplinary code, causing concern among the Jewish community and prompting a formal complaint.

Queens' College said the statements calling for an 'intifada' and 'mass uprising' against Israelis did not violate the college's policies, sparking outrage

Lord John Mann, the independent advisor to the UK government on antisemitism, said: 'Free speech does not give anyone the right to threaten, intimidate or endanger any other person'

Lord John Mann, the independent advisor to the UK government on antisemitism, said: 'It is essential that all universities listen to their Jewish students' perspectives and experience of antisemitism in how they conduct their business.

'We have free speech in this country and the government has recently enshrined free speech in universities into law, but free speech does not give anyone the right to threaten, intimidate or endanger any other person.

'Cambridge University has a set of policies and guidelines, including the IHRA working definition of antisemitism to help it draw the line between free speech and hate speech and inappropriate behaviour.

'My advice to Universities remains consistently the same: use these policies and guidance to assist decision making and always discuss issues with the Jewish society on campus at the earliest possible opportunity.

'It is very important that Cambridge University is doing so.'

The Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) condemned Queens' College for not taking action against students who expressed support or sympathy for Hamas.

A spokesperson for CAA said: 'There can be no excuse for the justification of the unspeakably brutal attacks by Hamas on 7th October. Whilst robust debate is encouraged on campuses across Britain, discourse must never stray into incitement.

Dr. Janet Maguire, Deputy Dean of Queens' College, said the motion did not constitute harassment

Cambridge University uses the IHRA working definition of antisemitism to help it draw the line between free speech and hate speech

Palestinians wave their national flag and celebrate by a destroyed Israeli tank inside Gaza on October 7

'We have seen a frightening proliferation of incidents in which students, student societies and academics on campuses across the country have expressed support or sympathy for Hamas, a proscribed terror group, and its barbaric attack on innocent Israeli civilians.

'University administrations and students' unions have a responsibility to safeguard Jewish students and staff from rhetoric that potentially breaches the law and creates a hostile environment at their places of study or work. Cambridge University, Queen's College and the Cambridge University Students' Union are no exception.'

In the letter, Dr. Janet Maguire, Deputy Dean of Queens' College, said that there was no breach under section 2.1.3 of the College Disciplinary Code, which encompasses violent, indecent, disorderly, threatening, abusive, or offensive behaviour.

She added: 'As the motion put to the Cambridge Student Union was political in nature, I am advised this did not clearly breach [another] section' of the Disciplinary Code related to harassment.

The motion in question was debated at the Cambridge Student Union, where concerns about incitement to violence led to its premature stoppage.

The motion blamed the war between Israel and Hamas on 'decades of violent oppression of the Palestinian people by the Israeli state'.

It concluded: 'Only a mass uprising on both sides of the green line and across the Middle East can free the Palestinian people.'

When asked to define a 'mass uprising' by a student who attended the debate, proposer of the motion, Anais Austen Stanley said: 'think back to the First Intifada'.

Cambridge JSOC expressed 'deep upset' over the investigation's findings, stating: 'We have seen a rise in antisemitism both within Cambridge and also on campuses throughout the UK, which has left Jewish students feeling increasingly vulnerable. More and more, Jewish students at Cambridge feel marginalised and alienated.'

Theology first year student, Joey Katz, of St. John's said: 'The incident reflects a sad state of affairs. Like others, many Jewish students attend Cambridge as a bastion of high-calibre secular education. Meanwhile, the university is willing to permit explicit calls for the genocide of our people on campus. The nature of this relationship between us and our university is degrading for many Jewish students.

'The incident explicitly uncovers that which Jewish students have known all along. We are not a priority for safeguarding on university campuses. Incitement of genocide against other groups would of course rightly be condemned immediately. Jews, in the eyes of university faculties across the world, are simply expendable and thus not worth protecting from bigotry.'

UJS said: 'A motion calling for incitement to violence and a 'mass uprising' against Israeli civilians should never have been discussed by Cambridge SU and left Jewish students vulnerable to continued horrifying abuse and intimidation in an environment that should be safe for them.

'We were glad that the SU ensured that the motion was eventually dismissed and undertook UJS' antisemitism awareness training. Queens' College's decision not to take action against the proposers of the motion comes during an unprecedented spike in antisemitism at universities across the UK. Antisemitism must never be excused or tolerated by universities or colleges.'

Queens' College refused to comment.

In statements related to the conflict, the university has also signposted the Cambridge Palestinian Society, known for posting videos that include calls 'from the river to the sea' and characterising the war as a Holocaust.

The Mail understands that security guards on campus did not remove Palestinian flags because they were unaware of the individuals responsible. However, during the same week, they did remove posters depicting hostages of the taken Israeli individuals.

Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education Robert Halfon said: 'All antisemitism is abhorrent. Students are entitled to freedom of speech, but not to glorify mass murder or promote dangerous and illegal terrorist organisations.

'I have written to Vice Chancellors and reached out personally in some cases to ensure that universities have robust systems in place to deal with incidents to tackle antisemitism.

'The Secretary of State and I are also working on plans to introduce an antisemitism charter and we have announced 7 million of extra support to tackle antisemitism in educational settings, including in universities.

'Now is the time for universities to proactively make a stand against antisemitism.'
Final arguments are scheduled for next week and a ruling in the 11-week explosive trial could come by the end of the month

James, who Trump has repeatedly attacked as partisan and 'racist,' had originally sued the former president for $250 million

The AG writes the alleged fraud schemes were 'so outrageous that they belie innocent explanation'

New York Attorney General Letitia James is demanding over $370 million from Donald Trump and wants to bar him from doing any business in the state as the explosive civil fraud trial into his family's business practices comes to a close.

The fraud case brought by James accuses the Republican frontrunner for president of inflating the value of properties, including his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida, to get better terms on loans.

James, who Trump has repeatedly attacked as partisan and 'racist,' had originally sued the former president for $250 million.

The new bombshell filing Friday argues that the massive sum is warranted due to the former president's 'myriad deceptive schemes' that were employed by his business and co-defendants to 'inflate asset values and conceal facts.'

She writes the alleged fraud schemes were 'so outrageous that they belie innocent explanation.'

Trump's attorneys fired back, saying that James has 'no evidence' and insisted there was not a single witness who backs up those scathing allegations.

Judge Arthur Engoron has already found Trump, and his sons Don Jr. and Eric, liable for fraud.

The post-trial briefs followed an 11-week explosive trial to determine how much money Trump and his business should fork over - which winded down last month.

New York Attorney General Letitia James is demanding over $370 million from Donald Trump and wants to bar him from doing any business in the state as the explosive civil fraud trial into his family's business practices comes to a close

'He rambled, he hurled insults,' New York AG Letitia James said after a dramatic appearance by former President Donald Trump

Closing arguments before Engoron are scheduled for next week and he could rule by the end of the month.

The former president took to his Truth Social account to blast the $370 million sum requested by James, who he called 'corrupt.'

'I did nothing wrong,' he wrote in all caps, calling his financial statements 'great' and 'very conservative.'

'NOW THE CORRUPT A.G. WANTS $370,000,000 AS BUSINESSES FLEE NEW YORK. THEY SHOULD PAY ME,' he exclaimed.

He went on to call it 'prosecutorial misconduct' and a 'DOJ witch hunt.'

Trump attorney Alina Habba added in a statement to DailyMail.com that the new penalty is 'absurd' and can be described as 'nothing less than a form of politically motivated persecution of the leading Republican presidential candidate.'

'My clients did nothing wrong, there were no victims and the case presented has proven that his statements were under valued,' she continued.

Trump's legal team finally rested their defense in his New York fraud trial on December 13, after one final courtroom skirmish where Judge Arthur Engoron told them there was 'no way' he would rule in their favor.

The final squabble came after Trump failed to appear in his own defense as he originally forecast and son Eric made a surprise appearance to watch the final moments of the family business's case.

That came after the former president posted on X that 'I have already testified to everything & have nothing more to say.'

'We do rest,' Trump lawyer Chris Kise told the judge, who Trump attacked as 'crooked' throughout the trial while also firing off posts targeting his wife and chief judicial clerk.

Trump lawyer Chris Kise indicated took a series of steps on general court matters 'for appellate purposes,' prompting a quip from Engoron.

The fraud case brought by James accuses Trump of inflating the value of properties, including his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida, to get better terms on loans

'You're going to appeal,' he said, ABC News reported.

Kise said he planned to make a motion for a 'directed verdict.' That would be an opportunity for the judge to rule there was no sufficient evidence to the prosecution's case, effectively ending a matter where he has already made a finding of fraud.

'There is no way I am going to grant that,' Engoron told him. 'You'd be wasting your time.'

The statement came at the end of a $250 million fraud trial to decide on the amount of financial penalty Trump and the Trump Organization will face  with his ability to do business in New York State also on the line.

Here's a breakdown of James' biggest accusations:

Trump claimed his Trump Tower penthouse apartment was three times its actual size - and worth a whopping $327 million

Trump valued Mar-a-Lago at nearly 10 times what it was worth at $739 million

Trump valued his Park Avenue based on the units' market value, though they were rent stabilized and worth far less at a total of $84.5 million

Trump valued his Seven Springs estate nearly ten times what it was appraised for only a few years prior at up to $291 million

Trump listed the value of 40 Wall Street at over $300 million what it was found to be worth at $530 million

Trump told Nevada tax authorities Trump International Hotel and Tower in Las Vegas was worth far less than what his financial statement showed at $108 million

Trump did not factor in escalating rent expenses for his Niketown valuation in the mid-$400 million range

Trump used 'deceptive techniques' to list the value of his golf and social clubs

Trump valued his Turnberry golf course on a fixed asset scheme at $127 million even though it has been operating at a loss

Trump has railed against his prosecution throughout the proceedings, including during his final courtroom visit last month.

He has used the trial to score frequent televised appearances before the media from inside the courtroom, and has seen his poll numbers against Republican opponents and President Joe Biden rise during the duration of the trial.

Judge Arthur Engoron told Trump lawyer Chris Kise there was 'no way' he would rule in favor of his motion for a 'direct verdict' on the case

Kise indicated that Trump's team planned to appeal

Tuesday featured more questions from prosecutors about Trump's penthouse apartment, which they say inflated its value by about $200 million by using inaccurate square footage

There was some more action from the prosecution last month over the valuation of Trump's penthouse apartment. Prosecutors say his firm goosed the value of the Trump Tower unit by $200 million.

Under questioning, from Trump International Realty executive Kevin Sneddon about how he came up with the valuation of the unit. He said he got the information from former Trump Organization executive Allen Weisselberg, who phoned in the information to get a value years ago.

'I asked if I could see it. He said that was not possible. I asked if there was a floor plan or any specs. He said he did not have any of that information,' Sneddon testified. 'He said, 'It's quite large. I think it's around 30,000 square feet.''
A cancer-stricken grandmother from Connecticut who pushed for Vermont to expand its medically assisted suicide law to non-state residents has died by taking prescribed lethal medication.

Lynda Bluestein, 76, who had terminal cancer, ended her life in Vermont on Thursday and her husband described it as 'comfortable and peaceful,' just like she wanted.

Her last words were, 'I'm so happy I don't have to do this (suffer) anymore,' her husband, Paul, wrote in an email to the group Compassion & Choices.

The organization filed a lawsuit against Vermont in 2022 on behalf of Bluestein, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, and Diana Barnard, a physician from Middlebury.

The suit claimed Vermont's residency requirement in its so-called patient choice and control at end of life law violated the US Constitution's commerce, equal protection, and privileges and immunities clauses.

Lynda Bluestein, 76, who pushed for Vermont to expand its medically assisted suicide law to non-state residents has died by taking lethal medication

The cancer-stricken grandmother from Connecticut, who had terminal cancer, ended her life in Vermont on Thursday

Her husband, Paul, described her death as 'comfortable and peaceful,' just like she wanted

Vermont agreed to a settlement last March that allowed Bluestein, who is not a state resident, to use the law to die there.

Just two months later, Vermont made adjustments to extend its medically assisted suicide law to anyone in similar circumstances.

It became the first state in the country to change its law to allow terminally ill people from out of state to take advantage of it to end their lives.

'Lynda was an advocate all the way through, and she wanted access to this law and she had it, but she and everybody deserves to have access much closer to home because the need to travel and to make arrangements around the scheduling to come to Vermont is not something that we wish for people to have,' physician Barnard said.

Barnard said it's a sad day because her life came to an end. She added: 'But more than a silver lining is the beauty and the peace that came from Lynda having a say in what happened at the very end of her life.'

Her last words were 'I'm so happy I don't have to do this (suffer) anymore,' her husband Paul wrote in an email to the group Compassion & Choices

Bluestein was diagnosed with cancer in March 2021. At the time, she was given six months to three years to live

There are 10 states which allow medically assisted suicide but before Vermont changed its law only Oregon allowed non-residents to do it, by not enforcing the residency requirement as part of a court settlement.

Oregon went on to remove that requirement this past summer.

Vermont's law, in effect since 2013, allows physicians to prescribe lethal medication to people with an incurable illness that is expected to kill them within six months.

Supporters say the law has stringent safeguards, including a requirement that those who seek to use it be capable of making and communicating their health care decision to a physician.

Patients are required to make two requests orally to the physician over a certain timeframe and then submit a written request, signed in the presence of two or more witnesses who aren't interested parties.

The witnesses must sign and affirm that patients appeared to understand the nature of the document and were free from duress or undue influence at the time.

Others express moral opposition to assisted suicide and say there are no safeguards to protect vulnerable patients from coercion.

Former Vermont legislator Willem Jewett, 58, passed away on January 12 with the help of medical suicide after he was diagnosed with a rare condition called mucosal melanoma over a year ago

Bluestein, a lifelong activist, who advocated for similar legislation to be passed in Connecticut and New York, which has not happened, wanted to make sure she didn't die like her mother, in a hospital bed after a prolonged illness.

She said last year that she wanted to pass away surrounded by her husband, children, grandchildren, wonderful neighbors, friends and dog.

'I wanted to have a death that was meaningful, but that it didn't take forever ... for me to die,' she insisted.

'I want to live the way I always have, and I want my death to be in keeping with the way I wanted my life to be always,' Bluestein said.

'I wanted to have agency over when cancer had taken so much for me that I could no longer bear it. That's my choice.'

She had complained that she was not yet at the point where her life expectancy was less than six months, but that it was her third bout with cancer and she watched her mother die of the disease.

'She said, "I never wanted you to see me like this." I dont want my children to see me like that, either,' Bluestein said.

'I'd like their last memories of me to be as strong as possible, to interact with them and not in an adult diaper curled up in a fetal position, drugged out of my mind.'

Over 200 terminally-ill people have chosen to receive life-ending drugs in Vermont in the past decade since the state legalized assisted suicide in 2013.

A new report by the Vermont Department of Health revealed that 203 patients chose to 'die with dignity' between May 2013 and June 2023.

In May 2013, the Vermont General Assembly passed Act 39, which allows capable, terminally ill adult patients to request and obtain a prescription for life-ending medication to hasten their death. Participation by patients and doctors is entirely voluntary.
National Rifle Association chief executive Wayne LaPierre has announced he is stepping down from the position just days before his New York corruption trial is due to start.

The 74-year-old tendered his resignation on Friday, citing 'health reasons'.

'With pride in all that we have accomplished, I am announcing my resignation from the NRA,' LaPierre said in press release.

'I've been a card-carrying member of this organization for most of my adult life, and I will never stop supporting the NRA and its fight to defend Second Amendment freedom. My passion for our cause burns as deeply as ever.'

His resignation will take effect on January 31 and Andrew Arulanandam, the NRA's executive and head of general operations, will serve as interim CEO and executive vice president.

NRA chief executive Wayne LaPierre announced his resignation on Friday just days before his New York corruption trial is due to begin

The NRA chief cited health reasons for his resignation which was accepted at a board meeting in Irving, Texas

LaPierre, pictured at an NRA rally in 2022 with Donald Trump, is accused of diverting millions of dollars to pay for his lavish lifestyle

The announcement came during a board meeting in Irving, Texas. and was accepted by NRA President Charles Cotton.

'On behalf of the NRA Board of Directors, I thank Wayne LaPierre for his service. Wayne has done as much to protect Second Amendment freedom as anyone,' Cotton said.

'Wayne is a towering figure in the fight for constitutional freedom, but one of his other talents is equally important: he built an organization that is bigger than him.

'Under the direction of Andrew Arulanandam, the NRA will continue to thrive  with a renewed energy in our business operations and grassroots advocacy. Our future is bright and secure.'

The announcement comes as LaPierre is set to face trial in the corruption case brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James.

Prior to her election, James vowed to take on the NRA, which she branded a 'terrorist organization.

She brought a lawsuit in 2020 accusing NRA chiefs of violating state and federal law and lining their pockets with millions of dollars.

LaPierre was reelected to his position in 2021 despite the ongoing civil case which claims he diverted millions to pay for trips and other lavish items.

The NRA board of directors reelected Wayne LaPierre as CEO of the group despite multiple controversies facing the organization under his leadership

The NRA is still facing a corruption lawsuit filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James, (pictured) alleging its leadership diverted millions to fund a lavish lifestyle

In May 2021, the group made a failed bid to file for bankruptcy to move its organization from New York to Texas, which LaPierre admitted was to avoid the litigation.

But it was denied by federal judge Harlin Hale who argued that it had been filed in bad faith, and slammed LaPierre's conduct as 'nothing less than shocking'.

The gun rights group unsuccessfully attempted to stop the corruption probe from proceeding by arguing Democrat James is politically motivated and has violated First Amendment for trying to silence its speech because she disliked what it stood for.

But the appeal was unanimously rejected and the trial is scheduled to begin at the New York Supreme Court on January 8.

The NRA said it was 'well-known' that James had pledged to pursue the organization.

In March 2022, the group scored a major legal victory, when a New York court dismissed James' claims to dissolve the organization.

'With respect to the NYAG's allegations, the NRA Board of Directors reports it has undertaken significant efforts to perform a self-evaluation, recommended termination of disgraced 'insiders' and vendors who allegedly abused the Association, and accepted reimbursement, with interest, for alleged excess benefit transactions from LaPierre, as reported in public tax filing,' an NRA statement said.

LaPierre added: 'I am proud of the NRA's advocacy in New York and, through it all, determination to defend the Second Amendment. I can assure you the NRA's mission, programming, and fight for freedom have never been more secure.

LaPierre, pictured with wife Susan, claims the lawsuit from James is politically motivated after she vowed to go after the NRA prior to her appointment as Attorney General

LaPierre, pictured with his wife and the late Shawn and Larry King, was reelected as NRA chief in 2021 despite the controversies

'What makes the NRA unlike any other advocacy organization is the depth and experience of its professional team, the unwavering support of its members, and its fighting spirit.'

'I have enormous confidence in our board of directors, executive leadership team, and my long-time colleague Andrew Arulanandam.

'Andrew knows every facet of this organization and has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with me in every arena imaginable. Andrew knows how to help the NRA win  he's been one of the key authors of our playbook for decades.'
Philadelphia's police department fired its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) officer, just hours before a new commissioner and mayor assumed office, vowing to restore 'lawfulness.'

The then-acting Police Commissioner John Stanford terminated DEI officer Leslie Marant, 57, who commenced her role in April 2022 at a meeting Tuesday morning.

Marant was informed by Stanford that her services were no longer required under the restructuring led by the incoming commissioner, Kevin Bethel.

The exact reasons for Marant's dismissal, with a base salary of $170,568, was not disclosed, and the department has yet to provide further details.

Despite Marant's departure, the DEI position will remain vacant as the department plans a national search for her successor, citing common organizational restructuring under new leadership.

Marant (pictured) was informed by Stanford that her services were no longer required under the restructuring led by the incoming commissioner, Kevin Bethel

The then-acting Police Commissioner John Stanford (pictured) terminated DEI officer Leslie Marant, 57, who commenced her role in April 2022 at a meeting Tuesday morning

Mayor Cherelle Parker and former Mayor Jim Kenney,left, take part in inauguration ceremonies Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024 in Philadelphia

'Under new leadership, restructuring and realignment of an organization is common,' Sgt. Eric Gipp told Philadelphia Inquirer.

This came just hours before Democrat Cherelle Parker, 51, who became the city's first Black and female mayor, signed an executive order declaring a public safety emergency.

'I want the world to know that I am fully committed to ending this sense of lawlessness and bringing order back to our city and a sense of lawfulness,' she said in a speech.

She promised on the campaign trail to hire 300 more police officers, including community officers, and restore 'constitutional' stop-and-frisk. She also put forth the idea of making school year-round, to reduce juvenile delinquency.

Her plans will include increasing the number of police officers on the streets with a focus on community policing - a policy she championed when on the city council.

Parker said that her Public Safety Emergency will 'expeditiously get every available resource into neighborhoods struggling with the scourges of crime, gun violence, drugs, and addiction.'

She said her new police commissioner, Kevin Bethel, has been tasked with creating plans for those crises and for quality-of-life crimes including car theft, shoplifting and illegal ATV use.

Cherelle Parker, the newly sworn-in 100th mayor of Philadelphia, delivers her inauguration address during the ceremony on Tuesday

Parker is seen swearing in the new police commissioner for Philadelphia, Kevin Bethel, on Tuesday

Philadelphia has seen rampant crime in recent years, with violent offenses like robberies and aggravated assaults with guns rising above pre-pandemic levels.

Just yesterday, a Philadelphia man was pushed onto the subway tracks and fatally struck by an oncoming train just days after the city's new mayor vowed to crack down on crime.

The man was brawling with another male on the SEPTA platform around 4:30 pm on Thursday when tragedy struck at the 34th street station.

Bystander video footage caught the tragic moment unfold as one of the men punched the other, sending him stumbling onto the tracks.

Just moments later, a SEPTA train on the Market-Frankford Line arrived at the platform and killed the man.

A SEPTA spokesperson confirmed that the man throwing punches in the video has been taken into custody - but it remains unclear whether he will be facing charges.

The person killed is yet to be identified, but a user on X claims that both of the two men involved are 'known to SEPTA police'.

Retired Sgt. Mark Fusetti said on X: 'These two men are known to Septa police.

'They are homeless and live in the subways. Theyre called, by Septa, destination-less riders.'

A Philadelphia man was pushed onto the subway tracks and fatally struck by an oncoming train just days after the city's new mayor vowed to crack down on crime

Bystander video footage caught the tragic moment unfold as one of the men punched the other, sending him stumbling onto the tracks

Kensington, which up until the 1950s was a bustling industrial district, is now described by The Philadelphia Inquirer as 'the poorest neighborhood in America's poorest big city'

Exclusive pictures of Philadelphia's Kensington neighborhood reveal a shocking scene of drug devastation with addicts injecting themselves in broad daylight

'They take the EL & Subway all day and night. They use the trains as toilets and beds. This in another crime that couldve been prevented if Septa didnt allow them to live in their trains.'

'Officers there as guardians and not warriors, getting to know the people they are sworn to protect and serve,' she said on Tuesday night, during her inaugural address.

Parker takes over a city where violent crime is declining - homicides are down by more than 20 percent year on year, and non-fatal shootings are down 28 percent.

But Philadelphia in 2020 and 2021 had the grim reputation as one of America's most dangerous cities, with more than 500 murders each year - significantly more than New York, which is five times as large.

And theft on Philadelphia is rocketing, with reported vehicle theft up 72 percent. Retail theft is also soaring, and has risen 28 percent in the last year.
This is the moment an American Airlines passenger is escorted from a flight after punching and spitting in attendant's face, forcing the plane to be diverted.

The bizarre ordeal took place on Wednesday when pilots had to make an emergency landing at Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport around 2.20pm after an unruly passenger, identified as Keith Edward Fagiana, acted out.

Fagiana was on Flight 1497 that departed Fort Worth, Texas heading to Bozeman, Montana when he allegedly punched a flight attendant in the face, kicked a police officer in the groin and spit on other assisting officers.

Some of the passengers had to intervene and restrain the man before he was handcuffed and taken off the aircraft.

According to an agent, Fagiana said that he didn't have any recollection of the flight, but 'admitted he had drunk some Captain Morgans'  a brand of rum  at bars before the flight, the Associated Press reported.

He faces charges of interfering with a flight crew. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison.

Fagiana is scheduled to make his first appearance in federal court on Monday.

Agents are seen approaching the unruly passenger identified as Keith Edwards Fagiana after the pilots had to make an emergency landing in Amarillo, Texas

The passenger had punched the flight attendant in the face and allegedly kicked one of the police officers in the groin

According to a flight attendant, a passenger on the plane had complained that Fagiana was kicking their seat in a very aggressive manner.

When the male flight attendant approached the passenger and asked him to stop, the man became violent.

He reportedly cussed before punching the flight attendant in the stomach and then continued to hit him at least three times, the news outlet reported.

Another passenger taking footage of the harrowing event captured the flight attendant yelling at Fagiana: 'Stop, stop, stop. What the (expletive) are you doing?'

She also said he was banging his head on the plane of the window, ABC 7 News reported.

During the ordeal, some of the passengers jumped in and tried to restrain the man as the flight attendant placed flex cuffs onto Fagiana before the plane landed.

Fagiana also spit on some of the assisting officers as they hauled him off the aircraft during the harrowing ordeal that happened on Wednesday afternoon

Keith Edward Fagiana (pictured) faces charges of interfering with a flight crew. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison

The chart shows 2021 as the highest number of unruly passengers flying the friendly skies with a reported 5,973 incidents. In 2023, there were 2,075 incidents reported, according to the FAA

An FBI agent's testimony said that Fagiana spit at the officers and kicked one of them as they were placing handcuffs on him. They also had put a 'spitting mask' on his face.

On Friday, the FBI's agent testimony was in unsealed court documents.

It remains unclear if Fagiana has legal counsel.

In 2023, there was a staggering 2,075 unruly passenger incidents flying the friendly skies, according to data from the Federal Aviation Administration.

A decline from 2022, when 3,439 incidents were reported.

The highest number of unruly passenger incidents took place in 2021 when there was 5,973 compared to the pre-Covid days of 2019 when there were just 1,161 reports and only 889 incidents in 2018.
A father-of-one has appeared in court accused of controlling his girlfriend for 16 months before she was found dead at their home just days after Christmas.

Stephen Sexton was charged with two counts of coercive or controlling behaviour after Joanna Derkacz's body was discovered at their home in Waterlooville on December 28.

It is alleged that Sexton controlled his partner of three years for a period of 16 months before her death. A police enquiry remains ongoing.

The 36-year-old appeared Portsmouth Magistrates' Court today and entered no pleas in relation to the two charges, but successfully applied to be released on bail to an address in Totton, Hampshire.

Joanna's devastated family previously paid tribute to the 'sweet angel', after they had discovered the 37-year-old's body at the house on Nevinson Way in the Hampshire town, and said they would 'would miss her so much everyday'.

Stephen Sexton was charged with two counts of coercive or controlling behaviour after Joanna Derkacz's (pictured) body was discovered at their home in Waterlooville on December 28

Joanna's sister, on behalf of her family, released a tribute to her 'sweet angel' and said they would 'miss her so much every day'

A vigil was held at Joanna's address on New Year's Eve to remember the recruitment consultant, who was a much loved member of the Polish community

Prosecutor Andrew Coley said: 'In this case an enquiry remains ongoing.

'At the centre of it is Joanna Derkacz, who was found dead on December 28 by family members.'

Sarah Hallett, defending, told the court Sexton has not been charged with any offence in relation to Miss Derkacz's death and that bail 'should be a presumption'.

Chair Magistrate Justin Potter granted Sexton conditional bail after deliberating with fellow magistrates.

A vigil was held at Joanna's address on New Year's Eve to remember the recruitment consultant, who was a much loved member of the Polish community.

She added: 'I am happy to have known Jo not only as a colleague but also as a very good friend. She has always been a source of positivity, energy, and enthusiasm.

'It's too early for her. Rest in peace Jo. I miss you and send my deepest condolences to your family and friends.'

Joanna's sister, on behalf of her family, released a tribute to their deceased family member, saying: 'We will love you always sweet angel. You didn't deserve this. I'll fight for the justice till my last breath. I promise.'

Following Joanna's death, Hampshire Police made a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), who are now conducting an independent investigation into the prior police contact.
A furious Joe Biden called Donald Trump 'sick' and a 'loser' in his first campaign speech of 2024 saying 'we nearly lost America' on January 6.

The president, 81, launched an incensed attack on his predecessor and potential 2024 general election rival at Valley Forge in Pennsylvania, where George Washington organized an army to fight the British in 1777.

Biden condemned the Republican frontrunner for his 'lies' and for making his White House campaign about 'himself' in the remarks marking the third anniversary of the Capitol Riot.

At his first public event since a Caribbean vacation, Biden said 'democracy is on the ballot' as states around the country launch bids to kick Trump off.

He said Trump invoked Nazi Germany when he referred to his enemies as 'vermin' and compared him to a dictator who could destroy the U.S. if re-elected in November.

A furious Joe Biden called Donald Trump 'sick' and a 'loser' in his first campaign speech of 2024 saying 'we nearly lost America' on January 6

And Biden said Trump was gunning for an 'all out war,' speaking at an event timed to the third anniversary of the attack on the Capitol.

The 'competing forces between solidarity and division is perennial, but this time, it's so different,' he said.

'You can't have a contest ... if you see politics as an all-out war instead of a peaceful way to resolve our differences,' Biden said. 'All-out war is what Trump wants.'

In recalling the events of January 6, 2021, he said Trump 'watched TV' while rioters ransacked the Capitol.

He also brought up a key phrase from Trump's own January 6 speech  words that featured in his second impeachment and in a criminal indictment he faces in Washington, D.C.

'He told the crowd to fight like hell. And all hell was unleashed,' Biden said. 'Then as usual he left the dirty work to others. He retreated to the White House.'

Referring to his comments about being 'a dictator on day one', Biden said they were 'not in jest and mocked his 'love letters' to Kim Jong-un.

He branded Trump a threat to the United States and pledged to make 'saving' democracy a central platform of his 2024 campaign.

He also condemned Trump's own vow to seek 'revenge and retribution' on his political enemies if he regains the White House.

'How dare he? Who in God's name does he think he is?' Biden asked in his trademark whisper.

Biden mentioned Trump by name dozens of times in the speech in his most direct attack since the start of the campaign.

The Democrat is trailing his adversary in multiple nationwide polls and is still facing questions about whether he should still run for a second term.

But a defiant Biden went scorched earth at his 77-year-old rival for his 'admiration' for Vladimir Putin.

'Trump is trying to steal history, the same way he tried to steal the election. But we knew the truth,' he said.

'I refuse to believe that in 2024, Americans will walk away from what made us great: Liberty and freedom'.

The president called him 'sick' for laughing about Nancy Pelosi's husband Paul being attacked by a hammer, an event that forced his hospitalization and a long recovery. It was just one event during a period of threats to public officials. AG Merrick Garland warned Friday that there had been a string of threats against judges, lawmakers, and presidential candidates in recent weeks.

Biden pointed to the suspect asking 'where's Nancy' when he broke into her San Francisco home, like some of the rioters on January 6.

The president, 81, launched an incensed attack on his predecessor and potential 2024 general election rival at Valley Forge in Pennsylvania , where George Washington organized an the army to fight the British in 1777

Biden condemned the Republican frontrunner for his 'lies' and for making his White House campaign about 'himself' in the remarks marking the third anniversary of January 6

Referring to Trump's comments about being 'a dictator on day one' were 'not in jest and mocked his 'love letters' to Kim Jong-un

Joe and Jill Biden walk around George Washington's headquarters at Valley Forge in Pennsylvania before his speech

'Trump exhausted every legal avenue available to him to overturn the election. Every one.

'But the legal path just took Trump back to the truth: that I won the election and he was a loser.'

'Donald Trump's campaign is about him. It's not about America. It's not about you.

'Donald Trump's campaign is obsessed with the past, not the future. He's willing to sacrifice our democracy, put himself in power. Our campaign is different.'

The president said that on January 6, America nearly 'lost everything'.

He recalled how gallows were put up outside the Capitol while the crowd chanted 'hang Mike Pence.'

Biden opened the speech with a story of the bleak winter of 1777 when George Washington organized the Continental Army.

America vowed that we would never 'bow down to the King'.

Biden's attacks come as he is facing calls from within his own party to go at Trump more directly, after his repeated trips pointing to infrastructure legislation and the Inflation Reduction act, coupled with improving inflation and job gains have failed to boost his own political polling.

His furious focus on democracy and the threat he says Trump poses to it came at the expense of policy issues, which he didn't mention.

Biden's slams focused on his most likely general election rival come as Trump holds a dominating lead over his Republican primary rivals. His distant challengers have refrained from full-throated attacks as they seek to peel off elements of Trump's base, with former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley saying Trump would bring 'chaos.'

Biden's chosen venue was about more than appealing to the nation's Revolutionary War spirit at a time of public skepticism of his handling of foreign policy and Israel's war on Hamas.

Pennsylvania is one of the key battlegrounds that Biden pried away from Trump in 2020, and it is critical to his reelection map.

Swing state polls already show Trump running in an improved position in battlegrounds Georgia, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

Pennsylvania has been among Biden's most visited states. Friday's was his 31st trip to the state. It also is close to his home in Wilmington, where Biden has traveled repeatedly on weekends and where he had plans to hunker down Friday night.

Biden's even had originally been scheduled for January 6 on the exact date of the anniversary. Instead, he spoke at a community college in nearby Blue Bell, Pennsylvania amid a rainy weekend weather forecast. That came after he toured the historic site where George Washington's troops had to hunker down during the cold winter of 1777 and early 1889.

'Democracy is on the ballot, your freedom is on the ballot,' he said.

He called it a contest of democracy and dictatorship. 'That is what the soldiers at Valley Forge understood we have to understand this as well. We have been blessed so long with a strong stable democracy. It is easy to forget why so many before us risk their lives and strengthen democracy.'
A phone message from an unnamed girl advising 'she needs to stay in school' is contained in newly-released court documents relating to the associates of pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

The third batch of Epstein documents were released Friday and included phone messages left for the pedophile and twenty-nine other exhibits.

One of the messages from unnamed female reads 'she is wondering if 2:30 is OK cuz she needs to stay in school'.

Another document also alleges that Epstein, Virginia Giuffre and Ghislaine Maxwell would 'all go out to clubs to pick up girls and try to find them to bring back for Jeffrey'.

That document had been part of the deposition of Tony Figueroa, a driver for Epstein and Maxwell as well as a former boyfriend of accused Giuffre.

The third batch of documents relating to Jeffrey Epstein and his associates including Ghislaine Maxwell (pictured together) were released on Friday

One of the messages left for the pedophile by unnamed female reads 'she is wondering if 2:30 is OK cuz she needs to stay in school'

Figueroa claimed he was often tasked with taking girls to the mansion of Epstein who looked like they were 16 or 17 years old, and Epstein paid him $200 each time.

There are also details of how Virginia's team thought they could nail Maxwell and Epstein.

The attorneys were given permission to search Maxwell's computers and iCloud, finding anything that would prove Virginia's claims that the pair ran a sophisticated sex trafficking ring involving some of the world's most powerful.

The terms they used included 'Andrew', 'Prince', 'Royal', 'Clinton', 'underage', 'pedophile', 'masturbate' and many of the victims' names.

It is unclear, however, from the latest documents whether Ghislaine searched for any of these terms herself.

There are also calls for Epstein, likely to his Palm Beach home, in June 2005, where Abigail Wexner's message appears.

In the message left for Epstein in 2006, the assistant noted: 'Abigail Wexner wants to talk to you @ something private.'

Wexner is the wife of Victoria's Secret mogul Les Wexner, who helped Epstein by throwing him financial business at the start of his ascent through New York society.

In one of the files made public Friday, there is a note for Epstein that Abigail Wexner, the wife of Victoria's Secret magnate Les, had called to 'talk about something private'

Abigail and Les Wexner in 2014. The pair married in 1993, by which point Epstein was a close friend of the Victoria's Secret mogul

Abigail married Les in 1993. An announcement of their marriage in The New York Times described how her father worked for El Al, Israel's national airline.

After Epstein's 2009 conviction for soliciting child prostitution in Palm Beach, the Wexners distanced themselves.

In the years that followed - and after Epstein's 2019 suicide - Les spoke of how he included himself among the victims.

'Being taken advantage of by someone who was so sick, so cunning, so depraved is something that Im embarrassed that I was even close to,' he said.

He complained to others that Epstein 'misappropriated vast sums of money from me and my family'.

In other filings from Friday's document dump there is yet more legal back and forth between Ghislaine and Virginia's attorneys.

In one, Virginia complained about being asked to expand on the list of 'high profile' people she said she had been trafficked to.

That list includes 'politicians' and a 'well-known Prime Minister', though that person is not named.

Jeffrey Epstein pictured in 2019, months before he died in prison. The long-awaited list of his associates and friends named in a 2015 lawsuit was partially released on Thursday and Friday

Bill Clinton is pictured greeting Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein in the White House in 1993

The only person named to date who matches that description is former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, who has historically denied the allegations.

The first two dumps of documents revealed more details about Epstein's friendships with Prince Andrew and Bill Clinton.

Clinton was named 73 times in the documents that linked him with Epstein who he was frequently pictured with.

The pedophile financier made at least 17 visits to the White House, presidential logs show, and Bill Clinton also flew on Epstein's private jet - making trips to Europe, Asia and Africa in 2002 and 2003.

Clinton's spokesman Angel Urena said in July 2019, when Jeffrey Epstein was arrested, that he 'knows nothing about the terrible crimes' that Epstein was accused of, and that Clinton had not spoken to Epstein 'in more than a decade.'

Despite this, there are mentions in the documents of his past friendship with Epstein, but Clinton has not been accused of any wrongdoing.

Prince Andrew, Virginia Roberts, aged 17, now known as Virginia Giuffre, and Ghislaine Maxwell at Ghislaine Maxwell's townhouse in London. The Duke of York denies ever meeting Ms Giuffre

Johanna Sjoberg told lawyers that Epstein claimed Clinton had 'liked them young'.

Deposition documents show Sjoberg was asked if she knew the former US president was a friend of Epstein.

Sjoberg said: 'I knew he had dealings with Bill Clinton.

'I did not know they were friends until I read the Vanity Fair article about them going to Africa together.'

Asked if Epstein had ever talked about the former president, Sjoberg said: 'He said one time that Clinton likes them young, referring to girls.'

Other mentions included legal arguments over whether Virginia Giuffre, previously known as Roberts, should be allowed more time to depose potential witnesses, including Clinton.

Giuffre claims that she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew, which he has strongly denied.

In March 2022 he paid a settlement to Roberts, officially ending her civil case against him, but without any admission of guilt.
Eerie footage captured of Miami police's response to an incident on New Year's Day appeared to show an alien-type creature floating around.

It was widely shared by conspiracy theorists on social media who claimed a 10-foot-tall silhouette walking near cop cars was from another planet.

One user claimed a 'glowing figure' was walking through smoke during the chaotic scene.

It came after around 50 teenagers started a riot outside Bayside Marketplace and caused a panic by setting off loud fireworks.

Eerie footage captured of Miami police's response to an incident on New Year's Day appeared to show an alien-type creature floating around

It was widely shared by conspiracy theorists on social media who claimed a 10-foot-tall silhouette walking near cop cars was from another planet

But the Miami Police Department has revealed the strange figure in the video was actually just a shadow of someone walking.

The footage shows multiple police cars lined up outside a mall with their emergency lights on Monday.

In one clip, what appears to be a large gray figure is seen walking close to an entrance that sent rumors flying among conspiracy theorists.

'Miami's Bayside Marketplace video shows something weird: a glowing figure walking through smoke during a wild scene,' one user wrote.

But Miami Police quickly dispelled the rumors and pointed out that the unknown figure was actually the shadow of someone walking.

'What is seen on this clip is the shadow of someone walking. If you look at the bottom of the shadow, you can see the person. No creature,' a spokesman said.

The police response at the mall was sparked by a large group of unruly teenagers who were causing trouble roughly five miles from South Beach.

But the Miami Police Department has revealed the strange figure in the video was actually just a shadow of someone walking

Social media erupted with thousands of comments about what they described as 'Miami Mall Aliens'

They were setting off fireworks, and it led to a public panic as some thought there was a shooting going on at the time. Four teenagers were later arrested over the incident.

Social media erupted with thousands of comments about what they described as 'Miami Mall Aliens.'

Some even claimed the police were responding to reports about aliens and not the teenagers.

'10ft Aliens/Creatures (caught on camera?) fired at inside and outside Miami Mall, media silent, cops are covering it up saying kids were fighting with fireworks, yet all these cop cars, & air traffic stopped that night except for black military choppersand no media coverage,' a user wrote.

Miami Police Department's Public Information Officer Michael Vega insisted it had nothing to do with extra-terrestrial creatures.

'There were no aliens,' he said. 'No airports were closed. Nothing is being withheld from the public. LOL.'
The first female mayor of a tiny Illinois village has been slammed for 'living like a royal' at taxpayer expense by taking a $300,000 salary and racking up huge expenses.

Glamorous Tiffany Henyard was elected leader of Dolton, a village of 20,000, in 2021, but has since come under fire for what many see as her excessive spending.

She regularly engages the services of a professional hair and makeup team and stylist before public appearances and photo shoots for the county's taxpayer funded billboards, which often feature the 40-year-old in what have some see as shameless self-promotion.

Henyard is always snapped in tasteful, expensive looking outfits. She has posted photos of herself getting out of chauffeur driven SUVS, with one Instagram post even appearing to show her with a dog laden with jewelry.

Henyard, who often refers to herself as 'God's favorite', has now sparked further outrage by proposing a new law that would cap the next mayor's salary at $25,000, unless she remains in the role, Fox 32 reports.

Many believe the proposal, which has been branded 'illegal' is an attempt to dissuade anyone from running against her in the 2025 race. Now trustees in her town have filed a lawsuit against her alleging forgery and claiming she withheld financial records.

Tiffany Henyard, the first female mayor of Dalton, Illinois, has been slammed for 'living like a royal' with extravagant spending. She earns $300,000-a-year but is seeking to lower her successor's salary to $25,000 in what critics claim is a bit to dissuade anyone from running against her

Henyard is pictured stepping out of a chauffeured SUV in one of her stylish outfits. She's been blasted for spending taxpayer cash on security, as well as professional hair and makeup artists

In one photo posted to Instagram, Henyard even appeared to pose with a dog laden with jewelry

The scandal is just the latest to hit the beleaguered mayor, after she was slammed for hiring her former campaign worker as the town's code enforcement officer despite the fact he is a convicted child rapist.

She also raised eyebrows after spending hundreds of thousands of tax dollars of security details, including one for an event with senior citizens and another occasion where she pulled cops off the street to perform a protection outfit.

Among other expenses was a trip to Las Vegas where she racked up a $3,000 airfare apparently to attend a conference.

Questions have emerged over how she funds her apparently lavish lifestyle, especially since she has repeatedly swerved questions and dismissed criticism by branding trustees for the township as 'haters' in TikTok videos.

Dolton trustees say she has not explained the need for her eye-watering security budget. They also claim she issued checks without proper authorization.

'I see no justification whatsoever. And more than that it's really a detriment to the citizens of Dolton,' trustee Jason House told Fox 32.

'If we were to take the same money and put it on officers patrolling the streets, then the residents will see a much better presence and public safety will be better.'

Heynard, a Democrat, was sworn in as mayor in May, becoming the first woman and the youngest person to occupy that post in Dolton's 128-year history.

Henyard uses professional stylists as well and hair and makeup teams prior to events but is not forthcoming about how they are funded

Tiffany Heynard, the first female and youngest mayor of Dolton, Illinois, is under fire for hiring her former campaign worker Lavelle Redmond (pictured together, left) as a code enforcement officer. The 46-year-old is a registered child sex offender

After a recall bid failed, Henyard posted this defiant image on Instagram declaring she 'forever will be Dolton's mayor'

A year after her election, Dolton residents triggered a recall process largely due to her hiring of convicted sex offender Lavelle Redmond into a role that would require him to enter people's homes.

According to reporting at the time, the then-16-year-old Redmond and three others kidnapped and sexually assaulted two girls, ages 13 and 14.

At age 17, Redmond was sentenced to 50 years in prison but was paroled in 2016 and required to register as a sex offender. At the time Henyard defended the move, stating that convicts who have served time deserve a second chance.

However, the recall failed on a technicality and Henyard remained in post, turning up to the next board meeting blasting a disco song and dancing on the podium.

Following the verdict, she also posted a defiant picture on Instagram proclaiming herself the 'People's Mayor' with the caption, 'I am and forever will be Dolton's Mayor.'

The post is one of hundreds on the politicians profile that feature glamorous headshots of her promoting various town events and holidays.

She also features heavily on professional stylist Brandon K Momom's account, sporting various ensembles handpicked for her public appearances.

Visitors to Henyard's website are greeted by a huge selfie and encouraged to offer donations.

Her antics have earned comparisons to the show Parks and Recreation, a comedy which pokes fun at local government employees.

DailyMail.com has contacted Henyard for comment.
Two amphibious warships are set to be 'mothballed' in a move critics have said could spell 'the beginning of the end' for the Royal Marines, as the Navy tries to tackle a sailor shortage crisis.

HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark could be retired from active service under plans put forward by Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, according to The Times.

The plans would be designed to help deal with the manpower crisis in the Royal Navy, freeing up more than 200 sailors for other ships - most likely the force's new fleet of Type 26 frigates when they come into service.

But the move has been slammed by critics who say the ships are crucial to the functioning of the elite commando force, with experts saying their retirement would weaken the Marines by diminishing their ability to storm beaches from the sea.

It comes after reports that the Royal Navy is allegedly decommissioning HMS Westminster and HMS Argyll - with former First Sea Lord Admiral Lord West saying this week that Britain's warships were 'dropping like flies'.

HMS Bulwark. The vessel had been due to remain in service until the early 2030s and underwent an expensive refit in recent years

HMS Albion, which could be mothballed under plans reportedly put forward by the Defence Minister

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, who took the role over from Ben Wallace MP last year

Responding to today's revelations, Lord West described the plans to mothball HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark as a 'terrible error' which would reduce the armed forces' amphibious capabilities.

While the Royal Navy has four dock-landing ships - Bay Class, which were built in the 2000s - industry expert Simon Jones said that the older ships remain 'intrinsic to the movement of commando forces around the globe'.

The two ships were due to remain in service until the early 2030s and HMS Bulwark underwent an expensive refit in recent years.

Yesterday, Whitehall sources quoted in the Daily Telegraph justified the pensioning off of older ships so the Royal Navy can perform as a 'modern, hi-tech fighting force'.

A source said: 'It is always emotive when ships with long histories come to the end of their working lives. But decommissioning is the right decision.

'The new Type 26 frigates will be in service before those ships can be refitted.'

According to official statistics, the Royal Navy has performed the worst of the services for recruitment in the last 12 months.

Its intake of recruits dropped by 22.1 per cent in the 12 months to March 2023, while the RAF dropped by almost 17 per cent and the Army by nearly 15 per cent.

Critics have said the ships are crucial to the functioning of the elite commando force (file image)

A Houthi military helicopter flies over the Galaxy Leader cargo ship in November. The hijacking of the ship and kidnapping of its crew sparked a major international protection operation in the Red Sea, for which the Royal Navy has provided a ship

In response to the crisis serving Royal Marines have been offered 500 to persuade friends on 'civvy street' to enlist.

Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey has criticised the government's handling of the recruitment crisis and said the plans to mothball HMS Albion and Bulwark would 'raise serious concern' over the Royal Marines' future operations.

A Royal Navy Spokesperson said: 'The Royal Marines Commando Force are highly-trained and highly-skilled and ready to be deployed globally. The landing platform ships continue to be part of the Navy's fleet and they have further amphibious capability through Bay-Class ships.

'The operational requirements of the Royal Navy are kept under constant review and the Ministry of Defence is committed to ensuring the Navy has the capabilities it needs to meet current and future operational requirements.'

Britain's Naval capabilities have come into sharp focus since Russia invaded Ukraine - with the presence of Russian submarines increasing in waters close to the UK - and more recently with the eruption of tensions in the Middle East.

HMS Westminster (front of image) is reportedly being pensioned off so its sailors can be transferred to a new vessel  despite only recently returning to service

HMS Argyll (right) is also being scrapped, according to reports. It is the Navy's longest serving Type 23 frigate

Earlier this week, the UK joined an international coalition intended to protect merchant vessels in the Red Sea from attacks by Houthi terrorists based in Yemen, which began with the hijacking of the Galaxy Leader in November.

But at present only one warship, HMS Diamond, has been committed to the role, joining American and French warships in a US-led international taskforce dubbed Operation Prosperity Guardian.

The UK has called for an 'immediate end' to attacks on container ships by the Iranian-backed rebels, joining 11 other countries to issue a final warning to militants to cease hostilities along the important maritime trade route.

Allied nations including the US, Australia, Denmark, Germany, Japan and New Zealand have warned that the Houthis would 'bear the responsibility of the consequences should they continue to threaten lives'.

The Yemeni rebels say they are targeting Israel-linked or Israel-destined ships, and aim to end Israel's air and ground offensive in Gaza following the attack by Hamas on October 7.

Asked on Tuesday whether Britain was considering more armed support to protect the vital global shipping route, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'Planning is under way for a range of scenarios. No decisions have been made.

'We will continue to pursue all potential routes, including diplomatic routes.'
Rachel Reeves complained yesterday that she 'winces' at her bank balance at the end of the month  even though she earns more than twice as much as the average worker.

The shadow chancellor blamed her mortgage, gas and electricity and food bills for leaving her 'increasingly short'.

Ms Reeves earns more than 86,000 a year as an MP  well over double that of the average British full-time employee.

During an interview yesterday, she said she would like taxes on working people to be lower so they have 'more of their own money in their pockets to spend in the way that they choose'.

But asked whether she 'winces' at her personal tax bill, Ms Reeves told GB News: 'What makes me wince is when I look at my bank statement and I find that the money coming in is increasingly short of the money going out.

Labour's Rachel Reeves earns 86,000 a year while her husband civil servant Nick Joicey, earned between 170,000 and 174,999 in 2022 as director general of the Economic and Domestic Secretariat at the Cabinet Office

The shadow chancellor told GB News she 'winces' at her bank balance when she sees 'that the money coming in is increasingly short of the money going out'

'Whether it's the mortgage, or the gas and electricity bills, the weekly shop, or all of the money we all spend over Christmas, it is putting a huge toll on family finances and I think very few people are not feeling the effects of that today.'

Ms Reeves' husband, civil servant Nick Joicey, earned between 170,000 and 174,999 in 2022 as director general of the Economic and Domestic Secretariat at the Cabinet Office.

Last summer he became group chief operating officer and second permanent secretary at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

A Tory source said last night: 'If the shadow chancellor can't run her own bank account, how on earth does she expect the public to trust her with the economy?'

An MP earns 86,584, but parliamentarians are projected to receive a 7.1 per cent increase this year, taking their basic salary to 92,731 from April.

However, Ms Reeves' bank balance could look even rosier if Labour wins the next general election and she becomes chancellor  a role that attracts an extra payment of over 70,000, giving a salary of over 150,000.

The median gross annual earnings for full-time employees was 34,963 in April last year.

Westminster's spending watchdog, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, sets the wages of MPs, using the average rise in public sector earnings for the three months to October to calculate their annual pay rises.

Labour has been mulling including tax cuts for workers in its manifesto, but Ms Reeves refused to commit to any yesterday, saying her 'instinct' was that taxes on working people 'should be lower than they are today', but she would not make 'any unfunded commitments to reduce tax'.

She said: 'I'd like people to have more of their own money in their pockets to spend in the way they choose. To do that in a way that's affordable, sustainable and fair you've got to grow the economy.'
A holiday park owner was mistakenly hit with a 244,000 bill for a month's energy - more than 100 times his usual monthly payments.

Patrick Langmaid, owner of Martha's Orchard holiday park at Constantine Bay, Cornwall, has experienced a 'nightmare' since the money was taken out of his bank account on December 28.

Mr Langmaid said his normal monthly bills were between 2,100 and 2,700.

TotalEnergies apologised unreservedly and said the money was taken after an 'erroneous invoice' was issued, confirming he would refunded by the end of Friday.

An energy company has issued an unreserved apology to holiday park owner Patrick Langmaid (pictured) who was mistakenly hit with a 244,000 bill for a month's energy

Mr Langmaid, the owner of Martha's Orchard holiday park (pictured) at Constantine Bay, Cornwall said had experienced a nightmare since the money was taken out of his bank account via direct debit on December 28

The TotalEnergies spokesman said: 'We are taking steps to ensure that this error can't be repeated and we are also investigating our initial response to the incident, to ascertain what we could have done better upon initial contact and how we can learn from this going forward.

'We understand the seriousness of this situation and the issues it can cause and apologise unreservedly to Martha's Orchard.'

Mr Langmaid said the money had been in his account to pay staff and suppliers.

He suggested customers should be allowed to set a maximum allowable payment under the direct debit system.

'It's not beyond the wit of man to come up with a model that doesn't allow them to take the money in the first place,' he added.

Mr Langmaid told the BBC that he was charged for 901,593 units in November, a huge rise from 1,409 a month prior.

He said the colossal bill 'made my eyes water'.

The business owner says he was confident the money would be refunded to him via the bank's direct debit indemnity, but said he was frustrated by the communication of his energy company.

He said he was asked to send photos of the meter readings to prove how much energy he was using.

Mr Langmaid said it was as if he was 'in the wrong' by default and that 'we're having the justify why we should get our 250,000 back'.

He added that the error was 'obvious' and the ordeal has 'shaken my trust in the whole direct debit system'.

This comes after ex-BBC journalist Jon Sopel revealed his EDF energy bill had skyrocketed overnight to nearly 20,000.

At the same time artist Sir Grayson Perry saw the energy company try to take nearly 40,000 out of his bank account.

In December, Mr Sopel, who presents The News Agents podcast, wrote a public letter on X, formerly Twitter, to the French energy supplier asking if he could speak to a human rather than a bot about his monthly standing order rising from 152 to 19,274.

These tweets prompted other members of the public to share similar stories of EDF, saying they had been overcharged by thousands of pounds and received 'threatening' letters through the door for refusing to pay up.
Zlochevsky said that Hunter 'was stupid,' but his protection was needed as the then-vice president's son during the investigation

Hunter and Zlochevsky's relationship has been detailed in an internal FBI document claiming Joe and his son were part of a $10 million bribery scheme

A lawyer just registered as a foreign agent for work he conducted eight years ago for Ukrainian energy firm Burisma, when Hunter Biden was on the board.

The disclosure raises questions about whether Hunter Biden could face FARA charges in the future that could complicate his father President Joe Biden's re-election run.

The Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) requires law firms and lobbyists to disclose work representing the interests of foreign clients.

Attorney John Buretta said he worked on behalf of former Burisma head Mykola Zlochevsky in 2016, during the time the CEO was under investigation by Ukraine and also the U.S. for corruption.

Buretta decided to file a FARA disclosure eight years later following 'discussions' with the Department of Justice, according to a spokesperson for his law firm Cravath, Swaine, & Moore.

The news isn't great for Hunter, who has been accused by Republicans of violating FARA along with money laundering, racketeering, wire fraud and other crimes. He is also currently facing gun and tax crime charges filed by DOJ prosecutor David Weiss and his investigation remains open.

Hunter and Zlochevsky's relationship has been detailed in an internal FBI document claiming Joe and his son were part of a $10 million bribery scheme with the CEO.

Biden was pictured visiting Morris at his home on December 27

Former Burisma CEO Zlochevsky added that, although Hunter 'was stupid,' and his (Zlochevsky's) dog was smarter, he was needed on the board 'so everything will be okay.'

According to the documents filed by Buretta's firm, he was retained in January 2016 to represent Mykola Zlochevsky 'in connection with possible investigations by governmental authorities in the United States.'

It went on to say that Buretta met with three U.S. government officials in March 2016 and sent a letter to the officials in September.

'In these interactions, Mr. Buretta identified his clients and presented facts relevant to potential U.S. and Ukrainian investigations, including information from a UK proceeding involving his clients,' the filing states.

According to the conversation between a confidential source and Burisma CFO Vadim Pojarski in 2015, Hunter Biden was hired onto the company's board to 'protect us, through his dad, from all kinds of problems.'

Burisma CEO Mykola Zlochevsky told the source: 'It costs 5 (million) to pay one Biden, and 5 (million) to another Biden.'

Zlochevsky added that, although Hunter 'was stupid,' and his (Zlochevsky's) dog was smarter, he was needed on the board 'so everything will be okay.'

The form goes on to allege that the $10 million total was used in exchange for the then-Vice President's influence in getting a senior prosecutor fired.

Burisma was looking to spend up to $30 million on a U.S.-based oil and gas company. However, at the time, it was also the subject of a criminal investigation by Ukrainian Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin, which the company knew 'would have a substantial negative impact on Burisma's prospective IPO in the United States.'

When asked about the investigation, the form states that Zlochevsky replied: 'Don't worry Hunter will take care of all of those issues through his dad.'

Later, then-Vice President Joe Biden made a public statement that Shokin was 'corrupt, and that he should be fired/removed from office.'

Shokin was eventually removed not long after Biden's public statements.

Earlier Friday, Republicans announced they will formally begin proceedings to hold Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress next week.

The move comes weeks after Hunter defied a subpoena requiring him to sit for a closed-door deposition as part of their impeachment investigation into whether President Joe Biden was connected to or profited from his son's shady business deals.

'Hunter Biden blatantly defied two lawful subpoenas when he did not appear for his December deposition,' House Oversight Committee Republicans wrote on X Friday.

'Next week, we will consider a resolution and accompanying report to hold him in contempt of Congress for violating federal law,' the lawmakers said. The hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, January 10 at 10 a.m. ET.

Attorney John Buretta said he worked on behalf of former Burisma head Mykola Zlochevsky in 2016 , during the time the CEO was under investigation by Ukraine and also the U.S. for corruption

Zlochevsky added that, although Hunter 'was stupid,' and his (Zlochevsky's) dog was smarter, he was needed on the board 'so everything will be okay'

Hunter Biden shockingly showed up Capitol Hill on the morning of his mandatory deposition to acknowledge 'mistakes' he made due to his crack cocaine addiction while blasting Republicans investigating him for 'turning his 'dad's love into darkness'

The House Judiciary Committee will also hold a markup.

Hunter appeared outside of the Capitol in December to deliver a dramatic tirade slamming 'shameless' Republicans, and declared that he would be skipping his deposition.

Republicans said that his 'obstruction' of their investigation has forced them to take the president's son to court to compel his cooperation - or he will face jail time.

If Hunter is held in contempt of Congress by a committee vote, his case would be referred to the Biden-led Department of Justice. If DOJ agrees to prosecute the case, which is unlikely, he could face up to 12 months jail time or a fine of up to $100,000 if convicted.

GOP leadership held a vote to formalize their ongoing impeachment inquiry into Joe on December 13.

The 221-212 party-line vote opened the door for the GOP to get more evidence about schemes that have seen the Biden family get millions from countries including China, Ukraine and Romania.

And the Bidens will now have more of their bank records, mortgage details, emails, text messages and mobile phones subpoenaed, along with anything else Congress wants to see.

The first son also said his father was 'not financially involved' in his controversial business dealings and that there was no evidence because it 'did not happen.'

Comer and Jordan questioned what Hunter meant when that his father was not 'financially' involved in his dealings.

'Exactly how was Joe Biden involved?' they questioned in the statement. 'Evidence shows Joe Biden met with Hunter's business associates and his name was at the center of the family business strategy.'

Hunter was subpoenaed by Republicans last month along with James Biden, the president's brother, and Biden family associate Rob Walker. Attorneys for James have been in touch with the committee and they are working on scheduling a time for his closed-door testimony.

Hunter Biden made a shock appearance on Capitol Hill where he defiantly declared that his father is innocent of corruption allegations and accused Republicans of being 'shameless' for trying to impeach him.

Hunter delivered an emotional public statement in which he tore into the 'unrelenting Trump attack machine' and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene for showing naked photos of him in Congress.

Hunter admitted making 'mistakes' in his life due to his crack cocaine addiction but went on to blast Republicans investigating him and accused them of 'turning my dad's love into darkness.'

Republicans have threatened to begin the process of holding Hunter Biden in Contempt of Congress if he doesn't show up for his impeachment probe deposition at 9.30am on Wednesday

Speculation is swirling around Washington D.C. over whether the first son will show up for his closed-door interview in the GOP investigation into his father's involvement in foreign business deals

Hunter said: 'I am here today to acknowledge I have made mistakes in my life. I'm also here today to correct how the MAGA right has portrayed me for political purposes.
As dusk fell one December evening in 2021, I knocked on the door of a smart detached house in a leafy suburb of West Palm Beach, Florida.

The woman who answered was a 60-year-old called Dorothy: she was babysitting her grandchildren and her daughter, Carolyn Andriano, owned the property.

I dearly wanted to speak to Carolyn. I knew she had an explosive, shocking and poignant story to tell.

A few weeks earlier, I had heard her give a harrowing snapshot of her traumatic life from the witness box of a Manhattan courthouse when she testified against her sex abuser, the fallen British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell.

Dorothy and I immediately hit it off: we both passionately believed that the American legal and political establishment had engaged in a cynical cover-up to protect powerful, influential and often wealthy figures linked to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.

A young woman who has been under close scrutiny in the wake of the release of the latest Epstein documents is Adriana Ross (right) a former Polish model for the Elite agency who allegedly helped to organise Epstein's (left) daily massages.

Sarah Kellen, personal assistant to Maxwell and Epstein. She has been dubbed Epstein's 'lieutenant' for allegedly recruiting and booking girls for his 'massages'

Over the course of three hours, the straight-talking New Yorker explained what it was like to be the mother of an Epstein/Maxwell victim. Years earlier, she had thought her 14-year-old daughter was topping up her pocket money by cleaning a house for a wealthy man who lived in a mansion in Palm Beach. In reality, Carolyn was being paid $300 a time to give Epstein 'sexualised' massages, while similar sums were offered to her to find other underage girls for the same perverted purpose. The money was used to feed Carolyn's drug habit.

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That meeting with Dorothy paved the way for a world-exclusive Mail interview with Carolyn a week later.

Tragically, however, that young woman's life ended far too soon. Tormented by her childhood experiences at the hands of Epstein and Maxwell, Carolyn  a striking, 5ft 9in, larger-than-life character, with a mane of dyed red curls  died of an overdose in a Florida hotel room last May. She was just 36 and left behind five children and her husband, John.

This week, memories of my 2021 meeting with Dorothy came flooding back after the names of dozens of people connected to Epstein were made public in three large releases of court documents. They included Prince Andrew, former US president Bill Clinton  who was alleged by Epstein to 'like them young'  and a host of other famous or infamous individuals including the late 'paedophile of pop' Michael Jackson, the celebrity magician David Copperfield and even the famed British physicist Stephen Hawking.

The sheer scale of the releases  many hundreds of pages  made me reflect on a simple question.

How can it be that, in a case so vast, which saw the organised sex-trafficking of scores of minors and young women, only one person  Ghislaine Maxwell  is now in prison?

In 2021, Maxwell was convicted unanimously on five of the six charges against her. Four of the guilty verdicts were underpinned by Carolyn's allegations. The most serious offence, sex-trafficking a minor, related to Carolyn's case alone, and carried a maximum 40-year jail term.

Having sat through weeks of the evidence at Maxwell's trial, I had no doubt that she deserved to be sent to jail for a long time.

It was clear she had lost her moral compass, the case against her was overwhelming  while her refusal to give evidence at trial seemed to me a mark of both her cowardice and her guilt.

The third woman who has been under suspicion is Nadia Marcinkova. According to police documents from the 2005 Palm Beach inquiry into Epstein, the shamed financier once bragged she was his 'sex slave'

Nevertheless, the justice system only works when it is fair.

And my overriding feeling at the end of the trial was that Maxwell should not have been the sole person to face justice. That others had got away with it. What about the drivers, pilots, domestic staff and, crucially, young women who witnessed suspicious activity by Epstein and Maxwell, or actively recruited girls to be abused?

What was found on all the computers and security videos seized from Epstein's homes? What powerful individuals knew of  or perhaps even shared in  his crimes? There are many unanswered questions.

Detectives are supposed to go where the evidence takes them  but it would seem that after allowing Epstein to cheat justice twice  first in a scandalous plea-bargain he struck with prosecutors in 2008 and then by apparently committing suicide in prison in 2019  the U.S. authorities seem happy to have nailed Maxwell.

Have they turned a blind eye to the activities of other offenders?

For example, allegations against a number of women suspected of sex trafficking for Epstein have been allowed to wither on the vine. Namely, in the wake of Maxwell's conviction, prosecutors had faced calls to bring charges against four women previously granted immunity from prosecution.

They included Sarah Kellen, personal assistant to Maxwell and Epstein. She has been dubbed Epstein's 'lieutenant' for allegedly recruiting and booking girls for his 'massages'. During Maxwell's trial, Kellen's name came up almost as often as the defendant's.

Carolyn Andriano claimed that for the first year or two after she met Maxwell aged 14, the latter called her to schedule massages for Epstein. After that, it was Ms Kellen who called her.

Lesley Groff is the fourth woman who may have further questions to answer: she is said to have been Epstein's executive assistant for 20 years

Documents released this week linked a host of names to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein (pictured)

Sarah Ransome, another victim, told The New York Times: 'It was Ghislaine and Sarah Kellen that showed me how to please Jeffrey'. Kellen has said: 'I've been made out to be such a monster, but it's not true. I was raped and abused weekly.'

A second young woman who has been under close scrutiny in the wake of the release of the latest Epstein documents is Adriana Ross, a former Polish model for the Elite agency who allegedly helped to organise the paedophile's daily massages.

She moved to the U.S. in 2002 and worked at his mansion in Palm Beach, Florida, flying frequently on his private jet  nicknamed the 'Lolita Express'  including with Clinton.

During a civil deposition in 2010 she was asked: 'Has Prince Andrew ever been involved with underage minor females to your knowledge? Have you ever met (him)? Have you flown on (Epstein's) plane with Andrew?' She declined to answer.

The third woman who has been under suspicion is Nadia Marcinkova. According to police documents from the 2005 Palm Beach inquiry into Epstein, the shamed financier once bragged she was his 'sex slave' he had bought from her family in the former Yugoslavia when she was 15.

Ms Marcinkova is alleged to have taken part in sexual encounters with underage girls.

She visited him 67 times in prison while he was serving 13 months in jail in 2008 for having sex with children. Her lawyers insist she was a victim and not an abuser or a recruiter. Lesley Groff is the fourth woman who may have further questions to answer: she is said to have been Epstein's executive assistant for 20 years. In 2005, she boasted that she had such a tight bond with her boss that: 'I know what he is thinking.' Epstein's victims have described her as one of his 'schedulers' based at his $75 million New York home.

One such victim, Jennifer Araoz, claims she was 14 when Epstein began abusing and raping her, and that Ms Groff was the chief scheduler of her 'massages'.

Two years ago, Ms Groff, then 55, was living in a $2.7 million house in Connecticut with her husband and children. Her lawyers said she had been under investigation by prosecutors for the past two years but had been told they had no plans to charge her.

And there is a fifth woman who perhaps epitomises the often-complex relationship between abuser and abused.

In her exclusive 2022 interview with the Mail, for which she was not paid, Carolyn alleged that Virginia Giuffre (formerly known as Roberts) had told her in 2001 that, as a 17-year-old, she slept with Prince Andrew in London.

While a now-infamous contemporary picture shows Giuffre posing at Maxwell's home with the late Queen's second son, Carolyn's account was the first time there had been any independent report of Virginia's purported meeting with Andrew, which the Duke maintains he cannot remember.

Carolyn made it clear she held Virginia responsible for delivering her into Epstein and Maxwell's clutches. For her part, Mrs Giuffre has admitted that she actively recruited young girls for Epstein, something she says she now bitterly regrets.

And Carolyn was scathing of Maxwell, now 62.

'I want all young women to know what happened to me when I was a teenager and how it has affected my life,' she told us. 'I want to be a voice for all survivors of sexual abuse so that they are not afraid to come forward, even years later.'

Privately educated Maxwell continues to protest her innocence, and is reportedly conducting etiquette lessons for fellow inmates at Tallahassee Federal Correctional Institution in Florida, where she is serving a 20-year sentence for child abuse and sex-trafficking.

Her paedophile ex-boyfriend took his many secrets to the grave  and not everyone believes he truly did commit suicide.

A few days after Carolyn gave evidence against Maxwell, she sent her mother a YouTube video featuring a song called I Don't Feel Any More. Dorothy played it to me and, for the first time in our interview, wept as she listened to the lyrics: 'I have always felt like I don't belong here, it's been a long year, it's been a long life.'

Tears filled Dorothy's eyes as she reflected on her daughter's mental state. 'Nobody knows how deep this goes,' she says. 'I don't know whether she is going to be alive from one day to another.'

Now  tragically  she is gone. And with the world's attention once again focusing on Epstein, questions will surely continue to mount for those who may have aided and abetted his sordid crimes.
Virginia Roberts Giuffre tried to subpoena Bill Clinton to give evidence in her lawsuit against Jeffrey Epstein's right hand woman, but a judge denied her.

Giuffre, an alleged victim of the billionaire pedophile, petitioned the court in June 2016 to be allowed to depose the former president.

Her lawyers needed a judge's approval because they had already subpoenaed 10 other witnesses in her defamation lawsuit against Ghislaine Maxwell.

Clinton was described in newly-unsealed court documents as 'a key person' in the lives of Epstein and Maxwell, as he enjoyed a 'close relationship with the pair'.

The 77-year-old is not accused of wrongdoing, but Giuffre's lawyers argued he was a crucial witness who could provide important testimony.

Bill Clinton is pictured greeting Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein in the White House in 1993 and lawyers argue he enjoyed a 'close relationship with the pair'

Files in Virginia Roberts Giuffre's lawsuit against Maxwell are being unsealed this week, and reveal her lawyers tried to subpoena Clinton to give evidence, but failed

However, Judge Robert Sweet, in a third tranche of Epstein documents unsealed by the court on Friday, denied the petition on June 20, 2016, because the relevance of Clinton's testimony 'not been adequately established'.

Giuffre's failure to have Clinton deposed appeared to be a major mistake in her legal strategy, as it would likely be approved if he was among the first 10.

Judge Sweet explained the law stated that additional depositions should be granted unless they would be 'unreasonably cumulative or duplicative' or their 'burden or expense... would outweigh any likely benefit'.

Giuffre's lawyers asked for Clinton to be added along with a Mrs Alessi and Mr Reiter, but only Alessi was approved.

'The relevance of the testimony of Mr Reiter and President Clinton have not been adequately established. The motion as to these two depositions is denied,' Judge Sweet wrote in his decision.

Other documents released on Friday included transcripts of a Maxwell's deposition where she was asked about her dealings with Clinton.

Clinton was photographed at the main square of San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, alongside tourists on Thursday as the documents concerning him were unsealed

Bill Clinton sits back in a chair as he receives a neck massage from an alleged victim of Jeffrey Epstein, Chauntae Davies

Giuffre's lawyers asked if she ever flew the former president on her helicopter, which she denied as 'another one of Virginia's lies'.

'I have never flown President Clinton at any time ever, in any helicopter, in any place, any time, in any state, in any country, at any time anywhere,' she said.

Maxwell also denied dining with Clinton at any of Epstein's homes, but agreed she flew on the pedophile's plane with Clinton in 2002.

Clinton has long insisted that his connections to Epstein were on a professional basis, to aid the work of the Clinton Foundation.

He insisted in 2019 that during his four trips on Epstein's private jet, in 2002 and 2003, he was always accompanied by a retinue of staff and Secret Service agents.

Clinton is mentioned 50 times in the almost 950-pages of evidence, including another Epstein victim, Johanna Sjoberg, claiming she was told he 'liked them (girls) young'.

Giuffre references the supposed Clinton helicopter flight In her own deposition, and disputes certain characterizations in the 2011 Mail on Sunday article that first described it.

'I believe that it was taken out of context. Ghislaine told me that she flew Bill Clinton in. And Ghislaine likes to talk a lot of stuff that sounds fantastical,' she said.

'And whether its true or not, that is what I do recall telling [journalist] Sharon Churcher.'

Bill Clinton is pictured with Jeffrey Epstein in an undated photograph

Giuffre clarified that she told the Mail on Sunday that Maxwell flew Bill Clinton onto the island, based on what Maxwell told her - not from seeing it herself or from Clinton telling her.

Giuffre's lawyers argued Clinton was close to both Maxwell and Epstein, who died in jail awaiting trial in August 2019.

'In a 2011 interview, Ms Giuffre mentioned former President Bill Clinton's close personal relationship with Defendant and Jeffrey Epstein,' her petition argued.

'While Ms. Giuffre made no allegations of illegal actions by Bill Clinton, Ms Maxwell in her deposition raised Ms Giuffre's comments about President Clinton as one of the "obvious lies" to which she was referring in her public statement that formed the basis of this suit.

'Apart from the Defendant and Mr Epstein, former President Clinton is a key person who can provide information about his close relationship with Defendant and Mr Epstein and disapprove Ms Maxwell's claims.'

Another woman who claimed she was sexually abused by Epstein, Johanna Sjoberg, said in her deposition that Epstein told her 'Clinton likes them young, referring to girls.'

It is unclear how Clinton and Epstein met, but Roberts was not the only one to claim the pair were close.

Davies, who has claimed she was raped by Epstein after being recruited by Maxwell, said Clinton was a 'complete gentleman' on the trip as she described how the encounter occurred

Jeffrey Epstein's brother Mark, a New York property developer, said his sibling claimed to have information about Donald Trump and Clinton that was so explosive it would derail the 2016 presidential election.

Hillary Clinton was not known to spend time with Jeffrey Epstein, but her husband was a friend from at least 1993.

Epstein and Maxwell were photographed in 1993 greeting Bill Clinton inside the White House, at an event for donors to the White House Historical Association. Epstein attended the event after donating $10,000 to the fund.

The pedophile financier made at least 17 visits to the White House, presidential logs show, and Bill Clinton also flew on Epstein's private jet - making trips to Europe, Asia and Africa in 2002 and 2003.

Bill Clinton's spokesman Angel Urena said in July 2019, when Jeffrey Epstein was arrested, that he 'knows nothing about the terrible crimes' that Epstein was accused of, and that Clinton had not spoken to Epstein 'in more than a decade'.

There is no evidence that Clinton ever visited Epstein's Caribbean island, Little St James.
Scotland Yard last night said it would not rule out investigating sexual assault claims against Prince Andrew.

As family rallied around the Kings brother at his Windsor mansion, Met chiefs said detectives would assess any new and relevant information.

Anti-monarchy group Republic reported Andrew to police on Thursday after newly-released legal documents thrust his relationship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein back into the spotlight.

The court files contained claims that the prince knew of Epsteins sex trafficking, committed acts of sexual abuse and took part in an underage orgy. He has vehemently and repeatedly denied all allegations against him.

But pressure mounted on the Yard to act after both Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak were put on the spot over the claims. Sir Keir, who is a former head of the Crown Prosecution Service, told LBC Radio that credible accusations should be investigated whoever they relate to.

Prince Andrew pictured walking with Jeffrey Epstein in New York's Central Park in 2011

Prince Andrew was last seen publicly at Sandringham on Christmas Day 2023

Virginia Giuffre (centre) photographed with Prince Andrew (left) and Ghislaine Maxwell in the latter's London mews home in early 2001

The Labour leader added: Ive seen the headlines on this, not the detail, but, frankly, whoever it is, where there are credible allegations made, then of course they should be looked at.

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Mr Sunak said it would not be right for him to comment on police matters and stressed that the police have operational independence from politicians.

The Yard, which said that it had not launched an investigation, was last night accused by the chief executive of Republic of protecting Andrew. Graham Smith said: I am writing to the Commissioner Mark Rowley to raise these questions and ask why the Met appears to be protecting the royals from potential prosecution.

As the furore around the late Queens son, who is still eighth in line to the throne and a counsellor of state with legal powers to step in for the King, showed no sign of abating, further documents were released in the US.

One claimed Andrew has knowledge of Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epsteins sexual trafficking conduction and interaction with under age minors, including Virginia Giuffre  his principal accuser.

In the documents Ms Giuffre  known at the time as Virginia Roberts  also makes clear that she plans to subpoena Buckingham Palace to obtain records of the princes domestic and international travels between 1999 and 2002 in order to prove her case.

This included travel between New York City and the Caribbean, where Epstein had homes and Ms Giuffre alleges she was forced to have sex with Andrew.

She also claims she was trafficked to the London home of the billionaire financiers girlfriend, Maxwell, and forced to sleep with the prince there.

A transcript of Maxwells legal deposition last night heaped fresh embarrassment on the duke as the disgraced socialites excruciating testimony was laid bare.

Jeffrey Epstein pictured with Ghislaine Maxwell in the early 2000s

Maxwell says she had known the prince for a very long time but denies that she introduced him to paedophile Epstein.

She is also asked: Did you ever introduce Prince Andrew to any girls under the age of 18 who were not friends of your children?

She also denies this. Maxwell maintains that she has no recollection of Andrew being at her London home at the same time as Ms Giuffre  but confirms Andrew is seen in a photograph apparently of the three of them together. Maxwell is also quizzed over allegations the duke used a Spitting Image puppet to grope Ms Giuffre, while he placed his hands on another womans breasts.

As of last night Andrew had still not responded to the latest revelations, but his daughter, Princess Beatrice, was seen driving into Royal Lodge, which he shares with his ex-wife, Sarah, Duchess of York.

The Mail revealed yesterday that the King intends to continue his efforts to force his brother to give up the ten-bedroom mansion in favour of a more modest property on the Windsor estate.

A source told the paper that the release of the court documents crystallised the fact that there was no way back for Charless younger brother.

Buckingham Palace say they no longer speak for the duke because he is not a working member of the Royal Family, having been stripped of his public duties and barred from using his HRH title in the wake of a disastrous BBC Newsnight interview.

Dai Davies, a former head of royalty protection and retired chief superintendent, last night called on Scotland Yard to interview Andrew under caution. He said: He should be interviewed by officers and if there is any evidence of a crime, interviewed under caution. It is an obscene failure by the Metropolitan Police not to instigate an investigation.

The Yard has looked at the allegations made against Andrew at least twice.

In 2021, one of its most senior officers, Commander Alexis Boon, was tasked with reviewing claims made by Ms Giuffre in her civil lawsuit. Detectives are understood to have contacted her directly but decided to take no further action.

In 2016 the Met concluded that it was not the appropriate authority to investigate human trafficking allegations relating to Andrew because any probe would be largely focused on activities and relationships outside the UK.

A spokesman said yesterday: We are aware of the release of court documents in relation to Jeffrey Epstein. As with any matter, should new and relevant information be brought to our attention we will assess it. No investigation has been launched.

Maxwell was jailed for 20 years in July 2020 for her part in helping Epstein to abuse dozens of women and girls.

She has launched an appeal, scheduled to be heard in November next year.

The newly-released documents form part of a 2015 case brought against Maxwell by Ms Giuffre which can now be made public. They contain well-known names including that of late physicist Stephen Hawking.
Penny Mordaunt today hits out at 'anti-British, grievance-based' attempts to rewrite history and calls for a memorial to the Royal Navy's contribution to ending the slave trade.

The Leader of the House of Commons urges the country not to be ashamed of its past or keep quiet about the achievements of its armed forces.

Writing in the Daily Mail (below) she says that, contrary to what many young people now believe, the UK was the first country to abolish the slave trade  and that many of our sailors paid the ultimate price in the process of ending it.

As a result, Ms Mordaunt is supporting a campaign to build the first memorial to the Royal Navy's West Africa Squadron, which seized vessels bound for the Americas and freed huge numbers of men, women and children.

She writes: 'This Royal Navy flotilla was the main actor in physically destroying the slave trade. Between 1807 and 1867, it freed more than 150,000 men, women and children destined for servitude in the Americas It captured over 1,600 vessels and more than 1,500 sailors lost their lives in the process. It was dangerous work.'

Painting depicts capture of Spanish slave brig Almirante by the Royal Navy in the Bight of Benin, Africa, in 1829

She also wades into the controversy over how Britain should deal with the legacy of slavery.

Statues have been taken down in recent years, schools and universities have removed the names of slave traders from their sites and the National Trust has drawn up a controversial list of 93 properties with links to slavery and empire.

King Charles has supported research into the monarchy's involvement in the slave trade, but is now facing demands for billions of pounds in reparations from slave-owning nations from Caribbean countries.

Ms Mordaunt  who played a starring role in his Coronation last year  writes : 'Yes, Britain had a role in the slave trade. Yes, people made money out of it. But let's be clear about something. We ended it. Our biggest contribution to the evil trade was to end it. We should honour those who gave their lives fighting to do that.' The West Africa Squadron was based in her home city of Portsmouth and patrolled the west coast of Africa.

At its peak its 36 ships, crewed by 4,000 men, were using up half of the Royal Navy's budget  equivalent to as much as 50 billion today. Many hundreds of sailors died.

Yet there is no memorial to their vital and dangerous work, prompting local historians to propose one and commission a design for it.

Ms Mordaunt will unveil a model of the memorial design in Parliament later this month.

It comprises three figures  a shackled woman, a naval officer of the time and a freed slave with broken shackles. The campaigners have set up a company to raise the 70,000 needed to make the full-scale version. Organiser Colin Kemp said: 'The slave trade was an appalling episode in our island's story, which has rightly been consigned to the history books.

'In highlighting the atrocious treatment of those who were enslaved, we should also highlight and honour the work of those who did so much to end this vile trade, including those who made the ultimate sacrifice.'

Click here if you'd like to contribute towards the memorial.

We must NOT allow our history to be rewritten

By Penny Mordaunt MP, Leader of the House of Commons

If there were a league table of self-deprecating nations, Britain would head it. It is part of our character that we don't like to shout about things.

We don't like show-offs. Perhaps because we are a nation so rich in its history and achievements that we feel we don't have to.

These days, it's not fashionable to be proud of our history, nor optimistic about our future.

Lord Roberts and other historians rightly remind us of the role of British history had in forming the world and how far-sighted our actions were. George III signed William Wilberforce's Slave Trade Abolition Act into law as early as 1807.

The government made the policy, but it was the Royal Navy that carried it out. The truth is, you can have whatever policy you like but if you can't carry it out, it's pointless.

Why is this relevant? Because the Royal Navy is still out there today implementing government policy across the globe.

Then, as now, the Royal Navy has a secret weapon  it's competence. Without competence, strategy, policy and technology is pointless. We talk too little about the dedication and professionalism of our Armed Forces, but their role in our history has been central.

PENNY MOURDAUNT: The government made the policy, but it was the Royal Navy that carried it out. The truth is, you can have whatever policy you like but if you can't carry it out, it's pointless

Remembering moral leadership, back up by the Royal Navy matters because there's a new generation having its first encounter with historic facts. It's important that they are told the truth.

It's not our truth. Not the revisionist truth. It's the truth. But there are many who want to stop that. They push a narrow, anti-British, grievance-based narrative. They think they are being clever, but they are just being a friend to our enemies. They suggest we should be ashamed of our past or our Armed Forces. They want to rewrite our history in the bleakest way.

Most young people will have none of it. They remain interested and open-minded about history. However, a survey carried out by those seeking to further our historical knowledge found just one person out of 200 had even heard about our role in ending slavery. Equally troubling, most of those who answered did not know that we were the first country to abolish the slave trade, with half of young people mistakenly thinking it was the US.

The way we did it was one of our most remarkable achievements  the West Africa Squadron. This Royal Navy flotilla was the main actor in physically destroying the slave trade. Between 1807 and 1867, it freed more than 150,000 men, women and children destined for servitude in the Americas. It boarded and seized any vessel involved and freed their human cargo.

It captured over 1,600 vessels and more than 1,500 sailors lost their lives in the process. It was dangerous work.

It was expensive, too. At its height, it is estimated to have cost the Exchequer a staggering two per cent of the nation's GDP. That would be equivalent to the entire defence budget today.

No wonder academics Robert Pape and Chaim Kaufmann called it: 'the most expensive moral action in modern history'. Yet there is no memorial to the many sailors who lost their lives.

So now, we're putting that right. This is why I am backing the campaign to build the first memorial to these brave men. It is led by the businessman and campaigner Colin Kemp. The memorial has been designed, fundraising is under way and the plan is to unveil it later this year in Portsmouth, where the squadron was based.

Yes, Britain had a role in the slave trade. Yes, people made money out of it. But let's be clear about something else too. We ended it. Our biggest contribution to the evil trade was to end it. We should honour those who gave their lives fighting to do that. If we are to tell the whole story, then this remarkable initiative should have a higher profile.
The Duke of York has strenuously denied all allegations of wrongdoing

In a deposition given under oath, Alessi said Sarah Ferguson visited the home

Juan Alessi said the Duke would spend 'weeks' at the Florida estate

Jeffrey Epstein's ex-housekeeper claimed Prince Andrew had daily massages when he spent 'weeks' at the paedophile financier's Florida home, court documents have revealed  adding that Sarah Ferguson allegedly also visited the residence.

Juan Alessi, who worked at Epstein's Palm Beach residence, said both Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York, were friends with him and now convicted sex-trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell.

During his video-taped interview under oath in 2009, released on Friday night as part of the latest tranche of documents linked to Epstein, Mr Alessi was questioned on the duke's relationship with Maxwell and the financier.

He said that Andrew would have 'daily' massages while staying at the residence, but that Sarah Ferguson, while 'friends' with Epstein, visited once for a 'short time'.

The newly unsealed files heap fresh embarrassment on the Royal but last night, royal sources claimed that the King continues to feel a 'sense of duty' to his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, to ensure that Andrew is not 'cut adrift' from the rest of the family.

A source told that Mirror that Charles has told his brother he 'won't be abandoned'.

'Charles promised his late mother he would not abandon Andrew once she was gone and that remains the situation, unless of course he finds himself engaged in a criminal matter,' they said.

Prince Andrew (pictured with Sarah Ferguson) has always denied all accusations of sexual activity with Epstein's accusers, and denied wrongdoing

Juan Alessi, who worked for Jeffrey Epstein as a housekeeper from 1991 until 2002, and testified during Maxwell's trial in 2021

Paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein's former home in Palm Beach, Florida, where it is claimed Prince Andrew would receive 'daily massages' on weeks-long visits

A room inside Jeffrey Epstein's home in Palm Beach, Florida, which Andrew is alleged to have visited several times

The master bedroom inside Jeffrey Epstein's home in Palm Beach  one of a number of photographs released by the FBI

Meanwhile, in the interview with housekeeper Mr Alessi, lawyer Katherine Ezell asked: 'Were Prince Andrew and Princess Sarah friends of Ms Maxwell?'

Mr Alessi replied: 'Both of them,' confirming he meant that they were friends with Maxwell and with Epstein.

The lawyer went on: 'Did they ever have massages when they were there?'

Mr Alessi replied: 'Prince Andrew did. I think Sarah was there only once and for a short time. I don't think she slept in there. I cannot remember.

'I think she was visiting Wellington and she came to the house and we met her. But Prince Andrew, yes, Prince Andrew spent weeks with us.'

Ms Ezell then asked: 'Where would he sleep?'

Mr Alessi said: 'In the main room, the main guest bedroom. That was the blue room.'

The lawyer then said: 'And, so, when he would come and stay, during that time would he frequently have massages?

Mr Alessi replied: 'I would say, daily massages.'

Asked if it was sometimes more than one a day, Mr Alessi said: 'I can't remember if he had more than one, but I think it was just a massage for him. We set up the tables and...'

Ms Ezell interjected: 'Do you have any recollection of (Virginia Giuffre) coming to the house when Prince Andrew was there?'

Mr Alessi replied: 'It could have been, but I'm not sure.'

In a further interview under oath by an Epstein employee, who is labelled only as 'the witness' in the documents, claimed Maxwell took the paedophile financier to England 'to introduce him to royalty'.

The staff member said there were 'many pictures' of the Duke of York with Epstein in the property they worked at.

They also said they never saw the duke visit the property, but 'he called'. The Palm Beach house was demolished in April 2021.

Buckingham Palace and representatives for the Duchess of York were contacted for comment.

Excerpts of Juan Alessi's deposition, which was given under oath in 2009 and has been released in the latest tranche of documents linked to Jeffrey Epstein

Sarah Ferguson photographed at Palm Beach Polo and Country Club in Wellington, Florida in 2005. Mr Alessi said she visited Epstein's home 'once and for a short time'

Prince Andrew, Virginia Roberts (now Giuffre) and Ghislaine Maxwell are pictured in 2001 at Maxwell's London townhouse

Andrew stepped down from public life after the furore over his friendship with Epstein, and paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault case with Virginia Giuffre , a woman he claimed never to have met.

He was cast out of the working monarchy and no longer uses his HRH style after Ms Giuffre, who was trafficked by Epstein, accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was 17. The duke strenuously denies any wrongdoing.

Meanwhile, the Royal family is said to be split over whether Andrew should be cast out for good.

Christmas Day saw Andrew join the family for the annual festive church service on the Sandringham Estate  a show of unity that baffled many, given that the release of new Epstein papers was imminent.

The house was demolished in April 2021 after Epstein's death (pictured: the demolition in progress)

An exterior shot of Epstein's home at Palm Beach, which Andrew is alleged to have visited a number of times, receiving 'daily' massages

Alessi leaving court in Manhattan after testifying in Ghislaine Maxwell's sex trafficking trial in December 2021

Scotland Yard last night said it would not rule out investigating sexual assault claims against Prince Andrew.

As family rallied around the Kings brother at his Windsor mansion, Met chiefs said detectives would assess any new and relevant information.

Anti-monarchy group Republic reported Andrew to police on Thursday after newly-released legal documents thrust his relationship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein back into the spotlight.

The court files contained claims that the prince knew of Epsteins sex trafficking, committed acts of sexual abuse and took part in an underage orgy. He has vehemently and repeatedly denied all allegations against him.

But pressure mounted on the Yard to act after both Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak were put on the spot over the claims. Sir Keir, who is a former head of the Crown Prosecution Service, told LBC Radio that credible accusations should be investigated whoever they relate to.

Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein are seen strolling in Central Park on December 5, 2010

The Labour leader added: Ive seen the headlines on this, not the detail, but, frankly, whoever it is, where there are credible allegations made, then of course they should be looked at.

Mr Sunak said it would not be right for him to comment on police matters and stressed that the police have operational independence from politicians.

The Yard, which said that it had not launched an investigation, was last night accused by the chief executive of Republic of protecting Andrew. Graham Smith said: I am writing to the Commissioner Mark Rowley to raise these questions and ask why the Met appears to be protecting the royals from potential prosecution.

The documents last night also revealed how Maxwell, the disgraced socialite claimed she 'never introduced Prince Andrew to Jeffrey Epstein'.

The deposition, from 2016, showed Maxwell describe Ms Giuffre's alleged meetings with the duke as a 'tissue of lies'.

EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: Moment Prince Andrew is filmed in bizarre exchange asking Sandringham crowds 'why they have their cameras out to video him' Advertisement

In an exchange with Ms Giuffre's lawyer Sigrid McCawley, Maxwell was asked: 'Did you introduce him to Jeffrey?'

Maxwell responded: 'That would be another of Virginia's lies and the lies you perpetrate.

'I never introduced Prince Andrew to Jeffrey Epstein at any time ever, so just add that the (sic) to long list of lies.'

Ms McCawley continued: 'Did Jeffrey know Prince Andrew?'

Maxwell replied: 'Clearly he knew him.'

Pressed on whether she knew how Andrew met Epstein, Maxwell said: 'I do not know (sic) Jeffrey met Prince Andrew.

'What I do know is that I did not introduce them.

'That is one of the many lies. Are we tallying all the lies?'

Epstein was found dead in his cell at a federal jail in Manhattan, New York, in August 2019 while he awaited trial on sex-trafficking charges. The death was ruled a suicide.

Maxwell has been imprisoned since July 2020 despite attempts by her defence counsel to have her released on bail.

She was sentenced to 20 years in prison at the federal court in the Southern District of New York in June 2022.
Colorado Supreme Court is using clause 3 of the 14th Amendment to say Trump is disqualified from running because he engaged in an insurrection on January 6

The Supreme Court has agreed to consider whether Donald Trump should remain on Colorado's 2024 ballot after he was booted by the state.

The decision puts the nine justices in the center of the 2024 primary election cycle as oral arguments are set for February 8. Trump himself nominated three of the justices currently on the bench - Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.

It uncommonly fast for the Supreme Court to set arguments in a case so soon - signaling how critically important a decision is before states begin printing their primary ballots. Trump is facing attempts by Illinois and Massachusetts to kick him off and Maine's secretary of state also has disqualified him.

Earlier this week, Trump asked the Supreme Court to keep him on the ballot in Colorado, officially challenging the ruling by Democrat-appointed justices that disqualifies him from appearing on the presidential ballot in the state.

The state's Supreme Court ruled last month that under clause three of the 14th Amendment, Trump cannot appear on the ballot because he 'engaged in insurrection.'

It was the first time in history that the 14th Amendment provision was used to block a presidential contender's campaign.

Trump's appeal for the Supreme Court to take up the case on Wednesday comes after the Colorado Republican Party did the same thing last week  sparking the state to put a stay on the move and keep the ex-president on the ballot for the time being.

Donald Trump is challenging a Colorado Supreme Court ruling to remove the ex-president from the state's 2024 ballot. A separate challenge put a pause on the ruling and will keep Trump on the ballot unless the U.S. Supreme Court upholds the lower court's ruling

The decision puts the nine justices in the center of the 2024 primary election cycle as oral arguments are set for February 8

Trump Spokesperson Steven Cheung said Friday they 'welcome a fair hearing' at the Supreme Court to 'argue against the bad-faith, election-interfering, voter-suppressing, Democrat-backed and Biden-led, 14th Amendment abusing decision to remove President Trump's name from the 2024 ballot in the state of Colorado.'

He said the 'ballot-challenge cases' are all part of a 'well-funded effort by left-wing, political activists hell-bent on stopping the lawful reelection of President Trump this November, even if it means disenfranchising voters.'

Cheung noted that Trump is 'dominating' the polls, and says the campaign is 'confident' that the 'fair-minded' Supreme Court will keep the former president on the ballot.

Trump team's legal filing stated that Colorado's ruling 'is not and cannot be correct.'

Trump's attorneys asked the Supreme Court to take up the case, reverse the Colorado ruling and 'return the right to vote for their candidate of choice to the voters.'

In addition, the filing insists that Trump's role in the events on January 6 'was not insurrection' and President Trump 'in no way engaged in insurrection.'

Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold urged the U.S. Supreme Court to take up Trump's case on Tuesday, saying there are a 'number of important deadlines' in the state's election calendar and the matter must be resolved quickly.

Maine's Secretary of State followed suit and also moved to boot Trump from the ballot in the state last week, which Trump also challenged Tuesday in an appeal to the state's Superior Court.

Michigan, a key swing state, ruled that Trump can remain on the ballot.

The Colorado Republican Party filed last week asking the U.S. Supreme Court to look at the lower court's ruling that disqualified Trump from running on the presidential ballot in the state due to his role in the January 6 Capitol riot.

Trump was put back on the presidential ballot in Colorado after the GOP appeal put a stay on the ruling that removed him under the Constitution's 'insurrection' clause.

Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold announced that Trump will for the time being remain on the ballot, which goes to print on January 5  unless the Supreme Court affirms the lower court's ruling or otherwise declines to take on the appeal.

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 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 one of the latest states to see a lawsuit filed attempting to keep Trump off the ballot related to the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot.

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'

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

'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's conservative American Center for Law & Justice filed a petition last 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.

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 all over his Truth Social account and at his rallies about the cases, calling them 'election interference.'

He continued that on Wednesday as he cheered a ruling earlier that day by the Michigan Supreme Court leaving him on the ballot, at least for the primary, in that state.

'The Colorado people have embarrassed our nation with what they did,' Trump said on Sean Hannity's radio show.
The BBC has become embroiled in a nepotism row after casting father and son duo Bradley and Barney Walsh to present the rebooted version of Gladiators.

Bosses are said to be 'concerned' at the signing, particularly because of the corporation's strong policies about going through due process before hiring staff.

Fans of the show are also furious about the casting of Barney, 26, alongside Bradley, 63.

While Bradley has decades of experience hosting high-profile television programmes, Barney has yet to anchor one.

One BBC staff member told the Mail: 'It has caused a stink', adding that the casting has been noticed by the 'upper echelons', some of whom 'aren't exactly happy'.

Fans of the show are also furious about the casting of Barney (left), 26, alongside Bradley, 63 (right)

Bosses are said to be 'concerned' at the signing, particularly because of the corporation's strong policies about going through due process before hiring staff

Viewers have lambasted the BBC over the appointments. One wrote on X, formerly Twitter: 'I'm not convinced Bradley Walsh is right for the show and I'm less convinced his son is. This nepotism is unedifying.'

Another said: 'Why is the BBC indulging in such utterly blatant nepotism?'

The offspring of celebrities who work in the same industries as their famous parents have been branded 'nepo-babies'.

Since 2019, Barney has appeared next to his father on their ITV series Bradley Walsh & Son: Breaking Dad, in which the pair take on challenges while travelling the world.

Bradley's wife  and Barney's mother  Donna Derby also has links to Gladiators, as she was head choreographer for the Gladiators cheerleaders in the original 1990s series.

Bradley recently recalled Barney taking some of his first steps on the original arena floor as a toddler.
The Post Office is under criminal investigation for fraud after the wrongful prosecution of sub-postmasters.

Scotland Yard confirmed last night that the organisation is being investigated by detectives for alleged fraud offences over their handling of the Horizon scandal.

Nearly 100 sub-postmasters were wrongly convicted of fraud, theft and false accounting due to the bug-ridden Horizon IT system.

More than 700 staff had their lives ruined between 1999 and 2015, when they were accused of the crimes and dragged through the courts on the basis of evidence gathered by the unreliable computer programme.

For more than two decades, former Post Office staff fought to clear their names. Now they are in a position where those responsible for their suffering are under investigation.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police told The Times that officers are 'investigating potential fraud offences arising out of these prosecutions', relating to 'monies recovered from sub-postmasters as a result of prosecutions or civil actions'.

Former post office workers celebrating outside the Royal Courts of Justice after their convictions were overturned by the Court of Appeal in April 2021

The Post Office is under criminal investigation over the wrongful prosecution of hundreds of sub-postmasters, the Metropolitan Police confirmed for the first time on Friday night

It is not clear whether the Post Office as a whole, or individuals, are being investigated.

Jo Hamilton, 66, a former sub-postmaster from Hampshire, said: 'They have made people's lives a misery and they have committed crimes. It is not just a computer problem  this is absolute corruption at its worst, state-sponsored corruption.'

Paul Marshall, a barrister who represents several of the wrongly convicted postmasters, said: 'The emergence of in-formation suggesting that the Met police is looking at fraud in connection with the Post Office's conduct is wholly unsurprising.

'Once it is accepted that postmasters were not experiencing real shortfalls at their branches, the money that the Post Office obtained from them, through demands were themselves improper demands for money and money that was received unlawfully.

'The reality therefore appears to have been that the Post Office obtained large sums of money from its postmasters on grounds that were false and that were known by it to be false.'

There is currently a public inquiry into the fiasco, which has recently been dramatisied in ITV's Mr Bates vs The Post Office.

Since the four-part drama aired 50 former staff have come forward, with five seeking to appeal their convictions.

News that the Post Office is being investigated for fraud comes just days after lawyers to the inquiry said there is enough evidence to bring an investigation for perverting the course of justice.

Jo Hamilton, 66, a former sub-postmaster from Hampshire, said: 'They have made people's lives a misery and they have committed crimes'

The spokesman from the Met acknowledged this, adding: 'The Met is investigating potential offences of perjury and per-verting the course of justice.

'These potential offences arise out of investigations and prosecutions carried out by the Post Office.

The investigation was launched in January 2020 following a referral from the Director of Public Prosecutions. Two people have been interviewed under caution.

'Nobody has been arrested.'

Former postmaster Alan Bates, who is portrayed by Toby Jones in the new drama, led and won the initial legal battle after himself falling victim to the faults

It is understand that top criminal prosecutor Tom Little KC has been approached to review the evidence amassed and to consider whether a prosecution can be brought.

A spokesman for the Post Office said: 'We share fully the aims of the public inquiry to get to the truth of what went wrong in the past and establish accountability. It's for the inquiry to reach its own in-dependent conclusions after consideration of all the evidence on the issues that it is examining. It would be inappropriate for the Post Office to comment on any police investigation.'
He was allegedly attacked while walking to a bus stop

A man accused of stabbing to death an intellectually disabled person in a random attack has laughed through his first court appearance.

Harrison Hilton-Taylor, 27, of Moorabbin in Melbourne's south-east fronted the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Friday via videolink from the Melbourne Assessment Prison.

Hilton-Taylor is accused of murdering Spiros Filidis, 46, at the intersection of Little Avenue and Widdop Crescent in Hampton East about 12.30pm on Tuesday.

Harrison Hilton-Taylor (left) could not contain his laughter during a court hearing that officially saw him charged with murder

Spiros Filidis, 46, was allegedly stabbed to death while walking to a bus stop in broad daylight

Hilton-Taylor had sat quietly through the short filing hearing until Magistrate Phillip Goldberg decided to insist reporters seeking court paperwork appear on camera and address him one-by-one as to why they wanted it.

The alleged killer was seen struggling to contain his amusement before breaking out in uncontrollable laughter.

Shackled in handcuffs, Hilton-Taylor had appeared in court dressed in prison greens and a white smock.

His alleged victim had just overcome prostate cancer when Hilton-Taylor allegedly attacked him as he walked to a bus stop in broad daylight.

Mr Filidis suffered fatal stab wounds and was found with upper body injuries on the side of the road.

Despite the efforts of paramedics who performed CPR, he died at the scene.

The court heard Hilton-Taylor suffered from schizophrenia and would require treatment from a nurse while in jail.

Detectives asked for a longer than usual time to compile their brief of evidence against the alleged killer due to the amount of CCTV that needed to be analysed.

Hilton-Taylor did not apply for bail and will remain behind bars until May when his matter will return to court.

Harrison Hilton-Taylor is accused of carrying out a bloody, random murder

Victoria Police said they don't believe the two men knew each other

Photos on Facebook show Hilton-Taylor dressed in eshay-style clothing.

On Thursday, a Victoria Police spokesperson said detectives did not believe the two men knew each other.

Mr Filidis' family fronted the media this week in the bid for information leading to an arrest.

'He was full of life ... everyone in Southland knew him,' Filidis's godmother Christine Kounelis told Seven News.

'He wouldnt fight back. He wouldnt have known how to ... I still dont believe it. I still dont want to believe it.'

Spiros devastated sister, Eve, said he had the 'greatest love for life'.

'Our beloved Spiros was a beautiful soul who touched the lives of all who knew him,' she said.

'His kindness and gentleness brought much light into our lives and the world.

'His warmth, generosity and lovingly humorous nature was unlike any other. He had the greatest love for life, always living each moment to the fullest.

'His presence lit up the room, wherever he went. Our hearts are broken. He will be forever lovingly missed.'
People turn to AI for career advice, meal ideas and travel tips, but with the new year started, DailyMail.com asked popular chatbots for achievable resolutions.

Research shows that 23 percent of Americans ditch their New Year's resolutions by the end of the first week, and 43 percent quit by the end of January.

The failures stem from people 'thinking too big,' but Googles Bard, Microsofts Bing and ChatGPT have curated 10 realistic but unconventional resolutions for 2024.

These included hosting a monthly themed dinner party to build stronger bonds with others, eating a vegan meal each week to improve health and starting a digital detox.

Host a themed dinner party every month

Hosting dinner parties would not only be fun but also create strong bonds with friends and family

Googles Bard said: Host a themed dinner party every month.

From medieval feasts to sci-fi soirees, let your imagination run wild and create unique culinary experiences for your guests.

The bots said it was a great way to keep strong social ties while letting loose and destressing.

Research your family history

Bard said: Trace your family history and build a family tree: Uncover your roots, delve into forgotten stories, and connect with distant relatives for a fascinating journey into your past.

Happy New Year's, and may your resolutions be as unique and exciting as you are!

Have one plant-based day per week

ChatGPT said: Once a week, challenge yourself to eat only plant-based meals.

It's a fun way to explore new recipes and cuisines while contributing to a healthier lifestyle and the environment.

Eating a vegan meal each week to improve health

Start a one-sentence journal

ChatGPT also suggested starting a one-sentence journal where you write a single sentence each day.

ChatGPT said: Write one sentence every day about something you were grateful for or something interesting that happened.

It's a low-pressure way to keep a journal.'

Start a digital detox

Interestingly, ChatGPT suggested committing time to a screen-free digital detox could be an exciting and unusual New Years resolution for a web application.

ChatGPT said: Commit to one day a week or a few hours each day without any digital devices, including phones, computers, and TV.

Use this time for reading, meditating, or exploring nature.

Write a handwritten letter every week

Similarly ironic, many of the suggestions from the neural network-based AI systems suggested that users embrace a more analog way of living.

Claude.AI, a chatbot backed by Google and Amazon, suggested: Write and mail a handwritten letter every week - Reconnect thoughtfully with faraway friends or family the old-fashioned way.

Conquer a childhood fear

Claude suggested that conquering a childhood fear could be good, if unconventional, resolution

Claude suggested that conquering a childhood fear could be good, if unconventional, resolution.

Claude said:  Face something that has loomed over you since youth, like spiders, public speaking, roller coasters or the ocean.

Invest in stocks

DailyMail.com asked Microsofts Bing with ChatGPT for recommendations: unlike other chatbots, it offers citations from live internet sites and bases its recommendations on facts found online.

Bing suggested that a Forbes survey showed that 38.2 percent of people plan to focus on finances in 2024.

Bing said: Improve your financial situation: Another popular resolution is to enhance your finances.

You could consider creating a budget, saving money, or investing in stocks.

Become a human calendar

Bard suggested becoming a human calendar by training your brain to recall events on any given day of the week

DailyMail.com asked Googles Bard to come up with interesting and unconventional New Years resolutions.

Google hopes to reach two billion consumers with Bard and roll it into its existing Google Voice Assistant.

Bard suggested: Train your memory to recall the day of the week for any given date. Your friends will be amazed (and slightly creeped out).
Google has started its clampdown on third-party cookies, the small files downloaded to your computer or mobile device when you visit a website.

The tech giant has randomly selected one per cent of Chrome users globally  about 30 million people  to be the first to use a feature called 'Tracking Protection'.

Part of Google's controversial Privacy Sandbox, the move limits sites from using third-party cookies to track users as they browse the web to serve up relevant ads.

It comes several years after rival web browsers  Apples Safari and Mozillas Firefox  blocked third-party cookies by default.

Here's all you need to know about Chrome's new change, and how to tell if you're one of those affected.

From January 4, a portion of Google Chrome users have started to see fewer cookies - small files downloaded to your computer or mobile device when you visit a website

If you're one of those randomly selected, you will see a notification on the Chrome browser for desktop or browser

What are third-party cookies? The tech giant has randomly selected one per cent of Chrome users globally to be the first to get 'Tracking Protection' Cookies are small files downloaded to your computer or mobile device when you visit a website. Your browser sends these cookies back to the website every time you visit it again so it can recognise you - allowing sites to tailor what you see. First-party cookies are set by the website you are currently on, but third-party cookies are set by websites other than the one you are currently visiting. First-party cookies are generally helpful; for example a first party cookie lets an e-commerce website you're revisiting remember what was in you're shopping basket from last time. But third-party cookies are from sites you haven't visited and are typically used to track your browsing activity across multiple sites for advertising. Advertisement

As promised last month, Google rolled out Tracking Protection to one per cent of users from Thursday (January 4).

If you're one of those randomly selected for Tracking Protection, you'll see a notification in a pop-up box on Chrome for desktop or mobile.

It will read: 'You're one of the first to experience Tracking Protection, which limits sites from using third-party cookies to track you as you browse.'

The change will take place automatically, so as you browse the web, third-party cookies will be restricted by default, limiting the ability to track you across different websites.

If for some reason you want third-party cookies to continue on Chrome, you can click on the eye icon in the search bar, which will have a diagonal line through it.

After clicking, users will be able to toggle on the option to receive cookies, which will remove the diagonal line and bring up a message in the search bar that reads: 'Third-party cookies allowed'.

However, if you turn cookies on, Google tells you it will automatically switch them off again after 90 days.

Even if you're not one of the one per cent affected, the days of third-party cookies on Chrome are numbered.

Google plans to completely phase out the use of third-party cookies when Tracking Protection arrives for all users in the second half of 2024, although this is subject to regulatory approval.

According to Statista, Chrome is used by over 3.22 billion internet users, but many aren't even sure what cookies are or what they do.

Third-party cookies are created when a user visits a website that includes elements from other sites, such as third-party images or ads.

They contrast with first-party cookies, which are set by the site a user is visiting and are often useful, as they let the browser remember important user information.

Anyone who wants third-party cookies to continue on Chrome for whatever reason can re-enable them by clicking on the eye icon in the search bar

Users have the option to toggle on the option to receive cookies, which will bring up a message in the search bar that reads: 'Third-party cookies allowed'

READ MORE Here's why Google's plan to end third-party cookies isn't without controversy Google's plans to replace third-party cookies in Chrome would increase its dominance of the online advertising market Advertisement

In a blog post last month, Google described third-party cookies as a 'fundamental part of the web for nearly three decades', but they're controversial for tracking user activity across websites.

Google's issue with third-party cookies is they are placed on a user's device by websites other than the one the user is visiting  typically by digital advertising agencies.

Google plans to replace third-party cookies with a new system that restricts the sharing of data within its own organisation, which it says is better for our privacy.

Essentially, advertisers will have to ask Chrome what sort of topics they'd like to browse  such as fashion, food, or travel  rather than having direct access to our browsing data.

It's not without controversy, however, as regulators fear the change will increase Google's dominance of the online advertising market.

Advertisers have said the loss of cookies in the world's most popular browser will limit their ability to collect information for personalising ads and make them dependent on Google's user databases.

Google's plans to banish third-party cookies for all users in 2024 is subject to addressing 'anti-trust' concerns raised by UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).

The regulator's former chief executive Andrea Coscelli said it would keep a 'close eye' on the Silicon Valley giant and 'we are under no illusions that our work is done'.

The European Union antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager also said in June that the agency's investigations into Google's introduction of tools to block third-party cookies  part of the company's 'Privacy Sandbox' initiative  would continue.
The Zoom Miami welcomed the birth of a 'bizarre-looking' endangered 'Pig Deer' to parents Maggie and Harry.

The baby babirusa was born on December 15 - the zoo just announced the event - and is said to be healthy as it awaits in isolation with its mother before making its debut.

Keeping the mother and baby in isolation is essential to ensuring its safety in the enclosure, Ron Magill, Zoo Miamis communications director, told Dailymail.com.

Zoo officials said they are thrilled by the new bundle of joy as Maggie previously birthed a stillborn one year ago.

The babirusa species is native to Indonesia, and fewer than 10,000 are left in the world.

A baby babirusa, believed to be male, was born at Zoo Miami last month, marking the first successful birth in the zoo's history

The baby babirusa is currently in isolation with its mother, Maggie, while it gets used to the zoo enclosure

At birth, a babirusa weighs less than 1.7 lbs, but a full-grown male can weigh up to 220 lbs

The possibility of the baby falling into the moat if introduced too soon has the zookeepers being extra cautious, Magill said.

He continued: Our challenge now is to ensure that the baby is confident enough to navigate the exhibit habitat safely.

... We suspect that it will still be a few weeks before mother and baby are given free access to the exhibit habitat.

Magill said that Maggie and her baby will likely remain in isolation for a few weeks before they can be introduced to the habitat.

He confirmed that the mother and baby babirusa are doing well and have already begun to show an increased tolerance of zookeepers and are approaching them for special treats.

The zoo has yet to determine the sex of the baby officially, but Magill said they feel somewhat confident that it is male.

Harry, the baby babirusa's father, is still on display at the zoo for public viewing

Zookeepers are concerned the baby babirusa will fall into the moat surrounding the enclosure and are waiting until it is more confident before introducing it to the exhibit

Babirusas are an endangered species with a population of less than 10,000 left worldwide

The babirusa species is endangered because of excessive hunting and poaching for their meat and habitat loss due to agricultural development.

The animal is part of the swine family, bearing large tusks on its nose.

It is widely considered one of the most bizarre looking out of more than 20 different swine species worldwide because of tusks that grow from the top of the males heads, which strongly resemble antlers.

The animal also has upper tusks that grow through the top of its face, sometimes curling back into its head, and lower tusks that curl upwards and away from its head.

Wildlife researchers believe the male babirusas' curving tusks may protect their face and eyes from the lower tusks of an opposing male during altercations.

Although the tusks are not present in females, the male attributes create an almost alien appearance that causes many to consider the babirusa the strangest-looking pig in the world, Zoo Miami said in a press release.

At birth, babirusas weigh less than 1.7 pounds, but at full growth, adult males can weigh up to 220 pounds and have a typical lifespan of seven to 10 years in the wild but can live up to 24 years old in human care.

The babirusa is on the IUCN Red List due to it being overhunted by humans for food, along with commercial logging and habitat degradation threatening their existence.
About 80 percent of cannabis users have mixed weed and working out - and a new study has revealed there could be a method to what some may call madness.

Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder conducted 'a first-of-a-kind study' that found smoking weed before hitting the gym increases motivation and enjoyment.

Participants hopped on treadmills for 30 minutes after using the drug and found not only did the time appear to pass by, but the workout felt harder than when they ran sober.

The team suspected the 'runner's high' stemmed from the drug tapping into naturally produced brain chemicals that made individuals feel euphoric and alert.

Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder conducted 'a first-of-a-kind study' that found smoking weed before hitting the gym increases motivation and enjoyment

The 'runner's high' is likely caused by chemicals in the brain called endogenous cannabinoids, which kick in after longer workouts.

'The reality is, some people will never experience the runner's high,' first author and research fellow at CU Change Laurel Gibson said.

The study included 42 participants who already run while using cannabis.

Individuals were divided into two groups: One used a designated flower strain mainly containing cannabidiol (CBD), and the other a Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-dominant strain.

THC and CBD are active ingredients in cannabis, with THC known to be more intoxicating.

The first portion of the study had participants run on a treadmill at a moderate pace for 30 minutes.

The study included 42 participants who already run while using cannabis. Researchers asked each person why they mixed weed with working out

They were asked questions periodically to assess how motivated they felt, how much they enjoyed themselves, how hard the workout felt, how quickly time seemed to pass and their pain levels.

Then, each person redid the experiment while under the influence of cannabis.

'Across the board, participants reported greater enjoyment and more intense euphoria, or 'runner's high,' when exercising after using cannabis,' the team shared in a press release.

'Surprisingly, this heightened mood was even greater in the CBD group than in the THC group, suggesting athletes may be able to get some of the benefits to mood without the impairment that can come with THC.

Participants run on a treadmill at a moderate pace for 30 minutes after smoking weed

'The bottom-line finding is that cannabis before exercise seems to increase positive mood and enjoyment during exercise, whether you use THC or CBD,' Gibson said.

'But THC products specifically may make exercise feel more effortful.'

The University of Colorado conducted a previous survey that found how many people smoke weed before going to the gym.

The 2021 study revealed that while running at the same speed and intensity as the CBD group, the THC participants reported that it was much more difficult than running sober.

The results showed that 'it's pretty clear  cannabis is not a performance-enhancing drug,' Angela Bryan, a senior author in the study and a professor of psychology and neuroscience and co-director of CU Change, said.

There is still the need for additional studies to determine if cannabis could help people who overall struggle to exercise because they dislike the activity or aren't motivated.

'We have an epidemic of sedentary lifestyle in this country, and we need new tools to try to get people to move their bodies in ways that are enjoyable,' said Bryan.

'If cannabis is one of those tools, we need to explore it, keeping in mind both the harms and the benefits.'
The outage lasted for more than four hours and hit iPhone and Android users

Verizon was down for more than four hours across the US, leaving many customers unable to use their smartphones.

The outage began around 2pm ET, with few reports surfacing, but thousands quickly appeared - all claiming issues with cellular service.

The issue seemed to be fixed around 6pm ET - some users may still have disrupted service.

Reports showed that iPhone and Android users and some emergency service lines have been impacted.

Verizon was down for more than four hours across the US, leaving many customers unable to use their smartphones

Verizon has more than 143 million users in the US - but the amount hit by Friday's outage is unknown.

Downdetector, a site that monitors online issues, reported the highest number of customers without service were in Omaha, San Diego, Portland, Phoenix and Louisville.

While Verizon did not address the outage on its social media, customers were able to check their location's service on the company's dashboard.

Verizon Support responded to some X users' cries of distress, but no solution has been given.

'We know just how important it is to be able to make and receive calls! Please send us a Direct Message to begin troubleshooting at your convenience. We're always here and happy to help, 24/7,' reads the post.
Advertisement

Forget walking on the wild side - now you can own it.

Partridge Island in Nova Scotia, Canada, is a slice of untamed wilderness and it's up for sale, with a price tag of just CAN$225,000 (134,000/US$170,000).

The private island - located on popular Big Mushamush Lake, 90 minutes from Halifax International Airport - is covered in 100-year-old trees, boasts a beautiful white sandy beach and has the potential to be the site of your dream home.

Any potential new owner can use a building permit to create 'a log home or timber frame building' on the island, according to Vladi Private Islands (VPI), which has been appointed to sell it.

The company describes the land as an 'island gem in Canada's most beautiful Atlantic province' in an online listing.

Scroll down to reveal stunning pictures of the island and its rugged natural beauty. Could this be your future private oasis?

Partridge Island in Nova Scotia, Canada, is a slice of untamed wilderness and it's up for sale, with a price tag of just CAN$225,000 (134,000/US$170,000)

The private island - located on Big Mushamush Lake, 90 minutes from Halifax International Airport - is covered in 100-year-old trees, boasts a beautiful white sandy beach and has the potential to be the site of your dream home

Any potential new owner can use a building permit to create 'a log home or timber frame building' on the island, according to Vladi Private Islands (VPI), which has been appointed to sell it

Vladi Private Islands describes the land as an 'island gem in Canada's most beautiful Atlantic province'

Big Mushamush Lake is easily accessed via public roads and is a social meeting point in the warmer months

Big Mushamush Lake is 'crystal-clear [and] very popular among the locals', says Vladi Private Islands

Anyone interested in buying the site can visit it with staff from Vladi Private Islands' office in Halifax

Spring-fed Big Mushamush Lake is perfect for swimming in the summer, we're told
It's timeless advice.

Etiquette expert William Hanson has revealed whether you should arrive early, on time or 'fashionably late' to a dinner party.

And it's bad news for early birds.

William dispenses his advice in his new book Help I Sexted My Boss  A Hilarious Guide To Avoiding Life's Awkward Moments, co-authored by Jordan North.

In the conversational tome, the pair answer the question 'what time should I arrive at a dinner party?', with Jordan admitting that the issue causes him a lot of stress.

Etiquette expert William Hanson has revealed whether you should arrive early, on time or 'fashionably late' to a dinner party

He writes: 'If someone says "come for 7pm", what does that actually mean? Do you turn up on the dot? Or do you show your face fashionably late?'

William replies: 'If I say "come for 7pm", I don't mean turn up at 7pm. I would expect you to arrive by 7.10pm, maybe 7.15pm. But no later.'

However, Jordan complains that this is 'weird etiquette gaslighting'.

Help! I Sexted My Boss by William Hanson and Jordan North is out now

'Just tell me what time you want me to be there and I'll be there,' he says. 'I agree that you should never be early, because that's just annoying and people are flapping about getting things ready. But if you're told to be there for 7pm, the host should be ready for 7pm.'

William responds by explaining that 'the ten-minute-late rule was something that older generations lived by', and concedes that nowadays, however, 'people's time is so precious, this is changing'.

He adds: 'Although I may not like it, I do think Jordan is probably right there. I also agree that guests should never arrive too early. I'd rather you were an hour late than five minutes early.'

William also reveals the true meaning of '7 for 7.30', explaining that it means 'any time from seven but not after 7.30 as that's when we will start eating'.

The optimal time, he suggests, is 7.15.

Help! I Sexted My Boss by William Hanson and Jordan North is out now (20/CAN $42.95), published by Penguin Random House. For more from Mr Hanson visit his TikTok and Instagram profiles.
A nine-month cruise around the world cruise turned into a trip from hell for some passengers, after a storm at sea caused major flooding to certain areas of the ship.

The Royal Caribbean Ultimate World Cruise is a 274-night journey that 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.

The ship, called Serenade of the Seas, departed from Miami, Florida on December 10, 2023 - but on January 2, less than two weeks in, while sailing towards Montevideo, Uruguay, it was battered by 60mph winds and heavy rain.

Many disgruntled cruise goers took to TikTok to report the deluge, with one woman revealing how she had to move rooms, while one couple complained that in the midst of the chaos, wine supplies were running low.

A nine-month cruise around the world cruise turned into a trip from hell for some passengers, after a storm at sea caused major flooding to certain areas of the ship

A video montage posted by @accuweather shows sheets of water flooding the sundeck and pool area

Despite flooding in the fitness area, determined gym goers can be seen on the treadmills while water sloshes around

Explaining what happened in her case, Nadine Bowers said: 'Where my balcony was there's an overhang and the rain was coming in so heavy, it was hitting directly the window and coming down and it was all gathering in the rail... and then pouring over the top.'

While the flooding in her room 'wasn't severe' she said she had to move rooms and put heat fans in her room to dry out the carpet.

She told viewers: 'It's just very smelly. I don't know if you guys have been around wet carpet and blowers before but it blows up all the dust and everything.

'It was just too much for me, so they put me up very kindly in another room.'

In other TikToks uploaded by @aditaml2759, severe flooding can be seen on Deck 12, with several inches of water washing over the carpet.

The cruise goer explained that the elevators had also been shut down as a result of the storm.

A video montage posted @accuweather shows sheets of water flooding the main sundeck and pool area, while the gym was also awash.

Despite flooding in the fitness area, determined gym goers can be seen on the treadmills while water sloshes around.

In a bid to keep the water levels down, a mound of sodden gym towels appear on the ground.

As the flooding was going on, cruise passengers Mike and Nancy Jacobs told their TikTok fans that their biggest concern was that the ship's wine supplies were running low.

The Royal Caribbean Ultimate World Cruise is a 274-night journey that will visit more than 60 countries, with passengers seeing 11 wonders of the world

Nadine Bowers had to install heat blowers in her room to dry out the soaked carpet. She said the smell wasn't good and she had to move rooms

As the flooding was going on, cruise passengers Mike and Nancy Jacobs told their TikTok fans that their biggest concern was that the ship's wine supplies were running low.

The first leg, the Ultimate Americas Cruise, passengers will travel to islands in the Caribbean to Antarctica

TikTok users have showed off the impressive vessel in clips posted online, which weighs 90,090 tons and can fit 2,100 passengers

Creator Angie Linderman (pictured) explained she was working from the cruise, also estimating about 20 children to be on board, who will also be homeschooled

In one clip, Angie showed off the massive task of unpacking to live on board the vessel for nine months

Deeming the shortage 'the ultimate world cruise drama,' Mike revealed how staff told him that the passengers had gone through more wine than they had anticipated and they were struggling to restock.

In regards to the flooding, cruise operator Royal Caribbean told DailyMail.com that a 'minor clean-up and elevator repairs' were carried out and the ship managed to sail to its next destination, Montevideo, and arrive as scheduled on January 4.

Updates from the TikTokers show how the flood waters dissapated and Mike and Nancy also revealed that the wine supplies were replenished on reaching Uruguay.

Hopefully it will be plane sailing for the rest of the long haul voyage.

Serenade of the Seas will return to its home port in Miami on September 10, 2024.

The first leg of the trip, the Ultimate Americas Cruise, will see passengers 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 number of TikTok videos previously shared by passengers showed themselves boarding the cruise liner, giving tours of their rooms and what they do day-to-day whilst at sea - and those left on land are utterly fascinated.

While the passengers board the ship and prepare their sea legs, the rest of the world is eagerly waiting to see what exactly happens when you spend nine months at sea.

In one TikTok, prominent cruise creator Amike Oosthuizen talked through what the guests received as they boarded the ship.

The TikTok videos were flooded with users curious about the ins and outs of life on a cruise ship

Around the world in nine months! A breakdown of the long-haul cruise journey There are four legs of the mega-cruise, which lasts for 274 nights, visiting 11 world wonders, and 60-plus countries. December 10 - February 11: Ultimate Americas Cruise United States, Peru, the Bahamas, Mexico, Barbados, Aruba, Brazil February 11 - May 9: Ultimate Asia Pacific Cruise Argentina, Antarctica, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Mexico, LA May 9 to June 12: Ultimate Middle East and Med Cruise Hawaii, French Polynesia, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Philippines, China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, India, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Jordan, Egypt, Cyprus, Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania June 12 to September 10: Ultimate Europe and Beyond Cruise Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Malta, France, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, England, Germany, Denmark, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Lithuania, Norway, the Netherlands, Iceland, Greenland, Newfoundland, Bermuda, United States Advertisement

Showing her followers her room, the 26-year-old - who is travelling with her husband - excitedly showed off the 'goodies' she received upon boarding, including the detailed itinerary, a reusable cup, umbrella and her favorite: a Royal Caribbean robe.

Amike, who works in the registration department for an Ivy Solutions company, said all guests were also given a laundry bag - which gets picked up for free weekly.

She added that she and her husband, who is an engineer, will be both working from home on board the ship for the entire nine months.

'[The cruise costs] about $50,000 to $100,000 plus [depending] on what room you booked,' she explained in one clip.

'We booked a balcony room around $70,000 and then you asked what is included in the price, so business class flights are included in the price, all your food and drinks; literally alcohol, coffee, Starbucks coffee, protein shakes, smoothies - everything you can think of is included.'

Passenger Brooklyn Schwetje gave followers a detailed tour of the ship, showing of impressive amenities like a cinema, conference room, helipad, walking and running track, and even an on-board pub.

Another passenger Angie Linderman, who is travelling with her brother, sister-in-law and their three children, estimated there to be about 20 kids on board in total for the whole nine months, who will be homeschooled for the duration of the trip.

Angie, who works in social media and will be working part time on board, also broke down the ship's journey.

The keen cruiser explained that as there were four different legs of the journey and people would be joining at various legs of the journey - but a portion will be there from start to finish.

Even with creators answering questions and responding to comments from curious land dwellers, there were still some predictions and burning questions people had.

'I wonder if anybody who's taking the whole trip is early pregnant and doesn't know. A baby could be born on board ! And statistically someone will die,' one commenter wrote.

'I'm wondering how people deal with prescriptions over the 9 months? I get one every 3 months... how do you get them?' another asked.

Some followers are there for the reality TV-style drama that may occur.

'I feel like we are being introduced to new characters on the world cruise season of white lotus,' one user joked on a TikTok video.
The winner of BBC Radio 1's Sound of 2024 has been announced.

London-based indie-rock/pop band The Last Dinner Party - consisting of Abigail Morris, Lizzie Mayland, Emily Roberts, Georgia Davies, and Aurora Nishevci - nabbed the honour, that's been awarded to a long list of successful musicians in the past.

The group - who made their Glastonbury debut in 2023 - were chosen by a panel of over 140 industry experts and artists, including Olivia Rodrigo, Declan McKenna, Chase & Status, Mahalia and more.

As well as taking to the Glastonbury stage last year, The Last Dinner Party - who were formed in 2021 - also embarked on their first North American tour, released their debut track Nothing Matters, and announced a headline gig at London's Roundhouse.

2024 is set to be another big year for the band, with their highly anticipated debut album Prelude to Ecstasy being released in February.

The Last Dinner Party have been crowned the winner of BBC Radio 1's Sound of 2024

The indie-rock band - consisting of Abigail Morris, Lizzie Mayland, Emily Roberts, Georgia Davies, and Aurora Nishevci - were chosen by a panel of over 140 industry experts and artists

Olivia Dean - who began her career working in collaboration with Rudimental - was chosen as the artist to nab the second spot on the list

The Last Dinner Party said of topping the list: 'We are overjoyed to have won BBC Radio 1's Sound Of Award for 2024!'

The band continued: 'We predict amazing things happening in music this year and it is truly an honour to even be a part of it.

'BBC Radio has championed us and so many other young artists from the start of their careers, we still can't believe it every time we hear one of our songs being played.

'Every artist who has been nominated or won over the years is such a powerhouse, it humbles us to join their ranks! Thank you to guitar music for never dying. Bands are back, baby.'

BBC Radio 1 DJ Jack Saunders added: 'It is a really strong year for the Sound Of list, which should make this win for The Last Dinner Party even sweeter.

'There isn't a band connecting with their audience like this band right now: great songs, image and drive. They have the perfect concoction for success.'

Olivia Dean came in second place on the Sound of 2024 list, followed by Peggy Gou, Tyla and Elmiene.

Also on the longlist for Sound of 2024 were: Ayra Starr, Caity Baser, CMAT, Kenya Grace and Sekou.

Artists from the longlist are set to perform at a special Radio 1 event  BBC Radio 1 Sound of 2024 Live  which will be held at Maida Vale on Monday, January 8.

Sound of started back in 2003 and has seen the likes of 50 Cent, Adele and HAIM be crowned the winner. Other artists to have won include Stormzy, Lady Gaga, Dizzee Rascal, The Weeknd, Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish and Lewis Capaldi.

FLO nabbed the top spot in 2023.

2024 is set to be another big year for The Last Dinner Party, with their highly anticipated debut album Prelude to Ecstasy being released in February

Peggy Gou came in the third spot on the prestigious list, followed by Tyla and Elmiene

An array of industry experts and artists, including Olivia Rodrigo, picked the band to receive the honour
Kim Kardashian is unbothered by the comparisons to her ex-husband Kanye Wests new wife  but she did find the explicit near-naked pictures of Bianca Censori odd as she was always encouraged to tone down her sex appeal while married to the rapper, insiders have claimed.

Kanye, 46, was eviscerated this week after sharing explicit images of Bianca, 29, posing in a black string thong on his Instagram. Another showed her in a fur crop top, prompting fans to note the uncanny similarities between the designer and Kim.

But despite the many links being drawn between Kim and her former spouse's new wife, insiders insist that she isn't allowing herself to be brought down by the comparisons.

'Everyone wants Kim to be appalled that Bianca is dressing like her and copying her style, but it is not the case,' a source close to the Kardashian family told DailyMail.com exclusively.

Kim actually does think that Bianca looks like her. What Kim does find slightly odd is that the whole time she was with Kanye, he was all about her covering up. He wanted her to not show any skin and tone down her sex appeal.

Kim Kardashian, 43, reportedly thinks it is 'odd' that ex-husband Kanye West, 46, is ramping up the sex appeal with his new wife Bianca Censori

The rapper shared photos of Bianca, 29, wearing very little underneath a black trench coat - similar to one seen on Kim, sparking concern among friends

Bianca (seen here on Kanye's IG this week) shares uncanny similarities with Kim, and according to the source: 'Kim does think that Bianca looks like her'

Kanye is now doing the opposite for Bianca and he wants her to wear nothing and ramp up her sex appeal.

But there is no bad blood towards Bianca from Kim who is believed to be on good terms with the architectural designer.

'Bianca treats their kids very well and the kids seem to have much love for her, the source continued. This is what is most important to Kim. At the end of the day, Kanye is happy and is not interfering in Kim's life.

Bianca has been spotted several times with Kanye and Kim's four children.

In December, she was pictured cradling Chicago, five, and looking after North, 10, and Saint, eight, while supporting Kanye at a listening party in Miami for his upcoming album Vultures. They also have son Psalm, four.

Concerns were raised for Bianca earlier this week when Kanye shared what her friends deemed sexually inappropriate pictures of her.

Kanye declared no pants this year alongside one image of Bianca in a miniscule black thong and a fur bralette.

He followed up with two more showing the architect spilling out of a string bikini and black corset, with the latter captioned: 'Dropped sumn?'

She styled the outfit with a black leather jacket, which was similar to one worn by Kim in 2020.

Bianca's barely-there nude leggings, right in September 2023, have been seen on the curves of another one of Kanye West 's partners - his ex-wife Kim

Bianca, seen with Kim and Kanye's daughter North last month, 'treats the kids well and this is what is important to Kim,' a source told DailyMail.com

Kanye shared the images as he prepared to drop his new song with Travis Scott, ahead of the release of his new album, Vultures, which is expected this month.

After seeing the photos, a friend of Bianca's told DailyMail.com that those close to her back in her native Australia were 'horrified.'

It is massively concerning to her friends, they said. They find it absolutely disgusting and slightly abusive that he is using her to promote his new music.

It was clearly not Biancas idea to wear the raciest most sexually inappropriate things she could find and post photos of herself on wearing them.

They continued: She is trying to make her into Kim, and it is so concerning. It is alarming that she agreed to do this and, once again, she is not responding to anyone.

In September, friends expressed grave concerns that Kanye was manipulating Bianca into a 'radicalized' version of Kim, who he often referred to her as his 'muse.' He also heavily influenced her fashion choices.

'Kanye is trying to make Bianca into a radicalized version of Kim - almost like Kim 2.0,' a source told DailyMail.com at the time.

'The difference is that when Kim was with Kanye he was respected in the fashion world. He has since lost this respect.'

Bianca and Kanye secretly wed in December 2022, just one month after he finalized his divorce from Kim. They had been married for seven years.

Bianca, right, pictured in August 2023 wearing a black bikini top and tights, another ensemble bearing a striking resemblance to an outfit worn by Kim in March 2022

In 2019, Kanye told Kim that the impossibly tight Thierry Mugler wet-look dress she wore to the MET Gala was 'too sexy' - adding that it 'hurt his soul' to see her in revealing clothes.

'I just made this transition from being a rapper, looking at all these girls, looking at my wife,' he said at the time. 'Like, ''Oh, my girl needs to be like the other girls, showing her body off''.

'I didn't realize that that was affecting my soul and my spirit as someone that's married and loved, and the father of now, whatabout to be four kids?'

At the time, Kanye and Kim were just days away from becoming parents to their fourth child Psalm, who they welcomed via a surrogate.

'A corset is like a form of underwear,' Kanye said of the dress. 'It's hot. It's like, it's hot for who, though?'

'So the night before the Met, you're gonna come in here and say that you're not into a corset bust?' Kim asked. 'I'm getting really bad anxiety. What are you talking about?

'I don't need any more negative energy for you to now say that you're not into me in a tight dress,' she pointed out.

'You are my wife, and it affects me when pictures are too sexy,' Kanye said.

In 2019, Kanye told Kim that her Met GALA dress (pictured) was 'too sexy' and 'hurt his soul' but appears to have had a change of heart in regards to Bianca

Kim wearing the flame outfit she claims Kanye chose - which saw her ridiculed

Bianca was raised in Melbourne, Australia - pictured before she met Kanye

In 2022, he criticized Kim's SKIMS shapewear line - which features bodysuits similar to those worn by Bianca - for being 'overly sexualized.'

'I had a lot of issues with the imagery or SKIMS,' he told FOX News. 'I felt like theres a lot of imagery that was overly sexualized and things I wouldnt want to see my wife -and definitely not my daughters - doing in the future in order to sell products.

'But it reaches another level when its like, "OK, this is what my wife is doing, this is what shes doing for our children.'

In the same year Kim blasted Kanye for an outfit that saw her mocked and compared to Guy Fieri and The Incredibles.

The outfit featured an orange flaming top with black shoulders plus matching orange pants, skirt, boots and gloves.

'Let me just say one thing about this flame outfit that everyone wants to talk about... the Internet destroyed me like "Ha ha this is what she gets... not being with Kanye" [and] "finally one look she dresses herself, the Kanye outfits must have run out."

'The tea is, this is one of the outfits he styled and picked out.'
It's an honour previously bestowed to Queen Elizabeth and British bands such as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd and Iron Maiden.

But, ever-the-rule breakers, the Spice Girls have become the first female group to feature on a special stamp set issued by the Royal Mail.

The stamps will be released into circulation on January 11 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of one of the worlds most successful pop groups.

Speaking of the honour, the band said: When we formed the Spice Girls we couldnt have dreamt that 30 years later we would be the first female group to be dedicated an entire stamp collection, thats Girl Power!

Featuring band members Emma Bunton, 47, Victoria Beckham, 49, Geri Halliwell-Horner, 51, Melanie Chisholm, 49, and Melanie Brown, 48, it is the first time Royal Mail has dedicated an entire stamp issue to a female group.

The Spice Girls have become the first female group to feature on a special stamp set issued by the Royal Mail

The set of 10 stamps will show images from their most famous performances from their 1997 Brit Awards show to the closing ceremony of the 2012 London Olympic Games.

One stamp has a close-up of a 25-year-old Geri Halliwell in her iconic Union flag minidress during their 1997 Brit Awards show.

Another features Victoria Beckham, affectionately known as Posh Spice, striking a pose during a 2008 show in New York.

Each band member has an entire stamp dedicated to a glitzy picture of them while the remaining five slots are group shots from international performances such as Instanbul in 1997 and San Jose in 2007 - appreciating their global reach.

The band is only the sixth music group to feature in a dedicated stamp issue, following The Beatles in 2007, Pink Floyd in 2016, Queen in 2020, The Rolling Stones in 2022 and Iron Maiden in 2023.

The set also includes a further five stamps, presented in a miniature sheet, featuring individual images from the Spice World photoshoot, showing each band member with her nickname, Baby Spice, Posh Spice, Sporty Spice, Ginger Spice and Scary Spice for Bunton, Beckham, Chisholm, Halliwell-Horner and Brown respectively.

David Gold, Royal Mail director of external affairs and policy said: The Spice Girls have been a force to be reckoned with since they formed as a group in 1994.

We are proud to celebrate the most successful female music group ever seen, not only for their music but their enduring influence over so many aspects of our lives.

Featuring band members Emma Bunton , 47, Victoria Beckham , 49, Geri Halliwell-Horner, 51, Melanie Chisholm, 49, and Melanie Brown, 48, it is the first time Royal Mail has dedicated an entire stamp issue to a female group

The stamps will be released into circulation on January 11 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of one of the worlds most successful pop groups

One stamp has a close-up of a 25-year-old Geri Halliwell in her iconic Union flag minidress during their 1997 Brit Awards show

Another features Victoria Beckham, affectionately known as Posh Spice, striking a pose during a 2008 show in New York

Speaking of the honour, the band said: When we formed the Spice Girls we couldnt have dreamt that 30 years later we would be the first female group to be dedicated an entire stamp collection, thats Girl Power!

Each band member has an entire stamp dedicated to a glitzy picture of them while the remaining five slots are group shots from international performances such as Instanbul in 1997 and San Jose in 2007 - appreciating their global reach

Bursting onto the music scene with their 1996 debut single Wannabe, which spent seven weeks at number one, the Spice Girls continue to be a symbol of rebellion and Girl Power for millions of people across the globe

Bursting onto the music scene with their 1996 debut single Wannabe, which spent seven weeks at number one, the Spice Girls continue to be a symbol of rebellion and Girl Power for millions of people across the globe.

Other chart-topping hits include Say Youll Be There, 2 Become 1, Who Do You Think You Are, Spice Up Your Life and Viva Forever.

The band also starred in a 1997 feature film called Spice World.
Secret Life Of The Safari Park

Rating:

Julia

Rating:

Kevin the teenager has been obsessed with cars his whole life. He's all over them, literally. But now he's discovered girls... or rather, older ladies.

'Kevin is a bit of a Dustin Hoffman in The Graduate,' remarks Pete, who knows the youngster well. 'His girlfriend is more of a Mrs Robinson.'

Pete is a zookeeper in Knowsley, near Liverpool, and the amorous Kev is one of the baboons followed by cameras in Secret Life Of The Safari Park (Ch4).

The cheeky monkey is notorious for wrecking visitors' vehicles, ripping off the trim, wipers, aerials and anything else he can destroy.

More adult pleasures have begun to claim his attentions, but to impress the females he still likes to show off on an expensive motor.

The cheeky monkey is notorious for wrecking visitors' vehicles, ripping off the trim, wipers, aerials and anything else he can destroy

It's extraordinary how similar baboons and humans really are. Lion behaviour isn't so different either. The film crew arrived during mating season and Pete, a man with a witty turn of phrase, pointed out the signs.

'The female is tail-flicking and rubbing her head under the male's chin. Short of a bit of Barry White, you know what you're in for.'

Indictment of the night 'Are they just incompetent, or evil?' asked Jo (Monica Dolan), appalled by the scale of corporate wrongdoing in Mr Bates vs The Post Office (ITV). Millions of viewers are asking the same. How can the postal service's image ever recover from this? Advertisement

Narrated by Maxine Peake, this new series differs from the long-running Secret Life Of The Zoo by placing more emphasis on the visitors.

We follow families in their cars, driving slowly around the enclosures and marvelling at the sights.

It's a bit like Gogglebox on wheels. But the stars are the animals.

A congo buffalo called No Horns was protecting her newborn calf, Crumpet, from nosy rhinos, and she wasn't taking any nonsense.

No Horns earned her name after an earlier battle with a rhino  despite the damage to her headgear, she kept her baby safe.

No catastrophe could be worse for a young buck called Cosmo than snapping his antlers. They're his pride and joy.

Male fallow deer decorate their antlers with anything they can find, to emphasise their size and beauty. One stag with a huge clump of dry grass wrapped around his head looked like Art Garfunkel in his prime.

Cosmo made the mistake of festooning his antlers in wire, which nearly proved fatal after one end became snared around his jaw.

Narrated by Maxine Peake, this new series differs from the long-running Secret Life Of The Zoo by placing more emphasis on the visitors

Secret Life of the Safari Park is a bit like Gogglebox on wheels. But the stars are the animals

Fortunately vets were able to dart him and cut him loose while he was under the influence. A hapless TV producer was under the influence on Julia (Sky Atlantic), a culinary period drama based on a true story, after downing a shot of coffee laced with LSD at a New York party in the 1960s.

Halfway through his trip, he located the meaning of the universe in a dripping tap. Though the props and costumes are perfect in their detail, and the cast is top-notch, Julia suffers from a feeling that the script was written by committee.

Sarah Lancashire plays Julia Child, TV's first celebrity chef, a sort of American Fanny Cradock.

Her Riviera kitchen, where she perfects French recipes for Ohio housewives, could not be further away from Happy Valley, and neither could her accent  she sounds like Mrs Slocombe in Are You Being Served? Isabella Rossellini is her irritable French mentor, and David Hyde Pierce plays her husband Paul.

You'll remember him as Niles Crane, though he has wisely avoided the Frasier remake. No longer boyish, he now has the air of an amiably absent-minded tortoise.

Whenever the story switches to its U.S. characters, the emphasis on political correctness becomes insufferable. In one scene, a publisher's assistant lectured crime novelist Ross Macdonald (played by Craig Bierko) about his heroine's 'privilege' and 'trauma'.

Macdonald, in reality a peerless writer of hard-bitten thrillers, nodded meekly and promised to do better. Another win for wokeness over history.
Angelina Jolie's older brother James Haven made extremely rare remarks about his relationship with the Oscar-winning actress in a new interview this week.

The 52-year-old actor appeared on an episode of the 90who10 podcast in which he delved into how he had focused on caring for Angelina's children in the wake of her split and years-long divorce from Brad Pitt.

James  who was most recently pictured in public with his father Jon Voight in October 2022  admitted that he saw it as his duty to 'protect' his sister's six children amid the tumultuous divorce and the resulting negative publicity for the sparring exes.

The conversation turned to James' connection to Angelina in recent years and questions about how he had responded to the very public split.

'That's where it all started, it started with the protection of her and then of her children, my nieces and nephews,' James said via Too Fab, indicating that he and his sister began a new phase of their relationship after her split.

Angelina Jolie's brother James Haven made extremely rare remarks about his relationship with his sister during an appearance this week on the 90who10 podcast; seen in 2017 in LA

James, 52, spoke about 'protecting' his 48-year-old sister's six children in the wake of her messy split from Brad Pitt; seen in 2000 in LA

'There are those are massively formative years, they're becoming young adults in their early 20s,' he continued, referencing her children.

The Changeling actress shares Maddox, 22; Pax, 20; Zahara, 18; Shiloh, 17; and twins Knox and Vivienne, 15, with her ex Brad.

'That's so crazy thinking that, but yeah, I think it's just very natural [to feel protective] and I just want to be there,' James continued. 'Very much like my mom. Anytime I'm blessed to be in their presence, I want to be in their presence.'

He attributed that feeling to a lesson he learned from his late mother Marcheline Bertrand.

'[It's] a quality I got from my mom, even though cell phones were not as prevalent as they are now, but back to that idea of her always being like, "You are the focus,"' he shared. 'I set my life up so I can be present with whatever the situation. The formative years, the young adults they're going to become, I want to be there for them  or for her  whatever she's going through.'

Although James has had small parts on film and television throughout the years, it was his connecting to his younger sister that first increased his public profile.

He often accompanied her on the awards season trail leading up to her Oscar win for Beset Supporting Actress for 1999's Girl, Interrupted.

But the two were beset by rumors inspired by their overly close bond and their public affections, including their habit of kissing on the mouth on the red carpet.

Angelina and James stirred up controversy back in 2000, when they shared a kiss on the lips just after she won her Oscar.

While accepting her award, Jolie confessed, 'I'm in shock, and I'm so in love with my brother right now.

'He just held me and said he loved me, and I know he's so happy for me. And, um, thank you for that.'

'That's where it all started, it started with the protection of her and then of her children, my nieces and nephews,' James said, indicating that he and his sister began a new phase of their relationship after her split

The Changeling actress shares Maddox, 22; Pax, 20 (not pictured); Zahara, 18; Shiloh, 17; and twins Knox and Vivienne, 15, with her ex Brad; seen in 2021 in London

James and Angelina stirred up controversy in 2000 when they kissed on the lips multiple times during awards season, including when they kissed just after she won her Oscar for Girl, Interrupted; seen in 2000

James later said the event was 'misconstrued' amid the breathless coverage of it.

Angelina also tried to brush off criticism of their public displays, calling the kisses just an example of 'brotherly love.'

They two later attributed the stress of having their mother in the hospital around the time of the awards season campaign on the provocative displays.

Bertrand had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1999, and despite her initial hospitalization, she live several more years with the disease.

The actress died in 2007 at the age of 56.

James seemed happy to speak about his connection to his sister, although he mostly spoke in vague terms.

However, he indicated that they two hoped to collaborate on some kind of projects in the future, though it wasn't clear if they were film projects or something else.

'We have very mutual interests, especially if it's focuses on how to help kids or stuff like that,' James explained. 'And I know there's going to be many things in the future that we'll probably be working on, which we've never done publicly, like together, but I think there's many things in the future that I think we'll do together.'

James had a steady string of small film and television roles beginning in the late 1990s, though many of them were in films starring his sister or second husband Billy Bob Thornton, whom she was married to from 2000 to 2003.

He has mostly stayed out of the public eye in recent years, and his last on-screen role was in Easy Silence, a short film from 2013.

His sister Angelina has continued to have a varied career as an actor and occasional director, while also working as a human rights activist and a Special Envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

However, she recently expressed dissatisfaction with the film industry and shared her desire to move away from Los Angeles in an interview with WSJ. Magazine.

'Of all the places in the world, Hollywood is not a healthy place,' she said at the time.

Both James and Angelina have had a tempestuous relationship with their father, Jon Voight, including several years in which they were estranged from him.

Speaking to Daily Mail in 2007, James claimed that his father had been stingy with money for his family when he and Angelina were being raised by their mother Marcheline Bertrand, who died of cancer in 2007

'One of the saddest things in my life happened when I was 16, which is when you can get your permit to drive in LA,' James said. 'I did not have a car in high school and neither did Angelina.

'Try to imagine. You go to Beverly Hills High, one of the wealthiest high schools in the nation. Even the cheapest car that anyone has is brand new. All my friends are well off. I have a movie-star father and no car,' he shared.

James said he hoped to collaborate on unspecified projects with his sister. 'We have very mutual interests, especially if it's focuses on how to help kids or stuff like that,' he explained; seen in 2017

'I know there's going to be many things in the future that we'll probably be working on, which we've never done publicly, like together, but I think there's many things in the future that I think we'll do together,' he said; seen in 2019 in Hollywood

'It was debilitating. I did not to go to the prom because I felt uncomfortable that Dad would have to drive me. It's an embarrassing thing.'

James and Angelina appeared to remain close to each other through the years, even as they remained estranged from their father until their mother's 2007 death and James' subsequent conversion to born-again Christianity led to a reconciliation.

James went on to reportedly serve as a full-time nanny to Angelina's children, but their relationship seems to have soured sometime after her divorce from Brad Pitt, when he was dismissed.

No explanation for the growing apart has been shared.
Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch transformed into convicted killers Joseph 'Lyle' Menendez and Erik Menendez in their first sighting on the Los Angeles set of Netflix's Monsters anthology on Thursday.

Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan's Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story will recreate how the siblings used shotguns to murder their parents, Jose and Mary Louise "Kitty" Menendez, at their Beverly Hills mansion in 1989.

Nicholas took a temporary leave of absence from his Daytime Emmy-winning role of Spencer Cassadine in ABC soap opera General Hospital in order to take on the role of Lyle.

The 24-year-old Texan looked like the epitome of rich and preppy wearing a white knit sweater over a matching Polo shirt, black shorts, tube socks, and boat shoes.

Cooper was also sporting a white Polo shirt beneath a white-and-green pullover, a black jacket emblazoned with a Dallas arm patch, black cuffed slacks, and boat shoes sans socks in order to better embody Erik.

Nicholas Alexander Chavez (L) and Cooper Koch (R) transformed into convicted killers Joseph 'Lyle' Menendez and Erik Menendez in their first sighting on the Los Angeles set of Netflix's Monsters anthology on Thursday

Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan's Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story will recreate how the siblings used shotguns to murder their parents, Jose and Mary Louise "Kitty" Menendez, at their Beverly Hills mansion in 1989

The 27-year-old Woodland Hills native - last seen in Peacock's 2022 slasher They/Them and Momentum Pictures' 2022 horror film Swallowed - was listening to old-school Apple EarPods Headphones as he headed inside a white truck.

On May 1, Netflix unveiled the first teaser of Monsters, which featured the real-life 911 call made by a distraught Lyle accusing 'someone' of killing his parents.

Lyle and Erik claimed they only killed their parents out of fear that their music executive father would kill them after they threatened to expose him for years of sexual, emotional, and physical abuse.

But the prosecution argued that the Menendez Brothers only murdered their parents to inherit the family fortune, and the fact that they went on a $700K spending spree before their arrests didn't help the optics.

Lyle and Erik were first tried separately in the first 1993 trial, but both juries deadlocked causing a mistrial.

The Menendez Brothers were tried together in the second trial spanning 1995-96, and they were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Since 2018, the New York-born 55-year-old and the New Jersey-born 53-year-old have been serving their sentences together at the RJ Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, CA - the same state prison that houses Suge Knight and Sirhan Sirhan.

Despite this, Lyle has managed to marry two women since his incarceration - Anna Eriksson and Rebecca Sneed - in 1996 and 2003, and Erik tied the knot with Tammi Ruth Saccoman (who reportedly calls him 'Earth Dad') in 1999.

The 24-year-old Texan - who took a leave of absence from General Hospital - looked like the epitome of rich and preppy wearing a white knit sweater over a matching Polo shirt, black shorts, tube socks, and boat shoes

The 27-year-old Woodland Hills native was also sporting a white Polo shirt beneath a white-and-green pullover, a black jacket emblazoned with a Dallas arm patch, black cuffed slacks, and boat shoes sans socks in order to better embody Erik

Cooper - last seen in Peacock's 2022 slasher They/Them and Momentum Pictures' 2022 horror film Swallowed - was listening to old-school Apple EarPods Headphones as he headed inside a white truck

On May 1, Netflix unveiled the first teaser of Monsters, which featured the real-life 911 call made by a distraught Lyle accusing 'someone' of killing his parents

Lyle and Erik claimed they only killed their parents out of fear that their music executive father would kill them after they threatened to expose him for years of sexual, emotional, and physical abuse

But the prosecution argued that the Menendez Brothers only murdered their parents to inherit the family fortune, and the fact that they went on a $700K spending spree before their arrests didn't help the optics

Lyle and Erik were first tried separately in the first 1993 trial, but both juries deadlocked causing a mistrial

The Menendez Brothers were tried together in the second trial spanning 1995-96, and they were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder

Since 2018, the New Jersey-born 53-year-old (L) and the New York-born 55-year-old (R) have been serving their sentences together at the RJ Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, CA - the same state prison that houses Suge Knight and Sirhan Sirhan

Monsters premieres later this year following the streaming success of the first season, focused on serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, which amassed 1B viewing hours in its first 60 days

There have been four made-for-TV biopics made about the Menendez Brothers including NBC's eight-part Law & Order: True Crime  The Menendez Murders starring Edie Falco (R) as defense attorney Leslie Abramson back in 2017

Monsters premieres later this year following the streaming success of the first season, focused on serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, which amassed 1B viewing hours in its first 60 days.

Evan Peters won a Golden Globe for his portrayal of the cannibal while Niecy Nash-Betts won a Critics Choice Award and a NAACP Image Award for her performance as Jeffrey's neighbor Glenda Cleveland.

Dahmer  Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story is nominated for seven trophies - including outstanding limited or anthology series - at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards, which air January 15 on Fox.

There have been four made-for-TV biopics made about the Menendez Brothers including NBC's eight-part Law & Order: True Crime  The Menendez Murders starring Edie Falco as defense attorney Leslie Abramson back in 2017.

Monsters also comes after Netflix aired Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story on May 1, and Peacock aired its docuseries Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed on May 2.
Jacob Elordi has revealed what A-lister actor was 'nearly cast' to play Oliver Quick instead of Barry Keoghan in the hit psychological thriller Saltburn.

The controversial, yet gripping movie has got millions of viewers talking since it was released on Amazon Prime.

And while Barry, 31, has shocked fans with that specific bath and graveyard scene, Jacob claimed he almost missed out on getting the part.

During an interview of Jacob, 26, who plays Felix Catton, and Barry for Vogue UK, Jacob disclosed that Timothee Chalamet, 28, was director Emerald Fennell's original choice.

As Jacob asked Barry what drew him to sign up for the role during a private Q&A between each other, Barry claimed it was Emerald, Jacob and the scripts doing.

Jacob Elordi, 26, has revealed what A-lister actor was 'nearly cast' to play Oliver instead of Barry Keoghan, 31, in the hit psychological thriller Saltburn

While Barry, 31, (pictured) has shocked fans with that specific bath and graveyard scene, Jacob claimed he almost missed out on getting the part

Jacob said: 'Barry, what drew you to Saltburn?'

Barry responded: 'When I met Emerald, she told me that she had you kind of down to do it. So, Emerald, yourself and the script... what about you?'

'Definitely yeah, it was Emerald. Then she said she wanted Timothee Chalamet for it' [Barry laughing], he joked.

Jacob added: 'And I said have you thought about Barry Keoghan?

A number of scenes in Emerald's explosive thriller Saltburn have set the internet ablaze, including the bath moment and the 'vampire sex'.

Yet one scene appears to be setting tongues wagging the most - when Barry's character Oliver stimulates sex with the grave of his murdered best friend Felix, played by Jacob.

In the wake of the explosive response, Barry has spoken out about the troubling moment in which he pulls down his trousers and grinds on Felix's grave and revealed the incredible news that the sex was never in the original script.

Director Emerald, 38, revealed they added the disturbing moment later on, meaning she was forced to clear the set as Barry 'unzipped' and 'let his body lead the way'.

During an interview of Jacob and Barry for Vogue UK, Jacob disclosed that Timothee Chalamet was director Emerald Fennell's original choice (pictured at the Wonka premiere)

Jacob said: 'Barry, what drew you to Saltburn?' Barry responded: 'When I met Emerald, she told me that she had you kind of down to do it. So, Emerald, yourself and the script... what about you?'

'Definitely yeah, it was Emerald. Then she said she wanted Timothee Chalamet for it [Barry laughing] and I said have you thought about Barry Keoghan?', he joked

With its fair share of controversial scenes, Saltburn has been the movie on the tip of many tongues over the past couple of weeks

Saltburn's Barry has revealed his grave scene was improvised and left director Emerald Fennell forced to clear set while he 'unzipped and let his body lead the way'

Barry revealed: 'On paper, he wasnt written to do that. But I wanted to see what actually happened, where I would take it. I wanted to be confused and let my body lead the way. What am I doing? How can I get closer?'

Released on November 17, the movie is centres around Oxford scholarship holder, Oliver and his infatuation with his upper-class friend Felix.

Oliver struggles to fit in with the super wealthy crowd that study at the elite university, however Felix soon takes him under his wing.

Sought-after Felix eventually invites down on his luck Oliver to stay at his illustrious Saltburn mansion for the Summer, igniting a season of eccentricity, partying and chaos - as well as an obsession from the latter to the former.

Oliver then slays Felix when his lies about his family are uncovered, leading to the chilling moment he pentrates the mud on his freshly dug grave.

He said: 'Its trying to find that new level of obsession.'
Anne-Marie and her rapper husband Slowthai's baby joy has been revealed, after they were seen with their newborn daughter for the first time. The Voice star, 32, kept her pregnancy out of the public eye and welcomed a baby daughter called Seven - in tribute to her favourite number - two years after the couple's secret Las Vegas wedding, which was revealed last week. Over the weekend, the family-of-three were spotted hitting the road in London, with both musicians looked delighted to be spending time with their daughter.
Nicole Scherzinger has received critical-acclaim for her starring role on West End's Sunset Boulevard - and now she is headed to Broadway.

The former Pussycat Doll will be making her Broadway debut this year when Sunset Boulevard opens in New York City.

'Broadway 2024,' the Sunset Boulevard Instagram account announced on Thursday. 'Nicole Scherzinger, Tom Francis, Grace Hodgett-Young and David Thaxton star in Andrew Lloyd Webbers #SunsetBlvd, reimagined by visionary director Jamie Lloyd. Be the first to get tickets. Sign up now at sunsetblvdbroadway.com.'

While no specific opening date was provided, fans will be able to receive future information by signing up on the website. Citing sources, The New York Post has reported that the musical will open at the St. James Theater in November.

Nicole stars as silent movie star Norma Desmond in the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, which is based on the film by Billy Wilder. The revival will continue running at The Savoy Theatre in London until January 6.

Nicole Scherzinger has received critical-acclaim for her starring role on West End's Sunset Boulevard - and now she is headed to Broadway

In November, Nicole was awarded Best Musical Performance at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards for her role in Sunset Boulevard.

The former Pussycat Doll couldn't control her emotions as she took to the stage at London's swanky Claridge's Hotel to accept the honour for her showstopping turn in West End Musical Sunset Boulevard.

She had been up against A Strange Loop's Kyle Ramar Freeman, Crazy For You's Charlie Stemp and Guys & Dolls' Marisha Wallace for the award.

Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber was not able to attend the awards in person but said that his leading lady had 'given us a performance for the ages.'

Nicole then welled up as she revealed that her role as Norma Desmond in the atmospheric musical had helped her 'be accepted by Londons theatre community.'

Nicole's new role marked her return to the stage, eight years after she was nominated for an Olivier Award for her portrayal of Grizabella in Cats.

Her musical comeback was heralded a success by Daily Mail reviewer Luke Jones who gave her a five star review.

It said: 'The classically romantic score remains, melting over a slightly clunky plot about a reclusive, deluded silent movie star who ensnares a young writer called Joe, so he can polish her comeback screenplay. Over the course of two-and-a-half hours she loses her marbles, and he loses his life.

Scherzinger accepting the award for Best Musical Performance for Sunset Boulevard at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards

Nicole stars as silent movie star Norma Desmond in the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, which will continue running at The Savoy Theatre in London until January 6

'Director Jamie Lloyd, who's been toiling at his stripped-back and moody style of revival for years, has finally hit the sweet spot. No lavish costumes, no intricate set. Just live camera work, a ferociously big star, and an even bigger band.

'The lighting is almost exclusively bright white, which designer Jack Knowles harnesses in the most magical way. It pulsates, hides and reveals, using the thick stage mist.

'Dominating the view, though, is an enormous screen, giving us haunting, live close-up shots of the actors in front of us... melodramatic glances, fluttering lashes and big bulbous tears. Scherzinger even delivers a pouty over-the-shoulder look right down the barrel.

'It's a perfect marriage of psychological trauma and camp. Think Pinter, with a bouncy brass section and expressive dance. Or opera, if it were watchable. Norma's dramatics are put in what feels like a real world.'

Scherzinger thanked Lin-Manuel Miranda and JJ Abrams for checking out Sunset Boulevard in November

Her musical comeback was heralded a success by Daily Mail reviewer Luke Jones who gave her a five star review

He continued: 'Scherzinger will rightly get a low-loader full of awards, but so too should her co-star Tom Francis, as poor Joe. Both are vocally flawless. Both deftly balance the histrionic and the genuinely heartbreaking, the playful and raw.

'They take their bows dripping in fake blood and genuine, hard-earned sweat.

'Nicole Scherzinger nails it from the off. Any doubts I had about a Pussycat Doll playing Hollywood's answer to Miss Havisham were banished pronto.

'The early tune, With One Look, sees Scherzinger, as the mighty Norma Desmond, rip off her sunglasses and, in a tornado of stage haze and white-hot spotlights, roar an ear-popping showstopper.

'The room leaped to its feet. Fading pop star becomes fading film icon, to dramatic perfection! I gasped  losing a full mouthful of gin and tonic to my shirt.

'Forget Billy Wilder's hammy noir original, and the lavish productions of this Andrew Lloyd Webber musical we're used to. Here is a thrillingly fresh and surprisingly dark revival.

'For my money (and for a good seat do bring a wheelbarrow of it) this is the show of the year.'
Katie Holmes' ex Emilio Vitolo Jr. is engaged to Sammy Piccininni, following a romantic New Year's Eve proposal.

The restaurateur, 34, popped the question at his speakeasy Da Milio in New York City, with his soon-to-be-wife, 25, announcing the happy news via her Instagram on New Year's Day.

The TikTok influencer  who welcomed a daughter with Emilio in June  shared a black and white photo of the pair beaming at the camera as she showed off her sparkling diamond ring.

The next slide was a short black and white clip of Emilio  who split from Holmes, 45, in May 2021  and Sammy kissing following the proposal.

'Starting this new year off in the best way imaginable. It is the honor of my life to get to spend forever with you, my soulmate,' Sammy gushed in the caption of the post.

Katie Holmes' ex Emilio Vitolo Jr., 34, is engaged to Sammy Piccininni, 25, following a romantic New Year's Eve proposal

The restaurateur popped the question at his speakeasy Da Milio in New York City, with Piccininni announcing the happy news via her Instagram on New Year's Day

Emilio sweetly commented underneath Sammy's post writing: 'Love you to infinity and beyond!!' along with two red heart emojis

'I love you more and more with each day that passes my baby. I thank God every day for you,' she added.

Emilio sweetly commented underneath Sammy's post writing: 'Love you to infinity and beyond!!' along with two red heart emojis.

Vitolo looked handsome as ever in the snap, wearing a suit and a tie, while Sammy stunned in a black dress.

The pair began dating in August 2022 and share 6-month-old daughter Angelina Marie, whom they welcomed in June.

A few days after the proposal Vitolo revealed he asked Sammy to marry him in front of close family and friends and that he was 'super f*****g nervous', as he shared details about the engagement with People.

'I said 2023 was going to be my year, and honestly it was. I got engaged, I had a beautiful child. My daughter is six months now. I opened up [Da Milio], so I got a lot of s**t that I could gladly check off the box.'

The chef and actor added that he and Piccininni have not yet started to plan their wedding as they're enjoying being engaged.

'We'll see what happens. For me, I don't like forcing anything. [We] just got engaged. There's no reason to put a flame on it.'

Vitolo revealed he asked Sammy to marry him in front of close family and friends and that he was 'super f*****g nervous', as he shared details about the engagement with People

He added that they have not yet started to plan their wedding: 'We'll see what happens. For me, I don't like forcing anything. [We] just got engaged. There's no reason to put a flame on it'

The pair began dating in August 2022 and share 6-month-old daughter Angelina Marie, whom they welcomed in June

The couple announced they were expecting their first child in January

Emilio also gushed about being a father: 'Having a girl is the greatest thing,' he shared.

'I had my habits back in the day, and it really didn't click in until my daughter first smiled at me and first laughed at me, and then I was just like, something just snapped in my brain.'

In July, Sammy announced that the couple welcomed their first child into the world, as she shared three adorable images on Instagram with the caption, 'I'm in awe of how God has blessed us. Mommy and Daddy are so in love with you baby girl.'

The month prior the pair celebrated with loved ones at a beautiful outdoor baby shower.

The couple, who went official with their relationship in August, shared the news and highlights from the celebration on both of their Instagram accounts, writing, 'Half of me & half of you, we're having a baby girl.'

Sammy displayed her small baby bump in a form-fitting white bodycon dress, while her partner appeared at ease in a cream sweater and dark trousers.

Upon cutting the confection, it was revealed that the upcoming arrival would be a girl, as shown by the pink filling between the layers.

Prior to meeting Sammy, Emilio dated Batman star Katie for about eight months before they went their separate ways in May 2021.

The couple began dating in September and seemed to go full speed ahead with reports emerging that she thought the relationship could go 'all the way.'

The actor and chef dated Holmes, 45, for about eight months before they went their separate way in May 2021 (Pictured in New York in November 2020)

But in April it was alleged the pair were 'taking space,' before their official split was revealed less than a month later.

It was reported that 'different schedules and different commitments,' were partially to blame, with Katie filming a romantic feature upstate and Emilio trying to nurture his own acting career on top of working at his family's restaurant.

Emilio is a chef at celebrity favorite Italian spot Emilio's Ballato in Soho, originally opened by his father Emilio Vitolo Sr., in the early '90s.

The family business is run by both his parents and his two brothers who work alongside him.
Katie Price appeared to be making a dig at her ex fiance Carl Woods on Thursday.

The former glamour model, 45, surprised her 2.6million followers by announcing that she was single on New Year's Eve, after splitting from on-off partner Carl, 34.

And now, Katie has revealed why she's reluctant to get married again, and claims the men she has dated just 'want to be famous'.

On The Katie Price Show, Katie's sister Sophie asked: 'Would you get married again?'

Katie replied: 'The trouble is, it costs ME money to get married and it costs ME money to get divorced.

Katie Price appeared to be making a dig at her ex fiance Carl Woods on Thursday

The former glamour model, 45, surprised her 2.6million followers by announcing that she was single on New Year's Eve, after splitting from on-off partner Carl, 34

'So I haven't really been in a good situation, so for me to get married again, they have to tick the right boxes, or they have to have more to lose than me because I'm just sick of these cling-ons that turn into Mr Price's and then want to be famous and all of this. I'm just sick of it, I just want to meet someone who wants me for me.

'But yeah I would get married, shall we organise it, of course I would bloody get married again, I want a fairytale. Yes, I would get married again and I want the full shebang.

'I just want it to be right, I never wanted to get divorced and marry again and again.

'To have that one person, no drama, there's nothing worse than when your family don't get on with them. I like to be settled, when I'm settled then everything else goes good.'

It's unclear exactly when Katie broke up with Carl - but the on again off again couple have called off their engagement multiple times over recent months.

She told how she was single on New Year's Eve as she spent time with pal Kerry Katona and documented the night on Instagram.

Katie declared: 'We want to wish you a happy new year!'

She later shouted at the camera that she was 'single' before she and Kerry directed kisses towards the lens.

Katie was last spotted with Carl on December 21 2023 as they stepped out arm in arm together after her pantomime performance of Sleeping Beauty in Liverpool.

Katie and Carl previously split towards the end of November 2023 and unfollowed each other on Instagram but appeared to confirm they were back on on the Liverpool outing.

At the time of the split in November 2023 she was also said to be avoiding mentioning the businessman, 34, during a chat with fans on TikTok - despite the pair putting on a cosy display on a red carpet the week before.

A source told The Sun: 'When Katie was asked if she was single on TikTok, she paused for ages then refused to answer the question'.

She told how she was single on New Year's Eve as she spent time with pal Kerry Katona and documented the night on Instagram

Katie and Carl previously split towards the end of November 2023 and unfollowed each other on Instagram

The couple rekindled their romance last July and were said to be planning a secret wedding with Katie s napped trying on a gorgeous white gown.

MailOnline contacted Katie's representatives for comment at the time.

The pair have been in a turbulent relationship since July 2020, getting engaged the following April.

But things were previously said to be going full steam ahead with wedding plans, with Katie said to be keen to run off and 'elope' with Carl as a source remarked she 'loves the thrill of getting married'.

However, the TV personality's wedding plans didn't include her mother Amy, with it said that she wouldn't tell her when she got married due to her disapproval of Carl.

A source told OK! magazine last July: 'Katie is planning on having a secret wedding with Carl, then a big party afterwards. It will be soon. She loves the thrill of getting married and wants to do it again.'

Sharing further details on their plans, they went on: 'Katie's keen to run off and wed Carl at a registry office. The kids will be there, but she won't tell her mum until it's done.

The couple rekindled their romance last July and were said to be planning a secret wedding with Katie s napped trying on a gorgeous white gown (seen in May 2021)

'Katie knows Amy would be fuming and tell her not to do it. She keeps suggesting to Carl they elope to Gretna Green.'

Katie has been married three times. She was married to Peter Andre for four years, and then tied the knot with Alex Reid in 2010.

They split after 11 months of marriage and Katie went on to marry Kieran Hayler in 2013, but they broke up in 2018.

Katie and Carl called off their engagement in March last year, before sparking rumours of a reunion following being spotted together on a string of occasions
She is known for her extravagant lifestyle.

And on Thursday, Roxy Jacenko revealed she'll be returning to Australia to collect some high-end jewellery.

The PR queen, 43, took to Instagram to show off a bespoke, claw-set diamond necklace which was made for her by jeweller-to-the-stars Nicholas Haywood.

Nicholas Haywood has a range of ready-to-wear and custom designs, and according to the luxury Sydney jeweller, 'a piece of this quality stone, size, and custom nature' retails for upwards of $180,000.

In the Instagram post, Roxy shared a picture of the necklace being held up to the camera.

On Thursday, Roxy Jacenko revealed she'll be returning to Australia to collect some high-end jewellery

The PR queen, 43, took to Instagram to show off a bespoke diamond necklace, which was made for her by jeweller-to-the-stars Nicholas Haywood

Over it, she wrote 'and my dream necklace is ready for collection. Nicholas Haywood Jewellery you have outdone yourself! Can't wait to get back to Australia to pick it up.'

The PR maven is currently on holiday with her husband Oliver Curtis and their two children in Thailand.

Documenting her travels on Instagram, the blonde flaunted her trim figure in a red bikini while relaxing by the pool on a sunbed.

The light drizzle of rain was no big deal for Roxy as she covered her face with a towel.

The PR maven is currently on holiday with her husband Oliver Curtis and their two children in Thailand

'What rain?' she jokingly wrote alongside the snap.

Roxy is staying at the Four Seasons Resort in Koh Samui, Thailand, a five-star luxury beach resort.

The family are in a villa that has a private pool and panoramic views of the beach, costing upwards of $4,000 per night.

The PR queen and her family travelled from snow to sun after spending Christmas in the French Alps

Roxy is staying at the Four Seasons Resort in Koh Samui, Thailand. She is staying in a villa that has a private pool and panoramic views of the beach, costing upwards of $4,000 per night

The former Sydneysider also recently flaunted her wealth by showing off the expensive designer outfits and jewellery she packed with her for her previous getaway to the French Alps.

Roxy gifted herself a $93,000 Rose Gold Diamond Bezel Rolex watch, which she purchased in the snow town as a Christmas gift to herself.

'Shopping in Courchevel ski resort is crazy. Merry Christmas to me,' she captioned the photo.

Meanwhile, Roxy was seen rocking a pair of $680 Celine Cat Eye sunglasses and a designer puffer jacket.

Her daughter Pixie, 12, took to the ski slopes in a $1,100 Houndstooth Perfect Moment puffer jacket and matching $840 ski pants.

Elsewhere, the pre-teen millionaire showed off more of her expensive taste by wearing a black fur coat by Goldbergh, which retails for $972.

During their winter getaway, Hunter, nine, was also sporting Moncler skiwear, including a $1,700 ski jacket, and a Burberry tracksuit.

Roxy has been busy making a new life for herself in Singapore after packing up and moving her family to the Southeast Asian country in July.

The Sweaty Betty founder revealed back in June she was leaving Sydney to live with her husband in Singapore.

She admitted her life in the harbour city has a stark difference to her upcoming new life overseas.

'No one knows me there, no one has any preconceived idea of who or what I am, no one has any expectation, and best of all, no one actually cares!' she told the Sydney Morning Herald.
David Tennant is set to host the 2024 British Academy Film Awards next month.

The Doctor Who star, 52, will take over the coveted spot from last year's hosts Alison Hammond and Richard E Grant, and will front the star-studded ceremony at London's Royal Festival Hall on February 18.

While David is no stranger to the ceremony, having previously presented an award at the BAFTA Television Awards in May, this will be his hosting debut.

It comes after David reprised his beloved role as the titular Time Lord in Doctor Who for the show's 60th Anniversary last year, earning praise from fans.

Speaking about his hosting stint, the Good Omens star said: 'I am delighted to have been asked to host the EE BAFTA Film Awards and help celebrate the very best of this year's films and the many brilliant people who bring them to life.'

David Tennant is set to host the 2024 British Academy Film Awards, which will take place at London's Royal Festival Hall on February 18

BAFTA CEO Jane Millichip added that the academy was 'over the moon' that David would be hosting the Film Awards.

She said: 'He is deservedly beloved by British and international audiences, alike.

'His warmth, charm and mischievous wit will make it a must-watch show next month for our guests at the Royal Festival Hall and the millions of people watching at home.'

The longlists for the EE BAFTA Film Awards, including Best Film, Director, Actor and Actress, will be published on Friday, with the nominations announced by Naomi Ackie and Kingsley Ben-Adir, set to be unveiled on Thursday January 18.

Last year, acting veteran Richard graced the stage as the BAFTAs host, and during his opening monologue referenced the notorious 2022 Academy Awards moment when movie star Will Smith, 54, slapped presenter Chris Rock across the face after he jested about Will's wife Jada Pinkett Smith.

Richard told the star-studded crowd: 'Nobody on my watch gets slapped tonight  except on the back.'

In 2022, Pitch Perfect and Bridesmaids actress Rebel Wilson made risque jokes about the royal family, Vladimir Putin, the gender pay gap, her flop film Cats and her recent weight loss.

Richard added: 'So I was surprised...and I thought because I was so unashamedly enthusiastic during the awards circuit four years ago, when I was nominated for (a BAFTA).

The Doctor Who star will take over the coveted spot from last year's hosts Alison Hammond and Richard E Grant

It comes after David reprised his beloved role as the titular Time Lord in Doctor Who for the show's 60th Anniversary last year, earning praise from fans

'(BAFTA organisers) must know that I'm going to be a celebratory person rather than somebody who's there to roast other actors so hopefully, that's (going to) work out, I don't know yet.'

In November last year, David reprised his titular role in a trio of Doctor Who specials to mark the show's 60th Anniversary.

The episodes, which also saw Catherine Tate return as Donna Noble, were lauded by fans, and set the stage of Ncuti Gatwa to take over as The Doctor ahead of a new series later this year.

The first 60th Anniversary Special was praised by fans after it hit screens on Saturday, with David and Catherine reprising their roles as the Time Lord and his companion Donna Noble respectively.
Lorraine Kelly has revealed that she isn't a big fan of attending high-profile fancy events despite being one of the biggest stars in daytime television.

The TV presenter, 64, who hosts her own show Lorraine and has spent 40 years on screen, admitted she still considers herself as 'working class' because of her upbringing.

According to The Mirror, Lorraine told Kaye Adams on her How To Be 60 podcast that she is proud of her background but sometimes doubts herself at 'posh events'.

Lorraine, who lives in Berkshire with her cameraman husband Steve, said: 'I still have working class cringe, that voice if you get an invitation to say go and meet Prince William for some charity thing. You go, "Oh God, I cant go."

'Its weird, I know its silly and I talk to myself about it and say dont be daft, but I still have that kind of feeling... but yes, I do consider myself working class and Im very proud of it.'

Lorraine Kelly, 64, has revealed that she isn't a big fan of attending high-profile fancy events despite being one of the biggest stars in daytime television

The Scottish star also admitted why she hates going to red carpet events - despite attending many in previous years (pictured in December 2023)

The Scottish star also claimed she hates going to red carpet events - despite attending many in previous years.

She said: 'For a start, its a faff, youve got to get ready. Its probably a Scottish thing  dont get too big for your boots, dont draw attention. Im not daft, I know things will stop eventually. But I never take it for granted.'

It comes after former BBC Breakfast star Louise Minchin stood in for Lorraine for a day in December 2023, just before Christmas.

Fans swarmed Twitter during the programme to praise the host, who quit her long-running role on BBC Breakfast after almost 20 years on the show in 2021.

Lorraine is frequently absent from the show, with Ranvir Singh and Christine Lampard acting as regular stand-ins for the host, however in October Louise made her debut as host following her move from BBC to ITV.

As well as praise for Louise, viewers were left grumbling over Lorraine's absence - insisting the star dodges her role thus does not deserve the eponymous show title.

Twitter users penned: 'I think someone should create a chart or something of how many times Lorraine has presented her show this year Vs other presenters. I genuinely think others have presented it more than her #lorraine...

'Nah, sorry Im not having it! How can a TV presenter have a show named after them but never show up for work? Lorraine Kelly is a disgrace! The show is presented by anyone but work-shy Lorraine. It needs renaming at this point!...

The TV presenter, who hosts her own show Lorraine and has spent 40 years on screen, admitted she still considers herself as 'working class' because of her upbringing

Lorraine told Kaye Adams on her How To Be 60 podcast that she is proud of her background but sometimes doubts herself when it comes to 'posh events'

She said: 'Its weird, I know its silly and I talk to myself about it and say dont be daft, but I still have that kind of feeling... but yes, I do consider myself working class and Im very proud of it.'

It comes after former BBC Breakfast star Louise Minchin stood in for Lorraine for a day in December 2023, just before Christmas

As well as praise for Louise, viewers were left grumbling over Lorraine's absence - insisting the star dodges her role thus does not deserve the eponymous show title

Christine, 44, is a doting mum to her two children, Patricia, age five, and Freddie, two, who she shares with her husband Frank Lampard

'Shes gotten away with it for far too long... Why is Lorraine called Lorraine? Shes never on the show... I need the same amount of Annual Leave as Lorraine'.

When Louise quit BBC Breakfast in 2021, she explained: 'I've loved being part of it, but I've decided it is time that I stopped setting my alarm for 3:40  sometimes when I'm feeling very rebellious 3:46 in the morning  and I'm going to be leaving...

'It's not going to be for a while, and just before anything else I wanted to thank everybody who's watching for your loyalty and support over all those years. I have absolutely loved being part of it...

'I will really miss it. But it is time now to stop that alarm early in the morning, and thank you for watching all those years as well'.

Back in October, around the time of Louise's first guest appearance, Lorraine was slammed for taking the half-term week off, despite having an adult daughter.

Fans of the ITV morning show pointed out that Christine Lampard stepped in as guest presenter - even though she has two young children, Patricia, five, and Freddie, two.

An ITV spokesperson confirmed to MailOnline last week: 'Lorraine is now off for half term and will be back on Monday 6th November.'
Lisa Rinna was spotted out in Los Angeles on Friday on a coffee run with her longtime husband Harry Hamlin.

The soap star, 60, was noticeably dressed down in black Free City sweatpants, a cozy black jacket and sneakers.

She carried a Starbucks cup in one hand and kept the other tucked away in her coat pocket.

Rinna  who exited the Real Housewives franchise almost exactly one year ago  appeared makeup-free and kept her iconic brunette shag off her face with a black bandana.

With a designer purse slung across her body and sunglasses on, Rinna looked ready to tackle the day ahead of her.

Lisa Rinna was spotted out in Los Angeles on Friday on a coffee run with her longtime husband Harry Hamlin

Hamlin also kept cozy for the outdoor excursion in a black plaid fleece jacket worn over a gray zip-up and black joggers.

The Clash Of The Titans star, 72, completed his low-key look with a charcoal gray beanie hat and a pair of $159 On running shoes.

He also rocked his now-signature black frame glasses.

Rinna lead their way out of the chain coffee shop with a smile on her face.

Rinna and Hamlin tied the knot March 1997 and celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary last year.

The couple share two daughters: Delilah Belle, 25, and Amelia Gray, 22.

Rinna sparked controversy earlier this week on Instagram when she shared a jaw-dropping nude photo.

She posed in only her birthday suit as she marked the start of 2024.

'HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2024,' the former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star wrote in next to the snap of her standing nude next to a massage table with a couple of well placed emojis covering up her breasts and crotch. 'STARTING IT OFF FRESH.'

The Guest Book star appeared to be make-up free and her brown hair was styled in a messy shag.

Those who saw the photo were not shy about sharing their thoughts.

The soap star, 65, was noticeably dressed down in black Free City sweatpants, a cozy black jacket and sneakers

One fan wrote: 'Whats the purpose of putting this kind of picture on Instagram .. like grow the f**k up. Your (sic) a grown women.'

'Their (sic) are so many kids on here.. youre sick,' wrote one upset commenter.

'Too much, Lisa. Come on. We didn't need this,' stated another.

Drawing a comparison to Britney Spears, one fan declared 'Lisa is the new Britney.'

Some fans supported the Days of Our Lives star's racy snap, with one fan writing: 'WHY IS BEING PROUD OF YOIR BODY RESERVED FOR ONLY THE YOUNG or those that fit the societal beauty standards?'

'Everyone should be proud when they have worked hard to achieve a weight loss goal or maintain a healthy lifestyle that allows them to look like THAT AT ANY AGE '

'Yass honey yess! Aint nothing wrong with being proud of your body! You got it flaunt it honey!' exclaimed a fan.

In another interesting display, Lisa posed in a sheer green dress, with a white bra and panties beneath.

Rinna sparked controversy earlier this week on Instagram when she shared a jaw-dropping nude photo

Her followers had mixed feelings about the image

Some of Lisa's fans felt the shocking nude was just too much while others praised the reality star for showing off her figure

She was on her hands and knees, wearing a long light brown wig and clutching one of her breasts.

The photo in her Instagram Stories changed ever so slightly in the next frame with a sentence that read 'Don't forget get your mammograms.'

After baring it all, Lisa was nearly unrecognizable as she headed out on a hike in Los Angeles Tuesday.

The Melrose Place star covered up in the bright sunshine wearing a black puffy jacket and black ankle length leggings and sneakers.

The American Horror Stories actress wore a straw sunhat with a wide brim and large square shaped sunglasses.

In another interesting display, Lisa posed in a sheer green dress, with a white bra and panties beneath.

She was on her hands and knees, wearing a long light brown wig and clutching one of her breasts.

In another interesting display, Lisa posed in a sheer green dress, with a white bra and panties beneath. The photo in her Instagram Stories changed ever so slightly in the next frame with a sentence that read 'Don't forget get your mammograms'

Last July Rinna flaunted her incredibly toned body in a sizzling nude photo on her Instagram stories

The Rinna Wines founder frequently shows off her toned bod; seen in June

The photo in her Instagram Stories changed ever so slightly in the next frame with a sentence that read 'Don't forget get your mammograms.'

After baring it all, Lisa was nearly unrecognizable as she headed out on a hike in Los Angeles Tuesday.

The Melrose Place star covered up in the bright sunshine wearing a black puffy jacket and black ankle length leggings and sneakers.

The American Horror Stories actress wore a straw sunhat with a wide brim and large square shaped sunglasses.
Matthew McConaughey gave fans a rare glimpse at his and wife Camila Alves' only daughter Vida this week.

The Academy Award-winner, 54, took to Instagram on Thursday to share a sweet tribute to Vida the day after her 14th birthday.

He included two beautiful photos of Vida that he'd taken while spending time outdoors near their $6million Texas home.

Vida looked like the spitting image of her mother with the same button nose, brown eyes and curly brunette hair.

'To Vida, who never passed a flower she didn't pick, Happy Birthday,' the father-of-three captioned.

Matthew McConaughey gave fans a rare glimpse at his and wife Camila Alves ' only daughter Vida this week; the couple seen in 2022

The Academy Award-winner, 54, took to Instagram on Thursday to share a sweet tribute to Vida the day after her 14th birthday

He then provided a hilarious explanation as to why his tribute to Vida  who was born on January 3, 2010  came a day late.

Matthew wrote: '*A day late because my mobile device flew out of my pocket on the roller coaster loop at her birthday yesterday!*'

The epic celebration was held at Six Flags amusement park in San Antonio, Texas on Wednesday, according to Matthew and Camila's eldest son Levi, 15.

The teen shared a photo of his little sister screaming with her hands in the air while riding a rollercoaster.

Despite the massive drop, Levi looked stoic while seated behind Vida.

'Waited to post because we spent yesterday doing one of my sister's favorite things!' Levi wrote, adding: 'Happy 14th Vida!'

Along with Levi and Vida, Matthew and Camila also share 11-year-old Livingston.

Livingston rang in his 11th birthday just days before Vida's on Friday, December 29.

And Matthew made sure to honor his youngest son's special day with an Instagram post.

In photos posted by Matthew, Vida looked like the spitting image of her mother with the same button nose, brown eyes and curly brunette hair

'To Vida, who never passed a flower she didn't pick, Happy Birthday,' the father-of-three captioned

Vida's birthday celebration was held at Six Flags amusement park in San Antonio, Texas on Wednesday, according to Matthew and Camila's eldest son Levi, 15

Both Matthew and Camila have made it a point to keep their children off social media, except when it comes to major milestones.

And a birthday was the perfect exception as Matthew shared a candid snap of himself lying on a couch with Livingston smiling in his lap in his tribute.

'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, Camila gushed over Livingston's impact on their lives after reading their eldest son Levi's sweet words to his brother.

Levi had shared seven photos of himself, Livingstone and Vida, which Camila reposted on her own Instagram.

'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!!'

Livingston rang in his 11th birthday just days before Vida's on Friday, December 29. And Matthew made sure to honor his youngest son's special day with an Instagram post

Later, Matthew's wife Camila Alves gushed over Livingston's impact on their lives after reading their eldest son Levi's birthday tribute to his brother

Camila's repost of her son Levi's tribute included a few of the two brothers enjoying Mother Nature together over the years

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.

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.

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.

Vida, Levi, Matthew, Livingston and Camila pictured

Levi, Camila and Vida seen in March 2023

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.'
Brian Austin Green says he underwent a vasectomy after having his fifth unplanned child.

The Beverly Hills, 90210 actor, 50, made the reveal on Tuesday's edition of his iHeart Radio podcast Old-ish, with his co-hosts, fiancee Sharna Burgess, 38, and Randy Spelling, 45.

Green and Burgess welcomed their one-year-old son Zane in June of 2022, marking the actor's fifth child: He is also father to sons Kassius Lijah, 21, with Vanessa Marcil, 55; and Noah, 11, Bodhi, nine, and Journey, seven, with ex-wife Megan Fox, 37.

'Zane was born and I was like, "I think it's time to close the shop,"' said Green, who went Instagram official with the professional dancer in January of 2021, and got engaged to this past July.

The topic came up after Green - who was previously wed to Fox for more than nine years until their 2020 split - and his co-hosts were asked in a fan mail message if they were open to having more children.

Brian Austin Green, 50, says he underwent a vasectomy after having his fifth unplanned child. Pictured in September in Las Vegas

'I have five kids, Sue: Who do you think you are asking a question like this?' Green said, adding that none of his children were the result of planned pregnancies.

Said the actor: 'Funny story - I haven't really planned for any of my kids - every time it's been, "Oh, it's OK. We can do this."'

'I love my kids and I wasn't against any of them, but I've never experienced that thing of looking at a pregnancy test and hoping that it's positive and preparing that way.'

Burgess, who said she was on birth control at the time she and Green conceived Zane, and left the door open to the possibility of having more kids via alternate methods.

'If we do it again, I do want the experience of us planning it together, doing the pregnancy test and really being on this journey with each other,' Burgess said. 'So, we would probably end up having to do IVF.'

Burgess said she was grateful to Green for having the vasectomy, as she said being on birth control took a toll on her health.

'It was a beautiful thing that Brian did because birth control always made me feel crazy,' the Australia-born entertainer said. 'So, I was really, really grateful for that. It was such a big and beautiful thing he did, and it secures comfort and no stress in our sex life; not worry about it, if we are or we aren't, which is such a gift.

'And we can move forward and plan if that should be in the stars for us.'

Brian welcomed fifth child - son Shane - in June 2022 with fiancee Sharna Burgess and revealed he got the snip shortly after the child's birth

The Beverly Hills, 90210 actor made the reveal on Tuesday's edition of his iHeart Radio podcast Old-ish , with his co-hosts Sharna Burgess, 38, and Randy Spelling, 45

Burgess posted a family shot of herself with Green and all five of his children this past Christmas Day

Green on Tuesday praised his 90210 costar Ian Ziering for his guile in fending off multiple attackers following a traffic altercation on Hollywood Boulevard Sunday

Burgess posted a family shot of herself with Green and all five of his children this past Christmas Day.

She mused on the challenges of putting together a festive group shot in which all subjects were posed in harmony.

'ONE damn usable photo!' the Dancing with the Stars alum captioned the shot. 'I have about 300 photos of just today on my phone and these are the ONLY (barely) usable ones where we are somewhat looking in the same general direction.

'And almost no one is blinking. Or pulling a face. And at the same time, I wouldnt change a single thing about us. As long as I get ONE damn photo. And if you cant beat em  join em.'

Green on Tuesday praised his 90210 costar Ian Ziering for his fitness in fending off multiple attackers following a traffic altercation on Hollywood Boulevard Sunday.

'My boy Ian Ziering got into a fistfight on Hollywood Boulevard with like five dudes, and f***ing like beat them, did it, did his thing,' Green said. 'He's a monster.

'He's f***ing incredibly fit, obviously. I would not suggest, to anyone, to fight people, especially not now in this climate. But, you know what? All turned out well. Z, I love you, brother, you're a beast, good on you.'
Tom Sandoval has called out iconic Los Angeles bakery, Sweet Lady Jane, following their sudden closure, after they previously trolled him with a 'Sandoval's a liar' cake.

The bakery, famous for its triple berry cake, shocked their customers on New Year's Day as they announced they would be closing their doors at all locations  after 35 years in business  due to the rising business costs in California.

Sandoval, 40,  who was recently slammed for posing with a captive tiger  was tagged in the comments of the post by pal Billie Lee, who wrote, 'Karma?' along with a laughing emoji and a waving hand emoji.

The Vanderpump Rules star replied back writing, 'I never had a cake by @sweetladyjane that wasn't super dried out. Maybe people started to catch on?'

'Also, to charge $$$ selling cakes using my name in negative sangs [sic] on it really hurt my feelings, and almost pushed me over the edge. Good riddance,' he added.

Tom Sandoval has called out iconic Los Angeles bakery, Sweet Lady Jane, following their sudden closure, after they previously trolled him with a 'Sandoval's a liar' cake; seen in 2023

Last year the cake shop posted a photo of their famous triple berry cake with the slogan 'Sandoval's a liar', after he cheated on longtime girlfriend, Ariana Madix, with Raquel Leviss

Billie then replied to Tom, writing, 'Well now we know they were desperate to sell cakes but obviously the hateful negative approach didn't work.'

Tom and Billie clapped back at the cake shop for posting a photo of their triple berry cake with the slogan 'Sandoval's a liar' last year, after Sandoval had cheated on his longtime girlfriend, Ariana Madix, with co-star, Raquel Leviss.

Last season of Vanderpump Rules saw Sandoval's affair with Madixs pal Raquel, 29, exposed, bringing about the end of their nine-year relationship, and Raquel leaving the show.

The 'Sandoval's a liar' quote originally came from Vanderpump Rules star James Kennedy.

At the time Billie jumped into the comments to defend Sandoval, tagging Sweet Lady Jane as she wrote 'Yall are a cake shop! Like WTF! Really!?'

'What about a cake for mental health because these people are actual humans and make mistakes,' she went on.

Though she didn't mention Sandoval, she wrote, 'You are literally profiting off people's suffering.'

On Monday, the beloved bakery took to their Instagram to announce their closure, writing, 'Dear Community, after 35 years we are closing our doors. Our last day of business was December 31, 2023.'

He commented on the bakery's closure announcement writing, 'To charge $$$ selling cakes using my name in negative sangs [sic] on it really hurt my feelings, and almost pushed me over the edge. Good riddance'

The bakery shocked their customers on New Year's Day as they announced they would be closing their doors at all locations due to the rising business costs in California

The 'Sandoval's a liar' quote originally came from Vanderpump Rules star James Kennedy amid Sandoval's cheating scandal; he is seen with Ariana in 2022

Last season of Vanderpump Rules saw Sandoval's affair with Madixs pal Raquel, 29 (L) exposed, bringing about the end of their nine-year relationship, and Raquel leaving the show

'We did not come to this decision lightly nor quickly. While the support and loyalty of our customers has been strong, sales are not enough to continue doing business in the state of California, allowing us to service our lease obligations and pay our treasured employees a living wage without passing those costs directly on to you.'

'For more than three decades, we didnt just build a loyal customer base, we created a real community. It has been a privilege to be included in your sweetest moments. Big and small.'

The post wrapped up with: 'LA's most beloved Triple Berry Cake will live on in your memories, and in ours. Thank you. Sweet Lady Jane.'

It comes after Sandoval's other co-star Lala Kent slammed him for sharing a video of himself posing with a tiger in captivity.

On Wednesday morning, the reality personality, 33, said on Instagram she was 'appalled' that her costar appeared to be supporting 'animal abuse' during his Thailand trip.

The drama all goes back to his Instagram post from the day before of himself visiting a tiger zoo and posing with one.

'I am appalled by the photo my cast member took with a tiger in captivity,' Lala wrote over a blank background. 'This topic has been close to my heart for many years.

'What is disguised as "fun" and "cool" is, in fact, animal abuse,' she continued. 'It's heartbreaking.

She added: 'I've made noise about educating yourselves, and here I am to tell you again... Do not support places like this.'

It comes after Sandoval's co-star Lala Kent and fans recently slammed him for sharing a video of himself posing with a tiger in captivity

Sandoval had been enjoying a trip to Thailand with his costar, Tom Schwartz, 41, and celebrity jewelry designer Kyle Chan.

Later in the day, he updated his 955 thousand followers on his New Year's getaway and posted a daring clip of himself feeding a piece of raw chicken to a tiger.

This comes over a week after he issued a public service announcement to his fans to not choose infidelity despite him doing so and even creating the infamous Scandoval drama.

Season 11 of Vanderpump Rules premieres Tuesday, Jan. 30 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo and will be available to stream the next day on Peacock.
Nearly one year after returning to the iconic soap opera Days of Our Lives, Steve Burton is exiting once again.

The 53-year-old actor returned to Days of Our Lives in January 2023, reprising his role as Harris Michaels, after he returned months earlier for the Peacock spin-off Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem.

However, Burton revealed yesterday that he is leaving the soap opera, sharing on his Instagram story that he recently filmed his final scenes (via Daily Drama).

The news comes just days after his messy divorce with Sheree Gustin was finalized, two years after their split when she had a baby with another man.

It also comes more than two years after Burton was fired from General Hospital for refusing to comply in the soap's COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

Nearly one year after returning to the iconic soap opera Days of Our Lives, Steve Burton is exiting once again

However, Burton revealed yesterday that he is leaving the soap opera, sharing on his Instagram story that he recently filmed his final scenes (via Daily Drama )

Burton revealed in the brief video, 'Wow. Well I just shot my final scenes here at Days of Our Lives, and I just want to say thank you to everybody, to the cast, to the crew, to Days, everybody. It's been amazing.'

'I can't believe it's been a year already, so thank you so much to the fans. It's just... I'm always so full of gratitude, so thank you. Stay tuned,' he concluded.

Burton originated the role of Harris Michaels for Days of Our Lives back in 1988, though he only appeared in a short run of episodes.

Two years later he signed on to play Jason Morgan, which he played from 1990 to 2012, before leaving to play Dylan McAvoy on The Young and the Restless from 2013 to 2017.

He returned to General Hospital in 2017 as Morgan, until he was fired in 2021 for refusing to comply with the show's COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

He joined the Peacock spin-off Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem in the summer of 2022 before signing a one-year contract for the flagship soap for 2023.

Burton said in an Instagram video that he applied for 'medical and religious exemptions' from the vaccine mandate, but was denied.

'(This) is about personal freedom for me; I dont think anyone should lose their livelihood over this,' Burton said in a statement.

Just months earlier he made headlines for his real-life drama with his then-wife of 23 years, Sheree Gustin, who was pregnant with a child that was not his.

Burton revealed in the brief video, 'Wow. Well I just shot my final scenes here at Days of Our Lives, and I just want to say thank you to everybody, to the cast, to the crew, to Days, everybody. It's been amazing'

'I can't believe it's been a year already, so thank you so much to the fans. It's just... I'm always so full of gratitude, so thank you. Stay tuned,' he concluded

He joined the Peacock spin-off Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem in the summer of 2022 before signing a one-year contract for the flagship soap for 2023

'I wanted to clear something up. Sheree and I are separated. She recently announced that shes expecting her fourth child. The child is not mine,' he said.

'We are still co-parenting our three beautiful kids. We would appreciate privacy at this time. Much luv, Steve,' he concluded.

Burton and Gustin, 45, wed in 1999 and are parents to daughters Makena, 18, and Brooklyn, seven; and son Jack, 16.

It was not clear how long the couple had been separated for before Burton announced it publicly.
Elsa Pataky and Chris Hemsworth have well and truly poured cold water over claims they are 'drifting apart' by posting some loved-up pictures from a recent ski trip together.

Elsa, 47, uploaded photos to Instagram on Friday showing her and husband Chris, 40, enjoying the holiday over the new year with friends and family.

One image showed the couple cuddling while dressed in red outfits in the kitchen of a lavish chalet.

They were also captured on the slopes, with Chris giving a thumbs up as the pair sat in the snow waiting for their chair lift.

In another happy snap, Elsa wore a slinky yellow Fusalp bodysuit and snuggled into her husband.

Elsa Pataky and Chris Hemsworth have well and truly poured cold water over claims they are 'drifting apart' by posting some loved-up pictures from a recent ski trip together. Both pictured

Others showed Chris, Elsa and family and friends gathered for a group picture, including Chris' best mate and fellow Hollywood star Matt Damon and his wife Luciana.

'New Years at the snow with my love ones. Happy New Year to all of you,' she wrote in the caption to the images.

Chris and Elsa also hosted Christmas at their $20million Byron Bay pad.

The couple were joined on the day by their family, including Chris' brother, Liam, 33, and Luke, 43, who got into the festive spirit by dressing up.

One photo showed the couple cuddling while dressed in red outfits in the kitchen of a lavish chalet

In another happy snap, Elsa wore a slinky yellow Fusalp bodysuit and snuggled into her husband

Other photos showed the couple with family and friends gathered for a group picture

Chris' close friend and fellow Hollywood star Matt Damon and his wife Luciana joined them on their snowy holiday (pictured)

The Thor star shared photos and video from the Christmas lunch, where the clan ate a decadent feast in front of their infinity pool and sweeping ocean views.

Stunning in a grey slip on dress, the Fast and Furious star cosied up to her man for a selfie with Liam.

Chris showed off his bulging biceps in a white singlet top, which he teamed up with grey tracksuit pants.

Chris and Elsa, who have spent time holidaying separately in recent months, reunited recently as they enjoyed a family holiday in Fiji.

Posting to Instagram, the pair each shared a gallery of happy holiday snaps showing themselves relaxing at the Tavarua Island Resort with their sons Tristan and Sasha, nine, and daughter India, 11.

It comes after Chris and Elsa hosted Christmas at their $20million Byron Bay pad. The couple were joined on the day by their family, including Chris' brother, Liam, 33, (right) and Luke, 43, who got into the festive spirit by dressing up

Also joining the Hemsworths for their romantic getaway was Chris' brother Luke and several other family friends.

The posts comes amid claims they have 'drifted apart as a couple'.

The genetically blessed duo, who have been married for more than 10 years, recently set tongues wagging that not all was well in paradise after they went on separate holidays.

A source close to the pair told In Touch magazine that despite maintaining a united front for their family and spending Christmas together, the duo have been growing apart for some time.

'The status of Chris and Elsa's marriage is a question mark,' the source told the publication.

The Thor star posted to Instagram to share snaps and video from the Christmas lunch, where the clan ate a decadent feast in front of their infinity pool and sweeping ocean views

'The separate vacations are a huge red flag, but it's more than that. They're still very much a united family, but they've drifted apart as a couple.'

The source claimed Chris wants to live a 'simpler life' but 'Elsa wants more'.

'They were the perfect husband-and-wife team for so long - both gorgeous, beautiful kids. Everything seemed picture-perfect. But things have definitely changed,' they added.

Fans also recently grew concerned about the status of Chris and Elsa's relationship.

The chatter began when Elsa and the couple's children put up the family Christmas tree at their Byron Bay mansion without Chris.

'Haven't seen you and Chris together in a while. Hope all is good,' one follower commented underneath photos the Spanish star posted of the Hemsworth clan decorating the home.

'Where is Chris?' another worried fan wrote, as one pointed out the pair have been taking less photos together than usual.

In October, Elsa, 47, jetted to Japan with the couple's twin sons Tristan and Sasha without her husband.

Meanwhile, Chris took their daughter India on a daddy-daughter getaway to Iceland.

Both parents documented their separate holidays on social media at the time, leaving many confused as to why the mega-wealthy pair didn't join their holiday plans.

In November, the pair went on separate trips yet again.

Elsa travelled back to her native Spain to attend The Woman Awards, where she posed up a storm in a daring backless gown.

The Fast and Furious star cosied up to Chris who showed off his bulging biceps in a white singlet top

Her husband was conspicuously absent, instead choosing to travel to Abu Dhabi for a family getaway with his genetically-blessed brothers Liam and Luke, their partners Gabrielle and Samantha and the famous siblings parents, Craig and Leonie.

It's unclear whether India joined her mother or father for their respective trips.

The action star was also in the United Arab Emirates capital to attend the F1 Grand Prix with his famous brothers and male pals.

Chris then jetted off to Brazil to promote his new film Furiosa alongside co-star Anya-Taylor Joy.

His three children stayed back in Australia with their mother, who shared a video of herself bike riding at the beach with the kids on Thursday morning.

Chris and Elsa did spend time together in their hometown of Byron Bay in October.

Elsa posted a photo of the couple taking their kids dirt bike riding on a farm on October 12.
Michelle Yeoh showed off her impeccable sense of style on Thursday, while attending The Brothers Sun premiere in Los Angeles.

The 61-year-old Oscar-winning actress looked chic in a maxi leopard print coat with structured shoulders at the event, which was held at the Netflix Tudum Theater.

Her coat was belted at the waist and underneath the stylish ensemble she wore a black top and matching pants.

The Malaysian beauty  who stars as Eileen 'Mama' Sun in the new Netflix action comedy series  wore her dark tresses pulled into a bun and accentuated her stunning features with a touch of makeup.

Her appearance comes just a day after she shared the first photos of her new grandson Maxime's face, following revelation that she has become a grandmother.

Michelle Yeoh showed off her impeccable sense of style on Thursday, while attending The Brothers Sun premiere in Los Angeles

The 61-year-old Oscar-winning actress looked chic in a maxi leopard print coat with structured shoulders at the event, which was held at Netflix Tudum Theater

While at the event she mingled with a number of stars, including Gwyneth Paltrow, 51, who sizzled in a form-fitting red dress.

Paltrow is married to the Netflix series' co-creator, Brad Falchuk, 52, who was also present.

The Everything Everywhere All at Once star also posed with co-star Jenny Yang, who wowed in a black leather jacket and maxi black skirt.

While walking the red carpet she also bumped into filmmaker Paul Feig, 61, with the duo sharing a warm hug.

Paul rocked a red velvet jacket over a white button-up and black pants.

Michelle got playful on the red carpet when her co-stars Justin Chien and Sam Song Li joined her, with the actress hilariously pulling them both by the ears.

She continued making the rounds, later posing with CEO of Netflix Ted Sarandos, 59, and Chief content officer of Netflix Bela Bajaria.

The IMDb synopsis for the show reveals that is follows 'Charles Sun, a Taipei gangster who's settled into his life as a ruthless killer, but must go to L.A. to protect his mother and younger brother after his father was shot by a mysterious assassin.'

The coat was belted at the waist and underneath the stylish ensemble she wore a black top and matching pants

The beauty  who stars as Eileen 'Mama' Sun in the new Netflix series  wore her dark tresses pulled into a bun and accentuated her stunning features with a touch of makeup

While at the event she mingled with a number of stars, including Gwyneth Paltrow, 51, who sizzled in a form-fitting red dress

The ladies happily greeted each other

She also posed with co-star Jenny Yang, who wowed in a black leather jacket and maxi black skirt

While walking the red carpet she also bumped into filmmaker Paul Feig, 61, with the duo sharing a warm hug

Michelle got playful on the red carpet when her co-stars Justin Chien and Sam Song Li joined her, with the actress hilariously pulling them both by the ears

Michelle continued making the rounds, later posing with CEO of Netflix Ted Sarandos, 59, and Chief content officer of Netflix Bela Bajaria

(L-R) Nne Ebong, Peter Friedlander, Byron Wu, Sarandos, Chien, Yeoh, Song Li, Bajaria, Brad Falchuk and Kevin Tancharoen

All episodes of The Brothers Sun are now available to stream on Netflix

All episodes of The Brothers Sun are now available to stream on Netflix.

Prior to the release of her latest project, Yeoh revealed she has become a grandmother.

And on Wednesday the star took to social media to show off her grandson.

'We are so truly blessed cant tell u how happy I am for this very very special bundle of joy,' wrote Yeoh.

It was her new husband Jean Todt's son Nicolas who welcomed a baby boy with his partner Darina.

The proud new grandma shared three snaps of the newest member of her family. 'So so so so happy,' she commented on a short video clip in which she held Maxime and blew kisses at him.

She also shared a close up snap of her looking down at baby Maxime as well as a shot of the happy parents and proud grandfather.

Michelle wed Todt, 77, in July after a 19-year engagement.

Prior to the release of her latest project, Yeoh revealed she has become a grandmother. On Wednesday the star took to social media to show off her grandson Maxime

On New Year's Day Yeoh confused fans who thought the baby was her own.

She shared a photo of the baby's foot with the caption: 'A little miracle on the first day of 2024.'

Well-wishers and celebrities including Sharon Stone and Naomi Campbell quickly began to congratulate the star on welcoming her first child  leading the star to post loved-up snaps with Jean and clarify she had in fact welcomed a grandchild.

She wrote: 'Thank you darling Nicolas and Darina for making us the happiest and proudest Grandparents!! Welcome baby Maxime.'
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Gwyneth Paltrow looked ravishing on Thursday night as she supported husband Brad Falchuk at the Los Angeles premiere of his new Netflix show The Brothers Sun.

The couple  who wed in 2018  hit the red carpet along with the action comedy's cast, including Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh, at the Netflix Tudum Theater.

Paltrow, 51, posed for shutterbugs in a low-cut red suede top that her stylist Elizabeth Saltzman paired with a floor-length skirt.

She added a slim red leather belt that cinched in the mother-of-two's already tiny waist.

A pair of shiny, gold chandelier earrings popped against the Oscar-winner's signature blonde hair.

Gwyneth Paltrow looked ravishing on Thursday night as she supported husband Brad Falchuk at the Los Angeles premiere of his new show The Brothers Sun

Paltrow, 51, posed for shutterbugs in a low-cut red suede top that her stylist Elizabeth Saltzman paired with a floor-length skirt

As for makeup, Paltrow opted for a natural glam look that consisted of smudged eyeliner, a rosy flush and a muted pink lip.

She looked incredibly proud of Falchuk, who is the mind behind the horror anthology American Horror Story and the FX drama Nip/Tuck.

He co-created both shows, as well as the hit Fox series Glee, with Ryan Murphy.

But this go around, Falchuk and his production company Brad Falchuk Teley-Vision collaborated with TV writer Byron Wu to create The Brothers Sun.

For the big premiere Thursday, he looked suave in a tan pinstripe suit styled with a classic white button-up and a striped tie.

Falchuk kept one arm wrapped around Paltrow as they posed on the red carpet.

Paltrow looked thrilled to spend time with the show's star Michelle Yeoh ahead of the screening in LA.

The A-list pair held onto one another as they giggled in front of the cameras.

Yeoh stunned in a glamorous tiger-print trench coat worn over a chic black turtleneck top and trousers.

She added a slim red leather belt that cinched in the mother-of-two's already tiny waist

A pair of shiny, gold chandelier earrings popped against the Oscar-winner's signature blonde hair

Gwyneth looked incredibly proud of Falchuk, who is the mind behind the horror anthology American Horror Story and the FX drama Nip/Tuck

The couple  who wed in 2018  hit the red carpet along with the action series' cast, which includes Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh (pictured left)

The A-list pair held onto one another as they giggled in front of the cameras

Paltrow also posed with series stars Sam Song Li and Justin Chien

The Crazy Rich Asians star had her lustrous brunette hair pulled back in a ponytail and she rocked fierce winged eyeliner.

Yeoh plays 'Mama Sun' in the new Netflix show, which follows Charles Sun (Justin Chien), a Taipei gangster who's settled into his life as a ruthless killer, but must go to L.A. to protect his mother and younger brother (Sam Li) after his father was shot by a mysterious assassin, as per IMDb.

Both Chien and Li were on hand at Thursday's premiere and eagerly reunited with Yeoh for photos.

Chien put on a stylish display in a fitted black suit and white dress shirt.

The actor brought along his mother Ginny Hu Chien, who wowed in a black sleeveless dress and heels.

Chien got to act alongside his mother in The Brothers Sun, which he told TV Guide was 'by far the most special moment from this entire process.'

Li turned heads wearing a squiggly, light-up sash over his cropped pinstripe blazer and loose trousers.

After getting in their solo shots, Chien and Li gathered with their female co-stars Highdee Kuan and Alice Hewkin for a group photo.

Michelle Yeoh stunned in a glamorous tiger-print trench coat worn over a chic black turtleneck top and trousers

Yeoh posed for a playful snap with co-star Jenny Yang, who plays 'Xing'

Yeoh plays Mama Sun in the new Netflix show and posed for photos with her onscreen sons, Justin Chien and Sam Song Li, during the festivities

Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos and Netflix CCO Bela Bajaria were also in attendance

The new series follows Charles Sun (Justin Chien), a Taipei gangster who's settled into his life as a ruthless killer, but must go to L.A. to protect his mother and younger brother (Sam Li) after his father was shot by a mysterious assassin, as per IMDb

Justin Chien brought along his mother Ginny Hu Chien, who wowed in a black sleeveless dress and heels

After getting in their solo shots, Chien and Sam Li gathered with their female co-stars Highdee Kuan and Alice Hewkin for a group photo

Highdee Kuan looked breathtaking while posing in an elegant black dress that had a string of rhinestones running along the bottom of the bust

Alice Hewkin took the plunge in a unique white gown with a netted overlay and chiffon draping that dragged on the floor

Sporting silver tresses and blunt bangs, Jenny Yang  who plays 'Xing'  looked effortlessly cool in all-black

Madison Hu  who plays 'Grace'  put on a daring display in a green gown that exposed her chest

Bling Empire star Christine Chiu and her husband Dr. Gabriel Chiu were among the high-profile attendees

The stunner embodied Old Hollywood glam in a ruched satin dress with a sheer lace bust. Her black hair tumbled down her chest in waves as she beamed for the cameras

The Brothers Sun is now available to stream on Netflix

Kuan  who plays 'Alexis'  looked breathtaking while posing in an elegant black dress that had a string of rhinestones running along the bottom of the bust.

Hewkin  who plays 'May'  took the plunge in a unique white gown with a netted overlay and chiffon draping that dragged on the floor.

The actress smoldered for shutterbugs with her raven tresses worn in loose waves.

Sporting silver tresses and blunt bangs, Jenny Yang  who plays 'Xing'  looked effortlessly cool in all-black.

Madison Hu  who plays 'Grace'  put on a daring display in a green gown that exposed her chest.

Bling Empire star Christine Chiu and her husband Dr. Gabriel Chiu were among the high-profile attendees.

The stunner embodied Old Hollywood glam in a ruched satin dress with a sheer lace bust.

Her black hair tumbled down her chest in waves as she beamed for the cameras.

The Brothers Sun is now available to stream on Netflix.
Jeannie Mai turned up the heat on Thursday as she celebrated her 45th birthday.

The television personality thrilled her 3M Instagram followers by posting a number of snaps from the special day, which saw her rocking a tiny metallic gold bikini during a winter getaway.

The mother-of-one  who split from estranged husband Jeezy, 46, in September  paired the busty look with snow boots, a warm fur coat and a matching beanie.

Wrapped around her waist was a brown Louis Vuitton fanny pack. Jeannie added a touch of bling to the look with chunky gold hoop earrings.

The star flaunted her enviable physique while posing on a snow-covered dock at a picturesque lakeside cabin.

Jeannie Mai turned up the heat on Thursday as she celebrated her 45th birthday by rocking a tiny metallic gold bikini during a winter getaway

'Cuz she can,' the birthday girl captioned the steamy snaps.

At the end of the birthday post she also included a video of herself raising a glass of what appeared to be champagne.

Her fans and followers took to the comments to praise the newly single star and her 'thirst trap' snaps.

'She said we doing GOOD BABY,' one wrote.

'It's giving SINGLE and ready to mingle,' another added.

'So happy you didn't shrink up after that man split.... proud of your growth, your daughter is the lucky one, mommas gonna teach her to rise above and succeed,' yet another follower wrote.

'I love how we overcome obstacles. Men think they have us. They don't though,' someone else chimed in.

Jeezy  born Jay Wayne Jenkins  filed for divorce from Jeannie in September 2023, saying their marriage was 'irretrievably broken.'

The pair said 'I do' in 2021 after three years of dating. They welcomed their first child, a daughter named Monaco, in January 2022.

Her fans and followers took to the comments to praise the newly single star and her 'thirst trap' snaps; seen in 2022

Last month Jeannie denied estranged husband Jeezy's claim that she won't let him see their one-year-old daughter Monaco, whom they welcomed in January 2022

She said she wants him to be involved in his daughter's life but is concerned about him providing 'reasonable safety measures' and also made a brief mention about 'unsecured' firearms

His accusations come about three weeks after Mai filed her response to Jenkins' divorce petition and seemingly implied his infidelity, which would violate their prenuptial agreement; seen in 2020

Last month Jeannie denied Jeezy's claim that she won't let him see their child.

Amid their ongoing divorce case, the star said she's been more than accommodating with their temporary schedule over custody of their one-year-old.

In court documents obtained by TMZ, she submitted a response to the rapper's allegations that she is interfering with him spending time with their child.

She also said she wants him to be involved in his daughter's life but is concerned about him providing 'reasonable safety measures' and also made a brief mention about 'unsecured' firearms.

In the filed paperwork, Jenkins requested for a hearing to sort out a temporary custody schedule as he alleged she has been keeping him from seeing their child.

In response, she claimed that she has given him all the dates he has asked for and gave him an extended period of time with her over the Christmas holiday.

She also stated that she believes they are strong candidates for the option to be sent to mediation by a judge to instead work out the conflict themselves.

The court documents stated that she 'remains committed to facilitating and encouraging' the involvement of Jenkins' in their one-year-old-'s life.

She also said she wants to 'foster an open, supportive and safe environment for both parents to actively participate' in Monaco's life.

However, her attorneys said she is concerned about the 'safety and security' but 'is absolutely not gatekeeping' him from spending time with their daughter.

'It is essential to clarify that Ms. Jenkins' insistence on reasonable safety measures being put in place,' Mai's attorneys wrote in the legal paperwork.

Jeezy filed for divorce in September 2023, saying their marriage was 'irretrievably broken'; they are seen in 2020

They provided examples 'such as safely securing and locking away all firearms that have been unsecured in the past'.

'Having familiarity and properly trained caregivers is absolutely not gatekeeping, but rather a responsible effort to prioritize their daughter's well-being,' the legal paperwork read.

Her lawyers added: 'Safety and security, especially when under the care of others and traveling across the country, are reasonable protective measures'.

They emphasized that it was 'not an attempt to restrict Mr. Jenkins' access to their daughter'.

His accusations come about three weeks after Mai filed her response to Jenkins' divorce petition and seemingly implied his infidelity, which would violate their prenuptial agreement.
Danielle Brooks shined in an all-white outfit on Thursday while attending the Palm Springs International Film Festival in Palm Springs, California.

The 34-year-old actress donned a crisp white jacket along with matching creased trousers for the awards ceremony held at the Palm Springs Convention Center.

Danielle completed her outfit with open-toed clear heels and accessorized with earrings and necklaces.

She had her dark hair gathered up top and accentuated her natural beauty with full makeup.

Danielle was honored at the awards ceremony with the Spotlight Award for her work in the musical adaptation of The Color Purple.

Danielle Brooks shined in an all-white outfit on Thursday while attending the Palm Springs International Film Festival in Palm Springs, California

She has a starring role as Sofia in the coming-of-age drama that also stars Taraji P. Henson, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, H.E.R., Halle Bailey and Fantasia Barrino.

Danielle at the awards ceremony teamed up with her co-star Taraji, 53, for a photo.

The Color Purple was produced by Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg and Quincy Jones and was released on December 25 in the US by Warner Bros. Pictures.

Danielle also has been nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category at the Golden Globe Awards, which will be held on Sunday in Beverly Hills, California.

She also has been nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the upcoming Critics' Choice Movie Awards for her work in the film.

The Color Purple also has been nominated for Best Picture at the 29th Critics' Choice Awards.

The Palm Springs International Film Festival drew several A-listers to its event including The Maestro star Carey Mulligan, Barbie star Margot Robbie and Poor Things star Emma Stone.

Oscar-winning actress Meryl Streep, 75, also was in attendance and mingled with Carey on the carpet.

The 34-year-old actress donned a crisp white jacket along with matching creased trousers for the awards ceremony held at the Palm Springs Convention Center

Danielle was honored at the awards ceremony with the Spotlight Award for her work in the musical adaptation of The Color Purple

She has a starring role as Sofia in the coming-of-age drama that also stars Taraji P. Henson, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, H.E.R., Halle Bailey and Fantasia Barrino

Danielle at the awards ceremony teamed up with her co-star Taraji P. Henson for a photo

A scene from The Color Purple shows Danielle in the center of the action

Honorees at the annual affair included Paul Giamatti, who took home the Icon Award for acting, and Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell who were recognized with the Chairman's Award.

The brother-sister collaborators were honored for their song What Was I Made For? from the Barbie soundtrack.

Eva Longoria, Kirsten Dunst, Lenny Kravitz and Willem Dafoe also attended the event in Palm Springs.

This past year saw the release of Eva's directorial debut Flamin' Hot, based on the memoirs of Frito-Lay executive Richard Montanez, who has long touted himself as the inventor of Flamin' Hot Cheetos.

Frito-Lay has repudiated his claim that he created the snack, and a Los Angeles Times expose in 2021 found that a lower-level employee called Lynne Greenfield played a more pivotal role in the birth of Flamin' Hot Cheetos.

By the time the bombshell report ran, Eva's movie was already in the pipeline, and the actress-turned-filmmaker has staunchly defended her project ever since.

Jesse Garcia, who plays Richard Montanez in the film, cut a dashing figure at Thursday's awards show in Palm Springs, wearing his tie rakishly askew over an open top button.

In a charming group shot to remember, Jesse struck a pose on the red carpet whilst sandwiched between his director and his Flamin' Hot leading lady Annie Gonzalez.
American actor Harry Johnson has died at the age of 81 after a long illness.

His four-decade career saw him star in the likes of Battlestar Galactica and Law & Order as well as the famous Harry & Louise adverts.

Johnson's wife Christine confirmed his passing to Deadline, revealing he died on January 2 in Los Angeles.

Born on December 27, 1942, in Plainfield, New Jersey, Johnson began his career in 1978 on Battlestar Galactica and went on to star in a slew of TV series including M*A*S*H, Quincy M.E., The Incredible Hulk and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Johnson also famously starred in the Harry & Louise TV and radio ads in the Nineties that targeted President Bill Clintons health care plan.

American actor Harry Johnson has died at the age of 81 after a long illness. His four-decade career saw him star in the likes of Battlestar Galactica and Law & Order

As well as his work on the small screen, Johnson appeared in Real Genius, Warlock and The Spitfire Grill and in TV movies.

He famously appeared with Batman star Adam West in the 1981 sci-fi flick Time Warp.

The star also worked as an ADR voice actor and on multiple Need for Speed video games.

He ran the voice-over or looping groups on multiple Dick Wolf shows for more than two decades, including all the Law & Order and Chicago series.

Johnson also proved to be a talented writer, releasing novels under the name Harry Castle.

His first book was 2013s Fugitive Romance: The Fictional Memoir of a Hollywood Screenwriter, and his second book was the short-story collection Miracles & Misfits.

Johnson's wife told Deadline that the actor loved to sail and was renowned with colleagues for his wit and habit of bringing a brightness to sets, making work a pleasure.

Along with Christine, his wife of 15 years, Johnson is survived by his stepchildren Oliver and Penelope.
Eva Longoria put on an elegant display as she attended the 35th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala on Thursday.

The actress, 48, posed up a storm in an attention-grabbing ensemble as she arrived at the Convention Center in Palm Springs, California.

She looked as incredible as ever in a figure-hugging cream lace gown which hugged her hourglass figure, worn over a nude bodysuit.

Eva gave herself a few extra inches in a pair of heels and kept her accessories minimal with a pair of droplet silver earrings.

She joined a star-studded guest list at the A-list event, including the likes of Margot Robbie, Emma Stone and Billie Eilish.

Eva Longoria put on an elegant display as she attended the 35th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala on Thursday

The actress, 48, posed up a storm in an attention-grabbing ensemble as she arrived at the Convention Center in Palm Springs, California

Killers Of The Flower Moon was bequeathed the film festival's vanguard award, and in accepting the trophy, director Martin Scorsese brought a wide array of the film's team onstage with him.

A whole host of stars made their way across the stage over the evening, including Barbie co-stars Margot and America Ferrera, who hugged director Greta Gerwig while presenting her with her directing award.

Greta in turn delivered a glowing testimonial to Billie and Finneas Eilish, hailing their contribution to her film and crediting it for helping her discover the feature's musicality.

Eva's appearance at the event comes after she shared a clip of a precious moment with her son Santiago.

She recently took to her Instagram Stories to post an adorable video of Santiago, four, asleep across her chest.

In the video, Santiago could be seen with his arms draped around her shoulders and his head resting on her shoulder.

Alongside the clip, she wrote: 'I was ready for dinner and then this one fell asleep.....so now I'm stuck here underneath this pile of pure love.'

Earlier in the day, she shared her 'unseen moments' of 2023 comprising of fun and cute photos and videos.

She looked as incredible as ever in a figure-hugging cream lace gown which hugged her figure, worn over a nude bodysuit

Eva gave herself a few extra inches in a pair of heels and kept her accessories minimal with a pair of droplet silver earrings

Eva's appearance at the event comes after she shared a clip of a precious moment with her son Santiago after he fell asleep on her chest

Earlier in the day, she shared her 'unseen moments' of 2023 comprising of fun and cute photos and videos, including one of her cuddling Santiago while on the set of Flamin' Hot

She shared a brief description of each slide in the carousel in her caption: '1. In Schiaparelli 2. Gotta always make a DQ stop 3. Back exercises on the front lawn 4. @kenpaves can explain'.

She continued: 5. Wine for dinner 6. Got to press play on my movie! 7. Yes, that's me getting my hair done in the car 8. Hard at work or hardly working? 9. My love! 10. *adds truck driver to resume*'

One of the photos showed her with 'my love' Santiago while working on the set of her feature directorial debut, Searchlight's Flamin' Hot, released in March 2023.

In the adorable clip, she was busy talking to actors on camera as her son smiled widely and admired her.
Barry Keoghan fans made a shock observation after he teased his new Apple TV+ drama series Masters of the Air.

The 31-year-old actor - who has been hitting headlines after starring in Saltburn - shared snaps from his latest project, confirming the release date is January 26.

With one of the shots featuring his co-star Austin Butler - who plays Maj. Gale 'Buck' Cleven alongside Barry's Lt. Curtis Biddick - fans were quick to pick up on a coincidence.

In the comments section on Barry's Instagram post, social media users pointed out that Austin played Elvis Presley in the 2022 self-titled biopic.

Most recently Barry starred alongside Jacob Elordi in Saltburn and fans commented on the fact Jacob had also starred as the King of Rock and Roll in 2023's Priscilla.

Barry Keoghan fans made a shock observation after he teased his new Apple TV+ drama series Masters of the Air (pictured in December)

Barry's post about starring in the Apple TV+ series is set to be released on January 26 and got people talking about him co-starring with Austin Butler (pictured)

One fan wrote: 'if I had a nickel for everytime Barry acted with someone who played Elvis, Id have two nickels, which isnt a lot but weird it happened twice right.'

Another pointed out: 'Hes now filmed with both Elvises.'

Some were just excited to see Barry and Austin together on screen, with one gushing: 'Me when I realized I get a two for one special being an Austin Butler and a Barry Keoghan fan watching Masters of the Air.'

Another mentioned Saltburn, insisting: 'im still not over saltburn. need the movie tattooed on my forehead it was so good'

The comments come after Jacob and Barry spoke about another actor almost being cast as the latter's Saltburn character in an interview with Vogue UK.

Jacob, 26 - who starred as Felix Catton in the much-talked about flick - spoke about Timothee Chalamet, 28, being director Emerald Fennell's original choice to play Oliver Quick.

As Jacob asked Barry what drew him to sign up for the role during a private Q&A between each other, Barry claimed it was Emerald, Jacob and the scripts doing.

Jacob said: 'Barry, what drew you to Saltburn?'

With one of the shots featuring Austin - who plays Maj. Gale 'Buck' Cleven alongside Barry's Lt. Curtis Biddick - fans were quick to pick up on a coincidence

Austin Butler won numerous awards for his role as Elvis in the 2022 flick (left) while Jacob also starred as the King of Rock and Roll in 2023's Priscilla (right)

Barry responded: 'When I met Emerald, she told me that she had you kind of down to do it. So, Emerald, yourself and the script... what about you?'

'Definitely yeah, it was Emerald. Then she said she wanted Timothee Chalamet for it' [Barry laughing], he joked.

Jacob added: 'And I said have you thought about Barry Keoghan?'

Saltburn continues to set the internet ablaze, due to shocking scenes including that bath moment and the 'vampire sex' scene.
Coleen Rooney paid tribute to her beloved sister Rosie on the 11th anniversary of her death.

The WAG, 37, told her late sibling she 'loved her to the moon and back' as she marked 11 years since Rosie passed away in 2013 aged 14 on Instagram on Friday.

Rosie died after her lifelong battle with Rett syndrome, a rare brain disorder that causes severe disabilities.

Coleen shared a series of sweet photos of her teenage sister with her eldest son Kai, 14, who was born in 2009, and one of Rosie looking at a laptop.

She captioned the post: '11 years without you. We love and miss you always Rosie Mc.'

Coleen Rooney paid tribute to her beloved sister Rosie on the 11th anniversary of her death (pictured in 2006)

The WAG, 37, told her late sibling she 'loved her to the moon and back' as she marked 11 years since Rosie passed away in 2013 aged 14 on Instagram on Friday

The McLoughlins took Rosie in as a foster child when she was two and while they previously just provided respite care, Coleen noted that 'Rosie was different' in her Wagatha Christie Disney+ documentary.

She explained: 'When Rosie came along she was a massive part of our lives. She was the sister that I never thought I was going to have.'

Speaking to her mother and her father Tony, she continued: 'I used to do her hair and used to love picking clothes with me mum for her. She brought that little bit extra to the house. We fell in love with her.'

Yet the family soon realised that Rosie was struggling with her development, and after a series of hospital tests she was diagnosed with Rett syndrome.

Coleen explained: 'Rosie, she struggled. She couldn't walk and talk and would be in pain and sick but she still put a smile on her face.

'Sometimes she used to force a laugh out. I think it was just to make my mum and dad happy.

'Gradually her brain wasn't functioning so she couldn't eat anymore, couldn't talk, move.'

Coleen shared a series of sweet photos of her teenage sister with her eldest son Kai, 14, who was born in 2009, and one of Rosie looking at a laptop

Rosie died after her lifelong battle with Rett syndrome, a rare brain disorder that causes severe disabilities

She captioned the post: '11 years without you. We love and miss you always Rosie Mc'

Heartbreaking: Coleen Rooney broke down in tears as she discussed her late sister Rosie in emotional scenes on her new Disney+ series about the Wagatha Christie scandal

Rosie needed 24-hour care and after suffering from 'lots of complications' and being admitted to intensive care, Colette revealed the family decided to bring her home to spend her final days surrounded by her loved ones.

'We had a sleepover, one last sleepover, all of us together,' she explained. 'And then we had a big party to celebrate her life.'

Breaking down in tears, Coleen said: 'To lose a child is the worst thing that could ever happen to anyone but when you look back now she gave us so many good years of happiness and love.'
This is the last picture taken of Kate Garraway before her husband Derek Draper died aged 56 after suffering a heart attack before Christmas.

The presenter, 56, was seen on December 30 leaving a north London Tesco in a Santa hat with several bags of food after cancelling all of her TV work commitments to be at Derek's hospital bedside in his final days.

The Good Morning Britain host, who announced the passing of her husband on Instagram this morning, looked exhausted but seemed to be embracing the festivities despite her heartache at the time.

Derek had been plagued with health woes after contracting Covid in 2020 and suffered a cardiac arrest in early December, with Kate spending Christmas at hospital. MailOnline understands he passed away on Wednesday night.

Kate announced his death today in a post on Instagram saying: 'I'm sad to have to tell you all that my darling husband Derek has passed away.

Kate Garraway has been seen for the first time since her husband Derek Draper was left fighting for his life as he suffered a heart attack

Kate was pictured leaving a north London Tesco in a Santa hat with several bags of food

Derek, 56, who has been plagued with health woes after contracting Covid in 2020, has today died at the age of 56 (pictured in June with Kate's parents Gordon and Marilyn)

'As some of you may know he has been critically ill following a cardiac arrest in early December which, because of the damage inflicted by Covid in March 2020, led to further complications.

READ MORE: Kate Garraway's husband Derek Draper dies aged 56 after long Covid battle Advertisement

'Derek was surrounded by his family in his final days and I was by his side holding his hand throughout the last long hours and when he passed. I have so much more to say, and of course I will do so in due course, but for now I just want to thank all the medical teams who fought so hard to save him and to make his final moments as comfortable and dignified as possible.

'Sending so much love and thanks to all of you who have so generously given our family so much support. Rest gently and peacefully now Derek, my love, I was so lucky to have you in my life.'

Derek, who was a former researcher for Blairite Peter Mandelson, had two children with Kate - Darcey, 17, and Billy, 14.

Former prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown led tributes today.

Mr Brown tweeted: 'So sad that after such a brave struggle Derek Draper has lost his life as a result of Covid. I will remember him as brilliant, creative and multitalented, and our thoughts are with Kate, Darcey and Billy. RIP Derek'.

Sir Tony Blair said: 'I am so sad to hear the news about Derek. My heart goes out to Kate and their children William and Darcey.

'It is extraordinary and remarkable that Derek survived so long after the ravages of Covid. And that was in large measure due to the love Derek had for his family and they for him. This also says something very special about Derek.

'He was a tough sometimes ruthless political operative, a brilliant adviser and someone you always wanted on your side.

'But underneath that tough exterior he was a loving, kind, generous and good natured man you wanted as a friend.

'He was an important part of the New Labour story, at the centre of things right at the beginning. But most important of all, he was a good colleague and great friend. And we will miss him deeply.'

Kate revealed she was holding her husband's hand when she died

Kate and Derek at the National Television Awards in 2007

Derek Draper had two children with Garraway - a son, William, and a daughter, Darcey. Couple pictured here with their daughter, son and Derek's mother in 2009

Derek Draper (circled) is seen standing next to Labour grandees including Neil Kinnock, John Prescott and Peter Mandelson (right). The footage was in BBC2's The Rise of the Murdoch Dynasty

It was revealed last week that Derek suffered a heart attack, which left him in critical condition, fighting for his life.

A source told The Mirror: 'Derek suffered a massive heart attack which has left him fighting for his life all over again. It was sudden and a shock as he had been doing well and was in great spirits, looking forward to Christmas at home with the family.

'We just hope there will be some more positive news soon as he has been in such a long and tough battle with his health. Kate's only focus right now is Derek and her family.

Following the news about Derek's ill health, Kate's Good Morning Britain co-stars sent an emotional message of support.

Charlotte Hawkins told viewers: 'We wanted to start with an update. You have seen that Derek, Kate's husband, is sadly very poorly at the moment.

'We want to let Derek, Kate and the whole family know we are thinking of them, and that we're sending them our very best wishes'.

Richard Madeley added: 'It is a very difficult time', as Charlotte agreed: 'Extremely difficult. Lots of love.'

Following the news fans rushed to X, formerly known as Twitter, to send Derek their prayers and branded Kate 'amazing and strong' for her continued resilience.

One person wrote: 'Kate so sorry to read about Derek. Keep strong and keep believing he will pull through. He is a fighter! Sending love!'

The heartbreaking turn of events came after it was reported Derek was 'in great spirits' and looking forward to Christmas with his family.

A source told The Sun at the time: 'It was sudden and a shock as he had been doing so well and was in great spirits, looking forward to Christmas at home with the family.

'This setback has been a huge blow for his family and all the people caring for him.

'Kate has been utterly incredible  by his side while being an amazing mum to Darcey and Billy, and trying to manage their expectations of a family Christmas.'

Derek was a former researcher for Blairite Peter Mandelson who became a New Labour spin doctor and later retrained as a psychotherapist after a series of political scandals.

Tragically he was among the first in the UK to fall seriously ill with Covid-19 and was admitted to an intensive care unit as the country entered lockdown in March 2020. He was one of the country's longest-suffering COVID patients after being in hospital but never fully recovered.

Doctors put him in a medically induced coma and he became the longest-suffering coronavirus patient in the UK after spending 13 months in hospital, apart from Kate and their two children.

However, he was readmitted several times with numerous health issues, including kidney failure, brain inflammation and liver damage.

Kate's Good Morning Britain co-stars sent an emotional message of support following the news about Derek's ill health in December last year

Derek has been in and out of hospital after he fell seriously ill with coronavirus at the very start of the pandemic in March 2020, and was left with lasting damage to his organs

Derek was catastrophically ill in hospital after becoming one of the first people to catch covid

Earlier this year, Kate revealed she was planning to take Derek to Mexico for a second bout of experimental treatment in a desperate bid to save him from the devastating effects of Covid.

Following a previously 'gruelling' trip to Mexico at the beginning of 2022, Kate shared her hopes at flying Derek back for an additional round of treatment.

Kate told The Sun: 'The effort required to get him there is extraordinary, and obviously we are relying on the grace of these specialists to help him.

'I can't thank all those involved in getting him to Mexico enough because without them he wouldn't have the chance of this potentially life-changing treatment.'

She added: 'The plan is to go back for another round of treatment and continue the trial in a way that is financially viable.'

Although Kate insisted that they'd had 'wonderful treatment' from the NHS, which were essential in keeping her husband alive, the foreign trips offer 'potentially life saving treatment'.

As well as the trip, the Smooth Radio presenter has had to spend 'tens of thousands of pounds' adapting the family home in London for Derek, which included the installation of ramps, a downstairs wet room and a makeshift downstairs bedroom.

Due to the severity of his illness and length of time spent in hospital he remains unable to walk and has developed debilitating symptoms.
MARCH 2020

Kate revealed she and Prince Charles had got 'relatively close' at the Prince's Trust Awards on March 11 - Charles was diagnosed with coronavirus in mid-March.

She said: 'Around the 29/30 March, I came home came in and said [to Derek] 'god you look ill.'

'He said he had a headache, numbness in his right hand, and was struggling to breathe,

'I rang Dr Hilary (Jones) and tried to get through, he talked to Derek. He said put me back on, I think you need to call an ambulance'

Derek, 52, was taken into hospital on March 30 and remained in an unresponsive condition.

APRIL

Kate and her children isolated at home after she displayed 'mild symptoms'.

Kate said: 'Derek remains in intensive care and is still very ill. I'm afraid it remains an excruciatingly worrying time.

'I'm afraid he is still in a deeply critical condition, but he is still here, which means there is hope.'

MAY

Kate said: 'The journey for me and my family seems to be far from over as every day my heart sinks as I learn new and devastating ways this virus has more battles for Derek to fight.

'But he is still HERE & so there is still hope.'

That month, Kate and her family took part in the final clap for carers

She said: 'I'll never give up on that because Derek's the love of my life but at the same time I have absolute uncertainty'

JUNE

On June 5, Kate revealed Derek is now free from coronavirus but continues to fight against the damage inflicted on his body

JULY

On July 5, Kate revealed Derek has woken from his coma but he remains in a serious yet critical condition.

On July 8, she announced she would be returning to GMB, after being urged by doctors to 'get on with life' during Derek's recovery.

She added that Derek had 'opened his eyes' after waking from his coma, but has been told his recovery could take years.

On July 13, Kate returned to GMB for the first time since Derek was hospitalised.

On July 28, Kate revealed she'd paid an 'extra emotional' first visit to Derek, and admitted she's 'frustrated' by his slow progress.

AUGUST

On August 14, Kate reassured GMB viewers that Derek was 'still with us,' but it was 'a waiting game.'

On August 19, Kate revealed she celebrated Derek's birthday with their two children, and described the day as 'challenging' for her family.

SEPTEMBER

At the end of September, Derek reportedly becomes the longest surviving patient with coronavirus after spending 184 days in and out of intensive care.

Kate reveals Derek has lost eight stone during his battle.

The presenter announces she is returning to her Smooth Radio show so Derek can hear her voice.

OCTOBER

On October 30 Kate reveals that Derek has spoken for the first time in seven months, saying the word 'pain' to his wife, who watched on 'in tears' over FaceTime.

Kate says a day later that her husband no longer needs a ventilator to breathe.

NOVEMBER

Kate reveals her family car has been stolen in latest 'body blow' to her family life, as kind-hearted fans offer their cars to help.

She says she feels 'physically sick' at the prospect of facing her first Christmas without Derek.

DECEMBER

The GMB star tells viewers it is her dream to visit Derek on Christmas Day.

She also reveals she missed two weeks on GMB after her children were exposed to the virus, but thankfully she and the kids tested negative.

On December 17, Kate has an emotional conversation live on GMB with two nurses who treated Derek when he was first admitted to Whittington Hospital in North London.

On New Year's Eve she reflects on a 'calamitous' Christmas without Derek, as her house was flooded and she struggled to get a food delivery slot until her pal Emma Willis stepped in to help.

JANUARY 2021

Kate reveals she and her children got to visit Derek in hospital over the Christmas period, and it was the first time her family had seen him since he was hospitalised.

She also says she's banned from seeing him due to new restrictions introduced during the government's third lockdown.

FEBRUARY

Kate reveals she is unsure how much Derek will 'ever be able to recover' following warning from doctors that he may never wake from his coma

MARCH

Kate revealed that was in the process of adapting her home to suit Derek's needs when he is finally released from hospital, in the ITV documentary Finding Derek.

The programmed was praised by viewers for offering a heartbreaking look at the long-term effects of coronavirus.

Kate also revealed that Derek has 'no muscle left' since battling Covid

APRIL

Kate revealed that Derek was finally allowed to leave hospital, but would require round-the-clock care once he was returned home.

MAY

Kate revealed that despite now being home with his family, his communication abilities were 'minimal' and he 'couldn't really move'

DECEMBER

During an appearance on Piers Morgan's Life Stories, Kate revealed that Derek had said 'I love you' for the first time.

After celebrating Christmas, Derek was also pictured in a wheelchair during a trip to the pantomime with his family

JANUARY 2022

Kate revealed that Derek was 'very fatigued' and 'very weak' following the family outing, adding: 'I don't know what this year is going to bring.'

FEBRUARY

Kate offered a glimpse into the daily struggles of looking after her husband amid his battle with long Covid in the documentary Caring For Derek

She also revealed that Derek would die within three days if he was left alone to care for himself.

JULY

On July 6, Kate revealed that Derek had been re-admitted to hospital after suffering a 'downturn,' and in a later interview said she takes things 'day by day.'

On July 20, it was reported that Kate had pulled out of hosting Good Morning Britain to be at Derek's bedside after he took a 'very serious' turn for the worse.

Recalling the day, the presenter told The Sun: 'At one point Derek said to me, "This is it, this time. I am gone." It was just terrifying.

'His sepsis was gut-wrenching for all of us because it had gone undiagnosed until the point where it was about to take his life away again.'

JANUARY 2023

Kate became overwhelmed as she confronted former health secretary Matt Hancock over his handling of the pandemic and his decision to go on I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here.

She then became tearful and looked up as she spoke about Derek, who has been unwell for approaching three years.

Describing public anger towards him, Kate added of his decision: 'This gives the impression you still don't get why they are cross. You still don't get why people are upset. They want to hold you to more account.'

APRIL

Kate revealed that Derek was once again receiving care in hospital, as she shared the emotional moment Sir Elton John dedicated a song to the 'inspiring' couple.

She shared the emotional moment Sir Elton John dedicated a song to the 'inspiring' couple, writing on Instagram: 'Yes Derek has been back in hospital this week & yes there's such a long road ahead but #eltonjohn & @davidfurnish you gave the kids & Derek a moment that we will never forget and has lifted their spirits again to feel anything is possible.'

It was also reported that Kate was planning a trip across the world for pioneering treatment in a 'final hope' to help her husband.

MAY

Kate reportedly faced a huge 716,000 tax bill after she was forced to close her husband's business two years after he became stricken with Covid-19.

The final total will be settled within the coming weeks, with friends insisting she will pay whatever is owed.

A friend told The Sun: 'The figures are terrifying and Kate is of course worried about all the financial pressures, but she has to trust the process.

'When it comes to an end, she is determined to pay back anything that's owed.

'It's no secret that Kate has been battling to keep her husband alive and working through some heartbreaking situations in her personal life in recent years.

'Sadly as well as the emotional stress of Derek's terrible illnesses the financial burden has also been crippling.'

DECEMBER

Derek was left fighting for his life after suffering a heart attack.

Kate held a 24/7 vigil by his bedside and cancelled all work commitments while the family 'prayed for a miracle'.

A source said: 'It was sudden and a shock as he had been doing so well and was in great spirits, looking forward to Christmas at home with the family.

'This setback has been a huge blow for his family and all the people caring for him. Kate is by his side 24 hours a day and is willing him on to win this latest battle for his life.

'Derek has fought so many times, and always, against all odds, come out the other side.'

JANUARY 2024

Kate announced on January 5 that Derek had passed away.

She said: 'Derek was surrounded by his family in his final days and I was by his side holding his hand throughout the last long hours and when he passed.

'I have so much more to say, and of course I will do so in due course, but for now I just want to thank all the medical teams who fought so hard to save him and to make his final moments as comfortable and dignified as possible'.

MailOnline understands he passed away on January 3 in a North London hospital.

He is survived by wife Kate and their children Darcey, 17, and son William, 14.
Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary were close to tears as they announced the tragic death of Kate Garraway's husband Derek Draper live on Friday's This Morning.

Kate had revealed in an Instagram post moments earlier that Derek had died aged 56 after suffering a heart attack before Christmas following a long battle with Covid.

Addressing viewers, a visibly emotional Alison announced: 'We have some really sad news to bring you. Derek Draper the husband of our very own Kate Garraway has sadly passed away.'

She added: 'Kate just posted this just as a tribute', as Dermot read out the Good Morning Britain star's tribute.

Alison concluded: 'We just want to say all of us here at This Morning are sending our love to you Kate and of course [Kate's children] Darcy and Billy.'

Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary were close to tears as they announced the tragic death of Kate Garraway 's husband Derek Draper live on Friday's This Morning

Kate revealed in an Instagram post moments earlier that Derek had died aged 56 after suffering a heart attack before Christmas following a long battle with Covid (pictured in 2019)

Kate revealed she was holding her husband's hand when she died. MailOnline understands that Derek passed away on Wednesday night in a north London hospital

Kate announced the passing of her husband on Instagram on Friday morning, and revealed she was holding his hand when he died.

She said: 'Derek was surrounded by his family in his final days and I was by his side holding his hand throughout the last long hours and when he passed.

'I have so much more to say, and of course I will do so in due course, but for now I just want to thank all the medical teams who fought so hard to save him and to make his final moments as comfortable and dignified as possible'.

MailOnline understands he passed away on Wednesday night in a North London hospital. Kate said that he died surrounded by family.

He is survived by wife Kate and their children Darcey, 17, and son William, 14.

Derek had been plagued with health woes after contracting Covid in 2020 and suffered a cardiac arrest in early December, with Kate spending Christmas at hospital.

In a post on Instagram she said: 'I'm sad to have to tell you all that my darling husband Derek has passed away.

'As some of you may know he has been critically ill following a cardiac arrest in early December which, because of the damage inflicted by Covid in March 2020, led to further complications.

'Sending so much love and thanks to all of you who have so generously given our family so much support. Rest gently and peacefully now Derek, my love, I was so lucky to have you in my life.'

Friends of Kate were quick to offer their condolences while the Loose Women also paid tribute on air.

Kaye Adams confessed: 'We have all been moved by Kate and her familys journey over the last four years', as Linda Robson added: 'They were my neighbours for many many years and I saw them often, so its really sad and I knew them quite well and they are such a lovely family.'

Coronation Street actress Sue Cleaver hailed Kate for her documentaries about life living with Derek's illness.

She said: 'We all got to accompany Kate on this terrible journey through these amazing documentaries that she made.

'(It was) the darkest time of their lives, and yet she was still able to highlight the roles of carers everywhere today and my heart is just with them and so, so sorry to hear the news.'

Olivia Attwood continued: 'The young kids without a father and Kate on her own, its just awful', as Kaye concluded: 'We cant say anymore its just so raw.'

All ITV workers were 'desperately saddened' to learn of the death of Derek, a boss at the channel said.

A visibly emotional Alison announced: 'We just want to say all of us here at This Morning are sending our love to you Kate and of course Darcy and Billy' (pictured together in 2022)

The Loose Women also paid tribute on air. Kaye Adams confessed: 'We have all been moved by Kate and her familys journey over the last four years'

Linda Robson said: 'Its really sad and I knew them quite well and they are such a lovely family' and Olivia Attwood added: 'The young kids without a father and Kate on her own, its just awful'

Bosses at This Morning issues a social media tribute after announcing the news live of air

Kate's ITV co-stars were also quick to share their condolences and offer sympathy

In a statement, Kevin Lygo, managing director of media and entertainment at ITV, said: 'Everyone that has worked with Kate at ITV over the past few years are desperately saddened to hear this terrible news.

'Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with Kate and Derek's family and we will continue to offer our support in any way we can at this very difficult time.'

Susanna Reid and Charlotte Hawkins led messages of support in the comments of Kate's announcement post on Instagram.

Susanna wrote: 'Our whole hearts are with you all', while fellow presenter Charlotte said she was 'desperately sorry' to hear the news.

She added: 'Kate, it's absolutely heartbreaking. So much love to you all.'

Richard Arnold, who fronts the entertainment coverage on Good Morning Britain, said: 'By your side always.'

ITV host Lorraine Kelly also sent her sympathies, writing: 'So sorry Kate. You fought so hard. Just incredibly sad. Sending you love.'

She added on her page: 'This is just so sad. Our friend @kategarraway has been so strong and brave. Thoughts with her and her children and family.

'She was right by his side until the end and did him proud. An astonishing woman.'

GB News' Pip Tomson also welled up as she discussed the tragic loss on GB News, saying: 'Just want to bring you some incredibly sad breaking news we've heard in the last few minutes. The husband of ITV presenter Kate Garraway...'

Pausing and welling up, Pip continued: 'I'm sorry, I worked with Kate for a long time so this is really difficult, such a strong woman.

'Her husband Derek Draper - who has been in a very serious condition after suffering Covid - he has passed away.'

Sky News' Ian King also paid a personal tribute, saying: 'It's awfully sad news and very personally for me too because I was at university with Derek more than 30 years ago and I considered him a great friend.

'My condolences to the family.'

GB News' Pip Tomson also welled up as she discussed the tragic loss on GB News, saying: 'Just want to bring you some incredibly sad breaking news we've heard in the last few minutes'

Sky News' Ian King also paid a personal tribute, saying: 'It's awfully sad news and very personally for me too because I was at university with Derek more than 30 years ago'

Derek was plagued with health woes after contracting Covid in 2020, and was fighting for his life after a heart attack last month (pictured in June with Kate's parents Gordon and Marilyn)

Derek is survived by Kate and their children Darcey, 17, and son William, 14 (pictured in 2021)

Derek was in and out of hospital after he fell seriously ill with coronavirus at the very start of the pandemic in March 2020, and was left with lasting damage to his organs.

Doctors put him in a medically induced coma and he became the longest-suffering coronavirus patient in the UK after spending 13 months in hospital, apart from Kate and their two children - Darcey, 16 and Billy, 13.

He was readmitted several times with numerous health issues, including kidney failure, brain inflammation and liver damage.

Kate revealed in November that her family were 'adjusting to a new normal' as Derek battled to get better.

READ MORE: How Derek Draper and TV star wife formed one of Britain's most prominent media power couples Advertisement

Speaking to OK! magazine, Kate shared: 'Derek's in hospital having some treatment. It's not an emergency thing, it's not a dramatic rush back into intensive care, thank goodness. It's something that started last year that we hope will lead to improvement.

'I've managed to get it in before the end of the year. It's something we were trying to do in the summer, but there are referrals and time and all of those things.

'Every day we wait and see. There isn't a dramatic improvement but touch wood things haven't gone backwards either. So we're just adjusting to a new normal.'

Last year Kate revealed she was planning to take Derek to Mexico for a second bout of experimental treatment in a desperate bid to save him from the devastating effects of Covid.

Following a previously 'gruelling' trip to Mexico at the beginning of 2022, Kate shared her hopes at flying Derek back for an additional round of treatment.

Kate told The Sun: 'The effort required to get him there is extraordinary, and obviously we are relying on the grace of these specialists to help him.

'I can't thank all those involved in getting him to Mexico enough because without them he wouldn't have the chance of this potentially life-changing treatment.'

She added: 'The plan is to go back for another round of treatment and continue the trial in a way that is financially viable.'

Although Kate insisted that they'd had 'wonderful treatment' from the NHS, which were essential in keeping her husband alive, the foreign trips offer 'potentially life saving treatment'.

As well as the trip, the Smooth Radio presenter has had to spend 'tens of thousands of pounds' adapting the family home in London for Derek, which included the installation of ramps, a downstairs wet room and a makeshift downstairs bedroom.

Due to the severity of his illness and length of time spent in hospital he remains unable to walk and has developed debilitating symptoms.

In summer last year Derek developed sepsis and was again rushed to hospital, where the severe condition nearly killed him.

She shared the 'heartbreak' she felt over Derek's health while on podcast Emotionally Speaking with host Peter Leonard.

Doctors put Derek in a medically induced coma and on a ventilator and he was in hospital for 13 months before being discharged in April 2021 but was readmitted several times

She explained: 'He is living in the world of the unknown, when he wakes u pin the morning it is heartbreaking because it feels as though you are watching someone who may have been inhabiting his old life in his dreams and then he wakes up and you see the cloud descend of the battle he has ahead.

'But if you look back, there is some progress, he has more words now and his voice is stronger. You occasionally get a little bit of a Chorley accent in there so it feels like he is more present, but he still can't sit up without assistant and his life isn't his own.

'His brain had always been his allay and friend, but now it is his enemy. I think he's had a big emotional struggle.

Kate added: 'One of the challenges with Derek is we've never felt like he is safe, so every infection and rush back to hospital might be the moment he is taken from us. We are still hopeful he will improve but we have no clear timeline on this.'

Kate has made two documentaries detailing her life amid Derek's Covid battle, with both winning National Television Awards in the authored documentary category.

She was recognised with an MBE in the 2022 New Year Honours for her services to broadcasting, journalism and charity.
Sophie Habboo flaunted her jaw-dropping figure as she hit the beach with husband Jaimie Laing during their sun-soaked getaway on Friday.

The reality star, 29, slipped into a tiny black thong bikini as she topped up her tan, showcasing her toned abs and peachy posterior in a slew of Instagram snaps.

Sophie enjoyed a stroll on the golden sand before laying back on her sun lounger with her pricey Chanel bag at her side.

She also shared a clip of a joyous Jamie, 35, who she wed in 2023, dancing as he devoured a packed of pretzels.

Captioning the post: 'Jamie meets pretzel snack'.

Sophie Habboo, 29, flaunted her jaw-dropping figure as she hit the beach with husband Jaimie Laing, 35, during their sun-soaked getaway on Friday

Sophie enjoyed a stroll on the golden sand before laying back on her sun lounger with her pricey Chanel bag at her side

It comes after Jamie used MailOnline to play a hilarious prank on his wife last month.

Titling it the 'final prank of 2023' the jokester shared a video of the moment his wife almost cried over the prank on the way back from their ski trip to Geneva.

Posting on Instagram, ex Made In Chelsea star Jamie explained how he wanted revenge on his wife after 'she left me for dead in the airport queue'.

He showed a clip of the long queue he had to deal with before explaining how he was 'going to fake a Daily Mail article saying she jumped the queue.'

Jamie photoshopped a real MailOnline article from earlier this month about the couple at the Wonka premiere, changing the headline to read: 'Sophie Habboo is caught skipping the queue at Geneva airport whilst others wait patiently.'

Sophie is then seen being shown the fake article as the couple and their friends drive home.

As her friend tells her 'I've forwarded something onto you,' Sophie says 'you're freaking me out,' before going silent as she reads the headline.

'That's not good,' exclaims Jamie playing along, before a tearful Sophie covers her face with her hands.

The couple shared a glimpse of their swanky hotel with views of the sea

She also shared a clip of a joyous Jamie, who she wed in 2023, dancing as he devoured a packed of pretzels

Captioning the post: 'Jamie meets pretzel snack'

As she clocks on, Sophie screams at her husband 'that's not funny' as he laughs.

'Probably my best and last prank of 2023 on @sophiehabboo. Happy New Year' Jamie captioned the Insta video.

Jamie, who married Sophie in May 2023, recently admitted that despite his numerous relationships on Made In Chelsea, he had never been in love until he fell in love with Sophie.

He told The Sunday Times: 'Before Sophie I dated a lot of people in the show but I dont think I was ever really in love.

'The first time we met was at a dinner party and I found her hilarious and very normal, which was a breath of fresh air. We became such close buddies.

Then, the first time I tried stand-up comedy, she texted me beforehand to wish me luck. No one else did, and something pinged.'

Sophie and Jamie began dating in 2019 after years of friendship and Jamie popped the question in 2021.

Together they host The NewlyWeds Podcast which they actually began when they were still only engaged.
Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne are to move back to the UK over safety fears in Los Angeles following the rise in hate amid the war between Israel and Hamas.

The couple are to return to their sprawling Buckinghamshire home, with the former X Factor star blaming the woke generation for fuelling hatred which she says have seen incidents of antisemitism soar.

Sharon, 71, whose manager father Don Arden was Jewish, said: 'You know, people come here, they visit Malibu they look at the beach, they walk around Beverly Hills and they go, "God, this place is fantastic." But you look a little deeper and you see the way it really is.

'I want to go back to where I came from. It is very strange here right now, I just feel safer back in England.'

The mother-of-three cites the rise of anti-Jewish hate as the reason to leave California where she and Ozzy last year sold their mansion for 16 million.

Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne are to move back to the UK over of safety fears in Los Angeles following the rise in hate amid the war between Israel and Hamas

The mother-of-three cites the rise of anti-Jewish hate as the reason to leave California where she and Ozzy last year sold their mansion for 16 million

She blames Generation Z - a term used to describe those born during the late 1990s and early 2000s - who she believes make up a large proportion of anti-Israel protesters.

Sharon lambasted them as 'loudmouths' adding: 'It started with the woke generation. If you've got posters in streets all over the world with pictures of people who have been kidnapped and are being held as hostages, and there are other people in the world tearing those posters down, that is absolute hatred.'

'These kids are so entitled but that does not give them the right to verbalise on something which is taking people's lives in a war. They have no world experience, they are not educated about the situation. Shut the f**k up and go back to school.'

Speaking to the Jewish Chronicle, the star added: 'Of course you feel vulnerable.

'How can you not feel intimidated or a little uneasy with what is going on in the world if you're a Jew. Antisemitism is like a virus. People who hate Jews think Israel's war against Hamas gives them a legit reason to have a go at Jews now. I honestly can't believe the things I've read on social media about Jews and the war on Hamas in Gaza.'

Sharon also hit out at being cancelled following accusations she was racist.

She left CBS programme The Talk after 11 years as a panelist after a heated on-air debate with former co-star Sheryl Underwood in March 2021, in which she ferociously defended friend Piers after he was sacked from Good Morning Britain for not believing Meghan's claims that she was suicidal.

The mother-of-three cites the rise of anti-Jewish hate as the reason to leave California where she and Ozzy last year sold their mansion for 16 million (pictured)

Sharon's manager father Don Arden was Jewish. She was estranged from Arden for 20 years before reconciling in 2001 (pictured 2002)

She blames Generation Z who she believes make up a large proportion of anti-Israel protesters (pictured Israeli soldiers operate in a location given as Gaza)

Sharon also hit out at being cancelled following accusations she was racist. She left CBS programme The Talk after 11 years as a panelist after a heated on-air debate

Meanwhile, another of the show's stars Whoopi Goldberg's remarks about the Holocaust made headlines when she claimed the Shoah was not about race - but she was allowed to stay.

Sharon said: 'Whoopi was on probation for two weeks.'
Mr Bates vs The Post Office star Amy Nuttall has branded the real life scandal 'utterly heartbreaking' and backed a petition for the company's former boss Paula Vennells to be stripped of her CBE.

The actress, 41, played Lisa Castleton in the four-part ITV series, which followed the story of hundreds of subpostmasters wrongly prosecuted for theft by the Post Office due to a faulty IT system.

Ms Vennells was in charge from 2012 to 2019  part of the period in which more than 700 subpostmasters were charged .

Some went to prison, while many lost their homes and life savings trying to repay money wrongly thought missing. Others took their own lives or died before they could get justice.

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, Amy shared a link writing: 'I just signed the petition calling on Paula Vennells, the former CEO of the Post Office to be stripped of her CBE. Will you sign too?'.

Mr Bates vs The Post Office star Amy Nuttall has backed a option for the company's former boss Paula Vennells to be stripped of her CBE (Amy pictured on the show with co-star Will Mellor)

The actress, 41, played Lisa Castleton in the four-part ITV series, which followed the true story of hundreds of subpostmasters wrongly prosecuted for theft by the Post Office due to a faulty IT system (ex boss Paula Vennells pictured)

In a previous post Downton Abbey star Amy wrote of the series: 'Hope people are tuning in to watch this. Its an important one and everyone needs to see just how shocking and unbelievable it is'.

'Its gut wrenching and utterly heartbreaking what happened to these innocent people. Please watch and please share'.

It comes after Postal minister Kevin Hollinrake said as chief executive Mrs Vennells 'ultimately [had] responsibility for what happened'.

'If I was Paula Vennells, I would seriously consider handing that CBE back voluntarily', Mr Hollinrake told Good Morning Britain.

The scandal, which stemmed from problems with the Horizon IT system developed by Fujitsu of Japan, ran from 1999 to 2015.

Mr Hollinrake said the resultant public inquiry into what has been described as the biggest miscarriage of justice in British legal history 'should identify who is responsible'.

The scandal features in a new four-part ITV drama called Mr Bates vs the Post Office, in which Toby Jones portrays Alan Bates, a former subpostmaster who campaigned to expose the truth about glitches in the Horizon system.

Mr Bates last year said he had turned down an OBE in disgust at Mrs Vennells retaining her honour. The 69-year-old told Times Radio the situation was 'diabolical'.

Ms Vennells was in charge from 2012 to 2019  part of the period in which more than 700 subpostmasters were charged (Toby Jones pictured as Mr Bates in the series)

Some went to prison, while many lost their homes and life savings trying to repay money wrongly thought missing. Others took their own lives or died before they could get justice

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter , Amy shared a link writing: 'I just signed the petition calling on Paula Vennells, the former CEO of the Post Office to be stripped of her CBE. Will you sign too?'.

In a previous post she also wrote of the series: 'Hope people are tuning in to watch this. Its an important one and everyone needs to see just how shocking and unbelievable it is'

Asked if Mrs Vennells should be allowed to keep the gong, he replied: 'No. That should have been taken off her.'

Viewers were left in tears after watching the final episode of the ITV drama on Thursday as Alan took his case all the way to the Royal Courts of Justice.

He went to the courts to take on the Post Office with a Group Litigation Order covering 555 claimants.

Fans were emotional after watching, with one saying on X: 'Not me crying at seeing the convictions of the subpostmasters getting their convictions over turned. Its terrible how they were treated and I really hope they all get back every penny they rightfully deserve and is THIERS!'

Another wrote: 'I don't think a show has ever made my blood boil like #MrBatesVsThePostOffice.

'A magnificently crafted, brilliantly acted piece of television, illustrating the heartbreaking and tragic consequences of this disgraceful, ongoing national scandal. A must-watch.'
She's been enjoying some winter son in Barbados with her husband Jonathan Smith and son Stanley.

And Sarah Jayne Dunn looked in high spirits as she enjoyed a family day at the beach on Thursday.

The Hollyoaks star-turned-OnlyFans model, 42, looked sensational as she paraded her figure in a tiny bikini.

The floral two piece highlighted her toned abs and peachy bottom as she strutted along the shore before jumping into the sea.

She completed the look with a dainty gold necklace and bangle while her sodden golden locks were swept back into a ponytail.

She's been enjoying winter son in Barbados with her husband and son and Sarah Jayne Dunn looked in high spirits as she enjoyed a day at the beach on Thursday

The Hollyoaks star-turned-OnlyFans model, 42, looked sensational as she paraded her figure in a tiny bikini

She wasted no time throwing herself into the action with her seven-year-old son, diving into the water to take on an inflatable obstacle course.

During her time away, Sarah enjoyed a mini Hollyoaks reunion with Jodi Albert, who played Debbie Dean on the soap and is married to Westlife's Kian Egan.

Jodi flew out to Barbados with Kian and their three children, Koa, 12, Zeke, eight, and Cobi, six.

Jodi and Kian attended Sarah's wedding to Jonathan in 2018, alongside Ali and co-stars Carley Stenson and Danny Mac.

Sarah shot to fame on the Channel 4 soap in 1996, playing Mandy for 25 years before being famously axed in 2021, after she refused to give up her lucrative OnlyFans career.

OnlyFans is an internet subscription service used primarily by sex workers who produce X-rated content.

Sarah has claimed to make upwards of 700,000 on the platform, almost six times what she made at the height of her Hollyoaks career.

The content creator also hosts a podcast, Hot & Bothered, where she admitted that she will probably give up OnlyFans once her son gets older.

At the time, she said: 'One of the biggest things that's come out of me doing OnlyFans is like, when you're a mum, you know, you "can't do that".'

'I'm really good mum. Surely the important thing is that he's loved and he's happy and that he's fed?

'And he's still only six [now seven] years old. So for me, I will at some point probably get to that stage and go "okay, right. Maybe it's time to call it a day".

'When Stan maybe is about to start high school or something like that. Luckily, for now, he's in a gorgeous school with gorgeous parents and gorgeous kids. Everyone knows and it's okay.'

Sarah was joined at the beach by her husband Jonathan Smith and their seven-year-old son Stanley

The floral two piece highlighted her toned abs and peachy bottom as she strutted along the shore before jumping into the sea

She completed the look with a dainty gold necklace and bangle while her sodden golden locks were swept back into a ponytail

She was a vision of beauty as she worked her angles in the tiny two piece

Sarah lurked around in the sunshine as she splashed along in the sea

Sarah previously launched a fresh attack on Hollyoaks bosses, branding them hypocritical for sacking her over her OnlyFans career.

Speaking on the Dirty Mother Pukka podcast, she claimed she was once left feeling 'violated' over a sex scene with an enthusiastic new actor.

She also accused bosses of making one unnamed actress cry after a naked shower scene which she said was done on 'their terms'.

A spokesperson for the soap told MailOnline that they were 'unaware' of Sarah's complaints relating to her time on Hollyoaks.

Sarah was famously sacked from the Channel 4 soap for refusing to stop doing her OnlyFans content.

But she claims she had asked the soap's chiefs if it would be alright for her to put sexy pictures of herself on the website, and she claims they gave her approval - only to fire her later for it.

Sarah said: 'They knew about it. I'd had meetings, I'd had zoom meetings. I told them that I was considering the platform.

'They hesitated, they weren't sure, and when I explained that I wouldn't be doing explicit content - obviously that's not my thing - I would literally be just moving my content from Instagram to OnlyFans, they OK'd it internally.

'The way that the contract works is that you have to get permission to do anything outside of the programme. And I'm a good girl, I always have been, I'm very professional, so I went down all the right avenues.'

She said it was all OK 'until I launched', adding 'so that's when it wasn't OK'.

Sarah said even though programme bosses objected on the grounds it was an over-18s platform and the show had a youth audience, they had known that when they gave the green light previously.

Sarah looked stunning in a white lace kimono as she enjoyed soaking up the sun in Barbados

She joke with her Instagram followers as she slipped into something more racy for the evening

She wasted no time throwing herself into the action with her seven-year-old son, diving into the water to take on an inflatable obstacle course

Sarah clambered over an inflatable with her son in tow

She showcased her physical fitness as she raced across the course

She looked sensational as she stopped to catch her breath

She caught up with her handsome husband on the sunsoaked trip

Sarah appeared to be able apprehensive when first entering the sea as she slowly regulated her body temperature

Sarah's family were quick to get her lovely blonde locks wet

The family had a little bit of trouble staying afloat on their inflatable as Sarah uses her arms for balance

Sarah was seen grinning cheek to cheek as she enjoyed some family fun in Barbados

The star looked sensational as she and her loved ones used to the holiday to burn some energy and have some down time in the sun

Sarah enjoyed a relaxing break floating in the ocean

She sashayed out of the ocean hand in hand with her husband

Sarah looked phenomenal for her day out in the sunshine

She added: 'Apparently one cast member complained. I'd love to know (who), I have my suspicions.'

She believes the situation 'blew up so much' because Hollyoaks had lost control of images of her, but she was doing nothing different to the promotional pictures she was contractually obliged to do.

Hitting out at the 'hypocrisy of the whole thing', she said: "I think what irked them was the fact that I took control of myself.

'I went "this is what I'm doing, are you OK with that?", "we're ok with that", and then I did it and suddenly they weren't ok with that.

'For me, reading into it, it's the fact that they don't have control and they can't monetise from it.'

When contacted by MailOnline, a Hollyoaks spokesperson said: 'Duty of care for our cast and crew is of paramount importance to us.

'We are unaware of any complaints from Sarah Jayne Dunn relating to the time she describes on the Hollyoaks set. Hollyoaks adheres to strict protocols on set to protect and safeguard our team.'

The outspoken star also hit back at critics after she was slammed for posing up a storm in lingerie as 'a mother in her 40s'.

She took to her Instagram Story to post a message after sharing snaps of herself in skimpy pink underwear.

The mother-of-one wrote: 'To the guy (that was following me on here) that just put a c****y comment about me being a mother in my 40s and how because of that I shouldn't be parading in my pants.

'Don't come at me today, I am not in the mood. I will parade in my pants for as long as I like.

'Regardless of my age or parental status and you can kindly f**k off, blocked.'
Maya Jama has admitted she is feeling the pressure to up her racy Love Island outfits for the upcoming All Stars series.

The show, set to launch on January 15, will see former islanders head to South Africa in a bid to find love for the second time.

And according to show insiders, producers have switched up the format for the launch with 12 reality stars set to arrive at the villa instead of the usual 10.

Maya, 29, appeared on This Morning on Friday where she told hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary all about hosting the ITV2 dating show and what is in store.

The television presenter, who has made waves with her sexy and eye-catching wardrobe since she took over as host from Laura Whitmore in 2022, admitted there is pressure for her to wear more show-stopping looks.

Maya Jama has admitted she is feeling the pressure to up her racy Love Island outfits for the upcoming All Stars series

The television presenter, who has made waves with her sexy and eye-catching wardrobe since she took over as host from Laura Whitmore in 2022, admitted there is pressure over her outfits

Alison, 48, told Maya: 'We have a What's App group and all we ever talk about is your outfits. They have become an event. Do you get a bit nervous about the next series, you have to top each one don't you?'

Maya replied: 'It's a bit of pressure, for my stylist mainly. We did a fitting yesterday and it went well. Everyone has their own tastes. But I need to dress to make myself feel good.'

For the teaser, Maya was helped into a figure-hugging red dress with a plunging neckline and high leg split.

But the presenter opted for a less revealing look for the daytime show as she rocked a black jumpsuit and Louboutin heels.

She said of the becoming Love Island host: 'I didnt expect to get emotionally involved with the islanders you get your own connections and you get your heart broken when they get theirs's broken. I got some friends from last year.'

It comes as bosses are reportedly set to bring in 12 ex contestants instead of the usual 10.

A source told The Sun: It's a bumper line up for the show - fans will need to tune in as there are loads of show favourites in there.

'ITV are throwing everything at the series and everyone's saying it's going to be a massive hit.'

MailOnline has contacted ITV for comment.

Alison, 48, told Maya: 'We have a What's App group and all we ever talk about is your outfits. They have become an event'

The show, set to launch on January 15, will see former islanders head to South Africa in a bid to find love for the second time

The presenter opted for a less revealing look for the daytime show as she rocked a black jumpsuit and Louboutin heels

Maya looked effortlessly stylish as she posed for a photo ahead of her appearance

The presenter cinched in her waist and styled her hair in soft waves

Maya appeared in high spirits ahead of the launch of the All Stars series

Maya set pulses racing with her eye-catching looks since taking over as host of Love Island

Relationships will be put to the test as bombshells enter and heads turn leaving some lovestruck hopefuls heartbroken in the ultimate quest for love.

As the couples explore their connections and attempt to win the hearts of each other and the nation, only one pair will be crowned the winners of Love Island: All Stars 2024.

The lineup is yet to be announced although Love Island 2019 contestant Ovie Soko, Paige Thorne from the 2022 series, and Georgia Steel, who found fame on the 2018 season, are all reportedly taking part.

And their experience as former Islanders will hopefully give their chance at finding a relationship a boost because they already know their turn ons, icks, and who they want to be whispering sweet nothings to in the Hideaway.

Love Island All Stars begins on Monday January 15 at 9pm on ITV1, ITV2 and ITVX.
Faced with El Nino phenomenon, this scientific instrument will become Peru's eyes in space in order to get prepared for possible floods, and its priority is to capture satellite images, from Peru's northern zone above all.









Those satellite images were delivered to the Ministry of Environment and other entities involved.





With the passage of Cyclone Yaku, 500 images were recorded by the Peruvian satellite system, which is integrated by PeruSAT-1.





For the announced phenomenon, authorities from the National Civil Defense Institute (Indeci), the National Emergency Operations Center (Coen), the Multisectoral Commission in Charge of the National Study of El Nino Phenomenon (Enfen), the National Center for Disaster Risk Estimation, Prevention, and Reduction (Cenepred), plus other institutions receive satellite images continuously.





that areas historically affected by intense rains have been prioritized since the beginning of 2023. FAP Major General Garcia Morgan told Andina news agency









How is imaging linked to El Nino phenomenon conducted?





Just as in other national defense cases, such as the detection of illegal mining activities or illicit drug crops, the images to be obtained from PeruSAT-1 and the Peruvian satellite system are programmed in advance.





So far, most of this material delivered is from Peru's northern area.





"If the satellite is in Pucusana right now, it takes 26 days to pass through its vertical (line) again; however, that is to be above it. In 98 minutes, the satellite has already circled the planet, and with a small angle, it can capture an image (for emergencies). That's a return visit," he explained.





Satellite images have metadata that are relevant parameters containing key information for decision-making in terms of prevention or emergency response (efforts).





In parallel, Conida carries out training for the staff of each institution so that they can make the most of the data obtained.





Peruvian space agency has a national coverage plan that is informed to all authorities so as to make the most of the Peruvian satellite's orbit and capture images aimed at addressing El Nino phenomenon. Deputy Director of the CNOIS at Conida, FAP Colonel Jose Ivan Cespedes Caceres , specified that the

As the expected date for El Nino approaches, the taking of satellite images of various parts of this country will increase.

Peruvian satellite operations center in Lima

operations are conducted to control and monitor the PeruSAT-1. At the National Satellite Imagery Operations Center (CNOIS) , located in Lima's southern Pucusana district,

However, on emergency occasions, this establishment housed staff for several days, as happened during Cyclone Yaku last year.

That is why Conida currently considers setting up an emergency response office at its venue in San Isidro district, Lima.





(END) SPV/MVB
David Soul, best known for his smash hit role on Starsky and Hutch, has died at the age of 80.

His heartbroken wife Helen Snell confirmed that the British-American star had passed away surrounded by his family following a 'valiant battle for life'.

The actor played Detective Ken 'Hutch' Hutchinson alongside Paul Michael Glaser's Detective Dave Starsky in the iconic 1970s series.

David became an international star thanks to Starsky and Hutch, which ran for four years between 1975 and 1979 and later inspired a movie spin-off.

After the sad news of his death, MailOnline takes a look at the actors who have played the iconic detectives.

David Soul (left), who has died at the age of 80, played Detective Ken 'Hutch' Hutchinson alongside Paul Michael Glaser's Detective Dave Starsky in the iconic 1970s series

PAUL MICHAEL GLASER AND DAVID SOUL

Paul and David were the first actors to bring iconic detectives Starsky and Hutch to life on screen, and helped it rise to cult classic status.

The original series ran for four seasons on ABC from 1975 to 1979, following the titular detectives, who fought crime on the streets of the fictional Bay City, California in a bright red Gran Torino.

The show also famously starred Antonio Fargas as their informant, Huggy Bear, who helped them to crack down cases.

The series turned Paul and David into global stars and they are now both arguably best known for their work as the legendary characters.

Before nabbing the role, Paul had already racked up a whole host of acting credits, including a long run in the 1960s TV series Love Is a Many Splendored Thing.

Since his Starsky days, he had a guest-starring spot on Netflix's Grace and Frankie in 2019 and he last appeared in an episode of Ray Donovan that same year.

He also served as an associate producer on the hit ABC reality series Shark Tank from 2010 to 2014.

The actor then transitioned to a life as a painter and a digital artist, opening his first solo show at Cosmo Lofts in Hollywood in April 2018.

Paul is now aged 80 and an abstract artist. He is also honorary chairman of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

Paul and David (left) were the first actors to bring iconic detectives Starsky and Hutch to life on screen, and helped it rise to cult classic status

The series ran for four seasons on ABC from 1975 to 1979, following the titular detectives, who fought crime on the streets of the fictional Bay City, California in a bright red Gran Torino

The charity is named in honour of his first wife, who died after contracting HIV through a blood transfusion while giving birth to their first child, Ariel, who also died aged seven.

Meanwhile, David went on to dabble in both acting and music after becoming an international star on Starsky and Hutch.

David acted in Star Trek, Here Come The Brides, Perry Mason and Johnny Got His Gun, throughout the 1960s and 1970s.

At the height of his fame, he released the UK chart-toppers Don't Give Up On Us and Silver Lady, and the hits Going In With My Eyes Open and Let's Have A Quiet Night In.

He also went on to appear in TV series Salem's Lot, an adaption of Stephen King's novel 'Salem's Lot, as Ben Mears, who returns to his hometown, which has been taken over by vampires.

David was also in Miami Vice, Harry's Hong Kong, Homeward Bound and a TV series remake of Casablanca.

David later briefly returned to the iconic role of Hutch for a cameo in the 2004 feature film remake of the hit show.

In February last year, David shared his desire to return to the role of Hutch once again, after it was announced Fox was developing a female-led reboot.

He tweeted: 'Every article mentions the 'original' actors by name. So why not just reboot Paul and meas a couple of old farts solving piddly-ass crimes at the assisted living facility where we would now live? Who can do Starsky and Hutch better than him and me?'

After the massive success of Starsky and Hutch, Paul and David remained friends over the decades.

In 2017, Paul was seen pushing his old co-star on a wheelchair into the Comic Con in Liverpool.

David's wife Helen confirmed on Friday that the star had died at the age of 80 surrounded by his family, following a 'valiant battle for life'. He married five times and leaves behind five sons and a daughter.

The series turned Paul and David (pictured in 1977) into global stars and they are now both arguably best known for their work as the legendary characters

David's wife Helen Snell (both pictured in January 2015) confirmed on Friday that the star had died at the age of 80 surrounded by his family, following a 'valiant battle for life'

BEN STILLER AND OWEN WILSON

Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson took on the iconic roles in a 2004 film remake of the television series, which introduced the legendary characters to a new generation.

The iconic actors were recruited to the multi-million pound remake, which was a comedy, as they both brought their own individual touches to the brand.

Much like the original, the movie remake was set in the 1975 fictional city of Bay City and saw the two detectives busting criminals with the help of underworld boss Huggy Bear.

In the remake, Snoop Dogg starred as their informant Huggy Bear while other talents including Vince Vaughn and Jason Bateman made up the cast.

However, the movie switched up the personalities of the title characters, making Starsky the more serious detective while Hutch was more laidback.

Ben, who portrayed Starsky, is a household movie actor who featured in a whole host of smash hit films throughout the noughties.

He also famously teamed up with Owen, who portrayed Hutch, in 2001's Zoolander, which became a huge blockbuster comedy success.

Ben has also racked up acting credits in the likes of Night At The Museum, Meet the Parents and Tropic Thunder, among many others.

Meanwhile, Owen is also a hugely successful comedy star, known for his roles in the likes of Wedding Crashers, Zoolander, The Intern and Marley and Me.

He also featured in the hit Marvel series Loki, where he starred alongside Tom Hiddleston, and his character will soon appear in 2024's Deadpool 3.

Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson took on the iconic roles in a 2004 film remake of the television series, which introduced the legendary characters to a new generation

The actors were recruited to the multi-million pound remake, which was a comedy, as they both brought their own individual touches to the brand (they are pictured with David and Paul)

NEW REBOOT

Two new faces could be taking on the roles of Starsky and Hutch after it was announced last year that Fox were developing a female-led reboot.

Though no casting details were confirmed, the reboot was described as a 'modern reimagining' of the original and will follow two female detectives, Sasha Starsky and Nicole Hutchinson.

While the original took place in Bay City, the reboot will be set in Desert City, where the duo, 'solve crimes while staying true to their friendship, their awesomeness'.

On top of all that, they will also be 'trying to unravel the mystery behind who sent their fathers to prison 15 years ago for a crime they didnt commit'.

The report didn't clarify whether or not Sasha and Nicole are in fact the daughters of Dave and Ken for the original, though it could certainly be a possibility.

The reboot will be written by Sam Sklaver (Prodigal Son) and Elizabeth Peterson (The Resident), who will also serve as showrunners should it move forward to series.
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Teresa Giudice posted bikini photos to social media on Thursday.

The 51-year-old Real Housewives Of New Jersey star was seen in a red bikini as she posed alongside husband Luis Ruelas while at the Atlantis Hotel & Casino on Paradise Island at Nassau in the Bahamas.

The newlyweds have been there all week with family and friends like Jennifer Aydin during a winter break from chilly New Jersey. Her ex-husband Joe Giudice was also there, proving they are getting along just fine.

The post was made after her nemesis, sister-in-law Melissa Gorga, shared her very own bikini snaps it first.

The Bravo star let her Instagram followers know this week that she was on a beach vacation in Aruba with her husband Joe Gorga, with whom she shares children Antonia, Gino, and Joey Jr.

And the diva also shared a set of swimsuit photos much to her fans' delight.

Teresa Giudice posted bikini photos to social media on Thursday. The 51-year-old Real Housewives Of New Jersey star was seen in a red bikini as she posed alongside husband Luis Ruelas while at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas

The newlyweds have been there all week with family and friends during a winter break from chilly New Jersey

Teresa and Melissa have been battling for many years.

There have been so many issues that Melissa did not attend Teresa's splashy wedding to Luis in 2022.

In an interview from Bravocon 2023, Giudice hinted at the state of her relationship with sister-in-law Gorga.

'The chapter is closed,' she told a reporter after they asked if she and Melissa were 'on good terms.'

Melissa seems to be doing quite well.

The star looked sultry in her tiny bathing suit that highlighted her tiny waistline and flaunted her sculpted legs. The pinup added gold jewelry for extra pizzazz.

Gorga was also seen receiving attention to her husband Joe as he put his hand around her waist while they poses on a boat at sea.

Luis and Joe look to be close pals as they posed side by side inside the Atlantis Hotel & Casino with Dr Aydin

Reality TV pinup Melissa Gorga has gone south for the winter. The Bravo star let her Instagram followers know this week that she was on a beach vacation in Aruba

The diva also shared a set of swimsuit photos much to her fans' delight. The star looked sultry in her tiny bathing suit that highlighted her tiny waistline and flaunted her sculpted legs

Here she had a white jacket that said LOST IN PARADISE in pink on the back with a Prada bag to the side

The 44-year-old Real Housewives Of New Jersey standout wore her dark hair back as she showed off her Aruba tan.

She had on a green suit then added a jacket that read Lost In Paradise on the back as she had a straw bag stamped Prada next to her.

The cover girl also modeled a lime green suit with pink flowers on it. She had a pale pink and semi-sheer sarong wrapped around her waistline.

Then there were some general scenic shots of the beach that was dotted with palm trees.

Melissa tagged the official Instagram account of her apparel company, Envy, from the photoset.

The Bravo star previously founded her brand in 2015 and served as the operator of a boutique located in her home state of New Jersey.

The company recently received a boost in publicity when Ariana Madix wore an Envy dress to a wedding in Mexico not long after it was revealed that her boyfriend, Tom Sandoval, had cheated on her with Raquel Leviss.

Many of the reality television personality's fans took inspiration from her look, and according to Page Six, the item was soon sold out in all sizes.

Melissa also told the media outlet that the dresses were gone 'as soon as [Madix] wore it.'

She was with her husband Joe Gorga, with whom she shares children Antonia, Gino, and Joey Jr

The cover girl also modeled a lime green suit with pink flowers on it. She had a pale pink and semi-sheer sarong wrapped around her waistline

She did reveal, however, that she saved one particular dress for herself and was planning on wearing it throughout the summer.

In 2022, Melissa said that cheating rumours have 'tested' her marriage.

The star - who has appeared on Bravo's The Real Housewives of New Jersey for over a decade - has been married to real estate developer Joe, since 2004 but insisted that she is determined to downplay any chatter about her personal life.

Asked about the biggest test her marriage has faced since she signed started appearing on television, she said: 'Almost definitely the [cheating] rumours. There's a lot of rumours that come out about me, and you know what? We just keep hitting 'em, swatting 'em like flies, [and] they just keep coming.'

The businesswoman stars alongside her sister-in-law Giudice on the hit reality show but it was revealed earlier this month that the couple had missed her wedding to Ruelas after rumours had begun to swirl that she had been unfaithful, with Joe admitting that it has been a 'tough' time for them both since.

The Gorgas at the Anyone But You premiere held at AMC Lincoln Square on December 11 in New York

In the joint interview, Joe told UsWeekly: 'It's been tough. Let's see what the future holds.'

Earlier this year, it was alleged that Melissa had been unfaithful to Joe while she was away on a press tour and that Teresa had known about the supposed incident for over a year but had 'pushed' for it to come out in the 'RHONJ' season 13 finale, which has left Joe potentially 'unable to forgive' his sister.

At the time, the source said: 'One of the secrets was Melissa making out with this guy while she was on a press tour in the city.

'This "rumour" was something that Teresa had known about for over a year and had been pushing for it to come out. Finally, the finale was perfect timing. Teresa usually uses someone to bring up drama, so she played a part in that, Teresa may not forgive Joe after this and vice versa.'
Paul Mescal dropped out of thriller A Spy By Nature after landing a bigger gig in Hollywood mega movie Gladiator 2.

The Irish actor, 27, was due to take on the role of Alec Milius in the movie, a man who's whose gift for deception catches the eye of MI6, with his casting announced in October 2022.

But an insider told Daily Mail's Alison Boshoff that following the announcement Paul bagged the lead in Ridley Scott's Roman epic sequel and swiftly backed out of the smaller project.

A Spy By Nature is based on Charles Cumming's Milius novels and was set to be directed by Oscar winner Kevin Macdonald.

When the casting was announced Kevin told Screen Daily: 'When I met Paul, with his beguiling mixture of intelligence, skill and youth, I knew I'd found the perfect star'.



Paul Mescal dropped out of thriller A Spy By Nature after landing a bigger gig in Hollywood mega movie Gladiator 2

The Irish actor, 27, was due to take on the role of Alec Milius in the movie, a man who's whose gift for deception catches the eye of MI6, with his casting announced in October 2022 (Russell Crowe pictured in the first Gladiator movie)

MailOnline have contacted Paul's reps for comment.

Paul will be joined by Denzel Washington in the film which serves as a sequel to Ridley Scott's 2000 film Gladiator, which starred Russell Crowe.

The original Gladiator won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Crowe.

While the new film, which is currently filming in Malta, brings back director Ridley Scott, Russell won't be featured, as his character died at the end of the original film.

Paul will be leading the new film as Lucius, the nephew of the emperor Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) and the secret son of Crowe's character Maximus, who was saved in the original film by his father.

He was played as a child in the first film by Spencer Treat Clark, but the Irish actor will be taking over the part.

Connie Neilsen will reprise her role as Lucilla, his mother, while Derek Jacobi will also return as a Roman senator and Djimon Hounsou will be back playing a former gladiator and friend of Maximus.

Denzel Washington has joined the cast in an important role, though his character has not yet been revealed.

But an insider told Daily Mail's Alison Boshoff that following the announcement Paul bagged the lead in Ridley Scott's Roman epic sequel and swiftly backed out of the smaller project

A Spy By Nature is based on Charles Cumming's Milius novels and was set to be directed by Oscar winner Kevin Macdonald

Paul will be joined by Denzel Washington in the film which serves as a sequel to Ridley Scott's 2000 film Gladiator, which starred Russell Crowe (pictured)

Pedro Pascal and Matt Lucas are among the new cast members, and Stranger Things' breakout star Joseph Quinn will play Emperor Caracalla, who has often been painted as a tyrant in histories of the era.

It comes after filming was thrown into chaos after crew members were reportedly injured in an explosion.

The much-awaited sequel, which comes more than 20 years after the original, had been shooting in Morocco and the neighboring Sahara desert.

There are still few details available about the incident, but it appears to have been a special effects shot that went wrong, causing the dangerous explosion.

One on-set source shared their hopes that the injured crew members would make a full recovery, though their condition is unclear.

'It was terrifying  a huge ball of fire flew up and caught several crew members in its path,' the source recalled. 'In years of filming Ive never seen an accident so scary.'

The explosion is reportedly being investigated, and witnesses to the explosion have reportedly speculated that it may have been caused by a gas pipe rupture on set.

Gladiator 2 is expected to debut in theatres in late 2024.
Maura Higgins has confirmed her new stuntman boyfriend is with her on her first holiday of the year in Lapland - as they got cosy in front of a fire pit.

The former Love Island star, 33, has been sharing snaps from her latest getaway to Finland on social media.

In one picture, Maura and Bobby, who works as Chris Hemsworth's stuntman, enjoyed two glasses of red wine together in front of the fire.

All you can see is Bobby's heavily tattooed hand, but it was enough to let her fans know she was with her handsome new boyfriend.

Meanwhile, Bobby shared the same image of them in Lapland and told her: 'Happy new year Luv.'

Maura Higgins has confirmed her new stuntman boyfriend is with her on her first holiday of the year in Lapland - as they got cosy in front of a fire pit

In one picture, Maura and Bobby, who works as Chris Hemsworth 's stuntman, enjoyed two glasses of red wine together in front of the fire

He also gave an insight into their time at the Arctic Snow Hotel and Glass Iglus during their holiday as he posted up some other pictures from their star.

The couple also visited Levin Iglut - Golden Crown and Restaurant Utsu during their stay complete with its furry interior as temperatures dropped to -31 degrees.

Her mother Sharon approved of her Instagram posts saying: 'Awh have a lovely time you look amazing.'

It comes after Maura finally confirmed her relationship with Bobby during a December appearance on the Late Late Late Show.

Host Patrick Kielty said: 'Last time you were on this show, you were single and ready to mingle.'

Maura proudly responded: 'I am no more single. Very happy relationship' as the audience cheered.

She then revealed her boyfriend was sitting in the studio audience to support her, saying: 'He is. He's there somewhere.'

Patrick then teased: 'He's a good looking devil, I'm not going to lie' leading Maura smirk: 'Oh he is.'

Bobby and Maura were first romantically linked after they were first spotted on a date in London in May.

He also gave an insight into their time at the Arctic Snow Hotel and Glass Iglus during their holiday as he posted up some other pictures from their star

The couple also visited Levin Iglut - Golden Crown and Restaurant Utsu during their stay complete with its furry interior as temperatures dropped to -31 degrees

The couple were then seen enjoying several passionate kisses while on holiday together in Ibiza in June.

They have been regularly posting flirty comments to each other on their respective Instagrams as well.

Bobby is a successful stuntman, performing in several movies and regularly playing Chris Hemsworth's stunt double for a decade.

Speaking to Hit Mid North Coast's Krysti and Bodge in 2020 Bobby revealed what the Thor star is really like.

The UK-based athlete told the Australian radio hosts that he has 'a great relationship' and 'understanding' with Chris.

'The actors I work with work really hard, especially Chris,' Bobby said.

Bobby went on to reveal how Chris does most of the stunts, unless a dangerous move could see the actor risk an injury, leading to a delay in production.

He explained: 'Chris will say, "Bob, you jump in and do this", because if Chris was to pick up an injury by doing it, it's not that he can't do it, it's if he picked up an injury by doing it, then it would mean the production would have to stop.

'That obviously costs a lot of money so it's a knock-on effect.'

According to his website, Bobby has performed as a stunt double in 50 full feature films, including opposite Christian Bale, Tom Cruise, Harrison Ford, Robert Downey Jr, Angelina Jolie, Morgan Freeman, Charlize Theron and Leonardo DiCaprio.

The former Love Island star looked sensational in an array of skimpy swimwear from her many sun-soaked holidays including one to the Maldives with her hunky partner

It comes after Maura finally confirmed her relationship with Bobby during a December appearance on the Late Late Late Show

Speaking to Hit Mid North Coast's Krysti and Bodge in 2020 Bobby revealed that he has 'a great relationship' and 'understanding' with Chris

Back in 2018, he told Daily Mail Australia just how far he pushed himself while filming several Hollywood blockbusters.

'During [films] Green Lantern and Thor Ragnorak, I ruptured my [spinal] L4, L5, S1 discs which caused drop foot on both sides [an inability to lift the front part of the foot],' Bobby explained.

Bobby began his career as a gymnast and competed as a National Squad Member and National Gold Medalist.

Maura has previously dated Strictly Come Dancing professional Giovanni Pernice, as well as her Love Island co-stars Christopher Taylor and Curtis Pritchard.
Charlotte Crosby gave fans a glimpse at a heartwarming moment from her Maldives holiday with fiance Jake Ankers and their baby daughter Alba on Friday.

The former Geordie Shore star, 33, took to Instagram to share a clip of the trio as they stood on a deck above the calm azure sea.

Television personality Charlotte could be seen wearing a red bikini as she snuggled up to Jake, 32, as he held their 14-month-old daughter in his arms at the 2,000-a-night Emerald Maldives Resort & Spa Hotel.

Businessman Jake could be seen lifting baby Alba into the air above him while Charlotte threw her arms above her head and span around on the spot.

She captioned her post: 'The greatest gift we can give you my Albs is a lifetime full of adventures.

Charlotte Crosby gave fans a glimpse at a heartwarming moment from her Maldives holiday with fiance Jake Ankers and their baby daughter Alba on Friday

The former Geordie Shore star, 33, took to Instagram to share a clip of the trio as they stood on a deck above the calm azure sea

'Heres to all the places we have been and all of the places we will go. Adventures and memories that will last a lifetime our perfect little travel buddy.'

Former Celebrity Big Brother winner Charlotte announced her plans to fly her family to the Maldives on Christmas Day and said it will be her first time abroad for the festive period.

She was eager to get away as her last Christmas was tainted by the death of her beloved grandmother just weeks prior.

Charlotte told the Mirror: 'Last Christmas, we obviously lost my Nana. So, the thing that makes Christmas 'Christmas', when you have your grandparents round, was gone.'

Explaining her plans for the trip, she said: 'This is a first time abroad I've never done a Christmas away and we're not doing any presents. It's just about making some memories, like amazing memories, on a big family holiday.'

The star continued: 'We're going with my mum, my dad - just basically everyone who we would gather with on Christmas Day.'

In December, Charlotte was struck down with pneumonia and rushed to hospital after feeling ill for six weeks.

Days later, she shared an update to her Instagram Story in which she revealed she had been 'struggling to shift' unbearable chest infections.

Charlotte showed of her sensational figure in a red bikini on Instagram as she enjoyed a lavish getaway in the Maldives on Thursday

Charlotte posted a mirror selfie and wrote over the top: 'It's been a very long 5/6 weeks of on and off coughing/ chest infections. And the whole time I've been struggling I've been doing the very most work wise.

'Travelling up and down the country, trains, cars and almost planes. A couple of occasions even losing my entire voice at work. I've not been able to carry out some of the stuff I've had to.'

Days later, Charlotte took to Instagram with an update for fans, writing: 'UPDATE. I've been on my new antibiotics for 4 days! And I'm starting to feel SO MUCH better!

'HOWEVER....a period from hell decided to come yesterday. I'm I was doubled over this morning with the worst cramps and Jakes got a really busy couple of days with work.

It comes after the reality star announced her plans to fly her family to the Maldives on Christmas Day and said it would be her first time abroad for the festive period

The former Celebrity Big Brother winner flew out with her fiance and her daughter Alba who, at just fourteen months, is already quite well-travelled

'So looks like a big coffee for me this morning! And some strong pain killers! Hopefully once this period passes that will be me back to full health!'

'Four weeks since I've done any exercise and I was onto my very last part of testing our BRAND NEW CHALLENGE on @blitznburn which will resume next week!

'And we have an EXCITING filming day Monday! Which has had to be rescheduled twice now because I've been so unwell!

'But I am so so so ready to get back to it and show you all what we have got coming!'
Prince Andrew's former girlfriend Lady Victoria Hervey has posed in a T-shirt featuring the infamous photograph of the disgraced royal standing with his arm around Virginia Giuffre, with the word 'faked' emblazoned across it.

Socialite and former 'It Girl' Lady Victoria, 47, who is the daughter of the 6th Marquess of Bristol, previously repeated claims made by Prince Andrew, Duke of York in a disastrous 2019 Newsnight interview that the image of him and Virginia with Ghislaine Maxwell in the background had been doctored.

Virginia claims she was trafficked by the late Jeffrey Epstein and the now-jailed Ghislaine, and forced to have sex with the royal on three occasions when she was 17, claims Prince Andrew strenuously denies.

On Friday, Lady Victoria, who briefly dated Prince Andrew in 1999, took to her Instagram Stories to share a picture of herself in her T-shirt while holidaying in Barbados.

In an edited version of the picture which shows Prince Andrew standing with his arm around Virginia, she is seen standing alone against a grey and yellow wall, with what appears to be a blue coat slung over her right arm.

Lady Victoria Hervey, 47, has posed in a T-shirt featuring the infamous photograph of Prince Andrew standing with his arm around Virginia Giuffre, with the word 'faked' across it

Virginia (centre) claims she was trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein and the jailed Ghislaine (right), and forced to have sex with the royal (left) on three occasions when she was 17, claims Prince Andrew strenuously denies

Lady Victoria has suggested the photograph showing the disgraced royal with his arm around his accuser Virginia is fake, previously sharing a dubiously edited version on Instagram (pictured)

Lady Victoria shared the photo on social media in February 2022 and captioned the image: 'Anyone familiar with this photo?', seeming to suggest that it was a mock up of the original image. No other version of the photo has been seen before.

She then posted the well-known photo from early 2001 of Prince Andrew next to Virginia and Ghislaine.

Lady Victoria asked her followers in 2022: 'Do you believe that photo is real? Or what if I told you a survivor of Epstein's told me it's an Irish body double that was edited in.' It's unclear if she meant a double of the Prince or Virginia.

Prince Andrew told BBC Newsnight in 2019: 'You can't prove whether or not that photograph is faked because it's a photograph of a photograph of a photograph.

'It's very difficult to be able to prove it but I don't remember that photograph being taken That's me but whether that's my hand I have simply no recollection of the photograph ever being taken.'

The royal also said he thought he had never been upstairs in his friend Ghislaine Maxwell's house, where the photo appears to have been taken.

But Virginia told BBC Panorama in 2019 that the photo is genuine and she gave the original to the FBI in 2011.

The Metropolitan Police says no investigation into Prince Andrew has been launched despite him being named in a tranche of Jeffrey Epstein documents released.

On Friday, Lady Victoria, who briefly dated Prince Andrew in 1999, took to her Instagram Stories to share a picture of herself in her T-shirt while holidaying in Barbados

Lady Victoria Hervey (looking towards the camera) stands near Prince Andrew (left) at a party in London in January 2002

Lady Victoria Hervey and Ghislaine Maxwell pictured in Hollywood on February 25, 2004

The Duke of York had been reported to the Metropolitan Police by anti-monarchy campaign group Republic after allegations of sexual assault were made against him in unsealed court documents.

Andrew was referenced multiple times in files relating to disgraced paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

In a short statement today, Scotland Yard said: 'We are aware of the release of court documents in relation to Jeffrey Epstein.

'As with any matter, should new and relevant information be brought to our attention we will assess it. No investigation has been launched.'

Calls for the duke to be investigated were matched by a US attorney who represented some of Epstein's victims, who said police in Britain have a duty to investigate Andrew as he 'still refuses to fully account for his time' with the paedophile.

The unredacted documents, which were released on Wednesday in the United States, included allegations Andrew had an orgy with underage girls and touched a woman's breast while posing with a puppet of himself.

It is a fresh setback for the late Queen's second son who, just 10 days ago, walked to church on Christmas Day with the King and the rest of the royal family, symbolising his gradual rehabilitation within the monarchy after his public appearance at his brother's coronation in his garter robes in May.

It may see the end of his bid to reenter the royal fold, with well-placed sources telling the Mail that while the court claims were not a surprise, they will have served to 'crystallise' King Charles's determination to solve the 'Andrew problem' decisively.

Prince Andrew pictured in the background alongside the rest of the Royal Family as they attend the traditional Christmas Day service at St Mary's Magdalene Church on the Sandringham Estate last month

Plans were already in train to evict him from Royal Lodge, his ten-bedroom Windsor home since 2003, and move him to a smaller residence in keeping with his 'downgraded' status.

The newly released court documents are believed to have strengthened the King's resolve that Andrew will never be allowed to resume royal duties.

The 63-year-old prince, who has previously strenuously denied the allegations, paid millions a year ago to settle a civil case out of court with Virginia with no admission of guilt after she accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was 17.

But he is mentioned more than 70 times in nearly 1,000 pages of interviews and transcripts released in the US in connection with a 2015 defamation case brought by Virginia against Ghislaine, who was jailed for sex trafficking young girls for Epstein.

The names of more than 170 people who were either associates, friends or victims of Epstein are being made public following a judge's order last month, including high-profile figures such as former US president Bill Clinton.

The Duke of York has been reported to the police by the campaign group Republic after allegations of sexual assault resurfaced in unsealed court documents.

Graham Smith, chief executive of the anti-monarchy group Republic, said on Thursday that he had reported Andrew to the police, accusing the Met of failing to conduct a serious criminal investigation into the case.

The force said in August 2022 that it was taking no further action over allegations made against Epstein and that any future probes into human trafficking by the sex offender were focused on activities outside the UK.

It also previously said it stood by its 2015 decision not to investigate claims by Virginia that she was sex trafficked to London by Epstein.

Mr Smith said: 'To date, there appears to have been no serious criminal investigation, no interview of the accused or other witnesses, and no clear justification for taking no action.

Prince Andrew at Sandringham on Christmas Day, 2023. He is said to have avoided prosecutors questions in 2019 despite publicly vowing to assist with the investigation into Epstein

'I am calling on the Met Police to reopen this case, I am calling on MPs to debate this affair in Parliament, and I am calling on Charles to make a public statement, in front of the press and taking questions, to respond to these allegations and what they say about the monarchy.

'How can we not expect a response from the Government and head of state? At the time of the alleged offences, Andrew was a government trade ambassador and an active member of the royal family.

'They fudged and obfuscated for 11 years before taking any definitive action.'

Mr Smith added: 'The question many people will be asking is simple: if the accused were anyone else, do we believe they wouldn't have been investigated and prosecuted?'

Meanwhile, US attorney Spencer Kuvin, who has represented some of Jeffrey Epstein's victims, said people associated with the wealthy financier such as Andrew, deserve a higher level of scrutiny.

Mr Kuvin told the Mirror: 'Andrew still refuses to fully account for his time with Epstein and has failed to speak with US investigators about what he knows.

'British police need to do their duty and reopen their investigation into his conduct.'

He added that Epstein is probably 'one of the worst sexual predators of the century'.

Buckingham Palace, which no longer speaks on behalf of the duke after he stepped down as a working royal in 2019 over his friendship with Epstein, has not commented on the documents.

Documents released this week claimed Andrew called financier Jeffrey Epstein (pictured) weekly and jetted to his private Caribbean retreat

Evidence from Johanna Sjoberg, who worked for Epstein as a masseuse, alleged Andrew touched her breast while sitting on a couch inside Epstein's Manhattan apartment as he posed for a photo with a caricature of himself in 2001.

The claim, which has been alleged previously, is thought to refer to a Spitting Image puppet of the duke.

READ MORE HERE: Jeffrey Epstein's victim claims she was groped by Prince Andrew at the disgraced financier's Manhattan mansion in newly released court documents Advertisement

Ms Sjoberg said, while giving evidence in May 2016: 'Ghislaine told me to come upstairs, and we went into a closet and pulled out the puppet, the caricature of Prince Andrew, and brought it down.

'And there was a little tag on the puppet that said 'Prince Andrew' on it, and that's when I knew who he was.'

Ms Sjoberg was asked what the puppet looked like and replied: 'It looked like him.

'And she brought it down and presented it to him; and that was a great joke, because apparently it was a production from a show on BBC.

'And they decided to take a picture with it, in which Virginia and Andrew sat on a couch.

'They put the puppet on Virginia's lap, and I sat on Andrew's lap, and they put the puppet's hand on Virginia's breast, and Andrew put his hand on my breast, and they took a photo.'

Other mentions of the duke include previous allegations that Epstein 'forced Jane Doe #3 to have sexual relations with was a member of the British Royal Family, Prince Andrew (a/k/a Duke of York)' at three locations including on Epstein's private island 'in an orgy with numerous other under-aged girls'.

The document claimed that Epstein instructed Jane Doe #3 to give Andrew 'whatever he demanded' and that Maxwell 'facilitated Prince Andrew's acts of sexual abuse by acting as a 'madame' for Epstein'.

Prince Andrew pictured attending the Easter Mattins Service at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in April 2023

Prince Andrew and King Charles III speak following a vigil in memory of Queen Elizabeth II at St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh in September 2022

The then-Prince Charles and Prince Andrew share a word from the balcony of Buckingham Palace while their mother Queen Elizabeth II looks on during Trooping The Colour in 2019

Ms Giuffre has claimed she was trafficked by Epstein to have sex with Andrew three times when she was 17 and a minor under US law at Maxwell's London home, in Epstein's New York home and during an orgy with Epstein at Caribbean island.

She was questioned over the whereabouts of the famous photograph showing her with the duke, who has his arm around her, with Maxwell grinning in the background.

READ MORE HERE: Why Prince Andrew can't seem to shake THAT infamous photo of him and his teenaged accuser as it emerges at the centre of documents relating to Jeffrey Epstein Advertisement

Ms Giuffre added it may have been in storage boxes that were 'full of Nerf guns, my kids' toys, photos' at her mother and father-in-law's home in Sydney, Australia.

She said she gave the picture to the FBI in 2011 but had last seen it before she packed up her home to emigrate to Australia from Colorado.

Among the documents appears to be an email sent by Maxwell expressing her fears she would be questioned about her own relationship with Andrew.

It reads: 'I have already suffered such a terrible and painful loss over the last few days that I can't even see what life after press hell even looks like - statements that don't address all just lead to more questions... what is my relationship to Clinton? Andrew on and on.'

In Maxwell's videotaped deposition in 2016, she claimed she could only recall the duke visiting Jeffrey Epstein's private island in the US Virgin Islands once.

The Met Police and representatives of the Duke have been approached for a comment.
Maya Jama looked incredibly chic in a black cropped blazer and trousers as she departed Radio 1 studios on Friday afternoon.

The Love Island presenter, 29, admitted earlier in the day that she is 'feeling the pressure' to up her racy Love Island outfits for the upcoming All Stars series.

But continuing to showcase her impeccable sense of style, Maya stepped out in a smart and stylish suit.

She oozed elegance in her boss lady suit, donning wide leg trousers and a cropped black blazer.

The beauty added modish black court heels and accessorised with statement gold earrings and a matching belt.

Maya Jama, 29, looked incredibly chic in a black cropped blazer and trousers as she departed Radio 1 studios on Friday afternoon

The Love Island presenter admitted earlier in the day that she is 'feeling the pressure' to up her racy Love Island outfits for the upcoming All Stars series

Love Island All Stars, which is set to launch on January 15, will see former islanders head to South Africa in a bid to find love for the second time.

And according to show insiders, producers have switched up the format for the launch with 12 reality stars set to arrive at the villa instead of the usual 10.

Maya appeared on This Morning on Friday where she told hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary all about hosting the ITV2 dating show and what is in store.

The television presenter, who has made waves with her sexy and eye-catching wardrobe since she took over as host from Laura Whitmore in 2022, admitted there is pressure for her to wear more show-stopping looks.

Alison, 48, told Maya: 'We have a What's App group and all we ever talk about is your outfits. They have become an event. Do you get a bit nervous about the next series, you have to top each one don't you?'

Maya replied: 'It's a bit of pressure, for my stylist mainly. We did a fitting yesterday and it went well. Everyone has their own tastes. But I need to dress to make myself feel good.'

For the teaser, Maya was helped into a figure-hugging red dress with a plunging neckline and high leg split.

She said of the becoming Love Island host: 'I didnt expect to get emotionally involved with the islanders you get your own connections and you get your heart broken when they get theirs's broken. I got some friends from last year.'

But continuing to showcase her impeccable sense of style, Maya stepped out in a smart and stylish suit

She oozed elegance in her boss lady suit, donning wide leg trousers and a cropped black blazer

The beauty added modish black court heels and accessorised with statement gold earrings and a matching belt

Maya appeared on This Morning on Friday where she told hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary all about hosting the ITV2 dating show and what is in store

The television presenter, who has made waves with her sexy and eye-catching wardrobe since she took over as host from Laura Whitmore in 2022, admitted there is pressure over her outfits

The show, set to launch on January 15, will see former islanders head to South Africa in a bid to find love for the second time

Maya set pulses racing with her eye-catching looks since taking over as host of Love Island

It comes as bosses are reportedly set to bring in 12 ex contestants instead of the usual 10.

A source told The Sun: It's a bumper line up for the show - fans will need to tune in as there are loads of show favourites in there.

'ITV are throwing everything at the series and everyone's saying it's going to be a massive hit.'

MailOnline has contacted ITV for comment.

Relationships will be put to the test as bombshells enter and heads turn leaving some lovestruck hopefuls heartbroken in the ultimate quest for love.

As the couples explore their connections and attempt to win the hearts of each other and the nation, only one pair will be crowned the winners of Love Island: All Stars 2024.

The lineup is yet to be announced although Love Island 2019 contestant Ovie Soko, Paige Thorne from the 2022 series, and Georgia Steel, who found fame on the 2018 season, are all reportedly taking part.

And their experience as former Islanders will hopefully give their chance at finding a relationship a boost because they already know their turn ons, icks, and who they want to be whispering sweet nothings to in the Hideaway.

Love Island All Stars begins on Monday January 15 at 9pm on ITV1, ITV2 and ITVX.
Dunkin Donuts' fan Ben Affleck was representing the coffee chain from head to toe on Thursday.

The actor, 51, rocked a custom pair of Dunkin' Donuts Nike sneakers as he filmed a commercial for the iconic coffee brand in Los Angeles.

Ben comfortably strode through the set of the commercial in his snazzy shoes before going on a cigarette break.

The footwear are not official but were commissioned by Dunkin to commemorate Air, the 2023 film starring and directed by Affleck about the creation of the Air Jordan sneaker, according to GQ.

Andrew Chiou and Ant Kai were asked by the coffee chain to customize two different styles of the Nike sneaker, according to ABC. Awash in the Dunkin approved colors of pink, brown, and orange, the sneakers feature a melting pink Swoosh and white sprinkles along the toe.

Dunkin Donuts' fan Ben Affleck was representing the coffee chain from head to toe as he filmed a commercial for the coffee chain on Thursday

Affleck took a cigarette break when he wasn't busy filming

Ben has been seen wearing the shoes before, but Thursday was the perfect opportunity to wear them given he was shooting a commercial for the brand.

The colorful footwear paired well with his stylish look. The Argo star donned all black over a hot pink turtleneck.

He pulled out a pack of cigarettes before propping one into his mouth.

On Wednesday Ben was also seen filming a commercial for Dunkin - one which saw him recreate a viral 2020 moment involving him.

The actor was spotted dropping several boxes of donuts and cups of coffee while filming the spot.

It mirrored the time Ben was captured spilling Dunkin boxes outside of his Los Angeles home in late December 2020, a moment which went viral at the time.

At the time, Affleck was wearing a grey 'Believe in Boston' t-shirt.

However, for the ad he was wearing a Boston Red Sox t-shirt that read, 'Best Dad Ever.' He was also later seen teaming up with influencer Charli D'Amelio on set.

Affleck paired his sneakers with an all-black look worn over a hot pink turtleneck

Ben appeared to be pulling the pack of cigarettes from his pocket

The footwear are not official but were commissioned by Dunkin to commemorate Air, the 2023 film starring and directed by Affleck about the creation of the Air Jordan sneaker, according to GQ

The footwear are awash in Dunkin' approved colors and featured a melted swoosh and sprinkles along the toe

On Wednesday Ben was also seen filming a commercial for Dunkin - one which saw him recreate a viral 2020 moment involving him

It mirrored the time Ben was captured spilling Dunkin boxes outside of his Los Angeles home in late December 2020, a moment which went viral at the time

During the shoot, the actor also donned a pair of Nike sneakers, but not the Dunkin commissioned pair.

These were pristine white shoes with an orange accented swoosh.

The shoot saw Ben attempt to juggle a number of Dunkin Donuts boxes with an iced coffee.

He was later seen with the same outfit but a different shirt - a grey T-shirt with a photo of a young Matt Damon and Affleck that stated 'Day Ones' underneath.

It isn't clear when the ad will run, but with just over a month before the big game, it's possible that it could air during the Super Bowl.

Ben has already done several commercials for Dunkin Donuts, including one with Ice Spice.

While Ben was busy shooting a commercial, his wife Jennifer Lopez, 54, hit the gym in Los Angeles.

The superstar was pictured getting into her car after a workout, wearing a black jacket and matching athletic leggings.

She completed her look with a pair of large Dior sunglasses.

While Ben was busy shooting a commercial, his wife Jennifer Lopez, 54, hit the gym in Los Angeles

The superstar was pictured getting into her car after a workout, wearing a black jacket and matching athletic leggings

She completed her look with a pair of large Dior sunglasses

In her hand the Hustlers star carried a cup covered in rhinestones

The mom-of-two wore her brunette tresses pulled into a messy ponytail

The mom-of-two wore her brunette tresses pulled into a messy ponytail. In her hand the Hustlers star carried a cup covered in rhinestones.

The A-list couple married at Affleck's estate outside of Savannah, Georgia, on August 20, 2022, which came more than a month after they exchanged vows in Las Vegas July 16, 2022.

Previously, Lopez and Affleck met on the set of Gigli in 2002. (At the time, she was still married to her second husband, Cris Judd, before they called it quits and divorced in 2003.)

The Bronx native and the two-time Academy winner started dating and got engaged shortly after. In January 2004, the couple called it quits and lived separate lives for nearly two decades, before reuniting in 2021.
Halle Berry shared a sizzling photo of her bath time adventures on Thursday, but some fans were disturbed by one chilling detail.

The 57-year-old Oscar winner posted a photo of her lower half to Instagram on Thursday, revealing her long, trim legs as she luxuriated in a bathtub.

'Sometimes all I need is a bath and for everyone to shut the hell up!' she wrote playfully in her caption.

But some fans and followers were less focused on her stellar gams and instead were creeped out by an eerie nude statuette in the corner of the photo that appeared to be staring directly into the camera.

The striking display followed another of Halle's photos that went viral showing her putting on a sultry display in the desert despite what looked like a pile of feces just inches from her bare feet.

Halle Berry shared a sizzling photo of her lower half to Instagram on Thursday, revealing her long, trim legs as she luxuriated in a bathtub, but some fans were disturbed by another detail

They noticed an eerie nude statuette in the corner of the photo that appeared to be staring directly into the camera; seen December 7 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

In her latest photo, the actress appeared to have flipped onto her side and stuck out her long legs.

She relaxed in a rectangular blue bathtub next to an uncovered window revealing some cacti in the distance, while the edge of the tub was decorated with tall white candles in holders that looked as if they were made of white crystals.

But the think that stole many fans' attention was a nude statuette of what appeared to be a man.

He stood on a stone platform and had his arms raised and held behind his head as he appeared to grip a long object, which was possible meant to be some kind of cloth, as if he was wringing it out.

The figure looked as if it was grimacing, and it had an oval-shaped, mask-like visage, including eyes that were arranged so that they happened to point directly toward Halle's camera.

The Monster's Ball star didn't give any indication that she realized the statuette might disturb some of her followers, though they spoke up in the comments section about the startling image.

'What is that???' wrote one unfortunate person who spied the standing figure, while another complained: 'That statue looks creepy, he looks straight into the lens.'

One conspiracy-minded viewer thought the statuette was evidence of something sinister.

'The statue is disturbing especially since we know the truth about most celebrities,' they wrote, but another person tried to shut them down with a reply: 'yep, they see some African art and lose their minds.'

Another overly sensitive person commented: 'oh my God very disturbing. What is it ot, it looks demonic [sic].'

However, one commenter found their incredulous reaction to be 'ridiculous.'

He had his arms raised and gripped a long object, which was possible meant to be some kind of cloth, as if he was wringing it out. It looked as if it was grimacing, and it had an oval-shaped, mask-like visage, including eyes that happened to point directly toward Halle's camera

Several fans commented on how they thought the statuette was 'creepy' or even 'demonic,' though others told them off for being childish, hysterical and conspiracy minded

'Oh, good grief. You don't know what it is you're looking at so it must be "demonic." Ridiculous.'

Another person seemed concerned that the statuette might come to life.

'Did she purchase this for herself or was it a gift? What about it was appealing for her if she bought it herself? Does she make certain that it is in the same exact spot she placed it in each day?' they wrote.

Others had some fun with the statuette, with one user writing, 'First time ever in my life, I wish I was a statue.'

The actress Taraji P. Henson even jumped into the comment to give her fellow star some encouragement.

'TAKE ALL OF THE TIME YOU NEED' she wrote.

Halle's latest post comes after a photo she shared with her more than 8.6 million followers also caught attention for all the wrong reasons.

She was posed in a sultry December 17 shot in which she wore a lace teddy while posing barefoot amid enormous rocks in what looked to be the desert.

While the Cleveland native did not add a geotag to the image, she was in the Middle East last month, as she attended the Red Sea International Film Festival 2023 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The picture, which has garnered more than 149,000 likes, generated speculation from number of followers that the stunning star's bare feet were in close proximity to what looked like a pile of feces, the source of which also conjured up debate.

One user asked, 'What kind of s*** is that by your [feet emoji,]' while another said, Am I the only one who sees the poop?'

A photo Halle shared in December to Instagram caught attention for all the wrong reasons when fans noticed piles of what looked like feces near her bare feet

While Berry did not add a geotag to the image, she was in the Middle East last month, as she attended the Red Sea International Film Festival 2023 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Another user asked, 'Literally nobody sees the 3 giant mounds of human s***???' adding three poo emojis. 'Seriously, why post that photo with the s*** in it?

Said one user: 'Halle is one of the most beautiful people Ive ever seen, but this is just s***.'

One user raised the possibility that the dropping didn't come from a person, but perhaps an animal.

'How do you know it's human s*** though? Maybe it's from some wild animal that lives among the rocks!'

A user suggested that the glamorous image could be salvaged with the right tools.

'Dope Pic, crop the [poo emoji] thats right in front of you out of this pic tho!!'

One user defended Berry's posting of the pic, saying it wasn't clear that the substance in question was what everyone seemed to think it was.

'Why are people looking so hard for the negative in this beautifully calm setting?' the user said. 'How do you even know if that's s***??? Anyway... Great pic Ms. Halle.'

Other fans disregarded the potential doo-doo, showering the A-list actress with compliments.

The pic, which has garnered more than 149,000 likes, generated speculation from number of followers that Berry's bare feet were in close proximity to a pile of feces

Many commenters were quick to poke humor at the detail in the social media shot

Other fans disregarded the potential doo-doo, showering the A-list actress with compliments

Berry had the final word as she replied to one of the commenters in the thread who asked why she had posted the image

'Love the fact that @halleberry literally does not give a s***,' the user said, while another described her as 'still the baddest after all these years.'

Berry had the final word as she replied to one of the commenters in the thread who asked why she had posted the image.

She replied, 'Why not? It is what it is' with four laughing emojis.

She later said that the location made it unlikely that the droppings were from a person: 'Ima say it was a wild animal. A human is not out there s***ting !!!! Just saying.'
Cameron Diaz and her husband Benji Madden are celebrating their 9th wedding anniversary in Aspen, Colorado.

The Charlie's Angels star, 51, wore black ski pants and a black jacket to keep warm as she held onto her spouse's arm during a shopping spree.

Cameron  who spoke out about the benefits of 'sleep divorce'  gave her outfit a bit of flare with a tan scarf and black beret. The Mask actress also wore brown and black boots.

The Good Charlotte frontman, 44, also wore black pants with a black puffy jacket that had a black, orange and white pattern at the shoulders and had a black trucker hat on his head.

The couple carried shopping bags from Incline Ski shop while Diaz also held on to a large black tote bag.

Cameron Diaz and her husband Benji Madden bundled up for a walk through Aspen together

The Charlie's Angels star, 51, wore black ski pants and a black jacket to keep warm

At times, the longtime couple walked arm in arm down the street of the shopping district.

The couple met through Benji's twin brother Joel Madden's wife Nicole Richie in the spring of 2014.

They were engaged by the end of the year and married on January 5, 2015.

In an interview on Andy Cohen's Radio Andy in 2016, Diaz recounted their whirlwind trip to the altar saying she just knew he was The One.

'It was one of those things where everyone tells you. You just know when you know,' Cameron said..

'I was like, "What does that mean?" But once she and the musician were finally in the same room together, she got it.

'You just know when you know,' she reiterated. 'Like, you're my husband.'

'You have to find someone in the same place as you are. Timing is everything,' Diaz told Cosmopolitan when she got engaged.

She gave her outfit a bit of flare with a tan scarf and black beret

The Good Charlotte frontman, 44, also wore black pants with a black puffer jacket that had a black, orange and white pattern at the shoulders and had a black trucker hat on his head

The couple carried shopping bags from Incline Ski shop while Diaz also carried a large black tote bag

At times, the longtime couple walked arm in arm down the street of the shopping district

The couple met through Benji's twin brother Joel Madden's wife Nicole Richie in the spring of 2014

They were engaged by the end of the year and married on January 5, 2015

'If you get into a relationship where you want something the guy doesn't want, it's never gonna work.

'You're never going to get him to be in that place. No matter how old you are, finding the guy who's in the same place as you are and wants to show up is the only way a relationship works, period.'

The couple became a family of three in 2019 when they welcomed daughter Raddix via surrogate.

'He's really taught me to value myself a lot more,' Cameron reflected on Michelle Visage's Rule Breakers podcast in 2022, saying that Benji and Raddix are all that mattered.

'We know that, no matter what, we can just go and be just a family anywhere and we're fine,' Cameron said. 'We don't need any of the things that we have  other than each other.'
YEREVAN, JANUARY 5, ARMENPRESS. 55 Armenians are currently held captive in Azerbaijan but Baku has so far acknowledged only 23 of them, a senior law enforcement official has said.

Argishti Kyaramyan, the Head of the Investigative Committee of Armenia, told First Channel News that Azerbaijan has confirmed holding 23 Armenians captive but they have evidence on the forced disappearance of another 32 persons after the 2020 war.

At this moment 23 compatriots confirmed by Azerbaijan are being held there, 17 of whom are persons captured as a result of the 2023 aggression. We have evidence regarding the forced disappearance of 32 persons after the 44-day war, which we have presented to supranational organizations, Kyaramyan said.

Furthermore, even the European Court of Human Rights indicated interim measures regarding 22 of the prisoners, however Azerbaijan denies the fact that these persons have been taken captive.
The Irwin clan has revealed their restaurant at The Crocodile Hunter Lodge has been listed as one of the top 50 restaurants with healthy bites in Australia.

The exciting news was shared to the Australia Zoo hotel's official Instagram page on Saturday ahead of the family's trip to South Africa where Robert will co-host the new season of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!

'We are delighted to announce that our fine dining restaurant, Warrior Restaurant & Bar has been listed as one of the top 50 restaurants with healthy bites in Australia,' the post began.

'This list recognises our gourmet restaurant as being one of the top spots favoured by diners, using metrics such as five-star reviews, customer ratings and percentage of reservations made in advance.'

'We are so proud of this achievement and of our amazing team.'

The Irwin clan's restaurant at the The Crocodile Hunter Lodge has been listed as one of the top 50 restaurants with healthy bites in Australia

The announcement comes after Robert, 20, revealed his entire family including his girlfriend Rorie Buckey will be accompanying him when he goes to South Africa to shoot I'm A Celebrity.

'Rorie's coming over,' Irwin told the Daily Telegraph on Friday.

'I've got everyone, including my little niece Grace, coming over, so the whole family are there.'

Robert first appeared on the Ten reality show as a guest in 2016, along with mum Terri and sister Bindi.

Joining them this time will be Bindi's husband Chandler Powell, their two-year-old daughter Grace, and Rorie.

The exciting news was shared to the hotel's Instagram page on Saturday ahead of the family's trip to South Africa where Robert (pictured) will co-host the new season of I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here!

Robert and Rorie went Instagram official in August, after months of rumours they were dating.

Rorie reportedly completed an Irwin-approved 'wildlife warrior boot camp' before she and Robert became an official couple.

Robert is reportedly planning to pop the question to his girlfriend Rorie.

According to New Idea magazine, he could propose when his girlfriend visits him in Africa while he films I'm A Celebrity in the coming months.

Robert, 20, revealed his entire family including his girlfriend Rorie Buckey (pictured) will be accompanying him when he goes to South Africa

'Everyone is convinced he is aiming to pop the question when they're in Africa,' an insider said.

'Robert is crazy about her and is planning something unforgettable when he formally proposes. They both know it is part of their plans so he's been dreaming up special ways to make it a surprise.'

The source went on to say Robert and Rorie are taking their relationship 'very serious' and have been planning a future together.
Doctors suggest that getting enough sleep isn't the only type of rest we need

The rules for a healthy sleep pattern are simple, we've long been told.

Get at least seven hours every night, don't doomscroll just before bed - and stick to the same bedtime most nights.

But now, doctors have warned that there is more to rest than simply getting enough sleep.

According to an Alamaba-based specialist, getting many different types of rest every day is essential for a calm body and mind.

There are not one, two or three different varieties, but seven.

And not getting enough of every type may explain why you still feel groggy at the end of the week, despite your long night's sleep.

From taking a break from loud noises (sensory rest), to avoiding intense conversations (emotional rest), here are all the types experts say you should prioritize.

PHYSICAL REST

This seems like the obvious one. However, physical rest extends beyond sleep.

Dr Saundra-Dalton Smith, an internal medicine physician in Alabama, wrote for Goop that components include recovery exercises like yoga, stretching, using a foam roller, and getting a massage.

'Signs that you have a physical rest deficit could be body aches and pain. It could be swelling in your legs and feet after sitting at your desk for long periods of time; it could be spasms in your back,' Dr Dalton-Smith said.

MENTAL REST

Giving your mind a break can also ward off burnout.

Signs that you're low on mental rest include lying awake at night with your mind racing and forgetting basic tasks or items on your grocery list.

'Theyre struggling with concentration and recall, and theyre not in their eighties, so theyre not someone who were thinking has dementia,' Dr Dalton-Smith said.

'Were seeing people in their thirties who cant remember three items for longer than a few minutes because of this busy brain. Theyre not able to hold on to information.'

Mental rest can involve anything from watching mindless TV alone, to reading a fiction book - anything that helps you escape for a few moments.

SOCIAL REST

We've all at one point said that we need time to 'charge' our social battery.

'Social rest is the rest we experience around people,' Dr Dalton-Smith said.

'Most of us spend the majority of our time with people who are pulling from our social energy. Not that theyre negative people, but theyre negatively pulling from our energy, whether thats your spouse, your kids, your coworkers, your clientsthey need things from you.'

'Theyre pulling from that social energy.'

While spending a night in after a night out can help recharge this battery, it's not a long-term solution, Dr Dalton-Smith said.

She suggested taking a look at your relationships. If you feel like your friends only reach out when they need you or don't listen to your struggles, it may be worth stepping back from that relationship.

'Thats what we want to have in our lives: some people we just enjoy spending time with,' Dr Dalton-Smith said.

'Your kids and your spouse can be part of your social rest, but you do have to be aware of the dynamics of the relationship so that you dont spend all your time pouring yourself into them. Let them pour back into you.'

SPIRITUAL REST

Meditating is one way to get more spiritual rest

Spiritual rest isn't just for the religious. It's about feeling like your life has meaning. Dr Dalton-Smith said that if you feel like you don't belong or your life is pointless, you're likely lacking spiritual rest.

Common signs of this include feeling like your work or activities don't make a meaningful difference in the world.

'If you don't feel like your work has meaning, you will experience burnout,' Dr Dalton Smith said.

'Find a way to connect to desire for meaning, whether that's through community, a work culture where you feel like what you do matters, or a faith-based culture.'

'We all have that need to feel like we belong and that we are contributing.'

SENSORY REST

Signs of sensory overload syndrome include the inability to ignore what's around you, discomfort, anxiety, fear, extreme sensitivity to clothing or textures, irritability, loss of focus, restlessness, and insomnia

We've all felt sensory overload at one point.

Your notifications are dinging, the kids are playing while you try to work, the neighbors are shouting. Even staring at your computer screen all day can overwhelm your senses.

'Whether or not you are consciously aware of the sensory input around you, your body and your subconscious self are going to respond,' Dr Dalton-Smith said.

This can lead to sensory overload syndrome, which is when at least one of the body's five senses gets too overwhelmed.

Signs of sensory overload syndrome include the inability to ignore what's around you, discomfort, anxiety, fear, extreme sensitivity to clothing or textures, irritability, loss of focus, restlessness, and insomnia.

'People with a sensory rest deficit may find that youre good in the beginning of the day, but you cant understand why at the end of the day,' Dr Dalton-Smith said.

Spending time alone in a calm place with neutral colors and few sounds for just 10 minutes per day can help redress the balance.

EMOTIONAL REST

It's easy to bottle up our emotions until they become too much to handle. When this happens, you likely are low on emotional rest.

'Many of us carry quite a bit of emotional labor privately, in that we dont share with people what were feeling. We may be carrying emotional labor because we dont want to share with our kids how bad things are with the pandemic and how its affected our finances,' Dr Dalton-Smith said.

'You may be carrying emotional labor if youre in management and you had to lay off employees but you couldnt show your feelings because you wanted your team to feel like everything was great.'

'There are a lot of times we carry emotional labor, and we hide our feelings without giving them the opportunity to be expressed and to heal, to be exposed.'

Signs of emotional burnout include feeling like you have to keep your emotions in check and that you can't show how you're really feeling.

Confiding in a trusted friend or trained therapist can offer some of this much-needed rest.

CREATIVE REST

When you're focused on getting the kids off to school or working on a big project, it can be difficult to stop and take in the art around you.

However, stopping to listen to the lyrics of the song in your headphones or taking in a mural on the street could be forms of creative rest.

'Creative rest is the rest we experience when we allow ourselves to appreciate beauty in any form,' Dr Dalton-Smith said. 'Whether thats natural beauty, like the oceans and the mountains and the trees, or created beauty, like art, music, and dance.'

'The way you can tell when you have a deficit in this particular area is when you have a hard time being innovative.'

'When you have a hard time brainstorming, when problem-solving is difficult for you. Creativity is more than just art; its any type of innovation.'
Growing worries about iPhone sales has prompted a second analyst this week to downgrade Apple's stock price.

The tech giant's value has now slipped by $155 billion this week - more than THREE times the value of Ford.

Apple is still worth $2.83 trillion - making it the most valuable company in the world.

But No2 ranked Microsoft - which is seen to be a leader in AI - is worth $2.73 trillion, and could overtake this month if Apple's share price continues to slide.

The gap is now down $100 billion - the smallest it has been since November 2021.

Piper Sandler and Co cut its rating on Apple on Thursday, the second big bank to do so after Barclays downgrade on Tuesday.

Apple stock price has fallen this week - Microsoft could take spot as world's biggest company

Apple stock price dropped again on Thursday after Piper Sandler cut its rating on the share price, meaning Apple's value has fallen by more than 6 percent this week

Microsoft's share price has also slipped this week, but by less. It is now close to taking over as the world's most valuable company

An analyst at Barclays downgraded Apple shares, causing them to fall in value. Barclays said sales of the iPhone 15 - held up by Apple CEO Tim Cook - have been 'lackluster'

Piper Sandler analyst Harsh Kumar said he was was worried about the iPhone is not selling as much as expected in the first half of this year.

'Growth rates have peaked for unit sales,' he said.

Earlier in the week, on Tuesday, Tim Long from Barclays said sales of Apple's iPhone 15 smartphones have been 'lackluster' and the upcoming iPhone 16 'should be the same.' He set a target of $160 per share.

After that, the share price - which had been above $192 at the end of December - dropped four percent immediately, and by Wednesday afternoon it was hovering around $184.

Then today (Thursday), the price fell again to below $182 - down 6.3 percent this year - after the note from Piper Sandler.

Microsoft's share price is down this year, too but only by 2 per cent to just under $368.

As well as Microsoft shares having slimmer losses so far in 2024, the maker of Windows is coming off a slightly stronger year than Apples. Microsofts shares rose 57 percent in 2023 as compared with 48 percentfor Apple.

Apple relies on iPhones for just over half of its revenue. Microsoft was once depending on its Windows software but now it also makes money from cloud computing and devices like its Surface computers.

Apple was the first ever company to amass a $1 trillion valuation in 2018. It has remained the world's largest company ever since except for brief periods when Microsoft stole the title.

The next biggest company is Saudia Arabian Oil at arund $2.13 trillion, then Google owner Alphabet at $1.73 trillion and then Amazon at $1.51 trillion.

Apple had another issue to deal with Thursday - it had to pull an update to its operating system after just two hours since it causes iPhones to freeze. It was a beta update - for those who are keen to test the latest features - so it didn't affect most users.

Apple's shares rose 50 per cent to hit a record high last year - making it the first company with a market value above $3 trillion. It hit the mark first in June and then again in early December when shares were above $193.

Sales slowing in China are the biggest problem for Apple, analysts say. This is happening for two key reasons.

Chinese-based rivals like Huawei are gaining market share there, plus Beijing has limits on government employee use of iPhones.

According to Bloomberg, smartphone data company IDC cut its 2024 forecast for Apple's China sales.

'Huawei's success most significantly impacts Apple's growth in China,' said IDC research director Nabila Popal.

Huawei's share of high-end smartphones has risen to 24 per cent in the third quarter of 2023 - from 11 percent the year before.
Insurance companies received over ten times more Kia and Hyundai theft claims last year than three years earlier, insurance data shows.

Thefts of dozens of models began to soar in 2021 after the ease with which they could be stolen - due to a critical design flaw - went viral. Both Korean automakers are related and share engineering.

TikTok videos showed cars being stolen and driven haphazardly by joyriders through major Midwestern cities like Milwaukee, Chicago and Columbus.

The vandals behind the viral carjackings, some of whom were as young as 12, branded themselves 'Kia Boys'. The trend went national, causing nightmares for tens of thousands of Kia and Hyundai owners.

In 2022, four teenagers including a 14-year-old mother were killed after a stolen Kia Sportage was crashed in Buffalo, New York.

Teenage vandals known as the 'Kia Boys' went viral online. Pictured are self-proclaimed Kia Boys in Milwaukee as they appeared in a popular YouTube video

The primitive method of stealing Kia and Hyundai cars sold in the US involves using the square tip of a USB cable to start the car. The USB cable is not used to transfer any data

Your browser does not support iframes.

The two car brands operate as separate companies in the US, but Hyundai Motor Group owns a large stake in Kia. As a result, models from both share the bulk of their engineering and parts, including locking mechanisms.

In the first half of 2023, Hyundai and Kia theft claims were more than 11 times higher than for cars made by other manufacturers, according to data from the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI).

KIA AND HYUNDAI MODELS BLACKLISTED BY STATE FARM 2015-2021 Hyundai Accent 2015-2021 Hyundai Elantra 2015-2021 Hyundai Kona 2015-2021 Hyundai Santa Fe 2015-2021 Hyundai Tucson 2015-2021 Hyundai Veloster 2015-2021 Kia Forte 2015-2021 Kia Optima (4-door and hybrid models) 2015-2021 Kia Rio 2015-2021 Kia Sedona 2015-2021 Kia Sorento 2015-2021 Kia Soul 2015-2021 Kia Sportage Source: WWL-TV Louisiana Advertisement

In the first half of 2020, about 1.0 in every 1,000 insured Hyundais and Kias were reported stolen - about the same as all other manufacturers. But by the first half of 2023 that had risen to 11.2 in every 1,000, the HLDI data showed.

In some states like New York, Washington and Delaware, Hyundai and Kia theft claims jumped significantly in the first half of last year.

In Maryland, theft claims increased from four per 1,000 insured vehicles in the last half of 2022 to 14 in the first half of 2023.

Between 2011 and 2021 nearly 10 million Kia and Hyundai cars sold in the US were not equipped with immobilizers and could therefore be started easily and primitively with just a flat head screwdriver and a USB cable.

Once a thief pulls off the plastic steering column shroud, they can then rip out the keyed ignition barrel and use the end of a USB cable to rotate a square tab and start the car. The cable is not used to transfer any data.

Because the cars have no immobilizer, there is nothing to stop the car from then firing up.

In the US, immobilizers are not required by law. In Canada, however, they are mandatory. Vice reported that in the US just 26 percent of Kias and Hyundais had immobilizers as late as 2015.

This year auto insurers like State farm blacklisted more than a hundred Kia and Hyundai models and various cities sued the South Korean automakers.

In May, months after saying they would offer software upgrades for 8.3 million cars, Hyundai and Kia agreed to a class-action lawsuit settlement worth around $200 million.

Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein said in a statement announcing its suit that the manufacturers had acted negligently and in their own interests by not including important anti-theft mechanisms.

'For years, Kia and Hyundai cut corners and sold vehicles they knew were so unsafe they could be stolen with ease by a teenager with access to simple tools and a TikTok account,' he said.

Four teenagers were killed after a Kia Sportage they allegedly stole crashed (pictured) in Buffalo, New York

Pictured is a 2019 Hyundai Tucson, one of the popular models sold in the US without an immobilizer making it easy for thieves to start

Pictured is a 2015 Kia Forte - another model sold in the US without an immobilizer

'Kia and Hyundai's negligence in pursuit of corporate profit is unconscionable. It's time we held these automakers accountable for cheating consumers and passing the buck and responsibility to clean up the mess they made onto the rest of us.'

In 2021 in Columbus, 67 percent of vehicles stolen were Hyundais and Kias.

In a statement to DailyMail.com, a spokesperson for Hyundai said the company was taking measures to mitigate theft, including by making immobilizers standard on all vehicles produced as of November 2021.

'Thieves discovered a specific method by which to bypass the vehicles' security features and then documented and promoted their exploits on TikTok and other social media channels,' they said.

The companyalso said it had rolled out software upgrades to existing modesl to deter thieves.
Power Finance Corporation Ltd (PFC), a Maharatna CPSE and the countrys leading NBFC in the power sector, signed an MoU with the Government of Gujarat (GoG) on January 3.

The MoU has been signed by Parminder Chopra, CMD PFC and Jai Prakash Shivhare, IAS, MD (GUVNL) in the presence of Bhupendra Patel, Chief Minister of Gujarat; Rushikesh Patel, Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Higher & Technical Education, Law & Justice, Government of Gujarat; Raj Kumar IAS, Chief Secretary, Government of Gujarat; SJ Haider, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Gujarat and other officials.
India will extend a financial package of USD 75 million for the reconstruction of infrastructure in Nepal's district affected by last year's earthquake, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Friday.

Jaishankar's remarks came as he jointly inaugurated with his Nepalese counterpart N P Saud the Tribhuvan University Central Library and other reconstruction projects undertaken in Kathmandu after the 2015 earthquake in Nepal.

Jaishankar arrived in Nepal on Thursday on his first visit to a foreign country in 2024.

Speaking at the event, Jaishankar said he was happy to celebrate the inauguration of this newly constructed Central Library of the prestigious Tribhuvan University as well as 25 schools, 32 health projects and a cultural heritage sector project, which were undertaken as part of a collaborative effort to support the people of Nepal in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake of 2015.

Jaishankar said India was also saddened to learn of the casualties and devastation caused by the earthquake that struck the western parts of Nepal in November last year.

A 5.7 magnitude earthquake struck Jajarkot District in Nepal on November 3, 2023, killing over 150 people and injuring nearly 400. The earthquake was the deadliest to strike the country since 2015.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed solidarity, the people and leadership of Nepal and had committed to extend all possible assistance," he said.

"I also communicated yesterday (Thursday) to Prime Minister Prachanda (Pushapa Kamal) about our decision to extend the financial package of Nepalese rupees 1,000 crore that is USD 75 million for the reconstruction of infrastructure in these affected districts," he said.

"We shall continue to stand by the people of Nepal and contribute to the efforts of the government of Nepal on this," he said.

The minister said the government of India started providing emergency relief to Nepal in less than 48 hours after the November earthquake.

Five tranches of such relief have already been supplied to the earthquake-affected people, including one consisting of essential requirements and prefabricated houses, which were handed over on Thursday to the people in the earthquake-affected districts.

He said after the 2015 quake, the government of Nepal prioritised housing, education, health and cultural heritage as part of its reconstruction.

"We have been pleased to be part of these inputs as we contributed USD 1 billion in this regard, consisting of USD 250 million in grant and the remaining as a line of credit," he said.

The government of India has funded a project for the construction of 10,000 houses that were completed in November 2020.

"I'm happy to know that with today's handing over of 25 schools and the inauguration of this very prestigious library, all the 71 projects being undertaken with reconstruction grants in the education sector have been completed and handed over to the government," Jaishankar said.

The minister said he deeply appreciates the partnership of the two governments and recognises the efforts of all the concerned agencies of the government of Nepal in this.

Talking about the bilateral ties, Jaishankar said in recent years, "We have witnessed the real transformation of the India-Nepal relationship with significant strides made in a variety of areas."

This partnership has expanded multifold and connectivity, be it physical, digital or energy-related, has become a cornerstone of this expanding collaboration and this has further strengthened people-to-people linkages between our two countries, the minister said.

He said during his visit, the two nations signed some really important agreements, both in the areas of power sector cooperation as well as project implementation.

"I am very confident that this will positively impact the lives of the ordinary person in Nepal," he said.

The development cooperation between the two nations has also been bolstered by educational and capacity-building initiatives in various sectors including a large number of scholarships in premier educational institutions in India as well as in Nepal to encourage the brightest students here to continue their studies., he said.

"Our youth are particularly powerful agents of growth and development in both societies and also important ambassadors of the relationship between us.

"Our collaboration and initiatives in promoting our youth by providing educational opportunities and also by making good educational infrastructure, like this library building, available to them will only empower them in the positive transformation of both countries," he said.

"I assure you that we are committed to extending our steadfast support and work with the same earnestness to further realise the potential of the relationship for the full benefit of the people of the two countries.

He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the government of India is committed to continuing to redefine its relationship with partners in its neighbourhood, especially with Nepal.

Jaishankar said during his visit to Nepal in 2014. Prime Minister Modi had given the 'HIT' formula for India-Nepal relations.

"HIT as in H for highways 1 for Iways and T for Transways," he said.

During the visit of Prime Minister Prachanda to India in June, both leaders took the important decision to make a partnership a superhit, he said.

"The government of India is committed to moving forward on the ideals of sabka sath sanka vikas, sabka vishwas sabka prayas and take the friendly neighbouring countries, including Nepal, along with us in our development journey," Jaishankar said.

"Together, we will continue to cross more and more milestones in our relationship in the days to come," he added.
The Congress Party has strongly reacted to the Trinamool Congress setting aside for the grand old party a meager two parliamentary seats in Bengal.

Saying that Mamata Banerjee has made her minds clear about what she thought about the INDIA alliance, Pradesh Congress president Adhir Chowdhury on Thursday said his outfit was not begging for seats from the TMC.

Mamata Banerjee has made her intentions clear by allotting two seats for us which the Congress had won in 2019 without the TMCs support  so there is nothing new in what they are offering  we are not beggars and had not been begging for seats  it is the TMC which will need our help this time and not the other way round, he said.

We will show this time how Congress can win its seats without the help of TMC besides retaining the existing seats with us. We dont need Mamata Banerjees mercy. he said adding, the TMC would fare miserably in the coming elections.

Incidentally, the Chief Minister had last week said that the TMC would alone fight in Bengal whereas in the rest of the country the Indian National Democratic Inclusive Alliance would take on the BJP. Only TMC can take on the BJP in Bengal and set a model for others across the country. No other party can do it.

In 2019 out of the 42 parliamentary seats from Bengal the TMC had won 22 while the BJP had won 18. The Malda South and Behrampore seats were won by the veteran Congress MPs Abu Hasem Khan Chowdhury and Adhir Chowdhury respectively defeating their nearest Trinamool rivals. In both the cases the Congress had a seat adjustment with the Left while the TMC fought independently.

Adhir Chowdhurys intense reaction comes at a time when the Congress is vertically divided over any kind of alliance with the TMC which has for the past two years been plagued by corruption charges that have seen a number of its senior leaders including ministers, MLAs and district presidents other lesser leaders going to jail. Even its second-in-command and national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee who is also the nephew of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been grilled several times to explain his role in cattle smuggling and recruitment scams.

The talks for seats at the national level notwithstanding, there has been a tremendous groundswell in the Bengal Congress against any kind of alliance with the TMC which, the grassroots Congress worker allege, single-handedly destroyed the Congress

organization in the State by either engineering defection in that party or implicating its thousands of workers in false cases.

How will we face the people of down below  all these years we had been fighting against the TMC  all these years our grassroots workers have been at the receiving end of TMC brutalities  their houses were burnt, there women taken away, there lands snatched and their men forced to flee their houses  and now if the top leadership impose an alliance on us then it would be counterproductive, PCC leader Kaustav Bagchi had earlier said.
Tensions rose in the city on Thursday as BJP workers vehemently objected to Youth Congress-KSU workers attempting to sprinkle cow dung water on the stage used by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an event the previous day.

According to Hindu belief, cow dung water is used to cleanse impurities from a place. Police said that tensions escalated in the area when Youth Congress and Kerala Students Union (KSU) workers staged a march towards Thekkinkadu Maidan, where the event had been held the previous day. They were allegedly protesting because the branches of a banyan tree near the venue were cut as part of the security measures for Modis programme on Wednesday. BJP workers, who were engaged in dismantling the stage on Thursday countered the march, which resulted in a tense atmosphere. Police intervened promptly and had to use force to disperse the two groups, restoring order in the area. There was a push and shove between the activists. The tension eased when officers stationed themselves between the two groups, a police officer told PTI. The protesting Youth Congress-KSU workers were removed from the spot, he added.

BJPs district leaders said the party workers only prevented the Youth Congress members from sprinkling cow dung water at the venue. Youth Congress workers, however, alleged that BJP activists arrived armed with sticks, intending to attack them during their protest against the cutting of the banyan tree branches. The BJP workers blamed the Youth Congress-KSU workers, saying they caused trouble before the stage in Thekkinkadu Maidan was dismantled.

BJP state chief K Surendran strongly criticised the Congress, claiming that the act of sprinkling cow dung water on the Vadakkumnanatha temple ground (Thekkinkadu Maidan) exposed the partys elitist mindset. In an apparent reference to Modis OBC background, Surendran attributed the Congresss actions to them questioning how a person from a backward caste could speak on the sacred land of Lord Vadakkumnathan.

He also alleged that the Congress had previously used casteist slurs against the countrys President and Vice President. In a democracy, protests should be held in a respectful manner, he stressed. He added that such protests would not be tolerated under any circumstances.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 5, ARMENPRESS. Armenia is becoming more appealing for tourists especially in the winter season as the sector is recovering from the COVID-19 pandemics impact, officials say.

Armenian Tourism Federation President Mekhak Apresyan told Armenpress that seemingly everything is starting all over again in the tourism sector after the pandemic, because tourism had stopped.

The sector began to gradually recover after the coronavirus, and eventually we had a very good result, we surpassed even the 2019 figures with the total number of visits, he said.

Apresyan said that all steps must be carried out simultaneously for the development of winter tourism in Armenia. He said that winter tourism infrastructures must be developed and improved, and Armenias tourism opportunities must be properly presented in the global market.

Although winter tourism in Armenia is steadily developing, officials continue to carry out marketing campaigns especially in the direction of countries that dont have such a potential.

Currently large-scale work is carried out in the UAE, especially in Dubai, in order to draw the attention of local tourists on Armenia in the winter season, Anahit Voskanyan, the advisor to the president of the Tourism Committee, told Armenpress.

One Way Tour agency concurred that winter tourism is gradually developing in Armenia.

Russia was leading in the list of countries where most tourists chose Armenia as a tourist destination, but in 2023 December the statistics changed towards Arab countries, such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and others. One of the reasons of this change is the snow, because most of the tourists whove come from these countries are seeing snow for the first time here in Armenia, One Way Tour marketing director Satenik Abrahamyan said.

Abrahamyan also noted that winter tourism infrastructures should be further developed across the country.

Gayane Gaboyan
The Indian Navys elite marine commandos on Friday successfully carried out an operation to intercept a hijacked merchant vessel and rescue several crew members, including at least 15 Indians. The Liberian-flagged vessel MV Lila Norfolk was hijacked off the coast of Somalia.

The Navy deployed a warship, maritime patrol aircraft, helicopters, P-8I, and long-range aircraft, along with Predator MQ9B drones following the incident involving MV Lila Norfolk.

All 21 crew members, including 15 Indians, onboard the vessel, were safely evacuated from the citadel, said Indian Navys spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal.

The sanitisation carried out by MARCOs commandos confirmed the absence of hijackers. The attempted hijacking by the pirates was likely abandoned following a forceful warning by the Indian Navys maritime patrol aircraft regarding interception by naval warships, he added.

Providing details of the rescue operation, Navy officials mentioned that the Indian warship INS Chennai intercepted the hijacked ship around 3:15 pm on Friday and instructed the approximately five pirates to abandon the vessel.

The Indian Navy Marine Commandos boarded the hijacked ship and commenced sanitisation. MV Lila Norfolk was hijacked late on Thursday near the coast of Somalia. The hijacking was reported by the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a British military organisation that tracks movements of various vessels in strategic waterways.

Following the incident, the Indian Navy deployed its destroyer INS Chennai, and a Navy aircraft constantly tracked the hijacked ship. It was hijacked by pirates 300 nautical miles east of Somalia. The ship was sailing from Port Du Aco (Brazil) and was bound for Khalifa Bin Salman in Bahrain.

The Indian Navys maritime patrol aircraft overflew the vessel early Friday and established contact with the vessel, ascertaining the safety of the crew, officials said.

The Indian Navy remains committed to ensuring the safety of merchant shipping in the region along with international partners and friendly foreign countries, the spokesperson added.

Last month, the Navy deployed several warships into the sea to maintain a deterrent presence after a series of recent shipping attacks, including a drone attack near Indias coast attributed to Iran by the United States.

The latest attack comes at a time when many vessels have been rerouted from the Red Sea, where Yemens Iran-backed Houthi rebels have conducted drone and missile attacks in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, amid Israels conflict with Hamas.

In the previous month, a drone attack targeted the MV Chem Pluto tanker 200 nautical miles (370 kilometres) off the coast of India.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has ordered a CBI enquiry into the supply of substandard medicines in Delhi government hospitals and whether the drugs were also distributed through Mohalla Clinics. The CBI probe was ordered following a recommendation by Delhi Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena in December last year. The Delhi Governments Directorate of Vigilance had written to the home ministry requesting the probe.

Launching a scathing attack on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal after the MHA directed a CBI probe into the alleged procurement and supply of spurious and non-standard drugs, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva welcomed it and said he wanted to see how far the AAP convener can run from ongoing investigations.

The probe will shed new light on the reasons why such low-quality medicines were supplied to government hospitals, thereby endangering the health of patients. It will also reveal the extent of kickbacks to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his cabinet colleagues. This scam amounts to playing with public health. It is shameful, Sachdeva added.

Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj also welcomed the CBI enquiry into the alleged supply of substandard medicines to Delhi government-run hospitals and demanded the immediate suspension of the health departments secretary. I had given directions for carrying out an audit of medicines immediately after assuming office in March last year, but the (Delhi government) health secretary did not follow the directions. I welcome the CBI enquiry into the matter, but why is the Centre shielding the official? He should be immediately suspended, Bharadwaj said.

Bharadwaj said that out of the 43 samples collected from three hospitals, only five of them were declared not of standard quality.

At a press conference, he stated that in the official report, the terms NSQ or not of standard quality have been used many times, and it is nowhere mentioned that the drugs are fake, imitation, poison, spurious.

He added, You cannot write it officially like that as it wasnt so.

In a note, Saxena mentioned that the drugs allegedly failed quality standard tests and had the potential of endangering lives in hospitals run by the Delhi government. The Delhi governments Directorate of Vigilance had written to the home ministry requesting the probe.

The letter stated that any action for supplying Not of Standard Quality drugs should not be confined to the CPA, and there is a need to investigate the entire supply chain  the role of the suppliers who procured from 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, read the Directorate of Vigilance letter.

The drugs found to be of substandard quality included critical life-saving antibiotics used for the treatment of lung and urinary tract infections, such as Cephalexin, according to officials.

The list also included a steroid, Dexamethasone, used for curing life-threatening inflammation in the lungs and joints, and swelling in the body, anti-epilepsy and anti-anxiety psychiatric drug Levetiracetam, and anti-hypertension drug Amlodepin, the officials 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 a Preliminary Enquiry (PE) was also registered..., the communication read.

According to a vigilance department report submitted to the lieutenant governor, of the 43 samples of drugs sent to government laboratories, three failed the test, and 12 reports were pending. Furthermore, out of another 43 samples sent to private laboratories, five failed. Drugs such as Amlodipine, Levetiracetam, and Pantoprazole failed the test in both government and private laboratories. Cephalexin and Dexamethasone failed the test in private laboratories.

Delhi Minister Atishi on Friday accused the BJP-led Centre of trying to destroy the national capitals world-class healthcare system by initiating fake inquiries. Atishi said at a press conference that the AAP dispensations mohalla clinic model has received praise worldwide.

Mohalla clinics are a clean and well-maintained setup where medicines are given free to every person. The BJP-led Centre is trying to destroy Delhis world-class health model. How is it being done? By leveling false allegations and initiating fake inquiries, she added. The minister said no inquiry has ever been refused.

Every day inquiries are being initiated. We have never refused any inquiry. This inquiry is not being carried out to investigate corruption but to ensure that officers are scared and fear is instilled in medical superintendents of hospitals, she said.

It also needs to be investigated whether the same drugs which have been procured by the Central Procurement Agency (CPA) are also being distributed to the patients through the Mohalla Clinics or not, read the communication by the Department of Vigilance to MHA. Atishi alleged that these inquiries will scare officers now and reiterated that it is the BJPs conspiracy to stop them from working.
Several Enforcement Directorate officials and members of the Central forces escorting them were grievously injured on Friday morning when they were attacked and chased away by around two thousand Trinamool Congress members armed with bamboos, brickbats, etc. The incident occurred at Sarberia village of Sandeshkhali Police Station in North 24 Parganas, about 73 km east of Kolkata. The officials had gone there to conduct raids on the properties of SK Sahjehan, a TMC strongman, to investigate his alleged role in the multi-crore ration scam. This scam has already led to the imprisonment of Jyotipriya Mallick, the Bengal Forest Minister, formerly in charge of the Food Ministry, last October.

We were conducting raids at SK Sahjehans house around 8 in the morning. As the CRPF men were breaking the locks, suddenly thousands of people, including women armed with sticks and bamboos, charged in from all directions. They pushed us around and then attacked us. Our vehicles were literally smashed, and we had to run in all directions for our dear lives, recounted an official.

Among the injured was an assistant director-level official, according to sources, and the officials have been admitted to a private facility in Kolkata. Locals reported that CRPF men had to beat a hasty retreat on the broken vehicles, while some of the ED men fled on

auto-rickshaws and totos when hundreds of armed men charged at them menacingly. Some sought refuge in the local police outpost, while others rushed to the riverside and were ferried across on police boats, sources added.

Apart from the attackers, some levelheaded people in the area privately praised the Central forces for showing utmost restraint in the melee. God save us and many others... the Central forces acted very professionally by not opening fire. If they had done so, there would have been many casualties, and that could have led to mayhem in the area, said a local teacher who was going to his school in the morning.

The planned nature of the attack was further supported by reports that the fleeing officials were waylaid at Basanti Highway en route to Kolkata.

Their passage was blockaded by trucks. They were pulled out of their vehicles and hit with bamboo sticks. I saw two of them getting hit on the head, and one was bleeding profusely. We were so afraid that we could not go to help, said a local shopkeeper, adding, the bleeding officials were not even ready to go to the nearby health centre. They somehow managed to take auto-rickshaws.

What will you do when you are encircled by a thousand armed people from all sides in a distant land? It was a village, and many of us had to jump into the paddy fields to run to safety. We were running helter-skelter for some time. Are we doing national duty? Are we combat people, or are we dacoits? an official said, literally on the verge of breaking down.

The raids were part of ED operations in 10 places, including the premises of TMC leader Shankhar Adhya in Bongaon and SK Sahjehan in North 24 Parganas. Their premises were reportedly being raided due to their alleged connections to the ration scam. It is also alleged that Adhya has been involved in money trading, and the agencies were looking into his possible role in money laundering related to recruitment and ration scams.

Switching to Sandeshkhali, Union Minister of State for Home Nisith Pramanik, giving his first reaction to the incident, said, It is the duty of the State police to provide security, but things work differently in Bengal where security forces are under regular attack.

He said Fridays attack was not on the Central officials but on the federal structure. He added, The Centre has taken this matter very seriously, and we will inquire into it with all seriousness.

Curiously, local TMC MLA Srikanto Mahato justified the mob attack, calling it jano rosh (public anger). He said, How do the villagers know who has come? It could be dacoits; it could be thieves in uniform trying to break open the locks. So they thought that they should protect the house of their dear leader, and they ran to save his house.

Trinamool Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, The BJP is using the ED to malign TMC leaders by conducting sporadic raids. This is being done to instigate the people before the elections so that the ruling party gets a bad name. But they will not succeed.

Reacting to the incident, BJP State president Sukanto Majumdar said the attack on the law enforcement agency was a reflection of the future of the people of Bengal, adding, It is an indication of what the Rohingyas are doing to the law and order in the state.

State Opposition Leader Suvendu Adhikari called the attack on government officials an attack on the constitution and the sovereignty of India that should be taken very seriously. There should be an NIA probe ordered into the incident, he said.

Horrific. The Law & Order Situation in West Bengal is in shambles. ED Officials & CRPF Jawans brutally attacked in Sandeshkhali; North 24 Parganas district, while conducting a raid at TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahans house. I doubt that Rohingyas are present amongst the Anti-National attackers, he wrote on X.

ED and CRPF dispatched two parallel reports to their respective authorities in Delhi, sources said.

Meanwhile, your correspondent gathered the following reports on the TMC strongman Sk Sahajehan, considered the main mastermind behind Fridays attack.

SK Sahajehan, the Trinamool Congress strongman whose influence extends over an extensive part of North and South 24 Parganas, began as a CPI(M) worker during the Left rule. He transitioned into a social worker-cum-strongman after 2014 when he joined the Trinamool Congress, convinced that there was no chance of the Left coming back to power anytime soon.

Over the past decade, Sahjehan, named in numerous criminal cases, including homicide but known for his decent looks and suave ways, has built an empire worth tens of crores, according to locals in North and South 24 Parganas districts. They added that he owns several fisheries, fish processing units, fish markets, brick kilns, besides having interests in money trading, ferry business, and sand and earth quarrying worth crores. Locals also mentioned that he had been on good terms with jailed Food Minister Jyotipriya Mallick.
The scheduled consecration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22 has not only established the holy city as a spiritual centre but has also opened doors for substantial business opportunities nationwide. According to preliminary estimates by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), the economic impact of Ram Mandir is expected to surpass `50,000 crore.

Praveen Khandelwal, Secretary General of CAIT, said the temple has created numerous business prospects, especially benefiting small manufacturers and traders. The inauguration of Ram Mandir has spurred a business boom related to puja and religious items.

The demand for various items associated with worship, such as Shri Ram Mandir models, has become a centre of attraction. These models are available in different sizes. On the other hand, idols, pictures, and artifacts related to Ram Mandir and other deities have seen a considerable surge. These products are crafted from materials like pine wood, wood, cardboard, etc. Additionally, there is a growing demand for religious literature, Hanuman Chalisa, Aarti compilations, and related items, he said.

Meanwhile, temples in the national capital are also gearing up to mark the momentous occasion of the consecration ceremony at the Ram Mandir on January 22. The temples in Delhi will be bedecked with lights, decorations, diyas, and flowers for the special occasion.

As the date of January 22 approaches, the demand in the markets is increasing day by day, leading to the fact that many individuals involved in their traditional businesses have started dealing in items related to the celebrations of Ram Mandir. Items like flags, banners, and merchandise have gained immense popularity, indicating widespread attraction to the symbol of Ram Mandir. Products like clothing with images of Ram Mandir, Ram Darbar, and other deities are also witnessing high demand. Besides, there is a substantial market demand for various items used in worship, such as clay, brass, and other metal lamps, single lamps, and multi-lamp holders for Aarti, as well as incense stick stands.

Additionally, there is a significant market presence of various items like incense sticks, dhoop (incense), cow dung cakes, scented cups, loban (gum resin), camphor, kumkum (vermilion), sandalwood, roli (vermilion powder), akshata (rice grains used in rituals), and candles made from cotton, along with Ganga water, all of which are highly favored by customers.

Khandelwal further said there is also a high demand in the market for accessories used in worship, such as mats, rugs, sheets, and fabrics made from jute and other materials. Additionally, devotees interest extends to prasad offerings such as fruits, sweets, and other edible items. Items like malas, beads, lockets, pendants, and other accessories associated with worship are experiencing robust sales. Moreover, decorative items for home embellishment, like torans, welcome hangings, and artificial flower garlands, are in high demand, traders said.

The surge in demand for items related to religious rituals, including havan materials and offerings, is steadily increasing. As preparations intensify for the grand celebration on January 22nd, there is a significant focus on meeting the demand for sweets, fruits, and dry fruits, as well as home and shop decorations.

In addition, the music industrys involvement in creating songs related to Ram Mandir provides opportunities for lesser-known artists and orchestras to participate in events related to the temple across the country.

The overall impact of Ram Mandir on various businesses suggests a robust economic message, emphasising prosperity and entrepreneurship within the country, Khandelwal added.

Ravinder Goyal, the trustee of Jhandewalan Mandir, said the temple will celebrate Diwali on that day, and all the rituals will be performed. Jhandewalan Mandir will be organising a community kitchen in Ayodhya for the duration of one-and-a-half months starting from Makar Sankranti on January 15, Goyal said. He added that decorations, diyas, a day-long program of devotional songs, and worship would take place.

Daati Maharaj said that the construction of the temple inside Shri Sidh Shakti Peeth Shanidham Mandir, located at Asola, is underway. An idol of Prabhu Shri Ram will be installed on the same day, coinciding with Ayodhyas idol installation ceremony, he said. He also highlighted that various programmes are set to unfold here from January 17 and will culminate on January 22 to coincide with the consecration ceremony in Ayodhya.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday nominated Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal who has been working closely with party chief Arvind Kejriwal since his days as an activist as its candidate for the January 19 Rajya Sabha elections and renominated jailed AAP leader Sanjay Singh and ND Gupta for a second term in the Upper House of Parliament. Maliwal will replace Sushil Kumar Gupta, as a member of the Rajya Sabha. The elections to three Rajya Sabha seats in Delhi scheduled to be held on January 19.

"Chaired by AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, the committee has decided to endorse two existing members for re-nomination, whereas Sushil Kumar Gupta has expressed his intent to redirect his focus towards the electoral politics of Haryana," AAP said. According to AAP, Sanjay Singh and N D Gupta's names have been proposed in the AAP's PAC meeting for their second term as Rajya Sabha MP for their second term. "Sushil Kumar Gupta has conveyed his aspiration to actively engage in the vibrant electoral landscape of Haryana, and we respect his decision to pursue this path," stated a senior AAP leader. The third name that the AAP has proposed is Maliwal. She later resigned from the post of DCW chief after her nomination.

The nominations for three RS seats of Delhi began on January 3 and the poll will be held on January 19. Since AAP has 62 out of the 70 seats in the Delhi assembly, the three AAP nominees are set to be elected unopposed.

Taking a dig at the Kejriwal government, Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor has said that by re-nominating Sanjay Singh to Rajya Sabha, Kejriwal has shown that he is an equal partner in Sanjay Singh's corruption. On the other hand, by deciding to send Maliwal to Rajya Sabha, Kejriwal has tried to calm the ongoing power struggle between two women leaders of his party. Kapoor has said that ever since Ms. Atishi's stature was increasing in the cabinet, Ms. Swati Maliwal had been making Ms. Atishi uncomfortable by raising issues like lack of street lights for women safety on the streets.

Maliwal was appointed as the Chairperson of the DCW in 2015, where she has been instrumental in spearheading initiatives to address issues such as acid attacks, sexual harassment, and women's safety in Delhi. She was also a core member and among the youngest to join the Indian Against Corruption movement, which was led by Anna Hazare and Arvind Kerjwal. She was married to AAP leader Naveen Jaihind, however, they have been divorced since February 2020.

Born in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, Maliwal attended Amity International School before earning a bachelor's degree in Information Technology from the JSS Academy of Technical Education. Maliwal briefly served as a campaigner for Greenpeace India in 2013, focusing on ensuring safe food for women and children.

Meanwhile a special court has also allowed Singh, who was arrested in a money laundering case related to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam, to sign forms and documents for his Rajya Sabha renomination. A Special Judge M K Nagpal passed the order on an application filed by the politician, who submitted that his present term as a member of the Rajya Sabha is expiring on January 27 and the Returning Officer has issued a notice on January 2 for conduct of the election and nominations for the same are to be submitted by January 9.
Education Minister Atishi inspected a new school in East Vinod Nagar along with officials from the Public Works Department and the Education Department. The school will be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including smart classrooms, excellent labs, libraries, lifts, and other world-class amenities for children. The construction of this school is progressing rapidly. During the inspection, Atishi directed officials to expedite the remaining construction work so that children can study in their sparkling new building in the upcoming academic session.

During the inspection, the Education Minister said that this splendid school is being constructed in the legislative assembly of Manish Sisodia that will ensure to bring world-class education to every child.

Atishi said, "When she first saw the drawing of this school, it felt as if this was a building of a top university in the United States."

"I am pleased that a splendid government school building is soon going to be available for approximately 5000 children in this area. People used to call this school the 'tent school,' but after the construction of the new building, they will know it as the 'school with a building like American universities.' Every student studying here or those who have studied here before will take pride in it," she added.

The new building of the school will be 4-storey high with 101 rooms. The school will be equipped with modern facilities, including smart classrooms, labs, libraries, lifts, and an activity room.
Maharshi Valmiki International Airport in Ayodhya is an outstanding testament to the dynamism of double-engine government, which has transformed a compact airstrip spanning just 178 acres into an expansive international airport covering 821 acres within a period of two years.

With an additional expenditure of Rs 1,175.97 crores, supplementing the Rs 287 crores received from the Airport Authority of India, the Yogi government has showcased remarkable prowess of the second engine.

The Ayodhya International Airport is an outcome of effective coordination between the executive agencies of the central and state governments. The work on this international airport started on December 2, 2021, and within two years a huge airport came into being in Ayodhya.

The Airport Authority of India spent Rs 191 crore on pavement grading and design and build basis in EPC mode and Rs 96 crore on construction of pre-engineered building. The most significant challenge was acquiring the land, and the Yogi government successfully set a significant example by acquiring approximately 500 acres of land without any dispute.

Notably, in this project of 821 acres, 182 acres of land was already registered in the name of the Civil Aviation department, whereas 139 acres of government land was acquired from various departments and institutions of the state government, including 23 acres from Avadh University, 25 acres from Education department, 90 acres from Gram Samaj, and 0.0593 acres from Irrigation department.

However, the biggest challenge before the government was to acquire the remaining 500 acres (499.68 acres) of private lands. After discussions with residents, the state government officials including the chief m himself, based on mutual consent, not only successfully acquired the private lands without any hindrance but also handed over the land to the Airport Authority of India within the stipulated time.

Furthermore, the challenges were not just limited to relocating LT (Low-Tension) and HT (High-Tension) power lines and poles spread across the entire area from runway extension areas. It also involved the removal of quarters and department buildings of Avadh University, shifting 132 kV HT transmission lines from the funnel area, relocating the police post located inside the airport to outside the operational area, removing the hangar and generator room of the Public Works Department and shifting 33 kV and 11 kV power lines.

The timely completion of all tasks such as arranging proper lighting, establishing a fire station, stormwater drainage, widening the runway from 1,500 metres to 2,200 meters, re-carpeting, constructing a 310-metre-long taxi track, building aprons for aircraft, isolation bays, taxiway strips, runway turn pads, crash gates, etc., and developing the terminal building in a single stretch on a 6,000-square-meter area with pre-engineered, prefabricated structures, including a common concourse, check-in area, security hold area, baggage collection, electrical works, airport systems, IT systems, and landscaping, was possible only due to the efficient handling by the double-engine government.

Ayodhya, the city of Lord Ram, is progressing towards becoming the new Ayodhya of modern India and the Maharshi Valmiki International Airport is going to play a significant role in this by enhancing Ayodhyas connectivity with other parts of the country as well as the world.

Both the central and state governments are making sincere efforts to restore Ayodhyas lost glory. The first phase of the airport project has been completed, featuring a terminal spanning 65,000 square feet with a capacity for 2 to 3 flights per hour. The airport boasts a runway of 2,200 metres, accommodating not only small aircraft but also larger ones like Boeing 737, Airbus 319 and Airbus 320.

In the second phase, the runway will be extended to 3,700 metres, allowing all international aircraft, including Boeing 787 and Boeing 777, to land directly in Ayodhya. The airports second phase will also include a terminal covering 5 lakh square feet.
Ahead of the consecration ceremony, scheduled for January 22, the Uttar Pradesh government is formulating a plan to host the International Kite Festival in Ayodhya.

In line with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths vision, the Ayodhya Development Authority (ADA) has initiated preparations for the festival, which is likely to take place between January 19 and 21, providing renowned kite-flyers from both within the country and around the world with an opportunity to showcase their talent.

The ADA will also engage a private agency to give concrete shape to the event for this it has invited applications through the Request for Proposal format to appoint an agency for the conceptualisation, designing, execution, and supervision of event management, as well as the development of temporary structures and related infrastructure for hosting the kite festival.

The entire process to select the agency is scheduled to be completed by January 8, following which a comprehensive plan for organising the International Kite Festival will be formulated.

Special arrangements will be made to welcome VVIPs and special invitees while volunteers will be deployed to ensure that the competitors and spectators have a pleasant experience.

The food counters at the venue will feature dishes made from millet with Awadhi flavours.

In addition, high-quality cameras will be installed along with sound arrangements for effective capturing of the event.
Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Thursday said the people under probe for allegedly supplying substandard drugs to city hospitals were chosen by them and not his partys Government.

Bharadwaj also refuted the allegation made by BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi that more than 500 patients are being treated in each Mohalla Clinic (AAMC) of Delhi every day.

This is very unfortunate and an old habit of BJP spokespersons to lie in their press conferences. This is a cheap tactic to defame the world-renowned model of Mohalla clinics in Delhi. To set the record straight, the data of OPD consultations in the 484 AAMCs functional during the month of December, 2023 is being provided, he said. Earlier Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has recommended a CBI probe into alleged fake lab tests and ghost patients at Delhis mohalla clinics. Before this, Saxena has ordered a CBI probe into the supply of drugs that allegedly failed quality standard tests.

Bharadwaj at a press conference at the party office, said, if they are saying, corruption has happened in mohalla clinics, then suspend the health secretary.

Bharadwaj said the had in September addressed a press conference, announcing the de-empanelment of 26 staffers, including seven doctors, posted at mohalla clinics, for allegedly trying to manipulate the attendance system.

As far as the health department is concerned, or mohalla clinics, drugs, and whether the standard is good or not, or if anyone is entering phone number or entering random digits, or some wrong number (at mohalla clinics), this has to be checked by officials, and they have a DGHS above and above that health secretary is there, he argued.

It is their job to do random checks at their level, the minister said.

Who has appointed the DGHS? not us. Who has appointed the health secretary? not us. Who has chosen them, you all know. People chosen by them (for these posts) are committing wrong things. And, they themselves are probing it.

So, they are probing people appointed by them only, and not probing us. We have given it in writing that they be removed, Bharadwaj told reporters.

Sharing a data, Bharadwaj said it is very clear that in 39 clinics, there was an average of less than 75 patients per day. In 237 Mohalla clinics, there was an average count of 76 to 150 patients per day. In 129 clinics, there was an average fall of 151 to 180 patients per day. Mohalla clinics with patient count of 181 to 200 per day were 44. In 33 clinics, the average patient footfall per day was between 201 to 250.

The only two clinics which saw the highest footfall in the month of December were having between 250 to 301 patients per day.

The health minister hit out at the BJP over its allegation that money to the tune of crores was lost in these scams but the government took no action.

In small issues, officers lose their jobs immediately. One act of negligence leads to suspension.

And, here you are saying that a large number of people were given spurious drugs and no one has been suspended, no action has been taken, how is it happening? Bharadwaj said.

You are saying corruption has happened in mohalla clinics, so suspend the health secretary. What are you waiting for?

This is an unusual investigation. Because, they are people appointed by them only. They are saying they have committed corruption and not removing them. Wonderful! What governance, he said.
In a strategic move to make the inauguration of the Ram Mandir a defining moment in the 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has outlined an extensive plan to escort devotees from all 543 parliamentary constituencies for the sacred darshan of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya in the coming months.

The party has embraced the slogan Abki baar 400 paar, teesri baar Modi sarkar, underscoring its ambition to cross the 400-seat mark and secure a third term for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Sources reveal that the BJP is engaging in simultaneous preparations for both the Lok Sabha elections and facilitating devotees visits to Ayodhya for the darshan of Ram Lalla. This outreach programme is scheduled to run from January 25 to March 25, attracting devotees from across the country.

Party leaders are optimistic that this dual strategy will prove advantageous, with the belief that aligning the partys focus with the temple will contribute to success in the elections.

Ayodhya is seen as a crucial element in the BJPs electoral strategy, and the party is confident that forging a connection between the temple and the electoral campaign will resonate with voters.

Insiders reveal that the BJP has strategically organised clusters of three to four Lok Sabha constituencies in all states. Within each cluster, election rallies featuring one of four prominent leaders are planned. This approach aims to amplify the partys message across diverse regions, catering to local sentiments and concerns.

The ambitious campaign aims to facilitate free train journeys for five crore Ram devotees, focusing on fostering religious sentiments and ensuring widespread access to pilgrimage sites.

The BJPs core committee has directed sitting MPs and MLAs to mobilise a minimum of 5,000 people in each constituency, projecting a massive outreach effort.

The local parliamentarians and legislators have been tasked with the responsibility of organising transportation for devotees, with a specific template designed for each area.

To avoid chaos, the Ram temple trust will allot separate dates for visitors from different regions. The exercise, commencing after the consecration ceremony on January 22, is expected to conclude in April.

During the Ayodhya visit, the BJP plans to enlighten the devotees on the temple movement and the partys pivotal role in it. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad will play a key role in disseminating information about the temples significance in terms of optics and symbolism.

The list of visitors from the 543 Lok Sabha constituencies converging on Ayodhya will be finalised before January 15, with the administration and temple trust being apprised of the monumental exercise. The Railways is set to run 100 special trains for 100 days, beginning after the consecration day.

Simultaneously, the BJP is gearing up for a special Ram Darshan Abhiyan from January 24, emphasising free train journeys for five crore Ram devotees to Ayodhya. The campaign, covering various regions and with a focus on Bihar, aims to showcase the partys commitment to religious harmony.

A dedicated Ram Darshan Special Train will operate from 275 railway stations, transporting over two crore devotees from Bihar to Ayodhya. This initiative not only symbolises a spiritual journey but also underscores Ayodhyas cultural and religious significance.

The BJPs decision to extend the Ram Darshan Abhiyan to a significant number of devotees reflects the dedication of the party to promote cultural and religious unity. By offering free train services, the BJP aims to connect with the sentiments of millions of Ram devotees and strengthen the cultural fabric of the nation.

The campaign is poised to be a landmark event, showcasing the partys efforts to forge a deep spiritual connect ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Locals are rejoicing after they succeeded in convincing their council to reconsider a drastic plan aimed at combatting the rising problem of erosion on Perth's northern beaches.

The City of Joondalup ruffled some feathers last year after proposing the construction of 17 stone groynes every 350 metres along the coastline from Burns Beach to Marmion  costing an estimated $120 million.

The rock structures would extend from the beach into the ocean and "create compartments" to provide shelter from wind and waves after an assessment revealed coastal hazards are likely to increase due to climate change and the rising sea level.

The city of Joondalup proposed a plan to construct 17 stone groynes on Perth's northern beaches. Source: Draft Coastal Hazard Risk Management and Adaptation Plan

Outraged residents quickly banded together to fight the plan, arguing the stone groynes would be an "eyesore" and therefore make the beaches less enjoyable. Others said they were concerned the structures would disrupt the natural flow of sand and surf life saving clubs.

Council agrees to redo erosion draft plans

Last month their noisy efforts paid off when the Joondalup council agreed to establish a community reference for the project and redo the current draft plans, Perth Now reports.

Locals sitting in the gallery erupted in applause after the decision was announced. Almost 98 per cent of residents who were surveyed about the groynes said they opposed it, the publication reports.

"I believe when the community speak we should listen to them and we have had an overwhelming response," Cr Daniel Kingston said. "We can see from the results that nearly 98 per cent of people reject what's in the content of the current plan."

Joondalups deputy mayor Adrian Hill said while a new plan is being drafted, the city "will continue to manage erosion and undertake further coastal monitoring and research including with regard to alternative adaptation options".

Story continues

The council proposed building stone groynes to provide shelter from wind and waves which encourage erosion. Source: City of Joondalup

Locals celebrate council's groyne backflip

A Facebook group titled 'Stop The Groynes  Mullaloo & Whitfords Beach' announced their victory on December 13, exclaiming the more than 5,000 members "did it!"

"This victory is not just ours but a testament to the power of our incredible community," the post said. "If it weren't for this community's collective efforts, the first groynes would have been a reality in the next few years. The fact that we've successfully halted this proposal is truly inspiring."

Some group members said they "hadn't stopped smiling" since the news broke, as others celebrated the "huge win". "Still can't believe they were even considering to absolutely destroy one of the most beautiful stretches of beach on the planet!" one local commented.

Ben Allen is one of the local residents who has spoken out against the groynes being built along the coastline. Source: 9 News

While most beaches are impacted by erosion to some degree, many are eventually able to replenish displaced sand in a cyclic pattern, Dr Mitchell Harley from UNSWs Water Research Laboratory told Yahoo News Australia last year.

"There are a few locations where that is not the case and you do see these long term trends, this chronic erosion," he said. "Those particular cases are not necessarily related to any climate change effects, it's a long-term starvation of sand basically. These natural cycles of sand transport and basically they're losing more sand than theyre gaining in those areas."

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Cold wave conditions in the region



Chandigarh: Large parts of Punjab and Haryana reeled under biting chill on Thursday as the mercury dipped below 6 degrees Celsius at several places. Hisar was the coldest in Haryana with a minimum temperature of 4 degrees Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department's (IMD) weather bulletin. The lowest minimum temperature in Punjab was recorded in Amritsar at 4.2 degrees Celsius. Piercing cold also swept Chandigarh, the common capital of the two states, which recorded a low of 5.7 degrees Celsius. Fog in the morning at most places in both states reduced visibility levels. Foggy weather has prevailed in the region during morning hours for the past over a week. As the minimum temperatures hovered below normal limits at several places in Haryana, Narnaul reeled under biting chill, recording a low of 5 degrees Celsius. According to IMD's bulletin, Fatehabad, Jhajjar, Ambala, and Karnal also experienced a cold night recording a low of 5.4 degrees Celsius, 6 degrees Celsius, 6.4 degrees Celsius, and 6.5 degrees Celsius respectively. In Punjab, Faridkot, Bathinda, Ludhiana, and Gurdaspur also braved intense chill recording respective minimum temperatures of 5.5 degrees Celsius, 5.6 degrees Celsius, 5.9 degrees Celsius, and 6 degrees Celsius.



UT Administrator inaugurates advanced Paediatric Centre at GMCH-16



Chandigarh: The Governor of Punjab and UT Administrator Banwarilal Purohit on Thursday inaugurated Advanced Paediatric Centre at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) -16. A 32-bedded Paediatric Care Unit, the Advanced Paediatric Centre received approval from the Government of India under the Emergency COVID-19 Response and Health System Preparedness package  Phase II (ECRP- Phase II). A budget of Rs. 225 lakhs was allocated by the Government of India for infrastructure preparedness and the establishment of the Paediatric Centre of Excellence. The Advanced Paediatric Centre (APC) aims to deliver high-quality, state-of-the-art specialized care to paediatric patients. It features a 12-bedded hybrid ICU unit comprising 4 ventilator beds and 8 High Dependency Unit (HDU) beds. Additionally, the centre includes 20 oxygen-supported beds and offers services such as EEG, Echocardiography, and Ultrasonography. Round-the-clock services like X-Ray, ECG, sample collection, pharmacy, blood transfusion, nebulisation, etc., are available to manage sick and critical patients. Tele-consultation services are provided in collaboration with PGIMER, Chandigarh, serving as a Centre of Excellence, a statement said.





Himachal Governor honours 41 women with Nari Shakti Samman



Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla on Thursday said the women are playing leading roles in various fields of development and have become an inspiration for others. Speaking as the chief guest at the Nari Shakti Samman Samaroh-2024, he said womens power, which starts from creation to establishing the society, is worthy of respect. She has not only proved herself in the male dominated society but is also leading the society, the governor said. He gave Nari Shakti Samman to 41 leading women from different fields, including education, medicine, enterprise, sports, art, folk culture, agriculture, environment and social service on the occasion. Congratulating the women who received the awards, he said that this would encourage them to move ahead in all spheres and motivate them to do better and be a role model for other women. The governor said that respect for women has been the basis of our culture, adding our history is incomplete without the mention of the contribution of scholars like Gargi, Maitreyi and brave women like Rani Lakshmibai, Ahilyabai Holkar.
The National Capital Region recorded the longest spell of very poor or worse air quality and the maximum number of smog episodes in November and December 2023 in the last six years, according to a new analysis.The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), an independent think-tank that analysed pollution data for Delhi-NCR, said the gradual long-term improvement in annual PM2.5 levels since 2015-17 halted in 2023.

This occurred despite cleaner-than-usual summer and monsoon seasons and significantly reduced intrusion of smoke from farm fires in northern states. However, this winter witnessed unusually low surface wind speeds, trapping high levels of local pollution.

Due to the impact of unusual winter levels, the overall annual levels have plateaued and worsened, reversing the gains of the long-term downward trend, the CSE said.

Despite a decrease in stubble burning contributing to Delhis pollution this year, coupled with increased rainfall in November and milder winter conditions, the annual level should have improved. Instead, adverse meteorological conditions, specifically lower wind speeds, exacerbated the situation due to persistently high local pollution, it added.

Delhi had been experiencing a consistent decline in its annual PM2.5 levels since 2015-17, with 2020 being the only outlier due to pandemic lockdowns. However, this downward trend halted in 2023. Delhis PM2.5 annual average for 2023 (as of December 29) stood at 100.9 micrograms per cubic metre, marking a 2 per cent increase against 2022 and 6 per cent higher than the remarkably clean 2020.

The average annual PM2.5 concentrations were 115.8 microgrammes per cubic metre in 2018, 109.2 in 2019, 95.1 in 2020, 106.2 in 2021, 98.6 in 2022, and 100.9 in 2023, according to the data. The analysis revealed that while summers are becoming cleaner, winters are becoming more polluted. In 2023, the summer months (March to June) were significantly less polluted (14-36 per cent) than in 2022. Conversely, the winter months of January, November and December were much more polluted in 2023 (12-34 per cent) compared to the same months in 2022, the CSE said.

It said the maximum number of smog episodes occurred in November-December 2023, surpassing the last six years corresponding periods. A smog episode is defined as at least three or more consecutive days with air quality in the severe category.

Delhi typically experiences two smog episodes in November and December. In 2023, by December 24, there were three episodes, and on December 30, Delhi was witnessing its third continuous day of severe air quality, marking the citys fourth smog episode, the CSE said.

Overall, November-December 2023 seems to have had the most consistently poor air compared to the last six winters, with minimal fluctuations in daily PM2.5 levels. The data indicates it was the longest spell of very poor or worse air in the last six years, it said.
Cyber Crime branch Bhopal arrested the absconding accused, who pretended to be an employee of Paytm and defrauded merchants worth lakhs of rupees from several victims.

The accused used to target businessmen in the name of repairing Paytm (sound box) machines. The accused was previously an employee of Paytm company.

The accused used to target small traders and roadside vendors. The accused, posing as a Paytm employee, used to cheat people in the name of fixing the problems with the Paytm (sound box) machine.

The accused always used to commit fraud by wearing the ID card of Paytm company around his neck. The accused targeted many businessmen in Bhopal city and surrounding districts.

Posing as a Paytm employee, Cyber Crime Branch Bhopal arrested the accused who committed fraud of Rs 48,000 on repairing the sound box machine and was formerly absconding in the cases of Awadhpuri police station and Chhola Mandir, from Ganj Basoda Vidisha.

Neeraj Badhwani lodged a complaint with the police and during the investigation, taking the case seriously, taking prompt action, the accused Ravi Vishwakarma was arrested from Ganjbasoda, Vidisha.

Posing as a Paytm employee, he used to cheat people in the name of fixing the problems of Paytm (Sound Box) machines. The accused used to cheat the online kiosk shopkeepers by taking money in cash by transferring the fraudulent money from the traders to the account of any online kiosk.

From the accused a Paytm card was recovered, ID card and four SIMs were recovered.
Cyber Crime Branch Bhopal arrested the absconding mastermind who committed fraud of Rs 1.6 crore in the name of providing a job from Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

People looking for jobs were targeted by the accused. Fraud of Rs 1.5 crore in the name of providing a job. Till now 97 people have been cheated by the accused.

The accused used to demand money in the name of different charges. The accused used to cheat people by calling from fake mobile numbers. To escape from the police, the accused used to change the location of their call center from time to time. Mobile and laptop used in the crime were seized from the accused.

Cyber Crime Branch Bhopal arrested the accused who used to work in a company and committed fraud of Rs 1.6 crore in the name of getting a job from Noida, Uttar Pradesh whose two accused have already been arrested by Cyber Crime Branch Bhopal.

A website was created by the accused in the name of a multi-national company providing jobs under different names. After which the accused warned the people visiting that website. People were lured by taking out money and calling people to get them a job as per their need. The accused used to design their website in such a way that payment gateway was available in that website itself, due to which people used to trust that website and the fraud of money was done through that payment gateway only. After which money was demanded from people in the name of different charges.

To hide their identity and escape from the police, the accused used to call from fake numbers and one number was switched off after making 5 to 10 calls and the gateway was also obtained by putting fake documents in the payment gateway of the website. The mail ID was used by the accused to talk to the complainant. Mail IG was being used by the accused by installing VPN.

And money was being withdrawn from the bank accounts linked in the gateway through ATMs from different states of the country.

The accused who committed fraud in the name of getting a job was arrested from Noida, Uttar Pradesh and recovered 2 mobile phones, 1 laptop and a car were seized. Rishabh Dubey was nabbed is Engineer (Computer Science) creating fake websites and preparing fake joining letters for jobs.
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Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday called on Union Home Minister Amit Shah at New Delhi and apprised him that the State Government has submitted post disaster needs assessment report for the calamity faced by Himachal to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). He urged the Union Minister for speedy release of funds to help the reconstruction efforts being undertaken by the state government.



The Chief Minister also requested for including routes under subsidized helicopter service scheme and informed that the State has already sent the details of routes to the MHA. He requested for early sanctioning of the same.



Sukhu further said that the State Government has submitted proposals to the tune of 658.31 crore under the Vibrant Villages Programme. He apprised the Union Minister that MHA has conveyed in principle approval only for 14 works amounting to Rs. 3.87 crore. He requested for speedy sanction of remaining funds as development of these villages is of prime importance from national security point of view. A statement said that the Union Minister assured of all possible assistance to the state.





Sukhu meets Health Minister; Advocates for setting up Cancer Institute at Hamirpur



During his New Delhi visit, Sukhu also called on Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr. Mansukh Mandavia and requested for setting up a State Cancer Institute at Dr. Radhakrishnan Government Medical College Hamirpur on priority basis under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, CBD and Strokes. He said that keeping in view the alarming rate of increase in Cancer in the State; this institute is the need of the hour.



He also requested for creation of a Super Specialty Block at Dr. Radhakrishnan Government Medical College Hamirpur under PM Swasthya Suraksha Yojana. He apprised the Union Minister that there is wide outreach of Community Health Centres (CHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) across the state and the State Government was strengthening health infrastructure up to rural level. He added that now the Government was focusing upon strengthening Super Speciality infrastructure. He further requested for increasing the capacity of the Mother and Child Hospital wing from 100 to 200 beds in the Dr Radhakrishnan Government Medical College Hamirpur.



The Union Minister assured of all possible assistance to the state.
In a significant development, the Delhi Police Special Cell arrested Javed Ahmed Mattoo (32), a prominent Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist, on Thursday in the national Vapital. Mattoo, who was A++ terrorist, captured with a 9 MM star pistol, magazine, six live cartridges and a stolen car. He was wanted in 11 terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir and was among the top 10 targets in the Valley on the list of security agencies. He was carrying a reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head. He was wanted in connection with multiple terror-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir.

The arrest was made following a successful search operation conducted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), as confirmed by the Delhi Police Special Cell.

With the coordination of Special Cell of Delhi Police and central agencies, Javed Mattoo, an A++ category terrorist who has a bounty of Rs10 lakh on him, was arrested todayAfter taking him into police custody remand, we will further action against him, Special Commissioner of Delhi Police HGS Dhaliwal said. He added that Mattoo was found travelling on the DND in a stolen vehicle and that a pistol was recovered from him at the time of the arrest. The police, said Dhaliwal, had been tracking Mattoo from Delhis Nizamuddin. He also said that though Mattoo concealed his identity and was leading a camouflaged life, he maintained contact with his associates.

According to the police, Mattoo went underground after getting injured in an exchange of fire with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir. He then fled to Nepal on the instructions of Pakistans spy agency ISI. A few days ago, the Delhi Police received information that Mattoo would be coming to Delhi-NCR to collect arms and ammunition. Acting on the tip-off, sources keeping tabs on sleeper cells and weapon suppliers were activated. The police were also informed that Mattoos Pakistan-based handler would be coordinating the delivery of arms and ammunition, and he would carry out terror strikes in Jammu and Kashmir.

Mattoo, a resident of Sopore in Jammu and Kashmir, had also visited Pakistan on several occasions.

According to the police, Mattoo was part of a seven-member module of the Hizbul Mujahideen. While four of the modules members had died during gunfights with security forces in separate incidents, two are still working from Pakistan, Dhaliwal said.

Mattoos involvement in various terrorist activities in the Jammu and Kashmir region had made him a high-priority target for law enforcement agencies.

Requesting anonymity, another officer said Abdul Mazid Zargar, a resident of Sopore, was among Matoos associates. Currently, Zargar is in Pakistan and he is involved in cross-border smuggling, the officer said.

Abdul Qayum Nazar was the operational in-charge of the terrorist module. He was killed in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir, the officer said.

Tariq Ahmed Lone, another associate of Matoo, was a Pakistan-trained terrorist. Lone fell to death after he jumped from a bridge when he was surrounded by security forces, the officer added.

The officer said Imtiyaz Kundu, also Matoos associate, fled to Pakistan in 2016. His name has surfaced in several cases in Kashmir, the officer said.

Mehraj Halwai and Pakistan-trained terrorist Wasim Guru, also linked to Matoo, were killed in an encounter by security forces in Jammu and Kashmir, the officer said.

In 2010, Dhaliwal said, Matoo along with his associates had killed Head Constable Mohammad Yusuf outside the Sopore police station.

Matoo along with four others had in 2010 also launched an attack on the residence of the Sopore superintendent of police. They were armed with AK-47s and had lobbed grenades at the residence, he saidIn 2012, Matoo suffered a bullet injury during another attack on the police station. Due to the injury, he faced problems while walking, police said.

Dhaliwal said after this, they killed two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans and snatched their service weapons. They also attacked a police patrol team, injuring its members, the SCP said.
Indian Institute of Management Ranchi, in collaboration with Rekhi Foundation, USA, announces the hosting of its First International Conference on Happiness: Science & Practice (ICHSP) on the 5th and 6th of January 2024 in the permanent campus of the institute. The conference is among the very first on happiness and well-being in the country.

Saraswati Kasturirangan, Chief Happiness Officer of Deloitte India, will grace the Inauguration function as the Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker. Additionally, Dr. Satinder Singh Rekhi, Founder of the Rekhi Foundation USA, will also grace the event.

The upcoming conference on happiness promises to be a revolutionary event, combining scientific rigour with practical perspectives to explore the complex and multifaceted dimensions of happiness. Bringing together elite professionals from around the world, including researchers, policymakers, and practitioners, the conference aims to facilitate the exchange of insights and discuss the latest research findings on happiness and well-being. The conference will convene with 5 concurrent tracks on the Science of Happiness, Happiness at the Workplace, Lifestyle & Happiness, Consumer Happiness, and Technology & Happiness.

Prof. Deepak Kumar Srivastava, Director, IIM Ranchi says, IIM Ranchi is going to host the First International Conference on Happiness: Science & Practice. We have received confirmation from speakers from different countries. More than hundred research papers have been received. I am confident that the outcome of the conference will be significant contribution to the literature on happiness.

Dr. Satinder Singh Rekhi, Founder, Rekhi Foundation says, Happiness is the ultimate currency, sought by all but proves elusive to many. Join us on this journey to explore happiness together. Let's share ideas, insights, and research findings, creating ripples in our understanding of happiness.

Prof. Tanusree Dutta, the Conference Chair says, It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the International Conference on Happiness: Science and Practices 2024. As we gather on the 5th and 6th of January, let us embark on a journey of exploration and collaboration, delving into the diverse dimensions of happiness.

This exclusive platform offers attendees the opportunity to delve into the intricacies of happiness, with the ultimate goal of developing strategies to enhance both individual and societal happiness. By fostering a collaborative environment, the conference seeks to transcend disciplinary boundaries and spark impactful discussions on happiness research and its real-world applications.

With its distinguished roster of participants, the conference is poised to become a nexus for global thought leaders in the field of happiness studies. As the world's attention turns to this eminent gathering, it holds the potential to deepen our understanding of happiness and pave the way for transformative strategies that resonate on a global scale.
Days after a blast near the Israeli Embassy, the Delhi Police has written to the Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) to provide the CCTV footage from the cameras installed at the walls of the university. According to sources, police suspect that one of the persons who visited the blast site at the Prithviraj Road two hours prior to the incident had come from Jamia Nagar in Southeast Delhi. He had taken an auto-rickshaw nearby the Jamia metro station.

The letter was written to the university as multiple CCTV cameras are installed at the walls of the university. These cameras are faced towards the Okhla Road from where one of the suspects in the blast took the auto-rickshaw, a police officer said.

The accused, who is yet to be identified, is believed to be the prime suspect who planted the bomb near the Israeli embassy on December 26, the officer added. Police have already questioned the auto-rickshaw driver, sources said.

Police have found with the help of the CCTV footage that the suspect moved towards the India Gate after visiting the spot at the Prithviraj Road.

Sources said the NSG, which had collected the samples from the spot, has told the Delhi Police that it was not an IED (improvised explosive device) blast but it could be a locally made bomb.

However, its report is yet to be submitted.

The blast occurred on December 26 evening in the area between the boundary walls of a house on plot number four  Nandas House and the Central Hindi Training Institute on plot number 2A on the Prithviraj Road. The area has bushes, plants and trees and no CCTV camera.

The blast site is behind the Israeli embassy on Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Road, running parallel to Prithviraj Road. No one was injured in the blast. Police had found an abusive letter addressed to the Israeli ambassador near the blast site.

On December 29, the Delhi Police registered an FIR against unknown people and transferred the case from the local police station to the Special Cell.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday greeted his former deputy Manish Sisodia on his birthday, and lauded his courage in an "era of dictatorship". Making a reference to the BJP, Kejriwal also said the friendship between him and Sisodia never be broken" no matter how hard "the conspirators try". The AAP supremo also shared an old picture of him with Sisodia, wherein the two could be seen walking a street.

"This friendship is very old. Our affection and trust are very strong. This passion to work for the people is also very old. No matter how hard the conspirators try.... This friendship, affection and trust will never be broken.

"The BJP has kept Manish behind the bars for last 11 months in a fake case. But Manish is standing against their oppression. He has not bowed down to their dictatorship now and will not do so in the future. Manish's courage inspires us all in this era of dictatorship. Happy birthday Manish," Kejriwal wrote on X.

Delhi minister Atishi, who was given charge of most of the portfolios held by Sisodia after his resignation, also greeted the AAP leader on his birthday calling him as the best education minister.

"Today is Manish sir's birthday. Every year we used to celebrate this day with much fun and frolic but it is sad that the person who fulfilled the dream of providing world class education to the

children of the poor has been kept in jail for 11 months in a false case.

"You are our inspiration and strength, Manish sir. Hopefully, you will be with us soon and we will celebrate this festival. My salute to the best education minister of the country," Atishi wrote on X.

Sisodia was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on February 26 last year, for his alleged role in corruption in the formulation and implementation of the Delhi Excise Policy 2020-21. The AAP leader has been in custody since then.

The ED arrested Sisodia in a money laundering case stemming from the CBI FIR on March 9 after questioning him in Tihar jail. Sisodia, who held the excise portfolio, resigned from the Delhi cabinet on February 28.

The Delhi government had implemented the excise policy on November 17, 2021 but scrapped it at the end of September 2022 amid allegations of corruption.
Even before Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira could take a sigh of relief following the Punjab and Haryana High Court's decision to grant him bail in a Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) case, fresh legal troubles loomed over the Bholath MLA. In a dramatic turn of events, the Kapurthala police swiftly arrested Khaira on the charges of threatening and intimidating a key witness in the NDPS case just hours after his release on bail.

As Khaira emerged from the high-security confines of Nabha jail, a wave of uncertainty engulfed him. The Kapurthala police arrested him, ushering in a new chapter in the ongoing legal saga. The charges, filed under Section 195-A (threatening any person to give false evidence) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), stem from a complaint lodged by Ranjit Kaur, the wife of Kashmir Singh, a crucial witness in the NDPS case against Khaira. The case was reportedly registered at 3 am on Thursday at Subhanpur police station.

Ranjit Kaur, a resident of Dogranwala village near Kapurthala, alleged in her complaint that on October 15, 2023, two unidentified masked individuals on a motorcycle visited her residence and threatened harm to her family unless her husband withdrew his statement against Khaira in the NDPS case. Additionally, on October 22, 2023, she claimed to have received an anonymous threatening call, further intensifying the fear for her family's safety.

The complaint prompted Ranjit Kaur to file a criminal complaint against Khaira in the court of Judicial Magistrate Supreet Kaur on November 6, 2023. The magistrate disposed of her case and directed the Station House Officer (SHO) to investigate the matter.

The NDPS case involved the recovery of two kg of heroin, 24 gold biscuits, one country-made pistol, a .315-bore pistol and two Pakistani SIM cards. Khaira was arrested on September 28, 2023, after a raid at his bungalow in Chandigarh, on the complaint of Kashmir Singh.

The sequence of events unfolded rapidly as Khaira was transported to Kapurthala by evening, where he appeared before the court of Judicial Magistrate First Class, Supreet Kaur, and he was sent to one-day police custody.

The fresh case added a layer of complexity to an already contentious legal battle, intensifying the scrutiny on Sukhpal Khairas legal and political standing. The swift legal actions and subsequent arrest have raised questions about the intersection of law and politics in this high-profile case, fueling speculations of vendetta politics at play.

Observers and political commentators have been quick to point out the timing of the fresh charges and the rapid response from the Kapurthala police, coming just hours after the High Court granted bail to Khaira in the NDPS case. The speed with which the new case was registered and acted upon has led to suspicions of a political motive behind the arrest, with allegations of vendetta politics gaining traction.

Khairas son Mehtab Singh Khaira, promptly reacting to the arrest, labelled it a conspiracy against his father. Expressing disbelief, he questioned how Khaira, still in jail even after being granted bail, could pose a threat or intimidate anyone. The family remains committed to pursuing legal recourse and expressed hope for justice.

Completely rattled by the bail granted by Honble High Court to my father Sardar Sukhpal Singh Khaira today in the NDPS case, @BhagwantMann acting out of hatred and vindictiveness ordered Subhanpur police to register yet another FIR to produce him before the Magistrate at Kapurthala before 3 pm. I only want to say these intimidatory and threatening acts of the CM cannot cow down my father. We will continue with our fight for the state of Punjab. Adv @khaira_mehtab, read Mehtabs post, from his fathers official handle on X (formeely Twitter).

The political landscape surrounding Khaira's case has been rife with allegations of vendetta politics and conspiracies. Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, responding to the fresh FIR, asserted that it was indicative of the Punjab Government's vendetta politics. He said that the new case was an attempt to harass Khaira further, transforming legal proceedings into a political battleground.

Justice Denied! The recent FIR against @SukhpalKhaira is a proof that the @AAPPunjab Govt is doing vendetta politics. The FIR has been registered just to harass him even furtherThis is not Badlaav this is Badla! posted Warring on X.

Leader of Opposition in Vidhan Sabha Partap Singh Bajwa posted on X, This is the height of the petty vendetta politics of the @AAPPunjab Govt.Khaira is a bold and outspoken leader, who often criticises the CM @BhagwantMann for his anti-people policies.

The entire sordid episode shows that the AAP govt in Punjab has got scared of the Congress party. It doesn't tolerate the presence of the opposition at all, which is highly deplorable, he added.

Khaira, hailing from the Bholath constituency in Kapurthala, is also serving as the chairman of the All India Kisan Congress. He has been elected thrice from Bholath, including once as Aam Aadmi Partys (AAP) candidate in 2017.
WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES  One young Aussie has shared a serious warning after horrific sunburn sent her to the emergency room.

On a 24-degree afternoon on December 31, Cassidy Flynn-Troy was dancing and having a few drinks outside at Beyond The Valley festival. At the time she felt some sunburn coming on, but by January 2, after driving back to Melbourne, she was sent to the emergency room with swollen legs covered in giant blisters.

"The pain I experienced when I realised how bad it was, was insane," she told Yahoo News Australia. She warns others to "never just assume that because it's not too hot you don't need to wear sunscreen. This is something I would never want anyone to experience so please please please be smart and safe when you're in the sun."

Cassidy has warned other Aussies against underestimating the sun - even on cool days. Source: TikTok

Cassidy, who is on Roaccutane, a medical treatment used to treat acne, so is more sensitive to the sun, recalls how "crazy" it was to not realise her sunburn was so bad until it was "critical". She had put on sunscreen earlier in the day of the festival but only noticed a slight burn in the evening. "I started to feel a bit of pain, but did not think much of it," she said.

At around 2 am, the pain had "fully kicked in" and Cassidy's legs felt like "they were on fire" so she and her friend walked two kilometres from their campsite to the festival to find the emergency tent.

"I tried to roll up my pants and noticed my legs were bright red and sizzling. I was incredibly dehydrated as well so I started to panic and hallucinate a bit at this point."

At the time, staff put cold water on her legs and gave her pain medication to help her sleep until the next day when she packed up her camping gear and drove back to Melbourne.

Then, the blisters started to grow and Cassidy's legs swelled. "When I arrived back at my house I didn't even have the energy to do anything besides sleep. The next day, I could barely walk."

Story continues

Cassidy's friend took her to the local Primary Care Clinic which immediately sent her to the emergency at the Royal Melbourne Hospital where a "great nurse" drained all the blisters and dressed them. She was then ordered to rest, moisturise and stay hydrated until healed.

Aussies shocked at sunburn on 24-degree day

Cassidy shared her experience online and hundreds responded in disbelief. "It was only 24 degrees how?" one person asked. "Did you orbit the sun while you were there? This is insane," exclaimed another.

Professor Anne Cust of the Melanoma Institute Australia and Chair of Cancer Councils National Skin Cancer Committee told Yahoo that sunburn can occur in as little as 15 minutes on a fine January day in Australia.

"The UV index levels are much higher here so we have very intense exposure to UV radiation  particularly in the spring and summer, it doesn't take long to be to get burned."

Beyond the Valley festival takes place over New Year's. Source: Facebook

Australia and New Zealand UV highest in the world

Due to the exposure to UV radiation Aussies have over their lifetime, they have the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. Anne explains that when your unprotected skin is exposed to this radiation, the structure and behaviour of the cells can change which can permanently damage the skin.

"There's been a lot of studies that have demonstrated convincingly that getting sunburned is related to increased risk of melanoma," she says.

Paediatric dermatologist Professor Deshan Sebaratnam shares that sunburn is a distress signal from your skin that contributes to the aging of the skin as well as melanoma. "It's a marker of significant ultraviolet radiation leading to the death of the top layer of the skin."

Skin cancer in Australia fast facts

Every year in Australia, skin cancers account for around 80% of all newly diagnosed cancers.

Around two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime.

Exposure to UV radiation causes 95% of melanomas, the deadliest form of skin cancer. "This means that skin cancer is almost entirely preventable," Anne says.

Every year, over 2000 people in Australia are expected to die from skin cancer.

How to prevent sunburn

Australians need to be SunSmart and protect themselves from the sun, particularly when the UV index is "greater than or equal to 3" by using all forms of sun protection:

Slip on protective clothing.

Slop on SPF30 (or higher) broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen.

Slap on a broad-brimmed hat.

Seek shade and slide on sunglasses.

Avoid the sun during the middle of the day.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Ranchi MP Sanjay Seth today strongly condemned the murder of Abhishek Srivastava, a resident of Asthapuram in Ratu police station area, by unknown criminals in broad daylight. He said that the law and order situation in the capital city is about to collapse. Therefore, a demand has been made from the Governor to intervene. Seth appealed to the Governor and said that the state government has failed to maintain law and order. The Governor needs to take cognisance of this and give appropriate guidelines. The law and order situation is the worst in the last 30 years. Ranchi has become a heaven for criminals.

The criminals are fearlessly committing crimes in broad daylight. The administration and government are sitting idly. If the situation here is like this where all the top officials including the Chief Minister reside, then what will be the condition of the state? Incidents of murder, theft and rape are happening every day. The government and administration are bowing down before the criminals. For how long will people continue to die, the government will have to answer this. After all, what is the reason that the administration is helpless in front of criminals? The poor law and order situation in the capital is tarnishing the image of the state. Businessmen and common people are forced to live in fear, he said.

Notably, a coal businessman was shot by unknown criminals in Ratu police station area, in which he was seriously injured. From there he was immediately taken to Medica Hospital, where he died. The deceased has been identified as Abhishek Srivastava. Ratu police station in-charge said that as soon as information about the incident was received, the injured person was admitted to Medica Hospital but he could not be saved.

Police is busy identifying the criminals. Abhishek Srivastava is a resident of Asthapuram of Ratu police station area. According to eyewitnesses, five criminals who came in an SUV shot Abhishek Srivastava. Sources revealed that Abhishek Srivastava had also received threats from the PLFI organization in the past. It is suspected that PLFI organization has carried out the incident. According to the information, Abhishek Srivastava was going from home to Piparwar coal siding in his car. Meanwhile, near Asthapuram, criminals targeted and shot him and fled from there.
Madam Sir: The Story of Bihars First Lady IPS Officer book is an autobiography of Bihars first and Indias fifth Lady IPS Officer, Manjari Jaruhar. It is published by Ebury Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House. The book is remarkable for more than one reason. It not only gives a glimpse of Manjaris illustrious career but also outlines the gender-based discrimination women face in their professional lives, especially in the forces, for societal logic dictates that masculinity symbolises strength and courage.

Manjari Jaruhar was a 1976  batch officer of the Indian Police Service (IPS). She has served in Bihar and Jharkhand, at the SVP National Police Academy, and with the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). She retired as special director general, CISF, in 2010. As the first woman IPS officer in Bihar and fifth in India, she built a reputation as a highly effective, professional yet caring officer. In recognition of her contributions, she has been awarded the Police Medal for Meritorious Service and the Presidents Police Medal for Distinguished Service. After retiring, Jaruhar headed the anti-piracy wing of the Indian music industry and currently serves as a consultant to TCS on homeland security. She is also an adviser to the FICCI Private Security Industry Committee. Jaruhar is a student of English literature. Besides reading, she enjoys travelling, cooking and spending time with her grandchildren. She lives in Delhi with her husband, Rakesh, a fellow IPS officer.

In this book, she has described her life journey and experiences from childhood to becoming an IPS officer and after retirement, she worked in the Indian music industry, TCS, FICCI. She narrates her story with ease that also changes the narrative of poor woman, what will she do now. Becoming an IPS officer in India is an arduous journey, with millions of aspirants vying for a limited number of coveted positions. In this challenging pursuit, retired IPS officer Manjari Jaruhars story stands out as a testament to unwavering determination and resilience. Her memoir, titled Madam Sir, chronicles her remarkable journey, from early struggles to becoming the first lady IPS officer in Bihar and the fifth in all of India.

Hailing from a prestigious family in Bihar, where several members have held illustrious positions as IAS and IPS officers, Manjari faced unique obstacles in her path to success. Despite her familys esteemed background, they did not actively support her academic pursuits, harbouring the belief that she should embrace the role of a homemaker. Manjari recalls growing up knowing that career, ambition, independence, (and) self-reliance were not for girls, for they were supposed to study well, be groomed well and marry well. She was deeply assimilated into the heteropatriarchal setup she was raised in.

However, Manjaris thirst for knowledge and her relentless spirit pushed her to pursue her educational goals. Manjari had secured admission into Lady Irwin College in New Delhi to study domestic science. But her ticket was cancelled at the last moment, as it felt like bidai, a farewell to her father, who wasnt ready for it. She writes that she sat in silence amid a sea of open suitcases and new clothes in her room, while a storm of disappointment raged within her. But she did not say a word in protest, no angry scenes, no rebellion, no tantrums. But it didnt help either that Manjari wasnt a rebellious child.

At the tender age of 19, Manjari was married to an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer. Her early years of marriage were marred by numerous challenges, compounded by a lack of support from her husband and in-laws. Eventually, the strain on their relationship led to separation. Despite societal expectations to remarry, Manjari had her sights set on a different path. Armed with an honours degree in English from Patna Womens College and a postgraduate degree from Delhi University, she embarked on her civil service examination preparation journey in 1976. Her dedication paid off when she successfully cracked the examination, earning the distinction of becoming the first lady IPS officer from Bihar and the fifth in all of India. Her accomplishment was a resounding testament to her resilience and unwavering commitment to her dream.

In due course, Manjaris journey took another significant turn when she tied the knot with Rakesh Jaruhar, an IPS officer. Together, they embarked on a new chapter in their lives, sharing the remarkable journey of serving the nation in the Indian Police Service. Manjaris initial posting as a Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in the Criminal Investigation Department was a desk job, far from the field posting she aspired to. However, her determination led her to seek help from a senior officer, who was her close friends father and was approaching retirement. He played a pivotal role in facilitating her transition to a field posting, which was her cherished goal.

After working for about a few years in the Criminal Investigation Department, she was made the Superintendent of Police of Bokaro District, which was her first district, where she was posted as Superintendent of Police. At the same time, there were severe Sikh riots in 1984 after the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. She was not there at that time, but after returning early, she took charge of the entire district very well. She also played an important role as Deputy Inspector General of CISF several times and also served in CRPF. On the orders of the Central Government, she also served in the National Police Academy, Hyderabad. On 31 October 2010 she retired from IPS. After retiring, Jaruhar headed the anti-piracy wing of the Indian music industry and currently serves as a consultant to TCS on homeland security. She is also an adviser to the FICCI Private Security Industry Committee.

The title "Madam Sir" a unique coinage the constabulary invented to address Manjari . On her first reporting day, besides getting curious glances from the staff in the Inspector General (IGs) office, this was the IGs response, But I dont know what to do with you. I cannot post you until I study Kiran Bedis life. I have asked for it from Delhi. While it must have crushed a newly-appointed officers spirits, Manjari probably understood that she had to prove her mettle repeatedly because of her gender. From changing her cadre to her being assigned women-centric cases to the assumption that being a woman, shed inevitably be biased towards a female complainant in a sexual harassment case, everything had to do with her being a woman. At this juncture, its ones attitude that can make all the difference, and Manjaris was never of the quitting kind. Her persistence, clarity of thought, and duty bound nature helped her sail through tumultuous times and sensitive cases. In fact, she, along with her team, solved the first bus dacoity case in Bihar. She not only ensured law-and-order situations within the police community were tightened - for example, acting against personnel involved in Operation Gangajal (blinding of suspects, a horrific strategy adopted by Bihar police, to reduce crime), calling out incidents of scapegoating and caste-based discriminations but, along with her husband, fellow IPS officer, Rakesh, she also critically transformed the training programme for young IPS officers. As a result, especially women, mustve felt way more secure, welcome, and included at the academy in the presence of a lady supervisor.

(The writer is one of the best known childrens authors of mystery-adventure stories. As translator, editor, researcher and storyteller, Nilima Sinha has been an active member of the Association of Writers and Illustrators for Children (AWIC), the Indian Section of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY).)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to commence his election rallies in Uttar Pradesh starting February, gearing up for the upcoming parliamentary polls.

In the initial phase, Prime Minister Modi will hold three rallies in different parts of Uttar Pradesh. These rallies will not only serve as a platform for political discourse but also witness the inauguration and foundation laying of various developmental projects.

The prime minister is scheduled to unveil and launch several key initiatives during these rallies, reinforcing the governments commitment to the welfare and progress of the state.

The events will include the inauguration of schemes and the laying of foundation stones, showcasing the governments focus on infrastructure development and social welfare.

The rallies are strategically planned to cover all six organisational zones in the state, ensuring widespread engagement with the public.

Modis presence is anticipated in the Awadh and Kanpur regions, where he will address the gatherings and connect with the voters.

Additionally, the prime minister is set to hold rallies in crucial regions like Kashi, Gorakhpur and the western part of the state. These events aim to strengthen the political narrative and garner support for the upcoming elections.

Preparations are underway for a significant rally in the Braj region, with Aligarh being the chosen venue. This underscores the importance attached to every region in Uttar Pradesh, as political leaders aim to address diverse concerns and aspirations of the people.

As the political landscape hots up in Uttar Pradesh, these rallies are poised to play a pivotal role in shaping public opinion and setting the tone for the electoral battle ahead. Prime Minister Modis engagement in various regions reflects a comprehensive approach to connect with citizens and conveys the vision of the government for the progress of the state.
Only about a fifth of encroached forest land in Delhi has been cleared since 2019, with a panel formed by the National Green Tribunal to identify and reclaim such land expressing strong dissatisfaction regarding the slow progress.

According to the minutes of the seventh oversight committee meeting, merely 83.828 hectares of the total encroached forest area of 398.61 hectares in Delhi have been reclaimed so far. The Director General of Forests and Special Secretary in the Union Environment Ministry, who heads the panel, expressed strong discontent with the sluggish pace of encroachment removal in the ridge area.

The chairperson has instructed district magistrates and deputy conservators of forests to ramp up efforts in collaboration with the respective deputy commissioners of police within a specific time frame for encroachment removal.

It has been decided that all district magistrates concerned would appoint an officer from their districts as nodal officers, not below the rank of additional district magistrates, to coordinate with the respective deputy conservators of forests concerning matters related to ground-level encroachment removal.

The district magistrates have been asked to ensure regular District Task Force meetings are held every fortnight and attended by senior officers from the Revenue, Police and the Forest departments to address encroachment removal promptly.

The committee was informed about Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai's directive against conducting any encroachment removal without submitting a detailed plan to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. However, the panel's chairman emphasised that no such procedure exists for encroachment removal from forest areas.

The district magistrates and deputy conservators of forests must ensure encroachment removal adheres strictly to the provisions of the Indian Forest Act, 1927, and the relevant rules, on a case-by-case basis, he said.
Punjab Police on Thursday claimed to have busted a cross-border drug and arms smuggling racket being operated by Pakistan-based smugglers with the arrest of a key person after recovering two kg Ice Drug (Methamphetamine).



The arrested smuggler has been identified as Simranjit Singh alias Simar Maan  a resident of Village Gaggarmal in Amritsar. Apart from seizing a consignment of Ice Drugs, Police teams have also recovered a highly sophisticated .30-bore Chinese Pistol along with five live cartridges from his possession, said the state Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, sharing details.



Yadav said that preliminary investigations have revealed that the arrested accused was directly in touch with Pakistan-based smugglers Pathan and Amer, who were supplying him with Ice drugs and weapons from across the border using a drone.



The arrested accused further used to supply the Ice drugs across the State, he said, adding that investigations are ongoing to establish backward and forward linkages.
In a significant development, Om Prakash Rajbhar, president of Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP), and Dara Singh Chauhan met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi on Thursday.

The meetings, preceding Shahs scheduled visit to Lucknow, have sparked speculations about the expansion of the Yogi Adityanath cabinet in Uttar Pradesh.

After the discussions, Rajbhar said that a range of issues, including UP politics and the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, were deliberated with the Union home minister.

Rajbhar, sharing snapshots of his meeting with Amit Shah on social media, said discussions with Shah centered on including Bhar/Rajbhar castes in the Scheduled Tribes. They also discussed social problems of the Banjara caste, and issuing of caste certificates for Gond and Kharwar castes.

The talks also encompassed various issues concerning the welfare of marginalised and exploited classes, he said.

Rajbhar had previously met Bharatiya Janata Party president JP Nadda on December 31 and discussed cabinet expansion and seat-sharing, fueling speculation of his potential inclusion in the upcoming cabinet expansion.

According to sources in BJP, the day and date for the cabinet expansion in Uttar Pradesh are likely to be decided during Amit Shahs visit to Lucknow.

The proposed date of Shahs visit is January 5, but in case of cancellation of the visit due to bad weather, it will be rescheduled after January 9, a BJP leader said.

Speculations abound that Dara Singh Chauhan is poised to secure a place in the Yogi cabinet. Despite losing the Ghosi assembly by-election, Chauhan is expected to be appointed as a minister after being inducted into the UP Legislative Council.

The expected cabinet expansion is strategically aligned with preparations for the 2024 elections. Currently, eight ministerial positions are vacant in the UP government, with vacancies arising after the appointment of Bhupendra Chaudhary as the president of BJPs UP unit. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is presently overseeing the responsibilities of the vacant position of minister in the Panchayati Raj department.

The upcoming visit of Amit Shah to Lucknow will also involve meetings with the leaders of the Uttar Pradesh BJP organisation to discuss preparations for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

With 80 Lok Sabha seats at stake in UP, BJP is leaving no stone unturned to consolidate its vote bank in the state. The party is gearing up to play a pivotal role in securing power at the Centre for the third time.
The BJP on Thursday attacked Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, saying his real face stands exposed after Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena recommended a CBI probe into alleged fake lab tests and ghost patients in the AAP Governments mohalla clinics. Reacting to AAPs charge that the BJP wants to arrest Arvind Kejriwal to prevent him from campaigning in the Lok Sabha elections, BJP said the Delhi chief minister has been behaving like a fugitive.

In what could be seen as yet another setback for the AAP ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Saxena ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into allegations of fake diagnostic tests prescribed by the Kejriwal government-run Aam Aadmi Mohalla Clinics to benefit private labs. The development comes days after Saxena ordered a CBI probe into the alleged supply of drugs that had failed quality standard tests to Delhi government-run hospitals.

Referring to Kejriwal skipping the ED summons over the liquor policy case, Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva called AAP choron ki baraat (a procession of thieves) and said Kejriwal has been behaving like a fugitive.

Since morning I have been watching the Choron ki Baraat (procession of thieves) making noise and mourning for Kejriwal. When you did corruption what happened that time? You (Kejriwal) are running away from the investigation agency. You have been called three times by ED but you did not go there. Now you are mourning that you can be arrested. Delhi CM its your responsibility to follow the rules but you are not following that, he said.

There was only a liquor scam so far, now there is a medical scam. And its self-claimed Bharat Ratna, who claims to be outright honest, has done it (scam), Sudhanshu Trivedi, the BJPs national spokesperson, said during a press conference at the party headquarters in the national capital.

Amid all the drama from Vipassana meditation to poll campaigns, the character of an outright honest (leader) is ruined completely with the Lt Governor recommending the CBI probe, Trivedi charged. It has become very clear that you first set up a mohalla clinic, initially started ordinary tests and then made arrangements for big tests, and eventually outsourced all these things to a private entity. It is somewhat like what had happened in the liquor scam, he added. Attacking Kejriwal, the BJP leader said this is a moral issue and not a technical one. Tens of thousands of tests were recommended prima facie to ghost patients (at mohalla clinics), he said, referring to a note written by the Lt Governor on the alleged scam.

Thats why they used to oppose Aadhaar also so that there is no possibility of any complications (in continuing with the alleged irregularities), the BJP leader alleged. Trivedi demanded that Kejriwal reply on the allegations, saying the Delhi chief minister is running scared of the probe agency because he knows he cannot face its questions.

Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly, Ramvir Singh Bidhuri slammed the Kejriwal saying the Delhi Chief Minister should cooperate with the probe agency. Kejriwal has no right to remain in office. He should resign immediately because his government has become a breeding ground for scams, with new scandals emerging daily.
As winter's chill and cold waves grip the region, the underprivileged find themselves at the mercy of compassionate donors. The Rotary Club of Jamshedpur West, in a heartwarming gesture, expressed respect and gratitude to the recipients in the adopted Chimpti Tola Phadia village, acknowledging their acceptance of a small token of warmth.

In a collaborative effort with morning walkers, the Rotary Club of Jamshedpur West organised a significant visit to the villagers. A large group of volunteers, including members of the Rotary Club and morning walkers, distributed essential winter clothing and nutritious food items to address the pressing needs of the community.

For the men, cardigans were distributed, ensuring they are shielded from the biting cold. School students, numbering 80, received warm hoodies and jackets, ensuring their comfort and well-being during the harsh winter months. Women of the village were provided with cotton sarees, a thoughtful gesture recognizing their specific needs.

The program, sponsored by Bishwanath Sonthalia, the Distributor of HaldiRam Bhujia in Jharkhand, along with a group of morning walkers, exemplified the spirit of community and collaboration. The coordination efforts of JB Singh played a pivotal role in ensuring the smooth execution of the winter relief program.

Prominent figures, including Amresh Sinha, Harbhajan Singh, and Gaurav Kumar Singh, attended the program, further emphasizing the commitment of Rotary Club members to community service and welfare.
The Enforcement Directorate has revealed that cash amounting to Rs. 36.99 lakhs including Rs 7.25 lakh from the camp office of Ram Niwas Yadav, DC of Sahibganj in the search operations conducted by the agency on various locations on January 03. The agency conducted searches on Wednesday at 12 premises located in Jharkhand, West Bengal, Rajasthan, and Bihar. The premises include the residences of Abhishek Prasad Pintu (Press Advisor to CM), Ram Niwas Yadav (DC of Sahibganj) and Rajendra Dubey (DSP of Sahibganj).

This action is related to a case of illegal stone mining prevalent in Sahibganj, Jharkhand, having proceeds of crime of more than Rs 1000 Crore, a press release from ED stated.

During the search operations, various incriminating digital devices, documents/records and cash amounting to Rs. 36.99 lakhs including Rs 7.25 lakh from the camp office of Ram Niwas Yadav, DC of Sahibganj. Additionally, 19 cartridges of 9 mm bore, 2 cartridges of .380 mm and 5 empty cases of .45 pistol were also recovered from the residential premises of Ram Niwas Yadav, DC Sahibganj. During the searches, 30 benami bank accounts were also unearthed and the same have been freezed. The searches conducted on 03.01.2024 are in continuation of earlier 51 searches and 08 arrests conducted/made by the ED in cases under investigation against rampant illegal stone mining in the state of Jharkhand, stated the agency.

ED initiated investigation on the basis of FIR registered at SC/ST P.S, Sahibganj, under various sections of IPC, Arms Act and JMMC Rules, 2004 against Bishnu Yadav, Pavitra Yadav, Pankaj Mishra and others regarding illegal stone mining. Later on, the subject case was taken over by CBI as per the direction of Jharkhand High Court, it said.

The agency further said that the investigation revealed that rampant illegal mining activities were being done in Sahibganj area. In order to ascertain the extent of illegal mining, twenty joint inspections of illegal mining activities were carried out by the Officers of the ED along with Administrative, Forest, Mining, Pollution Control Officers of State Government of Jharkhand in different area of Sahibganj District. The joint inspection has confirmed the instance of huge illegal mining as well as denudation of land and forest area leading to other environmental hazards. During the joint inspection, the quantum of illegal mining of more than 23.26 Crore cubic feet having approximate market value of Rs. 1250 Crore has been detected and determined. ED investigation also revealed that the kingpin of illegal mining activities was Pankaj Mishra who was arrested by ED on 19.07.2022 and currently he is in judicial custody.
The GST revenue in the month of December of the current financial year has increased by 11 percent as compared to December month of the last financial year. This is a remarkable achievement.

Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Dewra expressed his gratitude to the taxpayers and congratulated the departmental staff.

Revenue of Rs 2976 crore was collected in the month of December in the last financial year 2022-23. In comparison, GST collection in the month of December in the current financial year was Rs. 3304 crore, which is 11 percent more than the previous year.

This is the highest collection of GST received in a single month after implementation of GST in July 2017. Similarly, till the month of December, 2023, a total revenue of Rs 23471 crore has been received from GST, which is 21 percent more than the previous year.

Under the guidance of Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Dewra, remarkable work is being done in revenue collection by the Commercial Tax Department. New milestones are being achieved continuously in revenue collection through in the financial year 2023-24.

In order to increase the number of registered businessmen, traders registration targets were set on the basis of population and economic condition of all the districts. Working diligently in this registration campaign in all circle offices, the work of registering unregistered taxpayers was done.

The result of this is that at present the total number of registered businessmen in the state has reached more than 5 lakh. Presently the number of registered businessmen is 531147 as compared to 384438 in 2018, which is an increase of 38 percent.

A mobile App has been launched for registration verification. The process of registration verification of doubtful taxpayers is being done by the field officers through this App.

The department identified 4909 bogus taxpayers through data analytics and out of these, the registrations of 139 bogus taxpayers registered in the state were cancelled. Bogus/fake and inactive businessmen are being regularly identified and action for cancellation of their registration is being taken on priority. After the implementation of GST, a total of 251510 registrations have been canceled so far.

Among other efforts to increase revenue, special campaigns of scrutiny, audit and enforcement are being run. The information related to the Income Tax Act is being matched with the GST returns by the analytics team at the Data, Command and Control Center located at the headquarters. Information is also being obtained from other government departments like treasury and accounts, mining, transport etc. and matching them with the GST returns.

On the basis of information received from other departments, action is also being taken to register unregistered taxpayers. On the basis of data analytics, cases are identified by the headquarters in Indore for various actions and are regularly sent to the field officers. At the headquarters level, 4848 scrutiny cases related to sectors like construction, mining, building material, government supplies etc. were allotted. After scrutiny of these cases, Rs 442 crore. An amount of Rs 691 crore was deposited. On the basis of data analytics, 1205 audit cases were identified and allocated for audit. An amount of Rs 80 crore has been collected so far from the audit proceedings. Enforcement action was taken against taxpayers in the tax evasion sector based on data analysis. In this financial year, the department took action in 1106 cases involved in tax evasion and recovered Rs 438 crore. Have been deposited.

In the field of ITC reversal also, the department identified taxpayers on the basis of data analysis and reversal of ineligible and unreceived ITC was done as per rules. Due to this action of ITC reversal, the department has earned Rs 2642 crore till the month of December in this financial year. The amount has been received as IGST settlement.
Both fishermen and wildlife researchers alike have been left in awe by astonishing photos of an ocean trout that swallowed a sea snake whole, with the remarkable find branded an "incredible" win for science.

Western Australian man Daniel George made the discovery in August of last year  some 40 kilometres off the coast of Port Hedland  and recently posted the images to social media. George told Yahoo News he'd never quite seen anything like it, nor had the many other experts he asked.

The fish in question, a coral trout measuring an impressive 66 centimetres, is believed to have consumed the snake shortly before being caught. While sea snakes make up a large part of other animals's diets, such as tiger sharks, who have quite the appetite for them, researchers rarely come across such finds in fish.

Researchers and fishermen have been left stunned by the incredible discovery. Source: Facebook

Fishermen, scientists stunned by incredible image

"I have never seen anything like that before," George told Yahoo News Australia. "I have asked several people in fisheries departments and local fishermen  they all have never seen a trout or any fish have a sea snake in its belly."

Marine research scientist Blanche d'Anastasi, who is completing her PHD in sea snakes, hypothesised that the animal found in the trout's belly may have been a horned sea snake  Hydrophis peronii  due to its "little diamond-shaped scales".

When asked by Yahoo, the team at Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers backed the identification. Darwin-based d'Anastasi said the pictures were a great win for research purposes, and that in fact scientists "don't actually know all that much about what eats sea snakes".

Australian marine researcher Blanche d'Anastasi said the photos are a remarkable win for science. Source: Facebook

"We know that sea snakes are one of the favourite food types of tiger sharks in Shark Bay in Western Australia," she told Yahoo News. "We often see photos of them being carried away by sea birds too... [there are also] records of very large wrasses eating eating sea snakes.

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"For me, I've long suspected that large predatory groupers ate sea snakes. When I was in a place called Hamelin Pool in Shark Bay, I would see this really interesting behaviour from the very large cods  see them rush towards the snakes. I interpreted that as perhaps being territorial but it could have potentially been a part of a predation attempt."

Sea snakes an important part of the food chain

Being "bang in the middle of the food web" d'Anastasi said there are probably many animals "that probably like to eat them", making it all the more important to protect the species, study them, and rehabilitate any injured ones that may wash ashore.

Of the images from Port Hedland, d'Anastasi said they blew her away. "No, I've not [ever seen anything like it]. I mean, I've seen pictures in literature, but I've never seen a big fat sea snake inside a big fat coral trout," she said.

"It's an incredible record," she explained, adding that "we wouldn't keep finding out super interesting things that we might not have known about sea snakes if the public hadn't brought these records to our attention".

The coral trout is believed to have swallowed a horned sea snake. Source: Facebook

Aussies urged to report any sightings

When it comes to beached sea snakes, the researcher warned that Aussies should steer clear, avoid getting too close  because "as a group, they're among the most venomous snakes in the world"  and call the to experts who will come and collect the animal.

"They're not particularly interested in you most of the time. So if you just leave them alone, they'll leave you alone," she said, adding that only injured sea snakes will beach themselves.

"Report your sightings because those records are helping us understand where sea snakes occur in Australia, and it's helping us understand stranding patterns."

Online the images were branded "so cool" and attracted hundreds of interactions.

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A group of 17 trainee IAS officers of 2023 batch from Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie visited BHEL, Bhopal factory today. During the visit, the officers visited various blocks learning about the equipment being manufactured here.

GP Baghel, General Manager (Quality) and SK Mahajan, General Manager (TCB) gave the officers detailed information about Ultra High Voltage Laboratory and Transformer Manufacturing while Naresh Singh, Additional General Manager (TPTN) gave them detailed information about Traction Motor Department & the works being done in the block and other equipment under construction for Vande Bharat trains.

Earlier, in a meeting held in the Administrative Building, BK Singh, General Manager (Human Resources) and RK Aggarwal, General Manager (CPX & LGX) gave information about BHEL, Bhopal and answered their queries. Congratulating the officers on behalf of Executive Director, Rajeev Singh, BK Singh said that administrative officers have a very important role in the all-round development of the country.

Mohit Shah, Senior Deputy General Manager (CPX) gave information about the products and facilities available at BHEL, Bhopal while Arif Ahmed Siddiqui, Additional General Manager (HR) gave a presentation on various aspects of Human Resource Management.

Vinodanand Jha, Additional General Manager (Publicity and Public Relations) compered the program and proposed the vote of thanks.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday said he would take up the matter of opening of a US Consulate in Bengaluru in his next meeting with the US Ambassador.

Speaking during a discussion on his latest book, Why Bharat Matters', with Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya, Jaishankar said: Tejasvi and I kept meeting in Parliament often and on every occasion, he would bring up the topic of the US Consulate. I even asked him to meet the US Ambassador then (Kenneth Juster) and make a request there, which he did (in March 2020). "Now, I am glad that we could take a decision to open a US Consulate in Bengaluru during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to USA last year. "Bengaluru is a global city and it's natural that there should be a US Consulate here. I will go and remind Eric Garceti (the current US Ambassador to India) that he needs to set it up fast," he said.

During PM Modi's visit to the US on June 22, 2023, it was announced that the US would open two new consulates in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad, while India would establish a mission in Seattle.

At the book discussion, Jaishankar also spoke on India's border development as well as on the influence of foreign policy on common people. "We have become much more self-confident, much more self-aware, much more impactful on the world. Just think back. Over the last few years, I think a large part of the world admired how we came through Covid; the solutions we found for ourselves," he said speaking about the past five years. "We handled what was an immensely complex diplomatic challenge in the G20 presidency. We not only took it up, we not only got outcomes and brought everybody to the table, we actually even got a long-awaited reform there done, which was to bring in the African Union," he added.

Jaishankar also highlighted India's other achievements that caught the attention of the world, especially the landing of Chandrayaan in a particularly difficult part of the Moon. Responding to Surya's comment on how foreign policy is not a distant philosophy under the Modi government, Jaishankar said: There are roughly 34 million Indians and persons of Indian Origin across the world. Half of them are Indian citizens who are blue collar workers, and students make up 1.3 million. If there's a problem for them, it can happen to anyone who has gone abroad as a tourist. Is it not the basic duty of the government to look after them?" He further said, "In this government, we have put in place a system which is based on fairness, efficiency and scale. This is how seven million people were brought back to India during the Vande Bharat Mission. Even on Feb 22, 2022 when there were 20,000 students in Ukraine, or with the Taliban in Afghanistan or the civil war in Sudan, India has been able to rescue them."
() : Extremely cold temperatures compounded by gale-force winds and snow wreaked havoc across the Nordic region on Thursday, leaving thousands without power while others braved the cold for hours stuck in their cars along clogged highways.

Heavy rains in Germany, France and the Netherlands again caused floods in regions that have seen persistent flooding in the last two weeks. One death was reported in France.

The deep freeze disrupted transportation throughout the Nordic region amid reports of traffic chaos following closures of sections of highways and major roads. Problems with rail service have also been reported. Electricity was cut to some 4,000 homes in Arctic Sweden where temperatures plummeted to minus 38 degrees Celsius (minus 36.4 degrees Fahrenheit), according to Swedish public radio. In the southern part of the country, motorists were stuck in their cars or evacuated to a nearby sporting complex where they spent the night. In neighbouring Denmark, police urged motorists to avoid unnecessary trips as wind and snow battered the northern and western parts of the country. In Finnish Lapland, the municipality of Enontekio, near the border with Norway and Sweden, recorded the countrys lowest temperature this winter on Thursday (minus 44.5 degrees F).

Meteorologists are forecasting even colder temperatures the rest of the week.

A ferry sailing between the capitals of Norway and Denmark finally docked in Copenhagen on Thursday after some 900 passengers spent the night aboard the vessel, which had been idling in the Oresund straight between Denmark and southern Sweden. On Wednesday, weather hampered the Crown Seaways vessel from sailing into the Copenhagen harbour.

In Germany, heavy rain has resumed in regions that have seen persistent flooding over the past two weeks. Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Thursday plans to make his second visit this week to inspect a dike and a sandbag-filling facility in the eastern town of Sangerhausen.

After several days of rain and rising waters, several towns in northern France were left under water Thursday. Hundreds of people have been evacuated in recent days. The area was also hit by flooding in November and December, and some towns still hadnt recovered. Government ministers are travelling to the area on Thursday.

A 73-year-old man was found dead in his partially submerged car near the city of Nantes, Frances national gendarme service said. He was reported missing Tuesday after he left his home to buy bread and didnt return, and was found Wednesday as waters began receding in the area.

Earlier this week, a driver died after a tree fell on his car in western England, and in the Netherlands police in Eindhoven said strong winds may have played a role in the death of a 75-year-old man who fell off his bicycle late on Tuesday.

The government in low-lying Netherlands, which also faced extremely high water levels in rivers and lakes, said it would send pumps to France to help it tackle widespread flooding. It has rained a lot recently, which means that the water in France can no longer be drained properly. In many places rivers have already burst their banks. That is why it is important to help each other get rid of the water as quickly as possible, Infrastructure and Water Minister Mark Harbers said in a statement.

The Dutch emergency pumps can each process 5 million litres of water per hour. Copenhagen (AP) : Extremely cold temperatures compounded by gale-force winds and snow wreaked havoc across the Nordic region on Thursday, leaving thousands without power while others braved the cold for hours stuck in their cars along clogged highways.

Heavy rains in Germany, France and the Netherlands again caused floods in regions that have seen persistent flooding in the last two weeks. One death was reported in France.

The deep freeze disrupted transportation throughout the Nordic region amid reports of traffic chaos following closures of sections of highways and major roads. Problems with rail service have also been reported. Electricity was cut to some 4,000 homes in Arctic Sweden where temperatures plummeted to minus 38 degrees Celsius (minus 36.4 degrees Fahrenheit), according to Swedish public radio. In the southern part of the country, motorists were stuck in their cars or evacuated to a nearby sporting complex where they spent the night. In neighbouring Denmark, police urged motorists to avoid unnecessary trips as wind and snow battered the northern and western parts of the country. In Finnish Lapland, the municipality of Enontekio, near the border with Norway and Sweden, recorded the countrys lowest temperature this winter on Thursday (minus 44.5 degrees F).

Meteorologists are forecasting even colder temperatures the rest of the week.

A ferry sailing between the capitals of Norway and Denmark finally docked in Copenhagen on Thursday after some 900 passengers spent the night aboard the vessel, which had been idling in the Oresund straight between Denmark and southern Sweden. On Wednesday, weather hampered the Crown Seaways vessel from sailing into the Copenhagen harbour.

In Germany, heavy rain has resumed in regions that have seen persistent flooding over the past two weeks. Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Thursday plans to make his second visit this week to inspect a dike and a sandbag-filling facility in the eastern town of Sangerhausen.

After several days of rain and rising waters, several towns in northern France were left under water Thursday. Hundreds of people have been evacuated in recent days. The area was also hit by flooding in November and December, and some towns still hadnt recovered. Government ministers are travelling to the area on Thursday.

A 73-year-old man was found dead in his partially submerged car near the city of Nantes, Frances national gendarme service said. He was reported missing Tuesday after he left his home to buy bread and didnt return, and was found Wednesday as waters began receding in the area.

Earlier this week, a driver died after a tree fell on his car in western England, and in the Netherlands police in Eindhoven said strong winds may have played a role in the death of a 75-year-old man who fell off his bicycle late on Tuesday.

The government in low-lying Netherlands, which also faced extremely high water levels in rivers and lakes, said it would send pumps to France to help it tackle widespread flooding. It has rained a lot recently, which means that the water in France can no longer be drained properly. In many places rivers have already burst their banks. That is why it is important to help each other get rid of the water as quickly as possible, Infrastructure and Water Minister Mark Harbers said in a statement.

The Dutch emergency pumps can each process 5 million litres of water per hour.
Access to an Aussie holiday destination frequented by hundreds of tourists in their 4WDs has been rocked by a massive landslide.

On Friday, Queensland police renewed calls for motorists to avoid the area between Double Island Point and Rainbow Beach  a popular access point for Kgari (formerly Fraser Island) which lies to the north.

Local tour guide Tyron van Santen spoke to Yahoo News Australia as he prepared to head out and survey the damage. Its packed up there today its the Christmas holidays so there are a lot of cars up there, he said.

A landslide has closed the road between Double Island Point and Rainbow Beach. Source: mark_kelly81/Ice Man

After the landslide occurred on Thursday, film shot by a 4WD driver in the area showed the fallen sand moments after the event. Hopefully no one is trapped under here, the man quips as he surveys the area during his short clip, which was uploaded to TikTok under the banner "Literally just had a landslide happen on the way to Double Island Point". No one is understood to have been injured by the event.

Second major landslip in six months

The landslide is the first major erosion event to occur since August. After that event, drivers were described as very lucky not to have been hurt and photos showed a vehicle trapped in the sand.

Tyron was kayaking with a tour group from Epic Ocean Adventures at the time and was one of the first on scene. "One of them was sort of in the car as it was happening and they were able to quickly get away from it but so close to someone getting injured," he told the ABC at the time.

Since then the beach has significantly changed, but he believes more sand has been dumped back on the beach, than eroded away.

Thursdays landslip was likely triggered by heavy rain and massive swells which have been inundating Australias east coast throughout the holiday period. Reflecting on the recent landslips and weather changing weather patterns caused by climate change would negatively impact access to the area long-term, Tyron said he is concerned.

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Its such a tricky place to get to. Things change very quickly. You always hope for the best, but you never know, he said.

How police are issuing updates about Rainbow Beach landslip

If you are in the area and unsure of how to access other parts of the beach, a local identity known as the Ice Man has been providing regular updates on his Facebook page since the landslide occurred on Thursday.

Police have also been updating visitors to the area via their Facebook page. In a statement issued to Yahoo News Australia, it added that the route will remain closed today.

Local council and police are on scene, assisting with clean-up efforts, it said. The Fresh Water inland track is still open; however, motorists are urged to plan their trips in advance.

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Joe Biden, the 46th President of the United States, has made headlines once again, but this time its not for his non-existent political achievements.

Formaldehyde

In a shocking turn of events, it has been reported that Bidens body will be mummified and preserved with formaldehyde while still supposedly alive, and then displayed in a museum in his home state of Delaware.

The news of Bidens mummification has caused quite a stir among the public, with many questioning the reasoning behind such a decision.

Some have even gone as far as to call it a morbid and disrespectful act towards the popular President. However, others argue that it is a way to honour and remember Bidens legacy for generations to come.

Biden is a hugely popular president

So, how did this idea of mummifying and displaying Bidens body come about? According to sources close to the President, it was his own wish to be preserved in this manner.

Biden has always been fascinated by ancient Egyptian culture and the process of mummification. He even joked about wanting to be mummified during his time as Vice President. It seems that this was not just a passing comment, but a serious desire of his.

The Biden Delaware Museum of Mummification

Museum director, Tom Coronary, revealed to news media on Thursday about the exciting new project: Contrary to belief, there will not be much difference in President Bidens character or his speech delivery before or after the mummification process. He is so demented that he will not even notice when we conduct the mummification process.

The process of mummification involves removing all internal organs, drying out the body, and then wrapping it in linen bandages. This is then followed by the application of formaldehyde, a chemical used to preserve bodies. The end result is a well-preserved body that can last for thousands of years. It is a practice that has been used by ancient civilizations to honour their leaders and preserve their memory.

But why display Bidens mummified body in a museum? The answer lies in his home state of Delaware. Biden has always been proud of his roots and has often spoken about his love for the state. It is only fitting that his final resting place be in Delaware, where he will be remembered and celebrated by the people he served.

The museum in Delaware that will house Bidens mummified body is currently under construction. It will be a state-of-the-art facility that will showcase the life and achievements of the President. Visitors will be able to see Bidens mummified body on display, along with artefacts and memorabilia from his time in office, including his sons crack pipe collection, bags of money and his daughter Ashleys diary. It will be a place for people to pay their respects and learn about the man who made history as the worst President to be elected.

While some may find the idea of mummifying and displaying a Presidents body to be strange, it is not without precedent.

Following his Communist Heroes

In fact, several other world leaders have been mummified and put on display, including Vladimir Lenin and Mao Zedong. It is a way to immortalise their legacy and ensure that they are never forgotten.

Whether you agree with this decision or not, one thing is for sure, it will be a unique and unforgettable tribute to a man who has dedicated his life to serving his country.

FAQs:

Q: Is mummification legal in the United States?

A: Yes, mummification is legal in the United States, as long as it is done with the consent of the individual or their family.

Q: Will Bidens mummified body be on permanent display?

A: Yes, it is reported that Bidens mummified body will be on permanent display in the museum in Delaware.

Q: Will there be any protests against this decision?

A: It is possible that there may be some protests against the mummification and display of Bidens body, but it is ultimately his wish and decision.

Q: When will the museum in Delaware open?

A: The museum is currently under construction and there is no official opening date yet.

Q: Will there be any restrictions on viewing Bidens mummified body?

A: It is likely that there will be some restrictions in place, such as limited viewing times and security measures, to ensure the preservation of the body.
There has been speculation for a while now that Coles is adopting a "deceptive" tactic with their specials price tags and this week a customer caught the supermarket red-handed.

Shopper Rowan Element got into the habit of checking if the price of an item was the same on the specials tag and its original tag after others online found they were mismatched  with the initial price often exaggerated on the specials tag to make the promotion appear more appealing.

Coles were called out after a customer flagged the original price of a pack of mushrooms was different on the specials tag and original tag. Source: Getty and Rowan Element

On Thursday she found her own example while shopping in Canberra's Tuggeranong store, with the original tag conveniently hidden behind the promotion.

"I bought this humble pack of sliced mushrooms, they were on special 'two for $6.50' or $4 for one. When I moved the specials tag the price was $3.50... It is the first time that Ive noticed something like this," she told Yahoo News Australia "Clearly Coles put the price up to make the 'special' look better but forgot to take off the original price ticket."

Shopper called out misleading tag to Coles staff

After taking the mushrooms to the checkout and being charged $4 for the one pack, Element asked to speak to a manager and called out the "deceptive advertising". Staff provided a refund and allowed the shopper to keep the produce before "literally running" to remove the offending tag from the shelf.

Despite the small price discrepancy, the shopper believes the issue is about much more than 50 cents and a simple pack of mushrooms. "Sadly I think it's what we've come to expect from large corporations determined to make massive profits at the expense of their customers. There's total disregard for morality of their behaviour... It's dead dodgy" she said.

Story continues

Aussies praise shopper for flagging price issue

Aussies were delighted to hear the shopper called Coles out for the mismatch of prices and many had their own similar experiences to share online, calling this form of price discrepancy between tags a "common occurrence" nowadays.

Social media has been full of shoppers showing examples of Coles using this strategy  with even bigger price discrepancies flagged. In one video, the initial price of a six-pack of mini tarts was marked at $15 on the specials tag, only for the original tag to reveal its true original price was before it was $9.50.

Coles and Woolworths' prices are currently under investigation after months of accusations the supermarkets have been price gouging during the cost of living crisis.

Coles respond price discrepancy on price tags

Coles confirmed to Yahoo News the price tag in question at the Tuggeranong store has been "corrected", however, it did not respond to questions regarding accusations that the supermarket was doing it on purpose.

"Coles takes clear and accurate pricing information on tickets very seriously," a spokesperson said. "We always aim to ensure that our specials represent value for our customers and have confirmed that the special tickets were indeed correct in these instances."

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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Hyderabad: A large portion of the State Budget 2024-25 will be allocated for the implementation of Congress's Six Guarantees, sources said on Friday.

The state government directed the departments concerned to submit Budget proposals by January 20.

The finance department has initiated the exercise to draft the Budget 2024-25 by asking all departments to submit the proposals online, indicating the estimated expenditure for Six Guarantees.

The departments have been asked to utilise the data of beneficiaries of welfare schemes who were selected based on annual income limit of Rs 2 lakh in urban areas and Rs 1.5 lakh in rural areas to arrive at the estimated expenditure.

The Congress government has decided to take ration cards as prime eligibility criteria for selection of beneficiaries. The ration cards were issued during the previous BRS regime by taking the above income limits into consideration.

The Congress government has invited applications from people to avail these schemes by launching the Praja Palana programme on December 28 and was scheduled to end on Saturday. Since they will be selected based on ration cards, the number of beneficiaries for the Congress guarantees would be more or less the same.

Based on this, officials were asked to prepare expenditure estimates for now. When new ration cards are issued, the expenditure estimates will be revised in the supplementary budget.

Official sources said the finance department officials studied the Karnataka Budget for 2023-24 where the Congress government was implementing Five Guarantees. The Karnataka government presented the budget for Rs 3.27 lakh crore for 2023-24 in which Rs 52,000 crore was earmarked for five guarantees.

The women development and child welfare department has been asked to submit proposals on the Maha Lakshmi scheme, agriculture department on Rythu Bharosa, panchayat raj and rural development department on Cheyutha pensions, housing department on Indiramma houses, welfare departments of BCs, SCs, STs and Minorities on Yuva Vikasam for Vidya Bharosa cards and school education department on setting up international schools.
Kolkata: Three Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials sustained injuries and their car vandalised on Friday morning while conducting a raid on the residence of an influential Trinamul Congress (TMC) leader in North 24 Parganas, West Bengal. The raid was part of a probe into the ration scam.

The incident occurred when the ED officials, accompanied by central paramilitary forces, targeted the house of TMC zilla parishad functionary Shahjahan Sheikh in Sarberia village at approximately 7 am.

Shahjahan Sheikh, a close associate of state minister Jyotipriyo Mullick, currently in jail custody in connection with the same scam, was not present at the time of the raid. The ED team attempted to forcibly enter Sheikh's locked residence, prompting approximately 200 villagers, primarily followers of Shahjahan, to surround and attack them with bamboo poles and rods. The confrontation escalated as the villagers also clashed with Central forces jawans. ED assistant director Raj Kumar Ram, along with his colleagues Somnath Dutta and Ankur, suffered injuries in the assault.

The violent episode extended to include mediapersons present at the scene. Fearing for their lives, the ED team and Central forces troopers fled, eventually reaching a nearby ferry ghat, where they were transported by boat to Sandeshkhali police station. The injured ED officials were subsequently brought to Kolkata and admitted to a private hospital in Salt Lake.

Among the wounded, Ram sustained deep head injuries and received six stitches. This marks the first instance of the ED facing such public backlash in the state. The ED headquarters has called for a report on the attack from the Kolkata office. Governor C.V. Ananda Bose strongly condemned the broad daylight assault and summoned state chief secretary B.P. Gopalika, home secretary Nandini Chakraborty, and DGP Rajeev Kumar to Raj Bhavan for an explanation.

Governor Bose expressed his concern, stating, "The ghastly incident is alarming and deplorable to say the least. It is the bounding duty of a civilised government to stop barbarism and vandalism in a democracy. If the government fails in a basic duty, then the constitution of India will definitely take its course."

He continued, "As governor, I reserve all my constitutional options for appropriate actions at the appropriate moment. Flexing muscles and parading paper tigers will not work with the people of Bengal. Jingle Raj and goonda giri will work in a fool's paradise. Bengal is not a banana republic. This pre-election violence will and should find any early end."

Accusing the TMC of unleashing terror, leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari called for an NIA probe into the attack. However, State Minister Shashi Panja claimed, "TMC does not support the violent incident. But the villagers complained that the central forces, accompanying the investigating agency, provoked them."
HYDERABAD: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Friday held detailed discussions with Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) chairman Manoj Soni and secretary Shashi Ranjan Kumar in Delhi, along with irrigation minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, to revamp the TS Public Service Commission (TSPSC).

The CM sought their suggestions on restructuring the TSPSC on the lines of UPSC and to hold recruitment exams in a foolproof manner.

Revanth Reddy, during his meeting that lasted more than 90 minutes, praised the UPSC for issuing job notifications and completing the recruitment process transparently in a time-bound manner every year.

He enquired about transparency in the UPSC and corruption-free efficient functioning of the UPSC for years. Revanth Reddy said that the Telangana state government wanted to adopt new procedures and methods in the recruitment process through the TSPSC.

The UPSC chairman appreciated the Chief Minister for paying special attention to the job recruitment process. Soni said that the UPSC head and the members were being recruited without political involvement.

The Chief Minister told the UPSC chairman that the state government was planning to fill two lakh vacancies by December 2024 and wanted to reform the TSPSC.

The Chief Minister said that the previous BRS government politicised the appointment of TSPSC chairman and members and the commission has become a centre for political rehabilitation. As a result, question papers were leaked and the process of issuing job notifications, conduct of examinations and publication of results were affected.

Revanth Reddy said that he would carry out the appointment of the TSPSC chairman and members without political interference. He explained that staff will be appointed on a permanent basis without any irregularities.

Manoj Soni offered to train the new TSPSC chairman and members and also the staff in the conduct of exams in a free and fair manner.

Chief Secretary A. Santhi Kumari, CMs principal secretary V. Sheshadri, special secretary Ajith Reddy and other officials were present at the meeting.
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A three-year-old girl has entered the new year without her dad after he was killed in a tragic road accident hours before we ticked over to 2024.

Tyler Matthews-Burnes, 23, was driving his motorcycle on Sunday evening around 6.45 pm when he collided with an SUV in Adelaide's north. He was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition but later passed away, with his family left in shock after the tragic turn of events.

"It just doesn't happen to people like me, that's the first thing I thought of [when I heard]," Tyler's older brother Dillon Burnes told 7News. "What an amazing father, brother, son, everything he was to everyone. It's heart-breaking."

Loved ones have rallied together to launch a fundraising page to raise money for Tyler's daughter Aubrey, with over $2,500 raised in less than 24 hours. "I just want the best for Aubrey growing up," Burnes said.

Tyler Matthews-Burnes was killed hours before New Year in a road accident. Source: 7News

Matthews-Burnes has been remembered as a "kind and compassionate" brother who adored his "little girl" and his older sibling said he wants to emulate the same parenting approach like his brother.

"It's amazing to see what kind of father he was and I strive to be just like him, even though I'm the older brother," Burnes said.

Driver charged in relation to road collision

South Australia Police have arrested and charged the driver of the SUV  a man aged 30  with causing a death due to dangerous driving and aggravated driving without care. He was granted bail and is expected in court in early March.

Multiple men lose their life around New Year

Perth dad-of-two Rory McGuire lost his life on New Year's Day after jumping into water from a boat near Brisbane. His brother paid tribute on social media saying, "This is not goodbye, but see you later Rozza.

Story continues

An Irishman visiting his daughter over the summer also lost his life on New Year's Day after drowning at a popular Victorian beach.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Fortis Inc. operates as an electric and gas utility company in Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean countries. It generates, transmits, and distributes electricity to approximately 447,000 retail customers in southeastern Arizona; and 103,000 retail customers in Arizona's Mohave and Santa Cruz counties with an aggregate capacity of 3,408 megawatts (MW), including 68 MW of solar capacity and 250 MV of wind capacity. The company also sells wholesale electricity to other entities in the western United States; owns gas-fired and hydroelectric generating capacity totaling 65 MW; and distributes natural gas to approximately 1,087,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers in British Columbia, Canada. In addition, it owns and operates the electricity distribution system that serves approximately 592,000 customers in southern and central Alberta; owns four hydroelectric generating facilities with a combined capacity of 225 MW; and provides operation, maintenance, and management services to five hydroelectric generating facilities. Further, the company distributes electricity in the island portion of Newfoundland and Labrador with an installed generating capacity of 145 MW; and on Prince Edward Island with a generating capacity of 90 MW. Additionally, it provides integrated electric utility service to approximately 69,000 customers in Ontario; approximately 275,000 customers in Newfoundland and Labrador; approximately 34,000 customers on Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; and approximately 17,000 customers on certain islands in Turks and Caicos. It also holds long-term contracted generation assets in Belize consisting of 3 hydroelectric generating facilities with a combined capacity of 51 MW; and the Aitken Creek natural gas storage facility. It also owns and operates approximately 90,500 circuit Kilometers (km) of distribution lines; and approximately 51,600 km of natural gas pipelines. Fortis Inc. was founded in 1885 and is headquartered in St. John's, Canada.
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The sister of one of the men killed on Bloody Sunday in Derry has said Frank Kitson, who died this week will be "loathed and detested for decades to come",

Kate Nash, Chairperson of the Bloody Sunday March Committee, lost her brother Willie on January 30, 1972. Her father, Alex was also shot and seriously wounded.

Ms Nash said General Frank Kitson, who initially led British army operations in the North, would be "loathed and detested for decades to come by decent people throughout what used to be called the British Empire".

She added: "In particular, his memory will be felt as a curse by many in the North, not least in Ballymurphy and the Bogside, where he presided over the massacres in September 1971 and in January 1972. He was also in command in September 1972 on the Shankill Road when two entirely innocent men were gunned down as they made their way home.

"But Kitson's influence for evil ran deeper and wider. He had trod a bloody path to Belfast and Derry from Malaya and Kenya, where he is remembered to this day with revulsion.

"In Malaya he developed the 'pseudo-gang' tactic, sending out British soldiers disguised as guerrillas to inflict atrocities on targeted groups so as to stir up hatred between communities. We know all about that from our own experience.

"In Kenya, thousands died and even more thousands were interned and tortured as Kitson sent the paras in to suppress the Land and Freedom Army - dubbed by the British as 'the Mau-Mau'. On the basis of these deployments, Kitson was commissioned by British military chiefs to write what has become the standard guide for dealing with disobedient natives  'Low-Intensity Operations'," said Kate Nash.

She added: "The book provides a basis for the slaughter of innocents everywhere. Kitson would have been in his element in Gaza.

"Any time we are tempted to believe that there is justice in the world we should remember that Kitson lived a long life without ever seeing the inside of a prison cell, other than, perhaps, to inspect the blood and guts of his victims.

"The only regret that communities which have been on the receiving end of his attentions will have felt at news of his passing will be that it took so long.

"We will remember him in our own way as we assemble in Creggan for the 52nd annual Bloody Sunday March on January 28. We will sing a song of freedom as we walk down towards the site of the slaughter which he and his ilk brought upon Derry. We will enter Free Derry again, and we won't be leaving."






Palestinian human rights campaigner, Omar Barghouti has been invited to address the Governance and Strategic Planning committee of Derry City and Strabane District Council.

Mr Barghouti is the Founder of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which promotes boycotts, divestments and economic sanctions against Israel.

The objective of the BDS campaign is to pressure Israel to withdraw from the occupied territories, remove the separation barrier in the West Bank, and full equality for Arab-Palestine citizens of Israel. It also calls for the respecting, protecting and promoting of the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties.

Mr Barghoutis presentation to Council, which will be followed by a question and answer session, will take place online at 4.00pm on Tuesday, January 2024. Supporters can view it in the public gallery of the Guildhall. It follows a motion to Council brought by Councillor Shaun Harkin (People Before Profit).

He is also delivering the annual Bloody Sunday Lecture in Culturlann Ui Chanain on Friday, January 26, at 8.00pm.

Speaking to Derry News, Cllr Harkin said he had proposed Council's invitation to Omar Barghouti back in July 2023

He added: My motion was passed well before October 7. It was in response to the British Government's attempt to ban and criminalise Palestine solidarity.

It is now clear to the world, Israel's slaughter in Gaza, backed and financed by the US Government, is premised on ethnic cleansing and removal of Palestinians from all of Gaza and the West Bank.

Cllr Harkin was referring to Tory Government legislation going through Westminster, aimed at preventing local authorities from implementing boycotts of Israel.

Addressing the issue in July he said: "The controversial legislation known as the Economic Activity of Public Bodies Overseas Bill would make it illegal for councils, universities and public bodies to implement their own policy in regards to solidarity boycotts."

Derry City and Strabane District Council has been sent notification of the British government's intent to move this legislation forward.

The Council has had a policy of supporting boycotting Israel since September 2016, with the position reaffirmed on a number of occasions since then.

"The new Tory Bill would criminalise the position overwhelmingly supported in Council. This is an outrageous piece of legislation. I am proud to serve on a Council with a clear Anti-Apartheid position.

"Derry leads the way in the fight for Civil Rights. The Tory Government will not take away our right to show solidarity with oppressed people. They won't criminalise Palestine solidarity. They won't criminalise our Council."

Critics of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement have claimed that it is anti-semitic.

Cllr Harkin refuted these claims, saying: "Thirty-nine Jewish groups from across the world have signed up to the BDS campaign. This includes Israeli Human Rights organisations.

"BDS is a peaceful movement, one which is inspired by the boycott of Apartheid South Africa.

"BDS is an anti-racist, worldwide movement to give voice to the oppressed and bring about peaceful change in Israel and Palestine. The Tories want to ban BDS because it is growing.

"The truth about Israel's daily war crimes against the Palestinian people and the complicity of the British, US and EU governments can't and won't be contained."

Cllr Harkins motion stated: Council opposes the attempt by the British government to impose its distorted foreign policy objectives on local government.

Council notes the hypocritical boycott exemption for Russia and Belarus.

Council will invite Omar Barghouti, human rights activist and founding member of the Palestinian Civil Society Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign against apartheid Israel for a presentation.
A man has been given a suspended sentence at Derry Magistrates Court after attacking a taxi driver with a yard brush.

Martin Coyle (48) of Westlake in Derry was charged with, on April 16 last year, attacking a City Cabs driver that was bringing himself and his wife home.

The court heard that Coyle and his wife had got a taxi home and upon arrival, Coyle got out, leaving his wife and the driver in the car, and began to punch the car repeatedly.

Coyle then picked up a yard brush that his daughter tried to take from him and began to attack the car and driver, dislocating the driver's finger.

Overall, the damage to the car was over 1,000.

Coyle, who was drunk at the time, claimed that his wife was being held against her will in the car.

Defence solicitor Paddy MacDermott said that Coyle is a 'pilar of the community' and a 'devoted family man', adding that his 'judgement was impaired' but that he had pleaded guilty.

He said Coyle 'deeply regrets' his actions on the night and had brought some money towards compensation.

District Judge Barney McElhom called the incident 'extremely serious' and sentenced Coyle to six months, suspended two years and was ordered to pay 2,000 in compensation.
A meteorological expert is set to be among the witnesses when an inquest into the killing of a man in disputed circumstances in Co Derry almost 40 years ago resumes.

Francis Bradley, 20, was killed in disputed circumstances in an incident involving soldiers near Toomebridge on February 18 1986.

The inquest opened in April and is being heard in modular format, with the hearing of an opening tranche of evidence that was not considered controversial before it was adjourned for further preparation work.

A previous review hearing was told it was envisaged the inquest would proceed in February 2024.

On Friday morning at Belfast Coroners Court, a preliminary hearing was told that a meteorological expert has been engaged to give evidence around moonlight, cloud cover and visibility on the night of Mr Bradleys death.

Coroner Peter Irvine was also updated on preparations for the hearings.

He heard statements have been finalised from two retired police officers from the time, with work ongoing with several others and applications are expected to be made by former soldiers to give evidence to the inquest remotely.

The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act has placed a pressure on inquests to be heard in the coming months before a cut-off date of May 1 for legacy inquests which have not concluded.

A public interest immunity (PII) hearing for documents for the inquest was described as crucial and as a lynchpin in bringing proceedings forward.

While the hearing was told the PSNI has its PII certificate in place, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) was told its should be in place for next Friday.

A representative for the MoD said the documents have been provided to the relevant minister in accordance with the timetable they previously set out, and conveyed to the minister the urgency of the matter and the gravity of the matter.

Now, its with the minister and his office essentially  its outside our direct control. Were sincerely hoping that the certificate will be available by next Friday but we simply cannot give an absolute assurance, he added.

At the time of the killing, the IRA said Mr Bradley was not a member.

However, his name was later added to the organisations roll of honour.

In 2010, then-attorney general John Larkin KC ordered a fresh inquest into the controversial killing.

Another preliminary hearing is set to take place next Friday.
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Northern Irelands largest nursing union has announced strike action on January 18, joining other unions in a day of action.

Members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) will join other trade unions in industrial action in response to the failure to award a pay deal in line with colleagues across the UK.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has deemed January 18 a generalised day of action in response to the conclusion of talks on restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive.

Unions representing health workers, midwives, radiographers, teachers and civil servants are among those who have said they will withdraw their labour for some length of time on the day.

In December, Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris announced a 3.3 billion package conditional on the return of devolved government, which has not been functioning for nearly two years due to the DUPs boycott in response to post-Brexit trading arrangements.

That financial package includes a non-repayable reserve claim of up to 584 million for public sector pay claims.

The DUP declined to re-enter Stormont in December with party leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson stating that talks on unionist concerns about trading arrangements would continue.

The RCN Northern Ireland Board met on Thursday to discuss the continued Stormont stalemate and said they concluded that their members patience has now been exhausted.

Rita Devlin, director of the RCN in Northern Ireland, said their members were the lowest paid in the UK and it was nothing short of immoral that the pay award had not been granted now that finances were available to do so.

What an indictment on how we treat health care workers and the value we place on them, she said.

Just this week our emergency departments, once again, have been struggling to cope with the numbers of very sick patients who need treatment. And who are we depending upon to meet that challenge?

Low pay is making it very difficult to retain nursing staff in the health service and we are not willing to tolerate this any longer. Patients and staff are suffering every single day due to the lack of political movement which not only affects pay but prevents the transformation of services that has been needed for years.

We have no choice but to take further action.

Briege Quinn, RCN Northern Ireland Board chairwoman said that in her 40 years of working in nursing she had never seen the situation so dire.

As nurses we must stand up for our patients and speak on their behalf, she said.

Nursing staff are being placed under unimaginable pressure which is resulting in their own ill health and emotional distress.

No nurse ever wants to take strike action but we cannot stand back any longer and accept the lack of any meaningful help and action to improve pay and the crisis facing health and social care in Northern Ireland.

We are not second-class citizens and refuse to be treated as such any longer.

Responding to the RCN announcement, a spokesman for the Northern Ireland Office said:

The Secretary of States talks on stabilising the finances of a returning Executive with the four parties eligible to form the Northern Ireland Executive have now concluded.

The fair and generous package offered by the UK Government is worth over 3bn, including up to 584m to address public sector pay, and more than 1bn to stabilise Northern Irelands public services.

The Secretary of State has expressed his disappointment that a new executive was not up and running to take this offer and deliver it for the people of NI before Christmas.

However, this package is on the table and will remain there, available on day one of an incoming Northern Ireland Executive to take up.

It is now for the NI parties to come together, restore the Executive and begin to address the challenges facing the people of Northern Ireland, including public sector pay.
HIGHLIGHTS On Android, you can even add a password to make it more secure. You can either do it using the files app or secondly using Google Photos. You can hide pictures in the gallery itself both on iPhones and iPads.

We all love clicking pictures, capturing the moments, and sharing them. But all pictures are not meant for everyone. Some are special to us and we want to keep them just for us. We often are worried that someone might swipe and see them when we hand them our phones to see one picture. And you wish you could hide them in a more protected folder. Today I am going to tell you how you can do that.



Remember that earlier we had to download third-party apps to hide our pictures, but that was not the best option as it also raised some security concerns. But now brands have started offering hidden galleries as an in-built feature, both on Android and iOS.



Firstly, lets talk about how you can hide pictures on Android.

Also read: Seamless WhatsApp Data Transfer: A Complete Guide from Android to iOS & Back

How to hide pictures on Android smartphones?

On Android, you can add your preferred pictures and videos to the hidden gallery by either going to the Gallery app, selecting the picture, and then moving it to the hidden gallery. You can even add a password to make it more secure. Each smartphone offers a different way to add pictures and videos to the hidden gallery. Apart from this, there are two other ways in which you could get the job done. Firstly, you can do it using the files app, and secondly using Google Photos. We will come to the Google Photos part later.

How to hide pictures on the Files app?

Step 1: Open the files app on your Android smartphone.

Step 2: Go to the Safe folder option.

Step 3: Add a four-digit PIN or a pattern to secure it by following the steps on the screen.

Step 4: Add and move the desired pictures to this folder now.

How to hide pictures on Google Photos?

Step 1: Go to the Google Photos app.

Step 2: Go to the Library option.

Step 3: Now go to the Utilities menu.

Step 4: Now scroll to the Set up Locked Folder option.

Step 5: Click on Get Started and use your smartphones password to access this folder.

Step 6: Now go back to the photos tab.

Step 7: Long press and select the image.

Step 8: Click on the three-dot menu on the top right and click on Move to Locked Folder. Confirm it and youre done.

Now, if you own a Pixel 3 or above you can automatically select the save to locked folder option on the camera app. Additionally, you can even use this Google Photos trick on iOS.

Also read: Whatsapp now more fun and easier for iPhone users: Check out the new features

How to hide pictures on iOS?

You can hide pictures in the gallery itself both on iPhones and iPads. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Go to the Photos app.

Step 2: Select the videos and pictures that you wish to hide.

Step 3: Click on the share icon in the lower-left corner and select Hide.

Thats it your pictures are now hidden. You can access this in the albums menu and it would ask for your password to let you in. If you cannot find the Hidden Gallery in your albums menu, go to Settings>Photos> Turn on the Hidden Album toggle.
Sudden changes in a plane's cabin could be a bit nerve-racking and the aisle of an aircraft suddenly filling with misty smoke might understandably unsettle some passengers. But for one traveller on a recent Jetstar flight he not only expected its presence but was excited by it.

The passenger snapped a picture from his seat near the back of the plane which showed a mist along the length of the cabin, hanging above travellers' heads and inside open storage compartments clouding visibility.

Passengers on the Jetstar flight to Darwin were surrounded by a cloudy mist. Source: Facebook

After sharing the image online many Aussies were alarmed by the sight but the passenger explained it was a common occurrence whenever he flew into Darwin in the Northern Territory  especially at this time of year.

"It's the AC mixing with the Darwin humidity!" he said.

Similar phenomenon to 'seeing your breath'

The sight is caused by the the cool AC inside the plane interacting with the high humidity outside of the cabin, causing "little clouds" to form inside the plane.

"When the hot moist air from outside mixes with the cool air in the plane, it causes condensation," Professor Martin Singh from Monash University told Yahoo News Australia. "This is the same process that causes you to be able to see your breath when it is particularly cold out."

He explained the "key physics" at play, saying the amount of water vapour which is present in the air is "much higher at a higher temperature".

"When moist air cools down, it becomes 'saturated' with water vapour, and any further cooling results in condensation," he said.

Passengers who often fly to humid places in Australia  cities like Darwin and Cairns  said online they frequently experience such mist on arrival.

Story continues

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Lane Powell

Motta-Wurst

McCurdy

Johnson

Cooper

Clark

Patterson

Lane Powell announced that six attorneys have been elected shareholders of the firm.

Julia Clark counsels clients in all stages of commercial real estate, including structuring and forming joint ventures and other business entities, acquisitions, construction, financing, leasing and asset management, and dispositions. Clark represents developers, real estate investment trusts, property owners, landlords, tenants, and other businesses in the office, multifamily, mixed-use, retail, and hotel sectors. Clark received her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and her BA in Political Science and Spanish Literature from Northwestern University.

Noelle Cooper focuses her practice on acquisition and financing transactions and general corporate matters for health care clients. Cooper represents buyers and sellers of senior housing facilities in complex transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, sale/leasebacks, loan financings, joint ventures, general corporate and securities law issues, and health care regulatory compliance. Cooper received her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Michigan Law School and her bachelor's degree from Northwestern University.

Aaron C. Johnson represents multinational, U.S., and regional businesses in state and local tax matters including tax litigation, audit defense, appeals, and planning and structuring tax efficient transactions, and currently teaches federal tax at the University of Washington School of Law. Johnson received his LL.M in Taxation from the University of Washington School of Law, his J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law School, and his BA in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics, cum laude, from the University of Washington.

Devon McCurdy represents clients in complex commercial litigation and advises them on regulatory compliance, including in matters related to antitrust, trademark, fraud, class actions, products liability, and constitutional law. McCurdy initially joined the firm as a Summer Associate and Associate, and then returned to the firm in 2019 after clerking for the Honorable Scott Matheson, Jr. of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. McCurdy received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, his Ph.D. in History from the University of Washington, and his BA in history, magna cum laude with distinction, from Carleton College.

Chris Motta-Wurst advises employers and individuals on a wide variety of immigration-related issues. Motta-Wurst's approach to immigration provides businesses and their employees with counsel throughout the employment-based immigration lifecycle, including all types of employment-based temporary visas and green card processes. Motta-Wurst received his J.D. from the University of Mississippi School of Law and his BA in Economics and History from St. Lawrence University.

Kellen Patterson is an experienced commercial construction attorney, who handles the full range of dispute resolution and litigation proceedings, with a focus on achieving efficient and pragmatic solutions to clients' construction-related problems. She has wide-ranging experience handling all aspects of complex litigation, including pre-suit claims and negotiations, large-scale e-discovery, mediation, motions practice, and appeals. Patterson received her J.D. at the University of Washington School of Law and her B. Ed. in Elementary and Special Education Teaching Certificates, magna cum laude, at Gonzaga University.

Lane Powell opened its doors in 1875 and has grown to be one of the largest law firms headquartered in the Pacific Northwest, with nearly 180 attorneys across more than 35 practice areas and industry groups.




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PONTIAC, Mich. (AP)  The Kia EV9 large electric SUV won the 2024 North American Utility of the Year award, while the Toyota Prius hybrid took the top car honors, and Ford's Super Duty pickup won the truck award.

The honors, announced Thursday at a meeting of the Automotive Press Association in Detroit, are often used in advertising by automakers. About 50 automotive journalists from the U.S. and Canada tested and rated the vehicles based on how much they set new benchmarks for their segment of the automobile market.





. . .
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CHICAGO (AP)  Walgreens is chopping its dividend nearly in half as the drugstore chain looks to strengthen its balance sheet.

The health care giant said Thursday that reducing its quarterly payout to shareholders to 25 cents per share will help free up capital to spend growing its pharmacy and health care businesses.





. . .
Paotang banquet held in Shiquan County, NW China

Xinhua) 08:54, January 05, 2024

Tourists enjoy the food during the Paotang banquet held in Zhongba Village of Shiquan County, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 3, 2024. A week-long tourism event is held here, attracting tourists coming here to experience the local culture. Shiquan Paotang banquet is a provincial intangible cultural heritage in Shaanxi Province, held annually to entertain relatives, friends and neighbors during the twelfth month of the Chinese traditional lunar calendar. (Xinhua/Shao Rui)

Tourists enjoy the food during the Paotang banquet held in Zhongba Village of Shiquan County, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 3, 2024. A week-long tourism event is held here, attracting tourists coming here to experience the local culture. Shiquan Paotang banquet is a provincial intangible cultural heritage in Shaanxi Province, held annually to entertain relatives, friends and neighbors during the twelfth month of the Chinese traditional lunar calendar. (Xinhua/Shao Rui)

This aerial photo taken on Jan. 3, 2024 shows the Paotang banquet held in Zhongba Village of Shiquan County, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. A week-long tourism event is held here, attracting tourists coming here to experience the local culture. Shiquan Paotang banquet is a provincial intangible cultural heritage in Shaanxi Province, held annually to entertain relatives, friends and neighbors during the twelfth month of the Chinese traditional lunar calendar. (Xinhua/Shao Rui)

This aerial photo taken on Jan. 3, 2024 shows the Paotang banquet held in Zhongba Village of Shiquan County, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. A week-long tourism event is held here, attracting tourists coming here to experience the local culture. Shiquan Paotang banquet is a provincial intangible cultural heritage in Shaanxi Province, held annually to entertain relatives, friends and neighbors during the twelfth month of the Chinese traditional lunar calendar. (Xinhua/Shao Rui)

Staff members prepare to serve dishes during the Paotang banquet held in Zhongba Village of Shiquan County, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 3, 2024. A week-long tourism event is held here, attracting tourists coming here to experience the local culture. Shiquan Paotang banquet is a provincial intangible cultural heritage in Shaanxi Province, held annually to entertain relatives, friends and neighbors during the twelfth month of the Chinese traditional lunar calendar. (Xinhua/Shao Rui)

Tourists watch a performance during the Paotang banquet held in Zhongba Village of Shiquan County, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 3, 2024. A week-long tourism event is held here, attracting tourists coming here to experience the local culture. Shiquan Paotang banquet is a provincial intangible cultural heritage in Shaanxi Province, held annually to entertain relatives, friends and neighbors during the twelfth month of the Chinese traditional lunar calendar. (Xinhua/Shao Rui)

Tourists visit a market during the Paotang banquet held in Zhongba Village of Shiquan County, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 3, 2024. A week-long tourism event is held here, attracting tourists coming here to experience the local culture. Shiquan Paotang banquet is a provincial intangible cultural heritage in Shaanxi Province, held annually to entertain relatives, friends and neighbors during the twelfth month of the Chinese traditional lunar calendar. (Xinhua/Shao Rui)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Rotting koalas have been discovered by a 77-year-old dog walker, left dumped on the side of an industrial road in suspicious circumstances.

Duane was enjoying the morning sun on Thursday when he spotted two of the animals on the outskirts of a city in southwest Victoria. A large male lying dead on a piece of cardboard, and the decayed remains of a second were spotted inside a box beside it.

I thought, 'Oh Christ' when I first saw the first one. Then I looked in a box beside it and I could see some feet. I thought Im not going to touch them, so Ill call somebody for help he told Yahoo News Australia.

Two dead koalas were discovered on Thistle Road in Portland on Thursday. A third animal was found 100 metres away on Tuesday. Source: Supplied

Because he's suffering from an illness, Duanes morning walks around the backstreets of Portland are supposed to be relaxing. He needs to take them three times a day after taking medication to keep his cancer at bay.

Initially, hed been worried the walks could become boring, but discovering a pair of dead koalas was not the sort of excitement he wanted. I love animals. After I found the koalas I stood there and thought I could cry. It was really bad, really bad, he said.

By speaking about his discovery, Duane is hoping the person who dumped the marsupials will be found, so he's shared some key details he observed about the boxes. One once contained a Hot Devil branded speaker, while the other was used to ship Kraft Paper Bowl Lids.

On Thursday, another koala was photographed on top of a piece of cardboard, while the remains of another were inside a box. Source: Supplied/Getty

Another koala discovered two days earlier

The two koalas were discovered just days after another large male was found 100 metres away. All three were seen on Thistle Road in Portland, close to a population known to suffer from chronic health issues that is managed by the Alcoa which operates the adjacent aluminium smelter. Yahoo does not suggest the three deceased koalas are in any way connected to the smelter. Alcoa said it had been unaware of the matter until it was notified about the discoveries by Yahoo, and it subsequently advised the regulator as per the requirements of the Wildlife Act.

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The first koala was located by koala advocate Helen Oakley on Tuesday, but its body was later removed by an unknown party. The other two were still lying by the roadside on Friday morning, but it's understood their bodies were collected by authorities after Yahoo began investigating the matter.

A male koala was discovered by Helen Oakley on Tuesday. Source: Supplied

While the large male on the cardboard was still intact, Helen described the one inside the box as appearing smaller and badly decomposed. The smell was disgusting. When I got home I could still smell the stench on my clothes, so I had to get out of them and wash them right away, she said.

Officers from the Conservation Regulator, which is part of the Department of Environment (DEECA), are now investigating. "Anyone with information about this incident or cases of wildlife crime is urged to contact Crime Stoppers Victoria on 1800 333 000," it said in a statement.

Local koala rescuer inundated with calls for help

Janet Murray who runs the wildlife rescue group Blessings of the Bush Koala Shelter described the placement of the Thistle Road bodies as very odd.

Its all out in the open. There are trees and lots of spots where they could be thrown into the bush. For all we know there could be more bodies out there, she said.

Her volunteer-run shelter is located in Victorias southwest which has a large population of koalas that live in the regions blue-gum timber plantations. After the trees are felled, she is consistently asked to rescue displaced koalas that are in need of new homes. By the time shes able to help, many have suffered from dog attacks, car strikes and illness.

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After the rapturous welcome that acclaimed violinist Vladimir Jablokov received when he last played a sold-out show in the Oriel Centre, Dundalk Gaol last year, he will be making a return visit on Saturday 24th February 2024.

Vladimir Jablokov has been thrilling audiences since he first moved to Ireland nearly 20 years ago. HIs live performances are nothing short of electric and exhilarating as he brings his skilled fusion of classical music with the playfulness, energy, passion and emotion of gipsy, folk, and popular music to life.

When he last performed in the Oriel Centre he brought the audience to their feet and spoke to as many members of the audience as possible after the show to thank them for coming to see him perform.

Vladimir Jablokovs performance in the Oriel Centre will feature some of the most popular pieces in his repertoire including Brahms Hungarian Dance No. 5, Strauss Radetzky March, Theme from Schindlers list, If I Were A Rich Man and many more.

Tickets are 30 and are available from www.orielcentre.ie or from The Oriel Centre reception.
Plans by the EU Greens to bring in mandatory medical exams for new drivers or anyone renewing their license have been described as ridiculous by Louth based MEP Colm Markey.

The proposal forms part an overhaul on driving license rules across the EU. Midlands-North-West MEP Markey said he will oppose the plan when it comes before a full vote of the European Parliament in early 2024.

Commenting on the proposals MEP Markey said: The introduction of mandatory medical tests for new drivers and license renewals is not only ridiculous but would also introduce an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy to the process.

"Ireland already boasts a reliable self-declaration system. Compelling individuals to undergo GP checks in not only burdensome but would place an additional strain on our health service.

"This proposal, which is being spearheaded by a Green MEP as lead negotiator, seems to be aimed at discouraging people to drive, rather than tackling road safety issues.

"The European Council and Commission agree that it should be up to individual member states to decide this issue but it narrowly got through Committee stage in the Parliament by a single vote. I plan to oppose this measure when it comes before a full vote of the European Parliament. "

He added: "Luckily there was not enough support for another ludicrous and ageist proposal to shorten the validity of drivers license for those over the age of 70. I fully support efforts to make driving more sustainable and encourage people to take public transport but sneaky tactics like this are unacceptable.

"There are many positive aspects of the EU driving licence directive such allowing 17-year-olds to begin driving trucks if accompanied by a professional driver, along with strict EU-wide rules around drink driving.

"However the whole package of measures is at risk of failing due to a number of unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles being pushed by the Greens.
The number of homeless people in Louth continues to climb higher, with the number or people in the North East region now over 200, according to the latest monthly report released by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

209 adults accessed local authority managed emergency accommodation in the North East region during the week of 2026 November 2023, according to the Monthly Homelessness Report November 2023, with 180 in Louth and 29 in Monaghan and Cavan.

This is up from 198 in October, when 175 were reported in Louth and 23 in Monaghan and Cavan. Of the 209 adults in November, 36 were aged 18-24; 102 aged 25-44; 59 aged 45-64 and 12 aged 65 and over.

109 were male and 100 were female. 123 were recorded as Irish citizens, 42 from the EEA/UK and 44 were non-EEA.

There was also a large increase in the number of homeless families in the North East region in November. 49 families with 99 children accessed emergency accommodation during the week of 2026 November 2023 in the North East.

This is up from 42 families with 89 children in October, and 34 families with 83 children in September. 33 of the 49 families in November were single parent families.

Nationally, 9,409 adults and 4,105 child dependants were recorded as homeless in November, giving a total of 13,514 homeless people, up from 13,179 in October, representing another record high.

Commenting on the latest national figures, Sinn Fein housing spokesperson Eoin O Broin TD said that "rising levels of homelessness is further evidence that the Governments housing plan is failing."

He continued: Once again, this Government has broken all records for officially recognised homelessness. Over Christmas the Minister for Housing Darragh OBrien said that any reasonable person looking at the evidence would conclude that the Governments housing plan is working.



In fact, any reasonable person looking at todays figures would draw only one conclusion, the Governments housing plan is not only failing, it is making things worse.



How long will Fianna Fail and Fine Gael allow these homeless numbers to increase? Since the current Government was formed homelessness and child homelessness has increased by a shocking 55%. It is now clear that the longer Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are in office the worse the housing and homelessness crisis will get.



Only with a change of Government and a change of housing plan, with a real focus on ending homelessness, can we start to undo the damage of decades of bad Fianna Fail and Fine Gael housing policy.
At a whooping 70 million, Ireland has one of the largest diaspora of any nation in the world, and every family still here has loved ones abroad: children, siblings, cousins.

People have emigrated from Ireland to escape poverty, persecution and to provide for their families left behind for hundreds of years, which only make the appalling hypocrisy of anti-immigrant sentiment thats burning its way across the country so much worse.

After barely a full week into 2024, two arson attacks have already occurred at sites rumoured to be earmarked for housing asylum seekers.

The Shipwright pub in Ringsend, Dublin, was burnt down on New Years Eve amid rumour and disinformation that it was to be used to house asylum seekers.

In actual fact, it was to be used to house homeless families, the very people the far-right and racists claim should be prioritised over Ukrainian and other international protection applicants.

Gardai have said they are investigating a fire at a former school in Fethard, county Tipperary on Wednesday, January 3, as "suspected criminal damage - the latest building to be torched in an attempt to prevent its use to house asylum seekers.

However, according to a spokesperson for the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration & Youth, they had neither considered or examined this property for use.

Every unoccupied site in the country seems to be a potential site for housing migrants, and for targeting.

A Kilkenny-based company was forced to release a statement on Friday, January 5, after a video was posted online claiming they would house asylum seekers in one of their properties.

Bernard Kavanagh & Sons Ltd issued a statement refuting 'falsified claims' surrounding the redevelopment of the former Josephines Restaurant site in Urlingford, and said that the site will be used to house Ukrainian families and accommodate staff.

No doubt many sleepless nights are ahead for those business owners, as they wonder if they are next to be the target of an escalating pattern of arson or attempted arson attacks on properties in Ireland earmarked for asylum seeker accommodation.

In 2023, there were 10 arson attacks on properties around the country, all on properties either earmarked, or already in use, for accommodation of asylum seekers. Two of these occurred during the violence in Dublin on November 23, a further escalation in anti-migrant tensions that have been too long allowed to fester in Ireland.

Its utterly shameful that we, so long persecuted and stereotyped abroad, would visit the same on those fleeing to Ireland. ne would think the generations of experiencing migration would have induced compassion, particularly in those who emigrated in their youth for some years and then returned home to Ireland to settle down.

The blatant hypocrisy among the far-right is compounded even further considering some of its self-proclaimed leaders emigrated and worked abroad before returning to Ireland.

Such a double standard would be laughable if it wasnt so dangerous. And therein lies a key problem in dealing with the far-right in Ireland, be they anti-migrant, anti-abortion or anti-LGBT.

Their antics are often so utterly ridiculous, like the many tantrums of Enoch Burke and his family in the Court of Appeal or the Sovereign Voyage to protect childhood on the Shannon river organised by the far-right in August, that they distract from the real harm these people would wish upon some of the most vulnerable people in the State.

Ireland is not full, its just led by a government who are incapable of dealing quickly and effectively with rising migrant and asylum seeker numbers, or the housing crisis which they allowed to develop unchecked (and which is now compounding the problem).

Its also full of hypocritical blowhards who are exploiting fear and genuine concerns for their own gain and profit, no matter the cost.
A photo of a pet cat caught in a trap set up on a suburban Sydney path has sparked a huge wave of backlash within the community  but locals say not everything is as is seems.

The image of the grey and white feline sitting in the cage placed under a tree in the Sutherland Shire was captured by a passerby and posted on social media earlier this week in an attempt to find its owner.

Hey guys, I noticed this cat caught in the Kirrawee area. Dont know if [its] a stray or not? the woman posted online. Worried as I dont know how long it has been trapped. If you know about this trap please check.

The image of the grey and white house cat caught in the trap in the Sutherland Shire has sparked outrage within the community. Source: Facebook

The image was quickly reposted on numerous other local Facebook pages, igniting outrage over the extremely irresponsible trap act. If it was done properly, it would never have been done during the day, the trap would have been surprised and the car would have a blanket over it to reduce stress, one person argued.

However, the image doesnt capture the full story, an anonymous Sutherland Shire resident told Yahoo News Australia.

Search for dumped kitten leads to 'last resort'

The trap was the result of an extensive search for a kitten that was dumped in a reserve in the area. A woman walking by witnessed a man abandoning the cat and tried to catch it, but it escaped her.

She then put out an alert on Facebook, and a group of volunteers with wildlife experience was formed. The team searched for days  going for long walks, knocking on neighbours doors and posting flyers, the anonymous source told Yahoo. After six days, the volunteers consulted with local vets and the pound who suggested they set up a trap and monitor it closely.

A vet lent one trap to the group and they hired a second, placing both in shaded areas with food and water. They were advised not to place a blanket over the traps  which were monitored from 5am to 12pm  as it could prevent it from working, the local said, insisting the cages were left no longer than an hour or two at a time during the day.

Story continues

The source said the move was a last-ditch effort to catch the kitten. The cat that ended up getting caught in the trap was a local pet and appeared to be incredibly unbothered after being released, they added. Sadly, the kitten still hasnt been located, and the backlash from the community shocked some of the volunteers. They are still on the hunt for the animal but are losing hope.

The Sutherland Shire Councils animal shelter has seen in influx in animals - as has every other Sydney pound. Source: Getty

Council's animal shelter under 'increased strain'

The Sutherland Shire Councils animal shelter is just one of the many pounds across the city and country openly struggling with an influx of animals  many of which are sitting at capacity. RSPCA NSW told Yahoo the cost-of-living crisis is one of the top reasons animals are being surrendered to shelters, as well as moving house or having too many animals to manage. The adoption rate has also declined by 30 per cent.

A Sutherland Shire Council spokesperson told Yahoo the recent increase in the number of animals surrendered to its Taren Point animal shelter is placing increased strain on facilities. This comes in addition to anecdotal reports of an increased number of animals being abandoned locally over the holiday period, many of which are in turn brought to our shelter by members of the public, the spokesperson said, adding it is an offence to abandon an animal.

The spokesperson added that because shelters and animal rescue organisations across metropolitan Sydney operating near or at capacity, there is currently limited ability to temporarily ease the strain on facilities by transferring animals to other shelters in the region.

Staff and volunteers will often take cats home from work where they are able, and reach out at work with a network of foster carers to care for cats outside of the shelter when this facility is forced to operate beyond capacity, the spokesperson said.

While running in the 2022 election, NSW Premier Chris Minns pledged $9 million to Sydney Dogs and Cats Home  which was evicted from its site to make room for a new development  to go toward another facility should Labor win. The government said at the time it had already provided the organisation with a land site in Kurnell and a 50-year peppercorn rent arrangement for the new facility, The Daily Telegraph reported. Yahoo has contacted NSW Labor for comment.

If you find a stray animal, you should contact your local council. If there are animal welfare concerns, you can contact RSPCA NSW on 1300 CRUELTY to investigate or NSW Police for assistance.

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U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney reflected on her wins for the 24th Congressional District in an annual report released this week.

The first half of the report largely focuses on constituent service work for the 12-county district that stretches from western New York to the North Country. The 24th district includes all of Cayuga County.

More than $13 million in earned benefits were returned to NY-24 constituents and Tenney's office closed over 1,500 cases, according to the report. Tenney's staff held 20 mobile office hours across the district and held nine seminars with federal agencies.

There was additional funding secured for the district, including $5 million for CAP Cayuga/Seneca to operate Head Start programs. It was the largest federal grant announced by Tenney, R-Cleveland, in 2023.

On the legislative front, Tenney was active. She introduced 54 bills and cosponsored 324 more. While none of the bills she authored were signed into law, 47 she cosponsored passed the House and five were signed by President Joe Biden.

Tenney outlined her positions on numerous issues in seven plans that were released last year. She also formed advisory committees on agriculture, gun rights and to review service academy applications.

With Congress needing to pass a new farm bill, she held roundtable discussions to gather feedback from farmers in the 24th district. Although a new farm bill wasn't passed in 2023, the existing law was extended for one year.

Tenney also highlighted her transparency. She has provided detailed explanations on her votes in the House of Representatives.

While Tenney will continue representing the 24th district, it's likely the district will be redrawn early this year. A state Court of Appeals decision requires the state Independent Redistricting Commission to meet and draw new congressional district lines. The state Legislature will have the final say on whether to approve the maps.

For now, though, Tenney is focused on her current territory.

"It has been an honor to represent New York's 24th Congressional District for an entire year now, and I remain as dedicated as ever to serving our community," she said. "I am eager to continue working on your behalf to deliver lasting results to our sprawling district and restore transparency and accountability in Congress."
A BALLYVOLANE father of young twins has spoken about his familys ordeal with undrinkable and discoloured water in their home.

Barry, whose real name is known to The Echo, lives in rented accommodation with his partner and their two-year-old twins.

This is going on now three years, he said.

At the start it was just once every few months, but it went to literally every other day, to where we now have an old honey jar on the windowsill and we draw off the tap and fill that and hold it up to the light to see if its clear.

He said he and his partner have been spending approximately 20 every week over the past two years on bottled water so their twin babies could have clean drinking water.

He claimed that the water coming from their taps has also had a damaging effect on household appliances.

Weve gone through a new electric kettle every six months or so, and its cost us a washing machine, a dishwasher, and a shower in the space of about six weeks, he said.

He said that many of his neighbours had suffered the same issues and they had received no satisfaction from Uisce Eireann.

When you ring them, all you get is: We understand, we understand, theres ongoing works, and thats just not good enough when you cant get a fresh cup of water out of your tap, he said.

Water should be a basic human right and this is just going on too long now.

This week, Uisce Eireann told The Echo that, over the past two years, 95 people in Cork city had complained of illnesses suspected of having been caused by water consumption, compared to just one such complaint in 2020 and two in 2021.

The company said it had received 1,484 complaints of discoloured water from homes and businesses across the city in 2022, receiving 1,628 such complaints in 2023.

In December, the Environmental Protection Agency said it had an open investigation file on the issue of discoloured water in the city.

Five of Cork citys eight TDs have called for a public meeting with Uisce Eireann, but a spokesperson for the company said it had not been invited to attend any public meetings in Cork city.

The water utility company said it had invited the citys TDs to a presentation on November 24, but only three had attended. Similarly, it said that on October 26, it invited all Cork city councillors to a clinic to discuss ongoing issues, and only two had attended.

Uisce Eireann is issuing updates to elected representatives as they arise in relation to water quality in Cork city. This includes when operational flushing works are taking place in their constituency, the company said.

Uisce Eireann advised against drinking discoloured water, saying that if the water does not run clear after several minutes, people should call 1800 278 278.
Tributes have been paid to former Cork City councillor Con O'Leary who has been described as a legendary Cork character.

A much-loved shopkeeper in Gurranabraher for over 50 years, Mr OLeary was elected to represent the citys former north-central ward as an Independent councillor in 1991 and 1999.

A civic reception was held for Mr OLeary last year to acknowledge his contribution to local politics and his local community.

It is understood that Mr OLeary fell ill while on holiday with family members and passed away a short time later.

Offering his condolences to the OLeary family and paying tribute to Mr OLeary, Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Kieran McCarthy said: "On behalf of the people of Cork, I would like to offer my deepest condolences to Cons family, his daughters, and his grandchildren and friends.

Pictured is Con O'Leary, receiving a presentation from the Lord Mayor Cllr Kieran McCarthy and Michael O'Connell, Chairperson Gurranabraher Credit Union, also included are Con's daughters Lorraine Sheehy, Tina O'Brien and Deborah Kenneally, at the Gurranabraher Credit Union 60th Anniversary Celebration, at the Metropole Hotel, Cork. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

As a member, Con was very active in Cork Corporation and represented his constituents with much passion, regularly speaking up on several social issues, which affected Cork citizens and pushing for positive change, he said.

Con served as a councillor as a member of the Southern Health Board, and as a Director of EACD (European Cities against Drugs).

I had the pleasure of hosting a civic reception for Con last year to acknowledge his incredible contribution to local politics and to his local community.

A native of Gurranabraher, Con will always be known as a legendary Cork character with much wit but whose caring efforts not only benefitted Gurranabraher but also the wider city as well. May he Rest in Peace".

`
More than 2,400 people are set to take part in a Cold Swim organised by Womens Aid, a leading national frontline domestic violence organisation.

Their second annual fundraiser will be held on Saturday, and events and gatherings will take place in multiple locations across the country with one motivation in mind  to raise much needed funds for the domestic violence charity.

Sarah Benson, CEO of Womens Aid, said: We are blown away by the thousands of people who have signed up to take the cold plunge in support of Womens Aid to mark Nollaig na mBan.

The harm of domestic violence is real and wide-ranging - one in four women in Ireland experiences abuse by a current or former partner, she revealed, adding that every five minutes, a woman reaches out to Womens Aid for support.

Ms Benson continued: Every woman has the right to be safe, both in their own homes and in their communities, but this is not often the case.

Every day, our support workers on the 24-hour National Freephone Helpline and our face-to-face services hear from women reporting assaults with weapons; constant surveillance and monitoring; relentless put-downs and humiliations; the taking and sharing of intimate images online, complete control over all family finances; sexual assault, rape, and being threatened with theirs or their childrens lives.

The impacts on these women were chilling and ranged from exhaustion, isolation, and hopelessness, to being brutalised and wounded, suffering miscarriages, poverty, feeling a loss of identity and suicide ideation, hypervigilance; and homelessness.

Laura Hennessy, from Cork, will be swimming in Garryvoe Beach, and explained her motivation to get involved.

Its just something thats not really talked about very often, and its something people dont like talking about, especially if its been going on for a long time, so its important to get a bit of a conversation going.

It shouldnt take for someone to have to die for us to have to talk about it, theres instances happening to someone you know all the time.
A YOUNG man who was out in the company of another man and woman in Cork city took the opportunity to steal the ladys handbag and use her bank card to buy a pouch of tobacco and a bottle of vodka for himself.

Edward ODonoghue, 31, of Cork Simon Community pleaded guilty to three charges arising out of that incident and now at Cork District Court Judge Mary Dorgan has jailed him for four months.

Mr ODonoghue, who was represented by Shane Collins-Daly solicitor, pleaded guilty to the counts of being in possession of the stolen bank card and using it twice to buy the items.

Sergeant Pat Lyons said the offence dated back to an early evening in October 2023 when the woman noticed at Sawmill Street in Cork that her handbag had been taken.

Her card was used within half an hour to pay for 22 worth of tobacco and a 32 bottle of vodka.

Sgt. Lyons said that when questioned in relation to the matter he was shown CCTV of him using the card and he only replied that it looked like him. Mr Collins-Daly said the defendant made that comment because he had no memory of it occurring due to his level of intoxication at the time.

Sgt. Lyons said the accused had 105 previous convictions, of which 33 were for theft and two for robbery.

He would have been living a chaotic existence at the time, living in and out of homeless accommodation. He was addicted to heroin. He is on methadone now. He is doing his best to put his life in order for when he gets out of custody, Mr Collins-
Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

Birds of prey in Africa are currently experiencing an extinction crisis, with more than two-thirds potentially threatened, according to a new study by an international research team led by The Peregrine Fund and researchers from the University of St. Andrews.

Of the 42 species profiled in the report, 88 percent have declined over a 20- to 40-year period. Of those, 69 percent exceeded the at risk of extinction criteria set forth by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

The conversion of natural habitats to farmland is a major cause of biodiversity loss and poses the greatest extinction risk to birds worldwide. Tropical raptors are of particular concern, being relatively slow-breeding apex predators and scavengers, whose disappearance can trigger extensive cascading effects. Many of Africas raptors are at considerable risk from habitat conversion, prey-base depletion and persecution, driven principally by human population expansion, the authors of the study wrote.

The study looked at road surveys from four regions in Africa over 20 to 40 years and examined changing patterns in savanna raptor populations, a press release from the University of St. Andrews said.

Large raptors had experienced significantly steeper declines than smaller species, and this disparity was more pronounced on unprotected land. Declines were greater in West Africa than elsewhere, and more than twice as severe outside of protected areas (PAs) than within. Worryingly, species suffering the steepest declines had become significantly more dependent on PAs, demonstrating the importance of expanding conservation areas to cover 30% of land by 2030  a key target agreed at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity COP15, the study said.

The researchers found that if the multitude of threats African raptors are facing are not sufficiently dealt with, large vulture and eagle species are not likely to survive over much of Africas unprotected land by 2050 and beyond, the press release said.

Since the 1970s, extensive areas of forest and savanna have been converted into farmland, while other pressures affecting African raptors have likewise intensified. With the human population projected to double in the next 35 years, the need to extend Africas protected area network  and mitigate pressures in unprotected areas  is now greater than ever, said Dr. Phil Shaw of the University of St. Andrews School of Biology in the press release.

The study, African savanna raptors show evidence of widespread population collapse and a growing dependence on protected areas, was published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution.

The study underscored the drastic declines among raptors that have been classified by the global Red List of Threatened Species as of least concern. These species include the African hawk-eagle, the African harrier-hawk, the long-crested eagle, Wahlbergs eagle, the dark chanting goshawk and the brown snake-eagle. These species have all experienced rates of population decline that suggest they could currently be threatened worldwide.

Africa is at a crossroads in terms of saving its magnificent birds of prey. In many areas we have watched these species nearly disappear. One of Africas most iconic raptors, the Secretarybird, is on the brink of extinction. Theres no single threat imperiling these birds, its a combination of many human-caused ones, in other words we are seeing deaths from a thousand cuts, said Dr. Darcy Ogada of Idaho-based The Peregrine Fund.

Other previously common species of raptors that have become absent or scarce from lands that are unprotected include the elegantly feathered bateleur eagle and the splendid martial eagle.

This was the continent over which, only 50 years ago, pristine populations of spectacular raptors were evident almost everywhere, bringing excitement and wonder to visitors from many parts of the world, said leading ornithologist professor Ian Newton, who was not part of the research team, in the press release. The causes of the declines are many  from rampant habitat destruction to growing use of poisons by farmers and poachers and expanding powerline networks  all ultimately due to expansions in human numbers, livestock grazing and other activities. Let us hope that more research can be done and, more importantly, that these birds can be protected over ever more areas, measures largely dependent on the education and goodwill of local people.

African raptors food supplies, habitat and breeding sites have all been greatly reduced on unprotected lands, while mistreatment by farmers, ivory poachers and pastoralists has become common.

[T]he human footprint is particularly high throughout West Africas savannas, and the near complete disappearance of many raptors outside that regions relatively small and fragmented protected area network reflects an ecological collapse that is increasingly affecting other parts of the continent. Some raptors that occur mostly in West Africa, such as the little-known Beaudouins Snake-eagle, are vanishing into oblivion, said Dr. Ralph Buij of The Peregrine Fund, who conducted repeat surveys of some original areas, in the press release.

The studys findings point to the crucial nature of making the protection of the continents natural habitats stronger in alignment with the goal of the COP15 United Nations Biodiversity Conference to expand conservation areas to protect 30 percent of land globally by 2030. They also show the necessity of restoring habitats in unprotected areas, improving species protection legislation, reducing energy infrastructure impacts and establishing long-term evaluation and monitoring of African raptors conservation status. Public participation in efforts to conserve these majestic species must also be increased.

To help achieve these goals, the authors of the study developed the African Raptor Leadership Grant to fund conservation programs and additional research, boost local conservation initiatives, support mentoring and educational opportunities for emerging scientists in Africa and increase raptor knowledge all over Africa.
Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

Since the 1990s, honey yields in the United States have been decreasing, but scientists and honey producers have not known why, according to a press release from Pennsylvania State University (Penn State).

Now, a new study by researchers at Penn State has revealed hints as to the reasons behind dwindling honey supplies.

Pollinators are an essential component of terrestrial food webs and agricultural systems but are threatened by insufficient access to floral resources, the study said. Honey yields across the United States have decreased appreciably since the 1990s, concurrent with shifts in climate, land-use, and large-scale pesticide application. While many factors can affect honey accumulation, this suggests that anthropogenic stressors may be having large-scale impacts on the floral resources that pollinators depend on for their nutrition.

The study, Examining spatial and temporal drivers of pollinator nutritional resources: evidence from five decades of honey bee colony productivity data, was published in the journal Environmental Research Letters.

The researchers examined five decades worth of data from all over the country, analyzing possible mechanisms and factors that could be impacting how many flowers were growing in various regions, as well as the quantity of honey made by honey bees, the press release said.

The researchers found that land use  like fewer conservation programs supporting pollinators  the application of herbicides and yearly weather anomalies all affected honey yields.

The study found that soil productivity and climate conditions were important factors in approximating yields. They discovered that productive soils led to higher honey yields in states that were located in both cool and warm regions.

Its unclear how climate change will continue to affect honey production, but our findings may help to predict these changes, said lead author of the study Gabriela Quinlan, who is a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Entomology and Center for Pollinator Research at Penn State, in the press release. For example, pollinator resources may decline in the Great Plains as the climate warms and becomes more moderate, while resources may increase in the mid-Atlantic as conditions become hotter.

Christina Grozinger, who is a co-author of the paper as well as director of the Center for Pollinator Research and a professor of entomology at Penn State, said previous studies were conducted in just one region of the country.

Whats really unique about this study is that we were able to take advantage of 50 years of data from across the continental U.S. This allowed us to really investigate the role of soil, eco-regional climate conditions, annual weather variation, land use and land management practices on the availability of nectar for honey bees and other pollinators, Grozinger said in the press release.

The researchers said lack of flowers is one of the most substantial stressors for pollinators trying to gather enough nectar and pollen to eat. Since different regions of the U.S. support varied flowering plants depending upon soil characteristics and climate, they said interest in pinpointing landscapes and regions with an abundance of flowers for bees is growing.

A lot of factors affect honey production, but a main one is the availability of flowers, Grozinger said. Honey bees are really good foragers, collecting nectar from a variety of flowering plants and turning that nectar into honey. I was curious that if beekeepers are seeing less honey, does that mean there are fewer floral resources available to pollinators overall? And if so, what environmental factors were causing this change?

Quinlan said soil productivity is a factor that has not been sufficiently explored in determining the suitability of various landscapes for pollinators. Previous studies have looked at the importance of soil nutrients; fewer have examined how soil characteristics such as texture, structure and temperature affect pollinator sources.

The researchers found that increases in lands in a national conservation program called the Conservation Reserve Program, which supports pollinators, and decreases in land used to cultivate soybeans have led to positive impacts on honey yields.

Application rates of herbicides were also an important factor in forecasting yields, since the removal of flowering weeds can result in diminished nutritional resources for bees.

Our findings provide valuable insights that can be applied to improve models and design experiments to enable beekeepers to predict honey yields, growers to understand pollination services, and land managers to support plantpollinator communities and ecosystem services, Quinlan said in the press release.
WASHINGTON  The Supreme Court said Friday it will decide whether former President Donald Trump can be kept off the ballot because of his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss, inserting the court squarely in the 2024 presidential campaign.

The justices acknowledged the need to reach a decision quickly, as voters will soon begin casting presidential primary ballots across the country. The court agreed to take up a case from Colorado stemming from Trumps role in the events that culminated in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Underscoring the urgency, arguments will be held on Feb. 8, during what is normally a nearly monthlong winter break for the justices. The compressed timeframe could allow the court to produce a decision before Super Tuesday on March 5, when the largest number of delegates are up for grabs in a single day, including in Colorado.

Trump's campaign welcomed Friday's announcement. "We are confident that the fair-minded Supreme Court will unanimously affirm the civil rights of President Trump, and the voting rights of all Americans in a ruling that will squash all of the remaining ballot challenge hoaxes once and for all, spokesman Steven Cheung said.

The court will be considering for the first time the meaning and reach of a provision of the 14th Amendment barring some people who engaged in insurrection from holding public office. The amendment was adopted in 1868, following the Civil War. It has been so rarely used that the nation's highest court had no previous occasion to interpret it.

Colorado's Supreme Court, by a 4-3 vote, ruled last month that Trump should not be on the Republican primary ballot. The decision was the first time the 14th Amendment was used to bar a presidential contender from the ballot.

Trump is separately appealing to state court a ruling by Maines Democratic secretary of state, Shenna Bellows, that he was ineligible to appear on that states ballot over his role in the Capitol attack. Both the Colorado Supreme Court and the Maine secretary of states rulings are on hold until the appeals play out.

The high court's decision to intervene, which both sides called for, is the most direct involvement in a presidential election since Bush v. Gore in 2000, when a conservative majority effectively decided the election for Republican George W. Bush. Only Justice Clarence Thomas remains from that court.

Three of the nine Supreme Court justices were appointed by Trump, though they have repeatedly ruled against him in 2020 election-related lawsuits, as well as his efforts to keep documents related to Jan. 6 and his tax returns from being turned over to congressional committees.

Some Democratic lawmakers have called on conservative justice Clarence Thomas to step aside from the case because of his wife's support for Trumps effort to overturn the results of the election, which he lost to Democrat Joe Biden. Thomas is unlikely to agree. He has recused himself from only one other case related to the 2020 election, involving former law clerk John Eastman, and so far the people trying to disqualify Trump havent asked him to recuse.

The 4-3 Colorado decision cites a ruling by Gorsuch when he was a federal judge in that state. That Gorsuch decision upheld Colorado's move to strike a naturalized citizen from the state's presidential ballot because he was born in Guyana and didn't meet the constitutional requirements to run for office. The court found that Trump likewise doesn't meet the qualifications due to his role in the U.S. Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021. That day, the Republican president had held a rally outside the White House and exhorted his supporters to fight like hell before they walked to the Capitol.

The two-sentence provision in Section 3 of the 14th Amendment states that anyone who swore an oath to uphold the constitution and then engaged in insurrection against it is no longer eligible for state or federal office. After Congress passed an amnesty for most of the former confederates the measure targeted in 1872, the provision fell into disuse until dozens of suits were filed to keep Trump off the ballot this year. Only the one in Colorado was successful.

Trump had asked the court to overturn the Colorado ruling without even hearing arguments. The Colorado Supreme Court decision would unconstitutionally disenfranchise millions of voters in Colorado and likely be used as a template to disenfranchise tens of millions of voters nationwide, Trumps lawyers wrote.

They argue that Trump should win on many grounds, including that the events of Jan. 6 did not constitute an insurrection. Even if it did, they wrote, Trump himself had not engaged in insurrection. They also contend that the insurrection clause does not apply to the president and that Congress must act, not individual states.

Critics of the former president who sued in Colorado agreed that the justices should step in now and resolve the issue, as do many election law experts.

This case is of utmost national importance. And given the upcoming presidential primary schedule, there is no time to wait for the issues to percolate further. The Court should resolve this case on an expedited timetable, so that voters in Colorado and elsewhere will know whether Trump is indeed constitutionally ineligible when they cast their primary ballots, lawyers for the Colorado plaintiffs told the Supreme Court.

The issue of whether Trump can be on the ballot is not the only matter related to the former president or Jan. 6 that has reached the high court.

The justices last month declined a request from special counsel Jack Smith to swiftly take up and rule on Trumps claims that he is immune from prosecution in a case charging him with plotting to overturn the 2020 presidential election, though the issue could be back before the court soon depending on the ruling of a Washington-based appeals court.

And the court has said that it intends to hear an appeal that could upend hundreds of charges stemming from the Capitol riot, including against Trump.

Read more:
Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

One of the biggest commodities in the world, sugar, is being impacted by the climate crisis.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), climate change has driven the cost of sugar globally to its highest levels since 2011.

The planet is heating up, leading to extreme weather that affects foods like sugar, beer and coffee, reported The Guardian. An extreme drought in Thailand  the second largest sugar producer in the world after Brazil  has threatened sugarcane crops, as has severe dry weather in India, another of the top three sugar exporters.

Concerns about lower production have driven up prices of sugar and its byproducts, like chocolate and other sweet treats.

You can say El Nino has a sweet tooth because it sort of eats or takes away much of the sugar in the world, Carlos Mera, head of agri commodities markets at Rabobank, a Dutch banking and financial services company, told CNBC. Sugar prices have probably already been passed on [to consumers] but certainly for chocolate we should expect a big increase at retail level  and El Nino is certainly something to watch.

Sugar and sweets prices went up for consumers in the United States by 8.9 percent last year, the USDA said, with an increase of 5.6 percent predicted for 2024, The Guardian reported.

The chief executive of Oreo maker Mondelez, Dirk Van de Put, told Bloomberg last year that a straightforward price increase would be needed because of the elevated prices of sugar and cocoa. The company also makes products by Toblerone and Cadbury, among other brands.

Gernot Wagner, a Columbia University climate economist, said that even though big corporations have different reasons for price hikes, climate changes influence couldnt be dismissed.

Climate-flation is a thing and its getting worse. Its convenient for the owner of Oreos to point to climate change for a price increase but its also understandable, Wagner said, as reported by The Guardian.

Sugar price increases will affect subsistence farmers and developing countries the most, said Joseph Glauber, an International Food Policy Research Institute research fellow. Glauber said that until El Nino subsides, sugar prices would continue to be high.

In the U.S., sugar price hikes and imports will not be as substantially affected as in other countries, as imports and pricing are impacted by numerous regulations.

The issue will be affordability. In the U.S. and other high-income countries, there will be an increased cost of food that will be felt by households, particularly poorer households, but its a different story for countries where 40% of expenditures are on food, which will be dramatically affected, Glauber said, as The Guardian reported.

Wagner explained that agriculture has been optimized for the relative stability of the weather of the past 10,000 years.

We are leaving this Goldilocks temperature band and that is going to put pressure on the availability and price of food, Wagner said, according to The Guardian. Some of the major food crops wont decline linearly as temperatures increase  they will fall off a cliff due to extreme weather days. Im less worried about a big food conglomerate making Oreos more expensive than I am consumers living on the margins and the poor subsistence farmers who will have their lives and livelihoods wiped out.
(Photo: REUTERS / Alexei Druzhinin / RIA Novosti / Kremlin)Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) speaks with Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill during a visit to St. Sergius of Radonezh Cathedral in Tsarskoye Selo, outside St. Petersburg, December 8, 2014.

Pope Francis has warned the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church not to be "Putin's altar boy" after the patriarch justified the Russian president's invasion of Ukraine.

The words of the leader of the Catholic Church carried in an Italian newspaper were some of the strongest yet used against the Orthodox ally of President Vladimir Putin as a supporter of his war that began with the invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24.

On March 16 Vatican News had quoted Pope Francis saying to the Russian Patriarch: "The Church uses the language of Jesus, not of politics."

Francis denounced Kirill for endorsing Russia's stated reasons for invading Ukraine

The war has not only cut Russia off from the mainstream of humanity it has set the world of Orthodox churches on a collision course between its various churches and with the rest of Christianity.

The Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, reported on May 3 that Francis said he spoke with Moscow Patriarch Kirill, long a key supporter of Vladimir Putin and now a cheerleader for his war.

The head of the Catholic Church had spoken for 40 minutes over Zoom with the leader of the biggest Orthodox Church and the biggest single member church of the Geneva-based World Council of Churches.

During the March 16 conversation, Francis said, Kirill has reeled off justifications for the war in Ukraine from a sheet of paper he was holding.

"I spoke to him for 40 minutes via Zoom," the Pope told Corriere della Sera. "The first 20 minutes he read to me, with a card in hand, all the justifications for war."

"I listened and told him: I don't understand anything about this," said the Pope. "Brother, we are not clerics of state, we cannot use the language of politics but that of Jesus."

"The Patriarch cannot transform himself into Putin's altar boy," Francis said.

The Russian Orthodox Church said the Pope's comments were "regrettable," in a statement Wednesday according to CNN.

'WRONG TONE'

"It is regrettable that a month and a half after the conversation with Patriarch Kirill, Pope Francis has chosen the wrong tone for conveying the contents of the conversation," said the Department of External Relations of the Russian Patriarchate.

"Such declarations do not contribute to establishing a constructive dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church which is particularly necessary at this time," the statement reads.

Also, on May 4 it emerged that the Patriarch is among the individuals who will be included in the proposed sixth round of European Union sanctions against Russia, according to two sources who have seen the full documents.

A European External Action Service document obtained by Politico showed that sanctions were proposed against in which he was described as "one of the most prominent supporters of the Russian military aggression against Ukraine" and someone who has helped boost Putin's rhetoric about the war, Newsweek reported.

The reported sanctions proposed against the patriarch came as the European Commission, the European Union's executive branch, announced one of its most serious moves yet against Russia for its assault on Ukraine: a ban on Russian oil.

At this stage names can be taken off or added at member state discretion, an EU Commission source said.

Russian Orthodox Church spokesman Vladimir Legoida said the sanctions were out of touch with "common sense," the Russian state news agency TASS reported.

"The more indiscriminate [these] sanctions become, the more they lose touch with common sense and the harder it becomes to reach peace, which is what the Russian Orthodox Church prays for at every service with the blessing of His Holiness the Patriarch, and assistance to all those affected by the Ukrainian conflict, only serve to affirm his words," Legoida said in a Telegram post on Wednesday.

(Photo: Russian Orthodox Church) Pope Francis (l) and Russian Patriarch Kirill at their historic meeting in Havana, Cuba on Feb. 12, 2016.

"Only those completely ignorant of the history of our church can seek to intimidate its clergy and believers by compiling some lists," Legoida said.
(Photo: Ivars Kupcis / WCC)Residential buildings and children's playground in Irpin, Kyiv region, destroyed during Russia's invasion of in Ukraine, in August 2022.

World Council of Churches head Rev. Jerry Pillay has denounced Russia's continuing campaign to terrorize Ukraine's people shown by "missile attacks on several Ukrainian cities which have resulted in at least 30 deaths and more than 160 wounded."

Russia struck targets in Kyiv, Odesa, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Lviv, and elsewhere in the early hours of 29 December, hitting a maternity hospital, a shopping centre, and residential buildings.

"Such attacks on civilian targets -- in most cases far from the frontlines -- and Russia's evident efforts to terrorize the entire Ukrainian population are a clear and outrageous violation of international law and of fundamental moral precepts," said WCC general secretary Pillay on Dec. 30, 2023.

He reiterated the WCC's commitment to continuing to seek ways through its member churches, to can promote dialogue, peace, and "an end to the violence and fear that Russia's invasion has inflicted on the people of Ukraine."

The criticism is significant because the Russian Orthodox Church is the single church with most members in the Geneva-based WCC and is involved in a dispute with Ukrainian Othodoxy.

ATTEMPT TO SUSPEND RUSSIAN CHURCH

At the June 2022 meeting of the WCC's main governing body between its once ever seven year assemblies the question on whether the Russian Orthodox Church should be suspended from the council due to its position on the Ukraine war.

The Swiss publication Reform's Martin Hoegger blogged that this was the most debated question at that meeting of the governing body.

Hoegger said that ater a long debate, it was decided not to suspend it the Russin church but to challenge it, using the WCC as a space for dialogue

The BCC reported that Ukraine has not seen attacks as heavy as this since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion .

The report said what's different is not just the size of the strikes - it's the tactics.

The Jan 2 attack lasted six hours in Kyiv as the Russians launched a wave of drones at the capital.

Ukraine's air force said it was able to shoot down all 35 of them.

"But this was followed up with missile attacks, using different kinds of weapons in a bid to overwhelm and break through the city's defences," reported the BBC.

"Missiles have struck the very heart of Kyiv in these last five days, for the first time in months."

Pillay said, "As we approach the New Year, the WCC invites all member churches and all people of faith and goodwill to join in praying for a change of course by the Russian leadership, for respect for international humanitarian and human rights law, for full accountability for the many crimes committed, and for a secure and sustainable peace for the people of Ukraine."
Hyundai Motor India Limited is all set to launch the 2024 Creta on January 16th in the Indian market. The manufacturer has been releasing new teasers of the SUV on its social media pages. The bookings of the 2024 Creta are already open for a token amount of 25,000. Now, the brand has confirmed a few safety equipment and features that the Creta facelift will boast.

In terms of safety equipment, the 2024 Hyundai CRETA will come with 6 airbags, all-wheel disc brakes, Electronic Stability Control, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System and much more. There will also be a Level 2 Advanced Driver Aids System which will include 19 features. Hyundai also says that they have reinforced crash members, floor, side sill and crash pad to improve structural rigidity and energy absorption of the bodyshell. In 2022, the SUV scored 3 stars in the Global NCAP crash test. So, there is a possibility that the score will improve when the new Creta goes for a crash test under Bharat NCAP.

The instrument cluster would chane its theme depending on the drive modes.

Also check these Cars Find more Cars Hyundai Creta 1497 cc 1497 cc Multiple Multiple  11 - 20.15 Lakhs Compare View Offers Mahindra Thar 2184 cc 2184 cc Multiple Multiple  11.25 - 17.20 Lakhs Compare View Offers Kia Seltos 1497 cc 1497 cc Multiple Multiple  10.90 - 20.30 Lakhs Compare View Offers UPCOMING Mahindra XUV300 2024 1197 cc 1197 cc Petrol Petrol  9 - 15 Lakhs View Details Mahindra Bolero 1493.0 cc 1493.0 cc Diesel Diesel  9.90 - 10.91 Lakhs Compare View Offers Maruti Suzuki Jimny 1462 cc 1462 cc Petrol Petrol  12.74 - 15.05 Lakhs Compare View Offers

Then there are the features, Hyundai is always known to equip their vehicles with a lot of features and the 2024 Creta is no different. It will come with a 26.03 cm multi-display digital cluster that is borrowed from the Alcazar. There will be a Blind View Monitor, panoramic sunroof, dual-zone climate control, 8-Way power driver seat, and ventilated seats Hyundai is also offering a one-year complimentary subscription to JioSaavn. The new 26.03 cm infotainment system will get more than 70 connectivity features, in-built navigation, a multi-language support and Bose sound system.

Also Read : 2024 Hyundai Creta interior teased ahead of Jan 16th launch

Mr. Tarun Garg, COO, Hyundai Motor India Ltd., expressed, As pioneers in democratizing technology and setting safety benchmarks, Hyundai Motor India presents the new Hyundai CRETAan epitome of innovation that redefines the SUV landscape. With a plethora of revolutionary tech and safety features, the new Hyundai CRETA not only continues the legacy of an undisputed SUV but sets a new standard, delighting customers with a superior and futuristic experience."

First Published Date:
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) recently accused SpaceX of unlawfully firing eight employees who wrote an open letter criticizing Elon Musk's behavior on social media, as well as the company's response to it. Now, according to Bloomberg, SpaceX is trying to stall the complaint's progress by suing the labor board. The company reportedly argues in its lawsuit that the complaint should be dismissed because the NLRB's structure is "unconstitutional."

SpaceX's lawsuit attacks the way the labor board conducts its hearings. The NLRB uses its own administrative judges for its proceedings, and the company says that deprives it of its "constitutional right to trial by jury." Companies can appeal rulings by agency judges to NLRB members in Washington, and they could even go as far as to escalate their appeal to federal court. SpaceX apparently told the court that the case against it should be put on hold to prevent the company from having to go through "protracted administrative proceedings before an unconstitutionally structured agency."

The open letter at the center of this case called Musk's behavior on social media "a frequent source of distraction and embarrassment." It called out the executive's "harmful Twitter behavior," including a tweet wherein he made a joke about the sexual misconduct allegation made against him. The letter asked the company to hold all leadership accountable for their actions and to condemn harmful behavior. SpaceX fired a total of nine employees over the letter, the NLRB's complaint said, which means they were illegally fired for "engaging in protected concerted activity at work."

In its lawsuit, SpaceX said the open letter "caused significant distraction to SpaceX employees around the country" and that it fired the employees involved "for violating numerous company policies." As Reuters notes, the private space corporation used a similar tactic in the past to block the US Department of Justice from pursuing an administrative case that accused the company of discriminatory hiring practices. SpaceX also filed a lawsuit protesting the fact that the Justice Department's administrative judges have powers reserved for President-appointed officials even though they were only appointed by the US attorney general. The company successfully convinced the judge to pause the administrative case against it while its own lawsuit was ongoing.
An investigative report from Bloomberg paints a disturbing picture of Twitchs difficulties in moderating the livestreaming platform  especially its Clips feature, which allows users to preserve short videos. The outlet reports that, after analyzing about 1,100 clips, it found at least 83 with sexualized content involving children. Twitch removed the videos after it was alerted, and a company spokesperson wrote to Engadget in an email that it has since invested heavily in enforcement tooling and preventative measures, and will continue to do so.

Bloomberg highlighted one incident that exemplified the problem with Clips permanent nature on the otherwise transient platform. It recounts the unsettling story of a 12-year-old boy who took to Twitch last spring to eat a sandwich and play his French horn. He soon began taking requests from viewers, which (in a sad reflection of online behavior) somehow led to the boy pulling his pants down.

The outlet describes the incident as being over in an instant. Still, Clips recording function allowed one viewer  who allegedly followed over a hundred accounts belonging to children  to preserve it. This allegedly led to over 130 views of the 20-second Clip before Twitch was notified and removed it.

Clips launched in 2016 as a way to preserve otherwise ephemeral moments on the platform. The feature records 25 seconds before (and five seconds after) tapping the record button. This has the unfortunate side effect of allowing predators to save a troubling moment and distribute it elsewhere.

Twitch has planned to expand Clips this year as part of a strategy to produce more TikTok-like content on the platform. It plans to launch a discovery feed (also similar to TikTok) where users can post their short videos.

Bloombergs report cites the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, which reviewed the 83 exploitative videos and concluded that 34 depicted young users showing their genitals on camera. The bulk were allegedly boys between the ages of five and 12. An additional 49 clips included sexualized content featuring minors exposing body parts or being subjected to grooming efforts.

The organization said the 34 most egregious videos were viewed 2,700 times. The rest tallied 7,300 views.

Twitchs response

Youth harm, anywhere online, is unacceptable, and we take this issue extremely seriously, a Twitch spokesperson wrote to Engadget. In response to being alerted to the child sexual abuse material (CSAM), the company says its developed new models to detect potential grooming behavior and is updating its existing tools to more effectively identify and remove banned users trying to create new accounts (including for youth safety-related issues).

Twitch adds that its stepped up its safety teams enforcement of livestreams, the root of Clips. This means that when we disable a livestream that contains harmful content and suspend the channel, because clips are created from livestreams, were preventing the creation and spread of harmful clips at the source, the company wrote. Importantly, weve also worked to ensure that when we delete and disable clips that violate our community guidelines, those clips arent available through public domains or other direct links.

We also recognize that, unfortunately, online harms evolve, the spokesperson continued. We improved the guidelines our internal safety teams use to identify some of those evolving online harms, like generative AI-enabled Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). Twitch added that its expanded the list of external organizations it works with to (hopefully) snuff out any similar content in the future.

Twitchs moderation problems

Bloomberg reports that Clips has been one of the least moderated sections on Twitch. It also notes the company laid off 15 percent of its internal trust and safety team in April 2023 (part of a harrowing year in tech layoffs) and has grown more reliant on outside partners to squash CSAM content.

Twitchs livestream-focused platform makes it a trickier moderation challenge than more traditional video sites like YouTube or Instagram. Those platforms can compare uploaded videos with hashes  digital fingerprints that can spot previously known problematic files posted online. Hash technology looks for something thats a match to something seen previously, Lauren Coffren of the US National Center for Missing & Exploited Children told Bloomberg. Livestreaming means its brand new.
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Well that's crappy

If you think youre having a bad day, most likely you havent accidentally reversed your car into a centuries-old toilet thats a national treasure, so theres that. Unfortunately for a man in Kyoto, Japan he did just that. It gets worse: his job is to help preserve cultural heritage cites like the toilet at Tofukuji, a Buddhist temple which draws in many visitors wishing to bask in its beauty.

See the outrageous price paid for a Ferrari bed here.

The unnamed man thought he had engaged Drive in his automatic transmission but instead had it in Reverse, only realizing the mistake after crashing through the door to the bathroom in the temple. Unfortunately, some think it looks like that original door is ruined, but at least the collision seems to have not damaged anything else.

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Reportedly, the man who crashed into the temple bathroom works at Kyoto Heritage Preservation and was visiting on business. He called police after the collision instead of just taking off and hoping nobody noticed.

It appears the car in question is a Kei car of some kind. Thats a good thing, because something big and heavy like a Dodge Challenger might have taken the whole building down. We dont know if the thing has a rotary shifter like what you find in some modern American cars, but if it does then its no wonder the guy couldnt tell the transmission was in Reverse and not Drive. Those rotary gear selectors need to be banned forever because they cause plenty of Code Brown moments like this one.

An unnamed official from the Tofukuji Research Institute told the BBC he believes all the damage is repairable. However, he put in that it will require lots of work to restore the state of the door and anything else damaged.

Source: BBC

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Embracing Eco-socialism to Unveil the Citys Soul

The Government of Karnataka has launched the Brand Bengaluru initiative with a key aim to rebranding the city to ensure a safe and inclusive environment. Ironically, such initiatives are only flagbearers of capitalism, as the residents of the city are neglected and social inclusion is overshadowed in this initiative. Highlighting the necessity of an eco-socialist approach, it is important that we create an alternative system that is driven by inclusivity and social equity instead of elite consumerism.

In June 2023, the Government of Karnataka met with 42 experts from varied fields and launched the initiative of Brand Bengaluru. This initiative plans to elevate the citys global potential to achieve new heights (Express News Service 2023a). The plan focuses mainly on aspects of corporate branding so as to make the city the leader in the technologically driven world, bringing in leading multinational companies and state-of-the-art infrastructure and improving the current structure to match global standards. Among all the eight sub-areas identified, the major concentration of this initiative is on infrastructure development to ease traffic congestion and solve the problem of rain-fed floods.

However, somewhere behind all these changes, is the city at the risk of losing its soul? Bengaluru, which was supposed to thrive on the unique narratives of its citizens, is devastated by the multitudes of advancements in the name of the creation of a brand or reconceptualisation of its already created brand: IT Hub, Silicon Valley of India, or most recently Startup capital. Immediate attention is needed to rethink the priorities of this initiative, which neglects the views of residents from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
Previous works on the history of French India have mainly focused on historical facts, political events, and juridical texts. These narratives were linear discourses using what Pierre Singarevlou (2023) calls a methodological nationalism, whether they wrote from French, Indian, or British perspectives. Therefore, Towards Freedom in Pondicherry: Society, Economy and Politics under French Rule (18161862), by J B P More is more welcome in that historiographical context, where comprehensive research in social sciences about French India was almost a forgotten domain.

It is only recently that little research on French India started to focus on the formerly colonised population, their narrative, and the cultural consequences for them after colonialism. There is the History on the Margins (in English) by Jessica Namakkal (2021), where she focuses on the border territories around Pondicherry and the violence that resulted during the decolonisation. Priya Ange defended her thesis (in French) in historical anthropology in 2021, studying the narratives of Franco-Pondicherrians and the circulation of jewellery in their kinship transnational network. More recently, the collectively edited volume directed by Singarevlou (2023) gathers 250 researchers who discuss postcolonialism as a part of the shared history of the former colonised and colonisers in the previous French Empire.
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Refuel where so many Americans gathered to socialize on the Mother Road.

You simply cant overstate the historical importance of Route 66 and its impact on modern America. The Mother Road has been celebrated in cinema, television, songs, books, artwork, and more. Many people fantasize about driving on a portion or the entire highway, but its time to stop dreaming and live the reality. Two Lane America offers a 13-day, all-inclusive guided driving tour of Route 66. Among the many highlights are the charming retro gas stations which will absolutely transport you back to simpler times.

Visit These Iconic Route 66 Gas Stations

One of the most notable Route 66 gas stations is Roys in Amboy, California. Depending on which end of Route 66 you start at, this could either be one of your earlier pitstops or one of your last. The building has a very retro vibe, but its the sign that youll immediately recognize since its been featured in countless movies and television shows.

Visit These Iconic Route 66 Gas Stations

Another unique gas station is Cool Springs in Golden Valley, Arizona. The stone exterior is about as rugged as the desert and mountains which surround it, and its about as tough. Once this stop was the victim of a fire, but it was restored to keep the legend of Route 66 alive.

Visit These Iconic Route 66 Gas Stations

Also in Arizona, the Hackberry General Store is extremely famous, plus it was immortalized as inspiration for Radiator Springs in the Pixar movie Cars. There are kitschy things slapped all over and around this gas station, delighting tourists and ensuring the location is photographed plenty.

Visit These Iconic Route 66 Gas Stations

Serving as direct inspiration for Ramones paint shop in Cars, Tower Conoco & U-Drop Inn located in Shamrock, Texas, this gas station features some seriously cool architecture. The best is to see it all lit up at night.

Visit These Iconic Route 66 Gas Stations

The FourWay in Cuba, Missouri is a popular place for tourists to take their picture, thanks to the neat murals on the side of the building. This station dates back to the 1930s and was once the headquarters of a family-owned oil business.

Story continues

Visit These Iconic Route 66 Gas Stations

Crammed to the brim with outstanding kitsch, Garys Gay Parita in Ash Grove, Missouri recreates a once-destroyed Sinclair station. Many consider this station to be a must-see stop along Route 66.

Visit These Iconic Route 66 Gas Stations

Crossing into Illinois, youll run into Standard Oil Gas Station in Odell. The white building with a blue roof looks fairly unassuming. However, it offered outstanding service back in the day, which is how it survived with eight other fueling options in the little town.

Visit These Iconic Route 66 Gas Stations

Not too far down Route 66 is Amblers Texaco Gas Station in Dwight. Like Roys, this is often either the first or final fueling station for people driving the entire highway from one end to the other. Built in 1933 and refueling cars all the way to 1999, its the longest-running gas station on the Mother Road.

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For three years, Two Lane America has been delighting tourists with its outstanding Route 66 guided tours. Its an excellent way to see these iconic gas stations and learn more about the other stops along the famous American highway. Contact Two Lane America to learn more details about the tour options.

More Car News

Real Places To Stop On Iconic Route 66 From Disney Pixars Cars The movie was based on genuine places and faces from actual historic Route 66 that are worth adding to the bucket list. MotoriousAmie Williams

Check Route 66 Off Your Bucket List With This 13-Day Driving Tour Experience the Mother Road from Chicago to Santa Monica! MotoriousJeffrey N. Ross

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Bombing continued across Gaza on Friday as the United Nations warned Israel's war with militant group Hamas, now approaching its fourth month, had made the territory "uninhabitable".

With much of the Gaza Strip already reduced to rubble, air strikes hit the southern cities of Khan Yunis and Rafah as well as parts of central Gaza, AFP correspondents reported.

The Israeli army said its forces had "struck over 100 targets" across Gaza over the previous 24 hours, including military positions, rocket launch sites and weapons depots.

The health ministry in the Hamas-run territory said it had recorded 162 deaths over the same period.

A fighter jet bombed the central area of Bureij overnight, killing "an armed terrorist cell", the army said, after what it described as an attempted attack on an Israeli tank.

And "a number" of Palestinian militants were killed in clashes in Khan Yunis, a city that has become a major battleground, the army said.

Troops also uncovered tunnels under the Blue Beach Hotel in northern Gaza which had been used "by terrorists as shelter from where they planned and executed attacks".

Civilian deaths have soared during the conflict and the UN has warned of a humanitarian crisis that has left hundreds of thousands displaced, facing famine and disease.

"Gaza has simply become uninhabitable," UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said on Friday.

"Its people are witnessing daily threats to their very existence -- while the world watches on," he said in a statement.

- 'Dark and gloomy' -

The war was triggered by an unprecedented attack on Israel launched by Hamas on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,140 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

The militants also took around 250 hostages, 132 of whom remain in captivity, according to Israel, including at least 24 believed to have been killed.

At a commemorative gathering in southern Israel on Friday, Michael Levi, 41, whose brother Or Levi was kidnapped from a music festival, said "there's a feeling none of us... can be safe in our own homes" since the attack.

In response, Israel has launched a relentless bombardment and ground invasion that have killed at least 22,600 people, most of them women and children, according to the Gaza health ministry.

AFPTV footage on Friday showed entire families, seeking safety from the violence, arriving in Rafah in overloaded cars and on foot, pushing handcarts stacked with possessions.

"We fled Jabalia camp to Maan (in Khan Yunis) and now we are fleeing from Maan to Rafah," said one woman who declined to give her name. "(We have) no water, no electricity and no food."

A spokesman for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, told AFP that Rafah is overwhelmed by the influx.

"The city is usually home to only 250,000 persons. And now, it's more than 1.3 million," said Adnan Abu Hasna.

Abu Mohammed, 60, who fled to Rafah from Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, said he believed the future of the territory was "dark and gloomy and very difficult".

The Palestinian Red Crescent reported renewed shelling and drone fire in the area around Al-Amal hospital in Khan Yunis after seven displaced people, including a five-day-old baby, were killed while sheltering in the compound.

- Post-war plan -

Defence Minister Yoav Gallant presented Israel's first plan for the "day after", though it has not yet been adopted by Israel's war cabinet.

The minister's outline proposals released late on Thursday say that neither Israel nor Hamas will govern Gaza and reject future Jewish settlements in the territory.

According to the proposals, the war will continue until Israel has dismantled Hamas's "military and governing capabilities" and secured the return of hostages.

After Israel achieves its objectives -- for which the proposal sets no timeline -- Palestinian "civil committees" will begin assuming control of the territory's governance.

The proposals were unveiled on the eve of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's fourth trip to the region since the conflict started.

Blinken arrived in Turkey on Friday on the first leg of a trip that will also take him to Greece and several Arab states before he heads to Israel and the occupied West Bank next week.

During his visit, Blinken plans to discuss with Israeli leaders "immediate measures to increase substantially humanitarian assistance to Gaza", State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.

"We don't expect every conversation on this trip to be easy. There are obviously tough issues facing the region and difficult choices ahead," he added.

- Regional tensions -

Germany's top diplomat Annalena Baerbock will also travel to the region, a foreign ministry spokesman said.

She plans to discuss "the dramatic humanitarian situation in Gaza" and tensions on the Israel-Lebanon border, spokesman Sebastian Fischer said.

The war in Gaza and almost daily exchanges of cross-border fire between Israel and Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah group since October 7 have raised fears of a wider conflagration.

A strike on Tuesday in Lebanon, widely assumed to have been carried out by Israel, killed Hamas deputy leader Saleh al-Aruri in Hezbollah's stronghold in the southern suburbs of Beirut.

Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, warned Israel Friday that the group will swiftly respond "on the battlefield" to the killing.

Israel's Gallant responded by saying Israel "prefers a diplomatic path over a military one", though he warned "we are close to the point of the hour glass turning over".

The military said on Friday its fighter jets had conducted fresh strikes against Hezbollah targets just across the border.

Elsewhere in the region, thousands rallied in support of Gaza in the Yemeni capital Sanaa and the Jordanian capital Amman.

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Rivers and hedgerows are at increasing risk of damage as the government fails to enshrine basic protection for nature on farms, wildlife campaigners warn.

Cross compliance rules which protected hedgerows and stopped farmers from causing excessive river pollution ended on 31 December 2023.

Environmental charities the National Trust, RSPB and the Wildlife Trusts are calling for immediate action to fill the gaps left by these protections.

The regulations had to be followed by farmers in order to receive subsidy payments between 2005 and 2023.

Rules included not farming the land right up to the edge of rivers to ensure farm pollution and soil was not washed into the water  as well as protecting hedgerows and maintaining green cover on soils.

Following Brexit, the UK government announced these rules would cease to exist after 31 December 2023 and be replaced by new UK ones.

However, Defra has not confirmed if protections will be maintained, with wildlife campaigners warning the absence of rules means that farmers are free to cut hedges in the spring and summer which risks harming nesting birds.

It could also mean that more farm pollution and soil is washed into rivers, according to the three charities.

Rosie Hails, science director at the National Trust, said it was vital that Defra addressed this regulatory gap with urgency.

She said: Ending cross compliance rules without sufficient replacement provisions places nature, water courses and historic hedgerows at increased risk.

"This is because some farmers may choose to withdraw from important practices such as providing buffers around watercourses, maintaining soil organic matter or taking action to minimise soil erosion.

"Farmers might also decide to trim hedges later in the spring and earlier in the autumn with impacts for birds and other wildlife."

In a response about a regulatory gap in August 2023, Defra stated that "the majority of rules under cross compliance are already in domestic law".

However, the removal of cross compliance from 1 January 2024 leaves regulatory gaps across hedgerows, soil cover and watercourse buffer strips that are not covered by existing regulation.

Defra issued a consultation on hedgerows in 2023, but delays in the governments response mean that regulatory gaps between 1 January and the bringing in of new protections are now inevitable.

Barnaby Coupe, land use policy manager of the Wildlife Trusts, warned the situation was desperate.

"The UK government has ripped up important rules that help protect hedgerows and require buffer strips to prevent river pollution," he said.

"This danger is compounded by low levels of uptake into new farming schemes which incentivise only the most basic green practices on farm, leaving nature at a net loss.

It follows a report by the RSPB which found that even with high uptake of new farming schemes, over 120,000km of hedgerows could be at risk due to the removal of cross compliance.
Livestock farmers in Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Berkshire will soon be able to access support to help improve business resilience.

From 1 February 2024, the Farm for the Future Programme, delivered by Pasture for Life and the Royal Countryside Fund, opens for applications.

It aims to help farmers in the four counties improve the resilience of their business, enhance the environment and adapt to climate change.

Over the next six months, the programme will deliver a series of free interactive livestock workshops led by farmers, including networking and learning, signposting and next-step planning.

All participants will join the Royal Countryside Finds Farm Resilience Network and gain access to a bank of resources and ongoing support.

They will also benefit from a free year-long introductory membership of Pasture for Life, worth 120.

The scheme will be launched at the Royal Agricultural University on 1 February 2024.

A charity spokesperson said: "Any tenant farmer of owner-occupier currently in receipt of BPS in England can join the programme, even if they have already participated in one run by The Royal Countryside Fund.

"Apply to check your eligibility by emailing Sarah Williams at sarah.williams@pastureforlife.org.uk."

In addition, Pasture for Life have launched the Pasture and Profit in Protected Landscapes Programme in the Cotswolds, Chilterns and North Wessex Downs.

This programme, which will run until March 2025, will provide free mentoring and events to farmers in these protected areas who are interested in integrating grazing animals.
Small abattoirs are being urged to apply for a new government fund launched to increase productivity and add value to products.

John Powell, head of agricultural teams at Defra, outlined the new Smaller Abattoir Fund at the Oxford Real Farming Conference, which was launched last month.

It will be open to eligible abattoirs to apply for grants to improve animal health and welfare, as well as to contribute to new technology and innovation.

At the conference, Mr Powell urged abattoirs to apply, saying the government had done its bit and it now lies with industry to take up the money.

Demonstrating the fund works and is successful will make a stronger case for making more money available to the sector in future.

He also shared that government have begun pulling together a case for adoption of the 5% rule and that ministers are keen to see this happen quickly.

The rule is a flexibility that exists in EU legislation and enables smaller abattoirs to slaughter up to 5% of the total national throughput without triggering full veterinarian presence and charges.

Failure to adopt this rule has stifled productivity and growth in the sector as some of the smallest abattoirs opt to keep their throughput under the 1k livestock units per annum allowance in order to keep inspection and charges to a minimum.

Mr Powell said this was an important step in the right direction and was something the Abattoir Sector Group had been lobbying for.

He emphasised that Defra want to support the sector: You bring the problems to us and together well look at whats possible We really are supportive of small abattoirs.

Stephen Hill, owner of small abattoir and butchery Perrys of Eccleshall, welcomed the new fund: The funding has come at the right time for me, I want to move the business forwards.

He called on existing small abattoirs to think about their future and emphasised the need for a succession plan: If you are a small abattoir owner and you are thinking of closing the abattoir then mothball it, dont close it.

"We cant afford to lose any more small abattoirs. Someone might come along who would want to take it over," Mr Hill explained.

Anna Blumfield, from Deersbrook Farm, rears Pasture Fed Sussex cattle and runs a farm shop and butchery.

She explained at the conference that their local abattoir was the key cog in our farming system - without them doing the processing I couldnt get product to consumers.

The benefits of small local abattoirs were outlined, including their knowledge of good animal husbandry, personalised service and better end product, as well as providing jobs to the local community.

Ms Blumfield emphasised that good communication and mutual trust were essential as this allowed them to plan their business for the whole year.

Having knowledge that our abattoir is thriving gives us the confidence to plan for the future.

Phil Scott from Lake District Farmers, a wholesale meat supplier that provides a sustainable route to market for Fell farmers in Cumbria, highlighted the challenges in the region.

Despite there being 5,242, mainly livestock-based, farm holdings in Cumbria with a 12,500 strong workforce, there are only two abattoirs offering private kill, both in the south of the county.

Following the closure of Black Brow abattoir in Wigton last year, farmers are now travelling from as far as Scotland down to Aireys abattoir near Grange-Over-Sands to take their animals to slaughter.

But Mr Scott said this was having a knock on effect for local customers, with a local butchers shop unable to get their animals slaughtered in the run up to Christmas.

He emphasised the need for more skilled staff, both slaughter men and butchers, to ensure the sector thrives and called for more apprenticeships and better advertising of the sector as being a good career path to young people.

The final speaker, farmer Andy Gray, talked about Fir Farms Moveable Slaughter Unit, owned by Lady Parker, which he had been trialling on his farm in Devon.

He explained how the unit is the first of its kind in the UK and broke the mould with the Food Standards Agency, with whom they worked to ensure the unit met regulatory requirements.

He said: It has very much been a listening and collaborative experience, changing the environment in which we are working.
Photo credit: First Take

Stephen A. Smith made a statement on First Take earlier this week that appeared to have Molly Qerim asking, What the f***?

Qerim certainly wouldnt be the first person to ask, What the f***? in response to something Smith uttered. As a matter of fact, this probably wasnt even the first time Qerim responded to Smith with What the f***? But it may have been the first time ESPNs cameras caught her dropping the f-bomb.

Wednesday morning on First Take, Smith was asked to defend his take that the Rose Bowl should be moved out of the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena, California and into SoFi Stadium. A hot take that had people asking, What the f***? But it wasnt the suggested move that had Qerim asking What the f***? It was the fact that Smith invoked her to make his point that everything modifies over time, including the Rose Bowl.

Was that a what the f*ck? from Molly? pic.twitter.com/MwGtIylTXL  Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 4, 2024



Look at Molly, you know what Im saying? Molly was sitting there, once upon a time she was just a host, Smith said. Now shes a supermodel in peoples eyes for crying out loud. We see all of these daggone photos of her everywhere and all of this other stuff.

As soon as Smith completed his assessment of Qerims modified public persona, she looked to her left and mouthed, What the f***? off mic, but not off camera.

If, against all odds, this was somehow the first time Qerim asked What the f***? to something Smith said, then its about time! In the last few months, Smith has repeatedly marveled at how much Qerim eats, questioned her interest in vibrators, and compared her to Hillary Clinton (or perhaps Monica Lewinsky). And if those werent enough to garner a What the f***? Dan Orlovsky certainly deserved one when he sniffed Qerims shoe earlier this week. Seriously, sniffing her shoe? What the f***?

Honestly, its amazing, and a testament to Qerims professionalism that it took this long for her to look into the camera on First Take and say, What the f***?

[First Take]
The 32nd edition of the much-awaited Taj Mahotsav will be held in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, from February 18 to 27, 2024



The Taj Mahal is one of the most-loved monuments in the world. In fact, in 2022, it ranked second in the world after Niagara Falls in Canada.



A symbol of our rich history, the homage of love from emperor Shah Jahan to his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal is a major visitor draw, with people flocking to it from across the country and across the planet.



Every year, one of Indias most-awaited cultural festivals is also held in its vicinity. The Taj Mahotsav is held at Shilpgram in Agra, and celebrates the great love story of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal, while also going beyond to showcase the rich art and culture of the country.



Organised by the Department of Tourism, this year, the Taj Mahotsav 2024 will be held from February 18 to 27 at Agra. This years event will mark the 32nd edition of the festival, which first began in 1992. It is inspired by the Mughal era of the 18th and 19th centuries in Uttar Pradesh.







The 10-day cultural extravaganza will showcase the talents of artists, craftspeople, culinary aficionados and performers from the host state of Uttar Pradesh, as well as artisans from across India. There will also be a Mughal-style procession and a succession of folk performances. Visitors can expect to enjoy musical performances, indigenous cuisines, traditional arts (such as the marble inlay work of Agra [above]) and tribal crafts.



The entry fee to the Taj Mahotsav is Rs 50 for adults, while foreign visitors and children under the age of 15 years enter free.



Images: Shutterstock



Also Read: Add Bulgaria And Romania To Your Europe Trip After March
What Is Jojoba Oil?

What Are The Benefits Of Jojoba Oil For Skin?

1. Moisturizing

2. Antibacterial Properties

3. Deeply Hydrating

4. Improves the Skin Barrier

5. Nutritious for Skin

6. Soothe Dry Skin

7. Treats Acne

8. Its an Antioxidant

9. Gentle & Non-Allergenic

10. Soothes Sunburn

11. May Help Soothe Eczema, Psoriasis, And Other Drying Skin Conditions

12. Reduces Fine Lines And Wrinkles

13. Delay Signs Of Aging

How To Use Jojoba Oil For Skin?

What Can I Mix Jojoba Oil With?

Essential Oils

Aloe Vera

Honey

Sugar or Salt

Shea Butter

Side Effects of Jojoba Oil For Skin

Allergic Reactions: Some people may be allergic to jojoba oil. Symptoms of an allergic reaction can include redness, itching, hives, or swelling of the skin.

Some people may be allergic to jojoba oil. Symptoms of an can include redness, itching, hives, or swelling of the skin. Skin irritation: Jojoba oil is considered to be non-comedogenic and is unlikely to cause acne. However, if you have sensitive skin, using jojoba oil may cause mild irritation, redness, or itching.

Jojoba oil is considered to be non-comedogenic and is unlikely to cause acne. However, if you have sensitive skin, using jojoba oil may cause mild irritation, redness, or itching. Clogged Pores: While jojoba oil is generally safe for use on the skin, using too much of it or not removing it properly can lead to clogged pores and breakouts.

While jojoba oil is generally safe for use on the skin, using too much of it or not removing it properly can lead to clogged pores and breakouts. Sun Sensitivity: Jojoba oil does not offer any sun protection and can increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun. Therefore, it is important to use sunscreen when using jojoba oil on your skin.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. Is jojoba oil good for skin?

Q. Can I use jojoba oil on my skin everyday?

Q. Does jojoba oil lighten or darken skin?

Q. Does jojoba oil make your skin glow?

Q. Is jojoba oil whitening?

Q. Does jojoba oil have side effects?

Q. Can I leave jojoba oil on my face overnight?

Q. Does jojoba oil remove dark spots?

Q. Is coconut oil better than jojoba oil for skin?

Q. Is jojoba oil warming or cooling?

Conclusion

Sources

Natural Oils as Skin Permeation Enhancers for Transdermal Delivery of Olanzapine: In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation.

https://doi.org/10.2174/156720112800234567 Formulation,in vitro and in vivo evaluation of transdermal patches containing risperidone.

https://doi.org/10.3109/03639045.2012.657643 Jojoba Oil: An Updated Comprehensive Review on Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Uses, and Toxicity.

https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13111711 A rapid simple pyrolysis derivatisation gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method for profiling of fatty acids in trace quantities of lipids.

https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-2370(96)00946-1 In vivo confocal Raman microscopic determination of depth profiles of the stratum corneum lipid organization influenced by application of various oils.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdermsci.2017.04.016 Microemulsions as vehicles for topical administration of voriconazole: formulation andin vitroevaluation.

https://doi.org/10.3109/03639045.2011.590731 The development of Cutina lipogels and gel microemulsion for topical administration of fluconazole.

https://doi.org/10.1208/pt030435 Diffusion of jojoba oil microencapsulated and impregnated onto compressive garment through a pig skin.

https://doi.org/10.1080/00405000.2013.842679 Effect of German chamomile oil application on alleviating atopic dermatitis-like immune alterations in mice.

https://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2010.11.1.35 Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils.

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19010070 Clay Jojoba Oil Facial Mask for Lesioned Skin and Mild Acne, Results of a Prospective, Observational Pilot Study.

https://doi.org/10.1159/000338076 Jojoba Oil Soft Colloidal Nanocarrier of a Synthetic Retinoid: Preparation, Characterization and Clinical Efficacy in Psoriatic Patients.

https://doi.org/10.2174/1567201813666160513132321 In vivo investigations on the penetration of various oils and their influence on the skin barrier.

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0846.2011.00578.x Skin Wound Healing and Phytomedicine: A Review.

https://doi.org/10.1159/000357477 Enhanced Percutaneous Permeability of Diclofenac Using a New U-Type Dilutable Microemulsion.

https://doi.org/10.1080/03639040701662479 Skin nonpenetrating sunscreens for cosmetic and pharmaceutical formulations.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clindermatol.2008.01.014 Human synthetic sebum formulation and stability under conditions of use and storage.

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2494.2008.00468.x

Jojoba oil is a versatile and popular ingredient in the skincare industry. It is a natural oil extracted from the seeds of the jojoba plant, which is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Jojoba oil is known for its numerous benefits for the skin and has been used for centuries as a traditional remedy for various skin conditions. In this article, we will explore the benefits of, how to use it, and any potential side effects.Jojoba oil is a versatile and widely used natural oil that has many benefits for the skin. It is extracted from the seeds of the jojoba plant, which is native to North America. Jojoba oil is a popular ingredient in skincare products due to its moisturizing and nourishing properties. In this article, we will discuss the benefits ofand how to use it.There are manydue to its unique composition and properties. Here are some ways jojoba oil can help with various skin concerns:Jojoba oil is a natural emollient that can penetrate the skin deeply, providingwithout leaving a greasy residue.Jojoba oil has antimicrobial properties that can help fight bacteria and other harmful microorganisms that can cause skin infectionsJojoba oil can deeplyand improve its texture and elasticity, leaving it soft and supple.Using Jojoba oil on skin can strengthen the skin barrier by sealing in moisture and preventing water loss, which can help protect the skin from environmental damageJojoba oil is rich in essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals that provide nourishment to the skin, helping to maintain its health and vitalityJojoba oil can soothe and calm dry, irritated skin, helping to reduce redness and inflammation.Jojoba oil can help reduce the appearance of acne by balancing the skin's natural oil production, unclogging pores, and reducing inflammation.Jojoba oil contains antioxidants that can help protect the skin from free radical damage, which can contribute to premature agingJojoba oil is non-irritating and gentle, making it suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin.Jojoba oil can help soothe and, reducing redness and inflammationJojoba oil can help soothe and, psoriasis, and other drying skin conditions by providing hydration and reducing inflammation.Jojoba oil can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by providing moisture and nourishment to the skin, improving its texture and elasticityJojoba oil can help delay signs of aging byfrom environmental damage, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and promoting overall skin healthIn summary, jojoba oil has many benefits for the skin, making it a versatile and effective ingredient in skincare products. Its moisturizing, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties, along with its ability to nourish and protect the skin, make it an excellent choice for widespread use.Jojoba oil can be used in a variety of ways to improve the health and appearance of your skin. One of the easiest ways to use jojoba oil is to apply it directly to the skin. Simply massage a small amount of oil into your skin after cleansing, focusing on any areas that are particularly dry or prone to acne.Jojoba oil can also befor other skincare ingredients. For example, you can mix a few drops of jojoba oil with tea tree oil to create a powerful acne-fighting serum. Alternatively, you can add a few drops of jojoba oil to your favorite moisturizer to give it an extra boost of hydration.Jojoba oil is a versatile oil that can be used on its own or mixed with other natural ingredients to create a personalized skincare solution. Here are a few ingredients that you can mix with jojoba oil to use on your skin:Jojoba oil can be mixed with essential oils such as lavender, tea tree, or rosehip oil to create a custom blend that suits your skin's needs.Mixing jojoba oil with aloe vera gel can create a soothing and hydrating skincare solution that can be applied to dry or sunburned skin.A mixture of jojoba oil and honey can provide deep hydration and nourishment to the skin.for its antibacterial and antioxidant properties, making it a great ingredient to add to your skincare routineMixing jojoba oil with sugar or salt can create a gentle exfoliating scrub that can be used to remove dead skin cells and improve skin texture.Combining jojoba oil with shea butter can create a moisturizing and nourishing cream that can be used all over the body.is known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-ageing properties, making it a great ingredient to add to your skincare routine.Always perform a patch test on a small area of skin before using any new skincare product or mixture, and if you have any concerns, consult a dermatologist.is generally considered safe to use on the skin, and side effects are rare. However, some people may experience mild allergic reactions or skin irritation when using jojoba oil. Here are a few potential side effects of using jojoba oil on the skin:As with any new skincare product, it is always best to perform a patch test on a small area of skin before using it all over your face or body. If you experience any adverse reactions, discontinue use immediately and consult a dermatologist.Yes, jojoba oil is good for skin. It is a natural, lightweight oil that is easily absorbed into the skin, making it a great moisturizer. Jojoba oil is also rich in antioxidants and vitamins, which help to nourish and protect the skin.Yes, jojoba oil can be used on the skin everyday. It is a gentle, non-irritating oil that is safe for daily use. However, it is always best to perform a patch test before using any new skincare product.No, jojoba oil does not lighten or darken skin. It is a colorless, odorless oil that is easily absorbed into the skin without leaving any residue.Yes, jojoba oil can make your skin glow. Its moisturizing and nourishing properties can help to improve skin texture and tone, giving it a healthy, radiant glowNo, jojoba oil is not a whitening agent. It does not contain any bleaching agents or chemicals that can lighten skinJojoba oil is generally considered safe for use on the skin, and side effects are rare. However, some people may experience mild allergic reactions or skin irritation when using jojoba oil.Yes, jojoba oil can be left on the face overnight. It is a lightweight oil that is easily absorbed into the skin, and it can help to moisturize and nourish the skin while you sleep.While jojoba oil can help improve the appearance of the skin and, it is not a specific treatment for dark spots. However, regular use of jojoba oil as part of a comprehensive skincare routine may help reduce the appearance of dark spots over time.and jojoba oil both have different benefits for the skin. Coconut oil is rich in fatty acids that can help moisturize and nourish the skin, while jojoba oil is a lightweight oil that closely resembles the natural oils produced by the skin. Both oils can be beneficial for the skin, and the choice between them depends on individual skin type and needs.Jojoba oil is considered to be a neutral oil and does not have warming or cooling properties. It is easily absorbed by the skin and does not leave a greasy or heavy feeling.Jojoba oil is a versatile and beneficial ingredient that can be used for skincare. It is a natural, non-comedogenic oil that can help moisturize and protect the skin, as well as reduce inflammation and improve the overall health and appearance of the skin. Jojoba oil can be used on its own or mixed with other natural ingredients to create a personalized skincare solution. While jojoba oil is generally safe for use on the skin, it is important to perform a patch test on a small area of skin before using it all over your face or body. Additionally, as with any skincare product, it is important to consult a dermatologist if you have any concerns about using jojoba oil or if you experience any adverse reactions. Overall, usingis extremely beneficial
Turkish exports were worth $22.999 billion in November last year with a 5.2 per cent increase year on year (YoY), while imports were worth $28.916 billiona 5.7 per cent decrease YoY, according to provisional data by the Turkish Statistical Institute and the ministry of trade.

Between January and November last year, exports from the country were worth $232.81 billion, with a 0.7 per cent YoY increase. Imports during the period were worth $332 billiona 0.5 per cent increase YoY.

Turkish exports were worth $22.999 billion in November last year with a 5.2 per cent increase YoY, while imports were worth $28.916 billiona 5.7 per cent decrease YoY, according to official provisional data. Foreign trade volume in the month was $42.423 billiona 4.1 per cent YoY rise, while foreign trade deficit was $5.918 billiona 32.6 per cent YoY fall.

Foreign trade volume in November was $42.423 billiona 4.1 per cent YoY increase, while foreign trade deficit was $5.918 billiona 32.6 per cent YoY decrease.

In the January-November period last year, foreign trade deficit was $99.926 billiona 0.1 per cent increase YoY.

In November last year, the main partner country for exports was Germany, followed by the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, the United States and Italy. The ratio of these countries in total exports was 29.4 per cent during the month.

The top country for Turkiye's imports during the month was China, followed by Russia, Germany, UAE and the United States. The ratio of these in total imports was 42.2 per cent during the month.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Going into 2024, the streaming calendar isnt looking too busy. However, there are quite a few highly-anticipated shows releasing this month. Among the biggest releases of the month, theres the latest addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe - Echo. The standalone show digs into the deaf and mute characters fascinating story. The new instalment of True Detective is also making its way to OTT. The crime show has an eager fanbase. Black comedy The Brothers Sun led by Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh also promises standout performances and an entertaining watch.Here are all the upcoming Hollywood shows worth checking out in January 2024:After Everything Everywhere All At Once and A Haunting in Venice, Michelle Yeoh is ready to steal the show in The Brothers Sun. The show sees the Award-winning actress in a family comedy about a gangster from Taipei who must go to L.A. to protect his mother and younger brother after his father was shot by an assassin.Release date: January 4The Hawkeye spin-off spotlighting Alaqua Coxs Maya Lopez, a native deaf and mute superhero is the latest entrant into the MCU. The show delves into the characters roots and origins as she goes up against Vincent DOnofrios Kingpin. The show also features Charlie Coxs much-awaited appearance as Daredevil.Release date: January 9Starring Peter Capaldi and Cush Jumbo, Criminal Record is described as a surprisingly satisfying mystery series. It revolves around two detectives with different styles clashing over an old murder case.Release date: January 10After two brilliant seasons, True Detective returns with another gripping instalment. Written and directed by Issa Lopez, the show features Jodie Foster and Kalki Reis. The two play Alaska-based cops investigating the mysterious deaths of scientists. Fans have been waiting for a worthy follow-up to the first season starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson. And it looks like theyre getting it.Release date: January 14Modern Family star Sofia Vergara is all set to star in an upcoming crime drama based on Griselda Blanco, a Colombian drug lord known as Black Widow and Cocaine Grandmother. The show chronicles her journey starting from the 70s as she navigates her personal life with the drug cartel business.Release date: January 25
Arjun Kapoor Malaika Arora relationship: Malaika Arora and Arjun Kapoor have been grabbing headlines ever since they made their relationship official. They are the most talked-about couple in B'town and have often shared mushy moments with their fans.

However, the buzz around the duo's relationship going through a rocky path started to swirl for months. And now the latest report suggests that Malika and Arjun split two months ago, but they reconciled after working on their differences.

Arjun-Malaika split

Arjun and Malaika have been dating for over five years and respect each other's space. However, speculations around the couple's separation surfaced online, and now a report by Zoom states that Malaika and Arjun had officially broken up two months ago but eventually resolved their differences to reconcile.

Koffee With Karan 8: Janhvi Kapoor Seemingly Confirms DATING Shikhar Pahariya, Reveals His Nickname; VIDEO

Their relationship went through some serious conflicts, leading to their split. However, soon the couple realised that they could not live separately for long and got back together again. Moreover, the major reason behind the conflict was that one of them wanted to take their relationship to the next level, which is marriage, while the other was not ready for that.

Quoting a source, Zoom wrote, "They have been together for many years now. It won't be easy for either of them to call it off and forget about the good times they have spent with each other. It is only good that they realised that splitting is not the solution to life always."

It isn't clear who wants to get married and who is not ready. The source added, "One doesn't know why they have gone different ways or should we call it a 'break from each other'?"

When Arjun Kapoor denied speaking about their marriage plans

Recnety, when the Gunday actor appeared on Koffee With Karan 8, he declined to talk about their relationship publicly alone in the absence of his partner. "I think at this point, and as much as I love coming on your show and being as honest and sincere about it, I think this is the part of my life that right now I want to take it as it comes. I think it's unfair to be sitting here without her and talking about the future. I think that would be the most respectful thing," he had said.

The actor added, "Once we reach that stage, we will come and talk about it together. I'm very happy where I am and I think we make no bones about the fact that we survived through whatever we've had to be in this comfortable happy space."

Malaika-Arbaaz's Son Arhaan & Raveena Tandon's Daughter Rasha Spotted Together, Video Sparks Dating Rumours
Ayalaan Trailer Release Time: Sivakarthikeyan is set to return to the big screen with the highly anticipated alien sci-fi movie, 'Ayalaan.'

Captain Miller Early Review: Dhanush's Period Action-Adventure Movie Earns Praise And Excitement

After several delays, the film is now scheduled for a Pongal 2024 release. Simultaneously, both the Tamil and Telugu versions are slated for release on January 12th.

The creators have announced the premiere of the theatrical trailer, set for Friday, January 5th, at 8:07 p.m., as part of their consistent efforts to keep fans engaged with updates on 'Ayalaan'.

KJR Studios' recent social media announcement has set the stage for an extraterrestrial extravaganza! The highly anticipated Ayalaan Trailer, an otherworldly spectacle, is finally touching down, promising an experience that transcends imagination. Set your clocks for its imminent arrival at 8:07 p.m. today. The Tamil version of the trailer will be unveiled on SunTV's YouTube channel, while the Telugu version can be found on SonyMusicSouth's YouTube platform.

Suit up for an extraterrestrial spectacle 



The much-awaited #AyalaanTrailer has descended from the cosmos 

Prepare for an experience beyond our imagination.#AyalaanTrailer dropping today, at 8:07pm 



Tamil trailer on @SunTV YT

Telugu trailer on @SonyMusicSouth YT pic.twitter.com/iH9aJdalmR  KJR Studios (@kjr_studios) January 5, 2024

The post-production work for 'Ayalaan' is progressing rapidly, leading to the decision to postpone the film's release to Pongal. This science fiction drama reportedly includes over 1000 VFX frames, with a central comic alien character.

Ayalaan Cast And Crew

Directed by Ravikumar, 'Ayalaan' stars Sivakarthikeyan and Rakul Preet Singh in the lead roles, with a talented supporting cast including Sharad Kelkar, Isha Koppikar, Bhanupriya, Yogi Babu, Karunakaran, Bala Saravanan, and more.

Aishwarya Ragupathi's Fearless Response: Confronting Sexual Harassment At 'Captain Miller' Pre-Release Event

The film is a joint production by KJR Studios and 24 AM Studios and boasts a musical score by the legendary AR Rahman, cinematography handled by Nirav Shah, and editing executed by Ruben. 'Ayalaan' is set to hit screens in multiple languages, making it accessible to a diverse audience given its broad appeal as a science fiction drama.
Celebrated as one of the most passionate love stories on television, COLORS' 'Chand Jalne Laga' continues to capture viewers' hearts with its beautiful narrative. The show takes an electrifying turn with the introduction of Srishti Jain in the role of Priti, promising to bring a fresh dynamic to the evolving romance between Dev (Vishal Aditya Singh) and Tara (Kanika Mann).

In the tumultuous journey of Tara and Dev, Priti will be seen adding spark to their life as Tara's friend. Hailing from a traditional background, Priti is a young widow who will be seen innocent and bubbly in nature. She grapples with societal restrictions but embraces them for the sake of preserving norms and honouring her elders. In the upcoming episodes of the show, Priti becomes Tara's ally, offering her support in various unexpected ways. How will Priti's arrival shake up the lives of Dev and Tara? Only time will tell!

Speaking about her entry into the show, Srishti Jain expresses her excitement, stating, "I've been eagerly waiting for a chance to collaborate with COLORS, and I'm thrilled that it's finally happening! The start of 2024 couldn't have been more fantastic - I got the call for this role on the eve of the new year! I'll be seen essaying the character of Priti, who becomes Tara's go-to person during her tough times. The introduction of Priti will bring a new dynamic to the love story of Dev and Tara. Here's hoping that the viewers will welcome and cheer for me and my character on this new journey!"

In the current storyline, Dev and Tara's chemistry takes a hit when Jyothi enters, claiming Dev as her son. Despite Dev's chivalrous efforts, he vehemently denies any connection with her. Can Tara recognize Dev as her childhood pal? Will Dev see through the chaos and recognize Tara's innocence?

Watch the most passionate love story 'Chand Jalne Laga' airing every Monday to Sunday at 6:00 pm only on COLORS!
Photo Credit:

Powerstar Pawan Kalyan, the actor-turned-politician is currently juggling between the shooting of his two upcoming films and the election campaign for Janasena, his party in Andhra Pradesh. The actor hit the headlines once again about his separation from his third wife Anna Lezhneva.

Tollywood's most popular astrologer Venu Swamy is always a hot topic and his infamous predictions about celebrities uncannily came true several times.

As the New Year 2024 dawned, the astrologer had been giving out interviews to several YouTube and news channels. During these interactions, he is not only predicting the future possibilities for the zodiac signs but also throwing in some juicy updates about Telugu people's favourite celebrities.

Photo Credit:

If one can go back, Venu Swamy predicted the divorce of Samantha and Naga Chaitanya, which made him quite popular.

Pawan Kalyan and His Third Wife Anna Head For A Divorce?

Venu Swamy recently predicted divorce for Pawan Kalyan and his third wife Anna Lezhneva. Earlier, there were several reports about the couple calling it quits.In a report by Asianet, Venu Swamy was quoted saying, "According to Pawan Kalyan's horoscope, the actor will be divorced again in the year 2024. On the contrary, his professional career is looking brilliant. He will continue to have personal problems. His fans will target and troll me by misinterpreting my words and context. But, this time, he will surely head for a separation this year and it is confirmed."

Venu Swamy's earlier predictions include the professional life of Akhil Akkineni, Vijay Deverakonda, and Prabhas' wedding. National Crush Rashmika Mandanna even performed several 'Homams' and 'Pujas' under the guidance of Venu Swamy, of which several pictures hit the internet. Nidhhi Agerwal and Dimple Hayathi have also followed suit, to see growth in their careers. Nandamuri Balakrishna was also part of his elaborate and celebrity clientele.
Hyundai Motor and Kia sign an agreement with Gore to co-develop polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) for hydrogen fuel cell systems

Collaboration to encompass test protocol and key aspects of PEM development

Partnership aims to develop advanced fuel cell system for commercial vehicles, increasing durability and performance

SEOUL, South Korea, Jan. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor), Kia Corporation (Kia) and W. L. Gore & Associates (Gore) have signed an agreement at the Mabuk Eco-Friendly R&D Center, Korea, to collaborate on the development of advanced polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) for hydrogen fuel cell systems.

The joint effort between the parties will encompass key aspects of PEM development. The ultimate goal of this collaboration is to develop an advanced PEM for next-generation fuel cell electric commercial vehicles.

A hydrogen fuel cell utilizes PEM to conduct protons between two electrodes. The PEM blocks the direct combination of incoming hydrogen and oxygen gases, facilitating the selective conduction of protons and, in turn, generating an electrical current to power a vehicle. The PEM technology plays a crucial role in determining the performance and durability of the fuel cell system.

For over 15 years, Hyundai Motor, Kia and Gore have been collaborating in the field of fuel cells. Building on this more-than-decade-long relationship, the partnership will now focus on jointly developing an optimal fuel cell system for commercial vehicles, with a specific emphasis on enhancing performance and durability.

"We are entering the next chapter of our partnership with Gore," said Chang Hwan Kim, Head of Battery Development and Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Development at Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation. "By leveraging the 15 years of collaboration, we will acquire advanced fuel cell technology and lead the fuel cell electric vehicle market, accelerating the movement towards a sustainable future."

Gore, an advanced materials company based in Delaware, USA, brings expertise in PEM, Catalyst coated Membrane and MEA (Membrane Electrode Assembly) technology to the partnership. Combining Gore's pioneering PEM technology with Hyundai Motor and Kia's advanced fuel cell expertise, Hyundai Motor and Kia aims to incorporate advanced PEM technology into next-generation fuel cell systems for passenger cars, commercial vehicles and non-automotive sectors.

"We look forward to advancing our long-standing partnership with Hyundai Motor and Kia," said Michelle Augustine, Gore Clean Energy Business Group Leader. "Leveraging our advanced PEM technology solutions, we will work together with Hyundai Motor and Kia to enable them to deliver fuel cell vehicles that provide a performance and cost advantage to consumers."

This collaboration builds upon Hyundai Motor Group's 25 years of focus on hydrogen technology, which led to the establishment of the HTWO hydrogen business brand in 2020. The Group is actively expanding its fuel cell business globally, covering various sectors, including passenger and commercial vehicles, marine vessels, aerospace applications, power generation and more.

More information about Hyundai Motor Group can be found at:

http://www.hyundaimotorgroup.com or Newsroom: Media Hub by Hyundai





Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2310870/Image__Hyundai_Kia_to_Develop_PEM_with_Gore_for_Hydrogen_FC_Systems_updated.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/hyundai-motor-and-kia-to-develop-polymer-electrolyte-membrane-with-gore-for-hydrogen-fuel-cell-systems-302025912.html
From Portugal to Sweden, trade show lineup will scale up efforts to empower European bubble tea businesses and foster development in the region

AMSTERDAM, Jan. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Possmei, a renowned Taiwanese bubble tea brand, is announcing an extensive lineup of 2024 European trade shows it will attend.

As younger consumers throughout the region and worldwide seek out the novelty, the global bubble tea industry is experiencing significant growth - projected to almost double in value to $4.08 billion by 2030. In particular, Possmei is striving to cater to the burgeoning European market for boba as its one-stop shop for drink entrepreneurs.

"By continuing and accelerating our recent positive momentum, we aim to maintain our lead in Europe for bubble tea," shared Mei-Li Chen, CEO of Possmei. "To accomplish this, we are scaling up our promotional activities for the region and ensuring a strong presence at various European expos throughout 2024. In this way, we will continue to share the essence of bubble tea - and Taiwanese culture - with Europe and beyond."

The force behind European beverage entrepreneurs

Possmei will attend several major European trade shows in 2024, where it will introduce distinctive, cutting-edge new boba products while sharing its array of consulting and training services. The tour includes:

HORECAVA: Amsterdam, The Netherlands, January 8-11 (Booth: 07.420)

Amsterdam, The Netherlands, January 8-11 Foodexpo: Herning, Denmark, March 17-19 (Booth: D3266)

Herning, Denmark, March 17-19 Alimentaria: Barcelona, Spain, March 18-21 (Booth B500)

Barcelona, Spain, March 18-21 IFE 2024: London, UK, March 25-27 (Booth 4531)

London, UK, March 25-27 Gastronord: Sweden, April 9-11 (Booth C06:11)

Sweden, April 9-11 World Food Poland: Warsaw, Poland, April 16-18 (Hall 1, Booth E3)

Warsaw, Poland, April 16-18 SIAL Paris : Paris, France, October 19-23

: Paris, France, October 19-23 EXPO ALIMENTA Porto: Porto, Portugal, October 24-26

To view the full lineup of expos worldwide, please visit: https://possmei.com.tw/en/?op=exhibition_show

Sharing Taiwan's distinctiveness in Europe and beyond

Separately from the company's promotional activities, Szu-Ya "Debby" Wang, the daughter of the company's late founder Jacky Wang, is a musician who also shares a passion for Taiwan's unique culture and bubble tea. She will star in a stage play titled "This Is Not an Embassy (Made in Taiwan)" that will show worldwide throughout 2024. Co-produced by Theatre Vidy-Lausanne and the Taipei National Theatre and Concert Hall, the play aims to serve as a "portable sample" of Taiwan, its unique characteristics, and its cultural phenomena, including the significance of bubble tea in Taiwanese culture.

Continued Chen: "Each of our bubble tea products - every individual boba - is a little burst of Taiwanese culture, and we are thrilled that Ms. Wang is continuing this tradition while taking it a step further - into the cultural medium of theater."

The first production will premiere at Haus der Berliner Festspiele in Berlin, Germany, from January 24 to 27, kicking off a tour of Europe and Asia throughout 2024.

For more information on This Is Not an Embassy (Made in Taiwan):

English: https://www.rimini-protokoll.de/website/en/project/dies-ist-keine-botschaft-made-in-taiwan

To purchase tickets:

German: https://www.berlinerfestspiele.de/performing-arts-season/programm/2023/spielplan/dies-ist-keine-botschaft

About Possmei

Possmei is a brand synonymous with authenticity, quality, and innovation in the bubble tea sphere. Founded in 2009 in Taiwan, the company has consistently pushed the boundaries of what is possible with bubble tea, offering an array of syrups, powders, and toppings that cater to the diverse tastes of bubble tea enthusiasts worldwide.

Possmei's products are crafted with the utmost care and attention to detail. From their signature black tea and green tea bases to their tantalising fruit syrups, every ingredient in Possmei's repertoire is selected for its premium quality. This dedication to excellence ensures that every bubble tea made with Possmei products is a delightful and memorable experience.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2311012/HORECAVA.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/bubble-tea-leader-possmei-launches-major-2024-european-expo-tour-302026964.html
Dec 17, 2023; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; New York Jets running back Dalvin Cook (33) rushes with the ball against the Miami Dolphins during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

When he was still on WFANs airwaves, Mike Francesa was notorious for telling callers that he never said the thing they were telling him he said. In the age of social media, Funhouse (@BackAftaThis on X) would frequently catch Francesa contradicting himself and, in essence, saying the things he said that he never said.

Well, thats become less frequent as Francesa has since moved on from his daily show at WFAN, though he pretty much records The Mike Francesa Podcast presented by BetRivers Network with regularity. And Funhouse was able to return to its roots this week, catching Francesa completely contradicting himself about former New York Jets running back Dalvin Cook.

Mike Francesa, after the Jets signed Dalvin Cook: "I like that move!" Mike Francesa, after the Jets released Dalvin Cook: "Bringing in Cook revealed the ineptitude of the Jets' front office!" pic.twitter.com/GJSr2iBhfh  Funhouse (@BackAftaThis) January 5, 2024

The Jets released Dalvin Cook earlier this week in a mutually parting of ways, so the four-time Pro Bowler  who has since signed with the Baltimore Ravens  could join a contender. While the Jets went big-game hunting to go all in, they whiffed on several targets  Orlando Brown, Calais Campbell, and Odell Beckham Jr.  as they looked to form a super team around Aaron Rodgers.

The Jets only managed to bring in one name-free agent after Rodgers, and it was Cook. Unfortunately, he turned out to be a $6.6 million disappointment. The 28-year-old only rushed for 214 yards on 67 attempts; his average yards per carry just 3.2. Cook was brought in to help ease in Breece Hall from an ACL injury and form a dynamic 1-2 punch, but New Yorks injuries on its offensive line prevented them from gaining any momentum in the running game. By the time Cook began to show some potential, it was the Breece Hall show, and Cook was left without any significant role.

For this, Francesa, who hasnt minced words on how hes felt about Gang Green all season, took the team and its front office to task.

The other gift thats gonna be one that helps someone immeasurably is the Jets releasing Dalvin Cook, Francscea said Thursday. Now, Dalvin Cook going to the Jets tells you all you need to know about the Jets front office ineptitude. They didnt need Dalvin Cook, and they never used Dalvin Cook. He was a waste of resources.

Fair point, but thats not precisely what Francesa said on Aug. 17, 2023, around the time when New York signed Cook to a one-year deal.

Add another one the other day in Cook, and if you listen to me through the years, you know from the day he arrived at Florida State, I have been a big Cook guy, Francesa said when highlighting what he perceived to be a loaded crop of talent around Rodgers. So, I like that move. And theyre loaded in the backfield.

Francesa is clearly contradicting himself here, and its not a great look for him to criticize the Jets for signing Cook when he was praising the move just a few months ago.

So, which is it, Mike? Is Dalvin Cook a brilliant signing or a wasted resource? Francesas flip-flopping leaves more questions than answers and raises concerns about the reliability of his opinions. Perhaps the next time he criticizes a move, its best to consult his own memory bank first.

[Funhouse]
This landmark agreement encompasses an Electric Vehicle Park, Charging Infrastructure, and Green Hydrogen initiatives, promising employment for 9000 individuals

DUBAI, UAE, Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Erisha E Mobility Private Limited (Erisha E Mobility), a pioneer in sustainable energy and electric vehicles, is set to reshape the future of mobility in India through a groundbreaking Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs) with the Government of Gujarat.

The MOU outlines a collaborative effort to explore, develop, and implement innovative solutions in the field of renewable energy, specifically focusing on Green Hydrogen production and to establish an Electric Vehicle (EV) Park and deploy 100 state-of-the-art EV charging hubs across Gujarat with the mega investment of USD830 million.

Dr. Darshan Rana, Chairman and Managing Director, Erisha E Mobility Private Limited commented, "We are excited to partner with the Gujarat Government in their mission to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles. Our expertise in electric mobility solutions, combined with the government's commitment to sustainability, will undoubtedly create a positive impact on the environment, accelerate the adoption of Green Hydrogen and drive economic growth."

This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was formalized in the presence of Hon'ble Chief Minister, Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel ji, Government of Gujarat and Dr. Darshan Rana, Chairman and Managing Director, Erisha E Mobility Private Limited.

The Electric Vehicle (EV) Park proposed in 320 acres with the investment of USD 180 million, is poised to become a hub for innovation, research, and development in the field of electric mobility. It will provide a platform for Electric Vehicles manufacturing, ancillary units set up, technology providers, and researchers to collaborate, fostering the growth of the electric vehicle ecosystem in Gujarat. The company is also committed to generate the employment of 5000 persons (Direct + Indirect).

Additionally, the project aims to establish a robust charging infrastructure with the installation of 100 Electric Vehicle charging hubs with the proposed investment of USD 50 million. This network will ensure convenient access to charging facilities, facilitating the adoption of electric vehicles.

With European partners in the field of Green Hydrogen, Erisha E Mobility Private Limited envisages to set up an ecosystem for Green Hydrogen using renewable resources of energy with the investment of USD 600 million and projected employment of 4000 persons (Direct + Indirect) in the state of Gujarat.

Visit: https://www.erishaev.com

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The framework extension agreement underlines the successful collaboration between Sensorion and the Institut Pasteur, involving the Hearing Institute, a research center of the Institut Pasteur, focused on the development of gene therapy programs

Two gene therapy development programs are currently being conducted under this agreement, including SENS-501 (OTOF-GT) and GJB2-GT. Sensorion submitted a Clinical Trial Application in July 2023 for SENS-501 to initiate a Phase 1/2 clinical trial in the United Kingdom (UK) and in the European Union (EU)

Regulatory News:

Sensorion (FR0012596468 ALSEN) a pioneering clinical-stage biotechnology company which specializes in the development of novel therapies to restore, treat and prevent within the field of hearing loss disorders, today announces that the research partnership framework agreement signed in 2019 with the Institut Pasteur1 (Paris, France) granting Sensorion an option for exclusive licenses to develop and market gene therapy drug candidates from collaborative projects to address unmet medical needs in the hearing field has been extended for a period of five years. The agreement has been amended to be extended up to December 31, 2028, to promote additional development gene therapy programs.

SENS-501, the most advanced program within the partnership that targets deafness caused by mutations in the gene coding for otoferlin, defined as a priority in 2019, has met its objectives. The successful completion of the efficacy preclinical package in the frame of the collaboration between Sensorion and the Institut Pasteur advanced the program with the development of the OTOF-GT product (SENS-501) towards clinical stage. A Clinical Trial Application (Audiogene, Phase 1/2 clinical study) has been submitted in July 2023 in the UK and in the EU to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of intra-cochlear injection of SENS-501 in patients suffering from otoferlin gene-mediated hearing loss.

The research partnership successfully led to a second gene therapy program with GJB2-GT, announced in 2021, for which a drug candidate, selected in April 2023, is currently in preclinical development. GJB2-GT targets deafness linked to mutations in the GJB2 gene, the most common form of childhood deafness. Three indications, all linked to GJB2 mutations, are currently being evaluated: early presbycusis, progressive hearing loss during childhood, and congenital hearing loss.

Over the past 25 years, the Institut Pasteur, has developed world-renowned expertise in the physiology and molecular pathophysiology of the auditory system with work carried out within the Institut Pasteur 's Genetics and Physiology of Hearing Unit, headed by Professor Christine Petit, and continuing within the Hearing Institute, a research center of the Institut Pasteur.

Sensorion has a preferential right on other Institut Pasteur preclinical research programs in the field of genetic diseases of the inner ear, with a view to establishing potential new collaborations.

Professor Christine Petit, Professor at the Institut Pasteur and Professor Emeritus at the College de France, France, Winner of the Kavli Prize in 2018, comments: "I am very satisfied with the progress of the partnership between the Institut Pasteur and Sensorion, and I am delighted that it has been extended. Over the past four years, our teams have achieved major milestones, enabling us to reach the clinical stage with our first gene therapy drug candidate in the field of deafness. We still have many challenges ahead of us to transform these scientific advances into innovations for the benefit of patients, whether in terms of advancing diagnosis and patient care, or developing curative treatments for hearing impairment."

Nawal Ouzren, Sensorion's Chief Executive Officer, adds: "By building on our partnership with the Institut Pasteur and its world-renowned scientific teams, and on the excellence of our development and production know-how, we have achieved, in just four years, a strategic turning point which today positions Sensorion among the leading players in gene therapy applied to hearing disorders. We are convinced that the continuation of the fruitful collaboration between the Institut Pasteur and Sensorion will contribute to the emergence of revolutionary new therapies for thousands of patients suffering from congenital deafness today

About Sensorion

Sensorion is a pioneering clinical-stage biotech company, which specializes in the development of novel therapies to restore, treat, and prevent hearing loss disorders, a significant global unmet medical need.

Sensorion has built a unique R&D technology platform to expand its understanding of the pathophysiology and etiology of inner ear related diseases, enabling it to select the best targets and mechanisms of action for drug candidates. It has two gene therapy programs aimed at correcting hereditary monogenic forms of deafness, developed in the framework of its broad strategic collaboration focused on the genetics of hearing with the Institut Pasteur. SENS-501 (OTOF-GT) targets deafness caused by mutations of the gene encoding for otoferlin and GJB2-GT targets hearing loss related to mutations in GJB2 gene to potentially address important hearing loss segments in adults and children. The Company is also working on the identification of biomarkers to improve diagnosis of these underserved illnesses.

Sensorion's portfolio also comprises clinical-stage small molecule programs for the treatment and prevention of hearing loss disorders. Sensorion's clinical-stage portfolio includes one Phase 2 product: SENS-401 (Arazasetron) progressing in a planned Phase 2 proof of concept clinical study of SENS-401 in Cisplatin-Induced Ototoxicity (CIO) and, with partner Cochlear Limited, in a study of SENS-401 in patients scheduled for cochlear implantation. A Phase 2 study of SENS-401 was also completed in Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSNHL) in January 2022.

www.sensorion.com

About Institut Pasteur

The Institut Pasteur, a non-profit foundation with recognized charitable status set up by Louis Pasteur in 1887, is today an internationally renowned center for biomedical research. In the pursuit of its mission to tackle diseases in France and throughout the world, the Institut Pasteur operates in four main areas: research, public health, training, and development of research applications. The Institut Pasteur is a globally recognized leader in infectious diseases, microbiology, and immunology, with research focusing on the biology of living systems. Among its areas of investigation are emerging infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, certain cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, and brain connectivity disorders. The Institut Pasteur's outstanding research is facilitated by the development of a technological environment of the highest standard, with core facilities for nanoimaging, computational biology and artificial intelligence. Since its inception, 10 Institut Pasteur scientists have been awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine, including two in 2008 for the 1983 discovery of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes AIDS.

The Institut Pasteur is part of the Pasteur Network, a worldwide network of more than 30 members on five continents, united by Pasteurian values, that contribute to global health.

Since July 1, 2021, the Institut Pasteur is a research partner organization of Universite Paris Cite.

www.pasteur.fr

Label: SENSORION

ISIN: FR0012596468

Mnemonic: ALSEN

Disclaimer

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements concerning Sensorion and its business. Such forward looking statements are based on assumptions that Sensorion considers to be reasonable. However, there can be no assurance that such forward-looking statements will be verified, which statements are subject to numerous risks, including the risks set forth in the 2022 full year financial report published on March 30, 2023, and available on our website and to the development of economic conditions, financial markets and the markets in which Sensorion operates. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to risks not yet known to Sensorion or not currently considered material by Sensorion. The occurrence of all or part of such risks could cause actual results, financial conditions, performance, or achievements of Sensorion to be materially different from such forward-looking statements. This press release and the information that it contains do not constitute an offer to sell or subscribe for, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase or subscribe for, Sensorion shares in any country. The communication of this press release in certain countries may constitute a violation of local laws and regulations. Any recipient of this press release must inform oneself of any such local restrictions and comply therewith.

______________________________

1 https://www.sensorion.com/en/category/press-releases/

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Contacts:

Investor Relations

Noemie Djokovic, Investor Relations and Communications Associate

ir.contact@sensorion-pharma.com

International Media Relations

Ulysse Communication

Pierre-Louis Germain 00 33 (0)6 64 79 97 51

plgermain@ulysse-communication.com

Bruno Arabian 00 (0)6 87 88 47 26

barabian@ulysse-communication.com

Institut Pasteur:

Margaux Puech Pays d'Alissac

Myriam Rebeyrotte

Aurelie Perthuison

presse@pasteur.fr
NOVI SAD, Serbia, Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- OBLO, a leading IoT solution provider specializing in smart home solutions as well as value-added services based on smart home solutions (safety, security, elderly care, home energy management service, and similar), is set to unveil its Matter controller functionality at CES 2024 in Las Vegas.

A distinguishing feature of OBLO's smart home solution is its unparalleled support for multiple protocols, seamlessly integrating leading communication standards such as ZigBee, Z-Wave, Philips Hue, Modbus, and more.

In a strategic move to embrace the future of smart home connectivity, OBLO joined the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) in mid-2023. The company's main objective is to make its smart home solution Matter compliant, aligning with the newly established industry-unifying standard.

At the IBC, Europe's leading telco show in September 2023, OBLO showcased its smart home solution on a set-top-box device, featuring Matter bridge functionality. This innovation enables commercial Matter controllers, such as Google Nest Hub 2 and Apple HomePod mini, to control, monitor, and voice-command smart home devices linked to the OBLO smart home controller.

Building on this success, OBLO is excited to announce the first implementation of Matter controller functionality at CES 2024. This implementation enables telco operators' customers using OBLO's smart home app to seamlessly control and monitor Matter-compliant smart home devices.

Moreover, OBLO offers expertise in developing various smart home devices, including dimmers, outlets, relays, sensors, and more. Companies seeking Matter compliance for their existing smart home devices are encouraged to reach out to OBLO for tailored solutions.

Certification of the Matter controller is anticipated by the end of January 2024, reinforcing OBLO's commitment to delivering cutting-edge and interoperable smart home solutions.

Join OBLO at CES 2024, taking place from January 9 to 12, 2024, at the Venetian Tower to experience the Matter controller functionality poised to revolutionize the smart home landscape.

For media inquiries and further information, contact OBLO at info@oblotech.com.

About OBLO:

OBLO combines world-class home automation and connectivity expertise across device hardware, embedded software, a world-class IoT platform, and the smartest applications, delivering breakthrough solutions for both residential and commercial markets.

We achieve this by building innovative solutions for the world's leading energy suppliers, insurance providers, telcos, and property developers.

OBLO is part of the RT-RK group, the leading embedded software development house in Europe. For more information, visit https://oblotech.com/.

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SHENZHEN, China, Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Thousands of investors, startups, and industry enthusiasts packed the house and tuned in as the 2023 PHBS-CJBS Global Pitch Competition wrapped up. The spectacular grand final event took place in December, revealing the year's winners and other major announcements.

Initiated in 2020 by Peking University HSBC Business School (PHBS) and Cambridge Judge Business School (CJBS), the Global Pitch Competition saw almost 200 high-quality startups worldwide participate in its fourth edition, pitching their innovations in diverse fields such as new energy and green economy, artificial intelligence, biotech and medtech, and smart manufacturing.

A series of pitching rounds throughout 2023 narrowed the competition down to ten domestic and international finalists, each presenting their business plan at the grand final to the judging panel of esteemed scholars, investors, and entrepreneurs. Six finalists were announced as third place and three as runner-up-and the winning prize went to E3A Healthcare, a startup established in 2019 at the National University of Singapore, for its first-in-class medical devices and health management solutions tailored to newborns' and women's health care.

Supported by the Shenzhen Municipal Development and Reform Commission, the Science and Technology Innovation Committee, and many well-known venture capital institutions, incubators, scientific research institutes, and industry leaders, the PHBS-CJBS Global Pitch Competition has continued to grow over the past four years, reflecting the schools' global influence in the field of venture capital and passion for nurturing startup communities.

Celebrating the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship, the event also launched two new institutes established and sponsored by PHBS. The first one is the Qianhai Institute of China-Britain International Innovation Space, located at the Qianhai International Talent Hub, which aims to offer comprehensive support to startups. The second one, the Innovation Engine, is run by PHBS' Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship and will work with professional mentors to provide guidance and incubation for science and engineering students as well as scholars with entrepreneurial ideas.

The grand final ended by kicking off the 2024 PHBS-CJBS Global Pitch Competition, with a continued focus on early-stage technology teams that have yet to reach the Series B funding stage. The first roadshow will be held in January, and finals will be held in October next year. For participation inquiries, email competition@phbs.pku.edu.cn or register your program at https://jinshuju.net/f/bYTXNs.

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Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 5, 2024) - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. (CSE: HBFG) (OTCQB: VGANF) ("Happy Belly" or the "Company"), a leading consolidator of emerging food brands is pleased to announce it has signed as of January 4th, 2023, a binding LOI agreement to acquire 100% of CraveIt Restaurant Group's ("CraveIt") Via Cibo Restaurant Chain ("Via Cibo"), serving fast casual Italian street food made with the best traditional ingredients.



"Happy Belly starts 2024 with the signing of the largest M&A it has conducted to date. This marks a significant stride forward in our journey to becoming a leading consolidator of emerging food brands. This acquisition represents the incorporation of our 7th restaurant brand, and our 9th brand overall."



"Via Cibo Restaurants, an all-franchised system, is and asset-light entity with established street-front real estate locations in both Ontario and Alberta. Furthermore, Via Cibo is debt free and cashflow positive. This acquisition fits the exact financial metrics and belly check criteria Happy Belly is looking for," said Shawn Moniz, Chief Executive Officer of Happy Belly.



"As part of our accelerated M&A program, we have successfully executed another 100% acquisition, bringing seven (7) franchised Via Cibo restaurants into our portfolio across Ontario and Alberta. Additionally, we welcome four (4) Reef Kitchen locations in Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario, marking our entry into the ghost kitchen category - a significant addition to our expanding brand portfolio."

Via Cibo 1

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This transaction is non-arms length, involving board members of Happy Belly, namely Sean Black, Alex Rechichi, and Mark Rechichi. To ensure transparency and fairness, an independent Review Committee comprising of Shawn Moniz, Gary Fung, Kevin Cole and Dean Callaway was established to scrutinize and negotiate the transaction's terms.



"This acquisition symbolizes the culmination of having our entire team, both management and directors alike, aligned and 100% focused on propelling Happy Belly's growth. It consolidates all our resources, infrastructure, and seasoned operators under one roof of operational excellence all rowing the same boat. This accretive acquisition checks a lot of boxes, and enhances our ability to scale and integrate future brands such as Via Cibo into Happy Belly's accelerated growth model. We felt at this stage of growth in the journey of both organizations that it made perfect sense to bring CraveIT and its Via Cibo brand into the Happy Belly family as we focus on scaling operations in 2024."



"There are significant synergies that Happy Belly will immediately benefit from including seamless integration into established frameworks for supplier contracts, rebate system integration, ordering and logistical systems, utilization of Learning Management Systems across franchised brands, shared resources encompassing culinary, accounting and marketing staff for increased labour and productivity efficiencies, performance based analytical systems, insurance coverage savings and much more."



"Over the past twenty-four months Happy Belly has strategically onboarded former successful team members from both Extreme Brandz and CraveIt spanning various disciplines such as finance, seasoned area developers, legal counsel, real estate networks, and brand franchise operators and owners. With the addition of CraveIt's infrastructure, we have now assembled the final piece of the puzzle that began over two years ago with the inclusion of Sean, Mark, and Alex on the board of directors. With this next step of acquiring CraveIt, we are now all operating behind Happy Belly to accelerate its growth into a leading consolidator of emerging food brands."

Via Cibo 2

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Acquisition Details



Happy Belly and CraveIt have signed a binding LOI agreement for the 100% acquisition of CraveIt Restaurant Group. The accretive transaction is based on a post close 12-month earn out agreement based on 6.0x EBITDA and will be paid in all stock. Projected system sales for franchised and Reef kitchen locations in 2024 is $9,650,000. This is a friendly acquisition to Happy Belly and its shareholders as the earn-out is being conducted at a point in time where Happy Belly's stock price is at a two-year high and all issued shares will be registered to insiders, further increasing insider ownership. This shows a real commitment by the founders of CraveIt in the longevity and future success of Happy Belly. Upon close a portion of the earn-out will be issued in restricted stock and issued to the insiders of Sean Black, Mark Rechichi and Alex Rechichi.

The Company anticipates the closing of this agreement to take place within Q1 2024.

Via Cibo 3

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"Our approach has always been to focus on the development and growth of emerging brands in the food sector. CraveIt Restaurant Group will be an accretive acquisition by Happy Belly Food Group, and it is anticipated that our franchising program will deliver new franchised locations that will continue to drive both the top line and bottom line of the company."



For franchising inquiries please see www.happybellyfg.com/franchise-with-us/ or contact us at hello@happybellyfg.com.

About Happy Belly Food Group

Happy Belly Food Group Inc. (CSE: HBFG) (OTCQB: VGANF) ("Happy Belly" or the "Company") is a leading consolidator of emerging food brands.

Happy Belly Food Group

Shawn Moniz

Chief Executive Officer

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT:

www: www.happybellyfg.com or email hello@happybellyfg.com

If you wish to contact us please call: (604) 737-2303



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 press release, which has been prepared by management.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking information" with respect to the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur, and include the future performance of Happy Belly. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. There are no assurances that the business plans for Happy Belly described in this news release will come into effect on the terms or time frame described herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis and other disclosure filings with Canadian securities regulators, which are posted on www.sedarplus.com.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/193283

SOURCE: Happy Belly Food Group Inc.
- Following EMA, FDA accepted BLA for DMB-3115

Dong-A ST (President/CEO Min-young Kim, KRX:170900) announced that Accord BioPharma, Inc., a subsidiary of Intas Pharmaceuticals Ltd, in the United States has received a notification that the US Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") has accepted its Biologics License Application (BLA) for DMB-3115, a proposed biosimilar to Stelara (Ustekinumab), for substantive review.

The BLA was submitted to the FDA by Accord BioPharma on October 9, 2023 and the MAA (Marketing Authorization Application) was submitted to the EMA earlier in June 2023 by Accord Healthcare, Ltd., a European and UK subsidiary of Intas Pharmaceuticals.

The BLA leverages the analytical similarity assessment data between EU and US sourced Stelara and DMB-3115. A global clinical Phase III trial was performed on patients with moderate-to-severe chronic plaque psoriasis. DMB-3115 displayed therapeutic equivalence with Stelara and showed no statistically significant difference in safety.

Stelara, developed by Janssen Biotech Inc., is a blockbuster drug approved to treat inflammatory diseases such as plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis. It recorded USD 17.77 billion in sales (IQVIA Accumulative Sales) in 2022 and is one of the world's best-selling biologics.

Dong-A Socio Holdings and Meiji Seika Pharma began joint development of DMB-3115 in 2013. The rights of Dong-A Socio Holdings for R&D and commercialization were transferred to Dong-A ST in July 2020 for efficient project management. Since then, Dong-A ST and Meiji Seika Pharma worked together to develop the drug.

In July 2021, Dong-A ST signed a global license-out contract with Intas Pharmaceuticals. Intas Pharmaceuticals plans to commercialize DMB-3115 through Accord BioPharma (US), Accord Healthcare (EU, UK, and Canada), and other subsidiaries around the world. Dong-A ST and Meiji Seika Pharma are responsible for DMB-3115 R&D and will exclusively supply the product to Intas Pharmaceuticals, Accord BioPharma, and Accord Healthcare.

Jae-Hong Park, CSO of Dong-A ST, stated, "The DMB-3115 marketing application for the US has been submitted following the submission in the EU by leveraging therapeutic equivalence and safety data between DMB-3115 and Stelara," adding, "We will spare no efforts in working with Intas Pharmaceuticals through the remaining application process to supply DMB-3115 to the global markets, such as the US and the EU."

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Contacts:

Shin-Hee Park

+82-32-610-2481

sh-park@donga.co.kr
Virica Biotech Inc. ("Virica"), a leading developer of cell enhancers for scaling of viral vectors, as well as cell and gene therapies, announced today the expansion of their sales team along with a full presentation calendar.

Azra Benson, a veteran stem cell scientist with extensive commercial experience in the cell and gene therapy space, joins Virica as head of global sales. Ms. Benson previously held sales and business development roles at market leaders including Cytiva, Aldevron, and Catalent.

Azra Benson's appointment comes at a time of significant momentum for Virica as customers are looking for solutions to improve the yield of viral vectors and the quality of their cell and gene therapy applications.

"An exciting first quarter lies ahead because we know the impact our viral enhancers can make on driving down the upstream costs to make cell and gene therapies more accessible and affordable," said Beth Thompson-Webb, chief commercial officer at Virica.

Virica's award-winning scientists have become recognized thought leaders in innate cellular antiviral defenses. Through their outreach efforts, the industry is becoming increasingly aware of the impact of antiviral defenses on viral vector yields and is turning to Virica for their Viral Sensitizer (VSETM) platform and streamlined workflows to help unlock the potential of therapeutics.

Full Presentation Calendar for Q1:

January 8-11: Virica will be in San Francisco during the Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference providing updates to investors and meeting with companies and collaborators.

January 18: Virica's platform technology is nominated for Disruptive Technology of the Year at the Advanced Therapies Week Awards.

at the Advanced Therapies Week Awards. January 25: Virica will present at a Cell and Gene Insights webinar new process modelling data and insights on the latest cell enhancing technologies.

webinar new process modelling data and insights on the latest cell enhancing technologies. February 4-8: Virica will be presenting at the ECI: Advancing Manufacture of Cell and Gene Therapies VIII in Coranada, CA

March 18-20: Virica will be presenting at BioEurope Spring, in Barcelona, Spain

About Virica Biotech

Virica develops viral enhancers which optimize the manufacturing of viral vectors and cell and gene therapies, allowing developers to economically deploy their products at scale. Virica's Viral Sensitizer (VSE) platform reduces production inefficiencies caused by innate anti-viral defenses in manufacturing cells. Purpose formulated VSE combinations substantially increase manufacturing yields and reduce the cost of goods for a range of products, including vaccines, gene therapies, and cell therapies. www.viricabiotech.com

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Contacts:

Media contact:

Jennifer Cameron; communications@viricabiotech.com 1-902-209-4704
CHICAGO, Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global machine condition monitoring market size is expected to grow from USD 3.1 billion in 2024 to USD 4.7 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 8.3% from 2024 to 2029 according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. Cloud technology enables access to maintenance data anywhere in the world through devices such as personal computers, tablets, or smartphones. This data is available to any stakeholder with approved access, including third-party analysts, without requiring any additional expensive infrastructure. Cloud computing reduces operating costs and ensures easy data maintenance. It offers data flexibility and provides unlimited storage and secure networking options. Thus, the advent of cloud computing platforms with a significant focus on cyber security is expected to fuel the growth of the machine condition monitoring market.

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Machine Condition Monitoring Market Report Scope:

Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2024 $ 3.1 billion Estimated Value by 2029 $ 4.7 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 8.3% Market Size Available for 2020-2029 Forecast Period 2024-2029 Forecast Units Value (USD Million/Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered By Technique, Offering and Region Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of World Key Market Challenge Unavailability of technical expertise at remote locations Key Market Opportunities Integration of big data analytics and machine learning in machine condition monitoring Key Market Drivers Rising inclination towards wireless communication technology



The market for vibration monitoring technique segment is expected to gain a significant market share during the forecast period.

Vibration meters are the basic data logger devices representing machine vibration readings. Most vibration meters are battery-operated and consist of monochrome or digital LCD. These devices are portable and present a simple and convenient way to monitor vibrations. However, unlike vibration analyzers, they provide simple readings onscreen with no alarm level or reference to the previous readings or perhaps vibration standards in rotating machines. Further, portable vibration analyzers are effective, convenient, accurate, and mobile tools that have feature memories to store the vibration measurement data for further analysis.

On-premises segment is expected to hold a substantial market share during the forecast period.

Machine condition monitoring solutions and systems are deployed at the user's premises to ensure complete control over the data flow, enabling data security. This is one of the key reasons for adopting the on-premises machine condition monitoring solutions and systems. On-premises machine condition monitoring solutions and systems collect real-time data with high accuracy, reducing the response time to resolve issues. Machine condition monitoring solutions deployed on the company premises ensure complete control and security of its data. This leads to increased adoption of on-premises solutions. However, high installation, setup, and maintenance costs restrict the adoption of on-premises deployment of machine condition monitoring solutions and systems.

Aerospace industry segment to grow at an impressive CAGR during the forecast period.

Aerospace is a rapidly growing industry, and there is a constant need to enhance the reliability of machines to avoid production losses occurring due to machinery breakdowns. In aircraft manufacturing, more than one condition monitoring technology is used to monitor the condition of critical machines, resulting in the generation of large volumes of data. Advanced algorithms are used to develop condition monitoring systems and solutions to accommodate various analytical technologies. The use of artificial intelligence for condition monitoring enables companies to efficiently detect potential faults in machinery, thereby minimizing production losses.

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North America is expected to hold a significant market share of the machine condition monitoring market during the forecast period.

The machine condition monitoring industry in North America has been studied for the US, Canada, and Mexico. Machine condition monitoring systems can accurately forecast equipment failure, helping organizations reduce their maintenance and operational expenses and financial losses witnessed due to unplanned downtime. North America accounts for a significant share of the machine condition monitoring market, and it is one of the most advanced regions in terms of technology adoption and infrastructure development. Further, factors such as the rising focus of manufacturing firms on optimum asset management and resource utilization; tight government regulations related to workplace and personnel safety; and stringent quality control standards required to be followed by companies from the oil & gas, chemicals, and food & beverages industries accelerate the demand for machine condition monitoring systems in North America.

Key Players

The key players in the machine condition monitoring companies include Emerson Electric Co. (US), Honeywell International Inc. (US), PARKER HANNIFIN CORP. (US), Rockwell Automation (US), General Electric (US), Amphenol Corporation (US) and others.

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The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing.

Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry.

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CHICAGO, Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The market for managed SIEM services will see growth in the next years as a result of a lack of skilled workers, integration with cutting-edge technologies like AI and ML, a move towards cloud-based solutions, and an emphasis on solving cybersecurity issues for small and medium-sized businesses. Furthermore, a tendency is observed towards progressive services like Managed Detection and Response (MDR), improved compliance solutions, and customisation to fulfil the specific requirements of enterprises in a constantly changing threat environment.

The global Managed SIEM Services Market is estimated to be worth USD 7.5 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 16.0 billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 16.3% during the forecast period, according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. The accelerated growth of the Managed SIEM Services Market is propelled by an amalgamation of factors, including the relentless evolution of cyber threats, the imperative for organizations to fortify their digital defenses, and the increasing complexity of IT infrastructures. This surge in demand is further intensified by a global shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals, prompting businesses to turn to managed services for expert assistance. Additionally, the advent of technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning in SIEM solutions drives the market forward, enhancing the efficiency of threat detection and response. Furthermore, the rise in remote work and the expanding attack surface due to the proliferation of connected devices contribute to the heightened need for proactive security measures; positioning managed SIEM services as a strategic imperative for organizations aiming to safeguard their digital assets in an ever-evolving threat landscape.

Browse in-depth TOC on "Managed SIEM Services Market"

352 - Tables

45 - Figures

277 - Pages

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Scope of the Report

Report Metrics Details Market size available for years 2018-2028 Base year considered 2022 Forecast period 2023-2028 Forecast units Value (USD) Million/Billion Segments Covered By application, type, deployment mode, organization size, and vertical Region covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and Latin America Companies covered AT&T (US), Advantio (Spain), BlueVoyant (US), BT (UK), CyberCX (Australia), Capgemini (France), GoSecure (US), Cyderes (US), IBM (US), Integrity360 (Ireland), Redscan (UK), NCC Group (UK), NTT (Japan), Optiv (US), Proficio (US), ReliaQuest (US), SharkStriker (US), Stratejm (Canada), Talion (UK), TCS (India), Trustwave (US), Unisys (US), Verizon (US), Vodafone (UK), Wipro (India), Rapid7 (US), ManageEngine (US), Sumo Logic (US)

By Deployment Mode, the cloud segment to register the highest growth rate during the forecast period.

The Managed SIEM Services Market anticipates the cloud segment to exhibit the highest growth rate during the forecast period, underlining the increasing preference for cloud-based deployments. As organizations embrace digital transformation, the cloud's inherent advantages, such as scalability, agility, and accessibility, make it a compelling choice for deploying SIEM services. Cloud-based managed SIEM solutions offer businesses the flexibility to adapt to dynamic cybersecurity landscapes, enabling rapid deployment, updates, and efficient scaling to meet evolving security needs. The growing adoption of hybrid and multi-cloud environments further fuels this trend, with organizations seeking centralized and integrated security solutions that seamlessly span their diverse IT infrastructure. As the demand for robust, easily accessible, and scalable cybersecurity solutions continues to rise, the cloud segment is poised to be a key driver, experiencing notable growth in the Managed SIEM Services Market.

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Based on organization size, the small and medium-sized enterprises segment is to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

In the forecast period, the small and medium-sized enterprises segment is poised to experience the highest Compound Annual Growth Rate within the Managed SIEM Services Market, signaling a significant shift towards cybersecurity prioritization among smaller businesses. SMEs are increasingly recognizing the critical importance of robust security measures to protect their digital assets and sensitive data. Managed SIEM services offer these organizations a cost-effective and scalable solution to bolster their cybersecurity postures without the need for substantial in-house resources. As cyber threats evolve, SMEs are turning to managed services for expert security monitoring, threat detection, and incident response. The scalability and tailored offerings of managed SIEM services make them particularly attractive to smaller enterprises looking to navigate the complex cybersecurity landscape efficiently and ensure the resilience of their digital operations. This anticipated growth in the SME segment underscores the increasing awareness and adoption of proactive cybersecurity measures among smaller organizations.

Asia Pacific to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

The Managed SIEM Services Market in the Asia Pacific region is poised for accelerated growth, fueled by a convergence of factors uniquely shaped by the region's burgeoning digital transformation. As countries across the Asia Pacific witness a rapid increase in online connectivity, cloud adoption, and digitization, the demand for robust cybersecurity solutions, particularly managed SIEM services, is on the rise. The diverse and evolving threat landscape in the region, combined with a growing awareness of cybersecurity best practices, is compelling businesses to invest in proactive security measures. Additionally, the region's regulatory landscape is evolving, with a heightened focus on data protection and privacy, further driving the need for comprehensive managed SIEM services. The flexibility and scalability of these services align well with the dynamic nature of the Asia Pacific market, making them a strategic choice for organizations aiming to fortify their cybersecurity defenses in the face of an ever-expanding digital ecosystem.

Top Key Companies in Managed SIEM Services Market:

The major players in the Managed SIEM Services Market are AT&T (US), Advantio (Spain), BlueVoyant (US), BT (UK), CyberCX (Australia), Capgemini (France), GoSecure (US), Cyderes (US), IBM (US), Integrity360 (Ireland), Redscan (UK), NCC Group (UK), NTT (Japan), Optiv (US), Proficio (US), ReliaQuest (US), SharkStriker (US), Stratejm (Canada), Talion (UK), TCS (India), Trustwave (US), Unisys (US), Verizon (US), Vodafone (UK), Wipro (India), Rapid7 (US), ManageEngine (US), Sumo Logic (US).

Recent Developments

Nov 2023 - ConnectWise announced improved alerting for its security information and event management (SIEM) solutions as part of its Cybersecurity Management advancements to enhance threat detection. By producing high-fidelity notifications that identify which occurrences are important and which are not, the system reduces the time needed for triage and investigation. TSPs may respond more proactively to any security events and have better visibility into threats by enhancing threat detection using the SIEM's enhanced alerting feature.

Apr 2023 - A recent ManageEngine survey indicates that there is a cybersecurity labor shortage in organizations right now. Given budgetary restrictions and the present state of the economy, it is challenging for businesses to solve security issues and advance to a higher security maturity level. Moreover, companies are discovering that the total cost of managed security services is less than that of implementing and maintaining security systems, such as SIEM solutions. These reasons have led to an increase in businesses turning to MSSPs for their security requirements.

Oct 2022 - Through a workflow for threat detection, investigation, and response, the new Exabeam Security Operations Platform is intended to provide security teams with the "greatest fighting chance" of beating adversaries. The three main components of New-Scale SIEM-cloud-scale security log management, behavioral analytics, and an automated investigative experience-are combined in the new product portfolio.

Sep 2021 - Wipro and Securonix have announced a partnership that combines Wipro's global reach and cybersecurity intelligence capabilities with Securonix's cloud-first SIEM, analytics-driven detection, and automated response tools to give organizations better governance and security threat protection.

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Managed SIEM Services Market Advantages:

Constant, round-the-clock observation of security events and occurrences, enabling prompt reaction to security problems and real-time threat identification.

By using advanced correlation and analysis of security event data, proactive detection of possible security threats and anomalies can assist stop security breaches before they get worse.

Availability of an expert team of cybersecurity specialists with experience in event and log analysis and interpretation, guaranteeing precise threat assessments.

With the incident investigation and response capabilities provided by managed SIEM services, security issues may be thoroughly examined and possible harm can be effectively mitigated.

Effective log management and storage, guaranteeing that security event logs are kept for the right amount of time in order to comply with regulations, conduct forensic analysis, and provide historical context.

SIEM systems should be adjusted to minimise false positives, reduce alert fatigue, and free up security professionals to concentrate on real threats.

Economical cybersecurity option as opposed to upkeep of an internal SIEM system. Through managed services, businesses may take use of cutting-edge security knowledge without devoting a significant amount of internal resources.

Report Objectives

To define, describe, and forecast the Managed SIEM Services Market based on segments application, type, deployment mode, organization size, vertical with regions covered.

To forecast the size of the market segments with respect to five regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA), and Latin America.

To provide detailed information on the major factors (drivers, opportunities, threats, and challenges) influencing the growth of the Managed SIEM Services Market.

To analyze each submarket with respect to individual growth trends, prospects, and contributions to the global Managed SIEM Services Market.

To analyze opportunities in the market for stakeholders by identifying high-growth segments of the global Managed SIEM Services Market.

To profile the key market players, such as top and emerging vendors; provide a comparative analysis based on their business overviews, product offerings, and business strategies; and illustrate the market's competitive landscape.

To track and analyze competitive developments in the market, such as new product launches, product enhancements, partnerships, acquisitions, and agreements and collaborations.

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About MarketsandMarkets

MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America's best management consulting firms by Forbes, as per their recent report.

MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients.

Earlier this year, we made a formal transformation into one of America's best management consulting firms as per a survey conducted by Forbes.

The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing.

Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry.

To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

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BANGALORE, India, Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Electro-Mechanical Brake System Market is Segmented by Type (Caliper-Based EMB System, Drum Brake System ), by Application (Automotive, Aerospace, Rail): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2024-2029. It is Published in Valuates Reports Under the Category of Vehicle Parts & Services .

The Global Market for Electro-Mechanical Brake (EMB) System is projected to reach a revised size of USD 549.60 Million by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 255.12% during the forecast period 2024-2029.

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Major Factors Driving the Growth of EMB System Market:

Environmental concerns and strict pollution rules are driving a paradigm change in the automobile industry towards electric and hybrid cars, positioning EMB systems as essential parts of contemporary braking technology. The adoption of these systems is mostly driven by the inherent safety advantages, which include reduced danger of fluid leakage, accurate control, and quick reaction times.

With the car industry moving towards lighter design trends to improve fuel economy, EMB systems that do not require bulky hydraulic components meet industry goals. Growth in the industry is also fueled by EMB systems' compatibility with regenerative braking for increased energy economy and their connection with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) .

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TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF ELECTRO-MECHANICAL BRAKE (EMB) SYSTEM MARKET:

The enhanced safety and performance features that EMB systems provide are among the main drivers driving the market's expansion. EMB systems offer fine-grained control over braking forces, resulting in improved vehicle stability and quicker reaction times. Reliability and safety are enhanced by the removal of hydraulic components, which lowers the possibility of braking fluid leaks, an important consideration for both producers and customers. The EMB System market has grown tremendously as a result of the global transition towards electric cars (EVs). EMB systems are becoming essential parts of electric and hybrid cars as the automotive industry embraces electrification. EMB systems' regenerative braking characteristics and smooth integration with electric powertrains position them as important enablers.

The adoption of EMB systems has been fueled by the car industry's emphasis on lightweight design to improve fuel efficiency. Because there are no bulky hydraulic components in these systems, they are naturally lighter than conventional hydraulic brakes. The weight decrease improves the vehicle's overall efficiency and is consistent with the industry's emphasis on environmental impact and sustainability. One major factor propelling expansion is the combination of EMB systems with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). ADAS technology and EMB systems may work together smoothly to provide features like adaptive cruise control, collision avoidance, and autonomous emergency braking. The market need for EMB systems is increased by the growing integration of these cutting-edge technologies in contemporary automobiles.

One of the features that makes EMB systems unique is regenerative braking, which has become popular due to the emphasis on energy conservation in automobiles. EMB systems are appealing to manufacturers and ecologically aware customers because of their capacity to store and transform kinetic energy into electrical energy during braking, hence improving fuel efficiency and minimizing environmental effects. There are a lot of potential prospects in the EMB systems aftermarket. The aftermarket is seeing a surge in demand for replacement and upgrade alternatives as the installed base of vehicles with EMB systems expands. The market for electro-mechanical brake systems is growing and will continue to expand as a result of the expansion of aftermarket services.

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EMB SYSTEM MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS

The growing automobile industries in China, Japan, and South Korea are major factors in the adoption of Electro-Mechanical Brake (EMB) Systems in the Asia-Pacific area. Asia-Pacific's increased emphasis on technical innovation and the region's fast growth in the electric and hybrid vehicle sectors position it as a major player in the worldwide EMB System market. Initiatives from the government that support electric transportation also accelerate the installation of EMB systems in the area.

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Key Players:

ZF Friedrichshafen AG

Bosch

Continental AG

WABCO Holdings Inc

Brembo S p A

Knorr Bremse AG

Zhejiang VIE Science & Technology Co.,Ltd.

KSR International Co.

Hitachi Automotive Systems

Haldex

Meidensha Corporation

Akebono Brake Industry Co Ltd

Hyundai Mobis Co. Ltd.

TWR Automotive Holdings Corp.

KEB Hana Technology Corp.

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / January 5, 2024 / International Paper Company

On National Bird Day, International Paper (IP) and longtime partner National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) are seeing the direct effects of forest habitat restoration and sustainable forest management to bird populations within the Mississippi Alluvial Valley, where 40% of North America's waterfowl and 60% of all U.S. migratory bird species return each year.

Thanks in part to grants provided by NFWF and IP through their Forestland Stewards Partnership, there is hope for northern pintails, mallards, Swainson's warblers and a host of other wetland and forest dwelling birds that need healthy forests to survive and thrive. The partnership provides grants to local partners, including the Mississippi River Trust, to work directly with private landowners to voluntarily plant trees and sustainably manage existing forests. These activities support healthy habitats for birds that feast on insects, acorns and other food sources that come from a well-managed forest. To date, the Forestland Stewards Partnership has supported projects that once completed will collectively have restored, enhanced or protected more than 150,000 acres of bottomland hardwood and wetland habitat in the region.

"When you can see the bright yellow, black-capped Kentucky warblers foraging for food in the understory of a bottomland hardwood forest, the value of proper forest management is clear," said James Cummins, president of the Mississippi River Trust. "Healthy forests support all wildlife, from species that find their food on the forest floors, to those that thrive in healthy wetlands, to those that nest in the treetops."

Bottomland forests, crucial to birds such as the Kentucky warblers, once covered more than 24 million acres within the Mississippi Alluvial Valley, which encompasses portions of seven states, stretching from the southern end of Illinois to coastal Louisiana. By the 1990s, however, less than 25 percent of this forest cover remained, primarily due to conversion to cropland. Through forest restoration, habitat enhancement, wetlands improvements and voluntary conservation easements protection, the partnership aims to work in collaboration with landowners to find ways that ensure the area continues to serve as a sustainable part-time home for migratory birds, waterfowl and for birds that live there year-round while also supporting the surrounding communities.

The success of these efforts relies heavily on collaboration between public and private partners, including the voluntary participation of private landowners which own much of the land in this region. Current efforts include work on private and state lands in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana, which are important to the Kentucky warbler, Swainson's warblers, American green-winged teal and other waterfowl species. Here, partners are engaging landowners through education and by providing technical and financial assistance to better manage their forests, balancing economic needs while also helping wildlife and demonstrating how sustainable forestry is good for the community and wildlife alike.

Other key funding partners supporting projects in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley through the Forestland Stewards partnership include the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Walton Family Foundation.

About International Paper

International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a global producer of planet-friendly packaging, pulp and other fiber-based products, and one of North America's largest recyclers. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., we employ approximately 39,000 colleagues globally who are committed to creating what's next. We serve customers worldwide, with manufacturing operations in North America, Latin America, North Africa and Europe. Net sales for 2022 were $21.2 billion. Additional information can be found by visiting www.internationalpaper.com

About the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

Chartered by Congress in 1984, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) protects and restores the nation's fish, wildlife, plants and habitats. Working with federal, corporate, foundation and individual partners, NFWF has funded more than 6,000 organizations and generated a total conservation impact of $8.1 billion. NFWF is an equal opportunity provider. Learn more at nfwf.org.

###

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SOURCE: International Paper Company

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / January 5, 2024 / TriplePundit

Words by Riya Anne Polcastro

Originally published on TriplePundit

Fiesta Subaru is living up to its name in a big way. The Albuquerque, New Mexico, retailer brought the pet party directly to its campus with a brand new dog park. And it's giving pet lovers a reason to celebrate by hosting on-site adoption events to connect shelter animals with their loving families. It's all a part of the Subaru commitment to improve the lives of as many shelter animals as possible.

Pups on parade at Fiesta Subaru of Albuquerque

Fiesta Subaru has helped facilitate the adoption of 95 pets through the Subaru Loves Pets adoption campaign since 2020. "We host a pet adoption event roughly every six weeks," Alexandra Kulach of Fiesta Subaru told TriplePundit. The number of dogs available to adopt has ranged anywhere from six to eight puppies in the same litter, to larger groups of 15 to 20 dogs. Moving forward, Kulach is excited about the opportunity to host a bigger cohort of potential adoptees thanks to the retailer's new dog park and expanded facility. "We're going to be able to connect even more animals to their forever home," she beamed.

"We're hoping to have a lot more people, too," Kulach said, describing the next event as a big shindig complete with food trucks and a pet frame for photo ops. Subaru owners are encouraged to come out with their pets, even if they're not looking to adopt. "We are planning to have a really fun food truck come out. They're called Dawgs for a Cause, and they donate a portion of their proceeds from the day to charity as well," she added.

Fiesta Subaru's pet adoption events are already enormously successful. "There have been two instances in which we've hosted these pet adoption events and the dogs have all been adopted before we are even supposed to get started," Kulach said. "The shelter had to then go back and bring more dogs, which was pretty exciting. Having the community come out and be so interested in adopting these dogs has been such a fun experience."

Fiesta Subaru also helps new pet parents get a leg up from the get-go with a starter kit. "The New Pet Parent Kits are stocked full of goodies. There's a bowl, as well as leash and bandana, and a waste bag holder," Kulach said. "They also receive educational pamphlets that describe the responsibilities of pet care as well as how to keep your pet safe." The pamphlets are also on display at the retailer for Subaru Loves Pets month in October. "Any customers who visit us can take one and have that information available to them," she added.

As a prominent promoter of pet adoption, Subaru of America and its retailers have been inspiring customers to drive off the lot not just in a new car, but with a new furry family member as well for quite some time now. TriplePundit previously covered Maryland-based Fitzgerald Subaru's adoption events, which have been going on regularly since 2014. Nationally, the automaker has partnered with auto shows since 2018, bringing adoptable pups to dozens of expos each year.

A purr-fect partnership

Fiesta Subaru hosts these pet adoption events in partnership with Watermelon Mountain Ranch, New Mexico's largest no-kill animal shelter. "Watermelon Mountain Ranch Animal Center, located in northern Rio Rancho, is honored and humbled to be able to partner with Fiesta Subaru," said Sara Heffern, executive director of the shelter about 15 miles outside Albuquerque.

"That hits hard for us, and it's something we're passionate about," Derek Kulach of Fiesta Subaru said of the shelter's no-kill status. "Which is why they are not only our Subaru Loves Pets partner, but they're also one of our partners for the Share the Love Event."

In addition to the big pet adoption event in October, Fiesta Subaru pledges $250 for every car sold during the Subaru Share the Love Event, which runs from mid-November to January. "And that's matched by Subaru of America as well," he explained.

"The money that has been donated to our organization over the last several years has helped to save thousands of pets' lives," Heffern said. "Being a Subaru Share the Love Event partner has meant the absolute world to us, and being able to hold adoption events regularly at Fiesta Subaru has been absolutely amazing."

It's a rewarding experience for the Fiesta Subaru team as well. They've been able to donate over $40,000 to support the cats and dogs at Watermelon Mountain Ranch since 2020. And, together with the funds matched by Subaru of America, nearly $80,000 has been donated so far.

Overall, Subaru and its retailers have donated over $51 million to national and local organizations, supporting the rescue, transportation and adoption of over 420,000 pets.

In addition to local retailers helping shelters like Watermelon Mountain Ranch, Subaru is also the largest corporate donor to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), and since 2008 has donated over $35 million to the organization. That money makes a big difference considering nearly 6.3 million companion animals enter shelters nationwide every year, according to the ASPCA. Housing, caring for, adopting out, and returning strays to their owners doesn't come cheap, after all. And by bringing dogs into the public domain and involving the community, Fiesta Subaru and Subaru of America are doing their part to get animals out of shelters and into loving homes.

Paws down, this Subaru retailer has a purpose-based design

Pet adoption events are poised to get even bigger thanks to the new onsite dog park at Fiesta Subaru. "This new facility was built with purpose for events like this, from where the location of the dog park is to how the facility is set up to be able to support bigger events," Kulach said. "Now that we're in the new facility and operating out of there, I think it's something that's going to be an ever-growing thing for us."

The dog park features a traditional double-gate entry so the pets are kept safe, as well as a water station, trash cans for pet waste, trees for shade, and a bench for pet parents to rest. "It's been a great success," Alexandra Kulach said. "We continually have customers using it. They really seem to enjoy it, and the dogs especially enjoy it. You always hear dogs barking when you're outside because they're playing around all day long."

It's not just customers' dogs either - Subaru employees are free to bring their dogs to work with them as well. "It brings a great energy to our store and it's fun to have all the pets around," she added. The team at Fiesta Subaru says they're eager to see some of the pets from their adoption events frolicking at the dog park in the near future. And, as one of five Albuquerque businesses that are trained to scan for microchips, they're also proud to be a part of the solution helping to reunite lost pets with their families.

The retailer even has its own resident rescue - a cat named ONI. "When we first acquired the franchise, this cat showed up. And he became kind of the face of Fiesta Subaru. He walks around and greets people and surprisingly gets along very well with all the dogs that run around," Derek Kulach explained. "We're happy to be a part of the 69 percent of Subaru customers who have a pet."

With all that Fiesta Subaru is doing to advance pet adoption and care in its community, it's no wonder the retailer has become a local beacon for pets and their owners. "Subaru Loves Pets is part of the larger Subaru Love Promise campaign that we're a part of. Supporting the rescue, transportation and adoption of pets with Subaru of America is a huge deal for us," he continued.

"We're just happy to be a small part of that and continue to grow our presence in helping pets get adopted," he added. "We're proud to be a part of it because Subaru is committed to doing good simply because it's just the right thing to do." Whether it's helping shelter dogs find their forever families, supporting cancer patients, donating vehicles to Meals on Wheels, or helping fund classrooms, Subaru of America is doing just that.

This article series is sponsored by Subaru and produced by the TriplePundit editorial team.

Images courtesy of Subaru

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from TriplePundit on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: TriplePundit

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/triplepundit

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: TriplePundit

View the original press release on accesswire.com
MONACO, Jan. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- High level sport, environment, luxury yachting and maritime heritage are again in the spotlight throughout the Yacht Club de Monaco's 2024. A full calendar is waiting ahead as the YCM prepares to celebrate the 10 years in the new Clubhouse designed by Lord Foster. After the 70th anniversary celebrations last year, festivities continue under the collective 'Monaco, Capital of Advanced Yachting' approach, aiming at positioning the Principality as a centre of excellence in this sector.



14th Monaco Optimist Team Race (10-14 January) where youth and performance combine - From 10th January, the international Optimist team racing elite will be in Monaco for the 14th Monaco Optimist Team Race. This year 17 nations, including USA, Sweden, Uruguay, Ireland, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Spain, Finland, Italy, Netherlands, Turkey, France, UK and Monaco are represented by 72 under-14 sailors as the event's popularity grows. The match racing format pits two teams of four boats in each race which totals 153 races in the knock-out rounds leading up to the finals and requires finely tuned skills, tactics and teamwork to hone their race techniques and knowledge of the race area contestants already on site can participate in the International Clinic (8-10 January) supervised by umpire and international judge from World Sailing, Chris Atkins.

16th Business Symposium (8th February) for yachting professionals - The 16th edition of this annual industry meeting will take stock of the market and economic weight of the yachting industry on the Cote d'Azur. Organised in the form of a dinner-debate, the La Belle Classe Superyachts Business Symposium gathers owners and professionals to analyse the yachting sector, explore its evolution and gain a deeper understanding of its challenges and issues.

One design elite celebrates the 40th Primo Cup-Trophee UBS (7-10 March). In February top international J/70 teams who've established their winter base in the Principality meet for Act III of the 11th Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series (8-11 February), monthly regattas that have become a fixture on racing calendars. It promises to be a tight contest for the fleet, currently led by Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio's crew from Monaco on G-Spot. Then Act IV (7-10 March) coincides with the 40th Primo Cup-Trophee UBS when other one design classes namely Smeralda 888, Longtze Premier, RS 21, Cape 31 and historic stars of the event, Surprise, will also be out on the race area. Launched in 1985 on the instigation of YCM President HSH Prince Albert II this major regatta awards the top three teams in each class with Slam sailing gear and has established itself as the biggest European gathering of one designs in the Mediterranean. March ends on a high note with the 2nd Women Leading and Sailing Trophy regatta (15-17 March), an all-female event organised in partnership with the Monegasque and French sailing federations.

Monaco Ocean Week (18-22 March) focuses on the environment - During Monaco Ocean Week, organised by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation alongside the Monaco Oceanographic Institute and Monaco Scientific Centre, YCM is responsible for the yachting component of this week dedicated to protecting the oceans. There will be three events on Thursday 21st March at the YCM starting with the 13th Environmental Symposium. After the success of Monaco Smart & Sustainable Marina Rendezvous (next one 22-23 September 2024), M3 (Monaco Marina Management) is organising the 2nd Monaco Smart Yacht Rendezvous, a networking event that concludes on Friday 22nd March with the Smart Innovative Yacht Awards. The meeting is supported by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. It involves the whole ecosystem in the drive to virtuous yachting by fostering exchanges and innovations that could bring major changes to the sector. Also on Thursday 21st March is the 4th YCM Explorer Awards by La Belle Classe Superyachts. Organised under the presidency of HSH Prince Albert II since 2018, these awards recognise owners who stand out for their commitment to protecting the marine environment, be it in the design of their yacht or how they use it. Prizes are awarded by a jury of professionals in three categories: Technology & Innovation, Mediation & Science, Adventure & Environmental Ethics. An opportunity to reward men and women who as tomorrow's explorers perpetuate a certain 'Art de Vivre la Mer' which is at the heart of the Club's core values.

Superyacht Chef Competition shines spotlight on a profession (4 April 2024) - For the fifth year in a row, chefs working on superyachts will be at the YCM for the Superyacht Chef Competition, organised by the Club in partnership with Bluewater. The principle is simple: bring nine chefs together to compete on the quay at work stations based on small galleys in certain yachts, conjuring up dishes from a basket of mystery ingredients: "Held under the aegis of YCM's La Belle Classe Academy training centre, it attracts professionals and the public and offers a unique perspective of yachting professions," says YCM General Secretary Bernard d'Alessandri.

Monaco Energy Boat Challenge (1-6 July): 11 years of innovations -Helping build tomorrow's yachting future is a key priority for YCM, an ambition it pursues through the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge for alternative energy sources and technologies. For over ten years this event has been bringing young engineers from technical colleges and universities into contact with yachting industry players. In 2023, 46 teams, representing 31 universities and 25 nations demonstrated the efficiency of their solutions shared in open source. Big name shipyards like Oceanco, Ferretti, Sanlorenzo, Lurssen, Monaco Marine and Palumbo SY Refit were involved in the Mentoring Program. This year for its fifth consecutive participation, event partner SBM Offshore is installing a floating pontoon producing green hydrogen to supply participating teams ahead of the Challenge. At the same time, the Mentoring Program and Job Forum are providing professional support and internships or job opportunities.

For more information:

Press Office LaPresse - ufficio.stampa@lapresse.it

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/09f739ae-c1a4-45d2-81d9-5faa1357da30
Top Five Conveyor Car Wash Company Adds Locations in Florida, Georgia, and West Virginia

THOMASTON, GA / ACCESSWIRE / January 5, 2024 / Tidal Wave Auto Spa, one of the nation's fastest-growing express car wash companies, celebrated the grand opening of three brand-new locations this week in Albany, GA, Morgantown, WV, and New Port Richey, FL.

To celebrate the Grand Openings, each of the new Tidal Wave locations is offering eight days of free car washes from January 4-January 11. This limited-time promotion provides an opportunity for car owners to experience Tidal Wave's premium wash option, Graph-X4, at no cost. Additionally, any new customer that joins a Clean Club unlimited wash membership plan during Grand Opening week will enjoy their first month of unlimited washes for only $9.97 - saving up to $40.

"We're thrilled to open three new locations this week," said founder and CEO Scott Blackstock. "Each of these washes is equipped with our industry-leading technology and staffed with friendly teams that are ready to serve folks in the Albany, Morgantown, and New Port Richey communities. Our goal is to make car care easy, efficient, and enjoyable for our customers, and these new locations are designed to do just that."

Albany, GA Location: 2881 Ledo Road, Albany, GA 31707

Nearby locations: Leesburg, Americus

Morgantown, WV Location: 53 Red Dog Way, Morgantown, WV 26501

Nearby locations: Clarksburg

New Port Richey, FL Location: 8539 Ridge Road, New Port Richey, FL 34654

Nearby locations: New Port Richey, FL (Little Rd), Holiday, Oldsmar, Lutz

Tidal Wave Auto Spa currently has 21 Florida locations, 40 Georgia locations, and three West Virginia locations. The company has plans for continued expansion in the coming months, including new Florida locations in Ocala, Lecanto and Lantana, and new Georgia locations in Athens, Statesboro, and Douglasville.

Tidal Wave Auto Spa is committed to providing every customer with an exceptional car wash experience through industry-leading car care technology, clean and attractive locations, and friendly customer service at every location. Stop by for a single wash or join Tidal Wave's Clean Club for the ultimate experience. Members can wash every day of the month for one convenient monthly payment and save time with exclusive club member wash lanes - plus, memberships can be used at any Tidal Wave location. For those needing to wash multiple cars, Tidal Wave offers discounted monthly family plans and fleet plans for businesses with five or more vehicles.

For additional information, including gift cards, fundraising, fleet plans, and more, please visit: https://www.tidalwaveautospa.com/.

About Tidal Wave Auto Spa

Tidal Wave Auto Spa is an industry-leading conveyor car wash company founded in 1999 by Scott and Hope Blackstock in Thomaston, GA. Tidal Wave is committed to providing cutting-edge car care technology and exceptional customer service at each of their 226 locations operating in 23 states across the South, Midwest, and Northern United States. In 2020, Tidal Wave partnered with Golden Gate Capital to facilitate their accelerated growth across the country. Tidal Wave is one of the top five conveyor car wash companies in the country and has been included in the Inc. 5000 list for America's Fastest Growing Companies since 2020. The company was recognized as a 2023 Champion of Charity Honoree by Professional Carwashing & Detailing and has raised over $3 million dollars for organizations in their communities.

Contact Information

Heather Coleman

Marketing Manager

media@tidalwaveautospa.com

Andrea Traylor

Senior Director of Digital Marketing

andrea.traylor@tidalwaveautospa.com

2058212220

SOURCE: Tidal Wave Auto Spa

View the original press release on newswire.com.
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.
Finsbury Growth & Income Trust Plc - Transaction in Own Shares

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, January 05

For immediate release

5 January 2024

FINSBURY GROWTH & INCOME TRUST PLC

(the "Company")

MARKET PURCHASE OF COMPANY'S OWN SHARES

The Company announces that it has today purchased 105,720 of its own shares ("Ordinary Shares") at a price of 832.72 pence per Ordinary Share. Such shares will be held in treasury by the Company.

The transaction was made pursuant to the authority granted at the Annual General Meeting of the Company held on 17 January 2023.

Following this transaction, the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury is 26,733,873; the total number of Ordinary Shares that the Company has in issue, less the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury following such purchase, and therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company is 198,257,430.

The figure of 198,257,430 may be used by shareholders as the denominator for calculations of interests in the Company's voting rights in accordance with the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

For and on behalf of

Frostrow Capital LLP

Company Secretary

For further information, please contact:

Victoria Hale

Frostrow Capital LLP

Tel: 020 3 170 8732
Redde Northgate Plc - Transaction in Own Shares

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, January 05

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION

05 January 2024

REDDE NORTHGATE PLC

("Redde Northgate" or the "Group" or the "Company")

Transaction in Own Shares

Redde Northgate plc (LSE:REDD) announces that on 05 January 2024 it purchased the following number of its own shares to be held in treasury:

Class of shares : Ordinary shares of 50p ("shares") Number of shares purchased : 50,000 Weighted average purchase price paid : 357.6 pence per share Highest purchase price paid : 358.7 pence per share Lowest purchase price paid : 356.5 pence per share

Following the above transaction, the Company's issued share capital consists of 246,091,423 ordinary shares of 50p each, of which 17,540,071 ordinary shares are held in treasury, and 1,000,000 preference shares of 50p each which do not carry any rights to vote. Therefore the total number of voting rights in the Company is 228,551,352 which may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in the Company under the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

In accordance with Article 5(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (the Market Abuse Regulation) as incorporated into UK domestic law by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, the schedule below contains detailed information about the purchases made by Numis Securities Limited on behalf of the Company as part of the Company's buyback programme.

Schedule of Purchase - Individual Transaction (as at 05 January 2024)

Number of shares

purchased Transaction price

(GB pence per share) Time of transaction Transaction reference number Venue 25,000 25,000 356.50 358.70 11:46:53 16:24:26 00068335150TRLO0 00068346297TRLO0 LSE LSE

Notes

This announcement is made in accordance with the requirements of Listing Rule 12.4.6.

For further information contact:

Buchanan

David Rydell/Jamie Hooper/Hannah Ratcliff +44 (0) 207 466 5000

Notes to Editors:

Redde Northgate is the leading integrated mobility solutions platform providing services across the vehicle lifecycle. The Company offers integrated mobility solutions to businesses, fleet operators, insurers, OEMs and other customers across seven key areas: vehicle rental, vehicle data, accident management, vehicle repairs, fleet management, service and maintenance, vehicle ancillary services and vehicle sales.

The Company's core purpose is to keep its customers mobile, whether through meeting their regular mobility needs or by servicing and supporting them when unforeseen events occur. With its considerable scale and reach, Redde Northgate's mission is to offer a market-leading customer proposition and drive enhanced returns for shareholders by creating value through sustainable compounding growth. The Group aims to achieve this through the delivery of its strategic framework of Focus, Drive and Broaden.

Redde Northgate services its customers through a network and diversified fleet of over 120,000 owned and leased vehicles, supporting over 600,000 managed vehicles, with more than 170 workshop, body shop and rental locations across the UK, Ireland and Spain and a specialist team of over 6,000 automotive services professionals.

Further information please visit the Company's website:
Edmonton, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - January 5, 2024) - Altiplano Metals Inc. (TSXV: APN) (WKN: A2JNFG) ("Altiplano" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") for gross proceeds of $600,000. The Offering consisted of 6,000,000 units (the "Units") at C$0.10 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one (1) common share and one (1) non-transferable share purchase warrant (the "Warrants") of the Company.

Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one (1) additional common share at a price of C$0.12 per share for two years from the closing date of the Offering provided that if the closing market price for the Company's common shares is equal to or greater than C$0.20 per share for a period of five (5) consecutive trading days at any point during the term (the "Acceleration Clause"), then the Company may deliver a notice that the Warrants must be exercised within thirty (30) days from the date of delivery of such Notice, otherwise the Warrants will expire at 4:30 p.m. (Vancouver time) on the thirty-first (31st) day after the date of delivery of the Notice.

Altiplano has paid finders' fees of $26,280 in cash and 252,000 finders' warrants, issued on the same terms as the Warrants in the Offering, and all such finders' fees were paid in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. All of the securities issued pursuant to this Offering will have a hold period expiring four months and a day after the closing date. The net proceeds of the Offering will be used primarily for the Company's Farallon Project and El Penon processing facility in Chile, and for general working capital purposes.

Options

The Company has also granted incentive stock options to various directors, officers and consultants to purchase up to 3,900,000 common shares of the Company on or before January 5, 2029, at an exercise price of $0.10 per share.

About Altiplano

Altiplano Metals is a growing gold, silver, and copper company focused on the Americas. The Company has a diversified portfolio of assets that include an operating copper/gold/iron mine and a state-of-the-art operating copper/gold and iron processing facility in the final stages of completion. Altiplano is focused on creating long-term stakeholder value through developing safe and sustainable production, reinvesting into exploration, and pursuing acquisition opportunities to complement its existing portfolio. Management has a substantial record of success in capitalizing on opportunity, overcoming challenges and building shareholder value. Altiplano trades on the TSX.V under the symbol APN and the Frankfurt Exchange under the symbol A2JNFG.

Altiplano is part of the Metals Group of companies, managed by an award-winning team of professionals who stand for technical excellence, painstaking project selection and uncompromising corporate governance, with a proven ability to capitalize on investment opportunities and deliver shareholder returns. www.metalsgroup.com

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

/s/ "John Williamson"

Chairman

For further information, please contact:

Alastair McIntyre, CEO

alastairm@apnmetals.com

Tel: (416) 434-3799

Jeremy Yaseniuk, Director

jeremyy@apnmetals.com

Tel: (604) 773-1467

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the (TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address exploration drilling, exploitation activities and events or developments that the Company expects are forward-looking statements. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify any historical estimates as current mineral resources or mineral reserves and the issuer is not treating the historical estimates as current mineral resources or mineral reserves. The Farellon mine was previously in production dating back to the 1970's with a reported historical production (to a depth of 70 m) yielding approximately 300,000 tonnes at an average grade of 2.5% copper and 0.5g/t gold. This material was processed locally and sold to ENAMI. Altiplano is relying upon past production records, underground sampling and related activities and current diamond drilling to estimate grade and widths of the mineralization to reactivate production. The decision to commence production on the Farellon deposit is not based on a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability and there is increased uncertainty and economic and technical risks of failure associated with any production decision. 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 or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, continuity of mineralization, uncertainties related to the ability to obtain necessary permits, licenses and title and delays due to third party opposition, changes in government policies regarding mining and natural resource exploration and exploitation, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For more information on the Company, investors should review the Company's continuous disclosure filings that are available at www.sedar.com.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/193399

SOURCE: Altiplano Metals Inc.
CRISPR QC, a San Diego, CA-based biotechnology startup, secured funding from Xcellerant Ventures in its ongoing Series A funding round.

The amount of the deal was not disclosed.

The backing from Xcellerant Ventures will fund further developments in the CRISPR Analytics Platform.

Led by Ross Bundy, CRISPR QC leverages its analytics platform to provide comprehensive measurements and analysis around CRISPR activity, enabling scientists and researchers to optimize gene editing outcomes and ensure the highest levels of quality control. The platform is built on the companys proprietary CRISPR-Chip technology, which allows for direct, real-time measurement of CRISPR activity.

As the companys staff grows, the company is set to open its satellite office in Sedona, Arizona.

FinSMEs

05/01/2023
Heart + Paw (H+P), a Philadelphia, PA and Nashville, TN-based veterinary and multi-service pet care company, received a strategic growth investment from Whistler Capital Partners.

The amount of the deal was not disclosed.

The company intends to use the investment to expand operations and its business reach.

Founded in 2018, Heart + Paw is a pet care services platform offering veterinary care, grooming, day care and boarding. Operating a network of 28 locations across 10 states, Heart + Paw is deploying a partnership program that makes practice ownership attainable for entrepreneurial-minded veterinarians. Through this model, veterinarians can design, build and co-own a Heart + Paw practice with veterinary-led operational support from the companys dedicated team that provides expanded business expertise, mentorship, a community of like-minded practice owners and best-in-class operational support.

Each of Heart + Paws practices are backed by the companys support center, providing innovative client engagement initiatives, including a pet portal and proprietary booking tool, allowing for 24/7 contact between pet parents and veterinarians. The center also handles marketing, accounting, human resources, recruiting and information technology workstreams.

Heart + Paw will continue to be led by its existing management team, including Founder and Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. George Melillo, and Chief Executive Officer, Dave Lasus.

FinSMEs

05/01/2024
Moonwalk Biosciences, a San Francisco and San Diego, CA-based genomic medicine company, raised $57M in Seed and Series A funding.

The rounds saw participation from Alpha Wave Ventures, ARCH Venture Partners, Future Ventures, GV, Khosla Ventures and YK Bioventures.

The company intends to use the funds to support continued advancement of its epigenetic profiling and engineering technology platform and progress its pipeline of epigenetic therapeutics towards the clinic.

Moonwalk Biosciences is an early-stage therapeutics company that has developed a differentiated approach to mapping the epigenome of cellular states at the whole genome, single cell resolution level, as well as proprietary strategies for precise epigenetic engineering. The combination enables both a novel discovery platform and a path to developing therapeutics that include both epigenetic engineering and other traditional modalities.

Its innovative epigenetic editors use the cells natural regulation system to accurately and permanently control multiple genes in a single step, without altering the DNA sequence itself. This technique, enhanced by insights from Moonwalks AI-driven profiling technologies, allows the company to address multiple factors involved in complex conditions more effectively, minimizing off-target effects and toxicities while leaving the primary DNA sequence intact.

The company is launching with a veteran leadership team with deep expertise in epigenetic biology, AI, and clinical product development:

Alex Aravanis, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder

Arash Jamshidi, Ph.D., Co-Founder, President and Chief Technology Officer

Justin Valley, Ph.D., Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer

Elaine Cheung, M.S., Chief Business Officer

Sam Gross, Ph.D., Head of Bioinformatics & ML/AI

Rigel Kishton, Ph.D., Head of Immunology Research

FinSMEs

05/01/2024
Sourcefit, a Quezon City, Philippines-based international business processing outsourcing (BPO) provider, closed a strategic investment with 9 Basil, NextGen Ventures, and Rocket Equities.

The amount of the deal was not disclosed.

The company intends to use the funds to continue development of its AI-infused team engagement and digitalization platform.

Led by Andy Schachtel, CEO, Sourcefit is an international business processing outsourcing (BPO) provider with operations centers in the Philippines, South Africa, Dominican Republic and Armenia. Focused on providing custom offshore and nearshore staffing solutions, the company currently supports a wide range of processes for over 200 clients in various industries, including IT, Finance, Healthcare, Retail, E-Commerce, Legal, Real Estate, Telecom, and Advertising. The company has a track record of over 14 years and employs over 1,700 dynamic, hard-working professionals.

FinSMEs

05/01/2023
Legendary Bollywood actor, Rajesh Khanna continues to be remembered as the first superstar of Indian cinema, thanks to his charismatic presence and stellar performances. As fans this year observe his 81st birth anniversary, many also took a nostalgic trip through his memorable films and performances that have stood the test of time. While the actor had a flourishing career, his personal life had always managed to grab attention, courtesy of his relationships. One of the most talked about topics was the late actors marriage to Dimple Kapadia.

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Rajesh Khanna and Dimple Kapadias love-hate relationship

Despite having a huge age gap between them, Rajesh Khanna and Dimple Kapadia were head over heels in love and got married in a lavish ceremony in March 1973. However, with time, their love for each other started feeding away, leading to their marital life hitting rock bottom. It was the same time when the late actors affair with then-budding actress Tina Munim made headlines, prompting the duo to get separated in 1984. However, they never got officially divorced. Despite having parted ways, they loved each other unconditionally and supported each other through thick and thin. They also co-parented their daughters Twinkle Khanna and Rinke Khanna and were often seen together at social gatherings, political rallies, and many other places.

When Twinkle Khanna was stopped from entering Rajesh Khannas house

Prior to their love-and-hate relationship, there is a fact that not many know. Dimple Kapadia who was herself a die-hard fan of Rajesh Khanna was once refused by guards to enter his residence. It was not reportedly when Dimple had not entered the film industry. Just like any other fan, she also went outside the actors home.

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In 1970 when Rajesh Khannas Safar was released, Dimple used to study at the St Joseph Convent. She skipped her classes and went to watch the film and after watching it even went to the actors residence to meet him.

However, his guards stopped her rightaway. While Dimple tried to convince them, the guards told her that the actor was not at home, asking her to leave.

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It was right at that moment that a car went inside the Khannas house and Dimple spotted model actress Anju Mahendra stepping out. For the unversed, Rajesh Khanna reportedly dated Anju Mahendru and they were in a live-in relationship. Witnessing this, Dimple confronted the guards for lying and slammed them. However, she was threatened with calling the police, prompting her to leave from there disappointed.
Just as we step into a brand new year, it is also the time for all the new shows and movies. Ahead of the first weekend of January 2024, it is worth mentioning that its packed with some major releases across OTT platforms. Whether it is heart-pounding thrillers or romcoms, there is something for everyone. Besides engaging OTT titles, there are also a few must-watch movies coming this week. Here is the list of all the major OTT releases this week on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+Hotstar, and more.

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OTT Releases this Week

1. Meg 2: The Trench

Release date: 3 January 2024

Where to watch: Jio Cinema

Following the success of the 2018 film, The Meg, Jason Statham reprises the role of Jonas Taylor, a rescue diver in the sequel Meg 2: The Trench. Set to release this week on Jio Cinema, the sequel brings a thrilling experience of a group of researchers pitted against colossal prehistoric sharks and relentless environmental plunderers.

2. Hi Nanna

Release date: 4 January 2024

Where to watch: Netflix

Nani and Mrunal Thakur-starrer Telugu film Hi Nanna will also be released this week on Netflix. A heartwarming story focusing on the life of a single father shows how they happen to meet with Varsha (played by Mrunal Thakur), who saves his six-year-old daughter from a road accident.

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3. Gyeongseong Creature Part 2

Release date: 5 January 2024

Where to watch: Netflix

In a treat for K-drama lovers, Netflixs popular show Gyeongseong Creature is back with a new season. The show revolves around an entrepreneur who teams up with a sleuth to fight against a monster born out of human greed. The new season is expected to pick up where the previous part ended and remains on the must-watch list of new OTT releases this week.

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4. Tejas

Release date: 5 January 2024

Where to watch: ZEE5

Featuring actress Kangana Ranaut in the lead role, Sarvesh Mewaras Tejas is also to hit OTT giant ZEE5 this week. The film tells the story of Indian Air Force pilot Tejas Gill, who goes on a difficult mission to rescue hostages from Pakistani terrorists. Besides Kangana, the film also features actors like Anshul Chauhan and Ashish Vidyarthi in supporting rules

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5. Society of the Snow

Release date: 4 January 2024

Where to watch: Netflix

Based on the true story of Uruguayan Flight 571s plane, which crashed in the Andes mountains in 1972, JA Bayonas Spanish film Society of the Snow gives the true account of survivors who were stranded in the snow-covered mountains with limited resources and worsening weather conditions. Notably, the film is also Spains official entry to the Oscars and has been already shortlisted in the Best International Feature Film category.
In an Instagram post, Zeenat Aman recalled the time when director Feroz Khan cut her pay for being late to the sets of Qurbani

Feroz Khans 1980 film Qurbani, which was made under the actors own banner (FK International) included one of the greatest ensembles including Vinod Khanna to Zeenat Aman, Amjad Khan, Aruna Irani, Amrish Puri, and Kader Khan among others. The film is based on the 1972 Italian crime action movie The Master Touch. Qurbani might have gone down in the books of cinema, but it still counted among the greatest films of all time. Zeenat Aman who played a prominent role in the film recently recalled how director Feroz Khan deducted her pay on the film set for being late.

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Taking to her Instagram account, Zeenat penned a very long note along with a popular scene from the film. The veteran actress began by mentioning rizz, the Oxford word of 2023 as she went on to describe her director as charismatic.

I read somewhere that Oxfords word for the year 2023 is rizz - short for charisma. Well, if Ive ever known anybody to have rizz, it was Feroz Khan, she wrote.

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Zeenat Aman recalls an interesting incident from Qurbani sets

Recalling the time from the 1970s, Zeenat while noting that her career was on the rise when Feroz Khan approached her to offer a role in his future play. Mentioning that she refused the offer as it was for a secondary part, the veteran actress elaborated how the director got furious and led out a stream of expletives while she held the receiver away from her ear!

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It was months after that he called again offering her the lead role in the film Qurbani .

The actress further recalled the incident when she went out for a party and ended up an hour late to the set, making Feroz Khan very furious.

Feroz was glowering behind his camera, and before I could offer him my meagre excuse, he cut me down to size. Begum, youre late and youre going to pay for the delay. No argument, no scolding, but you can be sure that he docked my pay to pay the crew for that one hour delay! she wrote.

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While recalling this incident, Zeenat Aman concluded the note by heaping words of praise on the late actor-director. Feroz was suave, charming and polished. He was a talented actor-director, and Qurbani remains one of my favourite projects to date, she wrote.
AAPs healthcare initiative Mohalla Clinics is under scrutiny for hundreds of fake lab tests performed at the local clinics set up to offer free health services to poor patients. This comes just days after it was revealed that state-run hospitals were receiving substandard medicines

A new scam has rocked the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is already under scrutiny by probe agencies, further complicating matters for Arvind Kejriwal, the partys convenor.

The Mohalla Clinics, the AAPs premier healthcare initiative in Delhi, is currently under fire for hundreds of fake lab tests performed at the neighbourhood clinics set up to offer free primary healthcare to Delhi residents.

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This comes just days after it was revealed that Delhis state-run hospitals were receiving substandard medicines, and the Enforcement Directorate served Kejriwal with its third summons in connection with the excise policy scam.

The Mohalla Clinic scam

Since 1 January 2023, the Mohalla Clinics in the city have offered poor patients free access to 450 different types of medical testing. To carry them out, two private businesses were hired.

The alleged fraud was initially discovered in September 2023 when it was learned that a number of physicians and staff at seven Mohalla Clinics in the Southwest, Shahdara, and Northeast regions were using pre-recorded videos to falsely certify their attendance.

According to the latest media reports, the Mohalla Clinics allegedly ordered and performed lakhs of fake radiological and pathology tests on patients who never existed. The claimed fraud amounts to several hundred crores of rupees.

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Officials said grave fraudulent activities were common in the lab testing performed on patients who visited Mohalla Clinics and government hospitals in Delhi, with payments sent to private labs.

In 11,657 cases, the section designated for mobile numbers contained only the digit 0; in 8,251 cases, the space was left blank; in 3,092 cases, the mobile number of the patient was entered as 9999999999; in 400 cases, the mobile number started with 1,2,3,4, or 5; and in approximately a thousand cases, the same number was used more than 15 times, Indian Express reported, citing an inquiry by the vigilance department.

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These are some of the techniques allegedly used at seven mohalla clinics in Delhi to obtain lakhs of tests performed on fictitious patients, with payments made to private diagnostic companies for these services, the report added.

It is indicative of a scam running in hundreds of crores (of rupees). Saxena had issued these directions while clearing a file about the extension of lab testing services to private parties for patients visiting the Mohalla Clinics and Delhi government hospitals in December 2022, an official said, according to PTI.

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Delhi LG calls for CBI probe

Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena requested last month that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) look into the alleged supply of pharmaceuticals to the city government-run hospitals that failed quality standard tests and had the potential of endangering lives.

I am further directed to state that any action for supplying such kind of Not of Standard Quality drugs should not be confined to the Central Procurement Agency (CPA) and there is a need to investigate the entire supply chain  the role of the suppliers who procured from manufacturers and provided supply to the end users, that is, 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 communication of the Directorate of Vigilance to the Union ministry, according to News18.

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According to officials, the medications that were discovered to be of sub-standard quality included Cephalexin, a vital antibiotic used to treat lung and urinary tract infections. They also contained the anti-epilepsy and anti-anxiety psychiatric drug Levetiracetam, the anti-hypertensive medication Amlodepin, and a steroid called Dexamethasone for treating potentially fatal inflammation of the lungs, joints, and overall swelling, as per the report.

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12 reports were pending and three of the 43 drug samples that were delivered to government laboratories failed the test, according to the vigilance department report that was filed to the LG.

In this context, it is not out of place to mention that the matter of Mohalla Clinics was already entrusted to the CBI and a Preliminary Enquiry (PE) was also registered. It needs to be investigated whether the same drugs that have been procured by the Central Procurement Agency (CPA) are also being distributed to the patients through Mohalla Clinics or not, the communication read.

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What is AAP saying?

The AAP defended its welfare programme and called for the resignation of the Delhi Health Secretary due to a number of problems.

AAP leader and Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said at a press conference that his government has removed several physicians and workers from Mohalla Clinics due to misconduct last year.

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It argued that the senior health department officials are chosen by the Centre and are in charge of keeping an eye out for anomalies in diagnostic labs.

The Mohalla Clinic is an individual entity and not a massive set-up. There were complaints about some doctors either entering late or leaving early. The attendance system in mohalla clinics were good. A video was shot of the staff entering and exiting, and one had to blink his/her eyes into the camera to register attendance. However, some mischievous doctors found a way around it. They got their videos recorded, and investigated the matter. After this 26 people were fired, Bharadwaj elaborated.

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He went on to say that since the Arvind Kejriwal-led administration has not yet selected the staff, the Directorate General of Health Services and the health secretary should perform random inspections.

Whether it is a Mohalla clinic or a medicine store when someone gives a wrong phone number, this is the job of officials to check, he added. No one agrees to our recommendation. We have already sent so many suggestions. We have already complained against them; and recommended action against them in writing, in court. Yet no action is taken.

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The Delhi government further underscored the need to remove the offending personnel from their positions.

BJPs criticism

As the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) attacked the Arvind Kejriwal-led government, the matter rekindled Delhis already tense political scene.

BJP Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi said, The so-called Mohalla Clinics provided the facility for pathological testing. Based on the vigilance reports and departmental findings, those (pathological) tests are also now under the scanner of the probe It is being investigated that in one day, the clinics saw a maximum number of 533 patients. The time for the clinics is 9 am to 1 pm. Now imagine, if they checked 533 patients within 240 minutes, then it means they saw a patient for just half a minute.

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Even after the introduction of Amrit Kaal, instead of making a super-specialty institute or lab, the National Capital is still following the old mohalla clinic system.

The Delhi government had made arrangements for pathological tests at the so-called Mohalla Clinics. However, the clinics have come under a cloud of suspicion after the vigilance department reports and department findings came out, he said.

Fake Test, Fake Medicines & Deaths bcoz of wrong Prescriptions.#MohallaClinics run by @ArvindKejriwal's govt. pic.twitter.com/4B2SXGWoyg  RP Singh National Spokesperson BJP (@rpsinghkhalsa) January 4, 2024

BJP spokesperson RP Singh reminded Delhi residents of the 2021 incident when three children died due to cough syrup prescribed at mohalla clinic. Fake Test, Fake Medicines & Deaths bcoz of wrong Prescriptions (sic), he posted on X.

With inputs from agencies
Newly released records from a lawsuit connected to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein revealed how he lured young girls and paid them to offer massages for sexual gratification. He also asked them to bring more friends and would pay victims for the new recruitment

A new batch of previously unsealed records about Jeffrey Epsteins sexual assault of teenage girls was made public on Thursday. These records add hundreds of pages to an array of information describing how the financier used his connections to the wealthy and influential to recruit victims and conceal his crimes.

The disclosure comes one day after the first batch of records, consisting of 942 pages of documents, was released on Wednesday. These documents included deposition testimony from numerous individuals who were part of a settled lawsuit involving Epstein.

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19 documents, or roughly 300 pages, of previously sealed information are included in Thursdays files.

The newly released records focus on how the late jet-setting financier paid girls to offer massages in his house and asked them to introduce friends in return.

How did Epstein recruit young women?

A deposition from Palm Beach detective Joseph Recarey, the lead investigator in a prior case involving Epstein in the mid-2000s, is included in the file. Recarey details how Epstein and Ghilsaine Maxwell, who is currently imprisoned for 20 years, allegedly used a scheme to find and recruit girls to perform massages and work at Epsteins home.

According to CNN, Recarey said when the victims were hired at Epsteins Florida home for a massage, it was for sexual gratification.

In one case, a 16- or 17-year-old girl said that she never had a massage experience and had not anticipated or assumed that the visit would include sexual activity, according to NBC10 Philadelphia.

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Jeffrey took my clothes off without my consent the first time I met him, the woman said in her deposition, whose name has been redacted.

Per Recareys file, he interviewed about 33 women, most of whom were under the age of 18, and just two of them had a massage experience.

Each of the victims that went to the home were asked to bring their friends to the home. Some compiled and some didnt, he said in the filings.

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Yesterdays filings revealed that Virginia Giuffre, one of Epsteins victims, claimed that the summer she turned 17, she was lured away from a job as a spa attendant at Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago club to work as a masseuse for Epstein, a position that required engaging in sexual acts, reported The Associated Press.

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In addition, Giuffre said that she was pressured into having sex with men in Epsteins social circle, such as billionaire Glenn Dubin, former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, former US Senator George Mitchell, and Prince Andrew of Britain. Her accounts, according to all those men, were false.

Also read:

Bill Clinton likes them young: Inside the Jeffrey Epstein sex scandal files

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The horrific tales of Jeffrey Epsteins paedophile island

Who was Jeffrey Epstein and what documents linked to his sex scandal reveal?

Bill Clinton has been named 50 times in documents linked to Jeffrey Epstein sex abuse case. Heres why

What are the documents about?

The documents that are being made public are part of a lawsuit that Giuffre filed against Maxwell in 2015. Several women, including her, filed lawsuits against him, claiming that he abused them at his residences in Florida, New York, the US Virgin Islands, and New Mexico.

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According to the AP, in 2022, Giuffre and Prince Andrew reached a settlement. In the same year, Giuffre withdrew a charge she had levelled against Alan Dershowitz, a law professor who had represented Epstein in the past, stating that she may have made a mistake in identifying him as an abuser.

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Giuffre and Maxwells lawsuit settled in 2017, but the Miami Herald filed a motion for access to court records that had been initially sealed, including transcripts of the attorneys interviews with possible witnesses.

In 2019, a judge unsealed over 2,000 pages. There were more materials made accessible in 2020, 2021, and 2022.

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About 250 records from the batch that is now being disclosed had portions that were either completely or partially sealed because of worries about the privacy rights of Epsteins victims and other people whose identities surfaced throughout the legal dispute but who werent involved in his crimes.

As of Thursday, about 60 have been released. More will be released in the coming days.

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Whose names appear in the records?

Many of Epsteins accusers, staff members who went to tabloid newspapers with their stories, witnesses at Maxwells trial, people who were mentioned in passing during depositions but who arent charged with anything obscene, and those who looked into Epstein  prosecutors, a journalist, and a police detective  are among those listed in the records.

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There are also boldface names of public figures known to have associated with Epstein over the years, but whose relationships with him have already been well documented elsewhere, the judge said.

Among them is Jean-Luc Brunel, a French modelling agent who was connected to Epstein and committed suicide in a Paris jail in 2022 while awaiting prosecution on allegations that he had sexually assaulted minors. Among the women who had accused Brunel of sexual abuse was Giuffre.

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The papers that were made public on Wednesday included numerous references to him.

The court filing includes information about both Trump and Bill Clinton, in part because Giuffre was questioned by Maxwells attorneys regarding errors in media articles regarding her time spent with Epstein. She was cited in a report as alleging that she flirted with Trump and had ridden in a helicopter with Clinton. According to Giuffre, none of those events happened in real. She hasnt levelled any accusations of wrongdoing against the either former president.

During her evaluation of the records to determine what should be opened, US District Judge Loretta A Preska stated that a few names should not be revealed because they would identify victims of sexual abuse.

With inputs from agencies
The Navy has pressed INS Chennai into action following the hijacking of Liberia-flagged bulk carrier MV Lila Norfolk, with about 15 Indian crew members, in the Arabian Sea, near Somalias coast. The maritime force has enhanced its surveillance in the region after a string of recent shipping attacks

A maritime crisis has unfolded in the Arabian Sea, prompting the Indian Navy to take quick action. Shortly after the Navy received information that a Liberia-flagged bulk carrier was hijacked near Somalias coast in the Arabian Sea, the maritime force has pressed into action, launching an operation to secure the vessel.

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Earlier too, the Indian Navy had secured a vessel after it was hijacked in the Arabian Sea.

In fact, in light of the rising incidents of attacks on merchant vessels transitioning through the Arabian Sea, the Indian Navy had already enhanced maritime surveillance efforts.

We take a look at how the Navy has become a kind of a saviour on the high seas in the recent past.

Navy responds to MV Lila Norfolk hijacking

On Friday morning, the Indian Navy said that it was diverting and deploying INS Chennai towards MV Lila Norfolk , a Liberian-flagged bulk carrier with about 15 Indian crew members, after it had received information about its hijacking.

Reports say that the vessel had sent a message on the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations portal saying five to six unknown armed personnel had boarded on Thursday evening near Somalias coast.

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On receiving the news early this morning (5 January), the Indian Navys aircraft managed to overfly the hijacked ship and establish contact, successfully verifying the crews safety. Simultaneously, the Navy also diverted INS Chennai to assist in the operation. Naval aircraft continues to monitor movement and INS Chennai is closing the vessel to render assistance, it said.

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According to a report in The Print, the crew members are inside the safety compartment, which has not yet been breached.

As of now, no group has claimed responsibility for the assault. There have been growing concerns about shipping in the region following attacks by Yemeni Houthi rebels.

Navy offers assistance after hijacking of MV Ruen

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Earlier in mid-December too, the Indian Navy had rushed to aid a hijacked ship in the Arabian Sea.

On December 14 2023, the Malta-flagged vessel MV Ruen, with 18 on board, had been hijacked, with the ships crew indicating in its SOS call that six unknown pirates had illegally boarded the Malta-flagged vessel, managed by Bulgarias Navigation Maritime Bulgare.

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On receiving the call, the Indian Navy diverted its Naval Maritime Patrol aircraft undertaking surveillance in the area and its warship on anti-piracy patrol in the Gulf Aden to locate and assist MV Ruen. And on 18 December, one of the sailors  who had sustained a bullet injury to his shoulder during the piracy incident was moved by the Navy to INS Kochi for medical assistance.

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The Indian Navy had negotiated with the pirates and secured the release of the injured crew, who was given first-aid treatment on INS Kochi. Since he needed urgent medical attention, which was beyond the scope of the Indian warship, he was transferred to a port in Oman for specialist treatment.

According to the New Indian Express, MV Ruen continues to remain docked off the Somalia coast.

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Not just hijackings

Apart from the recent hijackings, the Indian Navy has also provided assistance in cases of drone attacks.

On 23 December, MV Chem Pluto  a chemical/ oil tanker with a crew of 21 Indians and a Vietnamese  was hit by a drone in the Arabian Sea while en route to New Mangalore port. The Navy had then dispatched a P8I maritime patrol aircraft and a warship, and the Coast Guard sent an offshore patrol vessel and a Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft to assist the Liberian-flagged commercial ship.

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The Indian Navy after studying the area of attack and debris found on the ship pointed to a drone attack, which was also corroborated by the US Pentagon. A Pentagon spokesperson had claimed that the MV Chem Pluto was hit a one-way attack drone fired from Iran.

And a day after the MV Chem Pluto incident, a Gabon-flagged commercial oil tanker, MV Sai Baba, on its way to India with 25 crew members, all of them Indians, also came under drone attack in the southern Red Sea.

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In light of both these incidents, the Indian Navy then deployed P-8I long-range patrol aircraft for surveillance. Also, warships INS Mormugao, INS Kochi, and INS Kolkata were stationed in the region to maintain a deterrent presence.

Securing the high seas

The Indian Navy has reiterated its commitment to securing the high seas. In a statement earlier, it said, It remains committed to ensuring [the> safety of merchant shipping in the region along with international partners and friendly foreign countries.

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The force has also substantially enhanced maritime surveillance efforts in Central and North Arabian Sea. In late December, the Navy said, Task Groups comprising destroyers and frigates have been deployed to undertake maritime security operations and render assistance to merchant vessels in case of any incident. Aerial surveillance by long-range maritime patrol aircraft and Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) has been enhanced to have a complete maritime domain awareness.

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Also read: Vantage | How escalating Red Sea crisis threatens vital Indian trade routes

In recent times, the seas have become dangerous owing to a spate of attacks by Houthi rebels, who are opposed to Israels military campaign in Gaza. For India, these attacks in the Arabian Sea and Rea Sea are particularly worrying, as India heavily relies on fuel shipments from the West Asia region, particularly from Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Any disruption in this route can be problematic for India.

It is uncertain if the attacks will cease anytime soon, but one thing is certain: The Indian Navy is on guard, ready to protect the waters.

With inputs from agencies
In 2024, gun violence continues in the United States. A 17-year-old went on a shooting spree in his school in Perry, Iowa killing a sixth grader and injuring others. In recent years, the US has seen a disturbing trend  the rise of young assailants

Its the first week of the New Year and the United States has already witnessed its fourth mass shooting. Yet another school was targeted this time in Perry, a city in Dallas County, Iowa. A gunman killed a sixth-grade student, aged 11 or 12, and injured five others at a high school in Perry on early Thursday. It was a 17-year-old student who opened fire and then died from a self-inflicted gunshot.

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The gunman has been identified as Dylan Butler, a student of Perry High School. Four of the injured were students and one was the principal.

How teenage student carried out Iowa school shooting

The 17-year-old student at the high school is believed to have acted alone. The motive of the attack was not clear, according to law enforcement officials.

Dylan Butler was armed with two firearms  a handgun and shotgun  and a makeshift explosive device when he walked into Perry High School around 7.30 am. He opened fire on the campus minutes before classes resumed.

Students barricaded in offices, hid in classrooms and started fleeing as the gunfire started. But Butler killed one and left five injured, one of whom is reportedly critical. He then turned the gun on himself.

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The police suspect that Butler planned to kill many more as an improvised explosive device was found on his body.

Also read: US mass shootings have risen to a high not seen since 2006. Heres why

What do we know about the gunman Dylan Butler?

Before the shooting, Butler posted a cryptic message on TikTok saying now we wait as the song Stray Bullet by the German rock band KMFDM played in the background. The lyrics go as follows: Im your nightmare coming true, I am your worst enemy, and Stray bullet, from the barrel of love. The song was also infamously used on the personal website of Eric Harris, one of the shooters of the Columbine High School massacre in 1999, according to media reports.

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Butlters video appeared to be shot in the school bathroom stall as a blue duffle bag was kept on the floor, the New York Post reported quoting local media.

Investigators have also found several other photos of Butler posing with firearms.

The teenage gunmans friends told The Associated Press that he was a quiet person who was bullied for years.

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He was hurting. He got tired. He got tired of the bullying. He got tired of the harassment. Was it a smart idea to shoot up the school? No. God, no, said 17-year-old Yesenia Roeder.

Her sister Khamya Hall, also 17, echoed similar views alongside their mother Alita. They said that their classmate, who police identified as the shooter, was bullied relentlessly since elementary school. That escalated recently, they said, when his younger sister started getting picked on too. Officials at the school didnt intervene, they said, and that was the last straw for Butler.

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Also read: Americas Darkest Side: How gun violence claims 114 lives on an average every day

Are young gunmen common in the US?

A disturbing new pattern appears to have emerged in mass shootings in the United States in the past few years. The number of young assailants appears to be on the rise, a shift from earlier decades.

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Some of the deadliest mass shootings in the US since 2018 were by people who were 21 or younger. In June 2022, this included six of the nine most lethal attacks. Before 2000 most such incidents were often carried out by men who were in their mid-20s to 40s, according to a report by The New York Times (NYT).

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In February 2018, a 19-year-old former student killed 17 people in a high school in Parkland; in May 2018, a 17-year-old shot dead 10 at a school in Santa Fe, Texas; and in August 2019, a 21-year-old gunman targeted a Walmart in El Paso that resulted in 23 deaths.

In March 2021, there was a mass shooting carried out by a 21-year-old at a supermarket in Colorado and in November 2021, a 15-year-old opened fire at his high school outside Detroit fatally shooting four classmates and injuring six others and a teacher. He was given life in prison in December 2023.

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In May 2022, the Ulvade school shooting was carried out by an 18-year-old former student, killing 19 children and two teachers, and the mass shooter at a Buffalo supermarket was a 19-year-old gunman. He shot dead 10 people.

In 2023, there were at least five shooting incidents involving adolescents. The most shocking among them were reported from Arizona and Alabama: In May, a 20-year-old man shot four men to death and wounded a woman in a 12-hour crime spree in Phoenix, Arizona. In April, six suspects aged 15 to 20 were charged with reckless murder at a Sweet16 party in Alabama that killed four and injured 32.

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Only two of the 30 deadliest shootings from 1949 to 2017 involved men younger than 21  the Columbine High School Massacre in 1999 by two teenagers who killed 13 and the killing at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown in 2012 where a 20-year-old killed 27 people, mostly children.

There has been an increased focus on how teenagers have been driven by the urge to acquire firearms and then carry out mass shootings. The reasons cited by law enforcement and academics include bullying, aggressive marketing of guns to boys, lax gun laws in US states and federal statutes that make it legal to buy a semiautomatic long gun at 18, the report in NYT says. Adolescents in the US also face a mental health crisis which has been worsened by the pandemic.

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According to a report in The Conversation, young shooters in their 20s and 30s typically study previous mass shooters for inspiration and validation.

Younger shooters also tend to communicate intent to do harm in advance. This practice, known as leakage, is often seen as a final cry for help, write professors James Daley and Jillian Peterson, who run the Violence Project and are the authors of The Violence Project: How to Stop a Mass Shooting Epidemic.

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This appears to be the case with 17-year-old Dylan Butler. Probably his TikTok post was the SOS. Sadly, no one was listening.

With inputs from agencies
Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the blasts in Irans Kerman on Wednesday. This is not the first time that the jihadist group has unleashed terror there. In 2017, ISIS attacked the countrys parliament and the mausoleum of the republics founder. In 2022, a gunman opened fire in a shrine

After much finger pointing and accusations being hurled, the Islamic State jihadist group (ISIS) on Thursday evening claiming responsibility for the twin blasts that took place a day before, killing 84 people.

The extremist group called the attack a dual martyrdom operation in which their members approached a ceremony, which was being marked to commemorate the death of General Soleimani and detonated explosive belts strapped to their bodies near the grave of the hypocrite leader.

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But why has the ISIS targeted Iran, in what is now being called the deadliest attack since its 1979 revolution? We get you the answers.

ISIS behind the twin bombings

On Thursday, 24 hours after the blasts claimed 84 lives and injured many others, ISIS media wing Al-Furqan issued a statement, claiming two suicide bombers, who are brothers, had detonated their explosive vests as Shiite mourners gathered for the fourth anniversary of the assassination of Soleimani near his grave in his hometown of Kerman.

The statement, titled And Kill Them Wherever You Find Them, named the two bombers  Omar al-Movahed and Seifollah Mujahed  and said they targeted a gathering of polytheists near the grave of their dead leader Soleimani.

However, the jihadist group didnt provide any more details or evidence corroborating their statement.

Irans officials havent yet reacted to ISIS claims of the blast. Earlier, Irans interior minister had said that the blasts near the grave site of Soleimani came in short succession  20 minutes apart of each other  the deadlier one coming second as others rushed to help the wounded.

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Videos had showed large numbers of people running in the area after the explosions, bloodied bodies on the ground and ambulances driving through the packed crowds.

Shortly after the blasts jolted the city, accusations had been hurtled with Tehran pointing fingers at Israel and the United States . However, Washington had denied any involvement; US State Department spokesperson Matt Miller had said that the US does not have any independent information about the explosions, and that the State Department has no reason to believe that Israel was involved.

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ISIS past attacks in Iran

ISIS has been targeting Iran in recent years, killing dozens of Shia Muslims in the country. The first such incident goes back to 2017 when members of ISIS had carried out an assault on the parliament building in Tehran and the mausoleum of the republics founder, Ruhollah Khomeini.

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On 7 June 2017, three assailants, one with a pistol and two with AK-47 assault rifles, carried out the attack in central Tehran. And around half an hour later, an attacker opened fire at the Mausoleum of Ayatollah Khomeini, injuring several members of the public.

The twin attacks had claimed the lives of 13 people, plus six assailants, and forty-three were injured.

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In September 2018, ISIS once again attacked Iran in the city of Ahvaz, where gunmen shot at a military parade, killing 25, including members of the Revolutionary Guards.

And in October 2022, a gunman entered the Shah Cherag Shrine in Shiraz and opened fire, killing 13 and injuring 40 before being shot dead. Afterward, an ISIS statement claiming responsibility for the incident declared that its purpose was to let the rawafidh [rejectionists, a derogatory term for Shia Muslims> know that the companions [of the Prophet Muhammad> have descendants who inherit revenge generation after generation.

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Iran has also said in the past that they have foiled several other ISIS attacks in the past. One of them was in September last year when Iranian intelligence thwarted a plot to carry out a series of bombings in Tehran, arresting dozens of elements linked with ISIS. Iran had then announced that it had discovered a plot to carry out 30 simultaneous bombings in crowded areas of Tehran, and have arrested all the participants of the plot.

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ISIS bloody battle against Iran

But why has the ISIS been gunning for Iran? It goes back to the issue of Sunnis vs Shias. The ISIS is a Sunni organisation, stating its mission as killing apostate Muslims, including Shiites. Iran is a Shiite country, led by a theocratic government in which Shiite clerics are in charge.

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Bruce Hoffman, a terrorism expert at Georgetown University, had told CFR.org earlier that the ISIS sees itself in literally an apocalyptic battle with the Shia. In the aftermath of the 2017 attacks, he had said, The attacks are also meant to burnish its credentials as a defender of Sunnis everywhere and vanguard of the struggle against the Shia.

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Moreover, theres bad blood between the two as Iran has played a highly visible role in helping Shia militias and the Bashar al-Assad regime fight ISIS elements in Iraq and Syria.

Colin P Clarke, a counter-terrorism analyst, told the New York Times that he suspected that it was the ISIS Khorasan affiliate that may have committed Wednesdays attack. ISIS-K has demonstrated both intent and capability to attack targets inside Iran proper, Clarke said. ISIS-K wants to attack Iran, because Tehran is the most prominent Shia power and the ire of ISIS-Ks highly sectarian agenda. More so than other ISIS branches, ISIS-K propaganda continuously focuses on denigrating Shia as apostates.

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Moreover, the attack at a ceremony to commemorate General Soleimani is significant. General Soleimani, known as Irans shadow commander, is considered as the architect of axis of resistance, a loose-knit alliance that includes Shia Muslim groups and governments in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, Gaza and Iraq, with differences and varying levels of proximity to one another and to Tehran. It is reported that the Soleimani-led Quds Force had grown this network bigger.

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While it is unknown what will happen next and if Iran will retaliate, analysts believe that by claiming responsibility of the twin blasts will help ease concerns over tensions soaring the West Asia region.

With inputs from agencies
DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal has been nominated for the first time. The PAC has decided to continue with Sanjay Singh and ND Gupta for their respective second term as Rajya Sabha members, said a source

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday officially announced Swati Maliwal, the current head of the Delhi Commission for Women, as its nominee for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections scheduled for 19 January.

Additionally, the party decided to re-nominate Sanjay Singh and ND Gupta for a second term in the upper house of Parliament, PTI quoted party sources as saying.

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The announcement of these nominations was made by the partys Political Affairs Committee (PAC).

DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal has been nominated for the first time. The PAC has decided to continue with Sanjay Singh and ND Gupta for their respective second term as Rajya Sabha members, PTI quoted a source.

Sushil Kumar Gupta is reportedly ending his tenure as a Rajya Sabha member, and he has expressed his desire to actively participate in electoral politics in Haryana, where the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) plans to contest elections later in the year.

A court in Delhi has allowed Singh, who was arrested in a money laundering case related to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam, to sign forms and documents for his Rajya Sabha renomination.

Special Judge M K Nagpal passed the order on an application filed by the politician, who submitted that his present term as a member of the Rajya Sabha is expiring on 27 January and the Returning Officer has issued a notice on January 2 for conduct of the election and nominations for the same are to be submitted by 9 January.

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The application sought a direction to the Tihar Jail Superintendent to allow Singh to sign the documents.

With inputs from agencies
The warship INS Chennai was diverted and deployed to assist the vessel, the navy said earlier in the day, adding that a naval aircraft flew over the hijacked vessel on Friday and had established contact with it.

All 21 crew members, including 15 Indians, on board a Liberia-flagged bulk carrier hijacked in the Arabian Sea were safely evacuated, the Indian Navy said Friday, after its marine commandoes intercepted the vessel and carried out sanitation.

Indian Navys swift response to the hijacking attempt of MV Lila Norfolk in the North Arabian Sea. All 21 crew including 15 Indians onboard safely evacuated from the citadel. Sanitisation by MARCOs has confirmed the absence of the hijackers, Indian Navy spokesperson said on X.

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The attempt of hijacking by the pirates was probably abandoned with the forceful warning by the Indian Navy MPA of interception by the Indian Naval warship. INS Chennai is in the vicinity of MV and rendering support to restore the power generation & propulsion, and commence her voyage to next port of call, it added.

#IndianNavys Swift Response to the Hijacking Attempt of MV Lila Norfolk in the North Arabian Sea.

All 21 crew (incl #15Indians) onboard safely evacuated from the citadel.



Sanitisation by MARCOs has confirmed absence of the hijackers.



The attempt of hijacking by the pirates https://t.co/OvudB0A8VV pic.twitter.com/616q7avNjg  SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) January 5, 2024

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The warship INS Chennai was diverted and deployed to assist the vessel, the navy said earlier in the day, adding that a naval aircraft flew over the hijacked vessel on Friday and had established contact with it.

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The Indian navy has increased its surveillance of the Arabian Sea after a recent spate of attacks in the region.

It said earlier this week that it had investigated a large number of fishing vessel and boarded vessels of interest in the region.

The hijacking of commercial ships and attempted hijackings by suspected pirates near the Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea regions resumed in December after a six-year lull. Experts believe this is because naval forces led by the U.S. have diverted their attention to the Red Sea to thwart Houthi attacks.

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Data from the Indian Navys Information Fusion Centre - Indian Ocean Region shows at least three hijackings in December. The previous such incident was reported in 2017.

The sudden revival in ship hijacking and attacks can only be attributed to the pirates willingness to take advantage of the fact that the focus of anti-piracy maritime forces has largely shifted from the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea, Abhijit Singh, head of the Maritime Policy Initiative at the Observer Research Foundation think tank in New Delhi said.

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Earlier this week, the navy said it had investigated a large number of fishing vessels and boarded vessels of interest in the North and Central Arabian Sea.

India plays the role of a net security provider in the entire Indian Ocean region. We will ensure that maritime trade in this region rises from the sea to the heights of the sky, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said last month of the increased surveillance in the region.

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India is not part of the U.S.-led Red Sea task force.

With inputs from agencies.
The MoU provides a platform for Indian Railways to interact and share the latest developments and knowledge in the railway sector

The Union Cabinet Friday approved signing of an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) inked between India and United States for International Development/India (USAID/India) for supporting Indian Railways to achieve Mission Net Zero Carbon Emission by 2030.

The MoU between India and USAID/India was signed on 14 June, 2023.

According to the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the MoU provides a platform for Indian Railways to interact and share the latest developments and knowledge in the railway sector.

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It also facilitates utility modernisation, advanced energy solutions and systems, regional energy and market integration and private sector participation and engagement, training and seminars/workshops focusing on specific technology areas like Renewable Energy, energy efficiency and other interactions for knowledge sharing.

The MoU signed by Indian Railways with USAID/India is for enabling energy self-sufficiency with the following understanding:

1 - Both the Participants intend to jointly work broadly on the following key activity areas with details to be agreed separately: a - Long-term energy planning including clean energy for Indian Railways. b - Develop an Energy Efficiency Policy and Action Plan for Indian Railway Buildings. c - Planning for clean energy procurement to achieve Indian Railways net-zero vision. d - Technical support for addressing regulatory and implementation barriers. e - Bid design and bid management support for system-friendly, large-scale renewable procurement. f - Supporting Indian Railways in the promotion of e-mobility. g - Collaboratively host event, conferences, and capacity-building programs in the mentioned identified areas.

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2 - Either participant may request in writing a revision, modification or amendment to all or any part of this MoU. Any revision, modification or amendment approved by the Participants will form part of the revised MoU. Such revision, modification or amendment will come into effect on such date as may be determined by the Participants.

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3 - This Memorandum of Understanding is effective as of the date of signing and is expected to continue for a period of five year or until the effective end of South Asia Regional Energy Partnership (SAREP) whichever period is shorter.

The MoU has been signed to support India Railways in achieving Mission Net Zero Carbon Emission (NZCE) by 2030. This will help Indian Railways to reduce dependence on imported fuel such as diesel, coal. Deployment of Renewable Energy (RE) plants will give fillip to RE technology in the country. This will help in development of local ecosystem which subsequently gives boost to local product development.

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Technical assistance for the services under this MoU is intended to be provided by USAID under the SAREP initiative. This MoU is not an obligation of funds or a commitment of any kind, and it is non-binding. This does not involve any financial commitment from Indian Railways.
The Arunachal Frontier Highway will be beneficial for the armed forces and the common populace, by exponentially increasing accessibility and infrastructure

Work on the highly strategic Frontier Highway in Arunachal Pradesh has finally begun. While China has long maintained its opposition to the project, given its intransigent position on the state that is an inalienable part of India, the Modi government has set the ball rolling.

The highway dovetails two significant aims: the infrastructure project will bring connectivity and, therefore, development to the difficult topography of the state. This further mitigates outmigration from frontier villages in the state, adding to the security of the borders. Also, it will enable the army to mobilise and deploy quickly along LAC.

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The highway is just 20-km inside Indian side of LAC and passes close to Yagtse, site of the bloodiest China-India clash in the recent past.

USP of Frontier Highway

1 - It dovetails into the long term vision of the Modi government, envisaged in the Vibrant Villages Programme that pivots to stop migration from the frontier villages of India, including Arunachal Pradesh. In fact, the scheme was launched in Arunachal Pradesh by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

2 - All the villages within 5-km radius of the international border have been connected with All-Weather Roads. The construction of 1859 km long Arunachal Frontier Highway has started. In the last few years 252 habitations have been connected by constructing 2500 km of roads in border areas.

3 - The Arunachal Frontier Highway will be 1,500 km long. Additional 1,000 km of roads have also been planned in the region.

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4 - Frontier Highway will be beneficial for the armed forces and the common populace, by exponentially increasing accessibility and infrastructure.

5 - The estimated cost of the project is nearly Rs 40,000 crore. It is one of Indias biggest and toughest road construction projects.

6 - Multiple agencies have come together to work on the project: Border Roads Organisation (BRO), the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) etc.

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7 - MoRTH estimates that all necessary approvals and land acquisition processes would be completed by March 2025.

8 - Construction will be completed by March 2027.

9 - With the Frontier Highway, Arunachal Pradesh will have three national highways  the Frontier Highway, the East-West Industrial Corridor Highway, and the Trans-Arunachal Highway.

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10 - This has been dubbed as a futuristic highway. It will run along the India-Tibet-China-Myanmar border.

11 - It will be just 20 kms from the LAC and the international borders.

12 - It will start from Bomdila and pass through Nafra, Huri, and Monigong, which is closer to the LAC or the McMahon Line. The highway will end in Vijaynagar, near the India-Myanmar border.

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13 - Important centres that the Frontier Highway will touch are Tawang, Mago Upper Subansiri, Upper Siang, Mechukha, Tuting, Dibang Valley, Kibithoo, Changlang, and Dong.

14 - The strategic highway will connect with the under-construction Trans-Arunachal Highway, linking Tawang to Kanubari, finally ending on NH 52 near Akajan, close to the Bogibeel bridge near Dibrugarh in Assam.

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15 - China had objected to the project when it was announced. Back then, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei had said: Until the border issue is resolved, we urge the Indian side to refrain from taking any actions that could further complicate the situation, in order to maintain the current state of peace and stability in the border region.

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Also Read: Work begins on Indias strategic highway on China frontier in Arunachal Pradesh; will give forces hawk-eye view of LAC

The Indian position, however, can be summed up in CM Pema Khandus statement: 1962 was history and will never be repeated ever. In 1962, the scenario was very different. Infrastructure in the region was very poor. Despite that the Indian Army fought bravely and sacrificed thousands of lives to protect the motherland. But today, we are not what we were in 1962.
Since PM Modi assumed power, he has advocated for a multi-alignment strategy, promoting Indias relations with the US, Japan, Russia and other countries and regional organisations, the Global Times article praising India said

India is indeed a major power, and rapid changes in internal and external strategies pose challenges to both itself and the international community, said Chinas leading state-run newspaper Global Times, as it hailed the countrys strides in economic, social governance and foreign policy under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

It appears that a transformed, stronger, and more assertive India has become a new geopolitical factor that many countries need to consider, said Zhang Jiadong, the director of the Centre for South Asian Studies at Fudan University, in an opinion piece in Global Times.

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India rapidly transforming

The article on Global Times said, India has always considered itself a world power. However, it has only been less than 10 years since India shifted from multi-balancing to multi-alignment, and now it is rapidly transforming toward a strategy of becoming a pole in the multipolar world. The speed of such changes is rarely seen in the history of international relations, the .

Indias domestic & foreign situation changed tremendously

Jiadong, who recently visited India twice, said Indias domestic and foreign situation have changed tremendously.

India has made great achievements in economic development and social governance. Its economy has gained momentum and is on track to becoming one of the fastest-growing major economies, said Jiadong.

The article in the Communist nation-run newspaper also acknowledge India has made progress in urban governance. '

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On the one hand, India has made great achievements in economic development and social governance. Its economy has gained momentum and is on track to becoming one of the fastest-growing major economies, the article further read.

Shift in attitude towards China

The article further said the attitude of Indian representatives towards Chinese scholars have been more relaxed and moderate.  When discussing the trade imbalance between India and China, India is placing more emphasis on its export potential, actively seeking to reduce the trade deficit with China by taking the initiative and increasing Chinese imports from India.

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India developing a Bharat narrative

The Global Times article on India further said With its rapid economic and social development, India has become more strategically confident and more proactive in creating and developing a Bharat narrative.

China lauds Indias foreign policy

Praising Indias foreign policy under PM Modi, the Global Times article said, In the diplomatic sphere, India has rapidly shifted toward a great power strategy. Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed power, he has advocated for a multi-alignment strategy, promoting Indias relations with the US, Japan, Russia and other countries and regional organisations.

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Indias strategic thinking in foreign policy has undergone another change and is clearly moving toward a great power strategy. Regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict, India has distanced itself from the West and aligned itself more closely to the developing world, it further said.
Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including one AK series rifle, three magazines were recovered from the site of encounter

A Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist has been neutralised during an anti-terrorist operation by police and security forces in South Kashmirs Shopian district.

Acting on specific information regarding presence of terrorist, a joint cordon and search operation was launched in the wee hours of Friday by Police, Army (34RR) and CRPF (178Bn) in Chotigam village area of Shopian.

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As the search operation team approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding terrorist fired indiscriminately upon them. The security forces retaliated to the firing, leading to an encounter.

In the ensuing encounter, one terrorist was killed and his bodies was retrieved from the site of encounter. He has been identified as Bilal Ahmed Bhat son of Ghulam Rasool Bhat resident of Chek Cholan, affiliated with proscribed terror outfit LeT.

Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including one AK series rifle, three magazines were recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other terror crimes.

Police said, as per their records, Bilal Ahmed Bhat was involved in several terror crime cases including killing of local army personnel namely Umer Fayaz, hurled grenade upon non-local labours in Hermain, that killed two labourers.

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The LeT terrorist was also involved in killing of Kashmiri pandit Sunil Kumar Bhat and injuring other Kashmiri pandit Pretimber Nath, both residents of Chotigam Shopian.

Bilal Ahmed Bhat was also involved in attack on local Bal Krishan, resident of Chotigam. He was also involved in instigating local youth to join terrorist ranks and induced 12 local youth into the ranks of terrorists.

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Besides other terror crimes, Bilal Ahmed Bhat was also involved in killing of arrested terrorist who was leading the search party during a CASO at Nowgam in 2022.
With the exception of Neelam Azad, all the accused agreed to undergo the polygraph test as requested by the Delhi Police, who had earlier sought the courts approval for conducting the tests on all the individuals involved

Five of the six accused persons arrested in connection with the Parliament security breach on Friday gave their consent before a court in Delhi to conduct their polygraph test.

Additional Sessions Judge Hardeeep Kaur, in addition to this, extended the police custody of all the accused individuals  Manoranjan D, Sagar Sharma, Amol Dhanraj Shinde, Neelam Azad, Lalit Jha, and Mahesh Kumawat  by eight days.

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The judge decided to extend the custody based on a request made by the Delhi Police after the accused were presented before the court upon the expiration of their custody period.

With the exception of Azad, all the accused agreed to undergo the polygraph test as requested by the Delhi Police, who had earlier sought the courts approval for conducting the tests on all the individuals involved.

In a major security breach on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack on December 13, two persons - Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D - jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during the Zero Hour, released yellow gas from canisters and shouted slogans before being overpowered by the MPs.

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Around the same time, two other accused - Amol Shinde and Azad - also sprayed coloured gas from canisters while shouting tanashahi nahi chalegi outside the Parliament premises.

With inputs from agencies
The Frontier Highway project in Arunachal Pradesh was first conceived around 2016 and was objected by China. It is now aimed to be completed by 2027

To keep a hawk eye on Chinas activities across the LAC and ease movement of Indian troops to the Indo-China border, the Indian government has started work on the Frontier Highway in Arunachal Pradesh.

The nearly 1,700 km-long Frontier Highway project is part of a big road infrastructure push in Arunachal Pradesh by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government in recent years. It is considered to be Indias most challenging and strategic and is also seen as an effort to counter the designs of China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

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The project, first conceived around 2016 and had in the past been objected by China, is aimed to be completed by 2027.

Govt invites first tenders

The first tenders for construction of the Frontier Highway in Arunachal Pradesh have been invited by the Indian government and News18, in an exclusive report, said they are worth nearly Rs 2,200 crore.

Details of Frontier Highway project

An important highway stretch of nearly 121 km between Hunli and Hayuliang adjacent to the LAC will be constructed. There will be a 17 km-long strategic bridge between Hunli and Ithun, and a 13 km road from Tutin to Zido.

The Arunachal Frontier Highway will connect Dirang-Tawang road, Nafra, Lada, Bameng, Chayangtajo, Sarli, Damin, Parsi Parlo, Tali, Taliha, Siyum, Mechuka, Tato, Payum, Tuting, Singa, Dibang Valley and Anjaw onwards up to Vijaynagar.

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Once the highway is complete, it will provide connectivity from Bomdila near Tawang, next to the LAC, to Vijaynagar near the Myanmar border.

Frontier Highway project total cost

The entire cost of the Frontier Highway project in Arunachal will be Rs 27,000 crore.

This will be one of the toughest and biggest border road projects in Independent India, Arunachal MP and Union minister Kiren Rijiju had earlier said.

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The Frontier Highway in the north and east part of Arunachal Pradesh along the China border would be in addition to the Trans-Arunachal Highway running through the middle of the state and the Arunachal East-West Corridor.
The presidency of the G7 begins and Italy will be the torch bearer of international politics. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Italy Antonio Tajani tweeted on X. From North to South we will welcome allies to address major global issues, from wars to climate change, from Africa to artificial intelligence. This is a great opportunity, we are ready, added Tajani. Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, United Kingdom, USA and the European Union (EU) work under the umbrella of this informal dialogue of the Group of 7 (G7) and Italy took over the presidency from Japan on the 1 January this year.

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Italys leadership of the G7 comes at a critical time in global politics. The Russia-Ukraine war has caused a political, economic and energy crisis in Europe and Hamass attack on Israel has created clear divisions in the Middle East. The Red Sea and the Bab-al-Mandab are under attack by the Ansarallah, dealing a hard blow to European shipping links to Asia, and increasing the cost and time for ships to transit.

Elections in Taiwan also add to the stress of the G7 calendar, especially after Chinas President Xi Jinping has clearly mentioned that unification between Taiwan and China remains a priority for him. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni herself has led Italys exit from the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Italy was the only G7 power to have signed the MoU during Prime Minister Giuseppe Contes tenure. Italy is still waiting to see if there will be trade repercussions from China for this withdrawal. Both G7 and European countries have to de-risk their economies from China, having figured out the massive control China exerted on their supply chains during COVID-19.

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To add to this Italy and Europe are dealing with a difficult illegal immigration crisis by sea from North Africa where illegal immigrants from Africa and Asia, at great peril, cross over in small boats with the hope of getting residency in Europe. Its also an election year for Giorgia Melonis main ally, the United States, with the presidential elections scheduled for November 2024. The European Union also goes to election in June and a new European Parliament will mean new balances to strike for Italy to continue its agenda.

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Washington has made it known, right at the start, that it will be fundamental to keep Ukraine among the priorities of the agenda (of G7), reports Italys oldest newspaper Corriere della Sera. A delegation from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, flew to the United States to discuss G7 priorities even before the actual takeover of the presidency. In confidential conversations with leading representatives of the White House, the State Department and the National Security Council, the Italian representatives noted the American administrations desire to increase support for Kyiv. The Biden administration seems to be convinced that there is no margin for diplomatic negotiations today because Russia will want to continue the war effort at least for next year, also aiming for an outcome of the elections in the USA that sees the most isolationist tendencies prevail. The US believes that given the current situation, it will be necessary to intensify military assistance for Ukraine. For this reason, the G7 - according to Washington - will be essential to mobilise the maximum political and financial commitment, useful for exerting pressure on Moscow.

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Apart from Ukraine, pressing themes will be China, food security, supply chain resilience, migration, energy security and transition. Meloni had herself mentioned in Hiroshima, during the heads of state summit in 2023 that the ethical, legal and political ramifications of Artificial intelligence (AI) will also be an integral theme of the Italian G7 summit. Italy has decided to organise the heads of state summit in Puglia, in the south of Italy, a melting point between the west and the east, in June 2024 and expects to have various meetings all over the country.

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The Global South will be a priority for Meloni, carrying forward the importance that India gave the African Union and the Global South during its G20 Presidency in 2023. Her own Mattei plan is a sort of Marshall plan for Africa, which is to engage African nations for development and security. Italy is to lead the EU and the Mattei plan calls for more engagement with African leaders. The African Union and India are both expected to be invited as guests in June as is Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

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Apart from all this, the G7 presidency is a sort of crisis response centre for geopolitical crises. With several wars simultaneously going on and a year of elections where over 4 billion people will vote globally, the Italian presidency expects a lot of excitement and responsibility. Autocracies will use every opportunity to influence elections this year to bring their allies to power. While this is Giorgia Melonis first term as prime minister, she has shown herself to be the right person for the occasion so far. In the case of the G7, Meloni will probably not disappoint.

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The author is an Indo-Italian entrepreneur and has over 24 years of leadership and entrepreneurial experience across a wide range of disciplines including pharmaceuticals, technology, renewable energy, strategic consulting, not-for-profit and development in over 30 countries. He is also the founder of the Dialogue on Democracy. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost_s views._

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External Affairs Minister S Jaishankars fulsome and lavish description of India-Russia ties in the press conference with Lavrov and in his address to the Indian community would have been taken note of in the West

Indias External Affairs Minister (EAM), S Jaishankar paid a somewhat long five-day visit to Russia from December 25 to 29, 2023. The duration of the visit itself is an indication of the range and depth of the bilateral partnership in the midst of an increasingly fractious global scenario. His last visit to Russia was in November 2022.

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That was for only two days when he met his counterpart Russian Foreign Minister (FM) Sergey Lavrov and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade and Industry Denis Manturov, who also co-chair, along with Jaishankar, the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, and Scientific Cooperation.

The highlight of the current visit was EAMs meeting with President Putin, which is an opportunity and privilege that is granted to a very select number of foreign ministers. EAM did not get to meet Putin during his last visit in November 2022.

The setting

India and the Soviet Union shared a special relationship of trust and confidence during the Cold War years.

The first decade after the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991 witnessed some turbulence in bilateral ties between India and the successor state, Russia. However, since 2000, when the two countries signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement during the first visit of President Vladimir Putin to India in October 2000, bilateral relations have been on an upward trajectory.

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The relationship was subsequently upgraded to a Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership during Putins visit to India in 2010. It was also agreed during the visit in 2000 to hold annual summits between the two countries, alternately in India and Russia.

Twenty-one annual summits were held from 2000 until 2021. The only year when the summit did not take place was 2020, ostensibly due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Summits did not take place in 2022 and 2023 either, apparently due to Russias pre-occupation with the conflict in Ukraine in 2022 and because India was tied up with the responsibility of the G20 Presidency in 2023.

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However, in the warm and effusive interaction between President Putin and EAM Jaishankar on December 27, 2023, the former invited his dear friend, Prime Minister Modi to visit Russia in 2024. This invitation was accepted on behalf of PM Modi by Jaishankar, who said that PM Modi looks forward to visiting Russia in 2024.

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The fact that regular summits have been held for most of the period since this highest-level institutional mechanism was put in place is testimony to the high importance that the two countries and their leaders attach to the partnership.

In view of the growing acrimony and polarisation in global affairs in recent years between the East (Russia and China) and the West (USA, Europe, Japan, Australia), as well as the North (Developed) and South (Developing/Global South), strong and steady relations between India and Russia are a factor of peace and stability in international relations.

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While leaders in India have changed over the last 23 years since the Strategic Partnership was signed in 2000, leadership in Russia has stayed in the hands of President Putin. He can be termed one of the prime architects of modern-day partnerships between the two countries.

On the Indian side, PM Modi has played a critical role in keeping the relationship stable and consistent over the last nine years, when the world has witnessed cataclysmic changes in relations between different major power centres. In these unpredictable times, PM Modi has guided bilateral ties with sure and firm hands.

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As with the Soviet Union, strong relations with Russia have been a key pillar of Indias foreign policy.

The visit

During his interactions with Deputy PM Manturov and FM Lavrov, the EAM had a comprehensive exchange of views on bilateral cooperation in trade and economics, energy, defence, connectivity, cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and cooperation between regions of the two countries. He also shared perspectives on global and regional developments, including multilateral cooperation.

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Three documents relating to the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, an MoU on cooperation in pharmaceuticals and healthcare, and a protocol on Foreign Office Consultations were signed during the visit.

India and Russia decided to expand their civilian nuclear cooperation, with Moscow willing to share technology for a small modular reactor used in power generation, even as both sides indicated their intention to push towards the completion of Phase 1 of the 6,000 MW Kudankulam nuclear power project in Tamil Nadu. The small modular reactors are advanced nuclear reactors with a power generation capacity of 75 MW to 300 MW.

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The two sides also decided to work determinedly to commission reactors 3 and 4 while speeding up the work on reactors 5 and 6 at the Kudankulam nuclear project at a time when the US Westinghouse-supported 6,600 MW Kovvada nuclear project and the French Areva-supported 9,900 MW Jaitapur nuclear project are stalled over price and other negotiations. Only reactors 1 and 2 of Kudankulam are operational at the moment, providing 2,000 MW of electricity to the state of Tamil Nadu.

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Jaishankars visit to Russia came at a time when the latter takes over the presidency of the BRICS platform on January 1, 2024. This development assumes significance in the context of the moves to expand the membership of the body, with Pakistan having expressed an interest in joining it. It will be Indias endeavour to keep Pakistan out of the grouping for as long as possible, as it has very little, if anything, to offer to strengthen the organisation. Russias cooperation will be helpful in this context.

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At the press conference between the two foreign ministers, FM Lavrov said that Russia is respectful of Indias aspirations to diversify its sources of defence equipment and supplies. He said that Russia is keen to support Indias Make in India initiative to increasingly manufacture defence equipment domestically. He said that Russia was willing to share its technology for manufacturing modern weaponry with India. It appears that the two countries are looking at future joint ventures in the military systems on the lines of the Brahmos missile and AK-203 rifle projects under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) rubric. One of the areas of a possible joint venture is the manufacture of Kamov 226 T multi-purpose helicopters.

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Russia supplies nearly 45 percent of Indian military hardware. The two sides need to firm up spare parts supplies that have been hit by delays due to Russias war in Ukraine. While three out of five S-400 surface-to-air missile systems have been delivered by Russia to India, the balance is yet to be provided. New Delhi is also looking at receiving an Akula-class nuclear-powered attack submarine on a long-term lease from Moscow in 2025.

Discussions were held between the two sides on increasing the usage of the International North South Transport Corridor as well as operationalising the Chennai-Vladivostok corridor, a decision on which was taken during the visit of PM Modi to Vladivostok for the Far Eastern Forum in 2019.

In the backdrop of Iran-backed Houthis attacking commercial shipping in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, talks were also held to explore the Northern Sea Polar Route through the Arctic Sea. One fallout of global warming caused by the climate crisis is that the Northern Sea Route for commercial shipping could be usable for a larger part of the year without fear of encountering ice and inclement weather. While India has investments in the coal, oil and gas sector in Russia, it was able to obtain crude from Russia in 2022 and 23 at discounted rates to ensure that the oil prices it had to pay did not go through the roof due to the Ukraine war.

India-Russia trade ties witnessed exponential growth in 2022 to US$ 50 billion, principally on the back of increased oil and coal imports by India.

The volume of bilateral trade is likely to increase further in 2023. The expanding commercial ties have, however, hit a roadblock in the absence of an appropriate and stable payment mechanism for settling accounts.

Trading in each others national currencies has not worked out satisfactorily. The two sides will have to be innovative to find a solution to this hurdle so that bilateral commercial and economic ties can operate at their optimum. India also needs to increase its exports to Russia.

During the visit, EAM announced that negotiations on the FTA between the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) and India, which had stalled some time ago due to the pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, will be resumed in the second half of January 2024. The FTA, when concluded, can be expected to give a strong impetus to commercial ties between India and the constituent members of the EEU, of which Russia is the most important entity.

Conclusion

The rather long visit of the EAM to Russia was a huge shot in the arm for India-Russia relations. As noted above, annual summits between the two countries have not been held for the last two years. The two foreign ministers have, however, been meeting regularly and frequently to keep the relationship on an even keel with Putin at the G20 Summit in September 2022.

India-Russia ties (and before that, India-Soviet Union ties) have been one of the most stable between major powers. While relations between Russia and China, Russia and the West, or India and China and India and the West have gone through many ups and downs over the last 70 years, ties between India and Russia have continued to be firm and steady.

Strong ties between India and Russia are beneficial for Russia, as they provide it with greater strategic space while navigating its relations with China. They send out a clear message that Russia has sturdy relations with dependable powers. Without the resolute partnership of a major power like India, Russia could find itself totally dependent on China.

Similarly for India, it is a critical partnership, not only because of the legacy relationship and Indias import of significant quantities of its defence requirements from Russia, as well as the import of oil and gas, but also because of the strategic connotations of the relationship.

While providing additional strategic space to Russia to maintain its independent agency with China, strong and steady India-Russia ties also ensure that China and Russia dont become enmeshed in an alliance to the detriment of India and the world.

The growing closeness between India and Russia could, however, pose a challenge to India in taking forward its relations with the West, particularly the US. Jaishankars fulsome and lavish description of India-Russia ties in the press conference with Lavrov and in his address to the Indian community would have been taken note of in the West.

India has made a conscious decision that its most consequential partnership is with the US and other Western countries like Japan, Europe and Australia. India will need to ensure that its growing engagement with Russia does not in any way damage its expanding and deepening partnership with the West. This will be a formidable challenge that India must successfully confront in 2024.

The writer is executive council member, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, president, Institute of Global Studies, Distinguished Fellow, Ananta Aspen Centre, and former Ambassador of India to Kazakhstan, Sweden and Latvia. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost_s views._

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Kristi Ramsey is the new Office Manager and Events Coordinator at Main Street Beatrice.

Ramsey moved to Beatrice from Searcey, Ark. about a year ago.

I have a friend that lives here, she said. Our husbands were stationed at Fort Riley a decade ago together. We had gone back to Arkansas, but about a year ago decided to move to Beatrice and are so glad we did. We love it here.

Ramsey has been married to her husband, Matthew, for 19 years. They have a ten-year-old son, Randy, that attends Paddock Elementary.

Matthew and I were friends in elementary school, she said. We married young. He works for Allo. Randy loves it here and never wants to leave. Were a family of computer nerds and love to sit around and play computer games.

Her background is working information technology and computers. She had been working as a data entry analyst, but her contract ended in January, and she had been looking for something different.

This is totally different, she said. But it sounded interesting. I love the older downtown area. Im really excited about working here. Im hoping to help some of the businesses with computers.

Executive Director Morgan Fox said she felt like Ramsey would be a good fit in this job.

Ramsey is very personable and seemed to fit into the culture here right away, she said. Its been really fun already.

She noted a fun coincidence is that the previous Executive Director Michael Sothan was also from Searcey, Arkansas.

Chocolate Lovers Day will be February 3 in downtown Beatrice.

This will be a really good way to ease Ramsey into the job, she said. Its a fun day and theres plenty of chocolate. Who doesn't love chocolate?"

The team had visited some of the downtown businesses and Fox planned to continue introducing Ramsey to the area.
India is asserting its soft and hard power in support of its national interests, instead of mouthing vague platitudes as in the NAM days

India is apparently playing geopolitics and geoeconomics games better these days. That is the conclusion from a flurry of activity as 2023 draws to a close.

First was the release of Vishnu Dev Radhakrishnan from a Saudi jail after 5+ years of imprisonment on charges of blasphemy. The son of a retired Air Force officer from Kerala, he was an engineer at Aramco in Saudi Arabia. It appears that he had been provoked on Twitter into a mild criticism of things held holy by Muslims (as a reaction to similar criticism of Hinduism) and that he had been reported to the authorities by Muslim Kerala workers in the kingdom.

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Furthermore, as of 19 December, Zahack Tanvir, a non-extremist Muslim Indian working in Saudi Arabia, has been similarly denounced (possibly by Pakistanis) and has been arrested by the authorities. There is no further news about him, but he has been a prominent advocate of Indo-Arab relations and a critic of, for example, the Muslim Brotherhood. The Indian authorities need to take up his case.

In Vishnus case, it was not clear why the Indian foreign service had not been able to prevail upon the Saudis, as a friendly nation, to release him into Indian custody. I wonder about Zahack the same way now: he has been a voice of reason in an often-fraught relationship between Muslim and Hindu Indian expatriates in the Middle East and deserves help and support.

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The fact that Vishnu has finally been released is a positive sign of the ability of Indian diplomacy to make things happen. There have been many criticisms about the Indian foreign service, including their lack of manpower as well as their lack of support for Indian businesses in the countries that they serve in. If, finally, diplomacy is becoming a force multiplier, that is good news.

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The big story in West Asia is of course the case of the eight former Navy men sentenced to death by Qatar in October. They were working on contract to an Omani-owned company and advising Qatari entities. To begin with, they were arrested in August 2022 on unspecified charges after having worked for five to six years reportedly on the induction of small Italian submarines into the Qatari Navy. They were held in solitary confinement and even denied access to families and to their embassies.

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Then came the bombshell on 26 October: they were sentenced to death for allegedly spying for Israel. Since this happened in the aftermath of the 7 October invasion of Israel by Hamas and Indias declaration of support for Israel, it could be surmised that India was being punished by Qatar, which of course hosts senior Hamas leaders, and has been trying to play an intermediary role in the conflict and ceasefire. Maybe they were being over-zealous.

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But there is another intriguing possibility, which is that it was part of the US Deep States continuing assault on India. There was the Justin Trudeau credible allegation that Khalistani Hardeep Singh Nijjar was executed on command from India, and then there was the allegation that an Indian drug dealer named Nikhil Gupta had put out a hit on Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. There was a slew of action and lots of noise around all this, and allegations that Pannun was himself an asset of the Five Eyes intelligence network.

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Qatar hosts one of the biggest US military bases anywhere, and it has been alleged that the rulers of Kuwait know that the US has a threat hanging over its head: they could withdraw support, in which case the tiny, rich country will be immediately taken over by random adventurers. Therefore, whatever the US Deep State wants, Qatar will oblige. Incidentally, Qatar has donated about $4 billion to US universities, which some have called a carrot to professors.

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In any case, there must have been a flurry of diplomatic action. India duly paid $2.5 million, the second tranche of its annual contribution of $5 million to the UNRWA, the relief agency for Palestinian refugees. Whether there were other, hidden, contributions to mollify Qatar is not known.

The other shoe also dropped: which was geoeconomics. I have long been a proponent of buyer power: someone who is a big customer has power over the supplier. India is Qatars third biggest buyer of liquefied natural gas (LNG), buying $8.32 billion worth of the stuff this year, over half of its LNG imports.

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But there are other suppliers available. Notably, India holds 30 per cent (through ONGC Videsh, Oil India and Bharat Petroleum) in a large LNG project in Mozambique. There were prominent recent announcements from India about this project, and how soon this might come online. It had been put on hold because of an insurgency, but should go onstream in a while, and could supply a large portion of Indias needs.

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Secondly, Russia is a big exporter of LNG. The recent visit by S Jaishankar to Moscow was conspicuous: it was a dog-whistle to Qatar (as well as to the US, of course). The effusiveness with which President Vladimir Putin met the MEA (he almost never meets anybody below the head of state, and he invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit) was meant for media consumption. After all, India is a major consumer of Russian oil, ignoring Ukraine-related sanctions.

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There are other factors in play in Qatar as well. It employs 700,000 or so Indian citizens and can ill-afford to have them pack up and leave (the experience of Idi Amins Uganda is salutary here) because they probably run a significant portion of day-to-day operations in the country. Unlike what others have said, it is not as though India is a supplicant to Qatar; it also has supplier power. Indeed, India also sells quite a bit of agricultural products to the country.

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In this context, the case of the Italian marines is also instructive. They shot and killed two Indian fishermen in 2012 off the coast of Kerala, allegedly mistaking them for pirates. They were charged with murder, but the death penalty was waived in India. After years of litigation and arbitration, they were returned to Italy in 2014 and compensation of Rs. 10 crores was paid to the families of the fishermen in 2021.

Similarly, the fact that the Indian Navy men (accused of vague crimes) have had the death penalty dropped and that they have been or will be returned to India, is a reasonable compromise outcome that all can accept.

India is asserting its soft and hard power in support of its national interests, instead of mouthing vague platitudes as in the NAM days. This is good news. The fact that people like Zahack Tanvir are being hounded shows how much further India will have to go to gain automatic respect for its citizens.

The writer has been a conservative columnist for over 25 years. His academic interest is innovation. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost_s views._

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In addition to counterbalancing Turkey and Pakistan, India also looks at Armenia as a nodal point to expand its strategic and economic outreach to the South Caucasus

After the Chinese incursions in Doklam and Galwan worsened the India-China relationship and the involvement of extra-regional actors like Turkey in the Kashmir conflict, Indias foreign policy vision, approach, and strategic calculus are expanding beyond South Asia.

Indias outreach to Armenia, a faraway country in the South Caucasus, is part of this new change. The October 2021 visit of S Jaishankar, Indias External Affairs Minister, to Yerevan is historic because it was the first such visit of the Indian foreign minister to Armenia in the last 30 years.

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Before this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan on the sidelines of the 74th UNGA in New York, seeking Yerevans support in finalising a trade arrangement with the Eurasian Economic Union (EaEU).

In the last three years, India has emerged as a major weapons supplier to Armenia. These big-ticket defense deals include the sale of Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers, a USD 40 million contract of SWATI weapon-locating radars, ammunition anti-tank missiles, and 155 mm artillery guns.

The authors interlocutors in Indias Ministry of External Affairs informed that Armenia is interested in more defense deals, including drones and counter-drone systems, loitering munitions, and mid-range surface-to-air missiles.

In October 2022, Armenias defense minister, Suren Papikyan, visited the defense expo in New Delhi and met his counterpart Rajnath Singh. In Sept 2022, both countries signed MoUs in culture, digital infrastructure, and renewable energy to promote business ties at the India-Armenia Conference 2022 in Bengaluru. The delegates explored the trade and investment potential in pharma, agriculture, information technology, film-city, and tourism.

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Additionally, one can witness a major uptick in think tank-level cooperation between India and Armenia. Most recently, the author represented Usanas Foundation, Indias premier foreign policy think tank, at the Yerevan Dialogue Series organised by the Prime Ministers Office of Armenia, in collaboration with Armenias top-level think tank, Applied Policy Research Institute (APRI).

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APRI will also organise the next dialogue series with the Observer Research Foundation, Indias top-level foreign policy think tank, and the prestigious Raisina Dialogue organiser in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs.

All these developments come on the solid bedrock of robust cultural and historical ties between the two countries that have existed for centuries. The Armenian business community has lived in India for over four centuries. Kolkata has one of the oldest Armenian churches and a school. Armenias first constitution was drafted in Chennai.

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Geopolitics behind strategic connectivity

Until the 2020 war, India more or less had a clear stand, backing Armenia against Azerbaijans territorial aggression. Turkey and Pakistans support of Azerbaijan made it all the more essential for India to support Armenia. In 2017, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Pakistan signed a trilateral ministers agreement to boost defense and strategic ties.

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Notably, Azerbaijan has declared its support for Pakistan on the Kashmir issue whereas Armenia supports India. Turkey-Pakistan relations are very old, going back to 1947. Turkey has always supported Pakistan, and after the abrogation of Kashmirs special status in 2019, Turkey has emerged as a diehard proponent of Pakistan against India in the global propaganda war and multilateral institutions.

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Under Erdogans Islamist leadership and Pan-Turkic ambitions, Ankaras interest and support of Pakistan strengthened, and anti-India diatribes have become vitriolic. More recently, the authors interlocutors have suggested that Erdogans private paramilitary force, SADAT, may be active in sending highly trained mercenaries to Kashmir.

In addition to counter-balance Turkey and Pakistan, India also looks at Armenia as a nodal point to expand its strategic and economic outreach to the South Caucasus.

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New Delhis most critical interests in this region lie in the strategic connectivity projects. Indias interest in the International North-South Corridor (INSTC), of which Armenia is a part, is firmly rooted in its quest for land connectivity to Eurasia, Central Asia, and Europe through the Iranian plateau, otherwise blocked by Pakistan and Afghanistan.

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With this intent, India aims to extend INSTC to Armenia, connecting Chabahar port in south east Iran to European and Eurasian markets. India and Iran have two options  railway lines connecting north western Iran to Russia or the Black Sea through Armenias Syunik province or via the Caspian coast through Azerbaijan.

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Armenia is a natural choice for India because of Azerbaijans proximity to Pakistan and Turkey. Armenia is also keenly interested in INSTC. Yerevan announced an alternate road to Iran in May 2021 to connect Iranian ports to Georgian ports via Armenia. During the Indian foreign ministers 2021 visit, Armenia also proposed a scheme allowing the transportation of Indian products to Russia and the Black Sea via Armenia. All these initiatives bring the INSTC closer to reality.

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Given the above mentioned developments, it is reasonable to conclude that both countries are moving towards a robust strategic partnership. However, Indias relative silence or pessimism after the fall of Nagorno-Karabakh in 2023 indicates a moderate decline in New Delhis enthusiasm and a sense of guarded optimism bordering on skepticism.

Perhaps, after Azerbaijans aggression and conquest of Nagorno-Karabakh, India is reeling under a sense of insecurity about its investments and plans for strategic connectivity projects in this region. India may reconsider its aforesaid preference for the Syunik transit route because of the Zanzegur region which falls in it. Azerbaijan has made claims to Zanzegur corridor as it provides unimpeded accesses to its exclave of Nakhchivan. Given the revisionist intent of Azerbaijan and the recent attacks on mainland Armenia, these threats originating from Baku can not be underestimated. Hence, the prevailing instability and volatile security situation may dampen Indias enthusiasm for a transit route through Syunik.

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Nevertheless, India faces a difficult choice. India is majorly invested in the Chabahar project and eyes INSTC as a critical connectivity project to obtain overland routes to Europe. Despite the hindrances owing to sanctions against Iran and Russia and major differences over the arbitration issues with Iran, India has finalised a ten-year contract with Iran for the use of Chabahar port.

Indias West Asia expert and former envoy to many Middle Eastern countries, Ambassador Anil Trigunayat said in a telephonic interview that after the Ukraine war, Russians have become very serious about the rapid execution of INSTC to gain access to Chabahar through the Indian Ocean, to counter the European sanctions.

India does not want to miss this opportunity. Trigunayat further said that if India shows lack of interest, China is likely to occupy that space as it already has strong ties with Russia and Iran, and Indias dependence is further accentuated by the declining prospects of the India-Middle East Europe Corridor (IMEC) after the Israel-Hamas war.

Hence, whether these vulnerabilities will compel India to explore the Azerbaijan route for INSTC in the backdrop of the Turkey-Pakistan-Azerbaijan alliance or not remains a million-dollar question.

Worst-case scenario

In addition to the abovementioned factors, the increasing involvement of global powers in the South Caucasus can also impede the transformation of India-Armenia relationship into a strategic partnership.

After Russias lukewarm response to the war with Azerbaijan, there is a marked Armenian shift towards the US, which is making Moscow uncomfortable.

In the recent Russia-Ukraine war, India had to face tremendous pressure from the Western powers to abandon Russia. Given its aversion to alliances, New Delhi would avoid getting caught in another cold war front between the US and Russia.

Also, Indias strong ties with Israel, Irans arch-enemy, and Irans with China, Indias arch-enemy, will make it increasingly challenging for India to continue and further its involvement in Russia-Iran-led INSTC.

The worst-case scenario for India will be the passage of INSTC through Azerbaijan. Hence, it can be argued that in the prevailing uncertainty and instability in the South Caucasus, India will prefer to move ahead on a bilateral trajectory with Armenia, with a particular focus on defense deals and economic ties.

The writer is the founder and CEO of Usanas Foundation, a foreign policy and national security thinktank. A Cornell University grad in public affairs, and the author of Radicalisation in India: An Exploration_. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect_ Firstpost_s views._

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As the South China Sea becomes a focal point of geopolitical tensions, the Philippines stands firm against Chinas aggressive actions

The South China Sea has become a hotbed of escalating tensions as China continues to stir up trouble prompting regional powers to take a firm stance against its actions.

Growing confrontation

Recent weeks have witnessed open confrontations between China and the Philippines with Beijing targeting ships from Manila. China has gone to the extent of blocking the movement of Philippine vessels, firing water cannons and even colliding with Filipino ships. These provocations, captured on camera, indicate a brazen approach by China with no signs of a change in its behaviour.

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Faced with such aggression, the Philippines has two options: to respond with force in a tit-for-tat manner or to adopt a more tactical approach. Recent developments suggest that Manila has chosen the latter option.

Building presence in disputed waters

The Philippines is strategically building assets in disputed waters, particularly in the South China Sea. One notable project is taking shape at the Second Thomas Shoal, a submerged reef located in the Spratly Islands. China claims ownership of this reef, but it has been under Philippine control for decades.

Manila is strengthening its hold on the Second Thomas Shoal by constructing a permanent structure, a facility intended to serve as shelter for Philippine fishermen. The Philippines is allocating over a million dollars for this project, emphasizing its commitment to reinforcing its territorial claims in the face of Chinas provocations.

A significant aspect of Manilas strategy is the presence of the B.R.P. Sierra Madre, a shipwreck marooned on the Second Thomas Shoal. Despite being a rusting piece of junk, this ship serves as a crucial military base, acting as a marker for Manila and an observation outpost for its marines. The Philippines deploys soldiers here to assert control over the island and protect its rights.

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Chinas coercion and roadblocks

In response to the Philippines assertiveness, China is creating roadblocks to impede resupply missions to the marines stationed on the shipwreck. The Chinese navy has actively blocked shipments of food and supplies causing concern about the well-being of the Filipino soldiers. China has also increased its patrols in the region installing a floating barrier to prevent Philippine ships from approaching.

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The tensions between the Philippines and China are reaching a critical point. Chinese officials have warned against Philippine provocations and harassment emphasizing their commitment to resolving differences through dialogue. The Philippines, on the other hand, remains steadfast in its assertion of rights based on the Philippine constitution and international law.

In response to the escalating tensions, the Philippines is mobilising international allies and conducting joint military drills. Collaborative efforts with the United States, India and other partners aim to strengthen the Philippines position in the South China Sea. Despite objections from Beijing, Manila is resolute in confronting China head-on.

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As the South China Sea becomes a focal point of geopolitical tensions, the Philippines stands firm against Chinas aggressive actions. The construction of permanent structures, strategic military presence and international alliances underscore Manilas commitment to safeguarding its territorial integrity and standing up to Chinese coercion. The situation remains fluid and the international community watches closely as tensions in the region continue to rise.

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Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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The non-Arab tribe of Masalit has become the primary prey of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces Arab jingoism

Are all human lives equal? If so, then 2023 has not just been about wars in Ukraine and Gaza. In the hues and cries of conflicts that are a priority to the Euro-centric world, we have forgotten to look at what is happening on the other side of the Red Sea  south of the Sahara desert  Sudan.

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The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary force and a rebranded name for the notorious Janjaweed militia known for the horrible Darfur genocide, has been wreaking havoc on the country marred by ethnic conflicts, military dictatorship, political turmoil, destituteness and hunger.

The new wave of crisis started in the month of April, when war broke out in the Sudanese capital Khartoum between the Sudanese army and the RSF, who fell out over a plan to integrate their troops as part of transition to democracy.

As per DTM Sudan (Monthly Displacement Overview), until the end of 2023, 5.8 million people have been internally displaced, while more than 1.5 million people have left the country. The UN data states that over 7 million people have been displaced!

Starting in October, as the tide of war turned in favour of the RSF once more, the paramilitary force started to haunt the Darfur region again.

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One might remember the bloodshed that Janjaweed caused in Darfur in the 2000s, beginning in 2003, in which 300,000 people died. This was targeted at the ethnic cleansing of the regions non-Arab population.

To put it in blatant terms, the devil has returned!

Think again: On 8 November, 2023, in Ardamata, a suburb of El Geneina, the capital of Sudans West Darfur region, the RSF killed more than 1,000 people, and it did not even hit our headlines!

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The non-Arab tribe of Masalit has become the primary prey of the RSFs Arab jingoism.

By using a divide-and-rule tactic to set tribes against one another, former president Omar al-Bashir increased ethnic tensions. Bashir tasked armed Arab tribal groups in 2003 to put down a primarily non-Arab uprising that had its roots in protests against Darfurs political and economic marginalisation. And apparently, the Jinn has not been bottled yet and is plundering even more.

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By 16 June, the RSF had already executed Khamis Abubbakr, the governor of West Darfur. He was kidnapped and assassinated shortly after he told the Saudi television network Al-Hadath that the killings in his region were genocide.

It is not that the international community has not condemned this carnage; the European Union has warned of the danger of another genocide, and the UN Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner has been extremely alarmed by the Ardamata killings. But these have largely gone unheard to check the outrage of the RSF or its allied militias. The US and Saudi Arabia have led negotiations to end the conflict, but these efforts have failed, and prior commitments to protect civilians have not been followed.

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The situation is grim; one can find a number of horrifying stories, reading the experiences of thousands who have fled for neighbouring Chad and found refuge in overcrowded camps.

We read about a woman who shares how some heavily armed men attacked her village and forced her to flee, leaving her seven children behind amid brutal violence. Or a 34-year-old who had a harsh trek for four days carrying her eight-year-old son on her back with no provisions.

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But as one looks upon the non-Arab tribes of West Darfur, including Masalits, one cant help wondering whether these ideas hold any relevance for the international community.

If all lives are equal, how can we be mum to this open genocide? The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, 1948, has criminalised genocide and obligated state parties to pursue the enforcement of its prohibition decades before, to which Sudan is also a party.

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It is noted that the Sudanese army might not be able to protect its citizens and has also historically been the cause of their trauma by breeding Arab-militia Janjaweed which later became the RSF, only to be bitten back by them. Also, non-Arab groups have also taken some endeavours which are clearly not very able to ensure security. But why does the international community not look as worried about it as it does when it comes to people dying in Gaza or the toll the Russia-Ukraine war is causing?

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Are some lives more important when they profoundly affect the interests of big powers? Or, the overt ethnic conflict in Sudan  which belongs to the coup belt of Africa and has had political and ethnic conflicts almost throughout its post-independence era  is not a newsworthy element for the media houses globally in their eagerness to catch eyeballs. The author still awaits an answer.

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Hope has risen as the RSF said on Tuesday, Its arms are wide open to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire through talks with the Sudanese army. The move was followed when a pro-civilian group, the Taqadum Civilian Coalition, and the RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, signed the Addis Ababa Declaration, inviting the Sudanese army to follow suit. However, it is still unclear whether the army would accept it.

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According to reports, the agreement includes commitments to build safe passageways and repatriate millions of displaced people to their homes. But how far it will be helpful to the Masalit people is yet to be concluded.

To this realist anarchy of international order, Masalits only have sorrows, sufferings, and wounds to show.

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Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council (MRIC) signed an MoU) to develop and deploy a Joint Small Satellite. The collaboration also opens avenues for MRICs support from their ground station for future small satellite missions by ISRO

In a significant stride towards international space collaboration, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council (MRIC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop and deploy a Joint Small Satellite.

The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was apprised of the MoU earlier today. The agreement, signed on November 1, 2023, in Port Louis, Mauritius, falls under Indias ISRO, and Mauritius Ministry of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation, as per a statement released by the Press Information Bureau.

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The primary focus of the MoU is the cooperative development of a Joint Small Satellite, marking a crucial step in the ongoing space cooperation between India and Mauritius. The collaboration will not only involve the joint realisation of the satellite but will also extend to the utilisation of MRICs Ground Station.

The partnership aims to involve Indian industries in the development of certain subsystems for the joint satellite, fostering benefits for the industry and potentially generating employment opportunities. The estimated cost for the realization of this joint satellite is Rs 20 crore, solely funded by the Government of India, with no other financial exchanges between the involved parties.

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The strategic cooperation serves multiple purposes.

Firstly, it establishes a framework for joint satellite development, ensuring continuous support from the Mauritius Government for ISRO/Indias ground station in Mauritius, crucial for launch vehicle and satellite missions.

Secondly, the collaboration opens avenues for MRICs support from their ground station for future small satellite missions by ISRO.

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The MoU outlines an implementation schedule, with the joint realization of the small satellite set to be completed within a 15-month period.

The signing of the MoU took place during the visit of the Minister of State (MEA) to Mauritius for the Aapravasi Diwas event, reinforcing the commitment to enhancing space cooperation between the two nations.

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This collaboration builds upon the longstanding space partnership that began in the late 1980s when ISRO established a ground station in Mauritius, providing tracking and telemetry support for ISROs launch vehicle and satellite missions.

The current space cooperation framework, governed by a country-level agreement signed in 2009, continues to evolve with this latest initiative, reflecting the shared commitment to advancing space capabilities between India and Mauritius.
The other poll observers included members from the European Union, the Commonwealth, the US-based International Republican Institute (IRI) and National Democratic Institute (NDI), the South Asia Democratic Forum (SADF), and other reputable organisations.

Over 100 foreign observers, including three from India, arrived in Dhaka on Friday to monitor the general election scheduled for Sunday in Bangladesh. The main Opposition party has boycotted the election, announcing a 48-hour nationwide general strike.

According to Foreign Ministry officials, a three-member delegation from the Election Commission of India arrived in Dhaka on Friday. An additional 122 observers from various countries were expected to be present before the January 7 polls, which the United Nations has expressed intent to closely monitor.

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So far 60 foreign observers or experts have arrived here and all together 127 have scheduled to come. Besides, 73 foreign journalists have received accreditations and among them, 17 have already arrived, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen told reporters late Thursday. He said the observers will monitor the polls in the capital Dhaka and elsewhere in the country.

But we have suggested to them that they choose the destinations having air connectivity (for convenience)," the foreign secretary said. The Commonwealth has sent a 17-member team, the largest among foreign observers.

The other poll observers included members from the European Union, the Commonwealth, the US-based International Republican Institute (IRI) and National Democratic Institute (NDI), the South Asia Democratic Forum (SADF), and other reputable organisations.

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A United Nations spokesperson on Thursday said the UN was watching the (polls) process closely, and we hope that all the elections happen in a transparent and organised manner but said the global body did not have any comment on the election boycott by the Opposition.

The daylong voting will start simultaneously in 299 parliamentary constituencies across Bangladesh on Sunday. Election in one constituency was postponed after an independent candidate died of natural causes. Some 1,519 candidates from 27 political parties are contesting in the election. Besides, there are 404 independent candidates.

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A total of 119.1 million registered voters are eligible to vote at Sundays polls in more than 42,000 polling stations, according to the election commission. The election commission said it expected the results to start flowing from early on January 8.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas ruling Awami League is expected to win for a straight fourth time as the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of former premier Khaleda Zia, who is effectively under house arrest as a convict of graft charges, boycotted the polls.

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The polls, however, are contested by 27 political parties, including the parliamentary opposition Jatiya Party (JAPA). The rest are members of the ruling Awami League-led coalition which experts dub as satellite parties.

As part of its vote boycott campaign, BNP on Thursday called a 48-hour countrywide general strike from 6 am on January 6 to 6 am on January 8 as the party has been claiming no election under the incumbent government would be fair and credible.

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BNP spokesman Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the stoppage saying it was aimed to press home their demands for the resignation of the illegal government, establishment of a non-party neutral government and release of all party leaders and activists from prison.

Bangladesh deployed Army troops across the country two days ago in aid of civil administration to maintain peace and order during the voting.

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But according to media reports, unidentified people carried homemade bomb and arson attacks in empty polling centres in four out of 64 administrative districts while BNP activists clashed with police in another district leaving five people wounded on Friday.

Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal late Thursday joined a meeting with foreign ambassadors and diplomats, who declined to talk to the media. Brussels-based think-tank International Crisis Group (ICG) said the country is at a critical juncture.

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Bangladesh is at a critical juncture. The once vibrant, if imperfect democracy will soon hold a third election without a credible alternative to the incumbent government, it said in a recent report.

The think tank said while it was now too late to delay the January election, the Awami League and BNP should work after the vote to de-escalate the countrys political tensions, including through concessions by both sides.

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Political science professor and analyst Harunur Rashid said he feared Bangladesh might need to wait for an indefinite period to witness a congenial political atmosphere because of the extremely conflicting nature between the major two parties.

Awami League general secretary Obaidul Kader on Friday said there was no perfect democracy anywhere in the world but BNPs participation could have made the upcoming elections more competitive.

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Emerging from a meeting with the Commonwealth Observer Group, Kader said They have agreed with us that nowhere in the world there is a cent per cent or perfect democracy.

BNP boycotted the 2014 election but joined the one in 2018, which party leaders later said was a mistake alleging the voting was marred with widespread rigging and intimidation.

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BNPs boycott announcement, however, initially posed a challenge to Hasina on the legitimacy of the January 7 polls as JAPA also expressed its reluctance to join the fray but agreed to participate as the ruling party decided to spare them 26 seats withdrawing their candidates.

Awami League also left six seats to its partners in the 14-party ruling alliance while Hasina encouraged independent and rebel candidates to contest to make the polling participatory while the ruling party was carrying out a campaign for high voter turnouts. Senior BNP leader Abdul Moyeen Khan on Friday called the government efforts childish proving its political bankruptcy.

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Analysts and watchdogs, however, said the country of 170 million was heading for virtual one-party rule while many voters said they found no charm in voting this time as the polling was set to reelect the incumbent government.

Meanwhile, the Commonwealth and the Indian election monitoring officials have visited the Media Centre opened for the journalists at the Pan Pacific Sonargoan Hotel in Dhaka.

The Press Information Department (PID) runs the centre to provide logistical support to local and foreign journalists for the 12th national parliamentary election to be held on Sunday.

Director General (Media) of Election Commission of India B Narayanan and Adviser and Head of Governance and Peace of Electoral Support Section of Commonwealth Secretariat Linford Andrews visited the Centre on Friday, said PID. They interacted with the PID officials during the visit.

Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal on Thursday said: There will be modern facilities available for representatives of domestic and foreign media who will come, stay, and try to collect information. Journalists will be crucial in highlighting the electoral processs transparency and visibility, he said.

With inputs from Reuters.
Chinas tight connections with North Korea were highlighted earlier this week when President Xi Jinping spoke by phone on New Years Day with his counterpart Kim Jong Un

China demanded restraint on Friday from all parties following Seouls report that North Korea had opened fire on two South Korean islands with artillery.

Under the current situation, we hope that all relevant parties maintain calm and restraint, refrain from taking actions that aggravate tensions, avoid further escalation of the situation, and create conditions for the resumption of meaningful dialogue, foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told reporters.

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Yonhap news agency said that South Korean marines on the border island of Yeonpyeong practiced live-fire artillery training a few hours after the alleged onslaught.

We are paying close attention to developments and changes to the situation on the Korean Peninsula, Wang added.

Confrontations between relevant parties have intensified recently, and the situation on the peninsula continues to be tense.

As a neighbour of the peninsula, China has always advocated maintaining peace and stability on the peninsula and resolving peninsula issues through dialogue and consultation.

Chinas tight connections with North Korea were highlighted earlier this week when President Xi Jinping spoke by phone on New Years Day with his counterpart Kim Jong Un.

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According to Chinas state-run news agency Xinhua, the two leaders used an abbreviation for North Koreas official name to announce 2024 as a China-DPRK Friendship Year.

In recent years, Xi said, the traditional friendly cooperation between China and the DPRK has entered a new historical period with joint efforts, Xinhua reported.

Under the new situation in the new era, the (Communist Party of China) and the Chinese government have always viewed China-DPRK relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, Xinhua added.

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It is Chinas unwavering policy to maintain, consolidate and develop the long-standing friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries.
Wang Wenbin, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, called on all sides involved in the conflict in Myanmar to immediately cease hostilities and take action to prevent any occurrence that jeopardizes the peace along the China-Myanmar border.

A spokeswoman for Chinas Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that the country has protested to Myanmar about five individuals who were hurt by artillery shells launched during fighting between the rebel groups and the countrys junta that took place in a tiny village close to their border.

Wang Wenbin, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, called on all sides involved in the conflict in Myanmar to immediately cease hostilities and take action to prevent any occurrence that jeopardizes the peace along the China-Myanmar border during a press conference on Thursday.

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China follows closely the recent conflict in northern Myanmar. We strongly deplore the Chinese casualties caused by the conflict, and have lodged serious demarches to relevant parties, Wang Wenbin told the media on being asked about artillery shell crossing from Myanmar into Chinas Nansan in Yunnan province.

China once again asks all parties to the conflict to reach an immediate ceasefire, take concrete actions and stop any malicious incident that endangers the tranquillity in the China-Myanmar border area and Chinese lives and property from happening again. China will take necessary measures to safeguard the lives and property of Chinese nationals, he added.

Five individuals in Nansan, close to Myanmar, were reportedly hurt by stray shells on Wednesday and were sent to the hospital, according to the Global Times  the official mouthpiece of the Chinese government.

The video purportedly showed Zhenkang officials attesting to the fact that at approximately 2:00 pm (local time) on Wednesday, shelling had deviated from Laukkai, in Kokang, Myanmar. The incident follows last weeks request by Chinas embassy in Myanmar for its citizens to depart Laukkai as soon as possible due to increasing security dangers.

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Since late October, there has been an escalation in armed confrontation in the north of Myanmar between rebel groups and the military. China has encouraged communication between the two parties and has been advocating for a ceasefire in Myanmar.

A coalition of insurgent fighters in war-torn Myanmar overthrew the military authority in numerous important towns in 2023. The alliances campaign, which started in Shan State in October of last year, was initially successful, which inspired opposition groups in other regions of Myanmar to seize control of other towns.

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The largest state in Myanmar, Shan State occupies over one-fourth of the nation. Following the announcement of Operation 1027 by the three ethnic armiesthe Taang National Liberation Army, the Arakan Army, and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Armythe onslaught got underway on October 27.
Gaza is facing acute food and medicine shortages and is dependent largely on aid and supplies that trickle in through two crossings, one Egyptian and one Israeli, and what has been grown in the recent harvest

The Abu Jarad family is stuck in a remote area of southern Gaza and is adhering to a rigid survival regimen.

They left their cosy three-bedroom house in northern Gaza when the conflict between Israel and Hamas erupted over three months ago. The family of ten now crams themselves into a 16-square-meter (172-square-foot) tent on a sandy area littered with trash, part of a large encampment of Palestinian refugees.

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Every family member is given a daily chore, such as searching the citys marketplaces for veggies or gathering twigs to construct a fire for cooking. However, their desperate attempts fall short.

At night dogs are hovering over the tents, said Awatif Abu Jarad, an older member of the family. We are living like dogs!

It has become increasingly difficult for Palestinians seeking safety in southern Gaza to locate food, water, medication, and functional restrooms on a daily basis. They constantly dread Israeli bombings and the growing threat of disease.

Now in its thirteenth week, Israels aerial bombardment and ground invasion of Gaza have driven nearly all Palestinians southward, towards the city of Rafah, which sits on the Egyptian border. Pre-war population estimates for the region were about 280,000, but in recent days, the number has risen to over 1 million, according to the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees.

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The apartment buildings in Rafah are packed with people, many of them extended families welcoming their displaced relatives into their homes. West of the city, thousands of nylon tents have sprung up. Thousands more people are sleeping in the open, despite the cool and often rainy winter weather.

Most of northern Gaza is now under the control of the Israeli army, which early in the war urged Palestinians to evacuate to the south. As the war progressed, more evacuation orders were issued for areas in the south, forcing Palestinian civilians to crowd into ever smaller spaces, including Rafah and a nearby sliver of land called Muwasi. Even these purportedly safe spaces are often hit by airstrikes and shelling.

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The war broke out on Oct. 7 after Hamas militants stormed into southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and abducting 240 others. The fighting has killed over 22,400 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-run territory, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.

According to Nouman, Awatifs brother, the conflict drove the family the entire length of Gaza. They fled their home in the northern border town of Beit Hanoun on the first day of the war and stayed with a relative in the nearby town of Beit Lahia.

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Six days later, the intensity of Israeli strikes in the border area sent them south to Al-Quds Hospital in Gaza City. As people started to evacuate the hospital two days later, they traveled to the Nuseirat urban refugee camp in central Gaza, making the 10-kilometer (6-mile) journey on foot.

They stayed in a cramped U.N. school building in Nuseirat for over two months, but left on Dec. 23 as the Israeli army turned its focus toward Hamas targets in central Gaza refugee camps.

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They escaped to Muwasi on Dec. 23, believing it was the safest option. On the first night, they slept out in the open. Then they bought nylon and wood in a Rafah market to build a tent.

Nouman, an accountant, sleeps on the nylon-covered floor with his wife, sister, six daughters and one grandchild. They sleep on their sides to conserve space.

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He said the tent cost 1,000 shekels, about $276. It is completely crazy, he said. In Rafahs demand-driven war economy, larger pre-built family tents now range from $800 to $1,400.

The familys hardship begins at 5 a.m. Nouman said his first job is to start a small fire to cook breakfast, while his wife and daughters knead dough for flatbread and then wash their utensils and metal cooking griddle.

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After eating, their attention turns to fetching water and food, tasks that take up most of the daylight hours.

Nouman said he and several of his younger relatives collect jugs of water from one of the public pipes nearby, water that is exclusively used for washing and not suitable for drinking. Next, they head to one of the dozens of drinking water tankers dotted across the city, where they wait in line for hours.

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A gallon of drinking water costs one shekel, or 28 cents. Some, so desperate for cash, wait in line just to sell their space.

After the water is fetched, family members move between several open markets to hunt for vegetables, flour and canned food for that evenings meal. Meanwhile, Nouman busies himself with scouring the ground for twigs and bits of wood to make a fire.

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Food prices have soared. Gaza is facing acute food and medicine shortages and is dependent largely on aid and supplies that trickle in through two crossings, one Egyptian and one Israeli, and what has been grown in the recent harvest. More than half a million people in Gaza  roughly a quarter of the population  are starving, the United Nations said in late December.

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Dalia Abu Samhadana, a young mother sheltering with her uncles family in a crowded house of 20 in Rafah, says the only food staples at her local market are tomatoes, onions, eggplants, oranges and flour. All are virtually unaffordable.

A 25-kilogram (55-pound) bag of flour before Oct. 7 cost around $10. Since then it has fluctuated between $40 and $100.

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My money has almost run out, said Abu Samhadana, unsure of how she will be able to feed her daughter.

Displaced Palestinians in Rafah are entitled to free aid if they register with the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, which hands out flour, blankets, and medical supplies at 14 spots across southern Gaza. They often spend hours in line waiting for the aid to be distributed.

Abu Samhadana, who is originally from the nearby southern town of Khan Younis, said she has tried to register for free aid several times but has been turned away due to the lack of available supplies.

The U.N. agency is simply overwhelmed and is already providing support to 1.8 million people in Gaza, according to Juliette Touma, its communications director. She said she did not know if the agency had stopped registering new aid seekers.

With few options left, some hungry Palestinians in Rafah have resorted to grabbing packages from aid trucks as they pass by. The U.N. refugee agency confirmed that some supplies of aid had been snatched from moving trucks but did not provide any details.

Hamas police escorting aid trucks from border crossings to U.N. warehouses have been seen beating people, mostly teenagers, as they try to grab what they can. In some cases, they have fired shots into the air. In one incident, a 13-year-old boy was killed when Hamas police opened fire.

Meanwhile, health officials warn of the growing spread of diseases, especially among children.

The World Health Organization has reported tens of thousands of cases of upper respiratory infections, diarrhea, lice, scabies, chickenpox, skin rashes and meningitis in U.N. shelters.

The rapid spread of disease is mainly due to overcrowding and poor hygiene caused by a lack of toilets and water for washing.

The Abu Jarad family dug its own makeshift toilet attached to the tent to avoid communal bathrooms. Still, the family is vulnerable to disease.

My granddaughter is 10 months old, and since the day we came to this place, she has been suffering from weight loss and diarrhea, said Majeda, Noumans wife.

Going to the pharmacy offers little help. We cant find any (suitable) medicines available, she said.
Redwing Mines owner, Metallon Corporation, has informed that a dedicated rescue team has been deployed to bring the trapped miners back to the surface

In Zimbabwe, 11 subsistence mine workers are trapped in an underground shaft after a ground collapse at Redwing Mine on Friday.

In a statement, Zimbabwes mines ministry, said the incident occurred on Thursday morning, with initial assessments suggesting that earth tremors may have triggered the collapse.

The mine is located 270 km (167.77 miles) west of the capital, Harare.

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Redwing Mines owner, Metallon Corporation, also issued a separate statement, confirming about the incident. It also said a dedicated rescue team has been deployed to bring the trapped miners back to the surface.

The team has made several rescue attempts. However, the ground remains unstable, rendering rescue operations unsafe. Our teams are diligently assessing ground conditions to make sure the rescue operations proceed safely as soon as possible, Metallon said.

The company further said the mining operations at Redwing have been undertaken by subsistence miners carrying out unsanctioned work since the mine was placed under corporate rescue in 2020.

With inputs from Reuters
Beatrice High School teachers spent Wednesday in a professional development workshop learning about the Power of ICU.

The Power of ICU is a systematic program that helps teachers work with student apathy, encourages completion of quality assignments, ties work to learning standards and grades that reflect student learning.

Danny Hill of Nashville, Tennessee developed the Power of ICU program. He worked in education for 31 years and is now an education consultant.

I started as a science teacher in 1978, he said. I never imagined he would work in professional development. I was raised with two brothers and my mom and dad would sit around every night and analyzed the day. Analysis and synthesis are the highest level of thinking. I analyze the state of education really well.

I know what is on your plate and some of the nonsense that you deal with as teachers.

Hill talked with the staff about the 0 to 100 grading system, state standards and homework.

Nobody knows where this system came from, he said. The system is crazy. Grading every assignment is crazy. Change efforts fail 70% of the time because status quo is so powerful.

Hill said there is a correlation between what we think and our behavior.

Our main purpose is to make sure all of our students learn the Nebraska state standards, he said. The way we grade students, and our main purpose dont line up and they never will.

BHS Principal Jason Sutter said the staff had noticed this fall that the ninth graders were performing better than some of the other students at the high school.

The ninth graders were better at turning in assignments, getting materials returned and being organized better than what we have witnessed in the past, he said. That sparked our interest and desire to learn more about the Power of ICU that was being used at the middle school. We wanted to see how this program could help our scholars be more successful.

What we learned is that the Power of ICU provides encouragement and structure to the importance and completion of assignments, and it provides layers of support for students who struggle with learning the Nebraska state standars.

BHS Assistant Principal Philip Voigt said it was a great opportunity.

We were able to hear what Hill had to share and look at what they are doing at the middle school, he said. We will be able to look at how to implement it within the high school and how that matches up with what our school improvement goals are.

Voigt said it was especially important for freshman and sophomores.

Research show that statistically if you have a kid on track with credits going into their sophomore year of high school, they will graduate on time," he said. "If theyre not on track they wont graduate on time or even graduate from high school. Graduation rate is one of the school improvement goals.

BMS Principal Andrew Haake said the middle school implemented the Power of ICU framework in the spring semester of 2023.

Prior to implementation, our staff completed various professional development opportunities to understand best practices associated with academic assignments and grading, he said. With a common understanding of these principles, the ICU database, and the layers of support our school provides for students, weve seen a tremendous positive impact on student academics.

In the spring semester of 2023, our failure rates decreased 57% and our proficiency rates on the state assessment all increased a considerable amount."

Sutter noted the framework will provide systemic support to our students from grades 6-12.

When you develop programs or changes that are systemic and have longevity, value and make a difference, that is powerful, he said. You are impacting student success for periods of time and not just a bit of time.

It is better to work with ideas and programs that are able to provide positive outcomes over a longer period of time and possible that the Power of ICU is capable of doing just that.
The inclusion of Shaul Mofaz, who was defence minister from 2002 to 2006, triggered protests from ministers Miri Regev, David Amsalem, and Itamar Ben Gvir who objected to Mofazs role due to his association with the Gaza disengagement, according to a report

A high-level security cabinet meeting scheduled to discuss the post-war situation in Gaza was halted as it turned into a heated match after right-wing ministers attacked IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi for the composition of a panel tasked with investigating military errors leading to the 7 October massacres, according to Times of Israel report, citing Hebrew language news sites report.

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According to the report, citing Walla news site and others, the inclusion of Shaul Mofaz, who was defense minister from 2002 to 2006, triggered protests from ministers Miri Regev, David Amsalem, and Itamar Ben Gvir.

They objected to Mofazs role due to his association with the Gaza disengagement, added the report.

You appointed Mofaz? Are you crazy, the Kan broadcaster quoted Regev saying.

According to the Kan, the trio were also perturbed by the timing of the announcement, with fighting still ongoing.

After current Defense Minister Yoav Gallant hushed the trio and came to Halevis defense, Ben Gvir began attacking military planners for continuing to rely on what critics describe as a failed conception of geopolitics exposed by the attacks.

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This prompted war cabinet minister Benny Gantz, a former chief of staff and defense minister, to explode that this is a professional investigation, what does it have to do with the disengagement and conceptions? The chief of staff is ***** probing what happened to serve our battle aims and our ability to plan for a confrontation in the north, Walla reported.

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As others shouted back, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ended the meeting, according to the reports.

Israel pulled out of Gaza in 2005 in a unilateral move that some on the far-right hope to see reversed following the war against Hamas in the Strip, a veritable non-starter. Regev herself is largely identified with the pull-out thanks to her role as IDF spokesperson at the time.

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With inputs from agencies
A Hindu temple in California was defaced merely two weeks after Swaminarayan Mandir in the region was vandalised with anti-India graffiti

Another Hindu temple was defaced and attacked with anti-India and pro-Khalistani graffiti in the US state of California. The Hindu American Foundation informed about the incident and said they are in touch with temple leaders and in contact with Alameda Police as well as civil rights division at the Justice Department.

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The image of vandalism posted on social media showed the words Khalistan Zindabad spray-painted on a sign post outside the temple along with other objectionable graffiti.

According to HAF, the Vijays Sherawali Temple in Hayward, CA sustained a copycat defacement merely two weeks after the Swaminarayan temple attack and a week after a theft at the Shiv Durga temple in California.

A photo of the vandalisation of the Californias Sherawali Temple was also shared by HAF on its page on X.

#Breaking: Another Bay Area Hindu temple attacked with pro-#Khalistan graffiti.



The Vijays Sherawali Temple in Hayward, CA sustained a copycat defacement just two weeks after the Swaminarayan Mandir attack and one week after a theft at the Shiv Durga temple in the same area. pic.twitter.com/wPFMNcPKJJ  Hindu American Foundation (@HinduAmerican) January 5, 2024

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The HAF has asked Hindu temples in the region to install security cameras and alarm systems in view of rising threat from Khalistan proponents as well as the omnipresent risk from anti-Hindu actors.

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Also, the HAF has shared the temple safety guide which specifically discusses that temple graffiti qualifies as a hate crime.

On 23 December, 2023, Swaminarayan Mandir Vasana Sanstha in Californias Newark was defaced with pro-Khalistani slogans. The pictures were shared on X by the Hindu American Foundation, showing slogans scribbled on the walls of the Hindu temple.

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#Breaking: Swaminarayan Mandir Vasana Sanstha in Newark, California was defaced with pro-#Khalistan slogans.@NewarkCA_Police and @CivilRights have been informed and full investigation will follow.



We are insisting that this should be investigated as a hate crime. pic.twitter.com/QHeEVWrkDj  Hindu American Foundation (@HinduAmerican) December 22, 2023

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External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar took the note of the incident of temple vandalism in Newark, and reiterated that extremists and separatists should not be given space.

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I have seen it. Extremists, separatists and such forces should not be given space. Our Consulate there complained to the government and the police and an inquiry is underway, Jaishankar had said.

With inputs from agencies
The most recent incident occurred one day after a joint statement from 12 nations, including the US, UK, and Japan, warned the Houthis that they would face consequences if they continued their attacks

The US Navy reported that although there was no damage or deaths, a Houthi drone boat loaded with explosives exploded in the Red Sea on Thursday. The Yemen-based organisation has persisted in its attacks despite appeals from other countries to cease.

The most recent incident occurred one day after a joint statement from 12 nations, including the US, UK, and Japan, warned the Houthis that they would face consequences if they continued their attacks. A US official stated on Wednesday that this was the last warning.

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Since Nov. 19, the Houthis, who control a large portion of Yemen and are associated with Iran, have been firing waves of rockets and drones at commercial boats in an apparent attempt to cause damage in response to Israels military actions in Gaza.

The Houthi campaign has been extraordinarily disruptive to international shipping, causing some companies to suspend transits through the Red Sea and instead take the much longer, costlier journey around Africa.

Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, who leads US Naval forces in the Middle East, told reporters on Thursday that the Houthi exploding boat drove out about 50 miles (80 km) into the Red Sea and then detonated in dense shipping lanes.

It came within a couple of miles of ships operating in the area - merchant ships and US Navy ships - and we all watched as it exploded, Cooper told reporters, adding the target of the attack was not clear.

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Cooper said there have now been 25 attacks by the Houthis against merchant vessels transiting the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and added there are no signs that their irresponsible behavior is abating.

The repeated Houthi attacks have increased pressure on President Joe Biden to respond militarily, something his administration has been reluctant to do out of fear of escalating already soaring regional tensions.

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Retired four-star Marine general Frank McKenzie, who led US forces in the Middle East until retiring in 2022, said the Biden administrations response to attacks in the Red Sea and against US troops at bases in Iraq and Syria has been too tentative and unfocused.

To reset deterrence, we must apply violence that Tehran understands, McKenzie wrote in an Op-Ed published on Thursday in the Wall Street Journal.

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The United States and other countries last month launched Operation Prosperity Guardian to protect civilian vessels, which Cooper said now included contributions from 22 countries. So far, Cooper said US warships and US partners have shot down two cruise missiles, six anti-ship ballistic missiles and 11 drones.

On Sunday, US warships sank three Houthi speed boats to protect a commercial vessel from being hijacked.

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A senior Biden administration official told reporters on Wednesday if that happened again, we would probably do the exact same thing. The same official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the 12-nation statement to the Houthis was very clear.

I would not anticipate another warning, the official said.

At the United Nations, a US representative told the U.N. Security Council the United States believed the situation in the Red Sea had reached an inflection point.

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Asked whether Operation Prosperity Guardian might target Houthi positions with strikes to prevent them from attacking ships, Cooper said that the 22-nation coalition was purely defensive in nature.

Anything that happens outside of the defensive aspect of this operation is a completely different operation, he said.

The Houthis have said their attacks on commercial shipping target vessels with Israeli links or were sailing to Israel.

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But many vessels have had no Israeli connection and were not bound for Israeli ports, and major shipping lines have suspended their operations through the Red Sea.

Cooper said the ships that have been attacked have direct connections to 55 countries.

So regardless of the vessels company ownership or its destination, these Houthi attacks are for sure destabilizing and contrary to international law and clearly  must stop immediately, Cooper said.
The two attacks on Wednesday killed at least 89 people and wounded about 280 others, authorities said Friday in an update of the death toll. The attacks have sparked condemnation from around the world, even amid Irans wider tensions with the West over its nuclear program.

Speaking to a mass funeral for the victims of the recent suicide bombing in Kerman, Iranian officials, including President Ebrahim Raisi and the Revolutionary Guards top commander, attempted to connect Israel and the U.S. to the attack, claiming a link without presenting evidence.

The crowd responded with chants of Death to America! and Death to Israel! The attack, which targeted a commemoration for Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani, involved two suicide bombers and resulted in the deaths of 89 people.

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The enemy always sees the power of the Islamic Republic. The whole world is recognizing this power and this ability, Raisi said, without directly naming any country. Be sure, the initiative is in the hands of our powerful forces. The place and time will be determined by our forces.

Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility on Thursday for two explosions that killed nearly 100 people and wounded scores at a ceremony in Iran to commemorate commander Qassem Soleimani, who was killed by a US drone in 2020.

In a statement posted on its affiliate Telegram channels, the militant Sunni Muslim group said two IS members had detonated their explosive belts in the crowd which had gathered at the cemetery in the southeastern Iranian city of Kerman on Wednesday for the anniversary of Soleimanis death.

The attack Wednesday in Kerman killed at least 84 people and wounded another 284. It targeted a ceremony honouring Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani, held as an icon by supporters & viewed by the US military as a deadly foe who aided militants who killed American troops in Iraq.

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Iranian state television also sought to link America to the attack. At one point, it re-broadcast comments from 2016 from then-presidential candidate Donald Trump, who wrongly accused then-President Barack Obama of being the founder of the extremist group.

Critics have blamed Obamas decision to pull troops from Iraq in 2011 for allowing the group, once an affiliate of al-Qaida, to thrive and ultimately hold vast swaths of Iraq and Syria in its self-declared caliphate by 2014. U.S. troops under both Obama and Trump then battled alongside allied forces to retake that territory.

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Gen. Hossein Salami, the commander of the Guard, similarly sought to make the connection.

They can only act as agents and mercenaries of American politics and Zionism, Salami said. But we give them this warning,  wherever you are, we will find you. You cannot avoid divine punishment by disappearing. If you live for 1,000 years, we will find you.

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Soleimani had been part of the Iranian response to the Islamic State group in Syria while focusing on keeping embattled Syrian President Bashar Assad in power. He also had extensive ties to proxy groups around the wider Mideast, including Hamas. But the U.S., which killed Soleimani as part of wider tensions over its collapsed nuclear deal with world powers, saw Soleimani as the mastermind behind deadly roadside bombings targeting American soldiers in Iraq.

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The two attacks on Wednesday killed at least 89 people and wounded about 280 others, authorities said Friday in an update of the death toll. The attacks have sparked condemnation from around the world, even amid Irans wider tensions with the West over its nuclear program.

Pope Francis offered a condolence telegram to express his deep sadness over the loss of life caused by the recent explosions in Kerman, the Vatican said on Friday.

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Francis invokes upon all the people of Iran the Almightys blessings of wisdom and peace, the Vatican said.

The Islamic State group claimed the attack Thursday in a statement that named the two bombers and described it as part of a new campaign linked to Israels war in the Gaza Strip. The statement bore some differences to previous claims made by the Islamic State group in other attacks it has claimed in Iran, though experts said it appeared to be legitimate and came from online channels associated with the extremists. Much of the groups leadership has been killed and replaced in the years since 2014.

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Its unclear why the two Iranian leaders chose to focus on the U.S. and Israel, rather than on the Islamic State group, during their remarks Friday. Iran has retaliated in the past over IS-claimed attacks, including launching ballistic missiles into Syria.

However, the Islamic State group has grown stronger in recent years in neighboring Afghanistan, just some 360 kilometers (225 miles) east of Kerman, since the Western-backed government in Kabul fell to the Taliban in 2021.

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Iran and the Taliban have maintained diplomatic ties since the takeover, though there have been border skirmishes and tensions over water supplies between the two nations. Iranian officials say at least 12 of the dead in Wednesdays bombings were Afghans.

With inputs from AP.
China has saved billions of dollars buying often deeply discounted oil from sanctioned producers Iran, Venezuela and, more recently, Russia - countries that supply almost 30% of Chinas crude imports.

Chinas oil trade with Iran has encountered a setback as Tehran refrains from sending shipments and presses for higher prices from its primary customer, tightening cheap supply for the worlds biggest crude importer, refinery and trade sources said.

The decline in Iranian oil, constituting approximately 10% of Chinas crude imports and reaching a peak in October, has the potential to impact global prices and put pressure on the profits of Chinese refiners.

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Described by one industry executive as a default, this sudden development may also be a consequence of the October U.S. waiver on sanctions for Venezuelan oil. The waiver redirected shipments from the South American producer to the U.S. and India, causing prices to rise for China as the availability of shipments decreased.

The National Iranian Oil Co, Chinas commerce ministry and the U.S. Treasury Department did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

Early last month Iranian sellers told Chinese buyers they were narrowing discounts for December and January deliveries of Iranian Light crude to between $5 and $6 a barrel below dated Brent, five traders who handle the oil or are familiar with the transactions told Reuters.

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Those deals had been struck in November at discounts around $10 a barrel, the traders said.

This is considered as an extensive default and the order to hike prices apparently came from the headquarters in Tehran, as theyre holding back supplies also to the intermediaries, a China-based trading executive said.

An executive at a Chinese middleman that procures direct from Iran said the OPEC producer was holding back some shipments, leading to a stalemate between Chinese buyers and Iranian suppliers.

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Its not clear how things would end, this executive said. Lets wait a bit and see if refineries are willing to accept the new price.

China has saved billions of dollars buying often deeply discounted oil from sanctioned producers Iran, Venezuela and, more recently, Russia - countries that supply almost 30% of Chinas crude imports.

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TEAPOTS SQUEEZED

It is not clear how extensive Irans cutbacks to China are. At least one buyer has accepted higher prices: a Shandong-based refiner bought a cargo late last month at discounts between $5.50 and $6.50 on a delivered ex-ship basis, two traders said.

The discounts could narrow further, as the latest offer heard was $4.50, the traders said. Last years average discount for Iranian Light, a key grade China buys with a high middle-distillates yield, was about $13, traders say.

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The buyers are still struggling to find a solution as the new prices are too high, said a Shandong-based buyer. But since they have limited choices and the Iranian side is very tough, the room for price negotiations is difficult and is not favouring Chinese buyers.

Chinas smaller independent refiners, called teapots, have become Tehrans top clients since first buying Iranian oil in late 2019. They replaced state-run refiners, which stopped dealing with Iran over concerns about falling afoul of U.S. sanctions.

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Teapots absorb about 90% of Irans total oil exports, usually passed off as oil originating in Malaysia or the United Arab Emirates, trade sources say.

Amid the tussle over prices, Irans overall exports and Chinas imports from Iran have fallen.

China imported about 1.18 million barrels per day (bpd) of Iranian oil last month, down from 1.22 million bpd in November and 23% off Octobers record 1.53 million bpd, tanker tracker Vortexa Analytics reckons.

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That represents the bulk of Irans global seaborne crude exports, which another tracker, Kpler, estimates at 1.23 million bpd for December, down from 1.52 million bpd in November. Floating storage off Iran and nearby waters rose by about 2 million barrels to 15.5 million barrels over the past week, Kpler says.

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The Iranians want to play catch-up in prices with (Russias) ESPO. But they dont fully realise the extent of sanctions on Iranian oil is different from that on Russian, said a trading manager at an independent refiner.

Washington has sanctioned more than 180 people and entities related to Irans petroleum and petrochemical sectors since 2021, identifying 40 vessels as blocked property of the sanctioned entities.

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The main restrictions on Russian oil have been a $60-a-barrel price cap imposed in December 2022 by the U.S. and its allies, aiming to punish Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine. Major buyer India has mostly paid above $60 for Russian oil, hitting $85.42 in November, the highest since the Group of Seven industrial powers imposed the cap.

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With inputs from Reuters.
The operation, led by the 646th Brigade in collaboration with the Yahalom special engineering unit, targeted high-rise buildings reportedly used by Hamas as launch sites against Israeli tanks and fighter jets.

In a raid on a central Gaza neighbourhoods high-rise district, the IDF discovered other tunnel shafts, a chemical lab for weapon production, and anti-tank launch sites, as announced by the Israeli military on Friday.

The operation, led by the 646th Brigade in collaboration with the Yahalom special engineering unit, targeted high-rise buildings reportedly used by Hamas as launch sites against Israeli tanks and fighter jets.

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The weaponry seized included sniper rifles, rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launchers, AK-47 assault rifles, and pistols. Additionally, a chemical laboratory used by Hamas terrorists for weapon production was found during the operation.

Meanwhile, six people were killed in an apparent Israeli airstrike on a home in the southern Gaza city of Rafah overnight. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have crammed into Rafah, one of the areas where Israel has told people to seek refuge. But Israeli forces continue to strike all parts of the besieged territory.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant says several thousand Hamas fighters remain in northern Gaza, where entire neighbourhoods have been blasted into rubble. Heavy fighting is also underway in central Gaza and the southern city of Khan Younis, where Israeli officials say Hamas military structure is still largely intact.

Hamas Oct. 7 attack from Gaza into southern Israel killed around 1,200 people, and some 250 others were taken hostage. Israels air, ground and sea assault in Gaza has killed more than 22,400 people, two-thirds of them women and children, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-ruled territory. The count does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.

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With inputs from agencies.
Israeli shelling of Gaza on Thursday killed more than 20 Palestinians, including 16 in Khan Younis city in a southern coastal area packed with people who had fled from other parts of the enclave, Gaza health officials said

Israel announced a more targeted approach in hunting down Hamas fighters and their leaders as its aerial assault pounded the Gaza Strip, forcing some displaced families to flee for safety riding donkey carts loaded with belongings and children.

Israeli shelling of Gaza on Thursday killed more than 20 Palestinians, including 16 in Khan Younis city in a southern coastal area packed with people who had fled from other parts of the enclave, Gaza health officials said.

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Among the dead were nine children, they said. Separately, five Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a car in Al-Nusseirat refugee camp, health officials told Reuters. Gaza residents said Israeli planes and tanks had also bombarded two other refugee camps, prompting many to head south.

People poured out of Al-Bureij, Al-Maghazi and Al-Nusseirat refugee camps on Thursday following attacks, with some families riding on donkey carts loaded with mattresses, luggage and children. Rain has turned earth to mud, adding to the misery.

With nightfall on Thursday, resident of central Gaza Strip said Israeli planes and tanks intensified their shelling toward the eastern directions of the camps of Al-Maghazi and Al-Nusseirat.

Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Thursday outlined a new stage of Israels war in Gaza: a more targeted approach in the north and further pursuit of Hamas leaders in the south while Israel seeks to free remaining hostages held by Hamas.

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Under international pressure to shift to less intense combat operations and in the face of economic challenges, Israel has been drawing down its forces in Gaza to allow thousands of reservists to return to their jobs.

Gallant said in a statement that operations in the north would include raids, demolishing tunnels, air and ground strikes, and special forces operations.

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In the south, where most of Gazas 2.3 million population now live in tents and other temporary shelters, the focus would be on wiping out Hamas leaders and rescuing some 132 Israeli hostages remaining of some 240 abducted on Oct. 7.

After the war Hamas would no longer control Gaza, Gallant said, adding that the enclave would be run by Palestinian bodies so long as there was no threat to Israel.

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Aiming to help prevent the conflict from expanding, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was set to travel on Thursday to the Middle East for a week of diplomacy, the State Department said.

Concern conflict may spread

Israels war against Hamas is nearing the three-month mark amid international concern that the conflict is spreading beyond Gaza, drawing in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Hezbollah forces on the Lebanon-Israel border, and Red Sea shipping lanes.

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The concern grew after a drone strike on Tuesday killed Hamas deputy leader Saleh al-Arouri in Lebanons capital Beirut. He was buried in the Palestinian camp of Shatila in the city on Thursday, amid throngs of mourners launching volleys of gunfire.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah vowed on Wednesday that his powerful Iran-backed Shiite militia cannot be silent following the killing, but he made no concrete threats to act against Israel in support of Hamas.

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Hezbollah has been embroiled in nearly daily exchanges of shelling with Israel across Lebanons southern border since the Gaza war began.

Israel neither confirmed nor denied assassinating Arouri. It has promised to annihilate Hamas following the Islamist groups assault in southern Israel on Oct. 7 in which Israel says 1,200 people were killed.

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Israels ground and air blitz has laid waste to Gaza. The total recorded Palestinian death toll had reached 22,438 by Thursday - almost 1% of its 2.3 million population, the Gaza health ministry said.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health said on Friday that a 17-year-old boy was killed by Israeli forces and four others injured in Beit Rima in the West Bank.

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Israel has said it has killed 8,000 fighters in Gaza.

Adding to the violence in the region, two explosions on Wednesday killed nearly 100 people during a memorial ceremony for the late Iranian General Qasem Soleimani at the cemetery in southeastern Iran where he is buried. The militant Sunni Muslim group Islamic State claimed responsibility.

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Gaza bloodshed

In Thursdays reported strike in Al-Mawasi on the western side of Khan Younis, Israeli shells landed near tents erected in the area by displaced people, health ministry officials said.

Footage on Palestinian media showed several bodies wrapped in blankets inside a hospital morgue in Khan Younis.

Nowhere is safe in Gaza. Wherever you go, there are strikes. In the country, next to the camps, in Al-Mawasi. There is no safe space, said Bahaa Abu Hatab, the brother of one of the dead.

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

In its daily briefing, the Israeli military said Israeli warplanes killed three Hamas militants who had tried to detonate explosive next to ground troops, and Israeli soldiers killed two more.

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Later the military said soldiers had destroyed an underground military compound on the Gaza Strip coast with a weapons cache including mortars, grenades, and RPG missiles.
Netanyahu told US special envoy Amos Hochstein that Israel was more determined, daring and united than ever in the aftermath of the murderous October 7 attack by Hamas

Benjamin Netanyahu has told US special envoy Amos Hochstein that Israel wants to fundamentally change the security situation on the Lebanon border to enable almost 100,000 evacuated residents of the northern part return to their homes safely.

We will not stop until this goal has been achieved, whether diplomatically, which Israel prefers, or in some other way, Netanyahu said, attacking the Iran-backed Hezbollah terror group that has been launching regular attacks on Israel since the October 7 Hamas attack.

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According to the Times of Israel, Netanyahu told Hochstein that Israel was more determined, daring and united than ever in the aftermath of the murderous October 7 attack by Hamas.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with US Special Presidential Envoy Amos Hochstein and made it clear Israel is committed to bringing about a fundamental change on its border with Lebanon, so residents of the north will return to their homes and live in safety and security, Netanyahus handle on X (formerly Twitter) read Friday.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with US Special Presidential Envoy Amos Hochstein and made it clear Israel is committed to bringing about a fundamental change on its border with Lebanon, so residents of the north will return to their homes and live in safety and security. pic.twitter.com/bxZrHQfcsT  Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) January 4, 2024

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Hochstein is an important player in the ongoing war between Hamas and Israel since he was instrumental in getting Israel and Lebanon to come to terms with an agreed border in 2022.

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Tensions between Lebanon and Israel have reached a new high lately after Israel killed several Hezbollah leaders in an airstrike inside the country last Wednesday. Moreover, Israel also eliminated Hamas deputy chief al-Aruri in another airstrike in Beirut.

The Lebanese foreign minister earlier had said that Beirut was trying to convince Hezbollah not to push the country in a war with Israel, though he had admitted that Beirut does not have any actual control over the terror organization.

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On the other hand, Hezbollah chief Nasrallah, in a speech after the assassination of al-Aruri, said the terror group was not afraid of a military confrontation with Israel, though he stopped just short of declaring outright war.
The plan for the day after the war was unveiled Thursday night on the eve of a trip to the region by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is heading back to the Middle East for the fourth time since a Hamas attack on October 7 triggered the war in Gaza

Israels defence minister has laid out for the first time preliminary plans for the post-war administration of Gaza, saying neither Israel nor Hamas will rule the Palestinian territory after hostilities there conclude.

The plan for the day after the war was unveiled Thursday night on the eve of a trip to the region by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is heading back to the Middle East for the fourth time since a Hamas attack on October 7 triggered the war in Gaza.

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Questions over the future of the territory have been front of mind for many as calls mount for a ceasefire, with civilian deaths soaring and the UN warning of a humanitarian crisis that has left hundreds of thousands displaced and facing famine and disease.

An outline of the post-war plan by Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, shared with the press ahead of its submission to the countrys war cabinet, said Hamas will not govern Gaza, (and) Israel will not govern Gazas civilians.

Gaza residents are Palestinian, therefore Palestinian bodies will be in charge, with the condition that there will be no hostile actions or threats against the State of Israel, it added.

Under the plan, which has not yet been adopted, Israels war in the territory will continue until it has secured the return of the hostages taken on October 7 and dismantled Hamass military and governing capabilities.

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After that, the outline says, a new phase will begin during which local Palestinian bodies will assume the territorys governance.

Israel launched its campaign to destroy Hamas after the groups bloody October 7 attack, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,140 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

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The militants also took around 250 hostages, 132 of whom remain in captivity, according to Israel.

The militarys relentless bombardment and ground invasion have reduced swathes of Gaza to rubble and claimed at least 22,438 lives, according to the territorys Hamas-run health ministry.

No water, no electricity, no food

On Thursday the army reported more strikes in and around Gaza City, now a largely devastated urban combat zone, and Khan Yunis, the biggest city in the territorys south.

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The army said it had killed Hamas fighters around Khan Yunis, struck terrorist infrastructure in the area and hit militants attempting to place an explosive device near soldiers.

It also said that an air strike in northern Gaza had killed the chief of operational staff for Islamic Jihad, a Palestinian militant group fighting alongside Hamas.

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Displacements continued unabated, with AFP footage showing families arriving in the southern border city of Rafah in overloaded cars and on foot pushing handcarts stacked with bedding and other possessions.

We fled Jabalia camp to Maan (in Khan Yunis) and now we are fleeing from Maan to Rafah, said one woman who declined to give her name.

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They were shooting at us. (We have) no water, no electricity and no food.

During his visit, Blinken will hold what threaten to be tough talks with Israeli leaders on immediate measures to increase substantially humanitarian assistance to Gaza, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.

We dont expect every conversation on this trip to be easy. There are obviously tough issues facing the region and difficult choices ahead, Miller said.

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UN human rights chief Volker Turk, meanwhile, said he was very disturbed by recent comments from two Israeli cabinet ministers who separately called for Palestinians to leave Gaza, raising fears of mass expulsions.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir had also called for Israeli settlers to return to Gaza after the war, echoing similar comments by far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

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But the post-war plan presented by Gallant on Thursday said that while Israel would reserve the right to operate inside the territory, there would be no Israeli civilian presence in the Gaza Strip after the goals of the war have been achieved.

Regional tensions

Israels war against Hamas has threatened to spill over into a wider regional conflict after a strike in Lebanon  widely assumed to have been carried out by Israel  killed Hamas deputy leader Saleh al-Aruri.

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Aruri was killed on Tuesday in the south Beirut stronghold of the powerful Iran-backed Hezbollah movement, which has traded tit-for-tat fire across the border with Israel for months.

Hezbollah has vowed that the killing on its home turf will not go unpunished, and its leader Hassan Nasrallah warned Israel against all-out conflict after Israeli army chief Herzi Halevi said troops on the Lebanese border were in very high readiness.

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The Shiite Muslim militant group said on Thursday another four of its fighters were killed overnight, raising its losses to 129 since the outbreak of border hostilities.

Defence Minister Gallant said on social media that Israel preferred a political solution to the border clashes, but that the window of time for this is short.

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The Israeli government has been pushing for Hezbollah to withdraw from the border area.

Regional tensions were further inflamed after twin bomb blasts in Iran on Wednesday killed 84 people near the grave of Revolutionary Guards general Qasem Soleimani, who was killed in a US drone strike in Baghdad four years ago.

The Islamic State jihadist group claimed responsibility for the double-tap suicide bombings on Thursday, after Iran initially blamed Israel and the United States in the aftermath of the blasts.
Taiwanese and Chinese governments have sent sympathy messages and offers of assistance, according to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida

Four days after an earthquake on the Noto peninsula killed ninety-one people and drove thousands more to flee, the daily Nikkei reported on Friday that Japan planned to accept a rescue team from the United States but no help from other governments.

According to the Nikkei story, the US and Japan are debating how and when to send US soldiers to the Noto peninsula.

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We are not accepting any personnel or material aid at the moment given the situation on the ground and the efforts that would be required to receive them, Japans top spokesperson Yoshimasa Hayashi said on Friday.

He continued by saying he wouldnt remark on the conversations that had occurred with the US.

Taiwanese and Chinese governments have sent sympathy messages and offers of assistance, according to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

Rescue crews are finding it difficult to get severely affected regions because of damaged roads and infrastructure, making it unknown how many people were killed and how much damage was caused by the New Years Day earthquake.

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However, the tragedy is probably the worst since 2016 and could be the worst since a powerful earthquake and tsunami rocked Japans east coast in 2011, given that over 200 people are still missing.

The US armed forces were deeply involved in disaster relief efforts in the 2011 earthquake, providing over 24,000 personnel with 24 ships and 189 aircraft.

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We may receive assistance in the future, but nothing has been decided at this time, a spokesperson for Japans Ministry of Defence told Reuters on Friday.

The US forces have about 54,000 personnel in Japan, making Japan the host of the biggest US military presence abroad, according to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

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At least 100 hectares (247 acres) of land also appears to be flooded from a tsunami triggered by the earthquake, the daily Asahi newspaper reported citing Japans transport ministry.

We still dont have a full picture, and its likely that the area flooded by the tsunami could spread, an unnamed transport ministry official said according to the report.
The labor dispute that has pitted Gov. Jim Pillen against thousands of state employees took another dramatic turn Thursday, when the union representing those employees took further legal action against the state.

The Nebraska Association of Public Employees filed a petition Thursday asking a judge to enforce a previous order from a state's Commission of Industrial Relations, which in December granted the union's motion for temporary relief from Pillen's executive order that broadly ended remote and hybrid work for state employees.

The commission said that state employees could continue operating under their prior work arrangements while commissioners considered the union's petition to force the state to negotiate Pillen's order to return to work.

But NAPE alleged Thursday that some state departments had ignored the CIR's ruling, instead contacting employees in the wake of the commission's order and notifying them that their previously agreed-upon hybrid or work remote arrangements had been terminated, according to the union's petition, filed in Lancaster County District Court.

NAPE included in its petition memos from executives in Nebraska's health and revenue departments in which the directors told employees who had worked remotely that they would be required to return to their physical worksite in mid-January.

NAPE accused the state of "willfully and contumaciously" violating the CIR's order. And the union asked a judge to hold the state in contempt over the violations.

"The CIRs order is clear and unambiguous," Justin Hubly, NAPE's executive director, said in a news release. "Its shocking that the state would simply ignore the commissions order. The state has left us with no option but to go to court to enforce (it)."

It's unclear when a judge might schedule a hearing or issue an order in response to the petition, though Hubly said he expects a judge to consider the union's motion in "an expedited manner."

Thursday's filing marks the latest development in the public labor dispute, which started when Pillen in November issued a surprise executive order mandating state employees to return to the office this month with few exceptions.

Pillen, whose office did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Thursday afternoon, has said he "doesn't believe in (working) from home."

Pillen's administration refused to bargain over the issue, though, saying the state's contract with its labor force gives the governor authority over employees' worksites.

The union then filed its petition with the CIR in mid-December in an attempt to force bargaining, leading both sides to a hearing before the commission where NAPE asked the commissioners to delay the implementation of the governor's directive until they ruled on the union's demand to bargain.

Days before Pillen's order was set to take effect, the CIR granted the union's motion for temporary relief  a ruling that applied only to NAPE members who had a remote or hybrid work agreement in place.

But, in at least two state departments, even those employees are being made to work in the office, the union said Thursday.

For his part, Pillen has maintained that he intends to bring the state's entire workforce back to the office because, he said, "face-to-face engagement is the most effective way" to ensure efficiency.

"I believe I was elected to be governor to make sure that we have tremendous return for what everybody does, and the best way that happens is when you're at work face to face," he said in November.

Photos: Nebraska Legislature gavels in for first day of 2024 session
At least 15 Indian crew members are on board a Liberian-flagged vessel which was hijacked near Somalias coast and the Indian Navy warship INS Chennai is moving towards the hijacked vessel to tackle the situation, Indian Navy said in a statement

At least 15 Indian crew members are on board a Liberian-flagged vessel which was hijacked near Somalias coast and the Indian Navy warship INS Chennai is moving towards the hijacked vessel to tackle the situation, Indian Navy said in a statement.

Indian Navys Mission Deployed platforms responded swiftly to a maritime incident in Arabian Sea involving a hijacking attempt onboard Liberia-flagged bulk carrier. The vessel had sent a message on UKMTO portal indicating boarding by approximately five to six unknown armed personnel in the evening on 04 Jan 24, read the statement.

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Responding swiftly to the developing situation, Indian Navy said it has launched an MPA and has diverted INS Chennai deployed for Maritime Security Operations to assist the vessel.

The aircraft overflew the vessel on early morning of 5 January 24 and established contact with the vessel, ascertaining the safety of the crew, the statement added.

Naval aircraft continues to monitor movement and INS Chennai is closing the vessel to render assistance. The overall situation is being closely monitored, in coordination with other agencies/ MNF in the area, it further added.

The hijacking incident comes days after a Maltese-flagged merchant vessel was seized by unknown attackers in the Arabian Sea, putting piracy in the back in the spotlight. The vessel had indicated that six pirates had illegally boarded it.

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The Indian Navy evacuated one of the 18 crew members, a Bulgarian national, aboard the hijacked cargo vessel to provide medical care after he was injured by the pirates. The sailor was evacuated by the frontline ship INS Kochi.

Pirate attacks in the region peaked between 2008 and 2013 but steadily declined thereafter because of the concerted efforts of the multi-national maritime task force including the Indian Navy.

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With inputs from agencies
Rights organisations caution that, despite calls for democratic elections from Western countries, the 170 million-person nation is on the verge of virtual one-party control following the boycott by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party

Utility poles around Bangladesh are adorned with campaign fliers with images of candidates for the general election, the majority of whom are affiliated with the ruling party, as it appears that an opposition boycott would lead Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to a fourth consecutive term.

Rights organisations caution that, despite calls for democratic elections from Western countries, which are major customers of Bangladeshs textile industry, the 170 million-person nation is on the verge of virtual one-party control following the boycott by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

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Awami League emblem Vote for the boat and the message Once again, Sheikh Hasina were painted on walls in the capital city of Dhaka, Bengal, encouraging people to choose her before the campaign concludes on Friday.

With the ballot outcome all but assured, however, some voters see little reason to turn out.

My whole family are hardcore Awami League supporters, said school teacher Shayed Uz Zaman, adding that they planned to make use of Sundays voting day holiday to visit their village in Kushtia, a district about 200 km (125 miles) from Dhaka.

But theres no charm in voting this time. I know she is staying in power.

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Sunday is usually a working day in mainly Muslim Bangladesh.

Another Awami League supporter, Minoti Rosario, who runs a grocery shop, said she felt her vote barely mattered as the ruling party is winning anyway.

Votes in the South Asian nations 12th general election since gaining independence from Pakistan in 1971 are expected to be counted on Sunday evening, with results due early on Monday.

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About 120 million registered voters will choose 300 members of parliament in the vote, one of the worlds largest such exercises this year. Women make up almost half of voters, while those casting a ballot for the first time number 15 million.

The BNP is not contesting because Hasina refused to accept its demand to cede power to a caretaker government to run the poll.

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Troops have fanned out across Bangladesh to guard the polls, in addition to nearly 750,000 police officers, paramilitary and police auxiliaries. Police stepped up arrests of BNP leaders and workers after deadly protests in late October.

The risk of political violence was high, despite low expectations for voter turnout, said the International Crisis Group, an independent think tank.

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The election will not resolve Bangladeshs political crisis, said Pierre Prakash, its Asia director. Since the 2008 election that brought the Awami League to power, the country has not held a credible national election.

In her last 15 years in power, Hasina, 76, has been credited with turning around the economy and the garments industry.

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But critics have also accused her of authoritarianism, human rights violations, crackdowns on free speech and suppression of dissent, with some of them being jailed.

Her main rival and two-time premier, BNP leader Khaleda Zia, is effectively under house arrest on graft charges the opposition says have been trumped up.

Khaledas son, Tarique Rahman, is the acting chairman of the party, but he is in exile after several charges brought against him that he denies.

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The economy has also slowed sharply since the Russia-Ukraine war boosted prices of fuel and food imports, forcing Bangladesh to turn to the International Monetary Fund for a bailout of $4.7 billion last year.
At President Xi Jinpings invitation, Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed will visit China from January 8 to 12, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said on Friday.

After a falling out with his mentor Abdullah Yameen, who guided Male close to Beijing, newly elected Maldives president Mohamed Muizzu, will make his maiden trip to China next week. This visit is likely to spark speculation about the likely direction of his governments foreign policy over the next five years.

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At President Xi Jinpings invitation, Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed will visit China from January 8 to 12, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said on Friday.

Widely regarded as a pro-China politician, Muizzu took office as the eighth President of the Maldives on September 8, having defeated incumbent President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, who was friendly with India.

Surprisingly, Muizzus first foreign trip destination after winning the election was Turkiye. Then, on December 1, he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the UAE on the sidelines of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) and they talked about the development of their extensive bilateral ties.

Both leaders decided to form a core group to talk about the multifaceted relationships and strengthen bonds during the meeting.

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Following Muizzus request for New Delhi to remove 77 Indian military personnel from the Maldives and his decision to examine over 100 bilateral agreements between the two nations, the meeting was held.

Surprisingly, Muizzus first foreign trip destination after winning the election was Turkiye. Then, on December 1, he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the UAE on the sidelines of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) and they talked about the development of their extensive bilateral ties.

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Both leaders decided to form a core group to talk about the multifaceted relationships and strengthen bonds during the meeting.

Following Muizzus request for New Delhi to remove 77 Indian military personnel from the Maldives and his decision to examine over 100 bilateral agreements between the two nations, the meeting was held.

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The government of Muizzu had earlier declared its intention to cancel an agreement with India on hydrographic surveys.

The second-highest ranking politician to visit China in recent weeks will be Muizzu.

Hussain Mohamed Latheef, the newly appointed vice president of the Maldives, traveled to China last month for the first time and participated in the China-Indian Ocean Region Forum on Development Cooperation (CIORF), which was organized by China, in Kunming.

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In order to foster development among the ocean communities in the region, he stated during the meeting that cooperation in the Indian Ocean must involve all of the participating nations and refrain from factionalism.

Muizzu chose to pursue his own diplomatic and domestic policies after having a falling out with former pro-China President Yameen, who was formerly seen as his mentor, shortly after his election.

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China completed significant infrastructure projects during Yameens presidency despite claims of debt traps made by a few powerful Maldivian politicians.

Enraged by Muizzu, Yameenwho is presently incarcerated for corruptionleft the Peoples National Front (PNC), the leading Progressive Party of the Maldives, and created his own political organization from prison in order to challenge Muizzu.

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In the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), the Maldives is Indias principal maritime neighbor and plays a unique role in programs like SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the Modi governments Neighbourhood First Policy.

The Maldives are strategically important due to their close proximity to Indiajust 70 nautical miles separates them from the island of Minicoy in Lakshadweep and 300 nautical miles separates them from the western coast of the mainlandand their strategic placement at the intersection of commercial sea lanes that traverse the Indian Ocean.
With less than two weeks until Iowas primary caucuses, former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley and Florida governor Ron DeSantis are engaged in a fierce race for a distant second place behind former President Donald Trump

As Iowas first-in-the-nation voting nears, Nikki Haleys opponents for the Republican presidential nomination are intensifying their assaults on her.

With less than two weeks until Iowas primary caucuses, former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley and Florida governor Ron DeSantis are engaged in a fierce race for a distant second place behind former President Donald Trump. This is evident in the sharp press releases, attack commercials, and increased back-and-forth. DeSantis and Haley both made appearances on CNN on Thursday night for different Iowa town halls.

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Trump has been concentrating his efforts for months on DeSantis, who has maintained that he is the partys greatest opportunity to dislodge Trump from the lead in the polls. But in recent weeks, Trumps campaign has increasingly shifted its target to Haley, calling her a sellout and criticizing her stances on taxes and the US-Mexico border.

Her campaign on Thursday said Trumps attention to Haley, who served as his United Nations ambassador, reflects his concern that she is gaining on him.

DeSantis, who is preparing to face off against Haley next week in their first one-on-one debate, jumped on Haley, too, for telling a roomful of likely voters Wednesday night in New Hampshire  the first-in-the-nation GOP primary state  that they would have the opportunity to correct the decision made by Iowa caucusgoers. The comment could signal that she not only doesnt expect to win Iowa but that she doesnt expect to place second to DeSantis.

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You know, Iowa starts it, said Haley. You know that you correct it  and then my sweet state of South Carolina brings it home.

DeSantis campaign called Haleys comments insulting to Iowa voters. In a radio interview Thursday, he said her characterization was disrespectful.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, who has endorsed DeSantis, posted on X, I trust Iowans to make their own decisions. No corrections needed!

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Asked by CNN Thursday night about her characterization of the caucuses  and drawing an initial groan from the crowd  Haley made light of her comments, saying the early states have a friendly rivalry, faulting politics for being too serious and too dramatic and pointing out, If I didnt love Iowa, I wouldnt keep coming to Iowa.

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DeSantis has also been critical of Haleys omission last week of slavery when a voter asked her about the causes of the Civil War  a response she walked back 12 hours later.

You know, I noticed that Nikki Haley has had some problems with some basic American history, DeSantis said last week in Iowa.

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Haley was asked again about her Civil War answer Thursday night, giving a wide-ranging response that ran from facing discrimination as a girl of Indian descent growing up in rural South Carolina to her push as governor that the state remove the Confederate battle flag from its Statehouse grounds.

Moments later, DeSantis campaign posted a clip on X with the comment, DAY 9 of Nikki Haley trying to clean up her Civil War gaffe. It also pointed to a quote from her response: I had Black friends growing up.

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Trumps conservative allies have recirculated an old clip of the then-South Carolina governor urging an audience not to reference people who entered the US illegally as criminals. Those comments came a month after Trumps 2015 launch speech, in which he said immigrants from Mexico are bringing drugs and crime with them.

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Make America Great Again Inc., Trumps super PAC, sent out a release blasting Haleys 2015 border comments  without pointing out when they occurred. In her presidential campaign, Haley has argued for more border security, visiting the US-Mexico border and arguing that we need to do whatever it takes to actually stop this inflow of illegal immigrants.

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On Wednesday, Trumps campaign went up with an ad characterizing Haley as weak on immigration and lumping her in with President Joe Biden in opposing Trumps commitment to a wall along the US-Mexico border.

In response, Haleys campaign sent out a fact check, pointing out that she had said in 2015 that more than a wall was needed to secure the border and that, as governor, she had fought to implement E-Verify. That program required South Carolina employers to substantiate workers permission to work legally in the state  something she has pledged to take nationwide if elected president.

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Haleys campaign said Trumps increasing focus on her showed that he was getting nervous.

Donald Trump must be seeing the same Nikki momentum were seeing, and hes clearly threatened, spokesperson Olivia Perez-Cubas said. This is a two-person race between Nikki and Trump.
In November, Myanmars junta said it has arrested two cyber scam ringleaders operating from a lawless northern town and wanted by China, and a third took his own life during the arrest

Beijing state media said on Friday that over 40,000 persons who were allegedly involved in cyber frauds in Myanmar were turned over to China last year.

In Myanmars border regions, online fraud networks have grown rapidly, using people from China and other nations who are frequently trafficked and made to work defrauding their own people.

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Beijing, a significant supporter of Myanmars regime, is incensed by the frauds and has frequently instructed the military to take tough measures against the sector, which is estimated by analysts to be worth billions of dollars annually.

Since August, the number of telecommunications internet fraud cases has continuously declined, and crackdown and control work has achieved outstanding results, state broadcaster CCTV said.

With energetic cooperation of all parties in Myanmar, a total of 41,000 telecommunications internet fraud suspects were handed over to us in 2023, said CCTV, without offering details of their nationalities.

The report added that Chinas Ministry of Public Security had cracked down heavily on fraud-related criminal gangs that provided illegal services such as online promotion, money laundering, technology development, and organisation of illegal migration for overseas fraud groups.

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In November, Myanmars junta said it has arrested two cyber scam ringleaders operating from a lawless northern town and wanted by China, and a third took his own life during the arrest.

The United Nations said last year that at least 120,000 people could be trapped in scam compounds in Myanmar.

In October, an armed alliance of ethnic minority groups launched an offensive against the military across a swathe of northern Shan state, on Chinas southern border.

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The resumed conflict has spurred concerns in Beijing, which on Thursday voiced strong dissatisfaction that fighting had caused Chinese casualties, following reports an artillery shell had exploded after crossing the border.

The statement came from a spokesperson for Chinas foreign ministry, without specifying how many people had been killed or wounded in the incident.

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The ethnic alliance in Myanmar has seized several towns and border hubs vital for trade with China in what analysts say is the biggest military challenge to the junta since it seized power in 2021.

Last month, Beijing said it had mediated talks between the Myanmar military and the allied ethnic armed groups and reached an agreement for a temporary ceasefire.

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However, clashes have continued in parts of Shan state, and Chinas embassy last week asked its citizens to evacuate an area along the border owing to security risks.
Manzoor Pashteen vented his annoyance on social media, claiming that jail regulations were rigged, court rulings were disregarded, and the idea of a regular state only existed in theory. He emphasised that Pakistan is still under brutal colonial rule

Mahrang Baloch, a Baloch activist, called the courts lack of response over the remand of Manzoor Pashteen, the leader of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), a joke with the constitution and the law on Friday.

She referred to it as the height of fascism and said that Pashteen was detained in front of the prison despite the High Courts directive for his release.

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After the release of PTM leader Manzoor Pashteen, the abduction-like arrest in front of the jail is the height of fascism. For those who say that why are you disappointed with the courts, it is a request to them that when the courts fail to provide justice to the people, then disappointment with the courts is a thousand sins better. The order to release Manzoor Pashteen came from the High Court, but to trample the court order and re-arrest it and the courts are silent on it is a joke with the constitution and the law, Mahrang Baloch stated in a post shared on social media platform X.

After being granted post-arrest bail on Tuesday, PTM chief Manzoor Pashteen was re-arrested and taken to an undisclosed location.

Manzoor Pashteen vented his annoyance on social media, claiming that jail regulations were rigged, court rulings were disregarded, and the idea of a regular state only existed in theory. He emphasised that Pakistan is still under brutal colonial rule.

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Despite the release orders of #ManzoorPashteen he was again arrested by deep state & taken away to undisclosed location. Court orders are not accepted, jail rules are twisted & normal state exists only on papers. Brutal colonial rule continue in Pakistan. #WhereIsManzoorPashteen, Pashteen said in a statement on X.

Manzoor Pashteens post-arrest release was granted by an Islamabad sessions court on Tuesday in relation to a complaint that was filed at the Tarnol police station, according to The Express Tribune of Pakistan.

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Following the conclusion of the judicial remand, the Islamabad police brought the PTM president before the court of senior civil judge Shabbir Bhatti. Following the hearing of the arguments, the court granted Pashteens post-arrest release. In order to secure the bail, the court required him to provide a 5,000 Pakistani Rupee (PKR) surety bond.

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Details indicate that Pashteen was detained for violating an order preventing his entry into Balochistan. The PTM chief was allegedly apprehended by the police in Balochistan following gunfire directed at an officers vehicle. But the PTM claimed that the police had fired shots at the vehicle in which Pashteen was traveling.

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PTM was established in 2014 by Manzoor Pashteen, who is an advocate for the rights of Pashtuns impacted by Pakistans conflict with the Taliban and its local wing, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The Baloch people have also been victims of similar crimes committed by the security services, and the PTM has been speaking out for them.

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Earlier in December, Manzoor Pashteen, the chairman of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), was detained. This sparked protests by Pashtuns in Pakistan. Protesters protested over the arrest of a human rights activist and Pashtun leader by blocking roads in several regions of the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

(With agency inputs)
The upper house of the Pakistans parliament passed the resolution moved by an independent senator on Friday, according to a report

The resolution to postpone the national elections in Pakistan, initially scheduled for February 8, has been approved by the Senate, AlJazeera reported on Friday, citing local media reports.

The upper house of the countrys parliament passed the resolution moved by an independent senator on Friday.

Despite opposition from the caretaker government responsible for overseeing the elections, the resolution, which is non-binding, does not necessarily imply a further delay in the electoral process.

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There was no immediate comment from the election commission, the body that conducts elections in the country.

January and February are the coldest months in majority areas in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (provinces), Reuters quoted independent Senator Dilawar Khan, who moved the resolution during a session with only 14 lawmakers in attendance, as saying, adding that there were security concerns too.

Originally set for November the previous year, the elections were postponed to February due to the redefinition of constituencies following a new census.

Pakistan is currently being run by a caretaker government under interim Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar that is meant to oversee a general election.

Caretakers are usually limited to overseeing elections, but Kakars set-up is the most empowered in Pakistans history thanks to recent legislation that allows it to make policy decisions on economic matters.

The legislation is aimed at keeping on track the conditions for a $3 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout secured in June.

With inputs from agencies
Moments after North Korea launched over 200 artillery rounds into the sea near the heavily fortified maritime border with South Korea on Friday, Seoul issued evacuation order for residents of the two South Korean islands describing it as a preventative measure

Moments after North Korea launched over 200 artillery rounds into the sea near the heavily fortified maritime border with South Korea on Friday, Seoul issued evacuation order for residents of the two South Korean islands describing it as a preventative measure.

The South Korean defence ministry, however, did not confirm whether the evacuation was prompted by North Koreas artillery firing or South Korean drills.

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However, a text message sent to residents mentioned naval fire by South Korean troops starting at 3 pm (0600 GMT) on Friday.

The evacuation of Yeonpyeong Island, located just south of the disputed Northern Limit Line (NLL), was initiated at the request of the South Korean military.

According to South Koreas military briefing, the Norths artillery fire did not cause any damage in the southern territory.

Additionally, residents of Baengnyeong Island, situated farther west near the sea border, were also directed to evacuate, as confirmed by a local village official.

North Korea fired more than 200 artillery shells near two South Korean islands on Friday, Seouls defence ministry said, warning the actions threatened peace and it would respond.

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Residents on the two islands were ordered to evacuate, in one of the most serious military escalations between the two Koreas since the North fired a barrage of shells at one of the islands in 2010.

Fridays live firing followed repeated warnings from Kim Jong Uns regime in Pyongyang that it was prepared for war against South Korea and its US ally.

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The North Korean military conducted over 200 rounds of firing today from around 09:00 to 11:00 (1200 to 0200 GMT) in the areas of Jangsan-got in the northern part of Baengnyeong Island and the northern areas of Yeonpyeong Island, a defence ministry official said at a briefing.

The ministry released a statement shortly after stating: This is a provocative act that threatens the peace on the Korean Peninsula.

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We sternly warn that North Korea bears full responsibility for this escalating crisis and strongly urge them to immediately cease these actions, it added.

Our military closely tracks and monitors the situation in close coordination with the United States, and will take appropriate measures in response to North Koreas provocations.

With inputs from agencies
At least 94 people have been killed and more than 240 are still missing in Japan after massive earthquake of 7.5 magnitude struck the Asian nation, making the disaster potentially deadlier than the 2016 earthquake

India is ready to extend all possible assistance to Japan that witnessed a powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake on New Years Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote in a letter to his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida.

PM Modi conveyed his deep condolences and expressed Indias solidarity with Japan and as well as its people affected by the massive earthquake on 1 January, 2024.

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In a letter to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, PM Modi said, As a special strategic and global partner, India values its relationship with Japan, and is ready to extend all possible assistance at this hour.

At least 94 people have died and over 240 are still missing in Japan, making the disaster potentially deadlier than the 2016 earthquake and possible worst since the devastating quake and tsunami struck the Asian nations east coast in 2011.

I am deeply anguished and concerned to learn about the major earthquake that struck Japan on 1 January, 2024, PM Modi said.

I express my deepest condolence to the bereaved families of those who lost their lives. We stand in solidarity with Japan and its people affected by the disaster, PM Modi added.

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The Japan earthquake has caused widespread devastation, flattening homes, triggering a tsunami, and cutting off remote communities.

Japanese PM Kishida said he received offers of help and messages of condolence from various governments, including Taiwan and China.

On Friday, Japan decided to accept $100,000 aid by the United States which includes blankets, water and medical supplies. The US has also promised more help would come.

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A report by Bloomberg cited Takahide Kiuchi, an executive economist at the Nomura Research Institute, saying the loss from the earthquake in Japan is estimated to be around 800 billion ($5.5 billion).

Kishida-led Japan government, however, plans to use 4.74 billion yen in reserve funds to help the quake-hit area, a report by Kyodo News cited the countrys finance minister as saying.
Cooperation is the most correct choice for China and the United States to get along, Wang said in a keynote speech at an event to mark the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the U.S.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday said that the most pressing task for Sino-U.S. relations is to foster a proper understanding, asserting that cooperation between the two nations is now no longer an option but an imperative for the world.

In a keynote speech commemorating the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the U.S., Wang stated that cooperation is the most correct choice for China and the United States to get along.

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It can be said that China-U.S. cooperation is no longer an option for the two countries and even for the world, but an imperative that must be seriously addressed, Wang said.

China hopes that the U.S. will, he said, relax its mindset and in an attitude of equality and inclusiveness respect the choices made by the Chinese people and Chinas development path, including when defending its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

We are willing to commit ourselves to building a stable, healthy and sustainable China-U.S. relationship on the basis of mutual respect, he said.

Wang said Chinas development and revitalisation has a strong endogenous momentum, which he said meant that China will assume greater responsibility for the worlds peace and development.

We have no intention of replacing anyone, overriding anyone, and have no intention of seeking hegemony, he added.

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Wang also said that while both nations were built on different backgrounds, the differences should not lead to confrontation, and that the big stick of sanctions should not be used at every turn to exercise power or hegemony.

Both sides should continue to make full use of restored and established mechanisms in foreign affairs, economics, finance, commerce, agriculture and other areas to eliminate obstacles in their exchanges, he said.
New year, new you, but same packed full slate of Billings events. Here's what you need to know.

T-Rex Trash (and more) at the Babcock and Art House

It's 2024 now, which means the good folks at the Babcock Theatre have several new years to pick from for throwback anniversary showings. Case in point, you can catch "The NeverEnding Story" at 7 p.m. on Friday and at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday. The 1984 film birthed a franchise, untold wealth in cheap merchandise, and a million nightmares sparked by the scene where the main character watches his horse drown in a swamp (for kids!).

On Saturday at 8 p.m., witness the return of the Babcock's Garbage Day, where they show some of the worst movies ever made on the big screen. This week, it's "Tammy and the T-Rex," a 1994 movie about a young man who is tragically killed. But science saves the day, as his brain is implanted into a robot T-Rex. This is a real movie.

Then at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, they're kicking off "Primal Cage," a curated collection of films from Nicolas Cage's first decade of work that the theater is showing throughout the month. First up is "Valley Girl," the 1983 comedy that was one of Cage's breakthrough roles, and also popularized a type of annoying accent people still try to do in a failed attempt to seem funny.

At Art House Cinema and Pub, they're still showing "Poor Things," "The Boys in the Boat" and "Anatomy of a Fall." Finnish-German romcom "Fallen Leaves," a jury winner at last year's Cannes Film Festival, opens on Friday. See it if only because it's 81 minutes long, and we need to encourage editing restraint in any and all motion pictures.

Zechariah Peabody at Craft Local

Zechariah Peabody is a ubiquitous presence on the Billings music scene, regularly playing solo shows. But he's bringing a full band with him to add texture and depth to his country tunes at Craft Local on Friday, Jan. 5. Guest openers are Hannah Jo Lally and Skevos. Music starts at 7 p.m., tickets are $10 at the door.

ParNicularly RiNiculous Variety Show at Kirks' Grocery

Kirks' Grocery is hosting their first event of the New Year at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 5, with Nicholas Rogers incredibly named ParNicularly RiNiculous Variety Show. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door.

EWI 'Rezurrection 2024'

If you're still all hopped up after seeing "The Iron Claw" (and you've finished drying your tears because good lord, that movie) and still want to scratch that professional wresting itch, boy are you in luck. Elite Wrestling Initiative, a production company out of Mandan, North Dakota, are making their Billings debut with "Rezurrection 2024," a wrestling event at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 6, at the Eagle Seeker Community Center. Event includes a battle royal held inside a steel cage, as well as numerous other matchups. Adult tickets are $30 at the door, teens (12-17) are $20, kids (6-11) are $10 and children under 6 are free.

Arterial Drive at Craft Local

One of Billings' grooviest bands is playing this weekend, as Arterial Drive are taking over the Craft Local Stage on Saturday, Jan. 6. Locha, acoustic guitar duo comprised of Raphael Lopez and Juanillo Chavis, are opening the show. Music starts at 7 p.m., $10 at the door.

Honorable mentions

Cimarron are at the High Horse on Friday and Saturday from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. each night.

The Red Lodge cover band Fracture are at the Pub Station on Saturday, Jan. 6 at 8 p.m. $15 tickets are at thepubstation.com.

Head to the Moose Lodge on Sunday, Jan. 7 from 1:30 to 5 p.m. for tunes from Cimarron.

BSCI is holding a dance at the Columbia Club on Wednesday, Jan. 10 from 7 to 10 p.m. $5 at the door, includes raffle and door prizes.
Six months after being taken over by Moscows forces, in September 2022, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) officials began stationing themselves at the site to oversee it

Russia claimed on Friday that it has prevented the UNs nuclear inspector from entering some areas of the Zaporizhzhia power facility in Ukraine, citing security concerns.

Six months after being taken over by Moscows forces, in September 2022, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) officials began stationing themselves at the site to oversee it.

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Renat Karchaa, an official of Russias Rosatom, responded to an IAEA statement that their team had been barred from reactor halls, claiming they attempted to enter containment shells.

A containment shell, and especially a sealed one, is not a museum or an area for free walks, Karchaa told Russias RBC news outlet.

While in sealed mode, personnel access to the containment shells is prohibited and is only permitted with unambiguous justification and in emergency cases, he added.

Experts have been denied access to reactor halls in three of the plants units for the last two weeks, according to a statement released by IAEA head Rafael Grossi on Wednesday.

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He declared that the IAEA will keep requesting entry to the reactor halls, which house the spent fuel and reactor core.

The content of the latest statement gives us reason to assume that either Rafael Grossi was not informed fully enough, or the information was submitted by people with low professional training, which is hard to believe, Karchaa said.

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The plant stopped supplying electricity to Ukraines grid in September 2022, and has been repeatedly rocked by shelling and drone attacks throughout the conflict.
The use of the missiles drew condemnation from Britain, as well as South Korea, which had reported in November that North Korea may have supplied SRBMs to Russia as part of a larger arms deal that also included anti-tank and anti-air missiles, artillery and mortar shells, and rifles

The White House announced on Thursday that Russia has launched several strikes on Ukraine using short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) that were obtained from North Korea, using previously released intelligence.

John Kirby, the national security spokesperson, informed reporters that the US will bring up the situation with the UN Security Council.

Kirby described the weaponry shipment from North Korea to Russia as a significant and concerning escalation and said that more penalties will be applied by the US against individuals who helped arrange the trade.

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Despite vowing to strengthen their military ties last year, both Moscow and Pyongyang have denied ever making any arms agreements.

The use of the missiles drew condemnation from Britain, as well as South Korea, which had reported in November that North Korea may have supplied SRBMs to Russia as part of a larger arms deal that also included anti-tank and anti-air missiles, artillery and mortar shells, and rifles.

Our information indicates that the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea recently provided Russia with ballistic missile launchers and several ballistic missiles, said Kirby, using the official name of North Korea.

On Dec. 30, he said, Russian forces launched at least one of these North Korean ballistic missiles into Ukraine, adding that it appeared to have landed in open field.

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Then on Tuesday Russia launched multiple North Korean missiles as part of a broader wave of heavy air strikes, Kirby said. Washington was still assessing the impact of those missiles.

Russia recently has launched some of its most intense strikes on Ukraine since the war began almost two years ago. Kyiv on Tuesday said that Russia had launched well over 300 attack drones and missiles of various kinds at cities across Ukraine since Friday.

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Helps Russia

Just like the artillery and munitions, this all helps prolong Russias warfighting efforts, said Jenny Town, director of the Stimson Centers 38 North Program, which studies North Korea.

While the White House would not say specifically what type of missiles Pyongyang had sent to Russia, Kirby said they had a range of about 900 km (550 miles) and released a graphic that appeared to show KN-23 and KN-25 missiles.

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Such missiles are new, solid-propellant SRBMs that North Korea began testing in 2019, said Ankit Panda, of the US-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

This is the first known combat use of these North Korean missiles, he said.

Joost Oliemans, a Dutch researcher and expert on North Koreas military, said images from Ukrainian social media accounts clearly show fragments of the ring housing the control vanes that are characteristic to North Koreas Hwasong-11 family of missiles, which includes the KN-23 and KN-25.

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Kirby said the US expects Russia and North Korea to learn from these launches, and anticipates Russia will use additional North Korean missiles to target Ukraine.

He said Iran has not delivered close-range ballistic missiles to Russia, but Washington believes Russia intends to purchase missile systems from Iran.

Moscow has been heavily reliant on Iran for drones and other weaponry for use against Ukraine.
Last Friday, the Experts Club analytical center hosted the final seminar-tasting of Ukrainian wine and vintage drinks. This event once again brought together representatives of the Ukrainian wine industry, professional tasters, retail experts and media representatives.

Maksim Urakin, founder of Experts club, opened the event, emphasizing the importance of reviving and developing the culture of wine and vintage drinks in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian wines presented at todays tasting are limited editions that have not yet been presented to the general public, but have already been recognized at both Ukrainian and international competitions. Our events are held to support the development of domestic winemaking and spirits production, which will allow Ukrainian products to regain their leading positions, primarily in the domestic market, which, unfortunately, have been lost in recent years, said Urakin.

The founder of Experts club also emphasized that a systematic approach to supporting Ukrainian producers will also lead to their entry into foreign markets and help the development of our economy as a whole.

In his turn, Andriy Strelets, General Manager of Knyaz Trubetskoy, emphasized that despite the destruction his winery suffered as a result of military operations, production continues to revive and develop.

The wines that are presented at todays event are new limited collections of 2022. And this is a sign that our winery is resuming production and working to expand its range. We have decided to change the name of our brand to Stoic Ukrainian winery, as it should symbolize the resilience of Ukraine in these difficult times, said Strelets.

Sergiy Parkhomchuk, Marketing Director at PrJSC Knyaz Trubetskoy, spoke about the companys new projects.

Dnipro Hills is a new Ukrainian wine created in cooperation between STOIC Ukrainian winery and Chateau Pinot winery. At a critical moment in the 125-year history of our winery, Chateau Pinot provided us with invaluable support.

Representatives of a new industry for Ukraine  the production of craft distilled beverages, Oleksandr and Lesya Slobodian, presented their own products, including whiskey, calvados and grappa made in Ukraine. CraftSAD is a family-owned distillery with a unique history and philosophy, created by the Slobodian couple. Even after the loss of their laboratory and home during the war, they did not give up, but found a way to continue creating unique signature drinks for their fans. Their work is based on two key principles: the use of local raw materials (grains, berries, fruits) and the priority of quality over quantity. This provides CraftSAD with the opportunity to produce products that preserve the unique aroma and taste of natural ingredients and guarantee the uniformity of each batch.

The event presents the authors drinks that are already loved by many. Zapechena is based on an old Cossack recipe, a spicy honey brew that will first surprise and then impress with its richness of flavors. Aged for more than 3 years, the exquisite whiskey and calvados are truly worthwhile drinks, of which there are very few left after the house was destroyed, said Lesia Slobodian.

In general, the event emphasized the importance of supporting Ukrainian wine and spirits producers and promoted the popularization of unique domestic alcohol brands.

The partner of the Experts club was Myasnyi Rai.
North Dakota Parole and Probation authorities and Bismarck police are seeking a high-risk sex offender.

Calvin Payne, 32, can't be accounted for after he apparently removed a GPS monitoring bracelet, according to the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The bracelet was found Thursday morning off East Rosser Avenue.

Payne had been under supervision for failure to register, drug possession and possession of narcotic equipment.

Payne pleaded guilty in 2014 to luring minors by computer and possessing meth. The charges were filed after the mother of a 14-year-old girl approached authorities. An affidavit states police took control of the girl's phone and discovered that Payne had sent her messages offering drugs in exchange for sex. As a condition of his sentence, Payne is required to register as a sex offender for life.

Authorities describe Payne as being 6 feet 1 inches tall, weighing 155 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes and with visible tattoos on each side of his nose and each side of his neck.

Anyone having information about Payne's location is asked to contact Bismarck police at 7012-223-1212 or the Bismarck Parole and Probation office at 701-328-9700.
One transmission line would travel 14.6 miles connecting Basin's natural gas-powered Pioneer Generation Station near Williston to the nearby Judson substation. Basin is in the process of adding 583 megawatts of natural gas power near the existing Pioneer Generation Station and the line will be needed to connect the new resources to the grid, according to documents submitted to the PSC by Basin. For perspective, that is around the same amount of power that two to three wind farms produce.

Basin's other proposed line would stretch 32.5 miles between Dunn and McKenzie counties, connecting the Roundup Substation near Killdeer to the Kummer Ridge Substation near Johnsons Corner. Basin's documents say the line was selected by the Southwest Power Pool -- the regional transmission organization that acts as a market for electric power across multiple states -- as part of the 2021 Interregional Transmission Planning process due to a combination of growing demand and reliability concerns in the area on account of its scarce transmission infrastructure.

The line near Williston will be considered on Feb. 1 at 9 a.m. in the John Kautzman Chamber Room in Williston City Hall. Basin's latter transmission line will be considered by the PSC on Feb. 16 at 8:30 a.m. Mountain time at the High Plains Community Center in Killdeer.
Saturday Night

Partly cloudy skies early followed by increasing clouds with showers developing later at night. Low 43F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Nathan graduated with his journalism degree from Auburn University in 2017. After growing up in the flatlands of rural Alabama with his parents and older sister, Nathan enjoys Western Colorado's natural resources and recreational opportunities. He currently covers education and business for The Daily Sentinel.
Oversight Democrats Release Report Proving Trump Pocketed Millions From At Least 20 Foreign Governments As President

House Committee on Oversight and Accountability - Democrats

Jan 4, 2024

Press Release

Washington, D.C. (January 4, 2024) -- Today, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, released a new staff report and new documents produced by Donald Trump's former accounting firm, Mazars USA LLC, establishing that while former President Trump was in office, he received at least $7.8 million from 20 governments, including the governments of China, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and Malaysia, through his businesses. This staggering figure reflects payments to just four of the more than 500 entities Trump owned while he was in office: Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue in New York, and Trump World Tower at 845 United Nations Plaza in New York.

Immediately after taking over as Oversight Committee Chairman in January 2023, Rep. James Comer allowed former President Trump's attorneys to speak on behalf of the Committee and bury evidence by stopping the production of additional responsive records. As a result, the $7.8 million detailed in this report, based on records for justtwo yearsof his presidency, involving fourof his more than 500 businesses, is likely just a small fraction of the payments former President Trump received from foreign governments while in office, in violation of the Constitution's Foreign Emoluments Clause.

"After promising 'the greatest infomercial in political history,' former President Donald Trump repeatedly and willfully violated the U.S. Constitution by failing to divest from his business empire and allowing his businesses to accept millions of dollars in payments from some of the most corrupt nations on earth. The limited records that the Committee obtained show that while Donald Trump was in office, he received more than $5.5 million from the Chinese government and Chinese state-owned enterprises, as well as millions more from 19 other foreign governments, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Malaysia through just four of the more than 500 entities he owned. The governments making these payments sought specific foreign policy outcomes from President Trump and his Administration. Each dollar former President Trump accepted violated the Constitution's strict prohibition on payments from foreign governments, which the Founders enacted to prevent presidents from selling out U.S. foreign policy to foreign leaders.

"While the figures and constitutional violations in this report are shocking, we still don't know the extent of the foreign payments that Donald Trump receivedaor even the total number of countries that paid him and his businesses while he was Presidentabecause Committee Chairman James Comer and House Republicans buried any further evidence of the Trump family's staggering corruption. Despite these efforts, today's report makes clear that former President Trump put lining his pockets with cash from foreign governments seeking policy favors over the interests of the American people. By concealing the evidence of Trump's grift, House Republicans shamefully condone former President Trump's past conduct and keep the door open for future presidents to exploit higher office," said Ranking Member Raskin.

The foreign payments to President Trump identified in this report are likely only a fraction of the total amount of foreign payments he received during his presidency. Chairman Comer worked in coordination with Donald Trump's attorneys to end the court-ordered document production between Mazars and the Committee, preventing Committee Democrats from continuing to work with Mazars to conduct further searches for responsive records, including documents relating to Russia, South Korea, South Africa, and Brazil.

Additionally, key documents were apparently never provided to or retained by Mazars. For example, records that Mazars produced to the Committee indicate that the countries of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Namibia, Romania, and Costa Rica also had accounts at Trump-owned properties after Donald Trump was elected President, but Mazars did not provide any documents detailing the purposes or amounts of these countries' expenditures. Mazars also indicated it had no records pertaining to a $20 million loan from the South Korean company Daewoo, which former President Trump failed to report on his financial disclosures. Mazars was also unable to provide ledgers for properties that reportedly received many foreign government visitors, including Trump Turnberry Hotel and Resort in Scotland; Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago, Illinois; and Trump International Hotel in New York, New York.

The limited records Committee Democrats received reveal the following expenditures by foreign governments at Trump properties:

People's Republic of China Spending: The Committee has documented $5,572,548 in spending at Trump-owned properties during former President Trump's time in office by the government of the People's Republic of China (P.R.C.), as well as by companies owned and/or substantially controlled by the P.R.C. In 2016, then-candidate Trump boasted his personal financial ties with China, "I love China! The biggest bank in the world is from China. You know where their United States headquarters is located? In this building, in Trump Tower."

Embassy of China Delegation : An "Embassy of China Delegation" made an advance deposit of $19,391 to the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C for an "Arrival" date of August 27, 2017. Documents indicate that the Embassy of China Delegation initially booked a room block without specifying an end date to the planned stay. Because Chairman Comer blocked further document productions, Committee Democrats were unable to work with Mazars to determine how much the Embassy of China Delegation ultimately paid for this stayaor if this was the only such stay.



Hainan Airlines Holding Company Li: Between November 4, 2016afour days before the 2016 presidential electionaand January 1, 2018, the state-owned Hainan Airlines paid $195,662 in charges at the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas. At the time, its affiliate HNA Group faced increasing scrutiny from U.S. federal regulators as it sought to expand investments in the U.S.



Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) : ICBC, one of China's largest state-owned commercial banks, signed a lease in Trump Tower for commercial office space in 2008 and became a long-term tenant of Trump Tower Commercial Condominium Property in New York. According to a debt prospectus filed with the SEC, ICBC was scheduled to pay Trump Tower Commercial LLC $1,948,180 in annual rent through October 31, 2019. Based on this information and with the assumption of no variable adjustments, Committee Democrats estimate that ICBC paid Trump Tower at least $5,357,495 between February 2017 and October 31, 2019athe date at which the lease was set to expire per the SEC debt prospectus. During this time, President Trump refused to impose sanctions on Chinese banks, including ICBC, despite evidence they facilitated financial transactions to benefit the North Korean regime.



Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates: In June 2017, Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E., along with other Gulf neighbors, severed diplomatic ties and imposed a blockade on its neighbor and U.S. ally Qatar, igniting a regional crisis. Records obtained by the Committee show that while the governments of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the U.A.E. publicly lobbied for President Trump's support during the blockade, Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E. also privately spent hundreds of thousands of dollars at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., while Saudi Arabia and Qatar spent at the Trump World Tower in New York City. In a campaign rally in 2015, then-candidate Trump boasted his personal financial incentives with the Saudis: "Saudi Arabia, I get along great with all of them. They buy apartments from me. They spend $40 million, $50 million." He continued, "Am I supposed to dislike them? I like them very much!"

In 2018 alone, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia paid then-President Trump's business entities more than $212,000 in emoluments through the country's ownership of the 45th floor of the Trump World Tower and a week-long stay in March 2018 at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. by a Saudi government delegation. The limited records the Committee obtained show that, in total, the Kingdom likely paid Trump-owned business at least $615,422 during President Trump's term in office. While the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was making these payments, President Trump chose Saudi Arabia as the destination of his first overseas tripaa choice that was unprecedented among U.S. presidents. President Trump also cast doubt publicly on the conclusion of the Central Intelligence Agency that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was responsible for the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Qatar: When Donald Trump was inaugurated, inaugurated, the Qatari Permanent Mission to the United Nations owned three apartments in the Trump Tower at 845 United Nations Plaza. On January 17, 2018aafter President Trump had met with the Emir of Qatar at the U.N. General Assembly in September 2017 and before he met the Emir again at the White House in April 2018athe Qatari Permanent Mission to the United Nations bought a fourth apartment at Trump World Tower (845 United Nations Plaza) for $6.5 million. This report estimates that Qatar paid $465,744 in base charges for its properties in Trump World Tower during the Trump presidency.

Kuwait: The records produced to the Committee by Mazars reveal that Kuwait paid emoluments to then-President Trump's businesses totaling more than $300,000 . Just over $150,000 of this total was paid by the Embassy of Kuwait to the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. for banquets held in 2017 and 2018. On November 18, 2016ajust days after Donald Trump was declared the winner of the 2016 U.S. presidential electionathe Kuwaiti Ambassador to the United States reportedly switched the venue for its upcoming 2017 "Embassy of Kuwait National Day" event from the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington, D.C. to the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. The records provided by Mazars to the Committee include a copy of a check from the "Embassy of the State of Kuwait" made out to the "Trump International Hotel - Washington, D.C." in the amount of $77,456 for the 2017 banquet.

In June 2017, Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E., along with other Gulf neighbors, severed diplomatic ties and imposed a blockade on its neighbor and U.S. ally Qatar, igniting a regional crisis. Records obtained by the Committee show that while the governments of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the U.A.E. publicly lobbied for President Trump's support during the blockade, Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E. also privately spent hundreds of thousands of dollars at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., while Saudi Arabia and Qatar spent at the Trump World Tower in New York City. In a campaign rally in 2015, then-candidate Trump boasted his personal financial incentives with the Saudis: "Saudi Arabia, I get along great with all of them. They buy apartments from me. They spend $40 million, $50 million." He continued, "Am I supposed to dislike them? I like them very much!"

Additional Emolument Spending: The ledgers provided to the Committee by Mazars also record that embassies and/or officials from the following countries provided emoluments to President Trump's businesses while he was in office:

India: $282,764 Malaysia: $248,962 Afghanistan: $154,750 Philippines: $74,810 United Arab Emirates: $65,225 Democratic Republic of the Congo: $25,171 Kazakhstan: $23,772 Thailand: $11,340 Self-Proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus: $8,800 Mongolia: $8,486 Lebanon: $7,720 Albania: $6,002 Kosovo: $4,950 Latvia: $2,739 Turkey: $1,894 Hungary: $1,011 Cyprus: $590



Click here to read the report.

Click here to read the underlying documents.

###

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Ramstein hosts multi-national aero-medical exchange

By United States European Command, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa Stuttgart, Germany Jan 02, 2024

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- The command surgeon of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa and Landstuhl Regional Medical Center recently hosted a medical knowledge exchange with NATO Allies Denmark and Bulgaria as well as U.S. partner nation Serbia at Ramstein Air Base and Landstuhl.

Leveraging local medical expertise, this event featured in-depth familiarization with the aeromedical evacuation activities at Ramstein and the medical simulation laboratory at Landstuhl. The event gave participants an opportunity to exchange information and share experiences to further integrate them with each nation's unique mission sets, while forming aero-medical best practices.

"This is a great chance for key medical personnel in Serbia, Bulgaria and Denmark to make lasting connections with each other and with U.S. personnel to develop sustainable relationships that serve as a starting point to share best methods for many years to come," said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Joel Foster, USAFE-AFAFRICA Office of the Command Surgeon's global health engagements branch chief. "In this way, each country benefits from advancements in technology, processes and procedures for patient care and movement across the battlespace."

"This workshop is more than just a meeting of minds," said U.S. Air Force Maj. Lyubormir Angelov, USAFE-AFAFRICA Office of the Command Surgeon international health specialist. "It's a testament to the unwavering commitment to advancing military medicine and solidifying an alliance that transcends borders. We are proud to have NATO and partners here to make us stronger together."

The military medical professionals from the four nations participated in multiple scenarios to discuss how each nation achieves intended results and ways to combine them into best practices.

Attendees also visited a number of locations, including the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center and its simulation center, Ramstein's En-Route Patient Staging Flight, Theater Patient Movement Requirement Center, 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, 86th Medical Group Simulation (MDG) Center and its Flight Medicine operations.

"The aim of this assembly is significant, offering an unmatched opportunity for partnership nation members to collaborate with U.S. subject matter experts," Angelov said. "Collectively, we explored the intricacies of aerospace medicine, aeromedical evacuation, patient movement and enhanced our simulation centers, creating a fertile ground for events like these."

"The event is designed to showcase the latest aeromedical evacuation procedures and equipment on a U.S. airbase to our partner nations," said U.S. Air Force Maj. Nicola Morrison, USAFE-AFAFRICA Office of the Command Surgeon's Europe global health engagement team chief.

Each of the participants from the four nations walked away from this knowledge exchange with uniquely different takeaways. For Angelov, it was about how medics come together to learn from each other and strengthen ties and partnerships.

"This is important for us to compare and contrast how we do business in our aerospace medical program," said Bulgarian Air Force 2nd Lt. Boryana Ralcheva, medical simulation training center instructor. "We want to see what works here and see if we can apply it to our program. We do not want to invent something new if it is already in service. This is a great opportunity for us, and I look forward to the next knowledge exchange."

According to the Bulgarian surgeon general, Maj. Gen. Ventsislav Mutafchiyski, M.D., this event holds a significant importance for Bulgaria as it provides an exceptional opportunity for Partnership Network members to observe and learn from U.S. SMEs and programs. He added, "the impact of this event on Bulgaria's progress is profound, positively influencing all four milestones: Aerospace Medicine, Simulation Center enhancement, Role 1 and Role 2 development and Force Health Protection."

Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps global health engagement professionals work for months on these events, synchronizing details with dozens of planners, liaisons and subject-matter experts to improve medical capabilities among partner nations throughout USEUCOM's theater.

"The participation of multiple Allies and partners sharing knowledge on several medical capabilities in one event is a very efficient use of limited resources, while enhancing interoperability," said U.S. Air Force Col. James Chambers, U.S. European Command's surgeon. "This engagement also reinforces key relationships between U.S., Bulgarian, Danish and Serbian professionals, enhancing understanding and trust as we improve critical wartime capabilities."

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24h Recap: January 2, 2024-Joint Naval, Aerial and Ground Operations to Neutralize Terrorists and Explosives

IDF Press Release

January 2, 2024

02.01.24

IDF, Media Center

Joint operations between IDF naval, aerial, and ground forces to neutralize terrorists and explosives along the coast of the Gaza Strip



Over the past day, IDF naval forces and ground troops identified terrorists planting explosive devices along the coast of the Gaza Strip and inside compounds adjacent to coast. The terrorist operatives planned to detonate these explosives in attacks on IDF troops. In joint operations, IDF naval, aerial, and ground forces targeted a number of the terrorists and neutralized the explosives.

Israeli Navy Strikes

Furthermore, IDF troops identified three terrorists in southern Gaza City entering a terrorist compound. An IDF fighter jet struck the compound and killed the terrorists. After the strike, secondary explosions were observed, indicating that large quantities of weapons were stored inside the compound.



In addition, IDF ground troops struck terrorist infrastructure that posed a threat to the soldiers. The troops, directed by IDF intelligence, also conducted a targeted raid on operational compounds where weapons were stored, and terrorist activities were directed, in Khan Yunis. Numerous weapons were located. During searches in the central Gaza Strip, a weapons production facility, launch pits and long-range rocket launchers were located. The launchers were dismantled by IDF engineering forces.

The Launchers Found

Furthermore, IDF troops killed dozens of terrorists, among them those who attempted to plant explosive devices, others who operated drones, and those who were armed identified driving toward the forces in Jabalya. In addition, IDF troops located in Bureij a number of rocket launchers positioned adjacent to an UNRWA school.

IDF Strikes

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Press Briefing by IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari January 3rd, 20:40

IDF Press Release

Press Briefing

03.01.24

IDF



Good evening.

Today, the Chief of the General Staff conducted a situational assessment at the northern border along with the head of the Northern Command and other commanders.

They presented to him the forces' readiness in both defense and offense, the preparations moving forward, and they outlined the upcoming plans.

We are strongly prepared in the north and in all combat sectors. Today, we struck Hezbollah's terror infrastructure in the area of Levona in Lebanese territory with fighter jets. A tank crew identified a launching cell in Lebanese territory, and struck it before it could fire, killing the terrorists. We are in continual contact with local authorities and residents, reflecting the situational assessment to them and updating them in an organized manner.

There's no change in the Home Front Command instructions; we will continue to update the public, and I call on you to continue to be responsible and adhere to the instructions as you have done so far.

In Gaza, in Khan Yunis, our forces continue to operate underground. This operation takes time, both for our forces' safety and because we use classified and new methods. We do not want to reveal our combat methods to the enemy.

This operation will take time, and we will conduct it thoroughly in Khan Yunis until we reach all the necessary places. This fight is against terrorists, both underground and above ground. Even today, we killed terrorists in the area. We will continue to expand this operation.

In the central camps, we continue to strike. There is a significant operation there and terrorists are killed daily. This is alongside our forces locating and identifying production sites. These sites, where Hamas produces and assembles rockets, some are located underground with significant manufacturing machinery, including some from other countries, including Iran.

The production sites are being attacked and destroyed, as happened today. Our forces are dealing with the threat of explosives in Khan Yunis and other areas. Our forces are dealing with terrorists roaming the area, running towards our forces, or placing explosives in the streets or trying to attack tanks and armored personnel carriers. Today we identified a terrorist attempting to attach an explosive to a tank. Our forces directed an aircraft which struck him from the air, and three additional terrorists involved in the operation were also killed. Yesterday evening, international media outlets published that international intelligence agencies, specifically those in the U.S., support the findings we exposed from the Shifa Hospital.

I am stating this now, because it takes time, even for the world, to recognize the actions we have taken and for the deviating actions Hamas has taken, with their cynical use of hospitals. Based on these intelligence agencies, these actions by Hamas, are an indication of Hamas' terror activity and how they cynically take advantage of hospitals for terror and also for holding hostages. We will continue to expose and destroy Hamas' terror infrastructure in all of the Gaza Strip, with an emphasis on Khan Yunis, just as we did with the infrastructure in Shifa Hospital.

This evening we will also publish the destruction of this infrastructure, and show how it was carried out professionally without harming the vital infrastructure of the hospital.

Even this evening, we remember the hostages held in Gaza. We are in contact with their families, notifying them with every intelligence detail that arises. We will continue our intelligence and operational efforts and will continue to apply military pressure in order to bring them home.

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January 4, 2024

Transcript

Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder Holds a Press Briefing

Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder

MAJOR GENERAL PAT RYDER: Good afternoon, everyone. Happy new year. Just have a few things to provide at the top, and then we'll get to your questions.

First, on behalf of Secretary Austin and the department, our hearts are with the Japanese people after their tragic earthquake earlier this week. The United States and Japan share a deep bond of friendship that unites our people, and our Japanese ally graciously hosts thousands of U.S. service personnel and family members. As you've heard from the president and the U.S. ambassador, our military forces in Japan are ready to assist as needed.

Second, I'd like to recap a few significant developments that occurred over the holidays. On December 28th, the Offices of Special Trial Counsel reached full operational capability, shifting prosecutorial discretion for 13 serious offenses away from the chain of command. This is the most important reform to our military justice system since the creation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice in 1950, and aims to help strengthen accountability and increase service members' trust in the fairness and integrity of the military justice system. This milestone follows through on Secretary Austin's commitment that we must do more as a department to counter sexual assault and sexual harassment in the military.

Separately, on January 1st, the U.S. Navy announced that the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group will redeploy from the Eastern Mediterranean to its home port as scheduled to prepare for future deployments. As was highlighted in NAVEUR's press release, we continue to retain extensive U.S. military capability both in the Mediterranean and across the Middle East. This includes the current deployment of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group to the Middle East, the deployment of additional cruisers and destroyers in the Mediterranean and Middle East and the recent arrival of the USS Bataan and USS Carter Hall in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.

Notably, the USS Bataan and USS Carter Hall joined the amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde, and have consolidated as the Amphibious Ready Group in the Eastern Mediterranean, along with the embarked 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The ARGMU consists of three ships, more than 50 aircraft and approximately 4,000 sailors and Marines that provide sea-based expeditionary forces capable of conducting a wide range of missions in support of our regional deterrence efforts. As we have done since Hamas' brutal terrorist attack on October 7th, DOD will continue to leverage its collective force posture in the region to deter any state or nonstate actor from escalating this crisis beyond Gaza.

And finally, I can confirm that on January 4 at approximately 12 P.M. Iraq time, U.S. forces took necessary and proportionate action against Mushtaq Jawad Kazim al-Jawari, a.k.a Abu Taqwa, who was a Harakat-al-Nujaba leader. Abu Taqwa was actively involved in planning and carrying out attacks against American personnel. The strike also killed another HAN member, and it is important to note that the strike was taken in self-defense, that no civilians were harmed and that no infrastructure or facilities were struck.

And with that, I'll be happy to take your questions. We'll start with Associated Press, Tara.

Q: Hi, General Ryder. Happy new year.

GEN. RYDER: Happy new year.

Q: I wanted to talk about the warning that the U.S. sent yesterday with its allies to the Houthis about not conducting additional attacks on ships. And then you see, just hours later, there's an attempted attack with an unmanned surface vehicle on ships in the Red Sea. What are the options for the U.S. at this point? And will those options also include potentially addressing Iran's role in supplying the Houthis with these weapons?

GEN. RYDER: Thanks, Tara. So as you've heard us and others say within the U.S. government, we are approaching this from many different facets, to include sanctions, but from a DOD standpoint, of course working closely with the international community to establish a coalition to help deter Houthi efforts and reassure mariners as they transit this vital seaway in the Red Sea.

So we're going to continue to work very hard at that. Deterrence, in and of itself -- or excuse me, presence is a deterrent, in and of itself. And so we can -- expect to continue to see the international coalition grow in support of Operation Prosperity Guardian. As you heard Vice Admiral Cooper, the NAVCENT Commander, say earlier today, over 20 nations so far have joined. And again, we expect to continue to see that grow.

This is an issue that affects the entire international community. The economic impact, never mind the dangerous, unlawful behavior, is something that we're all taking seriously and that requires collective action.

Q: What sort of options would there be militarily? Because obviously the statement didn't stop the Houthis from sending an armed drone toward ships again today.

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, I'll let the statement speak for itself, and I'm not going to speculate or get into hypotheticals about potential future military operations.

Jennifer?

(CROSSTALK)

GEN. RYDER: I'll come right back to you.

Q: Pat, I'd just like to follow up on the January 4th strike targeting Abu Taqwa. What kind of weapon was used? Was it a Hellfire missile? Why now? Is this the beginning of a new campaign to target the leaders? And this group that you've targeted, in terms of planning, it's not Kata'ib Hezbollah, which has been behind a lot of the attacks. Why not?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, thanks, Jennifer. So I'm really not going to have more specifics to provide, in terms of what I've read out. As I highlighted, this individual was actively involved in planning and carrying out attacks against American personnel, and as we've long said, we maintain the inherent right of self-defense and we'll take necessary action to protect our personnel.

Q: Was the second person killed?

GEN. RYDER: It was an associate of Mr. Abu Taqwa, but I don't have any further details to provide.

Let me go to Joe.

Q: Thank you, General Ryder. I want to go back to the issue of the statement that was issued yesterday from the U.S. and its coalition about the Houthis. Have you seen any evidence that there is a serious escalation around the Houthis over the last few days? And given the situation, could you tell us if the option of striking the Houthis is on the table or it's something just related to contingency plans?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, again, Joe, I think I'll let the statement speak for itself, which again represented many nations around the world and highlighted that if these strikes don't stop, there will be consequences. But again, I'm not going to get into speculating, forecasting, or talking about hypotheticals.

In terms of escalation, again, these are illegal, dangerous attacks. Since November 18th, there've been now 25 attacks against merchant vessels transiting the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. And so we have worked closely with the international community to stand up Operation Prosperity Guardian under the umbrella and leadership of Task Force 153, with the express purpose of deterring this illegal activity through the increased overall presence, and also providing assurance to the maritime industry to help safeguard their transiting of that waterway.

Oren?

Q: A couple of follow-up questions on the Iraq strike. You called this a self-defense strike. What attacks was this group, Harakat al-Nujaba, responsible for and how many? Did you notify the Iraqi government in advance? And -- and given the condemnation of U.S. strikes in Iraq that we've seen in the course of the past couple weeks, do you think the U.S. military presence in Iraq is -- is at risk? Have you seen a tension there?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, thanks, Oren. So again, I'm not going to have any more details to provide as it relates to this particular strike and, you know, in terms of the specific attacks that HAN has conducted against U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria.

As you well know -- you've been following this for a while -- those attacks have continued, putting U.S. forces in danger. And as I just highlighted to Jennifer, we maintain the inherent right of self-defense and we'll continue to take necessary actions to protect our personnel.

Q: how many of the 120 attacks has this Harakat al-Nujaba --

GEN. RYDER: I'm not going to get into a breakdown.

So as far as your other question, you know, Iraq is an important and valued partner. Our forces are there at the invitation of the government of Iraq to help train and advise, in support of the Defeat ISIS mission. And so as we have been doing all along, we will continue to consult closely with the Iraqi government about the safety and security of U.S. forces. In the meantime, we will continue to stay very focused on that Defeat ISIS mission.

Q: Are you able to say whether you notified the Iraqi government in -- in advance of --

GEN. RYDER: I'm not going to get into diplomatic discussions.

Carla?

Q: Thank you. A question -- two questions actually. First, on the Red Sea operation -- so Admiral -- Vice Admiral Cooper and you have both said that this is a defensive operation. Why is this a defensive operation? Why is this not an offensive operation? Why is the U.S. and the international coalition either unwilling or unable to target launching areas inside of Yemen?

GEN. RYDER: So the express purpose of Operation Prosperity Guardian -- again, under the coalition maritime forces, is a coalition of the willing -- and so this particular operation is a defensive operation focused on helping to reassure commercial vessels as they transit the Red Sea and also helping to safeguard the lives of mariners who are sailing those ships. And so it's as simple as that.

Q: Should I interpret that as some of the coalition did not want this to be offensive? Is that fair to say?

GEN. RYDER: Carla, so again, you know, countries are going to be willing to participate in various efforts focused on very specific operational goals. And again, Operation Prosperity Guardian is a defensive coalition focused on safeguarding the commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. So that's the mission.

Now, again, I'm not going to get into hypotheticals or speculate about what individual countries may or may not do as it relates to their security or the collective security, but again, for OPG, this is a defensive coalition. Thanks.

(CROSSTALK)

GEN. RYDER: -- let me go to one of your colleagues --

(CROSSTALK)

Q: There -- there's a Newsweek story out there that says that there is ATACMS up for destruction, the expired ATACMS, U.S. ATACMS, that would be a significant expense to American taxpayers, according to one former advisor to Ukraine's commander. Is this true? Are there a bunch of ATACMS, expired ATACMS set to be destroyed? And if that is true, why would they not be going to Ukraine?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, so I've seen those press reports. We looked into this and it is not true. Those reports are false.

Fadi?

Q: Thank you, General. I have two separate topics. First on the strike in Iraq against Mushtaq Jawad Kazim al-Jawari. Last week, as you said, the U.S. forces are inside Iraq at the request of the Iraqi government.

However, Mr. Al Sudani, Iraqi Prime Minister, has rejected any actions from U.S. forces outside the perimeters of advising and assisting Iraqi forces. And he said that Iraqi government is headed toward ending the presence of the international coalition inside Iraq.

Has the Pentagon been notified or by the Iraqi government of any steps to get the U.S. forces out of Iraq? And how do you respond to his comments on actions taken by U.S. forces?

GEN. RYDER: Yes, thanks, Fadi. So, I'm not going to comment on the remarks of others and I'm not going to speculate about what the future may portend or get into hypotheticals. As I mentioned earlier, U.S. forces are in Iraq at the invitation of the government Iraq to help train and advise in support of the Defeat ISIS mission.

And, you know, you've been covering this story for a very long time, in terms of U.S. presence, as have many of your colleagues here. And you'll recall, it was 10 years ago this coming summer that ISIS was approximately 24 kilometers outside of Baghdad when we kicked off the counter-ISIS mission after they had subsumed large swaths of Syria and Iraq.

So, no one wants to see a return of ISIS, which, oh by the way, just claimed responsibility for the attacks that we're see -- we saw yesterday in Iran. So, our focus is going to continue to remain on the Defeat ISIS mission. But again, we're not going to hesitate to protect our forces if they're threatened.

Thanks very much.

Q: And a couple days ago, Saleh al-Arouri, senior Hamas leader, was assassinated in the strike in Beirut and it's, you know, supposedly carried out by Israel. The U.S. has maintained a position that you don't want to see this, the war in Gaza escalates, either in Lebanon or in the region. Was the DOD or the U.S. government notified of this operation? And does the U.S. administration or the Pentagon support such strikes beyond the borders?

GEN. RYDER: Yes, so I don't have anything. You know, obviously, I've seen the reports on that strike. I just don't have anything to provide on that.

Let me go to the phone here real quick. J.J. Green from WTOP.

Q: Yes, thanks for the opportunity. Can you characterize the strength of Haraka al-Nujaba, the threat that it poses to U.S. forces? And when you look at all of the other terror organizations that are active in the region now, especially ISIS and Islamic Jihad, Hamas, Hezbollah, can you characterize what that looks like for U.S. forces and how the Pentagon is approaching dealing with that?

GEN. RYDER: Yes, thanks J.J. As I'm sure you can appreciate, you know, there are myriad threats throughout the region, you know, not only to the United States but to other countries as well. And so, I won't go into a detailed briefing about terrorists' groups across the AOR, other than to say as we've highlighted in several of our press releases when we've conducted strikes in Iraq and Syria, they have been against groups that are sponsored, Iranian proxies, to include HAN and Kataib Hezbollah.

And so, those forces have represented a threat to our forces. And again, we maintain the inherent right of self-defense and we'll take necessary actions to protect our forces. And that will continue to remain our focus as well as doing the mission which we're there to do, which is to help defeat ISIS. Thank you.

All right. Let me do one more from the phone here. Jeff Schogol, "Task and Purpose."

Q: Thank you. And thanks to the audio folks for getting my mic to work. I just wanted to double check, the person killed in Baghdad, I've seen his name spelled differently. I've seen Al Siadi, I just want make sure we're talking about the same guy.

And also, this person was a commander in a popular mobilization forces. Was this also an attack on Iraqi security forces? Thank you.

GEN. RYDER: Thanks, Jeff. Again, I'm not going to have anything to provide beyond what I've spelled out for you. And this was a strike against a member of HAN, the terrorist group that I've highlighted, the Iranian proxy group. Thank you.

Tony?

Q: On Ukraine questions, one of the things you didn't highlight in your recap was the December 27 presidential drawdown authority of package 54. Is that last package the U.S. can give Ukraine until Congress approves a supplemental?

GEN. RYDER: Yes, thanks, Tony. As you heard us say as we went into the holidays here, you know, we have no more replenishment funds. And so, right now I'm not anticipating any new PDA announcements in terms of new capabilities, which is why, you know, we'll continue to work closely with Congress and urge them to pass the supplemental.

Q: Final one. F-16s to Ukraine, what's the latest in terms of when they would plan to show up there?

GEN. RYDER: Sure. I don't have any specific dates to provide. That training does continue in Arizona. As you know, that, you know, again, depending on the skill level of the pilot, that can range from five to eight months. And so, I would expect, you know, sometime later this year we'll start to see those pilot's graduate. But I don't have any specifics for you.

Q: One Houthi question. There's this talk about military strikes. What would they be striking at, and what would they be striking? Are these mobile missile units that the Houthis have or are they big sites the U.S. knows about and you're deciding what to do?

GEN. RYDER: Yes, thanks, Tony. I appreciate the question. But again, I'm just not going to get into hypotheticals or speculate or forecast any potential future operations. Thanks.

Nancy?

Q: I'd like to go back to some of the comments you made earlier about the strike in Iraq. You know -- as you know, earlier today the Pentagon was unwilling to talk publicly about the strike. And now you're telling us, you can't tell us the threat that demanded a self-defense striking.

I just -- can you help me understand why the U.S. can't provide basic information about a strike that it conducted in an allied nation's territory? Is this the expectation going forward that you'll conduct self-defense strikes but we won't know why you're doing that?

GEN. RYDER: Yes, so I appreciate the question, Nancy. I would take exception that the characterization, first of all, I'm here briefing you on the record about the strike. And then if I can finish answering the question that you asked me.

Q: But the answer was that you won't tell us --

GEN. RYDER: I provided you the information that I have available to provide. And I have answered why this was a self-defense strike, because this particular individual was involved in the planning and execution of attacks against American personnel in Iraq and Syria which, by definition, is a threat. Which by definition, us taking action is a self-defense action.

Q: But I guess what I don't understand is was it one strike that this person was involved in? And was it several? Were they deadly? Over what period of time?

GEN. RYDER: On January 4, at 12 p.m. Iraq time, we took a strike targeting this individual and killed him and an associate. There was no civilians -- no civilians injured, no infrastructure and no facilities. So, I mean, that's as much information as I'm able to provide. Thanks.

Yes, sir?

Q: Thanks, Pat. Going back to the Red Sea for a second, Operation Prosperity Guardian, both you and Vice Admiral Cooper have described it as a defensive action, but Vice Admiral Cooper earlier this week, I believe, gave the USS Carney a combat action ribbon for its actions, you know, I believe in December. I mean, are U.S. Navy ships in combat in the Red Sea?

GEN. RYDER: I think that the Admiral's actions speak for themselves, in terms of recognizing the crew for what they've done to be able to protect not only themselves but also international commerce and mariners as they transit. So I'll just leave it at that. Thank you.

Ma'am?

Q: Thank you, General. My question is about your opening remarks on Japan. So we appreciate it. Pentagon or U.S. force in Japan received any request from Japan's government on the disaster?

GEN. RYDER: Sure. So as I said earlier, we remain in close communication with the government of Japan and we do stand ready to aid in any way that would be most helpful to Japan. I would say this could include support from U.S. forces who are stationed there who would be able to respond at a moment's notice. At this time, I'm not able to go into any specific details, but of course we'll keep you updated on what that could look like, should we receive any specific request. Thank you very much.

Janne?

Q: Thank you, General. Happy New Year.

GEN. RYDER: Happy New Year.

Q: Okay. Recently, Chinese President Xi Jinping declared that he would eventually unify Taiwan and put Russian Putin -- I mean President Putin also designated Korean Peninsula and Taiwan as conflict-risk areas this year. And also, the -- North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un declared that he was ready for nuclear war against United States South Korea. What is the Pentagon's position on these war crises?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, so we're going to continue to stay very focused on working with our allies and our partners in the region to ensure that regional security, stability, and prosperity are the main focus. No one wants to see conflict in that region, and so that will continue to be our focus.

Q: Do you think a nuclear war can be suppressed through U.S. extended deterrence?

GEN. RYDER: I believe that U.S. extended deterrence will continue to help contribute directly towards regional security and stability.

Let me go back to the phone here. Howard Altman?

Q: Thanks, Pat. The question's answered.

GEN. RYDER: And Jared from Al-Monitor?

Q: My question has also been answered. Thank you.

GEN. RYDER: We'll take a few more. Chris?

Q: Pat, on the airstrike in Iraq, I understand your comments on the rationale, but to be very direct, did this U.S. airstrike violate the agreement U.S. forces and the coalition has with the Iraqi government?

GEN. RYDER: The U.S. always maintains the inherent right of self-defense if our forces are threatened. And again, we'll continue to communicate, as we have been all along, closely with our Iraqi partners when it comes to the safety and security of our forces in Iraq.

Ryo?

Q: Yeah, thank you. Just two questions. First, a follow-up on the U.S. response to the earthquake in Japan. So is it accurate to say the U.S. and Japan is discussing what the U.S. is in discussion with the Japanese about what type of assistance will be necessary?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, so as I understand it, U.S. Forces Japan is in regular contact with the government of Japan to discuss how we might help, should assistance be requested, but I'd refer you to USFJ for any further details.

Q: Okay. On the second question, China appointed a new Defense Minister in late December. So has the Pentagon requested the first contact about engagement between the Secretary and the new Defense Minister after his appointment?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, so we continue to be in communication with the PRC at the working level about the sequencing of upcoming engagements, and certainly we'll share more when we have more to announce. We continue to believe that sustained communication between our two countries is important in order to prevent miscalculation and mitigate potential risk. Thank you very much.

Tom?

Q: Thanks, Pat. You know, at the end of the year, they cleared up all the holds on the military promotions. Are there any delays, holds or otherwise, of civilian nominees for key DOD positions that are still remaining?

GEN. RYDER: There are some individuals that continue to be held -- delayed, and again, we'll continue to work --

(CROSSTALK)

Q: -- number on that?

GEN. RYDER: We can get that for you.

Q: Thank you.

GEN. RYDER: Thanks very much.

Ma'am?

Q: Thank you. I have a two questions. The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability has sent a letter to Secretary Austin last month and asked to provide documented information about the Osprey program's safety and performance by today. Has the DOD responded to their request? And does the committee's investigation affect U.S. military decisions on when to resume Osprey flights?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, thanks very much. So the Department of Defense commits to working cooperatively with the committee to accommodate its requests, and we'll work diligently to provide additional information as soon as possible. I don't have any further details to provide beyond that at this point. Thanks very much.

We've got time for a few more. Yes, sir?

Q: Yeah, thank you, General. The Iraqi Prime Minister's office statement says that Abu Taqwa -- or these attacks was an attack on the Iraqi security entity that is operating within the powers authorized by the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. Does that concerns you at all, that there are some elements and people that operating under the Iraqi Prime Minister authorities and they are planning and they're masterminding to attack the U.S. forces in Iraq?

GEN. RYDER: Again, look, Iraq is an important and valued partner. We work very closely with the Iraqi Security Forces, you know, as part of CJTF-OIR, and have had a relationship with the Iraqi Security Forces for many years, supporting, training, and advising their counter-terrorism efforts.

And so we will continue to work closely with our Iraqi partners. We do know that the Iraqi Security Forces have continued to assist in identifying in some cases where these Iranian proxies have conducted attacks against U.S. forces, and we are very appreciative of that support.

And so, you know, with -- this is an important partner to us, and we'll continue to lean into that relationship.

Q: You also said that this will -- undermines the previously established understanding between the Iraqi Armed Forces and the coalition forces. Do you have the same concern?

GEN. RYDER: Again, I think I responded to that question earlier. I'm not going to comment on the remarks of others. Thanks very much.

Time for just a couple more. We'll go here and then here.

Q: Thank you, General. Recent attacks by the militia groups in Iraq on U.S. forces seem to be more accurate than before. You know, the recent target of a U.S. base in Erbil injured three U.S. service members, and one more attack in Kurdish Peshmerga forces. So aren't you concerned that these militia groups have the more sophisticated weapons that can target U.S. forces?

GEN. RYDER: So to date, we continue to see the one-way attack drones and rockets. Again, over the course of these, you know, largely ineffectual, but to your point, they continue to remain very dangerous, which is why we will respond seriously to any threat of our forces.

We do not seek any broader conflict with Iran, we don't seek conflict with these groups, but we're not going to stand aside and allow our forces to be threatened without ensuring that we're properly protecting them.

Yes, sir?

Q: You mentioned replenishment money is out. How much is left in PDA for Ukraine?

GEN. RYDER: Right now, we've got roughly $4.2 billion in restored PDA authority, but again, the replenishment funds are expended.

Jennifer?

Q: Just to be clear, Harakat al-Nujaba, is it considered to receive funding and support from Iran or is it simply an Iraqi-based Shia militia?

GEN. RYDER: This is an Iranian proxy group. I'll just leave it at that.

Tara?

Q: -- two, just one off of Jennifer's -- is this group part of the PMF?

GEN. RYDER: Look, the HAN group is a Iranian proxy group that has been targeting U.S. forces. And so again, we took appropriate and proportionate action. Thank you.

Q: -- the Iraqi PMF forces?

GEN. RYDER: I don't have an answer to that question.

Q: Okay. The other one that I was going to ask is Ukraine. With the $4.2 billion, because there's no replenishment money, does that mean that money is essentially untouchable? Like, you can't dip into the --

GEN. RYDER: So that is the authority to spend funds, again, without having the replenishment funds in order to actually replenish our own funds. It's the authority to spend them but not necessarily the funds available. Thus, we need the supplemental from Congress.

Q: Okay. So you don't actually have $4.2 billion in --

GEN. RYDER: We have the authority to spend that from available funds but wouldn't have the ability to replenish the stocks by taking money out -- or taking stuff out of our inventory.

Q: So in practical terms that means that's not --

GEN. RYDER: We're out of money.

Q: Okay.

GEN. RYDER: Right.

Last question, Fadi?

Q: I mean, on the one hand, you say the -- Iraq is an important ally, you talk about how the U.S. presence is -- is at the request of the Iraqi government. When the Iraqi government is saying no, we -- you cannot take military actions inside Iraq because this is a breach of the agreement about advising and supporting the security forces, you refused to comment. Is there a disagreement between the Pentagon and Iraqi government about the situation in Iraq, vis-a-vis U.S. forces?

GEN. RYDER: Look, again, I'll be very clear -- U.S. forces are in Iraq at the invitation of the government of Iraq, and they're there for one reason, which is to support the Defeat ISIS mission. We'll continue to work very closely with our Iraqi partners when it comes to the safety and security of our forces. When those forces are threatened, just like we would anywhere else in the world, we will maintain the inherent right of self-defense to protect our forces.

And so again, this was a necessary and proportionate action against this particular individual who was personally involved in the planning and execution of attacks against American personnel.

Thank you very much, everybody. Appreciate it.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3631953/

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January 4, 2024

By C. Todd Lopez , DOD News

Self-Defense Strike in Iraq Kills Terrorist Leader

U.S. forces in Iraq today conducted a self-defense strike which killed Mushtaq Jawad Kazim al-Jawari, a leader of the Iran-backed Harakat al-Nujaba terrorist group that is operating both in Iraq and Syria, said the Pentagon press secretary.

Al-Jawari, also known as Abu Taqwa, was actively involved in planning and carrying out attacks against American personnel. Abu Taqwa, along with another member of Harakat al-Nujaba, were both killed in a strike that took place around noon, Jan. 4, in Iraq, said Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder during a briefing today.

"It is important to note that the strike was taken in self-defense, that no civilians were harmed, and that no infrastructure or facilities were struck," Ryder said.

The U.S. currently has a military presence in Iraq as part of Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve. The CJTF-OIR mission is to advise, assist and enable partnered forces in the defeat of ISIS within designated areas of Iraq and Syria. Inside Iraq, the U.S. works in partnership with both the Iraqi Security Forces and the Kurdish Security Forces to carry out that mission.

"U.S. forces are in Iraq at the invitation of the government of Iraq," Ryder said. "They're there for one reason, which is to support the defeat-ISIS mission. We'll continue to work very closely with our Iraqi partners when it comes to the safety and security of our forces. When those forces are threatened, just like we would anywhere else in the world, we will maintain the inherent right of self-defense to protect our forces."

The mission to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria has been ongoing for nearly a decade, and Ryder said the successes of CJTF-OIR are worth maintaining.

"It was 10 years ago this coming summer that ISIS was approximately 24 kilometers outside of Baghdad, when we kicked off the counter-ISIS mission after they had subsumed large swaths of Syria and Iraq," Ryder said. "No one wants to see a return of ISIS ... our focus is going to continue to remain on the defeat-ISIS mission. But again, we're not going to hesitate to protect our forces if they're threatened."

U.S. Ready to Assist in Japan

On Monday, a 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck eastern Japan, with an epicenter on the Noto Peninsula  about 180 miles northwest of Tokyo. Ryder said the U.S. military is ready to help, if asked.

"On behalf of Secretary Austin and the department, our hearts are with the Japanese people after their tragic earthquake earlier this week," Ryder said. "The United States and Japan share a deep bond of friendship that unites our people, and our Japanese ally graciously hosts thousands of U.S. service personnel and family members. As you've heard from the president and the U.S. ambassador, our military forces in Japan are ready to assist as needed."

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When something moves quickly, they say it moves at the speed of light.

With injunction lifted, cannabis dispensaries look to hire workers Now that an injunction has been lifted, cannabis dispensary owners are looking to hire staff. And they say they're willing to pay for expertise.

They might as well say it moves at the speed of retail.

Look how much the industry has changed just since Covid-19. Curbside pickup and grocery delivery went from nice-to-have options to must-have necessities. Online shopping has rocketed to new highs. And Amazon continues to corner the industry, pulling in record profits and increasing sales by billions of dollars year over year.

The rate of change shows no signs of slowing down this year.

The retail landscape in Western New York will continue to transform as state-licensed cannabis dispensaries open at a greater clip, retailers migrate out of the Boulevard and Eastern Hills malls to make way for much-anticipated town center projects, workers continue to form unions, stores tweak their self-checkout options and online retailers begin charging for returns.

More recreational dispensaries will open  if all goes well. There was a time that a license to open a recreational cannabis dispensary in Western New York seemed like a golden ticket  an exclusive pass that would set licensees on a path to riches as the first entrants into a lucrative new industry in the state.

But the road to getting open has been so bumpy that license holders are now more likely to inspire pity than envy.

With two injunctions spanning months and halting new store openings, licensees have been stuck in a holding pattern, with many sitting on real estate and paying bills on businesses they couldnt open.

When the latest injunction lifted in the fall, it cleared the way for hundreds of license holders to finally get their businesses up and running.

Their businesses may have been sidelined, but our current licensees remain wholeheartedly committed to the endeavor, Tremaine Wright, chairwoman of the New York State Cannabis Control Board, said at a recent meeting.

The state had managed to grant 400 licenses before the latest injunction hit in August, and it plans to release another 250 licenses from the application window that closed Nov. 17. Those next licenses will be randomly awarded from among a pool of 1,500 applicants who have already secured store spaces.

Licensees are scrambling to get the necessary local and state approvals finalized, finish their buildouts, hire workers and get open, fearing another injunction will stop their progress.

Another one already is being sought.

Longtime Boulevard Mall tenant TT New York leaves 'kicking and screaming' TT New York's last day at the Boulevard Mall will be Jan. 7, and it will reopen at 1208 Niagara Falls Blvd. on Jan. 12.

Variscite NY Four and Variscite NY Five, the same party behind the first lawsuit that hobbled the region in September 2022, requested an injunction last month. They claim the rules for the most recent licensing window violate the Dormant Commerce Clause by discriminating against out-of-state residents, since priority is given to applicants who lived in a New York community disproportionately affected by cannabis enforcement.

If that injunction is granted, it could put new store openings on hold again.

Challenges remain, but we remain hopeful as we look to the coming weeks and months, and anticipate licensees announcements of their grant openings, Wright said.

Mall retailers will migrate. As the Eastern Hills and Boulevard malls begin to empty out in anticipation of town center projects at both sites, retailers inside are being forced to leave. That means theyll either find new brick-and-mortar homes, become online-only entities or go out of business.

At Eastern Hills Mall, tenants with exterior entrances will be allowed to remain.

Its killing me to leave Boulevard after 27 years, but changes are great, said Jimmylee Steinfeld, owner of TT New York, a popular gown boutique at Boulevard Mall. I am one of the longest lasting tenants.

Both the Clarence and Amherst malls gave tenants through the end of last years holiday shopping season to continue operating before having to leave.

The traditional shopping centers are being at least partially demolished to make way for town centers  a walkable mix of residential space, restaurants, retail, hotels and green space.

Most of the malls interior corridors will be gone, making room for broad sidewalks, parks, landscaped streets and exterior storefronts.

An individual might go to a town center to visit a particular store, but the objective is to keep them there and give them enough reason to walk to other stores or just admire the great street scene or hang out in one of the pocket parks or go to a coffee shop, said Carl Montante Jr., vice president of marketing and strategic initiatives at Uniland, which is transforming the Eastern Hills Mall with Mountain Development Corp.

Elmwood Taco & Subs and workers take dispute to the streets ETS workers, saying their hours had been drastically cut as retaliation for forming the union, began striking outside the restaurant last week  holding signs, shouting chants and using a bullhorn.

Workers will continue to organize. What started with Spot Coffee in 2019 and made headlines around the world with Starbucks in 2021 continues in 2024 as workers organize unions.

Workers around Buffalo have organized with Workers United, a Philadelphia-headquartered union with 86,000 members in the United States and Canada across a variety of industries, including food service.

Workers at Spot Coffee, Starbucks, Remedy House, Lexington Co-op, Elmwood Taco and Subs and Tesla have all formed unions to collectively bargain for workers rights. The latest to begin organizing are workers at the Buffalo AKG Art Museum, who are still determining which job titles would be included in collective bargaining.

Unionizing is the best path to ensure that we, the workers at the Buffalo AKG, can all take pride of ownership and feel a secure sense of belonging in our workplace and the broader community, Buffalo AKG workers said in a statement posted to social media.

A possibility for the next round of organizing workers to watch are pharmacists at retail chain pharmacies. Already, nonunion workers around the country at chains such as Walgreens, Rite Aid and CVS have walked off the job in protest of working conditions. The protests  which lasted up to three days in some parts of the country  were supported by the American Pharmacists Association, the industrys largest professional organization.

Tasked with administering vaccines, answering phones and dealing with in-person customers while filling prescriptions, pharmacy workers said chains have cut staffing to dangerously low levels that prevent them from safely doing their jobs.

We support every pharmacists right to work in an environment with staffing that supports your ability to provide patient care. We know that these are steps you deem necessary in order to be heard by your employer, the APhA said in a statement responding to walkouts.

Self-checkout options will continue to evolve. When Aldi gets in on the action, you know there is no going back.

The German no-frills grocer, known for its commitment to its speedy cashiers, added self-checkout stations to the majority of its local stores in 2023.

Tops Markets made additional self-checkouts a priority during renovations at local stores. Craft store Michaels added self-checkouts for the first time. And several retail chains tweaked their self-checkout policies, including Target, which restricted its lanes to those with 10 items or fewer.

Retailers are trying to figure out how to perfect the self-checkout system in order to keep customers happy, push down wait times and eliminate theft.

In 2022, Wegmans scrapped its self-checkout Scan app, which had allowed customers to scan items on their smartphones and put them into their carts or bags while moving through the store, because it was losing too much money to shoplifters who took advantage of the service.

But in February, Wegmans began piloting new smart shopping cart technology from Shopic, which has technology to detect when unscanned items are placed in a shopping cart.

Some retailers will charge fees to return items bought online. When e-commerce was first taking off, many consumers hesitated at the idea of buying something without first touching and feeling it or trying it on.

To make them feel more comfortable, retailers pushed free returns, which would allow customers to bring products home, try them out and ship them back on the retailers dime if they werent happy. Chief among them was Amazon, which didnt care if it lost money on shipping, as long as it was converting new shoppers.

Now, that free ride is coming to an end for some retailers. Not only have many stopped covering the cost of shipping items back, some are now beginning to charge a fee for processing returns.

Abercrombie, J.Crew, H&M and Macys have all added shipping fees for mail-in returns. And the vast majority of merchants charge a fee for at least some methods of returns, according to logistics company Happy Returns.

With the ever-increasing costs of running an e-commerce business, many merchants wonder whether its finally time to start charging for returns, wrote Alyssa Baroody, Happy Returns manager of customer success, on the companys blog. Even retailers that for years have offered free returns to shoppers are exploring the possibility of introducing a processing fee  although not without legitimate concerns and some consumer resistance.
January 4, 2024

By Joseph Clark , DOD News

U.S., Partners Committed to Defensive Operations in Red Sea

The U.S. remains committed to providing a persistent defensive presence in the Red Sea alongside allies and partners, the commander of Naval Forces Central Command said today.

Navy Vice Adm. Brad Cooper said about 1,500 merchant ships have safely transited the Red Sea since mid-December when the U.S. launched Operation Prosperity Guardian. The operation is a multinational, maritime security initiative responding to the recent escalation in Houthi attacks originating from Yemen.

"We are certainly mindful of the continued threat and expect the Houthi attacks may continue," he said. "I think really importantly, though, our actions in this defensive operation are not just through words, but through deeds."

Since mid-November, Houthi rebels have launched 25 attacks against merchant vessels operating in the Red Sea. Those include the detonation of an unmanned surface vessel in international shipping lanes earlier today.

While no ships were hit in the most recent attack, Cooper said that the persistent threat from the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in an international shipping lane is a vital concern.

"Our assessment is that 55 nations have direct connections to the ships who've been attacked, whether through the flagging state, where the goods were produced or destined, or the nationalities of the innocent mariners aboard each vessel," Cooper said.

"The impacts of these attacks stretch across the globe," he said. "This is an international problem that requires an international solution."

On Wednesday, the governments of the U.S., Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement condemning the attacks and warning the rebel group against further escalation.

"Ongoing Houthi attacks in the Red Sea are illegal, unacceptable, and profoundly destabilizing," the statement read in part. "There is no lawful justification for intentionally targeting civilian shipping and naval vessels."

The group of nations warned that the Houthis "will bear the responsibility of the consequences should they continue to threaten lives, the global economy and [the] free flow of commerce in the region's critical waterways."

"We remain committed to the international rules-based order and are determined to hold malign actors accountable for unlawful seizures and attacks," the statement concluded.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III announced the launch of Operation Prosperity Guardian on Dec. 18, while on a multiday trip through the Middle East.

The operation brings together forces from several nations to address the challenges in the region and ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

The forces will operate under the umbrella of the Combined Maritime Forces and the leadership of Task Force 153, a U.S. Navy-led initiative focused on maritime security in the Red Sea.

Cooper said that since the start of the Operation Prosperity Guardian, the U.S.-led coalition has shot down 19 drones and missiles and sunk three small boats launched by the Houthis against vessels operating in the Red Sea.

Of the drones and missiles shot down, 11 were uncrewed, aerial vehicles; two were cruise missiles; and six were antiship cruise missiles.

"I think the relationships that have always been strong are even stronger," Cooper said. "Our industry partners have said back to us that Operation Prosperity Guardian is contributing to their sense of security and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden."

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PLA holds naval, air patrols in S.China Sea amid provocations

Global Times

Troops defend China's territorial sovereignty, maritime rights

By Liu Xuanzun and Guo Yuandan Published: Jan 04, 2024 08:22 PM Updated: Jan 04, 2024 11:33 PM

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) held a routine patrol in the South China Sea from Wednesday to Thursday in a move to safeguard national sovereign security and maritime rights and interests amid a concurrent US-Philippines joint patrol and Manila's repeated attempts to permanently occupy Chinese reefs in the region.

China's legitimate and professional restriction measures against the Philippines' scheme have been restrained, but the Southeast Asian country's recurring provocations and the involvement of the US military could force China to enhance the intensity of its military and law enforcement measures, as the PLA's latest operation drew a red line, served as a deterrence and could reduce the risk of misjudgment and accidents, experts said.

The PLA Southern Theater Command organized naval and air forces to conduct a routine patrol in the South China Sea from Wednesday to Thursday, the PLA Southern Theater Command said in a press release on Wednesday.

"The troops of the theater command are on high alert so as to firmly safeguard national sovereign security and maritime rights and interests. Any military activities that upset the situation or create tension in the South China Sea are completely under control," the press release read.

While the PLA Southern Theater Command did not name the parties that could "upset the situation or create tension," Reuters reported on Wednesday that the Philippines and the US began a two-day joint patrol in the South China Sea on Wednesday.

It marks the second US-Philippines joint patrol since November 2023 and involves four vessels from the Philippine navy and four ships from the US Indo-Pacific command that include an aircraft carrier, a cruiser and two destroyers, according to the Reuters report.

Commenting on a question on the concurrent patrols by the PLA, and the US-Philippines one, Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a regular press conference on Thursday that the goal of the military provocation activities by the Philippines and the US in the South China Sea is flexing its military muscle, and are not conducive to the management and control of maritime situations and disputes.

"We urge relevant countries to stop their irresponsible moves and respect efforts by regional countries to safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea," Wang said, noting that China will continue to firmly safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights, and actively safeguard peace and stability in the region.

Ding Duo, deputy director of the Institute of Maritime Law and Policy at the China Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times that the PLA's patrol is a pointed operation against a series of infringement and provocative actions by the Philippines and the US in the South China Sea.

It displays China's determination and will in safeguarding territorial sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea, and that this determination and will are steadily growing along with the growing strength to do so, Ding said.

The operation announced by the PLA Southern Theater Command can serve as a deterrence against forces that stir up trouble. It is also a necessary act to safeguard peace and stability in the region, Ding said, noting that by demonstrating determination, will and capability, the trouble-stirring forces will have a clear understanding of China's red line and capabilities, and this will help prevent misjudgments and accidents from happening.

The PLA Southern Theater Command on Thursday announced that it recently also held a live-fire air-to-air missile attack exercise over the South China Sea.

Featuring KJ-500 early warning aircraft, J-15 carrier-based fighter jets and J-11B land-based fighter jets, the exercise further tested the performance of weapons and systems as well as the skills and tactical capabilities of the pilots, according to a press release and a video released by the PLA Southern Theater Command.

This exercise is a separate event from the routine patrol, and displayed the PLA's capabilities in seizing air superiority over the South China Sea, a Beijing-based military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Thursday.

It demonstrated the PLA's systemic combat capabilities that integrate carrier-based fighter jets and land-based fighter jets through early warning aircraft, as these can detect targets and then distribute missions in an orderly manner and guide missile attacks, the expert said.

With the PLA's comprehensive area denial and anti-access combat system, even US aircraft carriers will become very vulnerable if a conflict breaks out on China's doorstep, experts said.

Restrained responses

The PLA Southern Theater Command's patrol also comes as the Philippines has been frequently provoking China over Chinese islands and reefs in the South China Sea, especially near Ren'ai Jiao (also known as Ren'ai Reef), since August.

Under the guise of humanitarian resupplies, the Philippines has repeatedly sent vessels carrying illegal building materials in attempts to reinforce a warship that has been illegally grounded on Ren'ai Reef since 1999 in order to permanently occupy the Chinese reef, breaking its promise made to China that it would tow away the ship.

Those attempts were blocked by China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels using legitimate and professional restriction measures.

The Philippine side hyped that the CCG used water cannons to "attack" Philippine vessels in the process, but 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 offensive.

Senior Colonel Wu Qian, a spokesperson at China's Ministry of National Defense, said at a regular press conference on December 28 that the Philippine side had claimed to be carrying humanitarian supplies, but the supply vessels were actually carrying journalists and 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.

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.

It can be predicted that the Philippines and the US will continue to make provocations in 2024, and when dealing with those attempts to stir up trouble, China will likely enhance the intensity of its military and law enforcement measures, Ding said.

In both the short and long term, China's determination and capability in controlling the situation are increasing, Ding said.

"We will make sure the situation in the South China Sea remains stable," Ding said.

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US 'low-cost' warning to Houthi militia has little impact on settling Red Sea crisis

Global Times

By GT staff reporters Published: Jan 04, 2024 10:48 PM Updated: Jan 04, 2024 10:59 PM

The "low-cost warning" issued by the US-led coalition to Yemen's Houthi rebels may not have a significant impact on easing tensions on the Red Sea waters, and the coalition's persistent use of military tactics could exacerbate the situation, analysts warned, calling for international efforts to achieve a political resolution to both the Red Sea crisis and a cease-fire in Gaza and to avoid further spillover of the conflicts in the Middle East.

On Wednesday, a group of countries led by the US, including Australia, Canada, Germany and Japan, warned Yemen's Houthi rebels of "consequences" unless they immediately halt sea attacks that are increasingly disrupting global commerce. The Biden administration described the joint statement as a final warning as he weighs possible military strikes against the Houthis if attacks persist, according to media reports.

In response to why China has not jointly condemned the Houthi militia, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a routine press conference on Thursday that China has always supported safeguarding the security of international waterways and rejected assaulting civilian ships.

The Red Sea is an important international transportation route for goods and energy. Ensuring the security and stability of the region serves the common interests of the international community. All parties should play a constructive role in safeguarding the security of the Red Sea transportation route, said Wang.

On Wednesday, the Houthi group in Yemen launched missiles targeting a cargo ship in the Red Sea. The group's military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said that the operation came after the ship's crew refused to respond to calls from the group, including fiery warning messages.

Given the US' current strategy in the Middle East and the spillover effect of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the US may intensify its operations targeting ships of the Houthi rebels in the Red Sea waters, Liu Zhongmin, a professor at the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times.

The expert noted that the likelihood of the US extinguishing the Houthi rebels in Yemen is low due to the complex political situation in the country and the regional diplomatic dynamics.

The Houthi militia's recent attacks on Israeli ships in the Red Sea were aimed at showing support for Palestine and asserting their presence in the region while seeking political transformation. Additionally, a US attack on the Houthi militia in Yemen would disrupt negotiations among the group, the Yemeni government, and Saudi Arabia, which would not align with US interests in the region, said Liu.

The "final warning" is the latest attempt by the US to deter the Houthi group, considering the US' limited resources in terms of fleets and soldiers for large-scale military operations in the region. The US also faces challenges in effectively attacking the decentralized militia group, which is hidden within Yemen's complex landscape, Ding Long, a professor with the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times.

Ding also noted that the US is believed to have no intention of escalating the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and with the upcoming election, the Biden administration is aiming to avoid engaging in a new war. However, the crisis in the Red Sea may persist as the US-led escort alliance has not only failed to resolve the issue but instead heightened the risk of a larger conflict with the Houthi militia.

The root cause of the Red Sea crisis lies in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and resolving the crisis relies on a cease-fire in Gaza, said Ding.

However, the US deliberately avoids discussion of the connection between the Red Sea crisis and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, attempting to portray them as isolated events and only emphasizing the illegality and harm caused by the Houthi armed group.

On Wednesday, the UN Security Council held its first open meeting on the continuing attacks by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, during which Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, said that the current tensions in the Red Sea are one of the manifestations of the spillover effects of the conflict in Gaza.

"We call on the relevant party to cease assaulting civilian ships and respect and protect the freedom of navigation of all countries in the Red Sea. We believe that all parties, especially major countries with influence, need to play a constructive and responsible role in keeping the shipping lanes safe in the Red Sea," said Geng.

Ding noted that the escalating Red Sea crisis is evolving into a global security challenge that requires a collective response from the international community. The US and Western countries, in particular, should avoid exacerbating the situation and refrain from using military means to solve the Red Sea crisis and the Yemen issue.

Strengthening international coordination and seeking a political solution should be the international consensus for resolving the Red Sea crisis, said Ding.

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A look at the Defence news 17 December - 1 January

Netherlands Ministry of Defence

News item | 04-01-2024

Defence spent roughly 2.4 billion more in 2023 than in the previous year. Spending rose from 12.9 billion in 2022 to 15.3 billion by the last week of 2023.

Defence makes first 18 F-16 fighter aircraft available to Ukraine

The Netherlands is making at least 18 F-16 fighter aircraft available to Ukraine. The Netherlands committed itself to doing so during a visit by Ukraine's President Zelenskyy earlier this year. Now that the cabinet has decided to ready the F-16s, personnel and budget can be allocated to prepare the aircraft for delivery.

Netherlands contributes officers to Red Sea naval operation

At the request of the United States, the Netherlands is sending two staff officers to participate in Operation Prosperity Guardian, a maritime security operation in the Red Sea.

Defence acquires tools and materiel to defend the North Sea

Defence is purchasing cameras and radar systems for offshore oil rigs and wind turbines. In addition, the armed forces are also investing in satellite data. These observation tools will help detect threats to vital seabed infrastructure at an earlier stage. Defence is also investing in two new vessels to patrol the North Sea.

Defence to overhaul NH90 maritime combat helicopters

Defence plans to significantly upgrade all 19 NH90 maritime combat helicopters. This so-called Mid-Life Update (MLU) is necessary to maintain the weapon system's operational capability and future operational relevance. They will also be equipped with the new Link-22 data link system.

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Thousands attend funeral for Hamas deputy leader in Beirut

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 04 January 2024 7:17 PM

Thousands of mourners have held a funeral for the deputy chief of Hamas, Saleh al-Arouri, and officials assassinated in a drone strike on Tuesday.

Following the funeral procession, Arouri and two Palestinians who were assassinated alongside him, were buried in a cemetery at the Palestinian camp of Shatila, amid throngs of mourners launching volleys of gunfire.

Arouri was assassinated in a drone strike on Tuesday in the southern suburb of Beirut, as he was meeting with a group of Palestinian and Lebanese men from factions allied to Hamas.

The attack was widely attributed to Israel which has laid waste to the Gaza Strip in a genocidal war, but the regime has neither confirmed nor denied that it assassinated Arouri.

Their coffins were draped in Palestinian flags and carried by men wearing green caps with "Hamas" written on the front.

Arouri, 57, was one of the founder of the Qassam Brigades before taking on a political portfolio in recent years.

He was seen as a key player in the movement, masterminding its operations in the West Bank from exile in Syria, Turkey, Qatar and finally Lebanon after long stints in Israeli prisons.

Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh said Thursday Israel's assassination proved the regime is seeking to evade defeat and cover up its failure in the genocidal campaign in the besieged Gaza Strip.

The regime has further revealed its criminal mentality by assassinating Arouri, he added. "If the enemy thinks it can make the Palestinian nation despair and surrender through terror, it is completely wrong."

Haniyeh said the "cowardly assassination" was a "flagrant crime that demonstrates, once again, the brutality exercised by the occupiers against our people."

The Hamas chief said Israel stands "responsible for any repercussions." He said Arouri faced a host of challenges to revive resistance in the occupied West Bank at a critical time.

Islamic Jihad's commander Ziad al-Nakhalah said Arouri was "one of the distinguished and devoted leaders of the Palestinian people."

"We have lost him when we needed his presence the most. He was a leader who instilled confidence and tranquility in those around him and those he dealt with."

The head of Hezbollah, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, on Wednesday said Arouri's assassination was "a major, dangerous crime about which we cannot be silent".

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Rivalry in South China Sea: US, China hold separate drills amid tensions

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 04 January 2024 4:02 PM

With the long-running strategic rivalry in place, China and the United States have held separate military drills in the hotly contested waters of the South China Sea.

It came days after China and the Philippines had a tense standoff over conflicting maritime claims.

China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, which overlaps with the waters of the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan. The waters are believed to sit atop vast reserves of oil and gas.

China has constructed several artificial islands over the past few years in the Spratly archipelago in the South China Sea, which is a marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean. The move has drawn harsh criticism from the Philippines - among others - and its ally Washington.

In a statement on Thursday, China's People's Liberation Army said that the "routine" operations on Wednesday and Thursday aim to "resolutely safeguard China's sovereignty, security, and maritime rights and interests."

Footage shared by state broadcaster CCTV and the Chinese military showcased China's military might through "live fire drills" taking place over the sea with its fighter jets taking off and firing missiles that then struck designated targets.

Last month, the Philippine Coast Guard released videos purportedly showing Chinese ships blasting water cannons at Philippine boats. Vessels from the two sides also collided during tense clashes at Second Thomas Shoal, where a handful of Filipino troops are stationed on a grounded warship.

Following the developments, Beijing urged Manila to make the "rational choice" over the maritime tensions, warning that the bilateral relationship "is now at a crossroads."

China also blamed the Philippines for what it called a policy shift, including by reneging on commitments, continuing to provoke and stir trouble at sea, and undermining China's legal rights.

China's drills coincided with a two-day military exercise by the US and the Philippines in the South China Sea, involving an aircraft carrier strike group comprised of a cruiser, two destroyers and multiple combat aircraft led by the USS Carl Vinson, their second round of drills in the contested waters in less than two months. The Philippines, for its part, deployed four naval vessels, a multi-role helicopter and an anti-submarine helicopter.

The US Navy claimed in a statement that the drills would "enhance our ability to coordinate on maritime domain awareness and other shared security interests."

According the Philippine military, the drills took place between the Recto Bank and Scarborough Shoal, where clashes took place in December.

Beijing denounced the drills as "provocative military activities" aimed at "flaunting their military might."

"We urge relevant countries to stop their irresponsible actions and earnestly respect the efforts of countries in the region to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea," said China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin, stressing that the exercises were "detrimental to management and control of the maritime situation and related disputes."

He also pledged that China would "continue to firmly safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests."

Tensions have soared between China and the Philippines over the South China Sea under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, with Manila pivoting back to the US, which supports the country in its maritime dispute with China.

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Saudi Arabia slams Israeli calls for forced expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 04 January 2024 9:08 AM

Saudi Arabia has strongly condemned Israeli ministers' call for the migration of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, saying international efforts are needed to hold Israel accountable.

Hawkish Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich recently called for the displacement of the people of Gaza and reoccupation of the besieged territory to build new Israeli settlements.

In a statement on Wednesday, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry said Riyadh underscores the importance of joint international efforts to activate international accountability mechanisms for holding Israel accountable, while emphasizing its clear rejection of extremist statements by the two ministers.

It also noted that the Israeli regime's statements and actions have advanced in violation of international legitimacy decisions and international humanitarian law.

On Sunday, Smotrich called for displacement of two million Palestinians from the besieged territory, so that only around 200,000 Palestinians would remain.

His remarks were echoed on Monday by Ben Gvir, who called for the return of Israeli settlers to Gaza, saying that Palestinians should be encouraged to emigrate.

The comments have drawn widespread condemnation, with the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas describing them as an unrealistic "fantasy" and urging the international community to intervene.

The Netherlands has also denounced as "irresponsible" the statements by the two Israeli ministers, saying "This does not fit a future two-state solution, with a viable Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel."

Jordan's King Abdullah and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi have also rejected any Israeli move to expel Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

Meanwhile, the Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing, Balakrishnan Rajagopal, has condemned as an "act of genocide" the forcible transfer of people in Gaza, warning other states not to be part of such a move.

Rajagopal made the remarks in a post on X, following media reports that Israeli officials have held clandestine talks with the African nation of Congo and several others for the potential acceptance of Gaza emigrants.

Forcible transfer of the Gazan population is an act of genocide, especially given the high number of children, he said, warning that Congolese or other states' officials will be guilty of aiding and abetting genocide if they agree to any transfer of population.

The Israeli regime waged the war on Gaza on October 7 after Hamas carried out the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime's atrocities against Palestinians.

The relentless military campaign has killed more than 22,313 people, most of them children and women. At least 57,296 Palestinians have also been wounded.

Throughout the war, the regime's officials have been floating plans for the forced displacement of Palestinians residing in Gaza to other countries.

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Top UN court to consider genocide case against Israel over Gaza war next week

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 04 January 2024 8:24 AM

Judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague will hear a case on Israel's "genocidal" acts in the besieged Gaza Strip next week, as a horrible nightmare of bloodshed in the Palestinian territory is unfolding due to the occupying regime's incessant bombing.

South Africa, in an 84-page suit filed against Israel at the ICJ on December 29, asked the top court to urgently declare that the Tel Aviv regime has breached its responsibilities under international law since October 7, when it launched an ongoing war on the densely-populated coastal sliver.

Pretoria detailed evidence of brutality being perpetrated in Gaza, making South African the first country to file a lawsuit against Israel at the United Nations' top court.

The ICJ "will hold public hearings at the Peace Palace in The Hague... in proceedings instituted by South Africa against Israel," on January 11 and 12, the court said in a statement on Wednesday.

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 22,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured over 57,000 others. Thousands more are also missing and presumed dead under the rubble.

South Africa says the Israeli regime has violated its obligations under the Genocide Convention, stressing that it "has engaged in, is engaging in and risks further engaging in genocidal acts against the Palestinian people in Gaza."

Pretoria, amongst other urgent measures, is asking the ICJ to order that "Israel shall immediately suspend its military operations in and against Gaza."

Israel has already rejected South Africa's legal move "with disgust", while the United States, Tel Aviv's staunch ally and supporter, denounced the submission as "meritless, counterproductive and completely without any basis in fact."

South Africa will present its arguments on January 11 (next Thursday), while Israel is set to counter on January 12 (next Friday).

Almost three months into the war, Tel Aviv has failed to achieve its declared objective of eliminating Hamas and finding Israeli captives in Gaza.

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Jan. 3: 'Axis of Resistance' operations against Israeli occupation

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 04 January 2024 6:50 AM

By Press TV Website Staff

Resistance groups in Palestine and across the region continue their operations against Israel and its Western backers amid the regime's genocidal war on the Gaza Strip, which has claimed the lives of more than 22,000 Palestinians, mostly children and women.

The operations carried out by the Palestinian and regional resistance groups on Wednesday, January 3, are as follows:

Qassam Brigades' operations on Jan. 3:

Bombarded a gathering of vehicles and soldiers in Khan Yunis with mortar shells.

Shot down a Hermes 900 with the Mujahideen Brigades east of Gaza City.

Together with the Quds Brigade, targeted a gathering of vehicles east of Al-Tuffah and Al-Daraj neighborhoods with mortar shells.

Took control of an Israeli drone during a mission south of the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City.

Targeted vehicles and soldiers with mortar shells east of the Al-Tuffah and Al-Daraj neighborhoods in Gaza City again.

Targeted a tank with an Al-Yassin 105 shell in Sheikh Ajlin in Gaza City.

Targeted a command headquarters and soldiers east of Jabal al-Rais with mortar shells.

Targeted a bulldozer and tank with a "Shuath" device and an "Al-Yassin 105" shell east of the Al-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City.

Targeted a D9 bulldozer with an Al-Yassin 105 shell east of Khan Yunis.

Detonated two anti-personnel devices among an infantry force of 7 soldiers east of Khuza'a in the southern Gaza Strip, causing deaths and injuries.

Targeted a tank with an Al-Yassin 105 shell in Khan Yunis.

Together with the Mujahideen Brigades, launched a surface-to-air missile towards a helicopter east of Khan Yunis.

Targeted a Merkava tank with an Al-Yassin 105 shell in Khan Yunis.

Detonated an anti-personnel device among a group of soldiers in Khan Yunis, causing deaths and injuries.

Al-Quds Brigades operations on Jan. 3:

Sniped 2 Zionist soldiers in the northern axis of Al-Bureij camp, confirming the killing of one and injuring the other.

Shelled military formations around Imam Ali Mosque in Maan, east of Khan Yunis, with 60mm caliber mortars.

Destroyed a Merkava tank with a high-explosive (Thaqeb) device, in the northeastern axis of Khan Yunis.

Targeted a Merkava tank in the northeastern axis of Khan Yunis.

In a joint operation with Al-Qassam Brigades, shelled a Zionist convoy with 60mm caliber regular mortars, in the northern axis of Khan Yunis.

Martyr Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades operations on Jan. 3:

Targeted a gathering of IOF soldiers holed up in a building, behind Barqouq Castle, in central Khan Yunis with an RPG.

Martyr Omar Al-Qassem Brigades operations on Jan. 3:

Clashed with IOF forces, east of the al-Bureij camp, and inflicted deaths and injuries.

Sniped a Zionist soldier in the vicinity of the Sheikh Radwan market in Gaza City and confirmed a direct hit.

Launched an RPG at one of the military vehicles penetrating east of Al-Maghazi camp, hitting it directly.

Downed an IOF reconnaissance drone belonging to the special force, on the northern outskirts of the Al-Shati camp.

Lured a Zionist infantry force into a well-prepared ambush on the outskirts of the Al-Shati camp, where a land mine was detonated, followed by close-range engagement with the remaining members of this unit using appropriate weapons, with confirmed deaths & injuries.

Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades operations on Jan. 3:

Shelled IOF soldiers in Khan Younis city with a barrage of mortars.

Targeted a military D9-bulldozer in the axis of Khan Younis, with an RPG, confirming the killing of its crew.

Hezbollah's operations on Jan. 3:

Eastern sector:

At 15:50, Israeli soldiers were targeted at the Bayad Blida site with a Burkan missile.

At 16:00, Israeli soldiers were targeted in the vicinity of the Zibdin barracks in Shebaa Farms with a Burkan missile.

At 16:00, Israeli soldiers were targeted in the vicinity of the Ruwaisat al-Alam site in Shebaa.

At 16:44, Israeli soldiers were targeted in the vicinity of the Ruwaisat al-Alam site in Shebaa.

Western sector:

At 13:15, the Zarit barracks was targeted.

At 13:15, the Jal al-Alam site was targeted.

At 15:40, Israeli soldiers in the vicinity of the Al-Malikiyah site were targeted with a Burkan missile.

At 16:30, Israeli soldiers were targeted in the vicinity of the Doviev Barracks.

At 17:25, Israeli soldiers behind the Jal al-Alam site were targeted.

At 18:00, the Beranit barracks were targeted with missiles.

At 20:55, a gathering of Israeli soldiers was targeted at the Birkat Risha site.

Yemeni military's operations on Jan. 3:

Targeted the "CMA CGM TAGE" ship that was heading to Israeli ports (weapon not specified, CENTCOM claims ASBM).

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Nine Hezbollah members killed in Israeli strikes across southern Lebanon

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 04 January 2024 6:32 AM

The Israeli military has reportedly struck several areas along the border in southern Lebanon with artillery fire, killing nine members of the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement.

Lebanon's Arabic-language al-Manar television channel reported on Thursday that shells were fired at the villages of Taybeh, Kfarkela, Khiam and the Marjayoun Plain, as the occupying regime continues its aggressive attacks on southern Lebanon.

It also noted that an Israeli drone executed an aerial assault by launching a guided missile toward the southern Lebanese border town of Yaroun.

In a statement, the Israeli military claimed that they had been targeting Hezbollah sites in the southern part of Lebanon, adding that it is going to continue its attacks " as it sees fit."

It also said that the occupying forces' alert is raised to the highest possible level on the northern border.

Since October 8, the day after the Israel onslaught against Gaza started, the frontier between Lebanon and the Israeli-occupied territories has seen deadly exchanges of fire, mainly between the Israeli army and the Hezbollah movement.

Reports say Israel has repeatedly used US-supplied internationally-banned white phosphorus munitions in its attacks on Lebanon.

The fighting has forced the evacuation of tens of thousands from the northern part of the Israeli-occupied territories, which have been pummeled by rocket fire and shelling carried out by Hezbollah and allied Palestinian groups.

Around 143 Hezbollah fighters have lost their lives since the beginning of the conflict, while some 11 Israeli soldiers have also been killed.

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A Buffalo woman imprisoned almost 24 years in connection with a 1995 Eggertsville slaying saw the charges dropped this week after her attorneys argued that Amherst police failed to turn over fingerprint evidence, according to the Erie County District Attorneys Office.

Renay Lynch, convicted by a jury of being an accomplice in the killing of her elderly landlord, Louise Cicelsky, was released on parole in January 2022, the prosecutors said Friday.

Innocence Project seeks new DNA testing in 1995 Amherst murder Lawyers for the Innocence Project want a state judge to order new DNA tests of evidence taken from the murder of an 82-year-old woman who was slain in her home in Amherst in 1995. The New York City-based organization made the request on behalf of Renay Lynch, a former Buffalo prostitute and drug addict who has been imprisoned since

State Supreme Court Justice M. William Boller on Thursday dismissed the remaining indictment charging Lynch with second-degree murder and first-degree robbery.

Ciceksky, 82, was beaten and stabbed to death in May 1995. She was found in her Longmeadow Road apartment.

Lynch confessed to being an accomplice during the investigation, according to prosecutors, and was convicted in February 1998. Two months later, she was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

Two decades after murder and conviction, defense asks for new DNA test Renay Lynch confessed in 1995 to being an accomplice to the murder of 82-year-old Louise Cicelsky of Amherst. For more than two decades, she has insisted that confession was

Boller vacated Lynchs convictions last month after her attorneys sought their dismissal in November after arguing that Lynch didnt receive a fair trial.

It has been nearly 26 years since her conviction and at this time we are unable to secure the witnesses and sufficient evidence to bring the matter before a jury again due to the passage of time, District Attorney John J. Flynn said in a statement. Therefore, my office requested the Court dismiss the indictment in the interest of justice.

Ms. Lynch served a significant period of incarceration, and I believe that this matter now deserves closure.

Lynch, now 67, was the only person charged in Cicelskys death, according to the DAs Office. The other assailant implicated by Lynch is serving a life sentence in Florida for an unrelated crime, prosecutors said.

Lynch testified at her trial that she had nothing to do with the slaying. She accused two Amherst police detectives of coercing her into a murder confession, according to Buffalo News archives.

Judge orders new search for DNA evidence in 1995 Amherst murder case More than 20 years after Louise Cicelsky was robbed, stabbed and beaten in her Longmeadow Road home in Amherst, the woman who went to prison in the case is hoping that new evidence could set her

Cicelskys body was discovered by a great-niece in the doorway between the kitchen and dining room of her second-floor apartment. Although some jewelry and money appeared to be missing, authorities never recovered any of it.

Cicelsky, a slight woman less than 5 feet tall, owned and managed rental properties in Eggertsville and North Buffalo. She owned a two-family house on Lisbon Avenue, where Lynch lived in 1993.

Attorneys for Lynch from the Innocence Project sought a court order in 2018 for further DNA testing on crime scene evidence, according to the District Attorneys Office, which said it opposed the motion because Lynch said in her reported confession that she was not in the area of the victims home around the time of the killing and, therefore, her DNA would not likely be found there.

That additional testing found no DNA evidence to link Lynch or the individual she claimed committed the murder to the crime, according to Flynns office.

The District Attorneys Conviction Integrity Unit began a collaborative reinvestigation of the case along with Lynchs attorneys in 2020, prosecutors said.

In a statement posted to its website, Innocence Project said Lynchs case marked the organizations 250th victory.
Jan. 2: 'Axis of Resistance' operations against Israeli occupation

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 04 January 2024 5:20 AM

By Press TV Website Staff

Resistance groups in Palestine and across the region continue their operations against Israel and its Western backers amid the regime's genocidal war on the Gaza Strip, which has claimed the lives of more than 22,000 Palestinians, mostly children and women.

The operations carried out by the Palestinian and regional resistance groups on Tuesday, January 2, are as follows:

Qassam Brigades' operations on Jan. 2:

Targeted a Merkava tank with an Al-Yassin 105 shell east of Al-Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.

Clashed with an infantry force consisting of 5 soldiers from point zero, using machine guns and hand grenades, east of Al-Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. The fighters confirmed that they were finished off and then returned to their bases safely.

Targeted an Israeli vehicle with a Yassin 105 shell in Al-Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.

Targeted a gathering of vehicles and soldiers southeast of Khan Yunis with mortar shells.

Targeted a gathering of vehicles and soldiers northeast of Al-Bureij Camp with heavy caliber mortar shells.

Targeted a Zionist Merkava tank with an Al-Yassin 105 shell in the Al-Qarara area, north of the city of Khan Yunis.

Targeted a troop carrier with a guerrilla action device in the Ma'an area, southeast of the city of Khan Yunis.

Finished off 5 soldiers from point zero northeast of the Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.

Targeted a Merkava tank with an Al-Yassin 105 shell in the Ma'an area, southeast of the city of Khan Yunis.

Hezbollah's operations on Jan. 2:

- Eastern sector:

1- At 11:30, drone attack on the newly established 91st Command Headquarters of the Israeli enemy in Illit.

2- At 15:00, the Al-Sammaqa site in Shebaa was targeted.

3- At 15:30, targeting a position of Israeli soldiers in the vicinity of the Al-Marj site.

4- At 16:25, new equipment that the enemy had placed on cranes near the Ramim barracks was targeted with appropriate weapons.

5- At 22:25, a group of Israeli soldiers were targeted in the vicinity of the Al-Marj site.

6- At 23:00, the vicinity of the Al-Marj site was targeted.

- Western sector:

1- At 9:00, a gathering of Israeli soldiers was targeted in the Zarit barracks.

2- At 15:00, the Birkat Risha site was targeted.

3- At 17:35, Israeli soldiers in the vicinity of the Jal al-Alam site were targeted.

4- At 18:00, the Mitat Barracks was targeted.

Iraqi resistance's operations on Jan. 2:

Attacked the US base near Erbil Airport in northern Iraq, with suicide drones.

Attacked the Al-Shaddadi US base in Syria, with a missile salvo.

Attacked the Abu Hajar US airfield base near Rmelan in Syria, with suicide drones.

Attacked the Al-Malikiyah US base northeast of the Syrian province of Al-Hasakah, with suicide drones

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US biotech firm halts sales of DNA collection kits in Tibet

Human rights groups applaud the move, but they say more transparency is needed.

By Tenzin Pema and Tashi Wangchuk for RFA Tibetan 2024.01.04 -- U.S. biotechnology company Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has stopped selling DNA collection kits in Tibet after human rights groups said the products were used by Chinese authorities to further police and repress Tibetans.

The Massachusetts-based company's human identification, or HID, technology is used for forensic applications, such as tracking down criminals, stopping human trafficking and freeing the unjustly accused, the company said in an email.

"Based on a number of factors, we made the decision in mid-2023 to cease sales of HID products in the region," Thermo Fisher said.

"While we don't disclose sales by business, it is important to note that our sales of this technology are consistent with routine forensic application in an area of this size," the email said.

The development was first reported by Axios on Wednesday.

In recent years, Chinese authorities have arbitrarily collected biometric data and DNA in the form of involuntary blood samples from school children at boarding schools without parental permission, Radio Free Asia reported.

Tibetans see the measure as part of the Chinese government's larger goal of the forcible assimilation and erasure of their cultural identity.

Human rights groups, who had called for Thermo Fisher to stop selling the DNA kits in Tibet, approved of the move.

"Companies must understand that their complacency enables repression in occupied Tibet," Chemi Lhamo, campaign director at Students for a Free Tibet, told RFA.

"Thermo Fisher, the top bioinformatics company, accepted the evidence we shared about the reality of policing in Tibet and has taken action to end its DNA kit sales in Tibet," she said. "This is the result of our collective organizing, and the same power will continue to hold Thermo Fisher to its promise."

'Not enough'

Maya Wang, interim China director and associate Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said the move showed how pressure works to improve the human rights situation in China, even in Tibet and Xinjiang, where there are serious violations.

Chinese authorities also have forcibly collected DNA samples from Uyghurs and other Muslim groups in Xinjiang amid a wider campaign of mass surveillance and repression.

"But this is not enough," Wang said, referring to Thermo Fisher's discontinuation of sales of DNA collection kits to Tibet.

"Companies, according to U.N. Guiding Principles, should not contribute to human rights abuses," she said. "So, it is important that Thermo Fisher review its business practices in China and put in place human rights due diligence systems and mechanisms, to make sure that its sales in China [do] not contribute to human rights abuses throughout the country of China."

However, even though the company has halted sales of equipment to Xinjiang and Tibet, it can easily be resold in China into these regions, Wang cautioned. She added that the U.S. government and Congress should ensure Thermo Fisher conducts business responsibly and complies with human rights standards in China.

In September 2022, Human Rights Watch reported that authorities had been conducting mass DNA collection drives in all seven prefectures or municipalities in the Tibet Autonomous Region, or TAR, which covers the western part of the Tibetan plateau.

"The collection drives are part of ongoing efforts by Chinese authorities to establish police presence at the grassroots level throughout the region," the rights group said at that time.

Tenzin Yangzom from the International Tibet Network, another rights group that put pressure on the company to stop the sales in Tibet, wants Thermo Fisher to be more transparent about human rights due diligence.

"Transparency can be improved through enhanced disclosures including reports from their existing ethics team," she said. "We've asked them for impact reports where they agreed to halt sales and continue the ongoing dialogue. We will be closely monitoring the situation."

The Central Tibetan Administration, or CTA, headquartered in Dharamsala, India, also welcomed the move, but told RFA it was imperative that Thermo Fisher follows through on its commitment to halt sales of DNA collection kits in Tibet.

"It's not just Thermo Fisher; there are several other companies that sell such kinds of DNA collection kits and surveillance instruments in China and outside," said CTA spokesman Tenzin Lekshey. "These companies should also ensure they stop the sale of such products that are being used to violate the human rights of Tibetans in Tibet."

'The right choice'

Thermo Fisher's investors also praised the move.

Joshua Brockwell, director of investment communications Azzad Asset Management in Falls Church, Virginia, a Thermo Fisher shareholder, said the company made "the right choice" by helping "end biometric repression as a tool of Chinese authoritarian surveillance."

"Halting sales of DNA collection kits to Tibetan authorities is not only more consistent with American values, it is an important way to mitigate potential harm to shareholder value from reputational risks associated with doing business in occupied territories," he said.

Individual investor Mari Mennel-Bell told RFA she was pleased that Thermo Fisher had stopped the sales of the HID kits in Tibet.

"This process shows that companies should not assume that individual shareholders will be passive investors," she said. "Increasingly, they are following their consciences to push companies to do the right thing."

Chinese authorities have collected DNA samples in the rest of China as well.

In 2019, RFA reported that provincial and municipal authorities across China were buying large amounts of DNA sampling kits, testing instruments, sequencers, and other tools from domestic companies, though most of the DNA instrument analyzing technology was being supplied by Thermo Fisher.

In December 2022, the bipartisan U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China wrote a letter to Thermo Fisher, expressing concern over the company's sales of DNA kits and replacement parts for sequencers in Tibet.

They asked President and CEO Marc Casper to conduct "a rigorous review" of the reported use of the company's products and equipment in the TAR, and ensure that the company would take steps to stop further use.

Translated by Tenzin Pema for RFA Tibetan. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster.

Adds comments from the Central Tibetan Administration.

Copyright 1998-2024, 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 January not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Taliban Arrests Scores Of Women In Dress-Code Crackdown

By RFE/RL's Radio Azadi January 04, 2024

Afghanistan's Taliban-led government has arrested dozens of women for failing to observe its strict dress code, which requires women to wear head-to-toe coverings, including over their faces.

Several eyewitnesses and some of the women detained told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi that officials from the Taliban's Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice have been making the arrests in various neighborhoods of the capital, Kabul, since January 1.

"There have been several incidents today in which the Taliban detained several women and took them to an unknown destination," one eyewitness who requested anonymity said on January 3.

In May 2022, a decree by the Taliban, who seized power in August 2020 as international troops were withdrawing from the country, called on Afghan women to only show their eyes in public.

The order reinstated restrictions during the Taliban's previous rule between 1996 and 2001. It is even stricter than neighboring Iran, where authorities have enforced the mandatory hijab, or Islamic head scarf, for decades, prompting widespread unrest.

The AP quoted the country's Vice and Virtue Ministry as saying women are being arrested for wearing "bad hijab," the first official confirmation of a crackdown on women who don't follow the dress code.

A young woman who witnessed some detentions in Kabul said she managed to escape arrest after an older man intervened.

"He told me to run to run towards my house because the Taliban had just arrested several women in the neighborhood of Dasht-e Barchi in western Kabul," she told Radio Azadi.

Some of the women detained were released on bail, while others are still being held by the Taliban.

The crackdown is the latest blow to women and girls in Afghanistan, who are already being marginalized in the country by Taliban bans on education, employment, and restrictions in access to public spaces.

Ruqiya Saee, a women's rights activist, said Afghan women are no longer able to dress the way they like.

"The situation in Afghanistan is becoming dire daily," she told Radio Azadi.

The arrests come days after the UN Security Council called for a special envoy to engage with the Taliban, especially on gender and human rights.

The Taliban, however, criticized the idea, saying that special envoys have "complicated situations further via the imposition of external solutions."

On January 3, the United States supported the new UN special envoy for Afghanistan.

Matthew Miller, a spokesman for the U.S. State Department, said Washington remained concerned about the Taliban's "repressive edicts against women and girls and its unwillingness to foster inclusive governance."

He added that the decisions made by the Taliban risk irreparable damage to Afghan society and move the Taliban further away from normalizing relations with the international community.

With reporting by the Associated Press

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/taliban-bad-hijab-women- arrested-crackdown/32759842.html

Copyright (c) 2024. 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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Kosovars Finally Get The Visas They've Longed For, Along With A Host Of New Problems

By Arton Konushevci, Doruntina Baftiu January 04, 2024

PRISTINA -- Before clocks chimed in their new visa-free relationship with the EU on New Year's Day, an informal poll of Kosovar students in the capital produced a seemingly modest list of dream destinations.

Outside the faculty where she studies graphic design, Fatjona Hajdaraj said she'd choose Italy or Greece for the culture. Naron Bllaca, a dentistry student, said probably Austria or maybe a Scandinavian country. Enxhi Sada, a medical student, said she and a friend were eyeing a concert in France. Rilind Berisha, a pharmaceutical student, said he'd like to go to Teubingen, an idyllic German town at the foot of the Swabian Alps where about 1-in-4 people is a student at the local university.

"I want to see how they study there, what student life is like," Berisha told RFE/RL's Balkan Service.

As of January 1, holders of biometric Kosovar passports can travel visa-free for short stays to all 27 countries in the mostly borderless Schengen Area, the result of a 12-year "dialogue" with the European Commission.

Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti described it on X, formerly known as Twitter, as achieving "equal standing to visit family or pursue educational, cultural & business opportunities one short flight away -- one step out of isolation, one step closer to [the European Union].

While Kosovars are keen to travel -- for all the reasons Kurti mentioned -- a sluggish economy has meant that not many of the country's 1.8 million people have the means to visit the EU. And the government, fearing a mass exodus of Kosovars seeking work abroad, is trying to persuade its citizens, especially young people, to stay at home.

Low Salaries, High Unemployment

One of the biggest obstacles facing Kosovars is economic. All of the students who spoke to RFE/RL in Pristina expressed concern about the cost of traveling. And they are probably not alone.

Incomes per capita have risen by nearly half in the past decade and the poverty rate is falling. The average salary in Kosovo, however, is still just 521 euros ($569) -- less than half that in EU laggards Bulgaria and Romania.

Even at two-decade lows, Kosovo still has some of the highest official unemployment in Europe at 12.6 percent, despite tens of thousands of its citizens emigrating each year. Official youth unemployment is even higher at 21 percent.

"Although Kosovo's growth has largely been inclusive, it has not been sufficient to provide enough formal jobs, particularly for women and youth," the World Bank concluded in its latest overview on Kosovo.

Many Kosovars have abandoned the domestic labor market. Sanije Kadriu, a university graduate in economics, stayed home to raise two children because she says wages were low in the private sector and she couldn't find a job in the public sector.

"A salary of 300 euros a month was worthless to me," she told RFE/RL's Balkan Service. "The daycare for one child alone was 100 euros, and with such a small salary, I couldn't cover my expenses."

Kadriu has been out of the labor force for more than a decade now, she said, and expects to spend her 50s unemployed, too.

In fact, more than 60 percent of working-age citizens are economically inactive, which translates into around 730,000 people between 15 and 64 who are unemployed, aren't seeking a job, or have fallen off the unemployment rolls completely. Of that total, 460,000 of them are women.

Brain-Drain Fears

The EU called visa liberalization a "significant milestone" and "a recognition of the hard work that Kosovo has done" along with Kosovars' strong support for EU integration. The bloc has also said it was a chance for the sides to get better acquainted. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and has since gained recognition from over 110 countries.

As momentum accrues for countries such as Moldova, Ukraine, and Bosnia-Herzegovina to join the EU, Kosovo remains just a "potential candidate" for accession. Despite some progress the country has made on reforms -- a requirement for EU membership -- Kosovo faces significant obstacles to membership, namely from enlargement skeptics within the EU and Brussels' demand for Pristina and Belgrade to resolve their many issues before either can join the bloc. To complicate matters further, five EU member states -- Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Slovakia, and Spain -- don't even recognize Kosovo as an independent state.

While Kosovo's government also recognizes visa liberalization as a milestone, as January 1 neared, political and business leaders became increasingly nervous about an unbridled rush for the exits from a country bedeviled by political instability and a runaway informal economy, as well as fallout from an ongoing battle for more widespread international recognition.

Prime Minister Kurti has urged his compatriots to "respect the conditions" and reminded them that EU visits are limited to 90 days in any 180-day period and that they are not allowed to work for the duration of their stay. Kurti's government has consistently pleaded with people not to use the trips to look for jobs in the EU.

Those government pleas might be falling on deaf ears. There have been reports suggesting that many Kosovars with jobs have been saving money and vacation days for the spring, with the hope of traveling to EU countries to land a job or paving a path to staying abroad -- even at the risk of running afoul of EU warnings against violating the rules of the new visa-free regime.

Losing a sizeable chunk of its workforce would deal a blow to even the most promising sectors in Kosovo, where budding entrepreneurs have been dealing with decades of brain drain that has been sapping the workforce.

Kosovars were already a nation on the move, with remittances accounting for 17 percent of Kosovo's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2022, according to the World Bank. A widely cited survey conducted in 2020 by the Group for Legal and Political Studies showed that 48 percent of Kosovars wanted to emigrate, an accelerating trend since 2014.

Kosovo's Developing Tech Sector

Like the government, an emerging class of business owners in Kosovo is eager to stop the hemorrhaging of the workforce.

One of the most dynamic sectors is information and communications technology (ICT), where 700 new companies were launched last year to bring the total to 1,950, versus just 930 four years earlier.

Fikret Murati is the owner of Speeex, a tech-focused business service provider he launched in 2016. The company now has offices in six cities across Kosovo and employs about 2,000 people with an average age of 29 and an average monthly salary of 1,200 euros -- competitive but not unusual for the sector.

A child of ethnic Albanian emigrants who was raised in Switzerland, Murati said he thinks that reliable employers cannot only encourage young people to stay but also lure Kosovars back home.

"I think that if it offers them a secure job and opportunities for the future, opportunities for development, it isn't difficult," he told RFE/RL's Balkan Service.

The entrepreneur appears to be taking a page out of the textbooks of early U.S. tech start-ups with Speeex's new offices in Pristina offering prayer rooms and a kitchen, which Murati says is very popular among the employees.

Aldo Baxhaku, the public communications officer at local networking association STIKK, insisted that the ICT sector and its baked-in advantages make it "the only sector that has the potential to fight the emigration trend" in Kosovo.

"The [ICT] sector is growing all over the world," Baxhaku said, "but Kosovo has this advantage of young people -- 65 percent [of the population] is under 30 years old. That means you have potential."

To capitalize on that potential, Baxhaku and other high-tech entrepreneurs said that Kosovo should pick a lane in one of the fast-moving sectors -- artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, or software development -- and stick with it.

Their hope is that while Kosovars may remain frustrated with their second-tier status within the EU, the lure of visa-free travel -- and working abroad -- will be diminished as their careers take off at home.

Written by Andy Heil based on reporting by RFE/RL Balkan Service correspondents Arton Konushevci and Doruntina Baftiu

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kosovo-visa-free-travel- schengen-new-problems-economy-unemployment/32760866.html

Copyright (c) 2024. 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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Secretary Blinken's Call with Maldivian Foreign Minister Zameer

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

January 4, 2024

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Maldivian Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer today. The Secretary reaffirmed the United States' commitment to strengthening cooperation with Maldives, a key partner in a free, open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. The Secretary and the Foreign Minister also discussed the importance of defense cooperation, economic growth, combating the climate crisis, and democratic governance.

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Secretary Blinken's Call with Swedish Foreign Minister Billstrom

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

January 4, 2024

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom. Secretary Blinken welcomed the signing of the U.S.-Sweden Defense Cooperation Agreement in December. The Secretary reaffirmed strong U.S. support for ratification of Sweden's accession to NATO without further delay, noting the accession of Sweden to NATO will benefit all Allies.

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Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

Department of Public Information . News and Media Division . New York

4 January 2024

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's noon briefing by Stephanie Tremblay, Associate Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

** Noon Briefing Guests

Good afternoon everyone. Is it too late for me to wish Happy New Year to everyone? Well, Happy New Year, welcome to the noon briefing. Today, as you know, right after you are done with me and I'm done with you, we will have guests. Our guests will be Mr. Shantanu Mukherjee, the Director of the Economic Analysis and Policy Division at the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs  better known as DESA  as well as Hamid Rashid, the Chief of the Global Economic Monitoring Branch also at DESA. They will brief you on the launch of the World Economic Situation and Prospects Report 2024. This report presents an outlook for the global economy and underscores the importance of global cooperation and prudent policies to lift global growth and accelerate progress towards the SDGs [Sustainable Development Goals], and I know this is always a very popular report, so we are looking forward to their presentation.

** Gaza

Let me now turn to Gaza, I have an update on what is going on there. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is telling us that bombardments and fighting continue in most of Gaza, as well as the firing of rockets by Palestinian armed groups into Israel. OCHA [Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs] says that, yesterday, 3 January, for the second day in a row, the vicinity of Al Amal hospital and the Palestine Red Crescent Society in Khan Younis was bombed multiple times throughout the day. Many displaced families who had been sheltering in the building and in the Red Crescent headquarters attempted to evacuate.

Our food security partners continue to provide support, but they tell us that the operating environment and response capacity continue to be hindered by security risks, by mobility constraints, delays and denials. Despite these challenges, between December 28th and 31st, the World Food Programme conducted a large-scale distribution of food to some 10,000 households in make-shift camps as well as an additional 26,000 displaced people through distribution sites in Rafah. Hot meals were also provided they tell us to 57,000 people in Rafah, Deir al Balah and Gaza City.

Yesterday, UNRWA [United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East] announced that it will carry out a rapid response plan  together with UNICEF, the World Health Organization and other partners  to deliver more than 960,000 doses of key vaccines into the Gaza Strip to protect against diseases such as measles, pneumonia and polio. Humanitarian workers  as we have said repeatedly  need safe, sustained and unhindered access now to deliver urgently needed life-saving assistance.

** Security Council

And as you all saw that yesterday afternoon at the Security Council, the Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari briefed Security Council members on the situation in the Red Sea. He reiterated our warnings against the adverse political, security, economic and humanitarian repercussions of military escalation in the Red Sea and the risk of worsening regional tensions. He also underscored the need to protect the freedom of maritime navigation, as well as our concern about the potential impact of the current attacks and disruptions to sea traffic in the Red Sea on international trade.

The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, Arsenio Dominguez, as you saw, also briefed the Council and stressed the importance of ensuring the safety and security of global supply chains. He added that IMO  the International Maritime Organization  continues to closely monitor the situation and to liaise with industry and navies on this matter.

** Ukraine  Humanitarian

Let me move to Ukraine. Our humanitarian colleagues are telling us that attacks and hostilities have continued across the country over the past 24 hours. This morning, according to our humanitarian partners on the ground, most of the city of Kropyvnytskyi, in the centre of the country, was left temporarily without water and electricity after strikes. Attacks also damaged homes and schools, killing and injuring civilians in the Sumy Region in the north, in the Donetsk Region in the east, and in Kherson and the Mykolayiv Regions in the south.

In total, since 29 December, at least ten health facilities and eight schools have been damaged in Ukraine, and this according to UNICEF and the World Health Organization. We, along with our humanitarian partners, are helping people impacted by these attacks. In Kharkiv, humanitarian organizations are working with volunteer groups and they covered more than 30 per cent of 1,500 windows that were damaged in the city over the past days, which is something important as they are in the middle of winter and it's very cold. In the Sumy Region, humanitarian workers rapidly responded following an attack in the evening of 1 January, which damaged a two-story apartment building. They provided sheets of tarpaulin for the rapid repair of homes and psychological support to people impacted by the attack.

** Sudan

Turning now to Sudan, different continent. In a statement that you may have seen that was issued earlier today, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Martin Griffiths, warned that nine months of war there has tipped the country into a downward spiral that only grows more ruinous by the day. Across Sudan, nearly 25 million people will need humanitarian assistance this year  but escalating hostilities are putting most of them beyond our reach. Mr. Griffiths called on the parties to the conflict to protect civilians, facilitate humanitarian access and stop the fighting immediately. He said that in 2024, the international community  particularly those with influence on the parties to the conflict in Sudan  must take decisive and immediate action to stop the fighting and safeguard humanitarian operations meant to help millions of civilians.

** Afghanistan

And you asked us yesterday about whether there would be a new meeting on Afghanistan in the near future, I think Miriam you are the one who asked about that. I can tell you that the Secretary-General indeed intends to organize a second meeting of special envoys for Afghanistan at an appropriate time, I don't have a time to announce today, and this is to cement international consensus on the way forward and to discuss the recommendations of the independent assessments. James, I think you also asked about the Special Coordinator, Feridun Sinirlioglu. His work I can tell you has been extended until the end of February to support the preparations for the envoys meeting as well as relevant consultations. And in terms of who does what, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, whom you know, Roza Otunbayeva, continues to lead of course the day-to-day operation and engagement of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, UNAMA. So that's what I have on that.

** World Braille Day

And finally today, does anyone know what today is? It's [World] Braille Day. This Day is a reminder that Braille is essential in the context of education, freedom of expression and opinion, as well as social inclusion for blind and partially sighted people. And on this, I can now turn over to you. Yes, Edie, please go ahead.

** Questions and Answers

Question : Thank you, Stephanie. Two questions. First, on Sudan. You didn't mention any involvement by the United Nations in political efforts to settle the conflict and reports that these are going on. Is the UN involved and who, if so, who, what, and where?

Associate Spokesperson : We welcome all the diplomatic efforts aimed at securing a ceasefire and trading a political way forward. And in terms of our direct involvement, I can tell you that Mr. Ramtane Lamamra is now preparing to hold extensive consultations with the Sudanese as well as regional and international stakeholders to support our ongoing efforts to restore peace in Sudan.

Question : And on the Red Sea and the continuing Houthi attacks on ships. Can you tell us what Special Envoy Grundberg is doing and is anybody else from the UN involved in trying to talk to the Houthis in particular?

Associate Spokesperson : So what I have on that is, of course, you heard the briefings yesterday, so we stand by everything that our colleagues said yesterday at the Security Council. Everyone that is involved in the region is trying to deescalate the tensions over there. Yes, Maryam.

Question : Thank you so much. Regarding to your answer about Afghanistan. Is the Special Envoy's meeting going to be about selecting a Special Envoy or the Special Envoy is going to be picked before that meeting?

Associate Spokesperson : I don't have a timeline on the Special Envoy, apart that it was mandated by the Security Council. So we'll have an announcement when that announcement is ready.

Question : But it's going to be before February?

Associate Spokesperson : But that Special Envoy's meeting is another one of those, like the one that the SG held last year.

Question : Yeah. But Sinirlioglu's job is going to end, like, at the end of February. So a Special Envoy is going to be picked before the end of February. Is that what you're referring to?

Associate Spokesperson : We will have an announcement when it is ready. I don't have a date, a specific date. Yes, James.

Question : Very quick follow-up on that. Where is that new Special Envoy's meeting going to be? I heard one report it was going to be in Japan.

Associate Spokesperson : I don't have a location to announce. But we'll have more. As we get closer, we'll share all the details. Yes. Any other questions? Should I then turn to our guests? If you don't mind, if you can just bear with me for a second, I will just read this on the record. It's about Russia and Ukraine.

** Ukraine

The Secretary-General welcomes the exchange of 230 Ukrainian and 248 Russian prisoners of war between Ukraine and the Russian Federation  the largest such exchange since the Russian Federation's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. He commends the efforts of both parties and the third-party facilitation by the United Arab Emirates that contributed to this positive development. The Secretary-General hopes that this important step will be followed by additional exchanges of prisoners of war and by other de-escalation efforts. So on this, let me now turn to our guests.

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Gaza crisis deepens as UN aid convoys face delays and obstacles

4 January 2024 - Amid reports of continued Israeli airstrikes overnight in southern and central Gaza and more rocket fire into Israel from the enclave, UN teams said on Thursday they have been unable to deliver urgently needed aid to civilians beyond central areas and further north for the past three days.

In its latest alert on the deteriorating situation for 1.9 million displaced people in the Strip, UN aid coordination office OCHA blamed "delays and denials" along with active conflict for the lack of distribution beyond Wadi Gaza.

"This includes medicines that would have provided vital support to more than 100,000 people for 30 days, as well as eight trucks of food for people who currently face catastrophic and life-threatening food insecurity," OCHA said in a situation update published late on Wednesday.

Wadi Gaza has been "severed" from the south for more than a month, the UN aid office continued, before reiterating calls for safe, sustained and unhindered access to northern areas of the enclave.

"The security situation, access, transport and deconfliction remain extremely challenging, especially for hospitals in the northern governorates," the OCHA report explained, indicating that many of the same physical and administrative obstacles that have hindered previous aid convoys convoys remain in place.

In a related development, UN human rights chief Volker Turk spoke out on Thursday at reported negotiations between Israeli government officials and third countries to take in Gazans.

"Very disturbed by high-level Israeli officials' statements on plans to transfer civilians from #Gaza to third countries," the UN High Commissioner for Human RIghts said in a post on X. "85 percent of people in Gaza are already internally displaced. They have the right to return to their homes. Int'l law prohibits forcible transfer of protected persons within or deportation from occupied territory."

Hospital hit again, 'multiple times'

In the south of Gaza, Al-Amal hospital and surrounding areas which were shelled on Tuesday leaving five dead, were once again hit "multiple times" on Wednesday, according to OCHA.

Latest casualty numbers have not been confirmed from new blasts at and around the Palestine Red Crescent Society-run facility, the UN office noted.

Meanwhile, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that 13 trucks "carrying crucial medical supplies for surgeries and anaesthesia" had arrived in Gaza since Monday via the Rafah crossing with Egypt.

The aid was due to be delivered to Nasser Medical Complex and three other hospitals in southern Gaza - Al Aqsa, Al Awda and European Gaza hospital - enough for around 142,000 patients.

Highlighting the desperate medical situation throughout Gaza, WHO reported that only 13 out of Gaza's 36 hospitals are still partially functional; nine in the south and four in the north.

According to OCHA, a total of 105 trucks laden with food, medicine and other supplies entered the Gaza Strip via Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings on Wednesday.

Markets lack essentials

Uprooted families continue to need basic supplies, the UN aid update said, reporting "a lack of essential items including children's clothing, diapers, sanitary pads in the local markets".

Across Gaza, nearly 1.4 million people are sheltering in 155 facilities run by the UN agency for Palestinians, UNRWA, while Rafah governorate in the far south remains the main refuge for Gaza's displaced with around one million people crammed in.

In its latest situation update released late on Thursday, UNRWA reported that according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza on 3 January, at least 22,313 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip since 7 October.

About 70 per cent of those killed are reported to be women and children. Another 57,296 Palestinians have been reportedly injured.

And elsewhere in the occupied territories according to OCHA, between 7 October and 3 January, 313 Palestinians, including 80 children, have been killed in the West Bank including East Jerusalem.

Israeli forces have injured 3,949 Palestinians, including 593 children; 52 percent in the context of search and arrest and other operations.

Last year was the deadliest for Palestinians in the West Bank since the UN began recording casualties in 2005.

Vaccine boost

In a bid to stem galloping disease transmission caused by damage to water and sanitation infrastructure, UNRWA announced on Wednesday that it will work with UN Children's Fund UNICEF, WHO, and other partners to deliver over 960,000 doses of vaccines into the Gaza Strip.

Recipients will receive protection against diseases including measles, pneumonia and polio, complementing an earlier immunisation campaign by humanitarian partners in late December, involving the delivery of more than 600,000 doses of vaccines to Gaza.

Famine risk 'increases daily'

To help combat the risk of famine that "increases daily" among Gaza's 2.2 million-strong population who are "in urgent need of food assistance each day", the UN World Food Progamme (WFP) said that it remained imperative to halt the deterioration of health, nutrition and hunger by restoring basic public services.

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World News in Brief: Griffiths demands end to 'ruinous' Sudan conflict, Ukraine-Russia prisoner exchange, Iran bombings latest

4 January 2024 - The international community must take "decisive and immediate action" to bring nearly nine months of brutal civil war in Sudan to an end and boost humanitarian relief, the UN relief chief Martin Griffiths said on Thursday.

The UN Emergency Relief Coordinator said in a statement that as the conflict continues to spread "human suffering is deepening, humanitarian access is shrinking and hope is dwindling."

He said a grim turning point between government troops and their rival RSF militia has been reached with the recent fighting in Aj Jazirah state, the country's breadbasket. More than 500,000 Sudanese civilians have fled from the state capital region, "long a place of refuge for those uprooted from clashes elsewhere."

Continuing mass displacement is also threatening to fuel the rapid spread of cholera there, Mr. Griffiths warned.

'Horrific abuses'

He said the same accounts of widespread rights violations and "horrific abuses" as in the capital Khartoum, Darfur and Kordofan, earlier in the conflict, were afflicting Wad Medani.

Furthermore, he warned that the fighting there - and looting of agency warehouses and supplies across what is a humanitarian hub - "is a body blow to our efforts to deliver food, water, healthcare and other critical aid."

He said 25 million Sudanese would need help through this year but intensifying fighting may cut many off from lifesaving aid.

"Deliveries across conflict lines have ground to a halt", he warned, which the violence is also threatening regional stability.

"The war has unleashed the world's largest displacement crisis, uprooting the lives of seven million people." It's essential now to protect civilians, facilitate humanitarian access and end the fighting, he concluded.

Guterres welcomes major Russia-Ukraine prisoner exchange

The UN chief on Thursday welcomed the biggest prisoner of war exchange between Russia and Ukraine since Moscow began its full-scale invasion almost two years ago.

Antonio Guterres said in a statement released by his Spokesperson that he commended the efforts by both countries, together with the "third-party facilitation by the United Arab Emirates that contributed to this positive development."

The prisoner release was announced on Wednesday and was the first to take place for months.

The Russian ministry of defence said in a statement that 248 of its soldiers had been released while President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tweeted that a total of 230 Ukrainians had been returned home, of whom six were civilians.

"We remember each and every one of our people", he wrote on X, "and we must return all of them."

There have been dozens of prisoner exchanges with more than 2,800 Ukrainian prisoners returned and at least 1,000 Russians, according to news reports.

The last reported exchange took place in August, when 22 Ukrainian soldiers were released.

In response to the latest release, the statement from the UN chief said he hoped that this "important step" would be followed by additional exchanges, "and by other de-escalation efforts."

Rights chief expresses shock over Iran bombings

The UN's top human rights official Volker Turk has expressed shock at a deadly terror attack now claimed by ISIL that killed scores of people taking part in a public commemoration event in the south of Iran on Wednesday.

Mr. Turk said in a social media post on X that those responsible for the double bombing near the tomb of a former top general "must be held to account, in accordance with international standards".

The UN rights chief's condemnation echoed that of the UN Secretary-General following reports of the bloodbath in Kerman city, as crowds gathered to remember and honour former top general Qasem Soleimani who was killed in 2020 in a US drone strike.

Eighty-four people including three children were reportedly killed when the bombs were detonated near the General's tomb.

ISIL, a Sunni extremist group which regards other Muslims as apostates, claimed responsibility in a statement on Thursday for the deadly bombings in Iran, a majority Shiite country.

Security Council condemns 'reprehensible act'

The members of the Security Council issued a statement on Thursday strongly condemning "the cowardly terrorist attack" in the city of Kerman.

Ambassadors expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, wishing a speedy and full recovery to those who were injured.

Council members "reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security."

The underlined the need to hold perpetrators to account including the "organizers, financiers, and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice."

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Statement by Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator - 2024 demands swift action to stem Sudan's ruinous conflict

UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

(New York, 4 January 2024) Nearly nine months of war have tipped Sudan into a downward spiral that only grows more ruinous by the day. As the conflict spreads, human suffering is deepening, humanitarian access is shrinking, and hope is dwindling. This cannot continue.

2024 demands that the international community - particularly those with influence on the parties to the conflict in Sudan - take decisive and immediate action to stop the fighting and safeguard humanitarian operations meant to help millions of civilians.

Now that hostilities have reached the country's breadbasket in Aj Jazirah State, there is even more at stake. More than 500,000 people have fled fighting in and around the state capital Wad Medani, long a place of refuge for those uprooted by clashes elsewhere. Ongoing mass displacement could also fuel the rapid spread of a cholera outbreak in the state, with more than 1,800 suspected cases reported there so far.

The same horrific abuses that have defined this war in other hotspots - Khartoum, Darfur and Kordofan - are now being reported in Wad Medani. Accounts of widespread human rights violations, including sexual violence, remind us that the parties to this conflict are still failing to uphold their commitments to protect civilians.

There are also serious concerns about the parties' compliance with international humanitarian law. Given Wad Medani's significance as a hub for relief operations, the fighting there - and looting of humanitarian warehouses and supplies - is a body blow to our efforts to deliver food, water, health care and other critical aid. Once again, I strongly condemn the looting of humanitarian supplies, which undermines our ability to save lives.

Across Sudan, nearly 25 million people will need humanitarian assistance in 2024. But the bleak reality is that intensifying hostilities are putting most of them beyond our reach. Deliveries across conflict lines have ground to a halt. And though the cross-border aid operation from Chad continues to serve as a lifeline for people in Darfur, efforts to deliver elsewhere are increasingly under threat.

The escala)ng violence in Sudan is also imperiling regional stability. The war has unleashed the world's largest displacement crisis, uproo)ng the lives of more than 7 million people, some 1.4 million of whom have crossed into neighbouring countries already hos)ng large refugee popula)ons.

For Sudan's people, 2023 was a year of suffering. In 2024, the parties to the conflict must do three things to end it: Protect civilians, facilitate humanitarian access, and stop the fighting - immediately.

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For some of the regions leading dental experts, it was deja vu all over again Wednesday in Buffalo City Hall.

One year ago, they appeared before Common Council members and expressed alarm after a Buffalo News investigation revealed that the city quietly stopped adding fluoride to its water system in 2015.

Now the dentists are exasperated by the fact that Mayor Byron W. Browns administration has missed its own deadline for re-fluoridating the water by the end of 2023. The mayors top water official said the city is waiting on state approval but he declined to give an estimated timeline for completion.

I thought it was going to be started in June. I thought it was going to be started in October. And here we are. How do we justify that? asked Dr. Brendan Dowd, former president of the New York State Dental Association.

Dr. Emily Friedan, a pediatric dentist who teaches at the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, said the issue was one of health equity because she and other dentists have noticed an astounding difference in dental decay among children in the city compared with those in Buffalos suburbs.

Even since this came out a year ago, we could have done things, Friedan said. I should have been prescribing these daily supplements to all of our Buffalo children since I found out last January.

Dentists avoided doing that because they were told the city was working on the problem, they said. While scientific studies overwhelmingly have found that fluoride in drinking water safely reduces tooth decay, too much fluoride can also be harmful to the body.

There was no awareness campaign to the community at large, Friedan said. The past seven years of secrecy and the current inaction is health inequity at its worst: depriving those of a proven health measure. Come on, we can do better.

Through a spokesperson, Brown declined to comment.

Buffalo Water Board Chairman Oluwole A. McFoy said in a written statement, We are responding to a second round of comments received last week from the NYSDOH. We have pre-ordered and are in possession of long lead time items, so once NYSDOH approval is received we can proceed with construction.

McFoy declined to say whether the administration has a new deadline or time estimate for returning fluoride to the water. County and state health officials told The News they were reviewing materials provided by the city in December.

The State Health Department is in the process of reviewing re-fluoridation project materials received from the City of Buffalo in mid-December, spokesperson Erin Clary said.

Kara Kane, spokesperson for the Erie County Health Department, said in an email that the department received responses to the first rounds of comments from the city of Buffalos engineer on 12/21/2023, and those responses are currently under review.

As was the case a year ago, Common Council members on Wednesday appeared frustrated by the lack of progress from the Brown administration.

We should be racing to resolve this issue, said University Council Member Rasheed N.C. Wyatt. Its appalling that were at this stage. Hearing from these folks really makes me more angry.

We need to know a timetable, Niagara Council Member David Rivera said.

Council President Christopher P. Scanlon said his staff would send a letter to the mayor by days end seeking answers.

Buffalos water system now contains far lower measurements of fluoride, which boosts dental health and guards against tooth decay, than what public health experts recommend. That puts Buffalo in the minority both nationally and in New York State. Experts say the change could have serious implications for dental health, particularly in children.

Buffalo Water Board officials say they were in the process of upgrading an outdated fluoride system when the lead water crisis in Flint, Mich., caused them to pause in 2016 and study whether the new type of fluoride system would have a corrosive effect on Buffalos many lead pipes. They say studies showed the system is safe and city would begin adding fluoride to its water again sometime in 2023.

Since 2015, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended an optimal fluoride concentration of 0.70 parts per million in community water systems. Buffalos fluoride concentration in its 2021 water quality report was 0.13 parts per million, more than five times lower than the recommended level. In its 2022-23 water quality report, Buffalo said the fluoride concentration was .115 parts per million in 2022, six times lower than the recommended level.

The News reported that Buffalo stopped adding fluoride to its water system in June 2015, according to the Buffalo Water Boards annual water quality report for that year. Fluoridation was expected to be restored sometime after March 2016, the report stated. The next year, that estimate was pushed back to December 2017, before being extended to 2018 and 2019.

Last year, a group of Buffalo parents filed a class-action lawsuit against the city in State Supreme Court for not adequately telling the public about the decision to stop adding fluoride to the water eight years ago.

The lawsuit stated that the lack of fluoridation in city water violated the new Green Amendment to the state constitution, which was approved by voters in 2021 and guarantees a right to clean air and water, and a healthful environment.

It seeks the immediate return of fluoride to Buffalos drinking water; the opening of free dental clinics throughout the city for residents who have developed tooth decay from the lack of fluoride; and $160 million in damages for the roughly 250,000 city residents who have been without fluoride since June 2015.

The city, through spokesperson Michael DeGeorge, declined to comment on the lawsuit.

Community water fluoridation began in 1945 and is a major factor responsible for the decline in occurrence and severity of tooth decay during the second half of the 20th century, according to a 2015 report from the U.S. Public Health Service.

In adolescents, tooth decay in at least one permanent tooth decreased from 90% in the 1960s to 60% in the early 2000s, the report stated, adding that fluoridation also contained benefits for adults.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists community water fluoridation as one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century, along with vaccines and the recognition of tobacco as a health hazard.

Nearly 70% of American water systems contain added fluoride, according to the CDC.

Local governments, though, have the ultimate say on whether to fluoridate water. Those in Western New York and across the state have overwhelmingly said yes.

Of New York States 10 most populous cities, only Buffalo and Albany do not add fluoride to their water systems.
Philippines, U.S. Partner in Maritime Cooperative Activity in South China Sea

US Navy

04 January 2024

From Ensign Valentine Mulango

SOUTH CHINA SEA -- U.S. Navy's Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1, led by its flagship, Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and the Philippine Navy (PN) are conducting a Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) in the South China Sea, reaffirming both nations' commitment to bolstering regional security and stability, Jan. 3.

The MCA is designed to support our longstanding partnership between the two militaries and further advance combined capabilities in the maritime domain.

During the two-day event, the allied forces will sail together and participate in enhanced planning and advanced maritime communication operations.

"Our strike group welcomes the opportunity to conduct maritime activities," said Rear Adm. Carlos Sardiello, CSG-1 commander. "Sailing and operating together demonstrates our commitment to improving our interoperability and information sharing with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, to enhance our ability to coordinate on maritime domain awareness and other shared security interests."

Participating ships include USS Carl Vinson, Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59), Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Kidd (DDG 100) and USS Sterett (DDG 104); Gregorio del Pilar-class offshore patrol vessels BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PS-15), BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS-16), and Tarlac-class landing platform dock BRP Davao del Sur (LD-602) of the PN.

The U.S. Navy regularly conducts exercises like these to strengthen ties among allied and partner nations. These exercises enhance combined readiness and capabilities in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

The strike group departed San Diego on Oct. 12 for a scheduled deployment to the Western Pacific. Since entering the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations, CSG-1 participated in the Multi-Large Deck Event and Annual Exercise 2023 in the Philippine Sea. These exercises provided opportunities to collaborate with allied forces such as the Royal Australian Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, and JMSDF to further strengthen regional cooperative efforts.

CSG-1 is a multiplatform team of ships and aircraft, capable of carrying out a wide variety of missions around the globe from combat missions to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief response. CSG-1 is currently deployed to U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

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Israeli Defense Minister Announces New War Phase, Postwar Plan

By VOA News January 04, 2024

Israel's defense minister on Thursday announced the country's plans for a new stage in its ongoing war in Gaza, including a more targeted strategy in the territory's north.

"In the northern region of the Gaza strip, we will transition to a new combat approach in accordance with military achievements on the ground," the office of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said in a statement.

Tactics are set to include raids, demolishing tunnels, air and ground strikes, and special forces operations, Gallant said.

Israel began its military campaign to wipe out Hamas after Hamas fighters crossed into southern Israel on October 7. Israel said about 1,200 people were killed and some 240 captives taken in the terror attack. Some of the hostages have been released, with about 130 still in Gaza. Gaza health officials say more than 22,400 Palestinians, a large percentage of them women and children, have been confirmed killed in Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip.

The announcement comes amid rising international pressure, including from the United States, to transition to less intense combat.

Meanwhile, Gallant said Israel will continue to try to eliminate Hamas leaders in Gaza's south, where the majority of the territory's 2.3 million people have been living under brutal conditions for weeks.

"It will continue for as long as is deemed necessary," the statement said.

Under Gallant's plan, the war in Gaza will continue until all of the hostages taken on October 7 are released, Hamas is demolished and remaining military threats are neutralized.

Once those goals are accomplished, the plan calls for a new phase to begin during which "Hamas will not control Gaza and will not pose a security threat to the citizens of Israel." Under the plan, unspecified Palestinian entities would govern the territory.

The outline also said there would be "no Israeli civilian presence in the Gaza Strip after the goals of the war have been achieved," but Israel would still reserve the right to operate in the territory.

Washington has suggested that a revitalized Palestinian Authority, which is based in the occupied West Bank, would govern Gaza.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who left for the Middle East on Thursday, will focus on how Gaza will be managed after the war, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters.

This visit marks Blinken's fourth visit to the region since the war began on October 7.

Blinken will also reaffirm calls for increased humanitarian aid into Gaza, the spokesperson said.

During the weeklong trip, Blinken will visit Israel and the West Bank, in addition to Turkey, Greece, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

Earlier on Thursday, an Israeli airstrike in Gaza killed 14 people, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, as Israel conducted new airstrikes and ground operations against the Palestinian militant group.

The Health Ministry said the Israeli strike happened in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, and that the dead included nine children.

Israel did not directly comment on the strike but reported carrying out an airstrike in Khan Younis that killed three militants who tried to plant a bomb. The Israeli military said its ground forces killed two other militants in a nearby building.

Israel also reported Thursday new strikes against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon and new cross-border rocket launches coming from Lebanon toward Israel.

The strikes came a day after Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, in a televised speech, warned Israel against attacking Lebanon.

"If the enemy thinks of waging a war on Lebanon, we will fight without restraint, without rules, without limits and without restrictions," Nasrallah said.

His comments followed a drone strike that killed a senior Hamas official in Beirut.

Hamas and security officials in the region attributed the strike that killed Saleh al-Arouri to an Israeli drone, although Israel has not directly acknowledged responsibility.

The chief of Israel's Mossad intelligence service, David Barnea, said Wednesday the agency would hunt down every Hamas member involved in the October 7 attack on Israel, no matter where they are.

Hezbollah  like Hamas, an Iran-backed militant group designated as a terror organization by the United States  has been firing rockets across Israel's northern border since the Israel-Hamas war broke out in October.

Some material for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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Hamas Says Israeli Airstrike Kills 14 in Gaza

By VOA News January 04, 2024

An Israeli airstrike in Gaza Thursday killed 14 people, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry, as Israel conducted new airstrikes and ground operations against the Palestinian militant group.

The health ministry said the Israeli strike happened in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, and that the dead included nine children.

Israel did not directly comment on the strike, but reported carrying out an airstrike in Khan Younis that killed three militants who tried to plant a bomb. The Israeli military said its ground forces killed two other militants in a nearby building.

Israel also reported Thursday new strikes against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon and new cross-border rocket launches coming from Lebanon toward Israel.

The strikes came a day after Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, in a televised speech, warned Israel against attacking Lebanon.

"If the enemy thinks of waging a war on Lebanon, we will fight without restraint, without rules, without limits and without restrictions," Nasrallah said.

His comments followed a drone strike that killed a senior Hamas official in Beirut.

Hamas and security officials in the region attributed the strike that killed Saleh al-Arouri to an Israeli drone, although Israel has not directly acknowledged responsibility.

The chief of Israel's Mossad intelligence service, David Barnea, said Wednesday the agency would hunt down every Hamas member involved in the October 7 attack on Israel, no matter where they are.

Hezbollah  like Hamas, an Iran-backed militant group designated as a terror organization by the United States  has been firing rockets across Israel's northern border since the Israel-Hamas war broke out in October.

Some material for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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Freight Costs Rise as Houthi Attacks Disrupt Global Shipping

By Henry Ridgwell January 04, 2024

Freight costs from Asia to northern Europe have more than doubled in recent days as attacks by Houthi rebels on commercial vessels in the Red Sea force shipping companies to re-route cargo around the southern tip of Africa.

The Iranian-backed militants have staged at least 24 attacks on commercial vessels since mid-November, according to the International Maritime Organization. The group, which has been engaged in a civil war with Yemen's internationally recognized government since 2014, claims to target Israeli-linked vessels in support of Palestinians in Gaza, although several ships with no links to Israel have been attacked.

The Bahamian-flagged vehicle carrier Galaxy Leader and its crew, which the militants have held since seizing it November 19, belongs to a company partly owned by Israeli businessman Rami Ungar.

Rerouting

Shipping companies are increasingly rerouting away from the Red Sea and Suez Canal to avoid the dangers, with many vessels diverting around the Cape of Good Hope on the southern tip of Africa  a much longer and more expensive voyage, according to Michelle Wiese Bockmann, a shipping analyst with Lloyd's List Intelligence in London.

"Trade [through the Red Sea] is down by about a third. But most of that is container ships. That is the high value goods that are going from Asia through to Europe. Very few vehicle carriers are going through," Wiese Bockmann told VOA. "Oil transits of tankers, especially Russian crude  say, from [northwestern] Russia to India and China  is virtually uninterrupted."

US-led operation

Late last month the United States launched Operation Prosperity Guardian, an international maritime security force aimed at countering the Houthi attacks. The U.S. says 20 countries are taking part, but there are doubts over its efficacy, said Wiese Bockmann.

"The fact that container lines are not transiting shows that they have very little confidence in the in the ability of this U.S.-led coalition to be able to make those traffic lanes safer," she said.

UN response

The U.N. Security Council held a meeting on the attacks Wednesday, amid warnings that global food security is at risk.

"Continued Houthi threats to maritime navigation coupled with the risk of further military escalation remains of serious concern and could potentially impact millions in Yemen, the region and globally," said Khaled Khiari, the U.N.'s assistant secretary-general for Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, in the departments of political and peace-building affairs and peace operations.

Iran accusations

The United States' representative at the meeting singled out Iran for supporting the Houthis.

"Iran has long enabled these attacks by the Houthis," said Chris Lu, U.S. ambassador to the U.N. for management and reform. "Beyond Iran's long-standing provision of financing to aid such Houthi operations, since 2015, it has transferred advanced weapons systems to the Houthis, including unmanned aerial systems, land attack cruise missiles and ballistic missiles used in attacks against maritime vessels."

Tehran denies supporting the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.

Unprecedented threat

The level of threat faced by commercial vessels in the region is unprecedented.

"The last time we had interruptions in that area was for Somali piracy more than a decade ago, and you're dealing with Somalis on skiffs with AK-47s, trying to board and hijack vessels," analyst Wiese Bockmann told VOA.

"What we're now dealing with is a force that has ballistic missiles and drones and a far greater reach and more targeted information about the vessels they want," she said.

"Make no mistake, I think the Houthis know exactly what they're doing by targeting commercial shipping, because it's getting their headlines and generating the concern amongst world leaders that they want for their aims and ambitions to highlight their opposition to the war in Gaza."

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Kenyan President's Remarks on Judiciary Condemned

By Mohammed Yusuf January 04, 2024

Kenya's president is coming under criticism from judges, lawyers, legal experts and opposition groups after saying he won't respect court orders that he perceives as an effort to undermine key policies of his administration. Critics are calling for nationwide protests to protect the judiciary's independence and respect for the rule of law.

Kenyan lawyers have called for a demonstration following Tuesday's comments from President William Ruto.

The head of the Law Society of Kenya, Eric Theuri, said they will be marching in support of Kenya's judges.

"The Law Society will be organizing a countrywide peaceful demonstration where we will read and affirm the oath that each and every one of the advocates of the high court took to protect the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary and the constitution we have."

The lawyers' association has called on each of its members to wear a purple ribbon next week to show their displeasure with the attack on the country's judicial system.

On Tuesday, President Ruto said he will ignore some court orders that he sees as aimed at stalling government development programs.

He accused some judges of corruption and working with those filing cases against his government's economic plans.

"We will protect the independence of the judiciary. What we will not allow is judicial tyranny and judicial impunity," Ruto said.

The government led by Ruto has made the construction of affordable houses and provision of universal healthcare two of his top priorities. But critics say in implementing the plans, the government is trampling over the legal process.

A Kenyan court stopped the government's plan to raise taxes to construct the houses, saying it was unconstitutional and discriminatory, a decision that has angered the executive.

In a statement, Kenyan Chief Justice Martha Koome condemned the president's remarks on matters that are still before the court.

Koome called on judges to fulfill their duties in accordance with the law and the constitution. She said the Judicial Service Commission will protect the targeted judges.

Theuri said Ruto must use judicial means to challenge the court rulings and judicial officers he thinks are corrupt.

"The president, therefore, as the foremost custodian of the rule of law, should refrain from undermining the judiciary and instead utilize legal avenues at his disposal to challenge decisions," Theuri said.

Kenya has a history of political violence and ethnic conflict, especially during election campaigns.

The constitution passed in 2010 gave the judiciary independence to do its work without the interference of the government, a freedom which has given Kenyans increased confidence in the judiciary.

Donald Rabala is an advocate at the High Court of Kenya. He told VOA that when the citizens are aggrieved and laws are broken, their hopes lie in courts, and it's good for the nation's stability.

"It's important for the common people for those who are governed. A constitution is basically a social contract between the governed and the governance," Rabala said. "So what we are saying is that that's the only way the common man can be able to challenge any decision by the executive. They cannot change it through a compromised parliament.

They cannot challenge it through the executive itself but through the judiciary they can question any decision made by the executive. With that, then you have peace, then you have prosperity in place."

Despite the criticism, the government has vowed to crack down on allegedly corrupt judges and judicial officers.

Many Kenyans hope any future action does not affect people's confidence in the country's judicial system, which has taken decades to build.

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Background Press Call on Recent Attacks by the Houthis

January 04, 2024

Via Teleconference



(January 3, 2024)

4:17 P.M. EST

MODERATOR: Thanks, everyone, for joining. Happy New Year. And thanks for joining the call to discuss the recent attacks in the Red Sea by the Houthis.

As a reminder, this call is on background, attributable to a senior administration official, and it is embargoed until the conclusion of the call.

For your awareness, not for your reporting, on the call today we have [senior administration official].

With that, I'll turn it over to you to kick us off, and then we can take some questions.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Great. Thanks, everybody. Happy New Year.

I'm going to talk a little bit about the statement that was issued today with 13 of our very close allies and partners. But I'll give a little bit of a background, including the events over the weekend in the Red Sea.

So, first, obviously, I think you've all been tracking the dangerous and unlawful reckless attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthis against commercial shipping in the Red Sea. And since November 19th, Houthi rebels from Yemen have attacked commercial vessels 23 times. They've been using a combination of anti-ship ballistic missiles  for the first time anti-ship ballistic missiles have been used anywhere, let alone against commercial ships  land attack cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and fast boats.

I have to say up top: The Houthis claim illegitimately that this is somehow tied to the situation in Gaza or something. But first of all, that is a completely illegitimate justification in any case, as the U.N. Security Council has also recognized in its statement on December 1.

But regardless, the attacks the Houthis are launching into the Red Sea are as indiscriminate targeting ships, most of which have had absolutely no connection whatsoever to Israel, including the incidents that just happened over the past weekend, which I will get to.

So, in response to this, we have had a significant diplomatic effort. I mentioned the U.N. Security Council, the first statement they had on December 1st. There's also action in the U.N. Security Council as we speak, in New York. A statement on December 19th, joined by 44 countries all around the world issued by foreign ministries. And on the military side, on December 18th, of course, we formed a defensive naval coalition called Operation Prosperity Guardian with a number of countries from around the world, now with naval assets operating in coordination with us and the U.S. Navy and U.S. naval forces in the Red Sea.

So I can talk a little bit about that. But I think the significance of Operation Prosperity Guardian, which has now only been in place for really about two weeks, I think you saw the events over the weekend demonstrated the effectiveness of what is a coalition to help defend and protect shipping in the Red Sea.

So you may have been tracking this, but I can just go through these events very briefly.

On December 30th, the USS Gravely shot down two anti-ship ballistic missiles in the Red Sea. These anti-ship ballistic missiles were targeting a Singapore-flagged, Denmark-operated and Denmark-owned ship, the Maersk Hangzhou. And I would just note that Singapore and Denmark both joined the statement today, which I'll get to.

The Singapore-flagged, again, Denmark-owned/operated container ship requested assistance. And our ships, two ships, the USS Gravely and the USS Laboon, responded and, as I mentioned, shot down two anti-ship ballistic missiles. Again, this is totally unprecedented, both the use of anti-ship ballistic missiles, let alone U.S. naval forces shooting them down when they're traveling Mach 5. And, you know, this is an incredibly serious situation, and the level of professionalism of our naval forces and our sailors is truly extraordinary. So that was on December 30.

Over this past week, I'd say Jake Sullivan was with the President and briefing the President regularly, almost in real-time, as these events were unfolding.

The next day, on December 31st, the same ship, the Maersk Hangzhou, was attacked again by Yemeni forces in fast boats in what appears to be either a hijacking attempt or potentially a suicide attack  fast-boat attack against the ship and attempt to sink the ship. The launching of anti-ship ballistic missiles, of course the day before, a clear attempt, it seems, to sink the ship.

U.S. helicopters from the USS Eisenhower responded, and also the Gravely and other ships were in the area. They were fired upon by these fast boats' return fire. U.S. force helicopters with crew-served weapons  I'm sorry, let me just go back. The small boats fired upon U.S. helicopters with crew-served weapons and small arms. U.S. naval helicopters returned fire in self-defense, sinking three of the four small boats and killing the crews. The fourth boat fled the area. And there was no damage to U.S. personnel or equipment.

Again, I just want to call out the extraordinary professionalism of our forces operating in the Red Sea.

The President convened his national security team on the morning of New Year's Day to talk about, again, the entire situation in the Red Sea, to discuss options and discuss a way forward.

I'm not going to get far ahead of the outcomes of that meeting, but one of them was what happened today. So, the President asked for an effort to talk to allies and partners with a statement that would very clearly  very clearly send a warning to the Houthis that they will bear full consequences and responsibility for any further attacks against commercial vessels in the Red Sea.

So the statement that issued today from 13 countries around the world, including from Europe, North America, Asia, and the Middle East, and this grouping of states  Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, the UK, and of course, United States  includes some of the world's major shipping countries and, I think, speaks to the global impact of the Houthi actions.

I have to say this is happening in the Middle East, but we would respond to this type of threat anywhere around the world that is central to our national defense strategy and our national security strategy. And it is about international shipping  the protection of international commercial shipping lanes.

Today's warning, as I mentioned, builds on the express consensus of countries around the globe. These ongoing attacks are a clear violation of international law, a threat to global commerce.

As for the warning  that the Houthis will bear full res-  full  will bear the consequences should their attacks in the Red Sea continue  we will let the statement speak for itself. I think it is very clear.

And I thought the ability for us to pull together these countries with such a clear and definitive statement in a fairly short amount of time, and building on the diplomatic and military work that had been done to date, we just wanted to draw attention to this, given the serious situation that we are confronting and that we were prepared to respond to, again, in order to protect global commerce and the freedom of navigation.

So with that, I will turn it over to questions. Again, I thank you for joining the call.

MODERATOR: Thanks. We'll now turn it over to questions. If you've got a question, you can use the "Raise Your Hand" function here on Zoom, and we'll get to you.

Our first question will go to Andrea Mitchell with NBC. Andrea, you should be able to unmute yourself.

Q Thank you so much. The statement that you issued today was a very tough one in the coalition, obviously. So is that it? Would there be another warning if there's another incident? Would you wait for an incident to respond, or would you take preemptive action? You know, are there any rules of engagement that you can share as we approach a really serious threat to international shipping? Thank you so much.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Andrea, thank you. Again, I'm not going to get into rules of engagement or any anticipatory further action. I would just say that I don't  I would not anticipate another warning. I think this statement speaks very much for itself.

And we have acted defensively. And again, I think it's a very clear warning. We're going to let the statement stand for itself, and I'm just not going to get ahead of the process from here.

MODERATOR: Thanks. Our next question will go to Michael Gordon. You should be able to unmute yourself.

Q Thank you. Have the Houthis been warned, through diplomatic channels in recent weeks, to desist from these sorts of attacks? What has been their response, if there have been such private warnings? And is the coalition prepared for a sustained military action, as the Gaza conflict is likely to drag on for some while and the Houthis, wrongly or rightly, have linked their actions to that conflict?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Thanks, Michael. It's a good question. I think, not surprisingly, I'm not going to talk about any private communications or private warnings one way or the other. And I also can't speak for the actions or conduct of the Houthis.

What I can say is they have chosen to take action that affects global commerce. And this is, again, central to our national defense doctrine, national security strategy, entirely separate and distinct from anything else going on in the Middle East. This is the sort of threat that we would build coalitions to help confront.

I would just also note that every country makes its own decisions. So in terms of the defensive coalition and Operation Prosperity Guardian, a number of countries that are part of that coalition, their flags are public, some of them are not. And also, I think in any additional measures that might be taken, that we will act in concert with different collections of countries as we see fit.

But in terms of the private communications, I think it's safe to presume, obviously, we do a lot behind the scenes, but I'm just not going to talk about on the call.

MODERATOR: Thanks. Our next question will go to MJ Lee. MJ, you should be able to unmute yourself.

Q Hey, thank you so much. You were saying earlier that you wouldn't get into too many details just on rules of engagement, answering Andrea's question. I just wondered whether there are any actions that at this point the U.S. would say it absolutely would not take on this front because they would be seen as too escalatory.

And then also, just on the U.S.'s recent sinking of the Houthi boats, which was the first time that the U.S. has killed their fighters since the attacks began in the Red Sea, is it fair to say that if the Houthis sort of continue down this path, that this kind of action will continue?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I would say, in terms of escalatory, as I mentioned, these attacks started on November 19th, and we have pursued a very deliberate diplomatic campaign, a very deliberate economic campaign including sanctions, and a very deliberate defensive military campaign.

So I think we are not working to act in any way in an escalatory manner. We are acting  working to act in self-defense in order to protect global commerce and international shipping.

As for the Houthis who were killed in the incident on December 31st, I would just  they were killed in the process of trying to hijack a commercial vessel and firing on U.S. military forces. So it was a very clear act of self-defense. And surely in any situation like that, our forces know what to do. They have the authorities to do exactly what they did in that incident. And if that happened again, we would probably do the exact same thing.

MODERATOR: Thanks. Our next question will go to David Sanger. You should be able to unmute yourself.

Q Thanks. Two quick follow-ups on these. First of all, your concern about attacking the missile emplacements or other arms in Yemen itself we've all been told was a concern that the truce between the Saudis and Yemen would be imperiled by that. Was that the only concern? Was that the only consideration that you've had along the way?

And just to clarify on the rules of engagement that led to the killing of the 10 fighters on December 31st, I assume that it wasn't their attack on the ship that led to the three boats being sunk, that instead it was the direct firing on the U.S. forces that changed the nature of it. But if that is wrong, please tell us.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: David, on your second, I want to be a little bit cautious of what I go into. But we do have self-defense authorities for ships under certain flags. So we do have the ability to defend ships, particularly ships that are being attacked.

So, on December 30th, of course we shot down anti-ship ballistic missiles. And on December 31st, we confronted what appears to be a hijacking attempt or, as I mentioned, what might also have been a suicide fast-boat attack to try to sink that ship. So we responded, but we were also fired upon. So it was a very clear case of self-defense as well, just in terms of self-defense against our own forces.

On your question on the Yemeni civil war, look, these are really distinct things. I mean, what's happening here is a threat to the Bab el-Mandeb, which is a major commercial shipping route; about 60 percent (inaudible) trade will go through that passageway.

And so as we would do, again, anywhere around the world, if you just read our national defense strategy and our core defense doctrine, we would be acting in a similar way, building partnerships with coalitions and  building coalitions with partners and allies, exactly as we're doing here.

On the Yemen civil war, we have worked for three years to wind down that war. And basically, the civil war inside Yemen has effectively come to a halt. I don't think there's really been any fighting since March of last year, when the truce  when the U.N.-brokered truce went into effect. And that is something that we continue to support. We do not want to see the Yemen civil war reignite. And of course, we are in very close consultations with our partners throughout the Gulf, including the Saudis, on this.

But I really do think this is a different  this is just a different issue. This is about a threat to a major commercial shipping route, which is really distinct from the actual Yemeni civil war.

So we will act accordingly  again, consistent with our national defense strategy and national security strategy  when it comes to protecting international shipping, in coordination with coalitions and partners. We also still continue to support the efforts to wind down the Yemeni civil war, which has been such a horrific civil war. And we'll continue to be in full cooperation with the U.N., Saudis, and others on that process, together with Hans Grundberg, the U.N. envoy.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Nadia. You should be able to unmute yourself. Nadia, you may be muted. We can't hear you.

Next up we'll go to Steve Holland. You should be able to unmute yourself.

Q Hi there. Who is arming the Houthis? And what can be done to stem the flow of weapons to them?

And secondly, do you have any update on who was responsible for the bombing at the funeral of Soleimani?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Steve, Iran is arming the Houthis. And we have worked with (inaudible), through interdictions and other mechanisms and means, to confront and frustrate and try to stop that trade. So, but that has been ongoing.

The Houthis also have a lot of domestic capacity in terms of producing some of their own weaponry, again, with Iranian enabling and support. So I think that is very clear and it's very much a part of this larger picture, which we're very cognizant of and taking into full account as we work to, again, protect this very vital, critical shipping lane in the Red Sea.

I think John, from the podium, might have spoken a little bit to what happened in Tehran today. I think it's  you know, just based on the MO, it does look like a terrorist attack as a type of thing we've seen ISIS do in the past. And as far as we're aware, that's kind of, I think, our going assumption at the moment.

MODERATOR: Thank you. We've got time for just a couple more. Hiba Nasr, you should be able to unmute yourself.

Q Thank you, Eduardo. Hi. I wanted to ask Steve question, so I want to follow up. What's your message  what's the kind of messaging are you sending to Iran? Are they responding? What they are justifying the continuation of support of weapons for the Houthis?

And my second question: Now there are reports, not confirmed yet, but there are reports of the killing of an official  Hezbollah official in south Lebanon. This comes the second day after the killing of al-Arouri in Beirut. Are we approaching a regional war here, a second front, on a large scale? Thank you.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Yeah, on the first question, on the Houthis, I think I answered in response to David's  or to Steve's question about Iran's very clear role in enabling the Houthis. Of course, Iran claims that they do not have a role in this, and that's just simply, obviously, not true. These are anti-ship ballistic missiles. They're not the types of capabilities that the Houthis are able to have on their own. It's very clearly coming from Iran. So I think that picture is very clear.

I think Iran tries to hold  kind of pretend it has a bit of a hands-off posture when it comes to its proxies around the region, but that is not the way that we view it. I think the picture here is very clear. And again, we will work consistent with our defense doctrine when it comes to protection of international shipping, particularly in the Red Sea. It's a very serious  a very serious situation, and it is a global problem, which is why you have seen the response, I think, from so many countries all around the world.

I would say, on Arouri, obviously that was  I don't want to get too far ahead of that, obviously, but he was on our most-wanted list  I think a $5 million Rewards for Justice, given that he has American blood on his hands, and a very senior member of Hamas. And the very senior members of Hamas must be held accountable, and he was held accountable. I think I'll leave it at that. But in terms of that incident, it was very clearly, precisely targeted on Hamas.

The situation on the northern border with Israel and in southern Lebanon is something obviously we are in close consultations with the Israelis about. We have worked, from beginning of this crisis, to try to contain the crisis to Gaza. I know Nasrallah gave a speech today. I'll let Hezbollah speak for itself. But I think from everything that we can tell, there is no clear desire for Hezbollah to go to war with Israel and vice versa. However, the border  the tension on the border is there because Hezbollah is firing across the border regularly at the Israelis, and the Israelis obviously return fire.

We support a diplomatic resolution to the northern border tension, and that's something that we're working on regularly with the Israelis and also in contact with the Lebanese. And I just met with the Lebanese foreign minister about an hour ago, and we have a diplomatic effort underway, when it comes to that issue, to try to help resolve some of the tension there. But I don't want to  I think I'll leave it at that.

MODERATOR: Thanks. Our next question will go to Missy Ryan. You should be able to unmute yourself.

Q Thanks, Eduardo. Thanks, [senior administration official]. Just to ask a little bit more directly, could you just address the criticism that has come from some people on Capitol Hill, including the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, about, you know, the Biden administration being "weak" in dealing with this Houthi situation? The implication is that the U.S. could be striking directly against the Houthis. Could you address that directly?

And then secondly, what do we conclude from the fact that some of them, as closest allies in the Middle East, are not part of this statement that we had today or the Prosperity Guardian initiative? Thanks.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Yeah, look, if you look at the action we've taken, we will act very forcefully when it comes to any threats against our people or our interests. We're also going to do so in a very smart way that does not potentially draw us in deep to a situation that actually plays into the hands of some of these proxy groups.

But I would just point to the airstrikes we did on Christmas Day  three very strong airstrikes against Hezbollah in Iraq  and our ability to organize a grouping of partners with a statement we did today with a very serious warning to the Houthis, in addition to Prosperity Guardian and an awful lot of steel that is now in the water, working in concert with the U.S. Navy in the Red Sea.

So, you know, these things do take some time to put together. If someone has some shortcut option, again, I'm all ears. But we consult with Congress all the time. And I think we have provided pretty detailed briefings about what we're doing and how we're managing this.

On the Middle East, I would  it's a good question. But, you know, this is  again, this is not really about the Middle East. This is about the protection of one of the major commerce routes of the world in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb.

If this was happening, again, anywhere else in the world, we would be acting the same way. And I think we want to keep it kind of distinct from the question that David asked about the Yemeni civil war and some of the other tensions in the region. That's really not what this is about.

So we've been focused on building a coalition of global partners. And again, the statement today includes Japan, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Canada. But also Bahrain, which is the headquarters of the Fifth Fleet, is also a member of the statement today and also a member of Prosperity Guardian.

I would say through our naval task forces in the region, Task Force 153, the kind of regional task forces, our partners in the Middle East, and those navies work hand-in-glove with us every single day.

But this specific threat is a global challenge. It is something that the United States, again, central to our defense doctrine, is what we do. And we are prepared to work with partners and allies around the world, again, to help protect these shipping lanes.

MODERATOR: Thanks. Our last question will go to Aamer Madhani. You should be able to unmute yourself.

Q Sorry, I think I hit that by mistake. My question was asked and answered.

MODERATOR: Okay, let's then go back to Nadia. You should be able to unmute yourself. The last question.

Q Thank you, Eduardo. Thank you, [senior administration official], for doing this. Actually, one of my questions was asked, but let me ask you another question. There was a report that the Israelis have been asking the administration to keep USS Gerald Ford in the Mediterranean, yet you withdrew it. Was that out of confidence that there is no measure escalation, despite all this assassination that we've seen recently? Do you feel confident that what you have now is enough toward any larger scale of any regional war?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Yeah, so I'll be very direct on your question. No, the deployment of the Ford out of the Mediterranean is actually being replaced and augmented, in many ways, by additional capabilities, including Marine expeditionary unit destroyers. And I think John might have spoken to this from the podium today.

We still have the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group operating in the region. Again, part of that strike group was responsible for the effective response on December 31st. And the amount of military force we have in the region is quite significant and is ready to respond to any contingency.

And when it comes to containing this overall conflict, we are prepared  again, through a combination of deterrence and being ready and with a very forward military presence in the Middle East region since this crisis began, which continues to this day  we are prepared for all contingencies. Of course, we hope, through diplomacy and other means, to contain the crisis to the extent we can. But we are prepared for all contingencies.

And I would say the Ford had been deployed, I think, for a year or so, and so it was time for it to come home. But we augmented the capability with additional assets in the Mediterranean. And then, of course, in the Arabian Gulf and elsewhere, we have significant naval and air assets that are ready to respond to any contingency throughout the region.

So I think that's the  I'm sorry, did you ask a second question, or was that one question?

Q My second question was about the Saudis. So do you believe  just to follow up on that, do you believe that if there is any military attack against the Houthis, do they still have the incentive to go ahead and sign this deal end of the year? Well  I mean, sorry, not end of the year. We're talking about this coming few months. Do you think they still have the motivation to do it regardless? Because some worried, as I think David Sanger's question was indicating, that the Saudis were worried that if any attack or any escalation or a military confrontation with the Houthis, that might have some kind of reaction inside on the peace process, internal peace process in Yemen?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Yeah, I think I'd answer it the same way. These truly are distinct problems. So this is about a response to international commercial shipping. And I think the overall arc of the Yemeni civil war and the violence there is being dealt with in a way, I think, diplomatically and quite effectively. Again, that process has been going on for some time, really since the U.N.-mediated truce went into effect in March of 2022, with a lot of diplomatic effort from the United States.

And I think we are  again, we talk to the Saudis almost every single day at multiple levels, including other partners in the Gulf. And the one reason that we've been very focused on building what is truly a global response to this particular problem, just  I know I'm repeating myself here, but it's just true  this is a global challenge. It affects shipping all around the world.

I would just make a point: The Houthis pirated a commercial vessel called the Galaxy Leader, which is still holds, along with its crew members. They're being held hostage by the Houthis. And that crew is from the Philippines, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Mexico, and Romania. Again, just to put kind of a sense of the global dimension of this problem, over 40 countries around the world have been directly impacted by these attacks in the Red Sea.

So it truly is of a very different order and character than the Yemeni civil war, which we have been in deep  a deep diplomatic process with the Saudis and others in the region to bring that war ultimately to a close. So I think that's the way to kind of think about those two problems.

I would also just  I want to add one thing, because there were a couple of questions on Hezbollah and our commitment to try to work, even as we maintain a very significant deterrent posture in the region, to work for a diplomatic resolution, if one can be found. But my colleague, Amos Hochstein, will be in Israel, I think as early as tomorrow, working on that. And of course, we have Secretary Blinken heading out to the region. I think he leaves tomorrow night, as well, for stops in a number of capitals and including, of course, Israel.

So, again, thank you very much for the call. And, again, thank you for the time.

MODERATOR: Thanks, [senior administration official]. And thanks, everyone, for joining. As a reminder, this call was on

background, attributable to a senior administration official, and the embargo is now lifted.

Thanks again, and have a great rest of your day.

4:48 P.M. EST

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Russo-Ukraine War - 04 January 2024 - Day 679

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 UK Ministry of Defence reported that in November 2022, President Putin approved the establishment of the Moscow Government Security Force (MGSF), a new organisation to guard the capital's infrastructure. From July 2023, the MGSF has assumed a more paramilitary character, including receiving a remit to use firearms. It has likely attracted several thousand recruits out of a planned strength of 15,000.

The MGSF represents another example in Russia's long tradition of 'paramilitarisation': the proliferation of armed organisations outside of the regular military. However, MGSF has highly likely been strengthened partially in response to concerns about the preparedness of Moscow's local security forces in the face of advancing, mutinous Wagner Group troops in June 2023.

The project also provides an opportunity for Muscovites to volunteer for 'patriotic' war time duties - while avoiding front line service in Ukraine. Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin has been successful in limiting the direct impact of the conflict on the capital's relatively well-off population. The majority of Russian casualties in Ukraine have come from poorer, provincial regions.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of January 4, there were 44x combat engagements. Russian forces launched a total of 6x missile, 14x air strikes, carried out 13x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have killed and wounded civilians. Private residential and apartment buildings and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed and damaged.

The operational situation in eastern and southern Ukraine remains difficult.

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. Around 15x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Stepok, Popivka, Kostyantynivka, Chuikivka (Sumy oblast), Udy, Vovchans'k, Mala Vovcha, Potykhonove (Kharkiv oblast).

Kup'yans'k axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 2x attacks near Syn'kivka and east of Petropavlivka (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Syn'kivka, Tabaivka, Ivanivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).

Lyman axis: the Russian occupiers did not conduct any offensive (assault) operations. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Yampolivka, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne (Donetsk oblast).

Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 3x attacks near Bohdanivka, Klishchiivka and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces made unsuccessful attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. More than 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Hryhorivka, Bohdanivka, Klishchiivka, Andriivka (Donetsk oblast).

Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 14x Russian attacks near Novobakhmutivka, Stepove, Avdiivka, and 9x more attacks in the vicinities of Pervomais'ke and Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). The Russian occupiers made unsuccessful attempts to improve their tactical situation in that area. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Novobakhmutivka, Berdychi, Stepove, Avdiivka, Sjeverne, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast).

Mar'inka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back Russian forces in the vicinities of Mar'inka and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast), where the Russian adversary, with air support, made 7x attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces launched an air strike near Heorhiivka (Donetsk oblast). The settlements of Heorhiivka, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka, Paraskoviivka were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.

Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces did not conduct any offensive (assault) operations. More than 10x settlements, including Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.

Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 7x Russian attacks near Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast), where Russian forces failed to regain lost ground. More than 15x settlements, including Poltavka, Chervone, Charivne, Mala Tokmachka, Robotyne, Kam'yans'ke, P'yatykhatky (Zaporizhzhia oblast), suffered from Russian artillery and mortar fire.

Odesa operational-strategic group, Kherson axis: Russian forces fired artillery at Novovorontsovka, Beryslav, Tyahynka, Ivanivka, Novotyahynka, Kherson, Stanislav (Kherson oblast), as well as Solonchaky, Ochakiv (Mykolaiv oblast). On top of that, Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Zmiivka (Kherson oblast).

Russia does not abandon its intention to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their bridgehead on the left bank of the Dnipro River. Thus, during the day of January 4, the Russian occupiers made 6x failed assaults. However, the Ukrainian troops continue to hold their positions and inflict significant losses on the Russian enemy.

During day of January 4, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 10x concentrations of Russian troops, 2x strikes on command posts.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 1x anti-aircraft missile system, 4x artillery systems, 1x electronic warfare station and 3x command posts 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 artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 14th, 21st, 43rd, 92nd, and 115th mechanised brigades, and 117th Territorial Defence Brigade near Novoegorovka, Ivanovka, and Berestovoye (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 100 Ukrainian troops, two infantry fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, one Olkha MLRS, and three Czech-made Vampire MLRS.

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces supported by artillery struck manpower concentration areas of the AFU 100th Territorial Defence Brigade and 5th National Guard Brigade near Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic) and Serebryansky forestry.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 120 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, three infantry fighting vehicles, and two motor vehicles.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by operational-tactical aircraft and artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 10th Mountain Assault Brigade, 3rd Assault Brigade, 42nd Mechanised Brigade, and 112th Territorial Defence Brigade close to Spornoye, Bogdanovka, Krasnoye, Kleshcheyevka, and Andreyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 190 Ukrainian troops, two infantry fighting vehicles, three armoured fighting vehicles, and 12 motor vehicles.

In the course of counterbattery warfare, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system and one U.S.-made M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery system were neutralised.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 46th Air Mobile Brigade, 79th Air Assault Brigade, 127th and 128th territorial defence brigades near Georgiyevka, Staromayorskoye, Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic), and Priyutnoye (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 170 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, three armoured fighting vehicles, and seven pickup trucks.

In the course of counterbattery warfare, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, one D-30 howitzer, and one Rapira anti-tank gun were neutralised.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces supported by artillery inflicted losses on manpower of the AFU 65th Mechanised Brigade and 128th Mountain Assault Brigade near Rabotino and Kamenskoye (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 40 Ukrainian troops, five infantry fighting vehicles, and three motor vehicles.

In Kherson direction, as a result of actions of the Dnepr Group of Forces supported by operational-tactical aircraft and artillery, the AFU losses amounted to up to 30 Ukrainian troops and three motor vehicles.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Group of Forces wiped out one ammunition depot of the AFU 113th Territorial Defence Brigade near Zovtnevoye (Kharkov region), as well as engaged manpower and hardware in 117 areas during the day.

Air defence units intercepted three U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectiles over the past 24 hours.

In addition, 37 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were intercepted close to Kremennaya (Lugansk People's Republic), Spornoye, Berestovoye, Elenovka, Maryinka (Donetsk People's Republic), Romanovskoye, Mirnoye (Zaporozhye region), Zburyevka, Peschanovka, and Novaya Kakhovka (Kherson region).

In total, 565 airplanes and 263 helicopters, 10,404 unmanned aerial vehicles, 446 air defence missile systems, 14,472 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,198 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,623 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 17,075 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.





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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's Regular Press Conference on January 4, 2024

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

2024-01-04 22:11

Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting: On January 3, a terrorist attack killed nearly 100 people and wounded about 200 persons at the commemorating ceremony of General Qassem Soleimani in Kerman. What's the comments of Chinese government in this regard?

Wang Wenbin: We are deeply shocked by the devastating terrorist attacks in Iran's southeastern province of Kerman which have inflicted heavy casualties. We express our deep condolences over the loss of lives and sincere sympathies to those who have been injured and the families of the victims. China opposes terrorism in any form and strongly condemns terrorist attacks. We firmly support Iran in safeguarding national security and stability.

CCTV: In the just concluded 2023, the world economy emerged from COVID-19 and slowly recovered. China played an important role in keeping the Asia-Pacific and global economy growing. How will China contribute to global growth in 2024?

Wang Wenbin: In 2023, China's economy sustained the momentum of recovery despite external pressure and achieved solid progress in high-quality development. Relevant internationalainstitutions projected China's economic growth rate in 2023 to be around 5.2 percent, holding the lead among major economies and continuing to be the largest engine for global growth. China secured a bumper harvest for the 20th year in a row with the total grain output exceeding 0.65 trillion kilos for nine consecutive years, hitting another record high. Some media outlets estimated that China would surpass Japan for the first time to become the largest car exporter in 2023. During the recent New Year holiday, 135 million domestic trips were made, up by 9.4 percent on a comparable basis from the same period in 2019; and domestic tourism generated RMB 79.73 billion of revenue, up by 5.6 percent compared with the same period in 2019. As a mega market, China continues to unleash its vast potential of domestic demand.

The fundamentals sustaining China's steady growth in the long run have not changed and the world has shown confidence in China's economy this year. IMF Senior Resident Representative in China predicted that the Chinese economy will maintain sound growth in 2024 and continue to account for one third of global economic growth. The Economist Intelligence Unit predicted that the fundamentals of China's economy in 2024 will be further cemented. Institutions such as the US Center for Strategic and International Studies believe that China's exports remain strong in electric vehicle batteries, electronic products and minerals and quite a few Chinese industries have become globally competitive. Several international media outlets commented that China's large economic size, mature industrial ecosystem and rising middle class mean it is a market hard to give up.

In 2024, China will apply the new development philosophy on all fronts, speed up building the new development paradigm, promote high-quality development and continue to harness its strong innovation capacity, huge market, sound infrastructure, complete industrial chain and rich and high-quality human resources. China will expand high-level opening up, further ease market access, foster a world-class, market-oriented business environment governed by a sound legal framework, and share with the rest of the world new opportunities created by Chinese modernization. China will remain an important engine driving world economic growth. In a world battling economic uncertainties, China is a source of certainty and positive energy.

AFP: There were media reports yesterday that an artillery shell crossed from Myanmar into the Chinese town of Nansan in Yunnan Province where it exploded, causing injuries to multiple people. Can you provide any more details about this incident? Were there Chinese casualties?a

Wang Wenbin: China follows closely the recentaconflict in northern Myanmar. We strongly deplore the Chinese casualties caused by the conflict, and have lodged serious dAmarches to relevant parties. China once again asks all parties to the conflict to reach immediate ceasefire, take concrete actions and stop any malicious incident that endangers the tranquility in the China-Myanmar border area and Chinese lives and property from happening again. China will take necessary measures to safeguard the lives and property of Chinese nationals.

Global Times: Sartaj Aziz, former Financial Minister, Foreign Minister, and advisor to the Pakistani Prime Minister on national security and foreign affairs, passed away in Islamabad on January 2. He was very friendly to China. Does China have any comment on his passing?a

Wang Wenbin: Mr. Aziz was a veteran statesman, strategist and economic expert and also a long-standing good friend of the Chinese people. He devoted himself abidingly to Pakistan's prosperity. He spared no effort in advancing China-Pakistan relations and did so with great passion. He made outstanding contribution to China-Pakistan friendship and cooperation, especially the launch and development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. We mourn Mr. Aziz's passing and would like to extend sincere sympathies to his family.aa

Reuters: Over 10 countries, including the US, Australia, Canada, Germany and Japan issued a joint statement yesterday to urge the Houthis to immediately halt their attack in the Red Sea. Why didn't China condemn the Houthis?

Wang Wenbin: The Red Sea is an important international trade route for goods and energy. Keeping the region safe and stable serves the common interest of the international community. China stands for protecting the safety of international sea lanes and against causing disturbance to civilian ships. We believe all parties need to play a constructive and responsible role in keeping the shipping lanes safe in the Red Sea.

AFP: Chinese military said it has been conducting patrols in the South China Sea yesterday and today. This coincides with joint naval drills held by the United States and the Philippines. Could you describe the Chinese patrols such as their precise location and main goals?

Wang Wenbin: The Southern Theater Command of the PLA has released relevant information. We would like to stress that the US and the Philippines' muscle-flexing, provocative military activities in the South China Sea are not conducive to managing the situation on the sea and handling maritime disputes. We urge relevant countries to stop the irresponsible moves, and respect regional countries' effort to uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea. China will continue to firmly safeguard our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and make active efforts to uphold peace and tranquility in the region.

China Review News: It's reported that recently when entering the US border, several Chinese students suffered from lengthy interrogationa and their cellphones, computers and other electronic devices were inspected. Some of them saw their visas revoked and were given 5-year ban from entering the US. What's your comment?a

Wang Wenbin: The US has long been wantonly suppressing and ill-treating Chinese students traveling to the US with lawful and valid identifications and visas. Some of the students were interrogated, confined, forced into confession, induced and even deported without just cause. Every month for the past few months, the US deported dozens of Chinese arriving in the US, including students. This is a clear case of selective, discriminatory and politically motivated law enforcement. We strongly deplore and firmly oppose this.

The US likes to portray itself as open, inclusive and a place for academic freedom, but it wrongly adopted Proclamation 10043 and put it into force, overstretched the concept of national security, politicized and weaponized academic research and repeatedly interrogated, harassed and deported Chinese students. Such behavior has seriously undermined the students' lawful rights and interests and poisoned the atmosphere for China-US people-to-people exchanges. It goes against the two Presidents' agreement to promote and facilitate people-to-people exchanges and the two peoples' shared desire for more friendly exchanges.

China urges the US to act on its commitment of welcoming Chinese students to study in the US, withdraw the unjust Proclamation 10043 and stop bullying and restricting Chinese students in the name of national security. The US needs to ensure the security and lawful rights and interests of Chinese students and scholars in the US and take concrete steps to support and facilitate people-to-people exchanges and cross-border travel between the two countries as it has promised. China will continue to take necessary measures to resolutely protect Chinese citizens' lawful rights and interests. We also remind Chinese students traveling to the US to be mindful of such risks.

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China starts detaining petitioners ahead of regional congresses

Some are forced to return home after pursuing grievances in Beijing, while others are held in detention.

By Gu Ting for RFA Mandarin 2024.01.04 -- Authorities around China are tightening security measures around people who complain about the government, dispatching "interceptors" to stop anyone with a grievance from lodging petitions ahead of regional People's Congresses later this month, petitioners and local residents said on Thursday.

Provincial governments have started announcing dates for regional People's Congress and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference sessions, which are typically held in mid-to-late January, ahead of the National People's Congress in Beijing in early March.

A petitioner from the southwestern province of Sichuan who gave only the surname Yang said she was recently intercepted on a petitioning trip to Beijing, and forcibly brought back to the provincial capital Chengdu recently.

"We were stopped by Beijing police at Changqiao, who checked our ID cards," she said. "They told the [Chengdu] interceptors that they were not to abuse us physically or verbally when they got us back home."

China's army of petitioners, who flood the ruling Chinese Communist Party's official complaints departments daily, frequently report being held in unofficial detention centers known as "black jails," beaten, or otherwise harassed if they persist in a complaint beyond its initial rejection at the local level, even if they follow legal channels.

They are often escorted home forcibly by "interceptors" sent by their local governments to prevent negative reports from reaching the ears of higher authorities, where they face surveillance, violent treatment and possible detention on criminal charges, particularly during major political events or on dates linked to the pro-democracy movement.

A rights activist in the northeastern province of Liaoning who gave only the surname Zhang said "stability maintenance" operations are in full swing where he lives.

"People are being detained on a daily basis," he said. "They're holding a lot of petitioners in the detention center."

"People from the neighborhood committee won't let you go anywhere -- all the petitioners know that security guards and auxiliary police will turn up the moment they make any kind of move," Zhang said.

Mobilizing 'interceptors'

A resident of the northern port city of Tianjin who gave only the surname Li for fear of reprisals gave a similar account.

"They started arresting people a few days ago," she said. "If you have ever petitioned [the government], they won't let you board a bus."

"There are more people intercepting petitioners than there are petitioners right now," she said, adding that neighborhood committees, the most local unit of the Chinese government, are also mobilizing "interceptors" to make sure nobody from that neighborhood is seen petitioning in provincial capitals and other major cities during the People's Congress season.

Sometimes, they don't even wait to see if people are planning a petition, Li said.

"In a lot of places, they just go right ahead and detain you if you have ever petitioned," she said, citing the recent detention of petitioner Lin Minghua in Beijing for no obvious reason.

A Beijing-based petitioner who gave only the surname Zhou said that the provincial and municipal People's Congress season is a politically sensitive time for the authorities, and the government is stepping up stability maintenance operations aimed at preventing public dissent or protest before it gets under way.

"All petitioners, rights activists and dissidents are targeted by the government [at this time] for stability maintenance," Zhou said.

A move to neighborhood 'grids'

China is moving ahead with plans to shift local law enforcement from police stations to neighborhood "grids," where local volunteers and teams of vigilantes will enforce the law and residents will be encouraged to inform on each other, the Public Security Ministry announced in March 2023.

Authorities across the country are starting to lay off auxiliary police officers and merge local police stations with a view to outsourcing much of their daily work to neighborhood officials and local militias under a "grid management" system.

The shift will likely intensify China's "stability maintenance" operations - a system of coercion and surveillance that seeks to prevent acts of defiance against the ruling Chinese Communist Party before they take place.

Shanghai-based petitioner Ma Yalian, whose home was forcibly demolished by local authorities, said it scarcely matters whether petitioners stick to legal channels or not - they are still likely to be targeted.

"There's actually no such thing as legal or illegal petitioning," Ma said. "You are legally allowed to report issues."

"But now they say it's illegal, and control [petitioners] very tightly for stability maintenance," she said. "They don't even abide by their own laws any more."

Provincial People's Congresses will be held in Yunnan province on Jan. 17, in Hebei on Jan. 21, in Shanghai, Tianjin, Liaoning, Jiangxi, Hainan and Ningxia on Jan. 23 and in Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia on Jan. 30, according to recent media announcements.

Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Roseanne Gerin.

Copyright 1998-2024, 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 January 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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Kim Jong Un, his 'probable successor' tour ICBM launcher factory

The move shows Pyongyang's stance on nuclear confrontation with the U.S. is a deeply serious commitment, says expert.

By Lee Jeong-Ho for RFA 2024.01.04 -- Kim Jong Un and his "probable successor" Ju Ae visited an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) mobile launcher vehicle factory, a move seen by an expert that signals a strong commitment to ramp up the production of these vehicles.

The North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his "respected child" Ju Ae "conducted an on-site guidance at an important military vehicle production factory," North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency said Friday.

Kim and the daughter, accompanied by major ruling party officials including the powerful sister Kim Yo Jong, observed "various military vehicles produced at the factory, gaining a detailed understanding of their production status," KCNA added.

Photos released by KCNA show the North Korean leadership standing before mobile launch vehicles, which could be equipped to launch its latest ICBM, the Hwasong-18.

The use of transporter erector launchers (TELs) complicates the ability of the U.S. and its regional allies to carry out pre-emptive strikes, as these mobile platforms offer enhanced concealment and mobility for missile deployments.

"This factory holds an extremely important position and plays a pivotal role in the historic endeavor of bolstering our national defense. In the current grave situation, where we must be more resolutely prepared for military confrontation, the contribution of this factory to our defense capabilities is of paramount importance," said Kim Jong Un, as cited by KCNA.

North Korea must also further modernize its military capability, the North Korean leader added.

The North Korean leader's message came as the U.S. and South Korea began their first joint military drills for this year on Thursday, involving the U.S. Air Force asset, Rivet Joint, a reconnaissance aircraft designed for intelligence collection.

Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul and advisor to South Korean administrations, said that Pyongyang is determined to show that its stance on nuclear confrontation with the U.S. is a deeply serious commitment rather than mere rhetoric.

"Kim Jong Un's display of ICBM mobile launcher vehicles signals a strong commitment to ramp up the production of these vehicles, in step with the increased manufacturing of nuclear missiles," Yang said, adding that the interdependence between missiles and their launchers is "akin to that of a thread and needle" - each crucial to the other's operation.

"Historically, North Korea relied on importing missile launch vehicles. However, through domestic production and customization, it has significantly improved the mobility, stealth, and quick deployment of its missile arsenal," said the pundit.

The expert also noted the significance of Ju Ae accompanying the leader, saying her presence at military facilities underscored a specific symbolic message.

"It indicates that the commitment to bolstering national defense will persist, adhering to the doctrine that fortifying defense is a duty of the Baekdu bloodline," Yang said.

The Baekdu bloodline, named after North Korea's highest mountain Baekdu, refers to the lineage of North Korea's ruling Kim family, as the hereditary leaders of the country.

The nominee to be the next head of South Korea's spy agency said Thursday that he sees Ju Ae as the "probable successor" of North Korea, marking the first time the agency has officially indicated her possible succession of power.

Radio Free Asia reported in November last year that the daughter received a new official title "Morning Star of Korea" - an apparent and deliberate parallel to the country's founding leader Kim Il Sung.

The daughter, born in 2013, has started making public appearances since November 2022, accompanying Kim Jong Un in North Korea's various high-profile occasions, including his visiting of missile launching sites.

Edited by Taejun Kang and Elaine Chan.

Copyright 1998-2016, 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 January 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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Drowning is the leading cause of death for children between 1 and 4 years old, and the second-leading cause of death, after motor vehicle crashes, of children ages 5 to 14, federal data show.

Those deaths are preventable and often happen because the victim didnt know how to swim.

That is a major reason why New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday announced a plan to invest tens of millions of dollars in pool construction, swimming instruction and lifeguard training to boost safe access to the water in New York.

The governor said this would be the largest investment in pool construction in the state since the New Deal.

Weve lost too many young people. There have been too many stories, especially here in the city, of young people who did not know how to swim. They go off one day and never come home. And these families are just absolutely ripped apart, Hochul said at a community center in Manhattan, her fourth event this week previewing a theme of Tuesdays State of the State address.

Gov. Hochul seeks to improve infant, maternal mortality rates in New York Hochul said she will propose in Tuesday's State of the State address a half-dozen initiatives intended to improve infant and maternal mortality rates in the state.

In addition to water safety, the governor said, swimming provides recreation and physical fitness, and pools, further, are places of refuge from our increasingly hot summers.

Her plan also seeks to overcome economic barriers that limit access to swimming instruction and pools for low-income communities and people of color.

There are about 4,000 unintentional drownings annually in this country, according to the federal Centers for Disease and Prevention.

In New York, there were 230 such drownings in 2021, the most recent year for which data is available, Hochul said. Thats a slight dip from the 242 who drowned in the state in 2020, the highest number recorded, the Albany Times-Union reported.

The National Institutes of Health estimate that 88% of fatal drownings could have been prevented by formal swim lessons, said Heidi Reiss, co-owner of the AquaBeba swim school.

Gov. Hochul eyes new approach  for some  to boost literacy in New York schools The governor said her "Back to Basics" plan would make sure students receive foundational, evidence-based instruction in reading. And Hochul said she will propose legislation providing $10 million to train 20,000 teachers across the state in what is known as the "science of reading."

Drowning is a serious health crisis that affects New Yorkers across the entire state, she said.

In one notable local case, Aidan Walden, 16, of Lackawanna, drowned last July while swimming with friends in Lake Erie at Woodlawn Beach.

Hochul, in her remarks Friday, became emotional while recounting the story of Markel Artis, 15, who drowned in the summer while swimming in strong currents in an off-limits area at Coney Island Beach. Markels mother told a news outlet they sought to beat the heat that day after she and her two sons were required to leave their Bronx homeless shelter.

Markel had taken swimming lessons, his mother said, but Hochul said this shows how families from marginalized communities lack easy access to safe swimming areas.

As a mom, I cannot imagine what it felt like to be the mom on the shore watching your child drown, Hochul said. The boy was a 10th grader. Had a lot of potential. We cant let that happen anymore. We cant let that happen. Weve got to end this tragic cycle.

'You're done ripping New Yorkers off': Gov. Kathy Hochul eyes updates to consumer protection laws The legislation would, among other provisions, bar "abusive" business practices, boost regulations of the "buy now, pay later" industry, limit lawsuits over medical debt against low-income New Yorkers and increase maximum benefit payments for people on medical leave.

In response, Hochul on Friday unveiled NY SWIMS  short for New York State Wide Investment in More Swimming. The plan includes:

$60 million in grants toward the renovation and construction of pools in the states high-need neighborhoods. Local governments may seek grants to pay for these pool projects, including the cost of splash pads, diving boards, water slides, bathrooms and other site work and amenities.

Another $60 million in grants to municipalities to create floating pools that can be safely put in place in streams, ponds and other natural waters. The state Department of Health will guide testing of the pool designs to ensure their safety, and the state will work with New York City on a swimming venue, +Pool, expected to open to the public in waters off the city in 2025.

$30 million to pay for smaller, portable pools that can open as needed in underserved urban neighborhoods. Hochul said these pop-up pools could be deployed to block parties, parks and other locations. Some temporary pools are larger-scale and longer-term  such as a five-year pool installed at Brooklyn Bridge Park featuring a sandy beach, lounge chairs and picnic tables  while smaller container-style pools can sit on city streets, according to the governors office.

An additional investment in swimming venues at state parks across New York, along with doubling the number of pools and beaches at the parks that offer water-safety instruction.

An effort to get more lifeguards trained by offering a grant program through the state Department of State to reimburse local governments for expenses related to lifeguard compensation. This is meant to help expand operating hours, increase staffing levels for swim programs and improve access to public beaches and pools. Communities including Buffalo have

to open all of their public pools in recent summers.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who joined Hochul on Friday, said he welcomed the investment in pools and swimming instruction, particularly in historically marginalized communities where, he said, schoolchildren are more likely to know a victim of gun violence than a peer who is trained as a lifeguard.

You would think that it was just talking about a new pool or new innovation, Adams said of Fridays announcement. No, its not. It is changing our mindset. Your ethnicity should not determine your destiny. And it should not determine what you should have in your community.
North Korea Supplied Russia With Ballistic Missiles for Use Against Ukraine, White House Says

By VOA News January 04, 2024

North Korea recently sent ballistic missiles and launchers to Russia for its use in its war against Ukraine, the White House said Thursday.

"This is a significant and concerning escalation," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters, noting the United States would raise the issue with the United Nations Security Council.

Citing newly declassified intelligence, Kirby said Russian forces launched at least one of the North Korean-supplied missiles on December 30, which landed in an open field in the Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine.

He said Russia then fired "multiple" ballistic missiles into Ukraine as part of a mass aerial attack on Tuesday, one of the largest assaults of the war that is now nearing the two-year mark.

Kirby said the U.S. and its allies would raise the arms shipment before the U.N. Security Council because it represents a breach of U.N. sanctions against North Korea.

Russia also intends to purchase missiles from its ally Iran, he said.

Both Moscow and Pyongyang have previously denied the weapons allegations.

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield said in a statement, the U.S. believes North Korea sent Russia "several dozen ballistic missiles" and launched many of them on Tuesday.

"We expect Russia will use additional missiles from [North Korea] to destroy more of Ukraine's civilian infrastructure and kill Ukrainian civilians," she said.

"We are concerned about the security implications this cooperation has on global peace and security," Thomas-Greenfield said.

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Secretary Blinken's Call with French Foreign Minister Colonna

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

January 4, 2024

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna yesterday. Secretary Blinken called for the immediate end of illegal attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea by the Iranian-backed Houthis and the release of unlawfully detained vessels and crews. The two discussed the importance of measures to prevent the conflict in Gaza from expanding, including affirmative steps to de-escalate tensions in the West Bank and to avoid escalation in Lebanon and Iran. They underscored the importance of minimizing civilian casualties in Gaza. In addition, Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Colonna reaffirmed the urgency of international coordination to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

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Transcript of Weekly Media Briefing by the Official Spokesperson (January 04, 2024)

India - Ministry of External Affairs

January 04, 2024

Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Good afternoon friends. A very warm welcome to this first press engagement with all of you, and Happy New Year to all of you. I don't have announcements to make, so we will go in straight for questions and I am ready for it. I would also request you...many of you I know, but many of you I still have to get familiar with, with your organization at least. So please do take your name and your organization that you belong to.

Siddhant: Hi Sir, Siddhant from WION. My question to you is, how do you assess the situation in the Arabian Sea, in the Red Sea area? We saw the announcement of the coalition. We have also seen the bombings in Tehran, in Iran in fact. So any contingency plan India planning or what do you see the situation panning out? Are we going to participate in these coalitions?

Madhurendra: Madhurendra main News Nation se. Sir, Houthiyo ko lekar kya Bharat ne apne stand mai pariwartan kiya hai jis tarah se Red Sea mai aur khas taur pe Arabian Sea mai hamari Indian navy ka deployment badha hai. Agar Houthiyo ke khilaf America apne coalition forces ke sath jo hai, attack karta hai toh Bharat kya is tarah ke attack ka hissa banega?

[Question in Hindi: Approximate Translation] I am Madhurendra from News Nation. Sir, with regard to the Houthi issue, has India changed its stance, especially with the increased deployment of our Indian Navy in the Red Sea and, specifically the Arabian Sea? If America attacks the Houthis with its coalition forces, then will India participate in such an attack?

Abhishek Jha: Hi Sir, this is Abhishek Jha from CNN News18. Sir, my question is related to upcoming Ram Mandir consecration ceremony. Have we sent invitation to the foreign dignitaries through MEA or anybody who has confirmed this participation for the upcoming event?

Shailesh: Namaskar Sir. I am Shailesh from National Defence. Sir, may I request you to update about the status on our northern border with China and do we see that there would be some progress this year and China would go back or return to its 2020 status quo?

Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: So I will first answer these four questions and then we will take more.

So Siddhant, regarding your question on what is happening, the situation in the Red Sea, etc., we have in the last presser as well, we had made it very clear, that we attach very high importance to freedom of navigation, free movement of commercial shipping. We are looking at the situation. It's an evolving situation and we are looking at all aspects of it. As you know, we have Indian Navy ships patrolling the area. They are also keeping a watch on Indian ships there. So far, we are not part of any multilateral initiative or project in the area. So that is where we are, but we are looking at the unfolding situation very closely.

Usi se laga hua sawal Madhu aapka bhi tha. Toh mota mota jawab yahi hai ki, ek jo wahan par sthiti bani hui hai usko hum log lagatar uspe najar rakhe hue hain. Hamare jo raksha bal ke log hain, Indian navy ki ships hain wahan par patrol kar rahe hain, aur jo hamare jahaj hain jinko wahan par suraksha chahiye us par woh najar rakhe hue hain. Aur abhi tak ka jo hamara hum log ki samjh hai ki us ilakhe mai jo koi bhi multilateral project ya initiative chal raha hai, uske abhi hum log bhag nahi hain, lekin ye ek situation lagatar bani hui hai, uspe humlog najar rakhe hue hain aur dekhte hain ki aage kya hota hai.

[Answer in Hindi: Approximate Translation] The same question was from you too, Madhu. So, the answer is that we have been continuously monitoring the situation that is evolving there. Our defense forces, including Indian Navy ships, are patrolling the area; and are keeping a close watch on the situation, ensuring the safety of our vessels in need of protection. As of now, our understanding is that we are not part of any multilateral projects or initiatives in that area. However, we are vigilantly observing the ongoing situation, and let's see what unfolds next.

Abhishek, you had a question on Ram Mandir Trust. See, this Ram Mandir event is being organized by a Trust. So they are the host, not the Government. So it is for them to decide whom to invite etc. So far, we don't have any information on who are the people coming, etc., but it's entirely for them to decide and look into.

Shailesh your question was about China. Our position in China is very well known to all of you. It is a relationship which is not normal, but we have had dialogues both on the military side and on the diplomatic side. In the month of October and November, we had both these engagements. And the idea is that we engage, so that we can have some sort of resolution. I'll just pull out what we...these meetings that we had in October and November, so that I can give you a little more details. The Commander level meeting that we had in the month of October and there was an agreement to maintain momentum of dialogue and negotiations through relevant military and diplomatic mechanisms, and they also committed to maintain peace and tranquility on the ground at the border areas in the interim. So that's very important. We also had the 28th meeting of the WMCC, i.e. Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs. This is at the diplomatic level. We had our Joint Secretary, East Asia participating there, and the idea...they had very good in-depth discussion, constructive discussion, frank discussion, and they looked at all the proposals to resolve remaining issues and achieve complete disengagement in Eastern Ladakh. They further agreed on the need to maintain peace and tranquility along the border areas, ensure a stable situation on the ground, and avoid any untoward incident. And then thereafter, the two sides agreed to continue dialogue through military and diplomatic channels and hold the next round of Senior Commanders' meeting at the earliest in order to achieve the above objective. So that is where we are. We hope that answers your question.

Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Can we go this side and then I'll come the other side? So please.

Ayushi Agarwal: Sir this is Ayushi Agarwal from ANI. I have two related questions to Maldives. First, there are reports of Maldivian President travelling to Beijing this month. How does India see this visit as the earlier Head of States had chosen their foreign destination as India first and then China? And second, what is the update on the withdrawal of the Indian military personnel from Male?

Pranay Upadhyay: Sir Pranay Upadhyay Zee News se. Mera sawal Qatar case ko lekar hai. Sir, court ka verdict aaye kareeb ek hafta ho chuka hai, kya ispe further strategy hai, court ke verdict ka adhyayan karne ke baad Bharat sarkar ka rukh kya hai is case mai?

[Question in Hindi: Approximate Translation] Sir, Pranay Upadhyay from Zee News. My question pertains to the Qatar case. Sir, it has been almost a week since the Court's verdict. Is there any further strategy regarding this, and what is the Indian Government's stance on this case after studying the Court's verdict?

Yeshi Seli: Sir, Yeshi Seli from the New Indian Express. Dr. Jaishankar is in Kathmandu today. What's the agenda of the 7th India Nepal Joint Commission meeting? Are any agreements likely to be signed?

Meghna Dev: Sir, Meghna Dev from DD News. Sir, have you got confirmations of Heads of State or Heads of Governments arriving for the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit? Any confirmations on who is arriving?

Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Okay, so let me take these questions and then I'll come back for more.

Ayushi on your question regarding Maldivian President's visit. This is a decision which Maldives has to take. We don't have any comments on that. It is for them to decide where they go and how they go about their international relations. Then you had a question about the update on military personnel. On that, I don't have any update as of now, but as and when we have, we'll share with you.

Qatar case mai Pranay, 28 december ko wahan ke jo Court of Appeal hai unhone ek judgement diya, uske tatpashchat hum logon ne ek press release nikali, jismai hum logon ne bataya tha aapko ki unka jo death sentence hai, mrutyu dand hai, usko hatake prison sentences kar diya hai. Ab hamare pass...jo humari legal team hai, unke pass woh court ka order hai. Woh jo court ka order hai woh ek confidential document hai. Lekin itna main keh sakta hoon ki, aur confirm kar sakta hoon ki un sabka jo varying sentences hai, alag-alag avdhi ka sentence mila hai aur death penalty khatam ho gaya hai. Jahan tak aage masle ki baat hai, 60 din ka samay hai jab is masle ko appeal kiya ja sakta hai, Court of Cassation mai, jo ki Qatar ka sabse uncha court hai. Is mudde par hamari jo legal team hai woh kaam kar rahi hai, aur hum log bhi pariwar ke sath aur legal team ke sath is vishay par baat kar rahe hain, jude hue hain, aur aage dekhte hain ki kya hota hai.

[Answer in Hindi: Approximate Translation] In the Qatar case Pranay, on December 28, the Court of Appeal there issued a judgment. Thereafter, we released a press release in which we informed you that the death sentence has been commuted to a prison sentence. Our legal team has the court's order, which is a confidential document, But I can confirm this that each individual involved has received different sentences, and the death penalty has been abolished. As for the next steps, there is a 60-day period during which this matter can be appealed to the Court of Cassation, which is the highest court of Qatar. Our legal team is working on this issue, and we are in discussion with the families and the legal team, we are connected with them and will see what unfolds next.

So on 28th of December, the Court of Appeal had given a judgement. Thereafter, we had issued a press release giving details or telling that the death penalty has been reduced. Now, we have the judgement order, which is a confidential document. The legal team has access to it. What we can tell you, confirm to you is, that the death penalty has now been converted into varying prison sentences for the 8 Indian nationals. On the next steps, we are in touch with the family members, we are also in touch with the legal team. They have 60 days, the legal team has to, the court has given 60 days for the appeal to be made before the Court of Cassation, which is the highest court in Qatar; and it is for the legal team now to decide the next course of action.

Yeshi, on the question of EAM's visit to Nepal, as you are aware, External Affairs Minister is in Nepal today and tomorrow. He has called on the President of Nepal, he has also called on the Prime Minister of Nepal, and then we have the India-Nepal Joint Commission meeting that he'll be chairing along with the Foreign Minister of Nepal. He'll also have several other engagements. The Joint Commission is very important for both the countries to take...to undertake a review of all the agenda that is there, in the bilateral format and to take things forward. So that is where we are. There are several aspects to be discussed. You will...hopefully you will get more on that, as the visit of the External Affairs Minister progresses.

Megha on Vibrant Gujarat, we do have several high level participants, participation that is in the offing. This is work in progress. As you know that these visits are announced closer to the date, so as and when we'll have these visits finalised, we'll let you know. Hopefully that should happen as soon as possible.

Shubhajyoti: Sir, this is Shubhajyoti from BBC News. My question is on Bangladesh election. Election is taking place this weekend, on 7th to be precise. However, questions are being raised on the, over the credibility of this election because major opposition parties are not participating. So I just wanted to know what is India's view on that? And secondly, are we sending any team of official observers to this election?

Dhairya Maheshwari: Sir, this is Dhairya Maheshwari from Sputnik India. So my question is...Sir, there are several media reports indicating that Indian-made artillery shells have been spotted in Ukraine. Now these have been shared by pro-Ukrainian handles on social media as well as there are reports on this. And Sir, reports also suggest that they might be a result of transfer from third countries, from European countries. So Sir, would there be a comment on this? Thank you.

Sandeep Dixit: Sir, I am Sandeep Dixit with the Tribune. This is also Russia-Ukraine related. G7 has imposed sanctions on Alrosa, Russia's diamond company, Alrosa. And the diamond trade in India has been badly hit. So what are the steps the Indian government is taking in this regard?

Umashankar: Umashankar NDTV se. Mera sawal hai ki Hamas ke political bureau ke jo deputy leader the, Beirut mai ek hamle mai unki maut hui hai. Kya uspe Bharat ki taraf se koi pratikriya hogi? Aur dusra Iran mai jo bomb blast hua hai usme 100 se jyada logon ki maut hui hai, ispe agar aap apna take lena chahe.

[Question in Hindi: Approximate Translation] Umashankar from NDTV. My question is regarding the death of the deputy leader of Hamas' political bureau in an attack in Beirut. Is there any reaction from India on this? And secondly, about the bomb blast in Iran where over 100 people lost their lives, if you could provide your comments on that.

Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: So first, to your question Shubhjyoti, the elections in Bangladesh... and we have been very consistently saying this, that the elections in Bangladesh, is the domestic affair of Bangladesh. It is for the people of Bangladesh to decide their future. So that is where we are. This question was asked in last presser also. My predecessor then had answered this question as well. So I will leave it at that.

On the question regarding...Sputnik, on artillery shells. One thing is very clear. We have also seen some media reports in this regard. We can categorically say that we have not sent any of these artillery ammunitions to Ukraine. Not exported, we have not sent.

Sandeep, regarding your question on G7 provisions regarding diamond sanctions, etc. Obviously when it comes to diamond industry, India is a big player in that and anything that happens in any part of the world has an impact on our industry. We do have concerns, but to be very specific to your question, I do not have all the details for it. So hopefully next time when we meet, we will have more details to share with you.

Umashankar ji jahan tak Iran ka sawal hain, Iran mai kal bomb blast hua, uske baad hum logon ne apni pratikriya jari ki hain, aapne shayad dekha hoga ki hum logon ne statement jari kiya hain, jismai hum keh rahe hain ki hum log iski ninda karte hain. Apne shayad statement dekha hoga ki hum bahot dukhi hain, ki itni badi ghatna hui, jismai kaafi log hatahat hue hain, Kerman shahar mai. Aur aise dukhad mauke par, aise gambhir mauke par hum Iran ke logon ke sath, aur Iran ki sarkar ke sath khade hue hain. Aur hamare thoughts, hamari prayers, jo pariwar hai, jinhone apne pariwar jano ko khoya hain aur jo log wahan par hatahat hue hain, aur jo log waha par abhi injured hain, unke sath hamare thoughts aur hamari prayers hain.

[Answer in Hindi: Approximate Translation] Umashankar ji, regarding the question about Iran, there was a bomb blast in Iran yesterday, and following that, we have issued our response. You might have seen that we issued a statement expressing our condemnation. The statement says that, we are very shocked and saddened, its a very tragic incident, where a significant number of people lost their lives in the city of Kerman. At this difficult time, we stand with the people of Iran and the Iranian government. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims, and with those who were affected and injured in the incident.

Hamas wale mudde par, ye Hamas ka, wahan ka mudda hain. Jo hamara position raha hain Israel aur Gaza ke beech ka iske bare mai hum logon ne apni sthiti pe badi clearly, aur consistantly line li hain, aur us se aap avgat hi hain.

[Answer in Hindi: Approximate Translation] As for the issue related to Hamas, it is a matter concerning that region. We have consistently and clearly articulated our position on the situation between Israel and Gaza, and you are familiar with our position on this matter.

So, now we go to the next round.

Nivedita Mukherjee: Sir, this is Nivedita Mukherjee from the Sunday Guardian. Regarding President Macron's presence here for the Republic Day, is he coming with a business delegation, Sir?

Kadambini Sharma: Kadambini Sharma from NDTV. Saal ke pahle din jo Ukraine ke videsh mantri hain unhone ye likha ki unhone pehla call hamare videsh mantri ko kiya, aur hamare videsh mantri ne bhi iske baare mai jankari di. Iske theek pahle hamare videsh mantri Russia mai the. Toh kya Ukraine ne, jaise Bharat pahle bhi madat bhejta raha hain, koi aur bhi humanitarian madat mangi hain? ya koi aur bhi bhatchit hui hain, iska agar aap koi update de sake?

[Question in Hindi: Approximate Translation] Kadambini Sharma from NDTV. On the first day of the year, the Foreign Minister of Ukraine mentioned that his first call was with our Foreign Minister, and our Foreign Minister also provided information about it. At that time, our Foreign Minister was in Russia. So, has Ukraine...as India has been sending aid before too; request for any other humanitarian assistance? or has there been any other discussion? If you could provide an update on this.

Sidhant: Hi, Sir. I am Sidhant from CNN News 18. Sir my question is regarding the growing concern in Indo-Canadian community living in British Columbia. They have been getting a lot of extortion calls, threat calls from last two months. In fact, some of the newspapers have reported more than 100 extortion calls have been made by the gangsters based in British Columbia. Sir, is the Government of India monitoring the situation and do you have any comments to make on that? Thank you.

Megha Sharma: I am Megha Sharma from News X. The Supreme Court today has rejected the plea of the family of Nikhil Gupta, who has been indicted by Czech Republic in that alleged attempted foiled attempt to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. The lawyer who is representing him today and the Supreme Court has said that the family has reached out to the Ministry of External Affairs, to the Indian Embassy, but they have not gotten any response. Is the Ministry of External Affairs going to do something about it?

Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Okay. So let me answer these four questions and then I'll come back to more.

Nivedita, regarding your question about President Macron's visit, we are still some distance away. The program is being finalized. It is work in progress. So regarding your business delegation, I will not have any update on that, but closer to the date we will share more details with you, if that is fine.

Kadambini jaha tak Ukraine ka sawal hain, hamare videsh mantri ne kal waha ke videsh mantri se baatchit ki thi. Aur us batchit ke darmiyan jo hamara bilateral cooperation hain, uske bare mai batchit hui. Aur dusra ki jo wahan par jang chal raha hain uske bare mai baat hui. Toh ye do pramukh mudde the jis par batchit hui aur main isko yahi par khatam karna chahta hoon.

[Answer in Hindi: Approximate Translation] Kadambini regarding the question on Ukraine, our Foreign Minister yesterday had discussions with the Foreign Minister there. And during the discussions, the focus was on our bilateral cooperation. And secondly, the discussions also included the ongoing conflict in the region. So, these were the two main issues discussed, and I would like to stop at that.

Sidhant, you talked about extortion calls, etc. We have several issues to discuss. We have been discussing issues regarding security situation, etc. There was an issue about a temple which was attacked. The Canadian police then, thereafter went into investigation of the temple premises and the person who had intruded. It later turned out, and they issued a statement, that the person was of unsound mind. So there are these issues that keep happening. But on your question, I do not have exact answers to all the things that you're pointing on. But hopefully, I'll share more details with you soon. But it is a matter of concern. Extortion calls, we're getting extortion calls, people getting extortion calls, especially Indian nationals, is a matter of serious concern.

Megha, your question was about the Supreme Court. So in this particular case, the habeas corpus plea of Mr. Nikhil Gupta was considered by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has given a ruling. We have not yet seen the order of the Supreme Court. So therefore, it will not be fair for me to comment on it. We'll take things as it comes. The matter rests in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has given a ruling. The order will be out, once we see the order, thereafter we'll see what are the next steps forward. We have yet to see the formal order of the Supreme Court.

Sridhar: Good evening, Sir. Sridhar from the Asian age. Sir, the External Affairs Minister made some fairly sensational remarks recently where he said that India's first Prime Minister had a China first policy. So is this the view of the Ministry that Mr. Nehru in some way had compromised the strategic interests of the country? Thanks.

Tripti Lahiri: Hi. This is Tripti Lahiri with The Wall Street Journal. India set up a high level committee last year to look into concerns raised by the US regarding alleged plot against Sikh American, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Can you tell us about whether the committee has begun its work, who is on it, who has oversight for it, any update...we would like to know more about how that's going?

Manas: This is Manas from PTI. A little clarification. When you said 60 days time for appeal against the order pronounced by the Qatar court, is it effective from December 28, the 60-day period?

Gautam Lahiri: This is Gautam Lahiri. To follow up to our earlier question on Bangladesh, three members of Election Commission has already reached Dhaka. And before reaching, they met MEA officials. So whether MEA has given any brief or what kind of discussion you had with the election commission's officials?

Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: So let me answer these questions.

Sridhar, regarding the yesterday's event that you were talking about, the External Affairs Minister talked about his book and several other things. I would not like to comment on that. He's already spoken, so that is where I would leave it.

Tripti, regarding the question about high level committee, the high level committee has been constituted. And I do not have the details with me, but hopefully the high level committee will look into all those issues that were highlighted, of which you are aware. And once the high level committee comes up with the findings, thereafter we'll have more things to share with you.

Manas, regarding the 60-day time frame, I would assume, but I'm not a legal person here. I would assume that it would start on 28th December or a day after, but it is for the legal team there to look into these aspects.

Gautam, regarding your question about Election Commission, I'm not aware of the Election Commission from India, the members have reached Bangladesh, as you said. But I'm not aware of what sort of briefing has happened here. But surely I'll share more details with you as I can get to them.

Vishal Pandey: Sir, main Vishal Pandey hoon Zee News se. February mai Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi ke UAE, Abu Dhabi daure ki charcha hain, kya ye daura final ho chuka hain aur kya karyakaram rehne wala hain agar ye daura final hua hain toh?

[Question in Hindi: Approximate Translation] Sir, I am Vishal Pandey from Zee News. There are discussions about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to UAE, Abu Dhabi in February. Has this visit been finalized, and if so, what events or programs are expected during this visit?

Preethi: Good afternoon. I'm Preethi, independent journalist. There are reports that Venezuela, to supply oil to India in lieu of pending dues of $600 million, any details that can be shared about this. Thank you.

Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: So we still have two more questions there, and then we can wrap it up.

Neeraj Dubey: Sir, main Neeraj Dubey Prabhasakshi se. Balochistan mai Sir kafi hinsak virodh pradarshan chal rahe hain, wahan ke jo Pakistan ke care taker Pradhan Mantri hain unhone is sthiti ke liye Bharat ko jimmedar thehraya hain. Kya Bharat sarkar ki, koi pratikriya hogi, videsh mantralay ki?

[Question in Hindi: Approximate Translation] Sir, I am Neeraj Dubey from Prabhasakshi. There are violent protests happening in Balochistan, and the caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan there has held India responsible for this situation. Will there be any response from the Indian government or the Ministry of External Affairs regarding this?

Sanjeev Trivedi: Sir, main Sanjeev Trivedi hoon News24 TV se. Aur Pakistan se hi juda dusra sawal ye hain ki Laskhar-e- Taiba ke atanki Hafiz Saeed ke pratyarpan ki mang ham logon ne ki, aur uske baad wahan se jawab bhi Pakistan ki taraf se diya gaya hain, aur dalil ye hain hamare beech koi pratyarpan sandhi nahi hain. There is no extradiction treaty. Aise mai ab Bharat ke pass vikalp kya reh jate hain?

[Question in Hindi: Approximate Translation] Sir, I am Sanjeev Trivedi from News24 TV. Another question related to Pakistan is regarding the extradition request by us, of the Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist, Hafiz Saeed. And thereafter, response has also been given by Pakistan, that mentioned that there is no extradition treaty between our countries. In such a situation, what options does India have now?

Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Vishal aapka sawal tha UAE daura ka. Dekhiye jo bhi Pradhan Mantri ke daure hote hain is prakar ke, isko uchit samay par hum log announce karte hain. Toh ye mudda abhi yehi tak hain. Jab samay aayega toh hum isko age le jayenge, iske baare mai aapko batayenge.

[Question in Hindi: Approximate Translation] Vishal, your question was about the UAE visit. Look, whenever Prime Minister's visits of this nature are scheduled, we announce them at the appropriate time. So, when the time comes, we will take the matter forward and we will inform you about it.

Preethi, regarding Venezuela, we have given to understand that there is now an understanding, that Venezuela has agreed to provide crude oil in lieu of dividend that they owe to OVL. However, there are several technicalities that are involved in it, which have to be looked into, including the OFAC regulations, including quotas, etc., all these issues. I think petroleum, if you want more details, you can touch base with Ministry of Petroleum. But yesterday, there were some reports about that. The Secretary had spoken about these issues as well.

Neeraj aapne jo sawal kiya pakistan mai udhar hinsa ke bare mai, ye pakistan ka andhruni mamla hain, isliye mere pass iske comment karne ke liye kuch nahi hain.

[Answer in Hindi: Approximate Translation] Neeraj, the question you asked about the violence in Pakistan, it's an internal matter of Pakistan, so I have nothing to comment on it.

Sanjeev aapka sawal pratyarpan ka tha, extradition ka tha. Hum logon ne apne taraf se kyuki ek mamle mai jis vyakti ki baat aap kar rahe hain, inko ek mamle mai yahan par, inka jo ek money laundering ka case hain, usmai he is wanted here, vanchhit hai. Toh hum logon ne apni taraf se jo ho sakta hai, jitna hamare paas documentation hain, woh humne un logon ko diya, taki woh iske aadhar par extradition ko consider karain. Baki ye jo masla hain ki agar aapke pas extradition treaty nahi ho to kya hota hain, ye ek legal point hain iske baare mai aapko -- mere paas abhi jankari nahi hain, but ispe, I will come back to you on this particular issue.

[Answer in Hindi: Approximate Translation] Sanjeev, your question was about extradition. From our side, in this particular case that you are referring to, the individual is wanted here in connection with a money laundering case. So, we have provided the necessary documentation from our side for them to consider extradition in this particular case. However, the issue of what happens when there is no extradition treaty is a legal point, and I currently do not have information on it. I will come back to you on this.

So ladies and gentlemen, with that, we will come to the closure of this presser and look forward to seeing you next week or thereafter. Because next week we have several engagements in Gujarat, the Vibrant Gujarat is happening there. Thank you very much.

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Iran: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the bombing in the city of Kerman

European Council / Council of the European Union

Council of the EU

Press release

4 January 2024

The EU condemns in the strongest terms the bombing in the city of Kerman in Iran. This shocking act of terror has cost the lives of innocent civilians, with many injured.

The EU expresses its solidarity with the Iranian people. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families.

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Regional tension 'to intensify' while Iran vows revenge after terror attack

Global Times

'Relations among regional powers to be more fragile' as more players are involved

By Yang Sheng, Bai Yunyi and Zhang Yuying Published: Jan 04, 2024 09:35 PM Updated: Jan 04, 2024 11:00 PM

China expressed condolences to Iran on Thursday over the terrorist attack that killed more than 100 in Kerman, a southeastern city in the country, strongly condemning the attack while voicing support for Iran's efforts in safeguarding its national security and stability.

Chinese analysts said that the forces behind this attack remain unclear at the moment, but considering the intention and capability, as well as its form, the attack could have been conducted by forces with an anti-government stance within Iran and those with extreme hostility against the country in the region that have a mature capability and technical conditions to launch twin bomb attacks.

According to Iranian official media on Wednesday, two explosions near the burial site of Iran's slain general Qassem Soleimani killed at least 103 people and wounded 141 others. The blasts occurred as many people gathered at the cemetery in Kerman to mark the fourth anniversary of Soleimani's death in a US drone strike.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday sent a message of condolences to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi over the serious terror attacks in the country, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a routine press conference on Thursday that China is deeply shocked by the serious terrorist attack and heavy casualties in Iran. "We express deep condolences to the victims and sincere sympathy to the injured and the bereaved families. China opposes all forms of terrorism, strongly condemns terrorist attacks and firmly supports Iran's efforts to safeguard national security and stability," Wang noted.

Condemnations from around the world

Supreme Leader of Iran's Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei issued a message on the martyrdom of dozens of people in the terrorist attack, warning the "criminals" of punishment and a hard response over the tragedy they caused, the IRNA reported.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said the enemies may believe they can achieve their illegitimate goals through terrorism, but the Iranian nation has proven that such crimes will not disrupt their "unity, security, and strategy." Raisi made the remarks on Wednesday night as he received a phone call from his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

After the blasts, in addition to China, many countries around the world, including Russia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and many Islamic countries, as well as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed their condemnation of the attack.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has condemned terrorism in all its forms and offered his condolences to the Iranian leadership over the terrorist attack in Kerman, TASS reported on Wednesday.

Guterres on Wednesday strongly condemned the attack, a UN spokeswoman said on Wednesday. "The Secretary-General expresses his deep condolences to the bereaved families and the people and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran. He wishes the injured a speedy recovery," said Florencia Soto NiAo, UN Associate Spokesperson, speaking to journalists at the regular noon briefing in New York.

The EU and France also condemned the bombings. EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell wrote on X that he had a telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, during which he expressed condolences to Abdollahian for the bomb attack in Kerman.

As of press time, no one has claimed responsibility for the bombings.

Chinese analysts said that the attacks came after a series of incidents, including a Houthi attack against Israel-linked ships in the Red Sea, and the airstrike against Hamas senior officials in Beirut. They said that no matter who is behind this bombing, the regional tension with the ongoing Gaza conflict at its core will worsen, as more major powers will be forced to become involved.

Wang Jin, a professor and Middle East studies expert at Lanzhou University, told the Global Times on Thursday that "the Palestine-Israel conflict is showing a trend of escalation, and more and more forces have become involved, and the attack in Iran will make relations between different major powers in the region increasingly sensitive and fragile."

Who did it?

US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told a regular news briefing on Wednesday that the US was not involved in any way in the explosions and has no reason to believe Israel was.

"Washington says USA and Israel had no role in the terrorist attack in Kerman, Iran. Really? A fox smells its own lair first. Make no mistake. The responsibility for this crime lies with the US and Zionist regimes and terrorism is just a tool," Mohammad Jamshidi, deputy chief of Staff for Political Affairs to Iranian President, said on his X account.

In a statement on Wednesday night, Hamas said that any terrorist act targeting civilians and seeking to disrupt the security and stability of the Islamic Republic of Iran "serves the sinister plans of the Zionist enemy," the IRNA reported.

"It's not a secret that Israel and the US have always targeted Iranian scientists and senior officials and military commanders and have conducted many attacks within Iran and other places in the Middle East, so it's possible that Israel is connected with the bombings as it needs to retaliate against Iran over issues like the Houthi attacks against its ships in the Red Sea," Ma Xiaolin, dean of the Institute for Studies on the Mediterranean Rim at Zhejiang International Studies University, told the Global Times on Thursday.

However, Israel normally targets high-value figures related to Iran's nuclear facilities, and the US normally targets the senior leaders of Iran's military force, and the attack against civilians will bring no benefits but only risks and a negative impact on Israel and the US, Wang said, adding that the bombing is unlikely to have been conducted by the Netanyahu administration and Washington.

The attack serves the goal of forcing Iran to get involved in the current conflict and to keep the US involved in the ongoing crisis in the region, so it's possible that the bombing was conducted by anti-government forces within Iran cooperating with anti-Iran forces outside the country connected with Israel's intelligence agency Mossad, said a Shanghai-based expert on international security who asked for anonymity.

"Some of these forces don't want to see the US walk away from the mess, so they want to push Iran to get involved more directly, so that they might have the chance to hype up the conflict between Iran and the US, or to use the US' strength to weaken Iran. This scenario serves their interests," he noted.

Wen Shaobiao, an expert from the Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times on Thursday that "after the attack, Iran might mobilize its proxies and allies in the region, such as Hezbollah, Houthis and other armed groups in Iraq to attack Israel, while the US military base in Syria will also be targeted, and the Red Sea crisis might be further intensified."

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UNSC condemns terrorist attack in Kerman

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 4, 2024

New York, IRNA -- The United Nations Security Council in a statement strongly condemned the "cowardly terrorist attack" in the city of Kerman, Iran.

The members of the UN Security Council condemned the cowardly terrorist attack in the city of Kerman on January 3, 2024 in the strongest terms.

They termed it the reprehensible act of terrorism that led to the death of more than 80 people, including children and women, and injured many others, some of whom are in serious condition.

The following is the full text of the UNSC:

UN Security Council Press Statement on Terrorist Attack in Kerman, the Islamic Republic of Iran:

The members of the UN Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the cowardly terrorist attack in the city of Kerman, the Islamic Republic of Iran on 3 January 2024. This reprehensible act of terrorism resulted in the grievous loss of more than 100 lives, including children and women, and has left 211 others injured, some in critical condition.

The members of the Security Council expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and they wished a speedy and full recovery to those who were injured.

The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security.

The members of the Security Council underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organizers, financiers, and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice.

They urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as well as all other relevant authorities in this regard.

The members of the Security Council reiterated that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever, and by whomsoever committed.

They reaffirmed the need for all States to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and other obligations under international law, including international human rights law, international refugee law, and international humanitarian law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.

2050

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Daesh claims responsibility for twin terror attacks in Iran's Kerman

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 4, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The Daesh (ISIS) terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the Wednesday attacks in Iran's southeastern city of Kerman that left 84 people dead.

The Takfiri group issued a statement on Thursday night, claiming responsibility for the explosions that also left 284 people injured, Reuters reported.

The attacks took place after two explosions ripped through a route leading to the burial site of Iran's anti-terror icon, General Qassem Soleimani, as people had gathered to mark the fourth anniversary of his assassination by the United States.

General Soleimani played a key role in defeating the Daesh terrorist group in Iraq and Syria.

Daesh emphasized that Omar al-Mowahhed and Seifullah al-Mujahid were the two suicide bombers who used explosive belts in the two terrorist operations.

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Iran will firmly deal with Kerman attacks' perpetrators: Raisi

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 4, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi has said that the Islamic Republic will firmly deal with the perpetrators of the Kerman terrorist attacks that left more than 80 people dead and scores more injured during a ceremony to commemorate the assassinated General Qassem Soleimani.

The Iranian president said that such terrorist acts will not bring any results for the perpetrators and their supporters. Rather, he added, such acts reveal to the world the 'criminal nature of the Zionist regime and its backers."

Berdimuhamedow condemned the "inhumane" attack, and extended condolences on behalf of Turkmenistan's people and government to the Iranian nation, especially the families of the victims of the attack.

The two presidents discussed bilateral cooperation between their countries as well.

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Chinese president denounces Kerman terrorist attacks

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 4, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- China's President Xi Jinping has condemned the terrorist attacks in Iran's southeastern city of Kerman and expressed the sympathy of the Chinese people and government to the Iranian nation.

In a message sent to his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi on Thursday, President Xi extended his condolences over the attacks.

Xi said he was shocked to learn that serious terror attacks have taken place in Kerman where heavy casualties were caused, Xinhua reported.

"On behalf of the Chinese government and people, Xi expressed deep condolences to the victims and sincere sympathy to the injured and the bereaved families," the Chinese news agency said.

A spokesman of the Chinese foreign ministry already denounced the Kerman attacks as well, saying that Beijing opposes all forms of terrorism and firmly supports Iran's efforts in safeguarding its national security and stability.

According to Iran's Health Ministry, 84 people lost their lives and 284 others were injured in the terror attack.

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Informed source says suicide bombing caused Kerman first blast

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 4, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- A suicide attack is to blame for one of the two explosions that killed 84 people in Iran's southeastern city of Kerman on Wednesday, an informed source has told IRNA.

The source said on Thursday that evidence, including CCTV videos, shows that the first explosion was definitely caused by a suicide bombing conducted by a man.

An investigation is underway to identify the bomber whose body was ripped into pieces, the source said, adding that a probe is also being conducted to determine the cause of the second blast.

The explosions took place along a route leading to the resting place of Iran's anti-terror icon, Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, as people had gathered to mark the fourth anniversary of his assassination by the United States.

The first blast occurred 1.5km away from General Soleimani's burial site. The second one took place at a 2.7km distance from the site.

According to the Iranian Health Ministry, 284 people were injured in the terrorist attack.

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With two phases of the Niagara Scenic Parkway removal completed, the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation this week announced it is embarking on a scoping process for phase three of the project next month.

According to State Parks spokeswoman Angela Berti, the scoping process, led by Colliers Engineering & Design, will consider broad alternatives for creating a sensitively configured transportation network along the Niagara Gorge between the southern part of Whirlpool State Park on Findlay Drive in Niagara Falls, north to Center Street in the Village of Lewiston.

It will include traffic studies, an environmental review, the development of design alternatives and public engagement, with the entire scoping and preliminary design process expected to wrap up by August 2025.

At the end of the scoping process, we would have a plan, but we have no preconceived notions about the project at this point, Berti told The Buffalo News. I think the overall philosophy is getting people closer to the waterfront and providing less of a highway experience along the parkway.

Over the course of the past decade, State Parks, in close coordination with the state Department of Transportation, Empire State Development and the New York Power Authority, has been working to ameliorate a design blunder made more than 60 years ago that separated the City of Niagara Falls from one of the nations most dramatic riverfronts. Those efforts allowed for the historic removal of 3 miles of limited-access expressway segments of what was previously known as the Robert Moses Parkway along the Upper Niagara River above the falls and the Niagara River Gorge below the falls.

The result, following the completion of the first phase of the parkway removal in 2018, was a pedestrian-friendly park road and new landscaping that evokes Frederick Law Olmsteds original design. Other enhancements include the creation of new trails and more greenspace while reconnecting Niagara Falls and Lewiston to their waterfronts.

The second phase of the project, completed in the fall of 2021, focused on the removal of a 2-mile corridor from Main Street to Findlay Drive, with expressway lanes, a viaduct and interchanges replaced by trail networks and gorge overlooks. Nearby Whirlpool Street and part of Third Street were reconstructed as slower two-lane roads with improved pedestrian access.

A public meeting is scheduled for Feb. 6 in the Castellani Building at DeVeaux Woods State Park, 3160 DeVeaux Woods Drive, Niagara Falls. There will be project displays to review, and staff from State Parks will be available at 5:30 p.m. A presentation on the project is set for 6:30 p.m.

While New York State Parks will be the lead agency, the City of Niagara Falls, the Town and Village of Lewiston, the New York State Department of Transportation, USA Niagara and the New York Power Authority will serve as partners.
Syrian president condoles with Iran over Kerman terror attacks

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 4, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad sent separate messages to Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and President Ebrahim Raisi on Thursday, extending his condolences over the martyrdom of dozens of people in terrorist attacks in the Iranian city of Kerman a day earlier.

In his messages, President Assad also extended his condolences to the people of Iran and wished recovery for those injured in the attacks, SANA news agency reported.

He underlined that such terrorist acts are aimed at making "our people abandon their principles and national interests, and making them unable to defend their country's sovereignty and dignity."

Beirut-based Al Mayadeen news network also said that the Syrian president condemned the Kerman attacks and said that such terror incidents, which target civilians, show the extent of the desperation of terrorists and their supporters.

Also on Thursday, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani talked to his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian on the phone, expressing sympathy with the Iranian nation.

Jilani condemned the attacks in Kerman and announced Pakistan's readiness to offer assistance to the people and government of Iran.

Amirabdollahian thanked his Pakistani counterpart and said that fighting terrorism is a main priority of the governments of both countries.

The top Iranian diplomat stressed that his country remains determined to uproot terrorism through cooperation with other countries.

At least 84 people were killed and 284 injured on Wednesday when two bomb blasts went off ten minutes apart near the burial site of Iran's top commander General Qassem Soleimani in Kerman, where a large crowd of people had gathered to mark his fourth martyrdom anniversary.

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Supreme Nat'l Security Council meets on Kerman terror attacks

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 4, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) has met on the latest terror attacks in the southeastern city of Kerman, making decisions aimed at accelerating the process to identify and punish the perpetrators of the terrorist act.

The SNSC met on Thursday in Tehran, a day after two explosions rocked an area near Kerman Martyrs Cemetery, which was packed with people marking the fourth anniversary of the US assassination of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani. According to the Health Ministry, 84 people lost their lives and 284 others were injured in the terror attack.

Having considered reports by intelligence, security, and law enforcement bodies, the SNSC called on intelligence bodies to quickly follow up on the clues obtained so far to identify the perpetrators.

The SNCS also decided to determine how parties that support terrorist groups across the world have played a role in Kerman's attacks.

In addition, Iran's top security body called on relevant organizations to firmly deal with the perpetrators and take action for the just punishment of the organizers or supporters of the attacks.

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Iran begins legal action through UN over Kerman attacks: FM

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 4, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian has announced that Iran is taking "immediate legal and international actions" through the United Nations over the terror attacks in Kerman that left dozens of people dead.

"Based on preliminary information from official sources, this ministry has initiated immediate legal and international actions through the United Nations regarding the terrorist attack in Kerman," Amirabdollahian said in a statement posted on X on Thursday.

Two devastating bomb blasts targeted a ceremony commemorating the fourth martyrdom anniversary of Iran's top commander General Qassem Soleimani near his burial site in Kerman on Wednesday, killing at least 84 people.

Kazem Gharibabadi, vice-president of the Judiciary for international affairs, also said on Thursday that a judicial case has been opened and that legal proceedings will begin as soon as the perpetrators of the attacks have been identified.

"The Islamic Republic has always been a victim of terrorism, and from the beginning of the Islamic Revolution until now, more than 23,000 innocent Iranians have been martyred due to terrorism," he said.

He further noted that the head of the Judiciary has issued an order to pursue the terrorist attacks through legal channels.

"If the perpetrators of this terrorist incident are outside the country, which most of them are, we will pursue the extradition of the perpetrators within the framework of judicial cooperation," Gharibabadi said.

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Iran terror attack serves Israel's sinister plans: Hamas

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 4, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The Islamic resistance movement Hamas has strongly condemned a twin terrorist attack in southeastern Iran that killed at least 95 people and wounded scores of others.

In a statement on Wednesday night, Hamas said that any terrorist act targeting civilians and seeking to disrupt the security and stability of the Islamic Republic of Iran serves the sinister plans of the Zionist enemy.

"We condemn any act that targets the security and interests of the people of the region," it added.

Hamas expressed deep sympathy with the Islamic Republic and the families of the victims.

Two explosions went off ten minutes apart near the burial site of Iran's top commander General Qassem Soleimani in Kerman on Wednesday as thousands of people had gathered to mark his fourth martyrdom anniversary.

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Foreign Ministry: Kerman terrorist crime shows vileness of Iranian nations' enemies

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 4, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Iran's Foreign Ministry has said that the Wednesday terrorist attacks in Kerman show the height of the enemies' wickedness and indicate that they have resorted to criminal methods to get rid of a self-made crisis.

In its statement issued on Wednesday, the ministry strongly condemned the attacks that took place while crowds of people were marking the fourth martyrdom anniversary of top general Qassem Soleimani in the southeastern city of Kerman.

This terrorist crime shows the height of the wickedness of the enemies of the Iranian nation, as well as their resort to criminal methods in the false hope of pulling themselves out of a self-made crisis they are plagued in, the statement said.

It added that "resorting to such evil crimes against Iranian citizens, men, women and children will further strengthen the nation's bond with the ideals of Martyr Soleimani", and will intensify people's unity and increase their hatred towards the enemies of the Islamic Iran.

The ministry said that it will do its outmost efforts, in cooperation with relevant bodies, to prosecute the perpetrators of this "abhorrent terrorist attack" and their accomplices.

Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf made similar comments as he reacted to the attacks which he called an "inhumane" act by the enemies, showing their fear of the Iranian people's strong presence aimed at defending the ideals of the Islamic Republic.

Qalibaf said that such desperate measures will not affect the determination of the Iranian people to remain loyal to their "revolutionary stances".

Religious figures also denounced the attacks that left nearly 100 people killed and scores more wounded after two explosions took place in the route along with the Martyrs Cemetery in Kerman.

Sunni clerics in North Khorasan Province issued a statement, calling on Iranian security and judicial bodies to firmly deal with the perpetrators of the blasts.

Prominent Iranian Sunni leader and the Friday prayer leader of Sunnis Makki Mosque in Zahedan, Molavi Abdul Hamid, also strongly condemned the terrorist attack, describing it as shocking.

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Pres. Raeisi vows comeuppance for those involved in terror blasts

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 04 January 2024 10:59 PM

President Ebrahim Raeisi reiterates Iran's resolve to consign those behind the recent hugely deadly terror blasts in the country's southwest to justice.

The chief executive made the remarks during a phone call with his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic on Thursday.

"No degree of support or patronage from no power can provide a security margin to the agents that have been involved in this atrocity," Raeisi said.

The comments came a day after two back-to-back explosions killed at least 84 people and wounded scores of others at a memorial ceremony that was being held for Iran's former senior anti-terror commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani in the city of Kerman. The Daesh Takfiri terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the atrocity.

Raeisi asserted that cowardly measures such as this would not hold the great Iranian nation back from pursuing its high goals of confronting oppression, tyranny, and injustice.

The Serbian official, for his part, condemned the acts of terror, expressing condolence on the part of the Serbian government and people with the Iranian government and nation.

Vucic expressed hope that the masterminds and perpetrators of the terror attacks be immediately consigned to justice and face the legal implications of the atrocity.

The Serbian president finally noted that his country stood by Iran's side in the fight against terrorism.

Earlier, the United Nations Security Council released a statement, condemning the "cowardly terrorist attack" and condoling with the victims' families and the Iranian government.

Leaders from Russia, Turkey, Iraq, Pakistan, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and other countries from across the globe have likewise voiced strong condemnation of the atrocity.

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UN Security Council condemns terrorist attack in Iran

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 04 January 2024 7:35 PM

The United Nations Security Council has condemned the terrorist attack in the southeastern Iranian city of Kerman that claimed the lives of 84 people on Wednesday.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Security Council said, "The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the cowardly terrorist attack in the city of Kerman, the Islamic Republic of Iran on 3 January."

Expressing condolences to the families of the victims and the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the UN body added, "The members of the Security Council underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organizers, financiers, and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice."

The Security Council urged all states to cooperate actively with the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, to punish the criminals responsible for carrying the terrorist act.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a statement on Wednesday "strongly" condemning the terrorist attack in Kerman.

"The Secretary-General strongly condemns the attack today on a memorial ceremony in Kerman city in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Secretary-General calls for those responsible to be held accountable," deputy spokesperson Florencia Soto Nino told the reporters.

Daesh on Thursday claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack that took place at a ceremony to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the US assassination of top anti-terror commander General Qassem Soleimani.

In a statement on Wednesday, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said the perpetrators of the twin terrorist attacks in Kerman will face a fitting punishment and a harsh response.

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'Shocked' Xi, Assad express solidarity with Iran after bombings

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 04 January 2024 3:39 PM

Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent a message of condolences to President Ebrahim Raeisi, saying he is "shocked to learn about serious terror attacks" in Iran's southeastern city of Kerman in which scores of people were killed on Wednesday.

"On behalf of the Chinese government and people, Xi expressed deep condolences to the victims and sincere sympathy to the injured and the bereaved families," state news agency Xinhua reported on Thursday.

"President Xi stressed that China opposes all forms of terrorism, strongly condemns terrorist attacks and firmly supports Iran's efforts in safeguarding national security and stability," it added.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad also sent separate cables of commiseration to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and President Raeisi.

He "extended his sincere condolences to the families of the victims and the whole people across Iran over this bereavement", saying Syria's leadership and people share with them "this painful loss and wishes speedy recovery for the injured, state news agency SANA reported.

"President al-Assad underlined that such terrorist outrages targeting the civilians confirms the extent of failure the terrorists along with their backers have reached to and their disappointment in making peoples abandon their principles and national interests including defending sovereignty and dignity."

President Raeisi also received a telephone call from his Turkmen counterpart Serdar Berdimuhamedow who expressed his sympathy with the government and people of Iran.

"Definitely, the corrupt brains that planned this terrorist crime and the dirty hands that tried to do it will be decisively dealt with," Raeisi said.

The president touched on the "failure of the Zionists to achieve their declared goals in its invasion of Gaza and the global outcry against the criminality of this regime".

"Historical experience has proven that such terrorist actions will not only have no result for the perpetrators, orderers and supporters of terror and terrorism, but will also reveal the criminal nature of this regime and its supporters to the people of the world."

Iran observed a day of mourning Thursday for those killed in the terrorist blasts that ripped through a large crowd marking the fourth anniversary of the US assassination of top anti-terror commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani.

The death toll was revised down to 84 from around 100, with hundreds of others wounded near Gen. Soleimani's tomb in Kerman.

Iran's emergency services chief Jafar Miadfar pointed to difficulties identifying dismembered bodies and said some victims were mistakenly counted "several times". He said 284 people were wounded and 195 are still hospitalized.

Meanwhile, Iranians prepared for mass protests after weekly prayers across the nation on Friday, when funerals will be held for the victims.

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Daesh claims responsibility for terrorist bombings in Kerman

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 04 January 2024 2:57 PM

Daesh has claimed responsibility for two explosions that killed at least 84 people and wounded scores at a memorial for top anti-terror commander Gen. Qassem Soleimani in the southeastern Iranian city of Kerman.

In a statement posted on its affiliate Telegram channels, the terrorist group said two members had detonated their explosive belts in the crowd which had gathered at a cemetery for the anniversary of the US assassination of Gen. Soleimani.

Earlier, an unnamed source told the official news agency IRNA that the first explosion at the cemetery in Kerman, Gen. Soleimani's hometown, "was the result of a suicide bomber's action".

"The suicide bomber in the first incident was a man who was completely dismembered as a result of the explosion and the identification of the suicide bomber is under investigation," it said.

"The cause of the second blast was most likely the same," the source told IRNA.

The site of the explosions, the source said, was respectively 1.5 km and 2.7 km from the burial place of Gen. Soleimani, where it was not possible to pass through the inspection gates in the area.

The United Nations Security Council in a statement condemned Wednesday's "cowardly terrorist attack" in Kerman and sent its condolences to the victims' families and the Iranian government.

Iran observed a day of mourning Thursday for those killed in the terrorist blasts. People gathered at dozen cities across the country, chanting: "Death to Israel" and "Death to America".

Meanwhile, Iranians prepared for mass protests after weekly prayers across the nation on Friday, when funerals will be held for the victims.

Earlier Thursday, Iran's top security body tasked the country's intelligence, security and law enforcement organizations to promptly identify and punish those behind Wednesday's bombings that killed scores of people at a ceremony to commemorate the most prominent anti-terror figure in the region.

The Supreme National Security Council held an ad hoc session on Thursday to hear and review the reports of the organizations, deciding that "the intelligence agencies should quickly track down the clues obtained from the terrorist operation and identify and introduce its mercenary perpetrators".

"The role of the corrupt minds who always supported the terrorists in targeting innocent women, men and children in different parts of the world, should be accurately identified and reported in this incident," it said.

"The relevant institutions should take action to predict and prevent and deal decisively with the perpetrators and justly punish the perpetrators or supporters of this crime," it added.

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IRGC: Kerman terrorist attack failed attempt to induce insecurity in Iran

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 04 January 2024 11:03 AM

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says the recent "indiscriminate and spiteful" terrorist attack in the southeastern Iranian city of Kerman was a failed attempt to induce insecurity in the country.

In a statement on Thursday, the IRGC condemned Wednesday's two terrorist blasts, which killed 84 people and wounded 284 others, some in critical condition. Medical services said the death toll is expected to rise.

The twin explosions took place near the burial site of Iran's late anti-terror commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani in Kerman during a ceremony marking his fourth martyrdom anniversary.

The IRGC said the terrorist attack was in revenge for high respect of the Iranian nation, particularly the brave young generation, for General Soleimani.

It warned the coward enemies that the Iranian nation would strongly continue General Soleimani's path and would prevent them from achieving their evil goals.

The statement said the heinous terrorist bombings showed that the enemies are unable to compensate for the defeats they had suffered by General Soleimani.

Kerman terrorist blasts evince brutal nature of enemies of Islam

The Iranian Army also in a statement censured the terrorist crime in Kerman which killed innocent civilians, including women and children.

"This act of terrorism, which killed a group of innocent people, shows the brutality and savage nature of the enemies of Islam and the Islamic establishment," it said.

It added that the terrorist attacks also proved the enemies' hatred and enmity towards the noble Iranian nation.

The Iranian Army emphasized that the despicable act will not dent the determination and will of the Iranian nation in their fight against terrorism and will rather increase their unity and coherence.

Iran's President Ebrahim Raeisi said on Wednesday that enemies think that they can achieve their illegitimate goals via acts of terror, but the Iranian nation has proven that such crimes cannot disrupt its cohesion, security and strategy."

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Kerman terrorist attack: Iran forensic officials revise death toll down to 84

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 04 January 2024 10:42 AM

Iran has revised down the death toll from the Kerman terrorist attack to 84, saying the initial tally was incorrect as some of the bodies were counted more than once given that they were blown to pieces in the blasts.

"The previous figure of 95 was incorrect given that some of the bodies were blown to pieces," Mohammad Saberi, head of Kerman Emergency Organization, said Thursday.

He said forensic officials have now put the revised death toll at 84.

Saberi added that so far, 89 injured people have been discharged from hospitals, 149 people are currently hospitalized in normal units, and 46 people are in special care units.

Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi also confirmed the revised figure, saying some of the wounded individuals are in critical condition.

"Most of the injured are in good condition and need minor surgeries. Some of them will be discharged today," Vahidi told reporters on Thursday, after visiting the wounded at hospitals.

He also stressed that the security situation in Kerman is under control.

"Undoubtedly, those behind the terrorist attack will be hunted down by Iran's intelligence and security apparatuses and will be delivered a hard slap," he asserted.

Two explosions occurred in the southeastern city of Kerman on Wednesday near the tomb of former Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani.

According to IRNA, the first blast occurred some 700 meters from General Soleimani's burial place, and the second one about one kilometer away 20 minutes later during a crowded fourth- martyrdom anniversary.

No group or country has claimed responsibility for the recent explosion which is the deadliest attack in the history of the Islamic Republic.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei pledged a "fitting punishment" and a "harsh response" against the masterminds and perpetrators of the terrorist attack.

"The enemies should know that the soldiers of Soleimani's shining path will not tolerate their vile and crime and both the hands that shed the blood of the innocent people, and the corrupt and mischievous minds that misled them would be tracked down and will be handed a 'fitting punishment,'" Ayatollah Khamenei said on Wednesday.

Other top Iranian officials, including President Ebrahim Raisi, also vowed to make every effort to bring the perpetrators to justice.

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Acts of terror will never undercut Iran's cohesion, security: President Raeisi

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 04 January 2024 7:41 AM

Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi says acts of terror and crime will fail to undermine the nation's cohesion, security and strategy.

"The Iranian nation's enemies think that they can achieve their illegitimate goals via acts of terror, but the Iranian nation has proven that such crimes cannot disrupt its cohesion, security and strategy," Raeisi said in a phone call with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday.

Two terrorist blasts took place near the burial site of Iran's late anti-terror commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani in the southeastern city of Kerman on Wednesday during a ceremony marking his fourth martyrdom anniversary.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi said 84 people were killed in the bloody attacks. He added that the incident also left 284 wounded, some in critical condition.

Medical services said the death toll is expected to rise.

The initial death toll was higher, but it has since been revised down. According to Mohammad Saberi, the head of Kerman emergency services, the number was adjusted as some of the bodies were severely disfigured, making the count challenging.

Saberi further explained that the death toll currently stands at 84, as confirmed by the country's Legal Medicine Organization.

In a statement on Wednesday, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said those who ordered and carried out the twin terrorist attacks in Kerman will definitely face a fitting punishment and a harsh response.

Elsewhere in his phone conversation, Raeisi told the Turkish president that the future belongs to the Palestinian people and that the Zionists' crimes would fail to achieve any outcome.

The Iranian president expressed hope that Israel's "war machine" would be stopped as soon as possible through cooperation, coordination and consultation between Tehran and other countries, and the disastrous situation in Gaza would come to an end.

Erdogan, for his part, offered his sympathy and condolences to his Iranian counterpart over the heinous terrorist attack in Kerman.

He said the attack once again clearly highlighted the need to fight decisively against all forms of terrorism.

He once again reaffirmed Turkey's readiness to cooperate with Iran in the battle against all forms of terrorism.

Raeisi: Zionists desperately seeking to spread insecurity to other parts of region

Meanwhile, in a phone conversation with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Wednesday, Raeisi said that having failed to achieve its goals in the ongoing genocidal war against the Palestinian people in Gaza, the Israeli regime is currently under international pressure, desperately seeking to spread insecurity to other parts of the region.

"The Iranian nation has proven that such terrorist acts cannot dent their will, national cohesion and resilient spirit," he emphasized.

Raeisi expressed confidence that further communication between Tehran and Doha at different levels will definitely lead to the development of bilateral, regional and international relations and play an effective role in the joint fight against the Israeli regime's crimes.

For his part, the Qatari emir strongly condemned the cowardly crime of the terrorist attack in Kerman which he said was carried out by those seeking to spread insecurity in Iran.

Al Thani added that Qatar is assured about Iran's national unity and stands united with the Islamic Republic.

He emphasized that Iran and Qatar must boost cooperation and hold deeper consultations with the regional and Muslim countries to stop the Israeli regime's crimes against the oppressed people of Gaza.

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Iran to use all available mechanisms to ensure accountability for terror attacks: UN envoy

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 04 January 2024 12:04 AM

Iran's UN envoy says the country is to use "all available mechanisms" to ensure accountability for the perpetrators of earlier hugely deadly terror attacks that targeted the southwestern Iranian city of Kerman.

Amir Saeid Iravani, the Islamic Republic's permanent ambassador to the United Nations, made the remarks in a letter to the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the world body's Security Council on Wednesday.

Hours earlier, at least 103 people were killed and 211 others injured in two explosions that took place near the burial site of Iran's former senior anti-terror commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani.

Iravani denounced the blasts as "a heinous terrorist act and an appalling crime."

'Premeditated crime'

"This reprehensible act," the ambassador said, "deliberately targeted innocent people."

The envoy asserted that comprehensive investigations were underway to identify and apprehend the perpetrators and organizers of this "premeditated crime."

He reiterated that Iran remained "steadfast" in both the pursuit of justice for the victims and the country's ongoing fight against terrorism.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said the Islamic Republic had started taking "legal measures" through the United Nations as part of its efforts to ensure accountability for those responsible for the Kerman attacks.

Hamas: Iran terror blasts in line with Israel interests

Condemnations have been pouring in following the blasts.

The Palestinian resistance movement of Hamas condemned the attacks, which it considered to be "in the service of the Zionist regime's interests and its sinister plans against the security and safety of the people of the region."

Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry also denounced the terror attacks, expressing condolences towards the Islamic Republic.

Leaders from Russia, Turkey, Iraq, Pakistan, Yemen, and other countries from across the globe have also released statements in condemnation of the tragedy.

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As Tehran Vows Revenge For Deadly Bombings, Iranians Complain About Distractions To Their Security

By Michael Scollon January 04, 2024

While Iranian officials promised a "harsh response" to the twin bombing that killed at least 84 people on January 3, ordinary Iranians appeared more concerned about their security and the loss of innocent lives than retribution.

The feelings expressed by Iranians in comments to RFE/RL's Radio Farda and on social media were a mix of sadness, anger, and bewilderment. Many questioned how such an attack could be allowed to happen, or how Tehran could justify its military adventures abroad and intrusion into their everyday lives when dangerous threats exist at home.

Officially, the focus on the day after the deadly attacks was to honor the dead with a day of mourning. But revenge against those who targeted commemorations in the southeastern city of Kerman four years after the assassination of Iranian Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani was clearly on the minds of authorities.

"A very strong retaliation will be handed to them on the hands of the soldiers of Soleimani," First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber told reporters on January 4 at a hospital where some of the more than 280 people injured in the attack were being treated.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), of which the Quds Force serves as an elite fighting force abroad, vowed in a statement that the attack would "strengthen the resolve to decisively and justly punish the perpetrators."

Describing the attack as a cowardly act, the IRGC said the perpetrators' intention was "creating insecurity and seeking revenge against the nation's deep love and devotion to the Islamic republic."

Iranian officials and tightly controlled state media first pinned responsibility for what they called a "terrorist attack" on Israel and the United States, which denied any involvement. Later on January 4, the Islamic State extremist group said two of its suicide bombers were responsible for the attack in Kerman.

But there has been little questioning among the authorities or state media of the security forces' inability to prevent the attack on a gathering of thousands of people.

Only a member of parliament's Energy Security Commission, Fereydoun Abbasi, suggested in an interview with the IRGC-affiliated Tabnak news site that "negligence on the part of guards or security forces" may have played a part.

Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi, after claiming that the attack was part of a broader conspiracy by Iran's enemies to attack large ceremonies, gave televised assurances on January 4 that "security, intelligence, and law enforcement agencies are fully aware and in control."

Comments sent by Iranians to Radio Farda questioned that narrative, referencing Iran's military involvement in the Middle East and the ongoing crackdown on opposition activists and women who violate Iran's strict hijab law.

"Why do you ensure the security of Karbala [in Iraq] but not a street in Iran!?" asked one listener who gave their name as Parham.

"Have you noticed that instead [of freedom], we have security?" asked a listener named Atefeh. "Or are more [military] operations being carried out?"

Similar sentiments were expressed by Iranians on social media.

"When all your focus is on the hijab, fines, and confiscating cars, you become negligent of the people's security!" wrote one user of X, formerly Twitter. Confiscating cars is one of many penalties for drivers and passengers caught not wearing a hijab.

"I am saddened for Kerman and worried for Iran, worried about the security that has faded," wrote another X user from Iran.

Others singled out recent cases of pressure against Iranian civilians and activists, such as that of pediatrician Mohammad Shojaa, who was arrested in North Khorasan Province on January 3 for an Instagram post that allegedly insulted those killed in the Kerman bombing.

"Well done, Mr. Prosecutor," one X user wrote sarcastically.

Written by Michael Scollon based on reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Farda

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-bombings- security-questions-hijab-quds-force/32760923.html

Copyright (c) 2024. 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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UK condemns bombing in Kerman, Iran

The UK has issued a statement condemning the bombing in Kerman, Iran, on 3 January

4 January 2024

A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said:

The UK condemns the horrendous bombing in Kerman, Iran, yesterday which killed so many Iranians.

Our thoughts and condolences to the families of those killed and injured.

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Islamic State Claims Responsibility for Iran Explosions That Killed 84

By VOA News January 04, 2024

The Islamic State terrorist group claimed responsibility Thursday for two suicide bombings that killed 84 people in Iran who had gathered for a memorial at the grave of Revolutionary Guards General Qassem Soleimani, who was killed four years ago by a U.S. drone strike.

In a statement on social media, Islamic State said two "martyr brothers" headed to the gravesite of Soleimani in Kerman on Wednesday in southern Iran and "detonated their explosive belts amidst the crowds."

The Sunni Islamic State group said the attack was "by the grace of Allah" and part of its "Kill them wherever you find them" campaign targeting its enemies and others it considers infidels, including Shia Muslims in Iran.

Soleimani, who headed the Quds Force a the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' foreign operations arm a was a staunch enemy of IS, a Sunni extremist group that has carried out previous attacks in majority-Shiite Iran.

IS last carried out an attack in Iran in October 2022, killing 15 people at a religious shrine.

Iran observed a day of national mourning on Thursday for those killed in this week's blasts.

One Iranian official had called the blasts a "terroristic" attack.

The explosions occurred in Kerman, about 820 kilometers southeast of the capital, Tehran.

Iran's Tasnim News Agency, quoting what it called informed sources, said "two bags carrying bombs went off" at the site.

The ISNA News Agency quoted Kerman Mayor Saeed Tabrizi as saying the bombs exploded 10 minutes apart.

Authorities said some people were injured while fleeing the initial explosion. A delayed second explosion is often used by militants to target emergency personnel responding to the scene, to inflict more casualties. People could be heard screaming on state TV footage.

In early 2020, then-President Donald Trump said he ordered the killing of Soleimani because the Iranian "was plotting imminent and sinister attacks on American diplomats and military personnel, but we caught him in the act and terminated him."

The U.S. drone attack at Baghdad's airport was assailed at the time by then-Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, who called it "a brazen violation of Iraq's sovereignty and a blatant attack on the nation's dignity."

Soleimani was the architect of Iran's regional military activities and is considered a national hero among supporters of Iran's theocracy.

He was widely regarded as a hero for his role in defeating Islamic State in both Iraq and Syria.

He helped secure Syrian President Bashar Assad's government after the 2011 Arab Spring protests against him turned into a civil, and later a regional conflict that continues today.

Relatively unknown in Iran until the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, Soleimani's popularity and mystique grew after American officials called for his killing because of his role in arming militants with roadside bombs that killed and maimed U.S. troops.

In the years before the U.S. killed him, Soleimani had become Iran's most recognizable battlefield commander, ignoring calls to enter politics but growing as powerful, if not more powerful, than the country's civilian leadership.

Memorials to Soleimani on the anniversary of his death have drawn large processions in the past. At his funeral in 2020, a stampede broke out, and at least 56 people were killed and more than 200 were injured as thousands thronged the procession.

VOA's Jeff Seldin contributed to this report. Some of the material came from Reuters, Agence France-Presse and The Associated Press.

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Iranian paramilitary commander says U.S., Israel "behind" Kerman blasts

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 09:38, January 05, 2024

TEHRAN, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- An influential commander of Iran's paramilitary Basij forces said on Thursday that the U.S. and Israel "are behind the scenes" of a twin bombing near the tomb of a top Iranian general in Kerman, southeastern Iran, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.

Gholamreza Soleimani, who is not related to the slain general, made the remarks at a ceremony in Isfahan, western Iran, to mark the fourth anniversary of the U.S. killing of Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike near Baghdad's airport.

He said the bombings in Kerman, which killed at least 84 people and wounded 284 others, were connected to recent Israeli assassinations of a Hamas leader in Beirut and an Iranian commander in Syria.

He said Israel had failed to destroy Hamas in Gaza and was now resorting to "precision strikes" outside the Palestinian territory.

"So we have witnessed the assassinations of such figures as (Seyyed Razi) Mousavi and (Saleh) al-Arouri," he said, according to Tasnim.

Mohammad Jamshidi, the Iranian president's deputy chief of staff for political affairs, made similar implications in a post on social media platform X earlier Thursday.

"Washington says USA and Israel had no role in (the) terrorist attack in Kerman, Iran. Really? A fox smells its own lair first," he wrote.

He said the U.S. and Israel were responsible for the "crime" and that "terrorism is just a tool."

U.S. officials had rejected on Wednesday any suggestion that it or its ally Israel was behind the deadly blasts.

"The United States was not involved in any way. And the suggestion to the contrary is ridiculous. And No. 2, we have no reason to believe that Israel is involved in this," Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters Wednesday.

The United Nations, European Union, and several countries including Russia, TArkiye, and Germany denounced the blasts.

The blasts occurred about 20 minutes apart around 3 p.m. local time (1130 GMT) on Thursday at the cemetery in Kerman, where thousands of people had gathered to commemorate late general Soleimani's death.

The official IRNA news agency said the first blast was about 700 meters from Soleimani's tomb and the second was a kilometer away.

Rahman Jalali, the deputy governor of Kerman province for political and security affairs, said the explosions were carried out by "terrorists," IRNA reported.

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Iraq holds US responsible after Nujaba commander killed in drone strike

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 04 January 2024 3:36 PM

Iraq has slammed the United States for a drone strike on the headquarters of its Popular Mobilization Units in eastern Baghdad that killed three people, including a commander of the Nujaba resistance movement.

The office of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani issued a statement on Thursday, saying the "attack was a dangerous escalation and a violation of Iraq's sovereignty."

"The Iraqi Armed Forces hold US-led coalition responsible for this unwarranted attack on an Iraqi security entity that is operating within the powers authorized by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces," the statement said.

It added that the drone strike would undermine "all understandings" between Iraq's armed forces and the US-led coalition troops.

The drone strike was an "assault on Iraq," the statement said, "diverging from the spirit and the text of the mandate and the mission for which the coalition was established in Iraq."

Meanwhile in Baghdad, a group of Iraqi lawmakers demanded the expulsion of the US ambassador.

Since Israel began its invasion of the besieged Gaza Strip in early October, resistance groups in Iraq have targeted US military bases and facilities in the country. The Iraqi resistance has reportedly conducted more than 100 operations against US forces.

Washington has been providing Israel with all-out support over the course of hostilities in Gaza.

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Iraqi Armed Forces Blame US-Led Coalition for Attack on Militia Headquarters in Baghdad

Sputnik News

20240104

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Iraqi armed forces on Thursday accused the US-led international coalition of the deadly attack on the militia headquarters in Baghdad, calling it an "act akin to terrorist activities."

Earlier in the day, the regional news agency reported, citing sources, that three people, including Shiite commander Mushtaq Taleb al-Saidi, had been killed and six others injured in a drone strike against the headquarters of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in eastern Baghdad. Meanwhile, some other media reported about four people killed in the attack.

"The Iraqi Armed Forces hold the Global Coalition Forces responsible for this unwarranted attack on an Iraqi security entity that is operating within the powers authorized by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces," the spokesperson for the Iraqi armed forces, Commander-in-Chief, Maj. Gen. Yehia Rasool, was quoted as saying by media.

The Iraqi armed forces consider the attack as "a dangerous escalation and assault on Iraq," as well as "an act akin to terrorist activities," the spokesperson reportedly added.

The PMF is an Iraqi organization that includes a number of different armed factions, most of them Shia Muslim. The Shia armed groups have intensified their attacks on bases of the US-led international coalition in Iraq, as well as US troops in Syria over the past months, as they consider the US complicit in the attacks mounted by Israel on Palestinian civilians. Washington, for its part, believes that the attacks are carried out by pro-Iranian groups.

A Sputnik

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PM Netanyahu Meets with US Senator Lindsey Graham

Israel - Prime Minister's Office

The 37th Government

04.01.2024

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today, at the Kirya in Tel Aviv, met with US Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC).

Prime Minister Netanyahu at the start of the meeting:

"Thank you. Senator Graham, Lindsey, I appreciate your personal support and the bipartisan support of the American people, represented by the administration, by both sides of Congress.

We're absolutely committed to achieving our war goals, that is destroying Hamas, releasing our hostages, making sure Gaza doesn't become a threat again, and also making sure that we can return our citizens in the north and in the south. For that we'll apply maximum power with maximum precision everywhere that's needed."

Senator Graham:

"I'm more dedicated now to bringing stability to your country and this region, because I think Iran's goal is to destroy your efforts to reconcile with the Arab world. It's a nightmare for the ayatollah. It's an absolutely essential ingredient to a better more stable Mid-East and a safe and secure Israel and a prosperous Palestinian people.

I promise you, they will not have died in vain. We're going to do everything we can, on my end and I think working with the Biden administration, Mr. Prime Minister, to push forward to make Iran's worst nightmare real: The Arabs and the Israelis move toward the light."

Also participating in the meeting were the Strategic Affairs Minister, the Director of the National Security Council, the Prime Minister's Military Secretary and the Israeli Ambassador to the US.

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Allison Brashear, dean of UBs Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, extolled the many recent successes of UBs medical programs. But of all these successes, her most important point was this: We are committed to strengthening the health of the community.

She noted that New York State graduates more medical students each year than any other state, and that UB graduates as well as UB residents and fellows lead their peers across all of New York State in remaining to practice where they trained. It sounds nice. But Brashear neglected to mention the glaring failure to strengthen health both locally and nationally. Acknowledging this failure is the essential first step in fixing it.

America spends more per capita on health care than any other country, but trails all rich countries and some poor ones in health. Life expectancy, for example, has increased steadily in rich countries, but declined each year in the U.S. since 2014 and disparity in health is worse in the U.S. than any other rich country studied. Buffalo and Erie County epitomize this disaster, with homelessness, violence, poverty, chronic disease, low birth weight and poor disease outcomes concentrated among Black residents, according to a recent report.

What is the cause of Americas health disaster? Princeton Nobel Prize-winning economist Angus Deaton thinks the blame comes from higher prices and from higher salaries for healthcare providers (Deaths of Despair). Doctors and nurses earn more here than in other countries, and drugs and procedures cost more here.

A 2023 survey found 22 of the 25 highest-paying professions to be in health care. High salaries and high prices hurt the poor more than the rich. Brashears commitment to strengthening the health of the community is not likely to blossom simply by graduating more health care professionals, even if a growing percentage of these professionals are women and Black. She will need to inspire them to take pay cuts.

That can seem unrealistic, but UB has a Community Health Equity Research Institute to discover the means to health equity. Heres a worthy experiment: Establish a fund from which mothers in the poorest ZIP code in Buffalo can request assistance. Fill these requests to the extent possible and notice if health in that ZIP soars as a consequence. Appeal to UB faculty and alumni to support this fund. My wife and I, both with UB doctorates in biochemistry, would donate.

Doug Dix is emeritus professor of health science at the University of Hartfordand. Secretary/Treasurer of MOMS: The Fund for Mothers with Young Children.
PM Netanyahu Meets with US Special Presidential Envoy Amos Hochstein

Israel - Prime Minister's Office

The 37th Government

04.01.2024

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, this evening, at the Kirya in Tel Aviv, met with US Special Presidential Envoy Amos Hochstein and made it clear that Israel is committed to bringing about a fundamental change on its border with Lebanon, so that the residents of the north will return to their homes and live in safety and with security.

The Prime Minister emphasized that we will not stop until this goal has been achieved, whether diplomatically, which Israel prefers, or in some other way.

Prime Minister Netanyahu told US envoy Hochstein that following the murderous assault of October 7th, Israel is more determined, daring and united than ever. He added that those among our neighbors who do not currently understand this will yet do so very well, in the south, in the north and in all other arenas.

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Landmines threaten more than half of Myanmar townships

The explosives are used both by the military and rebel groups, a monitoring group says.

By RFA Burmese 2024.01.04 -- People in more than half of Myanmar's townships are at risk getting injured or dying from landmines, which are used by both the military and ethnic rebel forces, a landmine monitoring group said.

Nearly 170 of 330 townships are at risk of landmines a a figure that has increased by 68 townships since 2020, according to the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, whose monitoring wing tracks progress in eliminating landmines, cluster munitions and other explosive remnants of war.

The group issued the Burmese version of its latest 34-page Landmine & Cluster Munition Monitor report on Dec. 28. It did not include the total number of landmine incidents or victims for 2023, but recounted individual incidents covered in media reports.

In 2022, there were 384 deaths and 124 injuries caused by landmines in Myanmar, according to the monitoring group.

Myanmar is not a member of the Ottawa Convention, also referred to as the Mine Ban Treaty, which prohibits the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel landmines. Neither is the United States, China, Russia, India or Pakistan.

Both the ruling junta's armed forces and non-state armed groups have produced and used antipersonnel mines, including improvised blast and fragmentation mines that are victim-activated, said the report's 28-page English-language version.

"Myanmar's Armed Forces have repeatedly used antipersonnel mines since seizing power in a coup in February 2021," the report said. "This use represents a significant increase in use in previous years, including use around infrastructure such as mobile phone towers, extractive enterprises, and energy pipelines."

From 2018 to 2021, the Myanmar military was the only armed forces in the world to use anti-personnel landmines, though Russia joined the list in 2022, said Yeshua Moser-Puangsuwan, a researcher for the Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor, said at a press conference in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on Dec. 28.

"Myanmar is the only country in the world that uses deadly landmines from its military," he said.

Among the mines seized by resistance armed groups were various types produced by the state-owned weapons production facility known as KaPaSa, or Defense Products Industries of Myanmar, the report said.

Some individual cases

The report cited numerous instances where landmine explosions killed or maimed civilian adults and children in 2023.

At the beginning of March, a man was seriously injured after stepping on a landmine in the May mountains, where a Myanmar Army contingent is stationed near Cedipyin village in Rathedaung township of Rakhine state.

On Dec. 26, Lwang Kham, 12, was injured when a landmine exploded near Ma Ding village in Waingmaw township in northern Myanmar's Kachin state, near where the junta's 58th Light Infantry Battalion is stationed, a resident who did not want to be named for security reasons, told RFA.

"In the afternoon, while he was looking after the cattle, the cattle stepped on a landmine and [the explosion] hit him near Ka War Hka creek," the villager said, adding that many pieces of shrapnel hit his legs and his left eye.

The injured boy was taken to Myitkyina Hospital for surgery and medical treatment, he said.

In western Myanmar's Chin state, residents are afraid to go to their hillside farms for fear of setting off an explosion, said Salai Vang Sweesan, assistant director of the Institute of Chin Affairs.

"In Chin, every village depends on the hillside farms to make a living. Since landmines are being planted along the roads [to the hillside farms], even if people want to go to the farms, it's risky."

Shan state

Northern Shan state, where fighting between junta troops and an alliance of ethnic armies is intense, has seen an increase in civilian casualties from landmines.

At least five civilians were injured and lost their limbs due to mine explosions in the towns of Kutkai, Lashio and Kyaukme towns amid fighting in December 2023 between junta forces and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army, or TNLA, local residents said.

On Dec. 6, a man from Nam Kyan village in Lashio township lost one of his legs and his other limbs were damaged when he stepped on a mine while looking for honey in the forest, residents said.

Two days later, a 63-year-old man from Nam Hu Twang village in Kyaukme township lost one of his legs when he stepped on a mine while cutting bamboo, according to people living in the community.

Residents used to gather firewood in the forest or work in cornfields before the fighting escalated, but now they have stopped and it has affected their abilities to provide for themselves, she said. Now they often hear blasts when dogs and cattle step on the mines.

"Villagers know that the mines are there," she said. "That's why we don't go to the forest at all."

RFA could not reach junta spokesman Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun for comment on the landmines.

Last August, the Cluster Munition Coalition condemned the new use of cluster munitions by the junta's armed forces and demanded an immediate end to the use of this prohibited weapon.

At the time, a report by the organization's monitoring wing indicated that junta forces had used what appeared to be domestically produced cluster bombs in attacks in several parts of the country since 2021.

"Myanmar's production and use of cluster bombs is gravely concerning as these indiscriminate weapons primarily kill and injure civilians, Moser-Puangsuwan said in a statement. "There can be no justification for using them. All governments should condemn this use of an internationally-banned weapon."

Translated by Htin Aung Kyaw for RFA Burmese. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster.

Copyright 1998-2024, 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 January not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Junta releases more than 9,600 prisoners

But high-profile prisoners such as Aung San Suu Kyi , and many of those serving long terms, were not part of the release.

By RFA Burmese 2024.01.04 -- Myanmar's junta granted amnesty to 9,652 prisoners on Thursday, according to a statement released by the junta's State Administration Council said.

The prisoner release took place on the 76th anniversary of the country's independence from the United Kingdom.

The amnesty was conditioned on the agreement that, should they reoffend, they would be required to serve both the remaining sentence and any new punishment.

About 114 foreign prisoners were included in the amnesty, according to a separate statement from the junta. It said they were released to maintain friendly relations with other countries.

Among those released is Kaung Set Lin, a photojournalist from the Myanmar Press Photo Agency in Yangon, who had been sentenced to three years on charges of damaging public interest.

Kaung Set Lin was arrested while injured when police and soldiers, using a vehicle, charged into an anti-coup protest he was covering on Pan Pin Gyi Street in Yangon's Kyimyindaing township.

"Yes, he is freed. My son is among the released. Now we are about to go home. Needless to say, I am so happy. I wanted to see my son's face before I died. Now my wish has come true," Myo Myint, the father of the journalist, told RFA Burmese.

Kaung Set Lin's mother died while he was incarcerated.

"My mother died of cancer. I didn't get a chance to see her at the last moment. But as a son, I was dutiful," he told RFA Burmese. "Until now, I never made my mother feel she had a low prestige. I want all my remaining [political prisoner] brothers to be released as well."

'Nothing but pray'

Another six of Kaung Set Lin's co-accused were released today. However, Hmu Yadana Khet Moh Moh Tun, a reporter from the Myanmar Press Photo Agency, who was arrested the same day remains imprisoned.

Her mother Myint Myint Maw said that she wanted her daughter to be released, though she could do nothing but pray.

"Anyway, I'm expecting her release. But since she has been sentenced for two more charges, I don't expect much," she said. "When the others were released, I just sent prayers and love for her. "[The authorities] have to release her, so I can do nothing but pray. She will be free only when they release her, so I feel bad."

However, another journalist, Hmu Yadanar Khat Moh Moh Tun from the Myanmar Press Photo Agency, who was arrested alongside him, has not been released.

Actress Thin Zar Wint Kyaw and model Nan Mwe San, who faced criticism from the junta and were sentenced to several years in prison on charges of undermining Myanmar culture and sexual orientation, were also released, according to media reports. But RFA has not been able to independently verify this information.

More than 1,000 prisoners were released from Mandalay's Obo Prison on Thursday, and among them were Dr. Ye Lwin, former Mandalay mayor, and Kyaw Zeya, a member of the Mandalay City Development Committee, both served under the National League for Democracy-led government, lawyers said.

While a few political prisoners were released today, detained former political leader Aung San Suu Kyi and former President Win Myint, who have received lengthy prison sentences under various charges, along with members of the NLD government, lawmakers, university students and democracy activists remain incarcerated.

'No hope' for those given long terms

A family member of Tun Tun Hein, NLD-led government's deputy speaker, said he has not heard any news about his release yet.

Tun Tun Hein, the 72-year-old deputy speaker who also served as the chairman of the country's lower house in the parliament, had been sentenced to more than 30 years.

"I wished he would be released because he is old. I hope he comes out with amnesty and I am praying for it. I haven't heard any news yet," said the family member.

A lawyer, who is handling the cases of political prisoners and requested anonymity for security reasons, informed RFA Burmese that none of the political prisoners serving long-term sentences were among those released on Thursday. Only those who had been sentenced to terms between two and three years and were close to their scheduled release dates were freed, the lawyer added.

A family member of a political prisoner who was sentenced to a long jail term in Thayet Prison in Magway region said that there was no hope for those who have been given long prison terms.

"There is no expectation for their release. They [the authorities] released the inmates who have just two, three or four, five more months to serve. They don't release people who have to serve for four, five or six more years," he said.

Based on the junta statements, there have been 14 amnesties granted since the coup, including the one on Thursday. In total, more than 92,000 prisoners have been released during these amnesties, but only a small number of them were political prisoners.

According to the Thailand-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, or AAPP, in 2023 alone, the junta released more than 20,000 prisoners, but only 2,400 political prisoners were among them.

Edited by Taejun Kang, Elaine Chan, and Eugene Whong.

Updates to add that former Mandalay mayor was released, adds comments from Kaung Set Lin and the mother of his still incarcerated colleague, and AAPP figures.

Copyright 1998-2024, 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 January 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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Pakistani Protests: Baluch Women Seek Answers, Justice In Disappearance Of Loved Ones

By Abubakar Siddique, Wasim Sajjad January 03, 2024

Sammi Deen Baloch recalls growing up happily in remote parts of Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan Province.

But her world crumbled in 2009 when she was just 10 years old.

That's when her father, Deen Muhammad Baloch -- a doctor working in state health clinics providing care to the region's neediest people -- was taken away by "intelligence agencies" because of his activism. He was a member of the separatist Baloch National Movement.

Traumatic Times

Now 25, Sammi Deen Baloch told RFE/RL that nobody knows what happened to her father. He never appeared in court and there has been no information about his whereabouts since then.

"We were a happy family before his disappearance, but our lives were traumatic after his forced disappearance," she said.

In the 14 years since her father disappeared, Sammi Deen Baloch and her sister Mehlab have been relentless in trying to find their father.

"I have been to courts, countless protest camps, marched for thousands of kilometers, appeared before government commissions, and met numerous officials," she said of her nonstop efforts.

"Yet uncertainty and delays haunt our lives," she added.

Sammi Deen Baloch is part of a protest in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, where hundreds of ethnic Baluch activists are demanding that the government put an end to the forced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in Balochistan and provide information to the families about the fate of their loved ones.

They traveled more than 1,000 kilometers last month to demand that the government account for their relatives who were either killed or disappeared amid the 20 years of the nationalist insurrection.

They also want justice.

"We want the state to punish all accused after the due process of law," she said.

Simmering Conflict

Balochistan, Pakistan's largest province, borders Iran and Afghanistan and is hemmed in by 1,000 kilometers of the Arabian Sea coast. Since 2000, numerous armed Baluch ethnonationalist groups have fought against Islamabad seeking secession.

Pakistan accuses the rebels of attacks on security forces, infrastructure that includes Chinese-funded projects, immigrants from the eastern Punjab Province, and even pro-government Baluch figures.

Baluch political groups, including those seeking greater autonomy through parliamentary politics, accuse Pakistan of engaging in grave rights abuses. They blame Islamabad for exploiting their vast natural resources and seeking to control the province by appointing pro-government figures who lack popular support.

The Baluch people are a majority of their province's estimated 15 million residents but are a relatively small minority in the South Asian country of some 220 million people.

Thousands of Baluch people have been killed and hundreds of thousands displaced in the simmering conflict that began in the early 2000s.

According to Pakistan's Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances, it has received nearly 10,000 cases of forced disappearances in Pakistan as of August. Of these, more than 2,700 came from Balochistan.

Baluch activists, however, claim that the number of people missing is many times higher. Mahrang Baloch, a physician who is leading the protest in Islamabad, says forced disappearances in Balochistan continue unabated.

She told RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal that they would only trust the Pakistani government if it acknowledged its involvement in such grave abuses of human rights.

"They should admit that they have been involved [in these actions], that their forces have been involved," she said.

Pakistani Counterterrorism

But Pakistan's caretaker prime minister, Anwar ul-Haq Kakar, strongly disagrees.

He told a gathering on January 1 that Islamabad is fighting against separatist groups such as the Baloch Liberation Army, the Baloch Liberation Front, and the Baloch Republican Army.

"These groups have killed between 3,000 to 5,000 people," he said, adding that the security forces kill many of the militants involved in the violence.

"We do acknowledge the right of protest of the relatives of these terrorists," he said. "But we do not acknowledge the right of [those militants] to commit [acts of terror]."

Kakar also implied that the legal system has failed to deal with the perpetrators of the attacks that have caused mass casualties among security forces and citizens.

"We are being told to present [the disappeared] in courts," he said. "Over 90,000 people have been killed but not even nine perpetrators have been convicted."

Most of the some 90,000 Pakistani victims of militant attacks were ethnic Pashtuns. Their homeland in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa became the epicenter of Islamabad's domestic war on terrorism after the demise of the Taliban's hard-line government in Afghanistan. Pakistani military ruler Pervez Musharraf's government -- which ruled from 2001 to 2008 -- failed to prevent the Taliban and Al-Qaeda from regrouping in his country.

Mahrang Baloch said the main aim of their protest is to confront Islamabad's longstanding views that all Baluch people killed extrajudicially or forcefully disappeared are terrorists simply because they were members or supporters of separatist groups.

"It is illegal, inhuman, and illogical to detain a person for 14 years in torture cells -- to detain a minor, to detain a woman, and not present them before courts," she said.

Political Problem

Experts see a clear link between Islamabad's use of excessive force and the growing protests among the Baluch people for basic human rights protections.

Kiyya Baloch, an exiled journalist who covers Balochistan, says the ongoing protest was prompted by the alleged killing of a young Baluch man in the custody of counterterrorism police in Balochistan's remote Turbat district in late November.

"Locals were afraid that, if they failed to protest, it might result in further extrajudicial killings by law enforcement," he said, adding that women played a crucial role in rallying support for the protest.

Kiyya Baloch argues that the core problem in Balochistan is political, not merely a counterterrorism problem, as Islamabad portrays it.

"It is a struggle for greater rights, control over resources, and autonomy," he said. "But the mindset within the state's security institutions perceives it as a security issue that must be dealt with by force."

He sees Islamabad's approach to quell the nationalist rebellion by empowering loyalist politicians, silencing dissenting voices through violence and disappearances, imposing bans on nationalist political groups, and militarizing Balochistan as failing to address the central issue haunting Balochistan.

"The key to resolving this is to recognize it as a genuine indigenous issue that requires a political approach to resolve," he said.

Written and reported by Abubakar Siddique in Prague with additional reporting by RFE/RL Radio Mashaal correspondent Wasim Sajjad in Islamabad.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/palaistan-protests-baluch- women-answers-disappeared/32758863.html

Copyright (c) 2024. 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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S Korea to dissolve Kaesong foundation amid worsening inter-Korean ties

The decision comes amid the firm stance of South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol on implementing hardline policy towards Pyongyang.

By Lee Jeong-Ho for RFA 2024.01.04 -- South Korea has officially decided to dissolve its foundation designed for facilitating the inter-Korean economic complex on Thursday, further solidifying its hardline policy towards Pyongyang.

"Considering operational efficiency and the overall situation of the Kaesong Industrial Complex, we have decided to dissolve the Kaesong Industrial District Foundation," the South's Unification announced on the same day.

The foundation, which was established in 2007, is a legal entity established under the Act on Supporting the Kaesong Industrial Region.

It had the responsibility of managing and operating the inter-Korean economic zone of the Kaesong Industrial Complex.

Following the suspension of the complex's operations in 2016 due to deteriorating inter-Korean relations, the foundation redirected its efforts towards supporting the normalization of the inter-Korean business operations.

"After dissolution, the foundation will be converted into a liquidation corporation and will operate with a minimal staff of no more than five employees," the ministry said, adding that the official procedure is likely to take place from March.

The decision comes amid the firm stance of South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol on implementing hardline policy towards Pyongyang. Yoon's conservative administration has been openly vowing to proceed reciprocal responses to North Korea's provocations.

North Korea has been ramping up its provocation against South Korea. In a rare New Year message delivered late Tuesday, for instance, the North Korean leader's powerful sister Kim Yo Jong claimed that Seoul's hardline policy was only providing justification for Pyongyang's development of its self-defense military capabilities.

"The prolonged suspension of the complex has essentially rendered the foundation's work ineffective, and issues have been continuously raised regarding the inefficiency of operating the foundation externally," a unification ministry official told reporters in Seoul. "Additionally, the recent infringement of our property rights by North Korea also impedes the possibility of resuming the foundation's work."

Seoul's decision also follows a rare criticism by Yoon in July, directed at his own government. Yoon openly stated that the Unification Ministry should not be primarily focusing on providing aid to North Korea, hinting at a shift in the government's approach towards its northern neighbor.

Traditionally, the ministry has been largely dedicated to offering humanitarian aid to the North Korean nationals, whom the South Korean Constitution defines as its own people.

With escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula, the prospects of unification appear increasingly remote for both sides, with Kim Jong Un warning that military conflicts on the Korean peninsula could "arise at any moment," as reported by the North's state-run Korean Central News Agency on Monday.

The KCNA report also said that North Korea's Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, along with the head of the United Front Department Ri Son Gwon, hosted a meeting to discuss ways to deliver Kim's orders to restructure organizations involved in South Korean affairs.

Kim, as he wrapped up its Central Committee Plenary Meeting of the Workers' Party Korea Saturday, also said the inter-Korean unification could never be achieved.

Meanwhile, South Korea and the United States began their first joint military drills for this year on Thursday, involving the U.S Air Force asset, Rivet Joint, a reconnaissance aircraft designed for intelligence collection.

Edited by Taejun Kang and Elaine Chan.

Copyright 1998-2024, 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 January 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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Russia fired North Korean missiles into Ukraine, US says

A White House spokesperson said the US was still assessing the impact of launches on Dec. 30 and Jan. 2.

By Alex Willemyns for RFA 2024.01.04 -- Russian forces have for the first time fired North Korean-made ballistic missiles into Ukraine, a White House spokesman said Thursday.

Pyongyang "recently provided Russia with ballistic missile launchers and several ballistic missiles," and Moscow appeared to have twice test-fired the missiles into Ukrainian territory, said John Kirby, the spokesman for the White House's National Security Council.

Kirby said the first launch took place Saturday and "appears to have landed in an open field in the Zaporizhzhia region." The second took place on Tuesday, "launched multiple North Korean ballistic missiles into Ukraine, including as part of this overnight aerial attack."

"We're still assessing the impacts," he said. "We expect Russia and North Korea to learn from these launches, and we anticipate that Russia will use additional North Korean missiles to target Ukraine's civilian infrastructure and to kill innocent Ukrainian civilians."

He said the missiles had a range of about 900 kilometers (about 550 miles) and called the supply of the weapons "a significant and concerning escalation" in North Korea's support for Russia.

"In return for its support, we assess that Pyongyang is seeking military assistance from Russia, including fighter aircraft, surface-to-air missiles, armored vehicles, ballistic missile production equipment or materials, and other advanced technologies," Kirby said.

The spokesman said that the United States would unveil new sanctions against some of the people responsible for the transfer of the North Korean weapons and that American diplomats would raise the "illegal" provision of the weapons in a U.N. Security Council session.

U.S. officials have for months warned of the budding ties between Moscow and Pyongyang, both of whom have been on the receiving end of a slew of heavy-hitting and isolating U.S.-led sanctions.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Russia in a high-profile meeting in September and South Korea's spy agency in November said that it believed North Korea had already shipped more than a million artillery shells to Russia.

Also in November, a Russian soldier appeared to debunk the denials from Mosow and Pyongyang of any such transfers occurring, posting images of himself posing in front of North Korean-made rockets.

The United States says the arms transfers violate multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions against dealings with the Pyongyang regime, all of which Moscow voted in favor of at the time.

Edited by Malcolm Foster

Copyright 1998-2024, 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 January 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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The UK has issued a statement in response to Russia using weapons sourced from North Korea against Ukraine.

4 January 2024

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said:

The UK strongly condemns Russia's decision to use ballistic missiles sourced from North Korea in recent attacks against Ukraine. We urge North Korea to cease its arms supply to Russia.

Russia is turning to North Korea for its weapons in pursuit of its cynical and ill-conceived military aims in Ukraine. This is symptomatic of its isolation on the world stage and a sign of its desperation. Furthermore, this activity is in violation of multiple UN Security Council Resolutions - which Russia supported as a Permanent Member.

Any support for North Korea's own illegal weapons programmes risks significantly undermining the UN's long standing commitment to security, and further destabilising the region.

North Korea is subject to a robust sanctions regime, and we will continue to work with our partners to ensure that North Korea pays a high price for supporting Russia's illegal war in Ukraine.
Taiwan military to spend NT$10.2 billion on Mirage 2000-5s engine spare parts

ROC Central News Agency

01/04/2024 07:09 PM

Taipei, Jan. 4 (CNA) Taiwan's military has committed to spending NT$10.2 billion (US$328 million) on purchases of engine spare parts for the Air Force's Mirage 2000-5s fleet, to ensure the combat readiness of the French-made fighters after more than two-decades in service, a source told CNA Thursday.

According to a notice posed on the Government e-Procurement System, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) is awarding the NT$10.2 billion contract to Paris-based Safran Aircraft Engines for "engine spare parts."

According to the notice, the order will be fulfilled from January 2024 until Dec. 2028 in Hsinchu, with the Republic of China Air Force listed as the competent agency.

Although the notice did not specify what kind of aircraft the engine spare parts are for, an unnamed source familiar with the matter told CNA that they are for the Air Force's Mirage 2000-5s fleet based at Hsinchu Air Base.

The latest deal marks the third contract the MND has signed with foreign companies over the past month to ensure that its two-decade-old Mirage 2000-5 fighters remain available and mission capable, according to the source.

A day earlier, the MND announced on Wednesday that it has reached an agreement with a French company to buy parts and components for air-to-air missiles fired from its Mirage 2000-5s. The parts and components are for MBDA MICA and R.550 Magic air-to-air missiles, according to the same source.

Taipei ordered 60 Mirage 2000-5s from Paris in the 1990s, with the aircraft entering service in 1997. Over the past 20-plus years, however, crashes have reduced the fleet to 54 aircraft.

The French-made jets are responsible for safeguarding northern Taiwan airspace.

(By Wu Sheng-hung and Joseph Yeh)

Enditem/AW

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War in Ukraine - Military support for Ukraine

Germany - Federal Government

Germany provides support for Ukraine by supplying equipment and weapons, these come from supplies of the Federal Arms Forces and from deliveries from industry financed from the Federal Government's funds for security capacity building. An overview.

Thursday, 4 January 2024

This list provides an overview of military assistance provided by the Federal Republic of Germany to Ukraine. It includes deliveries from the Federal Armed Forces, from industry and assistance measures together with partners, which have, inter alia, been financed from Federal Government funds for security capacity building.

Funding for the security capacity building initiative amounts to 5.4 billion Euros for 2023 (after 2 billion Euros for 2022) and additional authorisations to enter commitments in the following years amounting to 10.5 billion Euros. These funds are to be used primarily for military assistance to Ukraine. At the same time, they will be used for re-filling Federal Armed Forces stocks for items delivered to Ukraine as well as for Germany's contributions to the European Peace Facility (EPF), from which costs incurred from providing military assistance to Ukraine can be re-imbursed to EU member states.

Delivered military support to Ukraine:

(Changes compared to the previous update in bold)

Armoured fighting vehicles

ammunition for LEOPARD 2 A6 (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*)

90 infantry fighting vehicles MARDER with ammunition and spare parts (from Bundeswehr and industry stock s*) (before: 80)

69 tracked all-terrain vehicles Bandvagn 206 (BV206)*

30 main battle tanks LEOPARD 1 A5*

16 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC)*

138 MG3 for LEOPARD 2, MARDER and DACHS

ammunition for LEOPARD 1*

18 LEOPARD 2 A 6 main battle tanks with ammunition and spare parts (German share in joint project with further LEOPARD 2 operators)

50 MRAP vehicles DINGO

54 M113 armoured personnel carriers each with 2 MG* (systems of Denmark, upgrades financed by Germany)

Air defence

IRIS-T SLM missiles*

1 air defence system SKYNEX with ammunition*

8 air surveillance radar TRML-4D* (before: 6)

52 self-propelled anti-aircraft guns GEPARD with spare part

116,362 rounds ammunitions for self-propelled anti-aircraft guns GEPARD (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*)

2 air defence systems PATRIOT with spare parts

PATRIOT missiles

3 air defence system IRIS-T SLM*

IRIS-T SLS missiles

2 IRIS-T SLS launchers*

2 PATRIOT launchers

4,000 rounds practice ammunitions for self-propelled anti-aircraft guns

500 Man Portable Air Defense Systems STINGER

2,700 Man Portable Air Defense Systems STRELA

Artillery

44,970 rounds 155mm ammunition (before: 35,890) (from Bundeswehr and industry stock s*)

ammunition for multiple rocket launchers MARS II

20,872 rounds 155mm smoke/illuminating ammunition

2 wheeled self-propelled howitzer Zuzana 2* (project jointly financed with Denmark and Norway)

155mm precision guided ammunition* (SMArt, VULCANO)

5 multiple rocket launchers MARS II with ammunition (German share in joint project with USA and Great Britain)

14 self-propelled howitzers Panzerhaubitze 2000 with spare parts (German share in joint project with the Netherlands)

20 rocket launchers 70mm on pick-up trucks with rockets*

counter battery radar system COBRA*

10 laser target designators and portable fire control modules for VULCANO artillery ammunition*

Military Engineering Capabilities

16 mine clearing tanks WISENT 1* (before: 14)

14 bridge-laying tanks BEAVER with spare parts* (before: 13)

6 mobile, remote controlled and protected mine clearing systems*

250 tool kits with blasting material*

material for explosive ordnance disposal (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*)

11 mine ploughs for T-72*

18 heavy and medium bridge systems and 12 trailers

5 bridges for bridge-laying tank BEAVER

15 armoured recovery vehicles Bergepanzer 2*

2 armoured recovery vehicles Bergepanzer 3

5armoured engineer vehicles DACHS*

12 mobile and protected mine clearing systems Ahlmann*

Protective and Special Equipment

31,350 combat helmets (before: 28,000)

212 drone detection systems* (before: 182)

56 ground surveillance radars GO12* (before: 46)

162 reconnaissance drones VECTOR with spare parts*

243 border protection vehicles*

4 AMPS self-protection systems for helicopters*

1 LUNA NG reconnaissance system*

50 mobile antenna mast systems*

63 laser range finders*

2,667 Crypto Phones*

90,600 safety glasses (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*)

7 reconnaissance drones Primoco ONE*

20 unmanned surface vessels*

230 SatCom terminals*

1 PCB printer*

100 reconnaissance drones RQ-35 HEIDRUN*

1 antenna hub station

1 Satcom surveillance system*

1,288 binoculars

5 mobile reconnaissance systems SurveilSPIRE*

10 radio jammers*

57 anti-drone sensors and jammers*

40 frequency range extensions for anti-drone devices*

1 communications electronic scanner/jammer systems*

32 reconnaissance drones*

40 laser target designators*

10 anti-drone guns*

1 radio frequency system

3,000 field telephones with 5.000 cable reels and carrying straps

353 night vision goggles*

12 electronic anti-drone devices*

165 field glasses*

6 mobile decontamination vehicles HEP 70 including decontamination material

10 HMMWV (8x ground radar capability, 2x jamming/anti drone capability)*

1 high frequency unit with equipment*

Logistics

250 trucks Zetros* (before: 240)

90 truck tractor trains 8x8 HX81 and 90 semi-trailers* (before: 87/89)

358 vehicles (trucks, minibuses, all-terrain vehicles) (from Bundeswehr and industry stock s*) (before: 324)

8 tankers Zetros

25 trucks MAN TGS*

40 load-handling trucks 8x8

34 load-handling trucks 15t*

6 load-handling trucks 8x6 with 21 roll of containers*

14 tracked and remote controlled infantry vehicles THeMIS*

179 Pick-ups*

12 tank transporter tractor M1070 Oshkosh*

30 protected vehicles*

Combat Readiness and Survivability

305 assault rifles MK 556 *

* 47.85 million rounds of ammunition for fire arms (before: 47.1 million) (from Bundeswehr and industry stock s*)

1.162 winter camouflage nets (before: 10) (from Bundeswehr and industry stock s*)

2,000 winter camouflage ponchos *

* 239,991 rounds ammunition 40mm*

medical material

500,000 first aid kits*

30 grenade launchers GMG*

15 precision rifles HLR 338 with 60,000 rounds ammunition*

10 All Terrain Tracked Carrier Warthog Ambulances

49 ambulances*

30,000 winter clothing sets

27,477 backpacks

3 spare part packages for VECTOR drones

1,202 Infusion kits

Spare parts WISENT

field hospital*

100 machine guns MG5*

8 dental sterilizers

11,000 group module rations

103,000 tourniquets

500 pistols SFP9*

2 hangar tents*

8 lift trucks*

295 generators

168 mobile heating systems*

36,400 wool blankets

14,000 sleeping bags

Mi-24 spare parts*

spare parts for heavy machine gun M2

200 tents

116,000 winter jackets

80,000 winter trousers

240,000 winter hats

405,000 pre-packaged military Meals Ready

67 fridges for medical material*

3,000 anti-tank weapons Panzerfaust 3 with 900 firing devices

14,900 anti-tank mines (9,300* from industry stocks)

50 Bunkerfaust with 15 firing devices

100 machine gun MG3 with 500 spare barrels and breechblocks

100,000 hand grenades

5,300 explosive charges

100,000 m detonating cord and 100.000 detonators

350,000 detonators

100 auto-injector devices

15 palettes military clothing

1,200 hospital beds

18 palettes medical material, 60 surgical lights

protective clothing, surgical masks

1 field hospital (project jointly financed with Estonia)*

Diesel and gasoline*

10 tons AdBlue*

500 medical gauzes*

MiG-29 spare parts*

7,944 man-portable anti-tank weapons RGW 90 Matador*

Military support to Ukraine in planning/in execution

(due to security concerns, the Federal Government abstains from providing details on transportation modalities and dates until after handover)

Armoured fighting vehicles

105 LEOPARD 1 A5 main battle tanks* (project jointly financed with Denmark)

10 infantry fighting vehicles MARDER*

4 tracked all-terrain vehicles Bandvagn 206 (BV206)*

50 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC)*

ammunition for main battle tanks for LEOPARD 2 and LEOPARD 1*

ammunition for infantry fighting vehicles MARDER*

Air defence

9 air defence systems IRIS-T SLM* (before: 5) *

* 1 air defence system SKYNEX with ammunition*

IRIS-T SLM/SLS missiles*

22 launchers IRIS-T SLS*

259,680 rounds of GEPARD ammunition*

Artillery

more than 250,000 projectiles 155mm*

18 wheeled self-propelled howitzers RCH 155*

14 wheeled self-propelled howitzer Zuzana 2* (project jointly financed with Denmark and Norway)

Military Engineering Capabilities

250 tool kits with blasting material*

material for explosive ordnance disposal*

6 armoured recovery vehicles Bergepanzer 2*

4 mobile, remote controlled and protected mine clearing systems*

12 bridge-laying tanks BEAVER*

2 mobile and protected mine clearing systems Ahlmann*

26 mine clearing tanks WISENT 1*

2 heavy and medium bridge systems*

Protective and Special Equipment

50 drone detection systems* (before: 30)

26,850 combat helmets

725 laser range finders*

11 reconnaissance drones Primoco ONE*

12 AMPS self-protection systems for helicopters*

10,000 safety glasses*

10 mobile reconnaissance systems SurveilSPIRE*

263 reconnaissance drones VECTOR*

121 reconnaissance drones*

50 unmanned surface vessels*

2,000 portable light systems*

257 border protection vehicles*

vehicle decontamination system

11 communications electronic scanner/jammer systems*

Logistics

41 Mercedes trucks *

* 5 Toyota Land Cruiser*

11 tank transporter tractor M1070 Oshkosh*

22 tankers Zetros*

1 load-handling trucks 8x6 with 7 roll of containers*

2 tractors and 4 trailers*

10 protected vehicles*

Combat Readiness and Survivability

4,695 assault rifles MK 556 *

* 8.75 million rounds of ammunition for fire arms * (before: 8.3 million)

* 8.000 anti-tank mines *

* 435 precision rifles HLR 338 with 9.9m rounds ammunition*

18,000 man-portable anti-tank weapons*

2 dental sterilizers

191,925 rounds ammunition 40mm for grenade launchers*

continuing deliveries of medical material*

70 grenade launchers GMG*

* Deliveries from industry stocks financed by German funds for security capacity building. Some of the deliveries require upgrades or productions is ongoing; also training measures take place.

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Russian Air Defenses Foil Ukrainian Attack on Crimea - Sevastopol Governor

Sputnik News

20240104

Russian air defenses mobilized to repel a Ukrainian airborne attack against the city on January 4.

Sevastopol Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said that several Ukrainian airborne targets had been downed by Russian air defenses on Thursday according to preliminary reports. He also urged city residents to remain indoors to avoid getting injured by debris from the falling missiles and drones.

"The military is repelling an attack of the Ukronazis. According to preliminary information, several air targets have already been shot down. All services have been brought to a state of combat readiness. Sevastopol rescue service at the moment does not register damage to infrastructure," Razvozhayev wrote in a Telegram post.

The governor added that a house on Glukhova Street was reportedly damaged by shrapnel and at least one person was injured.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, Kiev forces carried out the attack using guided air-to-ground missiles.

The attack was successfully thwarted by Russian air defenses that shot down ten Ukrainian missiles over the Crimean Peninsula, the ministry added.

A Sputnik

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Strange turns in the pursuit of justice: One man gets a year in a local jail for sexually abusing a minor. Another faces a minimum of five years in federal prison for attempting, but not succeeding, to persuade a woman to send him nude photos of her young daughters.

Meanwhile, a student in Buffalo schools is sentenced to six months in jail for bringing an illegal ghost gun into Academy School 131, while a day earlier, a man whose criminality put the lives of uncounted numbers of children at risk walks away with home detention, probation and an order of restitution.

Its the American justice system on startling, head-scratching display. What it shows is that justice is often no more than an approximation. Indeed, its hard for it to be more than that given the American commitment to standards such as innocent until proven guilty, the right to confront your accuser, the hurdles of reasonable doubt, the role of differing jurisdictions and the matter of common human decency.

Consider the conviction and yearlong sentence of former political player G. Steven Pigeon, who pleaded guilty to a state felony of first-degree sexual abuse. The 63-year-old had been accused of sexually assaulting a 9-year-old girl between Thanksgiving and Christmas 2016 but taking the case to trial would have required the child and her family to testify in open court. For that reason, and with the familys approval, Pigeon got off easy.

It worked out differently for Michael Fratini, whose crime never harmed a child, though not for any concern on his part. He wanted nude pictures of children and with no need for a child to testify  it was her mother he approached  there was less leverage for him to exert. His lesser crime, prosecuted in federal court, will result in stiffer sentence than Pigeons: at least five years in prison and as many as 20. The differences between the cases may make their outcomes understandable, if still less than satisfactory.

Strange also are the cases of Angel Dalfin and a Buffalo teenager. Dalfin, considered to be one of the worst rental housing operators in Buffalo, escaped a prison sentence despite having falsely stated that he had no knowledge of lead-based paint hazards in 23 rental homes he sold.

Lead-based paint is known to cause catastrophic, lifelong impairments, including intellectual disability, behavioral disorders, loss of consciousness and even death. The World Health Organization says there is no known safe level of concentration in the blood. Yet an investigation by the state Attorney Generals Office found that Dalfin repeatedly allowed lead paint to deteriorate, and, in an apparent effort to cover up his criminality, provided deficient and false lead disclosures  or no disclosures at all  to tenants and buyers.

Dalfin faced the possibility of eight to 14 months in prison and a fine between $5,500 and $55,000. Instead, U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo sentenced him to five years of probation, eight months of home detention, 600 hours of community service and restitution of $115,000.

Meanwhile, back in state court, Youth Part Judge Brenda Freedman sentenced a 17-year-old to six months in jail followed by three years of probation for trying to bring a disassembled handgun into school inside his backpack. The adolescent offender fled from the building after the weapon was confiscated. Both he and Dalfin put children at risk; one got jail, the other got a gift.

So, whats the bottom line? Admittedly, the cases arent easily comparable, but they underscore the convolutions of administering justice. Too many factors, including the influences of human nature, are at play to achieve perfect results.

So, maybe this is the best lesson: Neither an offender nor victim be. You wont enjoy the experience.Whats your opinion? Send it to us at lettertoeditor@buffnews.com. Letters should be a maximum of 300 words and must convey an opinion. The column does not print poetry, announcements of community events or thank you letters. A writer or household may appear only once every 30 days. All letters are subject to fact-checking and editing.
Russian Troops in Special Op Zone Receive Upgraded T-80BVM Tanks

Sputnik News

20240104

Upgraded T-80BVM tanks have been supplied to the Russian army units in the Zaporozhye direction for the first time since the start of the military operation in Ukraine, a Russian tank unit commander said on Thursday.

Upgraded T-80BVM tanks have been supplied to the Russian army units in the Zaporozhye direction for the first time since the start of the military operation in Ukraine, a Russian tank unit commander said on Thursday.

"We have received a completely new vehicle. The vehicle has a fundamentally new communication system ... It cannot be jammed, it works very well. Its sound is high-quality, clear, there are no interruptions. The machine is also equipped with a completely new protection system," he told reporters.

The officer also said that additional armor modules were installed on the tank, enabling it to withstand strikes from drones and anti-tank missiles. The reliability and maneuverability of the new T-80BVM tank are also superior compared with other tanks, such as the German-made Leopard tanks.

"The same Leopards are drowning in the mud, they are constantly, constantly drowning. We can observed from drones how they are being taken out [of the mud]. Our vehicle has a gas turbine engine, it is not afraid of mud or slush, it flies over all potholes. This is the difference that allows our tank units to operate in any weather, support infantry and overcome enemy trenches and dugouts without slowing down," he said.

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that over 1,600 tanks could be produced and repaired in the country in 2024, while Ukraine had received a total of around 450 tanks from Western countries.

A Sputnik

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248 Russian Soldiers Return Home From Ukrainian Captivity

Sputnik News

20240104

In mid-December, President Vladimir Putin said that the number of Ukrainian prisoners of war had increased dramatically. 43 Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers surrendered to Russian troops in the last week of December, half of them in the direction of Kupyansk.

The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that 248 Russian servicemen were returned from captivity in Ukraine after difficult negotiations. The ministry added that the return of the Russian servicemen was made possible by the humanitarian mediation of the United Arab Emirates.

"On January 3, as a result of a difficult negotiation process, 248 Russian servicemen were returned from the territory controlled by the Kiev regime. The return ... from captivity was made possible thanks to the mediation of the humanitarian character of the United Arab Emirates," the statement read.

All the released Russian servicemen will receive the necessary medical and psychological assistance. They will be transported by military transport aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces for treatment and rehabilitation in medical facilities of the Russian Defense Ministry, the statement added.

Russian Human Rights Commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova said 75 servicemen had been returned without exchange.

The UAE Foreign Ministry on Thursday thanked the Russian and Ukrainian governments for their cooperation in the prisoner exchange.

"The Ministry expressed their appreciation to the governments of Russia and Ukraine for their cooperation and response to the UAE's mediation efforts to make the exchange process a success," the UAE Foreign Ministry announced.

They noted that the successful prisoner exchange reflected the strong friendship of the United Arab Emirates, adding that it was one of the largest prisoner exchanges between the two sides since the start of hostilities.

A Sputnik

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Andriy Yermak had a phone call with Timothy Barrow

President of Ukraine

4 January 2024 - 23:00

Pursuant to the instruction of the President of Ukraine, Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak had a phone call with National Security Adviser to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Timothy Barrow.

The interlocutors discussed preparations for the next meeting of national security advisers and political advisers to the heads of state on the implementation of the Ukrainian Peace Formula, which will take place in Davos in January.

The Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine also informed the interlocutor in detail of the consequences of the recent massive attacks on Ukrainian cities and villages by Russia during the New Year holidays. He emphasized that dozens of Ukrainians were killed and more than 150 were wounded by these terrorist attacks.

The two sides agreed on the importance of bolstering Ukraine's air defense, which could be facilitated, in particular, by the United Kingdom.

Andriy Yermak also noted the productive work of the Ukrainian and British teams on the agreement on security commitments for Ukraine, as envisaged by the Vilnius Joint Declaration of the G7 countries.

The Head of the President's Office thanked the government and people of the United Kingdom for all the defense assistance to our country and leadership in supporting Ukraine in the fight for freedom, democracy and security in Europe.



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Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Giorgia Meloni discussed cooperation in the context of the Italian presidency of the Group of Seven

President of Ukraine

4 January 2024 - 21:56

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone call with Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the Italian Prime Minister for the comprehensive support for Ukraine and congratulated Italy on taking over the presidency of the Group of Seven.

The Head of State informed the interlocutor of the consequences of massive Russian missile strikes on Ukrainian cities that led to fatalities and damaged civilian infrastructure.

The President also spoke about the situation on the battlefield.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Giorgia Meloni for the willingness to further assist in strengthening Ukrainian air defense, which is extremely important for saving lives and ensuring the possibility of normal existence for our country.

The leaders discussed further security cooperation, in particular joint defense production, which can strengthen not only Ukraine and Italy, but also the whole of Europe and make a significant contribution to global security.

The interlocutors paid special attention to preparations for a meeting of national security and political advisors on the implementation of the Peace Formula in Davos in January.

The President and the Prime Minister also instructed the teams to intensify bilateral work on security commitments for Ukraine.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised Italy's support for our country at the level of the Group of Seven and in European institutions. He also thanked the Italian Republic for supporting Ukraine on the path to European integration.

The parties also discussed securing financial and political support for Ukraine from the European Union, which will be an important contribution to strengthening our country and enhancing its resilience in the war against the Russian aggressor.







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Ensuring the supply of additional air defense systems and missiles is the number one priority - address by the President of Ukraine

President of Ukraine

4 January 2024 - 19:23

Dear Ukrainians!

These days, many regions of our state - various cities and villages, border areas, areas near the frontline and throughout the country - have been subjected to Russian shelling, massive missile strikes, and continuous attacks by "Shahed" drones. Obviously, the rulers of the terrorist state tried to use this New Year's period - the end of last year, the first days of this year - to break our spirit and bring back the old threat we faced last year. The threat of destruction of our energy sector, the foundations of our life.

Our defenders of the sky are doing everything possible to protect the state. The entire team of our diplomats, all those responsible for communication with partners, and Ukrainian representatives abroad are doing everything they can to ensure the delivery of additional air defense systems and missiles. This is the number one priority. Of course, the same top priority is new support packages for our warriors. Artillery, including 155 mm caliber, electronic warfare equipment, new drones and other necessary items. I am grateful to all our partners who are already forming new support packages. There will be a lot of relevant communication this month.

But now, today, I would like to commend those who are working day and night, on any holiday and in any conditions, throughout Ukraine to eliminate the consequences of Russian strikes. Sumy, Chernihiv, Lviv, Odesa, Kharkiv and Kyiv, Dnipro and Nikopol, Kryvyi Rih and Orikhiv. Zaporizhzhia. The cities of Donetsk region. Kherson region. Everywhere. Our rescuers from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. Volunteers who help. Our police officers. I thank all of you whose job is to rescue people!

I would like to mention in particular the rescuers working in Kyiv: Master Sergeant Dmytro Tarasenko, Sergeant Anton Dyachenko, and Chief Master Sergeant Andriy Sheliakov. Thank you, guys! Odesa, State Emergency Service of Ukraine: Senior Master Sergeant Oleksandr Dmytrenko and Colonel Andriy Zadoyanyi. Thank you! Kharkiv: Sergeants Vyacheslav Iukhno and Oleksandr Zinchenko. Well done! Kherson: Sergeants Yevheniy Samiylyk and Dmytro Motuz. Sumy: Master Sergeant Roman Shchykot and commander of the 35th state fire and rescue post Oleksandr Batiukhno. Thank you! I would also like to recognize the employees of Sumy region's utility companies: Oleksandr Reshetnyk and Oleksandr Dzekelev, Esman village community. Also, I would like to mention Taras Ovsiychuk, a pediatric surgeon at the Kherson Children's Regional Clinical Hospital, and Yuriy Shashkin, a doctor of the emergency team working in Kherson region. I thank you all for your work! Valeria Churkina, a police officer in Kharkiv region, Police Lieutenant, thank you! Serhiy Mykolayenko, a tractor driver at a Kharkiv utility company involved in the elimination of the consequences of the strikes. Thank you, Serhiy! Maksym Baranetskyi, Odesa regional organization of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society. Volodymyr Sudak, a fire and rescue specialist who works for a utility company in Odesa and distinguished himself in rescue operations. And also Olena Sakharova, a volunteer at the rapid response unit of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society.

I thank you and everyone who works to save lives!

We must withstand Russian terror and defend our country.

Glory to Ukraine!

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Ukraine Says It Hit Two Russian Military Targets in Crimea

By VOA News January 04, 2024

Ukraine said on Thursday its air force struck two Russian military targets in occupied Crimea, including a command post near Sevastopol, the peninsula's largest city.

"Thanks again to the air force pilots and everyone who planned the operation for perfect combat work," Ukraine's Air Force Commander, Mykola Oleshchuk, said on Telegram.

Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Moscow-installed governor of Sevastopol, wrote on Telegram that the attack was "the most massive in recent times."

Just after midnight, Russia's Defense Ministry reported that its air defense units had downed 36 Ukrainian drones over Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014.

Ukraine has recently enhanced its attacks on Crimea in hopes of forcing Russia's fleet to retreat from the Black Sea.

Drones will be on the docket next week, when NATO and Ukrainian officials are set to meet to discuss Russia's air campaign against Ukraine, which has included large waves of attacks since the start of the year.

NATO spokesperson Dylan White said Thursday that NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg would convene the NATO-Ukraine Council on January 10 "following recent Russian missile and drone attacks."

Ukrainian officials have pushed for allies to bolster the country's air defenses, while Russia has used daily missile and drone attacks to target Ukrainian cities.

Two of the most active nights of Russian attacks have taken place during the past week, including dozens of missiles and drones targeting the capital, Kyiv.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Wednesday that a key topic for the NATO-Ukraine Council meeting would be strengthening Ukrainian air defenses, and he called the talks an "important sign of Euro-Atlantic unity in the face of Russian terror escalation."

On Tuesday, Kuleba called on allies to quickly send air defense systems and ammunition to Ukraine, and to provide Ukrainian forces with combat drones and missiles with ranges longer than 300 kilometers.

Kuleba also called for approvals to use seized Russian assets to help Ukraine and to isolate Russian diplomats.

Ukraine said Thursday that Russia continued its aerial attacks overnight with two drones that Ukrainian air defenses downed in the Khmelnytskyi area.

The Russian attack also included three guided missiles targeting Kharkiv and Donetsk, the Ukrainian air force said.

Some information for this report came from Agence France-Presse and Reuters.



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NEWARK, Del, Jan. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The operational technology security market is on the brink of reaching a substantial valuation, projected to reach US$ 22.1 billion by 2024. The growth is primarily driven by the burgeoning interest and insights surrounding the operational technology security market. The trend is anticipated to open doors to new opportunities within the market, with a projected CAGR of 18.4% from 2024 to 2034. By 2034, the market is poised to soar to an estimated total valuation of around US$ 119.6 billion.



The operational technology (OT) security market is experiencing significant growth, driven by several key factors shaping the cybersecurity landscape. A notable driver is the increasing adoption of cloud-based OT security solutions. Organizations recognize the advantages of cloud deployment, which offers a cost-effective approach to enhancing cybersecurity across various industries.

Cloud-based solutions prove advantageous over on-premises alternatives, as they eliminate the need for expensive hardware equipment, reducing storage, power, and cooling costs. This shift towards cloud solutions streamlines operational expenses and contributes to market expansion.

Get Exclusive Sample Copy of the Report: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-18543

Integrating government initiatives into security standards is another influential factor fueling market growth. As governments globally prioritize cybersecurity, the collaboration between the public and private sectors contributes to establishing robust security standards. This integration bolsters the overall resilience of OT security systems, instilling confidence in organizations regarding the protection of critical infrastructure.

The rising demand for cyber threat modeling solutions propels the OT security market forward. Organizations are increasingly recognizing the need for advanced threat modeling capabilities to safeguard against evolving cyber threats. This surge in demand underscores a proactive approach to cybersecurity, driven by the ever-evolving nature of cyber threats in the contemporary digital landscape.

However, challenges persist, acting as constraints on the market growth. The shortage of trained security staff proficient in analyzing OT security systems poses a notable hurdle. Additionally, the high installation costs associated with OT security solutions limit their widespread adoption. Organizations face budgetary constraints and resource shortages, hindering their ability to invest in comprehensive security measures.

Key Takeaways from the Market Study

The market for operational technology security in 2023 totaled US$ 19 billion.

Based on enterprise size, large enterprises are expected to dominate at a market share of 72% in 2024.

Japan is estimated to register at a CAGR of 19.6% by 2034.

Australia experiences significant growth, projected at a CAGR of 21.9% by 2034.

Rising adoption of cloud-based OT security solutions and the surge in the integration of government initiatives in security standards are driving the market growth is considered a major driver of the operational technology security market - Says Sudip Saha, Managing Director and Co-Founder at Future Market Insights.

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Competitive Landscape

The operational technology security industry boasts a substantial array of market participants. Research and development play a pivotal role among these players, primarily focusing on introducing eco-friendly product lines as a core aspect of their manufacturing endeavors. Furthermore, they employ various expansion strategies, including collaborations, mergers and acquisitions, and diligent exploration of regulatory approvals to bolster their market presence.

Some of the key developments are

In June 2023, Thales proposed acquiring Tesserent, a leading cybersecurity firm in Australia and New Zealand.

In April 2023, Cisco Systems, renowned for its longstanding support of the free and open-source programming community, unveiled a collection of new open-source tools for developers involved in application modernization at the KubeCon+CloudNativeCon event in Amsterdam.

Key Players:

Broadcom

Cisco Systems

CyberArk Software Ltd

Darktrace Holdings Limited

Fortinet, Inc

Forcepoint

Nozomi Networks Inc

Qualys, Inc

Sophos Ltd

Z-scaler Inc.

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Market Segmentation

By Component:

Software

Services

By Deployment:

Cloud

On-Premise

By Enterprise Size:

Large Enterprises

Small & Medium Enterprises

By Vertical:

Manufacturing

Transportation & Logistics

Energy & Utilities

Oil & Gas Operations

Government

Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals

Others



By Region:

North America

Latin America

Western Europe

Eastern Europe

South Asia and Pacific

East Asia

The Middle East & Africa



About the Technology Division at Future Market Insights

The technology team at Future Market Insights offers expert analysis, time-efficient research, and strategic recommendations to provide authentic insights and accurate results to help clients worldwide. With over 100+ reports and one million+ data points, the team has analyzed the industry lucidly in 50+ countries for over a decade. The team briefly analyzes key trends, including competitive landscape, profit margin, and research development efforts.

Authored By:

Sudip Saha is the managing director and co-founder at Future Market Insights, an award-winning market research and consulting firm. Sudip is committed to shaping the market research industry with credible solutions and constantly makes a buzz in the media with his thought leadership. His vast experience in market research and project management across verticals in APAC, EMEA, and the Americas reflects his growth-oriented approach to clients.

He is a strong believer and proponent of innovation-based solutions, emphasizing customized solutions to meet one client's requirements at a time. His foresightedness and visionary approach recently got him recognized as the Global Icon in Business Consulting at the ET Inspiring Leaders Awards 2022.

Have a Look at the Related Reports of the Technology Domain:

The projected size of the operational technology market was estimated to be US$ 19 billion in the year 2023. By the conclusion of 2024, industry forecasts suggest a significant increase, reaching a valuation of US$ 22.1 billion. Throughout the forecast period, the market is anticipated to experience robust growth with an impressive Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 18.40%, culminating in a substantial size of US$ 119.6 billion by the year 2034.

The estimated value of the CDN (Content Delivery Network) security market stands at US$ 8,411.5 million in the year 2023. As we look toward the future, the CDN security industry is anticipated to achieve a remarkable valuation, reaching US$ 50,731.1 million by the year 2033. The adoption of CDN security is positioned for substantial growth, with a projected Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 19.9% from 2023 to 2033.

The anticipated demand for global corporate web security market is projected to surpass US$ 3.2 billion in the year 2022. Demonstrating a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.0%, the sales of corporate web security solutions are forecasted to reach a significant milestone, totaling US$ 7.6 billion by the year 2032.

The BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance) security market is anticipated to witness a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 13.2% throughout the forecast period. As of 2022, the market boasts a current valuation of US$ 61,994.54 million. Looking ahead, the market is poised for substantial growth, with an anticipated value reaching US$ 214,199.15 million by the year 2032.

According to the analysis report by Future Market Insights, the global sales of the Security Testing Market reached US$ 7.9 billion in 2021. Projected for growth from 2022 to 2032, the market is expected to witness an expansion of 11.5%. Within this dynamic landscape, the Application Security Testing component emerges as the highest revenue-generating segment, with a projected growth at a notable Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of around 11.8% during the forecast period from 2022 to 2032.

About Future Market Insights (FMI):

Future Market Insights, Inc. (ESOMAR certified, recipient of the Stevie Award, and a member of the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce) offers profound insights into the driving factors that are boosting demand in the market. FMI stands as the leading global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, consulting, and events for the Packaging, Food and Beverage, Consumer Technology, Healthcare, Industrial, and Chemicals markets. With a vast team of over 5000 analysts worldwide, FMI provides global, regional, and local expertise on diverse domains and industry trends across more than 110 countries.

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New York, Jan. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a recent Technavio report titled Cloud Storage Services Market, it is projected that the market will grow at a rapid pace in the coming years. The market size is estimated to increase by USD 123.84 billion, accelerating at a CAGR of 19.56% during the forecast period. North America is anticipated to contribute 38% to the overall market growth. Request Sample Report

The expansion of the cloud storage services market is significantly driven by the increase in data production. This growth is driven by the indispensable role of data centers in facilitating efficient storage and management across diverse cloud environmentspublic, private, and hybrid. Moreover, the demand for seamless disaster recovery, data synchronization, and resource optimization, with the rising significance of edge computing and cybersecurity, further solidifies the market's expansion.

Factors driving North America's market expansion include the substantial data generation rate, investments in data centers, and the presence of major companies like IBM, Google, Microsoft, and AWS. Additionally, the increasing adoption of advanced technologies like 5G in the telecommunications sector is expected to boost the demand for cloud storage services. Furthermore, investments in the region's telecommunication network infrastructure are stimulated by increasing data traffic from IoT device adoption and the emergence of big data analytics. These factors collectively drive the market growth in North America during the forecast period. Download the sample report

Technavio highlights the emerging trends and challenges of Cloud Storage Services Market:

Trend - The prevailing trend influencing the cloud storage services market is the substantial adoption among SMEs. This shift is emphasized by the increased utilization of Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS) models. SMEs gravitate toward cloud storage due to its robust encryption, seamless API integration, and virtualization capabilities. They also harness technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Big Data Analytics for heightened efficiency and a competitive edge.

Challenge - Migration hurdles, latency concerns, and compatibility obstacles are significant challenges impeding the expansion of the cloud storage services market. These issues revolve around scalability limitations, ensuring data redundancy, navigating compliance and regulations, and addressing multi-tenancy challenges. Additionally, managing various storage types like object, file, and block storage, alongside optimizing Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) for seamless accessibility, especially on mobile devices, requires effective cloud management platforms to mitigate these impediments.

Companies like Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co., Dell Technologies Inc., and Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. are major players in the Cloud Storage Services Market. For more details on the companies and their offerings, download the sample report here

Technavio has segmented the market based on Component (solutions and services), End-user (large enterprises and SMEs), and Geography (APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and Middle East and Africa).

The solutions segment is expected to witness notable expansion during the forecast period. Its ability to cater to individual customer requirements and generate value drives its growth in the global cloud storage services market. Moreover, within this segment, services such as data security, file synchronization, sharing, disaster recovery, and backup are major factors that help in meeting diverse consumer needs.

The cloud storage services market is experiencing rapid growth, anticipated to accelerate significantly from 2023 to 2028. Factors driving this expansion include high data generation, increased adoption by SMEs, and the widespread use of cloud storage by large enterprises. However, challenges related to migration and latency are set as challenges to this growth. The solutions segment, offering services such as data security and disaster recovery, plays a crucial role in driving market development. North America stands out in this growth due to factors like high data generation and the adoption of advanced technologies. Major companies employ various strategies like alliances and product launches to strengthen their market presence. Overall, the cloud storage services market holds substantial growth potential globally. Buy the report now

Related Reports:

Cloud Discovery Market: The cloud discovery market share is expected to increase by USD 1.27 billion from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 16.26%.

Hybrid Cloud Market: The hybrid cloud market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 19.48% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 127 billion.

About US



Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavios report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavios comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

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New York, Jan. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a recent Technavio report titled Foreign Exchange Market, it is projected that the market size will grow at a rapid pace in the coming years.

What is the projected size of the Foreign Exchange Market in the next five years?

The market size is projected to grow by USD 516.48 billion, accelerating at a CAGR of 10.31% from 2023 to 2028. It is revealed that Europe is estimated to contribute 43% to the growth of the global market. Download the sample report here

What is the significant driver of the Foreign Exchange Market?

The Foreign Exchange Market experiences growth driven by enhanced liquidity. This rise is driven by various factors, including the Exchange Rate dynamics, managed by Forex Brokers. Bid and Ask Prices establish the Spread, measured in Pips or Pipettes, influencing trading outcomes. Leverage and Margin facilitate positions - Long or Short - impacting profit or loss. Understanding Lot Size aids traders in navigating market movements, shaping the landscape of this dynamic financial domain.

Which region has the highest market share growth?

In North America, foreign exchange trading activity surged by 3.6% from October 2020 to October 2021, attributed to ongoing trade monitoring and surveillance in the market. Tightening regulatory scrutiny of leading companies was necessitated following recent collusive activities and benchmark manipulations in currency markets, prompting more transparent trading activity records. Sell-side dealers are expected to play a significant role ahead, potentially enhancing audit standards and facilitating better communication among traders. Furthermore, periods of low volatility often lead to consistent earnings in stable currencies considered safe havens, while speculative counterparts may experience substantial gains.

What are the emerging trends of Foreign Exchange Market?

The Foreign Exchange Market witnesses an evolving trend marked by increased trading transparency, a significant force fueling its expansion. Understanding Currency Pairs - Base and Quote currencies - guides Market orders, Limit orders, and Entry Orders. Major pairs, Minor pairs, and Exotic Pairs diversify trading portfolios. Embracing transparency reshapes market dynamics, fostering informed decisions and shaping a more robust and accessible trading landscape.

What are the challenges faced by the Foreign Exchange Market?

Counterparty risks in foreign exchange pose a notable hurdle, impeding market expansion. Factors like Cross Currency complexities and reliance on Forex Trading Platforms amplify this challenge. Central Banks and Economic Indicators influence risk, impacting margin calls. Understanding Fundamental and Technical Analysis aids in mitigating risks, yet fluctuations persist, aggravated by varying Forex Market Hours. Addressing these risks is significant to boosting a more resilient and stable Foreign Exchange Market environment.

How is the Foreign Exchange Market segmented?

The market is segmented by Type (Reporting Dealers, Other Financial Institutions, and Non-financial Customers), Trade Finance Instruments (Currency Swaps, Outright Forward And FX Swaps, and FX Options), Geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, Middle East And Africa)

How is the Foreign Exchange Market segmented by Type?

The reporting dealers segment is expected to experience considerable growth during the forecast period. Participants in the foreign exchange market carry risky inventory positions as they reach maturity. In situations where liquidity is lacking, those suppliers who absorb market imbalances receive high returns as compensation. These returns mirror the risk premium linked to non-diversifiable risks.

Receive our market sample report now to gain access to a detailed analysis of the foreign exchange market, download the sample report now

Who are the major market players in the Foreign Exchange Market?

Companies like Standard Chartered PLC, Bank of America Corp., and JPMorgan Chase and Co. are major players in the Foreign Exchange Market.

Download now to uncover successful business strategies deployed by Companies in foreign exchange market  buy the report here

According to Technavios analysis, The Foreign Exchange Market Analysis Report from 2024 to 2028 highlights significant market trends, such as increasing liquidity and transparency in trading. It identifies challenges like counterparty risks due to market regulations and outlines the dominance of reporting dealers in driving market growth. Regional insights emphasize Europe's substantial contribution and North America's resilience amid rising trading activity. Overall, the report provides comprehensive insights into key drivers, emerging trends, and regional market dynamics impacting the global foreign exchange landscape.

Related Reports:

Fixed Income Assets Management Market: The Global Fixed Income Assets Management Market size is estimated to grow by USD 9.71 trillion between 2022 and 2027 accelerating at a CAGR of 7.05%.

Venture Capital Investment Market: The venture capital investment market size is estimated to decline at a CAGR of 20.88% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 737.56 billion.

About US

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavios report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavios comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

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Newark, Jan. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Brainy Insights estimates that the USD 901.53 billion in 2022 global business travel market will reach USD 2,518.61 billion by 2032. The importance of employee well-being is gaining prominence. Businesses can capitalize on opportunities by integrating health and wellness programs into business travel services. This factor includes partnerships with fitness facilities, healthy dining options, and services prioritizing travellers' physical and mental well-being. Furthermore, personalization is a key trend in the travel industry. Opportunities exist for businesses that provide tailored travel experiences, considering the preferences and needs of individual travellers or specific corporate clients. This aspect can encompass personalized itineraries, exclusive services, and niche travel offerings. The demand for virtual and hybrid meetings is also on the rise. Companies offering innovative meeting and event technology solutions, including virtual platforms, event management software, and interactive tools, can capitalize on the evolving landscape of professional engagements. Additionally, with the increasing adoption of flexible work arrangements, there is an opportunity to create travel packages that combine work and leisure. Companies can offer extended stay options, co-working spaces, and curated experiences that cater to professionals looking to balance work and travel. Besides, collaborating with innovative travel startups can open new opportunities for established businesses. Whether partnering with companies offering unique travel experiences or integrating cutting-edge technologies, such collaborations can bring fresh perspectives and services to the business travel market.



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Key Insight of the global Business Travel market



Asia Pacific is expected to witness the highest market growth over the forecast period.



The growing middle-class population in many Asia Pacific countries has increased consumer spending and business activities. This demographic shift contributes to a higher demand for business travel services as companies expand to cater to the rising consumer base. The Asia Pacific region has also embraced technological advancements, improving connectivity and communication. While virtual communication tools are prevalent, the cultural importance of face-to-face interactions continues to drive the demand for business travel. Furthermore, many governments in the Asia Pacific region are actively promoting tourism and business-friendly policies. Infrastructure development, including the construction of business hubs, conference centres, and modern transportation facilities, enhances the region's appeal to business travellers. Additionally, Asia Pacific hosts many business events, conferences, and trade shows across various industries. This trend attracts professionals worldwide, contributing to the region's overall business travel growth. The Asia Pacific region is becoming pivotal in shifting the global economic centre of gravity from West to East. As a result, businesses are increasingly focusing on the Asia Pacific for growth opportunities, contributing to the surge in business travel.



In 2022, the food & lodging segment held the largest market share at 56.29% and a market revenue of 507.47 billion.



The service segment is divided into business activity, food & lodging and transportation. In 2022, the food & lodging segment held the largest market share at 56.29% and a market revenue of 507.47 billion.



In 2022, the corporate segment dominated the market with the largest share of 66.72% and revenue of 601.50 billion.



The industry segment includes corporate and government. In 2022, the corporate segment dominated the market with the largest share of 66.72% and revenue of 601.50 billion.



In 2022, the group segment dominated the market with the largest share of 60.14% and revenue of 542.18 billion.



The traveller segment is classified into group and solo. In 2022, the group segment dominated the market with the largest share of 60.14% and revenue of 542.18 billion.



Advancement in market



In February 2023: Demonstrating its commitment to innovation in corporate travel management, Direct Travel, Inc. has advanced its digital transformation initiative by launching a multi-lingual version of its virtual assistant, Simon. This AI-driven virtual assistant is now accessible in English and French, offering automated assistance across various channels, including Direct Travel's Direct2U mobile app. Simon is an AI-based virtual assistant addressing travel-related inquiries, retrieving information such as past invoices, facilitating profile updates, and connecting users with reservation and product support team members.



In August 2022: BCD Travel, a prominent travel management company, has unveiled its collaboration with FairFly to integrate the latter's cutting-edge technology and artificial intelligence into its Air Price Assurance (APA) solution. Leveraging FairFly's expansive global automated Global Distribution System (GDS) coverage, BCD aims to extend the reach of its APA solution to its entire customer base. This technology empowers BCD to optimize automated savings on air expenditures for its clients. The BCD Air Price Assurance, powered by FairFly, utilizes predictive capabilities to anticipate fare changes, automatically cancelling and rebooking tickets at reduced rates. This innovative solution saves time and generates savings of up to 4.8% of overall air spend, all while ensuring zero disruption to the traveller.



Market Dynamics



Driver: Networking and relationship building.



Face-to-face interactions allow individuals to establish trust and rapport more effectively than virtual communication. Non-verbal cues, body language, and facial expressions contribute to a deeper understanding of the person, fostering a sense of connection that is often challenging to achieve through digital means. Furthermore, face-to-face interactions provide a unique platform for networking. Events, conferences, and business gatherings offer professionals the opportunity to meet and connect with diverse individuals. Networking can lead to discovering new partnerships, collaborations, and business opportunities that might not have been evident online. Additionally, in-person meetings facilitate clear and direct communication. Nuances in tone, emphasis, and immediate feedback enhance the effectiveness of conversations. This aspect is particularly important in negotiations, where subtleties and context play a significant role.



Restraint: Time constraints.



Professionals often grapple with tight schedules packed with meetings, deadlines, and project deliverables. The limited availability of time becomes a substantial obstacle to undertaking extensive travel. Business trips require dedicated time for planning, commuting, and on-site engagements, which can strain an already time-constrained workweek. In addition, the contemporary emphasis on achieving a healthy work-life balance has intensified, and professionals are increasingly aware of the need to allocate time for personal commitments, family, and well-being. Frequent business travel can disrupt this delicate equilibrium, leading to concerns about the impact on personal life and overall job satisfaction. Furthermore, in an era of globalized businesses, professionals may be part of geographically dispersed teams or collaborate with colleagues and clients across different time zones. The challenges of coordinating schedules and aligning work activities across borders further complicate the feasibility of extensive business travel.



Opportunity: Diverse accommodation options.



The evolving trend towards diverse accommodation options, such as serviced apartments and boutique hotels, represents a significant opportunity for business travel services to cater to a vast range of choices and requirements among travellers. This shift reflects a growing recognition that professionals have varied expectations regarding lodging during business trips, and businesses in the travel sector are responding by expanding their offerings. By identifying the need for extended stays, business travel services can tailor their offerings to provide solutions for professionals requiring accommodations for more extended periods. This factor includes negotiating favourable rates for long-term stays in serviced apartments. Moreover, establishing partnerships with serviced apartment providers and boutique hotels enables business travel services to expand their network and offer a curated selection of accommodations. This strategic collaboration enhances the overall travel experience for their clients.



Challenge: Uncertain economic conditions.



During economic downturns, companies typically tighten their belts and scrutinize expenditures. Corporate budgets for travel are among the first areas to be scaled back. Business travel service providers must work on catering to clients with reduced travel budgets, requiring them to find cost-effective alternatives. Corporations become more assertive in negotiating travel contracts and seeking favourable terms during economic downturns. Business travel service providers face increased pressure to offer competitive pricing, added value, and flexible arrangements to retain and attract clients. In addition, economic uncertainties often result in reduced demand for business travel as companies reassess the necessity of trips and prioritize cost savings. This decline in demand directly impacts the revenue streams of travel service providers, prompting them to find innovative solutions to maintain profitability.



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Some of the major players operating in the global Business Travel market are:



 ADEKA Corporation

 Airbnb, Inc.

 American Express Company

 BCD Group

 Booking Holdings

 Carlson Holdings, Inc.

 CWT Solutions

 Corporate Travel Management

 Citi Group

 Chase

 Direct Travel, Inc.

 Egencia LLC

 Expedia, Inc.

 Frosch International Travel

 Fareportal

 Flight Centre Travel Group Limited

 Hogg Robinson Ltd.

 Navan, Inc.

 Ovation Travel Group

 Priceline

 Travel Leaders Group

 TravelPerk S.L.U

 Wexas Travel



Key Segments cover in the market:



By Service



 Business Activity

 Food & Lodging

 Transportation



By Industry



 Corporate

 Government



By Traveller



 Group

 Solo



By Region



 North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico)

 Europe (Germany, France, the UK, Italy, Spain, Rest of Europe)

 Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, Rest of APAC)

 South America (Brazil and the Rest of South America)

 The Middle East and Africa (UAE, South Africa, Rest of MEA)



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About the report:



The market is analyzed based on value (USD Billion). All the segments have been analyzed worldwide, regional, and country basis. The study includes the analysis of more than 30 countries for each part. The report analyses driving factors, opportunities, restraints, and challenges to gain critical market insight. The study includes Porter's five forces model, attractiveness analysis, Product analysis, supply, and demand analysis, competitor position grid analysis, distribution, and marketing channels analysis.



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The Brainy Insights is a market research company, aimed at providing actionable insights through data analytics to companies to improve their business acumen. We have a robust forecasting and estimation model to meet the clients' objectives of high-quality output within a short span of time. We provide both customized (clients' specific) and syndicate reports. Our repository of syndicate reports is diverse across all the categories and sub-categories across domains. Our customized solutions are tailored to meet the clients' requirement whether they are looking to expand or planning to launch a new product in the global market.



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Dublin, Jan. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "United States Anti Jamming Market, Competition, Forecast & Opportunities, 2018-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The United States anti jamming market was valued at USD 1.06 Billion in 2022 and growing at a rate of 7.63% to 2028

The United States anti-jamming market is a critical and rapidly evolving sector within the country's defense and communications landscape. As technology advances and geopolitical tensions persist, the need to protect essential communication and navigation systems from jamming and interference becomes increasingly paramount.

This market encompasses a diverse range of technologies and solutions designed to thwart the efforts of malicious actors who seek to disrupt or disable communication networks, GPS systems, radar systems, and more. These threats can stem from a variety of sources, including state-sponsored cyberattacks, rogue nations, terrorist organizations, and even criminal enterprises, highlighting the multifaceted nature of the challenge faced by the United States in securing its critical infrastructure.



One of the primary drivers of growth in the U.S. anti-jamming market is the nation's growing reliance on satellite-based communication and navigation systems. The Global Positioning System (GPS) has become an integral component of various sectors, including defense, transportation, agriculture, telecommunications, and emergency services. Consequently, any disruption or interference with GPS signals can have far-reaching and severe consequences. To counter this threat, the market has witnessed a surge in the development of cutting-edge anti-jamming solutions.

These solutions not only protect against deliberate jamming but also employ advanced techniques to mitigate the impact of accidental interference, ensuring the resilience of these vital systems. The defense sector plays a pivotal role in driving the anti-jamming market forward. The U.S. military relies heavily on secure and uninterrupted communication for mission-critical operations across the globe. As adversaries continue to advance their jamming capabilities, the demand for sophisticated anti-jamming technologies has grown exponentially.

Consequently, substantial investments in research and development have led to the creation of innovative and resilient anti-jamming solutions. These technologies encompass a wide spectrum, from advanced encryption methods to adaptive antenna arrays and frequency-hopping techniques, all designed to ensure that military communications remain robust and resilient in the face of jamming attempts, thereby maintaining the effectiveness of national defense.



Furthermore, the private sector has also recognized the importance of anti-jamming technologies. Industries such as aviation, shipping, agriculture, and surveying rely heavily on GPS for precision navigation, data collection, and coordination. Consequently, these sectors are vulnerable to jamming threats, which could lead to financial losses, safety risks, and operational disruptions.



In recent years, the proliferation of small, inexpensive, and easily accessible jamming devices has heightened concerns about the vulnerability of communication and navigation systems. These devices can disrupt signals over a wide range of frequencies, posing threats not only to military operations but also to civilian infrastructure and emergency services. Consequently, the anti-jamming market has seen a surge in demand for solutions that can counter these low-cost jamming threats effectively. This has driven innovation in the development of compact and cost-efficient anti-jamming technologies suitable for both military and civilian applications.



Another significant trend in the U.S. anti-jamming market is the emphasis on resilience and redundancy. As jamming techniques become more sophisticated, defense and communication systems are adopting strategies that involve multiple layers of protection. This includes the deployment of anti-jamming technologies in combination with other defensive measures, such as signal processing algorithms that can detect and adapt to jamming attempts in real-time. Additionally, diversifying communication and navigation systems to reduce reliance on a single technology or frequency has become a key strategy to ensure continuity of operations in the face of jamming threats.

In conclusion, the United States anti-jamming market is poised for continued growth and innovation as the challenges in countering interference and jamming persist. The convergence of defense, private sector, and government interests has created a dynamic ecosystem that drives the development of cutting-edge anti-jamming technologies. In an era marked by technological advancements and increasing threats to critical infrastructure, the anti-jamming market will play a pivotal role in securing the nation's communication and navigation systems across various sectors, contributing to both national security and economic stability.

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 78 Forecast Period 2022 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $1.06 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $1.66 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 7.6% Regions Covered United States

Increasing Reliance on Satellite-Based Communication and Navigation Systems:

The growing integration of GPS and satellite communication technology into various sectors of the economy, including defense, transportation, agriculture, telecommunications, and emergency services, is driving the demand for anti-jamming technologies.

Precision, accuracy, and reliability offered by these systems have improved operational efficiency in various industries.

The defense sector relies heavily on GPS for mission-critical operations, making it a prime target for adversaries using jamming capabilities.

The private sector has also become increasingly reliant on GPS, and any interference with satellite signals can lead to operational disruptions and financial losses.

Evolving Threat Landscape and Growing Jamming Capabilities:

The threat of interference and jamming is not limited to traditional state actors but also extends to rogue nations, terrorist organizations, and individuals with access to jamming devices.

State-sponsored cyberattacks and electronic warfare efforts have become more sophisticated, targeting a wide range of frequencies and communication protocols.

The proliferation of low-cost jamming devices in the commercial market poses a significant challenge.

Adapting to evolving jamming techniques and staying ahead of emerging threats are essential for the anti-jamming market.

Defense Sector Investments and Modernization:

The defense sector's commitment to technological superiority and national security has led to substantial investments in anti-jamming technologies.

The U.S. military heavily relies on secure communication and navigation systems for mission-critical operations.

The Department of Defense allocates significant funding for anti-jamming research, development, and procurement programs.

Collaboration between defense contractors, government agencies, and research institutions drives innovation in anti-jamming technologies.

Private Sector Adoption and Critical Infrastructure Protection:

Industries such as aviation, shipping, agriculture, surveying, and telecommunications rely on GPS and satellite-based communication for precise navigation and data collection.

Private companies and organizations are actively investing in anti-jamming solutions to protect their critical infrastructure and ensure uninterrupted operations.

Collaboration between defense contractors and civilian companies leads to the adaptation and customization of anti-jamming technologies for civilian applications.

Government agencies and regulatory bodies enforce regulations and standards to ensure the integrity of communication networks and the effectiveness of anti-jamming measures.

Challenges:

Evolving and Adaptive Jamming Techniques: Malicious actors continue to develop sophisticated and dynamic jamming techniques, requiring constant innovation in anti-jamming solutions.

Proliferation of Low-Cost Jamming Devices: The availability and affordability of jamming devices in the commercial market pose a significant challenge to defending against jamming threats.

Integration of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: AI and ML are increasingly integrated into anti-jamming technologies to detect and counter evolving jamming tactics.

Emphasis on Resilience and Redundancy: Organizations adopt multi-layered approaches to protect critical systems, combining anti-jamming technologies with other defensive measures.

Expansion into Civilian Applications: Anti-jamming technologies are expanding into commercial and civilian applications to protect critical infrastructure and ensure business continuity.

Segmental Insights:

The "Flight Control" application segment is the dominant force in the United States Anti-Jamming Market, driven by the aviation sector's heavy reliance on precise and uninterrupted communication and navigation systems.

The "Military" end-user segment is the primary driver of growth in the market, recognizing the importance of anti-jamming technologies in safeguarding national defense and security.

The Northeast United States leads the market, benefitting from a dense concentration of defense contractors, research institutions, military facilities, and economic significance.

Company Profiles

Raytheon Technologies Corporation

BAE Systems plc

Lockheed Martin Corporation

Northrop Grumman Corporation

L3Harris Technologies, Inc.

The Boeing Company

Cobham plc

Thales Group

NovAtel Inc.

Chemring Group PLC

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/fjfmn9

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.
Dublin, Jan. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "New Zealand Parking Management Market Outlook to 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The New Zealand Parking Management Market report offers detailed insights into the flourishing sector. The report underscores the market dynamics that indicate robust growth prospects through 2028, shaped by factors such as increasing urbanization, advancements in technology, and governmental initiatives.

The recent research publication delves into how rising vehicle ownership and population growth are escalating the demand for parking spaces, thereby fueling market ascension. It reveals that prevalent trends and technological integrations like AI, machine learning, and IoT in parking systems are enhancing efficiencies within the parking management landscape.

Key Highlights and Progressive Trends

The on-premise deployment type leads market share, attributed to superior data security and management efficiency.

Off-street parking solutions dominate, as efforts intensify to mitigate congestion and enhance driver convenience.

Smart parking advancements, electrification of parking facilities, and integration with Mobility as a Service (MaaS) are central to market innovation.

Featuring an industry analysis that encompasses differing segments, from deployment types to parking sites, the report provides a comprehensive view of current market status and future anticipations. The competitive landscape section offers insights into the strategic actions of key players, including their contributions to eco-friendly solutions and smart city initiatives.

Recent Developments and Competitive Landscape

In alignment with global trends, the New Zealand market has witnessed a surge in contactless and mobile app-based payment solutions. Innovations in smart parking technology are actively supporting drivers with real-time information on parking availability and assisting operators in maximizing space efficiency. The competitive landscape is animated by industry leaders who leverage new technologies to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving environment.

The Road Ahead

Looking towards the future, the report anticipates the significant integration of smart technologies within parking management systems. This evolution envisages a seamless and interactive parking experience through real-time data and anticipates the increased proliferation of EV charging stations. With sustainability as a focal point, renewable energy integration and the facilitation of electric vehicles are expected to take center stage in the evolution of parking infrastructure.

The detailed investigation into the New Zealand Parking Management Market offers invaluable foresight into the sector's advancing trajectory, and addresses how technological ingenuity and strategic initiatives are set to redefine parking solutions.

With the report's comprehensive analysis, stakeholders, investors, and policymakers can gain a profound understanding of the current market intricacies and future growth potential, ensuring informed decisions and strategies in the ever-evolving landscape of parking management services.

Key Topics Covered:



1. Executive Summary



2. New Zealand Parking Management Market Overview

2.1 Taxonomy of New Zealand Parking Management Market

2.2 Industry Value Chain

2.3 Ecosystem

2.4 Government Regulations/Initiatives for New Zealand Parking Management Market

2.5 Growth Drivers of New Zealand Parking Management Market

2.6 Issues and Challenges of New Zealand Parking Management Market

2.7 Impact of COVID-19 on New Zealand Parking Management Market

2.8 SWOT Analysis



3. New Zealand Parking Management Market Size, 2017 - 2022



4. New Zealand Parking Management Market Segmentation

4.1 By Deployment Type, 2017 - 2028

4.2 By Parking Site, 2017 - 2028 By Region, 2017 - 2028



5. Competitive Landscape

5.1 Mergers and Acquisitions, Joint Ventures, Collaborations, and Agreements

5.2 Strategies Adopted by Leading Players

5.3 Company Profiles - (Top 5 - 7 Major Players)

5.4 Ace Parking



6. WOHR Parking Systems.

6.1 Hercules Carparking Systems

6.2 Secure Parking.

6.3 TPS Traffic and Parking Systems

6.4 New Zealand Parking Management Future Market Size, 2022 - 2028



7. New Zealand Parking Management Future Market Segmentation

7.1 By Deployment Type, 2022 - 2028

7.2 By Parking Site, 2022 - 2028

7.3 By Region, 2022 - 2028



8. Analyst Recommendations



Companies Profiled

Ace Parking

WOHR Parking Systems

Hercules Carparking Systems

Secure Parking

TPS Traffic and Parking Systems

First Parking

Enacon Parking

Wilson Parking

CPP His Majesty's

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/8830fz

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.
TORONTO, Jan. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The travel app, Visited by Arriving In High Heels Corporation has released a travel report which reveals the top travel trends around the world in 2023.



Visited, available on iOS or Android, is a free app that allows users to check off popular destinations they've been around the world, uncover new destinations, visualize their travels on a map and set new travel goals.

According to Visited's travel stats, the average global traveler has been to 17 countries. Travelers from the United Arab Emirates have visited the most countries, with an average of 29 countries visited. Swiss and Swedish travelers came in second and third as the most well-traveled. American travelers have on average visited 16 countries. The most popular countries to visit are France, Spain, Italy, Germany, the UK, and the U.S.

The most sought-after places to visit are Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Brazil and Canada. The top destinations that American travelers want to travel to include Australia, Greece, and New Zealand. The highest numbers of American users have traveled to Mexico, Canada, France, the UK, and Italy.

The most popular travel destinations in the world in 2023 were in Europe, with Portugal topping the list. For the first time, Mexico was not in the top 9 destinations for Americans to visit.

Some highlights from the popular travel lists includes:

Eiffel Tower which tops the list for most visited world wonders.

Barcelona as the most popular cruise port in the world.

Cancun most popular beach destination.

Prague Castle most visited Castle.

London as the most popular beer destination.

Travel data was compiled based on 2,000,000 international users and over 300,000 U.S. users.



To see more top travel lists and browse top destinations worldwide, download Visited on iOS or Android. For the full travel report, visit https://visitedapp.com/travel-report-results

To learn more about the Visited app, visit https://visitedapp.com.

About Arriving In High Heels Corporation

Arriving In High Heels Corporation is a mobile app company with apps including Pay Off Debt, X-Walk, and Visited, their most popular app.

Contact Information

Anna Kayfitz

anna@arrivinginhighheels.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bda23f6b-1263-46f1-8b2c-26245813e184
Westford, USA, Jan. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to SkyQuest, the data center cooling market is on a trajectory of significant growth, driven by an increasing demand for energy-efficient solutions and substantial planned investments. This burgeoning demand has paved the way for promising avenues of future growth.

Browse in-depth TOC on the "Data Center Cooling Market

Pages - 157

Tables  122

Figures  77

The landscape of data centers is undergoing a transformative surge, driven by several compelling factors in the data center cooling market. The proliferation of cloud services has revolutionized the way data is stored and accessed, compelling organizations to invest in new data center facilities to meet the surging demand for cloud infrastructure.

Get a sample copy of this report:

https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/data-center-cooling-market

Prominent Players in Data Center Cooling Market

Schneider Electric SE

Vertiv Co.

Eaton Corporation plc

Rittal GmbH & Co. KG

Airedale International Air Conditioning Ltd.

STULZ GmbH

Asetek A/S

Coolcentric

Black Box Corporation

ClimateWorx International Inc.

Delta Electronics Inc.

Fujitsu Limited

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP

IBM Corporation

Johnson Controls International plc

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

Nortek Air Solutions LLC

Siemens AG

Trane Technologies plc

Vigilent Corporation

Air Conditioners Segment is Expected to Dominate the Market Due to the Widespread Preference for Air Conditioning Solutions

Air conditioners segment emerged as the dominant player in the data center cooling market, securing a substantial market share of over 30% of the overall revenue. This prominence is attributed to various end-users' widespread preference for air conditioning solutions.

The market in North America is anticipated to maintain its position as the global leader in the demand for data center cooling market, with a projected expansion at a remarkable CAGR exceeding 12.7%, as suggested by industry projections.

Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC):

https://www.skyquestt.com/report/data-center-cooling-market

Precision Air Conditioners Segment is Expected to Grow the Market Due to Technological Advancements

Precision air conditioners segment is poised for remarkable growth in the data center cooling market, with a projected CAGR surpassing 18% over the forecast period. This robust expansion can be attributed to a confluence of factors, chief among them being ongoing technological advancements in precision cooling technologies.

Regional markets in Asia Pacific are poised to ascend significantly in importance. This elevation in significance can be attributed to the escalating demand for data center cooling applications within the data center cooling market. One driving force behind this trend is the burgeoning number of external IT infrastructure service providers actively managing and operating mission-critical business data and applications.

A comprehensive analysis of the major players in the data center cooling market has been recently conducted in a report. The report encompasses various aspects, including collaborations, mergers, innovative business policies, and strategies, providing valuable insights into key trends and breakthroughs in the market. Furthermore, the report scrutinizes the market share of the top segments and presents a detailed geographic analysis. Lastly, the report highlights the major players in the industry and their endeavours to develop innovative solutions to cater to the growing demand.

Key Developments in the Data Center Cooling Market

Schneider Electric SE recently made a significant announcement by introducing its EcoStruxure Micro Data Center C-Series. This innovative solution represents a compact, secure, and highly energy-efficient data center for edge computing applications. In an era where edge computing is gaining prominence due to its ability to bring data processing closer to the source, Schneider Electric's launch addresses the growing demand for robust edge data center solutions that ensure data reliability and security.

Vertiv Co. recently made a strategic move by acquiring E&I Engineering Ireland. E&I Engineering Ireland is renowned for its expertise in providing electrical switchgear and power distribution systems. This acquisition was a calculated step by Vertiv to expand and diversify its portfolio of power solutions tailored specifically for data centers.

Speak to Analyst for your custom requirements:

https://www.skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/data-center-cooling-market

Key Questions Answered in Data Center Cooling Market Report

What specific growth drivers are projected to impact the market during the forecast period?

List the top companies in the market and explain how they have achieved their positions of influence.

In what ways do regional trends and patterns differ within the global market, and how these differences shape the market's future growth?

Related Reports in SkyQuests Library:

Global LED Modular Display Market

Global Reservoir Analysis Market

Global Mechanical Keyboard Market

Global Power Semiconductor Market

Global Security Robots Market

About Us:

SkyQuest Technology is leading growth consulting firm providing market intelligence, commercialization and technology services. It has 450+ happy clients globally.

Address:

1 Apache Way, Westford, Massachusetts 01886

Phone:

USA (+1) 617-230-0741

Email: sales@skyquestt.com
WESTPORT, Conn., Jan. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HMG Strategy, the World's #1 digital platform for connecting business technology executives to reimagine the enterprise and reshape the business world, is thrilled to have its 2023 Global Innovation Summit recognized by TechRepublic as a Top Tech Event to Attend in 2023.





One of the things that differentiates HMG Strategys CIO & CISO Executive Leadership Summits from other technology conferences is that the content and speakers for the events are curated by business technology leaders for business tech leaders. HMG Strategys panelists and keynote speakers focus on the topics that matter most to CIOs, CISOs and fellow C-level business tech executives.

Were thrilled that TechRepublic recently named our 2023 Global Innovation Summit on December 12 as a Top Tech Event to Attend in 2023, said Hunter Muller, Founder and CEO of HMG Strategy. Its a testament to the hard work that our program managers, summit advisory board members and HMG team members put into creating world-class events for the 500,000+ business technology leaders in the HMG community.

Looking ahead, the theme for HMG Strategys 2024 CIO & CISO Executive Leadership Summits is Visionary Global Leadership: Thriving Securely in the Age of Accelerated Innovation. The theme touches upon several topics that the company is tracking in its 2024 Leadership and Technology Research agendas. This includes how macro-economic and geo-political challenges are creating headwinds for technology executives and fellow members of the C-suite to execute on and achieve strategic goals in 2024. The fast-changing socio-economic landscape is forcing technology executives to be able to peer around the corners and to anticipate whats coming for the CEO and the Board.

Cybersecurity will continue to be front-of-mind for CIOs and CISOs this year as new types of ransomware, phishing and crypto mining attacks are expected to escalate amid cybersecurity budgetary pressures.

Meanwhile, CIOs, CISOs and business tech leaders will be counted on by the CEO and the senior leadership team to foster innovation and help drive new waves of revenue growth and fresh Go-to-Market models.

Additional topics to be explored at HMG Strategys events include opportunities for business tech leaders to leverage innovative technologies and partnerships to power business growth and to cut costs in what continues to be a cost-focused business environment.

HMG Strategys Executive Leadership Summits will also explore recommendations to attract and retain talent as the war for tech talent rages on. These events will also showcase innovative cybersecurity start-up companies and their CEOs as part of the HMG Innovation Accelerator series and how these companies and their solutions help to solve real-world challenges and are differentiated in the market.

To learn more about HMG Strategys upcoming CIO & CISO Executive Leadership Summits and to register for an event  including our 2024 Silicon Valley Global Innovation Summit on March 3, click here.

About HMG Strategy

HMG Strategy is the world's leading digital platform for technology executives to reimagine the enterprise and reshape the business world. The HMG Strategy global network consists of more than 500,000 CIOs, CTOs, CISOs, CDOs, senior business technology executives, search industry executives, venture capitalists, industry experts and world-class thought leaders.

HMG Strategys global media model generates more than one million impressions per week, providing vast opportunities for business technology leaders and sponsor partners to promote themselves and their brands.

HMG Strategy was founded in 2008 by Hunter Muller, a leadership expert who has worked side-by-side with Fortune 2000 executives with strategic planning and career ascent for the past 30+ years.

HMG Strategys regional CIO and CISO Executive Leadership Series, authored books and Digital Resource Center deliver unique, peer-driven guidance from CIOs, CISOs, CTOs, CDOs and technology executives on leadership, innovation, transformation and career ascent.

HMG Strategy offers a range of peer-led advisory services such as its Global CIO & CISO Executive Leadership Alliance (CELA) service which bring together the worlds top CIOs, CISOs and technology executives to brainstorm on the top opportunities and challenges facing them in their roles.

HMG Strategys Global Advisory Services are a unique set of peer-driven research services that are designed to keep business technology executives up to speed on the latest leadership, business, technology and global macro-economic trends that are impacting businesses and industries.

HMG Ventures is a venture capital unit thats designed to connect CIOs, CTOs, CISOs and other technology executives with innovative early-stage technology companies from Silicon Valley to Tel Aviv. HMG Ventures provides technology executives with a window into hot emerging technology companies that can help move the needle for their businesses while also offering these executives unparalleled personal investment opportunities. One early-stage investment in an enterprise-level AI-powered service management provider has generated a 100X return.

To learn more about the 7 Pillars of Trust for HMG Strategy's unique business model, click here .

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If you suffered losses exceeding $50,000 investing in Fisker securities between August 4, 2023 and November 20, 2023 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310). You may also click here for additional information: www.faruqilaw.com/FSR.



There is no cost or obligation to you.





NEW YORK, Jan. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Fisker Inc. (Fisker or the Company) (NYSE: FSR) and reminds investors of the January 26, 2024 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.

Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading minority and Woman-owned national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia.

As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: (1) that Fisker had a material weakness in its internal control over financial reporting; (2) that Fisker had incorrectly accounted for certain costs; (3) that as a result the Company was likely to delay filing its quarterly report; (4) that Fisker's infrastructure was limiting its ability to deliver its production; and (5) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

On November 8, 2023, before the market opened, Fisker announced that the completion of the Company's financial statements would be delayed due to the appointment of a new chief accounting officer ("CAO") and the departure of the Company's former CAO. The Company had previously announced former CAO, John Finnucan ("Finnucan") provided notice of intent to resign on September 19, 2023, effective October 27, 2023. Fisker's new CAO, Florus Beuting ("Beuting"), was hired effective as of November 6, 2023. The Company advised it "expects to file its Form 10-Q by November 14, 2023." On this news, the Company's share price fell $0.38, or 8.7%, to close at $3.99 per share on November 8, 2023, on unusually heavy trading volume.

Then, on November 13, 2023, after the market closed, Fisker announced its third quarter 2023 financial results, reporting a loss of $91.0 million and $0.27 loss per share. The Company also reported $78.02 million in selling, general and administrative operating costs and expenses, as well as $9.42 million for research and development, totaling $87.44 million for total operating costs and expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2023. The Company also cut its production forecast for the year and disclosed that, though 4,725 Oceans were built in the third quarter, only 1,097 were delivered to customers. The Company also announced it would be unable to timely file the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2023. The Company disclosed, in preparing its results, it had determined "it has material weaknesses" in "internal control over financial reporting."

On that same day, the Company held an earnings call wherein Defendants disclosed that the delay in reporting was due to having a "highly complex quarter" including "very complex accounting along with convertible notes and accounting for derivative" and "things like raw material inventory accounting and finished goods inventory accounting[.]" The Company also disclosed that "delivery and the service infrastructure" was limiting deliveries and, as a result, the Company was "in the process of dramatically overhauling our service and delivery infrastructure." On this news, the Company's share price fell $0.77, or 18.7%, to close at $3.34 per share on November 14, 2023, on unusually heavy trading volume.

On November 20, 2023, after the market closed, the Company disclosed that Beuting (the CAO hired November 6, 2023) had provided notice of his intent to resign from the Company on November 14, 2023, effective immediately. On this news, the Company's share price fell $0.35, or 15%, to close at $2.00 per share on November 21, 2023, on unusually heavy trading volume.

Finally, on November 22, 2023, the Company filed its Form 10-Q quarterly report for the period ended September 30, 2023, which disclosed that the Company had "identified approximately $20 million of expenses" which were "incorrectly recorded primarily as selling, general and administrative expenses in our preliminary earnings results, but were later determined to be associated with production set-up activities" and that "other inventory adjustments were recorded resulting in a $4.0 million increase in net loss subsequent to the preliminary earnings results."

The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Fiskers conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.

Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.

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Visiongain has published a new report entitled Virtual Power Plant (VPP) Market Report 2024-2034: Forecasts by Component (Software, Hardware), by Technology (Demand Response VPP, Distributed Generation VPP, Mixed Asset VPP), by End-user (Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Utility), by Generation Source (Solar PV, Wind Power, Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Units, Energy Storage Systems, Other) AND Regional and Leading National Market Analysis PLUS Analysis of Leading Companies AND COVID-19 Impact and Recovery Pattern Analysis.

The global virtual power plant (VPP) market was valued at US$2,186.6 million in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 21.1% during the forecast period 2024-2034.

Demand for Decentralized Power Generation and Energy Independence

The demand for decentralized power generation and energy independence propels the global VPP market. VPPs empower consumers to generate, store, and manage their energy locally, fostering a more resilient and self-sufficient energy ecosystem. In Australia, the Decentralized Energy Exchange (deX) exemplifies how VPPs enable decentralized power generation, offering consumers greater control over their energy production and consumption.

Grid modernization initiatives and the integration of smart grid technologies drive the global VPP market. VPPs actively participate in modernizing grids by incorporating advanced communication and control systems. The Pacific Gas and Electric Company's collaboration with Sunrun illustrates how VPPs contribute to smart grid integration, enabling real-time communication between distributed energy resources and the utility for enhanced grid management.

Download Exclusive Sample of Report

https://www.visiongain.com/report/vpp-market-2024/#download_sampe_div

How has COVID-19 had a significant negative impact on the Virtual Power Plant (VPP) Market?

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the Virtual Power Plant (VPP) market, introducing challenges and opportunities that have reshaped the energy landscape. One of the immediate effects was a slowdown in the deployment of new VPP projects due to disruptions in the supply chain, workforce shortages, and delays in project financing. Lockdowns and restrictions hindered on-site installations and commissioning, leading to project postponements across the globe. Uncertainties in economic conditions further restrained investments in energy infrastructure, affecting the growth trajectory of the VPP market.

However, amidst the challenges, the pandemic underscored the importance of resilient and adaptive energy systems, creating opportunities for VPPs to play a crucial role. The increased focus on remote monitoring and control capabilities inherent in VPPs became vital during periods of restricted physical access to energy facilities. The demand for reliable and flexible energy solutions grew as businesses and utilities sought ways to ensure continuity and responsiveness in the face of disruptions. VPPs, with their ability to integrate diverse distributed energy resources and optimize grid operations, gained recognition as valuable assets in enhancing energy resilience.

How will this Report Benefit you?

Visiongains 367-page report provides 120 tables and 170 charts/graphs. Our new study is suitable for anyone requiring commercial, in-depth analyses for the global virtual power plant (VPP) market, along with detailed segment analysis in the market. Our new study will help you evaluate the overall global and regional market for Virtual Power Plant (VPP). Get financial analysis of the overall market and different segments including component, technology, end-user, and generation source and capture higher market share. We believe that there are strong opportunities in this fast-growing virtual power plant (VPP) market. See how to use the existing and upcoming opportunities in this market to gain revenue benefits in the near future. Moreover, the report will help you to improve your strategic decision-making, allowing you to frame growth strategies, reinforce the analysis of other market players, and maximise the productivity of the company.

What are the Current Market Drivers?

Ongoing Innovation and Research Fueling VPP Advancements

The dynamic landscape of Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) is marked by continuous innovation and dedicated research, propelling substantial improvements and fostering broader adoption within the energy sector. The persistent commitment to technological advancement in VPPs reflects a proactive response to the evolving challenges and opportunities in the energy landscape. Innovations encompass a spectrum of areas, including software optimization, integration of advanced control systems, and the exploration of cutting-edge technologies.

Virtual Power Plants Could be Pathway to Decarbonization

The Biden administration's ambitious target of achieving a net-zero carbon economy by 2050 has prompted a strategic focus on innovative solutions to address climate change. Virtual power plants (VPPs) have emerged as a promising avenue to support this goal. VPPs leverage advanced software to enhance control over renewable electricity generation, addressing the inherent volatility of renewable sources on the electrical grid. Blake Richetta, the Chairman and CEO of Sonnen Inc., a prominent battery developer, emphasizes the transformative role of VPPs in consolidating disparate forms of variable generation into a cohesive and reliable power source.

Get Detailed ToC

https://www.visiongain.com/report/vpp-market-2024/

Where are the Market Opportunities?

Countries Worldwide Recognize the Benefits of Smart, Distributed Energy Systems

The global extension of VPP market opportunities stems from a widespread recognition among countries of the benefits associated with smart, distributed energy systems. As nations strive to address climate change, enhance energy security, and transition to sustainable practices, VPPs emerge as a crucial solution. They offer a decentralized approach to energy generation and consumption, aligning with the global push towards renewable energy sources. Governments and regulatory bodies are increasingly acknowledging the role of VPPs in achieving energy goals, creating favorable policies, and providing incentives for their implementation. The expanding global market reflects a collective commitment to building resilient, efficient, and environmentally friendly energy infrastructures.

Increasing Adoption of Residential Solar, Storage, and Smart Home Technologies Contributes to the Growth of VPPs

The rise in the adoption of residential solar panels, energy storage solutions, and smart home technologies presents a substantial opportunity for the growth of Virtual Power Plants (VPPs). As more households integrate solar systems and storage devices, they become potential participants in VPPs. These distributed energy resources, when aggregated through VPPs, create a flexible and responsive network. Residents benefit from optimized energy consumption, reduced costs, and increased reliability. VPPs leverage the distributed nature of these residential technologies to contribute to grid stability, demand response programs, and overall efficiency. The synergy between individual residential choices and the collective impact within VPPs represents a promising avenue for sustainable energy development.

Competitive Landscape

The major players operating in the virtual power plant (VPP) market are ABB Ltd., Cisco Systems Inc., Cpower Energy Management, Enel X, Engie SA, General Electric Company, LO3 Energy Inc., Next Kraftwerke, Schneider Electric SE, Siemens AG, Spirae Inc., Sunverge Energy Inc., Swell Energy Inc., Sympower, Tesla, Inc. These major players operating in this market have adopted various strategies comprising M&A, investment in R&D, collaborations, partnerships, regional business expansion, and new product launch.

Recent Developments

October 31, 2023, Schneider Electric SE has entered into a new partnership with Sunverge Energy to develop and deploy virtual power plants (VPPs) around the world. The partnership will combine Schneider Electric's expertise in energy management and automation with Sunverge's experience in distributed energy resources (DERs) and energy storage.

23 Aug 2023, ABB will provide its e-meshTM PowerStoreTM battery energy storage system (BESS) to support the development of Singapore's first Virtual Power Plant (VPP) project.

28 July 2023, Siemens AG has partnered with Finnish energy company Sinebrychoff to implement a virtual power plant (VPP) at Sinebrychoff's plant in greater Helsinki. The VPP will combine Sinebrychoff's renewable energy sources, energy storage, and flexible loads to create a more sustainable and efficient energy system.





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Do you have any custom requirements we can help you with? Any need for a specific country, geo region, market segment or specific company information? Contact us today, we can discuss your needs and see how we can help: contactus@visiongain.com

About Visiongain

Visiongain is one of the fastest-growing and most innovative independent market intelligence providers around, the company publishes hundreds of market research reports which it adds to its extensive portfolio each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis across 18 industries worldwide. The reports, which cover 10-year forecasts, are hundreds of pages long, with in-depth market analysis and valuable competitive intelligence data. Visiongain works across a range of vertical markets with a lot of synergies. These markets include automotive, aviation, chemicals, cyber, defence, energy, food & drink, materials, packaging, pharmaceutical and utilities sectors. Our customised and syndicated market research reports offer a bespoke piece of market intelligence customised to your very own business needs.

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Email: contactus@visiongain.com

Web: www.visiongain.com
NEW YORK, Jan. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Capital Link is hosting a series of online Corporate Presentations, whereby the Senior Management teams of leading listed maritime companies will present their business development, strategy, growth prospects, and overall sector outlook.



The presentations will be approximately 45 minutes and consist of a company presentation followed by live Q&A between company management and webinar participants.

Initiating Capital Links Corporate Presentation Series will be Dorian LPG Ltd. (NYSE: LPG) and Scorpio Tankers Inc. (NYSE: STNG).

Please see below the schedule of each presenting company.

REGISTRATION

Online attendance is complimentary. Please click on the link below to register.

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_AEETlOZmQBKied_bKUO9pQ#/registration

Those who wish to register and attend the presentations can sign up and indicate which presentation session(s) they want to join. Each session can be accessed through its own link.

An email confirmation will be sent back and will include the link to click on for each presentation you signed up for.

LIVE Q&A SESSION - Submitting Questions

Participants can submit their questions either during the webinar through the online platform or can email our team at webinars@capitallink.com.

1-ON-1 MEETINGS

Institutional Investors can request 1-on-1 meeting(s) with company management by emailing shipping@capitallink.com

The presentations schedule is as follows:

DATE TIME PRESENTING COMPANIES SPEAKERS Wednesday,

January 10, 2024

10:00  10:45 am ET Dorian LPG Ltd.

(NYSE: LPG) Mr. John Lycouris, CEO

Mr. Ted Young, CFO 11:00  11:45 am ET Scorpio Tankers Inc.

(NYSE: STNG) Mr. Robert Bugbee, President & Director

Mr. James Doyle, Head of Corporate Development & IR



FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

These webinars and presentations may contain "forward-looking statements." Statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or that include words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "projects," "forecasts," "may," "will," "should" and similar expressions are forward-looking statements. These statements are not historical facts but instead represent only the beliefs of each participating Company regarding future results, many of which, by their nature are inherently uncertain and outside of the control of the Companies. Actual results may differ, possibly materially, from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements. For more information about risks and uncertainties associated with the participating companies, please refer to the regulatory filings of each participating company with the SEC.

CAPITAL LINK  DISCLAIMER

Founded in 1995, Capital Link provides Investor & Public Relations and Media services to several listed and private companies, including companies featured in these webinars. Our webinars, including the ones mentioned above, are for informational and educational purposes and should not be relied upon. They do not constitute an offer to buy or sell securities or investment advice or advice of any kind. The views expressed are not those of Capital Link which bears no responsibility for them. In addition, Capital Link organizes a series of industry and investment conferences annually in key industry centers in the United States, Europe and Asia, all of which are known for combining rich educational and informational content with unique marketing and networking opportunities. Capital Link is a member of the Baltic Exchange. Based in New York City, Capital Link has presence in London, Athens & Oslo. For additional information, please visit: www.capitallink.com

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SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hagens Berman urges Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: ABR) investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now.



Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/ABR

Contact An Attorney Now: ABR@hbsslaw.com

844-916-0895

Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. (ABR) Investigation:

We are investigating Viceroys claims and determining whether Arbor may have concealed distressed deals and other assets, said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.

On Dec. 5, 2023, after purportedly receiving information from whistleblowers regarding distressed Arbor deals and underlying assets, hedge fund Viceroy released a second research report on the company entitled, Arbor  Jacksonville Case Study.

Viceroys Dec. 5 report highlights three multifamily properties in the Jacksonville, Florida area encumbered by Arbor loans, which the hedge fund submits have property values likely below Arbors loan balances.

The hedge fund states, Viceroys dive into Arbors CLOs suggests its entire loan book is distressed and underlying collateral is vastly overstated. These loans do not qualify for refinancing anywhere, and substantially all mature within the next 18 months.

Viceroy concludes, We believe Arbor is a donut. $0.00.

Viceroys dive into Arbors Jacksonville portfolio follows its initial report published on Nov. 17, 2023 entitled Arbor Realty Trust  Slumlord Millionaires.

In that report, Viceroy concluded: Arbors high-risk multifamily bridge loans, which comprise substantially all of its asset book, are going bad fast The end is near.

Following the release of both reports, the price of Arbor Realtys shares sharply fell.

If you invested in Arbor and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firms investigation, submit your losses now 

If youd like more information and answers to frequently asked questions about the Arbor investigation, read more 

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Arbor should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email ABR@hbsslaw.com.

About Hagens Berman

Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs rights complex litigation law firm focusing on corporate accountability through class-action law. The firm is home to a robust securities litigation practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.

Attorney advertising.

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices.
Company to host Conference Call and live Webcast on Sunday, January 7, 2024 at 5:30 pm PT.

An executive summary of the data to be presented at the 7th Sachs Annual Neuroscience Innovation Forum, on January 7 at 3:30 pm PT, at the Marines Memorial Club in San Francisco (USA).

Results across all efficacy endpoints consistently favored vafidemstat over placebo. Global Statistical Test (GST p-values) confirms consistent trend across efficacy endpoints



The primary endpoints, improvement in Borderline Personality Disorder Checklist (BPDCL) and in agitation/aggression by the Clinical Global Impression  Severity Agitation/Aggression (CGI-S A/A) , did not reach statistical significance



Nominal statistical significance was achieved on the secondary endpoint Borderline Evaluation of Severity (BEST), an overall measure of BPD disease severity, at weeks 8-12 (p = 0.042)



Nominal statistical significance was also achieved on the secondary endpoint State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory 2 (STAXI-2) Trait Anger, a measure of agitation and aggression, at weeks 8-12 (p = 0.026)



Vafidemstat was safe and well tolerated, consistent with the overall safety profile to date



Based on the efficacy and safety results, Oryzon intends to request an FDA end-of-Phase II meeting to discuss a registrational Phase III study for the treatment of BPD



MADRID, Spain and BOSTON, Jan. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oryzon Genomics, S.A. (ISIN Code: ES0167733015, ORY), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company leveraging epigenetics to develop therapies in diseases with a strong unmet medical need, today announced topline results from the Phase IIb PORTICO trial, evaluating the efficacy and safety of vafidemstat in Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).

Webcast/Conference Call Information

ORYZON will host a conference call and webcast on January 7, 2024 at 5:30 pm Pacific Time to discuss PORTICO Phase IIb results. To register for the event please click here. A replay of the webcast will be available on the companys website after the event and will be archived for approximately one month.

Summary of Efficacy Data

A mixed model repeated measures (MMRM) completed on the multiple independent primary endpoints for overall disease as measured by the Borderline Personality Disorder Checklist (BPDCL) and for agitation and aggression by the Clinical Global Impression-Severity focused on Agitation/Aggression (CGI-S A/A) across weeks 8-12 showed for both endpoints a consistent reduction over the values in the placebo group throughout the treatment, which did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.41 and p = 0.25, respectively).

However, statistically significant overall disease improvement was achieved on the secondary endpoint Borderline Evaluation of Severity (BEST) across weeks 8-12 (p = 0.042). The BEST scale was designed to measure BPD symptom severity and adaptive coping responses including negative behaviors and actions such as injuring oneself, thoughts and feelings including mood reactivity, identity disturbance, unstable relationships, paranoia, emptiness, and suicidal thinking, and positive behaviors such as avoidance of self-destructive and/or self-defeating behaviors. The relative reduction observed in the vafidemstat-treated group over the placebo group was consistent throughout the treatment and reached a maximum of 38% at week 10.

Additionally, statistically significant improvement in agitation and aggression as measured by the STAXI-2, Trait Anger (p = 0.026) was also demonstrated across weeks 8-12. The Trait Anger scale (10 items) measures the disposition to experience angry feelings as a personality-like trait over time. The relative reduction observed in the vafidemstat-treated group over the placebo group was consistent throughout the treatment and reached a maximum of 80% at week 10.

It was also encouraging to note that all results favored vafidemstat treatment over placebo across the multiple independent primary and secondary efficacy endpoints. Furthermore, the Global Statistical Test (GST p-values) confirms a strong trend effect across all efficacy endpoints. GST is designed to globally address whether a treatment is efficacious across different aspects of a condition. The GST efficiently summarizes a global treatments effect when the disease is complex and multifactorial.

Summary of Safety and Tolerability Data

Vafidemstat was safe and well-tolerated. Adverse events (AEs) were generally consistent with the safety profile of vafidemstat seen to date, with no new safety findings. The number of subjects with Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events (TEAEs) was slightly lower for those receiving vafidemstat (57.5%) vs placebo (65.4%). Treatment-Related TEAEs were similar between groups (34.0% of subjects in the vafidemstat arm vs 31.7% in placebo). Those TEAEs leading to Study Discontinuation, Study Drug Withdrawal, or Study Drug Interruption were low overall. Regarding TEAE Severity, the majority were independently assessed by the investigators as Mild (48.1% of subjects in vafidemstat versus 57.7% in placebo) or Moderate (27.4% in vafidemstat versus 33.7% in placebo), with low numbers in both groups experiencing a Severe AE (4.7% in vafidemstat versus 3.8% in placebo). The majority of TEAEs Recovered/Resolved by the end of the trial. There were no deaths in PORTICO, and the only TEAE with sequelae was on placebo.

Dr. Michael Ropacki, Chief Medical Officer, Head of CNS Clinical Development stated, The results provide support and a path forward for vafidemstats future clinical development as a potentially promising treatment for overall BPD disease and agitation and aggression. PORTICOs results are highly encouraging given that vafidemstat improved overall BPD severity as reflected by the BEST Total score (p = 0.042), all efficacy results favoring vafidemstat over placebo, and the GST analysis. Likewise, the data continue to highlight vafidemstats promise to reduce agitation and aggression as reflected on the STAXI-2 Trait Anger (p = 0.026). To contextualize these findings, the observation that all eleven primary and secondary efficacy endpoints favored vafidemstat over placebo provides consistent support for a positive treatment effect, and indicates that further clinical development of this compound should be pursued. Finally, in a disease with no gold standard measure, PORTICO achieved an important milestone by helping determine what endpoints should be carried forward, as well as establishing the effect size needed to design a well-powered future Phase III BPD clinical trial.

Dr. Douglas V. Faller, Global CMO at Oryzon said Vafidemstat is the only LSD1 inhibitor in clinical development for CNS indications and induces the expression of genes involved in neuronal plasticity. Vafidemstat also improves sociability, reduces aggression, and improves memory in models of neuropsychiatric diseases. LSD1 inhibition restores NMDR functionality in preclinical models. NMDR dysfunction is one of the proposed causes of BPD. Both our prior pilot study in BPD and now the current PORTICO study results showed consistent signals on reduction in both BPD severity and agitation/aggression (albeit assessed by different scales). Our next steps will be to meet with the FDA to discuss our findings from this study and plan with them a registrational trial. The information we have obtained in this study regarding suitable clinical endpoints in BPD, in which a gold-standard endpoint has not yet been established, will be critical in this planning.

Dr. Carlos Buesa, CEO of Oryzon said First of all, we would like to thank PORTICO participants, the sites, the investigators, and the teams that helped us achieve this major milestone. Although we have not met the primary endpoints of the study, we still consider the trial results to be very positive and promising. This is the first time, to the best of our knowledge, that a large, randomized Phase II trial in BPD had two secondary endpoints that met statistical significance reflecting clinically meaningful improvements in overall BPD severity and in agitation/aggression. In a disease with currently no approved drugs, and no well-established regulatory endpoints yet, PORTICOs results across these important two endpoints are paving the way to define a registrational Phase III trial, based for the first time on a well-controlled study that has enrolled a truly representative real-world BPD population. We are also excited about our ongoing trial with vafidemstat in schizophrenia, where we are studying improvements in negative and cognitive symptoms.

The company will present the comprehensive and full data package at a psychiatric conference and in a peer-reviewed journal publication.

PORTICO (EudraCT No.: 2020-003469-20, ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT04932291) is a global double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, adaptive 14-week Phase IIb trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of vafidemstat at 1.2 mg/day in a BPD population. The study recruited a total of 210 patients, randomized 1:1 in two arms. The trial had two independent primary endpoints: reduction of agitation and aggression and overall disease improvement in BPD severity. As independent multiple primary endpoints, appropriate adjustments for multiplicity were made to ensure that statistical significance in either one is sufficient to declare success in the trial. In the absence of a well-established regulatory endpoint, the trial investigated several secondary and exploratory endpoints to determine overall improvements in the severity of the disease, as well as reductions in levels of agitation-aggression, anxiety, depression, and cognitive impairment. The trial also investigated the impact on suicidal ideation and explored several correlative biomarkers. An important aim of PORTICO was to learn what potential endpoints would be important to leverage in a future Phase III registrational trial. PORTICO included a total of 27 clinical sites, 14 in the U.S. and 13 in Europe (Germany, Spain, Bulgaria, and Serbia).

About Oryzon

Founded in 2000 in Barcelona, Spain, Oryzon (ISIN Code: ES0167733015) is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company and the European leader in epigenetics, with a strong focus on personalized medicine in CNS disorders and oncology. Oryzons team is composed of highly qualified professionals from the pharma industry located in Barcelona, Boston and San Diego. Oryzon has an advanced clinical portfolio with two LSD1 inhibitors, vafidemstat in CNS and iadademstat in oncology, in several Phase II clinical trials. The company has other pipeline assets directed against other epigenetic targets. In addition, Oryzon has a strong platform for biomarker identification and target validation for a variety of malignant and neurological diseases. For more information, visit www.oryzon.com

About Vafidemstat

Vafidemstat (ORY-2001) is an oral, CNS-optimized LSD1 inhibitor. The molecule acts on several levels: it reduces cognitive impairment, including memory loss and neuroinflammation, and at the same time has neuroprotective effects. In animal studies vafidemstat not only restores memory but reduces the exacerbated aggressiveness of SAMP8 mice, a model for accelerated aging and Alzheimers disease (AD), to normal levels and also reduces social avoidance and enhances sociability in murine models. In addition, vafidemstat exhibits fast, strong, and durable efficacy in several preclinical models of multiple sclerosis (MS). Oryzon has performed two Phase IIa clinical trials in aggressiveness in patients with different psychiatric disorders (REIMAGINE) and in aggressive/agitated patients with moderate or severe AD (REIMAGINE-AD), with positive clinical results reported in both. Additional finalized Phase IIa clinical trials with vafidemstat include the ETHERAL trial in patients with Mild to Moderate AD, where a significant reduction of the inflammatory biomarker YKL40 has been observed after 6 and 12 months of treatment, and the pilot, small-scale SATEEN trial in Relapse-Remitting and Secondary Progressive MS, where anti-inflammatory activity has also been observed. Vafidemstat has also been tested in a Phase II in severe Covid-19 patients (ESCAPE) assessing the capability of the drug to prevent ARDS, one of the most severe complications of the viral infection, where it showed significant anti-inflammatory effects in severe Covid-19 patients. Currently, vafidemstat is in two Phase IIb trials in borderline personality disorder (PORTICO) and in schizophrenia patients (EVOLUTION). The company is also deploying a CNS precision medicine approach with vafidemstat in genetically-defined patient subpopulations of certain CNS disorders and is preparing a clinical trial in Kabuki Syndrome patients. The company is also exploring the clinical development of vafidemstat in other neurodevelopmental syndromes.

About Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is one of the most complex, functionally debilitating and costly psychiatric illnesses for healthcare systems, affecting between 0.5 and 1.6% of the general population. BPD patients often experience emotional instability, impulsivity, irrational beliefs and distorted perception, and intense but unstable relationships with others. Up to 10% of those affected die by suicide. Psychotherapy is the first-line treatment and while medications may be prescribed to treat specific symptoms, there is no FDA-approved treatment for BPD patients. It is estimated that around 1.4 million BPD patients in the U.S. are being treated with off-label drugs, approved for other conditions and which manage symptoms rather than the disease itself.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This communication contains, or may contain, forward-looking information and statements about Oryzon, including financial projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives, and expectations with respect to future operations, capital expenditures, synergies, products and services, and statements regarding future performance. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally identified by the words expects, anticipates, believes, intends, estimates and similar expressions. Although Oryzon believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors and holders of Oryzon shares are cautioned that forward-looking information and statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of Oryzon that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. These risks and uncertainties include those discussed or identified in the documents sent by Oryzon to the Spanish Comision Nacional del Mercado de Valores (CNMV), which are accessible to the public. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and have not been reviewed by the auditors of Oryzon. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they were made. All subsequent oral or written forward-looking statements attributable to Oryzon or any of its members, directors, officers, employees, or any persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statement above. All forward-looking statements included herein are based on information available to Oryzon on the date hereof. Except as required by applicable law, Oryzon does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forwardlooking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. This press release is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States or any other jurisdiction. Oryzons securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration. Any public offering of Oryzons securities to be made in the United States will be made by means of a prospectus that may be obtained from Oryzon or the selling security holder, as applicable, that will contain detailed information about Oryzon and management, as well as financial statements.
Washington, D.C., Jan. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the New Civil Liberties Alliance filed a reply brief in Relentless Inc., et al. v. Dept. of Commerce, et al., a potential landmark case before the U.S. Supreme Court, calling for an end to the unconstitutional Chevron doctrine. NCLA addresses two core problems with Chevron deference that NCLA founder Philip Hamburger has emphasized for years. First, employing such deference abandons a judges Article III duty of judicial independence. Second, when a federal court defers to an agencys legal interpretation, it denies due process of law to the entity opposing the government in that case. The logic of Chevron deference breaks apart under this devastating dual critique. Chevron also violates the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).

Relentless is set for oral argument on January 17. The Department of Commerce, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Marine Fisheries Service created the challenged rule requiring fishing companies like NCLAs clients to pay for at-sea government monitors on their fishing boats. NCLA urges the Court to vacate Respondents rule, which lower courts only upheld by applying Chevron deference. Roman Martinez, a Latham & Watkins partner, will argue on behalf of the Relentless clients. Relentless will be argued in tandem with Loper Bright Enterprises, et al. v. Raimondo, as the Supreme Court considers overruling Chevron.

The governments response brief argues that interpreting ambiguous statutes in the Chevron context involves policymakingnot laweven though courts can and do exercise legal judgment to resolve ambiguities in every other interpretive context. It further argues that Congresswithout saying so and contra the APAs textimplicitly delegated this interpretive power to agencies. In fact, interpreting statutes is not policy choice, but a traditional legal duty that Article III of the Constitution entrusts to federal courts. Congress cannot delegate or reallocate such judicial powerwhich it never possessed in the first placeto executive agencies like NOAA.

The government also contends the Supreme Court must uphold Chevron out of stare decisis respect for precedent, but interpretive methods are not entitled to stare decisis. Besides, Chevron destabilizes the law and runs afoul of the rule-of-law values that stare decisis is meant to protect, because agencies can change what the law means and demand that courts defer to that new meaning. Citizens also have reliance interests in expecting the protections of Article III and Fifth Amendment due process of law in government litigation that exceed any stare decisis claims for Chevron. Finally,  706 of the APA commands courts to review agency rules de novo. The Supreme Court has never considered any of these arguments against Chevron before, so stare decisis simply does not apply.

No matter how the Court rules on Chevron, the fishing boat at-sea monitor rule has to be vacated as unlawful under any sensible reading of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA). The MSA directs fishermen to pay for monitoring in only three specific cases, and not in the New England herring fishery. This omission can only mean one thing: the government itself must pay, as it did for 20 years before the agencies invented this rule. The absence of express authority to impose direct costs on the fishing industry renders the Final Rule at issue unlawful.

NCLA released the following statements:

Chevron has tempted every actor in our tripartite Government structure to act badly. It allows Congress not to write clear statutes. It leads the Executive to make law rather than execute it and administrators to seize power not granted to them. And it requires the Judiciary to abandon its duty to say what the law is. Chevron must fall.

 John Vecchione, Senior Litigation Counsel, NCLA

Under the Constitution, courts have a duty to apply their independent judgment and interpret federal statutes to faithfully reflect their text, structure, and history. Chevron departs from that principle, forcing judges to enforce agency interpretations that the judge believes are wrong. We hope the Court overrules Chevron and vindicates the essential role judges play in upholding the rule of law.

 Roman Martinez, Partner, Latham & Watkins

It has been a years-long voyage for our clients to get to the Supreme Court. Throughout this journey they have remained steadfast even with the odds stacked against them because of Chevron deference. We look forward to oral argument and the chance to restore a balanced approach to judicial review of agency rulemaking.

 Kara Rollins, Litigation Counsel, NCLA

Overruling Chevron is overdue. Many administrative state pathologies can be traced to the malign influence that Chevron has in encouraging unlawful administrative power grabs. By putting this genie back in the bottle, the Supreme Court can restore federal court oversight to ensure that agencies execute the law as Congress wrote it.

 Mark Chenoweth, President and Chief Legal Officer, NCLA

For more information visit the case page here and watch the case video here.

ABOUT NCLA

NCLA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit civil rights group founded by prominent legal scholar Philip Hamburger to protect constitutional freedoms from violations by the Administrative State. NCLAs public-interest litigation and other pro bono advocacy strive to tame the unlawful power of state and federal agencies and to foster a new civil liberties movement that will help restore Americans fundamental rights.

###
ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Jan. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME) will be hosting the 2024 MINEXCHANGE Annual Conference & Expo from February 25-28, in Phoenix, Arizona. This years conference will feature leading energy experts including a keynote session followed by a panel discussion.



The MINEXCHANGE speakers include:

Alex Epstein (keynote): Epstein is a philosopher and energy expert who argues that "human flourishing" should be the guiding principle of energy and environmental progress. He will be delivering a keynote session titled Energy is Everything which will focus on the need for affordable and reliable energy and how coal and other fossil fuels can continue to provide improved energy delivery systems for developing nations.

(keynote): Epstein is a philosopher and energy expert who argues that "human flourishing" should be the guiding principle of energy and environmental progress. He will be delivering a keynote session titled Energy is Everything which will focus on the need for affordable and reliable energy and how coal and other fossil fuels can continue to provide improved energy delivery systems for developing nations. Bradford Crabtree (panelist): Crabtree is the Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Energys (DOE's) Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM), where he leads and directs FECMs research and development programs. Crabtree brings nearly three decades of experience in energy and climate policy to his role as Assistant Secretary.

(panelist): Crabtree is the Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Energys (DOE's) Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM), where he leads and directs FECMs research and development programs. Crabtree brings nearly three decades of experience in energy and climate policy to his role as Assistant Secretary. Joseph Craft III (panelist): Craft is the President and CEO, Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. Craft served as President of MAPCO Coal Inc. since 1986. During that period, he also was Senior Vice President of MAPCO Inc. He is a Director of the National Mining Association, and a Director and former Chairman of Americas Power.

(panelist): Craft is the President and CEO, Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. Craft served as President of MAPCO Coal Inc. since 1986. During that period, he also was Senior Vice President of MAPCO Inc. He is a Director of the National Mining Association, and a Director and former Chairman of Americas Power. Jimmy Brock (panelist): Brock is the President and CEO, CONSOL Energy. Brock previously served as the Chief Operating Officer - Coal of CNX Resources Corporation (CNX) from 2010-2017. He currently serves as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the board of directors of the general partner of CONSOL Coal Resources LP.

(panelist): Brock is the President and CEO, CONSOL Energy. Brock previously served as the Chief Operating Officer - Coal of CNX Resources Corporation (CNX) from 2010-2017. He currently serves as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the board of directors of the general partner of CONSOL Coal Resources LP. Jimmy Staton (panelist): Staton is currently the President and CEO of Santee Cooper, a public power and water provider in South Carolina. He also served as Executive Vice President for NiSource, one of the largest fully regulated utility companies in the United States with approximately 3.5 million natural gas customers and 500,000 electric customers across seven states.



We are excited to have an amazing array of industry experts at our conference this year speaking about the future of our industry, said Marc Levier, SME President. In addition to keynote speaker, Alex Epstein, our panel of speakers will be delivering quality content and key takeaways for our mining professionals to understand how we meet the energy demand in a changing world.

This years keynote session, Energy is Everything, led by author Alex Epstein, will touch on the need for affordable and reliable energy in the future. The session will also include discussions on how coal and other fossil fuels can continue to provide improved energy delivery systems for developing nations, as well as the state of the U.S. energy grid and its future.

Click here for more information about SME and the 2024 MINEXCHANGE Annual Conference & Expo.

About SME:

The Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME) brings together the mining and mineral industrys brightest and most dedicated professionals. Over 13,000 global members advance their careers with world-class technical resources, educational programs, networking opportunities, and professional development tools from SME. Our members are focused on sharing best practices on safety, environmental stewardship, and moving mining forward. SME. Inspiring mining professionals worldwide.

Media Contact:

Karen Hamill

Communications Strategy Group (CSG)

khamill@wearecsg.com
Toronto, January 4, 2024 - Pasofino Gold Ltd. (TSXV: VEIN) (OTCQB: EFRGF) (FSE: N07A) ("Pasofino" or the "Company"), which owns 100% (prior to giving effect to the Government of Liberia's 10% carried interest) of the world class Dugbe Gold project in Liberia, notes an announcement made on 21st December 2023 by its majority shareholder, Hummingbird Resources plc (AIM: HUM) ("HB PLC").

In the announcement HB PLC updated the market on its own proposed Share Placement, which HB PLC advised is expected to close on 10th January 2024. Pasofino notes, in particular, the following statement made by HB PLC:

"Approximately $2 million of the proceeds will be dedicated to progressing the Dugbe Gold Project in Liberia, bringing this highly valuable asset closer to production. The funds will be used to optimise the 2022 Definitive Feasibility Study through FY-2024 and further progress the Project. Hummingbird and Pasofino Gold Ltd. have identified several opportunities to maximise the value of Dugbe and reduce the overall project capex profile, including the optimisation of power usage, improvements to the metallurgical recovery rates and additional exploration activities."

Daniel Limpitlaw commented: "The dedication of these funds to the Dugbe Gold project by Hummingbird Resources enables us to progress with the development of the Project and the maximization of its value. We are currently evaluating a new drill program to extend the Tuzon mineralization along with possible additional exploration targets previously identified. Furthermore, we also have identified a number of opportunities to optimize the Feasibility Study which was completed during COVID with challenges incurred during that time."

HB PLC's commitment is subject to HB PLC receiving all required regulatory, shareholder and other approvals and is subject to Pasofino and HB PLC agreeing on the commercial terms with HB PLC and Pasofino obtaining all necessary approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

ABOUT THE DUGBE GOLD PROJECT

The 2,302 km2 Dugbe Gold Project is in southern Liberia and situated within the southwestern corner of the Birimian Supergroup which is host to most West African gold deposits. To date, two deposits have been identified on the Dugbe Gold Project: Dugbe F and Tuzon discovered by Hummingbird entities in 2009 and 2011, respectively. The deposits are located within 4 km of the Dugbe Shear Zone which is thought to have played a role in large scale gold mineralization in the area.

ABOUT PASOFINO GOLD LIMITED.

Pasofino Gold Ltd. is a Canadian-based mineral exploration company listed on the TSXV (VEIN).

Pasofino, through its wholly owned subsidiary, owns 100% of the Dugbe Gold Project (prior to the issuance of the Government of Liberia's 10% carried interest).

For further information, please visit www.pasofinogold.com.

For further information, please contact:

Pasofino Gold Ltd.

Ian Stalker, Lead Advisor

Email: istalker@pasofinogold.com

Website: www.pasofinogold.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 STATEMENTS REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" that are based on expectations, estimates, projections, and interpretations as at the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterised by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "seek", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "suggest", "indicate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur, and include, without limitation, statements regarding the ability to raise the funds to finance its ongoing business activities including the acquisition of mineral projects and the exploration and development of its projects. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of Pasofino to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to, the ability to obtain all requisite government, shareholders and regulatory approvals, the ability of HB PLC and Pasofino to agree on terms in connection with any investment, the ability to fund operations, the results of business operation, the results of exploration activities; the results of the strategic review process, the ability of Pasofino to complete further exploration activities; timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms, approval by the HB PLC shareholders at a meeting on 10th January 2024 and those risk factors outlined in Pasofino's Management Discussion and Analysis as filed on SEDAR+. Pasofino does not undertake to update any forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/193227
Toronto, January 4, 2024 - Stratabound Minerals Corp. (TSXV: SB) (OTCQB: SBMIF) ("Stratabound" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on a longstanding litigation matter that existed when it acquired California Gold Mining Inc. ("CGM") in August 2021. The matter involved claims from suppliers of CGM's former hemp business totalling $USD 1,214,000 (*$CDN 1.6M). A Granville County, North Carolina, Court recently granted CGM's motion to dismiss the case. As a result of the dismissal of this litigation matter the Company is no longer exposed to this claim and its balance sheet has improved by approximately $CDN 1M as compared to its balance sheet at December 31, 2022.

(*exch: $USD = $CDN 1.32)

Interim CEO of Stratabound, Ms. Wendy T. Chan, comments, "As part of the condition in acquiring an asset at a compelling valuation in 2021, our Company had to absorb legacy agreements and liabilities. With this legacy liability cleaned up, our Company's balance sheet further improves and positions Stratabound for a strong 2024. We are poised for growth with a focused plan to advance our mineral assets systematically and expeditiously. We are now more attractive to investors."

ABOUT STRATABOUND MINERALS

Stratabound Minerals Corp. is a Canadian exploration and development company with grassroots and advanced exploration properties in highly prospective and safe mining jurisdictions.

Its Golden Culvert and Win Projects, Yukon, covering 99.5 km2 across a 27-km strike length, are situated in a district-scale, high-grade-gold-mineralized trend within the southern portion of the Tombstone Gold Belt. Gold deposits and occurrences within the Belt include Fort Knox, Pogo, Brewery Creek and Dublin Gulch, and Snowline Gold's Valley target on its Rogue property in the Selwyn Basin.

Its McIntyre Brook Project, New Brunswick, covering 120 km2 and a 17-km strike length in the emerging Triple Fault Gold Belt, is surrounded by Puma Exploration's Williams Brook Project (5.55 g/t Au over 50m) and is hosted by orogenic rocks of similar age and structure as New Found Gold's Queensway Project.

The Company is also advancing its Fremont Gold development project in the historic Mother Lode Gold Belt of California where 50,000,000 oz of gold has been produced. Fremont, located 500km north of Equinox Gold's Castle Mountain and Mesquite mines, has a PEA with an after-tax NPV of USD $217MM, a 21% IRR, 11-year LOM, averaging 118k ounces per annum at USD $1,750 gold. The project hosts an NI 43-101 resource of 1.16 MMoz at 1.90 g/t Au within 19.0 MMt Indicated, and 2.02 MMoz at 2.22 g/t Au within 28.3 MMt Inferred. The MRE evaluates only 1.4 km of the 4 km strike length of the Fremont property that features 4 gold-mineralized zones. Significantly, three step-out holes at depth hit structure, typical of orogenic deposits that often occur at depth. Fremont is located on private land in Mariposa, the original gold rush county and is 1.5 hours from Fresno, California. The property has year-round road access and is close to airports and rail. Please refer to the Fremont Gold project PEA dated Apr. 4, 2023 under NI 43-101 guidelines. The technical report has been reviewed and approved by independent "Qualified Persons" Eugene Puritch, P.Eng., FEC, CET, and Andrew Bradfield, P.Eng. both of P&E, and Travis Manning, P.E. of KCA.

The Company also holds a pipeline of early-stage exploration projects including the critical mineral Captain Cobalt-Copper-Gold Deposit in New Brunswick and the Dingman Gold Project, Ontario.

QUALIFIED PERSON STATEMENT

The scientific and technical information contained in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Jonathan Victor Hill, Director, BSc (Hons) (Economic Geology - UCT), FAusIMM, and who is a "qualified person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").

For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.stratabound.com or contact:

Gary Nassif

Senior Vice President, Director

info@stratabound.com

+1 (416) 915-4157



Kevin Shum

Investor Relations

kevin@jeminicapital.com

+1 (647) 725-3888 ext 702

Forward-Looking Statements

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

WARNING: The Company relies upon litigation protection for "forward-looking" statements. The information in this release may contain forward-looking information under applicable securities laws. This forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those implied by the forward-looking information. Factors that may cause actual results to vary materially include, but are not limited to, inaccurate assumptions concerning the exploration for and development of mineral deposits, currency fluctuations, unanticipated operational or technical difficulties, changes in laws or regulations, failure to obtain regulatory, exchange or shareholder approval, the risks of obtaining necessary licenses and permits, changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets and the inability to raise additional financing. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information. The Company does not assume the obligation to revise or update this forward-looking information after the date of this release or to revise such information to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/193240
Green River's new Chief of Police Shaun Sturlaugson wanted to focus on his work more than taking part in ceremonial events, but when his family had the chance to participate in a pinning ceremony, he obliged.

"Shaun didn't want to do a lot of hoopla," City Administrator Reed Clevenger explained during Tuesday night's City Council meeting, where the pinning ceremony took place. Clevenger added that Chief Sturlaugson's family was in town for the holidays, so it was the perfect opportunity to have them be part of the honor.

Before the pinning, Clevenger explained that Sturlaugson was recentl...
Sweetwater County's first baby of the new year has official arrived.

Hayden Zumbrennen was born bright and early at 6:54 am. Jan. 1, 2024, to Monica and Alec Zumbrennen of Rawlins. He came into the world at Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County weighing 8 pounds, 15.9 ounces, and measuring 21 inches.

Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County Auxiliary welcomed the New Year Baby by donating a basket to the family with a variety of items for the new parents and baby. The donation included $50 Wal-Mart gift certificate, baby bathtub, clothes, teethers, cloth books, blankets, towels, washcloths, changing pad, baby wipes, piggy bank, first memories scrapbook, a range of learning toys and much more.
Coqodaq 12 E. 22nd St., nr. Broadway; coqodaq.com Photo: Hugo Yu

In 2017, Simon Kim synthesized two great national genres  the American steakhouse and Korean BBQ  into the moneymaking, crowd-pleasing chimera called Cote (which has since expanded to Miami and, soon, Singapore). Coqodaq, his next New York restaurant, is a gamble that the same golden formula can extend to poultry.

Even seven years ago, customers were conditioned to swallow the high price of beef without question. Chicken, of course, is different. Small and common, it is a poor bird, a protein for the people with a price point to match (save some of the $90 Sasso chickens being roasted and served avec claw around town). Kim thinks its time for chickens holy ascension, so he and architect David Rockwell have turned the space that once housed Rocco DiSpiritos reality-TV restaurant into a glittering room dedicated to the veneration of this humble bird: A series of luminescent golden arches form a nave under which two banks of booths scallop out, and the walls are covered in a dermis of subtly textured golden panels. We wanted to create a cathedral of fried chicken, Kim says.

The chickens  from an Amish farm and pampered in a way befitting their pedigree  are served in ceramic buckets that sit atop literal pedestals. Unlike most American recipes, Korean fried chicken is known for its thin crystalline coat. Coqodaqs chef, Seung Kyu SK Kim, coats pieces in rice flour and fries them in Zero Acre sugarcane oil. As part of a $38-per-person prix fixe, the chicken  succulent, light, its greaseless outer layer clinging like a second skin  is served in two waves. First, naked alongside a caddy of four sauces: peppercorn, which is ranch by another name; salsa verde; gochujang BBQ; and honey mustard. The next batch arrives in a new bucket, this time glazed in either sweet, garlicky ganjang or spicy gochujang. Were all about the sauces, says chef SK.

Its served with bowl of cold silken capellini with nori and perilla, and banchan that includes small cubes of pickled daikon; pickled celery, and kimchee. According to Kim, the pairing of fried chicken with tart vegetables embodies the Confucian concept of eum/yang, the recognition that duality is fundamental to the universe. Its also another way of saying fried chicken is good with pickles.

And its good with Champagne, which offers the same satisfying carbonation that makes beer an ideal partner, but with an acidity that cuts through the richness of the chicken. Accordingly, Victoria James, the longtime beverage director at Cote, has assembled the largest collection of Champagne in America. (The closest competitor, in New Jersey, has 382 options.) We recommend you start with a classic brut-style Champagne then move to a demi-sec with some sweetness and texture for the coated wings. With so many bottles, James adheres to what she calls the bibliotheque approach, meaning one can taste multiple cuvees from makers like Doyard and A. Margaine dating back to the 1970s. These are pricey bottles, but the list begins with 100 bottles of sparkling wine under $100 (mixing in Lambrusco and cava) before moving to obscurantist bottles like those from Marie-Noelle Ledru, a maverick maker who retired in 2016, and a bottle of Champagne Leclerc Briant Abyss Brut Zero thats aged 60 meters under the sea for 18 months.

Korean fried chicken has a long and illustrious history of being a hot new trend in New York City. It began sometime around 2009, with the arrival of Kyochon, the hit Korean fried-chicken chain, in a futuristic (now closed) headquarters on Fifth Avenue. Bonchon followed, somewhat more successfully. Coqodaq  its name a portmanteau of the French and Korean words for chicken  is an attempt to update that perception without veering too far from its longtime appeal. Id never want to go and eat fried chicken at a white-tablecloth restaurant just because that pretentiousness doesnt belong in fried chicken, says Kim.

So Kim and SK have set their sights on the margins of the menu. The meal begins with a small cup of chicken consomme, pepped up with red ginseng thats, according to SK, meant to soothe your guts and stomach with warm tea to help you digest the big meal youre about to have. There are also oysters, a $68 trio of tartares (amberjack, ocean trout, tuna), shrimp toast, two salads (one Caesar; the other fennel), and caviar, available in varying degrees of quality and price. Its fancy but not stuffy. There are no tablecloths, and Kim wants diners to eat his chicken with their hands, which is why, upon entering the restaurant, they are immediately directed to a trio of green soapstone sinks, the washing stations. In this chicken cathedral, the first order of business is ablution.
Ells at his next restaurant, Kernel. Photo: Dina Litovsky

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At Hudson Eats, an upscale food court in lower Manhattan, the bankers and media workers descending from nearby office towers can find anything they dream of for lunch  so long as they dream in bowl form. There are build-your-own bento bowls at Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar, build-your-own bone-broth rice bowls at Springbone Kitchen, build-your-own burrito bowls at Dos Toros, build-your-own Middle Eastern bowls at Naya, and build-your-own seasonal comfort food bowls at Dig. This is the way untold millions of Americans eat lunch now: by shuffling through a base  protein  toppings assembly process, then shoveling the $18 result into their mouths.

At noon on a recent weekday, Steve Ells, who founded Chipotle Mexican Grill and is therefore among the people directly responsible for the dominance of this fast-casual format, joins the masses for lunch. Looking boyish at 58, in Veja high-tops, corduroys, and a fitted cashmere sweater, he strolls the food court with his hands clasped behind him, inspecting the make-line clones. Only some meet his standards. At Dig, he compliments how nicely the spiced farro and crispy cauliflower are presented, in sturdy cast iron. Then he narrows his eyes disdainfully at the sight of a haphazard pile of plastic takeout containers, greasy paper chits drooping from lids.

We join the line at Naya, where six employees are scooping chicken shawarma at a furious cadence for a line that spills far beyond the maze of stanchions designed to contain it. Lunchtime at Hudson Eats can be a seething mass of fleece vests and AirPods, as if the entire population of Harvard Business School had disgorged itself into this one corridor. Today its merely Penn Station at rush hour bad, and as we wait, I ask Ells what he makes of the crowd  so many workers obtaining lunch in exactly the same way. Some people like to stand in line, Ells says with a shrug, suggesting that we time ourselves to see if it isnt faster than it looks. I would bet that everybody in this line knew when they came down for lunch that there would be a line here, and they dont mind it. It looks pretty social to me.

Its what Ill call a minority opinion on the topic of queues, but Ells doubles down, recalling how in the early days of Chipotle, back when McDonalds was an investor, executives were convinced his make-line format was flawed. They were so concerned about the length of the line, and that one cash register, as opposed to McDonalds, with multiple cash registers and shorter lines. I said, I dont think people really mind the line, necessarily, as long as they see it moving.

Tucking into his bowl 17 minutes later, Ells declares Naya tasty, although the flavor of the rice is a little flat. I always think about seasoning all the disparate components, he says, so that if you eat any one thing by itself, its delicious. The word is Ellss highest compliment, and when he says it he punches each syllable, leaning forward with a conspiratorial grin. Overall, Ells feels good about Hudson Eats, especially all the cooking happening on-site, and he ventures an exceedingly modest assertion of credit. These kinds of options werent always available, and I think that Chipotle had something to do with it, he says. Id go quite a bit further: Without his influence, its hard to imagine what a place like Hudson Eats would offer; what, exactly, the customary urban work lunch circa 2024 would look and taste like.

But Ells is not here to talk about the lunchscape he wrought. Hes here to share a vision of how well eat lunch in the future. For the past two years, Ells has been attempting to create the restaurant of tomorrow in a test kitchen a few miles uptown, with an ever-growing team of chefs, industrial designers, coders, and hardware engineers. The menu will be plant-based and robot-powered; human interaction will be kept to a minimum; the food will not come in the form of an agglomerated bowl. Its called Kernel, and this month its scheduled to open to the public on Park Avenue South, in between a Cava and a Just Salad.

Does lunch need reinventing? One could argue that the options available to urban office workers have never been better. The range of global cuisines on offer, the freshness and quality of the ingredients, the degree of customization: The modern fast-casual scene is a vast improvement on the cafeterias, delis, food carts, and slice joints that once dominated downtowns across America. A person within walking distance of just a few fast-casual chains, each allowing a combination of a handful of ingredients, could have a different lunch tens of thousands of days in a row.

Most office workers, of course, do not avail themselves of these variations. The choice is something of an illusion; somehow, the bowls always end up feeling like the same meal. Most of us proceed through the long lines, which are  sorry, Steve  objectively aggravating, emerge with a pile of calories, and consume them while clearing out our inboxes.

Ells believes that lunch is due for a reset on other grounds, too. One of his motivations is ecological. Reading Bill Gatess 2021 book How to Avoid a Climate Disaster opened his eyes to the full environmental impact of animal agriculture and propelled him to do his part to reduce it. He reasoned that a new, plant-based fast-casual concept, were it to become as successful as Chipotle, could make meaningful change.

Then theres the economics. The fast-casual format has been more or less frozen in time since he started Chipotle in 1993, and from a business perspective, the model has its shortcomings. All that on-site slicing, chopping, grilling, and scooping requires lots of labor and kitchen space, both of which have risen in cost over the years. And while Chipotle is profitable in part because its menu relies on naturally inexpensive ingredients like beans and rice, other brands  like Sweetgreen, with costlier fare like kale, quinoa, and steelhead trout  have found it harder to make the math work.

Kernel  a name that brings to mind plants and the germ of an idea, and which Ells came up with one day on a jog  is organized under a significantly leaner business model. The menu eschews the sprawling combinatorics of bowls for a simple, ten-item roster of meatless chicken sandwiches and burgers, salads, and vegetables. Skilled cooks at a central kitchen will prepare ingredients, which will be loaded into insulated totes and bicycled to perhaps a dozen small satellite restaurants within a close radius. Each of those locations will be staffed by just three employees and one robot, working together to cook and assemble orders.

On a Tuesday morning in November, Ells greets me at Kernels inaugural site. Hes dressed again in what I gather is his uniform: fitted cashmere sweater, comfy trousers, spotless sneakers. Ellss teeth are paper-white and not one nanometer off plumb. His posture is perfectly erect. He wears black-framed eyeglasses, a particular style produced in the 1960s by the eyewear company American Optical. Ells says he sought them out because he prefers the feel of the vintage acetate, which is slightly more rigid than contemporary versions of the material.

The space now housing Kernel hadnt been a restaurant, and Ells opted against a full redesign, deeming it too expensive. Look at every fast-casual place, and theres a veneer, Ells says. Some have wood paneling on the walls. Some have barn slats. For this location, warmth and character werent priorities. He blasted the existing walls and ceiling seafoam green, and LED light fixtures overhead bathe the space in the cool glow of a surgical suite.

Most of the room is occupied by what Ells and his team call the operating platform: an L-shaped assembly line featuring an oven, a robotic arm, and space for two employees. Everything is optimized. Ells is keenly interested in lean manufacturing, a business philosophy often associated with Japanese automaking, where it was used to build better cars more profitably. Lean thinking revolves around reducing waste  not just literal garbage, but any sort of excess whatsoever. A lean consultant named Scott Heydon led the Kernel team in mapping out the production of the menu action by action, stripping the process of extraneous movement. Says Heydon, Our target was to produce one consumable item every 15 seconds.

Cooking begins with a robotic arm. Photo: Dina Litovsky

Ells darts around the operating platform, miming the activity that will take place there. He demonstrates how worker one will unpack little metal saucers filled with prepped ingredients and place them on custom-designed racks within reach of the robot arm. (Heydon says the team went through at least 20 iterations of the saucer in pursuit of an object that would maximize space efficiency in the oven, stack easily when empty, and be perfectly nonstick, among other qualifications.) To make a burger, the arm  an off-the-shelf model from the robotics company Kuka, modified with a proprietary gripper  grabs a small pan containing a patty and places it on a conveyor belt en route to something called an impingement oven, which blasts the patty with high heat and 65-mile-an-hour air currents to cook it rapidly.

The arm retrieves the pan and passes it off to worker two, in front of whom a conveyor belt delivers a freshly toasted bun. This workers job is to assemble Kernel burgers and faux-chicken sandwiches and to garnish warm vegetable sides. Worker three handles the cold items  two vegetable sides, two salads  with the help of machines that dispense precise quantities of lettuces and dressings. A contraption resembling a hardware-store paint mixer tosses salads.

None of the tech on display here looks particularly space-age, but the Kernel team estimates it replaces the equivalent of around two employees. A smaller staff reduces expenses, potentially resulting in larger profits for investors, who might be inclined to see a business like Kernel more like a tech company and less like a restaurant company. Ells is not the only restaurateur looking for ways to trim labor through automation. Sweetgreen is testing a bowl-composing robotic assembly line in two stores. White Castle is rolling out a robotic arm called Flippy 2 to work its fry stations. Chipotle has been testing a chip-frying bot, an automated guacamole-maker, and a roboticized make-line that can assemble certain digital orders.

Kernels stores will be staffed with three human workers. Photo: Dina Litovsky

Ells stresses that todays Kernel is just a starting point. In the next two years, he plans to build 15 more outposts with $36 million in newly secured Series A fundraising from investors including Raga Partners, Virtru, Willoughby Capital, and Rethink Food. Ells hopes to use feedback from store employees to refine and perfect the system, which could presumably result in those people being replaced by newer and better machines. Whats cool is that were building a system now that anticipates whats coming, he says. The plan is for additional robots to help move food through the assembly process. A droid could deliver prepped ingredients from the central kitchen to its satellites.

In the meantime, Ells is seemingly taking every opportunity the available technology will grant him to ax humans from the equation. The Kernel model does not include manned registers, ordering kiosks, or even seating. Customers will place their orders ahead of time on Kernels app and, when the time comes, use an SMS code to unlock a metal cubby that contains their food. Thus Kernel will not suffer from the unsightly piles of takeout containers like what he observed at Hudson Eats; the entire peak-lunch pickup experience leaves him flustered when he thinks about it. People are looking for their name and theres crowds of people and its just  its very disorderly, Ells says. Kernel and its cubbies will be devoid of such human messiness. This is a way to ensure to the customer that your food is in a secure place, he says. Its yours. Its hot and fresh and ready for you.

Despite qualifying as among the most influential entrepreneurs of his generation, having started a business that fundamentally reshaped fast food and is today worth more than Ford Motor Company or Southwest Airlines, Steve Ells is not well known to the public. A restaurant-based reality show he co-hosted ended after one season. To my knowledge, hes never been profiled by a business publication. Ells doesnt offer thought leadership on LinkedIn; in fact, he doesnt show up on social media at all. So little of Ells is in the public sphere that even his age cannot be reliably ascertained online.

Inside the restaurant industry, though, Ells is an icon, and what hes known for isnt a particular zeal for streamlining. Ells is a classically trained chef. According to Chipotle lore, Ells was working as a line cook at the San Francisco restaurant Stars when he discovered the ample, rice-filled burritos sold in the citys Mission District. He recognized the genius of the setup: Using inexpensive ingredients and simple cooking techniques, you could offer fresh, flavorful food for not much more than a Big Mac. He reasoned that if he opened his own Mission-style burrito shop, replicating the assembly-line model with some of his own culinary flair, it might kick off enough cash to finance his own high-end restaurant  the ultimate prize.

As one Chipotle became three, and then 20, and then hundreds, Ells continued to think like a guy still planning for his white-tablecloth debut, maintaining a barely concealed hostility toward most of the conventions of the fast-food genre. At Chipotle, Ells made sure that the pork came from free-range pigs. The restaurants prepared the salsas and guac and many other items from fresh and sometimes even locally sourced ingredients. There were no gimmicky limited-time-only items, no combo meals, no cheesy slogans, few coupons. Steve loathed fast food, one former Chipotle executive told me. Menu clutter, too much signage in the restaurant  that stuff drove him nuts.

Where Taco Bell and McDonalds retained food scientists to drive menu innovation  shop talk for Doritos Locos Tacos, Shamrock Shakes, and other items meant to hook customers  Ells hired award-winning chefs like Nate Appleman and Kyle Connaughton. Theyd tweak practices as minuscule as the char level on the jalapenos or how onions were diced. Chipotle never managed to develop a version of queso good enough to meet Ellss standards; it only added the item to the menu after he departed as CEO. His obsession with developing a four-ingredient, additive-free tortilla ran for years and included plant geneticists tasked with identifying new strains of wheat. Even in the face of being told no, he kept going, until he had exhausted all options, a former employee told me.

This time around, with Kernel, Ells has been every bit as punctilious about the food. Hes hired two chefs to oversee the restaurants culinary operations who are overqualified for the job: Andrew Black, formerly a sous at Eleven Madison Park and Ellss personal chef, and Neil Stetz, the longtime chef de cuisine at Quince, a San Francisco restaurant with three Michelin stars. The duo collaborated for two years to create Kernels vegan menu, which I had a chance to taste one afternoon at the companys Manhattan test kitchen.

The restaurants headliner is the Kernel burger, a mix of grains, legumes, and veggies with a dash of Marmite, loaded up with pickled roasted onions and tangy salsa verde. Then theres a crispy faux-chicken sandwich, which does a solid job invoking Chick-fil-A. Kernels version starts with a wheat-and-soy patty made by the Boston-based start-up Motif, which is breaded, fried, and topped with thinly sliced dill pickles, chipotle mayo, and a vinegary slaw.

Ells says that nothing on the menu, which will vary over time, will exceed $14. There are currently two salads, both entree-size but positively minimalist in the age of three-pound Chopt and Sweetgreen creations. A Caesar combines romaine and kale with herby bread crumbs and vegan dressing. No egg, no anchovy  it was a tough nut to crack, Black told me. (In the end, the dressing derives much of its savoriness from roasted sunflower seeds.) The other salad is composed of sturdy greens like kale and radicchio tossed with a mustardy vinaigrette, with black lentils and a dollop of smoky white-bean hummus.

Dressing is dispensed, and salads are shaken. Dina Litovsky. Dressing is dispensed, and salads are shaken. Dina Litovsky.

Sandwiches are wrapped by hand. Photo: Dina Litovsky

Kernels answer to fast-food fries is dice-size potato cubes, crunchy outside and creamy within. From a craveability standpoint, theyre probably the menus biggest hit. Three other vegetable sides display a studied attention to texture and flavor that are unmistakably the work of fine-dining chefs and taste like something you might find at aBCV, Loring Place, or any of the citys other vegetable-centric restaurants. Kernels spiced roasted carrots are tossed with farro, jammy roasted dates, toasted almonds, and salsa verde. Beets come with a sweet-and-salty seed crunch, green hummus, and quinoa. A cup of crispy cucumbers, amply seasoned with salt and vinegar, also includes fresh mint and basil, wild rice, chile jam, and toasted cashews.

For dessert, there are two coaster-size cookies. One is dark chocolate chip, made with sea salt and toasted whole wheat. The second is oatmeal raisin walnut, with a tender, barely baked consistency that transported me to Mrs. Fields. This is one of our best accomplishments, says Black, who struggled mightily to develop a great cookie without the use of butter or eggs. These two are the product of hundreds of tries, sometimes tweaking ingredients by a few grams in either direction.

While Ells was at Chipotle, his devotion to the food sometimes made for strained relationships with the people who made the chain tick. Former colleagues described him to me as visionary but difficult to work for  uncompromising and a little fanatical. Steves frustration was that he could never achieve perfection, because the people around him werent at the same level of fastidiousness, one told me. Another described Ellss almost superhuman ability to scan a room and catch minor flaws, like a team member holding a knife in the wrong way or mismatched lightbulbs used in ceiling fixtures. I saw it myself at Hudson Eats, when he spotted a worker cleaning a pastry case with a type of wipe he could apparently tell just by looking was not food-safe. At the Kernel location on Park Avenue, conversation came to a halt at one point because he caught the scent of a dirty mop  a smell that he alone could discern.

Perhaps for Ells, the true appeal of Kernels system doesnt just lie in efficiency but control  something that, after decades of nearly unimpeded success, he lost in 2015. That year, dozens of people who had eaten at Chipotle became sick with E. coli poisoning. Further foodborne-illness outbreaks followed, wrecking the companys reputation for serving quality ingredients, knocking billions of dollars off its market cap, and ultimately leading to Ellss ouster as CEO in 2017. (He was replaced by the former leader of Taco Bell.) In the end, the restaurants biggest draw was also its biggest vulnerability: tens of thousands of low-wage employees working with raw meat and fresh produce, which opened the door to cross-contamination. What failed Ells happens to be the very thing that hes working to eliminate at Kernel: human error.

People can say all day long that they want to sit down, and that they want more human interaction, and Im not going to argue with them, Ells says one afternoon over $28 salads at Sant Ambroeus in the West Village. Hes lived in the neighborhood since moving to New York from Denver in 2008, inhabiting a succession of ever-grander homes. (His current residence  the result of a yearslong construction project combining two townhouses into 16,000 square feet of living space  is just around the corner.) With Kernel, hes betting that customers care far less about warmth and hospitality, and more about speed, price, and convenience, than they are willing to admit.

When it comes to lunch in New York, history is on Ellss side. Up through the 19th century, the word lunch referred to a handheld snack. Lunch came into its own as a meal after the shift to offices and factories prevented workers from returning home during the workday to eat a sit-down midday meal, which was then known as dinner. Lunch is defined by work, says the culinary historian Laura Shapiro, who co-curated an exhibit on the subject at the New York Public Library about a decade ago. Its the meal that wears the workday as its identity.

Toiling New Yorkers lunched at hot dog carts and oyster stands, cafeterias and deli counters, and eventually the automat  that icon of the prewar city, remembered for its futuristic, coin-operated cubbies. Wasnt that, in its own way, a forerunner of Kernel? According to Shapiro, not exactly. Automats had fully staffed cafeterias and large dining areas where patrons could sit and eat for as long as they wanted. You could be poor and sit at a table and mix the ketchup into hot water and pretend it was soup, Shapiro said. The automat gave you time, if you wanted it.

I often see people on social media mourn the decline of restaurants as a third place  a social space separate from home and work. But Ells is far from alone in suspecting that diners dont really want to linger. Blank Street Coffee and &Pizza are two other nascent chains that have seized on the idea that leasing smaller spaces can lead to a better bottom line. Sweetgreen, Panera, Starbucks, and Chipotle have all been experimenting with smaller, pickup-only stores.

The slow march of automation, the shrinking of restaurants, the disappearance of seating: Regardless of what we might say to one another, our habits as consumers consistently demonstrate that we want these things  or at least are willing to trade them for a cheaper bite. In the lead-up to the pandemic, visits to waiter-service restaurants across the U.S. had been on a slow but fairly persistent decline since 2006. Even fast-food joints have struggled to get people to sit down: By one estimate, from September 2022, only 15 percent of all visitors to counter-service restaurants had chosen to dine in in the prior year. Apps like DoorDash allow users to instruct delivery workers to drop bags of food at the door, ring the bell, and leave. Outside of cities, chain restaurants have committed to big investments in drive-throughs. We have COVID to thank for some of these things, and its unclear whether well revert to past habits. My prediction is that people are going to find really great hospitality in the notion that ordering is very convenient, Ells told me early on in our time together as I probed him about Kernels lack of a human touch. I have a feeling he might be right  and that in a handful of years, when more of our meals are served this way, we might even be nostalgic for the seething hordes of a place like Hudson Eats.

Kernels cubbies. Photo: Dina Litovsky

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Today Nokia announced that it's signed a 5G patent license agreement with Honor. This covers both companies' "fundamental inventions in 5G and other cellular technologies", according to the official press release.

Nokia boasts that it's the fourth major smartphone agreement that it has concluded in the past 12 months, sounding more and more like a patent licensing firm than anything else. It further says its "industry-leading patent portfolio" is composed of "around 20,000 patent families, including over 6,000 patent families declared essential to 5G".

Honor Magic5 Pro

Anyway, as you may have expected, the exact terms of the agreement between Honor and Nokia remain confidential between them. It's interesting to see Honor choosing to go this route, while fellow Chinese company Oppo has instead battled it out with Nokia through the courts, with some pretty bad results in parts of Europe. Maybe Oppo is next?

In early 2023, Nokia extended its cross-license patent agreement with Samsung, and then it did the same with Apple in July. Now Honor is part of the game, so there's no chance of Nokia suing it for patent infringement like it did with Oppo.

Source
Qualcomm announced the Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chipset for extended reality headsets today. That would include AR, MR, and VR devices. The platform that will be used by Samsung and Google in their future headsets supports 4.3K resolution for each eye with up to 90 frames per second resolution.

The XR2+ Gen arrives with a 15% higher GPU and 20% higher CPU max frequency compared with the regular XR2 Gen 2. The upgraded hardware allows dynamic foveated rendering, space warp, and game super-resolution even in 4K graphics.

Qualcomm is using on-device AI that will support 12 or more concurrent cameras that should improve spatial interactions, including head, controller, facial expression, depth estimation, and 3D reconstruction.

The platform supports 12 ms full-color video see-through, and devices with the XR2+ Gen 2 would work on all wireless protocols, including Wi-Fi 6, 6E, and 7.

With support for such heavy features, we expect new headsets to compete with the Apple Vision Pro. Qualcomm remained silent on the matter of when we should expect the first devices with the Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chip.

Source
A Korean couple walking back to their hotel in Tumon was robbed at gun point and the husband was shot and later died, Chief of Police Stephen Ignacio said at a press conference Friday morning.

Between 7:40 p.m. and 8 p.m. Thursday, the couple was walking from Gun Beach toward The Tsubaki Tower when a dark-colored SUV approached them from behind. The passenger exited the vehicle, brandishing a firearm and demanded the couple's belongings, the police chief said.

A struggle ensued and the suspect discharged the firearm, he said.

The husband with a gunshot wound was transported by the Guam Fire Department to the Guam Regional Medical City and later succumbed to his injuries, Ignacio added.

He said police are looking for two males involved in the crime.

Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero said the couple was visiting the island to celebrate retirement and was with a tour group that went to Gun Beach. She went to GRMC Friday morning to meet with the wife and give her condolences.

"Today is a very sad, tragic day for the life of a visitor from Korea and their family," she said.

The governor said the wife wants to bring her husband back to Korea to do a ceremony, and the government is working to comply with her wishes.

Ignacio said an autopsy has been requested to be done as soon as possible so that the man can be sent back to Korea.

'Great consequences'

The governor said there will be great consequences to those who committed this crime.

"This is something that our community will never, never tolerate," she said.

The governor said this is a very rare and unusual occurrence and wants to ensure visitors and the community that Guam remains a safe destination to visit.

She said her administration continues to enhance the island's law enforcement agencies to provide a safe destination.

Leon Guerrero said she spoke to the wife who said she came to Guam to experience the beauty and friendliness of its people and the governor assured her the island continues to be that.

She said the wife is greatly distraught and has questions of "why." The governor has given her assurances that justice will happen for her husband.

"At this point I have told her we will not tolerate this kind of crime in our island," Leon Guerrero said. "We will bring justice and closure to this."

The governor sends her condolences to the family on behalf of the people of Guam, and is asking anyone who has information about case to come forward.

Favorite destinations

Kim In Kook, head of the Consular Office of the Republic of Korea, was also with the governor Monday morning at the hospital to console the wife.

"Guam is one of the most favorite destinations with Koreans who love to visit. It is because it showcases natural beauty and safety. Not to mention hospitality of the people of Guam," he said.

He said he was shocked at the unforgivable crime that occurred Thursday and also expressed his condolences to the family.

"I'd like to request government of Guam to arrest the suspect in no time and carry out thorough investigation to bring them to justice," he said.

Ignacio said the investigation continues and more resources have been poured into the case to ensure a thorough investigation so that suspects can be brought to justice.

"Guam is known to be a safe tourist destination that's why these people come to our island," he said.

Anyone with any information should call GPD at (671) 475-8615/17.

Guam Visitors Bureau President and CEO Carl Gutierrez said there is concern with the Korean tourist market after the incident and it is why island leaders came together for a press conference Friday to show they are unified in this effort.

Gutierrez said Leon Guerrero visiting the wife was a gesture that shows Guam as a community is really one family.

"It would mean a lot to show that we care. We're family and we want to portray that. The culture in Guam is a very safe place, people love you," he said.

He said he supports efforts by the attorney general to keep people who commit crimes in jail, and not out in the community. He also announced efforts to clean up Tumon so that the whole area is safe for visitors.

His agency is also willing to help with the efforts in getting justice for the family.

GVB is prepared to offer substantial amount of reward for information leading to the arrest of these culprits," Gutierrez said.

He said he will work with In Kook and the GVB office in Korea to help ease the fears of travelers from Korea. GVB will also make sure more officers and personnel are out in Tumon to have a presence to deter crimes, Gutierrez said.

Lt. Gov. Joshua Tenorio urges anyone who knows anything to say something and call authorities. He said the wife wishes for privacy.

Ignacio said the last incident involving a death of a tourist was in 2013. Chad De Soto was convicted in the 2013 murders of three Japanese tourists in a crash and stabbing rampage. The chief said based on his knowledge there hasn't been another case of a tourist being shot in Tumon.
The Guam Economic Development Authority office. GEDA is encouraging local small businesses and entrepreneurs to apply for participation in the Guam State Trade Expansion Program, a program that assists eligible small businesses in entering and succeeding in the international marketplace.
Two suspects are being sought in the killing of a Korean citizen who was on Guam celebrating a retirement with his wife before being fatally shot Thursday night.

Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero, the Guam Visitors Bureau, and the Guam Police Department are asking anyone with information about the killing, which occurred outside of Gun Beach, to come forward.

Anyone with information should call GPD at (671) 475-8615 or (671) 475-8617.

For the individuals that committed this crime, I say, there will be great consequences when youre found. Great consequences. Because this is something that our community will never, never tolerate, the governor told members of the media during a press conference at noon on Friday.

Around 8 p.m. Thursday night, the couple was walking up the hill from Gun Beach in Tumon towards The Tsubaki Tower hotel, when a dark-colored SUV approached them from behind, according to details shared by Chief of Police Stephen Ignacio on Friday.

At that point, the passenger exited the vehicle brandishing a firearm and demanded for their belongings. A struggle ensued, and at which point the suspect discharged a firearm causing a gunshot wound to the victim, Ignacio told members of the media.

The man was transported to the Guam Regional Medical City, but died Friday morning from his wounds.

A thorough description of the driver and gunman was not yet available, as the area where the shooting happened was very dark, Ignacio said.

We are pouring in all of our available resources to ensure that we do conduct a thorough investigation, he said, adding that the perpetrators should turn themselves in.

The governor said she and the Korean Consulate had visited the widow of the deceased at GRMC on Friday morning. The widow did not wish to leave the hospital, and was awaiting the arrival of her family.

She is gravely distraught  I have told her we will not tolerate this kind of crime in our island. And we will bring justice and closure to this, the governor said.

The couple was on Guam to celebrate their retirement, she said.

International concern

Korean Consul for Guam In Kook Kim during Fridays press brief said he was shocked to hear of the killing, and asked for the government of Guam to swiftly arrest the suspects. Guam was a favorite destination for the people of Korea because of its hospitality, beauty, and safety, he said.

This crime reminds us that we should be unified in reacting to the intolerable, ignoble acts which are committed in total disregard for precious life, said Kook, expressing condolences to the family of the victim.

The incident has already made international headlines, with several South Korean news outlets publishing stories about the killing online.

Thursday night marked the first slaying of a tourist since February of 2013, when Chad DeSoto drove his car into a crowd in Tumon and stabbed three Japanese visitors to death, according to police chief Ignacio. He said it may be the first time a visitor has been shot and killed in the islands tourism district.

Tourism worries

The killing comes at a time when the island is trying to resuscitate its tourism market, after a steep drop-off following the COVID-19 pandemic. Visitors from Korea have been the majority of tourists in the last three years, accounting for more than half of the 602,594.

We are very concerned, said Guam Visitors Bureau CEO Carl Gutierrez, and GVB was ready to offer a substantial reward to anyone who came forward with information about the killers, though a dollar amount was not provided.

GVB is already communicating with its marketing counterparts in Korea about the incident.

Were family and we want to portray that culturally Guam is a very safe place, Gutierrez said.

GVB would also be taking steps to clean up conditions that may contribute to crime down in Tumon. Lighting was one issue, Gutierrez said, and GVB would also be looking to clean up derelict properties where people can go there and lurk and wait for unsuspecting tourists.

The tourism head said he would work with the governor and the Office of the Attorney General to play hardball with absentee landlords in the village.

Were not going to play very, very soft now, were going to go up there and demand that you can land back were going to clean up your place, if you dont want to clean it up. Were going to make sure that Tumon is very, very safe for our visitors, he said.

Gutierrez said GVB may implement its own patrols of the district, to deter crime.

Remains will go back after autopsy

According to the governor, the deceaseds widow has asked for her husbands remains to swiftly be returned to Korea.

GPDs Ignacio said police are coordinating with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to quickly schedule an autopsy of the body, after which the mans remains could be handed over to his family.
Several senators raised concerns over the identification of government of Guam vehicles during a hearing with the Department of Public Works Friday.

Sen. Joanne Brown said she authored legislation that required GovGuam vehicles be easily identified with clear signage unless exempt such as undercover vehicles.

She said shes observed vehicles with orange government plates but there is nothing that shows what department or agency the vehicle is from.

DPW is in charge of processing vehicles for the government of Guam and before theyre distributed, they need to have clear identification, Brown said.

She said the purpose of the law was so that government of Guam employees are mindful of what they are doing when they are using official government vehicles. She said employees who use official vehicles that clearly show what department or agency they work for hopefully will deter any misuse.

Brown said unfortunately there will always be somebody that doesnt want to follow the rules. She said just purchasing the vehicles and the gas spent to fill them up already costs GovGuam a lot of money. But some employees take advantage of the official vehicles to drive around wherever they want, she added.

There is flagrant abuse. Lets not kid ourselves, she said.

She said maybe putting trackers on the cars could help reduce the misuse of vehicles in the government. She shared that during her time at DPW as the former director there were trackers on the vehicles and what they found was dumbfounding.

Some employees would cruise around from one place to the next that had nothing related with their jobs and would show up shortly before the workday was over to clock out, Brown said.

She said thats not reflected of everyone but there are people who do take advantage of the system.

DPW Director Vince Arriola said a memo is sent out to all government agencies to remind them they need to have decals on any new vehicles before they are released.

Before a vehicle is let out to any employee whether its after hours or during hours, they know ... the protocol. Its strictly for official business, he said.

If an employee makes a quick stop to get lunch or a drink on the way back to the office then thats reasonable, but anything else isnt allowed, officials said.

The agency often gets phone calls from residents reporting GovGuam vehicles who are seen speeding or weaving in and out of traffic or even parked at a private business, Arriola said.

Brown said government officials really shouldnt be out doing personal errands or cruising the island using an official vehicle. She joked that some employees bring their chakma or mistress in government of Guam vehicles, which while its funny its the reality.

Sen. Roy Quinata, oversight chairman of Public Works, said maybe policy needs to be updated to require GovGuam vehicles be marked just as big as Guam Police Department vehicles to clearly show what agency they are a part of.

Arriola asked senators if DPW could do an audit of government vehicles and look into what they are used for and who has them to ensure compliance. He said theyll be looking at around 162 vehicles and see which ones have private plates, which are exempt from the decals, and see what they are dealing with.

He said maybe senators are right that trackers would be a good option in the future. He shared how some telecommunication companies used trackers and saw their gas bills go down.

Allow me to do an operational audit of what we have out there (in) the government, and well see what the findings are, he said.

Quinata asked what sort of disciplinary action is in place for those who misuse government vehicles. Arriola said there are laws against misuse of government resources, and it can also go to the Civil Service Commission as well.
A stranger who was accused of loitering in the fenced patio area of a womans home in Harmon faces felony drug charges, according to a magistrates complaint filed in Superior Court.

Junior Nick, 23, was charged Thursday with possession of a controlled substance as a third-degree felony and criminal trespass as a petty misdemeanor.

He was also charged with criminal mischief and family violence as misdemeanors in connection with a Dec. 15 incident reported in Yigo.

On Wednesday, a woman called police to report that a man she didnt know was in her patio at Harmon Villa Apartments, and she wanted him removed. She told police the same man had entered her patio for the previous two mornings.

The woman said she was alarmed because she lived alone and hadnt made contact with the man.

Officers approached the man, who was sitting on a beach chair on the patio, and observed that he had bloodshot and glossy eyes, according to the complaint.

When police patted him down for weapons, they found marijuana, a pocket knife and a resealable plastic bag containing methamphetamine, the complaint stated.

On Dec. 15, police were called to a home in Yigo, where a family member reported that Nick pushed her hard on her chest before leaving the residence, the complaint stated.

He also threw a can of sardines at her, which shattered a sliding glass door, and a bowl that struck a bedroom door.

Police found the sliding glass door cracked and shattered, and they saw a broken glass bowl and plate by the bedroom entrance.
Starbucks customers looking to get their caffeine fix can now bring their own reusable cups for nearly all visits, including drive-through and mobile orders.

The new practice, which aims to reduce waste sent to landfills, started Wednesday, Jan. 3, at all company-operated and participating licensed stores in the U.S. and Canada.

At Starbucks, we envision a future where every beverage can be served in a reusable cup, Michael Kobori, Starbucks chief sustainability officer, said in a news release. Offering customers more options to use a personal cup when they visit Starbucks marks tangible progress towards the future. We know our customers are passionate about the planet, and now, they can join us in our efforts to give more than we take, no matter how they order.

Those efforts are part of a commitment by Starbucks to reduce waste by 50% by 2030. The Seattle-based chains traditional hot cups are made of both plastic and paper, which makes them difficult to recycle.

As we know, the most sustainable cup is likely the one you already own. Bringing your own cup to stores is a critical step toward reducing single-use packaging waste, Kate Daly, managing director and head of the Center for the Circular Economy at Closed Loop Partners, said in the news release.

Starbucks says its the first national coffeehouse in the U.S. to offer customers the option to use their personal cup when mobile ordering. In Canada, the chain is the first to offer customers the option to use their personal cup for mobile orders of all drinks and sizes.

Incentives for customers to go reusable

In addition to helping supports Starbucks shift toward reusables and away from single-use plastics, there are some other perks for customers.

Customers at participating stores in the U.S. and Canada who bring any clean, personal cup will receive a 10-cent discount on their beverage. Plus, in the U.S., Starbucks Rewards members will receive 25 Bonus Stars.

Customers can only take advantage of the perks up to three times per day.

How it works

When you bring your cup to a participating Starbucks location, there are some small differences when it comes to ordering.

Starbucks notes that cups must be cleaned before bringing them into stores and that baristas wont rinse them out. The chain also wont accept cups larger than 40 ounces.

Baristas build beverages using a new, custom beverage craft smallware that has standardized lines for measurements before pouring the beverage into customers personal cups and adding any toppings.

All Starbucks standard size options (short, tall, grande, venti, trenta) and beverage formats (hot, iced, and blended) are eligible to be ordered in a personal cup.

Ordering inside

Customers ordering inside Starbucks cafes should simply let their barista know they brought their own personal cup and hand it over.

Customers choosing to sit and stay in the cafe also can request a reusable ceramic or glass cup at most stores.

Ordering in the drive-thru

When ordering in the drive-thru, customers order their beverage as usual and then let the barista know they brought their own cup. When they get to the pickup window, baristas will collect customers personal cups without the lids using a contactless vessel to ensure hygiene and safety. The beverage will be returned in the reusable cup in the same way.

Mobile ordering in the Starbucks app

When customers order using the Starbucks app, theyll need to select personal cup in the customization menu. From there, they continue ordering like normal. When they arrive at a store, customers give their personal cup without a lid to a barista at the pickup area. The barista will collect and hand the beverage back in a contactless vessel.




Haiti - FLASH : Humanitarian VISA (VITEM 3) for Brazil, required documents and appointments





The Brazil Visa Application Reception Center (BVAC) operated by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Haiti recalls that the Resumption of online appointments for the humanitarian visa (VITEM 3) will be available January 8, 2024 and that the following documents are required:



- Passport valid for at least twelve (12) months, on the day the applicant's file is submitted with at least two (2) blank pages;



- Two (2) white background identity photos, passport size, recent (5 x 5cm);



- Extract from the criminal record or a police certificate issued by the Central Directorate of the Judicial Police of Haiti (DCPJ) valid for 6 months or the Courts of First Instance TPI (generally valid for 3 months), for adults;



- A plane ticket reservation (Travel Itinerary);



- Extract of birth certificate issued by the National Archives (duly legalized by the Public Prosecutor's Office, the Ministry of Justice and Public Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs). Birth certificates issued by the Peace Courts will not be accepted;



- The original receipt for payment of the BVAC fees, in the amount of US$60.00 per request, to the IOM account at SOGEBANK no. 2616027989.



VITEM III requires the applicant to be an adult.



Phones : 2817 0320 / 3163 6075 / 31709307 / 49101117 and 36688490

Email : iomhaitivrf@iom.int

BVAC address : Street E. Pierre, 11 (United States Embassy area). Tabarre 27, Port-au-Prince - Haiti



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41356-haiti-flash-visa-for-brazil-good-news.html



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Kenya : News about the Multinational Security Support Mission





It is on January 26, 2024 that High Court Judge Chacha Mwita will determine whether the deployment of a multinational force in Haiti is contrary to the Kenyan Constitution.



Let's recall that the Supreme Court of Kenya issued a protective order temporarily preventing the Kenyan Government from deploying the country's security forces in any other country while it examined a complaint filed by opponent Ekuru Aukot, a former defeated presidential candidate and Leader of the Third Way Alliance party https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40701-haiti-politic-the-high-court-of-kenya-suspends-for-2-weeks-the-deployment-of-the-mission-in-haiti.html



Meanwhile, the Kenyan Government continues preparations for the arrival of approximately 1,000 police officers in Haiti.



According to available information, the police officers assigned to the Multinational Security Support Mission (MMSS) come from the Rapid Deployment, Anti-theft, General Services and Border Patrol Units. Kenyan police said the agents had undergone paramilitary training and trained together, to ensure they were in sync when they arrived in Haiti.



According to an article in the Nairobi daily "The Star", the police officers would be equipped for this mission with AK47 assault rifles.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41270-haiti-security-planning-of-the-multinational-mission-joint-statement.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41233-haiti-security-a-first-group-of-300-kenyan-police-officers-in-haiti-in-february-2024.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41202-haiti-kenya-the-commander-of-the-pnh-on-an-official-visit-to-nairobi.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41160-haiti-security-kenyan-delegation-in-haiti-last-step-before-sending-the-first-reinforcements-to-the-pnh.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40994-haiti-flash-the-kenyan-parliament-approves-the-sending-of-1-000-police-officers-to-support-the-pnh-but.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40701-haiti-politic-the-high-court-of-kenya-suspends-for-2-weeks-the-deployment-of-the-mission-in-haiti.html



Other links on the international force led by Kenya : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40994-haiti-flash-the-kenyan-parliament-approves-the-sending-of-1-000-police-officers-to-support-the-pnh-but.html



SL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - 220th anniversary of independence : BOJNUAH invites Haitians to raise awareness...





The Office of the United Nations Youth Organization of Africa in Haiti (BOJNUAH), celebrated the proclamation of the independence of Haiti (January 1st) after the victory of the slaves of the colony of Santo Domingo on Napoleon Bonaparte's troops during the Battle of Vertieres on November 18, 1803.



"After a bloody and merciless war marked by the marooning of slaves for their liberation, Haiti officially declared its independence on January 1st, 1804. This independence constitutes an important chapter in the history of humanity seen as Haiti (Mother of Liberty), is the precursor of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen promulgated a few years earlier, in 1789. The independence of Haiti also sensitized the United Nations to promulgate in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. A founding member of the United Nations, it should be noted that Haiti has always positioned itself on the side of Law, having always been among one of the first Nations to recognize the existence of countries such as Libya and the State of Israel.



This sacred land has always been recognized as the land of Liberty, because anyone who has set foot on the soil of Haiti is automatically free. This great Nation actively participated in the independence and emancipation of several peoples in the world including Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, without forgetting the United States of America in 1779. Haiti even helped the Greece by providing foodstuffs and by being among the first countries to recognize the Greek Revolution of 1821 against the Ottoman Empire."



Amos Cincir, Special Representative of BOJNUAH, believes that January 1st is a special opportunity for Haitian youth, the political and economic elites and the country's intelligentsia to reflect deeply on this historic and glorious past of our dear Homeland. According to him, on the sidelines of these 220 years marked by the collapse of the Haitian State, "it is an opportunity to seize in order to make the appropriate and adequate decisions to remake the image of this Nation, which in the past has rocks history around the world through monumental and sovereign stands in favor of human rights. Haiti has not always been the pariah country people try to convince us to be. It is a fighting and resilient Nation with a people worthy of its name."



Furthermore, he took the opportunity to invite Haitian leaders to "become aware of the enormous sacrifices made by the founding fathers of the Haitian Nation and to act accordingly in order to honor our ancestors who sacrificed everything for the freedom of our people, as well as the freedom of all other oppressed peoples." He encourages them above all "to show empathy, vision, good faith towards these people who have suffered for several decades."



Learn more about BOJNUAH :

Represented in Haiti since January 2017, the Office of the United Nations Youth Organization of Africa in Haiti (BOJNUAH), is a representation of the United Nations Youth Organization of Africa (OJNUA), headquartered in Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso (West Africa). Several countries on the African continent are already members, including Burkina Faso, Chad, Guinea Conakry, Cameroon, Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Benin, Ivory Coast, as well as others black communities around the world including Haiti.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Havre Police Department

A bike was reported Wednesday at 8:53 a.m. abandoned in an empty lot on Second Street.

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Danielle May Limberhand of Havre, 24, was arrested on a state District Court Warrant after a caller on Ninth Avenue asked Wednesday at 10:16 a.m. for assistance removing some people from a property.

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A 10:34 a.m. Wednesday caller reported someone had hit-and-run a fence on First Street Northeast.

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A written or verbal warning was issued after a caller near the post office reported a German shepherd-type dog was chasing people Wednesday at 12:07 p.m.

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Tyler Jordan Henry of Box Elder, 36, was arrested on charges of driving without a driver's license and violation of child restraint requirements and on two Justice or City court warrants during a vehicle stop on First Street West.

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A 4:04 p.m. Wednesday caller reported a vehicle crash on Bullhook Drive. Havre Police Capt. Ryan Pearson said three vehicles were involved, with two people cited, but it was a minor incident with no injuries and the vehicle towed was due to reasons not involving crash damage.

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A 14-year-old was issued a summons on a charge of driving without a driver's license after a 19th Street caller reported an unknown vehicle with two flat tires in their driveway.

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A caller on First Street reported Wednesday at 10:04 p.m. that someone had punched the caller in the face.

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A Wednesday 10:16 p.m. caller on Fourth Street reported that an ex had come into the caller's home while it was unoccupied, cut the cord to a security camera and stole some items. The caller also reported at 4:26 a.m. today that the same person had driven by and thrown something at their vehicle then left, and officers searched for but couldn't find the person.

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Jenell Rene Leo of Havre, 47, was arrested on a pick up and hold order and Thomas Jake Speakthunder of Havre, 46, was arrested on a Justice or City court warrant after a vehicle stop at First Street and Seventh Avenue at 12:04 a.m. today.

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Christie Marie Stump of Box Elder, 41, was arrested on a trespass to property charge after a caller at a Second Street business asked at 5:11 a.m. today for assistance removing two people who were being disruptive.

Hill County Sheriff's Office

A Wednesday 5:52 p.m. report of single-vehicle crash involving a deer on U.S. Highway 2 just east of city limits was referred to Montana Highway Patrol.

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Deputies responded to calls at 6:55 p.m. and 11:36 p.m. Thursday of suspicious activity on Fifth Street North where one caller said it looked like people were stealing things.

Havre Fire Department

Emergency medical technicians responded to six calls Wednesday.

Havre Animal Shelter

This morning the animal shelter held two 7-month-old kittens, one 20-week-old kitten, two male cats and two female cats.

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Also this morning, the animal shelter held 13 puppies between 16 weeks and 9 months old, one female mixed-breed dog, and a female and a male Rottweiler. Additionally, two puppies, ages 21 weeks and 6 months, were being housed offsite.
The Havre Public Schools Board of Trustees will meet Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. in the Havre Middle School.

The agenda for the meeting is:

A. Call to order

1. Pledge of Allegiance

2. Roll call

3. Welcome to visitors

4. Presentation and display

a. Pony Pride Award, presented by Bob Newbauer

b. MTSS presentation by Lisa Passon

5. Agenda deletions or corrections, and additions allowed by policy, if any

B. Unanimous consent agenda

C. Old business

1. Safe Return To Schools and Continuity of Services Plan

D. New business

1. Montana High School Association annual meeting proposals and updates on Havre High School activities

2. Consideration of new and revised polices on first reading 1240, Duties of Individual Trustees; 1400 Board Meetings; 1420 School Board Meeting procedures; 1511 Code of Ethics for School Board Members; 1520 Board Communications; 1610 Goals and Objectives; 2151F Assumption of Risk Form; 2320 Field Trips, Excursions and Outdoor Education; 3141 Discretionary Nonresident Student Attendance Policy; 3310P Academic Honesty and Responsible Use of Resources, and 5231 Personnel Records

3. Consideration of out-of-state travel for Havre Middle School science students

Public Comment  An opportunity for any member of the audience to bring to the attention of the board questions or relevant comments concerning district matters not on the agenda. The board will not discuss or take action on items not on the agenda, but may refer a matter presented to a future agenda.

E. Superintendents report

1. Enrollment trend data

2. Havre High School stage project

3. COPS grant

4. Calendar Committee update

5. Accreditation update

6. Havre Public Schools financial investment

F. Announcements/communications/information

1. Announcements from the chair

2. Correspondence

3. Report from Havre High School student body representative

G. Executive session

1. Superintendents evaluation

H. Closing

The next special board meeting will be Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, at 12:15 p.m. at Robins School Administration Building

The next board meeting will be Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, at 6:30 p.m at Havre Middle School.
The shortage could be caused by a combination of several factors, the ministry stated: if domestic electricity production capacity does not suffice to cover demand at peak demand hours during the long and extreme cold spell and if disruptions in electricity transmission or production facilities occur simultaneously in production and import.

THE MINISTRY of Economic Affairs and Employment on Thursday warned that there is a low likelihood of an electricity shortage as the extreme cold spell continues in Finland.

Domestic production capacity is being complemented with imports from Estonia and Sweden.

Fingrid, Finnish authorities and transmission network operators have devised a contingency plan for an electricity shortage. The state-owned grid operator would ask transmission network operators to impose restrictions on consumption that would affect a fairly limited number of customers for a few hours at a time.

The power outages would be targeted in a way that societally important functions would be unaffected. The restrictions would account for an estimated two per cent of total consumption in Finland, said the ministry.

Although the long-running extreme cold spell has placed a strain on the electricity system, the system is operating as usual.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment is nevertheless encouraging consumers, businesses and other electricity users to reduce consumption and exercise demand-side flexibility to ensure both the sufficiency of electricity capacity and lower their electricity costs. On Friday, the price of electricity on the power exchange is to surge up to 20 times higher than on an average day.

Also Fingrid on Thursday urged the public to cut back on electricity consumption during demand hours in the morning and evening, highlighting that electricity momentarily exceeded 15,000 megawatt-hours on Wednesday. Tuomas Rauhala, a director at Fingrid, said it is important that all electricity users shift consumption away from the peak hours to the extent possible.

The challenging times today are 810am and 510pm, he said in a press release issued just before 9am on Thursday, 4 January.

Yesterday evening, however, electricity consumption was on par with forecasts, suggesting that few paid heed to the advisory immediately.

The low temperatures are forecast to linger at least until the weekend, reminded the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. The current cold spell is an extremely rare occurrence, it added, comparable to the frigid winter experienced in the late 1980s.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT
The public broadcasting company asked all presidential candidates whether the requirement that the president shall be a native-born Finnish citizen should be upheld.

JUSSI HALLA-AHO , the presidential candidate of the Finns Party, writes on YLEs voter guidance pages that the birthplace requirement imposed on the president should be extended also to cabinet ministers and members of parliament.

Halla-aho was one of six candidates to answer yes. It is important, he elaborated, that the president has roots deep in Finnish soil. The native-born requirement could well be extended also to cabinet ministers and members of parliament.

Also in favour of upholding the requirement were Alexander Stubb (NCP), Olli Rehn (Centre), Sari Essayah (CD), Harry Harkimo (MN) and Mika Aaltola.

Li Andersson (LA), Pekka Haavisto (Greens) and Jutta Urpilainen (SDP) contrastively viewed that the requirement should be removed also for the president.

Urpilainen said Halla-ahos proposal to instead extend the requirement is shocking coming from a presidential candidate and appalling coming from the speaker of parliament. She added that it would be dismal if anyone who did not receive citizenship at birth could never be deemed sufficiently Finnish to represent Finland.

Finnishness is being committed and taking action to benefit Finland, defending its values and borders. You can settle down here even if your roots are elsewhere, she wrote on X.

Helsingin Sanomat on Tuesday reminded that a handful of current members of parliament would not satisfy the requirement. Ben Zyskowicz (NCP), who was born to Polish parents in Helsinki in 1954, did not receive Finnish citizenship until the age of five, whereas Nasima Razmyar (SDP) is originally from Afghanistan and Bella Forsgren (Greens) from Ethiopia.

Anne Berner (Centre), who served as minister of transport and communications in the cabinet of Prime Minister Juha Sipila (Centre), did not apply for Finnish citizenship until she launched her parliamentary election campaign.

Forsgren, who became a citizen at the age of three following her adoption to Finland, described Halla-ahos proposal as non-inclusive and a form of high-society racism in an interview with Helsingin Sanomat on Wednesday.

This does have quite a racist undertone. That birthplace alone would define a persons possibilities to participate in society at a certain level, she said. It sort of creates the impression that a non-native-born Finn could be somehow untrustworthy and unpatriotic.

Razmyar, in turn, estimated that any discussion about the eligibility to stand as a candidate in elections is fundamentally a discussion about whether you have to be born as a Finn or whether you can become a Finn.

The expansion of the native-born requirement, as demanded by Halla-aho, is precisely the kind of ethnonationalism that the Finns Party has pledged to reject, she wrote on X.

Pauli Rautiainen, an expert in constitutional law at the University of Eastern Finland, on Wednesday reminded on the social media platform that the requirement for members of parliament was ruled to be unconstitutional already in the 1980s.

As the constitution prohibits imposing a native-born requirement on cabinet ministers, it analogously prohibits imposing the requirement on members of parliament, he said.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT
Operatives from Ukraines military intelligence agency launched a daring cross-border raid into Russia, it was claimed on Friday.

They were said to have inflicted an undisclosed number of losses on Russian forces in the frontier region of Belgorod, according to a post by Ukraines military intelligence agency on Telegram.

Video footage, shot from a helmet camera, shows Ukrainian troops mining a road in the Grayvoron district that was said to have been inspected by Russian commanders because of poor conditions in the area.

At one point, an exchange of gunfire can be seen as Kyivs troops move through a heavily-wooded area.

There have been several cross-border incursions into Russia since the start of Moscows full-scale invasion.

The most notable was a raid by a Kyiv-backed Russian opposition group, which involved Western armoured vehicles, in May last year.

04:33 PM GMT

Thats all for today

Thank you for following todays live blog. We will be back tomorrow with all the latest updates.

Todays headlines:

Ukraine braced for a renewed Russia offensive near Kharkiv.

The White House and UK defence minister condemned Russias use of North Korean missiles in attacks on Ukraine.

Russia repelled a Ukrainian attack over Crimea.

Ukraine revenge attacks on Belgorod forced schools to shut and triggered evacuations.

Lukashenko granted himself immunity from criminal prosecution.

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov offered 20 Ukrainian POWs in return for the lifting of US sanctions on his family.

Russia approved two candidates to run against Putin in the March election.

Sweden announced withdrawal of aid to Mali over its pro-Russia stance.

04:21 PM GMT

Russia offers to evacuate its border city residents

Russian officials in the southern border city of Belgorod have offered to evacuate worried residents, following waves of fatal Ukrainian revenge attacks.

I see several appeals on social media where people write: We are scared, help us get to a safe place, Belgorod region governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said in a video message.

Story continues

Of course we will. We have already moved several families, he added.

He said residents would be transported to the towns of Stary Oskol and Gubkin, where they would be housed in comfortable conditions.

You will stay there for as long as necessary, he said, but warned there would not be enough temporary accommodation to house everybody.

04:09 PM GMT

Pictured: Residents carry on in Kyiv

Citizens clear debris three days after a Russian missile attack set the apartment block alight - GENYA SAVILOV/AFP

Residents retrieve personal belongings from badly damaged homes in Kyiv - Global Images Ukraine

Relatives and friends attend the funeral of Lyudmyla Shevtsova, an 84-year-old scientist killed in her apartment by a Russian missile - GENYA SAVILOV/AFP

03:38 PM GMT

Ukraine defence minister discusses military aid with European counterparts

Rustem Umerov has conducted calls with various European defence ministers to express gratitude for their continued support and to discuss further aid supplies.

Mr Umerov thanked Bjrn Arild Gram, Norways defence minister, for strengthening our air defence and fostering the Maritime Capabilities Coalition.

In a meaningful conversation with Latvian counterpart Andris Spruds, the Ukrainian defence minister discussed how it will increase production of UAVs.

And in a productive call with Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, the Polish deputy prime minister and defence minister, Mr Umerov said he was thankful for Polands support.

03:12 PM GMT

Sweden to withdraw aid from Mali over pro-Russia stance

Sweden is pulling humanitarian aid from Mali over its support for Russias invasion of Ukraine, the Swedish minister for foreign trade and international development cooperation has told TV4.

Johan Forssel said: When we cooperate with other countries, we also want those countries to cooperate with Sweden, but Malis military junta instead turns to Russia and supports its full-scale war against Ukraine.

The West African nation has so far abstained on UN resolution votes concerning Russias war in Ukraine and voted against a resolution to remove Russia from the UN Human Rights Council.

Sweden has provided Mali with 304 million ($388 million) in aid over the past 10 years.

02:59 PM GMT

Ukraine 'hit with North Korean missiles'

Russia has struck Ukraine with missiles supplied by North Korea, an adviser to Volodymr Zelensky has said.

Mykhailo Podolyak, a presidential aide, said: The masks are completely off. The Moscow regime is no longer concealing its intentions.

His remarks came as the governor of Ukraines northeastern Kharkiv region said it had been hit with non-Russian made missiles.

Oleh Synehubov said: We are conducting all the necessary examinations. I will say for now that the markings have been erased from these missiles, but what we can see (is that) the country which produced it is not the Russian Federation.

On Thursday, the US accused Moscow of using North Korean projectiles to attack Ukraine.

John Kirby, the US National Security Council spokesman, said ballistic missiles with ranges of around 550 miles were fired by Russian forces in two separate assaults within the past week. Washington also alleged that Russia intends to purchase missiles from Iran.

Both Moscow and Pyongyang have denied conducting any arms deals, but vowed last year to deepen military relations.

Kim Jong Un and his daughter Ju Ae inspecting a missile launcher production facility - KCNA/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

02:43 PM GMT

Ukraine belongs with the European family, says Irelands foreign minister

Micheal Martin has reiterated his support for Ukraines accession into the European Union and called on the international community to remain steadfast in its support for the nation.

The Fianna Fail politician, who serves as Tanaiste, minister for foreign affairs and minister for defence, said: Ukrainians continue to defend their country and their freedom with courage and resilience.

The international community, including Ireland, must also remain firm in its resolve to support them.

He added: Ukraine belongs with the European family. Ireland will remain one of the strongest advocates of Ukraines European path and we will continue to support them along their journey.

02:31 PM GMT

Ukrainian railways transport more than 2 million passengers to Europe in 2023

Ukraines state-owned railway operator, Ukrzaliznytsia, transported a record 2.1 million passengers to European countries last year, 2.1 times the rate of 2022.

In total, the company transported 25 million passengers by long-distance trains last year.

Also in 2023, Ukrzaliznytsia reported a record amount of freight for November and the Kyiv Electric Car Repair Plant modernised 13 electric trains.

02:09 PM GMT

North Korea will pay a high price for supporting Russia, says Shapps

The world has turned its back on Russia, forcing Putin into the humiliation of going cap in hand to North Korea to keep his illegal invasion going.



In doing so Russia has broken multiple UNSC resolutions and put the security of another world region at risk.



This must stop now.  Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) January 5, 2024

02:03 PM GMT

Chechen leader offers POWs for lifting US sanctions on family

Ramzan Kadyrov, head of the Chechen Republic, has proposed exchanging Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) in return for the lifting of United States sanctions against his family, according to the TASS and RIA Novosti news agencies.

Kadyrov is said to have offered the release of 20 POWs in exchange for the removal of US sanctions against his relatives, planes and horses.

It comes after the Putin-ally called for the execution of family members of suspected criminals that evade capture.

During a meeting of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Chechen Republic on December 30, Kadyrov said: As is customary from time immemorial, if one of the relatives has done wrong and the criminal cannot be found, their brother, their father would be killed.

01:40 PM GMT

Lukashenko grants himself immunity from criminal prosecution

Belaruss authoritarian leader has granted himself lifelong immunity from criminal prosecution with a decree that also bars exiled opposition leaders from standing in presidential elections.

The law, signed by Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday, theoretically applies to any former president and members of his or her family.

In reality, it is only relevant to the 69-year-old himself, who has ruled Belarus with an iron fist for almost 30 years.

Read more here

01:10 PM GMT

Pictured: Firefighters douse Russian missiles

A firefighter extinguishes remains of a missile, which Ukraine claims to be made in North Korea, amid Russia's attack in Kharkiv, - STRINGER/REUTERS

A bomb squad member inspects missile remains in central Kharkiv, - STRINGER/REUTERS

12:40 PM GMT

Zelensky thanks soldiers

The 110th Mechanized Brigade is fighting in the Avdiivka direction. I visited it last week to thank the warriors.



There may be weariness in their eyes, but no despondency or weakness. Proud of our heroes!



I thank everyone who is fighting for Ukraines life!#ChevronsOfHeroes pic.twitter.com/C2XYYSS85v  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) January 5, 2024

12:14 PM GMT

UN access at Ukraine nuclear plant curbed for safety, alleges Russia

Russia has confirmed that it blocked the UNs nuclear watchdog from accessing parts of Ukraines Zaporizhzhia power plant, but said it was for safety reasons.

Officials from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have been on the ground monitoring the plant since September 2022, six months after it was captured by Moscows forces.

Responding to an IAEA statement saying their team had been blocked from reactor halls, Renat Karchaa, an official at Russias Rosatom, alleged they tried to access containment shells.

A containment shell, and especially a sealed one, is not a museum or an area for free walks, Karchaa told Russias RBC news outlet.

While in sealed mode, personnel access to the containment shells is prohibited and is only permitted with unambiguous justification and in emergency cases, he added.

Rafael Grossi, IAEA chief, had said in a statement on Wednesday that experts had not been allowed to access reactor halls in three of the plants units for two weeks.

He said the IAEA would continue to request access to the reactor halls, where the reactor core and spent fuel are located.

11:51 AM GMT

Tape up windows, Russia tells Belgorod residents

The Russian city of Belgorod bordering Ukraine urged residents to secure their windows with tape Friday to protect themselves from frequent Ukrainian shelling.

A view shows damaged cars in a courtyard of a multi-story apartment building following what local authorities say was a Ukrainian military strike in the city of Belgorod, Russia - BELGOROD MAYOR VALENTIN DEMIDOV/via REUTERS

City authorities posted instructions on how to apply the tape on Telegram, saying: This is a good way to protect them from the blast wave. The glass will not shatter into small fragments.

It comes after the city was targeted by another round of Ukrainian shelling overnight, hours after local schools were ordered to extend their holiday closures because of the risk of further attacks.

11:21 AM GMT

Russia approves two candidates for ballot against Putin in March election

Russias national elections commission registered the first two candidates who will compete with Vladimir Putin in the March election on Friday, which Putin is all but certain to win.

The commission approved putting Leonid Slutsky of the nationalist Liberal Democratic Party and Vladislav Davankov of the New People Party on the ballot for the March 15-17 vote.

Neither poses a significant challenge to Putin, who has dominated Russian politics since becoming president in 2000. Both candidates parties are largely supportive in parliament of legislation backed by Putins power-base United Russia party.

10:49 AM GMT

Ukraine says Russia attacked with 29 drones overnight

Kyiv said that Russia attacked Ukraine with nearly 30 Iranian-designed attack drones overnight but 21 of them had been downed.

A total of 29 Shahed-136/131 strike UAVs [unmanned aerial vehicles] were launched, Ukraines air force said on social media, adding that its forces had shot down 21 of the drones over regions across the country.

10:05 AM GMT

Nepal halts work permits for Russia and Ukraine after soldiers killed

Nepal has stopped issuing permits to its citizens to work in Russia and Ukraine until further notice, an official said on Friday, after at least 10 Nepali soldiers were killed while serving in the Russian army.

Nepal asked Russia not to recruit its citizens and to immediately send all Nepali soldiers back to the Himalayan nation, also compensating the families of those killed.

The government has said that up to 200 Nepali citizens were estimated to be working in the Russian army, and foreign minister N.P. Saud told the state-run RSS news agency that about 100 Nepalis are reported to be missing.

Nepali soldiers, called Gurkhas, are known for their bravery and fighting skills, and have been serving the British and Indian armies following the independence of India in 1947 under an agreement between the three countries. There is no such agreement with Russia.

09:29 AM GMT

Latest MoD update:

Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine  05 January 2024.



Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/7zEENJIlQk #StandWithUkraine  pic.twitter.com/7hf2mrXxee  Ministry of Defence  (@DefenceHQ) January 5, 2024

08:41 AM GMT

I spent a year with Zelensky  and saw how his personality completely transformed

On the night we first met, backstage at his comedy show in spring 2019, Volodymyr Zelensky looked more scared than I would see him for a while.

It wasnt only stage fright. He looked half mute with fear, his lip clenched, eyes fixed on the floor. His bid to become the president was about three months old, and the premiere of his new variety show was about to begin.

His media adviser showed me backstage, where the performers were already in costume. Give him a minute, she said when she saw me sidling up to Zelensky. He had a lot on his mind.

Earlier that day, someone had called in a bomb threat at the theatre. The anonymous voice said the building was rigged with explosives. It sounded like a hoax, and Zelensky told his troupe not to panic. Police officers had found nothing suspicious but they advised the theatre to call off the show. Zelensky conferred with the venues management and they decided to carry on. This would be his last big show before the elections.

In an exclusive extract from his book, Simon Shuster reveals how war changed the Ukrainian President  and not entirely for the better. Read more here

08:17 AM GMT

Russian schools forced shut by string of 'revenge attacks'

Russias border city of Belgorod was targeted by another round of Ukrainian shelling overnight, hours after local schools were ordered to extend their holiday closures because of the risk of further attacks.

Vyacheslav Gladkov, the local governor, said at least two people were wounded in the latest shelling, as Telegram channels circulated what appeared to be images of damaged cars in the area.

Soldiers take security measures following Ukrainian Army was shelled in Belgorod, Russia - Anadolu/Anadolu

Vehicles are destroyed following Ukrainian Army was shelled in Belgorod, Russia - Anadolu/Anadolu

The attack marked the latest in a string of recent deadly strikes on Belgorod, situated about 20 miles from Ukraines north-eastern border, in apparent retaliation for a series of aerial assaults by Moscows forces.

Schools in several municipalities close to the Ukrainian border were ordered to extend their holidays beyond the planned winter break amid the incidents, Gladkov said earlier on Thursday.



Russian schools have been closed this week as the country celebrates Orthodox Christmas on January 7.

07:57 AM GMT

Russia 'repels Ukrainian attack over Crimea'

Russias defence ministry claimed it repelled a Ukrainian attack over Crimea on the same day, shooting down 36 drones over the annexed peninsula.

Kyivs attempted attack using aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles against targets on the territory of the Russian Federation was thwarted, the defence ministry said in a statement on Telegram.

It said its air defence systems destroyed and intercepted 36 Ukrainian drones over Crimea, a peninsula that Russia annexed in 2014 and which Kyiv has vowed to reclaim.

Another Ukrainian drone over Russias western Krasnodar region was destroyed, the ministry added.

Kyiv has struck the Russian-controlled territory throughout the war, launching missiles and drones at Sevastopol, Crimeas largest city, in a bid to suppress Russias Black Sea naval fleet.

07:39 AM GMT

Zelensky thanks Germany for military assistance package

I thank Germany and @Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz for the new military assistance package. It is timely and focused on our priorities, particularly air defense.



The advanced Skynex system and additional IRIS-T SLM missiles will strengthen our sky shield and save more lives. I am  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) January 4, 2024

07:27 AM GMT

Russia used North Korean missiles in attacks on Ukraine, says US

North Korea has provided Russia with ballistic missiles and missile launchers, which have been used in recent attacks on Ukraine, in a major escalation of support for Moscow, the White House has said.

Russia is also looking to obtain missiles from its ally Iran as it runs short of arms nearly two years into President Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine, it said.

The White Houses comments came as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un called for boosting production of missile launchers in preparation for a military showdown with South Korea and the United States, the official Korean Central News Agency said.

The Pyongyang-supplied missiles, with ranges of around 550 miles, were fired by Russia in two attacks on Ukraine within the past week, John Kirby, the US National Security Council spokesman, said.

Our information indicates that the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea recently provided Russia with ballistic missile launchers and several ballistic missiles, Mr Kirby told reporters in a briefing at the White House.

This is a significant and concerning escalation of the DPRKs support for Russia.

07:25 AM GMT

Ukraine braces for renewed Russia offensive near Kharkiv

Ukraine is bracing for a renewed Russian offensive near Kharkiv as Moscow ramps up its bombardment of the north-eastern city and the surrounding region.

Moscows forces struck the city and 15 surrounding settlements with missiles, artillery and mortars on Thursday, according to local officials.

Targets included both civilian buildings and military positions in what is seen as preparation for a large-scale offensive in the coming weeks, a source close to Ukraines armed forces said.

Read more from Joe Barnes here

07:24 AM GMT

Good Morning

Good morning and welcome to todays Ukraine liveblog.

We will be guiding you through all the latest updates on the war.

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.
Earlier this week, Maharashtra chief minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde revived the controversy over Malanggad, a shrine in Kalyan. Speaking at a religious congregation in the area, he promised the gathering, I know your emotions about the liberation of Malanggad and I assure you all that it will happen soon.

His followers responded with huge cheers of Jai Shri Ram.

The liberation he spoke of invoked the memory of the late Sena leader Anand Dighe  and Shindes mentor  who first raised the issue in 1986.

A secular shrine

The Haji Malang dargah, also referred to as Malanggad, is popular among the faithful from all religious backgrounds, and located on the hills of Kalyan. It houses the tomb of the 12th-century Sufi saint Haji Abd-ul-Rahman, popularly known as Haji Malang Baba. The district gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency, released in 1882, referred to Haji Malang as an Arab missionary who came to Kalyan in the 12th century and became very popular. The gazetteer mentioned a fair held annually in his honour, attended by a large number of Hindus and Muslims. The colonial-era document further mentioned the Sufi saints proximity to the reigning Hindu king Nala Raja and explained the shrine was visited by Hindus and Muslims from Kalyan, Thane, Panvel and Mumbai during the annual fair. More recently, the state government website stated that the shrine was one of the few dargahs where a Hindu vahivatdar (traditional priest) and a Muslim mutavalli (claiming to be distant kin of the saint), officiated at religious rituals.

...And a site of contest

However, Hindu and Muslim devotees are also engaged in a legal battle over rights and ownership. While the Muslim side refers to it as Haji Malang Dargah, the Hindu side calls it Machindranath Temple.

The controversy first erupted in 1986 after Dighe and his supporters argued that the shrine was the site of Machindranath Panth of the Nath Panth, who was the heir of saint Adinath. Thus, it was right to call it a temple. Starting then, Dighe and Sena's supporters repeatedly called for its liberation making it a prominent issue to appease Hindu voters in the elections of 1990.

This was in the backdrop of an already burning national political issue over the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, which Hindutva groups like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and political parties like the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claimed was the site of the birth of Ram. In February 1996  a few years after the kar sevaks brought down the 16th-century masjid  Dighe led thousands of Shiv Sainiks to Malanggad to perform a puja.

A Sena strategy

The contestation around Malanggad and attempts to make it an electoral issue is not the only instance where the Sena used the 'Us versus Them' strategy to garner support. One of the earliest instances of the partys espousal of the Hindutva cause was its involvement in the communal tensions that erupted over the Durgadi fort shrine in Kalyan in 1968.

The Durgadi fort became a point of conflict in the 1960s. While Hindus worshipped a Durga temple on the fort, Muslims in the neighbourhood started offering Namaz at an adjacent area claiming it to be a mosque. In 1968, Bal Thackeray promised Hindu devotees that he would ensure that the saffron flag was hoisted atop the fort. Even as the police banned assembly in the area, Thackeray went ahead and addressed multiple public meetings in Kalyan over the next few days. At one such meeting held in September itself, nearly 8,000 supporters defied the ban. The issue remains unresolved and is revived now and then.

Mahads Mahikawati shrine too was a site of contestation. It was claimed by both Hindus and Muslims. In 1969, at a meeting held at Girgaum Chowpatty, Thackeray announced that just like Durgadi, he would give the Mahikawati temple back to the Hindus. On January 17, 1970, Thackeray went to Mahad and held a public meeting at the footsteps of the temple. He unfurled a saffron flag on the ruins of the structure situated atop a hill and broke a coconut, a Hindu tradition of offering prayers.

A political fortune

Prominent leaders like Dighe have used such issues to make their mark and garner support among the partys majority Marathi and Hindu followers. The revival of the Malanggad controversy by Eknath Shinde more than 35 years after it was first raised is indicative of the issues he faces as CM.

One, it affords Shinde a chance to position himself as a protege of Balasaheb Thackeray and Anand Dighe by reviving issues that they once stood for  vital at a time when the Supreme Court is poised to decide over the validity of his government after Uddhav Thackeray took him to court last year over the split in the party. Indeed, after his rebellion within the party in June 2022, Shinde frequently cited his discomfort with the Senas less aggressive stance on Hindutva. He blamed Uddhav Thackeray and Aaditya Thackeray for changing the face of Shiv Sena. In his speeches, he has often claimed ownership over the Sena brand and the legacy of Bal Thackeray. His revival of the controversy can be seen as a strike in that direction.

Two, it is an opportunity to wave his Hindutva credentials in a year where both state assembly and Lok Sabha polls are coming up, hitching his bandwagon onto the national discourse set by the BJP-led Centre  in a few weeks, their long-held promise of inaugurating the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya will come true  as well as to cement his value in the BJP-led coalition in the state over the recent joiner, Ajit Pawar.

Three, a revival of issues around Malanggad helps leaders like Shinde to form a narrative that does not focus on the Maratha reservation issue alone  an issue that has put him and his deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis in a bind. Anyone who speaks against Malanggad or is critical of such divisive politics would become an easy target of their ire.

Dr Sanjay Patils doctoral work looks at the journey of Shiv Sena between 1985 and 2022. He works at the University of Mumbai and has been chronicling the Shiv Senas journey for the last ten years.
If ever a book needed translation into Hindi and other Indian languages and should be read and discussed on rural community radio, it is Green Pearls of India by V Sundararaju, which describes 27 trees considered sacred in India. The book should also be of interest to those researching biodiversity, ecology and religion. The regular urban reader, in turn, is likely to be charmed by how religion and culture are inseparably married to the land of India through Nature. Students in schools and colleges will find it a mine of interesting and useful information for essays and projects. Priced at 595, it is simply written and simply produced, with colour photographs. A 75-year-old banyan tree in the Baba Nayaram Das temple in Manesar, Haryana. (Parveen Kumar/Hindustan Times)

241 pp, Rs595; Rupa (Courtesy the publisher)

The author is a retired forest officer of decades standing from Tamil Nadu and blogs on the Down To Earth environment website besides having written copiously on his subject in a number of publications. With that knowledgeable background, he describes each tree under these subheads: an introduction followed by habitat and distribution, environmental and economic significance, historical importance, religious and mythological significance, usage (in food, medicine, commerce, art and agriculture) and cultivation practices. In the last, he usefully lists the agricultural institutes across India where new varieties of particular trees may be obtained. He also suggests how best the trees may be used in fields, for instance as windbreaks and green cover.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The trees he details are wood apple, jackfruit, neem, red silk-cotton, flame of the forest, Alexandrian laurel, coconut palm, banyan, Indian fig, peepal, mahua, champaka, mango, bullet wood (bakul, maulsari), cadamba, coral jasmine, screwpine, Indian gooseberry, Indian gum, sandalwood, asoka, sal, trumpet flower, jamun, tamarind, arjuna and ber or jujub.

Be warned upfront though that this book is not a quick read, nor are you obliged to read it in the order of chapters. The wealth of information about each tree needs time to read and digest. Besides practical points, the association of each tree with gods and temples is fascinating and tells us things we may not know, including which of the 27 nakshatra or lunar asterisms in the Indian calendar a tree is associated with. For instance, the wood apple or bilva is linked to the star Chittirai in the Indian zodiac (it is the fourteenth nakshatra of 27). The wood apple is usually thought of as belonging to Lord Shiva and many of us have enjoyed bel sharbat in season or offered a sprig of three-leaved bel to Lord Shiva on Mondays and on Mahashivratri. It was a discovery that the wood apple is also closely associated with Goddess Lakshmi. The author obligingly tells us the story behind it. Meanwhile, the ber, according to Punjabi legend, is the sorrow-removing tree. The detail in which the cultural identity of these trees has been thought through by tradition is quite amazing. The author also tells us tidbits of general interest that may delight a quizzard: for example, the jackfruit is the national tree of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and the state tree of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

The champaka flower (Shutterstock)

I turned with great interest to the chapter on the champaka, which is one of my favourite flowers. I mean the golden yellow flower with long, pointed petals and a strong sweet smell, not the white and pink plumeria commonly called champa in Delhi-NCR. To the stories in the book, I will add this poignant thought: the champaka features in the Valmiki Ramayana. It is one of the flowers growing around the cottage in Panchavati and must have witnessed the abduction of Sita. There is a piquant saying in Hindi about the champaka: Champa, tujh mein teen hai, roop, rang aur baas/Karan tujh mein kya hai bhanwar na jaaye paas?

Champa, you have the three qualities of form, colour and scent/Why then do bees never come near you? This is an unsolved botanical mystery, if true. Perhaps a reader could mail the author about it.

Another chapter that I turned to eagerly is the one on the Alexandrian laurel. This was because I had read that it was used by ancient Chola ship-builders to make ships for the blue-water navy that Rajendra Chola sent across the Eastern Seas more than a thousand years ago. Its Sanskrit name is nagchampa and its Tamil name is punnaga. It is said to be beloved to Lord Shiva, like the bel. It was nice to read that the nagchampa is still used for boat-building.

The humble amla or myrobalan has its own history. The author tells us of a deeply symbolic act of renunciation and humility in which half an amla fruit was the final gift from Emperor Ashoka to the Buddhist Sangha. This is illustrated in the Ashokavadana in the following verses: A great donor, the lord of men, the eminent Maurya Ashoka, has gone from being the Lord of Jambudvipa (the Sub-continent) to being the lord of half a myrobalan.

Far away out South, we learn that the amla is worshipped as a sacred tree in 20 temples in Tamil Nadu. Further, that about 20 villages in Tamil Nadu and 40 villages in other parts of the country such as Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry, have been named after the amla. This is yet more proof, if proof were needed, of the porous cultural unity of India across states, transcending the petty regional politics of the day.

In the chapter on the asoka, sacred in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, we find this beautiful point: In India, trees are considered like human beings, as if blessed with a soul and a heart that weeps with grief and laughs with joy. It is believed they have feelings and aspirations like mankind.

We also learn that the late President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, hailed as Indias best loved President, had a dear old friend who shared his official home  a 100-year-old arjuna tree. Dr Kalam said that the tree was like his parents and a living testament of life itself.

In sum, an informative and also uplifting read, worth acquiring for both institutional and home libraries.

Renuka Narayanan is a journalist and author. Her latest book is Learning from Loss.
Vivek Shanbaghs terrific new novel Sakinas Kiss (translated into English from Kannada by Srinath Perur) is an intimate portrait of a middle-class, middle-aged man bewildered and isolated by the changes of modern life, which he painstakingly built for himself and his family over the years. The unknowable lives of ordinary people. (Tim Graham/Getty Images)

Slowly, over four days, Venkat reveals  more like confesses to  his lifes story: his aspirations, accomplishments, self-consciousness, and shame.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

194pp, 499; Penguin

Venkat and Viji are an ordinary couple, he points out. Their neighbours in the apartment building where they live use no adjectives to describe them, as if nothing about them stands out, referring to them simply as the C-3 people, he explains. Hes a very unreliable narrator, his views of his life are so coloured with embarrassment, he cannot see the familys achievements. Their friends see them as successful, but he thinks theyre pretty average, maybe a few steps ahead because of their double income. After passing many of lifes milestones, he says, theyre at the point where theyre going to be evaluated by the conduct of their children.

And so the novel begins, in the hands of this iffy protagonist, with two young men looking for his daughter Rekha. She isnt at home but at his ancestral village, Venkat tells them, where theres no phone reception. But they return, accompanied by two shady men. And so the novel is set up like a thriller  where is Rekha? What do these men want? Is Venkat hiding something? Will something bad happen?

This unease is familiar. The mood of Sakinas Kiss is like Ghachar Ghochar, the first of Shanbhags novels to be translated into English in 2015. That slim novel came into international limelight  heralding attention to Indian writing in languages other than English. There is the title of course, ghachar ghochar was a nonsense word, made up by the wife of the protagonist, meaning something that is tangled beyond repair, a knot that cannot be untied. Sakinas kiss is also a nonsense phrase, in the sense, without giving much away, it is a kind of misunderstanding, underneath which lies terror. The narrators of both novels are similar in that theyre both awkward and unreliable, both baffled by the changes in their circumstances  in Ghachar Ghochar by the familys rags-to-riches fortune; here, their urbane modernity.

Ghachar Ghochar is a novel hard to match. But Sakinas Kiss comes close and it is very, very relevant to our times, tackling issues of masculinity, polarization of politics, and the cracks in, and perhaps consequences of, Indian liberalization.

And then there are crisp sentences, translated smoothly, almost discreetly, in Perurs translation. Entire trajectories are summed up in single sentences:

Venkat is short for Venkataramana, the name richly intoned by the teachers at my village school, lost the flick of the tongue at its end in the mouths of my north Indian friends in college and became Venkatraman. It dwindled to Venkat among colleagues.

To translate into English the effect of the Kannada pronunciation of Venkataramana in the original text, Perur added an extra sentence describing the loss of the flick of the tongue at the end of the name, he told the Indian Express.

Three quarters of the novel go into locating Rekha over four odd days. Venkat and Viji travel to the village and the mystery thickens. And slowly, unexpectedly, Venkat reveals  to the reader  the memories trapped in the crevices of my childhood. Revisiting them feels like taking a stroll near a dormant volcano. He hasnt divulged his family secrets to his wife, revealing too much would only be giving her a stick to beat me with.

Secrets, like shame, only grows heavier with time. Venkat carries the double barrel  shame, and guilt from a particular family secret  the fountain from which all of his discomfort springs, and one he keeps trying to plug away. It is also what he tosses and turns throughout the narrative to show glimpses, only flashes, of his past and of his feelings  but in full display is the tragedy of loneliness.

Author Vivek Shanbhag (Sanaha.jar/Wikimedia Commons)

Shanbhag uncovers the political implications of that feeling of alienation and isolation  as Venkat watches vicious TV news channels much to the chagrin of the women in his family, almost as a response to being excluded from, what he thinks of as the mother-daughter club. As the TVs clamour filled out hall. Words that had never been heard in our house now ran through it in a torrent. Mother and daughter were both appalled... and Venkat, I was elated by the disgust in her tone. This was the perverse pleasure of having gained the upper hand. I had been adamant about watching that channel, and it felt like the victory of someone who may be caught for corruption but manages to hang on to the ill-gotten gains anyway.

The beauty of Sakinas Kiss is that its mammoth subjects and themes never weigh it down  theres a soft lightness to the novel. One can read it in a couple of sittings, and wonder for some time after, if really they read it right. What I saw as Venkats tragedy could very well be a tantrum. Just like the novels title  in the book, its a joke because it is indecipherable  Sakinas Kiss doesnt hit you, until after its done.

Saudamini Jain is an independent journalist. She lives in New Delhi.
HIBOX Company today announced plans for an expected $50 million financing round to drive the development of its innovative products and market expansion.

HIBOX Company is a leader in the mystery box e-commerce industry, focusing on providing users with efficient and entertaining online shopping experiences. Since its establishment, HIBOX has upheld the principles of innovation and user-centricity, continually leading the industry's development.

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In the third quarter of 2023, HIBOX secured a $20 million Series A financing led by the renowned fund Amaris Financial Partners, aimed at expanding into the Asian market. This round of financing will be co-led by Amaris Financial Partners and other leading investment institutions with extensive experience and strong backgrounds in the investment industry. It's anticipated that this funding round will be completed when HIBOX reaches 100,000 active users in its marketplace, marking the largest financing round in HIBOX Company's history.

Malek Salah, COO of HIBOX Company, stated: We are very excited about this upcoming financing round. It will provide us with more resources to accelerate our pace of innovation, further enhance our products, and expand our influence in the market. Our goal is to continuously surpass ourselves and provide customers with even better products and services.

This funding will be utilized to expedite HIBOX Company's research and development plans, upgrading existing products and developing new innovative ones. The company will also strengthen its market promotion and expand sales channels to meet the growing demands of users.

HIBOX Company has achieved significant success in the Vietnamese and Indian markets since its inception. Its mystery boxes and entertaining e-commerce have gained widespread recognition and earned customers' trust in the market. Through this financing, the company aims to further consolidate its leading position in the industry and continue to drive innovation and development.

About HIBOX Company: HIBOX Company is dedicated to providing efficient, innovative solutions for e-commerce platforms. Through continuous innovation and technological upgrades, it consistently meets customers' needs.

For more updates do follow Hibox on Instagram - Instagram.com/hibox_in

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.
Telecom tower operator American Tower has said it would sell its India operations to an affiliate of Brookfield Asset Management for 21,000 crore. American Tower is an American real estate investment firm with a portfolio of nearly 2.25 lakh communications infrastructure and interconnected footprint of the United States data centre facilities. It has more than 75,000 towers in India, becoming its largest overseas business, according to its website. ATC serves all the nations major telecom service providers. Representative Image (ATC India)

DIT currently houses asset manage Brookfields telecom tower businesses in India through Summit Digitel and Crest Digitel. The ATC deal is Brookfield's third telecom acquisition in the country over the last four years.

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Also read- Real estate in 2024: Four locations where you might want to put your money in

According to a statement from ATC on Thursday, total cash proceeds to American Tower at closing, subject to certain pre-closing terms, would potentially represent up to approximately 21,000 crore at todays exchange rates.

"The transaction, marking the culmination of the previously announced strategic review of American Towers operations in India, is subject to customary closing conditions, including government and regulatory approvals, and is anticipated to conclude in the second half of 2024," the statement read.

Also read: Nestle India shares to be more affordable after 1:10 stock split; check predicted share price

The total cash proceeds comprise an enterprise value for the ATC India operations of approximately $2.0 billion, along with a ticking fee accruing from October 1, 2023, to the closing date. The calculation of proceeds related to the enterprise value takes into account the repayment of existing intercompany debt and the repayment or assumption of the existing India term loan by DIT, it further added.

Additionally, as part of the total potential cash proceeds mentioned earlier, American Tower will retain the full economic benefit linked to the optionally converted debentures issued by Vodafone Idea and is entitled to future payments associated with existing ATC India receivables.

Also read: Vodafone Idea writes to NSE on Elon Musk tie-up report; share prices drop

The proceeds from the transaction are expected to be utilised for repaying American Towers existing indebtedness, the statement said.
Former Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Friday alleged that BJP MP Pratap Simhas brother Vikram Simha was 'framed' in the tree felling case. Vikram Simha is the brother of BJP MP Pratap Simha.

Vikram Simha was recently arrested and granted bail in the tree felling case in a farm where he intended to grow ginger.

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Pratap Simha has alleged that his brother is being framed to defame him so that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah can field his son Yathindra Siddaramaiah from the Mysuru-Kodagu Lok Sabha constituency on a Congress ticket.

Also Read - Karnataka: BJP MP Pratap Simha's brother arrested in tree felling case

The JD(S) second-in-command charged that the Forest officials brought rosewood from Gendekere forest and dumped it in the land, which Simha has taken on lease, on Siddaramaiah's directions.

According to him, the lease agreement started from January 1 but he was framed even before that.

Coming to the defence of Pratap Simha's brother, Kumaraswamy said the 'Gomala' (pasture land) was granted to Rakesh Shetty, who is now dead. His daughter Jayamma is taking care of it.

Jayamma had entered into the lease agreement with Vikram Simha to grant the land from January 2024 to 2027.

The case was initially registered against Jayamma as accused number one and Ravi as accused number two, the former chief minister said.

"The A-3 (Vikram Simha) was not there (in the FIR). There is a miscreant from Bengaluru who contacted CM and told him that he has brought a case to fix Vikram Simha. CM called the PCCF (Principal Chief Conservator of Forest). If we get the call list then we will get to know. This is a misuse of power, Kumaraswamy charged.

The JD(S) leader said Jayamma and Ravi were granted bail at the forest officer's office but took the accused number three - Vikram Simha- to the court.

He claimed that the magistrate directed the forest officials to grant him bail from the Forest officers office as they did with two other accused.

"The CM directed the Forest officials to include Pratap Simha in the case. He (Siddaramaiah) being a lawyer knows how to create evidence. The rosewood trees from Gendekere forest were taken to the spot. The CM did this. This is how the state is being governed," Kumaraswamy alleged.

Claiming that he has information that Siddaramaiah ordered dumping the trees on the spot, he said the call list will provide all the details.

"Will you (Chief Minister) give this case to Justice Nagamohan Das committee or constitute another commission? I never discuss without knowing the facts. This is what has happened in this case," Kumaraswamy said.

He also said that no rosewood was cut in the farm which Simha had taken on lease.

"It was brought from Gendekere Forest and dumped in Vikram Simha's leased land to fix him. The trees that were felled in Vikram Simha's land were forest trees and not rosewood," the former chief minister claimed.

The JD(S) joined the BJP-led NDA in September last year after a meeting Kumaraswamy, former Prime Minister Deve Gowda's son, had with Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national President J P Nadda in New Delhi.

The two parties have said they would fight the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka together.

In the elections to the 224-member Karnataka Assembly in May last year, the JD(S) put up a poor show, winning only 19 seats. The Congress bagged 135 to wrest power in the state and the BJP won 66 seats.
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], January 5 (ANI): Terming the arrest of a man in Karnataka's Hubballi for alleged involvement in the riots after the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992 as "illegal", Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy on Friday slammed the Karnataka government and said that people are not happy with the way this government is doing "vengeance politics." HT Image

"To divert people's attention, the state government without any reason, illegally arrested a kar sewak. The people are not happy with the way this government is doing vengeance politics. They want to direct the attention of people from Ayodhya Ram temple," Kumaraswamy told reporters on Friday.

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He further said that the government is misusing its power in Karnataka to silence the voice of the opposition.

"The Karnataka Chief Minister and Home minister are shamelessly defending this act by cops. The Congress leaders are trying to spread fear by saying that Godhra-like riots will happen in Karnataka. The state government is trying to hype the Srikanth Poojary issue and divert the attention of people from the real issue of development. It is shameful that govt is misusing its power in Karnataka to silence the voice of the opposition," he added.

Earlier on January 3, BJP leaders held protests against the Congress-led government in the state. Speaking during the protest state BJP President BY Vijayendra warned the Congress government.

"Be careful when the Congress government crumbles to dust. A massive protest was held to condemn the arrest of Ram devotees including 31-year-old Srikanth Pujari, who was involved in the struggle for the construction of the Ram Temple in Hubballi, after digging up old cases. Condemned the Congress government's conspiracy to imprison Hindu activists and Ram devotees by not tolerating the elevation of the grand Sri Ram Mandir, indulged in the politics of favoritism, and demanded immediate release of Hindu activists and abandonment of anti-Rama stand " BY Vijayendra said.

Earlier, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah dismissed the opposition's allegation of hate politics in connection with the arrest of a man linked to the riots that took place after the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992.

Speaking on the arrest, CM Siddaramaiah asked, "What should be done to the wrongdoers? Should we just leave them?"

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that the arrest of was part of the law and order process and the government was not resorting to "vendetta politics".

"We are not doing vendetta politics, but we are carrying out the task of maintaining law and order. We are a peace-loving state, there is no place for anti-social activities," Shivakumar had said.

The BJP condemned the arrest of the man in Hubbali for his alleged role in the post-Babri demolition riots after 31 years. (ANI)
: Two weeks after 303 passengers, with about 150 of them being from Punjab, on a Nicaragua-bound flight were detained by French authorities on suspicion of human trafficking, special investigation team probing the matter is finding it difficult to get details of the travel plans of the deportees to the Latin American country, who are hesitant to reach out to the cops. Flight from France: Deportees hesitant to reach out, say cops (AP)

Requesting anonymity, an official said a special investigation team (SIT) of the state police has managed to contact 3-4 deportees, who claim they were flying on tourist visas with all valid documents.

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Deportees are not coming forward to tell their side of stories and the SIT had to contact 3-4 affected passengers for formally giving details of their journey overseas on the Dubai-Nicaragua air route, said the police functionary.

A week after its formation, the four-member SIT headed by a superintendent of police (SP)-rank officer Randhir Kumar, is yet to get any clue on the suspected human trafficking angle in the matter.

The tight-lipped SIT head has declined to divulge updates in the probe.

Probe is at the initial stage and we appeal to the affected people to contact anti-trafficking wings at their respective districts, said SIT head Kumar, currently posted in Ferozepur district.

No case has been registered in the matter so far as the incident is being looked at as a case of suspected human trafficking, an official privy to the probe said.

A preliminary investigation by the Punjab Police has revealed that of the 303 passengers on the flight, about 150 were residents of Punjab.

Police authorities said illegal immigration by some of the deportees cannot be ruled out as several people from Punjab are lured by unscrupulous travel agents to take the donkey route that takes people across continents before smuggling them into the US.

In the current case, all Indian passport holders, particularly Punjabis, were flying from Dubai to Nicaragua. They may claim to be tourists, but it is important to know why the Punjabis opted to board the plane from Dubai to the Latin American country. Agents charge more than 50 lakh per person for donkey route and people agree to take the potentially life-threatening route on forged documents and travel on fraudulently obtained visas. Scrutiny of bank account papers may reveal financial credentials of being international tourists or a ploy of illegal immigration or an attempt of trafficking, said an intelligence officer at an international airport.

A state police functionary said the top brass has asked the SIT to contact the passengers to get details, leading to their detention followed by their deportation.

About 27 passengers had reportedly filed for asylum in France and we have to get further updates on the matter. In a response to the state polices requisition, the Indian immigration authorities shared documentary details of the detainees and nearly half of the 303 detainees had Punjab address in their passports, said the official.

The Nicaragua-bound Airbus A340 and its Indian passengers were held at Vatry airport on December 21, located in the east of Paris, when it arrived from Dubai for refuelling, after an anonymous tip-off that it was carrying potential victims of human trafficking.

All 303 passengers were detained for three days and subjected to an investigation into the suspected human trafficking before 276 were made to return to India. All of them landed at Mumbai airport on December 24 where they were let off by the immigration authorities after detailed paperwork of each of them.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday chargesheeted Manpreet Singh, a close aide of designated terrorist Arshdeep Singh, alias Arsh Dala, in the terror-gangster network case, an official said. Manpreet Singh, alias Peeta, was arrested last year following his deportation from the Philippines.

Manpreet Singh, alias Peeta, was arrested last year following his deportation from the Philippines.

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The chargesheet was filed against Peeta in the multi-state terrorist-gangster-drug smuggler network case registered in 2022 before the special NIA court in Delhi, a spokesperson of the federal agency said.

The official said this was the third chargesheet in the case, in which 21 accused have so far been chargesheeted.

Peeta was operating as a full-fledged crime-terror-extortion node from the Philippines as per the directions of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) operative, Canada-based, Dala. He was actively involved in collection of weapons from the India-Pakistan border and making extortion calls to raise funds for Dala and the KTF, the spokesperson said.

The central government had in February 2023 banned the KTF and declared it as a terrorist organisation.

Peeta was also engaged in recruiting members for the terrorist group to execute terror crimes and conspiracies, the spokesperson said.

The official said the chargesheet marks another major step in the NIAs efforts to disrupt, destroy and dismantle the terror-gangster nexus, which extends across many states within India and also many countries.
The Punjab and Haryana high court (HC) has directed the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to provide details about two Aadhaar cards with different date of births issued to the same woman. On December 23, Hindustan Times had highlighted the plight of the 22-year-old woman who was hospitalised after a suicide bid. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The details have been sought in a case wherein a 22-year-old woman had alleged that her same-sex partner, aged 19, had been forcibly detained by the latters parents and had demanded that HC order for her production before the court.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

On December 23, Hindustan Times had highlighted the plight of the 22-year-old woman who was hospitalised after a suicide bid.

Also read: Divorced Muslim womans right to maintenance from ex-husband unconditional: HC

Before taking the extreme step, the woman had submitted a written complaint to the Haryana State Commission for Women, DCP office and at the CM Window about the alleged manhandling and mistreatment she and her live-in partner had borne at the hands of cops posted at the Sector 25 police post in Panchkula. The next day, Panchkula Police had claimed that a probe had been ordered into the matter.

Later, the woman had approached the high court, seeking its intervention.

During the hearing on January 4, the police failed to produce the 19-year-old and her family, and it was informed that when the police team went to Uttar Pradesh, they faced resistance from locals. It also came to light that while petition says the woman was born in 2004, the two Aadhaar cards had different dates of birth of 2007.

Now, posting the matter for January 12, the court has directed the Panchkula commissioner of police to make necessary arrangements for producing the 19-year-old, along with her parents. It also requested the secretary, Haryana State Legal Services Authority, to bear expenses of their travel and stay.

The court has also appointed a lawyer to represent them. The legal aid fee will be paid by the legal services authority.
New Delhi [India], January 5 (ANI): In a passionate post on X, marking the birthday of AAP leader Manish Sisodia, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal launched a scathing attack on the BJP, accusing them of keeping Manish Sisodia imprisoned for 11 months through "false cases" and "dictatorship." HT Image

Kejriwal highlighted their long-standing friendship stating, "This friendship is very old. Our affection and trust are very strong. This passion for working for the public is also very old. No matter how hard the conspirators try... this trust, this affection and this friendship will never be broken."

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"BJP has kept Manish in jail for the last 11 months by filing false cases. But Manish is standing firm in front of their oppression, has neither bowed down to their dictatorship till now nor will ever bow down in future. In this era of dictatorship, Manish's courage inspires us all," Delhi CM posted on X.

"Happy birthday Manish," Delhi CM Kejriwal ended his tweet.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Chief Minister skipped the third summons issued to him by the ED on Wednesday. The ED issued a third summons to CM Kejriwal on December 22 last year, in connection with the alleged Delhi liquor scam case, asking him to appear before the agency on January 3.

Earlier in the day, Arvind Kejriwal said that he would not bow down to the hooliganism and dictatorship of the BJP.

Alleging that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has sent a "false summons" to him, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that he has explained to the ED why their summons is illegal adding that his biggest strength and asset is his "honesty."

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Delhi's Chief Minister said, "In the last two years, all the agencies of BJP have conducted many raids but not a single penny was found. If there is corruption then where is the money? AAP leaders are kept in jail in such fake cases. Now BJP wants to arrest me. My biggest strength and asset is my honesty."

Questioning the timing of the notice just before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Delhi CM said that the Bharatiya Janata Party wants to stop him from campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections.

"My lawyers told me that the summons was illegal. I wrote the question and sent it to ED. Should I obey an unlawful summons? If a legal summons comes, I will comply with it. Why am I being called just before the Lok Sabha elections? Eight months ago, I was called by CBI. I went and gave all the answers. Today they want to stop me from campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections," he added

Former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia is in custody in connection with his alleged role in the Delhi Liquor scam. Recently, the Supreme Court of India dismissed the bail petition of Sisodia. His earlier bail applications were rejected by the High Court as well as the trial court.

Sisodia was arrested by the CBI on February 26. ED arrested him on March 9. The ED has alleged that proceeds of crime of around 622 crore have been generated due to the activities of the accused Manish Sisodia. (ANI)
A Delhi court has allowed jailed Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh to sign documents for his Rajya Sabha re-nomination. Sanjay Singh's term ends on January 27. AAP MP Sanjay Singh.(File)

An application was moved in Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court for permission to take signatures of Singh on an Undertaking which is stated to be required in connection with getting a No Dues Certificate for the applicant (Sanjay Singh) from Rajya Sabha.

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Special Judge MK Nagpal passed the order on an application filed by the politician, who submitted that his present term as a member of the Rajya Sabha is expiring on January 27 and the Returning Officer has issued a notice on January 2 for the conduct of the election and nominations for the same are to be submitted by January 9, news agency PTI reported.

The application sought a direction from the Tihar Jail superintendent to allow Singh to sign the documents.

"It is being directed that if the documents are presented by counsel for accused before jail authorities on January 6, 2024, the jail superintendent shall ensure that the signatures of the accused are permitted to be taken on said documents and he is also permitted to meet his Counsel for half-an-hour to discuss the modalities in connection with filing of the said nomination," PTI quoted the judge as saying in an order passed on Thursday.

The anti-money laundering agency had arrested Singh on October 4. The ED has alleged that Singh played a key role in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped excise policy, which benefited certain liquor manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers, for monetary considerations. The AAP leader has strongly rebutted the claim.
New Delhi [India], January 5 (ANI): Congress leader Manish Tewari on Thursday pitched for the selection of a chief ministerial candidate on the basis of "merit and competence" and said "internal contradictions" contributed to the party's defeat in the Punjab assembly polls in 2022. HT Image

Participating in a discussion on the book 'Punjab - From the Perspective of a Punjabi Hindu', the Congress leader emphasised on "syncretic identity" of Punjab and said it should be preserved to thwart the designs of the country's enemies.

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"Ethos of Punjab is essentially summed up by Punjab, Punjabi and Punjabiyat... It subsumes various ethnic identities," he said.

Tewari said that the cultural evolution of Punjab after 1947 created Punjabi identity, which "in my mind is an indivisible identity".

"To try and divide this identity is fraught with great risk to national security because this is what Pakistan wants...There are only a few States left where this indivisible identity across communities still remains, those paradoxically are the two States which were partitioned by the British- Punjab and West Bengal," he said.

The book is written by Vinayak Dutt, who has been a journalist and a poll-strategist.

Tewari, who is an MP from Anandpur Sahib, also asked if Punjab had been compensated for the pain it suffered during the partition.

"There is also a question of apparent injustice to Punjab that continues to be unresolved, for example, Punjab had to face the brunt of the partition of India. Was Punjab ever adequately compensated for the tragedy they were going through? Punjab has been in the vanguard of the three wars that we fought in 1965, 1971 even in 1999...," he said.

"Even today in counter-insurgency situation, maximum body bags come back to Punjab. There is a tehsil in my constituency that has the highest per capita contribution to the Indian armed forces out of any tehsil in India and unfortunately, not a single month passes when there are not one or two funerals that take place in...sub division," he added.

He also referred to the debt the state incurred during the years of fighting militancy and Pakistan's constant attempts to create trouble in the state.

"...the sense of injustice, persecution, neglect all that gets combined into a feeling of 'we are not getting our due'...that is not something which is peculiar to the Sikh community, that is a general feeling in Punjab that we have not got our due, that what Punjab has contributed and what Punjab has suffered going back to 1947...," he said.

Poll strategist Naresh Arora, who was also on the panel, referred to the wranglings in Punjab Congress in the run-up to the assembly polls in 2022, with the party eventually choosing Charanjit Singh Channi, who belongs to the Dalit community, as its face, though other names were also in the contention. The Congress lost the assembly polls to Aam Aadmi Party.

"Despite Punjab having the highest number of people in the community which Mr Channi represented, the results are here," Arora said.

Tewari referred to incumbent governments in Punjab largely being voted out.

"I have nothing personal against anybody... But the gentleman who was dreaming of chief ministership in the name of being a Hindu and later on left and went to another party, I asked him what he ever did for the Hindu community to ask for chief ministership in their name...In fact, he was the worst enemy of Punjabiyat by trying to create this division," Tewari alleged, referring to former Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar who later left the party and joined BJP.

"I don't think the rejection of Congress because there was a Dalit chief minister, the rejection was partly because Punjab had this five-year tradition that was broken by the Akali Dal, and there were internal contradictions within the Congress that facilitated the result which came in March 2022," Tewari added.

Vinayak Dutt said many personalities from Punjab, who contributed to the state and country's progress, had not got their due recognition.

Speaking of the significance of the land of Punjab, he said, "original version of Ramayana came from the State" and Gita Sandesh came from Kurukshetra which was part of undivided Punjab.

Sumail Singh Sidhu, who teaches at Ambedkar University here, also took part in the discussion. (ANI)
Swati Maliwal, the chairperson of the Delhi Women's Commission for eight years, bid an emotional farewell to the women's body as she was nominated for the Rajya Sabha by the Aam Aadmi Party on Friday. Swati Maliwal, the DCW chairperson has been nominated for Rajya Sabha by Aam Aadmi Party.(X/SwatiJaiHind)

Today with moist eyes I said goodbye to the Delhi Women Commission. Didn't realise when 8 years had passed. Saw many ups and downs here. Dedicated every day to the welfare of Delhi and the country. The fight is not over, it is just a beginning (translated from hindi), Maliwal said in an X post.

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Also read: AAP picks DCW chief Swati Maliwal for Rajya Sabha, re-nominates Sanjay Singh

In the video shared by Maliwal, she is seen interacting with the staff at the commission's office during her departure. Her emotions are evident, with teary eyes, as people gathered outside to bid farewell to her.

AAP nominatedMaliwal as its Rajya Sabha MP and renominated Sanjay Singh and ND Gupta for the second term in the Upper House of Parliament.

AAPs current Rajya Sabha MP Sushil Kumar Gupta is to be replaced by Maliwal.

Also read: Who is DCW chief Swati Maliwal nominated for Rajya Sabha by AAP?

DCW chairperson Maliwal is an active advocate for women's rights and social issues. She has also been associated with various campaigns and movements to combat violence against women, advocate for stricter laws, and promote gender equality.

Since her appointment as the chairperson of the DCW in 2015, Maliwal has played a key role in spearheading initiatives addressing concerns like acid attacks, sexual harassment, and enhancing women's safety in Delhi.

Talking about the achievements during her tenure as DCW chief, Maliwal said DCW has addressed over 1 lakh 70 thousand complaints during the last 8 years.

We have submitted over 500 recommendations to the Central Government, Delhi Police, and the State government. Additionally, we have provided counselling for over 60,000 sexual assault survivors, and our lawyers have directly assisted them in 2 lakh court hearings," said the DCW chairperson.

(Inputs from PTI)
Shirdi (Maharashtra) [India], January 5 (ANI): Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar asserted that the BJP-led NDA may have set the target of winning 400-plus seats for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections but the political situation is "not favourable" for the ruling party. HT Image

Addressing NCP workers at a party conclave in the temple town of Shirdi in western Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district, he said, "BJP is in power. They have set up an aggressive campaign system. BJP is working like Hitler's propaganda system in Germany. BJP leaders may have set a target of winning more than 400 Lok Sabha seats out of the total 543, but the political situation is not favourable for the BJP. BJP is out of power in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Delhi, Punjab, West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand," Sharad Pawar said on Thursday in Shirdi.

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He further said that after assuming power at the Centre in 2014, the BJP announced several programmes and gave a host of assurances, but did not implement them and "betrayed" people.

"Modi had assured that India will become a five thousand billion US dollar economy by 2024-25, but this is not even 50 per cent of it. the Prime Minister only gives "guarantees". But the guarantee was not fulfilled. This has been seen many times," he said.

NCP chief Pawar maintained the younger generation is feeling uneasy because of unemployment and referred to the December 13 Parliament security breach involving a group of people.

"When our MPs sought to know what were their (those involved in security breach incident) demands and pressed for a statement from the Prime Minister and the home minister, opposition members were suspended," he stated.

NCP supremo is a key leader of the INDIA opposition bloc.

The Opposition bloc is struggling to resolve key challenges, including finalising seat-sharing arrangements and deciding on a PM face while the BJP has started executing strategies it firmed up in 2023 to secure victory in the general elections.

The Lok Sabha elections will be held next year that is likely to be between the Modi government's NDA alliance and the INDIA bloc. (ANI)
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday blasted the West Bengal government after a team from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was attacked in West Bengals North 24 Parganas district when it tried to raid the house of block-level functionaries of the ruling TMC. The ED officers were conducting raids at 15 places in West Bengal in connection with the scam.

BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya asserted that the attackers were possibly illegal immigrants patronised by local TMC leaders and that the continuance of Mamata Banerjee-led government in West Bengal poses a "national security threat."

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The incident occurred during the raid by ED on the premises of two block-level leaders Shahjahan Sheikh and Shankar Adhya, and their relatives in connection with the alleged ration scam in North 24 Parganas district's Sandeshkhali. Sajahan is considered to be a close aide of state minister Jyotipriyo Mallick who was arrested in connection with the multi-crore ration distribution scam.

When the NIA team tried to break open the door of Sheikhs house after repeated calls, hundreds of men and women gathered at the spot shouting slogans, agency officials said.

Also read: 'Not banana republic': Bengal governor's 'Constitution' warning to TMC govt on ED attack

Former West Bengal BJP President Rahul Sinha condemned the attack and said, Shahjahan Sheikh is a don of the Sandeshkhali area. There are a lot of murder cases against him. The police do not take any action because he is a TMC leader.

Calling to invoke emergency provisions in the state, BJP MP Jagannath Sarkar alleged that the attack on ED officials was a result of the failure of democracy in West Bengal.

The organisations working against the nation are getting powerful. Bombs, pistols etc are recovered every day but no proper action is being taken against them. Hence, it is important to remove the government and declare an emergency in the state. Once it's done everything will improve and nobody will dare to attack the ED team, he said.

However, TMC leader Kunal Ghosh claimed that the attack was a result of provocation by central agencies at the behest of the BJP.

In West Bengal, central agencies and forces on the instructions of the BJP are going to the residence of one or the other TMC leader or workers to harass, spread negative statements and provoke people.
An Enforcement Directorate (ED) team was attacked and its vehicles damaged in West Bengals North 24 Parganas district when it tried to raid the house of a block level functionary of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in connection with alleged ration scam, officials of the agency said. An ED official said they were safe. The search operation had to be abandoned. We are returning to Kolkata. (Twitter/ANI)

The officials added the agency was raiding the premises of two block-level leaders Shahjahan Sheikh, and Shankar Adhya, and their relatives since Friday morning in North 24 Parganas under the security of central forces. State food minister Jyoti Priya Mallick has been arrested in connection with the alleged scam.

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They said when the NIA team tried to break open the door of Sheikhs house after repeated calls, hundreds of men and women, gathered at the spot shouting slogans. They also attacked the officials and damaged at least one vehicle, a resident told journalists. It was unclear whether Sheikh or his family members were present in the house.

ED officials were attacked and a vehicle was damaged. Even the media was attacked. ED officials had to flee from the spot, said the resident.

An ED official said they were safe. The search operation had to be abandoned. We are returning to Kolkata, the official told journalists.
Kolkata: A Bangladeshi cargo vessel, which had sunk in the River Muriganga - a distributary of the River Hooghly at the southern tip of West Bengal - more than three years ago has now turned out to be a headache for the state government ahead of the Gangasagar fair and is also threatening the existence of the river itself. The issue came up in a meeting held on December 27 by West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee to take stock of the preparations for the coming fair. ((PTI file photo))

Siltation around the capsized vessel over the past three years has blocked channels used by boats to ferry pilgrims and tourists to Sagar island from the mainland where the annual fair is held in mid-January.

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Experts said that unless the ship is removed, the situation could aggravate and the silt would choke the river eventually leading to its death. It would then, only survive as a tidal creek.

The issue came up in a meeting held on December 27 by West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee to take stock of the preparations for the coming fair. Senior bureaucrats briefed Banerjee about the problem.

A senior official, who did not wish to be named, said the Bangladeshi cargo vessel, MV Dhrubo Rupanti, had capsized in the Muriganga river on April 9, 2020 after it suffered engine failure and hit an electric post between Sagar Island and Kachuberia.

(A) Massive siltation has been going on centering around that capsized vessel on the riverbed. It went unnoticed all these years. It came to light two to three months ago when the silt started to surfaced above the water level and took the shape of a char  a riverine island, blocking the channel which boats take to ferry pilgrims and tourists to Gangasagar, said an official present in the meeting.

This year the Gangasagar fair will be held between January 8 and January 17. Around four to five million pilgrims from across India take the holy dip at Gangasagar, the confluence of the Ganges river and the Bay of Bengal to celebrate Makar Sankranti on January 15, the first major Hindu festival in the Gregorian calendar.

Officials said that there were 10 crew members in the vessel. All were rescued and brought to Sagar island after the vessel capsized. As the pandemic was going on at the time, the rescued crew members were kept in quarantine in a makeshift hospital on Sagar island. They stayed there for nearly a year before being sent back to Bangladesh.

Hardly any time is left for the Gangasagar fair. The capsized ship cant be removed before the mela. We have started heavy dredging so that two alternative channels in the River Muriganga may be opened to ferry pilgrims to the Sagar island. Two dredging machines, each with a capacity of removing 500 cubic metre of silt in one hour, have been deployed, the official said

Several state government bureaucrats and officers from the Indian Navy and Coast Guard were present at the meeting and the discussion focussed on how the ship could be removed.

The chief minister requested the Indian Navy if it could help. But even the Indian Navy informed that it doesnt have the infrastructure to remove a capsized ship. They informed that there were specialised salvage companies both in India and abroad to do that task. Even the Navy takes their help sometimes, said a top bureaucrat.

Experts have advised that the sunk ship should be removed at the earliest.

Firstly, the cargo vessel was carrying fly ash when it was returning to Bangladesh. The fly ash which has heavy metals in it including lead and cadmium got mixed with the water. This might have surely had some effect on the local biodiversity. Secondly, if the ship is not removed the siltation would continue and ultimately it may choke the river. It would remain navigable only during the highest tide and boats wont be able to take that route during most of the time. In future it may also get cut off and exist just as a tidal creek, said Tuhin Ghosh, director of School of Oceanographic Studies in Jadavpur University.

It has been decided that as of now the area would be marked and cordoned off with buoys, which will be visible at night. Officials said that the chief minister has asked the authorities to explore all avenues on how to remove that ship after the Gangasagar fair.

We need to check whether in future it may obstruct the navigation channels of other ships passing through that area. If it is not, sometimes it is best to leave it as it is because it wont be cost effective to remove the ship, said a senior official.
Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], January 5 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath marked the birth anniversary of former UP CM and Governor Kalyan Singh in a prominent program in Lucknow. HT Image

During the event, CM Yogi paid floral tributes to Kalyan Singh's portrait, extending a profound gesture of respect and homage to the esteemed leader on this significant occasion.

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"Humble tribute to the pioneer of the Shri Ram Mandir movement, former Governor of Rajasthan, and former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, 'Padma Vibhushan' Revered Kalyan Singh 'Babuji' on his birth anniversary," CM Yogi Adityanath posted on his X.

"Revered 'Babu Ji' will always be remembered for his selfless service to society and the nation" he added.

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma also paid his tributes to the former UP Chief Minister saying "Remembering one of the tallest leaders of our party, known for his bold and decisive stand, Shraddheya Kalyan Singh ji on his Jayanti. He displayed remarkable courage to give up power for the ideals he believed in and is a source of inspiration for all the karyakartas of Bharatiya Janata Party."

BJP President JP Nadda also remembered Kalyan Singh's contribution to the BJP "Respected Kalyan Singh ji, a symbol of intense nationalism and a strong supporter of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi movement, has laid the foundation stone of good governance and social justice in Uttar Pradesh. Today, with his inspiration, the state is moving on the path of public welfare and historical development. Today I pay my respects to Babu ji on his birth anniversary. Your sacrifices and struggles for national upliftment and cultural renaissance always inspire us."

Kalyan Singh passed away on August 21, 2021, at Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI) in Lucknow due to sepsis and multi-organ failure.

A two-time Chief Minister (June 1991 to December 1992 and September 1997 to November 1999), Kalyan Singh also served as Governor of Rajasthan (2014-2019). Singh also held various organisational posts in the BJP, both at the state and the central level. (ANI)
Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena has called for a CBI probe into alleged irregularities involving fake lab tests and 'ghost patients' at Delhi government-run Aam Aadmi Mohalla Clinics (AAMCs). This development comes on the heels of Saxena ordering a CBI probe into sub-standard drug samples collected from three government hospitals. The alleged irregularities were identified through investigations conducted by the state's vigilance and health departments in 2023. Delhi lieutenant governor (LG) VK Saxena and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. (Hindustan Times)

Investigation and findings:

In August, an investigation by the states vigilance and health departments revealed that doctors at Mohalla Clinics were fraudulently marking attendance, with some being absent from clinics where unauthorized staff prescribed medicines.

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Another scrutiny found that 24,399 referral papers held by private labs had invalid mobile phone numbers, which, the LG said, was pointing to potential evidence of fake patients. These labs conducted lab tests offered by the government for free to economically disadvantaged patients.

Saxena's office in a statement said that the inquiry uncovered tens of thousands of fake pathology and radiology tests conducted on non-existent patients. These purportedly fake tests were referred to private labs, and reimbursed by the government.

Tens of thousands of tests were recommended prima facie to ghost patients. Empirical data proving entry of fake mobile numbers/blank mobile number of fictitious patients, fake attendance of doctors, and fictitious data of patients establishes wide spread corruption, manipulation of documents, forgery of records with the sole intention to loot government exchequer and extend undue benefits private parties operating the AAMCs as well as dispensaries, polyclinics and hospitals of Delhi government, a note by Saxena on the findings of the inquiry read.

AAP's reaction

The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has welcomed the investigations, claiming that it vindicated their concerns. Delhi health minister Saurabh Bharadwaj pinned the blame on bureaucracy and said that many of the issues were highlighted by him during a press conference last year.

As far as the health department is concerned, whether its the attendance of staff at Mohalla Clinics or the quality of medicines, these issues are to be monitored by health department officials. And overall, DGHS looks into this with the health secretary at the top of its hierarchy. This is the responsibility of these officials to conduct random checks on their levels. Whos appointed the DGHS? Whos appointed the health secretary? We have not appointed them. The officials chosen by them are engaging in malpractices and they are recommending the CBI investigation. They are launching a probe against their chosen ones, not against us, said Bharadwaj.

Lt Governor Saxena, who reports to the BJP-led Union government, has been at the centre of a political conflict between the BJP and AAP. This struggle played out in court and led to a law granting effective control of Delhi's bureaucracy to the Union government.
Mumbai: Although the average air quality index (AQI) of Mumbai has remained moderate  between 101 and 200  in recent weeks, and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has claimed significant improvements in combating air pollution over the last season, concerns about the citys air quality have acquired a fever pitch. Mumbai, India - Jan. 4, 2024: Haze over the city skyline at Marine Drives, in Mumbai, India, on Thursday, January 4, 2024. (Photo by Anshuman Poyrekar/ Hindustan Times)

Photos of the city wrapped in haze, with buildings and landmarks a few hundred meters away rendered invisible, are all over social media. Residents from various parts of the city complain of an uptick in respiratory infections and illnesses even as doctors advise children and the elderly to avoid going outdoors unless absolutely necessary.

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HT spoke to experts from varied fields to understand and unpack what moderate AQI means, and what citizens can do protect themselves under the current circumstances. The experts included Ronak Sutaria, founder of Respirer Living Sciences; Rakesh Kumar, former director, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute; Dr Lancelot Pinto, pulmonologist and epidemiologist, PD Hinduja Hospital-Mahim; and Dr Rajesh Sharma, respiratory medicine expert practicing in south Mumbai hospitals.

Also read: Here's how lung cancer patients should take care during air pollution

How is AQI calculated in Mumbai?

There are 30 air quality monitoring stations in Mumbai  16 are run by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), nine by the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), and five by the BMC. These stations calculate the values of gaseous and particulate pollutants at 15-minute intervals.

Gaseous pollutants are of five types  sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, ozone, and ammonia, while particulate pollutants are of two types  PM2.5 and PM10, which refer to their diameter in microns. Monitoring stations record the values of each of these pollutants in individual units  like micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3) of air for PM2.5 and PM10 particles. These values are then converted into a sub-index using a formula, and whichever sub-index averages the highest in 24 hours is known as the AQI.

Does the AQI always accurately reflect air pollution in an area?

This largely depends on where the monitoring stations are located  a monitor in the middle of the Sanjay Gandhi national park will not give an accurate picture of a road with heavy vehicular congestion in Borivali.

As AQI refers to the 24-hour average, it is entirely possible that the air quality at a particular time and place is not accurately reflected by the number, said Sutaria. For example, the AQI in BKC on January 5 at 8pm was 193  i.e., moderate. But the concentration of PM2.5 within the 24-hour window covered by the AQI number exceeded 300  signifying very poor-quality air  between 6am and 8am.

How do seasons affect air quality?

Both Sutaria and Kumar emphasised that air quality is worst in the winter season, especially during the mornings, between 5am and 7am. This is because low temperatures reduce the ability of pollutants to disperse, trapping them. As temperatures increase during the day, pollutants disperse more easily, and the air quality reaches its best between 2pm and 4pm. This is why advisories recommend citizens to stay indoors in the morning during winters. This is also why air quality is not an issue during the summer months, even if the extent of pollutants present in the air is same.

Winters in Mumbai are also marked by weaker winds in the reverse direction while tall buildings hinder the mixing of winds, which aid the formation of pockets of high air pollution, said Kumar.

Why is visibility so poor? Is it entirely due to air pollution?

The presence of fog during winter months, especially in the morning hours, has a major effect on visibility, as pollutants tend to cling to moisture particles. Dust and particulate pollutants, which are given a higher weightage in the AQI, are partly responsible for this, as are small particles which behave more like gas, said Kumar. These include nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons present in vehicular emissions, which react with sunlight and form very fine pollutants such as ground level ozone, which is a lot more harmful than ozone in the stratosphere. Long-term exposure to ground level ozone corrodes the inner lining of the throat and makes people more susceptible to respiratory infections.

Why are winters in Mumbai bad for those with respiratory illness?

High levels of air pollution and cold weather act as triggers for most patients with respiratory diseases, especially if they have an allergic condition like asthma. Inhaling cold air can lead to constriction in the throat, nasal passage, and sound box, resulting in shortness of breath, swelling in the throat, sneezing, and a stuffy nose. Smog can cause or aggravate health problems such as asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, respiratory problems, eye irritation, and reduced resistance to colds and lung infections.

Additionally, indoor overcrowding during the holiday season in the winter facilitates the transmission of respiratory viruses, triggering symptoms. This results in an increase in respiratory illnesses such as bronchial asthma and allergies.

Many people are investing in air purifiers. Do you think this is a wise decision in a city like Mumbai where AQI is bad in the winter as well as the summer?

There is no real argument against air purifiers, especially given the air quality over the past two months, continuing into the present. But we need to work harder to lobby for cleaner air rather than accept air purifiers as a part of life.

What is the alternative for people who cant invest in aur purifiers?

Masking when outdoors and in crowded places would help protect individuals. But since the most efficacious masks also tend to be the most uncomfortable, it might not be a feasible long-term solution. Avoiding road travel, opting for public transport, and consulting with a doctor for any necessary changes in medication are recommended.
PATNA: A 48-year-old woman, the prime witness in the murder of her son, was shot dead outside her house in rural Patnas Gultera Bazar area on Friday, five days before Runa Devi was to record her statement before a judge presiding over the murder trial. A police officer said Runa Devi earlier lived in Kanchanpur village near Bihta but shifted out after her sons murder over concern for her life (X/SdpoDanapur)

Runa Devis son Kariman Kumar was killed in February 2023 and a murder case was registered on her statement. Two accused, Shivam and Akshay, were arrested and sent to judicial custody, said the assistant superintendent of police (ASP), Danapur subdivision, Abhinav Dhiman.

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A police officer said Runa Devi earlier lived in Kanchanpur village near Bihta but shifted out after her sons murder over concern for her life.

Fridays attack took place around noon when she was sitting outside her rented house. Four men came to the house on two motorcycles and started firing. Runa Devi collapsed on the spot. As the assailants were trying to escape, some people tried to stop them but stepped back after the assailants opened fire. One of the two motorcycles used by them was left behind. The woman was taken to a local hospital where she was declared dead.

Dhiman said the attack may be the result of a personal dispute over a plot of land rather than her sons murder trial.

A case had been lodged against unidentified accused by the Bihta police station in this connection, he added.

Angry residents blocked the main road passing through the area for several hours after the shooting. The protest ended after senior district police officers came and assured strict action.
Pune(Maharashtra)[India], January 5(ANI): Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in his remark on covid cases in the state said "We are conducting a daily review of the covid situation in Maharashtra. All the officials of the administration and health department have been instructed to take precautionary measures". HT Image

"We expect people to cooperate like the previous time. Cooperation from all made it possible to control the situation earlier", Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar appealed to the public.

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"The current variant of coronavirus is mild but we need to use masks when in public", Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar appealed further.

"Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and we all are taking stock of the situation", Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar further said.

As of now, a total of 914 active, and 171 new cases have been recorded in the state of Maharashtra.

15,404 tests have already been conducted. Among them, 3045 RT-PCR tests and 12,359 RAT tests were done.

Yesterday, 117 patients were discharged and 2 deaths were reported in Maharashtra.

The recovery rate, positivity rate and case fatality rate stood at 98.17%, 1.11% and 1.81% respectively.

As of now, Maharashtra recorded 110 patients infected with the JN.1 variant.

The status of COVID-19 cases as per inputs of IDSP (NCDC), media bulletins and websites of various States at 08:00 AM on 05.01.2024 is as; Total Active cases are 4,334 (A decrease of 89 since Thursday morning, Recovered cases are 4,44,78,885 (An increase of 838 since Thursday morning). Total number of cases are 4,50,16,657 (An increase of 761 since Thursday morning), Total number of deaths are 5,33,385 ( An increase of 12 since Thursday morning).

The state-wise distribution of mortality figures is; Kerala-05 deaths, Karnataka- 04 deaths, Maharashtra- 02 deaths; Uttar Pradesh- 01 death; Bihar - Reconciliation of mortality figures is ongoing. Odisha - Reconciliation of mortality figures is ongoing,

36,090 tests done on * 4th January, 2024* reported by ICMR.

Since January 1, 2023, 139 Covid-19 deaths have been recorded. 71.11% of these deaths occurred in individuals above 60 years of age, 84% of the deceased had comorbidities, and, 16% did not have any comorbidities. (ANI)
The Jharkhand high court on Friday sought the lower court records while directing to continue the no-coercive stay in a petition filed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Jharkhand high court sought the lower court records while directing to continue no-coercive stay in a petition filed by Rahul Gandhi (ANI)

The petition seeks to quash an order passed by a Ranchi district court in a defamation case filed by a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker over an alleged derogatory remark by Gandhi against Union home minister Amit Shah.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The complaint was filed by Navin Jha with the Ranchi court on April 28, 2018, based on a statement Gandhi made at his partys plenary session on March 18, 2018.

After a brief hearing on Friday, justice Ambuj Naths bench called for the lower court record.

The interim order preventing the lower court from proceeding until the matter is decided will continue. Arguments over the cases merits will take place once the high court receives the lower court records and the matter is listed for hearing again, Deepankar Roy, Gandhis counsel said.

In the complaint, Jha alleged that Gandhis statement was false and defamatory, claiming that people of this country will accept a lying BJP leadership because they know what the BJP is designed for.

Jha further alleged that they will accept a man accused of murder as the president of the BJP, but the people would never accept the same in the Congress party.

The complaint was initially dismissed by the sub-judicial magistrate on July 7, 2018.

However, the Ranchi judicial commissioner allowed the revision petition on September 15, 2018.

This directed the magistrate to re-examine the evidence on record and pass a fresh order to determine prima facie material for proceeding with the matter.

Consequently, the magistrate took cognizance on November 28, 2018, and issued the summons.

Gandhi then filed a petition in the high court to quash the revision order issued by the Ranchi judicial commissioner on September 15, 2018.

The matter was heard on May 16, 2023, before a single bench of justice Ambuj Nath.

During the previous hearing, Gandhi argued that the petitioner could not be considered an aggrieved person in the matter and lacked the standing to file the defamation case.

Other points related to the facts were also raised in the petition, citing several past judgments in defence, as stated by another lawyer involved in the proceedings.

However, the petitioners lawyer argued that as a BJP worker, Jha was an identifiable person and well within his rights to file the defamation case.
Despite the recent war of words with the Congress party over the seat-sharing formula, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Friday indicated that the talks within the INDIA bloc parties in Maharashtra have been 'positive' and nearing completion. Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut.

I had a discussion with the senior leaders of the party who are a part of the high-level committee. In a few days, we'll sit with the committee formed by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, and our primary discussions will come to an end, Raut told reporters in Mumbai.

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"Our talks on seat sharing with Congress, NCP, Shiv Sena, and Prakash Ambedkar (Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi chief) are almost done. It has been a very positive discussion. We can't see any clashes in the four parties...We are in talks with Congress and Prakash Ambedkar," he added.

It initially appeared that there was no consensus among the opposition parties in Maharashtra on how the seats should be shared, with different parties expressing different expectations.

Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) leaders decided at a meeting that the Uddhav camp should contest 23 seats while the NCP would press for ten to eleven seats. Congress leaders, however, decided that they should get 22 seats in the seat-sharing formula.

Raut said their talks with the Congress on seat-sharing have to start from zero as it has "not won any seat" in the state.

In the last general elections, the undivided Shiv Sena had won 18 out of 23 seats in alliance with the BJP while the NCP won four out of 19 seats contested in alliance with the Congress. However, both the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the NCP (Sharad Pawar) are currently at their weakest, following a split in both parties.

Congress top leadership, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, on Thursday conducted meetings with the members of the party's Alliance Committee and Manifesto Committee here in the national capital.

Briefing about the Alliance Committee meeting, committee convener Mukul Wasnik said that in the meeting, a discussion regarding seat-sharing of Congress within the INDIA bloc was held.

"The Congress Alliance Committee held deliberations with leaders from various states within the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA bloc) in the last several days. Today, their details were given to party president Kharge, former president Rahul Gandhi and Organization General Secretary KC Venugopal. Now, soon Congress will hold state-wise discussions with other allies of INDIA bloc," Mukul Wasnik said.
Pariksha Pe Charcha, an initiative led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to create a stress-free atmosphere for youngsters, saw over a crore students, parents and teachers to have registered for the 7th edition of the event, on the MyGov portal. Two students and a teacher from each of the States and UTs and winners of the Kala Utsav and the Veer Gatha competition may be invited as special guests for the main event.(ANI Photo)

It is an interactive program wherein students, parents, and teachers from across the nation and also from overseas interact with PM Modi to discuss anxieties related to examinations and life after school.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

"This shows the extensive enthusiasm among students nationwide, eager to participate in this distinctive event and interact with the Prime Minister," an official release from the Ministry of Education said.

Also Read: 'Pariksha Pe Charcha' aims to transform stress into success: PM Modi

The registration process for the 7th edition of Pariksha Pe Charcha began on December 11, 2023, and the last date to apply is January 12, 2024.

This year, the programme will be held on January 29, 2024, from 11 am onwards in a town hall format at Bharat Mandapam, ITPO, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. Nearly 4,000 participants will be interacting with PM Modi.

Two students and a teacher from each of the States and UTs and winners of the Kala Utsav and the Veer Gatha competition may be invited as special guests for the main event.

The online MCQ competition is live on the MyGov portal between December 11 2023 to January 12, 2024, for students of classes 6th to 12th, teachers, and parents to participate in the contest.

About 2050 participants will be selected based on their Questions on the MyGov portal and will be presented with a special Pariksha Pe Charcha kit comprising of Exam Warriors book in Hindi and English, written by the Prime Minister, and a certificate.
Phase I of the placement season 2023-24 at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay ended with 85 students securing 1 crore package through campus placements at the institute. According to IIT Bombay, 388 domestic and international organisations participated in the campus placements.(Arne Huckelheim / Wikimedia Commons)

According to IIT Bombay, top recruiters like Accenture, Airbus, Air India, Apple, Arthur D. Little, Bajaj, Barclays, Cohesity, Da Vinci, DHL, Fullerton, Future First, GE-ITC, Global Energy and Environ and Google visited the campus for the placement season.

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"International offers with locations in Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Netherlands, Singapore and Hong Kong were 63. Accepted job offers with CTC greater than 1 crore per annum were 85," the institute said.

The highest number of placement offers were rolled out to the students of the Engineering & Technology, IT / Software, Finance / Banking / Fintech, Management Consulting, Data Science and Analytics, Research and Development and Design sectors.

According to IIT Bombay, 388 domestic and international organisations participated in the campus placements and companies were slotted in a way to ensure firms are maximally spread out to reduce stress on students and also minimise cross offers.

1,340 offers had been made till December 20 2023, which resulted in 1,188 students getting placed. Which includes the seven students placed in PSUs as well as 297 PPOs via internships, of which 258 were accepted, informed the institute.
We live in times marked by pressing environmental challenges. Frequent tsunamis, forest fires, melting glaciers and unusually hot summers have become part of our reality that we cant ignore anymore. It is time that academic institutions take students closer to nature, out of the AC classrooms.(Pixabay)

The message is very clear  we need to act now or perish. Academia which plays a crucial role in grooming young minds clearly has an important role to play here. Going beyond traditional academic goals, sustainable academia emphasizes integrating eco-conscious principles in every facet of learning.

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The environmental hazards that we are facing today have been caused by generations of neglect and our children had nothing to do with it. Rising pollution and other environmental hazards are however impacting their health, wellness and future.

Also Read: LiFE lessons for a liveable planet

It is, therefore, important for academia to not only sensitise students about environmental perils but also empower them to find solutions.

Design a green campus

Rabindranath Tagore beautifully captured the essence of education with these words, The highest education is that which does not merely give us information but makes our life in harmony with all existence.

Tagores Shantiniketan model of education, which focuses on cultivating love for nature and providing freedom of mind, exemplifies that. It is time that academic institutions take students closer to nature, out of the AC classrooms.

Walk-only campuses with dedicated zones for motor vehicles should be designed. The no-vehicle policy will minimise air pollution and consumption of fossil fuels. Long walks, shaded by trees, will encourage students, faculty and visitors to enjoy the fresh air and appreciate nature.

Integrating environmental studies into the curriculum

Universities should develop and integrate climate change studies into the curriculum. Not just separate subjects that few may opt for, every student should be introduced to the seriousness of the climate crisis while also encouraging them to consider solutions.

Students should also be encouraged to participate in various environmental initiatives like planting trees, sustaining water bodies, greening hills etc. Getting initiated into The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity, popularly known as TEEB, is another way of powerful orientation for students.

Also Read: University of Delhi beats Indian universities in QS World University Sustainability 2024 Rankings

Encourage research for impact

Encouraging research that addresses pressing environmental challenges is essential. Universities and academic institutions should prioritise funding and supporting research projects contributing to sustainable development.

By empowering students and faculty to conduct impactful research, academia becomes a driving force in discovering innovative solutions to global environmental issues.

Promote ethical leadership

Academic institutions should work towards nurturing ethical leaders who understand the interconnectedness of social, economic, and environmental systems. Leadership programmes should emphasise the importance of ethical decision-making and responsible management practices.

Equipping students with these skills will prepare them to lead organisations that prioritize sustainability and corporate social responsibility.

Sustainable academia is not just an academic pursuit; it is a commitment to foster a greener tomorrow. By integrating sustainability into the core of education, institutions can play a pivotal role in shaping environmentally conscious leaders and problem solvers.

As students equipped with the knowledge and skills for sustainable living step into the world, they become ambassadors of change, driving a global shift towards a more sustainable and resilient future.

( Authored by Prof Prakash Gopalan, President  NIIT University. Views are personal)
Get ready for a mystical rollercoaster as The Demon Prince of Momochi House Season 1 Episode 1 is about to grace your screens. Here's all you need to know about the upcoming episode. The supernatural saga of The Demon Prince of Momochi House begins on January 5, 2024.(Studio Drive)

The Demon Prince of Momochi House Season 1 Episode 1 release date and time:

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The supernatural saga kicks off on Friday, January 5, 2024, at 12:00 am JST on AT-X. For international fans, catch it on Crunchyroll from January 6, 2024. Here's the release time in multiple time zones:

Pacific Standard Time - 7:00 am, January 4, 2024

Eastern Standard Time - 10:00 am, January 4, 2024

Central European Time - 4:00 pm, January 4, 2024

Indian Standard Time - 8:30 pm, January 4, 2024

Where to watch The Demon Prince of Momochi House Season 1 Episode 1:

You can stream the first episode of The Demon Prince of Momochi House on Crunchyroll.

What to expect from The Demon Prince of Momochi House Season 1:

Episode 1 unfolds with Himari's journey, introducing key characters like Aoi, Yukari, and Ise. Brace for a blend of mystery, humour, and the unexpected as Himari navigates the mystical realm that awaits her.

Also Read | Winter 2024 anime season - All anime releases of January and where to watch them

What is The Demon Prince of Momochi House Season 1 about:

This anime follows Momochi Himari, an orphan, who inherits the Momochi family estate on her 16th birthday. Little does she know; the house is a bridge between realms, and she's destined to be the guardian. But with squatters already in residence, Himari's role is far from straightforward.

The Demon Prince of Momochi House Season 1 cast and characters to look out for:

Natsumi Kawaida lends her voice to Himari Momochi, while Takeo Otsuka embodies the enigmatic Aoi Nanamori/Nue. Get ready for a voice-acting feast that brings these captivating characters to life.
Even before she became the global ambassador for high profile international brands such as Louis Vuitton and Cartier, Deepika Padukone made waves with her sartorial choices at the red carpet. On January 5, as the actor turns 38, here's a look back at some of her most talked about appearances at international red carpet events. Also read: Deepika Padukone wore a short pink dress for Oscars after-party Deepika Padukone at Cannes Film Festival 2018 in a hot pink Ashi Studio dress. (File Photo)

Be it her classic black gown at Oscars 2023, her Barbiecore look at Met Gala 2019 or her sarees at Cannes Film Festival, the actor left no stone unturned to create memorable fashion moments in each of her red carpet appearances. In no particular order, Deepika's memorable red carpet appearances from around the world:

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Deepika Padukone at Oscars 2023

Deepika Padukone's first ever Oscars look screamed old Hollywood glamour. The 38-year-old made history, when she was chosen to present an award at the prestigious ceremony in March 2023, making her only the third Indian actor to do so after Priyanka Chopra and the late Persis Khambatta. For her Oscars debut, Deepika chose two brands she trusts to dress her for prestigious events  Louis Vuitton and Cartier, two brands she acts as an ambassador for. Deepika wore an off-shoulder, velvet gown with a diamond necklace.

Deepika Padukone at Academy Museum Gala 2023

Deepika Padukone at the Academy Museum Gala in 2023.

The actor, who had graced the Oscar stage earlier last year and introduced RRR song Naatu Naatu, attended the fund-raising annual gala in a purple velvet gown in December 2023. She was the first Indian actor to be invited to the event and joined the likes of Dua Lipa, Selena Gomez, Billie Eilish and others at the star-studded third Annual Academy Museum Gala in Hollywood.

Deepika Padukone at Paris Fashion Week 2022

The actor marked her presence at the Louis Vuitton show at Paris Fashion Week 2022 as one of the celebrity guests. As the iconic fashion brand presented its collection at the fashion week, Deepika, who is the global brand ambassador of Louis Vuitton, was spotted sitting in the front row; she wore a mini dress by Louis Vuitton. She was seated alongside Hollywood A-listers such as Alicia Vikander, Antoine Arnault, Ana de Armas, and others.

Deepika Padukone at Cannes Film Festival 2022

Deepika stood out in a white saree at the prestigious film festival. On the last day of Cannes Film Festival 2022, the actor wore a custom Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla saree. She paired her white ruffled saree with statement pearl neckpiece and blouse to create a one-of-a-kind red carpet look. Deepika was one of the jury members of the festival in 2022.

Deepika Padukone at Cannes Film Festival 2018

Deepika closed her 2018 Cannes Film Festival diaries in a hot pink Ashi Studio outfit. Deepika wore the origami gown from Ashi Studio on day 2 of the festival after walking the red carpet in a sheer Zuhair Murad gown. Deepika was representing cosmetics brand L'Oreal at Cannes Film Festival 2018.

Deepika Padukone at the Met Gala 2019

She made headlines when she stepped out in a custom metallic pink gown designed by American designer Zac Posen for the 'Camp: Notes on Fashion' theme at the event. Fans of the actor on X (formerly Twitter) had said that her look resembled a Barbie doll or princess. The 2019 Met Gala was her third year attending the event. Deepika had gone with simple gowns for the last two appearances. At the 2017 Met Gala, the actor donned a white dress by Tommy Hilfiger, and in 2018, she wore an elegant red Prabal Gurung gown.

Deepika Padukone at Annual Crystal Awards 2020

In a statement purple outfit, Deepika Padukone grabed all attention at the World Economic Forum Crystal Awards. Deepika was awarded the Crystal Award 2020 at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland. The actor was awarded for her contribution in raising mental health awareness via her foundation Live Love Laugh.

Deepika Padukone at Cannes 2019

Deepika Padukone is no stranger to international red carpets. But, when it comes to Cannes Film Festival, the actor has clearly always been on a sartorial roll, when it comes to statement red carpet dressing. Featuring a larger-than-life black bow and sweeping white gown, Deepika's first Cannes 2019 look was a showstopper.

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Democratic Gov. Tony Evers said he has no plans to change state governments use of diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, positions, despite increased criticism of the practice from Republican lawmakers.

Republicans nationwide have increasingly targeted DEI positions in recent years. In Wisconsin, legislative Republicans withheld about $800 million in state funds directed to the Universities of Wisconsin until the UW system agreed late last year to repurpose some diversity positions.

After an agreement was struck in December that made the DEI changes, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, signaled the agreement was only the beginning and he plans to order a very comprehensive in-depth audit of all the state agencies, focused on DEI positions.

Robin can try all he wants to make this the most important issue in the world. Were going to continue doing it, Evers told the Wisconsin State Journal on Thursday. They can audit. Thats within their power. But that doesnt mean were going to change anything.

Vos said he anticipates such an audit to take as much as a year to complete.

So by the time we return in January of 2025, hopefully we have a roadmap to say, OK, here are agencies that are doing it well, here are ones that are totally failing and need to be fixed, and here are ones that we can find maybe some kind of middle ground, Vos said.

I dont have a deep strategy, to be honest, Vos continued. But I do know that we cannot have DEI in its current form continue.

The UW systems Board of Regents in December approved the deal  brokered between UW system President Jay Rothman and legislative Republicans  that raises wages for about 35,000 UW system staff and funds several construction projects, including a new engineering building for UW-Madison.

In addition to reclassifying 43 DEI staff as student success employees, other concessions include the UW system instituting a three-year hiring moratorium on new administrators and DEI employees, and eliminating from admissions applications any diversity statements, which often serve as an opportunity to describe an applicants experience and understanding of diversity and equity issues.

LaVar Charleston, UW-Madisons chief diversity officer, told the State Journal last month UW-Madisons vision of DEI is broad, as it involves not only supporting just students of color who have been historically underrepresented but also helping groups that include veterans, rural students and those with minority religious identities.

Today in history: Jan. 4 1935: Franklin D. Roosevelt 1948: Burma 1964: Pope Paul VI 1974: Richard Nixon 1987: Amtrak 1999: Jesse Ventura 1999: The Euro 2006: Ariel Sharon 2007: Nancy Pelosi 2012: Richard Cordray 2013: Cotton Bowl. 2015: Pope Francis 2017: Obamacare 2018: The Dow Jones Industrial Average 2021: Donald Trump 2021: Julian Assange
Ileana D'Cruz welcomed her first child on August 1, 2023, and revealed the name and news to her fans days later. In her first interview since giving birth, the actor, who currently lives in the US with Michael Dolan and their baby, Koa Phoenix Dolan, told The Times of India that 'postpartum depression is very real'. Responding to all the speculation around her marriage, the actor said she 'can handle things' said about her, but is 'not comfortable with people talking rubbish' about her partner or her family. Also read: Ileana D'Cruz shares cute photo with son Koa Phoenix Dolan Ileana D'Cruz has spoken about her partner Michael Dolan in a new interview.

'Michael Dolan is such an amazing partner'

Ileana D'Cruz said, "Postpartum depression is very real, and nothing can prepare you for it. I am glad that I had a good support system at home and a team of doctors who took good care of me. Topics like mom guilt are so real. I remember I was in my room, and I started crying. My partner asked me what was wrong and I told him, 'I know it sounds really stupid, but my son is sleeping in the other room, and I am missing him'. So, there are these intense emotions you go through after having a baby. I still am going through it. I am thankful that Mike (Michael Dolan) is such an amazing partner. I dont need to explain things to him. He makes me take a break and looks after the baby before I join in again.

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Is Ileana D'Cruz married?

While she has been sharing her thoughts on motherhood on Instagram, she has not said much about her partner. When asked about of she tied the knot with Michael Dolan in May 2023, which was claimed by several reports, Ileana D'Cruz said, "There's so much speculation. Let's just leave it at that. It is nice to have a tiny bit of mystery, right? Well, honestly, I haven't decided how much I want to talk about this part of my life. It comes from a space where previously I talked about my relationship. I didn't like how some people spoke about it back then. I can handle things said about me, but I am not comfortable with people talking rubbish about my partner or my family."

Past relationships

Earlier rumours stated that Ileana was dating Sebastian Laurent Michel, brother of actor Katrina Kaif. After the two were seen on a holiday in the Maldives with Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif, dating rumours about the pair had were circulated.

Ileana was earlier in a long-term relationship with photographer Andrew Kneebone. In 2019, Ileana had said that she sought therapy after their breakup.

Ileana D'Cruz's baby announcement

Ileana introduced her baby by sharing a cute picture of him on Instagram on August 5, 2023. In the photo, the baby boy, Koa Phoenix Dolan, was seen sleeping. Sharing the photo, she had written, "No words could explain how happy we are to welcome our darling boy to the world. Hearts beyond full."

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Whoopi Goldberg has blasted rumours that her name was revealed on the Jeffrey Epstein list. Goldberg criticised conspiracy theorists and websites that tend to spread false information. Whoopi Goldberg attends the Bring Change to Mind benefit "Revels and Revelations 11," in support of teen mental health, at City Winery, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023, in New York (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)(Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Let me bring that up, the conspiracy theory folks, Goldberg said on The View. I have to explain, because there was a fake list and Im on it.

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So you were on the island? Co-host Sunny Hostin jokingly asked. Apparently, answered Goldberg.

I dont know, they said I was on the island, and Im like, I dont go anywhere! I dont know what Ive done to anybody, Goldberg added, but apparently there are a lot of these kind of sites that are satire sites, but people dont realize that they can be harmful.

Goldberg went on to address several other rumours about her. So let me just get my part out, she said. Ive never been kicked out of Gordon Ramsays restaurant. Ive never been kicked out of Guy Fieris restaurant. I didnt get kicked off Bill Mahers show. I didnt get into a fight with Oprah [Winfrey] backstage here at The View. Its insane, it goes on and on and on.

Interrupting Goldberg, Joy Behar said, But are you having George Clooneys baby? Thats what I want to know.

Goldberg went on to explain that sites get away with posting all sorts of garbage and they call it satire. But Im saying this now: As were talking about this, people who post these things should be very careful, because once someone is cleared of your insanity, theyre gonna call their lawyer on you.

As many as 19 documents from a lawsuit connected to notorious paedophile Jeffrey Epstein werepublicly released on Friday, January 5. This is the second batch of documents to be unsealed.

This release follows hundreds of pages of documents disclosed on Thursday, January 4. The list has mentioned big names like Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton, and Michael Jackson. Also revealed were prominent names like Cate Blanchett, Naomi Campbell, Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz and Alan Dershowitz.

Bringing the focus back to herself, Goldberg said, Dont believe unless I tell you about me. Youll know if I am doing something. Ill let you know! I have nothing to hide. I dont care what people think. If I like doing it, Im gonna let you know.

But if they told you Oprah was backstage and you didnt see Oprah on the show  Its so insane! And you know I dont go anywhere! Unless I tell you I went somewhere, she added. OK? Are we good?
On Thursday, Yash took to X (formerly Twitter) to share a statement in English and Kannada. The actor, turning 38 on Monday, revealed his birthday plans and thanked fans for their support, especially after announcing his film Toxic. In December, Yash announced his upcoming movie with director Geetu Mohandas. The film will be released in April 2025 and will reportedly feature Kareena Kapoor. Yash was seen in the blockbuster Kannada film KGF: Chapter 2 in 2022. Also read: Yash's next is named Toxic; watch title teaser Yash in a still from KGF Chapter 2. The actor will be seen next in Toxic.

He wrote in his statement, It's been nearly a month since we announced Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-ups, and the love and appreciation you have showered means the world to me. You excitement, reactions, theories and analysis encourage me to do more. I know many of you are waiting to meet me on my birthday in person and share what you think of it. Trust me when I say this, to be able to be with you all is one of the things I treasure the most. But, we may have to wait a bit more since I will be away on 8th January. Even though not in person, every single wish from you all is and will always be very special...

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More about Toxic

After the success of the KGF movies, actor Yash became a household name. As fans eagerly waited for an update about the actor and his work, the title of his upcoming film Toxic was revealed on December 8. Toxic will be Yash and Geetu Mohandas' first collaboration. Geetu is best known for her work in Malayalam cinema. Some of the filmmaker's projects include Liar's Dice and The Elder One.

Toxic's title teaser was shared by Yash and the production house, KVN Productions, on Instagram. In the short video, a burning ticket, picture of a clown, and a man smoking a cigar were seen with the silhouette of a man along with the title Toxic: A Fairy Tale For Grown-Ups. The caption read, What you seek is seeking you - Rumi. A fairy tale for grown-ups... TOXIC.

Reacting to it, a fan wrote, I am sure he is going to bash up a toxic person/ system. Another said, Not Harsh playing a toxic hero to save the day.

As per a recent report by Filmfare, Kareena Kapoor will also join the films cast. The film will mark Kareenas first collaboration with Yash. The makers are yet to make an announcement and further details about Kareena's rumoured role are awaited.

Yash's other big project

In addition to Toxic, as per reports, Yash will also be seen in Nitesh Tiwari's film based on the Ramayana, to be headlined by Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi. Pinkvilla quoted a source as saying, Yash has a rather extended appearance in Ramayana: Part One; however, his character will dominate the proceedings in the second part, which is set in Sri Lanka. He has allotted 15 days to shoot for Ramayana: Part One.

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The Tamil film industry mourned Captain Vijayakanths loss when news of his death on December 28. Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Vijay and other actors offered the 71-year-old actors family their heartfelt condolences and paid last respects. A week later, Suriya visited the late actors grave in Chennai. (Also Read: Sonu Sood reminisces working with Vijayakanth in his debut film Kallazhagar) Suriya got emotional while visiting Vijayakanth's grave

Suriya breaks down

On Friday, Suriya was spotted visiting Vijayakanths samadhi to pay his last respects. He was clicked offering flowers and sitting down near the grave. Suriya looked bereaved in the pictures and videos that surfaced on social media after his visit.

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Suriya remembers Vijayakanth

Talking to the media there, Suriya stated that Vijayakanths death caused him a lot of pain. I remember working with him in Periyanna (in 1999), he told the press, adding, He took care of me like a brother on sets. When he saw that I wasnt eating well, he fed me from his own plate and told me I must eat to stay healthy and act. In those days, it was rare for a well-known actor like him to share a meal with a newbie like me.

Suriya also recalled how Vijayakanth spoke to the films team to ensure he was well cared for. He ensured I was comfortable on set. I was in awe of him, I looked up to him. He was a very down-to-earth person, anyone could approach him if they were in need. I am heartbroken that I could not see him one last time before his passing and that I couldnt attend his funeral, he added.

Vijayakanths death

Vijayakanth was an actor, who later ventured into politics and formed the DMDK party. His health was failing in recent months. He was admitted to the hospital due to a persistent cough and it was later revealed that he had Covid-19 and had pneumonia. He died on December 28 at the hospital and is survived by his wife and two sons.

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On one of the early episodes of the currently-on-air Bigg Boss 17, contestant Vicky Jain's mom spoke about all the chooth (freedom) that he has allowed his wife, co-contestant Ankita Lokhande. Fans of the show were shocked and called out Vicky's mom for her archaic ideology, but now, looks like Vicky also thinks just like her. (Also read: Vicky Jain's mother lashes out at Ankita Lokhande for throwing chappal at him on Bigg Boss 17. Watch) Ankita Lokhande and Vicky Jain were fighting again on Bigg Boss 17.

New fight between Ankita and Vicky

In a promo for an upcoming episode of Bigg Boss, Ankita and Vicky are seen quarrelling over him spending time with Mannara Chopra. He was asking about how she did not have dinner the last night and was looking sad. Ankita was watching all of it from afar. She stormed out of the room and Vicky followed her with his breakfast bowl in his hand. He took a seat at the dining table and Ankita sat down near him for a showdown. She said that she doesn't have a problem if he wants to sit with Mannara. Vicky, however, told her that of course, she has a problem with it.

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Vicky Jain to Ankita

Tu apna din bhar Munna (Munawar) ke saath baith kar khana khati hai, chai peeti hai, main tereko kuch bolta hu (You are hanging out with Munawar all day, do I say anything to you)? Ankita replies that she does not sit with him all day. When Ankita says that he hangs out with Mannara too often, he says, Haan toh jaauga, kya galat hai usme (I will go to her, what's wrong with that)?

Their fight then moves to the bedroom where Vicky tells Ankita how Ankita holds Munawar's hand and hugs him when he is upset. Tu karti hai, main tereko freedom deta hu na (Don't I give you the freedom)? He then suggests that he won't talk to Mannara if she doesn't talk to Munawar. Ankita calls it a shameless suggestion.

Vicky and Ankita have been warring since they entered the Bigg Boss house. Ankita has even said that she will divorce him once the show ends, though she might not have been all that serious about it.

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Boy meets girl, either they fall in love at first or bicker till sparks fly and the inevitable happens. But in some cases, only a contract can get the job done. As weird as it may seem, K-Drama fans are all for couples who enter into a contract for self-serving purposes only to realise they are bound together for life. From Song Kang's My Demon to Jung Yoo Min's Perfect Marriage Revenge, here are five K-dramas that revolve around contract marriages and are a total binge feast. My Demon, Perfect Marriage Revenge and more K-dramas based on marriage contracts.

Perfect Marriage Revenge

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Perfect Marriage Revenge stars Sung Hoon, Jung Yoo Min, Jin Ji Hee, Kang Shin Hyo, and Oh Seung Yoon.

Han Yi Joo (Jung Yoo Min) has been betrayed, abused and even had her life threatened by her manipulative adoptive parents, sister and husband. A twist in fate leads Yi Joo to right the wrongs in her life. She approaches Seo Do Guk, (Sung Hoon) heir to a vast fortune, to marry her. Incidentally, he is also the man her sister has her sights on. Do Guk gladly complies, and tells Han Yi Joo she can use him however she wants to. Perfect Marriage Revenge is a taut, pacy drama with intense chemistry between the two leads.

Where To Watch: Viki

The Story of Parks Marriage Contract

The Story of Park's Marriage Contract stars Lee Se Young, Bae In Hyuk, Joo Hyun Young, Yoo Seon Ho, and Jo Bok Rae.

Park Yeon Woo (Lee Se Young) is a strong-willed rich young woman in the Joseon era. But her world falls apart when her husband on their wedding night confesses he has a heart condition and soon passes away. Even before she can reconcile with her fate, Yeon Woo finds herself time-travelling to present-day Seoul, where she meets Kang Tae Ha (Bae In Hyuk) an aloof and cold rich man. In her, he finds the perfect bait to comply with his grandfathers wish to marry him off and secure his inheritance. He asks this rather crazy lady with her quirky behaviour to get into a contract alliance with him. The twist is that he suffers from a similar condition as her dead husband, so will history repeat itself?

Where To Watch: Viki

My Demon

My Demon stars Kim Yoo Jung, Song Kang, Lee Sang Yi, and Kim Hae Sook.

A demon Gu Won (Song Kang) has lost his powers. His tattoo has transferred itself on a rich heiress Do Do Hee (Kim Yoo Jung), whose life is under threat from all sides. She asks him to marry her so that she can secure her inheritance and he gets his powers back. But instead what we get is a passionately intense love story.

Where To Watch: Netflix

1% of Anything

1% of Anything stars Ha Seok Jin and Jeon So Min.

Lee Jae In (Ha Seok Jin) is a wealthy young man, but it is his arrogance which irks his grandfather. The old man hatches a plan and tells him the only way he can get his inheritance is if he marries the simple girl Kim Da Hyun (Jeon So Min), a school teacher. Two strangers with nothing in common but a contract start on their journey. What we get is an endearing rom-com with amazing chemistry between Ha Seok Jin and Jeon So Min.

Where To watch: Viki

Because This Is My First Life

Because This Is My First Life stars Lee Min Ki and Jung So Min.

Nam Sae Hee played by Lee Min Ki is a socially awkward computer designer, who lives life on autopilot. He has a heavy mortgage to pay off on his apartment which is too big for him. Yoon Ji Ho (Jung So Min) is an aspiring drama writer, who is homeless. The two meet and decide to get into a contract marriage, she pays him rent and he gets to pay off a mortgage. They strike a friendship, and soon find out they are way more compatible than they had imagined. A slice-of-life of life drama which scores on its performances.

Where to watch: Netflix

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After a high-octane season 3 that came to a smashing end in the last week of December, Apple recently announced a fifth season pickup for the hit show based on Mick Herrons book series of the same name. The fourth season, which is already in the can, is set to release at the end of 2024. (Also read: Gary Oldman says he wants to retire from acting in near future) Gary Oldman and Kristin Scott Thomas in a still from Slow Horses.

About Slow Horses

Slow Horses centers on a group of disgraced MI5 agents who have been relegated to doing inconsequential and menial work at Slough House, which earns them the insulting moniker Slow Horses. The band of misfit agents nevertheless manage to find themselves at the center of various missions that they have to fight their way out of, while also facing the condescension and mockery of their snobbish colleagues at Regents Park, which is where MI5 operates.

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Details about Season 5

Season 5 will be adapted from the fifth book in the series called London Rules. The title refers to the advice given by Jonathan Pryces retired MI5 legend, David Cartwright to his grandson, River Cartwright (played by Jack Lowden), the wannabe James Bond at the center of the show - Moscow rules means watch your back, London rules means cover your a**e. In the world of Slow Horses, youre more likely to be neutralized by office politics than by an enemy agents bullet.

A fifth season renewal is almost unheard of in the current streaming landscape, where (barring a handful of mega successes) shows tend to get canceled after a couple of seasons on average. It doesnt hurt that Slow Horses follows the British convention of six episodes a season, which works out much cheaper than the usual 10-13 episodes for American or global productions.

Other streamers would do well to follow the British model - not only does it keep costs in check, it also helps with quality control. Lesser episodes means more focus on the story and fewer filler storylines that spin wheels and go nowhere. At the very least, a six episode show doesnt overstay its welcome; even a mediocre show ends before it can be rejected and abandoned by the audience.

Of course, it also helps that Apple has a practically unlimited budget, and a significantly smaller number of shows to spend it on, compared to a competitor like Netflix, which will likely have released a new show or season by the time you finish reading this article.

On a winning streak

The espionage show has been a consistent hit for Apple TV+, at least from the standpoint of critical and fan reception. Apple is as opaque as every other streamer when it comes to subscriber numbers and watch time data, but its obvious the platform is pleased with the performance of Slow Horses. It was originally picked up for a two season run, both of which were produced back to back, followed by another two season order. Apple has loosened the purse strings for Season 3, which is mounted on a much larger production budget. The latest season opens with an extended prologue shot in Istanbul with a boat, car, and foot chase; and the climactic showdown is just as production-heavy, with thrilling action sequences set in multiple locations.

Slow Horses has hit on a winning formula that blends two disparate genres. At the base is pure Le Carre - spymasters pulling strings, agents racing to piece things together, shadowy conspiracies, and motivations behind motivations. But before things can get too self-serious or dreary, theres an overlay of workplace comedy; the slow horses are not quite bumbling but definitely inept, and only accidentally on the right side of things. Sample this pep talk from Gary Oldmans slob of a spymaster, Jackson Lamb, late in Season 1 - Youre (expletive) useless, the lot of ya. Working with you has been the lowest point in a disappointing career.

The pedigree is clear, showrunner Will Smith (not the Fresh Prince) was a writer on political comedy The Thick Of It, think Veep but British. The writing does a good job of humanizing the characters and making them flawed, almost to the point of incompetence - which aids with both the relatability as well as the comedic aspects. The show is as much a thriller as it is a workplace comedy. The breakneck pace of the twists and turns coupled with the outright hilarious insults that Lamb reserves for his team make for a deliciously entertaining cocktail.

Slow Horses is good solid television, a show perfectly tailor-made for a binge.

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Four South Asian nations Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Pakistan are inching towards their general elections in 2024. Interestingly, 2024 is the year of elections and throughout the year, over several transitioning democracies from the West, Global South and in the other geographies will decide their fate. Indian elections (Representative)

South Asias youngest democracy Bhutan changed from being a monarchy to a democracy 15 years ago. Known for its Gross Happiness Index, Bhutan has just concluded the preliminary round of national elections and is slated to hold the final election on January 9, 2024. Five parties Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bhutan Tendrel Party (BTP), Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT), and Druk Thundrel Tshogpa (DTTP) are in the fray. Out of these five, the two with the most votes will contest for leadership.

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Women parliamentarians participation in the 47-member national assembly, the lower house as well as national council, the upper house in the new bicameral parliament remains a concern, despite more and more Dzogkha women now registering to cast their votes. In fact, women constitute the largest vote bank in the half million electorate.

The manifestos of contesting parties mostly focus on Bhutans economy, brain drain, inadequate supply of fuel, growth of enterprises, hydropower generation and revenue from tourism.

In Bangladesh, as many as 30 parties are contesting the election for 300 parliamentary seats on January 7, but the main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Khaleda Zia and its allies have spurned the election. The nation of 170 million people has a unicameral legislature. The country under Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina has tasted several successes in several eco-social parameters but the incumbent is widely criticised on issues like corruption and human rights. Since BNP, the main rival, has opted out, it is obvious that PM Hasina will return to power.

Pakistan will hold general election on February 8 to elect parliamentarians in the16th national assembly. The main contestants remain Pakistan Muslim League-N, Pakistan Peoples Party, Muttahida Quami Movement Pakistan, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf and the Jamat-e-Islami. With a bail-out, Pakistan has somehow managed to secure a stand-by arrangement with the International Monetary Fund.

In Pakistan, there are 128.5 million voters registered and the gender gap remains a crucial factor. Women make up about 49% of the population. About 15 million voters are missing from the electoral rolls.

Saveera Parkash, the first Hindu female contestant from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Buner district will be contesting on a Pakistan Peoples Party ticket. Incarcerated Imran Khan, the former PM will contest but the military will make things difficult for him. A hung parliament is the likely outcome.

In India, the dates have not been announced yet. The Bharatiya Janata Party is in pole position at the moment after its good showing in the assembly elections. But it has to focus on the South and Northeast. The forthcoming elections and their outcomes are bound to reshape South Asia. Whether this will be for the better or worse remains to be seen.

This article is authored by Ayanangsha Maitra, foreign policy scholar and journalist.
International Living, a platform for planning your retirement overseas, recently announced its 2024 Annual Global Retirement Index which rounded up the best destinations to slow down once you reach retirement age. Considering factors like cost of living, housing, visas and more, Costa Rica, earned the No. 1 spot followed by Portugal, Mexico, Panama and Spain. Considering factors like cost of living, housing, visas and more, Costa Rica, earned the No. 1 spot followed by Portugal, Mexico, Panama and Spain.

That pura vida vibe makes Costa Rica the perfect home away from home. Maybe its the pristine tropical beaches, the eternal spring-like weather in the Central Valley, the fact it (Nicoya to be exact) is home to one of the worlds Blue Zones, the volcanic energy coursing through its ground, the rich biodiversity of its flora and fauna, the stunning turquoise waterfalls, or that Costa Rica has been ranked as one of the happiest countries, described the International Living website.
One of the most anticipated projects of 2024, the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) will be inaugurated on January 12, as confirmed by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. According to a recent report, the approximately Rs. 17,000 crore development was confirmed on December 31 and will be managed by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority. All set to make its debut as Indias longest sea bridge spanning almost 22 kilometres, the project will be named after former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. All set to make its debut as Indias longest sea bridge spanning almost 22 kilometres, the project will be named after former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Apart from connecting Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, here are some of the many ways the MTHL will impact travel distance and time for commuters.

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Beginning from Sewri in South Mumbai, the link will shorten the travel time to Navi Mumbai by 20 minutes (approx.).

The link is strategically placed to improve connectivity between Navi Mumbai International Airport, Mumbai Pune expressway, JNPT Port and the Mumbai Goa highway.

The MTHL will also serve as an important roadway for connecting Third Mumbaia development planned around Navi Mumbai International Airportto the rest of the city.
The owner of a Minocqua brewing company on Friday filed a lawsuit seeking to bar Donald Trump from the 2024 ballot in Wisconsin, saying the former presidents involvement in the events leading up to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the nations Capitol makes him ineligible to run.

Trump should be disqualified from serving as president under the so-called insurrection clause of the U.S. Constitution, which bars anyone who engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the United States from holding office, Minocqua Brewing Co. owner Kirk Bangstad argues in the lawsuit filed in Dane County Circuit Court.

The U.S. Supreme Court announced Friday it will consider Trumps appeals of decisions by the Colorado Supreme Court and Maines Democratic secretary of state declaring him ineligible for the presidency. It will be the first time the nations highest court has ruled on the rarely used Civil War-era provision.

A ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court will apply to all 50 states, meaning a ruling in Trumps favor will make Bangstads lawsuit moot.

In the lawsuit, Bangstad contends that Trump is disqualified from serving as president under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, and is therefore also disqualified from appearing on the ballot in the 2024 Wisconsin Republican presidential preference primary election.

Bangstad initially filed a complaint with the Wisconsin Elections Commission, but the agency promptly dismissed the complaint last week because it was filed directly against members of the bipartisan agency.

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers told The Associated Press this week removing Trump from the ballot wouldnt solve anything because, at the end of the day, I think the U.S. Supreme Court is going to say, Were going to let the people decide.

Do I think that he has done things that make Donald Trump disqualified? Evers said. Yeah, but then people can vote against him.

In a split decision Dec. 19, the Colorado Supreme Court found Trump ineligible to be included in that states presidential primary. That ruling was the first time in history that Section 3 of the 14th Amendment was used to disqualify a presidential candidate.

Last week, Maines top election official declared Trump ineligible to appear on the states ballots.

In Trumps appeal, his attorneys have said the provision in the Constitution does not apply to the president.

His lawyers also contend that the question of who is covered by a rarely used clause of the Constitution is political and cannot be decided by unelected judges. They contend that Jan. 6 wasnt an insurrection  it wasnt widespread, they say, and didnt involve large numbers of firearms or other markers of sedition. They say Trump didnt engage in anything that day other than in exercising his protected free speech rights.

The Michigan Supreme Court last week said it will not hear an appeal of a lower courts ruling from groups seeking to keep Trump from appearing on the ballot, noting that we are not persuaded that the questions presented should be reviewed by this court.

The plaintiffs in Michigan can technically try again to disqualify Trump in the general election, though its likely there will be a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the issue by then.

Last summer, a federal judge rejected a lawsuit funded by Bangstads Minocqua Brewing Co. Super PAC seeking to block U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Oshkosh, and U.S. Reps. Tom Tiffany, R-Minocqua, and Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, from being on the ballot that year for supporting efforts to subvert the 2020 election.

Tiffany and Fitzgerald were among 121 House Republicans who voted to object to counting Joe Bidens presidential electors from Arizona on Jan. 6, 2021. Tiffany and Fitzgerald also were among 138 Republicans who voted to object to Bidens Pennsylvania electors.

Johnson tried to pass documents signed by 10 Wisconsin Republicans alleging that Trump had won the 2020 election to former Vice President Mike Pence as Pence prepared to certify the election. The vice presidents office declined to accept the document from Johnson.

In that ruling, U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman said the plaintiffs claim, if it exists at all, was procedurally improper and would best be resolved by the Wisconsin Elections Commission.

The states bipartisan Presidential Preference Selection Committee on Monday selected Trump, along with five other Republicans, and President Joe Biden to be on Wisconsins April 2 presidential primary ballot.

The names next go to the Wisconsin Elections Commission, which will approve them for the ballot.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Kalyan Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress on Friday lauded Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhars great gesture of wishing him on his birthday, days after the MPs mimicry of the Rajya Sabha chairman snowballed into a massive political controversy. Banerjee added that it was important to move forward, leaving behind past misunderstandings. TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee. (ANI)(HT_PRINT)

I thank Hon'ble @VPIndia for his warm greetings on my Birthday. I'm overwhelmed that he personally had a telephone conversation with my wife and conveyed his blessings to my entire family. He also invited my wife and me to have dinner at his residence in Delhi with his family, Kalyan Banerjee wrote on social media X.

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He told news agency PTI that it was indeed a great effort and gesture" by the vice president to wish him on his birthday. "I am truly overwhelmed that he spoke to me and my wife and invited us for dinner at his place," Banerjee, who turned 67 on Thursday, told PTI.

"Life must always move on, leaving behind past misunderstandings," the TMC's Srirampore MP said when asked if Dhankhars gesture could improve relations between the two.

When Kalyan Banerjee mocked Jagdeep Dhankhar

Kalyan Banerjee mimicked Dhankhar, who is also the Rajya Sabha Chairman, during the opposition's protest on the stairs of Parliament on December 19 against the suspension of MPs, drawing strong condemnation from the ruling BJP.

Banerjees actions drew strong condemnation from the BJP. Dhankhar had then said in the House that he would not tolerate any disrespect to Parliament or the constitutional post of the vice president.

Banerjee later asserted that mimicry is a form of expression, and the right to dissent and protest is a fundamental right.

The TMC MP, who was suspended from the Lok Sabha along with several others from both Houses, said that the right to dissent and protest is also a fundamental right.

"Right to expression is a fundamental right," Banerjee, a senior advocate, said, while addressing a programme on Sunday in his constituency Serampore.

"Mimicry is a right, an expression, it is a fundamental right," he said, asserting that nobody can "destroy" it.

(With inputs from agencies)
A total of 619 cases of the JN.1 sub-variant of Covid-19 have been reported from 12 states in India as of Thursday, news agency PTI reported on Friday, quoting official sources. 199 cases were reported in Karnataka, 148 in Kerala, 110 in Maharashtra, 47 in Goa, 36 in Gujarat, 30 in Andhra Pradesh, 26 in Tamil Nadu, 15 in Delhi, 4 in Rajasthan, 2 in Telangana, and one each in Odisha and Haryana, as per their statement. Over the past 24 hours, 12 deaths were reported, with five in Kerala, four in Karnataka, two in Maharashtra, and one in Uttar Pradesh. (HT File)

The Union health ministry's data on Friday morning revealed that 761 new cases had been recorded in the past 24 hours, reducing the total active cases to 4,334, which is 89 fewer than the previous day. Over the past 24 hours, 12 deaths were reported, with five in Kerala, four in Karnataka, two in Maharashtra, and one in Uttar Pradesh.

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During the peak of the pandemic in early 2020, daily case numbers were in the lakhs. Over a span of four years, the country has seen over 4.5 crore infections and more than 5.3 lakh deaths. On a positive note, the number of recoveries has surpassed 4.4 crore, resulting in a national recovery rate of 98.81 per cent, as per the ministry's website.

Moreover, the country has administered a total of 220.67 crore doses of Covid-19 vaccines, marking significant progress in vaccination efforts.

The World Health Organisation has currently labelled JN.1 as a distinct variant of interest due to its rapidly escalating transmission rate, although it assesses the global public health risk it poses as low.

Previously categorised within the BA.2.86 sub-lineages, which falls under the classification of a variant of interest (VOI), the JN.1 sub-variant of the coronavirus has now been specifically singled out by the global health organisation.

Covid situation across states

At present, Kerala leads with the highest active Covid-19 cases at 1,249, closely followed by Karnataka at 1,240, and Maharashtra with 914 active cases. Tamil Nadu has 190 cases, while Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh both have 128 active cases each.

Maharashtra's deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar said the state government's vigilant stance toward the Covid-19 situation. The health department has been directed to take necessary precautions to curb the virus's spread. The state currently reports 914 active cases, with 110 infections attributed to the JN.1 variant.

Odisha's senior official confirmed the detection of two cases of the Covid-19 sub-variant JN.1, clarifying that one patient is under treatment while the other remains symptom-free. One of the patients has a travel history related to Kerala. The state, presently, has 26 active cases, and the Director of Health Services, Bijay Kumar Mohapatra, assured that while new variants are expected, there's no cause for alarm.

In Karnataka, fresh Covid-19 infections rose to 298 from the previous day's count of 260 cases. The state reported four virus-related deaths compared to one death recorded on Wednesday. The positivity rate in Karnataka also saw an increase from 3.46 per cent to 3.82 per cent on Thursday.

(With inputs from agencies)
French President Emmanuel Macron will attend the 75th Republic Day parade in national capital Delhi on January 26, 2024. This visit will further embolden ties between India and France amid a rapidly evolving world order. France is Indias closest strategic partner in Europe and its second-largest arms supplier after Russia, having edged past the US last year. So, how will India-France relations unfold in the upcoming years? Why is France considered Indias most natural ally? How will France boost PM Modis pet Make-in-India project, especially in defense? Hindustan Times Executive Editor Shishir Gupta explains all these issues in the latest edition of Point Blank. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron.(AP file photo)

India and France are possibly the closest allies. The two of them share very close ties. France was the only country that didn't sanction India after the Pokhran est. The two countries are very similar in their approach. Both the countries believe in strategic continuity and they share a world view which is different from the main superpowers.

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French President Emmanuel Macron is coming on the 25 of January and is leaving India on the 27th, after being the chief guest at the Republic Day. He might be landing in a second city, not in Delhi.

While other European countries spoke against India for not criticizing Russia over the Ukraine war, France was the only country that understood the Indian delicate position, vis-a-vis Russia. France chose to remain silent rather than go with the general clamor created to criticize India.

India and France have a very similar view on the Indo-Pacific. They want to keep the sea lanes of communication open. They have a trilateral dialogue with Australia and they want the South China sea to be kept open for traffic.

India and France are very close at counterterrorism. Before the Taliban actually took over Kabul, Pakistan used China to try and designate innocent Indians working in Afghanistan as global terrorist. It was France that blocked the entire operation. That is why France is very important.

For India, France is the number 1 power. Russia and the United States are number two on the list. The last one, obviously, is China.

PM Modi and Macron share a very close chemistry. They often talk to each other about major positions. What is more important is that France has always stood with India, whenever it came to any critical positions.

In 1998, when India was put in the dog house by the rest for the nuclear test, it was France that provided us with inertial navigation systems that power our Prithvi nuclear missiles. India and France are very close in space, they are very close in defense, and they are very close politically too. Both the countries have an independent view of the world; they do not follow the US, Russia or anybody else.

When Macron comes to India, the centerpiece will be Atmanirbhar Bharat. India is looking towards France for the supply or joint research and development of small modular nuclear reactors. These are nuclear reactors that produce less than 300 megawatts. These reactors are fundamental to nuclear energy. They are also fundamental to the green hydrogen project. This is Priority 1. The two sides have been talking to each other. There will definitely be a forward momentum on this.
Leaders like Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose are immortal and do not need bestowing of a recognition through a judicial diktat, the Supreme Court said on Friday, refusing to entertain a public interest litigation (PIL) that sought a directive to declare Bose a son of the nation and an apology from the Congress for allegedly belittling his role in Indias freedom struggle and not revealing the truth about his disappearance or death. A view of the Supreme Court building, the apex judicial body of India, in New Delhi on Tuesday. (ANI Photo)

According to the top court, judicial orders for a declaration to acknowledge Boses role in the countrys freedom struggle would be improper, for it may not be compatible with the stature of a leader like him to need a word of recognition from a court of law.

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Also read: 'He opposed': Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's kin on being 'inspired' by Savarkar

Who does not know a leader like Netaji? Everyone in the country knows him and his contribution. You dont need a declaration from the court of his greatness. Leaders like him are immortal, said a bench of justices Surya Kant and KV Viswanathan.

The court was hearing a PIL by Cuttack-based Pinak Pani Mohanty, who sought a declaration from the court that independence from British rule was attained by Bose-led Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauz). Mohantys petition questioned the Congresss role in recognising Boses contribution, adding the political party chose to keep the files on Boses disappearance/death under wraps.

The PIL demanded that the Union government should declare Boses birthday on January 23 as a national day and the leader as a son of the nation.

The bench, during the hearing, told Mohanty that iconic freedom fighters like Bose did not have to wait for an order of a court to the authorities for a commendation of their role. Leaders like him are in fact beyond the grant of recognition by any court. They are great people and not just us, the entire county owes to leaders like him, said justice Kant, speaking in Hindi.

While Mohanty said that the court should issue notice to the government to grant recognition due to Bose, the bench responded that the declarations that the petitioner wanted were in the realm of policy decisions. Besides, even the family may not take it as a matter of pride that a court had to intervene, it added.

The bench also referred to the Supreme Courts order in 1997 when a controversy over awarding Bharat Ratna posthumously to Bose had reached the top court. The petitioner in the case, Bijan Ghosh, had taken strong exception to the use of the word posthumously in the 1992 press communique intending to confer the highest civilian award on Bose, arguing the Government of India was yet to officially accept the alleged report of Boses death in an air-crash in Taiwan in August 1945. At the time, the family members of Bose had also conveyed to the government their unhappiness at the announcement and expressed their unwillingness to accept such an award.

In its judgment in 1997, the court took on record the Centres statement that in deference to the sentiments expressed by the public and by the members of the family of Bose, the government did not proceed further to confer the award and wrapped up the petition. The court had further refused to go into the issue as to whether there was enough material to conclude that Bose died either in the 1945 air-crash or at any time thereafter.

Citing the 1997 judgment, the bench on Friday told Mohanty that he ought not to raise the issues surrounding the disappearance or death of Bose. All this has already been dealt with by this court in 1997. You should have read that judgment before raising such issues here. If you want the government to do something, approach suitable authorities, the court told Mohanty.

It allowed Mohanty to withdraw his PIL with a liberty to avail of appropriate remedies, including the recourse of moving a representation to the authorities.

The circumstances of Boses death are still the subject of many theories and suppositions despite the passage of time. While two commissions of inquiry had concluded that Netaji had died in a plane crash in Taipei on August 18, 1945, a third probe panel, headed by Justice MK Mukherjee, had contested it and suggested in its 2006 report that Bose was alive after that.

In 2015, the government announced that it would declassify the files relating to Bose, following which several files were made public by the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) and the ministries of home affairs and external affairs. These files were later put on digital display at the National Archives of India (NAI) in the national capital.

Subsequently, the Union government approached all foreign governments to declassify their files on Bose. Union minister Kiren Rijiju informed Parliament in April 2016 that, in response, Austria, Germany, Russia, the UK and the US had said that all their files on Netaji had been put in the public domain. Japan, however, said that though they had five secret files, only two could be declassified for now as per their internal review mechanism.
Authorities of Mandakalli Airport, located on the outskirts of Mysuru city, have complained to police about safety concerns over some people beaming laser lights during night operations, officials said. The Mysuru Airport Authority said interfering with aircraft operations using laser lights is a punishable offence. (PTI)

Pilots operating in the Mysuru airport have reported instances of laser light interference during landing and take-off over the past month, prompting airport officials to express apprehensions about aviation safety.

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In a formal complaint lodged with the police, Mysuru airport officials pointed out that some people are directing high-resolution blue laser lights toward aircraft during critical moments of flight. The ready availability of such laser devices in the market has facilitated these disruptions, creating hazardous conditions for pilots whose vision is compromised during crucial flight manoeuvres.

We have received a complaint from Mysuru Airport Authority about laser light menace, confirmed Mysuru South police inspector M Shekhar. We are creating awareness among villagers about the negative impact of laser lights during take-off and landing. If nuisance mongers continue to pose menac with lasers, we will initiate legal action against them, he added

The laser lights, emanating from both sides of the runway, pose challenges for pilots in maintaining focus and visibility. The intensity of the laser light can be blinding, making it difficult for pilots to navigate safely during these critical phases of flight, airport officials said. Authorities said these disruptive acts may be intentional, though the motive remains unclear.

The Mysuru Airport Authority said interfering with aircraft operations using laser lights is a punishable offence. Authorities are taking steps to raise awareness among the public about the potential dangers of such actions. Residents are urged to report sightings of laser lights near the airport to the police.

Emphasising the seriousness of the matter, JR Anoop, the director of Mysuru Airport Authority,said, It is a punishable offence. Those causing trouble seem to be unaware of this. Therefore, the authorities have started to create awareness among the public. Also, neighbours who observe laser lights in this way should inform the police.

Anoop said police have been informed, and awareness has been raised among nearby villagers.
The government on Thursday released details of the programme under which selected school students from across the country will go on a seven-day study tour to the school where Prime Minister Narendra Modi studied in Gujarats Vadnagar , and where they will embark on a journey of inspiration, innovation, and self-discovery, according to a statement from the union ministry of education. In June 2022, the government announced its plan to launch Prerana, a programme to inspire youth of the country to become catalysts of change (HT)

On Thursday, the ministry launched a portal for interested students, enrolled in classes 9 to 12, to register and participate in the programme. Applicants will go through a rigorous three-stage selection process and two students from each district to attend the programme in batches of 20, 10 girls and 10 boys. The programme will last for at least a year.

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In June 2022, the government announced its plan to launch Prerana, a programme to inspire youth of the country to become catalysts of change.

According to the ministry, Prerana: An Experiential Learning program aims at offering a meaningful, unique, and inspiring experience to all participants, and empowering them with leadership qualities.

Prerana is driven by a strong commitment to integrate principles of the Indian education system and the philosophy of value-based education which is a cornerstone of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. It is an experiential and inspirational learning program for students with the best-in-class technology where heritage meets innovation, the ministry said in the statement.

The programme will be operated from a primary school, established in 1888, in one of the oldest cities in India, Vadnagar, in Gujarat. Prime Minister Narendra Modi enrolled in the school in Class 1 in 1956.

The school stands tribute to Vadnagars indomitable spirit, a living city that has triumphed over challenges such as earthquakes and natural calamities and is home to ancient heritage sites and monuments, and inhabited since the early historic period and in the modern day. The school signifies the fact that extraordinary lives often find their roots in ordinary foundations, the ministry said in its statement.

Grounded in the timeless wisdom of Indias rich civilization, this unique initiative embodies a vision aligned with the principles and ideals of our Honble Prime Minister, who is an alumnus, it added.

The Vadnagar Kumar Shala No-1, which was functional until 2018, is being restored by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) as part of a redevelopment of Vadnagar. The school will now be known as Prerana School.

According to the ministry, the curriculum for the Prerana School has been prepared by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Gandhinagar and focuses on nine value-based themes: Swabhiman and Vinay (self respect and modesty), Shaurya and Sahas (bravery and courage), Parishram and Samarpan (hard work and dedication), Karuna and Sewa (compassion and service), Vividhta and Ekta (diversity and unity), Satyanishtha and Shuchita (integrity and chastity), Navachar and Jigyasa (innovation and curiosity), Shraddha aur Vishwas (admiration and faith), Swatantrata and Kartavya (freedom and duty).

The program will inspire the youth and foster respect for Bharats unity in diversity, embodying the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (world is one family) and will contribute by making the youth of today, a flame holder for Viksit Bharat (developed India). Towards this endeavour, the participants will be guided by mentors from prestigious institutions, the ministry said.

Elaborating on the details of the programme, the ministry said that its schedule will include sessions on yoga, mindfulness, and meditation , followed by experiential learning and other thematic sessions.

Evening activities will include visits to ancient and heritage sites, inspirational film screenings, mission life creative activities, talent shows etc. ensuring a holistic learning approach. Apart from this, students will engage in diverse activities, embracing indigenous knowledge systems, latest state-of-the-art technologies, and learning from inspirational personalities, the ministry said.

According to a senior ministry official, the students will make portraits of freedom fighters including Sardar Patel, Bhagat Singh, BR Ambedkar, and Mahatma Gandhi, with Rubiks cubes, strings, bindi and stereographic projection using laser cutter machines and 3D printers. They will also learn to spin thread from cotton using a box charkha (spinner), the official said.

The participants will carry the ethos of Prerana into their respective communities, become change makers and spark positive change to inspire others, the ministry added.

According to the ministrys portal, the selection will take place in three stages. In the first stages, students enrolled in classes 9 to 12 in any recognised school of the country, will register on the portal by giving their information. Based on the details provided by the students and their special achievements, 200 students will be shortlisted in each district, with 50% of them being girls.

In the second stage, students will exhibit their talent in multi-modal activities like recording a short video, writing essays/poems/storyiesand other creative expression (Painting/ caricature etc.) on topics like Why should I be selected for Prerana or My Vision of India @ 2047.

These will be uploaded on the portals and teacher committees from the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan will evaluate them, shortlisting 30 students from each district.

In the third stage, two students (1 boy and 1 girl) along with two students as reserves will be selected through personal interviews and impromptu writing.

The students will be shortlisted or selected keeping in mind the representation of at least 50% rural, 50% girls and all other categories. In special circumstances, children with extraordinary talent can also be nominated directly, the ministry said in its statement.

Mount Abu Public School principal Jyoti Arora said that the Prerana programme stands as a practical and visionary step by the Centre, weaving together the essence of our culture with cutting-edge education. Its an inspiration for schools nationwide to consider organising similar initiatives, tailoring them to local contexts. The emphasis on hands-on activities, diverse learning, and mentorship from prestigious institutions is a model to follow. This forward-thinking approach that bridges tradition and innovation in education must not be restricted to a batch of students, and every child must have access to such education, she said.
Kolkata: The rift in the INDIA bloc in West Bengal appeared to be widening on Friday, as the Congress demanded that President's rule be imposed in the Mamata Banerjee-ruled state. The harsh remark, which displayed growing acrimony between the two INDIA partners who had vowed to jointly challenge the BJP juggernaut in 2024 general elections, came in reaction to the TMC supporters' attack on Enforcement Directorate officials. West Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury (L) and chief minister Mamata Banerjee (R). (File Photo)

Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Choudhary, in-charge of West Bengal, said there is now law and order in the state. He said it won't surprise him if officials are murdered in the TMC-ruled state.

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"After the attack by goons of the ruling government on ED officials, it is clear that there is no law and order in the state. Today, they were injured, tomorrow they can be murdered. Such a thing would not come as a surprise to me," he said."We demand that Presidents rule should be immediately imposed in West Bengal," he added.

Trinamool's barb in return was equally sharp.

Also read: 'Not banana republic': Bengal governor's 'Constitution' warning to TMC govt on ED attack

"Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury is an agent of BJP," TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said.

On Thursday night, an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team was attacked and its vehicles damaged in Sandeshkhali village of North 24 Parganas in West Bengal, when it tried to raid the residence of block-level leaders of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).

West Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar wrote to union home minister Amit Shah demanding an NIA probe into the incident.

TMC MP Santanu Sen it was the federal agency that provoked the locals.

"The officers of the Central investigation agency surrounded by the Central forces provoked the local people that's why there were counter reactions continuously," he said.

On Thursday, Adhir Ranjan Choudhury claimed the TMC is willing to concede only two seats in Bengal for this year's Lok Sabha polls.

"The real intention of Mamata Banerjee is out. They are saying that they (TMC) will give two seats (to Congress) in West Bengal. Those seats already have Congress MPs. What new are they giving us? .We won these two seats by defeating Mamata Banerjee and the BJP. What favour are they doing to us?" he said.

"Who will trust her (Mamata Banerjee)? It is Mamata who needs Congress to win... Congress can fight and is capable of winning more seats on its own. We will show. We don't need to keep these two seats on Mamata's pity," he added.

TMC said Chowdhury was behaving like a BJP person.

"In 2021 Assembly polls, TMC fought the battle alone but Adhir Chowdhury's party fought in alliance with CPM and got zero. What is he talking about? TMC doesn't need anybody to fight the BJP, but for the sake of INDIA alliance, our leader Mamata Banerjee is fully cooperating. But, Congress is playing a double-faced game," he said yesterday.

Banerjee's TMC won 22 seats; the BJP won 18 seats.

Mamata Banerjee had recently told her party's workers that only TMC could defeat the BJP in Bengal.

With inputs from PTI, ANI
The ruling CPI(M) in Kerala slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday over his remarks on the 2020 controversial case of gold smuggling, accusing the central agencies of failing to investigate it. Speaking at a media briefing, CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan said gold smuggling takes place through various airports across the country which are under the direct control of the central government and its agencies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi

The central agencies are supposed to investigate the gold smuggling case. It was not the Left government that probed the case. The whole state knows this. But ignoring this, he (Modi) came here and used some line about some office being behind the gold smuggling, Govindan told the media, adding that such fake narratives were used earlier as well but people rejected it.

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Meanwhile, senior CPI(M) leader A K Balan said, Three investigating agencies probed for over a year and filed the chargesheet but there was nothing as alleged by the prime minister.

PM Modi, during his visit to Thrissur on Tuesday, said, Today in the country, big roads are being made, modern airports are being made but the government of INDIA alliance doesn't let any work happen here because they oppose Modi. INDI alliance wants full freedom in Kerala for looting. Here, the play that is happening due to the gold smuggling, is not hidden from anyone. They don't want anybody to question them regarding the funds that are being received from the Central govt for poor people and infrastructure so they try to hinder the schemes by the central government.

What is the gold smuggling case?

The gold smuggling case dates back to July 5, 2020, when 30 kg of gold was seized from a diplomatic bag in air cargo of Trivandrum International Airport by the Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate in Kochi. The consignment was found in a bag from the UAE, marked as diplomatic baggage, which is exempted from inspection in accordance with the Vienna Convention.

Initial investigation into the case led to Swapna Prabha Suresh, an ex-UAE consulate employee and state IT department consultant. Suresh was then found to be the prime accused in the case. Days later, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan's then principal secretary M Sivasankar was arrested in connection with the case.

(With inputs from agencies)
Four properties owned by underworld don Dawood Ibrahim in Maharashtra are set to be put up for auction on Friday. The properties are owned by Ibrahim's family and have been placed for auction just a the reserve price of 19 lakh. Underworld crime boss Dawood Ibrahim

The four parcels of agricultural land are located in Mumbake village in Maharashtra's Ratnagiri district. One of the key ancestral properties of the don to go on auction in the past include Dawood Ibrahim's childhood home in Mumbake village, where he was born and spent his early years.

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Lawyer and Shiv Sena member Ajay Srivastava is expected to turn up at the auction of the properties and will be making a bid for Dawood's ancestral home, reported NDTV. Previously, he has bid for three of the terrorist's properties, including his childhood home in Mumbake.

Earlier, Srivastava had bid for a string of shops in 2001 which are still caught in a legal tender. However, the Shiv Sena member is hoping to get the deed to Dawood's ancestral home soon, with plans to launch a Sanatan Pathshala (school) there.

Meanwhile, the auction for the four parcels of land owned by Dawood Ibrahim and his family will take place on Friday in Mumbai, with the reserve price set at 19.22 lakh. The properties were seized by the government under the Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators Act, 1976.

Dawood Ibrahim properties auctioned in the past

The first auction of one of Dawood Ibrahim's properties, seized by the government, took place in 2000. While it was a major auction event, no bidders turned up to participate due to fear of the terrorist.

In November 2020, six properties from the Mumbake village, including Dawood Ibrahim's childhood home went up for auction. Before that in 2017, three luxurious properties in South Delhi, including a hotel, owned by Ibrahim were auctioned off by the government.

A few weeks back, there were reports that Ibrahim had been rushed to a hospital in Karachi after he was allegedly poisoned through his food and was battling for his life. However, authorities from Pakistan did not confirm the news.

There were speculation that Ibrahim was in the hospital under tight security, and had been placed on a ventilator due to his deteriorating health. However, these reports were dismissed by his close aide.

The underworld dons close aide Chhota Shakeel had claimed that these reports were "just rumours", and that Ibrahim was "1000 per cent fit".
The two-week-long joint military exercise Desert Cyclone between India and UAE is underway in the arid landscape of Rajasthan. The first edition of the India-UAE military exercise aims to enhance interoperability through exchanging knowledge and sharingbest practices in military operations. The exercise aims to enhance interoperability by learning and sharing best practices in operations.

5 things to know about the Desert Cyclone exercise:

Representing the UAE are the Zayed First Brigade troops, while the Indian Army contingent, consisting of 45 personnel, is predominantly from a Battalion of the Mechanised Infantry Regiment. The primary aim of 'Desert Cyclone' is to enhance interoperability in Sub-conventional Operations, specifically focusing on Fighting in Built-Up Area (FIBUA) in desert and semi-desert terrain. The joint military exercise is strategically designed to boost cooperation and interoperability between the participating forces during peace keeping operations, fostering a stronger alliance between India and the UAE. 'Desert Cyclone' will see the rehearsal of crucial drills, including the establishment of a joint surveillance centre, cordon and search operation, domination of the built-up area, and heliborne operations. These exercises aim to hone the skills required for effective peacekeeping in challenging terrains. A key outcome of the joint military exercise is the fostering of a collaborative partnership between the armed forces of India and the UAE. This collaboration is essential for achieving shared security objectives and strengthening bilateral relations.

Joint military exercises with friendly countries result in constructive engagements in operational terms and enhance the skills of armed forces in diverse areas of war-fighting by operating with armed forces of various nations. In this process, current tactical and technological practices, techniques, and strategies are exchanged, contributing to the continuous improvement and modernization of military operations.

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Earlier this year, two ships of the Indian Navy, INS Visakhapatnam, and INS Trikand under the command of Rear Admiral Vineet McCarty, Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet (FOCWF) participated in bilateral exercise Zayed Talwar with the UAE to enhance interoperability and synergy between the two navies.
Over the last two years of 1C - The Sanctuary's collaboration with Mission of Hope to feed people in Haiti, the church has packed over 140,000 boxes of food for children with food insecurity there. This year, they hope to outdo themselves.

The church will hold its annual fundraiser feast at 6 p.m. on both Feb. 9 and Feb. 10, with the theme "A Heart for Haiti."

"What inspired us to do it is that Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere; they have no resources for food like we have in this country. The drug cartels and the gangs have kind of taken over the country and they're in great need of food supply," said Lonnie Anderson, one of the organizers for the events that make it possible.

The dinner, which costs $50 per seat and includes prime rib or baked chicken, potato salad, a roll, green beans and dessert, goes directly to funding the food boxes they'll pack for Haiti. This is the first of the events they'll hold for this initiative, the second being the actual food-packing day on April 6.

"All the donations go strictly for supplies for the Haiti meals that get sent to Haiti. There are no overhead fees that go to anybody running the organization, it's 100% for supplies for the packing event," Anderson said.

The packing event has gone very well in the two previous years the church has done this. Year one yielded 60,000 boxes sent and last year, 80,000. Anderson hopes this year they can pack over 120,000.

"I compare it to the U.S. We have hungry people also but our hunger is something we have resources and organizations, social services for," Anderson said. "Whenever you turn on the TV or read the paper, someone's out there trying to feed the hungry in the U.S."

Mhari Turner, meal pack coordinator for Mission of Hope, said the organization serves both Haiti and the Dominican Republic, but the disparity between the two neighboring nations is vast due to their histories. A majority of Haitians struggle with food insecurity for many reasons, she said.

"They know where their next meal may come from today, but they don't know where it's coming from tomorrow. Most of these people are living in cinder block-type houses with no electricity, no running water, no refrigeration," Turner said. "They don't run to the store to pick up whatever. The communities we serve are essentially third-world conditions."

Turner said this initiative started years ago when the founders of Mission of Hope, Brad and Vanessa Johnson, went to Haiti to help educate children and realized why kids were struggling at the small school they were working in.

"They noticed kids were falling asleep and it was because they were starving to death, basically," Turner said. "They bought a peanut grinder and started grinding peanuts and putting that on bread and crackers and noticed how their health and attention spans improved."

The feast isn't a 1C-exclusive event, Anderson said, and he encourages people from across the community to get involved. It started as a challenge by the lead pastor of 1C for the youth pastor and developed from there, but is a community event at its core.

"I always say 'what if we were Haiti?' What would we do? Would we want someone to help cure our hunger here in the U.S.?" Anderson said.

As a member of 1C who has seen its efforts to curb local food insecurity, it is something that reflects the values of the church, he said.

"One thing I say is 'what a way to give a gift to someone you don't even know,'" Anderson said. "That's rewarding to know you're helping people in need. I always say the scripture says if you see a brother in need, help. It's all for the glory of the Lord, we help one another and see no one goes hungry."

The meal-packing event itself will be held on April 6 starting at 10 a.m. but Anderson urged anyone interested in helping to be there by 9 a.m. to get orientation before they start. The actual packing of boxes will start at 10 a.m. and go until supplies run out. Turner said it's a sight to see, especially when children help out.

"Its great seeing kids be able to help kids, that's who they're packing these meals for," Turner said.
Days after Asaduddin Owaisi asked Muslim youth to stay alert against attempts to snatch away mosques, Bageshwar Dham's Peethadhishwar Dhirendra Shastri on Friday lashed out at the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief over the remarks and said this shows his fear and this should remain. Bageshwar Dham's Peethadhishwar Dhirendra Shastri (ANI file)

"This just shows his fear. We don't want to build temples on masjids but want to reconstruct temples. If he has this fear then I pray this fear should remain inside him," news agency ANI quoted Shastri as saying.

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As the inauguration of the Ram Temple is nearing, Owaisi on January 1 appealed to Muslim youth to be watchful of the activities done by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Centre and said masjids in the country should remain inhabited.

Referring to Babri Masjid, Owaisi said the place where the holy Quran was recited for the past 500 years is not in their hands anymore.

"Young people, I am telling you, we have lost our Masjid and you are seeing what is being done there. Don't you have pain in your hearts?," Owaisi said at a programme in Bhavani Nagar.

"The place where we sat and recited the Quran for 500 years is not in our hands today. Young people, don't you see that a conspiracy is taking place regarding three- four more mosques, in which the Sunheri Masjid (Golden Mosque) of Delhi is also included? After years of hard work, we have achieved our position today. You have to pay attention to these things," he added.

AIMIM chief further stated that young Muslims have to remain alert and united.

"Maintain your support and strength. Keep your mosques populated. It may happen that these Masjids are taken away from us. I hope the young man of today who will be the old man of tomorrow will keep his eyes ahead and think hard about how he can help himself, his family, his city, and his neighbourhood. Unity is a strength, unity is a blessing," Owaisi added.

Dhirendra Shastri says Lord Ram is not a topic of politics

Asserting that Lord Ram is not a topic of politics, Shastri said "politicising" the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple issue is "idiocy."

"Lord Ram is not a topic of politics. 'Dharma se raajneeti chalti hain. Raajneeti se Dharma nahin chalta (Politics runs through religion, not religion through politics). People of the country are not sleeping they are awake and can see everything. Vote as per your choice, vote in the national interest. Lord Ram has its own policy which is dignity, unity and peace. People who are politicizing the issue is idiocy," Shastri told ANI on opposition parties claiming Prime Minister Narendra Modi taking credit for the Ram temple.

He added that the Ram temple is not being built for casteism but for the faith of all Ram devotees.

"Lord Ram belongs to everyone. Lord Ram is a great leader. Ram Temple is not being built for casteism but for the faith of all Ram devotees," he added.

When asked about the other two matter matters (Gyanyapi and Mathura Janamanbhoomi) he said, "There is no place of opinion it is proved that in Gyanyapi there is Lord Shiv and Krishan Janmanbhoomi is of Kanhaiya."

"There is no need for opinion in these matters. There is a law and the Supreme Court of India. Presently the reports of ASI show proof that there is a temple of Sanatana. The Mughals (Akbar, Babar) attacked our Hindu temples in past and today wounds are being healed," he added.

Shashtri, who has been invited to the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple, said the event is more special than the festival of Diwali.

(With inputs from agencies)
Periodicals getting or intending to get government advertisements and having a daily average circulation of over 25,000 in the preceding two financial years can be subjected to faceless desk audit to verify their circulation figures, according to draft rules for the Press and Registration of Periodicals (PRP) Act. A physical inspection of documents can be ordered if publishers do not regularly furnish annual statements. (AFP)

The information and broadcasting ministry has proposed the rules days after the PRP Act was notified. The legislation seeks to simplify and digitise the registration of newspapers and other periodicals. It provides for setting up an appellate board to deal with issues related to the registration and decriminalises all but one offence.

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The draft rules have been released for a 30-day consultation until February 4. They say the Press Registrar General (PRG) can conduct or authorise central government officers for faceless and physical verification of circulation figures in case it receives some information, reference, or complaint against any periodical.

This physical inspection of documents at the premises of the publisher and the printer can also be ordered if publishers have not regularly furnished annual statements. It can also be done when such action is recommended post-desk audit due to exceptional circumstances.

The PRG can order it if it decides that such verification is necessary due to any information, reference, or complaint received.

The provision in the law that authorises PRG to conduct the desk audit and the physical inspections through central government officers triggered criticism from the Editors Guild of India (EGI). Opposition Members of Parliament also opposed the provision when the legislation was discussed.

The EGI said only the Press Registrar should be the authority under the new law and no other government agency should be given any powers concerning registration of periodicals.

Speaking in Lok Sabha in December, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeens Imtiyaz Jaleel opposed the provision. It could be anyone  the ED [Enforcement Directorate], the police. You are granting the officials the authority to enter any newspaper office, conduct checks, and exercise control over it.

The PRG will only authorise officers from the Press Information Bureau (PIB) as is the case now, HT has learnt.

Circulation figures were earlier verified physically. The number of verifications is now sought to be reduced through the faceless audit.

The draft rules lay down the procedures for the Press Registrar for digitally registering periodicals. They propose to create a Press Sewa Portal (PSP) for communication between the PRG and the owners, publishers, and printing presses of periodicals.

The portal, which is in an advanced stage of development, will have forms related to the registration of periodicals. It will allow the submission of annual statements and the PRG to communicate with the information and broadcasting ministry for comments on applications, etc.

The draft rules say printers must send an intimation to the PRG and the specified jurisdictional authority within 15 days of starting a printing press printing periodicals. An application and a 1,000 fee have to be submitted on the Bharat Kosh portal to start a periodical. The application needs to be simultaneously addressed and sent to the PRG and the specified authority within whose jurisdiction the periodical will be published.

The PRG will consider the specified authoritys comments while processing a publishers application. It requires giving a speaking order with reasons and publishing them on PSP If the application is rejected.

Unlike an Indian periodical, to publish the facsimile editions of a foreign periodical, the related Indian entity will first have to seek approval from the ministry by applying via the National Single Window System (NSWS).

The guidelines for this application will be made available on the NSWS.

The ministry can seek additional information and provide terms and conditions while approving applications.

An Indian entity will have to apply for a certificate of registration to the PRG via the PSP along with a 10,000 fee within 15 days of approval from the ministry. PRG will consider the ministrys comments to process the application for publishing a foreign periodical.

The PRG can refuse certification and inform the ministry, which can then suspend or cancel the approval given If an entity starts publication before getting the certificate of registration.

For a change in place of publication, the PRG will seek comments from the specified jurisdictional authority of the new location within 60 days and issue a revised certificate of registration accordingly.

Registered publishers are required to upload electronic versions of their newspapers to the PSP within 48 hours of publication. Physical copies of the newspaper need to be delivered to the PIB and the relevant authorities at the level of states and Union territories to ensure periodicals are published continuously. Section 11 of the Act says the PRG can suspend the certificate of registration of a periodical if it publishes less than half of the issues it applied for registration.

A periodical must send an intimation to the PRG on the PSP within six months of discontinuation of the publication.
The Election Commission (EC) on Friday dismissed concerns raised by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) stating the commission has full faith in using the electronic voting machines (EVM) in the elections. (Representative Photo)

Ramesh had written to the election commission on December 30 last year, requesting that a delegation of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) be given an appointment to put forth their views on the VVPAT slips.

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The poll watchdog in a response to Ramesh directed him to its FAQs on the subject and its response dated August 23, 2023, and said that the rules governing paper slips were introduced by the Congress-led government in 2013.

Also Read: Jairam Ramesh seeks CECs time for INDIA bloc leaders to discuss VVPATs: Perfectly reasonable request

Rule 49A and 49M of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, governing VVPAT and handling of paper slips were introduced by INC (Indian National Congress) on 14th August 2013, read the letter signed by Pramod Kumar Sharma, principal secretary, EC.

The election commission stated that it has increased the number of questions in its FAQs from 76 to 85 to answer questions about the properties of the VVPAT slips, why and when they were included, tracing the origin of the VVPAT slips, and what happens when the VVPAT or the control unit are run out of battery during voting.

It further is stated that current EVMs in use in Indian elections are compliant with the extant legal framework created and strengthened by the successive Union government of the day and jurisprudence evolved over more than 40 years by the Constitutional Courts of India.

Anything beyond existing legal framework and established jurisprudence is beyond the singular domain of the commission, read the letter.

The Opposition in a meeting on December 19 last year, had voiced doubts about the integrity of the functioning of the EVMs. Sharma stated that the Supreme Court and the Delhi high court had previously dismissed three different pleas against the use of EVMs and VVPATs in the Indian election.

In its December 19 resolution on EVMs, the INDIA bloc parties reiterated concerns about the design and operation of the EVMs and mentioned that they had submitted a detailed memorandum to the poll body. Instead of the VVPAT slip falling in the box, it should be handed over to the voter who shall then place it in a separate ballot box after having verified his or her choice. 100% counting of VVPAT slips should then be done.

Subsequently, Ramesh sent a letter to the EC on December 30.

Currently, VVPAT slips of five randomly selected polling stations of every assembly constituency or assembly segment are tallied with the electronic count of the corresponding control units to establish a strong correlation between the vote cast and the vote counted as cast with an extremely high level of confidence.

Also Read: Election Commission announces bypolls for 3 assembly seats in Telangana, UP

The EC said that the apex courts mandate to tally five randomly chosen VVPAT systems per constituency/segment goes far beyond the recommendation of taking a sample size of 479 as given by the expert committee [which the EC had appointed]. It said that for parliamentary elections, this means testing 20,625 randomly chosen VVPAT systems given the 4,125 assembly segments.

If no mismatch in the EVM and VVPAT count is found in such a sample, then it can be said with a very high level of confidence or with near certainty that the sanctity of the election process is not affected by the use of EVMs, the poll watchdog said.

The poll body said that the VVPAT slip is a thermal paper which can retain what is printed on it for about five years when stored properly.

It also mentioned that the printed slip of VVPAT contains the candidates serial number, name of the candidate, the party or the candidates symbol, the session number and the VVPAT ID.

Each VVPAT slip bears the unique ID number of the VVPAT that printed the slip so using the slip, the poll body can identify the source VVPAT, the EC reiterated in the new questions.
New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate on Friday raided the premises of Baramati Agro Private Limited, a Maharashtra-based company whose CEO is NCP MLA and Sharad Pawar's grand nephew, Rohit Pawar. Reacting strongly to the agency's action, the party's Sharad Pawar faction said BJP's insecurity over Rohit Pawar's recent Yuva Sangharsh Yatra prompted the searches. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA Rohit Pawar(ANI)

NCP (Sharad Pawar group) national spokesperson Clyde Crasto said the central agency's searches will not deter Rohit Pawar. "He will come out stronger. It is clear that the Sangharsh Yatra has hit a nerve and made the BJP insecure," Crasto claimed.

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BJP leader Kirit Somaiya demanded a quick probe into the allegations.

"We requested ED to investigate acquisition of Kannad cooperative sugar factory by Rohit Pawar's Baramati Agro at a very much undervalued price of 50 cr through manipulated auction of Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank. I once again request all investigative agencies to expedite investigation against Rohit Pawar and Baramati Agro," Somaiya said.

The agency searched the premises of the company as part of its money laundering probe into the alleged Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank scam. It searched six locations in Baramati, Pune, Pimpri and Aurangabad.

Rohit Pawar, 38, is an NCP MLA from Karjat-Jamkhed seat in the Maharashtra assembly.

He is a first-time MLA. He is currently abroad on a family vacation.

Last year, he spearheaded a march from Pune to Nagpur to highlight issues faced by the young population in Maharashtra.

He is the nephew of cousins Supriya Sule and Ajit Pawar.

The probe against his firm pertains to allegations of "diversion" of funds and deposit of earnest funds of a company that bid for the purchase of a Maharashtra-based ailing cooperative sugar factory (CSF), PTI reported.

With inputs from PTI
New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has released a statement on violence in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas, saying "800-1000" people attacked its officials with an intention to cause death. The agency said the mob carried weapons such as lathis, stones and bricks. Three ED officials have sustained grievous injuries and are hospitalized. North 24 Parganas: Security personnel inspect a vehicle of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) team which was attacked during a raid in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali, in North 24 Parganas on Friday. (ANI)

The Central agency said the attack took place when its officials were searching three premises of TMC leader Sahajahan Sheikh in connection with the PDS scam. It said the mob also snatched their phones, laptops, cash and wallets. They also vandalised the agency's vehicles.

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"ED was conducting searches on the three premises of Sahajahan Sheikh, Convenor of TMC, North 24 Parganas in case of the PDS scam of West Bengal. During the searches. On one of the premises, ED team with CRPF personnels was attacked by 800-1000 people with an intention to cause death as these people were carrying weapons such as Lathis, stones & bricks. In this incident 3 ED officials have been grievously injured. Injured ED officials are being admitted to hospital for treatment. Violent mob also snatched/robbed/stole personal/official belongings of ED officials such as their mobile phones, laptop, cash, wallets, etc. and badly damaged some of the ED vehicles," it said in a statement.

According to reports, the agency will file an FIR into the case.

Also read: Congress calls for president's rule in Bengal over ED attack amid '2-seat' rift with Mamata Banerjee's TMC

The Trinamool Congress today said the villagers were provoked by the central agency and the security officials.

The BJP today said the continuance of Mamata Banerjee's government in Bengal is a threat to national security.

BJP leader Amit Malviya wrote on X: "This is how lawless Bengal is. Continuance of the TMC government in West Bengal is a national security threat."

According to PTI, the ED officers were forced to leave their damaged vehicles behind and take auto rickshaws and two-wheelers.

BJP spokesperson demanded Mamata Banerjee's resignation.

"TMC goons have made a murderous attack on the ED officials who had gone there to carry out investigations. It is said that Rohigiyas, illegal infiltrators, have done this. Police refused to speak to the ED officials when they called for help on being attacked by the TMC goons. Imagine how worrisome it is... Law and order in West Bengal has completely collapsed," he said, per PTI.

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has demanded the president's rule in West Bengal.
The current Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in use in elections comply with the legal framework strengthened by successive Union governments, the Election Commission (EC) told Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Friday in the backdrop of multiple letters sent by members of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc raising concerns about the integrity of the machines. The EC recently updated its Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section on EVMs on its website from 76 to 85 to answer some of the questions. (PTI)

The 28-party INDIA bloc had submitted a memorandum to the poll panel on August 9, 2023 raising questions over the use of EVMs and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs). The bloc followed it up with four letters in the same month to meet with the EC. On December 30, Congresss Jairam Ramesh had also sent a letter on the issue and sought a meeting.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Also read: EVM bogey vs professional hacker: BJP, Opposition at odds after assembly poll results

The EC, however, recently updated its Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section on EVMs on its website from 76 to 85 to answer some of the questions, but did not address the specific concerns raised by the parties.

The EC responded to Ramesh on Friday. It is stated that current EVMs in use in Indian election are compliant to the extant legal framework created and strengthened by the successive Union Government of the day and jurisprudence evolved over more than 40 years by the Constitutional Courts of India. Anything beyond existing legal framework and established jurisprudence is beyond the singular domain of the Commission, the letter signed by principal secretary Pramod Kumar Sharma said.

Sharma also said that the Supreme Court and the Delhi high court, in three different cases against use of EVMs and VVPATs, had dismissed the petitions and imposed cost on the petitioner for filing frivolous applications.

On December 19, the INDIA bloc passed a resolution raising concerns around the integrity of EVMs and asked the EC to allow all voters to verify their VVPAT slips. They had suggested, Instead of the VVPAT slip falling in the box, it should be handed over to the voter who shall then place it in a separate ballot box after having verified his or her choice. 100% counting of VVPAT slips should then be done.

The poll body subsequently increased the number of its FAQs around EVMs to answer some of the questions about properties of the VVPAT slips, why and when they were included, tracing the origin of the VVPAT slips, and what happens when the VVPAT or the control unit are run out of battery during voting.

Currently, VVPAT slips of five randomly selected polling stations of every assembly constituency or assembly segment are tallied with the electronic count of the corresponding control units to establish a strong correlation between the vote cast and the vote counted as cast with an extremely high level of confidence.

In an older question, the poll body had said, Till date, slips of 38,156 randomly selected VVPATs have been counted and not a single case of transfer of vote meant for candidate A to candidate B has been encountered. Differences, if any, between CU [control unit] and VVPAT count have always been traceable to human errors.

It explained that the VVPAT was introduced by the poll body to comply with the Supreme Court judgement of 2013 in the case Dr Subramanian Swamy v Election Commission of India. The then Chief Justice P Sathasivam and Justice Ranjan Gogoi had noted, [W]e are satisfied that the paper trail is an indispensable requirement of free and fair elections. ... EVMs with VVPAT system ensure the accuracy of the voting system.

Subsequently, the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, were amended to allow paper slips to voters.

In its response to Ramesh, the EC addressed one additional question about whether the seven-second visual in the VVPAT machine is apt for confirmation. During an All-Party Meeting held on 10.05.2013, a suggestion was made to increase the viewing time of printed slip in the viewing window for a longer time from the then existing five seconds. Subsequently, the time frame was increased by two seconds and presently the VVPATs have a slip display time of about 7 seconds, the response said. The EC noted that the Calcutta high Court had deemed this time period to be sufficient for the human eye to catch a meaningful glimpse in a 2021 judgment.

The poll body said that the VVPAT slip is a thermal paper which can retain what is printed on it for about five years when stored properly. It also mentioned that the printed slip of VVPAT contains the candidates serial number, name of the candidate, the party or the candidates symbol, the session number and the VVPAT ID.

Each VVPAT slip bears the unique ID number of the VVPAT that printed the slip so using the slip, the poll body can identify the source VVPAT, the EC reiterated in the new questions.
New Delhi: Making it clear that India will not tolerate any piracy in Arabian Sea and is committed to safeguarding the sea lanes of communication, the marine commandos of Indian Navy today boarded 88000 tonnes bulk carrier MV Lila Norfolk east of Socotra islands after UK Maritime Traffic Organisation reported that the ship was hijacked by pirates. The Liberian bulk carrier was transporting cargo from Brazil to Bahrain. According to latest information, the Marcos have currently boarded the ship. The crew has come out of the safe house and no pirates have been found. The Indian Navy had deployed a warship and an aircraft to monitor and assist a Liberian-flagged merchant vessel, with several Indian crew members. (File)

Once the UKMTO reported that the vessel had been hijacked, the Indian Navy diverted its guided missile destroyer INS Chennai from south of Socotra and intercepted the ship with the help of Integral helicopter, Sea Guardian drone and Boeing P8I anti-submarine warfare aircraft. According to top sources, the operation is still on but the vessel is proceeding towards Bahrain. It is understood that Indian crew aboard the Liberian tanker went immediately into the safe house once the pirate alarm was sounded by UKMTO.

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India currently has deployed four destroyers -- INS Kochi, INS Kolkata, INS Mormugao and INS Chennai -- as well as Talwar-class frigates and missile boats in Arabian sea to ensure maritime security.

Also read: Marine commandos onboard hijacked ship MV Lila, begin sanitisation: Navy

India's elite marine commandos have boarded the hijacked Liberian ship MV Lila Norfolk in the North Arabian Sea, the Indian Navy said on Friday, adding they have commenced what it called sanitisation.

"The Indian Navy Marine Commandos present onboard the Mission Deployed warship boarded the MV and have commenced the sanitisation," it said

The Navy said in a statement that INS Chennai, diverted from her anti-piracy patrol, had intercepted the ship on January 5.

According to reports, the ship had reported five-six armed assailants who boarded 460 nautical miles east of Eyl in Somalia.
New Delhi: Marine commandos of the Indian Navy on Friday boarded a Liberian-flagged merchant vessel and launched a sanitisation operation after the vessel with several Indian crew members on board was hijacked by armed persons in the Arabian Sea. Indian Navy marine commandos launched a sanitisation operation after the vessel was hijacked in Arabian Sea (Twitter/@indiannavy)

The Indian Navy deployed a warship and an aircraft to monitor and assist MV Lila Norfolk, whose crew informed the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) on Thursday evening that five to six unauthorised armed persons had boarded the vessel 460 nautical miles east of Eyl in Somalia.

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INS Chennai, a guided missile destroyer that was on an anti-piracy patrol in the region, intercepted MV Lila Norfolk at 3.15 pm on Friday, a navy spokesperson said.

Indian Navy marine commandos present on board the warship boarded the merchant vessel and have commenced the sanitisation, the spokesperson said.

After the incident on board MV Lila Norfolk was reported to the UKMTO, a facility run by Britains Royal Navy that tracks the movement of merchant shipping in strategic waterways, the Indian Navy deployed a maritime patrol aircraft and diverted INS Chennai to assist the vessel.

The merchant vessel was kept under continuous surveillance by the maritime patrol aircraft, a predator MQ9B drone and helicopters before it marine commandos boarded it.

The patrol aircraft overflew the ship early on Friday and established contact with the vessel, ascertaining the safety of the crew, the spokesperson said. The situation was closely monitored by the Indian Navy in coordination with other agencies and a multi-national force in the area.

The Indian Navy remains committed to ensuring the safety of merchant shipping in the region along with international partners and friendly foreign countries, the spokesperson added.

While some reports said there were up to 15 Indian crew members on MV Lila Norfolk, people familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity that the exact number is yet to be determined. The people said the crew members took shelter in a strong room and operated the vessel from there.

MV Lila Norfolk, a bulk carrier, was sailing from Brazil to Bahrain, according to websites that track merchant shipping.

No group claimed responsibility for the hijacking. There have been growing concerns about shipping in regional waters following a string of attacks carried out by Yemens Houthi rebels in support of Hamas.

The Indian Navy increased surveillance of the Arabian Sea after these attacks, deploying P-8I long-range patrol aircraft and several warships in the region.

Last month, the Indian Navy deployed a maritime patrol aircraft and a destroyer after the Malta-flagged MV Ruen was boarded by hijackers in the Arabian Sea. The navy subsequently evacuated an injured crew member of the vessel to Oman for treatment.

The Indian Navy and Coast Guard also responded when the tanker MV Chem Pluto, which had 21 Indians among its crew, was targeted with a drone in the waters off Gujarat on December 23. The vessel was escorted by Indian warships to Mumbai for repairs.

The Indian Navy has said it investigated a large number of fishing vessels and boarded vessels of interest in the north and central Arabian Sea following the recent attacks. India plays the role of a net security provider in the entire Indian Ocean region. We will ensure that maritime trade in this region rises from the sea to the heights of the sky, Union defence minister Rajnath Singh said last month, referring to the increased surveillance.
India and Nepal on Thursday signed four agreements, including on long-term power trade and the launch of a satellite, as external affairs minister S Jaishankar and his Nepalese counterpart Narayan Prakash Saud explored ways to bolster cooperation in areas ranging from connectivity to trade. External affairs minister S Jaishankar during a meeting with Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' on Thursday. (PTI)

Jaishankar, on his first foreign visit of the new year, and Saud co-chaired a meeting of the India-Nepal joint commission that reviewed the overall bilateral relationship and trade and economic ties. The meeting also discussed land, rail and air connectivity projects and cooperation in defence, security, agriculture, energy and water resources, Jaishankar said in a post on X.

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The two sides signed four agreements, including one between the two governments on long-term power trade.

During Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahals visit to New Delhi in June 2023, the two sides had agreed that India will ramp up the purchase of hydropower from Nepal to 10,000 MW within the next 10 years.

On Thursday, Jaishankar also met Nepal Prime Minister Dahal and conveyed the warm wishes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Recalled his successful visit to India in June 2023 which has imparted a new momentum to our ties. Discussed the follow-up, including through the Joint Commission Meeting today. India-Nepal friendship is indeed unique and our partnership is moving from strength to strength, Jaishankar posted on X.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Indias NTPC Limited and the Nepal Electricity Authority will focus cooperation in the development of renewable energy. Another agreement between New Space India Limited (NSIL) and the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) will facilitate the launch of the Munal satellite on Indias Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). The fourth agreement between the two governments covers Indian grants for implementing high impact community development projects.

The two ministers also virtually inaugurated three 132-kV cross-border transmission lines, including the second circuits of the Raxaul-Parwanipur line and the Kataiya-Kusaha line, and the New Nautanwa-Mainhiya line.

They also witnessed the hand-over of the fifth tranche of Indian assistance for people affected by an earthquake in Jajarkot area of Nepal in November 2023.

Jaishankar characterised the meeting of the joint commission as comprehensive and productive and said the two sides also discussed disaster management, tourism, civil aviation, people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and the development partnership.

He also met Nepal President Ramchandra Paudel, and former prime ministers Madhav Nepal, KP Sharma Oli and Sher Bahadur Deuba.

Jaishankar is visiting Nepal at the invitation of Saud to co-chair the seventh meeting of the joint commission, which was established in 1987 and acts as a platform for both foreign ministers to review the bilateral partnership.
Mariyakutty, a 78-year-old woman from Adimali in Idukki district, has again come under spotlight after attending a political event organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Kerala, people familiar with the matter said. With her hard hitting criticism for the LDF-led state government, the elderly woman is being seen as the new political weapon for the BJP and the Congress to corner the state government, the people added. Mariyakutti, a 78-year-old woman hails from Adimali village in Idukki district in Kerala. (HT photo)

On Wednesday, Mariyakutty shared the stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a womens convention organised by the BJP in Thrissur to celebrate the partys move to get the womens reservation bill passed in both Houses of Parliament.

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On the stage, the elderly woman was seen greeting the prime minister and having a brief conversation with him. One of the BJP leaders welcomed her on the dais by calling her as the woman who is leading a solo struggle against the states LDF government.

There is no politics in my attending the event because I am not attached to any party. I am not under the payroll of any party. If I see any wrongdoing, I will say it openly, thats my character. I want to tell the prime minister about the loot happening in the state. There was a vinoda yathra (pleasure trip) undertaken by the chief minister and the ministers. Is there any benefit for us from this? Mariyakutty told a local TV channel before the PMs event, referring to the Nava Kerala Sadas, the outreach programme of the CM and the cabinet.

Culture minister Saji Cherian on Thursday said, There are a lot of people today who are jealous of the chief minister and his work. There are many who want him to die. There are many like Mariyakutty today who are being used for such purposes. But keralas chief minister despite being 78 is healthier than many of us.

The 78-year-old, who has made headlines for her rustic language including calling the CM half-mad at one point, came into the spotlight for the first time on November 7 last year, when she went around the streets of Adimali with a begging bowl as part of a protest against the state governments delay in releasing the old-age pensions for several months. Her protest coincidentally fell on the same day as the concluding day of the Keraleeyam, a cultural programme of the LDF government slammed by opposition parties for blatant waste of money at a time when the state was going through a financial crunch.

When her protest hit a nerve within the CPI(M), a Malayalam newspaper and the partys mouthpiece Deshabhimani lashed back at Mariyakutty claiming that she owned acres of land and that her daughter was well-settled in a foreign country. However, within days, the newspaper had to issue a public apology after realising that its claims were false.

In December, Mariyakutty launched a fresh offence against the Vijayan government by filing a plea in the high court complaining about the arrears in the welfare pensions. The HC judge took note of her petition, called her a VIP and questioned the government about its commitment towards elderly citizens. While the state said that it was going through a major financial crisis, the court underlined that a senior citizen like her who gets 1600 a month as part of pension should not have to approach the courts.

In many ways, Mariyakutty, who does not hide her disdain for the CPI(M), has emerged as a public counter to the Left governments claims of good governance and delivery of social welfare promises.
Federal records list the farms spread throughout Nebraska as foreign owned, though theres no country attached and no hint they might be related.

In Nebraskas business records, Willowdale Farms, Merrick County Farms, Dove Haven Ranch and others have one similarity: Each farms office address leads to a single-story brick building in the St. Louis suburbs. Its an office park housing a dentist, lawyers and, until recently, a farmland investment startup called AgCoA.

For years, AgCoA was owned by the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, a government group managing retirement funds for 21 million Canadians.

But in 2017, the Canadian board decided to unload a half-billion-dollar chunk of its American farmland  including all 22,830 acres of its Nebraska land.

The buyer of those unassuming-sounding Nebraska farms wasnt publicly listed. Until now, the deals financial details and the gargantuan loan hes taken out against the land have remained hidden.

The buyers name: Bill Gates.

Tangled web of Gates

The billionaire Microsoft co-founder has, in the past six years, spent more than $113 million buying Nebraska farmland.

The Flatwater Free Press analyzed five years of land sales data, between 2018 and 2022, gathered by a University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Journalism and Mass Communications data journalism class.

If that data would have included 2017  when Mt. Edna Farms, the Gates-owned company, bought Nebraska land from the Canadians  then Gates would have been the top buyer of Nebraska ag land by money spent. Since 2017, hes spent more than double the second-place buyer.

Gates farmland is held by more than 20 shell companies spread across the country. Some lead back to a P.O. Box in Kirkland, Washington, where Cascade Asset Management, Gates investment manager, is headquartered.

Others are linked to Lenexa, Kansas, and Monterey, Louisiana, population 371, where reporters have previously traced Gates' operations.

These limited liability companies, buried under layers of business names, overlapping employees and addresses in at least three states, form a tangled, opaque network.

Because its hidden, Nebraskans living and farming near Gates land are often unaware that one of the worlds richest men owns the soybean field down the road.

Gates now owns around 20,000 acres of farmland across 19 counties in Nebraska after selling some land in recent years. He owns the largest chunk, about 8,500 acres, in Holt County.

I think if you ask on the street, who owns Mt. Edna Farms, nobodyd even know what it was, said Bill Tielke, chair of the Holt County Board.

Mt. Edna has a farm manager in Holt County, Tielke said, and locals work for the farm and rent the ground. Tielke only knows of the Gates ownership because hes worked as a crop adjuster on the land.

I don't remember it throwing up any bells or whistles or anybody even saying anything about it, Tielke said.

The Nebraska Farm Bureau, through spokesperson Cassie Hoebelheinrich, declined to comment on Gates farmland ownership.

This is an issue we really dont follow and isnt a priority for us, Hoebelheinrich said.

Gates land ownership has been the source of much rumor, and some concern, in Nebraska, partly because of his connections to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which works on global public health, sustainability and climate change.

If Gates land was given to a nonprofit  potentially making it exempt from property taxes  it would decimate the counties involved, said State Sen. Tom Brewer, a Republican whose district covers 11 counties in central and northern Nebraska.

It would force action from the Legislature to protect the counties, Brewer said.

But the farmland isnt part of the Gates Foundation portfolio, said Gates investment manager. Its, rather, strictly a financial investment.

The investments that Cascade makes in Nebraska farmland are not connected with the agricultural or climate initiatives of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, a Cascade spokesperson said, declining to answer further questions about Gates Nebraska farmland purchases.

Gates himself recently publicly reinforced this idea that his farmland is an investment  albeit one aiding the Gates Foundations bottom line.

The decision to buy this land was made by people who help manage my money so that we get a good return, so that the Foundation can buy more vaccines, Gates said on a November episode of Trevor Noahs podcast. And they saw that if we could invest in land and (improve) the productivity of that land, that it would have a good return.

Buy, borrow, die

Gates doesnt simply receive rent checks from his Nebraska farmland. Hes also using it to borrow staggering sums of money.

In 2021, Mr. Edna Farms filed paperwork with Dawson County, clearing the path to use some of Gates land as collateral.

Gates LLC then took out two loans against his Nebraska farmland.

The loan total: $700 million.

The obvious question: Why is Gates, named Forbes richest man 18 times, using Nebraska farmland to take out a $700 million loan?

Using IRS data, the news outlet ProPublica estimated Gates total annual income at $2.85 billion, with a federal income tax rate of 18.4%. That income primarily came from sales of Microsoft stock, which is taxable.

But extremely high-net-worth individuals like Gates often use a strategy of borrowing against their assets  like land  if they want spendable money. Selling those assets would generate taxable income, said Adam Thimmesch, University of Nebraska College of Law professor specializing in business and tax law.

If you can hold those assets until you die, all of that taxable gain goes away, so the ideal tax-planning technique, if you're wealthy enough to be able to do it, is to invest in those appreciating assets, Thimmesch said.

If certain conditions are met, tax law then allows someone to inherit the land and avoid paying taxes on the appreciated value if they sell it, Thimmesch said.

In the meantime, ultra-rich Americans can borrow against their assets to fund their lifestyles or make other investments. Banks are happy to lend money for farmland, he said, because its value is secure.

So you can eliminate that entire layer of tax, while still kind of enjoying the benefits of being wealthy while you're alive, he said.

Below the surface

Gates land ownership in Nebraska includes the valuable water beneath that land.

He has access through 191 existing wells, which up the lands value for farmers and investors alike by providing crop irrigation.

Gaining access to groundwater is often a priority for potential farmland buyers. A landowner can usually access the underlying groundwater, though natural resource districts regulate how water is used.

We don't treat Bill Gates any different than Dean Edson or anybody else. They can have that land, but they don't own the water, said Dean Edson, director of the Nebraska Association of Resource Districts. If they want to use the water, Bill Gates is gonna have to come get a permit.

If you buy land in Nebraska without a well, theres no guarantee your local NRD will grant a permit to dig one. But if the land already has a well, the NRD has likely already certified its use. The landowner can continue to use that water so long as the use follows existing rules, said Don Blankenau, a lawyer who provides water-related legal counsel to Nebraska NRDs.

I've heard over the decades I've done this, people are always concerned that somebody's gonna go out and buy a big tract of land in the Sandhills, and then transport that water away, Blankenau said.

Thats nearly impossible, he said, because Nebraska has tight limitations on transporting groundwater, especially beyond state borders or as a commodity. An investor like Gates moving large quantities of groundwater via pipeline or trucking operation would attract the attention of neighbors and the local NRD.

If you extract groundwater out of the ground, carbonate it and add sugar to it, you've got soda pop, and you can move that all over the place. Same thing with beer, one of my law partners started brewing, and I always tease him that he's exporting groundwater in the form of beer, Blankenau said.

In Holt County, Gates operation has gone mostly unnoticed by neighbors and county officials. And the actual farming of that land has barely changed.

But Gates land buys still matter, said Tielke, chair of the Holt County Board. Any large outside investor like Gates can often beat a small farmer trying to buy land.

I think it's going to cause a lot of problems for future generations to get young people started, Tielke said. It's getting pretty hard to compete with these guys that are coming here buying this land now.

Flatwater Free Press reporter Yanqi Xu contributed to the storys data analysis. The series, Whos Buying Nebraska? was made possible by a grant from the Center for Rural Strategies and Grist.

The Flatwater Free Press is Nebraskas first independent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that matter.

Counties with the most farmland in Nebraska Counties with the most farmland in Nebraska #25. Valley #24. South Sioux #23. Chase #22. Boone #21. Rock #20. Antelope #19. Dundy #18. Garden #17. Buffalo #16. Brown #15. Dawson #14. Perkins #13. Keith #12. Knox #11. Red Willow #10. Kimball #9. Cheyenne #8. Morrill #7. Box Butte #6. Sheridan #5. Dawes, North Sioux #4. Holt #3. Custer #2. Lincoln #1. Cherry
A woman has moved the Kerala high court against the state government after she was allegedly detained by the police for wearing black clothes while attending the Nava Kerala Sadas, an outreach campaign of the LDF government which ended earlier this week. The woman said that she was detained for nearly seven hours at the police station (PTI)

Kollam resident L Archana moved the HC on Wednesday claiming that she experienced mental duress during her detention at the police station for almost seven hours and that it was a violation of her fundamental rights to wear any clothes of her choice. She also alleged that the police whisked her away as her husband is a BJP worker.

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The incident took place on December 18. That morning, my husband had kept our two-wheeler at the Randalamoodu junction... So I went to pick up the two-wheeler when my mother-in-law said that she wanted to come along to see the chief minister and the cabinet ministers travelling in a bus as part of the Nava Kerala Sadas, Archana told local media.

When I was at the junction, a police officer came to me and asked if I was the wife of BJP leader Bahuleyan. I said yes. Immediately, he accused me of protesting against the chief minister by wearing black salwar-kameez. I told him that I was simply standing and not protesting. He didnt listen to me and forcefully took me to the police station, she added.

The woman said that she was detained for nearly seven hours at the police station even though she had not created any provocation against the state government or the chief minister.

I really felt insulted that the police detained me when I had done nothing. Just because I was wearing black clothes, how can they say that I was there to protest? Its a violation of my fundamental rights and thats why I have moved the high court, she said. Her plea is likely to be heard by the HC next week.

The Nava Kerala Sadas, which began from Kasaragod on Nov 18 and ended in Ernakulam district this week, had attracted censure for the police handling of protesters against the convoy of the chief minister. Allegations had risen against the police high-handedness against activists of the Congress and the BJP who opposed the yatra.
The Indian Navy is closely monitoring the situation surrounding a hijacked merchant ship, which was reported last evening near Somalia's coast, military officials said on Friday. The Liberian-flagged ship MV Lila Norfolk is believed to have 15 Indian crew members on board, reported ANI citing the officials. 15 Indian crew are on board the Liberian-flagged vessel which was hijacked near Somalia's coast.(lilaglobal / representational image)

The vessel, sailing from Port Du Aco in Brazil, was bound for Khalifa Bin Salman in Bahrain when it was hijacked by the pirates 300 nautical miles east of Somalia.

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According to the officials, Indian Navy aircraft have been deployed to keep a vigilant watch on the hijacked ship's movements. Communication has been successfully established with the vessel, providing a crucial link to assess the situation and safety of the crew on board.

The vessel had sent a message on the UKMTO (United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations) portal, indicating boarding by approximately five to six unknown armed personnel on the evening of January 4, 2024, the Indian Navy said in a statement.

Indian warship INS Chennai is moving towards the hijacked vessel to tackle the situation, the navy added.

Naval aircraft continues to monitor movement and INS Chennai is closing the vessel to render assistance. The overall situation is being closely monitored, in coordination with other agencies/ MNF in the area, the statement read.

Read | Key naval meeting to focus on Indian Ocean Region security

Rise in pirates attack

The hijacking incident occurred days after a Maltese-flagged merchant vessel was seized by unknown attackers in the Arabian Sea, putting piracy in the back in the spotlight. The vessel had indicated that six 'pirates' had illegally boarded it.

The Indian Navy evacuated one of the 18 crew members, a Bulgarian national, aboard the hijacked cargo vessel to provide medical care after he was injured by the pirates. The sailor was evacuated by the frontline ship INS Kochi.

Pirate attacks in the region peaked between 2008 and 2013 but steadily declined thereafter because of the concerted efforts of the multi-national maritime task force including the Indian Navy.
CHENNAI: The Madras high court on Friday stayed the summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to three private contractors in its ongoing investigation into money laundering in connection with illegal sand mining in Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu: The three petitioners argued that they were not named in the original ED case or the police case (ANI FILE PHOTO)

The bench of justices SS Sundar and Sunder Mohan have granted an interim stay of operation of the summons, EDs special public prosecutor N Ramesh said.

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The three private contractors, A Rajkumar, Shanmugam Ramachandran and K Rethinam had petitioned the high court, challenging the summons issued by ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

The petitions reasoned that they were summoned though they were not named in the ECIR (Enforcement Case Information Report) filed by the ED last September or in any of the criminal cases registered by the state police.

They also reasoned that the summons issued in December did not specify if they were to be questioned as suspects or witnesses. ED said that since the investigation was in an early stage, the three petitioners must cooperate with the federal agency.

The contractors had also cited the high courts stay granted on the ED summons issued to five district collectors of Ariyalur, Karur, Thanjavur, Trichy and Vellore in connection with the sand mining case. The Tamil Nadu government had approached the high court to seek quashing of the summons on the ground that it was without jurisdiction, unreasonable and in violation of law.

ED launched an investigation into money laundering linked to illegal sand mining in the state in September last year following allegations that the illegal sand mining in the state over the last two years was estimated to be 4,730 crore as compared to the states recorded revenue of 36 crore.
New Delhi: India's elite marine commandos have boarded the hijacked Liberian ship MV Lila Norfolk in the North Arabian Sea, the Indian Navy said on Friday, adding they have commenced what it called sanitisation. INS Chennai, a Kolkata class destroyer, is moored at a jetty in Mumbai. (File photo)(AP)

"The Indian Navy Marine Commandos present onboard the Mission Deployed warship boarded the MV and have commenced the sanitisation," it said.

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The Navy said in a statement that INS Chennai, diverted from her anti-piracy patrol, had intercepted the ship on January 5.

"MV was kept under continuous surveillance using Maritime Patrol Aircraft, Predator MQ9B and integral helos," it added.

The Indian Navy said it gave a swift response to the hijacking attempt of the vessel, which had an Indian crew.

According to reports, India responded after armed hijackers boarded the Liberian-flagged merchant ship.

The cargo ship had reported the event to the UK Maritime Trade Operations on Thursday evening.

The Navy launched a maritime patrol aircraft and diverted INS Chennai to deal with the situation.

According to reports, the ship had reported five-six armed assailants who boarded 460 nautical miles east of Eyl in Somalia.

HT has exclusively reported that the bulk carrier, which was transporting cargo from Brazil to Bahrain, was intercepted by the Marcos. The crew, which has hiding in a strong room, has come out of the safe house. No pirates have been found as of now. The operation is underway.

India currently has deployed four destroyers -- INS Kochi, INS Kolkata, INS Mormugao and INS Chennai -- as well as Talwar-class frigates and missile boats in Arabian sea to ensure maritime security.
Kolkata: West Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose on Friday called the attack on Enforcement Directorate officials by TMC leader Sheikh Sajahan's supporters, alarming, deplorable and a ghastly incident. In a strongly worded rejoinder, he said Bengal isn't a "banana republic" and the government should stop "barbarism and vandalism" in the state. He warned that if the Mamata Banerjee government fails to perform its basic duties, the Constitution of India will take its course. North 24 Parganas: The windows of a vehicle in which a team of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was traveling are broken after it was attacked during a raid in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali. (ANI)

"It is a ghastly incident. It is alarming and deplorable. It is the duty of a civilised government to stop barbarism and vandalism in a democracy. If a govt fails in its basic duty, then the Constitution of India will take its course. I reserve all my constitutional options for appropriate action. This pre-election violence should find an early end, and this is the beginning of that end." he said.

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"Bengal is not a banana republic. The government should stop barbarism and vandalism in a democracy," he added.

The supporters of the politician assaulted the officials as they went to raid his house in Bengal's North 24 Parganas district. The mob also vandalised their vehicles.

The agency is conducting raids in 15 places in Bengal; Sajahan's house was one of those locations.

The politician is considered a close aide of Bengal minister Jyotipriyo Mallick.

As the officials reached his house, a huge number of TMC supporters gheraoed them and the central forces. They were roughed up.

The officers were forced to leave their damaged vehicles behind and take autorickshaws and two-wheelers to safety.

Also read: ED team attacked in West Bengals North 24 Parganas: Officials

Two officers were taken to hospital for treatment.

West Bengal minister and TMC Leader Shashi Panja claimed the central forces provoked the TMC supporters.

"Any kind of violence is not supported by TMC but the villagers were complaining that they were provoked by the central forces which were accompanying the investigative agencies. MoS Nisith Pramanik has been talking about cooperative federalism that Bengal lacks in federalism. Federalism means that there should be good relations between the Centre and the state. The Centre must cooperate with the states. But what we see here and Nisith Pramanik, you should answer, have you even asked for the MNREGA funds which are due to Bengal? Have you ever asked the Center why they are not providing funds for housing for the rural poor? You never raised your voice for this.," she said.

Meanwhile, the West Bengal BJP has demanded from union home minister Amit Shah an NIA probe into the attack.

With inputs from ANI
Authorities at Bhubaneswars Hi Tech medical college and hospital on Friday said that the man who succumbed to burn injuries on December 31 was Jyoti Ranjan Mallik and not Dilip Samantray as believed earlier.

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Dilip Samantrays mother Ahalya said they were happy that her son was alive but the news had come too late for his wife Soumyashree Jena. On January 1, Dilips wife, who was seven months pregnant with their first child, hanged herself after learning of her husbands death. Had the hospital authorities been careful, my daughter-in-law would have been alive today, Ahalya said.

Jyoti Ranjan Maliks father said he could not see his son one last time because he was cremated by Dilip Samantrays family. The hospital authorities are responsible for whatever happened. I will not spare them, he said.

Smita Padhi, chief executive officer of the hospital, said they had gone by the information provided by staffers of the outsourced agency.

She said four persons, Seemanchal Biswal, Sritam Sahu, Jyotiranjan Mallik and Dilip Samantray, were injured in the compressor blast. Of them, Jyoti Ranjan Malik and Sritam Sahu (he died on Wednesday) have died so far.

After the blast, a staffer of the outsourced agency identified all the four injured. When one of the injured patient died on December 31, we were told by their employee that he was Dilip Samantray. Following the procedure, we informed the police. The father of the deceased identified the body as that of Dilip Samantray and signed the inquest form, said Padhi.

On Thursday evening, the condition of one of the patients - he was earlier identified as Jyoti Malik - improved and he was taken off the ventilator. He identified himself as Dilip Samantray.

The ICU doctors promptly called psychiatrist Amrit Pattojoshi for an evaluation. The patient gave all the right answers. Someone called Dilip Samantrays family that had been mourning his death. He even recognised his nephew, said Padhi. We now know that the man who has died was Jyoti Ranjan Mallik.

Psychiatrist Amrit Pattajoshi who conducted the psychometric evaluation on Thursday, said it was impossible to recognise Jyoti Ranjan Maliks body which had sustained 95% burns. The face was abnormally swollen. Identifying him was not possible, he said.

Sanjay Sahu, the air conditioner agencys staffer alleged to have identified the injured, said he knew three of them, not the fourth one. I never identified them individually. It was utter chaos when the blast occurred. I just told the hospital authorities their names. I did not tell them who was who, he said, underlining that even he was not in a state to identify them at the time.

Ahalya Samantray said when the hospital handed over the body to them on December 31, it was wrapped in polythene. The body was charred beyond recognition. As the hospital gave it to us saying he was Dilip, so we believed them and performed his last rites. My daughter-in-law who was 7 months pregnant became delirious and two days later, she hanged herself in her fathers home. For the last 7 days, we have been observing all funeral rituals at home. Had the hospital authorities been careful, my daughter-in-law would have been alive today, she said.

Jyoti Ranjan Mallick said they also thought that Dilip Samantray was his son because when his son-in-law earlier addressed him by his nickname, one patient responded. The patient also responded when a doctor called him Jyoti. Later, we (family members) went to the hospital. As I went near the patient and addressed him as Dipuna, he said he was Dilip. I searched for birthmarks on his body to confirm but couldnt find any. I was sure that the person was not my son after the ventilator was taken off and his face was visible, said Jyotis father. I could not even see my son for one last time. The hospital authorities are responsible for whatever happened. I will not spare them.

The hospital authorities said they will now conduct a DNA test to conclusively establish the identities in this case.

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Two out of the four properties owned by the family members of the elusive gangster Dawood Ibrahim were successfully auctioned on Friday. The properties were auctioned at 2.01 crore and 3.28 lakh respectively. One property of agricultural land measuring 170.98 sqmt, received the highest bid of 2.01 crore against the reserve price of 15,440 whereas another -- agricultural land measuring 1730 sqmt fetched the highest bid of 3.28 lakh against the reserve price of 1,56,270, PTI reported on Friday. Dawood Ibrahim

The auction was conducted by the competent authority under the Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act at the Aayakar Bhavan in south Mumbai.

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The assets which were kept for auction included Dawood's childhood home in Maharashtra's Ratnagiri and three other assets. The authorities had confiscated these lands under the Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators Act.

An official statement by SAFEMA associated with the auctioneering said earlier, Several bids have been received, and the bidding process is scheduled to take place between 2:00 pm and 3:30 pm on January 5.

In 2017 and 2020, SAFEMA conducted auctions for more than 17 properties associated with Dawood Ibrahim.

In 2001, Ajay Srivastava, a lawyer and member of Shiv Sena, placed bids on several shops of Ibrahim which are currently entangled in a legal tender process. Srivastava also expressed optimism about acquiring the ownership rights to Dawood's ancestral home soon.

In 2001, the auction was conducted by the Income Tax Department, but the problem with the department was that they did not offer the possession of the property and I am still fighting for that in the court. The case is pending in high court. In 2020, I took Ibrahim's bungalow situated in Ratnagiri in the auction and there I founded Sanatan Pathshala in the line of madrassas, Srivastava said.

"Under the trust, I have built an educational institute there and its construction will start soon," Srivastava added.

Dawood Ibrahim, a prime accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, resided in the Mumbake village before relocating to Mumbai in 1983. Following the series of bomb blasts that claimed the lives of 257 individuals, he left India.

Recognized as a global terrorist by the United Nations under Security Resolution 1267 and listed in the Fourth Schedule of the UAPA Act, 1967, Ibrahim operates an international terrorist network known as D-Company.

(With inputs from PTI, ANI)
Bengaluru Baba Budangiri, , near Chikkamagaluru, has long been a pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Muslims. (HT Photo)

A fresh controversy has erupted as court summons have been issued in connection with a 2017 case related to the vandalisation of tombs at Baba Budangiri or Datta Peetha, with the Bharatiya Janata Party asserting that their supporters are being unfairly targeted.

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The First Additional Civil Judge and JMFC, Chikkamagaluru issued summons to all accused for their first appearance on January 8. Notices have been sent to 14 Hindutva activists under the Prevention of Damages to Public Property Act for their alleged involvement in the demolition of tombs at the disputed site in Chikkamagaluru.

BJP leaders and Hindutva groups have been demanding that the cave shrine atop Baba Budangiri, near Chikkamagaluru, be declared a Hindu place of worship.

The case, initiated in 2017, saw a request for a hearing made on March 19, 2020. The government granted permission on September 7, 2023. Subsequently, on October 24, 2023, a charge sheet against the accused was submitted to the court. As part of the ongoing legal process, the court has now issued summons for the accused to appear on January 8.

Reacting to the notices, BJP leader CT Ravi accused the Congress government in Karnataka of targeting Hindutva workers. Ravi said, Whether it is issuing notices to kar sevaks in Chikmmangaluru or this, it is part of a criminal and communal agenda of the Congress party. We are not scared of being sent to prison or the cases they file. We will respond to them.

In response, chief minister Siddaramaiah dismissed the claims, stating that the allegation of the government reopening the Datta Peetha issue at Baba Budanagiri in Chikkamagaluru is totally false and baseless. Siddaramaiah asserted that the courts issuance of summons is a routine part of the legal process and does not signify a reopening of the case.

In a statement, the chief minister said that BJP is peddling fake news and denied that the destruction of the Baba Budanagiri tomb case is being reopened by the Congress government.

Siddaramaiah said the Bababudanagiri tomb destruction case was registered in 2017 and the issuance of summons to the accused by the courts is part of the legal process. The court has issued a summons to the accused to appear before it on January 8 and this is part of the legal process. The issuance of summons by the court to the accused to appear before it following the filing of the charge sheet is part of the normal legal process. The Congress government has not reopened the case as claimed by some BJP leaders, he said.

Baba Budangiri, often referred to as south Indias Ayodhya, has long been a pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Muslims. Hindus believe the hill is the final resting place of Lord Dattatreya, while the Muslim community considers the dargah as one of the earliest centres of Sufism in South India. However, over the years, the BJP, Bajrang Dal, VHP, and other saffron outfits have been advocating for the shrine to be declared a Hindu temple.
The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a public interest litigation (PIL) demanding an archaeological survey of Mathuras Shahi Idgah Mosque and declaration of the site as Shree Krishna Janmabhoomi, noting that multiplicity of litigation was not proper when a bundle of civil suits on the issue was being adjudicated. Suits in the case are pending before the Allahabad high court. (ANI)

Lets not have a multiplicity of litigation. You filed it as a PIL, which is why it was rejected. File it as otherwise, the court will see, said a bench of justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta, pointing out that suits in the case were pending before the Allahabad high court.

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The lawyer appearing for the petitioner in the case argued that the PIL was rejected by the high court in October last because some suits remained pending on the issue. The Supreme Court maintained that entertaining the issue as a PIL was not maintainable.

The counsel, representing petitioner Mahek Maheshwari, added that the PIL also sought to challenge the validity of the 1991 Places of Worship Act, which protects the character of all places of worship existing as of August 15, 1947 (barring the Ram Janmabhoomi land at Ayodhya) and prohibits the filing of any lawsuits to alter the character of any place of worship.

The court replied the remedy to challenge the validity of the Act was left open by the high court in its dismissal order. We are not inclined to interfere with impugned judgment and hence, the SLP [special leave petition] is dismissed. We clarify that the dismissal of the SLP no where comments on the right of parties to challenge the vires of any enactment or prevents or bars any party from challenging the vires of any enactment, said the bench.

Maheshwaris PIL contended that various texts had recorded the site in question as Shree Krishna Janmabhoomi land. The plea added that it was not a proper mosque because the Islamic jurisprudence does not sanctify a mosque on a forcibly acquired land whereas the Hindu jurisprudence reveres a temple even if it is in ruins.

Masjid is not an essential part of Islam, and therefore the Shahi Idgah Mosque should be razed and that land, allegedly Krishna Janmabhoomi, should be handed over to the Hindus, Maheshwari said. He pleaded that a proper trust for Krishna Janmabhoomi Janmasthan should be formed for building a temple on the land.

The Supreme Court is seized of a batch of petitions relating to the dispute.

The mosque management committee has challenged the Allahabad high courts decision to transfer to itself all the suits pending before Mathura civil courts, besides assailing an order passed last month paving the way for a survey of the mosque premises by an advocate commissioner.

On December 15, the top court refused to stay the survey of the mosque abutting the Krishna Janmabhoomi temple. It noted the top court has fixed January 9 for considering the objections of the committee and UP Sunni Wakf Board to the high court order deciding to hear nearly 18 suits relating to the Krishna Janmasthan-Shahi Eidgah land dispute by transferring them to itself.

The mosque committee has argued that it did not have the financial wherewithal to defend the suits in the Allahabad high court, which is 600 kilometres away, and would prefer having it in Delhi located at a distance of only 150 kilometres.

The May 26 order by the high court came on a plea by Bhagwan Shrikrishna Virajman at Katra Keshav Dev Khewat Mathura (deity) through the next friend, Ranjana Agnihotri, who is also an advocate, and seven others. The next friend is a legal representative of someone incapable of maintaining a suit directly.

The petitioners had requested that the original trial be conducted by the high court as the matter involved is of national importance.

The mosque committee, in its petition before the top court, questioned the maintainability of the suits after a prolonged delay. It argued the suit is barred by the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act.

On July 21, the Supreme Court observed that it would be in the interest of all stakeholders if the matter is decided at the earliest because pendency in such sensitive cases creates disquiet.

Adding that it would lay down norms for hearing the clutch of suits related to the dispute, the court directed the high court registrar to send details of all such pending cases. It remarked that it would be more appropriate for a high court judge to apply his mind considering the complex nature of the case.

Multiple suits regarding the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Eidgah Mosque land dispute pending before various courts in Mathura have a common demand to reclaim the 13.37-acre land on which the mosque stands to be returned to the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Trust. The mosque abuts the temple. The suits have sought to annul a compromise between the mosque committee and Shri Krishna Janmasthan Seva Sangh in 1968 allowing the status quo.
The Supreme Court on Friday extended the stay on a Bombay high court order that granted bail to activist Gautam Navlakha in the Bhima-Koregaon violence case following a request by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Activist Gautam Navlakha. (AP File Photo)

The court referred the agencys appeal to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) after being told that similar bail matters of other accused in the same Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case are pending before other benches of the top court.

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The NIA had appealed challenging the December 19 order of the Bombay HC that granted bail to the 72-year-old activist. The HC had suspended its order for three weeks so that the NIA could file an appeal in the top court, which was about to lapse on January 9.

Since the high court by its order of December 19 has stayed its decision for three weeks, the same stands extended till the CJI allocates the matter before a bench, the SC bench of justices MM Sundresh and SVN Bhatti said on Friday.

The court did not issue notice on the appeal after a dispute arose between Navlakhas lawyers, led by senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, demanding that the matter be heard with one set of petitions where bail was granted to three accused persons in the Bhima-bKoregaon violence case  Vernon Gonsalves, Arun Fereira and Anand Teltumbde.

Representing the NIA, additional solicitor general (ASG) SV Raju urged the court to list the matter with a similar appeal filed by the agency challenging the bail granted to another accused Mahesh Raut. In September, the Bombay HC had granted bail to Raut and the same month, the NIA approached the apex court and got the stay on his release extended. This matter is still pending for consideration in the top court.

The lawyers appearing for both sides informed the court that these matters are pending before different benches. Senior advocate Nithya Ramakrishnan pointed out that Navlakha is currently under house arrest following an SC order passed in November 2022, and even that matter was pending with the top court.

Two days ago, the bail plea of former Delhi university professor Hany Babu, another accused in the Bhima-Koregaon violence case, was listed before a bench headed by justice Aniruddha Bose where a notice was issued, and the matter deferred for three weeks.

This matter is pending before several benches, Singhvi said.

The court in response said, We direct the Registry to place this matter before the Chief Justice of India to consider the feasibility of having the matter placed with other similar cases.

The bench was of the view that all matters should be posted before one bench.

Navlakha was arrested in April 2020 in connection with the 2018 violence case in Maharashtra and is accused of having links with banned Naxal organisation  Communist Party of India (Maoist). He faces charges under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). Since 10 November 2022, the top court has allowed him to remain under house arrest owing to health-related issues.

The Bhima-Koregaon case pertains to alleged inflammatory speeches made at an Elgar Parishad conclave in Pune on 31 December 2017, which the police claimed triggered violence the next day near the Bhima-Koregaon war memorial. One person was killed in the incident.

Navlakhas lawyers pointed out that there was no way in which the trial could begin soon as there are 317 witnesses and charges are yet to be framed. Singhvi submitted that in UAPA offences, if the commencement of trial is not in sight, it will be a ground to grant bail.

The high court, while granting bail to Navlakha, had directed him to furnish a personal bond of 1 lakh. It imposed the same bail conditions on Teltumbde and Raut, who were released on bail on 18 November 2022 and 21 September 2023, respectively.
In the waning days of 2023, the State of Nebraska completed its first purchase of land in Colorado for a proposed canal that would bring water from the South Platte River in that state into southwest Nebraska.

The Nebraska Department of Natural Resources purchased just shy of 90 acres east of Julesburg, Colorado, for nearly $90,000 on Dec. 29, according to property records in Sedgwick County, Colorado.

Jesse Bradley, the departments deputy directory, confirmed that the purchase is Nebraskas first buy in Colorado for the proposed Perkins County Canal.

Under a century-old compact with Colorado, building the canal would entitle Nebraska to 120 cubic feet per second of water from the South Platte River during the summer irrigation season and 500 cfs during the non-irrigation season. But the state must build the canal to secure the water. Nebraska lawmakers have set aside a total of $628 million for the project.

Former Gov. Pete Ricketts made the project a priority during his last year in office, arguing that Nebraska could loss access to water if Colorado proceeded with plans to use South Platte water to meet the demands of its growing urban areas. Gov. Jim Pillen also has indicated support for the project.

Bradley said the agency is homing in on a route for the canal and on potential reservoir locations, with a goal of having conversations with landowners in Colorado and Nebraska this spring that eventually translate into potential property acquisitions. The agency currently is about a year into its projected three-year design timeline. Agency officials held an informational meeting last month in Ogallala to update area residents.

We dont have a line on a map ready to go out, he said. But were getting closer to that. Weve been focusing our efforts preliminarily in Colorado and now starting to look in Nebraska.

Typically, he said, designers of such projects propose a draft route and see whether accommodations are needed to alleviate disruptions. Then they work to finalize it. Officials are trying to stay within the 100-year-old line of survey in the original compact, based on local topography and the fact that the canal flows by gravity. As much as possible, planners will work around potential obstacles such as interstate highways and cemeteries.

The Sedgwick County property, Bradley said, potentially could be part of the canal route itself and serve as an ancillary construction site.

The property was purchased from Ray Hendrix of Holyoke, Colorado.

His son, Loren Hendrix of rural Holyoke, said the property is situated about a mile south of the point on Interstate 76 marking the border between the two states.

The land represents a portion of two larger parcels, he said. The family runs cattle and harvests hay.

Loren Hendrix said Nebraska officials initially talked about routing the canal through the property. He said he was concerned that the family might not get fair value for the land if Nebraska invoked eminent domain. He also wants to make sure adequate funds were available to care for his 90-year-old father.

Bradley told attendees at the Ogallala meeting that the state prefers to reach fair land deals in both states, the North Platte Telegraph reported.

In an interview, he noted that the state also is working with various federal agencies to determine permitting requirements for the project.

There are a lot of steps to get a large project like this completed, Bradley said, and were still pretty early on.

Omaha World-Herald's top news photos of 2023
YSR Telangana Party founder-president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddys sister Y S Sharmila on Thursday merged her party with the Congress while adding that she was ready to take up any role the party high command would entrust her with. YS Sharmila meets Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi after she merges YSR Telangana Party with Congress in New Delhi on Thursday. (ANI)

The daughter of former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and founder of YSR Telangana Party said it was she was extremely happy to be part of the party which her father was associated with till his last breath.

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Sharmila, who landed in New Delhi on Wednesday night, joined the Congress in the presence of All India Congress Committee president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and AICC in-charge of Andhra Pradesh affairs Manickam Tagore, at the AICC headquarters.

Speaking to reporters later, Sharmila declared that she had merged her YSR Telangana Party with the Congress .

I am very happy to be merging the YSR Telangana party with the Congress. It gives me immense joy that the YSR Telangana party is going to be a part of the Indian National Congress from today onwards, she said.

I am ready to play any role that the party gives me. I will work for the party in whatever capacity I can with utmost dedication and commitment, she said.

Describing her father, Sharmila recalled that YSR was a great Congress leader, who strived day and night for the party all through his life.Today, it would give him great joy that his daughter is following in his footsteps and is going to be a part of the Congress itself, she said.

Stating that Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Yatra has created a sense of security and confidence among the people, Sharmila said she, too, was impressed by the peoples response to the yatra. It was my fathers dream to see Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Minister of the country and I shall strive for the same, she added.The Congress is the only the biggest secular party in the country, which takes all sections of the society along with it. The Congress has built our nations foundations, she asserted.

Later, Sharmila went to the residence of Congress parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi and had a brief meeting with her. She congratulated me for joining the Congress and blessed me, saying I would have a great future in the party, she said.

She said the party high command would take a decision in a day or two on what responsibility she would be entrusted with. I am ready to accept whatever is offered to me, she said.

Senior YSR Congress party leader and Sharmilas uncle Y V Subba Reddy said she might have taken the decision to join the Congress as she had no other alternative.

She had earlier floated the YSRTP as she had no place in the YSRCP. After realising that she has no role in Telangana, she decided to join the Congress, Reddy said, adding that it would have no impact, whatsoever, on the YSRCP or Jagan Mohan Reddy.
During a celebratory event in Kota, Rajasthan, the newly appointed minister in the Rajasthan government, Heeralal Nagar, experienced an unexpected mishap as the stage intended for his welcome collapsed, causing him to fall down on Thursday. The video of the incident was shared by news agency PTI. In the video, the minister is seen garlanded by a person standing next to him. As the welcome programme is underway the stage on which the minister is standing collapses. However, the minister escapes unhurt. People gathered at the felicitation ceremony of Rajasthan minister help him to get up after he and others fell down.(PTI)

Four BJP workers Jaiveer Singh, Mahendra Sharma, Manoj Sharma and Chandra Prakesh Soni who sustained injuries were rushed to the nearby hospital. The ceremony was called off following the mishap.

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This was Heeralal Nagar's first visit to his hometown after his oath-taking ceremony held last month. Nagar was inducted as the Minister of State on December 30. He has been given an independent charge.

Meanwhile, in an unrelated incident last year, AIMIM leader from Rajasthan Waris Pathan fell from the stage after it collapsed. The incident occurred as Pathan addressed a rally in Rajasthan's Makwana. Sharing the video of the incident on X a user wrote, #AIMIM #Maharashtra senior leader and @aimim_national party's National spokesperson Advocate @warispathan suffered some bruises after the stage on which he was addressing a public meeting in #Makwana in #Rajasthan collapsed. 

Pathan suffered minor injuries in the incident.

(With inputs from PTI)
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday announced its candidates for the January 19 Rajya Sabha elections. Swati Maliwal, the chief of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW), has been nominated, while Sanjay Singh and ND Gupta have been renominated for a second term in the Upper House of Parliament. Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Chairperson Swati Maliwal (PTI)

The party's political affairs committee (PAC) officially declared these nominations.

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DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal has been nominated for the first time. The PAC has decided to continue with Sanjay Singh and ND Gupta for their respective second term as Rajya Sabha members, a source told news agency PTI that

Sushil Kumar Gupta, concluding his term as a Rajya Sabha member this month, has expressed his eagerness to actively engage in electoral politics in Haryana, where the AAP aims to contest upcoming elections later this year, according to sources.

Meanwhile, a local court has granted permission to Singh, arrested in connection with a money laundering case related to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam, to sign necessary forms and documents for his Rajya Sabha renomination.

Five things to know about Swati Maliwal:
I must have been about five years old, and was living with my parents and sister in snowy upstate New York. It was the 1980s, and I owned a huge collection of crayons: long, short, thick, thin, in every shade available. Like most children, I was continuously curious, and one day decided to discover what was inside my crayons. So, I peeled off the paper that enveloped them, and snapped them in two. My great anticipation was rather dampened to find, well, just more crayon inside.

When I was a little older, I graduated to pens, dismantling these to reveal rather more exciting interiors. Far from the disappointing crayons of my early childhood, the insides of fountain pens and ballpoints contained slender cartridges and helical springs, held together with a top that threaded, screw-like, on to the rest of the pen.

In addition to taking things apart myself to satisfy my curiosity, I poked my nose in when others did it, too. Growing up in India, I saw my television taken apart when the picture ended up with black lines across it. The boggling innards only made sense of when I did a degree in physics. In fact, the reason I chose to study physics was because I wanted to understand the building blocks of our universe. Whether or not I understood it at the time, I was on a mission to understand what things were made from, and how they came to be.

Whether its the matter that makes our universe, living biological creatures, or the human-made objects we invented, complex compositions are made up of smaller and simpler, well, things. I have been lucky enough to carry my childhood curiosity about what makes up objects with me into my career.

As an engineer, I am endlessly fascinated by how our machines, buildings, and everyday objects came to be, and what lies at their heart  a fascination that, no doubt, many of you share.

Engineering is a vast discipline but some of its mightiest achievements have been small in scale. Inside all the humanmade things around us are fundamental building blocks without which our complex machinery wouldnt exist. At first glance, they might seem uninteresting. Often small, and sometimes hidden, the truth is that each of these elements is an extraordinary feat of engineering with fascinating stories that go back hundreds, if not thousands, of years. During the Renaissance, scientists and engineers defined six simple machines, described as being the basis of all complex machines. These were the lever, the wheel and axle, the pulley, the inclined plane, the wedge and the screw. But today, those six feel outdated and insufficient. So, I got rid of a few and added some others to showcase seven elements that I believe form the basis of the modern world. They encompass a vast range of innovations in terms of their underlying scientific principles, the fields of engineering they touch, and the scale of objects they have enabled.

Each of the seven objects Ive selected  the nail, the wheel, the spring, the magnet, the lens, string and the pump  are wonders of design that went through many different iterations and forms. They have endured ever since their first appearance. As they evolved, as they were combined in different permutations, the complexity of the machines we could make escalated in a cascading butterfly effect of invention and innovation.

Every single one of these objects has touched us individually, and made an indelible mark on our world; without them, our lives would be unrecognisable. They have created and changed our technology, of course, but have also had a sweeping impact on our history, society, political and power structures, biology, communication, transportation, arts, and culture. The invention or discovery of each involved a process of failure and iteration: of having a need, then trying out different materials, shapes, and forms, until something worked. Sometimes we use the same technology for centuries before we suddenly invent a new material or process, and realise that we need to adapt existing technology to suit. Other times, its the other way around. Some of these inventions developed independently in different parts of the globe with very similar designs, like the wheel, but others, like the pump, looked very different. And so, these inventions were born, then changed and evolved in their own ways, often going on to have unexpected applications and implications far beyond their original purpose.

While we think of engineering as a field littered with inanimate objects and complex pieces of technology that often feel alien or beyond our understanding, at the heart of engineering is people: those who create it, those who need and use it, those who sometimes inadvertently make a contribution to it. They are the seamstress in Delaware worrying about Neil Armstrongs gusset holding, the doctor who passed electrical current through his hands, the shop-owner who studied his sperm under a microscope, and the poorly recipient of a pigs heart. They are the Indian polymath who directed radio waves through the body of an important governor, the immigrant chemist who thought shed made an error but invented something incredible, the Islamic scholar who changed the way we see, and the housewife who got frustrated with broken china.

In Nuts and Bolts, I will show you that engineering is the meeting of science, design, and history. Its about human need and creativity, about finding problems and creating solutions to them in ways that havent been attempted before. Its about trying to make our lives better, but knowing that, conversely, our inventions can have a devastating impact on society when not used responsibly. I will show you how engineering at its most fundamental is inextricably linked to your everyday life, and to humanity. My hope is that I will reignite your childhood curiosity, and inspire you to investigate the increasingly complicated black box of engineering, in order to understand the building blocks of our world a little bit better.

(Excerpted with permission from Nuts & Bolts: Seven Small Inventions that Changed the World (In a Big Way) by Roma Agrawal, published by Hodder & Stoughton; 2023)
Roma Agrawals most recognisable work is The Shard, a 72-storey tower that has dominated the London skyline since 2013 (and is the tallest building in western Europe). She was part of the structural engineering team that worked on that building from 2006 to 2012.

Her newest work is far smaller, a book on some of the littlest man-made objects that have shaped the world. But its entirely hers, and represents an arc she is fairly proud of.

As a brown woman in the boys club of elite architecture in the Aughts, I stayed quiet a lot, says Agrawal, 40. Her existence in that space was often greeted with surprise, and that eroded her confidence. I rarely spoke up at meetings.

Over time, she realised that she knew what she was talking about. She decided that she wanted to be heard. She began to speak up more at meetings, and out in the world.

It helped that she had also fallen in love with concrete and place-making. She was intrigued by the idea that she was helping build the spines of what would become the built heritage of London. And it disappointed her that people seemed to view the business of building as distant and unfathomable.

That led to her first books  Built: The Hidden Stories Behind Our Structures (2018) and How Was That Built?: The Stories Behind Awesome Structures (2021)  and has informed her newest one, Nuts & Bolts: Seven Small Inventions that Changed the World (In a Big Way). Published in March 2023, Nuts & Bolts has now been shortlisted for the Royal Society Science Book Prize, a prestigious international award that recognises exceptional science writing for a non-specialist audience.

***

Her aim with her books, Agrawal likes to say, is to be able to answer any question posed by a five-year-old. Theyre the ones who ask the hardest questions and have the most open minds. Thats the kind of mind one needs, to make new discoveries in the sciences. One doesnt need to be some kind of a genius. Thats another myth I want to bust, she says.

In Nuts & Bolts, Agrawal revisits the most complex achievements of engineering, with a focus on the role played by seven rudimentary inventions: the nail, spring, wheel, lens, magnet, string and pump. She explores how each of these objects is a marvel of design in itself, and how, by joining forces, they have enabled humankind to accomplish things that had for millennia been thought of as impossible, such as space travel.

Her narrative approach is simple and effective: Even as I thought about larger and more complex objects  diggers, skyscrapers, factories, tunnels, electrical grids, cars, satellites, and so on  again and again, I came back to the same seven foundational innovations. We join things together: the nail. We need something that rotates or revolves: the wheel. We need power, and technology that can store it: batteries, sure, but more fundamentally, the spring. Magnetism (and electricity) allow us to manipulate things from a distance; the lens lets us play with the path of light. String gives us a strong material that is also flexible. To move water and keep us alive, we fashion pumps, she writes.

Elsewhere in the book, she talks of how magnets, for instance, defined the electronic telegraph system, which was brought to India by the British in the 1800s, and helped the colonial power rule the country.

One gets the sense, reading the book, that she doesnt like it that these little objects are so overlooked. There is a gap I am trying to bridge, by showing how these inventions impacted our lives and our society, she says, laughing.

Theres another gap too. Perhaps because we do so little manual labour ourselves today, rarely even changing our own tyres, engineering has become divorced from the average persons life. Agrawals book serves as an evocative reminder.

We have all, as children, built and broken things. Thats engineering, she says. I want to show people that we are all engineers at heart.

***

Agrawal is alert to the privilege in which she was raised, and her books as well as her other outreach work (more on that in a bit) attempt to address gaps in access too.

She grew up around the world. Born in Mumbai, she moved with her family to New York for six years; returned to Mumbai, then moved to London to complete her A-levels. Her father, an engineer, and her mother, a coder, wanted her to have the best education that the world could offer, so she graduated (in physics) from Oxford in 2004, got a Masters in structural engineering from Imperial College in 2005.

She has since married. She and her husband Badri Wadawadigi, a healthcare professional, have a four-year-old daughter named Zarya.

Agrawal hosts a podcast called Create the Future, and runs an eponymous YouTube channel where she simplifies engineering concepts through everyday experiments.

She is also co-founder (with illustrator and science communicator Hana Ayoob) of the ScienceWrite mentorship programme. Now in its second year, the programme is supported by the Royal Society and aims to foster science writers from minority backgrounds in the UK.

In her work, her books and her outreach, its all about having the ability to break someones stereotypes or expectations, which makes them go, Oh! I never thought of that!, Agrawal says.

Which is why one of the things that makes her happiest are comments online from young women, who tell her they would never have thought concrete could be so exciting. Statements like that are my driving force, she says.

Up next: A childrens version of Nuts & Bolts. And perhaps a documentary too.
Half of the worlds population menstruates at some point in their lives, yet it is still taboo for many. A Berlin exhibition reveals everything you need to know about the topic. Until sanitary products appeared on the market, periods were long a private matter (Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europaischer Kulturen/Christian Krug )

Among the 30 participants gathered for a guided tour of "Flow: The Exhibition on Menstruation" at Berlin's Museum of European Cultures (MEK), most of them are women of all generations  from mothers with their teenage daughters to elderly women. There are also a few men in the group, often accompanying a female partner.

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And the guide, surprisingly, is a man too.

At first, the fact that a man is guiding a tour about menstruation feels a bit awkward, but cultural anthrophologist Stefan Lischewski tackles the topic so naturally that any sense of embarrassment quickly dissipates.

The history of undergarments and menstrual products

Through a display of 100 historical and modern sanitary products as well as advertisements, the first part of the exhibition traces the history of women's underwear and menstrual hygiene products, which were first developed commercially in the late 19th century.

Back then, sanitary pads were sewn from fabric. Due to costs and accessibility, do-It-yourself solutions remained widespread even in the 20th century.

Before modern panties as we know them were invented, women wore one-piece underwear or loose underpants. They often had an open crotch, which made it easier to use the restroom when wearing crinolines and hoop skirts. Women would wear at least six layers of cloth to soak their menstrual fluid. Weighing some two and a half kilos, the cloth pads were extremely heavy.

The exhibition features a room with reproductions of such historical "undergarments for special days" that resemble oversized cotton diapers. Visitors are even invited to try them on.

Women inventors

The pioneers of the industry were mostly men. But there were also female inventors, such as US actress Leona Chalmers, who was the first to patent a commercial version of the menstrual cup in 1937. Her model, as well as various other brands throughout the 20th century, failed to achieve commercial success. Such cups only gained new popularity towards the beginning of the our century.

In 1954, Mary Kenner patented a sanitary belt, but the company that had planned to market her invention withdrew when they found out she was Afro-American.

Before adhesive sanitary pads were developed, this type of belt was used to keep sanitary pads in place between the legs.

The first modern-day applicator tampon, marketed as Tampex, was patented by German immigrant and businesswoman Gertrude Tendrich, from Denver. She started producing the cardboard applicator tampons which were available in Germany in 1936.

A version without an applicator was launched in Germany in 1950. It was called o.b.  short for "ohne Binde" (without napkin). Gynecologist Judith Esser contributed to helping improve the product. She also revolutionized sex education in Germany and introduced it in schools.

Overcoming taboos through sex education

The exhibition has developed to cater to school groups, through educational tours: "Not all teachers in Germany have the knowledge and the materials to teach sex education properly," says Lischewski. But, he adds, beyond the groups of students, "many more people are coming. We have almost 200 visitors daily, we don't normally have that many."

That's why one section of the exhibition provides basic information about everything related to the menstrual cycle. For example, Lischewski points out that men and boys often think that women bleed liters during their period. The actual amount is rather about five to 12 tablespoons.

Is the period still taboo in Germany? For cultural scientist Jana Wittenzellner, head curator of the exhibition, there is no clear-cut answer: "Menstruation has been part of an ongoing public discussion for a decade. It's still taboo for some, for others not anymore, and for some it wasn't a taboo even 30 years ago."

According to Wittenzellner, there seems to be a lot of interest from older people who typically react by saying they are glad to finally be able to share their experiences through the exhibition.

Reactions on social media have been "mainly enthusiastic on Instagram, but on Facebook, there have been rants about the 'gross topic,'" says Wittenzellner.

Openness to discussing menstruation often depends on a person's social circle: "In my family, it was more of a taboo," says Ly Nguyen, a 30-year-old Berliner of Vietnamese descent participating in the guided tour. "In Vietnam you don't talk about this private thing. All the education I required came from my female friends. But when I got my first period, my mom told me not to use tampons, so I wouldn't lose my virginity  though not exactly in these words."

The "hymen myth" is a widespread misguided cultural concept. In actual fact there is no such vaginal membrane that breaks upon penetration. And using a tampon has nothing to do with virginity.

Another participant in the tour, Rukhsana Dill Riaz from Wiesbaden, has been living in Germany for 26 years. She doesn't think that it's so much of a taboo here, unlike in her home country, Bangladesh: "People are very superstitious there. Menstruating women are not pure; they cannot even go to the graveyard."

Public discourse about menstruation

Through almost 200 everyday objects, photos, graphics, newspaper articles and social media posts, the third section of the exhibition tackles how the discourse surrounding menstruation has evolved in the West.

In the past 10 years, the topic has increasingly entered the public space, notably through social media posts using hashtags such as #periodpositivity and #menstruationmatters.

This has also led to debates and policy changes. Earlier this year, Spain adopted a menstrual leave law, which enables a person to take time off from work when period symptoms are too painful.

On the other hand, some critics say that the measure could potentially perpetuate sexist attitudes and contribute to menstrual stigma.

The exhibition also addresses public shaming of menstruation, with a powerful portrait of Donald Trump made from menstrual blood. It was created by Sarah Levy in response to Trump's comment against Fox News host Megyn Kelly: "There was blood coming out of her wherever," he had said, after she put him in a tight spot in a presidential TV debate in 2015.

Period poverty

While there is a growing awareness of period poverty in developing countries, the phenomenon affects women in wealthier parts of the world too.

According to an online survey in Germany, for which 1,000 women were interviewed by Plan International and WASH United in 2021, 23% of participants claimed that the monthly expenses for menstruation were a financial burden.

Menstrual health expenses are estimated at 5-35 ($5,50-$38,25) per month if painkillers and contraceptives are included. It adds up when multiplied by 450  the average number of cycles throughout a woman's life.

Pop culture and art

At the end of the tour, the group is directed to spend time independently in the fourth section of the exhibition, which features digital images of art as well as scenes from films and series, such as one from the 2016 coming-of-age dramedy "20th Century Women," in which Greta Gerwig's character causes embarrassment at a family dinner by talking openly about menstruation.

"Art and culture has such an impact and plays such an important role in the discussion about menstruation. It also makes it interesting and funny, says Wittenzellner: "And we wanted the exhibition to be fun. If people are ashamed, laughter is the best possible way to counteract.

"Flow: The Exhibition on Menstruation" is on until October 6, 2024.
Salaam to the Afghan women and girls flocking to online courses to circumvent the Talibans ban on female education. Internet service providers are reporting a surge in demand with some offering free classes, reports the Financial Times . And the girls are using fake names to avoid being caught.

In Iran, over a year after Mahsa Amini died in custody for not adequately covering her head, there are still women out and about with their heads uncovered. State repression includes arrests and beatings.

The horrors of Gaza are evident where women and children account for 70% of the 22,000 killed. Of those left alive, 90% face starvation. Women, of course, eat least and last, particularly when food and water are scarce.

All over the world, there is a literal war on women. In the US, women are fighting for abortion rights which they had won half a century ago. Last month, Kate Cox of Texas discovered foetal abnormalities that would have put her life at risk. A court said she could have an emergency abortion. Then, the states attorney general Ken Paxton warned hospitals of prosecution if any doctors were involved in providing an emergency abortion to Cox. Kate Cox left the state to get an abortion elsewhere.

This is not a doom and gloom column but one that salutes the extraordinary resilience of women. If weve seen a backsliding of gender rights, we have also seen the resistance to it  whether its grandmothers protesting the Citizenship Amendment Act or wrestlers staying the course for justice for alleged sexual harassment by former Wrestling Federation head, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

The brazenness of the proxy election of the six-time BJP member of Parliament, an election held under international scrutiny, only matched the apathy of those in power to hold him to account. Over a year, weve seen Indias leading athletes battle broken promises, police manhandling, innuendo, and pro-establishment statements from their fraternity (PT Usha, MC Mary Kom). Its a cautionary, though equally inspiring, lesson in courage. Through the year gone by, weve watched women fight for promotions in the armed services, take on abusers, and defy opposition to love who and how they wish.

Perhaps none has been as dogged as Bilkis Bano, gang-raped during the 2002 Gujarat riots, her family members killed before her eyes. Against the odds, 11 men were sentenced to life imprisonment. On Indias 75th Independence Day, the men walked free.

It was the grotesque triumphalism with which they were feted by Right-wing organisations that led to an outcry amongst decent folk. A public interest litigation dragged on in the Supreme Court where a frustrated justice KM Joseph said in open court it was more than obvious that the governments attorney was deliberately delaying the hearing until Josephs retirement.

Bilkis, and the nation, now await judgement. But whatever the court rules, of one thing you can be sure: Bilkis will not be backing down any time soon.

Namita Bhandare writes on gender. The views expressed are personal
Bangladesh and Pakistan head to elections on January 7 and February 8, respectively. In the last five years, both countries have been subject to severe economic and political challenges, largely due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war. Given the situation, it is likely that the status quo will prevail in Bangladesh; in Pakistan, regardless of who is in office, the military will exercise the ultimate authority.

Both Bangladesh and Pakistan have seen adverse impacts of fuel inflation, resulting in power blackouts and a decrease in production and exports in the past five years. Combined with food inflation, protests, and unrest have roiled both countries on multiple occasions. Supply chain disruptions, heavy fuel imports, limited export diversification, and extensive borrowing, along with other institutional and structural weaknesses have resulted in a steep fall in foreign reserves. Both countries had approached the International Monetary Fund for assistance in 2022.

In Bangladesh, the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) was quick to use the economic situation to challenge Sheikh Hasina and her Awami Leagues (AL) legitimacy. After having called on Sheikh Hasina to resign, the BNP has now decided to boycott the elections. With other contestants having little to no capacity and political space to challenge the AL, Sheikh Hasina will likely win her fourth consecutive term. But with allegations of electoral rigging and domestic crackdown looming, the opposition is likely to continue with more protests against the government even after the results are declared.

This will complicate Indias position in Bangladesh. Bangladesh under Sheikh Hasina has championed the art of balancing with its friendship to all, malice to none policy. This has given Dhaka enough leverage to attract investments from China, better connect with India, and improve economic and defence relations with Japan and the West. But Hasinas track record on democracy and human rights has invited criticism from the United States (US) and the West on multiple occasions. The US has even threatened to impose sanctions on individuals disrupting free, fair, and peaceful elections. Both China and India, on the other hand, have preferred working with Sheikh Hasina  underscoring the inevitable competition to influence that country.

However, targeted coercion or restrictions on trade and defence partnerships by the West are likely to put enormous pressure on Bangladeshs foreign policy and may compel it to move closer to China. Delhi has thus even urged the West to not push Bangladesh to an extent that would be advantageous to Beijing. Hasinas victory will likely put Delhis relations with Dhaka under more scrutiny  with the West expecting India to be vocal about the state of democracy in Bangladesh, and the latter hoping India could fend off pressure from the West. In this regard, India will have to walk a tightrope to maintain its leverage, fend off external pressure, accommodate the Wests concerns, and limit Chinas inroads.

In Pakistan, the military has begun to consolidate more power and influence, following its fallout with Imran Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Following this, the succeeding coalition government and the caretaker government have conferred more political and legal power on the institution. This has helped the military crackdown on PTI and maintain its supremacy in the countrys civil-military balance. By involving themselves in the economic recovery process, especially with the creation of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), the military has further made inroads into the domain of policymaking. The military will thus influence the incoming governments policies, especially if their favoured candidate, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, fails to secure a majority.

However, the dominance of the military in civic affairs will hardly impact bilateral relations with India. Economic challenges, tensions with the Taliban, and a rise in terror attacks within the country have pushed Pakistan to maintain some calm on its eastern borders, especially after the relationship reached an all-time low with the Pulwama terror attack and Indias abrogation of Article 370. This passive peace has also allowed India to focus on a more significant threat  China. Despite some noises favourable to India coming from Islamabad these days, it remains unclear what leverage any new government will have on making a decisive break from the past on Kashmir. New Delhi may have moved on but Rawalpindis ability to make mischief still remains.

India will also continue to watch Pakistans balancing with China and the US. Strategically speaking, China will continue to use Pakistan to access the Indian Ocean and limit Indias growing power ambitions, through defence cooperation and economic leverage. In 2023 alone, China offered financial assistance of more than $7 billion to Pakistan. Such leverage will make that country vulnerable to greater debt entanglement. That said, the military leadership has also shown keen interest in bridging the relationship with the US, laying the ground for the civilian government to further promote defence and economic cooperation. For the US, good relations with Pakistan will also help it push back against China to some extent.

This cooperation will, however, trigger some discomfort in India, increasing complexities in its critical partnership with the US.

Harsh V Pant is vice-president for studies at ORF and Shivamurthy is associate fellow, South Asia, at ORF. The views expressed are personal
In an unexpected turn of events, a woman was reunited with her handbag after 30 years. As per reports, her purse which was stolen decades ago, was returned to her when a girl found it near a river. The purse was stolen from 81-year-old Audrey Hays workplace about 30 years ago (Representational image). (Unsplash/kevs)

81-year-old Audrey Hay lost the bag from her workplace 30 years ago. It is believed that the purse was stolen and after the thief took out the money, amounting to 200, threw it into the river.

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11-year-old Maisie Coutts found it while taking a stroll around River Don, reports the BBC. I was just walking around with my dog and my mum and my dad and then I pointed out, 'Oh, theres a handbag'. I said Mum do you want a new handbag? Then I said maybe theres something in it. So then we decided to open it and we saw like a credit card and we saw the name so we were really confused, who is this, are they dead, are they not? Coutts told BBC Scotland.

Also Read: Man reunites with iPhone he had lost 10 months ago in British river

Soon after, she and her mom took the help of social media to find its owner. We got home and saw the name Audrey and I did some research about her, I figured out a bit about her, Coutts added.

When we noticed the dates on the cards were all 1993 I thought oh my goodness this has been in the water a long time. I posted on social media and eventually, we did track down Audrey. Audrey confirmed it was her bag and that it was stolen 30 years ago. The power of social media is incredible, Couttss mom Kim told the outlet.

How did Hay react?

It was stolen, I was out of the office, when I came back in, my bag under my desk had gone. I phoned the police and they took a statement. This wasnt expected. Its amazing it has survived. Its the only bag I have lost, Hay shared while talking about the incident.

What was inside the purse?

When Hay lost the bag, it had 240, among other things. The money was stolen but some of the things were left behind. The purse contained a lipstick, earrings, a key, coins, tablets, and pens when Coutts found it.
After Infosys co-founder and former CEO, Narayana Murthy said that youth should work at least 70 hours a week to boost the countrys work productivity, it caused a debate globally. While many people criticised him, several also came in support. Now, in an interview with CNBC-TV18, Murthy explained his reason behind the 70 hour remark. Narayana Murthy explained his 70 hour work week remark.

Talking about his remark, Murthy told CNBC-TV18, "I rationalized it this way. If anybody has performed much better than me in their own field, not necessarily in my field, I would respect, I would call them, and I would say, where do you think I was wrong in saying this? But I didn't find it. A lot of my Western friends, a lot of NRIs, and a lot of good people in India called me, and without exception, they were all very happy. They all said whether it is 70 or 60, that's not the issue." (Also Read: How corporate bigwigs reacted to Narayana Murthy's 70-hour work week remark)

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He further emphasised the issue and said, "The issue is that we have to work hard in this country because the poor farmer works very hard. You know, the poor factory worker works very hard. So, therefore, those of us who received education at a huge discount, thanks to the subsidy from the government for all this education. In my case, I got a scholarship, right from the university. So we owe it to the less fortunate citizens of India to work extremely hard."

Watch the video of Narayana Murthy here:

This post was shared a few hours ago. Since being posted, it received several likes and numerous comments. Many people had mixed reactions to it.

Check out what people said about it here:

An individual wrote, "Agree on working hard for company and nation building. But gullible employees took this comment out of sync and became dismayed."

"We work extremely hard, and you pay in peanuts," posted a second.

A third shared, "Most employees in Mumbai leave at 6:30 am to reach at 9:30 am. And then get home at night at 10:30 PM. He says anything."

A fourth said, "Productivity is more important."

I agree with him, added a fifth.
Bitcoin is a Liberating Force for an African Village Mining It

A village in Malawi is full of happy people  thanks to Bitcoin mining.

The village is called Bondo. Rather, its a cluster of villages in the foothills of Mount Mulanje, in a remote Malawi region near Mozambiques border.

Its an impoverished region with no modes of transport besides ones feet, very few resources to feed people, and no electricity. Well, until recently.

Bitcoin Brought Electricity to Bondo



UnHerd reported that electricity has arrived in Bondo.

What the region does have is massive rainfall. Three turbines were installed in a micro-hydro system to exploit that rainfall.

In a concrete pump shed sit 32 computers mining Bitcoin.

And while crypto mining is commonly criticized for electricity consumption, the report argues that,

This initiative flips that narrative by using Bitcoin mining to fund energy in parts of Africa that are too poor or remote to merit connection to grids, but which do have plentiful supplies of potential power sources.

Mining utilizes the excess energy of these renewable plants. It has created a life-changing impact for the 1,800 homes connected to a mini-grid.

And it has done so in a number of ways.

Firstly, as said, people finally got electricity, unlike in most places in the country. Among many other things, they can use stoves to cook, refrigerators to store their food and medicine, watch TV, and the lights are on for children to study, giving them a chance to continue their education instead of leaving school.

Also, villagers are able to produce food and drinks to sell at the local markets.

The senior chief told the reporter they never thought theyd see energy supplied to the villages. And not only homes, but schools, maize mills, small enterprises, shops, and churches are also connected to the grid.

When you move around Bondo you see happy people  and thats because of electricity.

All this helps drive development in the local economy as well.

People Learned How to Catch Their Own Fish



One of the most important and often neglected facts is that many impoverished communities rely on foreign aid.

Actually, the author described Malawi as a powerful case study in the failures of aid. Countries such as Great Britain would bring fish to Malawi, but never taught them how to catch it itself, so to say.

But, the report noted,

[Bitcoin mining has released] the community from reliance on foreign handouts to survive.

Erik Hersman, chief executive of Gridless, commented that Bitcoin can prevent Bondo becoming the sort of white elephant that you see across Africa, built by aid groups and then abandoned.

Mount Mulanje Conservation Trust, a local group working to protect the regions unique bio-diversity, built the Bondo power plants. They were initially supported by finance from aid and development agencies.

However, said the report,

Now Bitcoin covers the running costs.

Lastly, Malawi shows yet another reason why people in Africa are turning more towards bitcoin. They are looking for a way to protect their money and keep it away from unstable local currencies.
A Hindu temple in the US state of California was allegedly defaced with pro-Khalistan graffiti, the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) said on Friday. The incident took place weeks after the Swaminarayan Mandir in California was vandalised with anti-India graffiti. Vijays Sherawali Temple in Hayward, California.

Another Bay Area Hindu temple attacked with pro-#Khalistan graffiti. The Vijays Sherawali Temple in Hayward, CA sustained a copycat defacement just two weeks after the Swaminarayan Mandir attack and one week after a theft at the Shiv Durga temple in the same area, the HAF wrote on social media X.

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The foundation added that it was in touch with temple leaders and contact with the Alameda Police Department and Civil Rights Division.

Last month, the US state department had condemned the vandalism of the Shri Swaminarayan temple in California. It welcomed the Newark Police Department's efforts to hold the culprits accountable.

We condemn the vandalism of Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu Temple in California. We welcome efforts by the Newark Police Department to ensure that those responsible are held accountable, the official handle of the US state department for the bureau of south and central Asian affairs wrote on X.

The statement came after suspected pro-Khalistan activists allegedly defaced the Swaminarayan temple in Newark, California. The incident, which surfaced on December 23, involved the vandalism of the Hindu temple's exterior wall with anti-India graffiti.

"One of the devotees, who lives close to the shrine, discovered anti-Hindu and anti-India graffiti in black ink on an exterior wall of the building, and the local administration was immediately informed," said Bhargav Raval, the spokesperson for the temple administration.

External affairs minister S Jaishankar, too, expressed concern over the vandalism of a Hindu temple with anti-India graffiti in the US and said extremists and separatist forces outside India should not get such space.

"I have seen the news. As you know, we are concerned about this. Extremists and separatist forces outside India should not get space. Our consulate has lodged a complaint with the (US) government and the police there over whatever happened, and I believe the matter is being inquired," Jaishankar said in response to a query about the incident.

Meanwhile, Newark police termed the incident a 'targeted act' and assured a thorough investigation.
Last month, the Yemen-based Houthi group attacked many commercial vessels in the Red Sea with ballistic missiles and drones, forcing United States Navy ships in the region to respond. The attack was an expansion of the Houthis ongoing blockade on Israeli-linked shipping passing through the Bab-el-Mandeb, the strait offering entry into the Red Sea from the South. The Houthis, as part of Yemens protracted civil war, have fought Saudi-led forces for almost a decade. Yemen has been in turmoil for the good part of the 21st century.

It might appear puzzling then that Saudi Arabia not only refused to join a US-led coalition of the willing (comprising US and European naval forces) to protect Red Sea shipping from Houthi attacks, but also advised restraint to Washington. This puzzle is at the heart of the current crisis in the Red Sea  the latest theatre in the unfolding conflict in West Asia precipitated by Hamas October 7 terror attack and Israels high-casualty bombing campaign in Gaza. . The Houthis principal state rival in the last eight years has been Saudi Arabia, which heads a coalition mission called Operation Restoring Hope (with UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Egypt and others) backing Yemens internationally recognised government in exile.

How have the Houthis worked in the past?

Controlling most of the Yemeni territory, the Houthis are sustained in no small part by Iranian funds and arms, adding a second layer of political objectives for the group, outside of those of the civil war. A Houthi attack on Saudi interests serves both their own domestic cause in Yemen and Irans objectives against Riyadh by proxy. It is only natural then, given Yemens geography and a commanding view of the Red Seas southern choke point, that attacking commercial shipping has also been an effective instrument of war for the Houthis.

What purpose does targeting commercial shipping serve?

Given the vast number of affected countries when international shipping is targeted, an attack on even one ship acts as a geopolitical shape-charge, forcing states to first protect (by either cutting off shipping through that route temporarily or undertaking more expensive re-routes), and then mitigate (through the collective application of naval power). Even as the latter plays out, it is the former which serves the Houthis political objective as the markets react to immediate developments, creating the political and economic pressure necessary on the targeted state.

Open-source intelligence reports show that a majority of Houthi attacks have been against Saudi-linked shipping especially since 2017, however, Israel too has been significantly affected by Houthi activity around the Bab-el-Mandeb, prompting Tel Aviv to join naval exercises with the US and UAE, following the Abraham Accords  a series of US facilitated agreements normalising relations between Israel and UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan.

This time around, Israel is the principal targeted state given that the new objective of Houthi maritime warfare is to increase the international cost of the war in Gaza, according to a New York Times report published after the initial Houthi strikes in the Red Sea. This overarching political characteristic of the Houthis Red Sea attacks is also what sets them apart from the Somali pirates, the senior non-state threat in the Red Sea. For the latter, the objective has been largely mercantile, seizing vessels for monetary sustenance and vitality. While the former too has trained its guns on economic targets  the Houthis also targeted Saudi Aramco facilities in Riyadh and Jeddah across 2021 and 2022, sending oil prices soaring  targeting commercial shipping has been more means than end.

The new regional context for Houthi attacks

While Saudi Arabia has been a front-line state in the civil war in Yemen, years of monetary and military investment without effective victory, fresh risks to its oil exports, as well as the Houthis ability to withstand a war of attrition, have pushed Riyadh to now extricate itself from the war. Hence, even as Riyadh repaired its fractured relationship with Tehran through a Beijing-facilitated rapprochement in March, it had all but closed in on a peace deal with the Houthis themselves, by December. The Saudis were betting on a new West Asia, pushing the envelope by considering normalised relations even with Israel before October 7.

Hence, the lingering momentum of the Abraham Accords resulted in a new Arab modus vivendi. Their reaction to Israels Gaza campaign has been critical but restrained. On the other hand, the alarming civilian death toll in Gaza and growing Arab public opinion against Israel has meant that these states have indicated little willingness to join US-led coalitions seeking to punish anti-Israel actors (save Bahrain, no Arab state has thus far joined Washingtons Operation Prosperity Guardian in the Red Sea).

Situate this against Riyadhs unwillingness to abandon its rapprochement with Iran despite Tehrans hostile rhetoric against Israel and the US, and there is abundant evidence to show that as the Houthis step up attacks against Israeli and American targets in the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia may only stand by.

For Sanaa, or the Houthis, it is about displaying their willingness to do what Arab states cannot and respond militarily to Israeli aggression in Gaza, through a low-cost, high-value maritime campaign. They are helped in considerable part by the ongoing twin detente (Saudi-Houthi, Saudi-Iran). Arab states, in return, shall express concern and offer criticism (given the adverse effects on their own shipping), but shall not join military action against the Houthis, as the effect of the groups campaign ultimately bolsters pressure on Israel to end the war.

What is Indias position?

India could easily join the older anti-Somali piracy coalition due to its relatively non-political nature and a global naval cooperative (largely) easily stitching itself together. In the Houthi case however, Indias options are more limited, given the inextricable political character of the coalition being built by Washington, the reluctance of most Arab states, and Indias own shifts in stance over Israels war in Gaza  from hesitating over a ceasefire call to now supporting it.

Even as it stands by Israel on the question of fighting terror, it cannot abandon the Global South on Palestine generally and ceasefire specifically. Two India-linked vessels, MV Chem Pluto and MV Sai Baba, were targeted by drone strikes in late December, and the US embassy spokesperson told Mint that the US welcomed other countries, including India, in joining us to defend the freedom of navigation in the regions vital waterways, including by participating in Operation Prosperity Guardian. India, however, has been cautious about accepting this. Given that the unfolding Red Sea crisis bears strong overtones of having spilt over from the Gaza conflict, the Indian Navy can mainly (and thus far, solely) focus on humanitarian efforts and rescue.

In a way, Indias main option is to now push for a ceasefire on its own, to prevent further harm to shipping lines that link to key Indian ports. The future of this crisis shall depend on the tolerance threshold of states affected by Houthi attacks on their ships, as much as it shall on Israels own choices in Gaza.

Bashir Ali Abbas is a Research Associate at the Council for Strategic and Defense Research, New Delhi, and a South Asia Visiting Fellow at the Stimson Center, Washington DC. Views expressed are strictly his own.
Billionaire Bill Ackman's wife, Neri Oxman, plagiarised passages of her 2010 doctoral dissertation at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), according to a report by Business Insider. This comes after Ackman called for the resignation of Harvard President Claudine Gay, citing allegations of plagiarism. In a tweet, he said, Students are forced to withdraw for much less. Reacting to the reports that Claudine Gay will remain part of Harvard faculty even after her exit as university's president, Ackman said this sets a "very bad precedent for academic integrity at Harvard." (Reuters/AP)

According to the analysis by the publication, similar patterns of plagiarism were found in Oxman's 330-page PhD dissertation: Material-based Design Computation". As per the report, she used direct quotes from sources without quotation marks in her dissertation. Oxman, who has been a tenured MIT professor since 2017, is accused of plagiarising texts from two separate articles by NYU historian Peder Anker published in 1995 and 2006. she also lifted text from 1998 book by Claus Mattheck, a German physicist.

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Read more: Not once does she apologize': Bill Ackman, Vivek Ramaswamy and more react after Claudine Gay's resignation

Ackman's wife expresses regret, apologises after plagiarism allegations

Responding to the allegations, Oxman expressed regret and apologized for the errors made by her. She even said that she should have provided a citation to Mattheck.

"Unfortunately, because some of the original sources are not online, and Business Insider was unwilling to give me beyond 4 pm to review these citations, I cannot confirm whether Business Insider or the sources I referenced for this paragraph are correct. When I obtain access to the original sources, I will check all of the above citations and request that MIT make any necessary corrections," she wrote.

"As I have dedicated my career to advancing science and innovation, I have always recognized the profound importance of the contributions of my peers and those who came before me. I hope that my work is helpful to the generations to come. I am also incredibly grateful for the 15 years I spent at MIT beginning when I enrolled in the PhD program in 2005, obtained my PhD in 2010, and later joined the faculty that same year. I became a tenured member of the faculty in 2017 and then left MIT in 2020 after I got married, became a mother, and moved to New York City," she added.

Read more: Who is Alan M. Garber, the new Harvard President replacing Claudine Gay?

Bill Ackman defends wife from plagiarism accusations

Claiming that allegations against Oxman were targetted attacks, Ackman said: "You know that you struck a chord when they go after your wife, in this case, my love and partner in life," he wrote on X, attaching Oxman's apology and explanation post on the issue.

Please see her post below about todays Business Insider piece about her dissertation. Part of what makes her human is that she makes mistakes, owns them, and apologizes when appropriate, he wrote.

Ackman, who has taken a a hardline stance on plagiarism, praised his wife for her exceptional work that has been featured in 116 exhibitions around the world.

"She has been awarded 15 patents for various innovations, and her work has been featured in 116 exhibitions around the world including two recent retrospectives at the Museum of Modern Art and SF MoMA. If you would like to learn more about Neri, I encourage you to watch her podcast with Lex Fridman," he wrote.

Reacting to the reports that Gay will remain part of Harvard faculty even after her exit as university's president, Ackman said this sets a "very bad precedent for academic integrity at Harvard." In a lengthy post on X, he slammed Harvards board for backing Gay and stressed that she should be fired completely due to serious plagiarism issues.
Residents in riverside England towns affected by this week's extensive rains, which swept across Europe, worked to alleviate flooding on Friday while authorities cautioned about potential rising waters in the coming days. An areal view of flooding in Pulborough, West Sussex, England.(AP)

A powerful storm with strong winds led to the flooding of over 1,000 homes and businesses, submerging communities in muddy water, Associated Press reported. Streets turned into waterways, structures and vehicles were submerged, and agricultural lands were inundated. Train services were disrupted due to a landslide and floodwaters, impacting multiple lines originating from London and routes in southwest England extending to Wales.

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The Telegraph reported about potential icy conditions in the region in the upcoming week following the floods, prompting warnings for drivers. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued a cold weather alert starting Saturday.

Rescue teams were mobilised to aid evacuation efforts in Marlborough due to the flooding, assisting vulnerable individuals, including those from a retirement complex. Footage showed residents evacuating on foot with belongings, while others were relocated as river water levels surged, prompting evacuations of residences and businesses.

The Town Council is working closely with the emergency services and Wiltshire Council to respond to the flooding situation in Marlborough, The Telegraph quoted a Marlborough Town Council spokesperson as saying.

More flood updates here

-Recent consecutive storms resulted in prolonged rainfall that began on Thursday, saturating the already dampened ground and leading to overflowing rivers and waterways in England and Wales. This also led to flooding across various parts of Europe over the past few days.

-Almost every river in England was listed as exceptionally high by the agency and some set records. The River Itchen in Southampton doubled its previous record for December.

-Flooding occurred along the River Trent in central England, prompting local authorities to declare a major incident, Associated Press reported. London's fire service reported rescuing approximately 50 individuals late Thursday due to an overflow from a canal in the eastern part of the city.

-In the UK, despite a shift to drier conditions, hundreds of flood warnings remained in effect on Friday. The Environment Agency cautioned that the effects of flooding could persist for up to five more days.

-Caroline Douglass, Environment Agency's flood management director, highlighted the extensive impact of flooding, mentioning around 1,000 homes being affected, according to BBC. Railways in parts of the southern region were closed, and road closures were implemented in the severely affected areas.

-In Gloucestershire, residents navigated knee-deep water along a street. In Henley-on-Thames, a man used a canoe to traverse a flooded meadow while carrying a handsaw on his back.

-In Wallingford, submerged cars were partially buried in water up to their windows. Additionally, in Leicestershire county, a long canal boat that came loose from its mooring had overturned and was wedged against a bridge on the River Soar.

(With inputs from Reuters, Associated Press)
While 2023 witnessed a minor deceleration in bilateral trade, exports of India of smartphones to Canada grew by over 200%. (FILES) A man walks past the High Commission of Canada in New Delhi on September 19, 2023. Canada said October 19, 2023 it had withdrawn 41 diplomats from India -- fallout from a bitter row over the killing of a Sikh separatist on Canadian soil. New Delhi planned to revoke diplomatic immunity for all but 21 of Canada's diplomats and their families by Friday, forcing Ottawa to pull out the others, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said. (Photo by Arun SANKAR / AFP) (AFP)

Indias High Commissioner to Ottawa Sanjay Kumar Verma said there was a loss of about 7% in bilateral trade till the end of October. That is the period till which data is available from the Ministry of Commerce.

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For the first ten months of 2023, bilateral trade in goods amounted to US$7.65 billion with Indias exports at US$4.70 billion and imports at US$2.95 billion, according to data from the High Commission. Trade in goods for all of 2022 had amounted to US$10.50 billion.

While trade has decreased slightly, some areas have shown impressive growth. Exports of smartphones manufactured in India rose by 227% between January and October 2023, from US$38.57 million for the same period in 2022 to US$126 million. Some Canadian exports also rose, with lentils and commodities such as copper ores and concentrates and non-alloyed nickel increasing by 100%.

While the previous year was marked by a dozen rounds of negotiations between the two countries towards an Early Progress Trade Agreement (EPTA), Ottawa paused talks in late August. Later, the reason became apparent when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated in the House of Commons on September 18 that there were credible allegations of a potential link between Indian agents and the killing of pro-Khalistan figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia three months earlier.

A senior Indian official said that deal, an interim step towards a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, was close to finalisation when talks were called off indefinitely.

But Canadian businesses continue to look towards India as a market, with pension funds cumulatively investing over US$75 billion and increasingly viewing India as a favourable destination for investments, according to the High Commission.

Over 600 Canadian companies have a presence in India and over a 1000 are engaged in the Indian market.
An Air Canada flight from Toronto to Calgary took an unexpected turn when a 16-year-old passenger assaulted a family member mid-flight. The incident led to a dramatic diversion and a three-hour delay for the beleaguered passengers. FILE PHOTO: Air Canada planes are parked at Toronto Pearson Airport in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada April 28, 2021.(REUTERS)

Mid-air drama unfolds:

According to police reports, Flight AC137 diverted to Winnipeg shortly after takeoff, only about an hour into its journey. The Airbus A321 was forced to land due to an unruly 16-year-old passenger creating chaos on board.

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The Royal Canadian Mounted Police revealed that the teenage passenger had assaulted an adult male family member during the flight. The situation escalated, leading to the crew and passengers working together to restrain the unruly teen.

Airline employees and fellow passengers stepped up to the challenge, managing to restrain the teen until the flight could land in Winnipeg. Upon landing, the suspect was promptly arrested, and he was later taken to the hospital for a medical evaluation.

Also Read | Man found dead inside plane engine at US airport

While the 16-year-old was undergoing evaluation, the family member, who suffered minor injuries during the altercation, received on-site treatment. The flight, however, experienced a delay of three hours before it could resume its journey to Calgary.

Unruly passenger behaviour has seen an uptick, especially since the pandemic. Incidents reported by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) increased from 1,161 in 2019 to 2,031 in the last year. The aviation industry faced nearly 6,000 such incidents in 2021 as it rebounded from the COVID impact. (Also Read | Air Canada apologises over questioning of UK MP Mohammad Yasin)

Despite the rise in unruly incidents, 2023 marked a positive trend, boasting the lowest percentage of flight cancellations in a decade, just below 1.2%, according to the US Department of Transportation. This suggests that, while disturbances in the air are occurring, overall flight operations have been improving.
The wave of extortion attempts targeting Indo-Canadian businesses has moved beyond the Greater Toronto Area and the Metro Vancouver region and into the province of Alberta as well, with police there investigating at least 18 such investigations that have occurred since October last year. Photo of an unidentified male suspect wanted by police in Edmonton in connection with arson linked to extortion attempts targeting Indo-Canadian businesses. (Edmonton Police Service)

While shootings at businesses and residences have been reported elsewhere, including most recently at the home of the son of the president of the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir in Surrey, British Columbia on December 27, Edmonton Police Service (EPS), in a release on Thursday, also pointed to a series of arson attempts.

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Failure to pay the extorted sum results in arson or other property damage to new home builds, show homes and related property. The suspects have also been known to make follow-up demands for higher sums of money, leading to an escalation of violence and drive-by shootings. No injuries have been reported as a result of shooting incidents, the release said.

The arsons are typically committed by a group of young adults and youth observed carrying jerry cans, it added and released a CCTV image of a young suspect allegedly involved in a December 29 incident of arson.

Police also said six persons have been arrested so far in this connection for shooting and arson incidents that have been connected to the extortion series. They include 20-year-old Parminder Singh, who faces 12 firearms-related charges connected to an October 19 shooting at a residence in the city. He remains in custody. Others were identified as Hassan Dembil, 18, Manav Heer, 18, Ravinder Sandu, 19, who were charged with arson-related offences linked to a December 19 residential fire. They have since been released. Also arrested and then release was Arjun Sahnan, 19, who faces five firearms-related charges.

This follows the shot fired at the residence of the son of Satish Kumar, president of Lakshmi Narayan Mandir in the town of Surrey last Thursday. Kumar told the Hindustan Times at the time he believed the incident may have been related to an extortion attempt.

On December 22, Peel Regional Police (PRP) announced it was setting up a task force to investigate a disturbing trend of extortion attempts in the GTA. On December 9, PRP arrested 23-year-old Tanmanjot Gill, resident of Abbotsford in British Columbia, for discharging a gun and firing multiple rounds at a business in the town of Brampton in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Officers are looking for a second suspect, described as a South Asian male of medium build.

Abbotsford Polices Major Crime Unit is investigating cases involving residents and businesses, a release on December 7 said. Earlier, on November 23, the department said it became aware of multiple businesses receiving the same letter requesting they pay money in exchange for protection from future violence. The letter cites recent reported events in Abbotsford, yet no connection has been confirmed.

The letter, according to community members, threatened businesses to pay up or get a bullet, adding they could be targeted even in India as, it said, we have links all over.

On November 23, the Surrey detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) also stated it had become aware of extortions targeting business owners throughout the Lower Mainland and is encouraging anyone who may be a victim to call police.

These extortion attempts have underscored concerns over transnational gangs, with links to India, operating in Canada. The outlet Global News reported last month, citing an internal Abbotsford Police memo, that the suspects could be linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Its main figure in Canada, Satinderjeet Singh, better known as Goldy Brar, believed to be based in Brampton, had claimed credit for the killing of Punjabi entertainer-turned-politician Sidhu Moose Wala in May 2022. The Indian Government declared Brar a terrorist this year.
Russian hackers were inside Ukrainian telecoms giant Kyivstar's system from at least May last year in a cyberattack that should serve as a "big warning" to the West, Ukraine's cyber spy chief told Reuters. The attack wiped "almost everything", including thousands of virtual servers and PCs.(Getty Images/ Representational photo)

The hack, one of the most dramatic since Russia's full-scale invasion nearly two years ago, knocked out services provided by Ukraine's biggest telecoms operator for some 24 million users for days from Dec. 12.

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In an interview, Illia Vitiuk, head of the Security Service of Ukraine's (SBU) cybersecurity department, disclosed exclusive details about the hack, which he said caused "disastrous" destruction and aimed to land a psychological blow and gather intelligence.

"This attack is a big message, a big warning, not only to Ukraine, but for the whole Western world to understand that no one is actually untouchable," he said. He noted Kyivstar was a wealthy, private company that invested a lot in cybersecurity.

The attack wiped "almost everything", including thousands of virtual servers and PCs, he said, describing it as probably the first example of a destructive cyberattack that "completely destroyed the core of a telecoms operator."

During its investigation, the SBU found the hackers probably attempted to penetrate Kyivstar in March or earlier, he said in a Zoom interview on Dec. 27.

"For now, we can say securely, that they were in the system at least since May 2023," he said. "I cannot say right now, since what time they had ... full access: probably at least since November."

The SBU assessed the hackers would have been able to steal personal information, understand the locations of phones, intercept SMS-messages and perhaps steal Telegram accounts with the level of access they gained, he said.

A Kyivstar spokesperson said the company was working closely with the SBU to investigate the attack and would take all necessary steps to eliminate future risks, adding: "No facts of leakage of personal and subscriber data have been revealed."

Vitiuk said the SBU helped Kyivstar restore its systems within days and to repel new cyber attacks.

"After the major break there were a number of new attempts aimed at dealing more damage to the operator," he said.

Kyivstar is the biggest of Ukraine's three main telecoms operators and there are some 1.1 million Ukrainians who live in small towns and villages where there are no other providers, Vitiuk said.

People rushed to buy other SIM cards because of the attack, creating large queues. ATMs using Kyivstar SIM cards for the internet ceased to work and the air-raid siren - used during missile and drone attacks - did not function properly in some regions, he said.

He said the attack had no big impact on Ukraine's military, which did not rely on telecoms operators and made use of what he described as "different algorithms and protocols".

"Speaking about drone detection, speaking about missile detection, luckily, no, this situation didn't affect us strongly," he said.

RUSSIAN SANDWORM

Investigating the attack is harder because of the wiping of Kyivstar's infrastructure.

Vitiuk said he was "pretty sure" it was carried out by Sandworm, a Russian military intelligence cyberwarfare unit that has been linked to cyberattacks in Ukraine and elsewhere.

A year ago, Sandworm penetrated a Ukrainian telecoms operator, but was detected by Kyiv because the SBU had itself been inside Russian systems, Vitiuk said, declining to identify the company. The earlier hack has not been previously reported.

Russia's defence ministry did not respond to a written request for comment on Vitiuk's remarks.

Vitiuk said the pattern of behaviour suggested telecoms operators could remain a target of Russian hackers. The SBU thwarted over 4,500 major cyberattacks on Ukrainian governmental bodies and critical infrastructure last year, he said.

A group called Solntsepyok, believed by the SBU to be affiliated with Sandworm, said it was responsible for the attack.

Vitiuk said SBU investigators were still working to establish how Kyivstar was penetrated or what type of trojan horse malware could have been used to break in, adding that it could have been phishing, someone helping on the inside or something else.

If it was an inside job, the insider who helped the hackers did not have a high level of clearance in the company, as the hackers made use of malware used to steal hashes of passwords, he said.

Samples of that malware have been recovered and are being analysed, he added.

Kyivstar's CEO, Oleksandr Komarov, said on Dec. 20 that all the company's services had been fully restored throughout the country. Vitiuk praised the SBU's incident response effort to safely restore the systems.

The attack on Kyivstar may have been made easier because of similarities between it and Russian mobile operator Beeline, which was built with similar infrastructure, Vitiuk said.

Also read: India dismisses reports of artillery shells being supplied to Ukraine

The sheer size of Kyivstar's infrastructure would have been easier to navigate with expert guidance, he added.

The destruction at Kyivstar began at around 5:00 a.m. local time while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was in Washington, pressing the West to continue supplying aid.

Vitiuk said the attack was not accompanied by a major missile and drone strike at a time when people were having communication difficulties, limiting its impact while also relinquishing a powerful intelligence-gathering tool.

Why the hackers chose Dec. 12 was unclear, he said, adding: Maybe some colonel wanted to become a general.
North Korea launched over 200 artillery rounds into the sea near the heavily fortified maritime border with South Korea on Friday, leading to the evacuation order for residents of two South Korean islands due to an unspecified "situation". Yonhap reported that the decision was taken amid provocation from North Korea. (AP/File)

The defense ministry did not confirm whether the evacuation was prompted by North Korea's artillery firing or South Korean drills.

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However, a text message sent to residents mentioned "naval fire" by South Korean troops starting at 3 p.m. (0600 GMT) on Friday.

The evacuation on Yeonpyeong Island, just south of the disputed Northern Limit Line (NLL), was made at the request of the South Korean military. The North's artillery fire caused no damage in the South, according to South Korea's military briefing. In addition to Yeonpyeong, residents of Baengnyeong Island, situated further west and close to the sea border, were also instructed to evacuate, as confirmed by a local village official.

On Friday morning, North Korea launched over 200 coastal artillery shells, as reported by South Korea's military. No damage was reported in South Korea, and the shells landed north of the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto sea boundary between the two Koreas.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff told AP that North Korea fired 200 rounds in the waters north of their disputed western sea boundary, violating a 2018 military agreement. South Korea called the North Korean drills a provocation, adding that no damage was incurred.

As reported by AFP, Seoul warned on Friday that it would respond with 'appropriate' measures to North Korea's shelling.

A Yeonpyeong village official told Reuters that the evacuation order was issued after a request from the South Korean military.

"About 200 shots were fired by North Korea (near) Yeonpyeong Island," stated a defence ministry official during a briefing. Local officials in Yeonpyeong informed AFP that civilians had been requested to evacuate.

Yonhap reported that the decision was taken amid provocation from North Korea.

Quoting an official, Yonhap stated, We announced the evacuation after receiving a call from a military unit saying it was carrying out a maritime strike on Yeongpyeong Island as it has a situation with a North Korean provocation.
The Caribbean island that belonged to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was notorious for being a haven for paedophiles. Now, the New York Post reports that it will be turned into a resort. On Monday, Dec. 18, 2023, a federal judge ordered the public disclosure of the identities of more than 150 people mentioned in a mountain of court documents related to the late-financier, saying that most of the names were already public and that many had not objected to the release. (Uma Sanghvi/The Palm Beach Post via AP, File)(AP)

On Friday, the court unsealed a second set of court documents that were linked to Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 while facing charges of sex trafficking.

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These documents, which were part of an old lawsuit against the wealthy financier, mostly contained information that had already been known from various sources over the past 20 years.

ALSO READ| 2011 email suggests Bill Clinton threatened a magazine not to write about his good friend Jeffrey Epstein

However, they also revealed how Epstein associated with influential and A-lister people, some of whom were also accused of wrongdoing.

For example, the documents mentioned Epsteins former friendship with Bill Clinton  who is not accused of any crime  and Prince Andrew of Britain, who settled a lawsuit that alleged he had sex with a 17-year-old girl who was with Epstein.

More facts on the paedophile island-
Taiwanese Crypto Exchange ACE Founder, Employees Arrested Over Fraud Allegations

Taiwans leading crypto exchange ACE and its masterminds have been accused of making false claims around speculative token listings to defraud investors.

The local city police on Wednesday conducted multiple raids, arresting ACE founder David Pan, and co-conspirator Lin Nan. A total of 14 more employees at 15 locations across various cities were arrested.

Per a local news report, the New Taipei City Criminal Police Brigade investigated the fraud and seized crypto assets worth at least NT$200 million ($6.4 million).

ACE Fraud Scheme



According to the allegations, Pan and Lin, along with their team used social media platforms to promote sham offerings tied to worthless cryptos including MOCT.

The police said that Lin Nan and Pan Nan cooperated and used fake advertisements to deceive more than 100 investors into investing in worthless virtual currencies in the past three years, the report read.

The fraudsters allegedly created fear of missing out (FOMO) around these speculative assets, promising quick riches. ACE exchange claimed that digital assets are the latest technology and bragged that some cryptos are extremely bullish in the future.

The remuneration was set high and the operation was led by a professional team, the report added.

The police have booked cases under the Criminal Law, the Money Laundering Prevention Act, and the Banking Act. Lin and Pan however did not cooperate with the police during the enquiry and denied the charges against them.

ACEs website responded to the allegations and media reports, stating that none of the employees were involved in the case.

ACE employees are fully cooperating with the prosecutors investigation as witnesses. Some media reported that our companys employees were involved in the case, which is not true, Wang Chenhuan, President of ACE Exchange, noted.

Delisting MOCT/TWD Trading Pair



In yet another update on Friday, ACE announced the delisting of MOCT/TWD trading pair, starting Monday. The exchange assured that all pending orders will be automatically removed following the delisting.

Regarding disputes and violations involving specific project parties, ACE has fully cooperated with the investigation and has not had any impact on ACEs operations.

It confirmed that the media reports on ACE, is due to the fact that some currencies listed in 2019 were involved in illegal activities.
The year is 2024, and America is facing a presidential election that could determine its fate for decades to come. A potential future for America under the hypothetical scenario of without Donald Trump in 2024.(Eleven Films)

The incumbent, current US President Joe Biden is seeking a second term, but his popularity has plummeted due to the ongoing pandemic, economic recession, immigration backlogs, and social unrest. His primary challenger is a familiar face: Donald Trump, the former president who was disqualified from running in two states, Colorado and Maine, due to his role in inciting the Jan. Capitol riot in 2021.

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Trump has not given up his quest to reclaim the White House, despite facing multiple legal challenges and investigations. He has launched a campaign under the slogan #TrumpsNewAmerica, promising to restore law and order, revive the economy, and make America great again.

But a new video posted on X (formerly Twitter) by Eleven Films sparks the debate over Trump's New America.

ALSO READ| House Democrats allege Trump received nearly $8m from foreign govts as president

Make America Great Again

The Trump devotees are loyal and enthusiastic, flocking to his rallies and buying his merchandise. He has also gained the endorsement of several influential figures, such as Green Day, who performed a song with the lyrics Make America Great Again at a New Years Eve concert.

A Trump supporter voiced, In #TrumpsNewAmerica, he finally showed us what a real President should do. I'm one of the Trumps. It's Time to vote for Trump and save our country!!!

If the world is truly a good place, you and I will see #TrumpsNewAmerica, I have been drinking tea on my porch, pondering the positive path we are on as a nation. The corrupt have lost all their respect, elites exposed, the tyrants will follow suit. America is beautiful, another one expressed.

Not all Americans are happy with Trump

But not everyone is convinced by Trumps vision of a new America. Many Americans are wary of his divisive rhetoric, his authoritarian tendencies, and his disregard for the rule of law. They fear that another four years of Trump would erode the countrys democracy, undermine its alliances, and endanger its security.

One X(formerly Twitter) expressed, People might think this is far fetched, but this is exactly what happens in places like Russia, North Korea and China...all the dictators that Trump loves. Everyone has to work like hell to make sure we never see

ALSO READ| Lawsuit targets Pennsylvania Rep. Scott Perry's 2024 run, echoes Trump's legal woes

They also question his ability to handle the complex challenges facing the nation, such as climate change, health care, and immigration.

The sad part is....this turns MAGA on!!!! This is exactly what (they think) they want, another one wrote.

The fate of America hangs in the balance, as voters prepare to make a historic choice: to embrace or reject #TrumpsnewAmerica.
Bill Clinton was spotted smiling, greeting fans in Mexico hours before the Jeffrey Epstein list was released. Clinton was named among many other prominent people. Bill Clinton speaks at the 92nd Street Y, in New York, May 4, 2023 (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)(Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

The 77-year-old former president was seen visiting San Miguel de Allende, a city in the central Mexico state of Guanajuato. Mayor Mauricio Trejo Pureco shared a photo of Clinton on X, captioning it, Even Bill Clinton walks calmly and safely through the streets of San Miguel de Allende. Clinton was seen shaking hands with a passerby while having coffee.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Bill Clinton was named in the Jeffrey Epstein list

The first set of documents related to Epstein named the former president among many others. The documents, released on January 4, claimed that Epstein once told one of his victims that Clinton likes them young, referring to young girls. The document includes details of testimony by Johanna Sjoberg, who alleged she was recruited as a massage therapist at the age of 20. She was recruited on a college campus and had no massage training.

Johanna testified Jeffrey told her Clinton likes them young, referring to girls, states the document. She also testified that she was naked for 25  50% of all massages. She added that Epstein made her perform sexual acts during massages, as per the document.

Meanwhile, 19 documents from a lawsuit connected to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein were publicly released on Friday, January 5. This is the second batch of documents to be unsealed.

One of the newly released documents revealed that an email that Virginia Giuffre sent to a journalist in May 2011 suggested that Clinton asked Vanity Fair not to publish articles about "his good friend" Epstein, according to Sky News. Giuffre in the email expressed her concern over what the magazine might write about her upcoming book. "It does concern me what they could want to write about me," she wrote, "considering B. Clinton walked into VF and threatened them not to write sex-trafficking articles about his good friend J.E."
Casey Anthonys parents are appearing in atrue crime reality show on A&E. Here, they will both be seen taking lie detector tests on camera. This comes over a year after Caseys interview where she blamed her father, George, for the death of her daughter, Caylee. The series, titled Casey Anthonys Parents: The Lie Detector Test, is set to premiere Thursday, January 4, on A&E and Lifetime at 9 am ET. A clip shows 72-year-old George denying that he knew where Caylee was when investigators searched for his missing granddaughter (A&E screenshot/YouTube)

Casey Anthonys explosive accusations that her father molested Casey and Caylee and that he is responsible for Caylees death, prompted George and Cindys decision to undergo lie detector tests, A&E said in a press release advertising the new series. Their real-time responses to the polygraph questions are laid bare in the documentary along with each spouses reaction to the others answers and the lie detector results.

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So youre struggling with that one

A clip shows 72-year-old George denying that he knew where Caylee was when investigators searched for his missing granddaughter, 2, over six months. Caylees body was discovered in a wooded area near the familys Orlando home.

On being asked if George hid the fact that knew about Caylees whereabouts, he said no after a moment of hesitation. The person who was administering the polygraph asked George, So youre struggling with that one a little bit. Tell me why.

"Maybe it's because  it was so close to our house that she was found," George said.

George maintained that he did not know where Caylee was while he was out searching for her. "I was just visualizing the woods where she was found. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, he said.

Who killed Caylee Anthony?

Casey, of Florida, was initially charged with her daughters murder but acquitted on July 5, 2011. However, she was still convicted of four counts of providing false information to the police, for which she served time in prison before being released.

Casey appeared in an on-camera interview last year for the three-part limited series Casey Anthony: Where The Truth Lies on Peacock. Appearing on camera for the first time, she blamed her father for the murder of Caylee. She alleged that George murdered Caylee to cover up the fact that he had sexually assaulted the child. Caylee also accused her father of molesting her. George has maintained that he is innocent and was never charged.
Little Saint James, the private island synonymous with Jeffrey Epstein's vile crimes, is shedding its dark past. Two years after its sale, the island is undergoing a dramatic transformation, aiming to be reborn as a gleaming luxury resort. Exclusive new pictures of the island, reported to be undergoing a transformation, have been released by The Post. These images reveal major changes, with bulldozers creating new pathways and sleek, modern structures beginning to take shape. Jeffrey Epstein's private islands(Twitter)

Also read: Jeffrey Epstein list live updates: Additional Epstein documents expected to be released tomorrow

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Jeffrey Epstein's private Caribbean island new look revealed

Yesterday, a comprehensive and sensitive list of details about Jeffrey Epstein was revealed in a New York court after a long legal dispute over whether to make them public. Photos taken simultaneously of Little St. James Island, where Epstein was allegedly involved in the trafficking of multiple women and was the subject of an FBI investigation in 2019, show a total remodeling of the iconic 'temple' that is situated close to the water. As per NY Post, the building has been painted white, and the blue stripes that were formerly there have been removed.

Also read: Jeffrey Epstein's pedophile island: All about convicted billionaire's sex abuse haven

The recently surfaced images from the resort show a completely refurbished building, not the same one that Epstein used to hold drug trafficking, sex parties with prominent clients, and other illegal activities. Anticipating the soon-to-be opening, the updated photos also showcase a few minor enhancements to the expansive pool area, such as floating swans and chairs beside the water. The location of Epstein's previous residence, where he carried out vile deeds, is either no longer visible in these photos or has been painted gray instead of blue over time.

Credit- NYPost

Who bought Jeffrey Epstein's private Caribbean island?

After two decades tangled in Maxwell's sex trafficking web, Epstein's infamous islands finally found a buyer. Billionaire investor Stephen Deckoff bought them for only $60 million, way less than the original $100 million price. Now, luxury homes will replace the shadows of the past. It has been stated that Deckoff, the new owner of the island and a developer of other islands nearby, intends to build a hotel, a high-end resort, and other attractions on the area.
Jan 5, 2024 5:11 PM IST

Ghislaine Maxwell will use the unsealed Jeffrey Epstein documents show that she is not the horriblest person on earth, claimed Prince Andrew's cousin. The convicted sex trafficker has once said that others were "even worse" than her.

In an exclusive interview with The Sun, author Christina Oxenberg, who is Prince Andrew's second cousin, said:"It all benefits Ghislaine in terms of It wasn't just me. I'm not the horriblest person."

You remember she said that word in her prison interview. 'I'm not the horriblest person on earth. There's worse than me.

Like we care, like we need to know who's worse than Ghislaine. She's working this in her favor, Christina said.
On Thursday, the public got access to 19 more documents from a lawsuit related to Jeffrey Epstein, the notorious paedophile who killed himself in prison while awaiting trial on federal charges of sex trafficking. It reveals the paedophile's girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, used to recruit dozens of girls for Epstein's household. After dozens of previously sealed court documents related to financier Jeffrey Epstein were made public Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024, social media users began spreading false accusations about major public figures named in the release  and some who hadnt been named at all. (Uma Sanghvi/The Palm Beach Post via AP, File)(AP)

The documents, which span over 300 pages, are the second batch of a series that was ordered to be unsealed by a US Appeal judge on December 18, in response to media requests. More documents are expected to be released in the near future.

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The unsealed documents are part of a 2015 civil defamation case filed by Virginia Roberts Giuffre, an American woman who alleged that Epstein sexually abused her when she was underage and that Maxwell, Epsteins former girlfriend, assisted him in the abuse.

ALSO READ| Jeffrey Epstein list: Why must brands pay attention to the list?

Giuffre and Maxwell reached a settlement in 2017, but the documents from the case were heavily redacted to protect the privacy of the individuals involved. Some of the names and information remain hidden in the unsealed documents.

The documents reveal a variety of information, from legal arguments and evidence to testimonies describing the alleged crimes of Epstein and Maxwell, some of which were already known from other sources, such as media reports and interviews. However, this is the first time that these specific documents have been made public.

The documents are expected to contain nearly 200 names, including some of Epsteins accusers, prominent businesspeople, politicians and others.

Maxwell allegedly recruited girls for Epstein

One of the documents is a deposition from Joseph Recarey, a detective from Palm Beach who was the lead investigator on a previous case against Epstein in the mid-2000s. In the deposition, Recarey describes how Epstein and Maxwell allegedly used a scheme to find and recruit girls to perform massages and work at Epsteins home.

When a lawyer asked Recarey how many girls he had interviewed about being recruited by Maxwell, Recarey replied, I would say approximately 30; 30, 33.

ALSO READ| Jeffrey Epstein List: Second set of documents connected to notorious paedophile released

The first batch of documents, which was released on Wednesday, mostly contained names and information that had already been disclosed in other media outlets and court proceedings.

Maxwell is currently in federal prison, serving a 20-year sentence after being convicted of sex trafficking in 2021.

She has consistently and vehemently maintained her innocence, Maxwells lawyers quoted to CNN on Wednesday.
Prince Andrew is mentioned in recently unsealed U.S. court documents that talk about many people connected to Jeffrey Epstein, a wealthy American convicted of serious crimes. According to reports, the 63-year-old Duke of York, who is often associated with scandals like a lingering shadow, is now accused of being involved in an "underage orgy" on Jeffrey Epstein's island, as mentioned in the recent court documents. However, this time The Daily Mail has described it as the "ultimate blow" for Prince Andrew. Newly released documents name Prince Andrew in Epstein lawsuit(AP/Reuters)

Also read: Whoopi Goldberg blasts rumours that she was named in Jeffrey Epstein list: Its insane

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Prince Andrew reported to police

As per The Times, a report about Prince Andrew was brought to London police, alleging that he had sexually abused a 17-year-old girl. These accusations reappeared in recently released court records that linked him to the sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein who was found guilty. The complainant, referred to in the documents as Jane Doe 3, claims that she was told, while she was young, to have sex with the Duke of York in three separate locations.

The documents mention the Duke of York more than 70 times, and there have been allegations that he was involved in an orgy with minors.

Anti-monarchy activist group Republic, posted on social media Its time for the Met Police to act, stating that they have filed a complaint against Prince Andrew.

Also read: Jeffrey Epstein list live updates: Second batch of documents unsealed

Prince Andrew to be evicted by King Charles

After all the chaos and controversy, some insiders suggest that King Charles may expel Prince Andrew, preventing him from being part of the royal family. Just to recap, Prince Andrew was stripped of his military honors and advised to step back from active royal duties in 2022 when the allegations initially arose. According to insiders, King Charles' dedication to settling the "Andrew problem" has gained pace following the release of the new documents.

A source told Daily Mail, When it comes to any public role for his brother, there is no way back,. They further added, There has always been an agreement that Andrew would be permitted to attend private and family events, as is his right. But not public or official ones. That has not changed.

The source further refuted all the claims surrounding Prince Andrews presence at public events, such as the late Queen's platinum jubilee and the Royal Family's Christmas Day church service. The Palace can't ignore it, this isn't going away, he paid that vast amount of money to Virginia Roberts. If he thought the money was going to make it go away, it's had the opposite effect. It's given it legs. People think 'no smoke without fire.
As many as 19 documents from a lawsuit connected to notorious paedophile Jeffrey Epstein were publicly released on Friday, January 5. This is the second batch of documents to be unsealed. Jeffrey Epstein appears in court, July 30, 2008, in West Palm Beach, Fla (Uma Sanghvi/The Palm Beach Post via AP, File)(AP)

This release follows hundreds of pages of documents disclosed on Thursday, January 4. The list has mentioned big names like Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton, and Michael Jackson. Also revealed were prominent names like Cate Blanchett, Naomi Campbell, Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz and Alan Dershowitz.

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In total, the documents are expected to include almost 200 names. The names revealed were listed in court documents filed as part of accuser Virginia Giuffres lawsuit against Ghislaine Maxwell. The names, before being unsealed, were listed in court papers as variants of J Doe. Many of the names had been previously revealed as well.

Is every person named in the list guilty of crimes?

Not every person named in the list is accused of wrongdoing. The people whose names were revealed include sex abuse victims, litigation witnesses, Epsteins employees, and people with just a passing connection to the scandal. Some names were redacted.

Epstein allegedly sexually assaulted multiple teenage girls. Some of his victims were as young as 14 years old, prosecutors have said. He committed the crimes at his homes in Manhattan; Palm Beach, Florida; and his private island near St. Thomas.

In 2019, federal prosecutors charged him with one count of sex trafficking conspiracy and one count of sex trafficking with underage females. Epstein died by suicide in his Manhattan jail cell about a month after being arrested, and the charges against him were thus dropped.

Epsteins partner, Ghislaine Maxwell, who was also involved in the crimes, is now serving a 20-year prison sentence after being convicted in December 2021. She was accused of helping Epstein recruit and sexually abuse minor girls.
Megyn Kelly has suggested that people may soon hear from late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein directly amid the disclosure of hundreds of pages of documents related to him. On the Megyn Kelly show, she said, Were not done with Jeffrey Epstein. I can tell you that for a fact. I cant tell you how I know, but I can tell you for a fact were gonna hear a lot more about Jeffrey Epstein in the coming year, and you may be even hearing from him directly. More on that as Im allowed to tell you. Megyn Kelly takes the stage ahead of the NewsNation Presidential Primary Debate at the University of Alabama Moody Music Hall on December 6, 2023 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama (Photo by JUSTIN SULLIVAN / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)(Getty Images via AFP)

Talking about the testimony of a victim who said Epstein told her Bill Clintonlikes them young, Kelly said, Its shocking but not surprising. Like Ive said, weve seen this history of his for a long, long time.

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The video has left people wondering what Kelly might have suggested when she said the world will hear from Epstein directly.

As many as 19 documents from a lawsuit connected to were publicly released on Friday, January 5. This was the second batch of documents to be unsealed.

This release follows hundreds of pages of documents disclosed on Thursday, January 4. The list has mentioned big names like Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton, and Michael Jackson. Also revealed were prominent names like Cate Blanchett, Naomi Campbell, Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz and Alan Dershowitz.

In total, the documents are expected to include almost 200 names. The names revealed were listed in court documents filed as part of accuser Virginia Giuffres lawsuit against Ghislaine Maxwell. The names, before being unsealed, were listed in court papers as variants of J Doe. Many of the names had been previously revealed as well. Not every person named in the list is accused of wrongdoing. Epstein died by suicide in his Manhattan jail cell about a month after being arrested, and the charges against him were thus dropped.
One student was killed and five others were injured after a shooter opened fire at Perry High School in Iowa on Thursday morning, January 4. The suspect, identified as a 17-year-old student at the high school named Dylan Butler, then turned the gun on himself, according to Mitch Mortvedt, assistant director of the Iowa Department of Public Safety's Division of Criminal Investigation. Dylan Butler, before the shooting, shared a TikTok of himself in what seemed like the school bathroom stall, captioning it: "Now we wait" (Tooktoomuch/TikTok)

Among the shooting victims were five students. A six-grader died. Perry High School Principal Dan Marburger is believed to be among those who were shot, the Perry Community School Board and the Easton Valley School District confirmed, as per ABC News. While four victims were stable, one was believed to be in critical condition.

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Butler was carrying a pump-action shotgun and a small-calibre handgun. A "rudimentary" explosive device too was found in the school.

The shooting took place before the school day had started, and therefore there were not many students and staff in the building, "which I think contributed to a good outcome in that sense," Dallas County Sheriff Adam Infante told reporters. This was the first day of school after winter break.

"There is no further danger to the public. The community is safe," the sheriff added. "We're just now working backwards, trying to figure out everything that happened and make notifications."

Butler, before the shooting, shared a TikTok of himself in what seemed like the school bathroom stall. Now we wait, it was captioned. In the background, the song Stray Bullet by KMFDM played. The song has lyrics like Im your nightmare coming true, I am your worst enemy, and Stray bullet, from the barrel of love.

According to officials, the White House has been informed about the shooting. The FBI was assisting local authorities. All of our condolences to the victims and their families; they need your thoughts and prayers as well as time and space to process and to grieve, Chief Eric Vaughn of Perry Police Department said.

All of our condolences to the victims and their families; they need your thoughts and prayers as well as time and space to process and to grieve, he added.
A New Jersey family has welcomed twins who were born not only on different days, but in different years.

Around 6 a.m. on New Years Eve, Eve Humphrey woke up and told her husband, Happy birthday, my water just broke.

Although his wifes due date wasnt until Jan. 26, Billy Humphrey said he was anticipating a perfect birthday gift: his twin boys being born on his birthday.

The expecting parents met with Dr. Melissa Yurkanin, along with the labor and delivery team, at the Virtua Voorhees Hospital.

We had actually joked when I went into the room and said, Oh, wouldnt this be funny if you had two babies on two separate days, maybe two separate years, Yurkanin said.

And that is exactly what happened. At 11:48 p.m. on the 31st, Eve gave birth to the first baby, Ezra, who has the official birthdate of Dec. 31, 2023, which written as a numerical date of 12/31/23 reads as 1-2-3-1-2-3.

At first were thinking and we got 12 minutes to try to get out another one, Billy Humphrey said, basking in the possibility of sharing his own birthday with his twin sons.

But the 2023 clock was ticking, and 2024 was coming in fast.

While Yurkanin and the nurses were counting up to 10 to pace Eves breathing and pushing, You could hear people outside the room counting down and shouting Happy New Year as she was in between baby A and B, Yurkanin said.

Then, 28 minutes into 2024, Eve gave birth to Ezekiel, born exactly 40 minutes after his twin brother.

Twins make up about 3% of live births, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And Yurkanin said the odds of twins being born on different days is a rare phenomenon.

I will say that in my time practicing, Ive never had twins born even on two separate days, let alone two separate years, Yurkanin told CNN.

Billy imagines the unique birth will bring joy between the twin brothers in years to come. Im definitely thinking they will make jokes about it, he said.

If he was Ezra, I would hold that over my brothers head all day, Im a year older, Billy said.

The birth of the twins was a continuation of celebrations in the Humphrey family. The parents celebrated their anniversary in early December, along with Eves birthday, and their 3-year-old son, Hezekiah, has a birthday on Jan. 3.

I got three boys and now, all of us have birthdays near each other, Billy told CNN.

Obviously, my birthday takes the back seat at this point, he continued. I can at least hold onto Fathers Day.

___

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On Thursday, a school shooting at Perry High School, Iowa left one student dead and five others wounded. The shooter, who was also a student, took his own life after the rampage. Republican presidential candidate and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy bows his head during prayer with community members following a shooting at Perry High School in Perry, Iowa, U.S., January 4, 2024. REUTERS/Sergio Flores TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY(REUTERS)

The police have not yet revealed the motive behind the attack.

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The incident sparked a debate on gun control among politicians, but Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy argued that the real issue was mental health. He slammed the expected knee-jerk policy reactions from lawmakers who would push for stricter gun laws in the wake of the tragedy.

ALSO READ| One student dead, 5 injured after shooter opens fire in Iowa high school before turning gun on himself

In a meeting with voters on the same day, the Indian American politician said that guns were not the problem, but the symptom of a deeper crisis in the society.

Knee-jerk policy reactions in response to a tragedy

He said, The temptation is just pass some law, paper and over and say We did something, in response to this. You mark my words tomorrow, if not later today, youre going to hear calls for, Stop the guns, thats the problem, sweeping under the rug, this real ailment at the heart and soul of our nation and our culture that has spread to the entire next generation and to the unit of the family. The loss of purpose.

Its a false hubris. Its a belief that we are God, that we can ultimately control this outcome without getting the root cause. I think thats the wrong approach, right out of the gate, knee-jerk policy reactions in response to a tragedy, he expressed.

ALSO READ| Vivek Ramaswamy criticises government after Jeffrey Epstein docs released: Why are we only seeing a partial list?

Ramaswamy, who was supposed to hold a campaign event near the site of the shooting, cancelled it and opted for a private prayer instead. He also expressed his condemnation of gun violence as a manifestation of psychological sickness in the country.

His stance was shared by other GOP contenders, such as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who also advocated for addressing mental health issues rather than imposing gun control measures.
One student was killed and five others were injured after a shooter opened fire at Perry High School in Iowa on Thursday morning, January 4. The suspect, identified as a 17-year-old student at the high school, named Dylan Butler, then turned the gun on himself, according to Mitch Mortvedt, assistant director of the Iowa Department of Public Safety's Division of Criminal Investigation. The suspect, identified as a 17-year-old student at the high school, named Dylan Butler, turned the gun on himself (Tooktoomuch/Tiktok)

Among the shooting victims were five students. A six-grader died. Perry High School Principal Dan Marburger is believed to be among those who were shot, the Perry Community School Board and the Easton Valley School District confirmed, as per ABC News. While four victims were stable, one was believed to be in critical condition.

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Who was Dylan Butler?

A family member of Butler claimed the shooter had endured relentless bullying since elementary school, and described him as a quiet person. Sisters Yesenia Roeder and Khamya Hall, both 17, as well as their mother Alita told the Associated Press that Butler lost his cool after his younger sister began to get bullied too. They said that the school officials failed to help, which was the last straw for him.

He was hurting. He got tired. He got tired of the bullying. He got tired of the harassment, Yesenia said. Was it a smart idea to shoot up the school? No. God, no.

Khamya called Butler the kindest person ever. He was there for us when we needed him, and we tried to be there when he needed us, which clearly we werent there for him enough, she said.

Dylan Butlers cryptic posts

Butler was carrying a pump-action shotgun and a small-calibre handgun. A "rudimentary" explosive device too was found in the school. Butler reportedly had plans to murder many others, but the shooting took place before the school day had started, and therefore there were not many students and staff in the building.

Butler, before the shooting, shared a TikTok of himself in what seemed like the school bathroom stall. now we wait, it was captioned. In the background, the song Stray Bullet by KMFDM played. The song has lyrics like Im your nightmare coming true, I am your worst enemy, and Stray bullet, from the barrel of love. The song was also used on thepersonal website of Eric Harris, one of the shooters involved in the 1999 Columbine High School massacre.

Dylan Butler, before the shooting, shared a TikTok of himself in what seemed like the school bathroom stall, captioning it: "now we wait" (Tooktoomuch/TikTok)

There were more videos from the account posted to Reddit, one of which showed Butler emulating The Cook from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, as well as notorious serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. He was seen repeating lines and mannerisms from the shows.

Clips also showed Butler pointing a stick at a friend, pretending as though it was a gun. Photos of Butler gathered by investigators also reportedly showed him posing with firearms. It is unclear if the guns Butler used in the shooting belonged to him.
After tragic gun shooting incident at Perry High School in Iowa former UN Ambassador and presidential hopeful Nikki Haley on Thursday called for mental health reform, stating that we have to deal with the cancer that is mental health. Haley's post on mental health on X (formerly Twitter) garnered a lot of flak with one user criticizing her for being terrible at metaphors. Reacting to her Nikki Haley's post on mental health, Vivek Ramaswamy said: I think she might've actually written this one herself.((Bloomberg))

Meanwhile, Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy was quick to take a jibe at fellow conservative Haley for equating cancer with the mental health. Reacting to her post, Ramaswamy said: I think she might've actually written this one herself.

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Read more: Wish they had a better message: Why some Indian Americans are queasy about rise of Vivek Ramaswamy and Nikki Haley

Nikki Haley says 80 percent of US mass shooters are in some sort of crisis

Addressing the voters at a CNN townhall on Thursday, former South Carolina Governor Haley said, "We have to deal with the cancer that is mental health. We have to." She noted that one in three people have a mental health issue, but if treated they can live a perfectly normal life. 

What we see is that 80 percent of mass shooters are in some sort of crisis at the time that they do that. We have got to do better. The problem is we dont have enough mental health therapists, she said.

She further stressed on the need to enhance school security amid the rise in shooting incidents across the US. The second thing is we have got to secure our schools the same way we secure our airports and our courthouses, she said. And that means we make sure we have whatever we need to make sure nothing comes through bulletwise or otherwise.

Read more: Youre just scum, Nikki Haley blasts Vivek Ramaswamy; he calls her Dick Cheney in three-inch heels

Iowa School Shooting: 17-year-old student kills 1, injures five

One student was killed, while four others were injured after a gunman opened fire at Perry High School in Dallas County, Iowa on Thursday. A school administrator also suffered injuries in the incident. Police said the gunman, identified as 17-year-old student Dylan Butler, died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, as per NBC News.

Haley first reacted to the school tragedy on X, offering her condolences to victims' kin and the entire Iowa community that has been impacted by the shooting.

No parent, student, or teacher should have to wake up and face news about a school shooting, she said. My heart aches for the victims of Perry, Iowa and the entire community.
Any country that would involve itself with the United States-led Red Sea coalition will lose its maritime security and be targeted, a senior official of Yemen's Houthi supreme revolutionary committee, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, said in an interview with the BBC. The top Houthi group official referred to the coalition spearheaded by the US, which consists of 12 countries, including the UK, Australia and Japan, that jointly warned of consequences unless the Iran-backed rebel group halts its attacks. India steered clear of being part of any coalition and international drive against the group. Members of the Yemeni Coast Guard affiliated with the Houthi group patrol the sea as demonstrators march through the Red Sea port city of Hodeida in solidarity with the people of Gaza.(AFP)

The Houthi group has surged its attack on commercial ships crossing the Red Sea, largely in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait near Southern Yemen, a stronghold of the rebel group, using drones and missiles in an attempt to inflict a cost as a protest against Israel's military operation in Gaza. The Red Sea is a major trade route between the West and the East, and the Houthi's campaign in the area caused an extraordinary disruption to international shipping. Some companies suspended their transit through the sea and chose to take a much longer and costlier journey around Africa.

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A day after the US and its allies' deterrence, the Houthis detonated a drone boat packed with explosives in the Red Sea on Thursday. "It came within a couple of miles of shps operating in the area - merchant ships and U.S. Navy ships - and we all watched as it exploded," Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, who leads US Naval forces in the Middle East, said.

India's exports impacted

The crucial trade route from India following the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea received a blow after escalating tensions in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. India's exports have been impacted due to increasing freight costs and insurance premiums as the transport of goods rerouted through the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. The travel time has also increased by at least 14 days for the exported goods to reach the US and Europe.

India providing security escorts

Meanwhile, the Union ministry of defence has offered protection to Indian container ships on the high seas around the Red Sea, Reuters reported, citing sources. "Many consignments are being escorted with security on the high seas with help from Ministry of Defence," a person aware of the matter said.
A former member of the far-right extremist group Proud Boys has been sentenced to 10 years in prison over his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol Hill riot after going on the run.

The individual was identified as 52-year-old Christopher Worrell, who was initially charged with assaulting law enforcement officers at the Capitol on Jan. 6. He was later found guilty of those charges. However, four days before his sentencing in August 2023, he cut off his ankle monitor and fled, leading authorities to conduct a six-week manhunt.

Proud Boys Members Sentenced to Prison

When the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested Worrell in September inside his house in Naples, Florida, he was found unresponsive and had some items on his person. These included night-vision goggles, a wallet that had roughly $4,000 in cash, and a bag with new camping gear inside.

The individual had told investigators that he had faked an opioid overdose as a strategy to delay his sentencing. Sheriff's deputies were required to guard the suspect inside his hospital room during his five-day alleged recovery, as per ABC News.

The United States government argued that Worrell "plotted" his trip to D.C. with other members of the Proud Boys. He was said to have brought weapons such as a shield and pepper gel and used the latter on Capitol Police officers who were fighting the mob at the Capitol.

In a sentencing memo on Aug. 13 that the Justice Department filed, officials said that once he was on Capitol grounds, Worrell spewed vitriol for half an hour. He targeted overwhelmed officers trying to restrain the mob in the area.

The memo added that when the suspect saw an opportunity to pepper spray the police line from deep within the crowd, he took it. The former Proud Boy member later bragged that he had "deployed a whole can" and was "f****ng handing it to them."

Read Also: Authorities Evacuate Capitol Buildings After Mass Bomb Threats Sent Via Email

Trying To Escape Law Enforcement

Prosecutors said that the manhunt to find Worrell when he escaped was an "enormous waste of government resources." They requested a harsher sentence for the runaway Jan. 6 rioter. They initially sought a 14-year sentence for the suspect, whom they argued plotted with other members of the far-right extremist group to disrupt the certification of the 2020 presidential election, according to The Hill.

Worrell's sentencing comes as dozens of rioters linked to the Proud Boys group have been charged over their role in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol Hill riot. The former national chairman of the group, Enrique Tarrio, and three other Proud Boys leaders were convicted of seditious conspiracy in May last year.

Prior to his sentencing, Worrell spoke to the judge and emotionally characterized his conduct during the insurrection as "inexcusable and unjustified." He added that he was "truly sorry" to law enforcement and members of Congress.

Speaking to D.C. District Judge Royce Lamberth, the defendant said that nearly three years ago, he made some choices that he sincerely regrets. On the other hand, prosecutors said Worrell had a history of being dishonest with officials since he was arrested and had "actively deceived" law enforcement, according to CBS News.

Related Article: At Least 1 Dead in Iowa High School Shooting, Officials Say
SpaceX filed a lawsuit against a United States agency on Thursday after the latter accused the space company of firing workers who were critical of the company's CEO, Elon Musk.

The firm claims in the lawsuit that was filed in Brownsville, Texas, federal court that the structure of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) violates the U.S. Constitution. The NLRB is the one responsible for issuing a complaint against SpaceX on Wednesday.

SpaceX Files Lawsuit Against NLRB

As seen in a previous report by HNGN, the board alleges that the space company violated federal labor law when it fired eight workers in 2022 for signing on to the letter that accused Musk of making sexist comments that went against company policies.

That particular case will be heard by an administrative judge and then a five-member board that was appointed by United States President Joe Biden. The decisions of the board can be appealed in federal court.

A spokesperson for the NLRB declined to comment regarding the matter. The development comes as SpaceX recently utilized a similar tactic to block an administrative case by the Department of Justice that claims the firm illegally refused to hire refugees and asylum recipients, as per The Guardian.

A Brownsville federal judge ordered a pause of the administration case in November, pending the outcome of a lawsuit by the space company. The judge argued that the U.S. Constitution required that administrative judges at the Justice Department be appointed by the president and not the attorney general as they are now.

Currently, the NLRB is facing a similar lawsuit from a Starbucks employee who was opposed to the unionization of the New York store where she was employed. The worker then sued the board in October last year after it denied her petition for an election to dissolve the union.

In SpaceX's lawsuit, it argued that the complaint by the NLRB was a "distraction to SpaceX employees around the country." The firm claims that the board's proceedings, which involve a hearing in front of an NLRB administrative law judge (ALJ), violate the company's "constitutional right to trial by jury."

Read Also: DOJ Sues Texas Over New Law Allowing Migrant Arrests

Complaint Against the Space Company

Additionally, the firm accused the NLRB of violating the Constitution's rules on the separation of powers. It said that the agency's structure was miles away from the traditional understanding of the concept, according to The Verge.

The space company is now asking the court to deem the provisions restricting the removal of NLRB members and ALJs unconstitutional. A hearing is now scheduled in front of an NLRB ALJ on Mar. 5, 2024. However, there is an option to appeal the decision to the board and then a federal appeals court.

The letter that the NLRB sent to SpaceX executives in June 2022 focused on a series of tweets that the company's CEO had made since 2020. Many of these were found to be sexually suggestive. The company workers alleged that the billionaire entrepreneur's statements did not align with the firm's policies on diversity and workplace misconduct.

The NLRB's complaint also accused SpaceX of interrogating workers about the letter, disparaging the ones who were involved. The firm was also said to have threatened to fire workers who engaged in similar activity, said Reuters.



Related Article: West Virginia: Federal Lawsuit Claims Cruise Liner Bartender Raped, Impregnated Passenger
Authorities announced on Wednesday that an arrest has been made in the murder of a pregnant teenager and her boyfriend.

Christopher Preciado, 19, was taken into custody on suspicion of capital murder in the deaths of 18-year-old Savanah Soto and 22-year-old Matthew Guerra. The bodies of the couple were discovered last week in a car in San Antonio, as per CNN .

Texas Dad, Son Killed Pregnant Woman, Boyfriend

A video released by the San Antonio Police Department on Thursday showed two persons of interest in the shooting deaths. The victims, Savanah Nicole Soto and Matthew Guerra, were reported missing before their bodies were found in Guerra's car. Soto, who was nine months pregnant, had been scheduled to give birth on the day of their disappearance.

The medical examiner's office confirmed that the bodies found in the car belonged to Guerra and Soto. Both victims had suffered gunshot wounds. The video released by the police showed one person driving a dark pickup truck and another person driving Guerra's Kia Optima. The video was recorded near the location where the bodies were found, according to Police Chief Bill McManus.

During a briefing, McManus stated that the video showed the driver of the Kia Optima wiping down the car, but it couldn't be confirmed if the two individuals in the video had any connection to the victims. The police believe that Guerra and Soto were killed elsewhere before being taken to the location where they were found.

The manner of death and the exact motive behind the killings are still under investigation. McManus did not rule out the possibility of a murder-suicide, but it is not believed to be the case at this time. Soto's mother, Gloria Cordova, expressed her belief that her daughter was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. She stated that Soto had been in an abusive relationship with Guerra and that she had advised her daughter to leave him.

Laura Cordova, Soto's aunt, also revealed that Guerra had been physically abusive towards Soto during her pregnancy. Guerra's father confirmed that his son had a criminal history, including an assault charge involving Savanah the previous year. Despite their troubled relationship, both Soto's mother and aunt claim that Soto was excited to become a mother, according to CBS News.

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Arrests Made in Texas Murder Case

Two suspects, Christopher Preciado, 19, and Ramon Preciado, 53, were arrested in connection with the murders. Christopher will be charged with capital murder, while Ramon will face charges of abusing a corpse. Sgt. Washington Moscoso stated that additional charges are possible.

Soto's cellphone, which was collected at the crime scene, proved to be a crucial piece of evidence in the investigation. Detectives were able to track a possible location of the suspect's vehicle using the phone data. This led the police to the residence connected to the vehicle, where they interviewed both the father and son.

Based on the information gathered during the interview, the police obtained a search warrant, leading to the arrests. Moscoso suggested that the motive behind the murder may be linked to a narcotics deal gone wrong. The district attorney will determine whether additional charges will be filed regarding the death of Soto's unborn child.

Both suspects were escorted by police to waiting vehicles, and their booking photos were released shortly after their arrest. The victims, identified as Savanah Soto and Matthew Guerra, had been found deceased in a Kia Optima, along with their unborn child. The authorities believe that the vehicle had been parked at the location for several days before the discovery.

The investigation is ongoing, with law enforcement continuing the search for answers in this tragic case. The community remains shocked and saddened by the loss of two young lives and the unborn child, who never had the chance to come into the world.

Anyone with information concerning this case is urged to contact the San Antonio Police Department or local authorities immediately, ABC News reported.

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Newly unsealed court documents in a defamation lawsuit against Ghislaine Maxwell, the former associate of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, have revealed the names of individuals previously known as "John and Jane Does."

Among the names disclosed are former US Presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, as well as Prince Andrew. The documents also mention an alleged encounter between Epstein's victim, Johanna Sjoberg, and the late pop icon Michael Jackson, as per to Daily Mail.

Jeffrey Epstein Newly Unsealed Court Documents Revealed

Johanna Sjoberg, who had previously accused Prince Andrew of groping her breast with a puppet, stated in the newly released depositions that she had met Michael Jackson while she was with Epstein. When asked where they had met, Sjoberg responded, "At his house in Palm Beach. At Jeffrey's house in Palm Beach." However, she clarified that she did not massage the late King of Pop, providing no further details about the meeting.

Epstein's Palm Beach mansion, which is reportedly where Sjoberg encountered Jackson, was one of the locations where Epstein sexually abused young girls. The property, situated just over a mile from Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago, was recently sold for $18 million after being listed for $21.995 million. A Florida-based developer plans to demolish the existing house and build a new one in its place.

The court documents also mention revived lawsuits from two men, Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who allege that Michael Jackson sexually abused them when they were children. A California appeals court ruled that the lawsuits should not have been dismissed by a lower court, stating that the Jackson-owned corporations had a responsibility to protect the alleged victims. Robson and Safechuck gained wider attention after appearing in the controversial 2019 HBO documentary "Leaving Neverland."

In addition to the disclosures about Jackson and the two former Presidents, the unsealed documents contain other intriguing details. Sjoberg recalled Epstein telling her that Bill Clinton "likes them young," while magician David Copperfield allegedly performed tricks for Epstein and asked Sjoberg if she knew that Epstein paid women to procure other girls for him.

An email from Epstein to Maxwell also surfaced, urging her to discredit reports of physicist Professor Stephen Hawking participating in a pedophile orgy on Epstein's private island in 2008, according to Independent.

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Hairdresser Denies Celebrity Massages at Epstein's Events

Johanna Sjoberg, currently working as a hairdresser in Florida, has previously stated that Maxwell recruited her to provide massages for Epstein in 2001. Sjoberg's alleged encounter with Prince Andrew at Epstein's mansion during Easter 2001 has drawn significant attention. However, in the depositions, she denied giving massages to famous men like George Lucas and Donald Trump at an Epstein-hosted party.

These newly released court documents are expected to reveal the names of over 150 associates of Jeffrey Epstein, shedding light on their connections to the disgraced financier. While the documents implicate prominent figures, including Trump, Clinton, and Prince Andrew, no specific allegations of wrongdoing have been made against them in the released records.

The disclosure of these documents follows a decision by US judge Loretta Preska, who ordered that the names must be unsealed. The materials will continue to be released over the upcoming days, potentially providing further insight into the disturbing actions of Epstein and his associates.

The revelations have reignited public interest in the case, leaving many eager for more information about the alleged encounters involving Epstein's victims and the famous individuals named in the documents, USA Today reported.

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Christopher Gibbons and Tyrone Patten-Walsh, the Neo-Nazi podcasters who targeted Prince Harry and his young son, were arrested for terror offenses on Thursday.

The two hosts were described as "dedicated and unapologetic white supremacists" who encouraged terrorism by the sentencing judge in London.

Gibbons, Patten-Walsh Arrested for Terror Offenses

The authorities reported that Gibbons and Patten-Walsh welcomed racist, antisemitic, Islamophobic, homophobic, and misogynistic views and encouraged listeners of their 'Lone Wolf Radio' podcast to commit violent acts against ethnic minorities.

The two hosts used aliases on their show and supported the idea of hanging so-called race traitors, especially those in interracial marriages. They claimed that the white race was likely to be 'genocided' unless steps were taken to fight back.

Furthermore, Meghan, the spouse of Prince Harry, is biracial. During one episode, Gibbons labeled Harry's 4-year-old son Archie a "creature" that should be put down and said that the Duke of Sussex should be prosecuted and judicially killed for treason.

The Metropolitan Police reported that Gibbons was sentenced to eight years in prison, and Patten-Walsh received a 7-year term. Following their release, the two will serve three years on the equivalent of probation.

"The evidence demonstrates that you desire to live in a world dominated by white people purely for white people. Your distorted thinking is that the white race has ceded too much influence to Blacks and Asians, to Jews and Muslims, to gays, to white liberals, and white people in mixed-race relationships," Judge Peter Lodder said.

Lodder added that Gibbons and Patten-Walsh were entitled to hold their beliefs, regardless of being as preposterous as they are offensive to a civilized society. However, he felt they had gone too far. The podcasters started 'Lone Wolf Radio' in June 2020, with 128 subscribers and around 9,000 views of its 21 episodes.

Gibbons and Patten-Walsh celebrated right-wing extremists who killed many people in Charleston, South Carolina, Christchurch, New Zealand, and Norway. They also uploaded photos of a Nazi executing a Jewish man at the edge of a pit of corpses and Nelson Mandela being lynched.

A Kingston Crown court jury convicted the podcasters in July of eight counts of encouraging terrorism. According to the authorities, Gibbons was also found guilty on two charges of distributing terrorist documents through his online neo-Nazi radicalization library with over 2,000 subscribers.

Cmdr. Dominic Murphy, who heads the Met's counter-terrorism unit, said that the material they distributed was precisely the kind that has the potential to draw vulnerable young people into terrorism.

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Teenage Neo-Nazis Attack Prince Harry's Wife

Michal Szewczuk and Oskar Dunn-Koczorowski were part of a group called the Sonnenkrieg Division. They encouraged an attack on Prince Harry for marrying a woman of mixed race and were jailed for terrorism offenses.

An Old Bailey judge claimed that their online propaganda was abhorrent and criminal.

Dunn-Koczorowski received an 18-month detention and training order, and Szewczuk was jailed for just over four years.

According to the court, the teenagers used pseudonyms to run personal accounts on the Gab social media site, as well as share control of the Sonnenkrieg Division's page, on which they posted self-designed propaganda that encouraged terrorist attacks.

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According to US intelligence officials, Russia has obtained North Korean ballistic missiles through Iran. It has been discovered that this action was essential to replenish the resources that the Russian military had depleted during their conflict with Ukraine.

Newly released intelligence reveals information on the North Koreans supplying Russia with ballistic missile launchers and a number of close-range ballistic missiles, as per The Associated Press.

Report: Russia Relies on North Korea, Iran

"Russian forces fired at least one of those ballistic missiles into Ukraine on Dec. 30 and it landed in an open field in the Zaporizhian region, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby reportedly said.

Russia's forces in Ukraine fired several of these ballistic missiles as part of an overnight attack. The missiles have a range of 550 miles (885 kilometers).

The US intelligence further states that, in return, the regime of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will acquire aircraft, surface-to-air missiles, armored vehicles, ballistic missile production equipment, and other incentives.

Kirby said a Russia-Iran agreement had not yet come to fruition, but that the United States "is concerned that Russia's negotiations to acquire close-range ballistic missiles from Iran are actively advancing."

The high-level assessment coincides with intelligence from South Korea that reflected this belief as well. The Biden administration has repeatedly sought to make the case that the Kremlin has become reliant on North Korea and Iran in the past. The thirst for arms to resupply its war effort against Ukraine seems apparent, intelligence backs that up.

The White House also believes Russia has received hundreds of one-way drones, and drone assembly kits, from Iran. Meanwhile, Kim Jong Un paid an official state visit to President Vladimir Putin in September.

Kirby said the US would raise its concerns about the arms arrangement findings at the U.N. Security Council and would look to impose additional sanctions against North Korean and Iranian individuals and entities facilitating weapons transfers with Russia.

The relationship between Russia and North Korea goes back to the formation of North Korea in 1948 when Russia installed Kim II Sung, the grandfather of Kim Jong Un, as the first North Korean leader. Russia further subsidized North Korea with aid shipments for decades before the fall of the Soviet Union.
Volunteers from the American Association of Retired Persons will provide free tax assistance to all taxpayers with middle and low income with special attention to those ages 60 and older, AARP said this week.

To receive help filing federal, state and local taxes or rent rebate applications, taxpayers must bring copies of their income and any other information pertaining to the tax year 2023, as well as a copy of their 2022 tax return. Taxpayers should bring a copy of their property taxes for 2023 stamped paid or their rental information, and bring a check to use for direct deposit.
Israel's post-war plan for the Gaza Strip was finally unveiled by the Israeli defense minister. However, this plan doesn't represent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders.

On Thursday, Jan. 4, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant unveiled his own post-war plan for the Palestinian city. After explaining his goals, he submitted the proposal to the war cabinet of Netanyahu.

This is considered to be the first time that a senior Israeli official offered suggestions for what's going to happen next to the Gaza Strip once the Israel-Hamas war is over.

Israel's Post-War Plan for Gaza Unveiled by Defense Minister

According to The Times of Israel, the post-war plan proposal of Gallant isn't the official policy of the Israeli government yet since there are stark differences among officials regarding the Palestinian city's faith after the war.

The Israeli defense minister provided the requirements before implementing his suggested post-war plan in case Benyanjin Netanyahu and other senior leaders approved it.

These include the following:

All hostages taken by the Hamas terrorist group on Oct. 7 should be secured.

The governing and military capabilities of Hamas should be dismantled.

If there are other military threats aside from the Palestinian terrorist group, they should be removed as well.

Yoav Gallant said that once these requirements are achieved, a new phase will start in the Gaza Strip, in which the city will no longer be controlled by Hamas terrorists, as reported by The Guardian.

He added that they will ensure that the Gaza Strip will no longer pose any security threat to civilians of Israel.

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About Gallant's Post-War Plan for Gaza

In Gallant's post-war plan for the Gaza Strip, it was stated that the Palestinian Authority (PA)-the Fatah-controlled government body of Palestine-would no longer be allowed to govern the city.

Aside from this, his plan also doesn't provide for resettling Gaza. Instead, Yoav Gallant suggested allowing unspecified Palestinian bodies to govern the territory.

"Gaza residents are Palestinian, therefore Palestinian bodies will be in charge, with the condition that there will be no hostile actions or threats against the State of Israel," said the Israeli senior official.

He added that Israel should also be allowed to operate inside the Palestinian city. However, he clarified that there would no longer be an Israeli civilian presence within the Gaza Strip.

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A New Zealand fisherman was the subject of a miracle rescue after he successfully called for help using the reflection of the sun on his watch after he spent 23 hours out at sea.

The individual, identified as Will Fransen, fell off of his boat and got stranded out at sea. He said that he was lucky to be alive after he was spotted by people on boats after he used his watch's reflection to shine the sun's light in their direction.

Miracle Rescue in New Zealand

The New Zealand fisherman was pulled overboard without a life jacket on Jan. 2 while attempting to reel in a marlin in waters off the nation's North Island. Fransen was able to survive by treading water and he was even circled briefly by a shark.

In a statement after he was rescued, he said that he knew his chances of surviving at the time were not great. He noted that he was usually the positive type of person but understood that at the time, he had little hope of getting back home alive, as per Reuters.

One of the people who rescued Fransen, James Mcdonnell, said that the New Zealand fisherman was "incredibly pale and incredibly cold" when they pulled him out from the water in the afternoon of Jan. 3.

Mcdonnell considered the entire incident an "incredible story" and argued that not many people would probably believe them if they told it. Fransen was found to have suffered little more than windburn and stiff joints from the entire incident.

He said that he planned to upgrade the safety rails on his boat to prevent a similar incident from happening in the future. However, the fisherman's boat has yet to be found since Fransen was rescued.

In a news release, Whangamata Police Sgt. Will Hamilton said that the New Zealand fisherman set off on a solo fishing trip on Jan. 2. Fransen was said to have been traveling in his 40-foot boat and planned to go back the next day, according to CBS News.

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Watch's Reflection

After Fransen fell overboard, he tried to catch up with his boat, however, it "meandered further out of reach until he could no longer see it. He then tried to swim to the Alderman Islands but was pulled back by the sea's currents.

When Mcdonnell and others rescued Fransen, they quickly notified the police and emergency responders greeted the fisherman at the marina. After getting back to dry land, he was said to be "hypothermic and exhausted."

Hamilton noted that the fact that Fransen was alive was an "absolute miracle" and applauded the rescuers for their quick retrieval of the victim. He noted that the entire ordeal could have had a much more tragic outcome.

Mcdonnell said that a series of unfortunate events led to the miracle rescue, adding that the reflection that caught their attention was roughly 600 meters away. Rescue boat skipper Max White said that their priority when they spotted Fransen was to get him aboard and keep him awake and warm, said CNN.



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The United States is planning to conduct its first moon landings since the Apollo missions as other nations have achieved major milestones in the space race.

China and India have already successfully landed spacecraft on the moon while Israel, Japan, and Russia failed, and their vessels crashed on the lunar surface. America is now getting help from two companies to put the United States back in the space game.

US Eyes First Moon Landings Since Apollo Missions

The latest efforts come five decades after the Apollo program ended and are part of a NASA-supported attempt to kick-start commercial moon deliveries. This also comes as the American space agency is focusing on getting astronauts back to the lunar surface.

In a statement, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said that the two companies who will attempt moon landings will be the scouts going to the lunar surface ahead of the space agency. The first company, Pittsburgh's Astrobotic Technology, has a planned liftoff for Monday.

The firm will use a brand new rocket, the United Launch Alliance's Vulcan, to attempt the critical space mission. The second company is Houston's Intuitive Machines which seeks to launch a lander on the moon in mid-February, hopping onboard a flight with Elon Musk's SpaceX, as per Fox5Vegas.

Similarly, Japan will attempt another moon landing in two weeks' time, with the Japanese Space Agency's lander having two toy-size rovers. They had a big head start compared to the American firms, sharing a September launch with an X-ray telescope that stayed behind in orbit around our planet.

If the Japanese mission is successful, it would become the fifth country to pull off a lunar landing. Russia and the U.S. did so many times in the 1960s and 1970s. On the other hand, China has landed three times on the moon in the past decade, including on the far side of the moon.

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International Space Race

Despite all of these accomplishments, the United States is so far the only country that has put astronauts on the moon. Landing on the lunar surface without wrecking is a difficult task as there is hardly any atmosphere to slow a spacecraft down when it approaches.

Obviously, parachutes will not work, which means that a lander must descend slowly using its thrusters while also navigating past dangerous cliffs and craters, according to the Associated Press.

Ispace, a Japanese millionaire's company, saw its lander smash into the lunar surface last April and was followed by Russia's incident in August. A few days after the latter, India successfully landed on the moon without incident near the south polar region. The mission marked the country's second attempt after the first one in 2019 crashed.

For the U.S., Astrobotic Technology's mission involving its Peregrine Mission One is a nail-biter for several reasons. It would also be carrying a variety of NASA and commercial payloads during its flight to the moon.

The lander is set to take off on Jan. 8 and land on the moon in late February at Sinus Viscositatis (Bay of Stickiness). This area is located adjacent to the Gruitheisen Domes, said Space.



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Las Vegas witnessed a shocking incident on Wednesday as a defendant attacked a judge in a courtroom after his plea was denied in a felony battery case.

Clark County District Judge Mary Kay Holthus was in the process of pronouncing the sentence for Deobra Delone Redden when he suddenly leaped over a defense table and the judge's bench, landing on top of her, as per to Independent.

Judge Attacked in Las Vegas Courtroom

This violent episode occurred at the Clark County District Court during Redden's sentencing for an attempted battery charge with substantial bodily harm. Redden had already pleaded guilty to the crime in November but was subsequently arrested in December after failing to appear in court.

During the sentencing, Redden's lawyer requested probation for his client. However, Judge Holthus denied the request, stating, "I think it's time he gets a taste of something else. I can't with that history." Video footage captured by CBS affiliate KLAS captured the moment when Redden launched himself at the judge, causing a commotion in the courtroom.

Despite the chaos, nearby court officials swiftly intervened. The marshal and clerk present confronted Redden, grappling with him as he thrashed around near the judge's bench. Redden managed to injure the marshal before ultimately being restrained. The wounded marshal was taken to the hospital, where he is expected to recover. Judge Holthus suffered a head injury during the altercation but was reported to be in satisfactory condition afterward.

Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson released a statement confirming that Judge Holthus was not seriously injured. He expressed gratitude for the heroic actions of those who came to her aid, particularly highlighting the marshal and law clerk. Wolfson added that given Redden's extremely violent behavior, he is confident that there will be consequences for the defendant, according to The Sun.

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Deobra Delone Redden Case

Redden had previously come under investigation after making threats to harm another individual. In May, a judge ruled that he should undergo a competency test and be committed to a state behavioral facility. However, in October, it was determined that Redden was competent. Following his arrest in December for missing a court appointment, he faced additional charges of battery and battery of a protected person after allegedly causing serious injuries to a victim.

Redden has a history of criminal offenses, having pleaded guilty and been convicted in three felony cases. He had previously served time in prison for domestic violence in 2021 and was found guilty of battery three years prior. In 2015, he was convicted of attempted theft. Court records indicate that Redden had appeared before Judge Holthus in the past for charges related to destruction of property.

Judge Mary Kay Holthus was elected to her position in January 2019 following an extensive tenure at the district attorney's office spanning over 27 years. Her experience includes working with the Special Victims Unit, where she advocated for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse.

The shocking attack on Judge Holthus highlights the inherent risks faced by members of the judiciary. In this instance, the quick response from court officials helped prevent further harm. The incident also serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining security and safety within the judicial system, ABC News reported.

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An Idaho man has been apprehended by police after stealing a plane from Las Vegas and touching down in the middle of a California desert.

Damian Zukaitis, a 40-year-old resident of Boise, Idaho, was taken into custody on December 30. The stolen aircraft, a 2020 Kitfox fixed-wing single-engine plane, was found with beer cans and marijuana left behind in the front seat.

Idaho Man Pilots Stolen Plane Over 100 Miles

The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department reported that Zukaitis had allegedly piloted the stolen plane for over 100 miles, traveling from North Las Vegas to Barstow over the weekend. He now faces charges of possessing a stolen aircraft and transporting stolen property across state lines. Additional charges related to crimes committed in Nevada are also pending.

According to authorities, Zukaitis managed to take the Kitfox from North Las Vegas Airport on December 30 and successfully landed it near the Barstow-Daggett Airport, located east of Barstow, California. The incident came to the attention of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Barstow station at around 6:48 p.m. The sheriff's office learned that the fixed-wing single-engine aircraft had gone missing from its original location.

Barstow, situated approximately 115 miles east of Los Angeles, soon became the focus of the investigation. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) alerted the authorities that the stolen plane had been found near the Daggett Airport. Deputies from the sheriff's office swiftly responded to the scene and discovered Zukaitis, taxiing the aircraft on Minneola Road, heading back towards the airport.

It was during the ensuing investigation that Zukaitis made an attempt to flee on foot into the desert area. The stolen plane belonged to Jeff Cohn, who received a phone call from Air Force Search and Rescue on the same day, informing him that his property had been taken. Authorities had been alerted by the aircraft's emergency location transmitter, which was activated upon the plane's unauthorized use.

Jeff informed the authorities that he had not been flying his aircraft and promptly drove to his hangar in North Las Vegas. To his shock, he discovered that the plane was missing from its usual spot. The investigation revealed that the stolen aircraft was valued at approximately $80,000, according to USA Today.

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North Vegas Suspect Charged in Airplane Theft

Officials in North Las Vegas revealed that there had been attempted airplane thefts on December 27, 28, and 29, raising suspicions that Zukaitis may be linked to those incidents as well. The motive behind the theft remains unclear, prompting the FAA and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to collaborate with local authorities in their investigation.

The suspect, identified as Damian Zukaitis, has been taken into custody and is now facing charges of possessing a stolen airplane and transporting stolen property across state lines. As the investigation continues, authorities are attempting to determine Zukaitis' motivations and any potential connections to the earlier attempted airplane thefts.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office confirmed that Zukaitis had flown the stolen plane to an area near the Barstow-Daggett Airport, ultimately landing on a roadway. Not initially aware that the aircraft had been stolen, deputies engaged with Zukaitis before he fled on foot. He was apprehended shortly afterward, leading to his arrest.

The ongoing investigation, additional charges related to Zukaitis' crimes in Nevada are expected. It has also been revealed that there is a warrant for his arrest out of Ada County, Idaho. The stolen plane has been towed away for further examination and is believed to have sustained significant damage, possibly costing tens of thousands of dollars to repair.

This peculiar series of aircraft thefts and Zukaitis' involvement have sparked questions regarding the motive behind these incidents. The FAA, TSA, and local authorities continue their joint efforts to unravel the mystery surrounding the stolen plane and bring this unusual case to a close, Fox 5 reported.

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HARRISBURG  Russell Redding smiled on Thursday after unveiling the largest butter sculpture ever created for the Pennsylvania Farm Show.

This shows the connection between agriculture and consumers, said Redding, state agriculture secretary, looking at the more than 1,000-pound butter structure of a family at dinner.

The scene, in a refrigerated seven-sided case, depicts a family ready to eat a turkey dinner at a food-laden table while animals and farm products sit before them and a city skyline and farm scene are behind them.

Butter sculptures, made from 1,200 pounds of butter donated by Land OLakes in South Middleton Township, have been a Farm Show attraction since they debuted in 1991 as a 600-pound buttery Ben Franklin. Land OLakes Inc. is a dairy cooperative with approximately 1,300 dairy farmer member-owners, including about 800 in Pennsylvania.

The 108th Pennsylvania Farm Show opens Saturday and runs through 5 p.m. Jan. 13. Admission is free while parking is $15 a vehicle.

Agriculture plays an important role in all our lives, said dairy farmer Walt Moore, who milks more than 1,000 Holsteins and grows crops on 1,800 acres near Cochranville. Im proud that the wholesome food we produce brings people together.

This years butter sculpture, which follows the Farm Show 2024 theme of Connecting Our Communities, shows four family members ready to eat turkey, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, bread and butter and apple pie. It also includes a calf, a pig, a basket of potatoes, a basket of eggs, a jug of maple syrup, a box of cabbage, a pumpkin and a squash.

Sculptors Jim Victor and Marie Pelton of Conshohocken created the sculpture, which was sponsored by the American Dairy Association North East and the Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program.

We worked on this for 14 days, Victor said, adding that time doesnt include making the wood, steel and mesh framework underneath. This is the largest butter sculpture we have made for the Farm Show. We also enjoy knowing that the sculpture tells an impactful story about the importance of agriculture.

Victor, a professional sculptor with 50 years of experience, and Pelton, a sculptor for 25 years, spent hours each day turning 55-pound blocks of butter into works of art.

Pelton said she was relieved when it was finished, joking that its like giving birth to a 10-pound baby  wow! We were so busy with the butter sculpture that we didnt go Christmas shopping until Christmas Eve.

After the Farm Show, the donated butter, which is not suitable for human consumption, is scraped from the frame and donated to a Juniata County dairy farm. It is then put through a methane digester where it becomes methane, a gas that burns in engines and can produce electricity. One butter sculpture generally produces enough electricity to power a farm for three days.

Dairy farming is big business in Pennsylvania, which has 5,000 dairy farmers. The American Dairy Association North East shared butter trivia with those at the unveiling, including that:

The average per capita consumption of butter is 6.5 pounds.

The average price of butter was $4.30 cents a pound in December.

It takes 21.2 pounds of milk to make one pound of butter.

The Farm Show butter sculpture weighs as much as 116 gallons of milk, 10 newborn calves and one telephone pole.

There is enough butter in the sculpture to put on at least 96,000 pancakes.
HARRISBURG  In 2024, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro could face a more complicated sophomore year in charge of Pennsylvania after his first year brought a highway collapse, a budget stalemate and friction with allies and adversaries as he navigated the states political divides.

He is under pressure to respond to a court ruling that Pennsylvanias system of public school funding unconstitutionally discriminates against poorer districts.

His administration must also oversee a presidential election that, four years ago, was marred by a barrage of right-wing conspiracy theories, Donald Trump-allied efforts in court to overturn it and threats against election administrators.

And Shapiro, viewed nationally as a rising political star, must navigate the nations only politically divided legislature in which allies and adversaries alike are wary of him.

In his first year in office, Shapiro showed himself to be a low-key operator who took a hands-off approach in the statehouse and attempted to avoid political fights he might not win.

He often emphasized the need to gain approval from both the Democratic-controlled House and the Republican-controlled Senate, and focused more on what his administration accomplished  what he called a get stuff done administration  rather than farther-reaching agenda items that are stuck in partisan stalemate.

In 2024, Shapiro will have little runway to show how hell handle calls from public school advocates to propose billions of new dollars for the poorest public schools.

Im very mindful of the Commonwealth Court decision and that we need to have more equity in our system. Im also very mindful that someone has to pay for that, Shapiro told the Associated Press in a recent interview in his office.

A compromise deal may require Democrats to accept something they just defeated: a new $100 million taxpayer-paid voucher program to subsidize tuition at private and religious schools.

Republican lawmakers are wary of ramping up public-school spending by billions of dollars. But they are in step with Shapiro in pushing for a voucher program  a position that made Shapiro unique among Democratic governors in the U.S.

In the fall, Shapiros administration will be nationally watched for how it runs the presidential election.

The state remains in Trumps crosshairs after he and Republican allies tried to overturn Bidens 2020 victory there and Trump declared that  bad things  happen in Philadelphia.

Last month in Iowa, Trump told supporters to guard the vote and to go into Detroit, Philadelphia and Atlanta to watch those votes when they come in.

Shapiro  who as attorney general played a central role in defending Pennsylvanias 2020 election against Republican efforts in court to overturn it  said administration officials have been meeting for months.

They are preparing on legal, law enforcement and election administration fronts to administer an election that everyone, regardless of your choice of candidate, can have faith in, Shapiro told AP. That is one of our most serious responsibilities.

The election is likely to be close.

Complicating it is a state law that prohibits counties from processing mail-in ballots before Election Day  raising the specter of another drawn-out count in Pennsylvania like the one in 2020 that gave a window to Trump-inspired conspiracy theories and false claims.

Nearly every other state allows mail-in ballots to be processed before Election Day. In Pennsylvania, Republican lawmakers have refused to allow it without attaching other election-related changes that Democrats oppose.

Shapiros administration ably responded to the collapse of a critical section of Interstate 95 in Philadelphia and the derailment of tanker cars carrying toxic chemicals just over the Ohio-Pennsylvania state border.

Still, getting deals in the statehouse wasnt necessarily Shapiros strong suit.

A budget deal Shapiro struck with Republican lawmakers ran into solid opposition from Democrats. Shapiro then angered Republicans when he backed off it, precipitating a stalemate over spending that normally gets done in June.

Lawmakers and Shapiro last month wrapped up the last loose ends by greatly expanding subsidies for child care and private schools, among other things.

But Shapiros hands-off approach in the statehouse drew complaints from both sides. Shapiro chalks up such complaints to finger-pointing over partisan food fights.

I dont run the Legislature, right? Shapiro told reporters at a news conference last month. I mean, we are separate branches of this government. ... Our Legislature has to figure out how to show up to work and then theyve got to figure out how to work together.

He will enter 2024 as the only governor in the U.S. with a politically divided Legislature after a Democratic victory in Virginias House.

Even so, for Shapiro, it may be a benefit: House Democrats block Republican bills that Shapiro might otherwise veto, while Senate Republicans block Democratic bills that are too progressive for Shapiros political instincts.

Shapiro brushes off that suggestion.

Im kind of dealing with the cards Ive been dealt, Shapiro told the AP. Ive just really focused on finding those areas where I can find common ground between the two leaders, right, in the Senate and the House, and see where we can find those points of intersection that allow me to put something forward that we can accomplish.
I invite you to think about this question as we begin a new year because having a clear and compelling answer to this will help you stay motivated to serve your teams, your guests, and perform at your best.

Hospitality is about belonging

For Life House CEO Rami Zeidan, the motivation to provide hospitality and enable travel is clear and personal.

I grew up in Minnesota to Lebanese immigrant parents, and I didn't feel like I really belonged, Rami told me. What I found is people who got out and traveled had a better sense of their belonging in the universe. Travel, especially in this day and age, is about discovering your universal belonging and discovering where you fit in the universe and where everyone else fits. When you understand that, you feel safer, more comfortable taking risks, and more comfortable interacting with new people.

And its this, Rami says, that really brings meaning and value to our lives. Thats the beauty of travel.

Hospitality provides the chance to change lives

Craig Poole is the President of Reading Hospitality, a three-time Hilton Connie Award winner, and was recognized as General Manager of the Year by the American Hotel and Lodging Association. For him, hospitality is a chance to change lives.

That starts by showing leadership. That means I have to be worthy to be followed, Craig told me. You have to want to do things that are worthy of following. My pockets are full of trash in the morning because I pick up trash all the time. Because people see me pick it up, they pick it up. I don't do it for that reason, but I know that's what happens.

Craig draws inspiration from leaders outside of hospitality as he leads his company. I'm 70-some years old. I grew up when Martin Luther King was around. Follow me, I'll take you to the mountain. And he walked out front, he took the rocks, the dogs, the water, he took the beatings, he went to jail, but he was always behind the people he was leading. And Mahatma Gandhi did the same thing. He said, Follow me, we'll take some salt out of the sea, we'll free ourselves. And he went to jail and took the beating, and he was always there. And Jesus Christ did the same thing. Follow me, I'll make you fishermen and men. So it's the same thing. I looked at three people and others and said, you know what? It worked for them. Can't be that hard.

For Craig, the way he changes lives goes beyond just creating a good work environment to helping them in practical ways, like buying homes through his work with Habitat for Humanity.

Source: Hospitality Daily

Someone asked me how often I can do this. I said every time someone wants a home, I'm going to help them get a home.

While every business is different, I want to see the opportunity for using your hospitality business to create good in the world.

What is your why?

Simon Sinek famously encouraged us to reconnect with our why to perform at our best. As we begin a new year, I encourage you to reflect on what this is for you and keep reminding yourself each day why you do the work you do.



Josiah Mackenzie hosts the Hospitality Daily Podcast to help you stay informed and inspired each day by the most interesting people in hospitality.
HARRISBURG  The first Pennsylvania Farm Show, like the current one, featured free admission, commercial exhibits, including the latest farm machinery, and competitive exhibits, ranging from apples to wool.

Thats about all the two shows have in common.

That three-day Farm Show in 1917 occupied 10,000 square feet of exhibition space in a farm implement building at 10th and Market streets in Harrisburg. Exhibitors showed the newest tractors, which some called mechanical horses because horse-drawn equipment still was in use.

The eight-day 108th Farm Show, which opens Saturday and closes Jan. 13, occupies a 24-acre complex with three large arenas. Exhibitors show combines with computers, thousands of animals ranging from cattle to sheep and everything from gingerbread houses to grape jelly. Theres horse pulls, square dancing, rodeos, auctions and, of course, a smorgasbord of Pennsylvania food.

How times have changed.

Yet the Farm Show continues to increase in popularity each year. After the first few years in the farm implement building, the show spread out to Harrisburg schools, churches and other buildings. The first animals were displayed in 1921. Soon, the Farm Show was in 15 locations, and visitors carried maps and drove around to the various sites.

Just before the Great Depression, people realized that the Farm Show needed a permanent home. Gov. John Fisher agreed and asked the legislature to pay for one. The search was on for a Farm Show home.

Altoona, Sunbury, Williamsport, Lemoyne and Middletown all expressed interest in hosting the Farm Show but were ruled out. Eventually, the state Farm Products Show Commission selected a 40-acre site at Cameron and Maclay streets in Harrisburg. Over the years, that site had hosted the Dauphin County agricultural fairgrounds, Camp Curtin (Pennsylvanias Civil War training camp) and a pasture for a nearby state mental hospitals dairy cows.

On Halloween 1929, ground for the $1.4 million Farm Show Complex was broken just a few days after the stock market crash that began the Great Depression. Soon, construction began on the complex decorated with a frieze of cattle, sheep and poultry and the state coat of arms.

The 10-acre complex opened on Jan. 19, 1931 (Fishers last day as governor) for the 1931 Farm Show. More than 255,000 people attended that show. Several years later, the planned Coliseum (later built as the Large Arena) was added and dedicated at the 1939 Farm Show.

War talk dominated the 1942 Farm Show, held just six weeks after the Japanese Navy attacked the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor. Weeks after that show ended, the War Department told Farm Show officials that Uncle Sam needs you. They wanted to use the complex for the Pennsylvania State School of Aeronautics, and an agreement was reached to do just that.

For nearly two years, the Farm Show Complex was a school to train about 4,000 people as airplane mechanics to fix airplane engines shot up in World War II. When that school closed at the end of 1943, U.S. Army officials asked the Farm Show Commission to lease the complex for overhauling airplane engines.

An agreement was reached and the Army Air Corps used the Farm Show Complex for the next two years as an aircraft engine repair shop. Between 1,600 and 2,300 people worked there on four assembly lines reconditioning engines from Army Air Corps planes. The engines were sent to the nearby Olmsted Air Base in Middletown, tested for six hours and then put in reconditioned planes and sent back to war.

Meanwhile, the 1943, 1944, 1945 and 1946 Farm Shows were held as farm organization meetings off-site. After World War II ended, the government spent nearly a year restoring the Farm Show Complex to its former condition.

The real Farm Show returned in 1947.

In the 1950s and 1960s, the Farm Show added events and grew in popularity. By 1963, five commodity groups sold food at the Farm Show.

In 1970, the Farm Show Commission debated whether to renovate the outdated Farm Show Complex or rebuild it completely on a 293-acre site in nearby Susquehanna Township. Ultimately, it decided against rebuilding because of the cost. It did upgrades, including fire safety, plumbing and electrical improvements. The Northeast Hall was added in 1990.

More improvements came in 2001 when officials broke ground for an $86.2 million expansion that added eight acres to the complex and modernized other parts of it. Later, an energy and utility cost reduction program went into effect. A renovation project updated the older parts of the complex, even using art deco colors as a salute to the past.

The Farm Show itself also changed over the years. The show was expanded from five to six days in the 1980s and from six to eight days in 1992. The PA Food Marketplace came in 1981, and the Food Court followed 10 years later. The Pennsylvania dairy industry began to sponsor butter sculptures in 1991, a tradition that continues today.

Other animals were welcomed to the Farm Show, including ostriches, peacocks, llamas, alpacas and even Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog.

Over the years, square dancing, a sheep-to-shawl competition, baking contests, rodeos, horseshoe pitching, tractor square dancing and more were added. The PA Preferred Culinary Connection brought in chefs from throughout the nation to give Farm Show visitors cooking lessons and samples.

The Friends of the Pennsylvania Farm Show Foundation has supported the Farm Show for many years, contributing more than $1.8 million between 2011 and 2023, according to William L. Piper, foundation chairman. The group also supports the Pennsylvania Farm Show Scholarship Foundation, which in 1993 began presenting scholarships to Farm Show exhibitors who are 4-H or FFA members.

The Farm Show Commission in 1975 voted to charge $1 a vehicle for parking. That fee rose over the years to $15 in 2016, where it remains today.
Chicago, IL (60637)

Today

Cloudy skies. A few flurries are possible. Temps nearly steady in the mid to upper 30s. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low 29F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph.
Hudson, NY (12534)

Today

Cloudy. High near 45F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. A few flurries are possible. Low 31F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.
File photo The future of the proposed Shepherds Run Solar Energy project in the town of Copake is up in the air following the sale of 60 acres that will no longer be leased to Hecate Energy.
The Augusta County Sheriffs Office and Virginia State Police spent several hours Thursday at Old Providence Presbyterian Church in Augusta County after an early morning report of a bomb threat.

The church is located in Spottswood in southern Augusta County.

The sheriffs office and Virginia State Police searched the premises and had a bomb detection K-9 unit search the building. Nothing was found.

The threat, reported at about 9:20 a.m., was received digitally and sent to multiple destinations.

The church was evacuated Thursday, and all persons were taken to an alternative safe location.

Augusta County Sheriff Donald Smith said late Thursday afternoon that there is no threat to our Augusta County community at this time.
BCC Accepting Applications to Community Health Worker Program

PITTSFIELD, Mass  Berkshire Community College (BCC) is accepting applications to its Community Health Worker program, part of the College's Workforce Development

curriculum.

The next cohort takes place February 15 through May 7, 2024.

The Community Health Worker program provides rigorous training for public health workers to serve as liaisons between traditionally underserved populations and health/social service providers. The program benefits anyone interested in exploring educational and career pathways in community health, human services, healthcare or public health.

Students enrolled in the Community Health Worker program learn about essential topics relevant to community health work in Berkshire County, such as chronic diseases, sexually transmitted diseases, substance abuse, physical and mental disabilities, reproductive health issues, domestic violence, mental health and trauma. The program also addresses community health work in emergency situations and contact tracing as a tool for preventing the spread of infectious disease.

The certificate program at BCC includes 42 hours of face-to-face instruction, 42 hours of online instruction and 20 hours of fieldwork at a local non-profit organization. Three-hour classes are held once a week from 6-9 pm, alternating between face-to-face and online classes. Coursework content is designed by public health professionals and delivered by specialists directly involved in community health work in Berkshire County.

Workforce Training at BCC offers a range of educational resources designed for individuals, businesses and organizations. In addition to community health worker certification, the department currently offers instruction for certified nursing assistants, medical interpreters, phlebotomy technicians and group fitness instructors.
The Greylock Glen Outdoor Center is expected to open this summer and the Selectmen on Wednesday signed a 25-year agreement with Shared Estates to develop camping and cabins at the site.

Adams Selectmen Sign 25-Year Agreement With Campground Developer



An initial plan for the camping area that could include cabins, tents and Airstreams. ADAMS, Mass.  The town of Adams has signed a 25-year development agreement with Shared Estates Asset Fund to construct a camping venue at the Greylock Glen.

The company will pay the town at least $74,400 annually; up to 7 percent of its gross profits; and real estate and property taxes.

The 3-1 vote by the Selectmen came after nearly three hours of reviewing the agreement in executive session with attorneys on Wednesday night. Selectman Joseph Novak vote no; Selectman Richard Blanchard was absent.

The agreement lays out a roadmap as Shared Estates begins the design and permitting process with a projected construction date in 2025. The company was selected in December based on its response to the town's requests for proposal, part of its development of 50 acres in the 1,063-acre Greylock Glen.

"The development agreement lays out what Shared Estates essentially has to do over the next 10 months," said Town Administrator Jay Green on Thursday. "There is nothing last night that was approved in terms of design. Everything that had been discussed back in the December, January, February, March range last year, is still on the table."

Tentatively titled "Greylock Glen Ecovillage," the project is projected to bring in $3.5 million to $6 million a year and will provide $8 million or more in revenue directly to the town over 25 years. The year-round facility is expected to bring hundreds of people to Adams on a regular basis, based on Shared Estates' bookings.

Shared Estates has specialized in renovating and upscaling existing real estate for the luxury rental and vacation market in the Berkshires using crowdsourced funding. It most recently invested $1.5 million into the historic Kemble Inn in Lenox.

The campground is expected to have a mix of modern cabins, Airstreams and tent sites for a capacity of 250. While on the same footprint developed in the glen master plan some years ago, the solar-powered, environmentally conscious "ecovillage" will have half as many sites at 72 with more clustering to conserve greenery. This general plan was presented to the town and residents in December and March

The Selectmen will have final approval of design before the project goes before the Planning Board and Conservation Commission.

"If you look back at their projection that they had talked about last December and last March, the town could earn upwards of half a million dollars [annually] if they perform well, if their occupancy is in the 90th percentile," said Green. "The rent, we'll have a [consumer price index] escalation and a fair market value reset throughout the duration of the of the lease."

He said the agreement document sets out guardrails to keep the project moving forward. It has provisions for ending the agreement but also for having performance bonding in place so that if the company backs out or fails during construction, the town will take over as the contractor.

Green, on Wednesday night, had noted the town's attorney Jay Sabin and the Community Development Office had been negotiating for six months on an agreement. He responded to questions of why the talks weren't happening in open session.

"This is not necessarily out of the ordinary. It is out of the ordinary for the town of Adams," he said. "Doing this in executive session is not a way to avoid public scrutiny ... This is a way to protect the legal interests of the town of Adams."

On Thursday, Green confirmed that a reference made at the meeting was about the Memorial Building, for which an RFP has again been issued. In that case, the selected developer had not been able to raise the capital needed but without a hard deadline in place, months went by before the town could move on.

That won't be the case with Shared Estates.

"They have kind of set deadlines that are that are going to keep them on path, on track in order to fund raise, in order to submit design, submit engineering documents and get through the permitting process," said Green. "So the project doesn't linger. It doesn't get caught up in a myriad of bureaucracy. It also forces the town that when we get those documents, we have to act on them."

The Greylock Glen has gone through private and public development limbo for decades. The state chose the town as the developer in 2006 after pulling the plug on a failed private endeavor.

It's taken this long to bring a number of complicated pieces into play that will see at least part of the vision laid out 17 years ago come to fruition.

The Outdoor Center is expected to be completed by spring but the water tank for fire suppression may not be ready until July. An RFP is out for the restaurant/cafe operator and with the deadline extended into February.

On Wednesday night, the Selectmen voted to accept Massachusetts Audubon as the educational programmer and Green said an executive director  funded through this year's budget  will be named at the next Selectmen's meeting.

"2024 is going to be a very exciting year for big advancements at the Greylock Glen," said Green.
Lanesborough voters reject plans for a controversial public safety complex. The Lanesborough Senior Park Initiative was created to explore turning Bridge Park into a senior-friendly recreational area. The owners of the defunct Berkshire Mall have dropped plans for a cannabis facility and switched to senior living. PreviousNext

Lanesborough 2023 Year in Review: Public Safety Building, Yes or No?



Gina Dario took over as town administrator after the Berkshire native spent two decades in Australia.

LANESBOROUGH, Mass.  The town continued to grapple with its public safety facility needs, held an election, and saw promise for the shuttered Berkshire Mall in 2023.

Early in the year, Town Administrator Gina Dario began work in her new position. The Adams native had been assistant commissioner at the Australian Electoral Commission in Canberra, where she had worked for nearly two decades.

Dario's return to the area was fueled by a wish to be in closer proximity to family and one of the first things she noticed was that residents are very engaged and have roots in the community.

Public Safety Building

Voters shot down a proposed $5.9 million public safety complex 139-214 in March during a special town meeting. The now-dissolved Police Station Committee had been formed a year prior to focus on the town's ongoing plans to build a new station.

The proposed police and ambulance complex at 405 South Main St. included police, ambulance, emergency medical services personnel, sleeping quarters, garage space, an emergency management center, and an in-house training room.

Before the vote, a series of three hearings were held to inform the public and solicit feedback. Residents largely raised concerns about the price and its impact on the tax bill.

The state had promised $1 million for the project, bringing the maximum taxpayer burden to $4.9 million, and the Baker Hill Road District contributed $150,000 for the property purchase.

A Public Safety Building Committee was established in May to bring forward a new plan that resonates with the town.

A survey was distributed and residents voiced support for three public safety building options: just a police station, a combined police and emergency medical services complex, and a complete facility with police, EMS, and the Fire Department.

The committee then voted to spend $10,000 on a needs assessment, schematic design, and a cost estimate of adding the fire department to the public safety building proposal.

Towards the end of the year, members of the committee toured the Williamsburg Public Safety Complex to get a handle on the scope of work and, according to meeting minutes, it was revealed that just a police station can be designed for about $3.8 million and a police and EMS facility for $7 million.

Election

The annual town election returned both incumbents in the only two races.

Michael Murphy was elected to a second term on the Select Board with 172 votes; Barbara Davis-Hassan polled 142 votes and Deborah Maynard 131.

For the Finance Committee, incumbent Jodi-Lee Szczepaniak-Locke outpolled Kristen Tool, a member of the former police station committee, by 235-197.

Running unopposed were Sherri Wilson for library trustee and Joe Trybus for Planning Board. Turnout for the annual election was 448, or 18 percent of the town's 2,470 registered voters.

Berkshire Mall

Plans for the Berkshire Mall changed from cannabis production to a senior living facility with condominiums and other commercial uses on the property.

The building has largely been out of use since 2019 except for Regal Cinema, which closed in 2022. Target is the only remaining store and owns its building.

JMJ Holdings Corp. purchased the property in 2022 and the Select Board signed a Community Host Agreement for a cannabis manufacturing reuse earlier this year.

The company said it spoke with many people and businesses and, based on the size of the town and the economy, it is too difficult to get retail back into the space.

In October, the board was shocked to hear that cannabis plans were scrapped for a senior living facility with other mixed uses. Target's refusal to dissolve prohibitive restrictions and oversaturation of the cannabis market were cited as reasons for the pivot.

JMJ said the development would consist of independent living, assisted living, nursing, and memory care units. In the plans are also multifamily units and new developments that would include doctors' offices, restaurants, and retail space.

For the most part, town officials would just like to see the property in use and generating tax revenue.

Recreation

The year 2023 also brought the promise of a new park for older residents when a "senior park" was proposed in September.

Resident Linda Pruyne approached the Select Board with a plan to add senior-friendly activities to Bridge Park and the Select Board voted to form a Lanesborough Senior Park Initiative.

The proposal is of no cost to the town and is planned to be paid through fundraising.

Utilizing the existing infrastructure, the planners feel that they may be able to install a small gazebo for shade, a pickle ball court, and a wiffle ball field. It was also designed with easy accessibility with paths, nearby parking, and handicap-accessible tables.

The next month, the board appointed members to the committee after they filled out citizens' interest forms.

The board also considered adding a "residents only" sign to the Lanesborough Lally Public Beach after being approached by Michael Lally, who resides on Sunrise Street. He said that about 80 percent of beachgoers are not from Lanesborough.

While the board members said they heard his frustration, they also want to make sure the signage won't be "toothless."

They suggested talking to the town counsel to see if this is something that has to be taken to the annual town meeting. If it was a bylaw or an ordinance, it would be enforceable.
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 Wednesday.

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 Democratic state Sen. Creigh Deeds of Charlottesville, who is to become chairman of the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee.

Deeds is working closely with Democratic Del. Jeion Ward of 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, a Fairfax Democrat, 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.

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, a Scott County Republican, also expects the new assembly to resolve the impasse early in a 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.

He acknowledges that Republicans will not have the leverage they have held the past two years, when the GOP-led House and Democrat-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 Gov. Glenn 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 was accepting candidate resumes through Friday.

Legislative leaders generally are not discussing potential candidates, but Kilgore confirmed that retiring Sen. Lynwood Lewis, an Accomack Democrat, could be among them. Hed be fine as far as Im concerned, Kilgore said.

Democratic state Sen. Chap Petersen of Fairfax City, who lost a 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.
The victim of a fatal New Years Eve shooting in Portland has been identified as 21-year-old Skyler Stuckey of Albany.

Portland police responded to a shooting call just after 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 31, in the 1100 block of Northeast Faloma Road, located in the East Columbia neighborhood, according to a news release from the Portland Police Bureau.

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.

Officers arrived to find two men who were shot, according to the news release, which states both victims were taken to an area hospital.

Stuckey reportedly died from gunshot wounds at the hospital. The other man, an 18-year-old, has not been identified by authorities. He suffered serious but nonlife-threatening injuries and was treated and released, the news release states.

No arrests have been made. The investigation is ongoing.

A fundraising webpage for Stuckeys funeral costs describes him as a stubborn yet outspoken and funny young man. It also says Stuckey and his girlfriend were anxiously awaiting the arrival of their first child in two months.

It breaks my heart to say that Skyler was shot and killed on New Year's Eve, fundraising organizer Kristin Tagen wrote on the webpage. This has devastated not only his family, but the community as Skyler is loved by many.

If anyone has information about the shooting, contact Detective Brent Christensen at Brent.Christensen@police.portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-2087, or Detective Meghan Burkeen at Meghan.Burkeen@police.portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-2092. Reference case number 23-336668.
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Residents in two South Korean islands rushed to evacuate on military orders on Friday after North Korea fired more than 200 artillery rounds into a tense maritime patch in the Korean peninsula.

The artillery firing by the Kim Jong-un-led military on Friday was near a disputed boundary with South Korea and violated a fragile 2018 military agreement, forcing immediate such response from Seoul.

A text message warning of naval fire to be conducted by South Korean troops from 3pm local time was sent to residents and was confirmed by an island official.

South Koreas military conducted corresponding live firing drills in response to North Koreas firing of artillery rounds, the Souths defence ministry said.

According to an official on Yeonpyeong island, the evacuation was ordered at the request of the South Korean military. The island sits just south of the disputed Northern Limit Line (NLL) sea border.

Confirming the firing into the waters north of their disputed western sea boundary, South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff called the North Korean drills a provocation.

"This is an act of provocation that escalates tension and threatens peace on the Korean peninsula," a spokesperson for the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

Officials from the South Koreas military informed the village there was firing at sea by the South Korean military after "a situation" near the border. It is not immediately clear whether it was a drill or had some other cause.

South Korea will take a corresponding step, the JCS said, but didnt elaborate.

No immediate civilian or military damage in the artillery firing by North Korea has been reported so far, South Koreas military officials said in a news briefing.

The residents of the second island, Baengnyeong island which is far to the west of the first one, were also asked to evacuate and head to the shelters, a village official said.

Both the islands are near the sea and inter-Korea border.

The firing drills, the first in about a year, have ratcheted up tensions between the two Korean nations already facing heat in the region.

Residents of three South Korean islands have been advised to take shelter amid an anticipated response from North Korea to the afternoon fire drills.

The sea boundary shared between the two Koreas has been the site of several bloody inter-Korean sea battles since 1999. North Korea also launched artillery strikes on Yeonpyeong island, killing four South Koreans, in 2010.

Under their 2018 agreement, South and North are required to halt live-fire exercises and aerial surveillance in no-fly and buffer zones that they established along their border.

The deal now faces an imminent danger of collapse as the two nations have been at loggerheads after North fired its first military spy satellite launch in November.
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The Indian Navy dispatched a vessel and a surveillance aircraft to the Arabian Sea in response to an attempted hijacking aboard a Liberia-flagged bulk carrier.

On 4 January, the vessel reported an unauthorised boarding by around five to six armed men  suspected to be Somali pirates  although there has been no official confirmation of their identity.

The Indian Navy said in a statement that the vessel sent a message on the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations portal about the hijacking.

Fifteen Indians are on board the hijacked ship, not identified by the officials but media reports said it was MV Lila Norfolk, and communication has been established with the crew.

The Indian Navy warship INS Chennai was dispatched to the Arabian Sea to help with the attempted hijacking.

On early Friday, a patrol aircraft flew over the vessel, establishing contact with the crew and confirming their safety, the Indian Navy said.

The aircraft overflew the vessel on early morning of 5 January [20]24 and established contact with the vessel, ascertaining the safety of the crew, the statement added.

Naval aircraft continues to monitor movement and INS Chennai is closing the vessel to render assistance. The overall situation is being closely monitored, in coordination with other agencies/ [Maritime Task Force] MNF in the area, it further added.

The aircraft is continuing to monitor the carriers movements and the naval ship is travelling to the vessel to assist.

Commander Mehul Karnik, a navy spokesperson, said the crew members said they were in their strong room and were operating the vessel from there, according to the Associated Press.

The hijacking incident comes just days after an unknown group seized a Maltese-flagged merchant vessel in the Arabian Sea, bringing piracy back into the spotlight. The vessel reported that six pirates had illegally boarded it.

Meanwhile, no group has taken responsibility for the attempt to hijack the Liberia-flagged bulk carrier.

The situation is being closely monitored, with collaborative efforts underway involving multiple agencies and the Maritime Task Force (MNF) in the region.

Indian Navy remains committed to ensuring safety of merchant shipping in the region along with international partners and friendly foreign countries, the statement said.

Additional reporting with agencies
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Authorities at Tokyos Haneda Airport begin removal of aircraft wreckage on Friday, 5 January, that burned from a plane collision.

The Japan Airlines (JAL) passenger jet collided with a Coast Guard turboprop on the runway while landing in Tokyo on Tuesday.

All 379 passengers escaped before the plane was engulfed in flames. The Metropolitan Police Department of Tokyo said five crew members of the coastguard aircraft MA722 were killed.

Officials aim to complete the removal of the wreckage by 7 January and it will be taken to its hangar, where the aircraft will be inspected by the police.
The Islamic State group claimed responsibility Thursday for two suicide bombings targeting a commemoration for an Iranian general slain in a 2020 U.S. drone strike. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken headed to the region for the fourth time in three months.
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An 80-year-old woman who was trapped under rubble for more than 72 hours was pulled out by rescuers after a powerful earthquake rocked Japans Ishikawa prefecture.

Firefighters from Osaka prefecture were able to assess the presence of a person and then found the woman under the rubble of a two-storey house, officials from the fire department said, reported The Asahi Shimbun newspaper.

A video recorded by the fire department officials showed workers motivating her by telling her that she was almost there and she needed to hang in there in the local Kansai dialect. The rescue operation was held in Wajima city in Japan.

She was also seen responsive towards the efforts made by the firefighters and answering their calls in the video.

After she was pulled out of her partially collapsed home at 4.28pm local time, the woman was wrapped in a blanket, helped on a stretcher and rushed to the hospital, the report added.

She was confirmed to be in a stable condition after her rescue, officials from the Osaka Municipal Fire Department said.

According to the timing shared by the local officials, she survived 72 hours and 18 minutes after the 7.6 magnitude earthquake hit the Noto peninsula.

The first 72 hours of rescue operations are especially critical, experts say, because the prospects for survival greatly diminish after that.

A total of 92 people have died after the massive earthquake shook Japans western coastline on New Years Day.

At least 51 people still remain unaccounted for in Ishikawa prefecture, which was struck by a powerful 7.6 magnitude quake, destroying houses and triggering tsunami waves that crashed into northern and western coastlines.

The sandy coastline in western Japan shifted by up to 250 metres (820 feet) seaward in some places, according to the Earthquake Research Institute at the University of Tokyo.

Thousands of Japanese troops have joined the effort to reach the hardest-hit spots on the Noto Peninsula, the centre of the quake, connected by a narrow land strip to the rest of the main island of Honshu.

Experts warned of disease and even death at the evacuation centres that now house about 34,000 people who lost their homes, many of them older.
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Over 70 Afghan women have written an open letter to United Nations chief Antonio Guterres against the UNs special envoy in Afghanistan, Roza Otunbayevas latest remarks on education of Afghan girls in Islamic madrassas.

Ms Otunbayeva, head of the UNs assistance mission in Afghanistan, told the UN Security Council last month that there is more and more anecdotal evidence that girls could study at the Islamic schools known as madrassas run by the Taliban, without any proof of progressive education in these centres.

But Ms Otunbayeva said it wasnt clear what constituted a madrassa, if there was a standardised curriculum that allowed modern education subjects, and how many girls were able to study in the schools.

Such statements are utterly irresponsible and perceived as normalising the education ban for girls in Afghanistan under the Taliban. For anyone familiar with the Afghan context, madrassa and formal school systems cannot be compatible for many reasons, the letter to Mr Guterres, seen by The Independent, read. Madrassas are Islamic schools that also often provide free religious education, shelter and food to students.

The coalition of Afghan women, activists, former judges, diplomats, and human rights organisations, have rejected the UN envoys position and statements at the Security Council, stating that the top leader was trying to normalise the Talibans education ban against women and girls, among other human rights violations.

Since the Taliban returned in August 2021, they have formed hundreds of new religious madrassas across Afghanistan, not just for school-age boys and girls but adult men and women, where there is a genuine fear of mass radicalisation of youth, the letter added.

The Taliban are an ideological militant group that uses religion and peoples religious beliefs for their political and military purposes, the letter read.

Afghan children from a madrassa or an Islamic school hold Talibans flag in Fayzabad district of Badakhshan province (AFP via Getty)

It pointed out that the formal education curriculum in Afghanistan was consistent with both religious education as well as modern subjects including science, mathematics, literature, foreign languages, history, and geography. Whereas in the Talibans madrassas where students are taught predominantly religious studies.

Furthermore, there are multiple reports and research that show that people who attend Taliban-controlled madrassas are radicalised and even learning [about] militancy and insurgency, the open letter to the UN chief said.

Modern education is key for the advancement of a country, particularly for womens active participation in social, political economic sphere, the letter said, adding that any absence of a formal education system and deprivation of girls from advancing will have a serious impact on Afghanistan.

The women, representing millions of Afghan girls and women under the Taliban regime, have asked the UN secretary general to urge the Taliban to reverse policies responsible for the deteriorating human rights situation, particularly for women and girls, and hold them accountable for systematic violations.

One of the five demands to the secretary general also asks the UN to push the Taliban to stop spreading extremist ideologies including in the education system and madrassas, stating that the implications of such policies are devastating for Afghanistan and beyond.

The UN has refused to recognise the Taliban, an Islamist militant group, as the legitimate government of Afghanistan since its fighters seized power by force in August 2021.

The Taliban took control of Kabul by ousting a democratically elected government after the withdrawal of Western allied forces. Since taking power, the Taliban regime has banned women from schools, workplaces and public recreational facilities, provoking international condemnation. Madrassas are one of the few options for girls after sixth grade to receive any kind of education.

Afghanistan under the Taliban is the only country on earth that has stopped girls and women from attending secondary school and universities, a ban that has been in place for more than two years and is expected to have wide-reaching implications for the countrys society and economy if it persists.
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At least four people were killed and two dozen others injured when two trains collided near the Indonesian city of Bandung on Friday, officials said.

The front carriages of both trains were extensively damaged and appeared in visuals as a twisted wreck. At least 500 passengers were evacuated.

The trailing cars further down the line had derailed and overturned along a section of tracks that traversed rice fields in West Java province. The four dead in the collision were all train crew. No fatality has been reported among the 500 passengers travelling in the trains.

The collision took place at dawn in the Rancaekek district, east of the city on the island of Java.

Videos from the scene showed twisted train carriages, with some veering off the tracks and into a nearby rice field.

The cause of the accident remained unclear. The collision involved an intra-city train, carrying 287 passengers, and a local line with 191 people on board.

The crash took place during the journey of the long-distance passenger route heading west to Bandung from Surabaya. Bandung is approximately 100 miles southeast of Jakarta.

Police spokesperson Ibrahim Tompo told reporters that all those injured in the collision have been taken to local hospitals.

We also apologise for this accident which has disrupted railway services, especially in West Java, transportation ministry spokesperson Adita Irawati said. The ministry has also launched an investigation into the incident.

In Indonesia, major train accidents have seen a decline in recent years. A 2021 study by transportation safety expert Hardianto Iridiastadi reported 35 nationwide train accidents between 2010 and 2016, resulting in 55 deaths and injuries to over 240 passengers, the New York Times reported.

Over 25 per cent of these incidents were train collisions, with others involving derailments or other causes.
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A veteran of the fossil fuel industry has been appointed to lead the worlds next round of climate emergency negotiations, prompting dismay among environmentalists.

Mukhtar Babayev spent more than 24 years working in Azerbaijans State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (Socar), according to his LinkedIn profile.

Last year there was widespread anger at the appointment of Sultan Al Jaber, the chief executive of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, to head the climate talks in Dubai.

Mukhtar Babayev spoke at Cop28 in Dubai (AP)

Ending the burning of fossil fuels is seen as vital to keeping global temperature rises under 1.5C and averting the worst effects, such as drought, floods and devastation of food production.

The Azerbaijani government appointed Mr Babayev, its ecology and natural resources minister, as president of the United Nations Cop29 talks that are due to be held in Baku in November.

Scientists and climate campaigners expressed disappointment at the appointment.

Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer told The Independent: A dangerous and very unwelcome pattern is developing with this latest planned appointment  the oil industry capture of the COP process.

COP works because it brings together governments, the people most impacted by climate change and non-governmental organisations.

Consensus and actions to combat climate change have been hard won. This is at risk if we allow COP to be taken over and run in the interests of the very people who are creating and profiting from the crisis.

University of Pennsylvania climate scientist Michael Mann wrote on social media that the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change had not taken to heart scientists call last year for oil industry executives to not be allowed to exert heavy influence over  much less lead  annual climate negotiations.

However, according to a leaked 2008 telegram from the US Azeri ambassador to the US government, Mr Babayevs approach put him at odds with Socars grand old man, a company chief.

He wanted to alter how his company developed its resources, the document shows, saying he had to change its attitude to the environment, ensuring it preserved the environment while fulfilling its mission to develop Azerbaijans hydrocarbon resources.

He said Socar was trying to establish a master plan for cleaning-up the Absheron Peninsula, devastated by oil and chemicals production, and that his mission was to "change the mentality" of Azerbaijanis over their responsibilities to preserve the environment.

Azerbaijan, which is rich in fossil fuels, has an estimated 2.5 trillion cubic metres of natural gas reserves, according to a 2021 BP review, and is aiming to double gas exports to Europe by 2027.

At last years Dubai talks, an 11th-hour accord was struck calling for the first time for transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a just, orderly and equitable manner.

But some environmentalists condemned it for failing to set out detailed plans to cut fossil fuel use and keep global warming below 1.5C.
Stop right now  Royal Mail has unveiled a limited-edition range of commemorative stamps to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Spice Girls. The first time the postal service has dedicated an entire collection to a female pop group, the stamps relive some of the brands most memorable moments, from the 1997 Brit Awards performance (and that Union Jack dress) to the 2012 Olympic opening ceremony.

As well as individual stamps of Posh Spice, Baby Spice, Scary Spice, Sporty Spice and Ginger Spice, the new issue includes framed memorabilia, stamp books, sheets and limited-edition collectables for devotees of the group.

Formed in 1994, the girl group was catapulted to global pop star fame, thanks to hits such as Wannabe, Stop and Who Do You Think You Are. The Spice Girls message of female empowerment was embraced by women across the world, with the group selling more than 100 million records worldwide, making them the best-selling girl group of all time  and the most successful British pop act since the Beatles.

This is only the sixth time a music group has been given its own special issue of stamps, with Royal Mail gifting us with the stamps we never knew we needed. Wannabe the coolest one at the post office? Heres how to spice up your stamp collection.

Royal Mail Spice Girls miniature sheet: 6.25, Royalmail.com

(Royal Mail)

Hailing from the 1997 Spice World photoshoot by photographer Christophe Gstalder, this miniature first-class stamp sheet features five individual shots of the group. Set on a retro-style background, its a must-have collectable for Spice Girls fans.

Buy now

Royal Mail Spice Girls stamp set: 12.50, Royalmail.com

(Royal Mail)

Royal Mails commemorative first class stamp set features 10 images reliving the Spice Girls most memorable live performances. From their sell-out show in Wembley Stadium in 1998 to their iconic Brit Awards gig in 1997, the stamps celebrate 30 years of the girl group.

Buy now

Royal Mail Spice Girls presentation pack: 19.65, Royalmail.com

(Royal Mail)

This presentation pack contains all 10 of the Spice Girls special stamps, plus a miniature sheet in a separate carrier. The bumper collectable is packed with images reliving the groups most iconic moments, from their European tour in the Nineties to their 2008 reunion tour.

Buy now

Royal Mail Spice Girls framed stamps: 34.99, Royalmail.com

(Royal Mail)

Featuring the 10 special Spice Girls stamps in a mounted frame, this collectable is the perfect wall art for yourself or another devotee. The nostalgic selection shows images of the group performing live, and individual photographs.

Buy now

Royal Mail Spice Girls platinum miniature sheet: 199.99, Royalmail.com

(Royal Mail)

There are only 1,000 of these limited edition Spice Girls miniature sheets up for grabs, so act fast. A unique piece of memorabilia, the stamps are platinum layered and feature individual headshots from the girl groups Spice World photoshoot.

Buy now

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Saltburn has dropped on this streaming service  heres how to watch it for free
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Angelina Jolies brother James Haven has revealed how hes helped to protect his sisters children after her divorce from Brad Pitt.

During an appearance on the 90who10podcast hosted by Jessica Entner, Haven, 52, spoke about how he shifted his focus to his family once the Maleficent stars split went public. Thats where it all started, it started with the protection of her and her children  my nieces and nephews, he said.

I set my life up so I can be present with whatever the situation. I want to be there for them or for her  whatever shes going through, Haven continued.

In the actors eyes, his niece and nephews needed him for their family because the situation was tough to deal with at their age. He described the time in their lives as massively formative years.

He noted: Theyre becoming young adults early 20s. I think its just very natural and I just want to be there any time. Anytime Im blessed to be in their presence, I want to be in their presence.

Jolie and Pitt met on the set of the famed film Mr & Mrs Smith in 2003. At the time, the Fight Club lead was still married to Jennifer Aniston. In 2007, Jolie reflected on those years in conversation with Vogue, noting how Pitt and Aniston seemed to be best friends.

I didnt know much about exactly where Brad was in his personal life, she told the outlet. But it was clear he was with his best friend, someone he loves and respects.

By 2005, Pitt and Aniston called their marriage off. That same year, Jolie travelled to Ethiopia to adopt her daughter, Zahara Marley. This was her second adoption. In 2002, the Original Sin welcomed her son Maddox from Cambodia.

Even before Pitt and Jolie made their relationship official, Pitt elected to adopt both Zahara and Maddox, changing their last time to Jolie-Pitt. They then welcomed Shiloh, their first biological child together, in 2006. The next year Jolie went to Vietnam to adopt Pax Thien.

Jolie gave birth to twins Knox and Vivienne, the last two children shared between her and Pitt, in 2008. But the couple still hadnt tied the knot yet. They wed in 2014 and divorced two years later.

According to a Page Six report, court documents obtained stated that the Troy actor choked one of the children and struck another in the face during an altercation on a private jet in 2016. At one point he poured beer on Jolie; at another, he poured beer and red wine on the children, the document stated, adding that he also grabbed Jolie by the head and shook her.

Later, it came out that Pitt confessed he had raised his voice while addressing the kids. However, he said he never got physical with any of them. Though they were officially divorced in 2019, the two have still not resolved their custody dispute and other terms of their divorce.
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An Amazon delivery driver placed a customers package in a tree to protect it from porch pirates.

In a viral TikTok video, the Chicago-based photographer Heather Rowland (@__greensilk) showed viewers a message sent to her from an Amazon delivery driver in charge of delivering a package she ordered. I apologize for the placement of the package, the driver wrote. I was trying to toss it far in haha.

Rowland then showed viewers that the package was stuck in a tree outside her apartment, and shared that she was able to retrieve it by pulling at the branches and reaching high up. I spent 20 minutes searching last night and didnt notice [the package] until my walk this morning, she revealed while replying to a comment.

Since posting the video on 4 January, Rowland has received more than 110,000 views on the platform. Interested viewers took to Rowlands comment section to voice their reactions, and opinions on the delivery drivers unique package protection methods. No more porch pirate worries, one person wrote.

I had a fed ex guy hide a box so it wouldnt get stolen but he hid it so well it took me 2 days to find it, someone shared.

Meanwhile, another took issue with the fact that the driver simply left the package in the tree. They could have at least said where [the package was,] another person commented. I wouldnt even think to look in a tree.

So they left it?? someone else wrote, to which Rowland replied that there was a locked gate outside her apartment that the driver didnt know how to get through. He was throwing it over the gate.

Rowland clarified that there was no bad blood, adding: They were so nice [about] it, package wasnt damaged, just a funny situation tbh [to be honest].

According to the American security company ADT, an estimated 36 per cent of Americans have had a package stolen from outside of their house  whether from their doorstep or porch  at least once. They added that porch pirates, people who steal packages from outside peoples houses, are typically committing crimes of opportunity out of the hope that whatevers in the package consists of valuable merchandise like electronics.

They recommend that people use preventative security measures such as a video surveillance system so the porch pirate or suspect can be identified and tracked down by the authorities. Customers can also get a porch pirate bag, a large bag made of a durable material where you can instruct delivery drivers to lock the packages in. Ordinarily, these bags are attached to a fixed object on your porch or doorstep, along with an attached combination lock.

ADT also said the customers can either pay for a package receiving service or require a signature for the package to be dropped off, with the latter ensuring that you must be present to receive the package.
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The CEO of McDonalds, Chris Kempczinski, has said the fast food chain was seeing a meaningful hit to business, as customers boycott the firm in the Middle East for its perceived support of Israel.

Mr Kempczinski said calls from pro-Palestinan groups to boycott McDonalds are based on misinformation.

The fast food giant has been targeted by campaigners after posts on social media showed franchised stores in Israel giving free meals to Israeli military forces following the 7 October Hamas attack.

This move sparked grassroots calls for boycotts of the brand by those angered by Israels military response in Gaza, prompting owners in Muslim-majority countries such as Kuwait, Malaysia and Pakistan to release statements distancing themselves.

McDonalds operates a franchising business model, which means it relies on thousands of independent businesses to own and operate most of its more than 40,000 stores globally, with about 5 per cent located in the Middle East.

The company has said it has no position on the conflict and is not responsible for the action of its franchisees, who pay the company a fee to use its brand and recipes.

Mr Kempczinski said in a LinkedIn blog post on Thursday: Several markets in the Middle East and some outside the region are experiencing a meaningful business impact due to the war and associated misinformation that is affecting brands like McDonalds.

This is disheartening and ill-founded. In every country where we operate, including in Muslim countries, McDonalds is proudly represented by local owner operators who work tirelessly to serve and support their communities while employing thousands of their fellow citizens.

Our hearts remain with the communities and families impacted by the war in the Middle East. We abhor violence of any kind and firmly stand against hate speech, and we will always proudly open our doors to everyone, he added.

The post from the McDonalds boss comes as tensions over the boycotts have escalated in recent days. The pro-Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS), which had not formally targeted McDonalds, this week officially called for a boycott of the brand.

Earlier this week, McDonalds Malaysia sued the Malaysia BDS group for $1.3m (1m), claiming false and defamatory statements had hurt its business, according to Reuters.

In response, BDS Malaysia said it "categorically denies" defaming the fast-food company.

We cannot let this pass. Lets show McDonalds what grassroots boycotts can do, the group said in a statement.

Mr Kempczinski is the second boss of a major global business to address the toll sparked by Israel-Gaza war tension. Last month, the Starbucks CEO, Laxman Narasimhan, said the company was the victim of misrepresentation on social media of what we stand for.
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Before and after he was exposed as a pedophile, Jeffrey Epstein loved to mingle with the world's elite.

The millionaire invited politicians and academics to his private island and luxury homes. He offered celebrities rides on his private jet. He and his girlfriend, the socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, hung out with princes and supermodels. They made donations that brought them into contact with leading philanthropists.

After Epstein killed himself while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges in 2019, many of those people have apologized for associating with him and said they were unaware he was habitually abusing underage girls.

Newly released court records have revved up interest again in the big names who associated with Epstein and Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison term for helping recruit and abuse Epsteins victims.

Many of those people have never been accused of any wrongdoing, but have nonetheless become the subject of a whirlwind of conspiracy theories. Others have, for years, been denying claims made by one of Epstein's victims  Virginia Giuffre  that they participated in illicit sex.

Here is a look at some of the people who have been getting renewed attention because of the release of the documents, which included deposition testimony by Epstein's victims, people who worked for him, Giuffre and Maxwell.

Jean-Luc Brunel

The court records contain repeated references to Jean-Luc Brunel, a French modeling agent and close friend of Epstein who killed himself in a Paris jail in 2022 while awaiting trial on charges that he raped underage girls. Brunel was accused by Giuffre and others of using promises of modeling work to induce people, including minors, into sexual encounters.

Brunels estate was sued this week in California by a woman who alleges that he and others sexually assaulted her while she was working as a model in New York. She says that on one occasion, she was driven to a home in Canada and kept there for several days while men abused her.

Brunel's attorneys have maintained his innocence, saying his suicide "was not guided by guilt but by a deep sentiment of injustice.

Leslie Wexner

The records also contain fleeting references to Leslie Wexner, the retail titan behind Victoria's Secret, The Limited and other store chains. Epstein had managed Wexner's money for years, but their relationship soured following Epstein's 2006 arrest in Florida and jail term for paying an underage girl for a sexual act.

After Epstein was indicted on federal sex-trafficking charges and killed himself in jail, Wexner said he had been embarrassed by his ties to Epstein. He also publicly accused Epstein of misappropriating vast sums of his fortune but didn't offer details.

Alan Dershowitz

Among the more familiar names in the records is Alan Dershowitz, a former Epstein attorney and retired Harvard University law professor. Giuffre had long accused Dershowitz of sexually abusing her a half-dozen times in Florida, New York, New Mexico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

But Giuffre withdrew her claim against Dershowitz in 2022, saying she  may have made a mistake  in identifying him as one of the men she had sex with at the request of Epstein or Maxwell. I was very young at the time, she said, and it was a very stressful and traumatic environment. Dershowitz said at the time that she deserved credit for acknowledging her error.

Prince Andrew

Some of the most sensational allegations have involved Britain's Prince Andrew, who was a longtime friend of Maxwell's and continued visiting Epstein even after his imprisonment in Florida for a sex crime.

Giuffre sued the prince in 2021, claiming that when she was 17 she had sex with him multiple times at Maxwell's request.

Andrew denied her claims, saying he didn't remember ever meeting her. The allegations damaged his public standing and led Andrew to withdraw from some royal duties.

Giuffre and Andrew settled the lawsuit in 2022 without it ever going to trial.

The newly released records include mentions of Giuffre's allegations and a transcript of a deposition in which she was questioned by Maxwell's attorneys about whether she made up some of her stories about powerful men to impress reporters.

Giuffre insisted she was telling the truth, and that inaccuracies in some of her published interviews were the fault of reporters.

The unsealed court papers also included a more detailed version of a well-known story by one of Epstein's victims, Johanna Sjoberg, who described an evening at his New York home involving Giuffre, Maxwell and Prince Andrew.

At one point, she testified, they pulled out a puppet of Prince Andrew that had been made for a British television program.

And they decided to take a picture with it, in which Virginia and Andrew sat on a couch," Sjoberg said. They put the puppet on Virginias lap, and I sat on Andrews lap, and they put the puppets hand on Virginias breast, and Andrew put his hand on my breast, and they took a photo.

Bill Clinton

The former president flew several times on Epsteins private jet, and once publicly praised the financiers intellect and philanthropic efforts.

Sjoberg testified in her deposition that, while she never met Clinton, Epstein once remarked to her that Clinton likes them young. She took the remark as a reference to young women or girls.

Clinton has not been accused of wrongdoing, though, by any of Epstein's victims. He has previously said through a spokesperson that while he traveled on Epsteins jet he never visited his homes, had no knowledge of his crimes and hasn't spoken to Epstein since his Florida conviction.

Other documents released included legal arguments over whether Clinton should be deposed. Giuffres attorneys argued the former president was a key person who can provide information about his close relationship with Epstein.

Donald Trump

The records briefly mention former President Donald Trump, who socialized with Epstein but also is not accused of misconduct. Video footage unearthed by NBC News following Epstein's federal indictment in 2019 showed the two chatting at a party at Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate in 1992.

The video had been recorded as part of a profile of Trump, who was newly divorced at the time. It shows the future president surrounded by young women, whom NBC identified as cheerleaders for the Buffalo Bills.

Later in the video, Epstein arrives at Trumps Florida estate, and the two men are seen talking and gesturing at the women on the dance floor.

I knew him like everybody in Palm Beach knew him, Trump said when the video emerged. He was a fixture in Palm Beach. I had a falling out with him a long time ago. I dont think Ive spoken to him for 15 years.

Stephen Hawking

The new records include a single reference to the late theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking. His name appears, misspelled, in an email Epstein sent proposing a reward be paid to anyone who could debunk a baseless claim that Hawking had participated in an underage orgy.

Hawking, who died in 2018, had attended one of Epstein's academic gatherings in 2006.

Glenn Dubin

The records include a claim from Giuffre that she was pressured to have sex with billionaire Glenn Dubin, a claim he denies. Giuffre said in a deposition that Maxwell told me to go to Glenn Dubin and give him a massage, which means sex.

Dubin has said he has flight records and other evidence proving Giuffre's allegations against him are false.

Epstein dated Eva Andersson-Dubin, a former Miss Sweden, off and on in the mid-1980s, and the two remained friends after breaking up. Andersson-Dubin later married Dubin with whom she had three children. Andersson-Dubin testified in Maxwell's federal trial, saying she trusted Epstein with her young daughters and denying taking part in a group sexual encounter with a key accuser.

Bill Richardson

Giuffre also claims she was pressured to have sex with former U.S. ambassador and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson. The new documents include a few mentions of Richardson, including a deposition in which Giuffre says she had been ordered to give him a massage.

Richardson, who died last year, previously said that Giuffres claims were fabricated. A spokesperson in 2019 denied that he had ever met Giuffre.

George Mitchell

Former U.S. Senator George Mitchell was also among the men Giuffre claims abused her. Like Richardson, Mitchell also denied ever meeting her. The new records contain little mention of Mitchell.
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Bangladeshs main opposition party called for general strikes on the weekend of the country's parliamentary election, urging voters to join its boycott.

This year, ballot stations are opening amid an increasingly polarized political culture led by two powerful women; current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and opposition leader and former premier Khaleda Zia.

Campaigning stopped at 8:00 a.m. on Friday. The Election Commission announced polling would be held in 299 constituencies out of 300 across the country on Sunday. As per the law, election in one constituency was postponed after an independent candidate died of natural causes.

The Nationalist Party, headed by Zia, and other opposition parties are boycotting the election, saying there is no guarantee it will be free, fair and inclusive under Hasinas administration.

Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, a senior joint secretary general in Zias party, urged people not to vote on Sunday while calling for strikes.

The 48-hour hartal (general strike) will begin at 6:00 a.m. on Saturday and end at 6:00 a.m. on Monday, he said Thursday night during his daily online press briefing.

On Friday morning, Rizvi led more than 100 opposition leaders and activists, holding sticks, marched in the capital's Karwan Bazar area while chanting anti-government slogans.

People will not accept this illegal election. People will not accept this election of looters, Rizvi said during the march.

Also on Friday, a group of about 100 left-leaning political activists strode near Dhaka's National Press Club, demanding the governmnet halt a farcical election.

The opposition had repeatedly demanded Hasina's resignation and for a non-party caretaker government to oversee the election. The current administration said the countrys constitution didn't allow that.

Hasina addressed the nation in a last televised campaign speech Thursday night, urging people to head to the ballot stations.

If I have made any mistakes along the way, I ask your forgiveness. If I can form the government again, I will get a chance to correct the mistakes. Give me an opportunity to serve you by voting for boat in the Jan. 7 election, she said.

The boat is the election symbol of Hasinas ruling Awami League party.

Earlier on Thursday, Hasina, addressing a huge campaign rally at Fatullah near Dhaka, urged all to maintain peace across the country. Violence marred the campaigns that started on Dec.18, leaving at least three people dead and others injured.

Bangladesh has a history of violence during elections and this year the country's election is drawing international attention.

Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal in a closed-door meeting briefed Thursday foreign envoys and chiefs of development agencies, including the United Nations, based in Dhaka about electoral preparations. Local media reported that some diplomats asked about how potential violence will be dealt with.

The U.N. Secretary-Generals Associate Spokeswoman Florencia Soto Nino in New York said Wednesday: Were watching the process closely, and we hope that all elections happen in a transparent and organized manner. Thats all we have for now, she said during a daily news briefing.

Critics have accused Hasina of systemically suffocating the opposition by implementing repressive security measures. Zia's party claimed that more than 20,000 opposition supporters have been arrested. The government said those figures were inflated and denied arrests were made due to political leanings, but rather for criminal charges such as arson and vandalism.

Nearly 1.6 million people  half of them security personnel  will oversee the election where 119.1 million registered voters are eligible to vote in more than 42,000 polling stations, the commission said. Troops have also been deployed across the country to assist when needed under the supervision of magistrates, a common practice in Bangladesh during general elections.

The Election Commission said Thursday that about 300 foreign observers, more than 70 of them are foreign journalists have been authorized to monitor and cover the election.
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Prince Andrews royal status would not protect him from criminal prosecution in the US over his links to Jeffrey Epstein, a leading lawyer has warned  but it is unlikely he would ever be extradited.

Top criminal defence lawyer Duncan Levin, who previously served as an assistant US attorney, said there is nothing barring the federal government from arresting Andrew, the Duke of York, if he sets foot on US soil after sexual assault allegations resurfaced in court documents.

While an arrest of that magnitude would require sign off from the highest levels of the Department of Justice, recent cases against former US President Donald Trump show that no-one is above the law, Mr Levin said.

But he believes it is unlikely the US federal government wouldn ever seek to extradite the royal  who denies any wrongdoing.

Mr Levin told The Independent: Theres nothing barring the federal government from arresting Prince Andrew.

Prince Andrew (REUTERS)

If I were advising Andrew I would want him to be aware of the possibility of arrest in the US. That possibility might be enough to stop him coming here.

Our system of justice doesnt place anybody above the law  as we have seen with the prosecution of Trump. A prince, a king, a queen, a president  none of that matters in the US.

Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell (U.S. Department of Justice)

The comments come amid fresh calls from anti-monarchy group Republic for criminal probes into sex assault allegations against Andrew, 63, which resurfaced in a tranche of newly released US court documents known as the Epstein files.

The royal has been named 70 times in the sensational papers which were unsealed by a New York judge, once again shining a light on his links to the disgraced paedophile billionaire.

The trove of interviews and transcripts include allegations that the Duke of York had an orgy with underage girls and touched a womans breast while posing with a Spitting Image puppet of himself during his friendship with the disgraced financier.

It comes after Andrew in 2022 paid millions to settle a US civil case brought by Virginia Guiffre, who alleged she was sexually assaulted by the Duke on three occasions when she was 17, including in London in 2001, after being trafficked by Epstein. Andrew has strenuously denied any wrongdoing.

A photo allegedly showing Prince Andrew, Virginia Giuffre, and Ghislaine Maxwell (US District Court - Southern Dis)

The duke denied he slept with Virginia Roberts Giuffre on three separate occasions when questioned by Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis (PA)

The royal has not faced any criminal investigation either at home or in the US.

The Metropolitan Police said in 2021 they were taking no further action over the allegations, while he is understood to have never submitted to an FBI interview over his links to Epstein.

But following the release of the court papers, which formed evidence in a settled defamation case brought by Guiffre against Epsteins madam Ghislaine Maxwell, there have been renewed calls for him to face justice.

Anti-monarchy group Republic this week announced they had reported Andrew to police, complaining no serious criminal investigation into the allegations has ever taken place.

Their chief executive Graham Smith said: The question many people will be asking is simple: if the accused were anyone else, do we believe they wouldnt have been investigated and prosecuted?

While US attorney Spencer Kuvin, who has represented some of Epsteins victims, insists the royal still has questions to answer.

Andrew still refuses to fully account for his time with Epstein and has failed to speak with US investigators about what he knows. British police need to do their duty and reopen their investigation into his conduct, he told the Mirror.

On Friday the Met said it will assess any new and relevant information after the papers were made public, but said no investigation into the Duke has been launched.

Prince Andrew (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Why wasnt he extradited over Virginia Guiffres sexual assault case?

Ms Guiffre filed a lawsuit against Andrew in a federal court in New York in August 2021, however - crucially - the claim was civil and not criminal. You cannot face extradition for a civil case.

She said she was the victim of abuse and sex trafficking at the hands of Epstein, who lent her out to other powerful men, allegedly including Prince Andrew. She accused Andrew of sexual assault on three occasions when she was 17 - once at Maxwells house in Belgravia, once at Epsteins New York mansion and a third time at Epsteins private island Little St James, in the US Virgin Islands.

In March 2022 he agreed a settlement worth millions with his accuser, ending the case. The out-of-court settlement accepted no liability and Prince Andrew has always strongly rejected claims of wrongdoing

Will there be a UK criminal probe?

The Metropolitan Police announced in October 2021 it had closed a review of claims made in Ms Giuffres US civil sexual assault suit against Prince Andrew and was taking no further action.

In August 2022, the force said it would was taking no further action on allegations against Epstein himself, adding that any further investigations into human trafficking by the sex offender will be focused on activities and relationships outside the UK.

A spokesman said: In the absence of any further information we will be taking no further action. As with any other matter, should new and relevant information be brought to our attention we will assess it.

After the latest Epstein files were made public, they added that they will assess any relevant information but said they were not investigating Andrew.

A spokesman added: We are aware of the release of court documents in relation to Jeffrey Epstein. As with any matter, should new and relevant information be brought to our attention we will assess it. No investigation has been launched.

Will there be a US criminal probe?

Since his links to Epstein were exposed, Andrew has came under intense pressure to cooperate with an FBI investigation into the financier, who died awaiting trial in a New York prison.

In 2020 US attorney for the Southern District of New York Geoffrey Berman took the extraordinary step of announcing from the steps of Epsteins Upper East Side mansion in New York that prosecutors and the FBI had repeatedly contacted the Duke of Yorks lawyers to follow up on a previous pledge that he was willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency.

However no such interview has ever taken place, The Independent understands.

US lawyer Mr Levin said, depending on the evidence, in principle the US federal government could pursue charges against Andrew or arrest him if he ever returns to America, but it is unlikely they would seek to extradite him.

He added: It depends on evidence. A lot of time has passed. If convicted they are serious crimes.
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A young man has been stabbed to death on the streets of north London.

Scotland Yard detectives have launched a murder investigation the 23-year-old was found dying from multiple knife wounds in Finsbury Park at 10.45pm on Thursday.

Despite the efforts of emergency services, he tragically passed away in the quiet, residential street where 4-bed houses fetch more than 1.3million.

His family are said to be going through an unimaginably difficult time as officers vow to get justice for his death.

Police have sealed off Albert Road as forensics scour the scene.

A post-mortem examination will take place in the coming days.

There have been no arrests.

DCS Caroline Haines, local policing commander for north London, said: My thoughts are with this young mans family who will be going through the most unimaginably difficult time. We will do all we can to get justice for them.

A dedicated team of detectives are dealing with a murder investigation and a cordon is in place while forensic examinations are carried out. CCTV and house-to-house enquiries are also under way.

We know such a tragic incident will also have an impact on the local community and officers will be on patrol throughout the day to offer reassurance and to speak to anyone who may have information or who feels concerned.

It came as two teenagers were arrested on suspicion of murder after 16-year-old Harry Pitman was stabbed to death at New Years Eve fireworks.

Harry died after what appears to have been a spontaneous fight between two people who did not know each other, according to police, as crowds gathered in Primrose Hill, Camden to watch the display.

The Metropolitan Police said on Friday that a 16-year-old boy and a 17-year-old boy have been arrested on suspicion of murder over his killing shortly before midnight on Sunday in north London.

They are still in custody.

Anyone with information about what happened is asked to call 101 quoting CAD 7020/04Jan. Information can also be shared online. To remain anonymous contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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A fugitive accused of faking his own death while facing charges of rape and domestic abuse in the United States has been extradited from Scotland, according to reports.

Scottish ministers signed an order in September last year giving permission for Nicholas Rossi, 36, to be extradited, following a lengthy case in the Scottish courts.

Rossi had claimed he had been the victim of mistaken identity  telling courts he is an Irish orphan named Arthur Knight.

Nicholas Rossi came to the attention of authorities after being admitted to hospital in Glasgow with Covid (PA)

But a sheriff found he was Nicholas Rossi, and the appeal against extradition was dismissed in December, paving the way for him to be removed from the country.

A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: We assisted partner agencies with the extradition of a 36-year-old man.

Rossi is wanted in the US for allegedly raping a woman in Utah in 2008 and also faces a number of domestic abuse charges.

He initially came to the attention of the authorities after being admitted to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow with Covid-19 in December 2021.

Rossi was served an Interpol red notice and a National Crime Agency certificate, a document Rossi claims never to have received, while he was in hospital the same month.

Rossi was born as Nicholas Alahverdian in Rhode Island, according to reports (Getty Images)

It is understood that police in Essex are also investigating him in relation to a non-recent allegation of rape. He was arrested last year in connection with that investigation and has been bailed until March.

Rossi was born as Nicholas Alahverdian in Rhode Island, in July 1987 to Diana and Jack Alahverdian, according to reports in US newspaper The Providence Journal. He was adopted by his stepfather David Rossi, and changed his surname to Rossi.

After spending much of his adolescence in care, he spoke out against the conditions there, claiming to have suffered abuse and neglect.

Under the guise of Arthur Brown, Rossi is believed to have met his wife, Miranda Knight, in Bristol in 2019 and married her in early 2020, assuming the name Arthur Knight.

His case gathered international attention for its bizarre nature, with Rossi steadfastly claiming he was Knight. Edinburgh Sheriff Court also heard that his tattoos and fingerprints matched those of Rossi, who claimed he had been given the tattoos as part of an attempt to frame him while he was lying unconscious in hospital.

In his appeal against extradition, Rossi  who repeatedly criticised his own lawyers  represented himself.

He claimed that he would not receive a fair trial in the US because he was investigating those seeking to extradite him, that he had been denied medical care in prison, and hit out at what he called a media circus surrounding the case.

But the decision of Lady Dorrian, Lord Malcolm and Lord Armstrong said much of the material Rossi had included in his note of appeal had absolutely no relevance to it and the only vaguely recognisable ground he submitted was that of defective representation.

Additional reporting by PA
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A person has reportedly been killed on the London Underground tracks.

British Transport Police (BTP) said the death was not being treated as suspicious and evidence would be sent to a coroner.

The Circle Line was suspended after the death, and the District Line was partly suspended. There were reports severe delays on the rest of the line.

Police and paramedics were called to Sloane Square Tube station at 12.25pm, following a report of a casualty on the tracks, BTP said.

Sadly a person was pronounced dead at the scene, the force added.

The incident is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner.

There was no District Line service between Earls Court and Embankment on Friday afternoon while emergency services were at the scene, according to The Standard.

TfL warned of severe delays on the rest of the line.
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Police are increasingly concerned about the safety of a woman who disappeared in North Wales two weeks ago.

Lucy Charles, 39, has been missing from Bangor-on Dee since just before Christmas.

She was last seen on CCTV walking down a street in the village, near Wrexham at around 5.34pm on 22 December.

Officers launched an investigation after Ms Charles was reported missing and some of her personal items were found on the bank of the River Dee.

Lucy Charles is described as being 5ft 6 inches tall, has shoulder-length brown hair and wears glasses (Supplied)

A mountain rescue team and police helicopter and underwater teams are taking part in the search.

Investigators are calling for anyone who might have information about Ms Charless disappearance to contact them.

Ms Charles is described as being 5ft 6 inches tall, has shoulder-length brown hair and wears glasses.

Police previously released a CCTV image of Ms Charless last known movements.

Ms Charles was last seen walking past the Royal Oak pub on Station Road (North Wales Police)

She was seen wearing a high-vis vest and glasses and filmed walking past the Royal Oak pub on Station Road.

Stephen Roberts, chief inspector of North Wales Police, said it had been a particularly difficult time for Ms Charless family given that we just had the festive period.

Lucy was last seen on the 22 December in Station Road, Bangor on Dee at 5.34 pm when she was captured on CCTV walking past the Royal Oak.

Since this time extensive searches have taken place which have led us to find personal items of Lucys on the bank of the River Dee close to the Severn Trent Water Treatment Works.

During the last two weeks we have carried out extensive enquiries and searches of both the river Dee and the local area.

I would like to thank everyone who has assisted in the searches including the local mountain rescue team, the fire service, the police helicopter and the police underwater search team who have carried out extensive water based searches in difficult weather and water conditions, from Bangor on Dee to Chester.

Their searches continue to take place.

Anyone who may have information about the disappearance is asked to contact North Wales Police urgently via our website or by calling 101, quoting reference number 46914.
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The Royal Navy was forced to advertise for a top job on social media in a move described as utterly shameful by military sources.

Navy chiefs posted the advertisement for the 150,000-a-year rear-admiral position on LinkedIn in December as it struggled to fill the role internally.

It comes as former defence secretary Ben Wallace warned Britains armed forces were facing a recruitment crisis because Generation Z was not signing up.

One former senior submariner said the post was utterly shameful and the only person who applied was an unqualified weapons engineer commodore when it was first posted, according to The Times.

The chosen candidate would replace Rear-Admiral Simon Asquith as director of submarines and would be responsible for elite operations and the nations nuclear deterrent.

The advertisement, described as utterly shameful was posted to LinkedIn in December (LinkedIn)

Another source said the advertisement was unprecedented and it was down to the Navy being unable to find a suitable candidate internally.

One user commented on the job advertisement: Ill do it - but is the advertisement a scam. Surely not how the appointment is made.

Another former submariner who worked in the Navy for 35 years added: Nice little bit of intelligence I am sure our Russian friends will have noted!

It is understood the position is yet to be filled, although the Royal Navy is still accepting applicants. A Royal Navy spokesperson said: It would be inappropriate to comment ahead of any appointment being made.

On Friday, Ben Wallace, who stepped down last August, said Britain needed to do things differently to recruit soldiers and other service members.

It comes after former defence secretary Ben Wallace warned Britains armed forces were facing a recruitment crisis because Generation Z was not signing up (PA Archive)

Armed forces across the West, not just Britain, across Europe, America have a recruitment challenge. Generation Z is not joining the armed forces in the way my generation did, Mr Wallace said.

The Royal Navy was forced to decommission two warships - HMS Westminster and HMS Argyll - because it had too few sailors to staff them.

In the 12 months to March, MoD figures showed that the Navy, which has 29,000 full-time recruits, performed the worst out of the three armed services for recruitment.

Intake for the Navy and Royal Marines dropped 22.1 per cent compared with the previous year, while the RAF dropped by almost 17 per cent and the Army by nearly 15 per cent.
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From a sunken party boat in London to an abbey surrounded by water in Gloucestershire, vast swathes of southern England have been hit by flood chaos brought by Storm Henk.

The low-pressure weather system dumped up to 1.4 inches of rain on some parts of the country that were already sodden by days of continuous downpours, sparking flood misery for people and businesses across the country.

Also in the capital, fifty people were evacuated from their homes in Hackney Wick, east London after the canal burst its banks.

A major incident was declared in Nottinghamshire , where residents were evacuated as a result of flash floods. The Environment Agency has issued more than 260 flood warnings and rail companies have warned customers to expect disruption on the network.

(PA)

This image shows the sunken boat which served as a floating bar, nightclub and restaurant in central London. The vessel went under as the capital - which was covered by a yellow weather warning for rain - was hammered by heavy rain on Thursday night.

Bar & Co boat, which was moored at Temple Pier, near Waterloo Bridge, said the venue likely sunk due to the weather conditions. There were no reported injuries or deaths.

The sinking of the boat prompted the Port of London Authority to issue a warning, telling people using the River Thames along Temple Pier to do so with great caution.

(Marcin Nowak/LNP)

In east London, cars were left partially submerged and properties evacuated after a canal in Hackney Wick burst its banks as relentless rain wreaked havoc in the area.

Water flooded about ten acres of land and several properties, with firefighters taking 50 people to safety. A further 100 people were able to remain in their properties.

Forecasters said much of southern England was battered by 20-30mm of rain on Thursday, with 34.2mm recorded at Otterbourne in Hampshire. Warnings remained in places across the south on Friday morning and significant flooding was expected.

(REUTERS)

This image shows Tewkesbury Abbey in Gloucestershire, where police warned of road closures due to rising water levels around the village.

An evacuation centre was set up in the nearby village Walton Cardiff while people living on Alney Island, between two branches of the River Severn, in nearby Gloucester were urged to leave their homes overnight for a nearby leisure centre.

Train services were also expected to be disrupted: Great Western Railway said: Were experiencing significant disruption on the network. Please check before you travel.

Flooding and a serious incident near Reading last night, which involved police taking control of the line, has left trains and crew in the wrong place.

Were sorry for the disruption customers experienced. Short-notice cancellations and a reduced level of service on long-distance routes are expected throughout the day.

(REUTERS)

The Boat Inn, in Jackfield, Shropshire, is surrounded by flood water from the River Severn after heavy rain from Storm Henk. Mario Thomas, the 65-year-old landlord of the pub - which was under water for the third time in 12 months - said the current flood has been an evil one.

Mr Thomas, who runs the business with his wife Lisa Thomas, 50, said this has been the worst of the three and has taken us by surprise, immensely.

It certainly made me cry (on Thursday) to see the devastation its caused, it is unbelievable, Mr Thomas said. It took us by complete shock and within literally hours, (the water) just kept rising so fast.

The last two (floods) have been OK, but this one, this is an evil one.

(EPA)

An aerial photograph taken by drone of flooding from the River Ouse, near York.

Flooding continues to affect areas around the River Ouse in the city. Land and properties between the Scarborough Bridge, Millennium Bridge and Kings Staith have been particularly hit.

Floodwater has also affected parts of Tadcaster and the village of Naburn and forced the closure of some businesses including the York Dungeon.

(PA)

A man in Nottinghamshire was rescued after severe flooding left him stranded on a shed roof.

In a video shared online, Highfields technical rescue crews are seen pulling the man through deep floodwater in Nottingham on a dinghy .

A major incident was declared in the city amid widespread flooding in the Midlands , with Nottinghamshire County Council warning residents who live in flood risk areas that they should be prepared to evacuate their homes.

(Getty Images)

A submerged road sign as water levels remain high after the River Great Ouse burst its banks.

Some twenty flood warnings were in force across York and North Yorkshire on Thursday and several were still active on Friday.

The Viking Recorder on the Ouse read 4.3 metres above normal levels on Thursday. The river has been at or near to four metres since 5am on December 29 and the highest ever level was 5.40m, recorded on November 4, 2000, York Press reported.

(REUTERS)

Environment Agency workers reinforce flood barriers along the River Severn in Bewdley. Parts of the town were submerged by flood water on Thursday, with water levels set to peak on Friday following more rain in the region overnight.

The Enviornment Agency (EA) said: Bewdley peaked at 4.8m on Tuesday evening. A second predicted peak of 5m to 5.2m is expected on Friday afternoon, January 5, as a result of additional rainfall within the catchment.

Clare Dinnis, EA area director for the West Midlands, said the river was expected to peak at between 4.8m and 5.1m, and said flood defences were as high as possible.

(Getty Images)

Doreen Cole surveys flooding damage to her property this morning in Islip, Oxfordshire on Friday morning.

An elderly woman died after her car hit a fallen tree in Oxfordshire.

The 87-year-old, who has not been named, was in a red Smart Forfour when she collided with it near Crays Pond, Oxfordshire at around 5.25pm on Tuesday following strong winds.

(REUTERS)

Water surrounds holiday homes at Billing Aquadrome in Northampton. Residents evacuated from their properties in Northamptonshire due to flooding caused by Storm Henk have said they are fearing the worst about damage caused to their properties.

A flood warning was in place for the River Nene at Billing Aquadrome and the surrounding industrial parks near Northampton, with the area having previously been given a severe flood warning, meaning there was a risk to life.

Robert Britchford, one of several residents evacuated from caravans at the site, estimated that around 2,000 people had to leave their properties on Tuesday afternoon.

He said: Its the second time in three years that it has flooded. I moved my cars out of the way, and I thought I would try and wait it out because I thought it would be nice today, but no, the evacuation notice went out at 2.30pm yesterday and that was it.

Im a bit anxious. We felt it was coming but we hoped it wouldnt. Now we have to find hotels. They wont let us back on until this is all sorted, so it could be a month before we come back on.

(REUTERS)

A house in the village of Severn Stoke, Worcester, is cut off amid flooding. Five flood warnings were in place for the Worcester area on Friday morning, meaning that flood is expected.

Worcester Council said it would monitor flood levels along with the Environment Agency, which provides regular updates on its Floodline service . We will keep an eye on roads and houses where we anticipate flooding will occur, the council added.

A view of Worcester city centre flooded by the River Severn (David Davies/PA) (PA Wire)

Swans swimming on flood water in Worcester, following heavy rainfall. T (PA)

Do not under any circumstances be tempted to enter flood water. The flow of a swollen river along with its under-current can be very powerful. Flood water may contain raw sewage which can lead to health problems.

(PA Wire)

Residents were seen wading through a flooded road in Loughborough earlier this week, after rain and strong winds from Storm Henk lashed large parts of the UK .

Footage showed cars parked in floodwater as several people stood to observe the scene outside their homes on Bottleacre Lane.

National Highways said several major roads in England were closed due to flooding with rail companies also reporting disruption.

Meanwhile, residents were evacuated from houseboats and caravans at Billing Aquadrome, close to the River Nene near Northampton, due to flooding caused by Storm Henk.

(Getty Images)

Footage showing a narrowboat pushed sideways against a bridge as water streams past it on the River Soar in Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire, was filmed by a local resident on Thursday amid widespread flooding in the Midlands.

Local resident Sam Harper Ard, 27, said I live in the village and take my kayak out regularly on that stretch of the River Soar and Ive never seen it so high.

The PR manager said that narrowboats are a real part of the community here so seeing a canal boat affected by the flooding was really sad.

I hope the owners and everyone involved is safe, he said.
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Tesco shoppers have been left perplexed and receiving depleted grocery shops after the supermarket appeared to suffer a major outage online.

Around 4,000 shoppers reported the outage issues on Downdetector all over the country but the majority in London as people tried to amend their orders before the deadline at around 9pm on Thursday.

One shopper complained on X he only received four items for his weekly shop.

Another posted: A delivery of only apples and kitchen roll not helpful when having people over for supper is it?

One customer wrote: Please can I cancel this order due to deliver today. Currently the driver will be coming all the way out to my village for a 5-item order that Ill just be handing back to him.

Were going to pop in store today instead!

Another wrote last night: Ive only got 1 bottle of milk in my basket so will get extra charges against my delivery and Ill have to go to the shops in the morning to get my shopping.

I have been trying for hours to update my delivery for tomorrow as well. I am now on the phone to Tescos but in 25 minutes they havent answered.

Users were met with this message (Tesco)

Customers trying to log in to shop online were met with a message that read: Theres a problem at our end, but were trying to fix it right now. Sorry for any inconvenience. Please come back later and try again.

Thanks for your patience.

Several social media users also claimed that they were unable to checkout - with one complaining that they left empty-handed after spending two hours shopping in-store.

Cant get into app or website to finish my shop, another X user said.

A Tesco spokesperson apologised to users saying the IT outage was resolved around Midnight.

They added: Thanks for getting in touch. Im aware, we were experiencing issues with our website that affected all our customers using it.

Were sorry for any inconvenience caused and our IT team did work hard to fix the issue as a priority.

A Tesco spokesperson said: Weve fixed a technical issue that impacted customers using our website and app on Thursday evening. Were sorry for the inconvenience this caused.

The issues came days after it was revealed Tesco increased its market share to 27.6%, up from 27.5% a year ago, as sales lifted 7.5% after a bumper Christmas season.

Traditional players Tesco, Sainsburys, Asda, Morrisons and Waitrose accounted for a combined market share of 70% over the quarter to December 24, boosted by strong demand for premium own-label ranges.
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The captain of a sunken party boat has spoken of his devastation after his beloved vessel vanished under the murky brown River Thames amid flash flooding across London.

The Bar&Co vessel, described as the floating bar rocking the Thames, sunk in high winds and rising water levels as it was moored by Temple in between Blackfriars and Waterloo Bridges on Thursday.

Owner Jorge Gallardo said he had been running the business for 15 years and was now looking for another job in events to help raise his daughter in the aftermath of the sinking.

The mast of the ship can be seen (PA)

He told The Independent he was feeling terrible as he counted the immense cost of losing the converted sailing barge.

He said: Im too upset to speak. It is likely the storm damaged it. We heard it was sinking around midday, one of the crew rushed down but it was too late - the boat couldnt be saved.

It was always my dream to own a boat like this in London.

It was successful I put all my savings and energy into it. But Im not the owner of the boat so I dont get any insurance [payout].

Im going to need help. Now Im a single parent with a seven-year-old daughter and no income. I feel terrible.

Warning for other boaters about sunken vessel (Port of London Authority)

The vessel, named Wilfred, had on board TVs, a fully licensed bar, a restaurant and a nightclub, which could serve 125 revellers until 3am.

Built in 1926 Wilfred worked in the sand and ballast trade under the ownership of Thomas Scholey & Co. Ltd, out of Dawson Wharf, Greenwich with sister ships were called Pip and Squeak.

In 1938, she was converted into a motor barge to trade in general cargo before retiring and being relaunched as the El Barco Latino restaurant ship in 1991.

Barcelona fans who have used the ship as a supporters club have launched a fundraiser looking to raise 5,000 for the staff.

The crowdfunder reads: Bar&Co was also the home of the supporters club of FC Barcelona in London. Bar&Co was very close to all Barca fans, many of whom came from Barcelona to visit, and it will be sorely missed.

This fundraising campaign aims to help Bar&Co management and their staff at this difficult time. Bar&Co staff has always been very kind and accommodating, and they will appreciate the financial help.

Hackney Wick was left underwater (LFB)

One passerby said on Facebook: Sad to see Wilfred sunk today. Lets hope this historic sailing barge can be restored and back again soon!

The Port of London Authority has advised vessels to pass Temple Pier with great caution as they tweeted that a vessel has sunk on the inside of Temple Pier.

The sinking came as 50 people were evacuated from homes in Hackney Wick after a canal burst its banks flooding across 10 acres.

The River Lea burst its banks, causing water to flood between Dace Road and Wick Road which affected nearby properties.

Station Commander Dan Capon, who was at the scene, said: Firefighters worked through the night to ensure the scene was safe and evacuated a number of people from surrounding buildings.

We urged people to avoid the area where possible. Remember - if your property is affected by flooding, move to a higher level where possible. If you are in immediate danger, call 999. Follow the advice of the operator.

An astonishing 302 flood warnings were in place across the UK on Friday morning.
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An XL bully lover driving 250 miles a day to rehome dozens of the dogs says some owners are cruelly abandoning the breed after Sunak government announced ban in December 2023. It will be illegal to own a bully XL in England and Wales from 1 February.

Sammy Wilkinson hit the headlines after taking 35 of the banned dogs to new homes since October, racking up to 6,000 miles with journeys to as far as Scotland from his West Midlands home.

But the 29-year-old tanning salon owner has told The Independent that his job has become harder with irresponsible owners ditching their pets.

Hes discovered three abandoned in the area around his home in Tipton, while helping rescue another found in an emaciated state in a cage outside a car wash.

It comes after one XL bully was found tied up and set on fire in Carshalton in south London.

Whether the owners have left it too late or they have panicked, weve already seen a rise in XL bully dogs being abandoned in the area, Mr Wilkinson said. Its heartbreaking and is just another sign that the government ban on breeds just isnt the right way to tackle the issue.

Wilkinson says hes desperate to help rehome as many dogs as possible before the complete ban comes in on 1 February (Sammy Wilkinson)

The government introduced a ban on XL bully dogs in a bid to tackle a rise in attacks. Since 1 January, its been illegal to sell or buy the breed in England and Wales, while owners must have them kept on a leash and muzzle while outside.

It comes before a complete ban on the breed from 1 February, although those with exemption certificates  which require the dog to be insured and neutered  can keep the pets.

The change in law has led to a scramble amongst owners wanting to either apply for certificates or rehome their pets. In response, Mr Wilkinson offered to help people rehome the dogs and has since made journeys across the country.

On New Years Eve he was pictured driving two dogs to a new home in Scotland, where the ban does not apply. On Friday he drove one dog to County Durham, and on Tuesday hes heading to Carlisle for a meet and greet ahead of a potential rehoming.

Wilkinson says hes driven 6,000 miles to help the dogs, costing him an average 50 a day since October (Sammy Wilkinson)

Ive got people coming to me every few minutes, he said. Owners are desperate and I wish I could help more of them.

But some owners, according to Mr Wilkinson, are simply ditching the pets.

On Thursday night, he helped rescue a dog kept in a cage outside a car wash in Dudley Port. Hes also found three XL bully dogs abandoned, including one near a canal in Darlaston and another caught after a two-day search in Wednesbury.

The ban on the breed faced strong opposition, including from the RSPCA which instead called on the government should bring in dog licencing with training for owners to bring down the number of attacks.

As dog homes stopped taking in the breed, the charity had said expected a rise in abandoned dogs.

Wilkinson has rehomed 35 XL bully dogs across the UK  but says hes concerned over owners now abandoning the breed (Sammy Wilkinson)

Mr Wilklinson said: The government has caught the wrong end of the lead. The dogs are born as a blank slate, it is up to the owners to carve them into the right sculpture. It is unfair for us to mark out a particular breed.

Environment secretary Steve Barclay said: The prime minister pledged to take quick and decisive action to protect the public from devastating dog attacks with measures in place by the end of 2023.

We have met that pledge  it is now a legal requirement for XL bully dogs to be muzzled and on a lead in public. It is also now illegal to breed, sell, advertise, gift, exchange, abandon or let XL bully dogs stray.
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Britains armed forces are facing a recruitment crisis because members of Generation Z  a term that refers to those born in the 1990s and early 2000s  are not signing up, the former defence secretary has said.

Ben Wallace, who stepped down last August, said Britain needs to do things differently to recruit soldiers and other service members.

The Tory MP was asked questions about a crisis facing the armed forces, with the Royal Navy experiencing a collapse in the number of recruits.

It has been forced to decommission two warships  HMS Westminster and HMS Argyll  in order to maintain new frigates.

Former defence secretary Ben Wallace has been outspoken since leaving office (PA Archive)

Crews will be sent instead to work across a fleet of Type 26 frigates as they come into service. A defence source told The Daily Telegraph: We will have to take manpower from one area of the navy in order to put into a new area of the force.

Former first sea lord Admiral Lord West said Britain needs more ships said Britain needs more ships and is currently really poorly placed to get involved in any action. If the government had taken seriously the issue of frigate numbers over the last 10 years, there would be sufficient to meet the requirements of trade protection in the Red Sea, he said.

LBC host Nick Ferrari put this claim to Mr Wallace on Friday. The former defence secretary said that the armed forces do need more money spent on them, but added that we also need to do some things differently.

Armed forces across the West  not just Britain, [but] across Europe, America  have a recruitment challenge, he said.

He added: Generation Z is not joining the armed forces in the way my generation did. And, post-Covid, skill shortages in engineering and all sorts of things are a real challenge.

Mr Wallace has been outspoken about his former brief since stepping down as defence secretary, saying that he urged Rishi Sunak to plough more money into the war in Ukraine.

The veteran Conservative argued that, with additional weapons supplied by the West, Kyiv could end the battle against Russia and expel the invaders.

He has also warned Israel that its killing rage risks undermining the legal basis for its action in the Gaza Strip, adding to the growing international pressure on the countrys prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, over the escalating conflict.

Mr Wallace said: Netanyahus mistake was to miss the [Hamas] attack in the first place. But if he thinks a killing rage will rectify matters, then he is very wrong. His methods will not solve this problem. In fact, I believe his tactics will fuel the conflict for another 50 years.

On Friday, Mr Wallace told LBC that Israel must separate Hamas from the oxygen of popular support in the Gaza Strip.

He defended his earlier comments on the conflict and said that Israels current approach risks pushing more Palestinians towards supporting Hamas.
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Rishi Sunak has been hit with another by-election as a senior Tory MP quits the party and his seat in protest over the PMs climate failures.

Chris Skidmore  the former net zero tsar and former energy minister  has said he will resign the Conservative whip and stand down as an MP next week.

In a scathing exit statement he said he could no longer continue as a Tory or condone the government because the PMs environmental stance is wrong and will cause future harm.

The MP for Kingswood, in Gloucestershire, said resigning the whip meant his constituents deserve the right to elect a new MP in a by-election. I therefore will be standing down from parliament as soon as possible.

Despite a Tory majority of 11,000, the struggle to hold off Labour will be a potentially demoralising struggle for Mr Sunak, as he seeks to build some momentum ahead of the 2024 general election.

Mr Skidmore later said that he would quit when the Commons returns from Christmas recess on Monday  setting up a contest in the blue wall seat in February or March.

While the area has been fertile ground for the Lib Dems, Labour came second in the seat in 2019  so it would seem to provide Sir Keir Starmers party with an ideal opportunity to deliver a fresh blow to Mr Sunak.

Chris Skidmore led the governments net zero review in 2022 (PA Archive)

The Conservatives lost a string of by-elections in 2023, with Labour overturning big majorities in Mid-Bedfordshire, Tamworth and Selby and Ainsty.

And the battle for Mr Skidmores seat is one of three by-elections the Tory party could lose in the early months of 2024.

Peter Bones Wellingborough seat will soon see a contest after the Tory MP was removed in a recall petition following his suspension for upheld sexual misconduct claims.

And Scott Bentons Blackpool South seat could also be up for grabs after his 35-day suspension over a sting which exposed him offering to lobby for gambling investors.

Mr Sunaks proposed energy bill  to be introduced in the Commons next week  will allow new fossil fuel extraction licences in the North Sea.

The bill would mandate that licences for oil and gas projects in the North Sea are awarded annually, and was seen as a challenge to Labour, which said it would ban new exploration licences to focus on renewables.

In a statement posted on X Mr Skidmore said: As the former energy minister who signed the UKs net zero commitment by 2050 into law, I cannot vote for a bill that clearly promotes the production of new oil and gas.

To fail to act, rather than merely speak out, is to tolerate a status quo that cannot be sustained. I am therefore resigning my party whip and instead intend to be free from any party-political allegiance.

Labours campaign leader Pat McFadden said Mr Skidmores exit showed that Mr Sunak was too weak to lead his party or the country for much longer. The Lib Dems called his exit an embarrassing mess which showed a government in chaos.

Rishi Sunak with King Charles at the Cop28 summit in Dubai (PA)

The PM was heavily criticised by campaigners, opponents and green Tories over his July announcement of around 100 new oil and gas licences. Mr Skidmore said the move was the wrong decision at precisely the wrong time.

Mr Sunak also faced a backlash from Tory environmentalists after backtracking on more key government climate pledges to reach net zero in September.

In the wake of a surprise by-election victory in Uxbridge over the London mayors Ulez charging scheme, the Tory leader also attacked climate zealots and said he was on the side of motorists.

The PM then announced that the 2030 ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars  and gas boilers  would be pushed back to 2035.

Former minister Zac Goldsmith  who quit in June with a swipe at Mr Sunaks apathy toward climate change  said the moves were reprehensible and had destroyed UK credibility on climate change.

Boris Johnson also condemned his successor  warning that Mr Sunak was in danger of losing ambition for this country, and arguing that businesses were desperate for clear net zero commitments.

Mr Sunak was also accused of shrinking and retreating on the climate crisis at the Cop28 summit, as he was condemned for spending more time flying to Dubai than at the conference itself.

The PM insisted that the UK government can still stand tall and remain a leader on climate change  despite his own rollback of net zero ambitions at home.
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A Labour government may not be able to cut personal taxes for two years without healthier economic growth, Keir Starmer has suggested.

The Labour leader said on Friday he wanted to lower the tax burden on working people  but could not repeat Liz Truss mistake of unfunded promises.

It opens up a dividing line with Rishi Sunaks Conservatives, after the PM pledged to offer more personal tax cuts in the run-up to the 2024 general election.

I do want to see a lower tax burden on working people  I do want to do that, Sir Keir told an LBC radio phone-in  saying the way to cut taxes was to grow the economy.

What Im not going to do is make unfunded, unaffordable promised that I cant keep. Thats what Liz Truss did  The economy crashed and people are still paying the price.

Speaking to Sky News on Thursday, Sir Keir refused to say if he would want to cut taxes within his first two years in office.

Of course, I want working people to pay less tax, to have less of a burden. But weve got to get our economy working. And I think everybody understands that, Starmer told the broadcaster.

And the Labour leader told reporters that the first lever that we look for is the growth lever, adding: Before we even get to the question of tax, weve got to deal with the economy.

Keir Starmer says he wants to get tax burden down on LBC phone-in (PA)

It comes as Labour made the audacious move of taking out anti-government tax adverts on the ConservativeHome website  the bible for the Tory grassroots.

Labours Rishis raw deal posters highlight that for every 10 paid in tax they will only be getting 2 back because of frozen thresholds.

Meanwhile, Sir Keir gave his strongest signal yet that he will get behind the legalisation of assisted dying if he becomes prime minister.

I totally feel that we ought to actually change the law  Obviously that change has to be very carefully crafted, he told the LBC phone-in  before saying would be open to making time for a free vote in parliament.

Asked if he would like personally vote to allow assisted dying, Sir Keir said he would back it subject to it being the right change.

Sir Keir also conceded his planned 28bn-a-year green energy investment could shrink depending on economic conditions  saying it remained only a confident ambition and would be subject to strict fiscal rules.

The Labour leader told LBC that the green spending will be ramped up in second half of parliament  but in the end the fiscal rule comes first. He added: The world can change  Its a confident ambition.

Sir Keir said criticised health secretary Victoria Atkins for demanding that junior doctor strikes called off before entering talks. I would just say, get in the room and get on with it, said the Labour leader.

And the Labour leader said that UK police should be willing to examine any allegations made against Prince Andrew.

The Duke of York has been reported to the police by the campaign group Republic after allegations of sexual assault resurfaced in unsealed court documents relating to Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew has denied any wrong doing.

Asked if police should investigate, Sir Keir said: Wherever theres a complaint made, its inevitable that it should be looked at. We have to start with the victims here, and look at what allegations have been made.

He added: Ive seen the headlines on this, not the detail, but frankly whoever it is, where there are allegations, credible allegations made, then of course they should be looked at.

On Thursday Sir Keir claimed Mr Sunak was trying to squat at No 10 for as long as possible, after the PM rejected a spring election and said he wanted to wait until the second half of the year.
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Sir Keir Starmer has suggested that police in the UK should be willing to examine any allegations made against Prince Andrew.

The Labour leader said investigators should look at any serious claims made by victims, regardless of the status of the accused.

Claims that Andrew had an orgy with underage girls and touched a womans breast have hit the headlines again after appearing in legal documents relating to billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

The Duke of York has been reported to the police by the campaign group Republic after allegations of sexual assault resurfaced in unsealed court records. He has denied any wrong doing.

Asked if police should investigate, Sir Keir told LBC radio: Wherever theres a complaint made, its inevitable that it should be looked at. We have to start with the victims here, and look at what allegations have been made.

He added: Ive seen the headlines on this, not the detail, but frankly whoever it is, where there are allegations, credible allegations made, then of course they should be looked at.

Graham Smith, chief executive of Republic, has urged the Metropolitan Police to open investigations into Prince Andrew and called on King Charles to take questions from the press on the matter.

Prince Andrew attended Royal Familys traditional Christmas Day service (AFP via Getty Images)

The anti-monarchy campaigner said that he had reported Andrew to the police, accusing the Met of failing to conduct a serious criminal investigation into the case.

Mr Smith said: The question many people will be asking is simple: if the accused were anyone else, do we believe they wouldnt have been investigated and prosecuted?

Andrew, 63, who has previously strenuously denied the allegations, paid millions a year ago to settle a civil case out of court with Virginia Giuffre with no admission of guilt after she accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was 17.

The duke is mentioned more than 70 times in nearly 1,000 pages of interviews and transcripts released in the US in connection with a 2015 defamation case brought by Virginia Giuffre against Ghislaine Maxwell  jailed for sex trafficking young girls for Epstein.

The names of more than 170 people who were either associates, friends or victims of Epstein are being made public following a judges order, including high-profile figures such as former US president Bill Clinton.

Ghislaine Maxwell (PA)

Buckingham Palace, which no longer speaks on behalf of the duke after he stepped down as a working royal in 2019, has not commented on the documents.

Evidence from Johanna Sjoberg  who worked for Epstein as a masseuse  alleged that Andrew touched her breast while sitting on a couch inside Epsteins Manhattan apartment as he posed for a photo with a caricature of himself in 2001.

Other mentions of the duke include previous allegations that Epstein forced Jane Doe 3 to have sexual relations with was a member of the British Royal Family, Prince Andrew (a/k/a Duke of York)"at three locations including on Epsteins private island in an orgy with numerous other under-aged girls.

Ms Giuffre has claimed she was trafficked by Epstein to have sex with Andrew three times when she was 17 and a minor under US law at Maxwells London home, in Epsteins New York home and during an orgy with Epstein at Caribbean island.

Scotland Yard said in August 2022 that it was taking no further action over allegations made against Epstein and that any future probes into human trafficking by the sex offender were focused on activities outside the UK.

It also previously said it stood by its 2015 decision not to investigate claims by Ms Giuffre that she was sex trafficked to London by Epstein.

The Met Police and representatives of the duke have been approached for a comment.

Additional reporting by PA
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Watch live from outside a South African prison on Friday, 5 January, after Oscar Pistorius was released on parole after serving nine years for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

The former Paralympic star is admitted to the system of community corrections and is now at home, South Africas Correctional Services Department said.

Pistorius, 37, claimed he thought Ms Steenkamp was an intruder when he shot her, but was convicted of culpable homicide, a crime similar to manslaughter, in 2014.

He was found guilty of the more serious charge of murder in 2015 and was later sentenced to 13 years in prison after prosecutors won an appeal on the grounds that his initial sentence was too lenient.

Last November, a parole board hearing at Atteridgeville prison set his release for 5 January.

Though no longer in prison, Pistorius is to remain under close supervision and will be subject to parole conditions until his sentence expires in December 2029.

He will not be allowed to consume alcohol and other prohibited substances and will be barred from conducting media interviews, the Department of Correctional Services said.

Pistorius is now reportedly a grey haired smoker who has turned to religion.

He will be on parole a few miles away from the South African capital behind the high walls of his wealthy uncles guarded property.

Pistorius will be required to attend therapy for anger issues and gender-based violence issues, as well as completing community service.
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More than a year after Casey Anthony made explosive accusations that her father molested her two-year-old daughter Caylee and was responsible for the childs 2008 death, he is putting his story to the test  via lie detector.

In the new A&E and Lifetime special Casey Anthonys Parents: The Lie Detector Test that premiered on 2 January, Caseys parents George and Cindy Anthony each took a polygraph in front of the cameras.

George, now 72, became emotional as he confronted the questions related to allegations Caseys defence team made about him at her trial  including that he helped cover up Caylees death.

I didnt know where she was at, he explained on the special after appearing to struggle through some of the questions. "Did I conceal her whereabouts? I did not know where she was at.

In December 2008, five months after Caylee was reported missing by her grandmother in July, her remains were found in the woods near the Orlando, Florida home where she lived with her mother and grandparents. Her death was ruled a homicide.

George Anthony, 72, became emotional as he confronted the questions related to allegations Caseys defence team made about him at her trial (A&E)

During Caseys murder trial in 2011, her lawyer Jose Baez alleged that Caylee drowned in the family swimming pool and that George helped to cover up the accidental death.

Now, years later, her parents have volunteered for the test in response to the allegations.

When the test administrator asked George if he knowingly concealed the toddlers whereabouts during the six months authorities were searching for her, he responded, No. I mean, I didnt know where she was at.

Casey Anthony at the Orange County Courthouse on 30 June 2011 in Orlando, Florida (Red Huber-Pool/Getty Images)

The administrator then asked why he appeared to be struggling with the question.

George responded, Maybe its because I  it was close to our house, that she was found.

The polygraph comes more than a decade after Caseys highly publicised trial in July 2011 in which she was infamously acquitted of killing her two-year-old daughter  a verdict that shocked the country.

She was, however, convicted on four counts of providing false information to the police. Her defence team had said that Casey lied about the nanny due to a dysfunctional upbringing.

Casey served prison time for those charges and was released later that same month with credit for time served.

Caylee Anthonys remains were found in the woods near the Orlando, Florida home (Caylee Anthony)

Last year, in her first on-camera interview for the docuseries Where the Truth Lies, Casey claimed she had protected her abuser, explaining that her father sexually assaulted her and alleged that he killed her daughter Caylee to cover up that he had been sexually assaulting the child as well.

Casey was dubbed Americas most hated mom by cable television news amid reports she went to nightclubs and got a tattoo in the month her daughter was missing.
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Dylan Butler had always been a quiet kid, according to those who knew him.

So when he unleashed terror through Perry High School on the morning of 4 January, killing one person and injuring five, it sent shockwaves through the community.

The 17-year-old had been the target of bullying since his very early years, and the bullying had recently engulfed his sister in the leadup to his violent rampage at his rural Iowa high school, according to his classmates.

He also used his social media accounts to display his fascination with serial killers such as Jeffrey Dahmer and to share photos of himself posing with firearms.

The teenager, who was a former student at the school, was found dead on the scene. An Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation official said he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Police are now trying to establish his motive for the killings as they attempt to piece together the events leading up to the shooting.

Heres what we know so far:

The shooting

Butler opened fire on Perry High School at around 7.37am local time, just as students were preparing to return for the first day of their second semester.

Within minutes law enforcement was notified of an active shooter situation in the high school, which is located approximately 30 miles from Des Moines. Upon arrival, police officers found several gunshot victims and launched a search for the shooter.

Mr Mortvedt, an assistant director with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, said officers quickly found what appeared to be the shooter with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Iowa school shooter Dylan Butler (Dylan Butler/Tik Tok)

He added that the shooter was found holding a pump-action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun.

Authorities also found a pretty rudimentary improvised explosive device in the school, but were able to render it safe.

One sixth grader was killed in the shooting, while five other people were injured, including the schools principal.

Dallas County Sheriff Adam Infante said Butler opened fire before the opening bell, when very few students and faculty were in the building.

The bullied suspect

Butler, who authorities said acted alone, was described as a quiet person who had been bullied for years by his former classmates.

Sisters Yesenia Roeder and Khamya Hall, both 17, said that Butler had been bullied relentlessly since elementary school.

Community members gather in Wiese park for a candlelight vigil (Getty Images)

They added that the bullying had escalated recently, when his younger sister started getting picked on, too. Officials at the school didnt intervene, they said, and that was the last straw for the shooter.

He was hurting. He got tired. He got tired of the bullying. He got tired of the harassment, Yesenia Roeder Hall said.

Was it a smart idea to shoot up the school? No. God, no, she added.

Khamya described Butler as the kindest person ever.

He was there for us when we needed him, and we tried to be there when he needed us, which clearly we werent there for him enough, she added through tears.

Final post

Iowa police are now looking into a number of social media posts made by Butler in the lead up to the shooting, officials said at a press conference.

Moments before the shooting, Butler posted a final chilling video on his since-deleted TikTok account. In the video, Butler posed in a bathroom stall at the school with a blue duffle bag at his feet along with the caption: now we wait.

It was accompanied by the song Stray Bullet by the German band KMFDM - also used on the personal website of Eric Harris, one of the shooters involved in the 1999 Columbine High School massacre.

Iowa school shooter Dylan Butlers final TikTok post (Dylan Butler/TikTok)

Other videos reportedly on the account that were shared on Reddit show Butler emulating the Cook from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer by repeating popular mannerisms and lines from various shows.

He is also seen pointing a stick at a friend as if it were a gun in one of several clips where he references being a stoner.

Investigators have also found other photos Butler posted posing with firearms, according to the Associated Press.

A law enforcement official said federal and state investigators were interviewing Butlers friends and analysing his online footprint, including posts on TikTok and Reddit.
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Iowa police are now looking into a number of social media posts made by the teenager who unleashed terror on an Iowa high school on Thursday, killing one victim and injuring five.

Dylan Butler, 17, was named as the gunman who opened fire inside Perry High School in Iowa on Thursday as students returned from their Christmas break.

Butler, a former student at the school, was found dead on the scene.

The teenagers motive for the attack is now under investigation, with authorities looking into a number of social media posts he made around the time of the shooting, Des Moines Register reported.

Moments before the shooting, Butler allegedly posted a final chilling video on TikTok captioned: Now we wait.

In the video, Butler posed in a bathroom stall at the school with a blue duffle bag at his feet.

It was accompanied by the song Stray Bullet by the German band KMFDM - also used on the personal website of Eric Harris, one of the shooters involved in the 1999 Columbine High School massacre.

Investigators also found pictures on his social media accounts showing the 17-year-old posing with firearms.

A law enforcement official said federal and state investigators were interviewing Butlers friends and analysing his online footprint, including posts on TikTok and Reddit.

Iowa school shooter Dylan Butlers final TikTok post (Dylan Butler/TikTok)

The teenager was described as a quiet person who had been bullied for years by his former classmates.

Authorities said Butler acted alone during the shooting, where armed with a pump-action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun he killed one sixth grader and injured five other victims.

An administrator, later identified by his alma mater as Perry High School Principal Dan Marburger, was among the five wounded.

Mitch Mortvedt, the state investigation divisions assistant director, said one person was in critical condition but the injuries didnt appear to be life-threatening. The other victims are in stable condition.

Mr Mortvedt added that authorities found a pretty rudimentary improvised explosive device in the school, but were able to render it safe.

Community members gather in Wiese park for a candlelight vigil (Getty Images)

Following the shooting, local residents gathered for a vigil at Wiese Park in Perry and held candles as they listened to pastors from many faiths and heard a message of hope in both English and Spanish.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds released a statement on Thursday, describing the shooting as a senseless tragedy which has shaken our entire state to the core.

Our hearts are heavy today and our prayers are with the Perry community, she said.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also addressed the shooting at a press conference, describing it as tragic and senseless.

Were just a couple of days into the new year and were talking about another shooting, and that is heart-wrenching and that is heart-breaking, Ms Jean-Pierre told reporters. When will enough be enough?

As of Friday, the school remains closed.
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At least one person is dead and five others are injured after a 17-year-old student allegedly opened fire at Perry High School in Iowa.

Dylan Butler, 17, was named as the gunman, who opened fire on the school as students returned after their Christmas break on 4 January.

One sixth-grader was killed and five others were injured, including Perry High School principal Dan Marburger.

Mitch Mortvedt, the state investigation divisions assistant director, said one person was in critical condition but the injuries didnt appear to be life-threatening. The other victims are in stable condition.

Butler, a former student at the school, was found dead on the scene. An Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation official said he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The teenagers motive for the attack is now under investigation.

Heres all we know so far:

The shooting

The suspected shooter opened fire in the school around 7.37am local time on 4 January, just as students were preparing to return for the first day of their second semester.

Within minutes law enforcement was notified of an active shooter situation in the high school, which is located approximately 30 miles from Des Moines. Upon arrival, police officers found students and faculty either sheltering in place or fleeing the school.

At least one person is dead and five others are injured after a 17-year-old student opened fire at Perry High School in Iowa on Thursday morning (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Officers identified several gunshot victims and searched for the suspected shooter.

Mr Mortvedt, an assistant director with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, said officers quickly found what appeared to be the shooter with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

He added that the shooter was found holding a pump-action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun.

Authorities also found a pretty rudimentary improvised explosive device in the school but were able to render it safe.

One sixth grader was killed in the shooting, while five other people were injured, including the schools principal.

Three gunshot victims were taken by ambulance to the Iowa Methodist Medical Centre in Des Moines, a spokesperson for its health system said.

Other patients were transported to a second hospital in Des Moines, a spokesperson for MercyOne Des Moines Medical Centre County Sheriff Adam Infante said Butler opened fire before the opening bell, when very few students and faculty were in the building.

Who is the suspect?

Police identified 17-year-old Dylan Butler as the gunman who opened fire on Perry High School.

Butler was a former student at the school, authorities said.

The teenager, who authorities said acted alone, was described as a quiet person who had been relentlessly bullied for years by his former classmates.

Iowa school shooter Dylan Butlers final TikTok post (Dylan Butler/TikTok)

They added that the bullying had escalated recently, when his younger sister started getting picked on, too. Officials at the school didnt intervene, they said, and that was the last straw for the shooter.

He was hurting. He got tired. He got tired of the bullying. He got tired of the harassment, 17-year-old Yesenia Roeder Hall said.

State officials said the teenagers motive for the attack is now under investigation, with authorities looking into a number of social media posts he made around the time of the shooting, The Des Moines Register reported.

Moments before the shooting, Butler allegedly posted a final chilling video on TikTok captioned: Now we wait.

In the video, Butler posed in a bathroom stall at the school with a blue duffle bag at his feet.

It was accompanied by the song Stray Bullet by the German band KMFDM, also used on the personal website of Eric Harris, one of the shooters involved in the 1999 Columbine High School massacre.

Investigators also found pictures on his social media accounts showing the 17-year-old posing with firearms.

A law enforcement official said federal and state investigators were interviewing Butlers friends and analysing his online footprint, including posts on TikTok and Reddit.

Reaction

Following the shooting, local residents gathered for a vigil at Wiese Park in Perry and held candles as they listened to pastors from many faiths and heard a message of hope in both English and Spanish.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds released a statement describing the shooting as a senseless tragedy that has shaken our entire state to the core.

Our hearts are heavy today and our prayers are with the Perry community, she said.

Community members gather in Wiese Park for a candlelight vigil (Getty Images)

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also addressed the shooting at a press conference, calling it tragic and senseless.

Were just a couple of days into the new year and were talking about another shooting, and that is heart-wrenching and that is heart-breaking, Ms Jean-Pierre told reporters. When will enough be enough?

Meanwhile, Vivek Ramaswamy, who is one of several Republican presidential candidates campaigning in Iowa ahead of the states Republican presidential caucuses later this month, also reacted to the shooting.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds speaks during a news conference following a shooting at Perry High School (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

We pray for the victims of the tragic high school shooting in Perry, Iowa, Mr Ramaswamy said. I happened to be there today right after it happened, we canceled our event and converted it to a prayer & open conversation. Strikingly, the first two people who spoke to us each said they werent surprised & that it was just a matter of time before something like this happened. We have a psychological sickness at the core of our country right now.

A White House official said President Joe Biden has been briefed on the shooting.

Calls for gun control in Iowa

As of July 2021, Iowa does not require a permit to purchase a handgun or carry a firearm in public, though it mandates a background check for a person buying a handgun without a permit.

In light of the shooting, the White House urged Congress to pass gun control legislation that would enact universal background checks, ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, require safe storage of firearms and pass a national red flag law.

President Biden signed major gun safety legislation passed by Congress into law in 2022, the first legislation of its kind in 30 years.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre addressed the shooting at a press conference (Reuters)

The legislation included enhanced background checks for gun buyers between 18 and 21 years old and closed the boyfriend loophole, a gap in American gun legislation that allowed physically abusive ex-romantic partners and stalkers with previous convictions or restraining orders to access guns.

It took 30 years to get that bipartisan legislation done, and the president obviously signed it. But we need more. It is not enough. Thats what we believe. Its just not enough, Ms Jean-Pierre said.

Our students and teachers deserve to know that their schools are safe spaces and to focus on learning, not duck and cover drills. More must be done to keep our schools and communities safe.
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New batches of unsealed Jeffrey Epstein court documents continue to reveal a number of high-profile individuals whose names appeared multiple times in various materials, including footnotes.

Among them are two former US presidents  Donald Trump and Bill Clinton  and Prince Andrew, all three of whom have been pictured with and known to associate with the disgraced financier in the past.

Other names include lawyer Alan Dershowitz, magician David Copperfield, Michael Jackson and Leonardo DiCaprio.

However, being identified through the court documents does not mean that the individual was involved in or aware of any wrongdoing by Epstein.

This undated trial evidence image obtained on 8 December 2021, from the US District Court for the Southern District of New York shows British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell and US financier Jeffrey Epstein (US District Court for the Southern District of New York)

Ghislaine Maxwell

Unsurprisingly, Epsteins partner in crime Ghislaine Maxwell is one of the names that features the most, appearing over 1000 times in the first five batches of documents.

The British socialites name appears in full hundreds of times, due to the files being part of a 2015 US defamation case by Virginia Giuffre against her, though the name Maxwell appears still more, sometimes in reference to legal matters and footnotes.

References to Maxwell were made throughout the documents, with various other witnesses being asked about her involvement with Epstein in their separate testimonies.

Much of the information in the third and fourth tranches of evidence, released on Friday, was taken from Maxwells own despositions. They included questions over her interactions with Prince Andrew and Ms Giuffre as well as with former president Bill Clinton and others.

She is currently serving 20 years in prison, having been convicted sex-trafficking underage girls in June 2022.

Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson

Prince Andrew has been named more than 100 times accross all sets of documents. The Duke of York was named 67 times with his Royal title in the first batch, though he also appears multiple times as simply Andrew in multiple other instances, including Maxwells deposition.

Testimony concerning the dukes alleged conduct is detailed in the documents, much of which he has previously denied.

Evidence from Epstein victim Johanna Sjoberg, claimed the duke touched her breast while sitting on a couch inside the US billionaires Manhattan apartment in 2001.

Andrews name also cropped up in testimony about his now-notorius alleged visit to Tramp nightclub in London, which became a focal point of his 2019 sit-down television interview with journalist Emily Maitlis.

During the interview the duke claimed he has a peculiar medical condition whereby he cannot sweat  in response to Ms Guiffres claims he was perspiring in the club.

Andrew has always strongly denied the allegations against him, while Buckingham Palace previously said all accusations made against the duke are categorically untrue.

Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, is also named  having reportedly visited Epsteins New York mansion with her then-husband, Andrew, according to testimony from former Epstein employee Juan Alessi.

Andrew was also mentioned in the latest batches of documents, released on Monday and Tuesday, the latter of which contained deposition from Epstein himself.

The disgraced financier was asked whether he had attempted to blackmail Andrew after his alleged sexual encounter with Ms Giuffre, who claimed she was paid $15,000 to have sex with the duke.

He was asked whether he had told Ms Giuffre that she had to give him a full report on the details of what men like Prince Andrew did to her so that you would have blackmail material you could use. Epstein pleaded the fifth amendement to the majority of the questions.

He was also quizzed on what he knew about Andrews sexual preferences, and on whether Ms Giuffre had recounted specific behaviour that Prince Andrew requested before sexual intercourse.

Former US President Bill Clinton arrives prior to a tribute service for former US First Lady Rosalynn Carter, at Glenn Memorial Church in Atlanta, Georgia, on November 28, 2023 (AFP via Getty Images)

Bill Clinton

Clintons name was mentioned 83 times in the first two batches of documents, though the number is now well over 100 also. Both he and Andrew are known to have been associated with Epstein previously.

Part of the testimony from Ms Sjoberg alleges that Epstein once told her that Clinton likes them young  referring to girls.

In the days leading up to the unsealing, it was reported that Clinton would be referred to more than 50 times in the redacted documents, having been given the pseudonym John Doe 36, according to the New York Post.

Many of the references to the former president were reportedly believed to stem from Ms Giuffres early attempts to compel him to testify against Epstein and Maxwell.

The second batch included evidence that claimed the former president had ridden in Epsteins private helicopter with Maxwell and Ms Giuffre and attempted to threaten Vanity Fair into not writing about Epsteins alleged sex trafficking.

Ms Giuffre claimed that Clinton had walked into the magazines office and pressured them not to write about his good friend J.E, the documents stated.

Shortly before the documents were released Clinton was seen visiting Mexico with his wife, Hillary Clinton, whose name now also appears in the documents.

In the latest batch, released on Monday, Epstein victim Sarah Ransome, also detailed the alleged sexual relationship between an unnamed friend and the former president. She testified that her friend had to have sexual intercourse with Clinton in Epsteins New York Mansion just off 5th Avenue on numerous occasions.

Clinton denies this and any wrongdoing and none of the individuals Ms Ransome made the allegations against have been formally accused or charged with any crime in connection to Epstein.

In the deposition, Ms Ransome testified that her friend later came forward to report what happened to the police in 2008 but said that nothing was done and she was made to feel like a dirty whore and a liar.

A couple of months later, her friend was allegedly approached by Special Agents Forces Men sent directly by Hilary (sic) Clinton herself, in order to protect her presidential campaign in 2008, Ms Ransome testified.

They heavily intimidated her, ruffled her up (luckily she took photos as evidence) and was then forced to sign a confidentiality agreement which ensures that she can never come forward publicly implicating her husband, she testified.

Ms Ransome went on to testify that the friend was given a substantial payout directly from the Clinton Foundation to keep her quiet.

Clinton also appeared during questioning of Epstein, who was asked about their relationship and whether they had taken international trips together.

In her testimony, Maxwell said that categorically, definitively, absolutely, without a shadow of a doubt, when I was present or any other time that I am aware of, was President Clinton ever on that island, referring to Epsteins private island of St Little James.

I do not believe he went to that island ever ever, that is an absolute fabrication and an absolute flat out lie, she said.

Donald Trump

Clinton is not the only former commander-in-chief to appear in the documents. Donald Trump was named a handful of times in several batches, the latest of which contain allegations from Ms Ransome.

Ms Ransome testified that her unnamed friend was one of the many girls that had sexual relations with Donald Trump  including at Epsteins New York townhouse.

She confided in me about her casual friendship with Donald. Mr Trump definitely seemed to have a thing for her and she told me how he kept going on about how he liked her pert nipples, she testified. She then described in graphic detail how Mr Trump allegedly caused pain to the victims nipples  and claimed she saw the resulting injury firsthand.

I also know she had sexual relations with Trump at Jefferys NY mansion on regular occasions as I once met Jen for coffee, just before she was going to meet Trump and Epstein together at his mansion.

Jeffrey Epstein (left) and Donald Trump (right) (Getty Images)

A Trump spokeperson told The Independent: These baseless accusations have been fully retracted because they are simply false and have no merit.

In part of testimony released in the final batch of documents on Tuesday, Ms Giuffre said in a deposition that she never saw Mr Trump participate in the sexual abuse of minors.

Other mention of Mr Trump, while not accusing him of wrongdoing, appeared to illustrate the good relationship he had with Epstein.

In part of testimony from another victim Johanna Sjoberg, it was claimed Epstein once called up the former president and visited one of his casinos after his private plane was diverted to Atlantic City in New Jersey.

Ms Sjoberg said that while travelling on the plane with the disgraced financier the pilots had said that they were unable to land in New York as planned.

Jeffrey said, Great, well call up Trump and well go to -- I dont recall the name of the casino, but -- well go to the casino, the testimony read. Elsewhere, Ms Sjoberg was asked if she ever gave Mr Trump a massage, to which she replied no.

Several more mentions of Mr Trump were made in the documents released last Friday, when Mr Alessi testified he had driven Maxwell to the former presidents Mar-A-Lago home.

Mr Alessi also said that Mr Trump would sometimes come round for dinner at Epsteins home but ate with Mr Alessi in the kitchen. Mr Trump did not get massages at the Palm Beach house because he had his own spa, Mr Alessi said.

Richard Branson

The UK billionaire had previously appeared in Maxwells notorious little black book, details of which emerged during her trial in 2021. This did not accuse him of any wrongdoing.

Mr Bransons name appeared again in the documents released on Monday, alongside Prince Andrew and Bill Clinton, in Ms Ransomes testimony. She testified that an unnamed friend had sexual intercourse with Clinton, Prince Andrew and Richard Branson on separate occasions.

Ms Ransome testified under oath that these encounters had been filmed by Epstein  and that she herself had later seen the sex tapes. She said that the footage clearly identify the faces of the men.

A spokesperson for Mr Branson responded to email claims by citing a 2019 New Yorker article which stated that Ms Ransome had admitted to fabricating the sex tape claims to draw attention to Epstein.

A Virgin Group spokeswoman said: In a New Yorker report published in 2019, Ransome admitted that she had invented the tapes.We can confirm that Sarah Ransomes claims are baseless and unfounded.

We categorically reject all allegations made by Sarah Ransome. In 2016, Ms Ransome retracted her claims and then in 2019 after settling her claims with Epstein and Maxwell, she also admitted to The New Yorker that the tapes had been invented. The allegations are baseless and unfounded, the statement read.

The actions of Jeffrey Epstein were abhorrent and we support the right to justice for the many victims impacted by his abuse.

Les Wexner

The final batch of documents, unsealed on Tuesday, contained claims from Virginia Giuffre that she was trafficked to former Victoria Secrets CEO Les Wexner.

The allegations emerged in a 2016 deposition by Ms Giuffre and is the first time that Mr Wexner has been accused of having sex with underage girls.

In the documents, Ms Giuffre claimed that she was trafficked to have sex with Mr Wexner between three and ten times during the time that she was recruited by Epstein and Maxwell. Ms Giuffre said that she was instructed by Maxwell to wear lingerie for Mr Wexner - which Maxwell went on to categorically deny in her own deposition.

When asked why she had said in a previous interrogation by police that she didnt believe Mr Wexner would say the truth, Ms Giuffre said that it was because he had done things that were wrong.

He participated in sex with minors, Ms Giuffre elaborated.

A spokesperson told Business Insider: Mr Wexner was unaware of, and was never a participant in, any of the abhorrent behavior engaged in by Epstein against Epsteins victims, that Mr Wexner had never met Ms Guiffre, and that any claims to the contrary were not true.

The Independent has also reached out to L Brands group for comment.

David Copperfield

US magician David Copperfield was named six times in the first set of documents, having also reportedly had dined with Epstein on occasion.

File: Magician David Copperfield attends the 2018 Footwear News Achievement Awards at IAC Headquarters on December 4, 2018 in New York City (Getty Images)

Part of one exhibit read: David Copperfield was at a dinner at Epsteins and there was another girl present who looked young and Johanna [Sjoberg] asked what school she went to and Johanna did not recognize the school name as being a college and she said it was possible it was a high school aged girl.

Johanna said Copperfield questioned me if I was aware that girls were getting paid to find other girls.

Copperfields relationship with Epstein has previously been noted, including in a 2019 article from The New York Times, which described Maxwells role in acquiring young girls for the disgraced financier.

Hollywood stars

Other big Hollywood names have also appeared throughout different tranches of the documents, though mostly just once or twice during Ms Sjobergs testimony.

She is asked about meeting guests at Epsteins residence, including Star Wars creator George Lucas  who is mentioned once  and actor Kevin Spacey, who is mentioned twice. Ms Sjoberg says she does not remember meeting either man.

She also does not remember meeting British supermodel Naomi Campbell, who is named once in the documents. Other big indsutry names included Cate Blanchett, Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz.

Diazs representative told The Independent: Cameron never met Jeffrey Epstein, nor was she ever in the same place as him or had any association with him whatsoever, regardless of the fact he may or may not have mentioned her name or implied that he knew her.

Reps for DiCaprio and Blanchett also denied any involvement with the paedophile.

Late King of Pop Michael Jackson is also named twice, after Ms Sjolberg is asked if she met anybody famous while with Epstein. She said she did meet Jackson.

On Friday, Spacey was mentioned again as well as comedian Chris Tucker  both of whom were alleged to have been potential passengers during a ride on Epsteins private jet.

In the final batch of documents other famous names appeared including super-model Heidi Klum and Bianca Jagger, wife of The Rolling Stones frontman, Sir Mick Jagger.

Alleged Epstein victim Sarah Ransome claimed in a 2016 deposition that she had contacted human rights activist Ms Jagger for help.

Alan Dershowitz

Epsteins lawyer Alan Dershowitz is also named hundreds times, though in some places this is simply in footnotes referring to legal matters.

However in other material it is claimed that the former Harvard Law School professor was one of several powerful individuals that Epstein made young women have sexual relations with on numerous occasions.

Ms Sjoberg is also asked about having sexual relations with Mr Dershowitz specifically, in the back of a limousine, during her testimony. She denies this happened.

Mr Dershowitz was previously accused by Ms Guiffre of sexual abuse, claiming that she was trafficked by Epstein to him for sex. Mr Dershowitz has vehemently denied all claims.

Prior to the unsealing of the documents, he said that he wanted every last document and piece of paper relating to Epstein to be publicly released  asserting that it will prove that he did nothing wrong.

Sharon Churcher

British journalist Sharon Churcher made over 300 appearances in the second tranche of documents, released on Thursday  her first appearance in the documents.

Ms Churcher was the sole source of regarding the original Epstein story from Giuffre, according to the response filing. Maxwell also claimed she helped Virginia Giuffre concoct sexual assault allegations against the Duke of York.

In one document from 2016 Maxwells lawyers made submissions that Ms Churcher should be compelled to give evidence as part of the case.

She was actively and personally involved in changing those stories over time and in the creation and addition of new salacious details about public figures, including the fabrication of Alan Dershowitzs alleged sexual relations with Plaintiff, the document said.

References to Ms Churcher were made in later batches, during parts of Ms Guiffres deposition.
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Lori Vallows Arizona trial for murder conspiracy has been delayed.

The so-called cult mom is currently jailed in Maricopa County on charges of conspiring to kill her fourth husband Charles Vallow and her nieces ex-husband Brandon Boudreaux.

The case was originally slated to go to trial on 4 April but has now been pushed back after being labeled complex. This will allow more time for both the prosecution and defence to gather more evidence, according to court documents obtained by Fox10.

Vallow arrived in Arizona on an extradition order in late November from Idaho, where she was convicted last year of the murders of her two children Tylee Ryan, 16, and Joshua JJ Vallow, seven  as well as conspiracy to murder her now-husband Chad Daybells first wife, Tammy.

Vallows estranged fourth husband Charles was allegedly shot and killed by her brother, Alex Cox, in July 2019 in Chandler, Arizona, months before the disappearance of Ms Vallows two children.

Cox told police at the time he acted in self-defence and was not charged. He died later that year, believed to be of natural causes, also with the overdose drug Narcan found in his system.

In October 2019, Mr Boudreaux said that someone driving a Jeep made an attempt on his life when he was shot at outside of his home.

The Jeep matched the description of one that was purchased by Charles before his death.

The trial originally scheduled to begin on 4 April  days after Mr Daybell is set to face his trial in Idaho on the same charges for which Vallow was already convicted  will now be delayed to a date that will be decided by the prosecutors and defence by late February.

This comes after prosecutor Treena Kay asked for the original trial date to be rescheduled, citing the complexity of the case.

The complex case order handed down by a judge requires both sides to produce a list of witnesses, a summary of alleged facts, general status of plea negotiations, among other specifics, according to Fox10.

The delay is likely to bring dismay to Charles family, who celebrated Vallows extradition last year.

Weve waited over four horrific years for her [Vallow] to face trial of murdering my sweet, kind, generous, loving and dearest brother Charles Vallow. Your justice is finally coming, Charles sister, Kay Woodcock, wrote on social media at the time.

Lori Vallow, right, is charged with conspiracy to murder fourth husband Charles, left, in Arizona (Provided)

This trial comes after Vallow already received multiple life sentences in Idaho for killing her children and conspiring to kill her husbands late wife.

JJ and Tylee vanished in September 2019, with Vallow reusing to identify where they were to both authorities and family members.

Instead, she and her new lover, Mr Daybell, flew to Hawaii to get married on the beach.

Vallow was sent over to Arizona in November to await another trial (FOX10 Phoenix )

Nine months after the children were seen alive, their remains were found in shallow graves on the grounds of Mr Daybells property in Idaho in June 2020.

Over the course of the search for the children, a mystery unravelled as a string of deaths and other incidents were linked to Vallow and Mr Daybells alleged doomsday cult beliefs.

The charges Vallow now faces in Arizona arose out of that mysterious web.
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Lawmakers in Maine are considering new gun control bills after a deadly mass shooting in the state in which 18 people were killed.

The shooting happened little more than a month after a deputy tried to conduct a welfare check on the gunman, Robert Card, after the reservist made threats against his US Army base.

A statewide awareness alert was issued in mid-September asking every law enforcement agency in the state to watch for Card  but police were unable to locate him, and the deputy didnt have authority to force his way in, a sheriff said.

Just 24 days later, police say Card opened fire on innocent victims in a bowling alley and bar in Lewiston.

Now, lawmakers are looking into revising the states yellow flag laws, which enable local law enforcement to take someone into protective custody, order a mental health evaluation from a medical expert and apply for a court order to get guns temporarily taken away from someone who is considered to be an immediate violent threat.

The laws were passed with the help of a gun-rights group, but while it is not clear whether anyone had used the yellow flag law in the suspects case, the measures have come under scrutiny since the shooting.

Card had been committed to a mental health facility for two weeks the summer before the shooting and had reported hearing voices and threats to shoot up a military base.

Maines State Legislature (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

And according to multiple investigative documents, police were warned about Cards mental health issues and access to guns on more than one occasion, by both his family members, as well as his peers from the Army Reserve. However, he was still able to carry out the shooting in October.

Legislative leaders including Senate President Troy Jackson and House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross are now in talks about revisiting the yellow flag law and updating Maines existing gun laws like background checks, but have not publicly revealed details.

Aides have said they want to get stakeholders together to try to build support in the strongly pro-Second Amendment state before offering specific language.

In recent years, anti-gun violence groups in Maine have repeatedly failed in pushing for stronger laws, even with Democratic control of the Legislature and governors office.

In 2016, voters defeated a proposal to expand background checks on gun purchases in a statewide referendum, while more recently, lawmakers rejected proposals earlier this year that would have required background checks for private gun sales and created a 72-hour waiting period for gun purchases.

A woman visits a makeshift memorial outside Sparetime Bowling Alley, one of the sites of the mass shooting (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Proposals for stricter red flag laws, which are used in 20 states and allow any relative or roommate who suspects a gun owner is an immediate violent threat to apply for an emergency court order that will force the individual to surrender their gun license and their guns, have also fallen flat in the state in the past.

Nonetheless, lawmakers are now thought to be trying again to introduce tougher gun control restrictions, with the Maine Gun Safety Coalition attempting to ban assault weapons in the state.

On Wednesday, lawmakers in Maine devoted time to acknowledging those who died in the mass shooting in both the Senate and House chambers.

In the Senate, a chorus from Lewiston High School sang the national anthem and Democratic Senator Peggy Rotundo of Lewiston warned her colleagues against forgetting what happened in her hometown.

The world may have moved on but for the people of Lewiston, the surrounding communities and many others in Maine, the healing is just beginning. The pain, the trauma and the anguish remain, she said.

In the House, Democratic Rep Kristen Cloutier of Lewiston told her colleagues that she remains overcome with sadness. Nothing has been the same since that night. And nothing will ever been the same again, she said.

Elsewhere in the state, Second Amendment supporters gathered at rallies, and expressed scepticism that lawmakers can do anything to prevent gun violence.

Rain soaked memorials for those who died in a mass shooting sit along the roadside by Schemengees Bar & Grille (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Show me what laws would have done anything to prevent this tragedy in Lewiston. Show me one, Robert Duhaime, a boatbuilder from Surry who also owns a gun range, told the Associated Press. We already have so many laws on the books.

Meanwhile, Max Zachau, a lifelong Maine hunter, urged fellow hunters to join him in standing up for better laws in Maine, which is one of about 20 states that allow permitless carry  having a concealed weapon in public without a permit.

He noted that restrictions surrounding the use of hunting guns in the state, with shotguns used by waterfowl hunters limited to a maximum of three rounds, even as some assault rifles carry high-capacity magazines.

The fact that we give a flock of ducks a better chance to escape than what we give to a classroom full of school kids tells me that our regulatory system is woefully inadequate, Mr Zachau said.

With reporting by Associated Press
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A major breakthrough has been made in murders of a heavily pregnant Texas teenager and her boyfriend - while heartbroken loved ones await more answers.

The bodies of Savanah Soto, 18, and Matthew Guerra, 23, were found shot dead on 26 December inside a Kia Optima in San Antonio. Their unborn baby was also dead in the car.

A search had been launched for the couple after their families became alarmed when Soto didnt turn up on 23 December for an appointment to have her labour induced.

After the murders were discovered, police released chilling footage showing the couples Kia Optima and a dark-coloured pickup truck with a bed cover. Police said that one person of interest was driving the Kia Optima and the other the pickup truck.

A week later, San Antonio police arrested and charged two people in connection with the deaths.

Many questions remain about the circumstances leading to the couples disappearance and deaths. Heres what we know so far.

When did the pair go missing?

Soto was last seen on 22 December at the Valencia Lofts apartment complex in Leon Valley, a city in Bexar County, Texas. The teen lived there with Guerra, the father of her child, according to family members.

She was described by police as a 5-foot-1-inch pregnant female with brown hair and brown eyes.

Her family became concerned when she didnt show up for a hospital appointment the following days. She was a week past her due date, and scheduled to have an induced labour, the family told local station KENS-TV.

Her mother, Gloria Cordova, said that she last heard from her daughter on Friday afternoon and got no answer when she knocked on her apartment door on the afternoon of 23 December.

Ms Cordova added that she also hadnt been able to contact Guerra since her daughters disappearance.

Savanah Nicole Soto (left) (KTRK screengrab)

Leon Valley police issued a CLEAR Alert for Savanah on 25 December and later said that her boyfriend was missing too. Savanahs family organised a search of the area near her apartment on Christmas night.

Savanah was so, so happy because she was going to be a mommy. It breaks my heart, her mother told KENS-TV.

Where were they found?

The pair were found dead on 26 December in a parked car in San Antonio, Texas.

Someone spotted the car in the parking lot of an apartment complex in San Antonio and alerted the family, KENS-TV reported. Relatives then called the police.

Two bodies were found in the Kia Optima. Police Chief William McManus told a press conference that the bodies may have been there for three or four days.

Who are the suspects?

Police arrested two people in connection with the deaths on 3 January.

Christopher Preciado, 19, was arrested and charged with capital murder, while his father, 53-year-old Ramon Preciado was charged with abuse of a corpse for helping his son move the bodies, police said.

Police Sgt Washington Moscoso added that Ramon did not participate in the murders.

Christopher Preciado, 19, and Ramon Preciado, 53, who were arrested and charged in connection with the murders of Savanah Soto and her boyfriend (San Antonio Police Department)

He said more charges are possible with respect to the unborn baby.

The suspects were tracked down after a key piece of evidence was recovered from Sotos cellphone, which pointed authorities to the possible location of the pickup truck, and ultimately to the two suspects home.

What was the motive?

While an exact motive for the killings has not yet been established, Sgt Moscoso previously said a botched drug deal was apparently involved.

In a press conference on 28 December, police released a video that captured two persons of interest wanted in connection to the murders.

In the video, a dark-coloured pickup truck with a bed cover is seen driving into a parking lot in San Antonio.

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.

Footage captures vehicle and persons of interest being sought in Savanah Soto killing (San Antonio Police)

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.

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.

It is unclear if the suspects were previously known to the victims.

Pregnant teen vanishes a day before she was set to give birth

Family members of the couple have also offered conflicting theories about what might have happened.

Sotos sister-in-law alleged that she was being abused. i wont allow you to be one of those statistics of what happens when u have an abusive boyfriend, she wrote on social media, in a post viewed by The New York Post.

Her mother also posted on Facebook: Im worried about her safety she is [with] her boyfriend who is no good.

But according to the NY Post, Guerras mother wrote on social media: If anyone knows my son Matthew Guerra he and his pregnant girlfriend are missing. I know my son and he wouldnt do anything to hurt her.

A grieving family

It is not the first time that tragedy has struck the Soto family.

In 2022, Savanah Sotos 15-year-old brother Ethan Soto was shot and killed. Its hard, its like one after another, Gloria Cordova told KENS.

It still hurts because what I tell my kids, Im not complete, Im not complete, and now I dont have my daughter, she said.

Savanah Soto (Mariana Delgado/ Facebook)

In October, the man accused of Ethans murder was beaten in the courtroom. According to The Daily Mail, footage allegedly showed members of the Soto family launching themselves towards him as he took the stand.

The footage showed several individuals jumping over a partition and throwing punches at the man - who allegedly made a gesture at the group.

After Soto and her boyfriend were found dead, her sister-in-law Mariana Delgado wrote on Facebook: It's supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year but it's not it's the WORST.

Trying our best to give my daughter's a good Christmas but it's so hard to want to feel happy instead we are just heartbroken.. Savanah & baby Fabian ARE supposed to be celebrating with us , this isn't fair.

In a separate post, Ms Delgado later requested the family to be allowed to grieve.
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New details of the investigation into the murders of pregnant teenager Savanah Soto and her boyfriend revealed that the pair may have been shot during a drug deal.

Christopher Preciado, 19, was arrested on Wednesday in Bexar County, Texas, on the charges of capital murder in the deaths of Soto, 18, and her boyfriend Matthew Guerra, 22.

The suspected killers father, Ramon Preciado, 53, was also arrested for abuse of a corpse for allegedly helping his son move the bodies.

It is now believed that Soto and Guerra were killed on 21 December, and then the father and son worked together to conceal the bodies in Guerras vehicle, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by KSAT.

Soto, who was heavily pregnant with a boy to be named Fabian, was reported missing along with Guerra on 23 December.

Sotos family told police she was supposed to be getting induced for the birth of her child the following day.

The couple were ultimately found dead on 26 December.

Christopher Preciado, 19, and Ramon Preciado, 53, were arrested and charged in connection with the murders of Savanah Soto and her boyfriend (San Antonio Police Department)

The mystery that led to the deaths of the couple is slowly being unravelled, with a possible connection to a narcotics-related deal that went bad," as described by Police Sgt Washington Moscoso, according to NBC News.

Once taken in for questioning, Christopher Preciado told authorities that Matthew Guerra and Savanah Soto drove to his residence on Charlie Chan Dirve to sell him marijuana.

Guerras alleged involvement with drugs was known to authorities, as the families of the victims also told police that he sold narcotics over the phone and using social media, the affidavit said.

They also advised them that people wanted to rob the boyfriend [Guerra], and it was stated that the boyfriend had been shot at before.

However, investigators believe Christophers tale of events was inconsistent with the gunshot wounds both Guerra and Soto suffered.

According to the investigators, on 26 December, authorities found Guerras Kia Optima after a resident on Danny Kaye Drive reported it.

Missing pregnant teen Savanah Soto and her boyfriend Matthew Guerra were found dead on Tuesday, 26 December, 2023, a family member said (Leon Valley Police Department)

As the police approached, they allegedly found Soto and Guerra dead in the car, the pregnant teen sitting in the front right passenger seat with trauma to her head and Guerra in the back seat with a gunshot wound to his head, the affidavit from the outlet said.

It is alleged that Guerra was dragged inside of the vehicle.

Christopher told police the male victim  Guerra  pointed a gun at him, and he accidentally shot Soto while manipulating the weapon away.

He claimed the same thing then happened again, where he manipulated the weapon being pointed at him, resulting in the Guerra being shot, the affidavit said.

The authorities were not so convinced by this, according to the affidavit, as the gunshot wounds sustained by the victims were not consistent with Christophers story.

The affidavit said that Christopher intentionally discharged a firearm at the victims with the intention of causing the death of the couple and the unborn child.

The motive for the shooting has not been determined.

The court documents also describe disturbing surveillance footage, released by police last week, that caught two men, thought to be Ramon and reportedly Christopher Preciado, on Danny Kaye Drive allegedly working to hide the vehicle with the two dead bodies inside.

Ramon later allegedly admitted to police that he drove his Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck to meet his son, who was driving the car with the deceased victims inside, and then leaving the car there in an attempt to hide it.

In the footage, a man alleged to be Ramon can be seen getting out a towel from his car and appearing to wipe down the outside of the victims vehicle door when he had touched it, the affidavit said.

Ramon admitted to helping his son; the affidavit described him as treating the corpses in an offensive manner by leaving them in the abandoned vehicle. He is not accused of taking part in the murders.

Police found Christophers residence by looking at the data on the victims cell phones, on which they searched for their address and arrived at around 11.50pm on the night they went missing.
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Former president Bill Clinton faces renewed public scrutiny after being identified multiple times in the newly unsealed court documents detailing the associates of late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Clinton is described as a close personal friend of the disgraced financier, though he is not accused of any illegal activity, and reportedly did not take the bait when introduced to underage girls, according to the documents.

Clintons name appears almost 100 times so far in the material, tranches of which were released on Wednesday and Thursday, alongside other high-profile figures including Prince Andrew and Donald Trump.

Testimony from alleged Epstein victim Johanna Sjoberg claimed that the financier once told her that Clinton likes them young  referring to girls.

However, fellow Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre said that although Clinton spent time on Epsteins private island of Little St. James, in the US Virgin Islands, there was no evidence he was involved in wrongdoing.

Ms Giuffre claimed that she flew there with the former president in a helicopter piloted by Epsteins former girlfriend and partner in crime, Ghislaine Maxwell. I only met Bill [Clinton] twice but Jeffrey told me they were good friends, her testimony read.

The former president faces renewed public scrutiny after being identified multiple times in the newly unsealed court documents (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

We all dined together that night. Jeffrey was at the head of the table. Bill was at his left. I sat across from him Ghislaine was at Bills left and at the left of Ghislaine there were two olive-skinned brunettes whod flown in with us from New York.

Id say they were no older than 17, very innocent-looking Maybe Jeffrey thought they would entertain Bill, but I saw no evidence that he was interested in them.

She added that Epstein and Maxwell seemed to have a very good relationship with Clinton and that the trio had told blokey jokes around the dinner table.

But in later testimony, Ms Giuffre claimed that the former president attempted to threaten magazine Vanity Fair into not writing about Epsteins alleged sex trafficking.

In Thursdays tranche of documents, Ms Giuffre said that Mr Clinton had walked into the magazines office and pressured them not to write about his good friend J.E.

The alleged incident was described in a May 2011 email to journalist Sharon Churcher, then working for The Mail on Sunday, discussing the best way to publicise Ms Giuffres claims against Epstein.

When I was doing some research into VF yesterday, it does concern me what they could want to write about me considering that B Clinton walked into VF and threatened them not to write sex-trafficking articles about his good friend JE, Ms Giuffre wrote.

Clinton was described as having a very good relationship with Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein (VIA REUTERS)

Ms Giuffre did not say where the information she alleged came from.

But a spokesperson for Vanity Fairs former editor Graydon Carter told The Daily Telegraph that the incident categorically did not happen.

Sources who worked at the magazine around that time also told Insider that it never happened, and the journalist whose story was supposedly at issue also cast doubt on the incident when it was first reported by Gawker back in 2007.

Some former Vanity Fair journalists have previously claimed that Epstein himself put pressure on Mr Carter not to investigate his misdeeds, though Mr Carter has also disputed this.

The Independent has asked Mr Clinton and Mr Carter for comment.

Shortly before the documents were released this week, Clinton was seen visiting Mexico with his wife, Hillary Clinton.

The former president has vehemently denied any wrongdoing. Simply being included in these documents does not indicate any wrongdoing related to Epstein or anyone else.

A spokesperson for Clinton said in 2019: President Clinton knows nothing about the terrible crimes Jeffrey Epstein pleaded guilty to in Florida some years ago, or those with which he has been recently charged in New York.

This story was amended at 5:06pm Eastern Time on 5 Jan 2024 to add new details about Giuffres claim regarding Vanity Fair.
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A fifth batch of documents containing details about the associates of late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein have been unsealed, hours after a third and fourth were also made public on Friday.

Two previous sets of documents were released on Wednesday and Thursday, after US judge Loretta Preska ordered the unsealing of filings in a lawsuit brought by Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre against Ghislaine Maxwell  the disgraced financiers former girlfriend and accomplice.

High profile figures already named include Prince Andrew, magician David Copperfield and former US presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton. Actor Kevin Spacey and comedian Chris Tucker are also mentioned as potential passengers during a ride on Epsteins private jet.

The naming of individuals does not necessarily indicate any wrongdoing.

Former president Trump, who was named only four times in the first batch of documents on Wednesday cropped up again during testimony from former Epstein employee Juan Alessi.

Mr Alessi also said that Mr Trump would sometimes come round for dinner at Epsteins home but ate with Mr Alessi in the kitchen. Mr Trump did not get massages at the Palm Beach house because he had his own spa, Mr Alessi said.

Other documents released on Friday included transcripts of Maxwells questioning over her interactions with Prince Andrew and Ms Giuffre. Maxwell was asked if she had introduced the duke to any unerage girls, including Ms Guiffre.

Prince Andrew (left) with Virginia Giuffre (centre) and Ghislaine Maxwell (right) (US District Court - Southern Dis)

Maxwell claimed she didnt remember whether she had introduced Virginia Giuffre to Prince Andrew, or whether Giuffre had stayed at her London home.

She was also quizzed about a now-notorius alleged visit to Tramp nightclub in London, which became a focal point of a 2019 sit-down television interview between Andrew and journalist Emily Maitlis. During the interview Andrew claimed he has a peculiar medical condition whereby he cannot sweat  in response to Ms Guiffres claims he was perspiring in the club.

Maxwell went on to say that she had no recollection of Giuffre during the London trip, despite a picture of the two together with Prince Andrew saying otherwise. So I have seen her reports and I have seen the plane reports, Maxwell said. I see she says she was on that but again, I really have no recollection of her.

When cofronted with police reports in which Ms Giuffre claimed that she was instructed by Epstein to recruit girls  Epstein had allegedly told Ms Giuffre that the younger [girls were], the better  Maxwell described Ms Giuffre as an awful fantasist.

In the deposition, Maxwell also said she didnt remember whether she was the one who introduced the royal to Johanna Sjoberg, who would later allege Prince Andrew fondled her breast.

Responding to questions about Ms GIuffres claims, Maxell called Ms Giuffre an awful fantasist.

Elsewhere in the documents released on Friday denied she had ever flown former president Bill Clinton in one of Epsteins helicopters  contrary to claims made by Ms Giuffre  though later seemed to contradict herself.

That first entry has President Clinton, Kevin Spacey, Chris Tucker, Jeffrey Epstein and the initials GM, Maxwell was asked in her deposition. Do you remember taking a trip with President Clinton during September of 2002?

I dont remember the dates. I couldnt testify to when we actually did it but I do remember the trip itself, the transcription read.

Former president Clintons name now features around 100 times in the unsealed documents, with the second batch containing new claims involving him.

Jeffrey Epstein (left) and Bill Clinton (right) (Netflix)

Among them, it was alleged that Clinton once walked into the offices of Vanity Fair magazine and pressured them not to write about his good friend J.E.

A spokesperson for the magazines former editor Graydon Carter said it categorically did not happen. Mr Clintons spokesperson has previously insisted he knew nothing about Epsteins crimes and the former president has vehemently denied any wrongdoing.

Maxwell discussed her relationship with hedge fund billionaire Glenn Dubin and his wife, scientist and former Miss Sweden Eva Dubin.

Maxwell, who claimed to be friends with Ms Dubin, was asked whether she had ever sent Virginia Giuffre to the couples condo.

Before Maxwells deposition was unsealed on Friday, a spokesperson for the Dubins denied any wrongdoing by the couple. The spokesperson also pointed out that Epstein victim Johanna Sjoberg said in a previously unsealed deposition that nothing inappropriate happened while she gave a massage to the couple.

The Dubins strongly deny these allegations, as we first said in 2019, when these unsubstantiated statements first surfaced as part of this same civil court proceeding, a statement read.

The documents concealed the identities of over 100 victims, associates, or friends of Epstein, each identified as J Doe along with a distinctive identifying number. Now, those monikers are being replaced with real names, with the exception of sex abuse victims.
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More than 200 previously sealed court documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier and registered sex offender, have been unsealed.

US judge Loretta Preska ordered that the court filings in a lawsuit brought against Ghislaine Maxwell by Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre must finally be unsealed and the names of up to 200 John and Jane Does unredacted.

She mentioned that many did not oppose the release of the documents. Judge Preska did instruct that certain names be kept redacted to protect the identities of sexual abuse victims.

The names of ten Jane Does mentioned in the filings remained under seal because their right to privacy as victims outweighed the publics right to know. A J Doe, 107, has until 22 January to submit proof the release of their name will put them at risk of physical harm, and a request by a second J Doe, 110, to keep their name under seal is currently being reviewed by the court.

The list of names included a mix of prominent individuals, with the majority facing no allegations of misconduct. Those listed include alleged victims, people not accused of wrongdoingand absent third parties.

Being identified through the court documents does not mean that the individual was involved in or aware of any wrongdoing by Epstein.

Here are some of the key takeaways:

Some of the names in the unsealed court documents have been linked to Epstein in the past. Among those in Wednesdays documents are former presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, lawyer Alan Dershowitz, former VictoriaS Secret CEO Les Wexner, late former New Mexico governor Bill Richardson and late AI pioneer Marvin Minsky. David Copperfield, Michael Jackson and other celebrities also are mentioned.

Allegations against Prince Andrew resurface

The newly unsealed court documents contain references to Johanna Sjoberg, who has accused British royal member, Prince Andrew of groping her breast in Epsteins Manhattan apartment in 2001. Buckingham Palace has vehemently denied her allegations.

In a deposition, Sjoberg claimed that Prince Andrew put his hand on my breast. In 2022, the royal settled a suit claiming sexual abuse that was filed by another accuser, Virginia Giuffre.

The documents, filed in federal district court in Manhattan, provide additional context to shed light on the connections Epstein had cultivated over the years with influential figures, including former presidents, Mr Trump and Mr Clinton, as well as a member of the British royalty, Prince Andrew.

The vast majority of names in the documents were already well-known associates of Epstein. However, certain new details have emerged, notably from the deposition of alleged Epstein victim, Sjoberg. She has stated that she was trafficked by Epstein from 2001 to 2006.

Epstein once said Bill Clinton likes them young, victim claims

In her 2016 deposition, Ms Sjoberg was questioned about whether Epstein had ever mentioned former president Bill Clinton. She testified that Epstein had once remarked that Clinton likes them young, referring to girls.

Previously, Mr Clintons spokesperson, in 2019, denied claims made about his involvement with Epstein. In a statement on X/Twitter wrote: President Clinton knows nothing about the terrible crimes Jeffrey Epstein pleaded guilty to in Florida some years ago, or those with which he has been recently charged in New York.

Mr Clintons name is mentioned 73 times in the documents so far, including footnotes.

In the second batch of documents a 2011 email from Ms Giuffre to journalist Sharon Churcher, included an accusation that Bill Clinton had threatened Vanity Fair reporters about writing stories on Epstein.

B. Clinton walked into [Vanity Fair] and threatened them not to write sex-trafficing articles about his good friend. [Jeffrey Epstein] the email from Ms Giuffre stated.

Donald Trumps alleged sexual proclivities

Ms Sjoberg also claimed that she was once on a private plane with Epstein when it made an unexpected stop in Atlantic City, New Jersey. She said that Epstein mentioned: Great, well call Trump. She mentioned that Epstein suggested that they visit Mr Trumps casino.

Elsewhere, Ms Sjoberg was asked if she ever gave Mr Trump a massage, to which she replied no.

In 2019, when asked about his relationship with Epstein following the financiers arrest, Mr Trump said he knew him like everybody in Palm Beach knew him. But the former president added: I had a falling out with him. I havent spoken to him in 15 years. I was not a fan of his, that I can tell you.

The new documents also contain incendiary claims about the former president, including accusations that he had sexual relations with many girls, made by one of Epsteins alleged victims, Sarah Ransome. Mr Trumps name has appeared a handful of times previously in the documents and, while not accusing him of wrongdoing, appears to illustrate the good relationship he had with the disgraced financier.

In documents unsealed on 8 January, Ms Ransome testified that her unnamed friend was one of the many girls that had sexual relations with Donald Trump  including at Epsteins New York townhouse.

She confided in me about her casual friendship with Donald. Mr Trump definitely seemed to have a thing for her and she told me how he kept going on about how he liked her pert nipples, she testified.

She then described in graphic detail how Mr Trump allegedly caused pain to the victims nipples  and claimed she saw the resulting injury firsthand.

I also know she had sexual relations with Trump at Jefferys NY mansion on regular occasions as I once met Jen for coffee, just before she was going to meet Trump and Epstein together at his mansion, she said.

Mr Trump has previously strongly denied any wrongdoing.

A Trump spokesperson told The Independent: These baseless accusations have been fully retracted because they are simply false and have no merit.

Giuffre claims she was trafficked to Les Wexner

The allegations against the former Victorias Secret CEO and founder of L Brands emerged in a 2016 deposition by Ms Giuffre.

Although Ms Giuffre had previously alleged she had been trafficked to other high-profile figures, it is the first time that allegations have emerged that Mr Wexner had sex with underage girls.

The Independent has reached out to L Brands group for comment.

Ms Giuffre claimed that she was trafficked to have sex with Mr Wexner between three and ten times during the time that she was recruited by Epstein and Maxwell. Ms Giuffre said that she was instructed by Maxwell to wear lingerie for Mr Wexner  which Maxwell went on to categorically deny in her own deposition.

When asked why she had said in a previous interrogation by police that she didnt believe Mr Wexner would say the truth, Ms Giuffre said that it was because he had done things that were wrong.

He participated in sex with minors, Ms Giuffre elaborated.

Jean Luc Brunels creepy note about Russian tutor

A message left for Epstein by one of his employees in 2005 claims that Jean-Luc Brunel, a French model scout who died in 2022 while awaiting trial for child rape, had found a teacher who could give Epstein free lessons.

He has a teacher for you to teach how to speak Russian. She is two times eight years old. Not blond, the message reads. Lessons are free and you can have your first today if you call.

The creepy message was seized by Florida police during their first investigation into Epstein back in 2005-6, before resurfacing in a tranche of newly uncensored documents made public on Monday.

Epstein asked Johana Sjober to have a baby with him

In the recently released deposition, Ms Sjoberg revealed that the disgraced financier had propositioned her multiple times to have a baby with him. She stated that Epstein expressed his desire for her to be the mother of his child, to which she did not flat-out refuse but responded with a non-committal attitude, saying, Oh, yeah, really?

Basically [he] just said, I want you to be the mother of my baby, Ms Sjoberg said. I dont believe that I said flat-out no. I didnt agree to it. I would just say, Oh, yeah, really?

David Copperfield and Michael Jackson mentioned in filings

In her deposition, Ms Sjoberg revealed two previously undisclosed names: David Copperfield and Michael Jackson. She said that she met Jackson at Epsteins Palm Beach mansion. During another instance at one of Epsteins residences, she encountered Copperfield, who, according to her, did some magic tricks.

Ms Sjoberg claimed that Copperfield questioned me if I was aware that girls were getting paid to find other girls.

Epstein offered payment to discredit Stephen Hawking underage orgy allegations

In 2015, after Ms Giuffres civil claim in the US, an email from Epstein to Maxwell surfaced, revealing Epsteins request for Maxwell to issue a reward to counter Giuffres claims involving Prof Stephen Hawking in an alleged underage orgy.

The email suggested focusing on discrediting specific allegations, such as the claim that Hawking participated in such an event during a dinner in the Virgin Islands. Hawking, who died in 2018, has not been accused of a crime related to Epstein.

Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak visited Epsteins home, documents allege

According to documents, the former Israeli prime minister, Ehud Barak, was a frequent visitor to Epsteins Upper East Side townhouse between 2013 and 2017. Barak has acknowledged these meetings in the past. He said that Epstein often introduced him to individuals from various fields like art, culture, law, science, finance, diplomacy, or philanthropy. However, he never met Epstein with girls or minors, or even adult women in improper context or behaviour.

Noam Chomsky had dinner with Woody Allen at Epsteins house

According to documents, Epstein arranged multiple meetings with Noam Chomsky in 2015 and 2016. During this time, Mr Chomsky was teaching at MIT, a university where Epstein had made significant donations. The scheduled meetings involved gatherings of academics, and Mr Chomsky also took a flight on Epsteins private jet to New York.

One specific event included a dinner at Epsteins townhouse with film director Woody Allen and his wife, Soon-Yi Previn.

Epstein was arrested on 6 July 2019 for sex trafficking and died by suicide in jail. His former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell was then prosecuted by the US attorney in Manhattan for helping recruit his underage victims. She was sentenced in 2022 to 20 years in prison.

Meanwhile, Maxwells attorneys, Arthur L Aidala and Diana Fabi Samson were quoted as saying by the Guardian: Ghislaine Maxwell took no position on the courts recent decision to unseal documents in Giuffre v Maxwell as these disclosures have no bearing on her or her pending appeal.
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Thousands of pages of court documents are being publicly released for the first time, revealing the names of individuals who associated with the late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

Former presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump, Prince Andrew, magician David Copperfield and several Hollywood celebrities have all found themselves on the so-called Epstein list.

Their names in the filings dont indicate any wrongdoing or any involvement in Epsteins crimes.

In fact, some of them have no known connection or association whatsoever to the man who for years ran a horrific sex-trafficking ring, but are merely in the documents as part of questions put to victims as to whether they ever met several famous faces.

That said, some new revelations and details about Epsteins campaign of sexual abuse  and allegations against some of his circle  are detailed in the unsealed documents.

To date, two batches of documents have been released.

In the first, unsealed on Wednesday, previously known allegations resurfaced against Prince Andrew.

Epstein victim Johanna Sjoberg claimed in a deposition that Andrew put his hand on my breast. The duke and Buckingham Palace have previously strongly denied all allegations by Epstein victims.

Ms Sjoberg also testified that Epstein once told her that Mr Clinton likes them young, referring to girls.

Undated photo of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell (VIA REUTERS)

However, Ms Sjoberg testified that she never met Mr Clinton, never saw him on Epsteins Caribbean island and never saw him being flown in a helicopter by Maxwell. There is no indication that the former president is involved in any wrongdoing and is not accused of any crime.

His spokesperson told CNN on Wednesday that it has now been nearly 20 years since President Clinton last had contact with Epstein and denied that the former president ever had any knowledge of Epsteins crimes.

In the second trove of documents, Mr Clintons name resurfaced once again  with Ms Giuffre once claiming in an email that the former president had threatened Vanity Fair not to publish a story about Epstein.

Masses more documents are yet to come over the coming days and weeks, bringing with them potentially damaging claims.

But why are they being released now?

These thousands of pages of documents arent new.

They are part of a defamation lawsuit brought against Ghislaine Maxwell back in 2015 by Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre.

Ms Giuffre filed the suit after Maxwell accused her of lying about the years-long abuse she had suffered at the hands of Epstein and some in his inner circle.

The case went through the courts for two years  and dozens of individuals sat for depositions and gave testimony on both sides  before the suit was settled in 2017.

At the time, a judge placed the filings under a protective seal  with the identities of those named in the filings kept under lock and key.

But, The Miami Herald  whose investigative reporting first exposed Epsteins crimes  sued for the release of all of the sealed documents.

Around 2,000 pages of documents were first unsealed in 2019, with further documents released over the following years.

But, this current trove of documents remained sealed  and the names of hundreds of people associated with the dead paedophile were kept secret, known only as Jane and John Does.

Maxwells legal team sought to block it for years  before finally giving up the fight in 2022.

Virginia Giuffre with Prince Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell at Epsteins townhouse (US District Court - Southern Dis)

Then, in a landmark ruling in December, US District Judge Loretta Preska ruled that the trove of documents could be released and the names unsealed in full, saying that there was no legal justification to keep the names of Epsteins associates redacted as John and Jane Does.

She also argued that much of the information is already available publicly, having been revealed through other lawsuits, criminal cases or media reports.

The judges ruling thereby paved the way for the release of the documents  and the names and ties of those linked to the notorious disgraced financier unmasked.

Individuals named in the documents were given 14 days to appeal, before the documents were to be unsealed in full from 1 January.

Two individuals asked for their names to remain under seal.

The first, known only as Doe 107, claimed that she lives in a conservative country and could be at risk of physical harm if her name is revealed. The judge granted her an extension until 22 January to provide evidence for this.

The request from the second individual, Doe 110, is still under review.

The federal judge has also ordered the names of several Epstein victims to remain anonymous.

But, beyond this, all documents were ordered to be released. All redacted names unredacted. And all revelations made public.
 Close Which big names are on Epsteins list?

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Over the past week thousands of pages of court documents relating to late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, have been made public after US judge Loretta Preska ordered the release of filings in a lawsuit brought by Virginia Giuffre against Ghislaine Maxwell.

The documents named scores of prominent figures including, Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton, Donald Trump and Victorias Secret boss Les Wexner. Being identified through the court documents does not mean that the individual was involved in or aware of any wrongdoing by Epstein.

The final batch of documents, released on Tuesday, included depositions from Ms Giuffre, Maxwell and Epstein.

In Epsteins deposition, he was questioned about his campaign of abuse of young and underage girls. He pleaded the Fifth over 1,000 times.

In Maxwells deposition, she was confronted with disturbing messages left for Epstein  one of which referenced what appeared to be code for procuring an underage Russian girl for Epstein. She is two times eight years old. Not blond. Lessons are free and you can have your first today if you call, it read.
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Wayne LaPierre, the longtime CEO and executive vice president of the National Rifle Association (NRA), announced he would be stepping down on Friday  just days before he is set to go to trial against New York Attorney General Letitia James.

In a press release from the NRA, Mr LaPierre said he was resigning from the organisation due to health reasons.

"Ive been a card-carrying member of this organization for most of my adult life, and I will never stop supporting the NRA and its fight to defend Second Amendment freedom. My passion for our cause burns as deeply as ever, Mr LaPierre said.

Mr LaPierre first stepped into the role of CEO and executive vice president in 1991. His resignation will take effect on 31 January.

The news arrived three days before he is expected to appear in New York superior court for the start of Ms James civil corruption trial against him, the NRA as well as three other former or current members of the gun advocacy nonprofit.

Ms James was seeking to remove Mr LaPierre from his leadership position for alleged financial improprieties. Her lawsuit, initially filed in 2020, alleges Mr LaPierre routinely abused his authority so the NRA could pay for or reimburse him for personal trips on yachts, private jets, black-car service as well as expensive gifts to friends, employees or vendors  among other allegations.

She alleges that Mr LaPierre abused his access to the budget to fund lucrative consulting contracts for NRA insiders like former employees or board members and that Mr Phillips failed as a Treasurer to adhere to internal finance controls, allowing for misuse to occur.

New York State Attorney General Letitia James speaks during a press conference announcing a lawsuit to dissolve the NRA on August 06, 2020 (Getty Images)

In its press release, the NRA said it will continue to defend itself against the allegations and claimed it is well-known that Ms James vowed to pursue the NRA when she was a candidate for office.

William Brewer, the NRAs lead lawyer, told The New York Times that the organisation has taken steps to address corporate practices and undermined Ms James case by saying the case is about tales from the crypt.

Nearly three and a half years after filing an initial suit against the gun advocacy nonprofit, Ms James is seeking to hold the NRA and the four defendants, former CEO Mr LaPierre, General Counsel John Frazer, former CFO Wilson Phillips and former chief of staff Josh Powell, responsible for alleged financial improprieties.

In the lengthy complaint, Ms James alleges that the individuals misused charitable assets, manipulated internal controls and misreported information in annual reports to the AG.

The lawsuit alleges that Mr Powell, who served as chief of staff until 2018 when he notably left the NRA on bitter terms, received excessive benefits and misused spending limits.

Ms James also claims that Mr Frazer failed to implement changes that complied with new governance requirements and made false or misleading statements on the NRAs IRS forms.

Initially, Ms James filed the lawsuit seeking to have the NRA dissolved but Judge Joel Cohen, the state Supreme Court Justice overseeing the case, rejected that.

Now, shes seeking to implement an independent monitor to oversee the organisations governance as well as impose financial penalties against the defendants.

NRA hat in front of the U.S. Supreme Court Building, March 18, 2008 (Getty Images)

In the years since the initial filing, the NRA has fought tooth and nail to create delays in the case, making no less than 85 motions. Mr LaPierre has overseen a series of changes to the organisation as they face the lawsuit among others.

In 2021, NRA filed for bankruptcy seeking to incorporate in Texas  something Ms James alleged was done so the defendants could evade investigating the allegations as well as avoiding overseeing the work of the NRAs external audit firm.

However, a federal bankruptcy judge dismissed the case, claiming the organisation was using the bankruptcy case to address a regulatory enforcement problem, not a financial one.

Additionally, the NRA has faced a drop in membership from nearly six million in 2018 to under five million in 2021. Between 2020 and 2021 the organisations revenue also dropped by more than $50m.

Donald Trump and Wayne LaPierre at the National Rifle Associations annual meeting In Houston (Getty Images)

Andrew Arulanandam, the NRAs executive and head of general operations, will serve as interim CEO and executive vice president.

Mr LaPierre said he was proud of the NRAs advocacy in New York and is confident Mr Arulanandam knows how to help the NRA win.

The trial is slated to begin on Monday at 9.30am EST before Judge Cohen.
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Three years after a mob of thousands broke through barriers, smashed windows and trampled police to storm the seat of American democracy in a failed effort to keep Donald Trump in power, the man whose persistent lies fuelled the attack remains the Republican partys leading candidate for the presidency.

While the former president pledges to pardon the hundreds of defendants charged in connection with the violent assault at the US Capitol on 6 January 2021, President Joe Biden is approaching the three-year anniversary of the attack to warn Americans that his rivals antidemocratic threats have not abated, and that the stakes of the 2024 election just months away could not be greater.

On Friday, the president will deliver remarks near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, where George Washington and the Continental Army endured a brutal winter during the American Revolution.

His speech to mark the anniversary of January 6 in a critical swing state will aim to make the case directly that democracy and freedom remains central to the fight were in today, according to deputy campaign manager Quentin Fulks.

Mr Trumps threat to American democracy has only grown more dire in the years since, according to campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez.

The frontrunner for the GOPs nomination for president is demanding the release of defendants he calls hostages and patriots and vows to issue full pardons on day one with an apology for many. The political action committee supporting his campaign gave thousands of dollars to a group that financially supports January 6 defendants.

He has also embraced the J6 Prison Choir, a group of defendants who remain in a Washington DC jail for crimes that, according to federal prosecutors, were so violent that their pretrial release would pose a danger to the public.

Mr Trump, who is criminally accused of leading a conspiracy to unlawfully overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, culminating in a mob he failed to stop, has financially supported and celebrated these offenders  many of whom assaulted law enforcement on January 6  by promoting and playing their recording of the National Anthem at political rallies, prosecutors wrote in a recent court filing.

His campaign of retribution and violence casts himself as a victim of political persecution, framing the criminal cases and lawsuits against him as part of a Joe Biden-led conspiracy to keep him out of the White House, an extension of the same false narrative that the 2020 election was stolen from and rigged against him.

Rioters and their attorneys have repeatedly blamed the former presidents fight like hell rhetoric and calls to march to the Capitol for their actions and have expressed their regrets in tearful courtroom hearings.

Yet recent polling found that Republican voters are more likely to support January 6 defendants and less likely to blame Mr Trump than they were two years ago, while conspiracy theories and rampant misinformation surrounding the attack continue to shape how one-quarter of Americans feel about it.

More than 3,000 people broke through the Capitol on January 6, and roughly 1,200 people have been arrested and charged. Prosecutors have two more years to find the other 1,800 rioters before a statute of limitation expires.

Donald Trump told supporters to fight like hell in remarks from Washington DC on 6 January, 2021 as Congress gathered to certify Joe Bidens 2020 election victory. (AFP via Getty Images)

Mr Biden has repeatedly centred Mr Trumps autocratic threats and a rising tide of authoritarianism in his campaign to restore the soul of America, promising protections for voting rights and civil liberties and the restoration of the US as a global democratic leader.

He marked the first anniversary of the attack with remarks outside the Capitols National Statuary Hall, where those who stormed this Capitol and those who instigated this incident held a dagger at the throat of America and American democracy, he said.

In September 2022, weeks before midterm elections, he warned that the Republican Party today is dominated, driven, and intimidated by Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans, and that is a threat to this country.

Last year, on the attacks second anniversary, he awarded presidential medals to individuals who made exemplary contributions to our democracy surrounding January 6 and who demonstrated courage and selflessness during a moment of peril for our nation.

A 60-second ad running on television markets in several key states  Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin  features the presidents revived warning that theres something dangerous happening in America.

Theres an extremist movement that does not share the basic beliefs of our democracy, he says in the ad over images of neo-Nazi marches in Charlottesville, Virginia and rioters clashing with police outside the Capitol. All of us are being asked right now: what will we do to maintain our democracy?
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Watch as Joe Biden marks the third anniversary of the Jan 6 attacks on the US Capitol with a speech.

The president will make the case that Donald Trump poses an existential threat to democracy, according to a statement from his re-election campaign.

Mr Bidens campaign said he will speak near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, where George Washington established headquarters during the Revolutionary War.

The speech site, Montgomery County Community College, is 15 miles away.

Mr Biden had planned to deliver his remarks on Saturday, the actual anniversary of the 2021 assault on the US Capitol by Trump supporters, but moved it to Friday to avoid a forecast winter storm.

Three years ago, thousands of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol building in a bid to stop formal certification of the Republican presidents election defeat, causing millions of dollars in damage.

Four people died on the day of the attack, and one Capitol Police officer who fought against the rioters died the next day.

Four officers have since taken their own lives.
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Embattled Colorado congresswoman Lauren Boebert just picked up a key endorsement that revealed much about the current dynamics of the House Republican Caucus.

The right-wing representative recently announced that she would switch districts and move her family across the state in order to run in a more Republican-friendly congressional race next year; now, she does so with the endorsement of the speaker of the House. Mike Johnson announced his support for Ms Boebert in the 4th districts Republican primary on Thursday.

I am proud to endorse and fully support her campaign for Colorados 4th congressional district, wrote Mr Johnson in a press release blasted out Thursday morning by the Boebert campaign.

Nowhere in Mr Johnsons statement  or the press release itself  noted that Ms Boebert was not running for re-election in her own district. She briefly addressed that decision in a video message over the holidays, while not giving a reason for the move.

What sparse polling there is, however, indicates that Ms Boebert was up for a rocky bid for a third term after a year of ugly, personal fights with her Republican colleagues in the House of Representatives and a humiliating news cycle centred around her removal from the audience of a live-action performance of Beetlejuice after cameras caught her allegedly groping her date during the show. She won a second term in 2022 by less than 600 votes.

Ms Boebert now awaits a decision on her face by the 4th districts Republican voters in a crowded primary race set for June. Her alliance with Mr Johnson will likely give her a boost, both in terms of fundraising and some institutional support, but she faces significant hurdles regardless: The chairman of her states Republican Party even ridiculed her move to the 4th district in a recent TV interview, and appeared to suggest that she would be a vulnerable candidate in a GOP primary.

But her endorsement from Mr Johnson does reveal one thing: The continued pressure that Mr Johnson faces to maintain alliances with far-right members of his caucus who often do not get along with the Republican centre. Now with just a seven-seat majority in the lower chamber, Mr Johnson needs to keep up warm relations with just about every single member of his caucus in order to both maintain his position as speaker and pass legislation. Democrats have shown no willingness to help save a Republican speaker like Mr Johnson from revolts within his own caucus that could end in his removal.

The House and Senate are gearing up for a series of government funding deadlines approaching in the coming 60 days; the two chambers are also working on reaching a deal on the issues of funding for Ukraine, Israel, and border security along the US-Mexico divide. Conversations on those issues have resulted in little progress so far.

Lawmakers are set to return to the House next week.
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Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie is facing more and more pressure to exit the race from the centre-right faction of his party opposed to Donald Trump.

The former governor of New Jersey is running in the low to mid-single digits in national and statewide polling as he battles with the likes of Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy for the Republican nomination. But unlike his rivals, much of Mr Christies campaign has focused on calling out the obvious facts about Mr Trump: His ongoing legal challenges brought on by his conduct leading up to and during the January 6 attack on Congress.

For that reason, his candidacy and campaigning style have delighted members of the anti-Trump right as well as some Democratic-aligned pundits in the media. And for that same reason, he is now facing calls to step aside. The reason? Nikki Haley.

Ms Haley, the former governor of South Carolina, has in recent weeks emerged as possibly the most credible challenger to Donald Trump for the Republican nomination. Amid the slow descent of Floridas Ron DeSantis in the polls, Ms Haley has surged in both statewide and national polling, including most crucially in surveys of the first two GOP nominating contests in Iowa and New Hampshire. The latter state appears to be her first real shot at beating Mr Trump outright; a new poll on Thursday from the American Research Group indicated that the race is now competitive between the two.

But that same poll (and others like it) have also illuminated one thing: that Mr Christie, whose voters are currently backing the most vocal anti-Trump candidate in the race, may in effect be serving to boost the former presidents campaign due to the ongoing reluctance of those Republicans who want someone besides the former president to take the reins of the party to unify. The prospect of a rematch between Donald Trump and Joe Biden in 2024 becomes all the more likely if the race does not narrow down quickly, given the former presidents consolidation of roughly half of all GOP primary voters nationwide, if polling is correct.

Mr Christie rejected that assertion out of hand on Thursday when he sat down for an interview with Hugh Hewitt, a conservative broadcaster and perennial debate moderator. The ex-governor retorted that his campaigns polling indicated that were he to drop out of the race, many of his voters would stay home rather than support Ms Haley or Mr DeSantis  and some would even back Mr Trump.

Hewitt pressed him relentlessly on the issue, however, and in the end, the entire 10-minute interview was largely centred on his badgering of Mr Christie to get out of the race and, presumably, endorse Ms Haley.

The fact is, Im running for president of the United States, and no ones voted yet. I dont have an obligation to do anything, other than answer questions, tell the truth, run a good campaign and try to win, Mr Christie told Hewitt.

As their conversation progressed, the governor grew heated over the repeated insistence that he should drop out and the refusal of Hewitt to address other topics.

I have to tell you the truth, Hugh, said Mr Christie. You have interviewed me probably a hundred times. Ive never had a less substantive interview with you in my life.

But its actually the most substantive interview, Hewitt responded, before attempting to persuade Mr Christie of the urgency presented by the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary. Were down to the quarter stretch.

No. This is, this is not news, Hugh, the governor shot back.

Ms Haleys campaign recently posted her best fundraising quarter total yet, with the former governor raking in $24m in the last period of 2023. She still trails Donald Trump in that regard, however, though the former president is also beset by unprecedented legal fees which his rivals do not have to worry about.

Mr Christie, by comparison, was just excluded from CNNs upcoming debate in the state of Iowa ahead of the first-in-the-nation caucuses on the 15th.

He remains ahead of rivals Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy in New Hampshire, however, and could see life breathed into his campaign with a strong performance in the second contest.
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The presidential primary season kicks off in earnest with the Iowa caucuses on Monday 15 January, firing the starting pistol on what promises to be one of the most chaotic and atypical US election years in living memory.

Scandal-blighted Donald Trump remains the Republican frontrunner in almost all polls and is widely expected to cement his dominance over the GOP with a strong showing while the likes of Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis have a chance to build momentum as the only serious challengers to the former president.

For the likes of Vivek Ramaswamy and Asa Hutchinson, a poor performance could mean curtains for their ailing campaigns, definitive proof that they do not have the support necessary to merit continuing the quest to become the partys nominee for the White House.

For Democrats, the matter is much more straightforward: they will simply gather in gyms, schools, libraries and churches to elect delegates to send to the county conventions in March, the next step to selecting the delegates that will attend the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August.

Heres a quick guide for the perplexed.

What is a caucus?

A political caucus is defined as any gathering of people with a shared interest or goal.

The Iowa caucuses are a series of local meetings held throughout the state at which participants conduct party business and typically indicate their preference for the presidential nominee their party will place on Novembers ballots.

Its also the first step in a months-long process to select people to serve as delegates to the national party conventions in the summer.

Are caucuses different from primaries?

Yes, but the principle of consensus-building is essentially the same. One of the main differences between caucuses and primaries is the amount of time allotted for voting to occur and the methods by which people vote.

In a primary, voters can show up at the polls and cast ballots throughout election day, from the early morning until polls close in the evening. They also have the option of casting an absentee ballot if they cannot make it and, in some states, people may be allowed to vote in advance.

The Iowa caucuses, however, are held in the evening and voters must attend in person to take part, except in a few isolated instances.

Caucuses are run by political parties, whereas primaries are typically run by the state itself.

Are both Republicans and Democrats holding caucuses in Iowa this year?

Yes. Both the state Republican and Democratic parties will be holding caucuses on 15 January but only the Republican event will have any obvious real on the presidential race.

In a departure from previous years, the Democratic caucuses will this time serve only to conduct administrative party business and kick off the process of choosing delegates for the conventions.

Support among Iowans for Joe Bidens nomination for a second term will be indicated by a postal vote instead, running from Friday 12 January to Super Tuesday on 5 March. The results will not be known until that later date.

What is at stake?

Nothing for Democrats but, for the Republicans, there are two prizes in the Iowa caucuses: delegates and bragging rights. Iowa Republican voters will indicate their picks for the partys presidential nominee and the results of that vote will determine how many of the states 40 convention delegates each candidate will receive.

Candidates win national convention delegates in direct proportion to the percentage of the vote they receive. There is no minimum threshold required to qualify for delegates.

However, Iowa makes up a tiny share of the total number of Republican delegates nationwide (just 1.6 per cent). So, in theory, a candidate who performs poorly in the Hawkeye State has plenty of opportunities in the remaining states and territories to make up the difference.

But, because of Iowas first-in-the-nation placement in the campaign calendar, the caucus results often give a disproportionate boost to the winners and to those who perform strongly or surpass expectations. The then-little-known Barack Obama, for one, famously benefited from a strong performance there in 2008.

Conversely, it can have a demoralising effect on the rest of the field, possibly even nudging underperforming candidates out of the race for good.

Although Iowa is not particularly representative demographically speaking, its caucuses are so crucial because they serve to signal to voters in other states, fairly or unfairly, which candidates are best placed in the race for the nomination and have momentum heading into the subsequent contests in New Hampshire, South Carolina, Nevada and so on.

The political analyst Christopher Hull estimated in his 2008 book Grassroots Rules: How the Iowa Caucus Helps Elect American Presidents that the Iowa caucuses receive 143 times more media coverage than other presidential primary elections.

Imagine how much more intense the glare will be this time.

How will the Republican caucuses work in 2024?

There will be two main agenda items at every Republican caucus site: holding a binding vote on the partys presidential nominee and electing delegates to attend county conventions, which is the next step in the multi-tiered process of electing delegates to attend the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee this summer.

The binding presidential vote functions essentially like a party-run primary, only with very limited polling hours and no accommodation for absentee voting, except for a small handful of overseas and military voters.

There are speeches on behalf of various candidates before the voting and a variety of party business after the vote.

Individual caucus chairs are allowed to exercise some discretion in how to conduct the vote but the voting is done by secret ballot and there is no set list of candidates.

Voters must be given the option to vote for any candidate they choose. In the past, some caucus sites have pre-printed the names of major candidates and provided a write-in option but, typically, voters submit their choice by simply writing the name of a candidate on a blank slip of paper.

There is no walking around the caucus room to form preference groups behind particular candidates. That voting method was a feature of Democratic caucuses from 1972 to 2020 but is no longer in use by either party in 2024, which is perhaps a shame, as it brought a surreal touch of Alice in Wonderland to proceedings.

The Republican caucuses will convene statewide at 7pm local time on 15 January and begin with the election of a caucus chair and secretary.

Only registered Republicans may participate in the caucuses and only in their designated home precincts. However, Iowans may register or change their party affiliation as late as caucus day itself, although voters must turn 18 by the November general election to participate.

How will the Democratic caucuses work in 2024?

Iowa Democrats had to completely redo their caucus and presidential delegate selection process after their last caucuses devolved into chaos and failed to produce a clear, undisputed winner, hence the new mail-in voting approach.

The Democratic caucuses on 15 January will therefore be concerned only with electing convention delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August as the presidential nomination process is given over to the new mail-in voting system.

Additional reporting by agencies
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Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley sought to make amends for her recent failure to cite slavery as a principle cause of the Civil War  but ended up digging herself a deeper hole by offering the patronising get-out: I had Black friends growing up.

Speaking during a CNN town hall in Des Moines, Iowa, on Thursday, the former South Carolina governor was asked by host Erin Burnett to clarify her thoughts on the conflict and to comment on her rival Chris Christies contention that she had attempted to dodge the issue for fear of alienating potential GOP voters.

I should have said slavery right off the bat, but if you grow up in South Carolina, literally in second and third grade, you learn about slavery, she answered.

You grow up and you have, you know, I had Black friends growing up. It is a very talked about thing.

We have a big history in South Carolina when it comes to slavery, when it comes to all the things that happened with the Civil War.

She continued: I was thinking past slavery, and talking about the lesson that we would learn going forward. I shouldnt have done that. I should have said slavery. But, in my mind, thats a given. Everybody associates the Civil War with slavery.

Elsewhere in the conversation, Ms Haley, the daughter of Indian immigrants to the United States, recalled her own experiences of encountering racism in childhood.

We dealt with our own challenges. I remember when I would get teased on the playground, and I would come home, she said.

My mom would always say, Your job is not to show them how youre different, your job is to show them how youre similar.

On her later difficulties navigating the Civil Wars complex and enduring legacy as state governor, she added: I knew half of South Carolinians saw the Confederate flag as heritage and tradition. The other half saw it as slavery and hate A leader doesnt decide whos right. When you serve the people, you serve everybody.

Ms Haleys latest attempts to fire-fight the issue attracted immediate derision following the CNN broadcast, where anchor Abby Phillip smiled wryly at the Black friends remark and noted it was already being ridiculed by Ron DeSantis supporters online.

Analyst Van Jones chimed in, describing her performance as painful and likening her answer to cleaning up with a dirty rag.

Nikki Haley speaks at a CNN town hall in Des Moines, Iowa, on 4 January 2024 (CNN)

This should not be hard for a women of colour, in this day and age, to talk with real power and force about how awful slavery was and how important it is for us as a country to get past it and deal with it and confront it, so we can be better, he said.

The controversy first arose when Ms Haley was asked by a voter in Berlin, New Hampshire, on Wednesday 27 December what she felt had ignited the deadliest war in US history.

Rather than saying slavery, she answered vaguely: 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.

Her failure to cite slavery in her answer attracted an avalanche of criticism, with everyone from Joe Biden to Democratic National Committee chair Jaime Harrison and civil rights leader Rev. Dr William Barber hitting out at her comments.

She subsequently apologised, commenting: Of course, the Civil War was about slavery. We know that, thats the easy part. What I was saying was what does it mean to us today? It was about individual freedom, it was about economic freedom... Our goal is to make sure we never go back to the stain of slavery, but whats the lesson in all of that?

More dubiously, Ms Haley also claimed during an interview the following day with The Pulse of NH radio station that the question had come from a Democrat plant, without providing any evidence to support the claim.
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A former president has been charged with crimes connected to his attempts to overturn the results of an American election.

The federal investigation into the efforts from Donald Trump and his allies to subvert the outcome of the 2020 presidential election has yielded four criminal charges in a 45-page indictment, outlining three alleged criminal conspiracies and the obstruction of Joe Bidens victory and detailing a multi-state scheme built on a legacy of lies and conspiracy theories to undermine the democratic process.

A charging document under US Department of Justice special counsel Jack Smith follows a grand jury vote to indict Mr Trump after months of evidence and witness testimony.

The former president claimed immunity from prosecution, a defence argument that is now headed to the US Supreme Court, delaying a trial that was initially set for 4 March. Justices will hear oral arguments for his defence on 25 April after an appeals court and and the federal judge overseeing the case shot down his defence.

Mr Trump and 18 co-defendants are separately charged in Georgia in a sprawling racketeering case outlining the multi-state scheme to pressure state officials and then-Vice President Mike Pence to subvert election results against the will of Georgia voters.

The indictments follow a separate, lengthy House select committee investigation into the events surrounding and leading up to the attack on the US Capitol on 6 January 2021, including a series of blockbuster public hearings laying out evidence and witness testimony describing the depth of Mr Trumps attempts to remain in office at whatever cost.

That panels final 845-page report provides a detailed account of the former presidents refusal to cede power  regardless of the outcome  while privately acknowledging that he lost, as his baseless stolen election narrative fuelled his supporters to riot in the halls of Congress, an argument that also bolstered his second impeachment in the House of Representatives.

The former president has demanded broad immunity from criminal prosecution in the election subversion case, a question that is likely to be considered by the US Supreme Court, after US District Judge Tanya Chutkan asserted that the presidency did not bestow on him the divine right of kings to evade criminal accountability.

Who is under investigation?

The Justice Departments investigation builds on the years of work from federal prosecutors to investigate more than 1,000 people in connection with the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, fuelled by the former presidents ongoing false claims that the election was rigged against him.

A resulting indictment lists six unnamed co-conspirators who are likely to include Trump-connected attorneys and former administration officials and advisers, including former attorneys Rudy Giuliani, Kenneth Chesebro, John Eastman, Sidney Powell as well as former Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark.

Prosecutors have also talked to a number of chief aides and officials in Mr Trumps circle, including former Vice President Mike Pence, former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, former White House counsel Pat Cipollone, his former deputy Pat Philbin, and former national security adviser Robert OBrien, among several others.

They also have spoken with Georgia secretary of state Brad Raffensperger, who was on the other end of a call with Mr Trump demanding that the states top elections official find 11,780 votes  enough for him to overturn Mr Bidens victory in the state.

That call, which was taped, also is at the center of a separate investigation from Fulton County district attorney Fani Willis into election interference in the state.

Arizona  ground zero for an election denialism movement that gave rise to leading GOP candidates for the top three statewide offices, including failed candidate for governor Kari Lake  was a focal point for the Trump campaign and his allies, who filed several lawsuits against the state and some counties in an attempt to overturn the lawful results. Mr Biden won the state by roughly 10,000 votes.

Former Trump attorneys John Eastman and Rudy Giuliani speak to the former presidents supporters in Washington, DC, on 6 January 2021. (Reuters)

Federal prosecutors have talked to former Arizona governor Doug Ducey, who silenced a call from Mr Trump while Mr Ducey was in the middle of certifying his states election results  a process that was being live-streamed and carried across news outlets.

Mr Smiths office also subpoenaed the Office of the Arizona Secretary of State and has met with top elections officials in Wisconsin, New Mexico and Pennsylvania.

Prosecutors also have interviewed Michigan secretary of state Jocelyn Benson, whose office provided a tranche of documents that included communications between the states election officials and Mr Trumps former lawyers and members of his campaign as the former presidents allies targeted the critical battleground state.

Central to the investigation is whether Mr Trump knew that he lost but pressed ahead with spurious efforts to overturn results anyway, with federal prosecutors reportedly speaking to his son-in-law and former adviser Jared Kushner and former communications directors Hope Hicks and Alyssa Farah Griffin with those questions in mind.

What charges does Trump face?

The former president has been charged with four crimes, including conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding and conspiracy against rights.

The indictment bases those charges around Mr Trumps lies and knowledge of his deceit about the elections outcome, his campaigns attempts to pressure state officials and push false slates of electors to obstruct the certification of the results, a failed attempt to persuade Mr Pence to refuse the outcome and Mr Trumps failure to stop a mob of his supporters from breaking into the Capitol.

A mob of Donald Trumps supporters breached the US Capitol on 6 January 2021, fuelled by a baseless narrative that the 2020 election was stolen from him. (Reuters)

In May 2020, with the presidential election still months away, Mr Trump said it would be rigged against him if he were to lose. That June, he said the election would be the scandal of our times, called it inaccurate and fraudulent and the greatest election disaster in history. Not a single ballot had yet been cast.

His own Justice Department, close advisers and campaign found no evidence of widespread voter fraud and dozens of lawsuits filed by his campaign and allies to overturn results were withdrawn or dismissed, while his attorneys and the right-wing network amplifying their false claims face massive defamation lawsuits from the voting machines companies and election workers at the centre of them.

Obstruction

The crime of obstruction of an official proceeding has already been brought against hundreds of people in connection with the attack on the US Capitol on 6 January 2021.

The House select committee and a federal judge who was involved in cases stemming from its inquiry previously argued that there is evidence that Mr Trump sought to corruptly obstruct the certification of electoral college votes in Congress  a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison, if convicted.

Then-President Trump exploited the violence at the Capitol, fuelled by his ongoing and baseless narrative that the election was stolen from him, by calling on lawmakers to pause the certification of the election results, according to the indictment.

Conspiracy to defraud the United States

Mr Trumps efforts through his legal team and his inner circle to block the certification of Mr Bidens victory in states that he lost, while falsely claiming widespread voter fraud and manipulation had stolen the election from him, form the basis for that charge in the federal indictment against him.

The former president also is charged under this statute in the Mar-a-Lago documents case, where he is accused of using a lawyer to lie to the Justice Department.

The indictment outlines Mr Trumps efforts to push election officials in battleground states that he lost  Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin  to subvert election outcomes, then advance a bogus alternate elector scheme to transmit false slates of electors to Congress.

In July, Michigan attorney general Dana Nessel charged 16 fake electors in that state, marking the first criminal charges brought against so-called alternate electors who sought to overturn 2020 results. In December, prosecutors in Nevada also brought criminal charges against several state officials involved with the scheme.

Mr Trump allegedly leveraged the Justice Department to promote the scheme and pressured Mr Pence to fraudulently alter the elections outcome by rejecting the results on January 6, according to the federal indictment.

Conspiracy against rights

A crime of conspiracy against rights invokes Section 241 of Title 18 of US Code, a law that dates back to bedrock civil rights protections in the Reconstruction era in the aftermath of the Civil War. It carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years.

Recommended Why Trump is charged under a civil rights law used to prosecute KKK terror

It was among criminal codes under the Enforcement Acts, also known as the Ku Klux Klan Acts, designed to protect Americans civil rights enshrined under then-newly enacted 13th, 14th and 15th amendments  allowing the federal government to protect the rights of enfranchised Black people to vote, hold office, serve on juries and receive equal protection under the law.

Section 241 criminalises conspiracies to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate any person from exercising such rights.

Is there a case for insurrection?

After delivering remarks to a rally of his supporters while a joint session of Congress convened to certify 2020 election results, a speech that allegedly incited his supporters to storm the Capitol, then-President Trump stood by for 187 minutes before he told them to go home.

The House select committee unanimously agreed that Mr Trump should be charged for inciting an insurrection and giving aid or comfort to insurrectionists  a rare and severe charge that prosecutors will approach only with extreme caution, if they decide to bring it at all.

A conviction on that charge mandates a sentence of up to 10 years in prison. It is not included in the indictment against him and none of the more than 1,000 people arrested in connection with the attack are facing this charge.

Mr Trump faced lawsuits in more than a dozen states challenging his eligibility for office under the scope of the 14th Amendment, which prohibits anyone who has sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution and engaged in insurrection or rebellion from holding public office.

The amendment  issued in the aftermath of the US Civil War to bar former Confederates from office and ensure equal protection under the law  does not require a conviction of insurrection, nor does it define what it means or what it means to engage in one.

On 4 March, the day Mr Trump was initially set to stand trial for his attempts to overturn his 2020 loss, the US Supreme Court determined that states cannot unilaterally disqualify candidates for federal elections, a job that can only be done by Congress, according to the high court.

The justices did not address the question at the heart of the case, which revolves around whether then-President Trump engaged in insurrection by fuelling a mob that stormed the US Capitol.

This story was initially published on 19 July, 2022 and has since been updated with developments.
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Former president Donald Trumps lawyer implied that Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh should overturn efforts to keep Mr Trump off the ballot as a favour for the former president supporting him during his confirmation process.

Alina Habba, Mr Trumps attorney, spoke on Sean Hannitys Fox News show on Thursday evening to explain how Mr Trumps legal team formally asked that the Supreme Court overturn a ruling from the Colorado Supreme Court that found him constitutionally ineligible to appear on the ballot this year.

I think it should be a slam dunk in the Supreme Court, Ms Habba said. I have faith in them. You know, people like Kavanaugh, who the president fought for, who the president went through hell to get into place. He'll step up.

Mr Trump nominated Mr Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court in 2018 and continued to support him even as he faced accusations during of sexual assault, which Mr Kavanaugh vehemently denied.

In addition, Mr Trump attacked Christine Blasey Ford, who accused Mr Kavanaugh of sexual assault when she and Ms Ford were teenagers.

I have no doubt that, if the attack on Dr Ford was as bad as she says, charges would have been immediately filed with local Law Enforcement Authorities by either her or her loving parents. I ask that she bring those filings forward so that we can learn date, time, and place! Mr Trump said in 2018.

Mr Trump, who also faced numerous sexual assault allegations during the 2016 presidential campaign, defended Mr Kavanaugh at a rally at the time.

And a mans life is in tatters, a mans life is shattered, his wife is shattered, his daughters, who are beautiful and incredible young kids Mr Trump said in 2018. They destroy people. They want to destroy people.

In December, the Colorado Supreme Court determined that Mr Trump was ineligible to appear on the ballot because Section 3 of the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution prohibits anyone who engaged in insurrection or rebellion from holding public office.

The court claimed that Mr Trump engaged in an insurrection when he incited and fomented a riot at the US Capitol on January 6.

Following her appearance, Ms Habba was slammed for her remarks, which were described as bonkers and unprofessional.

Alina Habba saying the quid pro quo part out loud here, wrote MSNBC legal analyst Katie Phang.

CNN host Phil Mattingly also chimed in. If a Democrat said that about the Justice Department or Merrick Garland or fill-in-the-blank here, there would be an absolute implosion. Thats bonkers, he said.

Shes saying the quiet part out loud, added CNN panelist Jon Avlon. Shes saying that Brett Kavanaugh will step up and side with the president because he appointed him. That goes against every basic idea of law and independence of the judiciary. And frankly, it puts Kavanaugh in a bit of a box.

Yet another example of Habba demonstrating how unprofessional she is as an attorney, national security lawyer Mark Zaid added.
The government of Paraguay still seems determined to restore state-owned service provider Corporacion Paraguaya de Comunicaciones (Copaco) to something like profitability, despite a number of failed attempts in the past.

It is not downplaying the problems Copaco faces, however. President Santiago Pena, quoted by the governments news service, has described Copaco as practically bankrupt.

It probably doesnt help that Rodrigo Benito Ferreira, who was appointed to run the company four months ago, has now been replaced. New incumbent Oscar Starks job wont be easy; he says that Copaco loses 500 million guaranies (about US$69,000) a day.

Long-standing issues relating to overstaffing appear to be ongoing, with approximately US$1.92 million allocated every month to wages for the 2,850 employees, plus another US$275,105 for the social security agency. These costs, according to Stark, are unsustainable.

And thats not all. The BNamericas news service says that the company has accumulated debt equivalent to US$112 million, most of it involving payments to suppliers.

The new Copaco head plans to draw up measures to be taken within two weeks; these will focus on a sharp reduction in spending. Privatisation  which was attempted in 2002 but failed in the middle of a banking scandal  will not be on the drawing board, given the presidents belief that there is an important role for telecommunications in the countrys digital agenda.

He suggests in particular that Copaco, which owns a national 18,000 kilometre fibre optic network, may support the provision of fibre optics for the educational sector.

The money required is unlikely to come from service provision any time soon, however. Copacos fixed telephony service has only 127,000 subscribers; most of the countrys six million inhabitants uses mobile. Copaco does have a mobile unit but this is also losing money and has to compete with big names in the private sector like Tigo Paraguay (Millicom), Claro Paraguay (America Movil) and Personal Paraguay (Telecom Argentina).

The bottom line is that plans to revive the company, which may include a cash injection, will need to make it much more competitive and efficient, which, so far, has proved difficult.
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Donald Trump and his co-defendants in a sprawling civil case alleging years of fraud within his real estate empire should be forced to pay more than $370m and effectively barred from doing business in New York, according to the states attorney general.

Several lengthy final briefs submitted to New York County Supreme Court on Friday summarise arguments from Mr Trumps attorneys as well as Attorney General Letitia Jamess long-running case and arguments against the former president and his chief associates, who faced a 44-day trial stemming from her blockbuster lawsuit against them.

The filings arrive one week before closing arguments in the case. Judge Arthur Engoron is expected to issue a decision by the end of January.

The judges pretrial ruling effectively ordered the dissolution of Mr Trumps New York-based real estate empire, what the former president has labelled the corporate death penalty against him.

That order has been put on hold pending appeal while the trial played out in lower Manhattan.

On Friday, Ms Jamess office added several other sanctions in her request, including lifetime injunctions that bar Mr Trump and former Trump Organization executives Allen Weisselberg and Jeffrey McConney from participating in the real estate industry in New York State or from serving as an officer or director of any New York corporation or other legal entity are necessary and appropriate.

Evidence collected by her office, expert witness testimony and courtroom testimony from Mr Trump himself, as well as his adult sons and co-defendants Donald Trump Jr and Eric Jr, is conclusive, according to the filing.

The evidence proves numerous overt acts by Weisselberg, McConney, Trump, Donald Trump Jr, and Eric Trump in furtherance of the conspiracy to falsify business records and the conspiracy to issue false financial statements, the brief states.

Ms Jamess lawsuit accuses Mr Trump and his co-defendants of defrauding banks and other financial institutions by inflating his net worth and assets on annual statements of financial conditions  documents at the heart of the case  to secure favourable financing terms for some of his star properties.

Judge Engorons pretrial judgment found the defendants liable for fraud, leaving a trial to determine what they owe and whether the attorney general succeeds on six other claims against them, including insurance fraud and conspiracy.

Ms James initially sought $250m in so-called ill-gotten gains that Mr Trump and others received as a result of favourable financing terms.

Her new figure in the sanctions outlined on Friday stems from testimony from a star financial expert witness who claimed that Deutsche Bank, the former presidents former chief lender, lost tens of millions of dollars in interest that lenders should have charged if they based those terms on financial documents that accurately captured Mr Trumps net worth.

Defendants reaped hundreds of millions of dollars in ill-gotten gains through their unlawful conduct, according to the filing from Ms Jamess office.

That misconduct occurred on the watch of the Trump Organizations current officials, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr, who perpetuated the scheme to inflate those financial documents, the attorney generals office stated.

And on their watch, the companys then-chief financial officer Mr Weisselberg and controller Mr McConney confessed to committing multiple acts relating to tax fraud, and a jury convicted the company for that same criminal conduct.

They were allowed to remain on the payroll and were rewarded with lucrative severance packages that restricted their ability to cooperate with law enforcement investigations, rather than immediately terminating their employment, according to the attorney generals office.

Ms Jamess office has asked the judge to appoint an independent monitor to closely oversee the company for at least the next five years and to impose statewide permanent industry bars against Mr Trump, Mr Weisselberg and Mr McConney, with five-year bans against Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr.

A filing from an attorney for the Trump family argues that the trial failed to show that Mr Trump and his sons had anything more than a peripheral knowledge or involvement in the creation, preparation, or use of those allegedly fraudulent statements of financial condition.

Accordingly, the court should render judgment in favor of Donald Trump, Jr. and Eric Trump, dismissing this action against them in its entirety, according to a filing from attorney Clifford Robert.

Ms Jamess office has woefully failed to prove her case and is not entitled to any of the relief sought in this action, defendants attorneys argued.

Any errors in accounting happen all the time and, if they do not indicate fraud such as concealment, forgery, or deceit, then there is no basis to determine that these [statements of financial condition] are fraudulent, and any misstatements are just accidental errors, attorneys wrote.

Attorneys will return to Judge Engorons courtroom on 11 January to deliver closing arguments in the case, which Mr Trumps attorneys have repeatedly tried to toss out entirely.

The case is among several legal challenges facing Mr Trump as he seeks the Republican nomination for president, and one that targets the narrative of his financial success that built up his political persona in the first place.

Mr Trump, who is not obligated to attend any of the proceedings, has sat with his attorneys for several days of the trial. He has also used the news cameras pointed outside the courts doors to rage against the case, his political opponents, the judge, the attorney general, witnesses and court staff.

Judge Engoron issued two gag orders in the case after Mr Trump and his attorneys targeted his chief clerk, and a state appeals court upheld the orders after the lower Manhattan courthouse was flooded with death threats.
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Britain condemned Russias decision to use North Korea-sourced ballistic missiles on Ukraine in recent attacks by Vladimir Putins forces during its continuing invasion.

The UK strongly condemns Russias decision to use ballistic missiles sourced from North Korea in recent attacks against Ukraine, the UKs foreign office spokesperson said in a statement.

We urge North Korea to cease its arms supply to Russia, the statement said.

The White House on Thursday confirmed North Koreas shipment of ballistic missiles and launchers to Russia for use in invasion of Ukraine, citing newly declassified intelligence. Russia has fired some of these missiles into Ukraine.

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said the US intelligence had indicated that Pyongyang had recently supplied the weapons  including several launchers and ballistic missiles  to the Russian government, which launched at least one of them into Ukrainian territory on 30 December.

Mr Kirby said Russias use of North Korean weaponry is evidence that Moscow has become increasingly isolated on the world stage and stressed that the US believes Russia will use additional North Korean missiles to target Ukraines civilian infrastructure and to kill innocent Ukrainian civilians.

These North Korean ballistic missiles have capable ranges of approximately 900 kilometres thats about 550 miles. This is a significant and concerning escalation in the DPRKs support for Russia, he said.

The UK Foreign Office spokesperson said North Korea is subject to a robust sanctions regime.

"The UK will continue to work with its partners to ensure that North Korea pays a high price for supporting Russias illegal war in Ukraine."

This comes as the South Korean defence ministry called for an immediate halt of weapons dealing between North Korea and Russia.

The US intelligence finding backs South Koreas assessment that North Korea has increased its cooperation with Moscow.

In November, South Koreas military warned of suspicion that North Korea had sent an unspecified number of short-range ballistic missiles, anti-tank missiles and portable anti-air missiles to Russia, in addition to rifles, rocket launchers, mortars and shells.

The Biden administration has repeatedly pointed out that Mr Putin is becoming increasingly reliant on North Korea and Iran, for the arms it needs to fight its war against Ukraine and has disclosed intelligence findings that it says show as much.

Satellite images from 5 October showed a dramatic and unprecedented level of freight railcar traffic at the Tumangang rail facility, according to Beyond Parallel, a website run by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Approximately 73 railcars were visible in the images from last week, whereas previous satellite pictures over the past five years showed about 20 railcars at this facility at the most.

Additionally, the US will raise this with the United Nations Security Council and impose additional sanctions against those facilitating the arms deal.

Mr Kirby also said Russian officials continue to make efforts to buy ballistic missiles from Iran.

Russia could receive Iranian short-range ballistic missiles as early as spring 2024, according to unidentified US officials, reported The Wall Street Journal. It added that officials do not believe Russia and Iran have finalised the deal yet.
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An Australian couple were forced to pay more than 2,500 to fly to London after they mistakenly used a nickname on one of their plane tickets.

Phil and Kate, from Brisbane, bought two return tickets to London for 4,800 Australian dollars on a travel website named StudentUniverse.

But as they tried to board the flight they were pulled aside and reprimanded because Phil had booked his wifes ticket under Kate, but the name on her passport reads Katherine, Australias Nine Network reported.

It was an administrative error  I think I married Kate in church and not Katherine, Phil said.

Virgin initially told the aggrieved couple that they could alter the booking for a small administrative fee.

But with just minutes to take off booking agent StudentUniverse told them they would need to cancel Katherines ticket and buy a new one under the correct name at a cost of AU$4,700 (2,468).

They didnt have time  that was their reasoning  to issue a name change on the ticket. But they had time to sell us a new ticket, Phil told the programme adding he felt exploited by the fee being charged.

Katherine added: I begged them on the phone: Please, you cant do that. Thats all our holiday money gone in a flash.

A StudentUniverse spokesperson told Business Insider it could only go along with cancellation policies set by airlines.

In this instance, name changes were not permitted, meaning the only option was to cancel and rebook the ticket. As we were only made aware by the customer of their error within 3 hours of the flight departure, this led to further airline imposed charges which could have been avoided by acting earlier, they said.
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After several years in which travel was severely restricted, 2023 was the year that holidays were back in full force  and 2024 is set to be even more jetset. UK travel agents association Abta has predicted that international travel will continue to grow in 2024, with passenger numbers achieving or surpassing pre-pandemic levels.

Though in many quarters tourist-starved destinations will be giving thanks for an uptick in visitors once more, in others, the balance has tipped swiftly from just enough to overwhelming.

The blight of overtourism, one of the defining words of 2018, seems to have returned. Places struggling under the weight of their own popularity have once again been forced to implement strategies aimed at curbing visitors, from Barcelona reducing the number of cruise ships that can call at its central port to Venice saying it will finally introduce new taxes for day trippers.

Aside from visiting a hotspot outside of peak season and going at a quieter time of the year instead, another way to ensure you dont put more pressure on an oversubscribed beauty spot or city could be by swapping it for an undersubscribed one.

Want canals? Venice isnt the only place to see them. Dream of visiting Incan ruins? There are far, far more options out there than Machu Picchu.

Here are some ideas of alternatives to help you travel more sustainably in 2024.

Read more on sustainable travel:

Swap Amsterdam for Utrecht

Quaint canals and gabled houses typify Utrecht as well as Amsterdam (Getty Images)

Often seen as the poster child for overtourism, the Dutch capital was so sick of lairy visitors that in March 2023 it launched a campaign to discourage disruptive tourists. It was a resounding success, with the number of arrivals from the UK down 22 per cent compared to 2019. While Amsterdam is still keen to welcome the right kind of tourist (no stag dos, please), there are plenty of other Netherlands alternatives where you can enjoy traditional gabled houses, peaceful canals and top-notch museums and restaurants. The city of Utrecht is just a 25-minute trainride south of Amsterdam, and is replete with classic Dutch architecture, waterways and narrow, historic streets. Plus it has its own Medieval centre to rival the capitals.

Swap Venice for Genoa

Venice frequently hits the headlines due to locals complaining that the city is overwhelmed by visitors. Massive cruise ships and daytrippers are particular issues, leading the Italian city to ban cruise ships from the Venice lagoon in 2021, to announce plans to ban loudspeakers and large tourist groups, and to implement a 5 fee for those on daytrips entering the historic centre from summer 2024. While Venices beguiling mix of Venetian Gothic architecture, unknowable warren of streets and sublime network of canals is one-of-a-kind, if what you want is an authentic Italian fix minus the tourist hordes, oft-overlooked Genoa should fit the bill. This handsome port city (the birthplace of pesto, FYI) has a low-key charm, its own maze of narrow caruggi alleyways, and splendid Renaissance palaces alongside modern silhouhettes designed by Genoa-born starchitect Renzo Piano.

Swap Machu Picchu for Choquequirao

Swapping Machu Picchu for Choquequirao means no crowds (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

When people think of Incan ruins, they think of Perus Machu Picchu, the 15th-century citadel set high in the Andes. But the site was so overrun with visitors that in 2017 it was forced to introduce a ticketing system; in 2019, the rules were made even stricter, with tourists required to select specific time slots and arrive within one hour of them or risk being turned away. Travellers can still scratch the itch by opting to see Choquequirao instead, an Incan site in southern Perus Andes thats very similar in structure and architectural style to Machu Picchu. Only reachable on foot or by mule, Choque, as its known by locals, features ceremonial halls, chambers that once held mummies, terraces, and hundreds of buildings that housed Incan people.

Swap Barcelona for Valencia

Valencia is another seaside Spanish city bursting with charm (Getty Images)

Another European destination where locals have suffered at the hands of overtourism, with rents skyrocketing as residents were pushed out to make way for more lucrative holiday accommodation, Barcelona has taken various measures to crack down on the too many visitors issue. The latest was the decision to cut the number of cruise ships able to dock at its central port from 10 to seven. Plus, from 2024 its increased the municipal tourist tax from 5.25 to 6.75 per night for guests staying in five-star hotels, with the sum paid to Barcelonas Generalitat and the City Council. If what youre after is a slice of Spanish culture on the coast where you can combine a city break with hitting the beach, simply head slightly further south to Valencia. Spains third city blends laidback charm with a magnificent old town, incredible and affordable eats (including copious paella), an enviable seaside location and a wealth of museums and galleries in its City of Arts and Sciences.

Swap Dubrovnik for Zadar

An aerial view of Zadar and its marina (Getty Images)

Perhaps the best example of a popular TV series wreaking havoc on a destination, Dubrovnik, with its beautifully preserved, Unesco-listed walled city, has suffered from overpopularity since it played a starring role as a backdrop in Game of Thrones. Its another spot where cruises are a problem; in 2019 the Croatian city capped the number of ships that can dock each day to two, carrying a maximum of 5,000 passengers between them. And in 2023, a Respect the City campaign introduced new measures for visitors, including bans on walking around in swimwear, driving without special permission, eating and drinking around cultural monuments and climbing on the city walls. Other Croatian coastal cities exist, however. Take Zadar on the Dalmatian coast: its Croatias oldest city, with ancient Roman ruins, Venetian-era cathedrals, chess board castles, blissfully quiet national parks, vineyards, and an array of nearby idyllic islands to hop on a ferry and discover.

Croatia's tourism industry returns to pre-pandemic levels

Swap Angkor Wat for Beng Mealea

Beng Mealea has overgrown, otherworldly structures to discover (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Cambodias famed temple complex, officially the largest religious structure in the world, attracts around a whopping 1,000 to 1,500 tourists per day. The tourism boom led to informal settlements springing up, causing damage to the local environment by producing rubbish and overusing water resources. While spectacular, Angkor Wat is not the only Cambodian set of temples worth your time. Located 40km east of the main group of temples at Angkor and 70km outside Siem Reap, on the ancient royal highway to Preah Khan Kompong Svay, 12th-century Beng Mealea receives a fraction of the visitors. Its built to the same floor plan as Angkor Wat and features dark chambers, a well-preserved library and intricate carvings.

Swap Santorini for Syros

Ermoupoli, the main port of Syros island (Lucy Thackray)

The star of Greeces Cyclades islands, Santorini, with its white-washed, blue-roofed buildings, is mobbed by snap-happy tourists in peak season keen to capture the perfect Instagram shot. It subsequently struggles with the sheer volume of visitors; a small island, it nevertheless receives around two million visitors a year, making it one of the most-visited destinations in Greece. But other, lesser-spoken-of islands in the Cyclades have all the Santorini-style charm minus the crowds. One example is Syros: it boasts a picturesque port, Ermoupoli; neoclassical architecture; a burgeoning farm-to-fork food scene; and tranquil coves for boat adventures. Plus its just a half-hour ferry ride away from Mykonos, or two to four hours by sea from Athens port.

Read more on The Independents collection of flight-free trips
Ron DeSantis deflected a question on gun control from an Iowa resident just one day after a school shooting in Perry.

The Republican presidential candidate was asked what he would do about Americas problem with guns if he was to take office.

He was holding a campaign event 40 miles away from Thursdays shooting at Perry High School.

I think the student in Perry, he was not even eligible to have a firearm. So the question is, how did he get that? Mr DeSantis responded, before criticising the media for ignoring some shootings.

On stuff like Chicago, and some of this inner-city stuff, they get a slap on the wrist.
An Iowa student said he initially thought a shooting at Perry High School on Thursday, 4 January, was a "prank."

The pupil, named Carlos, told NBC News he was outside the building when he heard bangs and saw children running for safety.

"One of our teachers started screaming at us and that's how we knew it was serious," he added.

One student died and five others were injured after a 17-year-old student opened fire on Thursday morning, around 7:37am local time.
Rishi Sunak was heckled as he left a cafe in Greater Manchester on Friday morning.

The prime minister was walking out of La Dolce Vita Restaurant in Marple after meeting Tory party members during his visit to the North West.

Resign! one person could be heard shouting across the road, as others booed Mr Sunak.

Marple is located in the Hazel Grove constituency - a seat currently held by the Conservatives.

According to the Manchester Evening News, Mr Sunak answered questions about the economy, the Ukraine war and the Middle East while at the cafe.
Tesco appeared to suffer a major outage online and in-store on Thursday evening (4 January).

Customers trying to log in to shop online were met with a message that read: "There's a problem at our end, but we're trying to fix it right now. Sorry for any inconvenience. Please come back later and try again.

"Thanks for your patience."

Several social media users also claimed that they were unable to checkout - with one complaining that they "left empty-handed" after spending two hours shopping in-store.

"Cant get into app or website to finish my shop," another X user said.

The website DownDetector saw a spike in reports of a Tesco outage shortly after 9pm.

Tesco provided the following statement on Friday morning: Weve fixed a technical issue that impacted customers using our website and app on Thursday evening. Were sorry for the inconvenience this caused.
A group subsidiary also sold 235 acres of estate lands at Castletown House in Co Kildare

The sale in 2022 of a prime south Dublin development site helped to boost the profits that year of the company behind the Maxol chain that is controlled by the McMullan family.

A vehicle co-owned by two of the McMullan brothers that forms part of the wider Maxol group also sold 235 acres of land around the historic Castletown House at Celbridge, Co Kildare, in 2022.

The near one-acre site in Sandymount, previously home to a Maxol forecourt and a car dealership, was put on the market in 2019 with an 11.5m price tag. It had planning permission for almost 90 apartments.

It was bought in 2022 by an Irish unit of British property development group Royalton.

The State made a number of approaches to buy the Castletown House land, but it was sold on the open market in 2022 by the McMullans Janus Securities vehicle. Janus Securities is also part-owned by Patrick Rhatigan.

The land was jointly bought by two local Co Kildare developers, Killross Properties and Springwood, for a reported 5m. Land Registry records have not been updated to reflect the new ownership, however.

Consolidated accounts filed before Christmas for the McMullan brothers group  including the Maxol chain and Janus Securities  show that its profit after tax surged to 37.8m in 2022 from 14.1m the year before.

The performance of the Maxol chain undoubtedly benefited from a return to more normalised trading following the pandemic.

The strong underlying trading performance was augmented by the disposal of a single valuable property for development purposes, directors note in the accounts.

The sale of the Sandymount site was the valuable asset referred to.

Castletown House and its estate was built between 1722 and 1729 for the speaker of the Irish House of Commons, William Conolly. The imposing house and some of the land in the demesne is owned by the OPW. Some of the land is owned by the local council.

Janus Securities has retained ownership of the disused Leixlip Gate Lodge bordering the Castletown demesne. Just before Christmas, the firm applied for planning permission to restore the premises.

Patrick ODonovan, the Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, noted in the Dail last summer that the OPW had a long-standing policy to reunite the Castletown demesne lands.

The OPW sought, on several occasions, to purchase the lands from Janus Securities, including when the lands were offered for sale on the open market in 2022, he noted. However, despite the very best efforts of the OPW, the State was out-bid in the process.

The sale has led to controversy as locals who used the land that was owned by Janus Securities for recreational purposes were subsequently denied road access by the new owners.

However, in October, a director of Killross Properties said that the firm had told the OPW that it is prepared to open negotiations regarding a potential sale of the land to the State agency.

The elderly McMullan brothers have amassed fortunes from their Maxol chain, which has been owned by the family since it was established in 1920.

One of the brothers, Malcolm McMullan, died in 2022, leaving a 19m estate. His brothers, Noel and Max and other family members continue to own the business.
The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has issued a new white paper calling on OTT players who generate huge amounts of traffic to share network upgrade costs with Indian telcos to make the telecoms industry more sustainable.

According to media reports, the paper looks at capex and data traffic in India between 2014 and 2023 to demonstrate the impact of LTG traffic on networks. The paper also analyses five possible models for resolving the problem, but ultimately concludes that the most sustainable model is one where OTT players share infrastructure costs.

The paper also cites a study conducted by Analysys Mason (and commissioned by COAI) which estimates Indian telcos will spend up to $75 billion on 5G networks alone until 2035.

COAI director general Lt. Gen. Dr. S P Kochhar said in a statement that OTT players  described in the paper as large traffic generators (LTGs)  pay no direct fees for using telecoms infrastructure whilst eating up a considerable amount of bandwidth.

This disparity hinders the operators' ability to invest in network upgrades and expansion such as launch of 5G services in India  ultimately impacting service quality for consumers, he said in the statement.

This also gives OTT players an unfair advantage as they make money from both end users and advertisers, while telcos mainly have the former as a revenue generator, he added.

Kochhar said further its unrealistic and unfair for OTT players to argue that telcos can simply raise end-user prices to make up the cost increase.

The COAI white paper is the latest salvo in a long-running debate between telcos and OTT players (not just in India but most of the world) about who should shoulder the cost of LTG traffic.

In India, the Broadband India Forum (BIF)  which represents Big Tech companies like Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft  has long argued that its unfair for OTTs to pay for network rollouts when they have no say in how much telcos spend on spectrum and equipment. The BIF argues that telcos do earn money from all that extra traffic and if anything should be sharing that revenue with OTTs.

Acknowledging that this is not a new debate, Kochhar said the white paper intends to present a logical argument based on facts and statistics to make the case for requiring OTTs to share infrastructure costs.
Mick Foley, head of telecom solutions at HCS, with Sean Hegarty, HCS head of operations

IT services provider HCS has invested 1.1m in the launch of its new dedicated telecom business.

The Waterford firm said that it expects the new division, which is known as HCS Telecom, to record revenues of 1.3m this year. The new telecoms business is also set to employ eight people by the end of the year.

The decision to launch a new arm of the business follows a rise in demand from customers looking to migrate from legacy phone systems to cloud-based unified communications (UC).

The new division will provide companies in Ireland and the UK with cloud phone solutions featuring integrated voice, video, messaging and file sharing on a secure platform.

HCS pointed to a rise in interest in such solutions due to an increase in remote and hybrid working practices, as well as the phasing out of traditional copper wires in favour of fibre.

In the past two years, HCS has added 1,200 new users and 100 new customers to its existing telecom client base. The firm estimates that its technology enables around 170,000 calls to be made every month.

The 1.1m investment includes the upgrade of the companys Irish-based data centre, including enhanced servers, backup and security. This improvement is set to boost capacity as customer numbers are expected to rise.

The new business will be led by Mick Foley, the companys current head of telecom solutions. Mr Foley previously led Fixaphone, a provider of business telephone systems, which was acquired by HCS a year ago.

Legacy phone systems are static, which means that organisations dont have the ability to work flexibly in an increasingly decentralised workplace, Mr Foley said.

"With this new division, we aim to address this challenge and enable more organisations to work from anywhere, safe in the knowledge that they are supported by a range of reliable and secure solutions," he added.

In September, the business, which is led by Neil Phelan, announced plans to add 15 jobs as the Waterford-based firm expects revenues to rise by 2.5m in the next two years.

Last year, HCS expanded its partnership with global cybersecurity business Fortinet, with the growth in revenues expected as a result of this enhanced collaboration.

As a Fortinet partner, HCS provides cybersecurity services, including firewalls and cloud security.
The Schitts Creek creator directs and stars in this ambitious comic drama about a man who struggles to cope after his husbands sudden death

Dan Levy is a sophisticated man. With his father, Eugene Levy, he co-created and starred in Schitts Creek, one of the cleverest sitcoms of recent times, in which a super-wealthy family was forced to slum it in the real world.

Mr Levy is also a Europhile, and the chicest quarters of London and Paris form an alluring backdrop to this, his debut feature film.

He is Marc, an illustrator and artist who lives in boho splendour with his husband, Oliver (Luke Evans), in a vast London townhouse. Marc is happy, but feels somewhat occluded by Oliver, a charismatic writer whose books have spawned a multimillion-dollar movie franchise.

But everything changes when the jet-setting Oliver takes a taxi to the airport and is killed in a car crash right outside their house.

Luke Evans as Oliver (centre) in Good Grief. Photo: Netflix  2023

Marc is devastated and takes to the bed. But there are good friends around: Thomas (Himesh Patel) and Sophie (Ruth Negga), who do their best to distract Marc by dragging him out to bars and clubs. And a year later, hes just beginning to emerge from his long depression when he finds an unopened Christmas card his late husband gave him just before his death. In it, Oliver explains that hes met someone else.

Olivers lawyer, Imelda (Celia Imrie), then tells him that Oliver had bought an apartment in Paris: his husband, it seems, had been living a secret life. Where does this leave Marc, and what should he do with his grief?

What am I supposed to say to my friends? he wonders, who have wasted a year of their lives trying to help me through this?

Initially, he doesnt tell them anything and instead asks them to come to Paris with him for the weekend. There, he will confront the contradictions of his relationship with Oliver, and take a leap with someone new.

British critics have compared Good Grief to Richard Curtis romcoms, and certainly Sophie and Thomas seem exactly the sort of ditsy but interesting mates that might pitch up in Four Weddings, or Notting Hill. Thomas makes a virtue of his grumpiness but has a secret sorrow: he once loved Marc, and may not be over it. And Sophie is a histrionic hedonist who uses alcohol to mask her deep unhappiness. Im a lot, she says at one point. Shes not wrong.

Marc ruminates, when talking to the lawyer Imelda, about how grief is created by what he calls muscle memory  that is, the expectation of feeling warm things about a person no longer living. Its a nice speech, promising real insights into the nightmare of protracted grief, but they do not come, as Levys film falls between the high stools of serious drama and romantic comedy.

Dan Levy as Marc and Arnaud Valois as Theo in Good Grief. Photo: Netflix  2023

The writing is a little stiff to begin with, and Luke Evans Oliver seems more of an idea than a person. But once Levys screenplay settles down, there are some dramatically satisfying moments. David Bradley, who appears only briefly, gives a touching portrayal of Olivers dad, who during a moving funeral oration reveals his regrets about his relationship with his son. And Celia Imrie has a wonderful scene in which she reveals her own torrid experience with the grieving process.

Himesh Patel is very good as doubting Thomas, and its nice to see Ruth Negga take on an overtly comic role: her commitment to her characters dizziness is total, but shes better when it comes time for Sophie to bare her soul.

Levys backdrops are very handsome, and he chooses his locations well: a nocturnal trip to the Orangerie to see Monets water lilies reminded me of something out of mid-period Woody Allen.

But theres an inconvenient truth here that remains unacknowledged  wealth really takes the edge off grief, and its Mayfair, not Peckham, that Marc mooches about in, the Champs-Elysees, not Barbes.

Good Grief has honourable intentions, and while it lacks the spit and grit that might have kept it on the ground, there may be interesting things to come from Daniel Levy.

And if your aim is to make a romantic dramedy, there are worse examples to follow than Richard Curtis and Woody Allen.

Available on Netflix from Friday 5 January.
Couple accused of forcing their way into house and beating up a mum and daughter have case adjourned
David Amah (18) charged with murder of gunman Tristan Sherry after Christmas Eve restaurant attack

Sherry (26) was killed after he opened fire, hitting Jason Hennessy Senior (48), who died in hospital on ThursdayAmah is the second person charged with the murder of Sherry, while Wayne Deegan has been charged with producing a knife, assault causing harm and violent disorder

Jason Hennessy Snr died in the Mater Hospital after his life-support machine was switched off

Andrew Phelan Fri 5 Jan 2024 at 13:15







A second man has been charged with murdering a gunman who was tackled and fatally assaulted after he opened fire in a steakhouse in Dublin on Christmas Eve.
Third man charged over steakhouse killing of gunman Tristan Sherry on Christmas Eve

Gangland criminal Tristan Sherry had opened fire in the restaurant in Blanchardstown, Dublin.

Tristan Sherry

Niall Donald Fri 5 Jan 2024 at 10:22







The third man arrested in connection with the killing of gunman Tristan Sherry is due in court later this morning after being charged by gardai.
The fatality is the seventh death on Irish roads since New Years Day.An elderly woman (80s) died in a collision between a car and a minibus in Co Meath this afternoonA man died in a road collision in Co Mayo this morning between two cars

The location of today's collision in Meath.

A woman pedestrian (20s) in Donegal has become the seventh road fatality since New Years Day.

A woman pedestrian aged in her 20s has died following a collision with a car in Co Donegal this evening.

The fatality is the third road death of the day on Irish roads and brings the number of people killed on the roads in 2024 to seven, following collisions in Meath, Mayo, Kerry, Cavan and Kildare.

This evenings incident occurred on the N56 Road at Illistrin, Co Donegal and involved a car and a pedestrian.

The pedestrian, a woman aged in her 20s, has been pronounced deceased.

Her body remains at the scene.

No other injuries have been reported.

The N56 road is currently closed between Letterkenny and Kilmacrennan with local diversions in place. A technical examination of the scene will take place tomorrow morning and the road will remain closed until then.

Meanwhile earlier this afternoon a woman died following a collision between a car and a minibus in Co Meath.

Gardai and emergency services attended the scene on the R156 at Scarriff Bridge, Batterstown, at around 12pm.

The location of today's collision in Meath.

The female driver of the car, a woman in her 80s, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the minibus, a male in his 50s, and a young passenger were conveyed to Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar, for treatment for injuries believed to be non-life-threatening.

Gardai are appealing for witnesses.

In a separate incident, a man died following a collision between two cars in Co Mayo this morning.

The incident occurred at about 7:45am on the R331 at Belladaff, Tagheen, near Claremorris.

The driver and sole occupant of one of the cars, a man in his 30s, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The female driver of the other car (20s) was taken to Mayo University Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The R331 is currently closed between Claremorris and Hollymount while a technical examination by forensic collision investigators is being conducted.

Meanwhile, the woman killed in a collision in Glenflesk on Thursday evening between a car and a truck has been named locally as Mary Walsh.

Ms Walsh, a native of Faha, was 52 years old and was the driver of the car.

The late Gary Murphy

Motorcyclist Gary Murphy (48) was killed outside Cavan town on Tuesday.

Mr Murphy was originally from Ballinagh, Cavan. Locals described him as an absolute gentleman and a pleasure to know.

Mr Murphy died following a collision involving a car and his motorcycle that occurred at approximately 3:10pm on Tuesday, on the main N55 Cavan to Ballinagh road at Corlurgan.

He was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Later on Tuesday evening, a woman in her 40s was killed and two children were seriously injured in a collision between a car and a van in Kildare.

The woman, who was the driver of the car, was pronounced dead at the scene while the two young children who were also travelling in the car were taken to Childrens Health Ireland (CHI) at Crumlin, where their conditions were described as serious but stable.

The male driver of the van was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Keith Higginbotham

On New Years Day, father-of-two Keith Higginbotham (27) was named as the first road fatality of 2024.

Mr Higginbotham of Blackditch, Nurney, Co Kildare, was a passenger in a car involved in a single vehicle collision between Kildare town and Newbridge on the M7 at Curraghfarm at 8.45pm.

The driver of the car, a man also aged in his 20s, was taken to Tallaght University Hospital, where his injuries were described by gardai as not life-threatening.

Two additional passengers, both also men in their 20s, did not require immediate hospital treatment.
Bishop William Lee, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore (Catholic Communications Office archive)

Bishop William Lee, the Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore has died.

Bishop Lee, who served as Bishop of Waterford and Lismore for twenty years passed away this morning, aged 82.

It is with great sadness and profound respect that I announce the passing of our beloved predecessor, Bishop William Lee, Bishop Lees successor, Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan said.

Bishop Lee dedicated his life to serving the Catholic Church and the people of the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore with firm commitment and passion, the bishop added.

Bishop Lee was born in Newport, Co Tipperary in 1941. He attended school at the Convent of Mercy National school, the Boys National school in Newport and then Rockwell College in Cashel.

In 1966, Bishop lee was ordained a priest after he studied for the priesthood in Saint Patricks College, Maynooth. He was later awarded a Doctorate in Canon Law in 1969.

Appointed curate in the parish of Finglas West in the Archdiocese of Dublin in 1969, he ministered there for two years.

After his work in Dublin and a short period of time in Rome where Bishop Lee studied at the Gregorian University in Rome, he was appointed Bursar and Professor of Philosophy at Saint Patricks College in Thurles.

He served as Chairperson of the Diocesan Catholic Marriage Advisory Council and was a member of the first National Executive of the Catholic Marriage Advisory Council in Ireland.

Bishop Lee also served on the Cork Regional Marriage Tribunal

He was appointed as President of Saint Patricks College in Thurles in 1987 before he was appointed Bishop of Waterford and Lismore by Pope Saint John Paul II in 1993.

During that time Bishop Lee was Secretary to the Irish Episcopal Conference for 15 years, from 1998 until 2013, when retired.

From 1993 until his retirement in 2013, Bishop Lee served as the Bishop of Waterford and Lismore with unwavering dedication and compassion, Bishop Cullinan said.

He worked tirelessly to ensure that the spiritual needs of the faithful were met and that the Church continued to be a beacon of hope and guidance for all.

His commitment to the people of this Diocese, his steadfast love for the Church and his wisdom and friendship will be sorely missed, the bishop added.

We ask for your prayers for the repose of his soul, and we give thanks for his many years of service to the Church and the people he served.
Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien said there are too many anti-EU MEPs in the European Parliament. Photo: Steve Humphreys

Housing Minister Darragh OBrien has hit out at MEPs Clare Daly and Mick Wallace over their views on Russia and China.

In an interview with the Irish Independent, Mr OBrien also criticised Sinn Fein for its MEP Chris MacManuss voting record at EU Parliament.

Mr OBrien, a TD for Dublin Fingal, has been selected as Fianna Fails director of European elections, which are set to be held in the summer.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - January 5th

I dont understand Clare Dalys position with regard to Russia and Ukraine, with regard to Iran, he said.

I find that quite disturbing actually. Mick Wallace in particular, his views in relation to China.

Mr OBrien said he actually likes Clare and has no beef with her.

Ive no beef with Clare. Im just making the general point and I think thats something people will look at, frankly, because thankfully, were a broadly positive country in relation to the EU.

We need people who are going to, you know, enunciate that, articulate that.

Neither Ms Daly nor Mr Wallace responded to requests for a response.

Mr OBrien also said Mr MacManuss record of voting in Europe is very, very strange in relation to Ukraine and Russia, where hes abstained, and voted against on many occasions.

I hope this campaign allows people to be more aware on what our MEPs are actually doing and what theyre voting on and are they representing our constituencies.

Mr MacManus previously voted against adding the violation of sanctions to a list of serious crimes at EU level, despite the party voting for it in the Dail, saying the move was rushed through EU Parliament.

He also voted against a European Parliament motion condemning the Hamas attack on Israel.

A Sinn Fein spokesperson said: Chris MacManus MEP has consistently voted to stand with Ukrainians suffering at the hands of an unjust war instigated by Vladimir Putin.

To suggest otherwise is disingenuous and frankly bizarre.

This is another desperate attempt by Minister Darragh OBrien to distract from his appalling record in failing to tackle the housing crisis.

Fianna Fail currently has MEPs Barry Andrews and Billy Kelleher, and Mr OBrien said the party wants to win a seat in the Midlands-North West and possibly another seat.

In Ireland South, Billy Kelleher, Margaret Murphy OMahony and Malcolm Byrne are seeking the party nod to run for Europe.

In the new constituency of Midlands-North West, Fianna Fail senators Lisa Chambers and Niall Blaney, TD Barry Cowen, and Pat The Cope Gallagher are seeking the party nod.

Sitting MEP Barry Andrews has been effectively selected in the Dublin constituency.

The party is currently working on its European manifesto to run a positive campaign.

We have too many anti-EU MEPs in the European Parliament, and Irish people, in the main  every poll is showing  are pro-European and they see the benefits of the European Union, Mr OBrien said.

Unfortunately, some of the people who are sent over there are effectively anti-EU or EU-critical and are taking positions on foreign policy that are at odds with the people here and we need to call it out during the campaign.
Junior minister Patrick ODonovan has written to senior ministers to voice concerns over the direction of the Governments flood policy.

He told coalition colleagues he was concerned by mounting pressure to abandon land-drainage practices.

Mr ODonovan is minister of state responsible for the Office of Public Works (OPW), which oversees much of the practice around land drainage.

He warned that any change carried risks for large swathes of the countryside.

However, Environment Minister Eamon Ryan wrote in reply: We cannot continue with the same land-use patterns as we have to date.

The letters were released under a Freedom of Information request as land use and drainage policies come under scrutiny in light of increasing extreme rainfall and flooding incidents.

Land altered to drain into waterways makes for better farmland and can safeguard some property, but it cannot hold sufficient rain to protect downstream communities from fast-flowing river floods. Drained land also emits carbon dioxide, while wetter land sequesters, or stores, CO2.

Mr ODonovan named the Citizens Assembly on Biodiversity Loss and the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment and Climate as sources of the pressure for policy change.

The Fine Gael TD for Limerick said they and other stakeholders were questioning the drainage practices on environmental grounds.

He asked that the OPW be given a role in policy development under the ongoing Land Use Review.

The review, headed by Mr Ryan, Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue, and junior minister for nature Malcolm Noonan, will make recommendations on using land in more environmentally sustainable ways.

The OPW has been asked to participate in the Technical Working Group on phase 2 of the Land Use Review and I would ask that the OPW would also be included on the policy development side, Mr ODonovan wrote.

Mr Ryan replied that he envisaged a role for the OPW, but warned: We have not always managed our land in a manner that is optimal for all of the demands placed on it and we cannot continue with the same land use patterns.

Mr ODonovan set out the history of state involvement in land drainage, beginning with the 1842 Drainage Act designed to improve 200,000 hectares for farming.

The 1945 Arterial Drainage Act then put the OPW in charge of developing almost 40 large-scale drainage schemes.

Mr ODonovan said those schemes provided drainage outfall for 242,800 hectares of farmland, plus flood protection for 77 towns and villages, 21,000 properties and 2,400km of roads.

The OPW has a statutory duty to maintain the schemes in proper repair and effective condition, he said.

However, the continued requirement for ongoing drainage of such lands is being questioned by a number of stakeholders.

Mr Ryan acknowledged conflicts between drainage practices and environmental objectives in the Land Use Review, Habitats Directive, Nature Restoration Law, Floods Directive and Water Framework Directive.

Identifying policies and measures to resolve such conflicts are within the scope of the second phase of the Land Use Review, he said.

I envisage that the role of the OPW in assessing and advising on the implications of different land-use policy options on future arterial drainage requirements will be an important supporting element of the second phase.
Gardai are set to put a significant security operation in place for the visit of Chinas premier in the coming weeks.

Leave as well as rest days for gardai in Dublin and surrounding counties has been cancelled later this month, coinciding with the planned arrival of Premier Li Qiang.

Mr Li, the second most senior figure in the Chinese Government after President Xi Jinping, is expected to touch down in Ireland on January 16 as part of a two-day trip focusing on areas such as trade between both countries.

It will mark the most high-profile arrival of a Chinese politician to Ireland since Mr Lis predecessor, the late Li Keqiang, visited in 2015.

This months planned visit also follows the Tanaiste Micheal Martins trip to Beijing in November. This journey took place months after a speech given by the Foreign Affairs Minister, in which he signalled a shift in Irelands foreign policy to China, leading to fears of soured relations between both countries.

The Chinese Embassy in Ireland has remained tight-lipped on Premier Lis visit this month, refusing to respond to requests for comment when contacted by the Irish Independent this week.

A Garda spokesperson said: An Garda Siochana is not aware of any formal announcement in respect of any VIP visit. An Garda Siochana does not comment on matters of national or international security.

While an itinerary has not yet been publicly confirmed, Premier Lis visit is understood to be planned mainly for the greater Dublin region.

Gardai in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) which covers the capital have been informed that all leave is cancelled on January 16 and 17 as a result of the VIP visit while gardai due to be rostered off on those mornings are also now expected to work.

Personnel in the Eastern Region, which covers a sizeable area including counties Wexford, Wicklow, Kilkenny, Laois, Kildare and Meath, have also been notified that their leave and rest days are cancelled on January 16.

Gardai have been told that time off on these dates will only be allowed in special circumstances while leave which has already been granted will not be affected.

As a result a significant garda presence is expected during the 48-hour visit. As is standard with a VIP visit, armed detectives trained in close-protection will also be provided to the Chinese Premier during his time here.

During Premier Li Keqiangs visit in 2015 he travelled with a 119-strong delegation made up of politicians and travelling media, with a similar sized contingent expected this time.
A new high of over 13,000 people required emergency accommodation in November, including more than 4,000 children.

Latest figures from the Department of Housing show that another record number of people facing homelessness was surpassed in November.

Some 13,514 people were living in emergency accommodation, including 2,000 families and an unprecedented number of 4,105 children.

Those seeking access in Dublin accounted for 72pc of the total number of adults looking for emergency accommodation.

Adults aged between 25 to 44 made up the largest age demographic of those in emergency accommodation with 53pc, followed by 28pc by adults aged 45 to 64 then the age group of 18-24 year-olds (17pc).

Adults aged over 65 made up for 2pc of the total number of people in emergency accommodation in November.

More than half of those accessing emergency accommodation held Irish citizenship while a further 23pc were EEA/UK citizens and 21pc were non-EEA citizens.

The executive director of the Simon Communities in Ireland, Wayne Stanley, called the figures shocking, adding that the level of suffering demands action.

"Each of the men, women, and 4,105 children that these figures represent are experiencing a preventable trauma.

He said the Government must work with local authorities to ensure more affordable homes are made available and an increased delivery of social housing.

"There is also a need for a renewed commitment to keeping those at risk of homelessness in the home they have.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - January 5th

Homeless charity Focus Ireland has also called for urgent action as the number of children in homelessness reached another record high in November.

Focus Ireland CEO Pat Dennigan said that not only were there more children homeless than ever before, but more of them were also homeless for longer, increasing the harm that homelessness can cause.

The Government appears to be overwhelmed by the problem of providing emergency accommodation for people who are homeless along with people who are here seeking international protection and those who are here due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he said.

"Instead of seeing these as competing challenges, the Government should redirect its efforts into maximizing the number of long-term homeless households moving out of homeless accommodation and into their own home  this would free up emergency accommodation for asylum seekers and Ukranian refugees.

He said this objective is entirely achievable and social housing should be allocated in a fairer share to those who have been homeless for long periods.

"We could reduce the harm caused by homelessness and ensure there was enough temporary accommodation for those who need this form of support.

"Homelessness is profoundly traumatic for everyone, but it inflicts the greatest harm on children.

"It is truly devastating that an unprecedented 4,105 children were homeless in November when other children were preparing for Christmas. As a society, we need to progress beyond merely expressing disappointment at the recurring record-breaking homelessness figures each month and start doing things that change the situation such as a fairer share of social housing.

Social Democrats TD Cian OCallaghan has called the latest report a bleak start to the new year and said it acts as evidence that the eviction ban that was lifted in March was making a difference.

Behind the grim statistics are stories of real people enduring hardship and putting their lives on hold. Homelessness can have devastating and lasting consequences for childhoods and family life."

He called for a permanent ban on no-fault evictions, adding: The Government is in a state of paralysis when it comes to dealing with the housing crisis. Its final year in office will be tainted by unprecedented levels of child homelessness and a generation locked out of home ownership.

Housing Minister Darragh OBrien defended the Governments record on homelessness.

Supporting households experiencing homelessness is a top priority for me and for this Government but it is clear the situation is challenging and complex, he said in a statement.

My Department is working flat out to meet this challenge and liaising closely with the local authorities and the homelessness NGOs to support households to exit homelessness to a tenancy. This work is having an impact and we are seeing significant numbers of households being prevented from entering emergency accommodation in the first instance. The Tenant in Situ scheme, introduced by the Government in March 2023, is playing an important part here and is preventing people who receive a notice to quit from becoming homeless through the acquisition of their property by the local authority or an Approved Housing Body.

Mr OBrien said preliminary data shows that the target to acquire 1,500 properties last year has been surpassed and the Government has decided to extend the scheme into this year.

Ultimately, increasing housing supply across all tenures is the key to addressing homelessness, he said.

"Significant progress is being made to date and the latest figures show that 22,443 homes were completed in the first nine months of 2023, a 9pc increase on the same period in 2022 and the highest number of completions recorded for the first nine months of any year since the CSO data series began in 2011. The pipeline is similarly robust  with 29,634 homes commenced in the first 11 months of 2023, a 24.9pc increase on the same period in 2022. We fully intend to build on this momentum in 2024.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has said the family of teenager Aoife Johnston, who died after waiting for treatment in hospital for 12 hours, did not have input into the terms of reference for an upcoming review in order to ensure accountability.

Aoife Johnston (16) died on December 19, 2022, after waiting 12 hours in University Hospital Limericks emergency department for treatment for sepsis.

An initial review into Aoifes death described the overcrowding in University Hospital Limerick as endemic and Mr Donnelly said the report made for sobering reading.

Aoife Johnston (16) from Co Clare died in December 2022 in University Hospital Limerick.

The HSE has announced that an independent inquiry would be carried out into Ms Johnstons death, led by retired chief justice Frank Clarke.

The Johnston family have expressed their concern at not being consulted on the parameters of the inquiry.

A solicitor for the family Damien Tansey said that they are haunted by their memories of being in hospital waiting for Aoife to receive treatment and after due consideration and consultation with the family, we expect that we will seek to add to, or perhaps alter, some of the terms of reference.

Speaking to RTEs Morning Ireland today, Mr Donnelly said he will soon meet with the family, adding that on a human level he understands their perspective, but the HSE must not receive input from third parties in order to ensure a process for accountability can occur at the end, if necessary.

Mr Donnelly said: I just want to offer my deepest condolences, as a minister and as a father, to Aoifes mum and dad, Aoifes entire family for her tragic death.

The report, the initial report, makes for very sobering reading and on the back of that, I think the chief executive has taken a very important step.

He has appointed retired Chief Justice Frank Clarke to have an independent investigation not just into what happened around Aoife Johnston but more broadly into the management, as you say, around the hospital.

Mr Donnelly said he will soon meet the Johnston family in Limerick and that on a human level he understands "exactly where theyre coming from.

I hear that and I acknowledge that. We would always want to include families in setting terms of reference for various reviews and that is normal practice. It doesnt happen always the way it should, but it is the way things should always work.

In this particular case, because this is an investigation that could result in accountability at the end, something that the HSE is criticised for not normally doing. Indeed, myself in opposition I would have criticised the HSE for not doing it.

This approach is different, its a new approach being taken by the new chief executive that can have accountability at the end.

On what accountability might look like, Mr Donnelly said: If adverse findings are made, then there are processes that might follow from this investigation.

Now, the advice that the HSE got was, in order to have a process whereby you could have accountability at the end, there were no third parties could input into the terms of reference.

None of the management, none of the staff involved, none of the clinicians and the family. So, at a human level, you always want to do it but, we always want a process where there can be accountability at the end.

Mr Donnelly said there must be changes made in terms of patient flow and management, including in rostering  an issue he said he had personally raised following the report.

He said new practices at UHL, mirroring those in place in hospitals in Waterford, will ensure that the people in the region will have the urgent and emergency care service that they need and havent had for a very long time.

Mr Donnelly added: "We know that in too many of our hospitals, there are too many patients waiting on trollies, particularly those waiting in the Emergency Department (ED) who are most at risk.

"About six or seven hospitals account for about half the patients on trollies. We know that more and more hospitals are getting it right, places like Waterford, Laois, Tullamore and others.

And we know that there are some hospitals who are still struggling.

He said that when he was appointed Minister for Health, the team at UHL quite rightly told him that there needs to be an increase in staff, beds, funding and discharge options at the hospital.

Mr Donnelly added that 130 beds have been added, with 200 beds currently being built on the site now and the staff have been increased in Limerick by over 1,000.

Weve added a lot of capacity, and that capacity is helping but the second thing is you have to have reform. One of the most important reforms is a 7 day a week discharge. You see in the hospitals that are doing the best their discharge rates on a Saturday and Sunday are very high.

Limerick, in contrast to that, has the second lowest weekend discharge rate of any hospital in the country.

Asked whether he has confidence in the management of UHL, Mr Donnelly said he is very confident in the appointment of Sandra Broderick as the new regional executive officer for the mid-west, adding that she is excellent and on the ground.

He said the trolley figures in Limerick are amongst the most under pressure in the country.

On the upcoming Covid-19 inquiry, Mr Donnelly said the Taoiseach will be bringing a proposal to cabinet in the coming weeks and he has not yet seen the final document.
The terms of reference for Irelands Covid inquiry are to be brought to Cabinet shortly, according to Simon Harris, who said the format should encourage transparency.

A review of how Ireland handled the Covid-19 pandemic is expected to analyse the Governments response, how hospitals and nursing homes coped and the effect it had on society and the economy.

The Government had planned to establish the inquiry last year but Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said it was delayed due to a series of unpredictable events.

He also said time was needed to get the terms of reference right so it did not stray into all sorts of things, as had happened in the UK.

The UK Covid-19 inquiry has publicly questioned prime minister Rishi Sunak, former prime minister Boris Johnson, former health secretary Matt Hancock and former adviser to Mr Johnson, Dominic Cummings.

Asked about the inquiry, Mr Harris said he expected the terms of reference to come to Cabinet shortly, adding that the format should be one that enables people to be transparent, to be forthcoming.

He was responding to questions about whether the inquiry should be protected by legal privilege. While acknowledging that a review of the Covid-19 pandemic was really important, he said Ireland did a good job overall during the health crisis.

I do feel in this country, in a way that didnt happen in other countries, people came together, people pulled together. But I also know that it was a time of great pain for many people, he said yesterday.

Mr Harris, who was health minister at the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis, said it was for independent experts and not for him to determine what could have been done better.

But certainly there will be, absolutely, lessons to be learned, things that need to be done better. And also, youve got to recognise in a pandemic  I certainly recognise this  that I believe everybody was doing everything they possibly could to the best of their ability with the information that was available, he said.

But of course, as you look back, its right and proper to say, actually with the benefit of hindsight, could something have been done differently?
Well-known author and ornithologist, Julian Wyllie (65), was found dead on a west Cork island after apparently collapsing as he was walking home.

Mr Wyllie, who was originally from Scotland, made Sherkin Island off west Cork his adopted home almost 20 years ago.

One of Europe's most respected bird watchers, he was fondly nicknamed 'The Birdman of Sherkin.'

He is understood to have been found unresponsive in a field not far from his home and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Mr Wyllie was last seen by friends as he was out celebrating New Year's Eve or Hogmanay as he insisted on calling it.

It is unclear when he collapsed but it is suspected he was taking a short cut across a field to his home when he became ill and collapsed.

Mr Wyllie had been dropped off close to his home by a friend after welcoming in the New Year.

His body was discovered on January 2.

The death is not being treated as suspicious and the author is believed to have died from natural causes.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - January 5th

One theory is that Mr Wyllie may have suffered some kind of critical medical episode as he walked home and suddenly collapsed.

Multiple tributes have been paid on social media to Mr Wyllie who had become a very respected member of the tightknit island community.

As well as being widely respected for his birdwatching knowledge, Mr Wyllie was enormously popular for the manner in which he embraced the island community and became involved in the social life of Sherkin.

Mr Wyllie was also renowned for his music knowledge and had worked as a record dealer and collector.

But he was best known for his writing on ornithology.

Mr Wyllie co-wrote a number of books.

These included 'Birds through Irish Eyes' and 'Birds of the Homeplace' with Northern Ireland-based ornithologist Anthony McGeehan, both of which were published to critical acclaim.

Mr Wyllie was hailed by islanders for his generosity and kindness.

He would offer to host bird watching talks and walks for anyone interested on Sherkin Island and became an amateur disc jockey in the island pub and local homes.

Islanders said they were devastated to learn of his death.

Multiple tributes were paid to Mr Wyllie on social media and on Internet sites associated with Sherkin Island.

The Sherkin Island Facebook page posted a special tribute: "Julian Hamish Wyllie - published author and all-round legend - fly high with your birds."

Another said the Scot was enormously popular in Sherkin and in west Cork for the manner in which he embraced local life and supported various Sherkin social events ranging from pub outings to fancy dress parties.

Barbara Collier Donaldson said the author made holiday visits to Sherkin very special for many people.

"I had a lovely nature tour with Julian on Sherkin a couple of years ago.

Of course bird identification and plant identification. BrIlliant! So sad to hear this. RIP kind Julian."

Rosaleen ODriscoll posted: Julian was such a nice man who was loved by all. He was a serious authority on birds and had published some beautiful books on Irish birds. Everyone is heartbroken by this sudden and tragic loss of a man considered a friend to all."

Funeral arrangements for Mr Wyllie will be published later.
AN Irish island was left without power for over 24 hours after a fishing vessel accidentally damaged an undersea electricity cable.

ESB Networks repair crews have been working around the clock since Thursday afternoon, supported by specialist divers, to repair the damage and restore electricity supplies to Bere Island off west Cork.

A power fault was reported in the Castletownbere area at 3.30pm on Thursday.

Electricity supplies to a number of properties in Castletownbere and the mainland were hit - but all properties on Bere Island instantly lost power and repair crews were immediately deployed to tackle the fault.

Power supplies were restored to most properties in Castletownbere on Thursday evening but all properties on Bere Island were without electricity overnight.

Bere Island Lighthouse (Ardnakinna) on Bere Island,off Castletownbere, Co. Cork, Ireland.

ESB Networks said a total of 281 customers remain impacted by the power outage in the Castletownbere area and it was hoped to have all supplies restored late on Friday night as crews worked to identify the fault and make emergency repairs.

In an ESB statement, it was confirmed that the problem was caused by a fishing vessel accidentally damaging an undersea cable.

"The outage occurred on Thursday afternoon as a result of a fishing vessel accidentally coming into contact with a cable running from Castletownbere to Bere Island," an ESB Networks spokesperson confirmed.

"Repair efforts are underway which will include a diver safely locating the damaged cable so ESB Networks crews can carry out the required restoration work."

"We expect power will be restored to all impacted customers by this evening (Friday). We apologise to those impacted for the disruption caused."

Specialist divers deployed to inspect the underwater power cables between Bere Island and the mainland to determine the severity of the damage and assess how best to conduct repairs.

Bere Island is accessed from Castletownbere by ferry.

Residents lucky enough to have petrol and diesel-powered emergency generators were able to light their homes and undertake basic cooking and domestic jobs.

Such is the tightknit nature of the island community, those with generators invited families who were without power supplies to share hot drinks and social gatherings.

However, the power cut even impacted communications - with some families losing broadband and mobile phone signals.

Helen Riddell is an island resident who works with Bere Island Projects Group which operates from the local community centre.

"There was no power on Bere Island since 3.30pm yesterday after the subsea power cable to the island was allegedly cut," she said.

"It is not the first time it has happened. The estimate is that we will have power back by 6pm tonight - but there is no guarantee as it was originally meant to be back last night."

"There is no mobile coverage where I live and no power means no broadband modem - so (we are) completely cut off."

"But we have a wood burning stove and a gas hob so we will survive."

Helen said she has to walk to the hill at the top of the village just to pick up any mobile phone signal.

"At least it was a nice day," she said
A mum accused of assisting the murder of Odhran Kelly has been released on bail but must not speak to her 10-year-old daughter about the case, who police say is a witness.

Andrea Catherine Stevenson (43), of Edward Street in Lurgan, appeared before Craigavon Magistrates Court via video link from Hydebank Womens Prison today.

Wearing a blue and black checked shirt, Stevenson was visibly upset throughout the proceedings.

Mr Kellys body was found close to a burning vehicle in the Edward Street area of Lurgan in the early hours of Sunday, December 3.

Stevenson is the second person to be released on bail facing the same charge.

Last month, Stephanie McClelland (36), of Shan Slieve in Lurgan, was also released on bail.

The court was told that McClelland was one of the people captured on CCTV carrying 23-year-old Mr Kellys body to a car which was later set alight.

Lurgan men, Shane Harte (31), from Headington House, and Gary Damien Scullion (31), from Edward Street, are in custody charged with the murder.

Both men also appeared in Craigavon Magistrates Court via video link today during a mention of the case. They were remanded into custody and must reappear in one month.

A third woman, Crystal Angela Redden (30), from Garland Avenue in Lurgan, is the latest person to be charged over nursing assistant Mr Kellys murder.

Standing in the dock dressed in a grey hooded top, Redden confirmed that she understood the charge of perverting the course of justice on December 7, when she allegedly made a false statement 'with intent to pervert the course of justice.

Giving evidence, Detective Sergeant Philip Donnelly said he believed he could connect Redden to the charge against her while defence solicitor Chris Logue suggested the case be adjourned for four weeks to go along with the cases of her co-accused.

Granting legal aid and freeing Redden on bail, District Judge Rafferty put her case back to February 2.

During Stevensons bail application today, with Mr Kellys family present, Detective Sergeant Donnelly objected to bail with concerns that she may attempt to contact witnesses in the case, which includes her 10-year-old daughter.

He also said 700 people attended a vigil for Mr Kelly on Edward Street last month and police are concerned for the safety of Stevenson due to community feeling in the area.

The officer added that Stevenson was not co-operative during police interview but belatedly did give an account.

Stevensons defence solicitor told the court that the bail address, which has been agreed by police, has taken some time to obtain.

Allowing bail, the district judge said Stevenson must not contact any prosecution witnesses or co-accused, however, she will be allowed to have contact with her daughter but is prohibited from discussing the case.

Stevenson replied: Yes 100%, thank you, Your Worship.

She must also reside at the approved bail address which is not within 10 miles of Lurgan, she must report three times a week to an approved police station, and she should also present herself to police when bail checks are performed.

Stevenson was also told she must not access social media, which the judge said was sensible. She is due to reappear before the court on February 2, along with her co-accused.

The court heard details of the case for the first time during McClellands bail application last month.

Mr Kellys badly burned body was found beside a car which was ablaze in the Edward Street area of Lurgan around 4am on Sunday, December 3.

Attending, police observed blood on the door [of a flat in Maple Court] that leads inside the landing, said Detective Sergeant Donnelly.

A large amount of blood was found inside the flat. In the kitchen, there was broken beer bottles with blood on them  a significant amount of congealed blood. There was also drugs paraphernalia and a large amount of cash and gloves with blood on them.

Police then called at the Maple Court flat opposite, where Stevenson answered.

Inside was McClelland and a 10-year-old child.

"Police observed that the flat smelt strongly of bleach, the officer told the court. A male was sitting in the kitchen. Stephanie McClelland and the child were sitting in the living room.

"The male was wearing boxer shorts only. He was arrested for murder.

"There was clothing and blood-stained washing in the washing machine. Andrea Stevenson and Stephanie McClelland were arrested for murder and conveyed to custody. Both were interviewed several times.
Many experts point to a depletion of the social housing stock as being a core cause of the current homelessness crisis. Photo: PA

Amendments to the Incremental Tenant Purchase Scheme announced over the holiday period will make it easier for people living in local authority houses to buy them.

The main change reduces the income requirement. Given that there is already a crisis-level shortage of social housing, it must be a source of great concern that the housing minister has failed to ensure that no such local authority house will be sold until a replacement exists.

Figures available show that while the State built half-a-million social homes, 300,000 of them have been sold. Many experts point to this depletion of the social housing stock as being a core cause of the current homelessness crisis.

Surely this amendment, without the inclusion of a replacement guarantee, will repeat the mistake and make the homelessness crisis even worse.

It also suggests there is little capacity at government level to recognise and learn from past errors.

Or is calling these decisions mistakes missing the point? When politicians repeat a mistake, it is not a mistake any more, it is a decision.

It looks like 2024 will be another long, miserable year for those in need of a safe, secure place to live.

Jim OSullivan, Rathedmond, Co Sligo

Charade of Dry January fails to address the serious issue of problem drinking

Dry January, although well-intentioned and beneficial in some ways, may have unintended negative consequences.

Granted, it can increase awareness of the harmful effects of alcohol and motivate some individuals to adopt a healthier lifestyle. Others may view it as an opportunity to save money at a lean time of year.

More significantly, yet others with problem drinking will try to prove to themselves that they dont have a problem.

In truth, it isnt that difficult to abstain for a month when one intends to return to old ways after that.

And it would be simplistic to believe that a short period of abstinence can effectively address the issue of problem drinking.

In fact, individuals with alcohol issues may actually consume more in the months following Dry January as they desperately convince themselves there is no problem.

For those truly seeking to assess their alcohol consumption, a minimum of three months of abstinence is necessary. It is advisable for heavy drinkers to consult a doctor before embarking on this journey.

This extended period of abstinence provides an excellent opportunity to deeply explore how alcohol can affect ones physical, mental and emotional well-being.

If possible, it may be helpful to have a support system in the form of a buddy and to document progress through a diary.

Gerry Hickey, Dublin 14

There is money for bombs and bullets, but none to feed Gazas hungry babies

Ireland produces 150,000 tonnes of baby formula a year. Why arent we sending at least 1,000 tonnes a month, if not a week, to the starving babies in Gaza?

Why arent the UK and the EU doing the same? Are we losing all sense of humanity?

There is plenty of money for bombs and bullets, but none for starving babies. If we do send baby formula to the babies in Gaza, we will also need to send them fresh, clean water as they have none.

John Fair, Castlebar, Co Mayo

A wealthy country? How so if we are billions in debt, with welfare bills rising?

I read with interest your editorial quoting Archbishop Dermot Farrell (Irish Independent, January 2) and describing Ireland as a wealthy country. Im not sure where this belief comes from.

RTE reported in February 2022 that Ireland took on an extra 33bn in debt during the pandemic.

National debt stood at 237bn  approximately 48,000 per person  and was said to be one of the highest in the world.

The current social welfare budget takes over 40pc of the tax take and is rising year on year . This is a runaway train, and it seems to go unnoticed by the Government. But the ESRI notices, and the Government should take note before its too late.

Donough McGuinness, Bray, Co Wicklow

Ringsend attack shows a worrying change in local politicians rhetoric

It seems a new right is emerging, championed by the countrys local politicians  and thats the right to know the identity of any new future neighbours before they are allowed to live in ones neighbourhood.

The demands by local Dublin politicians after the Ringsend arson attack is the latest example of this (Irish Independent, January 3).

If this is the emerging pattern of Irish local government  where local politicians refuse to stand up and accept their civic duty to be truly representative of all their constituents, rather than being the voice of the vocal belligerent few  then they are doing local and national democracy a grave disservice.

Brendan Butler, Drumcondra, Dublin 9

A premier player in our midst, but that doesnt excuse his Dundalk past

Congratulations to Daniel McDonnell for giving one of our own League of Ireland stalwarts, Ronan Finn, decent coverage last week.

It was a timely reminder that we do indeed have some premier players here at home.

Mind you, one is somewhat prejudiced, as Ronan once plied his trade with Dundalk.

Tom Gilsenan, Beaumont, Dublin 9

We must make our mark in this world to right the many wrongs committed

Once again we embark on another year with a clean slate.

The stick of chalk some of us use on it is probably a lot more worn down than it used to be as the years take their toll.

But we can all make our mark nonetheless. Maybe this year, with so many elections taking place, we need to think a bit more carefully about our political choices and positions.

We are not passive players in this world. We all have a voice and a mind, and we can use it to positive effect, should we take the time and trouble.

Sadly, as the global turmoil proves, some have no voice or way to express themselves as they live in war zones or under duress. We have a duty to speak out against such wrongs.

M O Brien, Dalkey, Co Dublin
We need to get tough with Irish Water, said Fine Gael councillor John Paul OShea after the issue of recurring potholes was raised at the latest Kanturk/Mallow Municipal District meeting.

Fine Gael councillor Tony OShea referenced several cases of recurring potholes in the greater hinterland that attracted much criticism from the public over the festive period.

We had a couple of reoccurring potholes that gave us bother over the Christmas period. One was a huge pothole on Main Street in Mallow and the other one below River Valley. Irish Water did a water main on the Mallow to Killavullen Road and that has been very problematic with potholes since that main has been installed. Is there any way going forward that if Irish Water are doing these dig outs or crossings, we get them permanently reinstated as soon as possible? he wondered.

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Fine Gael councillor John Paul OShea also listed numerous water leaks in the locality which havent been permanently reinstated. With regards to reinstatements Irish Water have gone to pot again. There are water leaks around Castlemagner, Boherbue, Charleville and Kanturk that were done eight to 12 months ago and they havent been permanently reinstated. We as a council have gone back numerous times to repair the potholes. Irish Water in their service level agreement with Cork County Council are supposed to reinstate permanently after a water leak within four weeks.

Irish Water have to step up to the mark, said Cllr John Paul OShea. We have to get tough with Irish Water because they are costing us a fortune in terms of emergency breaks. Irish Water have to reinstate permanently within a couple of weeks as per the service level agreement otherwise it is only costing us money. I have no problem if it goes from four to six weeks, but when we are talking about eight or nine months, it is ridiculous.

My understanding is that if they dont comply with it, we can charge Irish Water and I would gladly charge Irish Water for not reinstating the roads. We as a local authority have an obligation to follow up with them. I would suggest that a communication go from this meeting to the director of the roads saying that if Irish Water does not comply can we charge them for temporarily repairing water leaks until they permanently reinstate it, he added.

Fianna Fail councillor Ian Doyle agreed with the sentiments of his colleagues as he outlined to the chamber that the reinstatement in the Charleville area has been appalling and there are huge potholes.

Fine Gael councillor Liam Madden said there has to be some comeback. The criticism that came over Christmas was warranted. The pothole in Mallow town was right across the whole way and the car just shuddered. It is the roughness that is left after they complete their work. There has to be some comeback.

Dennis ORegan Senior Executive Engineer with Cork County Council said the local authority have expressed their concerns with management at Irish Water. There will be inspections carried out in all locations and we will determine what will be permanently repaired or not just with funding available. In relation to Irish Water, we are working tirelessly with them. We have met them. We have arranged meetings with management in Irish Water. We have brought these concerns to them and they are looking at it. We will keep engaging with them constantly on specific locations.

It was agreed that a letter would be sent from the local authority to Niall Healy the Director of Roads seeking clarity on whether Irish Water can be charged if they dont comply with the service level agreement.
Since then he has been working and living happily in Cork, until his world was turned upside down in October 2023 when the Gaza crisis began.

Ahmads extended family members and friends are amongst the many thousands of innocent people trapped in Gaza, fearing for their lives every second, not knowing if theyll make it to the next day or not.

These include Ahmads father Hani (62), his beloved mother (56), his sister Haya (34) and her husband Mohammed (38), along with their three kids, Judi (9), Kenzi (8) and Karim (3), his brother Abdallah (31) and his wife Reem (26), along with their child Hani Jr. (1), his brother Ibrahim (23) and lastly his youngest sister Rania (18).

Just 10 days after the war erupted, my family managed to miraculously exit the house, which is in northern Gaza, just a couple of minutes before it was bombed the first time while they were just few metres away, said Ahmad.

Since then, they evacuated to the south of Gaza in Khanyounes. They didnt even have the minimum necessary requirements of living and suffered lack of food, scarce clean water and complete cut off electricity. Then they were told to evacuate again, not knowing where to go and with no refuge, he said.

Ahmads family since heard from locals that their house and the whole neighbourhood was bombed again  and levelled to the ground.

While hearing this heart-breaking news, the family was already mourning the death of Ahmads cousins in Gaza City.

Ahmad has tried contacting the Taoiseach, TDs and other governments in the UK, US, Canada and Australian, but not one was able to give any tiny bit of hope.

The final resort the family has come to is leaving Gaza with a special permission from the Egyptian government. But doing so requires a payment that has to be made from each individual to leave Gaza.

The government currently demands 8,000USD for each person and he has set up a GoFundMe from which the funds will be sent by him to his family in Gaza to facilitate their payments to travel from Gaza to Egypt through the Rafah crossing.

My family are mentally drained due to the atrocious conditions theyre experiencing every single day. With the situation becoming increasingly critical and dangerous, for the sake of my family's safety, and because it's a matter of life and death, I'm humbly asking everyone to help me evacuate my family, if they're able to, he said.

The GofundMe has a target of 70,000 and donations can be made here.
Supermacs boss Pat McDonagh has said he feels vindicated after successfully winning an appeal against three members from the Traveller community who were awarded 16,000 on foot of claims they were discriminated against under the Equal Status Act.

Mr McDonagh lodged the appeal at Longford Circuit Civil Court after the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) in February 2022 ordered Atlantic Troy Limited trading as the Charleville Park Hotel & Leisure Club pay a cumulative 16,000 to the three.

The ruling was made after three generations from the same Longford based family were refused a nights stay at the hotel after insisting they provide a credit card to coincide with a new security policy implemented by the hotel.

Annalise Power

The WRC, in its ruling, ordered Atlantic Troy Ltd to pay sums of 8,000 to Ann Stokes as well as figures of 4,500 and 3,500 to mother and daughter Bridget and Annalise Power.

The court heard Annalise Power initially made the booking for two rooms by debit card via online portal booking.com in January 2019 after previously staying in the same hotel when a credit card policy was not in place.

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The trio had initially travelled to Cork for a surprise birthday party and upon arrival at their destination on September 9, 2016, were told they could only pay for their pre-booked accommodation by credit card.

Bridget Power

Judge Karen Fergus was told Annalise Power failed to read the terms and conditions as part of the booking conditions.

It also emerged that none of the trio were in possession of a credit card or ever attempted to apply for one.

Annalise Power, it was revealed was an unemployed nail technician trainee, her mother Bridget, a shop assistant and health worker and grandmother an 84-year-old pensioner.

Bridget Power said at the time she had been living at home with her daughter Annalise and son, Sam.

Despite both of her children being on social welfare, Counsel for Atlantic Troy, Cathy Smith SC, argued that the combined household income of all three more than met the monetary threshold needed to apply for a credit card.

Counsel for the three complainants, John Hayden BL, quoted statistics from the 2016 CSO census which showed the unemployment rate within the wider Traveller community stood at over 80pc.

Ann Stokes outside Longford Courthouse

He said the requirement to have an annual income of 16,000 per year in order to qualify for a credit card invariably placed a member of the Traveller community at a particular disadvantage when compared to the general population.

In response, Ms Smyth said that argument was one which failed to substantiate members of the Travelling community had been exclusively affected and was one that applied to other sections of society as well.

In delivering her verdict, Judge Fergus said in order for indirect discrimination to be established it must be shown the requirement to use a credit card placed the claimants at a particular disadvantage as opposed to those who are not members of the Travelling community.

Only 40 per cent of the national population have credit cards, students can apply for credit cards and the evidence proffered by the complainants is wholly inadequate to meet the threshold, she said.

Speaking afterwards, Mr McDonagh expressed his delight at the outcome.

Absolutely, he said, when asked if he felt the decision justified his decision to pursue the initial WRC ruling.

The fact we won vindicates our case in the first place and the judge considered it for quite some time before she made the decision.

I think people in business have rights too. Some people think we have no rights. We took the appeal because we felt it was unfounded and that the award wasnt justified and I am glad we were exonerated because as the court decided there was nothing stopping them from using or acquiring a credit card.

The Galway native said he believed the decision represented a very good verdict for the hospitality industry and one hotels nationwide would welcome.
Discarded items included a mattress, false teeth, old phones and a plastic duck from the 1960s

The environmental group also found part of a set of false teeth

Needles and cigarette lighters collected by Flossie and the Beachcleaners

Environmental charity group Flossie and the Beachcleaners gathered the weight of 18 dolphins in rubbish during 2023.

Some of the more bizarre items among the 872kgs of rubbish included a mattress, needles, cannabis, false teeth, a WWII German dolls boot, AirPods, a Bank of Ireland card from 1991, a bong, and a plastic duck dating back from the 1960s - on the bottom it says: Made in Ireland.

Other quirky items included a comb for headlice, an old Nokia phone, a plastic flower from Daffodil Day, a VR headset, a spoon, Crocs and house keys.

This total was gathered with the help of 500 volunteers cleaning up on some of their weekly, monthly and one-off clean-ups around the country.

Among the most regular pollution offenders were wipes, sanitary pads and tampons, vapes, cigarette butts, mens pants, plastic bottles and takeaway packaging.

The charity is run by Dublin teen Flossie Donnelly and her mother Harriet, who fear that the changing climate and the increase of storms are contributing factors.

A bank card dating from 1991 was among the rubbish found

Are people littering more or are the storms throwing more pollution onto our beaches? Also, with the endless storms many bins get blown over and the pollution can end up in the water, Harriet Donnelly, head of the charity, said.

In 2022, we collected five tonnes, almost 844kgs. This years total is a huge increase of pollution picked up in a year.

There is good and bad to this result: the good is that it was picked up and didnt end up in the sea, the bad is that its a huge shame there was three tonnes (28kgs) extra in the difference, she added.

Known as a fun marine environmental charity, Flossie and The Beach Cleaners tackle plastic pollution and climate change through educational workshops for junior and senior schools as well as CSR experience for corporates.

They also run monthly national beach cleans, and weekly beach cleans in Dublin Bay.

Charity patron Flossie (16) said: This year was recorded as one of the hottest years in Ireland and the hottest year for Northern Ireland.

The heat hasnt only affected land, it has also warmed the sea and broken many heat records around the world.

The storms and the heat will only become more extreme if we dont do something and a simple act of beach cleaning can do so much to help with climate change.
The dog was abandoned and tied up at a Clondalkin off-licence earlier this week

A dog found abandoned at an off-licence in Clondalkin is now being cared for by an animal rescue centre.

The discovery was made by a member of staff at Galvins Carry Out off-licence earlier this week. The dog, now named Eleanor, is in the care of My Lovely Horse Rescue.

A member of staff saw two people running away from the store, and when he walked out, he saw the dog was tied up and left abandoned. They just left her there, Martina Kenny, co-founder of My Lovely Horse Rescue, said.

The truth is were finding an awful lot of these breeds need rescuing or are being abandoned.

Eleanor has been to the vet and is reportedly doing really well, with concerns that the dog was pregnant being put to rest. She will hopefully be homed soon.

She was very scared at first, but even the vet who looked after her said how sweet she is, Ms Kenny said.

It is an amazing breed when treated well by the right human; theyre loyal, amazing and cuddly dogs.

Ms Kenny told the Irish Independent that the Pocket Bully left in Clondalkin isnt the first of its kind to be rescued, with an XL Bully found tied to a pole in the Wicklow mountains a couple of months ago.

She cited different reasons for the rise in need for care for these restricted breeds.

Social housing isnt allowing these breeds anymore, she said. If someone is moving to a new house or a new social housing home, theyre not allowing them there either.

Weve gotten a lot of calls from people saying they need help as they have these breeds and they cant take them with them. These dogs are only terrible dogs if the human treats them badly.

My Lovely Horse Rescue told the Irish Independent that, now going into their 13th year of operating, theyve never been this busy.

Ms Kenny said she has never seen such a big dog issue and coined it an actual crisis.

The animal rescue centre should only have space for roughly 20 dogs on their farm, but now they have approximately 75 dogs in their care.
Paul Cullen is taking a dip every day this month at Dublin's Bull Wall

A Dubliner who admits hes not a strong swimmer, is taking to the Irish Sea every day this month to raise awareness around mental health.

Paul Cullen, from Killester, has set himself the challenge of taking a dip a day at Dublins Bull Wall this month to raise funds for Jigsaw, a charity focused on supporting young peoples mental health.

Mr Cullen came up with the idea out of a sense of urgency after reading the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) report  published by The Mental Health Commission  earlier this year.

In the report, Dr Susan Finnerty, Inspector of Mental Health Services, noted that she cannot currently provide assurance to all parents that their children have access to a safe, effective and evidence-based mental health service.

Jigsaw, The National Centre for Youth Mental Health, believes a better life is possible for the hundreds and thousands of young people across Ireland facing mental health difficulties.

The charity offers a listening ear and expert advice to young people aged 12-25 as well as giving families and teachers ways to cope and skills to be there for young people.

Although he had done sea swimming a couple of times during lockdown, Mr Cullen does not describe himself as an avid swimmer and decided to pull himself out of his comfort zone by dipping in the sea every day this month.

Ive had mental health issues in the past, but I recovered because I had support, Mr Cullen said.

I couldnt have recovered without the support of my family, but more importantly, I couldnt have recovered without professionals. Admitting I needed help wasnt easy, and getting help pulled me way outside of my comfort zone.

But I think every family experiences mental health issues. In my own immediate and extended family, weve experienced depression, anxiety, addiction and suicide, he added.

The Dubliner told the Irish Independent that hes trying to highlight the normality of struggling with mental health.

In 2022, Jigsaw offered 36,360 appointments to young people across their community-based services. This was their highest number of appointments ever in a single year.

The charity also received 1,740,242 fundraising income from donations from the public, national and local events, community activities, trusts, grants and corporate support.

Mr Cullens campaign has already raised over 5,000 since launching his fundraiser at the end of December.

My first two swims were in the dark with a flashlight. With it being hard to coordinate tide times and trying to follow my work schedule, I was terrified, and Im not a strong swimmer, he said.

I was worried I wouldnt be able to keep it up for the entire month. The water was absolutely baltic.

But then after day two, I noticed the amount of money that was coming in from absolute strangers, and it put such a fire into my belly.

The money hes already accumulated is enough to pay for three or four young people to get an hour of support or counselling every day.

If I continue doing this, and I can raise the profile of this campaign, God knows how much money we can give towards Jigsaw, Mr Cullen added.
It cant go on  Minister for Transport meets residents at Clongriffin Dart Station

Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan met with Samantha O'Flanagan, Myrtle Coast Residents Association, councillors David Healy and Joan Hopkins, and Helen Meany, Myrtle Coast Residents Association.

Minister Eamon Ryan in the lift which was recently out of action for three whole months

Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan visited Clongriffin Dart Station today to discuss the concerns of local residents recently left without working lift access for three months.

The meeting had been sought by members of Myrtle the Coast Residents Association, who have been campaigning for safe, universal access to the station throughout the past year.

The temporary stairwell, which has now been in place for nearly 14 years, was without a working lift for months during the second half of 2023 and experienced issues in getting working light bulbs for the station.

While the lift was out of service, four incidents were reported to the residents association, with one requiring medical attention due to a deep cut from the metal staircase.

Social Democrats TD Cian OCallaghan, Fine Gael TD Richard Bruton, and Labours Aodhan ORiordain also called on the Minister for Transport to visit the access point to discuss the issues residents are facing.

Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan met with Samantha O'Flanagan, Myrtle Coast Residents Association, councillors David Healy and Joan Hopkins, and Helen Meany, Myrtle Coast Residents Association.

Samantha OFlanagan, from Myrtle the Coast Residents Association, has been campaigning since the beginning of the year to address both the long and short-term access issues.

Its a positive step that the Minister for Transport came out to meet with us today, she said.

We have been campaigning throughout 2023 for something to be done regarding access, but this issue has been affecting residents for 14 years now; it cant go on.

Todays meeting is a step in the right direction, and we are hopeful that, with the help of the Government, along with Fingal County Council and other relevant parties, this will be the year that access to our local public transport is finally prioritised.

The temporary access point was built 14 years ago but has remained untouched since. It is currently managed on behalf of the owners by Richmond Homes.

Ms OFlanagan told the Irish Independent that the stairwell remains covered in rust and broken in places.

The lift was recently out of service for three months, leaving older residents who may be mobility impaired essentially cut off.

The residents association also highlights that high rates of anti-social behaviour in the station are leaving locals scared to use it on darker evenings.

The stairwell has also been closed off at night since December, leaving residents in Baldoyle unable to access the 24-hour night link bus.

Green Party councillor David Healy, who attended the meeting with the Minister for Transport today, said he was very glad that Eamon Ryan was able to come out and see the issue first hand.

Minister Eamon Ryan in the lift which was recently out of action for three whole months

It is vital that proper, accessible, safe access to the train and bus, and between the two communities is put in place as soon as possible, he said.

Social Democrats councillor Joan Hopkins, who was also in attendance, said a 3-metre ramp directly from the road to the existing platform on Irish Rails land would be relatively cost-effective and transform the lives of hundreds of residents.

If we have learned anything from this nightmare, it is that simple solutions are often the best, she said.

We spent millions over-engineering this public transport and ended up with a monstrosity that did not work.

Any woman who has ever used a train or pushed a buggy could have designed this station better. The Government needs to start including us in the conversation.

An options and feasibility report is currently under way by the National Transport Authority, and Eamon Ryan said, while he couldnt make any promises, he hoped through that interim report, we can get a solution.
Fun Place owner claims mood in city centre is not that positive

Fun Place in St Stephen's Green shopping centre will close at the end of January

Fun Place, a well-known joke and costume shop in Dublin, has announced it will shut its doors at the end of January after decades of business.

Co-owner Paul Doyle said the decision to close the physical store stemmed from competition from online retailers like Amazon, along with rent hikes and higher rates.

Fun Place covers everything from costumes to face and body painting, practical jokes, special FX, cosplay and theatre.

Mr Doyle said the popularity of Instagram has pushed their range of make-up to be some of their best-selling products in recent years.

Its now really all about the face or from the neck up at least, with the whole costume becoming less popular, he said.

The range of make-up we have which is specific and unique to us meant people came in to stock up on that on a regular basis.

Fun Place confirmed that the shop is closing down at the end of the month, but the online store will remain open.

Co-owners Paul Doyle and Shay Howlin took over the business on South King Street in 2015 when the original owner was selling up.

They focused mostly on costumes and kept the branding of the jokes like stink bombs and whoopee cushions alive.

We always got a lot of people in who came into the store because they would have come in with their father or grandfather in their childhood, Mr Doyle said.

Theres definitely a great affinity in Dublin with the shop. There are a number of city centre stores that have been around for a while where people are disappointed when they close. I think were in that category.

After the Covid pandemic, they relocated to St Stephens Green Shopping Centre in September 2021.

Mr Doyle told the Irish Independent that while they felt lucky to secure their unit, the buzz in comparison to being on the street front was not the same.

The street is the street, people come in because they walk by and wed have different characters coming in from the local area, he said.

The shopping centre is more sanitized; I dont think we ever found our customer base there.

Mr Doyle also spoke about how the reliance of the physical shop on events, particularly Halloween, has just been more and more in recent years.

Other than Pride, there wasnt a lot going on; people werent dressing up, so we came into this Halloween very much on the back foot, he said.

While it was good, it wasnt enough to salvage us from the position we were in and give us enough of a buffer to get to next Halloween.

Amazon had a big impact on us this year at Halloween. I just think the toll that big companies are taking on small independent retailers around the country is a huge factor.

At their busiest periods, Fun Place had roughly 18 staff in the store, but now have about five staff they will be forced to let go.

I think the mood around the city centre, unfortunately, is not that positive, from a trade point of view. Nobody is really that surprised that another one is gone, Mr Doyle said.

The store will remain open until the end of the month and is offering a 50pc off sale, including everything in store from costumes, hats and accessories.

However, the co-owners believe theyll be back at least in a pop-up format for Halloween.

Wed love to think potentially one day on a more permanent basis, but meanwhile funplace.ie is still there and were still a Dublin brand as far as were concerned, Mr Doyle said.
Many across Ireland decided to take part in Dry January this year, but that does not mean there is nothing you can do until the end of the month.

These are some of the activities and events Galway offers in January 2024 that do not involve drinking.

Escape rooms

If its too cold or too rainy for outdoor activities, an escape room can be the perfect solution for you and your friends.

Galways Great Escape Rooms located in Abbeygate Street Upper, Open the Door Escape Room in Prospect Hill, and Black 11 in Dominick Street Lower, all offer escape rooms for small groups with different themes and difficulty levels.

Hiking

January can also offer cold but very sunny days and a hike can be the perfect activity alone, with family or with friends.

From Connemara to Salthill Promenade, from Barna Woods to Gort River Walk, Galway offers an endless number of trails and parks where to enjoy nature.

Quiz nights

A trivia quiz night can be the perfect activity to do with your friend on a night out without having to buy an alcoholic drink.

In the city, the Skeff Bar and Massimo Bar organize themed quiz nights all year round.

Pottery classes

January could be the perfect month to try something completely new and Galway offers a number of pottery classes.

Among them, Galway Pottery in Lower Merchant's Road and Homebird Pottery, in Oranmore, both offer classes to learn to, throw on the wheel, carve and glaze your clay.

Wildlands Activity Centre

For a day without drinks but full of adventure, Wildlands Activity Centre in Moycullen is the place to be.

The centre offers a number of outdoor and indoor activities including Zip n Trek, Fun Walls and orienteering.

Festivals

A number of festivals and events also take place in Galway this January.

Among them, Galway's Midwinter Festival will return to the Town Hall Theatre in from Friday, January 20, to Sunday, January 22. The event will celebrate classical music in what will be the festivals 20th edition.

While Astrofest, the Galway Astronomy Festival will take place at the end of the month on January 28. The festival is now in its 20th year, and has become one of the most popular events in Ireland of the Irish astronomical calendar.

On January 27 and 28, the 9th International Galway Tattoo Show will take place The Galmont Hotel in Galway City Centre. The festival is set to bring together some of the best national and international tattoo experts.
Aviation historian Michael OReilly sheds new light on the circumstances that led to the death of six young Polish airmen on the slopes of Mount Brandon at Christmas, 1943

Some of the wreckage of the Wellington, strewn on the slopes of Arraglen, Mount Brandon - still visible to this day.

The first involved a Luftwaffe Focke-Wulf Condor which crashed on Faha Ridge on August 20 of 1940. The crewmen survived and were interned in the Curragh Camp until August, 1945. This was the first Luftwaffe aircraft to come down in neutral Eire during WW2.

On July 28, 1943, a BOAC Sunderland flying boat crashed with ten fatalities. While on August 22, 1943 another Sunderland of RAF No 201 Squadron crashed with eight fatalities.

It is the fourth incident that is the focus of this article.

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On the afternooon of Monday, December 20, 1943, five Vickers Wellington GR MK XIV bombers departed at short intervals from their base at Predannack, near Lizard Village, Cornwall. Attached to the Land of Silesia No 304 Polish Squadron, their intended mission that Christmas week was an anti-submarine patrol across the Bay of Biscay. As well as their .303 Browning machine guns and depth charges they carried ventral positioned Leight Lights which could illuminate surfaced U-boats at night-time. Bulged fairings beneath their noses housed the scanners for the ASV (air-to-surface vessel) radar. One of these Wellingtons with codes 2S HF 208 is the nucleus of this narrative, it having departed from Predannack at 3.31pm.

In due course the Wellingtons arrived over the perimeters of the Bay of Biscay and commenced traversing its waters in their hunt for U-boats. As the evening progressed into nightfall the aircraft started returning to Predannack at drawn-out intervals. The last arrived at 1.28am. However, as Wellington HF208 was not among them it was becoming overdue. At 7.36pm its crew radioed base to report that their radio locating equipment was malfunctioning and they could not get a fix on their position.

At 10.45pm a second message was received, which was thought to be from over the Lismore area of Co Waterford. Later Look-out-Posts (LOPs) on the Cork and Kerry coasts reported an unidentified aircraft tracking east southeast seawards. Assuming that this was the overdue aircraft it went further astray after turning back onto a course heading inland. At 11.22pm, in bad visibility Wellington H208 crashed and burst into flames at 2,500 feet on a steep slope near Arraglen, Mount Brandon. The six crewmen perished. A snowstorm was in the area at the time. Local man Michael Brick deduced an air crash had occured when he heard aircraft engines followed by a thud and fireball on Mount Brandon. He thus contacted the army headquarters in Tralee.

It was sometime later that Lieutenant Burke of the 15th Infantry Battalion was leading a party of personnel up the lower slopes of Mount Brandon towards the apparent location of the incident. They were accompanied by a garda from Cloghane, members of the Red Cross and of the LDF (Local Defence Force).

Their route in bitterly cold weather and darkness included ravines, streams and foot-sucking bogland. When the party eventually reached the crash location pockets of flames were still investing the Wellingtons wreckage. After ensuring that the crewmen were beyond help their dogtags were removed for identification. After completing a survey of the wreckage-strewn scene in challenging conditions the responders did not linger and were soon backtracking down the mountain to more acceptable climes.

By noon the following day, December 21, a sizeable military presence had developed at the crash site. Garda Sergeant Duffy from Cloghane had also been present. Around this time the Honorary Polish Consul in Dublin notified the Polish authorities in London of the tragedy. At 9.30pm the crewmens bodies were taken down from the mountain. Local coroner Dr DT Sheehan deemed an inquest as unnecessary.

On Thursday, December 23, at 6.30pm a detachment of Irish soldiers in a solemn ceremony handed over the crewmens bodies to British military at Middleton on the Monaghan/Armagh border. The crewmen, all Flight Sergeants, are listed here with their ages and nearest home towns:

 Klemens Adamowicz (32), pilot, Zamoscia;

 Stanislaw Czerniawski (25), co-pilot, Patoky;

 Pawel Kowalewicz (26), w/operator, Piaski Stare;

 Kazimierz Lugowski (23), gunner, Siedlce;

 Wincenti Pietrzak (26) gunner, Swieciniec-Mizewo;

 Pawel Kuflik (20), navigator, born in Cologne to Jewish parents.

The funeral of the crewmen took place on December 27 in Milltown Cemetery near Belfast. The celebrants were Father Kelly and Chaplin Boyd from Long Kesh RAF base. Those attending included fellow comrades of No 304 Squadron and members of the No 303 Polish Fighter Squadron based in Ballyhalbert. Five of the crewmen were laid to rest in the cemetery while Pawel Kuflik was interred in Carnmoney Jewish Cemetery, Co Antrim.

It was originally thought by some that the crewmen had been killed by exploding amunition. However, Ordnance officer, Captain Pringles report after visiting the crash scene discounted this theory. Having examined four unprimed depth charges, two incendiary devices and flares, he found all of the .303 ammunition unfired. A controlled explosion destroyed most of this ordnance in situ. A British engineering officer having also visited the site decided that the Wellingtons wreckage was not worth salvaging. This decision means that today, many decades later, remnants of the Wellington still lie on Mount Brandon.

Addendum: The Wellington made its first flight at Weybridge, Surrey, on June 15, 1936. Initially called the Crecy it was co-designed by Barnes Wallis and Rex Pierson. The geodetic method of construction was used to build the aircrafts fuselage, mainplanes and tail assembly. This system comprised of small diamond-patterned alloy frames rivetted together to form lattice work sections which were overlaid with doped canvas. This contribued to a light, flexible strong structure which enabled the Wellington to sustain quite severe battle damage and still remain airworthy. Later Wellingtons were commonly powered by the Bristol Proteus 9 cylinder sleeve valve radial engine or the larger 14-cylinder Hercules. A sizeable minority were powered by Rolls Royce Merlin V-12 engines. A smaller minority had American Pratt and Whitney 14-cylinder Twin Wasp radial engines.

Data suggests that the Brandon Wellington MK XIV was powered by Hercules engines.
Irish mans British Knighthood pride  I now drive a Rolls-Royce but went to school with no shoes

Sir John, who has Kerry roots and links with the Conservative Party, is being knighted for his services to charity and industry.

Sir John Griffin with his partner Lady Rita.

Stephen Fernane  Kerryman Fri 5 Jan 2024 at 13:48

In 1935, Kerry native John Griffin stood watch at the gates of Buckingham Palace as a member of the Royal Irish Guards. Almost 90 years later, his son, Sir John Griffin, will drive through the same palace gates to receive a knighthood from King Charles III for his services to industry and charity in Britain.
Uisce Eireann announced a number of road closures as works get underway in the Limerick village of Adare to improve water supply and reduce leaks for customers.

Uisce Eireann announced they have prioritised over 1.5km of water mains for replacement due to the increasing frequency of supply interruption in Adare as a result of damaged water main infrastructure.

These essential works involve the replacement of 1.5km of old water mains with new modern pipes which will ensure a reduction in disruption from bursts and supply interruptions for customers.

The section of works will take place along a segment of the L-1422. Works will continue onto the L-8035 at Tuogh, from north of Shauntrade National School towards the L-8035/Kilbreedy junction.

Uisce Eireann explained that areas of work will be limited to short sections to minimise impact on customers as a number of road closures have been announced.

A road closure will be in place along the L-8035 at Tuogh from north of Shauntrade National School towards the L8035/Kilbreedy junction. The road closure will be in place until Friday February 23.

Traffic management will be in place at this time along the L-1422, in the form of traffic lights. Uisce Eireann assured the community that local and emergency traffic will always be maintained.

The works may require some short-term water interruptions, but the project team will ensure that customers are given a minimum of 48 hours notice prior to any planned interruptions.

This significant project for the people of Adare will also involve laying new water service connections from the public water main in the road, to customers property boundaries and connecting it to the customers water supply.

The works will be carried out on behalf of Uisce Eireann by Ward & Burke Construction Ltd and are expected to be completed by March 2024.

These works are being carried out as part of Uisce Eireanns National Leakage Reduction Programme.

Jack Cronin, programme Manager for Uisce Eireanns National Leakage Reduction Programme, commented: Old and damaged water mains remain a huge source of leakage and continue to impact communities right across County Limerick, causing low pressure and supply disruption. Replacing these old water mains in poor condition in Adare will eliminate existing leaks and significantly reduce the amount of clean drinking water lost into the ground. The delivery of these essential works will help provide a safer, more secure water supply for Adare by minimising the frequency of bursts and improving the resilience of the network. We would like to thank the community in Adare in advance for their patience and cooperation during the works, we know based on previous experiences that the short-term inconvenience will be overshadowed by the lasting benefits.
A total of 81% of the Irish public believe Ireland needs to grow more trees to help combat climate change, according to a recent Red C Research survey commissioned by Coillte, the semi-state forestry company.

Furthermore, 86% of those surveyed agree that getting out into nature and exploring their local forest has a positive impact on their physical and mental wellbeing, while 82% believe forests are important for nature and biodiversity, which is central to Coilltes strategic vision.

Of all respondents, 74% agree that having a mix of trees, such as conifers that grow quickly and capture carbon at a high rate, along with broadleaves that provide a long-term store of carbon, is important for climate action. In terms of tackling climate change, the majority surveyed (66%) are in favour of using Irish wood as an alternative building material to high-carbon materials such as concrete and steel.

Speaking about the survey, Colm ODwyer, Regional Manager Coillte, said, Were delighted that our survey has revealed the significant role forests and nature play in supporting our physical and mental health, according to the majority of Irish people. Were encouraging people to explore their local forests over the coming months and spend some time reconnecting with nature. Sligo has range of Coillte forests for people to enjoy including Hazelwood Forest, Union Wood and Gortarowey.

The survey findings support Coilltes forestry strategic vision which aims to deliver multiple benefits from its forests and bring more focus to climate action, with ambitious targets on biodiversity and recreation, while continuing to deliver for the forest and wood products industry. The focus of Coilltes vision is on sustainably balancing and delivering the multiple benefits from Irelands state forests across four strategic pillars: Climate, Wood, Nature, and People.

Coilltes forestry strategic vision, announced last year, is designed to optimise its contribution to Irelands climate targets, and includes a range of actions aiming to capture approx. 28m tonnes of CO2 from the environment by 2050. Actions include:

Coillte aims to enable the creation of 100,000 hectares of new forests by 2050, half of which will be native woodlands, thereby enabling the sinking of 18m tonnes of CO2 by 2050.

Coillte will manage its existing forest estate to capture an additional 10m tonnes of CO2 by 2050;

Coillte plans to produce 25 million m3 of certified Irish timber, to support the construction of 300,000 new homes in Ireland by 2030. It will also promote the use and benefits of wood products to increase the level of timber homes from 20% to 80% by 2050;

Coillte intends to enhance and restore biodiversity by increasing the area of the forest estate being managed primarily for nature from 20% to 30% by 2025 and to 50% in the long term,

Coillte plans to enable the investment of 100 million to create world class visitor destinations to support growth in tourism and recreation by 2030. In addition, it will double the number of recreation areas nationally to 500, to benefit local communities and peoples wellbeing.

New strategic vision will be underpinned by Coilltes commercially successful business and aims to enable the creation of 1,200 direct and indirect jobs in rural communities to support the just transition to a low carbon economy in Ireland.

Coillte is responsible for the management of 440,000 hectares of Irelands forests, which represents 7% of the country. Since its establishment in 1989, it has enabled the development of a vibrant forestry and wood products sector that supports rural employment throughout Ireland.

While sustainability has always been central to the way in which Coillte manages the forest estate, Coillte believes that the growing climate and biodiversity crises, as well as societal demands for housing, jobs and wellbeing, are driving a need for greater change.

Hazelwood Forest has a stunning outlook over the Lake Isle of Inisfree. Hazelwood is considered one of the finest alluvial woodlands in all of Ireland. Coillte has undergone a new Restoring Hazelwood project which has seen the removal of dense thickets of invasive species, such as Rhododendron, thus enabling native tree species like willow, alder and ash that inhabit the area to regenerate and thrive. The natural regeneration of native species and structural diversity in the wider woodland is being enhanced by thinning areas of existing woodland. A 3km looped walking trail begins in the lakeside car park and follows along the lakeshore, featuring information signs and clear views of various islands in Lough Gill including Church Island, Goat Island and Cottage Island.

Located 8km south of Sligo lies Coilltes Union Wood. This forest is teeming with wildlife and biodiversity and eagle-eyed walkers might be lucky enough to catch sight of red squirrel, deer, pine marten, buzzards, swans and ducks in the lake. Carry on walking right to the top of Union Rock and enjoy the stunning 360 degree panoramic views of Knocknarea, the Ox Mountains and Ballisodare bay, and the Sligo/Leitrim countryside.

Gortarowey is situated below the northern face of the iconic Benbulben tabletop mountain and is adjacent to a conservation area containing a range of unique animal and plant species. The forest contains three walking trails, all multi-access with vantage points that provide panoramic views of Sligo and Donegal bays in addition to the local Ox Mountains and Knocknarea.

Coillte has an open forest policy and welcomes all visitors to its forests according to the principles of Leave No Trace.
A 45 year old man whose car failed the NCT test became extremely irate and spat in the face of the NCT worker who told him it had failed the test, Sligo District Court heard.

Paul Durkin, Ard na Veigh, Sligo was charged with assaulting Gerard Woods at the NCT Centre, Drumiskabole, Co Sligo on November 1st 2021.

The defendant, who travelled over from Scotland where he is now living became irate when he was told by the worker his car had failed the test, the court heard.

Sergeant Derek Butler outlined to the court that at 1:54pm gardai received a call from the NCT Centre about an alleged assault.

On arrival, gardai spoke to Gerard Woods who was working in the centre.

He said a male known to him had failed the NCT test on his vehicle.

He became extremely irate and spat in his face, the court heard.

Defending solicitor Mr Noel Kelly said there was a rush of blood to his clients head.

He had never assaulted anyone before, the solicitor said.

He said he travelled over from Scotland where he is living to get the car through the NCT.

When it failed the NCT test, he lost the plot, the solicitor pointed out.

He said it was completely out of character for him.

He told Judge Ciaran Liddy his client had brought the sum of 1,000 to court.

He said he was willing to give that to Mr Woods.

He was apologising profusely.

Judge Liddy ordered the 1,000 to be paid to Mr Woods and struck out the matter.

Mr Kelly said he would organise for the money to be paid to him.
Applicant Allez Farms lodged plans with Tipperary County Council on August 5, 2022, for permission to construct 48 stables at Sladagh, Lisronagh, Clonmel, County Tipperary (Stock image)

An equine development of 48 stables in South Tipperary has been given the green light near Clonmel, after the plans were appealed to An Bord Pleanala over environmental concerns, including potential impact on wild bats.

Applicant Allez Farms lodged plans with Tipperary County Council on August 5, 2022, for permission to construct 48 stables at Sladagh, Lisronagh, Clonmel, County Tipperary.

The stable building would consist of 48 stables, foaling boxes, internal corridors and ancillary storage areas. There would be a single storey building consisting of a reception, staff office and facilities along with a security staff and employee accommodation quarters. The ancillary building would consist of saw dust store, a hay barn and a covered dungstead area.

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There is to be provision of a roofed horse walker, a roofed lunging ring, along with demolition of an existing derelict, disused building stable shed structure and the construction of six new stables with a two-storey section containing storage and staff welfare facilities.

The intention is to re-clad an existing shed to the existing yard, along with modification of the existing entrance yard to the northern boundary and the creation of a new entrance to the western boundary.

Other development works include a loading ramp, internal roads, car-parking, effluent tank, treatment systems with associated and percolation areas, yards and all site works above and below ground.

Shona Foyle objected to the plans on September 7, 2022. Concerns centred on potential flooding risks, and the impact on the environment, especially to a list of protected species.

In addition, the old farm buildings house bat roosts, and are nesting sites for owls, swallows, house martins and house sparrows. The ponds and wetlands are also important breeding/spawning grounds for frogs and other species.

It is imperative that an on-the-ground survey be carried out by an ecologist before more works of any kind are undertaken on the property. Such a survey should have been included in the Planning Application, wrote the objector.

Improved water drainage will interfere with the water table, ponds and wetlands causing a negative impact on the current hydrology, ecosystem, habitats, flora and fauna.

In my opinion, significant negative effects on the environment are likely to arise due to pollution nuisance. Also, the only mitigation measures I can find refer to the construction phase of the proposed development, and not the operational phase.

Examples of mitigating measures for light pollution include keeping outdoor lights to a minimum, using motion sensors and fully shielded light fittings. Further information can be found at Dark Sky Ireland.

Information on noise pollution can be sourced at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Association of Acoustic Engineers (AACI).

In relation to traffic, Ms Foyle said she disputed a statement by the applicant to the effect that the existing traffic movements at the existing northern entrance would consist of two HGV or Tractor trips per day.

There has been a dramatic increase in traffic, noise, light and air pollution in the local area, and the proposed development will add a further unacceptable burden to the surrounding environment, submitted the objector.

Tipperary County Council granted planning permission on September 27, 2022, subject to 14 conditions. This decision was appealed by Ms Foyle to An Bord Pleanala on October 11, 2022.

On December 20, 2023, the Board issued its decision, granting permission with nine revised conditions. The Board considered that, subject to these conditions, that the proposed development would be acceptable in terms of its impact on its environment and traffic impacts and would otherwise be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.

Some of the conditions include that the developer should facilitate the recording and protection of archaeological materials and features that may exist within the site.

Detailed measures in relation to the protection of bats shall be submitted to and agreed in writing with the planning authority, prior to commencement, added the Board.
Applicant Michael Ryan lodged an application with Waterford City and County Council on December 15, 2023, for planning permission to build 51 dwellings at Duffcarrick, Ardmore, County Waterford.

The development would consist of two detached four-bed bungalows, five detached two-storey four-bed houses, nine pairs of two-storey semi-detached three-bed houses, two two-storey terraces each with one two-bed and two three-bed houses, five two-storey terraces each with two two-bed houses and two three-bed houses.

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Planning permission is also sought for all other site works, connections to services including existing drainage, new vehicular entrance off the existing R673 Dungarvan Road incorporating the adjustment of an existing layby, estate signage and boundary treatments including a pedestrian access point to an existing right of way to Ardmore beach.

An accompanying archaeological assessment by a consultancy firm on December 12, 2023, stated that the site covers an area of 1.9 hectares and is located to the north of Ardmore village, on lands adjacent and to the east of the R673 Dungarvan Road, about 135m to the west of Ardmore Beach.

The site was inspected on the 11th of December by Donald Murphy of Archaeological Consultancy Services Unit Ltd. No structures or features of an archaeological nature were identified within the study area, states the report.

This assessment concludes that while the site of the proposed development contains no Recorded Monuments, due to its location near the beach of Ardmore Bay where a Crannog, now Recorded Monument, as well as a review of previous archaeological assessments and excavations undertaken in the environs of the proposed development site and finds listed in the topographical files of the National Museum of Ireland suggest that the overall landscape of the site has the potential to contain previously unrecorded sub-surface features or deposits of an archaeological nature.

It is therefore recommended that in the event of a grant of permission, the site should be subject to further archaeological assessment in advance of any future development. The site should be archaeologically assessed by means of test trenching carried out by a qualified archaeologist working under licence issued by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in consultation with the National Museum of Ireland.

Waterford Council is due to make a planning decision by February 14, 2024. The deadline for submissions is January 27.
Waterford Gardai are appealing for information concerning a serious assault on a woman in the city (stock image).

Waterford Gardai are appealing for information concerning a serious assault on a woman in the city.

On Wednesday, January 3, at just after 11.30pm on the Poleberry Link road in Waterford city, a woman was seriously assaulted by a male.

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When gardai arrived at the scene a number of people had restrained the suspect, a male, and other people were tending to the injured party.

The suspect was arrested and charged before Waterford District Court. Gardai on Unit B at Waterford Garda Station, are requesting that the members of the public who offered assistance contact them on 051 305300 to finalise the investigation.
Priests living in the Manse may have to rent while they wait for new accommodation as the Manse is still for sale

The Parish of St. Aidans was in shock following the announcement earlier this year that the Manse in Enniscorthy was being sold.

The Manse building is over 100-years-old, having been built between 1908 and 1909. It has been home to many of the Parishs priests over the years and currently houses two priests and the parishs office and is often used as a space to hold meetings.

The decision to sell has been a tough one, but in a time of economic struggle, it has been a long time coming, according to St. Aidans priest Fr. Tom Dalton.

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"It was a very difficult decision to come to and we looked at all types of solutions before we made this decision. We have been doing that for the last three or four months,  he said.

The money will go towards day to day expenses, maintenance of the cathedral and we will need to source a new parish office. We will also need to provide new accommodation for priests and maybe a pastoral centre where we can meet as a group, Fr. Tom Dalton added.

The property is still for sale but Fr Dalton and the Parish of St. Aidans are hopeful that a sale will be made early in the New Year.

We are still waiting, he said.

Fr. Dalton says they have been looking for a new home to house the priests and a space to hold meetings and would ideally like somewhere accessible like a bungalow.

We have been looking, our ideal house would probably be a bungalow somewhere in town, he said.

We have an aging population of priests, so a bungalow would be more accessible and helpful for some, he added.

The parish priest explained that they might rent a property before they purchase something new while they look for an ideal home. They also hope to have a space where they can continue to hold meetings.

"We are looking for an office space and maybe a meeting area, we don't have any plans on it and we might end up renting a place for the moment until we get a more definite idea of what is happening.

We have the Legion of Mary Hall that we use for different bits and pieces and it will tide us over until we find something else, he added.

We can't do much at the moment though until the actual house is sold, we are hoping that it is sold sometime in the New Year, he added.
Author Michael Fortune signing a copy of his book 'The Folklore of Wexford' for Cllr Fionntan O Suilleabhain during the launch in the Loch Garman Arms Hotel on Friday evening. Pic: Jim Campbell

Ellen Fortune, Nan Fortune, Stephen Mooney and Nellie Fortune were at the launch of Michael Fortune's book 'The Folklore of Wexford' in the Loch Garman Arms Hotel on Friday evening. Pic: Jim Campbell

At the launch of the book 'The Folklore of Wexford' in the Loch Garman Arms Hotel on Friday evening were Michael Fortune (author), Lorcan Allen and Cllr Pip Breen. Pic: Jim Campbell

Maire and Eimear Comerford pictured at the launch of Michael Fortune's book 'The Folklore of Wexford' in the Loch Garman Arms Hotel on Friday evening. Pic: Jim Campbell

Aileen Lambert, Nan Fortune and Michael Fortune (Author) pictured at the launch of the book 'The Folklore of Wexford' in the Loch Garman Arms Hotel on Friday evening. Pic: Jim Campbell

Colm and Sally Brennan were pictured at the launch of Michael Fortune's book 'The Folklore of Wexford' in the Loch Garman Arms Hotel on Friday evening. Pic: Jim Campbell

Pictured at the launch of the book 'The Folklore of Wexford' in the Loch Garman Arms Hotel on Friday evening were Gerard Fleming (Chairman, North Wexford Historical Society), Michael Doyle (who launched the book), Michael Fortune (author) and Liz Burns (Arts Officer, Wexford County Council). Pic: Jim Campbell

Niamh Byrne, Tadhg Byrne, Alex Farrell and Tommy Farrell performed at the launch of Michael Fortune's book 'The Folklore of Wexford' in the Loch Garman Arms Hotel on Friday evening. Pic: Jim Campbell

Arts Officer Liz Burns addressing the attendance at the launch of Michael Fortune's book 'The Folklore of Wexford' in the Loch Garman Arms Hotel on Friday evening pictured with Michael Doyle (who launched the book), Gerard Fleming (Chairman, North Wexford Historical Society) and Michael Fortune (Author). Pic: Jim Campbell

Pictured at the launch of the book 'The Folklore of Wexford' in the Loch Garman Arms Hotel on Friday evening were Gerard Fleming (Chairman, North Wexford Historical Society), Michael Doyle (who launched the book), Michael Fortune (author) and Liz Burns (Arts Officer, Wexford County Council). Pic: Jim Campbell

Arts Officer Liz Burns, Chairman, North Wexford Historical Society Gerard Fleming, Michael Doyle as well as Councillor Pip Breen and Councillor Fionntan O Suilleabhan were all in attendance on the night.

It was a great event. There was a right mix of people from all over the county actually. Everyone we thought would be there was there and more came along too, said Michael.

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Michael began compiling the collection of local folklore and stories in late 1990s and as a result has built one of the biggest archives in Ireland. The sheer size of his collection was highlighted when the National Digitary Repository notified him recently that his digital collection would be safeguarded in a national organisation. I have many interviews with people but youre on thin ice with digital, you can easily lose stuff. Thats one of the reasons I wanted to do this because I had most of the stuff either in my head or recorded on video, said Michael.

Michael started writing the book on a near constant basis last April when Wexford County Council awarded him a grant of 3,000 through the Creative Community Scheme last April. It was long days and it was dense but I had the foundations already there. Theres community in the content but its also in the fabric of it and the making of it, said Michael.

Michael has written a few other publications previously but this is the first commercial book he has written. "This was a much bigger undertaking, we had 1,000 copies printed for the launch and three quarters of those were presold online. I kept 150 for the launch and within eight days that were gone too which is huge for a local publication. Ive only got around three boxes left now, the rest are in book shops, said Michael.

Michael a second batch of the book with 1500 copies and he currently has only 210 left. He decided to print the book in colour to match how contemporary style of Folklore. Folklore to me is not black and white and its not something from the past. Its completely contemporary and full colour from something someone does like putting a piece of holly in their cow shed or a piece of straw in a crib at Christmas time. It straddles the space between ancient and contemporary. It could be anything, said Michael.

In recent years, Michael has established a presence on social media particularly Facebook which has given him the confidence to share the content he has compiled. The great response from people shows there is an appetite for this type of thing as well, good local content, said Michael.

Michael designed the book using Canva and then self-published it. I like the independence of being able to do it myself. People say to me it would be great to do this in every county but I wont to do it because Id prefer to do it in my own county and do it nice and steady. Thats important to me, said Michael.

A team of proof-readers from Austria, Canada and all over Ireland helped him edit the final draft. Id give them a couple of chapters at a time and then theyd send them back to me. That was a lovely strand and a whole new take on it because people really wanted to help, said Michael.

Easons is the main distributor of 'The Folklore of Wexford' in Wexford. Folklore can also be bought in Red Books in Gorey, Hub 16 in New Ross and many other local shops. Check out Folklore.ie to buy it online and for the full list of shops.
When you think of outdoor activities in Wexford, long, hazy summer days, splashing through the shallows and racing against melting 99s may spring to mind.

Indeed, the sunny southeast stirs up summer nostalgia for many. Yet, while Wexford is undoubtedly an ideal spot for a summer holiday, winter can allow you to explore it in a new light. Fewer crowds and the wind-down of winter offers the opportunity to slow down and really steep yourself in the natural beauty that this county holds in abundance.

With more and more people embracing Dry January, outdoor pursuits are in big demand as we look to shake off the excesses of the tail-end of 2023 and find pleasure in lifes simple things.

On a bright and crisp winter day, theres no better way to reinvigorate yourself than by bundling up and stepping out on one of Wexfords many scenic walking trails. From peaceful forest paths to craggy coastlines, there is a wide range of landscapes waiting to be discovered.

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The popular Raven Point forest trail is a gentle walk through pine forest that all of the family can enjoy. Keep your eyes peeled for some of the forests many inhabitants, including red squirrels. On winter evenings, The Raven offers a great vantage point to view geese from the North Slob returning to Wexford Harbour to roost  a truly memorable sight.

Other trails worth exploring include Cahore Cliff Walk  where you can finish off a refreshing winter ramble with a toasty beverage from The Strand restaurant  Courtown Woodland and the three trails at Oulart Hill, one of the most historic and scenic locations in the county. For more on these walks and other trails throughout the county, see wexfordwalkingtrails.ie.

If youre brave enough to take a dip in winter, Wexford has some of the best beaches this country has to offer. Situated just 5 km. from Wexford town, Curracloe Beach is famous for its endless stretch of golden sand, as well as for its role as a filming spot for 1997 film, Saving Private Ryan. If a quick dip doesnt whet your appetite for the ocean, consider signing up for some surf lessons with local surf school, The Surf Shack.

Further south lies the tranquil Duncannon Beach. A visit is worth it for the scenery alone as the beach offers stunning views of Hook Head and, across the river, the Waterford coastline. Duncannon Beach is also just a short walk from Duncannon Fort, which is definitely worth ticking off your bucket list. As the longest stretch of unbroken coastline in Europe, its easy to find a peaceful perch for yourself along Morriscastle Beachs 20km stretch of golden sand. This Blue Flag beach is also wheelchair accessible.

SoulFire sauna at Carne beach.

Those prefer winter warmth to outdoor escapades can get the best of both by visiting one of a few beaches around the county home to a sauna. Based in Kilmore, Saltee Sauna is a wood-fired mobile sauna that was designed and crafted in Scandanavia. With its south-facing window offering stunning coastal views, you can simply sit back and enjoy the scenery, without having to get your feet wet. SoulFire at Carne Beach is another sauna experience off the beaten track. Combine a SoulFire yoga class with a beach walk, swim and a trip to their sauna for the ultimate winter self-care day.

Greenland White-fronted Geese.

Passionate birders can rejoice as a winter trip to Wexford will give you the chance to tick off a variety of species. Wexford Wildfowl Reserve is a haven for birdlife. Over 250 species having been recorded there, many of them winter migrants from the likes of Greenland and Canada. The Greenland white-fronted goose breeds in west Greenland and migrates via Iceland to winter in Ireland and Britain. The North Slob holds about 8,500 or 45 per cent of the current world population of Greenland White-fronted Goose during the winter months. Ladys Island Lake is another prime spot for birdwatching and supports a host of wintering waterfowl. Other good birding sites include Tacumshane Lake and Cahore Point.

Alpaca at Alpaca Lodge.

Fancy veering off the usual path this winter? There is a huge variety of unique activities on offer in Wexford that simply cant be found anywhere else. If youre in need of a walking companion and the dog wont do, head to Alpaca Lodge in Ballyedmond to enjoy a unique alpaca trekking experience in the Wexford countryside. There you can experience a 2 km walk skirting forest and the River Ballyedmond, all in the good company of your very own alpaca.

If four-legged fluffy mammals arent wild enough for you, take things up a notch and test your endurance at the Steeplechase course at The Stables Fitness and Wellbeing. This 5 km course is sure to push you to your limits as you fly over fences, race through rope courses and wade through the water.

Whether youre seeking some solitude in nature or want a wild wilderness adventure, theres something for all outdoor enthusiasts this winter.
Wicklow chef Tadgh Byrne looks to the future of food and what we eat

The Arklow native with a Portuguese past tells Reporter David Medcalf how his food passion grew and what we will be eating in 2050

Chef Tadgh Byrne

David Medcalf  Wicklow People Fri 5 Jan 2024 at 08:00

It goes without saying that chef Tadgh Byrne is a very good cook, as satisfied customers over the years, on three continents, will readily confirm. But, as well as serving up a good dinner, the Arklow man is capable of providing food for thought too as he explores the ideas behind his craft. He has produced a recently released film exploring the menu of the future and he previously examined the history of what we eat.
Bray has featured in a bucket list of towns that everyone should visit before they die  but while the list, compiled by the Irish Star in US  received over 1,200 likes on Facebook, not everyone approved with the choices.

The Irish Star, which is based in New York, compiled its Prettiest Irish seaside towns that should be on your bucket list, placing Howth in Dublin in top spot.

"Ireland is home to many things that can be described as beautiful, and a huge number of the country's seaside towns perfectly fit that description, it said. What makes a pretty Irish seaside town? It's the vibe, the pubs, the people, and of course, the scenery. Whether you're traveling along the rugged Wild Atlantic Way or you're exploring Ireland's Ancient East, there are some stunning towns and villages that dot the Irish coastline.

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Describing Howth, it said it boasts a huge range of things to do, coastal views, a cliff walk, and great places to eat.

Perhaps the unrelenting closure of Brays cliff walk has pushed it further down the list, because in second place it chose Kinsale, County Cork, known for the 17th-century fortresses overlooking the River Bandon, as well as colourful houses and shopfronts.

Bray has colourful houses and shopfronts too, but it still wasnt enough for the author, who put Lahinch, County Clare, in third spot, with great restaurants and pubs by the seaside . . . perhaps what this place is most known for is the surfing opportunities the waves here present.

Fair enough, Bray has nice restaurants, but the waves are a bit timid. Surely fourth place?

No. Next up is Dingle, County Kerry, with a huge number of attractions, including sea safari cruises as well as great bars and restaurants.

Bars and restaurants again . . . surely . . . and here we are, Bray in fifth spot and described as the Brighton of Ireland by the US Irish Star.

While many praised the addition of Bray on the list, not all were enamoured, as one poster  from Brighton  wrote: "Bray, the Brighton of Ireland. lol.

Still, coming in fifth place on a list compiled by a US media outlet is no mean feat. Spare a thought for Dunmore East, County Waterford, which despite great bars and restaurants, came in last.
Doctor Who star David Tennant has been announced as the host of the 2024 Baftas.

The Scottish actor, 52, said: I am delighted to have been asked to host the EE Bafta Film Awards and help celebrate the very best of this years films and the many brilliant people who bring them to life.

The ceremony will be held at the Royal Festival Hall at Londons Southbank Centre on February 18 and broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Tennant, who has appeared in TV series including Broadchurch and Good Omens, recently returned to the long-running BBC series Doctor Who for the shows 60th anniversary episodes, where he played the 14th Time Lord.

David Tennant recently returned to the long-running BBC series Doctor Who for the shows 60th anniversary episodes (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

He starred with Catherine Tate, who reprised her role as Donna Noble, a companion of the 10th Doctor, also played by Tennant.

Jane Millichip, chief executive of Bafta, said: We are over the moon that David Tennant will be our host for the 2024 EE Bafta Film Awards.

He is deservedly beloved by British and international audiences alike.

His warmth, charm and mischievous wit will make it a must-watch show next month for our guests at the Royal Festival Hall and the millions of people watching at home.

She added: The EE Bafta Film Awards recognise exceptional films and the talented people who make them.

More than 7500 of our Bafta members, creatives from all corners of the British and global film industry, have been voting over the holidays and we will be publishing their chosen longlists later today.

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We hope it will inspire people to watch more films and encourage everyone to join in the conversation on who should win a Bafta next month.

The longlists for all 24 categories of the Baftas, including best film and director, will be published on Friday at midday.

English actress Naomi Ackie and Barbie actor Kingsley Ben-Adir will announce the Bafta nominations via livestream on Thursday, January 18 at midday.

The nominations for the EE rising star award, the only Bafta where the winner is selected by the British public, will be announced on Wednesday, January 10 during an event at the Savoy.

Last year, the awards ceremony was hosted by Saltburn actor Richard E Grant and This Morning host Alison Hammond, and the year before by Australian actress and comedian Rebel Wilson.

In 2023 Tennant appeared with Tate, 54, at the TV Baftas to present the best features award to Joe Lycett VS Beckham: Got Your Back At Xmas.

The stage and screen actor has appeared in films including Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire (2005), What We Did On Our Holiday (2014) and Mary Queen Of Scots (2018).

On stage he has played Richard II and Hamlet and he is currently starring in a production of Macbeth at the Donmar Warehouse in London.

He has collected best actor awards for his performances in both Doctor Who: Doomsday and The Escape Artist from Bafta Cymru and Bafta Scotland respectively.
Oscar Pistorius released from prison 11 years after murdering girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp

Pistorius shot 29-year-old model Reeva Steenkamp dead through a locked bathroom door on Valentine's Day in 2013The South African Paralympian (37) has spent eight and a half years in jail

Oscar Pistorius released on parole after serving nine years of murder sentence

Bhargav Acharya Fri 5 Jan 2024 at 07:45







South African former Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius was released on parole on Friday, nearly 11 years after murdering his girlfriend in a crime that shocked a nation long inured to violence against women.
Thats going to be the least of it: Donald Trump claims US is facing a bloodbath if he loses November election
Israeli strikes kill more than 20 as Hamas deputy leader buried in Lebanon

Nine children among dead after shelling in south of Gaza Strip, which is full of people who have fled from other parts of the enclave

A man carries a body of a Palestinian killed in Israeli strikes on Al-Mawasi, according to a health ministry official, at a hospital in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip yesterday. Photo: Reuters

Mohammad Azakir, Nidal al-Mughrabi and Arafat Barbakh Fri 5 Jan 2024 at 03:30







Israeli shelling killed more than 20 Palestinians yesterday, including 16 in Khan Younis in a southern coastal area of the Gaza Strip packed with people who had fled from other parts of the enclave, Gaza health officials said.
Victoria Ward: Timing of Epstein files release have come at the worst possible time for Prince Andrew

British royal was back in fold with blessing of King Charles

Prince Andrew attends the Christmas Morning service at Sandringham Church last month. Photo: Getty

Victoria Ward  Telegraph.co.uk Fri 5 Jan 2024 at 03:30

In many ways, it could not have come at a worst time for Prince Andrew. There he was, proud as punch, strolling to church on Christmas Day, back in the bosom of his family.
Amid Israel-Hamas war, Houthi rebels have intensified attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea. (Representational Image/Courtesy: Pixabay)

New Delhi: Amid the recent surge in attacks in the Red Sea region, a senior government official on Friday said that the Indian government is ensuring the security of shipments on the open seas, a media report said.

Several shipments are receiving escorts in the open seas with assistance from the Indian defence forces, an official said on conditions of anonymity, reported Moneycontrol.

On January 4, the government convened a meeting with representatives from shipping companies and exporters to discuss the Suez Canal crisis and the consequent rise in shipping expenses.

"The cost of freight and insurance have increased as ships are being forced to take the longer route to avoid the Red Sea region. Though, there is no shortage of containers, vessels are facing longer turnaround time by 14 days on account of longer routes across Africa," the official was quoted as saying by Moneycontrol.

According to the report, India is considering a variety of measures, including subsidisations for Indian exporters to counterbalance higher shipping costs and insurance premiums.

New Delhi is also working with the US-led multi-nation coalition to guarantee the safe route of merchant vessels in the Red Sea.

After the Israel-Hamas war in October, the Red Sea, a crucial route for around 12 percent of global trade, has gained attention due to periodic attacks on commercial vessels by Yemen's Houthi rebels.

These incidents have raised concerns about the potential impact on global maritime commerce.
Photo courtesy: X/@HinduAmerican

Newark/IBNS: In a repeat of what had happened in the last week of December, another Hindu temple in the United States' Newark was defaced with a pro-Khalistani remark.

The incident happened at Sherawali Temple in Newark, California.

The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) posted on X, "Another Bay Area Hindu temple attacked with pro-#Khalistan graffiti.

"The Vijays Sherawali Temple in Hayward, CA sustained a copycat defacement just two weeks after the Swaminarayan Mandir attack and one week after a theft at the Shiv Durga temple in the same area."

#Breaking: Another Bay Area Hindu temple attacked with pro-#Khalistan graffiti.



The Vijays Sherawali Temple in Hayward, CA sustained a copycat defacement just two weeks after the Swaminarayan Mandir attack and one week after a theft at the Shiv Durga temple in the same area. pic.twitter.com/wPFMNcPKJJ  Hindu American Foundation (@HinduAmerican) January 5, 2024

Highlighting the temple safety guide, the HAF has stressed on the importance of the installation of "security cameras and alarm systems in view of the rising threat from Khalistan".

In December last year, the Swaminarayan Temple in Newark was defaced with Khalistani slogans.

The graffiti also mentioned slain Khalistani terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale's name on the walls.

India had strongly condemned the incident of the defacing of SMVS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir at Newark, California, with anti-India graffiti, saying "it has hurt the sentiments of the Indian community".

'Khalitani' row

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had alleged that an Indian official was involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

India rubbished Trudeau's claims calling them "motivated" and "absurd".

Later, the US claimed an Indian official had directed an attempt to murder Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, an American and Canadian citizen who is branded as a terrorist by India in 2020.

US authorities have claimed 52-year-old Nikhil Gupta and an Indian government employee held a number of telephonic conversations, where the latter was heard asking Gupta to orchestrate a murder.

In response, Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised to "look into" any evidence substantiating Washington's claims.

In an exclusive interview with Financial Times, Modi said, "If someone gives us any information, we would definitely look into it."

"If a citizen of ours has done anything good or bad, we are ready to look into it. Our commitment is to the rule of law," the Prime Minister added.
Photo courtesy: UNI

New Delhi/UNI: The Indian Navy has foiled an attempt to hijack a cargo vessel 'MV Lila Norfolk' with 15 Indians on board in the Arabian Sea.

The ship bearing the flag of Liberia was hijacked close to the coast of Somalia on Thursday evening.

According to an official statement, the hijacked vessel had sent a message on the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) portal indicating boarding by approximately five to six unknown armed personnel on January 4 evening.

After receiving the message, the Indian Navy launched a Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) and diverted INS Chennai deployed for maritime security operations to assist the vessel.

The aircraft overflew the vessel early Friday morning and established contact with it, ascertaining the safety of the crew.

The statement said the Naval aircraft was continuously monitoring the movement and INS Chennai was closing on the vessel to render assistance.

The overall situation is being closely monitored, in coordination with other agencies/ MNF in the area.

The Indian Navy remains committed to ensuring safety of merchant shipping in the region along with international partners and friendly foreign countries, the statement added.
Overall campaign chair Dean Mitchell announced Thursday that the Wiregrass United Way has reached its annual fund raising goal. The goal that was announced in August at the Pacesetter Kickoff was $2,828,280. The campaign has raised $2,871,263.

By reaching the goal, the WUW will now receive an additional $400,000 from the Wiregrass Foundation. When the campaign started, the Foundation challenged the local United Way to reach their goal, and the Foundation would then contribute $400,000 for the United Way to distribute to their partnering organizations.

Mitchell thanked the many volunteers who spent numerous hours assisting with the campaign. It takes a lot of people working together toward a common goal to achieve a goal of this magnitude, he said. We could never have reached this milestone without the dedication of so many people. On behalf of the thousands of Wiregrass residents who will benefit from the programs and services provided by the agencies, we say thank you.

The county campaign chairs were Jessica King, Barbour County; Lee Milliner, Coffee County; Heather Cohen, Dale County; Jason Thrash, Geneva County; Sheriff Eric Blankenship, Henry County; and Chris Etheredge, Houston County. Numerous volunteers served as Loaned Executives and Campaign Coordinators.

Trae Avant, Board of Trustees Chair, credited the dedicated volunteers and staff for their hard work during the campaign. Once again we were blessed with strong leadership from our volunteers. Back in April when the goal was set, they all said we would reach the goal, and they all worked hard to get us to this point, he added.

WUW CEO Walter Hill reiterated the comments made by Avant and Mitchell. He also thanked the two of them for their dedication and commitment to the WUW. These two provided excellent leadership and kept all of us motivated from start to finish. We would not be here today without them, Hill said.

The WUW has served the Wiregrass area since 1938, currently funding 37 community impact partners in Barbour, Coffee, Dale, Geneva, Henry and Houston counties. Funds raised by the Wiregrass United Way are utilized locally in the six county area. A committee of local volunteers determines how the funds are distributed among the member agencies. For more information, call (334) 792-9661.
Photo courtesy: Screenshot grab from video

Kolkata/UNI/IBNS: In a shocking incident, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials were attacked, beaten up and forced to flee abandoning its raids by a section of activists from the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas.

The TMC activists reportedly have allegiance to Shahjahan Sheikh, a block level leader of Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas on Friday.

The ED, probing the alleged statutory ration distribution scam following a Calcutta High Court order, went early on Friday to raid the house of Shahjahan Sheikh at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas.

The ED officials, after finding the collapsible gates of the TMC leader's house locked from inside, tried to break it open.

Seeing the ED officials, who were escorted by the Central armed forces, were trying to break open the locks, the TMC activists immediately attacked the central investigation officials, who finally abandoned the raid for their safety.

The ED officials said they were safe and abandoned the raid for fear of being attacked.

The probe agency has been raiding the premises of two block-level leaders and their relatives since Friday morning, they said.

The ED had gone to Sandeshkhali in search of two premises of two block-level leaders Shahjahan Sheikh and Shankar Adhya, and their relatives.

The agency alleged their vehicles were damaged in the attacks.

The TMC activists did not spare the media persons, who went there to cover the raids.

Sources said cameras and mobile phones of the media persons were damaged in the attack.

Shahjahan is attached with the district fishery and animal husbandry executive, said to be a close associate of arrested Forest Minister

Jyotipriya Mallick, a former food minister.

A senior ED officer in Kolkata told IBNS, "We have sent a report regarding the Sandeshkhali incident, to our headquarters in Delhi, waiting for their order on next step."

"Three of our officials have been injured. Two among them have head injuries. Assistant Director Rajkumar Ram, and two Enforcement Officials - Ankur and Somnath Dutta- have also been injured."

A CRPF official in West Bengal told IBNS: "Two of our vehicles carrying CRPF personnel were vandalized by mob in Sandeshkhali. We have reported this to our headquarters and Ministry of Home Affairs in Delhi. Our armed personnel showed extreme patience during the incident. They did not restore to counter attack. We are preparing to lodge complaint at local Police Station.

"We have deployed more personnel to the scene. Our force along with senior officials are waiting 20km away from the area where the attack took place. We are waiting for next order from our headquarters."

MoS, Home, Nisith Pramanik said, "This is not an attack on a central agency, it is an attack on federal structure. The central govt is looking into this matter with utmost seriousness."

Reacting to the incident, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, "What happened in Sandeshkhali today is a reaction of provocation by central agencies. Central agencies are playfully doing this to malign TMC government's image in Bengal."

West Bengal Governor CV Anand Bose has asked state Chief Secretary, Home Secretary & DGP to come to Raj Bhaban at the earliest with reports on Sandeshkhali incident.

Kolkata Press Club condemns the attack

Kolkata Press Club condemned the attack on the media personnel during the episode.
Photo courtesy: UNI

A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta refused to entertain the appeal filed against an order of the Allahabad High Court which had dismissed the PIL.

"It would not be right for us to interfere. Sorry. Not a matter for PIL", said the Supreme Court, saying its a dispute on questions of fact. The court clarified that the petition will not come in the way of any future application.

The Allahabad High Court had in October 2023 rejected the PIL filed by advocate Mahek Maheshwari seeking to recognise Mathuras Shahi Idgah Mosque as the site of Krishna Janambhoomi (Birthplace of Lord Krishna)

The petitioner cited various historical texts and said, It is a documented fact that the site is Krishna Janambhoomi and its historical roots could be traced back to the Ramayana era."

The petitioner argued that since Islam has arrived much later than the Ramayana period, the structure cannot be treated as a mosque.

The petitioner urged the court to transfer the land where Shahi Idgah Mosque is situated to the Hindu community. A legitimate trust could be established for the Krishna Janambhoomi Janamsthan which would construct the temple, the petitioner had suggested.

The petitioner said the Shahi Idgah does not qualify for the status of a legitimate mosque under Islamic jurisprudence since a mosque cannot be constructed on land acquired through force.

On the other hand, according to Hindu jurisprudence, a temple retains its sacred status even if it lies in ruins, the petitioner said.

The plea also asked for a court-monitored excavation using GPRS technology by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) at the disputed site to ascertain whether the Mosque was constructed over Krishna Janmasthan.

The High Court had dismissed the case after noting that the reliefs sought were already pending consideration before the High Court in related suits. This led to the appeal before the apex court.

A civil suit is already pending before a trial court seeking similar reliefs.

All three courts, the trial court in Uttar Pradesh, the Allahabad High Court, and the Supreme Court had rejected the Hindu Trust's plea for a scientific survey of the disputed site.
Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

New Delhi/UNI: The news portal NewsClick has moved the Supreme Court, seeking guidelines and safeguards on police powers for search and seizure.

The news portal has alleged that no procedural norms are being followed during the process.

A bench comprising Justice BR Gavai and Justice Sandeep Mehta agreed to hear the plea and issued notice to the Centre seeking a reply.

Initially, Justice BR Gavai said, We do not appreciate coming directly to this court. To this senior advocate, Kapil Sibal said, but such pleas have been entertained before and are pending before this court.

"Government should come out with guidelines, How can things be seized in this fashion," he said.

In October 2023, the Special Cell of Delhi Police arrested the news portal's human resources department head Amit Chakravarty, and founder and Editor-in-Chief Prabir Purkayastha under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) (UAPA) Act, 1967 over allegations that the news portal received money to spread pro-China propaganda.

According to the FIR, a large amount of funds came to the news portal from China to "disrupt the sovereignty of India" and cause disaffection against the country.

It also alleged Purkayastha conspired with a group  People's Alliance for Democracy and Secularism (PADS)  to sabotage the electoral process during the 2019 Lok Sabha poll.

On October 3, 2023 Raids were conducted at 88 locations in Delhi and other states on the suspects named in the FIR. Around 300 electronic gadgets were also seized from the offices of NewsClick and the residences of their journalists.

The Supreme Court while issuing notice to the Centre tagged the plea of NewsClick with a batch of applications on a similar issue of the need for safeguards for the search and seizure of electronic devices of the accused.
Photo Courtesy: UNI

Indian Navy's Mission Deployed platforms responded swiftly to a maritime incident in Arabian Sea involving a hijacking attempt onboard Liberia Flagged bulk carrier, officials said on Friday.

"The vessel had sent a message on UKMTO portal indicating boarding by approximately five to six unknown armed personnel in the evening on 04 Jan 24," read a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence.

Responding swiftly to the developing situation, Indian Navy launched a Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) and has diverted INS Chennai deployed for Maritime Security Operations to assist the vessel.

"The aircraft overflew the vessel on early morning of 05 Jan 24 and established contact with the vessel, ascertaining the Safety of the crew," the statement said.

"Naval aircraft continues to monitor movement and INS Chennai is closing the vessel to render assistance," the statement said.

#IndianNavy's Mission Deployed platforms respond to #hijacking in the #ArabianSea.

Liberia registered bulk carrier reported boarding by 5 - 6 unauthorised armed personnel on @UK_MTO portal in the evening of #04Jan 24.

Indian Naval MPA launched, established contact with the  SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) January 5, 2024

The overall situation is being closely monitored, in coordination with other agencies/ MNF in the area.

The Indian Navy remains committed to ensuring safety of merchant shipping in the region along with international partners and friendly foreign countries.
Photo courtesy: UNI

New Delhi/IBNS/UNI: The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to consider a plea for an urgent hearing on an application by a group of Hindu women, for cleaning the water tank at Gyanvapi mosque where a 'Shivlinga' was claimed to have been found during the survey by the court-appointed commissioner.

Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain appeared before a bench headed by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud and mentioned that the matter is listed on Jan 12. But he asked the court to fix an early date for the hearing on the plea by some women applicants who want to clean the water tank in the mosque area which is sealed.

The CJI asked Jain to send a request through email, which would be looked into. The bench also comprised Justice J B Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra.

The women applicants have sought a right of worship at Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi, while the Muslim side claimed the 'Shivlinga' was a fountain. In their application, the women said that the water tank had not been cleaned since May 16, 2022, when the survey was conducted.

"It is submitted that the fish in the water tank have died and due to the same, there is a putrid smell emitting from the tank."

The plea also claimed that the petitioner Anjuman Intezamia was responsible for the death of the fish.

"In case, the fish would have been transferred as requested by the District Magistrate, Varanasi, the present unfortunate situation would have not occurred.

"Since there exists Shivlingam which is sacred to Hindus and should be kept away from all dirt, grime, dead animals, etc, and must be kept in clean condition, is currently amid dead fish which is hurtful to the sentiments to the devotees of the Lord Shiva," the plea said.

The plea filed by Jain sought a direction from the Top Court to the District Magistrate for cleaning the entire area of Shivlingam and maintaining hygienic conditions.

It said the water tank and the surrounding area were sealed on May 16, 2022, on the orders of the Civil Judge, Varanasi, and the said order was subsumed in the order of May 20, 2022, passed by the Supreme Court.

The women applicants also submitted that an application was filed on May 17, 2022, on behalf of the Government of Uttar Pradesh and District Magistrate, Varanasi for issuance of suitable directions to transfer the fish from the pond otherwise there was a danger to their lives.

However, the application was opposed by Anjuman Intezamia saying that the fish could not be transferred from the place in question.

In May 2022, the Supreme Court directed for the protection of the 'Shivling', and also to provide free access to Muslims to the site for offering namaz.
In image Mizoram CM meeting Amit Shah/ courtesy: Lalduhoma

Aizawl/IBNS/UNI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday assured Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma that Myanmar refugees who are sheltering in the state will not be sent back until and unless peace is restored in the neighbouring country.

Shah said this when Lalduhoma called on him at the latters office in Delhi yesterday afternoon.

The Home Minister conveyed the Centres intention to the CM not to send back the 31,873 refugees from Myanmar taking refuge in Mizoram.

I want the people of Mizoram to know that the refugees will not be deported unless and until peace is restored in Myanmar, Shah told Lalduhoma.

Shah also informed Lalduhoma that the policy of the present government at the Centre is to take and record fingerprints of all the foreigners living in the country.

It may be noted that the previous Mizo National Front (MNF) government turned down Delhis direction to collect biographic and biometric data from the Myanmar refugees last year.

The two leaders discussed the Mizoram Registration of Household bill, passed by the state legislature in 2019, which is yet to be given assent by the President of India.

Shah asked Lalduhoma to make some amendments to the bill before it is submitted again. Lalduhoma later met Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla and informed him about the Union Home Ministers assurances not to deport Myanmar refugees from Mizoram.

The MNF government in early 2021 had rejected the directions of the Centre to push back refugees from Myanmar who fled their country following the military coup detat on February 1 which triggered a brutal military crackdown on pro-democratic demonstrators who launched a civil disobedience movement.

The state government continued to let the tens of thousands of Myanmar refugees take refuge with the government, civil societies, churches, and individuals by continuing to provide humanitarian assistance to them.
Photo courtesy: Facebook/PM Modi

New Delhi/IBNS: Under the shadow of a decades-old border conflict, Chinas state-run Global Times has heaped praises on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for India's strides in economic progress, social governance, and foreign policy.

The article, penned by Zhang Jiadong, the Director of the Center for South Asian Studies at Fudan University, Shanghai, in a rare instance, highlights that India's domestic and foreign situation has changed tremendously compared to four years ago.

Interestingly, the coverage in Global Times, which is a Chinese communist party paper, acknowledges India's robust economic growth, improvements in urban governance, and a shift in attitude toward international relations, notably with China.

For example, when discussing the trade imbalance between China and India, Indian representatives earlier used to primarily focus on China's measures to reduce the trade imbalance. But now they are placing more emphasis on India's export potential," writes the author.

The article has commended India's proactive approach to fostering a "Bharat narrative," emphasizing the nation's strategic confidence.

The author says with its rapid economic and social development, India has become more strategically confident and more proactive in creating and developing a Bharat narrative.

In the political and cultural spheres, India has moved from emphasizing its democratic consensus with the West to highlighting the Indian feature of democratic politics. Currently, there is even more emphasis on the Indian origins of democratic politics, Jiadong points out.

This shift, according to the Chinese professor, reflects India's ambition to escape its historical colonial shadow and position itself as a global influencer, politically and culturally.

On India's foreign policy strategy, Jiadong highlights the nation's multi-alignment approach and bolstering ties with major global powers like the US, Japan, and Russia while displaying a nuanced stance in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The article notes that India's strategic thinking in foreign policy has undergone another change under PM Modi's leadership and is moving toward a great power strategy.

Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed power, he has advocated for a multi-alignment strategy, promoting India's relations with the US, Japan, Russia and other countries and regional organizations writes the Professor.

The article notes that India has always considered itself a world power. However, it has only been less than 10 years since India shifted from multi-balancing to multi-alignment, and now it is rapidly transforming toward a strategy of becoming a pole in the multipolar world.

In conclusion, the author says It appears that a transformed, stronger, and more assertive India has become a new geopolitical factor that many countries need to consider.

In response to the article in the Beijing-based media, the Indian government said that it reflects growing recognition of India's burgeoning global influence.

"This rare acknowledgment of India's advancements and Prime Minister Modi's strategic vision by Global Times signifies the growing recognition of India's burgeoning global influence and the implications of its assertive posture on the international landscape," it said.
Photo courtesy: Instagram/Deepika Padukone

Mumbai/IBNS: Bollywood superstar Deepika Padukone, who turned 38 on Friday, has recently opened up about having kids with her actor husband Ranveer Singh.

In an interview with Vogue Singapore, Deepika revealed she wants to start her own family with Ranveer, who is also a popular actor of the Hindi film industry.

Photo courtesy: Instagram/Deepika Padukone

Deepika says in the interview, "In this industry, its easy to get carried away by fame and money. But no one treats me like a celebrity at home. I am a daughter and a sister first. I dont want that to change.

"My family keeps me grounded and Ranveer and I hope to inculcate the same values in our children."

When asked whether she is looking forward to having kids, the leading Bollywood lady said, "Absolutely. Ranveer and I love children. We look forward to the day when we will start our own family."

On the work front, Deepika, who featured two big hits 'Pathaan' and 'Jawan' in 2023, is gearing up for her upcoming release, 'Fighter' where she collaborated with Hrithik Roshan for the first time.

Photo courtesy: Screenshot grab YouTube video

The film, co-starring Anil Kapoor and directed by Siddharth Anand, will hit the theatres on January 25 on the occasion of India's Republic Day.

Apart from 'Fighter', Deepika, who made her debut in 2007 with 'Om Shanti Om', is waiting for two more releases, 'Project K' and 'Singhan Again'.

Some of her films which went on to become big hits include 'Bachna Ae Haseeno', 'Cocktail', 'Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani', 'Chennai Express', 'Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela', 'Happy New Year', 'Piku', 'Padmaavat', 'Pathaan'.
Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Friday said his government is keen to offer eco-friendly and sustainable tourism which is going to support the fragile ecology of the state.

He said his government is not interested in mass tourism.

Mizoram is keen to offer eco-friendly and sustainable tourism that respect the fragile ecology of the State and its meager population but not interested in mass tourism," he said while speaking at an event hosted by the Merchants' Chamber of Commerce & Industry in Kolkata.

The Chief Minister said his state needs better roads, railway lines and inland waterways for crucial development for inclusive and sustainable growth of the economy of the state.

He said Mizoram needs meaningful investment from both the Central Government and private players.

"Mizoram is the second-largest producer of bamboo in North Eastern India and second largest producer of strawberries in India. It is a gold mine for researchers seeking out medicinal and aromatic plants," he said.

He referred to his government's 100-day programme when it will try to achieve and implement certain goals.

"2024 will be a year of financial consolidation for Mizoram," he said.

(Reporting by Supriyo Hazra)
TROY-A Pike County man is sentenced to life without the possibility of parole after pleading guilty Thursday to the capital murder of the mother of his six children.

Michael Deramus Walker Sr., 41, pled guilty in Pike County Court to the Oct. 24, 2019, murder of Melissa Lenny Pelton, 30, according to 12th Judicial Circuit District Attorney James Tarbox.

Walker has been in jail since his arrest Oct. 25, 2019, in connection with Peltons shooting death which occurred at the Poplar Hills Mobile Home Park on U.S. 231 South.

At the time of the shooting death, then-Troy police Chief Randall Barr said officers responded to a shooting call at the mobile home park at about 9:50 p.m. When officers arrived on the scene, they found the victim deceased, he said.

Walker, who Barr said was in a relationship with the victim, was taken into custody the next day. Under Alabama law, he was charged with capital murder because the killing took place in the presence of the victims children under the age of 14.

Twelfth Judicial Circuit Judge Sonny Reagan sentenced Walker to life without the possibility of parole. In exchange for Walkers guilty plea, the 12th Judicial Circuit District Attorneys office agreed to not seek the death penalty in the case, Tarbox said.

Tarbox credited the Troy Police Department and the Pike County Coroners Office for their investigation in connection with Peltons death and Assistant District Attorneys Ternisha Jones and Jon Folmar for their prosecution of the case.

This outcome allows both for justice to be served and for the children who witnessed their mother being murdered from having to testify in open court about the terrible things they witnessed on the night of the murder, said Tarbox.

Walker will be transported to the Alabama Department of Corrections where he will spend the rest of his life in custody, said Tarbox after the sentencing. The District Attorneys Office believes this serious sentence is a proper and just outcome for this case given the violent and heinous nature of the offense committed by Walker.
Photo Courtesy: Unsplash

At least two terrorists were killed during an intelligence-based operation in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region, media reports said on Friday.

The deceased included a 'high-value target'.

In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said security forces conducted an operation late last night on the reported presence of terrorists, reports Dawn News.

After an intense fire exchange, two terrorists, including HVT Gul Yousaf Toor, were sent to hell, it said.

The ISPR stated that Toor had remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against security forces, including high-profile terrorist attacks in Tank and Dera Ismail Khan districts as well as extortion and target killing of innocent civilians.

He was highly wanted by the law enforcement agencies and [the] government had fixed head money of Rs2.5 million on him, the ISPR added as quoted by Dawn News.

Pakistan, especially the KP and Balochistan regions, are witnessing a spike in terrorism after banned militant Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan ended the ceasefire with the government in 2022.
Two properties belonging to the family members of Dawood Ibrahim in Ratnagiri district in Maharashtra were sold off in an auction on Friday.

The properties were auctioned under the Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act.

BCCL

Two properties had no bids

No bids were received for two of the four properties located at Mumbke village in Khed tehsil of Ratnagiri.

The other two properties received four and three bidders, respectively, and an undisclosed person emerged as the successful bidder for both of them that were sold.

One of the sold properties, an agricultural land measuring 170.98 sqmt, received the highest bid of Rs 2.01 crore against the reserve price of Rs 15,440.

Another agricultural land measuring 1730 sqmt -- fetched the highest bid of Rs 3.28 lakh against the reserve price of Rs 1,56,270.

Dawood's properties auctioned in the past

Earlier in 2020, Dawood's childhood home, along with five other properties in Mumbake village, were auctioned off by SAFEMA.

BCCL

Before that, in November 2017, three other prime properties in south Mumbai, comprising rooms, a guest house and a hotel, were sold to various parties.

BCCL

Where is Dawood Ibrahim?

Dawood Ibrahim, one of India's most wanted terrorists, is also the mastermind of the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts.

Dawood, who was declared a "Global Terrorist in 2003 by the Indian and United States governments, is believed to be living in Pakistan under the protection of ISI.

Recently, there were widespread rumours on social media that he was admitted to a hospital after being poisoned.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
The Uttar Pradesh Police on Friday said that a gangster carrying a reward of Rs 1 lakh on his head was killed in an encounter.

Vinod Upadhyay, son of Ramkumar Upadhyay, resident of Mayabazar police station Maharajganj Ayodhya, had sustained injuries in an encounter with Uttar Pradesh Police's Special Task Force in Sultanpur district on Friday morning.

BCCL

He was taken to a hospital, where the doctors declared him brought dead.

Upadhyay's history of crimes

As many as 35 cases of heinous crimes, including several kidnapping and murder cases, were registered against Upadhyay in Gorakhpur, Basti, Sant Kabir Nagar and Lucknow.

In September 2023, Gorakhpur police had announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh on him.

BCCL

According to police, Upadhyay was a big name in the world of crime and included in the list of the top 61 mafia of Uttar Pradesh.

Killed in encounter with police

On Thursday night, an encounter broke out between the STF team led by Dy SP Deepak Kumar Singh and Upadhyay in the Kotwali police station area.

SCREENGRAB

In the encounter, Upadhyay was seriously injured, and he was brought to the medical college in Sultanpur for treatment, where he was declared dead.

BCCL

After the encounter, a large cache of arms, including a pistol, a sten gun and cartridges, along with a Swift car, was recovered from the spot.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
The Indian Navy has deployed a warship after a Liberian-flagged vessel was hijacked in the Arabian Sea.

The cargo ship, MV Lila Norfolk, which has at least 15 Indian crew members on board, was hijacked near Somalia's coast.

Marine Traffic

MV Lila Norfolk hijacked on January 4

The bulk carrier ship sent a message on the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations portal saying five to six unknown armed personnel had boarded on the evening of January 4.

An Indian warship, the INS Chennai, was diverted and deployed to assist the vessel, the statement said, adding that a naval aircraft overflew the hijacked vessel on Friday and had established contact with it, ascertaining the safety of the crew.

AP

Contact established with crew

"Naval aircraft continues to monitor movement, and INS Chennai is closing the vessel to render assistance," a Navy Spokesperson said.

"The overall situation is being closely monitored in coordination with other agencies in the area," he said.

Increase in attacks in Arabian Sea

The development comes at a time when the Indian Navy has increased its surveillance of the Arabian Sea after a recent spate of attacks in the region.

Earlier this week, the navy said it had investigated a large number of fishing vessels and boarded vessels of interest in the North and Central Arabian Sea.

"India plays the role of a net security provider in the entire Indian Ocean region. We will ensure that maritime trade in this region rises from the sea to the heights of the sky," Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said last month of the increased surveillance in the region.

INS KOCHI

Liberian tanker hit by Drone

Last month, the Indian Navy had deployed three Guided Missile Destroyer warships -- INS Mormugao, INS Kochi and INS Kolkata in various areas of the Arabian Sea after MV Chem Pluto, a Liberian chemical tanker, was struck by a drone off India's west coast.

The Israel-affiliated merchant vessel, which had 21 Indians and one Vietnamese citizen as crew members, was struck off the Indian coast on December 23 by suspected drones that originated in Iran.

Indian Coast Guard

Following this, MV Chem Pluto was escorted on its way to Mumbai by Indian Coast Guard ship ICGS Vikram and is currently anchored at outer anchorage off Mumbai.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a plea seeking the recognition of Mathura's Shahi Idgah Mosque site as Krishna Janmabhoomi and handing over the land to Hindus.

"The issue is already pending before the high court. Let's not have a multiplicity of litigation," a bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta said.

AP

What the petition sought

The plea was filed by one Mahek Maheshwari challenging an Allahabad High Court order dismissing a PIL seeking a direction to the Uttar Pradesh government to acquire the Krishna Jahmabhoomi Janmasthan at Mathura and hand it over to the Hindus for worshipping Lord Krishna.

Petitioner's counsel said the high court has dismissed the PIL on the ground that suits are pending.

What Supreme Court said

The bench said the petitioner had filed a PIL, which is why the high court dismissed it.

BCCL

"We are not inclined to interfere with the impugned judgement, and hence the SLP is dismissed. We clarify that the dismissal of the SLP does not comment on the right of parties to challenge the vires of any enactment or prevents or bars any party from challenging the vires of any enactment," the bench ordered.

Fundamental right to worship

Maheshwari had said in his PIL that he is a devout Hindu and prayed that his fundamental right to worship be facilitated and protected.

His PIL before the high court said that the actual place of Krishna Jahmabhoomi Janmasthan, over which the Shahi Idgah Mosque exists, should be acquired by the state government and be handed over to the Hindus for worshipping Lord Krishna Virajman in the Krishna Janmasthan.

BCCL

The petition had argued that various texts had recorded the site in question as Krishna Janmabhoomi land and claimed that it was not a proper mosque, as the same was built by forcibly acquiring the land in question.

The plea said that it was not a proper mosque because, as per Islamic jurisprudence, a mosque could not be built on forcibly acquired land. On the other hand, as per Hindu jurisprudence, a temple was a temple even if it was in ruins, added the petition.

BCCL

The state government's counsel had opposed the PIL, saying it is not in the public interest and espouses a personal cause in as much the petitioner claims to be a devout Hindu and ardent Krishna devotee.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
The Islamic State (IS) has claimed responsibility for two explosions in Iran that killed close to 100 people on Wednesday in Kerman.

In a statement posted on its affiliate Telegram channels, IS said two of its members had detonated explosive belts in the crowd that had gathered at the cemetery in the southeastern Iranian city on Wednesday to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the death of Qasem Soleimani.

REUTERS

The former chief commander of the elite Quds force, the overseas arm of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, was assassinated in Iraq in 2020 by a US drone.

What IS said

IS identified the two attackers as Omar al-Mowahed and Seif-Allah al-Mujahed. IS, a Sunni militant group, also used disparaging language when discussing Shiites, which it views as heretics.

Experts who follow the group confirmed that the statement, circulated online among jihadists, came from the extremists, who likely hope to take advantage of the chaos gripping the region amid Israel's war on Hamas.

REUTERS

Who carried out the attack?

The statement did not mention which regional arm of the extremists carried out the attack as compared to other claims in the past. But Aaron Y Zelin, a senior fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said that some previous claims have not specified the regional arm and that the latest claim came directly from an account associated with the group.

AFP

The Islamic State group previously claimed a June 2017 attack in Tehran on parliament and a mausoleum of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini that killed at least 18 people and wounded more than 50. The group has claimed two other assaults as well.

How Iran reacted

Tehran has vowed revenge for the bloodiest such attack since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

"A very strong retaliation will be meted out to them by the hands of the soldiers of Soleimani," Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber said in Kerman.

AFP

Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard Corps described the attacks as a cowardly act "aimed at creating insecurity and seeking revenge against the nation's deep love and devotion to the Islamic Republic".

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
Take a mouthwatering trip as artificial intelligence reveals a delicious blend of flavours in Lay's newest products.



These chips made by AI promise to reinvent snack demands, offering flavours such as the aromatic richness of Biryani and the zesty tang of Dhokla.

This inventive culinary project presents a symphony of textures and spices with each crunch by fusing taste and technology.

Prepare yourself for an unparalleled snacking experience as Lay's unveils an array of enticing, artificial intelligence-crafted flavours that will have your taste buds aching for more.

Get ready for a revolution in snacking that combines history with modern culinary inventiveness.

Who Created This AI-Generated Lay's Flavour?

Credit: LinkedIn

Abhishek Prabhu is the man behind the AI creation of these desi-flavoured Lay's. He is the Head of Content at WLDD.



What Are These AI-Generated Lays?

The LinkedIn user provided an inventive perspective on the food industry and offered his original interpretation of the well-known Lay's chip brand.

Wary of the same old Magic Masala flavour, Prabhu proposed a makeover that honours India's varied culinary traditions.

Prabhu emphasised in his post that there is much more to India's diverse culinary scene than just a basic masala flavor.

To highlight the wide range of Indian cuisine to a worldwide audience, he suggested adding ethnic flavours to Lays chips.

Credit: LinkedIn

The inventive flavours produced by AI include Biryani, a fragrant rice meal adored throughout India, and Dhokla, a snack famous in western India.

His inventive menu also included Butter Chicken, a flavorful and creamy North Indian curry, and Pahadon Wali Maggi, a take on the popular instant noodle dish with a mountainous backdrop.



Credit: LinkedIn

"Out of all of these, which taste would be a wise choice? Tell me in the comments section below!" Prabhu's caption said.

When Did The Post Go Viral?

Just two days ago, Abhishek shared the post, which has gone viral.

Where Can You Check Out The Post?

Credit: LinkedIn

You can check out the full post with images on Abhishek Prabhu's LinkedIn profile.



Credit: LinkedIn

How Did The Internet React?

Credit: LinkedIn

Prabhu's post, which featured the AI-generated pictures, piqued people's interest and encouraged them to comment on the unusual chip flavours.



Embracing India's culinary legacy in a snack style and going beyond the typical masala flavour was well-received by people online.

Credit: LinkedIn

Credit: LinkedIn

What do you think about it? Do let us know in the comments.



For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram.
At a time when uncertainties around global tech slowdowns and mass layoffs are increasingly being talked about, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay has recorded a successful placement season.



IIT Bombay Records 85 Job Offers Over Rs 1 Crore

iitb

Out of total 1,340 offers made during the first phase of the placements at IIT Bombay, 85 offered salary-packages of more than Rs 1 crore. Last year, only 25 students were placed with offers of more than Rs 1 crore.



In the placements, the average salary package too has witnessed a marginal rise, from Rs 23.26 lakh per annum last year to Rs 24.02 lakh per annum this year in the first phase.

Also Read: IIT At 13, Apple At 24: Meet Prodigy Satyam Kumar

Which Companies Were The Top Recruiters At IIT-B?

Sectors that have the highest number of job offers rolled out are Engineering & Technology, IT/Software, Finance/Banking/Fintech, Management Consulting, Data Science and Analytics, Research & Development, and Design.

Also, some of the top recruiters who have reportedly visited the campus this season are Accenture, Airbus, Air India, Apple, Arthur D. Little, Bajaj, Barclays, Cohesity, Da Vinci, DHL, Fullerton, Future First, GE-ITC, Global Energy and Environ, Google, Honda R&D, ICICI-Lombard, ideaForge, IMC Trading, Intel, Jaguar Land Rover, JP Morgan Chase, JSW etc.

indianexpress

Also Read: IIT Graduate Cracks UPSC Exam In His Fourth Attempt After Quitting Rs 36 Lakh Per Annum Job



How Many IIT Bombay Students Have Been Placed?



This year's participation rate among participating companies is significantly higher than last year's. This year, 388 companies took part in total and submitted 1,340 offers. In contrast, only 293 participating companies made a total of 1,348 offers during phase one of the placement season the previous year. This year, 63 foreign offers totalthe same as the previous yearwere made. Locations in Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, the Netherlands, Singapore, and Hong Kong were among the international offers. The highest offer of the year is reportedly from an international company that makes Rs 29 lakh Hong Kong dollars annually. However, the institute has not disclosed the specifics of the best offer.

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IIT Bombay announced its placement report for phase one a few days ago. This 20-day placement phase ended on December 20. "The placement office has made significant efforts to guarantee a comparable pool of offers, albeit with a larger number of companies, in light of market concerns. Our goal is to advance more businesses to the next stage. According to an Indian Express report, an official from the IIT Bombay placement office stated, "Although the process is slow, the offers are coming." The official also stated that over 2,000 students have registered for placements this year, with 60% of them having already been placed in the first phase. January 2024 will mark the start of the placements' second phase.



Also Read: Why Apple & Google CEOs Fight To Hire & Retain Two IITians

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2024 has indeed begun as a happy new year for Gautam Adani and his conglomerate Adani Group. Just a couple of days after its big win that came when the Supreme Court ruled in its favour, the surge in Adani group stocks has helped billionaire Gautam Adani reclaim the title that he had lost about a year ago to Mukesh Ambani.



Gautam Adani Overtakes Mukesh Ambani As India's Richest Person

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61-year-old Gautam Adani has reclaimed the title of being India's as well as Asias richest person, with his net worth going past that of Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani.



As per the Bloomberg billionaire index, Adani's net worth has surged more than $13 billion this year to hit the $97.6 billion mark. The $7.6 billion surge in a single day yesterday is what helped Adani overtake Mukesh Ambani, with Reliance Industries' chairman's net worth currently being $97 billion. With Adani stocks on a surge, Gautam Adani's net worth seems set to keep growing further.

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Also Read: List Of All Companies That Come Under Adani Group

When Had Ambani Overtaken Adani?

forbes

Last year, on February 1, 2023, as the bloodbath in Adani Group shares continued to erode the billionaire's net worth, Gautam Adani lost his position as India's and Asia's richest person to Ambani. Adani was also the world's third-richest person at the beginning of 2023.



As per Forbes' real-time billionaires list at that time, Gautam Adani had a net worth of $75.1 billion, whereas Mukesh Ambani had a net worth of $83.7 billion.

Also Read: Gautam Adani's Son Karan Adani Named New MD In Major Rejig At Adani Ports

Hindenburg Research's Attack On Adani Group

indiatimes

NEW FROM US:



Adani Group  How The Worlds 3rd Richest Man Is Pulling The Largest Con In Corporate Historyhttps://t.co/JkZFt60V7f



(1/x)  Hindenburg Research (@HindenburgRes) January 25, 2023

In January last year, US-based investment research and short-selling firm Hindenburg came out with a report mentioning how Gautam Adani is pulling the largest con in corporate history. Hindenburg mentioned that, based on its research, it has taken a short position in Adani Group Companies through U.S.-traded bonds and non-Indian-traded derivative instruments. It has accused the Adani Group of accounting frauds, stock manipulations, and money laundering. Click here to know more about it.



Also Read: Meet Nathan Anderson, The Man Behind Hindenburg Report

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More than 42 years after co-founding Infosys, Narayana Murthy has made a big revelation about a decision that he regrets regarding his wife Sudha.

Narayana Murthy Did Not Wife Sudha Join Infosys

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Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy has recalled why he never let his wife Sudha Murty join the company. He expressed regret over his decision to not let his wife, Sudha Murty, join Infosys.



I was wrong. Now I dont believe in this. I think what I was doing those days was wrong. I was wrongly idealistic, and in some ways, I think, I was influenced a lot by the environment of those days, Murthy told CNBC-TV18 in an interview, as per various media reports.

Also Read: Meet NS Raghavan, Infosys First Employee Who Joined Before Narayana Murthy

Sudha Murty Had Given Rs 10,000 To Start Infosys

acropolis.org

Back in 1981, it was Sudha Murty who gave her husband Rs 10,000 as the seed capital to set up Infosys. The money came from her personal emergency fund. When she asked to formally join Infosys, Narayana Murthy turned her down, saying family members should not join the company.



I had this feeling that good corporate governance means not bringing family into it because those days it was only family where all kinds of children used to come and run the company. There used to be violations of all laws, Murthy, 77, said.

Admitting that his wife was more qualified than all the other founders of Infosys, Murthy said a discussion with a couple of professors of philosophy from two top universities in the world brought him to the realisation that he was wrong about not letting her join the company.

Also Read: Narayana Murthy Shares Why He Once Turned Down Air India's Job Offer

What Narayana Murthy Said About His Son Not Joining Infosys

forbes

Asked if their son Rohan Murty would ever join Infosys, Murthys answer was a no. He is even stricter that I am in these ideas. He will never that. Never, Narayana Murthy said.



First of all, I am just a shareholder in Infosys. I have not been consulted on any issue in Infosys since August 2017. Its the right thing. Hes (Rohan) doing the way we all did. So, apart from being the largest shareholder family of Infosys, we have nothing else to do with Infosys."

For the latest and more interesting financial news, keep reading Indiatimes Worth. Click here.
The first vice-speaker of the parliament, Gia Volski, addressed Bidzina Ivanishvili's return to the post of chairman of the Georgian Dream party and clarified that the sanctions imposed on Ivanishvili were not a determining factor for his return.According to Volski, 2024 is an important year due to the upcoming elections. He stated that Ivanishvili's role as a 'consolidating' force must be taken into account, as he is "one of the important guarantors of stability.""The fact is, a large part of society, including supporters and others, viewed this step quite positively. Moreover, given that it is 2024-an important year with upcoming elections-Bidzina Ivanishvili's role as a consolidating force should be taken into account here.In addition, the opposition appears to be quite disorganized and unstable. It cannot be ruled out that, in such a situation, their actions may become particularly aggressive, and sabotage could take more sophisticated forms. It's important to note that sanctions were not a factor in Ivanishvili's decision," Volski stated.Kakha Kaladze, General Secretary of the Georgian Dream and Tbilisi Mayor dismissed accusations against Bidzina Ivanishvili regarding informal governance as mere "political speculations.""Naturally, Bidzina Ivanishvili's return to politics is highly significant, bringing benefits not only to the ruling party and its team but also to the entire country. Bidzina Ivanishvili has a lot of support in society, plenty of resources, and much respect from the people of our country. He can truly consolidate the ruling team and the people.This is the usual political speculation. I will say it simply: if a person is the informal ruler of the country, then why did he return to politics? If he was governing the country from the outside, as you suggest, why would he come back?" Kaladze stated.
A suspect wanted in connection with a murder in Ohio was captured in Dothan Thursday morning, according to police.

Clarence Abdul Ellis, 38, is charged with one count of murder stemming from a deadly shooting in Columbus, Ohio. He is currently being held in the Houston County Jail with no bond while awaiting extradition back to Ohio.

On Jan. 4, Dothan Police officers, the Houston County Sheriffs Office, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, and the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force conducted an operation at a residence on Honeysuckle Road.

According to Dothan Police, Ellis was found in the home and taken into custody.
In Lakshadweep, dive into a kaleidoscope of coral chaosSnorkeling: where fish play hide and seek in coral apartments. Feel like a Bollywood star? Shimmy your way through a traditional Kolkali dance on the beach. Want to relax? Lounging under palm trees is a must, with coconuts playing hard to get. Lakshadweep is where the sea is your playground, and every moment is a quirky postcard waiting to happen, which makes it a perfect vacation spot.
Few days after the death of former governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, his remains, has arrived in Nigeria from Germany.

It was gathered that the airplane conveying the body of the late governor arrived at about 3:39 p.m on Friday, January 5, 2024.

INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that the late Akeredolu was received by his wife, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, his children, and siblings led by Prof. Wole Akeredolu.

Recall that the former governor passed away on Wednesday, December 27, 2023, in Germany, during a protracted illness. He was aged 67.

However, his arrival was confirmed in a Facebook post by the former Chief Press Secretary to the late governor, Richard Olatunde.

Richard said: The late Governors remains were brought into the country from Germany, where he passed away.

The body was received by his wife, Chief Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, his children, and siblings led by Prof. Wole Akeredolu, the immediate younger brother.

READ MORE: Ondo Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu Reportedly Dead

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr Tayo Ayinde; Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tokunbo Talabi; and representative of Osun State Governor, Senator Demola Adeleke also joined in receiving the body.

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State, Ade Adetimehin, a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Gboyega Adefarati, and some members of the Ondo State Executive Council, led by the Secretary to the State Government, Princess Oladunni Odu, were also present at the airport to receive the body of the former governor.

Family members, followers, friends, and associates could not control their emotions as the body of the late Governor was being lowered from the plane.

See pictures below:
The Federal Government says the Canadian authorities have begun investigations into the killing of a 19-year-old Nigerian, Afolabi Stephen.

Information Nigeria understands that the deceased was killed by a trigger happy policemen in Manitoba, Canada on December 31, 2023.

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, made the disclosure in a condolence message issued by the commissions Director of Media and Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun.

She however promised the deceaseds family and Nigerians in Canada that the probe would be thorough and that justice would be served.

We are in touch with the Nigerian mission in Ottawa who have the assurances of the Canadian authorities that investigations into the unfortunate incident have begun and will be thorough.

We offer our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Afolabi and pray unto God to allow his gentle and innocent soul to rest in perfect peace.

READ ALSO: Kano: 24-Year-Old Fake Doctor Injects Pregnant Teenager To Death

Though details surrounding Afolabis death are unclear, the Winnipeg, Manitoba Police Department, in a statement posted on its website via Winnipeg.ca, said its officers responded to a call about a young male who was acting erratically.

According to the police, upon arrival, efforts to calm the young man proved abortive which led to a discharge of firearm by them which ultimately led to his death.

On December 31, 2023, at approximately 2:22 p.m., the Winnipeg Police Service responded to an apartment suite in the first 100 block of University Crescent for a 911 call regarding a male acting erratically. The caller advised the male may be armed and there were other people in the suite.

Upon police arrival, they were confronted by an armed male. During this encounter, an officer discharged their firearm, striking the male. Officers provided immediate medical care and ensured the wellbeing of all other parties on scene. Nobody else was injured.

The male was transported to hospital in critical condition and succumbed to his injuries.
Some suspected Boko Haram terrorists have reportedly killed six people, including a pastor of the Church of Christ In Nations (COCIN), identified as Luka Levong, in Kwari, Geidam local government area of Yobe State.

According to Channels Television, the assailants entered the community around 2:00 am on Friday.

INFORMATION NIGERIA learnt that the gunmen reportedly shot Pastor Levong and Maina Abdullahi, the church treasurer during the attack.

Meanwhile, the other victims were killed in their homes before security forces arrived. Additionally, the attackers burned down houses, a church, and vehicles.

The incident is coming days after Boko Haram insurgents attacked a community in neighbouring Yobe State, killing 12 persons and injuring two others.
Microsoft has unveiled AppCAT, an Azure Migrate tool intended to assist users in migrating their on-premises .NET applications to the companys Azure cloud.

Introduced January 3, the Azure Migrate application and code assessment tool for .NET, or AppCAT for short, lets users assess .NET source code, binaries, and configurations of an application to find potential issues and opportunities when moving a .NET application to Azure. The tool helps discover issues an application might have when ported to Azure and improves performance, security, and scalability by suggesting modern, cloud-native solutions, Microsoft said.

Once an analysis is run, AppCAT will report things to check or change to ensure that an application works properly after it has been moved from on-premises to Azure. Available as either a Visual Studio extension or as a .NET CLI tool, AppCAT discovers application technology usage through static analysis of code and dependencies. Microsoft has posted instructions for the CLI tool. Both the CLI tool and Visual Studio extension allow users to save the results of the analysis in HTML, CSV, and JSON formats.

With AppCAT, users can jump to a line requiring attention, address issues, mark them as fixed and save the current state. The tool provides an estimate of how much effort each issue will take to fix including estimates for components of apps and projects. Plans call for infusing the tool with AI capabilities and adding integration with Copilot AI assistance. Also planned is a more curated assessment based on the chosen Azure target.

Users can provide feedback on AppCAT via the Visual Studio feedback channel.
The 1599 manuscript was cut out of a large book of historical notarized documents that resides in the Archivo General de la Nacion del Peru (the Peruvian National Archives). Read more

In the 1920s, renowned Philadelphia book collector A.S.W. Rosenbach purchased prints and ephemera from an American expat living in Peru. The collection included six pages from a 1599 manuscript, which, Rosenbach learned, detailed groundbreaking history about the origins of theater in the Americas. What he didnt know  and never knew  was that the manuscript had been stolen.

The 16th-century document might have remained under the radar  and in Philadelphia  had it not been for Seattle-based theater scholar Susan Finque, who made the discovery that prompted an international investigation and changed how we think about the history of American theater.

After a century of emerging only on rare occasions at the Rosenbach Museum & Library, the pages were brought out one final time in November.

Packaged in acid-free folders of Mylar for safe transport, they were handed over to agents from the FBI Art Crime Team in Philadelphia. The United States will ultimately repatriate the stolen pages to Peru, where they will be reunited with the tome from which they were mysteriously cut decades ago.

The jaw-dropping pamphlet

Finque, 66, calls herself a recovering theater artist. In her 50s, she returned to school to pursue a Ph.D. in theater history at the University of Washington, and during her research on Perus history of processionals, she stumbled upon a 1938 pamphlet written by Rosenbach. It was called The First Theatrical Company in America.

The pamphlet examined the pages from 1599, which Rosenbach explained constituted a contract for a professional theater company formed in the port of Callao, just outside Lima. This hitherto unknown document is the earliest record of any theatrical company in the Western Hemisphere. Nothing has previously been known in the annals of the theatre in the New World of this first association of actors, he wrote.

The contract detailed the division of shares among the company members and was signed by eight professional actors. Francisco Perez de Robles was the troupes manager, and the contract was notarized by Julian Bravo on June 28, 1599. The names of these first American actors should be enrolled among the immortals of the New World, wrote Rosenbach.

Reading this pamphlet, my jaw dropped open, said Finque.

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If Rosenbachs assessment were true, Finque realized, the history of theater was staggeringly inaccurate. Historically, American theater history begins in 1752, when Lewis Hallam founded what is considered to be the first professional theater company in the British colonies. These pages provided evidence that shifted the axis of this history to South America more than 150 years before Hallam crossed the Atlantic.

Even more shocking was that the company included two women: Isabel de Los Angeles, wife of Perez de Robles, and the unnamed wife of Luis de Mayorga. Not only were they stage actors, they were paid actors entitled to their own shares. Women of the same era were often prohibited on European stages, and male actors portrayed women in William Shakespeares plays.

The missing pages

In 2015, suspecting there was more to unravel, Finque traveled to Philadelphia to view the contract herself. She developed a dissertation on this overlooked troupe and made her way to Peru the following year. While perusing a book of notarized documents in the Archivo General de la Nacion del Peru (the Peruvian National Archives), she made an observation: Three double-sided pages were missing.

It couldnt be more obvious. There was even a little comment written that said something about el contrato, the contract, with a little arrow, said Finque. The page numbers aligned with the contract she had seen in Philadelphia.

Finque wrote to the archives director, Pablo Alfonso Maguina Minaya, explaining her observation and her ambitious goal to help return the contract to Peru: I hope that with my help, the directors of the Rosenbach will understand the importance of bringing the document into the light, so that the history of theatre, and indeed, culture, in the Americas can be properly understood.

She heard nothing back for years.

A surprising call

Finques letter eventually landed on the desk of Assistant U.S. Attorney K.T. Newton, who works with the FBIs Art Crime Team in Philadelphia. The State Department had reached out to her after receiving an inquiry from Peruvian officials. Following Finques discovery, they had conducted their own investigation and requested that the United States assist in recovering the missing pages. One of the first necessary steps was for Peru to file a police report, though they didnt have much information about when or how the manuscript was stolen. That prompted the FBI and Newton to begin investigating in 2017.

Newton contacted the Rosenbach and showed them all the evidence: pointing to the similar handwriting, the page numbers, and the cut marks. She called Finque, who was surprised to hear that her hopes for seeing the contract returned to Peru could become reality. She also tried to find out more about art dealer Bertram Lee, who sold the pages to Rosenbach, and how he acquired them. Ultimately, nobody knows what happened.

[Lee] may have purchased them legitimately, said Newton. We simply dont know. Certainly theres no information at all to think that Dr. Rosenbach had any reason to think that they had been taken from the archives.

Parting with Philadelphia

Once the investigations results became clear, the Rosenbach voluntarily removed the manuscript from the collection and gave it to the FBI for repatriation. As for the collections other items from Peru, museum officials remain unsure exactly how many were derived from Lee.

We wanted to do what seemed to us to be the ethical thing to do, which was to return this document to Peru, whence it came a long time ago, and to make the volume whole, said Judith Guston, curator and senior director of collections.

Newton said theres no timeline yet for when the manuscript will travel to Lima, but when it does, there will likely be a repatriation ceremony to celebrate. As for Finque, shes elated to know that her research made an impact  and with the pages of the contract heading home, she thinks the Rosenbach has something to brag about.
The University of Pennsylvania announced that Ramanan Raghavendran will become the new chair of the board of trustees. Read more

The University of Pennsylvania announced Thursday night that Ramanan Raghavendran will become the next chair of the board of trustees effective immediately.

He replaces Scott L. Bok, who stepped down last month along with university president Liz Magill amid a firestorm at Penn over Magills testimony before a congressional hearing regarding the universitys actions to address antisemitism.

Raghavendran, 55, who lives in the San Francisco area with his family, is the managing partner and cofounder of Amasia, a global venture capital firm.

He holds three Penn degrees: in economics, computer science and engineering, and liberal arts. He is currently enrolled in Stanford Universitys master of liberal arts program.

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Raghavendran became a member of the Penn board of trustees in 2014.

Ramanan has a history of bridging distance to make a lasting difference, whether between places and people or fields of knowledge, J. Larry Jameson, Penns interim president, said in a statement.

Julie Beren Platt, who has been serving as interim board chair, will return to her role as vice chair, the university said.

Having worked closely with Ramanan as a member of the executive committee, I have seen first-hand his passion for and commitment to Penn. He is someone who listens with intention and invests deeply in relationships, Platt said.

Raghavendran said in a statement: I believe great American universities, like the University of Pennsylvania, are the most important repositories of all that defines, and is good and laudable about, our modern civilization. I am honored to take on the role of chair of Penns Board of Trustees. I am humbled by the trust reposed in me by my fellow trustees. We are united in supporting the mission of this incredible institution.

The resignations of Magill and Bok followed Magills much-criticized answers at the congressional hearing Dec. 5 when she was questioned regarding whether calling for genocide of Jewish people violates Penns rules or code of conduct.

Magill, 57, a legal scholar and former University of Virginia provost, said to Republican Rep. Elise M. Stefanik of New York: It is a context-dependent decision.

Though she walked that back in a subsequent video, saying she does view it as harassment or intimidation and vowed to review Penns policies, it wasnt enough to quiet the growing criticism that included harsh comments from the White House, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, more than 70 members of Congress, and others inside and outside Penn.

Magill had been in her job less than 18 months, and her resignation made her tenure the shortest in Penns more than 260-year history. She remains a tenured faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.

This week, Harvard University president Claudine Gay also resigned amid plagiarism accusations and criticism over testimony at the same congressional hearing where she was unable to say unequivocally that calls on campus for the genocide of Jews would violate the schools conduct policy.

On his personal website, Raghavendran described himself as a recovering New Yorker who lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.

He added: I invest in companies that help fight the climate crisis and enhance sustainability, through behavior change.

He also posted a bonus photo of my neurotic pooch, Rio.
John Dzivak stands by his wife, Naveen Khan, as she is sworn in as a member of the Voorhees Township Board of Education at a meeting Wednesday. Khan resigned her post just prior to the end of the meeting. Read more

A newly elected member of the Voorhees Township school board resigned Wednesday following mounting calls for her ouster over social media posts shared by her husband that referred to Gaza as a death camp and described Israel as a terrorist nation.

Less than 90 minutes after being sworn in, Naveen Khan told a room packed with critics offended by the posts that she would step down and immediately end her term on the nine-member board in Camden County.

People are right. I think its best that I resign, Khan said following a lengthy defense in which she denied supporting or liking the posts, which were published by her husband, John Dzivak, on his Facebook page. This isnt the community I want to be in.

Khan raised concerns about what she described as attempts to blur the clear line between political critique and religious prejudice.

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It is crucial for us as a community to understand the legitimate critique of a states policy  is a healthy part of political debate ... and it is fundamentally different than antisemitic rhetoric, which targets and vilifies Jewish people as a group, Khan said. Such misrepresentations trivialize the seriousness of actual antisemitic incidents.

Khan is the latest in a series of local school board officials to resign after facing controversy over social media posts that accuse Israel of carrying out a genocide against Palestinians following the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks against Israel.

The board members resignation, which took the crowd by surprise, came after months of outcry over the posts, which were published in October. The social media messages were later deleted but not before screenshots showing her liking one of them were shared and criticized as antisemitic. Khan has said that she didnt see or respond to any of Israel-related posts shared by her husband.

One post shared by Dzivak said that Israel is intent on wiping out Gaza and Our sociopathic leaders should be put on trial for supporting Israels genocide.

Another post shared by Dzivak drew a distinction between Zionism, the belief that Israel is the nation state of the Jewish people that is shared by many Christians as well as many Jews, and Judaism. We are against Zionism. Judaism is not Zionism, the post from an account called TorahJudaism said. Khan liked the post, according to a screenshot.

Cantor Scott Borsky, chaplain for the Voorhees Police Department, described the social media messages as vile and disgusting and called for Khan to resign at Wednesdays meeting. Borsky cited Psalm 133, a biblical song about unity, and said Khan would have caused divisiveness on the board.

Mayor Michael Mignogna withdrew his endorsement of Khan in October in a social media post.

I stand with Israel and our Jewish Community, the mayor wrote.

Crystal Munion, the campaign manager for Khans slate, said she, too, rescinded her support after seeing the posts and said helping Khan win the office was among her biggest regrets.

She is unfit to serve this community in any capacity, but especially as a member of the board of education, Munion said. She has repeatedly demonstrated a profound lack of judgment.

At Wednesdays meeting, Khan said her family, including her child, have been threatened and seen windows in their home broken. They fear for their safety, she said before telling the crowd she was stepping down. .

Is that a formal resignation? the board solicitor asked.

Khan replied yes and her term ended a few minutes later when the meeting adjourned. The board has 60 days to name a replacement to fill her three-year term.

In an interview Thursday night, Khan said she had not planned to resign, but did so after her colleagues on the board didnt defend her and allowed members of the public to criticize her. She declined comment on whether she believed that the posts by her husband were antisemitic.

Ive been harassed every day for three months, Khan said. Its been horrific and traumatizing.

Before the resignation, Khans husband defended the posts made on his private Facebook page. He said his wife didnt post anything, nothing.

This is America. You can criticize our own government and foreign governments, Dzivak said.

Borsky left the meeting before Khans announcement. He said he was astounded when his phone began blowing up with text messages announcing the resignation.

Its certainly a positive turn of events, Borsky said Thursday. I was stunned.

Since Oct. 7, at least two school board members in the Philadelphia region, one in the Colonial School District and another in Upper Dublin School District, resigned over posts criticized as antisemitic.

 READ MORE: A new Central Bucks School Board met, but sharp divisions persist: This room has been filled with hate

In Voorhees, the Facebook posts came to light a few weeks before the election and after many mail-in ballots were sent.

This article has been updated with comments from Naveen Khan and additional information about the Facebook posts in question.
Malvern-based BioTelemetry Inc. and its subsidiary, LifeWatch Services, agreed to pay $14.7 million to resolve allegations that they signed up heart patients for unnecessary services. Read more

A Malvern-based supplier of heart-monitoring devices is paying $14.7 million to settle allegations that it signed up patients for round-the-clock, real-time analysis of their heart rhythms despite doctors saying it was medically unnecessary.

By steering patients toward this enhanced service, BioTelemetry Inc. and its subsidiary, LifeWatch Services, were able to bill Medicare and other federal insurers at least five times as much as what the appropriate level of service would have cost, U.S. attorneys said.

The companies, now owned by Amsterdam-based Royal Philips NV, were accused of inflating insurance costs for patients at 90 hospitals and cardiology clinics nationwide by engaging in this improper practice from 2014 to 2020. These patients were not seriously ill and did not need costly, real-time analysis, and instead required only periodic review of their heart recordings to detect any occasional disturbances in cardiac rhythm, the Justice Department alleged.

Philips and the subsidiaries made no admission of liability in the December settlement agreement. In a statement, a Philips spokesperson characterized the claims as legacy allegations, as they involved a time period before Philips finalized its $2.4 billion purchase of BioTelemetry, in 2021.

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BioTelemetry and LifeWatch deny the allegations and have agreed to settle the claims without any admission of liability for a total amount of approximately $14.7 million to avoid the delay, uncertainty, and expense of litigation, Philips said.

The allegations involved a heart monitor that was sold as LifeWatch ACT-3L, among other names. When the staff at cardiology clinics enrolled patients in the companys online portal, the softwares default setting enrolled them in the more expensive real-time monitoring, regardless of what the cardiologist had requested, the governments attorneys alleged.

Even when clinic staff tried to change the setting, the companys sales personnel instructed clinic staff to pick the more expensive option in violation of the False Claims Act, the government alleged.

A whistleblower at a New Jersey hospital

The settlement marked the second time that Philips has agreed to pay the government millions to resolve allegations against BioTelemetry.

In December 2022, the corporation paid $44.9 million to settle claims that BioTelemetry had outsourced the analysis of patients heart monitor recordings to a company in India, in many cases by unqualified technicians. The patients were insured by Medicare and other government insurers, which are prohibited from paying for services furnished outside the U.S.

Both cases were initiated by whistleblowers, meaning they receive a portion of the settlement money. The outsourcing case was filed by two former BioTelemetry employees. The new $14.7 million case was brought by an employee of a New Jersey hospital, who stands to collect $2.3 million, and several other outside parties, who will split $270,000.

Medicares reimbursement rates for the various levels of heart monitoring have changed over the years. During the period covered by the allegations, the real-time analysis of heart rhythms was billed to Medicare at $1,100, whereas the periodic event monitoring that doctors ordered was billed at only $200.

The case was handled by the Justice Departments Civil Division and the U.S. Attorneys Offices for the District of New Jersey and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, along with investigators for various federal health agencies.

Companies that bill Medicare and other federal health-care programs must ensure that they are billing for the services actually ordered by medical providers, rather than the most expensive service, said Jacqueline C. Romero, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvanias nonprofit hospital sector stood out Thursday during presentations by two major credit-ratings agencies on the financial outlook for the new year.

But not in a good way.

Fitch Ratings said Pennsylvania hospitals and health systems accounted for five of its 21 hospital downgrades nationwide last year  a ratio that is far out of proportion with the number of health system ratings it has in the state.

In a Standard & Poors Global Ratings 2024 outlook presentation, Pennsylvania stood out as having the nations fourth-highest percentage of health systems receiving downgrades or getting a negative outlook change. The figure in Pennsylvania was 53% as of Nov. 30. A negative outlook is a warning that a rating could be cut if trends dont improve.

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Both agencies cited Pennsylvanias tough hospital market, particularly in the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh regions.

Most of our credits in Pennsylvania are in the hypercompetitive Philly and Pittsburgh markets, S&P analyst Patrick Zagar said. He said the weak demographics, such as an aging population, also contributed to the financial weakness. People 65 and older qualify for Medicare, which typically pays lower rates than commercial health insurance.

Dont expect much improvement in 2024, the agencies said.

We think weve got another tough year ahead of us, said Kevin Holloran, who heads Fitchs nonprofit health-care and higher education ratings group.

S&P has a similar view, with a negative outlook on a record 24% of the health-care nonprofits it rates nationwide, Zagar said. A downgrade with a negative outlook is not unusual these days, he said.

S&Ps downgrades of Pennsylvania hospitals and health systems through Nov. 30 were: Penn State Health, Tower Health, Grand View Health, and Redeemer Health.

The Philadelphia-area systems with S&P outlook revisions to negative were Main Line Health, Redeemer Health, Temple University Health System, and Thomas Jefferson University (as well as its acquisition target Lehigh Valley Health Network).

Fitchs only downgrade in the Philadelphia area was Tower Health. The agency revised its outlooks on Main Line Health and Redeemer Health to negative.
Consumers are evaluating their relationship with leading brands and making new, economic-value-based choices, according to the latest KPMG Customer Experience Excellence Report 2023.

In the realm of customer excellence in Australia this year, non-grocery retail brands have taken the lead, securing eight out of the top 10 positions. Bunnings claimed the top spot for the first time, closely followed by The Body Shop and Mecca. Mecca, along with Bendigo Bank, THE ICONIC, Chemist Warehouse, and Specsavers, maintained its esteemed position in the top 10 since the previous 2021 report. Notably, Dan Murphys made a triumphant return after a one-year hiatus, while Apple and JB Hi-Fi emerged as the two new entrants.

Carmen Bekker, Partner-in-Charge at KPMG Customer, highlighted the significant role that customer perceptions play in shaping value. This includes sentiments about service and support, as well as how organizations demonstrate their purpose, relevance, and positive impact on the environment and society. In the retail sector, the digitization of customer journeys across channels has been a defining factor, setting a new standard for customer perceptions in Australia. Leading brands successfully integrated these digital journeys with in-store experiences, recognizing that many Australians initiate their retail journeys online but also value in-store touchpoints.

Amidst a challenging economic environment, a whopping 97% of customers reported that cost-of-living pressures influenced their purchasing decisions. The comprehensive research, surveying over 20,000 people globally (including 2,500 in Australia), reveals a predominant focus on value for money. Despite economic concerns, brand purpose and impact continued to significantly influence consumers, with 61% globally expressing a willingness to pay more for a company perceived as ethical or contributing to society.

Previous editions of the report highlighted shifts in Australian consumer behaviour, such as a back to basics approach in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and an emphasis on personalization and purpose-driven brands in 2021. In 2023, Australian customers are displaying increased sophistication, demanding greater value for their money, seamless omnichannel processes, and more personalized experiences from the brands they engage with.

Top 10 Brands for Customer Experience Excellence in Australia 2020-2023

2023 2021* 2020 1. Bunnings

2. The Body Shop

3. Mecca

4. Specsavers

5. Chemist Warehouse

6. THE ICONIC

7. Bendigo Bank

8. Dan Murphys

9. Apple

10. JB Hi-Fi 1. Mecca

2. First Choice Liquor

3. Bendigo Bank

4. Bunnings

5. Afterpay

6. Specsavers

7. Priceline

8. Chemist Warehouse

9. THE ICONIC

10. PayPal 1. First Choice Liquor

2. IKEA

3. Afterpay

4. Boost Juice

5. Rebel

6. PayPal

7. Red Energy

8. Dan Murphys

9. ING

10. Best & Less

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Episcopal Hospital, part of Temple Health, agreed to enhance training for staff about the Americans with Disabilities Act following a complaint to federal prosecutors. Read more

Temple Healths Episcopal Hospital will better train staff on the rights of people with disabilities to use service animals following a federal investigation into a discrimination complaint, prosecutors said this week.

The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania opened an investigation into Episcopal following a May 2022 complaint that the hospitals emergency department did not allow a person with a service dog to enter the emergency department.

The incident occurred when a patient arrived at the hospital with a pit bull, a Temple official said. The patient was evaluated by a nurse and offered care inside the hospital. But the patient refused to go with the dog through metal detectors at the entrance of the emergency room. Security staff could not let the patient in without going through security measures for the safety of other patients, staff, and visitors. That was why the patient was denied entry, not the presence of a service dog, the official said.

Under the American with Disabilities Act, hospitals and other public places are required to accommodate dogs trained to assist people with disabilities, such as by retrieving objects or reminding them to take medications. Not doing so is considered discrimination against people with disabilities. Hospital staff are allowed to ask whether the dog is a service animal required because of a disability and what tasks the dog is trained to preform. Thelaw prohibits asking for proof that the dog is a service animal.

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The investigation concluded that Episcopal had the right policies in place, but staff needed better training.

Some Episcopal Hospital staff and security contractors were not sufficiently familiar with those ADA and service animal policies, the Department of Justice said in a letter to Temple.

The letter did not detail what happened or how staff responded to the dog.

 READ MORE: That alligator in Love Park is actually an emotional support animal

An internal review by Temple also found that security guards staffing the ER could have been more knowledgeable about the service animal policy.

Temple will require all new nurses and security contractors to review the hospitals service-animal policies within their first week on the job under the agreement with the federal prosecutors. Current nurse and emergency department physicians will review the policy annually.

All nursing staff will undergo annual training on the ADA.

Episcopal Hospital cooperated with the investigation and has recognized the importance of raising awareness of the ADA and service animals, U.S. Attorney Jacqueline Romero said in a statement.

Episcopal is situated in the Kensington neighborhood and offers a mix of primary care, emergency, and psychiatric services. The hospital frequently treats people who are experiencing drug overdoses, mental health crises, and the open wounds that can result from using xylazine, a powerful animal tranquilizer now contaminating most fentanyl sold in Philadelphia.

Jeremy Walters, a Temple spokesperson, said in a statement that Temple appreciates the U.S. attorneys offices guidance.

In light of our commitment to enhancing awareness of the ADA and service animal policies for staff and security contractors at our Episcopal Campus, the Justice Department has closed its investigation, Walters said.
Susan Noles had plenty of star moments during her stint as wedding officiant for the 'Golden Bachelor' wedding between Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist. Read more

A Delco woman married the Golden Bachelor  just not the way you think.

Susan Noles of Aston  the Kris Jenner doppelganger and fan favorite who thrilled viewers as she cracked jokes, did contestants hair, and cooked all season on the inaugural outing of ABCs The Golden Bachelor  called back to her day job on Thursdays special televised Golden Wedding.

Noles, 66, officiated Gerry Turner and Theresa Nists live wedding ceremony, finding a way to toe the line between being respectful while retaining her Delco charm.

Were not the only ones who thought so. Across social media, praise for Noles rolled in during the two-hour special. I am watching for HER and HER only, one tweet with a photo of Noles said. Petition to have Susan officiate ALL Bachelor Nation Weddings from this moment forward!! said another.

Here were our top Susan moments:

1. Going dress shopping with Theresa

As Nist, 70, chose between Badgley Mischka dresses for the big night, Noles was one of the handful of friends and family selected to come along for moral support. She offered to help with Nists hair, makeup, or anything else, she told Glamour, calling back to Nists first date with Turner, where Noles curled Nists hair. A girls girl through and through, she even started tearing up when Nist tried on the winning gown.

2. When she calls in the Chippendale dancers

During a scene filmed ahead of the wedding, Nist and a gaggle of friends from the show partake in an abridged bachelorette celebration. Nist organizes boudoir photoshoots, a nod to how Golden Bachelor has celebrated seniors sexuality. At one point, Noles admits shes arranged a surprise for Nist and calls for the Las Vegas Chippendale dancers to make their entrance. Even if this scene had some assistance from producers, it was perfectly on brand for the proudly bawdy Noles to be the ringleader for the effort.

3. Gerry and Theresa asking her to officiate

In a conversation between Noles, Turner, and Nist, the three discuss the friendship and bond theyve formed over the course of filming. At one point, Noles mentions how at the end of Week 5, when she knew Turner was struggling with the thought of sending her home  they were great friends but lacked romantic chemistry  she gave him a look and tapped her heart, as if to say I know, its OK. In a sweet moment, when Nist walked down the aisle to meet a tearing up Turner at the altar, Noles made the same hand-over-heart gesture.

4. Getting to show off her day job chops

Noles is a former makeup artist and hairdresser, and on The Golden Bachelor we got to see her flex some of those muscles. But she has been a wedding officiant  running the service Nuptials by Noles  for over a decade. Now, we got to see her in action. Through teary eyes, Noles struck a heartfelt balance between honoring Turner and Nists marriage while also cracking a few zingers.

For those of you who dont know me, she started, I just dont know why! Moments later, she said, Gerry and I met when I stepped out of the limo and screamed, Gerry Im gonna marry you! Turns out, I was right.

The ceremony will likely be yet another pitch for Noles to officiate more weddings  and hopefully more Bachelor weddings. During the show, two Bachelor Nation alumni, Brayden Bowers and Christina Mandrell, got engaged. And recent Bachelorette Charity Lawson and her selected fiance from the show, Dotun Olubeko, revealed theyll be getting married in fall 2025. Noles also revealed that requests for her to officiate fans weddings have been pouring in since her TV stint.

People want me to come to Florida. They want me to go to Ohio. They want me to go to Alabama, Noles said. [ ] Im figuring it out.
Firefighters leave as an investigation is underway where a man was fatally struck by a Market-Frankford Line train in University City during an altercation late Thursday afternoon at the 34th Street Station. Read more

A 40-year-old man had been charged with involuntary manslaughter after another man was fatally struck by a SEPTA train during a fight Thursday on the 34th Street Station platform.

The Philadelphia District Attorneys Office identified the suspect as Chaz Wearing.

According to authorities, an altercation between two people broke out on the 34th Street platform around 4:40 p.m.

Video provided to authorities by a witness and later circulated online shows the final seconds of the argument as the victim has Wearing cornered, holding onto him by his clothes.

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Philadelphia police said the victim, whose name has not been released, appeared to be scolding Wearing and making threatening gestures. Video shows Wearing breaking free, swinging, and punching the victim, causing him to fall on the tracks just as a train pulls in. The victim was pronounced dead just over an hour later.

Andrew Busch, the transit agencys spokesperson, said what started the altercation remains unclear.

What our police are looking at is if it started somewhere else, he said. As far as we know, it wasnt a visible fight that was going on for a long period of time.

SEPTA police who had been patrolling the station arrived at the scene almost immediately, according to Busch, collecting witness testimony and video.

Wearing fled the scene by exiting the station onto the street, Busch said, but SEPTA police arrested him a few blocks away shortly after the incident.

Wearing, who authorities believe to be homeless, had a bench warrant out for his arrest in connection with a strangulation case in Delaware County prior to Thursdays incident. Prosecutors said he remained in custody and had a criminal record elsewhere in Pennsylvania that included guilty pleas to criminal trespassing, assault, and other offenses. It wasnt clear Friday if Wearing had a lawyer in the SEPTA case.
It may be difficult for Pennsylvania politicians to pass a recreational marijuana law or to ban drivers from cruising in the passing lane, but they passed laws to recognize Certified Public Accountant Week and William Penn Landing Site in Chester Month.

A slate of recently passed legislation will affect millions of Pennsylvanians this year, ranging from addressing the rise of stolen packages by so-called porch pirates to rules governing medical marijuana. Here are some new laws to look out for as they take effect this year.

Effective: February

The new law, former Senate Bill 527, aims to crack down on porch pirating, according to its author, State Sen. Frank A. Farry (R., Bucks). According to the Philadelphia Police Department, more than 3,000 packages are stolen every year in the city. This law aims to lessen that number by increasing the penalties for mail theft.

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According to the Pennsylvania Senate Republicans website, criminal charges for theft of mail were previously based solely on the value of the item taken. Under the new law, repeat offenses and high-value thefts can lead to felony charges.

For example, someone arrested on a third theft-of-mail offense or stealing mail, including packages valued at more than $2,000, can be charged with a third-degree felon, which carries a seven-year prison sentence and a $15,000 fine.

With online shopping being a growing method of commerce, package thefts have been on the rise nationwide, Farry said in a statement last month. This bill focuses on repeat offenders by using a grading system that would increase the penalties if the thief had prior convictions for theft of mail.

Effective: July

The new law, former Senate Bill 596, will lower the monetary threshold to charge someone with a felony for committing organized retail theft.

For a theft to be considered an organized retail theft, there must be an intent to resell the items. Shoplifting is different and usually refers to a person stealing items for personal use, not for resale.

Under the new law, a person can face a third-degree felony after being arrested for organized retail theft with stolen goods valued at $2,500 to $9,999. Before, the value of the stolen goods had to be $5,000 to $19,999 to be considered a third-degree felony.

Stealing goods valued at $10,000 to $49,999 would be a second-degree felony. Any organized retail theft of stolen goods valued at $50,000 or more would be a first-degree felony.

For example, a person charged with a third-degree felony for organized retail theft can get sentenced to up to seven years in prison and a $15,000 fine. A second-degree felony can lead to a prison term of 10 years with a $25,000 fine, according to Pennsylvania law firm Lampan Law. A first-degree felony charge could bring a sentence of 20 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

While the Pennsylvania branch of the American Civil Liberties Union supports the porch-piracy law, it doesnt support this law, previously citing that the legislation relies on demonstrably failed tough on crime policies in response to exaggerated industry claims of an organized retail theft crisis.

According to research by the Council on Criminal Justice, retail theft across 24 major U.S. cities, including Pittsburgh, varies across different parts of the country, with some cities having fewer incidents of shoplifting than before the pandemic, while others, such as New York and Los Angeles, have seen some of the largest increases in shoplifting in the country in recent years.

In Philadelphia, retail thefts have risen steadily over the years, but many of the Philly suburbs are experiencing less shoplifting, according to a 2022 report by The Inquirer.

Effective: Immediately

The new law, former Senate Bill 414, expands access to sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) programs at hospitals throughout Pennsylvania. SANE-trained nurses specialize in trauma-informed care and forensic nursing that provide more complete care for survivors of sexual assault.

Pennsylvania State University already runs the SAFE-T Program, which uses telehealth to connect patients with SANE-trained nurses during a hospital visit, especially useful in rural areas where SANE programs are more scarce. This telehealth program will be expanded. The law also allows more hospitals to establish SANE programs at their facilities and requires the department of health to publish a list of each countys hospitals with SANE programs.

In Philadelphia, there is a SANE program at the Philadelphia Sexual Assault Response Center (PSARC) in West Philly. The Inquirer has a resource guide on where to find sexual assault support and counseling resources in the Philadelphia region.

Effective: February

The new law, former Senate Bill 683, introduced by State Sen. Doug Mastriano, will require hospitals to test for fentanyl and xylazine when giving a urine drug test to patients in an emergency room. The usual five-panel urine drug screening does not test for the synthetic opioid fentanyl or xylazine, the powerful animal tranquilizer also known as tranq, which has contaminated the drug supply in such places as Kensington.

Mastriano sees this legislation as an opportunity to save lives. Testing for fentanyl can mean the difference between life and death for someone who has unknowingly been poisoned with it, he said in a statement before the law was passed.

However, some of Mastrianos colleagues told the Center Square Pennsylvania news organization that they thought the legislation was one of many measures rushed through the legislative process on the final days of the 2023 General Assembly sessions. State Rep. Tim Twardzik (R., Schuylkill) cited concerns raised by nurses at Lehigh Valley Health Network that the legislation could lead to increased costs and a scramble to implement new mandatory testing.

Effective: March

The new law, former Senate Bill 773, allows all medical marijuana growers to sell their legal cannabis directly to approved Pennsylvania medical marijuana patients. Before this law, only five out of 25 cannabis growers in the state were allowed to sell directly to patients. All growers will be allowed to apply for and be awarded a license to open dispensaries. Independent dispensaries will also be allowed to apply for grower-processor licenses to cultivate their own medical marijuana.

According to the bills sponsor, State Sen. Chris Gebhard (R., Lebanon), the law aims to level the playing field for smaller, independent medical marijuana businesses in the state.

Although restrictions on medical marijuana are being loosened, what about recreational marijuana? The Inquirer spoke with state legislators, lawyers, and policy wonks last year about when Pennsylvania might legalize recreational cannabis, and the prospect was murky.

Effective: January

The new law, former Senate Bill 84, repeals a restriction found in Pennsylvanias Public School Code of 1949, which prohibits public school teachers from wearing any dress, mark, emblem or insignia that indicates that a teacher is a member of a religion.

Pennsylvania is the last state in the United States to repeal its garb statute, after Oregon repealed its same law in 2010 and Nebraska in 2017, WHYY reported. The religious garb restriction has roots that go back a century, with the Ku Klux Klans support of such laws due to its anti-Catholic stance.

Im proud to say weve rectified a longstanding error in Pennsylvania law, now permitting teachers to wear religious garb in the classroom, State Sen. Judy Schwank (D., Berks), cosponsor of the bill, said in a statement. This move brings Pennsylvania in line with the rest of the nation, ending our status as the only state still upholding this kind of prohibition.

Effective Date: Immediately

Act 40 of 2023, formerly Senate Bill 140, creates a special prosecutor role in the Pennsylvania Attorney Generals Office to prosecute crimes that occur on mass transit, including Philadelphias SEPTA transit system. Prosecuting these crimes formerly rested with District Attorney Larry Krasner.

The attorney generals special prosecutor now gets the first chance to prosecute SEPTA crimes. If the special prosecutor declines, then the district attorneys office gets the case. Anyone who has worked in the district attorneys office in the last six years isnt eligible for the special prosecutor job.

The stripping of authority from Krasner is part of an ongoing effort led by Pennsylvania Republicans to oust the progressive district attorney. At the end of last year, Krasner was impeached by a Republican-led House for misbehavior in office, but the Senate trial that could potentially remove him from office was put on indefinite hold.

Like the impeachment effort, Act 40 is built on outright lies and falsehoods about Philadelphia, its voters, and public safety, Krasner said in a statement.

The Inquirer has a comprehensive breakdown of what powers the special prosecutor will have over prosecuting mass transit crimes and more.
Mayor Cherelle Parker signs executive orders in her new office on inauguration day at City Hall in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. Parker is the citys 100th mayor and the first woman. Read more

Mayor Cherelle Parker got a lot of peoples attention  including mine  when she declared a citywide public safety emergency just hours after being publicly sworn in as the citys 100th mayor. It was something City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier and countless others had pushed former Mayor Jim Kenney to do in his last term as gun violence in the city soared.

The ambitious-sounding order calls on newly named Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel to work with newly named Managing Director Adam Thiel and other city department heads to deliver a plan within 100 days to hire more police officers, address violent crime, combat quality-of-life offenses, and shut down open-air drug markets. Bethel, the order states, should employ any lawful means necessary to abate the public safety emergency.

But considering community activist Jamal Johnson nearly starved during a 26-day hunger strike outside of City Hall in 2021 in hopes of moving Kenney to declare an emergency, I thought Johnson should be the first person I spoke with about Parkers executive order.

Any thoughts that Johnson would be pleased evaporated seconds after our conversation began.

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Tell me how that counts as an emergency when we have to wait 100 days for people who have already been in and around this city and its problems for years to come up with a plan, Johnson said.

Welcome to The AOP Club, friend. We articulators of problems  as Parker referred to people who question the citys progress in addressing its most intractable challenges  meet weekly. The Wawa coffee is plentiful, if lukewarm.

Johnson, who, in collaboration with Philly Truce, held a monthslong Operation Hug the Block neighborhood watch program last year, often gets a bad rap for being hypercritical of the citys anti-violence efforts. But Ive always viewed him more as an equal opportunity thorn in the side of both city officials and his fellow activists.

Philadelphians deserve more than incremental progress, Johnson argues, so lets not pat ourselves on the back for relatively modest developments like the 20% reduction of homicides  from 516 in 2022 to about 410 last year (the final figure is still being tabulated)  that was viewed as a Mission Accomplished moment in way too many circles.

That still leaves a lot of families grieving for their loved ones, a lot of neighborhoods in fear, Johnson said.

Look, I dont mind that Parker declared this emergency  at least not yet. Though I do worry that between her committees and timetables and roundtables and T.S.A. leadership structure, she might delegate herself out of any accountability. Collaboration is good, but it can also lead to a bottleneck of bureaucracy.

Parker has proudly said shes filled her administration with people who dont need a GPS to find 52nd Street.

Fantastic. So then why do two veteran city officials need so much time to come up with a plan? Bethel, our new police commissioner, worked for 29 years in the citys Police Department before retiring in 2016, spending much of the last four years serving as chief of school safety for the School District of Philadelphia. Thiel, our new managing director, has served as the citys fire commissioner since 2016; he was also the director of the citys Office of Emergency Management from 2019 to 2022.

Even if they dont already have a plan they could implement yesterday  which I doubt  I have it on good authority that there are similar reports for a safer community currently collecting dust all over City Hall.

Did any of those road maps and blueprints work? While many might argue that some did, the definitive answer lies in our still obscenely high shooting and homicide rates.

Kenney, for one, was adamant that declaring a public safety emergency was pointless  that it wouldnt make a difference in outcomes or resources, and that his administration was already doing all it could. Others argued declaring an emergency is just a ceremonial move that gives residents a false sense of security.

Kenneys approach was a significant departure from that of his predecessor. After being sworn in as the citys 98th mayor, Michael Nutter, in his first official act, signed an executive order declaring a crime emergency. That measure called for then-Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey to develop a plan within 30 days. (We do love our reports and plans in this city.) But it also sent a clear message that public safety was priority number one, and by 2013, Philly marked the lowest murder rate in Philadelphia since 1967.

When Kenney dug his heels in over not declaring an emergency, he missed a chance to give the residents of this city a simple concession: an acknowledgment from the highest levels that the daily carnage too many Philadelphians are living with is unacceptable, unforgivable, and must be urgently addressed in ways both small and large every day.

And that urgency requires immediate action. Not more plans.
Sister Mary Scullion talks about what's next for Mary, Undoer of Knots Grotto, which attracted tens of thousands of visitors during the World Meeting of Families. The event was held outside the Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia on Oct. 7, 2015. Read more

After her historic victory, Mayor Cherelle Parker is no doubt weighing countless priorities as Philadelphias 100th mayor. With temperatures dropping and winter approaching, Parker must make one action an immediate priority: increasing the number of emergency shelter beds in our city.

Homelessness is increasing in Philadelphia and around the country. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, more than 653,000 people were homeless in the United States on a single night in 2023. Thats astonishingly high, and its also a record. Its 12% more than the previous year and the largest number of people reported to have experienced homelessness since the agency began using annual point-in-time surveys in 2007.

In Philadelphia, 4,725 people were homeless, according to the same survey. Thats probably better than where we were as a city before the pandemic, but its also higher than in 2022, when 4,489 people were homeless. At 5.25%, its also the largest overall annual increase in homelessness that this city has seen in at least 15 years, according to our calculations.

Whats more, the magnitude of the problem is likely worse, since those figures come from the annual point-in-time count, which tends to undercount people who are unsheltered and homeless, youth homelessness, women with children, and survivors of domestic violence.

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At Project HOME, weve been on the front lines of fighting homelessness since 1989. We know how devastating winters can be, and we have seen the consequences of inadequate preparation. Each winter, Philadelphia adds roughly 300 seasonal shelter beds to the citys existing inventory, but they simply are not enough. A robust winter plan must include plans to address projected surges in demand, with shelter capacities that are sufficient to meet the needs of all unsheltered people who want to come in, particularly women, children, and families.

We know that domestic violence is a leading cause of homelessness for families, but too often our systems are unable to meet the demand for safe emergency housing. If someone in Philadelphia is experiencing homelessness or is at risk of homelessness, we encourage them to call the 24-Hour Homeless Outreach Hotline at 215-232-1984 or 877-222-1984. And yet, when women call the hotline, night after night, only to find that there are no more family beds, eventually they stop calling. In too many of those instances, we can only reach the worst conclusions.

As we enter the coldest time of the year, we urge Mayor Parker to ensure that Philadelphia has ample beds for families with children by including family beds in our winter emergency plan, and by providing hotel vouchers for times when even those beds are not enough to meet the increased demand.

A new administration is an opportunity to take stock, forge new partnerships, and tackle issues with new vision and energy. As the mayor and her team turn their attention to homelessness, they must look beyond emergency shelter to long-term solutions  namely, rental assistance and permanent supportive housing.

Eviction moratoriums, diversion programs, and rental assistance prevented many low-income renters from losing their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The American Rescue Plan includes $5 billion to address homelessness and $42 million in one-time funds specifically for Philadelphia. Those dollars can be used to develop housing and social services for people who are experiencing homelessness and, importantly, to provide vital rental assistance in Philadelphia. But we must do more.

Currently, among all households eligible for federal rental assistance, only one out of four receives it, simply because there isnt enough funding. Congress must deepen its investment in federal rental assistance, and the city must enforce the prohibition against source of income discrimination in our Fair Practices Ordinance. According to the Housing Equality Center of Pennsylvania, source of income discrimination often occurs due to an unwillingness to consider certain types of lawful income when determining whether someone is a qualified tenant, particularly when an applicant is receiving rental assistance through a housing choice voucher.

People who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness, need the same opportunities we all do: safe, decent, affordable housing, quality education, employment, and access to health care. Affordable housing  paired with services  will end and prevent homelessness and enhance the quality of life for the entire community. Weve seen the power of funding and partnerships to transform peoples lives, but ultimately, our shared success will depend on strong leadership and an enduring commitment to our shared vision  none of us are home until all of us are home.

Sister Mary Scullion is the cofounder and executive director of Project HOME.
Thomas Blackwell VI and his wife, Sajda, pose for a portrait in front of their West Philadelphia home last month holding a photo of Charles Edward Blackwell II. Read more

Last January, Thomas Blackwell VIs son, Sediec Robinson, 19, was shot and killed in Rochester, N.Y., while leaving his job at a fast-food restaurant.

As if that wasnt bad enough, in April, his child Tommy Playboy Blackwell VIII, 23, was found dead on subway tracks in New York City.

Then, in November, a third son, Charles Blackwell II, 20, was fatally stabbed in Pennsauken.

I cant imagine experiencing so much grief in such a short period of time. I marvel at Blackwells ability to get out of bed each morning and still function.

Instead of isolating himself to grieve following the death of not one but three of his sons, the state Democratic Party committee member for the 7th Senatorial District is using his social media platforms to raise awareness about an aspect of domestic violence that is not often discussed: cases in which the victims are men.

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After Charles was killed, authorities arrested his live-in girlfriend, Yamil Cuevas, 23, who now faces charges of aggravated manslaughter and weapons offenses.

Investigators have said little about their case against Cuevas, who is currently awaiting trial. As of this writing, she had not yet been assigned a defense attorney, and the Camden County Prosecutors Office  citing the ongoing investigation  refused to say whether domestic violence played a role in the case, or provide any other comment.

Looking back at the final months of his sons life, the elder Blackwell believes Charles had been struggling.

I didnt know to what extent he was going through it, Blackwell told me by phone recently. But we did know that there was something wrong. All of the signs were there. Sometimes my son was here. Sometimes he wasnt. There were lengths of time we wouldnt communicate. There were a lot of signs. We knew but we didnt know.

Blackwell said Charles was only 16 when he met Cuevas, who at the time was 19 and already a mother. Together, the couple went on to have two children of their own.

As parents, thats not the ideal situation that you want your child to be into, recalled Sajda Purple Blackwell, Charles bonus mother and an internet radio personality. The fact that he was trying to financially secure himself so he could help a grown woman and her baby was not something that we ever approved of as parents.

Blackwell spoke with Charles for the last time a week before his death. He didnt notice anything unusual until his son began crying and told him, Dad, Im going through so much. Blackwell urged his son to return to their home in West Philly, but he didnt. They never saw each other again.

We always encouraged him to come home, but the fear of losing his children overwhelmed him, Blackwell told me. When we talk about domestic violence, theres rarely a conversation about what men go through in these homes. And its not just physical. Its not just mental.

Over the years, the domestic violence cases Ive written about have all been of women who have been abused by their male partners. (Seventy women are shot and killed every month by an intimate partner.)

But as I listened to Blackwell, stories of abuse from male victims that I have heard over the years flashed through my head  a friend struck by his childs mother, another man whose wife used to hit him with household objects.

Partner violence is perpetrated against men at roughly the same rates as it is perpetrated against women, Emily Douglas, chair of the department of social work and child advocacy at Montclair State University in New Jersey, told me. It is oftentimes more physically harmful toward women than it is toward men, but its not something that is often recognized as an experience that men have.

Although an estimated one in three women are subjected to physical violence by an intimate partner, its estimated that one in four men also are, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. However, men are less likely to report being hit or verbally assaulted, often because theyre embarrassed, or dont believe its possible for them to be victims, too.

Often men dont really realize that its possible for them to be victims of partner violence or partner abuse, Douglas said.

As Blackwell awaits justice for his son, he is dedicating himself to raising awareness about domestic violence. Help is available for male victims of domestic violence, Blackwell said, but they need to be educated on how to actually do these things.

Unfortunately, he was unable to save Charles.

But hes doing what he can to help victims of domestic violence  both women and men.
Mayor Cherelle Parker delivers her inaugural address after she was sworn-in as the 100th mayor of Philadelphia Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024 on the stage of the Met on North Broad Street. Read more

Philadelphia had a shared experience Tuesday  difficulty getting into Mayor Cherelle Parkers inauguration at The Met on North Broad Street, where the line to enter stretched around the block as the curtain was set to go up.

Clout has two tales about that:

Oddest inaugural shout-out

One person who had no trouble getting into Parkers inauguration Tuesday was New York Mayor Eric Adams.

Thats because he wasnt there.

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Parker wasnt so sure.

Her prepared speech, which ran to more than 2,300 words, included a short shout-out to Adams near the top.

In her actual speech, which included a series of off-script remarks and ran just over an hour, Parker said this:

Im not sure if its true, but someone told me that we have Mayor Eric Adams from New York here. Wherever you are, hello Mr. Mayor.

Heads craned in the crowd as the packed audience scanned for the mayor who was not there.

Adams was, at that moment, 80 miles away in New Yorks City Hall delivering his first public comments of the new year.

Clout hears Adams was not scheduled to be there but that Parker and her staff heard at the last minute that he was in the audience. So they added his name to her speech before it was clear he wasnt really there.

And an inaugural scuffle

Former Mayor John Street was seated Tuesday on stage as Mayor Cherelle Parker was inaugurated as Philadelphias 100th mayor.

But first he faced a scuffle at the back door of the venue, where his grandson, the son of Pennsylvania Democratic Party chair Sharif Street, was arrested for allegedly punching a security guard in the face.

As you might expect, there are competing versions of what actually prompted the fracas.

The Philadelphia Police Department said the 80-year-old former mayor and his grandson, Sharif Street Jr., 24, were turned away from the backdoor around 10:10 a.m. at The Met, the grand old North Philadelphia theater where Parker was sworn into office.

The former mayor was scheduled to be on stage for the ceremony, which was set to begin at 10 a.m. The line to get in the front entrance stretched around the block more than an hour before the curtain went up.

Streets grandson told Clout the guard grabbed the former mayor, who identified himself and explained why he was trying to enter.

I saw my grandfather get grabbed and I just sort of blacked out, he said.

Police said Streets grandson, who was charged with simple assault and disorderly conduct, punched the guard in the face and then struggled with officers who arrested him.

His father, a Democratic state senator whose district includes the North Broad Street theater, told Clout in a statement that his son was protecting his grandfather when the security guard initiated the altercation.

Sen. Street added: I do not condone violence of any kind, but I am certain that any hired personnel need to be firmly trained when handling people of all ages looking to enjoy an event.

The guard, police said, was treated at the scene for injuries to his face.

Former U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, chair of the Democratic City Committee, said he did not see the altercation but spoke to the former mayor and the state senator about it later.

They were pushing his grandfather around, said Brady. How can you not recognize John Street? The guy got physical with him. He was the mayor.

Parker gave the former mayor a warm shout-out during her hour-long speech, calling his signature Neighborhood Transformation Initiative program to address blight a thing people will never forget.

Court records show Sharif Street Jr., who was arrested for disorderly conduct in September for an unrelated incident, was approved on Dec. 11 for a court diversion program that required him to do five hours of community service.

Parker spokesperson Joe Grace referred Clout to the Police Department when asked for comment. Met spokesperson Ike Richman also referred Clout to the Police Department.

Jan. 6 on the ballot

President Joe Biden is scheduled to speak in Blue Bell Friday about the three-year anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection. Hell use that to cast the man he defeated in 2020 and is likely to face again this year  Donald Trump  as a threat to democracy.

Expect to hear about Jan. 6 from candidates up and down the ballot this year.

State Rep. Ryan Bizzarro of Erie County, who was endorsed for state treasurer by the Democratic Party three weeks ago, will use an event on the steps of the state capitol in Harrisburg on Friday to connect incumbent Treasurer Stacy Garrity to the insurrection.

Garrity, a Bradford County Republican, spoke at a Jan. 5, 2021 rally in Harrisburg where state legislators were urged to reject Pennsylvanias votes in the 2020 election.

U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, the York County Republican Trump ally who worked to overturn the 2020 election, faces a new lawsuit seeking to remove him from the ballot as he runs for a seventh term.

Activist Gene Stilp argues that the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution bars from office people who engaged in insurrection.

And State Sen. Doug Mastriano, the Franklin County Republican who pushed to overturn the 2020 election and attended the Jan. 6 rally before the riot, now faces an ethics complaint for those efforts.

State Sen. Art Haywood, a Democrat who represents parts of Philadelphia and Montgomery County, said his complaint is a push to maintain integrity in the Senate.

The lawsuit and ethics complaint dont need to succeed to reintroduce the remnants of the Jan. 6 chaos into the 2024 conversation.

Staff Writer Anna Orso contributed to this column.

Clout provides often irreverent news and analysis about people, power, and politics.
Philadelphia police along Kensington and E. Orleans Street moving people off the sidewalk on Wednesday morning. Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker mentioned cleaning up the city and quality of life as major parts of her first term. Read more

Minutes after she delivered her inaugural address, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker was whisked away to her first neighborhood visit, and she landed in arguably the citys most beleaguered community.

At a school in the heart of Kensington, Parker administered the oath to Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel. Russell Conwell Middle School sits in the epicenter of the citys drug trade and overdose crisis, where there is sprawling homelessness, open drug use, and, often, the gun violence that comes along with dozens of corners run by dealers.

The choice of venue for Bethels swearing-in signals that Parkers administration knows it could be defined by the conditions in the neighborhood that have become a national spectacle. And Kensington factored into her first moves as mayor in other ways: It was specifically named in her first executive order that directed police to employ any lawful means necessary to abate the public safety emergency citywide.

Her administrations 100-Day Action Plan says Parker is making Bethel responsible for developing a strategy to permanently shut down open-air drug markets, including in Kensington.

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And she alluded to the conditions there during her inaugural address, saying that children often walk by people using drugs and residents are saying please just dont forget about us.

The attention on Kensington and the pledge to clean it up are no surprise, given Parkers campaign centered on ending lawlessness in the city. But delivering on that promise will be challenging, expensive, and likely controversial.

The problems in the neighborhood are complex and have dogged previous mayors. Former Mayor Jim Kenney took a variety of steps to improve conditions in the opioid-ravaged community, but the drug market has persisted and residents say the open human suffering has only worsened.

Police say they arrest drug dealers often, then others quickly take over. Clearing encampments is an enormous undertaking  the city does not force people using drugs to enter treatment, and there is often a lack of space even for those who do want to seek inpatient treatment or shelter. Mass drug busts can have unintended public-health consequences, such as sending people who use drugs into withdrawal, which physicians say can lower a persons tolerance and increase the risk of overdose.

Parker, whose rhetoric on Kensington has been more law enforcement-driven than her predecessors, has not detailed what her plan in the neighborhood will look like. While on the campaign trail, she rejected more progressive strategies such as supervised drug consumption sites, and she floated seeking assistance in the neighborhood from the National Guard.

She was clear Tuesday that her administrations approach wouldnt be without controversy.

We want to have a data-driven and research-based approach that is put together by the best law enforcement and public health professionals that we can find, she said. But I want you to know everybody is not going to be happy when we make some of these decisions.

The challenges of clearing the neighborhood

City Councilmember Quetcy Lozada, whose district includes parts of Kensington and who has been outspoken about adopting a law enforcement-driven strategy in the neighborhood, said she and other residents are cautiously optimistic about how Parkers administration has emphasized the community.

Myself, other leaders, community residents, we are watching, and we are ready, Lozada said. We are ready to provide whatever support is necessary to the mayor, her administration, and the Police Department.

But, she added: Im not foolish. I know that this is not going to happen overnight.

Any sort of lasting course correction in Kensington, whether its a large-scale clearing of encampments or more targeted strategies to get people into housing, would require a significant coordination between law enforcement, behavioral health providers, community outreach groups, the citys Office of Homeless Services, the Streets Department, and a variety of other agencies.

 READ MORE: To fix Kensington, a new Philly lawmaker has a controversial proposal: Stronger law enforcement

All that could prove costly. Parkers citywide public safety emergency declaration does not unlock new funding or resources. But a disaster or emergency declaration from the state or federal government could, and Parker has been clear that she will seek an intergovernmental response. (Calling in the National Guard, for example, would require authorization from Gov. Josh Shapiro, who has said its not something hes considering.)

Rosalind Pichardo, the founder and executive director of Operation Save Our City, an organization that supports gun violence victims, said she hopes Parker also hears from those who work in harm reduction, the philosophy that aims to keep people who use drugs as safe as possible until they are ready to enter treatment.

Just locking people up is putting people at risk, she said. They get out, think they can use the same amount of drugs, and then overdose.

She recalled the citys cleanup of a notorious encampment near the Gurney Street train tracks in Fairhill, a site that had been visited by such national television personalities as Mehmet Oz, the celebrity surgeon who later unsuccessfully ran for Senate.

Kenneys administration cleared the area of people using drugs in 2017, but many never made it to treatment, and city officials acknowledged that they hadnt offered encampment residents enough options. Afterward, permanent residents in Kensington said they saw encampments spread throughout the neighborhood.

 READ MORE: As Kensington drug camps swell, a plan to clear them draws more skepticism than hope

Im hoping that allowing us to have a seat at the table will lead to real solutions  not like what happened on Gurney Street, Pichardo said. Kensington has turned residents into crisis responders. Every day were living with this vicarious trauma when we walk out of our door.

They made a promise to the neighborhood

City Councilmember Jim Harrity, a Democrat who was recently elected to his first full term in Council, lives three blocks from the middle school where Bethel was sworn in and has made improving conditions in Kensington a central part of his agenda.

He said hes met with Parker and members of her administration repeatedly and believes that police may aim to make more arrests for public drug use and other misdemeanors as a means of getting people into rehabilitation. The city offers multiple programs that divert defendants away from the criminal-justice system if they agree to treatment and monitoring.

Such a plan could prove controversial, as the city has for years moved away from criminalizing drug use. But Harrity said the strategy needs an overhaul and that residents who live on blocks surrounding parts of Kensington Avenue are experiencing complete lawlessness.

[Parker] didnt play around, Harrity said. She came in and said what she was going to do in Kensington, and then went and backed it up with the executive orders. They made a promise to the neighborhood to help us, and I believe theyre going to.

In her inaugural address, Parker said that her administrations approach would blend enforcement with public-health and social services that serve as mechanisms for prevention and intervention.

And she lamented that, while she was campaigning, critics said her vision for Kensington lacked compassion. She insists the opposite.

If somebody tells you that we think she lacks compassion because she wants to be too aggressive in cleaning up the open-air drug market, she said, you tell them to think about whether or not they would want their mother, father, sister, brother, or loved one on the streets openly using intravenous drugs.
Mayor Jim Kenney waves as he leaves Council chambers after making a visit during the last City Council meeting of the year on Dec. 14. Read more

It appears that one of Mayor Jim Kenneys last official acts was inaction.

Kenney, whose last day as mayor was Sunday, effectively killed four bills that City Council approved last month through whats known as a pocket veto, according to Councils legislative tracking website. Thats when the mayor declines to sign legislation into law at a time when Council doesnt have an opportunity to enact it without his or her signature.

The most high-profile bill, authored by Councilmember Mark Squilla, would have created a 15-cent fee for single-use paper bags at retail stores. Another, by Councilmember Jimmy Harrity, would have added new protections for subcontracted building services workers, such as janitors and security guards.

 READ MORE: A paper bag fee, new protections for building workers, and a send-off for Council President Darrell L. Clarke | Council roundup

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Kenney also pocket-vetoed a bill by Councilmember Isaiah Thomas that aimed to help student-athletes get legal advice on how to navigate name, image, and likeness, or NIL, deals, and another by Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr. that added regulations for virtual slot machines.

Kenney also appears to have taken no action on a fifth bill  a Jones measure to install a traffic signal  but it has not yet been categorized as pocket-vetoed in Councils system.

Kenney very rarely vetoed legislation directly during his eight-year administration. But at the end of his first term, in 2019, he pocket-vetoed six bills.

He has not offered a public explanation for why he killed the four bills last month, and attempts to reach him Thursday night were unsuccessful.

Despite his opposition, its possible all four will become law during Councils new four-year term. The bill authors were all reelected, and all four measures passed with overwhelming majorities.

The new term officially began Tuesday with a ceremonial meeting in which the next group of 17 members were sworn in to office, Kenyatta Johnson was elected Council president, and new Mayor Cherelle L. Parker was publicly inaugurated as Kenneys successor.

The pocket veto is only possible thanks to a quirk in legislative rules that applies following the final meeting of each four-year Council term. For the last Council cohort, that was Dec. 14, and lawmakers passed a bevy of legislation before adjourning for the year.

 READ MORE: Cherelle L. Parker is inaugurated as the first female mayor in Philadelphia history

After Council approves a bill, it heads to the desk of the mayor, who has three options: sign it into law, veto it, or do neither. Usually if the mayor neither signs nor vetoes the bill within 10 days, it becomes law without his or her signature.

But in order to enact the bill without the mayors approval, Council has to read it into to the record after the 10-day window passes. And because Dec. 14 was the final meeting of the last Councils term, lawmakers didnt have a chance to enroll them during their next meeting.

Kenney does not appear to have announced his decision to kill the proposals. Thomas said he learned that Kenney killed his NIL bill when The Inquirer asked him for comment Thursday evening.

Its extremely disappointing but not surprising, Thomas said. To pocket-veto it is tone-deaf. ... Theyre not thinking about whats in the best interest of the children.

Harrity said that while a Kenney aide had given his staff a heads up about the pocket veto, he was nonetheless surprised the mayor opposed his bill.

I was under the impression he was going to sign it, and then he did not, Harrity said. Itll be reintroduced. Well just start the process all over again.

Council will hold its next meeting Jan. 25.
Two directors from two companies were put under investigation for illegally exporting rare earths worth VND7.8 billion ($320,223) to China.

Tran Duc, director of the Duong Lieu Logistic Company, and Nguyen Thanh Doan, director of the Truong Son War Invalids Company, were put under investigation by the police from the Ministry of Public Security on Friday for smuggling.

Doan was forbidden from leaving his residence, while Duc was detained.

A Chinese man named Liu Dehua was also put under an investigation for the same charge, but he has left Vietnam. He is wanted by the authorities.

They were accused of illegally exporting rare earth batches worth VND7.8 billion to China through various measures, including deception and false customs procedures.

The arrests were made as police expanded investigation into the illegal mining, manufacturing and processing of rare earth and iron ores in Yen Phu Commune of Yen Bai Province in northern Vietnam.

Also on Friday the police put Nguyen Anh Son, director of the Son Anh Phu Tho Trading Company; Doan Hai Nam, head of the material department under the Hoa Phat Hai Duong Steel company; and Do Khanh Toan, vice director of the Atexim Company, under investigation for accounting violations regarding the case.

The three were accused of helping Dang Tran Chi, director of the Hop Thanh Phat Commerce and Transport company, violate the laws regarding accounting, leading to a loss of VND8.7 billion in taxes for the state.

Chi had been arrested in October, along with Doan Van Huan, chairman of the management board and general director of Thai Duong Company; Nguyen Van Chinh, vice general director of the company, and Luu Anh Tuan, chairman of Vietnam Rare Earth JSC, for violations in accounting and for survey, exploration, and extraction of resources.

An initial investigation alleged that Huan and Chinh had ordered the illegal mining and use of over 11 million kg of rare earth ores, worth VND440 billion, and 152 million kg of iron ores worth VND192 billion in Yen Bai. They illegally profited with VND632 billion.

The duo colluded with Hop Thanh Phat and Vietnam Rare Earth companies to forge VAT documents in rare earth trade to leave more than VND28 billion out of the books, causing an estimated loss of more than VND7.5 billion to the government in tax evasion.
Acknowledging the investigations findings, NRMAI responded to two show cause notices issued by SIRA in May and July 2023. The company acknowledged the identified issues and detailed the implementation of remediation measures and performance management actions. These measures specifically targeted individual performance to ensure adherence to regulatory requirements.
However, the appellate court found in May that the exclusion of damages caused by hostile or warlike action by a government or sovereign power in times of war or peace requires the involvement of military action.



The exclusion does not state the policy precluded coverage for damages arising out of a government action motivated by ill will, it found.



The courts stance has proved somewhat controversial among the insurance and legal communities.



The original decision, on which the appellate court ruled last May, had been criticized by Kennedys partners Joshua Mooney and Julia Selby as looking backward to a century past.
Insurer GEICO has been dealt a setback in its efforts to get back $2.3 million in what it alleges were fraudulent medical and chiropractic service charges it paid to several clinics under New Jerseys no-fault insurance law.

The 14 counts in GEICOs original complaint alleged violations of the New Jersey Insurance Fraud Prevention Act (IFPA) and the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), and it cited common law fraud and unjust enrichment.

The U.S. District Court for New Jersey affirmed that RICO, unjust enrichment, and common law fraud claims related to PIP benefits are subject to arbitration under New Jerseys no-fault insurance statute. The court dismissed those 12 charges, agreeing with the doctors and clinics and their defense.

However, the court allowed two of the charges relating to the IFPA to proceed. The court said details in the complaint provided a plausible basis for GEICOs claims that the defendants knowingly engaged in, and misrepresented various aspects of their services.

GEICO had argued that its allegations of fraud were not subject to arbitration under the no-fault law or under its treatment review rules. The insurer maintained that fraud-based claims go beyond the type of routine PIP disputes for which arbitration is mandatory under New Jersey law.

The insurer cited cases including a 2022 U.S. district court ruling, GEICO v Elkholy, to support its position.

However, the district court found that GEICO mischaracterized the case law when it asserted that the overwhelming weight of authority in this district holds that RICO, common law fraud, and unjust enrichment claims regarding PIP benefits are not subject to arbitration. In fact, in the Elkholy case the court dismissed counts brought by GEICO that were unrelated to IFPA violations, holding that claims for damages under the IFPA must be resolved in court and not by arbitration  which is the conclusion the district court reached in this latest case as well.

New Jerseys no-fault insurance statute contains an arbitration provision that states: Any dispute regarding the recovery of PIP benefits arising out of the operation, ownership, maintenance or use of an automobile may be submitted to dispute resolution on the initiative of any party to the dispute.

Nothing in the statute provides that fraud-based claims warrant special treatment or should be carved out from mandatory arbitration, nor can the court find any independent reason to do so, the court wrote.

The court and defendants also pointed out that GEICOs own Decision Point Review Plan, which allows providers to submit PIP benefits claims to GEICO for certain medical services they provide following a car accident upon an assignment of the patients PIP benefits to the providers, also contains an arbitration provision.

GEICO brought the charges in April, 2023 against physician Serge Menkin and chiropractor Lawrence Petracco, and their Center for Joint & Spine in New Jersey, as well as two other clinics owned by Menkin  United Medical in New York and Advanced Pain in New Jersey  through which GEICO said many of the services were provided and billed since 2018.

The insurers complaint alleged that these medical and chiropractic services, to the extent provided at all, were not medically necessary and often were not legitimately provided in the first instancerather, they were provided pursuant to pre-determined fraudulent protocols designed to financially enrich the defendants.

Topics Fraud New Jersey
Rokstone, the London-based speciality re/insurance managing general agent, part of Aventum Group, announced a binder agreement with Munich Re Syndicate Ltd. (MRSL), to bolster the expansion of its international property risks portfolio.

The binder has a line size of US$2 million and enables Rokstone to underwrite property risks across a number of international territories, including Australia and Canada, the company said, noting that MRSL joins a panel of long-standing carrier capacity supporters.

We are delighted to welcome Munich Re Syndicate to our capacity panel, and we eagerly anticipate a mutually beneficial and enduring relationship. Independent, unhindered by debt, with a consistent market beating performance, Rokstone has successfully attracted some of the worlds best underwriting talent, commented James Potter, CEO of Rokstone. Weve seen incredible growth as a result, whilst maintaining top quartile loss ratios. This latest partnership marks a significant milestone for Rokstone, underscoring our commitment to deliver excellence in the dynamic landscape of international property risks.

Dominick Hoare, group chief underwriting officer of Munich Re Specialty Group said: We have a strong and determined appetite to expand our offering in the international binder market. Led by Group Head Martyn Dolan, our experienced delegated property team will be steadfastly working to attract and serve customers and partners across a number of countries.

With offices in the UK, Europe, USA, Asia, Africa and the Middle East, Rokstone serves the needs of international re/insurance brokers in the specialty lines business. It currently underwrites more than US$1 billion GWP in several specialty lines including property, power generation, marine, aviation, warranty, credit & surety treaty, agriculture, construction & engineering, A&H and liability.

Source: Rokstone

Topics Property
Gallagher Taps AIGs Loesti as Chief Commercial Officer, European Broking

Nepomuk (Nepo) Loesti has joined Gallagher as chief commercial officer of its European broking operations.

The newly created role will support the expansion of Gallagher in Europe, outside of the UK, as the broker looks to build on its operations in Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, Lichtenstein and Turkey.

Reporting to Alex Nagler, CEO of Europe (who joined in September last year), Loesti will play a key role in driving the growth strategy of Gallagher in the region overall, and work with existing teams to explore further product and service opportunities.

Loesti joins Gallagher from AIG, where he spent the last 17 years in a variety of roles in Zurich, London, New York, Frankfurt and Munich. Most recently, he held the position of head of Financial Lines for Europe, Middle East and Africa. Prior to this, he was head of Liabilities, Financial Lines and Client Engagement for Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Loesti started his career in underwriting at Liberty Mutual Insurance Europe in 2004.

The firm already has some fantastic businesses operating in Europe, but there is plenty more room for growth and I will be working closely with Alex to deliver both expansion into new geographies, and also working with the wider in-country leaders to see what further products, services and solutions we can offer to maximize the outcome for Gallagher clients, Loesti said.

***

QBE Re Promotes 3 Global Product Heads in New York and London

QBE Re has appointed Salvatore (Sal) Sama as global product head for Casualty, Jane Farren as global head of Financial Professional Lines (FinPro) and Derek Durst as global head of Cyber.

Sama, based in New York, has more than 20 years of financial services experience and spent 10 years at Swiss Re prior to joining QBE.

Farren has worked at QBE Re in New York for close to three years with other industry experience including Aspen Insurance Group and Swiss Re.

Durst started his career at QBE Re in London in 2012 and worked at Aon for five years previously.

They are expected to take up the positions in January 2024.

We are pleased to welcome Sal, Jane and Derek to these positions. These senior hires are reflective of our global ambition and desire to deploy capacity consistently around the world. In so doing, we can deliver sustainable growth and build long-term partnerships with our customers, commented Chris Killourhy, managing director, QBE Re.

The appointments evidence our commitment to underwriting discipline and offer our brokers and cedents a consistent proposition. Filling these senior roles internally is testament to the quality of underwriting talent we benefit from across the business, he added.

The announcement follows other senior hires made at QBE Re in 2023 including Andrew Guarnori, Ashish (Ash) Ahluwalia and Mark Jackaman to head of Underwriting Oversight, global head of Performance & Portfolio Analytics, and general manager, London, respectively.

The new global product heads are responsible for underwriting quality, governance, and oversight for each product around the world. They will work closely with Jackaman, who was appointed general manager, London, in September 2023.

QBE Re has offices in Bermuda, Brussels, Dubai, Dublin, London and New York.

Topics New York Commercial Lines Europe A.J. Gallagher London AIG
ST. LOUIS (AP)  A Missouri city will pay nearly $3 million to settle a lawsuit accusing it of violating the constitutional rights of residents by jailing them and forcing them to pay fines and fees amounting to millions of dollars, often for minor traffic violations.

The $2.9 million settlement with the St. Louis suburb of Florissant was approved by a federal judge on Tuesday and announced Wednesday by ArchCity Defenders, a St. Louis-based public interest law firm. The class-action lawsuit was filed in 2016.

Florissant was among several St. Louis County cities whose policing and court practices were scrutinized after the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown in nearby Ferguson. Brown, a Black 18-year-old, was killed by white Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson on Aug. 9, 2014.

Funds from the Florissant settlement will be distributed among more than 85,000 people who were jailed or fined between Oct. 31, 2011, and Feb. 1, 2023. The settlement requires Florissant to forgive unpaid fees from traffic violations between Oct. 31, 2011, and Dec. 31, 2019, and to take other steps, including ensuring the right to an attorney for anyone brought before a municipal judge.

The Associated Press left telephone messages with the Florissant mayors office. Florissant, with 52,000 residents, is the largest city in St. Louis County.

Allison Nelson, now 32, said she was jailed twice in Florissant because she couldnt afford to pay traffic fines.

To hold money over someones head like that, especially with me being as young as I was  that was crazy to me, Nelson said in a news release from ArchCity Defenders.

Florissant joins the Missouri cities of Jennings, Normandy, Edmundson, Maplewood and St. Ann in settling similar class-action lawsuits. ArchCity Defenders said the six settlements combined have amounted to $16 million in damages. A lawsuit is still pending against the city of Ferguson.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Missouri
Iris Thanh Thomas, a top 16 finalist in Miss Cosmo Vietnam 2023, said she was deeply saddened by the unexpected passing of her boyfriend.

Vietnamese-German beauty pageant contestant Iris Thanh Thomas. Photo from Thomas' Facebook

Thomas was informed of the tragic news that her Norwegian boyfriend, Andreas, had died on Dec. 26, 2023 while preparing for the Miss Cosmo Vietnam 2023 semifinals in the Central Highlands city of Da Lat.

"I was shocked and couldnt believe it could happen," she said. "We were close from the moment we first met and I saw him as a soulmate. I had never thought this would be how our journey together ends."

Thomas and her friends initially suspected an accident, especially since Andreas had disappeared with his motorbike. However, it was later revealed by authorities that Andreas had suffered a fatal stroke.

Amidst this tragedy, Thomas was unable to attend her boyfriends funeral in Ho Chi Minh City due to her participation in the pageant. She chose to continue in the contest, driven by the memory of Andreas, who had been a motivating force behind her decision to compete.

Andreas, who was working in Vietnam before his death, shared a three-year relationship with Thomas. She fondly remembered him as a "bookworm," the most rational individual she knew, and a source of positive energy and mental support for those around him. He was understanding, logical, and a good listener as well, according to her.

"He was the motivation for me to pursue what I wanted and to improve every day," Thomas said. "Seeing how he suddenly departed before fulfilling all his dreams makes me feel bad for him. I hope he rests in peace."

Thomas is now waiting for Andreas family to come to Vietnam from Norway to receive his body.

Thomas, 25, was born in Germany to a German father and a Vietnamese mother.

She currently pursues her career as an illustrator in Ho Chi Minh City.
Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson died a terrible, painful death from an infection caused by negligence at her Dallas recovery facility following a September back surgery, according to a statement Thursday from Johnsons family outlining their intention to file a lawsuit.

She had no reason not to be here, Kirk Johnson, the congresswomans son, told reporters at a Thursday afternoon news conference. If she had gotten the proper care, she would be here today.

The family notified Baylor Scott & White Health System and Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation of their intention to sue on the grounds of medical negligence. A wound from a September back surgery became infected when the congresswoman was left to lie in her own feces in her bed for about an hour at the rehab center while she repeatedly asked for help that didnt come, according to Les Weisbrod, attorney for the family. If a settlement is not reach in the next 60 days, a lawsuit will be filed.

After undergoing more surgery to treat the infection, Johnson, 89, died from a spinal infection while in hospice care at her home on New Years Eve.

The last time Kirk Johnson spoke with his mother was Christmas Day, he said. She knew she was about to die, he told reporters.

She thought that she would live three weeks, he said, his voice breaking. But she didnt.

Baylor Scott & White officials said Thursday they couldnt comment in detail on the allegations.

Congresswoman Johnson was a longtime friend and champion in the communities we serveshe is an inspiration to all. We are committed to working directly with the Congresswomans family members and their counsel, Matt Olivolo, a spokesman for Baylor Scott & White Health, said in an emailed statement. Out of respect for patient privacy, we must limit our comments.

Weisbrod said he had been in touch with attorneys for the hospital system and rehab center, and that he is hopeful that it will be worked out. Texas law limits medical malpractice lawsuit awards to $250,000. Punitive damages can go much higher, but are subject to restrictions that include a favorable unanimous jury decision.

They have assured me that they want to work toward a resolution, he said. And Ive dealt with these people over the years a lot, on a lot of cases. I think theyre reputable people. Theyve expressed sympathy for what occurred.

A towering Dallas political figure  once a nurse, state legislator and congresswoman  Johnson was the dean of the Texas Congressional delegation before retiring from office in 2023. She proved effective at her work due to her long tenure serving in the U.S. House  nearly 30 years at the time of her passing  and a pragmatist streak that made her open to working with Republicans.

Born in Waco, Johnson became one of the most powerful Texas Democrats in recent memory to serve on Capitol Hill. She was the lone Texas-based committee chair in either chamber when she became the chair of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee.

She was the first Black woman elected to any seat in Dallas, she was the first nurse and Black Dallasite to serve in Congress, and she was only the third Texas woman to represent the state in the U.S. House.

Her retirement last year came after serving 15 terms representing her district, which included Dallas County and surrounding areas.

On Sept. 7, Johnson went to an orthopedic surgeon for a complicated back surgery on the lumbar region of her lower spine to repair damage done by scoliosis and other issues so that she would be able to continue walking, Weisbrod told reporters on Thursday. The surgeon, Dr. Andrew Park, installed hardware into several areas of her lower spine to stabilize it, he said.

The surgery went well, and Johnson was expected to have a recovery period of a couple of weeks, said Weisbrod, who also had back surgery by Park earlier in the year. Johnson was already walking a few days after the surgery, he said. Her surgeon referred her to the Baylor Scott & White rehab center where staff was supposed to take care of her wound and help her regain her strength before going home, he said.

But on Sept. 21, her son, Kirk Johnson, was on his way to the center for a routine meeting about her care when his mother called him saying she needed her sheets changed and that nobody was responding to her calls for help for at least 15 minutes, the son said. When he got there 15 minutes later, still nobody was there and his mother, he said, was lying unattended in her bed in her own feces and urine, the statement said. There were no nurses at the nursing station when he went to find help, the statement said.

She was screaming out in pain, asking for help, Kirk Johnson told reporters.

He found an administrator and his mother was cleaned up and assigned a different caretaker. The family estimates that she was unattended in her own feces and urine for at least an hour.

[CEO] Mr. [David] Smith appeared concerned as he had witnessed and smelled the horrid situation, the statement says. According to Mr. Johnson, Mr. Smiths response was This shouldnt have happened.'

At the time, Weisbrod said, the family was told that the nurses scheduled to monitor the station for calls that day were in a training session. In a voice mail from a case manager a few days later  a recording of which was played for reporters on Thursday  the son was told the technician who was assigned to the congresswomans care that day was checking on another patient when Johnson needed help.

The congresswomans orthopedic surgeon who had performed her back operation noted complications that she was having three days later that were directly related to that incident, according to Weisbrod.

Medical records released to reporters indicate Johnson had intense pain and a fever, as well as other signs of infection in the wound. Lab results confirmed that it was an infection and found bacteria that was directly related to the exposure to the feces.

Doctors operated again on Sept. 25, Weisbrod said. Treating the infection required not only cutting away the infected parts of the wound, but also removing all the hardware from the previous surgery to make sure it wasnt infected, and then putting it back into the spine again, he said. She began taking antibiotics intravenously, the attorney said, and was on them until the day she died. After that second surgery, Johnson was moved to a skilled nursing facility to recover from the procedure but was moved home in mid-December for hospice care.

She died shortly after.

But before her death, the congresswoman pressed her attorney to pursue this case for her weeks before she passed, Weisbrod said.

She knew what happened to her, we discussed it, and she asked me to pursue a case for her, he said. And of course I thought it was going to be a case for the pain that she went through, and the additional procedure she went through and the medical bills, and that she was going to recover. Its very distressing for me that she succumbed to this.

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/04/texas-eddie-bernice-johnson-lawsuit/.

The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.

Photo: FILE  U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, introduces state Sen. Royce West at a rally where West announced his bid to run for the U.S. Senate, in Dallas, Monday, July 22, 2019. Johnson, a nurse from Texas who helped bring hundreds of millions of federal dollars to the Dallas area as the regions most powerful Democrat, died Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023. She was 88. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)

Topics Texas
Outgoing Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon said that two initiatives to address the states property insurance market are meeting expectations.

Donelon provided updates to the Louisiana Incentive Program and the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program in his final week of office. Donelon, who will step down as commissioner on Monday, said both programs are meeting high expectations.

Companies participating in the Insure Louisiana Incentive Program have collectively written more than 50,000 policies as of Nov. 30. Approximately 24,000 of those policies have been taken from or avoided going into Louisiana Citizens, the insurer of last resort, through the first eight months of the program, according to Louisiana Department of Insurance (LDI) data.

Incentive companies have tentatively selected over 50,000 policies for Citizens depopulation by mid-2024, LDI said.

Lawmakers last year allocated $55 million in funding to the program. Insurers who participate in the program are required to write new property insurance in Louisiana with net written premiums of at least a ratio of $2 of premium for each $1 of the total of newly allocated property insurer capital combined with $1 of the grant from the Incentive Program Fund.

A grantee is awarded a $2,000,000 grant must write net property premiums of at least $8,000,000 in the first 24 months after receipt of the grant.

Most policies are going towards properties in southern Louisiana, as was intended. Through November, the top five parishes for new policies are Jefferson (8,923), Orleans (4,991), St. Tammany (4,429), Terrebonne (3,254) and Lafayette (3,237).

The incentive program is nearly identical to the one used in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Donelon credits that program with restoring the Louisiana property market following those forms.

It worked to depopulate Citizens by attracting a half dozen small companies, regional companies, Donelon told Insurance Journal. And then when they successfully wrote business, they attracted followers as so often happens in the insurance world being herd-like in their exiting tough markets and in their return to tough markets.

Donelon also offered an update to the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program, which through November has accepted 3,000 applicants. The first 1,500 were required to be Citizens policyholders.

The program offers grant recipients up to $10,000 to restore their roofs to the Fortified standard as set by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety. Insurers are required to provide discounts to homeowners who have Fortified roofs.

The average discount is about 20% off the total premium, as well as about a 24% discount for Citizens policyholders in coastal Louisiana, Donelon said.

A Fortified roof comes with a 7% increase in the appraised value of a home, Donelon said, citing a study from Guy Carpenter.

Donelon expects state lawmakers to allocate another $15 million towards Fortified roof grants in this years budget. He said incoming commissioner Tim Temple has expressed support for continuing to fund the program.

The $15 million would be generated by fees and licenses charged to insurers.

I firmly believe that if we build high enough and strong enough, we can live and work with 150 mph hurricanes making landfall on our coast from Grand Isle to Holly Beach, Donelon said.

Topics Louisiana
Just because an insurer paid the full policy limits on a claim, and argues that the damages werent even covered, doesnt mean it can escape a bad-faith lawsuit. Its the type of court decision that has rankled Florida insurance carriers for years  until state lawmakers changed the bad-faith statute in 2022 and 2023.

A panel of the Florida 4th District Court of Appeal this week reversed a Palm Beach County judges decision to dismiss a lawsuit filed by a homeowner who had to wait more than three years to receive full compensation for the damages. Homeowner Susan Cingari says she was forced to file a lawsuit against First Protective Insurance Co. to compel an appraisal even though the insurer didnt dispute, at least initially, that coverage was owed.

First Protective said the payments it made were gratuitous because the damage to Cingaris home was caused by a sinkhole, a peril excluded by its policy.

Notably, the insurers statements that it proceeded under an erroneous policy interpretation in the umpire appointment suit and gratuitously paid the policy limits and appraisal award certainly raise an inference that the insurer did not properly investigate the claim, the panels opinion says.

Cigari filed a claim with First Protective after her home in Boca Raton was damaged by a sinkhole in 2015. Over the course of a year, the insurer made two payments totaling $59,456, but Cigara said that wasnt enough. She filed a lawsuit in the 15th Judicial Circuit in Palm Beach County that sought to compel an appraisal.

The insurer said its claim investigation was delayed because the Waterside at Boca Trail Community Association refused to allow its adjuster access to Cigaris property.

In 2019, an umpire awarded Cigari $304,620.35. First Protective paid, but the bad faith lawsuit continued to move forward.

First Protective argued that it did not learn until after it paid the full policy limits that the damage to Cigaris home was caused by an excluded peril. Judge Joseph Curley said in his findings that experts on both sides agreed that damage to Cigaris home was caused by earth movement. On Aug. 3, 2022, Curley granted First Protectives motion for summary judgment and dismissed the bad faith suit.

Cigari appealed. She argued that First Protective was not entitled to summary judgment because it never obtained a ruling on its motion to amend its answer in the bad faith suit to assert that no coverage was owed under the policy.

The 4th District panel said insurers are required by Florida statutes to properly and promptly investigate claims, including the cause of the damage.

The appellate court reversed the trial courts decision and remanded the case for further proceedings. The panel also granted a motion by Cigari that requires the insurer to pay her attorney fees, although one of the members of the three-judge panel dissented in that decision.

Its not certain if such a bad-faith action would have been upheld if the claim had come after the passage of laws that raised the bar on bringing bad-faith suits. The Florida Legislature in 2022 barred bad-faith claims until after a court has decided that the insurance company breached the policy contract. A few months later, lawmakers approved a sweeping tort-reform law that prohibits bad-faith lawsuits if an insurer tenders the lesser of the policy limits or the amount demanded within 90 days of notice of a claim.

Florida appeal courts also have yet to fully settle the question of what determines when the new laws apply  the date of the policy or the date of the claim or litigation.

Topics Lawsuits Florida
 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said on Friday it had authorized Florida to directly import prescription drugs from Canada, where prices of medicines are cheaper.

The regulator said it was committed to working with other states seeking to gain similar approvals.

FDA Commissioner Robert Califf said for securing such approvals, the proposals must demonstrate the programs would result in significant cost savings to consumers without adding risk of exposure to unsafe or ineffective drugs.

Importing drugs from Canada at lower costs for U.S. consumers has been considered for years, but it has been met with opposition from industry groups.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump in 2020 finalized a plan that included a measure allowing states to submit import proposals to the FDA. The Biden administration subsequently followed with an order for the FDA to work with states on the plans.

Several other states are seeking similar approvals, according to New York Times, which first reported that the FDA had approved Floridas request.

(Reporting by Khushi Mandowara in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli)

Topics Florida Canada
Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler issued several fines for insurers, agents and entities in December, including ordering Zion Health to stop selling insurance illegally in Washington, fining the company $50,000.

Kreidlers office issued an initial cease-and-desist order to Zion in February 2022. The final order was signed on Dec. 19, 2023.

Zion Health, domiciled in Salt Lake City, reportedly offered and sold insurance in Washington without being authorized to do so by the Office of the Insurance Commissioner. The company also excluded coverage for pre-existing health conditions for two years and excluded coverage for termination of pregnancy.

Zion, as of October 2021, had enrolled a total of 984 members in Washington and collected a total of $1,196,652 from those members, while paying out $568,274 in claims.

The $50,000 Zion Health fine was part of the $78,000 total in fines Kreidlers office issued in December for violations of state insurance laws and regulations.

The other fines and reported violations included:

Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Co., Northbrook, Ill.; fined $3,000

Allstate didnt use its legal underwriting name on consumer-facing documents, including payment notification emails, estimates, email signatures and other formal written correspondence.

The Evangelical Alliance Mission, Villa Park, Ill.; fined $10,000

The Evangelical Alliance Mission issued charitable gift annuities before obtaining a certificate of exemption from the OIC and without meeting insurance code requirements. The organization issued 33 annuities to 14 Washington residents before receiving an exemption.

AICC LLC; Philadelphia, Penn.; fined $10,000

AICC sold insurance to two Washington businesses, and received commissions, without being licensed to do so by the OIC.

Michael Rawlings, Salt Lake City, Utah.; fined $5,000

Rawlings worked as an insurance adjuster in Washington between August 2022 and January 2023 without being licensed by the OIC to do so. In addition to the fine, he was issued a cease-and-desist order.

Topics Washington
A naive 14-year-old in 1959, Priscilla Beaulieu (Cailee Spaeny) cant believe her luck as Priscilla (15A) opens: invited to a party hosted by Elvis Presley (Jacob Elordi) at the home he has rented while serving his military service in Germany, Priscilla finds herself living out every teenage girls fairytale fantasy when Elvis brings his southern charm to bear on her and her alone.

But fairytales dont always have a happy ending, and especially when the handsome prince is the king of rock n roll and the most eligible bachelor on the planet.

Adapted by writer-director Sofia Coppola from Priscilla Presleys 1985 memoir Elvis and Me, this biopic opens to the strains of The Ramones cover of Baby, I Love You; by The Ronettes, which suggests that were in for a punk makeover of Priscillas story.

The potential is certainly there, given the famously chaste relationship between the young Priscilla and her 24-year-old beau, and how quickly Elvis evolved from doting upon his girlfriend to first advising her, and then informing her, as to how she should dress, look and behave.

Alone in America, with no one to guide her, Priscilla finds herself immured in the exquisite mausoleum of Graceland  a heartbreak hotel, indeed  while Elvis and his Memphis mafia live the high life in Hollywood.

However, while Sofia Coppola does not flinch from depicting Elvis as a controlling and manipulative man, and neatly captures the hermetic weirdness that comes with orbiting the most famous man alive, Priscilla remains a largely inscrutable character, and seems to exist solely in relation to Elvis.

That may well be because the teenage Priscilla, who was married at the relatively tender age of 21 after an extended courtship, had little opportunity to develop emotional and psychological depths worth plumbing.

Even so, the film seems to skate across the surface of her true and private self. Cailee Spaeny is suitably beautiful, fragile and forlorn as Priscilla, but there is little she can do about the lack of interiority in the script, while Jacob Elordi makes for a convincing Elvis, by turns hip-swaggeringly charismatic and sneeringly cruel.

It all looks rather fabulous, and the absence of Elviss music is hardly noticed, but Priscilla does not quite deliver the hoped-for depth and substance.
First Dates Ireland returned to RTE2 on Thursday evening, complete with the first double-date of the season, a very awkward blind-date overseen by a sassy drag alter-ego and a farmer looking for a wife. Here's a quick recap:

Hansun and Ciaran

Hansun was disappointed with his blind date

Kicking off series nine of First Dates Ireland, our friendly restaurant team made up of Maitre'd Mateo, barmen Neil, and waiters Pete and Alice, are back to welcome the first blind dater.

It's Hansun, 24, from Louth, who is embarking on his date under the watchful eye of his sassy drag alter-ego Pluto. He says he enjoys being single, but he wants to get the ride, adding that hes going into this with an open mind, open heart and open legs. Maybe dont watch this with your granny.

Hes meeting Ciaran, 24, from Dublin, who prepared for this date with a can in the shower.

Things get off to a shaky start, with Ciaran appearing to raise his eyes at Hansuns cocktail order, his dessert choice and his conversation starters (when is your birthday/star sign). As the date goes on, it just gets more and more awkward. When Alice comes with the bill, Hansun lets Ciaran pay without even an offer to split.

Unsurprisingly, its a very firm no from both to another date.

Stephen and Jade

In the first double date of the series, wild and flirty Stephen, 28, from Athlone has brought along his trusty wingman James, 27, from Cavan in a bid to find love. They are joined by Jade, 26, from Newry, and Siobhan, 24, from Mayo.

Jade is looking for a man who can keep up with her  just as long as he knows he doesnt wear the pants in the relationship. She kicks off her entrance by telling Maitre'd Mateo hes much better looking in real life than on the telly! Were not sure how wed take that.. In fairness, she does say she likes to make people squirm.

The squirminess continues when Stephen wonders aloud who his date is, and seems to assume it is Siobhan because she matches some things he asked for on the form... he is, in fact, paired with Jade. Who, as it turns out, was hoping for his friend.

When I saw you, I thought, hes a pretty boy, he cant be for me, Jade tells Stephen honestly as they sit down. Awkward.

But, while they both admitted the other was not their usual type, they were pleasantly surprised once they sat down for the chat.

It was a yes from both to date number two.

James and Siobhan

James, who prides himself on his positive energy, is looking for a girl next door. Hes paired with self-described cheeky monkey Siobhan, 24, from Mayo. Hes clearly very nervous as they sit down for the date but tells her he was hoping she was his date.

James is a giveaway presenter(no we didnt realise that was a job either), and Siobhan looks after adults with special needs.

Both say while they are happy being single, they're ready to find love and they seem to be on the same page with their attitude to life.

James impressed Siobhan by telling her his best date was when he pulled off flying his long-distance American-based girlfriend to Paris for her birthday, complete with a boat trip by the Eiffel Tower. In comparison, Siobhan's best date was a picnic down the road. James promises to top it if he's "lucky enough" to secure a second date.

When the bill comes, Siobhan lets him pick up the bill, but only because she intends on paying for the next one.

Tom and Elly

Elly and Tom from Kerry kick it off on First Dates

Tom, 41, a farmer from Killorglin in Co Kerry, has been single for a while and hes stepping out of his comfort zone today in the hopes of changing that.

Up to a couple of years ago, it wouldnt have bothered me one bit, but I definitely dont want to be alone for the rest of my life, he says, adding that every Christmas Day with the family seems to revolve around finding him a woman, god love him.

Hes matched up with Dutch lady, Ellie, 32, who is now living in Kerry herself and looking for a gentleman who knows what he wants.

They two seem to hit it off, and Tom says he is "delighted" when it's all over. "She's brunette, and she's sound," he says beaming.

It's a yes from both of them to another date. Tom even kept the bill as a momento. Aw.
Getting people to try Barre once is my main mission in life, says Cork woman Emma Barry Murphy.

The 29-year-old has been teaching Barre for over three years. In that time, she has helped people discover the benefits of exercise  and created a tight-knit community along the way.

Since qualifying as a Barre instructor, Emma has set up her own online and in-person classes and seasonal events to allow more people to try Barre, make new friends and, of course, have some fun too.

Inspired by ballet, Barre was first developed in London in 1959 by ballerina Lotte Berk who after injuring her back, had the idea to combine Barre ballet with her rehabilitative therapy. It is not dissimilar to Pilates, but according to Emma, it is unique  as is her decision to merge it with another popular pastime: brunch.

The way that Barre differs from nearly everything is that youre focusing on different movements that will be either full range or half range. Theres going to be a lot of pulses and a lot of holds. Youre exhausting your different muscles  smaller muscles  to the point of failure so that they get stronger, she says.

I describe it as a range of movements that will target those smaller muscle groups in your body.

A tough workout followed by brunch sounds like the perfect combination, so I head to one of Emmas Barre and Brunch events in Cork. Prior to the class, she tells me that she often gets feedback like: Ive used muscles I didnt know existed. Id never expect anyone to complete 100% of their first class, she adds.

Its early on a cloudy Saturday morning as I set off  slightly scared  to see whether Emma can successfully convert me to a Barre-lover.

Following the success of previous events, she has teamed up with cafe Naturally Nourished to create a Winter Sculpt Event (tickets are available from 44, including the class and brunch). Admittedly, the promise of a delicious meal, tasty mocktails, and mimosas is my main motivator, but Im also excited about a new challenge.

Our Saturday morning class kicks off at 9.30am, overlooking spectacular views of Cork city from a balcony at Penrose Dock. Im the first to take to my mat but within minutes, the place is buzzing as groups of women of all ages appear chatting, some greeting each other with hugs and warm hellos.

While some are regulars, others  like me  are new here. We start on the mat, lifting our legs and squeezing our glutes before moving up to our feet, using chairs as a makeshift ballet barre. Theres a lot of pulsing and lifting our limbs for eight reps at a time and its not long before I feel the burn in my legs  closely followed by my arms.

But Emma is a professional motivator. She encourages us to push through the pain, reminding us of the delicious feast that awaits us downstairs.

Emma Barry Murphy at her 'Barre and Brunch' event with Yvonne Whitley of Naturally Nourished (left) at Penrose Dock, Cork. Picture Dan Linehan

For our final challenge, she blasts music and prompts us to keep going until the song ends. We squat up and down, up and down. With my thighs on fire, I look out onto the city and cant help but laugh at the madness of it all. What must the people on the street below think of the 24 women neatly lined up, pulsing along to Mariah Carey on a balcony above them? Somehow, this moment is the most challenging and enjoyable part of the class. Theres nothing like a bit of laughter to pull you through the pain.

After a cool-down stretch and a chat about what everyone is doing for the weekend, I feel refreshed and relieved. Its nice not to be completely winded after a workout, but still have the same rush of endorphins. I also realise the hour-long class flew by in no time. No counting down the minutes, longing for it to end. Instead  while it was tough at times  Emma guided us through the whole process with ease.

I join a group of women downstairs for the moment we have all been dreaming of for the last hour: brunch. From banoffee pancakes to avocado and toast, we are spoiled for choice with the food selection at Naturally Nourished, not to mention the delicious seasonal mocktails to help quench the post-Barre thirst.

All around me, women are chatting, laughing and making the most of their morning, plotting their plans for the hours ahead, knowing they have already completed a workout and (perhaps more importantly) had a good laugh amongst friends  old and new.

The benefits of group exercise have long been documented. According to a study from 2017, regular group exercise contributes to balanced health in older adults. Being surrounded by people during the class was the motivator to keep going, but having the time to sit and chit-chat over eggs and pancakes is a bonus.

The community aspect is so important because it gives people an outlet, says Emma. For many people, classes -no matter what type it is  is a way for them to escape, a way for them to get a little peace of mind, whether its mental clarity, just a little bit of stress reliefand then having the ability to meet likeminded people.

While some people are there for fitness, others are there for the food, but one common theme is the connections between attendees.

Emma says while some women attend alone, they always have at least one friend by the end of the class and this occasion was no different.

Id like to have everyone try Barre at least once and I think attaching the social element and a lovely, tasty meal or some goodies is definitely a way to get people to think of it as a day out, she says.

As for the fitness side of it, Emmas Barre classes are suited to all levels. As she points out, ballet dancers are among the strongest people, so taking their training regimen into a universal class is a recipe for a great workout.

Its easy to see why Barre has become increasingly popular, with classes popping up in cities worldwide. According to ClassPasss 2022 fitness trends report, Barre was the fifth most popular workout in 2022.

People get different benefits from [Barre]. It could be building core and glute strength or getting your mobility  if youre a runner, for example, you might never stretch- you might never make these smaller moves that will help you. Its also just exposing people to try it once so that they maybe find a way that it integrates into their life, she says.

After my Saturday morning session, I decide to return to Emmas in-person classes in Ballinlough for round two. Even without the promise of brunch, I am confident I will enjoy my second attempt at Barre just as much as my first.

Im on the Barre bandwagon, I tell her.
For such a seemingly innocuous island Weir Island in the inner Cork Harbour has had an interesting history that has seen it punch far above its weight. It is one of three islands in this area along with Brick Island and Brown Island  and like them is uninhabited save for the occupants of two houses. This set lies just to the east of Fota Island and to the north of Great Island, with Weir being the westernmost.

The Weir Island Grasses Weir Island is an island in County Cork. Weir Island is situated southeast of Slatty Bridge, northwest of Brick Island #weirisland #fota #aaronkenneallyphotography #ireland #irelandphotography #dailyphotography #canon_photos #photosofireland #photography pic.twitter.com/47e0jDpsRF

With the take-off of transatlantic journeys by seaplane inspired by Charles Lindbergh in 1933, Cork looked to the skies to capture some of this incipient market. In the late 1930s, Foynes in County Limerick would see a successful development of seaplane enterprise which saw many crossings of the ocean from there.

Chairman of Imperial Airways, Eric Geddes, stated that within five years the crossing of the Atlantic by seaplane will become an established fact.

Cork Examiner Thursday, July 6, 1933

A draft report by the county surveyor Richard F OConnor in 1933 looked at the possibility of building a seaplane base at Cobh and at the northern side, an aerodrome at Belvelly. This aerodrome would partly have infringed on Weir Island and vastly changed its character.

Proposed scheme: Cork Terminal Airport, Rushbrooke Cork Examiner Thursday, July 6, 1933

Early Ordnance Survey maps show Weir Island linked by a short shingle bar but over time the area to its north was filled in with considerable amounts of mud. That is referenced also on the maps by an area known as lamanagh (the bare marsh). Weir and its neighbouring islands are known roosting sites for grey plover. Had the airport been developed much of the birdlife would probably have vanished. The weir in question was in all likelihood an eel trap/ fishery on the stream to the north of the island.

The rationale for the development of an airport was as a time-saver versus sea traffic. The saving in time over present schedules is so considerable that air services on these [proposed] lines are bound to draw traffic, the report stated.

And that: The only initial expenditure necessary is the cost of constructing and equipping an aerodrome and of equipping landing water for seaplanes. Both requirements can be met at comparatively low cost.

The report indicated that the optimum location to site an aerodrome was at the tidal mudflats at Belvelly, between Great Island, Fota Island and Weir Island. It stated that it was practicable to reclaim an area of 460 acres of this ground by constructing suitable tidal sluices. It went on to state that there is space to construct runways measuring from three-quarters of a mile to one-and-a-half miles in length. Control buildings would have been constructed on Fota Island "which will give full view of the whole landing ground".

Aerial view of Weir Island, adjacent to Fota, 2004. Picture: Billy Mac Gill.

The Belvelly site was examined from land and air by experienced airmen including WR Elliott, C Rae and flight lieutenant Chris Clarkson. The plans would have seen two of the runways touching the edge of Weir island with probable associated developments into the future.

A few kilometres to the south, Great Island would have seen development of a landing area for seaplanes at Cuskinny Bay to the channel running to East Ferry. It was envisaged that the naval facilities at Haulbowline Island could be used for seaplane maintenance.

By 1934 the Belvelly plans were abandoned with the focus moving to Midleton which in turn was abandoned with the outbreak of World War Two. By 1948 attention had switched to the current site at Farmers Cross just outside the city.

In 2015 Weir Island was back in the news when Bord Pleanala turned down an application for an activity known as car drifting. The council said the location of a racing track next to Natura 2000 sites meant that it could not be considered an exempted development as it is surrounded on two of its three sides by the Great Island channel special area of conservation and the Cork Harbour Special Protection Area.

Weir Island hosts a couple of electricity pylons to enable the provision of electricity to Great Island. Meanwhile, the only thing flying at Weir Island today are the birds.

How to get there: Privately owned.

Other: Cork Examiner 06/07/1933 and 12/08/1933; corkairport.com
A 23-year-old Cork woman was arrested and charged with causing an affray at Mercy University Hospital and causing criminal damage to the front door of the property.

The alleged incident dates back almost two years. Now, Chloe Fray, of 50 Great William OBrien Street, Blackpool, Cork, has been arrested and brought before Cork District Court in relation to the matter.

Ms Fray was charged that on March 26, 2022, at Mercy University Hospital, she engaged in an affray with other persons, including three named parties, who used or threatened to use unlawful violence towards each other and that such conduct would cause a person of reasonable firmness to fear for their own or another persons safety.

She was also charged with causing criminal damage to the front door of the hospital.

Sergeant Gearoid Davis said there was no objection to the accused being remanded on bail but on strict conditions.

Those conditions require her to sign on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Bridewell Garda Station between 9am and 9pm, reside at 50 Great William OBrien Street, Blackpool, and abide by a curfew between 11pm and 7am.

The last conditions require her to provide a contact number to gardai and be contactable at all times, remain free from intoxicants and stay away from Mercy University Hospital and its environs, except for medical appointments.

Sergeant Davis said the Director of Public Prosecutions directed trial by indictment at Cork Circuit Criminal Court or the entering of a signed plea of guilty at Cork District Court for sentencing at the circuit court.

Frank Buttimer asked for a precis of the prosecution evidence so the question of a signed guilty plea could be considered.

Judge Mary Dorgan adjourned the case until January 17 for that purpose.
A South Korean man internationally wanted for a drug conviction in his home country was detained in HCMC Friday.

According to investigators, Um Youn Min, 45, was member of a ring that manufactured methamphetamine and organized parties in which attendants would be offered different types of narcotics.

South Korean police busted the ring and arrested many members, but Um fled to Vietnam.

Ho Chi Minh City police tracked him down and arrested him in the city.

According to South Korean drug laws, its nationals are not allowed to consume drugs, regardless of their geographical location, including in nations where drug use is lawful.

For example, South Korean citizens are explicitly banned from consuming cannabis, even when they are in countries that have legalized or decriminalized its use.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly is set to meet with the family of Aoife Johnston, who died in University Hospital Limerick (UHL) in December 2022.

Aoife, from Shannon, died at UHL on December 19, after waiting 12 hours for treatment at its emergency department (ED). She was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis and later developed sepsis. She was 16 years' old.

Mr Donnelly said he would be travelling to Limerick to meet the Clare teenager's family "soon"

"I offered to meet the family a few weeks ago, and they've been in touch to say they would like to take up that offer.

"It will be soon, I will be going to Limerick to meet them, and I'm very keen to sit down with them," he told RTE radio's Morning Ireland.

An independent investigation led by retired chief justice Frank Clarke is to examine the circumstances surrounding Aoifes death as well as the clinical and corporate governance of the hospital.

An initial report found overcrowding in UHLs emergency department was endemic, and doctor and nurse staffing levels were insufficient.

On Thursday, a lawyer representing Aoife's family said the terms of reference for an investigation into her death were decided .

Damien Tansey said it was "a matter of great concern."

Speaking about the family's concerns around the investigation, Mr Donnelly said he "understands exactly where they are coming from."

"We would always want to include families in setting terms of reference for various reviews. That is normal practice.

"It doesn't happen always the way it should, but it is the way things should always work.

"In this particular case, because this is an investigation that could result in accountability at the end, something that the HSE is criticised for not normally doing, this approach is different, it is a new approach being taken by the new chief executive, that can have accountability at the end," he said.

When asked whether somebody could lose their job in connection with the investigation, Mr Donnelly said: "If adverse findings are made, then there are processes that might follow from this investigation.

The advice that the HSE got was, in order to have a process whereby you could have accountability at the end, no third parties could input to the terms of reference  none of the management, none of the staff involved, none of the clinicians, and the family.

So, at a human level, you always want to do it, but we also want a process where there can be accountability at the end."

Mr Donnelly went on to say he had confidence in the new manager in place at UHL, but there needed to be "changes in terms of patient flow and patient management" at the hospital.

He said he raised concerns about rosters at UHL before Aoife's death.

"When I read the report into the tragic death of Aoife Johnston, there were practices being followed in terms of rostering which I had personally raised with the hospital previously, and asked to be changed.

"And on this weekend, they certainly hadn't been changed," he said.

The investigation into Aoife's death was announced after HSE chief executive Bernard Gloster received a systems analysis review (SAR) on her death which had been commissioned by the hospitals chief clinical director.

That report specifically said national guidelines for sepsis care were not followed, and that this led to a delay in sepsis care of 12 hours.

It described overcrowding at the hospital as being endemic and also found there was insufficient nursing staff to provide adequate care to patients at the UHL ED on the weekend of December 17, 2022.

There was also just one emergency consultant on call for the whole weekend, and only one clinical nurse facilitator for nurse training despite having a high turnover of nurses.
Tributes have been paid following the sudden death of outspoken former Cork city councillor, Con OLeary, a well-known shopkeeper who served the citys northside for over 50 years.

Mr OLeary, who lived and ran his shop in Gurranabraher, was elected as an independent councillor to the then Cork Corporation in the city's former north-central ward in 1991 and again in 1999.

He fell ill on Friday while on holiday in the Canaries with family members and died in hospital there a short time later. He was in his late 70s. Funeral arrangements have yet to be announced.

He was predeceased by his wife Ann and is survived by their four daughters, Lorraine, Tina, Deborah and Aisling.

Cork Lord Mayor Cllr Kieran McCarthy, who hosted a reception for Mr O'Leary just before Christmas, led the tributes, describing him as "a legendary Cork character".

Con was very active in Cork Corporation and represented his constituents with much passion regularly speaking up on several social issues, which affected citizens and pushing for positive change, he said.

He will always be known as a legendary Cork character with much wit but whose caring efforts not only benefitted Gurranabraher but also the wider city.

Con O'Leary (fourth from left), receiving a presentation from Lord Mayor Cllr Kieran McCarthy and Michael O'Connell, Chairperson Gurranabraher Credit Union. Also included are Con's daughters Lorraine Sheehy, Tina O'Brien and Deborah Kenneally, at the Gurranabraher Credit Union 60th Anniversary Celebration, at the Metropole Hotel, Cork. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin, who served alongside Mr O'Leary on the city council in the early 1990s, said he served his community with "great commitment and generosity for half a century", and recalled his "great wit and charm".

Former Lord Mayor of Cork and former Labour councillor Mick OConnell, knew Mr OLeary for over 30 years, through politics and the credit union movement.

Con may have been a small man, but he had a huge presence, he said.

He was a very intelligent guy, with a great way about him. He had a lot to say and a great way of saying it.

And he relished his nickname Con the robber - that was his trademark.

As well as his contribution to local politics, he made an enormous contribution to the credit union movement.

We in Gurranabraher Credit Union were going through a difficult patch in the early 2000s and we needed someone strong, with character and leadership, and we were very lucky to have Con on the team, as chairman of the board, at that time.

Independent Northside Cllr Ken OFlynn described Mr OLeary as a beloved figure in the community with who always had his fingers on the pulse.

A member of the former Southern Health Board, he called in 1997 for a debate on the issue of assisted dying  a matter which is currently being examined by an Oireachtas committee.

He was also an Irish director for the 199-member European Cities Against Drugs and played a strong role in various local drug strategies over the years.

He made three unsuccessful attempts at a Dail seat  in the 1992 general election, in a November 1994 by-election and again in 1997, when he stood for The National Party.

But he made national headlines in 1998 when he sued his own local authority for a substantial sum for injuries he received when he fell on the steps of Cork's City Hall after attending a corporation meeting.

He eventually agreed an out-of-court settlement for an undisclosed sum, believed to have been 30,000.
Restaurants and food outlets need to cut down on the amount of food they put on consumers plates to reduce waste, the Agriculture Minister has said.

Charlie McConalogue said there was a lot of waste within food service and urged every business to look to address the issue further.

Latest data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) show Ireland generated about 770,316 tonnes of food waste in 2020.

About 31% of the total comes from households, 29% comes from the processing and manufacturing sector, with the remainder coming from restaurants and food service (23%), primary production (9%), and retail and other distribution of food (8%).

Food waste costs the average Irish household about 60 a month or 700 a year, or an annual national cost of 1.29bn, the EPA has also said.

Mr McConalogue said: There's an imperative on us to actually address this. It's something that really grates with me and really annoys me, because, you know, I've seen it at all different levels.

Anytime I go to a food outlet, Im tired of saying thats enough, I dont need anymore food [on my plate]'.

It's much better not to overload somebody's plate but allow somebody to come back for seconds and therell be a lot less putting [food] into the bin as a result of that approach, he said.

In an interview with the Irish Examiner, the Donegal TD said he believed it was less of a problem if people were not given enough food at a restaurant and said people can always ask for seconds and pay for it.

Charlie McConalogue also said customers should not be in a position whereby they request a box or bag to take home food from a restaurant. Picture: Leah Farrell/ RollingNews.ie

He said he had been strongly advocating on food waste at every opportunity and engaging with the food and agri-food sector too.

I think every business should look at this and businesses are looking at this, but we need to do more and every business needs to look at the amount of waste they have.

Call for doggy bag ban

He also said customers should not be in a position whereby they request a box or bag to take home food from a restaurant.

I think we need to be avoiding the situation when people have to be reaching for a doggy bag because youre dealing with the problem rather than the cause so it shouldnt be the case that plates are overloaded, thats what I believe where we need to try and reach behavioural change.

Especially from a purely consumption point of view and from a balanced diet point of view, he added.

The Government has committed to reducing food waste by 50% by 2030  in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The agriculture minister said consumers also need to accept a practice change that will facilitate food waste being reduced.

The work and effort that goes into producing food and also you know at a farming level and the cost in [food production] involved.

And also then the energy and that resource that goes into it and for almost a third of that to end up in a bin isn't acceptable, and there's waste right throughout the chain.

I think it is a clear win on so many fronts, and a clear win as well on the emissions and climate front, he added.

Ireland remains one of the biggest wasters in the EU when it comes to food, with households the predominant culprit across the bloc according to the latest figures from the European Commission's data analysis wing, Eurostat.

In 2021, the second year of the covid-19 pandemic, about 131kg of food waste per person was generated in the EU. Households generated 54% of food waste, accounting for 70kg per person.

But in Ireland, households contributed nearly 221,000 tonnes of food waste, or about 29%, compared to more than 215,500 tonnes of food waste generated by processing and manufacturing.

Mr McConalogue added households have a responsibility to value food and it should not matter if vegetables do not look perfect.
Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue has refused to rule himself out as Fianna Fail nominee for the EU commissioner job.

There has been much speculation within the party about who will be the countrys next commissioner, with Housing Minister Darragh OBrien, Finance Minister Michael McGrath, and Mr McConalogue all being mentioned.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin has ruled himself out of the running but has been adamant that the next commissioner would be from Fianna Fail.

That is despite Taoiseach Leo Varadkar stating in a pre-Christmas interview that there was no written agreement with Fianna Fail on the issue.

However, he declined to say if there was an informal arrangement and he would not be drawn on whether he would be pushing for Fine Gaels Mairead McGuinness to get a second term.

Former Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness is the European Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Services, and the Capital Markets Union. Picture: NW Newspix

When asked whether he would be interested in the top EU job, Mr McConalogue sought to avoid answering the question and said there was currently nothing to consider and nothing to rule in or out yet.

When asked whether he would consider the role if approached, he said that was irrelevant at this point in time.

The Donegal TD will be under pressure to retain his seat in the next general election, with speculation that the public will be hitting the ballot boxes later this year. It is anticipated that due to backlash from the mica scandal, the Sinn Fein surge, and the possibility of his party colleague Pat the Cope Gallagher seeking a return to the Dail if he fails to get elected as an MEP, Mr McConalogue will be in a dog-fight to keep his seat.

In a wide-ranging interview with the Irish Examiner, he said he never takes anything for granted but pointed out that every prediction about him in previous elections he has contested has been wrong.

I wouldnt say Im nervous but Im certainly in no way complacent and I see every election as a challenge but I feel that I have a strong record of delivery to put in front of the people next time around.

The mica crisis was unprecedented in terms of its impact in his home county and he described it as an unbelievable ordeal for everyone affected.

He said he is confident that the scheme now in place is a success but said it will remain under review into the future and will be adjusted every year.

'Totally inadequate'

He said families and homeowners have been transitioned from the old scheme, which he said was totally inadequate.

Mr McConalogue said 50 homes have been remediated in the county, another 50 are under way, while 850 homes have received approval from Donegal County Council to access the scheme.

He said remediation work is beginning on homes every week but admitted that it had been a difficult journey for everyone involved, including politically.

Meanwhile, he said there has been ongoing engagement with Chinese officials about the resumption of beef exports to China after a case of atypical BSE was detected in a cow in November.

He said there has been no timeline yet on when exports will begin again but he hopes, given that both countries have been through the process before in 2020, there will be a much more prompt restoration.

He also said he has yet to receive a further update on the possibility of Irish beef being exported to the Korean market for the first time.

Mr McConalogue travelled to the country late last year in a bid to gain Irish access to the market.
There are a lot of uncertainties about how climate change will impact on Irelands flora and fauna, but according to an expert, the threat to their status quo is very real.

Ecologist John Barimo, manager of Sustainable Development Solutions Network Ireland, said there was a complex web of processes that shape order and maintain natural ecosystems then we actually know about.

Having said that, there are trends that have been identified by researchers. When I was an undergraduate student over 30 years ago, I learned that carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was rising; most all of the world's glaciers were retreating or melting as evidence of a warming planet; and that the ranges of distribution for many species had begun a poleward migration.

"And over 20 years ago, an Oxford University study spoke of the unpredictable nature of climate change in relation to species and natural habitats in Britain and Ireland, he said.

So, he asks, what does all this mean for us in Ireland?

Dr Barimo said to get a full perspective, we need to step back into time and try to think in terms of millions and even billions of years ago.

The island of Ireland has migrated northward from the tropics, and it has even been submerged in the past, but these are very long slow processes and organisms having been given opportunity to adapt and evolve.

We also know from studying isotopes in ice cores that we are now experiencing an extremely rapid change in carbon dioxide and temperature since the industrial revolution some 150 years ago compared with the geological record.

"And when changes occur so rapidly, within just a few generations for many species, natural evolutionary processes of adaptation or natural selection are essentially short-circuited, he said.

Dr John Barimo: 'Its very sad but events such as the flooding in Midleton this past year may start to occur more often, and we need to be prepared for this.'

Natural genetic variation is also a means of resilience for any given species, but so much natural diversity has been lost in Ireland due to land use practices, overfishing, and so on.

"To this day, species continue to move away from warmer waters and land and continuing this poleward range shifts. Such mass movements will cause different communities of species to encounter each other for the first time and the outcomes will be unpredictable, there will likely be some winners and some losers.

You can also learn much from the study of introduced species. Where I come from in Florida, people have released their pet Burmese pythons and Indo-Pacific lionfish into the wild where they have thrived.

"The pythons have disrupted the Everglades ecosystem with severe impacts on bird and small mammal populations, while lionfish have decimated juvenile coral reef species, he said.

Rhododendrons in Ireland

He said the same is happening with rhododendrons in Ireland, especially in Killarney National Park, where they are outcompeting many native species and we are offering little habitat value to native fauna.

Invasive species generally lack predators or competitors which would keep their population size in check. As a result, they can quickly become a dominant species, often with no benefit to the existing ecological community.

Rhododendrons in Ireland, especially in Killarney National Park, are outcompeting many native species and we are offering little habitat value to native fauna, Dr Barimo says. Picture: Dan Linehan

But some of these invasive species fail to establish themselves and outcomes of such introductions can be difficult to predict in advance.

I think it's safe to say that we're likely moving toward a time of increased instability in many ways. I personally never liked terms like global warming or climate change because I foresaw climate instability.

Those climactic patterns that were once relatively stable and predictable are becoming more erratic such as temperature, rainfall, intense storms, and the flow of jet stream itself.

Its very sad but events such as the flooding in Midleton this past year may start to occur more often, and we need to be prepared for this, especially if living in low-lying areas, Dr Barimo said.

Dr Barimo poses the question: what specifically can we expect in Ireland given this background information?

Skelligs puffins

There is anecdotal information that Atlantic puffins nesting in the Skellig Islands are changing, although I have not seen empirical data yet. Any changes may be driven by temperature stress, habitat disruption, or changes in food ability as puffins feed primarily on sand eels.

"This also brings to mind that specialist feeders such as puffins may also be more susceptible to environmental impacts then a generalist feeder such as an omnivore, he said.

The British Trust for Ornithology predicts 90% of puffins will be lost to Ireland and the UK by 2050.

What we don't know is will they find new feeding habitats and breeding grounds, or will they eventually perish as a species, at least locally or regionally. The same trend is expected in other seabirds, but why should we care?

"Seabirds are often used by scientists as indicator species of ocean ecosystem health since we simply don't have the capacity to monitor the life cycles and species interactions of all organisms in the ocean.

"Again, I think it's safe to say that we can expect change but the outcome is still a big unknown and something of an experiment with our own life support system, he said.

Dr Barimo said something most people do not realise is that forests migrate in response to climate variations, but at much slower timescale. These are longer time scales compared to what we are currently experiencing. The migration occurs as seeds are dispersed by wind or animals from the parent tree.

Under current climatic conditions, seeds will likely have a better chance of sprouting and surviving if they are dispersed in a cooler poleward direction. But the changes are happening much more quickly for our native fauna to adapt.

Unfortunately, human interventions may be necessary to save such forests for future generations and perhaps costing more than the phase-out of fossil fuels, he added.

Irish fisheries

As for Irish fisheries, Dr Barimo said we can likely expect more tropical and subtropical waters fish to move into our waters and traditional catches such as cod, hake, mackerel, etc will likely move northward, while some may move toward deeper waters.

But again we don't know how interspecies interactions will shape any new emerging ecological community or whether we can still expect the upwelling of nutrient-rich water into coastal areas which nourishes the planktons which serve as the base of the food web.

"Also, an unknown is what will be the fate of species such as the Atlantic salmon which have high fidelity to their natal stream which evidence suggests they can detect their spawning grounds by smell, he said.

Dr Barimo said all of these issues lead us to the point of what can we do as individuals or members of groups, and what are our own values around these issues.

Is this important enough for us to hold our elected government officials to full accountability and to live up to the promises made in the Paris Agreement or the 2030 Agenda which includes the Sustainable Development Goals or any other agreements that emerge from Cops?

"We are at a critical time where words must be converted to actions and we can no longer pass the problems along to future generations, he said.

For example, with the upcoming European parliamentary elections, a good question to a candidate may be what about the EU subsidies for fossil fuel industries which amount to 300m annually?

And why can't those funds instead be used to subsidise a just transition to renewable energy and ecosystem restorations?
I would love Irish to be a popular subject in our schools. It is not, and the higher up you go, the worse the attitude towards it gets.

Our beloved national language isnt doing well in general, according to the recently released census results. Filled out in April 2022, the census highlights how fewer people are speaking Irish daily. And things are set to worsen, with more young students getting Irish exemptions in our schools.

The Irish school system is doing a spectacular job of killing the Irish language. It is a two-pronged attack. Firstly, comes death by matriculation. Secondly, comes death by design  by making it overly academic all the way up, but most acutely at senior cycle. Across the water in Wales, all students study Welsh until the age of sixteen, when they are offered a choice to continue it, or not. In 2020, Duolingo described the Welsh language as the fastest-growing language in the UK. It is also the least endangered Gaelic language according to UNESCO.

Meanwhile, back in Ireland, the number of Junior Cycle students availing of Irish exemptions has climbed by 33% in only three years, while the number of Leaving Cert students with exemptions went up by 22% in the same period.

Some are angered by the rise in exemptions and worry that it will affect childrens ability to integrate fully into Irish life. They complain that principals are giving out exemptions too easily, framing it as a way by stealth to kill the language. Minister Norma Foley puts it down to the increase in students arriving from elsewhere, most significantly from Ukraine. She also mentions our growing understanding of additional needs.

What nobody seems to mention is that if Irish were not needed to matriculate, and was not required for most of our university courses, many of these tensions, and the fundamental need for exemptions, would go away

I am the first in line to say university is not for everyone, but where it is the right path for a student, Irish too often poses a threat. For entry to all degrees in our national universities, English, Irish, and four other subjects in the Leaving Certificate are required. For commerce, the subjects presented must include mathematics, and for courses in the sciences, they must include mathematics and a science subject.

Maths and science are only required if the degree subject relates to them, but Irish is required regardless of a students final choice.

I should say at this point that it is similarly preposterous that English is a requirement across all courses too, given that teaching time at senior cycle is largely taken up with English literature, a niche area of interest among the general population. English language should be a requirement, not literature.

It is fair that more students, arguably all students, should have exposure to the Irish language at school, at whatever level is appropriate for them.

The Irish language will not be for everyone, but everyone deserves to experience it at some level

I know adults who secured Irish exemptions thirty years ago, having arrived from England. Some feel no loss whatsoever, but they notice small inconveniences in not understanding place names, missing references. Others wish they had learned it alongside all of their Irish friends. They view it as a missing piece in their Irish identity. Like any subject, it wont be for everyone, but to exclude students from a subject altogether is damaging and divisive.

Teaching methods

Changing how we teach and assess Irish would mean no longer shoving it down students throats along with the threat of failure in the Leaving Cert. Im not saying that the subject shouldnt be examined at all. Let it be examined. But make it a language-based subject, not a literary one, and let it not be a potential block to embarking on the next stage of education. Teach it as both a first language and a second language, not only as a first language as is currently the case. And let students choose an option that is meaningful to them, without jeopardising anything. The analysis of Irish literature, the learning by rote of stock notes taken down from the board, all that drivel at senior cycle needs to end. Irish needs to be about conversational language, as well as being culturally celebratory and meaningful.

Sadly, it is becoming a subject many students resent, and they resent it even more when they see other students gaining their exemptions, carrying far less of a burden through those stressful final years at school

Im pretty certain that if I didnt work in the education system, Id be nothing but a fan of Irish language in schools. But I see the flipside of the Irish language coin every day.

I see how the current school system inflicts the same kind of misery on people in our schools as was once inflicted on Irish-speaking people in the past.

We are making young people feel shame for not having a particular language, a particular ability. We are ignoring their realities and the realities of their world. All to fulfill our own narrow definitions of progress and education.

It might as well be the 1850s.

I fully understand the harm that was done to Ireland when our language was taken. The loss of Irish was brutal and rapid. According to old RTE archives in the year 1800, more people were speaking Irish than there were speaking Dutch, Swedish, Danish, and Finnish. While these other European languages grew the Irish language withered, falling from four million in 1840 to one million in 1870.

Watch Your Language: What happened?, broadcast on February 17, 1970, on RTE and presented by Jim Sherwin is an illuminating watch and listen and is available online.

One man interviewed recalls how there was never much Irish spoken in Sligo as it was a garrison town and if you spoke it, the British soldiers would laugh at ya'. He remembers his own grandfather putting a British soldier across the counter and hitting him for jibing at him for talking Irish. Another man in Clonmel recalls how the older generations refused to pass Irish down to the younger generations. It was driven into them in schools  to kill the language. They were told it wasnt class enough; that it was beneath them'.

And the spirit of mockery as another contributor puts it, came from younger people towards the older generations. They thought it wasnt the thing'. Any national effort being called for to preserve the language is a good thing, but it is being simultaneously thwarted by what is going on in our schools.

For the child whose parents might not even be literate in English and who also needs to navigate English literature to matriculate, it is simply unreasonable to force Irish language and literature upon them too. But it is equally shameful to deny a child access to an important part of Irish culture, identity, and heritage.

We cannot excuse our current dogma around the Irish language in schools in the name of language rights and preservation. Dogma is exactly what killed the Irish language; it will do little to preserve it.
Yesterday in these pages, Paul Hosford reported on a statistic regarding public housing in this country  namely, more than 1,100 social houses in Cork City are currently stalled at various stages of the planning process.

A social housing project status report from the Department of Housing shows that 1,182 planned homes in Cork City were at the same point in the planning process in September 2023 that they had been at last January. In some of those cases houses were approved almost five years ago, in the second quarter of 2019.

It beggars belief that in the middle of a housing and accommodation crisis without equal in the history of the State  a crisis which has left over 13,000 people homeless, almost 4,000 of whom are children  housing for some of the most vulnerable in society has been left in a bureaucratic limbo for so long.

This information was the result of parliamentary questions put down by Cork North Central TD Thomas Gould and is therefore applicable to affairs on Leeside. However, it would be foolish to presume that Cork is the only part of the country suffering from a planning and development regime which has been shown to be in desperate need of repair.

The situation is little better in the private sector, where An Bord Pleanala became a byword for controversy and scandal in recent years  and is to be renamed An Coimisiun Pleanala shortly  but the lethargy of the local authority in this instance is dispiriting.

In and of itself, this is an abject failure in providing shelter for hard-pressed families, one of the basic elements of modern life, but the blitheness of the reaction from the Department of Housing compounds the problem. In its answer to Mr Goulds question, the department listed factors which might have an impact on delivery of houses but gave little acknowledgement of the gravity of the situation.

Until we accept how serious this problem is, there is little chance of urgency in resolving it.

Ireland's interest in ending conflict The conflict in Gaza spread beyond that lands narrow borders this week when Saleh al-Arouri, one of the top leaders of Palestinian Hamas, was killed in a strike in Beirut. The attack was widely blamed on Israel and may have wider implications, given it occurred in the southern Beirut stronghold of Hezbollah  the Islamic militant group in the area, which is sympathetic to Hamas. Since Hamas attacked Israel last October, there has been low-level skirmishing along the Lebanon-Israel border between Hezbollah and the Israeli military. But the death of Mr al-Arouri has the potential to escalate the situation: The Hezbollah leadership is on the record promising retaliation in the case of killings such as Mr al-Arouris. A wider conflict is a troubling prospect in an area of such strategic importance to world trade, with worrying implications for global oil supply and logistics. Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea are already causing problems, with shipping companies  such as Maersk  suspending operations in the area. If conflict spreads outwards from Gaza to disrupt shipping and oil, are we looking at a rerun of the oil crisis of the early 1970s? It is hardly surprising to see that the US secretary of state Anthony Blinken is to visit the region in an effort to find a resolution. Ireland has a very specific interest in the situation developing in Lebanon, as we have contributed troops to the UN peacekeeping force in that region for decades. In that time, the Irish soldiers serving in that area have established an enviable reputation for impartiality and professionalism  one which has established their legitimacy as a peacekeeping force and burnished Irelands international standing as a fair dealer. However, those Irish troops and their colleagues from other nations are likely to be at the sharp end of any escalation in hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. For that, and many other reasons, Mr Blinken must push to end a conflict that has already claimed too many innocent lives.

Concerns aired

When Ryan Tubridy returned to the airwaves earlier this week all eyes  or ears  were on the first of his daily morning shows on Virgin Radio in London.

However, Tubridy will also broadcast a weekend show to selected local stations in Ireland, and storm clouds appear to be gathering about that prospect. Concerns have already been raised by at least one Irish radio station about the impact that an imported radio show may have on indigenous programming.

It has already had a significant impact on at least one local radio programme. From this Sunday, the Oldies and Irish programme on Corks 96FM  one of the most popular shows in the Cork area, with an audience reach of 60,000 people  will be broadcast for two hours instead of four to facilitate Ryan Tubridys new show.

Oldies and Irish host Derry OCallaghan was gracious in his comments on the shortening of his programme; he joked about having a lie-in, but also pointed to the popularity of the show, and many of his loyal listeners are unhappy with this decision. Making such a substantial change to such a successful show is a gamble, but it also raises another question.

Is homogenous overseas product preferable to bespoke local material? The popularity of Oldies and Irish suggests only one answer.
There was hardly a week that went by this past year without reference in the media to the sad and continually declining state of the Defence Forces.

However, the most deplorable narrative of all was written by the Defence Forces itself in the Independent Review Groups findings, published last March, of a variety of abuses perpetrated, especially on female members. This was a totally self-inflicted mutilation that Lt Gen Sean Clancy, Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, said left him ashamed.

In this, he echoed the shame and devastation of those who are currently serving, and have in the past served, with honour and dignity but who were left, in the public mind, tarred with the same brush as the small percentile who wreaked criminal havoc on fellow members.

Despite this dark shadow, Defence Forces personnel continued to carry out their duties professionally at home, such as in the storming of a cargo ship, off the Irish coast in September, with a 157m haul of cocaine, the largest drugs capture in the history of the State.

And abroad, in places such as the Lebanese-Israeli border referenced in the past week by an Israeli war cabinet minister, Benny Gantz, threatening war there on a second front against the Iranian-backed militia, Hezbollah, for launching rocket barrages into Israel.

So let us be mindful of the integrity and loyalty of the good men and good women referenced by Lt Gen Clancy last March.

Michael Gannon, Saint Thomas Sq, Kilkenny City

No room for Tubs in Cork on Sundays Derry OCallaghan, has been an integral part of the fabric of growing up in Cork and it is very easy to understand how his popularity has grown with his listeners over the years, as his show is infectious. His banter is the perfect fit for us, The more often you listen, the more addicted you are to the craic from Derry, and the sounds that he plays. If you move around from house to house in Cork on a Sunday between 10am and 2pm, the people of Cork will largely have the same sounds playing at each location. It is synonymous with Sunday in the county. I think that this is a terrible decision being made by the owners/producers of the station and I for one will NOT be listening to their station while Ryan Tubridy is on the air. If there is a place for Ryan Tubridy, it is not in Cork on Sunday mornings. Andre Desmond, Cork

Is Government not watching Gaza?

Dear Government of Ireland, I just wanted to check if you are still there in 2024 as you have ignored my previous emails. I am watching a massacre happening in real time. Are you?

There are no concerns of state or geopolitical alliances that trump calling out genocide. Is this how you would have reacted during the last Holocaust?

I am a 71-year-old Irish grandmother, and I am weeping for the world my grandchildren are inheriting, and for the children in Gaza who are dying and will never inherit anything but pain.

Do you weep or ever think of the suffering of these dead, orphaned and maimed children and their parents and families?

Do not say you are doing your best because, if you are, I have not noticed and it clearly is not working. I am marching, I am writing to politicians, I am weeping! I am not alone.

But where are you? You who claim to be our representatives. You ignore our letters, you say you care but you do nothing to stop this slaughter. Are you listening really?

Children are dying of hunger, of bombs, of white phosphorus and we still do not impose sanctions, report the war crimes or cease diplomatic relations with the country that is causing this horror.

It is time you acted on our behalf. Call it for what it is, a genocide of the people of Palestine. They are now being starved just as we once were by our oppressors. Do not let that happen on your watch. I for one will never forgive it.

Olivia OSullivan, Cobh, Cork

Exploitative films taking the Mickey It sounded like a bit of a Mickey Mouse story and it was, although only an early version. The copyright on the 1928 short film, Steamboat Willie, has expired and people are able to make their own version although the original work seems so simple. Its where Disney started from, not the modern high action, song and dance stories that children want so they shouldnt be too afraid. The real concern is that a number of characters will become available and there may be cheap, even dubious or inappropriate versions that appear. We dont want our childhood memories trashed nor the current generation of children seeing rubbish. Let the artists create new characters and a new world of imagination for everyone. Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

Alcohol will always be a dangerous drug

Since we lost our son, David, to suicide, with alcohol a contributing factor, we, his parents, have campaigned for tighter controls on the price availability and promotion of alcohol. The latest attempt by the alcohol industry to drum up sales over the Christmas period by advertising their product as the unofficial sponsor of St Stephens Day reminded me of their pathetic Arthurs Day campaign. As for those who are partaking in the ad, maybe they should have a long hard look at the product they are promoting, a mind-altering, carcinogenic drug. It may be legal but it is still harmful.

John Higgins, Ballina, Co Mayo
The Victorian writer Edward Bulwer-Lytton had this motto: In life, as in art, the beautiful moves in curves.

Hes not exactly a household name, but hes responsible for other lexicon staples we use to make a point  the pen is mightier than the sword, being another.

But back to beauty moving in curves.

I discovered in the home of Limerick-based interior designer Tullio Orlandi, an arc of block glass wall separating his kitchen from the atrium and it being equally about beauty as functionality.

The kitchen/dining room.

Inspired by a trip with his family to Palm Springs, where similar glass walls filter the warm California sunshine, it adds a sparkling aspect to Tullios two-bedroomed apartment  its shape echoed in the bespoke round dining table and curved backs of newly reupholstered dining chairs.

One of the leading lights of the Irish interiors scene, Tullios career began with a two-year stint in residential interior design in New York. On his return home to Limerick, his dad asked him to redo the family restaurant.

It was referral after referral after that, he says. Limerick has been very good to me.

Ten years later, Tullio Orlandi Design is responsible for the interiors of some of Limericks hospitality hotspots  including La Cucina and The Savoy Hotels bar and library  but hes also found time to turn his design eye to his own needs.

I found this apartment in a quiet, gated community with just 12 apartments. It was perfectly liveable, but everything was cream. Floors, kitchen, walls, and Im not a cream person.

Like any self-respecting interior designer, he gutted the apartment  installing new floors, a new electric plan, and replacing the kitchen.

I didnt put in any overhead kitchen cabinets, he says. Its all clean lines.

And hes not missing the extra storage, thanks to exacting space planning and understanding his real needs.

You dont need 20 plates, he says. I have six of everything; everything has a home. Its scaled down to suit me.

Focusing on a blend of style and comfort, the eye is drawn to his living room wall unit housing decorative objects and a striking artwork by Lola Donoghue hanging where the TV would be in most homes.

The units darker paint shade absorbs the TVs black screen by day, giving it invisibility, a deliberate choice by Tullio who sees the space as having a social function.

Dont centre the room around the TV, he says. Centre it around conversation.

Furniture placement plays to this with two occasional chairs and a sofa, the latter continuing the curve theme with soft corners reupholstered in Italian brand Dedars boucle on the back, with the front a linen blend from English company Romo.

The main bedroom.

But in the midst of a carefully planned and executed design and colour theme, theres a rogue yellow element.

I dont like yellow, but it crept in, Tullio says, referencing an occasional chair a client originally wanted but thought was too expensive.

Then the store was doing a clearout and I got it for a fraction of the price.

A second occasional chair, squishy and inviting in stone white, was gifted.

But Tullio also loves things with nostalgia, referencing his credenza with its mix

of cupboards and curvy open shelving.

Everything I have has a story, he says.

Tullio's study.

I love scouting. Every city I go to, I bring something back. The credenza came out of my mothers garage.

The sofa was left behind when I moved in, so I had it reupholstered.

The master bedroom is a stylish cocoon in Farrow & Ball Blue Black, while the second bedroom functions as an office and lounge  with a handy daybed  and gets the Farrow & Ball treatment in Green Smoke.

Its an immaculate home and Tullio keeps it that way intentionally.

People ask me: Does it always look like this?, and the answer is yes. I love things being perfect.

The apartment is a curation of my whole life. Everything in it gives me a bit of joy.

The living space.

And the same goes for location. I love being in Limerick city, he says. Walking into town on Saturday morning for a coffee, going to the farmers market.

Tullio shares this experience and his home with his partner who has moved in and  luckily  is not an interiors type with potentially conflicting views. Hes an engineer, and I have him trained now, Tullio jokes.
YOU cant see the sea from this renovated cottage at Castlefreke, in West Cork, but according to Hodnett Forde auctioneers Andy Donoghue you can smell it and hear the sound of the waves.

The beachside coastal bolthole is located directly across the road from Long Strand, and you can cut through the sand dunes to get there or walk along the road to the entrance by the Fish Basket cafe/restaurant, said Mr Donoghue, who recently listed the two-bed detached cottage with a guide of 325,000.

Renovated by previous owners as a holiday home, its been redecorated and updated by the current ones.

It is now set to appeal to buyers who want to work and live near the coast, or come for the surfing and swimming during the summer.

Long Strand  which lives up to its name by going on for around 1.5km  is popular with both walkers and surfers, although its not safe for swimming.

At the entrance to the beach is the Fish Basket, a popular cafe/restaurant which opens in summer and at other busy times of the year  including Christmas.

A traditional cottage, it has just 57 sq m of living space which makes it suitable for holidays.

But a buyer planning to live there permanently will probably think about using the half an acre site that comes with it to add more living space.

It has been renovated with double glazing and central heating, but has an E2 BER  which a new owner might want to improve on. Since buying it in 2021, the current owners have painted the exterior pale yellow and have redecorated the interior.

The kitchen, fitted with shaker style units by the previous owners, now has grey flooring and a modern table/island unit.

At the front, theres a timber floored sitting room with a fireplace. To the rear, theres a shower room and two bedrooms which look out on an area of sea marsh and towards Castlefreke Castle  an 18th-century, turreted structure which is currently undergoing a multimillion-euro renovation.

Viewers who came to see the cottage in December have included a few buyers who wanted it for holidays, as well as some who are interested in making it a permanent home.

Its just a 10 minute drive from Clonakility and could suit a first time buyer, Mr Donoghue says, noting that its around an hours drive from Cork city.

Local attractions include loop walks with views of the sea, as well as several beaches which are safe for swimming  including Owenahincha, Red Strand, and Warren Beach  which are within a few kilometres. The area is set to have a new pizzeria and restaurant in April, as part of the redevelopment of Castlefreke Hotel  which is being renovated after 30 years of dereliction.

Mr Donoghue says both Castlefreke and Owenahincha have been growing in popularity with holiday makers in recent years. In 2022, a two-bed cottage called Sea Crest  located within 400m of this one  went on the market with a guide of 295,000 and sold for 355,000, to an owner who wanted it a holiday home, he says.

The Property Price register shows that this property, Castlefreke Cottage, sold for 222,500 in 2021.

VERDICT: Perfect for a buyer who hears the call of the sea.
The University of Melbourne. Photo by the university

Australia's top university, the University of Melbourne, has added 11 Vietnamese high schools to its direct admission list, bringing the total Vietnamese schools on the list to 23.

Lam Minh Khoa, Country Manager of the University of Melbourne in Vietnam, said Thursday that the new policy would take effect from July this year.

Previously, only students from high schools for the gifted in Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City were directly admitted into the university without having to attend a university foundation program, a one-year program designed to prepare students for entry into the first year.

Khoa said that after 10 years of observing and assessing, the University of Melbourne found that students graduating from the 11 additional schools all had good academic abilities.

The decision was also made based on the entrance scores and high school graduation exam results provided by the Departments of Education and Training of various provinces.

To apply to the University of Melbourne, students from the listed schools need to have a grade point average (GPA) of the 12th grade at 8.5 or higher, a minimum English language proficiency at 6.5 in IELTS (with no skill below 6) or TOEFL iBT from 79 points, and PTE from 58 points upward, depending on the field of study, he said.

If not graduating from one of the 23 listed schools, Vietnamese students still have the opportunity for direct admission if they have a SAT score of 1320/1600 or higher, ACT from 28/36, and GPA from 8.8.

"This year, the university is applying this policy for the first time to four countries Vietnam, Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines," Khoa said.

He said new policies allowed the university to expand opportunities for students while ensuring the quality of incoming students.

Universities in Australia typically select students based on scores. Therefore, when studying in high school or preparing for the SAT, students should strive to achieve the highest scores possible, Khoa said.

According to the 2024 university rankings by British company Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), the University of Melbourne is the best university in Australia and ranks 14th in the world.

The university currently has 52,000 students, including 600 Vietnamese.
How did you get started in a career in international marketing?

I started my career with Irish Distillers 11 years ago on the Jameson International Brand Ambassador Programme. I was based in Florida in my first year on the programme and then in Vancouver for two further years. My role as Brand Ambassador was to build brand advocacy and to educate both trade and consumers about the history, heritage and production process of Jameson.

After working internationally, I returned to Ireland after the programme where I had the opportunity to work in various roles with our prestige portfolio and also on the Jameson brand team in the domestic market. I then joined the international marketing team where Ive worked across communications and new product development for Jameson and for prestige and specialty brands such as Midleton Very Rare, Method and Madness and Spot Whiskeys. I have recently moved into a new role as Marketing Manager for Jameson Global Innovation.

Why did you choose to work with Irish Distillers?

The opportunity to represent an iconic Irish brand abroad initially attracted me to the Jameson International Brand Ambassador Programme.

What are you working on at present?

As Marketing Manager for Innovation, I help to define the strategic path for innovation at Irish Distillers, overseeing the new product development process. This includes everything from consumer research, concept and liquid development, packaging, commercial and launch strategy as well as communications and asset development for new products to our portfolio of brands.

What is the best part of your job?

I have the privilege of working closely with the team in our distillery in Midleton, Cork on innovation projects. They are makers of the some of the worlds best loved whiskeys, they have years of craft and expertise between them and at the same time are so grounded and great company. I get goosebumps setting foot on the grounds of Midleton Distillery, theres no place like it. Theres a real sense of history and heritage there, from the old mill which once powered the distillery to the Distillers Cottage which is home to Irish Distillers archives with records dating back to the 18th century.

What is a defining career moment or high point? / Is there a career moment you are really proud of?

A high point of my career was launching the first Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery release. At the time it was Ireland's oldest and rarest whiskey release at 45 years, utilising some of the final stocks from Old Midleton Distillery which closed in 1975. To house this precious whiskey, we developed individually mouth blown crystal decanters with House of Waterford and used reclaimed ancient wood in the packaging. This launch solidified Midleton Very Rare's position as the luxury Irish whiskey. Its feature on RTE news was a proud moment!

Where do you see the spirits industry five years from now?

Trends of recent years point to a more discerning consumer, drinking less but better. This is driving growth across the premium end of the category and is a trend we see continuing. Sustainability is also a priority within the industry. Lightweighting of bottles and more responsible packaging initiatives as well as a commitment to reduce emissions at Midleton Distillery have been some of the ways in which Irish Distillers has made good progress. Irish whiskey is showing great resilience and growth in a global context with major growth opportunities emerging in Asia.

What's the best piece of professional advice you've received?

I studied English Literature and Theatre in college and wasnt sure where to go from there. A family friend told me not to underestimate storytelling as a skill and to leverage it as a way of setting myself apart.

Storytelling and writing skills have been an important part of every role Ive had with Irish Distillers, from crafting communications across our brands, writing internal training documents and whiskey guides, planning new product launches, to adapting scripts for TV commercials in various markets.

If you could go back in time and give yourself a piece of advice at the start of your career, what would that be?

Dont settle for a job you dont love. Put your head down, work hard, push yourself and youll find that sweet spot eventually.

What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about interviewing for a role in a marketing position?

Working in the drinks industry has many benefits such as travel, meeting interesting characters and learning about consumers in different markets. Naturally, the industry follows its consumers, which means our working week is not always your typical 9-5, Monday-Friday structure. Its hard work but its great fun too.

What would you say are the key skills and capabilities necessary to be good at what you do?

Communication and interpersonal skills are key when working in the drinks industry, whether in a market or brand company. Creativity, strategic thinking and project management skills are also core to brand building and dealing with various teams, markets and agencies on a daily basis.

What is the best career lesson you have learned so far?

Be solution orientated. There will be hiccups along the way, how you respond is what will make people want to work with you.

Which industry professionals should people be following on X / LinkedIn?

I like a good mix:

Whiskey world: Mark Gillespie  his weekly podcast WhiskyCast is great to stay up to speed on whats happening within the whiskey world

Industry: Jack McGarry, one of the founders of the famous The Dead Rabbit bar in NYC, originally from Belfast

Economics: David McWilliams on whats happening in the world and how its impacting consumers psyche

Design: M&E Studio  the Irish / Swedish design duo behind the Method and Madness brand ID, packaging, and assets. Theyre incredible!

Is there a particular book or resource youd recommend to someone early in their career?

If you are interested in whiskey and want to know more about the industry, Irish Distillers has a podcast called A Story of Irish Whiskey  a handy way of getting up to speed on the history of Irish whiskey and the formation of Irish Distillers.

Whats your favourite place to holiday ?

Lisbon

What are you watching at the moment?

Lessons in Chemistry

Whats your favourite meal?

You cant beat a roast!
Two "dedicated and unapologetic white supremacists" who targeted Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's son in a neo-Nazi podcast have been jailed for terrorism offences.

Christopher Gibbons described Harry and Meghan's son Archie as a "creature [that] should be put down" and called for Harry to be "prosecuted and judicially killed for treason".

He made the comments on an extreme right-wing radio-style chat show he hosted with Tyrone Patten-Walsh, who also disseminated "profoundly offensive" extreme views, a court heard At Kingston Crown Court on Thursday.

Gibbons was sentenced to 11 years imprisonment and Patten-Walsh to 10 years.

Both will also be subject to a 15-year-long notification order and serve three years on licence when they are released, to reduce their ability to cause further harm.

Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle holding their son Archie during a meeting with Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Mrs Tutu at their legacy foundation in cape Town, on day three of their tour of Africa in 2021

Using the aliases "Christopher White" and "Joseph Walsh", the pair aired homophobic, racist, antisemitic, Islamophobic and misogynistic views and frequently referenced notorious mass murders by right-wing extremists in Norway, Christchurch, New Zealand and Charleston, USA.

The two Londoners' podcast, called Lone Wolf Radio and later Black Wolf Radio, had by June 2020, when police intercepted it, 128 subscribers and around 9,000 views.

On the show, the pair promoted the view that "the white race was likely to be 'genocided' unless steps were taken to fight back", and approved of "the day of the rope", where people deemed "race traitors" would be hanged in a mass execution, in particular those in inter-racial relationships.

Black Wolf Radio episodes had cover images including one of a Nazi SS execution of a Jewish man kneeling above a pit filled with corpses and another advocating the hanging of Nelson Mandela.

Patten-Walsh, 34, of Romford, east London, offended between March and October 2019 and Gibbons, of Carshalton, south London, from April 2018 to February 2020, and both were convicted of all charges against them after a trial at Kingston Crown Court that ended on July 7 2023.

Both men committed eight counts of encouragement of terrorism.

Gibbons, a 40-year-old who lives with his ailing mother, was further found guilty of two counts of disseminating terrorist documents through his own website "The Radicalisation Library", which had 2,191 subscribers by September 2020.

It contained material on the "Great Replacement" conspiracy theory, which argues a new multi-cultural society is replacing white people, and documents that encouraged people to commit terrorist acts.

Judge Peter Lodder said the men used the appearance of a radio show as a "format to legitimise" their extreme views.

He said: "Both of you are dedicated and unapologetic white supremacists.

"The evidence demonstrates that you desire to live in a world dominated by white people purely for white people, your distorted thinking is that the white race has ceded too much influence to Blacks and Asians, to Jews and Muslims, to gays, to white liberals and to white people in mixed-race relationships.

"Although your beliefs are as preposterous as they are offensive to a civilised society, in our democracy you are entitled to hold them - however, your activities went far beyond what is permissible.

"So as to suggest the legitimate exercise of freedom of speech, you assumed the format of a radio show, but you used language and adopted iconography designed to encourage acts of extreme right-wing terrorism.

"You rejected democratic processes and supported the hate crimes and violence common in extreme neo-Nazi groups, you advocated Accelerationism, an extreme right wing ideology seeking the rapid and violent collapse of our multi-racial society in order to bring about a racist fresh start, with like-minded whites at its core."

Commander Dominic Murphy, who leads the Met's Counter Terrorism Command, said the content could influence young people to extremist ideologies.

He said: "The material that Gibbons and Patten-Walsh shared is exactly the kind that has the potential to draw vulnerable people - particularly young people - into terrorism."
At least three people were killed when two trains collided on Indonesias main island of Java on Friday, officials said.

Ayep Hanapi, a spokesperson for PT Kereta Api Indonesia, the national railways, said several carriages buckled and overturned in the crash about 500 metres from Cicalengka train station in the West Java city of Bandung.
North Korea fired artillery rounds near its disputed sea boundary with South Korea on Friday in violation of a fragile 2018 military agreement, officials in the south have said.

South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea fired 200 rounds in the waters north of their disputed western sea boundary, and they would take carry out similar drills in response.

People living on the frontline island of Yeonpyeong said the South Korean military has asked them to evacuate because it plans to launch maritime firing drills on Friday.

The sea boundary has been the site of several bloody inter-Korean sea battles since 1999. North Korea also launched artillery strikes on Yeonpyeong island, killing four South Koreans, in 2010.

A sign of North Korea is seen on a map at the unification observatory in Paju, South Korea (AP)

The 2018 agreement requires both countries to halt live-fire exercises and aerial surveillance in no-fly and buffer zones established along their border, but the deal is in danger of collapsing amid bickering since the Norths first military spy satellite launch in November.

South Korea accused North Korea of restoring frontline guard posts that it had dismantled under the 2018 deal after South Korea resumed aerial surveillance in protest of the satellite launch.

Earlier on Friday, North Koreas state media said leader Kim Jong Un ordered authorities to increase production of mobile launch vehicles for missiles because the country faces a looming military showdown with its enemies.

The official Korean Central News Agency said Mr Kim made the comments during a visit to a factory that produces transport erector launchers (TELs) without saying when he went or where the factory is.

TELs are mobile launch vehicles which give North Korea the ability to move missiles around its territory, making it more difficult for its adversaries to detect launches in advance. Some South Korean experts have estimated that North Korea has about 100-200 such vehicles.

Mr Kim said the factorys role is very important in bolstering North Koreas national defence given the prevailing grave situation that requires the country to be more firmly prepared for a military showdown with the enemy, KCNA reported.

In a key ruling party meeting last week, Mr Kim vowed to expand the countrys nuclear arsenal, launch three additional military spy satellites and take other steps to build up the military this year to acquire overwhelming war readiness to cope with what he called US-led confrontation.

He cited the expansion of US-South Korean military drills that sometimes involve US long-range bombers and a nuclear-armed submarine.
Virginia Giuffre claimed she was sex-trafficked to Britain's Prince Andrew and two of the worlds most respected politicians, court documents show.

A US judge ordered hundreds of documents to be unsealed as part of Ms Giuffres previously settled civil claim against disgraced British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, which was filed in 2015.

In an email exchange with journalist Sharon Churcher in May 2011, Ms Giuffre spoke of her concerns about working with Vanity Fair after former US president Bill Clinton had allegedly threatened them not to write sex-trafficking articles about paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

In a follow up email, Ms Churcher said it would be a gamble for Ms Giuffre to give the magazine a statement about how she had no more to say about how she was sex-trafficked to [Prince Andrew] and other men including two of the worlds most respected politicians.

Exchanges between Virginia Giuffre and journalist Sharon Churcher were published on Thursday (Crime+Investigation/PA)

The names of the two politicians in the email remain redacted.

In another email with the Epstein victim, Ms Churcher appeared to suggest to Ms Giuffre how to support to the FBI her allegation that she was given to Andrew.

The email from March 2011 read: I am told the FBI have the flight logs. They also have the journal. Its the document they confiscated from a houseman called Alfredo Rodriguez.

Maybe Jason means that he wants to know how they corroborate the flight to London when you were given to Andrew.

Heres how: you had photos from that trip  taken in Granada and London  and you recalled going to Paris as well and Morocco.

I found that itinerary in the logs (you landed at Luton airport near London).

Also Johanna had recalled being groped by Andrew one Easter at the NY mansion and that Ghislaine sat both of you on his knee.

You had an identical memory and there was a flight to NY just before Easter in 01 that I found in the logs.

In another document released on Thursday, Maxwell claimed Ms Churcher, who was working for the Mail on Sunday, helped concoct sexual assault allegations against Andrew.

In 2016, Maxwells legal team claimed Ms Churcher was aware the allegations made by Ms Giuffre against the prince were false and said she helped manufacture some of the stories that have been denied.

Andrew stepped down from public life after the furore over his friendship with Epstein and paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault case with Ms Giuffre, a woman he claimed never to have met.

Socialite Ghislaine Maxwell supplied Jeffrey Epstein with underage girls (US Department of Justice/PA)

He was cast out of the working monarchy and no longer uses his HRH style after Ms Giuffre, who was trafficked by Epstein, accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was 17.

He strenuously denies any wrongdoing.

The document showed that Maxwells legal team alleged that a handwritten diary by Ms Giuffre, which contained information about her alleged encounter with Andrew, was a completely fabricated document.

So far around 60 out of around 250 documents have been released in connection with the case.

Epstein was found dead in his cell at a federal jail in Manhattan in August 2019 while he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges.

The death was ruled a suicide.

Maxwell has been imprisoned since July 2020, despite numerous attempts from her defence counsel to have her released on bail.

She was sentenced to 20 years in prison at the federal court in the Southern District of New York in June 2022.

The socialite indicated her desire to appeal shortly after her conviction with her lawyers claiming victims had faded, distorted and motivated memories.

Her appeal is currently scheduled to be heard in November next year.
A teenager armed with a shotgun and a handgun killed one pupil and wounded five other people at an Iowa high school on the first day of classes in the new year, US authorities said.

People took shelter in classrooms, barricaded offices and fled the barrage of bullets fired by the suspect, a 17-year-old pupil at the school in Perry, who died of what investigators believe was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Perry High School principal Dan Marburger was among the five who were injured on Thursday as students returned from their winter break, authorities said.

In a Facebook post later that day, Mr Marburgers daughter said he was in surgery all day, and is currently stable.

Claire Marburger called her father a gentle giant who would want more attention on the other victims and their families, and less on himself.

The victim, a sixth grader (aged 11-12), has not yet been named.

The shooter was identified as Dylan Butler by authorities, but no information was provided about a possible motive.

Two friends and their mother who spoke with The Associated Press said Butler was a quiet person who had been bullied for years.

Authorities said Butler had a pump-action shotgun and a small-calibre handgun.

Mitch Mortvedt, the state investigation divisions assistant director, said during a news conference that authorities also found a pretty rudimentary improvised explosive device and rendered it safe.

One person was killed in the shooting at Perry High School, while the teenage gunman is said to have taken his own life (AP)

The suspects motive was being investigated and authorities were looking into a number of social media posts he made around the time of the shooting, Mr Mortvedt added.

A law enforcement official said federal and state investigators were interviewing Butlers friends and analysing his social media profiles, including posts on TikTok and Reddit.

Shortly before Thursdays shooting, Butler posted a photo on TikTok inside a toilet at Perry High School, the official said.

Iowa governor Kim Reynolds called the shooting a senseless tragedy (AP)

The photo was captioned now we wait and the song Stray Bullet by the German band KMFDM accompanied it.

Investigators also found other photos Butler posted posing with firearms, according to the official.

Sisters Yesenia Roeder and Khamya Hall, both 17, said alongside their mother, Alita, that Butler had been bullied relentlessly since elementary school, but matters escalated recently when his younger sister was picked on, too.

His parents brought the matter up with the school, they said, and that was the last straw for Butler.

I have ordered all flags to be lowered to half staff in support of the Perry community.



This senseless tragedy has shaken our entire state to its core. I want this community to know that every Iowan stands with you.https://t.co/gCLpf9idW1  Gov. Kim Reynolds (@IAGovernor) January 4, 2024

He was hurting. He got tired. He got tired of the bullying. He got tired of the harassment, Yesenia Roeder Hall said. Was it a smart idea to shoot up the school? No. God, no.

Perry High School senior pupil Ava Augustus was awaiting a counsellor in a school office when she heard three shots. Unable to flee through a small window, she and others barricaded the door and were ready to throw things at the assailant, if necessary.

She said: And then we hear: Hes down. You can go out.

And I run and you can just see glass everywhere, blood on the floor. I get to my car and theyre taking a girl out of the auditorium who had been shot in her leg.

Three gunshot victims were treated at Iowa Methodist Medical Centre in Des Moines, a spokesperson said.

Others were taken to a second hospital.

Those who were injured are said to include the Perry High School principal (AP)

Mr Mortvedt said one person was in a critical condition, but the injuries did not appear to be life-threatening, and the others are stable.

Hundreds of people gathered for a candlelight prayer vigil on Thursday evening at a local park where, hours earlier, pupils had been brought to reunite with their families after the shooting.

Bundled up against freezing temperatures, they listened to pastors from many faiths and heard a message of hope in both English and Spanish.

A post on the high schools Facebook page said it would be closed on Friday and counselling services would be available for pupils, faculty staff and others in the community.

Governor Kim Reynolds said: This senseless tragedy has shaken our entire state to its core.

In Washington, US President Joe Biden and US attorney general Merrick Garland were briefed on the shooting.
Russian air defences have downed dozens of Ukrainian drones in occupied Crimea and southern Russia on Friday, officials said.

The move comes as Kyiv presses its strategy of targeting the Moscow-annexed peninsula and taking the 22-month war well beyond Ukraines borders.

Air raid sirens wailed in Sevastopol, the largest city in Crimea, and traffic was suspended for a second straight day on a bridge connecting the peninsula, which Moscow seized illegally a decade ago, with Russias southern Krasnodar region.

The span is a crucial supply link for Russias war effort.

The Russian defence ministry said its defences intercepted 36 drones over Crimea and one over Krasnodar, part of an emerging pattern of intensified Ukrainian aerial attacks in recent days.

A Ukrainian Neptune anti-ship missile also was destroyed over the north-western part of the Black Sea, the ministry said.

The developments came after three people were injured on Thursday night by other Ukrainian rocket and drone attacks on the Russian border city of Belgorod and the surrounding region, said Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.

On January 6, Ukrainian attacks on Belgorod killed 25 people, officials there said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has pledged to strike more targets on the Crimean Peninsula and inside Russian border regions this year.

Mr Zelensky is pressing a strategy of targeting the Moscow-annexed peninsula and taking the 22-month war beyond Ukraines borders (AP)

The goal is to unsettle Russians as President Vladimir Putin seeks another six years in power in a March 17 election.

Following a drone strike deep inside Russia last year, Mr Zelensky said Ukraine had developed a weapon that can hit targets 400 miles away. He said last month Kyiv plans to produce one million drones, which have become a key battlefield weapon.

Other Ukrainian officials said it aims to manufacture this year more than 10,000 attack drones with a range of hundreds of miles, as well as more than 1,000 longer-range drones that can hit targets well behind the front line and inside Russia.

Both sides are raising the stakes of their long-range warfare as soldiers remain bogged down on the wintry battlefield.

The UKs Ministry of Defence said ground combat has continued to be characterised by either a static front line or very gradual, local Russian advances in key sectors.

A firefighter works to extinguish a fire of a gas pipe line damaged by a Russian rocket attack, in Kyiv, Ukraine (AP)

The Kremlin, meanwhile, has acquired ballistic missiles from North Korea and fired at least one of them into Ukraine on December 30, the White House said, citing recently declassified US intelligence.

It also is seeking close-range ballistic missiles from Iran, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.

Ukraine said it stopped 21 out of 29 Russian Shahed drones launched late on Thursday and early on Friday. The assault injured two people, including a 14-year-old, and was the latest of almost daily Russian drone attacks in the new year.

On Thursday, Mr Zelensky thanked Germany for a delivery of military aid, especially air defence materiel that he said is timely and focused on our priorities.

Ukraine should look to continue degrading Russias ability to wage war by conducting an escalating campaign of air strikes on targets far behind the front lines throughout occupied Ukraine and inside Russia itself, according to Mykola Bielieskov, a research fellow at Ukraines National Institute for Strategic Studies.

This could include attacks on troop concentrations, military bases, and munitions stores along with logistical hubs and armament production facilities, he wrote in an assessment published by the Atlantic Council, a US think tank.
Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi has said the United States and China must insist on peaceful coexistence and transcend their differences, as they did when they established diplomatic relations 45 years ago this week.

Mr Wang also promised that giant pandas would return to the US  and specifically California  by the end of the year.

China-US cooperation is no longer a dispensable option for the two countries or even for the world, but a must-answer question that must be seriously addressed, he said.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi hosted a reception for the Commemoration of the 45th Anniversary of China-US Diplomatic Relations (AP)

Mr Wang struck a largely conciliatory note at a lavish banquet marking the anniversary with 300 guests at a hall in the sprawling Diaoyutai state guest house complex in the Chinese capital.

The two countries are trying to navigate  and avoid a war  in what may be their most difficult waters since the US ended official ties with Taiwan and recognised the communist government in Beijing as the government of China on January 1 1979.

Chinas rise as an economic and military power is challenging long-standing American leadership in the Asia region and globally.

The world is currently undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, Mr Wang said.

Mr Wang said he hoped the two countries could transcend their differences (AP)

We must think about how to calibrate the direction of the large ship of China-US relations (and) avoid hidden reefs and dangerous shoals.

Both Mr Wang and David Meale, the deputy chief of mission at the US embassy, cited congratulatory letters exchanged by Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden on Mondays anniversary.

Mr Meale, who spoke after Mr Wang, said Mr Biden expressed his commitment to managing the relationship responsibly and said he looked forward to building on the progress made by past leaders of the two countries.

Mr Wang did criticise the use of the big stick of sanctions and engaging in power games, charges that China often levels at the United States.

He denied that China seeks to supplant any other country and called on the US to respect Chinas development path and core interests.

The giant pandas in Memphis, Tennessee, and Washington, DC, were returned to China last year, and some feared that China would stop lending pandas to American zoos because of the tensions between the two countries.

But Mr Xi raised hope for California in November when he told an audience in San Francisco that China was ready to continue cooperating with the US on pandas and do our best to meet the wishes of the Californians.

Mr Wang told Fridays banquet audience that preparations are ready for a giant panda return to California within the year.
Dieu Linh, an apartment resident on Hanois Vu Pham Ham Street, experiences constant noise from both the floor above and street traffic.

"Its very loud when someone moves furniture or renovates upstairs," she says.

The noise often worsens during holidays when upstairs residents play loud music and sing karaoke until late at night. It all disturbs Linhs mother, who needs to sleep early due to her poor health.

But despite Linhs complaints, neither building management nor security have intervened.

Having bought her second-floor apartment on installments a decade ago, Linh anticipated convenience and safety. However, she more often faces disturbances instead, with her mother often unable to sleep through the night and her child struggling to study due to the noise.

Linhs family, after numerous complaints to building management, resorted to installing soundproof windows as a temporary fix.

"Its very disturbing, especially with a sick person at home needing rest," she said.

Dealing with noise is something apartment residents in Hanoi often have to face. Illustration photo by Freepik

Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Minh, vice president of the Vietnam Audiology Association, highlights the severe health impacts of noise pollution, which are often overlooked. Long-term exposure can cause stress, headaches, anxiety, discomfort, panic attacks, fainting, nervous exhaustion, and gradual hearing loss, according to Minh.

Minh said it also affects childrens academic development, and can lead to high blood pressure and heart disorders.

Le Quynh Anh, living in a mini-apartment on Le Duan Street in the capital, has endured constant noise from neighbors since moving there two years ago.

"While I go to rest at 12 a.m., people [Anhs neighbors] start gathering, eating, drinking, singing, and playing music, so Im unable to sleep," she explained.

Despite complaints to management, who issue private warnings to the noisy tenants, the quiet seldom lasts long.

Confronting the noisy neighbors directly has not yielded lasting results for Anh either.

"Some comply, but most dont stay quiet for long," she said.

A tenant once responded to Anhs request to lower the volume with surprise and even reported Anh for her manners to building management.

The constant noise has led to Anhs irritability and poor sleep, which affects her work and studies.

"I feel lethargic every morning and struggle to focus in class," she stated.

Anh has repeatedly reported the issue, but the apartment management has not provided an effective solution. Renovating her room for better soundproofing is not feasible either due to both high costs and management restrictions.

In response to complaints similar to Linhs and Anhs, authorities in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have issued directives to tackle noise pollution. Vietnams laws include warnings and fines for noise pollution, but enforcement often depends on reminders rather than legal action.

Le Tien, a residential building manager in Hanois Hoang Mai district, admits that while regulations exist, enforcement relies primarily on friendly reminders. Stricter measures are only implemented in his building if the situation does not improve.

"If there are complaints about late-night noises, we first give one or two warnings," he stated. "Then we cut off the main switch [if nothing changes]."

However, not all buildings enforce such strict measures. Lawyer Dao Thi Bich Lien from the Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association urges residents to protect themselves from noise pollution by taking proactive steps against it, starting with reminders and escalating to complaints or lawsuits if necessary.

Strategies employed by the South Korean authorities to address the challenge could be seen as good examples.

The Straits Times reports that in South Korea, where around 60% of the nations 50 million residents reside in multi-level apartments and villas, a legal mandate introduced in 2005 requires floors to be a minimum of 21 cm thick for sufficient sound insulation. Prior to this regulation, many buildings featured floors only 13.5 cm thick.

Additionally, in 2012, South Koreas Ministry of Environment established the Floor Noise Management Centre to address complaints regarding loud neighbors. This center offers on-site advice and assists in assessing noise levels.

Nguyen Quoc Anh, deputy general director of a real estate platform, notes that 25% of Vietnams population live in apartments. More stringent solutions are therefore needed.

Otherwise, residents like Linh and Anh will continue to suffer.

"There might never be complete tranquility for my mother and child," Linh lamented.
Friday, Jan 5th, 2024 (7:12 am) - Score 2,280

Welsh broadband ISP Ogi, which is deploying a multi-Gigabit capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network across parts of South Wales, has today had a significant package refresh that means new customers will benefit from dramatically lower prices and some faster download speeds.

The network operator has so far covered a total of 100,000 premises with their new full fibre network  most of them residential  in Wales up to the end of 2023 (up from 60k on 30th June 2023) and theyre also now home to a total of over 10,000 customers (up from 6,000).

NOTE: Ogi is backed by 200m via Infracapital, employs over 210 staff and aims to cover 150,000 premises in South Wales by 2025.

Until now new customers of this service would have been expected to pay from 30 per month for an unlimited plan with downloads of 150Mbps (15Mbps upload) and an included wireless router on a 24-month term, which then jump to 40 for 300Mbps (30Mbps) and 60 for a 900Mbps download (90Mbps upload). But in fairness, this was mitigated somewhat by the offer of 6 months free service.

However, in a fairly bold move, the challenger brand  and the only full fibre broadband provider dedicated to Wales  has introduced three new speed packages, with entry-level prices that are lower than the cost of some older copper broadband (FTTC) services. On top of that, theyve also scrapped the old 24-month terms for a shorter and less risky 12-month contract. Setup remains free.

Ogis Refreshed Broadband Packages Ogi 200

200Mbps download speed (20Mbps upload), 15 monthly Ogi 400

400Mbps download speed (40Mbps upload), 20 monthly. Includes Amazon eero technology (worth 60). Ogi 900

900Mbps download speed (90Mbps upload), 30 monthly. Includes Amazon eero technology (worth 60).

Admittedly, the main weakness here are those upload speeds, but the prices do compensate for that and charging 30 for 900Mbps puts Ogi in league with some of the markets cheapest alternative networks (Toob, B4RN, CommunityFibre etc.). No mean feat given that theyre also deploying in a lot of rural and semi-rural areas.

Sally-Anne Skinner, Ogis Chief Revenue Officer, said: With these new speeds and very competitive prices, we hope to once more stimulate market competition here in Wales. For too long communities have had to suffer poor speeds and eye watering prices. Weve always said were here to change that  and once again were reflecting that in our offer to customers. Weve learnt a lot from the cost-of-living offer we launched back in 2022  when 6 months free was a good deal for so many. But today, people want consistency, paying a lower standard price from the get-go is a great way to open up access to full fibre broadband services from day one.

The provider also claims to have launched a new 7-day customer care service, although their press release doesnt elaborate on this. The ISP has also boosted its online self-help service, offering customers more ways to find support, when they might need it, but they didnt provide any specifics on that.

UPDATE 9:14am

After a bit of digging, we found Ogis price guide buried lower down on their T&Cs page. The document suggests that the post-contract price of their refreshed 200Mbps, 400Mbps and 900Mbps tiers will increase to 39, 49 and 69 respectively, when falling back to a standard rolling monthly plan. But customers that re-contract for 24-months will only pay 30, 40 or 60 respectively.

The same document reveals that customers of their 200Mbps and 400Mbps plans can optionally pay an extra 2 per month to double their upload speeds, while those on their 900Mbps tier can get symmetric speeds, but itll cost you 10 extra per month.
A group of three thieves allegedly tunneled into the Gaisano Mall located in Ozamiz City, Philippines, and made off with approximately 41 million pesos (US$737,576) worth of jewelry and cash.

A gloved hand picking up jewelry. Illustration photo by Freepik

The robbery took place on the eve of Dec. 31, 2023, but it was not until 11 a.m. the next day that a mall employee noticed it, as reported by The Straits Times.

Police investigations revealed that the criminals began their tunnel from a carnival, located in a nearby private area next to the mall. The tunnel led them to a drainage system and eventually to a food court inside the mall.

Upon entering the mall, the thieves broke into a jewelry store, shattering the vaults and display cases. They looted all the gold jewelry in the display cases and emptied the stores safety vault of cash, as detailed by the local news outlet PhilStar.

In addition to the jewelry heist, the gang also tampered with an ATM inside the mall, extracting the money from it before escaping the scene.

The identities of the perpetrators are still unknown, but the local police have made significant progress by arresting a carnival employee who is believed to have assisted the thieves.
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"Rather than peace, Putin chose to mark this holiday season and usher in the New Year with an unprecedented number of drone and missile attacks," said Ambassador Kelley.
This holiday season marks the fifth year that Paul Whelan has spent in a Russian prison colony, a pawn in the Russian Federations geopolitical game, to be used as leverage against the United States.

Fifty-three-year-old Paul Whelan was born in Canada and today holds United States, British, Irish, and Canadian citizenship. He served as an administrative clerk in the United States Marine Corps for five years. Returning to civilian life in 2008, Whelan worked as director of global security and investigations for an international automotive parts manufacturer based in the state of Michigan. Beginning in about 2006, he began to regularly visit Russia and maintained a presence on a Russian-language social media website.

In December 2018, Whelan arrived in Moscow to attend the wedding of a friend, a former marine. He was arrested by officers of Russia's Federal Security Service on December 28 and charged with espionage, an accusation that his family and the United States Government insist are entirely baseless. On July 20, 2020, more than a year and a half after his arrest, Paul Whelan was convicted of spying in a closed trial conducted in a Russian prison facility and sentenced to a 16-year prison term. He is currently held in a high-security prison in central Russia.

December 28 marks five years since Russian authorities wrongfully detained U.S. citizen Paul Whelan, said Secretary of State Antony Blinken. After a secret trial behind closed doors, Paul has spent years laboring in a Russian penal colony. In the past year alone, he has faced assault from other prisoners and harassment from Russian state-run media.

For far too long, Paul and his family have suffered the consequences of the Russian governments decision to wrongfully detain U.S. citizens, said Secretary Blinken. Using people as political pawns is unacceptable. Since President Biden took office, the United States has secured the release of more than forty wrongful detainees, and not a day goes by without intensive U.S. Government efforts to bring Paul home. We will not rest until he is safely back with his family where he belongs.
01/04/2024



The Department of Criminal Justice and Forensic Investigation is starting the Spring 2024 semester in a new home: the Ramona Wood Building.

by Buffy Lockette

The JSU Department of Criminal Justice and Forensic Investigation is starting the new year in a new home. The department moved the week before winter break to the Ramona Wood Building, located on Trustee Circle next to Angle Hall

The department has been located throughout its existence in Brewer Hall, constructed in 1972 for the newly formed Northeast Alabama Law Enforcement Academy and the former JSU School of Law Enforcement. When the university purchased Building 3181 at Fort McClellan in 2005 after the Army base closed, Criminal Justice and Forensic Investigation remained in Brewer while the academy moved to JSU McClellan.

With the College of Education and Professional Studies moving in Fall 2023 from Ramona Wood to the former site of Kitty Stone Elementary School  now known as the CEPS Complex  the administration offered the vacant building to the growing Department of Criminal Justice and Forensic Investigation

Since the addition of the Bachelor of Science in Forensic Investigation in 2017, the department has grown in faculty, students and course offerings, said Dr. Dean Buttram, professor and head of the department. Additionally, a couple of new degree programs are in the works, which should continue the growth trend. Therefore, we needed more space. President Killingsworth graciously allowed us to acquire the recently vacated Ramona Wood Building  not only giving us the desperately needed room to grow, but also placing us in the center of the campus in the heart of campus life. We can't wait to see what the future holds for us!

The deans office for the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences remains in Brewer Hall, as well as the Department of Social Work and the Department of Sociology and Political Science. Campus will be invited to tour Criminal Justice and Forensic Investigation during an open house planned for later this spring.
( Middle East Monitor )  The Israeli government is increasingly adopting the voluntary resettlement of Palestinians from Gaza as official policy, with a high-ranking official disclosing that it has engaged in discussions with multiple countries regarding the potential for such moves.

According to the Times of Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus coalition is discreetly exploring the acceptance of thousands of migrants from Gaza, with the Democratic Republic of Congo being one of the countries under consideration. Congo will be willing to take in migrants, said a senior source in the security cabinet, and were in talks with others.

During a Likud faction meeting on Monday, Netanyahu announced that he is involved actively in arranging for the voluntary migration of Gazans to other countries. Our problem is finding countries that are willing to absorb Gazans, he said, and we are working on it.

Addressing Likud Knesset Member Danny Danons claim that, The world is already discussing the possibilities of voluntary migration, the prime minister acknowledged the challenge of finding countries willing to accept Gazans, but emphasised ongoing efforts in that regard. Despite these discussions, the idea of voluntary migration has faced widespread rejection from the international community.

I dont know why but it seems the lesson that certain Israeli people seem to draw from the Holocaust is  be more like the Nazis . Until now I would have refrained from such a statement. Until now. https://t.co/oml0yhTpAh  Circassian.eth  (@kingofethereum) January 3, 2024



Posting from X added by Informed Comment

The US State Department yesterday slammed recent statements by far-right Ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir advocating the voluntary emigration of Palestinians out of Gaza, calling the rhetoric inflammatory and irresponsible, Reuters has reported.

The comments from the ministers appeared to underscore fears in much of the Arab world that Israel wants to forcibly displace and ethnically cleanse the occupied Palestinian territories, just as Zionist terrorist gangs did in historic Palestine in 1948.

While reports have emerged of offers for Arab forces and governments to administer Gaza, such as the Palestinian Authority or a combined force of Arab states, the predominant view on the part of Israels far-right government has been for Israel itself to re-occupy the Strip, expel its Palestinian population and resettle the land with Israelis and Jewish settlers.

Hindustan Times: Israels Ploy To Send Gazans To Congo Amid War With Hamas; Why NATO Nations Are Fuming | Report

Israel is continuing with its brutal military offensive in Gaza despite global calls for a ceasefire in the 11-week-old war. The Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on 7 October against Israeli military bases and settlements in the vicinity of Gaza, during which 1,139 Israeli soldiers and civilians were killed . . . The operation was in response to daily Israeli attacks against the Palestinian people and their sanctities, said Hamas, notably Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem. Around 240 Israelis were captured during the operation, 110 of whom have already been exchanged for some of the thousands of Palestinians held by Israel.

Palestinian health authorities say that more than 22,000 people have been killed in Israeli air and artillery strikes since 7 October, most of them children and women. Israeli bombs have laid much of the occupied Palestinian territory to waste. Thousands more Palestinians are buried under the rubble of their homes and other civilian infrastructure. Nearly all the enclaves 2.3 million people have been driven from their homes, many several times. A humanitarian catastrophe is engulfing Gaza, with famine looming.
( Tomdispatch.com )  Honestly, what strange creatures we are. Nothing stops us when it comes to destruction, does it? (And Im not even thinking about the utter, ongoing devastation of Gaza.)

I mean, give us credit as the new year begins. Perhaps the most remarkable thing about humanity isnt our literature, our theater, our movies, the remarkable food we cook, the cities weve built, or the endless other things weve created. To my mind, its the fact that, in our relatively brief time as rulers of this planet, amid a chaos of never-ending wars and conflicts, weve come up with not just one but two different ways of doing ourselves (and much of the rest of our world) in.

And that, to my mind, is no small achievement.

Go back a couple of centuries and, even amid humanitys wars and other conflicts, someone suggesting such a possible future would undoubtedly have been laughed out of the room. It took science fiction  especially H.G. Wells imagining the arrival of murderous Martians  to begin to conceive of such all-too-modern, all-too-apocalyptic world-ending possibilities.

Now, however, theres no need for fiction at all. There can be no question that, in its wisdom (and yes, that definitely needs to be in quotation marks), humanity has indeed come up with two different ways of utterly destroying this planet as a livable habitat.

And theres no mystery here, either. One is, of course, atomic weaponry. First tested out in the New Mexican desert in July 1945, atomic bombs were then dropped on two Japanese cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, that August with devastating effect. Ever since, such weaponry has been held in what might be thought of as an ultimate reserve of potential total destructiveness. Yes, in its two times in use, such weaponry lit up the skies in a blinding fashion, destroying much of those two Japanese cities and slaughtering hundreds of thousands of human beings, both in the moment and in the years that followed from the long-term effects of radiation.

And yet, to put that in perspective, those A-bombs, Little Boy and Fat Man as their American creators dubbed them, used on August 6 and 9, 1945, would today be considered the most modest of tactical or low-yield nuclear weapons. The major weapons now in the American and Russian arsenals, hydrogen bombs, are  perhaps the best word might be  blindingly more powerful. As the Union of Concerned Scientists explains, The warheads on just one U.S. nuclear-armed submarine have seven times the destructive power of all the bombs dropped during World War II, including the two atomic bombs dropped on Japan. And the United States usually has ten of those submarines at sea.

And while, in 1945, only the United States had such weapons, that was bound to change all too quickly. Today, nine countries have nuclear arsenals and there are, at present, nearly 13,000 nuclear weapons on this planet. In the years to come, its not likely to end there either, though that would be more than enough weaponry to destroy not just the Earth but untold numbers of other planets. And keep in mind that the major nuclear powers, the United States and Russia, are both in the process of modernizing their arsenals, while China is visibly rushing to catch up. The U.S. is, in fact, expected to put up to $2 trillion (no, that is not a misprint!) into updating its supply of nukes in the decades to come.

A Nuclear Little Ice Age?

On another cheery note, North Korea, which only joined that crew of nine relatively recently, tested its first intercontinental ballistic missile as 2023 ended. (And dont think its the last country thats going to go nuclear either.) In addition, what nuclear agreements once existed between the great powers are now largely extinct. Worse yet, with both the major and minor nuclear powers still working hard to build up or modernize those arsenals into the distant future, the ability to destroy most life on this planet remains mind-numbingly present and, because weve never experienced anything like it, all too hard to grasp.

Among other things, the massive smoke cloud that even a relatively modest  if such a word can be used in this context  nuclear exchange between, say, India and Pakistan would put into the atmosphere could result in a global nuclear winter in which billions of people would starve to death. A larger-scale nuclear conflict might even lead to a nuclear little ice age that could last thousands  yes, thousands!  of devastating years.

While its true that, in the last 78 years, such weaponry has never again been used (except in peaceful nuclear tests), its hard not to imagine that something suicidal lurks in the make-up of humanity. Otherwise, why would nine countries now possess weapons that could all too literally end it for the rest of us? And sadly, theres nothing new about any of this. As the superb Jonathan Schell wrote in his classic book The Fate of the Earth in 1982, Since we have not made a positive decision to exterminate ourselves but instead have chosen to live on the edge of extinction, periodically lunging toward the abyss only to draw back at the last second, our situation is one of uncertainty and nervous insecurity rather than of absolute hopelessness.

More than 40 years after he wrote that, it remains no less accurate. Somehow, despite our eternal conflicts, not one has ever yet tipped over into a nuclear conflagration, but the danger remains. After all, it seems that, among our other traits, we humans are all too incapable of not making war. At this moment, in fact, one side in each of the two major wars on this planet, in Ukraine and Gaza  Russia and Israel  is nuclear armed. Last July, a senior Russian official, Dmitry Medvedev, fearing a coming Ukrainian counteroffensive, said: Just imagine that the offensive in tandem with NATO, succeeded and ended up with part of our land being taken away. Then we would have to use nuclear weapons by virtue of the stipulations of the Russian Presidential Decree. There simply wouldnt be any other solution. Our enemies should pray to our fighters that they do not allow the world to go up in nuclear flames.

Pray, indeed.

Not Noticing the Ultimate Threat to Humanity?

Nor, in truth, is there anything new about the second way we humans have discovered to turn our world into a burning ember. As Schell also noted in 1982, while describing the nuclear horror that we could visit on ourselves and this planet: Nuclear explosions are far from being the only perturbations in question; a heating of the global atmosphere through an increased greenhouse effect, which could be caused by the injection of vast amounts of carbon dioxide into the air (for instance, from the increased burning of coal), is another notable peril of this kind.

Notable indeed! And its no less notable, I think, that Schell was aware of such a second human-induced, planet-destroying possibility so long ago, though most of us have only become aware of climate change later. He was early indeed in his recognition of that reality (though the way greenhouse gases could heat our atmosphere had been known to a few of us from the end of the nineteenth century). And sadly, while humanitys nuclear weapons have been relegated to what might be considered the back burner, that greenhouse effect hasnt. Anything but, in fact.

Unlike those thousands of devastating weapons, the weather bomb that has now visibly burst over this planet was a creation of the nineteenth-century industrial revolution, launched with the burning of coal and then other fossil fuels. Of course, industrial civilization, as it spread across the planet, began to use those slow-motion equivalents of nuclear weapons ever more widely. In the intervening two centuries, greenhouse gases have grown devastatingly abundant in our atmosphere and the planet has heated by nearly 1.5 degrees Centigrade over pre-industrial days. In fact, in November, we even experienced the first (and second) days in our planets recorded history when temperatures averaged more than 2 degrees Centigrade and, in that same month, the global average temperature hit 1.75 degrees above pre-industrial times.

Yes, you and I might not be Jonathan Schell, but today, more than four decades after he wrote that side note in his work on the nuclear dangers we then faced, climate change has become an everyday affair. Last year  the hottest in recorded history and possibly in the last 125,000 years  heat records were regularly broken across the planet, month after month, while climate-change-causing greenhouse gases reached record highs in the atmosphere. Meanwhile, record-shattering heatwaves, wildfires, and floods swept across the planet in 2023. My own country had the honor of setting a new single-year record for billion-dollar climate disasters  and that was before the year was even close to over. (It is, by the way, strangely painful to find myself using that word record over and over again in this context.)

Last year, during 12 months of  and yes, here I go again!  record heat, each month from June through November set a new average global high. And you know the story all too well (if youve been paying any attention at all). Of course, I could go through it all again  the megafires, the droughts, the ever more powerful and devastating storms, those unbelievable 55 days at 110 degrees or above for Phoenix, Arizona  and thats only to begin down an ever longer list of records that, sadly, is unlikely to seem all that long or impressive in the intemperate future we face.

Worse yet, in the wake of the global COP28 climate meeting in the petro-heart of the Middle East, where the delegates couldnt agree on a goal of phasing out, or even phasing down fossil fuel use, but only on transitioning away from it, my own country, the United States, the planets largest oil and natural gas producer, set another record year in 2023 as its oil production hit an all-time high. And as Roishetta Ozane and Bill McKibben pointed out recently at the Guardian, The U.S. Department of Energy must decide whether to stop rubber-stamping the single biggest fossil-fuel expansion on earth, the buildout of natural gas exports from the Gulf of Mexico. So far they have granted every export license anyone has requested, and as a result the U.S. has become the biggest gas exporter on planet earth.

And thats with Joe Biden at the helm in the White House. At least, hes made an effort to invest real money in climate change and labeled it the ultimate threat to humanity. Just imagine for a moment if the victor in this years election is the man who recently swore, on his first day as dictator in the Oval Office in 2025, that, above all else, he will drill, drill, drill. Or the striking numbers of Americans voting for him who refuse to even believe that the obvious is happening to us. And lets not forget that, though its seldom mentioned, Donald Trump would also once again be the man in charge of Americas nuclear arsenal.

The Blistering of This Planet

Consider climate change, then, a slow-motion version of atomic warfare and, unlike those nukes, greenhouse gases havent yet faintly been pushed to one side. Yes, theres no question that ever less expensive renewable forms of energy that dont use fossil fuels are on the rise  and a quick rise at that!  but sadly, not quick enough it seems, while the giant fossil-fuel companies simply plough on (as do their profits).

In other words, of the two ways humanity has so far discovered to destroy this planet and everything on it, one is now in something like cold storage (though that could change at any moment), while the other  the slow-motion version of ultimate destruction  isnt faintly so. In a sense, think of us as in a slow-motion process of burning ourselves out of house and home  and, as is already obvious, its only going to get worse before it has any chance of getting better.

It would, of course, be a remarkable achievement for us to turn our backs on the possible destruction of this planet. Unfortunately, as we humans continue to fight our wars in a blistering fashion (themselves, by the way, significant contributors to the ongoing blistering of this planet), we seem strangely incapable of facing what were doing in an ultimate sense. Yes, our news programs could in recent months make the war in Gaza  distinctly, a nightmare of the first order  the top news story, day after day after day. But somehow, the news about climate change, the slow-motion but devastating blasting of the planet we live on, never seems to get that kind of attention. Even when the top story of the day or week may be record storms, floods, fires, you name it, the link to the heating of this planet is, if made at all, normally only done so in passing.

And yet that should be the story of all times. Were talking about the end of the world as weve known it. And that should be, but isnt, the news of our time or of any time.

Welcome to 2024.

Copyright 2024 Tom Engelhardt

Via Tomdispatch.com
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment)  The responsibility for the bombing in Kerman, Iran, on Wednesday that killed at least 84 people and wounded another 284, has been claimed by the ISIL (Daesh, ISIS) terrorist group. The worst terrorist bombing in Iran since the Mojahedin-e Khalq (MEK) blew up the Iranian leadership in 1981 struck at a commemoration of the assassination by Donald Trump of Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps General Qasem Soleimani.

Initially, figures in the Iranian government blamed Israel, and threatened retaliation. Iran opposes the Israeli total war on the civilians of Gaza, and leads a loosely organized Alliance of Resistance (against Israeli militarism) comprising Lebanons Hezbollah, Iraqi Shiite militias, and Yemens Houthis. The modus operandi of the Kerman bombing, however, with its targeting of civilian crowds in the service of inflaming conflict, better suits ISIL. The ISIL leadership had taken over northern Iraq and eastern Syria 2014-2018 by fomenting Sunni-Shiite civil war.

Although the bombing turns out not to implicate Israel, it certainly has a context in Tel Avivs reduction of Gaza to rubble and its murder of over 20,000 civilian noncombatants.

Osamah Bin Laden gave three reasons for undertaking the 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C.  the US military presence in the Muslim holy land of Saudi Arabia, the excess civilian deaths caused by the US sanctions on Iraq in the 1990s, and the Israel occupation of Jerusalem and the threat it posed to the al-Aqsa Mosque complex (Islams third holiest shrine).

The Palestine piece is crucial. I wrote in 2010, Last winter during the Gaza War, an audio tape> attributed to Bin Laden did not neglect to mention the need to recover al-Aqsa Mosque (the Muslim holy site in Jerusalem) for Islam. Before 9/11, in early 2001, Bin Laden was penning odes to the liberation of Jerusalem and reading them at his sons wedding.

The US and European press never gave the Palestine issue its due in explaining Muslim radicalism twenty years ago, because facing the truth was too painful.

If ISIL did strike Iran, it may well have done so to take the shine off Irans current street cred in the Muslim world over Gaza. As the major Sunni Muslim countries have fallen silent or secretly cooperated with the Israeli onslaught, Iran has vigorously denounced the Israeli campaign against the Palestinians of Gaza. Its proxy militias in Iraq and Syria have repeatedly attacked US military personnel at Tanf in Syria and at Ain al-Asad base in Iraq. The Houthis have closed the Red Sea to traffic by international container ship companies.

Aljazeera English: ISIL claims responsibility for Wednesdays deadly attack on Iranian city of Kerman that killed dozen

ISIl hates Shiites and sees them as wretched heretics, and has made attempts to establish itself among Palestinians. It would want credit for resistance to the Israeli campaign to go to Sunni radicals. This strike at Kerman was revenge for the Iranian role in defeating ISIL in Syria, an effort directed by Soleimani.

Indirectly, then, the Gaza conflict is having the effect of strengthening Irans Alliance of Resistance on the one hand, and of raising jealousies among and galvanizing Sunni radicals.

The longer the Biden administration allows this savage carnage on the part of Israel to continue before the eyes of the world, the more likely it is that the whole Middle East and perhaps the Muslim world more widely will be destabilized. The US and its allies will not be left untouched by such a development, as the Red Sea debacle already demonstrates. But that interruption of container ship traffic could be a minor consequence of the Israeli genocide against Gaza compared to what is coming.
January 5, 2024  TheNewswire - London, Ontario  Abitibi Metals Corp. (CSE:AMQ) (OTC:AMQFF) (FSE:4KG) (Abitibi or the Company), is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Shane Williams to the Companys Advisory Committee.

Shane Williams is an accomplished mining executive and engineer, renowned for his track record of executional excellence in successful mine restarts and builds. With extensive experience in Canadas gold mining sector, and particularly his successful track record in Quebec, his experience and expertise are highly relevant to act as an advisor to Abitibi Metals.

Jonathon Deluce, CEO of Abitibi Metals, stated, "We are excited to announce the addition of Shane Williams to our Advisory Committee. Shane's extensive background in the mining industry, especially in Quebec, is a valuable asset to our team. His instrumental role in transforming the Lameque gold project in Quebec from a Preliminary Economic Assessment stage to a fully operational mine in just 18 months is a testament to his expertise. We look forward to collaborating with him as we begin to mobilize on the B26 Deposit, which will see aggressive exploration in 2024."

Shane is the current CEO and President of West Red Lake Gold Mines. Under his leadership and guidance, in 2023, the company has successfully transitioned from an early-stage explorer to a leading developer in the Red Lake region of Canada.

As the Chief Operating Officer at Skeena Resources from 2020 to 2023, Mr. Williams played a pivotal role in advancing the past-producing Eskay Creek gold mine in B.C. towards a restart. His leadership, team building and business development contributed to a remarkable fivefold increase in market value for Skeena during his tenure.

From 2013 to 2019, Mr. Williams held various leadership positions at Eldorado Gold, culminating in his role as Senior Vice President overseeing Canadian and Greek operations. Under his guidance, the Lameque gold project in Quebec progressed from a Preliminary Economic Assessment to a fully operational mine in 18 months. Mr. Williams also served as Project Director for Eldorados Greek assets, successfully developing the Skouries and Olympias projects with a combined capital expenditure exceeding US$1 billion. Prior to his tenure at Eldorado Gold, Mr. Williams was involved with several thriving operations in progressively senior roles around the world.

Mr. Williams holds a B.Eng. in Electrical Engineering from the Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland, and an M.Sc. in Project Management from the University of Limerick, Ireland.

I am thrilled to join Abitibi Metals advisory committee at such a pivotal time in the Companys trajectory. The team has made excellent progress in such a short period of time, and I am excited to support as we move forward with the Companys remarkable assets, commented Mr. Williams.

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.




Reuters: The White House said on Thursday that North Korea recently provided Russia with ballistic missiles and launchers for use in Moscows war against Ukraine. Given that China is a member of the Security Council at the United Nations, what is its position on this weapons transfer in light of Chinas many calls for a ceasefire in Ukraine?

Wang Wenbin: I do not know of the cooperation you mentioned. Chinas position on the Ukraine issue is consistent and clear. We hope all parties will work on ways for deescalation and create the conditions for working towards a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.

AFP: The Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) fired artillery shells into waters off the western coast of the Republic of Korea (ROK) today. Residents of Baengnyeong island and Yeonpyeong island were ordered to evacuate. Is China for or against DPRKs move?

Wang Wenbin: We noted that the ROK and the US have recently conducted large-scale joint drills in the DPRK-ROK border region, and the DPRK conducted artillery drills this morning. We are following the developments on the Korean Peninsula closely. Recently, antagonism between relevant parties has risen, with tensions running high on the Peninsula. As a neighboring country, China stands for keeping the Peninsula peaceful and stable and resolving the issues of the Peninsula through dialogue and consultation. Under the current circumstances, we hope that relevant parties will exercise calm and restraint, refrain from fueling tensions and avoid further escalation to create conditions for the resumption of meaningful dialogue.

Xinhua News Agency: China has announced Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzus state visit to China. Could you share with us the program and Chinas expectation for the visit?

Wang Wenbin: This is President Mohamed Muizzus first state visit to a foreign country since he took office. President Xi Jinping will host a welcome ceremony and a welcome banquet for President Mohamed Muizzu. The two heads of state will hold talks and attend the signing ceremony of cooperation documents. Premier Li Qiang and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress Zhao Leji will meet with President Mohamed Muizzu respectively.

China and the Maldives boast time-honored friendship. In the past 52 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the two countries have treated each other with respect and supported each other, setting a fine example of equality and mutual benefits between countries of different sizes. In 2014, President Xi Jinping paid a historic state visit to the Maldives. The two sides agreed to build a future-oriented all-around friendly and cooperative partnership. Over the past decade, the relations between China and the Maldives have deepened and achieved fruitful outcomes of practical cooperation in various fields, including Belt and Road cooperation, and deepening traditional friendship. The relations between China and the Maldives now stand at a new historical starting point. We believe that through this visit, the two heads of state will provide strategic guidance for the bilateral relations to reach a new height.

TRT: The Republic of South Africa filed a lawsuit in the International Court of Justice and requested an interim injunction on the ground that Israel violated the 1948 United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide with the actions it committed in Gaza since October 7. Turkiye also welcomes this application. Whats Chinas views regarding this application?

Wang Wenbin: We noted the application. The ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict has killed more than 22,000 people in Gaza already, most of whom were civilians. The daily civilian death toll remains above one hundred. This must not continue. We oppose any action that violates the international law. We urge parties to the conflict to implement the resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly, carry out full ceasefire at once and stop the collective punishment against the people of Gaza.

AFP: I got a question on Donald Trump. A report by the Democrats in the US Congress was published yesterday. It claims that Chinese entities spent over USD 5.5 million at properties owned by Donald Trump. The report says that all that happened while Donald Trump was the US President. Is that true?

Wang Wenbin: I do not know about those claims. We urge relevant US politicians to stop buzzing about China.

CCTV: In a recent interview, Moiz Farooq, an executive editor of Daily Ittehad Media Group who visited Xinjiang of China along with a delegation of Pakistani media and think tanks last month, said that he saw the Muslims there enjoying happy lives and religious freedom and the so-called human rights atrocity in Xinjiang claimed by the US and some western countries cannot hold water. What is your comment?

Wang Wenbin: We noted relevant reports. Xinjiang is visited by more and more people from around the world these days, who would then share their trips. We prepared some slides about their experience.

In 2023 alone, Xinjiang received nearly 400 delegations and groups that consist of over 4,300 visitors from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, Egypt, France, Germany, Switzerland, Canada, the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and other countries and international organizations. Some of them are government officials, diplomats, religious figures, experts, scholars, journalists and ordinary travelers. They visited many places there. They listened to clergies giving sermons at mosques and the Islamic institutes and visited cultural heritage sites to see how Xinjiangs traditional culture is protected. They went to local factories, businesses and farms to learn about Xinjiangs production and development, and visited ordinary households where they saw the happy life of people of various ethnic groups.

Japanese tourists who traveled to Xinjiang said that they witnessed the happy life of Xinjiang people and began to know that many ethnic groups live side by side in the region and they are united like pomegranate seeds. A Pakistani journalist said that everywhere he went in Xinjiang, he could see people living a normal, peaceful and contented life, and what he saw in Xinjiang is different from the horrifying reports he had read about. Maxime Vivas, a French writer who visited Xinjiang for the third time last year, said that tranquility and harmony can be seen everywhere in the region. He questioned where the accusation of religious, language and cultural extinction came from and asked, if the Chinese government were demolishing mosques and restricting the freedom of religious belief, then why have they trained over 3,000 clergies every year? A French scholar said that using forced labor does not make sense in a country that owns 40 percent of the worlds invention patents.

Seeing is believing. People are not blind to the truth. For certain countries, they are comfortable telling lies about genocide and forced labor in Xinjiang, but it takes them forever to acknowledge the humanitarian tragedies in places such as Gaza. This is plain hypocrisy. Xinjiang will keep its door open to the world. We sincerely welcome more friends from all countries to visit Xinjiang and see its charm, harmony and prosperity for themselves.
The world was profoundly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has claimed nearly 7 million lives, said Loyce Pace, Assistant Secretary for Global Affairs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in recent Congressional testimony. It's only a matter of time, she said, before the world faces another serious public health threat. In order to strengthen global health security against these threats, the United States is committed to working closely with the World Health Organization, or WHO.

An effective partnership with WHO is essential to guard global health and wellbeing, said Assistant Secretary Pace. WHO has been on the frontlines of nearly every global health challenge over the past 75 years, combating, containing and curing some of the planet's most deadly diseases. Currently, WHO is responding to dozens of serious health emergencies, including in Gaza and in Ukraine.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic revealed major gaps in global health architecture, including at WHO, said Assistant Secretary Pace.

To build up better global health infrastructure, the United States is working with partners to ensure rapid and transparent information sharing, and to enhance WHO's ability to assess health threats and improve global implementation and compliance, said Assistant Secretary Pace.

We're advancing longstanding U.S. priorities to reinforce regional capacity and reduce risks posed by emerging infections. Ultimately, we're focused on finding sustainable solutions that break the cycle of pandemic crisis and complacency, she said.

The U.S. was one of 59 countries that first signed the treaty establishing a World Health Organization. Since then, we've been party to many of its successes and at the same time have pushed the organization to be better over these last 75 years, said Assistant Secretary Pace. The United States is committed to upholding this legacy and protecting the world from the next global health threat.
Han So Hee once again boasted her versatility and outstanding acting in her brand new Netflix series "Gyeongseong Creature" with Park Seo Joon.

After the long wait, she's finally back with an action-packed drama and improved skills. With this, Han So Hee is predicted to sweep major awards at the end of 2024.

Han So Hee Predicted To Garner Major Awards This 2024

With Part 2 on its way, excitement for Han So Hee and Park Seo Joon's "Gyeongseong Creature" catapulted to a new height.

Since its premiere in December 2023, the Netflix sci-fi thriller series stirred huge buzz among online communities, and received acclaim from viewers around the world.

"Gyeongseong Creature" follows the survival of two young people who fight for their lives as they try to take down the huge and dangerous monster created by humankind's greed.

In the series, Han So Hee transforms into Yoon Chae Ok, a specialist in finding people who's on the run to look for her own mother that disappeared 10 years ago.

After the release of Part 1, Han So Hee's performance earned high praises from fans and critics alike, most especially her deep emotional scene in episode 6 where she finally met her mother.

However, everything is so different from what she had expected as her own mother became a dangerous monster after being the subject of the colonizers' experiments.

READ MORE: 'Gyeongseong Creature' Hit or Miss? Here's What To Check Out In Sci-Fi Work

In the scene that went viral, Han So Hee showed her range as an actress, expressing every emotion that her character felt as she sobbed "Mother!" to Seishin, played by Kang Mal Geum.

With a lingering impression on the viewers, it's predicted that Han So Hee will bag recognitions including the Daesang (Grand Prize) at prestigious awards shows at the end of the year.

In addition, Han So Hee is also lauded for courageously starring in a drama about Japanese colonization despite being a widely popular showbiz figure in Japan.

Here's What To Expect From 'Gyeongseong Creature' Part 2

Undoubtedly, the meeting of Park Seo Joon and Han So Hee in "Gyeongseong Creature" is the most appealing element of the work.

But besides that, the Netflix series is an eye-opening drama about the sins and monster-like traits of humans. It's a metaphorically curated work by showrunners that no one should miss.

In addition, "Gyeongseong Creature" also brings a plethora of genres on the table including action, suspense, romance, sci-fi, melodrama and more.

In Part 2, the series is expected to depict the consequences of humans' greed and impulsive actions as the monster becomes much stronger as the experiments continue to go on.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Han So Hee Breaks Silence Amid 'Gyeongseong Creature' Hate - Here's What She Said

Will Park Seo Joon and Han So Hee's Jang Tae Sang and Yoon Chae Ok save the victims in Part 2? Check it out in the forthcoming episodes on Netflix this January.

Watch the teaser below:

KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Elijah Mully.
York Regional Police patch is shown Dec, 19, 2022. Police say a person has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of an infant north of Toronto. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey
In the face of continuing attacks by Houthi militants on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, the Security Council must act, said U.S Representative for UN Management and Reform Chris Lu:

These attacks pose grave implications for maritime security, international shipping, and commerce. And they undermine the fragile humanitarian situation in Yemen, damaging the ability of the international community to deliver assistance to more than 21 million people in need.

Ambassador Lu noted that Houthi militants have carried out over 20 attacks since November 19:

Even as we continue to demand that the Houthis stop these attacks, which are clear violations of international law, we must not overlook the root of the problem. Iran has long enabled these attacks by the Houthis.

Beyond Irans longstanding provision of financing to aid such Houthi operations, since 2015, it has transferred advanced weapons systems to the Houthis, said Ambassador Lu, including Unmanned Aerial Systems, Land Attack Cruise Missiles, and ballistic missiles used in attacks against maritime vehicles. ... We also know that Iran has been deeply involved in planning operations against commercial vessels in the Red Sea.

The United States does not seek confrontation with Iran. Iran has a choice here: it can continue its current course, or it can withhold its support  without which the Houthis would struggle to effectively track and strike commercial vessels navigating shipping lanes through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, he said.

The provision of arms and related materiel of all types to the Houthis is a violation of this Councils Resolution 2216, emphasized Ambassador Lu. All Member States should adhere to their obligations under this resolution:

The threat to navigational rights and freedoms in the Red Sea is a global challenge and necessitates a global response.

Let us remember our responsibilities as members of the Security Council, declared Ambassador Lu, to address these challenges.


Thursday, January 4, 2024  Chief Justice

Martha Koome has had enough of President William Rutos threats.

In a strong-worded statement, Koome hit back at claims propagated by Ruto and his allies, alleging that some officers from the Judiciary have been operating with impunity.

She called upon all Kenyans to report any act that threatens the integrity of the judicial processes and allow JSC to investigate them.

She noted with concern that Judges and Judicial Officers were subjected to public criticism for issuing court orders that were perceived to be against State programs and policies.

Thus, Koome warned that the Judiciary was an independent and co-equal arm of government. She also urged all Judges and Judicial Officers to continue performing their judicial duties without fear or favour.

The Commission wishes to draw the attention of State and Public Officers to the fact that the Constitution places positive duties on the State to ensure respect for the law and adherence to the law by providing citizens with effective mechanisms for resolving disputes between themselves and between them and the State.

Where a citizen obtains a court order against the State and that court order is deliberately ignored or disobeyed by State officials, the right of access to justice is undermined because it fatally attacks the effectiveness of the legal system on which ordinary citizens rely to have their rights and legal duties enforced, Koome stated.

She further assured that the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) kept the Judiciary in order and that any judges or magistrates with questionable behaviour would be investigated promptly.

In a speech targeted at the judiciary while in Nyandarua on Tuesday, the President stated that beneficiaries of corruption had teamed up with corrupt judicial officers to deny Kenyans development.


Thursday, January 4, 2024  Deputy PresidentRigathi Gachagua has stated that he will not allow the return of the outlawed Mungiki sect in the Mt Kenya region.

Speaking on Tuesday in Njabini, Nyandarua County during the burial of Senator John Methus father Michael Maigo Waweru, Gachagua said no one will be allowed to revive the outlawed group that was exterminated by late former president Mwai Kibaki.

Gachagua noted that the Government is on high alert and would swiftly move in to stop attempts by the gangs leaders and their sympathizers to recruit young people in the region, adding that heinous acts they committed previously were still fresh in the memories of the residents.

I am ready to pay any political price to protect these women and our young girls from the criminal gang. We cannot allow this, he stated.

He added that those involved in the attempted revival will face the full wrath of the law.

An attempt is being made to revive that criminal gang. Two months ago, they were back in bus stages extorting from matatu operators and business owners.

That cannot happen. We cannot allow anyone to misuse our youths and engage them in crime. We have a responsibility to protect our young people from being misused by anybody, Gachagua stated.
Tuesday, January 2, 2024  Former Mungikileader, Maina Njenga, has accused Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua of being behind the arrest of hundreds of youths at Kabiruini Grounds who had turned up to celebrate the New Year.

Addressing a press conference on Monday, Njenga said Gachagua set up youths against police brutality and risking community extinction.

It bothers me that a Kikuyu leader is using the State machinery to criminalise the same people who supported him during the 2022 general election.

By labelling our innocent youths as members of Mungiki, Rigathi is not only setting them up against the notorious police brutality, but he is also setting up the entire community for extinction.

When did the jobless, hopeless, and disgruntled hustlers become Mungiki? Kweli asante ya punda ni mateke, he said.

Njenga called on the government to focus on its main agenda of tackling the high cost of living, dismissing claims that he is in hiding.
Tuesday, January 2, 2024  Nairobi GovernorJohnson Sakaja has announced the end of the issuance of multiple business licenses.

Terming it as a New Year gift, Sakaja announced the County Government was rolling out a Unified Business Permit (UBP).

In a statement to Nairobi residents and entrepreneurs, Sakaja confirmed that his administration had activated the electronic Unified Business Permit (UBP) regime, as part of an ease-of-doing business reform initiative.

The UBP combines the business, fire, food, health, and advertising licenses into one and will be available on the Nairobi City County Governments Nairobi Pay Revenue service online portal, the Governor stated.

The UBP was part of Sakajas 2022 campaign manifesto where he promised traders that should he be elected; he would eliminate the issuance of multiple licences.

Sakaja noted that the UBP had been in the development and pilot stages for the better part of 2023.

He explained that the activation of the UBP system, effective January 1, will enhance public service delivery by conveniently allowing Nairobi entrepreneurs to pay for their licenses online and receive an electronic unified business permit.

Sakaja further added that the UBP activation was part of a deliberate effort to improve the ease of doing business parameters in Nairobi.

Additionally, he noted that the issuance of multiple business permits had long been used as a loophole by corrupt county officials to steal public resources.

With the new advanced system, Sakaja envisions growing the countys Own Source Revenue (OSR) to Ksh20 billion per year.

In other good news for Nairobi residents, Sakja confirmed that he had formally extended the land rates waiver until January 31, 2024.


Tuesday, January 2, 2024  In his

New Year speech to the nation from State House, Nakuru, President William Ruto acknowledged that 2023 had been a particularly difficult year for Kenyans.

Speaking on Sunday, the President assured his electorate that the difficult part was over and the country was heading into 2024 with a sense of optimism.

Despite the Presidents reassurance to the nation, the cloud of a Ksh300 billion Eurobond repayment in June 2024 threatened to make 2024 yet another difficult year for Kenyans in terms of economic growth and cost of living.

In 2023 alone, Kenya borrowed in the external market over Ksh300 billion (USD 2 billion) and collected over Ksh1 trillion in taxes.

A huge sum of the money collected went into servicing a crippling Ksh11 trillion debt with less allocated to the development agenda.

Ruto remarked that his administration had put adequate measures in place to ensure debt repayment does not plunge Kenya into recession.

In 2023, we triumphed over the threat of hunger and economic stagnation. Kenya is now secure with regard to foreign debts, he stated.

While the President has vowed that Kenya will not negate its international obligations, it is the domestic front that will be affected by the Eurobond repayment.

Civil servants are projected to experience salary delays as well as county bosses bracing themselves for delays in disbursement of devolved funds.

On December 6, Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndungu while appearing before National Assembly Finance Committee confessed that the government was facing an economic crisis.

He explained that the Treasury was struggling to pay salaries  a situation that will worsen with the maturity of the Eurobond in June 2024.

Digital Strategist Dennis Itumbi on December 27, revealed that President William Ruto was taking the issue of debt repayment and economic stability seriously heading to 2024.

He explained that Ruto was holding numerous meetings at the State House to ensure that the situation did not bankrupt the nation.
Tuesday, January 2, 2024  Nandi County

Senator, Samson Cherargei, has continued to show his ignorance on social media after he blasted former Prime Minister Raila Odinga for threatening to call mass action if the Kenya Kwanza Alliance government fails to address the issue of the high cost of living.

In a social media post on Monday, Cherargei dismissed Raila Odingas calls, saying Kenyans will not demonstrate against Rutos government because they have faith in him.

We dont understand why he (Raila) says he wants to call for a demonstration, but we want to ask him if he wants to organize a demonstration, he shouldnt wait until next year; he should start tomorrow because the citizens have faith in the government of President William Ruto, Cherargei said.

l think the time for scaring Kenyans is over, he should even be grateful. You see, other countries default on their debt, but Kenya has not defaulted because we have been able to repay our public debt, which has troubled many nations, Cherargei added.

What Cherargei has failed to understand is that Kenyans are no longer with Ruto over the high cost of living and increase in taxes.




Tuesday, January 2, 2024  Former Vice

President Kalonzo Musyoka has claimed that 2023 will remain in history as it was the year that Kenyans experienced high levels of taxation.

In an interview with NTV, Kalonzo, who is also the Wiper Democratic Movement party leader, emphasized that the Kenya Kwanza government should emulate the late President Mwai Kibaki in addressing economic challenges.

It is a year that Kenyans have seen incredible, almost insane, levels of taxation. And we told them. How can you bring such heavy taxation when the country is going through an economic recession? he posed.

In his New Year message to Kenyans, the Wiper leader urged Kenyans to work hard to disabuse the country of wrong policies, greed, and corruption.

As we welcome 2024, I wish my fellow Kenyans Gods blessings, whether we are Christians, Muslims, or Hindus. All Kenyans, wherever you are here or abroad, please keep hope alive. We have only one nationour motherland, Kenya.

Let us work hard to disabuse the country of the wrong policies, greed, and corruption. Happy New Year and Gods blessings I wish for all of you, he said.
Thursday, January 4, 2024  The Nigeriangovernment has suspended degrees from Kenya over what it termed being fake and most of the holders are unqualified.

This was announced by Nigeria Education Minister Tahir Mamman on Wednesday.

This development follows an undercover investigation by Umar Audu, who bagged a degree in Mass Communication from ESGT, a Benin university in Cotonou, within six weeks and participated in the mandatory one-year scheme organised by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

The Federal Government thereafter announced the suspension of evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates from the Republics of Benin and Togo.

We are not going to stop at just Benin and Togo. We are going to extend the dragnet to countries like Uganda, Kenya, even Niger here where such institutions have been set up, Mamman said.

Mamman noted that he has no sympathy for the students who patronise such institutions, labelling them criminals who should be arrested.

The minister added that security agents will go after those with fake certificates from foreign countries who are already using them to secure opportunities in Nigeria.

If, along the line, we can trace that there are people already in the system, For instance, if a particular institution or operator has been operating, say in the last 10 years, we will check if we can get records of Nigerians who attended that institution.

Once we do that, they are criminals and you know there is no timeframe to criminality. We will trace them. As long as we can lay our hands on their institutions and they are right here with us, certainly, the security agencies will go after them because they are criminals. he said.
ELKO  She was months in the making, but at 8:31 a.m. on Jan. 1, Adalie Marie Vazquez, daughter of Vanessa Benavides and Giovanni Vazquez, entered the world as the first baby of the year at Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital.

Adalie weighed 5 pounds, 15 ounces and was 19 inches long.

Being the New Years Baby is not without its perks. Courtesy of hospital auxiliarys volunteers, Adalie Vazquez received a check for baby supplies and a basket full of pastel-pink gifts, along with a sparkly purple stuffed unicorn from the hospitals administration.

What sort of systems are in place to help deliver babies like Adalie? According to the hospitals director of community relations, Steve Burrows, about 35 medical professionals staff the NNRH labor and delivery unit, also known as the birth center, on the second floor of the hospital building. This number includes the support staff, nurses and OB-GYN doctors.

The birth centers resources include six birthing suites and an on-call pediatrician who provides follow-up care after a woman gives birth.

We work in tandem with northeastern Nevada Womens Health, which is a doctors clinic here in our adjacent medical office building, Burrows said. And then we do have some independent community providers as well who come and see patients at their clinic and then come deliver the babies here at our birth center.

Burrows said the birth center provides classes for expecting parents as well as those already with babies.

We are now offering free childbirth classes and an online live childbirth class, so there are classes to match any schedule, he said. We used to have in-person classes here at the hospital that we would do once a month and during the pandemic we had to switch to that online, virtual-style class.

Other people actually really liked that because there were a lot more options for when they can actually get on and participate in the classes, he said.

Those are free to any patient and their significant other. Even for mothers who have already delivered, there are some great classes about newborn care and there are breastfeeding classes as well.

The hospital covers the cost of these classes, Burrows said. Further information on the classes is available at www.nnrhospital.com/mother-and-baby.

We also do have certified lactation consultants and several of our nurses in the birth center are certified breastfeeding consultants. So they do some follow-up appointments. If a new mother is having trouble with breastfeeding, they can offer some tips and help, Burrows said.

We also have a breastfeeding support group that meets once a month here at the hospital. That is open to any mothers who want to come and talk about their experiences and support one another. They are also welcome to bring their little ones and even siblings. So that is a free service as well.

Along with its wealth of personal support, the birth center is also looking to expand its physical facilities for 2024.

This year, we are starting a new project, which is a remodel and a refresh of our labor and delivery rooms, Burrows said, noting that the birth center is bringing in new technology and making sure that all of our rooms are the best they possibly can be.

The birth center has already seen another upgrade in recent months.

Something we actually just recently finished last year, 2023, was a brand new security system and monitoring system in the birth center unit, he said.

All of our little ones, we make sure that they are secure so that they cannot be picked up and walked out of the unit, Burrows said. We have always had that security in place but in 2022 we kept hearing stories of abductions and that sort of thing.

While NNRH has never experienced an infant abduction, he said, birth center leaders wanted to ensure mothers and babies are taken care of as well as they can be.

I just want to say that we have incredible nurses and really great doctors, Burrows said. There was a time about a decade ago when Elko went through a real shortage in OB-GYN and in providers that could deliver babies and so I think at that time folks started thinking that they needed to go elsewhere to have a baby.

Now, expectant parents dont have to drive 300 miles to deliver a baby, he said.

That is why we are here, to help them welcome their newest members in a safe and comfortable experience, he said.
Thursday, January 4, 2024  Azimio LeaderRaila Odinga has issued a list of demands to the government of President William Ruto over the disbursement of funds for schools ahead of the scheduled opening day on January 8.

In a statement, Raila directed Ruto to address the issue of capitation for all public primary and secondary schools before the resumption of learning.

The Opposition Leader challenged the State to meet financial obligations to schools, including settling pending bills.

The government must release all the monies owed to schools. It must also release capitation at the approved rate of Ksh22,244 per child for the financial year 2023/2024, Raila demanded.

He insisted that the capitation should be equitable among the schools, and pushed for unions, Parents Teachers Associations, and school Boards of Management to see it through.

He argued that the denial of full capitation erodes fair and equitable access to education, whose ripple effect is disparity among regions.

In addition, he rallied Ruto to re-evaluate his priorities in the new year, maintaining that education was among the top issues that the government must address.

How does a government put money on so-called Affordable Housing but refuse to finance the education of our children? Raila posed.

At the same time, the ODM Leader called upon the religious leaders and civil society organisations to keep the government in check and ensure the State funds education as stipulated in the constitution.

He argued that fully funding schools is the only way to guarantee all children across the country have a fair opportunity at life.

Finally, he directed MPs to prioritise basic and higher education spending.
Thursday, January 4, 2024  Siaya CountyGovernor, James Orengo, has condemned an attack on the Judiciary by President William Ruto, terming it as reckless and dangerous.

Speaking in Nyandarua County on Tuesday, the Head of State decried what he termed as judicial impunity by corrupt judicial officers aimed at derailing government projects.

In his reaction on Thursday, Orengo, who is among the second liberation heroes, said the Constitution of Kenya lays out clear terms on the systems of checks and balances and is not upon the president to decide on which decision he is going to honor or defy.

Orengo added that of all the statements that the President has made, this is the most dangerous remark that is undermining the constitution and the sovereign power of the people.

Orengo says that the President needs to know that there is a clear procedure for overturning court decisions that are purportedly obtained through fraud or corrupt practices.

Executive power is limited by law, there are things he cannot do. If he does anything that does not fall within the realm of his powers, including defying court orders and violating the constitution, those attract punishment and penal sanctions. He is not above the law, he said.
Thursday, January 4, 2024  Chief JusticeMartha Koome has surprised Kenyans after she used Article 160(1) of the constitution to defend corrupt judges and magistrates.

Koome used the Article after President William Ruto vowed to expose corrupt judges and magistrates who were sabotaging his ideas and plans for Kenyans.

Speaking in Nyandarua on Tuesday, Ruto accused some unnamed judges of working with corrupt cartels to issue orders that sabotage promises he made to Kenyans when he was campaigning for the presidency in 2022.

But in a statement on Wednesday, Koome dismissed Rutos speech and said there is nothing she can do to the said judges because they are protected by the Constitution in Article 160(1).

Koome also advised Ruto that if he has any problem with a judge or any judicial officer he should complain to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) instead of prosecuting them in funerals.
Thursday, January 4, 2024  East AfricanLegislative Assembly (EALA) MP David Sankok has threatened to lead protests against the lowering of prices of agricultural produce.

In a statement, Sankok said he would not allow agricultural products to be sold at lower prices, noting that farmers earn income from selling the products.

I will lead farmers for counter-demonstrations because we will not allow farm produce to be sold at lower prices because the price of unga, beans, meat, milk, eggs, etc is farmers salaries, Sankok stated.

The EALA MP also pointed out that the government should create a conducive business environment to give Kenyans purchasing power and not succumb to the oppositions pressure to lower food prices.

Farmers will only allow their salary to come down if salaries of teachers, doctors, MCAS, MPs, and all civil servants are brought at the same proportion, Sankok added.

The former nominated MPs comments come days after Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga threatened to announce the return of nationwide anti-government protests.

The former Prime Minister called on the government to repeal the Finance Act 2023, arguing that the new taxes that came with the Act have led to a harsh economic situation across the country.

We said the cost of living is high, and we told the government not to increase taxes. However, they went ahead and raised taxes, causing significant losses for Kenyans.

We declare that in the new year, this tax law must be repealed. If they do not repeal the Finance Act 2023, we will return to the streets, Raila threatened.
Thursday, January 4, 2024  Renowned politicalanalyst, Prof Mutahi Ngunyi, has advised the president to continue breaking the law and clean the mess at the Judiciary.

In a message on his X platform, Ngunyi said Kenya became a multi-party state when anti-colonial fighters violated the laws, leading him to believe that the president should defy court orders to reform the court.

He also said former Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Kiraitu Murungi defied the noise and fired 30 corrupt judges during the radical surgery of 2003

Dear Ruto: You are DEAD right. The Judiciary is corrupt TO the CORE and FROM the CORE. Kiraitu Murungi FIRED 30 Judges in 2003 for corruption. As the Executive, you MUST drain this SWAMP.

Do it for the PEOPLE despite the PEOPLE. One MAN with GOD is in the Majority. Drain the SWAMP, Ngunyi wrote.

Dear Ruto: The ONLY way to transform Kenya is to BREAK the LAW. If we DID not DISOBEY court orders in the Saba Saba of 1990, Kenya would still be a ONE PARTY dictatorship like Rwanda and Uganda. DAMN the law, Ngunyi added.

Ngunyis remarks come hours after Ruto received wide condemnation over his remarks where he accused some corrupt judges of sabotaging his plans for Kenyans such as suspending the housing levy.
Tuesday, January 2, 2024  President Yoweri

Museveni of Uganda has directed his administration to embrace negotiations with Kenya in dealing with trade issues that have caused conflict between the two countries.

During his New Years address, Museveni noted that many businesses in Uganda had lamented over the non-tariff barriers put up by countries like Kenya, with some pushing him to retaliate.

He expressed that negotiations were one of the best ways of addressing trade concerns, citing some of the achievements his administration had achieved through dialogue with past Kenyan governments.

Specifically, he cited the instances where other Kenyan governments had closed the borders for Ugandan products.

The NRM will not be part of those blind policies. Some of the Ugandan business people cite the non-tariff barriers practiced by other countries. In the early years of our Government, Mzee Moi, at one time, closed the border, but I rejected the arguments for retaliation.

Today, Ugandas exports to Kenya are either equal to our imports from there or, sometimes, they are higher. Rationality cannot be ignored indefinitely, he stated.

On the other hand, he underlined that he would like to have the non-tariff barriers done away with to boost trade in the East African region.

In 2023, Kenya had been engaged in trade woes with Uganda, with oil and milk imports featuring predominantly.

For instance, Ruto banned the importation of milk products from Uganda in 2023 amid accusations that some Kenyan companies were importing milk powder from Uganda, mixing it with water, and selling it as milk in the Kenyan market.

On the other hand, Uganda also cut ties with Kenyan businesses in the importation of oil following accusations that their profit-making strategies increased the cost of fuel products.
Tuesday, January 2, 2024  In hisNew Years address to the nation, United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced plans to ban migrants from relocating to the UK.

In 2024, we are already delivering for the British people, Sunak explained that the radical decision was informed by his pledge to the countrys natives.

The message was supported by the Home Office, the UK government department for immigration and passports.

In a statement, the Home Office noted that the policy was geared towards overseeing a decisive cut in migration.

Post-graduate research or government-funded scholarships students will be exempt, the Home Office noted.

Kenyans are among other nationals set to be affected, as foreign university students will be banned from bringing family members to the United Kingdom.

Sunaks decision was hence met with uproar by a majority of UK citizens who remarked that the PM was overseeing the demise of the nations university education, which had been revered worldwide.

This policy will significantly damage the funding of UK universities as international students will go elsewhere. That means that a generation of Britons will pay more to go to college and university, making it a preserve of the rich, one UK citizen complained to the Prime Minister.

Another citizen faulted Sunaks statement by wondering how making life more difficult and unpleasant for foreign students would improve that of Britons.

Labour Party, an opposition wing in the UK, remarked that Sunaks decision, supported by the ruling party, the Conservative Party, would see foreign students seek university admission in the United States and other European countries.

The UK, seemingly closed for business and foreign students, is on a slow decline and losing its relevance, a member of the Labour Party stated.

This was further supported by Don McGowan, a British citizen from Scotland who bemoaned that the UK was losing its global position due to the policy.
ELKO  Want to support an important cause? Stop by Cooks Steakhouse and Saloon later this month.

Gaeta Real Estate Group will host its third annual Brunch and Bottomless Mimosas fundraiser on Jan. 13, a Saturday, to benefit Zero Suicides Elko County. From 9 a.m. to noon at Cooks, visitors can enjoy mimosas and a full breakfast buffet priced at $60 per person or $100 per couple.

This is the third year we are doing it, Juanita Gaeta, broker-salesperson with Gaeta Real Estate Group and LPT Realty, said. The first year, we started the fundraiser for a client friend of ours who had lost her husband to COVID-19. She was pregnant, had just purchased a brand new house, had not even made their first payment.

So that is how the idea came to life. In the second year, we voted as a team to do Zero Suicides, she said.

This year once again, we voted to help them out. We have been working very closely with Lynette Vega and Stormy Remington of Zero Suicides Elko County, Gaeta said.

Some of the things that they have noted they have been able to do is bring awareness to suicide prevention and mental health in our local community  and provide support as well, Gaeta said.

Vega has been a suicide prevention advocate in the Elko community since her daughter Rachelle Marie Sloan died by suicide in 2008. She founded Zero Suicides Elko County in 2017 and is its president.

Remington serves as treasurer for the group, while also facilitating Survivors of Suicide Loss of Northeastern Nevada. Like Vega, she lost a family member to suicide  her brother Tib Ottley  and she hosts community events to bring healing and awareness to the Elko area.

They have a survivor of suicide loss grief group, working with behavioral health and medical providers. It is creating local resources for mental health and for everyday living, Gaeta said. Zero Suicides Elko County provides resources for the Elko Band Te-Moak Tribe as well as veterans.

This year, Zero Suicides Elko County has also raised money to help with suicide cleanups, Gaeta said.

Family members should not be expected to clean up after their loved ones suicide or have to come up with the funds to do so, she said.

Gaeta said raffles, gift baskets and auctions are planned, and all the proceeds will go to Zero Suicides.

We have been asking for donations and sponsors to help us put the event together. Cooks has been so generous. They have provided the food and the drink in the previous years.

The event is a communitywide function, she said, from the people that are selling tickets to cleaning tables that day.

And then I also have my team, the real estate group that does 80% of the work. I get credit for it, but it is them putting in the hard work during the couple of months before the event.

She said there were close to 200 people at last years event. It was people showing up, grabbing breakfast, donating, leaving  and throughout the day. We also have a lot of people that purchase tickets and do not attend. They just do it to support the cause.

The event raised over $11,000 last year, Gaeta said.

Zero Suicides have been so grateful for us. Well see where were at next year and if theres somebody in need. We usually just get together as a community and we vote, she said.

However, we want to continue our partnership with Cooks and continue doing this event, she said, even if it is divided into a couple of different organizations that need it.

We do hope to grow it. If we do outgrow the restaurant we would then consider a bigger venue, she said.
The Chinese government says the bilateral trade volume between Uganda and China has increased by 16.1%, hitting a record of 1.1 billion US dollars within the last 12 months. The Chinese Ambassador to Uganda Zhang Lizhong says the bilateral trade increased to 1.1 billion US dollars, up from 800 million US dollars in 2017.

He says this is being attained because of the peace and stability that the country has experienced for a long time.

China and Uganda have witnessed an increase in trade volume for six consecutive years. According to the latest statistics from January to October last year, the total volume of bilateral trade increased by 16.1% to 1.1 billion US dollars of which Ugandas exports to China have also increased by 25%, Zhang said.

He made the remarks while addressing the Chinese investors in Uganda at the launch of the Uganda taxation handbook for the Chinese business community in Uganda.

He asked the government to protect the Chinese investors from un-scrumptious people who extort money from the investors.
Makerere University Confucius Institute has welcomed the move by the Uganda Revenue Authority to have key taxation information translated into the Chinese language.

This comes as the tax body, together with the Chinese Embassy are today set to launch a Chinese version of an abridged taxation handbook meant to ease understanding of the countrys taxation system by the Chinese business community in Uganda.

Dr. Gilbert Gumoshabe, the Director of the Confucius Institute, says this will not only reduce corruption but will also save time spent on seeking interpretation of taxation documentation by the Chinese businesses in the country.

Most of the taxpayers are Chinese now, they are engaged in manufacturing. When they come, you tell them Ugandan laws but they are only given description and cannot read on their own The experts do not know English so they rely on their lawyers for interpretation. So when they have the book themselves, they are able to read and internalize, Gumoshabe said.

The Confucius Institute was established 9 years ago to handle the teaching and learning of Chinese.
By AFP

Sudan recalled its ambassador from Nairobi Thursday in protest at Kenyan President William Rutos hosting of talks with paramilitary commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, its acting foreign minister said.

Daglo, whose Rapid Support Forces have been at war with the regular army led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan since April, has been touring African capitals on his first visit abroad of the conflict.

He already visited Uganda, Ethiopia and Djibouti as well as Kenya and is currently in South Africa, to the anger of Burhan, whose administration has lost ground to the paramilitaries in recent months and is eager to deny them international legitimacy.

In a statement carried by the official SUNA news agency, Sudans acting foreign minister Ali al-Sadiq said the ambassador had been recalled for consultations in protest of the official reception organised by the Kenyan government for the leader of the rebel militia.

He said those consultations would cover all possibilities for the outcome of Sudans relations with Kenya.

Ties between Burhan and the Kenyan government have been strained for months, as Nairobi has sought to keep lines of communication open with Daglo so it can mediate the conflict.

In a January 1 address, the army chief warned that African governments hosting visits by these killers were making themselves a partner in the murder of the Sudanese people.

The war has killed more than 12,190 people, according to a conservative estimate from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, and forced more than seven million to flee their homes, according to UN figures.

Mediation efforts are largely at a standstill amid deep animosity between the rival generals.

Although Burhans administration continues to put out statements as the Sudanese government, Daglos Rapid Support Forces control the streets of Khartoum as well as nearly all of Darfur and much of the central state of Al-Jazira, Sudans pre-war breadbasket.
Government is planning to pay billions of shillings to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in court awards for the resources plundered during the Uganda Peoples Defence Force (UPDF) deployment in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

According to the national budget framework paper for the 2024/25 financial year, government has planned to pay Shs247 billion for the aforementioned cause.

A 2001 UN report found Ugandas army, guilty of looting minerals, coffee, timber, and livestock during an earlier deployment in DRC.

In February 2022, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Uganda to pay $325 million (Shs1.234 trillion) to DRC.
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ELKO  Nevada Outdoor School has been busy this winter. The organization has hosted myriad nature-exploration programs and more are planned.

Right now we are in the middle of Nature In My World, which is our school-based lessons where we are invited out to all the local elementary schools and we bring the classroom outside for an hour and give a nature- or science-based lesson with the students, Nevada Outdoor School Associate Director Karl Klein said.

The program reaches Pershing, Humboldt, Lander, Elko, Eureka and White Pine counties. The activities include finding patterns in nature and learning the role of water in students surrounding environment. The programs goal is to foster over 10,000 hours of time spent outdoors.

Klein said the school will host outdoor skill workshops and nature clubs in coming months. The Nevada Outdoor School website and Facebook page are reliable places to check for information on upcoming programs.

A hunter-education workshop comes to Elko on Jan. 27. Klein said he was talking with Americorps member Noah Doyle about a nature journaling workshop as well as a geocaching workshop.

He explained the goals behind this programming.

We want people to get outside and explore nature, and we want them to do it in a responsible way with high ethics and taking care of the natural world so that we can continue to use it, he said.

We do that in whatever way we can, whether it is one of our hikes, whether it is one of our school based lessons during the summer  we will have a number of summer camp opportunities for the youth of the area to go either have day camps or an overnight camp or even a week-long camp out in nature.

While some of the children who attend these programs have prior experience with camping, many others are experiencing overnight outdoor adventures for the first time.

We are very fortunate to be able to help them and show them the excitement that we have of doing things outdoors, Klein said.

He said the school decides which programs are best for the community often through trial and error.

This school year we started with a brand new nature club because a school program coordinator here wanted to fill that void on Fridays for school-aged kids, he said. So we developed an hourlong program in the park for those two different age groups. They can come on a regular basis to have an outdoor learning experience, do a craft, hear a story, something about nature.

The Art in Nature club provided kindergarten through second-grade and third-grade through fifth-grade students with tactile artistic activities and a close-up look at different kinds of art, ranging from weaving to painting to photography to glassblowing.

Close AmeriCorps representatives Noah Doyle and Kaneisha Smith and California Trail Center programs coordinator Macy Rohr host the Dec. 21, 2023, Nevada Outdoor School Winter Solstice Hike, posing at the Southwest Meadows Trailhead where Humboldt Trail begins. Macy Rohr leads the Nevada Outdoor School Winter Solstice Hike on Dec. 21, 2023. Noah Doyle, Kaneisha Smith and Macy Rohr head around the bend of the trail. The Nevada Outdoor School's Dec. 21, 2023, Winter Solstice Hike spans the 2.9 mile loop of the Humboldt Trail at South Fork Reservoir. Macy Rohr, Kaneisha Smith and Noah Doyle make their way towards the South Fork on Dec. 21, 2023. Spud the dog came along on the Nevada Outdoor School's Dec. 21, 2023, Winter Solstice Hike with AmeriCorps employee Noah Doyle. Close-up of the gurgling water of the South Fork on Dec. 21, 2023. The South Fork River flows past foliage and hills along Humboldt Trail on Dec. 21, 2023. Macy Rohr poses in front of the South Fork River on Dec. 21, 2023. Kaneisha Smith, Macy Rohr and Noah Doyle head down Humboldt Trail, entering a muddier areaon Dec. 21, 2023. A pronghorn print in the mud on Humboldt Trail on Dec. 21, 2023. Noah Doyle and Macy Rohr trudge through a muddier part of the Humboldt Trail on Dec. 21, 2023. Ice collects along the banks of the South Fork as viewed from Humboldt Trail on Dec. 21, 2023. Ice collects along the banks of the South Fork as viewed from Humboldt Trail on Dec. 21, 2023. Kaneisha Smith, Noah Doyle and Macy Rohr continue along Humboldt Trail into the foggy landscape ahead. Noah Doyle, Kaneisha Smith and Macy Rohr hike along a gravelly part of Humboldt Trail under a foggy sky as the Nevada Outdoor School's Dec. 21, 2023, Winter Solstice Hike nears its end. Spud receives pets from inside Noah Doyle's jacket. Spud is a good dog on Dec. 21, 2023. Gallery: Nevada Outdoor School Winter Solstice Hike AmeriCorps representatives Noah Doyle and Kaneisha Smith and California Trail Center programs coordinator Macy Rohr host the Dec. 21, 2023, Nevada Outdoor School Winter Solstice Hike. AmeriCorps representatives Noah Doyle and Kaneisha Smith and California Trail Center programs coordinator Macy Rohr host the Dec. 21, 2023, Nevada Outdoor School Winter Solstice Hike, posing at the Southwest Meadows Trailhead where Humboldt Trail begins. Macy Rohr leads the Nevada Outdoor School Winter Solstice Hike on Dec. 21, 2023. Noah Doyle, Kaneisha Smith and Macy Rohr head around the bend of the trail. The Nevada Outdoor School's Dec. 21, 2023, Winter Solstice Hike spans the 2.9 mile loop of the Humboldt Trail at South Fork Reservoir. Macy Rohr, Kaneisha Smith and Noah Doyle make their way towards the South Fork on Dec. 21, 2023. Spud the dog came along on the Nevada Outdoor School's Dec. 21, 2023, Winter Solstice Hike with AmeriCorps employee Noah Doyle. Close-up of the gurgling water of the South Fork on Dec. 21, 2023. The South Fork River flows past foliage and hills along Humboldt Trail on Dec. 21, 2023. Macy Rohr poses in front of the South Fork River on Dec. 21, 2023. Kaneisha Smith, Macy Rohr and Noah Doyle head down Humboldt Trail, entering a muddier areaon Dec. 21, 2023. A pronghorn print in the mud on Humboldt Trail on Dec. 21, 2023. Noah Doyle and Macy Rohr trudge through a muddier part of the Humboldt Trail on Dec. 21, 2023. Ice collects along the banks of the South Fork as viewed from Humboldt Trail on Dec. 21, 2023. Ice collects along the banks of the South Fork as viewed from Humboldt Trail on Dec. 21, 2023. Kaneisha Smith, Noah Doyle and Macy Rohr continue along Humboldt Trail into the foggy landscape ahead. Noah Doyle, Kaneisha Smith and Macy Rohr hike along a gravelly part of Humboldt Trail under a foggy sky as the Nevada Outdoor School's Dec. 21, 2023, Winter Solstice Hike nears its end. Spud receives pets from inside Noah Doyle's jacket. Spud is a good dog on Dec. 21, 2023.

During summer 2023, the Nature in the Park program created bite-sized nature experiences for children ages 4 to 7, hosted at eight different city parks around Northeastern Nevada.

Not all of the schools programs require signups. The ones that do have that requirement simply have a limit of some sort. For example, snowshoe hikes have a limited amount of snowshoes for guests to borrow.

During a beginners workshop last year, Klein took a limited number of people who were new to the basics of fishing and loaded them up in our passenger van and I drove them down the Rubies to Ruby Lake. We learned the basics of fishing and the equipment. I had one of the Department of Wildlife Game Wardens come and talk to us about the importance of the laws and regulations and where the fees go. We took a field trip of the fish hatchery over there. And by the end of the day, people were there catching fish and they did not want to leave.

I think one of our biggest goals is to continue our expansion into the community, Klein noted. It has become a personal mission of many of us to educate the OHV users on the importance of wearing helmets when they ride so many times, especially in side-by-side.

Close Participants gather around a campfire at the Nevada Outdoor School's Dec. 8, 2023 snow hike and receive hiking instructions from program coordinator Meghan Sturgell. On the Dec. 8, 2023, Nevada Outdoor School hike, Meghan Sturgell shows hikers a useful viewpoint for taking photos along Talbot Trail. Nevada Outdoor School hikers move single-file along Talbot Trail, Dec. 8, 2023. At this stopping point along Talbot Trail, Meghan Sturgell asked the Nevada Outdoor School hikers if they wanted to turn around. The result was a unanimous no. Photo taken on Dec. 8, 2023. Nevada Outdoor School hikers ascend Talbot Trail, Dec. 9, 2023. Nevada Outdoor School hikers ascend Talbot Trail, Dec. 9, 2023. Meghan Sturgell of Nevada Outdoor School poses along Talbot Trail, Dec. 8, 2023. Gallery: Nevada Outdoor School embarks on Lamoille Canyon snow hike Participants gather around a campfire at the Nevada Outdoor School's Dec. 8, 2023 snow hike and receive hiking instructions from program coordinator Meghan Sturgell. On the Dec. 8, 2023, Nevada Outdoor School hike, Meghan Sturgell shows hikers a useful viewpoint for taking photos along Talbot Trail. Nevada Outdoor School hikers move single-file along Talbot Trail, Dec. 8, 2023. At this stopping point along Talbot Trail, Meghan Sturgell asked the Nevada Outdoor School hikers if they wanted to turn around. The result was a unanimous no. Photo taken on Dec. 8, 2023. Nevada Outdoor School hikers ascend Talbot Trail, Dec. 9, 2023. Nevada Outdoor School hikers ascend Talbot Trail, Dec. 9, 2023. Meghan Sturgell of Nevada Outdoor School poses along Talbot Trail, Dec. 8, 2023.

He raised attention to off-road safety hazards. There is kind of an unrealistic thought of, you are being secure and safe because you are inside a vehicle with four wheels. But there are many risks of not wearing a helmet for the kids, Klein explained. He said the school hopes to put more helmets on children. Their Fallon, Nevada helmet giveaway event in October 2023 was a huge success, providing 150 free helmets.

Klein, who has only been the schools associate director since January 2023, complimented NOS program director Zulma Mayorga. I am so grateful that she brought me on last year, he said. It is just a wonderful organization to work for.
Kilkenny Live understands that a group of approximately 20 people gathered for a sit-in protest outside the former Josephine's Restaurant in Urlingford earlier to voice their opposition against the possible use of the site to house migrants.

According to an eye-witness, the gathering appeared to be 'getting heated' after Gardai arrived on the scene.

It's understood that similar protests has taken place in the town over the past number of days.

The protests follow a video released on social media earlier this week, where two men claimed the site was being prepared to house a large volume of migrants, some of which were 'possibly dangerous men'.

In a 10-minute video posted to the YouTube platform, the pair said they were 'assuming the worst', they needed to act now and criticised the lack of communication with locals on the issue.

A statement was issued in response on behalf of the owners of the site, Bernard Kavanagh & Sons Ltd, who said they wanted to put an end to the 'misinformation' shared in the video.

"The site is currently being redeveloped and repurposed to accommodate both Ukrainian people and their families, who are fleeing the war in their country, and staff of the company," they said. "We currently have a number of Ukrainian people working in our group of companies and we will continue to support them and their families during this time of unrest in Ukraine.

"Once the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine comes to an end the company intends to utilise the building to cater for our staff, as well as a base for the business headquarters for the company.

"The owners were this week made aware of a misleading video being shared across social media, which has prompted a series of negative and unjust comments surrounding the plans for the site in question," they continued. "The false allegations being made in the post claim that the building is being developed to house International Protection (IP) Migrants; a claim that is 'absolutely and wholeheartedly untrue'."

Responding to the negative narrative that has been spun in recent days, the Directors of the company commented: "This week, a number of falsified claims were brought to our attention regarding the development of the building at the former site of Josephines Restaurant. We can say, profoundly, that this information is categorically untrue. At no time was it ever considered to use the building to house International Protection (IP) Migrants and as such, we would request the misinformation currently being spread to desist.

They continued: "The current campaign of scaremongering and lies directed towards us has the sole purpose of causing worry in the community when it is not warranted. Lies and mistruths that are spread on social media are profoundly hurtful and damaging. As our families are long-standing members of the Urlingford community, we would request this to cease."
A significant milestone was celebrated at the dialysis unit of University Hospital Waterford (UHW) prior to Christmas as it marked 40 years of providing vital dialysis services to the community.

The event was made possible by the support of Kilkenny, Wexford and Tipperary branches of IKA working with the host county branch in Waterford.

The roots of the story trace back to 1981, when 11 patients from Waterford City and county were receiving life-saving dialysis in St Mary's Hospital in the Phoenix Park and Jervis Street, Dublin.



The catalyst for change came from Sean Murphy, the father of a young child among those patients. He passionately lobbied councillors, ministers, and the Health Service Executive (HSE), initiating plans to establish a dialysis unit in Waterford. The agreement to proceed was contingent on raising 400,000, equivalent to 1.3 million today.

Undeterred, a committee was formed to raise awareness and funds, garnering substantial support, from local Trade Unions and particularly from Waterford Crystal factory workers. In the first year, 130,000 was raised, and in May 1983, the dialysis unit opened in St Bridgets unit in Ardkeen.

Today, over 108 patients from Waterford, Kilkenny and surrounding counties are cared for in the UHW unit by a dedicated team under the guidance of Jane Cullen, CNM. Additionally, 45 patients engage in home dialysis with support from the Renal Therapies Unit on the hospital's top floor, overseen by Mary OGrady, CNM, and her compassionate team.

To mark this remarkable milestone, the Waterford Branch of the Irish Kidney Association (IKA) organised a gathering for staff, both past and present, along with a special event for patients over two days.

A welcome address was given by Ray Halligan, Chairperson Waterford Branch IKA, thanking the organiser Frances Moynihan ably assisted by her husband Joe. He was especially grateful to the staff for the wonderful care they give to patients. A special renal-friendly cake was cut, having been provided by a dedicated Waterford Branch volunteer Marion Young.

The raffle was also extended to patients on home dialysis, with Mary OGrady and Frances Moynihan, Treasurer of the Waterford Branch IKA, overseeing the proceedings in the Home Therapies Unit. The collaborative support from the Wexford, Kilkenny, and Tipperary Branches of the IKA, all of whom have patients at UHW, was deeply appreciated. Bridget Langton Treasurer of the Kilkenny Branch IKA and Walter Kent, Secretary of the Wexford Branch IKA were present to assist with some of the raffles over the two days.

Notably, Nora Delahunty, who has dedicated 40 years of service to UHW dialysis patients, was recognised for her outstanding contributions and was presented with a hamper by Chairperson Ray Halligan. She remains a friendly and caring presence to all who visit the unit.

Special guests included Bob Murphy, the fifth patient in the unit in 1983, accompanied by his mother, Sile Murphy. Bob's late father, Sean Murphy, played a pivotal role in advocating for the unit in 1981.

The Waterford Branch IKA extends sincere gratitude to the staff in both units for embracing the idea of a celebration and for their warm hospitality over the two days. Looking forward, the branch anticipates continued collaboration with other IKA branches for the betterment of patient care.

If you or anyone in your family is living with renal disease and would like to access further supports and services, please contact the Kilkenny branch IKA Hon Chairperson Owen Hanrahan at owen.hanrahan78@gmail.com and Kilkenny branch IKA Hon. Treasurer Bridget Langton at bridget@kilvarra.com or IKA Head Office at info@ika.ie.
Thung Nang, an attractive tourist destination in Ninh Binh. (Photo: VNA)

According to Travel Off Path, safety is a primary concern for Americans traveling abroad, especially amid the current climate where conflicts are breaking out internationally and security is decreasing across a number of destinations.

Over the last few years, Asia has been no exception, but Vietnam has proven to be remarkably stable and safe for tourists, said the website.

It cited the latest Global Law and Order Index indicating Vietnam is not only the most peaceful state in Asia, but also the seventh worldwide.

Travel Off Path also shared that Vietnam is both prosperous and peaceful, as it enjoys low rates of crime and impressive political stability.

In terms of tourist offers, the website noted that Vietnam is ideal for slow travelers and backpackers seeking to reconnect with nature and expose themselves to a culture that is almost entirely different from their own, especially for those coming from the Northern Hemisphere.

The travel news source suggested that visitors should definitely take time to stroll around the charming, yellow-washed streets of Hoi An which is a UNESCO World Heritage site internationally recognised for its numerous historical temples and French colonial architecture.

Also not to be missed is neighboring Hue, home to an imposing moated citadel; further down the coast, the sandy beaches and forested reserves of Da Nang are a mandatory stopover, as are the golden sand dunes and sleepy coastal towns lining the laid-back Mui Ne section of the coast, said the website.

Tourists in Hoi An (Photo: VNA)

It stressed that from vibrant city breaks in Ho Chi Minh City, the busy coastal port of Nha Trang, the capital of Hanoi, to escapes into nature in Ninh Binh which is famous for its rice fields and monumental geological formations, travellers can truly never exhaust their to-do list while exploring the country.

It also revealed that Vietnamese Government are welcoming tourists with open arms, recently moving to ease visa requirements for foreigners.

First Dak Lak macadamia container exported to Korean market

The Nutri Soil Import-Export Joint Stock Company held a ceremony to export the first container of macadamia to the Korean market, in Buon Ma Thuot city, the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak, on January 3.

This is also the first export shipment of agricultural products from Dak Lak province in 2024.

The first container of Dak Lak macadamia exported to the Korean market. (Photo: VNA)

Accordingly, more than 10 tons of macadamia grown in Dak Lak was shipped to the Republic of Korea. The product has undergone many inspections by specialized agencies on pest control, food safety and hygiene, packaging specifications and traceability.

Dak Lak is a locality with soil and climate suitable for growing macadamia. Macadamia trees have been planted on trials by the General Department of Forestry since 2003 in Phu Loc and Dlie Ya communes, Krong Nang district, Dak Lak with an area of about 4 hectares. Then, they were expanded to many areas in the province. To date, the province has more than 4,500 hectares of macadamia trees, with an output of more than 1,500 tons a year.

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Director of the Dak Lak Department of Industry and Trade Huynh Ngoc Duong said that macadamia nuts are officially exported to the Korean market, after the Japanese market continues to open up opportunities for this specialty grain of Dak Lak to be exported to Asian countries and the world.

The RoK is a potential market for agricultural products. In addition, the Korean importer is an enterprise in Jeollabuk province, a locality that has established a cooperative relationship with Dak Lak since 2017, thereby increasingly demonstrating the spirit of cooperation and economic development of the two localities.

The first official export of Dak Lak macadamia to the RoK, a "difficult" market, has created confidence that Dak Laks export turnover will reach more than 1.6 billion USD in 2024.

Vietnam earns 2.89 billion USD from rubber exports in 2023

Vietnam exported about 2.14 million tons of rubber in 2023, worth 2.89 billion USD, a decrease of 0.04% in volume and of 12.7% in value compared to 2022, according to statistics of the Ministry of Industry and Trades Department of Import-Export.

Vietnam earns 2.89 billion USD from rubber exports in 2023

The average export price reached 1,350 USD per ton, down 12.7% compared to 2022.

In 2023, Vietnams rubber exports faced many difficulties due to a sharp decline in rubber export prices, so rubber export value is much lower than the same period last year. Meanwhile, the recovery of production activities in China is weaker than forecasts, causing both rubber consumption and selling prices to be low.

In 2023, rubber exports to most markets saw decline compared from the previous year, especially major markets such as India, the US, Germany, Taiwan (China), Turkey, Sri Lanka, Russia, Indonesia and Spain. However, exports to some markets still grew in volume such as China, the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, Singapore and Czech Republic. Of which, China is Vietnam's largest rubber consuming market.

According to experts, in the coming time, Chinese demand will still be the key factor affecting rubber price developments in Vietnam. In addition, fluctuations in oil prices due to concerns about trade disruption at the Suez Canal will also indirectly affect rubber prices.

Over 23.7 billion USD in public investment disbursed in 2023

Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

As much as 579.8 trillion VND (23.77 billion USD) worth of public investment was disbursed last year, equivalent to 73.5% of the yearly plan and nearly 82% of that assigned by the Prime Minister, according to the Ministry of Finance.

In a report sent to the Government leader, the ministry lauded several units and localities with high disbursement rates (85-95%) such as the State Bank of Vietnam, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of National Defence, and Long An, Quang Ngai, Dong Thap and Ca Mau provinces.

However, 63 out of 115 units and localities had estimated figures lower than the national average, with 12 reporting disbursement rates of under 20%, and two under 40%, it noted.

The ministry said that reasons for low disbursement rates were conflicts between mechanisms and policies, some legal regulations on site clearance, and the mechanism of assigning several localities to hold the prime responsibility for realising public investment in building roads passing through many localities and using the budget of one locality to support others.

To date, although some mechanisms have been amended, there are many issues still being reviewed, affecting the progress of capital disbursement, it added.

The ministry stressed the need to continue accelerating previously proposed public investment disbursement solutions. Project developers also need to soon appraise and accept the completed workloads and complete advance documents to send to the State Treasury for payment.

It also urged units to soon make a plan for the capital that has yet to be disbursed./.
Spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang (Photo: VNA)

Hang made the comment on January 4 while answering to a reporter's query on Vietnam's response to the bombing.

Vietnam would like to extend its deep condolences to the Government and people of Iran, and the families of the victims, she said, believing that those who staged the attack must be punished properly./.
Overseas Vietnamese in Malaysia at the event (Photo: VNA)

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Hong, Head of the Liaison Committee of Vietnamese People in Penang state, Malaysia said that Malaysias law on marriage and family, as well as the rights and obligations of overseas Vietnamese labourers was the focus of the event.

In 2023, the committee helped more than 20 of those with difficult circumstances, even mistreated, tortured, and scammed. Therefore, within the meeting, the committee invited lawyer Tharumarajah to introduce the marriage and family law of the host country, the rights of Vietnamese brides, and the risks they can encounter if they do not register their marriage.

Participants were also updated on the rights and obligations of labourers working in Malaysia as well as the latest laws on health insurance, and compensation insurance for accidents and death.

With more than 10,000 overseas Vietnamese, including up to 3,000 Vietnamese brides, Penang is the state with the largest number of Vietnamese people living and working in Malaysia.

Nguyen Ba Tan, second secretary in charge of the community from the Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia, said the program show the spirit of solidarity among the Vietnamese community in the country.

He emphasized that the overseas Vietnamese community is an inseparable part of the country and an important factor contributing to strengthening cooperation and friendship between Vietnam and countries around the world./.
Lviv announces competition for design of Memorial complex of war graves of Heroes of Ukraine

The Executive Committee of Lviv City Council has announced an all-Ukrainian open competition for a design proposal for a Memorial complex of military graves of Heroes of Ukraine, mayor of Lviv, Andriy Sadovy, said on his Telegram channel.

"A memorial dedicated to the memory of Ukrainian Heroes will be created at Lychakiv cemetery. We must preserve this memory for future generations," Sadovy wrote.

According to him, the competition begins today, January 5, and bids can be sent until March 18 of this year.

According to the decision of the executive committee, the results of the architectural competition will be announced in early April this year.

Currently, the dead soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are buried in Lviv on the Field of Mars (Marsove Pole).
Angola, IN (46703)

Today

Occasional snow showers. Temps nearly steady in the mid 30s. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 90%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. A few flurries are possible. Low 26F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph.
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Variably cloudy with snow showers. Temps nearly steady in the low to mid 30s. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 60%. Snow accumulations less than one inch..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. A few flurries are possible. Low 27F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph.
Auburn, IN (46706)

Today

Snow showers. Temps nearly steady in the mid 30s. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 70%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. A few flurries are possible. Low 26F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph.
Spokesperson of the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Yuriy Ihnat, said that so far there is no confirmation of information about the use of ballistic missiles transferred by the DPRK by the Russian Federation to attack Ukraine, experts will study the wreckage of missiles.

"This is for sure ballistics, and what kind of ballistics, whose missile  we need to figure it out. So far, we have no data that such missiles have been used [from the DPRK]. The statement was from the United States. Therefore, experts will study the wreckage, and then it will be possible to say whether there is such a fact or not. I can't confirm this yet," Ihnat said on the telethon.

Earlier, the White House said that the United States has information that North Korea had transferred a certain batch of ballistic missiles and launchers to Russia.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters that Russian forces fired at least one of these ballistic missiles at Ukraine on December 30.

The issue of the supply of ballistic missiles by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to the Russian Federation and their use against Ukraine will be the subject of discussion at the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday, January 10, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations Serhiy Kyslytsya said.
The Hanteo Music Awards 2023 has officially announced its nominees.

Read more for further details.

Hanteo Music Awards 2023 Nominees Announced: Numerous K-pop Artists Receive Nods from Highly Anticipated Ceremony!

The Hanteo Music Awards 2023 has officially announced its nominee list, which was full of star-studded candidates. The list included K-pop artists who made waves in Hanteo with their music releases, impact, and chart performances.

The ones who are only qualified in the nominations are artists who released music from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023. Moreover, the Hanteo Music Awards 2023 will be held on February 17 and 18, at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza, in Seoul.

See the full list of nominees below:

Artist of the Year

Girls' Generation Taeyeon

SEVENTEEN BSS

(G)I-DLE

aespa

CIX

EXO D.O

CRAVITY

BIGBANG Taeyang

Dreamcatcher

EPEX

AKMU

ITZY

STAYC

ENHYPEN

LE SSERAFIM

IVE

BOL4

BTS J-Hope

Jeon Somi

TWICE Jihyo

EXO

BTS Jimin

BOYNEXTDOOR

BLACKPINK Jisoo

BTS Jungkook

Kep1er

NCT

NCT DOJAEJUNG

NCT 127

NCT DREAM

NewJeans

BTS V

NMIXX

MONSTA X

Red Velvet

SHINee

TXT

Lee Chan Won

Stray Kids

SHINee Taemin

P1Harmony

ATEEZ

THE BOYZ

TREASURE

SEVENTEEN

RIIZE

TWICE

Xdinary Heroes

Young Tak

ZEROBASEONE

Rookie of the Year (Male)

RIIZE

ZEROBASEONE

BOYNEXTDOOR

xikers

PLAVE

FANTASY BOYS

8TURN

n.SSign

EVNNE

AMPERS&ONE

Rookie of the Year Award (Female)

KISS OF LIFE

ODD EYE CIRCLE

tripleS

Loossemble

LIMELIGHT

YOUNG POSSE

Emerging Artist Award

Kwon Eun Bi

VIVIZ

B.I

Kep1er

Billlie

TEMPEST

Xdinary Heroes

ATBO

EPEX

LUN8

YOUNITE

THE NEW SIX

Post Generation Award

Jeon Somi

STAYC

TREASURE

CRAVITY

Weeekly

AB6IX

WEi

CIX

VANNER

Jung Dong Won

LUCY

Lee Chan Won

P1Harmony

VERIVERY

Special Award (Virtual Artist)

MAVE:

PLAVE

ISEGYE IDOL

SUPERKIND

Special Award (Trot)

Young Tak

Lee Chan Won

Hwang Young Woong

Jang Min Ho

Park Seo Jin

Jung Dong Won

Special Award (Band)

FTISLAND

DAY6 Young K

Xdinary Heroes

ONEWE

LUCY

Jung Yong Hwa

Nerd Connection

NELL

THORNAPPLE

Special Award (Ballad)

Girls' Generation Taeyeon

BOL4

EXO D.O

Kim Sejeong

Younha

Parc Jae Jung

Kim Jae Hwan

Lee Seok Hoon

Naul

Special Award (Hip Hop)

B.I

Jessi

Crush

BIG Naughty

Epik High

Loco

Giriboy

Sik-K

As for the criteria, the final winners will be determined by the following:

(Daesang) Grand Prize

Best Artist

Best Album

Best Song

Best Performance

The grand prize will be derived from 50 percent of the Hanteo Global score, while 30 percent will come from judges, and Artist of the Year votes will make up 20 percent.

Artist of the Year (Main Prize)

This award will be determined by 40 percent of the Hanteo Global score, 30 percent from global voting, and 30 percent from judges.

Rookie of the Year

Emerging Artist Award

Post Generation Award

The assessment will be 40 percent Hanteo Global score, 30 percent global voting, and 30 percent judging score.

Special Awards

Virtual Artist

Trot

Band

Ballad

Hip Hop

Global voting (40 percent), Hanteo Global score (30 percent), Judges (30 percent)

Global Artist Award

Hanteo Global score (50 percent), Global voting (50 percent)

WhosFandom Award

The global score will make up the 100 percent for this category.

Best Producer Award

Hanteo Global score (50 percent), judges (50 percent)

Which K-pop artists on the list are you rooting for? Let us know in the comments below!

Read KpopStarz for more K-pop news.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Hanteo Music Awards 2022 Winners (Day 1): Stray Kids, Red Velvet, More!

KpopStarz owns this article

Written by Riely Miller
Youngseo has left the group and BELIFT LAB, according to the agency's official statement.

Read more to know further details.

I'LL-IT Youngseo Leaves Group, Agency During Debut Preparations, BELIFT LAB Releases Official Statement

On January 5, HYBE's subsidiary label BELIFT LAB released an official statement announcing Youngseo's departure from I'LL-IT and the agency.

The announcement was made on Weverse, where the agency explained that with Youngseo's departure, I'LL-IT will proceed to debut as a five-membered group.

BELIFT LAB also shared that the decision for Youngseo's departure was made after an in-depth conversation with the trainee, which led to the termination of her exclusive contract with the agency. It also stated that no misunderstanding should arise regarding the situation.

YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN: I'LL-IT Youngseo Vanishing Act Sparks Outrage -'it's almost been a month since..'

BELIFT LAB also expressed its best wishes for Youngseo, who will be moving forward with her plans in the future. Moreover, the agency also assured fans that I'LL-IT will receive all necessary support in order to flourish in their debut and group activities.

Read the full statement here:

"Hello. This is BELIFT LAB. We would like to share some information regarding our newest group I'LL-LIT, who will be debuting as a team of five members. After engaging in a series of in-depth discussions about future activities, BELIFT LAB and Youngseo have come to a mutual agreement to terminate the exclusive contract. This decision has been made after careful consideration and to honor the artist's wishes. We kindly ask that no unwarranted speculations or misunderstandings should occur regarding this matter. We also wish nothing but the best for Youngseo in her future endeavors. I'LL-IT will be proceeding with their debut as a five-membered group. We are committed to fully supporting the debut of I'LL-IT and their subsequent engagements from now on. Thank you."

K-pop Community Ponders Youngseo's Whereabouts Due to Lack of Presence in I'LL-IT's Schedules

Before her departure, Youngseo has already drawn attention on social media for not being present in I'LL-IT's schedules and for quietly "vanishing" from the K-pop scene.

Netizens have voiced out their frustration across the internet due to Youngseo's absence in the group's official activities, particularly, during I'LL-IT's filming in Taiwan for their debut content.

According to the clips that went viral online, the existing members namely Yunah, Minju, Moka, Wonhee, and Iroha were the only ones present during their shooting. Many also expressed worries about Youngseo's status with the group.

During the finale of BELIFT LAB's survival show "R U Next?," Youngseo managed to rank second place in the final lineup for I'LL-IT.

What are your thoughts on Youngseo's departure from I'LL-IT? Are you still looking forward to their debut? Let us know in the comments below!

Read KpopStarz for more K-pop news.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 'R U Next?' Announces Lineup for 6-Member Girl Group I'LL-IT - Why Are Fans Unhappy?

KpopStarz owns this article

Written by Riely Miller
The number of Emiratis working in the UAE's private sector had reached nearly 92,000 by the end of the 2023, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE).

The figure represents a jump of nearly 157% compared to the number of Emiratis working in the private sector since the launch of the Nafis programme in September 2021, Emirates News Agency, WAM, said in a report.

The announcement marks a significant milestone under the leadership and support of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the Presidential Court and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council.

It represents the highest historical record for Emirati participation in the private sector, serving as a clear testament to the effectiveness of Emiratisation policies and initiatives.

MoHRE has applauded the commitment of over 19,000 private companies that have actively contributed to this impressive growth. This, the ministry said, has contributed to the unprecedented increase in the number of Emiratis joining the private sector workforce.

This comes as companies with 50 or more employees continue to achieve the 2024 Emiratisation targets. They have to achieve a 2% Emirtisation growth rate of their skilled employees on a semi-annual basis, or 1% in the first half of the year and 1% in the second half of 2024.

To encourage continued progress, financial contributions were implemented in January 2023 for companies that fell short of the 2023 targets, in implementation of Emiratisation policies and decisions.

MoHRE is also actively implementing the recent Cabinet decision to expand the scope of companies subject to Emiratisation targets, where more than 12,000 companies, across 14 specific key economic activities, with 20-49 employees, are required to hire at least one Emirati citizen in 2024 and another in 2025.

The decision includes imposing annual financial contributions on companies that do not meet their required targets, amounting to AED96,000 for each UAE citizen not appointed in 2024, which will be collected starting January 2025.

Meanwhile, financial contributions of AED108,000 will be imposed for failure to meet 2025 targets, to be collected in January 2026. Companies will be allowed to pay their contributions in instalment plans, in agreement with MoHRE.

The Ministry noted the benefits and privileges granted to companies that join the Nafis partners club, including a reduction in Ministry fees of up to 80% and priority in the government procurement system in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance.

Companies are encouraged to benefit from the Nafis programme platform, which connects them with highly skilled Emirati jobseekers across diverse fields. MoHRE reiterates its stance against attempts to circumvent Emiratisation targets.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has put in place a number of commitments and regulations that reinforce compliance with the Emiratisation policy.  TradeArabia News Service
Defense Minister of Ukraine Rustem Umerov has said that he had a productive conversation with Deputy Prime Minister of Poland, Minister of National Defense Wadyslaw KosiniakKamysz.

Congratulated my counterpart on his recent appointment. Provided an update on the situation on the frontlines & recent terrorist attacks. Grateful for Poland's intentions to increase its role within the capability coalitions, which will benefit the security of Europe and Polands national interests. Invited my colleague to visit Kyiv, Umerov said on Facebook Friday.

In turn, the Polish Defense Ministry reported that the recent incident in Polish airspace near the Ukrainian border was also the topic of negotiations between the ministers.

Regional security, aid to Ukraine defending itself against Russia and the recent incident in Polish airspace near the Ukrainian border were the main topics of today's talks between Deputy Prime Minister Wadyslaw KosiniakKamysz and Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, the ministry said on X (Twitter).
Stefanchuk on mobilization bill: It has every prospect of going straight to voting hall as soon as it's ready at committee level

The bill on mobilization can be put to a vote in the plenary hall of the Verkhovna Rada immediately after its preparation in the Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence, Chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament Ruslan Stefanchuk has said.

"This will depend on the decision of the committee. I really hope that during the discussion the parties will find answers to all these questions, come to a reasonable solution, and as soon as the bill is ready at the committee level, I think it has every prospect of going straight to the hall," Stefanchuk said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine.

The chairman said the work on preparing the bill in the relevant committee is taking place behind closed doors, but the public will be notified of all major decisions.

"Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhny and Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov and representatives of all factions and groups of the Verkhovna Rada, who discuss these issues at a professional level, are taking part. As far as I am informed, this discussion will last three to four days. In total, more than 160 issues. I really hope that this work will be effective, as a result of which decisions will be developed aimed at ensuring the victory of Ukraine," the head of the Verkhovna Rada said.

At that time, answering the question of how much the compromise version of the document could change compared to the one proposed by the government, he said he considered it appropriate to comment after this discussion took place in the committee.

"My word, as the chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, can significantly influence the resolution of these issues. And I really want the main one to be a clear and balanced position of the military, because it must be supported by the national budget and organizational issues. This must be a comprehensive work," Stefanchuk said.

As reported, (on December 25, 2023, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine submitted to the Verkhovna Rada bill No. 10378 On amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine to improve certain issues of mobilization, military registration and military service. Later, deputy head of the Servant of the People faction Yevhenia Kravchuk said this document will not be voted on in the version proposed by the government, and the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security will work out a compromise option.
PNN

New Delhi [India], January 5: In 2023, India achieved monumental success on the global stage, marking an unprecedented leap forward across various domains. With innovative technological advancements, a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem, and significant strides in space exploration, India's prowess resonated worldwide. Notably, the nation's commitment to sustainable development and renewable energy initiatives earned accolades, solidifying its role as a frontrunner in addressing pressing global challenges. India's cultural richness, vibrant heritage, and economic resilience continued to captivate the world, cementing its influential presence and inspiring admiration on the global platform.

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To delve deeper into these achievements, the Indian Achievers' Forum organized a webinar on December 21, 2023, attended by diverse individuals from various businesses and domains, including award winners. The virtual meet focused on key areas:

* India's Global Achievements

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* India's Hosting of the G20 Presidency

* India's Performance in the Asian Games 2023, among other topics

The webinar commenced with opening remarks by Harish Chandra, President of the Indian Achievers' Forum. He highlighted the significance of 2023 for India and anticipated avenues in 2024, stating, "Today's new India is achieving goals across all sectors."

During the webinar, Utkarsh Mittal, Manager of Machine Learning & Automation, expressed his viewpoint, emphasizing the numerous initiatives initiated and attributing them to significant infrastructure development. He was joined by Aniket Abhishek Soni, Associate - Projects at Cognizant Technology Solutions, who remarked, "India is progressing in the right direction, particularly in diversity, equity, and inclusivity."

Another panelist, Sumanth Tatineni, a DevOps Engineer from Idexcel, highlighted the role of international collaborations in enhancing India's global standards through stronger partnerships in research, innovation, and technology. Lakshmanan Sethu Sankaranarayanan added, "We could focus more on using AI to improve our infrastructure, a common theme I see in India."

Concluding the session, Narayan Hampiholi, a Distinguished Engineer in Enterprise Platform Architecture & Innovation, spoke optimistically about solving present issues, affirming, "We have the talent, the right people, and the capability to make it happen."

The webinar also acknowledged achievers who brought laurels to the nation across various businesses and fields. Among those recognized by the Indian Achievers' Forum were:

1) Amlan J Patnaik, Associate Director, NTT DATA Americas, USA

2) Pooja Ray Chaudhuri, Software Engineer, TikTok, USA

3) Lakshmanan Sethu Sankaranarayanan, USA

4) Ankur Ghosh, Founder & CEO, SSV Capital Limited, UK

5) Syed Mohamed Thameem Nizamudeen, Principal Technical Program Manager, Oracle, USA

6) Anand Santhanam, Principal Engagement Manager, Amazon Web Services Inc (AWS), USA

7) Dr. Pallav Prakash, Program Manager, Zum Services Inc., USA

8) Ravi Soni, Industrial Manufacturing Solution Specialist, Amazon Web Services, USA

9) Narayan Hampiholi, Distinguished Engineer, Enterprise Platform Architecture & Innovation, USA

10) Shriya Das, Expert in Clinical Trial Optimization, USA

11) Nikhil Vardhan Rao Potlapally, Senior DevOps Engineer, Bynder, USA

12) Nithish Nadukuda, Software Engineer 3, PayPal Inc, USA

13) Priyanka Nawalramka, Staff Software Engineer, HouseCanary, USA

14) Sumanth Reddy Nallabolu, Senior Hardware Test Engineer, Woven By Toyota, USA

15) Venkateshwarlu Rupani, Lead DevOps CI/CD Automation Engineer, Navy Federal Credit Union, USA

16) Surabhi Sinha, Machine Learning Engineer 3, Adobe, USA

17) Rakesh Ramakrishnan, Data Scientist, PayPal, USA

18) Madhavi Vinayak Godbole, Global Financials ERP Technology Program Expert, Apolisrises Inc., USA

19) Ankit Virmani, Senior Cloud Data Architect, Google, USA

20)Jaswinder Singh Saini ,Cloud Architect , USA

21) Karthik Allam, Sr. Associate Solutions Architect for Data, JP Morgan Chase & Co., USA

22) Venkata Ashok Kumar Gorantla, Associate Director, Verizon, Andhra Pradesh

23) Deepa Ajish, Vice President, MUFG Bank Ltd., USA

24) Shiva Kumar Sriramulugari, Solution Architect, Verizon, Andhra Pradesh

25) Venkataramaiah Gude, Software Engineer, GP Technologies LLC, Andhra Pradesh

26) Sakthiswaran Rangaraju, Global Product Security Incident Manager, Pure Storage, USA

27) Mohammad Suleman Shaik, CEO, CodeRepo LLC, USA

28) Naimil Navnit Gadani, Senior Software Developer, ContentActive LLC, USA

The session concluded with a commitment to collective efforts for India's betterment. The Indian Achievers' Forum also announced the theme of their upcoming ground events in 2024, centered on "Impactful Sustainable Business Practices."

Webinar Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waspUZYE7wE

(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)

(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], January 5 (ANI): The National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO) said it will hold its general council meeting in Ayodhya. G Hari Babu, the president of the real estate industry body, said that the dates of the meeting will be finalised soon.

With the new Ram Temple, the city of Ayodhya is expected to see a massive facelift in terms of real estate infrastructure.

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NAREDCO was established as an autonomous self-regulatory body in 1998 under the aegis of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

NAREDCO's President said that its members will visit Ayodhya to see the infrastructure developments in the historic temple city.

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"We would like to develop housing and commercial projects in Ayodhya," Hari Babu said.

Meanwhile, NAREDCO is set to host its 16th National Convention on February 2-3, 2024 in New Delhi.

Themed "The Changing Real Estate Landscape," the convention aims to bring together key stakeholders, including government officials, industry leaders, and investors, to gain insights into the dynamics of growth and transformation in India's real estate sector.

It will feature insightful discussions on government support, affordable housing, the impact of RERA, financing options, technology integration, and investment opportunities, along with a dedicated session on India Vision@2047.

"We look forward to fostering collaboration between the government and private sector stakeholders to ensure sustainability and pave the way for a thriving real estate industry that positively impacts the broader economy. Let us join hands to build a brighter future for India," Hari Babu said.

Niranjan Hiranandani, Chairman of NAREDCO, highlighted the convention's role as a catalyst for transforming India's real estate sector.

He mentioned that the event would focus on issues such as liquidity crises, stressed assets, and insolvency, while exploring policy reforms like the Rental Housing Policy and a commitment to net-zero goals. The importance of alternative financing through Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and Infrastructure Investment Trusts (INVITs) was also underscored.

Rajan Bandelkar, Vice Chairman of NAREDCO, emphasized the real estate sector's role as a crucial economic driver with a multiplier effect on employment and linkages with ancillary industries.

Bandelkar noted that the convention serves as a platform for networking, learning, and collaborative efforts, which are pivotal in unlocking India's urbanization potential. (ANI)

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Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], January 5 (ANI): As part of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit scheduled for next week, a seminar on renewable energy for a sustainable future will be held in Gandhinagar on January 11.

While sharing the details of the event, Mamta Verma, Principal Secretary, Energy and Petrochemicals Department, Gujarat, said that the inaugural session will witness addresses from senior officials from the central and state government along with eminent industrialists.

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Other notable speakers at the conference include Ajay Mathur, Director General, of International Solar Alliance, Martin Keller, Laboratory Director, of National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Pramod Jain, Founder and President, of Innovative Wind Energy, Inc., Alp Gunesever, Head of Secretariat at CoE, offshore wind and RE, Denmark, and Gauri Singh, Deputy Director General at International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

The seminar aims to provide a comprehensive understanding, enabling informed decision-making across diverse topics in the renewable energy sector. Beginning with a focus on emerging technologies, participants can gain insights into the latest advancements and trends, identifying opportunities for collaboration and innovation.

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Some of the key aspects of discussions will include Emerging Technologies and Trends in the Renewable Energy Sector; RE Power Evacuation and Grid Integration Strategies; and Global Scenario and Emerging Trends in Offshore Wind: Success stories and key learning.

Mamta Verma highlighted that with India's energy demand on the rise, Gujarat spearheads a seminar to explore solutions and strategies for sustainable development. Over the last decade, Gujarat has surged in the renewable energy sector, increasing capacity from 8 GW to 22.7 GW.

The state's per capita electricity consumption is nearly double the national average and has set ambitious targets ahead of India's goal of 100 GW renewable energy installed capacity by 2030.

Separately, two seminars themed "Gujarat - The Green Hydrogen Destination of India" and "Watts to Gigawatts - To meet Round the Clock Clean Energy" respectively, will be held on January 12.

At the COP26 summit in Glasgow in 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi committed to an ambitious five-part "Panchamrit" pledge, including reaching 500 GW of non-fossil electricity capacity, generating half of all energy requirements from renewables, and reducing emissions by 1 billion tonnes by 2030.

India also aims to reduce the emissions intensity of GDP by 45 per cent. Finally, India commits to net-zero emissions by 2070.

Notably, the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit was initiated by Narendra Modi in 2003, the then chief minister, to put Gujarat on the world map of trade and industry. The tenth edition of the Summit will be held from January 10 to 12. The Summit event will be inaugurated by PM Modi on January 10. (ANI)

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Tennessee [US], January 5 (ANI): The issue of antibiotic resistance in Mycobacterium abscessus (Mab) is being tackled by researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The increasing prevalence of this infection which is naturally resistant to antibiotics underscores the pressing need for innovative treatments.

To combat this, the researchers created novel spectinomycin formulations that circumvent efflux, the primary mechanism causing resistance. Today's Proceedings of the National Academy of Science published the work.

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Mab infections are increasingly found in health care settings. Such infections can be hazardous for patients with compromised lung function, such as in cystic fibrosis, or who are immunologically compromised, such as in childhood cancer. These infections are treated with long courses of antibiotics and can result in poor outcomes. The emergence of Mab and other similar pathogens presents a growing and deeply concerning public health threat because there are few effective therapeutic options and a limited drug development pipeline.

"We chemists are in a race against the pathogens. We make stronger antibiotics, and the pathogens become more resistant," said corresponding author Richard Lee, PhD, St. Jude Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics.

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Scientists at St. Jude modified the naturally occurring antibiotic spectinomycin to create analogs, comparable but structurally distinct N-ethylene linked aminomethyl spectinomycins (eAmSPCs). These synthetically created eAmSPCs are up to 64 times more potent against Mab than standard spectinomycin.

"By re-engineering the molecule through structure-based drug design, we and our collaborators have adapted the antibiotic to increase its activity," Lee added.

Overcoming efflux to make a more effective antibiotic

Through their work, the scientists unravelled the mechanism of action by which eAmSPCs are more effective: they circumvent efflux. Efflux is the process that cells use to get rid of a drug -- imagine pumping water out of a flooded basement-- and is a significant mechanism by which cells become resistant to therapy.

The N-ethylene linkage structure of the eAmSPCs plays a critical role in how the compounds avoid efflux, suggesting that longer linkages modify how the compound is pumped out of the cell. This ultimately shifts the balance toward higher concentrations of eAmSPC within the cell and thus enhances antimicrobial efficacy.

"Over the past two decades, we've seen a massive increase in the number of infections caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria like Mab," said co-first author Gregory Phelps, PharmD, St. Jude Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. "We had a place to start with this naturally occurring antibiotic, which, through modification, we've made much more efficacious against this clinically relevant pathogen."

The researchers also found that eAmSPCs work well with various classes of antibiotics used to treat Mab and retain their activity against other mycobacterial strains. Collectively, this work demonstrates that eAmSPCs should be further studied and developed because once issues of tolerability and safety are addressed, these compounds could become next-generation therapeutics.

"It is challenging to attract pharmaceutical companies to develop new antibiotics for several economic reasons," said Phelps. "If we can boost the drug pipeline against this hard-to-treat bacteria, we can potentially make a difference for patients like the ones we have here at St. Jude who are increasingly faced with limited or no therapeutic options." (ANI)

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Nellore, January 5: One person was killed, and two others were injured, including MLC Parvathareddy Chandrasekhar Reddy, on Friday, in a tragic road accident in Andhra Pradesh's Nellore. The Nellore East Rayalaseema MLC's car collided with a lorry in Dagdarthi while en route from Vijayawada to Nellore. Andhra Pradesh Road Accident: Three Killed After Bike Collides With Car on Shetticherla Road in Baysthwarapet Mandal

The MLC's assistant, Venkateswarlu, lost his life on the spot, and the car's driver sustained serious injuries. The MLC with critical injuries, was promptly shifted to Nellore Apollo Hospital. The doctors have assured that his life is not in danger. Madhya Pradesh Road Accident: Mother-Daughter Duo Among Four Killed in Collision Between Truck and Autorickshaw in Sidhi District

Inspector Srinivas Rao said that the MLC's car met with an accident his secretary died on the spot and the driver and MLC sustained injuries, and Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision. Further details are awaited.

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New Delhi, Jan 5 (PTI) The BJP on Friday came down heavily on the Trinamool Congress over the attack on Enforcement Directorate officials in West Bengal, saying the continuance of the party's government under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is a threat to national security.

The BJP also demanded Banerjee's resignation and an apology to the people as well as to the probe agency official who sustained serious injuries in the attack.

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The party's reaction came after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) officers were assaulted and their vehicles damaged allegedly by supporters of TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan when they tried to raid his residence in North 24 Parganas district this morning in connection with a probe into the ration distribution scam.

According to officials, the ED officers left their damaged vehicles and had to move out of Sandeskhali in auto rickshaws and two-wheelers. At least two of the officers suffered serious injuries and were taken to a hospital.

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Reacting sharply to the incident, BJP co-incharge for political affairs in West Bengal Amit Malviya wrote on X, "This is how lawless Bengal is."

"Continuance of the TMC government in West Bengal is a national security threat, he said.

Malviya said the team of ED and accompanying media was attacked when it raided the premises of block-level TMC leaders Shahjahan and Shankar Adhya. State food minister Jyoti Priya Mallick has already been arrested in connection with the scam.

Hundreds of men and women gathered at the spot shouting slogans and attacked the officials, the BJP leader said, adding "Shahjahan Sheikh, in particular, is close to Abhishek Banerjee, nephew of CM Mamata Banerjee, who is also the Home Minister of Bengal."

"It is likely that several of those who came out to attack the probe agency officials are illegal migrants, who have been patronised by the local TMC leaders, to serve as their vote bank," Malviya added.

Addressing a press conference at party headquarters here, BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi demanded Banerjee's resignation.

"TMC goons have made a murderous attack on the ED officials who had gone there to carry out investigations. It is said that Rohigiyas, illegal infiltrators, have done this," he said, alleging "jungle raj" in the state.

"Police refused to speak to the ED officials when they called for help on being attacked by the TMC goons. Imagine how worrisome it is... Law and order in West Bengal has completely collapsed," he said.

"Mamata Banerjee doesn't have the right to remain in her post. She must resign. She should apologise to the people and the ED officials who were injured in the incident," he added.

Trivedi said lawlessness, goondaism and anarchy have reached their peak in West Bengal, and there is no democracy left in the state.

"When Mamata Banerjee is standing by the goons instead of law, it won't be wrong to say that she only wants to enjoy power," he charged.

"Mamata Banerjee, if you have a misconception that your goons will beat honest officers and protectors of law, let me tell you that that you won't be able to protect them when law will take its course," Trivedi said.

The central government "very firmly crushes anarchic elements" within the limits of law. That will happen (in this case also)", he added.

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New Delhi, Jan 5 (PTI) Noted jurist Fali S Nariman emphasised on Friday the need of dissent in judiciary, saying it sends out a message of assurance to curious public that the highest court of the country is in robust health and doing its allotted task well.

Nariman regretted a lack of dissent in the recent judgment delivered by a five-judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court unanimously upholding the Centre's decision to abrogate Article 370 that bestowed special status on the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

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The top court also directed restoration of statehood for the present-day union territory of Jammu and Kashmir "at the earliest" and assembly elections there by September 30, 2024.

He was speaking as the guest of honour at the 28th Justice Sunanda Bhandare Memorial Lecture.

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Yes, I do believe it (dissent) is needed because often a dissent in a bench of judges, whether of 3, 5, 7 or 9, is not just a safety valve, it also sends a message of assurance to the ever curious and ever anxious general public that the highest court is in robust health and doing its allotted task well, Nariman said.

On the Article 370 judgment, he said, on reading about the very exhaustive and learned judgment on Kashmir recently handed down by a constitution bench of five judges, his regret was that there was no dissent.

A dissent would have made no difference to the outcome but still it would have helped the not so well informed general public to better understand and appreciate the contours of this very unique and somewhat complicated case about India's northern-most state.

And it is always necessary to recall what an American judge very wisely said a dissent may salvage for tomorrow a legal principle that has been omitted or forgotten today', he said.

He also referred to a book written by Justice Rohington Nariman a few years ago in two volumes about dissenting judges and their role in the world.

Supreme Court judge, Justice B V Nagarathna, who is likely to become the 54th and the first woman Chief Justice of India, delivered the 28th Justice Bhandare lecture on the Role of Judiciary in Empowerment of Indian Women.

Speaking of Justice Nagarathna, Nariman said besides her legal knowledge, he also admired that in important constitutional cases she has shown that she is able, ready and willing to dissent from the views expressed by other colleagues on the bench.

Delhi High Court Acting Chief Justice Manmohan said Justice Nagarathna's journey in the profession has been remarkable and she has been an inspiration for many men and women in the profession.

The role of the judiciary in empowerment of the marginalised, especially women, is in a stage of constant evolution, he said, adding Today, we find ourselves in an advanced stage of equality jurisprudence.

The topic chosen by Justice Nagarathna was well suited for the times we live in, especially when the apex court has transformed the constitutional vision of gender equality into a reality. The landmark decision granting permanent commission to women in the armed forces is a proud illustration, Justice Manmohan said.

Speaking on the work done by Justice Bhandare in her lifetime, he said she was a true pioneer in the field of gender equality and women empowerment.

She led by example and, most significantly, her instrument of change was law, Justice Manmohan said, adding that Justice Bhandare would not let her vision be cluttered by a haze of prevailing bias and preconceived notions.

With robust commonsense and brisk pace, she dispensed judgments with clear focus on solutions. It is a great quality which any judge must have.

Even when she was struck with a major illness, she continued to preside over as a judge and despite pain and discomfort she presided over the bench and delivered many memorable judgments, he said.

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New Delhi, January 5: Lakshadweep remained the most searched keyword on the Google search engine for the second consecutive day since Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Union Territory and shared a few photos of the picturesque archipelago. The interest in the Union Territory peaked on Friday, as more than 50,000 users searched for it on Google after the Prime Minister said that he is "still in awe" of the "stunning" beauty of the islands and the "incredible warmth" of its people.

"Recently, I had the opportunity to be among the people of Lakshadweep. I am still in awe of the stunning beauty of its islands and the incredible warmth of its people. I had the opportunity to interact with people in Agatti, Bangaram and Kavaratti. I thank the people of the islands for their hospitality," PM Modi said in a post on 'X'. 'People of Lakshadweep Has Heart As Big as Ocean': Prime Minister Narendra Modi Says on Video Message After Coastal Island Visit, Promotes Tourism (See Pics and Video).

The internet also went gaga to see the Prime Minister in a life jacket and trying his hand at snorkelling during his stay. The Prime Minister said that it was an "exhilarating experience". "For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list. During my stay, I also tried snorkelling - what an exhilarating experience it was!" he said.

Posting a picture of himself relaxing on an armchair by the sea, the Prime Minister said, "In addition to the scenic beauty, Lakshadweep's tranquility is also mesmerising. It gave me an opportunity to reflect on how to work even harder for the welfare of 140 crore Indians." PM Modi also shared a picture of himself taking a morning walk at the beach. "And those early morning walks along the pristine beaches were also moments of pure bliss," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that his government is focused on creating futuristic infrastructure in the Union Territory and creating better healthcare opportunities for, fast internet connection as well as protecting its "vibrant local culture". PM Narendra Modi Goes Snorkelling in Lakshadweep, Shares Photos of His Exhilarating Experience (See Pics).

"Our focus in Lakshadweep is to uplift lives through enhanced development. In addition to creating futuristic infrastructure, it is also about creating opportunities for better healthcare, faster internet and drinking water, while protecting as well celebrating the vibrant local culture. The projects that were inaugurated reflect this spirit," PM Modi added.

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Shopian (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], January 5 (ANI): A Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist involved in the killing of an army officer and Kashmiri Pandits was gunned down in an anti-terror operation in the Shopian district, the police informed on Friday.

The slain terrorist was identified as Bilal Bhatt.

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Speaking to ANI, VK Bird, the inspector general of police, Jammu and Kashmir, said, "An exchange of fire broke out today, during which the security forces neutralised LeT terrorist Bilal Bhatt. He was formerly an overground worker (OGW) who later joined the LeT."

"He was involved in the killing of an army officer as well as minorities (Kashmiri Pandits). His killing marks a major success for the police and security forces," he added.

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Earlier in the day, officials informed that an encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists in Shopian.

"Encounter has started at Chotigam area of #Shopian district. Shopian Police, Army & CRPF are on the job. Further details shall follow. @JmuKmrPolice," Kashmir Zone Police informed through a post on its official X handle on Friday morning.

Further details are awaited. (ANI)

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New Delhi [India], January 5 (ANI): The medical examination of a wanted Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist involved in 11 known terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, Javed Mattoo is being done at Safdarjung Hospital Delhi on Friday.

He was arrested on Thursday in the national capital, Delhi Police said.

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Matto0 (32), a resident of Jammu and Kashmir's Sopore, is an A++ category terrorist of the banned terror organisation Hizbul Mujahideen. He had been evading his arrest for the last 13 years, the police said.

Delhi Police informed further that it seized several arms and ammunition from Mattoo. "One 9 mm Star pistol with six live cartridges, one extra magazine, and a stolen car were recovered from him," an officer said.

Also Read | Jammu and Kashmir: Lashkar-E-Taiba Terrorist Killed in Encounter With Security Forces in Chotigam Area of Shopian (Watch Video).

According to the sleuths, the Hizbul terrorist was planning to carry out 'audacious' terror strikes in Jammu and Kashmir and at another place on the instructions of his Pakistan-based handler.

According to the police, they received information that Mattoo would be coming to Delhi-NCR to collect arms and ammunition.

"On this information, sources keeping tabs on sleeper cells and weapon suppliers were activated. Today, i.e., on January 4, specific source information was received that Javed Ahmed Mattoo, resident of Sopore J-K, a wanted A++ category terrorist of Hizbul Mujahideen, would be coming to Delhi to collect arms and ammunition from his associates at the behest of PAK ISI," Delhi Police informed through a statement.

"Mattoo's Pakistan-based handler was about to coordinate the delivery of arms and ammunition," Delhi Police informed further, adding that Mattoo was planning to carry out some 'audacious terror strikes' in the Union Territory at the behest of his handler.

A case under appropriate sections was registered in this regard at the Special Cell police station, the sleuths said, adding that further investigation is underway.

The police added that Mattoo was one of a gang of seven dreaded terrorists of Hizbul Mujahideen operating in North Kashmir, particularly Sopore. After being injured in an exchange of fire with security forces, he went underground and allegedly fled to Nepal on the instructions of Pakistan's external espionage agency, ISI, even as the Jammu and Kashmir Police were in hot pursuit.

Besides indulging in terror activities, he also managed finances and logistics, including the procurement of weapons from ISI handlers across the border, the police added. Mattoo was involved in the killing of HC Mohd Yousf of CID, Sopore, near Sopore police station in 2010.

He was also involved in an attack on the residence of Sopore SP in 2010. Also, in the same year, Mattoo was involved in the killing of two CRPF personnel in Pattan and the snatching of their service rifles.

Mattoo, along with his associates, was also involved in the killing of one police constable, Mohd Shahfi Lone, in 2011.

"He, along with his other associates, was also involved in an IED blast at Police Station Sopore, in which one SgCt Morifat Hussain of PS Sopore was killed in 2011. He was also involved in the grenade attack on Sopore police station, which involved Ishfaq Kana and Saleem Beig in 2011. In 2012, Mattoo was injured after he, along with other cadres of the outfit, attacked Sopore Police. He came to be associated with a disability after the injury. He was also involved in a grenade-throwing incident at the CRPF station in the SBI Complex of Hathishah. Many civilians were injured in the incident," the officer added. (ANI)

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The special forces of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Defense Ministry of Ukraine conducted a raid on the territory of Russia due to an increase in the number of sabotage operations by the Russian forces and for the protection of Ukrainian civilians living along the state border and suffering from the aggressor's attacks.

"According to the intelligence, the top leadership of the Russian occupation army scheduled an inspection of the Russian positions in the Grayvoronsky district of the Belgorod region due to dissatisfaction and complaints from the personnel there about poor service conditions. Before the arrival of the Moscow 'auditors,' the invader's privates began to fuss: they launched active engineering works," the press service of the Main Intelligence Directorate said on Friday.

In order to inflict damage on the enemy and worsen its moral and psychological state, special forces of the Main Intelligence Directorate planned and carried out a special operation.

"During the mission, the intelligence officers mined the only road along which the invaders moved in the specified area, and also attacked the Russian platoon strong point. As a result of a fire raid using small arms and mortars, as well as due to explosion of Ukrainian mines, the enemy suffered losses. The number of liquidated and wounded occupiers is being clarified," it said.
New Delhi [India], January 5 (ANI): The Indian Railways (IR) has signed an MoU with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to reduce energy and water consumption, lowering GHG emissions. IR and CII have renewed their MoU for a third consecutive term.

The MoU was signed and exchanged on January 4, 2024, between Railway Board Principal Executive Director/ME (EnHM & Project), Shailendra Singh, and CII Deputy Director General, Seema Arora, in the presence of Railway Board Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Jaya Varma Sinha, Board Members, and other senior officers.

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Indian Railways (IR), as a major stakeholder in the transportation sector in India, shared the responsibility of environmental protection. IR itself has set a "Net Zero Carbon Emission" target by the year 2030.

Indian Railways have a significant number of railway stations, production units, major workshops, and other establishments, for which various green initiatives have been taken with the objective of environment protection and reducing carbon footprints.

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CII has been actively partnering with IR since July 2016 to promote and facilitate green initiatives over Indian Railways. The first MoU was signed in 2016 for 3 years and upon its expiration, another MoU was signed in 2019 for another 3 years.

Significant progress has been made so far under the above two MoUs in achieving:

Energy efficiency in manufacturing facilities and railway workshops: This initiative resulted in energy savings of 210 lakh kWh, monetary savings of Rs. 16 crores, and resulted in a significant GHG emission reduction of around 18000 ton of CO2.

GreenCo rating: This initiative has been implemented in 75 railway units (workshops and manufacturing facilities) and has improved their environmental performance substantially.

Green Railway Stations: Around 40 stations have achieved a green certificate and have demonstrated significant improvements by saving 22 million KWh of energy and 3 billion liters of water annually.

Green Buildings, Hospitals, Schools, and Colonies: Over 40 building facilities, including administrative buildings, hospitals, schools, and colonies have been facilitated to achieve green certification.

Capacity building and skill development: More than 20 new technology suppliers have been introduced, with around 150 IR officials have been exposed to the six best energy-efficient private sector plants in India. Also, around 900 IR officials were trained on different aspects of energy efficiency.

Railway Board Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Jaya Varma Sinha, expressed optimism about the renewed collaboration, stating, "Indian Railways has consistently demonstrated its commitment to sustainable practices. This renewed MoU with CII-GBC marks a significant step towards our collective goal of achieving "Net Zero Carbon Emission".

She emphasised that green is the most desirable option, incorporated as fundamental in the 'Planning, Design, Development and Operations' of the Indian Railway.

Deputy Director General of CII, Seema Arora, appreciated Indian Railway's efforts in implementing green measures, reducing energy and water consumption and promoting sustainable practices across the built environment.

She accentuated the importance of this partnership in driving sustainable development, stating, "Our renewed partnership with Indian Railways signifies a strategic shift towards the Net Zero framework. This alignment with global sustainability goals underscores our dedication to creating a greener, cleaner, and more sustainable future for generations to come. We look forward to implementing cutting-edge solutions that will pave the way for a more environmentally responsible railway network."

Under this MoU, besides initiatives already being undertaken, CII will collaborate in bringing new or relevant technologies and their implementation; assistance in achieving ISO 50001 certification of workshops and production units; the development of the Net-Zero Energy Railway station framework; and an information dashboard will also be created to highlight the advancement in green initiatives throughout the year taken jointly by IR and CII. (ANI)

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Mumbai, Jan 5 (PTI) The family of an 18-month-old toddler from Gujarat, who was declared brain dead after a fall, donated his liver, giving a fresh lease of life to a 14-year-old boy suffering from a rare genetic disorder.

A 281-km interstate green corridor was set up to transport the liver from a private hospital in Surat to Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital in Mumbai, where the liver transplant was performed.

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The liver was speedily transported in 4 hours 20 minutes, with the cooperation of the police authorities in Gujarat and Maharashtra. The Mumbai police and traffic authorities were instrumental in facilitating the rapid transportation of an organ through busy city streets.

According to the hospital, the teen from Nashik was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder, which caused excessive serum cholesterol levels, raising the risks of heart attacks and stroke at a young age. He had been on the cadaver liver waiting list since April 2022.

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"The donor, an 18-month-old toddler from Surat, suffered a fall at home and was declared brain dead at a private hospital on January 2. He was identified as a potential organ donor after consent from the family," the hospital said.

The transplant was performed on Wednesday at the hospital by a team of more than five doctors in over four hours, it said.

The patient is doing well post-transplant and recuperating, it stated.

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New Delhi, Jan 5 (PTI) With an article in the Global Times lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policies, the Congress on Friday said it was no wonder that Chinese state media has praised him, and alleged that it was he who accommodated interests of that country and allowed it to gain influence in India's neighbourhood.

An article in China's Global Times has said that India has become more strategically confident and proactive in creating and developing a "Bharat narrative". It praised India's significant strides in the spheres of economic, social governance and foreign policy under Prime Minister Modi.

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The article published by the prominent state-run Chinese media outlet has been penned by Zhang Jiadong, the director of the Center for South Asian Studies at Fudan University, Shanghai. It highlights India's remarkable achievements over the past four years.

In a statement, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, "The PM's cheerleaders and drum-beaters are ecstatic on the official Chinese media's praise for him. And why shouldn't he get praise from China? After all it was he, and he alone, who -- gave a clean chit to the Chinese on 19 June, 2020 with his public statement 'Na koi hamari seema mein ghus aaya hai, na hi koi ghusa hua hai, na hi hamari koi post kisi dusre ke kabze mein hain'."

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"Apart from being a grave insult to our soldiers, this lie has greatly damaged our stance in 18 rounds of Corps Commander-level negotiations and has contributed to continuing Chinese control of 2,000 square kilometres of fresh Indian territory since May 2020," Ramesh alleged.

He claimed that contradicting the prime minister, Leh's superintendent of police presented a paper stating that India can no longer access 26 out of the 65 patrolling points that it patrolled prior to 2020. Key areas such as Depsang and Demchok remain off limits to Indian troops, Ramesh claimed.

"Where the talks have led to disengagement e.g. Gogra Post and Hot Springs, India has ceded buffer zones to the advantage of the aggressor. Access from India to the spot where a memorial to Paramvir Chakra winner Major Shaitan Singh had been put up is no longer available following the 'disengagement'. No wonder the Chinese are praising the PM," the Congress leader said in his statement.

Ramesh alleged that it was the prime minister who permitted India to hold joint military drills in Russia with the same Chinese troops who are "occupying our territory in Ladakh".

"On December 1-7, a contingent of Indian troops from 7/8 Gorkha Rifles took part in Russia's Vostok 2022 exercise in which China also participated. Was the supreme sacrifice of 20 of our brave soldiers so easily forgotten?" he said.

Ramesh claimed that the prime minister allowed China to gain influence in the Maldives, Bhutan and Sri Lanka at India's expense.

"The new Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu's request for India to withdraw its troops from the Maldives is a major setback to Indian national security. A major Chinese buildup in Doklam area that overlooks India's strategic Siliguri Corridor continues despite claims of 'victory' in 2017," he said.

Meanwhile, Bhutan's prime minister stated that "there is no intrusion" by China into Bhutan despite continuing Indian concerns, Ramesh added.

"And, in Sri Lanka, where the PM has been mostly focused on securing contracts for his cronies, China has cemented its hold on critical national assets with a 99-year lease on the strategic Hambantota Port. Chinese intelligence-gathering ships have periodically docked at the port. These are all reasons for China to be satisfied," Ramesh said.

He alleged that the prime minister facilitated rapid imports from China despite promises of "Make in India" that have led to record trade deficits in excess of USD 200 billion in 2022 and 2023.

"To compound this, the Modi government has been dressing up the import of mobile phone parts from China with minimal value addition as a triumph of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat', attempting to stoke national pride while undermining the national interest," the Congress leader said.

He also claimed that the Modi government is moving to ease the provision of Indian visas to Chinese workers. China's economic interests are clearly safe under the Modi government, Ramesh alleged.

"In 2018, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat promised that the RSS would raise a force to fight China on the border 'within three days' if the need arose, compared with the 6-7 months he said the Indian Army required. Not only is there no sign of any mobilisation four years after the Chinese intrusion, the RSS hosted a group of Chinese diplomats at its Nagpur headquarters in early December 2023," he claimed.

"The PM stuck his neck in the sand as a response to China's intrusions, cooperated with its military, allowed it to gain influence in India's neighbourhood, increased India's economic dependence on China and permitted the RSS to felicitate its diplomats," Ramesh alleged.

Noting that the Ministry of External Affairs has said that the relationship with China is "not normal", Ramesh said what is truly abnormal is "the PM's accommodation of Chinese interests".

No wonder the Chinese state media has only words of praise for him, he said.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi [India], January 5 (ANI): Senior advocate Fali S Nariman said on Friday that while reading about the exhaustive and learned judgements on Kashmir recently, he has regretted that there was no dissenting view on the bench.

"On reading about the very exhaustive and learned judgements on Kashmir recently handed down by a constitution bench of five judges, my regret has been that there was no dissent," Fali Nariman said while speaking at the 28th Justice Sunanda Bhandare Memorial Lecture.

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Nariman argued that though a dissenting view might not have made any difference to the outcome of the judgement, it would have helped the public understand the contours of the unique, complicated case.

"A dissent would have made no difference to the outcome but better still it would have helped the not-so-well-informed general public to better understand and appreciate the contours of this unique, very long and somewhat complicated case about India's northernmost state," the senior advocate said.

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Nariman said that a dissent is not only a safety valve but it also sends a message of assurance to the public that the Supreme Court is in robust health.

"...often a dissent in a bench of judges, whether of three, five, seven or nine is not just a safety valve, it also sends a message of assurance to the ever-curious and ever-anxious general public that the highest court is in robust health and is doing its allotted task well," the senior advocate said.

Quoting an American judge, Nariman said, "It is always necessary to recall what an American judge once wisely said: A dissent may salvage for tomorrow a legal principle that has been omitted or forgotten today."

The Supreme Court in December upheld the Union Government's decision to abrogate Article 370 of the constitution which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and said that every decision taken by the Centre on behalf of a State can't be subject to a legal challenge.

A five-judge Constitution bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, and Surya Kant delivered the verdict. The Constitution Bench was hearing a batch of petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution and bifurcating the state into two Union Territories.

On August 5, 2019, the Central government announced the revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir granted under Article 370 and split the region into two union territories. (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, Jan 5 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to consider listing of the pleas challenging the political parties' practice of promising pre-election freebies to voters.

A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra was urged by senior advocate Vijay Hansaria, appearing for one of the PIL petitioners, that the matters are part-heard and needed to be adjudicated upon.

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"We will see it," the CJI said.

A bench headed by CJI UU Lalit, since retired, had on November 1, 2022, said that the PILs can be heard by a three-judge bench as directed.

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The pleas including the one filed by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay opposed promises of such handouts by the parties during polls.

The petitions have also sought the Election Commission invokes its powers to freeze the election symbols of these parties and cancel their registration to ensure that the practice of promising pre-election freebies is no longer in existence.

(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, Jan 5 (PTI) Modi Group, formerly known as BK Modi Group, is planning to invest Rs 6,000 crore in the next five years in two real estate projects, its founder Bhupendra Modi said on Friday.

Modi Group will invest Rs 4,000 crore to develop a health city in Saket, Delhi, he said.

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Besides, the group has also committed to invest Rs 2,000 crore in city development projects at Modipur in Rampur District of Uttar Pradesh.

"In the Saket project, it would be a city and hospital and other projects, and at Modipur, we would have city development, where we would build an entire city. Then we have some more place to invest in," Modi said on the sidelines of an event.

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The group is also investing Rs 2,000 crore outside the country, Modi said, declining to share any information about that.

"This would be a total of Rs 8,000 crore, which is around USD one billion," he said, adding that the group has also a presence and business interests outside India.

When asked about the funding, he said it would be a mix of debts and equities, "which would be directed by us".

On the Saket project, Modi said it consists of three major buildings, having 20 lakh square feet of space with residencies and a hospital.

It is envisioned to be a comprehensive healthcare hub, featuring medical office buildings, over 24,000 quaternary bed facilities, wellness residences, and geriatrics care, among others.

"This investment (in Saket) is in cash as we already have land here," Modi said.

While sharing the status of the ongoing projects, Modi said it has already started development projects worth Rs 1,000 crore.

As part of the first phase, construction work for two projects worth Rs 750 crore has already been started and has also put the foundation stone for two more projects worth Rs 300 crore.

On Modipur, the group, in a statement, said it will be a smart city with state-of-the-art infrastructure, including multiplexes, malls, luxury hotels, urban residences, and futuristic manufacturing industries based on AI technology.

It is also planning to open holistic wellness centres across India.

Modi Group also entered into a partnership with Miami-based real estate firm The Lynd Company for the development of residential buildings in Miami, FL, USA, and Saket, New Delhi, India, under a single global brand.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Mumbai, Jan 5 (PTI) Bankers have bid 2.8 times more at the variable reverse repo (VRR) auction held on Friday, as the notified amount was only Rs 1 lakh crore, according to the Reserve Bank data on the auction result earlier in the day.

The central bank, in a statement, said it has accepted bids worth Rs 1,00,009 crore at a cut-off rate of 6.68 per cent and the weighted average cut-off rate of 6.69 per cent, and the auction saw bids worth Rs 2,77,402 crore or 2.77 times more than the offer.

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The banking system will need higher liquidity as the GST payout is nearing.

The statement also said the partial allotment percentage of bids received at the cut-off rate stood at 36.68.

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The RBI began short-term VRR under the LAF (liquidity adjustment facility) for Rs 50,000 crore on January 20, 2022. The auction will have a seven-day tenor, that's January 12, 2024, the monetary authority said in a statement.

Since then, the Reserve Bank has been rebalancing the surplus liquidity in the system by shifting it out of the fixed rate overnight reverse repo window into the variable rate reverse repo (VRR) auctions of longer maturity.

The VRR auction was conducted on the CBS (e-Kuber) platform, and the minimum bid amount for the auction was Rs 1 crore and multiples thereof.

(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], January 5 (ANI): Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday questioned the Narendra Modi-led government over its approach towards China. He asked the Modi government to decide on its policy towards China.

Kharge cited Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal's statement that ties between India and China are "not normal." He said reports have claimed that Chinese diplomats visited Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters.

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He said reports have claimed that the Modi government has given exemptions in visas to Chinese technicians and professions for manufacturing under the PLI scheme.

In a post shared on X, Kharge stated, "On one hand, the Foreign Ministry of Modi government admitted for the first time that relations with China are not normal. On the other hand, according to the news - 1. Diplomats from China went to the headquarters of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Why did they go? What did they go for? What conversation took place?"

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"2. Modi government has given exemption in visa to Chinese professionals and technicians for manufacturing under PLI scheme. Why did you give it? Didn't China give stapled visas to our talented players for the Asian Games? Did 20 of our brave soldiers not sacrifice their lives in Galwan while fighting China in 2020?," he added.

Taking a dig at PM Modi, Kharge said that he has given a clean chit to China and even mentioned in his statement, "Nobody entered our border."

On Thursday, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Official Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India and China continue to engage on the diplomatic and military sides for some sort of a resolution.

While addressing a weekly media briefing on Thursday, Jaiswal said, "India's position on China is very well known. It is a relationship, which is not normal, but we have had dialogues both on the military side and on the diplomatic side in October and November. And the idea is that we engage so that we can have some sort of resolution."

Jaiswal said he wanted to pull out what was discussed in these meetings that were held in October and November.

He said, "The commander-level meeting was held in October where there was an agreement to maintain momentum of dialogue and negotiations through relevant military and diplomatic mechanisms. And they also committed to maintaining peace and tranquillity on the ground at the border areas."

He stated further that India and China also had the 28th meeting of the WMCC (Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs).

"This is at the diplomatic level. We had our joint secretary East Asia participating there. They had a very good in-depth discussion, constructive discussion, frank discussion and they looked at all the proposals to resolve remaining issues and achieve complete disengagement in eastern Ladakh," he added.

Jaiswal said the two countries agreed on the need to maintain peace and tranquillity along the border areas, ensure a stable situation on the ground and avoid any untoward incident.

"And then thereafter, the two sides agreed to continue the dialogue through military and diplomatic channels and hold the next round of senior commanders meeting at the earliest to achieve the above objective," he said. The 28th meeting of the WMCC was held on Thursday.

The Joint Secretary (East Asia) from the Ministry of External Affairs led the Indian delegation and the Director-General, Boundary and Oceanic Affairs, of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs led the Chinese delegation, the MEA informed.

The two sides reviewed the situation along the LAC in the Western Sector of the India-China border areas and engaged in an open, constructive and in-depth discussion of proposals to resolve the remaining issues and achieve complete disengagement in Eastern Ladakh, the MEA stated in a press release.

They further agreed on the need to maintain peace and tranquillity along the border areas, ensure a stable situation on the ground and avoid any untoward incidents.

The two sides agreed to continue the dialogue through military and diplomatic channels and hold the next round of the Senior Commanders' Meeting at the earliest to achieve the above objective, the MEA added.

Earlier in October, India and China held the 20th round of Corps Commander-level talks at Chushul as part of the ongoing efforts for overall disengagement and de-escalation to resolve the stand-off in eastern Ladakh. The meeting was held at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Indian side on October 9-10.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the two sides exchanged views in a frank, open and constructive manner for an early and mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC in the Western Sector, in accordance with the guidance provided by the national leadership of the two countries, and building on the progress made in the last round of Corps Commanders' Meeting held on August 13-14, 2023.

Earlier in 2020, the Indian and Chinese troops clashed at Galwan, the same year the pandemic started.Since May 2020, when the Chinese troops tried to aggressively change the status quo on LAC in eastern Ladakh, both sides have been deployed in forward positions near Patrolling Point 15, which emerged as a friction point in the wake of the Galwan clash.

Over 50,000 Indian soldiers have been stationed since 2020 at forward posts along the LAC with advanced weapons to prevent any attempts to change the status quo unilaterally on the LAC. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kathmandu, January 5: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar announced that the Indian government will provide a financial assistance package of approximately NPR 1000 crores to Nepal to provide further support following the recent earthquake in Jajarkot, Indian embassy in Kathmandu said in a press statement. Earlier in November, 128 people died and at least 141 were injured after a strong earthquake of 6.4 magnitude jolted Nepal, The Kathmandu Post reported. The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu stated on Thursday that Jaishankar and Foreign Affairs Minister of Nepal NP Saud also witnessed the handover of the fifth tranche of post-Jajarkot earthquake relief supply provided by the Indian government.

It consisted of "200 prefabricated houses, 1200 blankets, 150 tents and 2000 sleeping bags for the earthquake-affected people in Nepal," the statement said. "Out of the 200 prefabricated houses, 20 were handed over today and the remaining shall be handed over in various tranches over the next few weeks," it added. Nepal Earthquake: India Delivers Medicines and Relief Material to Quake-Hit Country, EAM S Jaishankar Shares Pics.

EAM Jaishankar is on an official visit to Nepal from January 4 to 5, 2024, at the invitation of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal, NP Saud. The two ministers co-chaired the 7th meeting of the India-Nepal Joint Commission on Thursday, which reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral cooperation, including developmental partnerships. "The Joint Commission appreciated the achievements made in all areas of bilateral cooperation during the period following the 6th meeting of the Joint Commission held on January 2021," the statement said.

Following the meeting of the Joint Commission, EAM and the Foreign Minister of Nepal witnessed the exchange of the four agreements. The first agreement between India and Nepal was for the implementation of High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs) in Nepal. "In the new agreement, the budgetary ceiling for the implementation of HICDPs has been increased from NPR. 5 crore to NPR. 20 crore," it stressed. Second, an agreement between the Indian government and the Nepal government was for Long Term Power Trade.

Under this agreement, it has been agreed to strive to increase the quantum of power export from Nepal to India to 10,000 MW within a timeframe of ten years and, towards this end, take all necessary measures to encourage mutually beneficial investments in Nepal's hydropower generation sector and transmission infrastructure. Thirdly, the Launch Service Agreement for Munal Satellite was developed by the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology between NewSpace India Limited and Nepal Academy of Science and Technology. "This satellite developed by Nepali students shall be launched on a gratis basis on an Indian launch rocket," the statement said.

Lastly, the MoU for Cooperation in Renewable Energy Development between NTPC Limited and Nepal Electricity Authority was signed. This MoU creates a framework for cooperation in renewables between NTPC and NEA. Moreover, they also jointly inaugurated three 132 kV cross-border transmission lines between India and Nepal, namely, the second circuit of the Raxaul-Parwanipur line, the second circuit of Kataiya-Kusaha line, and the New Nautanwa-Mainhiya lines. "EAM paid courtesy calls on Rt Hon'ble President of Nepal, Ram Chandra Paudel and Rt Hon'ble Prime Minister of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda'," the statement highlighted. Additionally, bilateral matters of mutual interest were discussed in these meetings. Nepal Earthquake Death Toll: 132 People Killed After Massive Quake Jolts Jajarkot, Kathmandu and Other Districts (See Pic and Video).

During the day, EAM also held meetings with other senior political leaders in Nepal. Later, the Foreign Minister of Nepal also hosted a dinner in honour of the EAM, the Indian embassy in Kathmandu stated. On Friday, EAM Jaishankar will inaugurate 59 post-earthquake reconstruction projects in the education, health and culture sectors, including the new building of the Tribhuvan University Central Library, which has been built with the Government of India's grant assistance. Later, EAM will return to India tomorrow.

Notably, Nepal is a priority partner of India under its 'Neighbourhood First' policy. "The visit is in keeping with the tradition of high-level exchanges between two close and friendly neighbours," the statement stressed.

(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, January 5: The Indian Navy's Mission Deployed Platforms responded swiftly to the hijacking attempt on board a Liberian-flagged bulk carrier after it received a message on the UKMTO portal indicating boarding by approximately five to six unknown armed personnel on Thursday evening, the Indian Navy said in an official statement on Friday. Cargo Ship with 15 Indians on Board Hijacked Near Somalia, Indian Navy Keeping a Close Watch

In response to the situation, the Indian Navy launched an Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) and diverted INS Chennai, deployed for maritime security operations, to assist the vessel. The aircraft overflew the vessel on Friday morning and established contact with the vessel, ascertaining the safety of the crew. India-Bound Merchant Vessel Attacked by Drone: Indian Navy Enhances Surveillance in North, Central Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden, Says Defence Ministry

As per the Indian Navy, Naval aircraft is continuously monitoring the movement of the vessel and Indian warship INS Chennai is closing the vessel to render assistance. The overall situation is being closely monitored in coordination with other agencies and MNFs in the area, Indian Navy said.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
UK Secretary for Defense: World turns back on Russia, forcing Putin into humiliation of going cap in hand to North Korea to keep his illegal invasion going

UK Secretary of State for Defense Grant Shapps has commented on recent reports saying that Russia had used North Korean ballistic missiles to attack Ukraine, saying that North Korea must pay a high price for supporting Russia.

"The world has turned its back on Russia, forcing Putin into the humiliation of going cap in hand to North Korea to keep his illegal invasion going. In doing so Russia has broken multiple UNSC resolutions and put the security of another world region at risk. This must stop now," he said on X Social Network on Friday.

The Secretary also said that "together with our partners we'll make sure North Korea pays a high price for supporting Russia."

Earlier, the White House stated that North Korea has recently provided Russia with ballistic missiles and launchers for use by Moscow in the war against Ukraine.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters that Russian forces fired at least one of these ballistic missiles at Ukraine on December 30.

The issue of the supply of ballistic missiles by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to the Russian Federation and their use against Ukraine will be the subject of discussion at the UN Security Council on Wednesday, January 10, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations Serhiy Kyslytsya said.
Iranian Embassy in Delhi opens book of condolence in response to bombings that killed 84 (Source: Twitter/@Iran_in_India)

New Delhi [India], January 5 (ANI): The Iranian Embassy in Delhi on Friday opened 'the book of condolence' in memory of the natives who lost their lives in the recent deadly explosions.

The event was attended by Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra, who offered his condolences to the kin of the dead in the twin blasts.

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"In order to pay tribute to and in memory of innocent Iranians who lost their lives and who were injured in the recent terrorist attack in Kerman-Iran, 'the book of condolence' opened on Friday in the Embassy of Iran in New Delhi," the Iranian embassy in the national capital posted from its official X handle on Friday.

"H.E Vinay Kwatra, the Honorable Foreign Secretary of the Republic of India attended in the Embassy and offered his condolence about this tragic incident," the Iranian embassy added in its post.

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As many as 84 people were killed in twin blasts near the burial site of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani in the city of Kerman on Wednesday, in what officials called a terror attack.

The first explosion was 700 metres away from Soleimani's grave, and the second was a kilometre (0.6 miles) away as pilgrims visited the site, Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) said.

The Islamic State on Thursday claimed responsibility for the bombing attack, according to a post on the terror outfit's official Telegram account, The New York Times reported.

The group on its Telegram channel, called it a "dual martyrdom operation", describing how two terrorists approached a commemoration ceremony at the tomb of Major General Qassim Suleimani and detonated explosive belts strapped to their bodies "near the grave of the hypocrite leader," referring to General Suleimani. The general, an Iranian military and security leader, was assassinated four years ago in an American drone attack.

The statement identified the two attackers as Omar al-Mowahid and Sayefulla al-Mujahid.

According to The New York Times, the Islamic State's announcement came together with American intelligence assessments, which indicated that the attack was most likely the work of the Islamic State, according to four American officials, as well as with assessments by regional military officials.

Initially, some Iranian leaders had blamed Israel for the attack, causing fear that the war in Gaza -- in which Israel is battling Hamas, a Palestinian ally of Iran -- would widen into a regional conflict.

The Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal on Thursday expressed grief over the twin bomb blast in the Kermin city of Iran and also expressed solidarity with the government and people of Iran.

Taking to X, MEA official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, posted, "We are shocked and saddened on the terrible bombings in the Kerman City of Iran. At this difficult time, we express our solidarity with the government and people of Iran. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims and with the wounded." (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Beijing, Jan 5 (PTI) The new Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu will visit China for the first time on Monday for talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, it was announced here on Friday, with a senior official saying the meeting between the two top leaders will provide "strategic guidance" for the bilateral relations to reach a new height.

Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed will visit China from January 8 to 12 at the invitation of President Xi, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying announced on Friday.

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Muizzu, who is seen as a pro-China politician, took oath as the eighth President of the Maldives after defeating the India-friendly incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the presidential runoff held in September.

Wang Wenbin, another spokesperson of the Chinese foreign ministry said that this would be President Muizzu's first state visit to a foreign country since he took office.

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President Xi will host a welcome ceremony and a welcome banquet for President Muizzu. The two heads of state will hold talks and attend the signing ceremony of cooperation documents, he said.

Premier Li Qiang and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Zhao Leji will meet with President Muizzu respectively, Wang said in response to a question at a regular foreign ministry briefing.

"China and the Maldives boast time-honoured friendship. In the past 52 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the two countries have treated each other with respect and supported each other, setting a fine example of equality and mutual benefits between countries of different sizes, Wang said.

He noted that the relations between China and the Maldives have deepened and achieved fruitful outcomes of practical cooperation in various fields, including Belt and Road cooperation, and deepening traditional friendship.

"The relations between China and the Maldives now stand at a new historical starting point. We believe that through this visit, the two heads of state will provide strategic guidance for the bilateral relations to reach a new height," Wang added.

Muizzu's predecessors in the recent past visited India first, considering the wide-ranging bilateral ties and the Maldives' proximity to India, followed by China which has expanded its influence in the island nation by investing in major infrastructure projects there.

Surprisingly Muizzu chose Turkiye as his first destination for a foreign visit soon after his election followed by the UAE where he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) on December 1 and discussed the progress of the wide-ranging bilateral ties.

During the meeting, both leaders agreed to set up a core group to discuss the multi-dimensional relations and further deepen ties.

The meeting took place after Muizzu requested New Delhi to withdraw 77 Indian military personnel from the Maldives and decided to review more than 100 bilateral agreements between the two countries.

Earlier, Muizzu's government announced its plans to drop a hydrographic survey agreement with India.

Muizzu will be the second-highest politician to visit China in recent weeks.

The new Maldives Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef last month visited China, his first visit abroad, and took part in the China-sponsored China-Indian Ocean Region Forum on Development Cooperation, (CIORF) in Kunming.

Significantly, while praising Chinese infrastructure projects, Latheef made no mention of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) under which most of the Maldives' infrastructure projects were built.

The BRI is an ambitious plan initiated by President Xi in 2013 to develop new trade routes connecting China with the rest of the world via land and maritime networks to improve regional integration, increase trade and stimulate economic growth.

Observers say Muizzu's foreign policy is still evolving as the Maldives domestic political situation has undergone a major change after his election in November last year.

Soon after his election Muizzu fell out with former pro-China President Yameen, regarded as his mentor, and opted to pursue his own foreign and domestic policy.

Under Yameen's Presidency, China carried out major infra projects amid allegations of debt traps by some influential politicians of the Maldives.

Angry with Muizzu, Yameen, who is currently serving a prison sentence for corruption, quit the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and formed his own political party called People's National Front (PNC) from jail to oppose Muizzu.

Also, the island's Parliament is currently dominated by the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) headed by Solih.

The Maldives is India's key maritime neighbour in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and occupies a special place in its initiatives like SAGAR' (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the Neighbourhood First Policy' of the Modi government.

The Maldives' proximity to India, barely 70 nautical miles from the island of Minicoy in Lakshadweep and 300 nautical miles from the mainland's western coast, and its location at the hub of commercial sea lanes running through the Indian Ocean gives it significant strategic importance.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Islamabad, Jan 5 (PTI) Pakistan's Senate on Friday approved a non-binding resolution seeking a delay in the general election, citing cold weather and security concerns, increasing the political uncertainty ahead of the planned polls on February 8.

The resolution, tabled by independent Senator Dilawar Khan, received overwhelming support in the upper house of Pakistan's Parliament but was slammed as "unconstitutional" by major political parties. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) also rejected the Senate's resolution and clarified that elections will be held on February 8, 2024.

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It was passed with only 14 lawmakers out of the Senate's 100 members in attendance.

Information Minister Murtaza Solangi and Senator Afnanullah Khan of three-time Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party opposed the move.

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Senator Gurdeep Singh of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) Behramand Tangi abstained from voting. The Senate chairman adjourned the session indefinitely after the vote, Geo News reported.

Introducing the resolution, Senator Dilawar Khan said that most areas of the country were currently experiencing harsh cold weather, so participation in elections in those areas was unmanageable.

Raising concerns about the security situation, he said the law and order situation was not good and added that politicians were being targeted, including an attack on Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) chief Fazlur Rehman.

"Even security forces are being attacked in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (provinces)," he added.

The resolution was passed despite clear orders by the Supreme Court to the ECP to stick to its announcement to hold the elections on February 8.

Meanwhile, the ECP rejected the Senate's resolution and clarified that elections 2024 will be held on February 8, Samaa TV reported.

In a statement, the electoral watchdog said that nothing except the Supreme Court's orders could alter the election schedule and added that the next general elections will be held on February 8.

"The Senate resolution holds no value," the report said, citing the ECP's statement.

Major political parties also rejected the non-binding resolution, stating that further deferring the electoral process would be "unconstitutional".

Rejecting the resolution immediately after its passing, PML-N Senator Afnanullah Khan acknowledged that the security situation in the country was not good; however, he said the conditions were worse in 2008 and 2013, yet elections were held in both years.

According to the Dawn newspaper, he dismissed the pretexts' as boot polish and said, Will you delay elections on the pretext of weather and security?. The PML-N Senator also claimed that some individuals were pushing for election delays for personal gain.

PTI leader Sher Afzal Marwat told Geo News that the Constitution was "violated" in the Senate.

"The resolution for delay in general elections is an attack on the Constitution," he said, adding that there is no single clause in the charter for putting off the polls.

Addressing a press conference after the resolution's approval, PPP Senator Sherry Rehman said that the party has a clear stance that the February 8 elections should not be put off, according to the report.

"We absolutely do not support the delay in elections," she said, asserting that the PPP didn't favour the Senate resolution.

"This is rebellion against the Constitution. It was a [pre-planned] move and a conspiracy because the polls must be held on time," said PPP Senator Shahadat Awan.

He reiterated that the resolution was tabled under a "plan" as the matter was not part of Friday's Order of the Day. "Those who can see their defeat [in elections] want to delay the polls," he added.

The move by the Senate is expected to increase political and economic instability in the country.

The Pakistan Stock Exchange reacted negatively to the resolution, and the share market immediately fell by more than 800 points.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kampala (Uganda), January 5 (ANI): Deputy Chairman Rajya Sabha Harivansh participated in a range of discussions at the 27th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) at Kampala, Uganda.

These discussions included subjects such as 'Environment, Climate Change and Role of Parliament', 'Diverse and Inclusive Parliaments', and 'Health and Well-being Support in Parliaments' which were held across two days i.e. on January 4 and 5, 2024.

Also Read | Indian Navy Warship Reaches Hijacked Vessel MV Lila Norfolk off Somalia Coast, Issues Warning to Pirates.

During the discussion on Environment and Climate Change, Harivansh underlined various initiatives undertaken by the government as well as the Parliament. Parliament had debated and discussed them in detail.

He further added that "Indian Parliament has always been proactive in creating the enabling legal framework and institutions to deal with impacts of climate change". This has amply been reflected in the rising number of questions pertaining to climate shifts over the past two decades.

Also Read | Israel-Hamas War: Gaza Death Toll Climbs to 22,438 Amid Intense Fighting, Says Palestinian Health Ministry.

As such the issues of climate financing, migration challenges, innovative approaches to mitigation and adaptation plans, and better disaster management preparedness have also featured prominently in the debates of the Indian Parliament.

In this context, speaking about India's 'Go Green' initiatives, Harivansh said that E-vehicles are being used to ferry MPs to the Parliament Complex and the efforts are on to make the Parliament fully digitised and paperless.

In another discussion on diverse and inclusive Parliaments, Harivansh said that an inclusive Parliament must reflect the diversity of the people and also focus on the diverse needs of different groups including those of the youth and women.

He also highlighted the landmark passing of the Women's Reservation Bill that provides one-third reservation of seats to women in Parliament and State Assemblies. The passing of this bill is a testimony to the inclusiveness of the Indian Parliament.

He also underlined the role of Parliamentary Committees, gender budgeting and other such initiatives to ensure our policies are more gender sensitive.

"India has the advantage of demographic dividend. The Parliament of India is fully conscious and sensitive to the needs of the two-thirds i.e. youth and women, of our population," he added.

In another discussion related to the health and well-being of Parliamentarians held during the conference, Harivansh said that well well-being of Parliamentarians directly impacts the quality of governance and the lives of the people they serve.

He updated the gathering on various facilities provided by the Parliament to MPs for better health and well-being. (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, DC [US], January 5 (ANI): US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will begin his visit to the Middle Eastern countries from January 4 till January 11, to address ongoing concerns, including the release of remaining hostages and delivering life-saving humanitarian assistance to Gazan civilians.

US Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller on Friday emphasised that Blinken will travel to Istanbul, Turkey; Crete, Greece; Amman, Jordan; Doha, Qatar; Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates; Al 'Ula, Saudi Arabia; Tel Aviv, Israel; the West Bank; and Cairo, Egypt, from January 4.

Also Read | Iran Twin Blasts: ISIS Claims Responsibility for Suicide Bombings That Killed 84 During General Qasem Soleimani's Commemoration, Says Report.

State Secretary Blinken will further underscore the importance of protecting civilians' lives in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza.

"Throughout his trip, the Secretary will underscore the importance of protecting civilian lives in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza; securing the release of all remaining hostages; our shared commitment to facilitating the increased, sustained delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza and the resumption of essential services; and ensuring that Palestinians are not forcibly displaced from Gaza," Miller said.

Also Read | Iran Blast: Investigators Suspect Suicide Bombers Launched Attack Killing 84 in Kerman As Purported Islamic State Claim Circulates.

Moreover, Blinken will hold discussions on recent Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and avoiding escalation in Lebanon.

"Blinken will also discuss urgent mechanisms to stem violence, calm rhetoric, and reduce regional tensions, including deterring Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and avoiding escalation in Lebanon," he added.

The US State Secretary will further reaffirm the US commitment to working with partners to set the conditions necessary for peace in the Middle East.

It will include comprehensive and tangible steps towards the realisation of a future Palestinian state alongside the State of Israel, with both living in peace and security, Miller said.

Recently, in another move that sidesteps congressional approval, US President Joe Biden's administration authorised the immediate transfer of nearly USD 150 million in military equipment to Israel for its ongoing conflict with Hamas. It marks the second such bypass within the month, CNN reported.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken apprised Congress of his emergency determination, allowing the prompt transfer of "155mm ancillary items, including fuzes, charges, and primers that make 155mm shells functional," as revealed by a State Department spokesperson.

The spokesperson said the additional items were added to previous sales, which "increased the total value of the sale to USD 147.5 million," according to CNN. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kochi, January 5: The application of frontier technologies like artificial intelligence could help address the challenges in the marine fisheries sector, NITI Aayog Vice Chairman, Suman Bery, said here on Friday. Inaugurating a national workshop on harnessing the potential of fisheries in the marine states, Bery emphasised the role of technology as a vital growth driver.

The workshop was organised at the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) in association with Kerala Fisheries Department. Bery stressed the importance of understanding the dynamics of demand for prioritising production strategies. Rajiv Kumar Quits as NITI Aayog Vice Chairperson, Suman Bery To Succeed.

"Application of frontier technologies like artificial intelligence could help address the challenges in the marine fisheries sector. Given that demand for fish is on the rise, innovative strategies to enhance productivity are required," Bery said, adding that demand is the driving force of the economy.

The workshop was held to discuss relevant issues in marine fisheries, develop tailored strategies, and forge partnerships between the coastal states to address the challenges and explore the prospects. Flagging concern about the increasing trend of disparity between the states, NITI Aayog member, Ramesh Chand, said the growth of fisheries is highly imbalanced, while it is much higher in Andhra Pradesh compared to most other maritime states. India's Focus Should Be On Reducing Dependence on China for Certain Critical Inputs, Says NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Suman Bery.

"Fish production in Andhra Pradesh is 50 per cent higher than the total production of five states, namely Gujarat, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka combined," he said. He also said that the growth of demand for fish doubled in the past decade ending 2022, compared to the previous decade ending 2012.

Chand proposed enhancing value addition and cutting-edge processing innovations to boost seafood export. "Major chunks of India's unprocessed seafood including shrimps and tuna are exported mainly to Vietnam, Thailand and Tunisia for onward re-export from there after substantial value addition. By setting up state-of-the-art processing facilities, India can harness the unexplored value-addition potential of seafood for earning greater foreign exchange," he added.

Dr J K Jena, Deputy Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) pitched for exploring the untapped potential of oceanic and deep-sea resources. Representatives from the governments of West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andaman and Nicobar took part in the discussions.

A diverse array of key stakeholders, including policymakers from the Central and state governments, leading industry experts and researchers attended the workshop which provided a platform for experience sharing between marine states, enabling open dialogue on the challenges faced and potential solutions.

NITI Aayog Joint Secretary K S Rejimon, Senior Advisor Neelam Patel, Senior Consultant Babitha Singh and CMFRI Director A Gopalakrishnan spoke on the occasion.
Jaipur, January 5: Union Home Minister Amit Shah and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval have reached Jaipur for three-day All India conference of Director Generals/Inspector Generals of Police in Rajasthan International centre in Jaipur, beginning on Friday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected reach Jaipur by 5.30 p.m. Jammu and Kashmir Terror Attack: Amit Shah Reviews Security Situation in State in Wake of Recent Terrorist Attacks

Heads of many agencies and DG-IGs of all the states will be attending the conference which is expected to discuss crime against women, cyber crime, technology in policing, counter-terrorism challenges, left-wing extremism, and prison reforms, among others. Jaipur is on high-alert for the conference and all arrangements are in place. India Remains Active, Willing Partner to Find Solution to Russia-Ukraine Conflict, Says NSA Ajit Doval in Saudi Arabia

The Prime Minister will attend the conference till 9 p.m. and will reach Raj Bhavan at 9.30 pm where he will rest at night. Modi, Shah and Doval will be attending the conference for all three days. On January 7, after meeting with the officials, the Prime Minister will leave for Delhi at 4.30 pm.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 05, 2024 04:01 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
New Delhi, January 5: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday hailed the Union Cabinet's approval to the proposal to name Ayodhya airport as 'Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, Ayodhyadham', asserting that his government is determined to connect the holy city of Lord Ram with the whole world. He said the move was a tribute to Maharishi Valmiki.

At a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Modi, the proposal to name Ayodhya airport as 'Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, Ayodhyadham', was approved. Besides, it was also decided to declare the airport as an international airport. Mann Ki Baat: PM Narendra Modi Urges People To Share Creations on Ram Temple, Ayodhya on Social Media With Hashtag ShriRamBhajan.

In a post on X, Modi said, "Our government is determined to connect the holy city of Lord Shri Ram, Ayodhya, with the whole world. In this regard, along with declaring the airport as an international airport, the proposal to name it 'Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, Ayodhya Dham' has been approved."

"This step is a respectful tribute to Maharishi Valmiki ji on behalf of our family members across the country," the prime minister said. Modi also highlighted the government approval to 'PRITHvi VIgyan' scheme. The programme is an overarching initiative that would give it the flexibility to pursue research and use funds allocated to five different sub-schemes related to earth sciences over a five-year period. PM Narendra Modi Shares Jubin Nautiyal, Payal Dev and Manoj Muntashirs Song Dedicated to Lord Ram Ahead of Ram Mandir Consecration Ceremony.

"Today, the Union Cabinet has approved the transformative 'PRITHvi VIgyan (PRITHVI)' scheme. This initiative marks a significant stride in our journey towards advanced earth system sciences. It covers critical areas such as climate research, ocean services, polar science, seismology and more."

"Our commitment is not just to enhance understanding of the Earth System, but to translate this knowledge into practical applications for societal, environmental, and economic benefits. This scheme will strengthen India's capabilities in predicting and managing natural disasters, thereby safeguarding lives and property," the prime minister said.
Jaipur, December 5: A turnout of over 40 per cent was recorded in Karanpur by early afternoon as polling took place for the Rajasthan assembly constituency where minister Surendra Pal Singh is contesting as the BJP nominee. The election for this seat was postponed due to the death of the Congress candidate and the then MLA Gurmeet Singh Koonar. The Congress has fielded Koonar's son, Rupinder Singh, from the seat.

Surendra Pal Singh has already been inducted into the Rajasthan ministry after the BJP won the assembly polls, bagging 115 of the 199 seats where the elections were held. Voting began at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm. Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Gupta said 40.45 per cent of voters had cast their vote till 1.30 pm. Karanpur Assembly Election 2024: Polling for Karanpur Seat in Rajasthans Sriganganagar Begins, Cabinet Minister Surendra Pal Singh in Fray.

"Voters are coming to cast their votes amidst severe cold and fog," he said. The Congress has criticised the BJP nominee's induction in the ministry, terming it a violation of the model code of conduct. Karanpur Assembly Election 2024: Rajasthan Congress fields Rupinder Singh Kunnar from Karanpur seat.

As per the rules, Kooner has six months to get elected to the assembly after being inducted as a minister. According to officials, there are 2,40,826 voters in the Karanpur assembly constituency, which includes 1,25,850 men, 1,14,966 women and 10 transgender voters.
Shahjahanpur, January 5: The BJP's Dadraul MLA Manvendra Singh has died in Delhi following a prolonged illness, his son said on Friday. He was 70. Arvind Kumar Singh told PTI that Singh died early on Friday at ILBS Hospital in Delhi. Singh became an MLA from Dadraul in Uttar Pradesh's Shahjahanpur district for the second time in 2022. He had been suffering from a liver problem for a prolonged period.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has expressed condolences on Singh's death. Having been with the Congress for a long time, Singh joined the BJP in 2017 and became the MLA from Dadraul. He retained his seat in the 2022 polls. Surajit Datta Dies: BJP Tripura MLA Passes Away After Prolonged Illness at 69.

Condoling Singh's death, Adityanath said in a post in Hindi on X, "The demise of Manvendra Singh, the honourable MLA from Dadraul assembly constituency, is very sad." Vijayakant Dies: PM Narendra Modi Condoles DMDK Leaders Death, Says His Death Has Left a Void That Will Be Hard To Fill.

"It is a prayer to Lord Shri Ram to grant the departed soul a place at his feet and the bereaved family members the strength to bear this immense sorrow."
Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk commented on the public statements of MP Mariana Bezuhla (Servant of the People faction) addressed to Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhny and called on Ukrainians for unity.

"I always urge everyone to study the history of Ukraine well. Since the enemy will certainly take advantage of any of our infighting, any of our public demonstration of fatigue... I have my own relationship with Mrs. Bezuhla, because, in addition to Zaluzhny, she criticizes me and many others - well, this is the person's style of behavior. I don't perceive it. Therefore, my conversations with her take place mainly in an official format. At the same time, everything I think about her, I honestly write in the internal party chat. She reacts to it. And this is an absolutely normal discussion, but it is closed," Stefanchuk told Interfax-Ukraine.

However, he believes that everyone needs to reconsider their attitude to what is happening in the country, since "without a unified approach and vision we will never win this war," and unity is "the only weapon against which Russia cannot yet act, but it very effectively begins to use these small 'scratches' of ours in order to loosen them into the big sea."

At the same time, the chairman of the Verkhovna Rada is convinced of the need for honest discussions with the military, but "there is a time and place for everything."

"At our headquarters it can be very hot, because there is a professional conversation even between the military, who are subordinate to each other, but a tough male conversation arises between them and, importantly, they find the right solutions," Stefanchuk said.
Coimbatore, January 5: In a chilling crime in Coimbatore, a woman and her lover were arrested by the Chettipalayam police for the murder of a 32-year-old physiotherapist, B Dhanalakshmi. The victim had been arrested previously for running a prostitution racket, and the accused had befriended her during their incarceration. Jothi, aged 41, and Suresh, 39, who were living together after separating from their spouses, learned about Dhanalakshmi's possession of eight sovereigns of gold and a significant amount of money.

According to the Times of India report, on December 30, 2022, the accused duo went to Dhanalakshmi's residence in Chettipalayam, where they smothered her to death and made away with eight sovereigns of gold and a smartphone. The crime came to light when Dhanalakshmi's lover, S Bala Esakkimuthu, returned home from work. As per the report, Esakkimuthu is employed as a driver with the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation. Tamil Nadu Shocker: 16 Students Injured as Tree Collapses in Government School in Madurai (Watch Video).

The Chettipalayam police, aided by CCTV footage, swiftly traced and arrested Jothi and Suresh. It was revealed that the accused had a criminal history, having been arrested on August 29, 2022, by the Saravanampatti police in Coimbatore city for robbing an elderly woman of her gold ornaments. Jothi had spent time in the special prison for women in the Coimbatore Central Prison, where she became acquainted with Dhanalakshmi. Tamil Nadu Shocker: Caretaker Along With Her Husband Decamps With Cash and Jewellery After Gagging and Tying Up Elderly in Virugambakkam; Accused Arrested.

Following their release on conditional bail, the accused planned and executed the heinous murder to steal Dhanalakshmi's valuables. The Chettipalayam police, led by Sulur (circle) police inspector Mathaiyan, apprehended Jothi and Suresh, who were subsequently remanded in judicial custody on Friday, January 5.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 05, 2024 07:39 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
EAM Jaishankar is on an official visit to Nepal from January 4 to 5, 2024, at the invitation of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal, NP Saud. The two ministers co-chaired the 7th meeting of the India-Nepal Joint Commission on Thursday, which reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral cooperation, including developmental partnerships.
Indian naval warship INS Chennai has reached the harbour hijacked vessel MV Lila Norfolk off Somalia coast in the Arabian sea. According to ANI report, the Indian warship has deployed its helicopter and issued warning to the pirates, to evacuate the hijacked vessel. The Indian crew on board the Liberia-flagged bulk carrier MV Lila Norfolk are safe and Marine Commandos MARCOS are ready for operations, military officials told ANI. Navy Foils Hijacking Attempt on MV LILA NORFOLK With 15 Indians Onboard in Arabian Sea.

Indian Naval Warship Reaches Hijacked Cargo Ship off Somalia Coast:

Indian naval warship INS Chennai has reached the harbour hijacked vessel MV Lila Norfolk off Somalia coast. The Indian warship has launched its helicopter and issued warning to pirates to abandon the hijacked vessel. The Indian crew on board are safe and Marine Commandos MARCOS pic.twitter.com/9r8WNoG1lo  ANI (@ANI) January 5, 2024

(SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)
New Delhi, January 5: Samsung opened pre-booking for the much-anticipated Samsung Galaxy S24 Series. The Samsung Galaxy S24 series is expected to come with three models - the standard Samsung Galaxy S24, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus, and the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. The official launch date for the Samsung Galaxy S24 Series is set for January 17, 2024.

As per a report of ABP Live, pre-reservations for the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S24 series have started. Users can now reserve their preferred model through Samsung's official website. With a pre-reservation fee of Rs 1,999, customers can secure their spot and become eligible for exclusive benefits of Rs 5,000 upon the Samsung Galaxy S24 series launch. Itel A70 With 256GB Storage and 12GB RAM To Go on Sale Today at 12PM: Check Specifications and Offers Here.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Series Specifications (Expected):

As per a report of Business Today, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Series is expected to be equipped with AI capabilities, including features like Live Translate and Generative Edit for photos. The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is expected to boast a titanium frame. In terms of processor, the Galaxy S24 may feature the Exynos 2400 chipset, while the Galaxy S24 Plus and Galaxy S24 Ultra variants are likely to be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset.

Camera-wise, the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24 Plus might come with a 50MP triple rear camera setup, whereas the Galaxy S24 Ultra variant could come with a 200MP triple rear camera setup. All models are anticipated to include a 12MP front-facing camera for selfies. Battery capacities are also expected to vary, with the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24 S24 Plus and Galaxy S24 S24 Ultra might come with a 4,000 mAh, 4,900 mAh, and 5,000 mAh batteries, respectively. Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 Platform Unveiled: Qualcomm Announces Its New Chipset To Power MR, VR and Offer On-Device AI.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Series Price (Expected):

While the exact pricing for the Indian market remains under wraps, European pricing details have surfaced, suggesting the base model of the Samsung Galaxy S24 could start at around EUR 899. This is expected to be approximately Rs 82,000. The Galaxy S24 Plus is speculated to begin at EUR 1,149, which is roughly Rs 1,05,000, for the model with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 05, 2024 02:47 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
On 4 January Ecuadors Presidentannounced the construction of two prisons which he said would be modelled on those built in El Salvador as part of that countrys crackdown on criminal gangs.

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On 4 January El Salvadors justice & security minister,, said that formal charges were being prepared against the leadership of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), one of El Salvadors two main gangs.

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On 4 January the interim head of Brazils justice & public security ministry,, signed a protocol to bolster security in the capital region (Distrito Federal, DF), ahead of the one-year anniversary of the 8 January riots.

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In a heartbreaking incident on Thursday morning, a 17-year-old student opened fire during an Iowa school shooting at Perry High School, resulting in six people being hit before the assailant took his own life, according to the Des Moines Register.

The sad event occurred just 20 minutes before the school day commenced, during a breakfast program that included students from the adjoining middle school.

Regrettably, one of the Iowa school shooting victims, a sixth-grade student, lost their life in the incident, while five others, including a school administrator, sustained injuries.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, addressing the media, expressed the deep impact of the tragic event on the entire state, acknowledging the swift response of law enforcement as instrumental in preventing further loss of life.

Approximately 150 law enforcement officers from various agencies, local, county, state, and federal, responded promptly to the incident.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation has taken charge of the ongoing investigation.

In a display of solidarity with the affected community, Governor Reynolds ordered all flags in Iowa to be flown at half-staff until Sunday's sunset.

The governor emphasized the need for support for the students, families, teachers, and staff at Perry High School and the wider Perry community following the Iowa school shooting.

READ NEXT: Iowa: Hero Teen Accidentally Shot in Hunting Incident

The Iowa School Shooting

The Iowa school shooting unfolded at 7:37 AM local time, just before the start of classes after the winter break, per Fox News.

Police received reports of gunfire, and within seven minutes, officers arrived at the scene, discovering multiple gunshot victims.

The alleged Iowa shooting suspect, identified as 17-year-old Dylan Butler, was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Four surviving Iowa school shooting victims, including a school administrator and students, were transported to hospitals.

One is in critical but stable condition, while the others are reported to be stable.

Authorities also uncovered a "rudimentary" makeshift explosive device inside the school, promptly neutralizing the potential threat.

The investigation involves collaboration among the sheriff's office, Perry Police Department, FBI, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).

Iowa Shooting Suspect's Social Media Post

Butler, armed with a pump-action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun, had posted cryptic messages on social media around the time of the incident.

The Iowa shooting suspect posted a chilling message on TikTok, stating, "Now we wait," according to state police and reliable sources, the NY Post reports.

Officials have not disclosed the victims' identities, but reports suggest one injured party is Principal Dan Marburger. Mortvedt emphasized that all signs point to Butler acting alone.

Butler's social media accounts were swiftly taken down following the tragic incident.

As the small town of Perry, located 40 miles northwest of Des Moines, grapples with the aftermath, condolences pour in from officials, with Chief Eric Vaughn of the Perry Police Department urging thoughts and prayers for the victims and their families.

Amidst the tragedy, the incident drew attention as presidential candidates and the national media focused on Iowa ahead of the upcoming caucuses.

The White House has been notified about the Iowa school shooting, and the FBI is collaborating with local authorities in the ongoing investigation.

READ MORE: Theo Lengyel Arrested for Girlfriend's Murder

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Perry, Iowa high school shooting; at least 1 dead - From ABC News
A member of the far-right Jan. 6 Proud Boys group, Christopher Worrell, faced a 10-year prison sentence on Thursday for charges related to the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, according to CBS News.

The conviction included assaulting police officers during the attack. Worrell, hailing from Florida, made headlines after removing his ankle monitor in an attempt to escape law enforcement.

Worrell, 52, was initially charged with assaulting law enforcement officers during the Capitol riot.

At a bench trial last year, he was found guilty of seven counts, with prosecutors alleging that he had sprayed law enforcement officers defending the north side of the Capitol against rioters.

Before his sentencing, Worrell emotionally expressed remorse, acknowledging that his conduct on January 6 was "inexcusable and unjustified."

He apologized to law enforcement and members of Congress, stating, "Nearly three years ago today, I made some choices I sincerely regret."

Christopher Worrell failed to appear at his August sentencing hearing in Washington, DC.

A bench warrant was issued for his arrest, leading to a six-week manhunt.

The FBI issued an alert seeking assistance locating Worrell, who was eventually apprehended in September as he tried to return home.

READ NEXT: Jacob Chansley, Face of Jan. 6 Attack Wants To Run for Congress

Jan. 6 Proud Boys Member Christopher Worrell's Escape Attempt

Four days before his scheduled sentencing in August, Christopher Worrell removed his ankle monitor and fled, sparking a nationwide manhunt, ABC News reports.

Upon his arrest in Naples, Florida, the FBI found him unresponsive, equipped with night-vision goggles, a wallet containing around $4,000, and a bag with new camping gear.

Christopher Worrell admitted to faking an opioid overdose as a strategy to delay sentencing. During his alleged recovery in the hospital, sheriff's deputies guarded him.

The government revealed that Worrell had coordinated his trip to DC with other Proud Boys, carrying weapons such as a shield and pepper gel, which he used on Capitol Police officers during the riot.

According to a sentencing memo filed by the Justice Department on August 13, once on Capitol grounds, Worrell engaged in a half-hour tirade of vitriol directed at the overwhelmed officers attempting to restrain the mob.

Furthermore, the memo states that when Worrell observed an opportunity to deploy pepper spray at the police line from deep within the crowd, he seized that chance.

In addition to the prison sentence, US District Court Judge Royce Lamberth ordered 36 months of supervised release and restitution of $2,000.

Acknowledgment of the Court's Impact on Medical Treatment

During the sentencing hearing, Christopher Worrell credited Judge Lamberth with saving his life two years ago when he was released from pretrial detention over concerns about his medical treatment.

Worrell, who has a rare form of chronic lymphoma, expressed gratitude, saying, "You very likely saved my life."

Judge Lamberth acknowledged Worrell's impact on prompting inquiries into medical treatment in pretrial confinement, leading to reforms and improvements for hundreds of inmates, as per POLITICO.

Reflecting on the entire Jan. 6 investigation, Lamberth noted, "Some good came of all this," highlighting positive changes prompted by Worrell's concerns.

As Christopher Worrell praised prosecutors and the court for their fairness, he regretted his actions on that fateful day.

"If I could go back in time, I would change many things about that horrible day," former Jan.6 Proud Boys member Worrell said.

READ MORE: Jan. 6 Footage Revives Conspiracy Theories, Debunked Once Again

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Naples 'Proud Boy' Christopher Worrell sentenced to 10 years prison for Jan. 6 involvement - From NBC2 News
Court chooses preventive measure for one of founders of Kyivhuma company  detention without right to bail

The court chose a preventive measure for one of the founders of Kyivhuma company (Brovary, Kyiv region) suspected of supplying goods to Russia  detention for 60 days without the right to post bail, the press service of the State Security Service of Ukraine said.

"Today Shevchenkivsky District Court of Kyiv chose a preventive measure for one of the founders of Kyivhuma company: detention for 60 days without the right to post bail," according to the statement transmitted to Interfax-Ukraine on Friday evening.

As noted in the statement, earlier "the Security Service exposed Kyivhuma company for the supply of goods to Russia. As a result of comprehensive measures, a significant and large-scale evidence base was collected confirming that the company continued to do business with Russia after the start of a full-scale invasion."

As the SBU found out, during 2022-2023 the company transported batches of tactical tourniquets and bandages of its own production to Russia for a total amount of more than 40 million in hryvnia equivalent. "The investigation also established that the occupiers sent the company's medical supplies to Russian military hospitals located in the temporarily occupied territories of our state," according to the statement.

During the authorized searches, the SBU received new official documents and correspondence confirming the illegal activities of the defendants. "Currently, the pre-trial investigation under the procedural leadership of the Prosecutor General's Office continues," the SBU press service said.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  Love it, hate it or yawn at it, Minnesota is set to get a new state flag this spring that echoes its motto of being the North Star State, replacing an old flag that brought up painful memories of conquest and displacement for Native Americans.

During the monthslong selection process, some publicly submitted designs gained cult followings on social media but didnt make the final cut. They included: a loon  the state bird  with lasers for eyes; a photo of someones dog; famous paintings of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln; and an image of a rather large mosquito.

Instead, the flag design adopted in December includes a dark blue shape resembling Minnesota on the left, with a white, eight-pointed North Star on it. On the right is a light blue field that to those involved in the selection process symbolizes the abundant waters that help define the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

The new state seal features a loon amid wild rice, to replace the image of a Native American riding off into the sunset while a white settler plows his field with a rifle at the ready. The seal was a key feature of the old flag, hence the pressure for changing both.

Unless the Legislature votes to reject the new emblems, which seems unlikely, they will become official May 11. Other states are also considering or have already made flag changes. Here are things to know about Minnesotas new flag and seal, and how the debate unfolded.

Why this design?

The flag was designed by committee  a commission that included design experts and members of tribal and other communities of color. More than 2,600 proposals were submitted by the public. The commission picked one by Andrew Prekker, 24, of Luverne, as the base design.

The main changes the commission made were rotating the star by 22.5 degrees so it pointed straight north, and replacing the original light blue, white and green stripes with a solid, light blue field. The significance of the light blue area is up to the beholder. The original Dakota name for Minnesota, Mni Sota Makoce, which will go on the new seal, can be translated as where the water meets the sky. The commissions chairman, Luis Fitch, said that to him, the light blue represents the Mississippi River, which originates in Minnesota, pointing to the North Star.

The criticism

Its fair to say that much of the public reaction to the new flag fell into the category of meh or worse when the design adoption was announced. But supporters of the new flag hope it will grow on people. Its not like many people were particularly attached to the old flag.

Some criticism circulated by conservatives has been inaccurate. The flag does not resemble that of Somalia nor of its Puntland region.

While its true that both the original design and the Puntland flag had light blue, white and green stripes in the same order, the commission dropped the stripes in favor of simplicity and symmetry. And its a stretch to say the final version bears much resemblance to the Somali national flag, which is a solid light blue with a white, five-pointed star right in the center. The state Democratic Party chairman issued a news release taking one GOP lawmaker to task for fueling the spread of the misinformation on social media.

Two Republican lawmakers who were nonvoting members of the commission objected to putting the Dakota name for Minnesota on the seal. They said they will propose letting voters decide up or down this November. That proposal is unlikely to get traction in the Democratic-controlled Legislature. And Democratic Secretary of State Steve Simon, a commissioner who backed both designs, said a referendum would probably be unconstitutional.

Additionally, Aaron Wittnebel  a voting member of the commission for the Ojibwe community  said in a minority report last week that adopting the Dakota phrase on the seal favors the Dakota people over other groups of peoples in Minnesota.

The praise

While the new flag might strike some critics as uninspired  and a waste of time and the $35,000 budgeted for the commission  the change is important to many Native Americans in a state where there are 11 federally recognized Ojibwe and Dakota tribes.

Dare I say anything thats not a Native person being forced off their land is a flag upgrade?! tweeted Democratic Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, a member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe. Excited to have a new state flag that represents every Minnesotan.

Democratic state Sen. Mary Kunesh, a descendant of the Standing Rock Lakota, was a chief author of the bill that launched the redesign and a nonvoting member of the commission. She said in a statement that the more than 2,600 submissions and the lively public debate showed that Minnesotans care deeply about their state.

It was an incredible experience to see our communitys energy and passion captured in the beautiful designs they submitted, Kunesh said. From loons and wild rice to water and the North Star, we have captured the essence of our state in the new flag and seal. These designs honor our history and celebrate the future of Minnesota.

One Indigenous graphic designer is already selling T-shirts online that bear the new design and say, At least the flag isnt racist anymore.

Ted Kaye, secretary of the North American Vexillological Association, who studies flags and was involved in the redesign, has said the new Minnesota flag gets an A+ from him for its simplicity, uniqueness and inclusion of meaningful symbols.

The rest of the country

Several other states also have been redesigning flags.

The Utah Legislature last winter approved a design featuring a beehive, a symbol of the prosperity and the industriousness of its Mormon pioneers. Mississippi chose a new flag with a magnolia to replace a Confederate-themed flag. Other states considering simplifying their flags include Michigan, Illinois and Maine.

___

Associated Press writer Trisha Ahmed in Minneapolis contributed to this report.

By Steve Karnowski Associated Press
A driver was injured early Friday in a single-vehicle crash that took down a utility pole and led to a widespread power outage in the Bangor Area School District, Pennsylvania State Police said.

Trooper Nathan Branosky, public information officer for the state police Troop M in Bethlehem, told lehighvalleylive.com the accident happened shortly before 4 a.m. at 270 Five Points Richmond Road in Upper Mount Bethel Township. A 34-year-old Phillipsburg man was driving a 2007 Acura south when for an unknown reason, traveled across the northern travel lanes, off the roadway and onto the grass on the eastern side of the highway. He then struck the pole with his driver side bumper, Branosky said.

The pole broke and remained across the roadway, as well as partially onto the driver side door of the Acura, state police said.

The driver was taken to St. Lukes Hospital-Anderson Campus in Bethlehem Township for treatment of injuries, Branosky said. Police said he was wearing a seat-belt at the time of the accident.

The crash led to a power outage affecting the school districts main offices and Bangor Area Middle School, both located along Five Points Richmond Road. As a result, all Bangor schools were closed Friday, district superintendent William Haws posted on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

Good Morning. Due to a traffic accident on Five Points Richmond Rd. The Bangor Area School District and offices will be closed today.  William Haws (@WHawsBASD) January 5, 2024

School officials on the districts website further posted Friday would not be a Flexible Instruction Day.

Met-Ed was reporting six customers without power in Bangor. Todd Meyers, a spokesman for Met-Ed parent FirstEnergy Corp., said power was expected to be restored in that area sometime early Friday afternoon.

State police at Belfast continue to investigate the accident. Also assisting state police at the scene was the Mount Bethel Fire Co.

Editors note: This post has been updated with new details from Pennsylvania State Police.

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.
A third man has been charged in connection with the death of Tristan Sherry in Dublin on Christmas Eve.

Gardai have charged the man, who arrested as part of the ongoing investigation into a fatal assault that occurred at a restaurant in Blanchardstown on December 24.

He and a second man also charged in connection to the assault, are due to appear before a sitting of Blanchardstown District Court this Friday morning.

A third man in his twenties, Michael Andrecut, was charged with Mr Sherry's murder before a special court sitting last Saturday and has been remanded in custody.

Mr Sherry is one of two suspected gunmen who entered Brownes Steakhouse on Christmas Eve and opened fire, injuring a man in his 40s.

He sustained fatal injuries after being tackled and assaulted inside the premises in Blanchardstown after the shooting, which is suspected to be gang-related.

The man injured in the shooting, Jason Hennessy Snr, died of his injuries from multiple gunshot wounds on Thursday, January 4, at the Mater Hospital in Dublin.

Gardai have now launched a murder investigation into Mr Hennessy's death.
A Kilkenny company has spoken out against claims made regarding the future use of one of their business premises.

Urlingfords Bernard Kavanagh & Sons Ltd have issued a statement refuting 'falsified claims' surrounding the redevelopment of the former Josephines Restaurant site.

In a video released on social media earlier this week, two men claimed the site was being prepared to house a large volume of migrants, some of which were possibly dangerous men', according to the speakers.

In a 10-minute video posted to the YouTube platform, the pair said they were 'assuming the worst', They needed to act now, they said, criticising the lack of communication with locals on the issue as they expressed concerns over the site's proximity to the nearby creche and nursing home.

The two men went on to claim much of the community support their stance and women in the area have expressed fears to them at such a development taking place.

A statement was issued in response on behalf of the owners of the site, Bernard Kavanagh & Sons Ltd, who said they wanted to put an end to the 'misinformation' shared in the video.

"The site is currently being redeveloped and repurposed to accommodate both Ukrainian people and their families, who are fleeing the war in their country, and staff of the company," they said. "We currently have a number of Ukrainian people working in our group of companies and we will continue to support them and their families during this time of unrest in Ukraine.

"Once the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine comes to an end the company intends to utilise the building to cater for our staff, as well as a base for the business headquarters for the company.

"The owners were this week made aware of a misleading video being shared across social media, which has prompted a series of negative and unjust comments surrounding the plans for the site in question," they continued. "The false allegations being made in the post claim that the building is being developed to house International Protection (IP) Migrants; a claim that is 'absolutely and wholeheartedly untrue'."

Responding to the negative narrative that has been spun in recent days, the Directors of the company commented: "This week, a number of falsified claims were brought to our attention regarding the development of the building at the former site of Josephines Restaurant. We can say, profoundly, that this information is categorically untrue. At no time was it ever considered to use the building to house International Protection (IP) Migrants and as such, we would request the misinformation currently being spread to desist."

They continued: "The current campaign of scaremongering and lies directed towards us has the sole purpose of causing worry in the community when it is not warranted. Lies and mistruths that are spread on social media are profoundly hurtful and damaging. As our families are long-standing members of the Urlingford community, we would request this to cease."
Scaffolding outside a historic castle has been there for as long as I can remember a Naas councillor has said.

Green Party politician Bob Quinn sought information about who is responsible for the scaffolding and whether there are any ongoing associated costs or charges associated with it.

He added: Im not willing to look at it for much longer.

A Kildare County Council report pointed out that the castle is in the care of the Office of Public Works and KCC does not incur any costs associated with scaffolding on the Jigginstown site.

KCC official Eoghan Ryan said has contacted the OPW about the site.

At a council meeting in June 2019 councillors were told no timeline is available for the opening of the historic Jigginstown Castle, outside Naas, to the public.

Read more Kildare news

At that time the OPW was said to be engaged in a long term project to stabilise and consolidate the physical fabric of the building and to preserve as much of the building fabric as is physically possible.

Completed in 1637 at a cost of six thousand pounds, Jigginstown Castle was the brainchild of then Lord Deputy of Ireland Thomas Wentworth, who was executed in London in 1641.

It was built with the intention of becoming a royal palace prior to Wentworth being charged with treason.

Jigginstown Castle was never lived in and fell into decay. The castle is almost 100 metres long and has a series of cellars. The building has a first floor and two corridors.
A second man has been charged in connection with the death of a suspected gunman who was assaulted following a shooting in a Dublin restaurant on Christmas Eve.

Tristan Sherry, who was one of two suspected gunmen involved in the shooting, sustained fatal injuries after being tackled and assaulted inside the premises in Blanchardstown after the shooting.

One man has already appeared in court charged with Mr Sherrys murder.

The second man charged is due to appear before a sitting of Blanchardstown District Court on Friday morning.

The development comes on the same day gardai announced the death of the man who was shot in the initial gun attack inside Brownes Steakhouse in Blanchardstown.

Jason Hennessy Snr, who was in his late 40s, sustained multiple gunshot wounds.

Mr Hennessy, who was known to gardai, was treated at Dublins Connolly Hospital and then transferred to the citys Mater Hospital, where he died.

A second murder investigation has been launched after Mr Hennessys death.

Two gunmen had entered the busy restaurant at about 8pm and opened fire.

Last week Michael Andrecut, 22, of Sheephill Avenue, Corduff, appeared at a special sitting of the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin charged with Mr Sherrys murder.

A third man has also been arrested for questioning in connection with Mr Sherrys death.

On Thursday he was still being held at a Garda station in west Dublin under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.
A flight was diverted to Cork Airport after a man was found dead on a Jet2 plane.

The aircraft was forced to divert to Cork after the man was found dead inside the bathroom on Tuesday afternoon, January 2.

Fellow passengers noticed the man in the bathroom for a long period of time, some suspecting he may be dead after feeling dismissed by the airline according to The Independent.

The flight was originally on route from Tenerife to Manchester however The Independant reported the plane should have landed in Manchester at 8.30pm, however the diversion to Cork and the wait for another plane meant the passengers arrived in Manchester at roughly 1.30am instead.

Despite the best efforts of our highly-trained crew who intervened as soon as they became aware. This was an extremely difficult situation for our crew and we would like to thank them for their efforts. Our thoughts are with the customers family and friends at this very difficult time, a spokesperson from the airline told The Independent.
In the midst of the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict, which has killed over 22,000 Palestinians since October 7th, a young Roscommon man is seeking financial support for his friends to obtain expedited visas and escape to Egypt.

Originally from Arigna in Co. Roscommon, Lorccan Duignan (25) went to school in Drumshanbo and has strong connections to Leitrim. He is walking 75 minutes a day around his neighbourhood in Dublin this month in support of his friends.

Mr Duignan told the Leitrim Observer he was "aware of the complex effects" of the conflict as he kept regular contact with his friends, husband and wife Hala and Akram. His friends are now living in an abandoned garage after leaving northern Gaza due to the massive destruction.

"The conditions are just awfullike the toilet they have and everything. It's just terrible. It's like a container they have to throw [faeces] out. They have to hand wash their clothes and are surrounded by cockroaches.

"There's a lot of crime going around, like people stealing food and that sort of thing. So it's kind of turned into a bit of anarchy there.

"I do worry. The Internet is quite limited there as well. Her home neighbourhood was destroyed. Most of Northern Gaza has been destroyed," he said.

Inside of the garage where Lorccan Duignans friends are living at the moment

Mr Duignan met Hala in 2021 when they studied Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice at University College Dublin (UCD). Since then, they have become "such good friends."

Hala returned to Gaza in the spring of 2023 and started to teach English mostly to young kids at the American International School in Gaza.

"We maintained regular contact online ever since then, with the hope that someday we would be able to meet again.

"Through these video calls, I also got to know her husband, Akram. Just like his wife, he has proven himself to be a good-natured person I now consider a close friend.

"I just wanted to do something. I would go to protests and do solidarity things. But I can see this wasn't really making much of a difference in their lives. So I just wanted to do something that could directly help them," Mr Duignan said.

American International School in Gaza, where Hala worked as an English teacher.

He decided to create a GoFundMe page on December 21st, and to date it has raised over 2,647 with 107 donations. Its target of 14,000 in proceeds will cover the expenses to obtain expedited visas in Egypt. "The cost is around 7,000 per person," he explained.

By mid-December, the United Nations-led aid consortium estimates over 22,000 people are now dead and more than 234,000 homes have been damaged, and up to 2 million people are now displaced in Gaza.

"The healthcare system has completely collapsed. There is severely limited access to food, water, and electricity. Among those civilians facing this unprecedented nightmare are my friends.

"I can see how this incessant bombardment and humanitarian disaster is traumatising them and breaking their spirits.

"Unfortunately, this has been their reality since the Nakba (lit 'Catastrophe') 75 years ago, when the State of Israel was founded.

"With this in mind, the number 75 is symbolic and acts as a stark reminder that this conflict did not begin on October 7th," Mr Duignan said.

He started walking on January 1st, and over this month, he hopes to reach the fundraising goal.

The '75 Minutes for 75 Years' walk campaign is set up on GoFundMe, and you can donate at https://gofund.me/f27bc751.
Cannabis worth an estimated 611,000 euro has been seized in three locations across Ireland this week.

Two of the seizures were made with the assistance of detector dogs Enzo and Harley.

Revenue said as a result of risk profiling, its officers examined parcels at a premises in Dublin on Thursday.

They found 14.2kg of herbal cannabis with an estimated value of almost 285,000 euro in parcels which had originated in Thailand and were destined for addresses in Dublin.

In a separate operation on Thursday at a premises in Athlone, Revenue officers examined parcels originating from France and Spain which were destined for Dublin and Galway addresses.

Based on risk profiling and with the assistance of Enzo, they seized 11.8kg of herbal cannabis with an estimated value of 236,000 euro.

In a third separate operation carried out this week, Revenue officers seized 4.5kg of herbal cannabis at Shannon Airport in parcels originating from the USA and destined for Clare, Limerick and Cork addresses.

The seizures were made as a result of risk profiling and with the assistance of Harley, and the drugs have an estimated value of 90,000 euro.

Revenue said the seizures are part of its ongoing operations targeting the importation of illegal drugs.
PM: In future, students to be able to study at expense of govt orders, grants, preferential loans and under contracts

The government plans to change the approaches to financing higher education, which provide that in the future students will be able to study at the expense of government orders, grants, preferential loans and contract training, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal said.

"This year we also plan to launch a large-scale reform of higher education. First of all, we are talking about changing funding approaches. Now in the higher education system there is education financed by government and under a contract. We propose to change this approach in order to cover as many students as possible with government support," Shmyhal said at a meeting of the Ukrainian government on Friday.

"Today we are adopting a bill that provides that in the future students will be able to study at the expense of government orders, grants, preferential loans, as well as on a contract form of education," the Prime Minister said.

He said the government order is a completely free student education for budget funds, and this opportunity will be provided to the best applicants according to the competitive score. In addition, part of the budget places will be provided to vulnerable categories of the population. The head of the Ukrainian government said the government order will primarily concern specialties that are needed by the state.

"For example, society needs teachers and doctors. Therefore, the government will fully pay for the education of the best applicants in these specialties. And after successful graduation, it will offer the first job," Shmyhal said.

According to him, the model of government grants will fully or partially cover the costs of a student's education. Such grants will not have to be repaid and do not include any work obligations.

Shmyhal said the size of the grant will be influenced by two criteria: the results of external knowledge assessment and the chosen specialty.

"Although the grant amount will not necessarily cover the full cost of training, the number of applicants who will receive financial support will increase significantly due to a more equitable distribution of such support," the minister said.

Today, 60% of students in Ukraine study on a contract basis, the government's goal is that these students "receive various types of government support: government orders, grants, vouchers or, in the future, preferential loans."

Shmyhal said the new financing system in higher education will apply only to new applicants.

"Among the innovations that we also propose is the establishment of special conditions for admission to study at universities for our veterans, children of fallen Ukrainian Heroes, children with disabilities, orphans and other preferential categories," he said.
BGL Announces the Recapitalization of American Pain Consortium by Cresset Partners, Cedar Pine, and American Discovery Capital





CHICAGO, Jan. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL) is pleased to announce the recapitalization of American Pain Consortium (APC) by Cresset Partners, Cedar Pine, and American Discovery Capital. BGL's Healthcare & Life Sciences investment banking team served as the exclusive financial advisor to APC in the transaction. The specific terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The transaction builds upon BGL's market leadership position in advising physician practices and related ancillary services and represents its sixth transaction involving interventional pain management practices.

The transaction builds upon BGL's market leadership position in advising physician practices.

Based in Indianapolis, Indiana, APC is a growing network of interventional pain management practices and pain-focused ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) that provides state-of-the-art, patient-focused support services to comprehensive pain management practices in Indiana and Ohio. Providers at APC focus on managing acute and chronic pain with treatments that include interventional procedures such as nerve blocks and neuromodulation, complemented by restorative physical therapy and behavioral therapy services.

This transaction will enable APC to build upon its interventional pain management platform to expand its growth in an important and underserved sector of healthcare.

BGL's Healthcare Provider Services Group is one of the most experienced and respected financial advisory teams in the U.S. for physician practice M&A and related technical services, with a long track record of expertise in physician practice valuation and in successfully advising physicians and alternate site providers through strategic transactions like selling a physician practice.

About Brown Gibbons Lang & Company

Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL) is a leading independent investment bank and financial advisory firm focused on the global middle market. The firm advises private and public corporations and private equity groups on mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, financial restructurings, business valuations and opinions, and other strategic matters. BGL has investment banking offices in Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles, and New York, and real estate offices in Chicago, Cleveland, and San Antonio. The firm is also a founding member of Global M&A Partners, enabling BGL to service clients in more than 35 countries around the world. Securities transactions are conducted through Brown, Gibbons, Lang & Company Securities, LLC, an affiliate of Brown Gibbons Lang & Company LLC and a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. For more information, please visit www.bglco.com.

SOURCE Brown Gibbons Lang & Company

4 january 2024 at 17:12

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Sensorion Announces Partnership With the Institut Pasteur to Accelerate Gene Therapy Programs Targeting Hearing Disorders Has Been Extended for Five Years





Regulatory News:

Sensorion (FR0012596468 ? ALSEN) a pioneering clinical-stage biotechnology company which specializes in the development of novel therapies to restore, treat and prevent within the field of hearing loss disorders, today announces that the research partnership framework agreement signed in 2019 with the Institut Pasteur1 (Paris, France) granting Sensorion an option for exclusive licenses to develop and market gene therapy drug candidates from collaborative projects to address unmet medical needs in the hearing field has been extended for a period of five years. The agreement has been amended to be extended up to December 31, 2028, to promote additional development gene therapy programs.

SENS-501, the most advanced program within the partnership that targets deafness caused by mutations in the gene coding for otoferlin, defined as a priority in 2019, has met its objectives. The successful completion of the efficacy preclinical package in the frame of the collaboration between Sensorion and the Institut Pasteur advanced the program with the development of the OTOF-GT product (SENS-501) towards clinical stage. A Clinical Trial Application (Audiogene, Phase 1/2 clinical study) has been submitted in July 2023 in the UK and in the EU to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of intra-cochlear injection of SENS-501 in patients suffering from otoferlin gene-mediated hearing loss.

The research partnership successfully led to a second gene therapy program with GJB2-GT, announced in 2021, for which a drug candidate, selected in April 2023, is currently in preclinical development. GJB2-GT targets deafness linked to mutations in the GJB2 gene, the most common form of childhood deafness. Three indications, all linked to GJB2 mutations, are currently being evaluated: early presbycusis, progressive hearing loss during childhood, and congenital hearing loss.

Over the past 25 years, the Institut Pasteur, has developed world-renowned expertise in the physiology and molecular pathophysiology of the auditory system with work carried out within the Institut Pasteur 's Genetics and Physiology of Hearing Unit, headed by Professor Christine Petit, and continuing within the Hearing Institute, a research center of the Institut Pasteur.

Sensorion has a preferential right on other Institut Pasteur preclinical research programs in the field of genetic diseases of the inner ear, with a view to establishing potential new collaborations.

Professor Christine Petit, Professor at the Institut Pasteur and Professor Emeritus at the College de France, France, Winner of the Kavli Prize in 2018, comments: "I am very satisfied with the progress of the partnership between the Institut Pasteur and Sensorion, and I am delighted that it has been extended. Over the past four years, our teams have achieved major milestones, enabling us to reach the clinical stage with our first gene therapy drug candidate in the field of deafness. We still have many challenges ahead of us to transform these scientific advances into innovations for the benefit of patients, whether in terms of advancing diagnosis and patient care, or developing curative treatments for hearing impairment."

Nawal Ouzren, Sensorion's Chief Executive Officer, adds: "By building on our partnership with the Institut Pasteur and its world-renowned scientific teams, and on the excellence of our development and production know-how, we have achieved, in just four years, a strategic turning point which today positions Sensorion among the leading players in gene therapy applied to hearing disorders. We are convinced that the continuation of the fruitful collaboration between the Institut Pasteur and Sensorion will contribute to the emergence of revolutionary new therapies for thousands of patients suffering from congenital deafness today."

About Sensorion

Sensorion is a pioneering clinical-stage biotech company, which specializes in the development of novel therapies to restore, treat, and prevent hearing loss disorders, a significant global unmet medical need.

Sensorion has built a unique R&D technology platform to expand its understanding of the pathophysiology and etiology of inner ear related diseases, enabling it to select the best targets and mechanisms of action for drug candidates. It has two gene therapy programs aimed at correcting hereditary monogenic forms of deafness, developed in the framework of its broad strategic collaboration focused on the genetics of hearing with the Institut Pasteur. SENS-501 (OTOF-GT) targets deafness caused by mutations of the gene encoding for otoferlin and GJB2-GT targets hearing loss related to mutations in GJB2 gene to potentially address important hearing loss segments in adults and children. The Company is also working on the identification of biomarkers to improve diagnosis of these underserved illnesses.

Sensorion's portfolio also comprises clinical-stage small molecule programs for the treatment and prevention of hearing loss disorders. Sensorion's clinical-stage portfolio includes one Phase 2 product: SENS-401 (Arazasetron) progressing in a planned Phase 2 proof of concept clinical study of SENS-401 in Cisplatin-Induced Ototoxicity (CIO) and, with partner Cochlear Limited, in a study of SENS-401 in patients scheduled for cochlear implantation. A Phase 2 study of SENS-401 was also completed in Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSNHL) in January 2022.

www.sensorion.com

About Institut Pasteur

The Institut Pasteur, a non-profit foundation with recognized charitable status set up by Louis Pasteur in 1887, is today an internationally renowned center for biomedical research. In the pursuit of its mission to tackle diseases in France and throughout the world, the Institut Pasteur operates in four main areas: research, public health, training, and development of research applications. The Institut Pasteur is a globally recognized leader in infectious diseases, microbiology, and immunology, with research focusing on the biology of living systems. Among its areas of investigation are emerging infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, certain cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, and brain connectivity disorders. The Institut Pasteur's outstanding research is facilitated by the development of a technological environment of the highest standard, with core facilities for nanoimaging, computational biology and artificial intelligence. Since its inception, 10 Institut Pasteur scientists have been awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine, including two in 2008 for the 1983 discovery of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes AIDS.

The Institut Pasteur is part of the Pasteur Network, a worldwide network of more than 30 members on five continents, united by Pasteurian values, that contribute to global health.

Since July 1, 2021, the Institut Pasteur is a research partner organization of Universite Paris Cite.

www.pasteur.fr

Label: SENSORION

ISIN: FR0012596468

Mnemonic: ALSEN

Disclaimer

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements concerning Sensorion and its business. Such forward looking statements are based on assumptions that Sensorion considers to be reasonable. However, there can be no assurance that such forward-looking statements will be verified, which statements are subject to numerous risks, including the risks set forth in the 2022 full year financial report published on March 30, 2023, and available on our website and to the development of economic conditions, financial markets and the markets in which Sensorion operates. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to risks not yet known to Sensorion or not currently considered material by Sensorion. The occurrence of all or part of such risks could cause actual results, financial conditions, performance, or achievements of Sensorion to be materially different from such forward-looking statements. This press release and the information that it contains do not constitute an offer to sell or subscribe for, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase or subscribe for, Sensorion shares in any country. The communication of this press release in certain countries may constitute a violation of local laws and regulations. Any recipient of this press release must inform oneself of any such local restrictions and comply therewith.

______________________________

1 https://www.sensorion.com/en/category/press-releases/

5 january 2024 at 01:35

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CLOU Signs 480 MWh Battery Energy Storage System Purchase Order with Stella





NEW YORK, Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- CL Energy Storage Corporation (CLOU) has signed a purchase order with Stella Energy Solutions LLC (Stella), a leading independent power producer of battery storage energy solutions in the American market. According to the agreement, CLOU will deliver approximately 480 MWh of containerized battery energy storage systems and 200 MW of PCS Skid to Stella to support their rapidly growing clean energy projects.

Based in The Woodlands, Texas, USA, Stella is at the forefront of utility-scale clean energy industry, spearheading the development and construction of energy storage and solar infrastructure projects that are revolutionizing the landscape of American electric power generation. With an impressive track record, Stella team has successfully developed, built and operated over 2GW/4.4GWh of utility scale battery storage projects in the region, setting new benchmarks for resiliency and innovation in the industry. Their unwavering commitment to driving the transition towards cleaner and more efficient energy sources has solidified their position as a leader in the field.

Zhou Han, General Manager of CLOU Energy Storage Product Company, stated that Stella, as a company dedicated to advancing renewable energy solutions, possesses abundant resource advantages and operational experience in the American energy storage market. This collaboration marks an important step for CLOU in the American market and will contribute to the implementation of industry-leading energy storage products in the region, supporting the local market's transition to clean energy.

Gabe Costello, Senior Vice President of Project Execution at Stella, believes that CLOU, as an energy technology company under the Fortune 500 company Midea Group, not only has years of experience in the power industry but also strong research and development capabilities and a professional after-sales team. Their team has proven track record designing and commissioning end-to-end energy storage system solutions and customized services. This continued collaboration will ensure successful operations and realization of full value for the energy storage projects.

CLOU has established strategic cooperation agreements with several industry-leading companies, including Stella, to promote the development of energy storage businesses in the Americas and even globally. With a mission to make energy services more convenient and the world cleaner, CLOU is committed to putting customers at the center and providing leading energy storage products and services to empower the realization of value in various energy storage scenarios, thereby supporting the clean energy transition in North America and globally.

SOURCE CLOU Electronics Co., Ltd

5 january 2024 at 04:48

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Florida's Largest, Long-Standing Community Oncology Practice Establishes Management Services Organization





Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute Announces Intentions to Explore New Distributor and Group Purchasing Organization Partnerships

FORT MYERS, Fla., Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, LLC (FCS) announces plans to re-examine its partnerships with distributors and suppliers in 2024, further strengthening scalability efforts driven by its newly established management services organization (MSO). The statewide community oncology practice, which conducted over 3.4 million patient visits in 2023, will actively seek agile partners capable of managing the dynamic challenges and increased market pressures accompanying the delivery of oncology care.

Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute establishes MSO; plans to seek new distributor and GPO partnerships.

Increasingly, over time, the oncology market has been encumbered with drug shortages and a record number of price increases. Continual evaluation of service partners ensures alignment with FCS' mission and its ability to provide the same, if not better, quality of care and services at a superior value.

"The ideal partner will be aligned in our mission of providing patient-centered care and will keep pace with the increasing complexity of delivering high-value community oncology care," said FCS Chief Value and Procurement Officer Paul Chadwick.

As a partner for FCS, the distributor plays a critical role in serving as the conduit of care between drug manufacturers and patients and is responsible for leveraging expertise to negotiate and reduce costs for physicians and manufacturers.

"This synergy of manufacturer, distributor and clinician is the keystone to delivering value-based, high-quality care across our expanding network of community oncology clinics and ancillary services in Florida," said FCS President & Managing Physician Lucio N. Gordan, MD. "Patients look to us to oversee every aspect of their care, and a great portion involves the accessibility of advanced treatments. The onus lies in our hands to ensure that the cost of their care does not inhibit their ability to receive the best possible treatment option."

The synchronization of management services, clinical operations and vendor partnerships will be vital in FCS' ability to provide value-based care at scale across the practice's nearly 100 locations in Florida. At the start of the year, FCS instituted its own MSO to administer the non-clinical functions of the practice within a single, unified platform.

"The structure of the MSO is unique in that it creates value for both FCS patients and physicians, with a principal goal of enriching the overall experience and outcomes for all involved," said FCS Chief Executive Officer Nathan H. Walcker. "Partnerships with distributors and suppliers are key to effectively driving the scalability that will position FCS for future success and sustainability. Our goal is to align with best-in-class industry leaders who possess the business and clinical intelligence and tools that raise the bar and challenge the status quo to provide maximum value."

Demand for value-based care in the oncology market continues to rise. Despite having to navigate the obstacles presented by the current oncology environment, FCS has attained a successful track record in the value-based care space and has made significant adjustments to its services and data collection tactics to improve quality measures and clinical outcomes.

"The launch of our MSO is yet another strategic pivot that will further support our endeavors in the value-based oncology market. Dependencies have been created with central services, clinic operations and physician members, where each will now be accountable for attaining financial and operational goals to support the newly established ecosystem," said FCS Chief Development and Strategy Officer Josh Eaves.

"We anticipate issuing formal requests (RFPs) later this year to reassess our options for group purchasing and other critical services," says Chadwick. "It is our responsibility to ensure that vendor relationships align with our standards of excellence and targets for achieving maximum savings and efficiencies."

The newly established MSO will enable FCS to remain a leader in the constantly evolving oncology environment through enhanced, value-based oncology care and reinforcing financial stability. Through the delivery of a scaled suite of services to physicians, FCS is bringing a competitive platform to the ecosystem of oncology care in the US that will enhance access to care, bring more options for patients, and operate under patient-centric and value-focused principles.

About Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, LLC: (FLCancer.com)

Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS) offers patients access to more clinical trials than any private oncology practice in Florida. The majority of new cancer drugs recently approved for use in the U.S. were studied in clinical trials with FCS participation.* Recognized for our research, FCS is a recipient of the national Clinical Trials Participation Award presented by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). FCS physicians, trained in prestigious medical schools and research institutes, are consistently ranked nationally as Top Doctors by U.S. News & World Report.

Celebrating its 40th year in 2024, FCS has built a national reputation for excellence that is reflected in exceptional and compassionate patient care, driven by innovative clinical research, cutting-edge technologies and advanced treatments, including targeted therapies genomic-based treatment and immunotherapy. Our highest values are embodied by our outstanding team of highly trained and dedicated physicians, clinicians and staff.

*Prior to approval

SOURCE Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute

5 january 2024 at 07:45

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Kiromic BioPharma Reports Favorable Early Safety and Tolerability Data from First Patient Enrolled in the Phase 1 Deltacel-01 Clinical Trial





Kiromic BioPharma, Inc. (OTCQB: KRBP) ("Kiromic" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage, fully-integrated biotherapeutics company using its proprietary DIAMOND artificial intelligence and data mining platform to develop cell therapies with a focus on immuno-oncology, reports favorable safety and tolerability from the first patient 23 days after Deltaceltm infusion in the Phase 1 clinical trial for treatment of stage 4 metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at Beverly Hills Cancer Center, located in Beverly Hills, California, USA. Specifically, laboratory test results and observations by clinical staff identified no adverse events and confirmed that Deltacel is being well tolerated with initial safety profile. Continued monitoring of safety and tolerability will provide more insights as the trial enrolls additional patients.

Kiromic expects to report preliminary efficacy results from this patient by the end of January 2024. Two more patients are expected to be enrolled between January and February 2024.

"Our first-in-human clinical trial of Deltacel is proceeding very well and on plan," said Pietro Bersani, Chief Executive Officer of Kiromic. "With no adverse events observed during the first 23 days post-treatment, we have strong indication that Deltacel is well tolerated. We look forward to discussing updates with members of the investment community during our meetings next week in San Francisco, concurrent with the 42nd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference."

Investment professionals interested in meeting with Mr. Bersani, Chief Financial Officer Brian Hungerford and Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Leonardo Mirandola at LHA's offsite event being held January 8-10 should contact Tirth Patel at [email protected].

"We are very pleased to see favorable initial safety and tolerability data from the first patient treated in our Deltacel-01 study," said Dr. Afshin Eli Gabayan, Medical Oncologist, Medical Director, and Principal Investigator at Beverly Hills Cancer Center. "Seeing no adverse events reported 23 days after Deltacel infusion provides early validation that this novel cell therapy is well tolerated when combined with low dose radiation for lung cancer patients. We look forward to further evaluating optimal dose level, efficacy, and long-term safety outcomes as additional patients are enrolled and treated. If this promising initial data is replicated in more patients, Deltacel could become a new alternative treatment option for NSCLC patients."

About Deltacel-01

In Kiromic's open-label Phase 1 clinical trial, titled "Phase 1 Trial Evaluating the Safety and Tolerability of Gamma Delta T Cell Infusions in Combination With Low Dose Radiotherapy in Subjects With Stage 4 Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer" (NCT06069570), patients with stage 4 NSCLC will receive two intravenous infusions of Deltacel with four courses of low-dose, localized radiation over a 10-day period. The primary objective of the study is to evaluate safety, while secondary ones include objective response, progression-free survival, overall survival, time to progression, time to treatment response and disease control rates.

About Deltaceltm

Deltacel (KB-GDT-01) is an investigational gamma delta T-cell (GDT) therapy currently in the Deltacel-01 Phase 1 trial for the treatment of NSCLC. An allogeneic product consisting of unmodified, donor-derived gamma delta T cells, Deltacel is the leading candidate in Kiromic's GDT platform. Deltacel is designed to exploit the natural potency of GDT cells to target solid cancers, with an initial focus on NSCLC, the most prevalent type of lung cancer and representing about 80% to 85% of lung cancer cases. Data from two preclinical studies demonstrated Deltacel's favorable safety and efficacy profile when it was combined with low-dose radiation.

About Kiromic BioPharma

Kiromic BioPharma, Inc. is a clinical-stage, fully integrated biotherapeutics company using its proprietary DIAMOND artificial intelligence (AI) 2.0 target discovery engine to develop and commercialize cell therapies focusing on immuno-oncology. Kiromic is developing a multi-indication allogeneic cell therapy platform that exploits the natural potency of Gamma Delta T-cells to target solid tumors. Kiromic's DIAMOND AI is where data science meets target identification to dramatically compress the years and hundreds of millions of dollars required to develop a live drug. The Company maintains offices in Houston, Texas. To learn more, visit www.kiromic.com and connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

About Beverly Hills Cancer Center

As a private, academic, community-based cancer center, Beverly Hills Cancer Center not only provides the latest state-of-the-art cancer treatments all under one roof, but also provides leading clinical trials and research, attracting patients globally. By providing access to groundbreaking clinical trials, the Beverly Hills Cancer Center offers patients the opportunity to participate in the most advanced cancer treatments currently in development in the world. Beverly Hills Cancer Center is composed of an internationally recognized multidisciplinary medical team consisting of Medical Oncologists, Radiation Oncologists, Radiologists, Hematologists and Internists who provide exceptional patient care and support services including a robust and highly efficient team of clinical research professionals. More information is available on: www.BHCancerCenter.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Kiromic makes such forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and other federal securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as: "will," "potential," "could," "can," "believe," "intends," "continue," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "may," or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: Kiromic's ability to achieve its objectives and Kiromic's financing strategy and availability of funds. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, and as detailed from time to time in our other SEC filings. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee that the future results, levels of activity, performance, or events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur. Moreover, neither we nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements relate only to events as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements except to the extent required by law.

5 january 2024 at 08:10

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AshBritt Foundation Supports Nancy J. Cotterman Center





The AshBritt Foundation has committed $100,000 to the Nancy J. Cotterman Center in Broward County, Florida.

Randy Perkins, Founder and Chairman of AshBritt and the AshBritt Foundation, and AshBritt Chief Executive Officer, Brittany Perkins Castillo, presented the check at a recent Broward County Commissioners meeting.

The donation will be instrumental in funding operating supplies and needs of the Nancy J. Cotterman Center, including books and toys, clothes, and medical supplies for the center.

"AshBritt and the Perkins family, through our corporate foundation as well as the family's foundation, have a long history of supporting children's advocacy centers in Florida and across the country," said Randy Perkins, Founder and Chairman, AshBritt, Inc. and the AshBritt Foundation and member of the Board of Directors of Lauren's Kids. "From rebuilding the Gulf Coast Advocacy Center in Panama City following Hurricane Michael to supporting the operating needs of the Cotterman Center today, we hold deep appreciation for the work of counselors, social workers, medical professionals, law enforcement, attorneys, county staff, volunteers - all the people these centers bring together to advocate tirelessly for children and families impacted by crimes against children. We are proud to support this center in providing critical services for our community."

"The work done at Broward County's Nancy J. Cotterman Center is so important to this community," said Monica Cepero, County Administrator. "As the County's only Certified Sexual Assault Program, Accredited Children's Advocacy Center and Child Protection, its work turns victims into survivors. It's very encouraging to see that others recognize this and support their programs and services. I am incredibly grateful for the AshBritt Foundation's generous donation to the Center. Their support means so much and will go a long way."

Media wishing to request interviews should contact Madeline Seaman at [email protected].

About AshBritt

AshBritt is a national rapid-response emergency management, turn-key logistics, and disaster debris removal contractor. Since its inception in 1992, AshBritt has conducted over 460 disaster response missions and 30 special environmental projects, successfully serving more than 600 clients across the United States. The AshBritt team has been directly involved in the recovery efforts of more than 85 federally declared disasters in over 30 states, responding to major weather events, like Hurricanes Ian, Harvey, Irma, and Michael, wildfires in northern California, historic flooding in Kentucky, and even mobilizing during the COVID-19 pandemic to administer more than 1.5 million vaccines across 12 states. Through the AshBritt Foundation, AshBritt supports communities where our team lives and works, investing more than $10 million across the U.S. Learn more at AshBritt.com.

About the Nancy J Cotterman Center

The Nancy J. Cotterman Center (NJCC), Broward County's only Certified Sexual Assault Program, ?Accredited ?Ch??ildren's Advocacy Center and Child Protection Team???, improves and enhances the quality of life for survivors of sexual assault, child abuse and human trafficking through effective forensically sensitive interventions, implemented by professionals specializing in these fields. For more information on services call 954-357-5775 or visit the website, or follow NJCC on Facebook. The confidential 24/7 sexual assault helpline number is 954-761-RAPE.

5 january 2024 at 08:10

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AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Hong Leong Insurance (Asia) Limited





AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of "a-" (Excellent) of Hong Leong Insurance (Asia) Limited (HLIA). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect HLIA's balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

HLIA's very strong balance sheet strength is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalisation at the strongest level, as measured by Best's Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). The company maintained low underwriting leverage and mild growth in capital and surplus (C&S) over the past five fiscal years. Offsetting factors include its modest C&S level, moderate dependency on reinsurance and investment concentration in real estate properties.

HLIA's strong operating performance is supported by its better-than-average underwriting profitability. The company reported double-digit growth in gross premium written in the fiscal year that ended 30 June 2023, supported by recovery of travel insurance following the removal of COVID-19-related travel restrictions. Going forward, AM Best expects HLIA to benefit from good growth momentum in its top line and improved operational efficiency, which should help to stablise the underwriting margin and contribute to higher earnings as the portfolio grows. While the company's investment performance experienced negative capital market volatility in fiscal year end 30 June 2023, the impact was partially mitigated by the more stable investment income sourced from listed equity dividends and rental income.

The company's business profile is assessed as limited. HLIA's presence in Hong Kong's general insurance market is small but its market share remains stable. Historically, the company has focused on personal lines, including travel and domestic helper insurance via direct sales; however, in more recent years, HLIA has expanded its portfolio into commercial lines via the broker channel. Other successful initiatives include the cross-selling of personal insurance to its existing client base, and digitalisation of underwriting and claim process to improve customer experience and increase client retention.

Negative rating actions could occur if HLIA experiences sustained negative operating performance below the market average; for example, due to consistently material lower investment yields or a diminished underwriting margin. Negative rating actions also could occur if there is significant deterioration in the company's risk-adjusted capitalisation. A deterioration in the credit profile of HLIA's parent companies, Hong Leong Financial Group Berhad and Hong Leong Company (Malaysia) Berhad, also may have a negative impact on HLIA's ratings. Although not likely in the short to medium term, positive rating actions could occur if HLIA achieves material improvement in business profile; for example, a significant strengthening of its market position, while maintaining strong operating performance.

Ratings are communicated to rated entities prior to publication. Unless stated otherwise, the ratings were not amended subsequent to that communication.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best's website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best's Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best's Credit Ratings, Best's Performance Assessments, Best's Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best's Ratings & Assessments.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright  2024 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

5 january 2024 at 10:25

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LETTER FROM SAO PAULO

The Tupinamba people's coat from the National Museum of Denmark. ROBERTO FORTUNA / CC-BY-SA / MUSeE NATIONAL DU DANEMARK

There are only 11 of them on the planet, and each one is a priceless treasure. Tupinamba coats, made entirely of reddish feathers, are considered to be among the most precious artifacts ever produced by the native peoples of the Americas. As an unprecedented goodwill gesture, in 2024, one of them will leave the National Museum of Denmark's collections to cross the Atlantic and be returned to Brazil.

Measuring one meter, 20 centimeters high, woven from natural fibers and covered with thousands of red ibis feathers, this ruby-toned jewel is remarkably well preserved. "No mineral, no fossil, no artifact in the world can rival this coat. Quite simply, it is the most important Brazilian ethnographic piece kept abroad!" said Alexander Kellner, a paleontologist and the director of the National Museum of Rio de Janeiro, where the precious ornament will now be on display.

Worn during traditional and sacred rituals, Tupinamba cloaks have long captured Europeans' imagination. Bought, bartered or simply stolen from the natives, they were all the rage at royal courts, depicted in engravings, canvases, tapestries and frescoes, such as on the ceiling of the Versailles Palace's Salon d'Apollon, painted by Charles de la Fosse in the 17th century. Only 11 of these fragile ornaments have officially survived. But none are on display in Brazil.

Read more Subscribers only 'The end of colonial denial': Restitution is underway in European museums

The "Copenhagen coat" had been kept in Denmark since 1689. "For us, its restitution is both a painful and exciting process," said Christian Sune Pedersen, a researcher and the director of the National Museum's collections. "Painful because this coat was dear to the hearts of the Danes and exciting because we understood its immense importance for the Indigenous peoples of Brazil. We're convinced we made the right decision!"

'Not mere works of art'

Negotiated for years by Brazilian diplomats, its restitution owes much first and foremost to the advocacy of the Tupinamba, particularly those living around the town of Olivenca, in the south of the state of Bahia. Wiped out by Portuguese settlers, the Tupinamba have been fighting for two decades to have their rights to their traditional land  47,000 hectares (4.5 times the size of Paris), home to 4,600 inhabitants along the Atlantic coast  approved and recognized by the government.

For the Tupinamba, the quest for a land and for the coat went hand in hand. The impetus came from a colorful personality named Gliceria Tupinamba, a 41-year-old native of the Olivenca region. This artist, activist and researcher set out to resume weaving the ritual apparel. Since 2006, she has successfully made three of them, one of which was exhibited for several months this year at the Casa do Povo ("People's House"), a major cultural institution in Sao Paulo, in partnership with the Museum of Contemporary Art (MAC USP).

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Sub-Saharan migrants in Sfax, July 2023 HOUSSEM ZOUARI / AFP

For more than a week, Kone, a young Ivorian, has had no news of his half-sister. All he knows is that 15-year-old Mariam is being held hostage by other migrants in Sfax, Tunisia's second largest city. Mariam is not alone. Since October, there have been worrying reports of a new form of trafficking in the country. Sub-Saharan migrants of various nationalities are being kidnapped and detained in Sfax with the aim of holding their relatives to ransom. Their release can cost several hundred euros.

Le Monde Afrique was able to gather several corroborating testimonies from relatives of the victims, information on their whereabouts and documents showing several money transfers for their release. The authorities are working with lawyers and human rights organizations to put an end to this phenomenon, which is linked to repression suffered by migrants from sub-Saharan Africa in Tunisia.

Read more France's new immigration law raises new barriers for African students

According to the account of her half-brother, who lives on the outskirts of Sfax, Mariam left Man, on the west coast of Cote d'Ivoire, for Mali before reaching Algeria in November. "It was her boyfriend back home who sent her there," he said. After a week, the young girl managed to cross the Tunisian border and ended up in Kasserine, in the center-west of the country. "There, she called me on someone else's phone. She didn't have hers anymore," Kone continued. "A Tunisian driver offered to take her to Sfax, her destination, for 200, as she was not able to use public transport."

A new phenomenon

Following Tunisian President Kais Saied's statement in February 2023 that the arrival of sub-Saharan Africans in the country was part of a "criminal plan to change the composition of the demographic landscape," living conditions for migrants in Tunisia rapidly deteriorated. Violence peaked in July, when hundreds of sub-Saharan Africans were expelled from Sfax by the police and left in the desert with no means of subsistence. Since then, the Tunisian authorities have threatened to punish anyone transporting illegal immigrants. Parallel market prices rose immediately.

Read more Tunisia is plagued by the demons of racism

To pay for Mariam's journey, Kone was able to rely on a transfer from a relative in Europe, paid to the driver. But when she arrived in Sfax, the driver "sold her to Cameroonians and Ivorians," said her half-brother. The kidnappers demanded 1,000 dinars (around 300) to release the teenager. Having arrived in Tunisia less than two months ago, the young man had no source of income. He had never been to the town of Sfax, where Mariam was still believed to be. "I told them I didn't have any money at the moment. Now they've blocked all the numbers I know, and I've had no news for over a week. The family is very worried and calls me every day, but I don't know what to do."

Hamida Chaieb, a lawyer and member of the steering committee of the Tunisian Human Rights League (LTDH), has received several reports of kidnappings since October. "This phenomenon did not exist before," she said, describing the same methods. "These are migrants who come from Algeria or who have been expelled at the border by law enforcement agents. In the border areas, Tunisian conveyors usually take them to Sfax, where they hand them over to sub-Saharan migrants who hold them captive. The amounts vary and can reach up to 2,000 Tunisian dinars."

'His older brother paid $300'

According to the lawyer, the cases are now being handled in close collaboration with the public prosecutor's office and the Tunis criminal brigade. Several arrests have already been made, despite initial reluctance. "At first, the police did not believe it because there were cases of people who lied to their relatives so that the latter would send them money," said Chaieb.

But the reality became clear as the kidnappings increased. Le Monde counted at least five. "The police were afraid to intervene because some of the individuals were armed. In the cases I handled, they eventually went back but didn't find them  they had already moved on," Chaieb continued. She said that at least two persons who had been freed after paying a ransom were in a position to testify.

Bamba, 37, has been living for several months in El Oued, in the Algerian desert near the border with Tunisia. This Ivorian was contacted by at least three victims of this form of trafficking in Sfax. They had saved his number before leaving El Oued. Bamba was able to help their relatives send them the sums demanded by the kidnappers. Issa, a young Guinean and former fellow traveler, was one of them.

"They left them their phone so that they could contact their relatives," said Bamba, who provided Le Monde with the last known whereabouts of his friend and two other acquaintances, as well as receipts for money transfers in CFA francs, dollars and euros sent by the victims' relatives. According to him, Issa left El Oued for Tunisia on December 12.

Arriving in Sfax by his own means, he followed some "young Ivorians" who allegedly offered to let him spend the night with them. "He tried to contact his correspondent there, who was supposed to help him find accommodation, but it was late, and the person didn't answer the phone," he recounted. The next morning, the "bandits" prevented Issa from leaving and demanded money, arguing that he had to pay "the price of the cab and accommodation"  350. "For them, it's like a job. They started beating him up and gave him the phone to call his family. I got in touch with his older brother, who paid $300. He didn't want his brother to be tortured."

Read more Subscribers only Tortured migrants cared for at Palermo hospital

Bamba has not heard from his friend since. After a long journey through Libya and Algeria, he decided to "calm down a bit" and endure the living conditions of the El Oued desert for a while longer, after witnessing the fate doled out to his companions in Tunisia on their journey to Europe.
On the morning of Wednesday, December 6, Russia's colors were flying in the skies over the Persian Gulf. Emirati fighter jets released thick wisps of white, blue and red smoke. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) was hosting Vladimir Putin on an official visit, as would Saudi Arabia, a few hours later. It was a far cry from the martyrdom undergone at the same time by the people of Gaza. Yet the Russian president's brief escapade in Arab lands illustrated one of the laws of today's world: Alliances aren't what they used to be.

The Russian president arrived aboard his Ilyushin-96, escorted by four Sukhoi-355s, displaying his country's military strength and status as a great power. Amid the Ukraine and Gaza wars, the Kremlin's strongman was greeted with great pomp and ceremony, in Abu Dhabi as in Riyadh, by two countries close to the United States. The first lesson was a confirmation: Putin is not a pariah in the Arab world. And it wasn't just any country in the Arab world. Both of his hosts belong to the Western zone of influence in the Middle East. The UAE (1.2 million citizens) and Saudi Arabia (35 million) depend on Washington for their security.

The two local strongmen, the UAE's Mohammed bin Zayed (known as "MBZ") and Saudi Arabia's Mohammed bin Salman ("MBS"), at the helm of two oil powers, are informal strategic allies of Washington. But, in a sign of the times, they are not aligned with American policy. On Ukraine, for example, they have observed strict neutrality.

Read more Subscribers only 'MBS': The ambitious prince who wants to rebuild Arabia

MBZ and MBS have confirmed a movement of political emancipation on the part of two monarchies historically close to America. Just 10 or 15 years ago, the Americans could count on their Gulf friends to vote for them at the UN with their eyes closed. Today, they are openly flirting with China and Russia.

'A strategic dilemma'

It's another characteristic of the times: The countries of the global South, especially the rich ones, refuse to choose a camp or bloc. Depending on the subject, they sometimes follow the Russian-Chinese leadership, sometimes the Western group. Infidelity is part of the system. You can be in a relationship with the United States for defense, but in business with Russia. Divorce is not compulsory. Alliances are flexible, much more so than during the Cold War. While the UAE and Saudi Arabia are firmly in the West's strategic camp, they are also preparing to join the BRICS, the emerging nations that are challenging the West's pre-eminence on the international stage.

Read more Subscribers only The West and areas of the Global South divided over Palestine

The UAE celebrated the Russian president, yet at the same time it has signed a deal to buy American radar detection systems to counter Iran, Moscow's strategic ally. The Emirates refused to condemn Putin's aggression in Ukraine, and have played a role in circumventing the economic sanctions imposed by the West against the Russians. Nevertheless, the Pentagon recently welcomed Abu Dhabi as a "vital partner for political stability" in the region.

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Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba announced contacts with the new Polish government at all levels to resolve existing problematic issues.

"Regarding Poland. The story is complex. The visit of Sikorski [the head of the Polish Foreign Ministry] on December 22, he brought and conveyed to the president certain signals from the new Polish government, voiced Poland's vision for solving these problems. We saw a commitment to solving problems. But now they need to be resolved. And then there will be contacts with the new Polish government at all levels, I will say this. I won't go into specifics for now, but they are already planned. We will look for solutions," Kuleba said during a live broadcast on Instagram with journalist Vadym Karpiak.

The Foreign Minister said "in the end, the victory of Ukraine is the vital interest of Poland and the issue of Poland's survival as well. For this, problems will need to be solved."

On December 22, Polish Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski, during a meeting in Kyiv with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, voiced new proposals for bilateral cooperation and expressed a strong desire to support Ukraine both economically and militarily.

Sikorski also, at a press conference with Kuleba in Kyiv, stated the need to restore the conditions of fair competition in trade between the two countries, so that everyone receives benefits.
THERE has been no consultant forensic psychiatrist in-reach service within Limerick Prison for the last three months, the Irish Prison Service has confirmed.

The Limerick Leader learned of the matter after a barrister raised concerns, during a recent court case, for their client, who had been remanded in custody for months.

Judge Dermot Sheehan, presiding, said he was sorry prisoners don't have access to a consultant psychiatrist.

It is obviously of major importance in the prison system, said Judge Sheehan.

The purpose of forensic psychiatry is the assessment, care and treatment of mentally disordered offenders and others requiring similar services, according to the Royal College of Psychiatrists in London.

The Leader put a number of questions to the Irish Prison Service in relation to Limerick Prison having no consultant forensic psychiatrist in-reach service. They declined to answer if the person formerly employed in the role left or retired.

A spokesperson for the Irish Prison Service said the Mental Health Task Force report was published on September 30, 2022 by Ministers Helen McEntee and Stephen Donnelly.

The Irish Prison Service welcomed the publication of this report and believe that the report provides a clear roadmap to developing services for persons who come in contact with the criminal justice system and are suffering from a severe and enduring mental illness.

The implementation of a number of the recommendations will fundamentally improve mental health services for persons committed to custody with serious mental illness, said the spokesperson.

They said the Irish Prison Service also collaborate with the National Forensic Mental Health Service (NFMHS) to ensure the appropriate provision of psychiatric services to those in custody with a psychiatric diagnosis such as schizophrenia, psychosis and major mood disorder in all closed prisons.

There has been no consultant forensic psychiatrist in-reach service in Limerick Prison since early October.

However, as an interim measure, a consultant psychiatrist from Limerick Mental Health Services has been providing an in-reach service at Limerick Prison for the last two weeks, said the spokesperson just before Christmas.

They concluded by saying, The consultant psychiatrist is being assisted by the assistant director of nursing from the local mental health services. This interim measure will remain in place until a consultant forensic psychiatrist is appointed to Limerick Prison by the National Forensic Mental Health Service.

Limerick Prison, on Mulgrave Street, has an operational capacity for 210 men and 28 women.

It is the committal prison for males for counties Clare, Limerick and Tipperary and for females for all of Munster.
RESEARCHERS have been given 50,000 in funding for a book which looks at life through the eyes of a young person who has a parent behind bars.

Staff at University of Limerick are creating the book - named Kids Own alongside young vulnerable people who have a mother or father who is incarcerated.

Following this, the college researchers may produce other books to support other marginalised communities.

Its been made available thanks to a new stream of government funding, entitled What Works.

Its designed to promote the collection and use of data in prevention and early intervention services for children and young people.

Organisations could apply for up to 50,000 under this fund, the allocations of which were announced by Children's Minister Roderic OGorman.

Elsewhere, the St Gabriels Foundation which provides services to children with disabilities from across the region, has received 49,200 under the fund.

Based in Dooradoyle, its project is seeking to use data to assess the clinical therapeutic supports given to students of schools which are designated as Deis across the city.

The Deis designation is normally reserved for schools in areas of high deprivation.

In total, Mr OGorman announced funding worth 653,287 to organisations across the country.

Many of these provide a service to Limerick, despite not being based here.

An early learning initiative being run by the National College of Ireland is getting 50,000.

A youth service programme focused on the needs of youngsters who identify as lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual or queer is receiving 49,999.

The Irish Foster Care Association is to get 49,938.

Jigsaw, which provides mental health supports to people up to the age of 25, will get 50,000.

Down Syndrome centres nationwide, including at Castletroy, are to get 49,970. And a group which supports one-parent families is getting 50,000 under the scheme.

The national forum of family resource centres is getting 50,000, while a nationwide child development initiative has secured 40,000.
REGISTRATION has opened for the 9th edition of Team Limerick Clean-Up.

Ireland's largest one-day clean up takes place on Good Friday, March 29 across the city and county.

Founders of the Team Limerick Clean-Up initiative, JP McManus, Paul OConnell and Helen ODonnell, are urging volunteers to sign up early on www.teamlimerickcleanup.ie.

To support the circular economy, litter pickers will be given to new volunteer groups only, as regular groups will have stock from previous years clean ups.

This year, volunteers are encouraged to invite new neighbours to join them and to foster an even stronger sense of pride in their community and care for their local environment.

To help with this, TLC will be providing supplies for the popular tea and coffee gatherings, which will be held at locations throughout the city and county.

Last year, over 21,500 volunteers took part in TLC8. This was made up of 568 groups, including 85 schools and 56 businesses.

Later in January, TLC will be releasing a brand-new podcast with well-known media presenter Meghann Scully as host.

Commenting on the TLC9 launch, Mayor of the City and County of Limerick, Cllr Gerald Mitchell said: "With the promise of Spring in the air it is time for a call to action for Irelands largest one-day clean up.

"We are very fortunate in Limerick that TLC has become a firmly established highlight in the annual calendar of events.

"It brings people together and helps to instil a sense of pride while showing how much the people of Limerick care for the environment. Lets all heed the call and together we will create a cleaner and greener Limerick."

Founding member Helen O'Donnell expressed her delight at the growing popularity of the initiative, saying: "Its brilliant to see the growth in popularity of TLC year-on-year. Limerick has always held such passion for its county and its people, and every Good Friday we see the best of that. Lets make TLC9 even better than the last."

Deadline for registration for this years event is Friday, March 15 for schools and businesses and Monday, March 18 for volunteer groups.

Sponsored by the JP McManus Benevolent Fund and supported by Limerick City and County Council, TLC last year saw 59 tonnes of litter collected, which is equivalent to approximately 2400 household wheelie bins.

Official TLC partners are Mr. Binman, Limerick Leader, Limerick Post, I Love Limerick, Elive, Live95 and Dunnes Stores.
WEEKEND discharge rates in one Limerick hospital are among the country's worst, according to the Minister for Health.

Minister Stephen Donnelly said that the University Hospital Limerick (UHL) has the second lowest weekend discharge rate of any hospital in the country in an interview this Friday morning.

Nationally, 504 people are waiting for beds in hospitals this Friday morning, January 5, 2024. 96 patients are on trolleys in UHL today, according to the INMO, with 42 of them in the emergency department.

If you look at the weekend discharge rate - for me, this is a very good measure of the hospitals that are running seven days a week on behalf of patients - Limerick has the second lowest weekend discharge rate of any hospital in the country, Minister Donnelly said.

Saying that there should be good practice in all the hospitals, the Minister also said that he thinks there are changes in terms of patient flow and patient management that need to be made.

Minister Donnelly also confirmed that a 96 bed unit is in construction in UHL and will be completed later this year. As well as this, there has been funding allocated for the enabling of works for a second 98 bed unit.
RTE's First Dates returned to our screens last night and one guest was the topic of conversation over his 'rude' behaviour on the show.

There was actually double success a number couples on the night as they confirmed a second date.

But one of the participants, Ciaran, became something of a pantomime villian for his behaviour on the show.

Some viewers suggested some less than charitable actions in response to his antics.

And there was a lot of sympathy for his date, Hanson, with many feeling sorry for how uncomfortable he was made to feel.

A number couples on the night confirmed a second date, however, even if Ciaran seems to have stolen the headlines.

I don't normally comment on TV but this Ciaran fella on #firstdatesirl is arrogant, rude, dismissive &self centered. Terrible behaviour. Someone needs to teach him some manners. pic.twitter.com/jultO59bWy  Lorraine McElgunn Teevan (@LorrieTee) January 4, 2024

I really want to shove Ciaran off a cliff. He's actually making poor Hanson so uncomfortable. He's so rude!! #FirstDatesirl pic.twitter.com/c6PGz4Mb6B  Alan (@Sam1AmNot) January 4, 2024

Its a yes for Tom and Elly!And hopefully lots more mementos for Toms keep safe #FirstDatesIRL pic.twitter.com/YsGu7d3ZUx  RTE2 (@RTE2) January 4, 2024

Maybe charity shopping just isnt for everyone#FirstDatesIRL returns this Thursday at 9:35pm on RTE2 pic.twitter.com/gJhV8rhsU9  RTE2 (@RTE2) December 30, 2023

The second episode of the popular show airs on Thursday, January 11.
The Minister for Health has avoided voicing his confidence in the management who were in place at University Hospital Limerick at the time of teenager Aoife Johnston's death.

In an interview with Morning Ireland on RTE Radio 1 this Friday, when directly asked about his confidence in the current hospital management - who were also in place at the time of the 16-year-old's death - Stephen Donnelly pivoted and instead opted to highlight the appointment of a new regional executive officer, Sandra Broderick, whom he praised as "excellent" and someone he has confidence in. "I know she is on the ground, I know she is doing a good job," he stated.

However, his avoidance of explicitly endorsing the management in place at the time of Aoife Johnston's death raised questions.

Pressed further on whether this lack of explicit confidence suggested dissatisfaction with the management at the time of Aoife's death, Minister Donnelly acknowledged the need for reform in patient flow and patient management.

He pointed to practices highlighted in the report on the tragic death of the student, citing concerns he had previously raised with the hospital.

Aoife, who was from Shannon in Co Clare, passed away after a 12-hour wait in the UHL emergency department on December 19, 2022, having been diagnosed with bacterial meningitis and sepsis.

"When I read the report into the tragic death of Aoife Johnston, there were practices being followed in terms of rostering which I had personally raised with the hospital previously and asked to be changed, and on this weekend they certainly hadn't been changed," said the minister. "I welcome Bernard Gloster's accelerated appointment of the new regional executive officer."

Ms Broderick, who began her post on Monday, December 18, 2023, was parachuted into the role sooner than other members of staff, who are due to assume their new positions in March 2024.

Commenting in December 2023 on the move to appoint Ms Broderick as chief executive of the HSE Mid-West health region before others, Mr Gloster, CEO of the HSE, said: "I have considered it is necessary at this time to proceed ahead of the changes in other regions and to make this intervention in the Mid-West."

When discussing infrastructural developments at UHL, specifically the construction of a new 96-bed unit and funding for the enabling works of a second 98-bed unit, the minister said: "[Looking] at the investment per hospital in the country over the recent years, the hospital that has had the single biggest investment is UHL."

In a breakdown, the minister confirmed that close to nearly 100 beds have been added since the government came to power. He added that 200 more beds will also be added. Regarding the budget, he stated that it has increased by nearly 20% and that the workforce has increased by a third, by more than a thousand people.

"We now have safe staffing fully funded in the wards in the emergency departments".

Questions have been raised over staffing levels on the weekend Aoife Johnston presented at the hospital with bacterial meningitis and sepsis.

"Running the hospital using the practices we know work in places like Waterford, is going to finally provide people in that region with the urgent and emergency care services they need and haven't had for a very long time," he stated.

With new beds set to open, the Minister expressed dissatisfaction with the hospital's proposal to close existing wards. "What I want to see is the greatest number of beds available for patients in the Limerick region," the minister stated.

After the report detailing the internal review was published in December 2023, Damien Tansey, the solicitor representing the Johnston family, reiterated the announcement that the CEO of the HSE and the Minister for Health offered to meet the Johnston family.

In an interview with Morning Ireland on RTE Radio 1 this Thursday, the family's representative stated: "We certainly indicated our willingness to participate in that meeting, it hasn't moved beyond that point." He added: "We will attend as soon as a concrete invitation emerges".

In this morning's interview, Minister Donnelly confirmed that the meeting is now scheduled to take place "soon in Limerick," where he intends to address the family's concerns in person.
A new report on the number of homeless people in the country has been labelled as "shocking" by a homelessness charity.

Focus Ireland made the comment on their X (formerly Twitter) page today (December 5), following the release of the report by the Department of Housing.

The new figures - which were recorded during the last week in November 2023 - reveal a record number of homeless people across the State, with 9,409 homeless adults and 4,105 homeless children.

In total, it found over 13,500 people are accessing emergency accommodation.

According to the report, the number of homeless children rose by a massive 16% between November 2022 and November 2023, and an overall increase of 1,972 on the total number of people in emergency accommodation was also found in the same time period.

In their post, a Focus Ireland spokesperson stated: "New figures just issued report a shocking record total of 13,514 people homeless. This includes a record total of 4,105 children. The Govt must act now to maximise the number of long-term homeless households moving out of homelessness and into their own home.

"In the past two years more social housing has been delivered than for many years. If a fairer share of new social housing was allocated to those homeless for long periods we could reduce the harm caused by homelessness and ensure enough temporary accommodation for those who need it."

Executive Director of the Simon Communities of Ireland, Wayne Stanley, also commented on the news.

Latest Homelessness Figures released today show there are now 13,514 men, women and children in emergency homeless accommodation across Ireland. This is an increase of 1,972 people (17%) since last year.

Read the full statement here: https://t.co/V1gDYlmpF9 pic.twitter.com/ZSMdGCriiu  Simon Communities (@SimonCommunity) January 5, 2024

In a statement published today, he said, "This shocking level of homelessness documented in the figures released today must be placed into context. Each of the men, women, and 4,105 children that these figures represent are experiencing a preventable trauma.

"That level of suffering demands action. We know that the primary solution to homelessness is a home. Up to very recently, Governments have been heavily reliant on the private rental market to address social housing need.

"There are a multitude of reports that outline the difficulty of finding a home in the private rental market including our own Locked out of the Market report. This is no longer a viable answer to homelessness at the scale that we see today."

He continued: "Addressing the current homelessness crisis will require Government to work with local authorities to ensure more secure affordable homes are made available to those in homelessness and that we see increased delivery of social housing in the years ahead.

"There is also a need for a renewed commitment to keeping those at risk of homelessness in the home they have. Keeping to the commitment made in December 2022 to progress the Simon Homeless Prevention Bill and building the capacity of the tenant in situ scheme where a local authority can purchase a home if the landlord is selling up are two actions that would help to prevent homelessness in 2024."

The report noted 2,000 families are accessing emergency accommodation, over half of whom are single-parent families, marking an increase of 384 compared to the year prior.

The vast majority of homeless people (6,790, or 72%) were found to be in Dublin, followed by 545 in Cork City and county, 361 in Limerick, 273 in Galway, 232 in Meath, and 180 in Louth.

Roscommon was found to be the county with the fewest homeless people (14), followed by Leitrim and Longford with just 15 homeless people each.

One hundred and forty seven people were found to be homeless in Kildare, with 48 in Wicklow, 31 in Laois, 53 in Offaly, 68 in Westmeath, 69 in Clare, 29 in Monaghan/Cavan, 62 in Donegal, 67 in Sligo, 33 in Carlow, 46 in Kilkenny, 40 in Tipperary, 94 in Waterford, 64 in Wexford, 45 in Kerry, and 87 in Mayo.

Outside of Dublin, most homeless child dependents were located in the West and South-West areas of the country.

This includes counties Cork, Kerry, Galway, Mayo, and Roscommon.

The fewest number of children in emergency accommodation were found in the North-West, which includes counties Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo.

The Department's homelessness data is published every month and refers to the number of homeless people in emergency accommodation funded and overseen by housing authorities during a specific count week, usually the last week of each month.

The latest report covers the number of people who were accessing emergency accommodation during the week of November 20 to November 26 2023.
As the Indian government prepares for the impending Interim Budget 2024, leaders in the technology and gaming sectors are optimistic and anticipate potential advantages stemming from the forthcoming vote-on-account and the Interim Budget.

Amrit Kiran Singh, the President of The Skill Online Games Institute, emphasized the urgent need for a comprehensive review of the astronomical GST hike that has significantly impacted the Skilled Online Games industry.

He said, The Skilled Online Games industry has correctly been promised a review of the astronomical GST increase by the Finance Minister, that it has been hit with last year."

Singh pointed out that this borderless industry, fueled by innovation, is facing an unlevel playing field for Indian companies, leading to closures, downsizing, and razor-thin profit margins. He highlighted the global scale of the Online Games industry, which is nearly three times the size of the combined worldwide Movie and Music industry. Singh argued that the negative aspects of the gaming industry could be effectively minimized through technological interventions, such as implementing restrictions on players' gaming duration.

Government and industry need to work together with the aim of minimising the negatives and maximising the positives that this huge industry can provide for the Indian economy and the jobs situation. In this context I would appeal to the government for the promised "GST review" at the earliest. The vote on account (mini-budget) is as good a time as any," added the President of SOGI.

Yash Agarwal, a tech-policy expert and founder of Public Policy India, predicts the broader tech policy landscape, highlighting the government's shift towards a mix of incentives (carrots) and taxation measures (sticks) to promote local manufacturing and value addition.

Agarwal anticipates that this trend will continue, expecting a combination of measures in the Interim Budget to encourage more tech-related businesses to establish themselves in India.

In conclusion, as the nation awaits the Interim Budget, the online gaming industry's plea for a GST review takes center stage. The government's response to these expectations will play a crucial role in shaping the future trajectory of these dynamic industries, balancing economic growth with regulatory considerations.

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Billionaire investor Bill Ackman has defended his wife Neri Oxman from plagiarism accusations leveled against her regarding her Ph.D. dissertation titled 'Material-based Design Computation'. He also seemed to imply that the allegations, for which Oxman in a previous post on X (formerly known as Twitter), acknowledged and apologised for, were targetted attacks.

"You know that you struck a chord when they go after your wife, in this case, my love and partner in life," he wrote on X, adding, "I am one of the most fortunate people in the universe in large part because of Neri." Also Read: Bill Ackman's clash with Harvard over stock gift reveals the messy world of big donations He also linked Oxman's apology and explanation post on the issue. "Please see her post below about todays Business Insider piece about her dissertation. Part of what makes her human is that she makes mistakes, owns them, and apologizes when appropriate." Ackman went on to extoll Oxman's record as a "former tenured professor at MIT, author of 74 peer-reviewed papers, eight peer-reviewed book chapters, and numerous other journal papers and proceedings". "She has been awarded 15 patents for various innovations, and her work has been featured in 116 exhibitions around the world including two recent retrospectives at the Museum of Modern Art and SF MoMA. If you would like to learn more about Neri, I encourage you to watch her podcast with Lex Fridman," he wrote, adding a link to Oxman's work. Also Read: Bill Ackman's ruthless quest to oust college presidents Neri Oxman's Statement Oxman in her post, acknowledged the oversight in giving proper credit as due and explained the miss was unintentional. She also stated her intention to check on all the call-outs and make edits where needed.

"Unfortunately, because some of the original sources are not online, and Business Insider was unwilling to give me beyond 4 pm to review these citations, I cannot confirm whether Business Insider or the sources I referenced for this paragraph are correct. When I obtain access to the original sources, I will check all of the above citations and request that MIT make any necessary corrections," she wrote.

Also Read | Too much risk in the world: Billionaire investor Bill Ackman

"As I have dedicated my career to advancing science and innovation, I have always recognized the profound importance of the contributions of my peers and those who came before me. I hope that my work is helpful to the generations to come. I am also incredibly grateful for the 15 years I spent at MIT beginning when I enrolled in the PhD program in 2005, obtained my PhD in 2010, and later joined the faculty that same year. I became a tenured member of the faculty in 2017 and then left MIT in 2020 after I got married, became a mother, and moved to New York City," she added.

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Gautam Adani, Chairperson of the Adani Group of companies has overtaken Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani on the Bloomberg Billionaire's Index (BBI), to become India's and Asia's richest man.

While Adani has seen his worth climb into the top 12 on the world rankings, Ambani is just one rung below at 13. Both have moved up spots since last year.

Earlier in December 2023, the billionaire had climbed to the 15th spot, reaching within close distance of Ambani who was then at 14.

Net Worth

With a net worth of $97.6 billion, the Adani Group founder is now the world's 12th richest person and the richest Indian and Asian on the list. He has gained $7.67 billion from the last list position and amassed $13.3 billion year-to-date (YTD). Earlier last year, Adani saw his net worth slide many spots amid the Hindenberg allegations.

In January 2023, Hindenburg Research, a New York-based short seller, accused the Adani Group of prolonged stock manipulation and accounting irregularities. These claims were refuted by the Adani Group. After these allegations, declines in the stock prices of Adani Group companies resulted in a staggering decrease of almost 60 percent in Adani's fortune, plummeting by up to $69 billion.

Source of Wealth

Ahmedabad's Adani Group, led by Gautam Adani, stands as a key infrastructure conglomerate in India. It owns the nation's largest private port and has a prominent role in global coal trading. Adani Enterprises, the flagship company within the group, disclosed revenues amounting to $17 billion for the fiscal year concluding on March 31, 2023.

Gautam Adani's wealth primarily stems from his ownership in six publicly traded companies affiliated with the Adani Group, the conglomerate he established.

As per the BBI, Adani's companies and stakes (via promoter group and through the Adani family trust) include the publicly traded companies -- Adani Enterprises (73 percent); Adani Green Energy (56 percent); Adani Ports (66 percent); Adani Power (70 percent); Adani Transmission (68 percent); Adani Energy Solutions (73 percent), and Adani Total Gas (37 percent).

Other Indians in Top50

RIL's Ambani is now India and Asia's second richest man at the 13th spot with a wealth of $97 billion. He has gained $764 million since the last change and added $665 million to his wealth YTD.

Rounding up the other Indians in the BBI Top 50 are Shapoor Mistry with $34.6 billion at 38, and Shiv Nadar with $33 billion at the 45th spot.

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Zelenskyy, Erdogan discuss Turkey's mediation in exchange of prisoners with Russia, return of deported children, release of Crimean Tatars held by Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a telephone conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday.

"Special attention [in a conversation with Erdogan] was paid to the clause of the Peace Formula regarding the return of all deportees and prisoners. This is the return of Ukrainian children who were kidnapped by Russia, the return of prisoners and all those against whom repression is applied in the occupied territories, in particular, in Crimea," Zelenskyy said in an evening video address.

As he said, "Turkey's mediation is critical so that it is possible to free both the Crimean Tatars and everyone else  adults and children, soldiers and civilians who are being held in Russian captivity."

The President of Ukraine also briefed the Turkish leader about the preparations for a new meeting at the level of national security advisers on the Peace Formula, which will take place in Davos (Switzerland) in January.

"I invited a representative of Turkey. Turkey confirmed," Zelenskyy said.

Zelenskyy thanked Erdogan for the achieved level of Turkish-Ukrainian cooperation in many areas, particularly in defense.

"We have common projects  already successful. And this year we must do even more to strengthen our states and peoples. Security in our region  in the Black Sea and global food security  depends on Turkish-Ukrainian cooperation," he said.

In addition, he thanked Erdogan and the people of Turkey for supporting Ukraine's work to unblock maritime exports.

In particular, according to Zelenskyy, since the start of the grain corridor, Ukraine has exported more than 14 million tonnes of cargo and dispatched about 500 ships.

"This is an essential result, both economically, in the sector of security and in geopolitics. We demonstrate that we can restore security to our region despite all existing threats. We see how the strength of our partnership with Turkey gives strength to our entire region," the president said.
INDORE, IndiaThe sudden lockdown in 2020 sent workers streaming from cities back to villages in rural India, an exodus that many thought would be an easy-to-reverse blip on Indias journey to becoming an industrialized nation.

Instead, the ranks of Indias farmworkers have swelled by some 60 million over the past four years, a shift fueled in part by a food-welfare program that feeds hundreds of millions of people. Even last year, when much of the country had put the pandemic behind them, Indias farms added 13 million workers, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the food program would remain for another five years.

Meanwhile, jobs in manufacturing nationwide havent budged, and factories say they are struggling to hire.

This is catastrophic: You see millions going back to agriculture," said Santosh Mehrotra, a development economist and visiting professor at the University of Bath whose analysis of government employment data shows the farm workforce growing since 2019. This is the reversal of the structural change happening in our economy."

It is the opposite of the path many economists would have expected India to be on, with gross domestic product growth outpacing that of other major economies. The country of 1.4 billion, which is estimated to have surpassed China last year as the worlds most populous, has average per capita income of roughly $2,400less than that of Bangladesh.

Instead of seeing the masses move onto factory floorsa shift that helped raise the standard of living for millions of ChineseIndia appears to be deindustrializing prematurely.

That puts India at risk of missing out on the benefits of a huge labor force, while much of its population struggles with chronic unemployment or underemployment. It also means that the worldwhich benefited when Chinas economy grew, fueling demand for commodities and providing consumers with cheap goodsmight not be able to count on India to be as powerful an engine of global economic growth.

Modi has long promised to create tens of millions of jobs. But some blame his signature economic policies, including measures enacted in his first term aimed at combating tax evasion, for instead creating headwinds to job growth.

Economists and factory owners also say that for some workers, the food program, which the government has billed as among the worlds largest welfare programs, is helping to tilt the scales in favor of staying on the farm.

The prime ministers office didnt immediately respond to requests for comment.

During the pandemic, India started offering 5 kilos of rice or wheat each month to help those who had been affected by the lockdowns, a benefit that covers 800 million people. With national elections looming in early 2024, the government said in November that it would extend the program for an additional five years at a cost of $145 billion.

In an industrial hub home to some 1,000 factories in the central Indian city of Indore, the managing director of Porwal Auto Components, a foundry and machine shop, said he used to count on about 1,000 welders, spray painters and other skilled workers before the pandemic. Now Devendra Jain said he is operating with about 700, and struggling to complete orders for components for the truck industry and railways. His suppliers are facing similar issues.

There are hardly any workers," he said, attributing the shortages to benefits that workers receive in their home villages. Getting to full production is going to be a challenge."

Mahesh Khatri, a businessman in the northern state of Haryana, near Indias capital, is struggling to fulfill orders to supply 10,000 cardboard boxes and adhesive tape every month with 38 workers, from an earlier workforce of 55.

Khatri offers free accommodation, but it hasnt helped.

They prefer being poor in their villages to being poor in cities," Khatri said.

The number of people working in farming in India started declining around 2005, hitting a low of just under 200 million by early 2019, the economist Mehrotras calculations show. Since then, their numbers have soared to over 260 millionnot far from the number of farmworkers India had two decades ago, at the peak of agricultural employment. Many of them arent working for pay, but on their family farms.

Employment in cities has declined by nearly nine million over roughly the same period.

Indias decadal census provides the absolute number of people working in different parts of the economy, but the country hasnt carried out a census since 2011, in part owing to the pandemic. Mehrotras calculations involve applying the labor data that New Delhi periodically publishes to government population projections.

The rise in rural employment comes despite Modis move to offer tens of billions of dollars in incentives to companies to set up shop in India, as companies seek to move some of their manufacturing from China because of growing U.S.-China tensions. Economists said that companies have used the incentives to set up more manufacturing in sectors such as electronics and pharmaceuticals, but those factories havent translated into a significant boost in jobs nationwide.

Manufacturings contribution to Indias GDP has fallen from around 17% two decades ago to 13% in 2022, according to the World Bank. India has added only five million manufacturing jobs since shortly before Modi was first elected, for a total of 65 million such jobs now.

Because manufacturing has been so lackluster, Indias economywhich will grow at around 7% in its current fiscal year that ends in March, according to its central bankis instead being fueled by sectors including information technology and financial services, which dont need to employ lots of people.

The growth has come from sectors that arent job-intensive," said Amit Basole, a professor of economics at Azim Premji University in Bengaluru. So for a fixed amount of output growth, you dont get as much employment growth."

Economists say that a government infrastructure push is, however, boosting construction jobs, which were a major source of employment growth in the early 2000s. These jobs could grow further if the government continues to spend tens of billions of dollars on adding new essential infrastructure.

Discontent among migrant workers in big cities had been building up over the years, factory owners and workers say, as slow job growth kept a lid on wages, while housing and food costs rose.

Workers at small-scale factories in poorer states report taking home around 10,000 to 12,000 rupees a month, or about $150 dollars. In villages, some are reporting similar earnings with a combination of farming, some private work, and income from a state-run employment program begun under the previous Congress government.

Deepak Porwal, who returned to his village in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh during the lockdown in 2020, said he tried many times to find work in a city but didnt find anything that made financial sense. Now he focuses on farming a 2-acre plot growing soybeans, and works on the side as a local insurance policy agent, earning all together about 12,000 rupees a month.

A lot of factories and companies are still closed. Those that reopened offered less than half what they paid three years back," said Porwal, a 35-year-old from Khejdiya village. We are hardly able to send anything back. Is there any point in staying away from your family and village to earn a tiny amount?"

The food program helps families save on their food bill, but it also bolsters rural incomes in another way.

Youre assured of the government buying some for the free food program," said Himanshu, an associate professor of economics at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, who goes by one name. By law, the government is required to pay a price that covers expenses, which means it sometimes pays above market prices. It provides price stability and keeps prices from collapsing."

Still, he cautioned, the subsidies provided arent high for any one family. If jobs were created, people would still move to urban areas."

Despite the angst among millions of Indians over employment, Modi remains extremely popular, with a public approval rating of 77%, according to the research firm Morning Consult. Political analysts credit his ability to connect with everyday Indians, many of whom support his vision for a strong, Hindu-majority state. Modi and his ruling party recently performed strongly in a series of regional elections and are widely expected to return for a third term in the coming elections.

But continued weakness in Indias job marketespecially in the midst of other signs that the economy is doing wellcould undermine Modis support over time and lead to rising discontent, said Suyash Rai, a fellow and deputy director of Carnegie India, a New Delhi think tank.

In recent years, India has seen major protests over government jobs, which have become even more sought after amid slow private job growth. Violent protests erupted in two states in 2022 after more than 10 million people applied for 35,000 jobs with the national railroad system, which one Indian newspaper suggested could be the countrys first large-scale unemployment riots."

In December, a surprise protest in Indias parliament appeared to stem, in part, from frustrations from inadequate employment. In the incident, at least one person jumped into the lawmakers chamber and set off a canister of colored smoke while chanting slogans against the government. The group of young people who planned the protest, and who are now under investigation on terror charges, were educated but largely unemployedor had returned to their hometowns to work in farming. At least one had organized previous protests over jobs.

When you have tasted progress, you want more," said Rai. If there is no growth on that or not adequate improvement, that is something that can create political upheaval."

Write to Shan Li at shan.li@wsj.com and Vibhuti Agarwal at vibhuti.agarwal@wsj.com
Elon Musk-led Tesla is exploring fast-charging small batteries to cut the cost of its proposed most affordable car to help crack the price-sensitive Indian market, people aware of the matter said. Such batteries are already in use in China, and Tesla conveyed to the Indian government that it could look at bringing the technology for its cars in India.

However, a wide public network of fast chargers would be crucial for Tesla to convince customers to buy vehicles with a smaller battery and, thus, lower range per charge. In a recent interaction with the government, the companys executives requested help in developing such a network, the people cited above said. It has also sought support in the making of the batteries.

Tesla did not respond to Mints request for comment.

Batteries comprise the biggest chunk of an electric vehicles (EV) bill of materials, and strapping a smaller battery on a car would be crucial for Tesla to realise a $24,000 (around 20 lakh) electric car, which it is reportedly conceptualizing for sale in India and other developing markets. For context, the companys most affordable car today, the base variant Model 3, starts at around $40,000 ( 33 lakh). It comes with a 57.5-kilowatt-hour battery, which gives it a range of around 435km .

The concept of fast-charging small batteries revolves around getting customers used to frequently charging their vehicles on public fast chargers, like refuelling conventional vehicles, rather than equipping vehicles with bulky and expensive batteries.

Customers rarely use the entire range on their electric vehicles. For everyday use, EVs with a smaller battery make more sense. And when longer range is needed, they can use fast chargers," said an auto industry analyst who asked not to be identified.

Currently, Indias charging infrastructure is inadequate for such a plan to work. There are around 9,300 public chargers in India at present, as per data compiled by car search platform CarDekho. This compares to over 138,000 in the US, as per Statista. Moreover, most of the public chargers in India charge vehicles at a relatively slow pace, making them unsuitable for quick pit stops.

The lack of a developed charging infrastructure is a bottleneck for electric mobility in India," said Gaurav Vangaal, principal analyst for light vehicle production forecasting for the Indian subcontinent at S&P Global. For masses to move towards electric vehicles, we need a wider public charging network with fast charging capabilities that eliminates the need for large batteries."

To be sure, fast charging technology is already available in India. There are some public fast chargers capable of replenishing a regular Tata Nexon EV, the most popular electric car in India, from 20% battery level to 80% in under an hour, compared to the several hours that home charging entails. This translates to adding 180-200km range in an hour of charging. In comparison, Teslas existing fast chargers claim to give more than 230km range in just 15 minutes.

The American EV company is reportedly exploring even faster charging technologies that can give significant driving range in a few minutes and further cut down the required battery size. It has in the past engaged with Israeli startup StoreDot to examine its extreme fast charging (XFC) battery technology, USA Today reported in June.

Indian officials have engaged with Tesla executives several times in recent weeks as discussions on the electric carmakers India entry progress.

Work on the companys India plans gathered steam after Musk, the chief executive of Tesla, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the latters US visit in June.

The company is reportedly willing to invest up to $2 billion for setting up a factory in India if New Delhi gives it a concessional duty rate of 15% on imported cars for the first two years of its operations, compared to 70-100% at present.
The most-anticipated OTT release this week is Tejas. Except that, this week has offered several movies and web series on OTT platforms . Lets have a look.

Meg 2 - The Trench

In Meg 2: The Trench, Jason Statham plays rescue diver Jonas Taylor again after the hit 2018 movie The Meg. The thrilling sequel, which will debut on Jio Cinema this week, follows a team of researchers as they battle enormous prehistoric sharks and ruthless environmental thieves. It was released on January 3, 2024, on Jio Cinema.

Hi Nanna

Starring Nani and Mrunal Thakur This week, Netflix released the Telugu movie Hi Nanna on January 4, 2024, on Netflix. A touching tale about a single father's life centres on how they meet Varsha (Mrunal Thakur), who prevents his daughter, age six, from dying in a car crash.

Gyeongseong Creature Part 2

Netflix's popular K-drama series Gyeongseong Creature has returned with a new season today (January 5) on Netflix, which is a treat for fans of the genre. The protagonist of the show is an entrepreneur who joins forces with a detective to battle a monster that was created out of human greed. The upcoming season is still on the must-watch list of new OTT releases this week, and it is anticipated to pick up where the previous instalment left off.

Tejas

This week, the OTT behemoth ZEE5 has also released Sarvesh Mewara's Tejas, which stars actress Kangana Ranaut in the lead role. Tejas Gill, an Indian Air Force pilot, embarks on a perilous mission to free hostages held by terrorists in Pakistan; this is the storyline of the film. Actors like Anshul Chauhan and Ashish Vidyarthi co-star with Kangana in the supporting roles. It has been released today, 5 January 2024, on Zee5.

Society of the Snow

The Spanish film Society of the Snow by JA Bayona is based on the true story of Uruguayan Flight 571, which crashed in the Andes mountains in 1972. It tells the true story of the survivors stranded in the snow-covered mountains with little supplies and deteriorating weather. Notably, the movie has already made it to the shortlist for Best International Feature Film and is Spain's official Oscar submission. The movie has been released on 4 January 2024 on Netflix.

Cubicles Season 3

Another exciting season of the comedy-drama series Cubicles was released on January 5 on Sony LIV. Abhishek Chauhan returns as Piyush Prajapati to delight viewers. For those unfamiliar, Piyush, who began as a first jobber in the first season, is the show's main character. Piyush's career advanced along with the show, and in Cubicles Season 3, he is now being promoted to team leader.

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THOUGH HE LAY dying of brain cancer, Tu Changwang had one last thing to say. The respected Chinese meteorologist had noticed that the climate was warming. So in 1961 he warned in the Peoples Daily, a Communist Party mouthpiece, that this might alter the conditions that sustain life. Yet he saw the warming as part of a cycle in solar activity that would probably go into reverse at some point. Tu did not suspect that the burning of fossil fuels was pumping carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and causing the climate to change. In that issue of the Peoples Daily, a few pages before his paper, there was a photo of grinning coalminers. China was rushing to industrialise with the aim of catching up economically with the West.

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Today China is an industrial powerhouse, home to over a quarter of the worlds manufacturingmore than America and Germany combined. But its progress has come at a cost in terms of emissions. Over the past three decades China has released more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, in total, than any other country (see chart 1). It now emits over a quarter of the worlds greenhouse gases each year, according to Rhodium Group, an American research firm. That is about twice as much as America, which comes second (though on a per-person basis America is still worse).

Much, then, depends on China if the world is to keep global warming since the Industrial Revolution well below 2C, as governments pledged at the UNs annual climate summit in Paris in 2015. This years summit (called COP28) began on November 30th in Dubai. China has both good and bad news for those attending.

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On the positive side, Chinas emissions will soon stop rising. Some analysts think they will top out this year. There is little doubt that the peak will come before 2030, which is the goal China has set for itself. It is building nuclear-power stations faster than any other country. It has also invested heavily in renewable energy (see chart 2), such that it now has around 750 gigawatts of wind and solar generating capacity, about a third of the worlds total. By the end of the decade the government aims to have 1,200GW of such capacity, more than the total power capacity of the European Union at the moment. China will probably well exceed that target.

But it is not just Chinas embrace of renewable energy that is helping it curb emissions. Its production of carbon-intensive steel and cement has been dropping. After decades of building roads and railways, the government is splurging less on big infrastructure projects. A long expansion of the property sector has ended in a meltdown that has shaken the economybut led to fewer emissions. Going forward, few analysts expect Chinas GDP to grow as fast as it did at the end of the last century and the beginning of this one. Put another way, Chinas dirtiest phase of development is probably behind it.

More important than the peak, though, is what happens next. China has pledged to eliminate net emissions of greenhouse gases (or to become carbon neutral") by 2060. This will be a much harder target to hit. Even after that massive injection of renewables, dirty coal still supplies well over half of Chinas energy. That is down from around 70% in 2011, but the amount of coal China burns continues to increase, as demand for electricity rises. Last year China mined a record 4.5bn tonnes of the black rock and approved around two new coal-fired power plants for construction every week on average.

Many of these may never be built. Declining utilisation rates of existing coal plants undermine the case for further construction. But China is not moving away from coal as fast as environmentalists would like or analysts say is necessary to meet its 2060 target. Part of the problem is that the country has a lot of it. With little oil or gas, coal provides China a secure source of energy. Digging it up creates jobs. Building a coal plant, whether it is needed or not, is also a common way for local governments to boost economic growth.

Chinas power grid was built with coal in mind. At plants that burn the stuff, humans decide when to ramp things up or down. But when it comes to solar and wind power, nature is the boss. So the grid needs to be made more flexible. When there is a surplus of energy in one spot, it must be able to store it or move it elsewhere. Otherwise China will not be able to accommodate lots of new wind turbines and solar panels in the future.

Gridlock

Most countries need to make similar changes to their grids. The challenge facing China, though, is unique, says David Fishman of the Lantau Group, an energy consultancy. The bulk of the countrys solar and wind resources are located in the west. But the power they generate is needed mostly in the east, where the countrys biggest cities are to be found. Transferring it over such long distances is tricky. Another problem is that provincial governments have a lot of say over how their portion of the grid operates. They dont like depending on each other for energy. So, for example, a province might prefer to use its own coal plant rather than a cleaner energy source located elsewhere.

Those who are concerned about Chinas progress also worry about methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. Some countries can cut their methane emissions in simple ways, such as by repairing leaky gas pipes. But most of the methane coming from China wafts out of coal mines or is produced by microbes in rice paddies. Fixing the problem is hard without closing mines or changing farming practices. So at the UN climate summit in 2021, China refused to join more than 100 other countries, including America, which pledged to reduce global methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030. Earlier this month, though, China did say that it would address the issue in its national climate plan for 2035 (which may not be published for another two years).

In the face of these challenges, Chinas leaders must be bold. But their climate ambitions may have already peaked, says Li Shuo, the incoming director of the China Climate Hub at the Asia Society Policy Institute in New York. He believes power cuts caused by surging coal prices and droughts, which disrupt hydropower, have spooked the government in recent years. Now officials worry that climate-friendly policies will undermine the countrys energy security (green types argue that some reforms, such as making the grid more flexible, would have the opposite effect). Mr Li expects Chinas emissions to plateau rather than decline.

China, though, has good reason to prioritise the climate. Some of its biggest cities, including Shanghai, lie on the coast and could be swallowed by rising seas. The arid north lacks drinking water. And extreme weather is already taking a toll. Last year deaths associated with heatwaves in China increased by 342% compared with the historical average, according to a study published by the Lancet, a medical journal. This summer floods damaged much of Chinas wheat crop.

Meanwhile, China has become a leader in green-energy technology. The rest of the world depends largely on Chinese solar-panel and battery supply chains. This year China overtook Japan to become the worlds largest car exporter, thanks in part to Chinese dominance in electric vehicles.

Summits and peaks

So there is some hope that China will play a productive role at the climate summit in Dubai. With ambitions to lead the global south, it will not want to look as if it is neglecting an issue that is foremost on the mind of many officials in developing countries. Optimists also point to the meeting between Xie Zhenhua, Chinas climate envoy, and John Kerry, his American counterpart, in November. They agreed on some small steps, such as collaborating on carbon-capture projects.

Yet China has also made clear that it will not bow to pressure on climate change. Earlier this year Xi Jinping, its leader, reiterated his aim of reaching a carbon peak by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. But the path, method, pace and intensity to achieve this goal should and must be determined by ourselves, and will never be influenced by others," he said.
Shares of Kalyan Jewellers India, one of India's largest jewellery companies, spiked 4.40% to hit a fresh all-time high of 379.75 apiece during Friday's early trade. This sharp surge came in response to the company's Q3FY24 business update.

In an exchange filing today, the company reported strong performance in terms of both foot traffic and revenue across all its markets in India and the Middle East for the December quarter.

The company said it had achieved this positive operating performance despite multiple headwinds during the quarter, such as extreme volatility in gold prices, a higher number of Shradh" days compared to the prior year, and flash floods in certain parts of Tamil Nadu.

Also Read Gold to shine brighter in 2024, prices may hit a new high of 70,000: ICICI Direct

In Q3FY24, the company achieved a consolidated revenue growth of 33% compared to the same period in the previous financial year. In India, the company saw revenue growth of 40% during the quarter compared to the same period of last year. This growth was led by robust operating momentum on the ground and healthy same-store sales growth across all the key markets in the country, according to the company's exchange filing.

During the quarter, Kalyan Jewellers added 22 new 'Kalyan' showrooms in India. Additionally, the company said it had completed signing LOIs for the 80 showrooms planned for FY 2025, with a significant majority of these being established under a revised franchise model with further improved economics for Kalyan.

Also Read: India Ratings raises India's FY24 GDP growth estimate to 6.7%

In the Middle East, the company continued to witness positive operating momentum. Revenue growth for Q3FY24 came in at 6% when compared to the same period in the previous financial year. The Middle East contributed 13% to the company's consolidated revenue during the quarter.

The company's digital-first jewellery platform, Candere, recorded a revenue de-growth of 34% during the quarter as compared to the same period of last year. However, the company said it is witnessing encouraging trends in its already-opened seven physical showrooms.

As of December 31, 2023, the company boasts a total of 235 showrooms spread across India and the Middle East. In the upcoming quarter, the company has ambitious plans to expand its footprint by adding 15 new 'Kalyan' showrooms in India, 2 in the Middle East, and an additional 13 'Candere' showrooms.

Stock Performance

Over the last one-year period, shares of Kalyan Jewellers have jumped from 123 apiece to 363, delivering a multi-bagger return of 195%.

Also Read: Senco Gold: This jewellery stock is trading at a 145% premium to its IPO price

The shares were listed on March 26, 2021, at 75.3 apiece as compared to the issue price of 87. At current levels, the stock is trading 317% higher than its IPO price.

Q2FY24 Scorecard

For the September quarter (Q2FY24), the company recorded consolidated revenue of 4,415 crore, a growth of 27.12% compared to 3,473 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year, driven by an acceleration in store expansion.

Also Read 2023 in Review: Bitcoin dominates the year as best-performing asset; here's how equities, gold and bonds performed

The consolidated profit after tax (PAT) for the quarter reached 135 crore, reflecting a 27.35% increase from the PAT of 106 crore recorded during the same period in the previous year.

At 10:15 AM, the stock was trading with a gain of 2.40% at 372.45 apiece.

Disclaimer: We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.

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The Union cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding between India and Guyana to boost cooperation on sourcing of crude oil, refining, natural gas and expanding space for Indian companies in Guyanas exploration and production sector.

This comes as the small south American nation has rapidly become a key new player on global energy markets after the discovery of an estimated 11 billion barrels of oil reserves off Guyanas coast since 2015.

Mint had earlier reported that India was tracking this development closely as the disruption of oil imports from Iran and Venezuela due to American sanctions.

As the worlds third largest energy consumer, India has been keen to develop diversified sources of energy imports. Guyana is expected to produce close to 1 million barrels of oil per day by 2027, which could make it a key supplier for India. The two nations also share a close political relationship, aided by the presence of a large Indian-origin diaspora in Guyana.

Guyanas vice president Bharrat Jagdeo told Mint in 2023 that the country is keen to have greater Indian participation in developing its nascent energy capacities. The agreement will remain in force for a period of five years.

We also explored the possibility of India examining the abundant resources that weve had outside of those that are on auction now," Jagdeo told Mint in early 2023. He called for a greater Indian presence in the Stabroek offshore oil block, which is currently operated by US energy major ExxonMobil.

Next year, ExxonMobil will have to give up 20% of their holdings. So, all of those will be available for some form of bilateral engagement, where we can actually see joint production or exploration related activities," Jagdeo had said.

Besides this, the cabinet also approved a plan for Isro to develop a small satellite with Mauritius. Indias domestic space industry is also expected to participate in the project.

It also gave the green light for Americas official development assistance agency, USAID, to support the Indian Railways goal of net zero emissions target. Both sides will help the railways develop long term energy planning, clean procurement and an energy efficiency policy.

The cabinet also approved the 4,797 crore PRITHVI scheme, which aims to channel funding into earth sciences, polar research and atmospheric sciences. It is expected to help the ministry of earth sciences develop science-based services related to weather, climate, seismology and natural hazards. These services can help minimize the human and material damage from natural disasters.

These services include weather forecasts (both on land and in the Oceans) and warnings for various natural disasters like tropical cyclones, storm surge, floods, heat waves, thunderstorm and lightning; alerts for tsunamis and monitoring of earthquakes, etc. The services provided by the ministry are being effectively used by different agencies and state governments for saving human lives and minimizing damages to the properties due to natural disasters," explains a government statement released after the cabinet meeting on Friday.

The cabinet also approved a proposal to designate Ayodhya airport as an international airport and named it Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, Ayodhyadham".

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Mumbai: A wider deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) technology by India Inc will likely make 15,000-20,000 jobs redundant this year, as a large number of coding profiles, system maintenance and support functions at junior levels get automated.

Consulting firms and recruiters emphasized that companies, specially in the IT, hospitality and banking industry are trying to upskill their workforce, but warned that the advent of AI will lead to retrenchments in the coming months, while employees play catch-up with this sophisticated technology.

In the short run for sure, there will be a very distinct impact on jobs that are purely process-driven and can be automated, as well as jobs that require basic levels of coding or communications skills," Anandorup Ghose, a partner at Deloitte India, said.

Ghose highlighted that the moot point is about how employers and employees are preparing their skilling agendas to meet demands from this newer technology. We have maintained for some time now that enhancing the skilling agenda is the number one priority in India right now, given the size of the workforce, as well as the size of the opportunity. This opportunity will get missed if the workforce is not skilled to take charge of the opportunity," he added.

Recruiters say software development and customer support roles that can be done from the backend are the most vulnerable. We expect about 20,000 jobs to go in this year because companies are implementing chatbots in first level of interaction with the customers," said Prasadh M.S., head of workforce research and analytics at recruitment firm Xpheno. Although the initial investments in AI will be expensive, companies will benefit in the long run, as the work done by the bots will be equal to five junior executives, he stressed.

This shift will further impact recruitments. The overall headcount growth in the IT sector in FY24 over the previous fiscal is estimated to be barely 2.4%, according to Xpheno. This tardy pace is in sharp contrast to the years just after pandemic, when the industry went on a hiring frenzy, as companies of all sizes and across sectors picked up talent in digital skills or wanted IT companies to help them grow after more than a year of muted business. In fact, the manpower growth in FY22 over FY21 was 20%.

Recruitment firm TeamLease has seen the impact of AI-led skills on mandates that are rolled out by IT companies. The mandates now have demand for fewer candidates from the clients end as larger portions of the job are digitised. We estimate about 15,000 job loss in the IT sector, amongst the junior profiles," said Sunil Chemmankotil, chief executive officer for TeamLease Digital.

However, AI is also expected to create new jobs, as more companies manage to upskill the workforce.

Ashish Kumar Singh, chief human resources officer at e-commerce firm Meesho, said that it is the call centres where a lot of the customer support work is done by AI. Meesho partners with third parties for its call centre services and some aspects of the calls and first-level chats with customers are undergoing AI implementation.

There are places around analytics and first-level coding where the evaluation is still on It will mostly be used as a co-pilot in supporting somebody. Immediate job losses I dont see, but over a very long term, yes," Singh told Mint.
Iqbal Ansari, a former ligitant in the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case, on Friday received an invitation for the Ram temple consecration ceremony that is scheduled to take place on January 22, his daughter said.

Speaking to PTI, his daughter Shama Parveen said, My father was handed an invitation (for the upcoming consecration ceremony) earlier in the day." The invitation was delivered to him at his house located in Kotia Panjitola near the Ram Path.

Ansari had earlier said that the Muslim community respected the 2019 verdict of the Supreme Court on the Ram temple issue.

More than a lakh devotees are expected to descend on the temple town on the occasion of 'pran pratishtha' on January 22. Sources said the invitee list has around 7,000 guests from India and abroad.

The 6,000 invitation cards for the grand consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla have been sent to invitees from across the nation. These invitation cards have been sent out by the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust to more than 6,000 people.

Many senior actors including Amitabh Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit, Anupam Kher, Rajinikanth, and Akshay Kumar are invited to the consecration ceremony of the Ram Mandir. The Temple Trust has also invited ace directors Rajkumar Hirani, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, and Rohit Shetty along with producer Mahaveer Jain.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to inaugurate the Ram Mandir on January 22. The event will see some high-profile dignitaries from across the world and the temple trust has requested devotees to avoid traveling to Ayodhya on the day of the consecration ceremony.

Who is Iqbal Ansari?

1) Iqbal Ansari, one of the litigants in the Ayodhya land dispute case, was seen showering flowers on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's motorcade during his roadshow in the temple town on Saturday.

2) Ansari considered it fortunate that PM Modi was visiting Ayodhya for darshan (a holy visit) and suggested that he should perform the 'Pran Pratishtha' ritual.

3) "I showered rose petals on Modi jee when his cavalcade from in front of my house. My family members were also present," Iqbal Ansari told PTI.

4) Iqbal pursued the Ayodhya land dispute case after his father died in 2016 who was the oldest litigant in this case.

5) Any settlement of the Ayodhya dispute outside of court was categorically rejected by the litigants Ansari, Haji Mahboob, and Mohammad Umar. A resolution declaring that Muslims would not move the mosque to any other location was passed at a meeting of the local Muslims in Ayodhya.

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January 6 is a Saturday and while many may wonder if it is a bank holiday, the simple answer is no. Banks are usually off on the second and fourth Saturdays in any given month. Thus, all first and third Saturdays and duty days are as usual. And further, in case the month has a fifth Saturday, that would also be a working day.

But, this month does have a total of 16 holidays including, Saturdays and Sundays off. Moreover, the holidays will be as per the local customs of different regions in India and will vary in different states.

See | Maharashtra Bank Holidays in 2023

When are the holidays?

Here are the weekend dates where banks will be shut  January 7 (Sunday), January 13 (Second Saturday), January 14 (Sunday), January 21 (Sunday), January 27 (Fourth Saturday) and January 28 (Sunday).

Below is the full list of other bank holidays in January 2024:

Date Day Occasion Region 1 January Monday New Year Aizawl, Chennai, Gangtok, Imphal, Itanagar, Kohima, Kolkata and Shillong 2 January Tuesday New Year celebrations Aizawl 11 January Thursday Missionary Day Aizawl 12 January Friday Swami Vivekananda birth anniversary Kolkata 15 January Monday Uttarayana Punyakala/Makara Sankranti Festival/Maghe Sankranti/Pongal/Magh Bihu Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Gangtok, Guwahati, Hyderabad 16 January Tuesday Thiruvalluvar Day Chennai 17 January Wednesday Uzhavar Thirunal/Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Birthday Chandigarh and Chennai 22 January Monday Imoinu Iratpa Imphal 23 January Tuesday Gaan-Ngai/Netajis Birth Day Imphal and Kolkata 25 January Thursday Thai Poosam/Birthday of Md. Hazarat Ali Chennai, Kanpur and Lucknow 26 January Friday Republic Day All across India

Bank Holidays List

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) releases the list of bank holidays, which is based on various factors including national/state holidays, cultural or religious observance, operational requirements, government announcements, and coordination with other banks. It's important to note that the RBI communicates its holiday schedule through official channels, including its website and notifications to banks and financial institutions.

Also See | Stock market holiday 2024: Check days, dates, and trading holidays in the new year

Nationwide access to online banking services will persist despite the shutdown of either private or public sector banks. It becomes imperative for individuals to cultivate a heightened awareness of scheduled bank holidays, taking note of the specific dates, thereby enabling them to meticulously plan their visits to their nearby branches.

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Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Friday alleged that the central government under Narendra Modi is solely responsible for the uncertainty surrounding SAIL units, which were supposed to be divested.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Rajya Sabha MP wrote, Five years back the Modi government decided to sell off three units of SAIL: the Alloys Steel Plant at Durgapur, the Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Plant at Bhadravati, and the Salem Steel Plant." "Now it appears that the privatization has been called off. It is a victory, no doubt for the workers who agitated against the sale and for parties like the Indian National Congress that had stoutly opposed the ill-thought move," he said.

But the uncertainty these past few years has affected the companies for which the Modi Govt is solely responsible," the Congress leader added.

His remarks came after the government decided to scrap the privatization of SAIL's Salem Steel Plant (SSP) in Tamil Nadu. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) had accorded 'in-principle' approval for the strategic disinvestment of Salem Steel Plant (SSP), Salem, in 2019.

The Department of Investment and Public Asset Management, in an official notification, said that multiple EoIs had been received and bidders were shortlisted.

However, due to lack of interest of shortlisted bidders to proceed further with the transaction, Government of India, with the approval of Alternative Mechanism (Empowered Group of Ministers) has decided to annul the current EoI thereby terminating the present transaction," it said.

In 2019, it reportedly decided to halt the privatization of the Durgapur-based Alloys Steels Plant (ASP) while in 2022, the sale of Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Plant (VISP) in Bhadravati, Karnataka, was called off citing a lack of interest from bidders.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 5. We assess the ethnic-religious diversity, which is one of the predominant qualities of our society, as an unprecedented achievement of our statehood, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said in his congratulatory address on Christmas to the Orthodox Christian community of Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

In Azerbaijan, known for its rich traditions of tolerance, representatives of different nations and religions have lived in peace, mutual respect and trust for hundreds of years. We assess the ethnic-religious diversity, which is one of the predominant qualities of our society, as an unprecedented achievement of our statehood, and consider the preservation of the atmosphere of democratic coexistence prevailing in our country, the promotion of progressive public values based on the principles of humanism and tolerance as one of the priority directions of our state policy, President Ilham Aliyev said.
A team of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was attacked during a raid of a TMC leader's house in connection with an alleged ration scam. The attack took place when the agency officials were raiding the premises of two block-level leaders Shahjahan Sheikh, and Shankar Adhya, and their family members since Friday morning in North 24 Parganas, according to officials.

"Eight people came to the spot. We three moved from the incident spot. When we came, they attacked us," a member of the ED team told ANI.

Also Read: ED raids close associates of Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren in money laundering case: Report

Till now, state food minister Jyoti Priya Mallick has been arrested in connection with the alleged scam, reported Hindustan Times. Hundreds of men and women gathered on the spot shouting slogans, when the NIA team tried to enter the house of Shahjahan Sheikh. The mob not only attacked officials but also broke their vehicle, according to an HT report. There is still no information on whether Sheikh or his family members were present in the house or not.

Also Read: Arvind Kejriwal to be 'raided, arrested' today, claim AAP ministers after Delhi CM skips ED summons

ED officials were attacked and a vehicle was damaged. Even the media was attacked. ED officials had to flee from the spot," a resident told HT. attack forced the ED officials to abandon the operation and return to Kolkata.

Demanding the declaration of emergency in West Bengal, BJP MP Jagannath Sarkar said that the democracy is failing again and again" in the state. He also added that "the organisations working against the nation are getting powerful, with bombs, pistols, etc being recovered every day.

"Hence, it is important to remove the government and declare an emergency in the state. Once it's done everything will improve and nobody will dare to attack the ED team," he said.
Sharing the list of countries with the largest road networks in the world, business tycoon Anand Mahindra said he was pleasantly surprised to see India in the second spot, ahead of China.

In his latest post on X, Mahindra also sent a message to Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari saying that soon India will overtake the US to become the nation with the largest road network. Also Read: Planning group saves 15 crore per km in construction of highways

I was happily surprised to see that we are ahead of China. That must be because the western half of China is sparsely inhabited. More interesting is that were within striking distance of the U.S.A. Im sure @nitin_gadkari ji can set a goal to overtake the U.S not too long from today!" he wrote on X.

Also Read: Jammu and Kashmir's remote village to get road connectivity for the first time since independence

In June last year, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said that the total length of the national highways in the country rose by about 59% in the last nine years. The rapid expansion of national highways has made it the second-largest road network in the world after the US.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Gadkari said: Total length of National Highways was 91,287 km in 2013-14, which increased to 1,45,240 km in 2022-23, which is a rise of more than 59% during this period."

Also Read: Telecom network to boost services on national highways: Minister

Till 2022, India's road network covered over 5.89 million kilometres. These roads are classified into several categories including National Highways (NH), State Highways, District Roads, rural roads, village Roads, and other rural roads (ORR). The development of Yamuna Expressway, Mumbai-Pune Expressway, Eastern Peripheral Expressway, etc is tantamount to India's growing investment in road connectivity to facilitate faster and smoother travel between major cities.

However, India still fails to perform well in terms of traffic management in metro cities, ensuring road safety issues, and maintenance concerns. Many remote places in rural India still suffer due to inadequate infrastructure in certain regions and require attention and investment, say experts.

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Polling for the Karanpur Assembly seat in Rajasthan's Sriganganagar district began at 7 am on Friday. The election to the Assembly seat was postponed after the death of Congress candidate Gurmeet Singh Koonar. A total of twelve candidates are in the fray including newly sworn-in cabinet minister Surendra Pal Singh TT.

"The polling in Karanpur began at 7 am. The polling will be held till 6 pm," District Collector Anshdeep said. The poll results will be declared on January 8, he added.

In place of the late Gurmeet Singh Koonar, the Congress has fielded his son, Rupinder Singh, from the seat. Surendra Pal Singh TT has been a state minister previously as well. This time he was inducted into the cabinet led by Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma as a minister of state (independent charge) on December 30 last year, a move that was opposed by the Congress.

Congress opposed the induction of Surendra Pal Singh TT in the state cabinet

The grand old party had opposed the induction of Surendra Pal Singh TT in the cabinet calling it a violation of the Model Code of Conduct". As per the rules, non-legislators can be inducted as ministers only with the condition that they get elected within six months.

Former chief minister and senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot termed the swearing-in of Surendra Pal as an attempt by the BJP to influence the voters ahead of assembly elections in the constituency,

Former chief minister and senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot called Surendra Pal Singh TT's swearing in a clear violation of the Model Code of Conduct and an attempt to influence the voters in the constituency.

A total of 249 polling stations have been set up in the constituency, which has 2.4 lakh voters -- 1,25,850 men, 1,14,966 women, and 10 transgender -- in addition to 180 service voters, he added.

Polling for 199 of the 200 Assembly seats in Rajasthan was held on November 25 last year.

When the results were declared on December 8, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged victorious winning 115 seats, beating the Congress, which could only manage to bag 69 seats.

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The West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose condemned the attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials in Sandeshkhali by Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sheikh Shajahan's supporters. The investigative agency said that 800-1000" people attacked their officials with an intention to cause death".

Governor Bose hit out at TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government for failing to contain the law-and-order situation. Three ED officials have sustained grievous injuries and are hospitalized.

ED attacked in West Bengal

On Thursday night, an ED team was attacked and its vehicles damaged in Sandeshkhali village of North 24 Parganas in West Bengal, when it tried to raid the residence of block-level leaders of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in connection with an alleged ration scam case, an official of the agency said.

The ED was conducting raids at the residence of former Bongaon Municipality Chairman Shankar Adhya in Bangaon and TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan's house in connection with the alleged ration scam case.

Sheikh Shahjahan is the Fisheries and Animal Resources Officer of North 24 Parganas Zilla Parishad as well as Block President of Sandeshkhali 1. Sajahan is considered to be a close aide of state minister Jyotipriyo Mallick who was arrested in connection with the multi-crore ration distribution scam.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) released a statement saying "800-1000" people attacked its officials with an intention to cause death. The agency said the mob carried weapons such as lathis, stones and bricks. Three ED officials have sustained grievous injuries and are hospitalized.

They added that the mob also snatched their phones, laptops, cash and wallets.

Bengal governor reacts to attack on ED

West Bengal Governor Bose has summoned Chief Secretary BP Gopalika, Home Secretary Nandini Chakraborty and Director General of Police Rajiv Kumar at Raj Bhavan this evening.

In a stern message to the Trinamool Congress government, Bose said that he would explore his constitutional options and take appropriate action.

"The ghastly incident in Sandeshkhali is alarming and deplorable. It's the duty of a civilised government to stop barbarism and vandalism in a democracy. As a governor, I explore all my constitutional options for appropriate action in the appropriate manner," Bose said in a voice message released from the Raj Bhavan.

He also stated that Bengal is not a banana republic and the government should stop barbarism and vandalism in a democracy. The Bengal governor also asked the West Bengal Police to shun its ostrich-like attitude" of pretending not to see lawlessness around.

Congress reacts to attack on ED

Congress' senior leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury also hit out at its INDIA bloc ally- Trinamool Congress after the ED team was attacked, saying that there was no law and order in the state.

"After the attack by goons of the ruling government on ED officials, it is clear that there is no law and order in the state. Today, they were injured, tomorrow they can be murdered. Such a thing would not come as a surprise to me," he said.

"Under the TMC rule, the law and order cease to exist in West Bengal. We demand that President's Rule should be immediately imposed in West Bengal," Adhir Chowdhury said.

BJP demands NIA probe

West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar on Friday wrote a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and demanded an NIA probe into the attack on the Enforcement Directorate team in Sandeshkhali in the North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal.

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An armed unmanned surface vessel launched from Houthi -controlled Yemen got within a couple of miles" of U.S. Navy and commercial vessels in the Red Sea before detonating on Thursday, just hours after the White House and a host of partner nations issued a final warning to the Iran-backed militia group to cease the attacks or face potential military action.

Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of U.S. Navy operations in the Middle East, said it was the first time the Houthis had used an unmanned surface vessel, or USV, since their harassment of commercial ships in the Red Sea began after the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war. They have, however, used them in years past.

Fabian Hinz, a missile expert and research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said the USVs are a key part of the Houthi maritime arsenal and were used during previous battles against the Saudi coalition forces that intervened in Yemen's war. They have regularly been used as suicide drone boats that explode upon impact.

Also Read: The significance of guarding the Red Sea

Most of the Houthis USVs are likely assembled in Yemen but often fitted with components made in Iran, such as computerized guidance systems, Hinz said.

At the United Nations, U.S. Deputy Ambassador Christopher Lu said at an emergency Security Council meeting on Wednesday that Iran has supplied the Houthis with money and advanced weapons systems, including drones, land attack cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles. He said Iran also has been deeply involved in planning the Houthis' attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea.

He said the United States isnt seeking a confrontation with Iran, but Tehran has a choice.

It can continue its current course," Lu said, or it can withhold its support without which the Houthis would struggle to effectively track and strike commercial vessels navigating shipping lanes through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden."

Also Read | Jeffrey Epstein-Linked Names Unsealed: What You Need to Know

This raises questions as to whether any action against the Houthis would also address Iran's role in any way, which could risk widening the conflict.

A statement Wednesday signed by the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom gave the Houthis what a senior Biden administration official described as a final warning.

Let our message now be clear: we call for the immediate end of these illegal attacks and release of unlawfully detained vessels and crews," the countries said in the statement. The Houthis will bear the responsibility of the consequences should they continue to threaten lives, the global economy, and the free flow of commerce in the regions critical waterways."

Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder would not say whether any military action would follow Thursday's launch of the sea drone.

Also Read | Indias demand for Russian crude resilient despite Red Sea threats: S&P Global

Ill let the statement speak for itself, which, again, represented many nations around the world and highlighted that if these strikes dont stop, there will be consequences," Ryder said.

Since late October, the Houthis have launched scores of one-way attack drones and missiles at commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea. U.S. Navy warships have also intercepted ballistic missiles the Pentagon says were headed toward Israel. Cooper said a total of 61 missiles and drones have been shot down by U.S. warships.

In response to the Houthi attacks, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in December announced Operation Prosperity Guardian, with the United States and other countries sending additional ships to the southern Red Sea to provide protection for commercial vessels passing through the critical Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Cooper said 1,500 commercial ships have been able to transit safely since the operation was launched on Dec. 18.

However, the Houthis have continued to launch missiles and attack drones, prompting the White House and 12 allies to issue what amounted to a final warning Wednesday to cease their attacks on vessels in the Red Sea or face potential targeted military action.

Cooper said Operation Prosperity Guardian was solely defensive in nature and separate from any military action the U.S. might take if the Houthi attacks continued.

The U.S., United Kingdom, and France are providing most of the warships now, and Greece and Denmark will also be providing vessels, he said.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote to Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida, expressing solidarity with Japan and its people, sources told news agency PTI on Friday. The development came days after a series of mishaps rocked Japan this week.

According to the report, PM Modi wrote to Kishida on Thursday, saying that India values its relationship with Japan as a "special strategic and global partner, and is ready to extend all possible assistance at this hour," sources said.

In the letter, PM Modi conveyed to his Japanese counterpart that he is "deeply anguished and concerned" over the earthquake and expressed "deepest condolence" to the families of those killed in the quake, the sources said.

"I am deeply anguished and concerned to learn about the major earthquake that struck Japan on January 1," Modi reportedly said. "I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families of those who lost their lives. We stand in solidarity with Japan and its people affected by the disaster," a source quoted Modi as writing to the Japanese prime minister.

Here's all that happened in Japan over this week:

1. Japan was hit by an earthquake of magnitude 7.5 on New Year's Day. The tremors claimed life of as many as 94 people. As many as 464 people were injured and over 200 went missing, news agency AFP reported.

2. The rescue operations were hampered by bad weather and damaged roads as Japanese rescuers searched on Friday for 222 people still missing four days after the devastating earthquake.

3. Around 30,000 households were without electricity in the Ishikawa region, and 89,800 homes there and in two neighbouring regions had no water. Hundreds of people were in government shelters.

4. The loss from the earthquake is estimated to be around 800 billion ($5.5 billion), Bloomberg cited Takahide Kiuchi, an executive economist at the Nomura Research Institute.

5. The Japan government plans to use 4.74 billion yen in reserve funds to help the quake-hit area, Kyodo News reported, citing the finance minister.

6. The United States announced $100,000 in aid on Friday, including blankets, water and medical supplies, and promised more help would come. Dodgers major leaguer Shohei Ohtani also announced aid for the Noto area, though he did not disclose the amount.

7. Another mishap hit the country when a Japan Airlines plane carrying hundreds of passengers collided with an earthquake relief aircraft and burst into flames on landing at Tokyos Haneda airport on Tuesday. All 379 people on board the Airbus A350 jet escaped, but five of the six crew on the Coast Guard craft died as they set off to deliver aid to an earthquake zone.

8. The runway at Tokyo's Haneda airport that had been closed since a collision between two aircraft there on Tuesday would likely reopen on Jan. 8, Japanese Transport Minister Tetsuo Saito said.

9. Tuesday's runway collision in Japan marks the first time a modern lightweight airliner has burnt down and is being seen as a test case for how well a new generation of carbon-composite airplanes copes with a catastrophic fire.

10. A team of transport safety officials searched for a voice recorder from the severely burned fuselage of a Japan Airlines plane on Friday, seeking crucial information on what caused a collision with a small coast guard plane on the runway at Tokyo's Haneda airport.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Who decides who decides? It is a question we will ask often in 2024. With the stunning debut of ChatGPT, 2023 was the year when AI became a buzzword, and LLMs took over the discourse around us. With AI deepfakes threatening major democratic elections, the fear of AI-powered autonomous drones and other weapons being used in wars fought by humans, and with corporations ready to lay off workers as their jobs get replaced by AI, the debate on AI ethics and safety will become even more heated. Every major country and global grouping has jumped into the race for policing AI; the regulatory air is still hazy with various proposals, principles and guidelines. Although almost everyone seems to agree that this shape-shifting technology needs to be controlled and guard-railed, it is not clear whose approaches and guidelines will be accepted. Who decides that? More importantly, who decides who decides?

In my opinion, the debate is beyond just AI safety or ethics. It is much more fundamental than thatits about what kind of future we want for humanity. Technologies have come and gone, but this one is fundamentally different. Gartner aptly says that AI is not a mere technology or trend, it is a fundamental shift in how humans and machines will interact with each other. A few years back, in those halcyon pre-GPT days, I mused on the frog-in-boiling-water parable, and whether technology was that slowly boiling water which eventually incapacitates the frog. We forgot our dear ones phone numbers with mobile phones, we have forgotten directions with Google Maps, and we are forgetting what libraries look like with search and chatbots. Most children today do not know that vegetables actually grow somewhere other than a supermarket. Soon autonomous cars might make us forget how to drive. Will we turn into ineffectual vegetables, spending our time playing video games and consuming content, while AI robots and algorithms do our work for us? Is that a future we are creating?

The debate, therefore, is not just about regulating AI, it is about the future we want for ourselves. Consider the recent scriptwriters strike in Hollywood, where writers feared the loss of their jobs to AI. But as Jamie Susskind writes in the Financial Times (bit.ly/48m8DvN): Is the point of cinematic art to provide a living for people in the film industry? Or is it to provide stimulation and joy for consumers?" Would we want human producers of films just to keep them employed? A similar debate," says he, is playing out in the world of literature." While Margaret Atwood and Stephen King are worried that there works are being used to train AI systems, would it not be wonderful for AI to write like them after they are long gone, for Beethoven to continue producing wonderful music, or Rabindranath Tagore to continue to produce his masterpieces even when he is not there? When Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre produced a hologram of Tupac Shakur in 2012, 15 years after Shakurs death, did it not excite the humans who wanted him to come back? Does all creativity and expression need to come from human beings if AI can created something much better?

This debate came home to me yet again when I watched a recent revolution in gemstones. The market has been upturned by cheap lab-made diamonds that are identical to mined stones. Is it a good thing that now everyone can buy these beautiful lab-made gemstones, or is it bad that we are replacing something nature perfected over thousands of years with stones born of furnace-like temperatures and crushing pressure? As Susskind writes: Is arts purpose merely to venerate and compensate artists, or to provoke aesthetic stimulation and cultural advance? These arent easy questions. And they cant simply be answered by reference to safety either. These debates are about values. They ask us to choose, in Amos Ozs words, between right and right. Regulating technology is about safety, but it is also about the kind of civilisation we wish to create for ourselves. We cant leave these big moral questions for AI companies (like OpenAI) to decide."

Or even governments and regulators. We need people who think and work beyond just the technologies of AI; we need historians and philosophers, humanists and naturalists, sociologists and musicians. People who live and breathe AI technology are the wrong kind of people to decide the future we want, since all they know is AI. Paraphrasing C.L.R. James in his immortal Beyond the Boundary: What do they know of AI, who only AI know.
Oil and natural gas prices have started rising as traders bet on the continuation of Houthi attacks disrupting shipping in the Red Sea. The Yemen-based rebel formation, backed by Iran, has been attacking shipping along this critical region with suicide drones, missiles and rockets since the Gaza War. This is part of a strategy to impose a naval blockade of Israel, since the Houthis are allies of Hamas due to their strong connections with Iran.

Many major shipping firms such as the Mediterranean Shipping Company, Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd and BP have started diverting vessels away from the Red Sea. Indeed, traffic around the Cape of Good Hope has risen by 67% since the attacks started while traffic via the Suez Canal has dropped 28% because the Suez Canal links the Red Sea to the Mediterranean.

It takes an extra 10-14 days sailing time for a cargo ship on the Asia-Europe run to go up and down the entire length of Africa rather than through the Suez Canal via the Red Sea. So, this adds considerably to shipping costs. Under normal circumstances, the Red Sea route handles around 12% of all global trade, and roughly a third of the container trade.

Even more alarmingly, the Houthi interdiction has the potential to badly disrupt energy supplies since a large proportion of the worlds oil and natural gas is evacuated out through regions targeted by the Houthi. Unlike with other commodities, which can use alternate routes albeit at high cost, it is not possible for tankers out of the Arab Peninsula to easily avoid the red zone.

If the Houthi actions against shipping cannot be stopped, there will be disruptions to global energy supplies quite apart from high costs for global shipping. In addition, protests in Libya have shut down the Sharara oilfield, which could further tighten global supply.

Enter the US as the only superpower in a unipolar world. The US has sunk several Houthi ships recently but this has not stopped the attacks. Iran which was already supplying much of the armaments (rockets and drones) used by the Houthi has also got involved more directly as it has sent warships out on patrol after Houthi boats were sunk.

The US has put together a coalition which hopes to coordinate military action against Houthi attacks. Although the coalition has destroyed many Houthi drones and missiles, it cannot seem to guarantee complete suppression of these terrorist attacks without seriously ramping up military commitments. The ongoing Gaza War has also meant that Arab nations like Saudi Arabia have not entered this coalition, even though the Saudis led an earlier coalition that fought a land war in Yemen against the Houthis.

The US is now trying to coordinate stronger military action via the UN Security Council but again, the Arab nations in the region will be hesitant to get involved while the Gaza War rages on.

India has seen collateral damage since Indian ships (and Indian-crewed ships) such as the MV (Merchant Vessel) Chem Pluto and the MV Sai Baba have been targeted by Houthi attacks. The Indian Navy is now patrolling the area with a complement of destroyers as well as aerial surveillance.

If the attacks dont stop, either through naval military action or via diplomatic negotiations (probably involving Iran), the next option would be further military escalation via bombing Houthi strongholds in Yemen, or even the involvement of UN coalition ground forces in Yemen. This could have serious consequences in terms of heightened geopolitical tensions, especially if Iran decides to face-off.

India has strong diplomatic and trade ties across the Arab World, and with Iran and Israel. Over 10 million NRIs work in Arab nations. Hence, the government has to tread very delicately through this situation. It also has to reckon with a situation where energy imports become more expensive which is worrying since India imports over 85% of its crude and over 50% of its gas. The impact on the bottomline of oil-marketing companies like BPCL, HPCL, IOC could be severe.
The Congress party has informed its state units that it is considering to field candidates in 255 seats for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, according to media reports. The Congress on Thursday held a meeting with party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi and AICC general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal in attendance.

The leaders met members of the partys five-member national alliance committee, and hinted at the willingness to contest from a lesser number of seats than it did during the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, Indian Express reported.

According to the report, amid much anticipation about seat-sharing by opposition INDIA bloc parties, the Congress has asked members to begin seat-sharing talks with other parties immediately.

The Indian Express report quoting people familiar with the developments mentioned that Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge told a separate meeting of AICC general secretaries and state in-charges, state Congress presidents, and Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leaders earlier in the day that the party would focus on 255 seats.

The opposition INDIA bloc is yet to formally declare its seat-sharing decision for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. However, even before a meeting could be held, the Congress seemed to have had run-ins with several regional parties over seat-sharing. Regional political partisan conflicts have erupted in West Bengal, Maharashtra, and Punjab.

In West Bengal, Lok Sabha MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury led-Congress has displayed a rift with INDIA bloc ally and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the latter's claim that the TMC would give the Congress two seats from West Bengal. Notably, Adhir Chowdhury and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee have opposed each other for the seat of governance in West Bengal, forever. Congress leaders from West Bengal suggested demanding six seats and possibly securing at least four from the TMC, India Today reported.

In Punjab, the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and the Congress have engaged in mud-slinging and bickering despite being INDIA bloc allies.

In Maharashtra, Sanjay Raut of the Uddhav Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena (UBT), had remarked that the Congress should start seat-sharing talks with the former, as the party has "not won any seat" in the state.

The Lok Sabha comprises a total of 545 seats. Out of these, elections will be conducted by the Election Commission to fill 543 seats.

Further, the Congress had a bitter episode with Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party about seat-sharing ahead of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections. The Congress lost the assembly polls. However, after the results, Congress veteran Kamal Nath's Akhilesh, Vakhilesh" jibe had come to focus, with political experts suggesting, a seat-sharing would have the grand old party better. The Uttar Pradesh Congress leaders laid out a demand for 40 seats, but hoped to secure 20 through negotiations with the Samajwadi Party, India Today report stated.

The report also mentioned that Congress leaders from Jharkhand staked claim in 12 seats out of the total 14, and said they should not settle below seven.

2019 Lok Sabha Elections for Congress: A recap

In the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, the Congress party had contested 421 seats, winning only 52. It was part of alliances in a handful of states  with the RJD in Bihar, NCP in Maharashtra, JD(S) in Karnataka, JMM in Jharkhand, and the DMK in Tamil Nadu.

The Congress had contested only nine out of the 40 seats in Bihar, seven of the 14 seats in Jharkhand, 21 of the 28 seats in Karnataka, 25 of the 48 seats in Maharashtra, and nine of the 39 seats in Tamil Nadu. In Uttar Pradesh, it contested 70 of the 80 seats.

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The lead Ukrainian negotiator, David Arakhamia, pointed to a bottle of sanitizing gel on the table, covered by a crisp white cloth, as Russian and Ukrainian peace delegations gathered in Istanbuls Dolmabahce Palace.

Thats an antiseptic," Arakhamia told his Russian counterpart, President Vladimir Putins adviser Vladimir Medinsky.

Ah, I thought its vodka," Medinsky joked.

There was plenty of tension behind the jovial appearances during that pivotal meeting on March 29, 2022. Dmytro Kuleba, the Ukrainian foreign minister, had just publicly advised Ukrainian negotiators not to accept any beverages from the Russians and not to touch any surfaces, lest they be poisoned. After all, Russian forces were still at the gates of Kyiv, trying to overthrow President Volodymyr Zelensky and his government.

What actually happened on that momentous Tuesday and in the immediate aftermath has since turned into a matter of fundamental disagreement among Ukraine, Western nations and Russia. The Istanbul meeting has also emerged as a key point of discord in Americas own debate about the war, as indispensable U.S. aid to Ukraine remains stalled in Congress because of Republican opposition. Some argue that Ukraine blew a chance at the time to end the war. The real story paints a different, and far more complicated, picture.

The first meeting between Ukrainian and Russian negotiators happened on Feb. 28, 2022, in the Belarusian city of Gomel, four days after Russian tanks crossed the Ukrainian border. At that encounter, Medinsky recited a long list of the Kremlins demands. It included the replacement of Zelenskys administration with a puppet regime, Ukrainian troops handing over all their tanks and artillery, the arrest and trial of Nazis"a Russian euphemism for any Ukrainian opposed to Moscows ruleand the restoration of Russian as Ukraines official language. Medinsky even demanded that city streets named after Ukrainian national heroes be returned to their old Soviet names.

We listened to them, and we realized that these are not people sent for talks but for our capitulation," recalled one of the Ukrainian negotiators, Zelenskys adviser Mykhailo Podolyak. Yet to gain time the Ukrainians agreed to keep talking.

On March 10, Kuleba flew to the Turkish resort town of Antalya to meet his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, in their first encounter since the war began. I asked Lavrov a simple question behind closed doors in Antalya: Minister, what do you want? That is all I wanted to know," Kuleba recalled. Lavrov didnt reply, launching instead into the usual Russian litany of allegations that Ukraine had turned into a neo-Nazi den hellbent on undermining Russia.

In the 19 days between the meeting in Antalya and the Istanbul talks, the battlefield situation shifted dramatically in Ukraines favor. All around Kyiv, nimble Ukrainian forces inflicted defeat after defeat on over-extended Russian units.

Throughout the talks, the issue of Ukrainian membership in NATO was a critical part of the agenda. In the first weeks of the war, Zelensky indicated that Ukraine could forgo its dream of joining NATO in exchange for binding security guarantees from the West and Russia alike. Ukrainian negotiators also showed flexibility on Russian demands to reduce the size of Ukraines military and freeze the issue of who controls Crimea, a peninsula occupied by Moscow since 2014, for the foreseeable future. None of this, of course, was enough to stop the Russian onslaught on the ground and the Russian bombs and missiles that kept raining down on Ukrainian cities.

As Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan opened the Istanbul talks on March 29, the mandate of the Ukrainian team was to push for a Russian withdrawal to pre-invasion lines while showing openness on many key issues, with actual decisions deferred to a planned meeting between Zelensky and Putin.

Russias major demand, in addition to keeping Ukraine out of NATO, was to limit its ability to defend itself in the future. According to draft documents later revealed publicly by Putin, Moscow wanted Ukraines armed forces capped at 85,000 troops, 342 tanks and 519 artillery pieces. Ukrainian negotiators in Istanbul countered with a proposal for an army of 250,000 troops, roughly its prewar level, with 800 tanks and 1,900 artillery pieces.

Just as the conference started, Russias defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, made a striking announcement from Moscow. The main goals of Russias special military operation" had been generally fulfilled, he said. Hours later, Medinsky appeared at a press conference in Istanbul with even more astonishing news. The talks held that day had achieved significant progress, he announced, and Moscow had decided to take steps to de-escalate the conflict. Battered Russian troops started to withdraw from the Kyiv region and other parts of northern Ukraine.

According to Putins version of events, Ukrainian negotiators in Istanbul had accepted most of Russias demands. The agreements were practically reached," he lamented months later. Our troops left the center of Ukraine, Kyiv, to create conditions" for further talks to finalize that accord, he said.

Ukraine has vehemently disputed that account. Neither side made binding commitments in Istanbul, according to Kuleba. There was no deal," he said. To engage in a conversation and to commit yourself to something are completely different things." As for the Russian pullback, Ukrainian and American officials say Putin had no choice but to withdraw by late March because of Ukrainian military successes on the ground.

Col. Igor Girkin, a retired Russian intelligence officer and the former defense minister of a Russian proxy statelet in Donbas, agreed. If leaving the seized territory has become inevitable, its best to do it before your troops are routed by the adversary," he said shortly after the Istanbul announcements. We will still need these troopsthe war will be long." Girkin has since been imprisoned in Moscow for criticizing Russian military failures,

On the evening of March 29, as the negotiators saluted each other in Istanbul and made plans to reconvene for the next round of talks, Ukrainian troops were already entering the town of Bucha near Kyiv. What the Ukrainians discovered there rendered moot any understanding reached in Istanbul.

Like other northwestern suburbs in Kyivs green belt across the Irpin River, Bucha was a relaxed town of single-family homes and five-story housing blocks set amid pine trees, playgrounds, and parks. It had a handful of resorts, with swimming pools for the guests, and an equestrian club. As Ukrainian forces advanced into Bucha, they stumbled upon a horrifying sight: Dozens of bodies lay rotting under the rain on Yablunska Street and in surrounding areas. Some corpses were missing limbs, likely eaten by dogs, while others had brains spilling from cracked skulls.

As the soldiers probed further, they found several men, many of them stripped naked to their waists, executed and lying on the ground in the courtyard of 144 Yablunska Street. On sidewalks, in ditches and in improvised graves, there were other bodies with their hands tied. Some bore the signs of torture: poked-out eyes, cut-off fingers.

More than 450 civilians were killed in Bucha during the month the town was under Russian occupation. Atrocities had been occurring throughout occupied Ukraine, especially in Mariupol. But in Bucha, the Russian soldiers fled so fast that they hadnt had the time to remove the evidence and conceal the scale of the slaughter.

As the footage from Bucha spread on social media, Zelenskylike most Ukrainianswas overwhelmed with fury. The essence of evil has come to our landmurderers, torturers, rapists and looters who call themselves an army," he said in an address to Ukrainians. They have killed consciously, and with pleasure."

Even though the Ukrainian and Russian negotiators remained in touch, fine-tuning the documents drafted in Istanbul the previous week, Zelensky signaled that the killings uncovered in Bucha had changed everything. What has happened here is genocide," he said, stern-faced, during his visit to the townthe first time he had left Kyiv since the invasion. It is very hard to keep talking when you see what has happened here."

There was no contrition in Moscow after the horrors of Bucha came to light. Its a clear provocation," thundered Lavrov. Not a single Ukrainian civilian had been harmed, declared Russias ministry of defense. Medinsky said the Ukrainians must have staged the atrocities in Bucha because its name rhymed with the English word butcher."

On April 9, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson arrived in a Kyiv transformed. He was one of the first Western leaders to brave the trip since the invasion. Less than two weeks had elapsed since the Istanbul talks and, despite Zelenskys outrage, the Russian and Ukrainian negotiating teams still pursued contacts via Zoom.

I was a bit worried at that stage," Johnson recalled. I could not see for the life of me what the deal could be, and I thought that any deal with Putin was going to be pretty sordid." Sitting down with Zelensky in Kyiv, the British prime minister delivered his pitch: Nobody can be more Ukrainian than Ukrainians, it is not for me to tell you what your war objectives can be, but as far as I am concerned, Putin must fail and Ukraine must be entitled to retain full sovereignty and independence. . Were not directly fighting, you are. Its the Ukrainians who are fighting and dying. But we would back Ukraine a thousand percent."

Zelensky didnt need much convincing. The conversation quickly shifted to the concrete ways in which the United Kingdom could assist the Ukrainian armed forces, such as the provision of military supplies. It was the first trickle in what would become a flood of increasingly sophisticated Western weapons. Meanwhile, online talks between Ukrainian and Russian teams fizzled away.

In the Kremlin, Putin was certain that Washington, rather than London, had forced Zelensky to abandon talks in the hope of exhausting Russia in a protracted war. Senior Russian officials kept angrily raising this point in meetings with their American counterparts. Utter bullst," a senior Biden administration official told me. I know for a fact the United States didnt pull the plug on that. We were watching it carefully."

Zelenskys new position, which hasnt changed since, was to demand a full withdrawal of Russian troops from all Ukrainian lands conquered since 2014, including Crimea, and the prosecution of Russian officials suspected of war crimes.

In Istanbul, we still didnt understand the type of war that Russia was waging, its genocidal intent," Podolyak explained. Once we returned from Istanbul, and the Russians left the Kyiv region, we saw the beastly crimes that they had committed there. And we understood that Russia will try to annihilate Ukraine no matter what."

Yaroslav Trofimov is the chief foreign-affairs correspondent of The Wall Street Journal. This piece is adapted from his new book, Our Enemies Will Vanish: The Russian Invasion and Ukraines War of Independence," which will be published by Penguin Press on Jan. 9.
Country achieves crucial technological breakthroughs

China Daily) 08:58, January 05, 2024

Companies eager to cash in on AI to boost global competitiveness

Yu Zhongyuan, a 59-year-old businessman engaged in foreign trade in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, is a loyal user of Huawei Technologies Co's smartphones.

But he never expected the company's phone business to spring back to life so quickly.

After being subject to technology restrictions imposed by the United States government for four years, Huawei made a high-profile comeback to the 5G smartphone arena last year.

The company surprised the world with its Mate 60 series of smartphones, which are equipped with chips that support 5G technology. The phones made headlines worldwide and triggered an enthusiastic response from Chinese consumers.

Yu said: "Having witnessed Huawei emerge stronger from mounting challenges, I am confident that China's technology industry can overcome any future difficulties. This is a symbolic moment."

The recovery in Huawei's smartphone business offers an insight into how China's innovation-driven economy is scrambling to achieve breakthroughs in crucial technologies through long-term input into research and development, and by using a robust industrial support system.

Officials, company executives and experts said that despite geopolitical uncertainties and lackluster global demand, Chinese companies are eager to ride the latest technological wave, which includes artificial intelligence, or AI, to sharpen their global competitiveness and strengthen the security of key industrial chains.

The past year has seen innovation helping to set milestones in China's manufacturing industry.

The first commercial flight of the C919, China's self-developed large passenger aircraft, took off last year. The nation's first domestically produced large cruise ship, Adora Magic City, was delivered, and China surpassed Japan to become the world's largest exporter of automobiles.

Meanwhile, with AI set to unleash enormous potential in reshaping the world, Chinese companies are coming up with new applications to rival ChatGPT, a chatbot developed by the US company OpenAI, which has taken the world by storm. Such progress was made despite Washington's restrictions on exports of high-end AI chips to Beijing, the officials, company executives and experts said.

Wei Jianguo, former vice-minister of commerce, said, "Some countries attempted to contain China's economic development by promoting decoupling, but our progress proved that their efforts have failed."

China boasts the world's most complete industrial system, and its highly efficient industrial clusters, with close upstream and downstream connections, make Chinese companies extremely competitive on the global stage, Wei said.

"Meanwhile, China's development in high-tech sectors has promoted development of its digital economy. The nation is now closely intertwined with other countries in high-tech industries," said Wei, who is also vice-chairman of the China Center for International Economic Exchanges.

Data from the World Intellectual Property Organization show that China is now home to 24 of the world's top 100 science and technology innovation clusters, making it the country with the most such clusters.

Progress made

Huang Hanquan, head of the Academy of Macroeconomic Research, said China has made progress in key technologies in strategically important sectors, showing that scientific innovation plays an increasingly bigger role in driving economic growth. The academy is part of the National Development and Reform Commission, or NDRC.

As the innovation-driven development strategy gains traction, technological innovation continues to empower the real economy and new industries, and driving forces continue to develop and grow, Huang said.

Denis Depoux, global managing director of consultancy Roland Berger, said: "China has demonstrated its innovation capability. It is leapfrogging in several fields, gaining leadership globally in areas like the electric vehicle chain  from batteries to charging infrastructure, photovoltaic panels, wind turbines, nuclear and telecommunications equipment."

The nation's industrial modernization, huge consumption potential, and growing innovation prowess are three strong points that create a new China story for the world, he added.

Last month, the tone-setting Central Economic Work Conference made the construction of a modern industrial system through technological innovation the top priority for economic work this year.

The conference called for efforts to develop new productivity boosters, and produce new industries, models and impetus with cutting-edge technologies.

Chen Zhichao, an assistant researcher at the Xi Jinping Thought on Economy Study Center, which is part of the NDRC, said the call will inject strong impetus into the country's high-quality economic development.

Compared with traditional productivity tools driven by elements such as labor, land and capital, Chen said new productivity boosters are led by technological innovation, which will promote the transformation of the economic growth mode.

"Challenges still exist, and more efforts, including higher fiscal investment and stimulation of social capital, are needed to increase investment in fundamental and applied research, and cultivate high-end innovation-oriented talent," Chen added.

Jin Zhuanglong, minister of industry and information technology, the country's top industry regulator, said China will step up the development of a number of strategic emerging industries such as biomanufacturing, commercial aerospace, and the low-altitude economy.

The ministry will also open up new paths for future industries such as quantum and life sciences, and make extensive use of digital intelligence and green technologies to accelerate the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, Jin said.

"Technologies such as AI can empower China's new industrialization push, and their applications in industries such as manufacturing and healthcare will be an important symbol of a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation," he added.

Goldman Sachs Research forecast in a report that breakthroughs in generative AI, represented by applications such as ChatGPT, can drive a 7 percent, or almost $7 trillion, increase in global GDP and raise productivity growth by 1.5 percentage points over a 10-year period.

Well aware of the opportunities ahead, established tech heavyweights such as Alibaba, Tencent, Baidu, ByteDance and Huawei, as well as thousands of startups in China, are scrambling to develop and embrace large language models. Such models are computer algorithms fed with huge amounts of data, which are key to supporting ChatGPT-like applications.

A report, released by the Beijing Municipal Science &Technology Commission, said that as of October, China had developed at least 254 AI large language models.

Chi Xiannian, a senior engineer at the China Center for Information Industry Development, a think tank affiliated with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said finance, manufacturing, governance and transportation are the top industries in China to use AI large language models.

Vital impact

Liu Qingfeng, chairman of iFlytek, a Chinese AI pioneer, said: "Chinese companies must devote big, real money to research and development of fundamental science to achieve breakthroughs in AI. The impact of this generative AI technology is no less important than that of the birth of the PC or the internet."

In October, iFlytek unveiled the latest version of its AI large language model, Spark-Desk V3.0. A test and evaluation report by the Guoyan Institute of Economic Research, which is affiliated with the Development Research Center of the State Council, said Spark-Desk V3.0 has an overall capability stronger than that of ChatGPT.

The model's core capability is evaluated in seven dimensions  text generation, language understanding, Q&A knowledge, logical reasoning, mathematic ability, coding ability, and multimodal ability, Liu said.

The ongoing AI boom is also spurring surging demand for AI chips, which are vital to enabling ChatGPT-like applications. Experts said Washington's restrictions on exports of US company Nvidia's advanced AI chips to Beijing last year have left plenty of room for competitive Chinese rivals to emerge.

For example, Huawei has launched its 910B AI chips, which have already been bought by major Chinese internet companies to support their large language models. The performance of Huawei's AI processor Ascend 910B can be roughly compared with that of Nvidia's A100 chip, iFlytek said.

Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, said recently that Huawei is among a field of "very formidable" competitors to Nvidia in the race to produce the best AI chips.

Wei Shaojun, president of the integrated circuit design branch of the China Semiconductor Industry Association, said, "This is the latest evidence that Washington's restrictions hurt the interests of US companies hard and accelerated Chinese companies' efforts to make technological breakthroughs."

In addition to AI and chips, China also recorded rapid growth last year in the production of new energy vehicles, or NEVs.

In the first quarter of last year, China replaced Japan as the world's largest vehicle exporter. The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers estimates that the nation's total vehicle exports for last year will exceed 5 million, a record high.

Xu Haidong, the association's deputy chief engineer, said, "Chinese automobile brands have accurately grasped the emerging opportunities in NEVs, and the trend of integration with intelligence and connectivity."

A report from consultancy KPMG said Chinese carmakers are expected to capture about 15 percent of Europe's electric vehicle market by next year, as established players such as BYD and emerging companies, including NIO and Li Auto, gain popularity among European consumers.

This would mark a big step forward, as Chinese marques accounted for less than 10 percent of the 1.1 million battery-powered electric vehicles sold in Europe in 2022, KPMG said.

Children visit the sixth World Sound Expo in Hefei, capital of Anhui Province, in October. ZHOU MU/XINHUA

Kevin Kang, chief economist at KPMG China, said, "Chinese brands have huge potential in the European market and could contribute the most to future sales increases there."

Ding Yuqian, head of China Autos Research at HSBC, said China has the world's most competitive electric vehicle battery supply chain.

The single most expensive item for such a vehicle is its battery, and carmakers based in China have access to high-quality batteries produced at a relative cost advantage, with manufacturers continuing to improve this technology.

Hans-Paul Burkner, global chair emeritus of Boston Consulting Group, said electric cars are a typical example of China moving up in the value chain. Chinese companies have become highly competitive, not just because of costs, but also due to quality and innovation, he added.

"When I look at some of the new cars on the streets of Beijing and Shanghai, the electric vehicles are really impressive. This is what makes Chinese companies competitive," Burkner said.

"We see quite a lot of Chinese companies being the top producers of patents and really good products, which are witnessed all over the world."

Jeffrey Sachs, a renowned economist and director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University in New York, said, "China's strength right now is that it is at the cutting edge of many of the most important technology innovations for the future.

"These include low-carbon energy solutions, electric vehicles, batteries, supply chains, artificial intelligence, high-speed trains, and many other sectors. All of these will be very good for China's future growth."

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
In a transformative year marked by unprecedented global expansion and strategic acquisitions, AD Ports Group has maintained its position as one of the worlds leading facilitators of global trade and logistics.

The year has been pivotal in enhancing the groups connectivity, capacity, and international presence, underscoring a commitment to drive sustainable innovation and excellence across the global trade and logistics sector.

The year began with the inauguration of the Aqaba Cruise Terminal, the first-of-its-kind facility in Jordan and concluded with the signing of a definitive concession agreement with the Red Sea Ports Authority (RSPA) for the development and operation of a multi-purpose terminal at Safaga Sea Port.

Strategic deals

Furthermore, 2023 saw AD Ports Group strengthen its global footprint through strategic agreements and partnerships. As part of the Groups Africa Strategy and commitment to strategic development within emerging markets, it signed a 30-year extendable concession agreement to manage and operate a multipurpose terminal in Congos Pointe Noire Port.

The year also saw AD Ports Group take significant financial strides investing in future growth, including securing a $2 billion corporate facility with a syndicate of 13 banks in April 2023. The demand for the facility was overwhelming, demonstrating the confidence that the banking sector has in AD Ports Groups financial health and future prospects. During the nine months of 2023, the groups revenue grew by 116% YoY to AED8.11 billion ($2.21 billion), EBITDA grew 30% YoY to AED2.14 billion and net profit grew 14% YoY to AED1.07 billion.

A key milestone in the groups international expansion strategy was the landmark acquisition of 100% of Noatum, a global integrated logistics services provider with presence across all major global markets and trade lanes. The transformative acquisition brought together two major industry players, each with its strengths and capabilities, to form a global powerhouse in the trade and logistics space.

Key maritime trade routes

AD Ports Groups focus on investing in key maritime trade routes for the UAE, while replicating the companys integrated business model in regions that offer long-term and sustainable growth prospects, was reflected in the signing of a 50-Year concession agreement with Karachi Port Trust for the development of a state-of-the-art container terminal.

Under the terms of the 50-year concession agreement, the Joint Venture will undertake significant investments in infrastructure and superstructure over the next 10 years, with the bulk of it planned for 2026, which aims to drive growth, promote trade diversification, and strengthen bilateral ties between the UAE and Pakistan.

Falah Mohammad Al Ahbabi, Chairman, AD Ports Group, said: "2023 was not just a year of growth and expansion for AD Ports Group; it was a year where the group forged to redefine the boundaries of the maritime and logistics industry. Our achievements are not merely a reflection of our strategy, but an example that traditional approaches no longer suffice in the fast-evolving global market. We have embraced change, not just to lead but to revolutionise the industry. As we forge ahead, aligned with our wise leaders vision, our commitment to sustainability, innovation, and global connectivity will continue to be the cornerstones of our journey."

New markets

Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO of AD Ports Group, said: "In 2023, AD Ports Group transformed into one of the leading global players in our industry, entering new markets and reshaping them to ensure positive impacts for our stakeholders and the communities in which we operate. As we have faced uncertainty within the industry due to geopolitical headwinds, our approach has remained bold and always forward-thinking, thanks to the guidance of the UAEs wise leadership. Our rapid expansion and diverse investments are vital steps towards charting a future where AD Ports Group is synonymous with global presence, innovation and resilience within the global trade and logistics landscape."

The groups efforts in addressing climate change in line with the UAEs net-zero strategy have been evidenced and lauded with several global awards this year. The Group received the Best Sustainability Initiative Award at the ADSG Awards 2023. The recognition underscores the Groups innovative and strategic approach to preserving and enhancing the Ras Ghanada Coral Reef  a cornerstone of marine biodiversity in the UAE and the Gulf region. Among other notable recognitions, Kezad Group, part of AD Ports Group, earned the prestigious United Nations Investment Promotion Awards 2023, acknowledging its significant role in attracting investment in renewable energy and clean technologies.

In terms of major recognitions and accolades, the groups flagship port, Khalifa Port, which was voted as the Port of the Year by the Maritime Standard Awards, achieved a Guinness World Record title for the largest shipping container logo and was ranked the 3rd most efficient container port globally on the 2022 Container Port Performance Index. Moreover, the Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal, located at Zayed Port, was named both the Worlds and the Middle Easts Best Cruise Terminal by the World Cruise Awards, further solidifying Abu Dhabis standing as a premier cruise destination of choice and highlighting Zayed Ports world-class facilities and hospitality.

Reinventing Ports

In October, AD Ports Group hosted the 2023 edition of the IAPH World Ports Conference at a crucial juncture for the ports and shipping sectors, marking the first time this prestigious event has taken place within the Mena region. Under the theme Reinventing Ports, the 2023 IAPH World Ports Conference united major players in the ports sector to discuss opportunities and challenges for sustainable growth of the ports industry given its position as the backbone of the global economy. The group also hosted on the sidelines of the IAPH conference, the 61st annual meeting of the Arab Sea Ports Federation, chaired by Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO of AD Ports Group, confirming the pivotal position that Abu Dhabi is playing within the industry both regionally and internationally.

In 2023, the AD Ports Group's Clusters made significant strides:

Digital Cluster: Transitioned to lead UAE's trade digitalisation, highlighted by Maqta Gateway's acquisition of TTEK, strengthening global trade solutions. Established the Digital District, won awards, and advanced sustainability efforts.

Economic Cities & Free Zone: Facilitated industrial growth, including significant investments in food, technology, metal and oil sectors. Infrastructure upgrades and strategic agreements signal commitment to growth and sustainability.

Logistics: Achieved global presence by acquiring Noatum, enhancing global trade capabilities. Expansion into Uzbekistan and automotive logistics signifies global reach and strategic partnerships.

Maritime & Shipping: Witnessed exceptional growth with strategic vessel acquisitions, expansion into new business areas, and joint ventures like Safeen Drydocks. Infrastructural development and community engagement were key focuses.

Ports: Expanded globally with operations in Congo, Pakistan, and Egypt. Achieved records like the Guinness World Records title and awards for Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal, highlighting regional expansion and excellence.

Overall, these achievements across clusters signify strategic growth, global expansion, and a commitment to innovation, sustainability, and community engagement within the AD Ports Group in 2023.--TradeArabia News Service
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 5. There are no problems with religious freedom in Azerbaijan; there is both freedom and support, Chief Rabbi of Ashkenazi Jews of Azerbaijan Shneor Segal told Trend.

"I've been wearing religious attire in Azerbaijan for 13 years and have never felt threatened or uneasy about it. I follow all of the rules of my religion. Azerbaijan has excellent conditions for Jews. The country has a Jewish community, and synagogues are operational. Azerbaijan does not only have religious freedom. In Azerbaijan, the Jewish community is given state support to practice their religion freely. In other words, we are not constrained; we have both freedom and assistance," the chief rabbi said.

"When we address religious issues to the government, the State Committee for Work with Religious Associations, or any ministry, they are always attentive to us, sit with us, listen to us, and try to find a solution for the Jewish community of Azerbaijan to live according to all Jewish canons. We are supported and assisted in all areas. This is not merely governmental policy; it is also the Azerbaijani people's ideals," he added.

Shneor Segal named several examples of how tolerant and respectful Azerbaijan is towards religious norms.

"Jewish cuisine is separated into two categories according to Jewish law: dairy and meat. Separate utensils and sinks are required for dairy and meat. I notified the landlord about this when I first rented an apartment in Baku. He instantly set up all of the requirements for me and refused to take any further money from me in exchange. This is a clear example of the Azerbaijani people's attitude toward religious leaders of any faith. As Jews, we are aware of this," he said.

"During the holiday of Sukkot, we are free to build a hut where we live in Azerbaijan, while rabbis in other countries have to go to the synagogue for this. In Azerbaijan, we are not only given the opportunity to fully celebrate this holiday according to all the Jewish rules, but they also help us to build huts. Jews who were born in Azerbaijan can also say how comfortable they feel in this country," he concluded.

X: @Lyaman_Zeyn
In trying to plan for the future, world leaders are looking to the past. When this crisis is over, there has to be a vision of what comes next, and in our view it has to be a two-state solution," said Joe Biden, Americas president, in one of his many public statements about the nearly month-long war in Gaza. Rishi Sunak, the British prime minister, has made similar comments; so has Emmanuel Macron, the French president. An emergency meeting of the Arab League last month ended with a call for serious negotiations" towards a two-state solution.

Read all our coverage of the war between Israel and Hamas

When Israel left Gaza in 2005, uprooting some 8,000 Jewish settlers from a territory it had controlled since 1967, no one knew quite what to make of the decision. Some hoped that Israels willingness to cede occupied territory would be a trend, a step towards a final settlement with the Palestinians. Others saw a canny ploy: relinquishing control of Gaza might help Israel entrench its control of the West Bank. The latter view turned out to be correct.

Similar confusion has emerged since October 7th, when Israel began planning a ground invasion of Gaza after Hamas, the militant Islamist group that controls the territory, massacred 1,400 Israelis. Palestinians fear the war will lead to a second naqba (catastrophe"), referring to the mass displacement that accompanied Israels birth in 1948. Far-right Israeli ministers hope it will offer a chance to reassert control over Gaza and rebuild the dismantled Jewish settlements. A few hopeful sorts, among them Mr Biden, hope it will provide a chance to revive the comatose Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

For now, that is a far-off dream: Israeli generals expect months of fighting. But both they and many foreign powers hope eventually to transfer control of Gaza to the Palestinian Authority (pa), which governs parts of the West Bank, probably with a peacekeeping force brought in to help the transition. And they doubt that Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, would return to Gaza without a guarantee of meaningful talks about Palestinian statehood.

Any plan for the day after" in Gaza, in other words, needs to consider the possibility of a two-state solution. The broad outline has not changed much for decades. A Palestinian state would be formed in Gaza and the West Bank; Israel would swap chunks of its territory for portions of the West Bank where it has built large settlements. Jerusalem would be divided, with some sort of joint control over the old city. A small number of Palestinian refugees could return to Israel, while the rest would settle in either Palestine or their present homes elsewhere. Israel would expect a Palestinian state to be demilitarised.

After two decades of serious talksfrom the hopeful era of the Oslo accords in the early 1990s, through a desultory attempt under Barack Obamathe peace process ground to a halt in 2014. There have been no serious negotiations since.

Negotiators cannot quite pick up where they left off. At the end of 2021 there were 465,400 Israeli settlers living in the West Bank, up from 116,300 when the Oslo accords were signed in 1993. They are a growing obstacle to peace. Most are concentrated in areas that would probably be ceded to Israel in an agreement, but their political clout (they would oppose surrendering even land that they do not live on) has increased along with their population.

Context is everything

The regional picture is also more complicated. In 2002 the Arab League endorsed a Saudi proposal that promised Israel normal relations with Arab countries after a two-state solution: by ending its conflict with the Palestinians, Israel could end all its regional conflicts. The Arab Peace Initiative was meant to be a powerful inducement. Israel might be more willing to take its boot off the Palestinians if it felt that other threats would then dissipate.

But the region has changed since 2002. Some militias, from Hizbullah in Lebanon to the Houthis in Yemen, are now more powerful than the states they call home. It would not suffice for Arab governments to end their conflicts with Israel: non-state actors would have to agree to do so as well.

Other things could be easier. A two-state solution would be costly. Even before the war, the Palestinians would have expected help to rehabilitate Gaza; the bill will be much higher now. At the failed Camp David summit in 2000 negotiators discussed a $30bn fund to compensate Palestinian refugees for lost property. Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (uae), which have boosted ties with Israel in recent years, might be more willing to stump up the cash to show they have not abandoned the Palestinians.

The biggest problem, however, remains not the details of a solution but the political will to negotiate and implement one. There will be no serious peace process with Binyamin Netanyahus coalition of far-right and religious politicians. That coalition is unlikely to survive long after the Gaza war, and Mr Netanyahus opponents hope that the next government will be more amenable to talks with the Palestinians. We learned a lesson that we need to separate from them in a good way," says one centrist Israeli lawmaker. Its time to start that discussion." But Israeli politicians from the centre and left have avoided the issue in public for more than a decade.

On the Palestinian side, Hamas has always been eager to play spoiler. Its first suicide-bombings in the 1990s helped to scuttle the Oslo process, and the carnage it wrought during the second intifada (uprising") from 2000 to 2005 turned a generation of Israelis against the idea of compromise. Perhaps Hamas will fade away after the war in Gazabut another group could take its place.

Ordinary people on both sides have lost faith in the two-state solution. A poll in September 2022 by the Israel Democracy Institute, a non-partisan think-tank, found that only 32% of Israeli Jews would support one, down from 47% five years earlier. Israeli Arabs, who make up one-fifth of the population, still endorsed the idea, although their support has also dropped, from 87% in 2017 to 71% in 2022. A plurality of Israeli Jews preferred the status quo.

Support has plummeted even further among Palestinians. A survey in June 2023 by the Palestinian Centre for Policy and Survey Research found that just 28% still support a two-state solution. Some 53% of them backed the idea ten years ago, though just 39% thought it feasible.

Optimists hope that these results are squishy: people are unlikely to support something they think impossible. A meaningful peace process could push the poll numbers back up. I dont think our people would reject a chance to end the occupation," says one former Palestinian minister. But the events of recent weeks could just as well harden both sides against the idea of compromise.

As ever in Israel, some of the strongest supporters of ending the occupation are the men tasked with running it. In the wake of the Hamas attack, few Israelis are talking publicly about the two-state solutionor any other solution for the conflict. But defence officials are discussing it in closed rooms. That is partly because the desired end state of the war will shape the war itself and because the Netanyahu government is incapable of holding a serious debate on Israels long-term strategy.

Then there is the question of who will play mediator. Though Russia and China both aspire to a role in Middle East peacemaking, neither has much leverage or credibility to assume it. The European Union could position itself as an honest broker but it is not taken seriously.

That leaves America. Mr Biden spent the first three years of his presidency trying to ignore the conflict. He will have other things on his mind in 2024and neither Israelis nor Palestinians are likely to embark on a peace process with a president who could soon be turfed out. If Mr Biden wins in 2024, he could try to lead efforts.

Donald Trump would be another story. In January 2020, after years of trailing a supposedly serious peace plan devised by Jared Kushner, his son-in-law, he finally unveiled it. The plan, almost laughably biased in favour of Israel, was dead on arrival. It would have given the Palestinians just 75% of the occupied West Bank, in three cantons linked by highways. Israel would have kept the Jordan valley, the breadbasket of the territory, and compensated the Palestinians for their loss by ceding a few patches of barren desert in the Negev. Palestines capital would have been limited to a few destitute suburbs of east Jerusalem. The Palestinians, unsurprisingly, refused even to discuss the proposal.
Bangladeshs election on Sunday will be keenly watched in India, and with good reason. For one, it shares a 4,096-km border with Indiathe longest that India shares with any of its neighbours, including China (3,488 km). Also, most of the states that make up Indias northeast, linked to mainland India by the Siliguri Corridor, share borders with Bangladesh. Its also a rapidly growing economy, on track to shedding its status as a least developed country . Bangladeshs GDP in 2023 is estimated to have grown at 6%, as per a World Bank report.

There are several other compelling factors to why India would be keenly watching the results of the 7 January poll in the country it helped gain independence from Pakistan in 1971. Mint takes a look at Indias stakes in the outcome of Bangladeshs election.

What are Indias relations with Bangladeshs main electoral parties?

India supported Sheikh Mujib ur Rehman during his campaign for an independent Bangladesh. Thats well-remembered by his daughter Sheikh Hasina, the leader of the Awami League and the current prime minister of Bangladesh. India had also given shelter to her and her sister, Sheikh Rehana, immediately after Rehman was assassinated on 15 August, 1975 in a coup planned by a coterie of middle-level army officers.

On the other hand, Indias ties with Khaleda Zia and her Bangladesh National Party (BNP) have never been as warm as that with Hasina. For one, Zias close links with the Islamist fundamentalist groups in Bangladesh, some of whom are heavily influenced by Pakistan, have caused unease in India. Besides, her turning a blind eye to anti-India groups such as the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) taking shelter in Bangladesh has angered New Delhi. Zia and BNP are also seen as cultivating close ties with Indias strategic rival China.

Indias official position has been that it will do business with whoever is in power in Bangladesh, and New Delhi has reached out to Zia several times. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met her during a visit to Bangladesh in 2015. That was three years after Zias visit to India in 2012, when she was quoted as telling then Indian external affairs minister Salman Khurshid that her visit marked a new beginning". Still, ties between India and Hasina seem on a stronger pitch than those with the BNP and other Bangladeshi parties.

How is Bangladesh crucial to Indias security?

Indias terrorism challenge is well-documented, and having a regime in Bangladesh that is sensitive to New Delhis security concerns is of vital importance. That one of the first actions of Hasina after her Awami League won the 2008 election was to hand over key leaders of the secessionist ULFA to India has not gone unnoticed here. (ULFAs main objective has been an independent Assam. A segment of ULFA signed a peace pact with New Delhi last month, seen as a result of Bangladeshs stance of not supporting it.)

Hasinas sensitivity to Indias security concerns has gone a long way in building trust between the two countries. This is in sharp contrast to the 2001-2006 period when the BNP was in power. Zias tenure was seen as the period when ULFA and other anti-India groups secured shelter and support in Bangladesh. The BNP was also seen as having links with fundamentalist groups in Bangladesh, including the Jamaat-e-Islami, that were seen as influenced by Pakistan and harbouring anti-India sentiments. India has quietly supported Hasinas purge of extremists and fundamentalists in Bangladesh several times, including during her first term (2009-14).

Whats the China angle?

China has in recent years moved slowly but surely into Indias peripheryincreasing its influence in all of Indias neighbours. Thats one of the reasons for India looking to bond closely with Bangladeshthrough unprecedented lines of credit, connectivity initiatives, closer military-to-military and people-to-people contacts.

Bangladesh has been wooed by China to join its ambitious Belt and Road (Infrastructure) Initiative (BRI), and by India to be part of the Indo-Pacific. But in its engagements with Beijing, Dhakas current administration has been mindful of Indian sensitivities. On the Indo-Pacific, Dhaka has stated that its strategy will be based on the principle advocated by RahmanFriendship towards all, malice toward none".

How have Indias ties with the Awami League helped?

The traditionally warm bonds between New Delhi and Hasinas ruling party have placed the relationship between India and Bangladesh on an upward trajectory. In 1996, during Hasinas first term in office as prime minister, the two countries signed the Ganga Water Treaty on sharing waters of the river Ganges. In 2010, during Hasinas visit to India, India extended $1 billion in credit to Bangladesh under its development assistance programme. Bangladesh is currently the largest recipient of such assistance from India, to the tune of $8-9 billion.

In 2015, India concluded the Land Boundary Agreement to exchange enclaves with Bangladesh and simplify the border between the two countries. The pact had been arrived at in 1974 but not cleared by Indias Parliament until then. The long-awaited assent to the agreement was seen as a milestone in relations between the two countries. Equally noteworthy was India resolving a decades old maritime boundary dispute with Bangladesh in 2014.

Have Indias northeastern states benefited from this?

Indian goods reach far-flung regions in the northeast cutting across Bangladeshi territory. A decade ago, the subject was politically too sensitive for any Bangladesh politician to talk about without being accused of selling out to India. This has also contributed to increased economic interaction between Bangladesh and Indias northeast.

Access to Indias northeast through Bangladesh also reduces the vulnerability India had felt previously in being connected to the northeast only through the Siliguri Corridor, or the Chickens Neck region. According to officials and analysts, a friendly Bangladesh that allows India access through its territory to the northeast is vital to counter any challenge posed by China in that part of India.

Whats the current status of India-Bangladesh ties?

Relations between the two neighbours today are described as Sonali Adhyaya or a golden chaptera success story of Indias Neighbourhood First policy. A decade ago, it would have been Bhutan alone that India could hold up as a model neighbour.

Today, Bangladesh is Indias biggest trade partner in South Asia and India is the second-biggest trade partner of Bangladesh in Asia. India is also Bangladeshs largest export destination in Asia. The increased economic integration and cooperation between the two countries is seen as the crux of a more integrated region covering Bangladesh-Bhutan-India and Nepal.

This is also seen as the nucleus of an extended region that also groups Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand under the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, or BIMSTEC. India has been particularly focused on this group given that Saarc has been hobbled by India-Pakistan tensions. With Myanmar becoming a pariah following the February 2021 military coup, Bangladesh becomes even more important for India for its outreach to Southeast Asia.

Also given that India has to deal with a hostile Pakistan and China, the continuation of a friendly administration in Bangladesh is an imperative in many ways. Projections indicate that Hasina will make a comebackfor a record fourth termgiven that the BNP is once again boycotting the polls. But India will have to work hard to shield a friendly government in Dhaka from the criticism of partners like the US and others in the Indo-Pacific.

Elizabeth Roche is associate professor at Jindal Global University
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) finalised three names for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections. The party has, for the first time, nominated Swati Maliwal, the former chief of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW). Following her nomination, she stepped down as the DCW chief.

The other two candidates, Sanjay Singh and ND Gupta, were renominated for the second term to the Upper House of Parliament. The nominations were announced by the AAP's Political Affairs Committee (PAC), chaired by AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

ALSO READ | Delhi Rape Case: Protesting Swati Maliwal spends night at hospital after cops denied her to meet victim

"DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal has been nominated for the first time. The PAC has decided to continue with Sanjay Singh and ND Gupta for their respective second term as Rajya Sabha members," the party said.

Who is Swati Maliwal?

Maliwal was the chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women. She resigned from her post as the DCW chief after being nominated for the Rajya Sabha by the AAP. She is an active advocate for women's rights and social issues. Maliwal has been associated with various campaigns and movements aimed at combating violence against women, advocating for stricter laws, and promoting gender equality.

ALSO READ | Ujjain horror: DCW Chief Swati Maliwal demands fast rack court to punish guilty

Swati Maliwal was born in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, on October 15, 1984. She joined as the DCW chairperson in July 2015. Her tenure ended in 2018. However, it was extended for another three years. She resigned as DCW chief on Friday.

Maliwal was the youngest person to hold the post. Before this, she was the advisor to the Delhi chief minister on public grievances. She had been instrumental in spearheading initiatives to address issues such as acid attacks, sexual harassment, and women's safety in Delhi.

Maliwal was also a core member and among the youngest to join the Indian Against Corruption movement, which was led by Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal, the Hindustan Times reported. She was married to AAP leader Naveen Jaihind. They have been divorced since February 2020.

Maliwal attended Amity International School and later earned a bachelor's degree in Information Technology from the JSS Academy of Technical Education. She initially got a job at HCL. She, however, left her job at 22 and joined the NGO "Parivartan". This NGO is reportedly run by Kejriwal and jailed AAP leader Manish Sisodia.

Sanjay Singh allowed to sign nomination form in jail

Sanjay Singh was renominated for the post of a Member of the Rajya Sabha as his present term is set to end on January 27, 2024. Singh is currently in jail over a money laundering case in connection with the Delhi Excise Police "scam" case.

A Delhi court has allowed Singh to sign forms and documents for his Rajya Sabha renomination.

Special Judge MK Nagpal passed the order on an application filed by the AAP leader, who submitted that his present term as a member of the Rajya Sabha is expiring on January 27 and the Returning Officer has issued a notice on January 2 for the conduct of the election and nominations for the same are to be submitted by January 9.

The application sought a direction to the Tihar Jail Superintendent to allow Singh to sign the documents.

The current terms of AAP MPs Sanjay Singh, ND Gupta and Sushil Gupta from Delhi will come to an end on January 27.

The Rajya Sabha elections would take place on January 19, if necessary. The election is to be completed before January 23, according to the Election Commission's schedule.

ARVIND More Information

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Americas top diplomats are converging on the Middle East as they make a full-court press to prevent the war in the Gaza Strip from sparking a broader, more destabilizing regional conflict.

President Biden has sent Secretary of State Antony Blinken and one of his most trusted White House advisers to the Middle East amid a surge in attacks across the region that have increased the risks of any missteps triggering a larger, unpredictable conflagration.

With Blinken set to arrive in the region later Friday for his fourth visit since the Hamas-led attack on Israel in October, the diplomatic mission is gaining urgency.

The prospects for escalation are significant and I fear that it is going to continue on this trajectory with an incremental worsening of the situation with the increased likelihood of miscalculation," said Dina Esfandiary, a senior Middle East and North Africa adviser for the International Crisis Group. The only saving grace right now is that most of the actors involved right now are really shying away from escalation."

While the U.S. has worked for three months to contain the war in Gaza, the spate of attacks is expanding week by week and the American response becoming more assertive. The Biden administration, which has tried to minimize its direct military role in the region, killed an Iranian-backed militia leader in Baghdad on Thursday in a targeted airstrike, a signal of its more aggressive response to attacks on U.S. forces in the Middle East.

Tensions in the Middle East have been steadily rising since Oct. 7, when thousands of Hamas-led militants stormed out of the Gaza Strip and into Israel, where they killed more than 1,200 people, most of them civilians, according to Israeli officials, and captured more than 200 hostages. Israel responded with a military campaign that has killed more 22,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, say health officials in the isolated enclave. The Gaza figures dont distinguish between civilians and militants.

Iran-backed militants across the region have reacted to the campaign in Gaza with near-daily attacks on Israel from Lebanon, dozens of strikes targeting U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria, and assaults on commercial ships in the Red Sea from Houthi fighters in Yemen. The groups have vowed to continue their attacks until Israel ends its war in Gaza.

Iran has moved a warship into the Red Sea, where American forces have shot down dozens of Houthi drones and missiles in recent weeks. On Wednesday, the U.S. and 12 key allies issued an ultimatum to Houthi fighters in Yemen to stop their attacks or face severe consequences.

Earlier this week, a suspected Israeli strike killed a senior Hamas leader in Beirut following months of tit-for-tat exchanges of fire with the Iran-backed Hezbollah group across the Israeli-Lebanese border. While Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah vowed a response to the killing of Salah al-Arouri in a suburb full of its supporters, he also said the group wouldnt be dragged into an all-out war. Analysts say Nasrallah has been careful to avoid doing anything that would attract an overwhelming Israeli response.

Meanwhile, twin blasts in Iran on Wednesday killed over 80 people at a memorial for an Iranian commander killed in a 2020 U.S. strike, but there was no retaliation in the 24 hours before Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack.

Further American diplomacy is essential to avert a broader conflict, said Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa program at Londons Chatham House think tank.

Were in the fog of a simmering conflict that is metastasizing," she said. The onus is really on the U.S. to try and bring down the temperature."

Blinken will join Amos Hochstein, a top White House energy adviser who brokered a deal to delineate the maritime boundary between Israel and Lebanon, as the U.S. steps up its diplomatic efforts to prevent a wider war.

Israel represents one of the most significant wild cards. The nations leaders say they will deliver a decisive military blow to Hezbollah if the militant group doesnt agree to a diplomatic deal to pull back its forces from the Lebanon-Israel border.

Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Thursday after meeting Hochstein that the chances of a diplomatic solution are fading.

We find ourselves at a junctionthere is a short window of time for diplomatic understandings, which we prefer," said Gallant, who pushed for a pre-emptive strike against Hezbollah in early October. We will not tolerate the threats posed by the Iranian proxy, Hezbollah and we will ensure the security of our citizens."

Biden has spoken to Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu some 16 times since Oct. 7 in an effort to contain the conflict.

One key moment came in an Oct. 11 call in which Biden urged the Israeli leader to call off a proposed pre-emptive strike on Hezbollah forces in Lebanon.

Biden has sent a stream of officials to the region for diplomatic talksfrom his vice president and Pentagon chief to his secretary of state and Central Intelligence Agency directorall aimed at containing the war in the Gaza Strip.

Yoel Guzansky, a senior fellow at Tel Aviv Universitys Institute for National Security Studies, said the Middle East is already in a low-intensity regional war with a real prospect of worsening.

The problem is no one knows what the threshold is for war," he said. Everyone can make a mistake. A missile in the wrong place and the wrong time can escalate. Sometimes, even if you dont intend to, someone is throwing a matchand there you have it."

Michael Milshtein, a former Israeli intelligence officer who now serves as head of the Palestinian Studies Forum at Tel Aviv Universitys Moshe Dayan Center, said the window for diplomatic options may be closing.

Blinkens visit may be the last chance to solve the crisis by diplomatic means," he said. Right now it seems that the likelihood for a clash is higher than a political solution."

In Gaza, fighting continued on Friday, compounding a humanitarian crisis. Nearly 85% of the population has been displaced by Israels military campaign, seeking safety in a shrinking area of the densely populated enclave.

The Israeli military said it conducted an airstrike on a group of Hamas militants who attempted to attack one of its tanks in the Bureij area of central Gaza. In the southern city of Khan Younis, the Israeli military said it struck several launchpads used to fire rockets on Israeli territory.

Write to Dion Nissenbaum at dion.nissenbaum@wsj.com
Two US private companies supported by NASA are in the league to make commercial moon landings soon after over five decades of the Apollo program. This measure comes after India and China made successful moon landings while Russia, Japan, and Israel failed in their attempts. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said, Theyre scouts going to the moon ahead of us."

The US company, Pittsburgh's Astrobotic Technology, is headed for its first lift-off of a lander aboard the rocket, United Launch Alliances Vulcan, which will take place on January 8. Another US company, Houston's Intuitive Machines with SpaceX is planning for a launch in mid-February.

The Japanese Space Agencys lander that had a lift-off in September will attempt to land on the moon in two weeks. It has two toy-size rovers with an X-ray telescope that has since been orbiting the Earth. By making a successful landing, Japan will become the fifth country in the world to land on the moon. Russia and US made a successful landing in the 1960s and 70s while China landed three times in the last ten years including the moons far side and is planning for another attempt later this year. India made a successful landing in 2023 but the US is the only country That has put astronauts on the moon.

If successful, Japan will become the fifth country to pull off a lunar landing. Russia and the U.S. did it repeatedly in the 1960s and 70s. China has landed three times in the past decade  including on the moons far side  and is returning to the far side later this year to bring back lunar samples. And just last summer, India did it. Only the U.S. has put astronauts on the moon.

Last year, a Japanese space lander crashed onto the moon in April and Russias lander crashed in August. India's Chandrayaan 2 successfully landed on the moon in August after failing in its first attempt in 2019. Israeli's attempt in 2019 to land on the moon's surface resulted in a crash.

Astrobotic and Intuitive Machines vied for rights as the first private entity to land on the moon. Intuitive Machines should land within a week of lift-off as it has a faster and more direct shot, despite its later start. Astrobotic will take a month in lunar orbit and two weeks to land on the moon. Astrobotic will attempt its landing on February 23.

Astrobotics chief executive John Thornton said, Its going to be a wild, wild ride," reported AP. Intuitive Machines's Steve Altemus said the space race is "more about the geopolitics, where China is going, where the rest of the worlds going." That said, We sure would like to be first."

(With inputs from AP)

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CES, a yearly gathering, showcases cutting-edge technologies and innovations from prominent creators in the consumer electronics industry. Over the past few years, this once itinerant event has found a stable home in Las Vegas, reported ZDNET.

This year, the 2024 edition of CES is scheduled to take place in Las Vegas, Nevada, spanning across venues such as the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Venetian Expo, and the Aria Resort & Casino. The official dates for CES 2024 are from Tuesday, January 9, to Friday, January 12. Additionally, two in-person Media Days, exclusively accessible to press members, are slated for January 7 and 8.

As per the publication, CES 2024 will include the participation of semiconductor giants such as Intel, AMD, and Nvidia, as well as leading companies in the mobile and home electronics sector like Samsung, Google, LG, and Amazon. PC manufacturers like Asus and HP are also expected to showcase their innovations, alongside the presence of several automotive companies such as BMW.

It is important to highlight that CES is not accessible to the general public. According to the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), CES is specifically designated as a "trade-only event," restricted to individuals aged 18 or older who are affiliated with the consumer technology industry.

Anticipation is building for CES 2024, where numerous companies are poised to showcase their advancements in AI. Let us delve into the forthcoming AI revelations we can expect.

Samsung

On December 27, in a notable announcement, Samsung disclosed its plan to debut the Bespoke 4-Door Flex Refrigerator with AI Family Hub at CES 2024. This innovative appliance is equipped with AI-driven cameras inside the fridge, enabling it to assess available ingredients and suggest personalized recipes accordingly. Samsung asserts that it can recognize up to 33 distinct fresh food items using a predefined dataset derived from around one million food photographs. Additionally, the refrigerator can actively monitor the water filter status and issue alerts when a replacement is necessary.

LG Smart Home AI

As per a report from Interesting Engineering, LG is set to feature its AI agent as the centerpiece of LG's Smart Home at the upcoming CES. This two-legged robot serves as an interactive assistant, boasting both voice and visual interfaces for user interaction. Beyond conversation capabilities, it adeptly manages a range of smart home appliances and IoT devices.

Notably, the robot also monitors environmental conditions in real-time, such as temperature and air quality. Envisioned as a robotic companion, it can navigate spaces, take charge of smart home functions, and even serve as a security guard for the household.

LG AI TV

According to a report from Tom's Guide, LG is rumored to introduce a 98-inch QNED TV featuring AI-driven picture enhancements at CES 2024. The TV is said to be powered by an A8 AI processor, enabling it to employ deep learning for faces, objects, and backgrounds within a scene, resulting in heightened texture and finer details. LG claims that the TV will offer an improved visual experience through precise HDR optimization, delivering three-dimensional picture quality.

Nvidia

In a recent blog post, Nvidia disclosed its plans to showcase AI advancements at CES 2024, with a standout revelation being a generative AI. While specific details are scarce, some reports suggest that this could mark the debut of the company's inaugural AI chatbot. Additionally, Nvidia is set to conduct various sessions at the event, focusing on AI gaming, robotics, and enterprise tools powered by artificial intelligence.

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The Epstein case undoubtedly cast a dark shadow on American society, raising serious concerns about justice, power dynamics, and sexual exploitation. The USA is in the grip of dark forces.

The United States is grappling with a myriad of complex challenges that shape its social fabric. From economic issues to crime rates, the lack of a moral compass of society is intertwined with various aspects of contemporary life. This article explores the concerns related to the growing national debt, escalating crime problems, and the rise of explicit content platforms and social media, examining their interconnected impact on the perception of moral values in American society.

National Debt: Ballooning Figures and Economic Concerns One pressing issue facing the United States is its ever-growing national debt. As of today, the national debt has surpassed $31 trillion and growing at $1 trillion per quarter, raising concerns about its sustainability and long-term implications for the countrys economic stability. It is a fact that the rising debt could limit the governments ability to function.

Crime Problems: A Symptom of Social Decay The nations crime rates have also become a focal point in discussions about the state of American society. While crime is simple issue influenced by various factors, including illegal immigration and the moronic Defund the Police Liberals, its prevalence is often seen as indicative of broader societal challenges. Cities across the United States are grappling with surges in violent crime, sparking debates about the inability of the new WOKE agenda to deal with the real world.

The Impact of Explicit Content Platforms and Social Media: The advent of the internet and social media has transformed how society communicates, shares information, and expresses itself. However, concerns have emerged about the moral implications of explicit content platforms like Pornhub and OnlyFans. The widespread availability of explicit content online has been used much like the Romans used games at the end of their empire.

Social media platforms have altered the landscape of human interaction, creating a propaganda and mind-control tool for governments. The rapid dissemination of government misinformation and the prevalence of government cyberbullying raise questions about the ethical use of these platforms and their influence on mental health.

Connecting the Dots: Moral Implications and Societal Shifts While each of these challengesnational debt, crime problems, and the rise of explicit content platforms and social mediapresents distinct issues, they are not isolated from one another. Societal shifts, including the forced changing of moral values, are often interconnected with economic, political, and technological changes.

The impact of ballooning national debt on social programs and economic opportunities can contribute to a sense of frustration and discontent within society. This discontent, in turn, may manifest in various ways, including increased crime rates and a shift in cultural attitudes toward explicit content and online interactions.

Conclusion: The challenges facing the United States are multifaceted and deeply interconnected, the Woke Agenda must be destroyed or the USA will become a warzone.

Shayne Heffernan
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 5. The US statement regarding freedom of religion in Azerbaijan has no ground, former president of the Israel-Azerbaijan International Association (Aziz) Lev Spivak told Trend.

Spivak said this, following US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's statement about the inclusion of several countries, with Azerbaijan among them, in a "special watch list" regarding the freedom of religion.

"These demarches are just an excuse to prove themselves, to show off in front of someone. I don't think it carries any real meaning, it has no ground," he said.

Spivak noted that by his occupation he is always in touch with Jewish communities in different cities of Azerbaijan.

"I am well acquainted with the heads of the communities of Mountain Jews, Georgian Jews, and the Ashkenazi community of Baku, with the rabbi representing Chabad in Azerbaijan, the chief rabbi in Azerbaijan. I know the Jewish community of Sumgayit, Red Town (Krasnaya Sloboda). I have met Jews in Ismayilli, which has no community, they just don't feel the need for it. They live an ordinary life like all the Azerbaijanis around them, Muslims, atheists, all kinds of people. I have met with the Jewish community in Ganja, I know the chairman of the community. And never in all the years that I have been dealing with matters related to relations between Israel and Azerbaijan, as well as issues of natives of Azerbaijan, I have never heard any complaint about anything whatsoever," he said.

Spivak also shared a story related to the issue, taking place in Israel.

"In 2007 or 2008, there was an annual meeting of the Knesset Human Rights Commission. Representatives of various communities gathered natives of Morocco, France, and Russia. Me and Head of the Azerbaijan Cultural Center in Israel Yegiana Salman, represented the natives of Azerbaijan. Everyone complained about certain difficulties of Jews in their countries of origin. When it came to us, I said that the difficulties of Jews in Azerbaijan are absolutely no different from those of Azerbaijanis and do not stand out in any way. We have always lived in Azerbaijan without knowing who our neighbors are by nationality, and we have always celebrated holidays of different religions with joy. I have a huge number of Jewish friends in Azerbaijan, they are not looking to go somewhere else, because they feel comfortable in this country. They don't experience any discrimination or oppression. They are all satisfied with their quality of life," he concluded.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 5. The buzz around COP29 in Azerbaijan, even on The Guardian's usually critical pages, really showcases Azerbaijan's heightened geopolitical standing. Hosting COP29 reflects President Ilham Aliyev's forward-thinking foreign policy.

Even The Guardian, always critical about Azerbaijan and its wins, could not pass up on this. They gave a nod to the appointment of Mukhtar Babayev, Azerbaijan's Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, as COP29's president, highlighting his green efforts.

"Babayev does have form in environmental protection, having spent three years as Socars vice-president for ecology, in which time he oversaw efforts to remediate Azerbaijans contaminated soils," they noted.

Reporters also pointed out that after becoming minister, Babayev organized Azerbaijan's first-ever eco conference. "He described remediation as the shared mission and moral imperative of all Azerbaijanis," the article says.

The Guardian also made a point that the UN was pleased with Babayev's appointment. "Simon Stiell, the UN climate change executive secretary, welcomed the appointment, exhorting his team to work with Babayev and Yalchin Rafiyev, his lead negotiator, to deliver a successful Cop29," they mentioned.
A dog has been missing from its family in Arkansas for three years. A good Samaritan and a helpful tool found the dog's owner, who suffers from medical issues. Many are coming together to reunite the two.
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Longford / Westmeath Fianna Fail TD Joe Flaherty, has welcomed the inclusion of twelve Longford national schools in the expansion of the hot school meals from next April.

He said, Im very pleased that 12 local national schools have been selected to participate in the hot meals scheme for national schools from next April. The expansion of the scheme will mean a free hot meal each school day for every child attending these schools.

The twelve schools are: St Dominic's NS, Kenagh; Naomh Guasachta NS, Bunlahy; Naomh Padraig NS, Coolarty; Melview NS, Longford; Colmcille NS, Aughnacliffe; Naomh Mhuire, Newtowncashel; St Mels NS, Ardagh; Scoil Samhthann, Ballinalee; Scoil Bhride, Glen, Edgeworthstown; Scoil Mhuire, Granard ; St Patricks, Dromard, Moyne and St Johns NS, Battery Rd, Longford.

In December, Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys TD, announced that 900 primary schools were approved for the Hot School Meals Programme, which means an additional 150,000 children will benefit from nutritious hot meals next year.

The Hot School Meals Programme was introduced in 2019 as a small pilot of 30 schools.

Minister Humphreys said, When I was appointed Minister for Social Protection in June 2020, there were 30 schools receiving Hot Meals. This announcement means that from April next year there will be over 1,400 primary schools benefiting from Hot School Meals.

As Minister, I am absolutely determined to continue to expand the Hot School Meals Programme to every Primary School in Ireland.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 5. The Nizami Ganjavi International Center (NGIC) is expected to hold the XI Global Baku Forum, Trend reports.

This event will bring together around 400 internationally renowned professionals, as well as previous and present world leaders, ministers, and Nobel laureates. The forum is set to take place on March 14-16, 2024.

To recall, many countries and prominent international organizations were represented at the previous Global Baku Forum, which was held in March 2023.

Four presidents, two prime ministers, six speakers and ministers, as well as leaders from five UN organizations, attended the event. In addition, 25 past presidents, 21 former prime ministers, and deputy foreign ministers from 23 countries were present. The forum was graced by the presence of 360 representatives from 61 countries.
A bird strike was the reason thousands of homes in Offaly were left without power on Christmas day, the ESB has confirmed.

An ESB spokesperson confirmed that the significant power outage which affected approximately 4,400 customers on Christmas morning in the Tullamore area was caused by a bird strike on a line feeding an area of the town.

"Crews mobilised immediately and supply was restored to all customers just after midday," the spokesperson said.

"ESB Networks apologises for the inconvenience caused".

ESB Networks also confirm that the planned outages will take place in the town in the coming weeks.

One of these will occur on Thursday, 18 January in order to support the future installation of broadband infrastructure in Tullamore and surrounding parts.

All customers impacted by planned outages will be notified in advance via post, the spokesperson said.

Some houses are facing a possible 9 hour disruption.

Houses in these areas received a note this week informing them that there will be an electricity supply interruption from 7 am until 4 pm to facilitate repairs on January 18th.

"We regret that in order to carry out urgent work in your area, it will be necessary to interrupt your supply of electricity on the dates and times shown below. These times are approximate," the note to households reads.

The ESB also warned customers to regard the connection to their house as being live during outages, as electricity supply may be restored at any time, sometimes for brief periods, while work is being carried out.

The timing of the possible outage has been criticised by residents, particularly if it begins at 7am, when residents are getting ready to go to work and school.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: January 05 2024

Haitian Independence Day commemorates Haitis Jan. 1, 1804 declaration of independence from French colonial authorities after the 13-year struggle amidst the Haitian Revolution.

Nassau County Legislator Carrie Solages (D  Elmont) celebrated the 220th anniversary of Haitian independence on Monday, Jan. 1.

Haitian Independence Day commemorates Haitis Jan. 1, 1804 declaration of independence from French colonial authorities after the 13-year struggle amidst the Haitian Revolution, which was led by revolutionaries like Toussaint LOuverture, Jean-Jacques Dessalines and Henri Christophe. Victory on the battlefield was achieved on Nov. 18, 1803 at the Battle of Vertieres, and Haiti thereafter became the worlds first independent Black-led republic.
Crime

By Chris Boyle Published: January 05 2024

Yasmin Talbot allegedly engaged in an unauthorized relationship with an inmate, helped him acquire a weapon, and shared confidential information on prisoner locations.

Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that a former nurse manager, the second highest ranking nurse at the Nassau County Correctional Center (NCCC), was indicted and arraigned today on Promoting Prison Contraband, Conspiracy, and other related charges for allegedly assisting an inmate at the jail to obtain dangerous contraband.

Yasmin Talbot, 48, of Levittown, was arraigned before Judge Terence Murphy on grand jury indictment charges of Promoting Prison Contraband in the First Degree (a D felony); two counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree (an E felony); two counts of Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree (an E felony); three counts of Official Misconduct (an A misdemeanor); and Conspiracy in the Fifth Degree (an A misdemeanor). The defendant pleaded not guilty, and bail was set at $500 cash, $5,000 bond, and $5,000 partially secured bond. On a pending case for Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated with a Child (an E felony), the defendant was remanded. She is due back in court on January 9, 2024. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum of up to 2-1/3 to 7 years in prison.

Christopher Wright, 37, an inmate at NCCC at the time of the alleged conduct, was previously indicted for Promoting Prison Contraband in the First Degree and Promoting Prison Contraband in the Second Degree. He is also charged in this superseding indictment with Official Misconduct and Conspiracy in the Fifth Degree. Wright pleaded not guilty, and bail was $5,000 cash, $10,000 bond, and $50,000 partially secured bond. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum of up to 3-1/2 to 7 years in prison. He is due back in court on January 8, 2024.

Yasmin Talbot allegedly used her position to help an inmate gain access to a dangerous blade and confidential information on prisoner locations that posed a safety and security risk to other inmates and jail staff, said DA Donnelly. Abuse of power by correctional employees and those who work in the facilities has a destabilizing effect on the jail population and creates potentially dangerous conditions. NCDA, working with our partners at the Nassau County Sheriffs Office, will continue to investigate and prosecute individuals who engage in inappropriate relationships with inmates at the expense of their integrity."

I would like to thank the Investigators of the Sheriffs Department Internal Affairs Unit as well as the Investigators of the Nassau County District Attorneys Office for working together to effectuate the arrest of these two individuals, said Nassau County Sheriff Anthony La Rocco. Let this be a warning to others that might consider bringing contraband into the correctional center. We will not tolerate anyone endangering the safety of the facility and anyone who does, will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The safety and security of this correctional center, its staff, and the inmates are of the utmost importance.

DA Donnelly said that, according to the investigation and indictment, between January 2023 and May 2023, Talbot, a nurse manager employed by NuHealth and the second highest ranking nurse at NCCC, allegedly engaged in an unauthorized relationship with Christopher Wright, an inmate at the correctional facility.

Talbot allegedly had numerous inappropriate and unauthorized conversations with Wright during hundreds of calls, in which they discussed Talbot bringing contraband into the jail and funding Wrights commissary account with a fictitious name. Talbot also allegedly gave Wright housing locations of inmates.

As an employee at NCCC, Talbot was authorized to have limited contact with inmates to oversee their care but was not permitted to have conversations with inmates, their friends or family, or send inmates money or other items.

In a February 2023 call, Wright and Talbot allegedly discussed how to bring a ceramic blade into the facility and transfer it to inmate Wright.

After several conversations, Talbot allegedly ordered a ceramic blade  a Slice 10532 Corner Stripping Blade  on Amazon and had it delivered to her home in Levittown.

On or about February 24, 2023, Wright claimed that he had chest pains and was taken to the medical unit for treatment. It is alleged that while being treated, Talbot provided Wright with the blade.

The make and model of the blade allegedly ordered by Talbot matched a blade that was recovered from Wright on March 14, 2023.

Talbot also allegedly used her access to inmate records to look up the location of several inmates at NCCC and relayed the building, floor, and cell information to Wright using coded language.

In further alleged misconduct, on February 5, 2023, Wright allegedly spoke with Talbot and asked her to send $60 to his commissary account and instructed her to use a fake name. Later that day, Talbot allegedly purchased a money order under the name Diamond Wright, and the money order was mailed to Christopher Wright at NCCC and processed by the jail.

Talbot was suspended by NuHealth on August 23, 2023, and resigned on September 22, 2023.

Talbot currently has a pending case for Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated with a Child (an E felony). Talbot pleaded guilty to the felony on October 26, 2022, and agreed that she would complete one year of probation, 180 days of alcohol monitoring, and 50 hours of community service. As part of the plea contract, Talbot agreed that any new arrest or violations of law would violate the agreement.

Talbot was arrested on January 3, 2024, in Hempstead by NCDA Detective Investigators.

Wright surrendered to NCDA Detective Investigators on January 4, 2024.

The NCDA thanks the Nassau County Sherriffs Office Corrections Division and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for their partnership and assistance in this investigation and prosecution.

Senior Investigative Counsel Michael Davidman of the Public Corruption Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Ryan Bonomi of the County Court Trial Bureau are prosecuting this case. Senior Assistant District Attorney Tara DePalo of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau is prosecuting the vehicular case.

Talbot is represented by Anthony M. Grandinette, Esq. on the prison contraband case. She is represented by Steve Epstein, Esq. on the vehicular matter. Wright is represented by James McGlynn, Esq.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: January 05 2024

As a Special Act school district serving both day and residential students, the Little Flower School works with the regions highest-need and most at-risk student populations.

Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York is pleased to announce that our campus school district, Little Flower Union Free School District, has been awarded a grant from the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH). The goal of OMHs project is to build resilience throughout a school community by supporting the implementation of evidence-based programs that will mitigate the impact of trauma.

With this grant funding, the Little Flower School began implementing a Transformative Life Skills and Dynamic Mindfulness program. Dynamic Mindfulness (DMind) integrates mindful movement for managing stress held in the body, breath regulation techniques for emotion regulation, and centering practices for focused attention and engagement. The program has been shown to improve academic performance and social-emotional learning, increase attendance, and reduce suspensions while enhancing staff well-being and preventing teacher burnout.

As a Special Act school district serving both day and residential students, the Little Flower School works with the regions highest-need and most at-risk student populations.

Little Flower Union Free School District Superintendent Dr. Harold Dean is enthusiastic about the possibilities offered by this new program. Adding the Transformative Life Skills and Dynamic Mindfulness program to our battery of supports will offer additional strategies to our staff, new and varied identification and coping mechanisms to our students, and new support pathways for our students families, he shared.

Our residents who also attend the school all have extensive trauma histories, explained Little Flower President and CEO Corinne Hammons, who is also a LFUFSD Board of Education member. They may have experienced domestic violence, sexual abuse, human trafficking, foster care transiency, and involvement with the criminal justice system. Addressing these traumas and their impacts through mitigation strategies is vital for the social-emotional and academic well-being of our youth.

The school is currently implementing this exciting new program through a phased rollout. The first phase involved teacher training, and come January, the rollout will continue with student ambassador training, inclusion of Little Flower Children and Family Services staff at the residential treatment center, and family engagement components.

About The Little Flower Union Free School District (UFSD) (www.littleflowerufsd.org)

The UFSD, a Special Act Public School, is for students with special educational needs. It provides both Residential and Day placements for children in grades three through twelve. Teachers focus on each child so that their education, in tandem with the therapeutic milieu of Little Flowers adjoining Residential Treatment Center (RTC), offers the opportunity to reach their highest potential.

About Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York (www.littleflowerny.org):

Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York is a nonprofit organization serving individuals and families across New York City and Long Island. Since 1930, Little Flower has been committed to improving the well-being of children, youth, adults with developmental disabilities, and families by building on their strengths and supporting their success.

Today, Little Flowers staff of more than 600 provide community-based services, foster care and adoption programs, and services for people with developmental disabilities, medical and behavioral health services and coordination, and residential treatment care.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: January 05 2024

Donating blood is one of the easiest ways to make a lasting impact on those in need, said Blumencranz.

Assemblyman Jake Blumencranz (R,C-Oyster Bay) recently announced that he will host a blood drive in partnership with the New York Blood Center (NYBC) on Thursday, Jan. 11 at Gold Coast Library. The drive will go from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and each donor will receive one voucher redeemable for two complimentary tickets to a select 2024 New York Islanders regular season home game at UBS Arena. Blumencranz hopes residents will come out to donate and make a difference in our community.

Donating blood is one of the easiest ways to make a lasting impact on those in need, said Blumencranz. New York has seen a shortage in banked blood for patients over the past few years and drives like this can help us turn the tide. I hope residents of the 15th Assembly District will come out to Gold Coast Library on Jan. 11 to help save lives.

WHO: Assemblyman Jake Blumencranz (R,C-Oyster Bay)

WHEN: Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

WHERE: Gold Coast Public Library, 50 Railroad Avenue, Glen Head, NY 11545
Banner released by the Islamic State for Abu Hudhayfah al-Ansaris speech announcing the new global campaign.

In a new audio message released online, the Islamic States official spokesman, Abu Hudhayfah al-Ansari, announced a new global campaign to the world. Entitled Kill Them Wherever You Find Them, taken after Surat Al-Baqarahs infamous ayah, the campaign comes during a historic nadir in the groups propaganda output.

As of the time of publishing, the Islamic State has claimed at least 30 operations around the world as part of this campaign. These attacks stretch from Iraq and Syria, to Mali, Nigeria, the Congo, Mozambique, Afghanistan, and the Philippines. It is likely more countries will be represented in the coming days. This thus marks the most active 24 hours for the Islamic States once powerful propaganda apparatus in over a year.

The campaign, which is nominally in support of Palestine, was also timed for the Islamic State to officially take credit for the recent double explosions inside Iran. Claiming them as suicide bombings, the blasts killed around 100 people in Kerman, Iran. According to the Islamic State, these blasts kicked off this campaign, which is in part revenge for Irans actions vis-a-vis the war in Gaza.

For instance, in Al-Ansaris speech, he makes the groups animosity towards Iran, as well as various Palestinian factions, very clear. The true nature of this war is that its one of an imaginary axis, and Iran has created this in service of its projects, and the first and only goal of it is to involve all Palestinian factions as a proxy of Iran, and not the other way, al-Ansari states.

He goes on to say that as a result, this is what happened, so Iran and its parties were saved from the fierce battle, which Gaza is enduring alone from the blood of its children and women.

Al-Ansari also chastises various Palestinian factions, including Hamas, for straying from Islam during their fight. For example, he speaks directly to Palestinian militants and states that killing Jews is not an indication of being on the correct path. Before you, the communists, patriots, and nationalist fighters all fought the Jews. But did their fighting result in the upholding of Gods command?

The spokesman blames the failures of the Palestinian militants on being too nationalist and willing to engage in democratic systems. Instead, to be victorious they must seek to establish an Islamic state and implement Sharia, according to Al-Ansari.

He then relays a purported message from the Islamic States fifth and current caliph, Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Quraishi, which implores the groups members and supporters around the world to rally behind the campaign and commit acts of terror to support the Palestinians.

The Islamic State is known to promote global campaigns for its affiliates in order to boost activity, morale, and overall propaganda. In prior years, it has also launched several Battles of Attrition, Revenge of the Two Sheikhs, and has a standing directive to conduct prison breaks under Breaking the Walls.

These campaigns are typically related to events unfolding around the Islamic States central nodes in Iraq and Syria. For example, the Battles of Attrition came in 2019 and 2020 after the group lost its territorial caliphate and reverted back to a traditional insurgency.

Whereas Revenge of the Two Sheikhs came after the killings of its former caliph and spokesman, Abu Ibrahim al-Quraishi and Abu Hamza al-Quraishi, respectively, in the spring of 2022 in Syria.

And Breaking the Walls first dates back to 2012 during the Islamic States resurgence in Iraq at the time, wherein it conducted massive jailbreaks throughout the country.

The campaigns, though intrinsically propagandistic, do have real world impacts on the ground. For instance, global affiliates are typically more active during these campaigns, seeking to fulfill the directives of the central leadership by conducting more lower level attacks.

On occasion, however, various affiliates, such as its Central Africa Province in Congo, have perpetrated higher-profile operations in the name of such campaigns. The Islamic States recent bombings in Iran are also illustrative of this.

With the Islamic State weathering a bad year in terms of global operational activity in 2023, as well as severe leadership loss in Iraq and Syria, it is now hoping to galvanize its members and supporters to breathe new life into the organization. Though its too early to tell how successful this new global campaign will be at this goal, prior global campaigns have indeed acted as a boon to the groups global morale and activity.

Caleb Weiss is an editor of FDD's Long War Journal and a senior analyst at the Bridgeway Foundation, where he focuses on the spread of the Islamic State in Central Africa.
IDF soldiers operating in Gaza. (IDF)

As Israel transitions to a lower intensity war in Gaza, its Ministry of Defense and security establishment is focused on returning security to northern Israel. This comes after ninety days of Iran-backed Hezbollah firing rockets, anti-tank guided missiles, and drones into northern Israel from Lebanon.

On January 4, Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant met with U.S. Senior Advisor to President Biden, Amos Hochstein, at the Ministry of Defense headquarters in Tel Aviv. Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi also took part in the meeting, as well as Israels Ambassador to the U.S., Michael Herzog. Israel is determined to return the 80,000 evacuated after the October 7 attacks to their homes in communities along Israels northern border. Israel has a Special Coordinator focused on the security situation at its northern border, according to a statement from Gallants office.

Minister Gallant reflected the determination of Israels defense establishment to changing the security reality in northern Israel and along the border with Lebanon, and emphasized the top priority of enabling over 80,000 displaced Israelis to return to their homes, Gallants office noted in a statement. There is only one possible result  a new reality in the northern arena, which will enable the secure return of our citizens. Yet we find ourselves at a junction  there is a short window of time for diplomatic understandings, which we prefer, Gallant said.

He said Israel will not tolerate the threat that Hezbollah poses to northern Israel, one in a series of similar statements from Israeli officials about being prepared for escalation in the north. This follows the killing of deputy Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri in Beirut this week. While Iran, Hezbollah, and other pro-Iran groups have blamed Israel, Jerusalem has not taken responsibility for the killing. Halevi said on January 3 that Israel was in a high state of readiness in the north.

The tensions on the northern border come as attacks by Hezbollah appeared to decrease on Thursday, January 4. Rocket fire from Gaza has also decreased, although alarms did sound in Ashkelon on the morning of January 4. Despite relative calm on Thursday, there were several cross-border launches from Lebanon toward Manara and Misgav. The pro-Iranian Al-Mayadeen claimed that the attack on Misgav Am targeted IDF observation equipment. Al-Mayadeen also claimed there was an attack directed toward Shtula. A resident of the community who is a local security coordinator told Israeli radio Reshet Bet that he believed the community was targeted with a large munition fired from Lebanon, estimating it was a Burkan-style short range rocket that has a large explosive.

The IDF said that an Israeli fighter jet targeted a Hezbollah observation post near Maroun El Ras in southern Lebanon. A short while after, IDF soldiers identified an anti-tank missile terrorist cell in the same area, which was struck by the IDF. Overnight, IDF soldiers fired mortar shells in order to remove a threat in the area of Rab El Thalathine along the Lebanese border, the IDF said. Later in the day, the IDF said more Hezbollah sites were targeted in Yaroun and near Maroun el Ras. The IDF said it also targeted a threat in the area of Ayta ash Shab, and a hit was identified.

Israel continued to strike at Hamas in Gaza and carry out raids against terrorists in the West Bank. The IDF carried out a multi-day operation in the Nur al-Shams camp near Tukaram, an area targeted frequently by the IDF in the last year. The IDF said that a senior operative from Palestinian Islamic Jihad was eliminated in the northern Gaza Strip. While much of northern Gaza has been cleared of Hamas battalions in the fighting since October 7  a priority for the IDF  there have been very few reports of degraded PIJ capabilities in Gaza. PIJ members were seen with Hamas when the latter handed over hostages during the pause in fighting in late November. PIJ is believed to hold some of the 133 hostages still held in Gaza.

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.
A tunnel found at the Blue Beach Hotel in Gaza. (IDF)

The Israel Defense Forces announced on January 5 that one of its brigades working with an elite combat engineering unit had discovered seven tunnel shafts at a beach resort in Gaza. The resort was deserted following the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas and Israels subsequent ground operations in Gaza which began on October 27. However, the discovery of the tunnels is one of several recent announcements by the IDF that illustrates the long and complex task of uprooting terrorist infrastructure in Gaza.

The process of finding tunnels and other terrorist sites in Gaza has gone on since Israeli forces first entered neighborhoods in northern Gaza in early November. It took more than a month to fully defeat the dozen Hamas battalions that were in northern Gaza. This has left IDF units in control of some neighborhoods on all sides of Gaza City, and also enabled them to focus on finding tunnels and weapons storage sites, rather than fighting the Hamas terrorists who were in these areas. This also occurred against the backdrop of Israel shifting to a new phase of operations in Gaza, one that is less intense than the ground fighting in November and December 2023.

The Blue Beach Hotel is along the Mediterranean coast in Gaza, one of several resorts and hotels to dot the coastline. The IDF said on January 5 that the Yahalom elite combat engineers located the tunnel routes and then destroyed them. Hamas terrorists exploited the hotel as a shelter from where they planned and executed attacks both above and below ground. Many weapons were found under the hotel, including AK-47 assault rifles, explosives, and drones, the IDF said.

In another area in central Gaza amidst a number of high-rise buildings, the IDF said they found sites for launching anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles at IDF forces. Loaded rocket launchers, buildings rigged with explosives, tunnel shafts, and numerous explosives were found in the area. During combat in the area, forces eliminated terrorists and located and destroyed many [tunnel] shafts.

Last week, the IDFs elite naval commando Shayetet 13 unit conducted a targeted raid on a Hamas site in the central Gaza Strip. During the raid, the forces identified several tunnel shafts leading to a network of hundreds of meters of Hamas terror tunnels. Additionally, during the searches, the soldiers found a weapons cache which included mortars, grenades, and RPG missiles, the report said. The IDF released the details of the raid on January 4. The forces found tunnel shafts after the raid.

Another high-profile site in Gaza is Shifa hospital, the largest medical compound in the Gaza Strip. Israeli forces concentrated on eliminating terrorists near the hospital in November. The IDF then revealed on January 3 that a tunnel excavated on November 24 was subsequently dismantled by combat engineers. During the activity to dismantle these expansive underground tunnels, the hospital building above ground was not damaged and humanitarian activities in the hospital were able to continue, the IDF said.

Taken together, the numerous reports about finding tunnels and terrorist infrastructure illustrate how the new phase of lower intensity combat in parts of Gaza is giving way to a focus on sweeping areas for these tunnels and completing efforts that began in November.

There are still threats to IDF forces, particularly in Khan Yunis and areas in central Gaza. In Bureij on January 5, terrorists tried to attack an IDF tank. An Israeli UAV monitored the threat and an warplane struck the terror cell. Meanwhile in Khan Yunis, the IDF found launch pads used to fire rockets at Israel. Hamas rocket fire against Israel continues to decline. The IDF said that it carried out strikes on 100 targets between January 4 and 5, which appeared to be a slight uptick from strikes over the last week.

Several brigades of IDF reservists have now left Gaza, in a reduction in forces after ninety days of fighting. With the units back in Israel, Israels Southern Command has begun a forum for the reserve commanders to discuss lessons learned. In addition, in the evening on January 5, IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said, our goal is to constantly improve, to learn lessons from the fighting, extending our achievements and minimizing casualties to our forces.

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.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 5. The position stated by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on freedom of religion in Azerbaijan is extremely biased, Archimandrite Alexis Nikonorov, secretary of the Diocese of Baku, rector of the Cathedral of the Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women told Trend.

"It is worth recalling that exactly two months ago the president of a certain "International Christian Concern"Jeff King already presented a report on "persecution of the year" on the air of the American information channel Fox News, in which it was claimed that Azerbaijan by the end of 2023 entered the top 10 countries 'on the scale of persecution of Christians'," Archimandrite Nikonorov said.

"It is clear to the intelligent reader that numerous Western, predominantly American, human rights organizations do not have sufficient bureaucracy and infrastructure to obtain their reliable information on religious freedom in a given country and process it through their analytical strategies. They rely on information received from various, not always reliable, and often biased sources and analysts, including the opposition. Such information, of course, does not always honest positions of the informants. And it is not surprising that these conclusions often have nothing to do with reality," he added.

Archimandrite Alexis Nikonorov believes that anti-Azerbaijani lobbyists interested in discrediting Azerbaijan and creating its negative image in the eyes of international political and public structures are behind the statements of the US Secretary of State.

"Azerbaijan has accumulated a unique centuries-old experience of peaceful coexistence and interaction, joint creative labor of Muslim, Christian and Jewish population. It is a unique phenomenon - there are practically no existing difficulties in Azerbaijan, which in many states and societies hinder the development of inter-religious dialog at the everyday level between ordinary citizens," he explained.

Archimandrite emphasized that Azerbaijan pays special attention to cultural diversity in society and acts as a guarantor of the rights and freedoms of every citizen regardless of religious and national affiliation.

"The Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan enshrines a provision on the equality of all citizens before the law regardless of national, religious or language affiliation. At the same time, the State fully supports non-Muslim communities in their statutory activities, giving impetus to interreligious and multicultural dialog, which has long proved to be exemplary throughout the world. No secret that during the territorial conflict in the Karabakh region that lasted for 30 years, there were forces that wanted to give this confrontation a religious coloring," Archimandrite Nikonorov said.

"But thanks to the wisdom of our people, the political will of the religious leader of the Caucasian Muslims Sheikh ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazadeh, as well as the mediatory role of the Russian Orthodox Church, all such attempts were completely stopped. Azerbaijan's successes, full restoration of territorial integrity, unity of society and other positive factors do not give rest to our enemies who are interested in weakening the political position of our country and its obvious leading role in the South Caucasus," he added.

"They make attempts to portray Azerbaijan's success in the de-occupation of its territory from Armenia as a confrontation between Pan-Turkist forces and Christians. The fact that the Christians mean exclusively the Armenian population of the Karabakh region, displaced to the neighboring republic at the urgent call of their political forces, which make money on the issue of "refugees", is no secret. So the position voiced by Antony Blinken looks extremely unconvincing and biased. I am confident that this will not prevent Azerbaijan from moving forward, continuing to strengthen its political and economic power with full consolidation of public and civil institutions, being a model of inter-religious and inter-ethnic relations," Archimandrite said.

On January 4, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced that several countries, including Azerbaijan, have been added to a "special watch list" in connection with religious freedom.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
More than a dozen countries led by the US warned against Houthi militants continuing their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea

Houthi supporters demonstrate in support of Palestinians on 29 December 2024. Tension in the region is rising after deadly attacks in Iran on Wednesday

Houthi supporters demonstrate in support of Palestinians on 29 December 2024. Tension in the region is rising after deadly attacks in Iran on Wednesday  Photo credit: Shutterstock

Houthi supporters demonstrate in support of Palestinians on 29 December 2024. Tension in the region is rising after deadly attacks in Iran on Wednesday  Photo credit: Shutterstock

Islamic State claimed responsibility for Wednesdays attack in Iran that killed almost 100 people and threatened to further inflame tensions in the Middle East.

The terrorist group was behind the blasts near the grave of Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani, according to a statement on the groups Telegram channel. Soleimani was one of Irans most powerful generals killed by the US in a 2020 drone strike. Irans health minister said Wednesday that the bombing had left 95 people dead and 211 others injured.

Iran had said the blasts were aimed at punishing its stance against Israels invasion of Gaza, but US officials said from the start that they had the hallmarks of an operation by a group such as Islamic State.

The explosions took place within 15 minutes of each other outside the graveyard where a crowd of people participated in a ceremony to commemorate the death of Soleimani in a US drone strike in Iraqs capital in 2020. The blasts were caused by bombs planted in a suitcase and a car near the graveyard entrance and detonated remotely, the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency reported.

Pressure on Tehran

Only hours after the blasts  the Islamic Republics deadliest since its founding in 1979  more than a dozen countries led by the US increased their pressure on Tehran. They issued a warning against Houthi militants, an Iranian proxy force in Yemen, against continuing their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, which have disrupted global commerce and triggered a build up of Western naval power in the area.

The countries, including the UK, Australia and Germany, pledged to hold malign actors accountable if attacks on vessels continued. The series of events highlight the risk of a wider war in the Middle East since the Israel-Hamas war erupted but many analysts still view a direct US-Iran confrontation as a remote possibility.

Also read:

Container ships take arduous detours after Houthi attacks in Red Sea

Most observers instead predict a growing number of tit-for-tat proxy attacks. On Thursday, a drone attack in Iraq killed at least two commanders of an Iranian-backed militia, with the Iraqi government blaming the US-led international forces in the country for the incident.

The Israeli national security imperative is clear and its top political and military officials are intent on eliminating Hamas leadership across the world, Ayham Kamel, director of Middle East and North Africa research at the Eurasia Group said in a research note this week. While retaliation against Israel is likely, according to the note, the chances of a large-scale regional confrontation remain unchanged at 25%.

The risk remains that a smaller incident could suddenly spill into something larger with a growing military buildup in the region.

Oil prices pushed up

Those fears helped push up oil prices by as much as 1.5% in London further on Thursday after the previous sessions 3% increase. The region produces about a third of the worlds crude and ships carrying everything from food to fuel traverse the waterways that have already been threatened by Houthi fighters over the past two months.

Also read:

Hamas says Israel kills senior official in Beirut attack

The attacks came a day after Israel was believed to be behind the killing of a key leader of the Iran-backed Hamas militant group in Lebanons capital, Beirut, but US officials said there was no reason to suspect Israeli involvement in the Iran bombings.

Still, the attacks marked a new peak in regional tensions since Israel began its war against Hamas after the group  designated as a terrorist organization by the US and European Union  infiltrated Israel on Oct. 7 and killed about 1,200 people.
Update 1/8: Apple has announced that Vision Pro will begin shipping on February 2 with preorders beginning January 19.

There are no announced Apple products due to ship in January, and no rumored products we expect to hear aboutbut theres one possible exception (and its a big one): Apple has announced that Vision Pro will launch early this year, and at least one report says Apple is aiming to launch the next-gen headset by the end of January.

Beyond hardware, we do expect some software releases. Theres iOS 17.3 and macOS 14.3 (and their siblings), which started beta-testing in December. We can also expect new Apple TV+ shows and Apple Arcade games. Heres a summary of what we might see this month. If we dont get Apple Vision Pro, its shaping up to be a very slow month.

New hardware: Apple Vision Pro

Apple announced that its spatial computing headset, Apple Vision Pro, will launch on February 2. Preorders start this month on January 19. It will only be available in the U.S., for a price of $3,499, with lens inserts that cost $99 or $149 depending on what you need.

At $3,500, plus a cost for lens inserts for those who need them, Vision Pro is expected to be a very low-volume business. We dont expect large shipments and millions of units sold in 2024. But its the first product in a brand new category that Apple is taking very seriously. We cant wait to see the finished product.

With a new wave of OS updates entering beta in mid-December, it seems a sure thing that well get a final release in January. That will probably be followed almost immediately by beta releases of the next iOS/iPadOS/macOS/tvOS updates.

iOS 17.3: This release adds collaborative playlists to Apple Music (after a few earlier betas teasing the feature), but the big deal is probably the new Stolen Device Protection feature that helps make it harder for a thief to access your personal data even if they have your passcode.

iPadOS 17.3: Expect the same updates as in iOS 17.3.

tvOS 17.3: Were not aware of any significant new features in tvOS 17.3 yet. Apple Music is available on tvOS, but we dont know if collaborative playlists can be managed on the device.

macOS Sonoma 14.3: We havent noticed any significant features in the 14.3 release (outside of the usual bug fixes and security stuff), with the exception of collaborative playlists in Apple Music.

Services

Apple TV+

Here are the shows, series, and movies we expect to release on Apple TV+ in January. Its looking pretty thin this month. If you want to know whats coming later, check our full guide to upcoming Apple TV+ content.

Criminal Record: An anonymous phone call draws two brilliant detectives into a confrontation over an old murder case  one a young woman in the early stages of her career, the other a well-connected man determined to protect his legacy. January 10

Killers of the Flower Moon: The Scorsese film based on the book Killers Of The Flower Moon: The Osage Murders And The Birth Of The FBI was released in theaters back in October, and is finally coming to the streaming service. January 12

Masters of the Air: Follows the men of the 100th Bomb Group (the Bloody Hundredth) as they conduct perilous bombing raids over Nazi Germany and grapple with the frigid conditions, lack of oxygen, and sheer terror of combat conducted at 25,000 feet in the air. January 26

Apple Arcade

Apple releases new games to Apple Arcade on Fridays, but not every Friday is marked by a new game or significant update. Check our Apple Arcade FAQ for a full list of Apple Arcade games and more details on the service. Some games are released with no forewarning, but youll often see several projects listed in the Coming Soon section.

Blackjack by MobilityWare+: Its blackjack! January 4

Cornsweeper: Similar to the classic Minesweeper, but popcorn-themed. January 4

Tamagotchi Adventure Kingdom: A 3D adventure starring Tamagotchi virtual pets. January 4
For a while, fans of the country music band Rascal Flatts thought guitarist Joe Don Rooney was dead or transitioning to become a woman.

Now Rooney has broken his silence to address the rumors and explain his absence from social media.

First off, I am alive, the member of the Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum-selling group said on X Wednesday, Jan. 3.

There have been so many rumors and opinions thrown around about me - but Im finally healthy and ready for the world. And NO, Im not transitioning to be a woman, Rooney continued. That thought has never entered my mind. Nothing against the trans community whatsoever but I needed to set the record straight.

Read More: Country music star shocks fans with farewell tour announcement

The musician said the reason for his absence came from his long battle with alcoholism. Rooney recalled an incident on Sept. 9, 2021, when he drunkenly crashed into a tree and nearly died. Rooneys progressive drinking coupled with his fears, depression and anxiety caused him to spin out in a way he never had before.

The pressures of my career and the many mistakes I made in regards to my home life, coupled with a lot of pain and trauma from my childhood and early on in my adult life, had become too much to bear, he said.

I was not a good father - I was not a good husband - and I was not a good band mate to my business partners. I probably wouldve never taken responsibility for any of this if it hadnt been for my car wreck on Sep 9, 2021.

Rooney was arrested and charged with driving under the influence as a result of the crash, ET reported.

The incident came just a few weeks after Rooney and his former bandmate, Jay DeMarcus, accepted the Academy of Country Musics Cliffie Stone Icon Award, the news outlet continued.

Rooney saw the crash as a sign to get help. He eventually sought treatment for his drinking in the beautiful mountains of Utah for four months. Rooney will now celebrate 28 months of sobriety on Saturday, Jan. 13.

I never believed I could actually live my life without drinking. It had become such a huge part of my daily and nightly routine, Rooney continued.

With the help of my family and so many other professional clinical advisors and now numerous new sober forever friends, Ive been able to get the train back on the tracks and live without the burden of alcohol.

Read More: Concerts to catch in Boston this winter and spring before summer series rolls in

Rooney added that he has set new healthy boundaries for the first time to help protect his family and sobriety.

Thank you for all the love, support and prayers. I promise you, Ive felt them all and Im super appreciative, he concluded. Heres to making the best of 2024 and living our most healthiest, happiest and goal oriented lives ever.

Rascal Flatts disbanded in 2020 following a farewell tour after twenty years together. The farewell tour was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The bands disbandment was officially confirmed in October 2021.
Want to eat clam chowder for a good cause? Well, Legal Sea Foods can help you with that.

Starting Monday, Jan. 15, the seafood restaurant chain will be giving away cups of its beloved New England Clam Chowder for just $1. This is part of the chains annual tradition called Chowda Day, which was officially launched last year. Proceeds from the holiday will be donated to Boston Childrens Hospital.

The company is also celebrating Chowda Day online at Shop Legal Sea Foods where customers can order and ship two quarts of chowder anywhere in the country for $20. The restaurant is hoping to break the all-time Chowda Day record of over 9,000 cups ordered and calls.

Our New England Clam Chowder is a beloved part of Bostons heritage, said Matt King, Legal Sea Foods Brand president and COO. Legal Sea Foods is thrilled to continue the Chowda Day tradition and give back to help kids at Boston Childrens Hospital. We are grateful for the ongoing support of our cherished guests and extraordinary restaurant team who continually surpass expectations and make it possible to do what we do.

Legal Sea Foods' "Chowda Day" was officially declared in 2023.AnOriginal Photography by An LeF

Hungry for more? Then head back to one of Legal Sea Foods locations starting Tuesday, Jan. 16, for your chance to get a free lobster roll. The chain is launching its first-ever limited-time offer where rewards members can get a free Maine lobster roll if they buy one roll at a regular price.

Read More: Legal Sea Foods reopens at the Burlington Mall with upgraded design

This signature New England-style dish is loaded with a half pound of Maine lobster meat and served traditionally with lemon mayo and chives or warm butter-poached on top of a perfectly grilled bun.

The BOGO is only available for rewards members. Diners have until Jan. 31 to sign up by creating an account online, downloading the new Legal Net Rewards app, or in-restaurant by scanning a QR code.

More information can be found on Legal Sea Foods website.
A 9-year-old was flown by helicopter to a local hospital after they were hit by a car in Haverhill Thursday, according to the Haverhill Police Department.

The child was hit by a 2003 Toyota Tacoma after getting off the bus at Main Street and 13th Avenue at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 4, Haverhill police said on X.

The 9-year-old was flown to a Boston-area hospital with serious injuries, according to police. The driver of the Toyota stopped and stayed on scene. The parents of the 9-year-old were also notified.

We will have counselors at the Pentucket Lake School for friends, classmates, and staff, Haverhill Public Schools Superintendent Margaret Marotta said in an email to families and staff, Boston25 reported. Please join us in keeping our student and the family in your thoughts and prayers.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Jason Pearl at 978-373-1212 ext. 1532.
GREENFIELD  Greenfield-based roaster Fogbuster Coffee Works has filed suit against a California coffee company, saying the roaster on the West Coast infringed on its trademark Fogbuster.

The company, represented by Springfield-based attorney Patrick J. OShea, filed suit against Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Company in federal court in Massachusetts on Dec. 29.

According to its suit, Fogbuster Coffee Works has owned the trademark for FOGBUSTER in coffee, spices, and ground and whole bean coffee since Oct. 31, 2006. The company  formerly known as Pierce Brothers Gourmet Distributors until its rebranded in 2022  says on its website that its signature roast is the Fogbuster, and its complaint says it is its best-selling coffee blend.

It alleges that Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Companys product, Dougs Fog Buster Blend, violates the trademark since it uses the Fogbuster name and ships to anywhere in the country, including Massachusetts.

Defendants use of the FOG BUSTER mark is likely to cause confusion in the marketplace for coffee in the United States, the complaint states.

Fogbuster Coffee Works asked the court to prevent the California company from using the term and order it to recall or destroy items and advertising that bear the mark. It also asked the court to award it treble damages, because it claims the California companys actions have been intentional, willful and made in bad faith.

Fogbuster Coffee Works declined to comment about the suit and Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Company did not respond to a request to comment.

On its website, Fogbuster Coffee Works describes its Fogbuster roast as a combination of five different beans and the darkest coffee you will ever find!

Fogbuster Coffee says it uses air-roasting technology, which ensures that there are minimal burnt by-products. The company claims to be part of the one percent of roasters using air roasting technology.

Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Companys Dougs Fog Buster Blend was named by Doug Dunlap, the companys director of retail operations, according to a video on its website. It is the combination of the companys two strongest coffees, Italian Espresso and French Roast, its website states.

Fog busterIt just busts you open in the morning and gets you going, exactly what we all need, right? Dunlap says in the video. "  When I came up with it, I was just kinda thinking, Okay, this is cool, this kinda just busts that morning fog in my head.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 5. Expressing concern about religious freedom in Azerbaijan seems like a misplaced attempt to undermine one of the great strengths of Azerbaijani society, which is religious and ethnic tolerance, former US Ambassador to Azerbaijan Matthew Bryza told Trend.

My personal experience living in Azerbaijan and working on US-Azerbaijan relations is that Azerbaijan is remarkably diverse and tolerant when it comes to various religious communities. One of the great strengths of Azerbaijan strategically from the US perspective is that Azerbaijan's society is secular, with an overwhelmingly Shiite Islamic society, but that's fundamentally secular and therefore is divisive and tolerant, he said.

Ambassador Bryza pointed out that by being a secular society with a Shiite majority population, Azerbaijan provides a very hopeful example of tolerance and economic development that counters some of the intolerance in Azerbaijan's neighborhood.

I was a practicing Roman Catholic when I lived in Azerbaijan. I attended Catholic Mass every Sunday at the Roman Catholic Church in Baku. I also know the vibrant Protestant communities and Orthodox Christian communities, but also, of course, the Jewish community, which is one of the oldest anywhere. I mean, it's 2,500 years old. I think pretty much all Azerbaijanis are proud of the mountain Jewish population in Krasnaya Sloboda. I know that the Orthodox Jewish community thrives, and one of its chief rabbis once told me that in there is so little anti-Semitism in Azerbaijan. And of course, in terms of religious diversity, it's not just Shiite Muslims in Azerbaijan, even though they're a large majority, but of course, there are Sunnis as well, especially I know in northwestern Azerbaijan, the ex-ambassador added.

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When Gov. Maura Healey delivers her first State of the Commonwealth address in just about two weeks time, its a sure bet that the Democratic governor will tout her administrations accomplishments during its first year in office.

But an increasingly cloudy tax collection picture could cast a shadow over Healeys Jan. 17 address at the State House. And with a new budget season also beckoning, some state lawmakers also are casting worried glances at the data.

The commonwealth collected nearly $3.8 billion in taxes last month. Thats $82 million, or 2.1% less than collections at the same time in 2022; and $138 million, or 3.5% behind official benchmarks, according to state Revenue Department data released this week.

Year-to-date collections totaled $17.86 billion, which was $60 million, or 0.3% ahead of collections at the same time in 2023, but still $769 million, or 4.1% behind projections, according to the Revenue Department.

The slide in tax revenues continues an ongoing decrease in collections that comes even as policymakers on both sides of the State House and the executive branch stare down rising costs for the states shelter system, and eye expanded spending to tame the ongoing housing crisis.

The state collected $2.24 billion in taxes in November, which was 5.5% less than actual collections at the same time last year, and $274 million, or nearly 11%, behind projections, according to Revenue Department data at the time.

Year-to-date collections for November totaled $14.09 billion, which were $146 million ahead of collections at the same time in 2023, but still $627 million, or 4.3% behind year-to-date estimates.

State House Speaker Ron Mariano, D-3rd Norfolk, waxed philosophical this week when he was asked whether hed regretted backing increased spending at a time of uncertain revenues.

I think that, having been around as long Ive been around, I understand that everything is cyclical, the Quincy lawmaker told reporters in a brief interview outside his State House office on Wednesday. And when youre riding the wave, its only a matter of time before youre gonna fall off the wave, and hit the bottom.

And so, those of us who have been around a while sort of expected some sort of contraction, he continued. And [the] severity is always the question. The severity is what were going to be faced with, Mariano said.

In a statement, state Revenue Commissioner Geoffrey Snyder contextualized the drop-off in revenues, noting that losses in such categories as sales tax and business tax collections were partially offset by an increase in income tax withholding.

December is a significant month for revenues because many corporate and business taxpayers are required to make quarterly estimated payments, the agency said in its statement, adding that 9.5% of all annual revenue is collected during December.

Revenue collections are uneven and usually weighted toward the second half of the fiscal year. Therefore, it may be premature to use year-to-date results to assess trends for the entire fiscal year, the agency said in its statement.

Nonetheless, senior leaders on Beacon Hill, including those who control the budget-writing process, sounded cautionary notes.

I think were getting clear signals that we need to think about the fiscal stability of the commonwealth. And we need to chart a very careful course in the months ahead based on those signals, state Senate Minority Leader Bruce E. Tarr, R-1st Essex/Middlesex, told the Boston Herald. Obviously, we hope that the numbers are going to change and theyre going to get better. But we need to be prepared for the possibility that they wont.

Senate Ways & Means Committee Chairperson Michael Rodrigues, D-1st Bristol/Plymouth, told the Herald that the numbers shouldnt cause a panic, but should prompt a careful and conservative approach on the part of lawmakers.

In a year-end interview with MassLive, House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones Jr., R-20th Middlesex, said one of the main tasks facing the Legislature this year is [finding] a way to navigate the increasingly choppy waters of declining state tax revenues in a responsible manner to protect vital state programs and services,

Speaking to MassLive during a separate year-end interview, Healey said shes keeping an eye on the big picture as the second, full year of her administration gets underway.

Were going to need to figure out a way to continue to make those investments, we recognize that the revenue picture is evolving, Healey said. We have seen a dip in revenues. Were going to continue to monitor, so that our financial foundations are strong.

When you look at record amounts in the stabilization fund, she continued. " ... And we continue to see growth, albeit growth at a slower rate than our bond rating ... So the ... foundation is there and strong. And obviously, were just going to have to monitor the revenue picture.
SPRINGFIELD  Former City Council President Jesse Lederman has joined the local staff of U.S. Sen. Edward J. Markey, cementing a longtime relationship.

Lederman who left office in December after opting not to seek reelection but launch an ultimately unsuccessful campaign for mayor  said Friday that he has already joined Markeys staff. Lederman is regional director for the 1st and 2nd Congressional districts, encompassing Western and Central Massachusetts
With a murder trial looming for Karen Read, a Mansfield woman charged with the killing of her Boston police boyfriend, her attorneys were in court Friday morning arguing that alleged relationships between an investigator and witnesses in the case pose a significant bias.

Norfolk County prosecutor Adam Lally denied that any personal relationship exists between Trooper Michael Proctor, an investigator of the murder case, but Lally did not object to a request by defense attorneys for records of texts, calls and social media messages between Proctor, witness Jennifer McCabe and Elizabeth Proctor, the investigators wife.
Attorneys for Karen Read, the Mansfield woman charged with the killing of her Boston police boyfriend, want the indictment against her tossed and to prevent the Norfolk County District Attorneys Office from pursuing her prosecution.

During a court hearing Friday morning, Reads defense attorney, David Yannetti, said the defense team planned on submitting a motion to dismiss, a motion for sanctions and a motion to disqualify the Norfolk district attorney from the case. Attorneys said they would file the motion by the end of the day.

Read, 43, has pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, motor vehicle manslaughter and leaving the scene of personal injury and death.

The Norfolk District Attorneys Office alleges Read struck her boyfriend John OKeefe, a Boston police officer, and killed him in January 2022 while attempting to drop him off at a party in Canton.

Attorneys for Read mentioned their intent to move to dismiss the case at the end of Fridays hearing and did not elaborate on their reasons. The topic is expected to be taken up at the next hearing set for Jan. 18.

A jury trial is scheduled to begin on March 12.

Claims of bias between investigator, witnesses

The hearing on Friday mostly revolved around claims by the defense of bias by a State Police investigator in the case due to alleged personal relationships with some of the witnesses.

Reads attorneys argued that alleged relationships between an investigator and witnesses in the case pose a significant bias.

Norfolk County prosecutor Adam Lally denied that any personal relationship exists between Trooper Michael Proctor, an investigator of the murder case, but Lally did not object to a request by defense attorneys for records of texts, calls and social media messages between Proctor, witness Jennifer McCabe and Elizabeth Proctor, the investigators wife.

Defense counsel for Read, Alan Jackson, described the communication records sought as nothing short of critical to our defense.

Defense attorneys for Read have strongly pushed back on many of the prosecutors claims about what happened the night of OKeefes death, arguing that they are grasping at straws, and have mounted a public campaign to argue that Read is innocent.

In April, Reads attorneys filed an affidavit in court that claimed that another woman at the party searched ho(w) long to die in cold on her phone  and later deleted the search  before his death that night in January 2022.

At 2:27 a.m., hours before Read would find her boyfriends body buried in snow, Jennifer McCabe made the online search, according to Reads attorneys. She is the sister-in-law of Brian Albert, the police officer who was throwing the party in Canton.

There is simply no innocent explanation for McCabes search at that time, Reads defense team wrote in a statement at the time. This evidence unequivocally exonerates Karen, because it establishes that individuals who were in the house at 34 Fairview that night were aware that John was dying in the snow before Karen even knew he was missing.

On Friday morning, Reads attorney claimed that a relationship between Trooper Proctor and the families of McCabe and Albert pre-date the murder investigation.

We believe that relationship establishes extrinsic evidence of bias and an inability to be neutral, Jackson said. From the very beginning of this case, weve questioned the neutrality and bias of Michael Proctor and certain other government witnesses. The overwhelming facts weve learned establish this investigator and this investigation are compromised.

Attorneys for McCabe, Proctor say theres distant connection

Andrew Kettlewell, who represents Elizabeth Proctor, said there is a distant connection between the Proctor and McCabe families and that there are five steps of relationships between relatives.

The attorney for McCabe, Kevin Reddington, described defense attorneys attempting a clever maneuver to get the records.

There is no factual basis that these are relevant material records, other than speculating what they may reveal, Reddington said.

Defense attorneys argued that there were photographs showing Trooper Proctor at his sisters wedding with members of the Albert and McCabe families in April 2012.

In police reports, Trooper Proctor wrote that he made formal introductions with members of the Albert family during the course of the murder investigation, court documents show. Reads attorneys argue they initially met a decade prior and sat together during Proctors sisters wedding.

Lally, the Norfolk County prosecutor, further cast doubt on the closeness between the investigator and witness families.

After scouring social media, there are zero photos of McCabe and Trooper Proctor at any time, Lally said.

As the Commonwealth understands it, Trooper Proctor has a sister who has a friend who has a sister who has a husband who has a brother who has a wife who has a sister who is Jennifer McCabe, Lally said.

Judge Beverly Cannone did not issue any orders on the motions Friday morning.

Another issue discussed in the courtroom involved motions by Reads lawyers to make public letters between Norfolk prosecutors and the office of the U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts, reportedly about a grand jury investigation looking into the handling of Reads murder case.

A hearing is set for Jan. 18 that will allow the office of U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts the ability to weigh in.

Prosecutors are also seeking notes and recordings of statements made by Read to Boston magazine for a September article. Arguments will be heard on Jan. 18.
A man is in custody and en route to a hospital for mental health treatment after he jumped naked into the massive aquarium at The Bass Pro Shop Leeds in Alabama Thursday night.

Leeds Police Chief Paul Irwin said the incident happened near closing time.

The 42-year-old man was reported to be acting erratically and drove a vehicle into a pole in the store parking lot.

After the crash, he got out of his vehicle, took off his clothes, ran into the Bass Pro Shop and jumped into the aquarium.

Video taken by bystanders showed the man do a cannonball into the aquarium and later stand under the waterfall.

As two Leeds police officers began to walk up the stairs, the man exited the water, yelled something to the officers and then dove back into the water.

A man is in police custody after he stripped and jumped into the massive aquarium at the Bass Pro Shop in Leeds. He was evaluated at a hospital for mental issues and then booked into the St. Clair County Jail.(Special to AL.com)

He continued to shout something to officers before he climbed over the side of the aquarium and dropped to the concrete floor below, appearing to have been knocked out by the fall.

Officers handcuffed the man, who then woke up and began to try to struggle.

Someone covered him with a blanket as officers took him from the store.

Irwin said the man was only in the water for about five minutes before officers arrived.

He was taken to a hospital for a mental evaluation and then booked into the St. Clair County Jail.

Jail records show George Owens, of Sterrett, Alabama is charged with public lewdness, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, assault on a police officer, two counts of first-degree criminal mischief and two counts of reckless endangerment.
HOLYOKE  State police arrested a West Springfield man for possession of drugs and unregistered firearms, officials said Thursday.

Jose Arroyo Torres, 31, was driving a Hyundai sedan on Cabot Street in Holyoke when he was pulled over for speeding on Dec. 30. During the traffic stop, a state trooper asked Arroyo Torres for his license and registration, where the trooper found that the drivers license had been suspended and his registration revoked, a Massachusetts State Police statement said.

Throughout the traffic stop, the trooper noted that Arroyo Torres behavior was becoming increasingly erratic, both after he attempted to exit the vehicle while it was still in drive and trying to use his foot to stop the car from rolling, officials said.

State police then searched Arroyo Torres and found several marijuana edibles and two bags of white powder believed to be cocaine, the statement said.

Other troopers then conducted a probable cause search of Arroyo Torres vehicle, where they found a loaded High Point .45 caliber pistol under the floorboards of the rear seat in a black box. Arroyo Torres is not licensed to carry a gun, according to the state police. Further, the gun had its ID number scratched out.

State police then said Arroyo Torres behavior went from increasingly erratic to irate, and he allegedly began yelling racial slurs at the troopers, spitting on them and spitting in the rear of the arresting officers cruiser.

A statement from the police said the arresting officers cruiser would need biohazard decontamination to clean it.

He was charged with possession of a firearm without being registered, receiving a firearm with a defaced serial number, possession of ammunition without an FID card, possession of a Class B drug, resisting arrest, vandalizing property, operating a vehicle with a suspended license, speeding, vehicle equipment violation, vehicle lights violation, operating a vehicle with a suspended registration, and driving an uninsured and unregistered motor vehicle.

Arroyo Torres was arraigned at Holyoke District Court.
WHATELY  State police arrested a 21-year-old Springfield man Tuesday after a traffic stop turned up narcotics and an unlicensed gun in his SUV, officials said.

The driver, Matthew Lopez, was pulled over on Route 91, Massachusetts State Police said in a statement, because his Nissan SUV was not properly registered and had incorrect license plates.

Just before 8 p.m., responding State Trooper Joshua Kopeski initiated the traffic stop after doing a scan of Lopezs license plates, which showed that the SUV and plates were not registered together; the plates belonged to a Saturn Vue, police said.

During the stop, Lopezs SUV was slow to come to a halt, his vehicle lurching in drive while the trooper could see him reaching into the vehicles interior.

A check of Lopezs license revealed that it was expired, as was the supplied registration. Kopeski had Lopez exit the SUV so that it could be towed, and the trooper then took an inventory of its contents, including the trunk.

It was there, police say, that they found a bag containing about 500 wax packets of a substance suspected to be heroin, police said.

Kopeski and recently arrived Trooper Jack Sarnacki placed Lopez under arrest and then started a full search of his SUV, where they also found a Glock 19 pistol, loaded with a 15-round magazine and an additional extended 30-round magazine.

Lopez is not registered to carry firearms, according to the state police.

He was charged with trafficking in fentanyl, illegal possession of a firearm, carrying a loaded firearm, possession of a firearm in commission of a felony, four counts of possession of a large capacity feeding device, attaching wrong motor vehicle plates, operating an uninsured motor vehicle and operating an unregistered motor vehicle.

Lopezs bail was set at $25,000, and he was to be arraigned at Greenfield District Court.
Several communities in Western Massachusetts have announced parking bans ahead of a winter storm that is projected to hit the state this weekend.

The vast majority of Massachusetts  from the Berkshires as far east as Lawrence and Waltham  is likely to get a solid 8 to 12 inches of snow, the National Weather Service predicts.

Snow should start falling in most of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts at around 6 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 6, with the rest of Massachusetts and most of Rhode Island starting to see flakes around 9 p.m.

In response to the impending storm, the following municipalities in Western Massachusetts have announced parking bans:

Amherst: A parking ban will in effect from midnight Saturday until 7 a.m. on Sunday. Parking is prohibited in all town streets and parking lots.

Chicopee: A parking ban will be in effect from 5 p.m. Saturday through 5 p.m. Sunday. Parking on main and secondary roads will be prohibited.

Easthampton: A parking ban wil be in effect from 6 p.m. Saturday through 8 a.m. Monday. On-street parking will be prohibited during this time. Vehicles parked on city streets may be towed.

East Longmeadow: On-street parking is not allowed from 11 p.m. Saturday through 9 p.m. Sunday.

Granby: There will be no on-street parking allowed from 7 p.m. Saturday through 8 a.m. Monday.

Hadley: There will be no on-street parking from 7 p.m. Saturday until 7 p.m. Sunday.

Holyoke: A parking ban will be in effect from 4 p.m. Saturday until further notice. There will be no parking on the even side of streets unless otherwise posted. There is also no parking allowed on cul-de-sacs.

Ludlow: There is no on-street parking allowed from 7 p.m. Saturday through 7 p.m. Sunday.

Monson: A winter parking ban will go in effect at midnight Saturday and last until midnight Sunday.

Palmer: There will be no parking allowed on any town street from 6 p.m. Saturday until 6 p.m. Sunday.

South Hadley: A town-wide parking ban will go in effect from 8 p.m. Saturday through 12 p.m. Monday. Residents must park on the even-numbered side of street on even days and the odd-numbered side of the street on odd days. No on-street parking is allowed on Bridge Street, Lamb Street, Bardwell Street, Main Street, Lower North Main Street or Route 116. Cars must be moved to the opposite side of the street by 8 a.m. every day of the ban. Anyone who violates the ban could be fined $25 and/or towed.

Southbridge: There will be no street parking allowed from 7 p.m. Saturday until 7 p.m. Sunday. Vehicles in violation will be ticketed and towed as needed. People can park for free in public parking lots in town located at Larochelle Way (RMV Parking Lot) and in the Central Street parking area.

Springfield: A citywide parking ban will be in effect starting 7 p.m. on Saturday. There will be no parking on the even side of the street from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m Sunday and no parking on the odd side of the street from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Wilbraham: A parking ban will be in effect from 7 p.m. Saturday until 9 p.m. Sunday

MassLive will continue to update this list as more cities and towns in Western Mass. announce parking bans.
A state watchdog has revoked the law enforcement certifications of police officers from two towns, ending their policing careers in Massachusetts, officials said Friday.

One officer, formerly employed by the Woburn Police Department, faced assault and battery charges connected to a domestic incident in 2021. The other officer, formerly of the Acton Police Department, resigned before he could be disciplined for multiple instances of misconduct, including sexual harassment.

The pair join seven other former police officers already decertified by the states Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission for various infractions, including criminal convictions, falsifying police reports, and participating in a white nationalist rally.

The commission emerged three years ago in the police reform legislation signed by former Gov. Charlie Baker following the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.

In a notice posted online Friday, the commission announced the decertifications of former Woburn Officer Tomas Morales and former Acton Officer Michael Eracleo.

Morales was charged in 2022 with domestic assault and battery. On Friday, a Woburn District Court official said the case was continued without a finding, and Morales had been placed on probation until Aug. 27, 2024.

Eracleo was one of two Acton police officers to resign in Aug. 2022 while on administrative leave and facing discipline from their department.

A former Acton-Boxborough Regional High School student had claimed the pair behaved inappropriately in separate incidents while employed as school resource officers. However, it was not the students allegations that resulted in disciplinary charges, Acton officials said.

A report by an outside investigator found the students report to be unfounded.

But in the process of examining the officers behavior, the investigator found other claims to be credible, including that Eracleo sexually harassed a member of the Acton police staff, and improperly received gift cards and cash from an Acton resident, in violation of town conflict-of-interest policy.

Eracleo joined the Acton police force in 2005, town officials said. He resigned on Aug. 29, 2022, hours after a disciplinary hearing during which Acton Police Chief Richard Burrows recommended he be fired.

In the course of the investigation, officials found explicit images on the town-issued cell phone of the other Acton police officer, Tyler Russell.

Russell was hired in 2016, Acton officials said. He resigned in Aug. 2022 ahead of a disciplinary hearing.

Eracleo reached a voluntary decertification agreement with the commission, according to an email sent by a commission spokesperson. Russell has not been decertified by the board.

State law prevents any decertified officer from being employed by a law enforcement agency in Massachusetts. The commission will also submit Morales and Eracleos names to a national registry of decertified police officers, potentially preventing them from finding police work in other states as well.

In the 2020 policing reform law, state leaders gave the commission broad authority over Massachusetts more than 400 police departments.

The board was tasked with certifying roughly 20,000 cops under new statewide standards  and permitted to decertify officers for certain egregious misconduct.
As New Englanders search for info on the looming snowstorm expected to hit over the weekend, Massachusetts residents need look no further than two self-made weathermen dedicated to weather in the Bay State.

Dave Hayes, whos based in Western Massachusetts Pioneer Valley, and Henry Swenson, who hails from Topsfield on the North Shore, both run weather accounts on multiple social media pages that have garnered tens of thousands of followers across each of their platforms.

Hayes is more commonly known as Dave Hayes The Weather Nut.

Swensons working identity is Henrys Weather Channel.

Hayes is also an official Severe Weather Spotter for the National Weather Service, and Swenson is a 21-year-old, self-proclaimed New Englands Instagram Weatherman, with more than 11,000 followers on the platform.

Each delivers a unique, personalized perspective on local weather as they source from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, the National Weather Service and other national weather reporters to inform residents all over the state.

Both weathermen shared their forecasts and snow totals for the upcoming New England winter storm expected to start Saturday, Jan. 6 and fall into Sunday, Jan. 7. Heres what each had to say.

Forecast and snow totals from Dave Hayes The Weather Nut

The Weather Nut said the snow could begin an hour earlier than other reports, starting anywhere between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Saturday. Hayes said the snow will become heavier and steadier either side of midnight.

Hayes said the storm is very likely to have a first burst of moderate to heavy snow late Saturday night into Sunday morning, with the brunt of the snowfall falling in those dark hours.

The Weather Nut called Sunday a wild card, and said theres a chance the snow could turn showery and patchy mid-morning Sunday through the afternoon. If temperatures are in the low 30s, Hayes said there may not be much accumulation Sunday with intermittent snow showers.

However, he said theres a possibility of a widespread 7-14 inches of snow across the region it all depends on the warm air moving after the first burst of moderate to heavy snow, Hayes explained, which could make the difference of a moderate snowfall bringing just 5-10 inches.

In addition, wind gusts could be between 20 and 30 mph over the course of Saturday and Sunday, with the stronger winds in hillier areas, Hayes said.

The Weather Nuts snowfall predictions came to a total of 5-10 inches for the Western Massachusetts region.

Hayes also predicted a 3-7 inch area in possibly even the northern third of Berkshire County, along with for southern Vermont and southwest New Hampshire. Hayes said a brief mix of rain cant be ruled out for parts of Connecticut, but it will be back to snow Sunday as the storm is expected to move east.

In his closing remarks, The Weather Nut cautioned of another storm next week.

Another storm looms for next weekend which may be more of a mixed precip event, so this has been your Jekyll-n-HydeCast for today! Have a great day and check back with me about our first widespread snowfall of this nascent winter season! Hayes wrote.

Forecast and snow totals from Henrys Weather Channel

Swensons forecast is predicting a more-concentrated and earlier start time as well, with his most recent update on Friday showing snow likely on the radar across the state between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. He also predicted some mixing precipitation to launch the winter storm on Saturday night.

Henrys Weather Channel said the precipitation will change to all snow by Sunday morning and will be on the heavier side near the coast before temperatures drop to the upper 20s in the afternoon.

Swenson said snowfall rates could be 1-2 inches per hour at times on Sunday morning, and noted some weather models showed extremely heavy snow continuing into the afternoon across southern New England as the storm intensifies.

Henrys Weather Channel predictions were windier than The Weather Nuts at 30 to 40 mph gusts along the coastline, and he said blowing snow will create low visibility. Swenson said the snow will likely be heavy and wet, and that some isolated power outages could be expected.

The weatherman said a widespread snowfall total will probably be 8-12 inches across southern New England and much of southern New York, with the onset mixing along the coast of Eastern Massachusetts to bring 5-8 inches. But just inland could see that 8-12 inches, however, Swenson said.

Some isolated amounts could total more than a foot of snow, Henrys Weather Channel predicted. The heaviest snow in New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine is predicted to be far south.

The southern ski mountains should make out pretty well! Swenson said. Some minor tweaks are possible so stay tuned but this is locked in! GET READY, he wrote under his Instagram post update.
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A winter storm is already on deck for Boston, and its only the first week of 2024.

With forecasters predicting heavy snow for the city this weekend, Boston residents may already be thinking about where they can park their cars without getting towed and if its time to break out those infamous space savers.

The National Weather Service is predicting total snow accumulations of between 6 and 12 inches across the state. Eastern Massachusetts is expected to get the beginnings of snow around 9 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 6.

So before you head to bed Saturday night, you might want to save a parking spot, unless you live in the South End and Bay Village, where space-saving is banned.

However, you can only use a space saver if Boston declares a state of emergency, which has not happened for this weekends storm as of Friday morning.

If a state of emergency is declared, then you can use almost anything as a space saver from, a trash can to a traffic cone, according to Bostons website.

If your luck pans out and a state of emergency is declared, residents can leave their space savers out for 48 hours after the emergency is lifted.

When it comes to parking, cars will be ticketed and towed if they are parked on a posted snow emergency road during a declared snow emergency. Residents can see a map of restricted street parking and parking lots available during snow emergencies here.

You can also start parking you car at participating lots and garages for free two hours before a declared snow emergency. Residents must move their car within two hours after the ban is lifted.

Boston also encourages drivers to park at least 20 feet away from intersections to help keep streets open for snowplows and emergency vehicles. Drivers should also park no more than a foot away from the curb.

Sidewalks, fire hydrants, ramps and driveways should not be blocked, the city added.

What about snow parking in Cambridge, Somerville?

Meanwhile, in neighboring Cambridge, residents must move their cars off of streets signed No Parking During Snow Emergency, the city said online. People can find free parking by using the online parking garage locator.

If an announced snow emergency will be in effect overnight and begins after 6 p.m. and before 7 a.m., the designated parking facilities will be free starting at 6 p.m. rather than at the start of the snow emergency, Cambridges website states.

The free parking is only available to Cambridge residents with parking permits. Snow emergencies will be announced online. People can sign up for snow emergency notifications using CodeRED.

In Somerville, residents must park on the odd-numbered side of the street during a snow emergency, according to the citys website. Once a snow emergency is declared, residents have four hours to move their car to the odd-numbered side of the street or to a municipal lot, where they can park for free.

Parking is not allowed in school lots during snow emergencies, but you can park at meters on the odd-numbered side of a street during a snow emergency, as long as there is no sign stating otherwise. People do not have to pay for meters during a snow emergency.

Once the emergency is lifted, residents have two hours to move their cars from municipal lots or else they will be ticketed or towed. You must shovel your car out within 48 hours after a snow emergency ends.
President Joe Biden warned Friday that Donald Trumps efforts to retake the White House in 2024 pose a grave threat to the country, the day before the third anniversary of the violent riot at the U.S. Capitol by then-President Trumps supporters aiming to keep him in power.

Speaking near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, where George Washington and the Continental Army spent a bleak winter nearly 250 years ago, Biden said that Jan. 6 2021, marked a moment where we nearly lost America  lost it all. He said the presidential race  a likely rematch with Trump, who is the far and away GOP frontrunner  is all about whether American democracy will survive.

The speech, the presidents first political event of the election year, was intended to clarify the expected choice for voters this fall.

Biden, who reentered political life because he felt he was best capable of defeating Trump in 2020, believes focusing on defending democracy to be central for persuading voters to reject Trump once again.

We all know who Donald Trump is, Biden said. The question we have to answer is who are we?

Biden, laid out Trumps role in the Capitol attack, as a mob of the Republicans supporters overran the building while lawmakers were counting Electoral College votes that certified Democrat Bidens win.

More than 100 police officers were bloodied, beaten and attacked by the rioters who overwhelmed authorities to break into the building. Hundreds of people were charged, including many from Massachusetts, in connection with the violence.

Whats Trump done? Hes called these insurrectionists patriots, Biden said, and he promised to pardon them if he returns to office. He excoriated Trump for glorifying rather than condemning political violence

At least nine people who were at the Capitol that day died during or after the rioting, including several officers who died of suicide, a woman who was shot and killed by police as she tried to break into the House chamber, and three other Trump supporters who authorities said suffered medical emergencies.

Biden said that by trying to rewrite the facts of Jan. 6, Trump is trying to steal history the same way he tried to steal the election.

Trump, who faces 91 criminal charges stemming from his efforts to overturn his loss to Biden and three other felony cases, argues that Biden and top Democrats are themselves seeking to undermine democracy by using the legal system to thwart the campaign of his chief rival.

Donald Trumps campaign is about him, Biden said, saying it was Trumps aim to get retribution on his political enemies. Not America. Not you. Donald Trumps campaign is obsessed with the past, not the future.

He added: Theres no confusion about who Trump is or what he intends to do.

We should listen before its too late

In a statement, U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern, D-2nd District, called the attack on the Capitol a day of violence and rage.

But it was not just an attack on the United States Capitol building. It was a coordinated attack on democracy, led by Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans in Congress who wanted to certify that the former president had woneven though he had lost, the Massachusetts Democrat continued.

Since that day, over 1,000 people have been arrested in all 50 states on charges that include viciously beating police officers, causing millions of dollars in damage, and engaging in a seditious conspiracy to overthrow the government, McGovern said.

The history of the world is filled with democracies that have come and gone. Lets stop pretending it cant happen here. Donald Trump has made crystal clear that he idolizes authoritarians like Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin, and Xi Jinping. He said he wants to be a dictator on day one, McGovern continued. He now calls his political rivals verminechoing the language of Mussolini and Hitler. He openly advocates for white supremacy, claiming that immigrants poison the blood of our country. It all has one logical endpoint: violence. Trump has told us who he is and what he is going to do. We should listen before its too late.

In a post to X, formerly Twitter, U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-6th District, a former Marine, said that American democracy doesnt exist on its own. It has always relied on brave, patriotic, truth-telling volunteers to fight for its preservation and success.

We all need to do our patriotic duty -- to sideline extremism and protect our most sacred institutions from the wrath of Trump, he said.

Our democracy doesn't exist on its own. It has always relied on brave, patriotic, truth-telling volunteers to fight for its preservation and success.



We all need to do our patriotic duty -- to sideline extremism and protect our most sacred institutions from the wrath of Trump. https://t.co/q3Ma8yBWpE  Seth Moulton (@sethmoulton) January 5, 2024

House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, D-5th District, reshared a post by former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who said that January 6th reminds us that our democratic institutions are only as strong as the courage and commitment of those entrusted with their care.

And while its been three years since Trump abused his position to stoke the flames of violence at the United States Capitol, our outrage and resolve to never let it happen again has not diminished, Massachusetts Democratic Party Chairperson Steve Kerrigan said in a statement.

Trump acted like a dictator when he encouraged his supporters to interfere with the peaceful transfer of power, Kerrigan continued. His actions on January 6, 2021 were disgraceful and undoubtedly criminal, as our justice system will now decide. As the campaigns switch into high gear, we hope this sad day in our history will serve as a reminder of Donald Trumps disregard for our Constitution and the rule of law.

Bidens nod to U.S. history

Before his remarks, Biden, joined by his wife Jill, participated in a wreath laying ceremony at Valley Forge National Arch, which honors the troops who camped there from December 1777 to June 1778. He also toured the home that served as Washingtons headquarters.

Biden invoked Washingtons decision to resign his commission as the leader of the Continental Army after American independence was won  and the painting commemorating that moment that resides in the Capitol Rotunda  to cast Trump as unworthy of Washingtons legacy.

He could have held onto that power as long as he wanted, Biden said of Washington. But that wasnt the America he and the American troops of Valley Forge had fought for. In America, our leaders dont hold on to power relentlessly. Our leaders return power to the people  willingly.

Although the chaos of Jan. 6 came down on members of both political parties, it is being remembered in a largely polarized fashion now, like other aspects of political life in a divided country.

In the days after the attack, 52% of U.S. adults said Trump bore a lot of responsibility for Jan. 6, according to the Pew Research Center. By early 2022, that had declined to 43%. The number of Americans who said Trump bore no responsibility increased from 24% in 2021 to 32% in 2022.

A Washington Post-University of Maryland poll released this week found that about 7 in 10 Republicans say too much is being made of the attack. Just 18% of GOP supporters say that protesters who entered the Capitol were mostly violent, down from 26% in 2021, while 77% of Democrats and 54% of independents say the protesters were mostly violent, essentially unchanged from 2021.

Biden said that politics, fear, money have led many Republicans to abandon their criticism of Trump after the Jan. 6 attack.

These MAGA voices who know the truth about Trump and Jan. 6th have abandoned the truth and abandoned democracy, Biden said. Theyve made their choice. Now the rest of us  Democrats, Independents, mainstream Republicans  we have to make our choice. I know mine. And I believe I know Americas.

Biden has frequently invoked the dangers of Jan. 6 since his 2021 inauguration on the same Capitol steps where police officers were struggling to battle back rioters just two weeks earlier. On the first anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack, Biden had stood in the Capitols Statuary Hall, a historic spot where the House of Representatives used to meet before the Civil War. On Jan. 6, rioters filled the area, some looking for lawmakers who had run for cover.

They werent looking to uphold the will of the people, Biden said of the rioters. They were looking to deny the will of the people.

On the second anniversary, Biden presented the nations second highest civilian award to 12 people who were involved in defending the Capitol during the attack.

Fridays appearance included supporters and young people motivated by the attack to get involved in politics, campaign advisers said.
Leading up to the first primary of the 2024 election cycle in New Hampshire on Jan. 23, the Republican Partys frontrunner faces several legal challenges while plotting a course to get back into the White House.

Former President Donald Trump could face up to four separate trials in 2024, with four criminal cases that amount to 91 felony counts, with some charges carrying the possibility of 20 years in prison, NBC News reported.

He also faces two civil trials, and has appealed Maines Secretary of State from barring him from the primary ballot. On Wednesday, Trump requested the Supreme Court to allow his name on Colorados primary ballot after the states top court barred him, the Washington Post reported.

All of this rests on the former president as he leads the GOP primary race in New Hampshire.

Aggregate polling from FiveThirtyEight on Thursday has Trump averaging at 42%, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley at 29%, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie at 11%, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at just over 6% and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy at just under 5%. National polls continue to show Trump well ahead of his GOP competitors.

Trump has pleaded not guilty in all of the criminal cases, and he has denied accusations of wrongdoing in the civil cases. With this in mind, here are the four criminal cases and two civil cases Trump faces as the New Hampshire primary looms later this month.

The classified documents case

Trump was indicted in June 2023 for taking classified national security documents in January 2021 from the White House, at the end of his administration, to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Documents were stashed throughout the resort, with attempts to retrieve the documents by the federal government regularly obstructed by Trump, Politico reported.

One year prior, the FBI searched Mar-a-Lago and left with 102 documents with classified markings. With the formation of a special counsel led by Jack Smith, his team requested an indictment of the former president by a Florida grand jury.

The indictment charged Trump with 32 felony counts of violating the Espionage Act, six felony charges of obstruction, and two counts of making false statements. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon ruled the case can go to trial on May 20, 2024, PBS reported.

2020 Election interference case

Special Counsel Smiths investigation into the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol Building resulted in a Washington grand jury-approved indictment of the former president for attempting to defraud the 2020 election to stay in power, the AP wrote.

Trump was met with three conspiracy charges and one count of obstructing an official proceeding. Prosecutors said he asserted he was still president knowing it was false, and pressured state and national legislators, including then-Vice President Mike Pence, to ignore Joe Bidens electoral victory.

While the case is still scheduled for March 4, Trump appealed the case by arguing it was an appropriate use of presidential power, NBC News reported.

Georgia election interference case

Following the 2020 election, Trump made a phone call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to find him the exact number of votes needed to win the state.

This phone call led to Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis opening a criminal investigation in February 2021 that eventually saw Trump and 18 associates being charged with 41 felony counts, including racketeering and conspiracy in August 2023, ABC News reported.

Willis asked Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee for an August 2024 trial date because it was unlikely to be subject to delay or interference from these other trials, NBC News reported. Trumps lawyer argued that the former presidents conduct was protected under the First Amendment, with Trump having previously called the case a witch hunt.

Stormy Daniels case

This was the first criminal case against the former president was in April 2023 after he was met with 34 charges in connection with falsifying business records to pay hush money to adult film star Stormy Daniels at the end of the 2016 election, NBC News reported.

Trump appealed for the case to go to Manhattan federal court before his lawyers dropped the request in November 2023, Spectrum News NY1 reported. The case is expected to go to trial in state court on March 25, which is also subject to change due to Trumps other cases and trial dates throughout 2024.

New York civil fraud case

This civil case into Trumps business empire accuses Trump, his sons and several associates of inflating his net worth and business value on financial statements to receive tax and insurance benefits, The Hill reported on Jan. 2.

Since October, Trump has accused the court proceedings of being politically motivated and election interference, at one point prompting Judge Arthur Engoron to ask Trumps attorney to control your client, The Hill wrote.

Closing arguments in this case are scheduled for Jan. 11, with a decision  by Engoron  expected to be revealed in February.

E. Jean Carroll civil case

In Trumps first trial with writer E. Jean Carroll, who accused the former president of raping her in the 1990s and subsequently defaming her when she told her story in 2019, a judge found Trumps comments defamatory and awarded Carroll $5 million in damages, NBC News wrote.

A new trial starting on Jan. 16 follows up on Trumps comments while president and after the first verdict when he called her, among other things, a whack job. Carroll is seeking more money in damages, while Trumps attempts to appeal the case have failed.

Following the last failed attempt on Wednesday, the Supreme Court could take on Trumps appeal ahead of the trials start date, CNBC reported.
With substantial resources, attractive regulations and growing demand on a regional level, Africa is on the precipice of transformation within the field of energy. Investment is increasing across the value chain following new hydrocarbon discoveries and project launches and as African governments are prioritizing local content and the inclusion of the domestic workforce.

While this opens up new opportunities for skills and technology transfer from global partners, it has also brought into question the role that academic institutions and governments play in supporting capacity building in Africas energy sector.

Redefining the Africa-EU Partnership

To unlock the full potential of the sector, capacity building deserves newfound focus in Africa. Despite being home to both the youngest and fastest-growing population globally, the continent faces education gaps and low participation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), leading to an overreliance on foreign personnel in energy projects. Brookings Institute (https://apo-opa.co/48l625m) estimates that less than 25% of students in sub-Saharan Africa pursue STEM-related career fields. To support national local content agendas, therefore, Africas relations with global partners needs to move beyond project development to incorporate collaboration, skills transfer and partnerships within STEM education.

Historically, relations between Africa and Europe have largely centered on development, aid and economic interests, with little to no focus placed on research, innovation or the strengthening of institutional foundations. As relations evolve, a window of opportunity has emerged for both African and European academic institutions to bolster capacity building from the ground-up. From partnering on curriculum development, to promoting training programs, workshops and exchanges, to advocating for mentorships, industry partnerships and inclusion, academic institutions can lay the foundation for a strong and capable workforce.

More than supporting local content in Africa, partnerships with Europe will be integral for the modernization of Africas energy industry. The energy transition, rising demand and industry fluctuations require increased research and innovation to ensure that the world is equipped to provide the energy of the future. Africa is not exempt in this regard, and research and development will form the basis of the continents energy transformation.

Supporting Capacity Building on a National Level

The European Union (EU) has demonstrated its commitment to supporting education in Africa. Under the EU-Africa Strategy (https://apo-opa.co/48Ixsld)  initially launched in 2007 and revised in 2022  the bloc is promoting partnerships in education, skills, research and innovation across the continent, specifically within emerging fields such as digitalization and green energy. Through the support of the EU and this strategy, several collaborations have taken effect. Following a series of meetings in 2022, the African Research Universities Alliance and The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities launched 20 joint Clusters of Research Excellence (CoRE) (https://apo-opa.co/3NPdnBQ), initiated with the support of the African Union and EU. The CoRE aims to enhance research and higher education, serving as catalysts for innovation in African energy.

African nations are also eager to capitalize on foreign expertise. On the sidelines of the Invest in African Energy (IAE) forum in Paris in 2023, the foundations were laid for increased collaboration between Namibia and French tertiary institutions Sciences Po. Namibias Minister of Energy and Mines Tom Alweendo held a meeting (https://apo-opa.co/3tF6SL1) with representatives from the institutions to advance academic cooperation across the energy sector. Parties agreed to explore new avenues for capacity building by signing a formal partnership on student exchange and training.

Cross-Institutional Support

More and more, African and European academic institutions are collaborating to support skills and technology development within energy-related fields. The German Academic Exchange Service (https://apo-opa.co/3NPjeqJ) offers scholarships and funding for African students pursuing energy-related studies, partnering with South Africas University of Cape Town  among other African institutions  to support STEM-related education. The United Kingdoms Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan; the French Development Agency; Erasmus & Horizon Europe, and many more, also offer funding and academic support for students in energy.

Platforms such as the Invest in African Energy (IAE) 2024 forum aim to further promote collaboration in education. Beyond connecting project developers and investors, the forum serves as a unique platform for both African and European academic institutions to engage on both a bilateral and multilateral level. The forum delves into the opportunities and challenges across Africas evolving energy sector, examining the strategic role of Europe in new project development and shifting supply-demand dynamics. Building on discussions held and agreements signed at the 2023 forum, the 2024 edition, WHICH IS ORGANIZED BY Energy Capital & Power, offers newfound opportunities for Africa and Europe to both examine and redefine their global partnership.
THE year 2023 has proven to be the busiest year on record at Ireland West Airport Knock which recorded 818,000 passengers for the first time in the airports history.

This marks a 13 percent increase on the previous year for the airport, which welcomed US President Joe Biden to Mayo last April.

This previous record was set in 2019, when 807,000 passengers passed through the airport.

Ireland West Airport Knock now serves 21 International destinations and is served by three of Europes major international airlines, Aer Lingus, Lauda Europe and Ryanair.

Passenger numbers traveling on services to and from the UK totalled 665,000 in 2023, boosted by the commencement of a new daily service to London Heathrow with Aer Lingus, which provides onward connectivity to over 80 destinations worldwide.

Ryanair recorded its busiest ever year for passenger numbers at the airport carrying over 730,000 passengers, a 3 percent increase on 2022 with record numbers using their services to and from Liverpool, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Manchester in the UK.

The number of passengers traveling on services to Mainland and Continental Europe hit a new high for the airport, with 148,000 passengers traveling to and from Alicante, Barcelona, Faro, Majorca, Malaga, Milan, Cologne, Lanzarote and Tenerife which represented a 7 percent increase on 2022 figures.

When compared to 2019, the previous busiest year on record, short-haul traffic to the UK increased by 19 percent, while passenger numbers traveling to sun and European city break destinations increased by 16 percent.

August proved to be the busiest month of the year with 102,000 passengers travelling through the airport during this period, with the busiest individual day of the year also occurring in August, when over 4,500 passengers travelled through the airport on Tuesday August 29.

In total over 6,000 flights departed and arrived at the airport in 2023 with less than 10 flights impacted as a result of adverse weather at the airport, the lowest figure on record at the airport.

2023 saw continued investment in the Airport Transformation Programme, with a number of infrastructural projects completed during the course of 2023, aimed at transforming the facility and modernising the airport to ensure the facility will meet the future needs of both our airline customers and passengers.

One of the headline projects, completed in 2023, was the installation of a new next-generation cabin baggage screening system which is now fully operational at the airport.

These new machines remove the need for passengers to remove laptops, phones and liquids from cabin bags and the restriction on liquids of more than 100ml no longer applies, which will further speed up the journey time through the airport.

Commenting on the 2023 performance, Arthur French, Chairman of Ireland West Airport, said: We are delighted to have seen such a strong recovery in passenger travel in 2023, which has resulted in a record year for the airport, which is great news for tourism and job creation, both at the airport and in the wider economy.

2023 was a milestone year for the airport, we had the honour of welcoming the 46th President of the United States, Joe Biden, to the West of Ireland, as he touched down at the airport on Friday April 14, in what was a momentous occasion for the airport and indeed the West of Ireland.

We launched new services to both Lanzarote and Tenerife with Ryanair, and for the first time launched a new daily service with Aer Lingus, to one of Europes major international airport hubs, London Heathrow.

Mr French thanked Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan, TD, and Minister of State for Transport Jack Chambers, TD, and Govt representatives for their continued support for the airport.

In addition, I wish to express our gratitude to our customers, airline and tour operator partners, stakeholders, tourism groups and Local Authority partners for their ongoing support in helping us to continue to grow passenger numbers and develop international connectivity for the region, he added, before extending his thanks to the airport staff.

We will continue to work with our stakeholders and airline partners over the next 12 months as we strive to further grow our suite of routes from the airport whilst continuing to invest in our airport transformation programme, Mr French concluded.
The GP surgery in the village of Lahardane is expected to be operational in the coming weeks after an agreement was reached between the HSE and the new GP.

Gerry Loftus of the Rural Ireland Organisation which was leading the campaign to retain the GP service in the north Mayo village confirmed that the new doctor will take up a full-time position in the next few weeks once the surgery is refurbished.

The north Mayo community have been left without a GP service since October 1 last after Dr Enda Loftus who was the GP since 2020 left to take up a vacant GP position in Crossmolina. There were fears in the community that the surgery would be closed forever after the Lahardane GMS (General Medical Services) number, which includes approximately 1,100 medical card holders, was also transferred to the Crossmolina surgery.

However, the local community identified the doctor who was willing to move into the Lahardane surgery and after a number of weeks of negotiations, it is confirmed that the new doctor will take up a full time position.

Mr Loftus said he was delighted that the campaign for a new doctor was nearing an end and looked forward to patients returning to the surgery in Lahardane.

This is great news for Lahardane that a doctor will take up a full time position in the surgery in the next few weeks. It has been a long and difficult journey to get a doctor there but everything is agreed. It would be an understatement to say we are not relieved because we are. This last month people have been constantly asking what is happening and I am just glad we are able to confirm the position will be filled, he said.

Mr Loftus said that once the surgery in Lahardane is equipped by the HSE, the doctor will move in but as of yet they do not have a start date. He also confirmed that the new surgery will receive a new GMS number and patients will be able to transfer back to the Lahardane surgery even if they have moved to a new practice following the closure in October.

Mr Loftus thanked the people of Lahardane for not giving up on the idea of retaining a GP service and said it was crucial to the survival of the community.

Local TD Michael Ring also expressed his sincere delight at the imminent reopening of the GP Surgery in Lahardane.

I have been in constant contact with the HSE in relation to the urgent need for a GP for Lahardane. The appointment of a GP for Lahardane is tremendous news for Lahardane and the surrounding area.

It is anticipated that the GP will commence work very soon but the GP Surgery needs to be furnished in the first instance.

I wish to acknowledge the work of the HSE in this matter but I also have to strongly commend and acknowledge the people of the Lahardane community in their drive to restore the GP service to Lahardane. Not alone did they protest strongly to the HSE but the Womens Community Group kept the surgery open every single morning. The drive and sheer determination shown by this community is to be strongly admired. They ran a tremendous campaign and their hard work has paid off.

I also wish to take this opportunity to compliment Gerry Loftus on instigating this campaign and dedicating so much time and energy to it too. Anyone that wishes to become a patient of the GP surgery in Lahardane will be able to arrange for their file to be transferred to the surgery.

I am delighted for the community of Lahardane and surrounding areas that they will once again have a fully operational GP Service. People will be able to access medical services in their locality. I know this matter caused immense stress and worry and I am very pleased that we will be facing into 2024 with a GP in Lahardane, concluded Deputy Michael Ring.
Over 100 members attended the Swinford Electoral Area Fine Gael selection convention for the June local elections to Mayo County Council. The convention took place in the Gateway Hotel and was presided over by Mr Willie Geraghty, Chairman of the Fine Gael Executive Council.

There were two nominations before the convention - ongoing Foxford-based councillor Neil Cruise and new candidate and law graduate 22-year-old Antoinette Peyton from Killasser, Swinford.

For the first time since the foundation of the State, Swinford town and the environs does not have a councillor and Peyton told the convention she wants to fill that void.

My focus if elected will be to enhance Swinford as a place where young people want to live, to raise a family and grow old, she said.

Ms Peyton started by addressing the convention in Irish saying she felt 'honoured and humbled to be inheriting the proud mantle' carried with distinction by her predecessors Anthony Joe Peyton, Douglas Kelly, Tommy O'Hara, Charles Kelly, Sean McEvoy, John M Flannery and three generations of the Mellett family.

She told the convention that she joined Young Fine Gael as soon as she entered University because she admires Fine Gael for its integrity and by always putting the country first. Many young people, she said, are turning more and more to populist parties with slogans but no solutions and she wants to give them a voice.

Cllr Cruise was proposed by Castlebar-based councillor Donna Sheridan and seconded by Martin Brogan from Foxford. Ms Peyton was proposed by Swinford businessman Tom Lavin and seconded by Imelda Kelly.

Accepting his nomination Cllr Cruise outlined in detail his hard work for the entire Swinford area since he was first elected in 2014. He was putting his name before the electorate again confident that his achievements and track record spoke for themselves. Central to his political philosophy is his emphasis on local as all politics is local.

As the only Fine Gael councillor in the Swinford Electoral Area he has represented a huge area from Foxford to the outskirts of Ballyhaunis and he outlined his five policy priorities which would be his platform going forward.
A Ballinrobe hotel that has been closed since 2012 is to be used to accommodate approximately 50 male asylum seekers.

Local county councillor Michael Burke said the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth have confirmed that JJ Gannon's hotel would be used to accommodate up to 50 male asylum seekers from Monday, January 8.

The Fine Gael councillor, along with Cllrs Damien Ryan (Fianna Fail) and Patsy O'Brien (Independent), met local community groups to inform them of the situation.

Mayo County Council had previously suggested, following queries from The Mayo News, that discussions were underway regarding the use of the hotel for Ukrainian refugees.

Last year, refurbishment took place for several weeks at the hotel, which closed its doors in 2012.

The property was formerly owned by Gannon family, but is now understood to be owned by a relative of a local man who lives in Kilkenny.

Cllr Burke said he had not received prior contact regarding the repurposing of JJ Gannons and described the development as challenging for services in the town.

As councillors we have no say in this decision and all we can do is put pressure on Mayo County Council and the HSE to enhance local services to cater for the extra numbers in town. We will also be asking local support groups to liaise and work with these men to make their integration to our area a good process for everyone, Cllr Burke stated.

This is a challenging situation for services in our town but we have had challenges in the past that we have overcome. I want to make it clear that the Gannon family have no involvement in this property.

At least one other property in Ballinrobe is being used to accommodate refugees, including accommodation above Art ONeills Bar on Abbey Street.
by Fern Siegel , January 5, 2024

CookUnity, a digital meal marketplace, is not a meal kit. It delivers fresh food: chef to table. Subscribers can choose from four to 16 meals a week. Just reheat and eat.

That message is underscored in the brands new out-of-home and TV campaign: Real Food From Real Chefs.

Creative strategy company Gus is responsible for all creative work, which is the brand's largest marketing effort to date. The campaign runs through March.

CookUnitys targets food enthusiasts who want to buy pre-made meals, sides and pantry items directly from top chefs, such as Einat Admony, Esther Choi and Iron Chefs Jose Garces. There are 400+ gourmet options.

The work, which kicks off today, personalizes the experience by putting a chefs face to every meal. The creative will run on TV and out-of-home in New York, including 3,000 NYC subways, direct mail, paid search and paid social. There is also digital and direct-mail additions in Los Angeles, Boston and Washington, D.C.

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Mateo Marietti, founder and CEO of CookUnity, told Agency Daily the campaign shows "the authenticity behind our chef community, helping people discover there is no need for compromising on a delicious and convenient meal. We want to encourage people to each great food that supports chefs nationwide."

Gus client work includes Lemonade, Back Market, CNN and Vimeo.
by Colin Kirkland , January 5, 2024

A Los Angeles judge has decided to allow a lawsuit against Snapchat for a series of drug overdoses involving fentanyl to proceed.

The decision may be seen as controversial with regard to Snapchat's potential protection under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which protects online platforms for liability from user-generated content -- in this case, drug deals.

Filed in 2022, the lawsuit alleges that executives at Snap were aware that some of Snapchat's features, like disappearing messages, were facilitating optimal conditions for the sale of illegal narcotics, especially targeting younger users.

The suit was filed by a group of family members with children and teens who overdosed on the lethal narcotic fentanyl, which they bought on Snapchat.

Snap knew that its product features were being used by drug dealers to sell controlled substances to minors, said Matthew P. Bergman, the founder of Social Media Victims Law Center, the firm representing the families.

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Snapchat responded, stating that the plaintiff's allegations are both legally and factually flawed and will continue to defend that position in court. The company also said it is working with law enforcement to combat drug dealing on its platform.

Snap requested that the case be dismissed due to its perceived protection under Section 230, arguing that California courts and the Ninth Circuit have previously maintained the principle that immunity be applied to communications about illegal drug sales and their consequences.

The harm, Snap's lawyers said, flows from third-party content that was exchanged by third parties on the defendant's social media platform, which the company has little control over.

After dismissing four counts against Snap, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Lawrence Riff overruled the company's efforts to throw out more than 10 other counts, including wrongful death and negligence.

Judge Riff did not believe that Section 230 granted full protection of Snap, stating that the law has a defective and negligent design.

If Congress had intended to immunize all interactive computer services from liabilities 'based on' third-party content, there are straightforward elocutions to express that intention. But that is neither what Congress did nor what Congress could have done consistent with the policy statements in subdivision (b) of Section 230.

Instead, "Congress chose to invoke words of art drawn from common law defamation-liability distinctions between publishers and speakers, on the one hand, and, apparently, 'distributors' on the other, Judge Riff said.

Judge Riff thinks the case goes beyond content, and instead has to do more with Snap's failure to warn users about the drug-related content being posted on the platform, suggesting negligence.

The harm arose from a non-obvious danger, namely, the presence of fentanyl in the drugs purchased by the minors, Judge Riff said. The SAC does not allege an obvious danger for which no warning is required.

Moving forward, the ruling is likely to prove controversial as it points out potential ambiguity in Section 230 as well as the potential legitimacy of lawsuits filed against online platforms that dont record every instance of communication, harmful or not.
Highlights: India, China, and Japan lead in new cancer cases and deaths in Asia

Tracheal, bronchus, and lung (TBL) cancer predominate, while cervical cancer is notable among women

Smoking, alcohol, and air pollution contribute significantly; urgent public health measures are needed

  Trusted Source

Temporal patterns of cancer burden in Asia, 1990-2019: a systematic examination for the Global Burden of Disease 2019 study



Go to source Trusted Source



Did you know? In 2019, Asia faced 9.4 million new cancer cases and 5.6 million deaths. Time to prioritize health. #cancerawareness #cancer #death #medindia

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India's Cancer Statistics

In 2019, India recorded 930,000 cancer-related deaths , marking it as the second-highest contributor to cancer mortality in Asia

, marking it as the second-highest contributor to cancer mortality in Asia The country reported approximately 1.2 million new cancer cases, underlining a significant health concern

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Risk Factors, Implications and Concerns

Smokeless Tobacco (SMT) and Oral Cancer

The prevalence of smokeless tobacco (SMT) in South Asian countries, notably India, poses a significant public health concern.

SMT accounted for over 50% of global deaths and 28.1% of new cases of lip and oral cavity cancer in 2019.

Environmental Factors

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and Stomach Cancer

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What can be Done to Combat Cancer Risks?

Public Health Measures

HPV Vaccination Programs

Tobacco Control Policies

Environmental Policies

Enhancing Oncologic Infrastructure

Temporal patterns of cancer burden in Asia, 19902019: a systematic examination for the Global Burden of Disease 2019 study - (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772368223001932?via%3Dihub)

The Lancet Regional Health Southeast Asia journal recently published a study examining the cancer landscape in Asia, focusing on India, China, and Japan. The research provides insights into the prevalence, types, and contributing factors of cancer , shedding light on the region's challenges ().In the regional overview, India, China, and Japan stood out as the three leading countries in Asia concerning both new cancer cases and deaths. Together, these nations reported a staggering 9.4 million new cases and 5.6 million deaths in 2019. The leading cancer types identified were tracheal, bronchus, and lung (TBL) cancer, which accounted for a substantial 1.3 million cases and 1.2 million deaths. Notably, cervical cancer emerged prominently among women in various Asian countries, underscoring the diverse cancer landscape across the region.(PM) pollution were highlighted as dominant risk factors for cancer. The rise in cancer cases due to increasing, particularly in countries like India, Nepal, Qatar, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, raised concerns.High levels of ambient particulate matter (PM2.5) in Asia, driven by factors like industrial growth, urbanization, and increased use of motor vehicles, were identified as contributors to the rising cancer burden.Improved water and sanitation were suggested as measures to reduce the transmission of H. pylori, potentially lowering the risk of stomach cancer.The study stressed the importance of addressing risk factors, such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and air pollution, through targeted public health initiatives.Encouraging and expanding HPV vaccination programs can play a crucial role in preventing cervical cancer among women in Asia.Stricter control measures on smokeless tobacco (SMT) products, including khaini, gutkha, betel quid, and paan masala, are essential to curb their adverse impact on cancer rates.Governments in Asia should consider implementing policies to mitigate ambient air pollution, focusing on sustainable urban development and reducing industrial emissions.Timely access to cancer screening and treatment and addressing affordability concerns are vital, particularly in Asia's low- and medium-income countries (LMICs).To conclude, the study provides a comprehensive overview of the cancer burden in Asia, highlighting the need for multi-faceted strategies to address risk factors, enhance preventive measures, and improve access to cancer care in the region. Policymakers, healthcare professionals, and public health advocates can leverage these findings to develop targeted interventions and policies for effective cancer control.Source-Medindia
Circumcision makes it comeback in Swaziland, years after it was banned by a king who reigned during the 19th century The religious practice was apparently banned as the king (King Mswati II) felt that men recovering from the surgical procedure were diverted from waging war.

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This situation has however, changed now. Thanks to the AIDS research that showed that the ritual may help restrict the spread of the HIV/AIDS virus. A number of clinics in the city are now overcrowded with volunteers, ready to shear their foreskin.The tiny African kingdom that houses nearly 1 million people has the highest rates of HIV incidence with over than 40% of the adult population infected with HIV. A majority of the Swazis work in the mines in South Africa where polygamy is commonplace. Another reason could be the lowest circumcision rates prevalent in Swaziland.Although researchers have cited some associations between high rates of HIV incidence and low rates of male circumcision, it was not until 1980 that a definitive link was established. This was possible through a South African study which proved that circumcision decreased the chances of HIV transmission by as much as 60%. This could probably be attributed to the foreskin, which, harbors cells that the virus seems to infect readily.Following publication of the results and awareness campaigns, there has been an increased tendency to undertake circumcision on a voluntary basis. Mothers play a crucial role in urging their sons to get circumcised. Mbabane clinic that used to perform less than 1 circumcision a month prior to the study now performs nearly 10 circumcisions a week.The practice of circumcision is widely practiced in United States to prevent urinary tract infections and sexually transmitted infections. In countries other than the United States, it is taken up for religious and cultural reasons. The health officials in Swaziland are concerned that advocating circumcision could lead to the false impression that circumcision is equivalent to wearing a permanent condom. This could devastate all the anti-AIDS efforts.Consistent with the fear, increased sexual activity has been documented in circumcised men soon after the surgical procedure. The health officials also fear that it could pave way for such procedures to be performed by inappropriately trained practitioners at a cheap rate.The distinct advantage of the procedure is that it is a single-shot procedure and is much easier than convincing a man to wear a condom during every sexual contact. Whether the practice of circumcision would guarantee a reduction in AIDS/HIV incidence in Swaziland is a question best answered by time.
United Kingdom is lagging in innovation, as shown by the market share of new medicines in various countries, including primary care and hospital markets. Reports from various sources prove that Europe has shown very low growth in the field of pharmaceuticals and hospital care.

Europe has a new plan in order to counter the worsening competitive position of its biopharmaceutical enterprises. The policy is nominally based on a report submitted by Boston based international consultancy Charles River Associates (CRA) to the European Commission to investigate the status and reasons for Europes decline in Pharma industry.Although the US market experienced similar landslides it has been able to grow to higher proportion in the field of new biologics. This is not happening in the case of Europe. The decline is real and is likely to get worse, noted independent biotech consultant David Glover, former research director of Cambridge Antibody Technology. Many young European firms, he said, are becoming disillusioned with the lack of reward for innovation.European Commission Vice president Gunter Verheugen has announced a policy for referendum of the Europes biotech policy. The first aspect would be to double the financial support for life sciences research, taken from the six year, $132 billion Research Framework program that begins in 2007. The second aspect would be greasing the wheels of safety and efficacy testing for new types of medicines. The third policy would be to resolving a patchwork of different national systems for drug pricing, which place a significant burden on industry and can delay access to the market. The last policy of restricting on patients access to information on new medicines are to be considered.Verheugen is confident that the program will deliver some concrete results within three years.Source: Nature Biotechnology
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, January 5. Tajikistan's Dushanbe is set to host the 35th session of the Interstate Council for Hydrometeorology of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) this year, Trend reports.

The session of the council will be attended by ten CIS member countries, according to Tajikistan's Hydrometeorology Agency. In addition, delegates from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) will be present as observers at all council sessions.

The CIS Interstate Council for Hydrometeorology was created on February 8, 1992, by the Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Hydrometeorology. This agreement was one of the first intergovernmental treaties promoting sectoral cooperation within the framework of the CIS.

The importance of its foundation stemmed from the need to gather reliable hydrometeorological information on a regular basis in order to effectively grow economies, ensure population safety, and strengthen the defense capabilities of CIS member nations.
AD Ports Group, a leading facilitator of global trade, logistics, and industry has initialled a 15-year concession agreement with the Red Sea Port Authority (RSPA), to operate and manage three cruise terminals at Safaga, Hurghada, and Sharm El Sheikh ports.

The agreement also encompasses the renovation of the Sharm El Sheikh terminal, with the ultimate aim of enhancing the cruise tourism experience in Egypt.

A definitive concession agreement is expected to be concluded in the first quarter of 2024, subject to regulatory approvals.

The concession agreement was initialled in the presence of Lieutenant-General Eng Kamel El Wazir, Egypts Minister of Transport, by Major General Mohamed Abdel Rahim, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Red Sea Ports Authority and Ahmed Al Mutawa, Regional CEO, AD Ports Group, at the Egyptian Ministry of Transportation in New Capital City  Cairo.

The collaboration will see AD Ports Group investing $3 million over 15 years in the management and operation of the three cruise terminals to provide new services, improve access for cruise operators and add new itineraries through the Groups cruise terminal network in the red sea.

This will in turn strengthen AD Ports Groups cruise business in the Red Sea region, supporting volumes of cruise passengers and elevating passenger and cruise experiences.

Ahmed Al Mutawa, Regional CEO, AD Ports Group, said: "This agreement is a testament to our commitment to fostering tourism in the Red Sea region, as well as strengthening the existing ties between the United Arab Emirates and Egypt.

With an investment of $3 million, AD Ports Group is poised to boost cruise tourism in the Red Sea, bringing world-class services and facilities to these ports, whilst supporting economic growth for Egypt."

This latest partnership comes in the wake of the signing of a definitive concession agreement between AD Ports Group and RSPA for the development and operation of a multi-purpose terminal at Safaga Sea Port.

This collaboration will see an investment of $200 million over three years, aimed at developing a state-of-the-art facility within the strategic location of the Red Sea and will be the first internationally operated port serving the Upper Egypt region.  TradeArabia News Service
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, January 5. Tajikistan and Turkiye discussed collaboration matters regarding the implementation of reforms in the public finance management system, particularly in the education and healthcare sectors, within the framework of cooperation with the World Health Organization and the World Bank, Trend reports.

According to Tajikistans Ministry of Finance, the issues were deliberated during a meeting in Turkiye's Ankara between Tajikistan's Minister of Finance Kahhorzoda Fayziddin Sattor and the Minister of Treasury and Finance of Turkiye, Mehmet Simsek.

The meeting covered topics concerning cooperation in digitizing public service systems, promoting non-cash payments, electronic payment systems in government, and aspects related to managing public finances.

It was noted that such meetings would facilitate the exchange of experiences between the two government bodies to implement the Public Finance Management Strategy of Tajikistan until 2030.

At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides expressed readiness to expand mutually beneficial cooperation between the Ministry of Finance of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Treasury and Finance of Turkiye.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 5. Persons suspected of participation in the terrorist attack in the city of Kerman were detained by Iranian law enforcement agencies, the country's Ministry of Internal Affairs said in a statement, Trend reports.

It is reported that significant evidence related to this crime was discovered and several individuals were detained. Full information about the suspects will be provided later.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs noted that the terrorist attack killed 89 people, of whom 12 were citizens of Afghanistan.

Two explosions occurred in Iran's Kerman on January 3 during a procession commemorating the anniversary of the death of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. The explosions resulted in the loss of 84 lives.

Qasem Soleimani was killed in a US Air Force airstrike in Iraq in 2020.
At least 24 American service members, civilian Defense Department employees or military dependents have been turned away for emergency medical care from Japanese hospitals in the past two years, and four have died, according to Navy and Marine Corps leadership responsible for personnel in Japan.

In one case, a 7-year-old child who suffered a traumatic brain injury last January died from the oxygen deprivation she experienced as ambulance techs spent 35 minutes searching for a facility that would take her.

Several U.S. military facilities in Japan have emergency rooms, but none are designated as trauma centers, nor are they equipped to handle severe emergencies. According to a command investigation into the 7-year-old's death obtained by Military.com, military treatment facilities at Yokosuka and Okinawa since 2021 have not been able to handle severe injuries to troops or family members, including a gunshot wound, a rappelling accident, a severe car crash or a fall from a bunk bed that resulted in a liver laceration.

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Adm. John Aquilino, commander of Indo-Pacific Command, directed U.S. Forces Japan in October to increase emergency medical care after a service member's spouse "died of an intracranial hemorrhage" when several hospitals in Tokyo denied her admittance, according to a portion of the military order obtained by Military.com.

An investigation into the death "indicated that latency in getting to an operating room was a likely contributor," noted the order.

Aquilino directed Army, Navy and Air Force commanders in Japan to "assess and provide planning estimates" to improve emergency care access for American patients covered by the Status of Forces Agreement, or SOFA, with the island nation.

"Upon completion of the planning assessments, follow-on orders will direct necessary actions to realize increased access to care," the order stated.

Patients who were turned away from Japanese hospitals and died also included a civilian Defense Department employee who suffered a heart attack and was denied care at 10 hospitals. He succumbed shortly before an 11th facility agreed to accept him, according to the command investigation into the girl's death by the III Marine Expeditionary Force.

"Denial of U.S. military and SOFA status personnel for emergency hospitalization in Japan is not new. SOFA members in Japan have been routinely denied access to emergency care, sometimes to fatal results," stated the investigation, published Feb. 23, 2023, by Lt. Gen. James Bierman, commander of Marine Forces Japan.

Emergency care in Japan differs significantly from the American approach, which includes dialing 911 and having an expectation that an ambulance will transport a patient to the nearest hospital or best-equipped facility for the situation.

In Japan, the emergency medicine specialty was not developed until 2010, and the country does not have enough emergency medicine physicians to cover ERs around the clock. If an emergency specialist is not on duty, the emergency treatment may involve a physician trained in another specialty who is not obligated to treat patients whose condition is outside their capabilities.

As a result, patients can be denied care or diverted. The situation not only affects U.S. and civilian personnel; it also applies to Japanese citizens. In December 2022, more than 8,000 patients were denied emergency services in Japan and another 16,000 were turned away in January 2023, according to the command investigation.

The approach proved tragic for the family of a Marine assigned to 3rd Marine Logistics Group at Camp Kinser on Okinawa. While on a shopping trip at a mall in Urasoe City, the Marine's 7-year-old daughter lost her balance on an escalator and fell more than 50 feet to a floor several levels down.

Suffering a severe head injury, the girl was conscious after her fall -- able to sit up and acknowledge her mother's presence by saying "Mommy" -- but began experiencing respiratory issues and low blood oxygen levels. She also received inadequate and even harmful treatment by a physician who had been dispatched to the scene from a nearby hospital.

Ambulance technicians then spent 35 minutes trying to find a facility that would treat the girl, including one with a pediatric intensive care unit that recommended that U.S. military physicians, with whom they were communicating, consider end-of-life care.

Doctors at that hospital did not want to accept the little girl, because they felt that "heroic measures should not be attempted and withdrawing care would be 'difficult for American people to do in Japanese hospitals due to cultural differences,'" according to the investigation.

The girl eventually was transported to U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa, just nine minutes from where she fell. She was placed in the intensive care unit and monitored by an adult intensive care physician who told investigators they phoned a friend who specializes in pediatric intensive care to help provide critical care via telehealth from San Diego.

The girl was evacuated to Naval Medical Center San Diego, where she died on Feb. 15, 2023, after being removed from life support.

Concerns have been raised in the past several years over the availability of medical care for military personnel, families and civilian Department of Defense employees in Japan. In December 2022, the Defense Health Agency announced that it would treat civilian U.S. employees only on a space-available basis, and it notified longtime patients that they should plan to receive medical treatment from local providers if American military hospitals can't accommodate them.

Following a backlash from affected personnel, DHA clarified the policy in March 2023, announcing that civilians could continue to receive treatment for chronic conditions at military hospitals, but appointments for acute care would remain on a space-available basis.

In June, U.S. military medical staff at Kadena Air Base began informing pregnant service members, spouses and dependents that they should plan to deliver their babies at a facility other than Naval Hospital Okinawa -- a diversion caused by severe staffing shortages at the hospital.

The Defense Health Agency responded to the announcement from the 18th Medical Group at Kadena, saying the hospital had no plans to divert and deliveries would continue. DHA said the shortages were related to personnel moves and authorized a private health services contractor to offer signing bonuses and relocation assistance to attract labor and delivery nurses to Okinawa.

Shortages in the hospital and its affiliated clinics have become more pronounced since the changeover of hospital administration from the military services to the Defense Health Agency, according to Randi Wilson, a civilian Defense Department employee who advocates for military families and Defense Department civilians in Japan.

The move was related to health-care reforms that began nearly a decade ago to align the military medical commands to care for service personnel, while the DHA became responsible for the care of military family members and retirees.

But the recent deaths and lack of access to care has affected U.S. service members as well.

U.S. Forces Japan did not respond to a request from Military.com on Nov. 21 for a copy of Aquilino's order or to questions about the deaths of military patients in Japan. On Wednesday, after a second request for comment, the command sent an unattributed response, saying that it continues to "advocate along multiple lines of effort to address the ongoing medical concerns of the 110,000 personnel and family members in Japan."

According to the statement, commanders have conducted private meetings and working groups with decision-makers and participants in and outside of Japan.

"Advocacy for our personnel and families will not stop as long as there are access-to-care concerns to address and improvements to be made. Bottom line, service members and their families deserve the best medical care possible while serving so far from home," the statement read.

Officials added that they are working with the Defense Health Agency regarding the situation and referred additional questions to DHA.

DHA spokesman Peter Graves said Thursday that Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Dr. Lester Martinez-Lopez, DHA and the military services are "keenly focused on primary, specialty and emergency care" in Japan and that assessments are ongoing.

"This comprehensive review will be provided to the under secretary for personnel and readiness once completed later this quarter," Graves wrote in an email.

The issues of staffing shortages at military medical facilities have garnered the attention of members of Congress, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., who sent letters last year to the Defense Department demanding fixes.

"Providing the best possible services to support service members and civilians deployed overseas enhances readiness, retention, and morale," Warren wrote in a letter in January 2023.

Any fixes, however, will come too late for a Marine family, who may have lost a daughter to traumatic injury even if the accident had happened in the U.S. As the mother sat by her little girl in the stationary ambulance for 35 minutes, she begged the technicians to take them to Naval Hospital Okinawa, according to the investigation.

In an interview with investigators, the mother shared the last words she had with her conscious daughter.

"I said, it's OK. [Mommy's] here with you. You're so beautiful. I love you so much, and it's OK if you need to go and be with Jesus, OK?" she said.

Related: With Hour-Long Drives and Weeks Until Appointments, Pregnant Military Women Feel Pain of Medical Reforms
When Sen. Lisa Murkowski's legislation authorizing the Pentagon to provide an Arctic pay incentive to service members stationed in Alaska was passed into law, it was viewed as an essential way to improve quality of life and boost morale amid a string of recent suicides.

But more than a year after it was passed in the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, the Pentagon has not enacted a new Arctic pay bonus, and a defense official told Military.com the military's existing programs already compensate service members serving in those areas well enough.

"Because the department was already compensating members for the unique conditions of 'cold-weather service,' including through the use of the same legislative authority referred to in section 603 of the FY23 NDAA, it did not need to implement an entirely new pay or program based on the section 603 amendments enacted by the FY23 NDAA," the official said.

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But the existing programs created to compensate service members stationed in Alaska aren't equal among the service branches, namely the Army and Air Force. Murkowski also pushed back on the Pentagon's implication that an Arctic pay bonus would be redundant.

"This is not about double dipping; this is about addressing the realities that our men and women in uniform face when they operate in Alaska, and their ability to take care of themselves and their families," Joe Plesha, Murkowski's communications director, told Military.com on Thursday. "Sen. Murkowski purposely included the Arctic pay bonus in the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act to offset these costs and help our service people in Alaska, and will continue to work with the department to ensure that provision is honored."

Currently, Army soldiers stationed in Alaska receive Hardship Duty Pay, as well as Remote and Austere Conditions Assignment Incentive Pay.

Hardship Duty Pay is a $150-a-month incentive for service members at bases inside the Arctic Circle above 66 degrees 33 minutes north latitude, Antarctic bases below 60 degrees south latitude, and at six locations in Alaska, including Annette Island, Clear Space Force Station, Cordova, Eareckson Air Station, Fort Greely and Unalaska. It is for living conditions "substantially below the standard most members in the continental United States would generally experience," according to the Pentagon's website.

Remote and Austere Conditions Assignment Incentive Pay, an Army-specific program started in 2020, is a one-time payment between $1,000 and $4,000 to purchase gear required to live in Alaska.

Airmen and Space Force Guardians, however, don't have as many financial incentives if stationed in Alaska.

While the Department of the Air Force also has hardship duty pay based in Alaska, it's only distributed to a few airmen.

As of November, 109 airmen and 10 Guardians were receiving the $150-a-month benefit at Clear Space Force Station, said Laurel Falls, an Air Force spokeswoman. Additionally, two airmen at Eareckson were also receiving the pay.

A program like the Army's Remote and Austere Conditions Assignment Incentive Pay doesn't exist for airmen.

"The [Department of the Air Force] currently does not provide cold-weather pay for airmen stationed in Alaska," Falls said. "However, airmen stationed in Alaska are issued cold-weather gear, similar to the Army gear, upon arrival. Most outerwear gear is turned in at departure, but airmen are able to keep some [issued] items, such as base layers."

Improving quality-of-life conditions in Alaska was seen as a much-needed priority for lawmakers and the service branches.

Military.com first reported in November 2022 that four soldiers in Alaska died by suicide in a month. The Army has been struggling with a spike in suicides over the past two years in Alaska. In 2021, Military.com reported, the service had 11 soldiers die by suicide there raising concerns.

"The remote location and harsh weather conditions present challenges to service members who are assigned to duty stations in Alaska," lawmakers wrote in a 2022 report accompanying the bill. "We encourage the Department of Defense and the military services to continue to develop innovative quality-of-life initiatives designed to improve morale for service members and their families assigned to Alaska."

One such initiative that was implemented was allowing service members in Alaska to fly home once a year for free, Military.com reported in June.

Related: All Alaska Troops Get a Free Round Trip Home Each Year Under New Policy
SAN DIEGO  Leonard Glenn Francis, the mastermind behind the worst bribery and corruption scandal in U.S. Navy history, appeared Thursday in San Diego federal court for the first time since he left house arrest and fled the country in 2022, just weeks before he was set to be sentenced.

Known as "Fat Leonard" because of his size, Francis was not charged Thursday with any new crimes related to his escape. Federal prosecutors said they may seek new charges at some point, but not until after he's sentenced in the bribery and fraud scheme. Meanwhile his longtime defense attorneys re-upped a previous request to withdraw from the case.

U.S. District Judge Janis Sammartino indicated she would allow the withdrawal despite the objection of prosecutors.

Francis, once a powerful military contractor who bribed Navy officials to do his bidding and bilked the U.S. government of at least $35 million, had spent more than 15 months jailed in Venezuela. That's where Interpol agents captured him about two weeks after he absconded from house arrest in San Diego.

He was extradited to Miami on Dec. 20 as part of a prisoner swap that also freed 10 jailed Americans and 25 imprisoned Venezuelans in exchange for Alex Saab, an ally of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro.

Thursday's hearing marked the first time the Malysian-born Francis, 59, was back in San Diego since his escape on Labor Day weekend 2022, and his first time back in a San Diego federal courtroom in several years.

Francis was first arrested in 2013 during a sting operation at a San Diego Bay hotel and pleaded guilty in 2015 in U.S. District Court in San Diego to corruption charges related to his wide-ranging scheme to bribe Navy officials and overcharge the military for ship-servicing contracts.

A gregarious presence at Navy functions and port visits across Southeast Asia, Francis would shower officers with high-end meals, luxury resort stays and the services of prostitutes. In exchange, officers would leak confidential information to Francis, such as the details of ship movements, and steer ships to ports controlled by him and his company, Glenn Defense Marine Asia.

But Francis had long avoided sentencing in the case. He spent several years as a cooperating witness for the U.S. government in the continuing investigation and prosecution of the more than 30 Navy officials ensnared in his scheme. But he was not called as a witness during the case's lone trial in 2022  a mild surprise, though he may have been viewed by prosecutors as a liability on the stand, especially after secretly recording a podcast while he was on house arrest.

Francis was granted pretrial release in 2018 due to his poor health  he at one point had kidney cancer, though most of his various medical issues were discussed only in sealed hearings  and eventually moved into a luxurious Carmel Valley-area rental home, complete with hired staff and private security guards that he paid and who rarely interacted with him. On Sept. 4, 2022, he cut off his GPS ankle monitor and fled to Mexico. From there he went to Cuba, then Venezuela. Officials have said he was trying to make it from South America to Russia.

Thursday's hearing largely centered around who will represent Francis moving forward. A few weeks after his escape, his defense attorneys from the firm Warren & Burstein informed Sammartino that they would seek to withdraw their representation "based on an irreparable breakdown in the attorney-client relationship."

Defense attorney Jeremy Warren confirmed in court Thursday that he and his partners, Devin Burstein and Katie Jenkins, still intended to withdraw from the case.

"We're not in a position to advocate" for Francis, Warren told the judge, adding that he would provide details in a sealed hearing if she needed further explanation of their reasoning. Warren said the firm is loyal to its clients and it was a decision made "with a heavy heart," but that Francis is in need of counsel who are "fully able to advocate for him."

Francis, wearing a tan jumpsuit and a white COVID face covering, spoke only two words. "No, ma'am," he told Sammartino when she asked if he had any objections to the withdrawal of his attorneys.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred Sheppard objected to the withdrawal, arguing that Warren and his firm knew the case too well and had represented Francis too long to be allowed to withdraw now. He also argued that finding Francis new attorneys and getting them up to speed on the case would cause a lengthy a delay.

But Sammartino, pointing out the long history of the case, which has now stretched on for more than 10 years, indicated a delay of a few more weeks would not be an issue.

In fact, Francis is not the only defendant in the case still awaiting sentencing. On the same day last month that Francis was brought back to the U.S., Sammartino held what was supposed to be a sentencing hearing for four Navy officers and one Marine officer who had pleaded guilty to felony charges years ago. The judge expressed skepticism about proposals to dismiss or reduce charges against the five, saying attorneys from both sides failed to provide the legal reasoning behind such a move.

Sammartino said she was "concerned about the totality of this case" and told the parties that the public deserves answers about why the "Fat Leonard" prosecutions appeared to be crumbling.

Those concerns with the case date back to the 2022 trial, which was interrupted by a three-day hearing to sort out misconduct accusations against the prosecution. The judge later ruled a prosecutor committed "flagrant misconduct" by withholding information from defense lawyers.

After Francis' escape, attorneys for the trial defendants continued accusing prosecutors and investigating agents of misconduct and argued that his escape proved he was an untrustworthy government cooperator.

The government never disputed the misconduct allegations in writing, though prosecutors said in court that they denied many of the accusations against them. Nevertheless, during a hearing last year the U.S. Attorney's Office admitted to "serious issues" with the case and Sammartino said her conclusion, based on the government's failure to respond, meant that at least some of the allegations had merit.

At the same hearing, prosecutors dismissed the convictions of the four Navy officers found guilty during the trial and instead agreed to misdemeanor plea deals with all four that included no prison time. Attorneys for several of the trial defendants have filed a complaint with the California State Bar against the four trial prosecutors, accusing them of several due-process violations.

It's unclear how those twists in the prosecution that occurred while Francis was in Venezuela will affect his own case moving forward. According to his Venezuelan attorney, Francis had been duped into believing he would never be returned to U.S. custody and that Maduro did not view him as a bargaining chip in the Saab negotiations.

San Diego-area U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath celebrated his return Thursday.

"Leonard Francis is no longer on the run. He is on the hook," McGrath said in a statement. "Mr. Francis never should have fled the United States while he was waiting to be sentenced. In fact, he was ordered by a federal judge not to do so. Now that he is back in San Diego, Mr. Francis will be held fully accountable for his crimes."

Sheppard, the assistant U.S. attorney, told the judge that prosecutors are "considering additional charges" related to Francis absconding. But he told Sammartino that a potential new case might have to go to a different judge, since the charges could involve contempt of Sammartino's court.

Sheppard said that because Francis was on house arrest as part of a medical furlough when he fled, prosecutors might file an "indirect contempt case" rather than a "straight escape case."

Francis is next expected in court Feb. 8, by which time Warren said Francis should have new representation.

_____

2024 The San Diego Union-Tribune. Visit sandiegouniontribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The Army on Wednesday opened up applications for its new "talent acquisition technician" role for warrant officers as part of its efforts to overhaul recruiting.

The service is looking for a total of 225 applicants across three selection boards to beef up its new job designation -- 420T -- after years of missing goals for bringing in new soldiers and struggling to pitch existing noncommissioned officers to be recruiters, according to a memo to the force.

The deadline for the first wave of applications is Feb. 2. The new warrant officer program is meant to install more consistency in the recruiting ranks and be a bridge between recruiting and marketing.

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Some recruiters have told Military.com that by the time recruiters get up to snuff on the bureaucratic processes and get more comfortable with pitching service, they move on with their career.

The service aims to eventually phase out involuntary recruiting assignments between the warrant officer program and a new talent acquisition military occupational specialty for noncommissioned officers.

That first cohort will be mid-career warrant officers, as the Army prefers those with previous recruiting experience or a bachelor's degree in marketing, data analytics, psychology or human resources.

The second pool of applicants the Army is looking for are permanently assigned, active-duty recruiters between the rank of staff sergeant and master sergeant. Those NCOs must also be graduates of the Advanced Leadership Course, have at least an associate degree or 60 hours of semester hours. Applications for that cohort are due March 4.

The third round will be open to all active-duty NCOs between sergeant and master sergeant, regardless of occupational specialty. Both of those NCO cohorts will have a modified warrant officer selection board. The application deadline for the last cohort is April 1.

Each cohort will attend a 75-person class at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

The Army faces a two-pronged issue with recruiting. It faces a yearslong recruiting slump as the military branches struggle to pitch service to young Americans and get them into boots. The challenge has a variety of causes that are partly out of the Pentagon's control, including a surging obesity epidemic and poor investment across many jurisdictions in public schools, which has led to applicants who can't meet weight or academic standards to enlist.

It is also struggling to pitch recruiting to NCOs already serving. Recruiters often work long hours and irregular schedules. The eight-week recruiting school at Fort Knox can train 2,866 students per year but only graduated 1,336 last year -- leading to a major shortage of recruiters.

In November, the Army sent out involuntary orders to hundreds of NCOs to attend recruiting school, spurring ire across the rank and file just before the holidays.

Some of those NCOs were given only a week's notice to attend the course and faced being assigned anywhere in the country for recruiting duty, which was a massive challenge for families on such short notice.

Huge swaths of those NCOs wiggled out of those orders, and for the first recruiting class following those orders, only 132 out of 200 NCOs showed up, according to personnel data provided to Military.com.

Meanwhile, recruiters and some lawmakers on Capitol Hill are pointing to Military Health System Genesis, which launched in March 2022, as part of the recruiting problem. That program centralized medical records en masse from participating medical providers.

In some cases, recruiters say applicants are being denied enlistments altogether because of increased scrutiny on medical or mental health issues that are no longer relevant, minor or are incomplete due to Genesis' data collection, unfairly disqualifying them from service or delaying the process.

The Army has not finalized a timeline for the new enlisted MOS, which will be designated 42T. It's unclear how that new MOS will be functionally different from the current 79R recruiter MOS, but Army Secretary Christine Wormuth told reporters in October the service is aiming to be more aligned with the talent recruiting goals of civilian corporations.

Related: Inside the Army's Mad Dash for Recruiters After Graduating Only Half the Number Needed
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 6. One of the two suicide bombers who carried out explosions near the cemetery in the city of Kerman, where General Qassem Soleimani is buried, turned out to be a citizen of Tajikistan, the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence says, Trend reports.

According to the ministry, additional research is being conducted regarding the identity of the second terrorist.

Earlier it was reported that 11 people were detained by law enforcement agencies of the Islamic Republic on suspicion of connection with the terrorist attack.
A B-1B Lancer bomber crashed while trying to land Thursday evening in South Dakota at Ellsworth Air Force Base.

The incident, which occurred around 5:50 p.m. local time, happened during a training mission with a crew of four, Ellsworth Air Force Base said in a Facebook post.

"There were four aircrew on board," according to the statement. "All four ejected safely."

Read Next: New Arctic Pay for Troops Was Passed by Congress a Year Ago. But the Pentagon Waved It Off.

The base said in the public statement that a board of officers will investigate the incident. Additional details were not immediately available. Radio chatter between first responders posted to the social media site X described reports of an "active fire" and an "explosion" at the base.

The B-1B Lancer has been in service with the Air Force since the mid-1980s, and about 60 of the aircraft are left in the fleet, which is divided between Dyess Air Force Base in Texas and Ellsworth near Rapid City, South Dakota. Each one costs roughly $317 million, according to a service fact sheet.

The B-1B Lancer is a long-range bomber that at one point was nuclear capable but hasn't been since 2007.

"The United States eliminated the nuclear mission for the B-1 in 1994," an Air Force fact sheet detailed. "Even though the Air Force expended no further funding to maintain nuclear capabilities, the B-1 was still considered a heavy bomber equipped for nuclear armament until 2007."

Thursday evening's crash marks the latest incident involving a B-1B Lancer. In 2022, Military.com reported that a B-1B Lancer bomber at Dyess Air Force Base in Texas caught fire, sending two people to the hospital.

Between 1984 and 2021, the latest data available from the service, there have been a total of 29 Lancer Class A mishaps -- the term used for the deadliest and most expensive incidents -- and 11 people have been killed.

The Air Force unveiled its latest bomber, the B-21 Raider, in late 2022. It's the first new bomber in the American military's fleet in more than 30 years and aims to eventually replace the B-2 Spirit bomber, as well as the B-1B Lancer, sometime in the 2030s.

The Pentagon plans to build 100 B-21s, more than the Air Force's B-2 and B-1B Lancer fleets combined, with an average unit cost for each bomber of nearly $700 million, according to a service fact sheet.

Related: 2 People Injured After B-1 Bomber Catches Fire During Maintenance
A House chairman is threatening to subpoena the Department of Veterans Affairs if it doesn't provide his committee with more information about allegations of sexual harassment within a VA office in charge of preventing harassment and discrimination.

In a letter Friday afternoon, House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost, R-Ill., accused the VA of so far providing few substantive documents for his investigation into whistleblower allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct at the VA's Office of Resolution Management, Diversity and Inclusion.

If the department does not provide more documents by Wednesday morning, Bost said his committee will discuss issuing a subpoena at a business meeting scheduled for the following day.

Read Next: B-1B Lancer Bomber Crashes at Air Force Base in South Dakota During Training Mission

"Your team is either negligently, or purposefully, failing to provide the committee with the requested documents," Bost wrote in the letter to VA Secretary Denis McDonough. "This is unacceptable."

A VA spokesperson did not immediately respond to Military.com's request for comment Friday afternoon.

Last year, the committee received two whistleblower complaints through its online whistleblower portal, alleging managers in the Office of Resolution Management, Diversity and Inclusion committed sexual harassment.

One of the whistleblowers said they received numerous sexually suggestive and aggressive text messages from their senior manager, according to the committee. The whistleblower also alleged that when they turned down the manager's advances, the manager started bad-mouthing them to other office leaders, according to the committee.

After Bost made the allegations public in November, the VA said it was reassigning some leaders in the office and would launch its own investigation. The VA's assistant secretary for human resources, Gina Grosso, also announced she was resigning, a move Bost linked to his investigation.

Since receiving the first allegation in September, Bost has sent several letters to the VA, requesting documents for his investigation into the whistleblower complaints. While he has received 175 documents, just 32 of those are related directly to the whistleblower allegations, he said in his Friday letter.

Of the 32 pages directly related to the allegations, the "vast majority" were already given to the committee by the whistleblowers and other VA employees, Bost added.

Among the eight categories of documents Bost is demanding by Wednesday are all written and electronic communications since 2021 related to any allegations of improper interpersonal relationships within the resolution management office, all documents since 2021 related to any investigations into sexual harassment at the office, and all emails between several VA human resources and equal employment opportunity officials since January 2023.

"Due to the inadequacy of the department's responses so far, please provide the following information no later than Wednesday, January 10, 2024, by 10:00 a.m.," Bost wrote. "If VA does not provide this information by then, I will recommend the committee issue a subpoena."

Related: Veterans Can Now Use VA Info Line to Report Sexual Assault, Harassment
Free agent center fielder Michael A. Taylor is drawing interest from the Angels, Padres and Pirates, reports Robert Murray of FanSided. Murray adds that the Halos are also considering Adam Duvall as a free agent outfield target.

Taylor should have the broader market of the two veterans. His ability to play an excellent center field makes him a strong fit on a number of teams. He could operate as a glove-first regular for clubs without a strong in-house option in center or serve as a high-end fourth outfield target for others. The Dodgers, Reds, Blue Jays, Red Sox and Mets have also been linked to Taylor earlier in the offseason. Toronto and New York subsequently signed Kevin Kiermaier and Harrison Bader, respectively, likely taking them out of the mix.

Boston acquired Tyler ONeill as a right-handed hitter with the ability to play anywhere in the outfield. That could reduce their urgency on Taylor, but Murray suggests theyre still involved. He adds that a return to the Twins, with whom Taylor spent the 2023 campaign, also remains a possibility.

For teams that arent going to entertain a run at Cody Bellinger, Taylor is the top center fielder on the open market. He remains a high-end defender even as he enters his age-33 season. Taylor has been a below-average hitter for the bulk of his career, but hes coming off one of his better offensive showings. He popped a career-best 21 home runs in just 388 plate appearances. Taylor still struck out in more than a third of his plate appearances and hit .220 with a meager .278 on-base percentage. Yet the defense and the ability to run into 15-20 homers while hitting in the bottom third of a lineup makes him a serviceable regular.

The Angels have a projected outfield of Taylor Ward, Mike Trout and Mickey Moniak. Ward missed the final couple months of last year after sustaining facial fractures on a frightening hit-by-pitch. Trout hasnt reached 120 games or 500 plate appearances in a season since 2019 because of various injuries. Moniak posted solid bottom line results last year, hitting .280/.307/.495 through 323 plate appearances. However, that came with a 35% strikeout rate and a 2% walk percentage that are even worse than Taylors career baselines.

Moniak is a clear regression candidate who is better suited in a fourth outfield capacity. Even if the Halos are optimistic about his ability to produce against right-handed pitching, the former #1 overall pick has a .172/.200/.230 slash in 91 career plate appearances versus lefties. The righty-hitting Taylor has been better against southpaws than against right-handed pitching, as one would expect. Since the start of 2020, hes a .257/.317/.455 hitter with the platoon advantage.

Duvall also hits from the right side. While he has had reverse platoon splits in recent years, hes a better overall offensive player than either Moniak or Taylor  albeit with a similar low-OBP, power profile. He hit 21 homers in 353 plate appearances for the Red Sox last season, running a .247/.303/.531 slash. Duvall can play some center field but is better suited for a corner spot entering his age-35 season.

As for the other clubs recently linked to Taylor, each of Pittsburgh, San Diego and Minnesota are viable fits. The Padres need to bring in multiple outfielders after trading Juan Soto and Trent Grisham. Theyd seemingly prefer to keep Fernando Tatis Jr. in right field rather than moving him up the middle. Jose Azocar (a career .249/.292/.341 hitter) and prospect Jakob Marsee are the top internal options in a center field position that requires an outside pickup.

Minnesota leaned heavily on Taylor last year as knee injuries kept Byron Buxton to designated hitter. While the Twins have expressed hope that Buxton could handle outfield work again in 2024, they cant count on him to make 120+ starts at the position.

The Pirates could turn center field back to Jack Suwinski, although public metrics were mixed on his defensive performance. Bryan Reynolds can handle center on occasions but fits best in left. Right field is a question mark, with trade pickup Edward Olivares likely battling Joshua Palacios for work. Andrew McCutchen will see the majority of his time at designated hitter while rotating through the corners. Signing Taylor could allow the Bucs to kick Suwinski to right field and boast a strong defensive outfield.

Kiermaier and Bader each signed one-year pacts worth $10.5MM. Taylor could be in line for something similar, although it wouldnt be a surprise if he landed a two-year deal at a lower annual value but a slightly better overall guarantee.
The Mets announced that they have claimed infielder Diego Castillo off waivers from the Diamondbacks. The latter club had designated him assignment two weeks ago when they made their signing of Lourdes Gurriel Jr. official. DFA limbo normally only lasts a week but the clock is paused for the week from Christmas to New Years. The Mets 40-man roster is up to 39, but it will be full once their deal with Harrison Bader is announced.

Not to be confused with the 29-year-old reliever of the same name who recently signed with the Rangers, this Castillo is a 26-year-old infielder. He was once a Yankees prospect, though that club flipped him to Pittsburgh in the Clay Holmes trade. The Pirates designated him for assignment just over a year ago and traded him to the Diamondbacks.

Between the Bucs and DBacks, he has 284 major league plate appearances but has hit just .205/.250/.380 in those. Hes fared much better in the minors, including last year. In 556 plate appearances for Arizonas Triple-A club in 2023, Castillo walked more than he struck out, a 17.4% walk rate compared to a 14.2% strikeout rate. He only hit three home runs but slashed .313/.431/.410 for a wRC+ of 117. He also stole 13 bases and suited up at the three infield positions to the left of first base, as well as left field.

The Mets have been focused on depth this winter, claiming Penn Murfee, Zack Short, Tyler Heineman, Cooper Hummel and now Castillo off waivers in order to bolster their depth in various places. Theyve also given out one-year deals to Bader, Luis Severino, Joey Wendle, Jorge Lopez, Austin Adams and Michael Tonkin.

Castillo still has an option and wont need to be guaranteed an active roster spot. He can give the club extra depth around the infield, where the Mets will have Pete Alonso, Jeff McNeil and Francisco Lindor in regular roles. The third base job is likely up for grabs, with Brett Baty, Mark Vientos and Wendle in the mix for playing time there. Castillo and Short figure to be in depth roles who can fill in at various spots throughout the year as injuries dictate.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 5. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had a telephone conversation, Trend reports.

Regional and global issues were discussed, in particular the situation in Ukraine during the conversation.

Erdogan said Turkiye continues its efforts to end both the Russian-Ukrainian and Israeli-Palestinian conflicts and ensure permanent peace. According to him, Turkiye is ready to take on the role of a mediator to ensure peace in Ukraine and conduct peace negotiations.

Stressing the importance of reviving the grain corridor and starting its work, the President of Turkey continues diplomatic efforts for this purpose.

Erdogan stressed the need to ensure a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine as soon as possible and open the door to peace.
The Reds announced theyve assigned catcher Austin Wynns outright to Triple-A Louisville after he cleared waivers. Cincinnati designated him for assignment on Tuesday as the corresponding move to sign Frankie Montas. The Reds also announced they received cash considerations from the Giants to complete the December 19 trade that sent outfielder TJ Hopkins to San Francisco.

Trading Hopkins was coincidentally necessitated by the signing of Wynns to a free agent deal. The Reds inked the 33-year-old backstop to a one-year pact. He held his spot on the 40-man roster for roughly three weeks. Tuesdays DFA again leaves Cincinnati with Tyler Stephenson and Luke Maile as the only catchers on the 40-man.

While its not the outcome Wynns had wanted, its likely one he knew was a possibility. He signed a split contract that would pay him at a $900K rate for time spent in the majors and $300K for whatever work he logs in Triple-A. Wynns is out of minor league options, so the only way hed have gotten to Triple-A is if Cincinnati ran him through outright waivers at some point.

With over three years of big league service time, Wynns technically has the right to reject the assignment and return to the free agent market. Doing so would require forfeiting the $300K sum he locked in on the split deal, however. Hell likely accept the assignment and report to big league Spring Training as a non-roster invitee. If he doesnt land an Opening Day spot, he can start the year in Louisville while earning a decent salary for a minor league player.

Wynns stands as the top non-roster option if the Reds decide to go back to a three-catcher group  as they did last season with Stephenson, Maile and Curt Casali. Wynns is coming off a poor offensive showing in which he hit .208/.268/.277 over 51 games between the Giants, Dodgers and Rockies. He has never been much of a threat at the plate, but he has parts of five seasons of big league experience and rated as a solid defender last season. He thwarted an excellent 30.8% of stolen base attempts with career-best marks as a pitch framer.
A man is facing charges after allegedly stripping naked and doing a cannonball into a massive aquarium at a Bass Pro Shops in Alabama, AL.com reports.

It was near closing time when the 42-year-old Alabama man allegedly crashed a vehicle into a pole in the store parking lot, got out, took off his clothes, ran inside and jumped into the water, the report said.

When police officers arrived, the man briefly exited the water, yelled something and then dove back in, the report said. Continuing to shout at the officers, he then climbed over the side of the aquarium and dropped to the concrete floor, which rendered him unconscious. Officers handcuffed him before he woke up. He was taken to a local hospital for a mental health evaluation, and then booked at the local jail.

The man is charged with charged with public lewdness, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, assault on a police officer, two counts of first-degree criminal mischief and two counts of reckless endangerment, the report said.
A Michigan man is accused of starting a fire that consumed a historic building in Tennessee.

Jeffery Scott Cicirelli, 33, of Livonia has been charged with arson, reckless endangerment, burglary and vandalism after Morristowns beloved Parks-Belk Building caught fire around 9 p.m. on Tuesday.

The building in the citys downtown was constructed in the early 1900s and valued at more than $250,000, according to WVLT-TV in Knoxville. Once a department store, it has been vacant for years, but it was set to be remodeled.

Firefighters fought the blaze for more than twelve hours and one firefighter was injured, according to city officials.

It breaks your heart, it breaks your heart because its such a wonderful building and has a lot of memories for a lot of people, resident Susan Pollard told WATE-TV in Knoxville.

Investigators were able to determine that Cicirelli has been staying at a motel for the past several days after his vehicle broke down while traveling.

Officers do not think he has any connection to Morristown, and it is unknown why he allegedly caused the fire. WVLT reported that a warrant indicated Cicirelli planned to start more fires.

Cicirelli came to the attention of police after patrol officers helping to secure the fire scene noticed him in the area asking questions to first responders, city officials said.
While winter officially began just two weeks ago and the days are already getting longer, the start of Daylight Saving Time 2024 is only a little more than two months away.

Clocks will spring forward one hour overnight on at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 10.

Spring will officially arrive at 11:06 p.m. on March 19.

Daylight Saving Time, sometimes incorrectly referred to by the plural Daylight Savings Time, begins the second Sunday in March and ends the first Sunday in November. This year it concludes on Nov. 3, 2024 at 2 a.m.

Until 2007, Daylight Saving Time began at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday in April and ended at 2 a.m. on the last Sunday in October.

While most states change clocks for Daylight Saving Time, there are some holdouts.

Most of Arizona and all of Hawaii does not observe Daylight Saving Time. In addition, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands do not participate in Daylight Saving Time.

Indiana didnt start observing Daylight Saving Time until 2006.

The Uniform Time Act of 1966 allows states to exempt themselves from observing Daylight Saving Time.

While the U.S. Senate passed the Sunshine Protection Act in March 2022, the House of Representatives didnt act on it so it never reached the desk of President Joe Biden.

In 2023, 12 U.S. senators re-introduced the bill to make Daylight Saving Time permanent.

Nineteen states have either passed resolutions or passed legislation calling for permanent Daylight Saving Time, the NCSL said.

A CBS News poll in 2022 showed 46% of Americans prefer year-round Daylight Saving Time, with 33% wanting year-round Standard Time and the remaining 21% happy to continue to switch back and forth.

Daylight Saving Time begins again on March 10 when clocks turn ahead one hour at 2 a.m.

What role did Benjamin Franklin play in Daylight Saving Time?

Benjamin Franklin is credited with coming up with the notion of making better use of the days light. While visiting Paris in 1784, Franklin came to believe that sunlight was being wasted during the day. In a joking letter to the editors of a Paris newspaper, Franklin proposed a tax on all Parisians whose windows were closed after sunrise.

He believed that this would encourage the economy of using sunshine instead of candles, according to Michael Downing, author of Spring Forward: The Annual Madness of Daylight Saving Time.

During World War I, the German Empire implemented an idea that most resembles the Daylight Saving Time that we observe today.

Believing that it would conserve fuel during the war, the German Empire in 1916 became the first to switch its clocks to save daylight.

In 1918, the U.S. enacted the first Daylight Saving Time law as a way to conserve fuel. It was reintroduced during World War II.

The U.S. put nationwide, year-round daylight saving into effect during World War II starting on Feb. 9, 1942, thinking it would help conserve energy, according to the U.S. Department of Defense. Nicknamed War Time, it remained in effect until September 1945 when Japan surrendered.

In 1973, President Nixon signed into law the Emergency Daylight Saving Time Energy Conservation Act, which made DST permanent in the U.S. This helped reduce confusion throughout the country with some regions of the U.S. participating in the practice and some regions opting out. The law was redacted less than a year later, though.

A common misconception is that Daylight Saving Time was implemented as a way to improve farming practices. However, this is a myth.

During the early adoption of the practice in the U.S., farmers were among the biggest opponents of Daylight Saving Time, believing that it would disrupt their farming practices.

Not really, even though that was cited in the 2005 Energy Policy Act that extended Daylight Saving Time by a month.

A study three years later by the U.S. Department of Energy determined that the extended daylight throughout the year of 2005 saved a mere .5% in electricity use per day and only about .3% over the entire year.
ANN ARBOR, MI -- A 12-year-old boy is facing charges as a juvenile for stealing a forklift and leading police on a 13-mile chase across Ann Arbor in November, police confirmed this week.

Juvenile petitions for unlawful driving away of a motor vehicle, fleeing a police officer and resisting and obstructing a police officer were authorized on Nov. 27 for a 12-year-old boy, according to Chris Page, spokesperson for the Ann Arbor Police Department.

The boy was released to guardians on Nov. 28, Page said in an email when MLive/The Ann Arbor News on Thursday, Jan. 4. The Washtenaw County Prosecutors Office did not immediately clarify next steps in the case.

MLive/The Ann Arbor News does not generally name minors unless they are charged as an adult.

Officers were called to Forsythe Middle School, 1564 Newport Road, in Ann Arbor shortly before 7 p.m. on Nov. 25 for a report of a stolen construction vehicle, police previously said.

A few minutes later, police found the vehicle, a forklift, being driven south on Brooks Street near Pearl Street. Police began pursuing the forklift at speeds of roughly 15 to 20 mph with emergency lights and sirens, police said.

The vehicle was identified as a Construction Genie GTH-636 Telehandler, which has a forklift and can weigh up to 35,000 pounds. Police later learned the vehicle was unlocked with a key hidden inside the cab.

Read more: 12-year-old arrested after leading police on chase in forklift

The driver, later identified as a 12-year-old Ann Arbor boy, took the vehicle through the Georgetown Boulevard Neighborhood, striking roughly 10 parked cars, police said.

Ann Arbor police officers dropped the pursuit around 7:20 p.m. when the boy drove north on Nixon Road across the M-14 Bridge. Deputies from the Washtenaw County Sheriffs Office then began the pursuit, according to police.

The boy stopped the vehicle shortly before 8 p.m. near M-14 and Gotfredson Road, where he was taken into custody. He was later lodged at the juvenile detention center.

No one was injured in the pursuit, police said.

This was a very dangerous situation that couldve easily ended with serious injuries, police said in a statement released on social media at the time.

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WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - Justin Hodge, an Ypsilanti Township resident and University of Michigan social work professor, will remain chair of the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners in 2024.

Hodge was elected to the leadership position by fellow commissioners for the second consecutive year on Wednesday, Jan. 3, as county leaders met to handle organizational matters for the new year. The chair runs county board meetings and works with other board leadership to set agendas.

I want to thank my colleagues for your work with me over the last year, he said following the vote. Ive done my best as chair over the last year, and I hope to do even better to help us have a great year in Washtenaw County.

At the mid-way mark for the all-Democrat boards two-year term, commissioners stuck with the leadership they had decided in early 2023. Commissioner Caroline Sanders, representing a district centered on Pittsfield Township, was again elected vice chair of the board.

Annie Somerville, an Ypsilanti commissioner, will chair the boards working session, and long-time Ann Arbor Commissioner Andy LaBarre will be its vice chair.

In 2024, all nine seats on the county board will be up for reelection, but thanks to a change in state law the next terms will be structured differently.

Commissioners will serve four-year terms, rather than two, a change lawmakers said aligns Michigan with the vast majority of other states and brings county commissioners to par with other countywide offices, like clerk and sheriff.

Hodge said he supported that change, as a way to reduce the difficulty of long-term planning among county leaders who now have to keep an eye on their next election.

What you end up with is a lot of people who basically never stop running, he said.

So far, four of nine commissioners  Hodge, Sanders, LaBarre and Commissioner Crystal Lyte  have filed paperwork to appear on the August 2024 primary ballot, according to a county tracking sheet.

But before voters head to the polls, the board has a number of issues to take up in the new year, Hodge said.

Hodge expects a large focus of its work will be finding long-term solutions to affordable housing and homelessness issues in the county, topics that have dominated the boards attention in recent years.

Read more: From master leases to an eviction court, Washtenaw County previews housing strategies

The county has put roughly $9 million over the last 16 months to various housing-related programs, Hodge said, encompassing everything from cash payments to vulnerable residents to eviction prevention and shelter support.

He expects the board will get an update on the countys spending of more than $70 million in federal COVID-19 relief dollars through the American Rescue Plan Act, with some money still left over after several rounds of allocations. Officials will also be faced with decisions about how to fund projects started with the one-time federal money permanently, using data gathered to evaluate those initiatives, Hodge said.

The board also faces questions about renewing countywide property taxes that are set to expire or have already concluded collections. That includes both the countys veterans and roads and non-motorized millages, each expired as of the end of 2023, with funding running through 2024. Its mental health and public safety millage also expires the end of 2025.

In addition, commissioners are again facing pressure to institute a new millage funding services for older adults. In general, the board must discuss the countys long-term revenue outlook, particularly as it continues to increase investment in many areas, Hodge said.

County Administrator Gregory Dill addressed that topic, and several potential solutions, in a public white paper published in 2023, including the possibility of shifting county millages to a general operating tax, versus taxes restricted to certain areas. While Hodge said that could be a conversation topic, he doesnt believe there is the appetite to pursue such a general millage.

Still, with the tax expirations, the board chair said he expects there could be votes to place specific millage renewals on the 2024 August or November ballots, or some combination of both.

Before they face those questions, county leaders on Wednesday got a familiar piece of advice from county Clerk Larry Kestenbaum, who assumes the chairs seat before one is elected at the beginning of each year.

There are nine commissioners representing a third of a million people in this county, and there are many more points of view in this county than are represented around this table, Kestenbaum said. I urge you to open your minds to public comment and the views of the public outside this room. Theres more happening in this county, more ideas and more perspectives than you might get from your colleagues.

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GRAND RAPIDS, MI  There is a competitive Grand Rapids mayoral race, a referendum on Ottawa Countys ultra-conservative leadership and a national eye on Kent County voters in the presidential election this 2024 election cycle.

Those things and more will make for an exciting election year in local and national politics.
OTTAWA COUNTY, MI -- Ottawa County now has an inclusive policy on who can say prayer at county board meetings, a change that comes three months after a pastor claimed discrimination in a federal lawsuit.

The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners approved the policy Tuesday, Jan. 2 during the boards organizational meeting.

Commissioner Roger Bergman said the board has not had a written policy on the invocation until now.

Prior to 2023, when eight new commissioners took office, the practice was to allow individual commissioners to say the prayer, or a commissioner could ask a pastor to give one.

Bergman said that seemed to shift in early 2023 when board chair Joe Moss -- among the eight new commissioners affiliated with the ultra-conservative group known as Ottawa Impact -- took office. He said it was his understanding that Moss was picking the pastors after that, possibly with help from other Ottawa Impact commissioners.

Related: Pastor who advocates for LGBTQ+ files lawsuit against Ottawa County government leader

Several months later, in October, a Grand Haven pastor filed a federal lawsuit claiming that Moss would not allow him to give the prayer. The Rev. Jared Cramer of St. Johns Episcopal Church, who filed the suit, alleged that Moss did not want him speaking because he is an LGBTQ + (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) advocate.

Cramer acknowledged he had no evidence of Moss beliefs, only that Moss did not respond to an email expressing his desire to give the invocation. The May email also was sent to County Administrator John Gibbs and Commissioners Roger Bergman and Roger Belknap.

Later, Cramer sent a physical letter to Moss, also with no response.

It was only after the lawsuit was filed that Cramer, on Nov. 15, received an invitation to give the prayer. Cramer could not at the time because of a prior engagement but is scheduled to speak in February.

The new policy establishes a speakers list to which pastors can join by writing to their districts county commissioner. The commissioner then must forward the request to a county coordinator, who will select speakers on a first-come, first-served basis.

According to the new policy: No guidelines or limitations shall be issued regarding the content of an invocation, except that the Board of Commissioners shall request by the language of this rule that no invocation should proselytize or advance any faith, or disparage the religious faith or non-religious views of others, or attack, defame, or demean any person, group, or organization.

The policy goes on to say that its intent is to acknowledge and express the Boards respect for the numerous religious denominations and faiths represented and practiced among the citizens of Ottawa County.

Related: Lawsuits, childhood innocence, $4M settlement talks: How far-right board shook up Ottawa County

Sarah Howard, attorney for Cramer, said the new policy will not preempt his lawsuit because she claims it was done in response to litigation.

Howard said at the very least, a judge should issue an injunction that requires the new county policy to remain in place and also for the county to prominently publish the name and contact information for the speakers list coordinator.

She said county officials, in response to Cramers lawsuit, have alleged they simply did not see his May request.

Howard said that argument isnt believable and she thinks Cramer was not selected to speak based on his religious or political beliefs.

Moss, the county board chair, indicated to MLive through a Thursday, Jan. 4 email that he planned to respond to a question from MLive about whether the new policy was in direct response to the lawsuit.

He had not responded as of 4 p.m. Friday afternoon.

Commissioner Doug Zylstra said he likes the new policy and said hes already expecting a pastor from a Holland area church to speak at the board this month.

I think at the end of the day, its a welcome change, he said. Anything that spreads it around to get more voices is a positive.

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GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Theres a new restaurant in town offering a unique fusion of Swahili and Latin American cuisine.

Grand Rapids native Kirel Shaw had his soft opening for MIZIZI by Street Chef Shaw at 1539 Plainfield Ave. on the Northeast side in late December 2023.

Now, Shaw is officially hosting the grand opening of the new spot on Friday, Jan. 5, and the community couldnt be more supportive, he said.

Originally, it was never in the plan to do a brick-and-mortar, but we felt like it was the next obvious move for us with all the support we got from the community, Shaw told MLive/The Grand Rapids Press.

He said that hes been in the restaurant industry for about 15 years, describing the cooking journey as something new he got into after college.

What started as just a hobby and experimentation became the Street Chef Shaw food truck. By 2020, it was up and running and customers were flocking to street corners and festivals for a taste of the Latin American and East African dishes.

Brandon Muscato, manger of the Street Chef Shaw food truck, looks out during the Art of Food Festival in downtown Grand Rapids on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023. Over 30 food trucks and booths are at Calder Plaza and nearby along Ottawa Ave this weekend. The festival also includes musical performances at Calder Plaza, art activities, artist village and a beer tent as ArtPrize goes on in the downtown. (Cory Morse | MLive.com) Cory Morse | MLive.com

What inspired me to do it was leaving a legacy for my kids, Shaw said. It represents them, as they are Hispanic and of East African descent.

He told MLive that the name of the restaurant, MIZIZI, translates to roots in Swahili, which is in line with the intentionality of the whole business.

What weve been doing is studying our roots and where we come from and our cultural differences in the food, and bring them forth to West Michigan and Grand Rapids, Shaw said. Everyone can expect fun vibes and great-tasting food served fast.

Customers can try out a variety of savory dishes  from tacos, quesadillas and burritos to Birria ramen, coconut curry pilau bowls, and East African chapattis.

Shaw touts that he is bringing something new to the West Michigan region that people havent seen or tasted before.

I hope it broadens peoples horizons on trying different types of food and combinations and inspires other chefs to get out of their shells and do something for themselves, he said.

Learn more about MIZIZI by Street Chef Shaw by visiting its website or Facebook page.

Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Grand Rapids daily newsletter.

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GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has appointed two Grand Rapids residents, former Kent County Commissioner Robert Womack and Grand Rapids Art Museum CEO Cindy Meyers Foley, to the Michigan Arts and Culture Council.

Womack, who hosts his own radio show and is general manager of Community Empowerment Radio Inc., was appointed for a term that started Dec. 21, 2023, and expires Sept. 1, 2024, the governors office said in a news release.

A Grand Rapids Community College graduate, Womack is also a former co-chair of the governors Black Leadership Advisory Council. He succeeds Deborah Mikula, who resigned from the council.

The council works to encourage, develop and facilitate creative and cultural activity in Michigan, according to a news release. It envisions a Michigan where every citizen celebrates the states cultural treasures and arts, and cultural experiences are accessible to all its citizens.

Meyers Foley, who took over as leader of the Grand Rapids Art Museum in June, was appointed to a term starting Dec. 21, 2023, and ending Sept. 1, 2026. A news release from the governors office announcing her appointment says she developed two research studies with Harvards Project Zero and regularly keynotes a variety of museum, art, and education conferences.

She holds a bachelors degree in individual studies of the arts from the University of Kentucky, and a masters degree in art education from The Ohio State University. Meyers Foley succeeds Nheena Ittner, whose term on the council ended.

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Popular Ukrainian TV host, blogger and comedian Aleksey Durnev admits that before the full-scale invasion, he did not have a conscious civic position. This was manifested, in particular, in the fact that the showman "joked" about Ukrainian-speaking compatriots, as well as those who supported Euromaidan. Now Durnev realizes that his humor was inappropriate and offensive to many people.

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According to the host, he is still being hated for his old statements. He says that he has only now realized how painful some of his "jokes" were for some Ukrainians. For those who, back in 2013-2014, realized the need to separate themselves from everything Russian and Russia itself. Durnev shared his thoughts on this in an interview with the Razomov YouTube channel.

"I used to ridicule, as it seemed to me, people, in particular, Ukrainian speakers, those who supported the Maidan. I used to make up some stories and joke about it. It got to the point where I got a call from the TET TV channel, where I was working at the time, and they said: "Stop writing that! It's not funny". And I thought I was making a very good joke. Now I realize that it could have hurt a lot of people and I shouldn't have done it. It was not so much funny as traumatizing. Perhaps that was the goal I set for myself: to traumatize more, to cause some kind of reaction in people," Aleksey recalled.

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The blogger sincerely says that now he is ashamed of his own unconscious position of those years.

"Yes, I am ashamed of it. I shouldn't have done it. Now, when I come across these posts, I am reminded on social media of '10 years ago you said', and I don't even see where I was trying to make a joke. When you grow up, you realize that not everything can be joked about, and that some people will be very painful to read this right now," the showman said.

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The blogger noted that after February 24, 2022, he had been "in trouble" several times for those "jokes," but not much. However, some Internet users are still looking for Durnev's old provocative statements and publishing them in an attempt to remind society of the star's past mistakes. The showman himself assures that he does not react to this.

"I cannot change this. But I do believe that I am not the worst person from the past who has harmed Ukraine. Given that the processes of plundering the country did not stop for a second at that time. And for some reason, I'm the one who gets the blame, not the politicians who were in power at the time and still remain in Ukraine," Durnev said.

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As OBOZ.UA previously wrote, Durnev admitted that he was particularly distressed by the news from the now-occupied Mariupol, where he is from. Nevertheless, the showman tried to find a positive moment even in such a terrible situation. In his opinion, after Ukraine wins the war and all the territories captured by Russia are returned, Mariupol will have a chance to be reborn into something new and even become one of the most modern cities in the world.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A woman found dead in a Northeast Grand Rapids apartment was strangled to death, court records show.

A murder warrant has been authorized against Keith Clifton Wilkerson, 44. He was arraigned Thursday, Jan. 4 in Grand Rapids District Court.
Michigan Republican Party Chair Kristina Karamo argues a special meeting organized Saturday to oust her will violate party bylaws and she is prepared to fight.

The party activists moving against her, Karamo told MLive on Friday, are part of an elitist cabal working to undermine the work of patriots like herself.

Why are they only taking these dishonest, aggressive tactics towards other Republicans? Karamo said. Their job as the uniparty, in my opinion, is to prevent the Republican Party from being successful by sowing chaos and dissent and inefficiency ... I refuse to believe these are just some good-hearted, confused people because they resort to lying and deception.

In a special meeting scheduled for Saturday afternoon, prominent Karamo critics within her party believe they have enough votes to remove her from the role, less than a year after she took the reins of the fractured GOP.

Oakland County Republican Warren Carpenter, an organizer of the effort to remove Karamo, told MLive this week he is as confident if not more confident after news emerged the partys state committee itself had been fined after Karamo waded into a local party dispute in Hillsdale County and ignored a judges order. Karamos critics in the state committee said the body hasnt been consulted on any of the lawsuits the state party has engaged in.

Karamo has also claimed only the chair of the party can set meeting agendas and refused to hold a vote on whether she should remain chair, calling it unlawful. That meeting is illegal and the committee members that show wont be conducting the business of the party, she has claimed.

More: Chorus grows to remove Karamo as Michigan GOP chair

She also asserts that a majority of the state committee is still behind her.

Eight of 13 congressional district Republican party chairs recently called on her to step down. In early December, most of the partys state committee skipped a virtual meeting Karamo convened in order to attend one organized by a group of discontented party leaders.

On the WJBK program Let It Rip Thursday night, she vowed I will never resign.

Carpenter, a former Karamo supporter, said hes anticipated this will end up being a legal fight.

Ive been working on the brief for the last two months knowing that this was always going to end this way, Carpenter said. The second the vote has transpired, we will have five attorneys on site, our legal team will be there and (Republican National Committee observers) and we will file an injunction, a (temporary restraining order) at that moment.

Asked to explain why Carpenter, a major Karamo donor in 2022, became her loudest critic, Karamo called him a conniver and a habitual liar seeking to sabotage the party.

Benedict Arnold, Brutus, Judas. The story is a long story throughout history of these individuals who get close, so they can plot and scheme on a person, and when you wont give in to what they want, they attack, and thats what were witnessing, she said.

Carpenter said he lost faith in Karamo due to alleged financial malfeasance by Karamo and her close circle of allies.

There has been long-simmering dissatisfaction with her leadership as the party limps toward a crucial presidential election year in a highly-competitive state with meager funds and perpetual infighting.

The Michigan Republican Party is in dire financial straits amid a failure to raise money and unpaid debt. Theyve also sued a trust that owns the partys longtime Lansing headquarters, which Karamo has declined to use, arguing they should be able to sell the building to pay the partys debts. A lawyer representing the trust has argued in court filings the lawsuit is frivolous and should be summarily dismissed.

Carpenter sponsored a report alleging the party broke campaign finance laws under Karamo and was moving swiftly toward bankruptcy. Karamo denied those allegations and said donors are starting to see the party she helms is a worthwhile investment.

I was elected to stick by my principles, those who profited from the duplicitous system of backstabbing politicians, they want me out, Karamo argued. Those who want honest politicians, honest people in politics, they are seeing finally that I am the person I say I am.

Grading her job performance as the state partys leader on an A to F scale, Karamo gave herself a B+.

Her biggest regret: There are people that I trusted that it shouldnt have.

Related: Michigans GOP is a doggone mess: inside a party torn by infighting and paranoia

When asked, after all the intraparty conflict, if there is still a path to unify Michigan Republican ahead of the election season, Karamo responded, I wasnt elected to make friends, I was elected to save our country. And the thing about it is Im focused on the task and not the people.
LANSING, MI  Opponents of a new law which stripped municipalities of full zoning authority over large renewable energy projects after years of rural pushback against proposed wind and solar farms are attempting to reverse it.

The Citizens for Local Choice ballot committee says it aims to restore local control over Michigan renewable energy siting decisions in a campaign announcement Thursday, Jan. 4.

The effort is a response to Public Act 233, which Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed into law on Nov. 28. It was part of a controversial clean energy package which passed the state House and Senate without any Republican support that requires all power produced in Michigan to be carbon-neutral by 2040.

Democrats say that goal is unachievable without state control over large solar, wind and energy storage projects because rural communities have bitterly fought proposed projects in recent years, often for simple aesthetic reasons.

The ballot campaign says its goal is to restore local control over land use decision-making.

Were not about anti-renewable, were not about anti- or debating climate change, said Roger Johnson, a Deerfield Township planning commissioner in Lenawee County and member of the committees leadership team.

If Ann Arbor wants to ban plastic shopping bags and gas leaf blowers, we believe they have the right to do that, Johnson said.

Johnson said the campaign is an outgrowth of the Our Home, Our Voice coalition which formed to oppose the siting bills.

To qualify for the statewide ballot, the group must gather about 357,000 valid voter signatures within 180 days after getting petition language approval from the state Board of Canvassers.

The signatures would have to be collected by May 29 to get a proposal on the November ballot. If the campaign does not make that deadline, it could try for the November 2026 ballot.

The state legislature would have 40 days to adopt the proposal if enough signatures are collected. If lawmakers take no action, it would go to the ballot. Lawmakers could also adopt a competing proposal and send both to the ballot.

Under the new renewable siting law, developers who want to build renewable energy projects with a capacity of 100 megawatts or more can seek approval from the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC), which oversees utilities and has similar approval power for energy projects like pipelines.

The law allows up to an eight-month period when developers can work with local officials before seeking a permit from the state. Developers can turn to the MPSC if a local government does not act on an application within 120 days, has a ban on renewable projects or an ordinance thats more restrictive than state law.

Republicans and some local officials argue the new law subvert local government control, Democrats argue the law is crucial to transitioning the states energy generation away from climate-warming fossil fuels and say some landowners want to host energy farms but have been stymied by opponents using misinformation and high-pressure tactics.

The group submitted its petition language Friday, Jan. 5.

It reads: A proposed initiated law to allow local units of government to retain authority to regulate the development of solar, wind, or energy storage facilities in their jurisdictions by repealing laws that mandate statewide standards for energy facilities and permit the Michigan Public Service Commission to override local energy facility development decisions. If enacted, this proposal will allow local units of government to continue to determine their own standards regarding setback distance, structure height, and the amount of light and sound emitted by energy facilities, and to exercise final authority over the construction of energy facilities within their jurisdictions.

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It began with a long, long plane ride.

Former presidents Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford were flying back to the U.S. from Egypt in 1981. They had just attended the funeral of Anwar Sadat, Egypts president during both their presidencies.

Carter had carefully, intimately mediated a peace treaty between Sadat and Israels prime minister in 1978, bonding the two men together until Sadats assassination.

He and Ford, however? They werent that close.

The 1976 general election was a gentlemanly affair compared to todays uncivil campaigns, says Daniel K. Williams, an author and history professor at the University of West Georgia whose deep account of the race was published in 2020.

But the election was still passionately fought, and Ford resented Carters routine lumping-in of him with disgraced predecessor Richard Nixon. After losing a tight race, Ford quipped: I cant believe I lost to a peanut farmer.

It was a blow even though it should not have been a surprise, Williams said.

President Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter meet at the Walnut Street Theater in Philadelphia to debate domestic policy during the first of the three Ford-Carter Debates on Sept. 23, 1976.White House Photograph Courtesy Gerald R. Ford Library

As Ford accepted his loss, the new president extended an olive branch in the first sentence of his inaugural address in January 1977: For myself and for our nation, Carter said with Ford sitting near, I want to thank my predecessor for all he has done to heal our land.

From then on, Carter was able to lean on Ford during his four-year presidency. Ford helped his Democratic successor lobby Republicans on Capitol Hill, and he consulted on the Panama Canal treaties. Ford was even Carters first call after he reached the Egypt-Israel peace accord.

A working relationship then turned into friendship on that long plane ride back from Egypt in 1981, says historian Richard Norton Smith, a former executive director of Fords presidential museum in Grand Rapids and author of Fords definitive biography, released last year.

They discovered that they had so much in common, Smith told MLive. They both were very much the products of a very specific time and place. And it turns out that Grand Rapids and Plains (Georgia) have more in common culturally, in terms of their values, than perhaps would be obvious.

Both Carter and Ford came from humble beginnings, served in the U.S. Navy and held deep Christian faith. They had strong women for mothers and wives, and each raised three sons and a daughter.

I personally believe that the thing that brought them together more than anything else, Smith chuckled, was the fact that they both ran against Ronald Reagan.

Reagan unsuccessfully challenged Ford for the Republican nomination in 1976, and Reagan defeated Carter in the 1980 presidential election.

Four former U.S. presidents toast in the White House's Blue Room in 1981. Left to right: Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter.National Archives and Records Administration

By the time their plane landed in Washington, Carter and Ford had buried the hatchet, Smith says, and they formally agreed to do events at each others presidential libraries.

Thus sparked a unique and enduring bond between two former presidents  and their families  that set the standard for post-political friendships.

Their paths crossed under the right circumstances at the right time, Smith said.

Related: 50 years ago, Gerald Fords VP balancing act began

Carter and Ford partnered on more than 25 projects from the 1980s until Fords death 17 years ago. In 1988, they chaired American Agenda, an unprecedented bipartisan project to tackle the nations political divisions.

After the controversial 2000 election, they led an electoral reform commission that produced guidelines partly implemented by Congress. And just this past election cycle, their foundations partnered to promote civil campaigning.

As candidates, Williams said, Carter and Ford truly believed in their core values and what they prioritized.

I think that the two men were remarkably similar, he said, and therefore, its not too surprising that they would later find a great deal of common ground.

Even the First Ladies  Rosalynn Carter and Betty Ford  were great friends, Smith noted, and they formed a marvelous lobbying team on Capitol Hill for causes like mental health and drug addiction.

When former presidents gathered in Washington 23 years ago to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the White House, Carter once recalled, national historians who came there to speak all agreed that the two closest associations between former presidents in (the) history of America were between he and Ford.

Related: Rosalynn Carter, outspoken former first lady, dead at 96

For Smith, this bond between a Democrat and Republican is a nice antidote to the cynicism of modern political strife.

At a time when it seems like were so polarized and so unwilling to accord the other side even basic respect, he said, the Carter-Ford relationship was a wonderful counter to that.

As the two men grew older and closer, Carter and Ford made a pact that whoever outlived the other would eulogize him at his funeral. Ford, who was 11 years older, died in 2006 at age 93.

At the funeral in Grand Rapids, Carter began his eulogy with the opening sentence of his inaugural address: For myself and for our nation, I want to thank my predecessor for all he has done to heal our land.

Former President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter bid a final farewell to former President Gerald Ford during a military departure ceremony held in his honor at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Jan. 2, 2007.Tech. Sgt. Jason W. Edwards | U.S. Air Force

This was not just an official engagement, Smith said. This was the act of a friend honoring a friend.

Carter continued to tribute Ford in the years after. In 2014, he gave a lecture at Grand Rapids Community College and called Ford the finest public servant Ive ever known.

And in 2017, Fords presidential foundation awarded its annual public service medal to Carter, who said he was grateful for the mutual respect and the intense personal friendship he developed with his former rival.

When President Fords youngest son, Steven, presented Carter that public service award six years ago, he recalled a lasting message of faith from his father.

I think it was Dad who used to tell us that he was so impressed with the shared values that Dad and you had together, Steven Ford told Carter, the shared faith that you had together that produced this lifelong friendship.
A roundup of conversations we're having daily on the site. Subscribe to the Reckon Daily for stories centering marginalized communities and speaking to the under-covered issues of the moment.

Human rights experts are alarmed by Alabamas plan to use an experimental method of execution to put a prisoner to death this month.

We are concerned that nitrogen hypoxia would result in a painful and humiliating death, experts said in a statement from the United Nations Wednesday.

The statement cites experts concerns over the grave suffering an execution by pure nitrogen inhalation may cause and notes a lack of scientific evidence to prove otherwise. Nitrogen hypoxia, though approved in three states, has never been used for the purpose in the U.S.

Alabama plans to use this method on Kenneth Eugene Smith on Jan. 25. Smith was convicted in a 1998 murder-for-hire plot and has served 34 years on death row. In 2022, Smith became the second Alabama death row prisoner in less than two months to survive an attempted execution by the state.

In addition to the use of untested drugs, U.N. experts called out the U.Ss history of botched executions and a lack of transparency in execution protocols Wednesday.

In 2022, a string of botched executions prompted Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey to put a moratorium on executions.

The Alabama Department of Corrections heavily redacted a document outlining protocols for carrying out executions by nitrogen hypoxia. According to what was made available, prisoners will be placed on a gurney, then fitted with a mask and breathing tube that pumps nitrogen gas for up to 15 minutes, slowly depriving the person of oxygen.

U.N. experts warned that experimental executions by gas asphyxiation violate several international agreements that prohibit torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment. Punishments that cause severe pain or suffering, beyond harms inherent in lawful sanctions likely violate the Convention against Torture, the statement noted. The Convention against Torture is an international treaty the U.S. signed in 1988, along with 83 countries.

Officials also named the Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment, which guarantees that no detainee shall be subjected to medical or scientific experimentation that may be detrimental to his health.

In an appeal to authorities in Alabama as well as U.S. federal authorities, U.N. officials asked for a review of the states execution protocol.

Smiths spiritual advisor, Rev. Jeff Hood, an outspoken opponent of the death penalty, filed a lawsuit last month over restrictions that prohibit him from being near Smith in the death chamber. ADOC forced Hood to sign a waiver acknowledging the deadly risks of exposure to nitrogen gas and asked him to remain 3 feet away from Smith during the execution. Hood found this protocol to be a violation of religious liberties.

U.N. experts added that they regret the continued use of capital punishment in the U.S. and that it contradicts global trends towards the abolition of the death penalty.

Alabamas plan to execute its people using nitrogen gas is terrifying and unconscionable, Maha Jweied, CEO of the Responsible Business Initiative for Justice (RBIJ), said. RBIJ collaborates with business leaders on criminal justice reforms, including death penalty abolition. Advocates at the organization have been following challenges to Smiths execution closely as the execution date approaches.

Instead of vengeance by any means necessary, Alabama should seek justice without perpetuating the cycle of violence our justice system is meant to break. The irreversible sanction of capital punishment has no place in a just society and does nothing to strengthen the rule of law. Jweied said.
Ukrainian TV presenter and producer Ihor Kondratiuk considers Kvartal 95 to be a model of lowbrow humor. He does not understand why people continue to watch the show. He also recalled both the old failures of the Kvartal staff and the recent scandal with the "Siskadovska" (pun of the words "with" and "Scadovsk") displaced person.

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He spoke about this on the air of "Hovrut Velykyi Lviv" (Great Lviv speaks). The showman admitted that he hasn't watched Kvartal since 2005. The main reason for this is that the star does not understand the humor of the show. In addition, the program was broadcast exclusively in Russian for many years.

Kondratiuk says that for him Kvartal is a terra incognita. The guest believes that now the show is more like "performances of the regional student theater of variety miniatures." "Their lowbrow nature is that they have no subtle humor. And they have no understanding of things that are anti-social, anti-Ukrainian," the showman said. "Only an idiot can think of a joke about ebonite sticks."

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This is a cynical joke that was made in the New Year's Eve episode in 2013. The actors in the skit referred to the events of the Revolution of Dignity when people were brutally beaten by the Berkut special forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. "If the Berkut officers are given ebonite sticks and the protesters are dressed in woolen clothes, will we be able to generate electricity?" Koshovyi's character asks Yanukovych, played by Pikalov.

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"This is despite the fact that the Heavenly Hundred died on the Maidan because of the murders that Yanukovych's government allowed. How can you joke about that?" Kondratiuk continued. He also recalled the black humor of the Kvartal members about the former head of the National Bank: on stage, the actors sang a reworked song "Horila sosna, palala" (The pine tree burned, burned) about Hontareva's house that burned down.

"They were laughing that Ukraine was walking around the world, comparing it to a prostitute, although the president said that if this joke seemed rude to someone, then sorry. Didn't he seem rude to them?" the TV host said.

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He also commented on the new scandal, emphasizing that authors who joke about Ukrainians under occupation "have no brains." He also paid attention to the main character, Iryna Hatun, who played an IDP from Skadovsk.

As it turned out later, the actress traveled to Crimea after its annexation by Russia in 2014. "I don't understand these people, I don't understand how a person could go on vacation to Crimea after the year 14. This is total ignorance," the celebrity said.

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Earlier, OBOZ.UA told you how Kondratiuk compared Kvartal 95 to Arestovych and sent Velykyi to the occupied Skadovsk: "And everyone will laugh that you are bald."

Only verified information is available on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The American actress Glynis Johns, who played the suffragette Winifred Banks in the movie Mary Poppins, has died at the age of 100. Her acting career spanned more than eight decades, as the star first appeared on the movie screen as a teenager.

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The news of the celebrity's death was confirmed by her manager Mitch Clem, Metro writes. "Glynis paved the way with her intelligence, wit, and love of productivity, which has impacted the lives of millions of people," he commented.

She was a star since childhood

Jones was born to Welsh parents on October 5, 1923 in Pretoria, South Africa. Her mother, a pianist, was in the area on tour.

Jones loved dancing from a young age and at the age of 10 even received a diploma that allowed her to teach dance to others. By the time she was 12, she had won 25 gold medals in dance in England, and at the age of 13, she appeared in her first movie.

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A living symbol of Disney

At one time, Jones was called a living symbol of Disney, because in the early 1950s, many films of the famous studio were released in England with her participation. Ten years later, in 1964, she returned to Disney to play in Mary Poppins. The hit musical garnered 13 Academy Award nominations, winning five of them.

"Mary Poppins" and Walt Disney

Walt Disney personally chose Jones for the role that became a landmark in the actress's career. The animator was interested in Glynis's performance and her bright personality.

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Film critics were delighted with the character of Winifred Banks: they believed that Jones lit up the screen as soon as she appeared in the frame.

Oscar and 80 years of career

In 1960, Jones won an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress in the movie "The Westerners". In total, she played in more than two dozen theater productions and more than 50 feature films.

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Earlier, OBOZ.UA told about how 56-year-old Pamela Anderson starred in a clothing ad without a hairstyle and a drop of makeup.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The governor of the Belgorod region of Russia, Vyacheslav Gladkov, has issued an appeal to the residents of this Russian region. He advised Russians to evacuate away from the "shelling of peaceful neighborhoods" in the regional center.

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Gladkov also boasted of active efforts to help the population: since December 30, when Russia accused Ukraine of allegedly deliberately targeting Belgorod, local authorities have "already evacuated several families." The Russian official wrote about this in his Telegram channel.

In the post, Gladkov complained that "the situation in Belgorod remains difficult" and stated that Russians who were so happy to see Ukrainian cities and villages hit and Ukrainians killed, for some reason do not feel happy when the war came to their homes. They, Gladkov complains, "are very worried about their property, about their cars, about their own lives, about the lives of their loved ones."

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However, the governor reassured Belgorod residents that they can put aside their fears and worries, because the operational headquarters for the restoration of Belgorod has been set up. And its work has already yielded "results."

"I met with my deputies and the mayor of Belgorod. We discussed all the issues and saw that we need to intensify our work," Gladkov reported.

However, the governor admitted that the "temperature drop" is slowing down the frantic pace, but, according to Gladkov, since Russians expect more results from the government, officials will "meet these requirements."

From promises to do "more, better, stronger," Gladkov moved on to reports of other "achievements." It turns out that in addition to the meetings, the regional authorities also managed to start the evacuation, the scale of which is no less impressive.

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"I see several appeals in social networks, where people write: "We're scared, help us get to a safe place." Of course, we will help! We have already moved several families," the governor boasted.

He urged those wishing to leave to contact the mayor of Belgorod or the governor's office and report their readiness to evacuate. Gladkov promises to take those who wish to leave "today" to Stary Oskol and Gubkin, where "sufficiently comfortable conditions" have been created for them.

The governor cited the actions of the local authorities during the "events in the Shebekinsky district" as evidence of his allegedly tireless concern for Belgorod residents. However, such a reminder is unlikely to bring peace of mind to Russians who remember the raid by the Multiple launch rocket system and the Freedom of Russia Legion last summer: while the Russian army was wiping the town off the map in an attempt to drive Russian volunteers out, the local population was left to fend for themselves. Those who tried to send at least their own children away from the shelling on buses provided by the regional authorities faced the fact that they would have to pay 3,000 rubles per person for the evacuation.

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And Shebekin residents complained about the authorities' complete disregard for the restoration of their destroyed houses on social media for a long time.

As a reminder, on December 30, dozens of explosions occurred in the Russian city of Belgorod: The defense forces attacked enemy military targets with a large number of drones, and Russian air defense, trying to repel the attack, created "hell" for the city's residents.

At first, Russian propagandists massively wrote that the air defense system "shot down all the targets," but when data on the destruction and deaths caused by Russian missiles began to appear, they immediately began to wipe these posts clean.

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In the evening, the Russian Defense Ministry actually admitted that it was Russian air defense that killed the Russians. They said that Ukraine allegedly launched missiles "in cluster munitions," so the Russian occupiers decided that they should shoot them down over the city.

On the morning of December 31, the governor of the Belgorod region reported that the shelling had resulted in 24 casualties as of 8:30 a.m. Moscow time, including four children. A total of 108 Russians sustained injuries of varying severity, more than 20 of them in serious condition.

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that Ukraine allegedly hit Belgorod with Vilkha missiles and shells from Czech Vampire Multiple launch rocket system, but military expert Oleksandr Kovalenko shattered these accusations.

After that, the air raid alarm in Belgorod sounded almost every day. However, even after a significant number of deaths over the course of several days, local authorities did not open bomb shelters.

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On January 4, a powerful explosion occurred in the Russian city of Belgorod , and photos of the destruction in the regional center appeared in Russian public media.
MP Mariana Bezuhla has been recalled from the post of deputy head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security. The decision was made by the committee itself.

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This was announced on January 5 by Vadym Ivchenko, a member of the Batkivshchyna party, on Facebook. He noted that he had voted in favor of Bezuhla's dismissal.

"Today, the Committee on Security, Defense and Intelligence decided to recall Mariana Bezuhla from the post of deputy chairman of the committee. I personally voted in favor. I believe that the Verkhovna Rada should have people in the relevant positions who strengthen our positions in the political and information space," Ivchenko wrote.

Bezuhla herself has already reacted to her dismissal. She insists that relevant decisions should be made by voting in the parliamentary hall.

On her Facebook page, the MP posted a screenshot of Ivchenko's post with the words: "Dear Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on National Security, Defense and Intelligence, the decision can only be made by voting in the hall."

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No details on the possible reasons for Bezuhla's recall have been announced yet.

As you know, the MP has repeatedly been at the center of scandals. According to media reports, she was one of the authors of a controversial bill on the right of commanders to kill soldiers for insubordination, which appeared in the spring of 2022 but was eventually withdrawn.

In addition, journalist Yurii Butusov said that Bezuhla openly interferes in the work of the Security Service of Ukraine, demanding a "restart " and called the MP's interference in the work of the military in the defense of Severodonetsk "incompetence." According to the journalist, Bezuhla was directly involved in setting combat tasks for unit commanders.

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In November 2023, Bezuhla provoked a scandal by accusing the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Zaluzhnyi, of incompetence and calling for his dismissal. Fedir Venislavsky, a member of the Rada's National Security Committee, said that such statements threatened the security of the state.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in turn, said that Bezuhla and Zaluzhnyy have a "difficult relationship" and advised them to take less "selfies" and work more on results.

Ukrainian military officer Yuriy Hudymenko believes that Bezuhla is trying to get as much attention as possible for herself by attacking the military leadership, which is harmful to the country, and her actions require an immediate response from the relevant structures.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has offered the United States to lift sanctions on his relatives, horses , and airplane in exchange for Ukrainian prisoners. He said that he had handed over the list of prisoners to Scott Ritter, a former American intelligence officer, Kremlin supporter, and convicted sex offender who had arrived in Grozny the day before.

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Kadyrov voiced his proposal during a meeting of security forces in Grozny on January 5, Kremlin media reported. "We have an interesting offer for our guest. We have prisoners whom we took in Donetsk and Luhansk. I'm handing over (the list - Ed.) to our guest... if they lift the sanctions against my mother, my daughters and innocent people, horses... except me. If they add some more sanctions against me, we will give these people back," he said.

At the same time, during Kadyrov's speech, a video message was shown of alleged prisoners asking to lift "absurd sanctions that have no effect" against Kadyrov's relatives, his horses and his plane.

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"If you fulfill these conditions, 20 Ukrainian soldiers will return to their homes," one of the people in the video said.

As it is known, the US sanctions list includes Kadyrov's alleged wives (according to the US Treasury) - Medni Kadyrova, Fatima Khazuyeva and Aminat Akhmadova. Restrictions were also imposed on Kadyrov's daughters Aishat, Karina and Tabarik, Aishat Kadyrov's fashion house Firdaws and Turpal-Ali Ibragimov, his cousin.

Scott Ritter arrived in Chechnya on January 4. There he visited the Russian University of Special Forces, the Goodsky Aerodynamic Complex, and the Pride of Muslims mosque in Shali.

Ritter is a former US Marine intelligence officer, former UN weapons inspector who supports Russia's military aggression against Ukraine. He is known as one of the "foreign experts" on whom Moscow's propaganda actively relies, writing articles for the Kremlin's Russia Today media company.

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In 2011, Ritter was convicted in the United States for unlawful contact with a minor, but he pleaded not guilty. He was released on parole after 2.5 years in prison.

As OBOZ.UA reported, Kadyrov's minor son received nine awards. "The 15-year-old Adam Kadyrov collected his "collection" of orders and medals in just a month, with the title of "Hero of Chechnya" as its highlight.

On January 3, after a long break, Ukraine conducted a new exchange of prisoners - 230 Ukrainian soldiers and civilians returned home, including defenders of Mariupol and Azovstal. The Russian side handed over 248 occupants.

Earlier, the Armed Forces of Ukraine called on Ukrainians not to pass on the data of prisoners and missing persons to unverified persons in order not to harm the defenders.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Recently, information began to circulate online that allegedly "businessmen from Odesa" began selling "pensioner masks" for more than 13 thousand hryvnias to avoid being served with military calls by Ukrainians liable for military service. Russian media and top propagandists are particularly zealous in spreading these reports: they claim that there are a huge number of people in Ukraine who want to "disguise themselves" from the Territorial centre for recruitment and social support representatives in this way.

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However, as usual, the reality turned out to be different from the theses spread by Russian propaganda. OBOZ.UA figured out what the "old man's mask" is and tracked the emergence and dispersal of another Russian fake.

In recent days, information about a new "invention" of Ukrainians to avoid mobilization has been actively spreading online. This time, "businessmen from Odesa" allegedly came to the men who are afraid to go out because they might be served with a draft notice. They allegedly offer to buy an extremely realistic silicone mask that will help them "transform" into a pensioner - and so well that even if they are examined at close range, no one will notice the "setup".

Russian propagandists are particularly vigorous in telling us about the new "tricks" that Ukrainians are allegedly using.

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For example, the Russian Gazeta.ru, citing the sanctioned Strana newspaper in Ukraine, writes that the authors of the relevant messages on marketplaces, including OLX, write about the purpose of the mask as a means of "protecting against the delivery of a summons." This is allegedly the reason for the high price of UAH 13,600, although Russian propagandists, following Strana, note that one can find one for UAH 800.

"The sellers claim that from a distance of less than half a meter, the mask looks like the living face of an elderly man," the propagandists note, adding in passing that Ukraine is preparing to intensify mobilization, proposing to conduct it "through a lottery or draw," and that potential recruits are being caught on the streets of Ukrainian cities, especially Odesa, on the streets and in shops.

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The Russian newspaper "Moskovsky Komsomolets" went even further.

"The Ukrainian segment of the Internet offers to buy an "old man's mask", which, according to the sellers, should protect against the delivery of a summons. The product is offered on marketplaces as a "realistic professional silicone mask". Pulling the silicone product over his face, a man of military age turns into an old man wearing old-fashioned glasses... "Life hack from being drafted to the military enlistment office" - marketers do not hide the purpose for which customers buy the goods," the propagandists from this publication practiced their "wit".

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Even the "heavy artillery" was involved in spreading messages about the "mask to avoid mobilization" in the form of propagandist Olga Skabeeva, who also posted relevant videos on her Telegram channel.

There is indeed an ad on OLX for the sale of ultra-realistic silicone masks. And the price is high - almost 14 thousand hryvnias (Chinese silicone masks, according to the ad, are sold for about 3 thousand hryvnias and are of inferior quality).

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The seller explains the high price by saying that the mask is handmade and takes a lot of time and effort to make. The ad states that these masks (not only the "old man's mask" but also many other "characters" aged 25 to 65) are intended for filming, but they will be a real find for those who want to organize a grand prank for their loved ones, relatives or friends.

In addition to masks, the seller offers a variety of professional accessories for transformation in theater and cinema.

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There is no mention of "summonses" or "military commissars" or Odesa in the ad. The only "source" is a screenshot of Strana with hidden information about the author of the ad, who offers a "mask with a defect" for 800 UAH. It is not known whether he is a Ukrainian or whether the ad was posted by the Russians themselves for greater convincing.

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There is no mention of mobilization evasion in the videos of masks being distributed by the Russians. By the way, in the comments to one of these posts with the corresponding video (published in the spring of 2023), they are pointed out to this, as well as the absurdity of the fake being spread.

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Earlier, the Armed Forces of Ukraine denied the Russian fake about the destruction of the bunker with Zaluzhnyi's deputy. According to Russian propagandists, the occupiers allegedly achieved such "successes" after a massive missile strike on January 2. However, the Armed Forces of Ukraine stated that such statements have nothing to do with reality.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!
As a result of the attack on the occupiers' military facilities in the occupied Crimea on January 4, not only was the command post destroyed, but the enemy's defense system suffered very significant losses. In general, Ukrainian defenders carried out powerful combat work the day before.

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Natalia Humeniuk, a spokesperson for the Southern Defense Forces, said this during a telethon on January 5. "Not only one command post was hit, but really powerful combat work took place over the past day, including serious damage to the defense system on the Crimean peninsula," she commented.

Humeniuk added that this is not the first defeat that has forced the enemy to seriously reformat its defense system.

"Now they are again experiencing the same hysteria with movement, trying to maneuver and locate both the defense systems themselves and the objects they are protecting in other places," she said.

According to her, the occupiers have recently relocated launch sites for the Shahed. Previously, they used to launch UAVs mainly from Cape Chauda (Leninsky district of Crimea, in the east of the peninsula), but in the last few powerful attacks, launches were recorded from near Balaklava (residential area of Sevastopol, southwest of Crimea).

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"The Defense Forces have been working in this direction so that the enemy does not feel so safe in these territories and always remembers that Crimea is Ukraine and we are fighting for it," explained Humeniuk.

The spokesperson for the Southern Defense Forces added that the explosions near the Kerch Bridge are probably more of a smokescreen, "an attempt to protect this redundant configuration object."

"But still, the very concern and fears for its fate are not unfounded - our combat work continues, there are still many objects there that we need to work on. And we will definitely inform you about every powerful result, if it is worthy of announcement," said Natalia Humeniuk.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, explosions occurred around 4 pm on January 4 in Yevpatoriya and Sevastopol. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed the defeat of the enemy's command post, and the Russian Defense Ministry reported the alleged destruction of "ten Ukrainian missiles". The occupation authorities reported one casualty.

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Prior to that, an alert was sounded in Crimea, and the invaders blocked the Crimean Bridge and the Chongar checkpoint, causing long traffic jams of civilian cars.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Ashwin Mohan is Editor (Deals) at Moneycontrol and leads the M&A, private equity and equity capital market transactions coverage. He anchors the video show 'Deal Central ' and tweets at @ashwinmohansays. He has previously worked with ET NOW, CNBC TV-18 and The Times of India.
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Meghna Mittal MEGHNA MITTAL is Deputy News Editor at Moneycontrol. Meghna has experience across television, print, online and wire media. She has been covering the Indian economy, monetary and fiscal policies, Finance and Trade ministries. She tweets at @Meghnamittal23 Contact: meghna.mittal@nw18.com
he Russian Federation used non-Russian-made missiles to attack Kharkiv on January 2, among other things. The country of manufacture of the missiles, whose markings on the wreckage found at the crash site have been erased, is currently being established.

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This was stated by the head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, Oleh Syniehubov, and the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office.Meanwhile, the team of the Defense Express military portal suggested that the Russians could have hit Kharkiv with ballistic missiles received from North Korea and described the technical characteristics of the most likely means of destruction.

During a briefing on the January 2 Russian attack on Kharkiv that killed two civilians and injured 62 others, Sinegubov said that fragments of missiles not of Russian manufacture were found at the sites of the crash. According to him, these are the remains of Iskander-M missiles with carefully erased markings.

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"We are now conducting all the necessary research to establish the country of manufacture. I will say in advance that the markings have been erased from these missiles. However, what we can see is that the country of manufacture is not the Russian Federation, so to speak. When we have more precise information from the General Staff, from our intelligence, we will report it immediately," Ukrinform quoted Syniehubov as saying.

Meanwhile, the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office, following the White House's claims that Moscow used missiles received from the DPRK to attack, conducted an additional examination of the wreckage found in Kharkiv after January 2. According to the regional prosecutor's office, the data obtained during the inspection will be passed on to experts for a comprehensive forensic explosive and military examination.

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"The inspection was carried out by prosecutors of the regional prosecutor's office, police investigators, Security Service of Ukraine officers and employees of the Air Force Science Center of the Ivan Kozhedub Kharkiv National Air Force University. The investigation is ongoing," the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office said.

The Defense Express team suggested that ballistic missiles from the DPRK were used to attack Zaporizhzhia on December 29 and Kharkiv on January 2. At least in Kharkiv, the newspaper said, citing its own sources, fragments of at least one missile were found: a North Korean KN-23.

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"We would like to remind you that at that time it was officially reported that the enemy had used 12 ballistic missiles without specifying the type. And yesterday, on January 4, Washington officially announced that Russia had used missiles from the DPRK, but the type was not specified either. At the same time, this is the second such case, as the White House reported that during an attack on December 29 last year, another North Korean ballistic missile fell into a field near Zaporizhzhia," the military portal said.

The analysts stated that the analysis of the found wreckage is ongoing. However, it can already be assumed that the scale of the explosion was much smaller than the KN-23 with a declared warhead weight of 500 kg should have caused.

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In addition, if it was launched in the direction of Zaporizhzhia, experts noted, there are reasons to doubt the accuracy of the ballistic missile, which identified a "target" in the middle of the field.

Defense Express noted that all the data on this missile is based on Pyongyang's statements, as well as on North Korea's radar control data during the DPRK's regular missile tests. There is simply nowhere else to get more information because of North Korea's absolute closure to the outside world.

However, from the bits of information that have leaked into the information space, the maximum range of this solid-fuel missile is up to 690 km. At least that's the distance the KN-23 flew during its fourth test launch in 2019. It is possible that this range was achieved by reducing the warhead. According to analysts, the 500 kg warhead is likely to be used in a 450 kg version of the same missile.

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The KN-23 is approximately 7.5 meters long and 0.95 meters thick. This missile can weigh a total of 3,415 kg.

But analysts are still debating whether it is equipped with modern guidance systems. At the same time, a number of experts argue that Moscow could have helped Pyongyang with the KN-23 by transferring its technology. This idea is suggested by the fact that a number of KN-23 solutions are similar to the 9M723 Iskander missile.

Yes, there is, among other things, a quasi-ballistic flight path with a peak of up to 60 km at a range of 240 km and a stable 50 km at ranges of 420, 430, and 690 km, which were recorded during known tests. There is also reason to assume that the KN-23, like its Russian "brother," can maneuver on the marching and terminal sections by means of rudders in the engine nozzle.

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And the fact that the DPRK's tests of this missile were successful suggests that Pyongyang used ready-made and refined technologies and solutions.

"To launch the missile, an 8x8 wheeled chassis is used, and if in the first demonstrated version, like the Iskander launcher, it carried two missiles, then the number was reduced to one. It is believed that this chassis has a lot in common with the Belarusian MZKT-7930, or even produced in Minsk. There is also a railroad version of the KN-23 launcher," the publication writes.

For obvious reasons, it is not known how many of these missiles the DPRK has and how quickly it can replenish its stockpile. However, the already revealed low accuracy and likely low reliability will likely lead to the KN-23 being used by Russia exclusively for attacks on Ukrainian cities, where its goal is to cause as much destruction as possible.

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The good news is that these North Korean missiles can be intercepted by missile defense systems with missile defense capabilities, such as the Patriot PAC 3 and SAMP/T.

As a reminder, the statement about Russia's use of missiles from the DPRK to attack Ukraine on January 4 was made by the White House National Security Council Coordinator John Kirby. The American official reminded that Moscow's purchase of ballistic missiles from the DPRK violates many UN Security Council resolutions. Iran is also preparing to repeat the path of the DPRK. Deliveries of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia have not yet been confirmed, but the United States has no doubt that they are planned.

According to Kirby, the United States will seek to punish the DPRK and Iran for supplying Russia with ballistic miss iles. In particular, it is about strengthening sanctions. The United States also plans to convene a meeting of the UN Security Council on this issue on January 10.

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Meanwhile, Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat could not confirm Russia's possible use of missiles from the DPRK during a telethon on January 5. According to him, we should wait for the results of the examinations.
Preeti Kulkarni is a financial journalist with over 13 years of experience. Based in Mumbai, she covers the personal finance beat for Moneycontrol. She focusses primarily on insurance, banking, taxation and financial planning
Khyati Dharamsi is covering personal finance for the past 15 years. Taxation, insurance, mutual funds and gold are her areas of focus.
Hiral Thanawala is a personal finance journalist with over 10 years of reporting experience. Based in Mumbai, he covers financial planning, banking and fintech segments from personal finance team for Moneycontrol.
Consumer affairs ministry has proposed recording sales pitches to check mis-selling of insurance policies

The insurance space is abuzz with the consumer affairs ministrys proposal to curb the mis-selling menace.

However, as it stands, the proposal to ensure video-recording of all sales pitches made by intermediaries seems impractical, said industry experts Moneycontrol reached out to.

"Recording all the sales pitches and calls could be difficult. The sale may be concluded over multiple meetings and some may involve lengthy conversations, said Subhash Khuntia, former chairman, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India
The U.S. State Department admits that the situation on the battlefield in Ukraine may change, but claims that the aggressor state Russia has already lost, as Moscow has not achieved its main goal. Russian dictator Vladimir Putin dreamed of capturing the whole of Ukraine, but failed.

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This was stated by US Department of State spokesman Matthew Miller during a briefing on Thursday, January 4,Voice of America reports. He noted that no one else is even considering the option that the Russians are going to capture Kyiv.

At the same time, Miller admitted that without Washington's military assistance, it would be difficult for the Ukrainian army to continue to retake its cities and villages from the Russians.

"We see a Ukraine that is able to stand on its own two feet, that is building its economy and its army. The situation on the battlefield will be very difficult without additional support from the United States, and we believe that we need to continue to support them, and we think that Congress will eventually do so. But we believe that Putin not only has not achieved, but will not achieve his ultimate goals," the State Department spokesman said.

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Miller emphasized that the United States does not believe that the war in Ukraine is shaping up in Russia's favor. He reminded that Ukrainian troops have liberated about half of the territory that Russia seized in the first weeks of the war.

"And even over the past few weeks, Ukrainians have continued to make progress on the battlefield," added the US State Department spokesman.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, earlier Miller noted that the United States does not push Ukraine to negotiate with Russia. The administration of US President Joe Biden also does not want Kyiv to change its strategy or goals in confronting Russia.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
News Highlights: All personnel, including 15 Indian nationals, aboard the hijacked MV Lila Norfolk, have been successfully secured and are confirmed to be out of danger.

Indian Navy Marine Commandos are currently engaged in sanitizing various sections of the vessel, ANI reported citing military officials.
Russian occupation forces shelled Kherson again at around 11:20 a.m. on Friday, January 5. The attack wounded four people, damaged a warehouse with humanitarian aid, residential buildings and cars.

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This was reported by the Kherson Regional Prosecutor's Office. A photo of the aftermath of the enemy shelling was also published on the agency's Telegram channel.

According to the prosecutor's office, the victims, including one woman, sustained injuries of varying degrees and are being provided with medical care.

A pre-trial investigation has been initiated over the violation of the laws and customs of war (Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

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Oleksandr Prokudin, the head of Kherson regional military administration, said that the occupants had been shelling Kherson all evening and night.

"An elderly woman was injured in one of the houses. The medics provided her with assistance on the spot. There is destruction in an apartment building. A gas pipe was also damaged," the statement said.

The press service of the Kherson Regional Military Administration clarified that the Dnipro district of Kherson came under fire.

A 69-year-old woman refused to be hospitalized, while three men aged 22, 23 and 46 were hospitalized. A fire broke out in the warehouse where the humanitarian aid was stored.

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As reported by OBOZ.UA, on the night of January 5, Russian troops attacked the village of Vysoke in the Tyahyn community of Kherson region. The enemy launched three "Shakheds", hitting the administrative building and a modular town for those who lost their homes. Seven people were injured in the attack.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Adrija Chatterjee is an Assistant Editor at Moneycontrol. She has been tracking and reporting on finance and trade ministries for over eight years.
Bharat Sharma is Research Analyst, Indo-Pacific Studies Programme, The Takshashila Institution. X ID: @SBharat98. Views are personal, and do not represent the stance of this publication.
The statement of the US State Department spokesperson about changes in support for Ukraine should not be interpreted as Washington's intention to provide less assistance. The United States understands very well how important it is to support Ukraine to victory, as it is an investment in America's national security.

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This was stated by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Oleh Nikolenko, in a comment to OBOZ.UA. He added that the assistance provided by the United States to Ukraine is not "charity."

Nikolenko emphasized that the statement by the US State Department spokesperson that Washington does not see the need to continue funding at the level of 2022-2023 should not be interpreted as a statement of the US side's intention to reduce support.

"During contacts at all levels, the United States demonstrates a clear understanding of the critical need to provide our country with all the necessary military and financial assistance to ensure that we win. If you listen carefully to the entire commentary of my American colleague, he spoke about the transformation of assistance only when Ukraine is able to cope with its needs on its own," he said.

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At the moment, Ukraine needs support, so it is important that the U.S. Congress passes a resolution as soon as possible to continue funding the aid in the amount requested.

"Supporting Ukraine is not charity. First and foremost, it is an investment in American national security and protection of global democracy," summarized the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman.

On the afternoon of January 5, the media quoted State Department spokesman Matthew Miller a ssaying that Washington is committed to helping Kyiv build its own military-industrial base.

"We will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes. But that does not mean we will continue to support Ukraine at the same level of military funding as in 2022 and 2023," Miller said.

The State Department spokesperson explained that Washington's key goal is to help Ukraine produce and purchase the weapons it needs at the frontline on its own.

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However, until this happens, the United States will continue to provide assistance. That is why, Miller emphasized, it is so important that Congress approves additional funding for Ukraine at the request of the US President. For now, Ukraine cannot cope with the enemy on its own.
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Sowmya Rajendran is an independent film reviewer. Views expressed are personal
The White House has identified a priority in the formation of future arms lists as part of the US military assistance to Kyiv. It is to strengthen Ukraine's air defense.

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This was stated by the White House National Security Council Coordinator John Kirby at a briefing on January 4 in Washington. He also said what was interfering with the White House's intentions.

According to the American official, the ongoing Russian air attacks have convinced the United States that the main item on the list of arms supplies for the Ukrainian side should be air defense systems and equipment.

The US presidential administration plans to implement its intentions as soon as Congress approves new aid packages for Ukraine. Currently, Washington lacks the funding to do so.

According to John Kirby, the weapons from the last military aid package have not yet been delivered to Ukraine. It will arrive in our country "in the coming days and weeks".

As reported by OBOZ.UA:

The White House said that there is no money for Ukraine before the US Congress approves new military aid packages. Before the New Year, US President Joe Biden signed the last aid package for which he has the authority to spend.

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After Republicans in the US Congress blocked a package of military and financial aid to Ukraine, the Biden administration found a way out of the impasse. The new idea was to finance Ukraine's fight against Russia at the expense of the aggressor by using Russian gold and foreign exchange reserves frozen at the beginning of the invasion.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Reiterating its long-standing demand to scrap the criminal defamation law, the Editors Guild of India (EGI) has expressed serious concern over the misuse of criminal defamation laws against journalists to intimidate and harass them. Such matters be left to be adjudicated in the civil domain, EGI says.

Referring to a first information report (FIR) registered by Jharkhand police against editors of Prabhat Khabar, EGI says this FIR is based on a complaint filed by one Jogendra Tiwari . Those named in the FIR include Prabhat Khabar's chief editor, Ashutosh Chaturvedi, its resident editor, Vijay Kant Pathak, and its managing director (MD), Rajeev Jhawar.

"It must be noted that Mr Tiwari, who is currently lodged in the Birsa Munda Central Jail, had allegedly made threatening calls to Mr Chaturvedi in response to some reports published in the newspaper on charges filed by the directorate of enforcement (ED), against some members of the liquor mafia in the state," EGI says.

EGI statement on the registration of FIRs against Chief Editor, Resident Editor, and MD of Prabhat Khabar, by the Jharkhand Police. pic.twitter.com/81whTW5MNW  Editors Guild of India (@IndEditorsGuild) January 5, 2024

On 30 December 2023, the Editors Guild had written to the chief minister of Jharkhand, as well as the chief secretary, home secretary, and the director general of police (DGP), urging the government to initiate an inquiry into this, and to take necessary steps for ensuring the safety of Mr Chaturvedi.

EGI reiterated its earlier demands while urging the state government and the police to complete the investigation into an earlier complaint of Mr Chaturvedi.

Press Club of India also expressed concern over the fake case against the editor-in-chief of Prabhat Khabar in Jharkhand. We demand from Jharkhand government and police a thorough investigation in the matter and justice for editor, it says on X.
A US judge has ruled that a lawsuit against social media giant Snap for allegedly facilitating illicit drug deals involving fentanyl that resulted in a series of drug overdoses among young people can proceed.

Last year, relatives of more than 60 young people who died of fentanyl overdoses filed an amended lawsuit against Snap, the parent company of Snapchat, in the US. The lawsuit was originally filed in 2022.

They argued that Snapchat is a defective product because its disappearing messaging feature facilitates the trade of illegal drugs. Now, a Los Angeles judge has ruled that the lawsuit can proceed against Snapchat, reports TechCrunch.

In the ruling, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Lawrence Riff rejected Snaps effort to get the case dismissed. Snap argued that the case should be thrown out on the grounds that the social media app is protected by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.

Fentanyl, which is cheap to produce and often sold disguised as other substances, can prove lethal in even extremely small doses.

"Long before the fatal injuries giving rise to this lawsuit, Snap knew that its product features were being used by drug dealers to sell controlled substances to minors," according to Matthew P Bergman, who founded the Social Media Victims Law Center which is representing the parents and family members.

Snapchat refuted the claims, saying it is "working diligently to address drug dealing on its platform with law enforcement agencies.

Disclaimer: Information, facts or opinions expressed in this news article are presented as sourced from IANS and do not reflect views of Moneylife and hence Moneylife is not responsible or liable for the same. As a source and news provider, IANS is responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability and validity of any information in this article.
In a major relief for the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) has allowed the Exchange to release Rs6,085 crore from the escrow account which the Exchange earned by providing co-location (Colo) facility. However, according to sources, there is a rider; NSE has to retain Rs420 crore in an interest-bearing account. SAT has also announced that it would be conducting a brief hearing on the Colo matter on 11th June. It is not immediately known if the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) will file an appeal against this order.

NSE had earlier sued SEBI to get access to Rs5,991 crore of its revenue which had been deposited into a separate account for over four years.

Sources say that SEBI did not make any strong arguments against the move. It is also learnt that there is a lot of pressure from NSE's foreign investors to wind up the algo scam and let the Exchange off. The Exchange has also been keen on its initial public offering (IPO) and wants to finish all the legal matters regarding the Colo scam.

The order copy is awaited and there has been no official confirmation yet from SEBI or NSE.

In September 2016, the capital and commodity market regulator SEBI had asked NSE to deposit income generated from providing co-location (Colo) facility into an escrow account. SEBI had found in their investigation that co-location (Colo) facility gave preferential access to some brokers due to which they made unlawful gain. Hence, SEBI had ordered NSE to keep all earnings from Colo in an escrow account.

However, in April 2019, SEBI said it did not have enough evidence the NSE committed a fraudulent and unfair trade practice but it had established that the Exchange did not exercise due diligence when putting in place the co-location (Colo) servers. SEBI also directed NSE to disgorge amount worth Rs624 crore and also imposed a penalty of Rs62 crore. NSE challenged this order at the SAT in June 2019 and SAT told NSE to deposit this amount with SEBI. However, hearing of this matter was not concluded So, NSE moved SAT to allow it to withdraw the amount from the account. NSE also wanted the Tribunal to pass an order discontinuing the need for the bourse to put its co-location (Colo) revenues into a different account.

What Is the NSE Colo Scam?

In January 2010, NSE started offering co-location (Colo) facility whereby members could place their servers in Exchanges premises for a fee. The term 'co-location' means 'a set-up wherein the broker's computer is located in the same area as the stock exchange's server. This allowed them faster access to the buy and sell orders being disseminated by the Exchange's trading engine. A market manipulation scam by NSE emerged where select players obtained market price information ahead of the rest of the market, enabling them to front run the rest of the market.

As details of the scam emerged, former managing director Chitra Ramkrishna was asked to quit. Other investigation agencies including Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income Tax department also commenced probe into the matter.

Here is the order issued by SAT in this matter...
The Pentagon building is seen in Arlington, Virginia, U.S, April 6, 2023.
University of Penn professors in Israel speak out on US campus antisemitism
Dodge Ridge Mountain Resort Family Lodge View Photo

Sonora, CA  The kickoff of the ski season at Dodge Ridge is one of the exciting local happenings this weekend, and there are also other events planned in the Mother Lode.

Dodge Ridge announces that 19 inches of new snow has arrived at the summit, and 13 inches at the base, over the past 48 hours. With more snow projected on the way over the next week, the new ski season will kick off on Friday (January 5) with the lifts running from 9 am  4 pm.

Bear Valley in Alpine County should also be busy this weekend after opening its ski season on December 9.

In other community happenings, on Friday the Tuolumne County Mobile Library will be making various stops. The mobile library provides services to those who are far away from the main library and its branches. Visitors will be able to sign up for a library card, use WiFi, browse a curated selection of books, and request books. It will be at the Tuolumne City Senior Apartments at 18402 Tuolumne Road from 10 am  11 am, at the Jamestown Terrace Apartments at 10330 Preston Lane from 11:30 am  12:30 pm, and at the First Presbyterian Church/Church of the 49ers in Columbia at 11155 Jackson Street from 2  3pm.

Then on Saturday, the Mobile Library will be at the Jamestown Community Hall (18250 Main Street) from 1-5 pm.

Also on Saturday, the Mother Lode Bonsai Club will host a free hands-on education workshop for the public as part of its monthly meeting at 10 am at the San Andreas Central Library at 1299 Gold Hunter Road. More details can be found here.

The League of Women Voters of the Mother Lode will host its monthly meeting on Saturday from 10 am  noon at the Tuolumne County Main Library on Greenley Road. The guest speaker will be Tami Mariscal, Tuolumne County Health Director.

On Sunday, there will be an Alzheimers-Dementia Support Group meeting from 1-3 pm at the Soulsbyville United Methodist Church.
Snow Above Twain Harte - Elevation 4,415 View Photo

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the western slope of the northern Sierra Nevada, from 4 AM Saturday until 6 AM Sunday. Additionally, a Winter Storm Warning has also been issued for Yosemite National Park, from 10 AM Saturday until 10 AM Sunday.

Heavy snow is forecast. The hazardous conditions will impact weekend travel plans.

The snow levels will be around 2,000 to 3,000 feet on Saturday afternoon, possibly reaching down to as low as 1,500 feet by Sunday morning. Snow rates of two inches per hour are possible.

The total snow accumulations above the 4,000 foot elevation, will range from ten inches to two feet. The higher you go, the more the snow.

Winds are expected to gust as high as fifty-five to sixty mph. The cold wind chills, as low as twenty below zero, could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as thirty minutes. Patchy blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. Strong gusty winds could cause tree damage and bring down tree branches.

Travel could be very difficult to impossible with travel delays, chain controls, snow covered roads and poor visibility with near white conditions at times.

If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.
As the new year gets underway, Zimbabweans are bracing for a rise in costs thanks to tax changes sneaking into effect. Major retailers are alerting customers that prices on essential goods will be climbing due to a higher value-added tax (VAT) rate.

Businesses large and small are rushing to get their financial houses in order as the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) ramps up regulations on 1 January. The standard VAT levy is nudging up from 14.5% to 15%, which many see as just the first domino to fall.

Chicken franchise Texas Meats broke the news to patrons that meat products would see a VAT premium tacked on. businesses pass on new tax burden to customers, a company statement explained. Other commodity giants like Delta Beverages and Koala Park are following suit.

Meanwhile, informal traders are in the crosshairs as Zimra clampdowns on the shadows. To buy over US$1000 worth of goods within 30 days now demands tax registration. Wholesalers are instructed only to sell to licensed retailers, tightening oversight.

Enock Rukarwa of investment group Apex Securities warns these tax tweaks may backfire.

The most direct impact is an increase in the prices of goods and services, which ultimately leads to reduction in consumer purchasing power. Given our highly informalised economy, this measure may increase informalisation as businesses avoid taxation, Rukarwa said.

For Zimbabwes struggling populace, a new year of financial pain may be on the horizon. Only time will tell how citizens and the economy adjust to the governments well-intentioned but challenging reforms.

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POLICE in South Africas Mpumalanga province have arrested two Zimbabwean women for abducting three children including a four-month-old infant in the Kriel area.

Grace Gumbo (26) and Mercy Tsoko (28) are expected to appear at the Kriel Magistrates Court on charges of child abduction and contravention of the Immigration Act.

They are accused of having committed the offence in Thubelihle in the Kriel area on December 28 last year. Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said the suspects were arrested on New Years day.

They were arrested on Monday 01 January 2024 and it is in fact alleged that they abducted a total of three children, including the baby girl abducted on that Thursday (28 December 2023), he said.

Police got a tip-off from community members about the two women who were pretending to be caregivers that were roaming around with three babies.

The police in Kriel swiftly responded to the information then managed to arrest the two female suspects and reportedly found them with three children, two baby girls and a boy.

Brig Mohlala said the two were cornered in one of the shacks. He said it was discovered that, besides the four-month-old girl, there was a baby boy who is believed to be three years old and it is suspected that the child was also abducted at Marble Hall last April.

Another baby girl believed to be eight months old was found as well during the arrest of the two. This child is believed to have been abducted at Springs in September 2023 allegedly by the two women.

The two suspects were charged with abduction as well as contravention of the Immigration Act.

Police cannot rule out the possibility of adding more charges against them as the investigation continues, said Brig Mohlala.

During their court appearance on Tuesday the matter was postponed pending further investigation and the two suspects remain in custody.

As the police, we urge members of the community to assist in locating the families of the two other children, one from Marble Hall and the other from Springs, he said.

Brig Mohlala said those with information may also send it and that once received it will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous.

Mpumalangas provincial police commander, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela commended her team for their swift response which resulted in the arrest of the suspects.

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Preparations for the 44th Sadc Heads of State and Government Summit that Zimbabwe will host in August, began yesterday with a meeting between various ministries led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and officials from the Sadc Secretariat.

The Summit is expected to run from August 17 to 18, and President Mnangagwa will assume the Chairmanship position when Zimbabwe takes over leadership of the regional body for a year.

Presently, Zimbabwe is vice-chair of the regional bloc.

Sadc Secretariat officials virtually attended yesterdays meeting.

In her remarks, Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Ambassador Rofina Chikava expressed Zimbabwes readiness to host the summit at a venue yet to be finalised.

This is a very important meeting for us; the first preparatory meeting for the Sadc Summit, which we are going to host, said Ambassador Chikava.

We also want to express our readiness as the Republic of Zimbabwe to work together with the Sadc Secretariat to ensure the successful hosting of the 44th Sadc Summit in Zimbabwe. We want to assure you of Zimbabwes commitment to adhere to the Sadc standards for the preparations and hosting of summits.

We are going to adhere to that. It is an honour to be hosting this important summit for the region.

Ambassador Chikava added that yesterdays meeting was the first of such meetings that will be held to update all parties of what they were doing and would be guided by guidelines of hosting the Sadc Summit.

Sadc Deputy Executive Secretary, Dr Judith Kateera, said the proposed dates for the summit would also coincide with commemorations to mark Sadc Day.

I wish to state that we are all now ready, preparing for the hosting of the summit on the proposed dates of August 17 to 18, 2024, she said.

I am fully aware that these dates are proposed as we also seek to commemorate Sadc Day, which falls on August 17 every year. However, we are also aware that we are waiting for the Government of Zimbabwe to officially confirm the dates and venue of the summit.

I wish to highlight that this meeting seeks to share information regarding hosting guidelines and preparations. We hope that by sharing this information we should all be able to set our systems and putting them in place and assigning responsibilities to our staff. Ideally this should be followed by a visit to Zimbabwe by a Sadc technical team which will come to further engage you and commence preparations for the Council (of Ministers) and Summit meetings.

The Sadc technical team would comprise various senior officials from public relations, conference services unit, finance, administration, ICT and industrial policy.

The officials will be looking at the various components of the key meetings that will be taking place during the summit.

In his acceptance speech during the 43rd SADC Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government in Luanda, Angola last year, President Mnangagwa reiterated Zimbabwes readiness to work for the 16-member regional bloc once it assumes the position of Chair.

Zimbabwe, with great honour, accepts the position of incoming Chair of SADC. It will be yet another opportunity for Zimbabwe to demonstrate its commitment and readiness to work for the development of our region, he said.

Zimbabwe last chaired Sadc from August 2014 to August 2015.

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Police investigate murder case as woman found dead with multiple injuries in Bulawayo

In a disturbing event, the police in Bulawayo have launched an investigation into a murder case after the lifeless body of an unidentified woman was discovered in a bushy area at Denver Farm in Cowdray Park. The incident has raised concerns as several other murder cases have been reported across the country in recent times.

The woman, whose identity remains unknown, was found with swollen lips, cuts on her head and knees, indicating a brutal attack. The police have reached out to the public for any information that could aid in their investigation.

Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, the national police spokesperson, made an appeal, saying, Police in Bulawayo are appealing for information which may assist in investigating murder case in which a yet to be identified woman was found dead with swollen lips, cuts on the head and knees in a bushy area at Denver Farm in Cowdray Park.

The victim was wearing a red and white coloured dress, charcoalgrey hood jacket. Anyone with information that might assist with investigations should contact any nearest police station.

Meanwhile, Shurugwi was left in shock and mourning as a 17-year-old teenager, Tawanda Muzvihwi, lost his life in a tragic stabbing incident on New Years Day. The Midlands provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko, confirmed the devastating incident, providing details of the unfortunate events.

Muzvihwi had gone to Cheeky Tiger night club, located at Donga business centre in Shurugwi with his 17-year-old friend. However, his friend left the club, leaving him behind. At approximately 11 pm, a passerby discovered Muzvihwis lifeless body near Cheeky Tiger night club and immediately alerted the police stationed at Tongogara. Responding swiftly, the police arrived at the scene where they observed a stab wound on the left side of Muzvihwis chest. The body was then transported to Shurugwi District Hospital for further examination.

The senseless act of violence has left the community of Shurugwi in a state of disbelief and grief. Authorities have launched a thorough investigation into the incident, striving to identify the unknown assailants responsible for this tragic loss of life.

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The Israel war against Palestinians, dressed up as a war against Hamas, has entered a deceptively less kinetic phase as Israel has pulled five brigades out of Gaza. Amplifying that impression, reporting of conditions in Gaza has dropped off dramatically due to Israel restrictions on access and lack of power in Gaza making it very difficult for to send updates, most of all images and videos

But less visibility does not mean less action or critically, less escalation. It is not as if Israel reducing its forces committed to Gaza means a moderation of its war aims. Now that much of Gazas infrastructure has been destroyed and the enclave is still tightly cordoned, Israel can let nature take its course. The UN issued a fresh report describing starvation in Gaza a few days ago. From a related New York Times story:

Ive been doing this for about 20 years, Mr. [Arif] Husain [Chief Economist at the World Food Program] said. Ive been to pretty much any conflict, whether Yemen, whether it was South Sudan, northeast Nigeria, Ethiopia, you name it. And I have never seen anything like this, both in terms of its scale, its magnitude, but also at the pace that this has unfolded.

And of course there is also disease, lack of medical treatments and prescription drugs to further eliminate the population. Its not longer necessary to rely on the fig leaf of routing Hamas to exterminate the Gazans. Mere inaction will suffice.

However, even before the force reduction in Gaza, which some saw as part of a plan for reallocation, Israel has signaled its intent to take part of Southern Lebanon. The commentators who have spoken most about it are former British diplomat Alastair Crooke and Scott Ritter, sadly on video, which makes it very hard to run down and link to what they said. However, for weeks, Crooke has described how the part of Israel bordering Lebanon has been deserted, both due to evacuations and residents not feeling safe. Per Crooke (who has put it in more careful terms than I am using), the Israelis have launched the same sort of sham negotiations that they did with Lebanon in 2006, which they used at the pretext for the 2006 war with Lebanon, which Israel handily lost. Israel then demanded that Lebanon withdraw from the border area, a requirement Lebanon would clearly never accept. See here for an overview of the hostilities that were the immediate justification for the incursion1

Again, the reports from various sources, mainly on YouTube or X (note my considerable frustration at scattered written coverage) who are admittedly Lebanon-sympathetic, contend that Lebanon has been matching Israel attacks in a tit for tat.

As most of you know by now, a drone attack widely seen as Israels doing on a residential neighborhood in Beirut killed several Hamas leaders. The most important was Saleh al-Arouri, deputy head of the groups political wing and founder of the military unit, Qassam Brigades. Al-Arouri was also a key figure in the ceasefire negotiations brokered by Qatar.

Needless to say, this was a major violation of the sovereignity of Lebanon, no different than the case of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada murdered there, with the consternation being the allegation that the Indian government was responsible. Elijah Magnier also argues that it represents a significant escalation for another reason: it violated understandings between Israel and Lebanon regarding the use of force:

Israel assassinated a senior Hamas leader Saleh Al-Arouri in Southern Beirut. Veteran war correspondent Elijah Magnier says Israel broke the rules of engagement with Lebanon and therefore "the reaction will be very harsh and Hezbollah will react very quickly." @ejmalrai pic.twitter.com/Ul1KPQY2o2  Kevork Almassian (@KevorkAlmassian) January 2, 2024

Note that Magnier argued that Lebanon will have to respond quickly. Im not sure thats a given, particularly if Lebanon sees the killings as an attempt to bait them.

Perhaps this is a simple coincidence based on my news foraging, but there also seems to be an uptick of not-credible Israel stories and schemes in the last couple of days. One is claims of Lebanon pulling back from the border:

#Hezbollah did not withdraw one centimetre from any part of the Lebanese territory and has no intention to do so at least in the next 100 years. Hezbollah carried out 9 attacks against Israeli positions today from the borders.https://t.co/Kt3bEDlUWr  Elijah J. Magnier  (@ejmalrai) January 4, 2024

The second is technically no doubt true but substantively as likely to happen on any scale as Zelensky retaking Crimea, that of Israel negotiating with the Congo for voluntary resettlement of Gazans. Um, the Congo is a chronic war zone, with food scarcity to boot. Its a Christian country with Muslims only about 10% of the population. If this story hadnt appeared in the Times of Israel, it could have been depicted as a lame joke about other creative ways Israel planned to commit genocide. New Arab, and likely other news outlets in the region, depicted the scheme as expulsion based on its reading of the original article in Hebrew and official pronouncements:

Israeli officials are reported to be holding secret talks with the Democratic Republic of Congo and other nations regarding the expulsion of Palestinians displaced by Israels war on the Gaza Strip, according to a report by the Israeli newspaper Zman Yisrael on Wednesday. The newspaper, which is the Hebrew-language sister outlet of the Times of Israel, said the Gaza migration policy is rapidly becoming the leading policy of the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the war cabinet regarding Gazas population. Netanyahu has reportedly given the go-ahead for the expulsion policy and high-level cabinet members are following suit, which has initiated the talks with Congo as a possible destination. Last Monday, at a meeting of the Likud Party, Netanyahu fully endorsed the idea, saying: Our problem is finding countries willing to accept them [Gazans], and we are working on it.. The Israeli government is calling the policy voluntary migration, but quotes from senior cabinet ministers suggest that the entire policy hinges upon Israel making Gaza uninhabitable for the civilian population, essentially forcing Palestinians to leave. At the end of the war Hamas rule will collapse, there are no municipal authorities, the civilian population will be entirely dependent on humanitarian aid. There will be no work, and 60% of Gazas agricultural land will become security buffer zones, Intelligence Minister Gila Gamliel said to the Knesset on Tuesday.

Israel has since tried denying the existence of the Congo plan but that does not mean its trying to find other less obviously terrible destinations.

To return to Lebanon: Alastair Crooke reported that Israel residents in the north who had evacuated or otherwise fled demanded that they not be able to see Lebanese forces from the border. They told by the government that they would be able to return by the end of January, which seems a tall order (I did find corroboration in a print source but due to the state of search, cannot find it again). Given that Lebanon would never agreed to effectively cede territory to improve the mental health of these nearby Israeli neighbors, that commitment would imply an invasion, which is how Crooke read it.

Scott Ritter appears to have seen similar demands, but depicted them as mere threat display, that Israel would not dare attempt an incursion because it was pretty sure to lose. As Ritter had earlier described, Israel lost its last two war games against Hamas and Hezbollah, even with the US joining the war. Ritter has also described how much better Hezbollah has gotten since 2006, when it beat Israel, while Israels forces, per Ritter, are third rate. And Hezbollah has a tunnel network that makes Hamas look like a poor cousin.

Allowing for defects in my memory, fresh stories provide general confirmation, if not of a commitment to a time frame. From the Times of Israel on December 30:

The Israel Defense Forces carried out airstrikes on southern Lebanon Sunday as it ramped up responses to fire on northern Israel by the Iran-backed Hezbollah terror group. The IDF has ratcheted up attacks in recent days, as the military aims to push the terror group back from Israels northern border Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said military action against Lebanese Hezbollah is needed to restore security to the north. In public remarks at the opening of the weekly cabinet meeting Sunday, Netanyahu said, We are acting to restore security to the north and to return residents to their homes. That requires continuing the fighting there at the moment. If we dont achieve that [security] through diplomacy we will achieve it through military means.. The mayor of Kiryat Shmona, a key border area town, said residents will not return to their homes until Hezbollah has been pushed back from the northern border. Nearly 90% of the citys residents have evacuated and are scattered throughout the country, Avichai Stern told Kan. As long as the Radwan Unit is on the border, we will not return to our homes, he said, referring to the terror groups elite unit that has trained for an invasion of Israel.

And today:

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with US Special Presidential Envoy Amos Hochstein and made it clear Israel is committed to bringing about a fundamental change on its border with Lebanon, so residents of the north will return to their homes and live in safety and security. pic.twitter.com/bxZrHQfcsT  Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) January 4, 2024

Aside from the successful Beirut attack amounting to a real blow and a morale booster for Israel, it also seems to be setting up the spin that a widening of the war in Lebanon would be the result of Hezbollah escalation, as opposed to as Israel initiative (hoping for a response to provocation as cover). For example, see the DW headline: Hezbollahs revenge for Beirut killing: Will it lead to war?

One wonders why Israel seems to be committing itself to an invasion of Lebanon. Is this strictly domestically driven, that it is politically unacceptable for Israel to have abandoned border towns? That Israel is worried about waning US support, witness the pressure to dial down (at least optically) Israels campaign in Gaza?

Aljazeera articulates one widespread view, that Netanyahu is strongly motivated to keep the war at a high pitch, although he probably has some rabid allies:

Israels initial calculation had to consider the possibility of Hezbollah opening a second front, but after almost three months of relative quiet in the north, Israeli forces allowed themselves to demobilise five brigades, obviously convinced that whatever fighting it will have to do in future, it will be in the strip. But many prominent Israeli politicians, generals and influentials have been warning that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu does not see eye to eye with the generals. Rather, he may see the continuation of war being in his direct interest. The government of Netanyahu does not want this war to end. Politically, Netanyahu has a major problem on the day after [the war ends] as this is when inquiries will begin as to the failures on the Israeli side, warned former Israeli peace negotiator Daniel Levy just days ago. If you fear the end of the war  why not push it into the future, prolong it? Why not open another front in the north, have more of your own men and women in uniform, have the country continue on a war footing, preventing citizens and politicians from asking unpleasant questions? Why not use the convenient opportunity to prolong the atmosphere in which politicians from the farthest right like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich may continue to advocate the extreme views such as the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza and resettling of Israelis instead? All of this would be consistent with the behaviour of the Israeli prime minister, say experienced Netanyahu watchers. The big question now is whether Hezbollah will swallow the obvious bait.

Recall specifically that Ritter has predicted that if Israel attacks Lebanon, the result would be not just Israel being run out of Lebanon much faster than in 2006 but Lebanon taking territory in Northern Israel, say down to Galilee. It is hard not to see the US becoming involved in a big way if that were to happen, with US warmongers insisting that the Hezbollah performance had to be due to the active involvement of Iran, and not just general support over time.

But again per Ritters assessment that Israel will not go as far as launching a war it cannot win, the US is more and more looking like a severely diminished power. The shipping defense plan laughably called Operation Prosperity Guardian failed quickly, with Maersk, which was briefly emboldened to resume Red Sea shipping, having retreated:

Maersk says that it's going to divert container ships away from the Red Sea for the foreseeable future. The shipping market has already rapidly repriced, with the cost to ship goods from Asia to northern Europe surging by 173% since Dec. https://t.co/LNgubNIDBN  Lisa Abramowicz (@lisaabramowicz1) January 5, 2024

And the Houthis may be able to up their game. From Business Insider (hat tip reader BC) US Navy admiral says ships in the Middle East are now facing a new challenge: Houthi drone boats packed with explosives:

 The Houthis on Thursday launched an explosive drone boat into key waters off the coast of Yemen.  A US Navy admiral said the drone detonated in international shipping lanes without causing harm.  Its the first time the rebels have done this since they started attacking ships in November.

Our esteemed commentariat has not been much impressed with sea drones as weapons. But at close range, say to ward off or damage a defending military vessel when trying to block a commercial ship? And given that high insurance rates come close to producing an embargo-type response, the mere potential to be effective may suffice.

So this situation looks fraught. Absent a wild card development, like Biden blowing a cog,2 the trajectory favors a widening of the war.

______

1 More backstory:

Israel wants to drag Lebanon into a regional war. But this wouldnt be the first time the two countries have gone to war. BTs @keipritsker explains how Hezbollah was formed in the 1980s to drive out an Israeli invasion and how Lebanon became Israels Vietnam. pic.twitter.com/Aau7eBqO4E  BreakThrough News (@BTnewsroom) January 4, 2024

2 You tell me how confident our armed services and Israel would be with President Harris as commander in chief.
With court cases and EU elections looming in the first half of this year, big question marks hang over the future of the EU Commission president.

Europes  and according to Forbes, the worlds  most powerful woman, Ursula von der Leyen (whom I will heretofore refer to as VdL), is in a bit of a jam. As Berliner Morgenpost reported this week, the European Commission president could be instructed by the European Unions top court, the European Court of Justice (ECJ), to release all of her cellphone text messages pertaining to the mega COVID-19 vaccine deal she brokered with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla in early 2021 (which may already have been deleted; she has form when it comes to destroying digital evidence).

The ECJ wants to reach a swift resolution to a lawsuit brought by the New York Times demanding the release of the messages. Meanwhile, the investigations, criminal or otherwise, against VdLs Commission are stacking up.

A Mistake of Strategic Proportions

The article in the Berliner Morgen Post, titled Text Messages Could Pose a Threat to Ursula von der Leyen, provided a neat summary of VdLs starring role in Pfizergate  arguably the most important political scandal in EU history  before exploring the growing disaffection in EU capitals over VdLs go-it-alone approach to EU foreign policy, in which she has essentially arrogated to herself powers that have traditionally belonged to EU national governments (machine translated):

Von der Leyen has recently provoked considerable resentment in European capitals with her solo foreign policy moves. She promised [Ukraine] 50 billion euros without the consent of EU states, who would have to foot the bill. In Tunisia, she signed a preparatory migration agreement without first consulting the member states. And the fact that she deviated from the official EU line during her visit to Israel caused outrage in Brussels: she gave the Israeli government full support for its defence against the Hamas terrorist attacks, without, as agreed beforehand, insisting on respect for international law and the protection of the civilian population. A mistake of strategic proportions, complained diplomats in Brussels.

Even at this late stage in VdLs mandate, it is rare for an article in Europes mainstream press to take VdL to task for her role in Pfizergate  which, for the sake of precision, should be known as Pfizer-BioNTechgate (I know, a bit of a mouthful) given that BioNTech was the original manufacturer of the mRNA vaccine. The Mainz-based pharmaceuticals ties to the German federal government could not be closer, having been seed-funded and subsidised by successive Merkel administrations, of which VdL was the only constant member. Without this support, the firm may never have got off the ground, and probably would not have survived as long as it did (12 years) without selling a single product.

BioNTechs ties with both Berlin and the VdL Commission remain strong. Just two weeks ago, VdL was accompanied by Germanys Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on a state visit to Rwanda, where they opened BioNTechs first mRNA vaccine factory in Africa. The factory was part-financed with EU funds. As Rwandas President Paul Kagame said during the factorys inauguration, The European Union, and President von der Leyen personally, helped to make this a reality. In other words, as the criminal investigations into Pfizer-BioNTech continue, VdLs Commission continues to funnel scarce EU funds in BioNTechs direction.

Speaking at a recent event organised by the Brussels-based strategic consultancy SEC Newgate, the EU Ombudsman, Emily OReilly, lambasted European media for failing to investigate and report on EU corruption during VdLs mandate. In 2022, OReilly accused VdLs Commission of maladministration over the Pfizergate scandal, to little avail. The EU Ombudsman has, in OReillys words, recommendatory powers only, and has no legal means of holding VdL accountable besides stating the facts and asking for recourse.

From European Conservative, ironically one of precious few European media outlets that actually covered OReillys speech:

Thats why OReilly turned to the media at a recent event held by the Brussels-based strategic consultancy SEC Newgate, wondering why journalists seem to hold back when it comes to von der Leyen and possibly the biggest corruption scandal in the history of the EU. While acknowledging that the Commissions strategy to stonewall the media makes it hard for journalists to hold von der Leyen accountable for anything, OReilly said she was amazed [at how] such a prominent figure as von der Leyen isnt questioned harder on her missing Pfizer texts.

A Story of Two Scandals

The media silence is particularly striking given the much greater attention devoted to the Qatargate scandal involving the European Parliament, an institution that wields far less influence and power than the Commission. The resulting probe into the current and former MEPs and parliamentary assistants implicated in the bribery ring scandal now appears to have bogged down, according to the Financial Times.

Qatargate may be the EUs biggest graft scandal in decades but its implications pale in significance to those of Pfizergate, as I noted in my December 16, 2022 post, Will the Fallout from Qatargate Splatter the EU Commission?:

In contrast to Qatargate, [Pfizergate] has been studiously ignored by Europes legacy media despite the staggering sums of money involved (tens of billions of dollars to date to buy up to 1.8 billion COVID-19 vaccines), the number of people affected (anyone who pays taxes in the EU and felt compelled by the EUs vaccine passport rules to take a medical product they didnt want) and the seniority of those implicated, including Von der Leyen herself and Albert Bourla, CEO of Pfizer, one of the worlds largest pharmaceutical companies. Von der Leyen herself has come under fire for concealing and/or deleting records of her conversations with Bourla prior to the Commissions purchase of up to 1.8 billion vaccines. As for Bourla, he has twice refused to give testimony to a European Parliament special committee on the matter.

Now, the chickens could be coming home to roost for VdL, as the legal cases against her mount at the most sensitive of times in the political calendar  election year. Again, from the Berliner Morgenpost piece (machine translated):

The hearing before the ECJ will also focus attention on the investigations of other judicial authorities: The European Public Prosecutors Office has been investigating the Commissions procurement of the corona vaccine for 15 months, and the result is expected in the first months of 2024. The trade expert and lobbyist Frederic Baldan has filed a criminal complaint against von der Leyen with the Belgian judiciary on allegations of corruption and destruction of documents in connection with the mega-deal and the SMS. And a hearing in a Belgian court at the beginning of this year will also document the growing frustration of a number of mainly Eastern European countries regarding the conditions of the controversial Biontech deal. After rigourous protests, Pfizer agreed to extend the delivery period until 2027 and reduce the delivery quantity  but, according to insiders, a fee must be paid for each cancelled dose. This has hardly dampened the discontent of many EU countries. Pfizer has sued Poland and Hungary because they strictly refuse to pay for unneeded vaccine doses. At stake are billions of euros. The legal aftermath of Corona hits von der Leyen at an inopportune time: in the year of the European elections. She will soon have to declare whether she will apply for a second term as Commission President. On March 7th, von der Leyens EPP party family will announce their top candidate for the European elections at a convention in Bucharest; there must be internal clarity well in advance. In Brussels , party friends, diplomats and Commission officials have so far assumed that von der Leyen would like to continue until 2029  and would have a good chance of being re-elected if he ran.

VdLs Achievements

The article then proceeds to list some of VdLs achievements during her time in office, including the Green Deal she helped launch, her demonstration of the EUs geopolitical ambitions in the Ukraine war, and the role she has played in EU crisis management. I would argue that the last two have been both resounding and hugely costly failures, as opposed to successes. The article then offers up this little gem:

Von der Leyen is also praised by diplomats as the most influential woman in Europe.

Which begs the question: power for what purpose?

Creeping censorship, corruption, tech-enabled authoritarianism, rapid economic decline (much of it self inflicted), and supine support for US-backed economic, trade and military wars: these are the watchwords of VdLs rule.

Indeed, if the Commission President was actually elected by EU citizens  as opposed to being selected for the role by national EU leaders after weeks of backroom horse-trading and then presented to the European Parliament to seal the deal  VdL wouldnt have a hope in hell of being reelected in June. She only mustered a razor thin majority in the European Parliament first time round, despite being the only candidate on the ballot and enjoying the full support of Europes two most powerful national leaders, Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron.

While loved and feted in Washington (for obvious reasons), VdL has become a political liability in Brussels. Her political grouping in the European Parliament, the European Peoples Party (EPP), has made assurances that it will support her candidature, but VdL cannot count on the unanimous support of the 27 national heads of state and government for her re-election. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, having suffered numerous budgetary privations at the hands of the VdL Commission, has already threatened to veto a second term in office. As the BM article notes, alternatives are being considered in Brussels hallowed halls of power.

But even that, alas, is unlikely to spell the end of VdLs political career. The only thing that could accomplish that would be an emphatic ruling or charges against her in one of the trials or investigations she faces, which is fairly unlikely. Vdl has a rare talent for failing upwards, so even if she fails to secure a second term as EU Commission president, she will probably land a new one that is at least as good, if not better  such as, say, NATO chief. She has already shown a taste for war and is so beholden to US interests that Politico called her Europes American President. Plus, Joe Biden is apparently keen for her to fill the role.

With or without VdL as Commission president, the outlook for the EU is decidedly grim. While much of the rot had already set in before VdLs mandate, with the US-sparked Global Financial Crisis playing a key role as catalyst, her presidency has certainly helped to accelerate the decline. During her reign, the EUs economy was thrust into a death spiral of de-industrialisation by the war in Ukraine and the EUs self-harming sanctions on Russia, of which she is one of the most strident proponents. This, in turn, will help render the EU even more of a US vassal state, which was a key goal of project Ukraine all along.

The EUs decline will almost certainly continue regardless of who takes over the reins. According to Berliner Morgenpost, one possible candidate is (cue drum roll) Mario Draghi. The former Goldman Sachs banker has already proven himself to be a faithful servant of transatlantic banking and corporate interests, not only as governor of the Bank of Italy and the ECB but also as prime minister of Italy. The 76-year old technocrat already appears to enjoy the approval of Emmanuel Macron, the man who, together with Merkel, helped engineer VdLs rise from disgraced German minister of defence to European Commission president. Draghi himself says hes not interested in the job, but thats exactly what youd expect him to say.
Only 15% of Israelis want Netanyahu to remain prime minister after the war

A new poll has found that only 15 percent of Israelis want Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to remain in office once the ongoing conflict with Hamas and other Palestinian militants in Gaza ends.

The poll was conducted by the Israel Democracy Institute, a Jerusalem-based research organization.

Netanyahu's political rival and current partner in the temporary unity war cabinet, the more centrist Benny Gantz, garnered support from 23 percent of interviewees. Around 30 percent did not name a preferred prime minister.

The poll was conducted among 746 respondents between Dec. 25 to 28, with a confidence level of 95 percent. A previous poll by the institute earlier in December indicates that 69 percent of Israelis want an election following the conclusion of the conflict. (Related: Israeli experts do not believe Netanyahu can destroy Hamas and bring the hostages home.)

The institute's polling is consistent with the results of the most recent opinion polls published in Israel. One survey, conducted by Channel 13 and released in December, noted that Netanyahu's extremist party, Likud, would only win 18 seats  down from its current 32  in the Knesset. Gantz's National Unity party would become the largest in the Knesset with 37 seats, more than triple its current 12.

Furthermore, Netanyahu's prewar extremist coalition would be able to muster just 44 seats in the Knesset compared to the 64 they won in the previous election in November 2022. At least 61 seats are needed to form a majority in the parliament. A presumed future coalition bloc made up of the main opposition parties would win 71 seats.

Netanyahu may be intentionally prolonging the conflict

Political analysts are strongly suggesting that Netanyahu is aware that his tenure as prime minister ends after the conflict. In a recent statement he even admitted that it would be months before Israel could declare victory in Gaza, with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) preparing for most of its forces to retreat from the Strip.

This is part of the IDF's new strategy of waging a lengthy and low-intensity campaign focusing on eliminating remaining Hamas strongholds and "pockets of resistance" in Gaza. Israeli military officials expect this phase of the conflict to last for many months more.

Analysts have pointed out that a prolonged conflict would give Netanyahu sufficient justification to delay calling for new elections. Under Israel's parliamentary system, lawmakers serve for four-year terms that can be cut short through early elections, which can be called if the prime minister wishes or if he loses the support of a majority of the Knesset. The latest the election can be held is Oct. 27, 2026.

This gives Netanyahu nearly three years to improve his political standing, either during the war or right after. Even now, analysts say Netanyahu is using his position as Israel's wartime leader to test campaign slogans, try to appease his more moderate-leaning coalition partners and attempt to deny any responsibility for the calamity that befell the country on Oct. 7.

"Every moment of his life, he is a politician," said Mazal Mualem, a biographer of Netanyahu, who noted that the prime minister's strategy is intended to buy time for him and to try to salvage his shrinking polling numbers. "Bibi always thinks he has a chance [to survive the next election]."

Critics note that he has been using the war to appeal to his more extremist-leaning base of support and pitting his political rivals and opponents against each other.

"It is no longer the good of the country Netanyahu is thinking about, but his own political and legal salvation," wrote military commentator Amos Harel. He and other commentators believe Netanyahu is interested in dragging out the war to regain public support through military achievements or in the hopes that time might work in his favor as the nation recovers.

Netanyahu has already served longer than any other Israeli leader, having held on to the top spot for 17 years.

More Israel-related stories can be found at IsraelCollapse.com.

Watch this clip from "Borzzikman" reporting on how Israeli losses in Gaza are escalating as the IDF begin their retreat from Gaza.

This video is from the channel The Prisoner on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

The Palestinians were right all along: Netanyahu wants them completely expelled from the region.

Turkey's Erdogan compares Israel's Netanyahu to Hitler: "He is richer than Hitler; he gets support from the West."

Netanyahu looking for countries willing to absorb Palestinians displaced out of Gaza.

Hundreds gather in Tel Aviv to protest against Netanyahu government following accidental killing of 3 Israeli hostages.

Netanyahu's CORRUPTION trial resumes amid conflict in the Gaza Strip.

Sources include:

Reuters.com

TimesOfIsrael.com 1

TimesOfIsrael.com 2

PBS.org

Brighteon.com
Gallup poll reveals how trust in Big Pharma, hospitals and other medical services is PLUMMETING

Gallup's 2023 Health and Healthcare Survey asked American healthcare consumers to rate their satisfaction with provider types within the medical system. Results of the November poll revealed that American trust in pharmaceutical companies , hospitals and other medical services is declining.

Researchers reported that at least 70 percent of respondents "did not believe pharmaceutical companies provided good care," while 40 percent of respondents thought "doctors did not provide good care." Nurses received the best rating overall.

Poll results showed that many healthcare services and providers have fallen in rank over the past 20 years. In 2003, 53 percent of respondents said pharmaceutical drug companies provided excellent or good care; 70 percent said hospitals provided excellent or good care; and 81 percent said physicians provided excellent or good care.

In the 2023 poll, pharmaceuticals, hospitals and physicians earned approval from only 33 percent, 58 percent and 69 percent of respondents, respectively.

Additionally, health insurance companies have experienced a decline in approval rating from 2010 to 2023. At least 42 percent of poll respondents said they thought health insurance companies provided excellent or good care in 2010. But 13 years later, only 31 percent believe that.

Gallup said the significant changes are possibly due to higher healthcare costs and staff shortages. The Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and associated COVID-19 vaccine mandates are also possible factors that could have influenced the attitude shifts.

KFF Health reported that as of 2022, at least four in 10 U.S. adults said the high costs of medical care have forced them to delay or go without needed treatments.

The same number also said they had medical debt because of medical or dental bills. (Related: Pfizer facing multiple lawsuits after failing to disclose the presence of toxic DNA fragments in COVID-19 vaccines.)

Most adults don't feel comfortable living in nursing homes

Only 25 percent of survey respondents, down from 29 percent in 2003, reported that nursing homes provide excellent or good care, while 37 percent said the care provided is poor.

According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), more than 1.2 million Americans live in 15,000 nursing homes. The figure is expected to increase to at least 2.3 million by 2030 as the Baby Boomer generation ages.

The national sentiment in the November Gallop poll toward nursing homes is consistent with a West Health-Gallup poll conducted in July 2023. The previous poll revealed that seven in 10 adults would be "very or somewhat uncomfortable with living in a nursing home" if they were unable to care for themselves.

Within the medical system, nurses are the most trusted providers. At least 82 percent of the November poll respondents believed that nurses provide excellent or good care.

Back in 2003, 85 percent of poll respondents ranked them as providing excellent or good care. In 2010, 88 percent of the respondents said so.

Overall, this means nurses have consistently topped the list of medical care providers, which includes physicians, hospitals, urgent care clinics, nursing homes, insurance companies and pharmaceutical drug companies.

This maintained trust comes regardless of a concern within the profession about burnout, impacted mental health and lack of support, according to a 2022 Nurse.org survey of 2,100 American nurses.

The survey revealed that at least nine in 10 nurses thought the nursing shortage that began with the COVID-19 pandemic was worsening and that factors such as burnout, poor working conditions and a low salary were the primary concerns. At least 79 percent of respondents said their organizations were also inadequately staffed.

For more on the declining quality of healthcare in America, visit BadMedicine.news.

Watch this clip about Big Pharma's stranglehold on the Australian government.

This video is from the Fritjof Persson channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

FDA WARNING: Two popular antiseizure drugs have a potentially DEADLY side effect.

Massachusetts hospital reveals 450 patients were possibly EXPOSED to hepatitis, HIV.

Whistleblower claims NHS EUTHANIZED PATIENTS to inflate COVID-19 pandemic death toll.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

News.Gallup.com

KFF.org

Brighteon.com
The beneficial ownership information reporting rule and the surveillance state

The 2021 National Defense Authorization Act created the Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting rule to ostensibly target money laundering. Beginning January 1, 2024, the Act mandates U.S. companies, regardless of size, to register their beneficial and controlling owners with the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). FinCEN claims the corporate ownership database will be used exclusively to identify anonymous shell companies involved in money laundering and terrorist activities. Once again, like the Patriot Act, it grants surveillance powers violating the Constitution. There is no provision for judicial oversight to protect individual rights as if that ever mattered.

(Article by Robert A. Bishop republished from AmericanThinker.com)

Reporting requirements apply to an estimated 33 million reporting companies defined as corporations, limited liability corporations, or similar entities. There are twenty-three categories of companies that are exempt from reporting. They are nonprofits, banks, insurance companies, investment funds, public companies, broker-dealers, public accounting firms, money-transmitting businesses, and existing shell companies with no foreign owners, assets, or active businesses.

The main scope is Main Street businesses like small owner-operated businesses like restaurateurs, construction trades, professional service organizations, retailers, and other privately owned businesses. Reporting requirements take effect in 2024 for newly-formed entities and on January 1, 2025, for existing entities.

The law imposes its heaviest burdens on law-abiding U.S. citizens. At the same time, criminal enterprises will not report, manipulate, or avoid disclosure requirements undermining the law. This is similar to municipal gun control restrictions; criminals just ignore the law. The FinCEN database will be composed of law-abiding companies.

Reporting Requirements

Beneficial owner is defined as an individual who, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship, or otherwise exercises substantial control over the entity or owns or controls not less than 25 percent of the ownership interests of the entity. For each of the covered individuals, the reporting company must furnish to FinCEN their full legal name, birth date, current residential or business street address, IRS Taxpayer Identification Number, and unique identifying number from an acceptable identification document, such as an unexpired passport or a state-issued identification card or drivers license. Any changes in a covered individuals address, a new drivers license, or beneficial ownership must be reported.

Reporting companies that deliberately fail to comply with the reporting requirements are subject to a civil penalty of up to $500 per day, up to $10,000, two years imprisonment, or both a fine and confinement. An interesting dilemma is whether all beneficial owners will be assessed civil and criminal penalties. Will BOI or the IRS require banks to freeze the corporate entity's account without due process?

The IRS agent staff is expanding, and it will have the muscle to take advantage of BOIs corporate ownership database for targeted investigations and audits with the possibility of targeting political opposition. If you think Im kidding; keep in mind the IRS targeted and relentlessly audited directors and officers of Tea Party nonprofits only because they were considered dissenters. BOI will be a tool of tyranny.

Will the Biden family crime syndicate comply by filing on its twenty-plus LLCs, which have no specific business interests?

FinCEN may share the reporting companies reported personal data with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and foreign governments with U.S. treaties. Also, financial institutions will use the corporate ownership database for customer due diligence provided the reporting company consents. We can anticipate financial institutions requiring mandatory access to do business.

Constitutional Violations

BIO is a dragnet using suspicionless searches and compelled disclosures to look for potential financial crimes, which violates privacy. State entity formations don't require disclosure of beneficial ownership, which provides privacy and prevents intrusion from the Federal government. Privacy is one of the most significant benefits of incorporation in Delaware. BOI is an unconstitutional usurping of a state's power to charter and regulate an entity.

The release of personal data to various federal agencies without the consent of the reporting company is an unreasonable search and seizure violation of the Fourth Amendment. Compelling reporting is also self-incrimination and a violation of the Fifth Amendment, and an invasion of the right to privacy violates the Ninth Amendment. Further, BOI violates the First Amendment's right to free speech and private association. BOI is unconstitutional.

Read more at: AmericanThinker.com
Former Bill Gates vaccine scientist predicts sharp population decline: up to 30-40% in highly vaccinated countries

The health carnage thus far seen from the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) "vaccine" campaign is only the first round in a series of horrors that are still soon to come

Former Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation scientist and vaccine expert Dr. Geert Vanden Bossche spoke with investigator Steve Kirsch this week about all this, including what the world can expect in the near future as COVID continues to morph and outsmart the injections.

"The mutations are no longer restricted to spike protein, which indicates enhanced activity of CTLs (cytotoxic T cells) to diminish viral infectiousness," Bossche told Kirsch about the newest mutations being detected.

"And that CTL activity is responsible for the decline of T cells that in fact boost the neutralizing antibodies that prevent virulence."

You may recall that before the jabs were unleashed under Operation Warp Speed, Bossche was warning that unleashing a so-called "vaccine" right in the middle of a "pandemic" was a really bad idea, for this reason specifically.

"Ultimately, this evolution would inevitably lead to the emergence of a highly virulent variant that would cause waves of hospitalizations and severe disease in highly vaccinated countries  of course, always the same, only in highly vaccinated countries," Bossche stressed about how this phenomenon only seems to be happening in developed, highly jabbed countries.

"In my humble opinion, what we will see is something completely, completely unprecedented in terms of the magnitude of the wave of morbidity and unfortunately mortality that we will see."

"What we will see is completely unprecedented in terms of magnitude of the wave of morbidity and unfortunately mortality...up to 30-40% in highly vaccinated countries." -Former Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation vaccine scientist @GVDBossche on VSRF LIVE. pic.twitter.com/tjQpdjy52q  Vaccine Safety Research Foundation (@VacSafety) December 15, 2023

(Related: In late 2022, Bossche warned that an end-of-the-world situation is brewing in which millions of "fully vaccinated" people will eventually drop dead, creating a mass extinction event.)

2032 to see "sharp population decline"

When asked by Kirsch for specifics about what this "completely unprecedented" future phenomenon will entail, he speculated that any from one-third to nearly one-half of all people will die as a result of what COVID jabs did to immunity and public health.

"In some of the highly vaccinated populations ... I would not be surprised that we will be dealing with serious decimation of the population, in some populations, maybe up to 30 or 40 percent," Bossche commented.

Armstrong Economics' Martin Armstrong says his own computer model is forecasting a "sharp population decline" in 2032 and beyond. Perhaps this forecast is based on the agenda of billionaire eugenicist Bill Gates, who wants to massively reduce the global population in lockstep with his late father's depopulation plans.

"His father did that by creating Planned Parenthood, convincing women it was their right to kill their babies, and placing them in minority neighborhoods some believed was a racist agenda," Armstrong writes.

"Even Justice Ginsberg commented that Roe v. Wade was all about reducing population  not women's rights."

In the comments, someone wrote that perhaps global warming and climate change are cover stories for mounting COVID jab deaths and what they mean for the global population.

"It will be blamed on climate change, the Russians or Chinese, white supremacy, etc. and the 'elites' will walk away as heroes (in their own eyes)," this person wrote.

Another wrote that with so many wars now occurring, the truth about all that Bossche is speaking of "will be buried."

"The war and the associated censorship will be used to hide the bodies," said another. "They will say people died from 'COVID' or 'war.'"

To keep up with the latest news about Bill Gates' depopulation efforts, visit Genocide.news.

Sources for this article include:

ArmstrongEconomics.com

NaturalNews.com
CBS investigative reporter predicts a 2024 Black Swan event amid global tensions

CBS News investigative reporter Catherine Herridge foresees a possible Black Swan event in 2024 that could send shockwaves across the world.

Black Swan event, popularized by statistician Nassim Taleb in 2007, refers to a massive, negative and unpredictable event that can cause widespread repercussions on politics, finance, national economies and even global culture. Events similar to Taleb's description include the Great Recession.

Herridge, known for her work on national security issues, defined the event as an unexpected occurrence with widespread and significant consequences. In a recent episode of "Face the Nation" with Margaret Brennan on CBS News, Herridge stated her predictions for the New Year. She stressed the dynamic threat environment facing many countries and the extended period of heightened threat levels anticipated throughout 2024.

"Well, mine's a little dark. I just feel a lot of concern that 2024 may be the year of a Black Swan event. This is a national security event with high impact that's very hard to predict," Herridge said. She cited several factors that could contribute to the possibility of certain events happening.

"There are a number of concernsconcerns I have that factor into that," explained Herridge. "Not only this sort of enduring, heightened threat level that we're facing, the wars in Israel, also Ukraine. And we're so divided in this country in ways that we haven't seen before. And I think that just creates fertile ground for our adversaries like North Korea, China, and Iran. And that's what concerns me most," she added.

The contentious issue of the influx of migrants on the southern border adds to the issue. Speculations about potential catastrophic events have gained traction, with "sanctuary cities" voicing concerns over the continuous influx of migrants and reports of illegal border crossers on the terror watch list reaching alarming levels. Political pundits added fuel to the fire by predicting doomsday scenarios should efforts to keep former President Donald Trump off the 2024 ballot succeed.

Netizens also sense an incoming Black Swan event

Commenters on X, formerly known as Twitter, supported the claims of Herridge and blamed President Joe Biden and his de facto open borders policy for endangering national security.

"Of course, there will be a Black Swan event. Joe Biden has allowed over 10 million illegals to enter the country. Millions more will sneak in before the election in 2024. Certainly, there are terrorists making their way through. The United States has no national security because of Biden."

Meanwhile, other users feared potential election fraud in the upcoming presidential election. (Related: Myra Adams shares wild PLOT TWISTS that could upend 2024 presidential election.)

"Something so big it could compromise our elections maybe? I got a bad feeling too, Catherine, so tell me, do you know something the rest of us don't? Are you getting the narrative set up for something that is coming? Black Swan event," one X user wrote.

"Funny how these Black Swan events happen whenever there is an election in the United States," another one said.

However, others suggest that this fear-mongering tactic from the media is just another ploy to garner attention and clicks from the public.

"Sounds like people are being programmed to believe that something terrible is about to happen. And that something will surely have an effect on how the election is run or maybe not even run if there is a national emergency in place so it can't be run," another user argued.

Watch Ivan Raiklin warn of a cover-up when the 2024 election is stolen on the Brighteon.TV program "Connecting The Dots."

This video is from the BrighteonTV channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Marxist revolutionary descendant decides Trumps 2024 presidential fate.

Pfizer shares PLUNGE as gloomy 2024 economic outlook emerges.

Americas 2024 election may be decided by 23 million ILLEGAL ALIENS.

Heres a summary of a half-centurys worth of failed eco-pocalyptic predictions of Earths doom.

Economist predicts 2024 will bring biggest crash of our lifetime to U.S. markets.

Sources include:

Modernity.news

Bizpacreview.com

Westernjournal.com

Brighteon.com
More than 7,000 German women have been raped or assaulted by migrants since 2015

An analysis of German government figures found that, since 2015, at least 7,000 women in Germany have been raped or sexually assaulted by alleged asylum-seeking illegal immigrants

According to the Swiss German newspaper Neue Zurcher Zeitung, data from Germany's Federal Criminal Police Office indicates that, since 2017, over a thousand women have reported being sexually assaulted by immigrants every year.

Extrapolating from these figures, the paper estimates that at least 7,000 women had suffered rape or sexual assault by asylum seekers since the onset of the European migrant crisis in 2015, when former Chancellor Angela Merkel opened Germany's gates to waves of migrants from the Middle East and Africa.

Last year, the report notes, asylum-seeking migrants were significantly overrepresented in reported rape and sexual assault cases. Of approximately 10,000 suspects, 6,366 were German, while 3,679 were foreigners. Notably, 1,115 were asylum-seeking migrants, constituting just 2.5 percent of the population but accounting for over 11 percent of sex assaults and rapes. (Related: Group of young migrants attack German children and teens with sticks.)

This aligns with existing trends, with migration researcher Ruud Koopmans finding that asylum seekers were five times more likely to be involved in rape cases and 3.3 times more likely to commit sex crimes, including harassment and abuse.

While the high proportion of young male asylum seekers may contribute to these figures, Koopmans highlights certain nationalities, such as Syrians, Afghanis and Pakistanis, where societal norms may contribute to a higher incidence of such crimes.

Manuel Ostermann, deputy chairman of the German Federal Police Union, emphasized that migrants committing sexual offenses, mainly against German women, are often known to the police, sometimes with prior convictions, yet remain in the country due to lenient deportation standards.

Ostermann stressed the urgent need to prevent individuals involved in crimes against sexual self-determination from staying in Germany.

The co-leader of the right-wing Alternative for Germany party, Alice Weidel, attributed the alarming situation to the "irresponsible policy of open borders since 2015." She urged the government to prioritize the protection of its citizens rather than tolerating foreign criminals.

In response, the leftist Minister of the Interior, Social Democrat Nancy Faeser, condemned the acts as abhorrent but refrained from addressing the broader issue of mass migration.

Stricter sexual assault laws make it easier to deport convicted migrants

This issue of sexual violence by migrants has persisted in Germany, exemplified by the New Year's Eve attacks in 2015, where predominantly North African and Middle Eastern migrant men assaulted over a thousand women in multiple cities including Cologne, Hamburg and Dusseldorf and Frankfurt am Main.

Many perpetrators never faced justice, with only six men convicted of sex crimes related to the attacks.

Stricter sexual assault law was passed in 2016, which includes provisions that could ease deportation rules for refugees convicted of sex-related offenses.

The legislation intensifies penalties for anyone convicted of sexual assault, irrespective of nationality, and introduces specific jail-then-deportation rules for convicted refugees who sought asylum in Germany.

The modifications aim at two interconnected objectives: closing legal loopholes related to sexual assaults, addressing complaints that German codes are too lenient, and responding to the increasing public backlash following the large influx of migrants and refugees from the Middle East and beyond in the previous year.

However, some lawmakers and activists oppose linking the two issues, arguing that it could further stigmatize refugees as German public opinion turns against them.

Previously, perpetrators had to be proven to have made threats or used physical force to be convicted of rape in Germany.

Experts have long argued that the country's criminal code lags behind that of other developed countries, where sexual assault is more broadly defined to include non-consensual contact. In 2014, a German association of women's counseling centers found dozens of cases where sex offenders were not prosecuted due to legal loopholes.

Lawmakers who supported the new law argue that its passage will facilitate the conviction of suspects and lead to more severe sentences.

Watch this video discussing how Germany is being flooded with rioting illegal immigrants.

This video is from the Earth Shaking News channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Bone tests reveal 80% of minor migrants in France are actually ADULTS

Italy struggles to deal with influx of 6,000 migrants in one day

REPLACEMENTS: German government in talks to allow 250,000 Kenyan migrants to fill worker shortage

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

NZZ.ch

Archive.SLTrib.com

Brighteon.com
Zombie deer disease outbreak has reportedly spread to 32 states and 4 Canadian provinces

The United States Geological Survey reports that the current outbreak of chronic wasting disease (CWD) among deer, sometimes referred to as zombie deer disease, has spread to 32 states and four Canadian provinces

This announcement comes just months after a deer carcass found in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming tested positive for CWD in November 2023.

CWD, which was first detected in Wyoming in 1985, affects deer, elk, reindeer, sika deer and moose. In one recent report, 800 samples of deer, elk and moose collected in Wyoming tested positive for the disease in 2022.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines CWD as a prion disease that may take over a year before infected animals show symptoms, including drastic weight loss, stumbling, listlessness and other neurologic issues. The affected areas are primarily in the upper Midwest and mid-Atlantic states, with Kansas, Nebraska and Wisconsin reporting over 40 counties affected.

According to Michael Osterholm, a scientist renowned for his research on mad cow disease, "the situation could unfold into a "slow-moving disaster." Cory Anderson, the co-director at the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy in Minnesota, backed Osterholm's claim and warned the public that thousands of people may have already unknowingly consumed meat from infected deer.

CWD, similar to mad cow, is described as "invariably fatal, incurable and highly contagious." (Related: Disease-carrying deer ticks in Pennsylvania park can spread potentially fatal neurological virus, warn experts.)

Anderson noted how a recent mad cow disease outbreak in the United Kingdom provides America with an example of how "things can get crazy" almost overnight "when a spillover event happens from, say, livestock to people."

"We're talking about the potential of something similar occurring," said Anderson. "No one is saying that it's definitely going to happen, but it's important for people to be prepared."

Osterholm and Anderson fear the virus might leap from animals to humans, reminiscent of the chaos seen during the aforementioned mad cow disease outbreak in the U.K. in the 1980s and 1990s, where 4.4 million cattle were slaughtered. The disease, fatal to cattle, affects the central nervous system, inducing aggressive symptoms and a lack of coordination. Since 1995, 178 human deaths have been linked to the human variant of mad cow disease.

However, the US National Park Service claims there is no evidence of CWD infecting humans or domestic animals. Therefore, game hunters have been advised to apply safety measures and avoid consuming tissues from infected animals.

WGFD and the CDC continue to monitor the spread of CWD in the U.S.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department's (WGFD) Wildlife Health Laboratory conducted tests on alive and dead samples from the nervous system tissues of the sick mule deer. These samples, usually from the spinal cord or peripheral systems, such as the retropharyngeal lymph nodes and tonsils, consistently showed positive results for CWD.

According to the CDC, studies have shown that CWD could be a potential risk to non-human primates, including monkeys, leading to concerns about its possible transmission to humans. These studies backed the claim of the World Health Organization since 1997 of keeping agents of known prion diseases out of the human food chain.

In response, Yellowstone National Park officials are working with the WGFD to monitor the spread of CWD within the park. The discovery has prompted a revision of the park's 2021 CWD surveillance plan, with a new protocol expected this year.

Visit Outbreak.news to learn about other disease outbreaks.

Watch this video of Dr. Bob Thiel discussing the "zombie deer disease."

This video is from the Bible New Prophecy channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

STUDY: Use of "last-resort" antibiotic colistin in animal feed driving global spread of superbugs.

WHO monitors mysterious pneumonia cases among children in China, which experts say are "concerning" but likely not due to a new COVID variant.

Hiking danger: Powassan virus is a rare but real threat.

Cases of white lung syndrome reported in the U.S. and China.

Sources include:

100PercentFedup.com

DailyMail.co.uk

Independent.co.uk

Brighteon.com
Dutch army head says Netherlands should PREPARE FOR WAR with Russia

The head of the Royal Netherlands Army (RNLA) has advised his country to prepare for a potential war with an "increasingly assertive" Russia.

Lt. Gen. Martin Wijnen, the RNLA's commander, issued this advice during a Dec. 28 interview with the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. "Russia is getting stronger," he warned, adding that "the Netherlands should not think that [its] safety is guaranteed just because [it is] 1,500 kilometers (932 miles) away."

According to Wijnen, the country "must work on [its] operational readiness" and "ensure that [it has] enough deterrence to deprive any adversary of the courage to [attack]." He continued: "There is only one language that Russia understands  [the language] of robust armed forces."

"The Netherlands must learn again that the entire society must be ready when things go wrong," the commander told the newspaper. While he stressed that his warning does not mean everyone would have to "wear a helmet tomorrow," Wijnen lamented that the Dutch have become "too accustomed to the idea that there is always peace." (Related: German foreign minister admits country is at war with Russia.)

The army chief also admitted to De Telegraaf that the RNLA, which he has helmed since 2019, has been "crippled by budget cuts." Given this, Wijnen stressed that the Netherlands should strengthen its military and help society adapt to the potential hardships of war.

His advice wasn't limited to the government, however. The RNLA chief called on Dutch society to improve its "resilience" by storing "supplies, food and drinking water" in the basements of people's homes, so that it could "take the blow" when the time comes. Wijnen also urged Dutch companies to be ready to provide for the military's needs.

Dutch military short on troops

According to De Telegraaf, the Netherlands  which abolished conscription back in 1997  is now facing a "glaring personnel shortage" amid a potential war with Russia. Given this, Wijnen spoke about the need to increase the RNLA's size. He also warned that the Dutch army couldn't afford to suffer any casualties in battle.

"If we start to suffer losses, who will replenish them? We used to have options for that, but not anymore," Wijnen remarked. He also noted that the Dutch won't get a choice on whether to fight or not in case of an "imposed conflict."

Given this shortage of personnel, the Dutch military is currently running a campaign called "service year" that encourages young people to enlist in the RNLA voluntarily for 12 months. Despite Wijnen claiming that the campaign was a "huge success," he disclosed that only around 600 people joined the program in 2023. According to him, that number "should be between 2,000 and 3,000."

Moreover, Wijnen also claimed that Russia has designs on the three Baltic states after it is done with Ukraine. The three Baltic countries  Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia  were formerly Soviet republics, but have since joined the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

But Moscow has never mentioned any plans to attack any NATO member state. At most, it has only repeatedly warned that the U.S. and its allies continuing to supply military aid to Kyiv make them de facto parties to the conflict. Moscow has also warned that ongoing military support from the West increases the risk of a direct confrontation between Russia and the West.

Head over to NationalSecurity.news for more stories like this.

Watch this news clip about the Netherlands expelling 17 Russian diplomats it deemed as spies.

This video is from the Chinese taking down EVIL CCP channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Swiss government considering GENDER-NEUTRAL military conscription.

The next major war is reportedly about to begin, and "D-day" has already been chosen.

Denmark plans to implement mandatory conscription for women to meet NATOs membership requirement.

FORCED CONSCRIPTION: Ukrainian troops are KIDNAPPING ethnic Hungarians to be deployed to the front lines.

First NATO country provides tanks, artillery to Ukraine as U.S. Senate votes to resurrect World War II-era assistance program.

Sources include:

InfoWars.com

Brighteon.com
Jeffrey Epstein's former associate and attorney Alan Dershowitz, whose name was mentioned 137 times in the latest Epstein case file dump, told Sean Hannity on Wednesday night in a pivot for the ages that the "feminists" upset over the case should "condemn Hamas."

(Article by Chris Menahan republished from InformationLiberation.com)

WATCH:

From Mediaite, " 'Let's Put This in Context': Alan Dershowitz Defends Representing Jeffrey Epstein by Slamming 'Radical Feminists' Who Didn't Condemn Hamas":

"I've represented some of the worst people in the world and continue to do so," Dershowitz told Sean Hannity. "That's my life, and of course I represented Epstein."

Dershowitz then pivoted to "radical feminists" who he said were insufficiently critical of Hamas after the Oct. 7 terror attacks in Israel:

Now, the one point I do want to make, I understand all the feminist groups and the radicals who think this is the worst thing in the world that anybody ever had any contact with Jeffrey Epstein. Where are all those radical feminists when it comes to the Hamas rapes of young Jewish girls, sexual abuse, beheadings? They are quiet, they are silent! The incredible hypocrisy of the "Me Too" movement. "Me Too," except if you're a Jew.

And I want to have a list of all the radical feminists who are pushing hard  and I understand that  to get all these names are revealed. And I want to know, how many of them have ever actually condemned Hamas for the rapes that we now know occurred and the murders that occurred? How many have been silent? And how many, like the National Lawyers Guild, have actually approved of what Hamas did?

So, let's put this context. I'm thrilled that all these papers have come out. I urged them. I went to court and I asked for everything to come out because I knew that I had done nothing wrong, and the papers would exculpate me.
Gay keeps $900K annual salary despite resigning as Harvard president after evidence of serial plagiarism emerges

Outgoing Harvard University President Claudine Gay gets to keep earning nearly $900,000 per year, even after stepping down from her position due to her plagiarism scandal and allegations of insufficient response to antisemitism.

Reviews by Harvard found multiple shortcomings in Gay's academic citations, including several instances of "duplicative language." While the university concluded the errors "were not considered intentional or reckless" and didn't rise to misconduct, the allegations persisted. (Related: 'Diversity hire' Harvard president Claudine Gay plagiarized PhD dissertation: report.)

"It is with a heavy heart, but a deep love for Harvard, that I write to share that I will be stepping down as president," she wrote in a letter to the Harvard community. "After consultation with members of the Corporation, it has become clear that it is in the best interests of Harvard for me to resign so that our community can navigate this moment of extraordinary challenge with a focus on the institution rather than any individual." While Gay did not indicate the exact date when she plans to formally step down, she described the decision as "difficult beyond words."

The political science professor was reported to return to a position on the school's faculty. Her new position was not specified, but she is expected to receive a salary comparable to what she previously received, if not higher, the New York Post reported. She earned $879,079 as a faculty of arts and sciences dean in 2021 and $824,068 in 2020 before she assumed office six months ago, according to records published by the university. Her predecessor Lawrence Bacow pulled in $1.3 million annually before his departure, according to the student newspaper Harvard Crimson.

Meanwhile, Alan M. Garber  who currently serves as provost and chief academic officer  will serve as interim president until the school selects a new chief, officials said.

House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY), a Harvard graduate, condemned the decision of the academic institution to allow her to remain on the faculty. She argued that Gay's plagiarism charges are an indelible stain that mars the school's legitimacy.

"She is not fit to be a faculty member," Stefanik told the Post. "It is unacceptable when you have students at Harvard who would be expelled for plagiarism to allow a faculty member who has nearly 50 examples of plagiarism in their very slim body of academic work. It's absurd and everybody knows it. Harvard knows it too."

Gay: Congress' invitation to testify on antisemitism "a well-laid trap"

After the controversial resignation, the first Black president of Harvard and one with the shortest tenure in the university's 388-year history warned that the tactics used against her were "merely a single skirmish in a broader war to unravel public faith in pillars of American society." The New York Times quoted her on Wednesday, one day after she stepped down: "Trusted institutions of all types  from public health agencies to news organizations  will continue to fall victim to coordinated attempts to undermine their legitimacy and ruin their leaders' credibility."

Gay argued that her invitation to testify to Congress about antisemitism on elite college campuses had been "a well-laid trap" and that the campaign against her by the right-wingers "was about more than one university and one leader." Gay warned: "For the opportunists driving cynicism about our institutions, no single victory or toppled leader exhausts their zeal."

She said she regretted not speaking forcefully enough against antisemitism on campus in Congressional remarks that had sparked bipartisan backlash, writing: "I should have stated more forcefully what all people of good conscience know: Hamas is a terrorist organization that seeks to eradicate the Jewish state" and that she had "neglected to clearly articulate that calls for the genocide of Jewish people are abhorrent and unacceptable and that I would use every tool at my disposal to protect students from that kind of hate."

Visit CampusInsanity.com to read more stories related to America's education system.

Watch this video about Gay's resignation and how the left cult blames it on "racism," instead of her decision to lie and commit plagiarism.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Harvard president Claudine Gay ALLOWED to keep her job after plagiarism evidence surfaces even after refusing to condemn calls for genocide against Israel.

"I am angry": Black scholar who says Harvard Prez plagiarized her work is livid as 5th example emerges.

Wikipedia does fire drill to downplay Harvard's Gay plagiarism/antisemitism scandal.

Sources include:

NYPost.com

Edition.CNN.com

TheGuardian.com

Brighteon.com
Google settles $5 billion privacy washing lawsuit for undisclosed amount

The days of Google's tech dominance are numbered as the search engine giant faces more litigation for secretly tracking Chrome web browser users while in "Incognito Mode."

A corporation under the Alphabet family of companies, Google recently settled a case for an undisclosed amount that sought $5 billion in damages for the tech giant's Chrome spying functionality while in private mode, which tricks users into thinking that their web-browsing habits are a family affair.

If a web browser such as Chrome tells a user that he or she is "incognito" and can "browse privately," as Chrome promises, then this should be what happens, both plaintiffs and a judge have determined. Chrome, however, still spies on users even when they think they are browsing privately, hence the legal case.

Proton's Ben Wolford commented on the case that whenever Google's notion of "privacy" conflicts with actual legal principles as codified in the law, Google almost always loses.

"Privacy washing is Google's attempt to portray its services as private, even as it sweeps vast amounts of your personal data into its profitable advertising engine," reported the Expose. "It may work for marketing, but it doesn't work in the courts."

(Related: Heavily censored Pfizer documents show that the Wuhan coronavirus [COVID-19] "pandemic" initiated a five-year mass depopulation plan that is scheduled to reach completion by 2025.)

Google hates privacy

Last year, Google introduced a new "ad privacy feature" for Chrome, as well as expanded the release of a beta version of Ad Topics for Android, both matters relating to Google's misleadingly named Privacy Sandbox initiative.

Google says this initiative is all about protecting user privacy, but watchdogs say the Privacy Sandbox initiative is just a disguised power grab in which Google is trying to "give itself total monopolistic control over the ability to spy on user activity as a 'private feature.'"

In 2008, Google launched Incognito Mode as an alleged "privacy" option for Chrome, which now boasts over three billion users globally. While Incognito Mode appears to hide browsing activity locally, meaning on a user's personal computer, it does not prevent browsing data from reaching Google itself.

Once this loophole, of sorts, was discovered, a group of five plaintiffs in 2020 filed a lawsuit against Google, alleging multiple violations including the federal wiretapping law, California privacy laws, breach of contract and other counts.

The plaintiffs sought "at least" $5 billion in damages because Google promised not to collect user data while Chrome is operating in Incognito Mode, but did so anyway. The lawsuit in question covers millions of Google users who have been using Chrome and other Google products since June 1, 2016. The case seeks at least $5,000 in damages per user.

In its defense, Google is arguing that Incognito Mode is a valid feature of Chrome that informs users that even when they open a private tab, Google and visited websites can still track users' browsing activity.

Google tried, but failed, to convince a federal judge in California to dismiss the case. Instead, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland paved the way for the plaintiffs' case against Google to go to trial.

In Judge Rogers' view, when people activate a feature called "incognito," they are relying on a common sense meaning of this word to assert a reasonable expectation of privacy, which they are not being afforded by Google while using Chrome in Incognito Mode.

"It's a direct rebuke of privacy watching," commented Wolford about Judge Rogers' decision.

Judge Rogers had scheduled a trial for Feb. 5, 2024, but on Dec. 28, 2023, the proposed class action was put on hold after lawyers for Google and the plaintiffs announced that they had reached a preliminary settlement for an unknown amount.

More related news can be found at BigTech.news.

Sources for this article include:

Expose-News.com

NaturalNews.com
GOVERNMENT CENSORSHIP at an all time high: All acts of violence, even staged ones, are now used to take away your freedom to SPEAK

More censorship, the governments around the world declare, as if there is not already enough. Ever since the plandemic, most governments around the world have declared war on free speech and free press, trying their best to ban and limit truth talk about the fake wars, fake climate change, fake vaccines, open borders and fake news in general.

For example, even though Antifa and Black Lives Matter violently protested in most metropolitan cities across America for years, destroying businesses, beating people to death and setting fires, nary a single one of them was prosecuted or did jail time; however, when Trump supporters and patriots marched to the Capital on January 6th, and peacefully protested a (fixed) election, they were ferociously hunted down and are STILL serving prison time, while being abused in the DC gulags.

It was all labeled incorrectly as a violent "insurrection" and this lie is still being spread today by all of mainstream media and social media. It's disinformation, but the powers that be would have us all believe MORE censorship is needed for law and order. In reality, it's just another form of censorship, to scare anyone else from challenging the false election narrative from 2020, and all the rest to come.

MSM and the globalists want to shut down X platform because it's not 100% controlled by fake news anymore

Recently, the Irish Prime Minister is jumping on a violent incident that had nothing to do with a peaceful protest in order to "modernize" laws against "incitement to hatred and hatred in general." This means increase the long arm of the police state there to shut down all protests the government doesn't agree with and arrest people for thought crimes and free speech online. X user Sir Doge of the Coin responded with this appropriate statement, "Irish children were stabbed by a foreign man in Dublin yesterday yet the government twist the story and use the backlash as an opportunity to pass new hate speech laws,"  "The Irish government wants all of your freedoms." Elon Musk, owner of X, added onto that by saying, "Ironically, the Irish PM hates the Irish people."

Another X user named Wall Street Silver commented on the situation, saying, "Instead of enacting laws to deal with the danger to children in Ireland, the radical left wing racist government is going to enact new laws to enable police to go after those who are complaining about the government," . "Vote them all out before it is too late." Elon Musk added on to that comment, saying, "This is their last term in office."

It's obvious that governments around the world that support censorship and anti-free-speech laws will stop at nothing to clamp down even harder on the populace, especially when people point out the hypocrisy of the government, their narratives and their lies. Any act of violence, even ones that are staged by the government themselves (think FBI here), are now labeled as insurrections, hate crimes, domestic terrorism and the like. It's all a ploy to extend and strengthen the stranglehold the tyrannical governments and the media already have on free speech and free press.

Do your own research and dont use Google. Try the search engine Brave BETA and get more truth news and real information. Bookmark Censored.news to your favorite websites for truth news about freedom of speech and press that are being censored from mass media while you read this.

Sources for this article include:

InformationLiberation.com

NaturalNews.com

DailyMail.co.uk
Israel preparing to defend itself against South Africas genocide accusations at International Court of Justice

Israel is preparing to defend itself in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, Netherlands, against South Africa's accusation that it has committed genocide in Gaza

On Dec. 29, 2023, South Africa filed a case against Israel at the ICJ for violating the 1948 Genocide Convention and committing acts that meet the threshold of genocide under international law. The actions of Israel demonstrate a specific intent to destroy Palestinians in Gaza. (Related: South Africa accuses Israel of violating its obligations under the Genocide Convention.)

Among the charges South Africa is accusing Israel of is failing to prevent genocide and not prosecuting direct and public incitement to genocide. The ICJ has published an 84-page document outlining the detailed measures South Africa is requesting be done against Israel, with the first being to compel Israel to suspend all military operations in Gaza immediately.

South Africa is also demanding that Israelis in West Jerusalem cease all assaults on Palestinians and revoke all orders that will expel or otherwise forcibly expel Palestinians and deny them their essential human rights.

The country's appeal before the ICJ underscores what it believes to be a need to bring those involved in direct incitement to genocide to justice. The ICJ's rules give the appeal priority over other cases due to the request for immediate provisional measures.

The decision to go before the ICJ also comes after South Africa earlier considered bringing up war crimes charges against Israel before the International Criminal Court.

Israel denies genocide allegations despite recorded data

Israel has denied all of the accusations of genocide. Government spokesman Eylon Levy has accused South Africa of giving Hamas "political and legal cover" for its attack on Israel on Oct. 7 that killed over a thousand Israelis and triggered the military response against Gaza.

"The State of Israel will appear before the International Court of Justice at The Hague to dispel South Africas absurd blood libel. We assure South Africas leaders, history will judge you, and it will judge you without mercy," Levy said in an online briefing.

Levy outlined the measures Israel has allegedly taken to minimize harm to noncombatants during the conflict and stressed that Hamas bears the full moral responsibility for initiating the war. He further accused the group of using human shields by operating within civilian institutions such as hospitals, schools, mosques, homes and United Nations-run facilities.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed his support for Levy's statement as he vowed to continue the war until Hamas is defeated and the more than 100 remaining hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza are freed. Netanyahu has even suggested that the military campaign might be extended for several more months  a prospect that will no doubt only lead to thousands more Palestinians in Gaza being killed.

Since Israel initiated its comprehensive air, ground and sea offensive in Gaza, the Gaza Health Ministry has reported that over 22,000 Palestinians have been killed, with around two-thirds of those casualties being women and children. Israel claims without sufficient evidence that its forces have killed over 8,000 Hamas militants.

Eighty-five percent of Gaza's population has already been displaced. Many have sought refuge in overcrowded shelters or tent camps in areas designated by the Israeli Defense Forces as "safe" areas yet are still subjected to military bombings and sniper attacks.

The UN has even warned that over a quarter of Gaza's remaining residents now face the imminent threat of starvation due to Israel throttling the flow of humanitarian relief goods coming in through Gaza's only border crossing with Egypt.

Follow Genocide.news for more news about Israeli's indiscriminately violent campaign in Gaza.

Watch the video below about why the ongoing Gaza genocide shows the pure character of the Israeli government.

This video is from the channel The Prisoner on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Israel using Hamas FALSE FLAG attack to commence second great genocide  first was the COVID "vaccine" genocide.

Turkey files lawsuit against Netanyahu, accusing him and Israel of committing "genocide" in Gaza.

Israel admits willingness to inflict "mass civilian casualties" in Gaza  GENOCIDE is the endgame.

Colombia threatening to cut diplomatic ties with Israel over "neo-Nazi" GENOCIDE in Gaza.

U.S. quietly sending more ammunition, missiles to Israel amid global outrage over genocide in Gaza.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

Reuters.com

Brighteon.com
Israel demands U.S. wage war against Iran to install new government: Its time for the U.S. and its allies to bring down the Iranian regime

It is not enough for the United States to simply send cash and weapons to Israel so it can wage war on Gaza. Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett believes that the U.S. also has a responsibility to wage war on Iran in order to impose regime change on behalf of Israel.

In an op-ed he wrote for the Wall Street Journal, Bennett attempted to make the case that America has a duty to fight Israel's war with Iran in order to "bring down" their "regime."

"The Iranian regime is at the center of most of the Middle East's problems and much of global terror," Bennett wrote. "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. I've come to realize that enough is enough. The evil empire of Iran must be brought down."

According to Bennett, Iran is behind the many attacks that Israel says occur along its borders on a regular basis. Iran's "proxies," as Bennett calls them, are operating "in such places as Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Gaza and Yemen."

"Its brutal Quds unit exported terror around the globe," Bennett further wrote about Iran. "Iran's terrorist proxies have waged war on every moderate element in the Middle East."

"They've 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."

(Related: Turkey and Israel are back at it with both nations' presidents accusing the other of crimes against humanity.)

Israel's national security hinges upon a weak Iran, Bennett says

There are many examples in Bennett's op-ed about things America can do better in order to please Israel in this regard. These things include "empower[ing] domestic opposition," according to Bennett.

Bennett also wants America to "ensure internet continuity during riots against the regime," as well as to "strengthen [Iran's] enemies" while "increase[ing] sanctions and economic pressure."

Israel, in Bennett's view, "can't and shouldn't do this alone." Instead, the U.S. needs to be "leading the effort," according to Bennett, in ensuring that Israel's goals are achieved, including the dismantling of the Iranian government.

"This doesn't require a full-scale war, just as the demise of the Soviet Union didn't result from total war," Bennett stipulates. "Rather, the Soviet Union collapsed from internal rot coupled with external pressure applied by the U.S."

In sum, Bennett says the U.S. must do what Israel is demanding by setting a clear goal of "bringing down Iran's evil regime." No matter what, Bennett believes that the U.S. has a responsibility to take down Iran on behalf of Israel, which he says is "vital for the safety and security of the Middle East  and the entire civilized world."

It is important to remember that Israel has said this kind of thing before. Back in 2002, Benjamin Netanyahu lied to America about the need to invade Iraq, only to then leave U.S. troops on their own without sending a single Israeli troop into Saddam Hussein's regime to help with the battle:

Israel also previously convinced the U.S. to assassinate Iranian General Qasem Soleimani by supplying intelligence to U.S. officials that painted Soleimani as an "immediate threat." Just like with the Iraq debacle, Israel then proceeded to fail in backing up the effort.

"Our 'special relationship' with Israel is a completely one-sided endeavor that's isolating us from the entire world," writes Chris Menahan for Information Liberation.

Interested in learning more about the Israel-Gaza conflict? Be sure to visit Chaos.news for more.

Sources for this article include:

InformationLiberation.com

WSJ.com

NaturalNews.com
Sanctuary city mayors admit being at the breaking point with migrant crisis, but they blame Texas Gov. Abbott instead of Bidens open borders

Three sanctuary cities have admitted that they can no longer handle the influx of illegal migrants being bused to them and have now reached a breaking point , exhausting their local resources and taxpayer money. Mayors of Chicago, New York City and Denver point to Texas Governor Greg Abbott, blaming him for "tripling down on efforts to use asylum seekers as political pawns" instead of the Democrat President Joe Biden's "weak" border policies.

In an executive order, New York City Mayor Eric Adams has requested all charter bus companies to provide a 32-hour advance notice on the arrival of migrants. "We cannot allow buses with people needing our help to arrive without warning at any hour of day and night," Adams said during a virtual news conference with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston. "For many months, we were able to keep the visualization of this crisis from hitting our streets, but we have reached a breaking point."

According to Adams' office, more than 7,000 illegals have entered the intake system in the last two weeks. The city estimates 157,600 illegals have arrived since late spring.

Mayor Eric Adams says that quality of life in NYC will continue to decline because of the illegals: "For many months we were able to keep visualization of this crisis from hitting our streets But we have reached a breaking point. We are no longer able to do that." pic.twitter.com/53u6JogwKO  End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) December 27, 2023

Likewise, Johnson said that every city service is on the verge of collapse thanks to the illegals. He warned that in Chicago, they have already reached a "critical point in the mission that absent real, significant intervention immediately, our local economies are not designed and built to respond to this type of crisis," he said, adding that they are literally "building a system as they go along."

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson warns that every city service is on the verge of collapse thanks to the illegals pic.twitter.com/pLwYS6Kak2  End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) December 27, 2023

The same goes in Denver, where its mayor claimed that at this point, they have had "more migrant arrivals than any city in America per capita." Which is, of course, ridiculous when you consider that the smaller border towns on the battle front of this crisis are mostly smaller cities than Denver, by far.

All three mayors agreed that the influx of migrants in their cities is turning into a "humanitarian crisis." They appealed to all levels of government and federal partners to help them ensure migrants "are treated with dignity and humanity." They also blamed the migrant crisis on Texas Governor Greg Abbott, alleging that the governor is taking advantage of the crisis to attack Biden politically.

Meanwhile, critics were quick to point out how these three Democratic mayors failed to attribute the problem to the Biden administration's disastrous open southern border policies, which sparked the invasion of millions of migrants, and possible criminals, from all over the world into the U.S. in the first place. Also, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas claimed that the "borders are not open," which to analysts seemed to have been a total lie considering the heavy surge of asylum seekers coming through the borders.

Earlier in December, Sheriff Mark Lamb of Pinal County, Arizona dropped a "truth bomb" on a YouTube video post, revealing that individuals crossing the border illegally into Arizona are promptly awarded a $5,000 gift card upon entering the United States, along with cell phones and costly plane tickets, all of which are being paid for by the American taxpayers.

"We see all these people coming across, mostly military-aged men coming from China, Africa and all over the world. When these folks come across and are processed, they are being given cell phones, plane tickets wherever they want to go in this country  maybe to a community near you  and $5,000 Visa cards," he said. (Related: Southern border hits highest number of illegal immigrant encounters, thanks to Bidens CBP that gives illegals $5,000 Visa gift cards.)

U.S. and Mexico to regularize illegal immigrants living in America

In a joint statement, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Mayorkas together with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador affirmed their commitments to "orderly, humane and regular migration" and stressed their efforts to tackle "root causes" of migration, disrupt human smuggling and promote private investment while also investing in "ambitious development programs" in the region during their meeting on Wednesday in Mexico City.

The statement also indicated that the officials discussed the "benefits" of granting some form of legal status for illegal immigrants already in the U.S., including those protected by the 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), an executive order signed by former President Barack Obama, which shielded some illegal immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as minors. "The delegations also discussed the benefits of regularizing the situation of Hispanic migrants who have been undocumented for several years and the DACA beneficiaries, who are a vital part of the US economy and society," the joint statement said, adding that the delegations will meet again in January.

This move quickly sparked a furious reaction from House Republicans, who called it "unconscionable." They also questioned the administration's $14 billion request for border funding as part of its supplemental funding request to Congress. They demanded that the package include restrictions on the use of humanitarian parole and stricter asylum standards.

Meanwhile, 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, which only means that December could break the monthly record for encounters set in September at 269,735.

Visit InvasionUSA.news to read more stories about the burgeoning number of illegal immigrants under Biden's poor border policies.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

FoxNews.com
Report: Illegals from Texas being dropped off at NJ train stations due to NYC bus restrictions

Illegal immigrants from Texas are reportedly being dropped off at New Jersey train stations due to New York City's (NYC) restrictions on buses.

Tyler Jones, a spokesman for New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, confirmed the development to Breitbart. He noted that the state government "has tracked the recent arrival of a handful buses of migrant families at various NJ Transit train stations."

"New Jersey is primarily being used as a transit point for these families," Jones continued. "All, or nearly all of them, continued with their travels en route to their final destination of NYC."

Officials in Secaucus, Fanwood, Trenton and Jersey City all confirmed that buses have been seen dropping off migrants at train stations in their jurisdictions. "It seems quite clear the bus operators are finding a way to thwart the requirements of the [NYC] executive order by dropping migrants at the train station in Secaucus and having them continue to their final destination, said Secaucus Mayor Michael Gonnelli.

NYC Mayor Eric Adams announced the executive order in a bid to limit migrant buses from entering the Big Apple. Most of the buses come from Texas, with Gov. Greg Abbott being committed to transport migrants that enter the Lone Star State to the self-proclaimed "sanctuary city."

Adams' new rules are similar to those made by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. The chief executive of the Windy City  another self-proclaimed "sanctuary city"  also quietly passed rules that place heavy restrictions on buses to prevent them from dropping off illegals there.

"This is a crisis caused by the Biden administration," Abbott said in August 2022. "Two years ago, we had the lowest number of border crossings in decades; today, we have the highest number of illegal crossings in the U.S. ever. Before we begin busing illegal immigrants up to [NYC], it was just Texas and Arizona that bore the brunt of all the chaos and all of the problems to come with it."

Biden threatens to sue Texas over new law

More than a year later, the Texas governor has made good on his promise to bus illegals to NYC. He posted on X on Jan. 3: "Texas has transported over 95,000 migrants to sanctuary cities. NYC and Chicago have seen only a fraction of what overwhelmed Texas border towns face daily. We will continue our transportation mission until Biden reverses course on his open border policies."

Amid this, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has threatened to sue the state of Texas over its passage of Senate Bill (SB) 4, which allows state and local law enforcement to arrest anyone who is unlawfully in the United States. (Related: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signs law allowing police to ARREST illegals.)

In response, Abbott accused President Joe Biden of "destroying America." He continued: "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. I've never seen such hostility to the rule of law in America."

Under the newly-signed SB 4, crossing the border between ports of entry will now become a state-level crime. It also empowers police to arrest people who do so, and requires judges to order apprehended individuals to return to Mexico. SB 4 is scheduled to take effect in early March.

"Biden sued me  because I signed a law making it illegal for an illegal immigrant to enter or attempt to enter Texas directly from a foreign nation," Abbott posted on Jan. 5. "I like my chances. Texas is the only government in America trying to stop illegal immigration."

Abbott has continued to take a series of actions to ensure border security since March 2021, such as sending troopers and National Guard members to the 1,200-mile-long Texas-Mexico border to apprehend immigrants crossing the Rio Grande.

Visit Migrants.news for more stories like this.

Watch Rep. Keith Self (R-TX) warn of a "tsunami" of migrants coming across the southern border below.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Texas Gov. Abbott begins flooding sanctuary cities with chartered flights of illegal immigrants.

As long as Biden keeps the southern border open, Texas will continue sending even more buses full of illegals to New York City, Gov. Abbott promises.

Bidens federal border patrol agents sabotage Texas Gov. Abbotts efforts to keep illegal migrants out.

Sources include:

Breitbart.com

Brighteon.com
A search dog was able to rescue an elderly woman who got trapped in rubble following the deadly earthquake in Japan this New Year. Authorities said that the woman, who is in her 80s, had been trapped on the ground floor of her residence that got destroyed after the powerful earthquake struck the remote Noto peninsula.

The dog, named Jennifer, was just one of the specially trained canines deployed to the regions that were hardest hit by the magnitude-7.5 earthquake.

According to Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara, self-defense forces were able to rescue 122 individuals from the rubbles and devastation brought by the earthquake.

''As of yesterday (3rd), the Self-Defense Forces had rescued 122 people, including a search dog (Jennifer) that found and rescued an elderly woman living alone inside a house in Wajima City. Today is a critical moment, and we will increase the number of members to approximately 4,600,'' he said.

Death Toll Rising

So far, the death toll has already reached 82. Many people are still believed to be trapped under their collapsed homes - mostly in the towns of Suzu and Wajima.

Due to this, rescue teams are racing against time to look for more survivors who badly need assistance.

Authorities said that after 72 hours, the chances of finding people alive would substantially go down. That window has already closed because the earthquake hit at 16:10 local time (07:10 GMT) on Monday.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of residents are still without power and water supply, while hundreds have remained isolated from help due to landslides and blocked roads.

Officials noted that about 29,000 households were without electricity in Ishikawa prefecture on the Sea of Japan coast, and more than 110,000 homes across Ishikawa and two neighboring regions had no water supply.

Further scenes of destruction could be seen across the coastal town of Anamizu, including cars and vehicles that had been crushed under crumbling concrete and whole facades of torn off three-storey structures.

Thousands of soldiers, firefighters and police officers from across Japan rushed through the rubble of collapsed wooden houses and toppled commercial buildings to look for signs of life.

Read Also: Japan Quake Update: Death Toll Rises To 62; Survivors Now Facing Freezing Cold

Fake News Can Hamper Rescue Operations

Amid the rescue operations, fake news and disinformation have also become rampant.

These fake news often hampered rescue missions as it can also put lives at risk.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has warned that the spread of false information was "unacceptable" and the country's communication ministry has already urged people to carefully discern whether online posts are true before disseminating them.

Experts said that Japan had experienced a number of earthquakes every year and most of them brought no damage, with strict building codes in place for more than four decades.

Meanwhile, earthquakes have hit the Noto region with intensifying strength and frequency over the past five years.

To recall, the country is struck by a massive 9.0-magnitude undersea quake in 2011, which triggered a tsunami that left around 18,500 people dead or missing.

It also swamped the Fukushima atomic plant, causing one of the worst nuclear disasters in history.

Related Article: Major Tsunami Warning Raised as 7.6 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Japan
Weather experts said that snow has fallen moderately to heavy over Northern New Mexico.

Further, the snow is also expected to fall towards various areas in Texas.

Meteorologists observed that snow has been falling at a moderate to heavy pace over the mountains of northern New Mexico. Moreover, a wintry mix has also occurred at some of the lower elevations, including in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Snowfall Expected To Spread

It is expected that on Thursday night, the snow will spread from parts of northwestern Texas, the Oklahoma Panhandle and southeastern Colorado, as well as in the large portion of Kansas.

Moreover, the snow is expected to pick up in intensity on Thursday evening as the storm becomes more organized with more abundant moisture available.

Meanwhile, meteorologists said that across southeastern New Mexico into southeastern Kansas, warmer air filtering in from the Gulf of Mexico will hinder the advancement of colder air.

This weather condition will result in a wintry mix on Thursday night and into Friday.

Cities including Clovis, New Mexico, and Amarillo, Texas, could get a slushy accumulation of rain, snow and sleet. This weather will make roads during travel slippery.

The National Weather Service said that upper level disturbance would track eastward tonight from the southern Rockies into the central and southern Great Plains.

Further, mostly light to locally moderate snowfall accumulations will impact eastern Colorado and northeastern New Mexico through early Friday morning with snow spreading eastward into portions of Kansas during the day on Friday.

On the other hand, a cold rain will affect locations farther south into Oklahoma, Texas and the Lower Mississippi Valley.

Warm and weakly unstable air will lift northward through the Gulf of Mexico, reaching portions of the Gulf Coast on Friday into Saturday, supporting threats for strong to severe thunderstorms capable of heavy rain and localized flash flooding.

Read Also: East Coast, Southeast Weather: Rainy Conditions, Wintry Mix To Unload This Late Week

Severe Thunderstorms, Storm System

The threat for severe thunderstorms should stay focused with about 100 miles of the Gulf Coast and across much of the Florida Peninsula.

Meanwhile, as the storm system continues eastward through Friday night, rain will overspread the southeastern US as an area of low pressure advances toward the Carolinas.

Freezing rain, with increasing potential for significant accumulations of ice, is still expected for parts of the southern and central Appalachians with accumulations over 0.1 inches impacting travel.

On the other hand, low pressure will track northward along the Mid-Atlantic coast on Saturday with mainly rain for the I-95 corridor from New York City and southward, although precipitation may begin as light snow.

Better chances for accumulations will remain over interior portions of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast with the storm continuing through Saturday night.

When it comes to the weather system across the western US, a temporary lull in precipitation is expected behind a weakening cold front/upper level disturbance on Friday.

However, a stronger storm system is expected to reach the Pacific Northwest on Friday night with coastal rain and mountain snow.

Heavy snow is also possible for the Cascades and portions of the northern Rockies.

As the upper disturbance moves inland on Saturday, precipitation will advance southward down the West Coast into California with areas of heavy snow expected into the Sierra Nevada.

Related Article: NWS Weather Forecast: Freezing Fog, Snow To Hit Colorado, Wyoming This Late Week
A study said that birds of prey in Africa could face extinction as 90 percent of these species have been under threat.

Experts said that tropical raptor species including the martial eagle, the bateleur and the dark chanting goshawk have vanished from swathes of the African continent over the past 40 years because many wild areas have already been converted to farmland.

Several African birds of prey are on track of becoming locally extinct in many countries this century, according to the study.

Conversion To Farmlands

The study indicated that the conversion of natural habitats to farmland is a major cause of biodiversity loss and poses the greatest extinction risk to birds worldwide.

Tropical raptors are of particular concern, being relatively slow-breeding apex predators and scavengers, whose disappearance can trigger extensive cascading effects.

Scientists said that many of Africa's raptors are at considerable risk from habitat conversion, prey-base depletion and persecution, driven principally by human population expansion.

In the study, experts described multiregional trends among 42 African raptor species, 88% of which have declined over a 20-40-yr period, with 69% exceeding the International Union for Conservation of Nature criteria classifying species at risk of extinction.

Large raptors had experienced significantly steeper declines than smaller species, and this disparity was more pronounced on unprotected land.

Scientists said that declines were greater in West Africa than elsewhere, and more than twice as severe outside of protected areas (PAs) than within.

They pointed out that the species suffering the steepest declines had become significantly more dependent on PAs, demonstrating the importance of expanding conservation areas to cover 30% of land by 2030-a key target agreed at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity COP15.

The findings of the study also highlighted the significance of a recent African-led proposal to strengthen PA management-initiatives considered fundamental to safeguarding global biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and climate resilience.

The conversion of wooded habitats to agricultural land is more damaging to biodiversity than any other human activity and poses the greatest extinction risk to birds worldwide.

Experts said that tropical raptors are especially vulnerable, being particularly slow-breeding and subject to a wide range of threats linked to rapid human population growth, farmland expansion and habitat fragmentation.

They said that while resident tropical raptors thus have great potential as a model system for investigating land-use change impacts, trends in their abundance have been little studied so far, reflecting the paucity of suitable long-term survey data and a limited capacity for conservation research in most developing countries.

Scientists have presented a multiregional assessment of trends among many of Africa's widespread, diurnal raptor species, and compare rates of change in their abundance within protected and unprotected areas.

Further, they said that as a group, Africa's diurnal raptors are facing an extinction crisis, with more than two-thirds of the species examined potentially qualifying as globally threatened.

Read Also: Researchers Confirm: Microplastics Found in Florida's Birds of Prey

Decline In West Africa

Decline rates reported from West Africa were significantly more pronounced than those recorded elsewhere, consistent with the severity of threats documented in the region.

Scientists said that many being substantially worse there than elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa.

Protected areas in West and Central Africa are particularly underfunded and mismanaged, and high regional levels of poverty and corruption have been linked to adverse conservation outcomes for charismatic mammal species.

Furthermore, the rate of agricultural expansion in West Africa during the 1970s-2000s was more than three times that of Africa as a whole.

Related Article: Man Poisons Birds of Prey to Protect Personal Exotic Waterfowl Collection




Broadcom finally closed its acquisition of VMware in November after 18 months of various governments slow-walking the approval process. Now its making a series of changes, including layoffs, that may prove painful.

Layoffs arent a surprise, as Broadcom wasnt quiet about plans to cut headcount. Broadcom management said in a mid-2022 town hall meeting that they wanted VMware to become lean and flat. Broadcom hasnt said how many people will be affected, but so far, the cuts include 1,267 VMware employees referenced in a December filing with the California Employment Development Department.

A former VMware employee who is among those let go spoke to me on the condition of anonymity and said it is mostly senior salespeople who have left or are leaving. The former staffer also expects that the corporate cultures of the two firms will clash.

One potential issue is Broadcoms stance on remote work: VMware allowed employees to work from home, but Broadcom is all about getting employees back to the office. Broadcom CEO Hock Tan reportedly said to VMware employees that only salespeople and employees who live more than 60 miles from a VMware office could work remotely. Any other exception, you better learn how to walk on water, Im serious, Tan said, according to an article in SFGATE.com that cites the Silicon Valley Business Journal.

Steve Tuck, CEO of cloud systems vendor Oxide Computer, didnt believe the quote at first. Thats not something you would say if your objective is to kind of quell fears, Tuck said. But that is what he said, and [its] really pretty surprising.

Expect VMware layoffs, product cuts

Steven Elliot, group vice president of infrastructure software at IDC, says the layoffs and consolidation are a good and necessary thing. He notes that Broadcom is not only cutting staff but also cutting products to focus on core competency.
Settling a fractious issue that goes back more than a century, the Supreme Court had in a historic verdict in 2019 backed the construction of the Ram temple by a government trust at the disputed site in Ayodhya and ruled that an alternative five-acre plot must be found for a mosque in the Hindu holy town.
Senna Hegdes National award-winning film Thinkalazhcha Nishchayam (2021) introduced several new talents, and one among them who impressed the most is its lead actor Anagha Narayanan. The Kanhangad native won laurels for her performance as a young woman who tries to break free from the clutches of her controlling father. Three years later, Anagha is playing yet another character who is desperate to escapenot from her father this time, but from the vast stretches of Arabian sand dunes. Her latest outing Raastha, which hits screens today, is a survival thriller set against the backdrop of a desert. A fan of survival dramas, Anagha says, it was almost an instant decision to act in the film. Its not everyday you get such films. I also loved director Aneesh Anwars work in Zachariayude Garbhinikal, so I had complete trust in him.
"The aircraft overflew the vessel on the early morning of 05 Jan 24 and established contact with the vessel, ascertaining the safety of the crew. Naval aircraft continue to monitor movement and INS Chennai is near the vessel to render assistance," the Navy said.
We have submitted our report to Congress leadership based on the feedback from state unions on the feasibility and prospects of forming alliances with various parties in different states. Now, discussions with INDIA bloc allies will begin without any delay. We are aware that it has to be done on a priority basis, he said, adding: Every state has different political dynamics. We have to take all those factors into account.

Sources said the party is mulling alliances in nine states including Delhi, West Bengal, Bihar, Maharashtra, and UP.
According to ED sources, a team of four sleuths reached the house of Shahjahan, known for his proximity with Mallick, around 7 am. The two collapsible gate was locked from inside and we repeatedly pressed the doorbell for 30 minutes but there was no response from inside. As a result, we decided to break in. The locals and Shahjahans followers started assembling as the central force personnel started hitting the locks to break it. Before we could realise the intention of the assembly of locals, they attacked us with feast and blows. One of our officers got his head injured. Finding no way out, we had no option left other than fleeing, said an ED officer.
While talking to media persons after receiving the invite, Ansari said that he was happy to get the invite for Pran Pratishthha on Friday which was considered to be auspicious for Muslims. "I am happy that the idol of Shri Ram is going to be installed. We Muslims accept Shri Ram as our Imam-e-Hind. So we are happy in the happiness of our Hindu brothers," he added.
On October 18, a division bench of the Calcutta HC headed by Justice Chitta Ranjan Dash had advised young girls and boys to rein in sexual urges. It had made the observations while acquitting a man who was earlier convicted by a lower court for raping a minor girl with whom he had a romantic affair. Today, during the course of the hearing, a two-judge bench of the top court headed by Justice Abhay S Oka and comprising Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, expressed its concern on the manner in which judges were invoking their inherent powers under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) in making such observations.
The objectives of the overarching "PRITHVI" scheme include augmentation and sustenance of long-term observations of the atmosphere, ocean, geosphere, cryosphere and solid earth to record vital signs of the earth system and change, development of modelling systems for understanding and predicting weather, ocean and climate hazards, and understanding the science of climate change It also includes exploration of polar and high seas regions of the earth towards discovery of new phenomena and resources, development of technology for exploration and sustainable harnessing of oceanic resources for societal applications, and translation of knowledge and insights from earth systems science into services for societal, environmental and economic benefit.
Solution lies in ensuring justice for the people

Addressing the participation of INDIA bloc parties in the yatra, Ramesh said, The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is open to everyone. He recalled that during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Gandhi highlighted major concerns such as increasing inequality, escalating social polarization, and rising political tyranny. The solution, he suggested, lies in ensuring justice for the people. The yatris will spend five days in West Bengal and eight days in Jharkhand. The schedule includes a one-day stop in Manipur and four days each in Bihar and Odisha.
The high court had said the material placed by the CBI "does not appear to show reasonable grounds to conclude that the accusations levelled against Bhave can be said to be prima facie true."
The Supreme Court said it was not inclined to say anything on the merits of the case. The Bombay High Court had on December 19 last year granted bail to Navlakha but stayed its order for three weeks after the NIA sought time to file an appeal in the top court.
Probe documents revealed that the initial digits of the mobile numbers of the patients, documented for maintaining records of patients to whom tests were prescribed, started with 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 which do not exist in India. It also showed that thousands of tests were prescribed to people with different names but with common mobile numbers. Data related to at least 20,000 medical tests conducted either had no mobile number in the records or had 0 as the entry.
Earlier, in a letter to the Punjab assembly speaker, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) demanded the immediate disqualification of Arora. In a letter to Punjab speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, SAD legislator Dr Sukhwinder Sukhi said, "Arora has been found guilty on two counts and as per the landmark verdict in Lily Thomas v Union of India (2013), the Supreme Court declared Section 8(4) of the Act, which protected a convicted lawmaker from immediate disqualification if he/she filed an appeal within three months from the date of the verdict, unconstitutional. In light of these directions of the Supreme Court, Arora should be disqualified as an MLA without further delay and a notification in this regard should be issued immediately."
Though there is no clarity from the Navy on the nationality of the crew, it is learnt that over a dozen of them are Indians.
"The shocking and distressing impact these incidents will have had on the shop assistant, the staff at the Showcase Cinema and those filmgoers who found themselves in a lockdown situation in the complex after shots were fired outside the cinema and the residents of Malpas Road cannot be underestimated," said Wilson.
Nation

'India's oldest' sloth bear in captivity dies at 36 in Bhopal zoo

The bear named Bablu was the oldest one in captivity in the country at present, an office-bearer of a non-government organisation that runs a bear rescue centre at the zoo said.
India is one of the contracting parties and has already declared a total of 75 wetland sites under the Ramsar Convention  Intergovernmental treaty signed in 1971 at Ramsar (Iran) providing frameworks for the conservation & wise use of wetlands & their resources.



The WCA scheme under Ramsar Convention, aims to further promote the conservation and wise use of urban and peri-urban wetlands, as well as sustainable socio-economic benefits for local populations.



The Ramsar Convention during COP12 held in the year 2015 approved a voluntary WCA system that recognizes cities that have taken exceptional steps to safeguard their urban wetlands.



These are the first three Indian cities for which nominations have been submitted for WCA based on the proposals received from respective State Wetlands Authorities in collaboration with the Municipal Corporations.



The wetlands situated in and around these cities provide a plethora of benefits to its citizens in terms of flood regulation, livelihood opportunities, and recreational and cultural values. Sirpur Wetland (Ramsar site in Indore), Yashwant Sagar (Ramsar site closer to Indore), Bhoj Wetland (Ramsar Site in Bhopal), and several Wetlands (Lakes) in and around Udaipur are lifelines to these cities.



Bhupendra Yadav, Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, announced the nomination on the social media post X.



Delighted to announce the nomination of India's first three cities  Indore, Bhopal, and Udaipur  submitted to @RamsarConv for its prestigious voluntary Wetland City Accreditation scheme writes Yadav.



This will also provide an opportunity for cities that value their natural or human-made wetlands to gain international recognition and positive branding opportunities for their efforts in demonstrating strong positive relationships with wetlands, he said and commended the vision and commitment of the prime minister to conservation through community participation, and prosperity through conservation.



The ongoing Amrit Dharohar initiative of the MoEF&CC announced as part of this years budget also aims to achieve similar goals by promoting the unique conservation values of Ramsar Sites.
Raj has ministers but they have no portfolios

It has been over a month since results of the Rajasthan election were declared, but portfolios for newly-appointed ministers still remain elusive. Everything has been getting delayed since the BJP victory. Firstly, they took 9 days before appointing the Chief Minister. Then it took another fortnight for the formation of the state cabinet which was delayed till December 30. But nearly a week later, portfolios are yet to be allotted - though most ministers, including two deputy CMs have started sitting in their offices in the secretariat, they virtually have no work since they have not been assigned any departments which is hampering government functioning.
Officers and employees who opt to apply the old pension and ancillary rules will have a Provident Fund (GPF) account opened and their share of the new Defined Contribution Pension (NPS) along with interest will be credited to the said account. The amount of the State Governments share in the New Defined Contribution Pension Account (NPS) of officers and employees accepting the option of Old Pension and Subsidiary Rules will be transferred to the Consolidated Fund of the state along with interest, they added.
This new hijack attempt on a vessel comes after two merchant vessels, including MV Ruen and MV Chem Pluto, were targeted in the sea. MV Ruen was hijacked (December 14) and currently, she is docked off the Somalia coast while MV Chem Pluto sustained drone hits (December 23).
NEW DELHI: Hospitals and blood banks can only charge processing fees for blood as the government has now decided to do away with all other fees to check the practice of overcharging. In a communication to all states and UT drugs controllers cum licensing authorities, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) said that the decision was taken in view of the opinion that blood is not for sale.
At a press conference here, he said in the official report, the terms "NSQ" or "not of standard quality" has been used many times, and in it, it is "nowhere mentioned that the drugs are fake, imitation, poison, spurious".
Arguing there is a violation of her fundamental rights, the counsel further said, she was not allowed to get the legal help of a lawyer. "I was not allowed to talk to my lawyer. They restrained me from talking to the lawyer. It is an admitted fact, it's in the status report," it was argued.
PATNA: Anti-terrorism squad of Bihar police on Friday conducted a thorough search and operation in the Patna High Court premises after the registrar of the court received an email threatening to blow up its premises and other courts in the country.
Nation

PM Modi 'deeply anguished' over Japan quake, says India willing to extend all help

"We stand in solidarity with Japan and its people affected by the disaster," PM Modi wrote in his communication to PM Kishida.
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

The rapid escalation of the climate crisis makes it impossible to keep on spouting the same old messages of hope and new beginnings instead of talking about the harsh reality ahead. These days, such messages of hope seem like bad fiction. We are experiencing a phase of complete uncertainty as we witness the systematic destruction of nature and grapple with the unpredictable behavior of our planetary system. Responsible adults must step up to face the challenge, although Im not very optimistic about that prospect. As a journalist, I constantly see multitudes of fragile adults addicted to consumerism. They tend to crumble easily under criticism and challenges, often choosing escapism over facing the facts. However, these are the very people we must rely on to confront the current crisis and the ones that lie ahead. Will 2024 be the year we accept failure in the fight against global warming?

In 2023, we watched governments prioritizing the interests of large corporations and their wealthy shareholders over controlling global warming caused by fossil fuels, deforestation and industrial-scale cattle ranches. This year has been the hottest in the past 125,000 years, leading to unprecedented extreme weather and widespread devastation worldwide. The issue stems from persistent destruction of nature despite decades of warnings, as well as government inaction, as evident in the disappointing COP28 climate summit held in Dubai. In this case, inaction speaks louder than words.

What last year made clear is that we can no longer control global warming by simply implementing all the measures weve known about for decades. The levels of global warming are now incompatible with the quality of human life, and we are venturing into uncharted territory. According to renowned climate scientist James Hansen, this year and the next will be seen as a turning point that exposed the futility of governments in addressing climate change. Not only have they failed to contain global warming, but its pace has accelerated. Hansen, the director of the climate program at Columbia Universitys Earth Institute in New York City, famously warned the United States Senate about the impending climate crisis in 1988.

In 2023, we may have witnessed a shift in the Earths response after 250 years of widespread destruction of nature. Its unclear how much control we still have, but taking immediate action is crucial. We must respond urgently, like an endangered species fighting for survival. If we accept failure and dont act, we will soon be telling our children that 2023 was the most stable year of their lives  and had the mildest temperatures.

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"Insurance costs have also increased because they are not sure what (will) happen to the ships. Some consignments have passed through the long route. Some ships are also being escorted, provided by the government," the official added.
This was challenged in the Supreme Court by some of the affected parties, including Jamiat Ulama-E Maharashtra and Halal India Private Ltd. They have argued that the identification and consumption of Halal products is a protected activity for Muslims and is part of their religious and personal laws under Article 26 and 29 of the Constitution of India.
"The PIL (Public Interest Litigation) is not maintainable, as several civil suits (pleas) in the issue raised in it, are already pending for disposal. Let us please, not have a multiplicity of litigation. You filed it as a PIL, which is why it was rejected (by the High Court)," the Supreme Court today, in its order said.
According to the sources in the ruling alliance, the Chief Minister told them that he will continue his struggle and sought their support to continue his battle against the atrocities of the BJP government at the centre. The MLAs, who attended the meeting on Wednesday, also claimed that no discussion took place on the issue of Kalpana Soren and were informed by the Chief Minister that the Gandey MLA resigned as a precautionary measure to deal with any untoward political situation.
India is on its way to becoming one of the fastest-growing major economies, and its attitude towards Chinese scholars has become more relaxed and moderate, rather than being as stubborn as before, wrote Jiadong. For example, when discussing the trade imbalance between China and India, Indian scholars used to primarily focus on Chinas measures to reduce the trade imbalance. But now, they are placing more emphasis on Indias export potential, actively seeking to reduce the trade deficit with China by taking the initiative and increasing Chinese imports from India, the writer observed in his opinion piece.
Nation

Wanted criminal carrying Rs 1 lakh reward killed in encounter with UP police

Upadhyay sustained bullet injuries during an encounter with the Special Task Force and was admitted to a hospital, where he died, said Additional Director General of Police, STF, Amitabh Yash.
The district magistrate has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the matter that is to be completed within two days. The farmer, who sustained 70 per cent burns, was taken to the community health centre, they said.
Tamil Nadu

Governor has to act on recommendation of council of ministers: SC on plea to remove Senthil Balaji

The top court was hearing an appeal filed by advocate M L Ravi against an order of the Madras High Court refusing to issue a direction on his petition for quashing Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi's order
"We know about only some of the payments that passed into former President Trump's hands during just two years of his presidency from just 20 of the more than 190 nations in the world through just four of his more than 500 businesses."
World

Landmine blast kills three children grazing goats in northwest Pakistan

The three shepherd children, between the ages of five and 15 years, were grazing goats in the fields in the Khajori area and were killed when one of them stepped on a landmine.
Educational exposure of ideas, assumptions or hypotheses, based on proven facts" (which need not be strictly current affairs) Value in judgments are excluded, and the text comes close to an opinion article, without judging or making forecasts , just formulating hypotheses, giving motivated explanations and bringing together a variety of data

Recently I asked a person with strong ties to the 50th anniversary of Picassos death  2023 was filled to the brim with related events  what new perspectives had been introduced by the yearlong celebration. They didnt hesitate: it had reinforced Picassos link to Spain by underscoring his lesser-known ties to the countrys everyday life, from A Coruna to strolls down the Prado Museum. The answer led me to reflect. Picasso, despite having garnered little sympathy from the Francoist authorities, has been one of the greatest representatives of Spanishness. Gertrude Stein spoke in 1938 of an orientalist Picasso, one who embodies the well-known Spanish temperament, that which had fascinated French writers and artists since before Manet. In other words, Picasso was exotic, ma non troppo, similar to the Spain constructed by the countrys Royal Tourist Board in the campaigns it displayed in France in 1929: The comfort of Europe / the exuberance of Africa / await you in Spain.

That combination has haunted the cliched image of the Spanish Picasso. From bullfighting to passion, as emphasized in the long profile on the artist, forever associated with Spanish art and poetry, in Life magazine in 1968, Picasso has embodied a certain yearning expressed at the reopening of Pariss Picasso Museum in 2015 by the then-president of the French republic, Francois Hollande: Pablo Picasso, the Spaniard, the republican, the communist, is the pride of France. And yet, France was late in reclaiming Picasso, reflected Annie Cohen-Solal in Picasso the Foreigner (2023). The text  one of the most novel works on the artist, along with Mercedes Guillens Spanish language Picasso con los exiliados [Picasso with the exiled] (2023)  documents the artists difficulties being accepted in France. Persecuted as an anarchist, excluded from public collections for decades, with various failed attempts at getting his French citizenship Cohen-Solals Picasso supports the thesis of John Bergers dazzling The Success and Failure of Picasso (1965): upon his arrival in Paris, the Malaga-born artist was as much of an outcast foreigner as his circus characters or the bohemians in his print The Frugal Meal.

Despite it all, one could argue that in Spain, Picasso is perceived as very French, a New Wave character in his sailor suit that Chanel made fashionable. What is interesting is Picassos handling of these ambivalences, his deliberate adoption of each stereotype into his persona, which, just like his work, is plagued by mixtures and erasures. In this sense, the numerous photographs for which Picasso posed throughout his life are eloquent. Through them, the idea of an artist self-absorbed in creation, disdainful of his public image, the one that canonical narrative places in opposition to that of Dali  and not only due to their political ideals  is broken. Dali is the celebrity and Picasso the creator; Dali is the character and Picasso the artist without fissure. Here, defenders of Picasso despise those of Dali, appealing to the perfect excuse: Picasso was a republican hero and Dali a mundane conservative, fascinated by money and fame.

Salvador Dali, portrayed during an interview in Madrid in 1978. Raul Cancio (El Pais)

However, this polarization  that buzzword  is another kind of scenography, and perhaps both artists share more than what canonical history  as interpreted by either faction  would have us believe. Both, excellent painters and performers, were media personalities by choice, given that the one who poses before the camera controls the narrative. This aspect has perhaps been missing from the numerous exhibitions from 2023s Ano Picasso: an in-depth look at the performer Picasso that reveals his relationship with the power of images and the mass media; an Instagrammer Picasso that would exhibit his interest in the construction of the Picasso character, similar to that of Dali despite appearances, although often denied in order to give prominence to the conventional image of the great master that suits the canonical discourse. A pity, because it would have offered a contemporary re-reading of this artist, who has been put in dialogue with the old masters, has been confronted with living artists to varying degrees of success, and has been related to his friends, Stein in Paris, a marvelous exhibition, or Kahnweiler in Barcelona.

In this era of cancellations, Me Too and the LGBTQI+ community, we have become entangled more than anything in Picassos relationship with gender  Its Pablo-matic, at the Brooklyn Museum  and even in his homosexual overtones, subtly suggested by endorsed by Von Gloedens photographs in the beautiful exhibition Picasso 1906, at Madrids Reina Sofia. Or maybe Ano Picasso, the collaborative public project between France and Spain, has bet first of all on the great artist Picasso to settle the historical debt that both countries, it seems, had with him for different reasons. In this catharsis, there was no place for the performative.

But if Ano Picasso came to an end at the stroke of midnight, Picasso has passed the baton over to Dali for the 120th anniversary of the 1904 birth of the Catalan artist. A Picassoian told me that the score is not even and it will not be the two countries catharsis for obvious reasons, but there will certainly be revisions, and I wonder what they will be, in addition to the old political reproaches. It will be interesting to rethink Dali from the Me Too and LGBTQI+ perspectives, which have permeated so many conversations about Picasso, for on this point the Catalans resume is impeccable, between Garcia Lorca, the androgynous Amanda Lear and his great love, Gala, whom he not only painted. He shared with her authorship in his best works, building the queerest caper, a certain liquid identity in a signature signed by a single person: Gala Salvador Dali. Moreover, in this same vein, Dali himself announced that in the future, things would never be the same.

Picasso, in front of one of his paintings in his Cannes home. George Stroud (Getty)

Perhaps his fascination with the future is what led him to become interested so early on in DNA. I remember seeing him on television in my childhood, when there was only one channel, with his mustache, talking about molecular structures. Most people took him for a joke: another artistic eccentricity. In that black and white Spain, Dali was talking about the future, and I wonder now if it was his form of rebellion against the established. In matters relating to science, Dali was well ahead of television viewers, including Picasso, almost certainly.

As a preview of the celebration, the Gala Salvador Dali Foundation has invited from Scotland Dali's well-known Christ, painted in 1951. The exhibition, which presents the process of execution of the work, reproduces the scenography devised by Dali himself, and the lighting gives new perspective on the impressive painting as seen from the present, the 120th anniversary. What if the painting was much more than a religious image? Between Christ and Cap de Creus, which was a recurring landscape for the painter, an amalgam of apparent clouds reinforces the separation between heaven and earth. But no, they are not clouds. They are somewhat reminiscent of the first images of our planet taken from outer space in the late 1940s and published in the early 1950s. Suddenly, the perspective of the painting reveals a premonition of the world as seen from outside: the well-known image of the Earth from the Moon, published years later.

If its true that the Ano Picasso has served us in speaking of gender and returning Picasso to the Spanish everyday  among other things  perhaps the commemoration of Dali will serve to rethink his extraordinary timelessness: how in that television interview, he was talking about something fundamental that he had intuited before anyone else, that would later fill the conversation and work of so many artists. Those who are of the now: the passion for science.

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Jennifer Love Hewitt says she went through a lot in 2023

Washington, January 1

Actor and film producer Jennifer Love Hewitt got candid about the ups and downs she experienced over the past 12 months, reported People.

"Belly laughed more than ever. Had the longest cold of my life. Was forced to have more faith than normal. Learned to love working out as a gain for my mental health. Took chances on myself and my bigger dreams. Sat deeper in grief and was able to let more go. Felt my mom around us and saw signs that she was. Said goodbye to things that don't serve positivity in my life and made room for lots of good things in 2024," added Jennifer.

Talking about her relationship, she said, "Celebrated 10 years with my guy. Got some tattoos. And truly let whatever I needed to learn teach me. And so here I am. Happy, blessed, grateful and filled with hope. I will be praying our world gets better this year and everyone sees less pain, fear and heartbreak. Love to all and Happy New Year!"

https://www.instagram.com/p/C1h6NeHJz7H/

Also, this year, Hewitt, who rose to fame as a child actor, made headlines for getting real about ageing in the spotlight -- which she spoke out about after fielding claims that she looked "unrecognizable" on social media.

During an appearance on Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum earlier this month, the actress refuted the allegations, which surfaced when she unveiled a black bob to her Instagram fans this autumn.

"Aging in Hollywood is really hard. It's really hard because you can't do anything right," Hewitt told the podcast's host, Michael Rosenbaum.

After she posted a photo debuting her new 'do, Hewitt said that "a bunch of people were like, 'Jennifer Love Hewitt is unrecognizable,'" and others accused her of using filters "because she doesn't want us to know how bad she actually looks now in her 40s."

"And I was like, 'This is crazy right?'" she recalled to Rosenbaum.

Hewitt said she shared more images, this time with "over-the-top, crazy" filters on -- and was met with even more vitriol.

"I was like, 'All natural, no filter,' like trying to make fun of it, and then they came after me for that and they were like, 'Well, now she's just defending herself,'" she said. "And I realized, 'I can do no right.'"

The Criminal Minds actress also acknowledged the kindness people show her, but said she can't help but give those who make negative comments about her appearance attention because of her daughter, Autumn. (She shares Autumn, 10, as well as sons Atticus, 8, and Aidan, 2, with Hallisay.)

The "only reason those people bother me" is because "I'm a mother of a girl," she said.

"It's dangerous what we put on people. It's dangerous, I think, to say to women, 'You can't look like you're not 22 to me anymore because I don't know how to take that,'" she said.

"Because I'm 44, and this is what I look like," she added, reported People.

(ANI - Posted on 01 January 2024)

Jennifer Love Hewitt says she went through a lot in 2023

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On 'Koffe with Karan', Janhvi Kapoor recalls Khushi comforting her after Sridevi's death

Mumbai, January 4

The latest episode of 'Koffee with Karan' Season 8 saw Bollywood sister duo Janhvi Kapoor and Khushi Kapoor gracing the 'Koffee' couch.

During the conversation, host Karan Johar discussed the significant impact of losing a parent with the Kapoor sisters.

Janhvi also mentioned that despite being the younger sibling, it was her sister Khushi Kapoor who consoled her.

Recalling the moment, Janhvi said, "The thing that I remember is that when I got the call, I was in my room. I could hear wailing from Khushi's room. I think I barged into her room howling and crying. But what I do remember, Karan, is that the minute she looked at me, she just stopped crying. She just sat next to me and started comforting me. I have never seen her cry about it since."

Khushi said that it took her some time to properly process her mother Sridevi's death.

Khushi shared, "I felt like I had to hold it together for everyone because I feel like I've always been the strong one."

She admitted feeling befuddled at first, but said both Janhvi and their father, Boney Kapoor guided her through those difficult times.

Janhvi also spoke about the similarities between Khushi and Sridevi. "She is a very quiet person and I think that is one thing she has in common with Mumma. But in front of the camera, she just explodes."

Sridevi breathed her last on February 24, 2018, in Dubai, where she had gone to attend a family function.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Janhvi will be next seen in 'Mr. and Mrs. Maahi' alongside actor RajKummar Rao.

Janhvi will also be seen in the Pan-India film 'Devara' along with Jr NTR and Saif Ali Khan.

Khushi was last seen in Zoya Akhtar's 'The Archies'.

(ANI - Posted on 04 January 2024)

On 'Koffe with Karan', Janhvi Kapoor recalls Khushi comforting her after Sridevi's death

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My record on our wickets has been pretty good: SA skipper Elgar on pitch following day one of second Test

Cape Town, January 4

Following a chaotic first day of the second Test between India and South Africa which saw a total of 23 wickets falling, South African skipper Dean Elgar refused to label the pitch as bad but said that it is challenging instead.

Despite managing scores of 4 and 12 in his final Test, Elgar refused to label the pitch as bad, but said that they are challenging and a batter needs to apply themselves, be mentally hard and disciplined.

"I cannot say that (the pitch is bad) because personally, I have had success on wickets that have gone around. My record on our wickets has been pretty good," he said as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.

"They have been challenging but I think that is what you have got to experience as a batter. For me, it is all about the balance between bat and ball and it is a fine line to get that right. In South Africa, maybe they get a little bit wrong and it is more in favour of the bowler. But as a batter, you have still got to go out and apply yourself and you have got to really be mentally hard on yourself to be disciplined, stay to a very simple game plan and execute. There is no excuse going forward. You still have to apply yourself and that is anywhere around the world. But particularly in South Africa where it is a little bit tougher," he added.

At either end, the bounce was way different. At Wynberg End, from where Mohammed Sirah took a six-wicket haul, the bounce was up and down, but at the Calvin Grove End, from where Lungi Ngidi took three wickets in an over to trigger an Indian collapse, some deliveries reared up.

"There was a lot steeper bounce that way (from where Ngidi bowler)," Elgar said, pointing to the crease he would have been standing at with Ngidi bowling to him.

"And that side, it was a little bit lower. So I do not know what to make of it," he added.

Having played 19 first-class matches at Newlands, Elgar came into the match confident that he knew how the wicket would play, even though its mottled look was different in comparison to its usual even tone.

"From the naked eye it actually did not look too bad," he said.

"The wickets of the past, even domestically, have not played at all badly. They have actually been quite good. It did not look horrible."

Elgar expected the surface to retain its bat-first quality, but had he known that the wicket was going to play like this, "I would not have chosen it," he said.

Elgar also pointed out that India "put the ball in the right areas" and said that South African batters should have shown more application.

"As a batter, you have to play the way Virat (Kohli), Aiden (Makram) and Rohit (Sharma) applied themselves, You obviously got to take a few risks out there. And hopefully, you get a reward," he concluded.

Coming to the match, South Africa elected to bat first and was bundled out for just 55 in 23.2 overs, with Kyle Verreynne (15) and David Bedingham (12) being the sole players to touch double digits.

Mohammed Siraj's fiery spell of 6/15 destroyed Proteas' top and middle order, while Jasprit Bumrah (2/25) and Mukesh Kumar (0/2) also took wickets.

In their first innings, India was 153/4 at one point, with solid scores coming from Virat Kohli (46 in 59 balls, with six fours and a six), Rohit Sharma (39 in 50 balls, with seven fours) and Shubman Gill (36 in 55 balls, with five fours), but a Lungi Ngidi three-wicket over sunk India to 153 all out in 34.5 overs.

Ngidi (3/30), Kagiso Rabada (3/38) and Nandre Burger (3/42) took three wickets each for SA.Later in their second innings, SA ended the day at 62/3, with Aiden Markram (36*) doing the bulk of the scoring. Skipper Dean Elgar managed 12 runs in his final Test innings. Mukesh got two while Bumrah got one wicket.

(ANI - Posted on 04 January 2024)

My record on our wickets has been pretty good: SA skipper Elgar on pitch following day one of second Test

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Tamil Nadu: People celebrate Margazhi Ashtami Chariot Festival at Meenakshi Amman temple in Madurai

Madurai, January 4

Large number of people flocked to the street in Madurai to take part in the Margazhi Ashtami Chariot Festival celebrated at Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai on Thursday.

The festival is celebrated in the month of Margasheersha, known as Margazhi in Tamil. As per the Hindu tradition, the month of Markasheersha is considered auspicious for one's spiritual development which can be attained through dedication to Shiva, Shakti, Vishnu and others by meditation and fasting.

Idols of lord Meenakshi Amman and Sundareswarar will stroll through the outer streets in a chariot. Women will pull the chariot which is the major highlight of the festival.

Lord Krishna mentioned the importance of Margazhi month in the Bhagavad Gita. As per the tradition, religious sermons, chanting, listening to spiritual music etc. should be done in this month. At the same time, no religious events like weddings are performed in this month. People do not engage in any activities other than worshipping God.

Several significant Hindu festivals take place throughout the state during this time, and devotees commemorate them with devotion.

Every December the state celebrates classical music and dance forms with renowned musicians and artists gathering to play in various temples, sabhas or auditoriums. Margazhi Maha Utsavam - Music and Dance Festival in Chennai Bharatanatyam, Carnatic music along with devotional music rhymes confers mystical divinity to the land of Tamil Nadu.

The cultural extravaganza is held in several auditoriums and sabhas as the "Music and Dance Festival," which features the performances of vocal and instrumental musicians alluring all the classical music and dance fanatics to participate. The festival provides a chance for junior performers to demonstrate their abilities while sharing the stage with their older peers in the profession. The performances revolve mostly around Tamil, Telugu, Sanskrit and Kannada songs, showing the enchantment of instruments such as the flute, veena, gottuvadyam, nadhaswaram, thavil, mridangam, and ghatam.

(ANI - Posted on 04 January 2024)

Tamil Nadu: People celebrate Margazhi Ashtami Chariot Festival at Meenakshi Amman temple in Madurai

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Amit Shah urges farmers to make India self-reliant in pulses production by Dec 2027

New Delhi, January 4

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah has appealed to the farmers to focus on the production of pulses to make India self-reliant in this sector before December 2027.

"Produce pulses and make the country self-reliant in this sector. It is necessary to make India self-reliant in pulse production. I assure you that before December 2027, India will become self-reliant in the production of pulses," Shah said at the event.

"Beginning by you is going to bring drastic changes in the field of agriculture", Shah assured the farmers.

"It's a guarantee from Modi that if you register with the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) and the National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India Ltd (NCCF), we will purchase your pulses. It is the responsibility of the Modi government to purchase your pulses on MSP (Minimum Support Price)," Shah said, adding that the current 'tur dal' MSP rate is Rs 7,000 compared to Rs 4,350 in 2014-15, a 65 per cent increase.

Addressing the national symposium organized on self-reliance in pulses, Shah said the farmer-centric initiative aims to empower 'tur dal' producers with better prices through procurement, streamlined processes and direct bank transfers by NAFED and NCCF to boost domestic pulses production and reducing import dependence.

"Under this, the buffer stock of pulses will be purchased from the farmers registered on the portals of NAFED and NCCF as per the guidelines of the Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India and MSP or market price, whichever is higher, will be paid to the farmers," Shah said.

"The process of registration, purchase and payment on the portal will be available on a single medium. Portal registration of farmers can be done directly or through the Primary Agricultural Credit Society (PACS) and Farmers Producers Organisation (FPO). The payment to the farmers will be made by NAFED directly into their mapped bank account and no agency will be involved in between. The entire process is farmer-centric in which farmers themselves can track the activities from registration to payment," said the Home Minister.

This initiative complements the "Atmanirbhar Bharat" campaign, Shah added, pointing "the multilingual electronic portal https://esamridhi.in will connect farmers, NAFED and concerned government departments, streamlining processes for better accessibility."

The launch of the 'tur dal' procurement portal symbolizes the government's comprehensive vision of a new green revolution that will include pulses and oilseeds along with traditional crops like wheat and rice, the Minister said, adding "this will be beneficial for Indian agriculture and the bright future of millions of farmers towards self-reliance in all food categories."

The portal will streamline the entire process for 'tur dal' growers in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, Karnataka and Jharkhand, simplifying the registration, procurement and payment processes.

The portal aims to reduce dependence on imports by purchasing 80 per cent of the buffer stock directly from farmers. This will not only secure food production but will also ensure the future food security of the nation.

(ANI - Posted on 04 January 2024)

Amit Shah urges farmers to make India self-reliant in pulses production by Dec 2027

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Katrina Kaif opens up about her first meeting with Vijay Sethupathi

Mumbai, January 4

Actor Katrina Kaif is currently busy promoting her upcoming thriller film 'Merry Christmas'.

On Thursday, during a press conference, Katrina shared her experience of working with the 'Jawan' actor for the first time.

She said, "Our first meeting was all three of us (Katrina, Vijay and Sriram Raghavan) together in a room and I had recently seen a picture of Vijay Sir and he had full white hair and a white beard. So when I entered into the office I didn't know what to expect and when I saw him like this I said "oh wow" that's a really different look. Everything for me about this film I was extremely excited to be working with Sriram Sir and Vijay Sir and as soon as we came together in a room, I think everyone came just as themselves and we instantly were able to connect. The minute Vijay sir started speaking about the scene it was fascinating, I just thought that this is the person who uses things in such a unique way and Sriram Sir has a very unique take on everything he does."

Talking about 'Merry Christmas', the makers recently unveiled the film's official trailer which received good responses from the fans.

The film has been shot in two languages, with different supporting actors. The Hindi version also features Sanjay Kapoor, Vinay Pathak, Pratima Kannan, and Tinnu Anand. On the other hand, the Tamil version stars Radhika Sarathkumar, Shanmugaraja, Kevin Jay Babu, and Rajesh Williams in the same roles.

Sharing the experience of working with director Sriram Raghavan, actor Katrina Kaif earlier said that working with Sriram Raghavan was a dream come true for her. "I feel incredibly fortunate to have had that opportunity. He's a phenomenal director with an incredible mind, and being on his set is like entering a whole different world."

"He's an amazing collaborator, both as a filmmaker and as a person. It was a very intense experience, especially doing the film in two languages. All of us have been very passionate about making this film from day 1 and are very excited for the release," she added.

'Merry Christmas' is slated to release in theatres on January 12, 2024.

(ANI - Posted on 04 January 2024)

Katrina Kaif opens up about her first meeting with Vijay Sethupathi

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A hint of modernity or not? A petition with over 120,000 signatures has sparked controversy regarding the reconstruction of Notre Dame Cathedral. Closed since the devastating fire in April 2019, the renovation of the Gothic church is nearing completion and is set to reopen on December 8, 2024. However, President Emmanuel Macrons announcement to replace six stained glass windows saved from the fire with more modern ones has raised public concerns that they would destroy the architectural integrity of the Parisian monument.

The petition, launched on December 10 by art historian and journalist Didier Rykner, pertains to stained glass windows designed by French architect Eugene Viollet-le-Duc, who was responsible for restoring the cathedral in the mid-19th century. These windows are located in the southern end of the nave and were unaffected by the fire that destroyed the spire and part of the roof. Viollet-le-Duc designed these stained glass windows to maintain the cathedrals Gothic origins as a cohesive whole, said Rykner, founder of La Tribune de lArt magazine.

During his recent visit on December 8, Macron announced the creation of a museum near the cathedral that will focus on its history and art collection. He also announced plans to hold a public competition for a contemporary artist to design new stained glass windows that will add a touch of the 21st century, an idea backed by the French Roman Catholic Church. In a letter to Macron, Archbishop Laurent Ulrich asked the government to commission six stained glass windows for the south-side chapels of the nave.

But Macron seems to be bearing the brunt of all the criticism. Who gave the head of state permission to change a cathedral that doesnt belong to him, but to everyone? asked the petition signatories, who are increasing in number every day. There have been previous controversies surrounding renovation of the cathedral, which used to attract over 12 million visitors annually before its closure. The reconstruction of the iconic 93-meter spire (also designed by Viollet-le-Duc) pitted people who wanted to preserve the original design against others who favored innovation. The spire was eventually rebuilt exactly the same as the original.

Eugene Viollet-le-Duc's stained glass windows in Notre Dame Cathedral; 2009. Alamy Stock Photo

In May 2023, a project by the Paris City Council to add greenery around the cathedral caused friction and even some political repercussions. There is an ongoing controversy surrounding the lead spire sheathing, as the use of this toxic metal raised concerns among Parisians living near the cathedral. On November 30, politicians, NGOs and neighborhood organizations demonstrated in front of the cathedral to urge consideration of all ecological and public health risks. The fire in 2019 released approximately 400 tons of toxic lead fumes into the atmosphere. However, officials assure that the lead sheathing located 130 feet (40 meters) above the ground does not pose any threat to the publics safety.

The current controversy revolves around the stained glass windows with geometric motifs created by Viollet-le-Duc. Rykner wrote an article arguing that replacing them is akin to vandalism. A respected commentator on French architectural heritage, Rykner stressed that hes not opposed to incorporating modern designs in historic structures, but doesnt see any valid reasons for replacing the existing stained glass windows in this case. He said the windows are an integral part of the architects work and survived the fire. Replacing them would distort the harmony of light inside the cathedral.

French journalist Didier Rykner initiated a petition to prevent the replacement of six stained glass windows in Notre Dame Cathedral; December 27, 2023. CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON (EFE)

Rykner proposes placing the new windows in the north wing, the area most affected by the fire. Meanwhile, proponents of the modern stained glass windows say the old ones could be showcased in the new museum near the cathedral. Critics argue that Viollet-le-Ducs windows are valuable only if they stay in the cathedral. Once the petition gathers 150,000 signatures, it will be presented to the president. According to La Croix newspaper, Olivier Ribadeau Dumas, the rector-archbishop of Notre-Dame, stated that the cathedral boasts nearly 27,000 square feet (2,500 square meters) of stained glass. Approximately 8% of this glass was installed in the 12th century, while the remaining was added in the 17th, 19th, and 20th centuries.

Private donors have contributed a staggering 848 million ($929 million) to finance the cathedrals reconstruction, which also sparked an uproar over the tax exemptions granted by Frances national heritage law. The latest controversy begs the question: is there anything that can be done at Notre Dame that wont provoke someones ire?

Reconstruction of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris; December 27, 2023. CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON (EFE)

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Microsoft renames Edge browser on iOS, Android

New Delhi, Jan 4

Microsoft has rebranded its Edge browser on iOS and Android to "Microsoft Edge: AI browser".

The browser's page on the App Store and Google Play Store advertises new AI-powered capabilities such as the DALL-E 3 image generator, article summarization with Copilot, image recognition, and more.

"Microsoft Edge, your AI-powered browser, with Copilot built in to enhance your browsing experience. Empowered by GPT-4, Copilot enables you to ask questions, refine searches, receive comprehensive summaries and create images with DALL-E 3. Microsoft Edge is a smarter way to browse, find, create and shop on the go," the company said in its updated App Store listing.

The new name seems to be generating mixed reactions from customers.

Some claim Microsoft has no right to call Edge an "AI browser", while others support the new naming scheme considering how many extra features you get by pressing the Copilot button on the toolbar.

"Microsoft has apparently decided to name Edge on Android "Microsoft Edge: AI Browser".

I'm so deeply disappointed at every decision that Microsoft leadership makes around Edge. It's like every time they're presented with two options, they intentionally chose the worse option," a user wrote on X.

Meanwhile, Microsoft has disabled its ms-appinstaller URI scheme (App Installer) after observing that threat actors are using it to distribute malware.

According to a blog from Microsoft Threat Intelligence, the tech giant has been observing threat actors since mid-November 2023.

(IANS - Posted on 04 January 2024)

Microsoft renames Edge browser on iOS, Android

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Amber Heard humbled by audience response to her 'Aquaman 2' role

Los Angeles, Jan 4

Hollywood actress Amber Heard, who reprised her role of Mera in 'Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom', is pleased with the response to her work from the audience.

"After all this time, 'Aquaman 2' made its splash (sorry, it's too easy)", Amber posted on Instagram along with a series of photos from the set of the movie.

Thank you to all of my fans for the overwhelming support and love in Meras AQ return. Thank you so much.

As per Deadline, Amber first played the role of Mera in 2017s Justice League before reprising her role in the Aquaman film in 2018 directed by James Wan.

The Aquaman sequel directed by Wan from a screenplay by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick was released on December 22, 2023.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom picks up several years after Arthur Curry (Jason Momoa) became king of Atlantis, married Mera, and had a son they named Arthur Jr.

The films sequel was announced after the allegations Amber raised against Johnny Depp.

Warner Bros. removed Johnny from Fantastic Beasts 3 and an online petition to have Amber removed from the Aquaman sequel garnered over 1.5 million signatures.

Earlier this year, Wan addressed rumours that Ambers involvement in the sequel was watered down.

(IANS - Posted on 05 January 2024)

Amber Heard humbled by audience response to her 'Aquaman 2' role

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Brief history of 3D printing technology

Innovations in surgical tools and equipment

Personalized prosthetics and implants

Breakthroughs in 3D-printed organs

References

3D printing is still a relatively novel method of manufacture, and has already diversified massively in terms of printing methods, materials, and design possibilities, finding niche application in a range of fields, including healthcare and the life sciences.

3D printing is having a transformative impact on the way surgery and dentistry is performed, and how prosthetics and implants are designed, allowing the creation of custom, personalized items fit for the patient or the particular task at hand.

This article will explore the wide-ranging applications of 3D printing in healthcare, from creating surgical tools to facilitating organ transplants.

Image Credit: Olga Ilina/Shutterstock.com

Brief history of 3D printing technology

3D printing typically refers to an additive manufacturing process, i.e. one where material is added in successive layers or stages, rather than being removed from bulk material (subtractive) or directly molded to shape, as with materials such as thermosetting plastics.

One of the earliest forms of 3D printing was stereolithography, now more commonly termed resin printing, in which a UV laser is aimed in the desired pattern in a layer-by-layer manner at photopolymer resin, hardening it and transforming the liquid into a solid three dimensional structure.

Research into this technology was ongoing throughout the 1970s and patented in 1984, and is broadly utilized to produce custom manufactured parts. The type of resin employed can be adapted to purpose; for biocompatibility in cases of biological implant or prosthesis, for toughness and rigidity where required, and so on.

The term 3D printing was not actually coined until 1995, by Professor Ely Sachs, MIT, who worked on modifying inkjet printers to extrude a binding solution onto a powder bed, known as powder bed fusion 3D printing (of which there are many types: selective laser sintering, direct metal laser sintering, electron beam melting, etc.).

This method of printing evolved into many of the types perhaps more commonly used today, which employ a frame capable of moving an extrusion head in three dimensions above a platform, such as fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing.

Now, there are over 18 methods of 3D printing, each with numerous modifications, allowing custom products to be manufactured in a broad range of materials, with differing degrees of ease and accessibility, quality, and suitability towards medical applications.

Innovations in surgical tools and equipment

3D printing is increasingly employed in the creation of surgical aids, including the design and production of accurate training models, specialized instruments, and scaffolds that aid in implantation or tissue repair.

One of the major advantages of 3D printing technologies is that iterative changes can be made to newly designed tools based on immediate feedback from surgeons and other medical professionals; design changes can be implemented in silico and a new device printed overnight.

The facility of producing patient specific training models could potentially be revolutionary in terms of the way surgery is performed, as the highly particular details of a patients internal organs, as ascertained from various scanning technologies, can be reproduced in detail.

This leaves fewer surprises for surgeons during surgery, and would massively assist in preparation for more complex surgeries.

Image Credit: belekekin/Shutterstock.com

Personalized prosthetics and implants

Some of the major issues with ordinary mass-produced prosthetics is surrounding abandonment; the user ceases to wear the prosthetic as they are uncomfortable, awkward, or unappealing aesthetically.

Bionic prosthetics, which are capable of coordinating roboting movement by muscle contractions, must in particular be positioned and secured carefully in order to maintain their function and comfortable usability.

The custom sizing possible using 3D printing technologies allows much more comfortable prosthetics to be manufactured from biocompatible components, potentially in more complex designs and lower mass than traditional prosthetics.

In 2014 a conference was held at Johns Hopkins Hospital titled: Prosthetists Meet 3D Printers, in which medical and 3D printing experts met to discuss the state and future of 3D printing of prosthetics.

A broad range of collaborative efforts are currently underway with a view to utilizing 3D printing in prosthetics. For example, prosthetic devices are freely available to download and print at home on a number of dedicated websites, while many companies dedicated to producing prosthetic devices for particular markets have emerged.

For example, Openbionics is a UK based company that prints custom prosthetics, with superhero designs aimed at children, ones with specialized fittings for musicians, and so on.

Breakthroughs in 3D-printed organs

Various biomaterials can be laid down in an additive manufacturing method such as 3D printing to produce implantable scaffolds, tissues, and even whole new organs.

Bioinks containing living cells are deposited in a layer-by-layer manner to print the organ, typically employing a scaffold and/or natural polymers within the bioink, which harden and keep the cells in place; hydrogel polymers such as fibrin, gelatin, alginates, chitosan, and hyaluronic acids are typically employed. 3D printed organs such as this contain cells cultured from the patient, and thus are much more biocompatible than a donor organ.

There are several types of organ 3D printing, and the technology is still in its infancy. One of the earliest and most broadly employed methods is known as cell seeding, wherein a supporting scaffold is 3D printed from biocompatible materials and then seeded with cells that will propagate to fill the structure, potentially in situ in order to aid in wound healing.

Where custom organs are 3D printed they can be made to best suit the patient, not only in terms of biocompatibility but also in terms of shape and size; for example, adjusting the size of the heart valves to patient size.

References
A research team has detected various substances that have a dual effect against tuberculosis: They make the bacteria causing the disease less pathogenic for human immune cells and boost the activity of conventional antibiotics / publication in Cell Chemical Biology.

In cooperation with research partners in Germany and France, the infectious disease specialist Dr Jan Rybniker and his team at University Hospital Cologne and the University of Cologne's Faculty of Medicine have identified new, antibiotic molecules that target Mycobacterium tuberculosis and make it less pathogenic for humans. In addition, some of the discovered substances may allow for a renewed treatment of tuberculosis with available medications  including strains of the bacterium that have already developed drug resistance. The research has been published in the article 'Discovery of dual-active ethionamide boosters inhibiting the Mycobacterium tuberculosis ESX-1 secretion system' in Cell Chemical Biology.

Tuberculosis (TB)  or 'consumption', as it used to be called  mainly affects the lungs, but can also damage other organs. If diagnosed early and treated with antibiotics, it is curable. Although the disease is relatively rare in most western European countries, it still ranks among the infectious diseases that claim the most lives worldwide: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), only Covid-19 was deadlier than TB in 2022. The disease also caused almost twice as many deaths as HIV/AIDS. More than 10 million people continue to contract TB every year. This is mainly due to insufficient access to medical treatment in many countries.

Limited targets

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis is emerging especially in eastern Europe and Asia. That is of particular concern to researchers because like all bacteria that infect humans, Mycobacterium tuberculosis possesses only a limited number of targets for conventional antibiotics. That makes it increasingly difficult to discover new antibiotic substances in research laboratories.

Working together with colleagues from the Institute Pasteur in Lille, France, and the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), the researchers at University Hospital Cologne have now identified an alternative treatment strategy for the bacterium. The team utilized host-cell-based high-throughput methods to test the ability of molecules to stem the multiplication of bacteria in human immune cells: From a total of 10,000 molecules, this procedure allowed them to isolate a handful whose properties they scrutinized more closely in the course of the study.

Double attack

Ultimately, the researchers identified virulence blockers that utilize target structures that are fundamentally distinct from those targeted by classical antibiotics. "These molecules probably lead to significantly less selective pressure on the bacterium, and thus to less resistance," said Jan Rybniker, who heads the Translational Research Unit for Infectious Diseases at the Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC) and initiated the study.

In deciphering the exact mechanism of action, the researchers also discovered that some of the newly identified chemical substances are dual-active molecules. Thus, they not only attack the pathogen's virulence factors, but also enhance the activity of monooxygenases  enzymes required for the activation of the conventional antibiotic ethionamide. Ethionamide is a drug that has been used for many decades to treat TB. It is a so-called prodrug, a substance that needs to be enzymatically activated in the bacterium to kill it. Therefore, the discovered molecules act as prodrug boosters, providing another alternative approach to the development of conventional antibiotics. In cooperation with the research team led by Professor Alain Baulard at Lille, the precise molecular mechanism of this booster effect was deciphered. Thus, in combination with these new active substances, drugs that are already in use against tuberculosis might continue to be employed effectively in the future.

The discovery offers several attractive starting points for the development of novel and urgently needed agents against tuberculosis.

Moreover, our work is an interesting example of the diversity of pharmacologically active substances. The activity spectrum of these molecules can be modified by the smallest chemical modifications." Jan Rybniker, Head of Translational Research Unit for Infectious Diseases at the Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne

However, according to the scientists it is still a long way to the application of the findings in humans, requiring numerous adjustments of the substances in the laboratory.

This research was made possible with the support of the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) and other funding institutions.
As if starting life with a potentially disabling genetic blood disease wasn't enough, a study shows that almost two-thirds of babies born with sickle cell disease are born to mothers who live in disadvantaged areas.

But the study shows wide variation between states in the rate of births of babies with sickle cell to residents of areas with crowded housing, limited transportation options and other characteristics.

The researchers say their data could help public health authorities focus efforts to support the complex needs of children with sickle cell disease and their families.

The study was presented recently at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology by a consortium of researchers from 11 states who are part of the Sickle Cell Data Collection Program funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

That includes increasing use of evidence-based treatments such as antibiotics and hydroxyurea -- drugs that can greatly reduce the condition's symptoms but are widely underused.

Under-prescribing of such inexpensive and common drugs has received much less attention than two gene-editing treatments for sickle cell disease that recently received approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration, even though the new treatments may cost $2 million or more per child and will involve months of hospitalization at highly specialized medical centers.

The study also finds that sickle cell disease affects 1 in every 350 babies who are Black and not Hispanic, and that 90% of children born with sickle cell disease are Black.

In addition, 57% of children born with sickle cell disease have sickle cell anemia, the subtype that causes the most debilitating symptoms, including pain crises and infections.

If not controlled with medication, these symptoms can lead to frequent emergency department visits, and can affect school attendance, employment, mental health and social relationships.

The findings are some of the first to look at the rates and variations in births of children with sickle cell disease and examine county-level social vulnerability that may affect outcomes since national newborn screening for the condition took effect in 2006.

Among the researchers is Sarah Reeves, Ph.D., a University of Michigan epidemiologist based in the Department of Pediatrics at Michigan Medicine and the Susan B. Meister Child Health Evaluation and Research Center or CHEAR.

Reeves notes that 315 of the 3,305 babies born with sickle cell disease in these states between 2016 and 2020 were born in Michigan.

This work and other studies speak to why there is such a lack of access to high-quality care in this population. Sickle cell disease is complex to manage for anyone, but for people from less-advantaged backgrounds living in under-resourced areas, it's even harder." Sarah Reeves, Ph.D., epidemiologist, University of Michigan

As leader of the Michigan Sickle Cell Data Collection Program, Reeves has been working to study data on Michigan's sickle cell population of all ages, and the care they receive.

She has also worked with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to find new ways to identify individuals with sickle cell disease who aren't yet enrolled in an insurance program that is able to cover some or all of their health care costs throughout their lives, even if they already have other kinds of insurance.

The coverage is part of the Children's Special Health Care Services insurance program but since late 2021 has covered adults with sickle cell disease too.

But enrollment is far below the number of known people with sickle cell disease in the state.

She and her colleagues have also shown the vast underuse of antibiotics and hydroxyurea nationally in previously published studies, as well as the underuse of transcranial Doppler ultrasound scans to detect constricted flow in the arteries supplying the brain, which can predict stroke risk.

Only about 1 in 3 children with SCD are getting stroke screening, 1 in 10 are getting antibiotics, and the rate of hydroxyurea is even lower.

For the analysis presented at the ASH meeting, the researchers used the CDC's Social Vulnerability Index, which combines 16 socioeconomic measures regarding an area's population.

The researchers looked at SVI at the county level, though one state lacked county of birth for one-quarter of its babies who screened positive for sickle cell disease.

In all states but Colorado, the rate of sickle cell births were highest in areas with high or very high SVI scores. The rate in Michigan was three times higher in areas with very high social vulnerability than areas with low or medium SVI.

Newborn screening for sickle cell disease was instituted nationwide to increase the use of life-saving treatments, especially preventive antibiotics, starting from birth.

Screening can determine if a child is born with one or two copies of the sickle cell genetic trait, or a combination of genes for sickle cell and the related blood disorder thalassemia.

Additional authors include Mariam Kayle, Ph.D., R.N., of Duke University is the lead author of the abstract presented at ASH and published in a supplement to the journal Blood.
The Kawasaki Eliminator 500, introduced internationally in mid-2023, has now been officially launched in India for Rs 5.62 lakh (ex-showroom).

This model has gained popularity beyond Japan, and its iconic Eliminator name holds significance in the motorcycle manufacturers portfolio in India.

The revival of the Eliminator series is expected to generate considerable interest among enthusiasts. Bookings for the Eliminator 500 are currently open at all Kawasaki dealerships in the country.

2024 Kawasaki Eliminator 500: Details

The new Kawasaki Eliminator is a classic cruiser with modern styling. The low-slung design and laid-back stance remain but the bike now has a round LED headlamp, exposed frame, and all-black components.

The cruiser has a circular LCD instrument console with all the essentials such as a speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, coolant temperature, gear position indicator, two trip metres, and more. The unit also has Bluetooth connectivity, which allows it to receive calls and notifications from the Kawasaki Rideology app.

The 2024 Kawasaki Eliminator is powered by a 451cc parallel-twin, liquid-cooled engine based on the Ninja 400. This engine made its debut at EICMA 2023 in the new Ninja Kawasaki 500 and Z500. The engine produces 44 bhp at 9,000 rpm and 46 Nm of peak torque at 6,000 rpm. The engine is mated to a 6-speed gearbox and includes an assist and a slipped clutch.

A six-speed gearbox with a slip/assist clutch transmits power to the rear wheel. The Eliminator 500 is equipped with a brand-new chassis and dual rear shocks. When compared to its larger sibling, the Vulcan 650, which uses a mono-shock, this will give the bike a more vintage cruiser look.

Other mechanical features include 41 mm telescopic front forks and twin shock absorbers at the rear. With dual-channel ABS, a 310 mm semi-floating front disc and a 220 mm rear disc provide braking performance. The bike is equipped with a front 130/70/R18 tyre and a rear 150/80R16 tyre wrapped around 10-spoke alloy wheels. The seat height on the new Eliminator is 734 mm, making it accessible to all, and Kawasaki offers adjustable footpegs and seats to make the motorcycle more comfortable for the rider.

Kawasaki India will begin delivering the new Eliminator in mid-January. In addition to the motorcycle, the company sells accessories such as a rear carrier, tank pad, radiator screen and frame sliders. In the middleweight cruiser segment, the Eliminator 500 primarily comKpetes against the Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650.
A group of migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, onboard a Border Force vessel following a small boat incident in the Channel, England, Monday March 6, 2023.

The United Kingdom is not sufficiently coordinating with France in efforts to reduce the number of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats, according to a French report that points to the uncertain effectiveness of illegal migration policies.

France is struggling to develop operational cooperation arrangements with the U.K., according to the report published Thursday by Frances Court of Accounts, a body in charge of auditing the use of public funds, independent from the government and parliament.

The report refers in particular to a joint intelligence unit created in 2020 to fight human smuggling and reduce the number of people risking their lives to cross the Channel illegally. In 2022, it helped dismantle seven illegal migration networks.

The Court found that the British dont provide usable information on the departures of small boats, and give very general, first-level information that has not been counter-checked.

Information on the circumstances in which migrants arrive and their nationalities and on boats appears to be very patchy, the report said. The relationship between France and the UK is therefore unbalanced in terms of information and intelligence exchange.

Britains Home Office said Thursday that the report is based on out-of-date information and does not accurately reflect our current working relationship, including intelligence sharing, with France.

In the last two years, we have taken more robust action alongside them to crack down on vile people-smuggling gangs and stop the boats, it said in a statement. We continue to work closely with French partners at all levels, helping to drive forward improvements in the prevention of crossing attempts, both on the beaches and long before they reach them.

The U.K. Defense Ministry estimated that crossings of the English Channel by boat increased by at least 58% between 2021 and 2022, a year that saw over 45,000 migrants arrested on British shores.

The report said 56% of crossing attempts were prevented that same year  unchanged from the year before.

The British government announced this week that the number of migrants crossing fell by more than a third in 2023, to just under 26,000.

Britains Home Office said that another 26,000 of these dangerous, illegal and unnecessary crossing attempts were prevented in 2023 thanks to our partnership with France.

France in recent years has stepped up efforts to prevent migrants from crossing the Channel, including through more police, equipment and facilities. The country received 222 million euros ($243 million) from the U.K. from 2018 to 2022 as part of a bilateral agreement and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last March promised 541 million euros for the 2023-2026 period.

The number of people living illegally in France is unknown, but researchers from the Pew Research Center estimated their numbers in 2017 to be between 300,000 and 400,000, in a country of 67 million inhabitants. This is about three times fewer migrants with no legal status than in the U.K. and Germany.

The Court of Accounts report assessed a series of other issues related to illegal immigration policies, which were subject to 133 changes in law in the past decade.

It pointed to the difficulty of implementing orders to leave the national territory, despite France carrying out the most deportations in the European Union. Over 150,000 such decisions were made in 2022 and only 10% of the concerned people actually left, it said.

Amid recent debate over an immigration bill that focused largely on how to speed up the deportation process, the report said that international comparisons suggest that a change of scale is not realistic regarding such policies.

U.K. authorities sent back about 3,500 people to their home country and Germany sent back about 13,000 people in 2022, according to statistics gathered by the French Interior Ministry.

Reasons listed in the report include French authorities difficulty to prove the identity of the concerned migrants, reluctance from home countries to issue authorization to let them in and refusal by commercial airlines and plane pilots to take them onboard.

The Court of Account instead suggested enacting policies that would encourage migrants to voluntarily move back to their home countries by offering them money. Such policies have been proven to have significant efficiency, the Court said, noting that France is lagging behind the UK and Germany in that respect.

Pierre Moscovici, head of the Court of Account, said Thursday the body also recommends a better organization of border guards and police to make them more efficient, noting that more people are illegally crossing the border, mostly from Italy and Spain, in recent years.

Irregular immigration costs France about 1.8 billion euros each year and involves 16,000 state employees, police and military, the Court said.

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The All India Parents Association (AIPA) recently wrote a letter to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to express the concerns of female students and parents at Delhi government and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) schools in the Bhalaswa Area, alleging deplorable conditions.

AIPA President Ashok Agarwal wrote a letter to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. According to AIPA President Agarwal, Bal Sunvai (public hearing by children) was conducted on January 2, 2024, by Bhalaswa Lok Shakti Manch at Bhalaswa Resettlement Colony.

During the programme, several schoolgirls from the Delhi government as well as MCD schools, along with their parents who live in the resettlement colony, expressed their dissatisfaction with the schools. The safety of girls, lavatory facilities, and teacher abuse were among the issues raised by students and their parents.

As per The New Indian Express report, a Class 10 student at Sarvodaya Vidyalaya in Bhalaswa Village stated that there is little safety for female students outside the school grounds. She also stated that schools should provide bus services for students travelling to and from their homes, reports add.

Meanwhile, another Rajkiya Sehshiksha Madhyamik Vidyalaya class 10 student reportedly asserted that one of the teachers behaviour is inappropriate towards female students. Students also made serious allegations against the principal, claiming that He grabs girls by their hair and beats them, The New Indian Express mentions. Furthermore, a class 10 female student from the same school repeated allegations of inappropriate behaviour by a teacher towards students.

In addition, students also claimed that ilets the toare in poor condition, non-functional, and unsanitary. Reportedly, toilets are inaccessible to the girls during their periods, and water is frequently unavailable in washrooms.

Female students further claimed that they are forced to sweep floors and clean classroom garbage with brooms. Drinking water is saline and unfit for drinking, a girl stated, as per The New Indian Express.

On the other hand, the Delhi Directorate of Education (DoE) on December 26 announced that it will deploy rehabilitation paraprofessionals in the seven special schools it has taken over in accordance with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 and the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. According to a PTI report, the development follows discussions held in June by the academic committee formed to devise a plan for the transition of students from seven special schools.

The meeting covered topics including facilities, curriculum, admissions, and other urgent problems these schools are facing. On December 26, the committee members came to a unanimous decision to assign rehabilitation paraprofessionals to all special schools, evaluate all disabled children, provide counselling to them, their parents, and teachers, facilitate a smooth transition for the students, assign vocational instructors, supply instructional materials and assistive technology, guarantee staff training regularly, and plan parental counselling camps.
The school students from across the country will get a chance to go on a seven-day study tour to Prime Minister Narendra Modis school in Gujarats Vadnagar town, the Ministry of Education said on Thursday. The ministry has launched an online portal for the interested students of classes 9 to 12 to register and participate in the programme. A batch of 20 students, including 10 girls and 10 boys, will participate in the programme every week throughout the year.

Prerana: An Experiential Learning programme aims at offering a meaningful, unique and inspiring experience to all participants, and empowering them with leadership qualities, according to the ministry officials. Prerana is driven by a strong commitment to integrate principles of the Indian education system and the philosophy of value-based education, which is a cornerstone of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, a senior ministry official said.

The curriculum of Prerana School prepared by IIT Gandhi Nagar is rooted in nine value based themes: Swabhiman and Vinay, Shaurya and Sahas, Parishram and Samarpan, Karuna and Sewa, Vividhta and Ekta, Satyanishtha and Shuchita, Navachar and Jigyasa, Shraddha aur Vishwas, and Swatantrata and Kartavya.

The programme based on the above themes will inspire the youth and foster respect for Bharats unity in diversity, embodying the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and will contribute by making the youth of today, a flame holder for Viksit Bharat. Towards this endeavour, the participants will be guided by mentors from prestigious institutions, the official said. The programme will be operated from a Vernacular School, established in 1888, in Vadnagar, Gujarat. The school was also attended by Prime Minister Modi.

The school stands as a tribute to Vadnagars indomitable spirit, a living city that has triumphed over challenges like earthquakes and natural calamities and is home to ancient heritage sites and monuments inhabited since the early historic period and in the modern day. The school signifies the fact that extraordinary lives often find their roots in ordinary foundations, the official said.

Grounded in the timeless wisdom of Indias rich civilization, this unique initiative embodies a vision aligned with the principles and ideals of our honourable prime minister, who is an alumnus, he added. The programme will have a day-wise schedule featuring yoga, mindfulness and meditation sessions followed by experiential learning, thematic sessions and hands-on interesting learning activities.

Evening activities will include visits to ancient and heritage sites, inspirational film screenings, mission life creative activities, talent shows etc. ensuring a holistic learning approach, the official said.

Apart from this, the students will engage in diverse activities, embracing indigenous knowledge systems, latest State-of-Art technologies and learning from inspirational personalities, he added. As per the ministrys portal, the selection will take place in three stages. In the first stage, the students enrolled in classes 9 to 12 in any recognised school of the country will register on the portal by giving their information. Based on the details provided by the students and their special achievements, 200 students will be shortlisted in each district with 50 per cent of them being girls.

In the second stage, the students will exhibit their talent in multi-modal activities like recording a short video, writing essay/poem/story and other creative expression (painting/ caricature etc.) on topics like Why should I be selected for Prerana or My Vision of India @ 2047. In the third stage, two students (one boy and one girl) along with two students for the reserve panel will be selected through personal interview, achievements and impromptu writing to judge their personality and suitability for the programme.
The Gujarat Subordinate Service Selection Board (GSSSB) has issued an official notification for the recruitment of various Group A and Group B posts in the organisation. Candidates who meet the eligibility criteria can visit the official website of the GSSSB at gsssb.gujarat.gov.in and submit their applications. As per the official notice, the GSSSB Clerk registration 2024 window will remain open from January 4 and will be accessible until January 31, 2024.

GSSSB Clerk Recruitment 2024: Vacancy details

A comprehensive total of 4,304 vacancies have been announced for the recruitment of Group A and Group B posts, offering a variety of roles within the department including Junior Clerk, Senior Clerk, Head Clerk, Collector Office Clerk, Office Assistant, Stamp Inspector and other roles. The breakdown of vacancies according to the aforementioned posts is provided below:

Junior Clerk- 2,018

Junior Clerk- 590

Senior Clerk- 532

Assistant/Assistant Depot Manager- 372

Office Assistant- 210

Head Clerk- 169

Collector Office Clerk- 160

Social Welfare Inspector- 102

Assistant Tribal Development Officer- 65

Sub Registrar Grade II- 53

Social Welfare Inspector- 46

Sub Registrar Grade I- 45

Depot Manager (Godown Manager)- 26

Stamp Inspector- 23

Home Father- 14

Assistant Social Welfare Officer- 13

Junior Assistant- 8

Assistant Social Welfare Officer- 7

Home Maker- 6

Office Superintendent Class III- 2

Office Superintendent Class III- 3

GSSSB Clerk Recruitment 2023: Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification: To be eligible, candidates should have completed graduation from a recognised university/institution. They must also possess adequate knowledge of Hindi or Gujarati or both languages.

Age Limit: Applicants seeking the aforementioned posts must fall within the age bracket of 20 to 35 years of age as of January 31, 2024, to apply for the vacancies.

GSSSB Clerk Recruitment 2023: How To Apply

Step 1. Candidates need to log in to the official website of GSSSB at gsssb.gujarat.gov.in.

Step 2. Register yourself on the webpage and fill out the GSSSB Clerk application form as prescribed

Step 3. Scan and upload all the essential documents in the mentioned size and format.

Step 4. Make the payment of the registration fee and submit

Step 5. Generate a printout of the same and save a copy of the application form for future reference

GSSSB Clerk Recruitment 2023: Application Fee

The application fee for candidates falling under the general category is Rs 500, whereas for those belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe, Person with Disability (PwD) category and female candidates are required to pay Rs 400 at the time of registration.
Bigg Boss 17 has entered its final month and the atmosphere inside the house has intensified as contestants are eyeing for the ultimate win. Amidst all the drama, viewers are looking forward to Weekend ka Vaar with Salman Khan after seeing former couple Isha Malviya and Abhishek Kumar, arguing and making a number of accusations after a nomination task. Their verbal spat escalated, leading to Abhishek slapping co-contestant and Ishas current partner Samarth Jurel.

This incident deeply affected Ishas mother, Mamta Malviya, who shared her support for her daughter on social media and hinted about taking legal action against Abhishek. Meanwhile, former Bigg Boss contestant Suyyash Rai responded to Mamtas message and took a dig at Ishas reality and her behaviour in the show.

Sharing her views on Ishas Instagram Stories, Mamta Malviya wrote, Isha has been character assassinated by this guy every time. I havent forgiven him either. This game is about mental strength. If he was so traumatized, he knew Isha was coming to Bigg Boss, so why did he come to the show? Legal action should be taken for such actions, but we are still silent, just for Isha. Shame on you for bringing Isha into it every time and those people should also feel ashamed who support this aggressive nature.

Replying to her post, Suyyash Rai wrote, Maa hain isliye izzat de dete hain, she is no doodh ki dhuli so please, usne bhi kuch nahi choda hai kehne karne ko. (She is respected because she is a mother. Everyone knows her daughter is not as pure as milk, so please, she also hasnt left anything to say or do).

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani)

The clash between Abhishek Kumar, Isha Malviya and Samarth Jurel happened during the nomination task conducted in the activity area. As the task approached its conclusion, a heated argument erupted between Isha and Abhishek, intensifying to a point where Abhishek expressed feeling claustrophobic. Despite his health concerns, Isha and Samarth decided to make fun of his issue.

Amidst the conflict, Munawar Faruqui intervened and advised Samarth Jurel to refrain from provoking Abhishek Kumar during the altercation. Despite the advice, Isha Malviya and Samarth continued the argument, by making derogatory comments about his personal life, family and his mental health.

The nominated contestants this week include Munawar, Arun Mashetty, Aoora, Ayesha Khan, Abhishek and Samarth on Bigg Boss 17. However, recent speculation from the Bigg Boss insider page, The Khabri, suggests Abhishek Kumars eviction from the house, allegedly by Captain Ankita Lokhande.

Despite this claim, the eviction remains unconfirmed, leaving viewers in anticipation of the upcoming episode.
Cyber crooks are targeting around 200 people daily in the national capital, swindling their money with different modus operandi, a senior Delhi Police officer who has been investigating cyber crimes said.

The officer said the fraudsters in and around Delhi are using sextortion, work from home, online hotel booking, and online resale, among other tricks to dupe the victims, whereas the gangs operating from Jharkhand and Bihar are using scams such as KYC expiry, Android banking malware to siphon money from gullible individuals.

Mewat-based cyber criminals are siphoning amounts using investment applications and websites offering part-time jobs, seeking OTPs to take control of victims systems, and creating fake social media accounts for sextortion, he added.

The Delhi Police in a recent post on X warned residents of the national capital of such frauds. We receive around 200 complaints everyday regarding cyber frauds in Delhi. Most of these complaints are related to work from home, sextortion, OTP-related cases, online selling of products, the police officer said.

The Director of Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) had recently said that over Rs 10,300 crore was siphoned off from the country by cyber criminals since April 1, 2021, of which the agencies managed to successfully block around Rs 1,127 crore in the country.

Over 4.52 lakh cyber crime cases were reported on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) in 2021, which rose by 113.7 per cent in 2022, with 9.66 lakh cases being reported on the portal, I4C Director Rajesh Kumar had said.

Another senior police officer said the government has introduced a new software on a trial basis that helps the police in locating the cybercriminals operating in their area.

The use of this software, coupled with quick response, has led to a massive reduction in crime by cyber fraudsters of Jharkhands Deoghar and Jamtara areas. If you have seen an online advertisement promising to sell a bike or a car at a throwaway cost, but asking you to pay a transfer fee upfront, chances are it would have been posted by someone from Haryanas Mewat region, the officer said as he warned people of being duped by such commercials.

Explaining the modus operandi of such cyber crimes, the officer said the fraudsters post advertisements on social media and other platforms with attractive offers. When someone shows interest in such offers, the accused usually ask for payment on the pretext of courier charges, transfer fees and so on.

After the victims make the payment, the scamsters switch off their phones and go incommunicado.

Everyone must check and verify the application or website before making an online purchase. Second, if someone is ordering something, they must ensure cash on delivery (COD) payment method, he added.
Aditya L1, Indias ambitious solar exploration mission is inching a step closer to its final destination, with the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) set to attempt a crucial orbit manoeuvre to place the spacecraft into its final orbit on January 6 evening.

For an uninterrupted view of the Sun, ISRO would try to position the spacecraft into what is known as a halo orbit around Lagrange Point 1 (L1).

Aditya-L1 would reach its L1 point on January 6 at 4 pm. We would do the final manoeuvre to strategically place it in that halo orbit. according to ISRO Chairman S Somanath.

L1 is one of the five positions in space where the gravitational forces of the Sun and the Earth produce enhanced regions of attraction and repulsion, roughly balancing each other. The point is approximately 1.5 million kilometres from the Earth just 1 per cent of the total distance between the two bodies.

After the successful soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 near the South pole of the moon, the ISRO launched the countrys maiden solar mission  Aditya-L1 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on September 2.

Aditya-L1 spacecraft is designed for providing remote observations of the solar corona and in-situ observations of the solar wind at L1 (Sun-Earth Lagrangian point), which is about 1.5 million kilometres from the Earth.

It is the first dedicated Indian space mission for observations of the Sun.Aimed at studying the Sun from an orbit around the L1, the mission carries seven payloads to observe the photosphere, chromosphere and the outermost layers of the Sun, the corona, in different wavebands.
The family of an 18-month-old toddler from Gujarat, who was declared brain dead after a fall, donated his liver, giving a fresh lease of life to a 14-year-old boy suffering from a rare genetic disorder.

A 281-km interstate green corridor was set up to transport the liver from a private hospital in Surat to Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital in Mumbai, where the liver transplant was performed.

The liver was speedily transported in 4 hours 20 minutes, with the cooperation of the police authorities in Gujarat and Maharashtra. The Mumbai police and traffic authorities were instrumental in facilitating the rapid transportation of an organ through busy city streets.

According to the hospital, the teen from Nashik was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder, which caused excessive serum cholesterol levels, raising the risks of heart attacks and stroke at a young age. He had been on the cadaver liver waiting list since April 2022.

The donor, an 18-month-old toddler from Surat, suffered a fall at home and was declared brain dead at a private hospital on January 2. He was identified as a potential organ donor after consent from the family, the hospital said.

The transplant was performed on Wednesday at the hospital by a team of more than five doctors in over four hours, it said.

The patient is doing well post-transplant and recuperating, it stated.
Divya Pahuja, the 27-year-old former old, was still lying dead in the premises of the city hotel when the police team responded to a complaint and checked the wrong room on the same floor as Pahujas body.

Pahuja is an accused in the murder of her ex-boyfriend and Gurugrams most wanted gangster Sandeep Gadoli. She had conspired to get Gadoli killed in an alleged fake police encounter in 2016, Mumbai.

She was shot dead at a city hotel in Gurugram on Tuesday night by the owner of the establishment, Abhijeet Singh.

Singh along with two other hotel staffers, Omprakash and Hemraj, was arrested on Wednesday. The three were sent to a five-day police remand on Thursday.

Pahuja was allegedly blackmailing Singh and extorting money, with the help of some purported obscene videos and photos of him. According to a Times of India report, Singh  the key accused  was in an inebriated state at the time of committing the crime.

ALSO READ | Divya Pahuja Murder: Former Model Blackmailed Main Accused Abhijeet Singh Over Obscene Photos

Anoop Gupta, who took the hotel  Hotel City Point  on lease from Singh had informed the police about the presence of a womans body in the hotel around 9 pm on Tuesday.

A team which arrived soon after, reportedly only checked room 114, a room permanently reserved in Singhs name at the hotels first floor. However, since they did not find anything to be suspicious, they left from there.

A police source told ToI that the body was lying in room 111, which was also on the same floor.

After cops left the scene, at around 10:42 pm, the hotel lights were turned off and Singh, supposedly with the help of a friend and the two staffers carried the body  wrapped in a white sheet  to a BMW car, a source while citing the CCTV footage time stamp said.

Then at 11 pm, Pahujas parents called the police about her disappearance. A team again went to the hotel and checked the CCTV footage, which seemed to show a body being dragged from the first floor and put into the BMW.

Vijay Pratap Singh, DCP (crime) on Thursday said that the BMW car is registered in the name of Singhs friend, Ajay Mehta. The car was found abandoned at a bus stand in Punjabs Patiala, but the body is yet to be found.

The DCP also noted that it is likely, that Balraj, an unidentified person, also assisted Singh in carrying the body.

From initial investigation, it is clear that Abhijeet shot Pahuja inside the hotel room. Hemraj and Omprakash helped him bring the body out of the hotel. Balraj and another person took the body in the car towards Punjab. More arrests will be made and details will be found from their interrogations, the DCP added.

However, police noted that they have not yet ruled out the possibility of other persons being involved in the murder.

A report from news agency PTI said that according to Mumbai Police, Virender Kumar alias Binder Gujjar  Gadolis rival  allegedly conspired with the Haryana Police officials to kill Gadoli.

ALSO READ | Who Was Divya Pahuja? Daughter of Vegetable Seller & Ex-Girlfriend of Gurugrams Most Wanted Gangster

At the time of gangster Gadolis encounter, but he still hatched the conspiracy with the help of his brother Manoj and roped Pahuja to honey trap the Gurugram gangster.

As per plan, Gadolis then girlfriend Pahuja, lured him into a trap, following which he was killed in a fake encounter on February 7, 2016.

Pahuja, after 7 years in jail, was granted bail by the Bombay High Court in June 2023.
The Enforcement Directorate and the Central Security Forces team were attacked in Bengals North 24 Parganas, where they had gone to raid the house of Trinamool Congress leader Shahjahan Sheikh in the ration scam case.

Amid the attack, several media vehicles at the location were also vandalised. News18 Banglas correspondent was also assaulted, their car was vandalised and the camera was broken.

As Sheikhs supporters attacked the officials, the raid on the TMC leader could not be conducted.

BENGAL ISNT BANANA REPUBLIC

West Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose said Bengal isnt a banana republic and called on the government to stop barbarism and vandalism in the state. He warned the Banerjee government that Constitution will take its course, if the government fails to perform its basic duties.

The ghastly incident in Sandeshkhali is alarming and deplorable. Its the duty of a civilised government to stop barbarism and vandalism in a democracy, he said in an audio statement. Stating that Bengal is not a banana republic, he said Jungle Raj and gunda raj will work in a fools paradise. The government should better open its eyes and see the reality and act effectively or face the consequences, the governor said.

BJP came down heavily on the Trinamool Congress over the incident and said the continuance of the partys government under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is a threat to national security.

Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari took to the microblogging site X and said that the law and order situation in West Bengal is in shambles. In his post, he urged the Union Home Minister and other concerned authorities to take cognisance of this grave situation and take appropriate actions to crush this anarchy.

Horrific. The Law & Order Situation in West Bengal is in shambles.ED Officials & CRPF Jawans brutally attacked in Sandeshkhali; North 24 Parganas district, while conducting Raid at TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahans house.I doubt that Rohingyas are present amongst the Anti National pic.twitter.com/XHboQsBVSX  Suvendu Adhikari    (@SuvenduWB) January 5, 2024

Last year, the anti-corruption agency had arrested TMC leader Jyotipriyo Mallick in connection with the alleged case of corruption in rationing distribution.

Following this, the ED also interrogated Mallicks associates in this regard. His formal personal assistant Amit De and his close aide Abhijit Das were interrogated, officials said.

Das was questioned about a diary that was seized from his residence in Howrah during searches, they added.

The diary has details of some transactions. It also contains names of different bogus companies used to re-route funds, an officer said. The diary had Balu scribbled on its cover, as well as some of the pages inside it, he added.

Mallick is more popularly known as Balu, his nickname, in the states political circles.

WHAT IS THE RATION SCAM CASE?

During Covid-19 time, allegations were made that there has been huge corruption in the distribution of rations in the state.

An FIR was initiated by the federal agency in 2022 in connection with the case and then on October 14, 2023, one businessman Bakibur Raheman was arrested. He was a close aide of the minister.

Sources in ED had said that this Raheman owns crores of property.
In a big success for the Indian Navy in international waters, its elite marine commandos on Friday rescued 21 crew members, including 15 Indians, from a bulk carrier in the North Arabian Sea and sanitised it in a swift operation.

#WATCH | Indian Navys boat near the hijacked vessel MV Lili Norfolk in the Arabian Sea. Indian Navy commandos secured the hijacked ship and rescued the crew including 15 Indians. The sanitisation operations are still on: Indian Navy officials pic.twitter.com/fJz02HSExV ANI (@ANI) January 5, 2024

All 21 crew, including 15 Indians onboard the vessel, were safely evacuated from the citadel, Indian Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said.

He added: Sanitisation by MARCOs commandos has confirmed the absence of the hijackers. The attempt of hijacking by the pirates was probably abandoned with the forceful warning by Indian Navys maritime patrol aircraft of interception by naval warship.

Madhwal said the INS Chennai is in the vicinity of the MV Lila Norfolk and is rendering support to restore the power generation and propulsion besides assisting her commence voyage to next port of call.

In a swift response to attempted hijacking of the Liberian-flagged merchant vessel by around five to six armed personnel, the navy diverted INS Chennai from her anti-piracy patrol. The warship intercepted the vessel around 3.15 pm, and it was kept under continuous surveillance using maritime patrol aircraft, Predator MQ9B drones and integral helos.

The Indian Navys marine commandos present onboard the mission deployed warship boarded the merchant vessel and have carried out the sanitisation operation, Madhwal said.

The navy was able to successfully establish communication with the merchant vessel, providing a crucial link to monitor the situation and safety of the crew on board. Sources had earlier told CNN-News18 that even when there is a hijack attempt, the ship moves towards its intended route and at a constant speed. The destination for this ship was Bahrain. The hijackers were onboard but the crew had entered the safehouse.

How the action unfolded

The vessel had sent a message on a United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) portal, indicating approximately five to six unknown armed personnel boarding it on the evening of January 4.

The navys P8I maritime patrol aircraft overflew the vessel in the early morning on Friday and established contact with it, ascertaining the safety of the crew. The aircraft continued to monitor movement while the INS Chennai closed in on the vessel to render aid.

The overall situation was closely monitored, in coordination with other agencies/multinational forces (MNF) in the area. The Indian Navy remains committed to ensuring the safety of merchant shipping in the region along with international partners and friendly foreign countries, it added.

The UKMTO is a British military organisation that tracks movements of various vessels in strategic waterways. The cargo vessel belonged to Lila Global and the companys CEO Steve Kunzer said the crew of Lila Norfolk have been successfully rescued by the Indian Navy ship INS Chennai.

The vessel and crew are all safe. We want to thank the agencies that assisted in their rescue, in particular the Indian Navy, Capt Rohit Bajpai, director IFC-IOR and the officials of DG shipping, he said in a statement.

He added: We also want to thank the professionalism of our crew who reacted safely and responsibly under the circumstances.

The navys IFC IOR (Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region) keeps track of the shipping traffic as well as other critical developments in the region.

Series of such maritime incidents witnessed

Liberian-flagged vessel MV Chem Pluto, with 21 Indian crew members, was the target of a drone attack off Indias west coast on December 23. Besides, another commercial oil tanker on the way to India came under a suspected drone strike in the Southern Red Sea on the same day. The vessel had a team of 25 Indian crew. In another incident, Malta-flagged vessel MV Ruen was hijacked on December 14 by pirates.

The navy on Wednesday said it continues to monitor the maritime security situation in the North and Central Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden. Indian naval ships and aircraft remain mission-deployed for maintaining enhanced surveillance and undertaking maritime security operations, it said.

It added: In the last one week, Indian Naval Task Groups deployed in the area have investigated a large number of fishing vessels and boarded vessels of interest.

(With PTI inputs)
President Vladimir Putin on Thursday signed a decree that speeds up a path to Russian citizenship for foreigners who enlist in the countrys military amid the 22-month-old war in Ukraine.

The move comes as Moscow is trying to replenish its troops in Ukraine by various methods, including the recruitment of migrants. Russia is a magnet for hundreds of thousands of people from poorer Central Asian countries, and many of them seek citizenship each year.

Putin first allowed fast-track citizenship for foreigners who sign contracts with the Russian army in September 2022, shortly after announcing a partial mobilization to draft 300,000 reservists for Ukraine.

Those immigrants who signed a contract for at least a year and take part in active hostilities for at least six months were allowed to apply for citizenship without demonstrating sufficient knowledge of Russian or the fact that theyd lived in the country for five straight years under a residency permit. Spouses and children were also eligible to apply. Authorities were obligated to decide on such applications within three months, according a presidential decree at the time.

Another Putin decree from May 2023 additionally simplified the procedure: the clause about participating in active hostilities for at least six months was removed, and anyone who signed at least a year-long contract during the Kremlins special military operation in Ukraine, as well as their spouses and children, was allowed to apply in the fast-track procedure.

The decree signed Thursday made the citizenship path even quicker, saying a decision on such applications shouldnt take more than a month, instead of three. There was no immediate comment from the Kremlin on why Putin decided on that change.

The new decree comes amid regular media reports of police raids in Russian cities that target migrants According to the reports, those detained in such raids are often offered or even pressured to sign contracts with the military, and those who have recently acquired Russian citizenship are sent to enlistment offices to determine whether theyre eligible for mandatory service.

The most recent raid, reported by the independent Novaya Gazeta newspaper, took place on New Years Eve in St. Petersburg and saw more than 3,000 migrants detained in the streets. The report cited an anonymous police source as saying the goal of the raid was finding men to recruit into the army.

In fall 2022, Moscow authorities ran advertisements for enlistment and offers of fast-track citizenship in Uzbek, Tajik and Kyrgyz languages on several bus routes, the RBK news outlet reported. Mayor Sergei Sobyanin also promised to set up a makeshift enlistment site at a government service office for migrants outside Moscow.

Since invading Ukraine, Russias leadership has sought to boost its military strength. Putin has twice ordered it to increase the number of troops, most recently in December, to bring it to a total of 1.32 million. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has declared a force of 1.5 million is needed to guarantee the fulfillment of tasks to ensure Russias security. He didnt say when the military would reach that size.

The Kremlin previously considered the size of its military as sufficient, but the calculus changed after hopes for a quick victory were shattered by fierce Ukrainian resistance.

In August 2022, Putin ordered an increase in the size of the Russian military to 1.15 million starting from Jan. 1, 2023. In September 2022, he ordered the mobilization of 300,000 reservists. That number is counted as part of the militarys current strength.

While Putin repeatedly has said there was no need to round up more, his mobilization decree is open-ended, allowing the military to call up additional reservists when needed and essentially keep those already drafted serving indefinitely. That decree also banned soldiers from terminating their contracts.

Regional authorities have tried to bolster the ranks by forming volunteer battalions for Ukraine. Across Russias vast territory, a campaign to entice more men to enlist has been underway for months, with advertisements promising cash bonuses, recruiters making cold calls to eligible men, and enlistment offices working with universities and social service agencies to lure students and the unemployed.

Putin said last month that 486,000 new soldiers have signed contracts with the military in 2023. He didnt say how many of them were foreign nationals.

Some media reports and rights groups say the authorities also have offered amnesty to prisoners in exchange for a tour of military duty.

Both Russia and Ukraine have kept a tight lid of secrecy on their military casualties. The Russian military has confirmed only just over 6,000 military casualties, but Western estimates are much higher. In October, the U.K. Defense Ministry said Russia has likely suffered 150,000-190,000 permanent casualties, a number that included troops that have been killed and permanently wounded.

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ISIS threat is increasing with growing radicalisation in India and the terror groups entry into the war theatre in West Asia is dangerous for Indian youth, top intelligence sources told CNN-News18 on Friday.

India has a huge number of ISIS sympathisers and the neighbourhood has seen many attacks by operatives linked to the group like in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives, they said, adding that such attacks are ongoing and continuous in these countries.

Pakistans ISI and the Taliban may join hands and pose a major threat to India, said the sources.

India also faces a strong ISIS threat but due to continuous interventions we have been able to avert these attacks so far, said an official. Though we have not seen major ISIS cadres in India, we cant rule it out.

Major arrests that have happened linked to ISIS in India in the past three years were of those radicalised but not very dangerous, said intelligence sources.

But we have seen the Coimbatore attack by Jamesha Mubeen who was influenced by Sri Lanka ISIS attacker Zehran Hashim in 2019, an official said. He was not successful, but he could have killed 50 people easily. Mangaluru attempt by Shariq who wanted to create a blast through a pressure cooker to attack Kadri Temple could have also killed around 20 people.

India also has many ISIS-K sympathisers in south Kashmir but they dont have weapons and dont even work in groups, said the sources.

However, the changing scenario can create problems for India, also in the light of the recent terror attack in Iran, they added.

The Iranians have a positive view of the Taliban because they had helped them kick out the United States, officials said. That is the view of a dominant faction in Iran but there are others who feel differently, they added.

Now the question is, who planned the attack in Iran and where? How did they smuggle in the explosives, etc? an official said. And if they demand more action from the Taliban, they will bring them on par with Pakistan. This scenario is too far-fetched. Or maybe the entire attack was planned elsewhere. So Iran is vulnerable to such infiltration. The same scenario is possible in India also.

The ISI and some factions within the Taliban have been working against India very visibly in recent years, the sources said.

Thousands of Taliban fighters were housed with ISIS-K operatives in a Bagram prison, they added.

Pakistanis are exaggerating their rift with the Taliban to hide their potential role in future anti-India operations, the sources added.
KERALA LOTTERY NIRMAL NR-362 RESULT ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, LIVE UPDATES: The Kerala State Lottery Department has announced the results for the Nirmal NR-362 lucky draw for Friday, January 5. Check the district-wise full list of winning numbers below.

ALSO READ: Kerala Lottery Result Today LIVE: Fifty Fifty FF-80 WINNERS for January 10, 2024; First Prize Rs 1 Crore!

NIRMAL NR-362 LOTTERY: WINNING NUMBERS

WINNING NUMBERS FOR CONSOLATION PRIZE WORTH RS 8,000 ARE

NA 177277

NC 177277

ND 177277

NE 177277

NF 177277

NG 177277

NH 177277

NJ 177277

NK 177277

NL 177277

NM 177277

WINNING NUMBER FOR 1ST PRIZE WORTH RS 70 LAKH IS NB 177277 (KOTTAYAM)

Agent Name: K M SURESH KUMAR

Agency No.: K 3311

WINNING NUMBER FOR 2ND PRIZE WORTH RS 10 LAKH IS NL 230257 (KOTTAYAM)

Agent Name: BIBI K JOHN

Agency No.: K 6214

WINNING NUMBER FOR 3RD PRIZE WORTH RS 1 Lakh ARE

NA 251774 (PALAKKAD) NB 729208 (PAYYANUR) NC 197426 (IDUKKI) ND 301817 (KATTAPPANA) NE 619276 (IDUKKI) NF 388056 (THIRUVANANTHAPURAM) NG 602964 (KOZHIKKODE) NH 458181 (CHITTUR) NJ 398049 (ERNAKULAM) NK 127858 (KARUNAGAPALLY) NL 543765 (KAYAMKULAM) NM 251054 (PALAKKAD)

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 4TH PRIZE WORTH RS 5,000 ARE

0244 0497 0777 0859 1218 1457 2610 2837 4252 4321 4523 5384 5462 5801 6585 7821 9275 9337

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 5TH PRIZE WORTH RS 1,000 ARE

0152 0286 0352 0721 0951 1019 1909 1915 2022 2476 2653 2663 2683 2702 4399 4422 4431 6271 6466 6467 6574 6753 7271 7362 7583 8281 8569 8637 8816 9032 9117 9449 9482 9497 9635 9671

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 6TH PRIZE WORTH RS 500 ARE

0281 0318 0579 0756 0837 0943 1076 1091 1415 1424 1425 1444 1490 1649 1996 2054 2077 2110 2306 2600 2671 2723 2966 3072 3210 4001 4015 4035 4183 4490 4513 4534 4625 4862 5090 5514 5549 5846 6033 6112 6114 6193 6219 6232 6252 6595 6750 6810 7060 7239 7243 7310 7409 7423 7623 7661 7782 7864 7914 8008 8068 8121 8138 8230 8421 8521 8793 8927 9005 9168 9182 9190 9216 9224 9422 9613 9623 9658 9859

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 7TH PRIZE WORTH RS 100 ARE

7341 7954 2680 2630 5998 7495 8574 0340 0289 0467 8776 2931 5548 8125 5372 7954 8530 8727 2679 8418 4028 9926 6700 4190 3778 9232 8852 0635 5388 6167 2492 4683 8500 9051 7321 9923 7787 4744 2923 2665 3553 6662 8945 6247 6890 4739 9944 4319 0491 0401 3057 5335 5420 2660 4398 9594 6832 4570 5140 7394 5405 7646 0574 2019 8819 8047 0104 3441 6886 3206 6549 3083 7121 1884 4629 7208 0738 0565 2586 4510 1107 2459 2619 1820 1927 8924 6085 4046 7149 5385 3106 7569 0013 7853 9700 6918 9730 3117 7464 9061 4492 5200 6411 9925 2770 1592 5721 1924 4075 7008 1873 6861 8554 4040 3317 3586

ALSO READ: Kerala Lottery Xmas New Year Bumper BR-95 Lucky Draw on January 24; First Prize Rs 20 Crore!

NIRMAL NR-362 LOTTERY: PRIZE STRUCTURE

1st Prize: Rs 70 Lakh

2nd Prize: Rs. 10 Lakh

3rd Prize: Rs. 1 Lakh

4th Prize: Rs. 5,000

5th Prize: Rs. 1,000

6th Prize: Rs. 500

7th Prize: Rs. 100

Consolation Prize: Rs. 8,000

HOW TO CHECK KERALA NIRMAL NR-362 LOTTERY RESULTS?

One can visit the official website of the Kerala Lottery Department at www.keralalottery.info to verify the results of the Nirmal NR-362 lottery. Additionally, you can physically confirm ticket numbers in the Kerala Government Gazette.

HOW TO CLAIM THE PRIZE MONEY?

To claim the prize money, compare your ticket number with the draw results published in the Kerala Government Gazette for the Nirmal Lottery NR-362. Prize eligibility is confirmed if both numbers match. Winners have a 30-day window from the announcement of results to claim their reward at the Kerala lottery office in Thiruvananthapuram. They must present their winning ticket and valid identification for verification.

Xmas New Year Bumper BR-95 Lucky Draw on January 24; First Prize Rs 20 Crore

The Kerala State Lottery Department will hold Xmas New Year Bumper BR-95 lucky draw on 24 January 2024. The winner of the first prize will get Rs 20 crore. You can try your luck by purchasing ticket worth just Rs 400 from an authorised agent in stae state.

The tickets will be available in 10 series  XA, XB, XC, XD, XE, XG, XH, XJ, XK, XL.

Xmas New Year Bumper BR-95 Lottery Prize Structure
Gangster Sharad Mohol was shot and killed allegedly by some members of his gang in Punes Kothrud on Friday afternoon, a police official said.

The 40-year-old gangster died while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in the Kothrud area. The notorious gangster was killed on his wedding anniversary today.

Three to four assailants fired two rounds at Mohol from a close range at Sutardara in Kothrud around 1.30 pm. He suffered bullet wounds and was rushed to a hospital, the official said.

#WATCH | Maharashtra | A Pune-based gangster Sharad Mohol injured after being shot by 3-4 unidentified persons in the Kothrud area of Pune city this afternoon. He is currently under treatment.Visuals from the spot. https://t.co/qoP560z004 pic.twitter.com/ObIzkvJ9dd  ANI (@ANI) January 5, 2024

Teams have been formed to capture the assailants, who are members of Mohols gang, the official said.

Police have identified the key suspect as Sahil alias Munna Polekar, a resident of Sutardara and have begun a probe to nab him and his aides.

Prima-facie, it is suspected that the attack on Sharad Mohol was the fallout of an internal rivalry within his own gang over a financial dispute, Retesh Kumar, Pune City Police Commissioner said, according to The Indian Express.

Recently, his wide and the president of Swarad Foundation in Kothrud Swati Mohol joined the BJP in presence of district Guardian Minister Chandrakant Patil.

According to the police, Mohol has several cases to his name, including murder and dacoity. He was acquitted in the murder of suspected Indian Mujahideen operative Mohammad Qateel Siddiqui inside the Yerawada jail. The motive behind the shooting appears to be a dispute over land and money, they said.

One suspect has been detained, and the others involved in the shooting have been identified. Teams have been formed to apprehend the remaining suspects, the official said. Mohol sustained three gunshot wounds at point-blank range, with two bullets striking his right shoulder and one penetrating his chest, he said.

Ruling out a gang war, the official said the attack was a fallout of conflicts within Mohols gang, specifically related to land and money.
Senior IPS officer Rashmi Shukla has been appointed as Maharashtras first woman Director General of Police (DGP). The state home department issued the order for her appointment on Thursday, sparking a fresh row with the Opposition.

Shukla was embroiled in controversy during the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) governments tenure when she was named as an accused in phone tapping cases.

Who is Rashmi Shukla?

Shukla, a 1988-batch Indian Police Service officer, is one of the senior-most cops in the Maharashtra Police. Before she was appointed DGP, Shukla was on central deputation heading the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).

She took charge of DGP Maharashtra from Mumbai police commissioner Vivek Phansalkar, who was holding the additional charge after Rajnish Seth retired from the post on December 31, 2023.

While she was serving as Pune police commissioner, 59-year-old Shukla was credited for starting initiatives like buddy cop which was replicated across the state

After the MVA government came to power in the state in 2019, Shukla was allegedly viewed as being close to the previous Bharatiya Janta Paty (BJP) government in the state.

In 2020, she was transferred from her post as State Intelligence Commissioner (SID) to Civil Defence, which is seen as a non-executive one.

Shukla went on central deputation as ADG Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in February 2021. She was later given charge of SSB head.

With Shukla set to retire in June 2024, her tenure will be six months. However, the Maharashtra government can extend her service, as done in past with other DGPs.

Fallout With MVA Government

During the MVA government, three First Information Reports were registered for allegedly illegally tapping the phones of some opposition leaders when Devendra Fadnavis was chief minister of the state and Shukla headed the state intelligence department.

The Bombay High Court in September 2023 quashed two of the three FIRs registered against Shukla in this connection.

The two quashed FIRs were registered in Pune and Colaba in south Mumbai.

The Pune case was registered for allegedly recording phone calls of state Congress chief Nana Patole, while the Mumbai case was for allegedly recording phone calls of Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Eknath Khadse, who was earlier with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The FIRs came to be registered after Fadnavis, as leader of the opposition, cited a letter purportedly written by Shukla to the then-Maharashtra Director General of Police about alleged corruption in transfers in the police department.

In the Pune FIR, the police had submitted a C-Summary report (the case is neither false nor true) and had sought to close the case, while in the Mumbai case, the government had refused to grant sanction to prosecute Shukla.
The stage set for the welcome ceremony of Rajasthan Minister Heeralal Nagar in Sangod city in Kota, Rajasthan collapsed during the felicitation ceremony.

The incident happened on Thursday evening when the newly-indicted minister was attending the welcome program in Sangod when many people climbed on the stage during the felicitation. A video of the incident is going viral on the internet.

As per reports, four BJP workers were also injured when the stage collapsed. Nagar, who was visiting his constituency for the first time after assuming the role of state minister (independent charge), however, did not suffer any severe injury. The felicitation ceremony was called off following the mishap.

VIDEO | Stage set for the felicitation of Rajasthan minister Heeralal Nagar in Kota collapsed yesterday night, resulting in four injuries. pic.twitter.com/5M3J7YZWjE Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 5, 2024

Sources said that when the minister climbed up the stage set up at Gayatri Circle in Sangod for his welcome, several party workers followed him. While the Sangod MLA was being garlanded, the stage suddenly caved in and collapsed within seconds, causing the minister and party workers to fall with it.

Four BJP workers  Jaiveer Singh, Mahendra Sharma, Manoj Sharma and Chandra Prakesh Soni  who sustained injuries were rushed to a hospital, from where two of them were referred to MBS hospital in Kota, PTI reported quoting sources.

Speaking to PTI on Friday morning, Nagar said he escaped severe injury in the mishap, however, he suffered a cramp in the muscles.

Soni and Mahendra Sharma suffered critical fractures and are being taken to a hospital in Jaipur for better medical care, he added.

According to the party sources, the stage was built to carry up to 15 persons, however, around 40 persons reportedly reached the stage with Nagar, causing it to collapse.
As Purnima Kothari packs her bags to visit Ayodhya, tears stream down her face. She cant forget what happened 33 years ago. Purnima still remembers the day when both her brothers, Ram and Sharad Kothari, went to Ayodhya in 1990, never to come back. Both were karsevaks (people who offer their services for free to a religious cause). Ram Kothari was 22 years old and Sharad was 20. Just after Diwali in 1990, they left for Ayodhya.

Purnima says, They walked all the way from Banaras to Ayodhya. The first day they went inside and, amid all the security, they actually planted their flag. The next day they saw newspapers report that nothing had happened and karsevaks could not do anything. So they decided to go a second time. This time, there was violence. Both my brothers were hiding, but they heard someone crying. They came out and were shot by some goons.

As Purnima narrates this story, tears still flow out of her eyes. Sangh seniors came and invited my daughter to the Ram Mandir consecration. We are very happy because we know that our brothers sacrifice will not go in vain. When Modiji will participate in Pran Pratistha, my brothers will be smiling from above, she says.

Purnima and her daughter will leave for Ayodhya from Kolkata on January 11, and they will stay there till the 23rd, a day after the consecration ceremony at the Ram Mandir.

Purnimas parents saw both their sons die for the Ayodhya temple movement, but according to her, they were happy that Ram and Sharad gave their lives for their faith.

Every Diwali, Purnima goes to Ayodhya to relive her memories with her brothers. But she feels that this time her brothers souls will finally find peace.

Purnimas house is full of memories of her brothers. She says that she sees the Ram Mandir as the fruit of the sacrifices and devotion of the common man. If a memorial for those who died for it comes up in the area, then that will be great, she says.

Purnima also thanks Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that finally, it was his endeavour that actually led to the realisation of the Ram Mandir dream in Ayodhya.
In a major move, the government has finally begun work on the countrys most challenging and strategic project right next to the Line of Actual Control (LAC)  the Frontier Highway in Arunachal Pradesh. The first tenders for construction of the project have been invited by the government on Thursday, with an aim to complete it by 2027.

The first tenders invited by the government, which have been reviewed by News18, are worth nearly Rs 2,200 crore. They are constructing an important highway stretch of nearly 121 km between Hunli and Hayuliang adjacent to the LAC, a 17 km-long strategic bridge between Hunli and Ithun, and a 13 km road from Tutin to Zido. The nearly 1,700 km-long Frontier Highway project in Arunachal Pradesh will be a major strategic project that will help in military movement to the LAC besides keeping a hawk eye on Chinas activities across the border. China in the past had objected to this project when it was first conceived around 2016, hence, this is Indias major answer to Chinas moves.

The Arunachal Frontier Highway will connect Dirang-Tawang road, Nafra, Lada, Bameng, Chayangtajo, Sarli, Damin, Parsi Parlo, Tali, Taliha, Siyum, Mechuka, Tato, Payum, Tuting, Singa, Dibang Valley and Anjaw onwards up to Vijaynagar. Once fully ready, it will offer connectivity from Bomdila near Tawang, next to the LAC, to Vijaynagar near the Myanmar border. The entire cost of the project will be Rs 27,000 crore. Arunachal MP and Union minister Kiren Rijiju said earlier: One of my biggest dream projects to connect all the remote border locations of Arunachal Pradesh is approved. This will be one of the toughest and biggest border road projects in Independent India.

Big Infra Push in Arunachal Pradesh

The Frontier Highway is part of a big road infrastructure push in Arunachal Pradesh by the Narendra Modi government in recent years in an effort to counter the designs of China along the LAC.

Recently, ahead of his retirement on December 31, Eastern Army Commander Lt General Rana Pratap Kalita had told News18 India was late to development along LAC especially in Arunachal Pradesh but had made giant strides in the last 10 years. The PLA (Peoples Liberation Army of China) is little ahead of us in some areas because they started early and we were late. Now, huge emphasis has been given and I am sure we will do well within a year. Its not a race, but we will do well is what I can say based on the massive efforts being put in, Kalita had told News18.

The Frontier Highway in the north and east part of Arunachal Pradesh along the China border would be in addition to the Trans-Arunachal Highway running through the middle of the state and the Arunachal East-West Corridor.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has also been on an overdrive in Arunachal Pradesh and had last year rolled out plans to build four key border roads in Arunachal Pradesh totalling nearly 300 km, and sought Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) on them.
The Union Home Ministry on Friday ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the sub-standard medicines in Delhi government hospitals, sources said.

This comes a day after another alleged scam of fake laboratory tests on ghost patients reportedly surfaced in Aam Aadmi Mohalla clinics.

The doctors at these clinics were accused of marking attendance through pre-recorded videos, while non-medical staff allegedly prescribed tests and medicines to patients.

Lt Governor V K Saxena also recommended a CBI inquiry in this regard amid speculations over the same model being followed in AAP-ruled Punjab.

Last month, Saxena had also recommended a CBI inquiry into the alleged supply of drugs that failed quality standard tests and had the potential of endangering lives to hospitals run by the city government.

The communication of the Directorate of Vigilance to the Union Ministry read, I am further directed to state that any action for supplying such kind of Not of Standard Quality drugs should not be confined to the Central Procurement Agency (CPA) and there is a need to investigate the entire supply chain  the role of the suppliers who procured from manufacturers and provided supply to the end users, that is, hospitals (patients). Besides, there is a need to lift the corporate veil to understand the gravity and motives of supplying Not of Standard Quality drugs.

The spurious drugs that were found to be of sub-standard quality included Cephalexin  life-saving antibiotic used for treating lung and urinary tract infections.

Another such drugs were; Dexamethasone  used for curing life-threatening inflammation in the lungs and joints and swelling in the body; Levetiracetam  an anti-epilepsy and anti-anxiety pyschiatric drug; Amlodepin  an anti-hypertension drug, officials noted.

According to a vigilance department report that was submitted to LG Saxena, of the 43 samples of drugs that were sent for testing to government laboratories, three failed and 12 reports were pending. Further, out of another 43 samples sent to private laboratories, five failed.
Director Rohit Shetty, known for exciting action scenes in his movies, recently talked about how Akshay Kumar stays fit. Shetty mentioned that Akshay is fearless and doesnt do anything extraordinary for his health. Shetty also discussed how in the past, actors faced more danger doing their own stunts, resulting in fractures and stitches.

During a podcast with comedians Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiya, Shetty highlighted that the current generation may overlook the benefits of natural food. He pointed out that Akshay Kumar maintains his physique by sticking to simple and natural foods. He said, Akshay Kumar eats normal food and does normal exercise. He doesnt even do weights. If its a building with 80 floors, he will climb it, he will do 50 pull-ups, he will eat early, he is quite disciplined.

Talking about how fit Akshay Kumar is, Rohit Shetty mentioned a scene from their 2021 film Sooryavanshi. In that scene, Akshay hung from a helicopter without using a safety harness. Even though Shetty had told the pilot to only move the helicopter up and down without going around, Akshay convinced the pilot to take the helicopter around.

The filmmaker recalled, We took that shot in Bangkok. He was hanging from the helicopter and I had said, This is a safety shot, we wont go ahead until I tie a harness. Just go up and come down, dont go around. He talked the pilot into it and I saw that he took around the helicopter while Akshay was hanging on his hand, his entire body weight was on his hand. Main jo bhadka hun pilot par (I got so angry at the pilot) and he said, Inhone bola tha (pointing towards Kumar).

The director liked the shot and praised Akshay Kumar for being humble.There is no showsha, no powder, said Shetty.
Bollywood superstar Aamir Khans daughter, Ira Khan, formalised her marriage with fiance Nupur Shikhare on January 3, Wednesday. The newlyweds are now gearing up for their traditional ceremonies set to take place in Udaipur.

The couple, now legally married, is expected to travel to Udaipur for their traditional celebrations, surrounded by close family and friends. The wedding festivities are scheduled to occur at the Taj Aravali Resort, situated on Kodiyat Road in Udaipur, from January 8 to 10. The entire hotel, boasting 176 rooms, has been reserved for approximately 250 guests, including Bollywood luminaries and relatives of both the bride and groom.

Sources reveal that the wedding events will maintain an intimate, family-centric atmosphere. Following the traditional functions in Udaipur, the couple will return to Mumbai for a lavish reception at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre on January 13. Guests attending this reception have been advised against bringing gifts and are instead encouraged to convey their blessings. Rumours suggest the presence of Salman Khan and Saira Banu at the ceremony.

Nupur Shikhare proposed to Ira in 2022 and serves as a fitness trainer, holding the official position for both Ira and Aamir Khan. The pre-wedding festivities commenced with a Haldi ceremony on January 2.

The formalisation of their marital status took place with the signing of the marriage registration document at the Taj Lands End in Mumbais Bandra area on Wednesday. Aamir Khan, along with his ex-wives Kiran Rao and Reena Dutta, Ira Khans brothers Junaid Khan and Azad, Nupur Shikhares mother, Pritam Shikhare, and businessman Mukesh Ambani, accompanied by Nita Ambani, attended the wedding.

Ira Khan shared the first picture with her husband post the marriage registration, garnering significant attention. The couples unconventional approach to the wedding, particularly Nupur Shikhares choice of attire and mode of arrival, jogging from Santacruz to the Bandra area instead of a traditional horse, has sparked conversations.

The upcoming events are anticipated to blend tradition and modernity, as the Bollywood and business elite come together to celebrate the union of Ira Khan and Nupur Shikhare.
With the arrival of the far-right Javier Milei to the presidency, Argentina is inaugurating a new phase in relations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Representatives of the organization are due to meet on Friday with the government in Buenos Aires to renegotiate the agreement that Argentina has had with the IMF since 2018, when the conservative Mauricio Macri got into $44 billion worth of debt, and the payment plan signed in 2020 with the left-wing Alberto Fernandez. Milei is confident that the negotiation will be successful because the spending cuts that he has already begun to apply are harsher, according to his own assessment, than what he is being asked for by the IMF. The international organization is wondering whether the new president will be able to implement his orthodox and pro-market plan, which has already met with resistance on the streets, in Congress, and in the courts.

Argentina must now pay off the $44 billion debt assumed by Macri. The Fernandez administration that succeeded Macri agreed to a new payment plan in exchange for a series of fiscal and monetary goals. The current program had its last revision approved in August. The Fund then considered that Argentina had not met the goals, but still authorized a new disbursement because it assessed that the non-compliance was due to an unprecedented drought and policy deviations. Now a new review is pending that was meant to be conducted in December, and was postponed following Mileis victory at the polls.

The current administration feels that, since the country did not meet the objectives, the 2020 agreement has been virtually dropped. But formally it is not so, and the IMF representatives will meet on Friday with Chief of Staff Nicolas Posse, Economy Minister Luis Caputo, and authorities of the Central Bank to redirect the negotiations, according to the presidential spokesperson, Manuel Adorni.

This will be the first meeting in Buenos Aires after Argentine officials and representatives of the organization met in Washington in December. Kristalina Georgieva, head of the IMF, said then that the organization is very interested in supporting Argentina. Georgieva had held a videoconference conversation with Milei days before. The Fund was collaborative, said the president in a message on the X social platform, where he described the talk as excellent. Because of this and the depth of the adjustment that Milei has already begun to implement  he devalued the currency by 50% and announced the end of subsidies for transportation and energy, among other measures  the government is confident that it will have the support of the IMF.

A successful agreement would allow the government to strengthen the balance of payments, which is currently compromised, and send a message to international investors. Some analysts, however, point out that the very orthodoxy of Mileis economic program, which is partly based on measures imposed by decree or not yet approved in Congress, may cause differences with the IMF.

The government is demonstrating commitment to implement the reforms it is proposing, says Pablo Nemina, a researcher in political economy at the National Council of Scientific and Technical Research (Conicet), the University of San Martin and the Latin American School of Social Sciences (Flacso). But that is not enough, he adds: It must also demonstrate that the policies are sustainable, that is, that they can be implemented because they have a certain degree of support. In economics, he explains, experts talk about ownership, which would be the property or control that a country has over the agreement.

Thats where Milei has a problem. Although the ultranationalist leader won the presidential runoff with 56% of the vote and popular support is still broad, his party, La Libertad Avanza, is in a minority in Congress. The bill that he presented with more than 600 measures to reform the political, economic, and social system must still overcome legislative hurdles. And so must the mega-decree that he imposed with more than 300 reforms and which is already being questioned in court as unconstitutional  a court already suspended part of that decree on Wednesday. The streets pose another challenge: citizens from different parts of the country have come out to reject the measures almost daily, and the countrys main union, the General Confederation of Workers, has already called for a general strike on January 24.

Protests against Javier Milei's measures to deregulate the country's economy. NurPhoto (Getty Images)

Nemina believes that obtaining support for the measures will be key to framing the link between both sides. Reforms can always be made. But society must be involved and the government must be willing to see its ideas adapted. If you think society is wrong, you have to convince it of that fact. For that purpose, there is an extraordinary instrument called politics, he points out.

The IMF is more political and it knows that there needs to be some type of negotiation that will allow these reforms to advance, containing in some way the affected sectors, says Francisco Cantamutto, a doctor in social sciences specialized in economics and a researcher at Conicet. Cantamutto explains: If the IMF accepts an ideological position like that of the Milei government, it runs the risk of the program collapsing very quickly if society cannot tolerate it. On the other hand, if it seeks a smaller, but more socially viable program, it would be below the demands of the government itself. We are facing a relatively new situation, which the IMF has to study carefully.

The Friday meeting will be followed by more stages. While the parties negotiate, Argentinas payment schedule with the Fund follows its pre-established path. After the IMF interrupted disbursements following the defeat of the ruling party in the November elections, the Milei government negotiated a new $960 million loan with the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean-CAF to meet December maturities. The country will have to pay almost $7.3 billion this year. The first maturity is on Monday, January 9 and the second one a week later, on January 16, for a total of $1.9 billion.

Harmony with the Fund

The IMF has intervened in Argentinas economy during periods of democratic governments and during dictatorships, with liberal and protectionist administrations. Former president Juan Domingo Peron refused to join the list of associates of the organization when it was created in 1944 because he considered it a putative new spawn of imperialism. But 10 years later, General Pedro Aramburu took out the first loan after assuming power with a coup in 1955. There began the countrys history of encounters and disagreements with the IMF, an acronym that Argentines associate with unpopular and deep adjustments, with economic and social crises, such as the corralito crisis of 2001 and the default on a foreign debt of $144 billion.

In 2006, the Peronist president Nestor Kirchner settled Argentinas debt with the Fund and inaugurated an era of more distant relations. The organization closed its office in Buenos Aires and Argentina was exempt from the periodic reviews of its technicians. For 15 years, the country did not ask for assistance. Then in 2018, shortly before the end of his term, Macri asked for a new bailout.

The stage that Milei now opens is more orthodox and pro-market, aligned with the strategy of neoliberal governments that have passed through Argentina before, but from a more extreme ideological position and more skewed to the right, says Cantamutto. The economist points out two particularities. One is the position of severe political weakness that Milei has in parliament, and another is a different international scenario. Today we are not facing the unipolar world of the 1990s. The global hegemony of the United States is being threatened by the rise of the BRICS headed by China, he says.

New geoeconomic strategy

Argentina has just formally announced that it will not participate in the BRICS group, the economic alliance made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa to which Argentina acceded in August. The decision is in line with Mileis vision of getting close to the United States, Israel, and the free world in general, far from the countries he considers to be communist. China is on that prohibited list, but also Brazil. This influences the relationship with the IMF, which is so influenced by the United States, says Noemi Brenta, a doctor in economics from the University of Buenos Aires. I suppose the government is playing this external repositioning as a means of pressure to receive more favorable treatment from the Fund, she adds.

Brenta, however, thinks it will be difficult for the Fund to grant Argentina additional financing on top of the agreement that expires in September 2024. The agreement with the Fund is already 84% disbursed. We cant expect much more than those $7 billion [that remain]. And that will be used to pay the Fund itself, she says. What other financing options does the government have? None of significant importance. It has already cooled relations with China and China has refused to activate the new section of the currency exchange swap, so we cannot count on that. The amounts that other organizations  CAF, World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank  can lend us are minimal for Argentinas need for external financing. Argentinas external debt amounts to almost $300 billion.
The upcoming Marvel series Echo is keeping fans on their toes. Created by Marion Dayre, Echo is based on the comic of the same name, by Joe Quesada and David Mack. The series traces Maya Lopezs escape to her Choctaw Nation roots in Oklahoma after her dramatic introduction in Marvel Studios 2021 hit, Hawkeye. It also explores her family and legacy, creating a gritty, self-contained tale of power and revenge as she confronts the perilous world of Wilson Fisks criminal empire. Directed by Sydney Freeland and Catriona McKenzie, the series will see Alaqua Cox and Vincent DOnofrio reprise their roles as Maya Lopez and Kingpin, respectively.

An acclaimed actor and filmmaker, Vincent DOnofrio during a recent interaction spoke about his relationship with Charlie Cox, who plays Daredevil. We see each other so often. If we are not traveling during press, then we are working together on the show. Over the time we have become really good friends. We think alike in terms of our dedication and commitment to our parts and the writing. Just the whole commitment to the situation we are with in Marvel, we are very similar in our approach to our job. It has evolved into a great relationship, said Vincent DOnofrio.

The series features a stellar cast, including Chaske Spencer, Tantoo Cardinal, Devery Jacobs, Zahn McClarnon, Cody Lightning, and Graham Greene. promises an action-packed narrative with deep roots in the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Executive producers Kevin Feige, Stephen Broussard, Louis DEsposito, Brad Winderbaum, Victoria Alonso, Richie Palmer, Jason Gavin, Marion Dayre, and Sydney Freeland, helm the series along with co-executive producers Jennifer L. Booth and Amy Rardin, ensuring a culturally rich and compelling storytelling.

For the first time ever, all episodes of Marvel Studios Echo will stream on Disney+ Hotstar in Hindi, English, Tamil and Telugu, on January 10.
Having helmed Singham, Singham Returns, Simbba and Sooryavanshi, Rohit Shetty is now taking his cop universe a step ahead with Indian Police Force, an Amazon Prime original show that marks his debut in the web space. Along with Sidharth Malhotra and Vivek Oberoi, it also stars Shilpa Shetty Kundra and interestingly, she is the first female police officer in Rohits universe. At the trailer launch of the series that took place in Mumbai today, Shilpa was asked about her reaction on the same and what followed left the audience in splits.

On being asked about being Rohits first female cop, Shilpa laughed and said, What? Say that again? Sir, suna aapne? This was followed by a fun banter between her and Rohit. For the unversed, he has roped in Deepika Padukone to play a lady cop in Singham Again named Shakti Shetty. It is the first time that a female actor will join the league of Ajay Devgn, Ranveer Singh and Akshay Kumar for a big screen cop film by Rohit. To Shilpas statement, he addressed the audience and smirked, Aaj Deepika ka birthday hai na? Happy birthday, Deepika! This left everyone burst out into peels of laughter.

Talking about what attracted her to her character in Indian Police Force, Shilpa further said, I describe Tara Shetty as a shero. There are heroes and heroines but Taras a shero. Shes gritty, badass, passionate, compassionate and shes selfless in her line of work. Its all the qualities of someone who you would put on a pedestal.

She also remarked that the fact that shes married was the icing on the cake and made her take up the role, which left Sidharth in splits.

And with Indian Police Force, Shilpa ticked off an important checkbox. When they came to narrate the part to me and the minute they said that the character is called Tara Shetty, I felt like I ticked off a checklist, she said.

She also revealed that she has in talks with Rohit for the longest time but their plan finally came to fruition with the show. I always wanted to work with Rohit not only because of the Shetty connection but also because of the grasp he has over this milieu. To be able to play a cop in his cop universe is nothing but a compliment for me. We were supposed to work a long, long time back but I am so happy that it started off with this part. The wait was worthwhile and you will see that when you watch the show, she added.

Indian Police Force is set to release on January 19.
I am writing to flag a truly important document that should be widely circulated and read carefully by anyone interested in the ongoing Gaza War.

Specifically, I am referring to the 84-page application that South Africa filed with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on 29 December 2023, accusing Israel of committing genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza. It maintains that Israels actions since the war began on 7 October 2023 are intended to bring about the destruction of a substantial part of the Palestinian national, racial and ethnic  group in the Gaza Strip. (1) That charge fits clearly under the definition of genocide in the Geneva Convention, to which Israel is a signatory.

The application is a superb description of what Israel is doing in Gaza. It is comprehensive, well-written, well-argued, and thoroughly documented. The application has three main components.

First, it describes in detail the horrors that the IDF has inflicted on the Palestinians since 7 October 2023 and explains why much more death and destruction is in store for them.

Second, the application provides a substantial body of evidence showing that Israeli leaders have genocidal intent toward the Palestinians. (59-69) Indeed, the comments of Israeli leaders  all scrupulously documented  are shocking. One is reminded of how the Nazis talked about dealing with Jews when reading how Israelis in positions of the highest responsibility talk about dealing with the Palestinians. (59) In essence, the document argues that Israels actions in Gaza, combined with its leaders statements of intent, make it clear that Israeli policy is calculated to bring about the physical destruction of Palestinians in Gaza. (39)

Third, the document goes to considerable lengths to put the Gaza war in a broader historical context, making it clear that Israel has treated the Palestinians in Gaza like caged animals for many years. It quotes from numerous UN reports detailing Israels cruel treatment of the Palestinians. In short, the application makes clear that what the Israelis have done in Gaza since 7 October is a more extreme version of what they were doing well before 7 October.

There is no question that many of the facts described in the South African document have previously been reported in the media. What makes the application so important, however, is that it brings all those facts together in one place and provides an overarching and thoroughly supported description of the Israeli genocide. In other words, it provides the big picture while not neglecting the details.

Unsurprisingly, the Israeli government has labelled the charges a blood libel that has no factual and judicial basis. Moreover, Israel claims that South Africa is collaborating with a terror group that calls for the destruction of the state of Israel. A close reading of the document, however, makes it clear that there is no basis for these assertions. In fact, it is hard to see how Israel will be able to defend itself in a rational-legal way when the proceedings begin. After all, brute facts are hard to dispute.

Let me offer a few additional observations regarding the South African charges.

First, the document emphasises that genocide is distinct from other war crimes and crimes against humanity, although there is often a close connection between all such acts. (1) For example, targeting a civilian population to help win a war  as occurred when Britain and the United States bombed German and Japanese cities in World War II  is a war crime, but not genocide. Britain and the United States were not trying to destroy a substantial part of, or all the people in those targeted states. Ethnic cleansing underpinned by selective violence is also a war crime, although it is also not genocide, an action that Omer Bartov, the Israeli-born Holocaust expert, calls the crime of all crimes.

For the record, I believed Israel was guilty of serious war crimesbut not genocideduring the first two months of the war, even though there was growing evidence of what Bartov has called genocidal intent on the part of Israeli leaders. But it became clear to me after the 24-30 November 2023 truce ended and Israel went back on the offensive, that Israeli leaders were in fact seeking to physically destroy a substantial portion of Gazas Palestinian population.

Second, even though the South African application focuses on Israel, it has huge implications for the United States, especially President Biden and his principal lieutenants. Why? Because there is little doubt that the Biden administration is complicitous in Israels genocide, which is also a punishable act according to the Genocide Convention. Despite his admission that Israel is engaged in indiscriminate bombing, President Biden has also stated that were not going to do a damn thing other than protect Israel. Not a single thing. He has been true to his word, going so far as to bypass Congress twice to quickly get additional armaments to Israel. Leaving aside the legal implications of his behaviour, Bidens name  and Americas name  will be forever associated with what is likely to become one of the textbook cases of attempted genocide.

Third, I never imagined I would see the day when Israel, a country filled with Holocaust survivors and their descendants, would face a serious charge of genocide. Regardless of how this case plays out in the ICJ  and here I am fully aware of the manoeuvres that the United States and Israel will employ to avoid a fair trial  in the future Israel will be widely regarded as principally responsible for one of the canonical cases of genocide.

Fourth, the South African document emphasises that there is no reason to think this genocide is going to end soon, unless the ICJ successfully intervenes. It twice quotes the words of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on 25 December 2023 to drive that point home: We are not stopping, we are continuing to fight, and we are deepening the fighting in the coming days, and this will be a long battle and it is not close to being over. (8, 82) Let us hope South Africa and the IJC bring a halt to the fighting, but in the final analysis, the power of international courts to coerce countries like Israel and the United States is extremely limited.

Finally, the United States is a liberal democracy that is filled with intellectuals, newspaper editors, policymakers, pundits, and scholars who routinely proclaim their deep commitment to protecting human rights around the world. They tend to be highly vocal when countries commit war crimes, especially if the United States or any of its allies are involved. In the case of Israels genocide, however, most of the human rights mavens in the liberal mainstream have said little about Israels savage actions in Gaza or the genocidal rhetoric of its leaders. Hopefully, they will explain their disturbing silence at some point. Regardless, history will not be kind to them, as they said hardly a word while their country was complicit in a horrible crime, perpetrated right out in the open for all to see.

John J. Mearsheimer is the R. Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago, where he has taught since 1982. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
The whole UPI experience is set to transform in 2024 with the government planning a slew of new measures to make transactions more convenient. In the calendar year of 2023, UPI achieved a significant milestone by exceeding 100 billion transactions, reaching approximately 118 billion, as per data released by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). This signifies a remarkable 60 per cent surge when compared to the 74 billion UPI transactions recorded in 2022.

The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) platform has registered overwhelming success over the years and is breaking all records known to India. Prime Minister Narendra Modis push to go cashless has been, in hindsight, one of the most strategic and impactful measures of his term, bringing about a sea change in the financial landscape of India. This has been possible with a milieu of measures that prioritised digital infrastructure, financial inclusion and internet connectivity leading to a revolution in how Indians transact, enabling a growing customer base. The government now aims to safeguard user experience and unleash UPIs potential on a global scale.

Upgrading the UPI Experience

In light of the unprecedented public acceptance of UPI, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) have formulated new rules to make it safer and even more convenient, enabling the growth of a more robust user base. Many of these new rules for UPI payments have come into effect from January 1.

These include deactivating inactive IDs, reducing financial frauds with a four-hour window open for reversal of transactions with a new user, an increased transaction limit from Rs 1 lakh to 5 lakh in hospitals and educational institutes, and UPI ATMs allowing for cash withdrawals through UPI apps doing away with the need for debit cards.

Combatting financial fraud is at the forefront of the latest UPI upgrade. The deactivation of inactive IDs is intended to prevent misuse and piling up of dormant user accounts. The decision has been taken to prevent the inadvertent transfer of money to unintended recipients in case customers change their mobile number without disassociating their old number from the banking system, said the NPCI explaining the decision.

The RBI has called for the provision of a four-hour window, allowing for the reversal of transactions for four hours from the point of transactions above Rs 2000, which could be another promising step towards securing the UPI user from financial fraud.

Further adding ease to the growing appetite of UPI users, the increased transaction limit from Rs 1 lakh to 5 lakh in sectors like hospitals and educational institutes will further make life easier. During the bi-monthly Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) announcement, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das declared an increase in the transaction limit aiming to boost the adoption of UPI for online payments. The transaction limit for UPI Lite wallets has also been raised from Rs 200 to Rs 500. These transactions are accessible to individuals without an internet connection. Nevertheless, the maximum online transfer amount remains capped at Rs 2,000.

Furthermore, the rollout and expansion of UPI ATMs in the nation, which have already been initiated, will strengthen the connection of Indians with UPI. NPCI and Hitachi Payment Services have partnered to allow cash withdrawals through QR code scanning. This will enable customers to withdraw cash from various accounts without the necessity of carrying debit cards. This will attract even more users by accommodating their requirement for cash with a daily withdrawal limit of Rs 10,000.

These new rules are in keeping with the fast-changing dynamics of Indias burgeoning digital payments landscape and ensuring seamless and robust growth, with safe and untainted fintech infrastructure.

Unleashing UPIs Global Potential

Upon their arrival in New Delhi, delegates from the Group of 20 (G20) nations experienced a sample of one of Indias most successful innovations: the Unified Payments Interface. Travellers had the option to make a single payment in their native currency to fund a digital wallet, usable throughout their stay to transact with merchants in rupees via the widespread UPI QR codes. This represents just one of the diverse ways in which UPI has expanded its global presence in recent years, with the system already being available in some capacity in over 20 countries.

As a dominant digital payment platform in India, UPI is driving Indias rise as the number one in digital payments surpassing even China and the US. Therefore, it does not come as a surprise that UPI is becoming a global favourite with a volume of transactions worth $1.7 trillion in the 2022-23 fiscal year.

The UPI revolution has found global admirers, with the UAE, France, Singapore, Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka opening up to the payment system and allowing its use in varying shapes and forms. Discussions and partnerships are in progress to bring UPI to several other nations, such as Oman, Saudi Arabia, Australia, and the United Kingdom. The outlook for UPI appears promising, holding the potential to transform digital payments globally.

PM Modi also pitched for UPIs expansion into the BRICS grouping, which now has six new member states. UPI is used at all levels from street vendors to large shopping malls. Today, among all countries in the world, India is the country with the highest digital transactions, he had said at the BRICS summit in South Africa last year.

The expanding global foothold of UPI is good news for Indian travellers who are habituated to the convenience of UPI and often find difficulties in making payments abroad. It is also an enabler for greater remittances. As one of the worlds leading recipients of remittances, totalling $125 billion in 2023considerably surpassing China and Mexico ranked second and third respectivelyIndia has adopted a strategy since 2020 to internationalise UPI. This aims to lower the expenses associated with cross-border transactions.

The Rise of Indian Fintech

The growing global impact of UPI suggests optimistic prospects for the Indian fintech sector. In 2023, India ranked third globally in terms of fintech startup funding even as funding slowed down across sectors. While in 2023, funding slumped to $2 billion in Indian fintech startups, in 2022, this sector secured a significant funding amount of $5.2 billion and is anticipated to transform into a $2 trillion industry by 2030.

Third-party apps, such as leading fintech platforms like Google Pay, Paytm, and Walmart-owned PhonePe, have been allowed to use UPI functionality. For instance, in Google Pay, users can initiate transactions within minutes by adding a UPI-enabled bank account and completing the necessary verification process. Their vast customer acquisition tactics ensured widespread acceptance of the technology. Currently, Google and PhonePe hold about 80 per cent of the market share. However, the government seeks to diversify the shares of UPI services and seeks to limit the share of big tech players in the market to 30 per cent by December 31, 2024. This regulatory measure is poised to further enhance opportunities for the Indian fintech sector.

The seamless interface of UPI, coupled with its colossal rise and projected fortunes, depicts Indias strides in digital and financial inclusion and opens up a wide range of opportunities for the Indian economy in this sector. UPI boosts consumer spending, propelling economic growth further, as technical and physical restrictions to trade are eliminated with just one touch on a smartphone. With India leading the way with a revolutionary, state-of-the-art payments system such as UPI, the countrys prowess in finance and digitisation is evident. UPI is a manifestation of the future of Indias economy which is poised to not just grow to monumental levels but also own an indigenously-built, globally used payment platform in the process.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
On December 29, the Government of India and the Assam government signed a peace pact with the pro-talks faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), which was once the most dreaded terrorist organisation of the state. The pro-talks faction is led by Arabinda Rajkhowa and includes leaders like Anup Chetia and Sashadhar Choudhury. As a result of the pact, 700 cadres of the group will join the mainstream. ULFA is the oldest insurgent group in the state.

An end to a chapter of insurgency in Assam

Although the ULFA has weakened, the signing of the pact is significant as this is the right step towards consolidating peace in the Northeast state, which has been affected by insurgency in the last four decades. The group has been in talks with the Centre since the time of the Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance. The initiatives of the then government found support in the state headed by Tarun Gogoi of the Congress.

In 2014, when the Narendra Modi government came to power at the Centre, the peace process got delayed. However lately, the dual efforts of both Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to bring a conclusion paid off in sealing this peace deal  thus ending an important chapter of insurgency of the state to an end. This is the reason this pact is termed a historic pact for Assam as well as the region because its also likely to have a bearing on other ongoing peace talks, more particularly the Naga Peace Talks with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah), ongoing for more than 26 years and still yet to reach a conclusion.

Insurgency hasnt ended completely

Amid the euphoria of the peace pact with the pro-talks ULFA faction, it shouldnt be forgotten that the smaller faction of the ULFA led by hardline leader Paresh Barua  known as ULFA (Independent)  has remained hostile to peace talks. Barua has stated that his faction will join the negotiation table only if the Centre agrees to discuss the sovereignty issue during the negotiations. Although this faction is smaller in strength with about 200 cadres and operating from the hideouts of Myanmar, it has been trying hard to get active.

In recent times, the faction has been able to attract new members. Last December, a journalist from Dibrugarh district working for a local daily confirmed his joining in ULFA(I) through social media. In the same month, the Assam police with the help of Assam Rifles nabbed three youths on their way to join ULFA(I). As 2024 starts its journey, there are reports about an IIT Guwahati employee joining the ULFA(I)  the first instance of joining the terrorist group after the signing of the peace pact with the pro-talks faction of the ULFA. This joining shows that its not only the jobless youth who are inclined to join the ULFA(I). These developments bring back the focus to the peace pact and its impact on the Assamese people.

Modi-led BJP shouldnt repeat the mistakes of Congress-led governments

No doubt that the signing of the peace pact is a step towards the right direction in stabilising the peace of the Northeast state. However, the Central government should be cautious about the pact. It should avoid the mistakes made by the Congress governments of the Centre after signing the historic Assam Accord of 1985. The accord came into being after the state erupted in protests for six years to secure the interests of the indigenous people following the immigrants coming from neighbouring Bangladesh, earlier known as East Pakistan, and settling in the state.

However, Congress ignored the interests of the indigenous population. There are allegations that the Grand Old Party-led government facilitated Muslim immigrants to the state to consolidate its vote bank. These allegations are not out of reality  the passage of the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunals) Act 1983, applicable to only Assam, by the Indira Gandhi-led Congress government strengthens these allegations. This act made it difficult to deport illegal immigrants from the state and in a sense, made the Assam Accord less effective. This controversial act was later challenged by then Assam Gana Parishad MP Sarbananda Sonowal, who later went on to become the first BJP chief minister of the state and is currently a Union minister in the Modi government. The controversial law was later struck down by the Supreme Court in 2005.

Fears of being reduced to a minority concern the Assamese

The Assamese-speaking population remained unsatisfied after the events that followed the Assam Accord and it was during this time, that the ULFA, formed in April 1979, started gaining popularity among the locals. However, later it turned into a terrorist organisation as it tortured the common people and even collaborated with Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), which wanted to use the former for terrorising the Assamese, and as a result, lost the support of the majority of the Assamese. In addition to this, the actions of the security forces finally weakened the organisation.

Although ULFA weakened, the fears of the Assamese, often dismissed by a large section of the mainstream media as exaggeration, are genuine. According to the Census of 2011, the population speaking Assamese was 48.38 per cent. This was a sharp decline in comparison to the 1971 Census, which put the Assamese-speaking population at 60.9 per cent. True that there was an increase of 15.27 per cent Assamese-speaking population in 2011 in comparison to the Census of 2001, but the fact cant be denied that the Assamese-speaking population is now even less than 50 per cent in the state. The Assamese people fear that their population is likely to see a further dip and as a result, they are likely to lose political power as happened to the tribals of the neighbouring state of Tripura, where Bengali refugees coming from then East Pakistan became a majority.

Although the Opposition parties of the state are criticising the peace pact with the ULFA(I) as a poll-gimmick by the ruling BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the pact in reality hasnt ignored the rights of the indigenous people. The most significant part of the peace pact is that it includes the continuation of the guidelines and methodology adopted for the delimitation process conducted in 2023 for future delimitations. Importantly, the delimitation process was conducted by taking the numbers of the 2001 Census and as a result of the process, there has been an increase of three seats for the Scheduled Tribes (ST) and one seat for the Scheduled Castes (SC).

According to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the delimitation process has secured at least 96 seats for the indigenous people in the Assamese-dominated Brahmaputra Valley. He also stated that another eight seats have become secure for the indigenous people in the Bengali-dominated Barak Valley. According to reports, the delimitation exercise has reduced the Muslim-dominated seats from 35 to 25. It has to be mentioned that the majority of Muslims speak Bengali while a minority speak Assamese, who are seen as indigenous by the Assamese society.

The Centre has also promised to give ST status to six communities of the state  Tai-Ahoms, Koch Rajbonshis, Sooteas, Morans, Muttocks and Tea Tribes. This is also another key demand of the pro-talks faction of the ULFA. It has to be mentioned that giving ST status to these six communities was an election promise made by the BJP in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and 2016 state assembly elections. If these communities are given ST status, over 50 per cent of Assams population will belong to ST and the state will then become officially a tribal state. This is the reason the pro-faction of the ULFA has been demanding this as it believes it will ensure political power remains with the indigenous people of the state. However, the saffron party is yet to fulfill its election promise fearing that this may upset the current ST communities of the state, who are currently known as vote-banks of the saffron party.

CAA and incomplete NRC keep the fear of Assamese alive

The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) of 2019, which is yet to be implemented, keeps alive the fears of the Assamese, who are also unsatisfied with the National Register of Citizens (NRC) data of 2019 for including many illegal immigrants. When the CAA was enacted, it was Assam which first witnessed protests against the act but their reasons for opposing were different from the Leftists and liberals. They argued that Assam had already accepted the persecuted Hindu Bengalis of East Pakistan till 24 March 1971  the cut-off date for entry of immigrants into the state as settled through the Assam Accord. The CAA, however, further pushes the cut-off date to December 31, 2014. Thats the reason it was opposed by a large section of the Assamese.

However, Himanta Biswa Sarma had clarified then that there was nothing to fear because only five lakh Hindu Bengali immigrants, already living in Assam, would gain citizenship in the state. No doubt that the delimitation of 2023 has secured the rights of the indigenous people in at least 96 seats in the Assamese-dominated Brahmaputra Valley, but the BJP still faces the challenge of securing the faith of Assamese people with CAA and incomplete NRC posing as barriers.

The saffron party has to give confidence to the Assamese that even after implementing the CAA, their rights would remain secure, only then the fruits of the peace pact will be visible. Until and unless the fears of the Assamese remain, there will always be risks to the hard-achieved peace of the Northeastern state.

The author is a political commentator and tweets @SagarneelSinha. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
The Hindustan Times Op-Ed by Karan Thapar reviews Ziya us Salams book, Being Muslim in India: A Critical View. Thapar notes the increasing question of what it means to be Muslim in India. He suggests the answer should be no different from being Hindu, Christian, Sikh, etc. However, he overlooks the nuanced experience of being an atheist with Muslim heritage in India, citing public figures like Javed Akhtar and Umar Khalid, etc.

Intra-Muslim violence and takfiri-ism persist, evident in cases like the killing of Farook in Coimbatore by a childhood friend due to his membership in a WhatsApp atheist group. Unlike the indigenous Parsis who found asylum and thrived in India, the Abrahamic religions of Christianity and Islam are not native to the country. Interestingly, Jews have not faced persecution in India, and the Prophets familys descendants who took refuge in India, have prospered in the region.

Ziya-us-Salams book, Women in Masjid: A Quest for Justice, addresses the long-overdue need for reform in Islam, particularly in light of the 1937 Shariat Act that remains unchanged in post-independence India. The debate on womens place and participation in mosques involves conflicting views, with some Wahhabi and Salafi sects adhering to strict interpretations, while others, including Ziya us Salam and numerous activists and reformers, advocate for a more inclusive approach based on the Prophets life and the examples set by early Muslim women challenging authority.

Zias book underscores the lower representation of Muslims, accounting for only 4.9 per cent in state and central government employment, 4.6 per cent in paramilitary forces, and 3.2 per cent in IAS, IFS, and IPS. This cannot be solely attributed to the Hindu majority. Despite my and my husbands postgraduate qualifications, we never applied for a government job because of its reputation of corruption, the non-working ethics of look-busy-do-nothing and taking fat salaries and pensions that we saw our fathers and many of their generation doing during the 80s and 90s. This put us off government jobs altogether.

Moreover, discrimination in government jobs is absent. Muslim families should encourage their children to participate in various examinations for government positions, including UPSC. The case of Shah Faisal, initially associated with sedition and later turning to nationalism, serves as evidence of transparency, provided individuals are committed to the process. The growing awareness of civil services has resulted in a consistent flow of successful Muslim aspirants from various states and union territories, showcasing positive stories of individuals, such as rickshaw pullers daughters or labourers sons, of Muslim heritage, qualifying for prestigious roles like IAS/IPS/IFS.

Furthermore, the narrative underscores the absence of discrimination in paramilitary forces, the Indian Army, the Navy, and the Air Force, where numerous brave Muslim officers and soldiers, including those in the CRPF, serve. Notable examples include the present-day achievements of Lt Gen (Retd) Ata Hasnain, as well as historical sacrifices by individuals like Havildar Abdul Hamid and Brigadier Usman in pivotal wars. The J&K Police Force, predominantly consisting of Muslim personnel, stands as an elite counter-terrorism force combating Pakistan-sponsored jihad in Kashmir, akin to our own Fauda, with members making significant sacrifices. The recent funeral of a retired SP killed by terrorists in Baramulla while offering dawn prayers highlights the ongoing threats, sparing no one, even those who have retired.

Additionally, Kashmiri Muslim women are breaking barriers by pursuing careers as commercial pilots, with some men undergoing training as fighter pilots. The growing statistics of Muslims applying for government jobs, civil services, and roles in the armed forces over the past decade can be attributed to increased internet access and technology reaching remote areas, fostering awareness of diverse career options. It is noteworthy that the baggage of the two-nation theory is being shed by the millions of Indian Muslims, which led to the partition of India, more than 70 years ago.

The late 20th century and contemporary geopolitical shifts have influenced the Muslim mindset, leading to a shift from Islamist supremacy, the perfection syndrome, and perpetual victimhood (Oppression Olympics). Concepts like co-existence, tolerance, democracy, nation, and electoral politics are gaining prominence. Karan Thapars concern about the underrepresentation of Muslims in political positions might be addressed in the future. The consequences of historical events, like the Partition, and recurring internal insurgencies (SIMI, IM, now-banned PFI) contribute to a trust deficit, impacting political participation. Addressing these challenges may lead to increased Muslim representation in Indian politics.

Hopefully, Thapars lament that there are only 27 Muslim seats in the Lok Sabha and not a single Muslim Chief Minister in 28 states, or no Muslim minister in 15, will be addressed a few years from now. There has to be a price to pay for the Partition of the subcontinent. Waging a jihad against the Indian state and ethnically cleansing a community will not be without consequences. Recurring internal insurgencies such as SIMI, IM, and the now-banned PFI, with their terror links unearthed every second week by the NIA, are bound to create a trust deficit in any political party. Not to mention the thousands participating in Yakub Menons funeral or Burhan Wanis.

I saw Shaheen Bagh, the site of massive protests for months against the CAA. Just like nobody in Kashmir Valley or Pakistan had read the UN resolutions regarding J&K, the protestors disrupted life without realising or reading that there was nothing anti-Muslim in the CAA. The condition of the roads, the shanties, the ghettos, and the canal at Jasola, encircling the slum is pathetic. How is it the demand for macadamised roads, better housing, mohalla clinics, functional schools and colleges, cleanup of neighbourhoods, and rehabilitation of slum dwellers never gets the Muslims into a Shaheen Bagh-like demonstration?

Every evening I patiently wait as groups of children often escorted by burqa-wearing mothers use the metro lifts, designated for senior citizens, the disabled, and the infirm, creating a hullabaloo and general nuisance. Nobody objects to the broods, fiddling with the lifts automatic controls, or the shoving, pushing, jostling, which can be fatal for the elderly  the hijab, triple talaq, CAA debates across TV channels having ensured no one raises a voice to a burqa-escorted brood. Thapar could do well to instead lament the absence of mohalla clinics or a significant number of doctors, and health workers who could have raised awareness about contraception, early child marriages, the veil, empowerment, financial independence, etc, in the Muslim ghettos across the country.

I did investigate the derogatory puncture wala thrown by Muslimphobes and the right wing at dissenting Muslims, whether offline or online. Turns out it is true, my son expressed surprise at the number of carpenters, AC repairers, plumbers, etc, from Muslim heritage who turn up for maintenance. Could it be the viral videos that feature Muslim punks, high on TikTok dopamine, threatening the majority, with 15 minutes of police absence could be adding to the trust deficit? To every Babar ki Aulad taunt, from the Hindu right wing, the Muslim far right jeers back with Aurangzeb, Ghori, Ghazni, Mir Qasim destruction  a painful reminder of the Islamic invasion and conquest of India.

Thapars Untold Story should for a change play the Devils Advocate for the unheard voices among the 174 million Muslims of India who consider themselves part of India, do not mind having Hindus as their leaders, and representatives in parliament, councillors, chief ministers, or presidents and prime ministers, who know they need the Hindu majority if they want to safely profess their agnosticism, atheism or doubt/heresy. In playing saviour to the Muslim elite, the useful idiots of Hindu heritage should upgrade themselves about the Muslim-on-Muslim violence happening since 632 AD and continuing to this day and consider the aspirations of the ordinary silent majority Muslims.

The author is a writer and an educationist from Srinagar. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
Congress has only one Lok Sabha seat and its aware that if it has to counter the narrative that it has been reduced to a South-based party, it has to do well in the North.

More importantly, the road to the Centre goes through Uttar Pradesh. In 2009, when UPA was in power, it had 22 seats from the state. This has fallen to one. Worse, Rahul Gandhi lost from his family bastion of Amethi.

The Congress now wants to undergo a makeover. Hence, the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra  as its second chapter has been named  will be spending 11 days in Uttar Pradesh and cover 20 districts spread over 1,074 kilometres. This is in contrast to the first leg of the yatra when UP was not on the map but was added last-minute. Then it covered only three districts, that too in Meerut, before it entered Haryana.

This time, the places the yatra will touch are significant. The three stops are Varanasi, Amethi and Rae Bareli.

What has also caught attention in political circles is Rahul Gandhis decision to skip Ayodhya where the BJP hopes to cash in on the Ram Mandir spectacle. A top source in the party said: We dont want to do anything which will stoke a political controversy. However, its quite possible that Rahul Gandhi may take a detour to Ayodhya.

Varanasi is Narendra Modis constituency and there was a suggestion recently at the INDIA front meeting from Mamata Banerjee that Priyanka Vadra should contest against the prime minister. Its unlikely that a party which likes to play safe, especially when it comes to the Gandhis, will field her from Varanasi in case Vadra makes her poll debut. But the fact that the yatra will go through Varanasi shows the party wants a head-on battle with the prime minister and is ready for a fight.

The yatras travel through Amethi and Rae Bareli is more about protecting what was once the Grand Old Partys turf  especially Amethi where Smriti Irani emerged as a giant killer and inflicted a humiliating defeat on Rahul Gandhi. Since then, Rahul Gandhi has visited Amethi only twice, despite telling voters that it is his home. This has sparked speculation if he or Priyanka Vadra will take on Irani.

Rae Bareli doesnt look confident for the Congress. Sonia Gandhi is the lone MP yet she has barely visited her constituency. Neither has Priyanka Vadra who used to handle it for her mother. Things have changed in this seat. Aditi Singh, who was MLA from here, quit to join the BJP. She is the daughter of the late leader Akhilesh singh who is still remembered here. In case BJP fields her opposite Sonia Gandhi, it could be a tough fight. Congress senses that there is a restlessness among voters here who are moaning about having an absentee MP. Or is the ground being prepared to field Rahul Gandhi from here?

As the Congress gears up, will the yatra be the saving grace for the Gandhis in UP?
The Congress on Thursday announced that the much expected seat-sharing talks with the parties in the India National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc will soon begin without any delay.

Congress leader Mukul Wasnik, convenor of the partys seat sharing committee, said that the seat-sharing discussions will be take place on a state-by-state basis depending on the situation of the allies in a particular region.

Wasnik said that the seat-sharing talks are indeed top priority and that the bloc is fully aware that the negotiations need to be done quickly. There will be no delay, the head of the five-member committee was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

As soon as other political parties get ready, we will start talks with them at their convenient time. It is important to discuss on of their basis of states because different parties have different situations in the states, Wasnik further said.

Party sources noted the obstacles that Congress faces in Punjab and West Bengal, particularly when it comes to forming an alliance. Since in both these states, the grand old party is against an alliance with the ruling parties, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab and Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal.

The Samajwadi Party might also be a tough convince for Congress considering that the latter did not accommodate SP in the recently held assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh.

Reaching an agreement in the seat-sharing discussion is key for the opposition bloc, considering that several of their leaders are of the opinion that a head-on battle needs to be put up with the Bharatiya Janata Party in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

The Congress National Alliance Committee, met party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, senior leader Rahul Gandhi and general secretary KC Venugopal on Thursday. The committee apprised them about the feedback from the state units on seat-sharing with other INDIA bloc parties for the general elections.

Along with the convenor Mukul Wasnik, the committee includes former chief ministers Ashok Gehlot and Bhupesh Baghel as well as Mohan Prakash and Salman Khurshid in it.

Our objective is to ensure that INDIA bloc forms government after the Lok Sabha polls, Wasnik said after the meeting.

Over the last few days, the committee held extensive deliberations with party leaders of various states on alliance with INDIA bloc parties. We have put before Kharge ji, Rahul ji and Venugopal ji, the details of the discussions, Wasnik told reporters after the meeting. He added that now soon after this, talks with alliance partners will begin.

This comes in the backdrop of some of the alliance partners being keen on finalising the seat-sharing arrangement with the clock ticking for the Lok Sabha polls.

The TMC had been pressing for the same, it had kept December 31 as the deadline for seat-sharing talks, however, that could not fructify.

Meanwhile a TMC leader said that this party would not be a part of any joint rally unless the seat-sharing agreement is completed. He said that TMC had sent only one representative even for the recently held rally at Delhis Jantar Mantar. No rally should be held unless seat sharing is finalised, the TMC leader noted.

At the last INDIA bloc meeting, TMC had told Kharge explicitly that other than the name of the alliance, nothing else had been achieved so far.

The TMC  which had been pressing for an early settlement on seat-sharing  had even kept December 31 as the deadline for the talks, however, that could not fructify.

Earlier, in a meeting with the state units, top heads and general secretaries, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had said that the 2024 elections can be won if the INDIA message is carried well.

At this meeting, Kharge had also told all the leaders that the party would focus on 255 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, sources were cited as saying by Indian Express. In the 2019 general elections, the grand old party had contested in 421 seats, but won only 52.

Kharge had alleged that BJP is raising emotive issues to hide its failures of ten years in power at the Centre.

They deliberately involve Congress in every issue, Kharge said at the meeting of party leaders from across the country. We have to unite and give a befitting reply to the lies, deceit and wrongdoings of the BJP on grassroots issues in front of the people, Kharge said as he asked the leaders to sink their differences and work as a team.

Noting that all the attacks of the BJP were on the Congress and the INDIA bloc, he said, The NDA remains only in name while the INDIA bloc has major grassroots parties that have a strong cadre, base and ideology.

Slamming the saffron partys top leadership, he said that they have been trying to ignore the contribution of Congress towards creating a modern India. We have to give them a concrete answer, Kharge said.

Meanwhile, Chidambaram, noted that this was the meeting of the Manifesto Committee. There will be a meeting again next week regarding the manifesto of Congress for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Preliminary views were exchanged in todays meetings, he added.

(With inputs from PTI, ANI)
The Congresss senior leaders and other alliance partners, including the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), have agreed on the proposal to pitch Nitish Kumar, chief of the Janata Dal(U) and the chief minister of Bihar, as the national convener of the Oppositions alliance, Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A.), according to a senior party leader.

ALSO READ | Uddhav Dials Nitish Before Meet to Pick Bihar CM as INDIA Bloc Convener; Discussion May be Postponed

The decision was taken following national and state level discussions among its leaders and consultations with the constituents of the I.N.D.I.A. alliance on Thursday evening. The proposal has been communicated to Kumar as well, said a senior JD(U) leader, who is close to the leader and was one of the main persons coordinating with the alliance partners. The decision has already been taken, as a majority of the alliance partners, except one or two, have supported Nitish jis name as the convener. It will be announced in a day or two," said the senior JD (U) leader.

Even though it was not discussed in the meeting with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and the Congresss national alliance committee last evening, a senior Congress leader said that the issue of national convener was taken up separately in a separate meeting, and all constituents were consulted accordingly.

We have also spoken with Nitish ji and others. If any alliance partner has any hesitation or reservation, we all can talk on a Zoom call and sort out our differences," an AICC member told News18.

AT THE FOREFRONT OF UNITING NOT-SO-FRIENDLY ALLIES

Nitish Kumar has been at the forefront in bringing all not-so-friendly" allies together, especially in case of the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Congress. In fact, it was the effort by Kumar and RJDs Lalu Yadav, which convinced Congress leaders Sonia and Rahul Gandhi to join the alliance and initiate talks with the AAP, TMC and Samajwadi Party (SP).

The first letter to Sonia Gandhi was written by Kumar and Yadav in September 2022, and it was responded to by the leaders in March 2023. A seven-month long continuous perusal and exchange of hectic parleys with other regional parties continued in the meantime.

They also agreed to the formula of one against one" devised by Nitish. This means a bipolar fight in 450 Lok Sabha constituencies in 2024," said another senior JD (U) leader.

SEAT-SHARING NEGOTIATIONS TO BEGIN IN DELHI

Meanwhile, following the meeting between the Congresss national alliance committee, Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, the party has now got the clearance for its seat-sharing related negotiation plans across states.

ALSO READ | Hindi is Our National Language: Nitish Kumar Loses Cool in INDIA Bloc Meet Over Translation Request

Talking to News18, Salman Khurshid, former minister and member of the national alliance committee, said, We have already reached out to nine alliance partners, which include JD(U), RJD, DMK, Shiv Sena, NCP, TMC, SP and AAP."

We will start meeting them in Delhi in a day or two according to their convenient dates. We will start deliberations on the seat-sharing process across regions now," he added.
Former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Friday said there has been no seat-sharing talks with the Aam Aadmi Party in Haryana and it will happen only after some criteria are set.

Asked whether the Congress was willing to share seats with AAP in the parliamentary elections, Hooda evaded the query by calling it a hypothetical question.

He was speaking to the media after the re-joining of former minister Nirmal Singh into the party. Singh, who had quit the Congress in 2019 to join AAP, rejoined the grand old party on Friday.

To the question of whether Singhs action would affect the partys ties with AAP in Haryana, which is an ally of the INDIA bloc, Hooda said there has been no seat-sharing arrangement with AAP yet.

The INDIA alliance is a good and strong step, but there has been no decision yet on the seat-sharing between allies of the opposition bloc. In a democracy, both the ruling and the opposition sides need to be strong and this is the first step, he told reporters.

Asked what would be the seat-sharing ratio with AAP, Hooda said, We will talk about seat-sharing after some criteria are fixed. On whether the Congress was willing to give any seats to AAP in Haryana, Hooda said, It is a hypothetical question.

To a question on the grant of party tickets, AICC in-charge for Haryana Deepak Babaria said, We are going by merit and priority will be given to anyone fit on merit.

The AAP is a key constituent of the INDIA bloc and the party is in power in Delhi and Punjab. AAP is seeking to have a tie-up with the Congress and seat-sharing talks would begin soon.

Even as Punjab and Delhi state unit of the Congress are opposed to any alliance or seat-sharing with AAP, its Haryana wing has not made anything clear.

The Congress which is contesting the Lok Sabha elections under the INDIA bloc banner is seeking to replace the BJP from power in 2024 through the support of like-minded parties in a united opposition.
The assassination of Hamass number two man, Saleh al-Arouri, in a Beirut suburb on Tuesday with a missile strike has exponentially ramped up tensions between Lebanons Hezbollah guerrilla and Israel. And this could pull Lebanon into the conflict. While waiting to see if the threats of revenge by the Shiite groups leader, Hassan Nasrallah, come to fruition, the Israel Defense Forces have been placed on high alert in the north of the country. The United States, unwilling to see the Gaza war spread to the north, has embarked on a diplomatic drive to reach an agreement that would prevent the regionalization of the conflict. On Thursday, Israel warned its main strategic ally that the deadline to accomplish this is fast approaching.

U.S. President Joe Biden has sent one of his chief advisers, Amos Hochstein, to Tel Aviv to attempt to avert escalation through dialogue with both sides. The Washington emissary met Thursday with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The meeting was also attended by Israels chief of general staff of the Israel Defense Forces, Herzi Halevi, as well as other diplomats and military officials. Hochstein is an old acquaintance of both sides. In 2023, he mediated between Lebanon and Israel to settle disputes over the two countries territorial waters, and reached an agreement.

Gallants message is crystal clear  the Israeli government is not willing to wait indefinitely for such mediation to prove fruitful. Benjamin Netanyahus executive would prefer an agreement, but is running out of patience after three months of exchanging artillery and missile fire with Lebanese guerrillas in the border area. It is now threatening more decisive military action against the neighboring country. Were at a crossroads Gallant warned Hochstein, according to a press release issued by his ministry, before adding, we prefer a diplomatic agreement, but there is a tight timeline to achieve this.

A new reality

Since the Hamas attacks on October 7, which claimed 1,200 lives in Israel and sparked a military response in Gaza that has to date killed more than 22,000 people, most of whom are civilians, the Netanyahu government has evacuated nearly the entire population of the border area with the Strip. In addition, some 80,000 people have been displaced from villages on the border with Lebanon and which the government has been maintaining since then in different parts of the country. There is only one possible solution, Gallant stressed to Hochstein, a new reality in the northern region that will enable the safe return of our citizens.

Israel has deployed 200,000 troops near the Lebanese border. At least 177 people have been killed since fighting began in the area. Thirteen of these were Israelis, including four civilians, while in Lebanese territory 127 members of Hezbollah, 16 members of other pro-Palestinian militias, one Lebanese soldier and 20 civilians have lost their lives, according to Efe news agency. The hostilities have also resulted in the displacement of some 70,000 Lebanese residents in the south of the country.

An Israeli artillery unit fires into Lebanon, in an unidentified area, Jan. 4. ATEF SAFADI (EFE)

Tension in the area has increased following the assassination of Hamas number two man, Saleh al-Arouri, on Tuesday in Beirut. Though Israel has not acknowledged responsibility for the attack  U.S. intelligence sources have attributed it to Israel  the government has assured that whoever it was intended to carry out an attack against Hamas and not against Lebanon. Days earlier, the defense minister had assured that Israel is currently fighting on seven fronts  Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Iran  and has already delivered strikes on six of them.

On Wednesday, uncertainty was compounded by the bombings that killed more than 84 people in Kerman, Iran, which the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for on Thursday, and there was understandable tension. On four of the fronts discussed by Gallant, Israel is confronting Iranian-backed groups: Hezbollah in Lebanon, pro-Iranian guerrillas in Syria and Iraq  where they are in combat with the U.S. army  and the Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have not only carried out attacks against southern Israel, but have also targeted merchant ships sailing the Red Sea to and from the Suez Canal, disrupting international maritime traffic in the area.

As of Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who has embarked on a new trip to several countries in the region where he will also visit Israel and the West Bank in a fresh attempt to obtain de-escalation, will help Washington in its efforts to prevent the expansion of the conflict. The head of U.S. diplomacy will visit Turkey and Qatar, where several Hamas leaders have taken refuge over the years. Qatar and Egypt (where he will also be traveling to) are acting as intermediaries for a new agreement to broker a new ceasefire and a renewed exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners. Blinken will also visit Greece, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Meanwhile, Beirut is also striving to de-escalate the tension. Immediately after Al-Arouris death, the Lebanese government confirmed that it was in talks with Hezbollah to prevent a revenge operation for the attack. This Thursday, its foreign minister, Abdallah Bou Habib, met in Washington with Brett McGurk, President Bidens Middle East advisor. According to the Lebanese state news agency, the minister underlined the importance of U.S. diplomatic efforts to ensure Lebanons neutrality in the Gaza war.

Meanwhile, in the Gaza Strip, Israel intensified its shelling of the center and the south on Thursday. The Emergency Coordinator of Doctors Without Borders at the Al Aqsa hospital in Deir al-Balah, Carolina Lopez, reported an intensification of aerial fire on the Al-Bureij and Al-Maghazi refugee camps, located a few kilometers from the medical center. A total of 106 people were killed at the latter on Christmas Eve, in one of the wars bloodiest episodes. In the Nur Shams refugee camp near Tulkarem in the occupied West Bank, the Israeli army arrested 300 people and bombed various buildings.

On another front in this war, Yemen, the Houthi guerrillas have attacked the United States because of its formation of a naval coalition to fight them. The formation of a U.S. alliance to protect Israeli ships represents a serious threat to the safety of shipping, the guerrilla group said in a statement before threatening the countries that are part of it. Those involved must endure the consequences of their dangerous and irresponsible escalation, the rebel group added.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma assigned portfolios to ministers on Friday, keeping eight ministries, including home and excise, for himself.

CM Sharma also retained the departments of personnel, planning, information and public relations, and anti-corruption bureau.

Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari was allocated finance, tourism, art and culture, public works department, and women and child development.

Rajasthan Government portfolio allocation: CM Bhajan Lal Sharma keeps 8 departments including the Home Department, Excise Department, and Anti Corruption Bureau.Deputy CM Diya Kumari gets 6 departments including the Finance Department, Tourism Department, and Women & Child pic.twitter.com/xrDyE64K9U  ANI (@ANI) January 5, 2024

Prem Chand Bairwa, who was also sworn in as a deputy chief minister on December 15 received technical education, higher education, Ayurveda, transport, and road safety.

Kirodi Lal Meena got agriculture, rural development, disaster management, and public grievances departments, while Rajyvardhan Rathore got industries, IT and communications, youth affairs and sports, skill development and entrepreneurship, and Sainik Kalyan.

Meena and Bairwa had resigned from Parliament to fight the assembly polls in which the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) bagged 115 out of the 199 seats where elections were held.

On December 30, at a ceremony held at the Raj Bhawan, 22 ministersaside from the chief minister and the deputy chief ministerswere sworn in.

Madan Dilawar was assigned the school education, Panchayati Raj, and Sanskrit education departments, while Gajendra Singh Khimsar was assigned the medical and health departments.

Jogaram will serve as the minister of legislative affairs, law, and legal affairs, while Kanhaiya Lal has departments of groundwater and public health engineering.

Avinash Gehlot was given responsibility for social justice and empowerment, Sumit Godara for civil supplies and consumer affairs, and Suresh Singh Rawat for water resources.

Babulal Kharadi received the departments of home guards and tribal area development, while Hemant Meena got departments of revenue and colonization.

PORTFOLIOS TO MINISTERS OF STATE

The departments of minority affairs, Indira Gandhi Canal, command area development and water use, and agriculture marketing board were assigned to Minister of State (Independent charge) Surendra Pal Singh TT.

Surendra Pal Singh is the BJPs nominee for the Karanpur seat where polling was held on Friday. He was sworn in as a minister in the ceremony held last week.

Other ministers of state with independent charge are Sanjay Sharma (forest, environment and climate change, science and technology), Gautam Kumar (cooperatives, civil aviation), Jhabar Singh Kharra (urban development, local self-government) and Heera Lal Nagar (energy).

State ministers Jawahar Singh Bedham (home, gopalan or cow care, animal husbandry, dairy and fisheries), KK Vishnoi (industry and commerce, youth affairs and sports, skill development and entrepreneurship), Vijay Singh (revenue, colonization, Sainik Kalyan), Manju Baghmar (public works department, women and child development, child rights department), and Otaram Devasi (Panchayati Raj, rural development, disaster management) were also assigned portfolios.

Governor of Rajasthan Kalraj Mishra had earlier in the day approved the chief ministers suggested list of ministerial responsibilities.

PM MODI VISITS JAIPUR

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at the BJP office to meet office-bearers and newly elected MLAs. This is PM Modis maiden visit to the party office in Jaipur since becoming prime minister.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Governor Kalraj Mishra and CM Bhajan Lal Sharma received him at the airport. pic.twitter.com/ukLSpQmOut ANI (@ANI) January 5, 2024

He is also expected to address a conference of DGPs and IGPs from across the country being held in the city. The prime minister arrived at Jaipur airport, where he was received by Governor Kalraj Mishra and Chief Minister Bhajan Lal, among others.
Why is Maharashtra being forced to pay for tolls even as it is ceding industries and investments to Gujarat, Shiv Sena-UBT leader and former minister Aaditya Thackeray questioned on Thursday as the Eknath Shinde government cleared a proposal to charge Rs 250 as one-way toll for cars on the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), now to be known as Atal Setu.

After sending away the employment-creation industries to the neighbouring favourite state, atleast keep the MTHL Toll Free Why is it that Maharashtra pays pays taxes, pays toll, pays for their dirty politics and their favourite state, our neighbour, is forced to accept the industries and investment even when it isnt ready for it? (sic), he posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Challenge to the illegal cm:After sending away the employment- creation industries to the neighbouring favourite state, atleast keep the MTHL Toll Free. Today the cabinet might take a decision on Toll for MTHL. Why is it that Maharashtra pays pays taxes, pays toll, pays for  Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) January 4, 2024

The MTHL or Atal Setu is the countrys longest sea bridge that will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 12. A passenger car will be charged Rs 250 as one-way toll, while charges for return journey as well as for daily and frequent travellers will be different, officials have said.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) had initially proposed Rs 500 as one-way toll for the sea bridge, while the Urban Development Department suggested the toll to be fixed at Rs 350. The Maharashtra Cabinet finally signed off on Rs 250 as toll for one-way journey.

According to sources, this amount shall be increased every year by 6%. For hassle-free commute, daily and monthly passes will also be made available for commuters.

The 21.8km bridge, officially the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri-Nhava Sheva Atal Setu, will connect Mumbai to Navi Mumbai and has been built at a cost of Rs 17,800 crore. It is a 6-lane sea link, with 16.50 kilometre of the stretch on sea and 5.50 km on land. Officials say Mumbaikars will now be able to reach Navi Mumbai in 20-25 minutes as opposed to the 45 minutes it takes via the old Mumbai-Navi Mumbai road.

In 2014, when the foundation of the project was laid, the estimated cost was Rs 11,000 crore, which rose to Rs 17,800 crore by 2023, a rise of 61.81% till its completion. By September, 96% of the sea bridge was completed but the remaining work took around three months.

Guardian Minister of Mumbai City Deepak Kesarkar has claimed this is the cheapest per kilometre toll across the country. But Mumbaikars, who are already paying tolls on all entry and exit points of the city, have been demanding reduction in tolls on the Bandra-Worli sea link that connects South Mumbai and the western suburbs.

The under-works Coastal Road, which will likely help ease traffic congestion in the suburbs, was envisaged to be toll-free during the Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA regime, but the current dispensation may levy a toll when the road it opened to the public.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday asked BJP MLAs in Rajasthan to work towards providing the benefit of the double-engine government to every household.

The prime minister interacted with the MLAs and party office-bearers at the partys state headquarters here on Friday evening. The meeting lasted for nearly two-and-a-half hours.

Rajasthan Urban Development Minister Jhabar Singh Kharra said almost all ministers, MLAs and party office-bearers were present in the meeting. Vasundhara Raje did not attend the meeting due to family reasons, he said.

Raje was in the race for the chief ministers post, but the party high command picked first-time MLA Bhajan Lal Sharma instead of her.

The prime minister, as the head of the family, has asked us to make the Viksit Bharat Yatra successful and to ensure that all beneficiaries of various schemes of the central government get benefits, Kharra said.

The central government launched the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra to cover those so far left out of welfare schemes. Rajasthan Revenue Minister Vijay Singh said Modi asked the MLAs to serve people and work with honesty.

Many of the MLAs, who came out of the party office after the meeting, tried to evade questions from the media about what was discussed in the meeting, though some of them briefly said that Modi asked them to work with honesty.

A party leader said the prime minister asked party leaders to work towards providing the benefit of the double-engine government  a reference to the same party being in power at the Centre and in the state  to every household.

It was Modis first to the party office in Jaipur after becoming the prime minister. In the meeting, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma announced that Indira Rasoi Yojna would be renamed as Shree Annapurna Rasoi Yojna.

The new name was announced in the presence of Prime Minister Modi, party sources said. The previous Congress government led by Ashok Gehlot had launched the Indira Rasoi Yojna in August 2020 to provide food at Rs 8 per plate.

After the meeting at the party office, Modi left for the Raj Bhavan for night stay. Earlier, Modi was received by Governor Kalraj Mishra and the chief minister at the airport.

The prime minister will attend an annual conference of the countrys top police brass at the Rajasthan International Centre on Saturday. The three-day conference began on Friday. Home minister Amit Shah is also in Jaipur for the conference.
Samsung is preparing to launch its next flagship range Galaxy S24 series and interestingly, the brand has teased a new feature called Galaxy AI. Samsung officially posted a short teaser video with the title Galaxy AI is coming showcasing a kind of Samsungs history of innovation in Galaxy smartphones. And thats about it. Apart from the title, the video has no mention about what AI features we can expect on the upcoming Galaxy S24 series.

home appliances

For the record, Samsung has already integrated a lot of smart software features, which you can think about as AI features in its existing range of smartphones over the years. Premium Samsung smartphones already have AI photography features along with a range of OneUI tweaks including the smart home IoT ecosystem, which lets users controlfrom Samsung smartphones. And not to forget, theres Bixby as well, which simply didnt take off as Samsung would have expected. Now, with the Galaxy AI is coming teaser, Samsung could integrate generative AI features in partnership with AI tool makers, which is quite possible given Samsungs close collaboration with Microsoft. Another instance could be that Samsung may combine all the smart things and collaboration features under the banner of Galaxy AI.

Talking about generative AI, News18 had earlier reported that Samsung is closely working with Microsoft and Google. In an interview with News18 back in March 2023, Dr. TM Roh President & Head of Mobile eXperience Business, Samsung Electronics had said, Samsung has already incorporated on-device AI technologies to camera, performance management and more. Also, we are actively collaborating with Microsoft, Google and other newly emerging partners to develop generative AI technologies. Going forward AI technology will play an important role to advance the smartphone industry.

Due to ChatGPT, the general interest in AI among people has increased. We have been offering AI-based features in Samsung phones for a long time now and we are already using our AI resources to strengthen WiFi and 5G connectivity in smartphones, he added.

The new Galaxy AI teaser simply reminds us that last year Samsung was quite vocal about the fact that it wants ChatGPT-like generative AI features in its flagship Galaxy range of smartphones. Now, it remains to be seen what exactly Samsung offers with the upcoming S24 series.
At a time when speculations began to appear around Google potentially letting go of its staff due to Artificial Intelligence (AI) advancements, reports highlighted that over a few months Paytms parent firm, One97 Communication, fired over 1,000 employees across various departments to streamline costs. It was reported that the companys restructuring was primarily facilitated by AI progress, which rendered some roles redundant within the organization.

Around the same time, late last year, The New York Times revealed that it had filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against the most talked about AI company OpenAI and tech giant Microsoft, which is a key investor of the company.

While NYT is the first major news publisher to sue the AI creators in a copyright case, earlier last year, Getty Images accused AI image generator company Stability AI of copyright infringement for copying and processing millions of its images and metadata.

Recently in India, deepfake videos, another product of AI technology, raised major concerns. Considering how serious such issues are and how wrongfully the technology can be used, the Ministry of Electronics and IT has issued a comprehensive advisory to all intermediaries, directing them to comply with the existing IT Rules.

Additionally, it should be noted that according to a study by ServiceNow and Pearson, a staggering 16.2 million Indian workers will need to reskill or upskill for the AI and automation wave, even as it creates 4.7 million new tech jobs.

However, still, most industry insiders believe that while the potential for both positive and negative effects is undeniable, the odds favour a net positive impact of AI, if its development can be steered in the right direction.

For example, Amit Relan, Co-Founder and CEO of mFilterIt, agreed that AI operates as a double-edged sword. According to him, the use of AI has the power to revolutionize traditional work methods and by automating tasks and ensuring precision, AI facilitates faster processes, diminishing human error and effort.

Additionally, he said: AI has also revolutionized fraud detection methods. It has transformed how we detect and combat fraud by uncovering sophisticated patterns that slip through manual checks, resulting in faster decision-making processes.

Prateek Garg, Founder and CEO of WorkElevate, noted that despite the ethical challenges, enterprises are adeptly utilizing AI to improve their business processes. From a business perspective, he believes that through responsible implementation of Employee AI Chatbots and Large Language Models (LLMs), organizations are now optimizing operational workflows.

This not only enhances employee productivity, but also allows employees to focus on more strategic initiatives, letting the AI handle repetitive tasks. A lot of investments are already being made by organizations in AI for workplace management, exemplifying that AI can have a positive impact on how we work, he added.

Meanwhile, Amit Prasad, Founder and CEO of SatNav Technologies, said: Whenever any new technology becomes popular, there will be both pros and cons. While AI might seem like a never before opportunity now, the fact is that several examples of the past were also unique when they were launched. So the benefits of AI are going to be more positive than negative.

REASONS FOR OPTIMISM

Despite the concerns around AI and its impact, there is a possibility to foster continuous education and upskilling initiatives to help workers transition to roles utilizing technology, not fearing it.

Here it needs to be noted that as per the World Economic Forum report, AI might lead to the loss of approximately 85 million jobs by 2025, but it could also create 97 million new roles.

Meanwhile, some experts also suggested that focusing on developing human-AI partnerships, where each side complements the other, would help enhance productivity and creativity as AI thrives in synergy with human expertise and judgement.

Additionally, it is believed that as AI advances, so does the awareness of its potential downsides. So, governments can enact and enforce comprehensive regulations on such issues and open discussions about the opportunities and challenges of AI, involving a diverse range of stakeholders, can build trust and guide responsible development.

Global cooperation on AI governance and ethical standards is understood to be critical to ensure responsible development and prevent misuse. This is something in which India has played a crucial role during the GPAI Summit in New Delhi.

The New Delhi declaration adopted by the member countries vouched for developing a framework for AI, promoting diverse and inclusive participation in AI development and supporting projects to ensure equitable access to critical AI resources. This move has propelled the GPAI to a leading position in shaping the current and future narrative and governance structure of AI.
A Hindu temple in Californias Hayward has been attacked with anti-India graffiti. The defacing of Vijays Sherawali Temple with pro-Khalistani scribblings comes merely two weeks after Swaminarayan Mandir in California was vandalised, and a theft took place at Shiv Durga temple in the same vicinity.

The image of the temple was shared by a Hindu group, Hindu American Foundation on social media platform X. #Breaking: Another Bay Area Hindu temple attacked with pro-#Khalistan graffiti. The Vijays Sherawali Temple in Hayward, CA sustained a copycat defacement just two weeks after the Swaminarayan Mandir attack and one week after a theft at the Shiv Durga temple in the same area, the group wrote on its X handle.

#Breaking: Another Bay Area Hindu temple attacked with pro-#Khalistan graffiti.The Vijays Sherawali Temple in Hayward, CA sustained a copycat defacement just two weeks after the Swaminarayan Mandir attack and one week after a theft at the Shiv Durga temple in the same area. pic.twitter.com/wPFMNcPKJJ  Hindu American Foundation (@HinduAmerican) January 5, 2024

This latest incident adds to a growing number of attacks on Hindu temples in the United States, strongly condemned by India. Last month, a Hindu temple was in California with anti-India and pro-Khalistan graffiti on its exterior walls. In the incident at Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu temple in Newark, the word Khalistan was spray-painted on a signpost outside the temple along with other objectionable graffiti.

Read More: Separatists Outside India Should Not Get Space: Jaishankar Reacts to US Hindu Temple Vandalism

Strongly condemning the incident, Indias Consulate General in San Francisco said the incident hurt the sentiments of the Indian community. We have pressed for quick investigation and prompt action against the vandals by the US authorities in this matter, the Consulate wrote on X at that time.

Earlier in December, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expressed concern about the Newark temple vandalism. I have seen the news. As you know, we are concerned about this. Extremists and separatist forces outside India should not get space. Our consulate has lodged a complaint with the (US) government and the police there over whatever happened, and I believe the matter is being inquired, Jaishankar said in Gujarats Gandhinagar, in response to a query about the incident.
Indian-American United States (US) presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, while speaking on The Roseanne Barr Podcast, said that Hindu Americans need to do more to keep the scriptures alive and the faith relevant.

ALSO READ | Woman Asks How Will A Hindu President Lead the US. Vivek Ramaswamy Responds

I am a Hindu, I left my faith through my teenage years and early 20s and came back to it much strongly with conviction. My faith leads me to this journey of becoming the President. The core of my faith is there is one true God, he puts us through this journey for a purpose and he works through us. It is our job to realise our purpose.to use the God-given skills to do good in our country. The other core principle is we are all equal," he said.

Commenting on Hindu Americans, Ramaswamy said, The Jews in America do a good job of preserving tradition. Hindus dont. That kind of community doesnt exist. There are Christian pastors who will take the scripture and make it come to lifeSome rabbis will also do that, maybe not to the extent of Evangelical ChristiansHindus are on the opposite end of the spectrum. At a Hindu temple, they wouldnt dare have conversations about the kind of things we might be talking about, where we are in Phoenix at Amfest or otherwiseMuch of it is done in Sanskrit, which is an ancient language that not many know. It is sort of like Catholics before the Vatican water or the first convention. One of the things I appreciate about Evangelical Christians and certain segments of the Jewish American community is the ability to keep the traditions alive to make their faith relevant. Hindu American community could hopefully do a better job of it. It is a relatively recent immigration wave of Hindus to the US over the past 50 years or so. There is a lot of time for it in the future."

Elaborating further, he said, They stay Hindu, but take on a more ritualistic quality without having pastor figures who will make it applicable to the challenges you face in the daily modern life. If you open the Old or New Testament, you need to work to understand it. It needs someone who is learned, but lives in the present and works and builds bridges to make the scriptures come alive. That doesnt exist in the US. It exists in India. In the version of it in the US, so far, it has been missing"

Not just religious tradition, it is the job of the people to pass on tradition, be it the Constitution or Declaration of Independence. We are not doing a good job of it."

Roseanne hit him with: You dont really want this job, do you?"

The 38-year-old biotech entrepreneur responded: I dont covet the job."

You dont really want to the president of the US," she prodded.

I expect to be the president of the US. From a personal want perspective, there are parts of it that seem like a sharp poke in the eye. But do I believe it is my duty to do this and that we can lead a national revival and it is my purpose here? Yes."

ALSO READ | WATCH | Im a Hindu, I Believe: US Presidential Candidate Ramaswamy Tells How Faith Gave Him Freedom

When asked about former US president Donald Trump, he said, I like himEverybody has been licking his boot for money and endorsements. I havent. I have been building businesses and this world of politics is a new terrain for me, but I respect him for what he did for this countryHe kept us out of war and grew the economy. I am 38. I am the youngest person to run for President as a Republican. My generation and those younger than me are lost. My purpose is providing them with a sense of purposeThe America First agenda doesnt belong to Trump or me or anybody. It belongs to the people of the country. Whether it is 2024 or 2028, I hope the agenda outlives Trump and all of us. We are not working with that much time though. I have two sons. If my older son is in high school before we get this right, there will be no country left"
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday announced that India will extend a financial package of USD 75 million for the reconstruction of infrastructure in Nepals western district affected by last years quake.

His remarks came as he jointly inaugurated with his Nepalese counterpart N P Saud the Tribhuvan University Central Library and other projects undertaken in Kathmandu after the 2015 earthquake in Nepal. Speaking at the event, the minister said India was saddened to learn of the casualties and devastation caused by the earthquake that struck the western parts of Nepal in November last year.

Speaking at the joint inauguration of Tribhuvan University Central Library & other post-earthquake reconstruction projects in Kathmanduhttps://t.co/qNdBj08x7f Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 5, 2024

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed solidarity, the people and leadership of Nepal and had committed to extend all possible assistance, he said. I also communicated yesterday to Prime Minister (Pushapa Kamal Dahal) Prachanda about our decision to extend the financial package of Nepalese rupees 1,000 crore that is USD 75 million for the reconstruction of infrastructure in these affected districts, he said.

We shall continue to stand by the people of Nepal and contribute to the efforts of the government of Nepal on this, he said. Under the leadership of PM Modi, India is committed to continuing redefining its relationship with partners in our neighbourhood, especially with Nepal, he added.

Jaishankar arrived in Nepal on Thursday on his first visit to a foreign country in 2024. On the same day, Minister Jaishankar and his Nepalese counterpart co-chaired the 7th meeting of the India-Nepal Joint Commission, which reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral cooperation including developmental partnership.

The External Affairs Minister on Friday inaugurated 59 post-earthquake reconstruction projects in the education, health and culture sectors, including the new building of the Tribhuvan University Central Library, which has been built with the Government of Indias grant assistance.

Joined my colleague FM @NPSaudnc at the inauguration of Tribhuvan University Central Library, 25 schools, 32 health facilities and culture sector project.Concrete delivery of the commitments made by PM @narendramodi on Nepals post-earthquake reconstruction. pic.twitter.com/wvbtllYYsT  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 5, 2024

Nepal is a priority partner of India under its Neigbhbourhood First policy. The visit is in keeping with the tradition of high-level exchanges between two close and friendly neighbours. Jaishankar is expected to return to India on Friday.

(With agency inputs)
This article contains graphic description of murder and sexual violence. Reader discretion advised

Raz Cohen, a survivor of the deadly October 7 attack on Israel, has come forward with the horrifying account of an Israeli womans rape he witnessed at the ill-fated desert music festival ravaged by the Palestinian outfit Hamas.

Cohen had gone to the Nova music festival in the desert of southern Israel to be with his girlfriend Maya. Maya was killed while she tried to flee with another friend. Cohen told CNN that he saw another young woman shot in the head as he ran to hide in a bush, the same spot where he witnessed the rape.

Attackers laughed as they raped and murdered a woman in Israel on October 7, witness says pic.twitter.com/4Cn1NPMwP1 Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 5, 2024

While speaking with CNN, Cohen, 24, recalled how a white van pulled up close to his hiding spot, and five men, who got out of the van, caught a girl and started to pull her clothes off. After they pulled the clothes off, one of them started to rape her. It was something like 40 seconds. After he raped her, he take a knife and kill her, murder her. After he did it, he continued to rape the dead body. Cohen said the men were laughing the whole time. I think it was for fun. They murdered a lot of people for fun.

Several agencies and US broadcasters have not been able to verify Cohens account independently. Hamas has also denied accusations of sexual violence. But the Israeli government has documented cases of rape and sexual violence committed during the attack on the music festival and kibbutz communities near the Gaza border. As many as 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 taken hostage in the attacks. Israels subsequent military campaign in Gaza has claimed over 22,000 Palestinian lives, according to the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health.

In a report titled Screams Without Words, the New York Times (NYT) last month released the findings of an investigation, uncovering details that indicate sexual assault and mutilation at multiple locations targeted by Hamas. The two-month probe identified at least seven locations where Israeli women and girls appear to have been sexually assaulted or mutilated. Medical personnel, soldiers, rape counsellors, and Raz Cohen himself were among the 150 people interviewed by NYT, providing a widespread view of gender-based violence on October 7.

The United Nations, womens groups and rights groups are meanwhile facing criticism for not quickly condemning rape and sexual violence against Israelis during the Oct 7 attack. Most critics cite rising antisemitism as the reason some experts and advocates did not quickly rally behind Israels repeated claims that Hamas fighters committed sexual violence. In a statement released in December, the UN agency UN Women condemned the attacks and said it was alarmed by the numerous accounts of gender-based atrocities and sexual violence during those attacks.

In all conflicts, UN women fully supports rigorous investigations and Commissions of Inquiry where they exist. We are actively supporting the UN Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, which began its investigation into sexual violence very shortly after the attacks occurred. We welcome that the Commission has opened its call for submissions on gender-based crimes since 7 October, the UN agency said after backlash.
An Israeli man seized in the October 7 Hamas attack was killed on the same day and his body taken to the Gaza Strip, his kibbutz community said on Friday.

Tamir Adar was believed to be alive and held in Gaza by Palestinian militants, but the Israeli military has now confirmed that he was killed on the day of the attack, the Nir Oz kibbutz said in a statement. The IDF (army) informed the family that he was murdered on October 7, and since then his body has been kept in Gaza, the statement said.

Adar, 38, was among some 250 people taken hostage from Israeli border communities and military posts. His grandmother was also among them but has been released. Kibbutz Nir Oz had more than 70 of its around 400 residents abducted in the Hamas attacks  the highest number for a single community.

More than 100 of those abducted have been freed, many exchanged for Palestinian prisoners during a week-long truce that ended on December 1. Israel says 132 captives are still held in Gaza, including at least 24 believed to have been killed. At least three hostages have been mistakenly shot dead by soldiers in the Gaza Strip, according to the Israeli army.

The Hamas attack resulted in the deaths of around 1,140 people in Israel, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on the latest official Israeli figures. Israels relentless offensive on Gaza has since killed 22,438 people, also mostly civilians, according to the latest toll from the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.
The resolution of the case of the migrants kidnapped in Tamaulipas  in the end there were 32 and not 31  has raised many doubts. These point to the narrative used by the government, and also to the decisions made by the group of captors, linked in one way or another to the Gulf Cartel. The presidential spokesperson and the secretary of the Interior reported the rescue of the migrants on Wednesday, which they said was the result of the efforts of the state and federal security authorities. Nevertheless, rumors quickly surfaced. No such rescue had taken place; their captors had released them in a shopping mall parking lot in the municipality of Rio Bravo, between Reynosa and Matamoros. This Thursday, the Mexican president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, acknowledged that indeed it was a liberation.

The outcome of the kidnapping calls into question the nation itself, from the local to the federal and state levels, and casts doubt on the governability of the northeastern border, immersed in a drawn-out battle between criminal groups. In recent months, there have been constant complaints from activists and religious leaders about the kidnapping of migrants in the area. In addition, confrontations on the highway that connects the notorious municipality of San Fernando with the border, Reynosa and Matamoros, have offered no respite to locals and passersby. In the same location, in July, criminals opened fire on the vehicle in which the secretary of the state government, Hector Villegas, who had previously been the municipal president of Rio Bravo, was traveling.

The explanation that pressure from the security forces may have forced the kidnappers to surrender would seem logical. However, considering what life is like on the northeastern border, the apparent tranquility with which the criminals operate, the reality could have been somewhat more complex. This idea is supported by several details. First, there were no arrests for the kidnapping. And second, there are similar precedents in which the case was settled without arrests, when it was on the national press agenda for consecutive days.

The most significant is the kidnapping of four U.S. citizens in March 2023 in Matamoros, the city where the kidnapped migrants were headed in January, prior to crossing into the United States, where they were supposed to have an appointment with immigration authorities. The case of the Americans was widely publicized, mainly because of the videos of their kidnapping, which took place in broad daylight, after the criminal group responsible had opened fire on them. Two of the four were killed by the gunfire, but the criminals then took their bodies, which were found alongside the survivors four days later, in a shed on the outskirts of the city. The authorities had been at the site a few days earlier.

As is now the case, the Americans appearance occurred at the behest of the hijackers who, as revealed in April by The Washington Post, targeted the four Americans in retaliation for an alleged hit-and-run incident. The situation has been different this time. Lopez Obrador has reported that the kidnapping of the 32 hostages served an extortive purpose, implying that the kidnappers were planning to demand money from the families of the abductees in exchange for their release. Nonetheless, the criminal group decided to release them. It is not yet known if they were paid before doing so or if they were freed under pressure from the authorities. Or whether there was some kind of negotiation in between.

One of the four Americans kidnapped in Matamoros in March 2023, after release. Str (Str)

The parallels go deeper and transcend the voluntary release of the captives and the region in which both events unfolded, where criminality is managed, with varying degrees of institutional support, by the Gulf Cartel. In the case in March last year, the criminal group took it a step further in its surrender and handed over the alleged perpetrators of the murder of two of the four Americans and the kidnapping of the other two. One morning, five men appeared handcuffed next to a plaza in Matamoros. The Gulf Cartel also left a message next to them, asking for forgiveness for the act.

The fact that there were no fatalities in the case of the 32 migrants released, which included Venezuelans, Hondurans, Ecuadorians, Colombians and Mexicans, as reported by the government on Wednesday, suggests a rather different ending. Lopez Obrador has said that Tamaulipas state authorities are investigating the matter, a usual assertion in medium- and high-profile situations. Yet, it is unlikely that anything will transpire. Perhaps tomorrow or the day after, a group of men tied up in a plaza in Rio Bravo will suddenly appear, along with a similar message as in the case of the U.S. citizens. Whether this happens or not, it is unlikely that the truth will be revealed.

In the meantime, the official version, the only one available, takes precedence. Lopez Obrador said on Thursday that the kidnappers freed the migrants due to a series of factors, the most important of which was the pressure from the security forces. They had them in one place and, since there was a large unfolding and the government was involved, they decided to release them, the president said. And its a good thing they came back safe and sound. Yesterday, when I spoke with the governor, he told me that the first thing he did was to send doctors by ambulance, he added in reference to Americo Villarreal. They had them in one place and they took them elsewhere, to the parking lot of a shopping mall, and they have been rescued and they are testifying and we are pleased, very pleased, he concluded.

Lopez Obrador expressed his discomfort with the narrative of the release. So much publicity for the regrettable abduction of the migrants, he said somewhat ironically, believing that any concern about the case actually amounts to political squabbling. This has been a constant in recent years, and the proximity of elections in Mexico accentuates the battle for the narrative of the countrys situation, regardless of the issue being discussed. For the government, any criticism is distanced from objective arguments and is aimed at political purposes, including electoral ones. The president complained that for the opposition  which comprises opposing parties, but also newspapers, reporters and activists  the kidnapping of migrants, the consequences of Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, or the shortage of medicines do not matter. It is all a matter of striking.
McDonalds CEO Chris Kempczinski has said that several markets in the Middle East and some outside the region were experiencing a meaningful business impact" due to the Israel-Hamas war as well as associated misinformation" about the brand.

Major Western fast-food chains including McDonalds and Starbucks have seen boycott campaigns over their perceived pro-Israeli stance. In a long LinkedIn post, Kempczinski said he recognises that several markets in the Middle East and some outside the region are experiencing a meaningful business impact due to the war and associated misinformation that is affecting brands like McDonalds."

He said the misinformation surrounding brands like McDonalds was disheartening and ill-founded." In every country where we operate, including in Muslim countries, McDonalds is proudly represented by local owner operators who work tirelessly to serve and support their communities while employing thousands of their fellow citizens," he said. That local community connection is the genius of the McDonalds System," he added.

Earlier in October, McDonalds Israel said on its social media accounts that it had given thousands of free meals to Israel Defense Forces personnel. This was later renounced by McDonalds franchises in some Muslim countries. Some of the Western brands are feeling the impact of boycotts in Egypt and Jordan that have now caught on in some countries outside the Arab region including Muslim-majority Malaysia.

Around 1,200 Israelis were killed by Palestinian militant group Hamas on Oct. 7. Israeli bombardments have since killed about 22,438 people in Gaza by Thursday. As of fiscal 2022, the company franchised and operated about 40,275 McDonalds restaurants across more than 100 countries. The fast-food chain reported a total annual revenue of USD 23.18 billion in the year.

(With agency inputs)
North Korea fired more than 200 artillery shells near two South Korean islands on Friday, Seouls defence ministry said, warning the actions threatened peace in the Korean peninsula.

The live firing followed repeated warnings from Kim Jong Un that North Korea was prepared for war against South Korea and the US. After the firing of artillery shells, residents on the two islands were ordered to evacuate, in one of the most serious military escalations between the two since the North fired a barrage of shells at one of the islands in 2010.

In a statement, the South Korean Defence Ministry said: This is a provocative act that threatens the peace on the Korean Peninsula. We sternly warn that North Korea bears full responsibility for this escalating crisis and strongly urge them to immediately cease these actions, the ministry was quoted as saying by Yonhap. Our military closely tracks and monitors the situation in close coordination with the United States, and will take appropriate measures in response to North Koreas provocations.

Evacuation orders

South Koreas Yeonpyeong Island is situated in the Yellow Sea. It is located approximately 80 kilometres west of Incheon and 12 kilometres south of the coastline of Hwanghae Province, North Korea. News agencies reported that authorities on Baengnyeong Island also reported an evacuation order there.

Ties between the two Koreas are at one of their lowest points in decades, after Kim enshrined the countrys status as a nuclear power into the constitution while test-firing several advanced ICBMs. At Pyongyangs key year-end policy meetings, Kim warned of a nuclear attack on the South and called for a build-up of the countrys military arsenal ahead of armed conflict that he warned could break out any time.

Kim accused the United States of posing various forms of military threat and ordered his armed forces to maintain the overwhelming war response capability, according to the state media outlet KCNA. The meeting concluded that it is a fait accompli that a war may break out on the Korean peninsula any time due to the enemies reckless moves for invading the DPRK, KCNA said.

Meanwhile, the US deployed a nuclear-powered submarine in the South Korean port city of Busan late last year and flew its long-range bombers in drills with Seoul and Tokyo. The North has described the deployment of Washingtons strategic weapons, such as B-52 bombers, in joint drills on the Korean peninsula as intentional nuclear war provocative moves.

(With agency inputs)
A sixth-grade student was killed on Thursday and five other people wounded when a 17-year-old opened fire at an Iowa school on the first day of classes following the winter break.

Perry High School student Dylan Butler was identified as the suspect, who was found dead with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Police also discovered an improvised explosive device when searching the high school. Perry, a town of about 7,900, is about 40 miles northwest of Des Moines, the states capital city.

The attack took place just after 7:30 am, before most students and faculty had entered the building. Butler was armed with a pump-action shotgun and a handgun. Butler made several social media posts around the time of the shooting, Mitch Mortvedt, an assistant director with the state Department of Criminal Investigation, told reporters.

The shooters motive was under investigation, he said. Four of the wounded victims are students, and the fifth is a school administrator, said Mortvedt, who declined to release any names. Another school district, Easton Valley, issued a statement saying it had received word that Dan Marburger, the high school principal, was the administrator shot in the attack.

One victim was in critical condition while the other four were in stable condition. This senseless tragedy has shaken our entire state to the core, and I want this community to know that every Iowan stands with you, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds said at the new briefing.

Our hearts are broken by this senseless tragedy. Our prayers are with the students, teachers & families of the Perry Community.I have been in contact with law enforcement agencies & am continuing to monitor the situation. I will be joining their press conference today.  Gov. Kim Reynolds (@IAGovernor) January 4, 2024

FBI agents from the Omaha-Des Moines office were assisting in the investigation, and US Attorney General Merrick Garland was briefed on the shooting, a Justice Department spokesperson said. We cannot allow these tragedies to continue, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. We have to do something.

Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy had been scheduled to hold a rally in Perry but changed the event to an in-person prayer meeting after reports of the shooting, a campaign spokesperson said. Iowa will hold the first statewide contest for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination in 11 days. Pray for the community in Perry, Iowa this morning. Ramaswamy said on the X social media platform.

Vivek Ramaswamy held his first event today in Perry, Iowa, about a mile from the high school where a shooting occurred this AM.Ramaswamy led the group in praying for the victims and their families of the shooting. https://t.co/YHfWGh5aRv pic.twitter.com/q7YtMFHj7P  Veronica Stracqualursi (@VeronicaStrac) January 4, 2024

The Iowa shooting, on the districts first day of classes in 2024, is part of a national epidemic of gun violence in U.S. schools that has worsened in recent years. There were 346 incidents in which a gun was brandished or fired at school or a bullet hit school property in 2023, according to the K-12 School Shooting Database.

That was the highest of any year in the websites data, which goes back to 1966, and represented the third record-setting year in a row. Four such incidents have already taken place in 2024, just four days into the year, according to the site.

(With agency inputs)
Former US president Donald Trumps businesses received at least $7.8 million from foreign governments including China during his time in the White House, a congressional report claimed Thursday.

In a House Oversight Committee report, Democrats wrote that officials from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the Democratic Republic of Congo were among representatives from around 20 countries who paid money to Trumps hotel and real estate businesses during his presidency.

BREAKING: RM @RepRaskin and @OversightDems released a report showing former President Trump pocketed at least $7.8 million from 20 foreign states while in office, violating the Constitution and selling out U.S. foreign policy. https://t.co/30xhZIfONE Oversight Committee Democrats (@OversightDems) January 4, 2024

White House for Sale

The authors claim that such revenues from overseas governments violated a constitutional ban on foreign emoluments. As President, Donald Trump accepted more than $7.8 million in payments from foreign states and their leaders, including some of the worlds most unsavory regimes, said the report titled White House for Sale.

We know about only some of the payments that passed into former President Trumps hands during just two years of his presidency from just 20 of the more than 190 nations in the world through just four of his more than 500 businesses.

On China

The report alleged that Beijing as well as businesses including ICBC bank and Hainan Airlines spent $5.5 million at Trump-owned properties. Former President Trump violated the Constitution when the businesses he owned accepted these emoluments paid by (Beijing) without the consent of Congress, the report said.

The authors say that the full amount could be higher as the $5.5 million figure is based only on limited disclosures from Trumps accountants Mazars and filings with the American financial regulator, the SEC. In one expenditure dated August 27, 2017, a Chinese embassy delegation spent $19,391 at the Trump International Hotel in Washington.

The report also claims that Saudi Arabia paid at least $615,422 in prohibited emoluments to former President Trumps businesses over the course of his term in office from just (the Trump World Tower) and the March 2018 stay at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, DC.

Former President Trump has also boasted about the continued willingness of the Saudis to do business on terms highly favorable to him, the report stated. Trumps Washington hotel was sold in 2022 to a private investor group and rebranded under the luxury Waldorf Astoria line.

The frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, Trump separately faces a civil fraud trial in New York over claims that his real estate businesses fraudulently inflated the value of their assets. He is to go on trial in Washington in March for conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 election, and in Florida in May on charges of mishandling top secret government documents.

(With agency inputs)
Russia has used North Korean short-range ballistic missiles in Ukraine and is also trying to get its hands on Iranian ballistic weapons, the White House said Thursday. In a press conference, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that this points to Moscows difficulties in replenishing the munitions it has expended in its invasion of the eastern European country.

According to Kirby, declassified data from the U.S. intelligence services reveal that North Korea has delivered ballistic missile launchers to Russia and several rockets, with a range of 900 kilometers (560 miles). One of these was launched against the Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine on December 30, and on January 2, Russian forces fired several during a large-scale night attack.

Kirby also indicated that Russia is negotiating with Iran to try to obtain missiles from Tehran. The talks have not yet been concluded but Washington believes that Russian negotiations to acquire short-range ballistic missiles are actively advancing. The U.S. believes that Iran has already delivered drones to Moscow for use in Ukraine.

Washington maintains that Russia and North Korea reached an arms supply agreement last year, in negotiations that included a July visit to Pyongyang by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. A trip to Vladivostok on Russias Pacific coast by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to meet with Vladimir Putin on September 13 may also have been part of the negotiations. As part of the agreement, North Korea sent a thousand containers of ammunition and weapons to its neighbor and ally.

In November, the South Korean military disclosed suspicions that the North had shipped short-range ballistic missiles, anti-tank missiles, and man-portable anti-aircraft missiles to Russia. These arms deliveries also included rifles, rocket launchers, mortars, and ammunition.

In return, according to U.S. intelligence, the Pyongyang regime wants Russian military assistance, including fighter aircraft, surface-to-air missiles, armored vehicles, ballistic missile production equipment or materiel, and other advanced technologies.

The use of North Korean missiles, according to Kirby, represents a significant and concerning escalation in the collaboration between Moscow and Pyongyang. We anticipate that Russia will use additional North Korean missiles to target Ukraines civilian infrastructure and to kill innocent Ukrainian civilians, said the senior White House official, who warned that closer cooperation between the two countries will bring concerning security implications for the Korean Peninsula and the Indo-Pacific region.

The missile shipment took place despite Washingtons warnings that such arms transfers between Pyongyang and Moscow violate numerous UN Security Council resolutions. The White House is considering imposing new sanctions against those who facilitate such arms transfers, the National Security Council spokesman said.

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The White House on Thursday said intelligence officials have determined that Russia has acquired ballistic missiles from North Korea and is seeking close-range ballistic missiles from Iran as Moscow struggles to replenish arms for its war with Ukraine. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said recently declassified intelligence found that North Korea has provided Russia with ballistic missile launchers and several ballistic missiles. Russian forces fired at least one of those ballistic missiles into Ukraine on Saturday, he said. Kirby said Russia launched multiple North Korean ballistic missiles on Tuesday as part of its overnight aerial attack, the AP reports.

Kirby said a Russia-Iran deal had not been completed. But, he said, the US "is concerned that Russia negotiations to acquire close range ballistic missiles from Iran are actively advancing." The Biden administration has repeatedly sought to make the case that the Kremlin has become reliant on North Korea, as well as Iran, for the arms it needs to fight its war against Ukraine and has disclosed intelligence findings that it says show as much. North Korea and Iran are largely isolated on the international stage over their nuclear programs and human rights records.

(More Russia-Ukraine war stories.)
The Pentagon defended an airstrike in Baghdad that killed a militia commander linked to Iran on Thursday, though the attack runs the risk of undercutting the Biden administration's efforts to keep the Israel-Hamas war from spreading in the Middle East. The strike was "necessary and proportionate," a Defense Department statement said, adding that Mushtaq Jawad Al-Saidi, who was known as Abu Taqwa, helped plan and execute attacks against Americans. The Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba militia said he was killed at a logistical support headquarters in the central section of the city, the Washington Post reports. The Pentagon said an unnamed associate of his also was killed.

An Iraqi military spokesman said the army blames the US-led International Coalition Forces for the "unprovoked attack," per the AP. The militia is overseen by the Iraqi army; the coalition's main role is to fight the Islamic State. The government said the US attack was a "flagrant violation of the sovereignty and security of Iraq," per the New York Times, "no different from a terrorist act." The airstrike could increase pressure on Iraq to remove the coalition, per the Post. "It's an indication that peace is not lasting," said Sarah Jamal, 27, who lives near the attack site in Baghdad. "It started in Syria, then Lebanon, then Iran and now here. We're being dragged into this, and we have no say." (More US military stories.)
A sixth-grader was killed when a 17-year-old student opened fire at an Iowa high school Thursday, leaving five other people wounded, including the principal. All were hospitalized, one in critical condition. Gunfire erupted just after 7:30am, sending some in the building in Perry fleeing while others barricaded themselves in rooms. The high school shares a building with a middle school, and a breakfast program in the lunchroom could have had students from both in it at the time, a law enforcement official told the Des Moines Register . "My band teacher looked at us and yelled, 'Run!'" said Rachael Kares, a senior who was at practice when the shooting started. "So we ran."

Authorities identified the shooter as Dylan Butler, a student at Perry High School, and said he was found dead of a gunshot wound that apparently was self-inflicted. He had a pump action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun, police said. Police later found an improvised explosive device in the school and made it inoperable, per CNN. The 17-year-old posted a selfie on TikTok shortly before the shooting, per the Register, showing him in a bathroom stall with a duffle bag at his feet. "Now we wait," the caption said. The account has been shut down.

Parents and students described their fear at hearing the gunfire. Kevin Shelley got a text from his son Zander, 15, who had been grazed by two bullets and was hiding in a classroom, per the AP. "It was the most scared I've been in my entire life," his father said later. Ava Augustus, a senior, heard three shots while in a counselor's office. The window was too small to climb through, so she and others barricaded the door. They were preparing to throw things at the attacker if necessary. "And then we hear, 'He's down. You can go out,'" Augustus said. "And I run and you can just see glass everywhere, blood on the floor. I get to my car and they're taking a girl out of the auditorium who had been shot in her leg." (More school shooting stories.)
A neo-Nazi podcaster who called for the deaths of Prince Harry and his young son received a prison sentence Thursday along with his co-host Thursday. The sentencing judge in London called the duo "dedicated and unapologetic white supremacists" who encouraged terrorism, the AP reports. Christopher Gibbons and Tyrone Patten-Walsh espoused racist, antisemitic, Islamophobic, homophobic, and misogynistic views and encouraged listeners of their Lone Wolf Radio podcast to commit violent acts against ethnic minorities, authorities said. The two used alias on their show.

Gibbons and Tyrone Patten-Walsh told listeners that "the white race was likely to be 'genocided' unless steps were taken to fight back." They approved of a day when so-called race traitors would be hanged, particularly those in interracial relationships. Prince Harry's wife, Meghan, is biracial. On one episode, Gibbons said the Harry should be "prosecuted and judicially killed for treason" and called Harry's son, Archie, who is now 4, a "creature" that "should be put down." Gibbons, 40, was sentenced to eight years in prison, the Metropolitan Police said. Patten-Walsh, 34, was given a seven-year term. Both will be on the equivalent of probation for three years after their release.

"The evidence demonstrates that you desire to live in a world dominated by white people purely for white people. Your distorted thinking is that the white race has ceded too much influence to Blacks and Asians, to Jews and Muslims, to gays, to white liberals and to white people in mixed-race relationships," Judge Peter Lodder told them, per the AP. While Patten-Walsh and Gibbons were entitled to hold their beliefsregardless of being "as preposterous as they are offensive to a civilized society"Lodder said they went too far. A jury convicted them in July of eight counts of encouraging terrorism. Gibbons was also convicted of two counts of disseminating terrorist documents through his online neo-Nazi "radicalization" library that had more than 2,000 subscribers, authorities said. The podcast had 128 subscribers and around 9,000 views of its 21 episodes.

(More Neo-Nazi stories.)
Rolando Alvarez in the National Penitentiary System of Nicaragua, where he is serving a sentence for treason.

Text in which the author defends ideas and reaches conclusions based on his / her interpretation of facts and data

For Bishop Rolando Alvarez of Matagalpa, Nicaragua, New Years Day marked day 500 of detention and imprisonment by Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and his spouse and Vice President Rosario Murillo. For 500 days, the bishop has been cut off from the world, kept out of regular contact with his family, and held away from the Catholics of Matagalpa who look to him as their spiritual leader.

Bishop Alvarez was imprisoned because he is a Christian leader who advocates for human rights and democracy, ideals Alvarez finds rooted in Christian values. Alvarez is perhaps the most prominent victim of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillos systematic, egregious, and continuing attack on the religious freedom of Nicaraguans. While Alvarez is isolated, he is not alone in suffering under Ortega and Murillos oppression. Approximately one in 10 Nicaraguan Catholic priests now live in exile. And last month, the government unjustly detained Bishop Isidoro Mora of the Diocese of Siuna and began arresting and harassing other priests, as well.

Under Ortega and Murillo, the Nicaraguan people are subjected to restrictions on practicing their religious beliefs so extreme that Secretary of State Antony Blinken designated Nicaragua a Country of Particular Concern, a category reserved for particularly severe violators of religious freedom.

Yet the states heavy hand extends beyond the Catholic Church. Nicaraguas vibrant evangelical communities have faced a similar wrath. Ortegas profoundly restrictive laws, paired with his governments pervasive weaponization of regulatory oversight, have led to the seizure and shuttering of universities and schools, charitable organizations, and other institutions. Many organizations and churches  Catholic and evangelical  have quietly succumbed to the inevitable, accepting coerced voluntary dissolution in the face of unrelenting government harassment.

The United States is committed to doing all possible to help Nicaraguans as they work to (re)gain protection of and respect for their human rights and fundamental freedoms, and to reaffirm their democracy. Nicaragua remains a society of active and engaged communities of faith. Nicaraguans deserve full restoration of their freedoms , and Bishop Alvarez deserves the opportunity to resume his ministry.

The relationship between religious freedom and democracy goes both ways. Democratic institutions flourish in societies that are pluralistic, diverse, tolerant, and have an underlying respect for human rights. We know that democracy creates the political and social conditions in which people of varying religions and beliefs can live together in peace.

As a step toward fulfilling their human rights obligations, Nicaraguan authorities should allow a credible and independent individual or organization to meet with Bishop Alvarez, without his jailers present, to take stock of his health and state of mind. Nicaraguan authorities should then plan to promptly release him from Managuas Modelo prison, without conditions.

We begin the new year with the hope that it will soon bring a new day of freedom to Bishop Alvarez, other political prisoners, and the Nicaraguan people. And we will not stop working with all those who support religious freedom until they realize the future they deserve.

Rashad Hussain is Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom at the U.S. Department of State.

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A terminally ill Connecticut woman ended her life in Vermont on Thursday in what her husband says was the "comfortable and peaceful" death she wanted. Lynda Bluestein, 76, had pushed for Vermont to change its medically assisted suicide law to allow assisted suicide for nonresidents. The law was changed in May last year , two months after the state reached a settlement with Bluestein that allowed her to use the law. She died after taking a lethal dose of prescribed medication. Her husband, Paul, said her last words were, "I'm so happy I don't have to do this (suffer) anymore," in an email the group Compassion & Choices shared with the AP .

Bluestein was diagnosed with stage four ovarian and fallopian tube cancer in February 2021, NBC Connecticut reports. "She was going through a lot of pain, and that was hard to watch," son Jacob Shannon tells the station. He says he's "grateful" that she was able to die peacefully on her own terms. "Having some sort of choice in how this was going to end was her last wish," he says. Vermont is one of 10 states, plus Washington, DC, with assisted suicide laws. The Vermont law, which has numerous safeguards to prevent abuse, allows doctors to prescribe lethal medication to people expected to die of an incurable illness within six months.

Bluestein told the AP last year that she didn't want to die like her mother, who passed away in a hospital bed after a long illness. She said she wanted to die surrounded by loved ones. "I want to live the way I always have, and I want my death to be in keeping with the way I wanted my life to be always," she said. "I wanted to have agency over when cancer had taken so much for me that I could no longer bear it. That's my choice." Her push for Connecticut to adopt an assisted suicide law was unsuccessful, but state lawmakers say the effort is slowly moving forward. (More assisted suicide stories.)
North Korea's next leader is likely to be a woman. That's according to South Korea's spy agency, which said Thursday that Kim Jung Un's daughter, Kim Ju Ae, thought to be 10 years old, is his "most likely" successor based on numerous public appearances in the last year, per the New York Times . Ju Ae first appeared at a long-range missile test launch with her father in November 2022 , fueling speculation that she would be his heir . North Korea has only ever been ruled by membersspecifically male membersof the Kim family, which claims to hail from a sacred bloodline, and none of Kim's other children, said to include an older son and a younger child , have appeared in public or been mentioned by state media.

Since that first public appearance, Ju Ae has accompanied her father to navy headquarters, military parades, and numerous banquets. State media, which initially referred to her as Kim's "most beloved" child, now describe her as "respected," an adjective "reserved for North Korea's most revered," per the BBC. South Korea's National Intelligence Service said it was still considering "all possibilities" for succession but that Ju Ae appeared most likely to succeed her father "based on a comprehensive analysis of public activities and the level of respect" shown to the young girl. A senior general was seen whispering to her at a military parade in September, the Guardian points out.

Despite long-running speculation about Ju Ae's future role, this is the first time South Korea's spy agency has acknowledged her as the 40-year-old leader's heir, per the BBC. South Korean Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho gave a similar view last month, noting "the continuous emphasis on Kim Jong Un's daughter can be seen as evidence that North Korea is hastening to showcase succession intentions amid difficult internal circumstances." Ju Ae's early introduction to the publiccompared with Kim's own in 2010 at the age of 26, just a year before his father's deathcould be intended to allow time "to overcome prejudices in deeply patriarchal North Korea," the BBC notes. (More North Korea stories.)
Americans are known to head across the border into Canada to buy their prescription drugs at cheaper costs. Now, for the first time, a state government has received approval to do the same thing on a much larger scale. In a decision described as historic, the Food and Drug Administration has granted Florida's request to import drugs in bulk from Canada, reports the New York Times. The pharmaceutical industry is expected to file a legal challenge before that happens, but if the move goes through, expect other states to follow suit. Details:

The impact: The development has the potential to "change the way Americans obtain prescription medicines and could reduce their cost," per the Wall Street Journal. Several other states already have applications pending to the FDA, including Colorado, Maine, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Texas, Vermont, and Wisconsin.
UPDATE

Jan 10, 2024 12:00 AM CST

A 61-year-old man with schizophreniawho had been missing for more than three weeks since the St. Louis nursing home where he lived abruptly closedwas found Tuesday about a mile away, authorities said. The Missouri State Highway Patrol said Tuesday that Frederick Caruthers was found at a local restaurant, the AP reports. A member of the public saw him and phoned the police. Sgt. Charles Wall, of the St. Louis police department, said the officers received a call Tuesday at around 10am that Caruthers had been spotted on the 4900 block of Natural Bridge Avenueabout a mile north of the shuttered nursing home. When officers located him, Caruthers had no obvious signs of injury, Wall said. He was taken to an area hospital for evaluation.

Jan 5, 2024 2:30 PM CST

A 61-year-old man with schizophrenia is still missing three weeks after the St. Louis nursing home where he lived abruptly closed. The Missouri State Highway Patrol on Wednesday issued an Endangered SILVER Advisory seeking the public's help in finding Frederick Caruthers, who was among about 175 residents of Northview Village Nursing Home before it closed on Dec. 15, per the AP. "Mr. Caruthers walked away from the Northview nursing home and has not been heard from since," the advisory stated. "He is without needed medication."
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

In April 1956, Chief of Staff Moshe Dayan, one of the toughest commanders in the Israel Defence Forces, had to say a prayer at the funeral of a young farmer who had been killed by Palestinians during a raid on the Nahal-Oz kibbutz. Let us not hurl accusations against them today, Dayan said. Why should we complain about their fierce hatred toward us? For eight years they have been settled in refugee camps in Gaza while, before their very eyes, we have made our homes on the land and in the villages where they and their ancestors have lived. Dayan felt the responsibility for the death of the farmer lay with them, the Israelis. Let us not be frightened to see the hatred that accompanies and consumes the lives of hundreds of thousands of Arabs around us waiting for the moment when their hands can be stained with our blood, added Dayan, who wore a patch over one eye. This is the fate of our generation. The only choice we have is to be prepared and armed, to be strong and resolute or else the sword will slip from our hands and the threat against our lives will increase. We are a generation of settlers, and without the steel helmet and the cannon, we would not be able to plant a tree or build a house.

The episode is recounted in The Iron Wall by Avi Shlaim, a historian born in Baghdad in 1945 into a well-to-do Jewish family and one of the leading specialists on the Middle East today. The Iron Wall is one of the best books for understanding the relationship between Israel and the Arab world.

Dayan said these words at the funeral a long time ago, but they still serve to illustrate the magnitude of the wound that tears apart those who live in a region split in two with the approval of the United Nations in 1947, in order that one Jewish and one Arab state would emerge. Since then, the region has been afflicted by wars, ever more deeply rooted hatred, deportation, terror, questionable policies, the shifting of borders, illegal settlements and occupation of Palestinian territory, and the internationalization of large and small disputes culminating in a recurring nightmare.

In Shlaims book, which covers the period from 1948 to 2006, Benjamin Netanyahu first appears in 1996 as the leader of the right-wing Likud party when he defeats Shimon Peres Labor party in the elections. All tentative attempts to achieve peace were set aside. Netanyahu had just published a book in which he argued that the Palestinian problem was not a real problem, but had been artificially created, says Shlaim. He advocated a religious-nationalist ethnocentric government and considered the Palestinians to blame for everything, including international terrorism and its techniques which, he said, were their invention and export par excellence. These ideas have surely fueled the devastating response in Gaza to the brutal October 7 Hamas massacre, creating what is unquestionably a living hell.
Victims of the double explosion in the Iranian city of Kerman during the anniversary ceremony for the death of General Qassem Soleimani, on January 3.

The explosions that left at least 84 people dead and nearly 280 wounded on Wednesday in Kerman in southern Iran pose important questions given the context of regional tension stemming from the war in Gaza and the Iranian regimes own internal dynamics against opposition groups.

Although Islamic State  Khorasan Province (ISIS-K) claimed responsibility for the attack, it is worth reflecting on the strategic intent of the explosions on a day as important to the Islamic Republic of Iran as the commemoration of General Qassem Soleimanis death. Taking place on this date, and in a place close to the generals tomb, sends a very powerful deterrent message to Iran and its allies, as this annual ceremony not only gathers together officers of the Revolutionary Guard, but also members of different groupings of the so-called Axis of Resistance who travel to Iran from Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen, and Syria through their links, in one way or another, to the asymmetrical war architecture designed by Soleimani during years of military advising through the elite Al Quds force.

A second reflection is that the explosions in Kerman came a day after Israel assassinated Saleh al-Arouri  the main link between Iran and Hezbollah  in Beirut, nine days after the death in Syria of Sayyed Razi Mousavi  the Iranian advisor who coordinated the military alliance between Damascus and Tehran  and on the same day that Israel attacked the Naqoura area in southern Lebanon, killing nine more Hezbollah officials. This could indicate that, even if ISIS-K had planned the attack in Kerman in advance and without knowledge of Israeli plans, the consummation of what happened in Lebanon and Syria directly and drastically increased the media impact of what happened in Kerman in the regional and international sphere, a common goal in organizations like this one. It thus succeeded in sowing confusion in Irans intelligence and security apparatus, whose high-ranking officers have been concentrating on Gaza.

A third reflection points to the political agenda of ISIS-K and other armed groups with which it collaborates, which combine different types of nationalism with Islamic extremism. Of particular note are Jundullah, whose leader, Salahuddin Farooqui, has historically opposed Iranian support for Syria; or groups such as Jaish ul-Adl, which aims to establish a Baloch nation in Iran and whose leaders yearn for revenge against the government of the Islamic Republic after it publicly executed three of its members in November 2023 on charges of acts of terrorism and collaboration with foreign agencies.

It is likely that the attack in Kerman can also be connected to the agenda that Tehran historically carries against these separatist groups, which it links to ISIS-K itself as they often operate in a shared territory in southern Iran, leading them to employ conjunctural rapprochements. Moreover, it should not be forgotten that ISIS-K claimed responsibility for a similar attack on the Shah Cheragh shrine in Shiraz in October 2022, using similar methods of mass shootings and suicide attacks.

Given this, it should be noted that ISIS-K suffered significant casualties in 2023, which could have led it to plan a response in the current context. ISIS-K losses were due to cooperation between Iran and the Afghan Taliban government, which have jointly engaged ISIS-K along the Iran-Afghanistan border.

Given the context of tension in southern Lebanon, the Red Sea, Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan, the question remains as to how Iran will respond to the assassination of its representatives in Damascus, and not so much to the attack in Kerman. While it is necessary to await Tehrans official response after the investigation, ISIS-Ks claim of responsibility somewhat assuages Tehrans dilemma of responding to the attack by looking to Israel. It is likely that Iran would prefer to handle the media impact of Kerman as an internal matter and not escalate the conflict in Gaza, which continues to open new fronts, of which Iran does not aspire to be one.

Moises Garduno Garcia is a researcher at the National Autonomous University of Mexico and visiting professor at The College of Mexico.

@Moises_Garduno

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Lawrence Berkeley National Lab researchers have employed computational methods to outline an approach for optimizing the LK99 material as a superconductor.

Some may question why Nextbigfuture continues to cover LK99, given that some scientists claimed it was not a superconductor. Having covered science for over 20 years, Ive encountered numerous instances where skeptics dismissed possibilities. Scientists aiming to debunk ideas are not the ones likely to discover how to make them work.

Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab invested time and utilized supercomputers to explore ways to make LK99 functional. Their computational work is showing promising results.

Experimental Results Supporting LK99

Half of the original Korean LK99 research team is set to present at the upcoming American Physical Society meeting. They will showcase videos of a new and improved material with sulfur, demonstrating room temperature superconductivity.

Two members of the original Korean team have joined forces to establish CCS, a company dedicated to developing superconductors.

Recent experimental work, mainly from China, indicates signs of superconductivity.

Notably, Chinese researchers observed a possible Meissner effect near room temperature in copper-substituted lead apatite.

Another group in China found microwave absorption evidence supporting the case for room temperature superconductivity.

Half of the original Korean LK99 research team is set to present at the upcoming American Physical Society meeting. They will showcase videos of a new and improved material with sulfur in the chemistry, demonstrating room temperature superconductivity.

Two other members of the original korean team have joined and created another company CCS to develop the superconductors.

Science is Hard

Science is a challenging endeavor. Historical setbacks, such as the AI winters, provide context. Marvin Minskys 1969 discovery highlighted the limitations of single-layer neural networks, leading to a slowdown in perceptron research. The breakthrough came in the mid-1980s with the work of John Hopfield, David Rumelhart, and others.

A 52-page paper by Nobel Prize winner in Physics, Philip Anderson, details his engagement with the high-Tc problem of cuprate superconductors. The paper reflects on the impossibility of separating early attempts from the complete restructuring of the problem achieved in the past decade. The 1977 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded for fundamental theoretical investigations of the electronic structure of magnetic and disordered systems to Philip Warren Anderson, Sir Nevill Francis Mott, and John Hasbrouck Van Vleck.

JANUARY 1987: THE CUPRATES CHANGE MY LIFE, TOO

It is not widely known that John Bardeen produced at least three wrong theories of superconductivity before BCS, the one which got it right. Two of his previous attempts were published, one, in 1951, with great fanfare. The difference between John and the many other brilliant physicists who attempted theories of superconductivity (among them Einstein, Feynman and Heisenberg ) was that he was willing to admit that he had been wrong, go back to the beginning and start over.

At Bell I met my close friend Ted Geballe, past supervisor and collaborator of the charismatic Bernd Matthias, who is rightly considered the father of the field of superconducting materials. Ted, it turned out, had just returned from the Materials Research Society meeting in Boston, the first week of December, where a highly reliable Japanese researcher, Kitazawa, had surprised everyone by confirming unequivocally the results on a new superconductor, (La,Ba)2CuO4, with a transition temperature over 30 degrees, which had been published obscurely six months earlier by Georg Bednorz and Alex Muller. Ted , although a very down-to-earth empiricist, who shares to an extent Bernds disdain for theories not his own, is somewhat optimistic on the subject of high-Tc superconductors, and has been known to fall for an occasional USO (unidentified superconducting object); but he convinced me this one was real. Paul Chu of Houston also confirmed the new results at this meeting.

You can see in the descriptions that people can get things completely wrong in science. It can take many tries and many years to work out complex problems and materials. Some very good scientists can have a disdain for theories that are not their own.

Twenty years of talking past each other: The theory of high Tc

In 1988, the outline of an essentially correct theory of the high Tc cuprates was published by two groups, Zhang et al. in Zurich and Kotliar et al. in the US, based on earlier suggestions. The rather startling experimental predictions:

1. that the gap would be real d-wave with nodes;

2. that the gap would greatly increase with underdoping;

3. that Tc would exhibit a dome terminating linearly around x = 30%;

were so bizarre that these papers gathered little attention from others, including myself and at least 8 other Nobel prize-winners, and as they came to be substantiated one by one nobody much noticed that fact until the method was revived a dozen years later by Paramekanti et al. and Sorella et al. I will discuss some recent achievements and generalizations of these methods.

Back the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab Work

The flurry of theoretical and experimental studies following the report of room-temperature superconductivity at ambient pressure in Cu-substituted lead apatite CuxPb10x(PO4)6O (LK99) have explored whether and how this system might host strongly correlated physics including superconductivity. While first-principles calculations at low doping (x  1) have indicated a Cu-d9 configuration coordinated with oxygen giving rise to isolated, correlated bands, its other structural, electronic, and magnetic properties diverge significantly from those of other known cuprate systems. Here we find that higher densities of ordered Cu substitutions can result in the formation of contiguous edge-sharing Cu-O chains, akin to those found in some members of the cuprate superconductor family. Interestingly, while such quasi-one-dimensional edge-sharing chains are typically ferromagnetically coupled along the chain, we find an antiferromagnetic ground-state magnetic order for our cuprate fragments which is in proximity to a ferromagnetic quantum critical point. This is a result of the elongated Cu-Cu distance in Cu-substituted apatite that leads to larger Cu-O-Cu angles supporting antiferromagnetism, which we demonstrate to be controllable by strain. Finally, our electronic structure calculations confirm the low-dimensional nature of the system and show that the bandwidth is driven by the Cu-O plaquette connectivity, resulting in an intermediate correlated regime.

The Cu-substituted apatites provide a new system for understanding one-dimensional cuprate chains in a previously inaccessible coupling regime. The large lattice vector (Cu-Cu separation) compared with other edgesharing cuprates leads to a larger Cu-O-Cu angle. In turn, this enabled a stronger effective Cu-Cu nearestneighbor interaction, stabilizing antiferromagnetic ordering, in contrast to typically ferromagnetic edge-sharing cuprates. Calculations show that the Cu-4 structure is very close to a ferromagnetic ground state, indicative of strongly frustrated interactions and proximity to a quantum critical point.

This transition is dependent on the Cu-O-Cu angle, and can be tuned by structural modifications as seen below.

The increased band width of the Cu-dxy states at the Fermi level seen in Cu-2 and Cu-4 over the previously examined x = 1 structure is an expected result of halving the Cu-Cu separation along the c direction. While the Cu-Cu separation is large compared to other edgesharing cuprates, which could be expected to reduce the band width, the researchers find the structures to be in the intermediate coupling regime, favorable for superconductivity.

This is in part due to the distortion to larger Cu-O-Cu bond angles which is also seen to stabilize an antiferromagnetic ground state. The oxygen atoms that constitute the plaquettes are also bound to the PO4 units, the size of which, along with the c lattice constrains the CuO bond lengths and the Cu-O-Cu angle. Substitutions on the B sites may allow for a further tuning of the correlation and antiferromagnetic ordering.

The proposed structure requires substantially higher doping than has been reported experimentally and also with a high degree of site selectivity to facilitate macroscopic cuprate chains. This is not insurmountable as both solid-solution and ordered doping of apatite structures are common. Reported synthesis attempts have been carried out under ambient pressure and using oxygen as the channel species X. Recent theoretical work has identified that pressure, strain, and channel species call all have a strong effect on the site selectivity of the copper dopants.
LK99 is the material that South Korean researchers claimed in early 2023 was a room temperature superconductor. The South Korean Researcher will be reporting new work in two months (March 4, 2024) at the APS conference. The patents and the original papers described superconducting low level electrical resistance for thin film versions of LK99. There were a lot of negative experiments from researchers who made bulk samples of LK99. The negative papers never made thin film and never wrote about trying to make thin film LK99.

There were also many positive LK99 science papers based upon computer simulation mainly using DFT (Density Function Theory).

There are two new separate experimental papers from China with strongest experimental evidence supporting the confirmation of the original korean work.

A large portion of the scientific community and public have turned against LK99. A room temperature superconductor is VERY hard work. The original cuprate superconductors had difficult replication until the YCBO formulation was discovered.

Hopefully, the two new chinese experimental will get people to realize that they vastly underestimated the effort to do LK99. People will see that they made a mistake in trying to go scorched earth over anyone trying to do work on LK99. This is science and it can be difficult and unreliable making something as remarkable as room temperature superconductors.

Prof. Kwon & Kim came out of Q-centre and started running a new company named CCS. CCS hosted the first business briefing for institutional investors on December 18th.

JH Kim, the heroic experimental chemist (the K, in LK-99), is no longer part of the team, leaving Lee as the principal author from Quantum Energy Korea

* The compound from Aug has been characterized further, no longer a mere lead apatite, but now PCPOSOS, with substitutions of Sulphur for Oxygen in some positions

* They dont even claim the LK-99 name anymore (because that would, uh.. refer to a different compound)

* However, the team has confirmed Type-II superconductivity at room temperature and pressure, confirmed the Meissner effect, explained the partial levitation seen (its because the critical magnetic field that knocks out the superconductive effect is close enough that normal variation in magnetic field strength trigger the threshold)

What happened to JH Kim?

> In November he pops up joining the board of a startup called CCS along with JH Kwon

> Kwon, remember, is the Korea University professor who jumped the gun on the arxiv release, was fired, showed up as a last minute guest to the Minerals and Multi Metallic Materials Conference In Seoul, and generally acted as the spoiler in the last season

> So JH Kim seems to have left Quantum, to work alongside Kwon at the new company

South China University of Technology published experimental support for LK99 (lead apatite variant). The South China University of Technology team has 2 samples both created by accident which show superconductive effects, but continue to try to figure out a consistent manufacture.

Two China teams (Beijing) and South China joined up for another experimental paper. They each created two different samples and then replicated the other joined teams sample. There is replication happening.

Happy LK-99 New Year Recap: After capturing the zeitgeist during a slow news summer between GPT-4 and the OpenAI board drama, LK-99 enthusiasts faded into embarrassed obscurity normally reserved for NFT owners and Tom Brady fans. But neither science nor history care for your  Ate-a-Pi (@8teAPi) January 3, 2024

1. Possible Meissner effect near room temperature in copper-substituted lead apatite

With copper-substituted lead apatite below room temperature, we observe diamagnetic dc magnetization under magnetic field of 25 Oe with remarkable bifurcation between zero-field-cooling and field-cooling measurements, and under 200 Oe it changes to be paramagnetism. A glassy memory effect is found during cooling. Typical hysteresis loops for superconductors are detected below 250 K, along with an asymmetry between forward and backward sweep of magnetic field. Our experiment suggests at room temperature the Meissner effect is possibly present in this material.

Hongyang Wang1, Yao Yao2, Ke Shi3, Yijing Zhao3, Hao Wu4, Zhixing Wu5, Zhihui Geng6, Shufeng Ye1, and Ning Chen7

1 Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China

2 State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices and Department of Physics, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China

3 Beijing 2060 Technology Co., Ltd, Beijing 100084, China

4 School of Materials Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China

5 Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Analysis and Detection Technology for Food safety, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China

6 School of Engineering, Course of Applied Science, Tokai University, Hiratsuka 2591292, Japan

7 School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China

(Dated: January 3, 2024)

2. Researchers from Six Chinese Universities and research labs have found experimental proof of some superconductivity near room temperature for LK99 material.

School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China

State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China

Department of Physics, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China

Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Luminescence from Molecular Aggregates, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Optoelectronic and Magnetic Functional Materials, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China

School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China

They observe a considerable hysteresis effect of low-field microwave absorption (LFMA) in copper-substituted lead apatite. By continuously rotating samples under external magnetic field, this effect is diminished which can not be renewed by a strong magnetic field but will be spontaneously recovered after two days, indicating its glassy features and excluding possibility of any ferromagnetism. The intensity of LFMA is found to sharply decrease at around 250K, suggesting a phase transition takes place. A lattice gauge model is then employed to assign these effects to the transition between superconducting Meissner phase and vortex glass, and the slow dynamics wherein is calculated as well.

3. Edge-sharing quasi-one-dimensional cuprate fragments in optimally substituted

Cu/Pb apatite

Katherine Inzani, School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom

John Vinson, Material Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland, 20899, USA

Sinead M. Griffin 3Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California

The flurry of theoretical and experimental studies following the report of room-temperature superconductivity at ambient pressure in Cu-substituted lead apatite CuxPb10x(PO4)6O (LK99) have explored whether and how this system might host strongly correlated physics including superconductivity. While first-principles calculations at low doping (x  1) have indicated a Cu-d9 configuration coordinated with oxygen giving rise to isolated, correlated bands, its other structural, electronic, and magnetic properties diverge significantly from those of other known cuprate systems. Here we find that higher densities of ordered Cu substitutions can result in the formation of contiguous edge-sharing Cu-O chains, akin to those found in some members of the cuprate superconductor family. Interestingly, while such quasi-one-dimensional edge-sharing chains are typically ferromagnetically coupled along the chain, we find an antiferromagnetic ground-state magnetic order for our cuprate fragments which is in proximity to a ferromagnetic quantum critical point. This is a result of the elongated Cu-Cu distance in Cu-substituted apatite that leads to larger Cu-O-Cu angles supporting antiferromagnetism, which we demonstrate to be controllable by strain. Finally, our electronic structure calculations confirm the low-dimensional nature of the system and show that the bandwidth is driven by the Cu-O plaquette connectivity, resulting in an intermediate correlated regime.

4. The US Air Force Research Lab is funding Chapman University to study and try to replicate thin film LK99. DARPA may be following up with more extensive funding for thin film LK99.

A Lot of Rushed Nails in the Coffin of LK99

Nature had articles declaring LK99 science to be over.

On 14 August, a separate team at the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research in Stuttgart, Germany, reported synthesizing pure, single crystals of LK-99. Unlike previous synthesis attempts, which had relied on crucibles, this one used a technique called floating-zone crystal growth. This enabled the researchers to avoid introducing sulfur into the reaction, thereby eliminating the Cu2S impurities.

The result was a transparent purple crystal  pure LK-99, or Pb8.8Cu1.2P6O25. Separated from impurities, LK-99 is not a superconductor, but an insulator with a resistance in the millions of ohms  too high for a standard conductivity test to be run. It shows minor ferromagnetism and diamagnetism, but not enough for even partial levitation. We therefore rule out the presence of superconductivity, the team concluded.

Paul Chu, the discoverer of the 90K SC YBCO, posted a paper last night putting the proverbial last nail on the LK99 coffin-these anomalies are associated with the impurity in their sample and not with superconductivity

Paul Chu, the discoverer of the 90K SC YBCO, posted a paper last night putting the proverbial last nail on the LK99 coffin-"these anomalies are associated with the impurity in their sample and not with superconductivity"Just disorder as we said before!https://t.co/3JgIkktZHr pic.twitter.com/SHLsevPTvE  Condensed Matter Theory Center (@condensed_the) November 9, 2023
With copper-substituted lead apatite below room temperature, Chinese researchers observe diamagnetic dc magnetization under magnetic field of 25 Oe with remarkable bifurcation between zero-field-cooling and field-cooling measurements, and under 200 Oe it changes to be paramagnetism. A glassy memory effect is found during cooling. Typical hysteresis loops for superconductors are detected below 250 K, along with an asymmetry between forward and backward sweep of magnetic field. The experiment suggests at room temperature the Meissner effect is possibly present in this material.

There were two Chinese teams publicly pursuing LK-99-derived room temperature superconductor. A north China team and south China team. North China team was headed by Hongyang Wang (who lives in Beijing) and south China team was headed by Yao Yao (who lives in Guangzhou). They used different synthesis and different analysis, i.e. north China team used hydrothermal synthesis and used SQUID measurement, while south China team used solid state synthesis and used EPR measurement.

This is a joint paper of both teams. They reproduced results of each other and measured a clear sign of superconductivity. It is near room temperature because they are sure about 250 K but not sure about 300 K.

The biggest feature of the apatite system is the one-dimensional void, which is equivalent to a linear dislocation type defect and is likely to be the only area where carriers accumulate. Therefore, it is very likely that super Guidance only occurs in this area. If this is the case, and superconductivity only occurs here, then they should eliminate the glass phase part, which is 24 O among the 25 O, and a lot of Pb and P parts, because they are not superconducting, so the remaining is the one-dimensional pipe. This is actually very little weight. The proportion of superconductivity is very small, which is actually much more reasonable. This paper is a milestone. It is a starting point for everyone to actively pay attention to the relationship between the structure and performance of this type of system.

At 200 Oe, the material exhibited paramagnetism, and a glassy memory effect was observed during cooling. They resemble behaviors typical of superconductors, including the presence of hysteresis loops below 250 K. Hysteresis loops are critical to assessing how superconductors respond to and retain effects of an applied magnetic field. The direct observation of dc hysteresis, this crucial indicator of superconductivity, remains elusive. It has been observed under microwave conditions but not in direct current measurements. This gap in evidence highlights the ongoing challenges in confirming room-temperature superconductivity in CSLA.

Possible Meissner effect near room temperature in copper-substituted lead apatite

Hongyang Wang1, Yao Yao2, Ke Shi3, Yijing Zhao3, Hao Wu4, Zhixing Wu5, Zhihui Geng6 , Shufeng Ye1, and Ning Chen7

1 Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

2 State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices and Department of Physics,

South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China

3 Beijing 2060 Technology Co., Ltd, Beijing, China

4 School of Materials Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

5 Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Analysis and Detection Technology for Food safety, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, China

6 School of Engineering, Course of Applied Science, Tokai University, Hiratsuka 2591292, Japan

7 School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China

(Dated: January 3, 2024)

Perfect diamagnetism, namely the Meissner effect, serves as one of the fundamental criterions to examine a candidate of superconductor. In order to justify a Meissner effect, one has to first observe a diamagnetic magnetization-temperature (M-T) curve with bifurcation between zero-field-cooling (ZFC) and field-cooling (FC) measurements, along with a superconducting hysteresis magnetization-magnetic field (M-H) loop below critical temperature (Tc) with well-defined critical field (Hc). The copper-substituted lead apatite (CSLA), also named as LK-99, has been claimed as a novel candidate for room-temperature superconductor, but a complete Meissner effect has not been reported up to date. Lee et al. reported a large diamagnetism, but it was stated to stem from Cu2S as addressed by Habamahoro et al. A more important hysteresis loop is still absent in the dc

measurement and has been merely observed in microwave circumstance. There is no doubt the direct observation of dc hysteresis is essential, which turns out to be the main subject of this work.

They used the state-of-the-art synthesis approach, the superconducting component in CSLA possesses pretty small scale, so the critical fields are as weak as several tens Oe. A strong paramagnetic signal may overwhelm possible low-field superconductivity, so the samples should be as pure as possible which may however greatly reduce the doping ratio of coppers and weaken the signals. More importantly, due to the robust memory effect of vortex glass phase, a sample that has been exposed to a strong magnetic field may also hold memory of the magnetization history. In this context, the measurement procedure of magnetic properties must be carefully designed and conducted. They employed the MPMS-3 SQUID to conduct dc magnetization measurements on the samples.

In summary, the diamagnetism in CSLA has been investigated via both M-T curves and hysteresis M-H loops, which can be observed up to 250 K. Given the ZFC-FC bifurcation at above 300 K, they think there is still great chance to observe room-temperature superconductivity. The signals in the sample are still extremely weak, so they have to devote efforts to further synthesizing scalable samples with more active components.

Other Chinese Researchers Detected Superconducting Effects Via Microwave Absorption

There is other experimental evidence from China supporting LK99 with the detection of microwave absorption. All other superconductors have this microwave absorption effect.

Lawrence Berkeley National Labs Has Computational Analysis Supporting LK99

Lawrence Berkeley National Lab researchers use computational methods to describe an approach for optimizing the LK99 material as a superconductor. The National Lab researchers suggest how to improve LK99. Their proposed structure requires substantially higher doping than has been reported experimentally and also with a high degree of site selectivity to facilitate macroscopic cuprate chains. This is not insurmountable as both solid-solution and ordered doping of apatite structures are common. Reported synthesis attempts have been carried out under ambient pressure and using oxygen as the channel species X. Recent theoretical work has identified that pressure, strain, and channel species call all have a strong effect on the site selectivity of the copper dopants.

Original Korean LK99 Team Will Present March 4, 2024

On March 4, 2024, most of the original team of South Korean LK99 Room Temperature and atmospheric pressure superconductors researchers will have a short 12 minute presentation at the American Physical Society conference.
The first half of the history of life on Earth was written by bacteria. And for millions of years they did so without the need for oxygen, which was absent from the atmosphere at that time. Now, the oldest structures that some of these microorganisms used to fill the planet with gaseous oxygen (O) have been discovered. A species from about 1.75 billion years ago already had something similar to vesicles called thylakoids that allowed them to increase their ability to photosynthesize. These thylakoids are still present in the planets cyanobacteria, algae and plants that convert sunlight into chemical energy.

Photosynthesis was a brilliant mechanism by which, at some point in the beginnings of life on the planet, cyanobacteria learned to convert the energy coming from the Sun into the chemical energy they needed. In the process, they took electrons from compounds present in their environment. At a time more than 2.4 billion years ago, certain groups of cyanobacteria learned to carry out oxygenic photosynthesis. They took in water (HO), which was an abundant fuel, from which they obtained the hydrogen necessary to assimilate carbon from CO in the atmosphere. In their metabolism, they released the excess waste, oxygen, which must have been consumed by oxidizing the minerals in the rocks. But around 2.4 billion years ago, the so-called Great Oxidation Event occurred, due to which the Earths atmosphere accumulated up to 1% O. It may not seem like much (the current concentration is close to 21%), but the foundations were then laid for an extraordinary diversification of living beings.

Cyanobacteria were responsible for that event. Some have been found in the fossil record before the Great Oxidation Event, but what has just been discovered is part of their engineering. In a site in Australia, scientists found microfossils of a microorganism called Navifusa majensis, it was believed to be a cyanobacteria, but it is not easy to identify a bug like this, which barely measures 25 microns  a micron is one thousandth of a millimeter  compacted in a fossilization process 1.75 billion years ago. As detailed in a paper published in Nature, its discoverers have found thylakoids in the N cell. majensis. These vesicles contain photosensitive elements that convert light into chemical energy. Cyanobacteria that carried out oxygenic photosynthesis had already been discovered, but such ancient thylakoids had not.

Cyanobacteria are important because the oxygen we have on the planet is the result of the activity of these biological organisms Patricia Sanchez Baracaldo, microbiologist with the University of Bristol, United Kingdom

The thylakoids that have now been discovered represent the first direct evidence of oxygenic photosynthesis with these basic units. As the researcher at the University of Liege (Belgium) and senior author of the research, Emmanuelle Javaux, says, the discovery shows that cyanobacteria were actively producing oxygen 1.75 billion years ago, so in reality the sediments of the McDermott Formation [in the region of Australia where they have been found] they were not formed in a permanent or completely anoxic environment. Before the Great Oxidation Event, there must not have been many corners, niches, where life based on oxygen had refuge. But the scenario changed after the event. We are now digging into the even older fossil record to test the proposed hypothesis that the appearance of thylakoid membranes may have contributed to the increase in oxygen around the Great Oxidation Event and the permanent oxygenation of the early Earth, Javaux adds.

Patricia Sanchez Baracaldo, a microbiologist at the University of Bristol (United Kingdom), explains that there was oxygen before the Great Oxidation Event, but they were strongholds. For Sanchez Baracaldo, who investigates the bacterial origin of life, cyanobacteria are important because the oxygen we have on the planet is the result of the activity of these biological organisms. The Colombian scientist, who also investigates the origin of photosynthesis, remembers that oxygen did not exist, bacteria invented how to extract electrons from water by breaking it, and it was that oxygen that accumulated. And she adds: That is why it is important to determine when this type of photosynthesis appeared, which is something that has fascinated scientists and the general public because without oxygen, evolution would not have led to us.

About 200 species of cyanobacteria have been described and only two do not have thylakoids. In fact, the first cyanobacteria did not have these structures. With these organelles in their membranes, the microorganisms must have expanded their photosynthetic capacity and, therefore, increased the generation of oxygen. The new element was creating new ecological niches and, as Sanchez Baracaldo, who did not participate in this work, points out, there were unicellular organisms that probably began to learn to breathe that oxygen. Complex life appears millions of years later, when the accumulation of O was increasing, accelerated by at least two new similar events after the Great Oxidation Event. Oxygen accumulated so much that it opens the possibility for animals to evolve. That is when the first eukaryotes appeared. From these first eukaryotes, which were still unicellular organisms, those that must have engulfed some cyanobacteria would later emerge, initiating the greatest example of endosymbiosis in the history of life. From these organisms which had absorbed cyanobacteria with thylakoids inside, chloroplasts would arise that allow algae and plants to carry out the same photosynthesis today.

In cyanobacteria with thylakoids, the membrane surface multiplies very significantly and so does the cells ability to photosynthesize Purificacion Lopez, researcher at University of Paris-Saclay, France

Purificacion Lopez, a researcher at the CNRS - Center National de la Recherche Scientifique (France), who was not involved in this study, recalls where the importance of thylakoids lies: They increase the surface area where the photosystems are located, which is where photosynthesis can take place. There are other groups of cyanobacteria that do not have these structures and carry out photosynthesis in the outer membrane. In cyanobacteria with thylakoids, the membrane surface multiplies very significantly and, so does the cells ability to photosynthesize. What is important about this research is that they are seeing these fossilized thylakoids. It is an astonishing level of conservation of 1.75 billion years, the Spanish microbiologist and professor at the University of Paris-Saclay adds.

In a sense, the Great Oxidation Event carried out by cyanobacteria has parallels with the KPg event, the mass extinction of animal life due to the impact of a meteorite 66 million years ago. If the K-Pg event created the conditions for the diversification of mammals, which were just small animals at the time, the Great Oxidation Event laid the foundations for the arrival of multicellular organisms and of complex life. Lopez likes the analogy, but rejects its essential premise: During the Great Oxidation of the atmosphere there was no extinction. New oxygenated habitats were surely created, where there is indeed a diversification of oxygenic photosynthetic organisms and aerobic organisms that use oxygen. But the others did not disappear, they continued to exist in places where there was no oxygen, and there are still anoxygenic photosynthetic organisms in lakes, in sediments, and in microbial mats, and there is still very significant anaerobic biology, even in our intestine, our microbiome.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Jerusalem, 30 November 2023.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken heads to the Middle East this weekend for the fourth time since the Israel-Hamas war erupted in October as once-abated fears about a regional conflagration are surging with attacks and assassinations in the Red Sea, Lebanon, Iran and Iraq.

The Biden administration had breathed a sigh of relief about the potential for a broader Mideast war in the immediate aftermath of Israels military response to the deadly Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, when it counseled Israeli officials not to mount pre-emptive strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Two-and-a-half months later, though, the chances of a regional war have increased with Israel determined to strike Hamas operatives and leaders no matter where they are and Iranian proxies like Hezbollah, Yemens Houthi rebels and pro-Iran militias stepping up attacks on U.S., Israeli and international interests in the Red Sea, Iraq and Syria.

Blinken leaves late Thursday on his latest extended Mideast tour. The State Department said Thursday he will visit Turkey, Greece, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the West Bank and Egypt.

As with his previous visits, Blinken will be concentrating on expanding humanitarian aid to Gaza, pressing Israel to minimize civilian Palestinian casualties, the release of hostages held by Hamas and the importance of planning for the administration of a post-war Gaza.

But, recent developments, including the drone strike attributed to Israel that killed a senior Hamas leader in Beirut, the explosions in Iran that targeted a memorial service for U.S.-assassinated Revolutionary Guard commander Qassem Suleimani, a drone attack on a pro-Iranian Iraqi militia group in Baghdad and U.S. and allied responses to Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, will crowd his agenda.

After sending two aircraft carrier strike groups to the eastern Mediterranean in mid-October in part to deter a Hezbollah response to Israels operations in Gaza, the U.S. is now focused on deterring attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis in the Red Sea.

At the same time, it has warned Iraqi militia groups that attacks on U.S. troops or bases in Iraq and Syria will not be tolerated.

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Postal Code
President Joe Biden will try to fire up his 2024 campaign Friday with a major speech warning that democracy is at risk from Donald Trump, three years after the January 6 US Capitol attack.

Either trailing or neck and neck with Trump in recent polls, the 81-year-old Democrat will frame his likely Republican rival as a threat to the nation in an address near the historic US independence war site of Valley Forge in Pennsylvania.

A looming winter storm forced the speech to be brought forward a day from Saturday, the third anniversary of the Capitol assault by a pro-Trump mob trying to overturn Bidens 2020 election win.

The effort to boost Bidens faltering campaign by painting him as a defender of democracy will continue Monday when he visits a South Carolina church where a white supremacist shot dead nine Black parishioners in 2015.

Campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez said Bidens election pitch four years ago that he was leading a battle for the soul of America was more relevant than ever.

The threat Donald Trump posed in 2020 to American democracy has only grown more dire in the years since, she said in a statement.

The venues for Bidens first speeches of 2024 are deliberately symbolic  especially the first, at a school near Valley Forge, where George Washington, the first US president, regrouped American forces fighting their British colonial rulers nearly 250 years ago.

We chose Valley Forge as George Washington united the colonies there, said principal deputy campaign manager Quentin Fulks.

Then he became president and set the precedent for the peaceful transition of power  something that Donald Trump and Republicans refused to do.

Horrific

The push at the start of 2024 comes after criticism from some Democrats that the Biden campaign has got off to a slow start.

Biden has failed to convince voters that the economy is improving despite favorable numbers, with Americans saying they are still suffering from high food and housing costs.

Migration across the Mexican border remains a major headache, while there is division in his party over his support for Israels war on Hamas, and Congress is blocking his bid for more funds for Ukraine.

Bidens refusal to mention Trumps multiple criminal cases, in order to avoid the appearance of influencing the judiciary, has also deprived him of one of his most potent weapons.

But perhaps Bidens biggest vulnerability is his age: as Americas oldest-ever president, he has suffered a series of trips and verbal slips.

Biden lags behind Trump, the man he beat in 2020, in a series of polls, and also has the worst approval rating of any modern president in the December before an election.

If the election were held tomorrow, President Biden would lose, William Galston, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, told AFP.

Yet the Pennsylvania and South Carolina speeches show the Biden campaign will now portray the race as a straight choice between him and the twice-impeached former president.

The campaign is already treating Trump as the presumptive challenger despite the fact that the battle for the Republican nomination doesnt even get underway until the Iowa caucuses on January 15.

Democrats are also targeting Trump on issues such as abortion access and health care.

Bidens first TV ad of the year meanwhile warns of an extremist threat to democracy, featuring images of the Capitol attack and dramatic music.

It was a sight that was horrific, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Thursday.

The president is going to continue to speak about this and continue to be very vocal about this.

AFP
The body of the late former Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, has arrived in Nigeria.

Akeredolus remains were brought into the country from Germany, where he passed away.

Reports had it that the plane conveying the body arrived at about 3:39 p.m. on Friday, January 5, 2024.

The wife of the late governor, Chief Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, his children, and siblings led by Prof. Wole Akeredolu, the immediate younger brother, received the body.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Tayo Ayinde; Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tokunbi Talabi; and a representative of Osun State Governor, Senator Demola Adeleke, also joined in receiving the body.

Also present at the airport to receive the body are the Secretary to the State Government SSG, Princess Oladunni Odu, and some members of the state executive council.

Others include the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Engr. Ade Adetimehin and a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Gboyega Adefarati.

His family members, followers, friends, and associates could not control their emotions as the body of the late governor was being lowered from the plane.

The former governor, Akeredolu, passed away in Germany on December 26, 2023.

It was gathered that his remains had been deposited at the morgue until the final burial.





A family member dislcosed hat the details of the burial arrangements would be announced soon by his family.
An eleven-year-old student has died and five other people have been injured in the shooting that took place on Thursday at a high school in the town of Perry, Iowa, as confirmed by the Police. The perpetrator of the shooting was a 17-year-old student at the school, who died by his own hand, said Mitch Mortvedt, of the Iowa Police Criminal Investigation Division.

The injured are four students and an administrative staff member of the school, who were taken to the hospital. One of them is in serious condition, although there is no fear for his life. The rest are stable.

The incident in this town of 8,000 residents, about 45 miles from Des Moines, the state capital, began early in the morning, when students were beginning to arrive at the school for the first day of classes after the Christmas vacations. The first call to the emergency services was made at 07.37 local time, about 20 minutes before the start of the school day, and the first officers arrived at the school seven minutes later.

There, Mortvedt said, they found children running away trying to escape; others had locked themselves in their classrooms. Almost immediately they found the shooters body, with a wound that appeared to be self-inflicted. In the search of the school the agents also found an improvised homemade bomb which they proceeded to detonate.

So far it has not been determined what was the motive that led the student to attack the facility with a handgun and a rifle. The young man acted alone, according to the police.

Images broadcast by television stations in the hours immediately after the shooting showed a huge deployment of police and Fire Department vehicles around the school, which is part of a school district with 1,785 enrolled students. The school district canceled classes for Thursday.

The incident occurred a few days before the Republican caucuses in the state to nominate a candidate for the November presidential elections. One of the candidates, Vivek Ramaswamy, was scheduled to hold a rally in Perry, but after the incident he changed his program to a prayer meeting.

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Brentford manager Thomas Frank has made it clear that only an unbelievable offer would make them sell Ivan Toney during the January transfer window.





Toney, who is currently serving an eight-month ban for betting, has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal.





The 27-year-old striker is however set to make his comeback on January 20.





Frank, speaking ahead of the Bees FA Cup third round tie against Wolves, insisted that Toney will remain with the club beyond the winter transfer window.





He is a Brentford player, he is here, we miss a few offensive players, and I cannot see why we should sell him.





It is not for me to discuss (an offer), but if I could ever recommend one, it would need to be an unbelievable price, so he will stay here, Frank said.
The counsel to Sadiya Umar Farouq, former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Oladipo Okpeseyi, has said the minister did not refuse to honour the invitation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

EFCC is investigating Farouq over alleged N37 billion fraud.

As part of the probe, the anti-graft agency invited the former minister for clarification.

However, addressing journalists, Okpeseyi said the minister could not honour the invitation due to health challenges.

I was at the headquarters of the commission on Tuesday to submit a letter to that effect and to seek extension of time (a shift in date) to enable my client, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, to make herself available at another opportune time to offer clarifications about activities of some agencies under the ministry she superintended in the immediate past administration.

Although, the EFCC has yet to send me a formal reply, the leadership availed us of its understanding, which resulted in parties amicably agreeing to have the interview originally scheduled for Wednesday (January 3, 2024) postponed to a time that the commission would subsequently fix after looking through its schedules.




The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has said it does not have evidence to support its charges of fraud, bribery and conspiracy against former attorney-general of the federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke.

In its response to the no-case submission filed by Adoke, who was listed as the first defendant in the charges all related to the OPL 245 transaction of 2011, the EFCC informed the FCT high court that it would not oppose the application.

The anti-graft agency also stated that it would not oppose the no-case applications by the other defendants, Aliyu Abubakar, Rasky Gbinigie (Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd company secretary), Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd, Nigeria Agip Exploration Ltd, Shell Ultra Deep Nigeria Ltd, and Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company Ltd (SNEPCo), over some of the charges.

The EFCC, however, said that Gbinigie has a case to answer over the alleged forgery of company documents to remove the name of Mohammed Abacha as a director of Malabu Oil & Gas.

Recall that the EFCC had charged Adoke before the FCT high court, Abuja, alleging that he collected a gratification of N300 million from Abubakar over the OPL 245 resolution.

Adoke was amongst others accused of conspiring with other defendants to commit the offence of public servant disobeying direction of law with intent to cause injury or to save a person from punishment or property from forfeiture.

However, Adoke denied all allegations, maintaining that the N300 million being classified as bribery by the EFCC was a mortgage he took from Unity Bank Plc in 2012.

He said it was transferred by the bank directly to the account of Abubakar, a property developer, and was refunded by Abubakar in 2013 when Adoke could not come up with his equity contributio




Two policemen have sustained bullet injuries, while seven family members have been abducted by bandits in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory.





Our correspondent gathered that a middle-aged man, simply identified as Alhaji, who led policemen to confront the kidnappers, was shot dead by the bandits.





Alhaji was said to be leading a team of police to the house when one of the bandits hiding in a corner shot him dead.





It was revealed that the police officers exchanged gunfire with the bandits, while two police officers sustained gunshot wounds during the face-off.





A resident of Bwari who spoke to our correspondent on the telephone on Friday said the incident happened in the early hours of Wednesday when the bandits invaded the Zuma 1 area in the Bwari central ward of the council.





He further revealed that the bandits positioned themselves at strategic places after identifying the victims home, adding that the victims upon suspecting strange sounds and movements in the vicinity, contacted to a relative identified as Alhaji (now deceased), who informed the police about the development.





The rise in bandit attacks in the nations capital city in recent times following several attacks on villages which have resulted in the abductions of many persons.





Residents also revealed that bandits in the early hours of Tuesday, invaded Barangoni, also in Bwari central ward, and abducted three persons, while injuring a vigilante member.





Speaking about the Wednesday incident, a resident said, It was when the owner of the house suspected strange sounds and movements around his house that he immediately called his brother, who is popularly known as Alhaji, to alert the police.





The bandits eventually succeeded in whisking away the man and his family members, making seven of them, and the distance from the victims house to where the police engaged the bandits is far, and two policemen were shot and sustained serious injuries.





The truth is that Bwari Area Council is under siege because for the past two weeks now, bandits have been moving from one community to another killing and abducting people. Unfortunately, his brother, Alhaji was shot dead during the shootout.





When contacted on Friday, the spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, SP Josephine Adeh, didnt respond to phone calls and text messages by our correspondent.
The National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, has explained how an undercover reporter, Umar Audu breached its system and got mobilised for the scheme after serving in 2019.

NYSC spokesman, Eddy Megwa explained that Audu used different phone numbers to beat the system.

Megwas explanation is coming after Umar detailed how he bagged a four-year degree within two months and later got mobilised for the NYSC scheme.

However, Megwa while appearing on Channels Tv, Sunrise Daily said NYSC was working to forestall such incident in the future.

According to Megwa: It is not that we dont have checks and balances in place to detect possible breaches of the system.

When the undercover reporter first put in his data, the system rejected him because he had served in the scheme before.

He later changed his email address and his phone number which made the system to accept him. And he was initially posted to Osun State.

He did that because he was out for a particular purpose. We are looking at the situation and ensure that it does not happen again.

We dont have a database of graduates to serve in the scheme.

We only rely on the lists sent to us by the senates of the various universities stating the number of graduates to expect from them.
Modinatu Aderemi, one of the wives of Olofa Ina, the late Nigerian actor, has revealed how he died.

Olofa Ina passed away on Thursday. He was 73 years old.

In an interview with BBC Yoruba, Modinatu said the actor had been battling an illness for a while and had received care at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital in Ile-Ife.

She said he spent three weeks in the hospital but died within 30 minutes of returning home.

We had been taken care of him, and he was at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital in Ile-Ife, she said.

We were told to bring him home from the hospital on Thursday evening. It was not more than 30 minutes after we got home that he died.

Modinatu, however, did not specify the exact cause of his death.

She described her late husband as a kind and compassionate person who had a remarkable ability to defuse any anger during disagreements.

If it was of his kindness and compassion alone, my husband should not have died, she added.

If we fight, he was the one who would take my anger away from me.

Olofa Ina retired into full-time theatre arts practice in 1980 and founded a theatre group named The Olofa Ina Theatre Group.

The group played a pioneering role in staging epical histories of Yoruba warlords from the 18th and 19th centuries.

The actor made significant contributions to various television productions, including Odetedo, Lakaaye, Kogun Maja, and Ade Oba.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has urged all aggrieved factions in the state to join hands with him and allow peace to prevail.

Fubara said lack of peace would bring about division in the state, hence the need for unity.

This is coming amid the rift between him and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike.

Represented by his deputy, Ngozi Odu, Fubara spoke at the Ogoni Day celebration at Bori Town in Khana Council yesterday.

He said: I, therefore, want to plead with everyone to put our hands together and allow peace to prevail across the state because without peace, there will be unnecessary division. We dont need that now.

We do not joke with all the councils in the senatorial district, in which Ogoni is a major block; therefore, bringing development here is a top priority of this administration.

You know that we have talked about electricity and security in Ogoni land and these are top priorities of the government.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has affirmed that the Ministry of Finance has released N50 billion to the FCT to finance ongoing capital projects.

The amount, according to the minister, is 50 per cent of FCTs N100 billion 2023 supplementary budget approved by the National Assembly.

Wike disclosed this after an inspection tour of some ongoing projects on Thursday.

The minister said that he has directed the permanent secretary to immediately make payments to contractors handling projects in the FCT.

I am happy to announce to you that the Ministry of Finance has released 50 per cent of the national supplementary budget. That, in a way, has given us hope that the contractors will be paid anytime from now on.

We have also gotten assent to the FCT Statutory Budget, which again has given us hope that no project will be left uncompleted as promised.

As you can see, these are quality projects, which we are very satisfied with. We believe that the arrangements made by the contractors will enable us to commission the projects to celebrate Mr Presidents one year in office, he said.
A former district manager for Dollar General stores in Cape May County has filed a lawsuit against the corporation, claiming her supervisor fired her because she incorrectly believed the woman was in the early stages of dementia.

Deborah Fittipaldi, 62, states in court papers she was let go on May 16, 2023, a month after Regional Director Michele Vellegas allegedly told a vendor that Fittipaldi was beginning to show signs of dementia.

The vendor allegedly told five Dollar General store managers about what Vellegas allegedly said and word got back to Fittipaldi, according to the suit, filed Dec. 21, 2023, in Superior Court of Cape May County.

Prior to this, (Fittipaldi) had informed Vellegas that her father and uncle had previously passed away due to Alzheimers, the suit says.

Dollar General did not respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit. A man who identified himself as Vellegass husband said Friday morning that she was not available to comment.

Fittipaldi was employed by Dollar General since 2005 and most recently worked out of the store on Indian Trail Road in Cape May Courthouse, according to the lawsuit.

The suit says Fittipaldi was out on medical leave from May to August 2022 due to an unspecified injury. When she returned, her stores were suffering from low sales and understaffing, according to the suit.

Vellegas allegedly told Fittipaldi that the stores she was responsible for were weighing down Dollar General, according to the suit.

Fittipaldi also claims that Vellegas excluded her and her employees from a February 2023 meeting on reducing shrink, or loss of inventory, at Dollar General stores. Three months later, Fittipaldi was terminated.

The lawsuit says Vellegas used the information about Fittipaldis family members having Alzheimers as a reason to fire her. The suit alleges perception of disability discrimination and retaliation, both violations of New Jersey law.

Fittipaldi is seeking reinstatement to her job along with lost wages, benefits and attorney fees.

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Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Ronnie Ortiz-Magro and Sammi Giancola in the teaser for upcoming episodes of "Jersey Shore Family Vacation."MTV
There seems to be no end to the flood of paper. A day after unsealing 40 documents related to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, a court on Thursday released another batch of 19 documents with hundreds of additional pages tied to a lawsuit filed in 2015 by one of the victims, Virginia Giuffre, against Epsteins lover and partner, Ghislaine Maxwell, which resulted in an out-of-court settlement. Unlike the first batch, which contained statements of some interest about Prince Andrew, Donald Trump, and Bill Clinton as well as incriminating statements against businessmen and politicians, the new documents are of less interest.

The nature of the filings range from court transcripts to emails, references to medical and psychological reports on Virginia Giuffre, depositions by secondary witnesses, proposals for additional witnesses and motions and briefs containing legal technicalities. The most interesting parts are probably the ones that have been redacted. There are several such documents that have concealed the names of several witnesses with ties to Epstein, who was found dead in August 2019 in his cell in a high-security Manhattan prison ahead of his trial for sex crimes against minors.

Unlike the first batch, in this case there is no exhaustive deposition by Epsteins victims. Among the emails there are numerous messages exchanged between the plaintiff and Sharon Churcher, a journalist for the British tabloid Sunday Mail who revealed the story of Giuffre and her relationship with Prince Andrew. A statement from the victim is also included in which she does not seem very convinced about the content of the published news.

There is also another email in which Giuffre claimed that she was afraid to discuss her case with Vanity Fair because shed heard that B.Clinton walked into VF and threatened them not to write sex-trafficing (sic) articles about his good friend J.E.

There are some repeat documents that were already known about, including one from another case in Florida. In it, two victims whose identity remains anonymous ask to join a lawsuit alleging that they have been forced to have sex with celebrities, politicians, presidents, a well-known prime minister and others. More details are given about Prince Andrew. According to the documents, one victim was forced to have sexual relations with the prince when she was a minor in three different geographical locations: London (in Ghislaine Maxwells apartment), New York, and on Epsteins private island in the Virgin Islands.

A schedule of the depositions has also been unsealed, as well as a list of a hundred proposed witnesses, similar to the one that was released in the first batch, where names that had already been revealed are repeated, but others are kept hidden; there are requests for medical reports; a deposition by an unidentified victim; a statement by a doctor, by an ex-boyfriend of the victim, and by a detective who was working on the case.

In general, the new batch adds little to what had already emerged from the wide-ranging pedophilia and sex abuse scandal involving Epstein.

Epstein was arrested in Palm Beach, Florida, in 2005 after being accused of paying a 14-year-old girl for sex. Dozens of other minors described similar sexual abuse, but prosecutors finally allowed the financier to plead guilty in 2008 to a charge involving a single victim. He served 13 months in a work release program.

Investigations by The Miami Herald renewed interest in the scandal, and federal prosecutors in New York charged Epstein in 2019 with sex trafficking. He took his own life in prison while awaiting trial. His partner, Ghislaine Maxwell, daughter of the media mogul and fraudster Robert Maxwell, was convicted of sex trafficking of minors and sentenced to 20 years in prison in June 2022. It was The Miami Herald that requested the release of these documents.
Authorities have identified the man shot and killed in Newark on Thursday night.

Sabree Gantt, 35, of Newark was gunned down on the 700 block of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard shortly before 6:30 p.m, the Essex County Prosecutors Office said Friday.

A second man also shot was taken to an area hospital. He is in stable condition.

The fatal shooting was the third in the city in two days.

On Wednesday, a person was shot and killed on the 100 block of Ridgewood Avenue shortly before 10 p.m. That person had not been publicly identified as of early Friday afternoon.

On Wednesday morning, an imam was shot outside the Masjid Muhammad Newark mosque at South Orange Avenue and Camden Street. Imam Hassan Sharif, 52, was gunned down around 6 a.m.

No arrests have been made in the shootings.

Anyone with information about the shootings is asked to call the prosecutors office tips line at 1-877-847-7432.
Funeral arrangements have been announced for the imam who was fatally shot outside of a Newark mosque as police continue their investigation.

The community will gather at 10 a.m. Saturday at the NIA Masjid & Community Center on Roseville Avenue in Newark to celebrate Hassan Sharifs life, according to Masjid Muhammad Newark, the mosque where he served as an imam.

Sharif will be buried at the Restland Memorial Park in East Hanover following the service, according to a post on the mosques Facebook page, encouraging the public to carpool and arrive early in anticipation of a large crowd.

Sharif, born Alonzo Kitchen, was outside the mosque around 6:15 a.m. Wednesday when he was shot multiple times by an unknown assailant. He was taken University Hospital in Newark, where he died Wednesday afternoon.

Newark police on Friday directed questions about the investigation to the Essex County Prosecutors Office, which did not immediately return a request for comment from NJ Advance Media.

Officials on Wednesday said they were following all possible leads but said no evidence surfaced at the time to suggest anti-Muslim bias was a motive in the attack.

New Jerseys chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations on Thursday offered a $10,000 reward for information that could lead to an arrest. Authorities separately announced a $25,000 reward.

Sharif was a lifelong resident of Newark, attending the citys public schools while devoting his life to Islam as a young adult. His family said he was married with two children.

Sharif worked at Newark Liberty International Airport as a security officer, and served Masjid Muhammad Newark for about five years.

Outside of his religious, family and work obligations, Sharif was a community activist, often seen protesting gun violence in Newark in an attempt to make the city safer.

Sharif posted to Facebook in August that he was attacked by a person armed with a gun, but law enforcement has declined to address the imams online statements.

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A verbal dispute turned violent when a Jersey City man was struck twice with a metal rod and robbed of $7, authorities said.

Jersey City police responded to Neptune Avenue, between Ocean Avenue and Old Bergen Road, at noon Wednesday and were told by the victim that he and another man, who he knows, got into an argument, city spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said.

At one point, the assailant struck the victims left hand and right shin with a metal rod and demanded the mans money, Wallace-Scalcione said. After taking $7 in cash, the assailant fled.
A corrections officer has been indicted on charges he accepted bribes from inmates to smuggle in contraband, including illegal drugs and tobacco products, the state Attorney Generals Office said Thursday.

Tyree L. Hobbs, 39, of Hamilton, was indicted on four second-degree charges last month  official misconduct, pattern of official misconduct, bribery and acceptance or receipt of an unlawful benefit by a public servant, authorities said. He has been suspended without pay from the Mercer County Department of Corrections since July 2022 and was charged by complaint in June 2023, officials said.

Hobbs started working at Mercer County Correctional Facility in Hopewell Township in February 2017, according to the criminal complaint. Authorities alleged in the document that he started the operation about 10 months later.

Hobbs acted as a courier, receiving sealed packages from people outside of the jail and smuggling them into locations within the facility that are accessible to inmates, according to investigators with the Attorney Generals Office of Public Integrity and Accountability. It is alleged that the inmates would then pick up the packages from those locations.

The investigation also found that he periodically accepted bribes from the involved inmates, which ranged from $300 to $2,500 per delivery, officials said.

Hobbs is accused of operating the scheme for four years and eight months, the Attorney Generals office said.

As alleged, the defendant put personal profit ahead of his duty to protect inmates, his fellow officers, and the public, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said. We will continue to hold accountable those who illegally violate the publics trust.

Officials described the drugs in the packages as illicit narcotics, but did not name any specific narcotics.

Hobbs attorney, Stuart J. Alterman of Alterman & Associates, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday evening.

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Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com.
Two men were sentenced to 60 years in prison each for the murder of two 18-year-olds in Trenton in 2020 following a gang-related dispute that began with a social media post.

A judge on Thursday ruled renton residents Treizon Thompson, 23, and Tyzir Hamilton, 22, will have to serve their full sentences and are not eligible for parole, the Mercer County Prosecutors Office said.

Both were sentenced to a pair of 30-year-sentences that will run consecutively.

Thompson and Hamilton were convicted of murder, conspiracy to commit murder and weapons offenses in separate trials.

The Aug. 9, 2020, killings were an execution committed by gang members who stalked the two victims after one of them allegedly disrespected a local gang in a social media post, authorities said.

William Irizarry and Julius Vargas were gunned down at about 7:30 a.m. on Centre Street in South Trenton. Police officers found Irizarry dead in the street and Vargas wounded inside a corner store. Vargas died at a city hospital.

Investigators found 24 bullet casings.

After Irizarry and Vargas were killed, members of Trentons H Block gang discussed the killings on social media  and specifically mentioned Irizarry disrespecting the gang in a prior online post, authorities said. Gang members also taunted and threatened Irizarry and Vargas family and friends.

Security cameras that captured the shooting showed a black car circling the area and then park, authorities said. The occupants watched the victims for several minutes as they stood on the corner with others, authorities said.

The car then pulled up to the corner and two gunmen wearing black ski masks emerged, authorities said. They ran toward Irizarry and Vargas while firing, authorities said. Irizarry ran into the street and the gunmen chased him while shooting.

When Irizarry falls to ground after suffering a gunshot wound, they both continue to shoot at him as he lays on the ground, the prosecutors office said following the shooting.

Detectives said Hamilton and Thompson were the gunmen, and another man, Darnell Davis, was the driver. The vehicle fled the area, but witnesses saw it and described it to police.

Davis, the alleged getaway driver, was also charged. The prosecutors office didnt immediately provide an update on his case Friday.

The black car he was allegedly driving was reported stolen in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, the week before the shooting, police said. Detectives later found that an automated license plate reader camera in the area of Pennington Avenue and Reservoir Street in Trenton captured an image of the vehicle there on Aug. 4.

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NJ Advance Media staff writer Kevin Shea contributed to this report.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the death of a man at a Middlesex County auto parts store.

The incident occurred around 5:31 a.m. on Dec. 28 at Fenix Parts Rahway in Woodbridge, when a 38-year-old worker was crushed by a loading ramp, said Robert Brady, the Woodbridge Police Departments chief law enforcement officer.

The man, who was not immediately identified, died as result of serious injuries.

Fenix Parts, the parent company of Fenix Parts Rahway, said Thursday it was investigating the circumstances of this accident.

OSHA confirmed it was investigating the incident. It has up to six months to complete its investigation, according to the U.S Department of Labor, Office of Public Affairs.

Fenix Parts Rahway does have a prior history with OSHA.

The auto parts store on Leesville Avenue in Rahway received three citations in March 2020 pertaining to lack of respiratory protection for workers, according to inspection records and the U.S Department of Labor.

The business was cited for failing to establish and implement a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures; not providing a medical evaluation to determine the employees ability to use a respirator, before the employee was fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace; and failing to provide training prior to requiring employees to use a respirator in the workplace.

These violations were labeled as serious. A serious violation exists when the workplace hazard could cause an accident or illness that would most likely result in death or serious physical harm, unless the employer did not know or could not have known of the violation, according to OSHAs website.

The initial penalty imposed was $7,711 but Fenix Parts Rahway contested the case, bringing the penalty down to $5,783, according to agency records. The penalty was paid and the case is closed.

Fenix Parts Rahway directed all inquiries to its parent company, Fenix Parts Inc.

Fenix extends its deepest sympathies to the family and friends who are mourning their loved one, read a company statement provided Thursday.

Safety is our highest priority, and we are investigating the circumstances of this accident. In order to respect the privacy of the family, the name of the deceased will not be released. Additionally, no further details will be forthcoming as the accident is under investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Fenix, the statement concluded.

Fenix Parts is a recycler and reseller of automotive parts based in Hurst, Texas, according to its website. The company has 22 locations in the United States.

There were 5,486 fatal work injuries recorded nationwide in 2022, up 5.7% from the previous year, according data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

There were 116 fatal work injuries in 2022 for New Jersey, up from the previous year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In New Jersey, transportation, exposure to harmful substances or environments, and falls, slips or trips accounted for the majority of workplace deaths.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

Jackie Roman may be reached at jroman@njadvancemedia.com.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is asking for the publics help in locating a New Jersey man that has been missing since 2019, and was last seen hiking in a remote area of Italy.

Liam Biran of Marlboro went missing in 2019 after visiting his grandparents in Israel and then traveling in Italy. He was 32 years old at the time of his disappearance.

Biran left for Israel on April 8, 2019, and had a returning flight scheduled from Paris on May 16, 2019. In between, Biran expected to travel through wine country in Italy before heading to France for his return to the United States.

According to authorities, Biran was not on the returning flight from Paris. An investigation by police in Italy found that his last known credit card purchase was for a train ticket to Turin, Italy. Investigators also discovered that Biran was in the Aosta Valley and had stayed in multiple hostels while becoming friendly with other travelers.

Immediate details on when Biran was last seen and when he last used his credit card were not immediately available Friday.

According to family, Biran enjoyed traveling and had aspirations of becoming a sommelier one day. He also maintained an online blog about his love of wine.

Biran has light brown hair and brown eyes, is 5-feet, 8-inches tall and approximately 160 pounds. He has a muscular build and a gap between his two front teeth.

Anyone with information about Biran or his disappearance should contact the FBIs Newark office at 973-792-3000 or submit a tip through the FBIs website.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.
The CEO of a Lyndhurst company that sold surveillance cameras to law enforcement agencies across New Jersey has been charged with sourcing the equipment from companies that were suspected of foreign intelligence gathering, and lying about it.

Tamer Zakhary, 49, of Toms River, was charged with three counts of wire fraud and making false statements, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellingers office announced Thursday.

Authorities alleged Zakhary sold $35 million worth of cameras and equipment manufactured by companies in China that were specifically banned by a defense law passed in 2018 because of concerns over foreign intelligence gathering. To his customers  which included prosecutors offices, sheriffs offices, police departments, and townships in New Jersey  he allegedly lied, saying the items were compliant with the law, the office said.

We are surprised and disappointed that the U.S. Attorneys Office has decided to file charges against Tamer Zakhary in relation to Section 889 of the (John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act), attorneys for Zakher said in a statement Thursday night. Todays charges do nothing to strengthen national security, and do not accomplish the McCain Acts intended goal of protecting U.S. infrastructure.

Authorities said from 2019 through 2022, Zakhary sold equipment to the agencies while misrepresenting that the equipment complied with section 889. The complaint states that one specific agency spent over $3.2 million on equipment from Zakharys company using federal and local funds.

According to the complaint, authorities also claim that Zakhary helped these agencies with applying for federal grants, including CARES Act money to be reimbursed for the purchases. In total, the office alleged $15 million of the $35 million Zakhary obtained through sales came from federal funds and grants.

The complaint against Zakhary doesnt list the agencies that bought equipment from his company, but it does state that the equipment came from one of the three companies listed as prohibited in the legislation: Hytera Communications Corporation, Hangzhou Kikvision Digital Technology Company and Dahuya Technology Company.

Prosecutors added in the complaint that one of the companies was partially state-owned and was based in the Binjiang District of Hangzhou, China.

Mr. Zakhary and his company have a 20-year record of supporting law enforcement in curtailing violent street crime and being a partner in improving the safety and security of our communities, Zakharys attorneys said Thursday night.

The companys cutting-edge technology is providing dozens of county and local law enforcement agencies throughout New Jersey the solutions they need to better serve their communities. They will continue to be law enforcements partner every step of the way and provide the best systems to keep communities safe.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Matt on X
A roundup of conversations we're having daily on the site. Subscribe to the Reckon Daily for stories centering marginalized communities and speaking to the under-covered issues of the moment.

The U.S. Department of Justice on Wednesday sued Texas and Gov. Greg Abbott to block what the agency is calling an unconstitutional immigration law that would make it legal for Texas state judges to deport foreign-born people to Mexico despite their nationality.

The Texas law, Senate Bill 4, violates the Constitutions supremacy and foreign commerce clauses, according to the lawsuit. Those clauses give the federal government authority to regulate immigration and manage international borders, superseding state authority. Signed December 2023 by Abbott, the law was expected to take effect on March 5.

SB 4 is clearly unconstitutional, said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta in a statement. States cannot adopt immigration laws that interfere with the framework enacted by Congress.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the United States, including the DOJ, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State.

If enacted, Texas law would create new state crimes, ranging from misdemeanor to felony, in an attempt to regulate immigration. These charges include: illegal entry from a foreign nation, illegal reentry by certain noncitizens and refusal to comply with an order to leave the country. Penalties for these offenses include a fine of up to $2,000 and imprisonment for up to 180 days.

Judges could also immediately deport arrested undocumented people in lieu of continuing the prosecution.

Domingo Garcia, president of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), agrees with the DOJs justification in suing Texas over SB 4.

Garcia was surprised Abbott seemed to overlook the supremacy clause, condemning the Texas Republican for spending taxpayers dollars on political stunts like this that will not solve the political problems and will not solve the humanitarian crisis on the border.

Federal penalties already exist for noncitizens who enter the country and the U.S. has measures in place to remove those without authorization. Officials cited precedent established in the Supreme Court case Arizona v. United States, which asserted in 2012 that the removal of noncitizens from the state was an issue of foreign relations and must be made with one voice.

SB 4 does not allow for defenses protecting refugees from removal, meaning that noncitizens eligible for federal relief would nonetheless still be deported due to Texas state law, prosecutors said.

The legislation also does not include exceptions for reentry into the country, potentially prohibiting noncitizens from entering even if they have permission from federal agencies like Homeland Security, officials said.

In this way, Texas is attempting to undertake its own removals without adhering to the removal scheme Congress devised, the complaint reads.

Prosecutors said SB 4 does not accommodate U.S. treaty obligations, such as the Convention Against Torture, which prohibits deporting noncitizens to a country where they will they will likely be harmed. The international agreement under the United Nations was signed in 1985 and protects against cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.

The complaint said forcing non-Mexican nationals to return to Mexico could damage diplomatic relations with the neighboring country and interfere with its sovereign right to determine who enters their territory.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has publicly denounced the Texas law. The Mexican government in November called the legislation an anti-immigrant measure that aims to stop the flow of migrants by criminalizing them.

In addition to the DOJ lawsuit, immigrant rights organizations have also sued Texas over SB 4, with advocates calling the law extreme.

LULAC calls for a reevaluation of Governor Abbotts actions, emphasizing the need to uphold the Constitution and work collaboratively to address the complex immigration issues, said Lydia Guzman, the LULAC national immigration chair, in a statement. We remain committed to protecting the rights of the Hispanic community and ensuring that justice prevails for all.
A Bulgarian national was arrested late last year after he was accused of assaulting an ICE deportation officer at a U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Elizabeth, investigators announced Thursday.

On Dec. 27, Vasil Petrov, 40, of Bulgaria was in custody of ICE officers at the facility, pending removal from the country, according to a release from the U.S. Attorneys Office.

While being processed for removal, Petrov, without provocation, allegedly punched the the officer in the chin, injuring him and leaving him with a laceration in that area that required stitches, the office said.

Petrov was charged with one count of assaulting a federal officer, authorities said.

He made his first appearance in Newark federal court Thursday and was detained, officials said.

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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
Former Yankees slugger Gary Sheffield is pointing fingers.

Reflecting on the 2004 ALCS, in which the Red Sox became the first  and only  MLB team in history to win a best-of-seven series after trailing 3-0, Sheffield blamed manager Joe Torre and his bullpen usage for the unfortunate playoff exit.

Joe Torre made a decision that always haunts us in that series, Sheffield said, via the Fair Territory podcast. He said that he wasnt going to pitch Mariano Rivera in Game 4.

And then he did.

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With the Yankees leading 4-3 and needing only six outs to sweep the Red Sox in the series, Torre went to Rivera, who immediately allowed a single to Manny Ramirez. He did retire the next three batters  David Ortiz, Jason Varitek and Trot Nixon  to bring New York within three outs of the sweep.

The following inning didnt work out as smoothly. Kevin Millar singled to lead off and was pinch-run by David Roberts, who immediately stole second base. Then Bill Mueller singled to center field allowing Roberts to score  game tied 4-4.

Three innings later, long after Rivera was pulled for Tom Gordon, Paul Quantril allowed a walk-off home run to Ortiz, surrendering Game 4 to the Red Sox.

And then the next day, the same thing happened. We had the lead five games in a row, Sheffield continued. I mean, you go back and look at it, we were winning five games in a row going into the eighth. And if youd asked me, if, if you play it out that way again, they would never come back and win that series.

We did what we were supposed to do offensively. But those those eighth and ninth innings is what caused us that series and I blamed Joe Torre for a long time. And then I finally let it go.

Years later, Sheffield Bostons miracle comeback was just a matter of luck. He points to a conversation he had with Millar, whos largely credited for keeping Red Sox players loose despite being down 3-0 in the series, to illustrate his point.

I remember going to first base and Millar was like, Man, yall gonna do is like this? Yall cant let us get one? who talks like that in the middle of a game? You know thats guys that (are) scared, Sheffield said. The bottom line is they got lucky.

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Manuel Gomez may be reached at mgomez@njadvancemedia.com.
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Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Occasional snow showers. Temps nearly steady in the mid 30s. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 80%..

Tonight

Cloudy with snow showers mainly during the evening. Low 26F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 50%.
In his final remarks as governor last week, John Bel Edwards noted, This beautiful melting pot of cultural gumbo that we are blessed to live in has never been better, as he leaves office. Given the uncertain future we face as a state, theres no denying Edwards leaves Louisiana better off than he found it.

Weighing Edwards successes and failures so soon after the end of his term is tricky business, but, in a number of areas, Edwards deserves his laurels.

When he took office in 2016, Louisianas books were in shambles thanks to Bobby Jindals relentless slash-and-burn policies as governor. Louisiana had a $2 billion deficit with nothing to show for it, reserve funds were largely depleted, and shortfalls hobbled the states ability to function.

During his eight years in office, Edwards turned that grim picture around, finishing with a $300 million budget surplus last year and leaving more than $3 billion in reserve funds. And he did it without massive budget cuts. In fact, he convinced a majority-GOP legislature to spend more in some areas, particularly education. Teachers finally saw pay raises (though more is needed to attract and retain quality educators), and the state once again invested in early childhood education.

On Edwards watch, the state passed sweeping criminal justice reforms and slashed the number of incarcerated persons. Those reforms have had a real impact on the lives of thousands of Louisianans, particularly Black men and women.

Edwards also led the state through the Covid-19 pandemic. Defying pundits predictions of the worst for Louisiana  New Orleans in particular  Edwards beat back repeated efforts by anti-vaccine conspiracy theorists to let Covid run wild.

He also saw the state through the 2020 and 2021 hurricane seasons, which devastated much of south Louisiana. Recovery continues throughout the region, but theres no scenario in which the Republicans Edwards bested in his two elections would have done nearly as good of a job.

On social issues, Edwards legacy is mixed. He repeatedly killed some of the worst measures Republicans pushed. While statehouses across the South passed increasingly anti-human rights legislation, Louisianas rightward tilt was much less severe. For instance, despite his opposition to abortion, Louisiana has yet to implement the most punitive laws passed by other anti-choice states  including attempts to block pregnant people from leaving the state to seek abortion care elsewhere.

Edwards also worked with Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin to defeat anti-voting rights measures, many of which easily passed in other states. He also fought anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ+ measures.

Sadly, one anti-trans measure became law last year, which highlights the biggest question about Edwards time as governor: For all his successes, how many of them will last beyond even this year?

Republicans are already taking aim at the bipartisan 2017 criminal justice reforms, and they will almost certainly look for places to cut spending on social services. Meanwhile, civil and human rights activists worry a tidal wave of draconian anti-LGBTQ, anti-women, anti-voting rights measures is on the horizon. Time will tell if Edwards tenure has a lasting impact on Louisiana, or if it was merely an extended respite from conservatives worst excesses.
When Charlotte says, I dont think you should worry in Agnes Borinskys The Trees, its a modern moment. Charlotte is flakey, and its not clear whether shes talking to her friend Sheila about her predicament or narrating a text message shes sending to someone else.

Borinskys new play debuted at Playwrights Horizons in New York last year, and despite its mass of unresolved modern etiquette about the digitized world, like appropriate Kickstarter pledge rewards or putting a relatives house on Airbnb, the show has a few old souls at its heart. New Orleans Intramural Theater presents the show at the Contemporary Arts Center on Jan. 11-22.

At the center of The Trees is the sibling odd couple of David and Sheila. Theyre both drunk when they cut through a park on their way home one night in suburban Connecticut. On a whim, they decide to stay in the park, with Sheila pointing out that she doesnt mean for the moment, or even overnight. Shes talking at least 10 years.

The absurd idea takes root, and as they settle in, their friends come by to help. The friends run an extension cord from a home so Sheila and David and others can charge their phones. People bring seltzer water and supplies. Davids boyfriend Jared comes by and says hes not interested in settling down. David and Sheila squabble about Davids communication skills and his habit of putting off difficult conversations. But both remain committed to their new life in the park.

Strangers come across the couple and become new friends. Soon a vendor is attracted to the small crowd and offers bags of chips and pretzels, and later adds sandwiches and more.

The siblings grandmother comes by and embraces their new life. Shes Polish and speaks in a mix of Polish and Yiddish.

But despite the flurries of activity and visitors, the siblings are remarkably unchanging. They remind each other of lifelong habits and the ways in which they remain the same despite everything thats happened since childhood. And theyre quintessentially siblings who know each other well, even when they dont communicate well. Surrounded by change, they seem to show how hard or slow change can be.

The oddity of the scene that grows around them in the park makes it onto the internet and goes viral, which draws more people. Some seek out David and Sheila out of simple curiosity and others are intrigued by possibly joining the community.

This play is very heartfelt and sweet, says director Bennett Kirschner, who founded Intramural Theater. Its a very modern play. Its trying to speak to the state of the world.

Theres also a flippancy to it. A city inspector arrives to see if they are violating park rules and inquires about the lack of restrooms.

Borinskys drama proceeds at a breakneck clip, as much of the chatter comes at the pace and ease of the drunken beginning. Many of the people onstage have smartphones and are often both present and involved online. But theyre all still trying to make connections.

Borinsky is a young playwright and novelist based in Los Angeles whose works include A Song of Songs and Ding Dong Its the Ocean.

This drama is the largest production yet for Intramural Theater, which typically focuses on new and company-devised works. The cast of 15 includes Rebeckah Gordon-Kirk as Sheila and Ian Hoch as David.

For tickets and information, visit intramuraltheater.org or cacno.org.
Last week in this space, I had some fun (I hope you did, too!) with our elected leaders by making some tongue-in-cheek predictions about the big political stories we might see in 2024. Now its time to get serious.

2024 looms large on the national political scene. In addition to a likely (and not universally welcome) rematch between Joe Biden and Donald Trump for the White House, control of the U.S. House and Senate will be up for grabs. The election results will factor bigly for House Speaker Mike Johnson of Benton and Majority Leader Steve Scalise; their influence will wane if Dems take back the House.

Neither of Louisianas U.S. senators will be on the November ballot, and we just concluded our statewide elections in November  but that doesnt mean we wont see some interesting elections.

This being Louisiana, we first have to tell the backstory.

Redistricting will be the first big political story of the year. U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick of Baton Rouge has ordered state lawmakers to create a second majority-Black congressional district, which will be neither easy nor fun for the majority-Republican Legislature.

To satisfy the judge  and to prevent her from drawing new districts herself  legislators and newly inaugurated Gov. Jeff Landry must sacrifice one GOP member of Congress. Many expect Rep. Garret Graves of Baton Rouge to be the odd man out because he endorsed one of Landrys opponents for governor. Well see.

Assuming somebody draws new districts, we could see some very interesting congressional elections in November.

Meanwhile, Landry and GOP lawmakers will likely devote considerable time and energy waging more culture wars by passing even stricter anti-LGBTQ+, anti-trans and anti-library and anti-whatever-else-they-can-find laws.

Meanwhile, Louisiana has a host of real problems to deal with. For instance, will lawmakers and new Insurance Commish Tim Temple find a way to lower property insurance rates? Temple sure hopes to give it his best. Well see how Landry and lawmakers respond.

Landry will be in the news all year simply because its his first year as governor, but he also has an ambitious agenda. He promised to do something about violent crime in Louisianas largest cities, particularly New Orleans. His special session on crime promises to include all sorts of solutions.

If rolling back the 2017 criminal justice reforms is among them, the long-term results could be costly  both financially and in terms of human lives. Landry also wants State Police to play a bigger role in keeping New Orleans safe, which French Quarter businesses and patrons would welcome if thats the result.

And, of course, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell will continue to make news. Two of the Crescent Citys hottest new parlor games are predicting which foreign country shell visit next and if  and when  the feds will officially put her in their crosshairs.

The first game is pure fun, the second is a snipe hunt. I make no predictions on either, despite what I wrote (in jest) last week.

Happy New Year  and this time I really mean it!
Gubernatorial candidate Stephen Waguespack speaks Aug. 2, 2023, during the West Baton Rouge Chamber's second annual Small Business Summit in Addis. Waguespack, who stepped down as the head of Louisiana's largest business organization to unsuccessfully run for governor, has been hired by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Members of the Central Sabine Fire Department work to recover more skeletal remains of an unidentified man in May 2021. Some of the remains were first discovered there in 1986. The body was later identified as Lester Rome, 58, a Grand Isle, who authorities say was murdered after he disappeared in Jan. 1984.
Students from schools across Devon and Somerset have had the opportunity to showcase their digital skills in a competition organised by a programme which aims to inspire young people to consider digital careers.

Raising Digital Engagement at KS3 is a Heart of the South West LEP funded scheme, managed by Devon County Council, which aims to help schools promote and raise digital career opportunities among pupils aged 11 to 14.

Schools that have signed up to the project were invited to take part in the programmes first competition  titled Marvellous Marketers.

Pupils were asked to create an eye-catching logo for the project that grabs the audiences attention, makes a strong first impression and is understood by the audience.

It was a tough competition, but a winner was chosen by a panel of judges: Lee Potter from Big Wave Marketing, who specialise in creating logos, Simone Marillier  Devon County Council Economic Development Officer for Raising Digital Engagement, and Debra Steel  Devon County Council Senior Economic Development Officer for External Programmes.

Samson Evans, aged 12, from Devonport High School for Boys, created a vibrant and eye-catching design which was awarded first place.

Samson said: I feel really happy about winning and Im glad I entered the competition; I feel like I developed my design skills a lot!

As competition winner, Samson won a 25 WHSmiths voucher and a 250 gift voucher for his school.

Two runners up were Adam Jedrzejczyk, from King Arthurs School in Wincanton, and Sebastian Miskiewicz, from Devonport High School for Boys.

Lee Potter, from Big Wave Marketing, said: I was honoured to serve as a judge for the Marvellous Marketers Competitions logo contest, tasked with reviewing the entries and selecting the winning Raising Digital Engagement logo. The winning design caught our attention with its vibrant colours, clarity, and distinctive style. Congratulations to the talented winner and all those that entered.

Councillor Rufus Gilbert, Cabinet Member for Economic Recovery and Skills, said: We would like to thank everyone who entered this competition. Some excellent, high-quality designs were submitted and congratulations to Samson on his winning logo, well done! The Raising Digital Engagement at KS3 programme is designed to demonstrate how the digital skills learnt in school translate to the world of work, and this sort of competition is a great way for pupils to develop their digital skills.

Karl Tucker, Chair of the Heart of the South West LEP, said: Inspiring the next generation and setting them up with the skills to succeed in todays digital age is vital. This competition, part of the Raising Digital Engagement at KS3 scheme, is a fantastic way for students to learn and showcase those skills. We were delighted to see their enthusiasm and creativity come to life.
The Beaver, Appledore, is set to host an evening of Latin American jazz, featuring the consummate talents of Cuban-born trumpeter Michel Padron and acclaimed pianist Jim Blomfield.

Renowned for their mastery of Afro Cuban and Salsa jazz, the quintet's performance at North Devon Jazz Club on Monday, January 22 promises an elevated experience for connoisseurs of fine music.

Michel Padron, a trumpeter of Cuban origin, has been an influential figure in the UK's music scene since 1998. As the leader and musical director of Asere, a Latin ensemble with collaborations boasting musical legends such as Billy Cobham and Cesaria Evora, Padron exemplifies expertise in Afro Cuban and Salsa jazz. Sharing the stage is Jim Blomfield, a pianist, composer, and arranger, celebrated for his versatility and chosen by some of the UK's foremost jazz artists as their preferred accompanist.

Completing the quintet are accomplished musicians, Jon Clark on drums, Jason Gaines on congas, and Roshan Tosh Wijetunge on bass. This dynamic ensemble ensures an evening of pulsating rhythms, artistic finesse, and the captivating allure of Latin jazz. Michel Padron and Jim Blomfield have earned acclaim as distinguished exponents of Afro Cuban and Salsa jazz styles within the UK.

Commencing at 8.30pm, the evening promises an immersive musical experience. While admission is free, a collection for the musicians will be conducted during the performance. For those desiring a complete experience, meal reservations are available by contacting The Beaver at 01237 474822.
Community Healthcare System hospitals were recognized for best practices with infant and maternal care.

The Indiana Hospital Association honored Community Hospital, St. Catherine Hospital and St. Mary Medical Center through its INspire Hospital of Distinction. The program aims to address Indiana's infant mortality rate, one of the highest in the country.

The program reflects best practices in areas like infant safe sleep, breastfeeding, tobacco prevention, tobacco cessation, perinatal substance use, obstetric hemorrhage, maternal hypertension and social determinants of health. About 95% of the birthing facilities in the state received honors.

Community Hospital in Munster and St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart earned the Hospital of Distinction Award. St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago received the Category of Excellence Award.

Our team at St. Mary Medical Center received the Category of Excellence award in the past, but this is our first time earning Hospital of Distinction, said Brittany Pankiewicz, the Family Birthing Center nurse manager. This recognition validates our commitment to improving mother and child wellness.

Community Hospital Director of Patient Care Services Carla Meyer said Community Healthcare Systems Family Birthing Centers strive to give babies a healthy start in life.

We are known across Northwest Indiana for delivering exceptional care to mothers and babies, Meyer said. By providing that high level of care, we are doing our part to support Indianas goal of reducing infant mortality.

St. Catherine Hospital Family Birthing Center Nurse Manager LaTina Ashana said the hospital followed best practices to ensure the health of mothers and babies.

The programs and educational initiatives we offer support our efforts to provide bright futures, she said.
CROWN POINT  A 54-year-old former travel nurse and convicted rapist "violated a position of trust" when he sexually assaulted a female patient at Methodist Hospital Northlake Campus in 2021, a Lake Criminal Court Judge said Friday.

"You violated a position of trust we give to our healthcare providers to take care of us, to take care of our loved ones," Judge Salvador Vasquez said to defendant Timothy J. Jackson. "You failed, in every way here. You failed her [the victim]."

Vasquez accepted Jackson's guilty plea to level three felony rape and sentenced him to seven years in the Indiana Department of Correction.

Deputy Prosecutor Tara Villarreal read a statement submitted by the victim in which the woman discusses the trauma of the rape. She said employees at Methodist Hospital did not believe her when she first reported what happened and she now has severe anxiety obtaining any medical care.

"It was his job to provide care and safety to patients," the statement read. "Instead, he abused me. There is no amount of jail time that would ever make me feel whole again."

Jackson was caring for the woman after she was in a car crash on Jan. 23, 2021. The woman suffered a broken leg, two broken arms, a fractured rib and a punctured lung. During her stay, she told police she yelled for Jackson because she needed pain medication.

"What are you going to do for it?" Jackson allegedly said to her. He unzipped his pants, forced oral and vaginal sex on the woman and then gave her the pain medicine. His DNA was found on internal and external genital swabs obtained from the victim after the rape. The case was investigated by the Gary Police Department.

Vasquez listened to the defense and prosecution argue what sentences they deemed appropriate based on the circumstances of the case. Defense attorney Angela Jones requested a 3-year sentence based on Jackson's lack of criminal history. She said he has sought extensive therapy since the incident and tried to better himself through volunteer work and religion. She also elicited testimony from Clarence Greer, a close friend of Jackson's, who told the court Jackson lived a law-abiding life up until the rape and believes he is a man of integrity who is deeply sorry for his actions. Other family members and friends submitted letters of support on Jackson's behalf.

"I've seen a broken man," Greer said. "It was an egregious mistake."

Jackson pleaded guilty in July to one count of rape. Prosecutors agreed to drop the other two counts in exchange for the plea. Villarreal said the plea already gives Jackson a benefit, as level three felonies carry a possible sentence of three to 16 years in prison with a 9-year advisory sentence. As part of the plea, all parties agreed the sentence would be capped at 7-and-a-half years. She requested he be issued the full sentence.

"Anything less would depreciate the seriousness of the crime," Villarreal said. "Jackson breached his fiduciary duty and his Hippocratic oath...a hospital is supposed to be a safe place to go."

Jackson said he takes full responsibility for his actions and hopes the victim can find room in her heart to forgive him.

"There are no words I can use to express how sorry I am for failing to care for [the victim]," he said.

PHOTOS: First Gary Common Council meeting of 2024 Gary Common Council reorganization meeting Gary Common Council reorganization meeting Gary Common Council reorganization meeting Gary Common Council reorganization meeting Gary Common Council reorganization meeting Gary Common Council reorganization meeting Gary Common Council reorganization meeting Gary Common Council reorganization meeting Gary Common Council reorganization meeting Gary Common Council reorganization meeting Gary Common Council reorganization meeting Gary Common Council reorganization meeting Gary Common Council reorganization meeting
The Gary School Board on Thursday approved the search firm that will lead the search for the district's next superintendent.

The board selected BWP & Associates, a firm based in Libertyville, Illinois.

Two consultants from the search firm were in attendance at Thursday's meeting to provide a projected timeline for the search.

According to the consultants, the search is estimated to last around 16 to 22 weeks, with the hope the board will make a decision on a candidate by April.

They also assured community feedback would be taken into consideration as part of the search.

The board first began the process of finding a search firm last September, as its main focus currently is to find a superintendent as the school district transitions back to local control.

Gary schools were taken over by the state back in 2017, and are currently under the oversight and operated by the Distressed Unit Appeals Board and MGT Consulting.

The five-member appointed school board's other main responsibility, for now, is advising emergency manager Mike Raisor until control of the district is handed over to the board, which is expected to happen in July.

Thursday's meeting was also the first for new school board member Glenn Johnson, who was appointed by Gary Mayor Eddie Melton on Tuesday. Johnson replaced Akilia McCain, who was selected by former Mayor Jerome Prince last June.

McCain was informed by Melton last week that she would be removed from the board on Dec. 31.

Board President Michael Suggs started the meeting by introducing the new board member.

Suggs also took time to acknowledge McCain's participation on the board, noting she was an "awesome" member and appreciated her support.

Chronic absenteeism is still up in schools across the US Chronic absenteeism is still up in schools across the US An improving situation, but not enough
Dear Sophia Kylie Morton, welcome to the human race.

As you will someday learn, you arrived at 9:21 a.m. on a cold but not frigid New Year's Day among the first 2024 babies born in Northwest Indiana.

Your proud parents were more than happy to announce your birth to a world already bursting with a population of 8.1 billion people, including 335,893,240 Americans, and now you. Every eight seconds after you were born another baby followed you, including Kallan Casillas, who was born Jan. 2 at 3:36 p.m.

Will all of you march to the beat of your own drum? Will you be a happy child, a good student, a hard worker, a strong parent, or a loving grandparent? Will you struggle with the many frailties of being a human? No one knows. At this point of your life everything looks so hopeful to your families, as it should.

Sophia, you were born to Omni Shedrich and Christopher Morton, of Hammond. You weighed only six pounds, 10 ounces. Kallan, you were born to Madison and Kyler Casillas, of Westville. You didnt weigh much more, just six pounds, 13 ounces.

Both of you were born at a Franciscan Health Family Birth Center, in Dyer and Michigan City respectively, then sent home with a gift basket containing items to help your parents during their first weeks with you. Parents need all the help they can get. Raising kids is the most challenging job on the planet. Someday you may find out for yourself.

In the meantime, will your life be easier than todays adults, as it has for nearly every new generation for eons? Or will our mistakes boomerang back to you and your high school graduating class of 2042, whether it involves our threatened environment, spiraling economy, or addiction to war, conflict and politics.

By the time youre allowed to vote, our current president, Joe Biden, and former president, Donald Trump, will likely be dead. Their names will be nothing more than vaguely familiar words in a dusty history book. I wonder who will be our nations president when youre adults. Im hopeful that whoever it is will be less divisive than our current leaders. And younger, too.

This is where all of the 2024 babies will come into the picture. Today you are helpless, innocent and adorable little humans carrying the hope of our future in your tiny hands. But in no time you will be dealing with a world of problems dumped onto your laps from previous generations of strangers.

This column is an informal introduction and a formal apology. Were sorry for not taking care of the planet as best as we could. Were sorry for all the messes were leaving you. And were sorry for not evolving at a faster rate to overcome our animalistic tendencies.

When given the immeasurable gift of freedom to act, speak and think as we please in this country, we tend to settle for imitating each other like monkeys on a tree while mocking others who dont imitate us. Maybe your experiences will be different as you reach the years 2050, 2075 and 2100.

Experts say your generation can expect as much progress in the next 25 years as the world has seen in the past 150 years. I cant imagine what your life will be like when youre my age or when you hit the average life expectancy in this country, roughly 77 years old.

By then, the average life expectancy may be 87, giving you an extra decade to make your mark in the world. The question is, what will your world look like?

Will you witness a cure for cancer, or ALS or loneliness? Will your government leaders find renewable energy options to curb the destruction of our planet? Will such things as quantum computing, high-tech wearables and artificial intelligence be the norm? Will virtual reality become your new reality?

I wonder what devices or gadgets or microchips will be taken for granted in your lifetime. I would love to travel back in time to show people a smartphone from today. Its filled with modern magic that we now take for granted.

During my childhood, our generation imagined the world would be dramatically different by the futuristic year of 2024. But progress, like our species, marches slowly. Historically, humankinds predictions of the future have been ridiculously misguided. We think too linear for such complex, exponential possibilities.

But babies born this year and beyond will casually witness technological advances that would stun your ancestors. Even your own grandparents. You will see things they never dreamed of.

This is the true beauty of being born in 2024. Time is on your side. The future is your friend. You already inherited a pot of gold, though you wont realize it until you get older and spend it through years of living. Imagine that.

Never mind, you wont have to imagine it. Youll live it, we hope.

Happy birth day, Sophia and Kallan. And also to the other estimated 1.4 million babies born since New Years Day.

Were not only counting you. Were counting on you.

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A U.S. drone strike in Baghdad today killed the leader of a militant group linked to Iran that is part of Iraqs security apparatus.

The Pentagon described the strike on a commander of the Harakat al-Nujaba group as necessary and proportionate, and said that no civilians were harmed.

The U.S. has recently taken several retaliatory actions against Iran-backed groups in Iraq that have repeatedly attacked American bases. But until now they had largely avoided the dense capital city. The Iraqi government called the attack a flagrant violation of the sovereignty and security of Iraq and no different from a terrorist act.

The strike comes after a series of attacks that have threatened to bring the Middle East  and the U.S.  closer to the brink of a regional war, which the Biden administration has tried to stave off since Hamass deadly attacks in Israel on Oct. 7. The Islamic State today claimed responsibility for a bombing that killed 84 people yesterday in Iran. The U.S. and 12 of its allies have also issued a warning to another militia group in the region, the Houthis of Yemen, who have been mounting near-daily attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
The owner of a technology company duped public safety and law enforcement agencies in New Jersey into spending at least $35 million, including $15 million in Covid-19 relief and other federal funding, on banned Chinese surveillance and security equipment, according to a complaint unveiled this week.

According to the complaint, the companys owner and chief executive, Tamer Zakhary, fraudulently misrepresented the equipment he was selling, like automatic license plate readers and surveillance cameras, telling New Jersey agencies that the products complied with U.S. regulations. Mr. Zakhary, 49, was charged with wire fraud and with giving false statements to federal agents.

Mr. Zakharys scheme began in about August 2019 and lasted through December 2022, according to prosecutors. Throughout that time, he sold equipment to police departments, sheriffs offices, prosecutors offices and townships through his New Jersey company, listed online as Packetalk.

In one instance, Mr. Zakhary emailed a manufacturer  whose technology the Federal Communications Commission had banned from being imported, sold or operated in the United States  to ask that it produce cameras with a different color and logo to hide the makers identity, according to the complaint. That exchange, federal prosecutors said, showed that Mr. Zakhary knew he was purchasing banned technology and was attempting to conceal that fact.
All Wall Street wants is a good hypocrite  someone who can convince the Republican base that he or she shares its extremism, but whose real priority is to enrich the 1 percent. Is that too much to ask?

Apparently, yes.

If youre not a politics groupie, you may find the drama surrounding Nikki Haley, the former governor of South Carolina, puzzling. Until recently, few would have considered her a significant contender for the Republican presidential nomination  indeed, she arguably still isnt. But toward the end of last year, she suddenly attracted a lot of support from the big money. Among those endorsing her were Jamie Dimon, the head of JPMorgan Chase, a new business-oriented super PAC called Independents Moving the Needle and the Koch political network.

If this scramble sounds desperate, thats because it is. And it looks even more desperate after Haleys recent Civil War misadventures  first failing to name slavery as a reason the war happened, then clumsily trying to walk back her omission.

But there is a logic behind this drama. What were witnessing are the death throes of a political strategy that served Americas plutocrats well for several decades but stopped working during the Obama years.
Fi Cotter Craig, a television producer in Britain, was scrolling through Instagram one day when she was struck by a photo. I saw my friend wearing a jacket that I actually thought I would kill her for, Ms. Cotter Craig said. Rather than kill her, I rang her up and said, Where did you get that jacket?

Chloe Speed, who lives in Amsterdam and works in marketing for Nike, envied her husbands new blue chore coat and poached it for herself. The color was so iconic and beautiful, Ms. Speed said. Every time you wear it, it gets a little softer in places and fits better.

Ethan Cannon, a divinity student in St. Louis, was pulling into a restaurant parking lot one rainy night when he was stopped by the attendant. Hes standing in the rain, holding up traffic, Mr. Cannon recalled. First thing he said was, Where did you get that jacket?

The maker of all three coats is Paynter Jacket Co., a small British label run by Becky Okell and Huw Thomas, a married couple who take an unusual approach to their business.
As the yearslong process to put Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill continues, Americans can now buy coins bearing her portrait.

The U.S. Mint announced on Wednesday that three new commemorative Tubman coins were available for preorder starting Thursday and would begin shipping in February.

The new coins  a gold $5, a silver dollar and a half dollar  celebrate the bicentennial of the abolitionists birthday.

President Biden signed legislation to create the coins in August 2022. It was introduced by Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Democrat of New York, during Black History Month in February 2020.
A political action committee controlled by Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida donated tens of thousands of dollars to Iowa legislators who have endorsed his candidacy for president, according to state campaign finance records.

The group, called Great American Comeback, gave a total of $92,500 to 14 legislators between October and December  all of whom had earlier endorsed Mr. DeSantis, the records show. That figure includes $15,000 each to two of Mr. DeSantiss most prominent legislative endorsers, Amy Sinclair, the Iowa State Senate president, and Matt Windschitl, the Iowa House majority leader.

Groups like Great American Comeback  known as leadership committees  are frequently used by candidates to support their allies.

Never Back Down, a super PAC supporting Mr. DeSantis, has also hosted fund-raisers for Iowa legislators who endorsed him.
A Proud Boy from Florida who went on the lam after being convicted of using pepper spray on police officers during the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, was sentenced on Thursday to 10 years in prison.

The Proud Boy, Christopher Worrell, was found guilty at a bench trial in Federal District Court in Washington in May on charges of assault, civil disorder and the obstruction of an official proceeding for his role in the Capitol attack. Prosecutors said that Mr. Worrell, 52, arrived in Washington on Jan. 6 ready for battle and wearing body armor, and with other members of the far-right organization played a pivotal role in collapsing the police line on the west front, leading to the first breach of the Capitol building.

The Proud Boys, who have long been some of former President Donald J. Trumps most vocal and violent supporters, were at the forefront of the violence on Jan. 6, pushing through barricades and encouraging others in the mob to attack the police and storm the Capitol, where lawmakers had gathered to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Dozens of members of the group were investigated by the F.B.I., and many either pleaded guilty or were brought to trial in Washington. Four of them, including the Proud Boys former chairman, Enrique Tarrio, were convicted last spring on charges of seditious conspiracy.
Some Verizon customers may be entitled to claim part of a $100 million proposed settlement that the wireless carrier agreed to pay to resolve a class-action lawsuit, according to a claims website set up by a settlement administrator.

The lawsuit, filed in Superior Court of New Jersey, argued that Verizons administrative fees were unfair and not adequately disclosed to customers. The court in New Brunswick, N.J., approved the settlement on Dec. 15.

Court-appointed lawyers for the plaintiffs sent advisories by email and postcards, which were mailed to customers on Wednesday to customers eligible to file a claim.

Stephen DeNittis, a lawyer representing the plaintiffs, said in an interview that the $100 million settlement was among the largest against a company for charging administrative fees.
Five hundred passengers were evacuated on Friday morning after a train collision near the Indonesian city of Bandung killed four crew members and injured 37 people, officials said.

The two trains collided just after dawn in Rancaekek District, east of the city on the island of Java. Footage from the scene showed mangled train carriages, including some that had gone off the rails and into an adjacent rice field.

One train was a local commuter line, and the other was a long-distance passenger route heading west to Bandung from the city of Surabaya. Bandung is around 100 miles by road southeast of Jakarta, the capital.
The border between Israel and Lebanon has become a landscape of abandoned towns and neglected farms as escalating tensions and tit-for-tat strikes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants have displaced more than 150,000 people in both countries.

Prospects for an end to the cross-border hostilities have grown only dimmer since the assassination on Tuesday of a senior Hamas leader in a suburb of Beirut, the Lebanese capital, fed growing fears of a wider war. The strike has been widely ascribed to Israel.

In northern Israel, near the border with Lebanon, military orders to evacuate have kept people from their homes for nearly three months amid daily missile and rocket attacks by Hezbollah and other armed factions in Lebanon. The prolonged dislocation and economic fallout have increased pressure on the Israeli government to put an end to the attacks.
The film and television actor Christian Oliver, his two children and a pilot were killed on Thursday when the small plane they were traveling in crashed during a flight to the Caribbean island of St. Lucia, the police said.

Mr. Oliver, 51, who appeared in The Good German, Speed Racer and the TV series Saved by The Bell: The New Class, and his daughters were the only passengers in the single engine plane traveling from Bequia, an island of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, when it crashed into the sea at midday, the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force said in a statement on Thursday.

In addition to Mr. Oliver and his daughters, Annik Klepser, 10, and Madita Klepser, 12, the pilot, Robert Sachs, was also killed, the police said. Fishermen and divers recovered the bodies and turned them over to the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Coast Guard, the police said in a statement on Friday.

The aircraft experienced difficulties and plummeted into the ocean shortly after taking off from J.F. Mitchell Airport in Bequia, the police said. There was no further information about the cause of the crash, which is under investigation, they said.
A founding member of the experimental 1990s rock band Mr. Bungle, Theobald Lengyel, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with murder, after the police in Capitola, Calif., found human remains that they believed were his girlfriends in a wooded area of a regional park.

Mr. Lengyels girlfriend, Alice Kamakaokalani Herrmann, 61, who was known as Alyx, was last seen in Santa Cruz, Calif., on Dec. 3, according to the El Cerrito Police Department. After not hearing from her for more than a week, her family reported her missing on Dec. 12, the police said.

Ms. Herrmann had lived in Capitola, a small seaside town in Santa Cruz County. The police said in a statement that during their investigation they found her car, a red Toyota Highlander SUV, at Mr. Lengyels house in El Cerrito, about an hour and 40 minutes by car from Capitola. Investigators found remains, which are still being identified, in Tilden Regional Park in Berkeley, the police said.

Image Mr. Lengyels girlfriend, Alice Kamakaokalani Herrmann, had been missing since early December. Credit... El Cerrito Police Department

As the investigation progressed, it became clear that foul play was involved, the Capitola Police Department said in a statement, leading to the identification of Theobald Lengyel as a suspect.
Season 1, Episode 9: Young Hearts

Its amazing what a reality television edit can do. Throughout The Curse, weve been exposed to what Asher and Whitney look like acting for the cameras, but we have rarely seen what they are like when they are actually on camera, once theyve gotten the glossy treatment that the Property Brothers and other hosts have before them.

The truth is: Whitney might seem painfully fake in her daily interactions, but she performs very well. Shes a natural, and watching a cut of the newly retitled Green Queen, its easy to understand why the network is so high on her. All of that falsity fades away under the bright lights, which crave that sort of manicured behavior. She fits into her role perfectly.

This weeks episode, is revelatory with regards to Whitney on multiple levels, and its also a tour de force for Emma Stone, an actress whose natural understanding of the camera and what it can do allows her to play all the facets of this complicated, troubled character. The episode leaves no doubt about just how wrong she and Asher are for each other. But before then, a series of smaller Whitney-related events peel back layers of her carefully constructed persona.

Why did Whitney marry Asher? The question has plagued this series. Their relationship is so lacking in any affection that doesnt feel forced, you have to rack your brain to imagine a time when they were truly in love. Here, we get clarity on some of her potential reasoning. Ashers infatuation with Whitney provided her with an escape hatch. She could take his name to get away from her old life as a lackey for her parents. After learning that a relative of one of the shows drivers was evicted from a building run by her parents, she Googles herself under her old name, Whitney Rhodes. Theres a photo of her smiling at the opening of the complex, complicit in all of their misdeeds.
There were times, a year ago, in Iceland, on a glacier, in the dark, in temperatures well below freezing, when Issa Lopez thought to herself: Who wrote this? What is wrong with this person? Lopez, the showrunner and director of Season 4 of the HBO anthology series True Detective, had only herself to blame.

This shivery True Detective, subtitled Night Country, premieres on Jan. 14. Set in Ennis, a fictional town in northwest Alaska, it stars Jodie Foster as the chief of police and Kali Reis as an intimidating state trooper. Opening just as the area descends into months of unrelieved darkness, the six-episode season has an icy milieu and a female gaze forcefully distinct from the shows past outings.

Created by Nic Pizzolatto, True Detective debuted nearly a decade ago as a bayou noir starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson. Sultry, macho and spanning two timelines set 17 years apart, it entwined a familiar serial killer investigation with sweaty philosophy and intimations of the supernatural. Though that first season had its critics, it made for essential, much debated viewing. The second season, set in an unglamorous Southern California exurb and starring Colin Farrell, Taylor Kitsch, Rachel McAdams and Vince Vaughn, made a smaller, grimmer splash, as did the third season, which starred Mahershala Ali and Stephen Dorff and relocated the action to the Ozarks.
The war in Ukraine has again entered a new phase. With neither side believing that it can make significant territorial gains, the action has expanded beyond the front lines.

Over the past week, Russia has bombed Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, and other cities far from the front. The aim is not to gain territory, but to destroy infrastructure and wear down Ukrainians by making their lives harder. By doing so, Russia hopes to undermine the impressive national unity that Ukraine has maintained over the past two years.

Ukraine responded with missile attacks on the Russian city of Belgorod. Ukraine has also intensified its use of guerrilla tactics over the past few months. It blew up a train in Russia, used sea drones to attack Russias navy in the Black Sea and destroyed infrastructure in the Russian-controlled peninsula of Crimea. Ukraine is trying to demonstrate that it can still make progress, even as it has struggled to retake territory in the largely Russian-controlled Donbas.
Attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea by the Houthi rebels in Yemen have left oil tanker operators facing an unwelcome calculation: accept the risks of steaming through the danger zone, or lose business.

The risks of conflict in the area may even be increasing, with a coalition of 12 nations led by the United States warning Wednesday that it would hold malign actors accountable for unlawful seizures and attacks.

Despite the attacks and the risk of more, some oil companies insist that the ships they charter take this route rather than an excursion around Africa, which could require an extra two weeks at higher costs. Tanker owners can take it or leave it, said Henry Curra, head of global research at Braemar, a ship brokering firm in London.

The oil markets have largely shrugged off the drone and missile attacks so far. Traders figure that there is enough petroleum on hand around the world to deal with any supply problems.
More than two years into a campaign that has unionized more than 350 Starbucks stores, the company is facing mounting pressure from union officials and activists who say it has illegally retaliated against workers and resisted contract negotiations.

Starbucks, which denies violating labor laws, has responded with mixed signals about its willingness to engage with the union. The company announced early last month that it was seeking to restart negotiations at unionized stores, only one of which has held bargaining sessions over the past six months. Yet the company continues to resist a union demand that some workers be allowed to take part in bargaining sessions remotely to enable more to participate.

Starbucks has taken steps to address workers complaints about being overstretched in stores. But it and the union have sued each other in a dispute arising from social media postings about the war in Gaza.

A report on Starbucks labor practices, prompted by a shareholder vote and released last month, criticized the company for falling short on commitments it made to respect union activity, though it found no evidence of an anti-union playbook.
The restart of government student loan repayments was plagued by late bills, incorrect billing statements and long waits for customer service, according to a government watchdog report released on Friday.

In October, as tens of millions of borrowers received their first federal student loan bills in more than three years after a pause during the pandemic, the Education Departments four loan servicers struggled to resume repayments. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau found that borrowers trying to reach their loan servicer by phone typically faced a 73-minute wait in late October to speak to a representative, and at least one borrower waited more than nine hours to connect. As hold times peaked, half of callers gave up and disconnected.

The bureau also found that servicers are behind in processing applications for SAVE, a new income-driven payment plan introduced by the Biden administration with far more favorable terms than prior plans. Servicers had 1.25 million pending applications at the end of October, more than 450,000 of which had been lingering for at least a month.

Also on Friday, in coordination with the consumer bureaus report, the Education Department penalized three of its four loan servicers, saying that they had failed to meet their contractual obligations to send borrowers timely bills. More than 750,000 borrowers received late bills because of the errors, the department said.
The Chinese government announced on Friday that Tesla would recall practically all of the cars it has sold in the country to adjust their assisted-driving systems, less than a month after a similar recall in the United States.

To address the problems, Tesla will transmit updated computer software to its 1.6 million cars in China, the State Administration for Market Regulation said.

The updated software involves adding additional automatic assisted steering control, the regulator said. It also said that Tesla would remind customers to pay attention to their driving and follow all regulations even if they use the so-called Autopilot capabilities.

Three weeks ago the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in Washington ordered a recall to make sure that drivers will remain attentive while using Autopilot.
Azerbaijans minister of ecology and natural resources, who occupies a relatively obscure position in the countrys authoritarian government, was appointed president of the annual United Nations-sponsored climate summit that will be held in the country in November. The announcement thrusts him into a role defined by the intense pressure of brokering negotiations on one of the most complex crises to ever face humanity.

Before his ministerial appointment, Mukhtar Babayev, 56, worked for more than a quarter century at Socar, Azerbaijans state oil company. Last years climate summit, which was held in the United Arab Emirates, was presided over by Sultan Al Jaber, who also leads the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company.

Mr. Al Jabers appointment was roundly criticized by climate activists. However, after the summit concluded in late 2023, many acknowledged that his ability to corral fossil-fuel-producing countries like his own helped yield an agreement that, for the first time in the three-decade history of the talks, saw countries pledge to transition away from fossil fuels by midcentury while aiming to triple renewable-energy capacity by 2030.

Mr. Babayevs oil-industry role at Socar was much more modest than Mr. Al Jabers and was nominally climate-oriented: He most recently was the companys vice president for ecology, where he was in charge of efforts to limit Socars environmental impact.
The Boston chef Barbara Lynch, who more than 20 employees accused of multiple forms of workplace abuse in a New York Times report last year, announced Friday that most of her restaurants had closed at the end of 2023.

Those include her fine-dining restaurant Menton, one of the citys most prestigious destinations since it opened in 2010, and two others in the same building in the Fort Point neighborhood: the stylish trattoria Sportello and sophisticated cocktail bar Drink. The Butcher Shop and Stir, both in the South End, have also closed.

No. 9 Park, the Beacon Hill institution that her empire was built on, will remain in business, as will the seafood bar B&G Oysters and Ms. Lynchs newest project, the Rudder, a seasonal restaurant on the waterfront in nearby Gloucester, which opened in June after two years of delays.

About 100 employees have lost their jobs, according to a statement from the company, Barbara Lynch Collective. In a Zoom call on Friday, the companys new chief operating officer, Lorraine Tomlinson-Hall, who was hired after the Times report was published, called the remaining restaurants stellar and noted hopes for expansion on the North Shore, where Ms. Lynch lives.
It doesnt matter if you are at a hotel, restaurant, market, street-food stand or the home of a local in Yucatan, Mexico  if salsa de mesa, or table salsa, is not there when you sit down, you can count the minutes until someone quickly mashes some together or opens the refrigerator to pour some into a bowl.

In Yucatan, people drizzle it over, spoon it onto and dip into it everything except dessert. It is so ubiquitous that, like table salt, it needs no other descriptor. But everyone knows what it is made of: the small but mighty habanero chile, roasted and mashed with just enough sour orange juice and a pinch of salt to make it salsa-ble.
In June 2021, Shoshana Beth Heerter was swiping so perfunctorily on Tinder that she inadvertently swiped left on Rahul Kishore Bogas profile. Immediately, it was as if somehow she sensed she made a mistake.

She then paid to upgrade her account so that she could see Mr. Bogas profile on her screen again.

Best $5 Ive ever spent, she said.

Ms. Heerter, 33, was living in Salem, Mass., when she first connected with Mr. Boga, 31, who had left his native India in 2019 to live and work abroad, and ended up in Boston.

Ms. Heerter had learned to video chat with prospective suitors early on, so she could decide if meeting in person, is worth my time and effort, she said.
People taking the wildly popular drugs Ozempic, to treat diabetes, and Wegovy, to combat obesity, are slightly less likely to have suicidal thoughts than people who are not taking them, researchers reported on Friday.

Millions of people take Ozempic and Wegovy, which are considered to be among the biggest blockbusters in medical history. But last year a European drug safety agency said it was investigating whether the drugs cause suicidal thoughts. The new study, published in the journal Nature Medicine, was funded by the National Institutes of Health and used a huge population. The findings provide data that may potentially reassure people who take the drugs.

Novo Nordisk, maker of the drugs, had no role in the study, and the studys investigators had no conflicts of interest.

The investigators used anonymized electronic health records from a database of 100.8 million people. That allowed them to look at two groups: 240,618 who were prescribed Wegovy or other weight loss drugs, and 1,589,855 who were prescribed Ozempic or other medicines to lower their blood sugar. Suicidal thoughts were included in patients records as part of routine monitoring of their health.
Good Grief might have made an alternate name for Schitts Creek, the multi-Emmy-winning comedy Daniel Levy created and starred in with his father, Eugene. But unlike that series, which mined comedy from the dynamics of a family in financial crisis, Levys latest project, a drama, explores how loss affects a close-knit group of friends who are in their late 30s.

The film, streaming on Netflix, is the younger Levys directorial debut (he also wrote the film, starred in it and was a producer). Set in London, it follows Levys character as he travels to Paris with his best friends (Ruth Negga and Himesh Patel) after the recent deaths of his mother and husband (Luke Evans). Good Grief is the first release in a deal he signed with Netflix.

On a video call last month, Levy, 40, traced the films inception to the death of his grandmother during the pandemic, a period that overwhelmed him with its collective grief.

I hadnt experienced a lot of loss in my life, he said. My grandfather had passed away around 10 years prior, but, experiencing grief as an adult, I found myself very confused about what I was feeling. My biggest fear was that somehow I wasnt doing it properly. That confusion forced me to start writing down my feelings, and I realized that there was an interesting story in the exploration of trying to figure out what grief means.
The New York attorney general on Friday asked the judge who had overseen the civil fraud trial of Donald J. Trump to penalize the former president about $370 million, saying the trial had demonstrated that he had gained that amount through unlawful conduct.

The sum was well over the $250 million that the attorney general, Letitia James, had estimated in the fall of 2022, when she sued Mr. Trump, accusing him of inflating his net worth to obtain favorable treatment from banks and insurers.

The trial began in October and proceedings ended last month, but Mr. Trumps fate is not yet settled. The attorney generals penalty request came in a post-trial brief filed on Friday. Mr. Trumps lawyers, in one of their own filings, wrote that the attorney general has woefully failed to prove her case and is not entitled to any of the relief, including any financial penalty.

In a statement, a lawyer for Mr. Trump, Christopher M. Kise, called the amount unconscionable, unsupported by the evidence, untethered from reality and unconstitutionally excessive.
A collision between two subway trains in Manhattan on Thursday occurred when a train carrying about 300 passengers was driven into the path of an out-of-service train because of confusion over which vehicle had the right of way, according to three transit officials with knowledge of the investigation into the crash.

The collision, which injured 26 people, caused both trains to derail, and continued to interrupt service on some of the busiest transit lines in the city a day later.

Human error appeared to have caused the collision, said the officials, who requested anonymity because they were discussing an active investigation.

It was not immediately clear who was at fault. The officials said an error was made by the crew on the out-of-service train; the leader of one transit workers union suggested that the crash was caused by a supervisor.
Growing up, my parents drove my brothers and me around in lumbering Fords and ungainly Oldsmobiles until one fateful day in the summer of 1980, when my dad showed up in a brand-new, all-beige VW Rabbit. It was a completely foreign thing, something from the future, a compact  perish the thought  German automobile. Buying a European car was now OK, my dad made a point of telling us, because this one was made in the U.S.A.

I inherited my fathers made in the U.S.A. credo, obsessively hunting for labels, flipping over plates and chairs and turning clothes inside out to find a country of origin. Which is how, over the ensuing decades, I became exquisitely aware that much of the stuff I bought was no longer made in the U.S.A. Everything from my Gap sweatshirts in the 90s to my clunky desktop in the early aughts and eventually to my refrigerator and dishwasher was made elsewhere.

What happened to manufacturing in America and the environmental and economic consequences of offshoring  companies sending their manufacturing abroad  is a story we think we know. The demise of American production seems inevitable, the result of the rise of globalization and free trade. But now we are learning that the precipitous decline was the result of a steady, concerted, decades-long effort among power brokers to wrest the economy from a worker-dependent model to one in which skilled workers are expendable. Corporate executives sold free trade to policymakers as a way to lower consumer pricing, but the human and political costs of offshoring were high.

By 2020, bringing back manufacturing to America seemed pointless, like investing in rotary phones. But when Covid shut down the country in March of that year, Americans were confronted by empty supermarket shelves. Later, the larger, more chronic impact of the pandemic was deeply felt in industries that relied on expansive, complex international supply chains.
Two far-right members of Israels cabinet  the national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, and the finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich  caused an international uproar this week with their calls to depopulate Gaza. If in Gaza there will be 100,000 or 200,000 Arabs and not two million the entire conversation on the day after will look different, said Smotrich, who called for most Gazan civilians to be resettled in other countries. The war, said Ben-Gvir, presents an opportunity to concentrate on encouraging the migration of the residents of Gaza, facilitating Israeli settlement in the region.

The Biden administration has joined countries all over the world in condemning these naked endorsements of ethnic cleansing. But in doing so, it acted as if Ben-Gvir and Smotrichs provocations are fundamentally at odds with the worldview of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to whom America continues to give unconditional backing. In a statement denouncing the ministers words as inflammatory and irresponsible, the State Department said, We have been told repeatedly and consistently by the government of Israel, including by the prime minister, that such statements do not reflect the policy of the Israeli government.

Representative Jim McGovern, a Democrat who has called for a cease-fire, thanked the State Department in a social media post, saying, It must be clear that America will not write a blank check for mass displacement.

But its not clear, because were writing a blank check to a government whose leader is only a bit more coy than Ben-Gvir and Smotrich about his intentions for Gaza. According to The Times of Israel, Netanyahu told a Likud faction he is searching for countries that residents of the Gaza Strip can be sent to. Our problem, he reportedly said, is finding countries that are willing to absorb Gazans, and we are working on it. The newspaper reported that the voluntary resettlement of Palestinians from Gaza is slowly becoming a key official policy of the government, with a senior official saying that Israel has held talks with several countries for their potential absorption.
Ido Shamriz turned his eulogy for his brother, Alon, into a protest.

Against all odds, Mr. Shamriz said, his brother had survived 70 days of captivity in Gaza and escaped  only to be shot and killed by Israeli soldiers along with two other hostages waving white flags. Those who abandoned you also murdered you, Mr. Shamriz said.

In other words, the state failed to protect Alon on Oct. 7 when Hamas attacked Israel and again on Dec. 15, the day he was killed.

The accidental killing of the three hostages by Israeli troops shifted the public mood in Israel from despair and grief to indignation and fury.

The released hostages, their families and the families of those who remain in Gaza have emerged not only as the Israeli governments loudest critics in its war effort, a symbol of its failure to guard its people, but also as the main pressure group within Israel pushing for a political path to release the remaining hostages, which many of them say Israel cannot solely achieve by fighting.
Many Americans are convinced that the disqualification of Donald Trump from Colorados primary ballot is a terrible idea and want the Supreme Court  which agreed on Friday to take up this question  to find a way to let the former president run. Mr. Trumps supporters are eager to vote for him and argue that his exclusion from the election would be anti-democratic. Some of Mr. Trumps opponents are just as eager to see him thrown in prison but believe that throwing him off the ballot would set a more dangerous precedent.

What unites these two sides is their unwillingness to ask Congress to exempt Mr. Trump from disqualification or admit that they want him to receive special treatment.

Unlike other constitutional provisions, Section 3 of the 14th Amendment draws a sharp line between law and politics. The first part of Section 3 is a legal command about who cannot hold office that focuses primarily on individual conduct and does not require congressional action. But the second part says that Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House remove a disqualification for any reason.

The framers of the 14th Amendment deliberately gave Congress  not the president or the Supreme Court  the power to grant a Section 3 waiver on public policy grounds. Congresss amnesty authority for disqualification from office is the equivalent of executive clemency in criminal cases, which can be exercised in the interests of justice or for the common good.
How Garrison Anne Rufa and Theodore Joseph Lavoie didnt meet before they did is a mystery to them both. The two were avid snowboarders growing up in New England, which has a tight-knit snowboarding community.

Ms. Rufa was so involved in the sport that when she was 15 her family relocated from Little Silver, N.J., where she grew up, to Chester, Vt., for her to train at Okemo Mountain School in Ludlow, Vt., and to compete.

Mr. Lavoie spent years as a professional snowboarder, riding for Eastern Boarder, an East Coast skate and snowboard supplier, and appearing in a handful of snowboard videos and magazines. We have friends and acquaintances in common, Mr. Lavoie said. Its crazy that we never crossed paths. We potentially were both on the mountain the same summer. (Snowboarders and skiers sometimes chase the snow, Ms. Rufa said, by heading to Mount Hood in Oregon and other West Coast mountains in the summer.)

The two finally did connect on Tinder on Aug. 6, 2020. Teds first swipe ever, Ms. Rufa said. We exchanged phone numbers immediately.
The Justice Department is in the late stages of an investigation into Apple and could file a sweeping antitrust case taking aim at the companys strategies to protect the dominance of the iPhone as soon as the first half of this year, said three people with knowledge of the matter.

The agency is focused on how Apple has used its control over its hardware and software to make it more difficult for consumers to ditch the companys devices, as well as for rivals to compete, said the people, who spoke anonymously because the investigation was active.

Specifically, investigators have examined how the Apple Watch works better with the iPhone than with other brands, as well as how Apple locks competitors out of its iMessage service. They have also scrutinized Apples payments system for the iPhone, which blocks other financial firms from offering similar services, these people said.

Senior leaders in the Justice Departments antitrust division are reviewing the results of the investigation so far, said two of the people. The agencys officials have met with Apple multiple times, including in December, to discuss the investigation. No final decision has been made about whether a lawsuit should be filed or what it should include, and Apple has not had a final meeting with the Justice Department in which it can make its case to the government before a lawsuit is filed.
The young men from Guinea had decided it was time to leave their impoverished homeland in West Africa. But instead of seeking a new life in Europe, where so many African migrants have settled, they set out for what has become a far safer bet of late: the United States.

Getting into the United States is certain compared to European countries, and so I came, said Sekuba Keita, 30, who was at a migrant center in San Diego on a recent afternoon after an odyssey that took him by plane to Turkey, Colombia, El Salvador and Nicaragua, then by land to the Mexico-U.S. border.

Mr. Keita, who spoke in French, was at a cellphone charging station at the center among dozens more Africans, from Angola, Mauritania, Senegal and elsewhere, who had made the same calculus.

While migrants from African nations still represent a small share of the people crossing the southern border, their numbers have been surging, as smuggling networks in the Americas open new markets and capitalize on intensifying anti-immigrant sentiment in some corners of Europe.
A former college student accused of stabbing two people to death and injuring a third near the campus of the University of California, Davis, is now competent to stand trial after being treated in a psychiatric hospital, a judge in Northern California ruled on Friday.

Acting on a recommendation from the Department of State Hospitals, Judge Samuel T. McAdam of Yolo County Superior Court concluded that the former student, Carlos Reales Dominguez, 21, now met Californias legal requirement that criminal defendants understand the legal proceedings against them and are able to assist their lawyers in their defense.

Mr. Reales Dominguez was arrested shortly after the attacks, and pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and attempted murder. But his mental condition, a concern from the start of the case, soon disrupted preparations for his trial.

At a hearing in August, Judge McAdam found him to be incompetent, and he was sent shortly thereafter to a state mental hospital in Atascadero, Calif., a spokeswoman for the Yolo County district attorney said.
One morning in late December 2013, Donald L. Erwin, a 59-year-old disabled veteran, told his wife he was going to buy cigarettes.

He often woke before dawn and was a heavy smoker. She went back to sleep. Sometime after 6 a.m., Mr. Erwin got into his silver Hyundai and left his mobile home in the central Ozarks.

He never returned.

For nearly a decade, Mr. Erwins family, together with some friends and locals, have scoured the hilly region near his home in Camdenton, Mo., for clues. I did not stop for nine years, Mr. Erwins sister, Yvonne Erwin-Bowen, said in an interview, noting that she would travel from her home in Kansas City at least twice a year to search. Mr. Erwins wife has since died.

By last year, Ms. Erwin-Bowen, 62, had begun to lose steam. I didnt go look for my brother one time, she said. I literally put it in Gods hands.
After the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis ignited protests across the country against police brutality, voters in Los Angeles County chose to take their criminal justice system in a new direction by electing George Gascon as district attorney.

A progressive former police chief who had also served as the top prosecutor in San Francisco, Gascon promised to reduce incarceration in the county, which is the nations most populous, and to take a much tougher stance on police accountability than his predecessors had.

His election in 2020 was a major victory for the national movement to elect liberal prosecutors, which has gained steam in recent years, because Los Angeles has the nations largest county jail system as well as its biggest office of prosecutors.

Four years later, Gascon is up for re-election, and the race is shaping up to be a much more traditional kind of contest  one animated by crime and what to do about it, rather than by how to reduce racial disparities and reign in the police.
Three years after a mob of his supporters stormed the Capitol, former President Donald J. Trump will make his latest and potentially most consequential argument in the coming week for why he should not be held responsible for seeking to overturn the 2020 election.

Impeachment proceedings, the House Jan. 6 committees inquiry and two separate criminal investigations have established a comprehensive set of facts about Mr. Trumps deep involvement in overlapping efforts to remain in office despite having been defeated at the polls.

But when  or even whether  he will ultimately face a trial on charges related to those efforts remains unclear. One of the most decisive factors in getting an answer to those questions will be the success or failure of the arguments his legal team plans to make on Tuesday in a federal appeals court in Washington.

Mr. Trumps lawyers are banking on a long shot, hoping to convince a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit that the Constitution affords him complete immunity from actions he undertook as president. The assertion, while untested in the courts, has the advantage to the former president of chewing up time in the service of his strategy of trying to delay any trial until after Election Day.
As the presidents of Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania were pushed out of their jobs in recent weeks, it was an open question whether the president of another prestigious institution, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, would suffer the same fate.

But Sally Kornbluth, who testified alongside her two colleagues in a tense congressional hearing last month on antisemitism, has avoided much of the ire directed at Claudine Gay, who resigned this week as Harvards president, and Elizabeth Magill, who stepped down as Penns president just a few days after her testimony.

Some are still calling for Dr. Kornbluths resignation, including Representative Elise Stefanik of New York, the Republican who led the most pointed questioning at the hearing. But Dr. Kornbluth has so far not faced the kind of concerted effort from angry donors and alumni that helped bring down the other university presidents.

Notably, an organization of Jewish alumni at M.I.T. that has been critical of the university for not doing enough to address antisemitism on campus  and criticized the congressional testimony as disastrous  has not called for Dr. Kornbluths resignation.
President Biden is returning to the battleground state of Pennsylvania on Friday to try to define the 2024 presidential election as an urgent and intensifying fight for American democracy.

Mr. Biden is expected to use a location near the famous Revolutionary War encampment of Valley Forge and the looming anniversary of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot to cast preserving democracy as a foundational issue to the 2024 campaign, according to a senior Biden aide who spoke on the condition of anonymity to preview the remarks.

The address, which builds on previous speeches about safeguarding American institutions and combating political violence, represents a bet that many Americans remain shaken by the Jan. 6 attack and Donald J. Trumps role in it.

Leaning on a phrase used by Americas first president, George Washington, around the time he commanded troops at Valley Forge, Mr. Biden is expected to suggest that the 2024 election is a test of whether democracy is still a sacred cause in the nation, the aide said.
Harry Dunn, a former U.S. Capitol Police officer who rose to prominence for his defense of the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and for his emotional public testimony describing the attack, announced on Friday that he was running for Congress in Marylands third district.

On Jan. 6, 2021, I did my duty as a police officer and as an American and defended our nations Capitol from violent insurrectionists, Mr. Dunn said in a statement. Today, Im running for Congress because the forces that spurred that violent attack are still at work, and as a patriotic American, it is my duty to defend our democracy.

Mr. Dunn, 40, will enter a crowded Democratic primary field to replace Representative John Sarbanes, the retiring 17-year incumbent. Five state lawmakers have already announced their campaigns to represent the central Maryland district, which snakes between Washington and Baltimore. Whoever emerges from the primary in the overwhelmingly Democratic district is almost certain to win the general election.

Mr. Dunn, a member of the Capitol Police for 15 years, was one of four officers who testified at the first public hearing of the House committee that investigated the attack by the pro-Trump mob on the Capitol, where lawmakers had gathered to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election. He described how fellow officers were bloodied in the battle and how rioters used racist slurs against him.
When Representative Virginia Foxx, Republican of North Carolina and the chairwoman of the Education and Workforce Committee, arranged a hearing about antisemitism on college campuses, she said, her goal was not to force the nations top university presidents out of their jobs.

But after the presidents of Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania gave evasive answers about whether calls for the genocide of Jews violated their schools codes of conduct, prompting a national uproar that led to their resignations, Ms. Foxx and other House Republicans decided to seize the political moment they helped create.

House Republicans are now embarking on an aggressive and expansive investigation into institutions of higher education in America, targeting the academic elites they have long viewed as avatars of cultural decay  all in the name of combating antisemitism.

We want students to feel safe on their campuses, thats our No. 1 issue, and Jewish students have not felt safe, Ms. Foxx said in an interview on Friday. She said she wanted to broaden the inquiry to include a deep dive into what she has described as a hostile takeover of higher education by partisan administrators and political activists.
Vivek Ramaswamy, the Republican tech entrepreneur running a long-shot campaign for president, doubled down Friday on his pledge to tighten voting laws if he is elected.

In his remarks in Ames, Iowa, he reiterated his promise to make English the only language on ballots. The language minority provisions of the Voting Rights Act prohibit such English-only ballots in many cases. His promise, which he has highlighted frequently in recent months, is one of many voting reforms that have become popular among Republican voters that he has seized on.

One thing I will work with Congress to deliver is a minimal federal standard for our federal elections, he told voters at the Friday event. That standard would include single-day voting on Election Day, as a national holiday with paper ballots, government-issued voter ID to match the voter file, and yes, English as the sole language that appears on a ballot.

Mr. Ramaswamy, who is polling far behind his Republican rivals in Iowa at fourth place, has long called for extraordinary rollbacks to voting rights in other ways as well. Early on in his campaign, he generated attention by calling for Americans under 25 to be barred from voting, unless they pass the civics test required of immigrants seeking citizenship or unless they serve in the U.S. military or as a first responder.
The first time Lucy VanDyke voted for president, she reluctantly supported Joseph R. Biden Jr. But she says she wont be doing that again.

Like many young voters, Ms. VanDyke, a 23-year-old independent from Grand Rapids, Mich., is unhappy with Mr. Bidens stewardship of the economy, his support for Israels military campaign in Gaza, and she has concerns about his age. Should President Biden face Donald J. Trump again, Ms. VanDyke says she would support a third-party candidate.

I dont want a Biden-Trump rematch, said Ms. VanDyke, a mental health research assistant. I know people can say, Your voice doesnt matter if you vote independent. But the more that people vote independent, even if that candidate doesnt win, it shows that people are unhappy.
The Supreme Court agreed on Friday to decide whether former President Donald J. Trump is eligible for Colorados Republican primary ballot, thrusting the justices into a pivotal role that could alter the course of this years presidential election.

The sweep of the courts ruling is likely to be broad. It will probably resolve not only whether Mr. Trump may appear on the Colorado primary ballot after the states top court declared that he had engaged in insurrection in his efforts to subvert the 2020 election, but it will most likely also determine his eligibility to run in the general election and to hold office at all.

Not since Bush v. Gore, the 2000 decision that handed the presidency to George W. Bush, has the Supreme Court taken such a central role in an election for the nations highest office.

The case will be argued on Feb. 8, and the court will probably decide it quickly. The Colorado Republican Party had urged the justices to rule by March 5, when many states, including Colorado, hold primaries.
Oscar Pistorius, the South African athlete hailed as an inspirational figure until he was convicted of killing his girlfriend, was released on parole on Friday after more than seven years in prison.

Mr. Pistorius quietly left a Pretoria prison, away from the public glare that characterized his high-profile trial nearly a decade ago, and the subsequent stop-start legal proceedings that continued until his parole hearing last November.

Singabakho Nxumalo, a spokesman for the Department of Correctional Services, said in a statement released just after 8:30 a.m. local time that Mr. Pistorius was now at home. The authorities declined to disclose further details about his release, including when or how he had left the prison.

Mr. Pistorius was granted parole on the basis that he had served half of a 15-year sentence for murder. In 2013, Mr. Pistorius shot his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, through a locked bathroom door before dawn, killing her.
There is little doubt that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will seize a fourth consecutive term when Bangladesh goes to the polls on Sunday. The bigger question is what will remain of the countrys democracy.

The main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, has been crushed and left with little mobilizing capacity. Its leaders who are not already in jail are bogged down with endless court appointments or are in hiding with the police on their tail. Ms. Hasinas Awami League, in power since 2009, has cleared the way for a race so one-sided that the party urged its own contestants to prop up dummy candidates so it does not look as if they won unchallenged.

The B.N.P. has boycotted the vote, after Ms. Hasina rejected its demand that she step aside during the campaign period so the election could be held under a neutral administration. Even as Bangladesh has appeared to be finding a path to prosperity and shedding a legacy of coups and assassinations, the uncontested election shows how politics in this country of 170 million remains hostage to decades of bad blood between the two major parties.

The possibility of violence hangs in the air. The oppositions effort to protest the vote, with repeated calls for nationwide strikes and civil disobedience, has been met with an intensified crackdown. More than 20,000 B.N.P. members and leaders have been arrested since the partys last major rally, in October, according to party leaders and lawyers.
North Korea fired 200 rounds of artillery into waters near its disputed western sea border with South Korea on Friday, a move that prompted the Souths military to ask residents on two nearby islands to take shelter.

The shells fell north of the disputed border, known as the Northern Limit Line, between 9 and 11 a.m., and caused no damage, South Korean officials said.

The Souths military accused the North of threatening peace and raising tensions and vowed to take corresponding measures. Hours after, it said that it responded to the Norths provocation by firing its own artillery shells into waters south of the disputed border.

As the South Korean military prepared to conduct its firing exercise, it asked people on the islands of Yeonpyeong and Baengnyeong to seek shelter beginning at noon, island officials said. Ferries that were scheduled to leave from Incheon, a port west of Seoul, the South Korean capital, to the islands on Friday afternoon were also canceled.
President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia has approved a measure that makes it easier for foreigners to acquire Russian citizenship if they enlist in the army amid the war in Ukraine, part of an effort to increase the militarys ranks while also sparing Russians from being deployed to the battlefield.

Under the decree, which the Kremlin published on Thursday, foreigners who sign a one-year contract with the Russian Army or volunteer for army formations during what Moscow calls its special military operation in Ukraine can apply for Russian citizenship under a fast-track procedure. The benefits also extend to the recruits spouses, children and parents.

Unlike those who go through Russias regular citizenship process, such foreigners would not need to live in the country for five consecutive years under a residence permit before applying. They would also be spared requirements to speak Russian and be familiar with the countrys history and basic laws.

A decision on such applications will take only one month instead of the usual three, according to the decree.
Hassan Nasrallah, the head of the powerful armed group Hezbollah, pledged on Friday that it would not negotiate peace with Israel until the war in Gaza ends  a statement that came as Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken began a diplomatic tour around the Middle East to defuse regional tensions amid deepening fears of a wider conflict.



Israels top officials have repeatedly threatened that if U.S.-led efforts to secure a diplomatic settlement fall through, they will have little choice but to increase military action against Hezbollah inside Lebanon. U.S. officials have expressed concern that, should the fighting expand on more fronts, it could potentially drag the United States into a regional war.

You should demand your government to stop the offensive, said Mr. Nasrallah, addressing Israeli civilians directly, in a televised speech. There will be no dialogue unless the aggression stops in Gaza.

You will be the first to pay the price, he warned.

Mr. Nasrallah reiterated a message from his speech Wednesday, when he vowed that Hezbollah would avenge the killing of a Hamas leader, Saleh al-Arouri  a man he described as a dear friend  in a suburb of Beirut, the Lebanese capital. Mr. al-Arouri was the most senior Hamas figure to have been killed since Israel vowed to destroy the organization and eliminate its leadership after sweeping Hamas-led raids into Israel on Oct. 7.

This wont go unpunished, Mr. Nasrallah said Friday. We cannot stay silent. 

As he did on Wednesday, Mr. Nasrallah did not say exactly how, or when, his group would respond to the assassination. And although clashes have been intensifying along the Israel-Lebanon border, none so far have signaled a marked escalation.

Israel has not publicly accepted or denied responsibility for the killing, but two senior Lebanese security officials, who declined to be identified because they were not authorized to discuss an active investigation, said that Israel had carried out the attack using six missiles, two of which did not explode.

Lebanons caretaker government has submitted a complaint to the U.N. Security Council over the killing of Mr. al-Arouri, calling it the most dangerous phase yet amid the escalating conflict, according to a statement.

As he closed his remarks, Mr. Nasrallah appeared to acknowledge this new chapter.

The war today is not only for the sake of Palestine, it is also for Lebanon, he said.
For years Iran justified its military presence in Iraq and Syria, to its own people and the world, as a strategy for keeping terrorist groups at bay. Iranian officials frequently boasted that fighting terrorists directly or through proxy militias in the region meant they didnt have to fight them at home.

That sense of security was shattered on Wednesday, with the deadliest terrorist attack since the 1979 founding of the Islamic Republic  two suicide explosions in the city of Kerman that killed 88 people, including 30 children, and injured more than 200. The Islamic State, a mortal enemy of Iran, claimed responsibility.

Yet even after the statement by the terrorist group, Iranian officials and pundits close to the government insisted  as they had in the immediate aftermath of the attack  that another enemy, Israel, was to blame. Tasnim News Agency, the media arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, went as far as claiming that Israel ordered ISIS to take responsibility for the attack. And President Ibrahim Raisi, speaking at a ceremony in Kerman honoring the victims on Friday, said Iran would retaliate and blamed both Israel and the United States.

Whatever the officials really think, blaming Israel and the United States is far more convenient, some analysts and opponents of the government say, than admitting that the state cannot protect its people from terrorism. The attack punctures the image of Iran as capable of flexing its might in wars around the region without suffering such large-scale retaliation at home.
Roots of the Conflict

Roots of the Conflict

Roots of the Conflict

Roots of the Conflict

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Roots of the Conflict

Roots of the Conflict

Roots of the Conflict

A Palestinian Man Vanished Oct. 7. His Family Wants to Know Who Killed Him.

Soheib Abu Amar, who lived in East Jerusalem, was captured by Hamas during its attack on Israel. His brothers spent weeks investigating what happened next.

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Abd Al-Mughani Abu Amar, left, and Mahmood Abu Amar, the brothers of Soheib, came to the area where the Nova music festival took place to retrace his last known steps. Credit... Avishag Shaar-Yashuv for The New York Times
Under the cover of the war in Gaza, Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank have carried out a surge of unauthorized moves to expand their footprint in the territory, according to a report by Peace Now, an Israeli advocacy group that opposes settlements and tracks their progress.

Peace Nows settlement watch team said it had recorded the establishment of nine new so-called wildcat settlement outposts, not authorized by the Israeli government, which appear to be mostly made up of temporary structures. The team also said it documented the creation of more than a dozen new dirt paths and roads.

In addition, the report found, settlers have been fencing off open areas in the part of the West Bank that is under complete Israeli control in order to block access to Palestinian herders. Several of the outposts and roads are on privately owned Palestinian land, the report said, in violation of Israeli law.

The activities add fuel to what are already unusually high tensions in the West Bank, where violence and Israeli military raids have spiraled over the past year. Palestinian militias have carried out shooting attacks against Israelis; frequent raids by the Israeli military have produced thousands of arrests and have often turned deadly; and extremist Jewish settlers have rampaged through Palestinian villages, setting fire to property.

While the settler actions documented by Peace Now are not approved by Israel, the far-right coalition that took power in December 2022 supports settlement expansion, and includes extremist settlers who want to annex some or all of the West Bank. Israel has in the past retroactively authorized settlements it had previously seen as illegal.

Most countries view all settlement construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem to be a violation of international law. Israel captured those areas from Jordan in the 1967 Middle East war. Palestinians see that land as part of a future independent state, made steadily less viable by settler expansion.

The three months of war in Gaza are being exploited by settlers to establish facts on the ground, Peace Now said in a statement, citing what it described as a permissive military and political environment that allowed land seizure to go almost unchecked, with minimal adherence to the law.
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken was set on Friday to begin a diplomatic tour through the Middle East, as the Biden administration seeks to defuse tensions in the region, where fears are growing that the war in Gaza could spiral into a broader conflict.

Skirmishes along Israels border with Lebanon and attacks in the Red Sea by the Houthi militia group in Yemen have kept anxiety high throughout the three months of war. But this week, the assassination of a Hamas leader in Lebanon and twin blasts in Iran that killed at least 84 appeared to deepen worries of a regionwide clash that could draw in the United States.

In his weeklong trip, Mr. Blinken is expected to make nine stops, including in Israel, the West Bank and Egypt. It is his fourth visit to the region since the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7 sparked Israels war in the Gaza Strip.

Matthew Miller, a spokesman for the State Department, said it was in no ones interest for the conflict to spread beyond Gaza and that it was a priority for Mr. Blinken to get allies and others in the region to use their influence to deter any escalation.

The risk is real; the concern is high, he told reporters at a regularly scheduled briefing on Thursday.

The assassination on Tuesday of a top Hamas leader in a suburb of Beirut  a killing that Hamas, Lebanon and U.S. officials said Israel was behind  prompted the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah to pledge a response.

A day later, Iranian officials initially appeared to blame Israel for the deadly explosions in Kerman, Iran, at a memorial for Irans former top general, Qassim Suleimani. On Thursday, though, the Islamic State extremist group claimed responsibility for the attack on its Telegram page.

U.S. officials, along with a dozen other nations, issued a warning this week directed at the Iran-backed Houthis, who have been engaging in near-daily missile, drone and seaborne attacks on commercial vessels traveling through the Red Sea.

On his trip, Mr. Blinken will also discuss the need for increased humanitarian aid for Gazas civilians and efforts to secure the release of remaining hostages, including American citizens, Mr. Miller said.
Sons, brothers, fathers, Americans. Brutalized, murdered. Act now or more will die, a narrator says. Every second counts. Do everything. Bring them home now.

More than 1,200 people were killed in the Oct. 7 attacks, and about 240 people were abducted to Gaza, according to Israeli officials. A weeklong pause in the fighting in late November led to the release of 105 people, mostly women and children. Officials say about 130 people, including eight Americans, are still hostages.

Orna Neutra, whose son, Omer, 22, grew up on Long Island in New York before moving to Israel to serve in the military, said she hoped the ad would help remind other Americans of the suffering eight of their fellow citizens continued to endure.

Im not sure how many people realize that there are American hostages that are being held in Gaza, she said in an interview.

With all the noise on social media  whos right and whos wrong and where the justice is  I think were losing sight of where this all started and the fact that there are still almost 140 hostages being held there against their will, with no sign of life, with no medical attention, in complete darkness, she added.

The ad was produced and paid for by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a group set up in Israel after the Oct. 7 attacks.

Edan Alexander, from New Jersey, recently spent his 20th birthday in captivity. He, like Omer Neutra, was serving in the Israeli military on the border with Gaza when the attacks took place. His mother, Yael Alexander, said she and the families of other hostages believed the television ad could help keep pressure on the governments in the United States and Israel to secure the captives freedom.

Its just to make clear that the time is running out, she said. We need to bring all the hostages home now. We need Edan back to us, like to the family. We are broken now, and we want to feel whole again.
The Internal Revenue Service is rolling out a free option for filing federal tax returns this year to some residents of a dozen states.

Last month, the agency published details of its plan to test an in-house filing system, in which taxpayers submit their federal tax returns directly to the agency online at no cost. Residents of 12 states are eligible to participate if they meet certain criteria.

This is a critical step forward for this innovative effort that will test the feasibility of providing taxpayers a new option to file their returns for free directly with the I.R.S., Danny Werfel, the agencys commissioner, said in a recent statement.

While the direct filing system is starting on a limited basis, it has already faced some resistance, particularly from commercial tax-preparation companies.
After realizing that many of the men using online dating services were trying to find extra wives, an Indonesian software developer decided to make it easier for them by creating a dedicated polygamy dating app.

A year ago, while browsing through various Indonesian dating websites, Lindu Pranayama noticed that many of the visitors were actually married men searching for a second or third wives. Unfortunately for them, the vast majority of online dating services dont offer any options for polygamists, so he decided to create AyoPoligami  which translated as Lets Do Polygamy  a new smartphone app that caters specifically to their needs.

Photo: AyoPoligami

When they go to regular dating sites, they dont see options for polygamy. They dont see options for finding second, third or fourth wives, Pranayama told Channel News Asia.

80% of Indonesias 250 million population are Muslim, but while polygamy is technically legal, men can only take on multiple wives under very specific circumstances. The first wife must give her consent, and even then, would-be polygamists have to get permission from a court of law to marry other women. Permission is most commonly granted in cases where the first wife is disabled, suffers from a serious health condition, or cannot bear children.

Photo: Lindu Pranayama

So polygamy is not exactly encouraged in Indonesia, which is why AyoPoligami has been causing quite the controversy, ever since it launched, in April of this year. There are many who believe that the app is trying to normalize polygamy at the expense of women, many of whom do not know what they are getting in to, and end up as victims of domestic abuse.

The reality is women tend to be the victims of domestic violence in a polygamous marriage  polygamy is a form of violence against women, said Indriyati Suparno, commissioner of the National Commission on Violence Against Women.

Photo: AyoPoligami

AyoPoligami has become very popular among Indonesian men, having already been downloaded over 37,000 times since launch. The problem is that many of the registered accounts are actually fake, which allows polygamists to fool women into marrying them without first getting permission from their wives.

Due to to these concerns, Lindu Pranayama has temporarily disabled registration, while he works on a new version of the app that will require users to provide an identification card, their current marital status and a letter of consent from their current wives.

Interestingly, Lindu, who had previously found it difficult to find a suitable life partner, recently married a woman he met with the help of AyoPoligami. This is his first wife, and he wouldnt say if he plans to go for more.
Japanese media recently reported the controversial story of a 35-year-old Japanese man who allegedly has four wives and three small children but hasnt worked in over a decade.

35-year-old Ryuta Watanabe of Sapporo, on Japans Hokkaido Island, has become an overnight sensation in his home country due to an unconventional lifestyle. Watanabe reportedly lives with three of his four wives  who get along great with each other  and relies on them for most of the familys financial needs, as he hasnt had a job in the last 10 years. The polygamous familys daily life was recently featured on Japans AbemaTV news program Abema Prime and sparked quite a heated debate in Japan, a country where polygamy is officially banned. To bypass Japans polygamy law, Ryutas four wives are currently in what is known as a common-law relationship with him, but they plan to register their marriages and then divorce him, one at a time, so they can take the surname Watanabe and pass it on to their children.

I simply love women, so before I knew it, I found myself in this situation, Watanabe told Abema TV. Dog lovers will sympathize. If you raise one puppy, dont you want to raise another? I like women and love them all equally.

The 35-year-old unemployed man lives with three of his wives, and they all occupy a bedroom along with their respective children. His first wife is 27 years old, while his second and third are 24 and 22, respectively. He has a 2-year-old and a 1-year-old baby with his first wife, and a 5-month baby with his second. Ryu didnt specify why his fourth wife lives separately, but his other partners confirmed that they do have another sister wife.

Watanabes four wives said that they knew from the start that they wouldnt be his only romantic partner and that he was unemployed, but they had no problem with either fact. They work together to cover the roughly 850,000 yen ($5,860) monthly family expenses, while Ryuta takes care of the household chores. Its an unusual arrangement, especially for Japans generally patriarchial society, but it works for them.

I think there is no problem with it [polygamy], Ryuta Watanabe said, giving the example of Tokugawa Ienari, the eleventh and longest-serving shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate, who had 53 children. He jokingly told reporters that he wants to make history by having 54 children.



Ryuta described his four wives as less than family, but more than friends, a description none of the women seemed to have a problem with. On the contrary, during the Abema Prime program, they kept praising his charm and strength and unanimously expressed their support for him.

Asked how the polygamous family planned to explain their living arrangement to their children, Ryuta claimed that they would figure it out on their own, while one of his wives said that they would try to explain to them that not all families are the same so that they grow up without prejudice.
The Chained Tree of Peshawar, in Pakistan, has been under arrest since 1899, when a British officer decided to teach it a lesson for moving away from him. It has remained chained ever since.

125 years ago, a drunk British officer by the name of James Squid performed one of the most bizarre arrests in history in Landi Kotal, a town near the Torkhan border. Convinced that the tree was trying to get away from him as he struggled to approach it, Squid ordered it chained to the ground and placed under arrest. The chains have remained in place ever since, and a plaque tells the story of the arrest for curious tourists.

I AM UNDER ARREST, the plaque reads. One evening a British officer, heavily drunk, thought that I was moving from my original location and ordered the Mess Sergeant to arrest me. Since then I am under arrest.

Located as the Khyber Rifles Officers Mess at Landi Kotal Way, the Chained Tree gets a lot of attention from tourists who find it hilarious. However, the locals consider the tree a symbol of the oppression of the British rule on the local population.

Through this act, the British basically implied to the tribesmen that if they dared act against the Raj, they too would be punished in a similar fashion, one local man commented.

Despite its controversial past, the Chained Tree of Peshawar remains an important landmark, one that draws much-needed tourism to the area.
Wayne LaPierre

Dumbos revenge Wayne LaPierre, the scourge of gun control activists, is stepping down as chief of the National Rifle Assn. Good riddance.

Tough guy Wayne never did regain his PR footing after a video emerged of his failure to shoot an elephant in a preserve in Botswana.

The video was filmed in 2013 by an NRA crew and was designed to attract hunters to the NRA.

The botched shooting never aired, and the footage was obtained in 2021 by Trace, a non-profit that monitors the gun business, and New Yorker magazine.

It showed LaPierre wounding the elephant and then shooting the immobilized animal three times at point blank range but failing to kill it.

A guide put the elephant out of its misery..

LaPierres wife, Susan, was a better shot than hubby. She brought another animal down, cut off its tail and shouted, victory.

The New Yorker reported the video showed LaPierre was a coddled executive who is clumsy with a firearm.

Wayne will now have plenty of time to sharpen his marksman skills.

Oops, it does it again Xerox, which has been in a restructuring mode since the 1990s, has announced its latest round of cutbacks as 15 percent of its 23K workforce will be cut during the first-quarter.

The job cuts are part of Xeroxs Reinvention survival initiative, which is supposed to deliver a $300M improvement in adjusted operating income by 2026.

Reinvention follows Xeroxs Project Own It initiative that was rolled out during the second half of 2018 as a transformation project.

Xerox claims Project Own It resulted in $1.8B in gross savings during the 42-month period ended Dec. 31.

CEO Steven Bandrowczak said Jan. 3 that Louie Pastor is returning to Xerox to head its Reinvention Office and the newly established global business services organization. Pastor had stepped down as EVP-chief corporate development & legal officer last year.

Xerox is masterful when it comes to naming retrenchment moves, but its fundamental problem stems from its name becoming a verb for copying during the 1970s.

If Bandrowczak wants to truly reinvent the company, he should ditch the corporate name.

Going overboard on Gay coverage The New York Times has given a lot of coverage to the travails of ex-Harvard University president Claudine Gay, including precious real estate on its op-ed page in which she told of her wrenching but necessary decision to resign.

The Harvard saga may be journalism catnip to the Ivy League writers at the NYT and to the schools wealthy alumni-donors. But what about the rest of us?

The Times gives scant coverage to the financing shortfall at the NYC public college system. CUNY enrolls 270K New York students, while Harvard draws 25K students nationwide.

On the same day that the NYT gave the op-ed platform to Gay, New York State Health Commissioner James McDonald released a report showing that a quarter of the people in the state go hungry each day.

The Bronx suffers the highest rate of food insecurity. Queens and Brooklyn at 30.9 percent and 30.1 percent, respectively, rank among the top five food insecure counties in the state.

The Times bailed on the food insecurity story.

It did run a front page story on Jan. 2 warning Sunday travelers on the New York Thruway to pack a lunch because the Chick-fil-A outlets along the 570-mile roadway are closed on that day.

That story may be useful to drivers on their way to Cambridge, MA.
Digging your way out of debt can feel like a particular struggle in January, when post-Christmas bills start landing.

Firstly, its important to get on top of everything you owe, so go through your statements to work out the total amount thats set to be coming out in the next month or so.

Dont forget any additional spending over Christmas on top of the usual regular payments that may need to be factored in, such as any buy now, pay later purchases.

Try to be realistic about how long it could take to pay the debts off when working out your budget.

To help clear debts more quickly, check whether you could be spending less money on servicing your debts.

Some overdraft providers charge annual interest of around 40%.

Depending on how long youre likely to be overdrawn for, there may be less costly options, so more of your money can go towards paying the debt down rather than just paying the interest.

For some, it could be worth shifting debts around and looking for a new 0% balance-transfer card.

Some borrowers may find credit card conditions have become tougher, meaning its all the more important to shop around and compare deals.

According to financial information website Moneyfacts, the average interest-free balance transfer term being offered on credit cards fell to 508 days at the start of December. This was the lowest figure it had recorded since April 2015.

You could also use soft searches online by using credit card eligibility checkers, before going ahead and making an application that will leave a footprint on your credit report.

Everyones situation is different. While for some people dealing with debts in January means navigating a bump in the road, for others, debts can have much bigger repercussions.

Some people may find their debt situation is unmanageable. If this is the case, its vital to seek help and remember there is support available.

Charities such as StepChange, Citizens Advice, Christians Against Poverty and the National Debtline, a service run by the Money Advice Trust, can provide support.

Its also important to speak to your lender as early as possible if you think you are going to struggle.

Eric Leenders, managing director of personal finance at UK Finance, which represents the banking and finance industry, says: Christmas can be an expensive time and we know that some people will struggle with their finances come January.

If you think your credit card or loan repayments are unmanageable, speak to your lender as soon as you can. Dont wait until you have missed a payment to contact your lender, they are ready to help even if all your payments are up to date. The earlier you contact your lender, the more options they will have available and the sooner they will be able to help.

Your lender will have a team of individuals who are experienced in dealing with borrowers facing financial difficultly. They will work with you to explore the different options available and find one that is most appropriate for your specific circumstances.

UK Finance has information on its website about the support available from lenders.
A video featuring Australian YouTube duo, Bread Gang, taking to the streets of one Irish city asking students "what is the loosest city in Europe?" has been viewed almost half-a-million times since it was uploaded.

Answers which feature in the viral video, vary from pleasantries to quippy retorts, but one sentiment rings true, Limerick city, or "the place of dreams" as one girl affectionately called it, was voted the "loosest city in Europe" by its very own students.

Filmed at Market Quarter in the city centre, groups of students lined up outside chippers, on the way to pubs such as Nancy Blakes and nightclubs such as D'Icon, all wanted to throw in their two cents.

Banter was rife among the students, all amused by the cheeky question posed by the YouTube duo.

One girl, while on the way out with friends, agreed the "loosest" city is the Treaty City, as Limerick is known. She added she was delighted to be a part of its vibrant nightlife: "I just got a transfer from Sligo, and I f***ing love it!"

"It has to be Limerick, Limerick is the one place to be hun," exclaimed another girl.

One student from North Carolina described her excitement about studying in the city in American slang: "Limerick is so lit."

However, one group of chatty fellas weren't so sure that Limerick is the correct choice for "loosest city", claiming another to be better. "Limerick is a half decent start," one man stated. Another interjected, saying "Limerick is grand, but it's not the loosest city in Europe now to be honest with you. Do you know what's fair loose? Berlin is fair loose."

Another girl agreed, only this time stating Cork is the "loosest city."

Having been requested by fans to tour the island, the famous Bread Gang also travelled to Cork, Galway and Dublin to pose the same question.

The YouTubers, from Australia's east coast, have 150k subscribers on YouTube, and 552k followers on Facebook. The duo are known for their boisterous lifestyle, humorous antics and interesting street interviews, while they also offer packages where patrons can pay to spend time partying with them.

The video featuring Limerick, published on December 28, 2023, has racked up more than 420,000 views between YouTube and Facebook.
A wall of cold weather from Greenland could be making its way towards Ireland in the coming days, bringing some freezing temperatues, according to weather watchers.

Cathal Nolan from Ireland's Weather Channel has previously said the country could be set to endure its coldest spell on winter weather since the big freeze of 2010 with temperatures possibly dipping to -8 degrees.

While there is consensus among weather experts that our weather is going to turn colder during January, the extent of the cold snap remains firmly up in the air with weather models notoriously hard to rely on ten days out.

Alan O'Reilly from Carlow Weather has updated followers about a possible cold snap but was quick to point out the unreliability of models so far out.

"Plenty of very interesting weather charts being produced by models but the real interesting ones are still over 10 days away so very likely to change. If this setup did happen then we would see risk of real cold but Ill keep followers up to date over coming days as we get closer," he said posting pictures of two very icy blue weather charts.

He added: "Turning cooler with temperatures dropping over next few days and by Sunday windchill will make it feel much cooler. The windchill Monday keeping it feeling below 0c all day with a windchill Monday morning as low as -6c in Easterly wind. A chance of some wintry showers blowing into the East early next week but hard to forecast those this far out."

Plenty of very interesting weather charts being produced by models but the real interesting ones are still over 10 days away so very likely to change. If this setup did happen then we would see risk of real cold but Ill keep followers up to date over coming days as we get closer pic.twitter.com/Kn0WSPWalo  Carlow Weather (@CarlowWeather) January 4, 2024

Meanwhile, in his latest forecast, Cathal Nolan from Ireland's Weather Channel said: "Temperatures will drop away over the coming days, with maximum values over the weekend faring no better than 2-5 degrees Celsius, with night time values reaching as low as -3 or -4 degrees Celsius, though remaining mostly dry."

Further explaining the reason for the impending cold snap, Cathal said: "A colder interlude of air from Central Europe is expected to push across the country from the east on Sunday night through Wednesday, introducing even colder air for a time with a risk of some snow showers developing over the Irish Sea.

"This lake effect snow means that some areas along east facing coasts could see some sleet and snow showers, with snow settling over higher ground or by night at lower altitudes initially, though amounts will be small and scattered.

"For the remainder of next week our weather looks like being mostly dry and cold with high pressure dominating. Day time values will remain in the low single figures, with night time lows down between -4 to -6 degrees Celsius in some sheltered areas.

"Thereafter theres some uncertainty, as is always the case when forecasting into the long term. But, at the moment it looks increasingly likely that cold weather will remain in place across the country with temperatures possible dropping back further.

"Indeed some models do indicate a much colder spell of weather by mid month with a risk of more widespread snowfall, though such details are uncertain and further analysis will be required before this can be verified."

Met Eireann is holding judgement on a longer cold spell but has forecasted plunging temperatures for the days ahead.

They said Friday would be "mainly dry and sunny" with just isolated showers in mostly moderate northwest winds.

"However, scattered showers will affect northern and Atlantic counties along with freshening winds at times. Highest temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees," they added.

It will also be mainly dry and clear Friday night with isolated showers, with "more well scattered showers in the north and northwest. Lowest temperatures of minus 2 to plus 3 degrees, with frost in places. Mostly light northwest winds will allow areas of fog or mist to develop," forecasters added.

The Met Eireann forecast continued: "Mainly dry and sunny on Saturday after any lingering mist clears though there will be some isolated light showers, mainly in the north. Highest temperatures 5 to 8 degrees generally in light variable breezes.

"Cold and frosty on Saturday night. Areas of fog may become dense in places. Lowest temperatures minus 3 to zero degrees in light variable breezes.

"Cold and frosty on Sunday with fog lingering inland, sunny otherwise. Highest temperatures 3 to 6 degrees lower where fog lingers.

"Cold, foggy and frosty again on Sunday night. Lowest temperatures of minus 3 to zero degrees.

"A cold but mainly dry day on Monday with a mix of cloud and sunny spells once any fog clears. Highest temperatures of 2 to 4 degrees in fresh southeast winds.

"A cold night will follow on Monday night with some frost and ice but a little less cold along the east coast with the chance of a shower. Lowest temperatures of minus 3 to plus 1 degrees in fresh easterly winds."

Their outlook beyond that states: "Current indications suggest high pressure will remain positioned close to Ireland bringing mostly dry and rather cold weather.
The competition and consumer protection commission (CCPC) are urging people to only use phone and laptop chargers that are safe and comply with the European Union (Low Voltage Electrical Equipment) Regulations 2016.

Unsafe electrical chargers and other electrical appliances have been the cause of almost one in five fatal fires in Ireland, according to the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI).

The CCPC have said it is vital to make sure that electrical chargers and similar devices that people use in their homes are safe. Dublin Fire Brigade have also issued warnings about chargers or unsafe use of electrical chargers.

Electrical chargers are devices that are plugged in to a mains socket at the wall and they convert the mains current into a current which can recharge the battery in an electrical or electronic appliance or device.

Electrical chargers are also known as plug adapters, power adapters, USB chargers, wall chargers, plug chargers, plug transformers, AC/DC adapters, power supply adapters or a plug in power supply.

Some of the tips the CCPC have listed for buying safe charging products include: Buying electrical chargers from a reputable retailer, checking that the electrical charger has the CE mark and all electrical chargers must be suitable for use in a standard three pin wall socket. If it has a two pin plug, it should not be sold to a consumer in Ireland so you should not buy it.
A wall of cold weather from Greenland could be making its way towards Ireland in the coming days, bringing some freezing temperatues, according to weather watchers.

Offaly forecaster Cathal Nolan from Ireland's Weather Channel has previously said the country could be set to endure its coldest spell on winter weather since the big freeze of 2010 with temperatures possibly dipping to -8 degrees.

While there is consensus among weather experts that our weather is going to turn colder during January, the extent of the cold snap remains firmly up in the air with weather models notoriously hard to rely on ten days out.

Alan O'Reilly from Carlow Weather has updated followers about a possible cold snap but was quick to point out the unreliability of models so far out.

"Plenty of very interesting weather charts being produced by models but the real interesting ones are still over 10 days away so very likely to change. If this setup did happen then we would see risk of real cold but Ill keep followers up to date over coming days as we get closer," he said posting pictures of two very icy blue weather charts.

He added: "Turning cooler with temperatures dropping over next few days and by Sunday windchill will make it feel much cooler. The windchill Monday keeping it feeling below 0c all day with a windchill Monday morning as low as -6c in Easterly wind. A chance of some wintry showers blowing into the East early next week but hard to forecast those this far out."

Plenty of very interesting weather charts being produced by models but the real interesting ones are still over 10 days away so very likely to change. If this setup did happen then we would see risk of real cold but Ill keep followers up to date over coming days as we get closer pic.twitter.com/Kn0WSPWalo  Carlow Weather (@CarlowWeather) January 4, 2024

Meanwhile, in his latest forecast, Cathal Nolan from Ireland's Weather Channel said: "Temperatures will drop away over the coming days, with maximum values over the weekend faring no better than 2-5 degrees Celsius, with night time values reaching as low as -3 or -4 degrees Celsius, though remaining mostly dry."

Further explaining the reason for the impending cold snap, Cathal said: "A colder interlude of air from Central Europe is expected to push across the country from the east on Sunday night through Wednesday, introducing even colder air for a time with a risk of some snow showers developing over the Irish Sea.

"This lake effect snow means that some areas along east facing coasts could see some sleet and snow showers, with snow settling over higher ground or by night at lower altitudes initially, though amounts will be small and scattered.

"For the remainder of next week our weather looks like being mostly dry and cold with high pressure dominating. Day time values will remain in the low single figures, with night time lows down between -4 to -6 degrees Celsius in some sheltered areas.

"Thereafter theres some uncertainty, as is always the case when forecasting into the long term. But, at the moment it looks increasingly likely that cold weather will remain in place across the country with temperatures possible dropping back further.

"Indeed some models do indicate a much colder spell of weather by mid month with a risk of more widespread snowfall, though such details are uncertain and further analysis will be required before this can be verified."

Met Eireann is holding judgement on a longer cold spell but has forecasted plunging temperatures for the days ahead.

They said Friday would be "mainly dry and sunny" with just isolated showers in mostly moderate northwest winds.

"However, scattered showers will affect northern and Atlantic counties along with freshening winds at times. Highest temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees," they added.

It will also be mainly dry and clear Friday night with isolated showers, with "more well scattered showers in the north and northwest. Lowest temperatures of minus 2 to plus 3 degrees, with frost in places. Mostly light northwest winds will allow areas of fog or mist to develop," forecasters added.

The Met Eireann forecast continued: "Mainly dry and sunny on Saturday after any lingering mist clears though there will be some isolated light showers, mainly in the north. Highest temperatures 5 to 8 degrees generally in light variable breezes.

"Cold and frosty on Saturday night. Areas of fog may become dense in places. Lowest temperatures minus 3 to zero degrees in light variable breezes.

"Cold and frosty on Sunday with fog lingering inland, sunny otherwise. Highest temperatures 3 to 6 degrees lower where fog lingers.

"Cold, foggy and frosty again on Sunday night. Lowest temperatures of minus 3 to zero degrees.

"A cold but mainly dry day on Monday with a mix of cloud and sunny spells once any fog clears. Highest temperatures of 2 to 4 degrees in fresh southeast winds.

"A cold night will follow on Monday night with some frost and ice but a little less cold along the east coast with the chance of a shower. Lowest temperatures of minus 3 to plus 1 degrees in fresh easterly winds."

Their outlook beyond that states: "Current indications suggest high pressure will remain positioned close to Ireland bringing mostly dry and rather cold weather.
By Junko Horiuchi, KYODO NEWS - Jan 5, 2024 - 12:57 | Arts, Feature, All

An independent English-language documentary on the extraordinary life and violent death of Tetsu Nakamura, a Japanese doctor who worked for years to turn a desert in war-torn Afghanistan green, is set to introduce him to a new audience while honoring his humanitarian feats.

Moved by Nakamura's work, film director Kenji Yatsu filmed 1,000 hours of footage over 21 years starting in 1998, including Nakamura's involvement in the digging of a canal while the Afghan war raged. He filmed until the months before the 73-year-old doctor was gunned down, along with five others by still-unidentified armed men, in Jalalabad on Dec. 4, 2019.

"I think Dr. Nakamura's way of life would encourage people living in a world of uncertainties," such as the Ukraine-Russia war and the recent Israel-Hamas conflict, said Yatsu, 62, in a recent interview with Kyodo News.

"At a time when many people are distressed by deadly conflicts, I always believed that what Dr. Nakamura has left us has the power to once again spark the sincerity and (sense of) common good in humanity," he said.

Nakamura's work has often been featured on Japanese television and footage was made into a Japanese-language documentary, but Yatsu and his colleagues at TV production company Nihon Denpa News Co. now are creating an edit specifically aimed at a worldwide audience which they plan to submit to an international film festival in fiscal 2024. More than 9 million yen ($61,000) was collected through crowdfunding for the project.

As a local representative of a Japanese aid group Peshawar-kai, Nakamura started providing medical aid near the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan in the 1980s.

But realizing that medicine is not the answer to malnourishment caused by chronic food shortages as well as lack of access to clean water due to drought, he decided to embark on well drilling and irrigation construction projects to address at least some of the root causes of Afghanistan's health crisis.

In line with his mantra that "one water channel serves the community more than 100 clinics," Nakamura led efforts to turn the arid desert into farmland by starting the construction of a roughly 25-kilometer-long canal, named the Marwarid Canal, near Jalalabad in the country's east in 2003 and completing it in 2010.

By replicating a technique used in an ancient intake weir in Fukuoka, his native prefecture in southwestern Japan, the waterway was built to enable easy maintenance by locals and has since contributed to the revival of agricultural production and allowed tens of thousands of refugees to return to their homeland.

The water from the irrigation systems now supports some 650,000 nearby residents, according to Peshawar-kai.

Nakamura won the 2003 Ramon Magsaysay Award, dubbed the Nobel Prize of Asia, and was given an honorary Afghan citizenship in October 2019 for his humanitarian work.

Film director Kenji Yatsu speaks in an interview with Kyodo News at the headquarters of Nihon Denpa News Co. in Tokyo on Nov. 22, 2023. (Kyodo)

Yatsu's Japanese-language documentary "Koya ni Kibo no Hi wo Tomosu (Shining a Ray of Hope into a Desert)," which chronicles Nakamura's 35 years in Pakistan and Afghanistan, hit screens in July 2022 and drew more than 70,000 viewers by November, with the film mostly promoted through word of mouth.

Although the English-language film will use the same source footage and images as the Japanese version, it will not be a mere translation of narration and subtitles into English, Yatsu said.

While the Japanese film tells the story of Nakamura using narration based on his own powerful words from his literary works, the new version needs to be "re-edited completely" so that viewers with no knowledge of Nakamura will be properly introduced, Yatsu said.

"It would be something quite different," Yatsu said. "I want to convey the depth of his way of life by including more interviews with Dr. Nakamura and footage showing his interactions with the local Afghan people."

The crowdfunding initiative to raise money for the English-language version started in July and quickly achieved its target of 5 million yen. By the end date in September, 9.61 million yen was collected.

Using the money, the team plans to restore degraded videos, make scripts, insert narration, promote the film and submit it to an international film festival.

"Dr. Nakamura always believed there is something precious about humans, regardless of ethnicity, language or nationality, and he has searched for it," Yatsu said.

He hopes that showing Nakamura's way of life, including his pursuit of common human understanding while being cognizant of differences among people, may help people overcome the growing isolation and fragmentation currently plaguing the world.

"Of course, not everyone can lead a life like Dr. Nakamura, but I think by learning his life story, anyone can try to make an effort to aim for it and be encouraged," Yatsu said. "Knowing of something unwavering, a North Star, gives a sense of assurance."

Through the film, Yatsu said he wants the audience to feel what Nakamura aspired to restore in war-ravaged Afghanistan, recalling the time he spent time with him in the spring of 2019, in what turned out to be his final trip to the country before Nakamura's murder.

Yatsu said he had an epiphany while standing with Nakamura atop a hill overlooking the transformed desert. Together they heard the bustle of life -- voices of children, mothers and workers accompanied by birds and livestock -- sounds Nakamura said were "pleasant" to his ear.

"At that moment, I understood exactly what Dr. Nakamura was working to restore," Yatsu said.

Related coverage:

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Japan anime giant Miyazaki's new work tops U.S. box office

FEATURE: H.K. illustrator seeks to preserve culinary heritage through art
KYODO NEWS - Jan 5, 2024 - 22:01 | All, Japan

Toyota Motor Corp. said Friday that it will not be able to start this year's vehicle production in Japan as planned as some of its suppliers suffered damage from the magnitude-7.6 earthquake that struck the country's Noto Peninsula on New Year's Day.

The automaker had initially planned to start production on Monday, but the plan was scratched after the quake in central Japan, President Koji Sato told reporters in Tokyo, adding that it will decide on the timing by Sunday.

"We hope to make a decision...by assessing the inventory situation," Sato said, adding that 10 dealerships in quake-stricken Ishikawa Prefecture are also unable to operate.

The automaker, which plans to send emergency relief goods such as water and all-terrain vehicles to the quake-hit areas, has been hit by a series of production issues in recent years.

The automaker stopped part of its domestic production for 10 days in October last year after an explosion at a factory of one of its suppliers caused a shortage of spring parts. In March 2022, a cyberattack on another supplier resulted in a production halt at all of its factories in Japan.

Sato also apologized for the safety testing scandal at its small-car subsidiary Daihatsu Motor Co. that resulted in the stoppage of all its shipments at home and abroad.

"I was in a position to oversee it, but my understanding of its operations was not enough," said Sato, who formerly served as a board member at the unit.

Sato said Toyota would join forces with Daihatsu to find the cause of the problem and the reason why employees felt compelled to commit the misconduct.

Related coverage:

Toyota global output hits new 1-year high on robust overseas demand
KYODO NEWS - Jan 5, 2024 - 09:29 | All, Japan

Quick decisions by cabin attendants and cooperation by level-headed passengers contributed to the safe evacuation of 379 people from a burning Japan Airlines plane at Tokyo's Haneda airport, an escape described in overseas media as a miracle.

The nine flight attendants overcame several obstacles during the emergency deplaning after a runway collision. With only three of the eight exits usable, cabin crew had to carry out a rapid evacuation of the 67-meter fuselage with only limited input from the cockpit as communication systems failed, according to officials of the major Japanese airline.

"I felt a shock, like somebody slammed on the brakes. Then I saw flames rising outside the window," a passenger said, explaining what happened in the cabin soon after Flight 516 landed and struck another aircraft on the runway at around 5:47 p.m. Tuesday.

Flight attendants urged the alarmed passengers to stay calm, in line with procedures aimed at preventing panic in an emergency.

Upon confirming a crew member's report that the left engine was catching fire, the chief cabin attendant managed to notify the cockpit and was ordered to launch the emergency evacuation, according to the officials.

As smoke entered the cabin and children began to cry for the exits to be opened, flight attendants quickly assessed ways to escape, asking passengers to crouch or duck down to avoid inhaling smoke.

The two exits at the plane's front were found to be usable, and crew members began to lead passengers forward to evacuate by emergency slides.

At the plane's rear, however, only one exit was usable. A crew member saw flames outside that would prevent safe exit from the right side, but observed that the left side was clear and had adequate space on the ground to put down a slide.

But the in-flight system to communicate with the captain was not working. With more smoke coming into the cabin, the staffer opened the left rear exit and released the slide without the cockpit's permission.

A college student from Tokyo heard a cabin attendant urging other passengers not to try retrieving luggage from the overhead bins. They ended up complying, and headed quickly for the exits with only small personal items such as smartphones.

Those who reached the ground first helped other passengers at the bottom of the slides.

The captain checked all the rows from the front, ensuring the last passengers had left, and disembarked from the rear exit at 6:05 p.m., minutes before the plane was entirely engulfed in flames.

Shigeru Takano, a former senior official of the transport ministry's Civil Aviation Bureau, said the smooth escape was made possible both by the crew's response and "the passengers cooperating with them even in such a critical situation."

The plane skidded on the runway with the nose down following the collision with a Japan Coast Guard airplane on the tarmac.

Given the angle of the fuselage, the front exits were closer to the ground and enabled many passengers to slide down more quickly, said Takano, who headed the bureau's safety and security department.

"I think the crew did even better than during drills," Yuji Akasaka, president of the Tokyo-based airline, told reporters Thursday.

Related coverage:

JAL jet passengers recount 18 minutes of terror while awaiting escape

Coast guard plane not given OK to enter runway in Tokyo collision

JAL pilots did not see coast guard plane when touching down
Armenia's iGaming market is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by regulatory changes and a vision for a more inclusive and transparent future. The founder of SiGMA Group, Eman Pulis, has brought these changes to light during his recent visit to Armenia, highlighting the country's potential in the evolving gaming industry.

Armenia's Gaming Legislation and Market Dynamics:

The Armenian gaming sector, primarily governed by the 2005 Law on Games of Chance and Casinos, encompasses land-based and online gambling. This framework sets the licensing procedures and regulatory guidelines for operators. Despite modest growth in the online gaming segment, Armenia grapples with challenges, including revenue leakage to foreign operators.

Eman Pulis's Visit and Inclusivity Initiatives:

Eman Pulis's visit to Armenia, including a tour of Betconstruct's live studio, gave him a deeper understanding of the local gaming ecosystem. Impressed by Armenia's efforts to create a level playing field for operators, Pulis praised companies like BetConstruct for their inclusive employment practices, particularly for hiring diverse and marginalized groups. In response, SiGMA Group has launched a survey to explore the inclusivity of employment practices in the gaming sector.

Legislative Changes for Foreign Operators:

To address the issue of revenue flow to foreign entities, Armenia is implementing legislative amendments. These changes aim to align foreign online casinos and bookmakers with local regulatory standards, promoting fair competition and enhancing consumer protection. A notable initiative involves gamblers and bettors opening designated bank accounts for their activities, improving transparency and financial oversight.

Mandates for Financial Transparency:

The Armenian Parliament has endorsed measures mandating the exclusive funding of accounts directly from personal funds. This step towards a cashless system is designed to increase financial security and reduce illicit activities in the gaming sectorthese new mandates exempt non-citizens, underlining Armenia's commitment to secure and responsible online gaming practices.

The Future of Armenia's iGaming Sector:

Armenia's iGaming sector is poised for a future emphasizing inclusivity and sustainability. The nation's strides towards a cashless system, exclusive funding mandates, and a commitment to financial transparency reflect a dedication to creating a secure and accountable online gaming environment. These efforts align with global trends favoring digital transactions and responsible gambling.

As Armenia navigates its journey in the iGaming world, the country sets a precedent for a balanced approach that values inclusivity, fairness, and transparency. With the guidance of visionaries like Eman Pulis and initiatives from groups like SiGMA, the Armenian gaming sector is not only adapting to global trends but also setting new standards in responsible and inclusive gaming.
According to estimates by the country's Ministry of Finance, the Bulgarian gambling industry is projected to substantially contribute BGN200m (88m/102.3m/$111.7m) to the national budget in 2024. This forecast comes amid plans for significant capital investments and changes in the nation's gambling tax structure.

Over the past two years, the Bulgarian gambling sector has contributed more than BGN300m in taxes and fees to the state budget. The Ministry of Finance anticipates that adjustments to the tax regime will further increase this financial input. Despite recent increases in license fees and income taxes, which have sparked controversy among industry stakeholders, the Ministry remains optimistic about the sector's growth potential.

Controversial Taxation Hikes:

Bulgaria has witnessed a significant hike in gambling taxation, with license fees rising by 300% and income tax jumping from 15% to 20%. These increases have been met with strong opposition from the Association of the Gaming Industry in Bulgaria (AGIB), which labeled the hikes disproportionately high. However, Minister of Finance Asen Vassilev counters this view, asserting that the fiscal program will still foster robust growth within the gambling industry.

Enhanced Regulatory Measures in 2023:

In 2023, Bulgaria intensified its gambling regulations with the National Revenue Agency (NRA) establishing a new anti-money laundering (AML) unit. This move was in response to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) heightening its scrutiny of Bulgarian gambling practices. The AML unit has implemented stringent measures, including customer verification and developing assessments to identify risks of money laundering and terrorist financing.

The AML Unit's Role:

The AML unit, now a part of the NRA, plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of Bulgaria's gambling sector. This unit was formed following a 2020 risk assessment that pinpointed deficiencies in various sectors. It oversees gambling regulation, a responsibility transferred to the NRA in 2020 after the dissolution of the State Commission on Gambling.

Significant Revenue from Gambling:

Bulgaria's gambling industry is at a pivotal juncture, balancing growth with increased regulation and taxation. The projected BGN200m contribution to the 2024 budget reflects the sector's significant economic impact. However, it also highlights the challenges operators face adapting to the new fiscal and regulatory landscape. As Bulgaria continues to refine its approach to gambling regulation, the industry's ability to sustain growth while complying with enhanced controls will be key to its future success.

Implications for the Bulgarian Economy:

The gambling industry's contribution is vital to Bulgaria's financial planning for 2024. The expected revenue underscores the industry's role as a significant economic player while the country navigates the complexities of regulatory compliance and industry growth. As Bulgaria looks ahead, the gambling sector remains a crucial component of its financial strategy, balancing regulation demands with the potential for fiscal contributions.
"Transparency is vital with the school system and parents need to be informed of all Local Educational Agencies."



- BD1 Candidate John Aaron Brasfield

John Aaron Brasfield is running for the seat currently occupied by the retiring George McKenna in LAUSD's Board District 1. As part of my ongoing Candidate Forum series, Brasfield was asked five questions about PROP-39 co-locations. The article LAUSD Candidate Forum: PROP-39 Co-Locations includes an introduction to this subject along with answers from other candidates.

It should be noted that these responses were received after the Board meeting on September 26, 2023, where the resolution proposed by Goldberg and Rivas was passed by the LAUSD School Board by a vote of four to two (Kelly Gonez did not record a vote). At this meeting, the Director of the Charter School Division, Jose' Cole-Gutie'rrez, revealed that, despite what has been told to public school parents for years, state law does not state that a room without a certificated teacher is considered empty. This means that it has been the District's choice to force some students with special education needs into closets or stairwells to receive needed services.

The following are the candidate's responses, printed exactly how Brasfield provided them with the exception of some minor formatting edits:

Question 1: Do you support the "Creating a Charter Schools Co-Location Policy to Mitigate Impacts Caused by Proposition 39" authored by Board President Jackie Goldberg and Dr. Rocio Rivas? YES

I'll support making a policy to hold charter affiliates accountable. Transparency is vital with the school system and parents need to be informed of all Local Educational Agencies.

Question 2: Under The way that PROP-39 is currently implemented, rooms used to provide Special Education Services are considered to be "empty" and must be turned over to a charter school to satisfy its demand for space. As a Board member would you work to end this discriminatory practice? YES

I think charter schools have an opportunity to work with the current school system and increase accountability and opportunity for fairness. I want to eliminate all discriminatory practices. By introducing special charters for students with disabilities along with inclusion to increase diversity. In addition, having a strong history as a mainstream specialist in special education has provided me with the toolkit to help numerous socioeconomic groups of students.

Question 3: The text of PROP-39 specifies that charter schools that base their space requests on inflated enrollment must pay an over-allocation fee. Currently, charter schools have a past-due balance of $3,708,006. As a Board Member would you revoke the charter of any school that refused to pay these fees when a bill is presented? NO

The district in the past two years just dispersed over 10 billion in funding. I would do a comprehensive investigation of the charter schools spending and check the current enrollment at each location. If charter schools have a past due balance I would make sure there is a service provided for the students if the charter meets the district standards. Services can include extra tutoring or a special activity for the student body. The District role is to make sure the charter is successful if we approve the charter from the beginning. The prorated charge for charter schools are calculated by the amount of space and students according to EC 47614. If we allowed more space then needed for enrollment numbers we did not do due diligence as a unit. In addition, we want every student to succeed so the space is for students first. Organizing the schedule becomes present for utilizing resources.

Question 4: In April of last year $7,678,022 of over-allocation debt was suddenly wiped off of the balance sheet without any explanation to the public. As a Board Member would you demand an investigation to determine whether this write-off was legal and proper? YES

I would always want a report every year on each Charter School. It keeps everyone aware, in addition, ensures locations will keep their charter status active and aligned with the district's policy. The renewal process takes multiple measures to ensure standards are met.

Question 5: The North Valley Military Institute (NVMI) was co-located on the campus of Sun Valley High School / Valley Oaks Center For Enriched Studies (VOCES) when one of its administrators was accused of "abhorrent child sex abuse" against a student. It does not appear that parents of students on the public school campus were ever notified about these accusations. As a Board Member would you terminate the PROP-39 lease agreement for any charter school that put LAUSD students at a district campus in danger? Neutral

I would begin an investigation and have the charter on probation. I would have a special task force to monitor the activity of the charter. All concerns I would address in the investigation. Then I would ask the Charter, "how would they like to proceed?". After they give me a definitive answer I will make my decision with the rest of the School Board Members.

Carl Petersen is a parent advocate for public education, particularly for students with special education needs, who serves as the Education Chair for the Northridge East Neighborhood Council. As a Green Party candidate in LAUSD's District 2 School Board race, he was endorsed by Network for Public Education (NPE) Action. Dr. Diane Ravitch has called him "a valiant fighter for public schools in Los Angeles." For links to his blogs, please visit www.ChangeTheLAUSD.com. Opinions are his own.
There have been all kinds of US presidents: liars (Bill Clinton comes to mind), corrupt (The Teapot Dome Scandal 1921-1923), girlfriend problems (Grover Cleveland 1885-89), and some with other frailties. But no one, easy to recall, who has been as feckless as the current occupant of the White House; none that is as subservient to Israel and the demands of its minority-vote prime minister... in power because of the support of very small religious parties with whom he seems to have made a Faustian bargain.

So it is that Palestinian civilians continue to be slaughtered in Gaza, at the approximate rate of 7,000 per month since October 7th when this lopsided conflict began.



Now who is likely to have the most influence with Israel? Why, the supplier of the vast arsenal of bombs, artillery shells and the like that penetrate, dismember, kill and embed in the soft flesh of the old men, women and children left in Gaza... while the young men are dispersed in the 300-mile network of tunnels dug over the years by Hamas for protection against Israeli onslaughts.



Supplying such weapons to a callous user without accountability renders the supplier also culpable. Article 2(c) of the 1948 Geneva Genocide Convention states expressly in its definition of genocide: deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction as a whole or in part.

It fits what is happening in Gaza like the proverbial glove. And unconditional support for Israel makes the US culpable. No wonder Biden has been labeled "Genocide Joe" in the world press. The hapless and feckless Joe has been blinded and mesmerized by the power of the Jewish lobby as he breaks his own word to the people to run for a second term in November 2024. This, despite the fact that many Jewish groups oppose the war and have held rallies against it. The most powerful AIPAC, however, has supported Israel throughout and opposed a ceasefire.



For prompt action, the UN security council would have been a better bet. But the surety of a US vote against a ceasefire, in compliance with its ally's position, led the matter to the General Assembly. The overwhelming support for a ceasefire (150 voted 'yes') represented the general feeling in the world about the war. Even India, which has become close to Israel under the Modi government, voted for it.



Only 10 countries including the US and Israel voted against. Excluding the US, their total population amounted to 50 million in a world populated by about 8 billion people or a little over a half percent. It is a startling indicator of how the world feels about the issue and how US prestige, influence and support have declined.



Bernie Sanders who is the US senator from Vermont and is himself Jewish is asking Congress to block additional funding to Israel while the Gaza war continues. He did not mince words calling the Israeli response, "grossly disproportionate, immoral and in violation of humanitarian law... Enough is enough, congress must reject that funding. The taxpayers of the United States must no longer be complicit in destroying the lives of innocent men, women and children in Gaza." Is Joe Biden listening?


Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator

On December 5, Harvard University's Claudine Gay, the University of Pennsylvania's Liz Magill and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Sally Kornbluth appeared before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. The US Congress held televised hearings in which the three US college presidents were grilled about their campus policies governing student safety and hate speech. The three were all females and Claudine Gay was the only woman of color. House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik repeatedly questioned the three educators, asking if their campus policy allows for calling for the genocide of the Jewish people. Rep. Virginia Foxx of North Carolina, the committee's Republican chairwoman, said administrators "have largely stood by, allowing horrific rhetoric to fester and grow" amid "countless examples of antisemitic demonstrations on college campuses". The demonstrations were not antisemitic, but were pro-Palestinian. The three educators replied with legal theories and convoluted statements that infuriated the congressional panel.

The American people were most likely disappointed in the replies, as the question is very simple to answer from a moral and ethical standpoint: no hate speech calling for the genocide of any group should be condoned on any campus. The educators failed to present their policies clearly, which resulted in the eventual resignation of Liz Magill, the Penn leader. From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free. This is the chant voiced by US students of colleges and universities in the US after the October 7 attack on Israel, which began a brutal bombardment of the Palestinian people in Gaza.

The gruesome Israeli attack on Gaza has killed upward of 20,000 people, and was launched as a revenge attack for the Hamas attack that killed about 1,200 Israelis, and over 100 were taken as hostages to Gaza. The Zionist Israeli Jews also use that phrase, 'from the river to the sea', to refer to their religious belief that God gave them all the land from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. They consider the Bible to be their deed to the land, and the Israeli Ambassador to the UN actually held up the Old Testament and called it their national deed to all of the land from the river to the sea. The Israeli government neither considers the Palestinians people to have any right to any portion of the land, nor any human rights.

The Palestinian chant, from the river to the sea, is describing a piece of geography, and calling for the freedom of the Palestinian people who have suffered a brutal military occupation by Israel since 1948, in which they have been denied human rights, property rights, and are a stateless people, despite the UN resolution calling for a two-state solution in which the Gaza and West Bank portions of the land would form a Palestinian state separate of Israel. The chant does not call for the genocide of Jews, or Israelis, or any other peoples. It describes a place, and calls for freedom. The American people, as well as Europeans, have responded to the 3 months of gruesome butchery in Gaza with huge protests in major cities across the western and democratic world, as well as college students have taken up the cause of Palestinians rights, and the anti-war theme that is familiar to college campuses in the US from the days of the Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Syria wars carried out by the US and NATO.

These young students, and faculty as well, are seeking justice and freedom for Palestine and are not calling for the destruction of or genocide of the Jews, or Israelis, or any other group. How did the US Congress determine to spend time on this topic, when the Congress faces pressing issues that have yet to be decided upon, such as funding for allies in war, immigration policies, and a looming budget crisis? Why would the US Congress take the time and effort, and the resulting media coverage on prime-time broadcasts, to focus on three US campuses and their policies? The answer is AIPAC. The American Israel Political Action Committee is one of the hardest working, most dedicated and successful lobby groups in American history. For decades, it has been widely accepted, and numerous books written on the subject, exposing the unusually high influence AIPAC has on the Oval Office, State Department, and the US Congress, both in the Senate and the House of Representatives. Many critics and experts alike have said for decades that AIPAC controls the US government. That is a broad statement, and the reality is that AIPAC holds control over those issues that are in the interest of Israel. A Harvard-Harris poll was conducted on people aged 18-24 since the October 7 attack. The question to the youthful group was, "Was the Hamas attack on Israel justified given the past history?" 51% answered "yes".

This poll was a shock to AIPAC, directly threatened the interest of Israel, and presented a potential existential threat to the very existence of the Jewish State of Israel. Ariel Sharon, former Defense Minister and Prime Minister of Israel, said that Israel need not worry about a unified Arab threat to destroy Israel, but the only threat to the existence of Israel would be a situation developing in which the US would stop their full and unconditional support of Israel and the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

America is their strongest supporter, but also a weak-link for Israel. The Biden administration has maintained total and unconditional support of Israel in the face of the Hamas attack. Even though the UN and virtually all the international community has called for a ceasefire in Gaza, the US has continued to steadfastly promote the genocide of the Palestinian people of Gaza. US President Joe Biden is a career politician, and has learned his lessons well over decades in the Congress. He knows full well that AIPAC controls the narrative, and any US official cannot stand up to AIPAC and hope to survive in their career, elections, and it can potentially affect their health, safety and family members. The Biden administration's workforce comprises younger and more diverse people than ever before in US history.

In the White House there have been heated discussions and complaints about the Israeli policies carried out in Gaza that are not in line with American democratic values, or humanitarian laws. At the State Department, Josh Paul, a veteran weapons section manager, resigned out of protest after Biden insisted on fast-tracking weapons to Israel even though the US policy is to hold up weapons to any conflict that might be breaking humanitarian and international laws of war. Others in the State Department have complained so much that Secretary of State Antony Blinken was forced to address some of their concerns. He never changed his pro-Israel policy, and his workforce in general has held their complaints in silence out of the fear their career would be affected by AIPAC. American foreign policy to Israel is held in bondage by AIPAC.

When the public tide of opinion on college campuses in the US was seen to be swiftly moving against the Israeli war on Gaza, and standing in support of the Palestinian cause of freedom, AIPAC went to work and organized the US congressional hearings to grill and demean the three educators. The goal was to present a different narrative to the US public, a type of conspiracy theory, in which evil educators and leaders of leading US higher educational facilities were encouraging extremist views among young impressionable students. Instead of focusing on the death and suffering of the people in Gaza, being killed by US weapons sent free of charge to Israel, paid for by the hard-working US taxpayer; the focus would shift away from the root cause of the war, to ultimately be lost on the condemnation of educators, campus policies, and the view that American students are too stupid to form their own opinions. Christopher F. Rufo, a conservative activist against critical race theory, singled out Gay for attack, the only person of color involved in the issue following the congressional hearing. The New York Post wrote about allegations of plagiarism by Gay, but did not provide a source for the allegations, which had been circulating on anonymous chat forums accompanied by racial epithets and conspiracy theories. Rufo admitted he timed the publication of his initial allegations of plagiarism to do maximal damage to Gay's presidency at Harvard.

A review by Harvard of the past writings by Gay said the passages at issue, "while regrettable, did not constitute research misconduct", which had to involve "intentional deception or recklessness". Until recently Gay held on to her position, but the attacks upon her demonstrate the far-reaching hand of political groups to seek to demean, embarrass and harass Gay, the child of Haitian immigrants, who had to deal with social issues to get to the position she held at Harvard.

Steven Sahiounie is a two-time award-winning journalist
Dholera, Gujarat - Dholera Metro City Group, the most trusted and reputed developer of Dholera SIR, has released a statement encouraging investors to consider investing in Dholera SIR. "Dholera SIR is a unique investment opportunity that is gaining momentum in the real estate market," said a spokesperson for Dholera Metro City Group. "Investors who are looking for a smart investment with high growth potential should consider investing in Dholera SIR." Dholera SIR 
KYODO NEWS - Jan 5, 2024 - 18:33 | All, Feature, Japan

Here is a selection of Kyodo News photos taken this week in Japan and beyond.



Dec. 30

Dec. 31

Jan. 1

Jan. 2

Jan. 3

Jan. 4

Search and rescue operations continue in Ishikawa Prefecture in central Japan after it was rocked by a powerful earthquake on New Year's Day, with the death toll rising to 78 and many still unaccounted for. (Kyodo)

Jan. 5

Back number:

Japan and beyond: Week in Photos - Dec. 23-29

Japan and beyond: Week in Photos - Dec. 16-22

Japan and beyond: Week in Photos - Dec. 9~15

Japan and beyond: Week in Photos - Dec. 2~8
Update: NuScale said Monday that 154 lost their jobs in Fridays layoffs, 28% of the staff.

Struggling Portland nuclear energy company NuScale Power laid off up to 40% of its workforce Friday, according to a report by HuffPost, which cited a recording of a company meeting and sources familiar with NuScales plans.

The Portland-based company did not immediately respond to a request for comment or submit notices about the job cuts to federal or state regulators.

NuScale had more than 550 employees at the start of the year. Its headquarters are in Portland but the vast majority of staff is in Corvallis. A 40% layoff could cost more than 200 people their jobs.

The company pioneered a new class of nuclear power plant called a small modular reactor, based on technology developed at Oregon State University. Advocates say smaller reactors are cheaper and safer than conventional nuclear plants and can be readily scaled up to meet growing demand.

NuScale has won key government approvals for its technology and $600 million in federal backing but has struggled to convince utilities that its reactors are practical. Its announced many agreements to explore the technology but no firm deals to build reactors.

In November, a consortium of western power agencies called off plans to build a NuScale reactor in Idaho. The news triggered a collapse in NuScales stock price. Shares closed Friday at $2.62. The stock has traded as high as $11.32 in the past year.

NuScale had $117 million in cash and short-term investments at the end of September, according to its most recent quarterly financial report, down by $150 million from the start of the year.

NuScales stock began trading on Wall Street in 2022 through an unconventional mechanism called a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC. NuScale merged with a publicly traded investment fund and adopted that firms stock listing, thereby escaping the investor scrutiny that usually accompanies public offerings.

Mass layoffs have been exceedingly rare in Oregon since the pandemic recession ended and the states unemployment rate is at a historic low, 3.6%.

-- Mike Rogoway | mrogoway@oregonian.com | 503-294-7699

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Verizon mobile phone customers around the country said they were unable to make or receive calls for at least an hour early Friday afternoon.

Customers began to post complaints on the social media platform X shortly before noon, complaining of an outage affecting various states.

We are aware of an issue impacting service for some customers in parts of Oregon, a Verizon spokesperson told The Oregonian/OregonLive. Our engineers are engaged and we are working quickly to identify and solve the issue.

Reports of an outage by users of the website DownDetector spiked at 11:45 a.m., with complaints coming in from population centers across the country.

The issue appeared to be resolving for some Verizon customers just before 1 p.m.

-- Elliot Njus; enjus@oregonian.com
The city of Portland has approved a request by Zenith Energy to build three new pipelines at the Northwest Portland fossil fuel terminals on the Willamette River.

The Texas-based company says it will use the 12-inch pipelines strictly to transport renewable fuels, including renewable diesel, biodiesel and sustainable aviation fuel, which are typically produced from vegetable oils, greases, animal fats or other waste products.

The pipelines are part of the companys plan to phase out crude oil storage by October 2027 under an agreement with the city, said Grady Reamer, Zeniths chief commercial officer.

The new infrastructure will help us efficiently transition out of crude entirely over the next few years, Reamer wrote to The Oregonian/OregonLive.

Zenith is one of 11 fossil fuel terminals along the river, where it offloads and stores fuels at its site before transferring them to ships bound for refineries, local markets and other destinations along the West Coast.

The company first raised controversy when it began importing and storing tar sands crude oil by rail from Canada shortly after buying the terminal in 2017.

The pipeline approval comes four years after Portland rejected a similar Zenith proposal. At the time, the company also said it wanted to build three pipes for transporting biofuels and a low-toxin chemical used to make polyurethane.

City officials turned down that request because Zenith acknowledged the new pipelines would be physically capable of transporting fossil fuels and a 2015 city policy opposes the expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure in Portland. Zenith then threatened to sue the city unless it reversed the pipeline decision. The city stayed firm, the lawsuit did not materialize and within months Zenith withdrew its permit application for the pipeline project.

Two years later, the city sought to block Zeniths operations by denying it the land-use credential it needed to renew its air quality permit with Oregons Department of Environmental Quality. A court battle ensued. But last October, the city reversed course and Portland leaders gave Zenith a controversial stamp of approval for five more years of crude oil storage after the company promised it would then transition to all renewable fuels.

The city said Zeniths eventual transition meets Portlands climate and environmental goals, including its focus on cleaner biodiesel and renewable diesel.

In the approved land-use credential application, Zenith stated it may have to build new dock pipeline connections to handle the increase in renewables.

Two of the newly approved pipelines will run between a dock owned by McCall Oil and Zeniths terminal across the street and a third pipeline will connect the dock to an existing pipe that runs from the McCall site to Zeniths property. A portion of the pipes will be buried underground. The pipelines wont cross any neighborhoods.

Reamer said the new pipelines will be capable of transporting any liquid, including crude oil. But thats irrelevant, the company said, because once a pipeline is dedicated to carrying a clean product like renewable fuel, it cannot be switched back to carrying crude oil.

Its operationally impossible to switch back and forth between oil and renewable fuel because the oil contaminates the clean product and its prohibitively expensive to clean the lines, Reamer said. Both the physical limitations around fuel switching and the permit conditions Zenith has agreed to dictate those pipelines carry renewable fuel.

Environmentalists and local activists said construction of the new pipelines could indirectly increase the risks of explosions, fires and spills associated with fossil fuels transport and the potential for a massive spill in case of a large earthquake.

Thats because Zenith could use freed-up existing pipelines for increased fossil fuel transport, said Nick Caleb, an attorney with the Breach Collective, a Eugene-based climate justice advocacy organization.

Given their track record, it seems likely, Caleb said. Portland residents risk from liquid fuel transport will likely increase.

But Reamer said the new pipelines will lead to less fossil fuel storage. He said Zeniths storage is already on track to be 50% renewable by the beginning of April.

The company also pointed to two seismic risk assessment reports commissioned by Zenith in 2020 and 2022, which concluded that several of Zeniths tanks did not pose an earthquake risk. The companys contractor is currently studying the rest of the tanks, the company said.

The green light for the pipeline project comes as Zenith is awaiting the approval of a new air permit from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. Environmentalists and Multnomah County commissioners have asked the agency to deny that permit.

The three pipelines were approved as part of a greenway review because they will be built within the River Industrial Greenway overlay zone, which is meant to preserve and enhance habitat along the bank while continuing to attract river-related industries. Zenith still must secure a commercial construction permit and a zoning permit for inspection of the required landscape plantings.

The pipeline approval decision can be appealed to the city by Jan. 16.

 Gosia Wozniacka; gwozniacka@oregonian.com; @gosiawozniacka

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Gov. Tina Koteks office said Friday it has finalized contracts to provide $136 million in state funding for semiconductor manufacturers planning to expand their Oregon operations.

The initial recipients are Intel, Microchip Technology and HP Inc. The state announced the awards in September but didnt have signed contracts until now.

A dozen other companies are continuing to negotiate for their share of $240 million in state money lawmakers approved last year. Theyre also seeking millions more from the federal CHIPS Act that Congress approved in 2022.

These projects will create new jobs in a variety of fields, promote workforce development in counties throughout the state, and will support these companies in obtaining additional resources from the federal government to compound the impact theyre making in Oregon, Kotek said in a written statement.

Fridays awards are grants and loans, contingent on the companies starting work on new projects by 2027 and meeting project objectives described in their Oregon funding applications. Companies that dont meet those terms are responsible for immediately repaying the money.

Intel, the states largest corporate employer, is getting the biggest share  $115 million. Intel plans a multibillion-dollar expansion of its research campus in Hillsboro, including a fourth phase to its massive D1X factory. The company expects to add more than 2,000 jobs to the 22,000 it already employs in Oregon.

We expect these incentives to influence suppliers and other companies to grow or expand capabilities in Oregon, creating new jobs, making our schools and universities stronger, and increasing the importance of the Silicon Forest to the global semiconductor industry, Intel said in a statement Friday.

Microchip Technology will receive $11 million from Oregon for its ongoing, $800 million expansion of its Gresham chip factory. The Biden administration awarded $72 million in federal funding for the Oregon project Thursday.

Microchip has said it expects the expansion will add 300 jobs in Gresham. The company said Friday that it will work with the Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center and Rosemary Anderson High School to develop an apprenticeship program for students pursuing careers in advanced manufacturing.

Oregon also finalized a $9.5 million award to HP for its research and manufacturing site in Corvallis. The California company said it will use the state money to support its G5, fifth-generation silicon-based microfluidics work.

HP had said previously it hoped to win public funding to return manufacturing jobs to Oregon from overseas. The company declined to say Friday how many it intends to hire in Corvallis but welcomed the support from the Oregon CHIPS Act.

We see CHIPS as an opportunity to modernize, advance and expand our Corvallis facility and G5 technology  for HP businesses, for new chips and packaging customers and for research partners, HP said in a statement.

-- Mike Rogoway | mrogoway@oregonian.com | 503-294-7699

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By Takuya Karube, KYODO NEWS - Jan 5, 2024 - 11:41 | All, World

Russia recently fired North Korean ballistic missiles into Ukraine and is now seeking to acquire close-range ballistic missiles from Iran, a White House official said Thursday, as Moscow races to replenish its depleted stock of weapons.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby said North Korea has provided Russia with ballistic missile launchers, and the United States expects additional missiles supplied by Pyongyang will be used to target Ukraine's civilian infrastructure and kill its innocent people.

Citing intelligence but without elaborating further, he said the Russian military launched at least one of those ballistic missiles into Ukraine on Saturday, and that it landed in an open field in the Zaporizhzhia region.

He said multiple North Korean ballistic missiles with a range of about 900 kilometers were then fired on Tuesday from Russia as part of its overnight aerial attack, adding that the United States is still evaluating the impact.

"This is a significant and concerning escalation in (North Korea's) support for Russia," he said at a press briefing.

The United States had disclosed North Korea's delivery of military equipment and munitions to Russia for its aggression in Ukraine. But this is the first time U.S. officials have spoken publicly about Russia's use of North Korean missiles in the war that began in February 2022.

"Now, in return for its support, we assess that Pyongyang is seeking military assistance from Russia including fighter aircraft, surface-to-air missiles, armored vehicles, ballistic missile production equipment or materials and other advanced technologies," Kirby said.

He warned that their deepening relations have serious security implications for the Korean Peninsula and the Indo-Pacific region.

In October, the White House said North Korea delivered more than 1,000 containers of military equipment and munitions to Russia for its war in Ukraine.

The development followed North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's visit to Russia in September, during which he vowed support for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Kirby also said the United States has assessed that Russia intends to purchase missile systems from Iran.

"The United States is concerned that Russia negotiations to acquire close-range ballistic missiles from Iran are actively advancing," he said.

As Russia has been intensifying its missile and drone attacks on Ukraine during the winter, he said the United States will raise those arms deals at the U.N. Security Council with its allies and partners, and impose additional sanctions on entities and individuals working to facilitate such transfers between Moscow and Pyongyang or Iran.

To prevent other countries from secretly aiding Russia's war machine, he said the United States will continue to release necessary information to the public, but stressed that the most effective response to the war is to provide Ukraine with essential air defense capabilities and other types of military equipment.

Extra aid for Ukraine is indispensable for that reason, he said, urging the U.S. Congress to approve the supplemental budget request sent by President Joe Biden in October, which has been blocked by Republicans.

Related coverage:

North Korea may have sent short-range ballistic missiles to Russia

U.S., Japan, S. Korea ties sustained by shared interests: U.S. envoy

North Korea's Kim inspects satellite photos of "major target regions"
KYODO NEWS - Jan 5, 2024 - 08:33 | All, Japan, World

The U.S. Air Force said Thursday it has recovered the flight data recorder from its Osprey aircraft that crashed off a southwestern Japan island in late November, and analysis of the records is expected to take several weeks.

The recorder, also known as a black box, and other critical equipment for the ongoing investigation of the fatal accident will be sent to laboratories for data retrieval, according to the Air Force Special Operations Command.

The Air Force's CV-22 Osprey crashed off Yakushima Island on Nov. 29 during a routine exercise, killing all eight on board the tilt-rotor aircraft.

Japanese authorities confirmed in late December that wreckage from the Osprey, including the black box, had been pulled out of the sea and arrived at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni.

The U.S. command said the vast majority of the wreckage has been at the base to be inspected as part of the ongoing probe.

In Japan, a major U.S. treaty ally, concerns over the safety of the aircraft, known for a number of mishaps and fatal crashes, have rekindled.

The crash was the deadliest involving U.S.-made Ospreys, which take off like helicopters but fly much faster, like airplanes, since their combat debut in 2007.

Following a series of requests from Japan, the U.S. military has suspended all of its Osprey flights worldwide after determining that the accident may have been due to a malfunction.

The bodies of seven airmen have been recovered, with the command saying efforts to find the eighth crew member are ongoing, and there are no updates to the Osprey stand-down.

Related coverage:

U.S. forces ship carrying Osprey wreckage arrives western Japan base

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U.S. vows not to fly Osprey aircraft until confirming safety
Two Sides Welcomes European Manufacturers Paper Honeycomb Association as New Member

Functional elements such as strength, rigidity and extreme low aerial weight make paper honeycomb an attractive alternative for designers of protective packaging or as the base material for the production of doors, acoustic walls, exhibition panels and even furniture. Functional elements such as strength, rigidity and extreme low aerial weight make paper honeycomb an attractive alternative for designers of protective packaging or as the base material for the production of doors, acoustic walls, exhibition panels and even furniture.

Jan. 5, 2024 - Two Sides announced its newest member, the European Manufacturers Paper Honeycomb Association (EMPHA), the pan-European association for manufacturers of paper honeycomb core and paper honeycomb board products.

Packaging and product design, inspired by trees and bees. Founded in Amsterdam in 2010, EMPHA aims to represent the paper honeycomb core industry.

Paper honeycomb, or simply 'Honeycomb' as it is addressed informally, has the best-in-class characteristics through the combination of superior strength and rigidity because of its unique form of hexagonal shaped cells. The strength and rigidity are paired with extreme low aerial weight per cubic metre. These functional elements make paper honeycomb an attractive alternative for designers of protective packaging or as the base material for the production of doors, acoustic walls, exhibition panels and even furniture.

"The EMPHA is delighted to become a member and support Two Sides," said Tony Moscrop, President of EMPHA. "We provide a platform for members involved in the manufacturing of paper honeycomb core, in Europe, to source industry information including legislative issues.

"One important area of information for our members is sustainability. We want our members to be able to inform their clients and customers of the sustainable attributes of our products and that our industry is committed to be part of the circular economy. Our partnership with Two Sides will allow us to use a variety of facts and stats to help us do just that," Moscrop explained.

Ian Bates, European Marketing and Partnership Director of Two Sides, said, "Welcoming new members on board is always a pleasure. Our partnership with the EMPHA will help us communicate the great sustainable story the paper honeycomb industry has to tell, to brands and businesses that must be informed about the positive environmental attributes of paper-based packaging. We look forward to working with the EMPHA moving forward."

By joining Two Sides, the EMPHA has access to a large library of co-brandable communications tools, consumer research, industry-leading information, sustainability advice, and events.

For more information about the benefits of joining Two Sides, please visit twosides.info/why-join-two-sides.

Founded in 2008, Two Sides is a not-for-profit, global initiative promoting the unique sustainable and attractive attributes of print, paper and paper packaging. The Two Sides campaign is a collaboration of companies from sectors including forestry, pulp and paper manufacturing, packaging, inks, pre-press, press, finishing, publishing, printing, envelopes and postal operators.

Two Sides operates throughout Europe, North America, South America, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

SOURCE: Two Sides
Photo: (Photo : George Frey / Getty Images)

The FBI warning is released to alert people that online scams are rampant nowadays, particularly the rising cases of cyber kidnapping.

The FBI is warning people about malicious Chinese actors impersonating to be law authorities targeting to scam U.S. Chinese exchange students.

This alert is released after a 17-year-old Utah exchange student was recently rescued in a mountainous area freezing in a tent alone with no heating after her parents in China and high school in the U.S. reported he was missing.

FBI Alerts: Rising Cyber Kidnapping Scams

These cybercriminals make calls appear as if they originate from reputable entities such as major retailers, mobile phone providers, delivery services, or the Chinese Embassy or Consulate.

They start by deceiving these victims by alleging that their personal information is involved in a financial fraud investigation, either as suspects or victims. They inform their victims, saying that a Chinese provincial police department is supposedly handling the investigation.

Impersonating a Chinese police officer, the scammer details the fabricated crime and provides fake evidence like counterfeit law enforcement credentials, photos of the victim's Chinese national ID, and falsified documents charging the victim with crimes.

Victims are coerced into agreeing to constant video and audio surveillance, purportedly due to the sensitive nature of the investigation or to prove their innocence. They are ordered to keep the case details confidential, refrain from online searches about it, and report all their daily movements to the scammers.

Additionally, these scammers may intimidate victims with threats of trial in China or arrest if they don't comply.

Furthermore, the victims are instructed to transfer substantial amounts of money to a Chinese bank account, purportedly to confirm their innocence or to post bail and avoid being extradited to China.

In some cases, the victims are manipulated into deceiving their own friends and family to gather more funds, act as intermediaries in money laundering, or participate in similar schemes targeting other Chinese students in the United States.

According to the FBI warning, if an unknown individual contacts you to accuse you of a crime, do not release any personally identifiable or financial information, and do not send any money. Cease any further contact with the individual, and you can report it to the authorities.

Read Also: Michigan House Explosion Tragedy: Complete List of Victims Released

Utah Exchange Student Kai Zhuang's Cyber Kidnapping

The Utah exchange student, Kai Zhuang, is the only major case of cyber kidnapping at the moment, which prompted the FBI's immediate public alert.

Zhuang was immediately reported missing after his family in China alerted his high school in Utah that he was missing. His family in China also revealed that they believe he was kidnapped and have sent the criminals money that was reported to be $80,000.

The 17-year-old, however, was tracked by the Riverdale police department in Utah in a mountainous area, freezing, in shock, hungry, and alone inside a tent.

In a statement, the Riverdale Police Department expressed their belief that the student had secluded himself in a tent as instructed by the cyber kidnappers.

The police stated that they were concerned about his well-being, considering the harsh winter conditions in Utah and the potential risk of him succumbing to the cold overnight.

A representative from the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. confirmed that embassy staff were sent to the location and found that Zhuang was physically unharmed.

Kai Zhuang's case is notably the first of its kind to gain attention in the U.S., but such scams have been a recurring issue in Australia. While this might be the first major case in the U.S., Australia has reported similar cases since 2020.

China's Consulate in Adelaide reported several recent cases, with victims suffering significant financial losses and emotional distress. The Consulate in Melbourne revealed that scammers had tricked another victim into leaving Australia and traveling to a third country under the pretense of evading Australian police before realizing the deception.

The New South Wales police even created a Mandarin-language TikTok video to raise awareness about these scams. Additionally, China's consulate in Toronto and its embassies in the United Kingdom and Japan have issued similar advisories.

This newer form of cyber kidnapping is an evolution of a more common scam, often referred to as the grandkid scam.

Related Article: San Antonio Father and Son Arrested for Double Homicide of Pregnant 18-Year-Old, Partner
Photo: (Photo : John Moore / Getty Images)

Owen Monroe, the baby who first received a partial heart transplant in 2022, is recovering successfully and healthy one year later.

Pediatric doctors who performed the partial-heart transplant and who are monitoring baby Owen reported that the infant's transplanted organ is developing excellent function and is growing along his body.

First US Partial-Heart Transplant to Baby Owen Monroe

Owen Monroe's medical journey started in early 2022 when he was just 18 days old. Even before his birth, Owen was diagnosed with an unusual heart defect characterized by having only a single large blood vessel for blood outflow from the heart, as opposed to normally having two smaller vessels.

When you have this scenario, what usually happens is the excessive flow of blood into his lungs, hindering breathing, and simultaneously decreasing the blood circulation to the rest of the body. In Owen's situation, what further complicated his condition was the fact that his single vessel was leaky.

In an unprecedented move, Owen's medical team, together with his parents, decided on a unique treatment course, a partial-heart transplant.

Up until 2022, this procedure had previously been attempted only in animal models, specifically pigs. However, Owen's parents were left with no choice and wanted the best for their baby.

The transplant utilized valves and arteries from a 2-day-old infant girl who passed away shortly after a complex birth. Her heart, though not viable for a full transplant due to unhealthy heart muscles, had well-functioning and structurally sound outflow valves, making them suitable for Owen's surgery.

The period following Owen's partial heart transplant has been remarkable. He was able to leave the hospital only a month after the surgery, requiring significantly lower doses of immunosuppressive medications than typically prescribed for heart transplant recipients.

This decrease in medication requirements is not only a sign of the transplant's success but also highlights the seamless integration and compatibility of the transplanted tissues with Owen's body.

Read Also: Colorado Mother Allegedly Murders Her Two Children Following Unfavorable Christmas Custody Decision

Life-Saving Pediatric Cardiac Surgery

Owen Monroe's groundbreaking partial-heart transplant has significantly influenced the evolution of pediatric heart surgery. Following his successful surgery, an additional 13 partial-heart transplants have been conducted worldwide, with most of those done in Duke Children's Hospital.

Owen's case ignited a domino effect in heart transplants, wherein the healthy valves from patients undergoing full heart transplants are repurposed for others requiring them. This strategy effectively utilizes available donor hearts and introduces new avenues for addressing intricate heart conditions in babies and young children.

Dr. Joseph Turek, who spearheaded the surgery as the head of pediatric cardiac surgery at Duke Children's Hospital & Health Center in Durham, North Carolina, has observed that approximately half of the donated hearts are suitable for full transplants.

However, he believes an equal number could be used for valve donations. Dr. Turek also added that integrating underutilized donated hearts into the medical supply chain, along with valves obtained from domino heart transplants, could lead to significant advancements in the field.

One year later, after the infant's revolutionary partial heart transplant, it is now growing in appropriate size alongside his heart and has also functioned excellently, as noted by his medical team in their report to JAMA.

As for Owen, the young child has been achieving all his developmental benchmarks, such as crawling, standing, exploring objects, and beginning to vocalize sounds.

This procedure emerged as a beacon of hope, offering a more sustainable and less invasive solution.

Related Article: San Antonio Father and Son Arrested for Double Homicide of Pregnant 18-Year-Old, Partner
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, 18th Topic: The Church; XI. The Infallibility of the Church). 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.

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The question concerning the infallibility of the church is the most agitated of all which lie between us and Romanists

It is indeed supremely important. How do we attain certainty about Christian doctrines? How did God intend for us to do that? We can hardly belief in something wholeheartedly when were not even sure what it is that we believe.

about the church and of so great importance that the papacy seems to rest upon it as its principal fulcrum. For no other reason do they fight so sharply for the infallibility of the church than that they may attach this privilege to their own, which they hold to be the only true church.

We fight for it because its clearly taught in the inspired, inerrant revelation of the Bible, which teaches the existence of one Church alone and not hundreds of competing, relativistic denominations.

The visible church, which is collected in particular assemblies through the whole world, whether it is regarded collectively or representatively in its rulers; either considered by individuals apart or all joined together in a council, is not infallible, but is liable to deadly error as well in faith as in practice, in questions of right as well as in questions of fact. The privilege of freedom from error (anamartesias) was not given nor does it any longer belong to any church or person after the apostolic time.

There you have it, folks. This amounts to every Christian being their own pope, since they cant trust a Church which (so says Turretin) God has not protected from error. Then when you have hundreds of denominations with hundreds of specific contradictory beliefs, very little authority or obtainable certainty exists at all. This is the chaos that the Reformation has brought about.

Infallibility supposes a perfect knowledge of things and excludes all ignorance, which is the mother of error. And yet to no church or believer does this perfection belong, as long as they are upon earth.

1 Timothy 3:15 . . . the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth. John 14:26 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 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; . . .

The phrase the truth appears 70 times in the New Testament. This presupposes that there is a set of true teachings that exists out there, which further presupposes that there is some authoritative body (as well as an inspired book) through which and by which it can be ascertained. Ive compiled the instances of reference to truth in my book, Bible Proofs for Catholic Truths (now available free online):

Luke 1:1-4 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things which have been accomplished among us, just as they were delivered to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent The-ophilus, that you may know the truth concerning the things of which you have been informed. John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 4:23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for such the Father seeks to worship him. John 8:31-32 Jesus then said to the Jews who had believed in him, If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free. John 14:6 Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me. 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 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. John 17:17, 19 Sanctify them in the truth; thy word is truth. . . . And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be consecrated in truth. John 18:37 Pilate said to him, So you are a king? Jesus answered, You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Every one who is of the truth hears my voice. John 19:35 He who saw it has borne witness  his testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth  that you also may believe. Romans 2:8 but for those who are factious and do not obey the truth, but obey wickedness, there will be wrath and fury. 1 Corinthians 2:13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who possess the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 4:2 We have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways; we refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with Gods word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to every mans conscience in the sight of God. 2 Corinthians 11:10 . . . the truth of Christ is in me . . . 2 Corinthians 13:8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. Galatians 5:7 You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? Ephesians 1:13 In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, (cf. 6:14) Colossians 1:5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel 2 Thessalonians 2:10-13 and with all wicked deception for those who are to perish, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends upon them a strong delusion, to make them believe what is false, so that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. 1 Timothy 2:4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 3:15 if I am delayed, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth. 1 Timothy 4:3 . . . those who believe and know the truth. 2 Timothy 1:13-14 Follow the pattern of the sound words which you have heard from me . . . guard the truth which has been entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. 2 Timothy 2:18 who have swerved from the truth by holding that the resurrection is past already. . . . 2 Timothy 2:25 . . . God may perhaps grant that they will repent and come to know the truth, 2 Timothy 3:7-8 who will listen to anybody and can never arrive at a knowledge of the truth. As Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of corrupt mind and counterfeit faith; 2 Timothy 4:4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths. Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to further the faith of Gods elect and their knowledge of the truth which accords with godliness, (cf. 1:14) Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, James 5:19 My brethren, if any one among you wanders from the truth and some one brings him back, 1 Peter 1:22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere love of the brethren, love one another earnestly from the heart. 2 Peter 1:12 Therefore I intend always to remind you of these things, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. 1 John 1:6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not live according to the truth; 1 John 2:21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and know that no lie is of the truth. 1 John 3:19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth, and reassure our hearts before him 1 John 4:6 We are of God. Whoever knows God listens to us, and he who is not of God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. 1 John 5:7 And the Spirit is the witness, because the Spirit is the truth. 2 John 1:1-4 The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth, and not only I but also all who know the truth, because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us for ever: Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Fathers Son, in truth and love. I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children following the truth, just as we have been commanded by the Father. 3 John 1:1, 3-4 The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth. . . . indeed you do follow the truth. No greater joy can I have than this, to hear that my children follow the truth. 3 John 1:8, 12 . . . that we may be fellow workers in the truth. . . . Demetrius has testimony from every one, and from the truth itself; I testify to him too, and you know my testimony is true.

And thats not all. The NT also refers to the synonymous terms, The Faith and The commandment and The doctrine and Teaching and The message etc. (see those passages in the same chapter). I would maintain that all of this terminology and mindset presupposes a teaching body that can declare exactly what these truths and doctrines and teachings are in the first place, just as the extent and parameters of Bible had to be declared by an authoritative Church when it determined the canon.

We cant just go to Joe Blow Protestant (Turretin as it were) and ask them what this truth is: obviously because they massively disagree with each other. The very thought of it is immediately ludicrous and the folly is evident to one and all, if they will give it just a moments thought. This is why God willed there to be one Church and one final authority in Christianity.

Therefore, as there is no one who does not sin, so there is no one who does not err or who cannot err. Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults (Ps. 19:12).

Yes, individuals, unless given a special gift from God (the pope, prophets, apostles, etc.) are obviously fallible. But the Church, supernaturally guided by God, per the above examples given from the Bible, is a different category from that. Hence, even in the inspired revelation of the Old Testament, there was infallible teaching from the prophets, which is why we see the phrase word of the Lord 243 times in the OT, and Thus says the Lord 417 times (!). This is authority, and its infallibility. The prophet couldnt be wrong when he delivered such a word. He was protected by God in two ways: infallibility of message, and (when the message became part of the Bible) by inspiration.

From the nature of the promises given to the church, which always include the tacit or expressed condition of perseverance in the faith: If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed (Jn. 8:31); He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him (Jn. 14:21); If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him (v. 23). Thus to the church at Rome the kindness of God is promised, provided she continues in it; otherwise excision is threatened: Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off (Rom. 11:22). Therefore, as these promises are conditional, they cannot have a place unless the condition is fulfilled and since this is wanting in various cases, this privilege also must necessarily cease.

All of these are about individuals, and warn against apostasy based on rebellious, sinful behavior, not departures from true doctrine. They have nothing to do with an institutional Church, which adheres to set of doctrines. So this is a non sequitur.

The church, according to Romanists, consists not only of true believers, but also of unbelievers and reprobates, who can be destitute of all internal virtues, faith, hope and love

Not only according to Romanists but also the Bible. The parable of the wheat and tares (Mt 13:24-30, 36-43) reads (to me, anyway) as if the tares (weeds) are at least equal in number to the wheat. A moments reflection on the proliferation of uncontrolled weeds (13:30) in any lawn will bring this point home, I think. This is also apparent in the similar pronouncements about wheat and chaff (Mt 3:12, Lk 3:17): a parable of the saved and the damned. Since every wheat plant has chaff, too (the worthless part of it), then it would seem that we are talking about a 50/50 proposition here.

Matthew 7:21-23 implies that there are many counterfeit believers, since even some of those who prophesy, cast out demons, and do many mighty works in Jesus name will be cast from Jesus presence at the Judgment, where He will say to them, I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers. Since most of us are doing far less than acts of this magnitude (which outwardly suggest a commitment to Christ), it stands to reason that there are many people who go to Mass, etc., who will not be saved, and hence are tares. Cf. Lk 13:25-28.

Jesus Himself rebuked six of the seven churches of Asia that He addressed (Rev 2:4-3:18). Yet simultaneous with His rebukes He referred to them all as church[es], in 2:1, 8, 12, 18; 3:1, 14, just as He also referred to the one body that He didnt rebuke (Philadelphia: 3:7) as a church. This absolutely proves that the Church contains unbelievers and reprobates.

Likewise, with St. Paul and the Galatians. He excoriates them or various sins (Gal 1:6; 3:1-4; 4:9-11, 16, 20; 5:1-4, 7), yet at the same time regards them as believers and Christians (Gal 1:2, 11; 3:25-27; 4:4-7, 9, 12, 19, 28, 31; 5:1; 6:1, 18). Its the same with the Corinthians, whom he rebukes for serious sin (1 Cor 3:3; 5:1; 6:8; 11:17-18; 2 Cor 11:4; 12:20-21), while still calling the Corinthian assembly the church of God (1 Cor 1:2; 2 Cor 1:1-2).

From the fallibility of individuals. Individual pastors and rulers of churches are fallible, as our opponents confess; therefore also the whole.

For what individuals apart from each other do not possess, they cannot have when gathered together; nor can an assembly or council, which is composed of fallible members, be infallible.

Again, this doesnt apply to those given a special charism. As for councils, the one NT model we have, the Jerusalem Council, assumes its own infallibility, in the words, it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things (Acts 15:28). Once the Holy Spirit is directly involved, it must be without error, because now were talking about God, Who has no error.

The only way out of this would be to deny that the Bible was inerrant in this verse, And I dont think Turretin would want to go that route. As far as I am concerned, this is a direct application of John 16:13: When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. Here we see the Holy Spirit doing precisely that, in helping resolve an issue that was divisive, in the first council in the history of Christianity.

From the silence of Scripture. For if the church ought to be infallible, the Holy Spirit would undoubtedly somewhere have told believers of it, as of a thing of the greatest importance to confirm the faith of the pious and to guard them against all seductions.

It has done that, as I have shown above. This is particularly true of 1 Timothy 3:15, if thought through in all its implications, as I have done.

But nowhere is mention made of this privilege having been given to any certain church; for it will be shown hereafter that the many passages adduced by our opponents to prove this thing do not prove it.

In the Bible we have the term, the church. Catholic isnt a biblical word, just as Trinity isnt. Therefore, we have to use the usual arguments to contend that the Catholic Church of history is a continuation of the church begun by Christ by commissioning Peter. The alternatives are so absurd and insubstantial in historical support that its rather easy to do.

Because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee (Rom. 11:20, 21). Now why should the apostle have said this if he believed the gift of infallibility had been bestowed upon it?

That refers to the Jews rejecting Christianity en masse. But this is different to a gift of infallibility and indefectibility given to the Church under the guidance of the Holy Spirit in the New Covenant. But there is even a certain sense in which the OT pre-Church had a level of indefectibility, as I have written about.

And he urges them to mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which they had learned; and avoid them (Rom. 16:17).

Again, those are stray individuals, which doesnt disprove a protected infallible Church.

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Photo credit: manuscript cover of the book I am critiquing: Turretins Institutes of Elenctic Theology [public domain]

Summary: As part of my series of replies to Calvinist Francois Turretin, I provide the biblical basis for the infallibility of the [Catholic] Church, and counter-reply to objections.
In April of last year, Microsoft announced that it was exiting the PC accessory business (mice, keyboards, headsets, et cetera). While Microsoft is still planning to sell computer accessories under the more stylish (and expensive) Surface brand, its self-titled hardware was sunsetting after nearly three decades on shelves. But it looks like the designs, if not the Microsoft branding, are getting a stay of execution. Incase, a company specializing in laptop bags and sleeves, is reviving many of Microsofts products in 2024.

So says the announcement page on Incases website, which declares that newly manufactured devices in the line will be branded as Incase Designed by Microsoft. Existing products in Microsofts mouse, keyboard, headset, and speaker line will continue to be sold. The only notable difference from products that have been on the shelves for years appears to be Incases leaf-shaped logo on the plastic.

The following products have been confirmed for release, though prices and precise dates arent known:

Sculpt Ergonomic Desktop (keyboard, mouse, number pad)

Sculpt Comfort Desktop (keyboard, mouse)

Wireless Comfort Desktop 5050 AES (keyboard, mouse)

Wireless Desktop 850 (keyboard, mouse)

Wireless Desktop 900 (keyboard, mouse)

Wired Desktop 600 (keyboard, mouse)

Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard

Ergonomic Keyboard

Wired Keyboard 600

Bluetooth Keyboard

Designer Compact Keyboard

Bluetooth Number Pad

Mobile Mouse 1850

Bluetooth Ergonomic Mouse

Bluetooth Mouse

Sculpt Ergonomic Mouse

Modern Mobile Mouse

Modern Wireless Headset

Modern USB Headset

Modern USB-C Headset

Modern USB-C Speaker

Audio Dock

Modern Webcam

While Microsofts accessories always seemed to play second fiddle to Logitech as the go-to pick for anyone not looking for anything particularly fancy, they have their fans, especially the ergonomic keyboard line. This move seems like a win-win: Consumers will preserve access to some dependable gadget picks, Incase will get to expand its offerings without the expense of developing new products, Microsoft (Im guessing) will get to stock its online and retail stores with accessories priced below the high-priced Surface brand.
Trading activities at the Central Business District (CBD), in Accra have started picking up after the yuletide.



When the GNA visited the CBD Wednesday morning, a significant number of shops opened for business with some petty traders going about their usual hustle and bustle.



The usual human and vehicular congestion that characterizes the CBD was absent as drivers navigated the streets with ease.



However, unlike the CBD, business within the Ministries enclave is yet to pick up as its usually busy streets seemed deserted.



The GNA brings you some scenes from the Ministries and the CBD.









Source: GNA









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 doctor who has performed hundreds of hernia operations in a West African country said he is "humbled and incredibly proud" to be awarded an MBE.



Robert Hicks, a consultant at Northampton General Hospital (NGH), set up a charity to help provide equipment, healthcare facilities and medical education to a community in Ghana.



His team performed 90 operations in nine days on a recent trip.



His charity also helped to build a hospital.



Mr Hicks started his work in Carpenter, an area of northern Ghana, in 2011, and initially worked with a worldwide charity, Hernia International.



He said: "Repairing hernias reduces suffering, pain and in some cases prevents death from strangulation of the bowel.



"Most Ghanaian patients are farmers reliant on working to support their families - by having their hernias repaired, the patients are able to return to work and continue providing for their families."



In 2018, he and his wife, Jo, set up a Northamptonshire-based charity, Hernia International Carpenter, with Anne Smith who is a consultant surgeon at NGH.



The charity organised regular trips with teams of people, including volunteers from NGH, who carried out surgeries.



It also worked with Canadian and Ghanaian charities to create the Leyaata Hospital in Carpenter, which opened in 2022.



Hernia International Carpenter is now working to raise enough funds to develop a centre for health education and research.

'Well deserved'



Anne Smith said: "Rob's passion for his work in Ghana inspired me to join with the UK team in 2017 as a team paediatrician.



"For over 10 years, he has stepped outside of his comfort zone to selflessly reduce this health inequality, whilst also training local surgeons to ensure sustainable healthcare in this region.



"This honour is well deserved."



NGH's medical director, Hemant Nemade, said: "Robert, and all of our staff who have been involved in this amazing work, travel to Ghana in their own time and have made an enormous contribution to many hundreds of patients in that country."



Mr Hicks said he was "humbled and incredibly proud by the recognition the MBE brings for all the work of our Charity for those people who live in this underserved region of Ghana in a way that has far exceeded my expectations".













Source: BBC









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has paid a glowing tribute to late ET Mensah, a National Democratic Congress stalwart, describing him as a senior and vibrant colleague who made a significant impact on young parliamentarians during his time in Parliament.



He noted that the late Ningo-Prampram MP was admired by almost all the young MPs from both sides of the House until his departure.



During an interview with Citi FM/Citi TVs Umaru Sanda Amadu at the burial service for the late ET Mensah at the forecourt of the State House on Friday, Asiedu Nketiah said the late Council of State member was among the MPs who approached and suggested that he contest to become the NDCs general secretary after deciding to leave Parliament to pursue a PhD.



He emphasized that he secured the position despite former President Rawlings and other stalwarts of the NDC supporting their respective candidates, attributing his success to the work and support provided by the group of MPs that endorsed him for the position.



Something he did, which I will never forget, is that he was part of the group of MPs who recommended me to become the NDC general secretary when I was leaving Parliament after twelve years to pursue my PhD. ET Mensah, Doe Adjaho, Alban Bagbin, John Dramani Mahama, and a few others came together and suggested that the party needed a firebrand, and I did not have a pesewa at the time.



All the seniors in the party had their candidates, but with the backing of ET Mensah, Doe Adjaho, Collins Dauda, John Mahama, and others who pledged to work in their constituencies to ensure my election, I became the general secretary of the NDC, Asiedu Nketiah added.



Mr. Mensah died in South Africa at the age of 77 in October 2023 after battling ill health for some time. His body was later brought to Ghana in the same month.



Enoch Teye Mensah (born May 17, 1946) was a Minister for Education and a Member of Parliament in Ghana from January 1997 till January 2017.



He held several portfolios in government. Until his demise, he was a member of the Council of State.



His funeral service was held at the forecourt of the State House in Accra on Friday, January 5, 2024.

Source: Citinewsroom









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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Ghanaian gospel artist and songwriter, Francis Kofi Dedzi, widely known as Pastor Kofy, has once again captivated audiences with his latest gospel jam titled 'W Mba.'



'W Mba,' a fast-tempo praise song characterized by its beautiful rhythm and impressive treble and bass tunes, is already being hailed for its inspirational message.



We have decided to honour the GAs. We sing more Twi, Ewe and others so I wanted to honour them into the New Year.



W Mba is solely in the Ga language and I am launching it now ahead of my main event in October 2024. Its a compilation of existing songs but I composed two of them myself. I named it W Mba, meaning We are Coming in the Ga language.



Talking about I worked with Ghanaians all over the world in terms of production. It's about 12 minutes of non-stop jam he said in a radio interview at Adom FMs Ofie Kwanso show.



Fans and music enthusiasts are already predicting that the song will make a significant impact both locally and internationally within the music sphere.



Pastor Kofy, a seasoned and spirit-filled gospel artist, has a remarkable track record of delivering soul-stirring performances that leave audiences in awe.



His portfolio boasts hit songs such as "Me Nsa Aka," "Ogyacious," "Malibongwe," and reggae-infused tunes like "Ive Got You Jesus" and "Psalms 23," among others.



Pastor Kofy has consistently emphasized the truthfulness of God and the importance of gratitude in every living soul's journey on earth throughout his career as a gospel artist.



Pastor Kofy made his mark with the launch of his first album, "Me Nsa Aka," in 2007.



He also had the honour of representing Ghana in South Africa as the sole gospel artist from the country after he emerged winner of TV3s Mentor.



The accolades have continued to pour in for Pastor Kofy, who secured the Song of the Year and Energetic Artiste awards at the 2018 Ghana Gospel Music Awards.



Holding a degree in music from the Methodist University Ghana, he has become a trailblazer in the gospel music scene, organizing and directing events such as 'Hour of Worship,' 'Peaceup Africa,' 'Ogyacious Praiz,' and 'Royal Xperience.'



Some of his notable collaborations include 'Yehowa' with award-winning South African gospel artist Ayanda Ntanzi, 'Worthy to be Praised' featuring Dzimusic, Mogmusic, Jacky Larbi, and 'I am Ready' featuring Apostle General Sam Korankye Ankrah in 2021, 'Nyame Akyede3' featuring Elder Dr. Mireku in 2022, and 'Peaceup' featuring Shasha Marley.



Pastor Kofy has graced major events such as Adom Praiz, Happy FM Mass Wedding, MTN platforms, year-end events for banks, Charterhouse events including the VGMA, and many others with his powerful ministry.



Born Francis Blewusi Kofi Dedzi on October 2, 1981, in AkatsiTatorme, Pastor Kofy's journey in music began at the age of 5.



In addition to being a music teacher at the International Community Complex (ICC) in Ghana, Pastor Kofy has also served as the music director for reality shows 'The Pulpit' and 'The Celebration' for four seasons each.



He is not only an award-winning artist but also an event host, consultant to church choirs, and a devoted family man.



As fans eagerly await the impact of 'W Mba' on the gospel music scene, Pastor Kofy remains a versatile, revivalist, and anointed figure in the industry, continuing to inspire and uplift through his musical ministry.



Nonetheless, Pastor Kofy's single 'Higher' resonated in Europe, with performances in stadiums in Swaziland, Belgium, Amsterdam, and Germany, showcasing the artiste's global influence and reach.

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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KYODO NEWS - Jan 5, 2024 - 12:42 | World, All

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected a factory manufacturing launch vehicles for intercontinental ballistic missiles such as the Hwasong-18, calling for output to be boosted in preparation for "a military showdown with the enemy," state-run media said Friday.

During the inspection, the date of which was not stated by the official Korean Central News Agency, Kim underlined the need for the factory to "make signal successes continuously in the production to radically modernize our army."

Kim referred to the importance of producing various military vehicles known as transporter erector launchers for tactical and strategic weapons in "ceaselessly bolstering the nuclear war deterrent of the country," KCNA said.

The Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the ruling party, carried a picture showing multiple TELs. State-run media did not report the location of the factory, but it is believed to be in Pyongsong, a city north of Pyongyang.

Kim was accompanied by his "respected daughter" as well as his younger sister Kim Yo Jong, who is a senior official of North Korea's ruling party, KCNA said.

The inspection followed Kim's instruction at a meeting of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea last week to further boost the country's nuclear arsenal in 2024.

During the factory visit, Kim pointed to "the prevailing grave situation," referring to expanded security cooperation between the United States, South Korea and Japan.

Related coverage:

U.S. says Russia fired North Korean ballistic missiles into Ukraine

John Bolton predicts Trump to disregard U.S. allies if elected

U.S., Japan, S. Korea ties sustained by shared interests: U.S. envoy
Chef Failatu Abdul-Razak is using Jordin cookware in her attempt to set the Guinness World Record for the longest solo cooking session.



These cookware were generously donated by former First Lady Lordina Mahama.



The donation aims to support Chef Faila in achieving her dream and bringing pride to Ghana.



Tamale North MP Alhassan Suhuyini visited Failatu at the Modern City Hotel in Tamale, contributing GH10,000 to assist her.



In a Facebook post, Suhuyini praised Failatu's presentation skills and energy, commending her for distinguishing herself and bringing glory to the country.



"Her tenacity, the pomp, her energy, the food packaging, the camera works, the buzz in the city. Faila is a star and Ghana is a galaxy. Let us think local and act Global always," he posted.

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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A man was killed on Thursday after he was pushed into the tracks at a SEPTA station in Philadelphia.

The incident happened at the Market-Frankford train line at 34th and Market streets, in the University City section of the city, at about 4:40 p.m., according to reports from NBC10, 6ABC and the Philadelphia Inquirer.

A video obtained by police reportedly shows two men arguing at the station, when one of them punches the other, causing him to fall onto the tracks. Shortly afterward, a train pulls into the station, killing the man.

Police initially said that a person had been arrested near 40th Street, but that man did not match the description of the suspect, the Inquirer said.

The station was shut down for several hours as a result of the incident, and SEPTA had to use shuttle buses to take passengers between 30th and 40th Streets stations.

The victim has not been identified yet. Police told the news outlets they are still trying to find out what caused the fight.
A Democratic running for state treasurer challenged Republican incumbent Stacy Garritys character and patriotism over her participation in pro-Trump rally in Harrisburg on the eve of the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.

Stacy Garrity implored people to question the integrity of our election, said Rep. Ryan Bizzarro, D-Erie County, at a news conference in the state Capitol Friday. She demanded our legislators throw out millions of Pennsylvania votes in an attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election. She used her platform to promote and spread lies that instigated the January 6 attack on our democracy.

A spokesman for Garrity called the attacks a distraction and criticized Bizzarro for simultaneously running for treasurer and his state House seat, asking which one he considers the consolation prize.

Bizzarro, the Democratic Partys endorsed candidate for treasurer, said the violence in Washington, D.C., never drew a public apology from Garrity, nor did she accept responsibility for stoking the flames by questioning the 2020 elections validity. He said since she was the highest ranking official who spoke at the Harrisburg rally, she needs to be held accountable.

This November our democracy is on the ballot, he said. We simply cannot afford to give her another opportunity to succeed.

Garrity, through her spokesman Dennis Roddy, called Bizzarros attack on Garrity, a retired Army Reserve colonel, an attempt to distract voters with nonsense accusations.

While Bizzarro questions the treasurers patriotism and mouths platitudes about the constitution, Stacy Garrity took an oath to defend it and did so wearing the uniform of her nation while serving in a war zone overseas, Roddy said. She was defending our freedoms in Iraq while Bizzarro was drawing a public paycheck. Hes a career politician with zero private sector experience who is now attacking the integrity of a decorated Gulf War veteran.

Further, Roddy responded to Bizzarros claim about Garrity not condemning the January 6 attack by sharing a social media post from a Facebook account that expressed sadness over the chaos and violence in our nations Capitol and prayed for the safety of law enforcement officers and soldiers.

Bizzarros primary opponent Erin McClelland of Allegheny County has the same concerns over Garritys participation at that 2021 rally at the state Capitol where Garrity challenged the states election results that went against Trump, but at the same time led to her own victory.

When youre looking at the role of the treasurer, the importance of having an honest broker in that position is fundamental, McClelland said. If you have somebody that looks at an election results in a Republican light one way and a Democratic light in another way, thats alarming.

She said it shows Garrity sees numbers in partisan ways and that is not who we need or the approach we need in controlling $163 billion of our taxpayers money.

Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on X at @JanMurphy.
PennLive has previously reported on how 2024 is shaping up to be quite the year, astronomically speaking.

Part of this may be attributed to the efforts Earthlings are making with regards to space travel. Take, for example, the fact that a robotics company headquartered in Pennsylvania will take a stab at one of the first moon landings since the Apollo missions next week.

The Associated Press reports how Astrobotic Technology  a Pittsburgh-based space robotics company that [specializes] in making space missions feasible and more affordable for science, exploration, and commerce  has planned the liftoff of a lander this coming Monday, Jan. 8, aboard a new United Launch Alliance rocket called Vulcan.

This, notes the Associated Press, will be the first attempt at a lunar landing since the Apollo 17 in 1972, over half a century ago.

According to the Astrobotic Technology website, the lander completing this mission is called the Peregrine, which will carry a diverse suite of scientific instruments, technologies, mementos, and other payloads from six different countries, dozens of science teams, and hundreds of individuals.

And theres another reason this mission is so notable: Space.com states how its the first-ever moon undertaking with a privately-built spacecraft.

But, as the Associated Press points out, Astrobotic isnt the only company vying for a new moon success: Houston-based Intuitive Machines is looking to launch its own lander next month, and Japans vying for a spot on the moon, too. Should the country succeed, itll become the fifth to do so.

NASA confirms how the Vulcan rocket and the Peregrine lander will launch from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at around 2:20 pm. (ET).
By Evan Rosen, Jessica Schladebeck and Jager Weatherby, New York Daily News (TNS)

Officials have identified 17-year-old Perry High School student Dylan Butler as the gunman responsible for an attack on the Iowa high school Thursday morning, which ended with five wounded and two dead, including the shooter.

Butler reportedly shot six people, killing one sixth-grade student, before turning the gun on himself.

The five other victims, including a Perry school administrator, are being treated at hospitals, according to Mitch Mortvedt, assistant director of Iowas Division of Criminal Investigation.

Mortvedt, who spoke during a 4 p.m. news conference outside the school, added that one person remained in critical but not life-threatening condition, while the others were stable. He did not share the identities of the victims; however, local NBC affiliate WHO-TV said the wounded administrator was longtime high school principal Dan Marburger.

The shooter was said to have been armed with a pump-action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun when he carried out the attack. Police also located what they called a rudimentary improvised explosive device in the school that was disarmed.

Police respond to Perry High School in Perry, Iowa., Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. Police say there has been a shooting at the city's high school. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)AP

Butler made a number of social media posts in and around the time of the shooting, Mortvedt added, saying that all evidence leads authorities to believe he acted alone. His social media accounts have since been taken down.

The investigation is ongoing, and as of Thursday evening, investigators have not identified a motive for Butlers attack.

The gunfire erupted on what should have been the first day of students spring semester, before school had officially started for the day, police said. However, there was a breakfast program taking place, where students of different grades were together inside a common area.

The first reports of a possible active shooter started flooding in around 7:40 a.m. local time, according to authorities.

Law enforcement officers spanning multiple agencies  including the Dallas County Sheriffs Office and the Perry Police Department  raced to the high school in the suburbs roughly 25 miles northwest of Des Moines. When they arrived on the scene, within minutes of the initial call, officers discovered multiple people suffering gunshot wounds.

Police respond to Perry High School in Perry, Iowa., Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)AP

Video shared on social media showed police officers and law enforcement cruisers circling the building, blocking off the streets surrounding the school.

By 8:25 a.m., the nearby middle school was cleared, while a second team declared the high school safe just minutes later, according to WHO-TV. The elementary school was also evacuated as a result of the violence, and students were dismissed for the day shortly after 8:30 a.m.

Our hearts are broken by this senseless tragedy. Our prayers are with the students, teachers and families of the Perry community, said Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds.
By Lisa Rathke, The Associated Press

A Connecticut woman who pushed for expanded access to Vermonts law that allows people who are terminally ill to receive lethal medication to end their lives died in Vermont on Thursday, an event her husband called comfortable and peaceful, just like she wanted.

Lynda Bluestein, who had terminal cancer, ended her life by taking prescribed medication.

Her last words were Im so happy I dont have to do this [suffer] anymore, her husband Paul wrote in an email on Thursday to the group Compassion & Choices, which was shared with The Associated Press.

The organization filed a lawsuit against Vermont in 2022 on behalf of Bluestein, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, and Diana Barnard, a physician from Middlebury. The suit claimed Vermonts residency requirement in its so-called patient choice and control at end of life law violated the U.S. Constitutions commerce, equal protection, and privileges and immunities clauses.

The state agreed to a settlement last March that allowed Bluestein, who is not a Vermont resident, to use the law to die in Vermont. And two months later, Vermont made such accommodations available to anyone in similar circumstances, becoming the first state in the country to change its law to allow terminally ill people from out of state to take advantage of it to end their lives.

Lynda was an advocate all the way through, and she wanted access to this law and she had it, but she and everybody deserves to have access much closer to home because the need to travel and to make arrangements around the scheduling to come to Vermont is not something that we wish for people to have, " Barnard said.

Barnard said its a sad day because her life came to an end, But more than a silver lining is the beauty and the peace that came from Lynda having a say in what happened at the very end of her life.

Ten states allow medically assisted suicide but before Vermont changed its law only one state  Oregon  allowed non-residents to do it, by not enforcing the residency requirement as part of a court settlement. Oregon went on to remove that requirement this past summer.

Vermonts law, in effect since 2013, allows physicians to prescribe lethal medication to people with an incurable illness that is expected to kill them within six months.

Supporters say the law has stringent safeguards, including a requirement that those who seek to use it be capable of making and communicating their health-care decision to a physician. Patients are required to make two requests orally to the physician over a certain timeframe and then submit a written request, signed in the presence of two or more witnesses who arent interested parties. The witnesses must sign and affirm that patients appeared to understand the nature of the document and were free from duress or undue influence at the time.

Others express moral opposition to assisted suicide and say there are no safeguards to protect vulnerable patients from coercion.

FILE - In this image taken from video, Lynda Bluestein smiles during an interview in the living room of her home, Feb. 28, 2023, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. (AP Photo/Rodrique Ngowi, File)AP

Bluestein, a lifelong activist, who advocated for similar legislation to be passed in Connecticut and New York, which has not happened, wanted to make sure she didnt die like her mother, in a hospital bed after a prolonged illness. She told The Associated Press last year that she wanted to pass away surrounded by her husband, children, grandchildren, wonderful neighbors, friends and dog.

I wanted to have a death that was meaningful, but that it didnt take forever for me to die, she said.

I want to live the way I always have, and I want my death to be in keeping with the way I wanted my life to be always, Bluestein said. I wanted to have agency over when cancer had taken so much for me that I could no longer bear it. Thats my choice.

Rathke reported from Marshfield, Vt.
U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick said Friday that his recent trip to Israel, where he met with survivors of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, only bolstered his resolve to support Americas longtime ally.

I returned from Israel more convinced than ever of the need for America to show solidarity with Israel, but also the fact that Hamas is a source of evil and must be destroyed, McCormick, a Republican, said during a call with reporters.

McCormick and his wife, Dina, visited a kibbutz attacked by Hamas, spoke with survivors of the massacre at a music festival, visited the Western Wall, and met with Israel Defense Forces (IDF) leaders and Israel President Isaac Herzog.

Looking into Gaza from 600-700 meters away in a destroyed kibbutz, McCormick said he became acutely aware of the threat Hamas presents.

You recognize that it is impossible to live side-by-side with that kind of terror, that kind of evil, he said. We need clarity in our moral leadership, clarity in our support. This is not a time for equivocation. We need to support Israel in its totality.

McCormick said his trip demonstrates that Im someone who will act and someone who will try to understand issues, someone who will stake out a leadership position with conviction, which is a real contrast with my opponent, Bob Casey, who has been weak and timid in this particular area.

In response, Tiernan Donohue, Caseys campaign manager, said McCormick cant cover up the truth of his record with a political stunt. McCormick, a former hedge fund executive, is the presumptive GOP nominee to challenge Casey in the general election.

Donohue said McCormick spent his career cozying up to foreign adversaries like Saudi Arabia and China, and now he actually supports Speaker Johnsons efforts to block funding for Israel. Meanwhile, Senator Casey has been a leader in the Senate fighting for aid to help Israel defeat Hamas.

On the 20-minute call, McCormick said it was a very emotional and powerful trip that strengthened his support for Israels response to Hamas attack that he called a war crime and a horror and a depravity.

McCormick said he and his wife visited a kibbutz that formerly had 700 residents where more than 100 people were killed by Hamas and more than a dozen taken hostage.

He recalled walking through the rubble and looking at blood stains and the pock marks left in buildings by bullets and grenades. It just reinforces what a horrific act of terror this really was, he said.

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick inspects the front of a home damaged by gunfire during the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. The red dot means that someone was killed in the home. Photo provided by the McCormick campaign.Submitted

McCormick also said he watched a 47-minute-long video made by the IDF from footage taken from Hamas body cams and surveillance cameras.

Brutal killings of families. Fathers killed in front of their children. Women dragged and mutilated. Houses burned. Families destroyed, he said, adding that necessity of destroying Hamas is even more clear in my mind now.

McCormick, a West Point graduate and decorated U.S. Army combat veteran, said IDF officials shared with him the efforts they make to avoid tragic civilian casualties.

I believe the Israeli military is taking all the steps it can to minimize the impact of its military operations on innocent civilians, he said. The problem is Hamas has essentially embedded itself into the civilian infrastructure, has used the Gazans as human shields, has stopped the flow of humanitarian aid and blocked the escape of many Gazans into the safe zones.

McCormick said the Biden administration has overseen a failure of deterrence when it comes to Iran funding Hamas and backing attacks in the region on American troops and interests.

Our adversaries smell weakness and theyre testing us and were failing the test, he said.
Two new police officers were welcomed to the city of Harrisburg Thursday during a semi-annual ceremony to celebrate new beginnings for employees at various points in their careers.

The 10 a.m. ceremony at the Whitaker Center honored the new officers, plus five who achieved promotion, and seven who earned retirement, including the deputy police chief and a police dog.

The journey starts today, Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams said during her remarks. I know that each young man or woman who raises their hand to protect the City of Harrisburg, our city becomes just a little bit safer, she included. The city is proud of you, I am proud of you.

Zachary Donmoyer and Solomon Myers were sworn in as the citys newest police officers. Both officers will begin their six-month police academy training at Harrisburg Area Community College on Jan. 9.

Police Commissioner Thomas Carter said this year marks one of the smallest sworn-in classes for the bureau.

The men bring the current total of sworn, uniformed officers to 136, according to City spokesman Matt Maisel. Thats down dozens of positions from where the city would like.

The city is aiming for an allotment of 162 employees. Currently there are vacancies for 14 additional police cadets, two sergeants, one corporal, one lieutenant, a forensic investigator, a detective, and a new deputy police chief.

Harrisburgs budget also includes 28 non-uniformed civilian workers, with three vacancies among those employees, Maisel said.

Carter talked about the importance of police officers honoring justice and fairness for all residents.

As police officers when you go through training, you are taught to treat people fair and impartial, he said. Unfortunately, right now in this country, thats a hard thing to do, but Harrisburg police seem do it well, and that makes me proud.

We cannot stop every crime or every homicide, but our officers do an exceptional job, and last year was one of our lowest homicide rates, Carter said.

Harrisburg Police recorded 13 deaths by homicides in 2023, down from 23 the year before which set a record for the highest number of killings since 1987.

Heres a list of the officers recognized at Thursdays ceremony:

Ofc. Zachary Donmoyer

Ofc. Zachary Domoyer.Harrisburg Police Bureau

Donmoyer began his journey in public safety after graduating from Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology and being hired by Frederick County Fire and Rescue in Maryland. Before the Harrisburg native was hired by Harrisburg police, he worked for Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Donmoyer currently lives in Jonestown with his two dogs and fiancee.

Ofc. Solomon Myers

Ofc. Solomon Myers.Harrisburg Police Bureau

After graduating from high school in 2018, the Mount Joy native worked as a foreman in roofing and establishing a career in carpentry. After five years of working in construction, he applied to work for the Harrisburg City Police Department to pursue a lifelong dream of working in law enforcement. He married his wife in 2022, and they have two sons.

Here are the five officers who were promoted along with information about them provided by the city:

Sgt. Antwyn Chatman

Sgt. Antwyn Chatman.Harrisburg Police Bureau

Chatman was born and raised in Chicago. Over the course of his career, Chatman worked in the Uniformed Patrol Division, Community Policing Unit, and Housing Unit after beginning his career in law enforcement with the Harrisburg police in July 2005. As a Harrisburg resident, Chatman said hes committed to being a positive image for the bureau. He and his wife have three children and a grandson.

Cpr. Anthony Cummings

Cpr. Anthony Cummings.Harrisburg Police Bureau

Cummings was born in Lancaster County and raised in Mount Joy. He was a paramedic and a deputy game warden prior to working as a police officer in Harrisburg in 2017. During his time with Harrisburg, Cummings served as a patrol forensic officer, field training officer, and a detective. He is also an instructor for first aid/CPR and defensive tactics and is a member of the Dauphin County Crisis Response team. He graduated from Donegal High School in 2005.

Cpr. Andrew Cortelazzi

Cpr. Andrew Cortelazzi.Harrisburg Police Bureau

Cortelazzi began his law enforcement career in 2012 before joining Harrisburg police in 2018. He has mostly worked on the 3rd Platoon, Uniformed Patrol Division. In this role, he served as a field training officer, patrol rifle operator, and assisted with background investigations. Cortelazzi has also served on the street crimes unit, and actively assists with the in-house training of new officers.

Corporal Cortelazzi is a graduate of Top Gun Narcotics School through the Pennsylvania National Tactical Officers Association, and has completed numerous other trainings relevant to narcotics investigations.

Corporal Farida Kingsboro

Cpr. Farida Kingsboro.Harrisburg Police Bureau

Corporal Farida Kingsboro was born and raised overseas and is the first Middle Eastern hire of Egyptian descent at the Harrisburg Bureau of Police.

She served as a medic in the Army where she achieved the rank of sergeant and spent one year on a combat deployment in Afghanistan. Kingsboro started with Harrisburg in 2018 as a midnight shift officer on 1st platoon, before moving to 3rd platoon in 2023. She assisted in the advancement of new officers as a Field Training Officer and as an instructor at the police academy.

Kingsboro is a tactical medicine instructor, a patrol rifle operator, a member of the Honor Guard, and a negotiator with the Dauphin County Crisis Response Team. In addition, she speaks three languages.

Cpr. Chad McGowan

Cpr. Chad McGowan.Harrisburg Police Bureau

McGowan was raised in Dallastown. In 2009, he graduated from York College of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. He began his career as a police officer in the Poconos before joining the ranks of the Harrisburg police in 2013. Since then, he has been assigned to both the street crimes unit and the uniformed patrol division.

He comes from a large family and is engaged to be married.

Among the retirements celebrated Thursday, Deputy Chief Dennis Sorensen was honored for his 32 years of service. His last day is January 10. During the event, the police department played a video which showcased memorable photos of Sorensen on duty along with other pictures that included his family friends, and coworkers.

Deputy Chief Dennis Sorensen was honored for his 32 years of service with the Harrisburg Bureau of Police.Zahriah Balentine

One of the reasons my words fall short today is because there is no other Dennis Sorensen, said Commissioner Carter. The City of Harrisburg and its citizens will sorely miss him.

The other six honored for retirement and their years of service are:

Animal Control Officer Fred Lamke: 1985 - 2023

K9 Zoe: 2018 - 2023

Captain Milo Hooper: 1996 - 2023

Lieutenant James Galkowski: 1996 - 2023

Sergeant Robert Minnier: 2001 - 2024

Sergeant Teresa Covey: 2001 - 2024

Click here to watch the ceremony.
With the snowfall expected on Saturday, Harrisburg officials are planning ahead to try to get as much of the mess cleared from the streets as quickly as possible.

That means they are encouraging residents to park in the Locust Street Garage over the weekend to allow the citys large equipment to plow curb to curb on neighborhood streets.

Vehicles may be left in the garage at 214 Locust Street in downtown Harrisburg starting at 6 p.m. tonight through 6 p.m. Sunday for free, for city residents.

As a bonus, you wont have to scrape snow off your car if its stored in the garage all weekend.

Trash pickup also will begin sooner on Saturday, at 4 a.m., so workers can try to finish their routes before the snow is expected to begin about 10 a.m.

Some areas of Pennsylvania could see snow accumulation of 4 to 7 over the two days, the National Weather Service says. Mixed precipitation (rain, sleet) will keep the total snowfall amount down in the lower part of the Susquehanna Valley. Where that transition zone happens is unknown, but it could be around Dauphin County.

In the Harrisburg area, snow is expected to start falling after 1 p.m. Saturday and continue into Sunday. The weather service prediction as of Thursday night is for the Harrisburg area to get 2 to 4 of snow by Sunday.
Want a say in the news? Email Claudia at todayinpa@pennlive.com to have your thoughts on the stories covered here or on PennLive heard.

You can listen to the latest episode of Today in Pa at this link, or on any of your favorite apps including Alexa, Apple, Spotify, and Stitcher. Episodes are available every weekday on PennLive. Feel free to subscribe, follow or rate Today in Pa. as you see fit!

Today in Pa. Daily Podcast | January 5, 2024

State officials are taking precautionary steps against potential future threats of deepfakes in politics. State police made over 320 DUI arrests over New Years weekend, down from last year. A Pittsburgh-based space robotics company is attempting to make the first U.S. moon landing since the Apollo missions. Finally, this years butter sculpture has been unveiled ahead of the Farm Show this weekend.

Those are the stories we cover in the latest episode of Today in Pa., a daily weekday podcast from PennLive.com and hosted by Claudia Dimuro. Today in Pa. is dedicated to sharing the most important and interesting stories pertaining to Pennsylvania that lets you know, indeed, whats happening today in Pa.

Todays episode refers to the following articles:

If you enjoy Today in Pa., consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or on Amazon. Reviews help others find the show and, besides, wed like to know what you think about the program, too.

As sponsored by Renewal by Anderson of Central PA.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 5, 2024 - 23:00 | All, World, Japan

The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.

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Japan increases manpower for quake rescues, deaths top 90

TOKYO - Japan on Friday ramped up its search and rescue operations in quake-ravaged Ishikawa Prefecture, deploying additional police and Self-Defense Forces members, as the death toll rose to 94 with over 200 people unaccounted for.

The search for survivors faced ongoing challenges due to extensive structural damage, landslides and aftershocks following the magnitude-7.6 temblor that struck the Noto Peninsula on New Year's Day.

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Japan business chiefs vow to push for higher pay as PM pressures

TOKYO - Chiefs of Japanese major business lobbies on Friday vowed to push for larger pay hikes than last year after Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called on them to increase wages so that they outpace rising prices at a New Year's event.

"We will tackle the issue of wage increases with stronger passion and resolve than last year," Masakazu Tokura, chairman of the Japan Business Federation, also known as Keidanren, said at the event, adding, "Japan is now faced with a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get out of deflation completely."

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Runway entry alert operating normally during Tokyo airport collision

TOKYO - A monitoring system that alerts flight controllers when an aircraft enters an airport runway to prevent accidents was operating normally when a Japan Airlines jetliner collided with a Japan Coast Guard aircraft at Tokyo's Haneda airport earlier this week, the transport ministry said Friday.

The function causes the entire runway to flash yellow on the controller's display, with the aircraft in red, when it detects an entry. Investigators will look into the possibility that the controller may have missed the onscreen alert.

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Celebrated Japanese photographer Kishin Shinoyama dies aged 83

TOKYO - Japanese photographer Kishin Shinoyama, known for portraits of Beatles musician John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono among other celebrities over his five-decade career, died of old age Thursday, his office said. He was 83.

Shinoyama, whose real name was Michinobu Shinoyama, photographed iconic figures across diverse genres, including novelist Yukio Mishima (1925-1970), singer Momoe Yamaguchi, actress Rie Miyazawa and Kabuki actor Bando Tamasaburo.

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North Korea's Kim seeks increased output of ICBM launch vehicles

BEIJING - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected a factory manufacturing launch vehicles for intercontinental ballistic missiles such as the Hwasong-18, calling for output to be boosted in preparation for "a military showdown with the enemy," state-run media said Friday.

During the inspection, the date of which was not stated by the official Korean Central News Agency, Kim underlined the need for the factory to "make signal successes continuously in the production to radically modernize our army."

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Japan's new car sales increase 13.8% in 2023, 1st rise in 5 yrs

TOKYO - New car sales in Japan grew 13.8 percent in 2023 from the previous year, climbing for the first time in five years as manufacturers ramped up production following an ease in the global semiconductor shortage, data from industry bodies showed Friday.

Automakers sold 4,779,086 cars domestically last year, including minivehicles with engines of up to 660 cc, although the numbers failed to return to prepandemic levels, according to the Japan Automobile Dealers Association and the Japan Light Motor Vehicle and Motorcycle Association.

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N. Korea fires 200 artillery shots near maritime border with South

SEOUL - North Korea fired some 200 artillery shells near the de facto maritime border with South Korea on Friday morning, South Korean military said.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said that North Korea fired the artillery shots from Jangsan Cape, north of South Korea's northernmost island of Baengnyeong, and Deungsan Cape, north of the South's western border island of Yeonpyeong, from around 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

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Baseball: Ohtani, Dodgers to make donations to quake-hit Japan areas

LOS ANGELES - Shohei Ohtani and his new club the Los Angeles Dodgers will make donations to the central Japan areas hit by a powerful earthquake on New Year's Day, the two-way star posted Thursday on his Instagram.

Ohtani will make a personal donation of an unspecified amount, while the Dodgers and Guggenheim Baseball, the ownership group of the MLB club, will jointly donate $1 million, the post said.

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Tuna fetches 114 million yen at New Year auction in Tokyo

TOKYO - A bluefin tuna fetched 114.24 million yen ($789,000) on Friday at the New Year's auction at Tokyo's Toyosu fish market, the fourth highest price since record-keeping began in 1999.

The 238-kilogram fish, caught off the coast of Oma in Aomori Prefecture, northeastern Japan, was jointly bought by Tokyo-based intermediate wholesaler Yamayuki and the company that operates the Sushi Ginza Onodera restaurant.

Video: Rescue operation continues after earthquake struck Ishikawa Prefecture
A member of a Luzerne County school board resigned this week after comments he made about the Vice President of the United States resurfaced.

Crestwood School Board Member Robert Derwin resigned from his post late Wednesday evening following the discovery of racist and derogatory remarks he made on social media more than two years ago about Vice President Kamala Harris, according to the Times-Leader and Fox56.

The posts he made on his Facebook page were from 2021, where he called Vice President Kamala Harris a whore, a Black whore and a pig. He posted similar attacks on President Joe Biden, the news sites said.

After the comments were discovered, the Wilkes-Barre NAACP chapter called for his removal earlier this week.

On Wednesday afternoon during a phone interview with Times Leader, Derwin said that he regretted bringing race into the issue and apologized if he offended anyone in the Black community, but stood by his whore comment, arguing that the word does not necessarily mean sexual promiscuity. As an example, he said he considers a property owner who overcharges for rent to also be a whore.

The Crestwood School District received the resignation of School Board member Robert Derwin on the evening of Wednesday, Jan.3, 2024, effective immediately, the district said in a media release. The past and recent social media posts and videos of Mr. Robert Derwin do not reflect the standards we hold at the Crestwood School District, rather the language and actions are inappropriate and not condoned.

In addition to a statement the Wilkes-Barre NAACP chapter issued that called for Derwins resignation, Darryl Lewis, the chapters executive committee assistant secretary, said the accusation is similar to the way some people have talked about black women in the past.

Using allegations of promiscuity, lasciviousness and moral depravity is a technique that literally goes back since slavery. Its often that women who were owned or did not have a right to choose were sexually abused, and the wives of the people who owned them would accuse them of being seducers or whores, Lewis said to Times Leader. It is this instance of highlighting her race and the insistence of throwing the accusation of whore that provides the overtone of racism.

We see that he has made apologies for the racist undertones of his statement, however, Its still conduct that is unbefitting of somebody in the position of a school board member, Lewis said to Fox56.

The school district is currently accepting letters of interest to replace Derwins position on the school board until Jan. 12, Fox56 reported.
WILLIAMSPORT  The River Valley Regional YMCA has dropped its appeal of the revocation of the license of the childcare center at its Williamsport branch.

The state Department of Human Services (DHS) revoked the license in September following an investigation that found gross incompetence, negligence and misconduct in its operation.

Continuing to operate in that manner likely would constitute an immediate and serious danger to the life or health of the children in care, the order signed by deputy secretary Shante A. Brown stated.

River Valley CEO Chad Eberhart said Thursday he has a meeting scheduled next week with DHS to confirm the YMCAs next steps but declined to elaborate further.

The center may not operate without a license, a DHS spokesperson said.

The DHS report on its investigation states staff interviews and a video review verified the following happened on Aug. 31 at the center on Walnut Street:

A staff member dragged, screamed and used excessive force and aggressive behavior toward a child,

A second staff member saw the first one pick up the child and slam it to the floor twice.

The first staff member was observed via video dragging a child toward a wall.

Other findings by DHS included:

On Aug. 24, two children left the facility on Walnut Street and were found on the sidewalk near the parking lot. The two staff members were aware for more than a minute the children were alone and unsupervised.

On Aug. 14, the two staff members appeared not to count the children when they entered the building and that resulted in a 2-year-old being left alone on the playground for approximately 90 seconds.

A staff member is shown on video pulling preschool children by their arms, roughly carrying one by an arm and ankle to the office, making loud degrading statements regarding their behavior and whether their medication was working.

Six children ages 4 and 5 were placed in timeout multiple times for 11 to 12 minutes.

A staff member was observed physically keeping a child between herself and a wall for approximately seven minutes and on another occasion holding two children with her arms in timeout chairs.

Staff members did not interact or direct childrens activities for long periods and there were four occasions when one of them was left alone with 16 preschoolers.

The forced closing affected 95 families whose children ranged in age from 6 weeks to 5 years.

Then Lycoming County District Attorney Ryan C. Gardner asked Williamsport police to investigate whether the abuse rose to the level of criminal charges.

Attempts to learn from the police whether the investigation still is active were unsuccessful.
By Mark S. Schweiker

On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, the sun shone brightly. Little did we know that this beautiful day would end as the second bloodiest on American soil in history. The dust had hardly settled when our Pennsylvania Task Force One (PA-TF1) deployed to help with the search and rescue efforts.

PA-TF1 was the first out-of-state urban search-and-rescue (USAR) to assist on what became known as The Pile, the 1.8 million tons of wreckage left from the collapse of the World Trade Center towers.

Now, more than two decades since 9/11, some are calling for a second USAR team in Western Pennsylvania.

Once a natural disaster or terrorist incident strikes, fast delivery of the most appropriate resources are critical to save lives, limit suffering and properly stage for recovery. Each USAR team is composed of 70 members. These members specialize in search, rescue, medicine, hazardous materials, logistics and planning. They include physicians, engineers, canine search teams and other specialists. Each team should be ready to deploy within six hours of a disaster.

PA-TF1 is based in Philadelphia. Whether the commonwealth needs a second USAR team for Western Pennsylvania is an important conversation to have given emergencies like the Fern Hollow Bridge collapse in Pittsburgh.

When those conversations occur, they must include a complete cataloguing of emergency assets across the commonwealth to identify the specific capabilities and location of these resources in order to identify asset gaps in our USAR infrastructure.

To be clear, this is a challenge many states face. Today, there is an intrinsic local, state and federal USAR capability across our nation, including specialists in chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives (CBRNE), as well as swift water rescue.

The flooding this summer in my own county of Bucks, where seven lives were lost, revealed the critical need for swift water rescue capabilities and swift water rescue units ready to go when needed.

FEMA regions have a list of resources, but this information cant be found in one central database or communicated easily between states or across FEMA regions. Even now, there remains no rapid process for identifying resources for addressing a catastrophic disaster affecting multiple states and regions or multiple disasters occurring at the same time.

Simply put, the lack of an instantaneous nationwide database may lead to delays in emergency response  when every second counts.

This brings us back to Pennsylvania. The need for quickly deployable and diverse assets is clear. Fortunately, the Shapiro administration stands as a strong proponent of building effective emergency response infrastructure.

Pennsylvania should consider a second USAR team based in the Southwest that would operate solely within the commonwealths borders. If created, Pennsylvania will have to develop a long-term funding structure for its operation.

Timing and prompt action to launch a second team is critical. PA-TF1 will be an important component to our readiness infrastructure in the Southeast as we prepare for millions of people to descend on Philadelphia in 2026 to celebrate the 250th year of Americas birth.

Standing up a second team will ensure Pennsylvania is prepared to respond quickly to emergencies anywhere in the commonwealth.

Mark S. Schweiker, who served as the 44th governor of Pennsylvania, is now executive-in-residence of Rider Universitys homeland security program.
By BRIAN WITTE, The Associated Press

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP)  A former police officer who defended the U.S. Capitol against rioters on Jan. 6 announced Friday he is running for Congress in Maryland.

Harry Dunn wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he will be running in a crowded Democratic primary to replace Rep. John Sarbanes, a Democrat who is not seeking reelection.

Dunn made the announcement a day before the third anniversary of the attack at the Capitol that disrupted the certification of the 2020 election, saying in his campaign announcement that former President Donald Trump was hell-bent on finishing what he started three years ago.

On January 6th, I defended our democracy from insurrectionists as a Capitol Police Officer. After, President Biden honored me with the Presidential Citizens Medal, Dunn wrote in the announcement of his candidacy. Today, Im running for Congress to stop Trumps MAGA extremists & ensure it never happens again.

On January 6th, I defended our democracy from insurrectionists as a Capitol Police Officer. After, President Biden honored me with the Presidential Citizens Medal.



Today, Im running for Congress to stop Trump's MAGA extremists & ensure it never happens again.



Join me: pic.twitter.com/5G3rd90O45  Harry Dunn (@libradunn) January 5, 2024

Dunn is running in Marylands 3rd Congressional District, which stretches between Baltimore and the nations capital. The race already has drawn five state legislators to run in the heavily Democratic district.

In a video Dunn released on the social media site, he said he left the police force a few weeks ago after more than 15 years of service to make his congressional bid.

Im stepping into a new role today, but I cant do it alone, Dunn said. I believe everyone of us has a role to play in this fight. So join me. Weve got a democracy to protect.

Dunn, who testified before the Jan. 6 committee in Washington, told lawmakers about an exchange he had with rioters who had fully bought into Trumps false claims that the election was stolen and believed nobody voted for Joe Biden.

In his testimony before Congress in 2021, Dunn, who is Black, described how rioters yelled racial slurs at him after he told them that he voted for Biden and his vote should be counted. Dunn said a crowd of Capitol intruders yelled a racial slur at him, something that never happened while he was on duty during more than a dozen years on the force.

More:

President Biden, in Pa. on Friday, to address Jan. 6 riots, democracy

Jan. 6 rioter sentenced in secret provided information to authorities, court papers say

Pa. man gets prison term for assaulting officers during Jan. 6 Capitol attack
BEIJING, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday urged the United States to stop bullying and restricting Chinese students in the name of national security, adding the U.S. needs to ensure the security and lawful rights and interests of Chinese students and scholars in the country.

Spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks at a daily press briefing in response to a related query.

Wang said the U.S. has long been wantonly suppressing and ill-treating Chinese students traveling to the U.S. with lawful and valid identifications and visas. Some of the students were interrogated, confined, forced into confession, induced and even deported without just cause. Every month for the past few months, the U.S. deported dozens of Chinese arriving in the U.S., including students. "This is a clear case of selective, discriminatory and politically motivated law enforcement. We strongly deplore and firmly oppose this."

He said the U.S. likes to portray itself as open, inclusive and a place for academic freedom, but it wrongly adopted Proclamation 10043 and put it into force, overstretched the concept of national security, politicized and weaponized academic research and repeatedly interrogated, harassed and deported Chinese students.

"Such behavior has seriously undermined the students' lawful rights and interests and poisoned the atmosphere for China-U.S. people-to-people exchanges. It goes against the two Presidents' agreement to promote and facilitate people-to-people exchanges and the two peoples' shared desire for more friendly exchanges," said Wang.

China urges the U.S. to act on its commitment of welcoming Chinese students to study in the U.S., withdraw the unjust Proclamation 10043 and stop bullying and restricting Chinese students in the name of national security, the spokesperson said.

The U.S. needs to ensure the security and lawful rights and interests of Chinese students and scholars in the U.S. and take concrete steps to support and facilitate people-to-people exchanges and cross-border travel between the two countries as it has promised, said Wang. "China will continue to take necessary measures to resolutely protect Chinese citizens' lawful rights and interests. We also remind Chinese students traveling to the U.S. to be mindful of such risks." 
Visitors learn about new energy vehicles of Chinese carmaker BYD during the 27th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area International Auto Show at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, June 16, 2023. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)

BEIJING, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- China's new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturers closed 2023 with better-than-expected performances and optimism for the year ahead, industry insiders have said.

A report from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) published on Wednesday has estimated that the country's wholesale NEV sales totaled 8.88 million units in 2023, which would mark a notable expansion of 38 percent year on year.

Leading Chinese NEV manufacturers that have already released their delivery and production figures for 2023 saw significant increases.

Beginning the new year, industry insiders are predicting more powerful growth in the NEV market in 2024. Zhang Yongwei, vice president of electric vehicle industry think tank China EV100, expects the production and sales volumes of Chinese NEVs to ramp up further.

BEATING EXPECTATIONS IN 2023

Although 2023 got off to a weak start with the withdrawal of NEV subsidies that had been in place for 13 years, the NEV market demonstrated resilience and came out strong at the end of December.

Chinese NEV giant BYD concluded the year with a record-breaking sales volume, according to a recent performance report. The company sold over 3.02 million vehicles throughout the year -- a substantial surge of 61.9 percent from the previous year that led BYD to surpass its 3-million annual sales target.

GAC Aion, a NEV subsidiary of GAC Group, logged 77 percent full-year sales growth over 2022 to top 480,000 units, and startup carmaker NIO saw its new car deliveries increase 30.7 percent to over 160,000 units in 2023.

It's worth noting that the overseas markets for China's NEV brands have displayed an upward trend in sync with the domestic market, according to the December CPCA report.

BYD data shows that the company saw its exports grow by about 334 percent to over 240,000 units in 2023, with its reach spanning more than 70 countries and regions on six continents.

SOLID UNDERPINNING FOR 2024

On the basis of 2023's solid fundamentals and various government policies spurring vehicle consumption, the NEV sector is bullish about growth this year.

CPCA Secretary General Cui Dongshu has projected that wholesale sales of Chinese passenger NEVs will surge 22 percent to top 11 million units in 2024, and that the NEV penetration rate will reach 40 percent.

Boosted by the upbeat sentiment, the heads of China's NEV brands have set their sights on loftier goals.

Li Xiang, CEO of emerging carmaker Li Auto, said the company will challenge itself to meet single-month delivery targets of 100,000 units and an annual delivery target of 800,000 units this year, compared with the 50,000-unit and 376,000-unit goals that have been achieved in 2023.

And Chery, another rising automaker in China, is aiming to launch 24 hybrid models and 15 pure electric models in the next two years.

China has been working to unleash its domestic NEV consumption potential at every level over the last year. In a major move, it extended its preferential purchase tax policy for NEVs to the end of 2027 in June 2023.

Individual regions also fleshed out specific incentive measures at the end of last year. Suzhou in Jiangsu Province introduced a digital yuan subsidy policy for car buyers, granting 4,000-yuan (about 563.40 U.S. dollars) subsidies to buyers purchasing vehicles priced between 200,000 yuan and 300,000 yuan, and 6,000-yuan subsidies to those purchasing vehicles priced above 300,000 yuan.

Those familiar with the industry anticipate more competition for Chinese NEV makers in 2024 and 2025, in light of an intensive vehicle model launch schedule and the industry's accelerated pace of product iteration.

"The year 2024 could be a crucial year for China's NEV industry to continue enlarging its presence in the global arena and being a driving force for economic and social development," said Zhang Yongwei. 
OlyBet Showdown Vilnius Ace Breaker Kicks Off Poker in the Baltics in 2024

January 05, 2024 Matthew Pitt Senior Editor

The Lithuanian capital city, Vilnius, is hosting the first major live poker festival in the Baltics in 2024, the OlyBet Showdown Vilnius Ace Breaker. Held at the Olympic Casino Lietuva in the heart of vibrant Vilnius, the OlyBet Showdown Vilnius Ace Breaker has a schedule of over 25 tournaments and satellites between January 27 and February 4.

OlyBet-run events went from strength to strength in 2023, so everything points to the OlyBet Showdown Vilnius Ace breaker being nothing short of huge. The crown jewel on the bustling nine-day schedule is, without doubt, the 555 buy-in Main Event, which comes with an estimated prize pool of 250,000 and approximately 50,000 for the eventual champion.

Day 1A takes place from 4:00 p.m. CET on January 30, with Day 1B commencing at 12:00 p.m. CET on January 31. On the same day, at 8:00 p.m. CET, a turbo-structured Day 1C gives players a third and final bite at the cherry.

Surviving players return to the Olympic Casino Lietuva on February 1, where the clock extends to 60 minutes, with the champion crowned on Day 3 on February 2.

OlyBet ran a similar tournament in November 2023. It attracted 359 entrants, who created a 172,320 prize pool. Lithuanian Vitoldas Rogoza came out on top in that event, turning his 555 investment into 34,410.

A few months early, in late June 2023, Aurimas Stanevicius outlasted 359 opponents on his way to clinching the 34,975 top prize.

With several live satellites and online qualifiers at OlyBet, the Vilnius Showdown Ace Breaker Main Event's attendance should eclipse both those previous tournaments.

OlyBet Showdown Vilnius  Ace Breaker Full Schedule

Date Time Event Sat 27 Jan 12:00 p.m. 350 NLHE PKO Warm Up Day 1 6:00 p.m. 30 Satellite to Main Event Day 1A 8:00 p.m. 150 NLHE Saturday Knockout Sun 28 Jan 12:00 p.m. NLHE PKO Warm Up Day 2 1:00 p.m. 250 NLHE Bounty Hunter 6:00 p.m. 30 Satellite to Main Event Day 1A 8:00 p.m. 120 NLHE/PLO Mix Mon 29 Jan 12:00 p.m. 30 Satellite to Main Event Day 1A 4:00 p.m. 350 NLHE Monday Special 9:00 p.m. 150 NLHE Monday Express Tue 30 Jan 12:00 p.m. 30 Satellite to Main Event Day 1A 4:00 p.m. 555 NLHE Main Event Day 1A 10:00 p.m. 120 NLHE Tuesday Express Knockout Wed 31 Jan 12:00 p.m. 30 Last Chance Satellite to Main Event 12:00 p.m. 555 NLHE Main Event Day 1B 4:00 p.m. 30 Satellite to High Roller 8:00 p.m. 555 NLHE Main Event Day 1C Turbo 10:00 p.m. 150 NLHE Win the Button PKO Thu 1 Feb 1:00 p.m. 555 NLHE Main Event Day 2 3:00 p.m. 250 NLHE Thursday Thrill 6:00 p.m. 250 PLO/5-Card PLO Mix 10:00 p.m. 30 Satellite to High Roller Fri 2 Feb 12:00 p.m. NLHE Main Event Day 3 12:00 p.m. 30 Last Chance Satellite to High Roller 4:00 p.m. 1,100 NLHE High Roller Day 1 6:00 p.m. 250 NLHE Friday Night Special 9:00 p.m. 30 Satellite to Kings of Tallinn Main Event Sat 3 Feb 1:00 p.m. 1,100 NLHE High Roller Day 2 2:00 p.m. 60 NLHE Queens of Vilnius 3:00 p.m. 350 NLHE OlyBet Special Day 1 8:00 p.m. 150 NLHE Saturday Express Sun 4 Feb 12:00 p.m. 350 NLHE OlyBet Special Day 2 1:00 p.m. 250 NLHE Wrap Up PKO

Although the 555 buy-in Main Event is the showpiece of the festival, over two dozen side events complement it and are worth checking out. Buy-ins start at an affordable 120 and increase to 1,100, that last amount reserved for the High Roller event.

In November 2023, a player wishing to remain under the shroud of anonymity topped a 62-player field in the 1,100 High Roller and walked away with 18,860 for their efforts. The June 2023 edition saw a similarly-sized field of 59 entrants battle it out in the Lithuanian capital. Linas Jautakis defeated Casey Kastle heads-up to bank the 18,880 top prize.

In addition to more tournaments than you can shake a stick at, cash games with various limits will run around the clock, guaranteeing non-stop poker action throughout the festival.

Vilnius is a beautiful city, steeped in history and with a vibrant nightlife, making it the perfect location to kick off your 2024 poker endeavors. Wander around the UNESCO-listed Old Town, feast your eyes on the panoramic views available atop the Gediminas Tower, or have your fill of Kepta Duona in front of a roaring fire; definitely do that last one and thank PokerNews later!

Sharelines The OlyBet Showdown Vilnius Ace Breaker festival kicks off poker in the Baltics in 2024.
Florida Proud Boy Christopher Worrell was sentenced to ten years in prison on Thursday after being convicted of assaulting police on January 6, 2021 during the Trump-incited insurrection.

A member of the far-right Proud Boys group who was convicted on charges that included assaulting police during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot and later cut off his ankle monitor in an attempt to flee from law enforcement was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Thursday, CBS reported Thursday.

A bench warrant was issued by Judge Royce Lamberth for Worrell after he failed to appear for sentencing in August of 2023.

Judge sentences Jan 6 defendant Christopher Worrell, who absconded before prior sentencing hearing and was a fugitive in late 2023, to TEN YEARS PRISON, CBS News Scott MacFarlane wrote.

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Sentencing today in high-profile Capitol riot case of Christopher Worrell, who absconded before his previously-scheduled sentencing last year Feds say he cut off his GPS ankle monitor in a Walmart parking lot & fled his residence in August, faked drug overdose when captured.

Yes, the Proud Boy actually faked a drug overdose after inciting an FBI manhunt.

Days ago, MacFarlane shared:

Justice Dept asks court to increase planned prison sentence in Jan 6 case of Chris Worrell, arguing he fled before prior sentencing hearing They say "Worrell cut off his GPS ankle monitor in a Walmart parking lot & fled his residence" in August, faked drug overdose when captured pic.twitter.com/rjtlFsXtcH  Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) December 31, 2023

Worrell is going to prison for a ten year sentence, while the man who incited the insurrection is running for president and claiming to be above the law in election interference trials.

In other words, the regular Joe supporters are going to prison, while the elites like Donald Trump have an army of supporter-funded lawyers arguing to protect them from the consequences of their actions.
Things are going from bad to worse for Trump, as voters in Massachusetts have filed legal action to bar him from the states presidential ballot.

Trump Is Facing Potential Disqualification In Massachusetts

Free Speech For People announced in a statement provided to PoliticusUSA:

Free Speech For People (FSFP), along with nationally recognized litigator Shannon Liss-Riordan of the Massachusetts-based civil rights firm Lichten & Liss-Riordan, P.C., filed a challenge today before the Massachusetts Ballot Law Commission on behalf of individual Massachusetts voters challenging Donald Trumps eligibility to appear on the states presidential primary and general election ballot. The challengers are a mix of Republican, Independent, and Democratic voters and include former Boston Mayor Kim Janey and two leading law professors. The challenge asks the Massachusetts Ballot Law Commission to abide by Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment and bar Trump from appearing on the state ballot.

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Under Massachusetts law, the Ballot Law Commission shall have jurisdiction over and render a decision on any matter referred to it, pertaining to the  constitutional qualifications of any nominee for  national  office [and] the certificates of nomination or nomination papers filed in any presidential  primary.

Trump Disqualification Fever Is Spreading

The real danger for Trump has always been that once one state disqualified him, the situation could snowball into several states removing the former president from the ballot. Trump seems to be in no danger of losing the Republican presidential nomination, but if he gets removed in multiple states, he will not be eligible to win any delegates in those states.

Without being on the ballot, Trump will be shut out, and that opens the door for a candidate like Nikki Haley to win a larger share of the delegates in the states where Trump is disqualified.

The bigger problem for Trump remains that he is disqualified in a number of states for the general election. No matter how the Trump campaign and the pundit class attempt to spin it, ballot disqualification is a problem for Donald Trump.

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Republicans have been quick to dismiss the new report that claims Donald Trumps businesses took over $7.8 million from foreign governments while president, including almost $200,000 from a Chinese-owned state airline as the Chinese government was lobbying the Trump administration.

Is it a big deal? Republican MSNBC political analyst Brendan Buck first called the new report from House Democrats weak sauce.

Buck, who served both former Republican Speakers Ryan and Boehner as well as the Republican Ways and Means Committee, called the report claiming that Donald Trump accepted more than $7.8 million in payments from foreign states and their leaders, including some of the worlds most unsavory regimes weak sauce and said he was surprised it wasnt for more.

The report actually states in the forward that it is likely a lot more, but Republicans stopped Trumps accounting firm from complying with subpoena.

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Buck was then asked about an example from the report: In November 2016, a Chinese state-owned company, Hainan Airlines, spent $195,662.00 at Trump International over a fourteen month stay until January 1, 2018 *while* its parent company was lobbying the Trump administration to acquire U.S. companies at that time.

The report states it has documented more than $5.5 million in spending at Trump-owned properties during former President Trumps time in office by the government of the Peoples Republic of China (P.R.C.), as well as by the state-owned Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) and Hainan Airlines Holding Company, a Chinese state-owned airline.

Watch here:

People spend all kinds of crazy, stupid money to try to influence administration. Whether there was actually any quid pro quo here would be really interesting, says @BrendanBuck on a new report alleging Donald Trump unconstitutionally profited when he was president. pic.twitter.com/BuWwWgamkK  MSNBC Reports (@MSNBC_reports) January 4, 2024

People spend all kinds of crazy, stupid money to try to influence administration. Whether there was actually any quid pro quo here would be really interesting, Buck said, after expressing surprise that it wasnt for more money while at the same time dismissing the report as not a surprise.

The report did note that it was most likely that there was a lot more money involved, but that in January 2023 Rep. James Comer (R-KY) released Trumps former accounting firm from responding to the subpoena and court-supervised settlement.

 $7.8 million is almost certainly only a fraction of Trumps harvest of unlawful foreign state money, but this figure in itself is a scandal and a decisive spur to action, the added.

It is true that people spend all kinds of money trying to influence politicians, and that doesnt prove they got anything for it. But comments like that also suggest that Donald Trump is like other politicians, when indeed he is not. Donald Trump is facing 91 felony counts and has already been found guilty of fraud. Donald Trump ran his presidency like he ran his businesses, which is to say a lot like the mafia.

So it would be a surprise if Trump hadnt operated on a quid pro quo basis. But still, his history and character isnt evidence of wrongdoing on this specific issue.

But it is odd that Comer shut down Trumps former accounting firm from responding if indeed there is nothing to see. Those documents would be instructive, and if Comer were doing his job with a real eye to oversight, he would be ordering the documents himself  instead of trying to prohibit their production.

Of course, even if the payments were made to get something, that wouldnt necessarily land Trump in criminal territory. But it does warrant investigation, if for no other reason than to determine how to protect the Constitution from a president like Trump in the future.

If there was a quid pro quo or if the payments were a gratuity for prior action, we could be in criminal territory. Big if. But enough here to warrant investigation, legal expert Joyce Alene opined on Thursday above the MSNBC video.

D.C. Republicans are still full force protecting Trump with whataboutisms and its not enough and if it were, its not a big deal, but in reality, there hasnt been a president as corrupt as Donald Trump in modern times and his presidency should serve as a warning.

Just because we all know Trump is corrupt doesnt mean newly revealed potential corruption should not be investigated. This argument is, actually, absurd on its face, as for no other criminal do we shrug and say, oh, theyve robbed a liquor store before so this time doesnt matter.

If everyone is supposedly equal under the law, then each and every potential violation of the law matters even for Donald Trump, and especially for candidate Donald Trump, who is seeking the highest office in the land again. It matters even more when it comes to a foreign government having influence over the U.S. President.

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With one speech, President Joe Biden exposed Trump and cut the former president down to size while taking control of the 2024 election narrative and showing the nation who Trump is.

Biden tells America what Trump is really about:

Biden, The choice is clear. Donald Trumps campaign is about him. Not America. Not you. Donald Trumps campaign is obsessed with the past, not the future. Hes willing to sacrifice our democracy, put himself in power. pic.twitter.com/JhZGi3kmzf To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily.  Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) January 5, 2024

Biden said, Today were here to answer the most important of questions, is democracy still Americas sacred cause? I mean it. This is not rhetorical, academic or hypothetical, whether democracy is still Americas sacred cause is the most urgent question of tour im, and its what the 2024 election is all about. The choice is clear. Donald Trumps campaign is about him. Not America. Not you. Donald Trumps campaign is obsessed with the past, not the future. Hes willing to sacrifice our democracy, put himself in power. Our campaign is different. For me and Kamala, our campaign is about America, its about you. Its about every age and background that occupied this country. Its about the future were going to continue to build.

Biden also defined Trump:

Biden is perfectly defining Trump. Once again hes saying he wont honor the results of the election if he loses. Trump says he doesnt understand. He still doesnt understand the basic truth is you cant love your country only when you win. pic.twitter.com/5euB2UTvWs  Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) January 5, 2024

Biden said, In 2024, Trump is running as the denier in chief. The election denier in chief. Once again, hes saying he wont honor the results of the election if he loses. Trump says he doesnt understand or he still doesnt understand the basic truth. That is, you cant love your country only when you win.

Trump feared running against Biden for years before the 2020 election. Trump was worried about Biden that he got himself impeached by attempting to extort Ukraine into making up dirt that he could use against Biden in the 2020 election.

There is no other Democrat with the same level of gravitas that can stand up to Trump and cut through the lies and the misinformation like Biden does.

President Biden looks to still be a Trump killer, as with one speech, he turned all of the media narratives about the 2024 election upside-down and reminded Trump of what is waiting for him this fall.

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A central Florida venue canceled the reservation for an event after it became aware that it featured Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) commemorating the 1/6 attack.

Republicans Misled Venue About Marjorie Taylor Greene Event

NBC News reported:

A central Florida venue has canceled an event that was to have featured Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., after it learned the event was intended to commemorate the third anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

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The event was set to be hosted by the Republican Party of Osceola County at the Westgate Resorts in Kissimmee. It was originally pitched to Westgate as a small book-signing event featuring Greene, without mention of Jan. 6.

Please be advised that Westgate was not made aware of the purpose of this event when we were approached to host a book signing, Westgate Resorts said in a statement. This event has been canceled and is no longer taking place at our resort.

Marjorie Taylor Greene Praises 1/6 Terrorists

Rep. Greene has made it one of her causes in Congress to praise those who attacked democracy on 1/6. Greene calls the criminal defendants and convicts political prisoners. Greene has been on a campaign to whitewash the 1/6 attack and has made several show visits to the jail where 1/6 defendants are being held.

Greene said at an event with Steve Bannon, Then Jan. 6 happens and next thing you know, I organized the whole thing along with Steve Bannon here. And I will tell you something: If Steve Bannon and I had organized that, we would have won.

Greenes joke was met with laughter, but what has been funny are her efforts to paint people who committed crimes against the United States as patriotic heroes.

Marjorie Taylor Greene is Trump-level toxic, and the fact that Republicans had to mislead a venue to get them to take a booking says everything about how MAGA attempts to rewrite the history of the Capitol attack have failed.

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BEIJING, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and France will be held in 2024 during the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism.

The announcement was jointly made by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the French Embassy in China on Thursday at a press conference.

The year 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and France, and is also the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism.

A series of activities covering performing arts, visual arts, cultural heritage, and tourism promotion, among others, will be held, including an opening concert, a tourism promotion event, and an exhibition featuring China's Forbidden City and France's Palace of Versailles. 
Project Pascalis may be dead but its legacy will continue at Monday's Aiken City Council meeting.

On the agenda for the Aiken City Council meeting Monday evening are the first readings of ordinances extending lease agreements with Flawless Glow Cosmetic Studio, Vampire Penguin and Ginger Bee Boutique for one year.

Another ordinance scheduled for first reading would approve the sale of the former Municipal Building, 214 Park Ave. S.W., to Aiken County.

A third ordinance scheduled for first reading would add $20 million to the city's budget for the construction of a mixed-use building in which the Savannah River National Laboratory could lease space for a workforce development center.

And the city council is expected to meet in executive session to discuss a potential contract with the Aiken Corporation for the building.

Lease extensions

Flawless Glow Cosmetic Studio (106 Laurens St. S.W.), Vampire Penguin (108 Laurens St. S.W.) and Ginger Bee Boutique (110 Laurens St. S.W.) are located in the Beckman building.

The Beckman building and the adjacent Hotel Aiken were due to be demolished as a part of Project Pascalis to make way for a larger, modern hotel.

The city acquired the properties when the city council voted to dissolve the Aiken Municipal Development Commission last year.

The Aiken Municipal Development Commission obtained the properties Nov. 10, 2021 for Project Pascalis.

Project Pascalis was a $75 million plus redevelopment plan focused on the block surrounded by Richland Avenue, Laurens and Newberry streets, and Park Avenue.

But Project Pascalis failed and left the city as the owner of the Beckman building.

The AMDC voted to stop the project Sept. 29, 2022. The proposed developer, RPM Development Partners, sent notice that it was terminating its interest in the project on Sept. 14, 2022.
The Aiken Corporation is moving forward with finding a designer for a mixed-use building to be built in downtown Aiken.

Aiken Mayor Teddy Milner and Aiken Corporation board member Jason Rabun provided an update on the selection of a designer during and after the Aiken Chamber of Commerce First Friday event held at Newberry Hall.

The city and the nonprofit Aiken Corporation are working together to construct the building though no agreement between the two organizations has been approved or signed.

It is likely the city and the Aiken Corporation will reach an agreement similar to the agreement between the two on the Amentum building in which the city funds construction and executes a long-term "ground lease" with the Aiken Corporation. The city is expected to use $20 million it received from the state's plutonium settlement with the federal government to fund construction.

The Aiken Corporation would then operate the building and find tenants for the building. The Savannah River National Laboratory is a potential tenant for the building.

The national laboratory received permission from the Department of Energy in December to begin negotiating a lease with the Aiken Corporation, Milner told the more than 250 people attending the event Friday morning.

The Aiken Corporation issued a request for qualifications to find a designer for the building Nov. 28, Milner continued.

A request for qualification is a document in which an entity like the Aiken Corporation, seeks a company or firm to perform work, like designing the mixed-use building.

A mandatory meeting for interested design firms was held Dec. 14, Milner said.

Representatives from seven firms attended the meeting according to a sign-in sheet posted on the Aiken Corporation's website.

The firms attending include The Boudreaux Group (Columbia and Charlotte), B.L. Herbert International (Birmingham, Ala.), Dickinson Architects (Augusta), McMillan Pazdan Smith (eight locations including Augusta and Columbia), Johnson Laschober and Associates (Augusta and Charleston), Studio 3 Design Group (Augusta) and Cheatham Fletcher Scott Architects and Designing (Augusta).
The U.N. food agency says famine is imminent in northern Gaza, where 70% of the remaining population is experiencing catastrophic hunger. It says a further escalation of the war could push around half of Gazas total population to the brink of starvation. The alarming report came as Israel faces mounting pressure from even its closest allies to streamline the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip and open more crossings. The European Unions top diplomat said the impending famine was entirely man-made as starvation is used as a weapon of war. Israeli forces, meanwhile, launched another raid on the Gaza Strips largest hospital, saying it killed a Hamas commander who was hiding there. Read moreUN says 'famine is imminent' in northern Gaza as Israel launches another raid on the main hospital
The South Carolina Department of Child Advocacy reports there are currently 275 neglected and abused children going through the Berkeley Court system and there are only 38 GAL volunteers to assist.
The Berkeley County Library System (BCLS) is hosting a Spotlight on Local Women of Note from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Friday, March 22, at Moncks Corner Library, 1003 Highway 52 in Moncks Corner. Read moreBCLS hosting Spotlight on Local Women of Note
518 Smokehouse, a new barbecue restaurant, has opened in Chapin. Hilton Hotels has purchased Graduate Hotels, which has a franchise on USC's campus. Read moreNew BBQ restaurant opens in Chapin, international chain buys hotel at USC, Re-Find opens
GEORGETOWN  Marie Livingston has big shoes to fill, but the Georgetown native is more than ready for the challenge.

Livingston recently took over as executive director of Friendship Place from Charlie Ball, who retired after 24 years at the helm of the Christian-based nonprofit whose mission is to help break the cycle of poverty in Georgetown.

I heard a smart man several years ago say something to the effect of, you know when youve taken something as far as you can take it, Ball said. It didnt make sense to me at that point, but 24 years later and a fantastic new facility, a great capital campaign, great leadership; gosh, its time for fresh eyes to take a look at it and take it into the future.

That set of fresh eyes belongs to Livingston, a 40-year-old wife and mother of four who additionally co-owns a logistics company with her husband Quentin.

Ball knows Livingstons father, Commander Franklin Rutledge, who runs the Low Country Veterans Group in Georgetown. He recalled one day years ago when Rutledge hinted to him that Livingston was in the process of moving back to the area from out of state.

He knew that we were looking for someone to help us who had energy and passion, Ball said.

It is actually the second round at Friendship Place for Livingston, who started in 2017 as a program lead for the organizations Georgetown WORKS initiative and stayed until 2019, when she went to work for the city of Georgetown. Livingston came back in 2022 as the associate director but remained engaged even though she was away.

We were ecstatic when she came back," Ball said. "She is the perfect fit. She knows and loves the organization. Shes got the right personality and drive for it and Im just so excited for Friendship Place and what it is going to do with her leadership.

Friendship Place has served the Georgetown community for more than two decades. It helps people move from crisis to self-sufficiency through programs with names such as EATS, LEARNS and PRAYS.
Its like a time capsule, located at the very top of South Carolina  a home built in 1939 with exterior stone columns and interior wood paneling, all of it located within walking distance from Jones Gap State Park. Read moreRustic 1939 home near Jones Gap comes with 27 acres, and $1.7 million list price
Robert Green, age 45, died on a Williamsburg County road last weekend. According to Highway Patrol, on March 16, at approximately 5:35am, a 2013 Dodge Challenger was driving south on County Line Road near the intersection of Country Club Road two miles outside of Andrews. The car struck a p Read morePedestrian killed on County Line Road
It was a day for shamrocks and shenanigans on March 16 along Middle Street on Sullivan's Island, as lads, lasses and decked-out canines of all ages celebrated St. Patrick's Day. A swarm of green-clad revelers gathered to ring one of the world's most storied and highly-anticipated holidays at Read moreRocky road to Dublin: Irish eyes smiling on Sullivan's Island
BEIJING, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- China has issued a three-year action plan to promote the use of data as a factor of production and let data play a more significant role in driving economic and social development.

According to the plan published by 17 government departments, including the National Data Administration (NDA), the data use will be boosted in 12 sectors, from manufacturing and finance to technological innovation and green and low-carbon development.

By advancing the use of data, China expects to improve resource allocation and foster new industries and patterns as well as new growth drivers, Shen Zhulin, deputy head of the NDA, said last month.

Over the three years starting in 2024, China will increase efforts to promote the high-level application of data, ensure the quality of data supply, improve the environment of data circulation, and strengthen data security, according to the action plan.

The NDA was inaugurated in October 2023 as part of the country's efforts to advance the planning and building of a "Digital China," including a digital economy and society. 
The Charleston County Coroners Office is expanding to make room for new forensic equipment and to add much-needed space.

The initial budget for the expansion was $1.05 million, but in a Nov. 9 County Council Finance Committee meeting, a $1.165 million shortfall was identified.

Additional funds were requested due to an increase in the costs of materials and services, said county Public Information Officer Kelsey Barlow.

Coroner Bobbi Jo ONeal said part of the expansion includes bringing in forensic radiology equipment, like a full-body CT scanner, to help the Coroners Office triage cases.

ONeal said autopsies sometimes can be avoided when a CT scanner is available, but there will be times theyll need to perform both an autopsy and a scan. She said the scanner needs its own space, a big reason for the expansion.

As the coroner is an elected official, the Coroner's Office contracts with forensic pathologists to perform autopsies. The CT scanner will be operated by the autopsy technicians.

O'Neal said she has received approval to employ two forensic pathologists who can read the CT results or consult with a forensic radiologist if they have any questions.

The office also will get a second morgue in a separate-but-connected building.

Right now in the building that were in, we have one morgue. We do so many autopsies and care for so many decedents in our facility that we really need more space, ONeal said. She added that a second morgue will help her staff in tight working conditions.

Coroners will use one morgue for examinations of the dead, while bodies will be moved to the second morgue to await pickup by funeral homes.

The second morgue will be an add-on to the Coroners Office. The plan is to build an annex and a cover so people can walk between the original office and the new building, O'Neal said. Once the annex is complete, the contents of the evidence room will be moved there.
FOLLY BEACH  A Folly Beach city councilman with just under two years left in his term his calling it quits. His reasoning?

That four-letter word called love.

Councilman Eddie Ellis will leave behind his seat on the barrier island's governing body on March 30, the City of Folly Beach announced Jan. 2 on Facebook.

Ellis told The Post and Courier in a written statement the sudden resignation is because of love  he plans to move to Missouri to be with his long-distance girlfriend.

He plans to deliver a formal statement at the Feb. 13 council meeting, a date significant for its proximity to Valentine's Day.

"I thought Feb. 13, the day before Valentine's Day, would be a great time to tell the public my reason for resigning, but my announcement has created quite the stirring of the pot. So I will comment in short  I am resigning in the name of love," Ellis said.

The pair met on the Fourth of July 2018, Ellis said. His girlfriend, an insurance broker named Diane Finnestead based in St. Louis, spent 14 months on the island throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Ellis has served on the Cty Council for a combined 16 years. He ran for reelection in 2020 but did not win.

In 2022, he chose to run again, a move he said Finnestead supported, as Ellis was not ready to leave the community he's served for years, nor the landscaping business he's owned and operated on Folly Beach for the past 28 years.

Ellis secured another term in the 2022 election, though following the 2023 election cycle he made up his mind to resign. He cited witnessing a division in the community erupt over limiting short-term rental licenses on the island as a catalyst.

"As the campaigns proceeded in our past election, I witnessed a continuation of political ugliness in a community divided over the short-term rental issue. It wasn't the same in my election of 2022," Ellis said.

Folly Beach Municipal Clerk Wes Graham said Ellis notified the city he was considering resigning but did not provide a formal notice or timeline until Jan. 2 when he officially submitted his letter of resignation.
A Moncks Corner man was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for selling pills laced with fentanyl that led a 26-year-old man to fatally overdose.

Nathan Ott, 28, previously pleaded guilty to one count of distributing fentanyl that led to the May 2021 death of 26-year-old Matthew Hearne.

U.S. District Court Judge Richard Gergel volleyed back and forth with the prosecution and defense as he decided on imposing the minimum sentence of 20 years in prison or the maximum sentence of life in prison. He landed near the middle, sentencing Ott to 25 years in prison, with another five years of supervised release once he is released, and requiring him to pay $8,000 in restitution for funeral expenses.

"This is incredibly tragic and difficult for the court to address," Gergel said during the Jan. 4 sentencing in Charlestons federal courthouse. "There are no winners here, no one will walk out of this courthouse feeling successful, because they're not.

Ott, who was an addict but got clean while incarcerated, had previously overdosed multiple times. He was not in his right mind as he continued to sell drugs after an overdose just days before Hearnes death, his defense attorney, Cody Groeber, said in court.

Ott sold both Xanax and Roxi, and he had mixed the two when he overdosed, Groeber said. So he warned his clients to only take one pill at a time.

But Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Kittrell tried to persuade the judge that by warning clients of the potential danger, he knew he was selling poison.

Hearne first came to Ott because he wanted to dull the pain he experienced after getting into a motorcycle accident. Hearne bought Xanax from Ott for about five weeks before overdosing on Roxi, according to Facebook messages recovered, Groeber said.

His father, James Hearne, wanted the judge to know that his son was not a drug addict. "He was looking for relief," James Hearne said. "The relief he got was not what he wanted. His pain got him killed, and it shouldn't have been that way."
SOUTH EDISTO BEACH  The boat was several hundred yards from shore when its passengers noticed the pelicans flying low above the wake, gliding almost motionless over the mouth of the South Edisto River.

The vessel is fording the gateway to the ACE River Basin, a largely undeveloped saltwater marsh at the confluence of the Ashepoo, Edisto and Combahee rivers on a tourists' tour of a landscape considered among the largest undeveloped wetland ecosystems left on the Eastern Seaboard.

Its not the most isolated place in South Carolina. That distinction belongs to an undefined site on a barrier island in the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge northeast of Mount Pleasant, some 6.7 miles away from the nearest road according to research by Project Remote.

But these waters may as well be considered pretty darn close to remote, with the deepest pockets of the basin's watershed accessible only by boat and a guide with intimate knowledge of the winding and ever-changing passages through the brush.

Yet, as the group is miles removed from the nearest other human beings, their fingerprints are everywhere.

Along the shoreline are piles of discarded oyster shells baked into a riverbank, the remnants of a dump spot left by the indigenous peoples who occupied the land thousands of years before the first colonizers arrived from Europe. In the water sit traps filled with crabs, the pelicans flying behind the boat mistaking it for a crew of fishermen who regularly fish the river. In the distance, a row of low-slung bungalows and soaring mansions sit low along the water, a reminder the border between South Carolinas wildlands and civilization is as clean as lines on a map.

Even then, those borders are only recent inventions, coming generations after the basins antebellum role as main artery for millions of dollars of trade for goods like rice and cotton.
One student at a time.

That is Mary Thornley's philosophy in education, and in life. It's what has kept her at Trident Technical College for 50 years, the college's longest-serving president said.

Thornley, who is retiring this year, received national recognition during a ceremony on Jan. 4 at Charleston City Hall. Even as she was presented with the Presidents Lifetime Volunteer Achievement Award, Thornley shared the spotlight with a Trident student.

She called to the podium Donald Booker, who is studying film at Trident Tech and active in the Charleston community working with middle schoolers as a mentor.

"The Donalds of the world are the reason that Trident Tech is so important to me, and should be to you, because this is what we produce," Thornley said.

Booker, who hadn't met Thornley before the ceremony, was humbled by the shoutout.

"That just shows her heart," he said. "That she really cares."

Under Thornleys leadership, the colleges enrollment has grown from fewer than 8,000 students to more than 13,000 enrolled this fall. Physically, the campus has more than doubled. It expanded from three campuses to five, including ones in Mount Pleasant and Summerville, and two training sites. In 2018, the North Charleston-based main campus was named for her.

"Anything we do for education, that's an abstract," Thornley said after the ceremony. "It has to get down to one student at a time. One student, that's how we educate the world. That's how we accelerate the economy. That's how we inspire the future. One student.

The award Thornley received was created in 2003 to recognize those who have volunteered more than 4,000 hours in their communities. She was nominated by outgoing Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg, who called on internationally acclaimed artist Jonathan Green and author and educator Kim Cliett Long to help.
A shuttered parking garage steps away from the College of Charleston's downtown campus could soon become a mixed-use development.

The dilapidated structure at 81 Wentworth St. has been closed for months after engineers determined widespread structural issues could lead to a collapse.

The structure sits on city-owned property, though the College of Charleston owns the garage. The college plans to purchase the site from the city, demolish the deck and replace it with parking, student housing, offices and retail space, college spokesman Mike Robertson said. Charleston City Council must approve the site's sale.

City Council offered a purchase price of $2.5 million for the college to buy the 1.13-acre property. The estimated cost of constructing the mixed-use development is $75 million; it will include approximately 294 parking spaces and housing for 350 to 400 students.

Its construction could change the parking situation on Wentworth Street. While the shuttered garage formerly sheltered the cars of tourists, locals and students, the new parking structure will only serve College of Charleston students, faculty and staff, Robertson said.

Other details arent determined: The planned offices could be affiliated with the college or they could be revenue-generating leasing spaces, Robertson added.

Demolishing the Wentworth Garage would rid the city of one of its oldest  and most challenged  parking garages. Built in 1982, the boxy brick structure contained 515 spaces over three floors. Its construction was supposed to outlast the elements: Workers shored up each floor with 36 concrete beams that ran from wall to wall. At the time, concrete was regarded as impermeable  an assumption that proved incorrect.

Concrete, it turns out, is porous. But changes to building practices came years after the garages construction. For decades, the rain that drenches Charleston seeped into the concrete, rusting the beams steel innards at a rapid rate.
Happy Sunshine Week indeed. As we hope youve noticed, our newsroom is spending the week recounting successes its had using South Carolinas Freedom of Information Act to illumine your understanding of what your government is doing on your behalf, in your name and with your tax dollars. Read moreEditorial: SC judges support sunshine whenever they get a chance. They need more chances.
FLORENCE  Frustration over a Florence fund to help people struggling to pay their utility bills erupted at the start of the new year, with many complaining that the city was taking advantage of customers.

Hundreds took to social media to protest that the program, which will add a small fee to utility bills, requires customers to opt out instead of opt in.

Dubbed Coins that Add Relief and Enable, or CARE, the fund is designed to help people who are in danger of having their water shut off or who can't pay their bill.

The city has emphasized that people can opt out of the extra fee at any time. It has provided this link for convenience.

So far, just over 2,600 customers have opted out of the program in the first three days, Chief Financial Officer Kevin Rawlinson said.

Heres what you need to know about how the program works and who it will serve.

How does the program work?

Starting May 1, all Florence water customers  including those in the county  will have their monthly utility bills rounded up to the nearest dollar.

That means that if a customers bill is normally $99.20, it will be rounded up to $100. The most any customer will pay every year is $11.88.

The changes will take affect on the bills due in June.

Customers can opt out at any point by filling out this form or by going to the Water Billing Department at City Center.

Rawlinson said the city will be distributing notice of the changes on social media and by mail.

The City Council created a six-month buffer between the time the ordinance was passed in October and the time it will take effect in May. Officials said they wanted to ensure customers had ample opportunity to opt out.

How will the money be allocated?

The money will be deposited in a separate fund that will only be used to help people struggling to pay their utility bills. It cannot be used for anything else, Rawlinson said.
PINEVILLE, N.C.  There is another potential location for a new electric substation planned along the North and South Carolina border that would be farther away from the homes of concerned residents in the unincorporated Fort Mill area  but officials say it would be more costly.

It would be a $1 million difference for the town of Pineville's electric customers, compared to town staff's recommended choice, which is an acre along the side of a flea market and at one of the entrances of a subdivision that straddles the two states.

More than 100 people attended an occasionally contentious Jan. 4 meeting in Pineville Town Hall to learn about the plans, ask questions and have their opinions heard mostly in opposition to the flea market proposal.

At issue is how a substation in North Carolina would affect Fort Mill neighbors on the South Carolina side.

One participant said the planned substation at the corner of Miller Road and N.C. Highway 51  also known as Rock Hill-Pineville Road  would effectively serve as a default "Welcome Home" sign for residents at the McCullough community.

The other potential site is commercial property on Nations Ford Road, just north of N.C. 51. Both are owned by Steven Miller, the flea market's operator, who said he isn't entertaining a sale of the flea market acreage.

Building the substation there would cost $6.5 million, town officials said. Sitting in the audience at the community meeting, Miller said he was willing to talk with the town about the Nations Ford land.

The proposed Miller Flea Market site is within 1,000 feet of 125 Pineville homes and 75 Fort Mill area homes, town leaders said. A few homes, plus a business plaza, would be a stone's throw away from the electrical apparatus.

Town Manager Ryan Spitzer said the town is waiting for an appraised value of the flea market acre site to present to the council at its Jan. 22 meeting. A public hearing will follow at the council's Feb. 13 meeting.
BEIJING, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on Thursday held a meeting to hear a series of work reports.

The reports were from leading Party members groups of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), the State Council, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the Supreme People's Court, and the Supreme People's Procuratorate, as well as from the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the meeting and delivered an important speech.

It was the first time that the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee heard such work reports since the Party's 20th National Congress, with the aim of maintaining and improving this institutional arrangement, according to the meeting.

The meeting acknowledged the work that the leading Party members groups of the NPC Standing Committee, the State Council, the CPPCC National Committee, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate have carried out since the Party's 20th National Congress.

These leading Party members groups have fulfilled their responsibilities in exercising full and rigorous Party self-governance, and made positive contributions to the country's economic development and social stability. Progress has been made in various areas of work, the meeting said.

The meeting also noted that under the leadership of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, the new Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee has taken on an active and proactive role and conscientiously performed its duties since the 20th National Congress of the CPC.

The Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee has made a lot of effective efforts to promote the implementation of the decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee, improve the framework of Party regulations, and guided the reform and establishment of various organizations for the people, said the meeting.

The meeting emphasized that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and that it is a critical year for achieving the goals and tasks of the 14th Five-Year Plan.

The leading Party members groups of the NPC Standing Committee, the State Council, the CPPCC National Committee, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate should focus their work on advancing Chinese modernization, which is of the utmost political importance, the meeting said.

It also stressed the need for concerted efforts, under the guidance of the CPC Central Committee, to put in place the strategic plans set out at the 20th CPC National Congress and make greater contributions to building a strong nation and realizing national rejuvenation.

For the new year, the meeting urged the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee to focus on the arrangements and requirements put forward by the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and its standing committee, prioritize key areas, ensure sound implementation work, and continue to fulfill the tasks assigned by the CPC Central Committee. 
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NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / January 4, 2024 / Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have untilJanuary 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 Partnerlewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163SOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / January 5, 2024 / 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 / January 4, 2024 / 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
A staff member (1st R) demonstrates an interactive product of the Beijing Central Axis at the exhibition area of culture & tourism services during the 2023 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 6, 2023. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao)

BEIJING, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- China's total service import and export volume grew 9 percent year on year in the first 11 months of 2023, data from the Ministry of Commerce showed Thursday.

The service trade volume exceeded 5.89 trillion yuan (about 829.61 billion U.S. dollars) during the January-November period last year, according to the ministry.

Of the total, service imports grew 23.5 percent year on year to top 3.48 trillion yuan, while service exports fell 6.8 percent year on year to 2.41 trillion yuan.

China's trade of knowledge-intensive services maintained steady growth during the period, rising 8.3 percent year on year to 2.44 trillion yuan.

Services related to the travel sector registered notable growth. The sector's total trade surged 73.5 percent year on year to more than 1.31 trillion yuan.

Exports and imports of travel services expanded 56 percent and 74.9 percent year on year, respectively. 
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ST. PETERSBURG, FL / ACCESSWIRE / January 5, 2024 / Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, a popular destination with one of the most pristine stretches of beaches in Naples, is getting a much-needed mangrove makeover to restore portions of its shoreline affected by Hurricane Ian.More than 25 volunteers from Duke Energy Florida, Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) Florida, as well as special help from Lee County Electric Cooperative (LCEC), teamed up to lead the restoration by planting 500 red and black mangroves across a 4,400-square-foot portion of the park.The mangroves were grown and donated by the Duke Energy Crystal River Mariculture Center, a company-owned-and-operated fish hatchery dedicated to environmental conservation, and CCA Florida. Additionally, Sunshine Ace Hardware, a local hardware store, donated shovels to aid in the restoration project.Florida's mangrove ecosystems serve a vital role in the overall health of the state's coastal estuaries. Mangroves reduce coastal erosion caused by storm surges and improve water quality by absorbing excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus. Mangrove soils and roots also sequester carbon dioxide while providing habitat and refuge to a wide variety of fish and wildlife.While the park is outside of Duke Energy Florida's service territory, this is not the first time the company has joined restoration efforts in southwest Florida.Three days after Hurricane Ian exited the state, Duke Energy Florida wrapped up restoration of approximately 1 million customers and immediately deployed more than 500 Duke Energy workers and contractors from across the country to help restore power alongside LCEC in Cape Coral and Pine Island."As a company, our work doesn't end when the restoration ends," said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. "The relationships we made with LCEC and the entire community during this response were unforgettable. We are proud to be back in southwest Florida, helping to restore this important habitat with assistance from CCA Florida." As of May 2023, portions of Delnor-Wiggins State Park reopened to the public for limited use and activities; however, some areas remain closed, including the location where the planting took place this afternoon.More than 30 years ago, the Duke Energy Crystal River Mariculture Center started as an environmental compliance requirement to operate nearby power plants and has since grown into one of Florida's most successful fish hatcheries and conservation allies.Instead of shutting down the operation when the power plants closed and the environmental requirement was no longer necessary, Eric Latimer, Duke Energy Florida's manager of the Mariculture Center, found ways to work with nonprofits, universities and state agencies, like CCA Florida, among others, to rebuild and maintain Florida's fish populations and habitats that were being impacted by declining water quality and disasters such as red tide and hurricanes."The work that is being done today by Eric and the team at the Mariculture Center will have an incredible, lasting impact on Florida's coastal estuaries," said Brian Gorski, CCA Florida's executive director. "Florida's fisheries would drastically decline without healthy mangrove populations and we thank Duke Energy for their unwavering commitment to the conservation of Florida's marine resources." To date, the Mariculture Center, with help from CCA Florida, has released nearly 5 million fish and crustaceans along Florida's coasts and has donated approximately $200,000 worth of submerged aquatic vegetation for habitat restoration projects in lakes, springs and shorelines across the state.For more information about the Duke Energy Crystal River Mariculture Center, click here.Duke Energy FloridaDuke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 10,500 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 1.9 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida.About CCA FloridaThe Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) was founded in 1977 after drastic commercial overfishing along the Texas coast decimated redfish and speckled trout populations. One of 19 state chapters, CCA Florida became the fifth state chapter in 1985. A 501(c)3 non-profit, the purpose of CCA is to advise and educate the public on conservation of marine resources. Through habitat restoration projects, water quality initiatives and fisheries advocacy, CCA Florida works with its over 18,000 members including recreational anglers and outdoor enthusiasts to conserve and enhance marine resources and coastal environments. Join the conversation on Facebook or learn more at ccaflorida.org Duke Energy media contact: Audrey StaskoMedia line: 800.559.3853Twitter: @DE_AudreySCoastal Conservation Association Florida media contact: Mary Hillyer Peelen WaltherPhone: 407.617.0604Email: mhpwalther@ ccaflorida.org View original content here.View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Duke Energy on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info: Spokesperson: Duke EnergyWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/duke-energyEmail: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Duke Energy
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NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / January 4, 2024 / 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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SAN DIEGO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / January 4, 2024 / Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLPannounces that purchasers or acquirers of Li-Cycle Holdings Corp. (NYSE:LICY) securities between June 14, 2022 and October 23, 2023, all dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), have until Monday, January 8, 2024 to seek appointment as lead plaintiff of the Li-Cycle class action lawsuit. Captioned Davis v. Li-Cycle Holdings Corp., No. 23-cv-09894 (S.D.N.Y.), the Li-Cycle class action lawsuit charges Li-Cycle as well as certain of its top executive officers with violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.If you suffered substantial losses and wish to serve as lead plaintiff of the Li-Cycle class action lawsuit, please provide your information here:You can also contact attorney J.C. Sanchezof Robbins Geller by calling 800/449-4900 or via e-mail at jsanchez@ rgrdlaw.com CASE ALLEGATIONS: Li-Cycle is a battery resource recovery company and lithium-ion battery recycler. According to the complaint, Li-Cycle seeks to open post-processing facilities to process black mass, and its first facility is being constructed in Rochester, New York (the "Rochester Hub").The Li-Cycle class action lawsuit alleges that defendants during the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Li-Cycle's Rochester Hub was experiencing escalating construction costs; (ii) these "escalating construction costs" exceeded the expected aggregate cost of the project; and (iii) as a result, Li-Cycle would be forced to temporarily halt construction and reevaluate the construction strategy for the Rochester Hub.The Li-Cycle class action lawsuit further alleges that on October 23, 2023, Li-Cycle announced that it would halt construction on the Rochester Hub project pending a comprehensive review of the project, including construction strategy, even though "engineering and procurement for the project are largely complete." Li-Cycle disclosed that it had "recently experienced escalating construction costs" and now "expects the aggregate cost for the current scope of the project to exceed its previously disclosed guidance," according to the complaint. The Li-Cycle class action lawsuit alleges that on this news, the price of Li-Cycle shares fell nearly 46%.THE LEAD PLAINTIFF PROCESS: The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 permits any investor who purchased or acquired Li-Cycle securities during the Class Period to seek appointment as lead plaintiff of the Li-Cycle class action lawsuit. A lead plaintiff is generally the movant with the greatest financial interest in the relief sought by the putative class who is also typical and adequate of the putative class. A lead plaintiff acts on behalf of all other class members in directing the Li-Cycle class action lawsuit. The lead plaintiff can select a law firm of its choice to litigate the Li-Cycle class action lawsuit. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff of the Li-Cycle class action lawsuit.ABOUT ROBBINS GELLER: Robbins Geller is one of the world's leading complex class action firms representing plaintiffs in securities fraud cases. The Firm is ranked #1 on the most recent ISS Securities Class Action Services Top 50 Report for recovering more than $1.75 billion for investors in 2022 - the third year in a row Robbins Geller tops the list. And in those three years alone, Robbins Geller recovered nearly $5.3 billion for investors, more than double the amount recovered by any other plaintiffs' firm. With 200 lawyers in 10 offices, Robbins Geller is one of the largest plaintiffs' firms in the world and the Firm's attorneys have obtained many of the largest securities class action recoveries in history, including the largest securities class action recovery ever - $7.2 billion - in In re Enron Corp. Sec. Litig. Please visit the following page for more information:Attorney advertising.Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices.Contact:Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP655 W. Broadway, Suite 1900, San Diego, CA 92101J.C. Sanchez, 800-449-4900 jsanchez@ rgrdlaw.com SOURCE: Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP
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Industry-leading facility maintenance provider expands versatility with addition of chute management, installation, cleaning, and maintenance service.FAIRFIELD, NJ / ACCESSWIRE / January 5, 2024 / Kept Companies, a leading provider of facility maintenance services, is proud to announce its strategic acquisition of Giant Enterprises, Inc. (Giant). Giant is an Atlanta-based leading service business focusing on ambient scenting and odor control and is a go-to provider for chute management, installation, cleaning, and maintenance services.Kept Companies & Giant Enterprises This acquisition reinforces Kept's commitment to delivering high-quality, sustainable facility maintenance services, along with its rich history of acquiring companies that embody its ethos of innovation, hard work, and perseverance. Northern Edge Advisors acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Giant Enterprises, Inc."Over the past 30 years, Giant Enterprises has built a wonderful industry reputation, and we're proud to welcome them into the Kept Companies family. The company's services align perfectly with our vision of becoming a comprehensive and versatile facility maintenance service provider, allowing us to continue bringing even more specialized services to our clients. -Jerry DiGiovanni, President, Kept CompaniesGiant Enterprises was founded in 1993 and works within the Atlanta Metro, Florida Panhandle and Nashville metro geographic areas. The company serves both the construction and replacement markets - including multi-residential properties, hospitals, universities, commercial properties, municipal buildings and churches."With my retirement on the horizon, we began searching for prospective buyers to acquire Giant Enterprises. It was important that Giant's new owners not only help the company's legacy grow but also flourish. With Kept Companies, we found a partner and are excited to leverage Kept's resources and technological infrastructure to drive productivity and expand Giant's service capacity and market share. -John Mattioli, Vice-President and General Manager, Giant Enterprises, Inc.About KeptKept is the parent company of nine leading facility maintenance brands. It started as a single mobile washing business, and today, it offers a comprehensive suite of services, with over thirteen hundred skilled employees, and one thousand fully-equipped vehicles.Since the beginning, hard work and perseverance have fueled the company's success. The company's continued investments in sustainability, innovation, and technology allow each of the Kept brands to provide the best service, at the best possible cost.For more information about Kept Companies and our expanded suite of facility maintenance services, please visit www.keptcompanies.com or contact our sales team at 1-800-847-3735 or info@ keptcompanies.com ContactsFor media inquiries:Jerry DiGiovanniPresidentKept Companiestel:1-(973)-417-5071JerryD@ keptcompanies.com Contact InformationJerry DiGiovanniPresidentjerryd@ keptcompanies.com tel:19734175071SOURCE: Kept CompaniesView the original press release on newswire.com
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / January 5, 2024 / Levi & Korsinsky informs shareholders that a settlement has been reached in the pending class action lawsuit against Cloopen Group Holding Limited (NYSE: RAAS). The settlement provides for a fund of $12,000,000 to benefit class members. For the purposes of the settlement, the class is defined as: all persons or entities, except those who are excluded, who (a) purchased or otherwise acquired Cloopen ADSs pursuant or traceable to the Offering Documents issued in connection with Cloopen's IPO; and/or (b) purchased or otherwise acquired Cloopen ADSs between February 9, 2021 and May 10, 2021, inclusive.If you are a class member as defined above, you may be entitled to a pro-rata share of the settlement fund. In order to receive a share of the settlement, you must file a claim form by February 14, 2024.For more details on the settlement, including a copy of the claim form, please visit: https://zlk.com/settlement-form/?redirect=aHR0cHM6Ly96bGsuY29tL3NldHRsZW1lbnQvY2xvb3Blbi1ncm91cC1ob2xkaW5nLWxpbWl0ZWQtc2V0dGxlbWVudA==&spr=95&wire=1&ticker=RAAS Levi & Korsinsky did not act as lead counsel or otherwise participate in litigating the above class action. We are providing this information as a courtesy to remind class members of the claims deadline so they can file their forms in a timely fashion.Over the past 20 years, the team at Levi & Korsinsky has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders and built a track record of winning high-stakes cases. Our firm has extensive expertise representing investors in complex securities litigation and a team of over 70 employees to serve our clients. For seven years in a row, Levi & Korsinsky has ranked in ISS Securities Class Action Services' Top 50 Report as one of the top securities litigation firms in the United States.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
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Top Five Conveyor Car Wash Company Adds Locations in Florida, Georgia, and West VirginiaTHOMASTON, GA / ACCESSWIRE / January 5, 2024 / Tidal Wave Auto Spa, one of the nation's fastest-growing express car wash companies, celebrated the grand opening of three brand-new locations this week in Albany, GA, Morgantown, WV, and New Port Richey, FL.To celebrate the Grand Openings, each of the new Tidal Wave locations is offering eight days of free car washes from January 4-January 11. This limited-time promotion provides an opportunity for car owners to experience Tidal Wave's premium wash option, Graph-X4, at no cost. Additionally, any new customer that joins a Clean Club unlimited wash membership plan during Grand Opening week will enjoy their first month of unlimited washes for only $9.97 - saving up to $40."We're thrilled to open three new locations this week," said founder and CEO Scott Blackstock. "Each of these washes is equipped with our industry-leading technology and staffed with friendly teams that are ready to serve folks in the Albany, Morgantown, and New Port Richey communities. Our goal is to make car care easy, efficient, and enjoyable for our customers, and these new locations are designed to do just that." Albany, GA Location: 2881 Ledo Road, Albany, GA 31707Nearby locations: Leesburg, AmericusMorgantown, WV Location: 53 Red Dog Way, Morgantown, WV 26501Nearby locations: ClarksburgNew Port Richey, FL Location: 8539 Ridge Road, New Port Richey, FL 34654Nearby locations: New Port Richey, FL (Little Rd), Holiday, Oldsmar, LutzTidal Wave Auto Spa currently has 21 Florida locations, 40 Georgia locations, and three West Virginia locations. The company has plans for continued expansion in the coming months, including new Florida locations in Ocala, Lecanto and Lantana, and new Georgia locations in Athens, Statesboro, and Douglasville.Tidal Wave Auto Spa is committed to providing every customer with an exceptional car wash experience through industry-leading car care technology, clean and attractive locations, and friendly customer service at every location. Stop by for a single wash or join Tidal Wave's Clean Club for the ultimate experience. Members can wash every day of the month for one convenient monthly payment and save time with exclusive club member wash lanes - plus, memberships can be used at any Tidal Wave location. For those needing to wash multiple cars, Tidal Wave offers discounted monthly family plans and fleet plans for businesses with five or more vehicles.For additional information, including gift cards, fundraising, fleet plans, and more, please visit: https://www.tidalwaveautospa.com/ About Tidal Wave Auto SpaTidal Wave Auto Spa is an industry-leading conveyor car wash company founded in 1999 by Scott and Hope Blackstock in Thomaston, GA. Tidal Wave is committed to providing cutting-edge car care technology and exceptional customer service at each of their 226 locations operating in 23 states across the South, Midwest, and Northern United States. In 2020, Tidal Wave partnered with Golden Gate Capital to facilitate their accelerated growth across the country. Tidal Wave is one of the top five conveyor car wash companies in the country and has been included in the Inc. 5000 list for America's Fastest Growing Companies since 2020. The company was recognized as a 2023 Champion of Charity Honoree by Professional Carwashing & Detailing and has raised over $3 million dollars for organizations in their communities.Contact InformationHeather ColemanMarketing Managermedia@ tidalwaveautospa.com Andrea TraylorSenior Director of Digital Marketingandrea.traylor@tidalwaveautospa.com 2058212220SOURCE: Tidal Wave Auto SpaView the original press release on newswire.com
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DUBAI, UAE / ACCESSWIRE / January 5, 2024 / Unified Investments LLC, Dubai's premier investment powerhouse, is thrilled to announce its exclusive partnership with Casal, a trendsetting premium multi-brand outlet specializing in fashion clothing, apparel, bags, and accessories. With Casal's illustrious legacy since 2009 and Unified Investments LLC's unmatched expertise in equity-based fundraising, this collaboration is set to reshape the fashion landscape. Unified Investments LLC will kickstart this transformative journey with an initial valuation of $100 million, backed by Casal's impressive 25% profitability declared last year.Dubai, known for its global allure as an investment hub, now hosts an opportunity of a lifetime. Unified Investments LLC's partnership with Casal represents a golden gateway for savvy investors looking to delve into the thriving Dubai market.Casal, armed with a stellar financial track record and an unwavering commitment to style, quality, and innovation, is poised to ascend to new heights. Unified Investments LLC's strategic financial acumen and extensive network will fuel Casal's expansion, bringing their fashion offerings to an even broader audience.Ms Archi Rajpal, Spokesperson Unified Investments LLC, exuberantly stated, "This partnership is a fusion of vision and values. We are elated to unite with Casal, a fashion powerhouse that has consistently redefined elegance for over a decade. With Unified Investments LLC's proficiency in equity-based fundraising, we are determined to empower Casal to maintain its supremacy in the fashion industry and explore new frontiers of innovation." As Dubai continues to beckon investors from around the world, Unified Investments LLC and Casal are set to revolutionize fashion investments. With an array of fashion choices and an enhanced shopping experience, the future of fashion investment in Dubai is nothing short of spectacular.For media inquiries and further information, please contact:connect@ unifiedinvestments.aewww.unifiedinvestments.ae About Unified Investments LLC:Unified Investments LLC is Dubai's foremost investment firm, celebrated for its expertise in equity-based fundraising. With a stellar track record and a commitment to propelling visionary enterprises, Unified Investments LLC stands as your trusted partner in Dubai's investment landscape.About Casal:Casal is a premium multi-brand outlet that has been setting fashion trends in clothing, apparel, bags, and accessories since 2009. Renowned for its curated collections and unwavering commitment to quality, Casal continues to captivate fashion enthusiasts worldwide.CONTACT:Company Name: Unified Investments LLC Contact Person Name: Archi Rajpal Phone number: +971 54 433 8866 Email:connect@ unifiedinvestment.aeWebsite: SOURCE: Unified Investments LLC
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ORLANDO, FL / ACCESSWIRE / January 5, 2024 / Veritas Prime, LLC, a leading provider of HR Technology Services and Software, is excited to announce the relocation of its headquarters from Portland, ME, to Orlando, FL. The strategic move aligns with the company's commitment to enhancing operational efficiency and optimizing resources to better serve its clients.Veritas Prime Headquarters Veritas Prime Headquarters -121 S Orange Ave., Ste 1200, Orlando, FLThe Orlando office, located at 121 S Orange Ave., Ste 1200, Orlando, FL, will continue to serve as the primary hub for Veritas Prime's Payroll Services Team and Contact Center, as well as future offerings. This centralization of key functions will enable Veritas Prime to streamline communication, collaboration, and service delivery, ultimately benefiting our valued clients.While the headquarters is moving to Orlando, Veritas Prime will continue to operate key functions from their Portland, ME, office with the existing staff at the current location of 75 Market Street, Suite 203, Portland, ME. This decision ensures continuity and maintains the strong foundation built in Portland.The relocation to Orlando reflects Veritas Prime's commitment to growth, innovation, and client satisfaction. The new headquarters in Orlando provides an ideal environment to foster collaboration, tap into local talent pools, and leverage the dynamic business ecosystem in the region."We are excited about this strategic move to Orlando, which will further strengthen our position in the industry and enhance our ability to deliver exceptional services to our clients. When looking at the operational costs of our business, and ultimately where our clients are located, Orlando, FL, is a better fit overall," said Nick Begin, Partner at Veritas Prime.Orlando is not new to Veritas Prime. The company expanded to this location in 2017 as part of their Payroll Services offering. With the purchase of a new office in 2022, it shows the commitment to growth in this area. Veritas Prime looks forward to this new chapter and the opportunities it presents for continued growth and success.For more information please contact:Nick Begin, PartnerVeritas Prime, LLC (207) 835-0915About Veritas Prime, LLCVeritas Prime, guided by the principles of "Truth and Excellence," is unwaveringly committed to delivering unparalleled service to our clients. As a leading consulting firm specializing in Human Experience Management (HXM) technology, particularly SAP SuccessFactors software, we excel in a range of services beyond Human Capital Management (HCM) implementations. Our expertise extends to project advisory, support, and product development, positioning Veritas Prime as a distinguished SAP service partner, build partner, and sell partner.In late 2023, Veritas Prime earned the prestigious distinction of "Mid Market Partner of the Year." This recognition underscores our proven proficiency and competencies in HR cloud solutions, demonstrated through the training and certification of our team members, successful project experiences, a track record of customer satisfaction (as attested by our clients), and the submission of comprehensive business development plans.In addition to their U.S. locations, Veritas Prime has operations in Peru, the UK, and India.Contact InformationMarketing at Veritas Primemarketing@ veritasprime.com (866) 962-1818SOURCE: Veritas PrimeView the original press release on newswire.com
Peanut, the worlds oldest chicken, is dead.

She was 21 years and 238 days.

Guinness World Records (GWR) revealed that Peanut died on Christmas Day at her residence in Michigan, United States of America (USA).

GWR reported the passing of Peanut, as announced by Marsi Darwin, Peanuts owner. Darwin expressed grief, stating, Peanut was a close family member.

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Worlds oldest chicken, Peanut, dies aged 21

guinnessworldrecords.com

While there hasnt been a reported case of a similar incident in Nigeria, in 2019 Alagba, a tortoise famed as the oldest land-dwelling animal in Africa, died at 344 years old.

Although not officially recognised by Guinness World Records, Alagba was an ancient tortoise that resided in the palace of the Soun of Ogbomoso in Oyo State. Alagba was brought to the palace by the kingdoms third leader, Isan Okumoyede, who reigned from 1770 to 1797.

According to Pet Keen, a pet and animal resource site, the average life expectancy of tortoises is anywhere from 80 to 150 years.

Peanut passed away in her sleep around 5 a.m., with Ms Darwin mentioning that she will always miss her dearly.

Before her death, Ms Darwin spent the night of 23 December holding her, and on the night before Christmas, she wrapped her in a blanket and took her to bed with her.

Ms Darwin revealed that she and Peanut spent 21 and a half years together since she hatched her from an egg. She added that she realised she (Peanut) had a phenomenally long life for a chicken.

She had kept Peanut inside a parrot cage in her dining room for two years after being abandoned by her mother and was moved to an outside coop with the rest of Marsis flock.

Peanut laid numerous egg nests throughout her life, and now, many of her descendants reside in Marsis coop.

In her old age, Peanut was relocated indoors, sharing a cage with her daughter, Millie.

Millie, aged 15, passed away on Halloween, followed by the passing of one of Peanuts longtime friends, Luna, just days later. Benny, Peanuts old rooster mate, also died a week after Thanksgiving.

Ms Darwin expressed her belief that Peanut passed away due to a combination of grieving for a lost friends daughter and the effects of advancing old age.

She shared numerous cherished memories of Peanuts life and tenure as a world record holder.

Peanuts spirit and antics delighted viewers online and in the media. She was an incredible little bird.

I know brighter days will come in time. But she will be forever missed, she added.

Background

The oldest chicken ever, Muffy (USA, 1989-2012), was a Red Quill Muffed American Game who lived to the age of 23 years 152 days.

But on 1 March 2023, GWR confirmed Peanut to be the worlds oldest living chicken after living for over two decadessurvived a brush with death when her mother abandoned her.

Born in the spring of 2002, Peanut, who survived being abandoned by her mother, reached the remarkable age of at least 20 years and 304 days at the time of the confirmation.

She is a bantam breed of chicken  a Belgian dUccle/Nankin mix, specifically  raised from birth by Marsi Darwin, a retired librarian.

According to GWR, bantams are smaller than standard-sized chickens but share most characteristics.

In 2003, Julia Parker, a doctor who first met Peanut, confirmed her age as a fully-grown adult hen.

According to GWR, chicken lifespans vary widely, average being around 5-10 years.

Peanut was abandoned by her mother, who left the nest with all her other chicks, but Marsi later discovered the cold egg and, assuming it had died, picked it up to throw into her pond.

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The former President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Koroma, will appear in court on Wednesday, 17 January, for his alleged involvement in a failed coup attempt.

He was on Wednesday charged, before a Magistrate Court, with treason, misprision of treason, and two counts of harbouring suspects.

Mr Koroma was granted bail by the High Court following an application for bail after the charges were put to him.

According to a press statement by Chernor Bah, minister of Information and Civic Education, the Judge, Samuel Taylor, granted the former president bail on several conditions including that a maximum of 10 people should be at his residence at every given time including his wife, children, lawyers and members of his political party.

Mr Koroma will not leave his house without the expressed permission of the Inspector-General of Police. Also, only the National Chairman and National Deputy Chairman of his party are allowed to visit him.

The judge also demanded that every visit to his residence should be permitted by the Inspector-General of Police.

He was also asked to provide two sureties who should be senior citizens resident in the Western Area of the Republic of Sierra Leone.

Mr Bah said the state (government) will be ready to start calling witnesses on 17 January.

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BEIJING, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- China's State Council on Friday held an executive meeting to evaluate the development of the silver economy, as well as hear a report on ensuring the payment of migrant workers wages.

The meeting, presided over by Premier Li Qiang, emphasized that expanding the silver economy is an important measure to actively respond to the aging population and promote high-quality development that will benefit both the present and future.

According to the meeting, it is necessary for the government to effectively fulfill its responsibility to secure basic needs, strengthen basic livelihood protection for senior people, and increase the supply of basic public services.

It stressed the importance of using market mechanisms, fully utilizing the role of various business entities and social organizations, and better meet the multi-level and diverse needs of the senior people.

It is necessary to continue to improve relevant policies and measures, focusing on solving the most pressing issues of great concern, such as home care, medical treatment, and health care for the senior people, the meeting said.

During the meeting, it was recommended that the government should optimize services and improve administrative efficiency, focus on major issues raised by the people and enterprises, strengthen coordination and cooperation, take the initiative to reform and innovate, and further optimize service processes using digital technology and other means.

The meeting called for resolving several important issues every year, such as promptly copying and promoting positive experiences and practices, persisting in implementation, and continuously enhancing the people and enterprises' sense of fulfillment.

The meeting pointed out that the Spring Festival, which falls on Feb. 10, is the busiest time for migrant workers to negotiate their wages. The government must ensure that migrant workers are paid and firmly crack down on acts of intentionally defaulting on their wages.

It is necessary to improve the long-term mechanism for dealing with wage defaults, strengthen regular monitoring, evaluation, inspection and supervision, and promote the implementation of various systems and policies to ensure the payment of wages to migrant workers, according to the meeting.

The meeting also decided to submit the draft amendment of the Accounting Law and the draft energy law to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for review. At the meeting, a draft interim regulation on the management of carbon emissions trading was also adopted. 
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday raided the headquarters of the Dangote Group in connection with ongoing investigation into forex allocations in the country.

Sources told PREMIUM TIMES that on arrival at the headquarters of one of Africas largest conglomerates in Lagos, the EFCC operatives demanded documents relating to allocation of foreign exchange to the group in the last ten years.

They then scrutinised the documents provided by officials of the Group for hours, carting some of them away.

This newspaper learnt that the EFCC had written to 52 companies directing them to supply documents supporting the allocation and utilization of foreign currencies to them in the last 10 years.

The EFCC letter to the companies is part of ongoing investigation into alleged preferential Forex allocations to individuals and organisation by the Godwin Emefiele-led Central Bank of Nigeria.

Investigators have in the past months accused the CBN of favouring and enriching some individuals and companies through non-transparent allocation of foreign exchange to them.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported in December how the forensic audit of the CBN under Mr Emefiele uncovered 593 bank accounts domiciled in the United States, the United Kingdom and China in which Nigerian funds were deposited without authorisation from the board and investment committee of the apex bank.

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The special investigator revealed that the sum of 543.4 million pounds was kept by Mr Emefiele in fixed deposit accounts, adding that the ex-CBN chief manipulated the naira exchange rate and committed fraud in the e-Naira project.

Our source said while some of the companies the EFCC wrote to had since complied, others asked for more time to gather the requested information and documents.

But in a surprising move, the EFCC stormed Dangote headquarters Thursday just as the company tried to surrender boxes of documents to the anti-graft agencies,

The Dangote people intimated the EFCC that the documents were ready and that they were bringing them over, a source familiar with the matter told PREMIUM TIMES. But the EFCC said its operatives would rather come to the company to collect the documents.

The source said such Gestapo tactics by the EFCC could discourage foreign investors from coming to Nigeria.

The Dangote Group is perhaps Africas largest conglomerate and it is troubling that the EFCC could deal with it in an unnecessary show of force especially when it is not obstructing its investigation in any form, the source added.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, declined comment on the matter, saying he was at a meeting. He did not answer or return subsequent calls made to him.

The spokesperson for the Dangote Group, Anthony Chiejina, could not be reached to comment for this story.

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President Bola Tinubu has asked the nations security chiefs to ensure that there is conclusive victory against the myriad of security threats assailing the country.

Addressing security chiefs and heads of intelligence agencies at a presidential security briefing at the State House, in Abuja, on Friday, President Tinubu said while good progress is being made with the elimination of some security threats across multiple theatres, success will ultimately be defined by a final conclusion to the multi-dimensional menace.

We have too many investments that we need to make now in soft and physical infrastructure, in social security, in MSME empowerment, and other growth enablers. We are pursuing a $1 trillion economy in the next few years, and our efforts will be undermined if we do not finally wrap up our progressive onslaught against enemies of progress. Be encouraged. The confidence of our people in your capacity is rising, and they are appreciative of the sacrifices of our men and women.

The success you are recording is undeniable. Nigerians are seeing it, but the avoidable errors, as witnessed recently in Kaduna, are unacceptable and cannot be repeated. I am pleased that coordination between all agencies has dramatically improved over recent months, but there is no room for celebrations until we can end this; until we can bring our troops back to their own localities, and until we can free up resources for our critical economic expansion programme, the president stated.

The president emphasised that the armed forces must deliver on his objective to ensure the nation achieves a sustainable production of two million barrels of crude oil per day, including condensates, within the first quarter of 2024.

I do not play with my intelligence reports. I have multiple lines of sight. The Navy and sister branches must step up their game to achieve our aims for the benefit of all Nigerians. All malign actors will be aggressively uprooted from our midst. Those working against the national agenda from within and without will meet justice. Your task is clear. We will sustain our momentum. Failure is not an option under my leadership, the president warned.

President Tinubu also commended the Commander of the Presidential Air fleet (PAF), the Commander of the Brigade of Guards (BoG), and his Chief Personal Security Officer (CPSO) for their dedication and commitment in the discharge of their assignments, which has earned them a promotion.

Speaking at the decoration of the PAF Commander, Olayinka Oyesola, with his new rank of air vice marshal in the Nigerian Air Force; Commander, BoG, Adebisi Onasanya, who is promoted from colonel to the rank of brigadier-general; and the Police CPSO, Usman Shugaba, who is now a deputy commissioner of police after being promoted from his prior rank of assistant commissioner of police, the president said he was very impressed by the officers loyalty and dedication to duty.

Nigeria calls all to serve. We are the servants of the country, not the masters as you have seen. Your stewardship as leaders in your various categories is reflected in the assignments and responsibilities you have undertaken. I hope that Nigeria will continue to recognise your service to motherland, he said.

The newly promoted officers were decorated by the president who was assisted by the Chief of Air Staff, Hassan Bala Abubakar, an air marshal; the Chief of Army Staff, Taoreed Lagbaja, a lieutenantgeneral; and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, respectively, in the presence of the spouses of the elevated officers.

The event was witnessed by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle; heads of Intelligence Agencies, as well as presidential aides.

Speaking on behalf of the officers, Mr Oyesola thanked President Tinubu for the promotion of the officers and for the privilege to be of service to the nation.

He assured the president who is also the commander-in-chief of the armed forces of their continued loyalty and commitment to duty.

Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

January 5, 2024

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The Police Command in Enugu State has announced venue, date and requirements for physical and credentials screening of successful applicants for police constables within the state.

This is contained in a statement issued by the commands spokesperson, Daniel Ndukwe, a deputy superintendent of police, on Friday in Enugu, the state capital.

The command wishes to inform applicants of Enugu State origin in the ongoing 2022 police constables into the general duty and specialist cadres that the physical and credentials screening exercise of successful applicants will commence on Monday, 8 January 2024.

The screening will start by 7 a.m. daily at the Senior Police Officers Mess, Agbani Road, Enugu.

Accordingly, the applicants are requested to visit http://apply.policerecruitment.gov.ng to print their invitation slips and report to the mentioned venue on the date specified in their invitation slips, appearing in a clean white T-shirt and shorts, he said.

Mr Ndukwe said the applicants should come along with the mandatory screening requirements, arranged in two flat files.

The required materials include: recent passport photographs; evidence of physical/mental fitness from a government-recognised medical hospital and evidence of good character from the applicants traditional ruler or village head.

The rest are: Certificate of origin, duly signed by the applicants local government chairman or secretary; national identity number (NIN) slip and original and duplicates of credentials, including OLevel result(s), birth certificate or declaration of age.

Print-out of the application form, duly completed, the guarantor form and the invitation slip 

The commands spokesperson said that the applicants should note that anyone who failed to present the above-listed mandatory items would not be considered for the screening.

They are equally advised to pay attention and be guided by their scheduled dates and times, as well as other details and specified guidelines during the screening exercise, he said.

Mr Ndukwe added that the applicants should channel all inquiries to the recruitment help desk by calling or sending WhatsApp messages to 08069794453 or 09060483893.

(NAN)

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Displaced by unending violence and abandoned by their government, locals from Shiroro Local Government Area have returned to villages they once deserted due to the activities of terror groups. Sadly, they are now in a tightrope: suffering unending kidnapping, rival clashes between terror groups and military onslaught targeting the terrorists.

In this report, PREMIUM TIMES Yakubu Mohammed spoke with some locals who share their experiences as freed captives in their homeland.

Women in Kuta IDP camp during palliative distribution last year

Zakari Adam, a 25-year-old farmer from Bassa, one of the villages in the Allawa district of Shiroro Local Government Area (LGA), fled his community in 2021 following repeated terror attacks. Like a nomad, he moved from one displaced persons camp to another until hardship forced him back home.

In 2021, I fled to an IDP camp at Erena village, Mr Adam recalled, adding that the village later witnessed a deadly attack that forced him to Kuta, the headquarters of Shiroro LGA. At the IDP camp in Kuta, we were left to cater for ourselves.

The young farmer explained that he lived in Kuta camp for nearly a year before returning to his community last year.

He told PREMIUM TIMES he would rather be killed by terrorists than starve to death in a tough metropolis.

Back to hell

Locals from Kurebe, also in Shiroro LGA, started witnessing terror attacks in 2020 when Boko Haram insurgents invaded the village on a market day. It reached its peak in 2022 when the Nigerian Air Force while targeting terrorists, killed at least 14 villagers including minor girls and a woman. The operations in April and August 2022 were targeted at the terrorists but killed civilians. Subsequently, many of them fled the village to various urban cities.

But survival was not easy for the escapees as they had to live like abandoned refugees in other parts of the state and neighbouring states. Many have now returned to the banditry-ravaged village, while some sneak in and out for farming.

When Babangida Ahmed, a young farmer from Kurebe, fled the village, he had hope of not going back but he was faced with realities at Udawa, a Kaduna community bordering his village in Niger State. So, he went back last March.

Unfortunately, he was kidnapped by terrorists six months later. His family had to pay N1 million after selling his farm produce and solicited more funds from relatives.

Yet, Mr Ahmed could not imagine starving or doing any other thing apart from farming. I often go to the village to farm and return, he told PREMIUM TIMES. But to harvest the farm produce is another challenge. They [terrorists] would waylay farmers transporting their goods to the market and hold some of them while releasing a few to go and sell the produce.

Despite their experiences, locals told PREMIUM TIMES they will remain in Kurebe and keep enduring hostility from the terror group. A community leader from Kurebe said the locals who have now returned home might lack everything but not food.

This is what they were not getting in the urban cities where they sought refuge, he explained. Some of them even say the bandits are more friendly than before. They said the bandits wont disturb them again.

This appears tricky, locals in Bassa, another community in Shiroro LGA said, noting the terrorists were unpredictable. Sometimes, they are nice and many times, they come after us, Buliyaminu Ibrahim, a resident of the village said.

Mr Ibrahim said he would not have returned if not that he heard that normalcy had returned to his village. I was in Kuta then and they told us the terrorists were not harmful anymore. So I thought of fleeing from hunger to go and farm.

A few months after he returned home, Mr Ibrahim was thrown into a dilemma that would render him bankrupt. His brother was kidnapped while returning from the mosque in the morning, sometime last year.

He had to empty his soybean farm to provide a ransom for his brothers freedom. He managed to harvest two bags of soybeans from the farm. Each costs N60,000 and I used it to secure his freedom, he recalled.

So, the thing is we get to eat here, but were still not safe, he grumbled. Just two months ago, they came and kidnapped over 20 of our people and are now asking us for N80 million. Although the negotiation is ongoing.

Torn between rival clashes and military air raids

Niger is one of the states in north-central and north-west Nigeria whose rural communities are affected by the incessant attacks of terrorists, locally called bandits. Apart from Boko Haram, which was based in the north-east but also operates in the north-central and north-west, several terror groups operate in the regions.

The Dogo Gide terror group and fighters of Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) have turned the villages in Shiroro and their surroundings into battlefields. Whenever a fight breaks out, locals control their movement within the village.

A youth leader in the area, Jibrin Allawa, said the terrorists established various camps in the forest around the village.

Eyewitnesses told us about two months ago that the ISWAP and Dogo Gide boys intensified their rivalry and they were killing each other almost every day, he narrated. They said another terror kingpin, Kachalla Ali operating along Pandogari axis, had to intervene before they ceased fire.

While rivalry clashes only prevent locals from moving around, they are direct victims of military raids.

On August 14, Dogo Gides group said it shot down a military aircraft around Chukuba village in Shiroro, killing some officials of the Nigerian Air Force. But the harmless locals living around the villages paid for it when a fighter jet avenged and killed an unspecified number of innocent villagers.

According to data obtained from Nextier Violence Database, Niger State had the highest number of casualties of banditry in 2022 with 724 deaths. It ranked second as the worst-hit banditry-ravaged state by incidents.

A year-round data collated by the centre shows that there were, at least, 168 kidnappings in the north-central state in 2023. This is in addition to killings recorded in a series of wanton attacks by the terrorists.

The future is dangerous for us

Mr Allawa who doubles as youth president in the area said the future is bleak for many communities in Shiroro.

These are places where children were prevented from going to school. They keep seeing guns every day and we think it would not affect their perception about life?

Parents fled to safer places with their children but ended up returning to the same communities due to lack of humanitarian assistance, he continued. Could you imagine a farmer begging for food in urban cities? They could not do that for a long time and they decided to go back home.

When they were displaced, they came back to the urban centre  to the street, IDPs and some were squatting with relatives. But they were lacking food. Those at the IDPs were not being adequately taken care of, so they had to beg for food.

Despite its residents suffering from banditry for many years, the Niger State government had no ministry to address the humanitarian concerns of the displaced people until recently when Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago assumed office.

Habibu Wushishi, the director of Information and Strategy at the Niger State Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, could not be reached for comments. He neither responded to calls nor a short message sent to him on the state governments plans for Shiroro LGA residents.

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On Thursday, the Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, and his Gombe State counterpart, Inuwa Yahaya, separately met with President Bola Tinubu to discuss how they can collaborate with the federal government to achieve food security in the country.

Mr Tinubu had during his New Years speech emphasised the need to invest in agriculture. He also disclosed that his government is targeting to use 500,000 hectares of land for farming this year.

To ensure constant food supply, security and affordability, we will step up our plan to cultivate 500,000 hectares of farmlands across the country to grow maize, rice, wheat, millet and other staple crops, the president had said. We launched the dry season farming with 120,000 hectares of land in Jigawa State last November under our National Wheat Development Programme.

In line with this, the Niger State governor claimed that half of the targeted hectares of land had been reserved in his state for dry-season farming.

In the previous weeks, the state signed agreements with private and government agencies including the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) and Tata Group of Companies to improve agricultural output.

Boasting leadership in the food security initiative of the Tinubu-led government, Mr Bago said: There are some initiatives we have started were about to do a total of 250,000 hectares dry season farming, which weve already signed an agreement with some companies for off-take and just to keep him up to speed with what were doing in agriculture.

The governor after his meeting with the president said Niger States partnership with the federal government would yield a positive result to boost food security.

Although agricultural activities predominantly take place in local communities, some of which are constantly attacked by terrorists, the governor said: Farmers have returned to the farm.

Gombe governor presents scorecard

In his speech after meeting with the president, Governor Yahaya told journalists he came to see the president to update him on technical issues especially coming through 2023 and into 2024. And to see that we address issues after passing the 2024 budget into law.

The state is trying to see that they come out strongly this time around to see that we put action to words and see that we make Nigeria work more than before, he said.

Mr Yahaya noted that he presented the scorecard of his administration to the president.

It is the complete content of what we did spanning through 2019 and 2023 which was the first term that I did covering all the sectors vis-a-vis manifestoes and developmental plan that we did for Gombe State that will take us till 2030.

We rated ourselves and saw what we did and put them to pictures with proof of actions that we took part in several issues in all the sectors and I said it is a good document that we show to the president what we really are doing in Gombe and where we are ready to go as far as performance is concern, he added.

On the states collaboration with the federal government, Mr Yahaya said there was collaboration in healthcare and ensuring an enabling business environment.

There were several engagements towards the end of 2023 pertaining to healthcare and enabling business environment and so many things. Without the economy picking we will continue to be where we are or even worse off and collaboration of the state and the federal government including the local governments is very fundamental for us because if there is any disconnect we may not deliver, he said.

Explaining how Gombe will take part in the federal governments food security initiative, the governor said there is a need to go beyond planning.

We are prepared but it doesnt end only in planning or take off. We must be all through from the beginning and to the end, the way it is now, people have to understand that we must modernise, he explained. There is a need for machine tools, there is a need for processing; luckily Gombe State is among the states that have been approved to be part of special agric processing zones and we set up an industrial park where we can process all the agricultural produce that we have in the state. I think if all states will key in and work in tandem with the FG, we shall easily reach the destination.

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Nigeria has so many institutions, with the mandate to investigate and prosecute such criminality, and it is interesting that they have raised no campaign on the issue or made any prosecution. We should not be surprised. The publisher of Daily Nigerian newspaper, Mallam Jaafar Jaafar, has accused the State Security Service (SSS) boss, Mr Yusuf Bichi, of employing over 100 people from his hometown with degree certificates from Benin and Togo.

The big story this week is that the Nigerian government has suspended the evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates from universities in neighbouring Benin and Togo. The announcement comes a few days after an undercover report by Daily Nigerian exposed certificate racketeering from a university in Benin. The suspension stands pending the outcome of an investigation involving the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Education of Nigeria and the two countries, as well as the State Security Service (SSS) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

It is interesting that the government is the last to find out that for decades, so many Nigerians have been obtaining their certificates from degree mills, i.e. institutions that exist on paper or operate in a clandestine manner outside the control of regulators within and outside the country. Has the National Universities Commission (NUC) not been publishing lists and warning Nigerians to avoid patronising such institutions in Nigeria? With the emergence of some scrutiny, has there not been an escalation of the establishment of such institutions in Togo, Benin, Ghana and Niger Republics to escape control measures by Nigeria?

Has the National Youth Service Scheme not responded to the geometric expansion of fake degree certificates by establishing special verification procedures through the Ministry of Education, to identify fake certificates and draw up a comprehensive list of fake universities? Why is the Ministry of Education suddenly pretending that it is just discovering the scam and is taking immediate action? The truth, my friends, is that when such scams come to the notice of the government, officials look for ways of benefiting from them rather than exposing and dealing with the acts of criminality.

The Minister should ask his own Ministerial Committee how come they have a special verification procedure and a list of fake universities, and the same people have now advised him to set up a committee to travel around West Africa to investigate a problem they have vast information on and which many of them are beneficiaries of.

I am particularly irritated by the idea that such illegal institutions located abroad or at home are preying on unsuspecting, innocent Nigerians and some desperate Nigerians who patronise them. Everybody knows how long it takes to get a legitimate degree. People who pay for degrees, which they get in weeks and the period is then backdated so that they can pretend they had been studying for years, know they are criminals who are consciously defrauding the government and the people.

It is interesting that the NYSC claims that there is no way its biometric checks could be manipulated to allow the same person to undergo the service twice, but all the reporter had to do was to change his phone number and email address used during his service year to gain acceptance. This fully exposed the nation to the depth of the criminality, thereby forcing the government to act.

I thank the Daily Nigerian reporter who obtained a degree certificate in Mass Communication from ESGT, a university in Cotonou, Benin, established in 2009. The reporter obtained the degree in six weeks without attending any class or writing an examination. He also applied for and was registered to participate in the one-year mandatory NYSC scheme, despite undergoing the NYSC some years ago.

It is interesting that the NYSC claims that there is no way its biometric checks could be manipulated to allow the same person to undergo the service twice, but all the reporter had to do was to change his phone number and email address used during his service year to gain acceptance. This fully exposed the nation to the depth of the criminality, thereby forcing the government to act.

Nigeria has so many institutions, with the mandate to investigate and prosecute such criminality, and it is interesting that they have raised no campaign on the issue or made any prosecution. We should not be surprised. The publisher of Daily Nigerian newspaper, Mallam Jaafar Jaafar, has accused the State Security Service (SSS) boss, Mr Yusuf Bichi, of employing over 100 people from his hometown with degree certificates from Benin and Togo. Mr Jaafar wrote on X that:

The problem is that the DG of @OfficialDSSNG Magaji Bichi has employed over 100 Cotonou and Togo graduates from his hometown. Insiders said the service lowered its recruitment bar, set aside its strict, multi-level recruitment tradition to inject quacks into the once prestigious service. I hope DSS will not delegate officers with Tokumbo degrees to represent the service in investigating this academic fraud.

There was virtually no media organ in Nigeria that did not cry out against the massive fraud in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs under the leadership of former Minister Sadiya Umar-Farouk, under the Buhari administration. One evidence everyone cited was that the trillions of naira allegedly used to feed school children, especially during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. It was obvious fraud because the children were not in school and there was no evidence of children receiving support at home

He added that these quack graduates are also employed in choice government MDAs such as CBN (yes, CBN), FIRS, National Assembly Service Commission, NDIC; name it!

The basic truth is that the Nigerian state, its agencies and operatives no longer work in conformity with our Constitution and laws. Most public servants are buccaneers raiding government institutions and citizens in their logic of the primitive accumulation of capital. Rules and regulations are used as hurdles to engage in the racketeering of citizens who seek access to services. When they discover you have a fake degree from such countries, its an opportunity for them to demand huge bribes to get you into the system. If you have a genuine degree from the said countries, and they do have many genuine universities, they use the excuse of suspecting your degree to be fake and refuse to accept it until you bribe them. When the organisers of recruitment of those with fake degrees are top government officials, then official power is abused to put them through.

The other big issue in the news currently comes from EFCC, which announced a N37 billion fraud in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, allegedly laundered during the tenure of former minister, Sadiya Umar-Farouk. Details of the ongoing probe made available by the EFCC reveal that the money was transferred from the Federal Governments accounts to 38 different bank accounts domiciled in five legacy commercial banks belonging to or connected with a certain contractor. The suspect transferred N6,746,034,000.00 to Bureau De Change operators; N540,000,000.00 was withdrawn in cash; N288,348,600.00 was used to purchase cars; and N2,195,115,000.00 to purchase choice properties within Abuja and Enugu State, according to EFCC.

There was virtually no media organ in Nigeria that did not cry out against the massive fraud in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs under the leadership of former Minister Sadiya Umar-Farouk, under the Buhari administration. One evidence everyone cited was that the trillions of naira allegedly used to feed school children, especially during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. It was obvious fraud because the children were not in school and there was no evidence of children receiving support at home, and yet government pretended the money was used for the purpose for which it was allocated. President Buhari ran the most corrupt administration in the history of Nigeria but pretended that there was no corruption. Yes, the government pretends it does not know about wrong doings because the current purpose of government is to benefit from and through criminal behaviour.

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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One thing that cannot be faulted is that Aketi was never afraid to speak his mind, where/when he should have. He was not one to hold back from stepping on toes of foes, and even friends, once he was convinced his was the right path. He was man of courage. He stood and lived by his convictions. He put in the shift to bring to realisation his vision.

It was only a few months ago, just about 15 months today, that the late Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu came calling at the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Abuja.

It was a special visit, not just for the fact that it was Aketis first official visit to the then Minister of State, Prince Ademola Adegoroye, who had only a few months back been appointed as representative of Ondo State at the Federal Executive Council. This was a legacy-defining visit by the governor.

Aketi had committed himself, from the first day in office, to the actualisation of the dream he had of Ondo State developing its own seaport.

Months before the meeting in Abuja, he had lamented over what he referred to as contradiction in our federalism, which required a port declaration by the Federal Executive Council before a port can receive approval for development.

For us as a state, we have been at this since our first day in government. We found out that we have the deepest draft in Ondo State. He vowed, on our port, we will go ahead. Nothing will stop it; it is a matter of time. It is a port, not only for Nigeria, but for the West Africa because of its deepest draft.

Hence, it was in pursuit of his vision for the Ondo seaport to receive approval and necessary declaration that he went to the Ministry. So was his commitment to the vision that the port declaration was the singular request he asked of the Minister, Ademola Adegoroye, on assumption of office, and it was one which he embraced and pursued with unrelenting passion.

I was only a few seats away from Aketi at that meeting and after speaking, his passionate commitment to the realisation of the dream was what most striking to me, as I assumed it was for others there in the room.

That meeting summed up my impression of the man, one which I have had for many years, watching him from afar. He was a man clear and driven by his vision, unafraid to take on big ideas, no matter how controversial they may be, as long as he was convinced it was for the good of the state.

His vision and presence loomed large in the room, even though he was obviously frustrated at how legalese had stood in the way of a project he was convinced was for the good of the state, and one to which he had committed so much of himself and resources.

He was not as jovial or playful as he would ordinarily be, with his physique giving a hint that he was not exactly in top shape. But this was a project dear to him and he had to see it through.

It was not a difficult sell. The OBC spoke for itself.

The technical consultants and the state government had done well with the requirements. Aketi followed up with the history of the project and how constant fiddling with the goalposts by those vested with the power to moderate the process of approval had stalled it, even when Ondo State Government had done its bit.

The Minister of Transportation, Muazu Jaji Sambo, as usual, was straight to the point, convinced that Ondo had indeed fulfilled the requirements, and he promised to see through the process of Port Declaration of the proposed Ondo Deep Sea Port, pursuant to Section 30 of the Ports Act. That process eventually climaxed with the Port receiving approval of the Federal Executive Council on 17th May, 2023.

That meeting was the only occasion I was privileged to see Arakunrin Akeredolu, in private, attending to official matters. I have played that meeting back, in my mind, many times. I have done that again, a few times since the news of his passing broke.

That meeting summed up my impression of the man, one which I have had for many years, watching him from afar. He was a man clear and driven by his vision, unafraid to take on big ideas, no matter how controversial they may be, as long as he was convinced it was for the good of the state.

Unfortunately, Aketi had to take a bow before the end of his tenure. But I am convinced that what he was able to do while in office will continue to speak for him. He was, no doubt, a man of immense courage May the soul of Arakunrin Rotimi Odunayo Akeredolu rest in peace.

I might not have agreed on the some of the tendencies that led to the emergence of Amotekun, and I did say so at the time, but he was forthright and courageous in the pursuit of an idea whose time he was convinced had come. Time has, in any case, proved him right, not only for what the corps has been able to achieve, but as template around which the idea of state police can be fashioned.

Some of his ideas might have been ahead of his time, and might have been stalled on account of that, but that, in no way, invalidated them.

Take, for instance, his proposition for the cultivation of marijuana in controlled plantations under the full supervision of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency,which was misrepresented by many commentators more on the grounds of religious, moral and cultural assumptions, without proper consideration of the facts of the matter or the suggested path by the governor.

Even though Aketi eventually didnt follow through with the idea, I remain of the view that the idea of the governor was right, on its merit, not only because I had earlier canvassed the same idea, the opportunity we have to take advantage of a market projected at $145 billion by 2025, according to The PUNCH newspaper, is one I cant understand why we have refused to take.

One thing that cannot be faulted is that Aketi was never afraid to speak his mind, where/when he should have. He was not one to hold back from stepping on toes of foes, and even friends, once he was convinced his was the right path. He was man of courage. He stood and lived by his convictions. He put in the shift to bring to realisation his vision.

Unfortunately, Aketi had to take a bow before the end of his tenure. But I am convinced that what he was able to do while in office will continue to speak for him. He was, no doubt, a man of immense courage.

May the soul of Arakunrin Rotimi Odunayo Akeredolu rest in peace.

Simbo Olorunfemi works for Hoofbeatdotcom, a Nigerian communications consultancy and publisher of Africa Enterprise. Twitter: @simboolorunfemi

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Nigeria can truly become the pharmacy of Africa if we prioritise investment in pharmaceutical manufacturing. India has shown this can be done and we have all it takes to achieve this. All thats missing is political will. With political will, Nigeria will not need to depend on foreign countries for drug and vaccines its citizens need and it will be well on its way to achieving health and the economic resilience of the continent.

Nigeria is home to over 200 million people who are susceptible to a set of health problems that are linked and which interact synergistically, contributing to its excess burden of disease: This includes the rising rates of non-communicable diseases, endemic diseases, and emerging and re-emerging infections. If Nigeria is to reduce its disease burden and forge a path towards sustainable economic development, it must invest heavily in science and innovation  strengthening the pharmaceutical manufacturing is a way to achieve this. With multinational companies like GSK and Sanofi exiting the country, this presents a unique opportunity for the Nigerian government.

The cost of healthcare and drug prices are major concerns in Nigeria and prices of pharmaceuticals (drugs/medicines) affect the healthcare cost, accounting for a large part of healthcare expenditure. Unfortunately, public healthcare expenditure is minimal and coverage under health insurance is limited, as most people are engaged in the informal and unorganised sector, with no social security, and health expenditure is largely met out-of-pocket (OOP) by households. OOP healthcare expenditure is one of the major causes of a large number of households falling into poverty, and with the exit of international pharmaceutical companies from the country, the cost of medicines has risen tremendously, creating more challenges for households. Nigeria has an opportunity to fill this gap and lead the continent. To achieve this, we must do three things: invest in research and development infrastructure, create low-cost manufacturing, and develop a skilled workforce,

Nigeria is not unique with regards to underinvestment in science and innovation. The whole of African R&D and innovation suffers from chronic underinvestment and poor implementation. Africa contributes just 2 per cent of the worlds research output, accounts for only 1.3 per cent of research spending, and produces 0.1 per cent of all patents. Only 1 per cent of global investment in R&D is spent in Africa. Nigeria has an opportunity to turn this around by prioritising investment in the pharmaceutical manufacturing of drugs and vaccines, thereby reducing over-dependency and over-reliance on the consumption of medicines and therapeutics from foreign countries. To begin on this journey, Nigeria can invest in manufacturing generic medicines.

A generic drug is a medication created to be the same as an existing approved brand name drug in dosage form, safety, strength, route of administration, quality, and performance characteristics, but costs less. It is essentially the same medicine but with a different price and brand name and it is formulated when the patent and other exclusivity rights of the innovator have expired. These medicines cost less because generic drug manufacturers do not have to spend extra money on drug discovery and preclinical and clinical trials. The low cost of generics provides an opportunity for savings in drug expenditure in Nigeria.

The price regulation of pharmaceutical products is the policy instrument that has been used to address the affordability of medicines in India. Nigeria should follow this same path whilst leveraging on local pharmaceutical companies that already exist.

India, also a lower middle-income country with a large population, has successfully shown that drug manufacturing can be successfully achieved. Medicines were not easily obtainable by the public in India earlier, and the major source of these medicines was from foreign countries.

The lack of indigenous medicines and their huge demand led to very high prices and as a result, drug prices in India were amongst the highest in the world. In 1957, the Indian Government revised the patent law to comply with the then industrial needs. The Indian Patent Act, 1970, shifted patent compliance from product to process patents, so that medicines reach even the poor sections of the society. This became a watershed moment in the turnaround of Indias pharmaceutical industry. This revolutionised the economic system in India by providing medicine at a low price. The Indian pharmaceutical industry has grown remarkably, overhauling the country from import dependence in medicine (until the 1970s) to self-reliance by 1980s, and catering to a large extent of domestic market demand to becoming a major exporter after 1990.

Today, india is known as the pharmacy of the world, exporting medicines to many countries including Nigeria. The Indian pharmaceutical industry employs nearly 700,000 people directly in manufacturing, contributes more than 5 per cent of the countrys commodity exports and has enjoyed double-digit growth in the last few decades. Its growth rate was almost twice that of the national GDP and its pharmaceutical industry attracts large foreign direct investments (FDI). Most people in India dont have health insurance, and the salaries are low compared to the Western world, but their out-of-pocket payment for medicines have reduced significantly, thereby decreasing the burden on households.

Most pharma companies operating in India, even the multinationals, employed exclusively Indian people, from the people in the warehouse to the board of directors. This created many jobs in the life science industry, in turn developing and strengthening the local pharma industry.

The price regulation of pharmaceutical products is the policy instrument that has been used to address the affordability of medicines in India. Nigeria should follow this same path whilst leveraging on local pharmaceutical companies that already exist.

Lastly, we must develop our human capital. Nigeria is blessed with a large population, which is an important resource needed for manufacturing products that can be used in-country and exported into other markets within the African region. The countrys investment in the mostly young population would ensure we reap the benefits of our demographic dividends. This would involve investing in education in the sciences from secondary school through to universities, investments in the creation of grants that encourage development of innovative solutions to local problems, investing in creating a research ecosystem, and investing in developing and preserving the science research culture. Most pharma companies operating in India, even the multinationals, employed exclusively Indian people, from the people in the warehouse to the board of directors. This created many jobs in the life science industry, in turn developing and strengthening the local pharma industry.

Nigeria can truly become the pharmacy of Africa if we prioritise investment in pharmaceutical manufacturing. India has shown this can be done and we have all it takes to achieve this. All thats missing is political will. With political will, Nigeria will not need to depend on foreign countries for drug and vaccines its citizens need and it will be well on its way to achieving health and the economic resilience of the continent.

Ify Aniebo Rhodes-Vivour is an associate professor of Genetics and Molecular biology currently leading malaria drug resistance surveillance in Nigeria.

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A group of protesters in Bokkos Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State, on Friday, razed the home of the District Head of Bokkos, Monday Adanchin.

The protesters, all women, razed the building to demand the release of some youth arrested in connection with the killing of a Fulani man in Bokkos on Thursday, according to a resident whose name this newspaper has concealed for fear of attacks against him.

A PREMIUM TIMES reporter, accompanied by this person, was at the house on Thursday to interview the district head of Ruwi, Nicolas Random, one of the communities attacked on Christmas Eve.

A Fulani was killed yesterday in New Layout, Bokkos. As a result, some youth in the area were arrested by soldiers and taken to Jos, the source told PREMIUM TIMES.

These women want immediate release of the arrested youth as the youth were not the ones that committed the crime according to the women.

Mr Random, whom PREMIUM TIMES interviewed in the house on Thursday, said he was going to Bokkos to confirm the development. He promised to get back to the reporter. He has yet to do so as of the time of this report.

The source also shared pictures and videos of the razed palace with this newspaper.

Another source in Bokkos told PREMIUM TIMES that a Fulani from Hurki village was killed in Kasuwan Awaki on Thursday. This newspaper could not ascertain the name of the deceased. It was gathered that soldiers arrested eight persons in connection with the death.

Also, on Wednesday, the Imam of the Dung community in Bokkos, Sani Idris, was killed and his brother Aliyu was shot. The brother, Aliyu, is currently receiving treatment at a private hospital in the community, the source said.

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Bokkos, Agu Oliver, neither confirmed nor denied the development. This reporter had attempted to speak to him in his office on Thursday evening but he refused, directing the reporter to the spokesperson of the Plateau State Command of the Nigerian Police Force, Alfred Alabo.

The person wey tell you, please call him and confirm please, he said in a phone interview on Friday. When the reporter called again, he said he was not in a good mood and ended the call.

Meanwhile, Mr Alabo, the Plateau police spokesperson, rejected calls from the reporter. He has not responded to the text and WhatsApp messages sent to his line.

Bokkos is one of three LGAs of Plateau State that suffered horrific attacks that left more than 100 people dead on Christmas Eve.

The attacks carried out almost simultaneously affected more than 19 communities across Bokkos, Mangu and Barkin Ladi LGAs.

PREMIUM TIMES confirmed that 16 people were killed in Kambarpeli, the village where the first attack occurred late on Saturday 23 December, before spreading to other communities.

This newspaper will publish a comprehensive report of the Christmas Eve attacks and the victims in the coming weeks.

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The body of the late former Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, on Friday, arrived Nigeria, days after he passed on in Germany.

The plane conveying his remains arrived the country at about 3:39 p.m.

A statement by Richard Olatunde, who was the chief press secretary to the late Akeredolu, stated that his body was received by his wife, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, his children, and siblings, led by Wole Akeredolu, the immediate younger brother of the deceased.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by his Chief of Staff, Tayo Ayinde; Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Tokunbi Talabi; and a representative of Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, were also part of the team that received the body.

Also at the airport were the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Ade Adetimehin; a member of the House of Representatives, Gboyega Adefarati, and some members of the Ondo State Executive Council, led by the Secretary to the State Government, Oladunni Odu.

ALSO READ: Amotekun commanders march for Akeredolu in Akure

Family members, followers, friends, and associates could not control their emotions as Akeredolus remains were being lowered from the plane.

The statement disclosed that his remains have been deposited at the morgue until the final burial, adding that deails of the burial arrangements will be announced by the family at a later date.

Late Governor Akeredolu passed on after a long battle with prostrate cancer.

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BEIJING, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- The year 2024 marks the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the United States. It is time for both sides to take stock and use the experience gained to further the steady development of the most important bilateral relationship.

Over the past 45 years, the China-U.S. relationship has gone through ups and downs and moved forward on the whole. History has already proven and will continue to prove that mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation are the right way for China and the United States to get along.

The most fundamental reason why China and the United States were able to break the ice and establish diplomatic relations is that both sides adhered to the principle of mutual respect and seeking common ground while shelving differences.

Today, the two countries still differ in many aspects, but it does not hinder both sides from seeking common ground while respecting differences to develop bilateral relations. There is no necessity or possibility for both sides to change each other. Instead, they should respect each other's social system and development path, core interests and major concerns, and the right to development.

History has proven time and again that cooperation benefits both China and the United States, while confrontation hurts both. Bilateral trade surged from less than 2.5 billion U.S. dollars in 1979 to close to 760 billion dollars in 2022; two-way investment increased from almost zero to over 260 billion dollars; and 284 pairs of sister provinces, states and cities were set up. The two countries have also carried out cooperation on various international and regional hotspots and global issues.

Allowing competition or zero-sum game to define bilateral relations will only lead to high tension and ultimately damage the interests of the two countries and the world as a whole. China and the United States have had differences in the past and present, and there will continue to be differences in the future. The key is to manage them in a constructive way.

At the summit meeting in San Francisco, President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden reached over 20 deliverables in such areas as political affairs and foreign policy, trade and finance, people-to-people exchange, global governance, and military and security. They fostered a future-oriented San Francisco vision, which points the way forward for bilateral relations.

China and the United States, as the largest developing country and developed country respectively, should draw wisdom and strength from history and implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state to promote the stable, sound and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations. 
DUBLIN, Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The "5G Monetization and Adoption Strategies in ASEAN" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

This study considers a top-down strategic view of the business, which includes a view on foundational tools (e.g., operation support systems [OSS]/business support systems [BSS], platforms, strategies, and frameworks) that can help mobile operators generate 5G-focused revenues.

5G technology, the successor of 4G, has higher speeds and bandwidth, lower latency, and multiple connections. The technology provides other benefits, such as platform digitalization and extended device battery life. The new dimensions of 5G are triggering the development of new services and technology monetization.

Most governments in APAC support domestic 5G deployments, as they help drive economic growth. Mobile operators look to 5G to spur new revenue streams beyond connectivity and help them regain competitiveness against fixed broadband providers.

The 5G customer segment comprises the consumer and enterprise segments. Although the 5G enterprise space is still nascent, its future monetization potential drives enterprises and their corresponding ecosystems within ASEAN to proactively undertake R&D. This study covers customer segmentation, excluding analysis on segmentation by industry vertical and country.

The study drills in-depth into 5G monetization and adoption strategies in ASEAN, including monetization opportunities for the consumer and enterprise segments. This study provides pertinent survey results on or related to 5G monetization.

Key Findings

Overall, the total 5G revenue in the ASEAN region will increase from $1.64 billion in 2022 to $7.43 billion in 2027, at a CAGR of 35.3%. 5G revenue contribution from the consumer segment will increase from $1.59 billion in 2022 to $5.99 billion in 2027, at a CAGR of 30.3% from 2022 to 2027.

in 2022 to in 2027, at a CAGR of 35.3%. 5G revenue contribution from the consumer segment will increase from in 2022 to in 2027, at a CAGR of 30.3% from 2022 to 2027. 5G revenue contribution from the enterprise segment will increase from $41.5 million in 2022 to $1.43 billion in 2027, at a CAGR of 103% from 2022 to 2027. The consumer and enterprise segments in ASEAN will contribute 80.7% and 19.3%, respectively, to 5G revenue in 2027.

Key Topics Covered:

Strategic Imperatives

Why is it Increasingly Difficult to Grow?

The Strategic Imperative

The Impact of the Top 3 Strategic Imperatives on the 5G Industry

Growth Opportunities Fuel the Growth Pipeline Engine

Growth Opportunity Analysis

Scope of Analysis

Customer Segmentation

Key Competitors

Growth Metrics

Growth Drivers

Growth Restraints

Forecast Assumptions

Revenue Forecast

Revenue Forecast by Customer Segment

Revenue Forecast Analysis

Pricing Trends and Related Factors

Discussion on 5G Monetization - Lessons Learnt

Competitive Environment

Revenue Share

Revenue Share Analysis

Growth Opportunity Analysis - Consumer Segment

Growth Metrics

Revenue Forecast

Forecast Analysis

Discussion on 5G Monetization for the Consumer Segment

Growth Opportunity Analysis - Enterprise Segment

Growth Metrics

Revenue Forecast

Forecast Analysis

Discussion on 5G Monetization for the Enterprise Segment

Growth Opportunity Analysis - 5G Monetization Strategies

5G Monetization - Discussion on 5G Monetization Strategy

5G Monetization - Approach to 5G Business

5G Monetization - Discussion on the Approach to 5G Business

5G Monetization - Technology Prioritization Depending on Impact

Discussion on Technology Prioritization Depending on Impact

Growth Opportunity Universe

Growth Opportunity 1: 5G Monetization Solutions for the Enterprise and Consumer Segments

Growth Opportunity 2: Beyond Connectivity Solutions for the Enterprise Segment

Growth Opportunity 3: Integrated 5G Enterprise Solutions

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/t85sfb

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SOURCE Research and Markets
Enhanced focus and new leadership reinforce the brand's commitment to meet growing demand for specialized expertise

HANOVER, Md., Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Aston Carter today announced deeper strategic specialization for its business. The brand will exclusively provide talent solutions across accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions. Its other solutions within governance, risk and compliance; customer support; and creative and marketing will shift to Allegis Group sister company TEKsystems, which has existing complementary services in those areas. The specialization will enhance Aston Carter's capabilities across its core offerings, increase capacity, and create efficiencies to support the unique needs of accounting, finance and corporate talent.

"At Allegis Group we are committed to refining and realigning our businesses to ensure that our customers' needs are always our top priority," said Jay Alvather, CEO of Allegis Group. "Aston Carter's clients and talent can expect the same level of excellent service today, with significantly enhanced capabilities and scale to better support those ever-evolving needs and opportunities."

To support the enhanced focus of Aston Carter's talent offerings, the brand has aligned under the leadership team at Actalent, an Allegis Group company that was built around a strategy of specialization. Led by Chad Koele, who will serve as president of both brands, Aston Carter will benefit from leadership, strategy and infrastructure that will support the business' ability to fill a growing need for specialized talent solutions in the marketplace.

"For over two decades, Aston Carter has provided highly sought-after talent to organizations around the world  and this move is another step in our evolution to help clients and professionals navigate changing business needs," said Lauren DeMarco-Stadtlander, Aston Carter managing director. "With the guiding hand of Chad's leadership team and their experience, Aston Carter is well-positioned to help our customers innovate and lead in their respective industries."

"I am excited by the prospect of creating new value for Aston Carter's clients and talent," said Chad Koele, president of Aston Carter. "Our team has put rigorous focus into a strategy of getting smaller to get better, specializing and segmenting across all lines of business and taking great care of our talent. Applying that same strategy to Aston Carter will bring increased growth and opportunity to its clients and talent as well as its internal teams, who we are thrilled to gain as part of the Actalent family."

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing double diamond winner for both client and talent service. Follow us on LinkedIn and learn more at astoncarter.com.

SOURCE Aston Carter
Company now enrolling a Phase 1b/2 study in 1st Line mCRC and a PK/PD study in CIPN

COVINGTON, Ky., Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Bexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a new generation of biologic therapy to treat solid tumor cancers and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), announced today that the Company will present at Biotech Showcase 2024 during the J.P. Morgan 42nd Annual Healthcare Conference week. Biotech Showcase 2024 will be held in-person, from January 8-10, 2024, in San Francisco, CA.

Presentation Details:

Date: Monday, January 8, 2024

Time: 3:00 pm PT

Location: Hilton San Francisco  Union Square

Track: Franciscan A (Ballroom Level)

Scott Shively, CEO and President of Bexion Pharmaceuticals, and Joyce LaViscount, Chief Financial Officer of Bexion Pharmaceuticals, will attend the conference. Additionally, the Bexion management team will host one-on-one meetings with potential investors in San Francisco from January 8-11, 2024. If you would like to schedule a meeting, please reach out to the Company's Investor Contact below.

About Bexion Pharmaceuticals

Bexion Pharmaceuticals, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, is developing a new generation of biologic therapy to treat solid tumor cancers and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) with potential portfolio expansion opportunities in other cancers and broader neuropathic pain indications. Bexion currently has three clinical trials open and actively enrolling, including a Phase 1b/2 study (in expansion portion) of BXQ-350 in combination with Standard-of-Care for the treatment of 1st Line mCRC and a PK/PD study of BXQ-350 for the treatment of patients with CIPN.

Investor Contact:

William Windham

Solebury Strategic Communications

646-378-2946

[email protected]

Media Contact:

Joyce LaViscount

Bexion Pharmaceuticals

859-446-7386

[email protected]

SOURCE Bexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
From Portugal to Sweden, trade show lineup will scale up efforts to empower European bubble tea businesses and foster development in the region

AMSTERDAM, Jan. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Possmei, a renowned Taiwanese bubble tea brand, is announcing an extensive lineup of 2024 European trade shows it will attend.

As younger consumers throughout the region and worldwide seek out the novelty, the global bubble tea industry is experiencing significant growth  projected to almost double in value to $4.08 billion by 2030. In particular, Possmei is striving to cater to the burgeoning European market for boba as its one-stop shop for drink entrepreneurs.

Possmei in HORECAVA 2024

"By continuing and accelerating our recent positive momentum, we aim to maintain our lead in Europe for bubble tea," shared Mei-Li Chen, CEO of Possmei. "To accomplish this, we are scaling up our promotional activities for the region and ensuring a strong presence at various European expos throughout 2024. In this way, we will continue to share the essence of bubble tea  and Taiwanese culture  with Europe and beyond."

The force behind European beverage entrepreneurs

Possmei will attend several major European trade shows in 2024, where it will introduce distinctive, cutting-edge new boba products while sharing its array of consulting and training services. The tour includes:

HORECAVA: Amsterdam, The Netherlands , January 8-11 (Booth: 07.420)

, Foodexpo: Herning, Denmark , March 17-19 (Booth: D3266)

Herning, , Alimentaria: Barcelona, Spain , March 18-21 (Booth B500)

, IFE 2024: London, UK , March 25-27 (Booth 4531)

, Gastronord: Sweden , April 9-11 (Booth C06:11)

, World Food Poland: Warsaw, Poland , April 16-18 (Hall 1, Booth E3)

, SIAL Paris : Paris, France , October 19-23

: , EXPO ALIMENTA Porto: Porto, Portugal , October 24-26

To view the full lineup of expos worldwide, please visit: https://possmei.com.tw/en/?op=exhibition_show

Sharing Taiwan's distinctiveness in Europe and beyond

Separately from the company's promotional activities, Szu-Ya "Debby" Wang, the daughter of the company's late founder Jacky Wang, is a musician who also shares a passion for Taiwan's unique culture and bubble tea. She will star in a stage play titled "This Is Not an Embassy (Made in Taiwan)" that will show worldwide throughout 2024. Co-produced by Theatre Vidy-Lausanne and the Taipei National Theatre and Concert Hall, the play aims to serve as a "portable sample" of Taiwan, its unique characteristics, and its cultural phenomena, including the significance of bubble tea in Taiwanese culture.

Continued Chen: "Each of our bubble tea products  every individual boba  is a little burst of Taiwanese culture, and we are thrilled that Ms. Wang is continuing this tradition while taking it a step further  into the cultural medium of theater."

The first production will premiere at Haus der Berliner Festspiele in Berlin, Germany, from January 24 to 27, kicking off a tour of Europe and Asia throughout 2024.

For more information on This Is Not an Embassy (Made in Taiwan):

English: https://www.rimini-protokoll.de/website/en/project/dies-ist-keine-botschaft-made-in-taiwan

To purchase tickets:

German: https://www.berlinerfestspiele.de/performing-arts-season/programm/2023/spielplan/dies-ist-keine-botschaft

About Possmei

Possmei is a brand synonymous with authenticity, quality, and innovation in the bubble tea sphere. Founded in 2009 in Taiwan, the company has consistently pushed the boundaries of what is possible with bubble tea, offering an array of syrups, powders, and toppings that cater to the diverse tastes of bubble tea enthusiasts worldwide.

Possmei's products are crafted with the utmost care and attention to detail. From their signature black tea and green tea bases to their tantalising fruit syrups, every ingredient in Possmei's repertoire is selected for its premium quality. This dedication to excellence ensures that every bubble tea made with Possmei products is a delightful and memorable experience.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2311012/HORECAVA.jpg
VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Today, Nature Medicine published the results of a clinical trial, in which 30 former Navy SEALs were administered ibogaine at Ambio Life Sciences in Mexico to treat traumatic brain injuries, which they developed during their military careers. The results show incredible promise for ibogaine to treat the emotional results of combat-related trauma.

"For Ambio, it further highlights the remarkable healing potential of ibogaine, which we're confident will expand the treatment landscape for veterans and many others," said Jonathan Dickinson, Ambio's CEO.

Capsules of ibogaine hydrochloride (CNW Group/Ambio Life Sciences Inc.)

The study, conducted by Nolan Williams, M.D., and the Brain Stimulation Laboratory at Stanford University, involved special forces veterans traveling to Mexico where they underwent Ambio's treatment protocol. During the five-day inpatient treatment, subjects received ibogaine alongside magnesium and a comprehensive patent-pending safety protocol designed to mitigate the cardiac risks associated with ibogaine.

The paper documents substantial improvements on disability measures, as well as PTSD, depression and anxiety scores, both immediately after the treatment and at a one-month follow-up. While ibogaine has received attention for its use as an addiction treatment, this publication represents the first human clinical trial to explore traumatic brain injury, a major application of ibogaine for which there is no existing pharmacotherapy.

The former special forces operators received grants to cover the costs of their treatment from Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions (VETS Inc.), a 501c3 dedicated to the use of psychedelic therapies to help end the epidemic of veteran suicide.

"We are immensely grateful to Ambio Life Sciences for their exceptional work in providing ibogaine treatment to our Foundational Healing Grant recipients," said Amber Capone, co-founder and executive director of VETS. "Their dedication and expertise have been instrumental in the remarkable improvements we've seen in our veterans' mental health and overall well-being. This collaboration is a beacon of hope and a critical step in our ongoing mission to combat veteran suicide and support recovery from traumatic brain injuries and PTSD."

Ambio Life Sciences's cofounders Trevor Millar, Jose Inzunza, and Jonathan Dickinson, have a combined 40 years of experience providing ibogaine therapy. https://ambio.life

SOURCE Ambio Life Sciences Inc.
The lawsuit argues the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners appointment criteria is unconstitutional

RICHMOND, Va., Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, medical watchdog Do No Harm filed a lawsuit against Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards due to unlawful racial mandates requiring the governor to exclude non-minority candidates for a certain number of positions of the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners.

The lawsuit, filed by the Pacific Legal Foundation on behalf of Do No Harm, alleges that the racial mandate is unconstitutional in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. Do No Harm seeks a permanent prohibitory injunction preventing Governor Edwards from enforcing or attempting to enforce the racial mandate.

"Choosing candidates to oversee the critical aspect of the state's medical field based on anything other than merit is corrosive to the mission and perception of the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners," said Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, Chairman of Do No Harm. "This type of discriminatory mandate is not only unconstitutional, but also reflects the politicization of healthcare that is dangerous for patients and physicians. Expertise should be the determining factor, and Louisiana must get rid of discriminatory practices to refocus on medical excellence."

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana Shreveport Division and can be viewed here.

Background

The Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners is comprised of ten members appointed by the governor.

In 2018, the legislature enacted a law requiring the governor to make every other newly appointed member for certain Board slots on the basis of race.

Given this racial mandate, four seats that require race-specific appointments will become available within the next two years.

Do No Harm's lawsuit says that qualified potential board appointees will not be given equal consideration for the seats that will come open, which is a violation of their Fourteenth Amendment protections.

Do No Harm, established in April 2022, has rapidly gained recognition and made significant strides in its mission to safeguard healthcare from ideological threats. With more than 6,000 members, including doctors, nurses, physicians, and concerned citizens across all 50 states and in 14 countries, DNH has achieved more than 4,900 media hits in top-tier publications and garnered widespread attention through numerous broadcast news appearances.

SOURCE Do No Harm
Scholars from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan on Thursday discussed the marine cultures and folk customs in Fujian and Taiwan, in an academic event held at Xiamen University in Fujian Province.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service




DUBLIN, Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Europe Aerospace and Defense Battery Market - Analysis and Forecast, 2023-2033" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Europe aerospace and defense battery market is estimated to reach $5.38 billion by 2033 from $2.30 billion in 2022, at a CAGR of 8.14% during the forecast period 2023-2033.

The European aerospace and defense battery market is witnessing substantial growth and is expected to gain a competitive share in recent years. This market primarily focuses on the manufacturing and supply of batteries and energy storage solutions that meet the stringent requirements of aerospace and defense applications. These batteries find applications in various equipment and systems, including aircraft, spacecraft, military vehicles, UAVs, submarines, and electronic devices used in defense and aerospace operations.

Due to technological breakthroughs and the advent of new applications of batteries in space, aircraft, UAVs, and the defense sector, the worldwide aerospace and defense battery market has undergone significant expansion in recent years. This increase is primarily driven by the government's initiatives to enhance electrification of these industries, which have shown steady expansion and significant growth.

The industry's shift towards electric and hybrid-electric propulsion systems is driving the demand for batteries with higher energy densities for improved range and efficiency in electric aircraft. Additionally, there is a strong emphasis on developing battery systems capable of withstanding extreme conditions without compromising safety.

Regional governments are also supporting local manufacturers and research institutes to innovate and develop advanced battery technology, catering to temperature and altitude-related concerns in the aerospace sector. These factors are expected to contribute to the expansion of the European aerospace and defense battery market during the forecast period.

Furthermore, the market is being driven by the increasing use of commercial UAVs by e-commerce firms and other civil professionals such as videography, remote monitoring, and so on. Authorities can improve security, reliability, and operational efficiency by incorporating UAVs and battery-powered drones into military surveillance subsystems.

How can this report add value to an organization?

Product/Innovation Strategy:

The product segment helps the reader understand the different types of batteries available for deployment and their potential in Europe region. Moreover, the study provides the reader with a detailed understanding of the aerospace and defense battery market.

Growth/Marketing Strategy:

The Europe aerospace and defense battery market has seen major developments by key players operating in the market, such as contracts, collaborations, and joint ventures. The favored strategy for the companies has been contracted to strengthen their position in the market.

Key Topics Covered:

Executive Summary

Scope of the Study

1 Market

1.1 Industry Outlook

1.1.1 Market Overview: Aerospace and Defense Battery Market

1.1.2 Current and Emerging Technological Trends

1.1.2.1 Lithium Titanate Oxide (LTO) Batteries

1.1.2.2 Conformable Wearable Batteries (CWBs)

1.1.2.3 Solid-State Battery Technologies

1.1.2.4 Nickle-Zinc Batteries for Aerospace and Defense

1.1.3 Aerospace and Defense Battery: On-going and Upcoming Projects

1.1.3.1 Innovation in Lithium-Sulfur Cathode Technology

1.1.3.2 Defense Advanced Research Agency (DARPA)'s Morphogenic Interfaces (MINT) Program

1.1.3.3 Lithium-Ion Polymer Rechargeable Battery

1.1.3.4 Sodium-Sulfur (NAS) Battery to Misasa Deep Space Station (MDSS)

1.1.3.5 Space Battery Powered by Americium-241

1.1.4 Start-up and Investment Landscape

1.1.5 Comparative Analysis

1.1.6 Patent Analysis

1.1.7 Supply Chain Analysis

1.2 Business Dynamics

1.2.1 Business Drivers

1.2.1.1 Growing Penetration of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Electric Ground Vehicles in Defense Sector

1.2.1.2 Increasing Electrification of Aircraft

1.2.1.3 Rising Investment Activities to Support Deep Space Exploration

1.2.2 Business Challenges

1.2.2.1 Stringent Regulation Impacting the Sales of Lithium Batteries

1.2.2.2 Design Challenges Associated with the Size of Aircraft

1.2.3 Business Strategies

1.2.3.1 New Product Launches, Developments, and Others

1.2.4 Corporate Strategies

1.2.4.1 Partnerships, Collaborations, Agreements, Contracts, and Others

1.2.5 Business Opportunities

1.2.5.1 Growing Advancements in Battery Cell Materials for Long Endurance

1.2.5.2 Emergence of Urban Air Mobility and eVTOL Vehicles

1.2.5.3 Adoption of Miniaturized Electronic Devices and Wearable Technologies in Military

1.2.5.4 Rising Integration of Space-Grade Batteries for Satellite Launch Missions

2 Europe

2.1 Aerospace and Defense Battery Market (by Region)

2.2 Europe

2.2.1 Market

2.2.1.1 Key Manufacturers and Suppliers in Europe

2.2.1.2 Business Drivers

2.2.1.3 Business Challenges

2.2.2 Application

2.2.2.1 Europe Aerospace and Defense Battery Market (by Platform)

2.2.3 Product

2.2.3.1 Europe Aerospace and Defense Battery Market (by Battery Type)

2.2.4 Europe (by Country)

2.2.4.1 France

2.2.4.1.1 Market

2.2.4.1.1.1 Key Manufacturers and Suppliers in France

2.2.4.1.2 Product

2.2.4.1.2.1 France Aerospace and Defense Battery Market (by Battery Type), Value

2.2.4.2 Germany

2.2.4.2.1 Market

2.2.4.2.1.1 Key Manufacturers and Suppliers in Germany

2.2.4.2.2 Product

2.2.4.2.2.1 Germany Aerospace and Defense Battery Market (by Battery Type), Value

2.2.4.3 U.K.

2.2.4.3.1 Market

2.2.4.3.1.1 Key Manufacturers and Suppliers in the U.K.

2.2.4.3.2 Procuct

2.2.4.3.2.1 U.K. Aerospace and Defense Battery Market (by Battery Type), Value

2.2.4.4 Rest-of-Europe

2.2.4.4.1 Market

2.2.4.4.1.1 Key Manufacturers and Suppliers in Rest-of-Europe

2.2.4.4.2 Product

2.2.4.4.2.1 Rest-of-Europe Aerospace and Defense Battery Market (by Battery Type), Value

3 Market - Competitive Benchmarking & Company Profiles

3.1 Competitive Benchmarking

3.2 Company Profiles

3.2.1 Lincad

3.2.1.1 Company Overview

3.2.1.1.1 Role of Lincad in the Aerospace and Defense Battery Market

3.2.1.1.2 Product Portfolio

3.2.1.2 Business Strategies

3.2.1.2.1 Product Developments and Fundings

3.2.1.3 Corporate Strategies

3.2.1.3.1 Partnerships, Collaborations, Contracts, and Agreements

3.2.1.4 Analyst View

3.2.2 WAE Technologies Limited

3.2.2.1 Company Overview

3.2.2.1.1 Role of WAE Technologies Limited in the Aerospace and Defense Battery Market

3.2.2.1.2 Product Portfolio

3.2.2.2 Corporate Strategies

3.2.2.2.1 Partnerships, Collaborations, Contracts, and Agreements

3.2.2.3 Analyst View

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ghep9r

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

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For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

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SOURCE Research and Markets
VA orders another risk-based audit eight months after previous audit was refuted, marking 5th investigation vs. Christian university since it sued Department of Education

PHOENIX, Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Grand Canyon University received notice this week that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has initiated yet another risk-based audit against the school, just eight months after GCU successfully refuted the agency's last audit.

The action, which was ordered as a follow-up to the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) allegations last week, is the fifth inquiry launched by the VA, FTC and U.S. Department of Education (DOE) after GCU filed a lawsuit against the DOE over its lawful nonprofit status in February 2021 and is further evidence of the coordinated and unwarranted actions these agencies are taking against the largest Christian university in the country.

"This is unfortunately yet one more example of unelected bureaucrats weaponizing federal government agencies in a coordinated effort to target institutions to which they are ideologically opposed," said GCU President Brian Mueller. "The level of unwarranted scrutiny being imposed on GCU is nothing short of harassment."

The FTC stated publicly in October 2021, not long after GCU filed its lawsuit against the Department of Education, that the three agencies would be coordinating efforts to target for-profit institutions, primarily due to high loan default rates at such institutions. That has taken place even though 1) GCU is lawfully recognized as a nonprofit by the IRS, State of Arizona and Higher Learning Commission, 2) GCU has had significantly lower loan default rates than the national average, and 3) the agency investigations have not been precipitated by poor underlying metrics such as high student debt levels, poor gainful employment numbers or 90/10 calculations, high loan default rates, etc. that typically trigger such actions.

"Our metrics in all of those areas are stellar, yet they still launched broad-based investigations that are essentially fishing expeditions intended to needlessly damage the University's reputation," Mueller said. "Their accusations are duplicative, lack merit and will be proven false  the DOE and FTC's accusations related to our doctoral disclosures have already been refuted twice in federal court  but the agencies will still have achieved their goal of creating negative publicity and imposing voluminous amounts of paperwork and legal costs for an institution to which they are opposed."

FTC spokesperson Douglas Farrar, echoing similar comments by the DOE, has stated their lawsuit was filed to "protect students harmed by the alleged deceptive and illegal practices," yet neither agency has provided GCU any evidence that students were harmed nor have they identified any student complaints supporting their allegations. Rather, their claims are based on their same subjective impressions about the same doctoral disclosure documents. In other words, two federal agencies have focused their resources to bring identical claims against GCU without any corroborating evidence  resources that could be used to investigate schools with legitimate concerns. This is not about protecting students, it is about targeting GCU.

Similarly, the previous VA risk-based audit, which was completed on April 27, resulted in a "finding" that claimed two innocuous statements in GCU's advertising  "Cybersecurity experts are in high demand" and "Every company needs cybersecurity"  were somehow "erroneous, deceptive or misleading" even though such comments are 1) common sense, 2) prevalent in marketing efforts among institutions in higher education (17 of the 23 universities listed among U.S. News and World Report's Best Undergraduate Cybersecurity programs made similar claims), and 3) supported by the Government's own data via the Bureau of Labor Statistics. No reasonable person would come to the same conclusions when looking at the above statements.

The VA claim was both legally and factually inaccurate, and GCU refused to sign a statement acknowledging these statements were improper. After GCU detailed the extensive approval process it already has in place to ensure factual statements in its marketing and advertising communications are supported by a reasonable basis, the VA's Arizona State Approving Agency (SAA)  with whom GCU has had a long-standing positive regulatory relationship -- was satisfied with GCU's response and the safeguards that are in place.

"In our past VA audits, we have had no significant findings and members of our State Approving Agency have verbally praised our operations for military veterans, even holding us up as an example that should be training other universities," Mueller said. "The only thing that has changed since then is the three federal agencies coordinating actions to impose their authority and ideology on state agencies in order to target specific institutions."

Taking those enforcement powers a step further, the federal government announced this week another effort to expand the powers of the Department of Education to give it even more authority over independent accrediting bodies such as the Higher Learning Commission and state entities that oversee education at the local level. That is a frightening concentration of power and potential abuse by the federal government and a powerful argument for returning regulatory authority in education to the state level.

The new federally-mandated VA audit, which must be carried out by the Arizona SAA, was implemented because the FTC filed a lawsuit against GCU with claims of deceptive advertising regarding GCU's lawful nonprofit status. These federal agencies are coordinating their actions and then citing one another to justify taking further actions. In this self-perpetuating cycle, the FTC cites Department of Education claims in its lawsuit, and the federal VA now cites the FTC as the impetus for its latest audit.

"American people are losing confidence in the federal government to be fair and objective and there are clearly no checks and balances to prevent this type of selective enforcement," Mueller said. "On behalf of our 118,000 students and families, 10,000 faculty and staff, 255,000 alumni, 500 companies represented on our advisory boards, thousands of Christian high school partners and countless community stakeholders, we are going to continue to stand up for ourselves and fight this ideological government overreach until common sense prevails  either through an objective entity such as the federal court system or a systemic change that restricts the arbitrary and selective enforcement activities of these federal agencies."

About Grand Canyon University: Grand Canyon University was founded in 1949 and is Arizona's premier private Christian university. GCU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and offers 312 academic programs, emphases and certificates for both traditional undergraduate students and working professionals. The University's curriculum emphasizes interaction with classmates, both in-person and online, and individual attention from instructors while fusing academic rigor with Christian values to help students find their purpose and become skilled, caring professionals. For more information, visit gcu.edu.

SOURCE Grand Canyon University
COVINGTON, Ky., Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A federal judge has dismissed criminal charges against retired interventional cardiologist Dr. Richard Paulus of Ashland, Kentucky, ending an eight-year-long case that involved two trials and multiple appeals, Dr. Paulus's lawyers at the BLL law firm, the Law Office of Stephen Chahn Lee, and the Mussetter Law Office announced today.

"This long-overdue dismissal finally recognizes the truth  the government cannot prove wrongdoing by Dr. Paulus based on the actual evidence regarding his medical practice," said Hilary Holt LoCicero of the BLL law firm, lead counsel in the second trial that recently concluded.

From 2008 through 2013, Dr. Paulus was part of the cardiology department at King's Daughters Medical Center in Ashland. Dr. Paulus spent more than two decades helping patients with heart disease in the tri-state area served by KDMC, and the interventional cardiology program he developed there was ranked by various organizations as one of the best in the country.

Dr. Paulus was charged with wrongdoing by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky in 2015, and his case went to trial in 2016. The conviction in that trial was thrown out on constitutional grounds by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit because Dr. Paulus had not been provided at trial with significant exculpatory information that supported his innocence and showed that the government's evidence had been cherry-picked. The appeals court accordingly held he was entitled to a new trial.

Prior to the second trial in 2023, U.S. District Judge David Bunning properly excluded from evidence various types of irrelevant, inadmissible, and misleading information that the government hoped to introduce. The second trial lasted five weeks and concluded with closing arguments on December 7.

The case against Dr. Paulus, as presented by federal prosecutors, focused on a small, not statistically valid number of Dr. Paulus's medical procedures in which he had seen significant blockage in the patients' coronary arteries that he believed justified the placement of a coronary artery stent. The government presented experts who disagreed with Dr. Paulus's medical judgments, while Dr. Paulus presented experts who agreed with him and agreed that the stents were necessary.

Ultimately, the government was unable to prove any wrongdoing by Dr. Paulus on a single count of the indictment. The jury acquitted him on one charge and, on January 3, the government filed a motion to dismiss all remaining charges. The motion was granted by Judge Bunning yesterday afternoon.

"Dr. Paulus was improperly accused by the government," Ms. LoCicero added. "He dedicated his life to helping sick patients and he always acted in their best interests. There was substantial evidence at trial that established this. Essentially, the case boiled down to legitimate disagreements between experts in a complicated field of medicine. The government's attempt to criminalize such disagreements among doctors was unjustified. Doctors frequently disagree and that was never any proof of wrongdoing."

Dr. Paulus was represented at the first trial by the late Robert S. Bennett, Ms. LoCicero, and C. David Mussetter. Dr. Paulus was represented at the second trial by Ms. LoCicero, Mr. Mussetter, and Stephen Chahn Lee, a former federal prosecutor with extensive experience with health care fraud matters and data analytics.

Ms. LoCicero is a partner in BLL, a white-collar boutique law firm located in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Mussetter is a solo practitioner in Ashland, Kentucky.

Mr. Lee is a solo practitioner in Chicago, Illinois.

For further information, contact John Sullivan of BLL at (202) 880-2129 or via e-mail at [email protected].

SOURCE Law Office of Stephen Chahn Lee, LLC
Travelers can revel in an itinerary filled with unique Mardi Gras events for all ages.

BILOXI, Miss., Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Coastal Mississippi kicks off the 2024 Mardi Gras season with a stellar lineup of parades, balls, and specialty events beginning in January and ending on 'Fat Tuesday' February 13. Much loved Mardi Gras traditions, including colorful parades featuring costumed revelers, colorful beads, king cakes, and the vibrant rhythms of Zydeco music filling the air welcome Mardi Gras aficionados and new enthusiasts to enjoy unforgettable experiences and manageable gatherings in a family friendly atmosphere.

Mardi Gras celebration in Coastal Mississippi

Known for its picturesque beaches, coastal charm, and lively atmosphere, the 62-mile coastline of Coastal Mississippi will host dozens of events across the tri-county region, including its oldest parade, the Gulf Coast Carnival Association's Annual Mardi Gras Parade on Fat Tuesday, as well as the Children's Walking Parade, and the unique Jeep-a-Gras featuring hundreds of Jeeps parading down the coast. Travelers can celebrate from sun-up to sundown with family-friendly experiences, coronation balls, several spectacular parades, festive waterfront celebrations, live music, and, of course, world-renowned Gulf-to-table Coastal Mississippi cuisine. Find a full list of 2024 Carnival events here.

"Visitors to Coastal Mississippi can expect a rich tapestry of cultural experiences throughout our destination during the 2024 Mardi Gras celebration," said Judy Young, CEO of Coastal Mississippi Tourism. "With so many unique events spread across our 62-miles of shoreline, we hope all who come to celebrate this season of merriment with us will appreciate the vibrant energy and atmosphere of unity and celebration that only Coastal Mississippi can create."

Coastal Mississippi Mardi Gras brings together locals and visitors annually for a fun and festive season of rich cultural heritage mixed with local characters and, of course, southern charm. Set against a backdrop of stunning beachfront sunsets, mild winter days, and coastal beauty, travelers are sure to find unique and unforgettable experiences for revelers of all ages. To start planning your 2024 Mardi Gras Vacation, visit CoastalMississippi.com.

About Coastal Mississippi: Coastal Mississippi is an organization charged with promoting South Mississippi as a tourism and convention destination worldwide. Its mission centers on attracting ever-increasing numbers of leisure, convention, sports, and business visitors to the area. It is dedicated to maximizing the travel and tourism industry for South Mississippi. Visit CoastalMississippi.com to learn more.

SOURCE Coastal Mississippi
RESTON, Va., Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- General Dynamics (NYSE:GD) announced today that Mark Roualet, who currently serves as executive vice president of Combat Systems, has informed the company that he will retire in April. He will be succeeded by Danny Deep, who currently serves as president of General Dynamics Land Systems, effective April 15.

"Mark has served General Dynamics with distinction for over 40 years with a demonstrated record of operational excellence," said Phebe Novakovic, chairman and chief executive officer. "Danny is a capable, tested leader with a deep background in operations and land forces programs," said Novakovic.

Deep will be succeeded by David Paddock, who currently serves as president of Jet Aviation, effective April 1. Paddock will be replaced as president of Jet Aviation by Jeremie Caillet, who currently serves as senior vice president of operations in Basel, Switzerland.

"David is a proven executive with strong leadership skills," said Novakovic. "Jeremie is a highly skilled operations and program management executive."

General Dynamics also announced today that Jason Aiken, who currently serves as executive vice president of Technologies and chief financial officer, will move from his joint role to focus exclusively on the operating duties of the Technologies group, effective February 15.

"Jason is a strong executive and has been a superb CFO. He will remain integrally involved in all aspects of the senior leadership of General Dynamics," said Novakovic.

Kim Kuryea, currently senior vice president of Human Resources and Administration, will become the company's CFO, also effective February 15.

"Kim is a seasoned finance executive with over 20 years of varied financial experience with the company including CFO of one of the company's business units, head of the company's internal audit function and the company's controller," said Novakovic.

Kuryea will be replaced by Shane Berg, who currently serves as senior vice president of Planning and Development.

"Shane joined General Dynamics two years ago and has been a superb addition to the senior leadership team," said Novakovic.

General Dynamics is a global aerospace and defense company that offers a broad portfolio of products and services in business aviation; ship construction and repair; land combat vehicles, weapons systems and munitions; and technology products and services. General Dynamics employs more than 100,000 people across 65 countries worldwide and generated $39.4 billion in revenue in 2022. More information about General Dynamics is available at www.gd.com.

SOURCE General Dynamics
FN Media Group Presents USA News Group News Commentary

VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- USA News Group - A worrying trend that could threaten the world's shift to renewable energy is looming, according to 2023 analysis from Benchmark. In the report, Benchmark called for an increase of at least $514 billion across the global battery industry supply chain to meet expected demand in 2030, and $920 billion by 2035. Among the most compelling sources set to help meet the lithium gap is set come from what's known as the Lithium Triangle, which covers portions of Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile. The prominence of South America's lithium has created an increasing amount of competition between the West and China. Hence the flooding of investment and development coming from several promising projects in the region, including from Lithium South Development Corporation (TSXV:LIS) (OTCQB:LISMF), Allkem Limited (TSX:AKE) (OTCPK:OROCF), Livent Corporation (NYSE:LTHM), POSCO Holdings Inc. (NYSE:PKX), and Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO).

In Salta Province, Argentina, Lithium South Development Corporation (TSXV:LIS) (OTCQB:LISMF) is the 100% owner of the Hombre Muerto North Lithium project (HMN Li Project), strategically positioned within the renowned Lithium Triangle. Recent developments indicate the project is now becoming a lithium mine development. The land package is strategically located adjacent to a massive $4-billion lithium venture by the Korean conglomerate POSCO Holdings Inc. (NYSE:PKX) and in close proximity to the Sal de Vida Project currently in development by the soon-to-be merged Allkem Limited (TSX:AKE) (OTC:OROCF) and Livent Corporation (NYSE:LTHM).

Ramping up the HMN Li story further, Lithium South recently submitted a new technical report under NI 43-101 standards, revealing a remarkable 175% increase in lithium resources, totaling more than 1.58 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) according to its latest Updated Mineral Resource Estimate - Hombre Muerto North Project, NI 43-101 Technical Report Catamarca and Salta, Argentina, Mark King, PhD, PGeo, Peter Ehren, M.Sc, MAusIMM, with an effective date of September 5th, 2023.

Furthermore, the report outlines their innovative approach to extract more lithium from the briny water at the HMN Li Project. Lithium South employs a proven industry method involving the evaporation of pumped lithium brine. They have implemented specific modifications to ensure minimal lithium loss during the collection of the resulting solid materials. Evaporation extraction takes advantage of the amazing free solar resource at the altitude of the project, which is about 15,000 feet. This minimizes the carbon footprint of the project.

"We are very pleased with the substantial upgrade in our LCE Resource at the HMN Li Project and are excited to potentially achieve much higher lithium recoveries," said Adrian F. C. Hobkirk, President and CEO of Lithium South. "We await the completion of our updated Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) which will further evaluate our newly defined, high quality lithium brine resource."

Up to this point, it appears that Lithium South has improved its ability to extract approximately 70% of the lithium from the briny water, a notable increase from the previous 50%. This signifies a more efficient extraction process, bringing increased viability the project.

Taking into account the current market conditions and pricing for lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE), Lithium South has projected an Initial Design Capacity (IDC) for the project, aiming for an annual production of 15,000 tonnes of LCE. The company is already making progress with the project's well testing, having successfully installed the third production well, drilled to a depth of 60 meters. A pump test is scheduled to commence immediately upon finalizing the well's development. A second 400 meter production well is now being installed.

In the lead-up to one of the lithium sector's biggest mergers, Allkem Limited (TSX:AKE) (OTC:OROCF) and Livent Corporation (NYSE:LTHM) have already received the required regulatory approval to seal the deal. The prospect of the merger has already caused Allkem's value to skyrocket within the last few months. Together the new entityto be called Arcadium Lithium is set to be worth more than $10 billion.

Ahead of the merger, Allkem secured financing from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to provide up to A$180 million for the development of its Sal de Vida project in Argentina.

"We are proud to partner with IFC to ensure long-term safe and sustainable operations, responsible products, and thriving communities," said Allkem MD and CEO Martin Perez de Solay. "We are committed to the highest sustainability standards for Sal de Vida so that it will contribute to the economy of Catamarca via local employment, the development of local supply chains, and community development programmes."

The development comes less than 6 months after Allkem achieved its first production at its Olaroz Stage 2 lithium plant.

"We are very proud to have achieved the milestone of first production at Olaroz Stage 2 proving the operational viability of the carbonation process," said Perez de Solay. "The successful expansion of Olaroz reflects our growth strategy and commitment to ensure long-term social and economic sustainability of our business for customers and stakeholders. This achievement demonstrates the expertise of our team who will now focus on completion of commissioning and ramp up to full capacity."

Having completed its lithium hydroxide plant in its home country of South Korea, POSCO Holdings Inc. (NYSE:PKX) will be looking to build a second plant with the same capacity in 2024. Set to stock these plants will be the lithium reserves POSCO acquired for US$280 million back in 2018, where the Korean giant has also committed at least $4 billion, and more recently pledged US$1.7 billion in the provinces of Salta and Catamarca.

"We talked with POSCO about the next stages in its investment in lithium and the opportunities to develop new value-added chains that include Argentina," said Argentine Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero. "The lithium industry has enormous potential for Argentina and, especially, for the provinces that produce the mineral (Catamarca, Jujuy, and Salta), especially if we consider that Argentina is the country with the largest amount of resources with potential economic value within the so-called 'Lithium Triangle', which also includes the salt flats in Chile and Bolivia."

For mining giant Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO), building its own lithium mines is seen as better than buying up existing lithium companies.

"We would rather use our competencies to develop the projects ourselves," said Rio Tinto CEO, Jakob Stausholm in an interview with Bloomberg Television. "Lithium companies right now are very expensive. We can believe we can find much cheaper ways to get it done."

Rio Tinto already made a splash in Argentina, back when it completed the acquisition of the Rincon Lithium Project in 2022 for $825 million. By mid-2023, the company had already begun reviewing the $140-million cost estimate and schedule for a starter plant on the project.

"Rincon strengthens our battery materials business and positions Rio Tinto to meet the double-digit growth in demand for lithium over the next decade, at a time when supply is constrained," said Stausholm at the time of the acquisition.

Rio Tinto recognizes the substantial promise of the Rincon project, envisioning it as a sustainable, expandable source capable of generating top-quality lithium carbonate over an extended period. The innovative direct lithium extraction technology under consideration for this project has the potential to substantially enhance lithium recovery rates when compared to traditional solar evaporation ponds.

Source: https://usanewsgroup.com/2023/10/18/the-lithium-race-to-power/

Article Source:

USA News Group

http://USAnewsgroup.com [email protected]

DISCLAIMER: Nothing in this publication should be considered as personalized financial advice. We are not licensed under securities laws to address your particular financial situation. No communication by our employees to you should be deemed as personalized financial advice. Please consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decision. This is a paid advertisement and is neither an offer nor recommendation to buy or sell any security. We hold no investment licenses and are thus neither licensed nor qualified to provide investment advice. The content in this report or email is not provided to any individual with a view toward their individual circumstances. Equity Insider is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Market IQ Media Group, Inc. ("MIQ"). MIQ has been paid a fee for Lithium South Development Corporation advertising and digital media from the company directly. There may be 3rd parties who may have shares of Lithium South Development Corporation, and may liquidate their shares which could have a negative effect on the price of the stock. This compensation constitutes a conflict of interest as to our ability to remain objective in our communication regarding the profiled company. Because of this conflict, individuals are strongly encouraged to not use this publication as the basis for any investment decision. The owner/operator of MIQ own shares of Lithium South Development Corporation which were purchased as a part of a private placement. MIQ reserves the right to buy and sell, and will buy and sell shares of Lithium South Development Corporation at any time thereafter without any further notice. We also expect further compensation as an ongoing digital media effort to increase visibility for the company, no further notice will be given, but let this disclaimer serve as notice that all material disseminated by MIQ has been approved by the above mentioned company; this is a paid advertisement, and we own shares of the mentioned company that we will sell, and we also reserve the right to buy shares of the company in the open market, or through further private placements and/or investment vehicles. The contents of this advertisement were reviewed by Mr. William Feyerabend, a Consulting Geologist and Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Feyerabend approves of the scientific and technical disclosure pertaining to Lithium South contained within this advertisement. While all information is believed to be reliable, it is not guaranteed by us to be accurate. Individuals should assume that all information contained in our newsletter is not trustworthy unless verified by their own independent research. Also, because events and circumstances frequently do not occur as expected, there will likely be differences between any predictions and actual results. Always consult a licensed investment professional before making any investment decision. Be extremely careful, investing in securities carries a high degree of risk; you may likely lose some or all of the investment.

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DUBLIN, Jan. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Healthcare Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Market" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

This report represents an in-depth analysis of the global healthcare business process outsourcing (BPO) market by service, end users, and geography. The scope of the report includes an overview of the global market trends, with 2022 considered as the base year, as well as estimates for 2023 through 2028, with projections of CAGR in the forecast period.

Healthcare BPO employs an external contractor to manage a healthcare organization's non-clinical or non-core functions, instead of executing them with in-house capabilities. BPO allows healthcare organizations to focus on their core capabilities. Delegating services to a third party helps medical practitioners focus on patient care.

It is a sort of outsourcing in which procedures and responsibilities for linked business tasks are transferred to a client service provider. Customer service, finance and accounting, human resources, payroll, marketing, and information technology are standard BPO services.

One of the primary benefits of outsourcing is the wide availability of competent healthcare experts with substantial expertise and experience in doing certain activities who are ready to take on work of any complexity and scale at record speed. Medical outsourcing firms guarantee that clients' demands are met in the best possible way with the least amount of difficulty by assuring the availability of trained medical specialists.

As a result, such factors will likely boost the worldwide healthcare BPO market throughout the projected period. Note: The other healthcare BPO services include pharmaceutical outsourcing services, IT infrastructure outsourcing services, supply chain management, sales and marketing, and non-clinical services outsourcing services. Note: The other end users include pharmaceutical companies and life sciences organizations, medical device manufacturers, healthcare IT companies, etc.

The emergence of cloud-computing service domains is an essential factor driving the growth of the healthcare BPO market. Cloud computing is one of the most recent advancements in the global healthcare BPO business. Due to their widespread use in organizations, newer technologies are being adopted more frequently in BPO services for the healthcare industry.

For example, organizations use cloud storage to store confidential data externally at inexpensive rates. It gives central administration control over all resources and HR activities and removes the requirement for users to update and maintain healthcare infrastructure. As a result, such advantages are projected to propel the global healthcare BPO market throughout the forecast period.

The Report Includes

An overview of the global market landscape related to the healthcare business process outsourcing (BPO)

In-depth analysis of global market trends, featuring historical revenue data for 2022, 2023, estimated figures for 2024, as well as forecasts for 2026, and 2028. This analysis includes projections of Compound Annual Growth Rates (CAGRs) spanning through 2028

Evaluation of the current market size and revenue growth prospects specific to healthcare business process outsourcing, accompanied by a comprehensive market share analysis categorized by service, end users, and geographical region.

Highlights of the current and future market potential and a detailed analysis of the regulatory framework and reimbursement scenarios

Review of patents, product pipeline, ESG trends, and emerging technologies related to healthcare business process outsourcing (BPO)

Market share analysis of the key companies of the industry and coverage of events like mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures, collaborations or partnerships, and other key market strategies and a relevant patent analysis

Detailed profiles of leading market participants, providing a descriptive overview of their respective businesses

Key Topics Covered:

Chapter 1 Introduction

Chapter 2 Summary and Highlights

Market Outlook

Market Summary

Chapter 3 Market Overview

Overview

Types of Healthcare BPO Services

Advantages of Healthcare BPO Services

Outsourcing Approaches

Technological Analysis

Regulatory Scenario

Market Dynamics

Macroeconomic Factors

Impact of COVID-19 on the Market for Healthcare BPO Services

Chapter 4 Market Breakdown by Type of Service and End User

Global Market for Healthcare BPO by Type of Service Provider Outsourcing Services Payer Outsourcing Services Others

Global Market for Healthcare BPO, by End Users Healthcare Providers Healthcare Payers Others



Chapter 5 Market Breakdown by Region

Overview

North America

Europe

Asia-Pacific

Rest of the World

Chapter 6 ESG Perspective

Key ESG Issues in the Healthcare BPO Industry

Carbon Footprint/Environmental Impact

Energy Consumption

Resource Consumption

Reduced Impact on Infrastructure

Healthcare BPO ESG Performance Analysis

Environmental Performance

Social Performance

Governance Performance

Case Study

Concluding Remarks

Chapter 7 Competitive Landscape

Introduction

Leading Companies Accenture IBM Corp. Cognizant



Chapter 8 Company Profiles

Accenture

Cognizant

Flatworld Solutions Inc.

GeBBS

Genpact Ltd.

IBM Corp.

Invensis Technologies Pvt Ltd.

IQVIA Inc.

Sutherland

WNS (Holdings) Ltd.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/3ngq4z

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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BEIJING, Jan. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Two adorable photos of Yangtze finless porpoises have been serving as 56-year-old Liu Chenglin's WeChat profile picture, who has worked as a Yangtze River patrol officer, for the last five years.

The pictures were taken in 2019 during a patrol training session in Yichang, Central China's Hubei Province. The need to protect the Yangtze finless porpoises has long been Liu's belief.

"When I was young, I used to go fishing with my father in the Yangtze River. Back then, the Yangtze finless porpoises would chase after our boat, riding the waves with us," Liu recalled nostalgically.

"But as time went on, it became increasingly difficult to catch fish in the river. The Yangtze finless porpoises rely on small fish for food, and as fish populations declined, the finless porpoises gradually disappeared," Liu sighed, noting that after the year of 2000, the fishery resources in the Yangtze River became scarce.

"By 2010, it was difficult to make a living solely through fishing," Liu told the Global Times.

The Yangtze finless porpoise is a nationally protected wild animal and one of the 13 flagship species identified by the World Wildlife Fund. It plays a crucial role in assessing the ecological status of the Yangtze River ecosystem.

In the past, the ecological environment of the Yangtze River suffered severe damage due to overfishing and other intensive human activities. Before 2015, only 2 to 3 members of the species remained in the Yichang section of the Yangtze River. In 2018, data released by China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs showed that there were only about 1,012 finless porpoises left in the Yangtze River.

Now, Liu is thrilled to witness the return of the finless porpoises, riding the waves alongside his boat just as before, and their numbers are increasing.

"The Yangtze finless porpoises are the mascots of Yichang! And I have taken on a new role to protect them," Liu said with delight.

On January 1, 2018, the Yichang Chinese Sturgeon Protection Zone became the first to implement a comprehensive ban on fishing, with all fishermen being resettled and transitioned into other occupations.

In June of the same year, Yichang established an assistance patrol team. Liu, who had been a licensed fisherman since 1995, became one of the first members of the patrol team.

"At that time, there were over 200 retired fishermen in our district, but only six patrol officers were chosen. I told myself that I had to work hard to pass the exam and be selected. I wanted to work on the river, but I also wanted to transform from being a 'fisherman' to a 'fish protector,'" said Liu.

Yichang is located in the central and upper parts of the Yangtze River and plays a crucial role in protecting the river's ecosystem. The fishing resources are incredibly abundant, which makes it tempting for illegal fishermen and poses challenges in enforcing the ban.

"When I first became a patrol officer, some friends thought I was doing a job that would make people discontent," Liu recalled.

In the early days of the patrol team, fishermen could still be seen using electric nets or multiple fishing rods and hooks along the Yangtze River. Initially, it was difficult to cooperate with law enforcement and convince those engaged in illegal fishing to stop. The patrol officers faced verbal abuse, and Liu even had his face scratched by a fish hook during a confrontation with fishermen.

"But our team is very united. We know where illegal fishing incidents are likely to happen. Our work can be seen as giving back to the Yangtze River using the skills we learned from her," Liu said.

On January 1, 2021, a decade-long comprehensive fishing ban officially began in the mainstream of the Yangtze River and important tributaries. This led to 110,000 fishing boats and 231,000 fishermen retiring and going ashore, leading to a complete transformation of the economic and social development of the Yangtze River Basin toward a greener future.

With the progress of Yangtze River conservation efforts, especially the implementation of the 10-year fishing ban, the concept of ecological civilization has deeply rooted itself in the hearts of the Chinese people as Liu found his job to be increasingly easier and more enjoyable now.

"In the past, many fishermen weren't well educated, and were unaware of the significant impact of illegal fishing methods like electric fishing, poisoning, and blasting. But after raising awareness, their environmental consciousness has been enhanced. Some even created banners and videos voluntarily to promote the fishing ban on the internet," he said.

Now, "See you at the dock" has become the enthusiastic slogan for Liu and his team members. The section of the Yangtze River in Yichang, which Liu patrols, is an important habitat for the Yangtze finless porpoise and a core protection area for Chinese sturgeons. He often takes a speedboat to observe the Yangtze finless porpoises and other precious animals that frequently appear in the Yangtze River. "At first, I could remember each individual, but as there are more Yangtze finless porpoises, and it's not easy for me to determine which is which," Liu shared.

According to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, as of July 2023, more than 700 assisting patrol teams have been established in the entire Yangtze River Basin, with over 25,000 assisting patrol officers.

"Our power may be small, but we are determined and confident in our mission to protect the Yangtze River. We firmly believe that in the future, the mountains along our Mother River will be greener, the water will be more beautiful, and people and nature will coexist in harmony," Liu said.

'Smiling angel' becomes internet celebrity

For Jiang Meng, secretary-general of the Nanjing Finless Porpoise and Aquatic Life Conservation Association (NFPALCA), the happiest thing to do every day is to take a walk along the Yangtze River in Nanjing. The autumn and winter seasons are the best time to observe the Yangtze finless porpoise. With careful observation, people can always capture the graceful arcs of the animal's dark and agile bodies leaping out of the river.

In December 2023, Jiang launched the "Yangtze Finless Porpoise Diary" column on his WeChat video account, recording daily encounters with the Yangtze finless porpoise and sharing them with netizens.

Jiang is fascinated by the Yangtze finless porpoises because their mouths naturally curve upward, giving them a healing smiling appearance. The popularity of the finless porpoise on social media platforms is a source of great pride for him as it indicates that these "smiling angels" have become "internet celebrities."

On September 26, 2023, the Nanjing Ecological Environment Protection and Education Center, in collaboration with the NFPALCA, launched the "Finding Smiles in the Yangtze River" live broadcast, which attracted nearly 50,000 netizens across the country. In the live chat, netizens asked questions about the differences between the Yangtze finless porpoise and a dolphin and the purpose of the porpoise's "bowing to the wind."

Jiang cherishes every encounter with the Yangtze finless porpoise and appreciates the enthusiasm of netizens for the animal. He told the Global Times that his greatest wish is for these "smiling angels" to always be good companions for the Chinese people and "share the lucid waters and lush mountains" with us.

However, for a long time, Jiang had been living in constant worry. In 2007, when he heard the news of the functional extinction of white-flag dolphins, he realized, for the first time, that "the Yangtze River was sick." A few years later, when he heard that there was a pod of "smiling angels" in the Yangtze River in imminent danger, he was unable to sit idly by. "I must do something for the Yangtze River!"

With this personal call to action, over the last decade, Jiang and the association's experts and volunteers have held over a hundred science lectures and activities annually, and have created a venue for people to learn about the Yangtze finless porpoise and other aquatic species in the river.

Through these efforts, more and more people have come to understand the importance and urgency of jointly protecting the Yangtze finless porpoise and the Yangtze River ecosystem. More people have also been inspired to join the association.

On September 19, 2022, the fourth scientific investigation of the Yangtze finless porpoise in the entire Yangtze River basin was launched in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu Province, with Jiang as a member of the scientific investigation team.

For him, this was not only an investigation of the current status of the Yangtze finless porpoise, but also an assessment of his decade of guardianship.

"On September 25  the seventh day of the investigation  we discovered the presence of the Yangtze finless porpoise throughout the route, from Yangzhou Sanjiangying, through the Zhenjiang conservation area, to the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge," said Jiang, when he realized that his efforts had borne fruit.

In recent years, with the advancement of the Yangtze River conservation initiative, the playful glee of the Yangtze finless porpoise has been witnessed more frequently in the Nanjing section of the Yangtze River.

According to the latest survey on the resources of the Nanjing Yangtze finless porpoise provincial nature reserve released by the Nanjing Greening and Landscaping Bureau, as of March 2023, the number of the Yangtze finless porpoises in Nanjing was stable and showed an increasing trend, with a population of about 62, making it one of the sections with the highest density of Yangtze finless porpoises.

Currently, Jiang's association has nearly 30 staff members who are working together with local departments to promote Yangtze finless porpoise culture. "We hope to maximize the ecological and cultural value of the Yangtze finless porpoise, making the species a green engine that supports the high-quality development of Nanjing and the Yangtze River Economic Belt."

China solution draws global attention

On the Yangtze River, fishermen are now protectors of fish, epitomizing China's ecological and environmental protection efforts. In recent decades, especially the last decade, similar stories have unfolded across China  loggers have become forest rangers and firefighters; herdsmen have swapped hunting rifles for binoculars and telephoto lenses to observe and protect wildlife; villagers who once lived by logging and exploiting mountain resources now reap ecological benefits, with a true understanding of why "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets," and willingly protecting their homeland.

The Chinese path to modernization is the modernization of harmony between humanity and nature. Respecting, conforming to, and protecting nature are inherent requirements in building a comprehensively modern socialist country.

Over the last decade, China has revised and enacted 13 laws and 17 administrative regulations on air, water, and soil pollution prevention; dozens of ecological civilization construction reform plans were also introduced.

China's efforts in ecological and environmental protection are not only crucial for its sustainable development but also provide valuable experience and insight for global ecological and environmental protection. China's practice shows that through government guidance, technological innovation, and public participation, environmental protection and sustainable development can be effectively promoted.

Erik Solheim, former under-secretary-general of the United Nations and former executive director of the UN Environment Program, told the Global Times, in an exclusive interview, that he used to recommend countries seeking environmental protection solutions to visit European cities like Brussels, Paris, and Berlin. However, he now advises them to look toward Chinese cities such as Beijing, Shenzhen, and Hangzhou.

"It is clear to everyone that China is the absolute world leader (in this transition). Between 60 and 80 percent of all renewable technologies are now happening in China alone, including solar, wind, hydropower, electric cars, buses, trains, batteries" he said.

"China has at least 80 percent of the global market share in solar manufacturing capacity. The rest of the world needs to get up very early in the morning if they want to compete," he noted.

Fred Krupp, president of the Environmental Defense Fund, also praised China's significant contributions to environmental protection and climate change in a previous interview with the Global Times. He noted that China's leading position in these areas has created a "race to the top" competition toward higher standards, which is beneficial to environmental protection work.

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202401/1304814.shtml

SOURCE Global Times
HONG KONG, Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), in partnership with Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks (HKSTP) and the Hong Kong Electronic Industries Association (HKEIA) Ltd, is delighted to announce the strong comeback of the Hong Kong delegation at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2024. Showcasing Hong Kong's innovation and technological prowess, a remarkable assembly of 33 exhibitors will populate the Hong Kong Tech Pavilions at Design & Source and Eureka Park.

CES 2024, running from January 9 to 12 in Las Vegas, stands as the world's largest consumer electronics show, attracting top tech companies from across the globe. With an impressive lineup of 5,000 exhibitors and over 180,000 expected participants, including top-level executives, CES sets the stage for the latest industry trends. The event will also garner the attention of nearly 7,000 media representatives, ensuring extensive coverage and in-depth analysis of emerging tech trends.

As one of the world's biggest exporters of electronic goods, Hong Kong has long had a presence at CES. In fact, ours was the first-ever international pavilion and we have been a keen supporter of the show for more than 40 years. This year's CES 2024 marks the much-awaited return of the full physical exhibition following the pandemic. The overwhelming industry demand for joining the show is the proof of market resilience and Hong Kong's competitiveness in the global context. The participation of numerous Hong Kong SMEs and start-ups, showcasing their latest products and solutions at this significant global exhibition, serves as a testament to their remarkable potential, solidifying Hong Kong's position as a pivotal innovation powerhouse in Asia.

To facilitate SMEs in exploring global market opportunities, HKTDC will lead 13 Hong Kong companies to showcase their innovative products and technologies at the Design & Source in Westgate. These exhibitors will present a diverse range of offerings, including health monitoring wearables, smart living products, high-tech home appliances, car audio electronics, transmitter batteries, smart speakers for hearing impaired, cutting-edge Wrt-based networking devices, electric scooters, etc.

One prominent participant, Nano and Advanced Materials Institute (NAMI), a regular exhibitor of Hong Kong pavilion in CES since 2018, has been honored 27 prestigious "R&D 100 Awards" (known as "the Oscars of Invention") for its pioneering research in nano and advanced materials. In CES 2024, NAMI's "Wrinkleless TriClarity nScreen" has been named Innovation Awards Honoree under the category of Mobile Devices, Accessories & Apps. It is the sixth consecutive year NAMI wins the privileged awards, adding up to a total of 11 Innovation Awards from CES since 2019.

Making their debut at the Design and Source at CES, two exhibitors are poised to make a lasting impression. Leading the way is the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI), a dedicated force in applied research with core R&D competence in Trust and AI Technologies, Communication Technologies, IoT Sensing and AI Technologies, as well as Integrated Circuits and Systems. Alongside is Paraverse Technology which aims to revolutionize the industry with their decentralized real-time cloud rendering platform and Web3 transaction platform specifically tailored for XR applications and 3D digital assets.

Hong Kong has a vibrant startup ecosystem and its growth momentum continued in 2023 despite various external challenges. To feature and demonstrate Hong Kong's outstanding R&D strengths and potentials in innovation and technology sector, 20 start-ups will exhibit in Hong Kong Tech pavilion at Eureka Park, showcasing a diverse range of achievements across four innovative sectors: AI and Data, Advanced Manufacturing, Life & Health, and Sustainability. Eureka Park, situated in Venetian Expo, is the global stage for future-forward innovations and the most sought-after location at CES packed with investors and global media.

Among the 20 Hong Kong start-ups showcasing at Eureka Park, two companies, AI Guided and Sitan Semiconductor International, have received prestigious "CES Innovation Awards" at CES 2024. AI Guided Ltd. was recognised in the "Accessibility and Aging Tech" category for its groundbreaking "GUIDi Smart Belt," while Sitan Semiconductor International was honored in the "XR Technologies and Accessories" category for its exceptional "0.13" micro-LED Display Module."

HKTDC's initiative to lead the Hong Kong delegation at CES demonstrates its commitment to facilitating business opportunities for Hong Kong companies. The delegation will not only gain invaluable insights into the latest tech innovative trends, but also pave the way for exciting collaborations, propelling Hong Kong's position as a trailblazer in the global tech arena.

About HKTDC

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions , conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels . For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus . Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn

Appendix 1:

Exhibitors of HK Tech pavilions awarded CES 2024 Innovation Awards:

Company Name Category Product Nano and Advanced Materials Institute (NAMI) Mobile Devices, Accessories & Apps Wrinkleless TriClarity nScreen Product Description: NAMI's Wrinkleless TriClarity nScreen is a wrinkle-free, flexible, and high-contrast display that makes the world's only collapsible, large-size, and portable display/TV possible. The display/TV with this screen shows the 24-inch diagonal image with 2k high resolution that seamlessly expands and folds away in just seconds. The whole display/TV can be collapsed down to the size and weight of a book. AI Guided Limited Accessibility & Aging Tech GUIDi Product Description: GUIDi is an AI smart belt empowering the visually impaired by implementing MEMS and AI technology to wearable devices. We help users achieve their personal and highly intelligent navigation system independent of the internet or GPS. The device works with dual wide-angle cameras, a customized edge AI module with sensor integration, a haptic navigation system, and voice command. The accompanying mobile app allows convenience by featuring voice command support and over-the-air updates, ensuring continuous improvement and cutting-edge functionality. Goodbye to limitations and hello to freedom as GUIDi empowers the visually impaired with a seamless navigation experience in any environment. Sitan Semiconductor International Co. Limited XR Technologies & Accessories 0.13'' Micro LED Display Module Product Description: Sitan's 0.13'' 1024*768 Micro-LED Display Module features ultra-high pixel density (10000ppi). With the inherent advantages of high brightness, long lifetime, and high efficiency of micro-LEDs, it is the best choice for display units of AR/XR products.

Appendix 2:

The 13 SMEs in the "Hong Kong Tech" at Design and Source, Westgate of CES 2024

No. Company Name Booth No. 1 Amosola Limited 2008 2 Aquarius Industrial (Hong Kong) Limited 2010 3 Cellatti Limited 1909 4 Crown Style Holdings Limited 1903 5 GL Technologies (Hong Kong) Limited 1911 6 Golden Power Corporation (Hong Kong) Limited 2519 7 Golden Victory Corporation Limited 2004 8 Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Co. Ltd. (ASTRI) 1905 9 King Profit Trading Limited 2006 10 Maxim Company (H.K.) Limited 1901 11 Nano and Advanced Materials Institute Limited 2000, 2002 12 Paraverse Technology Limited 1907 13 Timely Products Company Limited 2521

The 20 Hong Kong start-ups in "Hong Kong Tech" at Eureka Park of CES 2024 (Booth no. 63400, Hall G, level 1, Venetian Expo):

No. Company Name Categories 1 Atom Semiconductor Technologies Limited Advanced Manufacturing 2 AI Guided Limited Life & Health 3 Aura Circle Limited Life & Health 4 Big Bang Academy AI & Data 5 D-Engraver Limited AI & Data 6 Direct Drive Technology Limited Advanced Manufacturing 7 Doctech HK Limited Advanced Manufacturing 8 Film Players Limited Sustainability 9 HairCoSys Limited Life & Health 10 Invisible & Innovative Technology Co Ltd Sustainability 11 Mangdang Technology Co., Limited AI & Data 12 Novelte Robotics Ltd Sustainability 13 Raysolve Technology Company Limited Advanced Manufacturing 14 Scan the World Limited AI & Data 15 Sitan Semiconductor International Co. Limited Advanced Manufacturing 16 Syngular Technology Limited Life & Health 17 Talos Innovation Limited Life & Health 18 Watts Optical Instruments Ltd. Advanced Manufacturing 19 XOXO Beverages Limited Sustainability 20 Zoo Gears Limited Life & Health

Click here for more details about our booth at: https://ces24.mapyourshow.com/8_0/exhibitor/exhibitor-details.cfm?exhid=0013000001KaMKhAAN.

SOURCE Hong Kong Tech
Brings Specialty Eye Care to Ormond Beach, FL

ORMOND BEACH, Fla., Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Florida Eye Specialists , the largest eye practice in North Florida, and International Eye Associates , a trusted Ormond Beach practice of over 20 years, have joined forces to improve access to specialty eye care in the Ormond Beach area. With this partnership, International Eye Associates and its team will join the Florida Eye Specialists network, marking the practice's first office in the area.

Committed to excellence in eye care, International Eye Associates brings together a team of dedicated doctors and staff led by fellowship-trained ophthalmologists Samantha N. Habhab, MD , and Kenzo J. Koike, MD . Both are distinguished in their fields and bring a wealth of expertise to the Ormond Beach community.

International Eye Associates will serve as one of the area's premier ophthalmic treatment, research, and education centers. The office offers a comprehensive range of eye care services, including cataracts, cornea, dry eye, glaucoma, and general ophthalmology.

Dr. Koike, a board-certified, fellowship-trained ophthalmologist, focuses on the cornea, complex cataracts, and glaucoma. He remains at the forefront of technological advancements and actively engages in local and international eye care missions.

Dr. Habhab, a fellowship-trained ophthalmologist, specializes in general eye care, cornea, cataract, and refractive surgery. She is actively involved in professional societies like the American Academy of Ophthalmology and brings compassionate, patient-centered care to the practice.

CEO and managing partner Rajesh K. Shetty, MD is optimistic about this new addition to the Florida Eye Specialists network.

"This expansion marks a significant milestone for Florida Eye Specialists, reflecting our commitment to providing exceptional eye care to communities across Florida," said Dr. Shetty. "The partnership with International Eye Associates is a testament to our continuous growth and progress, ensuring we can meet the diverse patient eye care needs in Ormond Beach and beyond."

To make an appointment, patients can call (386) 673-3939 or visit InternationalEye.com.

About International Eye Associates

International Eye Associates , part of the Florida Eye Specialists network, is a state-of-the-art eye care center in Ormond Beach, FL, dedicated to providing excellence in eye care. Led by fellowship-trained ophthalmologists Samantha N. Habhab, MD, and Kenzo J. Koike, MD, the clinic offers premier treatments and compassionate care in various eye care specialties, including cataracts, glaucoma, dry eye, and more.

SOURCE Florida Eye Specialists
Staff members work at the site of a train accident in Cicalengka, Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia, Jan. 5, 2024. Three people were killed and more than 10 others injured as two trains were involved in a face-to-face collision in Indonesia's West Java province, a police officer said. (Photo by Septianjar Muharam/Xinhua)

JAKARTA, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Three people were killed and more than 10 others injured as two trains were involved in a face-to-face collision in Indonesia's West Java province, a police officer said.

The casualties were a train driver, his assistant and an employee, police spokesman of the provincial Police Office Senior Commissioner Ibrahim Tompo said in a live interview with local media MetroTV.

The train Commuter Line Bandung Raya and Turangga train collided in Cicalengka regency at 06:03 a.m. Jakarta time, according to Supriono, head of the operation unit of the provincial search and rescue office.

"Our personnel have rescued many injured people, at least more than 10 wounded persons. It could be more than that," he told Xinhua by phone. All of the injured have been rushed into the General Hospital of Cicalengka, he added. 

Staff members work at the site of a train accident in Cicalengka, Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia, Jan. 5, 2024. Three people were killed and more than 10 others injured as two trains were involved in a face-to-face collision in Indonesia's West Java province, a police officer said. (Photo by Septianjar Muharam/Xinhua)

Staff members work at the site of a train accident in Cicalengka, Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia, Jan. 5, 2024. Three people were killed and more than 10 others injured as two trains were involved in a face-to-face collision in Indonesia's West Java province, a police officer said. (Photo by Septianjar Muharam/Xinhua)

Staff members work at the site of a train accident in Cicalengka, Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia, Jan. 5, 2024. Three people were killed and more than 10 others injured as two trains were involved in a face-to-face collision in Indonesia's West Java province, a police officer said. (Photo by Septianjar Muharam/Xinhua)

Staff members work at the site of a train accident in Cicalengka, Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia, Jan. 5, 2024. Three people were killed and more than 10 others injured as two trains were involved in a face-to-face collision in Indonesia's West Java province, a police officer said. (Photo by Septianjar Muharam/Xinhua)

Staff members work at the site of a train accident in Cicalengka, Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia, Jan. 5, 2024. Three people were killed and more than 10 others injured as two trains were involved in a face-to-face collision in Indonesia's West Java province, a police officer said. (Photo by Septianjar Muharam/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Jan. 5, 2024 shows the site of a train accident in Cicalengka, Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia. Three people were killed and more than 10 others injured as two trains were involved in a face-to-face collision in Indonesia's West Java province, a police officer said. (Photo by Septianjar Muharam/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Jan. 5, 2024 shows the site of a train accident in Cicalengka, Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia. Three people were killed and more than 10 others injured as two trains were involved in a face-to-face collision in Indonesia's West Java province, a police officer said. (Photo by Septianjar Muharam/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Jan. 5, 2024 shows the site of a train accident in Cicalengka, Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia. Three people were killed and more than 10 others injured as two trains were involved in a face-to-face collision in Indonesia's West Java province, a police officer said. (Photo by Septianjar Muharam/Xinhua)

Rescuers work at the site of a train accident in West Java province, Indonesia, Jan. 5, 2024. Three people were killed and more than 10 others injured as two trains were involved in a face-to-face collision in Indonesia's West Java province, a police officer said. (Photo by Septianjar Muharam/Xinhua)

Rescuers work at the site of a train accident in West Java province, Indonesia, Jan. 5, 2024. Three people were killed and more than 10 others injured as two trains were involved in a face-to-face collision in Indonesia's West Java province, a police officer said. (Photo by Septianjar Muharam/Xinhua)

Rescuers work at the site of a train accident in West Java province, Indonesia, Jan. 5, 2024. Three people were killed and more than 10 others injured as two trains were involved in a face-to-face collision in Indonesia's West Java province, a police officer said. (Photo by Septianjar Muharam/Xinhua)

Rescuers work at the site of a train accident in West Java province, Indonesia, Jan. 5, 2024. Three people were killed and more than 10 others injured as two trains were involved in a face-to-face collision in Indonesia's West Java province, a police officer said. (Photo by Septianjar Muharam/Xinhua)

Rescuers work at the site of a train accident in West Java province, Indonesia, Jan. 5, 2024. Three people were killed and more than 10 others injured as two trains were involved in a face-to-face collision in Indonesia's West Java province, a police officer said. (Photo by Septianjar Muharam/Xinhua)

Rescuers work at the site of a train accident in West Java province, Indonesia, Jan. 5, 2024. Three people were killed and more than 10 others injured as two trains were involved in a face-to-face collision in Indonesia's West Java province, a police officer said. (Photo by Septianjar Muharam/Xinhua)

Rescuers work at the site of a train accident in West Java province, Indonesia, Jan. 5, 2024. Three people were killed and more than 10 others injured as two trains were involved in a face-to-face collision in Indonesia's West Java province, a police officer said. (Photo by Septianjar Muharam/Xinhua)
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Jackery, a global leader in innovative portable power and outdoor energy solutions, proudly announces its much-anticipated presence at the prestigious Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2024. With great excitement, Jackery invites attendees to witness the debut of two groundbreaking products: the Solar Generator Mars Bot, the Jackery Solar Generator for Rooftop Tent and showcase of complete Plus series.

New Product Highlights:

Jackery Unveils Revolutionary Innovations at CES 2024: Introducing Solar Mars Bot and Rooftop Tent Solar Generator

The Solar Generator Mars Bot emerges as an epitome of sustainable technology, merging cutting-edge robotics with solar energy innovation. This futuristic outdoor companion redefines the boundaries of portable energy solutions, boasting an array of intelligent features designed to enhance outdoor experiences. Whether it's adventure, exploration, home back-up or rescue scenario, the Solar Generator Mars Bot promises to elevate every moment.

Additionally, the Jackery Solar Generator for Rooftop Tents marks a new era in off-grid living. Compact yet powerful, this innovative product harnesses solar energy efficiently, catering to essential power needs for outdoor enthusiasts. With seamless integration and reliability, it empowers individuals to embrace off-grid adventures without compromising on comfort or convenience.

Powerful Existing Product Line:

Jackery continues to push the boundaries of innovation with the showcase of the Plus series. This lineup includes the Solar Generator 2000 Plus, Solar Generator 1000 Plus, Solar Generator 300 Plus, and Explorer 100 Plus, representing a diverse range of portable power solutions with different capacity levels. These additions further solidify Jackery's commitment to providing versatile and reliable energy sources for a multitude of lifestyles and purposes.

Strength in Innovation and Legacy:

The introduction of these groundbreaking innovations underscores Jackery's unwavering dedication to pioneering portable power technology. As Jackery commemorated its 11th anniversary in 2023, it reflects on its journey of continuous evolution and innovation. From humble beginnings to becoming a global leader, Jackery remains steadfast in its mission to empower individuals and communities through accessible and sustainable energy solutions.

For an immersive experience and an exclusive preview of these revolutionary innovations, visit Jackery at Booth #9815, North Hall, LVCC, during CES 2024 from January 9 to 12. Join us in embracing the future of portable power.

About Jackery:

Jackery, the world's leading innovative portable power and green outdoor energy solution provider founded in California in 2012, is a global top-selling solar generator brand born with a mission to offer green energy to everyone, everywhere. Jackery launched its first outdoor portable power stations in 2016 and developed its first portable solar panels in 2018. Jackery has sold over 3 million units globally since 2018, and has been recognized by over 200 authorized media and organizations worldwide and received 58 prestigious international design awards. Jackery has fulfilled its social responsibility on a global scale and maintained long-term cooperation with global public welfare organizations such as WWF, NFF and IRC contributing its strength and value to boost global sustainable development and other public welfare.

SOURCE Jackery Inc.
SHANGRAO, China, Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. ("JinkoSolar" or the "Company") (NYSE: JKS), one of the largest and most innovative solar module manufacturers in the world, today announced its affiliated company has recently granted rights to certain of its N-type TOPCon (Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact)-related patents to one of the top ten solar module companies in the world ("Licensee") with reasonable license fee arrangement, allowing Licensee to use certain JinkoSolar's patented TOPCon technologies in its relevant TOPCon products.

JinkoSolar is overtaking most brands on the N-type TOPCon patent list with 330 granted TOPCon patents. This IP transaction between JinkoSolar and Licensee is a strategic win-win move by both companies, potentially strengthening the respective positions of the two companies in the markets.

IP transactions are not unique to the Solar Photovoltaic industry. Many other high-tech industries including semiconductors, telecommunications, and AI do them as a way to promote innovation and collaboration as well as avoid legal disputes.

As a leader in solar PV technology with years of substantial investments in R&D, JinkoSolar has, so far, applied for over 3500 patents and obtained more than 2000 authorized patents. These patents cover a wide range of high-efficiency solar cell and module technologies, including PERC, TOPCon, BC, etc. And JinkoSolar holds one of the largest portfolio of granted TOPCon patents in the world.

"The pressing need to reduce carbon emissions calls for faster technological development and greater accessibility to new technologies in the Solar PV industry. At JinkoSolar, we want to help other market players and our clients to identify opportunities for developing new technologies and products and can help them to navigate the complex landscape technology mapping", said Dr. Hao Jin, CTO of JinkoSolar.

About JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.

JinkoSolar (NYSE: JKS) is one of the largest and most innovative solar module manufacturers in the world. JinkoSolar distributes its solar products and sells its solutions and services to a diversified international utility, commercial and residential customer base in China, the United States, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, Chile, South Africa, India, Mexico, Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, Italy, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, Greece and other countries and regions.

JinkoSolar had 14 productions facilities globally, 24 overseas subsidiaries in Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, India, Turkey, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Australia, Canada, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Denmark, Indonesia, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, and global sales teams in China, the United States, Canada, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Italy, Germany, Turkey, Spain, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Netherlands, Vietnam and India, as of September 30, 2023.

To find out more, please see: www.jinkosolar.com

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements constitute "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, 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" and similar statements. Among other things, the quotations from management in this press release and the Company's operations and business outlook, contain forward-looking statements. Such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in JinkoSolar's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 20-F. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

Ms. Stella Wang

JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.

Tel: +86 21-5180-8777 ext.7806

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.
SEOUL, South Korea, Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Celebrated actress and two-time Emmy Award nominee Sydney Sweeney has joined Laneige as their first-ever global brand ambassador.

Sweeney, who has been signed to Laneige US as their brand ambassador for the past 18 months and risen to super-stardom with remarkable leads in projects including Euphoria, White Lotus, and more recently Anyone But You, will star in a series of new skincare campaigns for the internationally acclaimed K-beauty brand. Their global partnership is now extended to cover around 40 countries all over the world.

Laneige expands partnership with actress Sydney Sweeney as global ambassador.

The impact that Sweeney's partnership had on Laneige US during their partnership? "A great example of the magnitude of our partnership with Sydney would be our social follower growth. Since the first announcement of Sydney as our US ambassador in spring 2022, we experienced an immediate 227% surge in Tiktok followers and 53% growth in Instagram followers. One behind the scenes video of Sydney on a Laneige production set went viral three times over, accumulating 72 million views across TikTok, Instagram and Youtube. That's the type of influence and reach Sydney has," says Julien Bouzitat, Brand General Manager for Laneige US.

"Over the past few years, we have seen Sydney transform into a global superstar at the forefront of the cultural zeitgeist. Since the beginning of our partnership, Sydney and Laneige experienced a similar global acceleration as she cemented her status as one of the most promising actresses in Hollywood, while Laneige continued to break records for its viral Lip Sleeping Mask and barrier-boosting skincare, sweeping every award imaginable from Allure's Best of Beauty to Amazon's Customer Obsession Award. We were also crowned the #1 Lip Treatment Brand In The US* which is an astounding achievement for the brand. It's been an incredibly rewarding trajectory for both parties and we are looking forward to reaching an even broader audience worldwide with Sydney as our new global brand ambassador."

Both Sweeney and Laneige have an exciting year ahead with the release of her much-anticipated projects such as Marvel Studio's Madame Web, and Laneige launching brand new innovations in the sleep care and lip treatment categories through spring and summer, accompanied by a global campaign creative starring Sweeney. Expect to see Sweeney across the globe through a full funnel media activation launching from out-of-home advertisements, paid and organic social media content and personal appearances.

Through the expanded partnership to all major markets, Laneige is looking to continue gaining more global mass awareness on their barrier-boosting skincare portfolio including Lip Sleeping Mask, Lip Glowy Balm, Water Bank Cream Moisturizer, Cream Skin Toner & Moisturizer, Water Sleeping Mask, as well as the brand's exciting new innovations in 2024. Sweeney will first appear in January for a campaign supporting the renovation of the best-selling Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Moisturizer.

"I couldn't be more excited to announce my extended partnership with Laneige as their first-ever global ambassador," says Sweeney. "It all started very organically after finding the absolute best skincare routine with Laneige products after years of trial and error. After creating so many fun memories on multiple campaigns together, I'm looking forward to our continued collaboration. There are some phenomenal innovations on the way for this spring that will make Laneige's expertise in sleep care shine through, and I'm thrilled to share this next generation of overnight masks with the rest of the world!"

In the US, Laneige can be found exclusively at Sephora in-stores, online and Sephora @Kohl's, Amazon, and us.laneige.com.

*Source: The NPD Group/U.S. Prestige Beauty Total Measured Market, Skincare Brand Dollar Sales, 12 months ending December 2022

SOURCE LANEIGE
Funding comes from mission-aligned and institutional investors to support regulatory and pre-launch activities for investigational MDMA-assisted therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder ("PTSD")

Company rebrands and changes name to reflect its new stage of focusthe integration of the potential first psychedelic-assisted therapy into the healthcare system if approved by FDA

SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- MAPS Public Benefit Corporation ("MAPS PBC"), a company dedicated to transforming mental healthcare, announced an oversubscribed Series A financing. MAPS PBC raised more than $100 million including conversion of previously issued convertible notes.

The financing was led by Helena, a global problem-solving organization and investor, with participation from other mission-aligned and institutional investors, including, but not limited to: the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation (led by Alex Cohen), Eir Therapeutics, Vine Ventures, True Ventures, Unlikely Collaborators Foundation, The Joe and Sandy Samberg Foundation, Bail Capital, KittyHawk Ventures and Satori Neuro. MAPS PBC also announced the company is rebranding and changing its name to Lykos Therapeutics ("Lykos"), effective immediately.

"We are incredibly grateful for Helena's tremendous support and leadership as well as the contributions from other mission-aligned investors, which comes at this critical time as we are transitioning from a development-stage company to one focused on commercialization of the potential first psychedelic-assisted therapy," said Amy Emerson, chief executive officer ("CEO") of Lykos. "To reflect our company evolution, we selected a new name, Lykos which means wolf in Greek, to represent the qualitiesbravery, courage, loyalty and intelligencethat resonate with our company."

With the completion of the financing, there have been changes to the Lykos board of directors. The new eight-member board is comprised of six Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies ("MAPS") appointees, four of whom are independent directors, the CEO of Lykos, and Suprotik (Protik) Basu from Helena, who brings over two decades of public health financing experience to the board.

"We are inspired by the mission and work of Lykos and honored to be chosen as their trusted partner," said Protik Basu, managing partner at Helena. "This strong funding round, combined with the Phase 3 results and recent new drug application submission to the FDA, position Lykos to continue its journey to help transform mental health, and to help address the large unmet need for the estimated 13 million Americans who suffer from PTSD1, should this investigational drug used in combination with therapy be approved by the FDA."

New Name and Identity

As the Company transitions from a research-stage company to a public benefit corporation focused on integrating new therapies, if approved by the FDA, into the healthcare system, it is rebranding and has changed its name to Lykos Therapeutics. The name is derived from the Greek word, lykos, which means "wolf," and is associated with the qualities of bravery, courage, loyalty and intelligence that resonate with the organization. Along with the name change, the new visual identity represents the overlap of innovative science combined with a focus on the whole person.

About MDMA-Assisted Therapy

MDMA-assisted therapy is an investigational modality being studied using a combination of MDMA, psychological intervention and other supportive services to treat PTSD. MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine) is an entactogena class of psychoactive compounds that are differentiated from classic psychedelics and are defined based on their mechanism and known effects of increasing self-awareness leading to introspection and personal reflection.2,3,4

Lykos has completed two Phase 3 trials for PTSD and submitted a new drug application ("NDA") to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") for MDMA (midomafetamine capsules) used in combination with psychological intervention, which includes talk therapy, and other supportive services provided by a qualified healthcare provider. If approved by the FDA, investigational MDMA-assisted therapy would be the first psychedelic-assisted therapy approved for PTSD. The NDA submission included results from numerous studies including two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 3 studies (MAPP1 and MAPP2) evaluating the efficacy and safety of MDMA-assisted therapy versus placebo with therapy in participants diagnosed with moderate or moderate and severe PTSD, respectively. Both MAPP1 and MAPP2 studies met their primary and secondary endpoints and were published in Nature Medicine.5,6 This new funding will help enable Lykos to finish regulatory and pre-launch activities for investigational MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD. If approved, investigational MDMA-assisted therapy may offer healthcare providers a new option to consider for appropriate individuals with PTSD.

With Breakthrough Therapy designation given to MDMA in 2017, Lykos has requested the FDA grant Priority Review of the NDA. The FDA has 60 days to determine whether the NDA will be accepted for review and whether it will be a priority or standard review (six months or ten months, respectively). If approved by the FDA, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration ("DEA") would be required to reschedule MDMA making it available for prescription medical use.

MDMA-assisted therapy has not been approved by any regulatory agency. The safety and efficacy of MDMA-assisted therapy have not been established for the treatment of PTSD.

About Helena

Helena is a global problem-solving organization that seeks to implement solutions to critical societal challenges through nonprofit, for-profit, and legislative actions. Helena operates its projects alongside a small group of leaders called Helena Members. They include Nobel Laureates, Academy Award winners, former CIA Directors, technologists, entrepreneurs, explorers, and more. Helena supports mission-driven for-profit efforts through its investment arm, Helena Special Investments (HSI). Its portfolio includes innovations in grid-scale energy storage (Energy Vault); AI controls to dramatically reduce energy consumption in industrial processes and data centers (Phaidra); and Digital Twin technology enabling chronic metabolic disease reversals (Twin Health), among others. HSI is led by Managing Partners, Henry Elkus, Sam Feinberg and Suprotik Basu.

Helena's nonprofit projects have included America in One Room, which garnered the attention of The New York Times and President Barack Obama; Biosecurity in the Age of AI, which focuses on risks emerging at the intersection of AI and biotechnology; and The COVID Project, which supplied tens of millions of units of personal protective equipment to frontline responders during the COVID-19 pandemic.

About Lykos Therapeutics (Formerly MAPS PBC)

At Lykos, formerly MAPS PBC, our mission is to transform mental health care. We aspire to challenge the status quo through the development of novel therapies and therapeutic approaches to treat mental health conditions. With 30+ years of experience researching psychedelic-assisted therapies, we remain committed to the rigorous pursuit of evidence-based development of novel approaches. Founded in 2014 by the non-profit MAPS, Lykos Therapeutics is a for-profit public benefit corporation ("PBC") established to further the development of investigational psychedelic-assisted therapies. As a PBC, we consider the impact of our decisions on society just as we think about financial implications. Everything we do is viewed through a public benefit lens. To learn more visit us at www.lykospbc.com and on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and Facebook.

1 National Center for PTSD. US Department of Veterans Affairs. Accessed January 3, 2024. https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/common/common_adults.asp 2 Nichols, David E.Entactogens: How the Name for a Novel Class of Psychoactive Agents Originated. Frontiers in Psychiatry. Vol 13, 2022. DOI= 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.863088. 3 Vollenweider, Franz X.,Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2001 Dec; 3(4): 265279.doi: 10.31887/DCNS.2001.3.4/fxvollenweider 4 O'Neil, M.J., The Merck Index: An Encyclopedia of chemicals, drugs and biologicals. Merck Research Laboratories, Merck and Co. Inc, Whitehouse station, New Jersey, 2006. 319 5 Mitchell JM, Bogenschutz M, Lilienstein A, et al. MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study. Nat Med 609 2021;27:102533 6 Mitchell JM, Ot'alora MG et al. MDMA-assisted therapy for moderate to severe PTSD: a randomized, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial. Nat Med. 2023 Sept 14 doi: 10.1038/s41591-023-02565-4. Online ahead of print.

SOURCE MAPS Public Benefit Corporation
WASHINGTON, Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A federal judge is ordering the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to justify its withholding of information about a Mexican journalist whom the agency detained while he was seeking asylum.

Judge Rudolph Contreras' ruling came in a Freedom of Information case brought by the National Press Club Journalism Institute and Kathy Kiely seeking records about Emilio Gutierrez Soto, the National Press Club's 2017 press freedom honoree. Kiely is the Lee Hills Chair in Free Press Studies at the Missouri School of Journalism and the Institute's former Press Freedom Fellow.

Contreras' 43-page opinion notes that federal agencies that want to withhold information from public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act must provide detailed explanations to justify the redactions. The judge made it plain that ICE's "overly vague" and "scant explanations" do not meet the standard.

The opinion, filed on Dec. 28, requires the agency to release one document and opens the door to the release of more: Contreras determined that ICE's filings were "insufficient to justify its use of the contested exemptions" to withhold many others. He is also requiring ICE to conduct a supplemental search for records about any mechanisms used to block phone calls from Gutierrez's attorney while the journalist was in ICE detention. Contreras dismissed ICE's argument that the request was overly broad. The agency declared it couldn't be sure what the Institute meant by "mechanisms."

"ICE's attempt to manufacture ambiguity in this way is unconvincing," Contreras wrote.

Contreras' decision comes in the sixth year of efforts to keep Gutierrez from being deported to his home country, where he has been threatened with death. In September, a three-judge panel of the Board of Immigration Appeals ruled Gutierrez eligible for asylum. He has a March 18 court date in El Paso where he is expected to be granted that status.

"Even as he has been exiled from his homeland and the work he loved, Emilio continues to contribute to the profession of journalism," said Kiely. "My hope is that this case will help not only him but journalist watchdogs in their efforts to be a check on abuses of power."

Adam Marshall, a senior staff attorney at the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and an attorney on the case, said Contreras' decision was a "powerful reminder that transparency is the rule, not the exception. The government bears the burden to justify secrecy when it comes to documents about Mr. Gutierrez, and it failed to do so here."

Chuck Tobin, with Ballard Spahr LLP in Washington D.C., which is providing pro bono legal counsel to Kiely and the Institute, added: "So many questions remain about why Emilio and Oscar were targeted for rushed deportation despite following the lawful immigration process. For them, and for all journalists seeking asylum, we will continue to press the government for answers."

BACKGROUND ON THE GUTIERREZ CASE

Gutierrez came to the United States legally, requesting asylum at the port of entry, in 2008. He did so after having been threatened and physically harassed on multiple occasions by members of the Mexican military and informed by a confidential source that he was on a hit list. He had reported on the military's shakedowns of citizens in his northern Mexican community, where he was a reporter.

He was detained for several months and separated from his then teenage son. On January 30, 2009, after an asylum officer determined he had credible fear of persecution upon return to Mexico, he was released on humanitarian parole pending a ruling on his asylum case. Gutierrez found work and lived nine years as a law-abiding resident of Las Cruces, New Mexico. On July 19, 2017, an El Paso Immigration Judge denied his case holding that it was safe for him to return to Mexico. Gutierrez filed an appeal. On October 4, 2017, while his case was pending on appeal, Gutierrez spoke at the National Press Club and was awarded the John Aubuchon Press Freedom Award.

On December 7, 2017, only two months later, during a routine check-in at the El Paso ICE office, agents handcuffed Gutierrez and his son and attempted to deport them over the objections of their attorney, Eduardo Beckett of El Paso. Beckett immediately called the Board of Immigration Appeals in Virginia to check on their pending motion to stay their deportation. The Board of Appeals granted a stay, stopping the deportation. Nonetheless, ICE detained the two men.

Despite multiple inquiries from the National Press Club, members of Congress, and other freedom of the press and civil rights organizations, ICE never provided a convincing explanation of why it chose to detain two law-abiding residents of the United States. So, the National Press Club Journalism Institute filed a FOIA request for all of the agency's communications regarding Gutierrez.

Some of the heavily redacted records released under that request became part of a habeas corpus case filed to win Gutierrez's release. The FOIA requests provided extraordinary facts that showed that ICE was targeting Gutierrez. When the judge in that case ordered ICE to produce the records on discovery  a process requires a much speedier and less censored release than FOIA produces  ICE released the Gutierrezes, mooting the habeas case and sparing the agency from having to produce documents.

While Gutierrez was no longer in ICE custody, ICE continued to oppose his asylum claim. So, the NPC Journalism Institute renewed its FOIA request, this time with the support of attorneys at the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and the law firm Ballard Spahr.

ICE has released some 12,000 pages of documents so far, many duplicative and many heavily redacted. So far, the Institute and Kiely have found no evidence that would support the prolonged detention of Gutierrez or the agency's opposition to his asylum appeal. Even with the redactions, there have been indications of the agency's contempt for Gutierrez and his supporters.

"Oh check this out: Guy is killing me," read one email above a news clip in which Gutierrez's lawyer said his client might be a victim of former President Donald Trump's hostility to Mexicans and journalists. "Really? Ugh," said another, in response to the news that the Board of Immigration Appeals had granted Gutierrez a new hearing on his asylum appeal.

Noting that "ICE has withheld a significant number of records," Contreras admonished the agency to come up with more convincing justification for the deletions. While the Freedom of Information Act does include a number of exemptions that allow agencies to shield records from public view, the judge cited case law mandating that the agencies provide enough information to show that redactions are justified. ICE's "meager descriptions" are inadequate, Contreras ruled.

On the matter of devices used to block phone calls, Contreras ruled: "ICE has failed to demonstrate that it conducted a good faith search for records."

About the National Press Club Journalism Institute

The National Press Club Journalism Institute promotes an engaged global citizenry through an independent and free press, and equips journalists with skills and standards to inform the public in ways that inspire a more representative democracy. As the non-profit affiliate of the National Press Club, the Institute powers journalism in the public interest.

Contact: Beth Francesco, National Press Club Journalism Institute executive director, [email protected]

SOURCE National Press Club Journalism Institute
Recent Enforcement Leaves Many in Search of Trusted Suppliers

CLAREMONT, N.H., Jan. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The enforcement of California's Prop 12 took effect on January 1, 2024, leaving many retailers, wholesalers and end users in search of program compliant bacon and whole muscle pork.

Growing concerns surrounding the availability of Prop 12 compliant product marked a years' long prelude to recent program enforcement. Today, many companies find themselves navigating shortages and fluctuating market prices, making it necessary to source new and trusted suppliers.

"We've spent the last several years making sure we are well positioned for program enforcement." says Aaron Corbett, North Country Smokehouse CEO. "We're hearing from new customers daily, many who believed they had secured the necessary pricing and fulfillment promises to support them in this transition. They're now finding those same suppliers unable to meet the growing demand. Others simply waited too long." Understandable, given the nature of the programs roll-out which had a few false starts.

North Country Smokehouse is a subsidiary of duBreton, a North American leader in the supply of Certified Humane and Organic pork. Among the first pork producers to receive Prop 12 Certification, the parent company has been raising crate free pigs since 2003 and far exceeds Prop 12 standards thanks to their USDA Organic, Certified Humane Raised and Handled, and Global Animal Partnership certifications.

"We're fortunate in our connection to the source." says Corbett. "Their early adoption and ongoing support of third-party certification processes has brought tremendous value to our customers and has been pivotal to their on-time adaptation."

By offering a complete catalog of Prop 12 compliant bacon and the ability to provide fresh, whole pork programs through duBreton's vertically integrated operations, North Country Smokehouse is ready to assist customers in meeting enforcement challenges head on.

About duBreton & North Country Smokehouse

As one of America's few remaining family-owned smokehouses, North Country's mission is to hand craft premium, artisanal smoked meats through culinary excellence, exceptional animal care standards, and respect for the land. Located in the heart of New England, their authentic charcuterie features only the best hand-selected, natural ingredients and small batch smoking process over embers of local hardwoods.

The NCS product line features smoked bacon, ham, sausages, deli meats, and unique offerings like smoked chicken, and Cajun Pork Tasso. Voted America's Best Bacon by Men's Journal, New England's Best Meat by Yankee Magazine, and The Best Bacon in America by Food & Wine, North Country is noted for balancing taste with time-honored tradition and modern food trends.

Visit ncsmokehouse.com for more information.

MEDIA CONTACT

Alicia Baker

North Country Smokehouse; Brand Manager

603.542.8323 ext. 214

[email protected]

SOURCE North Country Smokehouse
DUBLIN, Jan. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Oil & Gas Subsea Umbilicals, Risers & Flowlines (SURF) Market Report 2024-2034" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

World revenue for the Oil & Gas Subsea Umbilical, Risers & Flowlines (SURF) Market is forecast to surpass US$10.19 billion in 2024, with strong revenue growth through to 2034.

Deepwater Exploration and Production Opportunities



The increasing focus on deepwater oil and gas exploration and production activities is a key driver for the global subsea umbilical, risers, and flowlines (SURF) market. As traditional reserves are depleting, the industry is compelled to explore deeper waters to meet global energy demands. The development of advanced SURF systems is essential to extract hydrocarbons from these challenging deepwater environments. For instance, the Gulf of Mexico's deepwater projects, such as the Perdido development, rely heavily on sophisticated SURF systems to transport hydrocarbons efficiently from the seabed to the surface facilities.



Growing Subsea Field Developments



The increasing number of subsea field developments globally is a significant driving factor for the SURF market. Oil and gas operators are expanding their offshore portfolios, and subsea tie-backs to existing infrastructure or standalone subsea developments require robust SURF systems. One example is the Johan Castberg project in the Barents Sea, where the development of subsea infrastructure necessitates the deployment of comprehensive SURF solutions to connect wells to production facilities efficiently.

Forecasts to 2034 and other analyses reveal commercial prospects

In addition to revenue forecasting to 2034, the new study provides you with recent results, growth rates, and market shares.

You will find original analyses, with business outlooks and developments.

Discover qualitative analyses (including market dynamics, drivers, opportunities, restraints and challenges), cost structure, impact of rising oil & gas subsea umbilical, risers & flowlines (SURF) prices and recent developments.

Key Market Dynamics

Market Driving Factors

The Increasing Trend of Offshore Exploration and Production Activities, Particularly in Deepwater and Ultra-Deepwater Regions

Ongoing Technological Advancements in Subsea Engineering and Manufacturing Play A Pivotal Role in Market Growth

Rapid Advancement in Subsea Production Systems

Market Restraining Factors

The Crude Oil Sector Is Recognised as One of the Largest Sources of VOC Emission in to the Environment

High Cost Associated with Offshore Drilling

The Potential Environmental Impact of Deepwater Drilling and Production Activities Poses a Challenge for the SURF Market

Market Opportunities

Strategic Investments by Major Oil and Gas Companies Opportunities

Growing Consolidation in Subsea Infrastructure Industry

Implementation of Stringent Regulations for Offshore E&P Activities

Segments Covered in the Report

Market Segment by Application

Exploration Wells

Production Wells

Market Segment by Component

Umbilicals

Risers

Flowlines

Market Segment by Flowlines

Production Flowlines

Injection Flowlines

Export Flowlines

Other Flowlines

Market Segment by Risers

Steel Catenary Risers (SCR)

Top Tensioned Risers (TTR)

Steel Lazy Wave Risers

Buoyant Risers

Flexible & Hybrid Risers

Market Segment by Umbilicals

Hydraulic Umbilicals

Electro Hydraulic Umbilicals

Electro-Optical Umbilicals

Control Umbilicals

Intervention Umbilicals

Production Umbilicals

In addition to the revenue predictions for the overall world market and segments, you will also find revenue forecasts for four regional and 20 leading national markets.

The report also includes profiles and for some of the leading companies in the Oil & Gas Subsea Umbilical, Risers & Flowlines (SURF) Market, 2024 to 2034, with a focus on this segment of these companies' operations.



Leading companies and the potential for market growth

Baker Hughes Company

Cameron International Corporation

FMC Technologies Inc.

General Electric Company

Haliburton Corporation

JDR Cable Systems Ltd.

McDermott International, Ltd

National Oilwell Varco Inc.

Oceaneering International, Inc.

Saipem S.p.A.

Siemens AG

Subsea 7 S.A.

TechnipFMC plc

Vallourec S.A.

Weatherford International plc

In summary, the report provides you with the following knowledge:

Revenue forecasts to 2034 for Oil & Gas Subsea Umbilical, Risers & Flowlines (SURF) Market, 2024 to 2034 Market, with forecasts for application, component, flowlines, risers, and umbilicals, each forecast at a global and regional level - discover the industry's prospects, finding the most lucrative places for investments and revenues.

Revenue forecasts to 2034 for four regional and 20 key national markets - See forecasts for the Oil & Gas Subsea Umbilical, Risers & Flowlines (SURF) Market, 2024 to 2034 market in North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , Latin America and Middle East & Africa . Also forecasted is the market in the US, Canada , Brazil , France , Norway , Russia , China , India , Indonesia , and Australia among other prominent economies.

, , , and & . Also forecasted is the market in the US, , , , , , , , , and among other prominent economies. Prospects for established firms and those seeking to enter the market - including company profiles for 15 of the major companies involved in the Oil & Gas Subsea Umbilical, Risers & Flowlines (SURF) Market, 2024 to 2034.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/9gnufa

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

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SOURCE Research and Markets
Paragon doubles revenues and increases the number of infusion centers by 400% during Peak Rock's ownership

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- An affiliate of Peak Rock Capital ("Peak Rock"), a leading middle-market private investment firm, announced today it has signed a definitive agreement for the sale of Paragon Healthcare, Inc. ("Paragon" or the "Company") to Elevance Health (NYSE: ELV).

Paragon is a leading provider of ambulatory and home infusion services as well as specialty pharmacy services. The Company provides comprehensive, high quality infusion services to patients with chronic health conditions and those in need of post-acute care. Headquartered in Plano, Texas, with more than 70 infusion and pharmacy locations in 12 states, the Company has built an excellent reputation in the industry for its service to patients across lower-cost settings of care, including infusion centers and patients' homes.

Since acquiring Paragon from its founders, Peak Rock supported the Company's strategic growth and operational initiatives. This included a significant expansion of the Company's ambulatory infusion center and pharmacy footprint, creating hundreds of jobs and expanding access to infusion care across multiple states. The Company also invested heavily in additional corporate infrastructure, including new team members, information technology systems, and enhanced operational capabilities. Paragon more than doubled revenue and increased the number of infusion centers by more than 400% during Peak Rock's ownership.

Spencer Moore, Managing Director of Peak Rock, said, "Working with the team at Paragon has been a tremendous experience. By supporting the Company with strategic and operational resources, Paragon has substantially grown its infusion footprint, patient-treatment capabilities, and organizational talent. These investments have enabled the business to support a rapidly growing patient-base, while helping to lower the cost of healthcare."

Anthony Mollica, Chief Executive Officer of Paragon, added, "Peak Rock has been an invaluable partner to Paragon and has played a critical role in supporting our ambitious growth plans through investments in the Company's capabilities and people. We are excited to join Elevance Health and look forward to continuing to support our patients with high quality infusion care. In particular, I would like to thank the entire Paragon organization, without whom we could not have achieved our success to date."

Anthony DiSimone, Chief Executive Officer of Peak Rock, said, "This transaction is another great example of Peak Rock's expertise in providing resources and strategic guidance to support the rapid growth and development of family and founder-owned businesses. We look forward to partnering with additional leading healthcare businesses that can benefit from Peak Rock's capabilities to achieve transformational outcomes."

Jefferies LLC acted as the financial advisor and Kirkland & Ellis LLP acted as the legal advisor to the Company on the transaction.

ABOUT PARAGON HEALTHCARE, INC.

Founded in 2002, Paragon Healthcare, Inc. is a leading provider of infusion services to patients through its network of ambulatory infusion centers, home infusion pharmacies, and other specialty pharmacy services. The Company provides high quality, convenient, comfortable, and lower cost care to patients with chronic and acute conditions. Paragon is based in Plano, Texas. For more information visit www.paragonhealthcare.com.

ABOUT PEAK ROCK CAPITAL

Peak Rock Capital is a leading middle-market private investment firm that makes equity and debt investments in companies in North America and Europe. Peak Rock's equity investment platform focuses on opportunities where it can support senior management to drive rapid growth and performance improvement, with expertise in corporate carve-outs and partnering with families and founders seeking first-time institutional capital. Peak Rock's credit platform invests across capital structures, with a broad mandate to provide flexible, tailored capital solutions to middle-market and growth-oriented businesses. Peak Rock's real estate platform makes equity and debt investments in small to mid-sized real estate assets in attractive, growing geographies. For further information about Peak Rock Capital, please visit www.peakrockcapital.com

Media Contact:

Daniel Yunger

Kekst CNC

(212) 521-4800

daniel.yunger@kekstcnc.com

SOURCE Peak Rock Capital LLC
SEATTLE, Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ProfoundBio, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) therapeutics for cancer, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track designation for rinatabart sesutecan (Rina-S; PRO1184), a folate receptor alpha (FR) targeted ADC, for the treatment of patients with FR-expressing high-grade serous or endometrioid platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. Fast Track designation is intended to facilitate the development and expedited review of drugs with demonstrated potential to improve over available therapy for serious conditions with unmet medical need.

"Our receipt of Fast Track designation from the FDA underscores our belief in the tremendous promise of Rina-S as a potential best-in-class FR ADC to address the significant need for improved treatment options for advanced ovarian cancer," said Naomi Hunder, Chief Medical Officer of ProfoundBio. "FR is a highly prevalent antigen in ovarian cancer and Rina-S has shown encouraging antitumor activity and tolerability in our Phase 1 dose escalation study in ovarian and endometrial cancer patients across the full spectrum of FR expression. We look forward to working closely with the FDA as we progress further clinical development and registrational studies for Rina-S."

About Rinatabart Sesutecan (Rina-S, PRO1184)

Rina-S is a folate receptor-alpha (FR) targeted ADC being developed as a novel treatment option for patients with ovarian and endometrial cancer, and potentially other FR-expressing cancers. Rina-S is comprised of a FR-directed antibody conjugated to sesutecan, ProfoundBio's novel, proprietary hydrophilic exatecan-based linker-drug, at a homogeneous drug-to-antibody ratio (DAR) of 8. Exatecan is a highly potent, membrane permeable topoisomerase-1 inhibitor with strong bystander effect. Sesutecan is a highly hydrophilic, stable, cleavable linker designed to mask the hydrophobicity of conjugated exatecan on the ADC, enabling high DAR and efficient delivery of the exatecan payload to tumors while maintaining favorable physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties of the ADC.

Status of PRO1184-001 Phase 1/2 Study (NCT05579366)

PRO1184-001 is a Phase 1/2 study of rinatabart sesutecan to evaluate the safety, tolerability, PK, and antitumor activity of PRO1184 in patients with selected locally advanced and/or metastatic solid tumors, including epithelial ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, and mesothelioma. The study consists of two parts, Part A: Dose Escalation and Part B: Dose Expansion. Initial results from Part A were reported in November 2023, demonstrating encouraging antitumor activity at well tolerated doses in heavily pretreated ovarian and endometrial cancer patients unselected for FR expression. Part B is currently enrolling patients at multiple sites in the U.S. and China.

About ProfoundBio

ProfoundBio is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of novel antibody-based therapeutics with curative potential for patients with cancer. Built on internally developed, innovative, and proprietary technology platforms, ProfoundBio has developed a pipeline consisting of multiple antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) drug candidates targeting solid tumors and hematological malignancies. The company's disclosed development pipeline consists of rinatabart sesutecan (Rina-S; PRO1184), an ADC targeting folate receptor-alpha; PRO1160, an ADC targeting CD70; PRO1107, an ADC targeting PTK7; and PRO1286, a bispecific ADC targeting two clinically validated, broadly expressed solid tumor antigens. ProfoundBio is headquartered in Seattle, Washington.

For more information, please visit www.profoundbio.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

SOURCE ProfoundBio
Blue ammonia, a low-carbon method, captures hydrogen from carbon dioxide, creating a clean fuel for applications like vehicle fuel cells. The rising demand is fueled by the recognition of hydrogen's environmental benefits, addressing climate concerns. Recent advancements in production and LNG convergence support the global shift towards low-carbon fuels.

BOSTON, Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the latest BCC Research study, the demand for Global Blue Ammonia Market is estimated to increase from 1.1 million tons in 2023 to reach 9.2 million tons by 2028, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 51.6% from 2023 through 2028.

This forthcoming BCC Research report represents a comprehensive exploration of the evolving landscape of blue ammonia projects, delving into the intricacies of this transformative sector. The analysis encompasses a panoramic view of the global market, offering definitive and detailed estimates along with forecasts that encapsulate the expansive scope of blue ammonia projects worldwide. Beyond mere market statistics, the report undertakes a meticulous examination of regions, technologies, and applications, providing valuable insights into the multifaceted dimensions of this burgeoning industry. An in-depth analysis of the state of global blue ammonia production by various companies and the diverse applications of this innovative technology will be a focal point, offering stakeholders a nuanced understanding of the market dynamics. Moreover, the report will delve into the dynamic landscape of ongoing market trends, identifying key growth drivers propelling the blue ammonia market forward, while also addressing challenges that may pose impediments to its continued expansion. This comprehensive study is poised to be an indispensable resource for industry professionals, policymakers, and investors seeking a profound comprehension of the evolving blue ammonia landscape.

Learn More

The current landscape of blue ammonia production technology is characterized by limited capacities, with varying potential depending on the specific technology employed. For instance, Steam Methane Reforming (SMR) technology boasts a maximum capacity ranging from 2,000 to 3,300 tonnes per day. In the realm of Autothermal Reforming (ATR) technologies, distinctions are evident, with ThyssenKrupp-based ATR technology reaching a maximum capacity of 760 tonnes per day, while Topsoe's ATR technology surpasses this with a capacity ranging from 4,000 to 6,000 tonnes per day. The economic viability of blue ammonia is notably competitive in the U.S. and the Middle East, where production costs are favorable. Conversely, in Europe, the cost of blue ammonia is considerably higher due to the escalating prices of natural gas, a key component in the production process. The disparity in natural gas prices between Europe and the U.S., exacerbated by geopolitical events such as the Russia-Ukraine war, has further amplified these cost differentials. In 2022, natural gas prices in Europe soared to $40.3 per million British Thermal Units, in stark contrast to the U.S. where prices stood at just $6.4. Notably, a significant portion of blue ammonia projects adopts an export-oriented approach, with Asia emerging as the primary target market for manufacturers, underscoring the global nature of the industry's growth strategy.

Key Drivers Shaping the Global Blue Ammonia Market

Increasing Demand for Low-Carbon Intensive Chemicals: One of the predominant drivers shaping the market landscape is the escalating demand for low-carbon intensive chemicals. This surge is emblematic of a global paradigm shift towards sustainable and environmentally friendly practices in industrial processes. The heightened demand is not merely a response to regulatory pressures but signifies a broader commitment across industries to proactively reduce carbon footprints. As governments, businesses, and consumers increasingly prioritize eco-friendly alternatives, the market experiences a compelling push towards the adoption of low-carbon intensive chemicals, fostering a more sustainable future for chemical production.

Utilization of Existing Infrastructure: A pivotal driver underscoring the market's trajectory is the strategic reliance on existing infrastructure. Industry players are leveraging and optimizing their current industrial facilities for the production and distribution of low-carbon intensive chemicals. This approach offers a twofold advantage: it is both cost-effective and operationally efficient. By repurposing established facilities, companies can affect a seamless transition towards greener chemical solutions without the need for extensive new investments. This strategic use of existing infrastructure not only expedites the adoption of low-carbon technologies but also ensures a practical and economically viable pathway for market expansion. As a result, the market is characterized by a pragmatic approach to sustainability, making the most of available resources to drive the evolution towards low-carbon intensive chemical production.

Request a Copy of the Global Blue Ammonia Market Report.

Report Synopsis

Report Metrics Details Base year considered 2022 Forecast Period considered 2023-2028 Base year market size $1 million tons Market Size Forecast $9.2 million tons Growth Rate CAGR of 51.6% for the forecasted period of 2023-2028 Segment Covered Technology, Application, Region Regions covered North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa Key Market Drivers Increasing Demand for Low-Carbon Intensive Chemical

Existing Infrastructure

Segmentation Insights in Blue Ammonia Market

Technology Segmentation Insight:

The technology segmentation in blue ammonia Market provides crucial insights into the methodologies driving the industry's transformation. Steam Methane Reforming (SMR), a cornerstone technology, facilitates the reaction of methane with steam to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide, laying the foundation for subsequent ammonia synthesis. Widely adopted due to its efficiency and notable production capacities, SMR remains integral to the industry's operational landscape. Complementing this, Autothermal Reforming (ATR) introduces a multifaceted approach by combining partial oxidation and steam reforming in a single reactor. This innovative process enhances efficiency, reducing reliance on external heat sources. The distinctive capacities of ThyssenKrupp-based ATR and Topsoe's ATR technologies further contribute to the sector's flexibility. This technology-driven segmentation not only influences production capacities but also underscores the industry's commitment to diverse and efficient methodologies, addressing the increasing demand for sustainable and low-carbon solutions in the global energy arena.

Application segmentation Insight:

The application segmentation in the blue ammonia industry delineates its diverse utility across various sectors. Primarily, blue ammonia plays a pivotal role in fertilizer production, serving as a sustainable feedstock that aligns with the industry's increasing emphasis on eco-friendly practices. Beyond fertilizers, its versatility extends to various other industrial processes, offering a low-carbon alternative for manufacturing activities. In the maritime transportation sector, blue ammonia emerges as a promising clean combustion fuel, contributing to efforts aimed at reducing emissions and fostering sustainability in shipping operations. Its application in power generation signifies a transformative shift in the energy sector, where blue ammonia serves as a low-carbon fuel source, supporting the broader goal of transitioning towards cleaner alternatives. Additionally, blue ammonia's role as a hydrogen carrier highlights its significance in the evolving landscape of hydrogen utilization, providing a safe and efficient means to transport and utilize hydrogen in diverse applications. This comprehensive application segmentation underscores the adaptability and potential of blue ammonia across crucial industries, driving advancements towards more sustainable and environmentally conscious practices.

Regional Segmentation Insight:

The geographical segmentation of the blue ammonia market underscores its dynamic presence across diverse regions, each contributing uniquely to the industry's evolution. In North America, the market is characterized by a pronounced emphasis on low-carbon alternatives and continuous technological advancements. Initiatives and investments in green technologies align with the region's commitment to sustainability, fostering an environment conducive to the adoption of blue ammonia. Europe faces distinctive challenges, particularly concerning the high production costs associated with blue ammonia, driven by elevated natural gas prices. Despite these challenges, Europe remains a significant player, aligning efforts with stringent environmental regulations and sustainability standards. South America presents a landscape of opportunities and challenges, with diverse industrial sectors driving growth. Strategic collaborations and targeted investments become crucial for harnessing the region's potential. Asia-Pacific emerges as a powerhouse in the blue ammonia market, driven by robust industrial growth and a focused approach to sustainable energy solutions. The region's versatility and dynamic energy needs position it as a key driver of market expansion. The Middle East and Africa contribute strategically as an energy hub, leveraging substantial natural gas resources for blue ammonia production. Commitment to diversifying energy portfolios aligns with global objectives, presenting opportunities for growth and collaboration in the region. Overall, the regional segmentation provides a nuanced understanding of the varying challenges and opportunities shaping the blue ammonia market's trajectory on a global scale.

This report on the Global Blue Ammonia Market provides comprehensive insights and analysis, addressing the following key questions:

1. What is the projected market size and growth rate of the market?

The global blue ammonia market is expected to grow from 1.1 million tons in 2023 to 9.2 million tons in 2028. The market is expected to witness a CAGR of 51.6% from 2023 to 2028.

2. What are the key factors driving the growth of the market?

Increasing Demand for Low-Carbon Intensive Chemical

Existing Infrastructure

3. What segments are covered in the market?

This BCC Research report studies the demand and supply of the blue ammonia market worldwide. It presents an overview of the blue ammonia production process by technology, analyzing two major technologies: Steam Methane Reforming (SMR) and Autothermal Reforming (ATR). The report is also segmented based on the application. The segmentation includes fertilizer, maritime transport, power generation, hydrogen carrier, and other current uses. Other current application includes refrigeration, textiles, explosives, pharmaceuticals, etc. An analysis of major geographical markets: North America, Europe, South America, Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Africa is also provided. Each segment evaluation includes market size estimates for blue ammonia and a forecast for 2028.

4. By application, which segment will dominate the market by the end of 2028?

The fertilizer sector will dominate the industry by the end of 2028.

5. Which region has the highest market share in the market?

In 2022, the Asia Pacific had the highest market share. Asia mainly consumes more than half of the world's ammonia for agricultural activities.

Some of the Key Market Players Are:

QATAR FERTILIZER CO. (QAFCO)

CF INDUSTRIES

NUTRIEN LTD.

OCI GLOBAL

SABIC

YARA INTERNATIONAL ASA

Browse More Related Reports:

Global Green Ammonia Market: The comprehensive report delves into diverse technologies driving the production of green ammonia, including solid oxide electrolysis, proton exchange membrane electrolysis, and alkaline water electrolysis. It meticulously examines various technological trends, prevalent market opportunities, and estimates market values based on manufacturers' revenues, considering factors like economic conditions and industry standards. With a global perspective, BCC Research scrutinizes both domestic and international technological issues and economic considerations. The market segments focus on technical and commercial aspects catering to different end-user segments, such as power generation, transportation, fertilizer, and refrigeration. Additionally, the report explores regional policy frameworks, regulatory landscapes, and the ESG scenario to ensure environmental sustainability and compliance with government regulations. Forecasting from 2023 to 2028, the report provides insights into regional green ammonia markets, offering a competitive analysis of key market players alongside small and regional counterparts, all presented in USD millions. The meticulous currency conversion methodology ensures accurate representation across diverse reporting currencies.

Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium Fertilizers: Global Markets: This comprehensive investigation focuses on the primary inorganic fertilizers crucial for the cultivation of a wide range of crops, vegetables, fruits, and various other agricultural products. Encompassing major fertilizers used in agricultural production, the study evaluates each fertilizer's historical market performance in terms of volume, determining its current market status, anticipated impact on future market segments, and forecasted growth spanning from 2021 to 2026. BCC Research meticulously analyzes each fertilizer category, assessing its applications in different crops, offering market projections, and outlining market volume shares. The report extensively covers nitrogen fertilizers, phosphate fertilizers, and potash fertilizers, shedding light on influencing factors such as production efficiency, demand and supply dynamics, ongoing research in fertilizer technology, and industry structure. Additionally, BCC Research delves into fertilizer companies, industry alliances, production trends, crop types, and market-driving forces, providing a holistic perspective on the dynamics shaping the global fertilizer market.

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ISLAMABAD, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani security forces conducted an operation and killed two terrorists, including a high-value target, in northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military said on Friday.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Army, said in a statement that security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in Tank district of the province late Thursday night.

According to the ISPR, security personnel cordoned off the site after getting information about the presence of the terrorists, leading to the killing of the terrorists during the fire exchange.

The terrorist commander named Gul Yousaf alias Toor was highly wanted by law enforcement agencies and the Pakistani government had fixed a head money of 2.5 million Pakistani rupees (about 8,900 U.S. dollars) on him, added the ISPR.

The military said that Yousaf remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against security forces, including high-profile terrorist attacks as well as extortion and killing of civilians.

"Security forces of Pakistan, in step with the nation, remain determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the country," said the military. 
 Topline data readout from HuMAIN trial planned for mid-2024 

 Company presenting at 2024 J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference on January 8 at 10 a.m. PT 

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va, and SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Rivus Pharmaceuticals Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to improving cardiometabolic health, today announced the completion of enrollment in its Phase 2a HuMAIN trial of HU6, an investigational controlled metabolic accelerator (CMA), in patients with the obese phenotype of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Company executives will provide a corporate update with additional details during a presentation at the 42nd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco on Monday, January 8.

"We have made significant progress in advancing our HU6 clinical development program, having completed enrollment in our Phase 2a HuMAIN trial in patients with obese HFpEF," said Jayson Dallas, M.D., chief executive officer, Rivus Pharmaceuticals. "A disease-modifying treatment is urgently needed for this at-risk patient population which tends to be older, obese, and less mobile, with multiple metabolic co-morbidities. By increasing metabolism and, thus, significantly reducing adiposity, a key underlying cause of HFpEF, HU6 has the potential to modify the underlying disease progression. We plan to announce topline data in mid-2024 and initiate a Phase 3 trial in 2025."

In addition to the HuMAIN trial, the company is actively enrolling subjects with obesity and Type 2 diabetes at risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) into the ongoing Phase 2b M-ACCEL trial of HU6. A topline data readout from the M-ACCEL trial is planned for early 2025.

About the Phase 2a HuMAIN Trial

The randomized, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation Phase 2a HuMAIN study (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05284617) is evaluating the safety, tolerability, pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics in ascending doses of HU6 (150 mg, 300 mg, 450 mg daily) in patients with the obese phenotype of HFpEF. Sixty-five study participants (37 women and 28 men) with a body mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m2 were randomized and dosed 1:1 with HU6 or placebo. Approximately two thirds of the patients were dysglycemic at screening (hemoglobin A1c levels 5.7%) with an average BMI of 39.6 kg/m2. The primary outcome measure is weight reduction. The study is being conducted at 14 clinical sites in the United States.

About the Phase 2b M-ACCEL Trial

The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, Phase 2b M-ACCEL trial (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05979779) is evaluating the safety and efficacy of three dose levels of HU6 in patients with obesity (body mass index of 30.0 kg/m2) and Type 2 diabetes at risk of MASH. Approximately 280 adult patients will be randomized 2:1:2:2 into one of four treatment groups (placebo, HU6 150 mg, HU6 300 mg or HU6 450 mg) and treated for six months (26 weeks). The primary endpoint is percent change from baseline in liver fat as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging liver proton density fat fraction (MRI-Liver PDFF) at six months. Secondary endpoints will evaluate the effect of HU6 on body weight, glycemic control as assessed by hemoglobin A1c, liver fibrosis and liver fat, body composition, metabolic and inflammatory parameters, and patient-reported outcomes. The M-ACCEL trial will also evaluate safety, tolerability, pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics. The study is being conducted at approximately 20 clinical sites in the United States.

J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference Presentation Details

Rivus Pharmaceuticals will present in the private company track at the 42nd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference on Monday, January 8, at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time (1:00 p.m. Eastern Time) at the Westin St. Francis Hotel.

About Controlled Metabolic Accelerators (CMAs)

Rivus is advancing a new class of investigational medicines called controlled metabolic accelerators (CMAs) that have the potential to improve metabolic health for people with obesity and associated metabolic diseases. CMAs are oral small molecules designed to increase resting metabolic rate, which results in increased consumption of energy, primarily from fat. The loss in fat mass addresses multiple cardiometabolic conditions driven by adiposity. CMAs increase metabolism in a continuous and imperceptible manner by leveraging the natural metabolic process of mitochondrial uncoupling. Uncoupling accounts for 20-40% of resting caloric consumption. A key advantage of this mechanism for increasing energy expenditure is that the resulting weight loss is fat selective with preservation of muscle mass, in contrast to caloric restriction strategies which reduce energy input and result in a loss of fat as well as muscle mass. Initial data in humans have demonstrated that CMAs provide fat selective weight loss, improved insulin sensitivity and a significant reduction in oxidative stress and inflammation.

About HU6

HU6, the most advanced CMA in clinical development, is purposely designed to increase the body's resting metabolic rate in a controlled and physiologic manner by leveraging the natural mechanism of mitochondrial uncoupling. In a Phase 2 metabolic trial in patients with a high body mass index (BMI) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), HU6 reduced liver fat content and body weight, preserved lean muscle mass, and significantly improved key markers of systemic inflammation and metabolism.1 Rivus is pursuing clinical development programs for HU6 in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), metabolic dysfunction associated steatohepatitis (MASH), Type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management / obesity.

About Rivus Pharmaceuticals

Rivus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leader in mitochondrial biology, is dedicated to improving cardiometabolic health by advancing a new class of medicines called controlled metabolic accelerators (CMAs). Rivus' lead CMA is the investigational small molecule HU6 in development to treat obesity and associated metabolic diseases, including heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) / metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and Type 2 diabetes. For more information, please visit www.rivuspharma.com.

Contact:

Meredith Mallen

Real Chemistry

[email protected]

+1-516-987-2313

References

1. Noureddin M, Khan S, Portell F, et al. Safety and efficacy of once-daily HU6 versus placebo in people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and high BMI: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2a trial. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2023.

SOURCE Rivus Pharmaceuticals
NEW YORK, Jan. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces the filing of a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of common stock of Inspire Medical Systems, Inc. (NYSE: INSP) between May 3, 2023 and November 7, 2023, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than February 20, 2024.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Inspire Medical 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 Inspire Medical class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=21452 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 February 20, 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. 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/or misleading statements and failed to disclose material adverse facts about Inspire Medical's business, operations, and prospects to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not false and misleading. Specifically, defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) despite the acceleration program, customers were encountering challenges with the prior authorization submission process, including with the scheduling of appointments; (2) a slowdown in prior authorization submissions arising from these challenges led to a shortfall of hundreds of procedures to implant Inspire Medical's obstructive sleep apnea device; and (3) as a result, defendants' positive statements about Inspire Medical's financial guidance, business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Inspire Medical class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=21452 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.
BEKHealth partners with Ryght to co-develop GenAI applications to improve operational effectiveness in clinical trials.

Chief Executive Officer, Simon Arkell, to present Ryght at the DigiMed Showcase on January 9.

ANAHEIM, Calif., Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ryght, an innovator in generative AI (GenAI) technology for life science companies, today announced the launch of their namesake platform, Ryght. Designed with security at the forefront, Ryght is an enterprise-grade platform that enables companies to develop and deploy GenAI applications to their teams privately. Leveraging industry-specific knowledge from biomedical literature and a continuously expanding database of medical records, Ryght accelerates work in scientific research, clinical operations, and commercialization to provide actionable knowledge and informed decision-making to life science companies.

While many companies have opted for utilizing internal development teams to experiment with building GenAI applications for their employees, this can cost companies upwards of $2M per year excluding labor costs and time taken away from more important projects. This is out of reach for most companies who don't have the bandwidth to prioritize costly, time-consuming projects if they are not tied directly to their mission. Ryght provides an option for life science companies to incorporate adaptable GenAI into everyday tasks to expedite workflows.

"Ryght is enterprise-grade, secure, and easy to deploy across life science companies of all sizes," said Simon Arkell, CEO of Ryght. "It allows a company to query owned data and documents in many common formats safely. Our team will also work to build and install individualized applications which seamlessly work with companies' specific data streams and output across specialized needs in the industry. We look forward to partnering and collaborating with companies to create a workstream that not only streamlines operations but provides more time and space for innovation in the life science industry."

Additionally, BEK Health and Ryght announced a partnership to co-develop applications that incorporate Ryght's generative AI capabilities into the BEKHealth AI-powered patient-matching software platform. "We are excited to join forces with Ryght and leverage their GenAI platform and expertise," said Dave Levin, CEO at BEKHealth. "Ryght's cutting-edge technology aligns perfectly with our commitment to innovation that enables customers to rapidly identify clinically qualified patients, leading to faster enrollment. By harnessing the power of AI, we can continue to unlock new insights and accelerate access to clinical research."

Simon Arkell will present additional details on the platform at DigiMed Showcase at 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time on January 9th, 2024, in the Franciscan-B track during the annual JPMorgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco.

A single-user version of Ryght built on the same underlying platform is currently available in beta for professionals in the life science industry. Interested individuals can request access at www.ryght.ai .

About Ryght:

Ryght is a privately-held healthcare technology company based in Anaheim, California that is developing the next generation of safe and secure generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) solutions for the biopharma industry. The Ryght platform leverages and optimizes multiple large language models (LLMs) and vector databases to ingest real-time data streams and make actionable knowledge directly available to biopharma discovery, clinical, and commercial teams. The platform enables healthcare professionals to rapidly leverage the power of GenAI within compliance of data security standards required by the industry.

For more information, please visit the company's website at www.ryght.ai . Follow the company on LinkedIn .

About BEKHealth:

BEKHealth Corporation operates an AI-powered patient-matching software platform serving the clinical trial industry. The platform allows life sciences and healthcare organizations to speed up site selection and patient recruitment by extracting data from electronic medical records (EMRs), which includes structured and unstructured clinical data that captures three times more trial criteria. BEKHealth's AI-driven data platform uses a proprietary ontology that has been built from 400+ medical libraries aligned against 70,000 protocols to standardize patient data to its interoperable clinical data model. Analyzing records for more than 27 million patients, BEKHealth leverages its extensive knowledge of patient populations to enhance enrollment optimization and detect more protocol-eligible candidates than traditional methods. Given that less than 9% of patients receive an invitation to participate in clinical trials, BEKHealth's mission is to enhance human health and well-being by significantly increasing patient access to clinical research. For more information, visit http://www.bekhealth.com/.

Media Contacts:

For Ryght:

Liz Phillips

Russo Partners

+1 (817) 371-0654

[email protected]

For BEK Health:

David Levin

CEO of BEKHealth

919-923-7801

[email protected]

SOURCE Ryght
Pacesetting SoC Products for Automotive, Data Center, and Smart Devices in the Smart Cities, IoT and Sustainability Zone, North Hall,

Booth 9971

MILPITAS, Calif., Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Socionext, an innovative custom SoCs provider with a distinctive "Solution SoC" business model, will showcase its leading-edge technologies and products at CES 2024, Jan. 9-12.

Socionext will be at booth 9971 in the Smart Cities, IoT, and Sustainability Zone in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Among Socionext's featured technologies and solutions will be the following:

Custom SoCs

With extensive experience in custom SoC development, Socionext established a distinctive Solution SoC business model that provides SoCs that are both customized and fully optimized to our customers' needs. The company offers the optimal combination of IPs, design expertise, software development, and support to implement large-scale SoCs to meet the most demanding and rigorous performance requirements in automotive, data center, and smart device applications.

With the Solution SoC model, Socionext delivers products and support that enable applications in the automotive segment, such as ADAS sensors, central computing, networking, in-cabin monitoring, satellite connectivity, and infotainment. In the data center segment, they enable high-performance compute, storage and networking applications. In the consumer space, they allow a range of smart devices, from earbuds to smart speakers and smart glasses to AR/VR headsets.

Low Power 60GHz Radar Sensor Solutions

The automotive-grade SC1260 series 60GHz RF CMOS sensor, which was nominated for awards at the Sensors Converge Show in Santa Clara in June 2023, can support multiple in-cabin use cases, including seat occupancy monitoring, child presence detection, and theft prevention.

The SC1240 series RF sensor for consumer applications allows users to easily enable multipleperson detection, gesture detection, and other high-precision sensing.

Socionext's highly-integrated CMOS radar transceivers incorporate antennae-in-package and an embedded signal processing unit for distance, angle, and presence detection in a small form factor package without requiring radio frequency or advanced signal processing design skills.

Smart Display Controller for Automotive

The Socionext's SC172x is a highly integrated, ASIL-B conformant graphics display controller featuring built-in mechanisms to ensure safety-critical content is delivered in compliance with the standards required by today's automotive display applications.

SoCs for Smart Devices

Socionext's Solution SoC model enables high-performance SoC for video applications that features a best-in-class image signal processor with built-in low-light support, coupled with an AI acceleration engine and a high level of system integration. Built using an advanced, low power manufacturing process, the 8K processor can be customized through silicon, packaging, and software suitable for a wide variety of applications.

Creating a proprietary chip requires a complex, highly structured framework with a complete support system to address each phase of the development process.

Socionext's "Solution SoC" business model embodies the company's deep understanding of SoC architectures and technologies - including IP, EDA tools, packaging, quality control and manufacturing  as well as its ecosystem of suppliers that lets customers develop feature-rich custom SoCs while maintaining ownership of key differentiating technologies that can deliver significant competitive advantage.

With extensive experience in custom SoC development, Socionext uses state-of-the-art process technologies to produce SoCs optimized for customer requirements.

Click here to learn more about Socionext's product line-up. To schedule a meeting, please fill out the contact form here.

For the CES 2024 website and programs, visit https://www.ces.tech/.

About Socionext America Inc.

Socionext America Inc. (SNA) is the US branch of Socionext Inc., one of the world's leading fabless SoC suppliers. Headquartered in Milpitas, California, the company provides leading-edge technologies and offers a wide range of standard and customizable SoC solutions. Socionext America meets customers' requirements with quality semiconductor products based on extensive and differentiated IPs, proven design methodologies, and state-of-the-art implementation expertise, with full support.

For product information, visit our website, e-mail [email protected] or call 1-844-868-1795. For company news and updates, connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

About Socionext Inc.

Socionext Inc. is a global SoC (System-on-Chip) supplier and a pioneer of a unique "Solution SoC" business model through decades of industry experience and expertise. Socionext contributes to global innovation in advanced technologies including automotive, data center, networking, and smart devices. As a trusted silicon partner, Socionext delivers superior features, performance, and quality that differentiate its customers' products and services from their competition.

Socionext Inc. is headquartered in Yokohama, and has offices in Japan, Asia, United States and Europe to lead its development and sales activities. For more information, visit https://www.socionext.com/en/.

All company or product names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Information provided in this press release is accurate at time of publication and is subject to change without advance notice.

SOURCE Socionext America Inc.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Forum of Congolese Intellectuals Abroad (FICE) will officially release its election observation report following an on-site mission conducted from December 19th to December 22nd, 2023. The observation took place during the presidential, legislative, and municipal elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and in countries where members of the Congolese diaspora were permitted to vote: South Africa, Belgium, Canada, the United States, and France.

As the eagerly anticipated announcement of the final presidential election results approaches, FICE, a certified election observation organization, recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), will host a press conference to launch its comprehensive report. This event, scheduled for Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at 2:00 PM at the National Press Club in Washington D.C., will feature representatives from CENI and firsthand observers present in the DRC during the elections. The press conference aims to provide valuable insights into the election proceedings and address queries from the press.

During the on-site mission, the FICE team conducted interviews with numerous voters, engaged with other local and international observers, and had access to the polling stations in the visited centers. The team affirms that the voting operations adhered to CENI's procedural rules and international standards.

The upcoming press conference will not only unveil the detailed election observation mission report but also offer a platform for an open dialogue between the press, CENI representatives, and many eyewitnesses to the election.

Event Details

Date: Tuesday, January 9, 2024

Time: 2:00 PM

Location: National Press Club, 529 14th St NW, Washington D.C.

RSVP: [email protected]

The mission of the Forum of Congolese Intellectuals Abroad (FICE) is to unite Congolese intellectuals residing abroad for thoughtful reflection, exchange of ideas, and collaborative action on issues affecting the Democratic Republic of Congo and their impact on development in their host countries. For more information, visit FICE's official website.

Contact: Adey Hailu, New York

Marie-Stella Mbala Heiser, D.C. Email : [email protected] Phone : 704-910-7185

SOURCE Forum of Congolese Intellectuals Abroad (FICE)
NEW YORK, Jan. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The ultrasound equipment market is expected to grow by USD 2.98 billion from 2023 to 2028. In addition, the momentum of the market will progress at a CAGR of 6.25% during the forecast period, according to Technavio Research. The market has been segmented by end-user (hospitals, imaging centers, research centers, and others), product type (stationary ultrasound equipment and portable ultrasound equipment), and geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW)). North America is estimated to contribute 36% to the growth of the global market during the forecast period. The US accounts for the biggest contributor to this market. The rise is a result of the increasing use of portable ultrasound machines in both hospital and home care settings. The US dominance in the market is primarily due to revenues generated by key players, such as GE Healthcare and Siemens Healthineers.

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Ultrasound Equipment Market 2024-2028

This report offers an up-to-date analysis of the current market scenario, the latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. Read a Free PDF Sample Report

Company Profile:

Boston Scientific Corp., Canon Inc., Carestream Health Inc., Chison Medical Technologies Co. Ltd., ContextVision AB, Esaote Spa, FUJIFILM Corp., General Electric Co., GlobalMedia Group LLC, Healcerion Co. Ltd., Hitachi Ltd., Hologic Inc., Iljin Co. Ltd., Konica Minolta Inc., Koninklijke Philips N.V., Mindray Bio medical Electronics Co. Ltd., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Shenzhen Bestman Instrument Co. Ltd., Siemens AG, SonoScape Medical Corp., Sonostar, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, and Telemed Ultrasound

Boston Scientific Corp. - The company offers ultrasound equipment products, such as iLab ultrasound imaging systems, that deliver excellent IVUs /images and intuitive, efficient operation.

To gain access to more company profiles available with Technavio, buy the report!

Ultrasound Equipment Market: Segmentation Analysis

The market share growth by the hospitals segment will be significant during the forecast period. Two types of end users in the global market for ultrasound equipment are High-end private hospitals and state public hospitals.

Learn about the contribution of each segment summarized in concise infographics and thorough descriptions. View a Free PDF Sample Report

Ultrasound Equipment Market: Market Dynamics

Key Driver

Broader applications of ultrasound equipment

Advancements in image quality, volumetric ultrasound, and new technologies

Focus on early diagnosis and preventive medicine

The focus on advancements in /image quality, volumetric ultrasound, and new technologies are key factors driving market growth. A number of improvements have taken place with modern ultrasound technology, including enhanced HD clarity, high fidelity transfer, one /touch image optimization, noise reduction, improved elasticity, stunning detail, and automation.

Major Trend

Integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into ultrasound is the primary trend shaping market growth.

Identify key trends, drivers, and challenges in the market. Download a sample report to gain access to this information.

Related Reports:

The transcranial doppler market size is estimated to grow by USD 39.74 million at a CAGR of 6.3% between 2023 and 2028.

The 3D Ultrasound Market size is estimated to grow by USD 1,333.08 million, exhibiting a CAGR of 6.82% between 2023 and 2028.

What are the key data covered in this ultrasound equipment market report?

CAGR of the market during the forecast period

Detailed information on factors that will drive the growth of the ultrasound equipment market between 2023 and 2028.

Precise estimation of the ultrasound equipment market size and its contribution to the market in focus on the parent market

Accurate predictions about upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

Growth of the ultrasound equipment market across North America, Europe, Asia, and ROW

A thorough analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information about companies

Comprehensive analysis of factors that will challenge the growth of ultrasound equipment market companies.

ToC:

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market Sizing

Historic Market Sizes

Five Forces Analysis

Market Segmentation by End-User

Market Segmentation by Product Type

Market Segmentation by Geography

Customer Landscape

Geographic Landscape

Drivers, Challenges, & Trends

Company Landscape

Company Analysis

Appendix

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com

SOURCE Technavio
SHANGHAI, China, Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On January 5, 2024, USHOPAL GROUP (hereinafter referred to as USHOPAL), a leading luxury beauty and retail group in China, announced its lead investment in the new multi-million dollar round of financing of high-end Chinese fragrance brand, DOCUMENTS, readying for the global stage. This investment represents USHOPAL's first equity investment in a Chinese domestic brand. This move further confirms the significant position of Chinese brands in USHOPAL's business layout and underscores the strategic deployment of Chinese beauty brands in USHOPAL's future investments. Investing in DOCUMENTS indicates USHOPAL's commitment to providing DOCUMENTS with more international exposure and dialogue opportunities with global brand leaders.

DOCUMENTS BLUSHING HOUSE at Shenzhen MIXC WORLD

As the founder and CEO of USHOPAL, Lu Guo, expressed, 'USHOPAL only collaborates with the world's top-tier brand teams. Over the past years, the company has actively sought outstanding Chinese high-end beauty brands. The investment in DOCUMENTS marks USHOPAL's first venture into the domestic market, signifying our belief that China has produced brands capable of stepping onto the global stage.' The management team at USHOPAL also stated, 'When evaluating brands and founding teams, we consider factors such as the maturity of brand positioning, effectiveness of emotional communication, consistency and stability in product development, and most importantly, the unique artistic expression and brand personality. DOCUMENTS is one of the very few Chinese brands that can compete with global high-end brands in these aspects.

Zhaoran Meng, the founder of DOCUMENTS, stated, "DOCUMENTS has always aimed to awaken sensory resonance among urban residents and communicate the contemporary taste of Chinese people's lifestyles through novel and profound olfactory experiences. Accepting investment from USHOPAL this time, we hope to leverage its professional expertise and leading position to strengthen our brand's creative advantages in aesthetics. Additionally, we aim to gain more benefits in global channels, business operations, and supply chain management, working towards enhancing competitiveness and evolving into a more visionary international brand.

About USHOPAL

USHOPAL Group was established in 2017, and within a few short years since its inception, it has successfully managed and operated several internationally renowned beauty brands in China, including Chantecaille, 111SKIN, SUQQU, Juliette Has A Gun, and others. The group has also made multiple investments in globally influential high-end beauty brands. In 2022 and 2023, USHOPAL completed the acquisition of the top British skincare brand ARgENTUM, and the French luxury fragrance brand Juliette Has A Gun. Additionally, it invested in several well-known international brands, including the leading Japanese DTC men's brand BULK HOMME. These strategic moves have enabled USHOPAL to build a diverse portfolio of high-end beauty brands, covering skincare, cosmetics, perfumes, maternity and baby care, and men's grooming.

About DOCUMENTS

DOCUMENTS is the first high-end fragrance brand in China to receive venture capital from L'Oreal. pioneers the "Bold-Zen" style, and cooperates with world-class fragrance companies to launch series of fragrances with perfume ratios ranging from 15% to 40%, as well as several diverse fragrance product series, with the mission of 'creating unforgettable profound fragrances that help people be smelled and remembered', combining traditional Oriental culture with contemporary design aesthetics. DOCUMENTS has now already opened directly operated stores in prime locations of the top cities nationwide in China, showcasing the new strength of contemporary Chinese brands to the world by unique and profound sensory experiences.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Investor Relations

pr@USHOPAL.com



SOURCE USHOPAL
NEW YORK, Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York ( VRMNY ), the largest retina vitreous center in the New York Metropolitan area, has announced that its esteemed ophthalmologist K. Bailey Freund, MD will serve as the Program Director of the 48th Annual Atlantic Coast Retina Club (ACRC) & 24th Macula Conference (Macula 2024).

The ACRC was originally co-founded by Lawrence Yannuzzi, MD, co-founder of VRMNY, as a one-day Friday conference open to all retinal specialists. Twenty-three years after the first ACRC meeting, Dr. Yannuzzi created a Saturday program and Macula 2000 was born.

The Conference will take place from January 4th through the 6th at the New York Academy of Medicine, 1216 5th Avenue in New York City.

Expected to attract between 400-500 retina specialists from around the world, the meetings' participants will learn about new therapies, recent clinical trial results, artificial intelligence, and the latest retinal imaging technologies. The goal of the conference is to help clinicians better manage their patients with macular and retinal disorders and achieve better patient outcomes in their practices.

"Our meeting this year promises to provide new insight into current critical issues which are inherent in retinal diseases and their treatments," said K. Bailey Freund, MD. Among the topics discuss will be recent findings from ongoing pharmacologic and gene therapy trials, advances in retinal imaging, retinal applications for artificial intelligence, and surgical management of retinal diseases.

Dr. Freund specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, and care of patients with all retinal disorders. In addition to his work with VRMNY, Dr. Freund is a Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at The NYU Grossman School of Medicine. He is an attending surgeon at Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital and New York Presbyterian Hospital. Dr. Freund is also a member of the Retina Society, Macula Society, and the American Society of Retina Specialists, and a founding member and trustee of the International Retinal Imaging Society (IntRIS).

Dr. Yannuzzi is a co-founder of VRMNY, as well the Director of the LuEsther T. Mertz Retinal Research Center of the Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital. He is also founder and president of The Macula Foundation, Inc., which has distributed several million dollars to eye research.

More information on the 48th Annual Atlantic Coast Retina Club (ACRC) & 24th Macula Conference (Macula 2024) can be found at: https://mcpi.cventevents.com/event/5d28fbcd-d448-46dd-bdbc-ff5e5797bb25/summary

About Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York

The group of ophthalmologists at Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York are internationally known leaders in diagnosing and treating retinal diseases, known as the top New York experts and among the best-rated retina specialists in NYC. In our private practice, physicians prioritize high-quality, individualized eye care while utilizing cutting-edge diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. VRMNY doctors are proud to be on Newsweek's list of 350 best ophthalmologists and optometrists in the USA. For more information: https://www.vrmny.com/

About the Annual Atlantic Coast Retina Club (ACRC)

The ACRC's began in the early 1970s as a biannual meeting named the "The New York Fluorescein Club" founded by three pre-eminent local retina specialists, which later expanded with the founding of the ACRC, a one-day Friday conference open to all retinal specialists. Twenty-three years after the first ACRC meeting, Dr. Yannuzzi created a Saturday program and Macula 2000 was born. This year continues the long-respected traditions of the ACRC and Macula Meetings.

SOURCE Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York
NEW YORK, Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The wagyu beef market is expected to grow by USD 3.59 billion from 2022 to 2027, according to Technavio. In addition, the growth momentum of the market will progress at a CAGR of 7.04% during the forecast period. Increasing production and trade of wagyu beef is notably driving the wagyu beef market. However, factors such as the premium price of wagyu beef may impede market growth. The market is segmented by distribution channel (offline and online), product (Japanese breed, Australian breed, and others), and geography (APAC, North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and South America).

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Wagyu Beef Market 2023-2027

Technavio provides a comprehensive report summary describing the market size and forecast along with research methodology. The Free sample report is available in PDF format

Key Segment Analysis

The market share growth by the offline segment will be significant during the forecast period. Hypermarkets, supermarkets, specialty shops, large discounters, and convenience stores are typical of offline distribution. Retailers have adopted promotional and marketing strategies, including branding with signs or discounts, on the packages of products in their stores. The popularity of retail outlets may be a contributing factor to growth in the world consumer goods sector. The large discounts offered by hypermarkets and supermarkets, combined with their use of attractive storage units to display different kinds of meat, are attracting consumers. Moreover, as a result of an increasing level of vaccination throughout the world, social distancing restrictions have been lifted thereby restoring supply chains to wagyu beef via offline channels.

To know additional highlights and key points on various market segments and their impact in coming years, View the Free PDF Sample Report.

Geographical Market Analysis

APAC is estimated to contribute 74% to the growth of the global market during the forecast period. The increased consumption of wagyu beef in countries such as Japan has primarily contributed to the APAC regional market. The main driver for the regional market is also a large volume of wagyu beef trade. The main producers and exporters of wagyu beef are Japan and Australia within the APAC region. Hong Kong , Taiwan , and Singapore are the major importers. The growing food service industry is an important driver of growth in the APAC Wagyu beef market.

Company Insights

The wagyu beef market is fragmented, and the companies are deploying organic and inorganic growth strategies to compete in the market. The report analyzes the market's competitive landscape and offers information on several market companies, including Agri Beef Co., Australian Agricultural Co Ltd, Black Hawk Farms, Blackmore Wagyu, Chicago Steak Co., DEBRAGGA Inc., Dolan Foods Inc., GRAND WESTERN, Havel Wagyu GbR, Holy Grail Steak Co., Japan PREMIUM BEEF Inc., JBS SA, Lone Mountain Wagyu LLC, Masami Cattle Ranch Inc., Morgan Ranch Inc., Starzen Co. Ltd., Stockyard Pty Ltd, Sugar Mountain, WAGYU MASTER Europe GmbH, and Wagyu World

View the Free PDF Sample Report to find additional highlights on the growth strategies adopted by companies and their product offerings.

Related Reports:

The fresh meat packaging market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 3.19% between 2023 and 2028. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 473.65 million.

The US - beef market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 3.12% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 7.69 billion.

Wagyu Beef Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 7.04% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 3.59 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 6.45 Regional analysis APAC, North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution APAC at 74% Key countries US, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, and UK Competitive landscape Leading Companies, Market Positioning of Companies, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled Agri Beef Co., Australian Agricultural Co Ltd, Black Hawk Farms, Blackmore Wagyu, Chicago Steak Co., DEBRAGGA Inc., Dolan Foods Inc., GRAND WESTERN, Havel Wagyu GbR, Holy Grail Steak Co., Japan PREMIUM BEEF Inc., JBS SA, Lone Mountain Wagyu LLC, Masami Cattle Ranch Inc., Morgan Ranch Inc., Starzen Co. Ltd., Stockyard Pty Ltd, Sugar Mountain, WAGYU MASTER Europe GmbH, and Wagyu World Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

ToC:

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market Sizing

Historic Market Sizes

Five Forces Analysis

Market Segmentation by Distribution Channel

Market Segmentation by Product

Market Segmentation by Geography

Customer Landscape

Geographic Landscape

Drivers, Challenges, & Trends

Company Landscape

Company Analysis

Appendix

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com

SOURCE Technavio
by Burak Akinci

ANKARA, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Turkiye is seeking to cooperate and learn from China's expertise on electric vehicles (EVs) and battery technologies, a move that will broaden the economic cooperation between the two nations, experts said.

Turkish Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacir, accompanied by business representatives, held meetings with Chinese officials and visited eight Chinese cities during a visit to China in December 2023.

Kacir engaged with prominent automotive and battery manufacturing companies, including GAC AION, Chery, Zeekr, BYD, SAIC, Fararis and Huawei.

He highlighted China's role as a pioneer in transforming the automotive industry and said he was particularly impressed by China's growing technology in EVs and touted China as a role model in this field for his country.

"Chinese automotive companies have surpassed the world in innovative technologies, enabling them to export electric vehicles to global markets," the Turkish minister told the semi-official Anadolu Agency.

Kacir pointed out that China has heavily invested in high technology and become one of the world's leaders in advanced technologies.

The minister said that battery technologies constitute "an integral part" of electric vehicle production and that he wanted to "make Turkiye into a production base for electric vehicles and batteries."

Selcuk Colakoglu, director of the Ankara-based Centre for Asia-Pacific Studies and a Turkish expert on China, hailed China's "huge progress" in EV production.

"Chinese companies have become very dominant not only in the Chinese market but also in the global market," he told Xinhua, adding that Chinese EV makers are focusing on technology development and lowering the costs to manufacture competitive cars.

"Chinese EV makers are searching for global openings for the coming years, and in that regard, the developing markets are very important for these companies," Colakoglu said, emphasizing that Turkiye is a target for collaboration.

As Turkiye is a part of the European Union's customs union, forming joint ventures to produce EVs and batteries for the Turkish domestic market and also the European market would be a "win-win situation" for Chinese and Turkish companies, according to this expert.

As part of its efforts to attract investment in the electric vehicle sector, Turkiye had previously invited EV manufacturers to invest in the country, with a specific focus on engaging Chinese firms.

In 2022, Turkiye marked its entry into the EV industry with the launch of its domestic EV brand, Togg, aligning with the country's carbon-neutral goals for 2053 and its increasing investments in renewable energy sources.

Togg and Chinese energy conglomerate Farasis are in active cooperation and have joined hands for the construction of the first battery factory in northwest Turkiye.

Emre Ozpeynirci, an influential automotive industry expert from Istanbul, said that the investment from China, which has become an automotive manufacturing powerhouse in a matter of years, can act as a catalyst for boosting Turkish nascent electric vehicle industry.

Ozepeynirci also urged his country to take action to facilitate imports and investments from China, saying China's know-how as one of the industrial leaders "would open the way for Turkiye, sitting at the intersection of Europe and Asia."

China has become Turkiye's third-largest trading partner, with the total value of goods traded between them reaching 38.55 billion U.S. dollars in 2022 and China's direct investment in Turkiye exceeding 2.4 billion dollars by the end of 2022, according to Chinese statistics. 
SEOUL, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's military conducted a live-fire exercise off its western coast Friday afternoon, the country's defense ministry said.

The marine forces in the western border islands of Yeonpyeong and Baengnyeong launched the drill from 3:00 p.m. local time (0600 GMT), according to the Ministry of National Defense.

Evacuation orders were reportedly issued in the islands earlier in the day at the request of the South Korean military. 
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here
Jerusalem, Jan 5 : Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has said that local Palestinians will run civilian affairs in the Gaza Strip while Israel will maintain security control of the coastal enclave after the current conflict ends.

Gallant on Thursday outlined the vision of post-conflict Gaza in his daily press briefing and said that "there will be no Israeli civilian presence in the Gaza Strip after the goals of the war are achieved", Xinhua news agency reported.

"Gaza residents are Palestinian, therefore Palestinian bodies will be in charge on the condition that there will be no hostility to Israel," he added.

Regarding who will oversee security in Gaza following the conflict, the minister vowed that Israel will not permit Hamas to rule Gaza or endanger the safety of its people and will therefore reserve the operational freedom of action in Gaza.

Gallant said Israel is going to move into what he referred to as Phase III of the conflict, which would include raids, destruction of "terror" tunnels, aerial and ground activities, and special operations.

Later in the evening, the Israeli Government Press Office issued a statement outlining the combat objective of Phase III of Israeli military operations in Gaza: the erosion of remaining "terror" hotspots in the area.

"In the southern region of the Gaza Strip, operational efforts focus on eliminating Hamas leadership and enabling the return of the hostages," the statement said, stressing that the fighting "will continue for as long as is deemed necessary."
After namaaz in UP temple, more cases of reading Hanuman Chalisa in mosques. Image Source: IANS News

Lucknow, Jan 5 : Nearly 50,000 copies each of religious books Hanuman Chalisa and Sundar Kand will be distributed among prisoners in all the 72 district jails, sub jails and central prisons across Uttar Pradesh before the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya on January 22.

State Prisons Minister Dharamveer Prajapati said that live streaming of Pran Pratishtha event will be done at all jails for prisoners.

"Practice of providing devotional and religious books to prisoners is very old. Fifty thousand copies of Hanuman Chalisa and Sundar Kand have been ordered from Gita Press, Gorakhpur after immense rise in demand for the books among prisoners recently," the Minister said.

He said the recitation of these hymns and books would help prisoners to improve themselves and live a better life after completing their jail terms.

The Hanuman Chalisa is a Hindu devotional hymn of 40 verses in praise of Lord Hanuman, while Sundar Kand is the fifth chapter in the Ramayana in which the principal protagonist is not Ram, but Hanuman.

"Jail administration has been asked to make special arrangements in jails so that prisoners could also see live streaming of the event. It is one of the rarest events that everybody in the country including prisoners should witness" he said.

"The recitation and listening of such religious and devotional books bring a positive change in behaviour of prisoners," he added.

The Minister had been promoting such activities among prisoners across the state for the last some years.

Earlier, he directed playing Gayatri Mantra and Mahamritunjaya Mantra in jail barracks.
WELLINGTON, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Holidaymakers in New Zealand have been warned of more shark sightings this summer.

It was reported on Friday that a large number of bronze whaler sharks were spotted cruising close to unsuspecting swimmers at a Coromandel beach in New Zealand's North Island in recent weeks.

Dozens of shark sightings have been reported near New Zealand beaches this summer, with species including bronze whaler sharks and tiger sharks, when swimmers have to evacuate.

On Wednesday, Surf Life Saving New Zealand reported 42 first-hand shark sightings across the Coromandel and Bay of Plenty over the last two weeks.

Most sharks in New Zealand are less than a meter and a half long and therefore relatively harmless, Department of Conservation marine biologist Clinton Duffy said, adding that larger sharks are "potentially dangerous."

The seas around New Zealand are highly productive owing to a unique combination of ocean currents and deep-water canyons that create upwelling of nutrient rich waters. This results in an abundance of marine biodiversity, including sharks such as the blue and porbeagle, according to Shark Spy, a citizen science project. 
Lucknow, Jan 5 : Seven members of a gang, arrested for truck heist, have admitted that the intense desire to welcome the New Year in a grand manner made them commit the crime.

According to police, the gang intercepted a truck and assaulted its driver on New Jail Road in Gosainganj on December 31, 2023. Subsequently, they looted the truck, kidnapped the attendant, and assaulted him. Later, they abandoned him in Ahimamau and fled the scene.

Interrogation of the accused revealed that they were facing a shortage of funds for their December 31 celebrations and, therefore, planned to loot a truck to sell it at Dubagga Mandi for money to fund their January 1 party. However, when the truck developed issues en route to Dubagga, they decided to park it temporarily and sell it later, said the additional deputy commissioner of police.

They strategically targeted an old truck without GPS to remain untraceable. Nevertheless, a three-member police team tracked and seized the truck using CCTV footage and manual inputs.

Subsequently, the accused were identified and arrested.

The arrested accused include Vikas Rawat, 24, who operates a tent business and has four previous cases against him, and Abhishek Yadav, 23, a professional driver with three previous cases.

The other five accused have been identified as -- Aman Rawat, 18, Sahil Rawat, 18, Saurabh Rawat, 19, Govind Rawat, 20, and a minor.
Sunday Special-- Rajbhar factions queer the pitch for Ghosi bypoll in UP. Image Source: IANS News

Lucknow, Jan 5 : Chief of the Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) and former minister, Om Prakash Rajbhar said that he could be included in the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh "any time after kharmas".

Lucknow, Jan 5 (IANS) Chief of the Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) and former minister, Om Prakash Rajbhar said that he could be included in the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh "any time after kharmas".

'Kharmas' refers to the month-long period that many Hindus consider inauspicious. S

ince the period ends on January 15, BJP ally Rajbhar's assertion points to the possibility of the cabinet expansion happening ahead of the Ram temple inauguration on January 22.

His statement came a day after he met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi.

Shortly after Rajbhar met Shah, former minister Dara Singh Chauhan, an OBC leader from the Nonia subcaste, also met the Union Minister, fuelling reports of a cabinet reshuffle.

However, Rajbhar's 'dreams' of becoming a minister in the Yogi cabinet again, may remain a dream, if sources in the Uttar Pradesh BJP are to be believed.

"Cabinet reshuffle is unlikely after 'kharmas' because by then the countdown to the opening of the Ram temple will have begun and the Chief Minister will not have even a moment to spare. In fact, events -- including tourist rush --will keep the government on its toes for the next one month," said a senior party functionary.

Meanwhile, when asked whether he had been invited to the Ram Temple inauguration, Rajbhar said, "Hum log rahenge (we will be there)", but refused to confirm if he had actually been invited.
Washington, Jan 5 : A White House official has said that North Korea recently provided Russia with several ballistic missiles and launchers which were used in the repeated waves of aerial attacks against Ukraine.

Addressing a press briefing on Thursday, White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said that as Moscow continues to "launch these brutal attacks", the US has "new information to share about the support that Russia is receiving from third countries".

"Due in part to our sanctions and export controls, Russia has become increasingly isolated on the world stage and theyave been forced to look to likeminded states for military equipment. As weave been warning publicly, one of those states is North Korea," Kirby said.

The spokesperson said that on December 30, 2023, Russian forces launched at least one of these North Korean ballistic missiles into Ukraine.

The missile appeared to have landed in an open field in the Zaporizhzhia region, he claimed.

Kirby further said on January 2, Russia launched multiple North Korean ballistic missiles into Ukraine, including as part of its overnight aerial attack.

"Weare still assessing the impacts of these additional missiles."

The North Korean ballistic missiles are capable of ranges of approximately 900 km.

The White House official also warned the US anticipates that "Russia will use additional North Korean missiles to target Ukraineas civilian infrastructure and to kill innocent Ukrainian civilians".

"This is a significant and concerning escalation in the DPRKas support for Russia," he said referring to North Korea by its official name, Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Kirby went on to say that North Korea is likely seeking military assistance from Russia in return for its support.

The assistance include "fighter aircraft, surface-to-air missiles, armoured vehicles, ballistic missile production equipment or materials, and other advanced technologies", he said, adding that this will have "concerning security implications for the Korean Peninsula and the Indo-Pacific region".

The White House official also said the US believed Russia is seeking to acquire close-range ballistic missiles from Iran.

However, "we do not believe that Iran has delivered close-range ballistic missiles to Russia".
Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 5 : Amid the strained relations between the Kerala government and Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, the latter on Friday snubbed CPI(M) Politburo member Brinda Karat here.

The Governor was replying to Karat's comment where she said that "Khan might contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls from Kerala on a BJP ticket".

"Has she fought any election? I want to dismiss her statement with the contempt it deserves," said Khan.

He said this just before leaving for Mumbai, and will return to Kerala after two days. Notably, there were no protests by the student and youth wing activists of the CPI(M) as was seen in the past several days, where they waved with black flags at him.

On the lunch invite controversy, Khan clarified that he did receive the invite for the Christmas/New Year lunch early this week hosted by Vijayan, but he did not take part.

When the media asked him why he did not attend, he said, "Do you ask questions like this to the others (without naming it was implied that he was referring to Vijayan)."

He denied any rift with the state government and said there is no rift and he is only doing his legal duty.
Only 6% voting in first two hours in Raj's Karanpur Assembly polls. Image Source: IANS News

Jaipur, Jan 5 : The polling in Rajasthan's Karanpur Assembly constituency was underway and a voting percentage of only six was recorded in the first two hours, said an official.

The voting started at 7 a.m. The effect of severe cold and fog was visible on voting as fewer people could be seen at the booths in the first two hours.

Voting in the constituency could not be held on November 25 due to the death of the Congress candidate Gurmeet Singh Koonar.

The elections happening here are much in discussion as the Bhajan Lal government has made BJP candidate Surendrapal TT, the Minister of State, contest from here. TT was made a minister even though he had not won the election at the time of portfolio allotment. Congress has been attacking the government's decision and has even complained to the Election commission in the matter.

The voting average is expected to increase by afternoon as weather improves a bit.

Adequate security arrangements have been made for voting at 249 polling stations in the Karanpur Assembly constituency. Voters are allowed to enter the voting area only after checking their IDs at the stations. Two separate entry and exit routes have been provided at each polling booth.

The elections were postponed after the death of Congress candidate Gurmeet Singh Koonar. The Congress has fielded his son, Rupinder Singh, from the seat.

Apart from BJP and Congress, 10 other candidates from parties like the AAP, BSP and independents are in the fray.

Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Gupta said that there are a total of 249 polling stations in the constituency, out of which 37 are in urban areas and 212 in rural areas. There are arrangements for webcasting at 125 polling stations. There are 2,40,826 voters in Karanpur Assembly constituency, which includes 1,25,850 men, 114966 women and 10 transgender voters. 180 service voters are registered
Seoul, Jan 5 : North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited a factory producing mobile launchers for intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), stressing the need to strengthen the country's nuclear deterrence for a "military showdown", state media reported on Friday.

During the visit, Kim ordered measures to expand the capacity to produce major transporter erector launchers (TELs), stressing that the factory plays an important role in bolstering the country's defense capabilities, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

It did not however, specify the date of his visit.

"Given the prevailing grave situation that requires the country to be more firmly prepared for a military showdown with the enemy, he indicated the tasks to be fulfilled by the factory," Yonhap News Agency quoted the KCNA as saying.

Photos carried by the KCNA showed TELs for what appear to be solid-fuel Hwasong-18 and liquid-propellant Hwasong-17 ICBMs.

In April 2023, North Korea test-fired a Hwasong-18 ICBM for the first time and launched two more in July and December, respectively.

The reclusive regime launched a total of five ICBMs last year alone, marking the highest number in a single year.

Meanwhile, the KCNA said Kim's daughter, known as Ju-ae, accompanied her father on the factory visit,.

South Korea's spy agency said on Thursday that Ju-ae is Kim's "most likely successor", marking the agency's first assessment of her possible succession in the reclusive regime.

Ju-ae, believed to be born in 2013, made her first public appearance on November 18, 2022, when her father brought her to the launch site of a Hwasong-17 ICBM.

Since then, she has made a total of 23 public appearances and 20 of them have been military events, according to Seoul's Unification Ministry.
San Francisco, Jan 5 : Elon Musk-run SpaceX has sued the US National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) after the agency filed a complaint against SpaceX, saying it illegally fired eight employees for criticising its CEO.

In a lawsuit filed in federal court late on Thursday, SpaceX claimed that the NLRB's actions are unconstitutional.

"This action stems from an unlawful attempt by the NLRB to subject SpaceX to an administrative proceeding whose structure violates Article II, the Fifth Amendment, and the Seventh Amendment of the Constitution of the US," read the lawsuit filed in the US state of Texas.

It claimed that the NLRB's proceedings violate SpaceX's "constitutional right to trial by jury."

"SpaceX is entitled to declaratory and injunctive relief to ensure that it is not subjected to unlawful proceedings before an unconstitutionally structured agency," it added.

The US labour agency was yet to comment on the lawsuit. The labour agency had alleged that "SpaceX interrogated, surveilled and threatened workers".

The labour agency claimed SpaceX "created an impression of surveillance" by reading and showing screenshots of messages between employees. Last year, a group of SpaceX employees wrote an open letter to express concerns about how Muskas behaviour "is a frequent source of distraction and embarrassment".

"Elon's behaviour in the public sphere is a frequent source of distraction and embarrassment for us, particularly in recent weeks. It is critical to make clear to our teams and to our potential talent pool that his messaging does not reflect our work, our mission, or our values," the open letter read.

At the time, a Business Insider report claimed that SpaceX paid a $250,000 settlement to a flight attendant that Musk sexually harassed. In the lawsuit, SpaceX said the open letter was a adistraction to SpaceX employees around the country."

The NLRB seeks to reach a settlement with SpaceX. The agency is also asking SpaceX to post a notice about employee rights for 120 days and write letters of apology to employees it fired.
Jerusalem, Jan 5 : An Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson has said that three Israelis who have been missing since the October 2023 Hamas attack are being held hostage in Gaza.

In a statement late Thursday, IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said the official tally of hostages held in Gaza can fluctuate as they receive the latest intelligence, CNN reported.

He however, did not identify the three missing Israelis.

During the humanitarian pause between November 24-30, 2023, 86 Israeli and 24 foreign national hostages were released.

At present, the Israeli authorities estimate that about 128 Israelis and foreign nationals remain captive in Gaza.

Twenty-four other hostages are known to be dead, and their bodies remain in Gaza, according to the authorities.

One Israeli national is still considered missing following the attack, according to the Prime Ministeras Office.

Before the Hamas attack, there were already four hostages being held by the militant since 2014, the office said, bringing the total number of hostages in Gaza to 112, not including the 24 that are known to be dead.

More than 1,200 people, including foreign nationals, were killed as a result of the attack, a majority of them on the day of the assault.
Tel Aviv, Jan 5 : The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have intensified operations in southern Gaza's Khan Younis area, with reports of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade of the Fatah joining the Hamas's military wing Al-Qassam Brigades in the raging war.

Sources in the Israeli Defence Ministry told IANS that the IDF has made major advancements in southern Gaza and added that many terror operatives were neutralised.

The entry of the other Palestinian militant groups have increased the fire power of Hamas.

They are using anti-tank missiles, rocket-propelled grenades and mortars in the intense fighting in Khan Younis, the sources said.

US-based think tanks -- the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and the Critical Threats Project (CTP) -- have also said that the presence of new groups in the war have increased ammunition strength in the region.

It is being said that top Hamas leaders Mohammed Deif and Yahya Sinwar are believed to be in hiding in the tunnel network of Khan Younis.
Bengaluru, Jan 5 : Amid the all-out attack from BJP over the arrest of a Kar Sevak, the Congress government's infighting has come to the fore in Karnataka with prominent Dalit leaders meeting here and pressing for the creation of more Deputy Chief Minister posts.

Bengaluru, Jan 5 (IANS) Amid the all-out attack from BJP over the arrest of a Kar Sevak, the Congress governmentas infighting has come to the fore in Karnataka with prominent Dalit leaders meeting here and pressing for the creation of more Deputy Chief Minister posts.

The meeting was held at the residence of Minister for PWD and prominent Dalit leader Satish Jarkiholi. Minister for Home Dr. G. Parameshwar, Minister for Social Welfare Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa, Minister for Food K.H. Muniyappa and Minister for Cooperation K.N. Rajanna, all identifying with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah camp, attended the meeting after a dinner party.

Sources said that the meeting was held to strategize to tame DyCM D.K. Shivakumar, who is eyeing the CMas post. CM Siddaramaiah tactfully brought the matter of creation of more DyCMas to the forefront through his loyalists. The move has compelled Shivakumar to do the firefighting to save his present position.

The meeting was held till late in the night on Thursday, and sources said that the leaders decided to place the demand before the high command over the creation of two more DyCM posts and giving one of it to the Dalit community.

Minister Jarkiholi has already placed the demand for three DyCM posts before the high command during his trip to New Delhi. He had stated that in the wake of upcoming Lok Sabha elections, he had discussed making Dalit and minority leaders DyCMas.

Jarkiholi had further said that he had also brought to the notice of the top leadership the demand of his supporters and religious pontiffs that he should get the DyCM post.

Minister Rajanna said that Siddaramaiah was going to remain the CM for the full term, and batted for the creation of three DyCMas posts.

The demand by CM Siddaramaiah's camp is that if at all there is a change of guard in Karnataka, the CMas post should be given to a Dalit leader. This has made things more complicated for Shivakumar.

Shivakumar, the go-getter for the Congress high command is focussing on consolidating his position and making careful moves. His camp has been maintaining that he is going to be the CM for the last 2.5 years term in Karnataka.
This photo taken on Jan. 5, 2024 shows the site of a train accident in Cicalengka, Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia. At least one was dead and more than 10 people were wounded as two trains collided in Indonesia's West Java province on Friday morning, according to local media and a rescuer. (Photo by Septianjar Muharam/Xinhua)

JAKARTA, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- At least was one dead and more than 10 people were wounded as two trains collided in Indonesia's West Java province on Friday morning, according to local media and a rescuer.

Local media METROTV confirmed that at least one person was killed in the accident.

The train Commuter Line Bandung Raya and Turangga train collided in Cicalengka regency at 06:03 a.m. Jakarta time.

"Our personnel have rescued many injured people, at least there are more than 10 wounded persons. It could be more than that," Head of Operation Unit of the provincial Search and Rescue Office Supriono told Xinhua by phone. All of them have been rushed into the General Hospital of CIcalengka, he added. 
Seoul, Jan 5 : Civilians on South Korea's border islands of Yeonpyeong and Baengnyeong were ordered to evacuate to shelters on Friday after North Korea fired some 200 artillery shells into waters off its western coast earlier in the morning, Seoul's military said.

The emergency evacuation order was issued at 12.02 p.m. and again at 12.30 p.m. (local time) on Yeongpyeong at the request of the South Korean military, according to the Ongjin County office in the western port city of Incheon.

"We announced the evacuation after receiving a call from a military unit saying it was carrying out a maritime strike on Yeongpyeong Island as it has a situation with a North Korean provocation," Yonhap News Agency quoted a county official as saying.

The official added that there were no reports of casualties.

A passenger ferry, scheduled to depart from Incheon for Yeonpyeong at 1 p.m., was moored due to the evacuation order, according to officials.

A similar alert was issued for the western border island of Baengnyeong around the same time, reports Yonhap News Agency.

South Korea's military said it detected the artillery firings from Jangsan Cape and Deungsan Cape, both in the North's southwestern coastal areas, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

The shells fired by North Korea splashed into the maritime buffer zone north of the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto maritime border.

The buffer zone was established under an inter-Korean military accord signed on September 19, 2018, to reduce border tensions.

Last November, North Korea unilaterally scrapped the accord after Seoul partially suspended the deal in protest of Pyongyang's successful launch of a military spy satellite.
New Delhi, Jan 5 : Basdeo Panday, the first Indian-origin Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago who once said, "If you see me and a lion fighting, feel sorry for the lion", has passed away at the age of 90.

New Delhi, Jan 5 (IANS) Basdeo Panday, the first Indian-origin Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago who once said, "If you see me and a lion fighting, feel sorry for the lion", has passed away at the age of 90.

A lawyer, trade unionist, economist, actor, politician and former civil servant, Panday wore many hats and was the fifth Prime Minister from 1995-2001 after the Carribean nation gained independence in August 1962.

Panday died on the New Year surrounded by his family, according to a statement by his daughter Mickela Panday.

"With deep sorrow, we would like to share that our loving husband and father, Basdeo Panday passed away on 1st January 2024, surrounded by his family," Mickela wrote on Facebook, informing about her father's demise.

"In life and death he was a fighter. He passed with his boots on, keeping everybody around him on their toes with his wit and humour. He will live on in all of us, remembered as a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, leader, and friend."

Mickela added that her father was an inspiration to his family and everybody who knew him, and that they will continue to celebrate his life and treasure the times spent with him.

A 2005 Pravasi Bharatiya Samman recepient, Basdeo Panday is survived by his wife Oma Panday and their four daughters.

Born on May 25, 1933 in a rural village in Princes Town, he studied at New Grant Government Primary School and later Presentation College, San Fernando where he obtained his Cambridge School Certificate.

Moving to England, he undertook a Diploma Course in Drama from the London School of Dramatic Art in 1960, and earned a degree in law in 1962 from Inns of Court of Law. H

e co-founded three political parties, including United National Congress (UNC), whose electoral base was primarily Indo-Trinidadian.

He first entered Parliament on September 15, 1972 as an Opposition Senator, and subsequently became a Member of the House of Representatives, representing the Couva North constituency.

In 2005, Basdeo Panday was arrested in a case related to an airport construction contract and was accused of corruption.

However, with supporters claiming the accusations were politically motivated, the corruption charges were dropped.

Mourning his demise, Trinidad and Tobago President Christine Kangaloo, said in a statement that "Panday was a giant of a man who led this country with passion and compassion".

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad Bissessar, who replaced Basdeo Panday as UNC leader, wrote in a message posted on her Facebook page: "I am saddened that Mr Panday has passed away. I will always love and be grateful that he significantly influenced my life.

"He was a great leader and spent most of his years helping the oppressed and poor. Mr Panday will always be remembered with love and adoration by all of us whose lives he touched."

A day after his death, a religious celebration was held in Chaguanas on Tuesday night and was attended by his family and friends.

Indians make up around 38 per cent of the Trinidad and Tobago population and the approximate population of Indians in the country as of 2023 is 5.60 lakh.

According to a government data, India contributed about 143,000 indentured workers to Trinidad between 1845 and 1917 with a vast majority of them coming from northern India, mainly from the erstwhile districts of the United Provinces and Bihar.
Kolkata, Jan 5 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) team, which went to conduct raid and search operations at the residence of a Trinamool Congress leader on Friday at Sandeshkhali in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, was attacked and the windowpanes of the central agency's cars were smashed.

On Friday, the ED sleuths and armed personnel of Central Armed Police Forces reached the residence of local Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Sajahan, who is also a ration dealer by profession and tried to enter the premises, but were surrounded by a large number of people protesting against the central agency's operation.

The entrance door of the house was locked, and as the ED sleuths tried to break open that lock ignoring the protesting crowd, some more people assembled and tried to physically resist the ED sleuths as well as the central forces personnel.

As the number of local people far outnumbered the central agency and central forces personnel, they decided to get out of the scene for the time being. However, even after that protesting local people started chasing the central agency sleuths with bamboo sticks, bricks and stones.

Even the glass windows of some of the vehicles of ED were smashed. Till the time the report was filed, major tension prevailed in the area. The ED sleuths have also filed a complaint at the local police station.

Another team of central agency sleuths raided the residence of the in-laws of the former chairman of Bangaon Municipality also in North 24 Parganas district Shankar Adhya.

Both Sajahan and Adhya are known to be close confidants of former West Bengal food & supplies minister Jyotipriya Mallick, who was arrested by ED in October last year in connection with the ration distribution case.

A third team of ED officials has been conducting raids since Friday morning at the residence of a chartered accountant at Bijoygarh in South Kolkata.
New Delhi, Jan 5 : The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a plea seeking recognition of Mathura's Shahi Idgah mosque site as the Krishna Janmabhoomi.

A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta said that it was not inclined to interfere with the order of the Allahabad High Court which had earlier dismissed the public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the petitioner, advocate Mehek Maheshwari .

"We are not inclined to interfere with the impugned judgment and hence, the special leave petition is dismissed," the bench ordered.

It clarified that the dismissal of the plea by the apex court will not prejudice the right of any party to challenge the constitutional validity of any enactment.

In his plea filed before the Allahabad High Court, Maheshwari prayed that Sections 2, 3 and 4 of the Places of Worship Act, 1991 be declared as unconstitutional and contended that the bar placed by the 1991 Act will not be applicable in the Janmabhoomi case since the land had always been temple land and no question of changing its nature arose.

Maheshwari had contended that various historical records cite the fact that the disputed site, the Shahi Idgah mosque, is the actual birthplace of Lord Krishna and even the history of Mathura dates back to the Ramayana era, while Islam came just 1,500 years ago.

The high court dismissed the PIL at the threshold, without entering into the merits of the case in October last year.

A division bench of Chief Justice Pritinker Diwaker and Justice Ashutosh Srivastava of the high court said: "Since the issues involved in the present writ (PIL) is already engaging attention of the court in appropriate proceedings (i.e., pending suits), we are not inclined to entertain the instant writ petition and the same is accordingly dismissed."
Sandra Bullock to scatter boyfriend's ashes at their wedding venue in Bahamas. Image Source: IANS News

Los Angeles, Jan 5 : Hollywood star Sandra Bullock has honoured one of the final wishes of her partner Bryan Randall.

In an Instagram post, chef Gesine Bullock-Prado revealed that her actress sister had released her late partner's ashes on Snake River in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

"Happy birthday, Bry. Sandy brought you to the river, just as she promised," Bullock-Prado captioned a serene video of the scene, reports People magazine.

Bullock's longtime partner died on August 5 from ALS, a diagnosis he kept private for three years, his family said in a statement at the time.

A model-turned-photographer, Randall met the Oscar winner, 59, in 2015, when he photographed her son Louis' birthday at the time.

As per People, they took their relationship more public that year, including an appearance at Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux's wedding.

Bullock and Randall are parents to three children between them: Bullock's son Louis, 13, and daughter Laila, 11, plus Randall's older daughter from a previous relationship.

While on Red Table Talk in December 2021, the 'Practical Magic' actress called Randall the "love of my life". Bullock also addressed not needing to get married to feel their relationship was solid, saying: "I don't wanna say do it like I do it, but I don't need a paper to be a devoted partner and devoted mother."
Mumbai, Jan 5 : A Liberian-flagged bulk carrier with around 15 Indian crew members, has been hijacked by around five-six armed hijackers in the Arabian Sea, as per a message received early on Friday, officials said here.

The hijacked ship, aMV Lila Norfolka had sent an SOS on UKMTP portal indicating around 5-6 armed hijackers boarding the ship late on Thursday evening.

Responding quickly, the Indian Navy launched an MPA and diverted its warship INS Chennai to assist the distressed vessel, near the east coast of Somalia.

The naval aircraft continue to monitor the movement of the ship as the INS Chennai approaches the vessel, and the overall situation is being closely tracked in coordination with other agencies/MNF in the region.

This is the third incident of its kind in the high seas on the country's west coast in the past one month or with the Indian Navy rising to the occasion with a rescue and relief operation.
Kolkata, Jan 5 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is likely to get early next week the final forensic report of the voice sampling test of Sujay Krishna Bhadra, a prime accused in the cash-for-school-job case in West Bengal.

Sources said that an official of ED reached New Delhi on Friday morning along with around 20 samples of Bhadraas voce test which they collected at the Centre-run E.S.I. Hospital at Joka late Wednesday night.

The forensic test of the samples will be conducted at Delhi and matched with the voice clippings of Bhadra that the ED sleuths secured from his mobile phone.

In the audio recovered from his mobile Bhadra was heard directing someone to delete and destroy all crucial documents related to the school job recruitment.

These 20 samples, according to sources, were collected after Bhadra had to utter three sentences at different pitches and different moods repeatedly. The recording was done within a sound-proof room at the hospital.

On the basis of the forensic reports, sources added, the ED sleuths will prepare its own report on the findings which they will be submitting to the Calcutta High Court.

A crucial hearing in the matter is scheduled at the single- judge bench of Justice Amrita Sinha on January 10 and the central agency sleuths are confident of submitting the said report to the Calcutta High Court by then.

Justice Sinha has directed the state advocate general Kishor Dutta to be present at the hearing on January 10. There are strong murmurs in the legal circles that the reason for asking the advocate general to be present during the hearing is pertaining to the EDas complaints against state-run S.S.K.M. Medical College & Hospital of non-cooperation with the central agency sleuths that delayed the process of conducting voice sampling tests.
UP STF to get AI-based criminal data creation system. Image Source: IANS News

Sultanpur, Jan 5 : A criminal who carried a bounty of Rs 1 lakh, has been killed in an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (UP STF) in Sultanpur.

The incident took place with a team led by Deputy SP Deepak Kumar Singh of STF Headquarters in Dehat Kotwali area of Sultanpur.

There were multiple cases of kidnapping, ransom, robbery, extortion, and murder against the victim, Vinod Upadhyay across Uttar Pradesh, including Lucknow and Gorakhpur.

A reward of Rs 1 lakh had been announced by Gorakhpur Police in order to arrest him.

He had formed a gang of his own, which carried out several sensational murder cases in Gorakhpur, Basti, Sant Kabir Nagar and Lucknow.

Additionally, there were four cases against him at the Gorakhnath Police Station.

There were 31 more cases against Upadhyay in other districts of the state.
Berlin, Jan 5 : Germany's greenhouse gas emissions in 2023 fell to the lowest level in 70 years, according to a think tank.

Berlin, Jan 5 (IANS) Germany's greenhouse gas emissions in 2023 fell to the lowest level in 70 years, according to a think tank.

According to Agora Energiewende, emissions in Germany fell to 673 million tonnes of CO2-equivalents last year, Xinhua news agency reported.

Compared to 1990 levels, this represents a 46 per cent reduction, or 49 million tonnes of CO2-equivalents below the target for 2023 set in the country's Climate Protection Act.

A large part of the year-on-year reduction was due to an "unexpectedly sharp decline in coal use", the think tank said.

At the same time, "emissions fell at the expense of energy-intensive industry as the economic situation and international crises prompted a drop in production".

"Most of the emissions cuts in 2023 are not sustainable from an industrial or climate policy perspective," it noted, adding that emissions will rise again when the economy picks up.

Around 15 per cent of the emissions reductions were a result of additional capacities for renewable energies, efficiency increases and the switch to fuels with lower CO2 emissions or other climate-friendly alternatives.

However, Simon Mueller, director of Agora Energiewende Germany, said: "We don't consider the emissions reductions seen in the industrial sector to be sustainable. The drop in production due to the energy crisis weakens Germany's industrial base."

Europe's largest economy aims to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 65 per cent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, and to be climate neutral by 2045, five years earlier than the European Union target.

Germany aims to achieve an 80 per cent share of renewable energies in its electricity supply by 2030.

By then, the country also aims to complete its coal phase-out.

The last three nuclear power plants in the country were taken off the grid last year.

"We are on a very good path, particularly in terms of electricity generation," Minister for Economic Affairs Robert Habeck said on Thursday.

"Coal-fired power generation reached an all-time low, while the expansion of renewables has clearly picked up thanks to the hard work of the last two years."
Bengaluru, Jan 5 : Karnataka Leader of the Opposition (LoP) R. Ashoka on Friday said that Lord Sri Ram will never pardon Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for arresting the Kar Sevak against false cases.

"Siddaramaiah, you blatantly lied that Srikanth Poojari has 16 cases against him. Sri Ram will never pardon you. Among the 16 cases against Poojari, 15 have seen logical conclusion," he said.

He said that the remaining case is about his disappearance in 1992.

"There are only two possibilities. Either Siddaramaiah has lost control of his administration while invisible hands are misguiding him or he has willfully reopened the case to provoke the Hindu activists during the inauguration of Ram Mandir," he said.

He said that if any of the two assertions are true then the Chief Minister has lost the morality to continue to remain the head of the state.

"Accept your mistakes, release Poojari, apologise to the people and submit your resignation. In order to maintain law and order of the state, make way for an efficient chief minister," he urged the Chief Minister.

Siddaramaiah had earlier slammed BJP over Srikanth Poojari. He said Poojari -- who had flaunted himself as a devotee of Rama and a Kar Sevak -- is in fact a social miscreant in the eyes of the law.

"Poojari is someone who uses religion as a shield to protect his criminal activities. If such individuals are not arrested and are allowed to roam freely, even Lord Rama cannot forgive us," the Chief Minister had said.

Siddaramaiah said that BJP leaders -- who are protesting in support of a person facing allegations of involvement in 16 anti-social activities including illegal liquor sales, gambling, and Matka -- should openly declare their party's support for all his criminal actions, or publicly apologise and withdraw their protest.

The Chief Minister said that in the year 2023, within the jurisdiction of the Hubballi-Dharwad Commissionerate, 36 people were arrested in connection with crimes including marijuana sales, theft, extortion, fraud, and gambling.

"Poojari is the 32nd person on this list. Should he be released just because he is a Kar Sevak or should he be arrested for being a suspect? The BJP's protest is not against our government, but against the country's law and constitution," the Chief Minister had said.

He said that those involved in criminal activities claim to be protectors of religion and indulge in murder and extortion. "Will BJP leaders support them too?" the Chief Minister asked.

He said that the arrest of Poojari during the inauguration of the Ram Mandir is merely a coincidence.
"Back to China is very good for Xiang Xiang." "We hope that this partnership between Beauval and China will continue." "It's definitely a back and forth, and we appreciate the collaboration very much."

In 2023, a total of 16 overseas giant pandas returned to China from different countries. Check this adorable video compilations to find out how lovely they are!

Produced by Xinhua Global Service




New Delhi, Jan 5 : Ex-Paralympian Oscar Pistorius has been released on parole from a South African jail, after serving nine years in prison for murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Pistorius shot Reeva through the locked bathroom door of his mansion in Pretoria on Valentine's Day 2013, later saying he had mistaken her for a burglar.

The decision to grant him parole was made last November, The Guardian reported.

"The Department of Correctional Services (is) able to confirm that Oscar Pistorius is a parolee, effectively from 5 January 2024. He was admitted into the system of Community Corrections and is now at home," the country's prisons department said in a statement on Friday.

The South African authorities emphasized that Pistorius' "elevated public profile" would not afford him any special treatment.

The 37-year-old will be confined to his home for certain hours of the day and is banned from drinking alcohol. He will have to get permission to travel or take up employment while also not permitted to speak to the media.

The South African athlete, who had his lower legs amputated as a baby, had become an Olympic sprinter whose high-tech prosthetics earned him the nickname "Blade Runner", was eventually convicted of murder in 2015 after an appeal court overturned an earlier verdict of culpable homicide.

He has been in prison since October 2014, when he was first convicted and started a five-year jail sentence.

Later, he was released to house arrest to serve the rest of his sentence at his uncle's home. But the next month, the supreme court of appeal overturned the lower judge's ruling and found Pistorius guilty of murder.

In 2016, he was sentenced to six years in prison. The following year, the supreme court ruled that sentence was "shockingly lenient" and raised it to 15 years, minus time already served.

Pistorius achieved considerable success on the track, initially at the Paralympics where he secured numerous gold medals. His reputation was further solidified when he competed against able-bodied athletes at the 2012 London Olympics.
New Delhi, Jan 5 : The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal to declare the Ayodhya airport as an international airport and naming it as "Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, Ayodhyadham", according to an official statement issued on Friday.

New Delhi, Jan 5 (IANS) The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal to declare the Ayodhya airport as an international airport and naming it as "Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, Ayodhyadham", according to an official statement issued on Friday.

Elevating the airport to international status is paramount for realising Ayodhya's economic potential and its significance as a global pilgrimage site, opening doors to foreign pilgrims and tourists, the statement explained.

The airport's name, "Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, Ayodhyadham", pays homage to Maharishi Valmiki, the sage attributed to composing the epic Ramayana, adding a cultural touch to the airport's identity.

Ayodhya, with its deep cultural roots is strategically positioned to become a key economic hub and pilgrimage site.

The airport's potential to attract international pilgrims and businesses aligns with the city's historical prominence, the statement added.
Srinagar: One terrorist has been killed in an ongoing encounter between terrorists and security forces in the Zeipora area of South Kashmir's Shopian district on Monday, 19th 2021.(Photo: Nissar Malik/IANS). Image Source: IANS News

Srinagar, Jan 5 : A Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist was killed in an encounter with the security forces in the Chotigam area of South Kashmir's Shopian district on Friday, officials said.

"Police along with security forces neutralized one terrorist of the proscribed terror outfit in an anti-terrorist operation in South Kashmiras Shopian District," police said.

Police said acting on specific information regarding the presence of terrorists in village Chotigam area of Shopian, a joint cordon and search operation was launched in the early hours by police, Army and CRPF.

During the search operation, as the joint party approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding terrorist fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which retaliated effectively, leading to an encounter.

"In the ensuing encounter, one terrorist was killed and his body was retrieved from the site of the encounter," police said.

He has been identified as Bilal Ahmed Bhat, resident of Chek Cholan, affiliated with proscribed terror outfit LeT.

"As per police records the killed terrorist was involved in several terror crime cases, including the killing of local Army personnel namely Umer Fayaz son of Fayaz Ahmad Parray, resident of Sudsan Kulgam, hurled grenade upon non-local labourers in Hermain, resulting in on spot death of two labourers," police said.

Police further added that he was also involved in the killing of Kashmiri Pandit Sunil Kumar Bhat and injuring other Kashmiri Pandit Pretimber Nath, both residents of Chotigam Shopian.

"He was also involved in an attack on local Bal Krishan alias Sonu, resident of Chotigam. Moreover, he was involved in instigating local youth to join terrorist ranks and induced 12 local youth into the ranks of terrorists. Besides other terror crimes, he was also involved in the killing of an arrested terrorist who was leading the search party during a CASO at Nowgam in the year 2022," police added.

Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including one AK series rifle, three magazines were recovered from the site of the encounter.
'Not spoken about Sanatana Dharma', says K'taka Minister after facing backlash. Image Source: IANS News

Bengaluru, Jan 5 : Following BJP's criticism against arresting Kar Sevak Srikanth Poojari, Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara on Friday said that he not facing 16 cases now.

"There were 16 cases registered against Poojari but I have never said that he is facing 16 cases now," the state's Home Minister said.

Parameshwara also criticised BJP for spreading false propaganda against the Kar Sevak.

"Is it not true that Poojari was involved in crime cases? For such a person, they (BJP) have taken up such a large scale protest," he said.

He said that the court had verified 26 cases along with the case of Poojari.

"Are no Hindus involved in those cases? Why is BJP protesting for Poojari? The law is the same for me, LoP, as well as for the media. Whoever is guilty must be punished," he said.

Meanwhile, former Karnataka deputy chief minister said that if the Congress government proves Kar Sevak has 16 cases against him, he will apologise before the public.

"Police's argument that Kar Sevak had not attended the court proceedings is false. The officers are misguiding the government," he said.

Congress delegation had lodged a complaint against LoP R. Ashoka, BJP MLAs Arvind Bellad, Mahesh Tenginakayi and 40 others urging action for making derogatory statements during a protest against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

--IANS

mka/dan
Lawyers ask Indians seeking asylum in UK to pretend as 'tortured' Khalistanis, gays: Report. Image Source: IANS News

Madrid, Jan 5 : Spain recorded 56,852 illegal immigrants in 2023, an 82.1 per cent surge from a year earlier, according to figures published by the Interior Ministry.

Majority of the immigrants made the dangerous crossing of over 100 km from the north-west coast of Africa to the Canary Islands archipelago, Xinhua news agency reports.

Of the total, 39,910 immigrants reached the Canary Islands, up by 154.5 percent from 2022.

Another 15,435 immigrants crossed the Mediterranean Sea from North Africa to mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands, up by 19 per cent from 2022, while the remaining immigrants reached the two Spanish North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla.

Despite the inrush in 2023, the number is still below the almost 64,300 people who travelled illegally to Spain in 2018, although at that time the majority of the crossings were heading to the region of Andalusia on the south coast of Spain.

On Thursday, the Spanish government agreed to accept a group of 281 Nicaraguan and Venezuelan immigrants, who had previously travelled to the US.

The move comes after an accord with the White House to relieve some of the migratory pressure from the US southern border.
New Delhi, Jan 5 : Fintech unicorn MobiKwik on Friday filed its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) with the markets regulator SEBI in its second attempt, to raise Rs 700 crore this time via fresh issues of shares.

The DRHP comes without any offer-for-sale (OFS) component but the company aims to raise Rs 140 crore in a pre-IPO round.

The company, founded in 2009 by Bipin Preet Singh and Upasana Taku, doesn't plan to sell any existing shares in the IPO, according to the prospectus.

In 2021, MobiKwik which is backed by Peak XV, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and American Express, had filed for an IPO to raise about $250 million through sale of new and existing shares, however, it deterred the IPO plans amid the global meltdown and worsening funding winter.

The digital banking platform in October this year released its financial results (unaudited) for the second quarter in the current financial year (FY24) with a 52 per cent growth in revenues over the corresponding period in FY23 and its second consecutive quarter of PAT profitability.

The revenues for the July-September quarter stood at Rs 208 crore, a growth of 17 per cent over the previous quarter in the same fiscal, with a profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 5 crore.

With a 58 per cent increase in revenues compared to the first half in FY23, MobiKwik scaled its revenues to Rs 385 crore with a PAT of Rs 8 crore in H1 FY24.

"Our purpose is to make digital banking services accessible to people across demographics pan-India, and we are seeing positive uptake on our platform. The results are evident with another quarter of sustained revenue growth in line with our vision for the year," said Taku.

MobiKwik has grown to serve over 140 million registered users across the country, with a merchant network of over 4 million.
DG-IG conference: Shah, Doval in Jaipur; PM to reach by evening. Image Source: IANS News

Jaipur, Jan 5 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval have reached Jaipur for three-day All India conference of Director Generals/Inspector Generals of Police in Rajasthan International centre in Jaipur, beginning on Friday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected reach Jaipur by 5.30 p.m.

Heads of many agencies and DG-IGs of all the states will be attending the conference which is expected to discuss crime against women, cyber crime, technology in policing, counter-terrorism challenges, left-wing extremism, and prison reforms, among others.

Jaipur is on high-alert for the conference and all arrangements are in place.

The Prime Minister will attend the conference till 9 p.m. and will reach Raj Bhavan at 9.30 pm where he will rest at night.

Modi, Shah and Doval will be attending the conference for all three days.

On January 7, after meeting with the officials, the Prime Minister will leave for Delhi at 4.30 pm.
Chennai, Jan 5 : The All India Chess Federation (AICF) will support Indian players winning the Candidates Tournament 2024 with financial assistance up to a sum of Rs.1 crore to prepare for the world title, said a senior official.

"Indian players winning the Candidates 2024 tournament will be supported to the extent of Rs.50 lakh to Rs.1 crore for their preparation for the world title. This is subject to the approval of the General Body," Interim Secretary Ajeet Kumar Verma told IANS.

This is in addition to the Rs.2 crore financial assistance announced earlier for the five Indian players who will be fighting it out in the Candidates 2024 tournament to be held in Toronto in Canada.

Curiously, AICF had announced the Rs.2 crore assistance for three players who had then qualified for the Candidates Tournament. Post that announcement two more players got qualified and the assistance will now be divided amongst the five players.

The winner of the Candidates tournament will be the challenger for the World Chess Title  Open and Women sections.

There are three Indian men in the open section and two women in the women's section in contention.

The three Indians in the open category are: Grandmaster (GM) R.Praggnanandhaa (2,743 -13th), GM D.Gukesh (2,725-25th) and GM Vidit Santosh Gujrathi (2,742  14th).

In the women's section the two Indian hopefuls are: the experienced and World number two GM Koneru Humpy (2,554) and the young Woman GM (WGM) R.Vaishali, ranked 14th with a rating of 2,481 points.

Both the open and women's world titles are now held by Chinese players viz GM Ding Liren (Elo rating 2,780-World Rank 4th) and (GM) Ju Wenjun (2,549, World Rank 5th).

"India is represented by three players (in the open section). All of them are worthy contenders, however none of them is among the favorites. Combined probability of one of the three to win it is clearly less than 50%, but I'd rate it above 25%," GM Emil Sutovsky, CEO, FIDE or International Chess Federation, told IANS.

"So, yes, it could happen that the Title Match at the end of 2024 will be contested between Chinese and Indian players - and it would be exciting. But, say, the match between Chinese and American will be no less exciting," Sutovsky added.

Interestingly in an online survey GM Jacob Aagaard, a trainer, had asked "What is your biggest psychological issue as a chess player?" And also added "(Fear of Indian kids not included, because we all have it)" while listing out a couple of options.

With the former World Champion and the World's highest ranked player Carlsen (2,830) likely to withdraw from the race, the contention is open as the young Indian players who have been punching above their weight can outsmart any strong player.

It may be recalled Gukesh had notched up a score of 7/7 at the Chess Olympiad held in Chennai.

(Venkatachari Jagannathan can be reached at v.jagannathan@ians.in)
RJD, JD(U) likely to contest 16 seats each in LS polls. Image Source: IANS News

Patna, Jan 5 : Two major alliance partners of the Mahagathbandhan -- RJD and JD(U) -- have almost reached a final formula on seat sharing for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Bihar has 40 seats and these two parties are likely to contest 16 each, while six are left for Congress and two for the Left parties.

For RJD and JD(U), one seat plus or minus can be possible.

Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav met Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday evening in Patna.

Although there is no information about what the two discussed, sources said that Tejashwi conveyed his father Lalu Prasad Yadav's message on seat sharing formula to contest equal number of seats.

The sources added that Lalu Prasad Yadav brought the formula of 2015 Assembly election where the RJD and JD(U) contested on 100 seats each in 243 seats of Vidhan Sabha and remaining 43 seats were given to Congress.

The sources further said that another point was also discussed about the JD(U) contesting on 17 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

At that time, the party was part of the NDA. Hence, JD-U may not lose one seat and go for 17 seats in Bihar.

Nitish Kumar is said to be a hard bargainer on seat sharing and he did that in 2015 Assembly election, 2019 Lok Sabha polls and 2020 Assembly election.

Keeping in view of his track record, he may be asked to contest on 17 seats.

In that case, the sources said that one seat of Left parties may be given to JD(U) as Congress does not want to contest less in than six seats.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, JD(U) was part of NDA and contested on 17 seats and won 16 of them, while BJP contested on 17 and won 17 while LJP contested on 6 seats and won all six.

One seat of KIshanganj was won by the Congress which was in Mahagathbandhan at that time.

After the fourth meeting of the INDIA bloc, the leaders have decided to finalize the seat sharing formula within three weeks and they are looking to be on schedule now.
New York, Jan 5 : The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against the State of Texas to challenge an immigration law that allows the state police to arrest, detain, and deport individuals suspected of illegally crossing the Texas-Mexico border.

The strict immigration law, known as SB 4, makes unauthorised immigration a state crime, ranging from a misdemeanor to a felony.

This means that entering Texas illegally from Mexico would be treated as a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000, and as a felony offense, it would be punishable with up to 2, 10 or 20 years in jail.

In a release issued on Wednesday, the DOJ said that SB 4 impedes the federal governmentas ability to enforce entry and removal provisions of federal law and interferes with its conduct of foreign relations.

The Constitution, it said, assigns the federal government the authority to regulate immigration and manage international borders.

Pursuant to this authority, Congress has established a comprehensive framework governing the entry of non-citizens into the US and their removal from the country.

"Because SB 4 is preempted by federal law and violates the US Constitution, the Justice Department seeks a declaration that SB 4 is invalid and an order preliminarily and permanently enjoining the state from enforcing the law," the release stated.

The move comes after the Biden administration warned the Republican-controlled Texas on December 28 last year that it will sue the state if it implements SB 4.

In a letter sent to Governor Greg Abbott, the DOJ had asked Texas to assure federal officials by January 3 that the law will not be enforced, failing which it will file a lawsuit against SB 4.

Abbott signed the controversial law in December, arguing that it will deter illegal border crossings. SB 4 passed both houses of the Texas legislature in November.

Calling the Bill "clearly unconstitutional", Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta said: "Under the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution and longstanding Supreme Court precedent, states cannot adopt immigration laws that interfere with the framework enacted by Congress".

aWe have brought this action to ensure that Texas adheres to the framework adopted by Congress and the Constitution for regulation of immigration," said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M Boynton, head of the Justice Department's Civil Division.

As outlined in the complaint, Texas' law would create two new state crimes that attempt to regulate immigration, and in addition, would give state judges the ability to order removal from the US.

The Supreme Court, in Arizona v United States, has previously confirmed that decisions relating to removal of non-citizens from the US touch "on foreign relations and must be made with one voice".

The suit was filed on behalf of the US, including the Justice Department, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of State.
Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong has a video call with Myanmar Union Minister for Home Affairs Lt-Gen Yar Pyae, Jan. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

BEIJING, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong had a video call with Myanmar Union Minister for Home Affairs Lt-Gen Yar Pyae on Friday.

Wang said that China has always viewed and developed China-Myanmar relations from a strategic height, and is willing to work with Myanmar to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, comprehensively deepen cooperation in law enforcement and security.

Wang also expressed China's willingness to collaborate with Myanmar to crack down telecom and online fraud, cooperate on key cases, maintain security and stability in border areas, safeguard Chinese personnel and projects, and continue to promote the building of a China-Myanmar community with a shared future.

Yar Pyae said that Myanmar is willing to deepen law enforcement and security cooperation with China and make every effort to safeguard security and stability in the border areas between the two countries. 
New Delhi, Jan 5 : Google is reportedly preparing to allow Android users to utilise Rich Communication Services (RCS) across multiple SIM cards for Messages.

Currently, RCS chats are available for only the default or preferred call SIM at this time. However, the service may be available for dual SIMs on a smartphone, reports 9to5Google.

RCS enhances messaging by providing end-to-end encryption, read receipts, and the ability to share high-resolution photos and videos.

According to the report, it has found mentions of "multi-sim" alongside "RCS."

Google's support page also states that "RCS chats are available for your default or preferred call SIM at this time and may be available for other SIMs later".

It looks like the company is now getting around to adding support, which is important for RCS adoption internationally.

Those with dual SIM phones are seeing multiple numbers appear in Settings and RCS chats.

The second phone number cannot be set up right now, with Google not yet enabling the server-side elements for dual/multi SIM RCS support in Messages, the report mentioned.

There are now more than one billion monthly active users with RCS enabled in Google Messages.

Last month, the tech giant introduced seven new features when communicating and connecting with other Android users.

Google introduced the "Photomoji" feature that allows you to transform your favourite photos into reactions with the help of on-device Google AI. Another feature is "Voice Moods", which will bring life into voice messaging.

With the "Screen Effects" feature, your messages come alive with vibrant animations that will transform your words into dazzling visual displays.

With the new "Custom Bubbles" feature, you can customise the bubble colour and backgrounds of your conversation and the person you're communicating with.

The "Reaction Effects" feature enhances your messaging experience by adding life to your conversations.
Kochi, Jan 5 : Emphasising the role of technology as a vital growth driver, NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Suman Bery said on Friday that the application of frontier technologies like artificial intelligence could help address the challenges in the marine fisheries sector.

He was speaking after inaugurating a high-level national workshop jointly organised by NITI Aayog, ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) and Kerala Fisheries Department at CMFRI here.

Bery stressed the importance of understanding the dynamics of demand for prioritising production strategies.

"Given that demand for fish is on the rise, innovative strategies to enhance productivity are required and added that demand is the driving force of the economy," he said.

The workshop was held to discuss relevant issues in marine fisheries, develop tailored strategies, and forge partnerships between the coastal states to address the challenges and explore the prospects.

Flagging concern on the increasing trend of disparity between the states, NITI Aayog member Ramesh Chand said the growth of fisheries is highly imbalanced while it is much higher in Andhra Pradesh compared to most other maritime states.

"Fish production in Andhra Pradesh is 50 per cent higher than the total production of five states, namely Gujarat, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka combined and this has to be addressed with greater attention," he added.

On measures to boost seafood export, Chand proposed enhancing value addition and cutting-edge processing innovations in the sector.

"Major chunks of India's unprocessed seafood, including shrimps and tunas, are exported mainly to Vietnam, Thailand and Tunisia for onward re-export from there after substantial value addition. By setting up of state-of-the-art processing facilities, India can harness the unexplored value-addition potential of seafood for earning greater foreign exchange," he said.

J.K. Jena, Deputy Director General of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), pitched for exploring untapped potential of oceanic and deep-sea resources.

Citing the estimated harvestable potential of 2.1 million metric tonne of oceanic and deep-sea resources, he said that this would offer a potential new frontier for commercial fisheries.
Bengaluru, Jan 5 : The First Additional District Sessions Court in Hubballi has given conditional bail to the arrested Kar Sevak, Srikanth Poojari, in connection with a 31-year-old case during the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.

BJP Karnataka unit had launched a series of protests across the state and started campaigns condemning the arrest of Srikanth Poojari while demanding his immediate release.

Sources said Poojari will be released only on Saturday due to technical reasons. The public prosecutor had argued against the release and Sanjeev M Badaskar and team demanded his immediate release.

The prosecution had argued that accused Srikanth Poojari was absconding for 31 years and he should not be given bail.

The counsel for the accused submitted that Poojari was residing at the same address for last 40 years and had attended courts and obtained bails in cases against him and appeared before the police as well.

Srikanth Poojari was arrested on December 29, 2023 triggering a huge controversy.

Karnataka Leader of the Opposition (LoP) R. Ashoka on Friday said that Lord Sri Ram will never pardon Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for arresting the Kar Sevak in false cases.

"Siddaramaiah, you blatantly lied that Srikanth Poojari has 16 pending cases against him. Sri Ram will never pardon you. Among the 16 cases against Poojari, 15 have been logical concluded," he said.

Following BJP's criticism, Karnataka Home Minister Parameshwara on Friday said that he is not facing 16 cases now.

"There were 16 cases registered against Poojari but I have never said that he is facing 16 cases now," the state's Home Minister said.
Bengaluru, Jan 5 : Former Chief Minister and Karnataka JD(S) chief H. D. Kumaraswamy on Friday said that the Congress government is oppressing Kar Sevaks in the state.

Addressing a press conference here, Kumaraswamy said Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is organising the inauguration of Ram Mandir at Ayodhya and the whole nation is celebrating.

"In our state, though there are cases of farmers' suicides in north Karnataka and Mandya, the Congress has turned a blind eye to it. There is no concern. For distraction, the issue of Kar Sevaks has been brought up," he said.

"The government is trying to cover up its failure by raking up the case of Srikanth Poojari. The state is oppressing Kar Sevaks. Former Prime Minister H.D. and JD(S) founder Deve Gowda resolved the Idgaah Maidan row in Hubballi city without disturbing peace when he was in power. This Congress government is indulging in "oppression and politics of dominance", Kumaraswamy said.

Deve Gowda said: "We are partners of NDA. It is our duty to stand with them and there is no doubt about it. We will not hesitate to give our opinion in this regard."

"I won't say anything special about Lord Ram. We worship Ram and do not hesitate to say it. Once, the Sultan of Oman had gifted me a sword of gold. I had gifted it to Ram temple in Bengaluru. We believe in god. If any community is endangered, it is our duty to protect them," he stated.

Deve Gowda said, "I visited Ajmer Sharif Dargah, Golden Temple and Tirupati. My communist friends questioned me about my temple run being a PM. I have told them that I have faith in god as an individual and when I sat on the chair of PM, I conduct impartially."
Hyderabad, Jan 5 : Alleging that former Telangana minister Malla Reddy grabbed their lands, a group of people staged a protest at Praja Bhavan here during Praja Vani programme on Friday.

The protesters claimed that the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader created fake documents to grab their lands near Malla Reddy University in Dulapally.

The victims said of 360 plots, Malla Reddy and his aides encroached on 130 plots.

They urged the current A. Revnath Reddy-led government to provide them justice.

Malla Reddy, who was minister in the previous BRS government, is now an MLA from Medchal constituency in Medchal Malkajgiri district on the outskirts of Hyderabad. Holding placards and raising slogans, the victims staged the protest in front of Praja Bhavan, the official residence of Deputy Chief Minister, where the government is hearing the grievances of people during the Praja Vani programme held every Tuesday and Friday.

The banner by Sri Mallikarjuna Sagar Welfare and Development Society read 'Malla Reddy land grabbing victims'.

A woman told media persons that she bought the plot in 1990 and whenever they were trying to take up construction, some people were stopping them claiming it to be their land.

Another victim said they had been running around the government offices for several years but to no avail. Last month, police had booked a case against Malla Reddy and seven others after they allegedly encroached 47 acres of tribal land at Keshavaram village in Malkajgiri.

Kethavath Bikshapathi, the complainant, alleged that the accused illegally occupied and confiscated his ancestral land by fraud and conspiracy during the election period.

The land was registered in Bikshapathi's mother's name. However, the complainant said the accused had conned him and his family members and transferred their 47 acres of land.

Malla Reddy, however, denied the land grabbing allegations and asserted that he will approach the court.

The BRS leader runs a private university and a chain of educational institutions including engineering and medical colleges and hospitals.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 5 : The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a plea seeking removal of jailed Tamil Nadu Minister Senthil Balaji, who is facing money laundering charges in connection with the alleged cash-for-jobs scam, from the state Council of Ministers.

A bench of Justices Abhay S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan refused to interfere with the order of the Madras High Court disposing of a public interest litigation (PIL) against Balaji continuing as a minister without portfolio in the M.K. Stalin cabinet.

The bench orally observed that a Minister cannot be dismissed by the Governor without the recommendation of the Chief Minister.

In his plea filed before the Madras High Court, the petitioner, advocate M.L. Ravi, questioned the propriety of Senthil Balaji continuing in the cabinet even after he was sent to judicial custody in a case filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The litigant contended that as per Article 164 of the Constitution, ministers shall hold office during the pleasure of the Governor as he asked how could the Tamil Nadu government go against the will of the Governor and allow a person in judicial custody to continue as a minister?

In its order passed in September 2023, a bench of Chief Justice Sanjay V. Gangapurwala and Justice P.D. Audikesavalu of the High Court had said that continuance of Balaji as a Minister without Portfolio serves no purpose and does not augur well with the Principles of Constitutional ethos on goodness, good governance and purity in administration.

aThe Chief Minister of the State of Tamil Nadu may be well advised to take a decision about the continuance of V.Senthil Balaji (who is in judicial custody) as a Minister without Portfolio," it had said.

In an unprecedented action, Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi in June last year dismissed Balaji from the state Council of Ministers. However, hours after the Tamil Nadu Raj Bhavan issued a press statement on the dismissal of Balaji, it issued another one stating that the decision to dismiss the minister was kept in abeyance.
Tel Aviv, Jan 5 : Israel's Kibbutz Nir Oz community on Friday announced the death of its community member Tamir Adar (38) who was missing since October 7.

Adar was also taken hostage by Hamas on October 7.

Earlier, his family was informed that Adar was taken hostage during the October 7 attack. However, the Kibbutz on Friday announced that he was killed on the day of the attack while fighting Hamas.

Reportedly, Adar was part of the Kibbutz's emergency response squad, and left his house at 6:30 a.m. on October 7 when he received an alert about the attack on kibbutz.

Kibbutz said that Adar had texted his wife, Hadas, and told her to stay locked inside with their two young children.

His family survived the attack, while he was killed fighting Hamas and his body was taken to Gaza and kept under Hamas custody.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum has mourned the death of Adar.

"We share the profound grief of the Adar family. He was a dedicated family man, married to Hadas and father of two young children who were his world," the Hostages and Missing Families Forum Spokesperson Liat Bell Sommer said.

He said that Adar was a third generation member of Kibbutz Nir Oz who was an agriculturalist at heart and believed in locally grown Israeli produce.

"He was a very friendly man, and had many close friends. He was a conversationalist with a clever sense of humor. He was a kind person who always smiled and lived life in simplicity. May his memory be a blessing for us," Liat Bell Sommer.
Mumbai, Jan 5 : In a moment that transcends time, Vishnu Manchu has proudly unveiled the cinematic debut of his five-year-old son, Avram, in the monumental actioner 'Kannappa'.

This revelation not only marks a significant entry into the world of cinema, but stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of the Manchu family, spanning three remarkable generations, guided by the torchbearer, the legendary actor, Dr M. Mohan Babu.

Set against the picturesque landscapes of New Zealand, the 90-day shoot unfolds with a stellar star cast, elevating 'Kannappa' to a cinematic spectacle. Though names remain undisclosed, the anticipation grows for the unveiling of a stellar ensemble.

Avram's role takes centrestage, infusing youthful exuberance into the family's cinematic narrative. Vishnu Manchu reflects on the emotional depth of the project, stating, "This venture, 'Kannappa', holds profound meaning for me. Witnessing my son, Avram, play a pivotal role is a source of immense pride. It's more than just a film; it's the convergence of three generations of our family's cinematic journey."

As the first schedule concludes, Vishnu Manchu extends a heartfelt appeal: "Embarking on this cinematic journey with Avram, I humbly seek the blessings of all movie lovers. May 'Kannappa' become a memorable experience for everyone involved, marking the beginning of a new chapter in our family's cinematic saga."
Los Angeles, Jan 5 : Actor David Tennant is set to host the BAFTA Film Awards for the first time. The actor, who is best known for playing Doctor Who, will oversee proceedings during the U.K.'s biggest night for film on February 18, at the Royal Festival Hall in London.

He said: "I am delighted to have been asked to host the EE BAFTA Film Awards and help celebrate the very best of this year's films and the many brilliant people who bring them to life," reports Variety.

Tennant's career across film, TV and stage also includes 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire', 'Good Omens' and 'Broadchurch'. He can currently be seen playing Macbeth at the Donmar Warehouse.

"We are over the moon that David Tennant will be our host for the 2024 EE BAFTA Film Awards," added BAFTA CEO Jane Millichip. "He is deservedly beloved by British and international audiences, alike. His warmth, charm and mischievous wit will make it a must-watch show next month for our guests at the Royal Festival Hall and the millions of people watching at home."

As per Variety, Tennant follows previous hosts Richard E. Grant and Rebel Wilson, who helmed the ceremony in 2023 and 2022, respectively, with the British Academy  which long relied on the services of Stephen Fry  now appear to go with new faces each year.

The news comes just ahead of the revealing of the BAFTA longlists, covering all 24 categories, which will be announced on January 5. The final nominations will be unveiled on January 18 by former Rising Star award nominees Naomi Ackie and Kingsley Ben-Adir.

The BAFTA Film Awards will be broadcast on BBC One and iPlayer in the U.K., and on BritBox International in the U.S., Canada, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway and South Africa.
New Delhi, Jan 5 : Five of the six accused persons in the December 13 Parliament security breach case on Friday gave their consent before a Delhi court to undergo polygraph test.

Delhi Police had moved an application seeking permission to conduct polygraph test of the six accused persons -- Manoranjan D, Sagar Sharma, Amol Dhanraj Shinde, Neelam Devi Azad, Lalit Jha and Mahesh Kumawat -- who have been arrested in connection with the case.

Excluding Neelam Devi, the other five accused gave their consent to undergo polygraph test before Additional Sessions Judge Hardeeep Kaur of the Patiala House Courts.

The judge also extended their police custody by eight days after they were produced before the court amid tight security on expiry of their police remand.

The police had moved an application for conducting polygraph test of the accused, saying the investigators need to get more details to make the case strong and gather more evidence to unearth the entire conspiracy.

The police have also sought permission to conduct brain mapping and Narco test of Manoranjan and Sagar.

The duo had burst yellow smoke canisters inside the Lok Sabha chamber on December 13, the 22nd anniversary of the 2001 Parliament attack, after jumping from the visitors' gallery before they were overpowered by the MPs present in the House.

Two others -- Neelam Azad and Shinde -- also burst smoke canisters and raised slogans outside Parliament.

Jha is believed to be the mastermind of the entire plan, who reportedly fled with the mobile phones of the four others.

A polygraph test, commonly known as a lie detector test, involves recording physiological indicators such as blood pressure, pulse, and respiration while the individual under scrutiny responds to a series of questions.

After each response, forensic scientists provide their opinion, based on the recorded readings, regarding the truthfulness or falsehood of the accused person's statements.

"If the polygraph test fails to yield the desired results, investigators suggest that the police might proceed to request for a Narco test, a step taken in several prior cases," a police source had said.

Narco analysis, also known as 'truth serum', entails administering a drug intravenously (such as sodium pentothal, scopolamine, and sodium amytal) into the person undergoing the test.

During the hypnotic stage, the individual becomes less inhibited and is more likely to disclose information that would typically remain undisclosed in a conscious state.

Investigating agencies deploy this test when other evidence fails to provide a clear understanding of the case.
BEIJING, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- The State Council on Friday announced the appointment and removal of several officials.

Wang Yang was appointed deputy secretary-general of the State Council.

Li Baojun was appointed vice minister of civil affairs.

Dong Xin was named as deputy head of the National Radio and Television Administration, replacing Yang Xiaowei.

Qin Yuyun was appointed deputy head of the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration.

Li Yunqing was appointed deputy head of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration (National Park Administration).

Lin Zhenyi was named as deputy head of the National Archives Administration.

Lyu Weihong will no longer serve as deputy chief of the General Administration of Customs.

Wei Hongtao and Xie Jinwei will no longer serve as deputy heads of the National Archives Administration.

Wang Yanbin was removed from the post of deputy head of the National Administration of State Secrets Protection.

Wang Yang, whose name is phonetically identical to the aforementioned person but uses a different Chinese character, was removed from the post of vice president of the China Academy of Engineering Physics. 
Brisbane, Jan 5 : Aryna Sabalenka racked up a 14th straight win on Australian soil after dispatching Kasatkina 6-1, 6-4 to reach the final four of the Brisbane International. The defending Australian Open champion has dropped just nine games through three matches so far this week in her first appearance at the tournament.

She will next face No.8 seed Victoria Azarenka in what will be the pair's fifth career meeting; Sabalenka owns a 3-1 head-to-head lead so far, including wins in the 2020 Ostrava final and their most recent meeting in the 2021 Montreal quarterfinals.

In the men's singles, top seed Holger Rune of Denmark rode a fast start to down James Duckworth 6-2, 7-6(6) and reached the semifinals.

The 20-year-old Rune reeled off five games in a row to seize the opening set inside Pat Rafter Arena before digging deep to clinch a second-set tie-break and seal a one-hour, 46-minute triumph in his maiden ATP Head-to-Head clash with home favourite Duckworth.

The Dane will look to continue his impressive start to the year in his semifinal against Roman Safiullin, who defeated Matteo Arnaldi 7-6(4), 6-2 earlier on Friday.

Meanwhile, second seed Grigor Dimitrov also booked his spot in the last four with a straight-sets win. The Bulgarian overcame Rinky Hijikata 6-1, 6-4 to reach his fifth Brisbane semifinal.

By improving to 21-6 at the ATP 250, Dimitrov extended his lead as the player with the most wins in tournament history.

The 2017 championas next opponent in Queensland could be Rafael Nadal if the Spaniard defeat home favourite Jordan Thompson on Friday.
Chandigarh, Jan 5 : The Punjab government has transferred Rs 19.83 crore into bank accounts of 17,007 farmers who opted Direct Seeding Rice (DSR) in the Kharif season, state Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian said on Friday.

He said 19,114 farmers have registered 172,049 acres on the DSR portal during 2023-24 and 18,931 farmers and 133,745.67 acres under DSR was verified.

Khudian said the government has been encouraging farmers to adopt DSR to save ground water. The government had announced an incentive amount of Rs 1,500 per acre for the farmers who would sow paddy directly (without transplanting).

Now, this amount has been transferred to nearly 99 per cent of farmersa accounts through DBT, he added.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 5 : The Supreme Court Collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, has recommended appointment of 2 additional judges of the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court as permanent judges.

The High Court had forwarded its recommendation naming Justices Moksha Khajuria Kazmi and Rahul Bharti for appointment as permanent Judge on November 18, 2023 and August 21, 2023, respectively.

The SC Collegium said that it has consulted other judges of the apex court who are conversant with the functioning of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh with a view to ascertain the fitness and suitability of these candidates. The committee of two judges of the Supreme Court, constituted by the Chief Justice of India in terms of the Resolution dated October 26, 2017 of the Supreme Court Collegium, has assessed the judgments of these Additional Judges and found them as "good" and "reasonable."

The SC Collegium thus said that these additional judges are suitable for being appointed as permanent judges.
New Delhi, Jan 5 : The Supreme Court Collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, has recommended the appointment of Justice Abhay Ahuja, an additional judge of the Bombay High Court, as a permanent judge.

On 4 September 2023, the Collegium of the Bombay High Court ha unanimously forwarded the name of Justice Ahuja for appointment as permanent Judge.

The SC Collegium said that it has consulted other judges of the apex court, who are conversant with the affairs of the Bombay High Court in terms of the Memorandum of Procedure.

"The committee of two judges of the Supreme Court constituted by the Chief Justice has assessed the judgments of Justice Ahuja. The committee has reported that his judgments are up to the mark," it noted.

It said that it has scrutinised the materials placed on record, including the opinion of the consultee-judge to assess the merit and suitability of Justice Ahuja for appointment as permanent judge.

"The Chief Ministers and the Governors of the states of Maharashtra and Goa have concurred with the above recommendation," said the statement uploaded on the website of the apex court.
New Delhi, Jan 5 : The Supreme Court Collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, has recommended the appointment of advocate Rohit Kapoor as judge of the Punjab & Haryana High Court.

The Collegium of the P&H High Court had recommended his name on April 21, 2023.

In light of the inputs provided by the government, the consideration of the recommendation was deferred with a view to seek a report from the Chief Justice of the P&H High Court in consultation with members of the High Court Collegium on the suitability of the candidate.

Thereafter, the Chief Justice of the High Court, by a letter dated November 28, 2023 forwarded the minutes of the Collegium regarding suitability of the candidate. The SC Collegium said that it has consulted other judges of the apex court who are conversant with the functioning of the P&H High Court with a view to ascertain the fitness and suitability of the candidate.

"We have scrutinised and evaluated the material placed on record, including the report of the Chief Justice of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana forwarding the recommendation of the Collegium dated 23 November 2023, based on the response/compilation of statistics submitted by Rohit Kapoor relating to his performance as arguing counsel. The enquiries made by us with reliable sources to ascertain suitability of the candidate reveal that Shri Rohit Kapoor is a competent advocate suitable for elevation to the High Court," it said.

It added that names of advocates Harmeet Singh Grewal and Deepinder Singh Nalwa  which have been approved by the Collegium on October 17, 2023  be given precedence in the matter of appointment, clarifying that the inter se seniority of all the three advocates be fixed as per the existing practice.

"The Chief Minister and the Governor for the States of Punjab and Haryana have conveyed their concurrence to the above recommendation," said the statement uploaded on the website of the apex court.
Mumbai, Jan 5 : Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan has reached Udaipur along with his son Azad on Friday ahead of his traditional wedding ceremony of his daughter Ira Khan who legally married Nupur Shikhare on January 3 in Mumbai.

Nupur and Ira left for Udaipur early in the morning on Friday. The couple is set to have a traditional Maharashtrian wedding ceremony on January 8. The traditional wedding ceremony will take place at Taj Aravali Resort located on Kodiyat Road in Udaipur with festivities taking place from January 8 to 10.

All 176 rooms of the hotel have been booked for the family members and guests of the bride and groom. The wedding festivities will be a family affair and will see relatives attending the functions.

The couple will then head to Mumbai and host a reception at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre on January 13. The whoas who of Bollywood including superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan are expected to attend the reception.

Nupur Shikhare proposed to Ira in 2022 and is the official fitness trainer of Ira and Aamir. The pre-wedding festivities started with a Haldi ceremony on Tuesday. The couple made it official on January 3. They signed the marriage registration document in the presence of friends and family at the Taj Lands End in the Bandra area of Mumbai.
Bengaluru, Jan 5 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has challenged in the Karnataka High Court the decision of the Congress-led state government to withdraw the consent the probe agency had to conduct the investigation into an alleged disproportionate asset (DA) case against Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.

The case was handed over to the Lokayukta for investigation following the withdrawal of the consent to the CBI.

The probe agency has challenged the decision of the government and filed a petition in this regard in the Karnataka High Court.

A source said that the CBI will also make a submission for an emergency hearing.

Reacting to the development, Shivakumar stated that the CBI has the right to submit the application.

"We will place our arguments. We respect the courts... the court will decide (on the matter)," he said.

Shivakumar had earlier said that the BJP leaders were trying to finish him off politically.

Responding to the mediapersons' query on a new CBI notice to him regarding investments in a Kerala TV channel, he said: "Persecution has continued in spite of the fact that permission for the CBI to investigate me has been withdrawn by the Karnataka government. This is an attempt by the BJP leaders to finish me off politically.

"Even after the state government withdrew the permission to investigate, CBI has issued a notice to several people and organisations, including a cooperative society headed by me. I don't understand what their objective is, but it looks like they are hatching a conspiracy to create trouble for me and the party," he said.

The senior Congress leader further said: "The CBI inquiry has been transferred to the Lokayukta after the High Court approved withdrawal of permission to the CBI. I don't know why they are issuing a fresh notice now. They have all the documents and my legal understanding is that those documents need to be handed over to the Lokayukta."

The CBI had started a probe against Shivakumar over an alleged DA case in 2020.

It was alleged that Shivakumar amassed properties worth Rs 74 crore between 2013 and 2018, which was deemed disproportionate against his known sources of income.

The then BJP-led Karnataka government headed by former CM B.S. Yediyurappa had handed over the case to the CBI.

The incumbent Siddaramaiah-led Congress government had withdrawn the consent to the CBI for a probe into the DA matter on November 28, 2023.
New Delhi, Jan 5 : The Supreme Court Collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, has recommended the appointment of advocate Shamima Jahan and judicial officer Yarenjungla Longkumer as Judges of the Gauhati High Court.

The Collegium of the Gauhati High Court had recommended these names on May 29, 2023. In light of the inputs provided by the government, the consideration of the recommendation was deferred with a view to seek a report from the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court in consultation with members of the High Court Collegium on the suitability of the candidates.

Thereafter, the Chief Justice, by letters dated October 19, 2023 and November 7, 2023, forwarded the minutes of the Collegium regarding suitability of the above mentioned candidates.

The SC Collegium said that it has consulted other judges of the apex court who are conversant with the functioning of the Gauhati High Court with a view to ascertain the fitness and suitability of the two candidates.

"The Collegium, therefore, resolves to recommend that (i) Ms Shamima Jahan, Advocate and (ii) Ms Yarenjungla Longkumer, Judicial Officer, be appointed as Judges of the Gauhati High Court. Their inter se seniority be fixed in terms of the existing practice," said the statement uploaded on the website of the apex court.
London, Jan 5 : A 49-year-old gun-wielding man was arrested for opening fire inside a shop owned by an Indian national before going on a rampage outside a packed cinema in England's Liverpool city.

The Merseyside Police said they were called to the News and Booze store, known locally as Sangha Newsagents, on Lower House Lane, Norris Green, at around 8.30 p.m. (local time) on Wednesday.

It was reported that a man had entered the shop at about 8 p.m., threatened the store assistant and demanded cash before opening fire and leaving the store empty handed.

The store assistant was not injured in the incident, but was left extremely distressed by the ordeal, the Merseyside Police said in a statement.

No damage was caused to the shop, which is owned by Indian national Harjoodh Kular, according to the UK Companies House.

The video of the man surfaced on social media in which he could be seen wearing a hoodie, black trousers and flip-flops, firing shots inside the shop.

Just before the man attacked the shop, the police received another call that shots had been fired outside the Showcase Cinema at the Stonedale retail park in Croxteth.

It was reported that a man armed with a gun entered the cinema complex and threatened two members of the staff in the foyer, before leaving.

When he got outside, he fired a number of shots in the air before escaping in a car. No one was injured in the incident and no damage was caused either.

At the time of the incident, majority of the people in the cinema were watching film screenings and they became aware of the incident when officers arrived at the scene and the complex was put into lockdown.

Following these two incidents, further reports were received that at about 10.20 p.m. the same day, gunshots were heard at a property on Malpas Road. No one was injured in the incident.

The man was arrested by the Armed Response Officers at 4.46 a.m. on Thursday when raids were carried out at a property in Fazakerley.

Assistant Chief Constable Jenn Wilson said: aThe shocking and distressing impact these incidents will have on the shop assistant, the staff at the Showcase Cinema and those filmgoers who found themselves in a lockdown situation in the complex after shots were fired outside the cinema, and the residents of Malpas Road cannot be underestimated."

"Thankfully, incidents like this involving a single offender in three separate shootings in close proximity and in quick succession are extremely rare and this is the first time we have had to deal with an incident of this nature on the streets of Merseyside," Wilson added.

According to the police, when the officers arrested the man, he was aggressive and a Taser had to be deployed.

He has been taken into custody on suspicion of possession of Section 1 firearm with intent to endanger life and robbery, and has been taken to a police station in Merseyside.

The police said that high visibility patrols will remain in the area to reassure the members of the local community.
Mumbai, Jan 5 : Actress Srishti Jain, who is playing the role of Priti in the show 'Chand Jalne Laga' has expressed her excitement for the same, saying the start of 2024 couldn't have been more fantastic.

The show takes an electrifying turn with the introduction of Srishti in the role of Priti, promising to bring a fresh dynamic to the evolving romance between Dev (Vishal Aditya Singh) and Tara (Kanika Mann).

Speaking about her entry into the show, Srishti said: "I've been eagerly waiting for a chance to collaborate with Colors, and Iam thrilled that it's finally happening. The start of 2024 couldn't have been more fantastic - I got the call for this role on the eve of the new year."

"I'll be seen essaying the character of Priti, who becomes Tara's go-to person during her tough times. The introduction of Priti will bring a new dynamic to the love story of Dev and Tara. Hereas hoping that the viewers will welcome and cheer for me and my character on this new journey," she added.

In the tumultuous journey of Tara and Dev, Priti will be seen adding spark to their life as Taraas friend. Hailing from a traditional background, Priti is a young widow who will be seen as innocent and bubbly in nature. She grapples with societal restrictions but embraces them for the sake of preserving norms and honouring her elders.

In the upcoming episodes of the show, Priti becomes Tara's ally, offering her support in various unexpected ways.

The show airs on Colors.
ISLAMABAD, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani has extended his country's condolences to Iran over the deadly terrorist attack in the country, according to the Pakistani Foreign Ministry.

In a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Thursday, Jilani expressed solidarity with the people of Iran at the moment of grief on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan, the ministry said in a statement.

The Pakistani foreign minister termed terrorism as a common threat to both Pakistan and Iran which needed to be countered by effective measures, it added.

At least 84 people were killed and 284 others injured in the bombings in Kerman on Wednesday, according to Iran's interior minister. 
New Delhi, Jan 5 : JN.1, the latest Covid-19 variant from the lineage of Omicron making a fresh surge around the globe, represents 'very serious evolution' of Covid virus, according to global experts.

JN.1, classified as a variant of interest (VOI) by the World Health Organization (WHO) due to its rapid spread, is currently present in about 41 countries.

It was first detected in Luxembourg in August. The WHO expects JN.1 to increase the burden of respiratory infections in many countries.

The WHO has "just called JN.1 a VOI (variant of interest), and that just doesnat cut it, with the growth advantage this variant has demonstrated. It is just extraordinary", Dr. Eric Topol, founder and director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in California,US, was quoted as saying to Fortune.

JN.1 is a descendent lineage of BA.2.86, with the earliest sample collected on August 25, 2023. In comparison with BA.2.86, JN.1 has the additional L455S mutation in the spike protein, making it more transmissible.

"JN.1 represents 'a very serious evolution of the virus'. And it isn't over," Dr. Michael Osterholm, Director of the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP), was quoted as saying.

"JN.1 is an all new variant with numerous changes that had never been seen in any commonly circulating lineage before. This is unlike other recent variants, which were merely a few mutations from their predecessor," Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, co-chairman of the National Indian Medical Association Covid Task Force, told IANS.

"Therefore, the disease patterns from an immune evasiveness and spread capability of this variant needs careful attention," Dr Jayadevan added.

He explained immune invasiveness of a variant as the ability of the virus to overcome the existing immune response within an individual.

After the major variants of Covid like Alpha, Delta and Omicron, JN.1 very likely represents a new chapter in pandemic evolution, claimed the experts. According to Ryan Gregory, a biology professor at the University of Guelph in Canada, JN.1 has ushered in "a new era".

The highly transmissible variant is "on track to become the lineage from which most variants are descended for the foreseeable future", Gregory was quoted as saying to Fortune.

Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO's Covid-19 technical lead said that the next sub-lineages of the Covid virus can "come from JN.1".

"But we could also see something quite different. We could see something like an Omicron again," she said.
Kolkata, Jan 5 : National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday conducted raid and search operations at an office of State Food & Supplies Department at Gaighata in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal regarding nationwide probe on human trafficking.

Sources said that the raids were follow-up actions of an arrest made by the central agency from Gaighata area in November last year.

On November 8, the NIA arrested Bikash Haldar from his rented accommodation at Anandapur area in Gaighata in connection with human trafficking. NIA had also seized documents from Haldaras residence.

NIA investigation has revealed that Haldar -- who used to stay at that rented accommodation in Gaighata with his wife and daughter -- are actually residents of Bangladesh.

As per statements given by Haldaras wife to NIA, the family had come to West Bengal for treatment and in the interim period their visas expired, following which they were unable to go back to Bangladesh.

NIA also raided the residence of a local businessman in Barasat in North 24 Parganas district were it recovered documents.

Sources said that the NIAas raid at the State Food & Supplies Department was probably linked to the documents seized by the central agency.

On Friday, a team of ED and CAFP was also attacked by the local people when they had attempted to raid TMC leader Sheikh Sajahanas residence in Sandeshkhali area.
Chandigarh, Jan 5 : Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Friday questioned Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over the morality of the continuation of Aman Arora in the Cabinet after his two-year conviction in a criminal case.

"This is a serious matter involving non-compliance of the directions issued by the Supreme Court. Can I have a detailed report on the entire issue," the Governor wrote to the Chief Minister.

Citing a representation that had been received regarding the conviction of Arora, the Governor wrote, "From the representation, I understand that on December 21, 2023, a court of law convicted Aman Arora for two years and the conviction has not yet been stayed by the competent higher court.

"As per the judgement of the Supreme Court in the case of Lilly Thomos vs Union of India, MLAs stand divested of their membership if convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for a term not less than two years by a trial court.

"The representation also raises question over national flag hoisting by Arora on January 26 and alleged that the act of entrusting a disqualified legislator with the symbolic representation of the nation on a day as momentous as Republic Day not only undermines the sanctity of the legal system, but also sends an unsettling message to the citizenry regarding the government's commitment to ethical values."

A court in Sangrur has sentenced Arora to two years' rigorous imprisonment in a family dispute case registered by his brother-in-law, Rajinder Deepa, in 2008. The court also sentenced eight others, including Arora's 85-year-old mother, to two years' in jail besides imposing a fine of Rs 5,000 on the convicts.
Two youths killed in road accident in Delhi. Image Source: IANS News

Jammu, Jan 5 : A village defence guard (VDG) in J&K's Doda district was found dead with a bullet injury on Friday, police said.

Jammu, Jan 5 (IANS) A village defence guard (VDG) in J&Kas Doda district was found dead with a bullet injury on Friday, police said.

Police said that the body of Balwant Singh was found near his house in Kharangal village of Gandoh tehsil in Doda.

"The body of the VDG had a bullet injury and his rifle was lying near his dead body," police said.
Tamils in Singapore to kick off Pongal celebrations in Little India. Image Source: IANS News

Singapore, Jan 5 : A heritage trail around Little India, a bevy of cultural performances and activities will be witnessed at the annual Pongal Open House as Tamils across Singapore mark the harvest festival this month.

Organised by the Indian Heritage Centre (IHC), the festivities will be held across two weekends -- January 6-7 and January 13-14, The Straits Times newspaper reported on Friday.

On the heritage trail to Little India, visitors can enjoy the sights and sounds of the festivities and learn about various foods and decorations related to Pongal.

In addition, they can also look forward to seeing live cattle on display along the trail at the 2024 edition of the Pongal Open House.

The 1.1 sq km Little India district, comprising a large Tamil population, is the hub of ethnic shops, desi restaurants, temples and mosques.

There will also be a cooking demonstration on how to prepare pongal -- a sweet dish which shares its name with the festival.

The cooking demonstration will be conducted by chef Annil Ravindran -- owner of Chemmeen SG, a catering company -- on January 14.

"It is my first year being involved in the celebrations, and I am super excited to be here. Pongal is a festival where we pay homage to the simplest of ingredients, and I am very happy to carry this tradition forward," Ravindran told The Times.

The activities will be complemented by the pongal light-up, which will be on display until February 6 in Little India.

A slew of traditional performances and activities have been planned. While some activities are free, others are ticketed with prices ranging from $10 to $18.

The Little India Shopkeepers and Heritage Association will also hold its own events to mark the harvest festival throughout January, including cultural shows and pongal distribution.

Pongal, heralding the onset of spring, will be celebrated from January 15 to 18 in Singapore.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Indians make up around 9 per cent of the city-state's six million population.

The approximate population of Indians in Singapore as of 2024 is 7 lakh, and at 54.18 per cent, Tamils from countries like India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia form the largest ethnic group.
Delhi HC allows widow to terminate pregnancy over 'mental health' concerns. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Jan 5 : The Delhi High Court on Friday granted permission to a widow suffering from depression to terminate her 29-week pregnancy, saying that the continuation of the pregnancy could impact her mental health.

Justice Subramonium Prasad noted a change in the woman's marital status, as she lost her husband and discovered her pregnancy.

The court observed that the right to reproductive choice includes the right not to procreate and acknowledged the woman's suicidal tendencies.

The order allows her to undergo the termination procedure at AIIMS, despite surpassing the 24-week gestation period. "Accordingly, the petitioner (woman) is permitted to undergo the procedure for termination of her pregnancy at AIIMS. The AIIMS is requested to conduct the procedure even though the petitioner has crossed her gestation period of 24 weeks," the court said.

The woman got married in February 2023. She lost her husband in October.

Upon returning to her parents' house, she discovered she was 20 weeks pregnant.

In December, grappling with profound trauma, she opted to terminate the pregnancy.

Despite the gestation period exceeding the permissible 24 weeks, she sought court permission.

A medical board was formed to evaluate her health condition for the requested pregnancy termination.

The court also said that the order was specific to the case, and not a precedent.
Doha : , Jan 5 (IANS) Ready to play in the AFC Asian Cup for the second time, India's experienced defender Subhasish Bose is hoping to share his experience of the previous event in 2019 with everyone in the squad as the Blue Tigers hope to improve on their previous performance in the Continental competition.

The side that played the 2019 edition of the AFC Asian Cup is starkly different from the one currently preparing for the 2023 edition in Doha, Qatar.

However, some like defender Subhasish Bose are on the verge of playing at the continental level for the second consecutive time, which means that the experience they can dole out to the younger lot, could come in handy in crucial situations. "We had started well in 2019 against Thailand but then lost the next two matches, which eventually knocked us out. We fought, we gave it our all right until the bitter end," Bose told the-aiff.com.

There is, however, a silver lining to all clouds, and for Bose, that came in the form of a second shot at the Asian Cup after the Blue Tigers sealed their spot in the tournament proper after the qualification campaign in 2022, in Kolkata. Armed with the knowledge gained from the last edition, India are ready to have another go.

"Yes, we were devastated after in 2019, but as they say, for any sportsperson, it's important to have the memory of a goldfish in such circumstances," Bose was quoted as saying in the report.

"Every setback is an opportunity to learn, and those of us here today have experienced that, and are helping the younger lot with that knowledge.

"The good thing is that most of them have already played so many matches for the National Team before the Asian Cup, I think that this will turn out to be a very good opportunity for them to prove their mettle against the very best of Asia," said Subhasish.

India have been drawn in Group B of the AFC Asian Cup, against Australia (January 13), Uzbekistan (January 18), and Syria (January 23). The 28-year-old feels that the team have shown that they can hold ground against the best in the continent, and it is a matter of turning up with the best intent.

"The Asian Cup is the biggest tournament for us, so we are all stoked to be here. We've had a few training sessions here in Doha, and I can say that everyone is putting in their full effort, and it's going to be the same in the matches as well," he said. "We will give it our best shot, no matter who the opponents, are or what the outcome is."

The Blue Tigers enjoyed a rapturous welcome at the Hamad International Airport in Doha, where they were greeted by the Indians living in Qatar. With the stands expected to be brimming with Indian fans, the Blue Tigers fullback feels thankful.

"We are fortunate to play for India. No matter where we go abroad, we always have healthy support from the stands, especially in the Middle East. We were welcomed so warmly at the airport, that hundreds of Indians had come to greet us," said Bose. "And now we are hearing that a lot of the Indian fans will be coming to our matches, which will really boost us. You always get an extra chip on your shoulder when you get support from the galleries.
Kolkata, Jan 5 : West Bengal Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Suvendu Adhikari on Friday said that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's constant provocative statements against the central agencies has resulted in the attack on the Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials and CAPF personnel in the state.

"If a single person had died in today's incident, Mamata Banerjee and her whole party leadership would have succeeded in diverting the attention from the limitless corruption and the investigation that is going-on to nab the culprits," LoP said.

The LoP also congratulated the CAPF personnel escorting the ED officials at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district, where the attack took place, for maintaining calm even in face of the attack and refraining from getting into counter-retaliation.

"They have shown immense maturity and remained calm under such tremendous pressure by not shooting at the mob, even risking their lives by doing so," he said.

He said that by refraining from retaliation, the CAPF personnel had actually foiled the ulterior motive of the state's ruling party to hold the central forces personnel responsible for anyone getting killed in the counter-retaliation.

He said that instead of upholding the constitutional norms, respecting the federal judiciary and abiding by the judicial directions, the Chief Minister has time and again tried to instigate her unruly party workers.

"TMC workers are less political and more radical supporters of fundamentalism," he alleged.

He also presented a compilation of video of the Chief Minister's public speeches where she was seen and heard firing salvos against the central agencies and describing them as puppets of BJP in spearheading their actions in West Bengal.
Aizawl, Jan 5 : Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma, who met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several other Union Ministers in Delhi, has reportedly opposed the Centere's plan to erect fencing along porous Myanmar borders.

A highly-placed official on Friday said that the Chief Minister, during his meeting with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, said that if the Centre constructs border fencing along the Mizoram-Myanmar border, it would amount to acceptance of the blunder committed by the British colonial government which divided the Mizo people living in both India and Myanmar.

"The Mizo people always oppose the proposal to fence the border," he said.

A former Indian Police Service officer, Lalduhoma, who was a security officer of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, was batchmate (1977) of Jaishankar, who was in the Indian Foreign Service.

As per the official, Lalduhoma apprised the Prime Minister and the other ministers that the current border with Myanmar was forced upon the two ethnic groups by the then British government without the prior consent of Mizo people and that it is still unacceptable for people on both sides of the border.

The Chief Minister said that the British had separated the Mizos by carving out the then Burma (now Myanmar) from India and they divided Mizo land into two parts.

"The Mizo people believe the present India-Myanmar border as an imposed boundary and that is why we can't accept the border."

Mizoram shares a 510 km unfenced border with Myanmar.

People on both sides of the border are keen to come under one administration as they belong to the same ethnicity, the official cited the Chief Minister telling the Prime Minister and other central ministers.

The Union Home Ministry, through various Central and state agencies, is now erecting fencing along the 4,096-km India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal, Tripura, Assam, and Mizoram, and also plans to do the same along the 1,643-km India-Myanmar border in Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh.

In fact, it has already started work to fence the border with Manipur.

Besides the Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister, the Chief Minister also met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari and discussed various issues including India-Myanmar border and Myanmar refugees.

Laldujhoma also told the PM and other Central ministers that the Myanmar refugees seeking shelter inside Mizoram were not treated differently but as brothers and sisters of the Mizo people. The Myanmar refugees belong to the Chin-Zo ethnic tribe and have similar ethnic, cultural and traditional ties with the Mizos of Mizoram.

The first influx from Myanmar started after the military toppled the Aung San Suu Kyi government and seized power in a coup in February 2021. Since then, over 32,000 people, including women and children, have taken shelter in the northeastern state of India from Myanmar.

This was Lalduhomaas first visit to the national Capital after assuming the office as Chief Minister on December 8. He is now in Kolkata attending a felicitation function before returning to Aizawl.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 5 : The Supreme Court Collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, has recommended the appointment of judicial officer Chaitali Chatterjee (Das) as a judge of the Calcutta High Court.

The Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, in consultation with his two senior-most colleagues, had recommended her name on September 26, 2023.

The SC Collegium noted that the Chief Minister and the Governor of West Bengal have not conveyed their views on the above recommendation.

"The Department of Justice has forwarded the above recommendation by invoking para 14 of the Memorandum of Procedure which provides that if the comments of the constitutional authorities in the State are not received within the prescribed time-frame, it should be presumed by the Minister of Law and Justice that the Governor and the Chief Minister have nothing to add to the proposal and proceed accordingly," it said.

It added that the Judges of the apex court conversant with the affairs of the Calcutta High Court were consulted to ascertain the fitness and suitability of the candidate. The SC Collegium said that it has scrutinised the material placed on record and all the three consultee Judges have unanimously and emphatically opined that the candidate is suitable for being appointed as a High Court Judge.

"The Judgment Evaluation Committee constituted by the Chief Justice of the High Court has rated the quality of judgments authored by her as very good by awarding 70 marks," it noted. Further, it also took note of the fact that the above proposal involves non-recommendation of some senior judicial officers and cogent reasons have been recorded by the High Court Collegium for overlooking them.
Workers slice ripe mangoes at the Zhong Bao (Cambodia) Food Science & Technology Co., Ltd. in Kampong Speu province, Cambodia on March 7, 2023. (Photo by Van Pov/Xinhua)

"Despite rising protectionism and a global trade slowdown, the RCEP has promoted regional trade and investment cooperation, bringing enormous benefits to all member countries," said Cambodian Ministry of Commerce's Secretary of State and Spokesperson Penn Sovicheat.

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Two years on, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) has played a crucial role in boosting regional free trade amid protectionism and a global trade downturn, a senior Cambodian official has said.

Entering into force on Jan. 1, 2022, the RCEP agreement comprises 15 Asia-Pacific countries including 10 ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) member states, namely Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, and their five trading partners, namely China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

Over the past two years, the RCEP has generated tremendous opportunities for economic development in all countries involved, Cambodian Ministry of Commerce's Secretary of State and Spokesperson Penn Sovicheat told Xinhua. "Despite rising protectionism and a global trade slowdown, the RCEP has promoted regional trade and investment cooperation, bringing enormous benefits to all member countries."

He said the RCEP has helped stabilize the member countries' economies, particularly during the global economic slowdown.

"It has helped the member countries to boost faster post-pandemic recovery and sustainable long-term economic growth, contributing to enhancing regional peace, stability, harmony, development and prosperity," Sovicheat said.

Tourists visit the Angkor Archeological Park in Siem Reap province, Cambodia, April 16, 2023. (Photo by Sao Khuth/Xinhua)

The spokesperson said that through RCEP, China has been playing an important role in turning the Asian economy into a key economic powerhouse for the region and the world.

"I believe that this regional trade pact will help transform ASEAN into a new engine of growth for Asia," he said.

The agreement covers trade in goods, services, investment, economic and technical cooperation, dispute settlement, e-commerce, competition, and intellectual property, among others.

"RCEP has revitalized multilateralism and the free trade system against the backdrop of protectionism and unilateralism," Sovicheat said, adding that for Cambodia, RCEP has become a catalyst for long-term export growth and a magnet to attract more FDI inflows to the Southeast Asian country.

He said Cambodia's exports to the other 14 RCEP members hit 7.21 billion U.S. dollars in the first 11 months last year, an increase of 27 percent year-on-year.

"With preferential tariffs offered under the RCEP agreement, Cambodia's exports to the other RCEP members will continue to soar in coming years, undoubtedly," he said.

Sovicheat noted that RCEP, together with other bilateral free trade agreements, will help Cambodia graduate from its least-developed status by 2027 and become an upper-middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income nation by 2050.
Mumbai, Jan 5 : When Hindenburg Research released its report, making allegations against the Adani Group a year ago, it was difficult to imagine if the conglomerate would ever emerge out of the crisis and continue on its growth path.

But Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani showed his mettle and resilience and bounced back from adversity. And how!

The US short-selleras intent to bring down the Group with its damning report and earn profits through its short positions fell flat. The Supreme Courtas judgment on January 3 rejecting the plea for a probe by the CBI or an SIT into the Adani-Hindenburg case laid all speculation to rest. The court also dismissed the petitionersa reliance on a third-party report and affirmed faith in SEBIas handling of the case.

There was a wave of anti-Adani narratives gaining ground following the release of the report in January 2023. Conspiracy theories began to proliferate, finding their way from the fringes into the mainstream. These were discussed and debated by politicians, activists, journalists, and members of the public, making news headlines.

Though the report triggered a massive fall in Adani stocks and market value and the billionaireas wealth nosedived by over 60 per cert, he was not cowed down by the malicious attack.

Without wasting any time, he started consolidating his businesses by repaying debts. It was a smart decision to win the investorsa confidence. In the months following the attack, the Group took several measures to regain the trust of investors. Be it GQG Partners or the UAE-based IHC, all reposed trust in him and invested in the Groupas businesses.

How many of us can find an upside to an adversity? Or believe that overcoming obstacles is more helpful than having advantages? People close to Adani vouch for the manas perseverance in the face of a crisis and the way he overcomes an obstacle and turns it into an opportunity.

Mundra in Bhuj, Gujarat, is testimony to the manas obstinacy and vision to create a marvel in the barren lands of Kutch. To achieve this goal, he turned every stumbling block into a positive thing and proved all his critics, who dismissed his idea, wrong.

His passion and perseverance led to the creation of the state-of-the-art Mundra Port, the largest commercial port in India.

Building a business with resources at hand is one thing; building an empire from scratch is the act of an alchemist. First came the jetty that made way for a port, which led to a coal-based power plant that paved the way for the mining business. His ability to combine things to create multiple assets is a propeller for expansion, and the result is the creation of adjacencies.

Early on, the Group focused on seeking control over the value chain and began investing in inter-connected businesses or adjacencies. For example, to run its thermal power plants, it acquired coal mines in India, Indonesia and Australia; it transports coal on Adani ships to Adani Ports and finally, to Adani power plants, which then transmit power to households and businesses.

The Groupas infrastructure network has grown so vast that it has become indispensable for both local businesses and foreign firms. For instance, MNCs like Tata or Microsoft may use Adani ports or airports for transport and logistics. The large size of the Group also means that any disruption or turmoil may adversely affect the Indian economy.

At the same time, the dependence of the economy on Adani could keep its kitty full of profits because continuous use of its assets will result in constant cash flows.

How one deals with stress depends on how one processes it. Some see it as a threat, while others welcome it as a challenge. If viewed as a challenge, one gets into combat mode, whichgenerates energy and an adrenaline rush to deal with it. The Group viewed the Hindenburg report as a challenge. He did his best to find a silver lining in the events of the past year. Sometimes things seemed out of control, but he maintained his focus and perspective.

In fact, during this period of volatility, there were no rating downgrades. International banks remained steadfast in their support to Adani portfolio companies, driven by their belief in the robust business model, cash flow and strong balance sheets.

The Group has maintained that it believes in transparency and adheres to it. The scathing attack by Hindenburg failed to dent its image as it was given a clean chit by the regulatory authority on several counts; some questions pertaining to the DRI were dismissed by the Supreme Court in March 2023.

In its May report, the SC panel gave the Adani Group a clean chit. It stated that the conglomerate took the required actions to reassure individual investors following the release of the Hindenburg report. It added that there was no regulatory failure on the part of SEBI and no pricing manipulation on the part of the Adani Group.

Though cliched, this adage is true in his case: aWhen the going gets tough, the tough get going."

A man who rose from being a diamond sorter to one of the richest men in the world has risen from challenge to challenge, scaling newer and mightier peaks.
Tehran, Jan 5 : Iran's Deputy Interior Minister for Security Affairs, Majid Mir-Ahmadi, said on Friday that both bomb attacks that rocked the area near the tomb of Qassem Soleimani in Kerman, southeastern Iran, were "suicide attacks".

Mir-Ahmadi told the official IRNA news agency that parts of the bombers' bodies had been found at the site of Wednesday's attack, which has killed at least 89 people and wounded more than 280.

He added the country's intelligence forces had identified and arrested "different individuals" in five provinces, who were linked to the "terrorist attack" and had backed up the operations, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Islamic State (IS) terrorist group claimed responsibility for the bombings on Thursday, asserting two suicide attackers carried out the blasts.

The bomb attacks on Wednesday marked one of the deadliest incidents in Iran in decades. Two explosions occurred near the Qassem Soleimani cemetery, where thousands of Iranians had gathered to honour the late general, who was assassinated in a US drone attack on January 3, 2020.
Shimla, Jan 5 : A court at Kangra in Himachal Pradesh has convicted and sentenced a medical college professor to imprisonment for a year in an outrage of modesty case.

Rajinder Yadav, Professor and Head of the Department, Biochemistry, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda, was also sentenced to undergo imprisonment for two months for wrongful confinement under Section 342 of Indian Penal Code. All the sentences would run concurrently.

An FIR for commission of offences punishable under Sections 342 and 354 of the IPC was registered on January 17, 2008, at Kangra police station.

It was alleged that Yadav wrongfully restrained the complainant student "in such a manner so as to prevent her from proceeding beyond certain circumscribing limits. Thereafter, the accused used criminal force intending to outrage and outraged the modesty of informant".

Judicial Magistrate (First Class) Shubhangi Joshi observed: "It can be seen that the presence of the accused on the spot on the day of incident has been duly proved by corroboration of all the witnesses. Further, the fact that the accused was with the complainant in a closed room and the act of outraging her modesty has been corroborated by all the witnesses."

The magistrate also observed action was followed by immediate application/complaint filed by the complainant to the principal, followed by complaint to the SHO and several other complaints to the head of the department.

All this went on to show that the complainant was scared of her future and thereby filed these complaints.

The magistrate further observed it was important to see that at the time of the commission of the offence around 15 years ago the accused was a middle age person and had full sense of what he was doing.

The convict was also asked to pay a fine of Rs 1,000 under Section 354 of Indian Penal Code".
Mumbai, Jan 4 : Institutional investors will have to disclose upfront at the time of placement of an order whether the transaction is a short sale, according to a new circular issued by markets regulator SEBI on Friday.

However, retail investors would be permitted to make a similar disclosure by the end of the trading hours on the transaction day, the order said.

"The brokers shall be mandated to collect the details on scrip-wise short sell positions, collate the data and upload it to the stock exchanges before the commencement of trading on the following trading day. The stock exchanges shall then consolidate such information and disseminate the same on their websites for the information of the public every week. The frequency of such disclosure may be reviewed from time to time with the approval of SEB," it added.

While SEBI has allowed all classes of investors like retail and institutional investors to short sell, it has imposed certain conditions to curb foul play.

The decision comes close on the heels of the Supreme Court's judgement on petitions seeking a court-monitored investigation into alleged manipulation in Adani Group stocks, following the Hindenburg report.

The top court rejected the plea but asked SEBI to investigate whether Indian investors suffered losses from the research agency's actions or if there were short-positions taken in the market that went against the law.

SEBI had earlier issued a Master Circular for Stock Exchanges and Clearing Corporations in October 2023, which has now been updated with the incorporation the new provisions in the latest circular.
Pune, Jan 5 : The Enforcement Directorate on Friday raided the Baramati Agro premises linked with Nationalist Congress Party (SP) MLA Rohit R. Pawar, the grand-nephew of party supremo Sharad Pawar, in a money-laundering case.

Besides the Baramati premises, teams of ED sleuths swooped on fiver other locations in the money-laundering case pertaining to the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (MSCB) scam.

It was alleged that the cooperative cooperative factory at Kannad was sold to Baramati Agro Pvt Ltd. for Rs 50 crore and the working capital was availed from different accounts of various banks for the money utilised for the purchase deal.

Besides Baramati Ago, other companies like Hitech Engineering Corporation India Ltd and Samruddhi Sugars Pvt. Ltd also participated in the Kannad factory auction.

However, the Rs 5 crore earnest money paid by Hitech Engineering Corporation India Ltd was allegedly availed from Baramati Agro, controlled by Rohit R. Pawar and his father Rajendra Pawar.

After the Mumbai Police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) filed its FIR in the MSCB scam, the ED's money-laundering case was lodged and all the firms/individuals which took part in the sugar mill's auction are now under the ED radar.

Earlier, the EOW filed its closure report stating that no fraud was committed in the auctions in the MSCB imbroglio, but in November 2022, it sought the court's permission to probe the companies linked with Rohit R. Pawar in the scam, contending that these entities had acquired the sick sugar mill vide auctions with suspicious transactions.

The NCP-SP threw its full weight behind Rohit R. Pawar with several leaders offering support. National General Secretary Dr. Jitendra Awhad said that "this is the result of standing with Sharad Pawar Saheb with loyalty and strength", and without taking names, targeted breakaway NCP-AP's Deputy CM Ajit Pawar.

"Its bad that our own 'home-break' colleagues are involved in this. But I believe that Rohit R. Pawar will not succumb to all these pressure techniques, on the contrary, he will come out of the crisis," said Dr. Awhad.

Senior NCP-SP leader Anil Deshmukh said "today's struggle creates tomorrow's strength", and the party's youth leader Rohit R. R. Patil, and others also expressed support to Rohit R. Pawar, currently abroad.

On his part, Rohit R. Pawar said that "this is the face of the progressive thoughts of self-respecting Maharashtra which has preserved and nurtured generations. The land of Maharashtra also has a long history of struggle as these great personalities have taught us to struggle against injustice. Therefore, as a Marathi, everyone has to be prepared for struggle to preserve the Maharashtrian values".
Mumbai, Jan 5 : In a swift operation, the Indian Navy's Marine Commandos have rescued all the 15 Indian crew aboard a Liberian-flagged cargo ship, barely within 20 hours after it reported a hijack off the northeastern coast of Africa, officials said on Friday.

Mumbai, Jan 5 (IANS) In a swift operation, the Indian Navyas Marine Commandos have rescued all the 15 Indian crew aboard a Liberian-flagged cargo ship, barely within 20 hours after it reported a hijack off the northeastern coast of Africa, officials said on Friday.

The ship 'MV Lila Norfolk' was taken over early on Friday by around 5-6 pirates when it was on a voyage from Port Du Aco in Brazil to Khalifa Bin Salman Port in Bahrain, as it was around 550 km off the Somalia coast.

Responding swiftly to the distress call, warship INS Chennai was diverted from her anti-piracy patrol to the spot and it intercepted the hijacked ship around 3.15 p.m. in the Arabian Sea.

The elite Marine Commandos have boarded the MV Lila Norfolk and initiated the sanitisation operations.

Prior to the operation, the Liberian-flag vessel was kept under continuous surveillance using Maritime Patrol Aircraft, helicopters and Predator MQ9B.

Early on Friday, the hijacked ship had sent an SOS to the UK Maritime Trade Operations portal indicating 5-6 armed persons had boarded it late on Thursday.

This was the third incident of its kind in the high seas on the country's west coast in the past one month or with the Indian Navy rising to the occasion with a rescue and relief operation. On December 23, 2023, another Liberian-flagged oil tanker aMV Chem Plutoa with 21 Indian crew was targeted in a drone attack, followed by a similar attack on a Gabon-flagged crude oil carrier, aMV Saibabaa on Dec. 24 with 25 Indians on board, but there were no casualties in both the incidents.
Baghdad, Jan 5 : Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani reiterated his pledge on Friday to end the presence of the US-led coalition in Iraq after a series of US strikes killed Iraqi security personnel and militia leaders.

Al-Sudani said his government would soon start talks with the coalition through a committee to arrange the withdrawal of foreign troops, a move he said was "a commitment that the government will not back down from".

He was speaking at a memorial ceremony in Baghdad to mark the fourth anniversary of the US killing of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in a drone strike near Baghdad airport, Xinhua news agency reported.

Al-Sudani accused the coalition of repeating the "crime" of killing Soleimani and al-Muhandis by attacking the headquarters of the state-backed Hashd Shaabi paramilitary forces on Thursday, killing the leader of one of its brigades and two others.

"The Hashd Shaabi forces are official forces affiliated with the state and an integral part of the armed forces," the Prime Minister said, adding that the US strike "goes beyond the spirit of the mandate that formed the (anti-Islamic State) international coalition".

Al-Sudani has repeatedly said in recent weeks that he would like to see the US-led coalition leave Iraq.

The US Department of Defense said it carried out a "self-defence" strike in Iraq that killed a leader of the Iran-backed Harakat al-Nujaba group, which is part of the Hashd Shaabi and also operates in Syria.
New Delhi, Jan 5 : The Supreme Court Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, on Friday recommended the appointment of judicial officer Arvind Kumar Verma as a judge of the Chhattisgarh High Court.

The Chief Justice of the Chhattisgarh High Court, in consultation with his two senior-most colleagues, had recommended Verma's name on August 6, 2023.

The SC Collegium said that it has consulted a judge of the apex court who is conversant with the affairs of the Chhattisgarh High Court in terms of the Memorandum of Procedure.

It said it has scrutinised the materials placed on record, including the opinion of the consultee-judge and noted that the Judgment Evaluation Committee constituted by the Chief Justice of the Chhattisgarh High Court has rated the quality of judgments authored by him as 'Very Good'.

"Bearing in mind the views of the consultee-judge on the suitability of the candidate, the report of the Judgment Assessment Committee and the assessment made by the Government of India in the file, the Collegium is of the considered view that the officer is suitable for appointment as a judge of the High Court of Chhattisgarh," said the SC Collegium.

Further, it also took note of the fact that the above proposal involves non-recommendation of some senior judicial officers and said that it is in agreement with the High Court Collegium for overlooking them.

"The Chief Minister and the Governor of Chhattisgarh have concurred with the recommendation," said the statement, uploaded on the website of the apex court.
Patna, Jan 5 : Security was enhanced at the Patna High Court on Friday after a bomb threat was received through an e-mail, an official said, adding the threat turned out to be a hoax.

A team of Anti-Terrorist Squad, dog squad, bomb squad, cyber cell and other units were called, and they thoroughly checked the court premises.

"A search operation was conducted throughout the court premises but no suspicious article was found. The e-mail threat turned out to be a hoax. The sender will be arrested soon," a police officer said.

The sender of the mail had threatened to "blow up" the court.

An official said that Patna Police took the e-mail "very seriously" as an under trial gangster, Chote Sarkar was gunned down at Danapur sub-divisional court last month.
Jaipur, Jan 5 : The Rajasthan government on Friday changed the name of the 'Indira Rasoi Yojana', a scheme launched by the previous Congress government led by Ashok Gehlot, to 'Shree Annapurna Rasoi Yojna'.

Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma made the announcement at the state BJP headquarters here in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that there were many flaws in the old scheme.

At the time of filing of this report, Modi was holding discussions with the Rajasthan BJP MLAs, ministers and party office-bearers on Day 1 of his three-day visit to Jaipur.

The meeting was not attended by senior BJP leader and former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, which triggered speculation.

Modi later had dinner with the party officials and MLAs, where dishes made of millets were served.

The Prime Minister will spend the night at the Raj Bhavan here.

On Saturday, he will participate in the ongoing DG-IG conference at the Rajasthan International Centre.

The Prime Minister will also hold a meeting with the party MLAs and office-bearers and assign them tasks in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections scheduled in April-May.

Sources said the PM can also distribute invitations to the party leaders for the inauguration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22.

IANS

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JERUSALEM, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli military announced on Friday that "for humanitarian reasons" it will suspend military operations in the Tel al-Sultan district of Rafah City in the Gaza Strip from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time to facilitate supplies.

Starting from Friday, the Salah al-Din Road, which runs from north to south in the Gaza Strip, will be closed, and the Rashid Road along the Mediterranean Sea will be open. From 9:00 a.m. (0700 GMT) to 4:00 p.m. (1400 GMT) on Friday, residents in northern Gaza can walk or drive to the southern region. 
New Delhi, Jan 5 : A 23-year-old woman has been arrested for allegedly stealing away a newborn girl from a government hospital here, police said on Friday, adding that the accused, who was unable to conceive, seized the opportunity to fulfill her desire for motherhood through unlawful means.

The incident came to light when a 19-year-old woman from Samaypur Badli approached the police on Wednesday, reporting that her newborn daughter had been abducted by an unknown woman from the Labour Ward of Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Rohini, Guriqbal Singh Sidhu said that the new mother had given birth at the hospital, and the alleged kidnapping occurred shortly after.

During the probe, the police team analysed the CCTV footage of the cameras installed in and outside of the hospital. "In one of the CCTV footage, a woman was seen leaving the corridor of the labour ward of BSA Hospital with a newborn baby," he said.

Police also studied over 500 CCTV footage of possible routes in the vicinity.

"In one of the CCTV footage at Rohini West Metro Station, the woman concerned was seen boarding a red e-rickshaw with the kidnapped baby," said Sidhu.

The driver of the e-rickshaw was traced and questioned and told the police at at about 7 a.m. on Wednesday, he had dropped the woman, who was carrying a baby, near the main gate of ESI Hospital, Sector 15, Rohini.

"It was learnt that she had interacted with two persons in front of DTC Depot, Rohini. The police team traced both the persons and came to know that she had used their mobile phone for making a call.

"Finally, on the basis of technical surveillance, alleged Mamta (name changed), a resident of Badli was apprehended in the case and the kidnapped baby girl was recovered from her possession safely," the DCP added.
Mohali court order may help to speed up cases against corrupt IAS officers(IN). Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Jan 5 : A Delhi court on Friday sent a Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist, Javed Ahmed Mattoo, an accused in 11 terror attack cases in Jammu and Kashmir, to seven-day police custody.

The Special Cell of Delhi Police in coordination with other agencies on Thursday arrested the 'A++ category' terrorist, who carried a reward of Rs 10 lakh for his involvement in a series of terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.

On an application moved by the Delhi Police, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Nabeela Wali of Patiala House Courts sent Mattoo (32) to police custody for a week. Mattoo a.k.a. Irsad Ahmed Malla alias Ehsan, who hails from Sopore in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district.

He was allegedly involved in five grenade attacks in the Kashmir Valley.

Wanted in connection with 11 terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, Mattoo has been evading arrest for the last 13 years.

According to sources, the police are currently in search of the handler responsible for providing arms and ammunition to Mattoo in Delhi.

Mattoo was apprehended by the Special Cell of Delhi Police in the Nizammudin area, where he had arrived to collect weapons and ammunition from his associates, acting upon the instructions of Pakistan's intelligence agency, Inter Services Intelligence.

This arrest is considered a significant breakthrough as it happened just 22 days before Republic Day.

Questioning was underway to learn about Mattoo's intended use of the acquired ammunition.

Sources said that a handler based in Pakistan was orchestrating the delivery of arms and ammunition, directing Mattoo to carry out terrorist activities in J&K and other locations.

Investigators believe in the critical importance of arresting the arms supplier, as Mattoo's capture likely alerted his superiors in Pakistan, potentially prompting a change in their planned actions.

Mattoo, the sole surviving A++-category J&K-based terrorist, had gone underground a decade ago after sustaining injuries in a clash with security forces.

He fled to Nepal as per ISI's instructions to evade the J&K police.

It was also revealed by sources that Mattoo possesses expertise in handling rocket-propelled grenades (RPG), under barrel grenade launchers (UBGL), and AK-47s. An official privy to the probe said that more details will be disclosed once Mattoo's questioning concludes, speculating that he may have entered India through Nepal.
Outgoing S.Korea FM Park highlights alliance with US in phone talks with Blinken. Image Source: IANS News

Seoul/Washington, Jan 5 : Outgoing South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin highlighted the alliance with the US that has further strengthened over the past months in phone talks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday, Park's office said on Friday.

Park said the South Korea-US alliance will play a "greater role" at a time of a "polycrisis," expressing expectation that Blinken will also work closely with his new South Korean counterpart to develop the strategic bilateral alliance even further, his office added.

Blinken expressed appreciation for Park's efforts and leadership during his term in office, according to Park's office.

During the phone talks, Park and Blinken also shared assessments on the latest development in the suspected arms transactions between North Korea and Russia, Yonhap news agency reported.

They expressed concern over the military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow, as well as the North Korea's continued nuclear and missile development, stressing all UN members should abide by the UN Security Council resolutions against North Korea.

In a separate statement, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Blinken thanked the outgoing Foreign Minister for his endeavours to address "security challenges on the Korean Peninsula, in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world".

Park is set to leave office later this month following a Cabinet reshuffle.

"As events celebrating the 70th anniversary of the US-South Korea Alliance conclude, Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Park further reemphasised the importance of the alliance and a shared commitment to deepening our nations' ties," Miller said in a statement.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol tapped Cho Tae-yul, former ambassador to the United Nations, as his pick for the new Foreign Minister.
London, Jan 5 : Hundreds of properties have been flooded and residents evacuated in the UK, after a week of heavy rainfall across the country. Major travel disruptions have also been caused by the prolonged extreme weather.

Around 1,000 properties in England have been flooded this week, the Environment Agency told media on Friday morning.

The London Fire Brigade said on Friday that nearly 50 people had been evacuated after a canal burst its banks in Hackney Wick, East London, on Thursday night.

Meanwhile, a major incident has been declared along the River Trent in Nottinghamshire, with residents being asked to prepare for evacuation in areas at risk of flooding, Xinhua news agency reported.

Earlier this week, Britain's Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for heavy rain, which is expected to continue until Friday.

More than 500 flood warnings and alerts were in place for England on Friday morning, after a week of persistent rain across the country, caused mainly by Storm Henk.

Rail services in Britain were also impacted by flooding, with train operator Great Western Railway warning of reduced or cancelled services.

A lifeboat station on the Thames in London urged boats to stay off the river, which in the Kingston area "is currently running twice as fast as it was last Friday and is extremely powerful".
Seoul, Jan 5 : North Korea fired nearly 200 artillery shells into waters off its western coast on Friday morning, Seoul's military said, in its latest saber-rattling after it scrapped a 2018 inter-Korean military accord in November.

The move prompted an emergency evacuation order for civilians on the South Korean western border islands of Yeonpyeong and Baengnyeong. Also in response, the South Korean military staged live-fire drills on the border islands.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the artillery firings from Jangsan Cape and Deungsan Cape, both in the North's southwestern coastal areas, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

The shells splashed into the maritime buffer zone north of the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de-facto maritime border in the Yellow Sea.

The buffer zone, where artillery firing and naval drills are banned, was set under an inter-Korean military accord signed on September 19, 2018, to reduce border tensions.

The JCS said there was no reported damage to South Korean citizens and the military or losses of human life from North Korea's firing.

The South Korean military called the North Korea's move a "provocative" act and warned of its corresponding measures.

"We gravely warn that the entire responsibility of such crisis-escalating situations lies with North Korea and strongly call for its immediate halt," JCS spokesperson Colonel Lee Sung-jun said in a press conference.

"Under close coordination between South Korea and the US, our military is tracking and monitoring related activity, and will conduct corresponding measures to North Korea's provocations."

On Friday afternoon, South Korean Marine Corps units on the islands of Baengnyeong and Yeonpyeong staged live-fire exercises, involving K9 self-propelled howitzers and other assets, like K1E1 tanks, against simulated targets in waters south of the NLL, according to Defence officials.

The South Korea fired some 400 rounds into the maritime buffer zone, double the amount fired by North Korea.

The South Korean military fired artillery shots into the buffer zone for the first time since the signing of the 2018 accord. North Korea's latest firing marked the 16th one of its kind, including a missile launch in 2022.

Pyongyang last fired artillery shots into the maritime buffer zone in the East Sea on December 6, 2022.

Later on Friday, the Korean People's Army (KPA), issued a statement saying units and subunits overseeing the southwestern coastal defence fired 192 shells into five districts as part of a live-fire drill.

In an English-language statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency, the KPA claimed it was "a far-fetched assertion" on South Korea's part to claim North Korea had fired shells into the buffer zone near Yeonpyeong and Baengnyeong islands.

The KPA also said its drill on Friday was "a sort of natural countermeasure" against recent artillery firings by South Korea.

South Korea's Army had said on Thursday that South Korea and the US held a joint live-fire exercise near the border with North Korea, aimed at bolstering their combined operational capabilities against North Korea's military threats.

North Korea on Friday warned against such provocations under the guise of shoring up readiness, saying its armed forces will demonstrate "tough counteraction on an unprecedented level".

The KPA also referred to the South Korean Army as "the military gangsters".

Defence Minister Shin Won-sik presided over the South Korea's drills virtually from the JCS' command post in central Seoul and called for readiness against "reckless provocative" acts by North Korea.

"Our military ... needs to be equipped with a retaliatory posture for complete annihilation so that the enemy never attempts another provocation and to ensure peace through powerful strength," he was quoted as saying.

Last November, North Korea unilaterally scrapped the 2018 accord after Seoul partially suspended the deal in protest of the North Korea's successful launch of a military spy satellite.

The 2018 accord, signed under the previous liberal President Moon Jae-in, was designed to dial down military tensions, prevent accidental clashes and build mutual trust.

It included setting up maritime buffer zones, a land buffer zone banning artillery drills and regiment-level field maneuvers, as well as no-fly zones near the border to prevent accidental aircraft clashes.

North Korea's latest saber-rattling came after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un defined inter-Korean ties as relations "between two states hostile to each other" and called for stepped-up preparations to "suppress the whole territory of South Korea" at a year-end ruling party meeting.

South Korea's spy agency said last month that North Korea is highly likely to carry out military provocations or cyberattacks in early 2024 ahead of the South Korea's parliamentary election in April and the US presidential election in November.
Tel Aviv, Jan 5 : Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah on Friday vowed that the killing of Hamas politburo member and deputy political leader Saleh al Arouri in Beirut will not go unpunished.

Al Arouri was killed in alleged Israeli attack.

Nasrallah, in a televised address, warned that his movement "cannot accept" the alleged Israeli assassination of the Hamas leader and "that remaining silent would cause more harm than any risks that may come from responding".

The Hezbollah leader added that he would not say the phrase "in the appropriate time and place" and that instead, the forces on the ground would be the ones to decide the response. He added that Hezbollah cannot remain silent about such a serious violation as it would mean all of Lebanon, the cities, and the figures would become exposed.

Nasrallah insisted that Hezbollah only began attacking Israel in order to split the IDF's attention and relieve pressure on the factions in Gaza.
Amaravati, Jan 5 : Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President Nara Chandrababu Naidu on Friday called upon the people of Andhra Pradesh to join hands to save the state from the "psycho rule" of YSR Congress Party.

Launching 'Raa Kadaliraa' programme of the TDP at Kanigiri in the combined Prakasam district, the former Chief Minister said that the people virtually suffered torture in these five years of the YSRCP rule.

"Let us take the oath in this new year to send home this psycho government and welcome better days," he said.

Recalling how the people moved like a storm and walked along the TDP founder N.T. Rama Rao when he had given the call: "Telugu Desam Pilustondi Raa Kadaliraa", he said that now he is giving a call "Raa Kadaliraa" to save the state from this psycho rule.

Under 'Raa Kadaliraa', he will be addressing public meetings in all Lok Sabha constituencies till January 29.

Regretting that there is "no democracy" in the state, he called upon the people to strive to bring the past glory to the Telugu community.

Pointing out that Ongole is famous for granite, he alleged that Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy is simply looting these precious granite reserves from here.

Asking the people whether the living conditions of anyone improved in these five years, the TDP supremo said that Jagan is ransacking the state.

Recalling that he promoted Information Technology 25 years ago and developed Hyderabad as the capital for Telugus, Naidu said that the assets will grow only if the state is developed but this government never thinks on these lines.

"Did Mr Jagan announce at least once the job calendar in these five years? Did he bring any kind of investments to the state?" he asked.

Maintaining that all are victims of the Jagan government, Naidu said that women have no security now.

The former Chief Minister alleged that while jobs were provided to the youth during the TDP regime, now ganja is being supplied to them.

"The YSRCP leaders are wreaking havoc in the state and are minting lakhs of crores of rupees through sand, liquor and land mafia," he said.

Claiming that people are fed up with Jagan's dictatorial attitude, he remarked that he has never seen such an inefficient Chief Minister in his 45 years of political career.

Naidu said that fear of losing power is now haunting Jagan which is evident from the fact that he is shifting ministers and MLAs from their home segments. He ridiculed that Jagan is offering tickets only to those who are criticising him, the TDP national General Secretary Lokesh, and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan.

"Will anyone become a popular leader if they scold me and my wife on the floor of the Assembly," he asked sarcastically.

--IANS

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Gurugram, Jan 5 : The Gurugram Police Commissioner on Friday set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct a probe into the murder of Divya Pahuja -- a former Gurugram-based model and girlfriend of slain gangster Sandeep Gadoli, who was shot dead allegedly by the owner of a hotel where she was staying.

Divya, 27, was allegedly killed by Abhijeet Singh -- the owner of Hotel City Point, here, on January 2. According to police, Divya and Abhijeet were in a relationship, and the murder took place at Room Number 111 of the same hotel.

The police are yet to find Divya's body. It is being suspected that the body has been dumped somewhere in Punjab.

The SIT set up on Friday will be led by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime), Vijay Pratap Singh.

Three persons -- Abhijeet, Om Prakash and Hemraj have been arrested in connection with the murder, while the police are still looking for two other accused, Balraj and Ravi Banga.

The police said that Divya was killed on January 2 at around 5 p.m. and at around 11 p.m., Abhijeet sought the help of Om Prakash and Hemraj -- who used to work at his hotel, to dispose of the woman's lifeless body.

During questioning, Abhijeet told the police that Divya had some of his objectionable pictures, and she was blackmailing him as well as extorting money from him.

He had told Divya to delete those pictures and sought the password for her cell phone. However, she refused to do so. Eventually, both had a heated argument following which Abhijeet opened fire on her.

The Gurugram Police on Thursday got a five-day remand for Abhijeet, Om Prakash and Hemraj.

"After killing Divya, Abhijeet, with the help of Om Prakash and Hemraj, dragged her body to the boot of a BMW car. Abhijeet then drove around 1.5 km and handed over the car's keys to his associates Balraj and Ravi, who drove the car towards Punjab to dispose of the body," DCP Singh said.

When the police opened the boot of the BMW car that was later recovered, her body was not found in the boot.

The police suspect that Balraj and Ravi left Haryana and entered Punjab via Hisar and Sirsa with the BMW car. The body was then disposed of, and then they reached Patiala via Mansa.

Both fled after abandoning the car in the parking area of the Patiala bus stand. According to sources, Balraj's last location was shown to be in Patiala.

A Crime Branch team of Gurugram Police has been conducting raids in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana in search of Balraj and Ravi.

"Raids are being conducted at various places in search of Divya's body and the accused. Many teams are engaged in investigating the case. The accused will be caught soon," DCP Singh said.

Divya came in contact with Abhijeet through a jailed gangster, Binder Gujjar.

Gujjar had apparently asked Abhijeet to assist with his children's education and during that phase, Abhijeet came in contact with Divya.

Binder Gujjar is said to be the prime conspirator in the alleged "fake encounter" of gangster Sandeep Gadoli, along with the Gurugram Police, which took place in Mumbai in 2016.

Divya was the prime accused in the case. Later, she was arrested in connection with the gangster's murder, and she spent seven years in jail.

She was granted bail last year in June by the Bombay High Court.

Divya's family has alleged that her murder was conspired by Sandeep Gadoli's family members, along with Abhijeet.
Des Moines : , Jan 5 (IANS) Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former UN Ambassador and North Carolina Governor Nikki Haley were unanimous in saying ex-President Donald Trump was "a big risk for the GOP "in the 2024 Presidential race and prospects for "retaking the White House are doomed".

While Haley skirted around the legal woes of Trump on civil tax fraud case in New York to the election subversion cases in four jurisdictions in the US except saying indirectly that "Chaos follows Trump", DeSantis was more direct in his frontal attack on Trump saying his legal cases could damage the Republicans in the polls in November this year surrendering the advantage to incumbent President Joe Biden.

Both were in unison in saying: "Nominating Trump would be a big mistake" and the chance of winning the presidency in 2024 and "retaking the White House are doomed".

With less than 10 days to go for the Iowa caucus to meet, both exuded absolute confidence that they would make the grade for the GOP nomination, even though polls show that Trump is still the front runner, said media reports analysing the two candidates town hall meetings in Iowa's capital Des Moines.

Haley displayed confidence she would skate through Iowa and capture New Hampshire while DeSantis was very confident of making the grade at Iowa itself, media reports said.

Both candidates used the platforms of the town hall meetings well as arranged by the CNN news network to address voters on key issues while taking different approaches.

DeSantis sought to show a more relatable side of his personality. He also staked out some new policy ground, saying he supports a "flat tax" - a single national income tax rate, with no deductions or exemptions - and would abolish the Internal Revenue Service, CNN reported.

Haley, meanwhile, sought to demonstrate that she was ready and tough enough to deal with hard issues. She emphasised fiscal responsibility, argued that Israel should get whatever it needs from the United States to fight Hamas, and described the hardline approach against extremism she took to remove the Confederate flag from the grounds of the South Carolina statehouse when she was Governor. Charleston in SC was witness to the grisly murder of blacks by a white gunman.

The two also made their cases that Trump's legal battles could hurt the party's efforts to defeat President Biden in the general election.

Polls show Trump is well ahead of them in Iowa but none can predict what the voters in the caucuses would do in the last minute. But DeSantis and Haley both insisted they will compete to win the state until the last possible moment.

"Don't let the media or the pundits make the decision. Vote for who you think will be the best president of the United States," DeSantis said, touting his appearances in all 99 of Iowa's counties.

Haley's hopes of winning the GOP nomination are widely seen as more dependent on the outcome of the New Hampshire primary on January 23. She even claimed Wednesday while campaigning in New Hampshire: "You know how to do this. You know Iowa starts it. You know that you can correct it." But she didn't downplay her chances in Iowa, telling voters Thursday night her comment had been a joke.

"You are going to see me fight until the very end, on the last day in Iowa," she said. "And I'm not playing in one state. I'm fighting in every state. Because I think everybody's worth fighting for."

Both DeSantis and Haley made the case that nominating Trump for a third consecutive time is a risk Republican voters should not take. Both were careful not to knock Trump over the specifics of the indictments he faces in federal court as well as in Georgia and New York. But they portrayed him as a candidate whose personal drama would doom the GOP. They thought his theatrics over the 2020 elections being stolen would cost the party dearly in 2024, CNN said. .

"Chaos follows him. And we can't have a country in disarray and a world on fire and go through four more years of chaos. We won't survive it," Haley said. She said she used to tell Trump that he is "his own worst enemy". "We have a country to save, and that means no more drama. No more taking things personally."

DeSantis frequently lamented the indictments, saying they boosted the former President politically because they rallied a Republican base that views the legal proceedings as politically motivated. But he warned Iowa voters Thursday night that the trials Trump is expected to face this year could damage Trump against Biden.

"Whatever may be beneficial in the primary doesn't mean it's beneficial in the general election," DeSantis said. "We're putting the future of the Republican Party, and the future of the nation, perhaps, in the hands of 12 jurors in heavily Democrat DC," he said.

The DeSantis that showed up Thursday night for the town hall was not the same DeSantis from earlier in the 2024 Republican primary. He argued that while Trump was running on issues important only to him and Haley was running for her donors, DeSantis was running for "you"  the average voter.

He also was more eager than he had previously been to warn about Trump as a nominee. "The Democrats want Trump to be the candidate," he said.

DeSantis wasn't working to appeal to just the most activist base Republican voters but to a broader audience. It was a marked change from DeSantis in past appearances that was seen by critics as who was overly stiff and unrelatable.

Thursday's town hall took place hours after a school shooting in Perry, Iowa in which a middle school student was killed and five others were injured. Asked how, in light of the attack, he would address the issue of gun violence at schools without limiting gun rights, De Santis cited gun laws enacted by his predecessor Rick Scott.

Haley also focused her answer on mental health and security. "We have got to deal with the cancer that is mental health," she said. She said the country doesn't have enough mental health therapists, mental health centers and addiction centers, and insurance sometimes doesn't cover treatment. Haley also called for securing schools the way the country secures airports and courthouses.
Washington, Jan 5 : Former President Donald Trump's massive lead in the Iowa and New Hampshire Republican primaries against close rivals Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haly would pose an issue for him, even endangering his eventual GOP nomination as voters might smell some fear in his campaigns.

That's if Haley and DeSantis come too close to him in percentage points, they might flip against Trump. That means voters could flip for DeSantis or Haley if they find their percentage points are as powerful as Trump for electability in the 2024 presidential race, analysts said as Trump's legal woes would be weighed in as a negative factor against Haley and DeSantis' clean chits.

Trump has described his high standing with voters in Iowa and New Hampshire as "blowouts" in his favour. But, that strategy could spell danger for the front-runner, as some Republican strategists point out. Trump's overconfidence in a blowout means that those in second and third - DeSantis and former United Nations envoy Nikki Haley - only have to reach a certain percentage of points to beat Trump's high bar, media reports said.

"Trump is out there saying, 'Listen, I'm 70 points up here, I'm 60 points up here. He's setting this up, and this has always been his M.O. - of winning, of inevitability," Matthew Bartlett, a Republican strategist, told Politico media network. "That is a very dangerous thing when it comes to politics."

If the two (Haley and DeSantis) were to reach a certain percentage, voters could sense panic in Trump's camp, possibly spelling disaster. Some analysts said there was a hint of this in recent attack ads aired against Haley in New Hampshire. "There's a real chance," Rob Stutzman, a Republican political strategist, told the outlet, "that voters will smell fear".

The ad attacking Haley "is a sign that they're seeing numbers that make them nervous", he pointed out.

While polls and most analysts agree, Trump has little chance of losing in Iowa, a strong performance by Haley could boost her chances of proving she can win in New Hampshire, where she has seen a massive surge in popularity, overtaking DeSantis for second place  though still 21.5 points behind Trump, media reports said.

DeSantis on the flip-side has put all of his chips in on Iowa. The Florida Governor has a massive 32.7-point gap to make up between now and January 15, but if he exceeds expectations, a second-place finish could throw a shadow of doubt over polls and make voters reconsider how strong Trump really is, the Washington Examiner said in its analysis of how the primaries are shaping up for the three candidates for the GOP nomination.

The primary appears to have been whittled down to a three-person race, with former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie still campaigning but looking in from the outside. Christie recently said he would be willing to back either DeSantis or Haley for President, and big wins, or close seconds, by either of them in Iowa or New Hampshire could force him to put his support where his mouth is.
SEOUL, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- The top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) inspected a major factory that produces strategic missile launching vehicles, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Friday.

Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, inspected the factory's production of large strategic missile launching vehicles and other military vehicles, KCNA said, without specifying the exact date of the inspection tour.

Kim stressed the factory's important position and role in bolstering the nation's defense capabilities, citing the prevailing grave situation on the peninsula, the KCNA report said.

During the inspection, the top leader underscored the importance of producing various launching vehicles for tactical and strategic weapons in bolstering the country's nuclear war deterrent and specified the factory's immediate, long-term production plan to expand production capacity, it added. 
Dhaka, Jan 6 : Alleged BNP-Jamaat activists again torched a running train during its entry into Dhaka on Friday night as part of their protests to disrupt Sunday's general election, leaving at least five passengers dead, police said.

The Fire Service and Civil Defence said seven units were sent to douse the fire at Benapole Express in the Gopibagh area of the capital on Friday night, the eve of the BNP's shutdown against the election.

A tearful Syed Murad Hossain, whose kin were on the train, said: "My sister-in-law is missing, my brother and their son are okay, but I can't find her..."

He said his brother and his family were coming to Dhaka from Rajbari.

"I went to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, but she was not there, I came here to the burn unit. Not here either. We are looking for her here and there!," he said at the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burns and Plastic Surgery.

The train was coming to Dhaka with passengers from Benapole. Many of the passengers were Indians. The train was seen burning before reaching Kamalapur railway station.

Around 300 vehicles have been vandalised by BNP-Jamat in the last two months amid the boycott .

At least five people were killed earlier in the incidents of setting fire to trains and cutting the railway line. Four people, including a woman and her baby, died when the Mohanganj Express train was set on fire in Tejgaon area of Dhaka early on December 19. Police said arsonists boarded the train and set it on fire.

Meanwhile, BNP-Jamat men torched four polling centres in four different primary and high schools in three upazilas of Rajshahi early on Friday.

Mojibor Rahman, the headmaster of Motihar High School, said the miscreants torched a classroom and several benches and tables were damaged in the fire.

Bagmara Police Station officer in-charge Orbind Sarker said miscreants set Akkelpur High School on fire but locals managed to extinguish it. Two bombs were also found in front of the voting centre, he said.

Additional Superintendent of Police, Rafiqul Islam, said they began an investigation into the incidents.
Bengaluru, Jan 6 : The Karnataka High Court on Friday referred the petitions challenging the withdrawal of consent for the CBI probe in disproportionate assets case against Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar to a larger bench.

A bench, headed by Justice Krishna S. Dixit, passed the order, noting that the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, the Income Tax Act and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act have to be analysed.

The case is first of its kind in the state and the enormity of legal issues required consideration by a larger bench, it said.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has challenged in the High Court the decision of the Congress-led state government to withdraw the consent to the agency had to conduct the investigation into the case.

A BJP MLA had also submitted a petition in this regard.

The case was handed over to the Lokayukta for investigation following the withdrawal of the consent to the CBI.

Reacting to the development, Shivakumar stated that the CBI has the right to submit the application.

"We will place our arguments. We respect the courts... the court will decide (on the matter). It is a vendetta politics," he said.

Shivakumar had earlier said that the BJP leaders were trying to finish him off politically.

The CBI had started a probe against Shivakumar over an alleged DA case in 2020 on charges that he had amassed properties worth Rs 74 crore between 2013 and 2018, which were disproportionate against his known sources of income. The then BJP-led Karnataka government headed by B.S. Yediyurappa had handed over the case to the CBI. The incumbent Siddaramaiah-led Congress government had withdrawn the consent to the CBI for the probe on November 28, 2023.
Bengaluru, Jan 6 : External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Friday emphasised the need to figure out the "battle of narratives that are being played out ahead of elections" and call them out.

"On the freedom of the press, we have been ranked lower than Afghanistan. What we have seen is steadily building up for the last 10 years. I expect this to reach a crescendo in the first six months of this year. You don't need to guess why. As elections come closer, if it looks like the narrative is not going the way they wanted, they will start attacking the process. We have seen that before... they will attack the Supreme Court, the Election Commission, even the common sense of voters," Jaishankar said.

He made the remarks while speaking during a discussion on his book 'Why Bharat Matters' with BJP MP Tejasavi Surya in Bengaluru.

Talking about how the other countries would look at the inauguration of the Ram temple on January 22, Jaishankar said that people across the world will be looking forward to the inauguration. "As you start moving eastwards, you can see a very strong cultural influence. The reference I make is Korea. In Korea, there is a belief that their Royalty actually had a connection with Ayodhya. In the last few years, we have seen the revival of Ayodhya. We have actually had Korean participation in cultural programmes. They take it as a matter of pride. On January 22, a lot of people across the world will be looking what's happening."

Jaishankar pointed out that taking the Kashmir issue to the United Nations was a "fundamental error". "If we had a good sense of international politics at that stage, we would not have taken that call. We were taken for a ride by a set of countries that had a geo-political agenda and used Kashmir as an issue of vulnerability. It took decades to take a call on Article 370 and close the window of vulnerability which we were foolish to open in the 1940s."

"We need to be hard-headed and clear on what our interests are. If India wants to stand up, be a little more considerate, and manage tactfully, we should do it. I would not take a call which is based on whether I am on the side of that country or a bloc. I would take a call at the end of the day on whether it suits my country," he said.

Jaishankar further said: "When I saw the Prime Minister of India getting into Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), you know what a powerful statement it is to our own defence people, to our own creativity and our own technologists? He conveyed that I have confidence in you and I am flying up there in the aircraft that you have produced. The legitimate expectations of people have to be responded to."

Speaking about choosing the word 'Bharat' this time for his book, unlike his previous book which was titled 'The India Way', Jaishankar said: "It is because of what has happened to us in the last five years. We have become much more self-confident, self-aware and impactful in the world. A large part of the world appreciates how we sailed through Covid, how we handled the complex diplomatically challenging G20 presidency and the success of Chandrayaan. The idea of India as an exemplar is something which the younger generation needs to appreciate."

Jaishankar also said that he'll take up the matter of opening the US Consulate in Bengaluru in his next meeting with the US Ambassador. "I am glad that we could make a decision to open a US Consulate in Bengaluru during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the USA last year. Bengaluru is a global city and it's natural that there should be a US Consulate here. I will go and remind Eric Garcetti (US Ambassador to India) that he needs to set it up fast."
Jersey Airport, Jersey, United Kingdom [ JER / EGJJ ]

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Jersey Airport IATA Code: JER Jersey Airport ICAO Code: EGJJ Latitude : 49.2049 Longitude : -2.194 City : Jersey Country : United Kingdom World Area Code : 493 Airport Type : Medium Jersey Airport Address / Contact Details :

Jersey Airport (JER), UK, Phone: +44 (0)1534 446000, Email: information@jerseyairport.com Jersey Website : http://www.jerseyairport.com/ Airport Type : Public Operator : Jersey Airport Timezone : Europe/Jersey Jersey Airport Timezone : GMT +00:00 hours Current time and date at Jersey Airport is 18:35:34 PM (GMT) on Monday, Mar 18, 2024

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Jersey Airport Map - Location of Jersey Airport Load Map United Kingdom - General Information Country Formal Name United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Country Code GB Capital London Currency Pound (GBP)

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Fact Check: "Iron Army" does not equal "Wolf Warrior Diplomacy"

Xinhua) 09:12, January 05, 2024

BEIJING, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Recently a Reuters report cited a speech by Chinese President Xi Jinping as saying that China is reviving "wolf warrior diplomacy," but upon examination, Xinhua discovered the report was the result of a misreading of official Chinese literature.

The Reuters report quoted a speech Xi made before Chinese diplomatic envoys in late December as saying that the Chinese ambassadors were urged to "forge a diplomatic iron army." The report went on to say the phrase "iron army" revived "the abrasive Wolf Warrior rhetoric propagated by some diplomats as a sign of China's increasingly assertive foreign policy."

By making the association, the Reuters report implies that the call for forging an "iron army" is an order to carry out "wolf warrior diplomacy" in disguise. In reality, this association is misleading.

"Iron Army" is a frequently appearing phrase in official Chinese literature and carries a specific meaning. It emphasizes the discipline of government officials and has nothing to do with the armed forces. That's why the phrase has been around for ages and can be found in official speeches across government agencies, ranging from law enforcement to environmental protection.

For example, in an interview in 2021, Minister of Ecology and Environment Huang Runqiu called for forging "an environmental protection iron army", using the phrase in the sense of strengthening discipline.

If the Reuters report provided a more complete context for the phrase iron army, readers would realize that the envoys were not being urged to put on a menacing face before the world. Instead, they were being encouraged to act on their best behavior and not bend the rules.

Admittedly, for Western readers, the phrase iron army conjures up an intimidating image that can easily be interpreted as a synonym for wolf warrior, but it doesn't really mean that. Wrongly associating phrases and basing entire news stories on them does no good in offering readers an accurate understanding of what China is saying.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
PHNOM PENH, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Two years on, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) has played a crucial role in boosting regional free trade amid protectionism and a global trade downturn, a senior Cambodian official has said.

Entering into force on Jan. 1, 2022, the RCEP agreement comprises 15 Asia-Pacific countries including 10 ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) member states, namely Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, and their five trading partners, namely China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

Over the past two years, the RCEP has generated tremendous opportunities for economic development in all countries involved, Cambodian Ministry of Commerce's Secretary of State and Spokesperson Penn Sovicheat told Xinhua. "Despite rising protectionism and a global trade slowdown, the RCEP has promoted regional trade and investment cooperation, bringing enormous benefits to all member countries."

He said the RCEP has helped stabilize the member countries' economies, particularly during the global economic slowdown.

"It has helped the member countries to boost faster post-pandemic recovery and sustainable long-term economic growth, contributing to enhancing regional peace, stability, harmony, development and prosperity," Sovicheat said.

The spokesperson said that through RCEP, China has been playing an important role in turning the Asian economy into a key economic powerhouse for the region and the world.

"I believe that this regional trade pact will help transform ASEAN into a new engine of growth for Asia," he said.

The agreement covers trade in goods, services, investment, economic and technical cooperation, dispute settlement, e-commerce, competition, and intellectual property, among others.

"RCEP has revitalized multilateralism and the free trade system against the backdrop of protectionism and unilateralism," Sovicheat said, adding that for Cambodia, RCEP has become a catalyst for long-term export growth and a magnet to attract more FDI inflows to the Southeast Asian country.

He said Cambodia's exports to the other 14 RCEP members hit 7.21 billion U.S. dollars in the first 11 months last year, an increase of 27 percent year-on-year.

"With preferential tariffs offered under the RCEP agreement, Cambodia's exports to the other RCEP members will continue to soar in coming years, undoubtedly," he said.

Sovicheat noted that RCEP, together with other bilateral free trade agreements, will help Cambodia graduate from its least-developed status by 2027 and become an upper-middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income nation by 2050. 
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couple Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist have teased what fans can expect to see when their wedding airs live on ABC.The Golden Wedding is set to air as a live two-hour episode on Thursday, January 4 at 8PM ET/PT on ABC, and alum Susan Noles will be officiating Gerry and Theresa's wedding ceremony in Southern California.Gerry described his wedding as "very elegant but not stuffy," and Theresa said the decor for her big day will include "a wide array of flowers" and a pink and peach color palette with gold accents for a "light and airy look" during a joint interview with People.The ceremony will feature a four-piece string orchestra playing selections handpicked by Theresa."I actually listened to 138 different pieces [to decide on] the ones that I like," Theresa shared."And I said, 'Wow, I learned a lot about classical music.' It was really the music and the flowers that were the most important elements, and family."couple will also exchange personal, handwritten vows."That's very personal for me," said Gerry, who proposed marriage to Theresa on finale that aired in late November.But Theresa has a case of nerves and noted, "We just hope that we say the vows correctly!"While Gerry isn't as nervous as Theresa, he predicts that he'll get very emotional during the live event."Theresa will not have even made it to the platform where we're going to exchange our vows, and that moment I see her walking down the aisle is going to get me," Gerry admitted."I know it is because when I gave both of my daughters away at their weddings, I cried like a baby getting them down the aisle. And I know it'll be the same."According to People, Theresa's son Tommy, 46, will walk her down the aisle and her son-in-law Matt will serve as one of Gerry's groomsmen.Theresa's grandsons -- Brandon, Braxton, Brody, Dempsey and Leo -- will all be junior groomsmen, and Theresa's youngest grandson Henry will be the ring bearer.Gerry's son-in-law Rob will be his best man, and his two daughters, Angie Warner, 43, and Jenny Young, 49, and Jenny's two daughters, Charlee, 16, and Payton, 22, will be in the wedding party as bridesmaids and junior bridesmaids, respectively.Theresa's daughter Jen and daughter-in-law Amanda will also be bridesmaids.The couple said that many of their loved ones "want to say something" and make a speech at their wedding."We warmly welcome them saying things," Theresa said. "They all have something prepared. Some of it you will see, some of it you won't see, but every single person is really involved."Theresa will be wearing a "traditional and modern" wedding dress, which isn't exactly what she had envisioned for her wedding day, and Gerry will be sporting a black tuxedo.Jen, Amanda and fellow contestants Susan and Kathy Swarts helped Theresa pick out her dress."I was presented with these incredibly gorgeous gowns from Badgley Mischka, and I was overwhelmed," Theresa gushed."I asked each one of these beautiful women to go pick their favorite. And then I picked three of mine, and I walked down the stairs with them. And when it was the dress, they unanimously thought this was the good gown. I think Susan was so proud because that's the one I picked out!"Theresa also shared how she and Gerry came up with a plan for their first dance as husband and wife."You've seen me dance. It's not exactly pretty. So I'm going to do the best I can," Gerry joked, adding how he had taken dance lessons to help him along and Theresa picked out the song."I'm a little sore and tired right now from a long morning of rehearsal. You have to remember, I was married 43 years. I came into this relationship well-trained, so when she tells me there's a song that I like, there's a song that I like."Gerry, however, apparently picked the food options -- including steak, halibut, vegetarian choices, and two wedding cakes."We were completely in lockstep on the choices," Gerry said. "I think there's something for everyone. I'll just be in a hurry to get through dinner to get to the cake!"Gerry's cake will be vanilla with chocolate mousse and cappuccino cream frosting, while Theresa's cake will feature raspberry and lemon flavors.Theresa also intends on throwing her bouquet at the wedding reception.Gerry's 92-year-old father Everett won't be able to attend the wedding, but Gerry found a way to make him feel special."I made arrangements with a baker in Fort Wayne to take a small replica of the wedding cake to his home address the night of the wedding," Gerry shared. "He has had watch parties every Thursday, and so we'll take a little bit of the wedding to him."The entire wedding had been planned in a matter of weeks, mostly thanks to Jen."I can't say enough about how wonderful she's been," Theresa gushed to People of her daughter."There are so many decisions to be made, and many, many times we weren't available to give an answer, and she's provided it. And then his daughters are involved, and my daughter's talking to his daughters -- it's been a family event."The pair anticipate a wedding event filled with love and excitement."Both of us are looking forward to some of the element of surprise," Gerry shared with the magazine."If we get too involved and overplan, I don't think there'll be as much joy for us. We trust our children and their good judgment and the things that they've done in the past that reinforce their humor, their judgment, their sensitivity to our situation. To me, they have free rein," Gerry said."I'm really looking forward to when we see things unfold. I think that'll be the greatest fun."Theresa said she wants to live in the moment and not let anything pass them by."We've learned the lesson: You just live in the moment and don't wish for tomorrow to come," Theresa said."I envision it as such a fun, warm, wonderful day, a day filled with joy and laughter and positive energy and everyone being happy to be there."Gerry added, "We want it to be a party."As far as their honeymoon goes, they may take a mini-moon -- but they plan to keep the details under wraps."I don't want to let that out. Then all of a sudden people will be looking for that and asking questions and so forth. There's a little bit of anonymity that I'm looking forward to when things settle down, and we can just enjoy each other's company without some of the glitz and glamour that's been thrown our way lately," Gerry explained.couple also plan to travel to Italy after the wedding, thanks to the generous gift ABC had given them on the live After the Final Rose special."There's been so much going on since the show ended," Theresa said."After the wedding, we're going to be able to sit together and really decide, because it's been a whirlwind. There will be plans for trips and looking for homes and going to Italy, so there'll be so much to look forward to."Gerry and Theresa previously considered relocating to Charleston, SC, together, but now they're thinking about settling down in Theresa's New Jersey home."I like that area, and Theresa's home is 15 minutes from the ocean, and that is so attractive to me," Gerry, an Iowa native who currently resides in Indiana, told People."So we have more than one option to explore. We'll find the spot that we're both happy with... I like that area, and Theresa's home is 15 minutes from the ocean, and that is so attractive to me. So we have more than one option to explore. We'll find the spot that we're both happy with."Gerry and Theresa pride themselves on "good communication" and said they've learned how to resolve their issues very well."At our age, we've probably made our fair share of blunders. We've learned those lessons, and we've brought them forward with us. We can only focus on the things that are fun ahead of us. The commitment is critical," Gerry said."That's the most fundamental part of this, and building the trust in each other and the ability to find the right way to communicate all the time. But it's easy."Gerry concluded of his wife-to-be, "I look at Theresa, and I see the most unselfish person I've ever met, a person that I can trust with literally anything. And that's going to make her a wonderful partner."Interested in more news? Follow our Bachelor Nation News Page on Facebook or join our The Bachelor Facebook Group
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SANAA, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi group on Thursday rejected a joint statement issued by 12 countries condemning Houthi attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, and vowed continued targetting of "Israel-linked commercial ships" in the waters.

The Houthi Spokesman Dhaifallah al-Shami said in a statement that it is "a moral failure and a miserable attempt to cover up the crimes of Israel," considering "America and Western countries are supporting Israel in committing more genocides against the Palestinian people."

He stressed that the armed group would continue attacking what it called "Israel-linked commercial ships" until Israel ends the conflict and siege on the Palestinian enclave of the Gaza Strip.

On Wednesday, the governments of Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Britain and the United States issued a joint statement, condemning Houthi attacks against commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea, and calling for the immediate end of the attacks and release of unlawfully detained vessels and crews.

"The Houthis will bear the responsibility of the consequences should they continue to threaten lives, the global economy, and the free flow of commerce in the region's critical waterways," the joint statement warned.

Since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out on Oct. 7, 2023, the Houthi militia has escalated their attacks on Israel-linked ships, demanding that food and medicine aid be allowed to enter the Gaza Strip.

The Iran-backed Houthis control much of northern Yemen, including Sanaa and the strategic Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, where the group has held the Galaxy Leader, a Japanese-operated cargo ship linked to an Israeli company, and its crew, since they were seized on Nov. 19, 2023.

The United States along with other Western countries formed last week a multinational maritime coalition to secure the ships transiting the Red Sea from the Houthi attacks.

The U.S. naval forces responded to a distress call from a merchant boat in the Red Sea reporting being under a Houthi attack, sinking three Houthi boats, and killing its 10 fighters.

A significant number of companies are already rerouting their ships around South Africa to reduce their risks, which takes an additional 10 days to journey on average and negatively impacts international trade and costs of freight, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Arsenio Dominguez said earlier this week. 
The Commission concluded that bank officials had evidently been negligent in failing to compare the signature prior to making payment, notes Jehangir B Gai.

Bharpur Singh had an account with Axis Bank in which he had a balance of Rs 1,193,304.

When Singh attempted to withdraw some money on May 24, 2008, the bank refused payment on the ground that there were insufficient funds in the account.

Singh learnt that one Gurwinder had used cheque number 063989 to withdraw Rs 11.83 lakh from his account.

The bank lodged a first information report (FIR) with the police.

It also reported the fraud to the Reserve Bank of India as required under the directives issued by the central bank in its master circular for banks. However, the RBI failed to respond.

Singh then had a legal notice issued to Axis Bank in which he demanded that his account be recredited with Rs 11.83 lakh which he had lost due to the fraud.

He also claimed interest on the amount and compensation for harassment. After the bank ignored his notice and failed to take any action to address his grievance, Singh decided to file a consumer complaint before the Chandigarh District Forum.

The Chandigarh District Forum ordered the bank to pay Rs 11.83 lakh along with Rs 2 lakh for mental harassment and Rs 5,000 towards litigation costs. Axis Bank appealed against this order.

The Chandigarh State Commission observed that the fraud had occurred within one month of opening the account.

It also noted that the cheque used to withdraw money from Singh's account fraudulently did not belong to the series of cheque leaves issued to him.

The Commission further observed that even a layperson could have detected with the naked eye the variation in signature between the one on the forged cheque and the one on the account opening form.

The Commission also observed that Gurwinder had used an identical modus operandi to illegally withdraw money from other accounts belonging to Pal Singh, Harinder Pal Singh, Jasvir Singh and Prem Singh, some of whom had also filed separate consumer complaints.

Further, the police investigation report filed before the chief judicial magistrate, Chandigarh, stated that Gurwinder was untraceable.

The Commission concluded that the bank executives had evidently been negligent in failing to compare the signature prior to making payment.

It held the bank liable for this negligence on its employees' part. It further held that Singh should not suffer due to the fraud, and it would be up to the bank to take whatever action it deemed fit to trace and recover the amount from Gurwinder Singh.

After the State Commission dismissed the appeal and upheld the order in Singh's favour, the bank questioned the correctness of these orders by filing a revision petition.

The National Commission stated that the State Commission had given a detailed and well-reasoned order.

It also relied on a Supreme Court ruling in Rubi Chandra Dutta versus United India Insurance, where it had been held that a revision petition was not maintainable against a concurrent finding on fact by both the District Forum and the State Commission.

Accordingly, by its order of December 11, 2023, delivered by Dr Inder Jit Singh, the National Commission dismissed the bank's revision and confirmed the order passed in Singh's favour.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com
In the new year be careful online as there are many scamsters lurking in the cloud, warns A Ganesh Nadar after twice escaping being scammed.

The only reason I am sharing this is to ensure our readers do not get cheated in a similar way.

I spend a lot of time online on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. A fortnight ago I got a friendship request from Anderson Rose on Facebook.

I checked her profile -- a good looking 35-year-old lady and so I accepted.

She was on FB messenger almost immediately suggesting we chat on WhatsApp and I agreed. The harmless conversation went on for a while before she said she was coming to India on Friday.

On Thursday she told me she is landing in Delhi and after finishing her work there she will come to visit me in Chennai.

I was surprised because I have never met any of my numerous Facebook friends. Ever.

This one was special as she was flying in from another country. She had told me she was in London.

On Thursday evening I asked her when she was landing and was surprised when she sent me a picture of her return ticket from London to Delhi.

This was followed by a picture of her luggage and then herself.

Next morning I was wondering why she had not contacted me as her flight was supposed to land at 8:50 am. Around 11:30 am I got a call from a gentleman who said he was calling from Customs, Delhi airport.

"We have detained this lady Rose Anderson as she was carrying a demand draft for one million pounds. She has to pay a fine of Rs 165,000 to get her DD released. We have impounded it and she is in custody."

I was shocked and asked to speak to her. Fifteen minutes later she was on the phone telling me that she had already paid Rs 100,000 that she had and needed another Rs 65,000 to get out of the airport.

I asked her to send me her account details. She said I am not allowed to send money abroad without permission.

She said I should pay the fine directly.

The customs guy called again and said he would send me the bank details. I was surprised when he sent the account details of Anuj Singh.

I called him and told that a customs fine is to be paid into a government account and not to an individual.

He told me to pay up if I wanted my friend to be released.

Rose spoke to me again promising to return my money once she encashed her DD which was worth more than 9 crore rupees.

I called up a friend in Delhi and he gave me the name and number of his lawyer. His lawyer told me that you can bring in any amount of money through bank instruments and someone was definitely cheating me and my friend.

He also told me to find out the designation of the custom officer who had contacted me.

I called the man and he told me he was an immigration Officer. I reminded him that earlier he had told me that he was working in the Customs.

He told me that it was not important who he was, was I going to pay the fine.

I called Rose and she demanded whether I was going to pay the fine and help her not. Her tone was now threatening.

I told her what my lawyer had said and advised her to call the British high commission.

The CustomS guy called me again and I told him that a friend was coming with the cash to the airport.

He told me that because of the covid scare no one was allowed to enter the airport without a ticket and so he would accept only a bank transfer.

I explained to him that my bank after adding a beneficiary I could transfer up to Rs 50,000 after half an hour and the Rs 15,000 I could transfer only the next day.

He advised me to use G Pay and transfer the money immediately.

I refused and he said, "Then I have no choice but to deport her and send her back to where she came from."

Rose sent me an abusive message on WhatsApp.

This article is to inform readers not to get scammed by such scamsters.

One more scam I would like to mention here. I got a friendship request from a young lady and I accepted.

She wanted to chat on WhatsApp and next I got a video call from her.

She started taking off her clothes while she was talking to me and after becoming naked told me to take off my clothes.

I had read about this scam where she would save my nude pictures and then threaten to upload it on Facebook and Instagram and also send it to my online friends.

I told her I was not going to strip as I was 65 and too old for this. I blocked her number and her profile on Facebook.

In the new year be careful online as there are many scamsters lurking in the cloud.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
The judiciary, the police, the lawyers and the public will have to know the new laws.

It will also endanger settled jurisprudence on the old laws and open up all sorts of minor and major problems that currently do not exist.

Whose then was asking for the change? Not the judges or police or lawyers or citizens, points out Aakar Patel.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas at the Veer Baal Diwas programme at the Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, December 26, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

'If it ain't broke, don't fix it'.

The dictionary says this is a proverbial saying whose popularity is attributed to an official in then US president Jimmy Carter's administration.

It is 'used to say that one should not try to change something that is working well'.

The Indian Penal Code is 150 years old. It has worked not only in India, but also in the rest of South Asia.

Though it calls itself an Islamic republic, almost all of post 1947 Pakistan's laws have remained the same that the British had left behind and are common to the subcontinent, going back to the Penal Code written by Thomas Macaulay in the 1830s and enforced from 1862 onwards.

Even in 2023, the Indian Penal Code and the Pakistan penal code remain almost identical.

The changes that came in after 1947 are few on either side. The natives of Lahore know what the number 144 (Section 144 which criminalises assembling of people under certain circumstances) means in law just as well as those of Chennai.

The laws were familiar and they were functional. Everyone from the thanedar and the constable to the citizen knew them.

For Pakistanis, just as for Indians, the law that deals with punishing murder is called 302 and the one for cheating is 420.

These are numbers of the Indian Penal Code that have been used on the subcontinent even after Independence in 1947.

Why? Because the laws work. If there is a problem of courts clogged with cases it is not because the laws are flawed and the new laws will not change that (in fact the contrary, as we will see).

If the issue is that colonial laws are unsuitable for a free nation and we need a more liberal order then also the Sanhita does not change that.

There was no demand in India that the laws be changed. We are not referring to tinkering, meaning removing and adding that which becomes necessary with changing time.

We are referring to changes brought about from whole cloth.

Taking down an edifice fully and dismantling it without reason. The question is, of course: Why change something that is working?

The answer to that we do not have and will not get. The script writers of Bollywood will need to change their dialogues and get their screen judges and cops to memorise some new numbers but deeper problems are anticipated.

First that the new laws would likely increase litigation. Lawyer Sanjay Hegde has pointed out that after making bounced cheques a criminal offence, courts have been flooded with new litigation on this.

Lawyer Colin Gonsalves has asked why the police were being given more arbitrary power over the citizen than even in the colonial period.

Lawyer and Congressman Abhishek Manu Singhvi has asked why the non-existent (according to the government itself) phenomenon of 'love jihad' was being added to offences with a 10 year sentence.

Yet others have pointed out that sedition, under a new name, remains under the penal code.

The simplest way of understanding a masterstroke is to accept they are masterstrokes and not question their necessity or wisdom.

Former army chief General M M Naravane has written his memoirs and if they are allowed to be published they contain the revelation that the Agniveer scheme was a 'bolt from the blue'.

Something modest by way of a short service commission that the army had proposed was first inverted.

Instead of retaining three fourths of the inductees, only one fourth would be and the rest out to pasture, retired at ages as young as 22.

And the plan was extended to the navy and air force, which had no inclination toward or need for this 'reform'.

Meaning it was a top-down and unexpected stroke of genius from the prime minister (since nobody else counts).

This has changed the face of an army that has been functioning competently since the 18th century meaning for over 200 years.

Why agitate and disturb something that works?

That question could also be asked of the brilliant decision to abolish currency.

Who was asking for Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes to be banned?

Not the Reserve Bank of India, which resisted and warned, correctly as it turned out, that this was a dumb move that would damage the economy.

Not the economists and not the business community and certainly not the citizens.

It came because of whim. The same mentality is at work with the new criminal laws.

They will not only require the judiciary, the police, the lawyers and the public to know new laws but it will also endanger settled jurisprudence on the old laws and open up all sorts of minor and major problems that currently do not exist.

Precedents, the basis of Common Law, which we follow, will come undone.

Whose then was asking for change? Not the judges or police or lawyers or citizens.

Lawyer Sanjay Hegde has warned that once introduced, our new Sanhita will be even more disruptive than demonetisation.

One hope that this is not the case and hope also, despite the evidence of the last decade, that adequate thought and preparation have gone into this introduction of change where none was really required.

And for those who remain puzzled and still ask the question: Why are we doing this?, the answer appears to lie in a mindset that believes 'it ain't broke then break it'.

Aakar Patel is a columnist and writer and you can read Aakar's earlier columns here.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
The Enforcement Directorate said three of its officers suffered "grievous" injuries in a mob attack on its search team in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district on Friday and their belongings such as mobile phones and wallets were robbed.

IMAGE: West Bengal Governor Dr CV Ananda Bose visits an ED official who is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Kolkata, January 5, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

In an official statement issued late Friday, the federal agency said it has filed a complaint with the local police for registration of an FIR against the accused.

The ED team came under attack when they had gone to search the residence of Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shajahan in Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district in connection with a ration distribution scam.

"ED officials while discharging their duties were badly attacked by the crowd (suspected to be instigated by Sheikh Shajahan and his associates). Three officers have suffered grievous injuries as the mob marched towards the ED officials with an intention to cause death," the agency said.

The injured officials are being treated at a hospital, it said.

Other officers had to escape from the place without conducting the search to save their lives as the mob became "very violent" and even chased the officials so as to deter them from performing their official duty, it said.

"The mob also snatched, robbed, stole the personal/official belongings of the ED officials such as their mobile phones, laptop, cash, wallets, etc."

"Accordingly, the requisite complaint has been made to jurisdictional police for registration of FIR and necessary action against culprits," it said.

As soon as the search team arrived at the residence of Sheikh Shajahan, the door was found locked from inside and he refused to open the door.

The agency said its officers, with the assistance of Central Reserve Police Force personnel, were trying to get the door opened even by trying to contact the person concerned.

"His mobile location at that time indicated that he was inside this house. Thereafter, ED team was taken by surprise that within half an hour, a mob of around 800-1,000 persons started marching towards them with weapons in their hands such as lathis, stones, bricks, etc. and gheraoed the ED officials and CRPF personnel."

"Suddenly, they started attacking the ED officials and CRPF personnel and started pelting stones and brick at them and attacked the officers as well as the 27 CRPF personnel with lathis and by using physical force and also raising/shouting slogans against the ED officers," it said.

The ED said the crowd also "badly" damaged vehicles that ferried the officers and security personnel.
The Aam Aadmi Party on Friday nominated Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal as its candidate for the January 19 Rajya Sabha elections and renominated Sanjay Singh and ND Gupta for a second term in the Upper House of Parliament, party sources said on Friday.

IMAGE: Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal. Photograph: ANI Photo

The party's political affairs committee (PAC) announced the nominations.

"DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal has been nominated for the first time. The PAC has decided to continue with Sanjay Singh and ND Gupta for their respective second term as Rajya Sabha members," a source said.

Sushil Kumar Gupta, whose tenure will end this month as a member of the Rajya Sabha, has conveyed his aspiration to fully immerse himself in the electoral politics of Haryana where the AAP wants to fight elections later this year, the source said.

A court in Delhi has allowed Singh, who was arrested in a money laundering case related to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam, to sign forms and documents for his Rajya Sabha renomination.

Special Judge M K Nagpal passed the order on an application filed by the politician, who submitted that his present term as a member of the Rajya Sabha is expiring on January 27 and the Returning Officer has issued a notice on January 2 for conduct of the election and nominations for the same are to be submitted by January 9.

The application sought a direction to the Tihar Jail Superintendent to allow Singh to sign the documents.
Sources within the INDIA bloc said appointing Nitish Kumar as convenor would lend credibility to the INDIA bloc's demand for conducting a nationwide caste census.

IMAGE: Janata Dal-United leader Nitish Kumar greets Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi at the INDIA meeting, December 19, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

The Janata Dal-United is optimistic about the INDIA bloc of parties announcing Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as convenor of the Opposition alliance, with most of its constituents, particularly the Congress, amenable to his appointment.

The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) is set to make several key decisions in the lead-up to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's two-month-long Manipur-to-Mumbai Bharat Nyaya Yatra, commencing on January 14.

These decisions are likely to include declaring Nitish Kumar as convenor of the alliance and finalising seat-sharing agreements in crucial states, such as Bihar and Maharashtra.

Last week, on December 19, Nitish Kumar assumed the role of JD-U president.

The Congress leadership has since reached out to him, committing itself to backing him as convener of the alliance and persuading other leaders to come on board in recognition of the crucial role that the Bihar CM has played since February 2023 in shaping the bloc.

At a meeting of the Communist Party of India-Marxist-Leninist in Patna on February 18 last year, Nitish Kumar and the Congress's Salman Khurshid, dispatched by party President Mallikarjun Kharge, initiated consultations to form an Opposition alliance for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. This led to the alliance's top leaders holding their inaugural meeting in Patna in June.

Sources within the INDIA bloc said that appointing Nitish Kumar as convenor would lend credibility to the INDIA bloc's demand, particularly that of Rahul Gandhi, for conducting a nationwide caste census. The Bihar government conducted a caste survey and made the details public in 2023.

Meanwhile, the Congress's five-member alliance committee is diligently working to finalise seat-sharing agreements in Maharashtra and Bihar. However, progress has been elusive in Punjab.

The state units of the Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress have resisted any seat-sharing between the two, arguing that it would be illogical to unite against the Bharatiya Janata Party in the state, where the latter is fourth in terms of vote percentage. The BJP's influence is confined to Hindu pockets in Punjab's urban areas.
The Enforcement Directorate on Friday searched premises of Baramati Agro, a company owned by MLA Rohit Pawar, grand nephew of NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, and linked entities as part of a money laundering probe into the alleged Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank scam, official sources said.

IMAGE: Rohit Pawar. Photograph: ANI on X

At least six locations in Baramati, Pune, Pimpri and Aurangabad are being searched, they said.

The office of Baramati Agro in Baramati town is also being covered.

Rohit Pawar, 38, is NCP MLA from Karjat-Jamkhed seat in the Maharashtra assembly and is the owner and CEO of Baramati Agro.

Rohit is the nephew of Baramati MP Supriya Sule and Ajit Pawar, the Deputy chief minister of the state and MLA from Baramati.

The probe against his firm pertains to allegations of "diversion" of funds and deposit of earnest funds of a company that bid for the purchase of a Maharashtra-based ailing cooperative sugar factor (CSF).

The MSCB money laundering case stems from an August, 2019 FIR of the Mumbai Police Economic Offences (EOW) wing.

The police complaint came after the Bombay high court issued an order on August 22 that year to investigate the allegations of selling sugar factories in the Maharashtra cooperative sector through alleged fraudulent means and also that they were sold at throwaway prices.
Grievously injured in an attack by loyalists of a Trinamool Congress leader during a raid in West Bengal, Friday's assault on Enforcement Directorate officers has ignited a political fury, prompting the opposition to demand President's Rule, while Governor CV Ananda Bose stressed that the state government's duty is to quell "barbarism," asserting that Bengal is not a banana republic.

IMAGE: An injured member of the Enforcement Directorate team being taken to hospital after he was attacked during a raid in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali, in North 24 Parganas, January 5, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

While the Bharatiya Janata Party termed the attack on the central agency sleuths investigating the ration distribution scam as "a direct assault on the federal structure", the Congress demanded President's Rule, and the ruling TMC refuted the charges and accused the ED officials of inciting locals.

The governor, while signaling his intent to explore constitutional options and take appropriate action, urged police to abandon their "ostrich-like attitude" of pretending not to see lawlessness around.

The incident occurred when ED officers raided the residence of TMC leader Sheikh Sajahan regarding the investigation of a ration distribution scam, where they faced attacks from his supporters, resulting in substantial damage to both officers and their vehicles.

Sajahan is considered to be a close aide of state minister Jyotipriyo Mallick, who was arrested last year in connection with the multi-crore ration distribution scam.

This ED raid was a crucial aspect of the agency's ongoing probe into the scam.

IMAGE: Security personnel inspect a vehicle of the Enforcement Directorate team which was attacked by mob. Photograph: ANI Photo

The tense situation reached a boiling point as a large number of TMC loyalists assaulted ED officials and personnel of central forces during the raid, forcing the officers to abandon their damaged vehicles and seek refuge in auto-rickshaws and two-wheelers.

At least two officers sustained serious injuries, necessitating hospitalisation.

Even CAPF troopers accompanying the Enforcement Directorate officials were not spared by the rampaging mob.

"This kind of attack is unprecedented. We have sent a report on Sheikh Sajahan to our Delhi office," an ED officer told PTI.

Meanwhile, police detained 10 persons for their alleged involvement in the assault on ED officers, an official said.

IMAGE: Another ED team's vehicle that was attacked by mob. Photograph: ANI Photo

The episode drew sharp criticism from the governor, who slammed the state government's "ostrich-like attitude" for its inability to contain the turmoil in Sandeshkhali.

The Raj Bhavan occupant, with whom the TMC dispensation shares a torrid relationship on a host of issues, said a civilised government must stop "barbarism and vandalism in a democracy".

"The ghastly incident in Sandeshkhali is alarming and deplorable. It's the duty of a civilised government to stop barbarism and vandalism in a democracy. As a governor, I will explore all my constitutional options for appropriate action in the appropriate manner," Bose said in a voice message released from the Raj Bhavan.

He also asserted that West Bengal is not a "banana republic," and "Jungle Raj and gunda raj will work in a fool's paradise".

"The government may better open its eyes and see the reality and act effectively or face the consequences. The ostrich-like attitude of the police pretending not to see the lawlessness around should go," Bose said in an audio statement.

The incident triggered a political storm in West Bengal, with opposition parties criticising the deteriorating law and order situation.

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nisith Pramanik emphasized the failure of respective state governments to provide adequate security to central agency officers, stating,

"The attack on the officers of the central agency is an attack on the federal structure of the state."

He said the Centre is taking serious note of the incident and its commitment to investigating why similar events persistently occur in West Bengal.

BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah requesting for an immediate National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into the incident and demanding imposition of President's Rule in the state.

Majumdar also requested deployment of central paramilitary forces to safeguard the integrity of investigative procedures.

Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari asserted that the TMC schemed to provoke the central forces into opening fire, intending to generate an issue and disrupt the ongoing investigation.

"The TMC orchestrated a plan to create a scenario wherein the central forces would be compelled to resorting to gunfire. Subsequently, the TMC aimed to manipulate the circumstances to hinder the central agency's investigation into other scams. I thank the central forces for exhibiting restraint amidst such challenging circumstances," he added.

State Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury echoed similar sentiments and said there is a complete lawless in Bengal.

"Under the TMC rule, law and order ceased to exist in West Bengal. We demand President's Rule should be immediately imposed," he said.

In response, senior TMC minister Shashi Panja charged the central agency officials with inciting locals leading to the situation.

"Union minister Nisith Pramanik spoke about the attack on the federal structure. The withholding of the state's dues in a real sense is an attack on the federal structure," she said.

The senior TMC leader also criticised the governor for his "biased" statements and "dared" the opposition to implement President's Rule and topple a democratically elected government.

"The central agency went for a raid without informing police or the state government. Is this an example of following the norms of federal structure," she said.

TMC state spokesperson Kunal Ghosh criticised both the Congress and the BJP, contending that the law and order situation in West Bengal is far superior than other states.

"The governor instead of looking into the entire incident impartially is jumping to conclusions. He should stop acting like a BJP leader," he said.

Media persons from news channels, who went to Sandeskhali to cover the ED raids, were also assaulted and their vehicles ransacked.
Gangster Sharad Mohol was shot dead allegedly by some members of his gang in Pune on Friday afternoon, a police official said.

IMAGE: Policemen examining the spot in Pune, January 5, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

The 40-year-old gangster died while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in the Kothrud area, he said.

Three to four assailants fired two rounds at Mohol from a close range at Sutardara in Kothrud around 1.30 pm. He suffered bullet wounds and was rushed to a hospital, the official said.

Teams have been formed to capture the assailants, who are members of Mohol's gang, the official said.

According to the police, Mohol has several cases to his name, including murder and dacoity.

He was acquitted in the murder of suspected Indian Mujahideen operative Mohammad Qateel Siddiqui inside the Yerawada jail.

The motive behind the shooting appears to be a dispute over land and money, they said.

One suspect has been detained, and the others involved in the shooting have been identified. Teams have been formed to apprehend the remaining suspects," the official said.

Mohol sustained three gunshot wounds at point-blank range, with two bullets striking his right shoulder and one penetrating his chest, he said.

Ruling out a gang war, the official said the attack was a fallout of conflicts within Mohol's gang, specifically related to land and money.
The Delhi police suspect that the Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist arrested on Thursday is part of a larger conspiracy to attack more policemen in Jammu and Kashmir, sources said.

IMAGE: A video grab of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Javed Mattoo, who was arrested by the Delhi police Special Cell, January 4, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

On Thursday, the Delhi police Special Cell arrested "A++" category terrorist Javaid Ahmad Matoo, who was wanted in 11 terror attack cases, including five grenade attacks and the killing of at least five police personnel in separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir.

He was carrying a reward of Rs 10 lakh.

It is suspected that Matoo was using the national capital as a transit point to go to the valley via Nepal from Pakistan, police sources said.

But the officials are still interrogating him about his last destination before reaching Delhi.

"Matoo is learnt to have expertise in operating rocket-propelled grenade, under barrel grenade launcher and AK-47. His target is very accurate," an official said, adding that he could have learnt this in training.

Delhi police Special Cell on Thursday arrested him from Nizamuddin with a loaded pistol and an extra magazine in his possession.

He was driving a stolen car when he was apprehended, police had said.

The Delhi police booked him under the Arms Act and conspiracy case.

It is also interrogating him to get further details about the conspiracy and his further plans.

The officials are also interrogating him to know the actual reason for his coming to Delhi, sources said.

A native of Sopore, Matoo was outside Jammu and Kashmir for the last 10 years.

"It is suspected that he was staying somewhere in Pakistan but entered India via Nepal. He was looking for an opportunity to go to Pakistan," a police source said.

A police official said that Matoo was a prominent member of the group headed by Abdul Qayum Nazar, who was the operational in-charge of the terrorist module in Jammu and Kashmir," the officer said.
LANZHOU, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Images of a snow leopard have been captured by infrared cameras in a nature reserve in northwest China's Gansu Province.

It is the first time a snow leopard has been photographed in Yongchang County, which is home to the Dongdahe nature reserve station, under the Gansu Qilianshan National Nature Reserve.

The Dongdahe nature reserve station, with an altitude of 2,360 meters to 3,820 meters, covers a forest area of 528,400 mu (about 35,227 hectares).

In recent years, the Gansu Qilianshan National Nature Reserve has installed infrared cameras to further monitor the population, quantity and distribution of wild animals under its jurisdiction.

Ma Duifang, an engineer at the Gansu Qilianshan National Nature Reserve, said the appearance of the snow leopard proves the ecological environment in Yongchang is improving. 
Following the assault on Enforcement Directorate officials during a raid in a remote West Bengal village on Friday, all eyes are now on Sahajahan Sheikh, popularly known as 'bhai,' who is alleged to be the mastermind behind the attack.

IMAGE: Security personnel inspect a vehicle of the Enforcement Directorate team which was attacked by mob, in West Bengal, January 5, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

The brutal attack on ED officers has ignited a political firestorm.

The Opposition is demanding President's Rule, while Governor CV Ananda Bose has urged the state government to quell "barbarism," emphasising that Bengal is not a banana republic.

The incident transpired as ED officers conducted a raid on the residence of TMC leader Sheikh, linked to an investigation into a ration distribution scam. Supporters of Sheikh launched attacks during the operation, resulting in significant damage to both officers and their vehicles.

The 42-year-old Sheikh, who started as a small-time worker in the fisheries of the Sandeshkhali block in North 24 Parganas near the Bangladesh border, rose to become the uncrowned king of the state's fisheries belt.

The eldest of four siblings, Sheikh began as a worker in fisheries and brick kilns in Sandeshkhali.

In 2004, he entered politics as a union leader in brick kilns.

He later joined the local Communist Party of India-Marxist unit, maintaining his presence despite the changing political landscape in West Bengal.

Known for fiery speeches and organisational skills, Sheikh caught the attention of TMC leadership in 2012.

Under the stewardship of the then TMC national general secretary Mukul Roy and North 24 Parganas TMC district president Jyotipriyo Mullick, he joined the party and quickly ascended in power, becoming a close associate of Mullick.

Since then, his trajectory in the corridors of power has been unstoppable, raising eyebrows with his rapid ascent akin to a rocket.

In 2018, Sheikh gained prominence as the deputy head of the Sarberiya Agarhati gram panchayat.

Currently serving as the president of the Sandeshkhali TMC unit, his political trajectory peaked when he secured a zilla parishad seat last year.

Sheikh, known as 'Matsa Karmadhakshya' (in-charge of fisheries) for North 24 Parganas, he oversees the district's fishery development, reflecting his influential standing in both political and economic spheres.

In addition to his political roles, Sheikh is a go-to figure for conflict resolution in the area, mediating family disputes and land disagreements.

His younger brothers are active TMC workers managing his business, including land dealings.

Described by locals as both a messiah and a terror, Sheikh, also known as 'bhai,' commands respect and fear in the region.

According to leaders from the local TMC and Opposition, Sheikh commands both respect and fear in the region.

"To some, he is a messiah; to his detractors, he is a terror. He carries a Robin Hood image in the area and is affectionately known as 'Bhai' among his supporters," said a local TMC leader.

Despite involvement in criminal cases, he has played a key role in curbing child trafficking, earning recognition for his efforts in making Sarberia Agarhati gram panchayat a 'Child-Friendly Gram Panchayat' in 2019.

In the aftermath of the violent clashes between BJP and TMC workers in Sandeshkhali post-Lok Sabha polls in June 2019, resulting in deaths on both sides, Sheikh found himself implicated in a murder FIR filed in connection with the incident.

Sheikh's journey from a humble worker in the fisheries of North 24 Parganas to a prominent political figure is marked by controversy and influence.

The current events highlight the complex interplay of power, politics, and controversies associated with Sheikh's role in the fisheries belt of Bengal.
Indian Navy's elite marine commandos on Friday rescued all 21 crew members including 15 Indians from a bulk carrier after boarding it from a warship in a swift operation in the North Arabian Sea that followed after around five to six armed pirates attempted to hijack the Liberian-flagged vessel.

The Navy deployed a warship, maritime patrol aircraft P-8I, helicopters and MQ9B Predator drones to assist the vessel MV Lila Norfolk after it sent a message on the UK Maritime Trade Operations portal, saying unknown armed personnel had boarded it on Thursday evening.

Indian Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said frontline warship INS Chennai intercepted the cargo vessel at 3:15 pm and that MARCOs commandos "sanitised" it.

All the crew members were hiding in a safe room on the vessel since last evening when the pirates boarded the cargo ship, it is learnt.

"All 21 crew including 15 Indians onboard the vessel were safely evacuated from the citadel," Indian Navy's spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said.

"Sanitisation by MARCOs has confirmed the absence of the hijackers. The attempt of hijacking by the pirates was probably abandoned with the forceful warning by Indian Navy's maritime patrol aircraft of interception by naval warship," he said.

Madhwal said Indian ship INS Chennai is in the vicinity of MV Lila Norfolk and it is rendering support to restore the power generation and propulsion in the vessel, besides assisting her commence voyage to the next port of call.

Earlier in the day, the Navy diverted frontline warship INS Chennai from her anti piracy patrol and it intercepted the hijacked vessel at 3.15 pm.

The vessel was kept under continuous surveillance using maritime patrol aircraft P8I and Predator MQ9B drones.

"The Indian Navy's marine commandos present onboard the mission deployed warship boarded the merchant vessel and have carried out the sanitisation operation," Madhwal said.

MV Lila Norfolk sent a message on the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) portal indicating that five to six unknown armed personnel boarded the vessel on Thursday evening.

Earlier, the Navy said the overall situation is being "closely monitored" in coordination with other maritime agencies in the region.

The hijacking incident comes amid growing concerns over Houthi militants stepping up attacks on merchant vessels in the Red Sea amid the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The Navy had earlier said it was responding swiftly to the "developing situation" and deployed a maritime patrol aircraft and diverted INS Chennai for the security of MV Lila Norfolk.

"Responding swiftly to the developing situation, Indian Navy launched a maritime patrol aircraft and has diverted INS Chennai deployed for maritime security operations to assist the vessel," it said in a statement.

"The aircraft overflew the vessel early Friday morning and established contact with the vessel, ascertaining the safety of the crew," it said "The Indian Navy remains committed to ensuring safety of merchant shipping in the region along with international partners and friendly foreign countries," the Navy said.

The UKMTO is a British military organisation that tracks movements of various vessels in strategic waterways.

The cargo vessel belonged to Lila Global and the company's CEO Steve Kunzer said the crew of Lila Norfolk have been successfully rescued by the Indian Navy ship INS Chennai.

"The vessel and crew are all safe. We want to thank the Agencies that assisted in their rescue, in particular the Indian Navy, Capt Rohit Bajpai, Director IFC-IOR and the officials of DG Shipping," he said in a statement.

"We also want to thank the professionalism of our crew who reacted safely and responsibly under the circumstances," he said.

The Indian Navy's IFC IOR (Information Fusion Centre - Indian Ocean Region) keeps track of the shipping traffic as well as other critical developments in the region.

The fresh incident is among a series of such maritime incidents witnessed in the strategic waters in the last few weeks.

Liberian-flagged vessel MV Chem Pluto, with 21 Indian crew members, was the target of a drone attack off India's west coast on December 23.

Besides MV Chem Pluto, another commercial oil tanker that was on the way to India came under a suspected drone strike in the Southern Red Sea on the same day. The vessel had a team of 25 Indian crew.

In another incident, Malta-flagged vessel MV Ruen was hijacked on December 14 by pirates.

The Indian Navy on Wednesday said it continues to monitor the maritime security situation in the North and Central Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden.

"Indian Naval ships and aircraft remain mission deployed for maintaining enhanced surveillance and undertaking maritime security operations," it said.

"In the last one week, Indian Naval Task Groups deployed in the area have investigated large number of fishing vessels and boarded vessels of interest," it added.

The task groups comprised warships, surveillance planes and remotely-piloted aircraft.
Kerala priest Fr Shaiju Kurien of the prominent Orthodox Church, who joined the Bharatiya Janata Party with around 50 Christian families, has been temporarily removed from his positions in the diocese pending an inquiry, authorities said on Friday.

IMAGE: The BJP posted this photograph of Fr Shaiju Kurien and others joining the party, on December 31, 2023. Photograph: BJP4Keralam/X

Kurien was serving as the secretary of the Orthodox Church Nilakkal Bhadrasanam (diocese) in Pathanamthitta district and as vice president of Nilakkal Bhadrasanam Sunday school.

The BJP, which has been wooing the Christian community in Kerala for some time, had announced on December 31 that Fr Kurien and around 50 families from the minority community joined the party in the state.

According to a statement issued by the Nilakkal bhadrasanam on Friday, the decision to temporarily remove the priest from all current church positions, pending an inquiry, was taken by the diocese council convened January 4.

However, the public relations officer's statement did not specify the reason for the action against him.

As per the statement, the council decided to request Catholica Bava, the supreme head of the Malankara Orthodox Church, to appoint an inquiry commission to probe the complaint received against Fr Kurien. It has been decided to complete the investigation within two months, it said.

A new priest would be appointed as the vice president of the Nilakkal Bhadrasanam Sunday school, it added.

On December 31, the BJP had announced through a Facebook post that Fr Shaiju Kurien and around 50 Christian families joined the party in the presence of Union Minister V Muraleedharan.

The BJP has said that many people from the Kerala Congress (Jacob) faction also joined the party in the presence of state president K Surendran in Thrissur district last Saturday.

The party attributed this trend of minorities joining its ranks to the visionary approach of development of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government.

The development came shortly after BJP resumed its 'Sneha Yatra,' an outreach programme aimed at connecting with the Christian community in the state.
Trinamool Congress leader Kalyan Banerjee on Friday lauded Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar's great gesture of wishing him on his birthday, days after the MP's mimicry of the Rajya Sabha chairman snowballed into a political storm.

IMAGE: TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee mimics Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar at the Parliament complex in New Delhi. Photograph: Rahul Singh/ANI Photo

Banerjee also stressed the importance of moving forward, leaving behind past misunderstandings.

"It is indeed a great effort and gesture by the Honourable vice president to wish me on my birthday. I am truly overwhelmed that he spoke to me and my wife and invited us for dinner at his place," Banerjee, who turned 67 on Thursday, told PTI.

"Life must always move on, leaving behind past misunderstandings," the Srirampore MP said, when asked if Dhankhar's gesture could improve relations between the two.

The Trinamool Congress MP had also expressed gratitude to Dhankhar on social media on Thursday for his birthday greetings.

Controversy erupted last month after Banerjee mimicked Dhankhar during an opposition protest on the Parliament stairs, detesting the suspension of over 140 MPs. The act was video-recorded by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

Banerjee's actions drew strong condemnation from the BJP.

Dhankhar, who is also a senior advocate, had then said in the House that he would not tolerate any disrespect to Parliament or the constitutional post of the vice president.

Banerjee later asserted that mimicry is a form of expression, and the right to dissent and protest is a fundamental right.
A court in Delhi on Friday allowed the Delhi police to conduct the polygraph test of five of the six accused arrested in connection with the Parliament security breach.

IMAGE: One of the accused, Neelam Azad (second from right) in the Parliament security breach case being brought to Patiala house court by the Delhi police Special Cell, in New Delhi, January 5, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Additional sessions judge Hardeeep Kaur, who also extended the police custody of all the accused by eight days, allowed the investigating officer to conduct the polygraph test of Manoranjan D, Sagar Sharma, Amol Dhanraj Shinde, Lalit Jha and Mahesh Kumawat.

The court passed the order after noting the consent of the accused, excluding Neelam Azad, to conduct their polygraph test.

The judge passed the order on an application moved by the police, which had sought permission to conduct the polygraph test of all the accused.

In a major security breach on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack on December 13, two people -- Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D -- jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during the Zero Hour, released yellow gas from canisters and shouted slogans before being overpowered by the MPs.

Around the same time, two other accused -- Shinde and Azad -- also sprayed coloured gas from canisters while shouting "tanashahi nahi chalegi" outside the Parliament premises.
The Indian Navy, which regards itself as the 'net security provider' in the Indian Ocean Region, has also stepped up to the plate, with a warship stationed at all times off the Gulf of Aden for counter-piracy tasks.

91 Indian warships have been deployed in the region since 2008, patrolling high risk areas where piracy was rampant.

IMAGE: The Indian Navy's warships responded swiftly to a maritime incident in the Arabian Sea involving the hijacking of the MV Ruen, December 16, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

2023 ended with the Indian Navy's recovery of a Liberian flagged tanker, Chem Pluto, which had apparently been attacked by an armed drone after it crossed the West Asian straits and was entering the Arabian Sea.

Given the recent spate of attacks on merchant shipping in the Arabian Sea, the navy announced the deployment of three guided missile destroyers -- INS Mormugao, INS Kochi and INS Kolkata -- to maintain a deterrent presence.

In addition, the navy's P-8I Poseidon long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft are flying patrols over these waters in order to maintain maritime domain awareness.

There are three key maritime chokepoints through which shipping can enter from West Asia into the Arabian Sea: The Suez Canal, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb (BAM).

Almost all the oil and petroleum products being shipped out from West Asia must pass through the chokepoint of the Strait of Hormuz.

From here, giant tankers carrying petroleum products from the Persian Gulf head east for Asian markets -- primarily China, India and Japan -- without needing to risk navigating the BAM or the Red Sea.

Of even greater interest to New Delhi is BAM's role as a strategic link between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea and the Suez Canal.

The strait is 18 miles wide at its narrowest point, limiting tanker traffic to two 2-mile-wide channels for inbound and outbound shipments.

Most petroleum and natural gas exports from the Persian Gulf that transit the Suez Canal pass through both the Bab el-Mandeb and the Strait of Hormuz.

The chokepoint's Arabic name -- the Gateway of Tears -- illustrates its fraught geopolitical environment of inter-state and inter-sectarian conflict, state failure, famine and crime.

The Indian Navy regards BAM as critical, given its commanding location astride the international shipping routes between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean.

Closure of the BAM could prevent tankers originating in the Persian Gulf from transiting the Suez Canal, forcing them to divert around the southern tip of Africa, which would increase transit time and shipping costs.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic forced a re-calculation of oil and trade flows, some 6.2 million barrels of crude oil, condensate, and refined petroleum products crossed through the BAM every day.

The strait's two-mile-wide shipping lanes allow cruise ships, warships, fishing trawlers and international merchant shipping to keep going through the world's fourth busiest waterway.

The US and its allies have determined that safeguarding these sea lanes is in the global interest.

For weeks, beginning soon after Hamas fighters in Gaza launched coordinated attacks on Israel on October 7, rebels from the Iran-backed, Shia Muslim, Houthi group in Yemen have unleashed multiple airborne strikes on cargo ships traversing the Red Sea and BAM, leading many of the world's biggest shipping companies, including Mediterranean Shipping Company, Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd and British Petroleum, to announce they would avoid the area.

This has caused oil prices to rise, damaging the global economy.

The Houthis are Zaidis, a sub-sect of Yemen's Shia Muslim minority. They consider Iran as an ally, because Saudi Arabia is their common enemy.

They take their name from the movement's founder, Hussein al Houthi. The group was formed in the 1990s to combat what they saw as the corruption of the then-president, Ali Abdullah Saleh.

India's naval response

The Indian Navy, which regards itself as the 'net security provider' in the Indian Ocean Region, has also stepped up to the plate, with a warship stationed at all times off the Gulf of Aden for counter-piracy tasks.

The navy chief has said that 91 Indian warships have been deployed in the region since 2008, patrolling high risk areas where piracy was rampant.

In addition to anti-piracy missions and owing to heightened tensions in the Straits of Hormuz, Indian warships have also deployed to the Gulf since June 2019, under the aegis of Operation Sankalp, to reassure Indian merchant marine vessels transiting the region.

During this period, 27 Indian warships have escorted 381 Indian-flagged merchant vessels carrying 305 lakh tonnes of cargo.

On its Web site, the navy says: 'The Indian Navy has been deploying [at least] one ship in the Gulf of Aden on anti-piracy tasking since October 2008.'

Indian Naval ships escort merchant ships through the 490 nautical mile-long Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) and thus far 50 Indian Navy warships have been deployed.

New Delhi has been deliberate in displaying leadership in carving out a role in counter-piracy.

Squeezing a high volume of merchant and military traffic through narrow channels is just the first challenge.

Then there is the question of who is to lead collective security, since the area is bordered mainly by weak countries that are focused mainly on their internal security.

With the COVID-19 pandemic sapping regional attention and resources and leaving little mind space for maritime security, there has been a sharp increase in piracy in 2020.

While the CMF has the flexibility, skills, and credibility to take on a larger role in the BAM, the US does not favour greater involvement.

Beijing's muscular approach could backfire unexpectedly.

Fragile Yemen could splinter further, encouraging the Houthis to act more aggressively in their own waters.

IMAGE: A visual of the MV Chem Pluto taken by the Indian Coast Guard's Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft in the Arabian Sea after it was hit by a suspected drone which led to fire on it. Photograph: ANI Photo

A matter of hegemony

Given the complexity of the situation for New Delhi, analysts are recommending seizing the initiative and establishing hegemony or collective security in the Red Sea.

With COVID-19 distracting global attention and the security of the BAM increasingly fragile, the risk of a dangerous miscalculation is high.

Beijing, meanwhile, is treading carefully, avoiding involvement in the rivalries around BAM.

This neutrality allows it to cultivate its economic and diplomatic relationships in West Asia and Africa without alienating any potential partner countries.

Unless China's economic or strategic interests are severely threatened, it is unlikely to take an overt role in resolving the regional conflicts around the BAM.

Since most regional countries are already committed to longstanding partnerships of their own, any Chinese attempt to secure the BAM via naval control would have to go it alone, a gargantuan effort with questionable returns.

So how best to secure the West Asian sea lanes?

In the past, this has been achieved by a muscular approach combined with one that has addressed the root causes of piracy.

The suppression of piracy off the Horn of Africa relied on the appearance of an overt international naval presence; a big grey ship on the horizon tended to result in a sudden change of plans by would-be pirates.

From its first major base beyond its own waters, China will be looking at the lessons learned in West Asia about how Western forces react in volatile situations.

Other actors will also be looking at how much of a role the US and its partners take in the BAM, and adjusting their actions accordingly.

An increased -- and increasingly visible -- presence by the US and its partners is warranted, leveraging existing partnerships and working with new and inexperienced partners.

Activities such as passing exercises, boarding practice, and sailing in company help build regional capability and confidence, or at least keep some of the less professional navies out of trouble.

The security situation in the Persian Gulf and BAM does not look like it will be resolved any time soon; indeed, with the multiplying effects of the pandemic, economic collapse and plunging oil prices, it is likely to get worse.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Considerable cloudiness. High 42F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds. A few flurries are possible. Low around 30F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.
NEW YORK, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- New York City Mayor Eric Adams Thursday announced that the city has filed a lawsuit against 17 charter bus and transportation companies that have transported tens of thousands of migrants from Texas to the city since early 2022.

New York City filed the lawsuit in the New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan arguing that the charter bus companies violated New York's Social Services Law by bringing or causing to be brought, a needy person from out of state into this state to make him a public charge.

The city aims to recoup around 708 million U.S. dollars spent in providing emergency shelter and services to at least 33,600 migrants in the last 20 months as well as those who are transported from Texas to the city in the future.

"Today, we are taking legal action against 17 companies that have taken part in Texas Governor Abbott's scheme to transport tens of thousands of migrants to New York City in an attempt to overwhelm our social services system," said Adams in a statement. "Today's lawsuit should serve as a warning to all those who break the law in this way."

New York City has been strained by the influx of migrants with the local sheltering system and finance overwhelmed.

Since April 2022, New York City has allocated around 3.5 billion U.S. dollars to provide food, shelter, and more to more than 164,000 asylum seekers.

At the end of 2023, New York City issued restrictions on the arrival of buses loaded with migrants amid a new wave of arrivals. 
by Dana Halawi, Huang Hongsheng

BEIRUT, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Hassan Chit, a 50-year-old Lebanese farmer, wailed to express his pain over the loss of his 20,000 square meters of persimmon and avocado orchards in Sarda plain in southern Lebanon due to the confrontations on the Lebanese-Israeli borders.

"The Israeli attacks have affected all the plains and agricultural orchards, from the Marjeyoun plain in the west to the Majidiya plain in the east," Chit said.

The affected land he mentioned covers about 20 square kilometers, supplying approximately 20 percent of the markets all over Lebanon with vegetables and fruits.

The Lebanon-Israel border witnessed increased tension since Oct. 8, 2023, after the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets toward Israel in support of the Hamas attacks on Israel the previous day, prompting Israel to respond by firing heavy artillery toward southeastern Lebanon.

The start of military confrontations coincided with the fruit harvest season, forcing farmers to flee border villages as their homes and farmlands were engulfed in flames due to Israeli bombings, said Chit.

Youssef Salama, a farmer in his 60s, emphasized the need for support and compensation for losses in the agriculture sector, which were crucial for the livelihoods of 30 percent of the population in border villages.

He said the border escalation had ruined most of the farmers' summer and winter crops, leaving their orchards strewn with shrapnel and phosphorus shells, and dashing any hope of resuming production soon.

Ghaith Maalouf, an agricultural engineer, also warned that the agricultural sector in Lebanon's southern border areas is on the verge of collapse as Israel's bombing caused severe environmental pollution to the soil.

"It takes two to three years to clean the soil from environmental pollution, and replanted trees require five to seven years to start production, which means that farmers lost about seven years of their lands' production," Maalouf said, adding it is difficult for farmers to make through such a period amid the country's ailing economy.

A study by the Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture and Municipalities showed that more than 462 hectares of forest and farmland had been burned and an unknown number of trees destroyed by fire and pollution.

Lebanese Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan said the Israeli bombing had hit 53 towns and villages in southern Lebanon, damaging many agricultural tents, fodder warehouses, livestock and beehives.

He also said the field inspection committees could not finish their work because of the ongoing fighting, so the study only covered the damage in the first month of the conflict.

"The actual loss for Lebanon's agriculture sector could be much higher than estimated in the study," Hassan said, hoping for an end to the escalation and a return to normal life and production for the farmers. 
Badly beaten in September, Ny Nak has been critical of government ministries for some time.

Ny Nak, an agriculture expert and critic of Cambodias government, delivers goods to customers on Dec. 26, 2023.

Updated January 8, 2023, 1:29 p.m. ET

A government critic who was severely beaten by assailants on the streets of Phnom Penh in September was arrested Friday on charges of incitement and defamation after he made a Facebook comment that mocked the Ministry of Commerce.

Ny Naks wife, Sok Synet, said police stopped him while he was riding his motorbike, took him to the Ministry of Interior and then to Phnom Penh Municipal Court, where he was formally charged.

Minister of Labor Heng Sour filed a complaint against Ny Nak this week after he posted the comment about a Ministry of Commerce statement that said it aims to register 10,000 new companies this year as it seeks to encourage investment in Cambodia.

The new 10,000 companies in 2024 must include dried clams companies, begging companies or illegal drug companies, Ny Nak wrote on Facebook.

He added that the government should disclose how many failed businesses have recently closed.

The agricultural expert was convicted to 18 months in prison and fined 2 million riels (US$485) in late 2019 after he criticized Cambodias COVID-19 policy as being too restrictive. He later apologized to then-Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Since his release in early 2023, Ny Nak has been posting comments critical of the government on Facebook under the pseudonym IMAN-KH.

On Sept. 12, he criticized Minister of Agriculture Dith Tina over his handling of a report on rice prices. Hours later, he was beaten unconscious by several helmet-wearing, baton-wielding motorbike drivers.

Photos obtained by RFA showed him in bed with gauze wrapped around his head and balled up inside his ears, his hands bandaged, and his lips severely swollen. He was hospitalized for a week.

Other online comments

No one has been arrested in the attack, which also left Sok Synet with injuries.

Ny Nak has also posted critical comments about a government decision to cede about 100 hectares of land to a man named Heng Sour. His comment didnt mention the mans title, and it was unclear if he was referring to the minister of labor.

Heng Sour and Prime Minister Hun Manet have denied that the government has given land to the minister.

Sok Synet told Radio Free Asia that Heng Sour may have filed the criminal complaint over the Ministry of Commerce comment in retaliation for the previous land comment.

We must assert with the utmost urgency that the Ministry of Commerce has absolutely no involvement or connection to the incident or the individual mentioned, ministry spokesperson Borapich Serei said in an email to RFA.

The attack on Ny Nak in September was one of dozens that have been carried out on government critics and outspoken activists in Cambodia. Most of the incidents have targeted members of the opposition, who say they are politically motivated.

Am Sam Ath of human rights group Licadho urged the government and court officials to differentiate between freedom of expression and defamation.

RFA couldnt reach Phnom Penh Municipal Court deputy prosecutor and spokesman Plang Sophal for comment on Fridays arrest.

Court officials told Sok Synet they will send Ny Nak to Prey Sar prison on the outskirts of the capital on Saturday, she said.

He just simply wants justice for himself and others who are the victims, Sok Synet told RFA. He wants the government to know that we need justice in a so-called peaceful country. All people need peace and peace shouldnt be reserved for only one group of people.

Translated by Yun Samean. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster.

Updated to add comment from the Ministry of Commerce.
South Korean residents take shelter on Yeonpyeong Island after North Korea fired an artillery barrage near Baengnyeong and Yeonpyeong islands, Friday, Jan. 5, 2024.

UPDATED on Jan. 5, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. ET

North Korea launched some 200 artillery shells into waters off its western coast on Friday near the inter-Korean maritime border of the Northern Limit Line, or NLL, according to the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff. The area is near South Koreas Baengnyeong and Yeonpyeong islands.

The shells fired between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Seoul time caused no casualties to civilians or military personnel in the South, the JCS said in the statement. In response, Seoul directed residents on the islands to seek shelter, as it informed its plans to conduct naval fire drills by its troops later in the afternoon.

The North's Korean People's Army, or KPA acknowledged in a statement what they called a "live-shell firing drill," but denied that the intent was to scare residents of the islands.

"The claim of the military gangsters of the Republic of Korea that the KPA fired naval artillery shells into the waters north of [Baengnyeong] Island and [Yeonpyeong] Island, a so-called buffer zone in the West Sea of Korea, is a far-fetched assertion to mislead the public opinion, and their evacuation and firing in return are also a trite method to throw the responsibility for the escalating tension on the KPA's drill," said the statement, which was published by the state-run Korean Central News Agency. "The direction of naval live-shell firing doesn't give even an indirect effect on [Baengnyeong] and [Yeonpyeong] islands."

The artillery barrage came as U.S. and South Korean military forces began their first joint drills for this year on Thursday, involving the U.S. Air Force asset, Rivet Joint, a reconnaissance aircraft designed for intelligence collection.

But State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said the United States harbors no hostile intent against Pyongyang and called on it to refrain from further provocative, destabilizing actions and return to diplomacy.

In particular, we encourage [North Korea] to engage in substantive discussions on identifying ways to manage military risks and create lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula, Miller said.

He added the United States was seeking to coordinate international responses to the repeated missile launches and was working with Japan and South Korea about how to best engage the North.

On Nov. 23, 2010, the North shelled Yeonpyeong island, killing four South Korean residents and injuring 19, while causing severe damage to the entire island. South Korea returned fire shortly afterward in an incident that caused inter-Korean relations to sour sharply.

'Respected child'

Hours before the shells were fired, North Koreas state-run Korean Central News Agency reported that leader Kim Jong Un and daughter Ju Ae visited an intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM, mobile launcher vehicle factory, a move seen by an expert that signals a strong commitment to ramp up the production of these vehicles.

Kim and his respected child Ju Ae conducted an on-site guidance at an important military vehicle production factory, the report said Friday.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, accompanied by his daughter Kim Ju Ae, visits a military vehicle production plant, in this picture released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Jan. 5, 2024. (KCNA via Reuters)





Kim and the daughter, accompanied by major ruling party officials including the powerful sister Kim Yo Jong, observed various military vehicles produced at the factory, gaining a detailed understanding of their production status, KCNA added.

Photos released by KCNA show the North Korean leadership standing before mobile launch vehicles, which could be equipped to launch its latest ICBM, the Hwasong-18.

The use of transporter erector launchers, or TELs, complicates the ability of the United States and its regional allies to carry out pre-emptive strikes, as these mobile platforms offer enhanced concealment and mobility for missile deployments.

This factory holds an extremely important position and plays a pivotal role in the historic endeavor of bolstering our national defense, said Kim Jong Un, as cited by KCNA.

In the current grave situation, where we must be more resolutely prepared for military confrontation, the contribution of this factory to our defense capabilities is of paramount importance, he said.

North Korea must also further modernize its military capability, he added.

Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul and advisor to South Korean administrations, said that Pyongyang is determined to show that its stance on nuclear confrontation with the U.S. is a deeply serious commitment rather than mere rhetoric.

Kim Jong Uns display of ICBM mobile launcher vehicles signals a strong commitment to ramp up the production of these vehicles, in step with the increased manufacturing of nuclear missiles, Yang said, adding that the interdependence between missiles and their launchers is akin to that of a thread and needle  each crucial to the others operation.

Historically, North Korea relied on importing missile launch vehicles. However, through domestic production and customization, it has significantly improved the mobility, stealth, and quick deployment of its missile arsenal, said the pundit.

Baekdu bloodline

The expert also noted the significance of Ju Ae accompanying the leader, saying her presence at military facilities underscored a specific symbolic message.

It indicates that the commitment to bolstering national defense will persist, adhering to the doctrine that fortifying defense is a duty of the Baekdu bloodline, Yang said.

The Baekdu bloodline, named after North Koreas highest mountain Baekdu, refers to the lineage of North Koreas ruling Kim family, as the hereditary leaders of the country.

The nominee to be the next head of South Koreas spy agency said Thursday that he sees Ju Ae as the probable successor of North Korea, marking the first time the agency has officially indicated her possible succession of power.

Radio Free Asia reported in November last year that the daughter received a new official title Morning Star of Korea  an apparent and deliberate parallel to the countrys founding leader Kim Il Sung.

The daughter, born in 2013, has started making public appearances since November 2022, accompanying Kim Jong Un in North Koreas various high-profile occasions, including his visiting of missile launching sites.

Updated with comments from the U.S. State Department. Edited by Taejun Kang, Elaine Chan Malcolm Foster, and Eugene Whong. Alex Willemyns contributed reporting.
A platoon commander has also been captured, the resistance forces say.

An image circulated by resistance forces shows a junta platoon commander captured after the TNLA and Mandalay PDF seized a military camp in Than Bo village, Nawnghkio township, in northern Shan state.

Myanmar anti-junta armed groups, the Taang National Liberation Army and Mandalay Peoples Defense Force, say they have seized a junta military camp at a village in northern Shan state.

The Mandalay PDF announced that the combined forces launched an attack this week on the camp at Than Bo village, taking control of it on Wednesday and capturing a platoon commander.

During the battle, both sides suffered casualties, the PDF stated, without giving details.

The seized camp comes under the juntas Central Region Military Command and has between 50 and 100 forces, the Taang National Liberation Army, or TNLA, said on Friday.

RFA was unable to reach junta spokesman Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun for comment.

The Mandalay PDF is currently participating in Operation 1027 led by the anti-junta Three Northern Brotherhood Alliance, which includes the TNLA. That offensive has dealt the most severe military setback to the junta since it seized power in a February 2021 coup.

The TNLA and Mandalay PDF have managed to block the Mandalay-Nawnghkio-Gote Twin road, connecting the Mandalay region and northern Shan state. This has led to regular clashes between the junta and resistance groups in the Nawnghkio township.

Since the launch of Operation 1027 two months ago, the Three Brotherhood Alliance has reportedly captured 10 townships in northern Shan state and seized control of more than 200 junta camps.

Attacks are continuing around the cities of Hseni and Kutkai in northern Shan state.

Edited by Taejun Kang and Elaine Chan.
Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army fighters seized a vast stockpile of arms and ammunition after overrunning the juntas Kokang regional command center and taking control of Laukkai.

Ethnic rebels have overrun a key military command center in northern Myanmar, taking control of the city of Laukkai and accepting the surrender of hundreds of soldiers, in what analysts called a stunning blow to the juntas grasp on power in the region.

Fighters with the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, or MNDAA, stormed the juntas Kokang regional command center, the largest base in northern Shan state near the Chinese border late on Thursday, prompting soldiers in the facility to lay down their arms, despite the militarys attempt to defend the facility from afar with artillery fire and airstrikes.

Zachary Abuza, a professor at the National War College in Washington and an adjunct at Georgetown University who writes commentaries to Radio Free Asia, called the MNDAAs occupation of the Laukkaing Regional Operation Command a significant development in the conflict between the military and anti-junta forces.

This was the regional operational command headquarters, and that [the military] surrendered in the end without a shot being fired is both very significant and telling that the regime could not support them beyond airstrikes, he said in comments emailed to RFA.

The MNDAA seized control of the facility in Kokangs capital Laukkai despite military assets that included heavy weapons, armored vehicles and a vast stockpile of arms and ammunition, as well as soldiers from the juntas 55th Division. The division was recently mobilized to contend with an ethnic offensive that has made significant gains in Shan state since its launch in late October.

A source close to the command of the juntas Laukkaing Department, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to security concerns, confirmed to RFA Burmese on Friday that the MNDAA is now in complete control of Laukkai.

There are seven military battalions under the Regional Operation Command in Laukkai, and sources estimate that up to 2,000 soldiers and pro-junta militia fighters were based there.

The MNDAA, the Taang National Liberation Army and the Arakan Army together are known as the Three Brotherhood Alliance of ethnic armies, which launched Operation 1027 against the military in late October and has since reportedly captured 10 townships in northern Shan state and seized control of more than 200 junta camps.

On Friday, the Three Brotherhood Alliance claimed that around 2,389 troops and their families had surrendered to its forces following the attack on the Laukkaing Regional Operation Command, without providing a breakdown of the figures, in a post to the social media platform X.

Troops withdraw to Lashio

A source with knowledge of the situation, who also declined to be named, said that following the surrender junta troops and their family members were sent to Lashio, the largest city in northern Shan state and the headquarters of the militarys Northeast Command, located some 200 kilometers (125 miles) northeast of Mandalay. Further details were not provided.

Videos of junta soldiers surrendering to the MNDAA quickly made the rounds on social media, and a resident who lives near the border with China identified the location as Laukkai.

The videos show junta soldiers handing over their arms and surrendering before leaving by car with their family members, the resident said. Some of the soldiers were allowed to leave using their motorbikes, while their families were transported by trucks and private cars.

Members of pro-junta channels on the social media platform Telegram claimed that the military had not entirely evacuated the Laukkaing Regional Operation Command, and that family members and injured soldiers from the bases medical facility were taken to Lashio with the assistance of area charity groups.

Telephone and internet services have been cut off in the region, making it difficult to obtain information about the situation there.

Neither the military nor the MNDAA have issued an official statement about the surrender in Laukkai, and attempts by RFA to contact spokesmen for both factions went unanswered Friday.

Junta under pressure in Kokang

The junta has been under pressure to arrest members of the Kokang region administration for their suspected involvement in online scam syndicates and had recently replaced Myint Swe, the chairman of the Kokang Self-Administered Zone, as the region is officially known.

It was unclear whether the shake up had any bearing on the recent fighting and the juntas readiness to defend the base in Laukkai.

A vehicle moves through Laukkai after Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army forces seized the military's regional command base. (Spring Revolution)

The MNDAA made several moves in the lead up to Thursdays seizure.

On Oct. 27, the date of the launch of Operation 1027, the ethnic rebels blocked all routes leading to Laukkai and on Dec. 5 seized a military outpost located just over 3 kilometers (2 miles) from the Laukkai Regional Operation Command. The MNDAA also occupied the villages of Yan Long Keng and Tar Shwe Htan near Laukkai, essentially surrounding the operation command base.

A military observer in Shan state told RFA that while the military carried out airstrikes and artillery attacks to defend the base, it was unable to deploy reinforcements or send military supplies to troops inside the facility, who surrendered without putting up a fight.

In my opinion, the decision to surrender was made solely by the Regional Operation Command, said the observer, who also spoke on condition of anonymity. They might have discussed a possible retreat of the military forces, after which arms and equipment were handed over to the MNDAA.

Aung Myo, a former military officer and a political commentator, noted that the Regional Operation Command in Laukkai was a base camp, which limited the juntas ability to respond to the attack.

The operational command, which also housed families, was not a combat position on the frontlines, he said. Even though the soldiers could have fought back, they had to consider the security of their family members. It was a poor military strategy to establish the base there in the first place.

An earlier attack by anti-junta forces on the base on Nov. 12 resulted in the surrender of 129 soldiers and 262 of their family members.

Shortly after the surrender of military forces in Laukkai on Thursday, the Three Brotherhood Alliance launched an attack on Hopang township in the Wa Self-Administered Region, located around 6.5 kilometers (4 miles) away from the town of Chinshwehaw in Shans Laukkaing township, according to a resident. The MNDAA had taken control of Chinshwehaw after the launch of Operation 1027.

Armed clashes started around 3:00 a.m., after which [anti-junta forces] carried out a search of the area for policemen, soldiers, militia fighters and members of online scam gangs, the resident said.

A resident of nearby Pang Long township said that on Friday, members of the United Wa State Army  Myanmars largest ethnic army that in November had vowed to remain neutral amid Operation 1027  occupied Pang Long and Hopang under MNDAA protection. The two townships are connected to UWSA territory.

No control of northern Shan

Abuza, of the National War College, called it wise for the MNDAA to allow an orderly withdrawal of junta troops from Laukkai to Lashio on Thursday, which he said seems to be the SACs new defensive perimeter, using the juntas official name, the State Administration Council. They are acknowledging that they have no ability to control northern Shan State.

It will be interesting to see if the Three Brotherhood Alliance now moves on Muse, which would give them substantial control over border trade with China, he added. Muse sits opposite the town of Ruili in Chinas Yunnan province and is a major hub for commerce between the two countries.

Abuza noted that the loss of the base in Laukkai would lead to a significant loss of revenue for the junta, including its ability to pay for border guards forces, and suggested that the MNDAA will move quickly to hunt down scam operators and individuals on Chinas wanted list to prove to Beijing that they are a legitimate partner worthy of support.

Junta chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing personally led the militarys occupation of Laukkai as regional commander in 2009, seizing the city from an outnumbered contingent of MNDAA soldiers without firing a shot.

Translated by Aung Naing. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster.
The activity, held within its territory, is its 'sovereign right,' Manila said.

A Philippine Air Force FA-50PH jet fighter joins the maritime patrol of the Philippines and the United States over the Batanes islands in the Luzon Strait and areas in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), Nov. 21, 2023.

The Philippines on Friday defended its joint South China Sea patrols with the United States against a Chinese claim that they were provocative, saying the maneuvers took place within its territorial waters and were consistent with international law.

But Manila remains open to diplomatic discussions with China, Filipino National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano said, a day after the Philippine and U.S. militaries completed a second joint patrol in the disputed waterway.

We wish to clarify that the joint maritime activities between the Philippines and the United States were clearly conducted within our exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and are consistent with international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), so how can they be deemed provocative? Ano said in a statement.

The Philippines is merely exercising its sovereign right to engage in such activities within its territory.

On Thursday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin had called the Philippine-U.S. patrols irresponsible, saying they were detrimental to management and control of the maritime situation and related disputes.

Other nations must respect efforts of countries in the region to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea, he said.

The Philippine national security adviser said Manila was committed to maintaining regional peace.

Our joint patrols with the United States and potential future activities with other allied countries shows our mutual commitment to a rules-based international order and for promoting peace and stability of the region, Ano said in a statement.

The national security adviser said Manila wanted to maintain a cordial rapport with all countries.

The Philippines remains open to diplomatic discussions with China and reaffirms its commitment to fostering good relations with all nations, Ano said. We believe that through peaceful dialogue and adherence to international law, we can achieve a resolution that serves the best interests of all parties involved in the region.

A U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon patrol and reconnaissance plane circles past a Chinese coast guard ship during a resupply mission by a civilian boat chartered by the Philippine navy to deliver supplies to Manilas outpost on Second Thomas (Ayungin) Shoal in the disputed South China Sea, Aug. 22, 2023. (Ted Ajibe/AFP)

In 2016, the Philippines won a landmark ruling in the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague that threw out Chinas expansive claims in the South China Sea. Beijing, however, has ignored the ruling and carried on with its military expansionism in the strategic waterway, including building artificial islands.

As was the case with the first round of joint patrols, which were launched in late November, this weeks patrols took place in the waters and skies of the Philippines EEZ.

The first joint sea and air patrols between the two allies, a three-day program, was meant to demonstrate bilateral muscle-flexing in the face of perceived Chinese aggression in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait.

Those maneuvers involved three navy ships and three fighter-jets from the Philippine military, and one littoral combat ship and an aircraft from the American side.

The governments of both nations have been allies since they signed their Mutual Defense Treaty in 1951.

Message that Philippines is not alone

On Friday, Filipino military spokesman Col. Xerxes Trinidad said the second patrol, a series of operations held Wednesday and Thursday, required complete coordination between Philippine and U.S. assets to enhance the operational capabilities and interoperability of both forces.

For the activity, the Philippine military sent four ships, a multi-role helicopter, and an anti-submarine helicopter, while the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, deployed an aircraft carrier, the USS Carl Vinson, and its strike group that included a cruiser, and two destroyers.

Maritime security expert Ray Powell, a retired U.S. Air Force officer, said the joint activity increased Manilas leverage internationally.

These exercises send the message that the Philippines is not alone in the West Philippine Sea, but must be considered by potential adversaries as part of a network of military allies and partners, Powell told BenarNews on Friday.

Two weeks earlier, the Philippines said it intended to expand multinational patrols in the South China Sea. He said France, Canada, India, the U.K. and New Zealand had expressed an interest in joining such patrols.

All these nations support the 2016 arbitration courts ruling that invalidated Chinas sweeping claims to the sea.

In recent months, China has been harassing Filipino forces delivering supplies to its forces at its military outpost in Second Thomas (Ayungin) Shoal. Last month, a civilian-led convoy carrying Christmas gifts to forces there was forced to turn back after a Chinese ship shadowed it relentlessly.

Jeoffrey Maitem in Davao City, southern Philippines, contributed to this report.

BenarNews is an online news outlet affiliated with Radio Free Asia.
Clothing matches that of the 64-year-old monk at an abbey in Washington state.

Geshe Dadul Namgyal teaches at Sravasti Abbey in Newport, Washington, on Sep. 28, 2023, less than two months before he was reported missing.

A sheriffs office in Washington state said they found the body of a deceased male in a pond near where a 64-year-old Tibetan Buddhist monk went missing in November.

Investigators have said the clothing on the body matched that of Geshe Dadul Namgyal, a senior monk and male resident teacher at the Sravasti Abbey in Newport who was reported missing on Nov. 8 after he failed to show up for a prayer ceremony a day earlier.

Investigators said they are awaiting the results of the autopsy report to confirm the identity of the body, which residents of the abbey said had been frozen over with ice and had only recently thawed.

Newport is the county seat of Pend Oreille County in the northeast corner of the state, bordering Idaho.

In a statement, the Pend Oreille County Sheriffs Office said they received a call on Jan. 3 from the abbey reporting that residents had sighted a body floating in a pond. Police retrieved the body, which was partially submerged in the cold water, using a canoe, the Sheriffs Office said.

Monks at the Drepung Loseling Monastery in south India offer prayers and butter lamps for Geshe Dadul Namgyal, the 64-year-old Tibetan Buddhist monk who was reported missing in November. (Citizen journalist)





While walking around the pond on Abbey property yesterday, two monastics noticed that maroon-colored clothing was floating on the surface of the water, according to a Jan. 4 statement by Sravasti Abbey.

We contacted the Sheriffs Department immediately. They came out, called for a boat, and retrieved a body which they think matches the description of Geshe Chodrak (the ordination name of Geshe Dadul Namgyal), the statement said.

Namgyal was reportedly last seen wearing a maroon jacket over his monks robes when he went missing while taking a walk around the abbeys 300-acre grounds.

The sheriffs office and the abbey didnt immediately respond to Radio Free Asias requests for comments.

Extensive search in November

An autopsy was requested by the Coroner to determine an estimated time of death and possible cause, the sheriffs office said. Also requested was a positive identity of the deceased person.

In November, the sheriffs office, abbey residents and local search and rescue volunteers carried out extensive searches in the area surrounding the abbeys grounds.

Namgyals family also offered a reward of up to $25,000 in cash for any information that may help find the missing monk.

Namgyal  who joined the abbey in May as one of its first male resident teachers  has been a practicing monk and a Buddhist practitioner, teacher, scholar and translator for over four decades.

He served as an English language translator for the Dalai Lama and as a speaker and interpreter at many Buddhist conferences that delve into the intersection of Buddhism with modern science, psychology and Western philosophy.

Namgyal has also made significant contributions in developing a comprehensive bilingual science learning curriculum for Tibetan Buddhist monks and nuns while working with the Emory-Tibet Science Initiative as one of the lead translators.

Prior to joining Sravasti Abbey, he was the senior translator and interpreter with the Emory Universitys Center for Contemplative Science and Compassion-based Ethics, while also serving as the senior resident teacher for the Drepung Loseling Monastery in Atlanta.

Geshe Dadul was a very learned scholar, said Tsondue Samphel, assistant director for Emorys Social, Emotional and Ethical Learning Program. He understood and translated scientific terminologies and jargons with ease. This, in turn, was of great benefit to the scientists as well as the monks and nuns studying science.

Namgyal also served for several years as the principal of the Monastic School for Modern Education at Drepung Loseling Monastery in south India, and later, as a professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhism at the Central University of Tibetan Studies in Sarnath in north India.

He received his Geshe Lharam degree  the highest degree of learning in Tibetan Buddhism  from Drepung Loseling Monastery in South India in 1992.

Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster.
NAIROBI, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- The iconic Africa's birds of prey, including long-crested eagle, African hawk eagle, and dark chanting goshawk, are staring at an extinction crisis amid mounting threats, international researchers said.

According to a study from global researchers published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution, 90 percent of 42 species of African raptors could experience a drastic population decline, threatening ecosystem balance.

Based on road surveys conducted within four regions of Africa at 20- to 40-year intervals, the study noted that large birds of prey have experienced significant declines in unprotected areas where they are exposed to poaching and retaliatory attacks from farmers and herders.

Darcy Ogada, the Africa program director at the Peregrine Fund, an international conservation lobby, decried the loss of the continent's majestic birds of prey, driven by human actions and shrinking natural habitation.

"One of Africa's most iconic raptors, the Secretarybird, is on the brink of extinction," Ogada said in a statement issued in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi on Thursday evening, calling for redoubling efforts to avert further loss of birds of prey in the continent.

Given the myriad threats facing Africa's charismatic eagle and vulture species, including loss of their natural habitat and poisoning, they could become extinct in much of the continent's unprotected land by the latter half of this century, noted researchers.

The researchers cited a steep decline among raptors currently classified as being of "least concern" in the global Red List of threatened species, including the Wahlberg Eagle, Long-crested eagle, African-harrier hawk, and brown-snake eagle.

Phil Shaw, a lead author of the study, noted that since the 1970s, a large swathe of African forested land and savanna grassland has been converted into farmland, intensifying pressure on the raptors' population.

Shaw emphasized the need to expand the continent's protected landmass and mitigate pressure on birds of prey whose contribution to ecosystem and human health is immense.

Besides poisoning by herders and poachers, African raptors are grappling with shrinking breeding sites and food supplies, electrocution on power lines, and collision with wind turbines, said the researchers.

The decline in raptors population was twice higher in West Africa compared to other parts of the continent, the researchers noted, adding that some raptors, like Beaudouin's snake-eagle, native to West Africa, are vanishing into oblivion.

Martin Odino, the study co-author from the Peregrine Fund and National Museums of Kenya, stressed that educating grassroots communities, policymakers, and wildlife managers will be key to strengthening the conservation of Africa's birds of prey. 
Witness says that the Chinese government forced Uyghurs and other minorities to register biometric data.

The study upon which the article was based involved the collection of blood and saliva samples from Uyghurs and Kazakhs, which were then tested using genetic sequencing technology developed by the American biotech company Thermo Fisher Scientific, who office in Waltham, Mass., is pictured.

The recent retraction of an academic journal article that discussed the genetic information of Uyghurs and Kazakhs in Chinas northwestern Xinjiang region has raised questions and concerns about ethical standards in scientific research, as people familiar with the study believe that genetic samples were obtained under duress.

In June, Elsevier, a Dutch publisher, announced the retraction of a scientific article published in 2019 in its journal Forensic Science International: Genetics. The retraction was attributed to the failure to meet necessary ethical approvals in scientific research, The Guardian reported.

The deleted study, entitled Analysis of Uyghur and Kazakh populations using the Precision ID Ancestry Panel, was authored by Chinese and Danish researchers in Urumqi.

It involved the collection of blood and saliva samples from 203 Uyghurs and Kazakhs, which were then tested using genetic sequencing technology developed by the American biotech company Thermo Fisher Scientific.

The article's authors claimed that their findings could help police in using genetic sequencing techniques to identify suspects in cases.

"A clear knowledge of the genetic variation is important for understanding the origin and demographic history of the ethnicity of the populations in Xinjiang [which] may offer an investigative lead for the police," the article said.

In the redaction notice, the journal said that an investigation revealed that those who collected the samples did not obtain the necessary ethical approval.

Forced collection

Yves Moreau, a professor at the University of Leuven in Belgium, has raised the concern that the Chinese government forcibly collects and arbitrarily uses genetic information from Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities. He told Radio Free Asias Uyghur Service that he had been critical of the 2019 study for a considerable period of time before it was finally deleted.

The article that was retracted  That's a case that has been open for a very, very long time, said Moreau, who added that he is working toward getting journals to reevaluate numerous articles, many on the same subject.

Moreau had also taken issue with a similar study published in the June 2022 issue of Forensic Science Research, a journal acquired by the Oxford University Press in 2023. That article detailed a study sponsored by Chinas Ministry of Justice that analyzed the genetic information of Uyghurs based on blood samples collected from them.

The retracted 2019 article and the 2022 article was written by the same authors, Claus Brsting, Niels Morling, and Xalmurat Ismailjan (Halimureti Simayijiang) from the forensic genetics department at the University of Copenhagen.

Qelbinur Sidiq, shown speaking at the "Uyghur Tribunal" in 2021, says she saw samples collected from blood, as well as collections of fingerprints and retina scans. She said she herself was made to give all three in 2016. (Tolga Akmen/AFP)

Ismailjan is known to have ties to China's public security agencies and is listed as being jointly affiliated with Xinjiang Police College, The Guardian report said.

Experts like Moreau contend that the blood samples utilized in both studies were obtained from people who had no choice but to participate.

Moreau was reluctant to take on the 2022 article, he said, because one of editors-in-chief of the journal was from the Institute of Forensic Science of the Chinese Ministry of Justice.

So I thought, well, if I'm going to write a letter asking for ethical re-evaluation of an article in that journal, I'm not going to get much of an answer, he said.

But when the journal was acquired by Oxford University Press, he was able to raise the issue with that institution, he said.

Now I can write to Oxford University and tell them,  you know, you were actually publishing this journal for the Institute of Forensic Science of the [Chinese] Ministry of Justice, said Moreau.

In an email sent to Irene Treacy, vice chancellor of the University of Oxford, Moreau noted that "such consent should be given voluntarily, and he does not believe that the Uyghurs consented to [biometric data collection] voluntarily."

After Mr. Moreau raised the issue, the editorial departments of the University of Copenhagen and the editor departments of the aforementioned journals replied via email that they would investigate the matter, he explained.

Coerced samples

Witnesses have observed coerced genetic data collection both inside Chinas secretive reeducation camps in Xinjiang and also outside of the camps.

Qelbinur Sidiq, who currently lives in the Netherlands, said she saw samples collected from blood, as well as collections of fingerprints and retina scans. She said she herself was made to give all three in 2016.

"Blood samples and DNA sequencing are mandatory, whether you are inside the camp or outside. There is an order where authorities instruct you on when to go to which hospital for the collection of your blood sample and DNA, she said. There is no freedom or choice to refuse.

Sidiq said that the police inform residents through the chat platform WhatsApp as to when they must appear at a specific hospital for collection.

Participants are given one week, and the notice explicitly states that failing to participate will result in severe consequences, she said. As a result, there is no freedom or choice in the matter, and individuals are unable to inquire about their results. Asking for the result of the blood sample is not an option."

Duarte Nuno Vieira, the co-editor-in-chief of Forensic Science Research, denied the journal had received financial support from Chinas Ministry of Justice, according to the Guardian report.

Journals have a responsibility to evaluate the ethics of the studies that appear in articles they publish, Maya Wang, associate Asia director for New York-based Human Rights Watch, told RFA.

"Given the brutality of the collection process, I believe it is important for such journals to check and review research articles on samples taken from Uyghurs and Tibetans by Chinese police agencies, she said. It is unlikely these journals not know the background of such articles."

In 2021, Professor Yves Moreau initially uncovered similar articles published by Chinese researchers about Uyghurs in the American journal Molecular Genetics and Genome Medicine. Following his investigation into the matter, eight members of the editorial board of the journal resigned.

Edited by Eugene Whong and Malcolm Foster.
Kaster Musakhan, a Kazakh asylum seeker, is seen after being attacked in Kazakhstan by unknown individuals in Almaty, Dec. 22, 2023.

An ethnic Kazakh who was imprisoned in Xinjiang, in far-western China, and fled to Kazakhstan in 2019 to seek asylum, was attacked by four unknown men on Dec. 22 after eating a meal with his brother in a restaurant in Almaty, the countrys largest city, he told Radio Free Asia.

Kaster Musakhan, 34, who was left with multiple injuries, said he didnt know his assailants, but suspects they beat him for speaking out about how Chinese authorities repressed Muslims in Xinjiang.

Someone I didnt know grabbed my hand and struck me, he told RFA Uyghur. Three more individuals joined in. All of them were Kazakhs.

The men punched, kicked and struck Musakhan with a billiard stick, bruising his face, knocking out a tooth and breaking some of his ribs, he said.

It wasnt the first time that a Kazakh asylum seeker had been attacked and beaten up in Kazakhstan, said Erbol Doletbek, a Germany-based organizer of the Atajurt Kazakh Human Rights Organization who believes China is behind the attacks.

In January 2021, Muragir Alim Asatani, 30, was stabbed, and Kaisha Akan, 48, was beaten by unknown assailants, in two different places on the same day, said Doletbek, who lives in Germany, and a Kazakh doctor who has been checking on Musakhan.

These Kazakh asylum seekers, helpless people, without passports in their hands, in a more difficult economic situation, have no chance of being enemies to anyone in Kazakhstan, Doletbek said. There is only one place where they expose the massacres happening in their own country to the media. Therefore, we believe that China is behind these attacks.

Bilateral agreement

Kazakhstan, Chinas most important economic partner in Central Asia, previously pledged to repatriate ethnic Kazakhs seeking refuge from repression in Xinjiang.

But an agreement between the two countries last September set immigration curbs on ethnic Kazakh nationals of China, including the sharing of information on each others' citizens and the potential repatriation of asylum-seekers who cross their border.

Musakhan said that no one in the restaurant tried to stop the attackers and no one, including the restaurant owner, called the police.

Gheyret Beytulla, an Atajurt member who found out about the attack and arrived at the scene, reported the incident to police, called a local hospital, and notified Doletbek about Musakhans situation.

Doletbek began investigating the situation and reported what he found out about the attack by livestreaming a video of Musakhans injuries on Facebook.

Imprisoned in China

Ten years earlier, Musakhan was arrested by Chinese authorities in Xinjiang in March 2013 for allegedly participating in public protests by ethnic Uyghurs in Urumqi in 2009.

He was sentenced to prison but released in November 201. The he was he was placed under house arrest for 16 months, according to an October 2019 report by Eurasianet. Authorities also threatened to send him to one of the regions internment camps.

Desperate to flee China, in October 2019, Musakhan and another ethnic Kazakh Chinese national scaled a wire fence to enter Kazakhstan illegally, he said. Since then, he has lived in Kazakhstan where he has sought asylum.

The two men were arrested by Kazakh police the same month after speaking at a press conference in Almaty about their passage into Kazakhstan and desire to apply for asylum because of ill treatment in China, Eurasianet reported.

After the attack, Musakhan was first taken to a small hospital where the Kazakh doctor works, but was denied treatment because he didnt have the necessary documents with him. He was then taken to Almaty Emergency Hospital, where medical personnel informed him that a sixth rib was broken.

The next day, Musakhans friends took him to Turkish-run Sema Hospital, where doctors discovered that one of his kidneys had been damaged in the attack, said the Kazakh physician, who didnt want to be identified for fear of losing his job by talking to the media.

Kaster is currently recovering at home, and I've been checking on him from time to time, the doctor told RFA, adding that he is concerned that his kidney condition, which needs medical attention in a hospital, may worsen.

Musakhan, who lives in a house rented by another person, cannot afford further hospitalization, the doctor said. His friends are now trying to raise money to rent a house for him.

Musakhan said his attackers later called him and threatened him, though they did not say why they assaulted him.

Translated by RFA Uyghur. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster.
Welcome to The Azadi Briefing, an RFE/RL newsletter that unpacks the critical issues in Afghanistan. To subscribe, click here.

I'm Abubakar Siddique, senior correspondent at RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. Here's what I've been tracking and what I'm keeping an eye on in the days ahead.

The Key Issue

Afghan journalists complain of growing restrictions amid mounting Taliban repression during the past year.

Journalists inside the country told RFE/RLs Radio Azadi that access to information and censorship is tightening as they face torture, beatings, arrests, and threats.

Freedom of expression faces grave challenges, said a journalist who requested anonymity. He added that the Taliban often prevented them from publishing critical stories.

A woman journalist in western Afghanistan said that the Taliban barred her from doing her job.

It was the worst year for journalists, she told Radio Azadi. I was repeatedly thrown out of press conferences just because I am a woman.

The Taliban has banned women from showing their faces on television. It has also shut down radio stations run by women.

The Afghanistan Journalist Center (AFJC), an Afghan media watchdog, has documented 168 cases of violence and intimidation against journalists. These include instances of censorship, lack of access to information, detentions, conviction, torture, and threats.

Afghanistan is now one of the seven most dangerous countries for journalists globally, according to the global media watchdog Reports Without Borders.

In March, a bomb attack claimed by Islamic State-Khorasan, a Taliban rival, killed three journalists and injured 20 more.

Why It's Important: Since the Talibans return to power in August 2021, press freedom has dramatically declined in Afghanistan. It flourished while the pro-western Afghan republic existed from 2001 to 2021.

Despite early Taliban promises to allow media freedom, its hard-line government has tortured, threatened, and detained scores of journalists.

The once vibrant Afghan media was dramatically diminished after the Taliban closed independent print and electronic media outlets. Television and radio stations as well as newspapers also shut down after losing international funding.

In draconian efforts to control the free flow of information, the Taliban has denied visas to foreign correspondents and banned some international broadcasters.

Hundreds of Afghan journalists went into exile after the Talibans return to power. Many were harassed or fled out of fear of persecution by the Taliban.

What's Next: The Taliban is shaping a media environment that only serves its interests.

Even the independent media outlets still working inside Afghanistan are increasingly unable to publish or broadcast anything critical of the Taliban. At the same time, the group appears to be determined to replace journalism with propaganda.

Without access to the country, international media too will find it difficult to do in-depth reporting about Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.

What To Keep An Eye On

The February 8 parliamentary elections in Pakistan appear to be under increasing threat from Islamist militants along the countrys western border with Afghanistan.

On January 3, former lawmaker Mohsin Dawar survived an assassination attempt in North Waziristan. He leads a secular Pashtun political party, the National Democratic Movement, which opposes the Pakistani and Afghan Taliban groups.

On the same day, a candidate of the Islamist Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-), Qari Khairullah, survived a roadside bomb attack in Bajaur. North Waziristan and Bajaur are districts in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.

These were the latest in the growing number of attacks on the February 8 parliamentary elections being held in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the rest of Pakistan. The region is bearing the brunt of attacks by Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) since the Talibans return to power in Afghanistan. The TTP shares ideological and organizational ties with the Afghan Taliban.

Why It's Important: The TTPs campaign has already poisoned Islamabad's relationship with its erstwhile ally, the Taliban.

Since October, Pakistan has repeatedly shut border crossings with Afghanistan and expelled more than half a million Afghans to try to pressure the Afghan Taliban.

Escalating attacks in the run-up to Pakistan's parliamentary vote would derail a fragile diplomatic effort to mend ties between Islamabad and Kabul.

That's all from me for now. Don't forget to send me any questions, comments, or tips that you have. You can always reach us at azadi.english@rferl.org

Until next time,

Abubakar Siddique

If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. It will be sent to your inbox every Friday.
Vladimir Putin has claimed a fifth presidential term with a landslide victory in a tightly controlled election that has been condemned by the West as neither free nor fair as the Russian leader seeks to prove overwhelming popular support for his full-scale invasion of Ukraine and increasingly repressive policies.

With 99.75 percent of ballots counted, Putin won another six-year term with a post-Soviet record of 87.29 percent of the vote, the Central Elections Committee (TsIK) said on March 18, adding that turnout was also at a "record" level, with 77.44 percent of eligible voters casting ballots.

The 71-year old Putin -- who has ruled as either president or prime minister since 2000 -- is now set to surpass Soviet dictator Josef Stalins nearly 30-year reign to become the longest-serving Russian leader in more than two centuries.

"This election has been based on repression and intimidation," the European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told journalists in Brussels on March 18 as the bloc's foreign ministers gathered to discuss the election, among other issues.

The March 15-17 vote is the first for Putin since he launched his invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 that has killed tens of thousands of Russians and led to a clear break in relations with the West. In holding what has widely been viewed as faux elections, Putin wants to show that he has the nations full support, experts said.

The vote was also held in Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, where hundreds of thousands of Russian soldiers are located. Moscow illegally annexed the regions since launching the invasion, though it remains unclear how much of the territory it controls.

The Kremlin's goal "is to get as many people as possible to sign off on Russia's war against Ukraine. The idea is to get millions of Russian citizens to retroactively approve the decision Putin single-handedly made two years ago," Maksim Trudolyubov, a senior fellow at the Kennan Institute, wrote in a note ahead of the vote.

In remarks shortly after he was declared the winner, Putin said the election showed that the nation was "one team."

But Western leaders condemned the vote, with a White House spokesman saying they "are obviously not free nor fair," and EU foreign ministers roundly dismissing them as a sham ahead of agreeing to impose sanctions on individuals linked to the mistreatment and death of Kremlin critic Aleksei Navalny.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told RFE/RL in an interview in Tbilisi on the second day of a visit to the Caucasus that the Russian election was "not free nor fair." He said those who have had the courage to oppose Putin "are either force to flee, to live abroad, they are jailed, or some of them are killed as we saw with Aleksei Navalny."

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, speaking at the start of the EU foreign ministers' meeting, said Russia's election was "an election without choice."

French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne said the conditions for a "free, pluralistic, and democratic election were not met," and British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said the election outcome highlighted the "depth of repression" in Russia.

"Putin removes his political opponents, controls the media, and then crowns himself the winner. This is not democracy," Cameron said.

France, Britain, and other countries condemned the fact that Russia had also held its election in occupied regions of Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Putin has become "sick with power" and he is just "simulating" elections.

"This imitation of 'elections' has no legitimacy and cannot have any. This person must end up in the dock in The Hague [at the International UN Tribunal for War Crimes]," Zelenskiy said on X.

Putin's allies were quick to heap praise on the Russian leader for his election success.

China, one of Russia's most important allies, congratulated Putin, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian saying President Xi Jinping and the Russian leader "will continue to maintain close exchanges, lead the two countries to continue to uphold long-standing good-neighborly friendship, deepen comprehensive strategic coordination."

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi called Putin's victory "decisive," the state news agency IRNA reported, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said in a congratulatory message to Putin quoted by Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) that Russian voters had shown "unshakeable support and trust in" their president, state media reported.

In the tightly controlled race, Putin was opposed by three relatively unknown, Kremlin-friendly politicians whose campaigns were barely noticeable.

Prior to the election the Kremlin banned anti-war politician Boris Nadezhdin from the ballot after tens of thousands of voters lined up in the cold to support his candidacy. Nadezhdin threatened to undermine the narrative of a united nation behind Putin and his war, experts said.



Russias opposition movement suffered a serious blow last month when Navalny, who was Putins fiercest and most popular critic, died in unclear circumstances in a maximum-security prison in the Arctic where he was serving a 19-year sentence on charges of extremism widely seen as politically motivated.

Russian political analyst Ivan Preobrazhensky said in an interview with Current Time that Putin was also frightened by the rebellion staged by mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin in June when Prigozhin's forces briefly took control of Rostov-on-Don and were greeted by many citizens as heroes.

Prigozhin ended his rebellion before reaching Moscow and was later killed in a plane crash that many believe was retaliation by the Kremlin.

With reporting by Reuters, AFP, and dpa
One person was killed and another injured in a Russian attack on an agricultural enterprise in the Kherson region, the head of the regional military administration said as Ukraine claimed its forces had carried out a successful operation on the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula.

Oleksandr Prokudin said a rocket attack on January 5 on the agricultural enterprise in Kherson killed a 35-year-old man and injured a 60-year-old resident.



Prokudin said "four targeted strikes" also destroyed buildings and equipment.



Russian troops regularly shell the de-occupied part of the Kherson region. Despite evidence and testimony to the contrary, Moscow denies targeting civilians.

In a rare admission of its military operations in Crimea, Ukraine has admitted it carried out attacks on a Russian military command post and a military unit in separate strikes on the Russia-occupied peninsula, saying it had inflicted "serious damage" to Russia's defense system.

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.

Nataliya Humenyuk, the spokeswoman of the Defense Forces of Southern Ukraine, said on January 5 that "really powerful combat" operations took place earlier this week, hitting Russia's military operations in Crimea especially hard.



"Not only one command post was affected," she said in a rare detailing of Ukrainian operations to repel the full-scale invasion Russia launched in February 2022.



"Now they have the same hysteria with movement again. They are trying to maneuver and position both the defense systems themselves and the objects they protect in other places," she added in an interview on the show Social Resistance.



It was not possible to verify Humenyuk's claims.



The attacks on Crimea come after an intensification of Russian missile and drone strikes on Ukraine.



Russian hypersonic and other missile attacks combined with drone strikes blanketed Ukraine on December 29 and again on January 2, killing more than 40 people and injuring dozens more. Ukraine hit back with attacks in southern Russia on December 30. Authorities in the Belgorod region said 25 people were killed.



The risk of air attacks continued on January 5 as sirens rang out three times across the Crimean city of Sevastopol on January 5, though there were no reports of explosions or impacts from drones or missiles.



In the early hours of January 5, the Russian city of Belgorod also was targeted by another round of Ukrainian shelling, officials said, hours after schools in the region were ordered to extend their holiday closures due to the risk of further attacks.

Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov also gave residents an opportunity to evacuate to safer areas. Residents will be helped to move to temporary accommodations in the other cities.



Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhaylo Podolyak on January 5 joined the United States in saying that Russia has hit Ukraine with missiles supplied by North Korea for the first time since launching its full-scale invasion.



Podolyak's statement came after the governor of the northeastern region of Kharkiv said that it had been struck by missiles fired by Russia that were not Russian-made.



"There is no longer any disguise. The #Moscow regime is no longer concealing its intentions, nor is it trying to pass off a large-scale war of aggression as mythical 'denazification,'" Podolyak said on X, formerly Twitter.



Russia "is attacking Ukrainians with missiles received from a state where citizens are tortured in concentration camps for having an unregistered radio, talking to a tourist, watching TV shows," he added.



He did not provide evidence for the missiles being North Korean, but his statements come a day after U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters at the White House on January 4 that recently declassified intelligence found that North Korea has provided Russia with ballistic-missile launchers and several ballistic missiles.



Russian forces fired at least one of those missiles into Ukraine on December 30, and it landed in an open field in the Zaporizhzhya region, Kirby said. Russia also launched multiple North Korean ballistic missiles on January 2 as part of an overnight attack, he added.



Kirby also said Russia is seeking close-range ballistic missiles from Iran. A deal has not been completed, but the United States is concerned that negotiations "are actively advancing.

With reporting by Reuters
Professor Peter Roberts is a senior associate fellow at the U.K.-based Royal United Services Institute, a think tank focused on defense and security. His research centers around contemporary conflict and the way wars are fought. In an interview with RFE/RL's Georgian Service, Roberts says the West's preferred way of fighting today -- massive overwhelming force meant to achieve a quick victory -- is not working in Ukraine where Kyiv's military is bogged down in a war of attrition with invading Russian forces.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is betting on a conflict that could drag on for years, Roberts says, and "outlast the attention span of the West." For Ukraine, whose fighters are more "adept," according to Roberts, much will depend on the country's ability to step up its own military production, with its Western partners playing a role.



RFE/RL: How much has the Western way of war evolved since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022? What has been learned?



Peter Roberts: It's an interesting question. The Western way of war is a concept that many people have held to be fixed, that it was about maneuver, that it was about expeditionary warfare, about high technology, that it was about speed and tempo, air power, [and] precision. And I think that's an idea that held sway through most of the Western powers since probably the 1980s.

But if we look back to 2003, 2004, that was probably the high point and the end of that concept. Thereafter came a series of very difficult engagements for the West, a series of lessons which they could, should have, perhaps some of them did learn, about the idea that maneuver, time, and speed didn't necessarily work that way, particularly with the enduring campaigns they experienced over 20 years in Iraq and Afghanistan.



And one thing I think that Ukraine has brought out very strongly is the return to conventional high-end warfare that, in a sense, was largely forgotten after Korea and Vietnam: long, protracted, grizzly fighting.

The idea that it could be fast was a very selective approach from the West that said: Hey, we can make wars happen swiftly, quickly, and with good ends. And Ukraine has [prompted] many Western allies and indeed, their militaries to say: Oh, we need to go back to an industrialized scale of readiness and preparation, of training of manpower, of capabilities. And not forget some of those conventional arms that many in the West wanted to sacrifice, so that they could invest in cyberspace and all that new technology that was thought to be battle-winning but really hasn't delivered.



RFE/RL: So, the old saying that the boys will be home by Christmas is now further from the truth than ever?



Roberts: It is. And I think there's a real dilemma in Western militaries because they are geared and prepared to fight short, sharp wars, high technology wars. And they're also facing this dilemma that that's not how the enemies are fighting. And I think the fact that the enemy gets a vote has largely been forgotten in Western military mindsets.



RFE/RL: Was it because the odds were so much in the West's favor?



Roberts: Absolutely. And although the odds were always in the West's favor, you could see these lessons coming out in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Tavberidze Interviews Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Vazha Tavberidze of RFE/RL's Georgian Service has been interviewing diplomats, military experts, and academics who hold a wide spectrum of opinions about the war's course, causes, and effects. To read all of his interviews, click here.

You had in Afghanistan an alliance that was unmatched across history in terms of military capability, that had more computing power than the rest of the world, that had intelligence and analysis, that owned the air and had the most sophisticated technology [in] generationsand yet they were beaten. And they were beaten by a force of 5,000-10,000 fighters, who were riding around on horseback, building bombs in mud huts, and fighting with World War II weapons.



So, this idea that the Western way of war, as they envisaged it for 30 years, could endure and would still succeed was deeply flawed and problematic. And yet very few people accepted that. There were huge amounts of denial, and there still is denial.

For all the announcements after Ukraine that Germany would rearm, that the U.K. would invest more money, you see very few states living up to it. Poland perhaps; Sweden; a few of the Nordic states, certainly the Baltic states; but very few [of] the big [European military] powerhouses -- the U.K., France, and Germany -- have lived up to the political rhetoric straight after Ukraine.

And I think that therein lies one of the key problems: They can't seem to convince their populations or themselves that they're at a moment where they need to really invest.



RFE/RL: The vaunted combined arms maneuver -- the West's go-to in the later wars -- prior to the counteroffensive was widely advocated and it was thought that Ukraine should have been able to achieve that on the battlefield. If it could, then success would follow. We saw little of this and, in fact, Ukraine's commander in chief of its armed forces, General Valeriy Zaluzhniy, pointed that out in a recent interview with The Economist and admitted the war is at a stalemate. Why?



Roberts: The combined arms maneuver is only a way of fighting, right? So, it puts together -- instead of fighting as dismounted infantry or just an artillery battle -- you fight with all the arms together: engineering, artillery, infantry, plus airpower, plus long-range strike initiatives. The difference, I think, is that the West expected to use maneuver far more; to move forces around the battlefield to attack an enemy's will and cohesion to fight. And Ukraine did that on several occasions. The Ukrainian general staff did a brilliant job of attacking Russian command and control. They did an excellent job of severing supply lines and of attacking their deep areas. And that's where we saw success in the counteroffensive late last year.



But -- and this is the reality -- the problem is that it requiresa very good understanding of [its] adversary -- which Ukraine has -- but I'm not sure the rest of the West does. And secondly, the geometry, the geography of a country that allows you to be able to do so. Now, while the battle lines in Ukraine are enormous -- you know, hundreds, thousands of kilometers long -- the reality is that it is not the [type of] ground that allows you to use that kind of maneuver warfare to punch through with an armored fist and then to make huge gains



The mountains, the rivers, the lay of the land, the weather, the farmland, the fields, hedgerows, all prevent that kind of maneuver. And then there's the fact that Russia has done a very good job -- and you can't deny this -- has done a very good job of building defensive arrangements that prevent a breakthrough, which means that you are now fighting for ground as General Zaluzhniy said, 100 yards (91 meters) at a time. It's back to the World War I sort of movements going to and fro.

That's not to say that advances can't be made, that you can't defeat the adversary. It just means that we go back to a timeline the West doesn't like, which is a long, slow, grinding, unpleasant time frame full of death and destruction with bloody battlefields that really make unpleasant fighting conditions, if fighting conditions can ever be pleasant, right? But it's a really difficult thing conceptually for many Westerners to get their heads round. They want a single punch with an armored fist to break through fences, break out the other side, and then spread out and defeat the Russians. And that's a very traditional Western approach. I just don't see that there is a way to bring that to fruition, to make that happen right now.



RFE/RL: I've seen that described as Hollywood-like warfare. How fair is that in the description?



Roberts: Well, Hollywood popularized it, I think there's a romanticized notion that this is what can happen on every battlefield. The reality is it can happen and has happened on battlefields. The Germans used it very well in the blitzkrieg ("lighting war" during World War II); they used it in the Ardennes Forest. And the same way the Americans have used it very successfully in World War II, [and] indeed going through to 2003. I mean, there's lots of examples where it works, but it depends on having a number of things in place to make it work. And the Ukrainian battlefields don't have that geography, that topography, that geometry, that allows it, that kind of warfare, to happen.



So, I think, in a sense, there was an expectation for a Hollywood war: a fast, quick win using this methodology. I just don't think that the context of the war has allowed it to happen for a whole variety of reasons. But the number one [reason ] is geography. [The] Ukrainian General Staff have been pretty clear about this. They have been under huge pressure, not just from their own politicians and society, which one would expect, but also from Western generals and Western governments to make some kind of amazing breakthrough, as if this was suddenly possible.

The key is that context differs for every single fight that you go into. No two are the same, no battle is the same. And because the enemy is also adapting, battles themselves are dynamic. Day five is not the same as day one when you're fighting a battle. They are very different because both sides are adapting to the adversity, the ground around them, the battlefield is changing.



So, the doctrine should be an overarching set of ideas that gives you the flexibility to outthink your opponent in many of these ways.

At times, however, you come to a stalemate; both sides are fighting at their best with the equipment they have; there is nothing that's going to change it in the short term. And that's where you end up with a protracted struggle and a protracted fight and indeed with frozen conflicts if they go on for a long time.

So, if you look at Georgia from 2008, [it is] largely a frozen conflict. Russia invaded, annexed, took a piece of their sovereign territory in South Ossetia and Abkhazia and has held on to them in a frozen conflict. It is not going to give them back, it is building military bases, it is reinforcing and resupplying. And we have to be very careful that we don't allow this sort of position to harden in Ukraine.



RFE/RL: Speaking of Russia, let's speak about what can be said about the Russian way or rather, the [Russian] culture of war? And what are some of the biggest differences between it and the West in that respect?



Roberts: Essentially, the Russian General Staff was as seduced by a Westernshock-and-awe approach, that Western way of war that we talked about. And indeed, their lightning raid -- or attempted raid on Kyiv at the start of the war -- was exactly that. It was a lightly armored special forces convoy, supported by air power and armor, that was to take key areas, decapitate the government, and effectively sever the snake and [replace the] regime. This is hugely familiar to anyone who's lived in the West. So, they tried desperately to make that happen. And Ukraine put in superb reactionsto hold them off and defeat them.



What I think saved the Russian offensive in many ways was the fact thatpart of that plan was to fix in place and hold in position the majority of Ukrainian military in the east of the country with artillery and large-scale Russian military and arms deployment. That ended up in an artillery war, a very Russian way of war: long, slow, monotonous, very attritional, uncaring, less reliant on command and control, less reliant on thinking, more reliant on sheer weight of firepower on mass, on destruction, and no thought to the consequences. And that, in many ways, symbolizes the Russian way of war, as it has been successful but enormously wasteful.

But listen, war is never efficient, but the Russian way of doing it is enormously wasteful, firing 60,000 rounds a day. It held in place the Ukrainian military that was there, and then made those huge incursions into Ukraine, taking enormous amounts of land, but then being held off by Ukraine's dogged defense and brilliantly executed. It's hard to think in history of a better executed way that any nation has lost ground slowly to an adversary and wore them down to hold up at that line that they got before the first counteroffensive took place.

So, the Russian way of war is a long-term game. It's [over] five [or] 10 years, very successful historically, [an] attritional fight to exhaust the enemy. It's not about beating them. It's not successful when it tried to do regime change -- perhaps the West hasn't been either. It's more about how it's been able to take them down, being able to exhaust the enemy to the point at which they want to give up. And this is exactly where Russia is working now. It's working at the infrastructure. It's hitting the centers of population; it's hitting the electricity supply; it's hitting water; it's hitting gas -- all these things that make life acceptable during wartime, the Russians are now eroding away. That's where they're attacking whilst holding the line. This is how they hope to bring Ukraine to its knees.



RFE/RL: Combined with attempts to outlast the West and Western resilience, I suppose?



Roberts: This is why Russian and perhaps Chinese ways of conducting war have been more successful than the West's because they have a longer-term view. We know that there is a real problem with the next U.S. presidential election, particularly if [former U.S. President Donald] Trump retakes office again. His relations with the Russians probably mean much less support for the Ukrainians. The Europeans don't have enough firepower, support arms, war stocks, or production capability to match what the U.S. has been giving.

And so, there's a real timeline problem here. And the West has a short attention span. The support from February until November in 2022 has died away. And we see very little of that continued support going on now. We see the Poles, once the hardest of allies for Ukraine, holding up supplies with trucker strikes on the Ukrainian border, preventing hundreds of lorries of supplies of ammunition of food and water, of all the things that Ukraine needs to sustain its fight, those being denied and delayed access back in their homeland.



So, there are enormous problems. Time is really on the Russian side, as it is for the Chinese. And that's one of the things that Russia understands. It's willing to throw away lives, it's willing to throw away money, it's willing to throw away lots and lots of things. But it knows that if it can outlast the attention span of the West in political terms, in societal terms, then it will eventually be able to take Ukraine, and Georgia, and the rest of the Caucasus.



RFE/RL: You mean in its entirety?



Roberts: Indeed, I think if Putin and the Russian people are successful in Ukraine, I think we will see them push further in Georgia. And whether they actually annex [territory] or just become the major power broker across the Caucasus, I wouldn't be surprised by any of those moves.

RFE/RL: Being Georgian, I would be surprised if there was another incursion of Russia into Georgia. I was a bit surprised when you said Russia might be able to take the whole of Ukraine.



Roberts: I think it's going to be a really close-run thing. If the West wasn't as distracted, I think it might be impossible. But I think there are a variety of things that are playing against Ukraine that make this a really difficult fight.

First, is the potential election of Trump and the end of U.S. support for Ukraine -- that might happen sooner than we wish.

Secondthe political timeline for the West and their loss of interest [in Ukraine] is coming.

Thirdly, I think that the sanctions against Russia have not been effective. And I don't think that there has been an uprising of the global community, toward Ukraine.



So, you look at those who are applying sanctions on Russia, and those who are supplying arms to Ukraine, they're effectively the same group of countries; that's less than 15 percent of the world's population. So, none of the global south, none of South America, very few in Asia, are providing Ukraine with those arms.

So only one-fifth of the world stands behind Ukraine. Now that's not by [gross domestic product], that's by population, I accept that. But I think with that, without the support of the global south and the wider international community, Russia is seeing itself as having pretty much a free rein.

And [Moscow], in its own mind, sees itself as a place where it is pitted once again [as] a Russian Federation of some kind, versus NATO. And I think Putin certainly understands that the arrival of Trump back in power -- which I'm sure he'll be doing everything he can to assist -- does not bode well for Ukraine and plays directly into Putin's hands in the longer term.

On the other hand, you've got to look at Ukraine. They are better fighters. They are more technologically adept. They have plans in hand to use their technological capabilities in a far more sophisticated way. They are continuing to make gains, they are not just accepting a line of control, and they are continuing to push. They now outnumber the Russians by seven to one in some places. They've taken huge losses. But they've started not only rebuilding, but they've started mass manufacturing, and have arrangements now with Western Arms suppliers to start producing inside Ukraine. And I think this is probably going to be the secret: Who can outproduce themselves fastest? And we know from the history of Ukraine's military industrial complex that once they get geared up, they will be unstoppable.



And so, it's a question of Ukraine in the longer term against Russia and what they can produce. And I very much hope that we will see a slow but gradually increasing pace of Ukraine's military advances to kick the Russians outThe best Ukraine can do at the moment is to do exactly as it's doing and keep fighting and fighting hard. The gains made [with] the crossing of the River Dnieper were superb and a great time just to show the world the fight [had] not ended here. It might not have grabbed headlines but has been really important.
During Tajik President Emomali Rahmon's lengthy annual address to parliament, the audience erupted in applause over 120 times, clapping for a total of some 22 minutes. For some Tajiks, the display of support seemed extravagant, even in the context of Rahmon's decades-long authoritarian regime.
CANBERRA, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Australian government scientists have departed on a 60-day research voyage to the Southern Ocean in a bid to improve the understanding of the impacts of climate change.

The team, led by national science agency the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and government-funded Australian Antarctic Program Partnership (AAPP), departed on Friday aboard the CSIRO's research vessel (RV) Investigator.

They will travel to the edge of Antarctica in the longest voyage in the RV Investigator's 10-year history, studying ocean currents up to six kilometers below the surface and low-lying clouds for signs of how links between physics, biogeochemistry, plankton, aerosols and clouds influence the Earth's climate.

Steve Rintoul, co-chief scientists on the voyage from the CSIRO and AAPP, said in a media release that the ocean acts as a handbrake on climate change by taking in vast amounts of heat and climate change.

"To anticipate how climate and sea level will change in the future, we need to understand how the Southern Ocean works and how sensitive it is to change," he said.

"What's amazing about the Southern Ocean is that everything is interconnected, we can't hope to understand how the region influences climate unless we measure each piece and how it fits with the other parts of the system."

The RV Investigator will sail 2,300 km south to the edge of Antarctica before returning to Fremantle, Western Australia, in early March in a 9,260 km round trip. 
Tom Tuite

Updated: 12.10pm

An 18-year-old has been charged with the murder of gunman Tristan Sherry, who was killed following a shooting at a restaurant in Blanchardstown on Christmas Eve in which another man was fatally injured.

David Amah, of Hazel Grove, Portrane Road, Donabate, Dublin, was remanded in custody after a brief hearing at Blanchardstown District Court on Friday morning.

Tristan Sherry (26) was attacked after opening fire inside Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown on the night of December 24th. He was pronounced dead at the scene and last week, a man was charged with his murder.

Jason Hennessy Snr (48) was shot in the neck and upper body while having a meal with family and friends.

Mr Hennessy, from Corduff in west Dublin, was rushed to hospital, but his condition deteriorated, and he died on January 4th. Following his death, gardai have launched a second murder investigation.

On Friday morning, Garda Sergeant Emma Ryan told Judge Conneely that Mr Amah made no reply when charged at Finglas Garda station shortly after 6pm on Thursday.

The District Court does not have the power to consider a bail application in a murder case.

Mr Amah was remanded in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on Tuesday.

Mr Amah was also granted legal aid after the court heard he was unemployed and in receipt of social welfare.

The accused, who has yet to indicate a plea, sat silently throughout the brief hearing and did not address the court.

Co-accused

A second man arrested in connection with the incident also appeared before Blanchardstown District Court on Friday.

Wayne Deegan (24), of Linnetsfield Avenue, Phibblestown, Dublin 15, was charged with assault causing harm to Tristan Sherry, producing a knife as a weapon, and violent disorder by using or threatening to use violence at Browne's Steakhouse on December 24th.

Detective Garda Sean Kelly said Mr Deegan was charged just after 12.30am on Friday at Blanchardstown Garda station and made no reply to the charges.

Defence solicitor Sandra Frayne said her client, who did not speak during the hearing, was not seeking bail at this stage.

She added that Mr Deegan was reserving his position on bail but may be making an application on the next date.

Mr Deegan, wearing a red jacket, runners and grey trousers, was remanded in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on January 9th.

He was also granted legal aid after the judge noted he was not working and is someone who is on disability.
Bigg Boss 17 Elimination: Samarth Jurel 'Evicted'; Abhishek Kumar, Anurag Dobhal likely to return

Bigg Boss 17: The upcoming 'Weekend Ka Vaar' episode is going to be an interesting one.

Bigg Boss 17 Elimination News, Samarth Jurel and Abhishek Kumar Eviction, Anurag Dobhal return update: The 17th edition of Bigg Boss has been making headlines for the last few weeks with sudden eliminations and what's happening inside the house. Earlier, UK07 Rider Anurag Dobhal's eviction left everyone shocked and then it came to Abhishek Kumar's elimination. Now, there are reports that even Samarth Jurel has also been eliminated from the Bigg Boss 17 house.

If reports are true, this is going to be one of the biggest elimination weeks inside the Bigg Boss house.

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Bigg Boss Tak has claimed Samarth Jurel's elimination from the house, however, there has been no confirmation about his eviction so far. On the other hand, it also reported that Abhishek Kumar can also be brought back along with UK 07 Rider Anurag Dobhal after their elimination from the house.

Let's tell what Bigg Boss Tak has been reporting.

Samarth Jurel's eviction from the house, confirmation awaited

"Abhishek Kumar's re-entry decision has not been taken yet from the makers. The channel is in double minds about whether to call back Abhishek or not. No re-entry has been given to any contestants in this season, whether it is Soniya, Khanzaadi, Tehelka, or Aishwarya. Also, Abhishek slapped Samarth and makers need to take the call carefully."

"Anurag Dobhal aka UK07 Rider to re-enter Bigg Boss 17, either as a Guest or a WildCard this Weekend. He is still in talks with the makers. He was called in Mumbai for a Bigg Buzz shoot but the makers are in advanced talk with him as a guest or wildcard."

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If all these claims of Bigg Boss Tak are confirmed, then the Bigg Boss 17 house is going to make several headlines. However, the Bigg Boss finale is just a few weeks away and there are already so many contestants inside the house. Therefore, it will be interesting to see what happens next.

In the meanwhile, Rozana Spokesman approached Abhishek Kumar's team and they refused to confirm his eviction and said that his elimination is not confirmed so far.
Punjab Weather Update

IMD has issued several cautionary measures for the 10 districts where an orange alert has been issued.

Punjab Weather Update News: While Punjab has been witnessing bone-chilling cold with plunging temperatures across all the districts of the state, the India Meteorological Department has issued a warning in the state. According to information, IMD has issued an orange alert in 10 districts of the state.

Reportedly, the orange alert has been issued in Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, and Ludhiana. These districts are expected to witness dense to very dense fog along with cold days to severe cold days.

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Likewise, a yellow alert has been issued in Tarn Taran, Firozpur, Fazilka, Faridkot, Muktsar, Moga, Bathinda, Barnala, Mansa, Sangrur, Rupnagar, and SAS Nagar with only dense fog predicted in these districts.

Similarly, the IMD has issued several cautionary measures for the 10 districts where an orange alert has been issued. The cautionary measures include being careful while driving or outing through any transport and using fog lights during driving.

It also asks people to be in touch with airlines, railway, and state transport for a schedule of the scheduled journey.

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The power sector has also been asked to be ready with the maintenance Team. People have also been advised to avoid outings until unless emergency and to cover their faces while driving.
TEHRAN, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Deputy Interior Minister for Security Affairs Majid Mir-Ahmadi said on Friday both bomb attacks that rocked the area near the tomb of Qassem Soleimani in Kerman, southeastern Iran, were "suicide attacks."

Mir-Ahmadi told the official IRNA news agency that parts of the bombers' bodies had been found at the site of Wednesday's attack, which has killed at least 89 people and wounded more than 280.

He added the country's intelligence forces had identified and arrested "different individuals" in five provinces, who were linked to the "terrorist attack" and had backed up the operations.

The Islamic State (IS) terrorist group claimed responsibility for the bombings on Thursday, asserting two suicide attackers carried out the blasts.

The bomb attacks on Wednesday marked one of the deadliest incidents in Iran in decades. Two explosions occurred near the Qassem Soleimani cemetery, where thousands of Iranians had gathered to honor the late general, who was assassinated in a U.S. drone attack on January 3, 2020. 
Boxlight Corporation (BOXL), a provider of interactive , said on Friday that its Chief Executive Officer Michael Pope has stepped down.

Subsequently, the company has appointed its independent director Dale Strang as interim CEO with immediate effect.

With over 35 years of corporate experience, Strang has worked for Johnson Controls, Ziff-Davis, Fox Interactive, Healthline Media and SpinMedia.



Separately, for the fourth-quarter, the tech firm expects revenue of $36 million to $38 million. On average, three analysts polled by Thomson Reuters project the company to register revenue of $42.17 million, for the quarter.

The company also expects that its fourth-quarter adjusted EBITDA to be significantly lower than last-year quarter.

For the fourth-quarter of 2022, the company had reported revenue of $42.8 million, with adjusted EBITDA of $2.637 million.

BOXL was trading up by 0.94 percent at $1.070 per share in the pre-market on the Nasdaq.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
A top leader of an Iran-backed terrorist group was killed in an airstrike by the U.S. military forces in Iraq Thursday.

Mushtaq Jawad Kazim al-Jawari, a leader of the Harakat al-Nujaba terrorist group that is operating both in Iraq and Syria, was killed in a self-defense strike in Baghdad, Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said at a news conference.

Al-Jawari, also known as Abu Taqwa, was actively involved in planning and carrying out attacks against American personnel in Iraq recently.

Another member of the terrorist outfit also was killed in the strike without causing any harm to civilians, Ryder said.

Meanwhile, the military spokesperson for Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani criticized the U.S. attack.

"It was 10 years ago this coming summer that ISIS was approximately 24 kilometers outside of Baghdad, when we kicked off the counter-ISIS mission after they had subsumed large swaths of Syria and Iraq," Ryder told reporters. "No one wants to see a return of ISIS ... our focus is going to continue to remain on the defeat-ISIS mission. But again, we're not going to hesitate to protect our forces if they're threatened."

The U.S. military forces have been frequently targeted in Iraq and Syria with rockets and drones since Hamas carried out cross-border attack in Israel on October 7.

After winding up its combat operations years ago, the U.S. currently has a military presence in Iraq in supporting roles to defeat ISIS within designated areas of Iraq and Syria.

It works in partnership with both the Iraqi Security Forces and the Kurdish Security Forces.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
The same 399cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine from 390 Duke will be offered with 2024 KTM 390 Adventure spotted in India with 45 bhp and 40 Nm

Team Orange has launched its new 399cc-based 390 Duke in India. It is just a matter of time before this platform gets its supersport and adventure counterparts too. There is a new Enduro-style motorcycle spotted testing based on this platform too. But for the first time in India, 2024 KTM 390 Adventure is spotted testing.

2024 KTM 390 Adventure Testing In India

With the launch of Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 and Triumph Scrambler 400X, BMW G 310 GS and KTM 390 Adventure began to show their age. Were not sure about an update for G 310 GS. But 2024 KTM 390 Adventure is incoming. For the first time, new 390 Adventure test mules are spotted testing in India.

For starters, there is no camouflage around this motorcycle. There are no visible brandings on this bike to establish its identity too. However, this is unmistakably the new 390 Adventure. Primary difference which is a key visual differentiator for this new bike is headlight design. Vertically stacked headlight assembly gets two projectors.

Larger projector seen on top, is for low-beam and smaller projector below is for high-beam. Both these headlights are highly likely to get LEDs behind these projectors. There is a 4-part split LED DRL design engulfing the projector headlight setup. There is a tall windscreen above, with a groove for smoothening air flow and reduce wind buffeting.

Unlike the current 390 Adventure, there is a large front beak too. Front gets fully adjustable (compression and rebound) USD telescopic WP APEX forks with a long travel. Rear has a mono-shock setup that will get pre-load and rebound adjustments too. The seat height is tall and we hope there is a large fuel this time around.

What to expect?

Looking at the test mule spotted in India, were sure that KTM and Bajaj duo might be cooking different variants with different off-road worthiness. We say this because the recent sightings from abroad showed the same motorcycle riding 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wire-spoke wheels with skinny off-road tyres.

2024 KTM 390 Adventure spotted in India has smaller 19-inch front and 17-inch rear wheel sizes with fatter tyres that have dual-purpose tread patterns. All of this hardware is likely to be mounted on the same mainframe as 2024 390 Duke with slight tweaking to suit ADV character. Rear subframe is unique to 390 Adventure.

Banana-shaped swingarm and other components seem to be shared with 390 Duke. Speaking of sharing, 2024 KTM 390 Adventure spotted in India will also get the same 399cc single-cylinder engine with liquid cooling and 6-speed gearbox as 390 Duke. This engine makes 45 bhp and 40 Nm. KTM will offer a few electronic riding aids along with the same under-belly exhaust setup. The TFT screen with connectivity will be on offer too.

Image  Powerdrift
A BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) based on Elevate SUV is likely to be the first product under Honda Project ACE

Honda Cars India has a game plan for launching 5 SUVs by 2030 and the Elevate is first of these offerings. Recent reports mention that the company is developing a new EV which could be based on Elevates design and platform. Internally known as Project ACE, this development might mark Hondas first-ever BEV to Indian market.

Honda Project ACE will spawn Elevate EV In 2026

The new Elevate enters a segment wherein it will find itself competing with a host of well-established compact SUVs that currently commanding the segment. These include Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Volkswagen Taigun, Skoda Kushaq, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, MG Astor and Citroen C3 Aircross.

The electric version of Elevate will compete with Mahindra XUV400, MG ZS EV and upcoming Tata Curvv, Hyundai Creta EV and the likes. Reportedly, this new Elevate based EV under Project ACE (Asian Compact Electric) is codenamed DG9D and the company is likely to manufacture it in India and export it globally including markets like Japan.

The expected volume for this vehicle might hover around 1 lakh units per year. Majority of that volume might be targeted at global markets, with spare for Indian buyers. At Elevate launch event in Delhi, the company has set forth its roadmap to launch 5 new SUVs by 2030.

Honda is skipping the hybrid phase that a few other Japanese manufacturers have been holding on to dearly. Instead, Honda will launch BEVs directly, the first of which will be based on ICE-powered Elevate SUV. Launch could happen in 2026 and share many of its components with its ICE cousin and strike an attractive price point.

Electric Iteration of Honda Elevate to launch by 2025-26

Honda Indias senior management has confirmed that the companys manufacturing plant in Tapukara, Rajasthan will undergo a retooling process, starting in 2024. The purpose is to accommodate EV production and there may be a bump in production capacity with significant capital investment earmarked for the same.

Elevate is a global product too and is set to be exported to multiple nations starting from Japan, where it will be sold as WR-V. Just like ICE Elevate, Honda India is keen on exporting its EV derivative as well. With an increase in production and inclusion of new EVs under Project ACE, companys exports could double by 2025 when compared to present data.

When that happens, international business could account for up to 40% of total Honda Cars Indias sales. More info regarding Project ACE and the EVs falling under it (Including Elevate EV) will be revealed in the coming months.

Source
As opposed to current model, Hyundai New Creta gets refreshed exteriors, revamped interiors, and a load of new and appealing tech including 19 ADAS features

The South Korean brand, Hyundai, is starting the new calendar year with a bang by launching Indias most anticipated car. Were talking about Hyundais absolute champ, the Creta. In a recent press release, Hyundai revealed expected new headline features to generate some headlines ahead of media drives and launch.

Hyundai New Creta

Updating Creta must be one of the toughest jobs for Hyundai. How can someone better something that is already considered to be the most complete package? Creta has turned out to be an absolute phenom with Indian buyers and has secured its crown for a very long time, despite facing fierce competition from 9 contenders in cutthroat compact SUV space.

With facelifted model, Creta is adding missing pieces of the puzzle and offering a redesign for exteriors that should appeal to many Indian buyers. Missing pieces were in the form of level 2 ADAS suite that MG Astor first introduced and then Honda Elevate and Kia Seltos. Japanese, Germans and French automakers are yet to offer any driver assistance tech.

Safety is a big selling point with Creta

Hyundai promises 36 standard safety features with new Creta. These include ABS, EBD, BA, 6 airbags, all-wheel disc brakes, Electronic Stability Control (ESC) among others. New addition with Creta facelift is ADAS suite, dubbed Hyundai SmartSense. This driver assistance tech includes 19 features.

If youre keeping count, 19 ADAS features on Creta are 2 more than 17 ADAS features that Kia is offering with Seltos facelift. Press release didnt list out what these features were. But usual suspects include adaptive cruise control, auto emergency breaking, blind-spot monitoring, cross-traffic alerts, road sign recognition among others.

Company promises liberal use of advanced and high-strength steel, offering a cocoon of safety to all occupants. Hyundai mentioned that they have further reinforced Cretas monocoque chassis in key areas like crash members, floor, side sill and crash pad to improve energy absorption and structural rigidity.

Revamped interior is icing on the cake

Hyundai New Creta will get 70+ connected tech features too, that should offer a significant convenience factor to prospective buyers. Design revisions on the outside include a refreshed fascia with new LED signatures and headlights, new alloy wheels, new rear section with connected LED tail lights and an overall boxier appeal.

On the inside, there is a redesigned dashboard with twin horizontal 10.2-inch displays, one for infotainment and one for instrumentation. Centre console is new too and climate control now caters to two zones for both front occupants independently. 8-speaker Bose premium audio system is complemented by a one-year complimentary subscription to Jio Saavn streaming services for ad-free music.

Words from the manufacturer

Mr. Tarun Garg, COO, Hyundai Motor India Ltd., expressed, As pioneers in democratizing

technology and setting safety benchmarks, Hyundai Motor India presents the new Hyundai

CRETAan epitome of innovation that redefines the SUV landscape. With a plethora of

revolutionary tech and safety features, the new Hyundai CRETA not only continues the legacy of an undisputed SUV but sets a new standard, delighting customers with a superior and futuristic experience.
The new acti.ev platform is a dedicated pure-ev platform that will underpin Tata Punch EV along with other future vehicles

Among the Indian electric car manufacturers, one brand outshines the others with unparalleled dominance. That brand is Tata Motors. The company recently greenlighted its dedicated EV showrooms providing curated experience for EV buyers. The newest entrant to Tatas EV portfolio is Punch EV.

Tata Punch EV Bookings Open

Right now, Tata Passenger Electric Mobility (TPEM), subsidiary of Tata Motors, sells three electric cars in India. These are Tiago EV, Tigor EV and Nexon EV. The companys fourth electric offering for Indian market is Punch EV and it is set to light up the electric car stage on fire (not literally).

Bookings for the same has commenced for a token amount of Rs. 21,000. These bookings can be placed via Tata Motors Dealerships authorised for EV sales or by visiting Tata.ev dedicated electric car showrooms. The price increment over ICE Punch is likely to be around Rs. 5 lakh as it is debuting a brand new dedicated electric car platform.

Punch EV gets a revised design with a radical new fascia similar to Nexon EV. It looks more sophisticated than before. The charging port is in the front, housed in its closed-off grill.

Debuts acti.ev Platform

Abbreviated to Advance Connected Tech-Intelligent Electric Vehicle, acti.ev platform is a dedicated electric car platform developed by Tata Motors. This is a pure-electric architecture that will debut with soon-to-be-launched Punch EV (sold as Punch.ev). This new platform will form the baseline on which future Tata EVs will be based.

This acti.ev (read active) platform will support multiple sizes for chassis and multiple body styles as well. Upcoming Tata Curvv EV, Harrier EV and Safari EV might be based on this new platform and not Ziptron architecture seen with Tiago EV, Tigor EV and Nexon EV. Because acti.ev is a dedicated pure electric platform, there is a Frunk (front trunk) beneath the bonnet too.

The company mentioned key pillars for their new pure-ev platform. They are Performance, Technology, Modularity and Space Efficiency. These pillars further consist of four layers too. These are Powertrain, Chassis, Electrical Architecture and Cloud Architecture.

1. Powertrain

Tata promises advanced battery pack design with global standards with 10% improvement over Ziptron architecture in energy density. The scalable platform allows for battery pack variations with minimum of 300 km range all the way till 600 km. Modularity allows for FWD, RWD and AWD configurations too. Charging speeds have seen a bump too, with up to 11 kW AC and 150 kW DC compatibility.

2. Chassis

Tata Motors is historically known to make Indian-road-worthy vehicles that offer excellent ride quality with precise suspension setup. The new body structure associated with acti.ev platform for Punch and future vehicles are said to meet future NCAP safety protocols. Being a dedicated EV platform, there is a front trunk and flat floor too.

3. Electrical Architecture

acti.ev is pitted as a future-ready architecture offering possibilities of high computing powers that should allow for a seamless L2 ADAS suite. Company claims L2+ ADAS possibilities too. It is 5G ready as well ensuring a host of connected features. Just like recent Nexon EV, acti.ev platform supports reverse charging in the form of V2L (Vehicle 2 Load) and V2V (Vehicle 2 Vehicle) tech too.

4. Cloud Architecture

Lastly, acti.ev boasts of cloud architecture too with enhanced user experience, newly introduced Arcade.ev app suite along with future software updates and other features.
BAGHDAD, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani reiterated his pledge on Friday to end the presence of the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq after a series of U.S. strikes killed Iraqi security personnel and militia leaders.

Al-Sudani said his government would soon start talks with the coalition through a committee to arrange the withdrawal of foreign troops, a move he said was "a commitment that the government will not back down from."

He was speaking at a memorial ceremony in Baghdad to mark the fourth anniversary of the U.S. killing of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in a drone strike near Baghdad airport.

Al-Sudani accused the coalition of repeating the "crime" of killing Soleimani and al-Muhandis by attacking the headquarters of the state-backed Hashd Shaabi paramilitary forces on Thursday, killing the leader of one of its brigades and two others.

"The Hashd Shaabi forces are official forces affiliated with the state and an integral part of the armed forces," al-Sudani said, adding that the U.S. strike "goes beyond the spirit of the mandate that formed the (anti-Islamic State) international coalition."

Al-Sudani has repeatedly stated in recent weeks he would like to see the U.S.-led coalition leave Iraq.

The U.S. Department of Defense said it carried out a "self-defense" strike in Iraq that killed a leader of the Iran-backed Harakat al-Nujaba group, which is part of the Hashd Shaabi and also operates in Syria. 
BERLIN, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- One person was killed and 22 others injured after a fire broke out in a German hospital, local media reported on Friday, citing the police.

Of the injured, six were classified as serious, said a spokesperson for the fire service.

The injuries were mainly caused by smoke inhalation and burns, and the fire brigade quickly extinguished the blaze, said the report.

The fire broke out late Thursday on the third floor of the hospital in the town of Uelzen, about 100 km south of Hamburg in the northern German state of Lower Saxony. The blaze soon swept through multiple patient rooms, prompting firefighters to rush to the rescue of numerous individuals.

The extent of the impact of the fire and the resulting damage remained unknown. 
TEHRAN, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- The death toll of a twin terrorist bombing in the southeastern Iranian province of Kerman rose to 89, the official news agency IRNA reported on Friday.

The rise was caused by a number of those injured in the attack succumbing to their wounds at the hospital, the report quoted an informed official as saying.

Among the dead are 12 children, 33 women and 12 Afghan nationals.

The twin bombing occurred when a memorial event for Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani was being held in Kerman on Wednesday. A total of 284 people were injured.

The Islamic State on Thursday claimed responsibility for the deadly blasts, saying that two of its suicide bombers used explosive belts in the "operations," the report said. 
This photo taken on Dec. 24, 2023 shows packs of poultry feeds piled at a factory of New Hope, one of China's largest feed manufacturers, in Gazipur on the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh. (Xinhua)

DHAKA, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Fear and uncertainty because of common diseases have long been part of most of the poultry farmers in Gazipur on the outskirts of Bangladesh capital Dhaka.

About one-fourth of Bangladesh's total poultry production comes from Gazipur where farmers are now relieved of tensions in dealing with common diseases as a leading Chinese feed producer ensures supplies of quality feeds, cutting-edge technologies, as well as timely disease and management information.

Mostafizur Rahman is such a poultry farmer who runs his own farm in Gazipur.

"The chicken shed you see here houses 12,000 chickens, and on the other side there are more such sheds. I've a total of about 40,000 chickens on this farm," Rahman told Xinhua recently as workers were seen feeding chickens with feeds from one of China's largest feed manufacturers New Hope.

Rahman's farm has witnessed an impressive growth in the past decade since when he started feeding quality New Hope feeds and receiving disease management information.

"I have fed this feeds to my own chickens and also sell some outside," said Rahman, also a dealer of New Hope.

"I've benefited from doing business with this company for a long time. Their products are of good quality. I've improved day by day in this poultry farm business, "said Rahman, adding that he has almost 200 tons of New Hope feed product sales per month.

New Hope, which started production at its newly built feed mill in Gazipur in 2006, is now one of the largest poultry feed producers with about 7 percent Bangladesh market share.

Farmers in Gazipur said New Hope helps them get quality feeds at a competitive price. They said poultry farming comes as a trigger for growth of rural economy and a fortune changer for village people.

Not merely families are taking it as a boon, but many educated youths are taking poultry rearing as a vocation to become small entrepreneurs.

"From New Hope we've learned a lot about modern farming with the help of their service team in the field," another farmer Rashed Kabir said.

He said many are motivated to engage in poultry farming because of the supports New Hope offers apart from providing quality feeds, which are cheaper compared to other companies.

Rabeya Sultana Soma is a veterinarian. She works at a New Hope-run veterinary lab which is the first in the private sector to diagnose poultry diseases in Bangladesh.

"We collect samples from the farmers, then we diagnose the disease through various tests," she said, adding that because of the establishment of this lab, the marginal farmers in this area are getting services from them.

"They know how the disease is happening and how prevalent it is so that they can treat it at the right time to increase their productivity," said the veterinarian.

He Quanshui, the regional president for New Hope, said currently in Bangladesh, New Hope's production capacity of feed is 400,000 metric tons per year and 40 million chicks per year.

Besides, under the service and training of New Hope, local farmers are becoming experts in breeding field through the company's high-quality veterinary pharmaceutical products and management technology.

According to He, New Hope also actively takes social responsibility and make contributions to society. They are cooperating with the Asian Development Bank in training local female farmers, aiming to train 7,200 female farmers and 2,415 of them have now learned skills in poultry farming.

"I believe that Chinese companies like New Hope can bring a better life to the people of Bangladesh, with their decades of management experience and thousands of employees," said He. 

This photo taken on Dec. 24, 2023 shows a production line of New Hope, one of China's largest feed manufacturers, in Gazipur on the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh. (Xinhua)

This photo taken on Dec. 24, 2023 shows a factory of New Hope, one of China's largest feed manufacturers, in Gazipur on the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh. (Xinhua)

Staff members work at a lab of New Hope, one of China's largest feed manufacturers, in Gazipur on the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh, Dec. 24, 2023. (Xinhua)

This photo taken on Dec. 24, 2023 shows a production line of New Hope, one of China's largest feed manufacturers, in Gazipur on the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh. (Xinhua)

A Bangladeshi farmer feeds his chickens with poultry feeds made in a local factory of New Hope, one of China's largest feed manufacturers, in Gazipur on the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh, Dec. 24, 2023. (Xinhua)
Viewpoint January 5, 2024



VIEWPOINT 2024: Lita Shon-Roy, President and CEO, TECHCET



Looking into 2024, TECHCET is anticipating good growth for the semiconductor industry. We have been tracking revenues from several of the most influential companies in Taiwan (including TSMC, UMC, VIS, ASE, ChipMOS, etc.) that publish monthly sales data. The 3-month moving average (MMA) of the aggregate sales of these companies bottomed out in April 2023, though since then, monthly sales have been increasing steadily.



While it is true that year-over-year (YoY) sales are currently lower than those last year, the general trend is positive, assuring us that "signs of life are returning to the semiconductor industry." In fact, TSMC recently reported that their third quarter revenues were up by 10% QoQ, and they are expecting another boost of 11% for Q4 over Q3. Given Taiwan's leadership position in chip production, this is a very positive sign for the industry.



World trends for semiconductor revenues is similar in growth trajectory, as seen by the past six consecutive months of growth indicated by the World Semiconductor Trade Statistic (WSTS) monthly semiconductor sales data.



Overall, TECHCET's Chip Revenue forecast is indicating healthy growth. Currently, our estimate is up >5%, for 2024, although our official forecast declaration will be made once 4Q earnings are reported. For the longer term, the 2023 downturn has had only a slight impact on our 5 -10 year forecast. We now see US$1 trillion in semiconductor revenues being achieved by 2031.



For semiconductor materials in 2023, we are showing an overall decline of about 6-8% in revenues. From our conversations with suppliers, we understand that there has not yet been any significant uptick in orders, but inventories are now getting low enough, in some segments, that we expect to see an increase in material orders soon. As such, TECHCET expects that 2024 material revenues will be net positive compared to 2023. Over the next five years, CAGR for materials is estimated to be >5%, and potentially 3% higher by 2027 due to the abundance of announced chip expansions.



Lita Shon-Roy, President and CEO

TECHCET

http://www.techcet.com We search for industry news so you don't need to. Search Free Newsletter Subscription

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NANNING, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Three people were killed and one injured after a house caught fire in Baise City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region early on Friday, according to the local fire rescue team.

The fire broke out at around 2 a.m. in Matou Township and a total of 11 people were pulled out. Three people died later after medical treatment failed and one suffered critical but no life-threatening injuries. The fire has been extinguished by 3:04 a.m.

An investigation into the cause of the fire is under way. 
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends and addresses a reception commemorating the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

BEIJING, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday talked about the enlightenment brought by the development of China-U.S. relations, saying that peace is the most fundamental cornerstone of the bilateral ties.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks at a reception commemorating the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States in Beijing.

Wang said China-U.S. relations have gone through twists and turns, which has brought important lessons, adding that "no conflict or confrontation" between the two major countries is in itself the most important peace dividend for mankind.

Noting that cooperation is the most correct choice for China and the United States to get along, Wang said win-win cooperation is the most essential feature of China-U.S. exchanges.

He said the high level of bilateral trade and two-way investment deeply reflects the highly complementary economic structure of the two countries and their deep connection in the global industrial chain and supply chain. Artificial decoupling and blocking incurs more losses than gains.

Wang also put forward several propositions on implementing the consensus reached by the two heads of state in San Francisco.

He called on both sides to adhere to mutual respect and establish correct understanding as soon as possible, stressing that China has no intention of replacing or overriding anyone, let alone seeking hegemony. China is committed to building stable, healthy and sustainable China-U.S. relations on the basis of mutual respect.

Both sides should uphold peaceful coexistence, especially in effectively managing differences, Wang said, voicing opposition to practices of resorting to confrontation, sanction or engaging in power hegemony and zero-sum game just because of differences.

Wang said both sides should continue to make full use of the mechanisms restored or established in the fields of diplomacy, economy, finance, commerce and agriculture to promote mutually beneficial cooperation.

David Meale, Charge dAffaires at the U.S. Embassy in China, addressed the reception. He extended on behalf of the U.S. side congratulations on the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the U.S., saying that the U.S. side is willing to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state and promote the steady development of U.S.-China relations. 
UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- UN Undersecretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix will start a visit to three peacekeeping missions in the Middle East amid tensions in the region, a UN spokesperson said on Friday.

Lacroix's priorities are to express his solidarity and support for peacekeepers, troop-contributing countries, and other partners, and the communities the peacekeepers serve, said Stephanie Tremblay, associate spokesperson for the UN secretary-general.

"The visit is one that he conducts regularly. But, on this occasion, it is taking place during an extraordinarily challenging time," she said.

Lacroix will also engage with various political and security actors to discuss the activities of the missions, Tremblay said.

Lacroix will arrive in Syria on Saturday to meet with the UN Disengagement Observer Force leadership and peacekeepers. He will also meet senior government officials in Damascus, she said.

On Tuesday, he will travel to Beirut where he will meet the Lebanese caretaker prime minister, the speaker of parliament, and other officials, to update them on the operations of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). He will then head to southern Lebanon to meet with the UNIFIL leadership and peacekeepers.

During the last leg, Lacroix will visit the UN Truce Supervision Organization headquarters in Jerusalem and meet with Israeli government and military officials, said the spokesperson. 
Shares in Revolution Bars Group were plunging on Friday morning, after the company announced a decision to close several locations despite a strong festive trading period.

The AIM-traded firm said that in the four weeks from 4 December to 31 December, it experienced a 9% boost in like-for-like sales, marking its best festive performance since 2019.

While its Revolucion de Cuba and Peach Pubs brands saw strong performances, the Revolution brand also showed positive growth on a like-for-like basis during the period.

Looking at the broader picture, the group's like-for-like sales for the first half of the financial year, including New Year's Eve, remained in negative territory at -2.8%.

The company said it would provide a more detailed trading update for the first half of the year on 24 January.

In light of the challenging macroeconomic trading environment and the impending 10.8% increase in the national living wage set for April, the group said it was taking proactive measures to address profitability concerns.

As a result, the company was closing eight of its least profitable establishments to mitigate future losses.

The affected bars included Revolution Bars in Beaconsfield, Derby, Reading, St Peters Liverpool, and Wilmslow, along with Revolucion de Cubas in Sheffield and Southampton, and the Playhouse in Newcastle-Under-Lyme.

Negotiations were already underway for five of the bars to either be transferred to different operators or for the rescission of their leases.

To support affected team members, the group said it was implementing redeployment plans, offering alternative employment opportunities within the organisation.

Revolution said after the closures, it would have operations at 58 bars and 22 pubs.

As of 4 January, the group's net debt stood at 18.3m, below the reported figure from July.

We have had the best festive trading period for four years with all of our brands recording positive like-for -like sales and Revolucion de Cuba being the standout performer, said chief executive officer Rob Pitcher.

However, our younger customers are still feeling the disproportionate effect of the cost-of-living crisis and the national living wage will increase materially in April 2024.

Therefore, we have taken the difficult yet ultimately beneficial step for the Group to close several bars which are unprofitable.

At 0906 GMT, shares in Revolution Bars Group were down 21.56% at 4.28p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
London stocks were set for a weaker open on Friday as investors eyed the release of the latest all-important US non-farm payrolls report.

The FTSE 100 was called to open 39 points lower at 7,684.

The payrolls report for December is due out at 1330 GMT, along with the unemployment rate and average earnings. Before that, the S&P Global/CIPS December construction PMI for the UK is out at 0930 GMT.

CMC Markets analyst Michael Hewson said: "Today attention turns to the December payrolls report. The Novembers payrolls report saw a decent improvement on the October report, with 199k jobs added, while the unemployment rate slipped to 3.7%.

"With the participation rate returning to 62.8% and wages remaining at 4%, the idea that the Federal Reserve could look at cutting rates as early as March comes across as fanciful in the extreme. Weekly jobless claims are also trending in the low 200ks and just before Christmas US Q3 GDP was confirmed at 5.2%.

"It is true that US jobs growth has been slowing in recent months, with the ADP payrolls report slipping to 101k in November despite yesterdays rebound to 164k this week, however that is quite normal after such a long economic expansion. Weve also seen improvements in recent manufacturing and services survey data which has shown that economic activity has been holding up reasonably well, and in some cases has been improving.

"For todays December payrolls report expectations are for 171k jobs to be added and for the unemployment rate to nudge higher to 3.8%."

On home shores, data out earlier showed that British shoppers headed out more reluctantly during the usually busy holiday period, with retail footfall seeing a notable decline.

According to BRC-Sensormatic IQ, total UK footfall saw a 5% year-on-year decrease from 26 November to 30 December - a marked decline from November's -0.7% year-on-year change.

High street footfall saw a 4.2% drop in December compared to the same month the prior year, with November reporting a more modest -1.7% change.

Retail parks saw a 4.8% fall in footfall in December, a significant drop compared to the -1.0% change recorded in November.

However, shopping centres were hit the hardest with a substantial 7.4% decline in footfall in December, marking a notable drop from November's -2.2% change.

"December's heavy rain left many shoppers reluctant to brave the elements, who instead opted to browse online before making final purchases, or shop online altogether," said British Retail Consortium chief executive officer Helen Dickinson.

"This led to a substantial decline in footfall levels compared to December 2022, when there was significant pent-up demand for in-store shopping post-Covid restrictions.

"Some cities, such as Edinburgh, bucked the trend, and saw footfall levels rise in December thanks to recent investment in new, exciting shopping destinations."

Investors were also mulling the latest figures from Halifax, which showed that house prices rose again in December as mortgage rates fell.

House prices picked up 1.1% on the month following a 0.6% increase in November. This marked the third monthly jump in a row following six consecutive declines, and left the average price of a home at 287,105.

On the year, house prices rose 1.7% in December following a 0.8% decline the month before.

In corporate news, shipping services provider Clarkson lifted annual guidance after strong trading during the final quarter of 2023 driven by its broking division.

Underlying profit before tax was now expected to be at least 108m for the 12 months to December 31, the company said in a short trading update.
BEIRUT, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati warned Friday of Lebanon being dragged into a regional war as the ongoing violence and conflict in the region is escalating.

Mikati made the remarks in a phone call with his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, according to a statement from the Lebanese Council of Ministers.

"The expansion of violence and conflict in the region will have dire consequences on Lebanon and neighboring countries," Mikati told his Qatari counterpart, underscoring the need for the international community to act immediately to stop Israeli violations of international laws.

The Israeli army on Friday intensified air strikes on several southern Lebanese villages, with one of them hitting a Lebanese army's military site, causing only material damage, according to Lebanese military sources.

The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, added that the Israeli forces fired about 120 shells on dozens of villages and towns along Lebanon's southern border, destroying five houses and damaging 25 others.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah said its fighters carried out attacks using Burkan missiles on several Israeli sites, including Dhahira, Motella, Kiryat Shmona, Al-Marj, and Birkat Risha, in addition to spy equipment and a gathering of Israeli soldiers at the Al-Manara settlement. It confirmed the attacks had caused casualties, without specifying.

The Lebanon-Israel border has been witnessing increased tension since Oct. 8, 2023, after the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets toward Israel in support of the Hamas attack on Israel the previous day, prompting Israel to respond by firing heavy artillery toward southeastern Lebanon.

The confrontations between Hezbollah and Israel have so far killed 202 people on the Lebanese side, including 147 Hezbollah members and 35 civilians, according to Lebanese security sources. 
British shoppers headed out more reluctantly during the usually busy holiday period, according to fresh data released on Friday morning, with retail footfall seeing a notable decline.

According to BRC-Sensormatic IQ, total UK footfall saw a 5% year-on-year decrease from 26 November to 30 December - a marked decline from November's -0.7% year-on-year change.

High street footfall saw a 4.2% decrease in December compared to the same month the prior year, with November reporting a more modest -1.7% change.

Retail parks saw a 4.8% decrease in footfall in December, a significant drop compared to the -1.0% change recorded in November.

However, shopping centres were hit the hardest with a substantial 7.4% decline in footfall in December, marking a notable drop from November's -2.2% change.

"December's heavy rain left many shoppers reluctant to brave the elements, who instead opted to browse online before making final purchases, or shop online altogether," said British Retail Consortium chief executive officer Helen Dickinson.

"This led to a substantial decline in footfall levels compared to December 2022, when there was significant pent-up demand for in-store shopping post-Covid restrictions.

"Some cities, such as Edinburgh, bucked the trend, and saw footfall levels rise in December thanks to recent investment in new, exciting shopping destinations."

Looking at footfall across the UK nations, Scotland showed the most minor year-on-year decrease, recording a decline of 2.2%.

Northern Ireland followed with a drop in footfall of 4.7%, while England and Wales saw a 5.8% decline.

"With a general election on the cards later this year, we are calling for the political parties to set out a clear and cohesive plan for retail in their manifestos," Helen Dickinson added.

"This plan must take account of the regulatory cost burden and broken business rates system which are limiting business investment and growth.

"Ways also need to be found to create thriving shopping destinations and drive customer footfall back up again in 2024."

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
Advertising firm WPP rallied on Friday following a report that Kantar Media, a division of the Kantar market research company, will be auctioned later this year.

Sky News cited City sources as saying that Bain Capital, Kantar's majority owner, was in the process of appointing investment bankers to oversee a sale process.

Industry insiders told Sky that Kantar Media could be worth as much as 1bn. It was unclear exactly when a sales process might get under way.

Bain Capital owns a 60% stake in Kantar, while WPP holds the remaining 40% interest.

According to Sky sources, Kantar Media was also participating in a competitive process being run in the US to establish a rival service to the audience measurement business of Nielsen, another leading market research group.

Kantar Media's current contract with BARB - the company which manages Britain's TV audience measurement system - signed in 2021, runs until 2029, encompassing the bulk of a decade in which consumers' viewing habits are continuing to shift amid the growth of digital viewing platforms.
Panasonic Life Solutions India has introduced the Lumix G9II, a new digital mirrorless camera, as the latest addition to its premier G series lineup tailored for the Indian market. The camera boasts cutting-edge features, including a state-of-the-art sensor, a new engine, and the inaugural integration of Phase Detection Auto Focus (PDAF) technology within the LUMIX G Series. Anticipated to elevate both photographic and videographic capabilities, this technology promises improved performance and rapid response times.

The Lumix G9II body has been priced at Rs 1,74,990 and a Lumix G9II combo kit with a lens, including Leica DG VARIO-ELMARIT 12-60mm/F2.8-4.0 ASPH/ Power O.I.S carries a price tag of Rs 2,28,990. LUMIX G9II will be available across all Panasonic brand shops, Lumix Lounges and dealer networks across India. The new 25.2MP Live MOS sensor, paired with a new engine, delivers high-resolution images in improved quality with rich colour tones. The PDAF technology ensures precise auto-focus and swift tracking of rapidly moving subjects.

Furthermore, the camera showcases an impressive burst shooting capacity of 60 frames per second in AFC mode and 75 frames per second in AFS mode. Enhanced by pre-burst recording, which commences before the shutter release, it ensures the seizing of pivotal moments, particularly when capturing subjects in dynamic motion. Additionally, the camera enhances its video capabilities by supporting features like C4K/4K at 120p/100p and FHD at 280p. The well-regarded Lumix image stabilization system sees further enhancements, now incorporating an 8-stop B.I.S. ( Body Image Stabilizer ) to deliver superior stability for video imaging.

This collaborative improvement extends improved assistance for capturing dynamic scenes through handheld shooting, overcoming any challenge that a user encounters. Furthermore, the Lumix experience is enriched with the introduction of better monochrome photo styles. This includes the distinguished Leica Monochrome, complemented by Real TIme LUT for personalized colour settings, providing photographers with a versatile palette.
India and Nepal have entered into four agreements, which include commitments to long-term power trade and the launch of a satellite. During the joint commission meeting co-chaired by India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Nepalese counterpart Narayan Prakash Saud, both countries explored ways to strengthen collaboration in various areas, such as connectivity and trade. This visit marked Jaishankar's first foreign engagement of the year. The discussions encompassed a comprehensive review of the bilateral relationship, economic ties, and initiatives related to land, rail, and air connectivity. Additionally, the meeting delved into cooperative efforts in defence, security, agriculture, energy, and water resources, as highlighted in Jaishankar's post on X.

Four agreements were signed between the two sides, with one specifically focusing on long-term power trade between the two governments. In June 2023, when Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal visited New Delhi, an agreement was reached to increase India's purchase of hydropower from Nepal to 10,000 MW over the next decade. Additionally, during the meeting, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar extended the "warm wishes" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Prime Minister Dahal.

Recalled his successful visit to India in June 2023 which has imparted a new momentum to our ties. Discussed the follow-up, including through the Joint Commission Meeting today. India-Nepal friendship is indeed unique and our partnership is moving from strength to strength", Jaishankar posted on X.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Indias NTPC Limited and the Nepal Electricity Authority will focus on cooperation in the development of renewable energy. Another agreement between New Space India Limited (NSIL) and the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) will facilitate the launch of the Munal satellite on Indias Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). The fourth agreement between the two governments covers Indian grants for implementing high-impact community development projects.

Furthermore, the two ministers conducted a virtual inauguration of three 132-kV cross-border transmission lines. These included the second circuits of the Raxaul-Parwanipur line, the Kataiya-Kusaha line, and the New Nautanwa-Mainhiya line. Additionally, they observed the handover of the fifth tranche of Indian assistance provided to those affected by the earthquake in the Jajarkot area of Nepal in November 2023.

Jaishankar described the joint commission meeting as "thorough and fruitful," highlighting that discussions encompassed disaster management, tourism, civil aviation, people-to-people and cultural exchanges, as well as the development partnership. In addition to this, he held meetings with Nepal President Ramchandra Paudel, along with former prime ministers Madhav Nepal, KP Sharma Oli, and Sher Bahadur Deuba. The visit to Nepal was made at the invitation of Saud, aiming to co-chair the seventh meeting of the joint commission, established in 1987 as a platform for both foreign ministers to review the bilateral partnership.
Santosh Jha, India's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, held discussions with Sri Lankan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ali Sabry, where both parties mutually decided to accelerate multiple projects aimed at enhancing the positive trajectory of the India-Sri Lanka partnership. Sharing on X, Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha stated, "Very pleased and honoured to have my first call on Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka HE @alisabrypcNoted the extraordinary warmth in India-Sri Lanka ties and agreed that expeditious action on various projects is important to keep the strong positive momentum in our partnership". Santosh Jha held a meeting with Sri Lankan Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Sabry and discussed ways and means to further enhance bilateral cooperation.

In a post shared on X, Sabry said, "Pleased to have received the newly appointed High Commissioner of India to SriLanka Santosh Jha this morning. Recalling deep-rooted civilizational links between Sri Lanka and India, we discussed ways & means to further enhance our bilateral cooperation during his tenure". Recently, Santosh Jha called on Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena. During the meeting, the two leaders discussed a wide range of topics related to the "multidimensional relationship" between the two nations.

In a post shared on X, Jha had stated, "High Commissioner called on PM @DCRGunawardena. They discussed a wide range of topics pertaining to the multidimensional relationship. Emphasized that centuries-old linkages in #Buddhism is central to the abiding connect between the people of the two countries". On December 22, Santosh Jha, the Indian representative in Sri Lanka, formally submitted his credentials to Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe. He officially took on the role of the Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka on the same day.
UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths on Friday called for an end to the war in Gaza.

Three months since the horrific Oct. 7 attacks, Gaza has become a place of death and despair, he said in a statement.

"We continue to demand an immediate end to the war, not just for the people of Gaza and its threatened neighbors, but for the generations to come who will never forget these 90 days of hell and of assaults on the most basic precepts of humanity," he said.

"It is time for the parties to meet all their obligations under international law, including to protect civilians and meet their essential needs, and to release all hostages immediately. It is time for the international community to use all its influence to make this happen. This war should never have started. But it's long past time for it to end," he added.

The humanitarian community has been left with the impossible mission of supporting more than 2 million people in Gaza, even as its own staff members are being killed and displaced, as communication blackouts continue, as roads are damaged and convoys are shot at, and as commercial supplies vital to survival are almost non-existent, said Griffiths.

Almost three months into the war, the humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire. Tens of thousands of people, mostly women and children, have been killed or injured. Families are sleeping in the open as temperatures plummet. Areas where civilians were told to relocate for their safety have come under bombardment. Medical facilities are under relentless attack. The few hospitals that are partially functional are overwhelmed with trauma cases, critically short of all supplies, and inundated by desperate people seeking safety, he said.

A public health disaster is unfolding. Infectious diseases are spreading in overcrowded shelters as sewers spill over. Some 180 Palestinian women are giving birth daily amid this chaos. People are facing the highest levels of food insecurity ever recorded. Famine is around the corner. For children in particular, the past 12 weeks have been traumatic: No food. No water. No school. Nothing but the terrifying sounds of war, day in and day out, he said.

"Gaza has simply become uninhabitable. Its people are witnessing daily threats to their very existence, while the world watches on," said Griffiths. 
In a strategic move to enhance India's renewable energy sector, Juniper Green Energy, a prominent player in the industry, has signed a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Gujarat government at the Investment Promotion Activity during the Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2024. The announcement, made through a company statement, outlines an ambitious partnership aimed at establishing an impressive 1 gigawatt (GW) of wind and solar projects within the state.

The MOU represents more than just a financial commitment, signaling a significant step towards sustainable energy generation. With an investment of Rs 8,000 crore allocated for these projects, the signing ceremony took place on January 3, 2024, in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, emphasizing Juniper Green Energy's dedication to strengthening India's renewable energy infrastructure. At the core of this collaboration is a commitment not only to advancing clean energy solutions but also to enhancing the socio-economic landscape of the region. The proposed initiative is expected to create around 1,500 jobs and make a meaningful contribution to the local socio-economic development of Gujarat.

Speaking on this occasion, Naresh Mansukhani, the CEO of Juniper Green Energy, expressed enthusiasm, stating, "We are thrilled to partner with the government of Gujarat in this monumental venture. This MOU is a testament to our shared commitment to a sustainable and prosperous future". Juniper Green Energy, a subsidiary of the AT Group, has an extensive portfolio within the renewable energy domain, with a valuation of approximately $2.4 billion. The group has been at the forefront of building utility-scale renewable energy projects in India since 2010 and has previously spearheaded projects like Orange Renewable, a 1GW renewable energy platform.

Founded in October 2018 in Delhi NCR, Juniper Green Energy has experienced substantial growth, presently managing an operational portfolio of around 800 megawatts (MW). Furthermore, the company has over 500 MW under construction and a developmental pipeline surpassing 3 GW, which includes solar, wind, and hybrid projects. The company's in-house capabilities cover the entire spectrum, including Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) as well as Operations and Maintenance (O&M) services for its renewable projects.

This isn't Juniper Green Energy's first collaboration in Gujarat. In August 2023, the company inked an initial pact with the state government to develop 1GW of wind and solar projects, representing an equivalent investment of Rs 8,000 crore, a precursor to the current milestone agreement. Moreover, Juniper Green Energy's recent alliance with Suzlon Energy Ltd. for a 50.4MW wind power project in Dwarka district, Gujarat, further cements its dedication to expanding renewable energy initiatives. The project, slated for commissioning in 2025, will feature 16 wind turbine generators, each boasting a rated capacity of 3.15MW. Suzlon Energy Ltd. will oversee project execution, including erection and commissioning, and provide comprehensive post-commissioning operations and maintenance services.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- If you were a Verizon Wireless customer between Jan. 1, 2016, and Nov. 8, 2023, you may be eligible for a class action payout.

A lawsuit, recently filed in New Jersey, alleges that customers who had some of the networks monthly plans were charged undisclosed administration fees in a deceptive and unfair manner.

As part of this settlement, Verizon will amend its Customer Agreement to include revised Administrative Charge disclosures, according to the settlement agreement posted to www.verizonadministrativechargesettlement.com.

And while Verizon has denied any wrongdoing, or that the lawsuit has any merit, the company has reached a proposed settlement to resolve the issue on a class action basis.

So who will receive payments and how much will they get?

According to the website, the $100 million settlement should net all current and former individual consumer account holders in the United States who received postpaid wireless or data services from Verizon over the past seven years a maximum payment of about $100.

By agreeing to the receive payment, the settlement class, as well as Verizon, make no admission that Verizon is liable or that the allegation and defense in this case has any merit.

Those who opt into the lawsuit cannot sue Verizon over the issue in the future.

Verizon will continue to charge the administrative charge in question, according to the settlement website reads and contends that it has the right to increase the charge.

Those who qualify will either receive a letter in the mail or an email with instructions on how to get paid. Eligible customers must file a claim by April 15, 2024, to receive a settlement payment.

If you do nothing, you will not receive any settlement payment and will lose any rights to sue Verizon over these issues. If youd like to opt-out of the lawsuit, you must mail a signed request for exclusion to: Verizon Administrative Charge Settlement Administrator, Attn: Exclusions, P.O. Box 58220, Philadelphia, PA 19102, by Feb. 20, 2024.

For more information, or to start a claim, go to: www.VerizonAdministrativeChargeSettlement.com
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Police are investigating a burglary where the keys and two cars were stolen from a home in Grant City on Thursday, according to sources.

The incident, which was classified as a burglary, reportedly occurred at about 4 a.m. Thursday in the 122nd Precinct, according to a spokeswoman for the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information.

The victim told police that two unknown individuals used force to enter the home in the vicinity of Lincoln Avenue and Richmond Road through a rear window, a source with knowledge of the investigation told the Advance/SILive.com.

The individuals allegedly removed two sets of car keys for two separate vehicles from the home. They left through the same window and then rode away in two vehicles from the driveway. The cars headed in an unknown direction until they were detected going over the Goethals Bridge into New Jersey, the source said.

Police described the vehicles as a BMW X7 and a Mercedes Maybach.

A description for the suspects was not immediately available from police.

The source said that the victim did not encounter the individuals and its unclear if the victim was home at the time.

No arrests have been made and the investigation continues, the police spokeswoman said.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A former purchasing secretary at an elementary school in Port Richmond is accused of stealing more than $145,000 from the treasury fund.

Michele Cenci, 54, of Monterey Avenue in Annadale, was arraigned Thursday in state Supreme Court, St. George, on an 18-count indictment that included charges of grand larceny, forgery and falsifying business records in connection with what officials described as deceptive acts stretching over seven years, unbeknownst to her superiors at PS 21.
A Florida man is not taking things light and sweet as hes filed a lawsuit against a Dunkin Donuts after he was allegedly injured by an exploding toilet in his state, the Associated Press is reporting.

Paul Kerouac is seeking more than $100,000, claiming he suffered severe and long-term injuries following an alleged incident in which a toilet in the mens room of a Dunkin location in Winter Park, Florida, exploded while he was using it, the report said.

Kerouc alleges a Dunkin employee told him that staff was aware of an issue with the toilet and that there had allegedly been similar incidents with it after Kerouac emerged from the bathroom covered in urine and feces seeking help, the report said.

Kerouac claims he has required mental health care and counseling since the 2022 incident.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has directed state agencies to prepare for the weekend coastal storm expected to dump several inches of snow across the state.

State agencies are taking precautions in preparing emergency response assets ahead of the encroaching system, set to move into the state late Saturday. The storm is currently expected to unload anywhere between 3 to 8 inches of snow throughout parts of the Southern Tier, Mid-Hudson, Capital, Mohawk Valley, Central New York, and the Finger Lakes Regions, according to the governors release.

As you go north and west of the city, that is where we are expecting to see the accumulating snowfall, particularly as you go really into the Lower Hudson Valley, National Weather Service (NWS) Meteorologist Dominic Ramunni said. From maybe White Plains on north and west, a plowable snowfall is looking more likely there with several inches expected.

We are closely monitoring a winter storm that could bring snow to parts of the state starting on Saturday night.



State agencies are preparing emergency response assets. New Yorkers should monitor their local forecasts & sign up for emergency alerts at https://t.co/ELyoVQXm1n.  Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) January 4, 2024

Before reaching for those skis, note that this is a heavy, wet snow, not the type ideal for hitting the slopes. Combined with expected internal wind gusts of up to 35 mph, these poor conditions can result in downed trees and power outages, as detailed by Ramunni.

NY GOVERNOR MAKES PREPARATION

Concern over these potential threats has prompted Hochul to urge residents to prepare for the storm to come.

We are watching an impending coastal weather system moving in this weekend, and in preparation Ive directed state agencies to mobilize emergency response assets, Hochul said. We anticipate heavy, wet snowfall across various regions, potentially causing power outages and hazardous travel. I urge New Yorkers to be vigilant. Prepare your households, monitor local forecasts, and plan for the next couple of days as the forecast comes into clearer view. Together, well weather the storm.

The interior Lower Hudson Valley has been identified by the NWS as an area with a greater than 50% chance of exceeding warning-level snowfall.

A Winter Storm Watch has been issued for interior sections (Interior So. CT, Interior SE NY, and portions of Interior NE NJ) for Saturday evening through Sunday afternoon. See the map! Click the link for the details: https://t.co/eIjJUdoNpM#nycwx #hvwx #njwx #ctwx #liwx #nywx pic.twitter.com/d4azvCiz0v  NWS New York NY (@NWSNewYorkNY) January 4, 2024

At 3:19 p.m. on Thursday, the NWS issued a winter storm watch in advance for areas of southeast New York; the watch to remain in effect from Saturday evening through Sunday afternoon.

While NYC snowfall amounts remain uncertain, other parts of New York are sure to see substantial amounts of snow. The greatest anticipated amounts are expected to accumulate in the Hudson Valley, with AccuWeather predicting snowfall amounts from 6 to 12 inches.

While these unpleasant conditions are expected to blanket most of the state, precipitation type and amount varies.

- An AccuWeather WinterCast graphic details the likelihood of snowfall for NYC for Saturday, Jan. 6 through Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. (Courtesy of AccuWeather)(Courtesy of AccuWeather)

In NYC, residents can expect rain with the potential for snow measuring up to 3 inches Saturday night through Sunday morning. Similarly, out in Buffalo and areas in the western portion of the state, snowfall is expected to range anywhere from 1 to 3 inches. Meanwhile, those far to the north on the border of Canada can breathe a sigh of relief knowing they are not forecast to receive any precipitation, according to AccuWeather.

Winds will remain a threat, particularly on the coast, where gusts can peak at 45 mph (inland gusts are expected to reach up to 35 mph).

The NWS particularly warns of coastal flooding, and Ramunni mentions the possibility of flooding in areas prone to taking on water. The time at which this issue is of most concern would be overnight Saturday into Sunday.

A winter storm packing travel-snarling snow and dangerous ice is on track to arrive in the Northeast this weekend. @AccuRayno https://t.co/TvG1orSdBY pic.twitter.com/axsyG5Y29i  AccuWeather (@accuweather) January 3, 2024

However, the lingering potential for flooding will carry into next week, as perhaps even a more powerful storm is expected to impact the region Tuesday into Wednesday, according to Ramunni.

Well see things add up as we go into midweek, and that actually might cause some more hydro-related issues as we go into Tuesday into Wednesday, particularly if we have melting snow pack across the interior, Ramunni said. And so well have these elevated rivers and streams all flowing down, and then you throw a few inches of rain on top of that and certainly we could be dealing with some issues.
The New York City Department of Emergency Management has issued a weather alert for Saturday into Sunday.

According to the National Weather Service, light snow and a wintry mix will begin early Saturday afternoon, becoming increasingly likely by the evening. Rain will continue to mix with snow overnight, particularly along the coast, with precipitation tapering off Sunday morning. Spotty snow showers may continue through the afternoon or early evening. Wind gusts of 30 mph to 35 mph overnight and minor coastal flooding on Sunday morning will also be possible.

With initial forecasts predicting a potentially significant storm hitting the tri-state area this weekend, our agencies are prepared to handle anything thats thrown our way, said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Well continue to keep New Yorkers updated about what to expect and our preparations for the storm. As always, the best way to stay safe is to stay informed  so sign up for Notify NYC to get the latest information directly from the city.

The current forecast calls for snowfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches in the northern boroughs with less than half an inch expected on Staten Island. If conditions trend colder, reasonable worst-case amounts of 3 to 5 inches will be possible in the northern boroughs, with 1 to 2 inches elsewhere across the city, including Staten Island. Snowfall is expected to be wet, so full accumulation is not expected. Slick roadways and minor travel impacts will be possible throughout the city during periods of snow. Icy conditions are not expected, the forecast says.

Thanks to historic investments in the Sanitation Department, we have the highest uniformed headcount in decades heading into this winter,' said Department of Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch. We are ready for whatever Mother Nature throws our way.

NYC Emergency Management offers New Yorkers tips on staying safe before, during, and after winter storms at https://www.nyc.gov/site/em/ready/winter-weather-prep.page.
Its not often that an MLB team gets the opportunity to combine defending Cy Young Award winners. With Yoshinobu Yamamoto off the board, the Yankees have a chance to do that by pairing free-agent ace Blake Snell with Gerrit Cole.

Multiple reports, including one from NJ Advance Media, have indicated that the Yankees are considering adding Snell to the rotation  for the right price. Even Cole, a good judge of talent, is reportedly for it, wrote Jon Heyman of The New York Post on Wednesday.

But Heyman adds a caveat: Given how negotiations with Yamamoto went, could Snell, whose agent is Scott Boras, use New York to bolster his price and go elsewhere?

After the type of season Carlos Rodon, who signed a six-year, $162 million deal with the Yankees last winter, had in 2023, the team might not want to risk taking another chance on a similar pitcher  a 31-year-old left-hander with a knack for having inconsistent seasons.

In two years before last season, where Snell posted a 14-9 record with a 2.25 ERA, he had a combined 15-16 record with a 3.79 ERA. Even Rodon, before signing with the Yankees, had consecutive seasons with sub-three ERAs before earning his contract.

Randy Miller of NJ Advance Media, who spoke with a person with knowledge of the Yankees thinking, reported that New York would like to reunite with Jordan Montgomery anyway. Montgomery, another 31-year-old lefty, has a more consistent track record. Hes also shown improvements in terms of ERA in each of his last three seasons, posting a 3.83 ERA in 2021, a 3.48 ERA in 2022 and a career-low 3.20 ERA in 2023.

The problem is that Montgomery, whose resume isnt as impressive as Snells, could be overpaid this offseason given what the Dodgers gave Yamamoto (12 years, $325 million) and because he won a World Series.

Both Snell and Montgomery are looking at potential six or seven-year deals worth more than $150 million, according to MLB Trade Rumors projection. Thats an average annual value of at least $25 million, which would put the Yankees past $300 million in payroll.

Owner Hal Steinbrenner has indicated that hes willing to carry that type of payroll when Yamamoto was still in play. After landing Juan Soto via trade in December, he may have no choice but to persist.

Manuel Gomez may be reached at mgomez@njadvancemedia.com.
Semafor Signals

Insights from Business Insider, Gizmodo China, and Electric Planet

NEWS

China said that Tesla is recalling more than 1.6 million vehicles over concerns that its autopilot feature could cause collisions.

The electric vehicles (EVs), including imported Model S, Model X, and Model 3 sedans, as well as Chinese-made Model 3 sedans and Model Y SUVs, will be given an over-the-air software update to fix the issue, but Chinese regulators are still labeling the update as a recall. This comes a month after the U.S. recalled nearly all 2 million Tesla cars on American roads over similar concerns.

Prior Tesla brake issues and delayed customer service in China had sparked rare protests supported by state media, and the company was ultimately forced to apologize over their handling of some complaints.

The recall is the latest setback for Tesla in the Chinese market, with domestic makers having a particularly strong 2023 and Chinas BYD overtaking Tesla as the worlds largest EV seller.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Tesla co-founder warns not to think of an electric car like an iPhone

Sources: Business Insider

The autopilot crap is more of a threat to Teslas success than other EV competitors, Tesla co-founder and former CEO Martin Eberhard told Business Insider last year. Musk has repeatedly branded Tesla as much a software company as it is a hardware company, but Eberhard opined that it wasnt that simple. Its not the same to think of a vehicle as an iPhone, he said. While a glitch in an iPhone is merely an annoyance, he said, a bug in vehicle software that controls the brakes can kill you. Ebherard added that he thought Musk was too preoccupied with autonomous cars to successfully lead Tesla.

Tesla is battling Chinese EV competitors with memes  but social media users arent impressed

Sources: Gizmodo China, Electric Planet

While Teslas Model 3 remains the most popular EV car in China, the automaker is facing fierce competition from domestic EV companies that broke multiple sales and production records last year. Tesla is now on the social media defensive to lure more buyers. On Douyin  Chinas version of TikTok  Tesla has released ads that use memes to mock its competitors: blurring out the face of one EV CEO and pointing to his low development rate, comparing the aesthetic of one competitors cars to house furniture like sofas and refrigerators, and likening the batteries of one EV maker to a chubby, flexing cartoon figure.

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Tesla/Douyin

But many Chinese social media users on Weibo said the ad campaign appears desperate and hypocritical given Teslas prioritization of software over safety, the Chinese EV news site Electric Planet reported. I obviously think about watching TV while I drive, joked one user. What I actually need is a car that is easy to drive, has low wear and tear, is safe, and has good reliability when I need it most.

Tesla stock hasnt taken much of a dint  but that could change

Sources: CNBC

The automakers share price has continued to grow despite numerous recalls this year, with a year-on-year growth of more than 110% as of Jan. 5. Some, like analyst Craig Irwin, warned that Teslas stock price is egregiously overvalued, and that its shares could drop some 65% in a tough 2024 as investors realize, theres nothing Tesla has that Toyota does not, Irwin told CNBC. He questioned why Teslas stock price is significantly higher than Toyotas if Tesla is only going to sell a fraction of the vehicles compared to Toyota.
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Macquarie Groups energy trading arm is vigorously defending four separate class actions in the US that allege it and other major energy traders illegally profiteered from a disaster caused by a deadly winter ice storm in 2021.

The claims have been lodged on behalf of energy consumers in the state of Kansas and are seeking a combined total of $US429 million ($636 million) in damages from the energy trading houses, which are major suppliers to retail distributors.

The attorney-general of Kansas alleges Macquarie deliberately pushed up gas prices and damaged the states economy. Credit: Getty

Macquarie is the only group to be listed as a defendant in all four suits. Energy powerhouse BP is a defendant in three of the class actions and US giant Chevron in one, along with a host of other companies.

The damages relate to the special levies energy consumers will pay in the state to cover the financial devastation the storm caused to energy distributors which were forced to buy gas at sky-high prices.
Daggers have been drawn since 2020, when neighbours were astonished to see what appeared to be a three-storey luxury residence materialising, even though approvals had only been granted for two storeys. The advertised version of the property, left; and the vision approved by the council. Peter Prasad Maharaj, an engineer whose family company Zoro Developments owns the land, said the disputed area was not a living space but an underhouse to provide structural support. But neighbours were infuriated when promotional material displayed by a local real estate agency showed an artists impression of the finished property complete with three inhabited storeys and four parking spaces, instead of the approved two. When questioned about the advertisement last week, Prasad said: Well, anyone can do an artists impression  anyone can do a two-storey, a five-storey image of the place.

They may have an old image  the property is not for sale. A stink in Seaforth In early 2020, Northern Beaches Council shut down construction at the site while it investigated the complaints, and the matter wound up in the Land and Environment court. In court, the council complained that excavation and geotechnical piles installed under the house were not in the original plans, giving neighbours the impression an illegal third storey was being built. The council told the court there were also two unauthorised balconies, an unauthorised staircase and a lift shaft in the wrong location among other features that were never approved.

The project was under the watch of private certifier Stanly Spyrou of Dix Gardner, who is currently banned from practising after being reprimanded in connection with 20 developments across Sydney, including a block in Alexandria that was the subject of demolition orders. Land and Environment Court Commissioner Joanne Gray found the Seaforth residence had not been constructed in line with either a construction certificate issued by Spyrou in 2018, or the original plans approved by the council in 2007, in breach of legislation. It was unacceptable for work to continue, and the only way for the issues to be resolved was for Zoro Developments to seek fresh approvals from the council, Gray ruled. Three years on, the parties brokered a truce, with new plans approved by the court in September.

The commissioner found the development was now substantially the same in height and scale as originally approved. All issues raised by the council had been resolved, she concluded, including concerns about unauthorised and unapproved works. Loading Gray noted the council chose not to pursue its own allegation that the private certifier issued a construction certificate allowing work to commence in 2018 after the development consent had potentially already lapsed. A council spokesperson said by the time the matter came to its attention, the window of opportunity to act under legislation had already closed. That came as a surprise to neighbour Gordon Hargreave, who said he had been in an ongoing dialogue with council staff at the time.

The council had informed residents that the approval had lapsed, a position that they later reversed  this gave rise to numerous queries about the site. Hargreave disagreed that the latest plans matched those originally approved in 2007. A council spokesperson conceded that the lower ground floor or underhouse would remain, even though it was never approved by the council, but approved instead by the private certifier. Speaking anonymously, another neighbour said it was outrageous that private certifiers could wave through changes to council-approved plans, and it set a dangerous precedent that implies that one can simply build whatever they want. Residents appealed to local MP Rory Amon for help, but he said he was unable to intervene.

We never paid him A court judgment says that Elmaaz Construction Pty Ltd, which was liquidated in November with $1.9m debts, was engaged to provide construction management services at the Seaforth site. Elmaaz sought damages for project delays to the value of $2570 per day from February 24, 2020, when the site was shut down, the judgment said. Three months later, Elmaazs former boss Tony Maaz is alleged by police to have attempted to recover $13 million worth of MDMA hidden inside an excavator at a Blacktown building site. Neighbours are concerned the half-built mansion is crumbling into the water. Credit: SMH

Maaz will face a retrial this year on charges of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, after a trial in the NSW District Court ended with a hung jury last year. Maaz has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Prasad and Maaz both denied he ever worked at the Seaforth site. He was going to get engaged to provide advice. He was not engaged, and we never paid him any money  because of the stop work order, Prasad said. Maaz said that the claim for damages referred to in the court proceedings was for expenses incurred as a result of the project delays.
A period of wild weather lasting weeks is set to cost Queensland $2 billion.

But deputy premier Cameron Dick has warned that estimate may rise as the full extent of the damage is assessed.

Queensland has only just started to count the cost of a disaster-riddled period after enduring everything from a cyclone in the north to a tornado in the south.

A major recovery effort is under way, with the Australian Defence Force on the ground to assist.
A $5 million tourism recovery package for cyclone-devastated regions of Far North Queensland is hoped to lure holidaymakers back, after images of the destruction made many potential visitors cancel their plans.

On Friday, Premier Steven Miles said Cairns and Port Douglas were open for business after ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper caused flooding and widespread damage to popular tourism destinations.

We know that nearly 90 per cent of businesses are open and ready to take visitors, Miles said.

What we need now is those visitors. We know that a lot of people cancelled their holidays when they saw those pictures but now is the time to rebook.
In 2004, crime patriarch Lewis Moran was having a drink at The Brunswick Club when he was gunned down next to a bank of poker machines by two men wearing balaclavas. His drinking buddy and close associate, Herbert Wrout, was also wounded. A retired police officer, who asked to speak anonymously because he wasnt speaking with the authority of Victoria Police, was based at Brunswick and Fawkner over a 35-year career. He said Brunswick had lost its mantle as Melbournes most lawless suburb many years ago. Theres still a few older crooks, who are probably retired, like myself, who still live in Brunswick, but keep a low profile. The place is full of twenty-somethings and young families now, whove moved there because they cant afford to live in Fitzroy, he said. Its a hell of a lot nicer than it was in the late 1980s when I was stationed there and the pubs were full of gangsters and bikies and other heavies.

I remember having to do a walk-through at the old Bombay Rock in Sydney Road when The Angels were playing. The place was just crawling with crooks. Since then, many key players in Melbournes underworld have sought sanctuary in the high-rise apartments of the inner city, while most of the foot soldiers still live at home with their parents in Melbournes outer western and northern fringes. Detectives and arson investigators on the scene where a car was torched days after shots were allegedly fired at a Fawkner house with links to crime figure Mohammed Oueida. Credit: Chris Hopkins Criminals concerned about safety but still keen to flaunt their rising wealth and power are attracted to luxury apartments in Docklands and Southbank, where secure underground car parks and extensive CCTV systems are standard features. Another drawcard is the areas proximity to Crown Casino and King Streets strip clubs  the traditional playgrounds for Melbournes underworld.

In apartments in the city, you cant torch the building, so youre safer in a place like that, said an underworld source speaking on the condition of anonymity. Its also a show of wealth, moving to high-rise apartments, compared to being in the areas most people grew up in. For more than a decade, Mitchell has lived with in a well-appointed, high-rise apartment in Southbank overlooking the city and the Melbourne Arts Precinct. He shares the apartment with his dog Boss. He would have been neighbours with Arico, who owned an apartment at nearby Eureka Tower. The high-rise apartment building was a temporary residence for alleged bikie enforcer Mick Murray, who replaced heroin trafficker Amad Jay Malkoun as the Victorian head of the Comancheros. Malkoun, who narrowly survived a bomb attack in Greece that left him with serious leg injuries, was one of the first to recognise the spread of Melbournes western fringe when he sold a proposed massive housing estate in Donnybrook.

Before leaving Australia for Dubai and Greece in 2013, Malkoun lived in a luxurious $1.9 million penthouse in Docklands overlooking the city skyline, the Yarra River and Southbank. Mohammed Afghan Ali Akbar Keshtiar. The waterfront precinct was also home to slain underworld figure Nabil Maghnie, who was shot dead in the car park of a Taco Bill restaurant in Epping in 2020. However, the apparent security of apartment buildings failed to protect gangland figure Mohammed Akbar Keshtiar  known as Afghan Ali  who was gunned down in a CCTV-riddled laneway off the Chapel Street retail strip in South Yarra as he walked home from the gym. If the desperation to get someone is strong enough, it doesnt matter where it is anyway. But its harder in the city than in the suburbs, that is all, the underworld source said.

The former senior sergeant said many younger criminals now resided in poorer suburbs west of Bell Street. Loading Youve got a lot of kids, who havent had much in the way of education, wholl do almost anything for a few hundred bucks and the respect of those up the chain. Some of them are probably not even 18, but they can still hold a gun, the retired police source said. The parents either dont care or dont know what theyre up to, and the kids are easily recruited by seasoned criminals, or they join gangs to fit in. Suburbs such as Broadmeadows, Fawkner, Taylors Hill, Coolaroo, Keilor and Thomastown have been plagued by murders, shootings, firebombings, high-speed chases, and extortion attempts, as experienced gangsters exploit young criminals to wage their tit-for-tat battles.

One of Melbournes biggest underworld players doesnt even live in Australia, but has managed to exploit his local connections to recruit a small army of minions in the northern suburbs to fight his illicit tobacco war. Ruthless kingpin Kazem Kaz Hamad has been coordinating a relentless string of attacks on his enemies from Dubai and other overseas sanctuaries after being deported to his native Iraq after serving an eight-year sentence for his involvement in a heroin trafficking ring. People sell loyalty to the highest bidder, the underworld source said. Currently, that is Hamad. Perhaps the most brazen example of the violence unfolding in the suburbs is the daylight execution of notorious career criminal Gavin Capable Preston as he sat surrounded by innocent patrons in the alfresco area of a cafe on a quiet suburban shopping strip in Keilor Village in September.

Less than a month later, criminal recruit Robert Issa was shot dead in the car park of a busy shopping centre in Craigieburn in front of horrified onlookers. Gunmen had targeted an Excelsior Heights home linked to his family three weeks earlier. Loading Just last month, two masked men opened fire on the Fawkner home linked to alleged underworld player Mohammed Charif Oueida, who was shot by enemy Omar Tiba as he left a Coburg mosque in 2017. A car parked outside the property was torched just days later. Gunmen had attempted to kill former Mongol bikie and professional kickboxer Suleiman Sam Abdulrahim by shooting him across the chest as he left a funeral in the same suburb in 2022. The two masked gunmen fled overseas immediately after the botched hit. In 2024, police are braced for further hostilities in the outer north and west of the city. Brunswick, in the meantime, looks to be settling into quiet, gentrified obscurity.
ALAN ROY FARMER March 27, 1934-June 2, 2023

Born in the Mallee town of Hopetoun in March 1934, Alan Farmer moved with his family to Sandringham at the age of six months and lived in the area until his death in June 2023.

Alan OAM BCom BEd MEd FAPS had a broad range of interests and enormous zest for life. His five years as a chorister at St Pauls Cathedral Melbourne stimulated his lifetime love of music. He was an all-round sportsman, and an enthusiastic outback camper, traveller and pilot, having won a flying scholarship at the age of 19. His love of honey moved him to become a part-time apiarist for about 15 years. He also created a unique wine label for his colleagues wine-bottling group.

Educated at Toorak Teachers College and Melbourne and Monash universities, Alan worked as a teacher for seven years from 1953. Early in his career, appointed to a small rural school, Alan boarded with a dairy farmers family. He observed the exhaustion of the real farmer, was taught how to run the farm and sent the family on a much-needed holiday. This involved Alan milking the cows at 5am before school and preparing the next days lessons after finishing the 5pm evening milking.

When Alan was seconded to the specialised psychology and guidance branch of the Victorian Education Department in 1960, the role had been created for qualified, experienced teachers with psychology qualifications. Alan progressed quickly to leadership positions and with his staff, provided innovative services to individual students as well as to teachers, parents, school principals and the wider school communities. Former colleagues described Alan as innovative, empowering, optimistic, inspirational and committed. He was an outstanding leader  ahead of his time.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called for higher density housing along Sydneys maligned Parramatta Road and more development around transport corridors in an intervention into the citys housing crisis debate.

In comments that back Premier Chris Minns in his fight against local councils and NIMBYs, Albanese on Friday singled out local government as a jurisdiction that needed to improve its planning and development approvals as Australian governments race to build 1.2 million homes over the next five years.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Sydney on Friday. Credit: Dion Georgopoulos

An area like Parramatta Road should, in my view, be subject of much higher densities than are there. Its been talked about for a long time. Its in my electorate. I want to see development and dwellings along that corridor and along other corridors that have public transport, he said.

We know that there have been supply chain issues as a result of global inflation, as a result of the pandemic. But we need to put shoulder to the wheel, all levels of government, including local government, by having appropriate approvals.
In this article, we discuss 10 best January dividend stocks to buy. You can skip our detailed analysis of dividend stocks and their performance over the years, and go directly to read 5 Best January Dividend Stocks To Buy.

During 2023, dividends didn't hold much appeal for investors as compared to previous times. Instead, the spotlight returned to the renowned tech stocks that had underperformed the year before. The Nasdaq index, which leans heavily towards tech companies, stole the show by delivering exceptional results, surging by 43% throughout the year. This marked a remarkable comeback for the index, showcasing its most impressive performance since 2020. Investors were drawn to the resurgence of these tech stocks, eclipsing the allure of dividends for many during this period.

Despite the shifting investor preferences towards tech stocks, companies in the US remained committed to rewarding their shareholders through dividends. As per a report from S&P Dow Jones Indices, in 2023, the S&P 500 companies didn't hold back when it came to dividends, setting a new milestone by paying an annual record of $70.30 per share to their investors. This marked a significant increase from the previous year's figure of $66.92 per share. Moreover, the collective sum distributed to shareholders reached an all-time high of $588.2 billion, showcasing a notable rise from the previous year's $564.6 billion. This commitment to distributing dividends illustrates the ongoing dedication of US companies to share profits and value with their shareholders, despite the fluctuating trends in investor preferences. The report also mentioned that in the fourth quarter of 2023, companies took a notably careful stance regarding their dividend payments. That said, analysts are positive about dividend stocks in 2024.

Howard Silverblatt, Senior Index Analyst at S&P Dow Jones Indices, expressed his perspective on this matter within the S&P report. Here are some of his comments:

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For 2024, the dollar aggregate of dividends is expected to increase once again. Absent an economic or geopolitical event, S&P 500 large caps appear to be weathering volatility better, as the index is expected to post its 15th consecutive year of dividend increases. In addition, the index is also expected to log its 13th consecutive record year, with a 4.5% - 5% increase in payments for 2024, compared to its 5.1% increase in 2023 and its 10.8% increase in 2022.

Dividends have consistently held a significant place within the realm of stock market returns. In his book "The Future for Investors," Jeremy Siegel emphasized the substantial impact of reinvesting dividends on total stock accumulation. He highlighted that 97% of the actual accumulation from stocks stems from the continuous reinvestment of dividends, while only 3% results from capital gains. This underscores the long-term benefits of dividends in building wealth through investments. For this reason, investors focus on companies that consistently grow their dividends. Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT), Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ), and AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV) are some of the best dividend stocks that have consistently increased their dividend payouts for several decades, earning them a revered status among investors.

Investing in dividend stocks involves a deeper level of analysis and understanding. While dividends are commonly associated with long-term gains, some investors pursue short-term profits through a tactic called dividend capture. This strategy revolves around taking advantage of dividend payments from a stock. Essentially, investors employing this method aim to purchase shares of a company right before it issues its dividend and then sell those shares shortly after receiving the dividend payout. To know more about this strategy, have a look at our article Dividend Capture Strategy: 10 High Yield Stocks To Buy in November. In this article, we will take a look at 11 prominent stocks that are trading ex-dividend in January.

Best January Dividend Stocks To Buy

Photo by nathan dumlao on Unsplash

Our Methodology:

The following list provides details on the dividend capture strategy, focusing on the selection of prominent dividend-paying stocks set to go ex-dividend in January 2024. The ex-dividend date marks the final day to buy a stock and qualify for its upcoming dividend. The list is ranked chronologically, with earlier dates appearing first and later dates following in order.

Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a similar consensus approach, we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or a professional one looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.

Ex-Dividend Date: January 9

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is an American multinational conglomerate that provides wireless and wireline telecommunications services to consumers, businesses, and government agencies. In the third quarter of 2023, the company posted an operating cash flow of over $10.3 billion and its free cash flow for the period amounted to $1.3 billion.

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is one of the best dividend stocks on our list as the company has been paying regular dividends to shareholders since 1995. The company offers a quarterly dividend of $0.2775 per share and has a dividend yield of 6.44%, as reported on January 4. The stock will trade ex-dividend on January 9.

At the end of Q3 2023, 52 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey reported having stakes in AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T), down slightly from 56 in the previous quarter. These stakes are collectively valued at over $1.7 billion. With over 22.6 million shares, Two Sigma Advisors was the company's leading stakeholder in Q3.

9. Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE:DRI)

Ex-Dividend Date: January 9

Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE:DRI) is a company that operates and owns several casual dining restaurant brands. They're known for their diverse portfolio of restaurants. The company has been raising its payouts every year since reinstating its dividends in September 2020. On December 15, the company declared a quarterly dividend of $1.31 per share, which was in line with its previous dividend. As of January 4, the stock offers a dividend yield of 3.27%.

In its recently announced fiscal Q2 2024 earnings, Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE:DRI) posted revenue of $2.73 billion, which showed a 9.6% growth from the same period last year. For six months that ended in November 2023, the company generated nearly $610 million in operating cash flow.

As of the close of Q3 2023, 31 hedge funds in Insider Monkey's database held stakes in Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE:DRI), which remained unchanged from the previous quarter. The consolidated value of these stakes is over $227.2 million.

8. Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ)

Ex-Dividend Date: January 9

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) is a prominent American multinational telecommunications company that is known for its wireless services, providing cellular network services to consumers, businesses, and government agencies. The company offers a quarterly dividend of $0.665 per share and has an attractive dividend yield of 6.79%, as of January 4. It is one of the best dividend stocks on our list as the company maintains a 17-year streak of consistent dividend growth. The stock will be trading ex-dividend on January 9.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) reported a strong cash position this year so far. The company's operating cash flow came in at $28.8 billion year-to-date, up from $28.2 billion during the same period last year. Its free cash flow for the period stood at $14.6 billion, growing from $12.4 billion in the prior-year period.

The number of hedge funds in Insider Monkey's database owning stakes in Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) grew to 61 in Q3 2023, from 53 a quarter earlier. The collective value of stakes owned by these hedge funds is roughly $1.4 billion.

Ariel Investments mentioned Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) in its Q3 2023 investor letter. Here is what the firm has to say:

By comparison, global communications and technology leader, Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), continued to weigh on performance following an article in the Wall Street Journal outlining concerns on lead cable lines posing a significant public health threat. Although the lead covered cable lines remain an overhang on shares, we find Verizons valuation to be compelling. The company delivered a solid earnings report, with subscriber and financial metrics in-line or ahead of consensus. Management also reiterated full year guidance and noted it may exceed its outlook for free-cash-flow. From a competitive and financial standpoint, we view Verizon to be among one of the best positioned telecoms in the world. Looking forward, we expect free cash flow to grow significantly in the years ahead as the company moves past the secular peak in 5G capital spending.

7. Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL)

Ex-Dividend Date: January 10

Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) is a Texas-based computer software company that is primarily known for its offerings in database software and enterprise software solutions. In its fiscal Q2 2024 earnings, the company reported a revenue of roughly $13 billion, which showed a 5.4% growth from the same period last year. Over the past 12 months, the company's operating cash flow was $17 billion and its free cash flow amounted to $10.1 billion.

Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL), one of the best dividend stocks on our list, has been growing its dividends for the past eight years. The company offers a quarterly dividend of $0.40 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.56%, as recorded on January 4. The stock will go ex-dividend on January 9.

As of the end of the September quarter of 2023, 88 hedge funds reported having stakes in Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL), up from 84 in the previous quarter. These stakes have a consolidated value of nearly $4.7 billion. Among these hedge funds, Fisher Asset Management was the company's leading stakeholder in Q3.

6. Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT)

Ex-Dividend Date: January 11

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) is a global healthcare company that operates in various areas within the medical and health technology sectors. On December 15, the company reported a 7.8% hike in its quarterly dividend to $0.55 per share. Through this increase, the company took its dividend growth streak to 52 years, which makes ABT one of the best dividend stocks on our list. As of January 4, the stock offers a dividend yield of 2.01%.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) was a part of 69 hedge fund portfolios at the end of Q3 2023, up from 62 in the previous quarter, as per Insider Monkey's database. The overall value of these stakes is more than $2.2 billion.

Click to continue reading and see 5 Best January Dividend Stocks To Buy.

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Disclosure. None. 10 Best January Dividend Stocks To Buy is originally published on Insider Monkey.
Optusdata, the anonymous hacker who in late 2022 made away with the personal data of more than 10 million Optus customers before backing down from a $1.5 million ransom threat, was described as unprofessional and stupid by their hacker peers on the dark web. The Optus mass data breach occurred through an unprotected and publicly exposed end point, meaning anyone who discovered it could connect to it without submitting a username or password. The attack was far from sophisticated, according to OReilly and other experts. For attackers, especially those utilising low-cost, high-reward strategies, the investment is minimal compared to the potential pay-off, which can range from financial gain to significant data breaches  or even reputational damage to the targeted organisation, OReilly says. According to the Australian Signals Directorate, an intelligence agency, more than 127,000 hacks against Australian servers were recorded between the 2022 and 2023 financial years. This marked an increase of more than 300 per cent over the prior year  and OReilly says that matches what hes seeing on the ground.

In the shadows OReilly spends much of his time monitoring the dark web, which ransomware groups use to leak data and boast about their bounties. He regularly reports his findings to the Australian Signals Directorate. Loading The dark web is a shadowy part of the internet accessible only through special software, allowing users to remain anonymous. It is commonly used for illegal activities such as buying and selling drugs and weapons, as well as stolen credentials. The group suspected to be behind the 2022 Medibank data breach, Russian cybercriminal gang REVil, posted customer names, birthdates and Medicare details under good and naughty lists on its dark web site named Happy Blog. The leaked data included patients who had undergone treatment for drug addictions and terminated non-viable pregnancies.

I recommend to sell Medibank stocks, the group said in the post, along with a quote from Confucius: A man who committed a mistake and doesnt correct it is committing another mistake. A person claiming to be the Medibank hacker told this masthead in broken English via email during the incident that they would have not leaked the stolen data had the company paid up. Medibank publicly ruled out paying the hackers the $US9.7 million ($14.5 million) they demanded, and the federal government had also advised against payment. Medibank is facing a class action, as well as potential fines from the information commissioner over the 2022 cyberattack. Credit: Steven Siewert The government is currently weighing a total ban of ransomware payments, though company directors say the payments may be justified to avoid catastrophic outcomes. We do business in our way, and we never targeted any particular people for that  only companies, the purported hacker said via email.

We ask a similar price, as on blackmarket for that detailed data about Medi customers. And where Medi refuses to pay  we should earn some money, to cover our efforts. Talking that way, Medibank in fact forces us, to sphread [sic] customers data. With attacks surging, the federal government is under increasing pressure to help organisations defend themselves. Cybersecurity Minister Clare ONeil described financially motivated hackers and extortionists as public enemy No.1 when she launched the governments new cyber strategy late last year. ONeil said Australia faced the most challenging circumstances since the Second World War, and that cybersecurity would be integral to how the events of the coming decade played out. A good start The federal governments six shield strategy includes $291 million in support for small and medium-sized businesses, including the creation of a cyber health-check program offering free and tailored cybersecurity assessments to business owners. It has a stated goal of making Australia the worlds safest cyber nation by 2030.

Many cybersecurity professionals arent convinced thats possible but acknowledge its a goal worth pursuing. What Claire ONeil and the current government have been doing is a good start, but its been attempted before, and we need to ensure it survives future political changes. Cybersecurity is no longer a nice to have; its a fundamental component of everything we do, OReilly says. Cyber Security Minister Clare ONeil. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen He says Australia needs to find a way to ensure cybersecurity strategies are consistent across jurisdictions and are not beholden to the government of the day. One thing we can learn from our so-called adversaries, the people hacking us, is that consistency is key.

In late 2022, in response to the Optus and Medibank breaches, the parliament passed legislation that can result in businesses being fined $50 million for repeated or serious data breaches. Tony Burnside, head of Asia Pacific at cybersecurity giant Netskope, says we should be encouraged that Australia has a hands-on and proactive government when it comes to cybersecurity. The new cybersecurity strategy, which I think we can say has been well received overall, focuses on the right issues that need to be addressed now, and will act as a good framework for new legislation that will help Australian organisations and individuals be more secure, he says. Our global alliances, especially in the context of AUKUS, also equip us with solid offensive and defensive state cybersecurity capabilities. Some organisations and parts of the populations are still fairly vulnerable compared to other countries, though... We werent exactly a primary target for cybercriminals until recently, and this has created some complacency and a feeling that major cyberattacks wouldnt occur here.

In the past 18 months there has been a wake-up call. Bolstering the defences Netskopes most-recent threat report found the majority of cyber threats targeting Australian organisations were criminally motivated, with only 12 per cent of attacks having a geopolitical motivation. Both the Medibank and Optus hackers demanded millions in ransom payments. At Medibanks shareholder meeting in November, chairman Mike Wilkins emphasised that the private health insurer had ramped up its security. The board has been overseeing a group-wide program of work that aims to continue uplifting and embedding the technology, processes and security culture within Medibank to support our customer promise of being a trusted health partner, he said.

Port operator DP World, another recent hacking victim, is improving its security as well. We undertook a thorough review of our security controls with the assistance of third-party cyber expertise, a spokesman says. In order to reduce the likelihood of similar incidents occurring, we are working through a cyber remediation plan to implement additional controls, limit access to external applications to certain addresses and countries only, implement additional end-point and network detection and response capabilities. CBA chief Matt Comyn said the bank was conscious of and spend a lot of time, effort and resources on issues such as cybersecurity given the risks presented by such threats nationally and globally. Weve already seen a number of examples of how damaging a breach of cybersecurity can be and that is a warning to us all to take the necessary and vitally important steps to protect ourselves from these increasing attacks, Comyn said.

But some of Australias biggest companies such as IAG, the insurance group behind brands like NRMA Insurance, CGU, SGIO, are not waiting for hackers to come knocking. Loading We take cyber and data risk very seriously and we continue to invest heavily in this area, says IAGs chief risk officer, Peter Taylor. We are also an active participant in broader industry and government initiatives to enhance cyber resilience more generally. Cybersecurity provider CyberCX is working with St Vincents Health to remediate and respond to its recent cyberattack. Its still unclear whether any sensitive health data was stolen in that attack, which people close to the investigation say was likely financially motivated. The company is also working with the Australian Open to safeguard the coming tournament.

All organisations at risk The Medibank and St Vincents Health data breaches were facilitated through compromised staff accounts, according to investigators. Hackers typically compromise accounts through social engineering or phishing attacks  emails that seem legitimate and encourage users to enter their login information. All Australian organisations are at risk, according to CyberCXs financial services and insurance industry director, Shameela Gonzalez. More than green text on a black screen, executives are anxious about the 2am phone call, or the contact from a customer instead of catching it themselves, Gonzalez says. Its the combined challenge of scrambling to understand what has happened, re-securing systems without inflicting more damage, and communicating effectively in a matter of hours  Its a tough ask, even before you consider that someone out there is working just as hard to do you harm.

Simply buying more tools and more technology isnt the answer here. Gonzalez agrees with OReilly in that one clear answer when it comes to cybersecurity is a cultural one. Shameela Gonzalez at the offices of CyberCX in Sydney. Organisations that weather and thrive following a cyber incident have a strong culture of resilience, have invested in securing their networks and systems to do what they can to prevent a breach, and have prepared as best they can for an attack in this when, not if environment. Another answer may be for businesses to simply collect less data on their consumers. In November, the government flagged a review of mandatory data legislation, passed in 2015, which requires telecommunication companies to hold customer information including names, call records and other data for two years.

Ashwin Ram, cybersecurity evangelist at Check Point Software, says an organisation in Australia is being attacked on averaged nearly 700 times a week over the past six months. Loading He says its a mistake, however, to read the recent headlines about the St Vincents Health and Court Services Victoria hacks and assume that they are the work of a criminal mastermind. Theres nothing sophisticated about these cyberattacks, Ram says. These recent ones appear to be financially motivated, and cybercriminals are extorting as much as possible from their victims. Many attacks begin with some form of social engineering, such as the one against Court Services Victoria, where email was the delivery mechanism for initial access. The most common attack vectors include phishing, cloud misconfiguration, software vulnerabilities, and compromised credentials, as was the case in the St Vincents Health breach. 

For Ram, its not the regularity of the attacks that is most worrying. Its that cybercriminals also now have access to generative AI tools, allowing them to create highly effective phishing campaigns that are nearly impossible to detect. Attacks to intensify Ram and other cyber experts are predicting a further surge in cyberattacks over the next year given the rise in AI tools such as ChatGPT. Over the next year, cybercriminals will increasingly leverage generative AI to develop new tools for cyberattacks, he says. This trend will also lower the barrier to entry, enabling less technically proficient individuals to engage in malicious activities, as advanced skills are no longer a prerequisite for creating attack tools. Ram is also predicting a rise in hackers-for-hire  a new breed of mercenaries of the digital age.

Last year, the pro-Russia hacker group, Killnet, announced plans to create a private military hacking organisation, Black Skills. A screenshot of a website vandalism by pro-Russian hacking group Killnet. Black Skills aims to be the cyber equivalent of the infamous Wagner Private Military Company, and will reportedly offer courses in four languages: Russian, English, Spanish and Hindi. The establishment of Black Skills will likely intensify the focus and sophistication of cyberattacks against governments, Ram says. The latest spate of high-profile cybersecurity attacks are concerning. But we also think the string of attacks on not-for-profits in early 2023, which did not receive nearly as much coverage, told another story. A sizable amount of cybersecurity attacks in Australia are not reported by the media or to authorities.
Berth control It was interesting to read about the future tourism plans for Venice. Over recent years there have been many articles on the excess of cruise ships passengers visiting Venice without really contributing much to the economy but stressing its fragile existence. We were recently staying in Trieste for 11 days and were dismayed to see the constant arrival of cruise ships. Maybe the Italian government is attempting to encourage other beautiful harbour cities to allow berthing of these floating clubs to take some of the slack from Venice.

Zerial, Stanmore, NSW EDITORS NOTE Following an overdue ban by the Italian government only the smallest cruise ships are permitted to berth in central Venice. Nowadays large cruise vessels tend to dock at the industrial centre of Porto Marghera on the Italian mainland. Boom and bust Preparing for a recent flight to Sydney, I pre-booked a car space at the Wilson Terminal Car Park. I was advised that entry/exit was no longer permitted using a credit card and instead, a QR code would be sent to my mobile phone the day before travel. Upon arrival I attempted to scan the code. It would not work and as a line of cars built up behind me I frantically and repeatedly tried to get it to read. Eventually, after several minutes and for no apparent reason it worked and I gained entry. However upon my return when I attempted to exit, once again the scanner would not read the code. Eventually a staff member arrived but he could not get it to operate. He manually lifted the boom and I was on my way. I completed Wilson Parkings online evaluation pointing out the difficulties I had encountered. There has been no response. In future I will forgo any discount for booking in advance and rely on my credit card for entry and exit.

Michael Considine, Eltham, Vic

Tray cheek Id love to know who thought it was a good idea to remove all, yes all, the seating and table tops on the airside of security at Qantas Sydney and Melbourne domestic terminals. You know, the ones where you take your tray and re-assemble your half-unpacked bags and put your shoes and belt back on? The result is congestion at the conveyor, where people spend longer getting all their stuff together, teetering on one leg and putting shoes on.

Kevin Hunt, Kenthurst, NSW Quite a feet The big problem with Air New Zealand business class seating (Traveller, December 9) is that they all face the aisle. All you see is a line of feet. With the seats facing the aisle, it is impossible to see out of the windows  you have to awkwardly look over your shoulder. I moved to premium economy for the landing.

Terry Cook, Ermington, NSW Well trained

I love travelling by train in Europe: its fast, is a wide network and is generally frequent. Far better than flying. Id love to see a similar network in Australia, but  and its a big but  Australia has about nine times the land mass than that of France and Germany combined, but only 17 per cent of the population of these two countries combined. There are good reasons why the fast trains of Europe are hard to replicate in Australia. Credit: iStock Providing train travel to small remote areas is never going to be financially feasible. Its easy to provide a service when there is high population density, far less so when there is not.

Louise Kloot, Doncaster, Vic Editors note: The above letter previously stated that the land mass of Germany and France combined was 96 times larger than Australia. As several commenters below noted, this is incorrect and we have amended the statement above. Points taken

Airline lounges and loyalty points may well be overrated (Traveller, January 3). However, when my wife and I recently endured an eight and a half hour stay at Auckland Airport due to delays to our Qantas flight, we were glad of the access to the Qantas Lounge afforded by the lounge passes provided by our loyalty points-earning credit card. Furthermore, we had used loyalty points to pay for half of our accommodation during that trip. We felt well-served by both these travel services.

Paul Moritz, Warandyte, Vic Tip of the week: Electric dreams In 2022 we drove our Kia Niro EV from Victoria to Cape Tribulation, Queensland, and back, paying nothing for power until the Queensland border and then much less than petrol. We planned our route according to existing charging points, (love the plug share app) had little trouble and filled the charging time with walks to the nearest coffee shop or picnics in a park, and a visit to the wonderful Shepparton Art Gallery where charging is free. Sometimes we charged overnight on mains power at our accommodation by prior arrangement. When we flew to Europe in 2023 we lent the car to friends for a trip to Magnetic Island, and we called it offsetting. There are so many more charging stations now particularly inland NSW and Queensland, so we are planning another adventure in 2024.

Jenny Grounds, Riddells Creek, Vic Itch to switch Traps for young players. I was persuaded to switch from my Qantas Premium American Express card (for which I paid no additional annual fee if I kept the normal Amex charge card) to the Qantas Ultimate card. With the latter, a Qantas travel credit of $450 is awarded to match the annual fee. However, to obtain the travel credit a Qantas booking can only be made directly through American Express Travel. This booking does not come with two annual complimentary Qantas Club lounge invitations, but they are included if the booking is made directly via the Qantas.com website. In that case, the travel credit doesnt apply.

Lance Dover, Pretty Beach, NSW

Among the Hmong I had the most surprising and enjoyable trip, to Luang Prabang, the ancient capital of Laos. A UNESCO World Heritage site, its a charming place with Lao and colonial influence in its architecture. We went on the new and super-efficient Lao-China Railway train between Vientiane, the capital, and Luang Prabang return. During our visit we met the indigenous Hmong people, learning about their traditional houses, music and their sifting and pounding of rice. We stayed at the Sofitel Luang Prabang  which, with just 25 rooms must be the smallest Sofitel in the world  where we enjoyed superb service and offerings of local food at breakfast.

Nancy Chai, Wheelers Hill, Vic Norway the right way Lofoten Islands, Norway. Credit: iStock Travelling is expensive, Norway even more so. But, if youre over 67 years of age public transport is half price. Thats for trains, buses and many of the west coast ferries (not the Hurtigruten cruise line). Over a certain age driving on the wrong side is not as appealing, and likewise, large tour groups. We were there in June for two weeks, and it just worked. Even the buses on the remote Lofoten Islands were on time and the train trips were relaxing and just spectacular. By using punctual public transport and staying in a mix of hotel and B&B accommodation, Norway was quite reasonable on the hip pocket.

Gary Rowe, Wyoming, NSW

Constellation prize Qantas first class in the 1970s. Credit: Qantas Wow, what a beautiful flashback your Friday Flashback photo feature (Traveller newsletter, December 15) has given me. My father was a Qantas senior first officer flying Super Constellations in the 50s and 60s. In late 1959, he took Mum and me on a six-week, first-class trip around the world. Flying up at the pointy end of the elegant Qantas Super Connies and staying in stunning luxury hotels, it was an amazing time. We were treated like royalty. That world trip also spurred a subsequent lifelong travel bug in me, but it has always remained the best and most exciting in my memories.

Leonie Wain, Avoca Beach, NSW The Letter of the Week writer wins three Hardie Grant travel books. See hardiegrant.com
Steenkamps mother, June Steenkamp, said in a statement earlier Friday that she had accepted Pistorius parole as part of South African law. Has there been justice for Reeva? Has Oscar served enough time? There can never be justice if your loved one is never coming back, and no amount of time served will bring Reeva back, June Steenkamp said. We who remain behind are the ones serving a life sentence. Reeva Steenkamp and Oscar Pistorius in Johannesburg in 2012. Credit: AP With the release of Oscar Pistorius on parole, my only desire is that I will be allowed to live my last years in peace with my focus remaining on the Reeva Rebecca Steenkamp Foundation, to continue Reevas legacy. The Department of Corrections has emphasised that the multiple Paralympic champions release  like every other offender on parole  does not mean that he has served his time.

Some of Pistorius parole conditions include restrictions on when hes allowed to leave his home, a ban on consuming alcohol, and orders that he must attend programs on anger management and on violence against women. He will have to perform community service. Pistorius will also have to regularly meet with parole officials at his home and at correctional services offices and will be subjected to unannounced visits by authorities. He is not allowed to leave the Waterkloof district without permission and is banned from speaking to the media until the end of his sentence. He could be sent back to jail if he is in breach of any of his parole conditions. Television crews, photographers and reporters gather outside the gates of the Atteridgeville Correctional Centre in the South African capital of Pretoria, South Africa, waiting to catch a glimpse of the world-famous double-amputee Olympic runner, Oscar Pistorius, to be released on Friday. Credit: AP South Africa does not use tags or bracelets on paroled offenders so Pistorius will not wear any monitoring device, Department of Corrections officials said. But he will be constantly monitored by a department official and will have to inform the official of any major changes in his life, such as if he wants to get a job or move to another house. Pistorius has maintained that he shot Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model and law graduate, by mistake. He testified that he believed Steenkamp was a dangerous intruder hiding in his bathroom and shot through the door with his licensed 9 mm pistol in self-defence.

Prosecutors said he killed his girlfriend intentionally during a late-night argument. Steenkamps family did not oppose his parole application in November, although June Steenkamp said in a victim statement submitted to the parole board that she didnt believe Pistorius had been fully rehabilitated and was still lying about the killing. Before the killing, Pistorius was held up as an inspiring role model after having had both of his legs amputated below the knee as a baby because of a congenital condition. He became a champion sprinter on his carbon-fibre running blades and made history by competing at the 2012 London Olympics. But his murder trial destroyed his image. He was accused of being prone to angry outbursts and acting recklessly with guns, while witnesses testified about various altercations he had with others, including an argument in which he allegedly threatened to break a mans legs. Pistorius was first convicted of culpable homicide  a charge comparable to manslaughter  and sentenced to five years in prison for killing Steenkamp. After appeals by prosecutors, he was ultimately found guilty of murder and had his sentence increased, although that judgment by the Supreme Court of Appeal still didnt definitively rule that he knew it was Steenkamp behind the toilet door.

Pistorius was first sent to prison in 2014, was released on house arrest in 2015 during an appeal and was sent back to prison in 2016. He was initially incarcerated at the maximum security Kgosi Mampuru II Prison in Pretoria but was moved to Atteridgeville early in his sentence because it is better suited to holding disabled prisoners. Reaction to Pistorius parole has been muted in South Africa, a stark contrast to the first days and months after Steenkamps killing, which sparked angry protests outside of Pistorius court hearings calling for him to receive a long prison sentence. There is no death penalty in South Africa. He has ticked all the necessary boxes, said Themba Masango, secretary general of Not In My Name International, a group that campaigns against violence against women. And we can only wish and hope Oscar Pistorius will come out a better human being. We tend to forget that there is a possibility where somebody can be rehabilitated. AP
PHILIPSBURG:--- In the early morning hours of January 4, 2023, at approximately 01:30 AM, a routine patrol by the Sint Maarten Police Force on Rhine Road identified a Black Ford Fusion displaying reckless driving behavior. The officers promptly intervened, stopping the vehicle to conduct a thorough inspection.

Upon inspection, it was discovered that the vehicle was occupied by five individuals. Subsequent investigations revealed that these persons were likely smuggled into Sint Maarten via the French side of the island. The driver, identified by the initials J.B, was taken into custody at the scene in connection with human smuggling.

He was later transported to the Police Station in Philipsburg, where he is currently being held for questioning. The four individuals suspected of being victims of human smuggling have also been brought to the Police Station. Statements will be obtained from them, and subsequently, they will be handed over to the Immigration Department for further processing.

Human smuggling poses a significant threat to the safety and well-being of the individuals involved, as well as the broader community. The Sint Maarten Police Force is committed to combating such illicit activities and will work in collaboration with relevant authorities to ensure a thorough investigation.

The Sint Maarten Police Force urges the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities that may be related to human smuggling or other criminal behavior. Your cooperation is crucial in maintaining the safety and security of our community.

KPSM Press Release.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) reports the completion of its fifth consecutive year of clean financial audits of the projects it manages under the St. Maarten Trust Fund, which reflects the ongoing commitment to transparent and accountable management practices. This consistency in financial integrity has played a crucial role in supporting the island's ongoing recovery and development efforts. The Trust Fund was established in 2018 and is financed by the Government of the Netherlands and managed by the World Bank.

Currently, the NRPB is managing eleven projects centered on recovery, resilience and sustainability collectively valued at over US $400 million. These initiatives are aligned with the rebuilding efforts of the island following the 2017 hurricanes. Focused on areas such as improving infrastructure in critical public buildings, enhancing disaster preparedness, safeguarding the environment, providing reformation support in housing, mental health, and waste management sectors, and supporting economic stability, these projects aim to address both the immediate and long-term needs of the island.

The Trust Fund supports the Government's efforts in essential areas for the island's sustainable development and resilience. Collaborating closely with the Government of Sint Maarten and various stakeholders, the NRPB strives to ensure that project implementation aligns with the Governments objectives and the community's needs.

2023s financial audits, conducted by Grant Thornton, have been reviewed and submitted to the World Bank and Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs. Prime Minister Jacobs, upon being presented with the audit report noted, "I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the team at the NRPB for their hard work and steady commitment. Their diligent management of these projects under the Trust Fund has been pivotal in our island's recovery journey. The NRPB's commitment to transparency and accountability reflects their devotion to our community's well-being and progress. We look forward to our continued collaboration for the execution of the governments projects for the betterment of the people of our nation."

Director Claret Connor, reflecting on the past five years stated that The NRPB feels a deep sense of pride in our role of managing these projects for the island. It's more than just overseeing financial aspects; it's about being a part of a journey that's rebuilding and strengthening our community. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve our island and remain dedicated to its sustainable recovery and growth.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor, Omar E. C Ottley, is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. Felix Holiday as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC). Minister Ottley expressed his joy in receiving the recommendations from the Supervisory Board, underscoring the significance of this appointment as a milestone in the history of SMMC, marking a new era of leadership and excellence in healthcare.



The selection of a new CEO follows a meticulous and thorough process undertaken by the Supervisory Board to identify the most qualified and fitting candidate for this crucial leadership role. After extensive deliberations, Dr. Felix Holiday emerged as the standout candidate, possessing the necessary qualifications and leadership acumen.



In light of the significant absence of a permanent CEO over the past five years, the Supervisory Board approached this decision with the utmost care and commitment. The selection process adhered to the provisions outlined in Article 6, Paragraph 3, as detailed in the articles of incorporation of SMMC/SMGH. The Board is confident that Dr. Holiday's extensive experience and dedication to healthcare will contribute significantly to the continued success of SMMC.



Dr. Holiday's appointment will be effective from February 1st, 2024 pending the successful signing of contracts between him and the Supervisory Board. In accordance with established norms, the Supervisory Board has initiated a formal request for approval from the Council of Ministers. This request was brought to the Council of Ministers through the esteemed Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor, Omar Ottley.



The Board extends its appreciation to all those involved in the selection process and expresses confidence in Dr. Felix Holiday's ability to lead SMMC into a new era of excellence in healthcare.
You'd be hard-pressed to find many people living in the U.S. who aren't familiar with Social Security. The federal program has been around for nearly 90 years and provides benefits to around 1 in 5 Americans, with more added to the list each year.

However, there are more individuals than you might realize who lack a full understanding of how Social Security works. Here are two important Social Security rules that millions of Americans who aren't retired yet don't know about.

Image source: Getty Images.

1. Working after claiming Social Security early could reduce benefits

A report published in December 2023 by the Social Security Advisory Board highlighted the American public's lack of understanding of the retirement earnings test. This test applies to individuals who collect Social Security retirement benefits before reaching their full retirement age (FRA). The report noted that several studies have found between 25% and 50% of Americans who haven't retired yet aren't aware that working after claiming Social Security early could reduce their benefits.

If you receive Social Security retirement benefits before your FRA, they will be reduced by $1 for every $2 you make above an annual limit if you're under your FRA for the entire year. In 2024, that annual limit is $22,320.

The rules change somewhat during the year in which you reach your FRA. In that case, your retirement benefits will be reduced by $1 for every $3 you earn above a higher annual limit. This higher threshold is $59,520 in 2024.

2. This reduction is only temporary

Although millions of Americans who aren't retired yet don't know about the retirement earnings test, at least half of them do. However, many of these more informed individuals still lack knowledge about a key provision of this rule. The Social Security Advisory Board report revealed that only 30% to 40% of those who know that benefits can be reduced while working understand that this reduction is only temporary.

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One issue is that many financial advisors don't tell their clients about the temporary nature of this reduction. The Social Security Advisory Board's report stated that many of these financial advisors describe the retirement earnings test "as a tax and fail to explain to clients that the monthly benefits reduced due to work will later trigger a higher monthly benefit at FRA."

The Social Security Administration (SSA), however, explains how the process works in its official publications. For example, in its online information about receiving benefits while working, the agency clearly states that beginning in the month you reach FRA, your benefits will no longer be reduced no matter how much money you make. It also notes that your benefit amount will be recalculated to provide a credit for any amount previously withheld.

It's even possible that your benefits could be higher as a result of working. If your earnings while collecting Social Security before your FRA are one of your highest 35 earnings years, the SSA will automatically recalculate your benefit to use the higher earnings.

These Social Security rules affect a lot of people

The Social Security Advisory Board report cited a study that found nearly 50% of retirees born between 1931 and 1941 either partially retired or moved in and out of the workforce before fully retiring. It also referenced another study that showed a majority of individuals born between 1942 and 1947 "followed a gradual transition into full retirement."

It seems likely that these trends will apply to subsequent generations of retirees, too. The reasons that many people continue to work or go back to work -- including the need to supplement retirement income and a lack of fulfillment with full retirement -- won't go away.

The $21,756 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook

If you're like most Americans, you're a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known "Social Security secrets" could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. For example: one easy trick could pay you as much as $21,756 more... each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we're all after. Simply click here to discover how to learn more about these strategies.

The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

2 Important Social Security Rules That Millions of Americans Who Aren't Retired Yet Don't Know About was originally published by The Motley Fool
What does Saxo think we have in store this year? Well, how about Robert F. Kennedy Jr winning the 2024 US presidential election? Polls suggest he has a long way to go to stand a chance, but the last decade or so of American politics has hardly been predictable
Oleg Elkov / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Most people get paid biweekly, bimonthly or monthly. For many, take-home pay is enough to cover bills and hopefully have a bit left over each month for savings and/or spending on fun activities. If youre fortunate enough to also receive an annual bonus, kudos to you. Zippia recently reported that only 33% of companies in the U.S. offered year-end bonuses as of 2022.

How To Survive on $500 a Month: A Frugal Living Guide

Learn: Pocket an Extra $400 a Month With This Simple Hack

If you fall into this category and receive a bonus worth thousands of dollars, the next step is deciding what to do with the excess cash. There are five ways to maximize a cash windfall to your advantage, according to CNBC.

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1. Save For Retirement

Consistently saving for retirement is key when it comes to setting yourself up for a secure financial future. Putting at least part of your annual bonus into your 401(k) is a wise decision. The extra cash will give your account balance a boost beyond any monthly contribution or employer match you might already have set in place. Additionally, that extra bump will grow exponentially over time. Lets say you put a $4,000 bonus into a mutual fund that has an average annual return of 7%. The bonus money alone would grow to a total of $30,449 in 30 years.

2. Pay Down Debt

If youre sitting on a high interest loan or an even higher interest credit card balance, directing some or all of your annual bonus to eliminate or reduce your debt is a smart move. While you might be considering adding more funds to your retirement account or investing in more stocks, eliminating your debt matters more. Holding long term debt creates a drain on your finances and should be eliminated before making more investments.

3. Invest In Your Education

One of the most important investments you can make is in your education. Consider putting your annual bonus check towards a professional development class, an online certificate course for a new skill that might advance your career, or towards a higher degree. If plan to go to school a few years down the line or youre planning for your childrens education, consider investing in a tax-advantaged 529 college savings plan. This type of investment account allows contributions to grow with compound interest like a retirement investment account except for one key difference. Withdrawals for education expenses wont be taxed. These include education expenses including tuition, books, meal plans, computers and student housing.

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4. Increase Your Emergency Savings

Having 3-6 months of emergency cash savings at all times should go without saying. If youve already achieved this, youre on the right track. But, it can never hurt to increase your emergency savings when you receive this cash windfall. Apart from an unexpected job loss, youll want to add extra funds to your emergency savings so that youll always be prepared for any surprise medical bills, expensive home or auto repairs, or if you find yourself unable to work due to illness.

5. Spend Some Money On Something You Enjoy

Suze Orman: This Common Financial Choice Is the Biggest Waste of Money Out There

While saving for the future, reducing your debt, pursuing further education, and building up your excess funds are all important, consider spending some of your annual bonus on yourself. This can be anything that you would enjoy from a dinner out to continuing your favorite hobby or maybe even a vacation if you can swing it.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: These Are the 5 Most Fiscally Responsible Ways to Spend Your Annual Bonus in 2024
It was also a rare outing  Clinton has cut his travel and public appearances for health reasons, but also, a close friend says: Because there is no doubt that the Epstein connection had damaged him. It has also made him a lot less at ease with the press, because he knows the question will arise. So on top of his frailty, its one of the main reasons you hardly see Bill give an interview alone. His last major one was alongside Hilary Clinton about the couples philanthropic work.
The Met does have a responsibility to help the International Criminal Court with investigations of this nature, and one such investigation was opened in 2019. But that responsibility does not extend to the putting up of posters. That is a bizarre choice that has allowed former prime minister Boris Johnson to accuse the Met, with some justification, of worrying politicisation. Londons streets have been the scene of some very ugly antisemitic behaviour. Community tensions are high. Londoners deserve far better than inflammatory posters put up at airports by those who are supposed to be protecting them.
Gideon Falter, chief executive of the Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: At a time when protesters are marching in London every week wearing Hamas-style head-bands, shouting genocidal chants, calling for jihad against the Jewish state and inciting violent intifada with apparent impunity, the Met is concerned with acts of terrorism and allegations of war crimes halfway around the world, potentially even in contravention of the stated position of the British Government.
While individual loans of 7,500 do not require reporting, we accept that as both loans were in the same calendar year, they should have been reported and that is what we did.
While the United States would not say specifically what type of missiles Pyongyang had sent to Russia, US security council spokesman John Kirby said they had a range of about 550 miles. He released a graphic that appeared to show KN-23 and KN-25 short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs).
"I have driven without any convictions for well over 60 years but have not driven for the last 12 months as my ability to walk has deteriorated very quickly  my car has been parked in the garage at my home all that time  if anyone would like to visit they will see it is completely blocked in."
The American space agency is inviting people to submit their names, which will be landed on the surface of the moon aboard the agencys first robotic lunar rover, Viper (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover) no later than March 15. The idea is that they will be attached to the rover so that people all across the world can participate in the space journey.
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When you make the decision to downsize, reduced living expenses, less upkeep and less clutter are likely on your mind. But before you can enjoy those benefits, theres some prep work you need to do.

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Downsizing means getting rid of some of your stuff, but how do you choose what to sell and what to keep?

To help, here are five things you should consider selling before you downsize.

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Furniture

Furniture items can take up a lot of space, so when considering what should go, this is a good place to start.

If youre downsizing to a place that wont accommodate all of your current furniture, that means you either need to find a new home for the items or rent a storage unit. The storage unit idea isnt a great idea long-term because its a recurring bill that takes a bite out of your budget each month. Instead, its a better idea to consider selling those items that you would otherwise store.

To decide what to sell, start with items that absolutely wont fit in your new space, such as a sectional sofa or large wall unit, and sell them. Next, look for items you have duplicates of, such as nightstands or end tables, and decide if you can sell one. You might also want to sell both and use the money to buy smaller, less bulky items that will fit better in your new home. Finally, sell pieces that just wont make sense in your new space, such as pieces that look odd by themselves if youve sold part of the set.

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Books and Media

If you have shelves of books, record albums or DVDs that arent doing much more than collecting dust, its time to curate your collection.

Regarding books, keep your favorite titles  or those that have sentimental value, such as a first edition that was gifted to you  and get rid of the rest. Paperback books and old college textbooks that are outdated should be the first to go. Books of value can be sold to a book dealer or auctioned on eBay. Only keep cookbooks you actually use.

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For DVDs, sort through them and get rid of any that dont trigger the immediate desire to watch again. Also, consider getting rid of titles you planned to watch but never have  especially if they are movies that you can stream. You can sell your unwanted DVDs on eBay as a lot or individually.

Evaluate your record collection and keep those albums that are valuable to you. Sell the ones that you arent attached to. You can set up a shop on Discogs, which claims to have cheaper fees than eBay, Etsy or Amazon.

Household Items and Decor

When youre downsizing, it makes sense to streamline your current inventory of household items and decor. The best thing to do is to consider the aesthetic youre going for in your new home and only keep things that fit.

If youre planning to keep everything the same, however, youll need to decide what will work well in your new place and what youll need to sell. Try not to keep items you wont be able to use and will have to leave boxed up unless theres a good reason to keep them. Instead, sell those items locally on Facebook Marketplace or OfferUp to get rid of them. This will save you from having to pack and ship items like you would if you list them on eBay or Etsy.

Electronics

If you have older, bulky electronics that are still working, you might not be able to sell them, but you may be able to donate them. However, if you have newer electronics like large TVs or a desktop computer that you no longer need, you can probably sell those items. If youre selling a PC, make sure you back up your files and erase its hard drive before selling to protect your personal information.

Small Appliances

If you have a collection of small appliances taking up space in your cabinets or on your countertops, its time to downsize. Take an inventory of what you have and consider whether you can find one appliance that does the work of several that you have. Then, sell those appliances and use the money to buy an appliance thats a multitasker. Also, get rid of any appliances that you very rarely use and can do the job manually just as well.

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The Babes-Bolyai University (UBB) in center-western Cluj-Napoca becomes a hub for dual higher education in Romania, within projects worth 63 million euros, according to a press release sent to AGERPRES on Friday.

This is about three projects for the establishment of dual campuses, which the Ministry of Education announced that it will finance, in Resita - a project coordinated by the Resita Municipality, which offered the land, in Sfantu Gheorghe - project coordinated by the Municipality of Sfantu Gheorghe, which provided the land, and in Cluj-Napoca - project coordinated by USAMV, which provided the land, agerpres reports.

Each of these campuses will be supported with approximately 21 million euros, the projects aiming at the realization of some constructions (classrooms/laboratories with high-performance equipment/accommodation areas/canteen/recreation areas, etc.), equipment and human resource training for dual education dedicated to pupils and students."As a global university, UBB does not have dual education as a key element in its academic architecture, but it is an important additional and complementary development that we undertook starting from strong prerequisites in UBB (top specializations that also lend themselves to education dual or the relationship with it) and in the context of new national and European policies. If in Cluj-Napoca the involvement of UBB in dual education is more additional and complementary to the main "world-class" academic approach, in its own extensions the involvement, following discussions with local authorities, it is a completely strategic one, along the lines of emerging industries/engineering/technology/sustainable tourism (mainly, but not only) in Resita and along the lines of hospitality services/health/emerging industries (mainly, but not only) at Sfantu Gheorghe. Surely the developments will be extremely important for Resita and Sfantu Gheorghe, UBB also honoring its academic mission assumed there and thus completing its "world-class" academic profile in extensions with a dual, additional and complementary component, important in today's world. I hope that we can rationally coordinate these campuses with others in the region, for a cumulative and complementary development," said the rector of UBB, professor Daniel David, according to the quoted source.
Minister of Culture Raluca Turcan announced on Friday that she agreed a moratorium, together with the Culture and Media unions, in order to eliminate the inequities in salaries of museum staff.

"The first meeting this year I had with representatives of the National Federation of Trade Unions in Culture and the Media, Culturmedia, at the Ministry of Culture. We agreed on a Moratorium, until 1 February, so that, following the discussions we will have next week at the Government headquarters, we can identify, by the agreed date, the legal solutions to eliminate the salary inequalities that affect the staff of museums, prestigious accredited institutions," Raluca Turcan said on Facebook.

According to the Minister of Culture, this inequality will be corrected, agerpres reports."Just as we have managed in recent months to correct other unfair situations in the salaries of specialists in the cultural sector and even to obtain substantial salary increases from 1 January, we will try, within the Government, to correct this inequity," Raluca Turcan said.The National Federation of Culture and Media Trade Unions "CulturMedia," affiliated to CNS Cartel Alfa, protested against some of the provisions of the Government Emergency Ordinance of 28 December 2023, which would lead to a situation where the salary of an entry-level employee in the museums of the education system would be higher than that of some reputed specialists in museums of great tradition in Romania.
The Border Police Inspectorate General (IGPF) informs that, on Thursday, 260,400 people entered Romania through the border crossing points, including 8,600 Ukrainian citizens.

According to a press release sent to AGERPRES on Thursday, approximately 168,349 people, Romanian and foreign citizens, entered Romania on Tuesday, 8,636 of them Ukrainians, Agerpres reports.

In their area of operation - crossing points and "green border" - the border police found 47 illegal acts (30 offences and 17 misdemeanors) committed by both Romanian and foreign citizens, and the value of the fines imposed amounts to approximately RON 17,500.Goods worth approximately 281,000 lei were seized for confiscation.On Thursday, 16 foreign citizens were not allowed to enter the country because they did not meet the conditions provided for by the law and 22 Romanian citizens were not allowed to leave the country for various legal reasons.
(Bloomberg) -- Alphabet Inc. has illegally refused to negotiate with a group of YouTube Music contract workers who voted to unionize, the US labor board ruled.

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The Wednesday decision, issued by a panel of three members of the National Labor Relations Board, tees up a federal court battle over whether the internet company is legally the boss of subcontracted staff it claims are not its employees.

The YouTube workers, who voted 41-to-0 last April to join the Alphabet Workers Union, are hired via the staffing agency Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. Alphabets Google, which owns YouTube, has consistently denied being their boss, even after NLRB officials last year deemed it a joint employer of the workers  a company with enough control over them to be liable for their treatment and obligated to negotiate with them if they unionize.

A Google spokesperson said the company plans to appeal the ruling in federal court.

As weve said before, we have no objection to these Cognizant employees electing to form a union, the spokesperson said in an emailed statement. We simply believe its only appropriate for Cognizant, as their employer, to engage in collective bargaining.

The treatment of contract workers has been a constant point of contention for Alphabet, which relies heavily on staffing firms. Contract staff became the majority of the companys global workforce in 2018, and the Alphabet Workers Union, an affiliate of the Communications Workers of America, has been pushing to organize both those workers and Alphabets direct employees since it launched in 2021.

Any future appeals by Alphabet are just an attempt to avoid collectively bargaining with the union and pad the pockets of shareholders and executives, YouTube Music worker Katie-Marie Marschner said in an emailed statement from the union.

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In their ruling Wednesday, a trio of Democratic NLRB members ordered Google to cease and desist from refusing to recognize and negotiate with the union, and in any like or related manner interfering with, restraining, or coercing employees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed under federal labor law.

The Alphabet union filed a complaint with the NLRB early last year accusing Alphabet and Cognizant of responding to the union campaign by making threats, transferring work abroad and using new return-to-office rules to try to derail organizing. Cognizant has said the allegations have no merit. That complaint is still pending.

Another group of Alphabet contract staff, who are employed via Accenture Plc to work on content for Googles support pages, voted to unionize with the Alphabet Workers Union in November; Alphabet is appealing an NLRB regional directors determination that it is a joint employer of those workers as well.

(Updates with union comment in seventh paragraph.)

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I subscribe to the Duke Ellington line: There are two kinds of music  good music and the other stuff, Leonard Slatkin says.

The idea that music is music and that genre constraints are  not meaningless, certainly, but at least not always helpful, informs the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra concerts on Jan. 12, 13 and 21. For them, SLSO Conductor Laureate Slatkin will lead three different programs, each headlined by one of George Gershwins major orchestral works: a suite from Porgy and Bess, An American in Paris and Rhapsody in Blue.

Not incidentally, this year marks the 100th anniversary of Rhapsody and the 50th anniversary of the SLSOs initial recordings of Gershwins orchestral pieces  with Slatkin on the podium, no less. Naxos Records recently remastered and reissued the records.

You could say that the three concerts explore the connections between classical music and jazz  they include pieces by Ellington, Kurt Weill, Igor Stravinsky, Paul Turok, John Alden Carpenter, Mary Lou Williams, George Antheil, Darius Milhaud and the world premiere of Body in Motion, a new violin concerto by Jeff Beal. But rather than jazz, Slatkin prefers the term American vernacular music.

We can go back, at least with instrumental music, to baroque times, he says, and composers were always using folk music, church music, music you heard in bars and taverns. Every composer was using the melodies that were popular in the time.

But America lagged behind in that regard. American composers mostly emulated their European predecessors. In the 20th century, Charles Ives brought ragtime into the classical realm with his Four Ragtime Dances. Then there was Gershwin, who was a Tin Pan Alley song plugger and writer of popular tunes such as Swanee before composing for the concert hall.

Rhapsody in Blue, his first major work, was premiered by Paul Whitemans Concert Band in 1924.

It was the closing work on a program that incorporated many composers, writing pieces for Whiteman, who conducted the concert, Slatkin says. It created this new American perspective, and it caught on. (American composers) said, This is an avenue we need to explore.

Since then, he continues, The idea of looking at the music from other sides of the cultural spectrum has become more and more important.

But Slatkin contends that you cant quite call Gershwins efforts jazz, because he didnt improvise much. He played pretty much what he wrote. Part of the nature of jazz is the idea that you can play around with the music. Some people take it to extremes, of course, and some people stick to the letter of the score. We do probably a little of both, adding things, taking things out.

The key to playing Gershwin, he says, is youve got to do it with taste. When you think of Gershwins music, you have to think of Fred Astaire.

When he says that to an orchestra, he adds with a laugh, Im met with blank stares by three-quarters of them. They have no idea who Fred Astaire was. So I say, Go watch, just see anything with Fred Astaire in a film, and youll get the idea.

Theres an elegance associated with Gershwin. It cannot be raw.

Fifty years ago, when the then-ascendant SLSO recorded Gershwins works, Slatkin was not yet the orchestras music director. That was Walter Susskind, and Slatkin was the assistant conductor.

The orchestra had signed a deal with Vox, a budget, classical label. They wanted to make a big splash, Slatkin recalls, so the thought of being the first orchestra to record all of the orchestral works of Gershwin came to mind. It was three LPs, and it caused a sensation. It was one of the ways that the St. Louis Symphony got a lot of attention, not just nationally, but internationally.

The fact that Susskind allowed Slatkin to conduct on the recordings was more than generous. Usually, music directors ... get their place by having their names on the discs, Slatkin says. But he realized that if the St. Louis Symphony name could get out to a broader audience, it would help for future recordings that he would be making.

Plus, the idea of an orchestra in the heart of America with an American conductor made more sense to everybody as a marketing tool. And it paid off. (Susskind was European.)

Slatkin notes with pride that, even though theyve now been reissued  Naxos bought the Vox catalog with this sort of thing in mind  the originals never went out of print. (Naxos is also in the process of reissuing more Vox recordings made by the SLSO.)

Among the other pieces that will be featured in the three concerts, Slatkin is especially excited by the opportunity to world premiere Jeff Beals violin concerto, Body in Motion, on Jan. 12. In 2019, Slatkin and the orchestra world premiered another Beal composition, The Paper Lined Shack. Body will be performed by soloist Kelly Hall-Tompkins.

People will feel (Beals) connection to the jazz world through the harmonic language in particular, and somewhat the rhythm as well, Slatkin says.

The Jan. 13 concert includes Stravinskys Ebony Concerto, which was originally composed for clarinetist Woody Herman and his big band. Jazz St. Louis President and CEO Victor Goines was slated to be the soloist but bowed out due to illness. SLSO Principal Clarinetist Scott Andrews will perform in his stead. Its the first time the orchestra will perform the piece.

Another first for the SLSO is Mary Lou Williamss Zodiac Suite, part of the Jan. 21 concert. For this the orchestra teamed with a jazz group, the Aaron Diehl Trio. Of Williams, Slatkin says, Reappraisal of her work is certainly overdue. Hopefully, this helps.

The primary soloist for that concert is pianist Jeffrey Siegel, who will perform Rhapsody in Blue. Incredibly, Siegel was the soloist on the SLSOs 1974 recordings.

I thought, Wouldnt it be great to bring him back? Slatkin enthuses. So the two old geezers, who now comprise about 161 years of lifetime between us, will try to recreate a little bit of that atmosphere and perhaps talk about our experiences making those recordings.

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra When: 10:30 a.m. Jan. 12 (Porgy and Bess); 7:30 p.m. Jan. 13 (An American in Paris); 3 p.m. Jan. 21 (Rhapsody in Blue) Where: Touhill Performing Arts Center, 1 Touhill Circle How much: $15-$71 (Jan. 12); sold out (Jan. 13, 21) More info: 314-534-1500; slso.org
ST. LOUIS  A contractor is expected to start repairs this month on a crumbling downtown St. Louis garage after a city board approved spending up to $2 million for the work.

St. Louis County-based Western Specialty Contractors will be repairing levels three through six at the garage, located at 400 North Sixth Street just off Washington Avenue. The city had erected metal shoring to provide additional support to the garage and blocked off parking in those sections.

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Carter Pogue, a branch manager for the company, told the citys Land Clearance for Redevelopment Board that all levels of the city-owned garage will be open during the repairs, which will take eight to nine months. The company will be employing two crews on the project, he said.

The LCRA approved the work at a special Dec. 28 meeting. The total includes a 10% contingency in case the company finds additional problems.

The St. Louis Centre East public parking garage was built over 40 years ago and is used primarily by employees of several downtown companies, including Stifel Financial.

Commuters said they received little to no communication regarding the state of the garage when metal shoring appeared in 2022. High-profile collapses of garages around the country, including an incident last year in New York where one person died, also put users on edge, they said.

The citys development agency, St. Louis Development Corp., which staffs the LCRA, has paid roughly $220,000 on contractors to study the problems and create plans for the repairs. SLDC has spent about $5 million since 1998 in maintaining the garage.

SLDC received five bids to perform repairs. Staff said Western Specialty Contractors was the lowest responsive bidder.

Separately, LCRA also approved up to $310,000 to provide around-the-clock security at the vacant Killark Electric building in north St. Louis Vandeventer neighborhood.

St. Louis officials bought the 15-acre site last year and aim to redevelop the 150,000-square-foot industrial building there into a workforce training hub for manufacturing jobs.

GardaWorld Security Services Management Co. was selected from eight bidders. At least one guard will be on site 24/7.

The city will only pay for actual hours performed, LCRA staff said, with guards to be paid from $24.56 to $28.41 an hour.
A bankruptcy attorney has been indicted on fraud charges in a scheme dealing with cars that belonged to bankruptcy filers.

Michael Toscano, 42, was indicted Dec. 20 in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on three counts of mail fraud and one count of wire fraud. He surrendered Wednesday and has pleaded not guilty.

Authorities allege that the fraud scheme was in play from April 2018 to Dec. 19, 2023. Toscano is accused of falsely claiming that bankruptcy filers vehicles had been abandoned, and then Toscano sold some through his used car dealership.

In addition, the charges allege that Toscano obtained referrals from other bankruptcy attorneys whose clients sought to surrender their vehicles to creditors rather than to continue to pay their vehicle car loans.

According to the indictment, Toscano told debtors to deliver their vehicles to his office in Creve Coeur or to a St. Charles County storage facility.

Toscano mailed documents to the Missouri Department of Revenue and the holders of liens on the vehicles, falsely claiming that the vehicles had been abandoned and that he had incurred towing and storage fees, according to the indictment. In some cases, Toscano delayed notifying lienholders for up to 45 days, causing storage fees to exceed $2,300, authorities said.

If Toscano didn't receive payments, he would submit false documents to the state, seeking an abandoned vehicle title, authorities said. Toscano would then put the vehicle up for sale at his used car dealership, according to the indictment. The vehicles include a 2006 Audi A8, a 2018 Chevrolet Impala and a 2017 Kia Forte.
JEFFERSON CITY  A first-term Republican legislator from Lake Saint Louis wants to allow charter schools to operate in St. Charles County, and he has a major supporter on his side.

Justin Hicks pre-filed a bill last month that would allow charter schools to open in school districts located within a county with more than four hundred thousand but fewer than five hundred thousand inhabitants, a population that only applies to St. Charles County.

One week later, Hicks political action committee, Americans First, received a $10,000 donation from retired St. Louis financier Rex Sinquefield, according to filings with the Missouri Ethics Commission. Sinquefield is a strong proponent of school choice.

Hicks did not respond to questions about the donation or the bill.

Charter schools are publicly funded nonprofits that are operated by unelected boards. In Missouri, charter schools are allowed to open in St. Louis and Kansas City plus school districts that have been provisionally accredited by the state for three consecutive years. School districts in other areas of the state can sponsor their own charter schools, but none have done so.

Charter schools would create several independent segregated school systems that would devastate the school districts in St. Charles County, said Ted House, former Democratic state senator and co-founder of political action committee St. Charles County Families for Public Schools.

It made some sense in the 1990s to experiment with charter schools in St. Louis and Kansas City, House said. It makes absolutely no sense to implement charter schools in St. Charles County, Missouri, which has some of the best school districts in the state.

House said the bill from Hicks along with other Republican efforts to expand tax-credit private school vouchers and abolish the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education are part of the right-wing effort to undermine public education and ultimately defund our local schools and privatize education.

The conservative group St. Charles County Parents Association also opposes Hicks bill.

Charter schools have been shown to be unsuccessful many times over in St. Louis and Kansas City. The last thing we need is more unelected governing boards, reads a post on the groups site.

Since first opening in St. Louis in 2000 to spur innovation and competition, charter schools have a mixed record. More than half of the 37 charter school operators that came to the city folded due to financial or academic failures, including La Salle and Hawthorn last year. Statewide, most charter school systems fell below the standards for full accreditation on the 2023 annual performance reports.

Sinquefield, Missouris top political donor, most commonly funds his priorities of lowering taxes and expanding school choice including charter schools. Part of the appeal of charters is the lack of teacher unions, one of the financiers biggest foes.

At least one school district in St. Charles County has taken a position against charter schools. The Francis Howell School Board passed a resolution in 2017 against statewide charter school expansion. The resolution states in part that expanding charter schools in Missouri would divert resources away from the funding available to traditional public schools.

Last year, the conservative majority on the Francis Howell School Board voted to rescind all prior resolutions.

The legislation is Missouri House Bill 1764.
JEFFERSON CITY  State Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman on Friday became the first Republican to jump into the race to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer.

Im running for Congress because we need to secure the southern border and put a stop to the endless flow of illegal immigration; we need to protect and defend human life; we need to stand up for our daughters and the girls of our state by protecting womens sports; and we need to get back to the economic prosperity we had under President Trump by reversing Bidenomics, which has inflated the price of everything for Missouri families, the Jefferson County lawmaker said in a news release.

Colemans announcement could be the first of many. Luetkemeyers retirement promises to lead to a competitive GOP primary as ambitious state lawmakers and others see an opportunity to capture a rare open congressional seat.

State Sen. Nick Schroer, R-Defiance, told the Post-Dispatch on Thursday: Ill have to talk to my family, supporters, and pray on what decision to make.

Former state Sen. Bob Onder, who had announced a bid for lieutenant governor, could pivot to the congressional race. He told St. Louis Public Radio reporter Jason Rosenbaum Friday that you gotta look at the way you can best serve.

Onder, who represented a St. Charles County district before he was termed out, has experience running for Congress, losing to Luetkemeyer in the 2008 GOP primary.

Onder developed a reputation as a thorn in the side of Republican leadership and could contrast with someone like former Senate President Dave Schatz of Sullivan, who expressed interest in the race during a Friday interview.

When something like this occurs, you have to consider your options, said Schatz, who self-funded a losing bid in a crowded GOP primary for U.S. Senate in 2022.

Senator Onder and I obviously weve clashed on some issues, Schatz said. I do believe that we both would consider ourselves to be conservative Republicans but I mean theyve decided to brand themselves as a different type of conservative.

Two additional Republican state senators that have been mentioned include state Sen. Travis Fitzwater of Summit in Callaway County and Senate President Caleb Rowden of Columbia, though Rowden said Thursday he would continue running for secretary of state this year. Fitzwater did not respond to a request for comment.

After being elected to four-year terms in 2022, Coleman, Fitzwater and Schroer would be able to run for Congress in 2024 without giving up their state Senate seats.

St. Charles County political observer Arnie Dienoff also said he is weighing a bid.

Another person who could make an entrance into the race is former Gov. Eric Greitens, who also lost in the 2022 primary for U.S. Senate. A Greitens spokesman didnt respond to a request for comment.

Republicans who ultimately decide to run will face off in the Aug. 6 GOP primary.

Luetkemeyers heavily Republican 3rd Congressional District is an amalgamation of counties and parts of counties produced as a result of intense negotiation during redistricting in 2022.

The district stretches from Cooper County south to Jefferson City and the Lake of the Ozarks, with two extensions around the St. Louis area  one reaching into eastern St. Charles County and the other scooping up Crawford, Washington and western parts of Jefferson counties.

The only Democratic-leaning pockets of the district include southern portions of Columbia, parts of Jefferson City, a precinct in Fulton, and a handful of St. Charles County precincts.

Luetkemeyer won reelection in 2022 by a 65%-to-35% margin against Democrat Bethany Mann, who had an active campaign account as of Friday. She blasted Luetkemeyers tenure on social media after his announcement.

Among other things, she criticized Luetkemeyer for signing on to an amicus brief challenging the 2020 election results and for his advocacy for deregulation and profit-over-people.

We can build exciting things together  cleaner waterways, fully supported education from pre-K to college, and an economy that works for everyone, she said.

Not everyone was so critical of Luetkemeyer.

Thank you for your service as our congressman, Fitzwater said on X. Your work, demeanor, and efforts represented our district well.

Those interested in running wont have to decide right away. Candidate filing for the August primary opens on Feb. 27 and closes March 26.

Editors note: Spelling of Holts Summit has been corrected.
MARYLAND HEIGHTS  Officials here are experimenting with a new schedule they hope will give residents more time each day to visit city hall for business, while giving employees one extra day off each week.

The Maryland Heights Government Center, at 11911 Dorsett Road, will be open from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday for the next six months.

The change is made possible by having employees work 10-hour days four days a week, with two groups of employees working either Monday through Thursday or Tuesday through Friday.

The move, which went into effect Tuesday, is designed to benefit employees and help the city retain and recruit workers, while giving its roughly 27,770 residents more time to visit city hall during the week, City Administrator Tracey Anderson said.

Hopefully this means you wont have to take time off your job to visit city hall, if youre a resident, and it means a better work-life balance and flexibility if youre an employee, Anderson said.

The city is testing out the new schedule for a six-month trial period ending July 1, testing an idea increasingly explored in the private sector in recent years amid technological changes and shifts in the labor market, including increasing popularity of remote and part-time work after the coronavirus pandemic.

Maryland Heights is the first local government in the St. Louis region to adopt a four-day work week, said Pat Kelly, executive director of the Municipal League of Metro St. Louis.

It shows the innovation of local governments in trying to make sure theyre fully staffed and providing the best services they can for residents, Kelly said.

Local governments have long competed with the private sector, which typically pays higher wages, to hire and retain workers, a competition made more difficult since the COVID-19 pandemic, which also made remote work more popular, Kelly said.

While small city governments dont have enough manpower to try a four-day work week, other larger cities in the region may follow in Maryland Heights footsteps if its trial run proves beneficial, he said.

Its going to take an adjustment, and well have to wait and see how that goes but its certainly an opportunity to move in a different direction, Kelly said.

Recent candidates for jobs with Maryland Heights all asked for the ability to work remotely, Anderson said. Residents had also complained that they were unable to find time to get to city hall between 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The city couldnt accommodate remote work, but it considered a four-day work week as an incentive to recruit employees instead, Anderson said.

The city chose to open earlier in part to accommodate construction or project managers who tend to visit city hall in early morning hours, and in part to support employees with children need morning child care services, Anderson said.
JEFFERSON CITY  A panel of state lawmakers is set to debate legislation Monday that would crack down on companies that collect waste from meatpacking facilities and spread it as free fertilizer on Missouri farmland.

In a sign of the urgency surrounding the issue, the House Conservation and Natural Resources Committee is set to hear debate on two proposals designed to address the controversial practice, which has rankled rural homeowners because of strong odors and concerns about fouling the states streams and rivers.

The hearing, which is among the first scheduled as the House enters the second week of its annual session, comes against the backdrop of a handful of court cases and regulatory maneuvers that have essentially halted operations of companies like Arkansas-based Denali Water Solutions within the state.

The latest courtroom win came Dec. 18, when Cole County Judge Cotton Walker denied Denalis request for a temporary restraining order against the Missouri Fertilizer Control Board. The company sued in order to continue operating essentially unregulated in the state.

A hearing on a permanent injunction is scheduled for Jan. 16.

At issue is Denalis contention that it is exempt from state fertilizer laws because it doesnt sell its waste products, which it collects in tanker trucks from companies that process beef, chicken and turkey.

A restraining order could have allowed the company to resume operations in the state without the need to get permits from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Walker disagreed with the companys claim that it is being unfairly penalized.

Denali has not shown that the costs of complying with the Clean Water Law will drive it out of business, he wrote in the Dec. 18 order.

That may be expensive in the short term, but Denali may have to charge its meat and food processing plant customers more for the service it offers of disposing of their waste until Denali obtains permits with which it will comply, Walker wrote. The food processors will have to choose whether it would be more cost-effective to pay Denali or arrange disposal with permitted wastewater treatment facilities.

Along with fighting the state in court, Denali has hired Jefferson City lobbyist James Harris to represent its interests in the legislative session.

The House committee will hear two bills introduced by Republican lawmakers who represent rural areas that have been affected by the waste operations.

Rep. Dirk Deaton, R-Noel, wants to close what he sees as a loophole that could allow a company to be exempted from needing a permit from the Department of Natural Resources if it is licensed by the states fertilizer board.

Deaton represents residents in Newton and McDonald counties in southwest Missouri who are angry about the smells and possible risks of having meatpacking sludge applied to lands around their homes.

Rep. Ed Lewis, R-Moberly, wants more testing and sampling of the material by DNR. He represents residents who have been fighting the storage of the waste in a large lagoon in Randolph County.

The department may require surface water sampling and groundwater monitoring wells on a site-specific basis when ... the land application fields are located in hydrologically sensitive areas where the groundwater may be compromised, Lewis bill says.

Lewis told the Post-Dispatch on Friday that he expects the two proposals will be combined before they move to the full House for further debate.

Sen. Jill Carter, R-Granby, also introduced a plan designed to strengthen the permitting process, potentially making it harder for companies to collect the material from meatpackers unless it is tested and deemed safe for spreading.

This is to ensure that safer processing of those materials takes place before application to help keep Missouri land and waterways unharmed, Carter told the Post-Dispatch earlier.

A hearing on Carters proposal has not been scheduled.
City backed off the mandate Friday afternoon. Read the latest coverage here.

ST. LOUIS  City Hall is requiring workers to again wear masks indoors, amid a rise in respiratory illness in the region.

The city health department said in a letter to employees that the mandate, which takes effect today, is a response to increases in the number of flu, RSV and COVID-19 cases in recent weeks.

"With activity of winter viruses rising at such a rapid pace, we must take action to slow transmission and prevent strain on our hospital systems," the letter reads.

The department also recommended on Thursday that the general public follow suit, though it has not issued a public mandate.

Area hospital officials earlier this week noted an increase in flu and COVID cases, but didnt sound any alarms.

Its winter, and this is kind of weird to say, but its like were sort of getting back into a more typical rhythm, said Dr. Alex Garza, chief community health officer for SSM Health, told the Post-Dispatch then.

While emergency departments and urgent cares are busy, Garza said, the wait times are typical.

The citys recommendation for universal masking also goes above and beyond the Centers for Disease Control recommendation for areas classified as "medium" risk for COVID-19 hospitalizations, as St. Louis and much of Missouri are now.

The CDC only recommends masking for those at high risk of getting very sick under such conditions.

The citys decision immediately drew fire from conservative talk radio Friday morning.

You knew it was coming...its a religion to these idiots, KFTK (97.1 FM) host Mark Reardon wrote on X, the site formerly known as Twitter.

Kim St. Onge, who co-hosts the Marc Cox Show on KFTK, said in a video posted to X that she hoped Gov. Mike Parson would put a stop to the mandate.

St. Onge left her job as a reporter at KMOV (Channel 4) after refusing to comply with the stations COVID-19 vaccination mandate.

Michele Munz of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.
ST. LOUIS  The city health department on Thursday urged all residents to wear face masks indoors in public spaces and crowded environments amid a recent rise in respiratory illness.

The department cited a list of warning signs in a press release: Hospitalizations for COVID-19 have climbed in the last month. The BJC HealthCare system is seeing significantly more RSV cases than it has at this time in previous years, the department said, and the numbers of flu infections are up, too.

This recommendation doesnt come lightly, Dr. Matifadza Hlatswayo Davis, the city health director, said in a release. It is data-driven and focused on lowering community transmission of potentially deadly diseases.

If we all do our part and voluntarily mask up, we can expect the number of cases and hospitalizations to decrease over the coming weeks.

Area hospital officials this week noted the increase in flu and COVID cases, but didnt sound the alarm.

Its winter, and this is kind of weird to say, but its like were sort of getting back into a more typical rhythm, said Dr. Alex Garza, chief community health officer for SSM Health, speaking on behalf of St. Louis-area health systems.

The COVID-19 hospitalization rate has put the city of St. Louis and much of Missouri in the medium level risk category as defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The citys recommendation for universal masking goes above and beyond the CDCs recommendation that those at high risk of getting very sick wear a mask during medium risk levels.

Michele Munz of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.
LONDON, January 05, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings of "a+" (Excellent) of Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Limited (RSAI) (United Kingdom), RSA Insurance Ireland DAC (RSAI Ireland) (Ireland), RSA Luxembourg S.A. (RSAL) (Luxembourg), Royal & Sun Alliance Reinsurance Limited (RSA Re) (United Kingdom) and The Marine Insurance Company Limited (MIC) (United Kingdom). All five entities are wholly owned subsidiaries of RSA Insurance Group Limited (RSAIG), a non-operating holding company, ultimately owned by Intact Financial Corporation (IFC) (Canada). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect RSAIGs consolidated balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as the groups adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management. The ratings also consider, in the form of lift, the support of its parent company, IFC. RSAI, RSAI Ireland, RSAL and RSA Res ratings factor in their strategic importance to and integration within the RSA group; MICs ratings consider the significant reinsurance support it receives from RSAI, its intermediate parent company.

RSAIGs balance sheet strength is underpinned by the strongest level of risk-adjusted capitalisation, as measured by Bests Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). The groups balance sheet strength assessment considers RSAIG's improved quality of capital in recent years, following several de-risking actions that were pre-funded largely by capital injections from the groups ultimate parent.

RSAIG has a track record of modest underwriting results in its UK and international operations, its principal portfolio following the transfer of Scandinavian and Canadian business outside the RSA group in June 2021. AM Best expects underwriting performance to improve steadily despite challenging conditions in the UK personal lines market, helped by a focus on risk selection and ongoing portfolio pruning. Investment income is expected to support overall earnings with a positive, albeit modest, contribution.

Story continues

In the second half of 2023, RSAIG announced that it acquired Direct Line Insurance Group plcs brokered commercial lines operations (circa GBP 500 million of premiums), which will result in the transfer of renewal rights, brands, approximately 800 employees, and technology capabilities to RSAIG, and that the group intends to exit its direct UK personal lines operations (circa GBP 700 million of premiums). The bulk of the UK personal lines exit is expected to be achieved through the non-renewal of partner and broker contracts, which expire over the course of 2025 and 2026. As such, the impact on the companys business mix and results will be felt gradually over the medium term. Despite the corporate actions, RSAIG maintains a strong market position and a well-recognised brand in the UK non-life insurance market, as well as a profitable and well diversified international portfolio. In AM Bests opinion, the corporate actions have a neutral impact on the groups business profile assessment.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Bests website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Bests Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Bests Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Bests Credit Ratings, Bests Performance Assessments, Bests Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Bests Ratings & Assessments.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright  2024 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240105839552/en/

Contacts

Ben Diaz-Clegg

Associate Director, Analytics

+44 20 7397 0293

ben.diaz-clegg@ambest.com

Mahesh Mistry

Senior Director, Analytics

+44 20 7397 0325

mahesh.mistry@ambest.com

Christopher Sharkey

Associate Director, Public Relations

+1 908 882 2310

christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Al Slavin

Senior Public Relations Specialist

+1 908 882 2318

al.slavin@ambest.com
Imagine for a moment that terrorists sneak over the U.S. southern border and butcher more 43,000 American civilians (representing the same percentage of the U.S. population killed in Israel by Hamas Oct. 7 attack). Imagine they also take more than 8,600 American hostages.

Imagine further that this terrorist organization had been elected as the legitimate government of the land from which it came, winning 74 of 132 seats on its legislative council in 2006.

And then imagine that these terrorists, carrying away American hostages, retreat into their heavily populated country, where they deliberately hide amongst the civilian population, using them as human shields.

In this scenario, how mindful would the American government be of the rules of modern warfare? And would the American public be as critical of an overwhelming U.S. response as many Americans are today about Israels response to Hamas in Gaza?

One question that repeatedly stimulated an animated debate in my high school history classes was, What rules should be followed in times of war?

A few students pointed out that imposing limits during a war is like expecting the mob to line up in an orderly fashion before storming the Bastille. However, most conceded the need for rules, even if they are self-enforced.

The first historical example that usually emerged during these discussions was the American Revolution. When Gen. John Burgoyne, for example, led British soldiers across upstate New York in 1777, he was continually harassed by Americans employing guerrilla tactics.

This was a time when the acceptable rules of warfare dictated that armies fight in the open, donning brightly colored uniforms and marching behind drums, bagpipes, and banners. The detestable Americans, on the other hand, hid behind trees and rocks, employed hit-and-run tactics, and sometimes wore clothing that enabled them to blend into the civilian population.

Most would not question these practices today, especially since Burgoynes defeat at the Battle of Saratoga is considered the turning point of the American Revolution. Still, at the time, these tactics were considered highly questionable.

Other prime examples are found in the history of World War II. No one doubts that the Nazi Holocaust violated every rule of war imaginable or that the Japanese did the same in Chinese cities like Nanking.

But what about the Allied bombings of Dresden that killed up to 25,000 people, mostly civilians? Or the U.S. firebombing of Tokyo the following month that left an estimated 100,000 civilians dead? President Franklin Roosevelt never questioned whether this practice violated the acceptable rules of warfare.

A more recent example comes from the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, part of Americas war on terrorism that began after the 9-11 attack that killed almost 3,000 Americans. While 4,500 U.S. servicemen died in this war, approximately 200,000 Iraqi civilians were killed. Another 70,000 Afghan and Pakistani civilians are estimated to have died in the American effort to avenge the loss of the World Trade Center.

In these examples, the media never bombarded the public every day with gruesome images and stories like they have done out of Gaza since Oct. 7. Is the world now holding Israel to a higher standard in abiding by the rules of warfare?

The civilian death toll in Gaza has surpassed 22,000. And yes, it can be argued that the current Israeli government could have been more open to a diplomatic solution with the Palestinians. But does this justify higher expectations for a Jewish state than for the United States?

Recently, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu brought this hypocrisy into the open by reminding President Joe Biden (according to a White House account of the conversation), You carpet-bombed Germany, you dropped the atom bomb, a lot of civilians died.

The president responded: Yeah, thats why all these institutions were set up after World War II, to see to it that it didnt happen again  Dont make the same mistakes we made in 9/11.

While it is refreshing to hear our president own up to Americas mistakes from the past, what would President Biden do in Israels position today?

The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor killed 68 American civilians. By the end of the war, the United States had killed between 500,000 and 800,000 Japanese civilians. Expecting Israel to abide by considerably higher standards than the United States ever did or ever would do is hypocritical at best  and, at worst, antisemitic.
EQS-Ad-hoc: Multitude SE / Key word(s): Miscellaneous

Multitude SE Contemplates a Relocation to Switzerland



05-Jan-2024 / 12:20 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.





Multitude SE Contemplates a Relocation to Switzerland

Helsinki, 5 January 2024  Multitude SE, a fully regulated international growth platform for financial technology (ISIN: FI4000106299, WKN: A1W9NS) (Multitude or company), announces that it contemplates a relocation from Finland to Switzerland while maintaining its legal personality and without dissolution (Relocation).

As Finnish law does not allow the relocation to be carried out directly from Finland to a country outside of the European Economic Area, such as Switzerland, while maintaining the companys legal personality, the relocation is being considered via Malta. Consequently, the company has begun investigations of a possibility of carrying out the relocation during the year 2024 in phases by first transferring the companys registered office from Finland to Malta pursuant to Article 8 of the Council Regulation (EC) No 2157/2001 of 8 October 2001 on the Statute for a European company (SE) (SE Regulation), then converting the company into a public limited liability company governed by the laws of Malta pursuant to Article 66 of the SE Regulation, and finally applying to have the company registered in Switzerland pursuant to applicable Maltese and Swiss laws.

No final decisions concerning the relocation have been made at this point, and the relocation remains subject to approvals by the Board of Directors and the Shareholders General Meeting both while the company remains in Finland and after a possible transfer of registered office to Malta. Moreover, the relocation remains subject to working through a number of legal, regulatory and tax matters, and the fulfilment of various other conditions, including the receipt of necessary regulatory approvals, consents, and confirmations in the various jurisdictions involved in the relocation.

The investigation of the possibility of the relocation is carried out primarily for reasons relating to shareholder rights. Currently, trading in company shares is practically impossible for those of the companys shareholders whose shares are directly registered in the Finnish central securities depository in their own name. For the rest of the companys shareholders, whose shares are held by nominees on behalf and on account of the shareholders, it is unreasonably difficult to attend the Shareholders General Meetings and use their shareholder rights in such meetings.

Following the relocation, the above-mentioned issues with respect to shareholder rights could be resolved. Additionally, while the company was initially incorporated in Finland by Finnish shareholders, its operations have since expanded significantly and currently the company is a parent company of a multinational group having operations around the globe. Switzerland is being investigated as the ultimate country of registration since Swiss residents hold a majority of the companys shares, and since several new Swiss investors have become shareholders. Malta is being investigated as the interim country of registration because Maltese legislation allows a re-domiciliation to Switzerland while maintaining legal personality as well as due to the companys already existing ties to Malta through Multitude Bank p.l.c., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company, which is registered and opeRating as a credit institution under the laws of Malta.

Multitude has previously, in 2021, prepared a transfer of registered office pursuant to the SE Regulation from Finland to Germany but has later announced postponement of such transfer. With the investigation of the relocation, Multitude is no longer considering a transfer to Germany.

There is no certainty that the investigation will lead to the relocation or any other arrangement, that the relocation will be approved, or that all of its conditions will be fulfilled. Further details about the progress will be provided in due course.

With this release, Multitude publishes inside information.



Contact:

Lasse Makela

Chief Strategy and IR Officer

Phone: +41 79 371 34 17

E-Mail: Lasse.makela@multitude.com



About Multitude SE:

Multitude is a fully regulated growth platform for financial technology. Its ambition is to become the most valued financial ecosystem. This vision is backed by 18+ years of solid track record in building and scaling financial technology. Through its full European banking license, profound know-how in technology, regulation, cross-selling, and funding, Multitude enables a range of sustainable banking and financial services to grow and scale. Currently, it has three independent business units on this growth platform: Ferratum as consumer lender, CapitalBox as business lender, and SweepBank as a shopping and financial app. Multitude and its independent units employ over 700 people in 25 countries and offer services in 16 countries, and they together generated EUR 212 million turnover in 2022. Multitude was founded in 2005 in Finland and is listed in the Prime Standard segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol FRU.www.multitude.com
January 5, 2024: Some things never change in Russia and one item is medical care. Russia never was able to establish a nationwide healthcare system and military health system comparable to those found in the west. This was especially true in the military. Russian medical care in combat units, especially in combat, was never very effective or even available.

In the combat zone there was poor or nonexistent medical treatment for the wounded. It was the same for diseases that of the breakout among troops in the combat zone. Russian troops in Ukraine are currently suffering from what is called mouse fever and receiving little treatment. This means a growing number of Russian troops are technically available for service but are in fact disabled by the mouse fever, which Russian military medical personnel have been slow to deal with. In part thats because this is a new ailment, and the Russian medical community has not yet found a way to effectively deal with it.

It's a different situation with Ukrainian troops, where the army has been quick to adopt western military practices. The traditional military feldsher (medic with practical but no formal medical training) have received more training and better equipment than their Russian counterparts. The results have been dramatic.

About 40 percent of Russian casualties die compared to only 20 percent of Ukrainian casualties because the Russians in this war often get no battlefield medical treatment whatsoever. The Ukrainians eagerly adopted western combat medical practices, which were above average during World War Two and continued to improve after that war. Subsequently western forces have at least minimal battle treatment, largely by getting the wounded off the battlefield to be treated by medics and eventually sent to field hospitals where surgery and other emergency treatment was available. It has long been known that wounded soldiers in freezing conditions died of exposure or shock within about an hour unless they are carried to shelter, but that is not happening for Russian soldiers in this war at all even though it was done somewhat during World War Two. Soviet field medics then were generally women with no medical training whose major job was to crawl out into battlefields with groundsheets, roll wounded soldiers onto those, and then drag them back to an aid station. There are no such Russian female medics in this war so wounded who cannot themselves crawl to a rear aid station generally die. Prospective recruits know this and thats another reason for avoiding military service.

One of the more amazing, and underreported, aspects of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, are the dramatically lower American casualties compared to Vietnam, and previous 20th century wars. The casualty rate in Iraq was a third of what it was in Vietnam. It was even lower in Afghanistan and all subsequent conflicts. Medical care has gotten much better, quicker, and faster. Not only are procedures more effective, but badly wounded soldiers get to the operating table more quickly. Field medics now have capabilities that, during Vietnam, only surgeons had. All this is one reason why the ratio of wounded to killed was 6 in Vietnam, compared to 7.3 for Iraq. In Ukraine, Ukrainian troops benefit from these changes, their Russian adversaries do not.

The fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan has brought about a major change in how the United States deals with combat casualties. The result is that over 90 percent of the troops wounded survived their wounds. That's the highest rate in history. There are several reasons for this. The main one is that medics, and the troops themselves, are being trained to deliver more complex and effective first aid more quickly. Military doctors now talk of the platinum 10 minutes, meaning that if you can keep the wounded soldier, especially the ones who are badly hurt, alive for ten minutes, their chances of survival go way up. Medics have been equipped and trained to perform procedures previously done only by physicians, while troops are trained to do some procedures previously handled only by medics. This skill upgrade is made possible by a number of factors.

First, over the last few decades, there has been continuous development in methods and equipment for emergency medicine practiced by ambulance crews and staff in emergency rooms. These practices were initially slow to be adopted by the military. Two decades ago, because of the fighting in Iraq, it had nearly all been adopted by military medical personnel. This was often due to medics in reserve units often having full time jobs as emergency medical personnel.

As much as combat deaths have been reduced in the last decade, by more than half, there are still some types of wounds for which there is no battlefield treatment, meaning the victim will die before more extensive treatment can be obtained. Chief among these are abdominal wounds, where the abdominal aorta is opened. When that happens the victim bleeds to death in minutes. Now there is a solution for this in the form of a belt that is placed on the abdomen and activated. A bladder inflates which puts sufficient pressure on the abdominal aorta to stop the bleeding or reduce it enough to make it possible to get the casualty to a surgeon.

While tourniquets have been around for thousands of years, these devices only work on limbs. Preventing death from most other rapid blood loss situations was achieved in the last decade with the development and widespread use of powders and granules that could quickly stop the bleeding. First came special bandages like the Chitosan Hemostatic Dressing, more commonly called HemCon. This was basically a freeze dried substance that caused rapid clotting of blood and was incorporated into what otherwise looked like a typical battlefield bandage. It greatly reduced bleeding, which had become the most common cause of death among wounded American troops. This device was a major breakthrough in bandage technology. Over 95 percent of the time, the HemCon bandages stopped bleeding, especially in areas where a tourniquet could not be applied. This did not work when the abdominal aorta was involved. HemCon was followed by WoundStat powder to deal with some of the bleeding that HemCon could not handle. While medics and troops prefer the bandage type device, there are situations where WoundStat, a fine granular substance is a better solution, especially in the hands of a medic. Only the medics got packets, usually two of WoundStat powder. That's because this is only needed for deep wounds and has a theoretical risk of causing fatal clots if it gets into the bloodstream.

WoundStat was but one of many new medical tools for battlefield medicine that greatly increased the effectiveness of the immediate within minutes or seconds, after getting hit, by medical care for troops. This effort consisted of three programs. First, there was the development of new medical tools and treatments that troops could quickly and safely be taught to use. This included stuff like HemCon. Then came the equipping of medics, about one for every 30 or so combat troops with more powerful tools, so that troops were less likely to bleed to death or suffocate from certain types of wounds that are not fatal if treated quickly enough. Finally, there was the Combat Lifesaver program, which more than tripled the number of medics by putting selected soldiers through a 40 hour CLS or Combat Lifesaver course in the most common medical procedures soldiers can perform to deal with the most dangerous types of wounds usually encountered. These CLS trained soldiers are not medics, of course, but they do make available in combat crucial medical treatments. Thus, they are sort of medics lite, which is close enough if you are badly wounded and in need of some prompt medical treatment.

During the last two centuries major wars have tended to produce significant improvements in medical care. This is what has happened in the past decade but in a much accelerated fashion. For example, since September 11, 2001, over two million American troops went off to war and about two percent of them were killed or wounded. Only 12 percent of the 57,000 combat zone injuries were fatal, the lowest percentage in military history. This was largely due to major improvements in dealing with rapid blood loss (as when a major artery is severed) and the increased speed with which complex medical care could be delivered to wounded troops. New medical technologies also made it possible to detect injuries like brain trauma that, in the past, was very difficult to detect and treat.

The Combat Lifesaver course teaches the troops how to do things like inserting breathing tubes and other emergency surgical procedures to restore breathing. The CLS troops have skills most likely to be needed in life-saving situations when a medic is not available. The additional emergency medical training, and new emergency first aid gear, the CLS bag, has saved hundreds of lives and reduced the severity of even more wounds. Enough troops have taken CLS training so that there is one for every 10-15 combat troops and one for every 20 or so support troops on convoy or security duty.

These new developments were also popular with civilian emergency medical services, and many of the experienced combat medics coming out of the military went to work as EMTs or Emergency Medical Technicians, thus increasing the quality of care for civilian accident victims. This was similar to what happened to the EMT field after the Vietnam War, when ambulance crews rapidly evolved from simply transporting accident victims, after a little first aid, to EMTs who could administer procedures that previously only doctors could handle. This followed the experience in World War II, where war demands led to development of mass production of the newly created antibiotics and that led to a revolution in surgery techniques.

Second, there's the high intelligence and skill levels of the volunteer military. High enlistment standards have largely gone unnoticed by most people, but within the military it is well known that combat troops are much brighter than at any time in the past and can handle more complex equipment and techniques. Getting the combat troops to learn these techniques is no problem, because for them, it could be a matter of life and death.

Third, medical teams, capable of performing complex surgery, are closer to the combat zone. These teams, like the medics and troops, have more powerful tools and techniques. This includes things like telemedicine, where you do a video conference with more expert doctors back in the U.S., to help save a patient.

The speed at which wounded troops get treated was called the golden 10 minutes in the 20th century, now that has become the platinum 10 minutes because more effective care can be applied more quickly.

All this is part of a century old trend. During World War II, the golden hour standard of getting wounded troops to an operating table was developed. Antibiotics were also developed at about the same time, along with the helicopter, whose first combat mission, in 1945 Burma, was to recover injured troops. So, these new developments are not anything exotic.

Finally, the military medical community has a track record of success that the troops know about. So, everyone realizes that if they pitch in, chances of survival are good, and they are. In Ukraine the results are startling because Ukrainian troops who are wounded get better battlefield medical treatment and are quickly moved to where they can receive hospital level care. Its another reason why Ukrainian troops have higher morale and combat capability than their Russian counterparts. The Russian troops often have no professional medical care from medics, or feldsher, while the Ukrainians do. Russian wounded troops who are captured are allowed to let their families know they are alive but injured. Eventually these Russian troops are able to let their families know that they received much better medical care from the Ukrainians that the Russian military could provide.
SHERIDAN, WY / ACCESSWIRE / January 5, 2024 / Buyer Group International, Inc. (OTC PINK:BYRG) is pleased to announce the completion of Phase One of a multi-phase approach to developing an initial Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for the Shambhala Platinum Project. Phase One of the exploration program, included a comprehensive surface sample campaign encompassing 270 unique locales over all 84 of the company's lode mining claims surrounding the historic New Rambler Mine. The geologist ensured chain of custody and sent these samples to American Assay Laboratories for assay results, which were used to generate a geostasticical, geochemical based interpolations, and geospatial heatmaps.

*Note: Cu interpolations are for log-normalized data.

Analytical results:





Shown on the heat maps are two notable geochemical anomalies present around the Shambhala #71 adit (see Figure 1), the originally planned starting point for potential development. This adit notes various chemical interests as described in the non-chain of custody assay samples performed on waste material near the #71 adit and XRF readings from inside. Such readings indicate, as the heat maps demonstrate, the company's interest starting at #71 for Platinum, Palladium, Copper, amongst other notable minerals, running due north into our claim area for what is thought to possibly be a Platinum shelf or other PGMs referenced in past Geological Publications as leeching into the area.

Following geostatistical analyses of the Surface Sample assay data, it is apparent that there are two major geochemical anomalies in the Shambhala Platinum Project claim area that merit further investigation:

(1) base metal (Pt, Pd, Cu) hotspots circa altered mafic-to-ultramafic rocks (See Figure 2) ; and



(2) a strong discontinuity (best recognized in the Fe Ordinary Kriging interpolation map) that represents a roughly southwestern to northeastern break in geochemistry and geology.

This break could represent a shear zone, a sharp contact between older mafic-to-ultramafic rocks and a younger quartz monzonite, or some combination of the two, i.e., a contact that was exploited as a structural weakness upon tectonic forcings. (See Figure 3).

These identified anomalies warrant further exploration with refined Phase I sampling and mapping activities. In order to improve interpolation model precision and smoothing, BYRG plans to conduct a more-focused, higher resolution (sample spacing = 200 ft) soil sampling program within the identified hot spot area, claim blocks 37 - 39, 42 - 44, and 47 - 49. Furthermore, geologic mapping in that same area at a very fine scale, ~1:5000, will be carried out to better identify and constrain the geometry of shear zones to provide insight into the nature of the structural geochemical anomaly.

Lastly, local- to regional-scale geophysics via either the USGS aeromagnetic survey or local GPR investigations could provide valuable insight into subsurface geology. Local GPR would be crucial for identifying known historic workings in the claims area while also identifying potential faults or structural discontinuities that could serve as reasonable drill targets. The strong base metal and PGE correlations with the observed and mapped geology are promising with regards to the presence of a PGE deposit. Refined surface sampling and mapping will further aid in the location of structures/areas that are worth exploring with Phase Two activities.

Link to Full Report Here : https://frontierplatinumgroup.com/technical-reports

Buyer Group International, Inc. CEO Dave Bryant acknowledged his satisfaction with the results, saying, "Two years ago my intuition said Shambhala #71 would be a valuable starting point. Now, we may progress onto more advanced exploration and initial development of Shambhala #71! As we're right on what we believe to be a Platinum thin vein system accessible from the surface, we want to go in and crack open the adit, pursue and expand the existing workings. The entire team is filled with a sense of accomplishment. This is the fruition of two years of on-site study. This research will serve as the foundation for our future actions, as we move to begin Phase 2, which will include the creation of an NI 43-101 technical report that will explain the project's basic geologic model and propose potential drilling targets for further exploration."

About Buyer Group International, Inc.

Buyer Group International, Inc. is targeting exploration at its flagship mining project Shambhala in Albany County, Wyoming. The Shambhala Project consists of 84 lode claims, 2.71 square miles in the historic New Rambler District. The district is located near the south edge of the Cheyenne Belt, a noted Greenstone Belt of the Medicine Bow mountains, which contains various concentrations of rare minerals.

To learn more about Buyer Group International, Inc. also visit:

Corporate Website: https://frontierplatinumgroup.com/

Corporate Twitter: https://twitter.com/buyergroupinc

Corporate LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/byrg/

Corporate Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buyergroupinternationalinc/

Corporate Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091509813233

OTC Stock Market Information: https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/BYRG/overview

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:

This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined within Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements relate to future events, including our ability to raise capital, or to our future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause materially different results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond our control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects our current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

For a discussion of these risks and uncertainties, please see our filings with the OTC Markets Group Inc. Our public filings with the OTC Markets Group Inc are available from commercial document retrieval services and at the website maintained by the OTC Markets at https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/BYRG/disclosure

CONTACT:

Buyer Group International, Inc.

Phone: 214-810-1317

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: Buyer Group International, Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
ORLANDO, FL / ACCESSWIRE / January 5, 2024 / Veritas Prime, LLC, a leading provider of HR Technology Services and Software, is excited to announce the relocation of its headquarters from Portland, ME, to Orlando, FL. The strategic move aligns with the company's commitment to enhancing operational efficiency and optimizing resources to better serve its clients.

Veritas Prime Headquarters

Veritas Prime Headquarters -121 S Orange Ave., Ste 1200, Orlando, FL

The Orlando office, located at 121 S Orange Ave., Ste 1200, Orlando, FL, will continue to serve as the primary hub for Veritas Prime's Payroll Services Team and Contact Center, as well as future offerings. This centralization of key functions will enable Veritas Prime to streamline communication, collaboration, and service delivery, ultimately benefiting our valued clients.

While the headquarters is moving to Orlando, Veritas Prime will continue to operate key functions from their Portland, ME, office with the existing staff at the current location of 75 Market Street, Suite 203, Portland, ME. This decision ensures continuity and maintains the strong foundation built in Portland.

The relocation to Orlando reflects Veritas Prime's commitment to growth, innovation, and client satisfaction. The new headquarters in Orlando provides an ideal environment to foster collaboration, tap into local talent pools, and leverage the dynamic business ecosystem in the region.

"We are excited about this strategic move to Orlando, which will further strengthen our position in the industry and enhance our ability to deliver exceptional services to our clients. When looking at the operational costs of our business, and ultimately where our clients are located, Orlando, FL, is a better fit overall," said Nick Begin, Partner at Veritas Prime.

Orlando is not new to Veritas Prime. The company expanded to this location in 2017 as part of their Payroll Services offering. With the purchase of a new office in 2022, it shows the commitment to growth in this area. Veritas Prime looks forward to this new chapter and the opportunities it presents for continued growth and success.

For more information please contact:

Nick Begin, Partner

Veritas Prime, LLC (207) 835-0915

About Veritas Prime, LLC

Veritas Prime, guided by the principles of "Truth and Excellence," is unwaveringly committed to delivering unparalleled service to our clients. As a leading consulting firm specializing in Human Experience Management (HXM) technology, particularly SAP SuccessFactors software, we excel in a range of services beyond Human Capital Management (HCM) implementations. Our expertise extends to project advisory, support, and product development, positioning Veritas Prime as a distinguished SAP service partner, build partner, and sell partner.

In late 2023, Veritas Prime earned the prestigious distinction of "Mid Market Partner of the Year." This recognition underscores our proven proficiency and competencies in HR cloud solutions, demonstrated through the training and certification of our team members, successful project experiences, a track record of customer satisfaction (as attested by our clients), and the submission of comprehensive business development plans.

In addition to their U.S. locations, Veritas Prime has operations in Peru, the UK, and India.

www.veritasprime.com

Contact Information

Marketing at Veritas Prime

[email protected]

(866) 962-1818

SOURCE: Veritas Prime

View the original press release on newswire.com.
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RALEIGH, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (NYSE: AAP), a leading automotive aftermarket parts provider in North America that serves both professional installer and do-it-yourself customers, today announced that it has appointed Elizabeth Dreyer as senior vice president, controller and chief accounting officer, effective January 9, 2024. In this role, Dreyer will be responsible for enterprise-wide accounting operations, tax, external financial reporting and all related compliance.

Im excited to welcome Elizabeth to the Advance family as our new chief accounting officer, said Ryan Grimsland, executive vice president and chief financial officer. Elizabeths breadth of experience in financial management will greatly strengthen our finance organization and help us to further build a best in class accounting function. I look forward to working with her closely as we begin this next chapter for Advance.

Ms. Dreyer, 61, brings 30 years of accounting and finance experience to Advance. Most recently, she served as chief accounting officer and controller at Amyris, Inc., a public biotechnology company creating clean beauty consumer products and ingredients, since October 2022. Prior to Amyris, Dreyer served as senior vice president and chief accounting officer at Travel + Leisure Co., a public vacation ownership and exchange company, from 2018-2022; vice president, controller and chief accounting officer, for Edgewood Personal Care, formerly Energizer Holdings, the global manufacturer of batteries and consumer products, from 2015-2018; and vice president, controller and chief accounting officer, for Hillenbrand, Inc., a global industrial manufacturer of process equipment and death care products, from 2010-2015. Prior to Hillenbrand, Dreyer served in a variety of financial roles with several different companies in the healthcare and automotive industries, including Createc Corporation, a foam manufacturer for automotive and consumer goods industries, and ADESA, Inc., an automobile auction and floor plan financing company.

Dreyer earned her bachelors degree in business from Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind., and is a Certified Public Accountant.

About Advance Auto Parts

Advance Auto Parts, Inc. is a leading automotive aftermarket parts provider that serves both professional installer and do-it-yourself customers. As of October 7, 2023, Advance operated 4,785 stores and 320 Worldpac branches primarily within the United States, with additional locations in Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The company also served 1,307 independently owned Carquest branded stores across these locations in addition to Mexico and various Caribbean islands. Additional information about Advance, including employment opportunities, customer services, and online shopping for parts, accessories and other offerings can be found at www.AdvanceAutoParts.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240105773744/en/

Investor Relations Contact:

Elisabeth Eisleben

T: (919) 227-5466

E: [email protected]

Media Contact:

Darryl Carr

T: (984) 389-7207

E: [email protected]

Source: Advance Auto Parts, Inc.
HONG KONG--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of a- (Excellent) of Hong Leong Insurance (Asia) Limited (HLIA). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect HLIAs balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

HLIAs very strong balance sheet strength is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalisation at the strongest level, as measured by Bests Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). The company maintained low underwriting leverage and mild growth in capital and surplus (C&S) over the past five fiscal years. Offsetting factors include its modest C&S level, moderate dependency on reinsurance and investment concentration in real estate properties.

HLIAs strong operating performance is supported by its better-than-average underwriting profitability. The company reported double-digit growth in gross premium written in the fiscal year that ended 30 June 2023, supported by recovery of travel insurance following the removal of COVID-19-related travel restrictions. Going forward, AM Best expects HLIA to benefit from good growth momentum in its top line and improved operational efficiency, which should help to stablise the underwriting margin and contribute to higher earnings as the portfolio grows. While the companys investment performance experienced negative capital market volatility in fiscal year end 30 June 2023, the impact was partially mitigated by the more stable investment income sourced from listed equity dividends and rental income.

The companys business profile is assessed as limited. HLIAs presence in Hong Kongs general insurance market is small but its market share remains stable. Historically, the company has focused on personal lines, including travel and domestic helper insurance via direct sales; however, in more recent years, HLIA has expanded its portfolio into commercial lines via the broker channel. Other successful initiatives include the cross-selling of personal insurance to its existing client base, and digitalisation of underwriting and claim process to improve customer experience and increase client retention.

Negative rating actions could occur if HLIA experiences sustained negative operating performance below the market average; for example, due to consistently material lower investment yields or a diminished underwriting margin. Negative rating actions also could occur if there is significant deterioration in the companys risk-adjusted capitalisation. A deterioration in the credit profile of HLIAs parent companies, Hong Leong Financial Group Berhad and Hong Leong Company (Malaysia) Berhad, also may have a negative impact on HLIAs ratings. Although not likely in the short to medium term, positive rating actions could occur if HLIA achieves material improvement in business profile; for example, a significant strengthening of its market position, while maintaining strong operating performance.

Ratings are communicated to rated entities prior to publication. Unless stated otherwise, the ratings were not amended subsequent to that communication.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Bests website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Bests Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Bests Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Bests Credit Ratings, Bests Performance Assessments, Bests Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Bests Ratings & Assessments.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright  2024 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240105177673/en/

Lucie Huang

Senior Financial Analyst

+852 2827 3414

[email protected]

Christopher Sharkey

Associate Director, Public Relations

+1 908 882 2310

[email protected]

James Chan

Director, Analytics

+852 2827 3418

[email protected]

Al Slavin

Senior Public Relations Specialist

+1 908 882 2318

[email protected]

Source: AM Best
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings of a+ (Excellent) of Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Limited (RSAI) (United Kingdom), RSA Insurance Ireland DAC (RSAI Ireland) (Ireland), RSA Luxembourg S.A. (RSAL) (Luxembourg), Royal & Sun Alliance Reinsurance Limited (RSA Re) (United Kingdom) and The Marine Insurance Company Limited (MIC) (United Kingdom). All five entities are wholly owned subsidiaries of RSA Insurance Group Limited (RSAIG), a non-operating holding company, ultimately owned by Intact Financial Corporation (IFC) (Canada). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect RSAIGs consolidated balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as the groups adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management. The ratings also consider, in the form of lift, the support of its parent company, IFC. RSAI, RSAI Ireland, RSAL and RSA Res ratings factor in their strategic importance to and integration within the RSA group; MICs ratings consider the significant reinsurance support it receives from RSAI, its intermediate parent company.

RSAIGs balance sheet strength is underpinned by the strongest level of risk-adjusted capitalisation, as measured by Bests Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). The groups balance sheet strength assessment considers RSAIG's improved quality of capital in recent years, following several de-risking actions that were pre-funded largely by capital injections from the groups ultimate parent.

RSAIG has a track record of modest underwriting results in its UK and international operations, its principal portfolio following the transfer of Scandinavian and Canadian business outside the RSA group in June 2021. AM Best expects underwriting performance to improve steadily despite challenging conditions in the UK personal lines market, helped by a focus on risk selection and ongoing portfolio pruning. Investment income is expected to support overall earnings with a positive, albeit modest, contribution.

In the second half of 2023, RSAIG announced that it acquired Direct Line Insurance Group plcs brokered commercial lines operations (circa GBP 500 million of premiums), which will result in the transfer of renewal rights, brands, approximately 800 employees, and technology capabilities to RSAIG, and that the group intends to exit its direct UK personal lines operations (circa GBP 700 million of premiums). The bulk of the UK personal lines exit is expected to be achieved through the non-renewal of partner and broker contracts, which expire over the course of 2025 and 2026. As such, the impact on the companys business mix and results will be felt gradually over the medium term. Despite the corporate actions, RSAIG maintains a strong market position and a well-recognised brand in the UK non-life insurance market, as well as a profitable and well diversified international portfolio. In AM Bests opinion, the corporate actions have a neutral impact on the groups business profile assessment.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Bests website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Bests Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Bests Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Bests Credit Ratings, Bests Performance Assessments, Bests Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Bests Ratings & Assessments.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright  2024 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240105839552/en/

Ben Diaz-Clegg

Associate Director, Analytics

+44 20 7397 0293

[email protected]

Mahesh Mistry

Senior Director, Analytics

+44 20 7397 0325

[email protected]

Christopher Sharkey

Associate Director, Public Relations

+1 908 882 2310

[email protected]

Al Slavin

Senior Public Relations Specialist

+1 908 882 2318

[email protected]

Source: AM Best
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- American Tower Corporation (NYSE: AMT) (American Tower) has signed a definitive agreement with Data Infrastructure Trust (DIT), an Infrastructure Investment Trust sponsored by an affiliate of Brookfield Asset Management (NYSE: BAM, TSX: BAM) (Brookfield), pursuant to which DIT will acquire 100% of the equity interests in American Towers operations in India (ATC India). DIT currently houses Brookfields telecom tower businesses in India through Summit Digitel and Crest Digitel. Total cash proceeds to American Tower at closing, subject to certain pre-closing terms, would potentially represent up to approximately INR 210 billion, or $2.5 billion at todays exchange rates. The transaction, which reflects the completion of the previously announced strategic review of American Towers operations in India, is subject to customary closing conditions, including government and regulatory approvals, and is expected to close in the second half of 2024.

Total cash proceeds include an enterprise value on the ATC India operations of approximately $2.0 billion, plus a ticking fee that accrues from October 1, 2023, to the date of closing. Proceeds associated with the enterprise value assume the repayment of existing intercompany debt and the repayment, or assumption, of the existing India term loan, by DIT. Furthermore, and considered within the total potential cash proceeds above, American Tower will retain the full economic benefit associated with the optionally converted debentures (OCDs) issued by Vodafone Idea and will be entitled to receive future payments related to existing ATC India receivables. Proceeds from the transaction are expected to be used to repay American Towers existing indebtedness.

Citi is serving as lead financial advisor and CDX Advisors is serving as financial advisor to American Tower. Talwar Thakore & Associates (TT&A) is serving as principal legal advisor to American Tower.

About American Tower

American Tower, one of the largest global REITs, is a leading independent owner, operator and developer of multitenant communications real estate with a portfolio of nearly 225,000 communications sites and a highly interconnected footprint of U.S. data center facilities. For more information about American Tower, please visit the Investor Relations section of the Companys website, www.americantower.com.

Cautionary Language Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning the Companys goals, beliefs, expectations, strategies, objectives, plans, future operating results and underlying assumptions and other statements that are not necessarily based on historical facts. Examples of these statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the proposed closing of the transaction described above, the ability to satisfy the closing conditions of the transaction described above, expected use of the proceeds to repay existing indebtedness and the expected consideration for the transaction described above. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated in the Companys forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those factors set forth in Item 1A of its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, as updated in its Form 10-Q for the six months ended June 30, 2023, under the caption Risk Factors. The Company undertakes no obligation to update the information contained in this press release to reflect subsequently occurring events or circumstances.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240104569054/en/

ATC Contact: Adam Smith

Senior Vice President, Investor Relations

Telephone: (617) 375-7500

Source: American Tower
A telecommunications tower managed by American Tower is seen in Golden

By Nandan Mandayam

(Reuters) -Brookfield Asset Management will buy American Tower Corp's (ATC) loss-making Indian operations for $2.5 billion, it said Friday, becoming the country's largest operator of telecom towers amid booming demand for data and wider use of 5G services.

The acquisition is the biggest of Brookfield's three telecom-related deals in the roughly four years the Canadian company has been present in India, the world's second-largest market by number of subscribers.

ATC, on the other hand, will exit India after nearly 17 years. Its fortunes have floundered due to the struggles of top client Vodafone Idea and it recently wrote down the value of the business by $322 million.

Brookfield, whose so-called anchor client is Reliance Industries' Jio, will be in "a better position to manage the challenge that ATC had with high exposure to Vodafone Idea," said Vivekanand S, an analyst at Ambit Capital Research.

Jio and Vodafone Idea compete with Bharti Airtel in the Indian telecom market where, according to an Ericsson report, the number of 5G subscribers will quadruple by 2027, accounting for 40% of the total base, from 11% in 2023.

Airtel is the anchor client of Indus Towers, the current market leader with roughly 193,000 towers. Brookfield has around 157,000 towers and ATC operates some 77,000 towers.

The presence of Airtel, said Vivekanand, means Brookfield's deal to buy ATC will not threaten Indus Towers.

Indus Towers became India's biggest telecom towers company in late 2020 when it merged with Bharti Infratel, then a unit of Airtel, to form a $14.6-billion giant. Brookfield's latest deal is the largest in the space since then.

Bharti Airtel currently owns about 48% of Indus and Vodafone Idea owns roughly 3%.

Indus's shares rose 5.5% in afternoon trading on Friday, while Bharti Airtel's shares were little changed. ($1 = 83.2150 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Nandan Mandayam, Yagnoseni Das and Rishabh Jaiswal in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich and Savio D'Souza)
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Amundi US today announced the appointment of Jason Xanthakis as Senior Managing Director, Head of US Intermediary and International Distribution, effective January 1, 2024. Jason has been a member of the Amundi US Intermediary Distribution team since December 2009, most recently as Senior Managing Director, Head of US Intermediary Strategy, Partnerships & National Accounts. In his expanded US role, Jason will lead Amundi USs Intermediary Distribution Team in the US, while continuing to lead the distribution of US-managed investment solutions in the International Retail and US Offshore/Retail Latin American channels. Jason will continue to serve on the Amundi US Executive Committee.

Jason Xanthakis

Jason joined Amundi US in December of 2009, and has served in a variety of senior business development and sales positions inside and outside of the US. During a three-year appointment starting in 2019, Jason was based in Paris and led the distribution of US-managed investment solutions across retail channels in EMEA and Asia. Upon his return to the US, Jason was appointed Senior Managing Director, Head of International Retail Business & US Intermediary Strategy, Partnerships, and National Accounts.

Jason has 24 years of experience in financial services. He launched his career at Fidelity Investments where he was a Research Analyst in the Investment Services Division and held individual contributor and leadership roles across functions. Jason continued his career in Manager Research and Business Development at Ameriprise Financials Asset Management arm (RiverSource Investments; now part of Columbia Threadneedle). Jason has an MBA from Columbia Business School and a B.Sc. in Economics from the University of Piraeus, Greece.

Important Information

About Amundi US

Amundi US is the US business of Amundi, Europes largest asset manager by assets under management and ranked among the ten largest globally1. Boston is one of Amundis six main global investment hubs2 and offers a broad range of fixed-income, equity, and multi-asset investment solutions in close partnership with wealth management firms, distribution platforms, and institutional investors across the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.

With our financial and extra-financial research capabilities and long-standing commitment to responsible investment, Amundi is a key player in the asset management landscape. Amundi clients benefit from the expertise and advice of 5,4003 team members and market professionals in 35 countries3. A subsidiary of the Credit Agricole group and listed on the Paris stock exchange, Amundi currently manages approximately $2.08 trillion of assets3.

Amundi, a Trusted Partner, working every day in the interest of our clients and society

www.amundi.com/us

Follow us on linkedin.com/company/amundi-us/ and twitter.com/amundi_us.

1 Source: IPE Top 500 Asset Managers published in June 2023, based on assets under management as of December 31, 2022.

2 Boston, Dublin, London, Milan, Paris, and Tokyo

3 Amundi data as of 9/30/2023

Amundi Asset Management US, Inc.

60 State Street, Boston, MA 02109

2024 Amundi Asset Management US

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240105026469/en/

Press:

Amundi US

Geoffrey Smith

617-504-8520

[email protected]

Source: Amundi US
January 16, 2024

NEW YORK & BURLINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Butterfly Network, Inc. (NYSE: BFLY) (Butterfly) a digital health company transforming care with handheld, whole-body ultrasound and intuitive software, today announced that it will host one-on-one investor meetings at the 26th Annual Needham Growth Conference on January 16, 2024.

To schedule a one-on-one meeting with Joseph DeVivo, Chief Executive Officer, and Heather Getz, Chief Financial and Operations Officer, please reach out to your Needham representative.

About Butterfly Network

Founded by Dr. Jonathan Rothberg in 2011 and listed on the New York Stock Exchange through a business combination with Longview Acquisition Corp., Butterfly created the world's first handheld, single probe whole-body ultrasound system using semiconductor technology, the Butterfly iQ+. Butterfly's mission is to democratize medical imaging and contribute to the aspiration of global health equity, making high-quality ultrasound affordable, easy-to-use, globally accessible, and intelligently connected, including for the 4.7 billion people around the world lacking access to ultrasound. Through its proprietary Ultrasound-on-Chip technology, Butterfly is paving the way for earlier detection and remote management of health conditions around the world. The Butterfly iQ+ can be purchased today by trained healthcare practitioners in areas including, but not limited to, parts of Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America; to learn more about available countries, visit: butterflynetwork.com/choose-your-country.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240105708680/en/

Investors

Heather Getz

Chief Financial & Operations Officer

[email protected]

Neal Nagarajan

Sloane & Company

(301) 273-5662

[email protected]

Source: Butterfly Network, Inc.
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Unionized workers at a cannabis dispensary in Atlantic City have voted to select United Food and Commercial Workers Local 152 as their representative in contract negotiations with their employer.

The 12 workers at the MPX NJ Atlantic City Medical Cannabis Dispensary join their fellow coworkers at MPXs grow facility in Pleasantville, N.J., who joined UFCW Local 152 in 2023. The grow facility has been in contract negotiations for the last seven months making great strides in cementing their first contract.

The new Local 152 members work as budtenders who provide knowledgeable customer service, facilitate retail sales and fulfill online orders.

These workers have put their trust in our union to help improve their lives, and we will fight for what they deserve, Local 152 President Brian String said. As the Local 152 Cannabis Division continues to grow, so does the power of our members in all of the industries we serve.

Workers at MPX reached out to the union for representation based on Local 152s track record in the cannabis industry, including a recent successful organizing drive at Colombia Care in Vineland and a strong first contract at The Botanist in Egg Harbor and Atlantic City.

The union will meet with the MPX workers in coming weeks to draft contract proposals and schedule bargaining dates with the company.

These workers are seeking improvements to their wages, health care benefits and scheduling accommodations, President String said. Their hard work has helped MPX become a success in Atlantic City and their first contract should reflect their contributions.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240105314907/en/

Brian String, President

UFCW Local 152

(609) 704-3900

Source: UFCW Local 152
PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News:

CARMAT (FR0010907956, ALCAR), designer and developer of Aeson, the worlds most advanced total artificial heart, aiming to provide a therapeutic alternative for people suffering from advanced biventricular heart failure, informs its shareholders that the Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) held on January 5, 2024 was able to validly deliberate, the required quorum having been reached.

The EGM adopted all proposed resolutions, with the exception of the 13th resolution which was rejected, in accordance with the recommendations of the Board of Directors.

The Company would like to thank all shareholders, either present, represented or having voted by post, for their commitment and support.

The consolidated result of the vote by resolution and the minutes of the EGM of May 5, 2024 are available in French on the Company's website, under Regulated Information / General Meetings.

About CARMAT

CARMAT is a French MedTech that designs, manufactures and markets the Aeson artificial heart. The Companys ambition is to make Aeson the first alternative to a heart transplant, and thus provide a therapeutic solution to people suffering from end-stage biventricular heart failure, who are facing a well-known shortfall in available human grafts. The worlds first physiological artificial heart that is highly hemocompatible, pulsatile and self-regulated, Aeson could save, every year, the lives of thousands of patients waiting for a heart transplant. The device offers patients quality of life and mobility thanks to its ergonomic and portable external power supply system that is continuously connected to the implanted prosthesis. Aeson is commercially available as a bridge to transplant in the European Union and other countries that recognize CE marking. Aeson is also currently being assessed within the framework of an Early Feasibility Study (EFS) in the United States. Founded in 2008, CARMAT is based in the Paris region, with its head offices located in Velizy-Villacoublay and its production site in Bois-dArcy. The Company can rely on the talent and expertise of a multidisciplinary team of circa 200 highly specialized people. CARMAT is listed on the Euronext Growth market in Paris (Ticker: ALCAR / ISIN code: FR0010907956).

For more information, please go to www.carmatsa.com and follow us on LinkedIn.



Name: CARMAT

ISIN code: FR0010907956

Ticker: ALCAR



Disclaimer

This press release and the information contained herein do not constitute an offer to sell or subscribe to, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe to, shares in CARMAT (the Company) in any country. This press release may contain forwardlooking statements that relate to the Companys objectives and prospects. Such forwardlooking statements are based solely on the current expectations and assumptions of the Companys management and involve risk and uncertainties including, without limitation, the Companys ability to successfully implement its strategy, the rate of development of CARMATs production and sales, the pace and results of ongoing and future clinical trials, new products or technological developments introduced by competitors, changes in regulations and risks associated with growth management. The Companys objectives as mentioned in this press release may not be achieved for any of these reasons or due to other risks and uncertainties.

The significant and specific risks pertaining to the Company are those described in the Universal Registration Document (Document dEnregistrement Universel) filed with the Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF, the French stock market authorities) under number D. 23-0323. Readers' attention is drawn in particular to the financing risk of the Company, whose cash runway currently extends until early 2024. Readers and investors attention is also drawn to the fact that other risks, unknown or not deemed to be significant or specific, may or could exist.

Aeson is an active implantable medical device commercially available in the European Union and other countries that recognize CE marking. The Aeson total artificial heart is intended to replace the ventricles of the native heart and is indicated as a bridge to transplant in patients suffering from end-stage biventricular heart failure (INTERMACS classes 1-4) who are not amenable to maximal medical therapy or a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) and are likely to undergo a heart transplant within 180 days of the device being implanted. The decision to implant and the surgical procedure must be carried out by healthcare professionals trained by the manufacturer. The documentation (clinician manual, patient manual and alarm booklet) should be read carefully to understand the characteristics of Aeson and information necessary for patient selection and the proper use of Aeson (contraindications, precautions, side effects). In the United States, Aeson is currently exclusively available within the framework of an Early Feasibility Study authorized by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240105021300/en/

CARMAT

Stephane Piat

Chief Executive Officer

Pascale dArbonneau

Chief Financial Officer

Tel.: +33 1 39 45 64 50

[email protected]

Alize RP

Press Relations

Caroline Carmagnol

Tel.: +33 6 64 18 99 59

[email protected]

NewCap

Financial Communication

& Investor Relations

Dusan Oresansky

Quentin Masse

Tel.: +33 1 44 71 94 92

[email protected]

Source: CARMAT
HONG KONG--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Chinese New Year is always associated with a form of archaic or even a rather dull festival, rooted as it is in traditional Chinese customs. But that couldnt be further from the truth  Hong Kong explodes with colour and cool celebration during the Chinese New Year period.

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Poon choi is a popular dish in recent years, especially during the Chinese New Year time (Credit: Panther Media / Alamy Stock Photo)

With bustling flower markets, exciting city-wide events and beautiful festive displays galore staging throughout the entire festive period from day to night, Hong Kong is one of the Asian cities with the richest CNY ambience. Tourists looking to experience a celebration like no other should definitely pay a visit during Chinese New Year - and we can show you how to celebrate just like the locals do.

#1 Tuck into a Poon Choi Feast for Being Perfect in Every Way

Also known as a basin meal, poon choi used to be a rather under-the-radar dish, confined mostly to rural villages. It has seen an explosion of popularity in recent years, especially during the Chinese New Year period. An enormous basin is layered with ingredients and covered in a rich, savoury gravy. The basin is then gently warmed up and eaten communally. There is much symbolism attached to the ingredients found in poon choi, from pork that symbolises prosperity, to prawns that symbolise happiness. Locals believe that by eating these auspicious foods, you can attract these positive attributes into your life.

Tourists to Hong Kong can partake in a traditional poon choi feast by joining extraordinary local tours to one of Hong Kongs rural walled villages like those in Yuen Long or Sha Tau Kok. With distinct customs attached to these walled villages, you can expect a fascinating glimpse into the authentic way villagers celebrate the CNY!

#2 Make Yourself a Chinese New Year Pudding to Achieve New Heights

One of the most popular dishes to serve during Chinese New Year are Chinese New Year puddings. These delectable puddings come in both sweet and savoury varieties, and symbolise prosperity and attaining new heights in the new year. Theyre typically made before the Chinese New Year period and served during house visits to friends and relatives.

Perfect for cooking lovers, who can take home the recipe of Chinese New Year puddings through participating in the hands-on festive workshops run by traditional bakeries in town like Kee Wah, allowing you to make these traditional treats for your loved ones whenever and wherever you like.

#3 Kick off a Prosperous New Year with Dried Seafood Shopping

Dried seafood is always the core ingredients for the Chinese New Year menu. Why? Locals believe that the start of the new year sets the tone for the year ahead. It is especially important to savour a good meal made with luxurious ingredients on the first day of CNY, to begin your year as you mean to go on.

The section of Sheung Wans Des Voeux Road West between Queen Street and Centre Street is well-known as Dried Seafood Street, which is one of the worlds biggest dried seafood hubs. There, youll find dozens of shops doing a brisk trade in preserved scallop, abalone, shrimp and so much more. These streets become even busier before Chinese New Year, as locals stock up on these rare and precious ingredients ahead of celebratory meals with their loved ones. Many dried seafood products symbolise blessings and lucky words  fish maw symbolises prosperity, while dried abalone looks similar to gold ingots and thus represents wealth.

Today, tourists can also easily purchase dried seafood products all in one place at major retail stores in Hong Kong. So, it's time for some CNY dried seafood shopping!

#4 Play Mahjong to Activate Good Luck

During the Chinese New Year, locals visit each other's homes to share new year blessings and spread happiness. One of the favourite activities among locals during the new year is to play mahjong. With maximum four players engaging at a time, this fun, highly social game represents unity and togetherness, and requires both luck and skill to win. The loud clacking of the mahjong tiles is said to sound just like the firecrackers that are set off during Chinese New Year to drive away misfortune.

Be ready to fall in love with this game  you can join exclusive mahjong course organised by local operator that promises to have you washing those tiles like a pro in no time.

Immerse Yourself in Marquee Chinese New Year Events in Hong Kong

Other than family and friends' gatherings, the festive atmosphere is also filling up every corner of the city with exciting array of celebratory events that you should not miss during the CNY time in Hong Kong.

The city's biggest Chinese New Year event, the Cathay International Chinese New Year Night Parade, is returning with a bang to kick off the Year of the Dragon on 10 February (Chor 1) after a five-year hiatus. Starting from 8pm until 9:45pm, the parade winds through the popular tourist area of Tsim Sha Tsui, with performances by entertainers around the world, lavishly decorated floats and much more as you will discover on-site. Stay tuned for the ticketing details and join us for this unmissable world party!

The festive ambience continues to shine on 11 February (Chor 2) as the world famous Victoria Harbour lights up with the spectacular 2024 Lunar New Year Fireworks Display. Marvel at the world-class fireworks brightening the night sky as the city roars into the new year. Head to the best viewing points located on both sides of the harbour promenade for this shimmering performance, and usher in abundant prosperity and joy as the fireworks bloom gorgeously in the air.

The Chinese New Year period lasts until the 15th day, and before that, tourists can expect to enjoy a rich festive spirit around the town. A vibrant array of exciting celebrations awaits you in Hong Kong, such as the CNY Raceday, Lunar New Year Cup, as well as city-wide lion dances galore and so much more.

Dont delay  schedule your trip to Hong Kong to begin a perfect Year of the Dragon!

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For media enquiries, please contact:

Mr. Chokie Cheng

Senior Executive, Communications

[email protected]

Source: Hong Kong Tourism Board
Newly established relationship with Cystic Fibrosis Foundation enables clinical studies targeting cystic fibrosis-associated infections

COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Clarametyx Biosciences Inc. (Clarametyx), a clinical stage company developing targeted, immune-enabling biologic therapies to counter persistent infections associated with biofilms, today announced the successful completion of a $33 million Series A round. The proceeds from the round will enable the company to accelerate efforts across its pipeline, including specifically to evaluate the potential of Clarametyxs lead therapeutic candidate CMTX-101 to combat infection in people with cystic fibrosis (CF), a progressive, genetic disease that affects the lungs, pancreas and other organs.

Clarametyx was launched in 2020 to advance a novel, immune-enabling antibody technology licensed from Nationwide Childrens Hospital. The powerful non-antibiotic and pathogen-agnostic approach is designed to target and remove universal structural elements within the bacterial biofilm, with the goal of rapid biofilm collapse that renders bacteria vulnerable to immune or antibiotic intervention. The company is evaluating its anti-biofilm technology in both therapeutic and preventive settings to address the global challenge of persistent bacterial infection and antibiotic resistance.

We graciously welcome our new investors and appreciate the continued commitment of our existing investors. This successful raise enables us to expand our clinical evaluations of a platform that we believe will address critical unmet needs in infectious disease management, said David Richards, Chief Executive Officer. We are especially grateful for the support of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to evaluate this technologys promise to improve the lives of people with cystic fibrosis, a population particularly vulnerable to persistent bacterial infections. We believe this research will further support the broad applicability of this first-in-class technology.

In coordination with the fundraising, Clarametyx has initiated a Phase 1b/2a clinical trial evaluating its lead candidate, CMTX-101, in people with CF. This study will evaluate the safety and tolerability, PK, immunogenicity, reduction of pulmonary P. aeruginosa burden, and exploratory endpoints of CMTX-101 as an adjunct therapy to standard of care antibiotics in people with CF. More information on the study is available at ClinicalTrials.gov (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/) using the identifier NCT06159725.

In addition to new support from the CF Foundation, the Series A financing was led by the Ohio Innovation Fund, with participation from current investors Nationwide Childrens Hospital, Rev1 Ventures, JobsOhio Growth Capital, C Bio Investors and 1776 Fund.

Global health authorities continue to raise alarms about persistent bacterial infections and the rise in antimicrobial resistance associated with overuse of antibiotics, added William Baumel, Managing Director of lead investor Ohio Innovation Fund. There is a clear and urgent need for novel technologies that can enhance the effectiveness of todays antibiotics to address these challenging infections, and the Clarametyx technology represents a compelling strategy that we can propel into broader clinical studies to serve this need.

About Clarametyx Biosciences

Clarametyx Biosciences is combating the formidable challenge of persistent and recalcitrant infections through an innovative technology platform targeting the biofilma protective layer around bacteriato enable a more effective immune response and antibiotic intervention. The Columbus, Ohio-based company is building a dynamic pipeline of immune-enabling therapies and vaccines for life-threatening bacterial infections associated with biofilms, with a near-term focus on challenging respiratory infections. For more information, visit us on the web or on LinkedIn.

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Media Contact:

Kellie Hotz

[email protected]

+1-703-887-6242

Source: Clarametyx Biosciences
Industry-leading facility maintenance provider expands versatility with addition of chute management, installation, cleaning, and maintenance service

FAIRFIELD, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Kept Companies, a leading provider of facility maintenance services, is proud to announce its strategic acquisition of Giant Enterprises, Inc. (Giant). Giant is an Atlanta-based leading service business focusing on ambient scenting and odor control and is a go-to provider for chute management, installation, cleaning, and maintenance services.

This acquisition reinforces Kepts commitment to delivering high-quality, sustainable facility maintenance services, along with its rich history of acquiring companies that embody its ethos of innovation, hard work, and perseverance. Northern Edge Advisors acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Giant Enterprises, Inc.

"Over the past 30 years, Giant Enterprises has built a wonderful industry reputation, and were proud to welcome them into the Kept Companies family. The companys services align perfectly with our vision of becoming a comprehensive and versatile facility maintenance service provider, allowing us to continue bringing even more specialized services to our clients."

Jerry DiGiovanni, President, Kept Companies

Giant Enterprises was founded in 1993 and works within the Atlanta Metro, Florida Panhandle and Nashville metro geographic areas. The company serves both the construction and replacement markets  including multi-residential properties, hospitals, universities, commercial properties, municipal buildings and churches.

"With my retirement on the horizon, we began searching for prospective buyers to acquire Giant Enterprises. It was important that Giants new owners not only help the companys legacy grow but also flourish. With Kept Companies, we found a partner and are excited to leverage Kepts resources and technological infrastructure to drive productivity and expand Giants service capacity and market share."

John Mattioli, Vice-President and General Manager, Giant Enterprises, Inc.

About Kept

Kept is the parent company of nine leading facility maintenance brands. It started as a single mobile washing business, and today, it offers a comprehensive suite of services, with over thirteen hundred skilled employees, and one thousand fully-equipped vehicles.

Since the beginning, hard work and perseverance have fueled the company's success. The company's continued investments in sustainability, innovation, and technology allow each of the Kept brands to provide the best service, at the best possible cost.

For more information about Kept Companies and our expanded suite of facility maintenance services, please visit www.keptcompanies.com or contact our sales team at 1-800-847-3735 or [email protected]

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For media inquiries:

Jerry DiGiovanni

President

Kept Companies

tel: 1-(973)-417-5071

[email protected]

Source: Kept Companies
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Nanotronics, the Industrial AI company, today announced a new strategic partnership with OrbiMed, a leading global life sciences investment firm. As part of the transaction, OrbiMed is investing in Nanotronics proprietary technology to advance quality control and precision manufacturing across the healthcare and biotech industries.

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AI is redrawing the healthcare landscape and the ability to optimize workflows, automate inspection, and reduce costs associated with R&D and manufacturing will result in better pharmaceutical quality, build more resilient supply chains, and reduce problems with production such as contamination, said Matthew Rizzo, General Partner of OrbiMed. We are confident that our investment in Nanotronics will help manufacturers across the healthcare spectrum increase yields and decrease their carbon footprint.

As Nanotronics continues to expand on the industries we serve globally, we are pleased to place a stronger emphasis on improving manufacturing quality and production for the industries advancing the future of our humanity, says CEO and cofounder, Matthew Putman. The sooner healthcare companies embrace Artificial Intelligence for manufacturing and quality control, the quicker we will see improved patient outcomes.

About Nanotronics

Nanotronics is an Industrial AI company that deploys advanced optical solutions to optimize manufacturing procedures, effectively refining, and expediting assembly for any industry relying on a precision process for production. Nanotronics uses hardware and software solutions to clean, sort, and manage existing data as well as data collected in real-time across sensors placed strategically within customers plants. This data is stored on local servers to ensure maximum security. Nanotronics sophisticated AI system correlates data points into actionable insights for manufacturers to correct flaws in the production process while also predicting future errors. This results in an autonomous factory that will drive up yields, decrease waste, and encourage implementation of ESG standards. Nanotronics helps customers bring lab experimentation and R&D innovation to devise scalable business solutions and advance our industrial future. To learn more visit https://nanotronics.co.

About OrbiMed

OrbiMed is a healthcare investment firm with approximately $17 billion in assets under management. OrbiMed invests globally across the healthcare industry through a range of private equity funds, public equity funds, and royalty/credit funds. OrbiMeds team of over 100 professionals is based in New York City, San Francisco, London, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Mumbai, Herzliya and other key global markets.

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Jack Kerwin, Director, Strategy & Business Development

[email protected]; [email protected]

Source: Nanotronics
Associate Dean Joseph Aranyosi brings a wealth of industry experience to the role

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- University of Phoenix is proud to announce that Associate Dean for the College of Business & Information Technology (CBIT) at the University of Phoenix, Joseph Aranyosi, has been appointed to the Board of Directors for the Phoenix Chapter of the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA). Aranyosi has taken on the role of Vice President of Technology, bringing his expertise and dedication to advance the chapter's technological capabilities.

As the VP Technology for IIBA Phoenix Chapter, Aranyosi will play a pivotal role in ensuring the efficiency and accessibility of the local chapter's digital infrastructure. His responsibilities include maintaining website accessibility for chapter members, overseeing permissions and functionality, managing online payments, and serving as the technology liaison to IIBA. In addition, Aranyosi will ensure that the chapter's technology aligns with IIBA requirements and supports seamless operations for chapter meetings.

Kathryn Uhles, Dean of the College of Business & Information Technology at University of Phoenix, expressed enthusiasm for the leadership appointment and work with IIBA. "We are excited about Joseph's appointment to the IIBA Phoenix Chapter Board, which aligns with our commitment to fostering technology-driven education and providing innovative opportunities for our students."

According to IIBA, Board Members are elected by the membership at the Annual General Meeting. Officers serve for a two-year term, except the Director-at-Large who serves for one year. Board Members are fully informed on organizational matters and participate in the Boards deliberations and decisions in matters of policy, finance, programs, personnel, and advocacy.

"I am honored to contribute to the IIBA Phoenix Chapter as VP of Technology, shared Aranyosi. This role helps bridge the gap between academia and industry, ensuring that our local chapter remains at the forefront of technological advancements. I look forward to working alongside my collogues at IIBA and continue to strengthen the relationships between academia and industry.

Aranyosi joined the University of Phoenix in 2015 and serves as an Associate Dean in the College of Business and Information Technology, where he currently oversees curricula in the areas of data science, business analytics, management, project management, operations, finance, marketing, and communications. Aranyosi has over 25 years experience working in higher education, including roles as academic dean, director of curriculum development, program chair, and accreditation site evaluator. He previously worked as a support director for mental health services, has owned and operated several restaurants, and continues to produce art and music. Aranyosi has an MFA in Art Theory and practice from Northwestern University and a BA in Psychology, Art History, and Studio Art from the University of Richmond.

The College of Business and Information Technology (CBIT) provides innovative, industry-relevant and accessible higher education that prepares learners to be competent, responsible and ethical practitioners and leaders for career success. In addition to helping prepare students to enter the workforce in their chosen field, the Universitys College of Business and Information Technology offers students access to faculty that possess an average of 32 years of professional experience. Current faculty includes 213 presidents, 56 chief executive officers, eleven chief information or chief technology officers, three chief information security officers, and 81 information technology/system administrators.

CBIT programs, as well as 100 percent of associate, bachelor and masters degree programs open for new enrollment are now fully skills-mapped. The Universitys transition to a skills-mapped curriculum, along with transfer-friendly policies, helps ensure that students are identifying and acquiring skills in weeks, rather than years, yielding value from their education as they progress through courses rather than just at the point of graduation.

For the fourth consecutive year, University of Phoenix in 2022 received the Academia Circle of Excellence Award from the International Council of E-Commerce Consultants (EC-Council), the worlds largest cybersecurity certification body. Only three institutions out of more than 1,000 are selected for this award each year. In addition, the University released course collections for EC-Council-aligned certifications to help cyber professionals upskill or reskill. Students who successfully complete these courses are eligible for discounted EC-Council exam vouchers.

Learn more here about the University of Phoenix College of Business & Information Technology.

About IIBA

International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) is a global non-profit association built to serve business analysis professionals around the world. IIBA supports the recognition of the business analysis profession, provides standards and resources like the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge, and offers comprehensive certification programs so people know they are doing business analysis the right way.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, skills-mapped curriculum for our bachelors and masters degree programs, and a Career Services for Life commitment help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu.

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Michele Mitchum

University of Phoenix

[email protected]

Source: University of Phoenix
On January 2, 2024, David R. Warren, Senior Vice President of A.O. Smith (NYSE: AOS), and President and General Manager of the Companys North American Water Heating Business Unit, informed the Company that he will retire from the Company effective April 1, 2024. Mr. Warren has nearly 35 years of service with the Company in a variety of roles.
American Tower Corporation (NYSE: AMT) has signed a definitive agreement with Data Infrastructure Trust (DIT), an Infrastructure Investment Trust sponsored by an affiliate of Brookfield Asset Management (NYSE: BAM), pursuant to which DIT will acquire 100% of the equity interests in American Towers operations in India (ATC India). DIT currently houses Brookfields telecom tower businesses in India through Summit Digitel and Crest Digitel. Total cash proceeds to American Tower at closing, subject to certain pre-closing terms, would potentially represent up to approximately INR 210 billion, or $2.5 billion at todays exchange rates. The transaction, which reflects the completion of the previously announced strategic review of American Towers operations in India, is subject to customary closing conditions, including government and regulatory approvals, and is expected to close in the second half of 2024.

Total cash proceeds include an enterprise value on the ATC India operations of approximately $2.0 billion, plus a ticking fee that accrues from October 1, 2023, to the date of closing. Proceeds associated with the enterprise value assume the repayment of existing intercompany debt and the repayment, or assumption, of the existing India term loan, by DIT. Furthermore, and considered within the total potential cash proceeds above, American Tower will retain the full economic benefit associated with the optionally converted debentures (OCDs) issued by Vodafone Idea and will be entitled to receive future payments related to existing ATC India receivables. Proceeds from the transaction are expected to be used to repay American Towers existing indebtedness.

Citi is serving as lead financial advisor and CDX Advisors is serving as financial advisor to American Tower. Talwar Thakore & Associates (TT&A) is serving as principal legal advisor to American Tower.

About American Tower

American Tower, one of the largest global REITs, is a leading independent owner, operator and developer of multitenant communications real estate with a portfolio of nearly 225,000 communications sites and a highly interconnected footprint of U.S. data center facilities. For more information about American Tower, please visit the Investor Relations section of the Companys website, www.americantower.com.
Novartis (NYSE: NVS) announced today that it has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for commercial manufacturing of PluvictoTM (INN: lutetium (177Lu) vipivotide tetraxetan / USAN: lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan) at its new large-scale, state-of-the-art radioligand therapy (RLT) manufacturing facility in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The 70,000-square foot site, the companys second US location, is designed specifically for RLT manufacturing and is now the largest and most advanced Novartis facility of its kind in the world. The Indianapolis site represents the next phase of RLT manufacturing growth as this new addition brings substantial supply increases for the foreseeable future.

The intricate process of providing RLTs to patients within hours of production requires precision manufacturing expertise to bring these medicines to individuals who critically need them, said Steffen Lang, President, Operations, Novartis. Adding a second US RLT facility, our largest and most advanced yet, into our manufacturing network underscores our commitment to ensure a consistent and reliable experience for patients and their healthcare teams for years to come. We also recently announced plans to build our manufacturing capabilities in Sasayama, Japan and Haiyan, Zhejiang, China, as we continue to look for opportunities to further expand our worldwide reach.

The Indianapolis facility, centrally located within the US, is purpose-built from the ground up to manufacture RLTs now and into the future and includes space for continued line expansion including plans for fully automated lines, a first for the radiopharmaceutical industry. The new site will supply the growing demand for patients in the US and eventually in Canada, upon approval, together with the companys Millburn, New Jersey location. The site in Ivrea, Italy will continue to supply patients in and outside the US while the facility in Zaragoza, Spain will solely provide RLTs for patients outside the US.

Novartis recently announced that supply of Pluvicto is unconstrained. Having doubled weekly production, Novartis currently has more than sufficient supply to treat patients within two weeks of diagnosis, which is important for these patients with advanced disease who may need treatment quickly.

Novartis is committed to improving access to its RLTs, Pluvicto and Lutathera (INN: lutetium (177Lu) oxodotreotide / USAN: lutetium Lu 177 dotatate) by adding more treatment sites in closer proximity to patients over the coming months.

With four active manufacturing facilities, and a RLT production capacity of 250,000 doses in 2024 and beyond, Novartis continues to expand its worldwide RLT manufacturing network as ongoing clinical trials may present the potential to bring Pluvicto and Lutathera to more patients in earlier lines of treatment.
RTX (NYSE: RTX) today announced Phil Jasper has been appointed president of Raytheon and will report to President and Chief Operating Officer Christopher T. Calio . Jasper, a 31-year aerospace and defense veteran, succeeds Wesley D. Kremer who will retire from the company at the end of Q1 2024.

"Phil is a proven leader with significant depth of experience delivering defense solutions to the military customer," said Calio. "His recent integration of RTX's connected battlespace solutions, a critical customer priority and growth driver for the company, is one of many business transformations he has led over his career. I am confident he will drive the newly restructured Raytheon business to accelerate performance to effectively meet customer commitments."

As president of Raytheon, Jasper, 55, will serve as a member of the RTX senior leadership team and will be responsible for leading the business and its industry-leading franchises in missile defense, air-to-air missiles, fire control radars, and electro-optical/infra-red systems.

In 2018, Jasper was named president of Collins Aerospace's Mission Systems strategic business unit, responsible for delivering military, government and civil solutions to help customers worldwide safely and successfully complete their most complex missions. He transitioned commercial aerospace technologies to the defense sector, delivering innovation in battlefield communications and networking solutions. In addition, Jasper designed, developed and integrated multiple mission-specific capabilities for military aircraft, including airdrop; refueling; intercept; and guidance and control products and functions.

Kremer has served in executive leadership positions since 2003 and was named a business president in 2015. Calio continued: "Wes has contributed significantly to the advancement of missile defense systems for the U.S. and its allies and played a critical role in structuring the Raytheon business in 2023. We thank him for his many contributions to RTX and wish him well as he retires from the company."

Additional Leadership Appointments

Following Jasper's appointment, several other executive leadership changes aligned with the company's succession plan are effective today.
London, United Kingdom, Jan. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

GlobaleCrypto, a pioneering force in the digital asset and cloud mining industry, is excited to announce the launch of its comprehensive cloud mining platform. This revolutionary service offers a variety of tailor-made packages and investment plans, setting a new standard in the cryptocurrency mining world.

A New Era in Bitcoin MiningAs digital currencies continue to reshape the global financial landscape, GlobaleCrypto is at the forefront, offering cutting-edge solutions in Bitcoin mining. The company's latest initiative marks a significant milestone, bringing a state-of-the-art cloud mining platform to the market. This platform is not just a service; it is a gateway to the future of digital asset accumulation, designed to cater to the diverse needs of both novice and veteran miners.

Innovative Cloud Mining SolutionsGlobaleCryptos cloud mining platform is built on the foundation of accessibility, efficiency, and profitability. By leveraging the power of cloud computing, the platform allows users to mine Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies without the need for expensive hardware, technical know-how, or significant electricity costs. It represents a paradigm shift in how individuals and institutions can engage in cryptocurrency mining.

Introducing Diverse and Efficient Mining PackagesGlobaleCrypto offers an array of efficient mining plans:

Bitcoin Antminer S19 PRO Hyd: Daily earning potential of $7.21, showcasing exceptional efficiency.

Bitcoin Antminer S19 XP: Generates $51 over several days, known for energy efficiency.

Bitcoin Avalon-1366: Beginner-oriented, with a daily return of $53.50 for a week.

Bitcoin Whatsminer M50S 130T: Targets intermediate miners, offering $83.02 daily for 15 days.

Bitcoin Avalon-1366I: Combines reliability with energy efficiency, yielding $119.12 daily for 30 days.

Bitcoin Antminer S19j XP: Highly profitable with a monthly yield of $315.

Bitcoin Antminer S19 PRO HYD: Consistently performs, offering a monthly potential of $684.

Bitcoin Antminer S19 XP HYD (42-day plan): Designed for investors, with a potential of $41,916.

Bitcoin Antminer S19 XP HYD (60-day plan): Offers high efficiency, yielding $12,060 in returns.

These plans, suitable for a variety of users from novices to experts, leverage the latest in Bitcoin mining technology.

Dynamic Investment Plans for Every Investor

GlobaleCrypto recognizes the unique investment strategies of its clients. Therefore, it offers a variety of investment plans:

Short-Term Investments: Ideal for users seeking quick returns, these plans are perfect for capitalizing on short-term market movements.

Long-Term Investments: Suited for those looking to invest over a longer period, these plans are designed to maximize returns through sustained market engagement.

Bespoke Investments: For clients with specific needs, GlobaleCrypto offers customized plans to suit individual investment profiles and goals.

Cutting-Edge Technology at the ForefrontThe backbone of GlobaleCrypto's cloud mining platform is its commitment to using the latest and most efficient technology in cryptocurrency mining. This includes state-of-the-art data centers located in strategically advantageous regions, ensuring optimal mining conditions and maximizing returns for users.

Security and Transparency: Our Core ValuesAt GlobaleCrypto, the security of client investments is paramount. The platform uses advanced encryption and security protocols to protect user data and funds. In addition, the company prides itself on its transparent operations, providing users with real-time updates on their mining activities and earnings.

Sustainability: A Key ConsiderationGlobaleCrypto is dedicated to sustainable mining practices. The company utilizes green energy sources to power its data centers, reducing the environmental impact of mining activities. This commitment to sustainability not only ensures a better future for our planet but also aligns with the growing demand for eco-friendly business practices.

Join the Revolution in Cryptocurrency MiningGlobaleCrypto invites individuals and institutions worldwide to be part of this exciting journey in the realm of cryptocurrency mining. With its user-friendly interface, diverse investment options, and commitment to sustainability and security, GlobaleCrypto is not just a service provider but a partner in the journey towards financial freedom and success in the digital age.

About GlobaleCrypto:GlobaleCrypto stands as a beacon in the field of digital asset mining and cloud mining services. The company is dedicated to empowering users by simplifying the cryptocurrency mining process and offering a range of investment opportunities, making it a brand synonymous with trust, innovation, and efficiency in the cryptocurrency mining industry.

Media Contact Information:Zack RiosEmail: [email protected]Website: https://GlobaleCrypto.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.

Zack Rios Crypto Mining Services Limited support at globalecrypto.com

Source: GlobaleCrypto
Claims received by the January 4, 2024 deadline now being processed

by Waddell Phillips, Class Counsel in the Federal Indian Residential Schools Day Scholars class action

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The claims period for individuals who attended a Federal Indian Residential School during the day but did not sleep there overnight (Day Scholars) has now closed following a two-year claims process that included an extension period that ended at midnight Pacific Standard Time on January 4, 2024.

More than 7,800 eligible claims have been processed to date and we expect the Administrator to assess the remaining submissions in a timely manner over the coming months, said Cory Wanless, lawyer for the Day Scholar Class. In some cases, missing or incorrect information may require additional time to resolve. We are available to support claimants who may have questions or require guidance to provide additional information as their claims are reviewed.

The settlement provides $10,000 for each Day Scholar who attended a Federal Indian Residential School during the day only (but did not sleep there overnight).

The settlement also provides $50 million for a Day Scholars Revitalization Fund established to support healing, wellness, education, language, culture, and commemoration for the benefit of Day Scholar Survivors and their Descendants. The Fund will be administered by an independent Day Scholars Revitalization Society, which is currently being established. The process for applying for funding from the Day Scholars Revitalization Fund has not yet been set and will be available from the Day Scholars Revitalization Society once established. http://www.justicefordayscholars.com/

Resources available to Class Members

All questions regarding the claims process, including updates on previously submitted claims, can be answered by the Claims Administrator: 1-887-877-5786 or [email protected].

Class Counsel is available to answer questions about the class action, the settlement and decisions received from the Administrator at 1-888-222-6845 or [email protected].

Mental health counselling and crisis support are available to Class Members 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through the Hope for Wellness Help Line. Contact Hope for Wellness at 1-855-242-3310 or through their online chat at hopeforwellness.ca. Counselling is available in English, French, Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut, on request.

Media Contact: Titilayo Ajibose437-788-2120[email protected]

Source: Waddell Phillips
HERE secures top spot for the 7th consecutive year thanks to its rich map data, platform capabilities, key partnerships and growing customer base across verticals.

Amsterdam  In the latest Counterpoint Technology Location Platform Effectiveness Index, HERE Technologies has once again secured its leadership position as the No. 1 location platform vendor globally.

Industry analysts at Counterpoint Research have credited HEREs achievement to maintaining map data richness, robust platform capabilities, strategic partnerships, and an expanding customer base across industries. HERE stands out by leading in eight out of 10 categories and 44 out of 84 sub-categories, showcasing its comprehensive domain expertise in location technology.

Mohit Sharma, Research Analyst at Counterpoint Research said, HERE's sustained dominance in the Location Platform Effectiveness Index underscores its commitment to excellence and continuous innovation. The companys ability to adapt to industry trends and consistently deliver cutting-edge solutions is truly commendable.

The Index points to HERE UniMap, a revolutionary, highly automated mapping technology with the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) at its core. UniMap has the capability of building on top of the world's best map built by HERE with private map content, allowing customers to create and customize maps with unmatched freshness, speed and accuracy.

HERE was also recognized for its location platform offering across verticals. This years Index highlighted HERE Road Alerts and Automated Driving Zones for the automotive industry alongside critical geospatial tools for enterprises, including the HERE Anonymizer tool, on-prem location services, and private mapping capabilities. According to Counterpoint, HERE remains at the forefront of AI and machine learning algorithm integration, evident in its services like electric vehicle charging point availability predictions and routing solutions to optimize supply chains.

Mike Nefkens, CEO at HERE Technologies said, Year after year, HERE demonstrates deep leadership in the location technology space. This consistent pole position reflects our unwavering commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction. We are proud to provide cutting-edge solutions that empower businesses to thrive in a dynamic and evolving digital landscape and be the industry's preferred location platform provider.

The 2023 Counterpoint Technology Location Platform Effectiveness Index analyzed 28 of the worlds leading mapping and location platform vendors using its proprietary Competitive Ranking and Evaluation (CORE) framework. This comprehensive and detailed evaluation is based on more than 80 key capabilities spanning ten categories  maps data, location intelligence, location services, data platform, AI capabilities, sustainability, developer ecosystem, partners, business performance and customer growth.

For more information, read the latest Counterpoint Technology Location Platform Effectiveness Index.

Media contactsHERE TechnologiesJordan Stark+1 312 316 4537[email protected]

Dr. Sebastian Kurme +49 173 515 3549 [email protected]

About HERE TechnologiesHERE has been a pioneer in mapping and location technology for almost 40 years. Today, HEREs location platform is recognized as the most complete in the industry, powering location-based products, services and custom maps for organizations and enterprises across the globe. From autonomous driving and seamless logistics to new mobility experiences, HERE allows its partners and customers to innovate while retaining control over their data and safeguarding privacy. Find out how HERE is moving the world forward at here.com.

Source: HERE Europe B.V.
 KRIYA-586 is designed to be a one-time treatment delivered by focal peribulbar injection, that encodes an antibody blocking the Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 Receptor (IGF-1R), a clinically validated drug target in Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) 

 Kriya expects its TED gene therapy candidate to enter the clinic in 2025 

PALO ALTO, Calif. and RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Jan. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kriya Therapeutics, Inc., (Kriya) a biopharmaceutical company developing gene therapies for common diseases affecting millions of people around the world, today announced its gene therapy program for thyroid eye disease (TED), a debilitating autoimmune condition resulting in proptosis and diplopia, medical terms describing bulging of the eyes and double vision respectively, due to inflammation of the muscles and fat tissue behind the eye. TED affects approximately one million people in the United States and the European Union.

Kriya is developing KRIYA-586, a one-time, adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy that drives durable expression of a monoclonal antibody that blocks IGF-1 receptors. The therapy is designed for in-office administration by peribulbar injection into the fat surrounding the eye, where cells are engineered to locally produce and secrete an antibody that blocks IGF-1 receptors on myocytes, adipocytes and fibroblasts. IGF-1R blockade has been established as a clinically validated mechanism of action, as evidenced by teprotumumab, the first and only FDA-approved therapy for TED. KRIYA-586 has been evaluated in multiple large animal species, and the company plans to present data from these studies at upcoming medical conferences.

"We believe that an in-office, focally administered gene therapy for TED would meaningfully improve the quality of life of people with TED, with the potential to durably address the disease following one-time injection, said Shankar Ramaswamy, M.D., Co-Founder and CEO of Kriya. Together with our gene therapy for geographic atrophy, todays public announcement of our TED program reflects our deep commitment to advancing the field of ophthalmology by developing transformational gene therapies aimed at addressing common causes of vision loss and blindness.

Kriya has designed its TED gene therapy candidate with the following goals:

One-time, in-office peribulbar injection may minimize the treatment burden for patients

Localized antibody expression in extraocular muscles and fat tissue may limit the potential for side effects that can be observed with systemically administered therapies

Durable AAV-mediated antibody expression may deliver sustained improvements in proptosis and diplopia as well as other key manifestations of TED

Dr. Ramaswamy will present an overview of Kriyas pipeline and platform at the J.P. Morgan 42nd Annual Healthcare Conference on Tuesday, January 9th at 9:00 AM PT in San Francisco, California.

About Thyroid Eye Disease (TED)TED is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and enlargement of the muscles and fat tissue behind the eye. This results in proptosis and diplopia which can significantly impact quality of life of patients with TED. Teprotumumab is the only FDA approved therapy for the treatment of TED, and is an intravenously administered monoclonal antibody that works by blocking IGF-1 receptors. However, many patients who receive this systemically administered therapy experience severe side effects such as hearing loss and hyperglycemia as well as a loss of durability of effect despite initial responses. There is a need for safe and durable treatments that can address the approximately one million patients in the United States and the European Union who have TED.

About Kriya TherapeuticsOur mission is to revolutionize medicine, with the ultimate goal of eliminating human suffering and enabling people to live without the burden of disease. Kriya is a biopharmaceutical company developing gene therapies to address common diseases affecting millions of people around the world. With operations in Palo Alto, California and Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, Kriya has raised over $600 million, which will be used to advance a broad pipeline of gene therapies for ophthalmology, metabolic disease, and neurology. For more information, please visit www.kriyatx.com and follow us on LinkedIn and X.

Media Contact: Kelli Perkins [email protected] 310.625.3248

Source: Kriya Therapeutics, Inc.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MAX Power Mining Corp. (CSE: MAXX; OTC: MAXXF; FRANKFURT: 89N) (MAX Power or the Company) has significantly broadened the discovery footprint at its Willcox Lithium Project in southeast Arizona as first-ever diamond drilling continues in the northern section of the property.

Highlights:

Diamond drill hole WP-23-02, a 1,640-foot (500-meter) step-out to the west of discovery hole WP-23-01, has intersected a predominant lithium claystone sequence from the top of the hole to the base of the hole at 998 feet, further supporting the potential for a very large system of lithium-rich clays under the Willcox Playa;

of discovery hole WP-23-01, has intersected a predominant lithium claystone sequence from the top of the hole to the base of the hole at 998 feet, further supporting the potential for a very large system of lithium-rich clays under the Willcox Playa; Similar to WP-23-01, multiple distinct fluid sequences were also encountered in WP-23-02 at depths of 112, 358, 458 and 598 feet. Notably, these non-potable liquid targets have the potential to host lithium mineralization which adds to the uniqueness of the geological setting;

Guidance from a Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy Z-903 (LIBS) portable handheld tool suggests the lithium mineralization in the claystones in both drill holes completed to date is significantly more intense and pervasive than the encouraging results reported by the USGS in its historic 1978 reverse circulation test drill hole completed 5.5 miles northwest of WP-23-02 and 6 miles northwest of WP-23-01;

MAX Powers third drill hole, commencing shortly, will be another 1,640-foot step-out, this time to the south relative to WP-23-02. This third hole will form a triangle measuring approximately 1,640 feet by 1,640 feet by 2,300 feet.

Mr. Peter Lauder, Senior Geologist and Exploration Manager for MAX Power, commented: First-ever systematic drilling of the Willcox Playa continues to be extremely encouraging and strongly supports the discovery model we presented in early December. We have a target-rich corridor extending 6 miles from the northeast to the southwest.

Drill samples of the clays and the brine from the Willcox Lithium Project are being analyzed by ALS Global in Tucson.

MAX Powers Willcox Lithium Project is surrounded by excellent infrastructure including roads, rail, power and services located immediately off Interstate 10 in southeast Arizona leading to Tucson and Phoenix.

Figure 1  Representative Drill Core (photo of uppermost core from WP-23-02, assays pending)

Figure 2: Willcox Lithium Project Area Map

Figure 3: Godbe Drilling's Core Rig on Hole WP-23-02

Qualified Person

The technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Thomas Clarke, P.Geo., Pr.Sci.Nat, and Director for MAX Power Mining Corp. Mr. Clarke is the Qualified Person responsible for the scientific and technical information contained herein under National Instrument 43-101 standards.

About MAX Power

MAX Power is a dynamic exploration stage resource company targeting domestic lithium resources to advance North Americas renewable energy prospects. MAX has also entered into a cooperative research and development agreement with the University of California Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) to develop state-of-the-art direct lithium extraction (DLE) technologies for brine resources.

On behalf of the Board of Directors Rav Mlait- CEO MarketSmart Communications MAX Power Mining Corp. Tel: 877-261-4466 [email protected] Tel: 778-655-9266

Forward-Looking Statement Cautions

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, relating to exploration, drilling, mineralization and historical results on the Property; the interpretation of drilling and assay results, the results of any future drilling program, mineralization and the discovery mineralization (if any); plans for future exploration and drilling and the timing of same; the merits of the Willcox Playa Property; the potential for lithium within the Willcox Playa region; ability to access Property; ability to extract resources from the Property, commentary as it related to the opportune timing to explore lithium exploration and any anticipated increasing demand for lithium; any results and updates thereto as it relates to the USGS report; the Companys concentration hypothesis; closing of the transaction; future press releases by the Company; and funding of any future drilling program. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," interpreted, "intends," "estimates," "projects," "aims," suggests, often, target, future, likely, pending, "potential," "goal," "objective," "prospective," possibly, preliminary, and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "can," "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made, and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the CSE, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include risks associated with possible accidents and other risks associated with mineral exploration operations, the risk that the Company will encounter unanticipated geological factors, risks associated with the interpretation of assay results and the drilling program, the possibility that the Company may not be able to secure permitting and other governmental clearances necessary to carry out the Company's exploration plans, the risk that the Company will not be able to raise sufficient funds to carry out its business plans, and the risk of political uncertainties and regulatory or legal changes that might interfere with the Company's business and prospects. The reader is urged to refer to the Company's Managements Discussion and Analysis, publicly available through the Canadian Securities Administrators' System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e9df960d-050e-4b67-9254-106b015644f4https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e81a44b2-a16f-477c-b93b-a5f8a2440037https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fb682399-8f23-4f64-a5fc-f8adaeb3ea2b

Max Power Mining Corp Figure 1. Representative Drill Core (photo of uppermost core from WP-23-02 Max Power Mining Corp Figure 3. Godbe Drilling's Core Rig on Hole WP-23-02 Max Power Mining Corp Figure 2. Willcox Lithium Project Area Map

Source: Max Power Mining Corp
FDA approval of the companys second US Radioligand Therapy (RLT) manufacturing facility increases RLT production capacity to 250,000 doses in 2024 and beyond

New 70,000-square foot RLT facility is the companys largest and most advanced in the world to date and centrally located in the US to maximize access for patients and treatment centers

With four active RLT manufacturing sites and unconstrained supply, Novartis can sufficiently meet current and future demand as ongoing clinical trials may present the potential to bring Pluvicto and Lutathera to more patients in earlier lines of treatment

Novartis is investigating a broad portfolio of RLTs in advanced cancers including breast, colon, neuroendocrine, lung, pancreatic and prostate to continue meeting global patient needs

Basel, January 5, 2024 Novartis announced today that it has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for commercial manufacturing of PluvictoTM (INN: lutetium (177Lu) vipivotide tetraxetan / USAN: lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan) at its new large-scale, state-of-the-art radioligand therapy (RLT) manufacturing facility in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The 70,000-square foot site, the companys second US location, is designed specifically for RLT manufacturing and is now the largest and most advanced Novartis facility of its kind in the world. The Indianapolis site represents the next phase of RLT manufacturing growth as this new addition brings substantial supply increases for the foreseeable future.

The intricate process of providing RLTs to patients within hours of production requires precision manufacturing expertise to bring these medicines to individuals who critically need them, said Steffen Lang, President, Operations, Novartis. Adding a second US RLT facility, our largest and most advanced yet, into our manufacturing network underscores our commitment to ensure a consistent and reliable experience for patients and their healthcare teams for years to come. We also recently announced plans to build our manufacturing capabilities in Sasayama, Japan and Haiyan, Zhejiang, China, as we continue to look for opportunities to further expand our worldwide reach.

The Indianapolis facility, centrally located within the US, is purpose-built from the ground up to manufacture RLTs now and into the future and includes space for continued line expansion including plans for fully automated lines, a first for the radiopharmaceutical industry. The new site will supply the growing demand for patients in the US and eventually in Canada, upon approval, together with the companys Millburn, New Jersey location. The site in Ivrea, Italy will continue to supply patients in and outside the US while the facility in Zaragoza, Spain will solely provide RLTs for patients outside the US.

Novartis recently announced that supply of Pluvicto is unconstrained. Having doubled weekly production, Novartis currently has more than sufficient supply to treat patients within two weeks of diagnosis, which is important for these patients with advanced disease who may need treatment quickly.

Novartis is committed to improving access to its RLTs, Pluvicto and Lutathera (INN: lutetium (177Lu) oxodotreotide / USAN: lutetium Lu 177 dotatate) by adding more treatment sites in closer proximity to patients over the coming months.

With four active manufacturing facilities, and a RLT production capacity of 250,000 doses in 2024 and beyond, Novartis continues to expand its worldwide RLT manufacturing network as ongoing clinical trials may present the potential to bring Pluvicto and Lutathera to more patients in earlier lines of treatment.

Novartis and Radioligand Therapy (RLT)Novartis is committed to expanding the radioligand therapy platform to shape the future of RLT as a treatment class. By harnessing the power of radioactive atoms and applying it to advanced cancers, RLT is theoretically able to deliver radiation to target cells anywhere in the body1,2.

We are investigating a broad portfolio of RLTs, exploring new isotopes, ligands and combination therapies to look beyond gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) and prostate cancer and into breast, colon, lung and pancreatic cancer.

Novartis recently presented data at the 2023 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress studying Pluvicto in the pre-taxane setting for patients with prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-positive metastatic castration-resistance prostate cancer (mCRPC).

With established global expertise, and specialized supply chain and manufacturing capabilities across its network, we are supporting growing demand for our RLT medicines. Our production capabilities continue to expand and now include sites in Millburn, US, Zaragoza, Spain, Ivrea, Italy and our new state-of-the-art facility in Indianapolis, US. We recently announced plans to expand our manufacturing capabilities and build additional points of supply in Sasayama, Japan and Haiyan, Zhejiang, China to produce RLTs for patients in Japan and China. We are continually evaluating additional opportunities to increase capacity around the world.

DisclaimerThis press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by words such as potential, can, will, plan, may, could, would, expect, anticipate, seek, look forward, believe, committed, investigational, pipeline, launch, or similar terms, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential marketing approvals, new indications or labeling for the investigational or approved products described in this press release, or regarding potential future revenues from such products. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that the investigational or approved products described in this press release will be submitted or approved for sale or for any additional indications or labeling in any market, or at any particular time. Nor can there be any guarantee that such products will be commercially successful in the future. In particular, our expectations regarding such products could be affected by, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including clinical trial results and additional analysis of existing clinical data; regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; global trends toward health care cost containment, including government, payor and general public pricing and reimbursement pressures and requirements for increased pricing transparency; our ability to obtain or maintain proprietary intellectual property protection; the particular prescribing preferences of physicians and patients; general political, economic and business conditions, including the effects of and efforts to mitigate pandemic diseases; safety, quality, data integrity or manufacturing issues; potential or actual data security and data privacy breaches, or disruptions of our information technology systems, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AGs current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About NovartisNovartis is an innovative medicines company. Every day, we work to reimagine medicine to improve and extend peoples lives so that patients, healthcare professionals and societies are empowered in the face of serious disease. Our medicines reach more than 250 million people worldwide.

Reimagine medicine with us: Visit us at https://www.novartis.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X/Twitter and Instagram.

References

Jadvar H. Targeted Radionuclide Therapy: An Evolution Toward Precision Cancer Treatment [published correction appears in AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2017 Oct;209(4):9/49]. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2017;209(2):277-288. doi:10.2214/AJR.17.18264. Jurcic JG, Wong JYC, Knoc SJ, et al. Targeted radionuclide therapy. In: Tepper JE, Foote RE, Michalski JM, eds. Gunderson & Teppers Clinical Radiation Oncology. 5th ed. Elsevier, Inc. 2021;71(3):209-249.

# # #

Novartis Media RelationsE-mail: [email protected] Central North America Richard Jarvis +41 79 584 2326 Julie Masow +1 862 579 8456 Anja von Treskow +41 79 392 9697 Michael Meo +1 862 274 5414 Anna Schafers +41 79 801 7267 Marlena Abdinoor +1 617 335 9525 Switzerland Satoshi Sugimoto +41 79 619 2035 Novartis Investor RelationsCentral investor relations line: +41 61 324 7944E-mail: [email protected] Central North America Samir Shah +41 61 324 7944 Sloan Simpson +1 862 345 4440 Nicole Zinsli-Somm +41 61 324 3809 Parag Mahanti +1 973 876 4912 Isabella Zinck +41 61 324 7188 Jonathan Graham +1 201 602 9921 Imke Kappes +41 61 324 82 69 Zain Iqbal +41 61 324 03 90

Source: Novartis Pharma AG
UAE,Dubai, Jan. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dubai: Orbitt Pro unveils its innovative Chrome Extension, a game-changer in the crypto trading arena. Designed for traders at all levels, Orbitt Pro integrates advanced AI analysis into a user-friendly interface, revolutionizing how traders interact with the cryptocurrency market.

Core Features of Orbitt Pro:

-AI-Driven Analysis: Utilizing sophisticated algorithms, Orbitt Pro identifies complex chart patterns like "Head and Shoulders," offering in-depth market insights.

-Seamless Browser Integration: Integrated with Chrome, Orbitt Pro provides real-time functionalities and AI insights without switching applications.

-User-Centric Design: The platform ensures easy navigation and market data interpretation, which is suitable for beginners and expert traders.



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Customization and Technical Analysis:

Personalized Dashboard: Traders can customize their Orbitt Pro experience, tailoring the dashboard to their preferences.

Technical Analysis Tools: The extension offers essential tools and indicators like RSI and MACD for comprehensive market analysis.



Conclusion:

Orbitt Pro is more than just a trading tool; it's a complete trading companion that adapts to individual needs, ensuring an efficient and informed trading experience. Whether you're a novice or a pro, Orbitt Pro's AI-driven insights and customization options make it an essential tool for your trading journey.



Website: https://orbitt.pro

Twitter: https://twitter.com/orbitt_ai

Telegram: https://t.me/orbitt_pro


Key Insights

Significant control over Australian Strategic Materials by retail investors implies that the general public has more power to influence management and governance-related decisions

The top 23 shareholders own 42% of the company

Insiders own 24% of Australian Strategic Materials

Every investor in Australian Strategic Materials Ltd (ASX:ASM) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. And the group that holds the biggest piece of the pie are retail investors with 58% ownership. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk).

Individual insiders, on the other hand, account for 24% of the company's stockholders. Institutions will often hold stock in bigger companies, and we expect to see insiders owning a noticeable percentage of the smaller ones.

Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Australian Strategic Materials.

See our latest analysis for Australian Strategic Materials

ASX:ASM Ownership Breakdown January 5th 2024

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Australian Strategic Materials?

Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index.

As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in Australian Strategic Materials. This implies the analysts working for those institutions have looked at the stock and they like it. But just like anyone else, they could be wrong. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see Australian Strategic Materials' historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story.

ASX:ASM Earnings and Revenue Growth January 5th 2024

Australian Strategic Materials is not owned by hedge funds. Ian Gandel is currently the largest shareholder, with 20% of shares outstanding. For context, the second largest shareholder holds about 3.9% of the shares outstanding, followed by an ownership of 2.7% by the third-largest shareholder.

Story continues

Our studies suggest that the top 23 shareholders collectively control less than half of the company's shares, meaning that the company's shares are widely disseminated and there is no dominant shareholder.

Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. As far as we can tell there isn't analyst coverage of the company, so it is probably flying under the radar.

Insider Ownership Of Australian Strategic Materials

The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it.

I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions.

Our most recent data indicates that insiders own a reasonable proportion of Australian Strategic Materials Ltd. Insiders own AU$52m worth of shares in the AU$218m company. This may suggest that the founders still own a lot of shares. You can click here to see if they have been buying or selling.

General Public Ownership

The general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, collectively holds 58% of Australian Strategic Materials shares. This level of ownership gives investors from the wider public some power to sway key policy decisions such as board composition, executive compensation, and the dividend payout ratio.

Private Company Ownership

We can see that Private Companies own 8.9%, of the shares on issue. It might be worth looking deeper into this. If related parties, such as insiders, have an interest in one of these private companies, that should be disclosed in the annual report. Private companies may also have a strategic interest in the company.

Next Steps:

I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Take risks for example - Australian Strategic Materials has 3 warning signs (and 2 which don't sit too well with us) we think you should know about.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of 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.
CALGARY, Alberta, Jan. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pan American Energy Corp. (CSE: PNRG) (OTCQB: PAANF) (FRA: SS60) (Pan American or the Company) is pleased to announce that, further to its news release dated November 20, 2023 announcing the maiden mineral resource estimate (the MRE) for the Horizon Lithium Project (the Project), it has filed a technical report pursuant to National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (43-101) entitled NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Horizon Lithium Project with an effective date of December 21, 2023 (the Technical Report). The Company has filed the Technical Report on the Companys SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca and the Technical Report is also available on the Companys website. The Technical Report was prepared by Tabetha Stirrett, P. Geo., and Erik Hemstad, PE, each of RESPEC, LLC (RESPEC), and each of whom is a Qualified Person for purposes 43-101 and independent of the Company.

Key Highlights of the Technical Report

One of the largest identified lithium deposits in the U.S. with an estimated Indicated Mineral Resource of 1,325 Lithium Carbonate Equivalent ( LCE ) Kilo tonnes ( KTonnes ) and Inferred Mineral Resource of 8,879 LCE KTonnes, with an average grade of 678 ppm lithium ( Li ) (see table below for additional details regarding the calculation of the MRE and the average Li grades for the Inferred Mineral Resources and Indicated Mineral Resources).

with an estimated Indicated Mineral Resource of 1,325 Lithium Carbonate Equivalent ( ) Kilo tonnes ( ) and Inferred Mineral Resource of 8,879 LCE KTonnes, with an average grade of 678 ppm lithium ( ) (see table below for additional details regarding the calculation of the MRE and the average Li grades for the Inferred Mineral Resources and Indicated Mineral Resources). High-Grade Mineral Resources. Estimates were calculated based on a conservative 300 ppm Li cut-off within an optimized pit.

Estimates were calculated based on a conservative 300 ppm Li cut-off within an optimized pit. Rapid advancement in a short timeframe. The MRE is based on 20 diamond drill holes completed in 2023, within one year of the Company acquiring rights to the Project pursuant to the property option agreement entered into with the owner of the Project, Horizon Lithium LLC. One hole was abandoned due to hole conditions and was not used in the MRE.

The MRE is based on 20 diamond drill holes completed in 2023, within one year of the Company acquiring rights to the Project pursuant to the property option agreement entered into with the owner of the Project, Horizon Lithium LLC. One hole was abandoned due to hole conditions and was not used in the MRE. Significant expansion potential through step-out drilling to extend the deposit to the Northwest, South, East and West and at greater depths. The Company is actively evaluating geophysical exploration techniques and Phase 3 drill planning, as recommended by the authors of the Technical Report.

through step-out drilling to extend the deposit to the Northwest, South, East and West and at greater depths. The Company is actively evaluating geophysical exploration techniques and Phase 3 drill planning, as recommended by the authors of the Technical Report. Project engineering. The authors of the Technical Report recommend that a Preliminary Economic Assessment (" PEA ") be completed for the Project, pending results from geochemical testing of samples gathered during the recommended drilling and planned metallurgical testwork. The Company has begun the work necessary to complete the necessary metallurgical testwork, and the Company is targeting the completion of a PEA in Q4-2024.

The authors of the Technical Report recommend that a Preliminary Economic Assessment (" ") be completed for the Project, pending results from geochemical testing of samples gathered during the recommended drilling and planned metallurgical testwork. The Company has begun the work necessary to complete the necessary metallurgical testwork, and the Company is targeting the completion of a PEA in Q4-2024. Access and infrastructure. The Project benefits from an ideal location near essential infrastructure and the town of Tonopah with limited impediments (i.e. no highway intersects impacting pit design).

Jason Latkowcer, Chief Executive Officer of Pan American, states, "We are proud to publish the inaugural technical report for the Project. The initial mineral resource estimation highlights the identification of a promising high-grade, large-tonnage lithium deposit in North America. The deposit is open in numerous directions and at depth. We expect upcoming geophysical exploration techniques to further refine Phase 3 drill targeting and are in active conversations with partners to support metallurgical testing as we advance towards a PEA at the Project.

Readers are encouraged to review the Companys related November 20, 2023 news release with respect to the MRE and the Technical Report, each of which is filed on the Companys SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. There are no material differences as between the MRE disclosed in the Technical Report and that disclosed in the Companys November 20, 2023 news release.

MRE Preparation

The MRE was estimated and reported with an effective date of November 15, 2023. The estimated mineral resources at the Project were classified by geological and quantitative confidence in accordance with the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Reserves and 43-101. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that any mineral resource will be converted into a mineral reserve, and there are currently no mineral reserves estimated at the Project.

The mineral resources were estimated by inverse distance to the second power. Two estimation passes were performed independently for each of the three mineral domains. Estimated grades and partial percentages of the domains were used to calculate weight-averaged lithium grades for each block. Grades and percentages outside modeled domains were included in calculations to produce fully block-diluted grades.

The mineral resources were tabulated to reflect potential open pit mining extraction as the primary scenario. A pit optimization was produced to meet the requirement of reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction and reports production as LCE. The in-pit mineral resources are reported at a cutoff grade of 300 parts per million Li. For additional information regarding the calculation of the MRE, please refer to the Technical Report.

Table 1. Mineral Resource Estimate for the Horizon Lithium Project Classification Cut-off (ppm Li) Total KTonnes Average Grade (ppm Li) Li KTonnes LCE KTonnes Indicated 300 372,845 669 249 1,325 Inferred 300 2,453,963 680 1,668 8,879

Notes:

The mineral resource estimate is in metric tonnes.

Mineral resources comprised all model blocks at a 300 ppm Li cut-off within an optimized pit.

Mineral resources within the optimized pit are block-diluted tabulations.

To describe the resource in terms of industry-standard LCE, a conversion factor of 5.323 was used to convert elemental lithium to LCE.

20 drillholes were used in the mineral resource estimate.

An inferred mineral resource has a lower confidence level than measured and indicated mineral resources and must not be converted to mineral reserves. It is reasonably expected that most of the inferred mineral resources could be upgraded to indicated mineral resources with continued delineation drilling.

Mineral resources potentially amenable to open pit mining methods and leach processing are reported using a Li carbonate price of US$20,000/tonne, a throughput of 30,000 tonnes/day, assumed metallurgical recoveries of 66 percent, mining costs of US$2.20/tonne mined, processing costs of US$14.12/tonne processed, and general and administrative costs of US$0.42/tonne processed. The results from pit optimization are used solely to test for reasonable prospects for economic extraction and do not represent an attempt to estimate mineral reserves. There are no mineral reserves on the Property. The results are used as a guide to assist in preparing the mineral resource estimate and selecting an appropriate resource reporting cutoff grade.

The estimate of mineral resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, sociopolitical, marketing or other relevant issues.

The effective date of the mineral resource estimate is November 15, 2023.

All figures are rounded to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimate, and sums may vary because of rounding.

Figure 1  The Project boundary, 20 exploratory drillholes used in the MRE, and the Mineral resource body showing unexplored areas to the west, northwest, east and south.

Technical Report Recommendations

The authors of the Technical Report have recommended that the Company conduct two phases of additional work on the Project, including exploration and metallurgical testing, while concurrently developing a PEA. The authors recommend a phased approach to the further exploration of the Project, including:

Phase 1: Geophysical Survey  Conducting a seismic survey of the Project to define the thickness of overburden sediments and gain a better understanding of underlying structural features; Exploration and Infill Drilling  Completing drillholes in the western and southern portions of the Project to laterally expand the stratigraphic understanding and potentially grow the mineral resource; completing infill drilling with the aim of upgrading the mineral resource classification and extending the mineral resource to greater depth; and Metallurgical Testing  Developing a processing strategy, which is paramount to Project advancement and overall de-risking of the Project. The authors recommend that the Company continue pursuing partnerships with select academic and institutional and research groups to develop the process for the recovery of claystone-hosted Li.

Phase 2  PEA  To define the economic viability of the Project, the authors recommend the Company complete a thorough scoping study of the potential profitability and risks associated with the Project.

The Company is actively evaluating geophysical exploration techniques and engaged in Phase 3 drill planning. The Company has also begun the work necessary to complete the necessary metallurgical testwork, and the Company is targeting the completion of the PEA in Q4-2024.

Qualified Persons

The scientific and technical contents of this news release have been reviewed and approved by Tabetha Stirrett, P.Geo, who is a consulting geologist at RESPEC, an independent consultant to the Company, and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101.

For additional information regarding the scientific and technical information contained in this press release, including data verification, collection and compilation information and QA/QC procedures undertaken please refer to the Technical Report.

About Pan American

Pan American Energy Corp. (CSE: PNRG) (OTCQB: PAANF) (FSE: SS60) is an exploration stage company engaged principally in the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties containing battery metals in North America.

The Company executed an option agreement in Canada with Magabra Resources, providing for the right to acquire up to a 90% interest in the drill-ready Big Mack Lithium Project 80 km north of Kenora, Ontario. The Company has also entered into a Property Option Agreement with Horizon Lithium LLC, providing for the right to acquire a 100% interest in the Horizon Lithium Project, located within Esmeralda County  Tonopah Lithium Belt, Nevada, USA.

For more information, please contact the Company at [email protected] or visit our website at https://panam-energy.com.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Jason Latkowcer

CEO & Director

Contact:

Phone: (587) 885-5970

Email: [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 Companys current beliefs or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information relating to, among other things, the MRE, including the economic assumptions used to formulate the mineral resource estimate; the potential of the Project, including the exploration and expansion prospects of the Project; planned and proposed exploration activities that the Company may undertake on the Project and the anticipated outcomes of such exploration activities, including that geophysical exploration techniques will allow the Company to further refine Phase 3 drill targeting; and the Companys plans to complete a PEA, including the target date for the completion of a PEA.

Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information, including, in respect of the forward-looking information included in this press release, the assumptions set out in the Technical Report, including the economic, geological and operational assumptions discussed above under the heading MRE Preparation; that the MRE is accurate in estimating the mineral resources present at the Project; that the Company will be able to successfully undertake further exploration activities on the Project and that such exploration activities will yield the anticipated results; and that the Company will be able to successfully complete the preparation and publication of a PEA on the timeline estimated, or at all.

Although forward-looking information is based on the reasonable assumptions of the Companys management, there can be no assurance that any forward-looking information will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include, among other things, risks related to the estimation of mineral resources, including that mineral resource estimates are estimates only and are subject to a number of assumptions which may prove untrue; that the Company will be unsuccessful in converting inferred mineral resources into measured or indicated mineral resources, or mineral resources into mineral reserves; that the Company will be unsuccessful in completing, or will determine not to complete, the planned or recommended exploration activities discussed above in this press release or in the Technical Report, on the timeline anticipated or at all; that planned or recommended exploration activities may not yield the desired results; that the completion of the recommended exploration activities will not permit the Company to complete a PEA, on the timeline currently anticipated or at all; risks inherent in the exploration and development of mineral deposits, including risks relating to receiving requisite permits and approvals, changes in project parameters or delays as plans continue to be redefined; that mineral exploration is inherently uncertain and that the results of mineral exploration may not be indicative of the actual geology or mineralization of a project; that mineral exploration may be unsuccessful, result in cost overruns or fail to achieve the results anticipated by the Company; that mineral exploration activities are often unsuccessful; that commodity prices and general economic conditions are subject to fluctuation and the other risks set out in the Companys annual information form filed on the Companys profile at www.sedarplus.ca. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof, and the Company not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein.

The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the information contained herein.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/70790afa-45b8-4886-b0ed-821235615f50

Figure 1 The Project boundary, 20 exploratory drillholes used in the MRE, and the Mineral resource body showing unexplored areas to the west, northwest, east and south.

Source: Pan American Energy Corp.
Meyerton, Gauteng, Jan. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Webness Studios is proud to announce the launch of its range of specialist website design services, such as company website design, online store development and personal website design in South Africa.

Committed to creating professional and engaging websites for businesses and individuals, Webness Studios comprises a team of experienced web designers who are passionate about delivering exceptional website designs that not only look great but also function smoothly.

Webness is a company that designs websites in South Africa, said a spokesperson for Webness Studios. They are experts in creating custom web design solutions and have lots of experience, as well as knowledge in making personalized websites to fit their clients needs. Whether the companys skilled team is developing a professional website or tailoring web design services, Webness always delivers top-notch solutions to help businesses in South Africa grow online.

Offering an all-in-one solution for website development, the top website design company in South Africa utilizes seamless integration of domains, hosting, and design to elevate businesses, boost their online presence and curate an individuals unique online identity. Some of Webness Studios key features include:

Rapid Development: The companys expert team will work around the clock to bring a clients vision to life in record time. No more waiting weeks for a website  Webness Studios guarantees a stunning online presence in just 48 hours.

Tailored Designs: A website is as unique as a business. The professional designers at Webness Studios will craft a personalized, eye-catching website that perfectly reflects a businesss unique brand.

Mobile-Optimized: In todays digital age, mobile matters. A website by the number one South African website design company will be fully responsive, ensuring a seamless experience for visitors on all devices.

Affordable Excellence: Quality doesnt have to break the bank. Webness Studios has a limited-time offer at an unbeatable price for a website that stands out in the crowded online space.

Innovative Designs: Webness Studios understands the importance of making a lasting impression on website visitors, which is why the company strives to deliver visually stunning websites that engage and captivate users. With extensive expertise in custom web design solutions, the team at Webness Studios can be trusted to create a website that not only looks great but also delivers exceptional user experiences.

SEO Optimization: To make a website more visible on search engines, its important to focus on SEO optimization. By using relevant keywords and following SEO principles, businesses and individuals can improve their chances of appearing higher in search engine rankings.

Quality Customer Support: Webness Studios team is dedicated to ensuring customer satisfaction by being responsive, helpful, and proactive in addressing any concerns or issues that may arise. From the moment a client contacts them until their website is up and running smoothly, Webness Studios is there to assist them every step of the way.

Whether prospective clients choose to call, email, or use the contact form, the Webness Studios team is committed to providing timely and helpful responses to ensure their experience with the leading web design company is exceptional.

About Webness Studios

Webness Studios is a company based in South Africa that provides a range of professional web design services. Committed to delivering high-quality solutions, Webness Studios endeavours to meet the unique needs of every client and create websites that not only look great but also function smoothly.

More Information

To learn more about Webness Studios and the launch of its web design services, please visit the website at https://webness.co.za/.

Source: https://thenewsfront.com/revolutionizing-web-presence-webness-studios-launch-specialist-website-design-services/

Webness Studios 52 The Avenue Henley on klip Meyerton Gauteng 1961 South Africa 0762091248 https://webness.co.za/

Source: Webness Studios
CEO Dan Antonelli moves to Executive Board Chair

Kim Ruiz Beck Remains on Board of Directors

FRISCO, Texas, Jan. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ruiz Food Products, Inc., the largest frozen Mexican food manufacturer in the United States, today announced a series of executive leadership and board changes designed to position the company for its next great growth period. The Ruiz Foods Board of Directors selected the companys current chief operating officer, Kimberli Carroll, as president and chief executive officer; she will also serve on the board of directors. Current CEO Dan Antonelli will transition to the new position of executive board chair. Kim Ruiz Beck, a Ruiz Foods owner and current board chair, remains on the board as an owner-director. These changes are effective January 21, 2024.

As the Ruiz Foods board of directors considered the direction for our next CEO, the best candidate was right here on our leadership team, said Kim Ruiz Beck. Kim Carroll quite literally grew up inside the Ruiz Foods organization over two decades. She began her career in marketing, was a member of the team that developed and deployed the most successful new product in the companys history, and has served as a leader implementing dynamic, transformative change throughout our entire supply, production and distribution chains.

In addition, Kim possesses both the leadership skills essential to continue to move the company forward and the deep relationships and commitment to our people and culture that are the foundation of what we do each day. This combination makes her uniquely qualified to lead Ruiz Foods as we boldly work to become the nations best frozen food company in the eyes of our team members, suppliers, customers, and consumers.

Most recently, Carroll was promoted to chief operating officer in September 2023. She previously served as executive vice president, general manager, and chief commercial officer for the companys Foodservice and Retail businesses.

I am humbled and honored to lead one of the finest family-owned companies in America, Carroll said. Dan Antonelli has been instrumental in leading the transformation we started in 2021 to become a top performing company and Kim Ruiz Beck has been our North star, leading us by embodying the values of the business. Now, its our job to continue their legacy by ensuring our brands are the market leaders in every channel we pursue.

About Ruiz Food Products, Inc.

Ruiz Foods Products, Inc. is a privately-owned corporation co-founded by Fred Ruiz and his father, Louis, in 1964. Kim Ruiz Beck, the elder daughter of Co-Founder and Chairman Emeritus Fred Ruiz, is a member of the board of directors. Ruiz Foods is dedicated to premium quality, authentically prepared frozen foods selling to all channels of distribution: retail, convenience store, clubs, vending, industrial, and food service. Ruiz Foods El Monterey brand is the #1 selling frozen Mexican food in the United States and Tornados, the companys snack brand, is a leader on the convenience store roller grill. Headquartered in Frisco, Texas, Ruiz Foods employs more than 4,000 Team Members and has five manufacturing facilities located in California, Texas and South Carolina. For more information, please visit www.ruizfoods.com.

For more information:

Paula Wright, +1.612.508.9899

Email: [email protected]

[email protected]
Silver anniversary marks a quarter century of keeping the outside out and the inside safe

HARLEYSVILLE, Pa., Jan. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TuffWrap Installations, Inc., tuffwrap.com, the North American leader in innovative temporary dust, debris, and weather construction containment solutions, is celebrating its silver (25th) anniversary throughout 2024. The companys first interior protection project was completed in 1999 when it installed a suspended cover temporary ceiling for David/Randall Associates during the reroofing of the 40,000 sq. ft. picture frame manufacturer to keep the facility fully operational. This began the discovery of the vast need to provide protection in the workplace during re-roofing and renovation work. Today, companies look to TuffWraps interior and exterior protection systems to separate the work environment from the construction zone.



Over the last two and a half decades the company has completed over 15,000 interior and exterior protection jobs and manufactured and installed an average of approximately 375 million square feet of protection. The industries served are as diverse as:

Food and Beverage

Aerospace

Industrial and Commercial

Manufacturing

Automotive

Pharmaceutical

Retail

Warehouse and Distribution

Among the companys innovations are:

SmartSeam suspended cover, the first product and installation system to allow suspended cover to be placed below sprinklers and the only system in the industry that is 100% International Building Code compliant and FM-4652 Approved

C.O.R.E. Frameless Walls, TuffWrap Hybrid Walls and Industrial Hybrid Walls, Total Enclosures, and Construction Doors ensure the workspace is fully functional through construction.

TuffWrap EXT exterior temporary walls and doors. Engineered for the outdoors.



A complete timeline of major events in TuffWrap history may be seen at https://www.tuffwrap.com/about-tuffwrap-installations/history/

In recognizing the companys growth and numerous innovations, TuffWrap president and founder David Campbell observed, Our beginning was straightforward. We were asked to solve a problem and we have been solving them ever since. Along the way weve taken dust and debris containment from 2x4s and plywood to custom-engineered temporary containment systems, have set design standards, met compliance issues, eliminated tons of construction waste, and made interior and exterior construction sites safer for people, products and property. Dave Bosico, Chief Revenue Officer and co-founder, who has been with the company since the beginning added, Its just the right thing to do. It is the right thing to do for protecting facility workers and for protecting consumers.

Both Dave Campbell and Dave Bosico, commented they are most proud that they could provide not just for their own families but also help so many others to provide for their families as well.

Dan Schmidt, TuffWraps North American Sales Director, commented about the future growth of TuffWrap Installations, It is exciting to be part of an organization that is hyper focused on providing the safest and most effective solution for interior protection and exterior barriers on the market. Because of its dedication to continuous innovation and quality, TuffWrap is positioned perfectly to continue to lead the temporary construction barrier industry.

About TuffWrap Installations, Inc.

TuffWrap Installations is the North American leader in innovative temporary dust, debris, and weather construction containment solutions, keeping facilities operational, providing protection, and helping mitigate your exposure to liability. TuffWrap provides interior and exterior protection solutions to a variety of industries as they undergo reroofing and renovation projects. Protecting people, products, and property from dust, debris, and weather is their #1 priority. Its just the right thing to do.

Further information on TuffWrap Installations, Inc. is available at tuffwrap.com or by calling (800) 995-4556.

Photo: TuffWrap 3 products, 25th anniversary (see attached)

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/00b1bc90-f419-4186-9a8a-834349ed263e
The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of India has asked the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to restrict the website URLs of nine cryptocurrency exchanges. The aim is to restrict access to platforms such as MEXC Global, Bitfinex, Bitstamp, Binance, Gate.io, Kraken, Bittrex, Huobi and Kucoin, citing their alleged illegal operations and noncompliance with the Money Laundering Prevention Act.

The FIU, serving as the central national agency, is tasked with receiving, processing, analyzing and disseminating information related to suspect financial transactions, including terror financing and

Read More>>

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Baoding, China--(Newsfile Corp. - January 5, 2024) - GWM has achieved remarkable success in its international expansion, selling 1.23 million sales globally with an annual sales milestone of 300,000 units in overseas markets. As of December, monthly overseas sales reached an impressive 33,476, underscoring the company's substantial global presence.

GWM's remarkable success stems from its technology and market strategy, paired with a forward-looking global expansion strategy. On the product front, GWM strategically tailors its offerings to meet local demands in diverse global markets. The GWM TANK 500, renowned for its robust engine and off-road capabilities, gained popularity in the Middle East. Building on this success, the high-end GWM TANK 700 sold out in a mere 55 seconds during its November pre-sale. GWM ORA, the new energy brand, has received acclaim in Europe and South Africa, establishing leadership in specific market segments.

GWM's practical approach resonates globally, earning recognition and prestigious awards. The GWM HAVAL H6 NEV received four major annual awards in Brazil. In the 2023 South African Annual Pickup Model Competition, the GWM P Series secured the title of "The Best Pickup Model" in the 100-120 kW power category. GWM ORA 03 achieved a five-star rating from Green NCAP, along with LCA and the TopGear South Africa "2023 Annual Award". GWM WEY 03, WEY 05 and ORA 03 have all received the European E-NCAP five-star rating. GWM Brand was also acknowledged in the 2023 BrandZ "China Global Brand Top 20". These accolades contribute to the continuous increase in market share for GWM's NEV.

At the core of GWM's sales success is the company's commitment to cutting-edge technology research and development. Proprietary Hi4 and Hi4-T technologies iterate rapidly in response to changing consumer demands, contributing to the swift rise in market share for new energy vehicles. The Coffee OS and intelligent cabin ecosystem are user-friendly, enhancing the overall driving experience.

GWM's dedication to independent research and development has garnered widespread recognition for its technological prowess, resulting in the milestone of 300,000 units sold overseas. This certified strength has facilitated collaborations with global enterprises. In June, GWM established a strategic partnership with Inchcape, a major automotive distributor. In July, GWM Holding Group's FTXT Energy signed a cooperation agreement with Italy's CNR for hydrogen energy projects, advancing the transformation towards green energy. GWM also accelerated overseas production with KD factories in Pakistan, Ecuador, and a new project in Malaysia last year.

In its 26-year global journey, GWM has prioritized the "One GWM" vision and adopted a "Global Ecosystem" strategy. The company's success in overseas markets stems from continuous exploration, a user-centric approach, win-win collaborations, and a down-to-earth attitude.

Looking ahead, GWM will host the 2024 GWM Global Fan Festival to deepen connections with users and share the year's achievements and joys. As GWM and its users embark on the future journey of globalization, they anticipate a brilliant and shared future.

CONTACTS

Tyler Qian

Great Wall Motor Company Limited

Baoding, Hebei Province

www.gwm-global.com

[email protected]

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/193279
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - January 4, 2024) - Saturn Oil & Gas Inc. (TSX: SOIL) (FSE: SMKA) (OTCQX: OILSF) ("Saturn" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the Company's first Open Hole Mult-Lateral ("OHML") Bakken well drilled in the Viewfield area of Southeast Saskatchewan, 101/01-07-011-06W2 ("Viewfield 01-07"), had initial 30-day average production ("IP30") of approximately 233 bbls/d of light oil, which is 49%1 above the Company's expected IP30 type curves for OHML Bakken wells drilled in the area. The Viewfield 01-07 was drilled with eight open hole, unstimulated lateral legs for a capital cost of approximately $2.3 million, for an implied capital efficiency of $9,870/bbl/d.

"The strong initial production and low early declines of the Viewfield 01-07 well are excellent indications of the enhanced economics being driven by this new drilling innovation in Canada's oil and gas sector," commented Justin Kaufmann, Chief Development Officer. "OHML wells have a smaller surface footprint and require less water compared to typical drilling and completion techniques used in developing Bakken formations. The superior economics of OHML drilling allows access to light oil resources previously not considered economically viable and opens a vast new fairway for Saturn's future development."

In late December 2023, Saturn brought onto production its second OHML Bakken well, 102/01-22-011-06W2 ("Viewfield 01-22") which was drilled with seven open hole, unstimulated lateral legs. Viewfield 01-22 is experiencing strong fluid inflow with high oil cuts and will have IP30 results available for late January 2024. Saturn has identified up to 100 OHML drilling locations in the Viewfield area on lands where Saturn holds mineral rights.

Debt Covenant

Saturn has entered into an amendment to its credit facility to reduce its "current ratio" covenant for the period ended December 31, 2023. The amendment allowed the Company the financial flexibility to complete its robust Q4 2023 development plans. A copy of the amendment will be posted on the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

About Saturn Oil & Gas Inc.

Saturn Oil & Gas Inc. is a growing Canadian energy company focused on generating positive shareholder returns through the continued responsible development of high-quality, light oil weighted assets, supported by an acquisition strategy that targets highly accretive, complementary opportunities. Saturn has assembled an attractive portfolio of free-cash flowing, low-decline operated assets in Saskatchewan and Alberta that provide a deep inventory of long-term economic drilling opportunities across multiple zones. With an unwavering commitment to building an ESG-focused culture, Saturn's goal is to increase reserves, production and cash flows at an attractive return on invested capital. Saturn's shares are listed for trading on the TSX under ticker 'SOIL' on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under symbol 'SMKA' and on the OTCQX under the ticker 'OILSF'.

Further information and a corporate presentation are available on Saturn's website at www.saturnoil.com.

Saturn Oil & Gas Investor & Media Contacts:

John Jeffrey, MBA - Chief Executive Officer

Tel: +1 (587) 392-7900

www.saturnoil.com

Kevin Smith, MBA - VP Corporate Development

Tel: +1 (587) 392-7900

[email protected]

________________________

1 Previously disclosed type curve for the Company's OHML Bakken wells was stated at 170 bbls/d, which represents initial day-one type curve. Guidance IP30 type curve for the Company's OHML Bakken wells is 156 bbls/d.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/193243
Paid press release content from Reportable. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation.

San Francisco, CA January 4th, 2024 -- To honor Black History Month, the San Francisco Public Library's African American Center and Sistah Scifi, the first Black-owned bookstore in the United States specializing in science fiction and fantasy, are launching the inaugural 'Sistah Scifi Series'. This novel series celebrates the rich Afrofuturism and Afrofantasy genres, showcasing the remarkable works of Black women authors in the fast-paced world of speculative literature.

To view the full announcement, including downloadable images, bios, and more, click here.

Key Takeaways: The San Francisco Public Library's African American Center and Sistah Scifi, the first Black-owned U.S. bookstore specializing in science fiction and fantasy, are launching the inaugural 'Sistah Scifi Series' in honor of Black History Month, celebrating Afrofuturism and Afrofantasy genres.

The 'Sistah Scifi Series' kick-off event features Kemi Ashing-Giwa, author of debut novel 'The Splinter in the Sky', a story about a young tea expert turned political prisoner and government spy fighting for her nation's independence.

The 'Sistah Scifi Series' aims to honor and amplify the contributions of Black authors in speculative literature, providing a platform for diverse voices and hoping to inspire more representation in the literary world.

Click image above to view full announcement.

Sistah Scifi is the first Black owned bookstore focused on science fiction and fantasy in the United States. Learn more at https://sistahscifi.com/

Source: Sistah Scifi

Distributed by: Reportable, Inc.
PASADENA, Calif. , Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE: ARE), the first, preeminent, longest-tenured and pioneering owner, operator and developer of collaborative life science, agtech and advanced technology mega campuses in AAA innovation cluster locations, today celebrates the 30th anniversary of its one-of-a-kind, once-in-a-generation company. Alexandria pioneered the novel Labspace niche and created the first-ever REIT uniquely focused on the critically important life science industry with its founding on January 5, 1994 . Over the past three decades, the company has transformed life science real estate from a specialty niche to a compelling mainstream asset class, and it remains the only publicly traded pure-play life science REIT.

"We are grateful and humbled to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Alexandria's founding  a truly monumental milestone that is a testament to our stellar family team's operational excellence and dedication to our mission-driven business. It is remarkable to reflect on our astounding growth, from our start in basement offices at Jacobs Engineering to our success in creating an irreplaceable life science real estate platform that dominates the asset class we pioneered," said Joel S. Marcus , executive chairman and founder of Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc./Alexandria Venture Investments. "Thirty years ago, we saw the remarkable early potential of the life science industry, and today we are honored to be the trusted partner to leaders in this secularly growing industry who rely on our essential Labspace assets to advance and help safeguard their mission-critical work on truly groundbreaking therapies and cures. With over 10,000 diseases known to humankind, nearly 90% of which have no approved treatments, the incredible innovation taking place within our Labspace facilities is and will remain a national imperative. We are immensely proud, as Jim Collins has said, to have 'achieved the three outputs that define a great company: Superior Results, Distinctive Impact and Lasting Endurance,' and we will continue to build upon these outputs to transition the company into the next generation."

Alexandria's superior results have been accelerated by its first-mover advantage in the top life science clusters, high-quality Labspace assets aggregated in desirable mega campuses, longstanding tenant relationships and highly experienced team with deep life science expertise. The company's execution of its multifaceted platform of internal and external growth continues to generate outstanding long-term total stockholder return (TSR). From its IPO in May 1997 through December 31, 2023 , Alexandria has generated a TSR of 1,512%, significantly outperforming major indices over the same period, including the FTSE Nareit Equity Health Care Index's TSR of 980% and the MSCI US REIT Index's TSR of 792% (assuming reinvestment of dividends). Additionally, Alexandria's growth and sustained performance are supported by its fortress balance sheet with no debt maturities prior to 2025, 99.0% of debt at fixed rates, credit ratings ranking among the top 10% of all publicly traded U.S. REITs and significant liquidity of $5.9 billion as of September 30, 2023 .

For 30 years, Alexandria has been making a distinctive impact as the leader in delivering the complex laboratory infrastructure and fostering the holistic ecosystems needed to enable innovation to advance life-changing treatments and cures. Half of all FDA-approved therapies since 2013 have come from Alexandria's tenants, demonstrating the company's meaningful impact on human health. Alexandria is committed to partnering on endeavors that aim to better manage disease and reduce its economic burden on society, including by addressing two of the country's most prevalent and complex public health issues  addiction and mental health  through its social responsibility pillars. According to CDC data, more than 110,000 people died from drug overdoses in the United States in 2022, and suicide deaths reached an all-time high of nearly 49,500. In the face of the opioid epidemic in 2017, Alexandria partnered with Verily to pioneer OneFifteen, a personalized, data-driven care model for treating addiction, in Dayton, Ohio  a city with one of the highest per capita overdose death rates in the nation that year. Alexandria designed and developed a state-of-the-art campus with a full continuum of care, including medication-assisted treatment, residential housing, peer support and job placement. OneFifteen has treated over 7,500 patients since opening four years ago. Alexandria has also been partnering with the Navy SEAL Foundation since 2010, enabling the foundation to address the increasing need for specialized physical and mental health programs for Naval Special Warfare personnel and their families. Alexandria is supporting the foundation's new, cutting-edge Warrior Fitness Program West Coast facility in San Diego . The holistic facility provides Navy SEAL warriors and veterans with evidence-based support, advanced technology resources and expert personnel to help them physically and mentally recover and rebuild from injuries and trauma, as well as transition to civilian life.

Alexandria was founded on the belief that life science companies are most successful when positioned in the epicenter of top innovation ecosystems proximate to world-renowned academic medical institutions, deep specialized talent and ample risk capital. This belief shaped its cluster model, which it has applied to the life science industry in a disciplined manner to drive the company's lasting endurance. Since 1994, Alexandria has strategically and methodically created the highest-quality life science asset base primarily concentrated in high-barrier-to-entry markets and built the leading life science infrastructure platform. As of September 30, 2023 , Alexandria has the strategic optionality to almost double the size of its asset base from 41.5 million RSF of operating properties to 75.1 million SF with assets on balance sheet to continue to meet the unique needs of the vital and secularly growing life science industry.

About Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.

Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE: ARE), an S&P 500 company, is a best-in-class, mission-driven life science REIT making a positive and lasting impact on the world. As the pioneer of the life science real estate niche since our founding in 1994, Alexandria is the preeminent and longest-tenured owner, operator and developer of collaborative life science, agtech and advanced technology mega campuses in AAA innovation cluster locations, including Greater Boston , the San Francisco Bay Area , New York City , San Diego , Seattle , Maryland and Research Triangle. Alexandria has a total market capitalization of $28.3 billion and an asset base in North America of 75.1 million SF as of September 30, 2023 , which includes 41.5 million RSF of operating properties and 5.6 million RSF of Class A/A+ properties undergoing construction, 8.9 million RSF of near-term and intermediate-term development and redevelopment projects and 19.1 million SF of future development projects. Alexandria has a longstanding and proven track record of developing Class A/A+ properties clustered in life science, agtech and advanced technology mega campuses that provide our innovative tenants with highly dynamic and collaborative environments that enhance their ability to successfully recruit and retain world-class talent and inspire productivity, efficiency, creativity and success. Alexandria also provides strategic capital to transformative life science, agrifoodtech, climate innovation and technology companies through our venture capital platform. We believe our unique business model and diligent underwriting ensure a high-quality and diverse tenant base that results in higher occupancy levels, longer lease terms, higher rental income, higher returns and greater long-term asset value. For more information on Alexandria, please visit www.are.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes "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. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the impact of Alexandria's facilities on the advancement of medicines and treatments; Alexandria's achievement of superior results, distinctive impact and lasting endurance; Alexandria's growth, sustained performance and generation of long-term total stockholder return; the impact of Alexandria's social responsibility initiatives, practices, investments and partnerships on societal issues; the likelihood of continued efforts by Alexandria with respect to such initiatives; and the ability of Alexandria to meet the needs of the life science industry. These forward-looking statements are based on Alexandria's present intent, beliefs or expectations, but forward-looking statements are not guaranteed to occur and may not occur. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in or implied by Alexandria's forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including, without limitation, the risks and uncertainties detailed in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and Alexandria assumes no obligation to update this information. For more discussion relating to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in Alexandria's forward-looking statements, and risks and uncertainties to Alexandria's business in general, please refer to Alexandria's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequently filed quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.

CONTACT: Sara Kabakoff, Senior Vice President  Chief Content Officer, (626) 788-5578, [email protected]

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SOURCE Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.
The license is exclusive for the territory of Japan and contains rights for future indications

Maruho is responsible for conducting and bearing costs for development in Japan , which will be conducted jointly with AOB Pharma as part of a Global Phase 3 Study for Atopic Dermatitis encompassing Japan , the US, and EU

The deal includes upfront payments, milestone payments and ongoing royalties.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. , Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- AOBiome Therapeutics Inc. ("AOB"), a leading clinical-stage microbiome company focusing on inflammatory conditions, announced today that is has entered into an exclusive license and development agreement with Maruho Co., Ltd., to develop and commercialize AOB's topical biologic B244 (currently preparing for global Phase 3 clinical trials), a therapeutic treatment for dermatological indications including Atopic Dermatitis, for both appearance and pruritus (itch). The license is for all indications treated by the B244 platform.

Under the license agreement, Maruho will commercialize the product exclusively in Japan . Based on the license agreement, AOB will supply the product to Maruho, and Maruho will make an upfront payment and may also make additional milestone payments depending on achievement of development and commercialization milestones. Maruho also has the rights to AOB's B244 for all additional indications including later stage programs related to inflammation.

"B244 offers an opportunity to extend our portfolio for the treatment of Atopic Dermatitis as well as other inflammatory indications. It's unique safety profile and efficacy will allow us to continue our leadership in treating Atopic Dermatitis while improving patients' lives. We look forward to continuing to develop the treatment in collaboration with AOB Pharma." says Atsushi Sugita , President and CEO of Maruho.

"We are excited to be partnering with Maruho as they are the leading dermatology player in Japan . We view this as validation of B244's potential to address unmet market needs, not just in Japan but globally. We could not have found a better collaborator as we develop our programs for Japanese patients. This model will serve as an example as we fill out our worldwide strategy." says AOBiome's President & CEO, Todd Krueger .

AOB is in the process of planning global Phase 3 studies for B244 in Atopic Dermatitis, for which it aims to start recruiting patients in the second half 2024. The Japanese portion of the Phase 3 trials will be run in Japan by Maruho.

About B244

AOB's B244 platform is a patented, proprietary, topical formulation. Once deployed, B244 produces nitric oxide, a signaling molecule known to regulate inflammation and vasodilation. B244 has been observed to be well-tolerated in clinical studies to date.

Additionally, recently published immunology data demonstrates that B244 can reduce the inflammatory and pruritic cytokines IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and IL-31. See full article at: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-93299-1 .

About AOB Therapeutics, Inc.

AOBiome Therapeutics Inc. is a Cambridge, MA -based life sciences company focused on transforming human health by developing topical therapeutics for inflammatory conditions. AOB is advancing a pipeline of multiple, clinical-stage therapeutic candidates. Learn more at AOBPharma.com.

About Maruho

Maruho Co., Ltd. has its head office in Osaka and leads Japan in research and development, manufacturing and commercialization of dermatological products. Founded in 1915, Maruho has 1,547 employees (as of the end of September 2022 ), and net sales were approximately 85.67 billion yen in its fiscal year ended September 30, 2022 . With the mission "More smiles, brighter life for you.", Maruho aims to help realize a society where everyone can live with a smile.

For more information, please visit https://www.maruho.co.jp/english/

Contacts:

For Media Inquiries:

Jim Hoffman

845-417-3487

[email protected]

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SOURCE AOBiome Therapeutics
It's a story Delawareans are all too familiar with. Airlines come to the Wilmington Airport with the promise of low-fare nonstop flights, only for routes to be canceled.

In late November, Avelo announced that certain routes were going to be seasonally suspended while its aircraft were undergoing maintenance.

And now Avelo has confirmed that more route adjustments are coming in the new year.

Some routes that were originally seasonally suspended are now unavailable out of Wilmington. Other routes that were once slated to come back in March now might not return until April. And the weekly frequencies of some flights were changed.

Passengers are sharing their frustrations on social media, along with concerns that Wilmington Airport's tumultuous commercial history may be repeating itself.

Christine Schaen and her husband have a second home in Daytona Beach. Avelo's flights gave the couple a respite from the grueling drive and the chaos of larger airports.

"I have been back and forth from ILG to DAB since June and have done it four times so far," Shaen said. "We were planning on spending time this winter down in DAB, and we do not want to have to go to any other airport. This is disappointing."

Despite the recent suspensions, Avelo is still facing unprecedented demand at the Wilmington Airport and recently surpassed 200,000 passengers served out of Wilmington, breaking the record set nearly a decade ago.

So, is this time different for ILG?

Avelo's new route adjustments

An Avelo Airlines plane sits at the Wilmington Airport waiting for passengers to board.

Courtney Goff, communications manager for Avelo Airlines, confirmed that the airline has decreased its schedule for roughly the first four months of 2024 to better match market demand.

Still seasonally suspended until April 30 are flights to Nashville, Tennessee; Daytona Beach, Florida; Wilmington, North Carolina; and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Flights to Wilmington, North Carolina, can be booked online starting May 3.

Routes that are no longer available out of the Wilmington Airport are Savannah, Georgia; Charleston, South Carolina; Greenville, South Carolina; and Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina.

Story continues

Flights to Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Fort Myers and Tampa in Florida have also undergone frequency reductions.

Fort Lauderdale: Tuesday flights are canceled Jan. 17-Feb. 6 and Feb. 21-April 30. Flights for Tuesday, Feb. 13, and Tuesday, Feb. 20, will still take off as scheduled. Flights will still take off Thursdays and Sundays.

Orlando: Tuesday flights Jan. 17-April 30 are canceled. Flights will still take place Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Saturday flights will be available until Feb. 10. And Sunday flights will begin Feb. 18.

Tampa: Tuesday flights Jan. 23-April 30 are canceled. Flights will still take place Sundays and Thursdays.

Fort Myers: Wednesday and Saturday flights are canceled from March 6-April 30. Flights will still take place Mondays and Fridays.

Flights to Orlando, Tampa and Sarasota will move to different days of the week from March 6 to April 30.

Orlando: Flights will move to Thursday and Sunday

Tampa: Flights will move to Thursday and Sunday

Sarasota: Flights will move to Wednesday and Saturday

ILG's turbulent history

The Wilmington Airport on U.S. 13 near New Castle

When Avelo first disclosed the suspensions, the company said routes would return in early to mid-March. Now, the dates have been tentatively pushed back to the end of April for the airline to keep up with demand.

Wilmington has seen this pattern a handful of times. Delta, Crown Airways and Skybus Airlines have all held brief stints at the Wilmington Airport.

More recently, Frontier Airlines left Wilmington Airport in 2015 after around two years. It was slated to return in 2020, but the pandemic upended many of the route possibilities. Its service officially ended in June 2022.

Before Avelo took over ILG operations, the terminal was primarily used for private aviation and flight training. Avelo Airlines is a relatively young airline. It launched in April 2021 and signed a five-year agreement with the Delaware River and Bay Authority in July of that same year.

ILG's future

Passengers at the check-in counter for Avelo Airlines' first flight from Wilmington to San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023.

While it may seem like ILG is undergoing a self-fulfilling prophecy, experts see no cause for concern.

Doug Banez, managing director of Hubpoint Strategic Advisors, a firm that advises DRBA on the Wilmington Airport, said that communication between the DRBA and Avelo Airlines is stronger than it has been with past airlines.

He chalks the route changes up to the dynamic nature of the airline industry, especially for smaller airlines and airports.

When youre in a market like Wilmington that has very little history of certain operations to different markets, the only way to understand if somethings going to work is to try it, Banez said. Whats happening at the Wilmington airport is really no different than whats happening at other airports. Theres just more of a magnifying glass on Wilmington because its a small airport.

Mike Boyd of Boyd Group International, an Aviation Forecasting and Consulting firm, said theres nothing to worry about. And if in the future the Wilmington Airport is once again a non-commercial airport, it will be no harm, no foul.

Dont expect Wilmington to be a major competitor for air traffic from Philadelphia, Boyd said. It just wont happen.

Courtney Goff with Avelo Airlines echoes these sentiments, saying customers should not be concerned with the possibility of Avelo leaving Delaware without a commercial airline.

"While there may be some changes and suspensions as we learn more about the area, Avelo is very much committed to staying at ILG," Goff said.

Advice for booking with Avelo

Passengers line up at the check-in counter for Avelo Airlines' first flight from Wilmington to San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023.

For now, the Wilmington Airport is still bustling with activity to its seven consistent destinations.

When it comes to booking future trips, maybe don't book six months in advance, but the flights should still be reliable to reserve. Stay posted with what routes are scheduled in and out of Wilmington.

Avelo Airlines allows customers to change or cancel flights up to 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time. Canceled reservations rack up a charge of $20 per seat. All canceled reservations are eligible for Avelo Travel Funds that can be used on future flights with Avelo.

If a trip is canceled within 24 hours of purchase and at least seven days before the scheduled departure, the trip will be completely refunded to the form of payment originally used. These transactions can be made online.

I think if youre going to bet on an airline, Avelo is as good as any, Boyd said.

Molly McVety covers community and environmental issues around Delaware. Contact her at mmcvety@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @mollymcvety.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: What to know about Avelo's route changes out of Wilmington Airport
CHARLOTTE, N.C. , Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As previously announced, Bank of America will report its fourth-quarter 2023 financial results on Friday, January 12 . The results will be released at approximately 6:45 a.m. ET , followed by an investor presentation at 11 a.m. ET .

The news release, supplemental filing and investor presentation can be accessed at Bank of America's Investor Relations website at https://investor.bankofamerica.com/quarterly-earnings.

Investor Conference Call Information

For a listen-only connection to the investor presentation, dial 1.877.200.4456 ( U.S. ) or 1.785.424.1732 (international). The conference ID is 79795. Please dial in 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. Investors can also listen to live audio of the conference call and view the presentation slides by visiting the "Events & Presentations" section of the company's Investor Relations website.

Replay information for Investor Conference Call

Investors can access replays of the conference call by visiting the Investor Relations website or by calling 1.800.934.4850 ( U.S. ) or 1.402.220.1178 (international) from noon on January 12 through 11:59 p.m. ET on January 22 .

Bank of America

Bank of America is one of the world's leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States , serving approximately 69 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 3,900 retail financial centers, approximately 15,000 ATMs (automated teller machines) and award-winning digital banking with approximately 57 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 4 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States , its territories and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BAC).

For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom and register for email news alerts.

www.bankofamerica.com

Investors May Contact:

Lee McEntire , Bank of America

Phone: 1.980.388.6780

[email protected]

Jonathan Blum , Bank of America (Fixed Income)

Phone: 1.212.449.3112

[email protected]

Reporters May Contact:

Bill Halldin , Bank of America

Phone: 1.916.724.0093

[email protected]

Christopher P. Feeney , Bank of America

Phone: 1.980.386.6794

[email protected]

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SOURCE Bank of America Corporation
Cambridge University Hospitals selects uPerform to scale its Epic education programme and further support proficiency.

ELKRIDGE, Md. , Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) based in Cambridge, England , is rolling out an innovative learning platform for its Electronic Patient Record (EPR) system, Epic. It has selected uPerform to support the onboarding and ongoing training experience for caregivers, ensuring its hospital staff (Epic users) have the resources needed to utilise the system to its fullest potential.

CUH is a family of hospitals, including Addenbrooke's and The Rosie, delivering expert care to over 4.5 million people locally, regionally and nationally as part of England's National Health Service (NHS). CUH was the first NHS trust to implement Epic in the United Kingdom and the first NHS trust to achieve HIMSS EMRAM Stage 7. With over 10,500 staff, CUH was seeking innovative ways to scale its Epic education programme to further support onboarding of new hires, continuous learning and skills optimisation for existing staff and new training for Epic upgrades. CUH selected uPerform to help caregivers become more proficient in their use of Epic by providing personalised, in-context Epic training materials at the point of need.

uPerform will also work to support CUH's Epic Thrive programme, further empowering its dedicated doctors, nurses and healthcare support staff with ongoing refresher and efficiency training.

CUH is the first NHS trust to join over three dozen leading health systems already using uPerform across the United States , the Netherlands and Finland . "It is a true privilege to have gained CUH's trust in strengthening its Epic education programme, and we eagerly anticipate many productive years of collaboration ahead," expressed Harm Mescher , Senior Vice President, Sales EMEA/APJ at uPerform. "This project marks our initial stride in introducing uPerform's established successes and advantages to NHS trusts throughout the United Kingdom ."

uPerform empowers healthcare providers to take their digital maturity to the next level by providing clinicians with fast and simple access to high quality EPR educational materials within the workflow, increasing user proficiency and satisfaction, while reducing burnout. Role-based, in-application learning at the point of care improves onboarding, reduces the time spent in the EPR system by reinforcing training, and decreases time spent in training so clinicians can spend more time on what matters most  their patients.

For more information on uPerform, visit https://www.uPerform.com.

About uPerform

uPerform is an AI-powered just-in-time training and support platform driving user adoption of the world's leading healthcare and business applications. Chosen by large health systems and global organisations, uPerform helps organisations realize the full value of their EPR, ERP and HCM software by accelerating onboarding, reducing screen time, and boosting proficiency and satisfaction. For more information on uPerform visit https://www.uperform.com/.

Media Contacts

Caitlin McVeigh-Gagnon

Senior Marketing Director

uPerform

[email protected]

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SOURCE uPerform
The lawsuit argues the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners appointment criteria is unconstitutional

RICHMOND, Va. , Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, medical watchdog Do No Harm filed a lawsuit against Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards due to unlawful racial mandates requiring the governor to exclude non-minority candidates for a certain number of positions of the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners.

The lawsuit, filed by the Pacific Legal Foundation on behalf of Do No Harm, alleges that the racial mandate is unconstitutional in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. Do No Harm seeks a permanent prohibitory injunction preventing Governor Edwards from enforcing or attempting to enforce the racial mandate.

"Choosing candidates to oversee the critical aspect of the state's medical field based on anything other than merit is corrosive to the mission and perception of the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners," said Dr. Stanley Goldfarb , Chairman of Do No Harm. "This type of discriminatory mandate is not only unconstitutional, but also reflects the politicization of healthcare that is dangerous for patients and physicians. Expertise should be the determining factor, and Louisiana must get rid of discriminatory practices to refocus on medical excellence."

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana Shreveport Division and can be viewed here.

Background

The Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners is comprised of ten members appointed by the governor.

is comprised of ten members appointed by the governor. In 2018, the legislature enacted a law requiring the governor to make every other newly appointed member for certain Board slots on the basis of race.

Given this racial mandate, four seats that require race-specific appointments will become available within the next two years.

Do No Harm's lawsuit says that qualified potential board appointees will not be given equal consideration for the seats that will come open, which is a violation of their Fourteenth Amendment protections.

Do No Harm, established in April 2022 , has rapidly gained recognition and made significant strides in its mission to safeguard healthcare from ideological threats. With more than 6,000 members, including doctors, nurses, physicians, and concerned citizens across all 50 states and in 14 countries, DNH has achieved more than 4,900 media hits in top-tier publications and garnered widespread attention through numerous broadcast news appearances.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/do-no-harm-sues-louisiana-governor-to-block-racial-discrimination-in-medical-board-appointments-302027276.html

SOURCE Do No Harm
CHAGRIN FALLS, Ohio , Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Foundation Investment Partners (FIP), a private equity firm based in Chagrin Falls, Ohio , is pleased to announce the sale of its investment in Miljoco Corporation (Miljoco), a leading designer, manufacturer, and distributor of a broad range of temperature and pressure management instruments for mission- control applications, to DwyerOmega, a portfolio company of Arcline Investment Management. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

By driving value creation, we were able to find the right partner for the next phase of the company's growth.

Founded in 1979 and based in Mount Clemens, Michigan , Miljoco is a leading designer, manufacturer, and distributor of a broad range of temperature and pressure measurement instruments utilized in critical life and safety, food safety, commercial indoor environmental quality (IEQ), and industrial applications. Miljoco's proprietary automated production and near-zero tolerance for failure have resulted in a well-earned reputation for quality, highly customizable products. Miljoco comprises two widely respected brands, Miljoco and Weiss, which date back to the founding of Weiss Instruments more than 140 years ago.

Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL) served as the exclusive financial advisor to Miljoco in the transaction.

FIP partnered with Howard Trerice , the founder of the business, to meet his transition and liquidity goals while providing a path forward for the business.

"A cornerstone of our investment strategy is partnering with retiring entrepreneurs to transition leadership, professionalize operations, and accelerate growth. We were able to successfully accomplish these strategies and generate an attractive return for our investors while providing our employees with a quality new partner," said David Wood , Managing Member of FIP.

Working with Trerice during diligence, FIP identified opportunities to enhance the operations of Miljoco by recruiting a new CEO and CFO, expanding the engineering and sales teams, and addressing key manufacturing constraints to double manufacturing throughput. By completing the add-on acquisition of Weiss Instruments in June of 2022, Miljoco expanded its customer base and end markets and improved operating leverage by consolidating manufacturing into a single location.

"We executed the FIP playbook of bolstering operations, pursuing sustainable growth, and providing tactical support, strategic guidance, and the financial resources necessary to be successful. By driving value creation, we were able to find the right partner for the next phase of the Company's growth while allowing us to share the appreciation of our investment with every employee of Miljoco," said Wood.

About Foundation Investment Partners

Foundation Investment Partners is a private equity firm focused on building companies that account for the well-being of our people, recognizing that the cared for and empowered are more likely to outperform. FIP focuses on investing in niche manufacturers, high value-added distributors, outsourced business service providers, and niche software developers with EBITDA levels of $1 million to $10 million . FIP's operating model focuses on embedding our team with the owners or operators of smaller businesses to provide the support, guidance, and resources necessary to grow the business.

For more information, please visit www.foundationpartners.net or contact David Wood .

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SOURCE Foundation Investment Partners
British businesswoman will advise the new airline regarding commercial strategy and passenger experience

Dabbs has created a beauty, self-care and wellness empire which is growing its footprint around the world.

Dabbs joins an Advisory Board which includes Chairman Kevin Billings OBE , Clare Harbord and Capt Ian Black .

LONDON, Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Margaret Dabbs OBE, founder of the eponymous London based, luxury wellness brand, Margaret Dabbs London , has been appointed to the Global Airlines Advisory Board.

As a leading British businesswoman, who was appointed OBE in the 2023 New Year Honours, Dabbs has grown her brand and product range globally and will now bring her extensive commercial and consumer experience to Global.

Working closely with CEO James Asquith and CCO Richard Stephenson, Dabbs will play a central role in the development of Global's partnerships, passenger experience and commercial strategy.

Since 2008, Dabbs' products and treatments have featured in some of London's most iconic department stores including Harrods and Liberty, and currently has nine clinics in the UK , a further four across Europe , the Middle East and soon to launch in the US.

Dabbs will also bring her knowledge and sought-after luxury product range to the airline enhancing the onboard passenger experience across all cabins.

Margaret Dabbs OBE said this of her appointment,

"The story of my company proves that if you see a gap in the market and produce exceptional products and services then it is possible to disrupt the market. I see a lot of parallels between Global Airlines and my company, and I am thrilled to be joining, as I can see scope to offer passengers a better experience when they fly.

"I believe Global Airlines has an opportunity to not only showcase a range of luxury brands, from established to breakthrough, but also innovate in terms of how an experience can continue beyond the flight. I look forward to working with the team on the future strategy, to enhance the experience of airline travel and play a part in the future success of Global Airlines."

James Asquith , Global Airlines CEO, said, "2024 will be a huge year for our airline and it's fantastic that Margaret's appointment to the Advisory Board is our first major announcement of the year; it's further evidence of the laser focus this airline will have on offering the best way to fly which will be greatly enhanced by Margaret's experience.

"Margaret's business acumen is well known and rightly lauded, she will be an asset in a whole host of ways as a member of our Advisory Board and a key adviser to the senior leadership team. We will always strive for the highest standards across all aspects of our operations from safety to passenger experience, and our growing team of experts puts us in good stead to achieve our ambitious plans."

Notes to Editors

More information on Margaret Dabbs OBE and Margaret Dabbs London can be found here:

https://www.margaretdabbs.co.uk/

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2311217/Margaret_Dabbs.jpg

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SOURCE Global Airlines
BEIJING , Jan. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Two adorable photos of Yangtze finless porpoises have been serving as 56-year-old Liu Chenglin's WeChat profile picture, who has worked as a Yangtze River patrol officer, for the last five years.

The pictures were taken in 2019 during a patrol training session in Yichang, Central China's Hubei Province . The need to protect the Yangtze finless porpoises has long been Liu's belief.

"When I was young, I used to go fishing with my father in the Yangtze River . Back then, the Yangtze finless porpoises would chase after our boat, riding the waves with us," Liu recalled nostalgically.

"But as time went on, it became increasingly difficult to catch fish in the river. The Yangtze finless porpoises rely on small fish for food, and as fish populations declined, the finless porpoises gradually disappeared," Liu sighed, noting that after the year of 2000, the fishery resources in the Yangtze River became scarce.

"By 2010, it was difficult to make a living solely through fishing," Liu told the Global Times.

The Yangtze finless porpoise is a nationally protected wild animal and one of the 13 flagship species identified by the World Wildlife Fund. It plays a crucial role in assessing the ecological status of the Yangtze River ecosystem.

In the past, the ecological environment of the Yangtze River suffered severe damage due to overfishing and other intensive human activities. Before 2015, only 2 to 3 members of the species remained in the Yichang section of the Yangtze River . In 2018, data released by China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs showed that there were only about 1,012 finless porpoises left in the Yangtze River .

Now, Liu is thrilled to witness the return of the finless porpoises, riding the waves alongside his boat just as before, and their numbers are increasing.

"The Yangtze finless porpoises are the mascots of Yichang! And I have taken on a new role to protect them," Liu said with delight.

On January 1, 2018 , the Yichang Chinese Sturgeon Protection Zone became the first to implement a comprehensive ban on fishing, with all fishermen being resettled and transitioned into other occupations.

In June of the same year, Yichang established an assistance patrol team. Liu, who had been a licensed fisherman since 1995, became one of the first members of the patrol team.

"At that time, there were over 200 retired fishermen in our district, but only six patrol officers were chosen. I told myself that I had to work hard to pass the exam and be selected. I wanted to work on the river, but I also wanted to transform from being a 'fisherman' to a 'fish protector,'" said Liu.

Yichang is located in the central and upper parts of the Yangtze River and plays a crucial role in protecting the river's ecosystem. The fishing resources are incredibly abundant, which makes it tempting for illegal fishermen and poses challenges in enforcing the ban.

"When I first became a patrol officer, some friends thought I was doing a job that would make people discontent," Liu recalled.

In the early days of the patrol team, fishermen could still be seen using electric nets or multiple fishing rods and hooks along the Yangtze River . Initially, it was difficult to cooperate with law enforcement and convince those engaged in illegal fishing to stop. The patrol officers faced verbal abuse, and Liu even had his face scratched by a fish hook during a confrontation with fishermen.

"But our team is very united. We know where illegal fishing incidents are likely to happen. Our work can be seen as giving back to the Yangtze River using the skills we learned from her," Liu said.

On January 1, 2021 , a decade-long comprehensive fishing ban officially began in the mainstream of the Yangtze River and important tributaries. This led to 110,000 fishing boats and 231,000 fishermen retiring and going ashore, leading to a complete transformation of the economic and social development of the Yangtze River Basin toward a greener future.

With the progress of Yangtze River conservation efforts, especially the implementation of the 10-year fishing ban, the concept of ecological civilization has deeply rooted itself in the hearts of the Chinese people as Liu found his job to be increasingly easier and more enjoyable now.

"In the past, many fishermen weren't well educated, and were unaware of the significant impact of illegal fishing methods like electric fishing, poisoning, and blasting. But after raising awareness, their environmental consciousness has been enhanced. Some even created banners and videos voluntarily to promote the fishing ban on the internet," he said.

Now, "See you at the dock" has become the enthusiastic slogan for Liu and his team members. The section of the Yangtze River in Yichang, which Liu patrols, is an important habitat for the Yangtze finless porpoise and a core protection area for Chinese sturgeons. He often takes a speedboat to observe the Yangtze finless porpoises and other precious animals that frequently appear in the Yangtze River . "At first, I could remember each individual, but as there are more Yangtze finless porpoises, and it's not easy for me to determine which is which," Liu shared.

According to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, as of July 2023 , more than 700 assisting patrol teams have been established in the entire Yangtze River Basin , with over 25,000 assisting patrol officers.

"Our power may be small, but we are determined and confident in our mission to protect the Yangtze River . We firmly believe that in the future, the mountains along our Mother River will be greener, the water will be more beautiful, and people and nature will coexist in harmony," Liu said.

'Smiling angel' becomes internet celebrity

For Jiang Meng , secretary-general of the Nanjing Finless Porpoise and Aquatic Life Conservation Association (NFPALCA), the happiest thing to do every day is to take a walk along the Yangtze River in Nanjing . The autumn and winter seasons are the best time to observe the Yangtze finless porpoise. With careful observation, people can always capture the graceful arcs of the animal's dark and agile bodies leaping out of the river.

In December 2023 , Jiang launched the "Yangtze Finless Porpoise Diary" column on his WeChat video account, recording daily encounters with the Yangtze finless porpoise and sharing them with netizens.

Jiang is fascinated by the Yangtze finless porpoises because their mouths naturally curve upward, giving them a healing smiling appearance. The popularity of the finless porpoise on social media platforms is a source of great pride for him as it indicates that these "smiling angels" have become "internet celebrities."

On September 26, 2023 , the Nanjing Ecological Environment Protection and Education Center, in collaboration with the NFPALCA, launched the "Finding Smiles in the Yangtze River " live broadcast, which attracted nearly 50,000 netizens across the country. In the live chat, netizens asked questions about the differences between the Yangtze finless porpoise and a dolphin and the purpose of the porpoise's "bowing to the wind."

Jiang cherishes every encounter with the Yangtze finless porpoise and appreciates the enthusiasm of netizens for the animal. He told the Global Times that his greatest wish is for these "smiling angels" to always be good companions for the Chinese people and "share the lucid waters and lush mountains" with us.

However, for a long time, Jiang had been living in constant worry. In 2007, when he heard the news of the functional extinction of white-flag dolphins, he realized, for the first time, that "the Yangtze River was sick." A few years later, when he heard that there was a pod of "smiling angels" in the Yangtze River in imminent danger, he was unable to sit idly by. "I must do something for the Yangtze River!"

With this personal call to action, over the last decade, Jiang and the association's experts and volunteers have held over a hundred science lectures and activities annually, and have created a venue for people to learn about the Yangtze finless porpoise and other aquatic species in the river.

Through these efforts, more and more people have come to understand the importance and urgency of jointly protecting the Yangtze finless porpoise and the Yangtze River ecosystem. More people have also been inspired to join the association.

On September 19, 2022 , the fourth scientific investigation of the Yangtze finless porpoise in the entire Yangtze River basin was launched in Nanjing , East China's Jiangsu Province , with Jiang as a member of the scientific investigation team.

For him, this was not only an investigation of the current status of the Yangtze finless porpoise, but also an assessment of his decade of guardianship.

"On September 25  the seventh day of the investigation  we discovered the presence of the Yangtze finless porpoise throughout the route, from Yangzhou Sanjiangying, through the Zhenjiang conservation area, to the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge ," said Jiang, when he realized that his efforts had borne fruit.

In recent years, with the advancement of the Yangtze River conservation initiative, the playful glee of the Yangtze finless porpoise has been witnessed more frequently in the Nanjing section of the Yangtze River .

According to the latest survey on the resources of the Nanjing Yangtze finless porpoise provincial nature reserve released by the Nanjing Greening and Landscaping Bureau, as of March 2023 , the number of the Yangtze finless porpoises in Nanjing was stable and showed an increasing trend, with a population of about 62, making it one of the sections with the highest density of Yangtze finless porpoises.

Currently, Jiang's association has nearly 30 staff members who are working together with local departments to promote Yangtze finless porpoise culture. "We hope to maximize the ecological and cultural value of the Yangtze finless porpoise, making the species a green engine that supports the high-quality development of Nanjing and the Yangtze River Economic Belt."

China solution draws global attention

On the Yangtze River , fishermen are now protectors of fish, epitomizing China's ecological and environmental protection efforts. In recent decades, especially the last decade, similar stories have unfolded across China  loggers have become forest rangers and firefighters; herdsmen have swapped hunting rifles for binoculars and telephoto lenses to observe and protect wildlife; villagers who once lived by logging and exploiting mountain resources now reap ecological benefits, with a true understanding of why "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets," and willingly protecting their homeland.

The Chinese path to modernization is the modernization of harmony between humanity and nature. Respecting, conforming to, and protecting nature are inherent requirements in building a comprehensively modern socialist country.

Over the last decade, China has revised and enacted 13 laws and 17 administrative regulations on air, water, and soil pollution prevention; dozens of ecological civilization construction reform plans were also introduced.

China's efforts in ecological and environmental protection are not only crucial for its sustainable development but also provide valuable experience and insight for global ecological and environmental protection. China's practice shows that through government guidance, technological innovation, and public participation, environmental protection and sustainable development can be effectively promoted.

Erik Solheim , former under-secretary-general of the United Nations and former executive director of the UN Environment Program, told the Global Times, in an exclusive interview, that he used to recommend countries seeking environmental protection solutions to visit European cities like Brussels , Paris , and Berlin . However, he now advises them to look toward Chinese cities such as Beijing , Shenzhen , and Hangzhou .

"It is clear to everyone that China is the absolute world leader (in this transition). Between 60 and 80 percent of all renewable technologies are now happening in China alone, including solar, wind, hydropower, electric cars, buses, trains, batteries" he said.

" China has at least 80 percent of the global market share in solar manufacturing capacity. The rest of the world needs to get up very early in the morning if they want to compete," he noted.

Fred Krupp , president of the Environmental Defense Fund, also praised China's significant contributions to environmental protection and climate change in a previous interview with the Global Times. He noted that China's leading position in these areas has created a "race to the top" competition toward higher standards, which is beneficial to environmental protection work.

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202401/1304814.shtml

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SOURCE Global Times
With this industry-leading achievement, Green Hills extends its proven pedigree of safe and secure foundational software for connected Software-Defined Vehicles (SDV)

LAS VEGAS , Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Green Hills Software, the worldwide leader in embedded safety and security, today announced it has received compliance certification against the important ISO/SAE 21434 automotive cybersecurity standard. As a leading supplier of safe and secure real-time operating systems, Green Hills is the first to receive the certificate, issued by the globally-recognized certification company exida. The certificate reaffirms Green Hills Software's leadership in supporting global vehicle manufacturers' (OEM) efforts to meet the requirements of the UNECE WP.29 R155 regulation and incorporate security measures across their development, production, and post-production processes. This certification builds on Green Hills Software's existing OEM relationships for designing and securing connected software-defined vehicles, including automated driving, integrated cockpits, zonal and domain controllers, vehicle gateways, telematics, keyless entry, diagnostic systems, electric vehicle charging systems and more.

The importance of support for this global automotive cybersecurity standard will grow substantially in the near future as EU countries, Japan , and Korea mandate automotive cybersecurity regulation for new vehicle launches in CY2024, with other countries expected to follow.

"exida commends Green Hills Software's continued efforts to deliver certified solutions and services for automotive cybersecurity," said Mike Medoff , Director of Certification at exida. "With this compliance certificate for ISO/SAE 21434 Road Vehicles  Cybersecurity Engineering, Green Hills has demonstrated that they have a process in place that addresses security throughout the development lifecycle to deliver products that are secure by design. Green Hills continues to be a leader in the embedded industry when it comes to delivering safe and secure platforms software for vehicle electronics."

Automotive cybersecurity is a crucial component of automotive safety. For decades, Green Hills has been the recognized industry leader for helping electronics manufacturers create and deploy embedded systems at the highest levels of safety and security, through its unmatched industry experience coupled with real-time operating systems, development tools and compilers that provide security through the principles of separation, least privilege, and cryptography. The ISO/SAE 21434 certification adds another crucial security capability that Green Hills offers to automotive OEMs and their suppliers.

"As a global leader in embedded software for the automotive market with the broadest portfolio of safety and security certified software solutions, Green Hills is excited to expand its offerings with this industry-first ISO/SAE 21424 cybersecurity certification," said Dan Mender , Vice President, Business Development, Green Hills Software. "This certification shows that Green Hills is best positioned to support automotive OEMs and their suppliers to achieve this globally-adopted cybersecurity standard in their products and processes."

Contact your local Green Hills sales office to learn more about how Green Hills can help your company navigate this ISO/SAE 21434 requirement.

Green Hills will be demonstrating its safety, security, and productivity solutions at CES 2024 in Las Vegas , January 9-12 , in Booth #6601, West Hall, Las Vegas Convention Center .

About Green Hills Software

Founded in 1982, Green Hills Software is the worldwide leader in embedded safety and security. In 2008, the Green Hills INTEGRITY-178 RTOS was the first and only operating system to be certified by NIAP (National Information Assurance Partnership comprised of NSA & NIST) to EAL 6+, High Robustness, the highest level of security ever achieved for any software product. Our open architecture integrated development solutions address deeply embedded, absolute security and high-reliability applications for the military/avionics, medical, industrial, automotive, networking, consumer and other markets that demand industry-certified solutions. Green Hills Software is headquartered in Santa Barbara, California , with European headquarters in the United Kingdom . Visit Green Hills Software at https://www.ghs.com.

Green Hills, the Green Hills logo, and INTEGRITY are trademarks or registered trademarks of Green Hills Software in the U.S. and/or internationally. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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SOURCE Green Hills Software
HONG KONG , Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), in partnership with Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks (HKSTP) and the Hong Kong Electronic Industries Association (HKEIA) Ltd, is delighted to announce the strong comeback of the Hong Kong delegation at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2024. Showcasing Hong Kong's innovation and technological prowess, a remarkable assembly of 33 exhibitors will populate the Hong Kong Tech Pavilions at Design & Source and Eureka Park .

CES 2024, running from January 9 to 12 in Las Vegas , stands as the world's largest consumer electronics show, attracting top tech companies from across the globe. With an impressive lineup of 5,000 exhibitors and over 180,000 expected participants, including top-level executives, CES sets the stage for the latest industry trends. The event will also garner the attention of nearly 7,000 media representatives, ensuring extensive coverage and in-depth analysis of emerging tech trends.

As one of the world's biggest exporters of electronic goods, Hong Kong has long had a presence at CES. In fact, ours was the first-ever international pavilion and we have been a keen supporter of the show for more than 40 years. This year's CES 2024 marks the much-awaited return of the full physical exhibition following the pandemic. The overwhelming industry demand for joining the show is the proof of market resilience and Hong Kong's competitiveness in the global context. The participation of numerous Hong Kong SMEs and start-ups, showcasing their latest products and solutions at this significant global exhibition, serves as a testament to their remarkable potential, solidifying Hong Kong's position as a pivotal innovation powerhouse in Asia .

To facilitate SMEs in exploring global market opportunities, HKTDC will lead 13 Hong Kong companies to showcase their innovative products and technologies at the Design & Source in Westgate. These exhibitors will present a diverse range of offerings, including health monitoring wearables, smart living products, high-tech home appliances, car audio electronics, transmitter batteries, smart speakers for hearing impaired, cutting-edge Wrt-based networking devices, electric scooters, etc.

One prominent participant, Nano and Advanced Materials Institute (NAMI), a regular exhibitor of Hong Kong pavilion in CES since 2018, has been honored 27 prestigious "R&D 100 Awards" (known as "the Oscars of Invention") for its pioneering research in nano and advanced materials. In CES 2024, NAMI's "Wrinkleless TriClarity nScreen" has been named Innovation Awards Honoree under the category of Mobile Devices, Accessories & Apps. It is the sixth consecutive year NAMI wins the privileged awards, adding up to a total of 11 Innovation Awards from CES since 2019.

Making their debut at the Design and Source at CES, two exhibitors are poised to make a lasting impression. Leading the way is the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI), a dedicated force in applied research with core R&D competence in Trust and AI Technologies, Communication Technologies, IoT Sensing and AI Technologies, as well as Integrated Circuits and Systems. Alongside is Paraverse Technology which aims to revolutionize the industry with their decentralized real-time cloud rendering platform and Web3 transaction platform specifically tailored for XR applications and 3D digital assets.

Hong Kong has a vibrant startup ecosystem and its growth momentum continued in 2023 despite various external challenges. To feature and demonstrate Hong Kong's outstanding R&D strengths and potentials in innovation and technology sector, 20 start-ups will exhibit in Hong Kong Tech pavilion at Eureka Park , showcasing a diverse range of achievements across four innovative sectors: AI and Data, Advanced Manufacturing, Life & Health, and Sustainability. Eureka Park , situated in Venetian Expo, is the global stage for future-forward innovations and the most sought-after location at CES packed with investors and global media.

Among the 20 Hong Kong start-ups showcasing at Eureka Park , two companies, AI Guided and Sitan Semiconductor International, have received prestigious "CES Innovation Awards" at CES 2024. AI Guided Ltd. was recognised in the "Accessibility and Aging Tech" category for its groundbreaking "GUIDi Smart Belt," while Sitan Semiconductor International was honored in the "XR Technologies and Accessories" category for its exceptional "0.13" micro-LED Display Module."

HKTDC's initiative to lead the Hong Kong delegation at CES demonstrates its commitment to facilitating business opportunities for Hong Kong companies. The delegation will not only gain invaluable insights into the latest tech innovative trends, but also pave the way for exciting collaborations, propelling Hong Kong's position as a trailblazer in the global tech arena.

About HKTDC

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions , conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels . For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus . Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn

Appendix 1:

Exhibitors of HK Tech pavilions awarded CES 2024 Innovation Awards:

Company Name Category Product Nano and Advanced Materials Institute (NAMI) Mobile Devices, Accessories & Apps Wrinkleless TriClarity nScreen Product Description: NAMI's Wrinkleless TriClarity nScreen is a wrinkle-free, flexible, and high-contrast display that makes the world's only collapsible, large-size, and portable display/TV possible. The display/TV with this screen shows the 24-inch diagonal image with 2k high resolution that seamlessly expands and folds away in just seconds. The whole display/TV can be collapsed down to the size and weight of a book. AI Guided Limited Accessibility & Aging Tech GUIDi Product Description: GUIDi is an AI smart belt empowering the visually impaired by implementing MEMS and AI technology to wearable devices. We help users achieve their personal and highly intelligent navigation system independent of the internet or GPS. The device works with dual wide-angle cameras, a customized edge AI module with sensor integration, a haptic navigation system, and voice command. The accompanying mobile app allows convenience by featuring voice command support and over-the-air updates, ensuring continuous improvement and cutting-edge functionality. Goodbye to limitations and hello to freedom as GUIDi empowers the visually impaired with a seamless navigation experience in any environment. Sitan Semiconductor International Co. Limited XR Technologies & Accessories 0.13'' Micro LED Display Module Product Description: Sitan's 0.13'' 1024*768 Micro-LED Display Module features ultra-high pixel density (10000ppi). With the inherent advantages of high brightness, long lifetime, and high efficiency of micro-LEDs, it is the best choice for display units of AR/XR products.

Appendix 2:

The 13 SMEs in the "Hong Kong Tech" at Design and Source, Westgate of CES 2024

No. Company Name Booth No. 1 Amosola Limited 2008 2 Aquarius Industrial ( Hong Kong ) Limited 2010 3 Cellatti Limited 1909 4 Crown Style Holdings Limited 1903 5 GL Technologies ( Hong Kong ) Limited 1911 6 Golden Power Corporation ( Hong Kong ) Limited 2519 7 Golden Victory Corporation Limited 2004 8 Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Co. Ltd. (ASTRI) 1905 9 King Profit Trading Limited 2006 10 Maxim Company (H.K.) Limited 1901 11 Nano and Advanced Materials Institute Limited 2000, 2002 12 Paraverse Technology Limited 1907 13 Timely Products Company Limited 2521

The 20 Hong Kong start-ups in " Hong Kong Tech" at Eureka Park of CES 2024 (Booth no. 63400, Hall G, level 1, Venetian Expo):

No. Company Name Categories 1 Atom Semiconductor Technologies Limited Advanced Manufacturing 2 AI Guided Limited Life & Health 3 Aura Circle Limited Life & Health 4 Big Bang Academy AI & Data 5 D-Engraver Limited AI & Data 6 Direct Drive Technology Limited Advanced Manufacturing 7 Doctech HK Limited Advanced Manufacturing 8 Film Players Limited Sustainability 9 HairCoSys Limited Life & Health 10 Invisible & Innovative Technology Co Ltd Sustainability 11 Mangdang Technology Co., Limited AI & Data 12 Novelte Robotics Ltd Sustainability 13 Raysolve Technology Company Limited Advanced Manufacturing 14 Scan the World Limited AI & Data 15 Sitan Semiconductor International Co. Limited Advanced Manufacturing 16 Syngular Technology Limited Life & Health 17 Talos Innovation Limited Life & Health 18 Watts Optical Instruments Ltd. Advanced Manufacturing 19 XOXO Beverages Limited Sustainability 20 Zoo Gears Limited Life & Health

Click here for more details about our booth at: https://ces24.mapyourshow.com/8_0/exhibitor/exhibitor-details.cfm?exhid=0013000001KaMKhAAN.

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SOURCE Hong Kong Tech
Intellias elevates its automotive and mobility expertise with in-demand platforms and tools by partnering with BlackBerry

CHICAGO , Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Intellias, a leading software engineering partner to automotive OEMs and mobility solution providers, today announced a technology partnership with BlackBerry Limited. Under the new partnership, Intellias will become a domain expert for integrating the BlackBerry IVY connected vehicle data platform into its clients' automotive reference designs, enabling the rapid creation of exceptional in-vehicle experiences for consumers and enterprises alike.

BlackBerry IVY is hardware agnostic, based on industry standards and provides ready-made software development kits (SDKs) and application programming interfaces (APIs) for simple services integration at the vehicle edge. By integrating and using IVY, Intellias will be able to streamline the software development and testing process for its clients. Coupling this with integration tools and easy-to-use operational workflows, Intellias will be able to deliver cutting-edge customer software solutions, keeping pace with the evolving mobility landscape.

"Our partnership with Intellias will ensure that the auto industry can access BlackBerry IVY through a world class system integrator. It will provide our mutual customers with software development scale and agility, allowing them to efficiently harness the power of in-vehicle data to create innovative mobility service and applications. This, in turn, introduces a raft of exciting new business opportunities for the automotive industry."

Vito Giallorenzo , Senior Vice President & General Manager, BlackBerry IVY.

The first step of the collaboration is to integrate BlackBerry IVY into the new version of the Intellias Automotive Portable Kit (IntelliKit 2.0), a fully functional digital cockpit prototype that showcases the seamless integration of diverse hardware and software components using modern frameworks and tools. The latest IntelliKit 2.0 is based on Qualcomm SA8295P 4th generation Snapdragon Automotive Cockpit Platform with integration of Rightware's Kanzi One HMI kit and BlackBerry IVY connected vehicle data platform.

Integration with the BlackBerry IVY platform and application of its abstraction levels enable Intellias to use a wide range of hardware and frameworks in IntelliKit 2.0.

All updates and improvements could be performed without rewriting core programs or any significant changes in the architecture thanks to IVY functionality, which enables simplified, flexible, and future-proof integration with a wide range of hardware and third-party tools.

"Our partnership with BlackBerry is a strategic move towards enhancing the automotive experience of our partners and customers. We're accessing an ecosystem that unlocks real-time vehicle insights, creating opportunities for unprecedented in-vehicle services and innovations. On top of that, BlackBerry IVY as a platform allows to standardize hardware abstraction level API and enables SDV features using advanced IVY infrastructure. Together with BlackBerry, we're not only looking to the future of automotive software solutions - we're actively defining it."

Sergii Shcherbakov , Delivery Director, Head of Embedded and Automotive Unit at Intellias

Intellias values the opportunity to become a core part of the BlackBerry partner ecosystem.

Application of the BlackBerry IVY platform will enable Intellias to provide up-to-date services to automakers and Tier 1 suppliers by harnessing the power of vehicle data. By utilizing the Connected Vehicle Systems Alliance (COVESA) vehicle signal specification (VSS) data standardization model already widely adopted by OEMs, BlackBerry IVY optimizes data processing across diverse in-vehicle systems at the vehicle edge. This results in faster and more effective innovation, creating new data-based services for automotive and mobility clients, reducing operational costs of development, and introducing new business models. This partnership is a crucial step for Intellias in creating cutting-edge solutions for connected vehicles and autonomous driving.

"Our partnership with BlackBerry is a significant milestone. BlackBerry IVY, a transformative in-vehicle software platform, empowers us to innovate faster by standardizing and processing vehicle data. It reduces costs, introduces new business models, and streamlines development with a comprehensive SDK, reaffirming our commitment to delivering innovative solutions to our clients."

Adam Konopa , Mobility Digital Technology Director at Intellias

In January 2024 , Intellias will present its all-new version of the IntelliKit 2.0 at CES 2024 featuring Qualcomm hardware and powered by innovative technologies from our partners: the BlackBerry IVY connected vehicle data platform and Rightware with their Kanzi One HMI all-in-one toolchain. Starting with the integration of the BlackBerry IVY platform into IntelliKit 2.0, Intellias plans to use the full capabilities of edge computing that allow minimizing data transfer to the cloud. In the future, Intellias will utilize BlackBerry IVY in industry-wide use cases for comfort and infotainment systems, in-vehicle security and ADAS feature development.

About Intellias

Intellias is a global technology partner with over 20 years of experience delivering product engineering and consulting services to Fortune 500 companies. Leading automotive OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, transportation and mobility service providers, including HERE Technologies, Elmos, JOYNEXT, TomTom, DKV, and Rand McNally , rely on Intellias to co-create custom solutions and digitally transform their businesses.

Intellias answers mobility challenges with deep expertise in connectivity, infotainment systems, autonomous driving, eMobility, and intelligent transportation proven by the highest industry certifications (ASPICE and TISAX), global partnerships (Rightware, BlackBerry, Renesas, AWS), and collaboration on standards (COVESA, AUTOSAR, NDS). Recognized by Frost & Sullivan with the 2023 Global Enabling Technology Leadership Award, and further distinguished by the PMO Global Alliance for having the best Project Management Office in Europe , Intellias continues to contribute to the future of automotive and mobility software solutions.

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SOURCE Intellias
Brings Specialty Eye Care to Ormond Beach, FL

ORMOND BEACH, Fla. , Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Florida Eye Specialists , the largest eye practice in North Florida , and International Eye Associates , a trusted Ormond Beach practice of over 20 years, have joined forces to improve access to specialty eye care in the Ormond Beach area. With this partnership, International Eye Associates and its team will join the Florida Eye Specialists network, marking the practice's first office in the area.

Committed to excellence in eye care, International Eye Associates brings together a team of dedicated doctors and staff led by fellowship-trained ophthalmologists Samantha N. Habhab , MD , and Kenzo J. Koike , MD . Both are distinguished in their fields and bring a wealth of expertise to the Ormond Beach community.

International Eye Associates will serve as one of the area's premier ophthalmic treatment, research, and education centers. The office offers a comprehensive range of eye care services, including cataracts, cornea, dry eye, glaucoma, and general ophthalmology.

Dr. Koike , a board-certified, fellowship-trained ophthalmologist, focuses on the cornea, complex cataracts, and glaucoma. He remains at the forefront of technological advancements and actively engages in local and international eye care missions.

Dr. Habhab , a fellowship-trained ophthalmologist, specializes in general eye care, cornea, cataract, and refractive surgery. She is actively involved in professional societies like the American Academy of Ophthalmology and brings compassionate, patient-centered care to the practice.

CEO and managing partner Rajesh K. Shetty , MD is optimistic about this new addition to the Florida Eye Specialists network.

"This expansion marks a significant milestone for Florida Eye Specialists, reflecting our commitment to providing exceptional eye care to communities across Florida ," said Dr. Shetty . "The partnership with International Eye Associates is a testament to our continuous growth and progress, ensuring we can meet the diverse patient eye care needs in Ormond Beach and beyond."

To make an appointment, patients can call (386) 673-3939 or visit InternationalEye.com.

About International Eye Associates

International Eye Associates , part of the Florida Eye Specialists network, is a state-of-the-art eye care center in Ormond Beach, FL , dedicated to providing excellence in eye care. Led by fellowship-trained ophthalmologists Samantha N. Habhab , MD, and Kenzo J. Koike , MD, the clinic offers premier treatments and compassionate care in various eye care specialties, including cataracts, glaucoma, dry eye, and more.

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SOURCE Florida Eye Specialists
FILE - Mukhtar Babayev, Azerbaijan ecology and natural resources minister, attends a plenary stocktaking session at the COP28 U.N. Climate Summit, Monday, Dec. 11, 2023, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Babayev has been named to lead the United Nations' annual climate talks later this year, prompting concern from some climate activists over his former ties to the state oil company in a major oil-producing nation.(AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Azerbaijan's ecology minister has been named to lead the United Nations' annual climate talks later this year, prompting concern from some climate activists over his former ties to the state oil company in a major oil-producing nation.

Mukhtar Babayev's appointment was announced on X by the United Arab Emirates, which hosted the climate talks that just ended in December, and confirmed Friday by the United Nations. Officials in Azerbaijan did not immediately respond to messages seeking to confirm the appointment.

Babayev, 56, has been his country's minister for ecology and natural resources since 2018. Before that, he worked at Azerbaijan's state oil company for more than two decades.

Similar concerns dogged Sultan al-Jaber, the head of the UAE's national oil company, as he presided over the talks in Dubai known as COP28. The COP president is responsible for running talks and getting nearly 200 countries to agree on a deal to help limit global warming, and skeptics questioned whether al-Jaber would be willing to confront the fossil fuels causing climate change.

The conference ultimately resulted in a final agreement that for the first time mentioned fossil fuels as the cause of climate change and acknowledged the need to transition away from them, but it had no concrete requirements to do so.

Oil and natural gas bring in around 90% of Azerbaijans export revenues and finance around 60% of the government budget, according to the International Energy Agency. Climate activists said the country needs to look past its own fossil fuel interests if it's going to host successful talks.

Mohamad Adow of climate think tank Power Shift Africa said its concerning to be once again having the worlds climate negotiations coordinated by a petrostate that has a big interest in oil and gas production." But he was hopeful that climate negotiators could be successful in Azerbaijans capital Baku as the COP in Dubai resulted in an outcome more positive than many expected.

Story continues

Hes got a huge job to do," said Adow. "He needs to start working on getting rich countries to deliver serious, long-term finance that will tackle the climate crisis.

Harjeet Singh, global engagement director for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, said that with another petrostate hosting the climate conference, our concerns multiply."

Babayev "must transcend the vested interests of the powerful fossil fuel industry that is primarily responsible for the climate crisis," Singh said.

Melanie Robinson, global director for the climate program at World Resources Institute, didn't comment directly on Babayev but said stakes will be high in Azerbaijan, where nations will tackle issues including how to finance climate change adaptation and mitigation around the world, particularly in poorer countries.

As with all presidencies, the world will be looking to Azerbaijan to fairly facilitate the most ambitious outcome possible, she said.

The United Nations moves the talks around the world with different regions taking turns. They're typically announced two years in advance, but the decision to hold 2024 talks in Azerbaijan came just 11 months before the negotiations are supposed to start.

That was due to a longtime standoff between Eastern European nations, the region designated to host in 2024. A prisoner swap between Azerbaijan and Armenia in early December led to Armenia supporting Azerbaijan's COP29 bid.

___

Associated Press science writer Seth Borenstein in Washington and freelance journalist Aida Sultanova in London contributed.

___

The Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
LAS VEGAS , Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Jackery, a global leader in innovative portable power and outdoor energy solutions, proudly announces its much-anticipated presence at the prestigious Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2024. With great excitement, Jackery invites attendees to witness the debut of two groundbreaking products: the Solar Generator Mars Bot, the Jackery Solar Generator for Rooftop Tent and showcase of complete Plus series.

New Product Highlights:

The Solar Generator Mars Bot emerges as an epitome of sustainable technology, merging cutting-edge robotics with solar energy innovation. This futuristic outdoor companion redefines the boundaries of portable energy solutions, boasting an array of intelligent features designed to enhance outdoor experiences. Whether it's adventure, exploration, home back-up or rescue scenario, the Solar Generator Mars Bot promises to elevate every moment.

Additionally, the Jackery Solar Generator for Rooftop Tents marks a new era in off-grid living. Compact yet powerful, this innovative product harnesses solar energy efficiently, catering to essential power needs for outdoor enthusiasts. With seamless integration and reliability, it empowers individuals to embrace off-grid adventures without compromising on comfort or convenience.

Powerful Existing Product Line:

Jackery continues to push the boundaries of innovation with the showcase of the Plus series. This lineup includes the Solar Generator 2000 Plus, Solar Generator 1000 Plus, Solar Generator 300 Plus, and Explorer 100 Plus, representing a diverse range of portable power solutions with different capacity levels. These additions further solidify Jackery's commitment to providing versatile and reliable energy sources for a multitude of lifestyles and purposes.

Strength in Innovation and Legacy:

The introduction of these groundbreaking innovations underscores Jackery's unwavering dedication to pioneering portable power technology. As Jackery commemorated its 11th anniversary in 2023, it reflects on its journey of continuous evolution and innovation. From humble beginnings to becoming a global leader, Jackery remains steadfast in its mission to empower individuals and communities through accessible and sustainable energy solutions.

For an immersive experience and an exclusive preview of these revolutionary innovations, visit Jackery at Booth #9815, North Hall, LVCC, during CES 2024 from January 9 to 12 . Join us in embracing the future of portable power.

About Jackery:

Jackery, the world's leading innovative portable power and green outdoor energy solution provider founded in California in 2012, is a global top-selling solar generator brand born with a mission to offer green energy to everyone, everywhere. Jackery launched its first outdoor portable power stations in 2016 and developed its first portable solar panels in 2018. Jackery has sold over 3 million units globally since 2018, and has been recognized by over 200 authorized media and organizations worldwide and received 58 prestigious international design awards. Jackery has fulfilled its social responsibility on a global scale and maintained long-term cooperation with global public welfare organizations such as WWF, NFF and IRC contributing its strength and value to boost global sustainable development and other public welfare.

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SOURCE Jackery Inc.
New pacemakers offer 40% more battery life,1 extend Medtronic legacy of pacing leadership

DUBLIN , Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Medtronic plc (NYSE: MDT), a global leader in healthcare technology, today announced it has received CE (Conformite Europeenne) Mark for its Micra AV2 and Micra VR2, the next generation of its industry-leading miniature, leadless pacemakers.

Micra AV2 and Micra VR2, the world's smallest pacemakers, provide longer battery life and easier programming than prior Micra pacemakers, while still delivering the many benefits of leadless pacing such as reduced complications compared to traditional pacemakers.2

With approximately 40% more battery life compared to previous generations,1 Medtronic projects the battery life of Micra AV2 and Micra VR2 is nearly 16 and 17 years, respectively.3 This means more than 80% of patients who receive a Micra may only require one device for life.3

This CE Mark milestone follows U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for the Micra AV2 and VR2 devices in 2023.

In addition to size and longevity benefits, Micra devices are also the only leadless pacemakers with remote monitoring capabilities, which allow a doctor or clinic to check on a patient's heart device without the need for a patient to travel to their clinic for an in-person appointment. Other patient benefits of remote monitoring may include a reduction in hospitalizations and increase in sense of security.4,5

"For more than eight years, our Micra leadless pacemakers have provided meaningful benefits to people in Europe who require a pacemaker. Now, these patients have access to the latest leadless pacing technology that, for most of them, may be the only device they will ever need," said Robert C. Kowal , M.D., Ph.D., general manager, Cardiac Pacing Therapies within the Cardiac Rhythm Management business, which is part of the Cardiovascular Portfolio at Medtronic.

"The first generation of leadless Micra pacemakers demonstrated a significant reduction in major complications, and this next generation of Micra brings several additional benefits including greater longevity, and specifically for the Micra AV2, new algorithms to optimize AV synchrony at faster heart rates while requiring less in-office programming," said Prof. Dr. Christophe Garweg , Cardiologist at University Hospitals of Leuven, Belgium . "These advantages likely will expand the use of the leadless pacemaker to more patients."

Globally, more than 200,000 patients have received Micra pacemakers.6 Comparable in size to a large vitamin, Micra pacemakers are less than one-tenth the size of traditional pacemakers. Unlike traditional pacemakers, Micra pacemakers do not require leads or a surgical "pocket" under the skin, so potential sources of complications related to leads and pockets are eliminated, and there is no visible sign of the device.

Leaders in Cardiac Pacing

Receiving CE Mark for Micra AV2 and VR2 builds on the Medtronic legacy in cardiac pacing, which includes:

Inventing the first wearable pacemaker in 1957. Launching the first pacemaker for use in MRIs in 2011. Creating and launching the first leadless pacemaker in 2015. Launching the first leadless pacemaker to coordinate the heart's electrical signals by sensing atrial activity, without a lead or device in the atria, in 2020. Gaining regulatory approval for the first pacing system to activate the heart's natural electrical system, conduction system pacing (approval via the His-bundle in 2018 and via the left bundle branch area in 2022). Receiving U.S. approval for Micra AV2 and VR2 in 2023.

About Medtronic

Bold thinking. Bolder actions. We are Medtronic. Medtronic plc, headquartered in Dublin, Ireland , is the leading global healthcare technology company that boldly attacks the most challenging health problems facing humanity by searching out and finding solutions. Our Mission  to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life  unites a global team of 90,000+ passionate people across more than 150 countries. Our technologies and therapies treat 70 health conditions and include cardiac devices, surgical robotics, insulin pumps, surgical tools, patient monitoring systems, and more. Powered by our diverse knowledge, insatiable curiosity, and desire to help all those who need it, we deliver innovative technologies that transform the lives of two people every second, every hour, every day. Expect more from us as we empower insight-driven care, experiences that put people first, and better outcomes for our world. In everything we do, we are engineering the extraordinary. For more information on Medtronic (NYSE: MDT), visit www.Medtronic.com and LinkedIn.

Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic's periodic reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.

References:

1 Escalante K. Micra AV2 and Micra VR2 longevity comparison. 2023. Medtronic Data on File.

2 El-Chami MF, Al-Samadi F , Clementy N, et al. Updated performance of the Micra transcatheter pacemaker in the real-world setting: A comparison to the investigational study and a transvenous historical control. Heart Rhythm. December 2018 ;15(12):1800-1807.

3 Sheldon T, Escalante K, and Fagan D. Device Longevity and AV Synchrony Algorithm Modeling of a Leadless Pacemaker Family: A Virtual Patient Analysis. January 2023 . Medtronic Data on File.

4 Piccini JP, Mittal S, Snell J, Prillinger JB, Dalal N, Varma N. Impact of remote monitoring on clinical events and associated health care utilization: A nationwide assessment. Heart Rhythm. 2016 Dec;13(12):2279-2286. doi: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2016.08.024. Epub 2016 Aug 17. PMID: 27544748.

5 Artico J, Zecchin M, Fantasia AZ, Skerl G, Ortis B, Franco S, Albani S, Barbati G, Cristallini J, Sinagra G. Long-term patient satisfaction with implanted device remote monitoring: a comparison among different systems. Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine. 2019 Aug 1 ;20(8):542-50.

6 Leick, A. Micra "Largest Reach" supporting data. September 2023 . Medtronic Data on file.





Contacts:





Emily Dornfeld Ryan Weispfenning Public Relations Investor Relations +1-763-242-8241 +1-763-505-4626

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SOURCE Medtronic plc
WASHINGTON , Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Students from North Carolina and Virginia will have separate opportunities next week to each hear from a NASA astronaut living and working aboard the International Space Station .

The two Earth-to-space calls will air live Tuesday, Jan. 9 , on NASA+, NASA Television, and the agency's website. Learn how to stream NASA TV through a variety of platforms including social media. Follow events online at:

https://www.nasa.gov/nasatv

At 9:20 a.m. EST , NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli will answer prerecorded questions from students at Thales Academy in Raleigh, North Carolina . In preparation for the education downlink, students will participate in an annual Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Day that will include presentations about the space station by Marc Fusco , one of NASA's solar system ambassadors. Students also will participate in hands-on activities, including making space related art, building bottle rockets, and launching a model rocket.

Media interested in covering the North Carolina event must RSVP no later than 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 8 ., to Janice Holton at: [email protected] or 919-882-2320.

At 1:05 p.m. , NASA astronaut Loral O'Hara will answer prerecorded questions from students across the state of Virginia through an event hosted by the Virginia Space Grant Consortium. These students studied life aboard the space station and participated in a Plant the Moon Challenge where they worked to grow plants in lunar regolith simulant for the Artemis mission.

Media interested in covering the Virginia event must RSVP no later than 4 p.m. on Jan. 8 ., to Kristyn Damadeo at: [email protected] or 202-465-5190.

For more than 23 years, astronauts have continuously lived and worked aboard the space station, testing technologies, performing science, and developing the skills needed to explore farther from Earth. Astronauts living in space aboard the orbiting laboratory communicate with NASA's Mission Control Center in Houston 24 hours a day through the Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) Near Space Network.

Important research and technology investigations taking place aboard the International Space Station benefits people on Earth and lays the groundwork for future exploration.

As part of Artemis, NASA will send astronauts to the Moon to prepare for future human exploration of Mars. Inspiring the next generation of explorers  the Artemis Generation  ensures America will continue to lead in space exploration and discovery.

See videos and lesson plans highlighting research on the space station at:

https://www.nasa.gov/stemonstation

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SOURCE NASA
WASHINGTON , Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA will provide live coverage as it reveals its X-59 aircraft at 4 p.m. EST on Friday, Jan. 12 , as part of the agency's Quesst mission to make commercial supersonic flight possible.

For the first time, the public will see the painted aircraft, which will be unveiled during a ceremony hosted by prime contractor Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale, California .

The ceremony and rollout of the aircraft will stream live on the NASA+ streaming service. Coverage also will air on NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and on the agency's website. Learn how to stream NASA TV through a variety of platforms, including social media.

Speakers at the event include:

NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy

NASA Associate Administrator James Free

Bob Pearce , associate administrator, Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate , NASA Headquarters in Washington

, associate administrator, , NASA Headquarters in John Clark , vice president and general manager, Skunk Works

, vice president and general manager, Skunk Works Greg Ulmer , executive vice president of aeronautics, Lockheed Martin

Members of the media with questions about attending the event should contact Skunk Works. In addition to the on-site events, NASA will host a teleconference after the ceremony for members of the media. Reporters can contact [email protected] to RSVP.

Members of the public can sign up to get their own virtual boarding pass for the X-59's first flight. Via NASA's Flight Log experience, participants' names will be digitized and downloaded onto a storage device that will be carried personally by the X-59 pilot. Participants will also receive a printable boarding pass with their names, and the flight will be entered into their logbooks.

NASA's X-59 is a one-of-a-kind experimental aircraft that will demonstrate the ability to fly supersonic while generating a gentle "sonic thump" rather than the normally loud sonic boom.

Once the X-59 completes assembly and testing, NASA's Quesst team will select several U.S. communities to fly the aircraft and gather data on how people perceive the sound it produces. The agency will provide that data to U.S. and international regulators to potentially adjust current rules that prohibit commercial supersonic flight over land.

For more information about Quesst, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/Quesst

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SOURCE NASA
NORWALK, Conn. , Jan. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As the real estate industry eagerly starts a much-anticipated new year, RISMedia is set to unveil an unparalleled virtual event, " Real Estate's Rocking in the New Year - New Year, New Mindset ," next Thursday, January 11, 2024 , from 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET .

The event promises to be a beacon of inspiration and knowledge, with a star-studded lineup of more than 50 industry-leading brokers, agents and experts . Attendees can expect critical updates on the current residential landscape and gain invaluable insights into tangible strategies and spot-on advice for turning the corner to make 2024 a resounding success.

"With the new year comes the promise and possibility of better market conditions for residential real estatea chance for real estate professionals to put 2023 in the rear-view mirror and start building business again," says John Featherston , CEO of RISMedia. "Real Estate's Rocking in the New Year is designed to empower professionals with the tools they need to thrive in the ever-evolving real estate landscape."

The virtual event provides an opportunity for industry enthusiasts, both seasoned professionals and newcomers alike, to engage with thought leaders who will share their expertise on navigating the challenges and capitalizing on the opportunities that lie ahead.

Event details:

Date and time: Thursday, January 11, 2024 | 11:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. ET

Location: Virtual: Join us online at rocking.rismedia.com

Registration: Register here and receive 25% off your ticket price! All RISMedia Premier members attend for free!

Participants can expect dynamic discussions, thought-provoking presentations and networking opportunities that transcend geographical boundaries. Some sessions and keynote speakers include:

Getting Ahead of the Lawsuits: Preparing for the Compensation Conversation with Jessica Edgerton , Chief Legal Officer/Executive Vice President of Industry and Learning, Leading Real Estate Companies of the World

with , Chief Legal Officer/Executive Vice President of Industry and Learning, Leading Real Estate Companies of the World A Year of Possibility: Finding and Seizing the Opportunities in Today's Market with Brian Buffini , Chairman & Founder, Buffini & Company

with , Chairman & Founder, The 2024 Economy: Are Things Finally Getting Better? with Dr. Lisa Sturtevant , Chief Economist, Bright MLS

Check out all of our dynamic sessions and speakers here .

To register, visit rocking.rismedia.com .

About RISMedia

RISMedia was founded in 1980 by CEO and Publisher John Featherston as the residential real estate industry's definitive source for news and information. For more information, please visit www.rismedia.com .

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SOURCE RISMedia
MINNEAPOLIS , Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Redhawk Wealth Advisors, Inc. (Redhawk), a leading full-service registered investment advisory (RIA) announced a new strategic partnership with Retirement Visions, LLC (RV), an established Retirement Planning and Investment Advisory practice located in West Hartford, Connecticut .

RV is led by Jay L. Gershman MBA, AIF, President and Founder, who has worked in the financial industry for over 33 years and has been featured in Kiplinger's Personal Finance, Financial Times, Hartford Business Journal and more. Jay's team includes fellow advisors, 14-year veteran and Vice President, Jason M. Hand , and David Sutkaitis , 401(k) Investment Advisor and Financial Advisor as well as a support team of seven dedicated employees.

As former President of the Financial Planning Association of Hartford and Connecticut , Jay is a veteran of the financial planning industry and uses his training in life planning through the Kinder Institute (RLP) designation to better understand his client's true motivations in order to help them live their most fulfilled life. In addition to the work RV does with individuals and families, Jay and David specialize in advice and implementation of retirement and profit sharing plans for small business owners.

RV affiliated with Redhawk to leverage their comprehensive technology stack, back-office services and compliance. The transition to Redhawk using their advanced technology allowed them to move over 600 accounts and $245M in assets in just months.

Redhawk Wealth Advisors is registered in 39 states and manages over $2 billion in assets under management (AUM). Redhawk Wealth Advisors is known for its proprietary process called Risk-Guarda, a tactical asset allocation solution designed to increase retirement income, lower risk, and reduce investment costs.

Jay Gershman is also joining Redhawk's Advisory Council to help with Redhawk's advisor training and growth platform, Redhawk University. Jay stated, "The primary reason I joined Redhawk was for the ability and the freedom to give my clients the best options with respect to investment solutions, technology and customer service. In addition, I wanted to partner with a firm that could help me grow my business my way. Redhawk Wealth Advisors is a true fiduciary partner that has my best interest in mind."

Dan Hunt , CEO of Redhawk Wealth Advisors responded "Anyone who knows Jay knows of his passionate and creative approach to helping clients. His vision and commitment to sound fiduciary principles is a philosophical match with Redhawk. Jay has a unique approach to helping clients, families and businesses, so we asked him to help us assist other advisors to grow their business the same way."

About Redhawk

Redhawk Wealth Advisors, Inc. is an SEC Registered Investment Advisory (RIA) firm based in Minneapolis, Minnesota . The firm provides wealth management, retirement plans, practice management, and marketing services to independent advisor representatives, registered investment advisors, and their clients. To learn more, visit www.RedhawkWA.com.

About Retirement Visions, LLC

Retirement Visions, LLC, headquartered in West Hartford, Connecticut , specializes in helping Americans develop sound retirement strategies through managing investments, financial planning and insurance wherever they are  in person, over the phone and online.

CONTACT:

Tina Thorner

Redhawk Wealth Advisors, Inc.

(952) 835-4295

[email protected]

www.redhawkwa.com

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SOURCE Redhawk Wealth Advisors
Sonobi utilizes Experian identity graph to boost mobile reach by 25%, increasing impression value by 20%

WINTER PARK, Fla. , Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sonobi , an independent, consumer-focused technology company providing a fair and equitable media marketplace, is collaborating with Experian , the world's leading global information services company. By collaborating with Experian and combining our unique areas of expertise, Sonobi has successfully increased programmatic addressability across the mobile web landscape, growing our reach by 25% while providing a substantial 20% increase in delivered impression value, aiding our ability to connect impactful campaigns to their desired audiences while maximizing value for our publishers.

With the looming deadline of Google's cookie deprecation, advertisers must prepare for a new era in digital advertising, and increased addressability solutions will be essential. Experian's identity graph leads the industry by providing addressable solutions that adapt to the future of digital identity, with over 2.75 billion IDs and an average of more than 22 digital IDs per household.

"Collaborating with Experian and integrating their identity graph is crucial progress towards a post-cookie era, where targeted and effective advertising can thrive while protecting user privacy. This collaboration enhances our programmatic addressability and demonstrates our commitment to delivering better, more respectful advertising experiences," said Justin Kennedy , COO of Sonobi. "By leveraging Experian's innovative technology, we are proud to contribute to a fair and equitable media marketplace that benefits both our clients and the industry as a whole."

The integration between Experian and Sonobi marks a new era in digital advertising, one where the potential for effective and privacy-compliant solutions is greater than ever. Advertisers can maintain targeted and relevant campaigns by eliminating the need for third-party cookies while enhancing the user experience and adhering to evolving privacy standards. This collaboration represents a significant step towards a more ethical and efficient advertising landscape.

"It is noteworthy to observe the progress of Sonobi as they explore new possibilities using our identity graph," said Chris Feo , SVP of Sales and Partnerships at Experian. "Their success highlights the effectiveness of strategic collaboration in addressing the needs of advertisers in a post-cookie era, with an emphasis on user privacy. We are supportive of Sonobi's efforts to enhance the open internet and the landscape of programmatic advertising."

About Sonobi

Sonobi is an independent, consumer-focused technology company that provides a fair and equitable media marketplace to connect advertisers directly with individuals. Sonobi's JetStream technology is transforming the business of traditional impression-based advertising to individual-based advertising. By unifying comScore's top 250 premium media properties and Fortune 500 advertisers, Sonobi's JetStream platform enables publishers and marketers to directly collaborate in order to create and deliver superior addressable communication plans for the people who matter most  consumers. At the forefront of advertising innovation, Sonobi delivers comprehensive CTV and OTT solutions, tailored to meet the demands of modern businesses ensuring superior outcomes for advertisers navigating the evolving digital landscape.

For more information about Sonobi, please visit: https://www.sonobi.com/

About Experian

Experian is the world's leading global information services company. During life's big moments  from buying a home or a car, to sending a child to college, to growing a business by connecting with new customers  we empower consumers and our clients to manage their data with confidence. We help individuals take financial control and access financial services, businesses make smarter decisions and thrive, lenders lend more responsibly, and organizations prevent identity fraud and crime.

We have 22,000 people operating across 32 countries, and every day, we're investing in new technologies, talented people, and innovation to help all our clients maximize every opportunity.

With corporate headquarters in Dublin, Ireland , we are listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and are a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.

Learn more at www.experianplc.com or visit our global content hub at our global news blog for the latest news and insights from the Group.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Sonobi

Edoardo Morera 484-894-6798

[email protected]

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SOURCE Sonobi
WASHINGTON , Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Forum of Congolese Intellectuals Abroad (FICE) will officially release its election observation report following an on-site mission conducted from December 19 th to December 22nd, 2023 . The observation took place during the presidential, legislative, and municipal elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and in countries where members of the Congolese diaspora were permitted to vote: South Africa , Belgium , Canada , the United States , and France .

As the eagerly anticipated announcement of the final presidential election results approaches, FICE, a certified election observation organization, recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), will host a press conference to launch its comprehensive report. This event, scheduled for Tuesday, January 9, 2024 , at 2:00 PM at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. , will feature representatives from CENI and firsthand observers present in the DRC during the elections. The press conference aims to provide valuable insights into the election proceedings and address queries from the press.

During the on-site mission, the FICE team conducted interviews with numerous voters, engaged with other local and international observers, and had access to the polling stations in the visited centers. The team affirms that the voting operations adhered to CENI's procedural rules and international standards.

The upcoming press conference will not only unveil the detailed election observation mission report but also offer a platform for an open dialogue between the press, CENI representatives, and many eyewitnesses to the election.

Event Details

Date: Tuesday, January 9, 2024

Time: 2:00 PM

Location: National Press Club, 529 14th St NW , Washington D.C.

RSVP: [email protected]

The mission of the Forum of Congolese Intellectuals Abroad (FICE) is to unite Congolese intellectuals residing abroad for thoughtful reflection, exchange of ideas, and collaborative action on issues affecting the Democratic Republic of Congo and their impact on development in their host countries. For more information, visit FICE's official website.

Contact: Adey Hailu , New York

Marie-Stella Mbala Heiser , D.C. Email : [email protected] Phone : 704-910-7185

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SOURCE Forum of Congolese Intellectuals Abroad (FICE)
UpDoc is the world's first clinically validated, clinician- directed AI that manages medications and chronic conditions

Strategic funding round led by Polaris Partners with participation from Mayo Clinic , Oxeon Partners , and Eli Lilly & Company

Partnerships with Microsoft, Google Cloud, SCCIPA with research conducted at Stanford Medicine

Strategic collaborations with UCSF Health will focus on improving health equity and with the American Heart Association will leverage expertise as a member of the American Heart Association Innovator's Network

UpDoc ushers in a new model of care delivery - Remote Patient Intervention (RPI) - that aims to deliver a clinician-directed AI provider to every patient's home and bridge gaps in health equity

PALO ALTO, Calif. , Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- UpDoc, the first company with a conversational AI platform that manages medication prescriptions, today exited stealth to announce a strategic funding round led by Polaris Partners with participation from Oxeon Partners, Eli Lilly & Company and Mayo Clinic. This follows landmark research conducted at Stanford Medicine and paves the way for additional collaborations with Microsoft, Google, Santa Clara County Independent Physician Association (SCCIPA), UCSF Health, Mayo Clinic, and the American Heart Association. UpDoc aims to deliver a clinician-directed AI provider to every patient's home through accessible technology that improves access to high quality, affordable care. All care delivered through the AI is prescribed by physicians or clinical pharmacists who oversee the platform.

Taking place during a time of market uncertainty, the successful fundraise is evidence that investors continue to see the opportunity in early-stage game-changing AI companies, particularly those founded by high-conviction teams with a hands-on approach.

UpDoc has secured strategic partnerships with elite organizations including Microsoft, Google Cloud, and SCCIPA for research, funding, development, and cloud and AI infrastructure aimed at ushering in a new era of tech-enabled care. It is also planning to bring its technology to Stanford Medicine and UCSF Health, focused on using the platform to improve health equity. Microsoft Azure will serve as the company's primary cloud provider. Powered by Large Language Models (LLMs) and a proprietary clinical intelligence platform, UpDoc's engagement engine incorporates health literacy, illness perception and cultural perspectives to bridge gaps in health equity. By scaling provider reach, the AI assistant is also designed to improve efficiency and reduce clinical burnout.

Sharif Vakili and Ashwin Nayak , UpDoc Founders, said: "Our mission is to expand access to safe, effective, and affordable care for the millions of Americans who suffer from chronic diseases. We see UpDoc as a technological accelerant of value-based care with the potential to bring both higher quality and more affordable care."

The model of care delivery where an AI acts on Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) data to deliver care has been coined by the founders as "Remote Patient Intervention" (RPI). RPI was performed for the first time in a prospective randomized controlled trial at Stanford Medicine published in JAMA Network Open , where it more than doubled improvement in diabetes control compared to standard of care. RPI is conducted under clinical oversight.

Over the 8-week study period at Stanford, 81% of patients who had their diabetes managed by the AI achieved glycemic control of their diabetes compared to 25% of patients who received traditional care. Patients in the trial managed by the AI had 5x more prescription changes, and needed far fewer doctor's appointments to get their diabetes under control. The AI-managed patients also had 60% greater medication adherence.

Gary Swart , Partner at Polaris, remarked, "Healthcare systems are constantly evolving as new products and technologies come to market. Every once in a while, something truly transformational arrives. With UpDoc, we believe we are witnessing the next evolution of clinical care - today. Sharif and Ashwin are innovative entrepreneurs who have created a generational product - they have our wholehearted support as we embark on UpDoc's journey together."

UpDoc's conversational AI is optimized for clinical accuracy and patient engagement, powered by multiple state-of-the-art LLMs. The company is collaborating with Microsoft to leverage GPT-4 through the Azure Open AI Service. The company has also established collaborations with Google Cloud to leverage MedLM and fine-tuned models through Vertex AI.

Peter Durlach , Corporate Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer of Microsoft Health & Life Sciences, commented, "We look forward to collaborating with UpDoc as they help pioneer the use of patient-facing conversational AI for remote patient interventions. Microsoft's advancements in AI, world-class research, and our expertise in empowering solutions for the healthcare industry with our Azure cloud will give UpDoc the platform they need to help clinicians manage patient care with a technology enabled solution that ultimately fosters better health outcomes at lower costs."

The UpDoc co-founders have been working together for four years as Stanford physicians. Today, Sharif Vakili is a practicing primary care physician at Stanford Medicine and Entrepreneur Advisor at Polaris Partners. Ashwin Nayak is a practicing hospitalist at Stanford Medicine, board-certified Clinical Informatician, and leading AI researcher and software developer.

Christopher Sharp , MD, Chief Medical Information Officer at Stanford Health Care, said, "I am proud to have two clinical colleagues excel on the world stage. I congratulate Sharif and Ashwin for their research spearheading this AI-powered breakthrough in the practice of medicine."

Desi Kotis , PharmD, chief pharmacy executive at UCSF Health, said, "Medication management is one of the most significant issues in chronic care, especially in communities that have limited access to care providers. We are eager to see what opportunities AI can offer in helping patients make sense of their medications and better manage their health."

About UpDoc

UpDoc has developed the first conversational AI platform that manages medication prescriptions and chronic disease. The company employs state-of-the-art large language models optimized for clinical accuracy and patient engagement to create physician-directed "AI encounters" that augment physician encounters. This model of care delivery where Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) data is acted on by an AI to deliver clinical care is known as Remote Patient Intervention (RPI). RPI is conducted under clinical oversight.

RPI and the UpDoc platform were invented by the founders of UpDoc who are practicing primary care and internal medicine physician leaders whose mission is to move the needle in US healthcare by democratizing access to affordable, high-quality care. RPI is designed to be under complete clinical oversight, and the company leverages collaborations with leading academic institutions, medical societies and clinical experts to ensure patient safety and efficacy ushering this new frontier in care delivery.

UpDoc CEO and cofounder, Sharif Vakili , is a practicing primary care physician at Stanford Medicine and Entrepreneur Advisor at Polaris Partners. UpDoc incoming CTO and cofounder Ashwin Nayak is a practicing hospitalist at Stanford Medicine, board-certified Clinical Informatician, and leading AI researcher and software developer.

For further information, please visit updoc.ai or find us on linkedin.com/company/updocai.

Investor Contact

Sharif Vakili , Cofounder and CEO

[email protected]

Media Contact

Anthony Steel , Steel Comms for UpDoc

[email protected]

1 (917)-803-1990

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SOURCE UpDoc
BANGKOK , Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Velo, a leader in Web3 Finance, is set to finalize a major deal with three significant technological industry players.

With products like Universe, a hybrid decentralized platform boasting Web3+ technology, and Lightyear, a cutting-edge Web3 Trading Bot, this partnership marks a breakthrough for Velo in 2024 and the Web3 Finance industry.

A leading fintech innovator, which will be announced soon, specializes in bridging and connectivity solutions between trading platforms and liquidity providers, complex execution strategies, risk management, quantitative analytics, P&L optimization, hosting, and infrastructure for multi-asset financial brokers. The team comprises professionals with extensive industry knowledge and experience in dealing desks, quantitative risk management, trading solutions, and software development. Velo's collaboration with them aims to advance technology and offer cutting-edge solutions to traders and financial brokers.

TransactCloud, a notable technology company known for providing round-the-clock operational support and systems interoperability services, is partnering with Velo. The collaboration is particularly focused on ensuring seamless synchronization between Web2 and Web3 services, leveraging both entities' strengths to deliver superior solutions in the technology space. Users will enjoy the benefits of enhanced support and quality of services.

FT Worldwide is a leading liquidity provider specializing in various trading instruments offerings and product advisory for OTC market participants. Velo's partnership with them will enhance its services for users, including fixing and forward products for OTC services tailored to meet the needs of various entities, particularly businesses and corporations.

This strategic alliance exemplifies a commitment to innovation, transparency, and connectivity within the financial markets. It marks a breakthrough for Velo in 2024 and the Web3 industry, leveraging its products like Universe, a hybrid dex platform boasting Web3+ technology, and Lightyear, a cutting-edge Web3 Trading Bot. Velo is excited to embark on this transformative journey and push the boundaries of what's possible in blockchain and financial technology.

About Velo Lab:

Velo Labs' mission is to build a Web3-based liquidity and settlement network that allows partners to safely and securely transfer value between each other with a fully integrated universal payment network powered by the Velo Protocol. Backed by Stellar Network and CP Group, Velo Labs serves Southeast and Pacific partners. Velo Labs' vision is to complement and connect the existing banking infrastructure to the Web3. Velo's established and expansive Web3-based payment network and Lightnet its licensed partnered settlement network, position it as one of the few blockchain projects with a clear path toward mass adoption. Velo leads in blockchain mass adoption, offering a wide range of Web3-based products tailored to diverse demographic segments, including individuals, merchants, corporations, and businesses. With several significant products already in their portfolio and additional releases on the horizon, Velo is dedicated to bridging businesses with global funds and expanding accessibility for individuals worldwide.

Follow us for more info: Twitter / Telegram

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SOURCE Velo Labs Technology Ltd.
NEW YORK , Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York ( VRMNY ), the largest retina vitreous center in the New York Metropolitan area, has announced that its esteemed ophthalmologist K. Bailey Freund , MD will serve as the Program Director of the 48th Annual Atlantic Coast Retina Club (ACRC) & 24th Macula Conference (Macula 2024).

The ACRC was originally co-founded by Lawrence Yannuzzi , MD, co-founder of VRMNY, as a one-day Friday conference open to all retinal specialists. Twenty-three years after the first ACRC meeting, Dr. Yannuzzi created a Saturday program and Macula 2000 was born.

The Conference will take place from January 4th through the 6th at the New York Academy of Medicine, 1216 5th Avenue in New York City .

Expected to attract between 400-500 retina specialists from around the world, the meetings' participants will learn about new therapies, recent clinical trial results, artificial intelligence, and the latest retinal imaging technologies. The goal of the conference is to help clinicians better manage their patients with macular and retinal disorders and achieve better patient outcomes in their practices.

"Our meeting this year promises to provide new insight into current critical issues which are inherent in retinal diseases and their treatments," said K. Bailey Freund , MD. Among the topics discuss will be recent findings from ongoing pharmacologic and gene therapy trials, advances in retinal imaging, retinal applications for artificial intelligence, and surgical management of retinal diseases.

Dr. Freund specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, and care of patients with all retinal disorders. In addition to his work with VRMNY, Dr. Freund is a Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at The NYU Grossman School of Medicine. He is an attending surgeon at Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital and New York Presbyterian Hospital. Dr. Freund is also a member of the Retina Society, Macula Society, and the American Society of Retina Specialists, and a founding member and trustee of the International Retinal Imaging Society (IntRIS).

Dr. Yannuzzi is a co-founder of VRMNY, as well the Director of the LuEsther T. Mertz Retinal Research Center of the Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital. He is also founder and president of The Macula Foundation, Inc., which has distributed several million dollars to eye research.

More information on the 48th Annual Atlantic Coast Retina Club (ACRC) & 24th Macula Conference (Macula 2024) can be found at: https://mcpi.cventevents.com/event/5d28fbcd-d448-46dd-bdbc-ff5e5797bb25/summary

About Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York

The group of ophthalmologists at Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York are internationally known leaders in diagnosing and treating retinal diseases, known as the top New York experts and among the best-rated retina specialists in NYC. In our private practice, physicians prioritize high-quality, individualized eye care while utilizing cutting-edge diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. VRMNY doctors are proud to be on Newsweek's list of 350 best ophthalmologists and optometrists in the USA . For more information: https://www.vrmny.com/

About the Annual Atlantic Coast Retina Club (ACRC)

The ACRC's began in the early 1970s as a biannual meeting named the "The New York Fluorescein Club" founded by three pre-eminent local retina specialists, which later expanded with the founding of the ACRC, a one-day Friday conference open to all retinal specialists. Twenty-three years after the first ACRC meeting, Dr. Yannuzzi created a Saturday program and Macula 2000 was born. This year continues the long-respected traditions of the ACRC and Macula Meetings.

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SOURCE Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York
FILE PHOTO: A logo of Ant Group is pictured at the headquarters of Ant Group, an affiliate of Alibaba, in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China October 29, 2020. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo

By Amy-Jo Crowley

LONDON (Reuters) - Ant Group is closing in on a deal to buy Dutch payments firm MultiSafepay as part of the Chinese financial technology groups latest push into Western payment markets, people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approval, is expected to value MultiSafepay at around $200 million, one of the people said. It generates $50 million in revenue, the person added, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Ant, an Alibaba Group affiliate, did not immediately respond outside Asia business hours. Alibaba holds a 33% stake in Ant, according to Alibaba's interim fiscal year 2024 report published in December. Representatives for MultiSafepay did not respond to requests for comment.

The acquisition follows Ant Groups purchase of Singapore-based payments firm 2C2P in 2022. Ant, which operates cross-border payments platform Alipay+, also bought British payments group WorldFirst in 2019 for 700 million dollars.

Established in 1999, MultiSafepay provides payment acquiring and processing services to more than 18,000 small and medium-sized businesses and works with commercial partners to offer additional services.

Ant Group, is buying 100% of MultiSafepay, which is owned by founder and CEO Olaf Geurs, the first person said. MultiSafepay has grown organically with no external investors and also has offices in Spain and Germany, according to its website.

MultiSafepay's most recent annual report showed a net profit of 1.3 million euros ($1.43 million) on gross income of 11.9 million euros in 2022. It was not clear whether that encompasses the companys international businesses.

In January last year, Ant Group said its founder Jack Ma will no longer control the company and give up most of his voting rights.

($1 = 0.9107 euros)

(Reporting by Amy-Jo Crowley with additional reporting by Toby Sterling and Roxanne Liu. Editing by Anousha Sakoui and Louise Heavens)
FILE PHOTO: Federal Trade Commission seal is seen at a news conference at FTC headquarters in Washington, U.S., July 24, 2019. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas/File Photo/File Photo

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Two groups representing auto dealers said on Friday they had filed a legal challenge to the Federal Trade Commission's new sweeping consumer protection regulations finalized last month.

The FTC said the new rules will ban bait-and-switch advertising tactics, prohibit charging for add-on costs that do not benefit consumers and require dealers to make key disclosures to consumers, including accurate pricing disclosures in advertising and sales communications.

The rules were first proposed in 2022 and will take effect on July 30. They also require dealers to keep records of certain advertisements and customer transactions.

The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) and Texas Automobile Dealers Association late Thursday asked the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to block the new rules that "comprehensively regulates the advertising, sales, and financing of vehicles by auto dealers" saying they are "arbitrary, capricious (and) an abuse of discretion."

The FTC declined to comment.

The NADA said previously the FTC proposal would "upend the sales process for tens of millions of consumers annually and thousands of small businesses."

The FTC said the new rules would bar junk fees like a service contract for an oil change for an electric vehicle said it is expected to save consumers more than $3.4 billion and an estimated 72 million hours annually shopping for vehicles.

Dealers will also be required to obtain consent for any charges they add to a vehicle's price and barred from charging for add-ons that are useless to the buyer, such as selling nitrogen-filled tires that contain no more nitrogen than normal air.

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, representing General Motors, Toyota Motor, Volkswagen and other major automakers, previously raised concerns about the FTC plan, warning of "excessive regulation and micromanagement of the sales experience."

In November, a U.S. House committee said it was investigating the FTC's consumer protection rules, arguing the regulation "threatens harm to consumers and small businesses by making car purchases more difficult and inhibiting innovation in the industry."

A group of 17 Democratic lawmakers in June urged the FTC to "adopt strong regulatory protections for car buyers," arguing that "unfair and deceptive practices involving motor vehicle dealers have widespread consequences."

(Reporting by David Shepardson in WashingtonEditing by Matthew Lewis)
U.S. President Joe Biden delivers a speech to mark the third anniversary of the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol at a campaign event at Montgomery County Community College, in Blue Bell, near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, U.S., January 5, 2024.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden accused Donald Trump, his likely rival in the 2024 presidential contest, of sacrificing U.S. democracy for power in a Pennsylvania speech marking the third anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, attacks on the U.S. Capitol.

Trump's presidential campaign is "all about him, not America," Biden said. He said the former president is "willing to sacrifice our democracy" to put himself in power.

The upcoming election is "all about whether democracy is still America's sacred cause," he said.

(Reporting by Jeff Mason; editing by Rami Ayyub)
FILE PHOTO: The BlackRock logo is seen outside of its offices in New York City, U.S., October 17, 2016. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo

(Reuters) - BlackRock on Thursday named Leigh Farris its global head of corporate communications, bolstering its ranks at a time when the asset management giant faces intense heat for its stance on socially and environmentally conscious capitalism.

Farris, who has held a similar role at buyout giant Carlyle since 2019, will join BlackRock in March, succeeding Jim Badenhausen.

She has also held senior communications roles at Goldman Sachs, General Electric and CBS News, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters.

For years, the world's largest asset manager has parried attacks from U.S. politicians on both sides of the aisle. Republicans accuse it of politicizing investments by prioritizing environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors, while Democrats say it is not doing enough to curb climate change.

BlackRock has pushed back against the allegations. Last year, CEO Larry Fink said he had stopped using the term ESG because it had become "weaponized", and that the company would not backpedal.

(Reporting by Niket Nishant in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja Desai)
FILE PHOTO: Randy Roedema, one of three Aurora police officers in addition to two paramedics criminally charged in the death of Elijah McClain, a Black man who died in 2019 after being subdued and injected with a sedative, approaches the Adams County Just

By Brad Brooks

LONGMONT, COLORADO (Reuters) -A former Colorado police officer was sentenced to 14 months in jail for his role in the 2019 killing of Elijah McClain, a young Black man who was not suspected of any crime when police roughly restrained him and paramedics injected him with a powerful sedative.

Former Aurora police officer Randy Roedema, 41, who faced up to three years in prison, was found guilty by a jury in October of criminally negligent homicide and third-degree assault. The same jury found fellow police officer Jason Rosenblatt, 35, not guilty in a joint trial.

Judge Mark Warner sentenced Roedema to 14 months in jail for the third-degree assault conviction. He also ordered four years probation and 90 days incarceration, to be served concurrently with the assault sentence, for criminally negligent homicide.

Roedema was not immediately taken into custody. He has until March 22 to turn himself in to the Adams County jail.

"The court was shocked by what appeared to be really indifference to Elijah McClain's suffering," Warner said before issuing the sentence.

Sheneen McClain, mother of the 23-year-old, addressed the judge before the sentence was announced, saying that she searched for any hint of remorse as sat through the trials of those who killed her son.

"I have found none," she said. "I have listened to the trials to see if I could hear it in their voices, but instead I only heard lies and blaming others for their trained cruelty."

Roedema expressed his condolences to the McClain family in court on Friday. He did not apologize for Elijah McClain's death and said he took the actions he did because he was following his training.

"I cannot help but contemplate all the different scenarios that could have taken place that evening that may have resulted in a different outcome," Roedema told the court. "For example, I wish that a bystander would not have made that (911) call."

Prosecutor Jason Slothouber told the judge that Roedema's statement showed "no acknowledgement of his intent to harm Mr. McClain through pain, no acknowledgement of his gross deviations from his training - in fact, quite the opposite."

There were three trials in total involving McClain's death.

In a second trial, Aurora police officer Nathan Woodyard, 34, was found not guilty of manslaughter in November.

The third trial saw paramedics Jeremy Cooper, 49, and Peter Cichuniec, 51, found guilty of criminally negligent homicide in a trial last month. They will be sentenced on March 1.

BRUTAL CONFRONTATION

Police confronted McClain as he walked home from a convenience store after a bystander called 911 to report a man dressed in a winter coat and ski mask on a warm night was acting suspiciously.

Police laid hands on the young man within seconds of stopping him and put him in a carotid chokehold at least twice. He vomited into his ski mask and repeatedly told officers he could not breathe.

During Roedema and Rosenblatt's trial, defense attorneys played body camera audio in which Roedema can be heard yelling that McClain tried to grab Rosenblatt's gun. The police actions escalated sharply after that.

Prosecutors noted that there was no video showing any grab for a gun and suggested during the trial that Roedema was lying or mistaken.

The original autopsy conducted in 2019 found the cause of death to be "undetermined." A revised autopsy report in 2021 concluded McClain died from "complications of ketamine administration following forcible restraint."

Local prosecutors initially declined to file charges. That changed following the May 2020 killing of George Floyd, a Black man who died at the hands of Minneapolis police.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis in June 2020 asked the state attorney general's office to investigate McClain's case. A state grand jury indicted the officers and paramedics in 2021.

(Reporting by Brad Brooks in Longmont, Colorado; Additional reporting by Andrew Hay; editing by Donna Bryson and Cynthia Osterman)
FILE PHOTO: Former attorney Michael Avenatti speaks to the press after the guilty verdict in his criminal trial, at the United States Courthouse in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S., February 4, 2022. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo

By Jonathan Stempel

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A federal appeals court on Friday considered whether to overturn disgraced celebrity lawyer Michael Avenatti's conviction and four-year prison sentence for defrauding his best known client, the porn actress Stormy Daniels.

During oral arguments, a panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan expressed sympathy with arguments by Avenatti's lawyer and a federal prosecutor as to whether the trial judge improperly pushed jurors to find Avenatti guilty.

Avenatti was convicted in February 2022 of wire fraud and identity theft over an alleged scheme to steal nearly $300,000 in book contract proceeds from Daniels, and forging her signature on a letter to her literary agent.

Daniels was paid $130,000 just before the 2016 presidential election not to discuss a sexual encounter she claimed to have had a decade earlier with Donald Trump, who won the election.

Trump has denied the encounter took place, and now faces criminal charges related to the payment. Daniels' real name is Stephanie Clifford.

In Friday's hearing, Avenatti's lawyer Kendra Hutchinson said trial judge Jesse Furman improperly instructed jurors at great length about lawyers' ethics, making it seem that Avenatti's violations justified the fraud conviction, and in calling the misappropriation of client funds a "particularly serious" violation.

She also said Furman wrongly pushed a holdout juror in open court to change her mind, after receiving a jury note saying the juror was "acting on a feeling" and refusing to review evidence. He invited jurors to send another note if this persisted.

"When you have such an acrimonious note like this, and such a public shaming of a juror, really, he could only have granted a mistrial," Hutchinson said.

Circuit Judge Steven Menashi appeared skeptical. "It seems like you're saying whenever there's any note singling out a juror for anything, you have to declare a mistrial," he said.

But later, when questioning prosecutor Matthew Podolsky, Circuit Judge Eunice Lee said "it's a little different" when a judge suggests "hey, if someone's not doing what they're supposed to do, come let me know."

The appeals court did not say when it will rule.

Avenatti represented Daniels when she sued Trump to get out of a nondisclosure agreement she claimed was void. He also often criticized Trump on cable TV and Twitter, now known as X.

Furman allowed part of Avenatti's four-year sentence to overlap his 2-1/2-year sentence from his February 2020 conviction for extorting Nike, for a combined prison term of five years.

Avenatti is serving a total of 19 years in prison, including 14 years after he pleaded guilty in June 2022 to cheating four other clients out of millions of dollars.

He is appealing that sentence. Last August, the 2nd Circuit rejected his appeal of the Nike conviction.

The case is U.S. v. Avenatti, 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Nos. 22-1242, 22-2550.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
People attend the funeral ceremony of the casualties of the Islamic State attack in Kerman, Iran, January 5, 2024. Iran's Presidency/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

By Jonathan Landay and Steve Holland

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Communications intercepts collected by the United States confirmed that Islamic States (ISIS) Afghanistan-based branch carried out twin bombings in Iran that killed nearly 100 people, two sources familiar with the intelligence told Reuters on Friday.

"The intelligence is clear-cut and indisputable," one source said.

That source and a second, both of whom requested anonymity to discuss the sensitive issue, said the intelligence comprised communications intercepts, without providing further details. The collection of the intercepts has not been previously reported.

Wednesday's bombings, the deadliest of their kind in Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, added to regional tensions over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and attacks by Yemen's Tehran-aligned Houthi group on commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

ISIS on Thursday claimed responsibility for the bombings, saying two operatives wearing explosive suicide belts staged the attack during a memorial service for Qassem Soleimani, a senior military commander assassinated in Iraq in a 2020 U.S. drone strike.

The Sunni Muslim militant group, however, did not specify that its Afghanistan-based affiliate, known as ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K), was responsible for the bombings in the southeastern Iranian city of Kerman.

The U.S. has pretty clear intel that ISIS-K conducted the attack, the first source said.

The Central Intelligence Agency declined to comment.

ISIS harbors a virulent hatred for Shi'ites -- Iran's dominant sect and targets of its affiliate's attacks in Afghanistan -- who it views as apostates.

ISIS claimed responsibility for a 2022 attack on a Shi'ite shrine in Iran that killed 15 people and 2017 bombings that hit the parliament and the tomb of the Islamic Republic's founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

Iran on Friday said security forces had arrested 11 people suspected of involvement in Wednesday's attack and had seized explosive devices and vests.

While Taliban crackdowns have weakened ISIS-K and prompted some members to leave Afghanistan for neighboring countries, the affiliate has continued focusing on plotting foreign operations, U.S. officials say.

(Reporting by Jonathan Landay and Steve Holland in WashingtonEditing by Susan Heavey, Matthew Lewis and Leslie Adler)
(Reuters) -A labour dispute between Tesla and Swedish trade union IF Metall has drawn in a host of unions across the Nordic region, all urging the automaker to sign a collective bargaining agreement.

About 130 workers affiliated with IF Metall began a strike on Oct. 27, sparking sympathy strikes - a solidarity tactic by unaffected workers - from dockworkers, cleaners and car dealerships.

Sympathy strikes are generally legal in the Nordic countries, in a stark contrast to the U.S. where such actions are largely prohibited.

In the 1990s, American toy company Toys "R" Us signed a collective agreement with its 130 Swedish employees after a three-month strike that was also accompanied by sympathy strikes and blockades.

Below is an overview of sympathy actions that are adding pressure to Tesla by potentially disrupting its supply chain in Sweden, where Tesla's Model Y was the top-selling car in 2023 with 16,412 new vehicles registered:

SWEDEN

Sweden's transport workers' union pledged in November to block loading and unloading of Tesla cars across the country's ports. A dockworkers' union also said it would not handle Tesla cars in Swedish harbours from Nov. 17.

Seko, which represents service and communications workers, on Nov. 20 started a blockade of delivery and collection of mail and parcels at Tesla's Swedish workplaces by logistics firms PostNord and CityMail, cutting the EV maker's access to license plates from the country's transport authority.

The union of civil servants said its members at PostNord, owned by the Swedish and Danish states, would pause deliveries to Tesla from Nov. 21.

The electricians' union vowed in November to block electrical repair works at Tesla facilities and charging stations, and a painters' union warned it planned to stop painting Tesla cars.

The building maintenance workers' union halted all work related to the automaker from Nov. 17, while a building workers' union pledged to halt maintenance and construction work at Tesla service workshops.

The transport workers' union stopped collecting waste at Tesla's workshops in Sweden from Dec. 29.

Swedish municipal workers' union Kommunal also stopped waste collection from Tesla's facilities in Molndal and Orebro from Jan. 2, as announced on Dec. 14. It also plans to block waste collection from being performed by other service providers.

Unionised workers at Hydro Extrusions, a subsidiary of Norwegian aluminium and energy company Hydro, stopped work on Tesla car products from Nov. 24. The workers are members of IF Metall.

Sweden's musicians' union said on Nov. 14 it would block some music from Tesla cars' media systems.

Some Swedish pension funds have urged Tesla to sign the agreement with the union, but so far held off selling shares.

NORWAY

Norway's largest private sector labour union said on Dec. 6 it would start blocking transit shipments of Tesla cars meant for the Swedish market from Dec. 20 unless the automaker reached an agreement with IF Metall.

The union said it intended to send a "clear signal to Tesla" and do what was necessary to ensure that any vehicle shipments via Norway to Sweden were blocked, but declined to say exactly what measures it might take.

DENMARK

Danish dockworkers' union said on Dec. 5 it would not unload or transport cars made by Tesla for Swedish customers.

PensionDanmark, one of Denmark's largest pension funds, said on Dec. 6 it had decided to sell its holdings in Tesla over the automaker's refusal to enter into agreements with labour unions.

FINLAND

Finnish transport workers' union said on Dec. 7 its dockers would not load Tesla vehicles and components destined to Sweden in all Finnish ports from Dec. 20.

(Compiled by Jesus Calero and Greta Rosen Fondahn in GdanskEditing by Christina Fincher, Mark Potter and Milla Nissi)
Staff members of Takeuchi Farm, who come from Okayama Prefecture to voluntarily help evacuees, cook food for the evacuees at an evacuation centre, in the aftermath of an earthquake, in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, January 5, 2024. REUTERS/Kim Kyung

By Kiyoshi Takenaka

WAJIMA, Japan (Reuters) - On a chilly Friday morning in the quake-hit Japanese town of Wajima, Aydin Muhammet and his employees served steaming bowls of soup and rice in front of a community centre for evacuees.

The Turkish national's 10-man volunteer team from the construction company he owns in central Japan has been at work since Thursday afternoon, offering victims their first hot meals since a magnitude 7.6 earthquake levelled much of their city on New Year's Day.

Rushing to disaster zones to lend a helping hand has become Muhammet's second calling since the massive temblor and tsunami on the other side of the Japanese archipelago killed roughly 20,000 people in March 2011.

Muhammet, who has been living in his wife's native land for the past 30 years, said he was restless to bring aid since seeing the news of the devastation on TV. He sprang into action as soon as he learned the roads to Wajima had opened up.

Furiously working the phones in search of stores to stock up on supplies, Muhammet and his team - seven other compatriots and two Vietnamese - left their home in Nagoya around 3 a.m. on Thursday, shoving aside worries about driving through snow country without proper tyres.

"I just had to do something," he said.

The five-truck team finally arrived 11 hours later for a 300-km (180 miles) trip that would normally take half that time, and immediately got to work handing out everything from water and diapers to ready-made meals.

"We should have been exhausted but once we got here, we were energised," he said.

'NO TIME TO REST'

Muhammet, 46, said his motivation comes from knowing the despair and loneliness people can feel when they see no help arriving.

"I've been to other disaster zones so I sense the happiness of the victims when we're here. And that makes me feel I want to keep doing this," he said, speaking in Japanese.

Wajima, a city of about 30,000 best known for its lacquerware craft, has seen some of the worst destruction, with scores of homes and businesses collapsed or burnt down.

"We are truly thankful," said 72-year-old Matsuo Yata, after delivering a tray of vegetable soup with rice to others in the hall - now hosting more than 700 fellow evacuees. "A hot meal is the best."

Muhammet said he was less prepared in the 2011 disaster but managed to reach some victims in a tsunami-hit town, and has also helped with relief efforts after a flooding not far from his home in Nagoya.

Muhammet said he had prepared for the worst as seismologists warn that a massive earthquake could hit the Tokai region where he lives some time in the next 30 years.

His company has dug a well that can supply 400 litres (105 gallons) of water a minute and secured a big power generator. Muhammet also buys a year's worth of rice grown by a farmer friend, keeping roughly 1 ton of it at his company as emergency supply.

Arriving at the scenes of desperation, Muhammet said it saddened him to see the absence of more citizen volunteers.

"There's only so much a team of 10 people can do over two days. There's got to be more people out there who can do something," he said.

"I know it's New Year's, but this is no time to be resting."

As the steady stream of hungry evacuees walked up to receive their morning meals, an elderly man approached Muhammet, grabbing him in a tight embrace in a show of appreciation.

(Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka; Writing by Chang-Ran Kim; Editing by Stephen Coates)
Exploring the Upcoming Dividend and Historical Performance of Banco Macro SA

Banco Macro SA (NYSE:BMA) recently announced a dividend of $0.6 per share, payable on 2024-01-16, with the ex-dividend date set for 2024-01-05. 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 Banco Macro SA's dividend performance and assess its sustainability.

What Does Banco Macro SA Do?

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Banco Macro SA is a financial institution and it provides standard banking products and services designed to suit individual needs. It has two categories of customers, retail customers, which include individuals and entrepreneurs, and corporate customers, which include small, medium, and large companies and corporations. In addition, it provides services to four provincial governments. It generates the majority of its revenue from Argentina.

Banco Macro SA's Dividend Analysis

A Glimpse at Banco Macro SA's Dividend History

Banco Macro SA has maintained a consistent dividend payment record since 2022. Dividends are currently distributed on a monthly basis. Below is a chart showing annual Dividends Per Share for tracking historical trends.

Breaking Down Banco Macro SA's Dividend Yield and Growth

As of today, Banco Macro SA currently has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 8.80% and a 12-month forward dividend yield of 10.96%. This suggests an expectation of increased dividend payments over the next 12 months.

Banco Macro SA's dividend yield of 8.80% is near a 10-year high and outperforms than 0.17 of global competitors in the Banks industry, suggesting that the company's dividend yield stands out as an attractive proposition for income investors.

Over the past three years, Banco Macro SA's annual dividend growth rate was 41.50%. Based on Banco Macro SA's dividend yield and five-year growth rate, the 5-year yield on cost of Banco Macro SA stock as of today is approximately 8.80%.

Story continues

Banco Macro SA'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, Banco Macro SA's dividend payout ratio is 0.24.

Banco Macro SA's profitability rank, offers an understanding of the company's earnings prowess relative to its peers. GuruFocus ranks Banco Macro SA's profitability 7 out of 10 as of 2023-09-30, suggesting good profitability prospects. The company has reported net profit in 9 years out of the past 10 years.

Growth Metrics: The Future Outlook

To ensure the sustainability of dividends, a company must have robust growth metrics. Banco Macro SA's growth rank of 7 out of 10 suggests that the company's growth trajectory is good relative to its competitors.

Revenue is the lifeblood of any company, and Banco Macro SA's revenue per share, combined with the 3-year revenue growth rate, indicates a strong revenue model. Banco Macro SA's revenue has increased by approximately 23.80% per year on average, a rate that outperforms approximately 92.94% 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, Banco Macro SA's earnings increased by approximately -72.00% per year on average, a rate that outperforms approximately 0.23% of global competitors.

Next Steps

In conclusion, Banco Macro SA's upcoming dividend payment, strong dividend growth rate, prudent payout ratio, solid profitability, and robust growth metrics paint a promising picture for value investors focused on income. While the high dividend yield is attractive, it's important to consider the sustainability of such payouts in conjunction with the company's financial health and growth prospects. With Banco Macro SA's proven track record and future outlook, investors may find the company to be a compelling addition to their dividend-focused portfolios. For those seeking to discover more high-dividend yield opportunities, GuruFocus Premium users can utilize the High Dividend Yield Screener to identify potential investments.

This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


By Shivangi Acharya

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's defence ministry is providing protective escorts to Indian container ships in the high seas around the Red Sea as the security situation there continues to simmer, a government source said on Friday.

Containers could face delays of 14 days in their turnaround time due to taking a longer sea route around Africa which is also causing higher transport and insurance costs, the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, added.

"The cost of freight & insurance has risen due to ships being compelled to avoid the region & take a longer route. There is no shortage of containers, but we see a longer turnaround time," the source said.

Ships have been avoiding the Red Sea after the Houthi militant group stepped up maritime attacks against commercial vessels, which it said was a response to Israel's military campaign in the Gaza Strip.

"Many consignments are being escorted with security in high seas with help from Ministry of Defence," the source, who has direct knowledge of the matter said on Friday.

The Indian Navy said earlier this week that task groups of frigates and destroyers had been deployed in the central and northern Arabian Sea to assist merchant vessels passing through the region.

"Aerial surveillance by long-range maritime patrol aircraft and RPAs (Remotely Piloted Aircraft) has been enhanced to have a complete maritime domain awareness," the statement, issued on Sunday, said.

Earlier this week, the United States and eleven other countries issued a joint statement reiterating a call for an end to Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.

(Reporting by Shivangi Acharya, writing by Tanvi Mehta and Shilpa Jamkhandikar, editing by Susan Fenton and Toby Chopra)
By Blake Brittain

(Reuters) - OpenAI and its financial backer Microsoft were sued on Friday in Manhattan federal court by a pair of nonfiction authors who say the companies misused their work to train the artificial-intelligence models behind the popular chatbot ChatGPT and other AI-based services.

Writers Nicholas Basbanes and Nicholas Gage told the court in a proposed class action that the companies infringed their copyrights by including several of their books as part of the data used to train OpenAI's GPT large language model.

Representatives for Microsoft and OpenAI did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the complaint.

The lawsuit follows several others filed by fiction and nonfiction writers ranging from comedian Sarah Silverman to "Game of Thrones" author George R.R. Martin against tech companies over the alleged use of their work to train AI programs.

The New York Times also sued OpenAI and Microsoft last week over the use of its journalists' work to train AI applications.

Basbanes and Gage are both former journalists. Their lawyer, Michael Richter, said it was "outrageous" that the companies could use their works to "power a new billion-dollar-plus industry without any compensation."

(Reporting by Blake Brittain in Washington; Editing by David Bario; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
FILE PHOTO: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attends the 8th Plenary Meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, at the party's headquarters, in Pyongyang, North Korea, in this picture released by the Korean Central News Agency on

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent messages of sympathy to the leaders of Iran and Japan on Saturday, state media said, after the countries were hit with deadly bombings and earthquake respectively this week.

Two bomb blasts in Iran claimed by Islamic State killed nearly 100 people on Wednesday, while the death toll in Japan's devastating earthquake on New Year's Day is nearing 100.

Kim expressed condolences to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida with the hope that affected areas would be restored to stability soon, according to state media KCNA.

He also expressed sympathy to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and reaffirmed North Korea's stand in "opposing all sorts of terrorism", KCNA said.

North Korea on Friday fired more than 200 artillery rounds near a disputed maritime border with South Korea, prompting the South to take "corresponding" action with live fire drills.

(Reporting by Joyce Lee; Editing by Sandra Maler)
KARACHI, Pakistan (Reuters) -Pakistan's senate approved a resolution on Friday to further delay national elections which had been scheduled to take place on Feb. 8, the chairman of the senate said while addressing senators.

The resolution passed by the senate, however, is not binding and does not necessarily mean elections will be further delayed. There was no immediate comment from the election commission, the body that conducts elections in the country.

Elections in the politically and economically troubled South Asian nation were originally due to be held in November, 90 days after the dissolution of the lower house of parliament in August, but were first delayed to February due to the fresh demarcation of constituencies under a new census.

"January and February are the coldest months in majority areas in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (provinces), said independent Senator Dilawar Khan, who moved the resolution during a session with only 14 lawmakers in attendance, adding that there were security concerns too.

Pakistan is currently being run by a caretaker government under interim Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar that is meant to oversee a general election.

Caretakers are usually limited to overseeing elections, but Kakar's set-up is the most empowered in Pakistan's history thanks to recent legislation that allows it to make policy decisions on economic matters.

The legislation is aimed at keeping on track the conditions for a $3 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout secured in June.

Political analysts fear that a prolonged period without an elected government would allow the military, which has ruled Pakistan for over three decades since independence in 1947 and wields considerable control even if not in power, to consolidate control.

(Reporting by Ariba Shahid, writing by Sakshi Dayal; Editing by Toby Chopra and Raju Gopalakrishnan)
FILE PHOTO: Israeli military Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi looks on while visiting a location given as northern Israel, in this screengrab taken from a handout video released on January 3, 2024. Israel Defense Forces/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - A plan by Israel's military to mount an internal investigation into the Oct. 7 Hamas attack that triggered the Gaza war is drawing criticism from rightist government ministers, who want a more sweeping review of policy towards the Palestinian enclave.

The armed forces chief, Lieutenant-General Herzi Halevi, informed the security cabinet of the planned inquiry during a briefing on Thursday evening. The briefing was meant to be closed but some of it was aired by Israeli media, including criticism by several ministers who were present.

The Oct. 7 rampage by Hamas militants, in which Israel said some 1,200 people were killed and about 240 taken hostage, blindsided the country's advanced security apparatus and exposed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to criticism.

Unlike some other top officials, he has made no personal admission of failure. He has spoken more generally of the eventual need of a public reckoning with all Israeli decision-makers involved in Gaza policy, including those predating his record-long term.

Two far-right cabinet ministers said they were upset at the inclusion in the military's inquiry of Shaul Mofaz, a retired general who was defence minister when Israel unilaterally quit the Gaza Strip in 2005 and razed Jewish settlements there.

The two ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, accused another ex-general helping with the probe of having weakened the military by supporting reservists who protested again a campaign for a judicial overhaul by Netanyahu last year.

"These are people whose own actions should be under investigation - and who should not be the ones doing the investigating," Ben-Gvir said in a social media post.

In his own online post, Smotrich said he was not in principle opposed to a military review intended to improve war performance. But any investigation of what led to the events on Oct. 7, and of wider security doctrines, demanded cabinet input, he said.

The office of an Israeli military spokesperson said the inquiry had not yet begun, adding: "The general staff are planning the process of the investigation and the appointment of the heads of the investigation teams."

(Writing by Dan Williams, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
U.S. Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn arrives at the U.S. District Court in Washington, U.S., August 11, 2023 before a hearing where former U.S. President Donald Trump's lawyers will urge a judge to give him more leeway to publicly share portions of the

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A former U.S. Capitol Police officer who fought a mob of Donald Trump's supporters as they attacked the nation's legislature on Jan. 6, 2021, announced his bid for Congress on Friday, citing an ongoing threat to American democracy.

"Everybody has a role to play defending this democracy and I'm stepping into mine right now," Harry Dunn said in an interview with Reuters.

Dunn's announcement on the eve of the three-year anniversary of the violent attack came as the former Republican president again seeks the White House after his 2020 loss to Democrat Joe Biden. Biden has also cast this year's contest as critical to democracy's survival as he and Trump prepare for a rematch in November.

Dunn, a Black 15-year veteran of the police force that protects U.S. lawmakers, has been vocal about the physical and racist abuse he endured during the attack as Trump supporters sought to prevent Congress from certifying Biden's 2020 victory, including before a bipartisan House of Representatives panel that investigated the deadly riot. He has said he battled post-traumatic stress disorder from the event.

Dunn is seeking to replace retiring U.S. Representative John Sarbanes of Maryland, a Democrat, as Democrats seek to win back the majority in the chamber. He recently resigned from the police force, he said in a campaign ad posted on social media.

The district, which sits between Washington and Baltimore, is considered to be a safe seat for Democrats. Among Dunn's competitors for the Democratic nomination are a nurse, nearly a half-dozen state lawmakers and an agricultural entrepreneur.

Trump, the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination, has pleaded not guilty to criminal charges in federal and state courts for attempting to subvert the 2020 election.

Trump has called Jan. 6 a "protest" and vowed to pardon at least some of those who have been charged, convicted or pleaded guilty if he wins the presidency. So far, more than 1,200 people have been charged in the attack in which about 140 police officers were assaulted and seven people died.

Five Republicans are challenging Trump for the nomination, but have largely steered clear of mentioning Jan. 6, with two rivals  Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis  promising to pardon Trump if he is convicted of any crimes.

Since the attack, Republicans have become more sympathetic to the rioters and less likely to blame Trump for his actions that day, a Washington Post-University of Maryland poll this week showed.

Representatives for Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

"Here we are, an election cycle away from the extinction of our democracy as we know it today," Dunn said. "I absolutely believe it can happen again. Donald Trump to this day has said he did nothing wrong. And if somebody thinks they did nothing wrong, then what's to stop them from doing it again?"

(Reporting by Susan Heavey and Alexandra Sarabia; additional reporting by Makini Brice; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
FILE PHOTO: Luis Montenegro, President of the Social Democratic Party, the main opposition in Portugal, gestures during an interview with Reuters, in Lisbon, Portugal, December 5, 2023. REUTERS/Pedro Nunes/File Photo

By Sergio Goncalves and Catarina Demony

LISBON (Reuters) - Portugal's main opposition party, the Social Democrats, reached an agreement late on Thursday with the right-wing CDS-PP for a pre-electoral alliance as they seek to bolster their chances of winning the March general election.

Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa, from the Socialist Party (PS), resigned on Nov. 7 over an investigation into alleged illegalities in his government's handling of lithium, hydrogen and data centre deals.

President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa called a snap election for March 10.

The Social Democrats (PSD), led by Luis Montenegro, said the pre-electoral agreement, to be signed on Sunday and known as the Democratic Alliance (AD), had "historical inspiration and symbolism".

Most opinion polls put the PS, now led by Pedro Nuno Santos, neck and neck with the PSD but a survey released on Jan. 1 showed the Socialists with 34.1% of the vote compared to PSD's 24.8%. The new alliance should strengthen the Social Democrats' position.

A similar coalition in Portugal in 1979 won an outright parliamentary majority the following year.

The alliance would also guarantee the right-wing CDS-PP's return to parliament after it failed to elect any lawmakers in the last general election in 2022, its leader Nuno Melo said.

Political scientist Adelino Maltez said that even though the CDS-PP failed to secure seats in 2022 the party "was not dead", still had a level of public support and had a media presence: "That's what convinced Montenegro."

Many analysts fear a post-election stalemate given the rise of the populist, anti-establishment party Chega.

"A true renewal of the AD is impossible because the birth of Chega completely changed the political framework," said Maltez.

Established in 2019, the far-right Chega emerged as Portugal's third-largest parliamentary force, winning around 7% share of the vote in the 2022 election. Monday's Aximage poll showed support for Chega could now grow to 16.3%. PSD has ruled out making it an ally.

The PS has been in power since 2015 and Costa's first four-year mandate was won through a far-left alliance with the Left Bloc and Communists.

Nuno Santos successfully coordinated support for that alliance and has not ruled out a similar one this time. Left Bloc leader Mariana Mortagua has also signalled their willingness to negotiate an alliance.

(Reporting by Sergio Goncalves and Catarina Demony; Editing by Aislinn Laing and Ros Russell)
Opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, who was arrested on sexual assault accusations and released on bail under judicial supervision, speaks during a news conference in Dakar, Senegal March 8, 2021. REUTERS/Cooper Inveen/File Photo

DAKAR (Reuters) -Senegal's Constitutional Council on Friday rejected opposition leader Ousmane Sonko's application to run for president in elections next month due to missing documents, one of his lawyers, Cire Cledor Ly, said.

The ruling deals a hard blow to Sonko's presidential aspirations, already hampered by a flurry of court cases that have piled up against him since he was accused of rape in 2021. The case has spurred violent protests across the country.

Although he was cleared of the rape charge, Sonko has been found guilty of libel and an offence described in the penal code as immoral behaviour towards individuals younger than 21.

He was arrested in July for insurrection and struck off the electoral role, but still submitted his candidacy from prison after a court in the south of Senegal ruled in his favour.

Ly said the council rejected Sonko's application because his file was not complete. He said the council did not provide further details but that Sonko's team would lodge a complaint once they had more information on which documents were missing.

The legal saga embroiling the popular opposition politician has fuelled several bouts of sometimes deadly unrest over the past two years - damaging Senegal's reputation as one of West Africa's most stable democracies ahead of the poll that will determine President Macky Sall's successor.

Sonko denies any wrongdoing and says all charges against him are politically motivated. The government denies this and accuses Sonko of stoking violence. It dissolved his Pastef party in July.

A former tax collector with a populist rhetoric, Sonko came third in Senegal's 2019 presidential election, garnering an unexpectedly high number of votes for a first-time runner.

Particularly popular among disillusioned urban youth, he had become the voice of frustrations over economic hardship and lack of jobs that marred Sall's popularity over the course of his two terms in office.

Applications to run in the presidential election are currently being reviewed ahead of a Jan. 20 deadline to publish a final list of cleared candidates.

Sall in September named Prime Minister Amadou Ba as the ruling coalition candidate.

Amid Sonko's legal travails, one of his close allies, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, has applied to run as an independent candidate.

(Reporting by Portia Crowe and Diadie Ba Writing by Sofia ChristensenEditing by Mark Potter and Sandra Maler)
Opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, who was arrested on sexual assault accusations and released on bail under judicial supervision, speaks during a news conference in Dakar, Senegal March 8, 2021. REUTERS/Cooper Inveen/File Photo

By Diadie Ba

DAKAR (Reuters) -Senegal's Supreme Court on Friday ruled against opposition politician Ousmane Sonko in his appeal of a libel conviction, dealing another blow to his hopes of competing in next month's presidential election, lawyers said.

Sonko, 49, has been battling various court cases since 2021. These have hampered his plans to vie for the presidency in the Feb. 25 vote and fuelled unrest that has damaged Senegal's reputation as one of West Africa's most stable democracies.

After deliberations that extended from Thursday into the early hours of Friday, the court rejected Sonko's appeal against a May conviction that led to him receiving a six-month suspended sentence for libel, lawyers involved in the case said.

According to Senegalese law, Sonko cannot compete in the presidential race while such a conviction is upheld.

"We have just recorded a great victory. The ... sentence is upheld, so Ousmane Sonko will not be able to participate in the election," the plaintiff's lawyer El Hadji Diouf said on the radio.

Sonko's legal team said the setback was not final. "The fight will continue," his lawyer Cire Cledor Ly told reporters outside the court building in the capital Dakar.

There was no immediate sign of public protest in response to the ruling.

Sonko's legal saga started when he was accused of rape in 2021, sparking deadly unrest across the country that has since flared up sporadically over various court decisions.

He denies any wrongdoing and says all charges against him are politically motivated. The government rejects this and accuses Sonko of stoking violence. It dissolved his Pastef party in July.

"No one doubts the political aspect of this affair which aims to eliminate the leader of the opposition," said Pastef spokesperson El Malick Ndiaye, commenting on the latest ruling.

"Sonko still remains in the race," he said on national radio.

After placing third in Senegal's 2019 presidential election, Sonko is seen as a strong potential challenger in the race to succeed President Macky Sall, who is stepping down after two terms.

Sonko submitted his candidacy from custody last month after another court in the southern city of Zinguichor, where Sonko is mayor, ordered he be reinstated on the electoral register.

He had been struck off after he was arrested in July on insurrection charges. He has been in detention since then.

The electoral commission is reviewing applications and is scheduled to publish a final list of cleared presidential candidates by Jan. 20.

(Additional reporting by Portia Crowe; Writing by Alessandra Prentice; Editing by Shri Navaratnam and Stephen Coates)
ISTANBUL (Reuters) - A Turkish court decided on Friday to formally arrest 15 people and deport eight others suspected of being linked to Israel's Mossad intelligence service and of targeting Palestinians living in Turkey, according to state broadcaster TRT Haber.

Turkish authorities detained 34 people earlier this week after warning Israel of "serious consequences" if it tried to hunt down members of the militant group Hamas living outside Palestinian territories, including in Turkey.

TRT Haber's story provided no details about what the court decided for the remaining 11 people who were initially detained.

Turkey, unlike most of its Western allies and some Arab nations, does not classify Hamas as a terrorist organisation.

Police raided locations in eight provinces to capture the suspects as part of the investigation carried out by the MIT intelligence agency and the Istanbul prosecutor's counter-terrorism bureau.

Turkey has harshly criticised Israel for its bombardment of Gaza in its war with Hamas, with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly exchanging barbs last week.

(Reporting by Ezgi Erkoyun; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
(Reuters) - The United States said on Friday it was troubled by comments from Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye, who last week called on citizens of the small African country to stone gay people.

The comments escalated a crackdown on sexual minorities in a nation where LGBT people already face social ostracism and jail terms of up to two years if convicted of same-sex offences.

"The United States is deeply troubled by President Ndayishimiye's remarks targeting certain vulnerable and marginalized Burundians," U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement.

"We call on all of Burundi's leaders to respect the inherent dignity and inalienable rights, including equal access to justice, of every member of Burundian society."

The statement did not refer specifically to the remarks about stoning.

In May, Uganda passed a law that carried the death sentence for certain categories of same-sex offences. The United States has imposed a range of sanctions including travel restrictions and removing Uganda from a tariff-free trade deal.

(Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Sandra Maler)
FILE PHOTO: Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a rally in Reno, Nevada, U.S. December 17, 2023. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo

By Andrew Chung and John Kruzel

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear Donald Trump's appeal of a judicial decision barring the former president from Colorado's Republican primary ballot, taking up a politically explosive case with major implications for the 2024 presidential election.

At issue is the Colorado Supreme Court's Dec. 19 ruling disqualifying Trump from the state's primary ballot based on language in the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment for engaging in insurrection, involving the Jan. 6, 2021, attack by his supporters on the U.S. Capitol.

The justices took up the case with unusual speed. Trump, the frontrunner for his party's nomination to challenge Democratic President Joe Biden in the Nov. 5 U.S. election, filed his appeal on Wednesday. The justices indicated they would fast-track a decision, scheduling oral arguments for Feb. 8. The Colorado Republican primary is scheduled for March 5.

The state court, acting in a challenge to Trump by Republican and unaffiliated voters in Colorado, found him ineligible for the presidency under a constitutional provision that bars anyone who "engaged in insurrection or rebellion" from holding public office, barring him from the primary ballot.

The U.S. Supreme Court did not act on a separate appeal of the state court's decision by the Colorado Republican Party.

The Colorado case thrusts the Supreme Court - whose 6-3 conservative majority includes three justices appointed by Trump - into the unprecedented and politically fraught effort by his detractors to invalidate his campaign to reclaim the White House.

Trump's spokesperson Steven Cheung praised the court's decision to hear the case, characterizing the disqualification efforts as "part of a well-funded effort by left-wing political activists hell-bent on stopping the lawful re-election of President Trump this November, even if it means disenfranchising voters."

Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold said people in her state and around the United States "deserve clarity on whether someone who engaged in insurrection may run for the country's highest office."

Noah Bookbinder, president of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a watchdog group representing the challengers to Trump, added, "We're glad that the Supreme Court will definitively decide whether Donald Trump can be on the ballot. We look forward to presenting our case and ensuring the Constitution is upheld."

Many Republicans have decried the disqualification drive as election interference, while proponents of disqualification have said holding Trump constitutionally accountable for an insurrection supports democratic values. Trump faces criminal charges in two cases related to his efforts to overturn his 2020 loss to Biden.

Trump also has appealed to a Maine state court a decision by that state's top election official barring him from the primary ballot under the same constitutional provision at issue in Colorado.

HIGH STAKES FOR SUPREME COURT

While the Colorado case could hamper Trump's bid to win back the presidency, it also has major implications for the justices. Given the political nature of the dispute, they run the risk of appearing partisan whichever way they lean.

Their action will shape a wider effort to disqualify Trump from other state ballots. Colorado and Maine are Democratic-leaning states. Nonpartisan political analysts forecast that both are unlikely to back a Republican presidential candidate in the general election. But there are efforts underway in other states - including highly competitive Michigan - that could shape the election's outcome.

The Colorado ruling marked the first time that Section 3 of the 14th Amendment - the so-called disqualification clause - was used to deem a presidential candidate ineligible. Section 3 bars from holding office any "officer of the United States" who took an oath "to support the Constitution of the United States" and then "engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof."

The amendment was ratified in the aftermath of the American Civil War of 1861-1865 in which Southern states that allowed the practice of slavery rebelled in a bid for secession.

Among other arguments, Trump's lawyers have said that Section 3 does not apply to U.S. presidents, that the question of presidential eligibility is reserved to Congress, and that he did not participate in an insurrection.

The Colorado court's decision marked "the first time in the history of the United States that the judiciary has prevented voters from casting ballots for the leading major-party presidential candidate," Trump's appeal stated.

The Republican and unaffiliated voters who sued to disqualify Trump from the ballot disagreed. In a filing on Thursday, they emphasized the lower court's findings that Trump's intentional "mobilizing, inciting, and encouraging" of an armed mob to attack the Capitol meets the legal definition in Section 3.

"This attack was an 'insurrection' against the Constitution by any standard," they said in the filing.

Trump's supporters attacked the Capitol in a bid to prevent Congress from certifying Biden's election victory. Trump gave an incendiary speech before the attack, repeating his false claims of widespread voting fraud.

Biden in a speech in Pennsylvania on Friday cast Trump as a threat to American democracy, one of the themes of his re-election campaign. Biden specifically made reference to Trump's speech before the Capitol riot, whose three-year anniversary is on Saturday.

(Reporting by John Kruzel in Washington and Andrew Chung in New York; Editing by Will Dunham)
Japan Airlines' A350 airplane is on fire at Haneda international airport in Tokyo, Japan January 2, 2024. REUTERS/Issei Kato

(Reuters) -U.S. aviation safety officials will provide assistance to Japan in the reading of airplane recorders after a deadly collision between a Japan Airlines widebody jet and a small Coast Guard plane this week.

National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy told reporters Japan had sought assistance with the Honeywell-manufactured recorders. "We will help on that," she said, adding it is unclear if the recorders will be brought to Washington for analysis or if NTSB personnel will travel to Japan to offer assistance.

All 379 people aboard the Japan Airlines (JAL) Airbus A350 managed to leave the jet after it erupted in flames following Tuesday's crash with a De Havilland Dash-8 Coast Guard turboprop shortly after landing at Tokyo's Haneda airport.

A Honeywell spokesperson said it produced the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) used on the Canadian-made Dash-8, but not the flight data recorder (FDR).

L3Harris confirmed it produced recorders for both the A350 and the Dash-8, but referred further questions about the investigation to the NTSB and Japanese authorities.

The Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB) declined to comment on the issue of U.S. assistance.

Under international rules for aircraft investigations, known throughout the industry by their legal name "Annex 13," the probe is led by the country where the crash took place, but countries where the planes are manufactured can also participate.

Forensic experts from Airbus and French state agency BAE, along with a representative from Canada's Transportation Safety Board (TSB) are investigating the accident, which killed five of the six Coast Guard plane crew members.

Japan, which is leading the investigation, can also ask other countries for assistance under international rules.

(Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington, Allison Lampert in Montreal, Valerie Insinna in Washington and Tim Hepher in Paris; Additional Reporting by Daniel Leussink in Tokyo; Editing by Sandra Maler)
NRA Executive Vice President and CEO Wayne LaPierre speaks at the National Rifle Association (NRA) annual convention in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S., April 14, 2023. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

By Daniel Trotta and Jonathan Stempel

(Reuters) -Wayne LaPierre resigned as leader of the National Rifle Association on Friday, ending a long career that saw it became one of the most powerful lobbies in Washington, only to have its prestige tarnished by graft accusations and a bankruptcy filing.

LaPierre, 74, chief executive since 1991, steps down just as New York state Attorney General Letitia James brings a corruption trial against the NRA, due to begin in state Supreme Court on Monday.

James had been seeking LaPierre's removal from office, but he is still among three individual defendants in the case and is expected to testify.

The NRA has long accused James of targeting it for political purposes, and violating the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment for trying to silence its speech.

The group cited health reasons for LaPierre's resignation, saying his longtime communications chief, Andrew Arulanandam, would replace him as CEO and executive vice president on an interim basis.

LaPierre helped build the NRA into a political powerhouse that has led efforts in Washington and in statehouses to expand gun rights under the Second Amendment of the Constitution, successfully fighting off attempts at gun control even as the number of mass shootings mounted across the country.

The trial set for a Manhattan courtroom on Monday apparently will proceed without delay. "We look forward to presenting our case in court," James said on X, formerly Twitter.

LaPierre was in the courtroom all week as jurors were being selected for the trial, a person familiar with the matter said.

"The end of the Wayne LaPierre era at the NRA is an important victory in our case. LaPierre's resignation validates our claims against him, but it will not insulate him from accountability," James said.

NRA counsel William Brewer also said the organization was "prepared and ready" for trial.

"The NRA will defend its governance programs and its substantial efforts in support of the freedoms it fights to defend," Brewer said in a statement, adding that the board accepted LaPierre's resignation "with an outpouring of admiration for all he's done to defend freedom."

Gun control advocates celebrated the resignation.

Kris Brown, president of the gun violence prevention group Brady, mockingly said, "Thoughts and prayers to Wayne LaPierre," referring to a phrase often repeated by those who show support for victims of mass shootings but decline to call for stricter gun laws.

Nick Suplina, senior vice president of Everytown and a former adviser to Attorney General James, said he expects the NRA to continue its current path because Arulanandam and the senior leadership have been LaPierre loyalists.

"Ten years after the NRA was an absolute political juggernaut and struck fear in the hearts of legislators in Washington and in states across the country, they are a shell of what they once were," Suplina said.

"They are not in a position to be particularly politically relevant in 2024 because their brand is so damaged."

NRA revenue has slid 44% since 2016, a court filing shows, as membership has slumped. Once as high as 5.5 million, membership was down to 4.2 million in September 2022, said former NRA board member Phil Journey, who said the board was briefed on membership.

"We were shedding 1,000 members a day, net, at that time. It's probably less than 4 million now," said Journey, who was left off the board after he cast the lone vote against re-appointing LaPierre during the NRA's annual meeting last year.

Despite the legal and financial troubles, LaPierre was easily re-elected last year by the 76-member board, a reflection of his fundraising and legislative success over the years.

The group's ability to rebound may depend on how well it fares in the upcoming trial.

James sued the NRA in August 2020, saying it diverted millions of dollars to fund luxuries for top officials, including travel expenses for LaPierre to several resorts.

The attorney general had previously sought to shut down the NRA, but the judge rejected that effort in March 2022.

One of the four individuals originally named as defendants settled late on Friday. Joshua Powell, the former NRA second-in-command, agreed to reimburse the group $100,000 and admitted that he used its charitable assets for his own benefit.

In January 2021, the NRA filed for bankruptcy protection in Texas, in a strategy to re-organize there and escape James' probe, but a bankruptcy judge dismissed that case.

(Reporting by Daniel Trotta and Jonathan Stempel; Additional reporting by Steve Holland and Doina Chiacu; Editing by Bill Berkrot and Clarence Fernandez)
China's President Xi Jinping speaks at the "Senior Chinese Leader Event" held by the National Committee on US-China Relations and the US-China Business Council on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco, Calif

By Laurie Chen

BEIJING (Reuters) -Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged Chinese envoys to forge a "diplomatic iron army" loyal to the Communist Party "with a posture of readiness and a firm will to defy strong powers".

The speech marked a shift in tone after months of softer diplomacy when China sought foreign investment for its sagging economy, including in a carefully staged summit with U.S. President Joe Biden and dinner with American business leaders in November.

"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 ambassadors in Beijing, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

Before the recent warming, Chinese diplomats had embraced a more confrontational rhetoric known as "wolf warrior" diplomacy, which marked a departure from the restraint that had long characterised Beijing's engagement with the world.

Despite some recent goodwill gestures towards Washington and several other nations, China has also engaged in an acrimonious dispute with the Philippines over a contested reef in the South China Sea and with Japan over its discharge of treated radioactive water from its wrecked Fukushima power plant.

Xi's comments were made in an annual keynote speech to the envoys in the Great Hall of the People following the conclusion of the Central Foreign Affairs Work Conference, a secretive high-level Communist Party foreign policy planning meeting that takes place once every five years.

He urged envoys to adhere to Party discipline, repeating the word "strict" seven times.

"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.

In a commentary published after Xi's speech, state news agency Xinhua said the envoys "were not being urged to put on a menacing face before the world. Instead, they were being encouraged to act on their best behaviour and not bend the rules."

It said the phrase "iron army" is frequently used in official Chinese statements and is meant to emphasise the "discipline of government officials".

In one example, the phrase "iron army" was written into the 2022 work report of China's Supreme People's Court, which vowed to build an "iron army" of courts loyal to the party, country, people and the law.

Xi's remarks come amid a renewed disciplinary push among China's 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."

Xi also emphasised the need for China to increase its international influence to combat what he believes are the West's attempts to contain and suppress China, repeating the word "struggle" five times.

"We must make broad and deep friendships, and the fight to win people's hearts must be carried out at all levels. 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 West's "bullying" and "hegemony", urging diplomats and officials to "carry forward our fighting spirit".

(Reporting by Laurie Chen and Beijing newsroom; Editing by Alex Richardson, Nick Macfie, Antoni Slodkowski and Neil Fullick)
UNITED STATES

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

For the Month of: January 2024

Commission File Number: 001-38428

PolyPid Ltd.

(Translation of registrants name into English)

18 Hasivim Street

Petach Tikva 495376, Israel

(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  Form 40-F

CONTENTS

On January 4, 2024, PolyPid Ltd. (the Company) entered into a definitive securities purchase agreement (the Securities Purchase Agreement) for a private placement financing, led by leading U.S. life sciences-focused investors and certain existing investors. Under the securities purchase agreement, the investors have agreed to purchase 3,371,312 of the Companys ordinary shares, no par value per share at a purchase price of $4.81 per share (the Ordinary Shares) or pre-funded warrants in lieu thereof, and warrants to purchase up to 3,371,312 Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of $5.50 per share. The warrants expire upon the earlier of two years from the date of issuance and 10 trading days following the Companys announcement of the positive recommendation by Data Safety Monitoring Board regarding the Companys unblinded interim analysis in its SHIELD II Phase 3 trial of D-PLEX 100 resulting in the stopping of the trial due to positive efficacy.

The offering is expected to result in gross proceeds to the Company of $16.2 million. Exercise of the warrants in full would result in an additional $17.9 million in gross proceeds to the Company. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities for its ongoing SHIELD II phase 3 clinical trial for the prevention of surgical site infections in patients undergoing abdominal colorectal surgery, working capital and general corporate purposes.

The closing of the offering is expected to occur on or about January 9, 2024, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

The Companys press release dated January 4, 2024 announcing the pricing of the private placement is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

The Company also entered into a letter agreement with JMP Securities, A Citizens Company, as exclusive financial advisor and agent in the offering (the Placement Agent), dated October 25, 2023, pursuant to which the Placement Agent agreed to serve as the placement agent for the Company in connection with the offering. The Company agreed to pay the Placement Agent a cash placement fee equal to 6.5% of the gross proceeds received in the offering and reimburse certain accountable expenses up to $60,000. In connection with the closing of the offering, the Company will also grant the Placement Agent a right of first refusal to act as lead left book running agent or manager and/or exclusive investment banker in connection with certain transactions of the Company for a 12 month period following closing.

The securities described herein (the Securities) have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. The Company has agreed to file within 30 days a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) to register the resale of the Ordinary Shares and the Ordinary Shares underlying warrants.

This Report on Form 6-K (the Report) shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the Securities, nor shall there be any sale of these Securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

The foregoing summaries of the Securities Purchase Agreement, warrants and pre-funded warrants do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the Securities Purchase Agreement, letter agreement, warrants and pre-funded warrants, which are attached as Exhibits 99.2, 99.4, and 99.5, respectively, to this Report and are incorporated herein by reference.

This Report incorporated by reference into the Registrants registration statements on Form F-3 (File No. 333-257651) and Form S-8 (File No. 333-239517 and File No. 333-271060 ), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, to be a part thereof from the date on which this report is submitted, to the extent not superseded by documents or reports subsequently filed or furnished.

1

EXHIBIT INDEX

2

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.

POLYPID LTD. Date: January 5, 2024 By: /s/ Dikla Czaczkes Akselbrad Name: Dikla Czaczkes Akselbrad Title: Chief Executive Officer

3

ATTACHMENTS / EXHIBITS

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY POLYPID LTD. ON JANUARY 4, 2024 TITLED "POLYPID ANNOUNCES PRIVATE PLACEMENT FOR $16 MILLION IN GROSS PROCEEDS"

FORM OF SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN POLYPID LTD. AND THE INVESTORS NAMED THEREIN, DATED JANUARY 4, 2024

FORM OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT BETWEEN POLYPID LTD. AND THE INVESTORS NAMED THEREIN, DATED JANUARY 4, 2024

FORM OF ORDINARY SHARE PURCHASE WARRANT

FORM OF PRE-FUNDED ORDINARY SHARE PURCHASE WARRANT
Army Lt. Col. Herman Bernard West III, right, who once commanded the 1st Battalion, 94th Field Artillery Regiment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., will face court-martial charges for sexual harassment, the Army said Thursday, Jan. 4, 2023. West is a nephew of retired Army Lt. Col. Allen B. West, left, who served as a Republican congressman from Florida from 2011 until 2013 and later as chairman of the Texas Republican Party in 2020-2021. (Instagram)

A former Army battalion commander at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and nephew of a prominent Republican politician will now face court-martial charges for sexual harassment, the Army said Thursday.

Lt. Col. Herman Bernard West III on Nov. 20 was removed as commanding officer of the 1st Battalion, 94th Field Artillery Regiment, 17th Field Artillery Brigade at the joint Army-Air Force installation north of Tacoma, Wash. At the time, the Army gave no reason for his dismissal.

But Lt. Col. Jennifer Bocanegra, an Army public affairs officer, said Thursday that the charges include conduct unbecoming an officer and sexual harassment. West was charged Nov. 28.

Jason Wareham, a Denver-area attorney and former Marine Corps Judge Advocate representing West, could not be reached Thursday for comment.

West is a nephew of retired Army Lt. Col. Allen B. West, who served as a Republican congressman from Florida in 2011-2013 and later as chairman of the Texas Republican Party in 2020-2021.

In 2003, the elder West was relieved as commander of an artillery battalion in the 4th Infantry Division following a use-of-force incident against an Iraqi police officer suspected of attacking U.S. troops.

The elder West admitted to violating rules on treatment of prisoners, including subjecting one to a mock execution with an unloaded pistol and striking him during an interrogation.

West accepted nonjudicial punishment including a $5,000 fine and was allowed to retire from the Army in 2004 as a lieutenant colonel.
U.S. Army Strykers move into position during live-fire training at Nightmare Range in Pocheon, South Korea, on Jan. 4, 2024. (Christopher Green/Stars and Stripes)

POCHEON, South Korea  A Stryker brigade from Fort Carson, Colo., finished a seven-month rotation with live-fire drills in the snowy hills of Nightmare Range, just 22 miles from the border with North Korea.

South Korean tanks and U.S. Strykers  eight-wheeled armored fighting vehicles equipped with remotely operated .50-caliber machine guns  rolled downhill Thursday through mud and snowy terrain and into position. From there, they sent rounds downrange to numbered targets and used a smoke screen to practice vehicle recovery.

U.S. soldiers from Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division took part in the exercise, the first of the new year in South Korea and their last before returning to the United States. They were joined by a South Korean mechanized infantry battalion.

The combined, weeklong drills began Dec. 29 and concluded Thursday.

A South Korean tank fires a round during training with the U.S. Army at Nightmare Range in Pocheon, South Korea, on Jan. 4, 2024. (Christopher Green/Stars and Stripes)

They were part of an increased pace and number of joint exercises by the allies as North Korea carried out an increased pace of ballistic missile tests accompanied by heated rhetoric in 2023.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un started the new year Monday by threatening to thoroughly annihilate the U.S. and South Korea if provoked.

Before the Stryker exercise began, Spc. Ryan Strictland said his unit was welcomed at the rotations start by Army commands in country and by the South Korean military.

For the lower enlisted, this is the first time out of the country, he said. We really didnt know what to expect; we were welcomed with open arms by not only Camp Casey and Camp Humphreys but also the [South Korean] army and our KATUSAs counterparts that are with us in the battalion.

KATUSAs, or Korean Augmentation to the U.S. Army, are South Korean troops assigned to units of the U.S. Eighth Army.

U.S. Army Strykers take part in live-fire training at Nightmare Range in Pocheon, South Korea, on Jan. 4, 2024. (Christopher Green/Stars and Stripes)

During its rotation, Alpha Company executed platoon live fires and air-assault mission recovery exercises. Its final exercise was a culminating event, said company commander Capt. Corey Masaracchia.

Its a culmination of the last seven months of training, he said. We have done small unit tactics from the squad to the company level, and now its an integration of [South Korea] army forces as a culminating event.

The Armys 3rd Cavalry Regiment from Fort Cavazos, Texas, is scheduled to replace the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team for the winter rotation.

The 3rd Cavalry is a combined-arms unit from the III Armored Corps that can act as a reconnaissance and security force or as a Stryker combat team, according to the Armys website.
(Facebook)

AKRON, Ohio (Tribune News Service)  An Akron police officer acquitted of theft charges related to his service in the Ohio National Guard has sued the city, arguing that his prosecution came in retaliation for reporting racial discrimination in the police department.

Deandre Holland accused the department in a lawsuit of launching a criminal investigation only after he reported a supervisor for treating Black officers worse than white ones.

A judge presiding over his criminal trial last year acquitted Holland of felony charges of theft in office, tampering with records and forgery.

The trial lasted one day in Summit County Common Pleas Court before Visiting Judge Patricia Cosgrove tossed out the charges for lack of evidence.

Hollands lawsuit, filed late Wednesday in federal court in Akron by attorney Peter Pattakos, accused two supervisors and the city of discrimination, retaliation and wrongful prosecution.

Akrons spokeswoman, Stephanie Marsh, and the police departments spokesman, Capt. Michael Miller, said the city does not comment on pending litigation.

Holland was hired by Akron police in 2018. For two years, he took part in intermittent training required by the National Guard so he could maintain his eligibility to train as an Army pilot, the lawsuit said. Holland had no trouble getting permission.

Deandre Holland was one of 14 new police officers sworn in on May 4, 2018, by the Akron Police Department. (Facebook)

In August 2020, he complained to a union official about a supervisor, Lt. Richard Kuznik, mistreating Black officers, the lawsuit said.

Four months later, Kuznik launched a criminal investigation into the forms Holland filled out, claiming that he forged them and never showed up for his National Guard training.

Investigators pushed for criminal charges, despite knowing Holland committed no crime, according to the lawsuit.

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Ships from the Navy's Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group and the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group as well as the Greek navy frigate HS Navarinon sail in formation in the Mediterranean Sea, Dec. 31, 2023. Ford and the cruiser USS Normandy transited the Strait of Gibraltar into the Atlantic Ocean on Jan. 5, 2024, while the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group took over the mission in the eastern Mediterranean. (Maxwell Orlosky/U.S. Navy)

NAPLES, Italy  The Navys largest and most modern aircraft carrier departed the Mediterranean Sea on Friday, a milestone on its journey back from more than eight months on deployment assisting U.S. efforts to contain the Israel-Hamas war.

USS Gerald R. Ford, along with the cruiser USS Normandy, transited the Strait of Gibraltar into the Atlantic Ocean, one of the last scheduled operations of its deployment, U.S. 6th Fleet said in a statement the same day.

The Navy had announced Jan. 1 that Fords return is imminent.

The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group  which includes the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan, the amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde, the dock landing ship USS Carter Hall and embarked elements of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit  now is on duty in the eastern Mediterranean.

Ford left its homeport in Norfolk, Va., on May 2 for a routine deployment, relieving the aircraft carrier USS George H. W. Bush on duty in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa and U.S. 6th Fleet areas of operation.

Ford was nearing the end of its six-month deployment when Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the carrier to the eastern Mediterranean in the aftermath of Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

Austin subsequently extended the carriers deployment twice more as the U.S. used a dual-carrier strategy as part of efforts to keep Hezbollah and other Iran-backed proxies from broadening the conflict.

USS Gerald R. Ford leaves the Mediterranean Sea on Jan. 5, 2024, after an eight-month deployment that included a role in U.S. efforts to keep the Israel-Hamas war from broadening. ( Malachi Lakey/U.S. Navy)

The ship that was presumed to relieve Ford, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, instead was sent to the Middle East as part of that strategy, which analysts say was largely successful.

The carriers intelligence gathering and patrol capabilities not only would deter Iran and other groups but also could benefit Israel, they said.

From October through early December, the carriers combined to launch more than 4,500 flights, the Navy said.

But analysts also warned that the dual-carrier strategy put a long-term strain on the Navy.

Keeping Ford on deployment much past December would adversely affect its maintenance schedule and crew rest, hurting its readiness for future deployments, they said.

During its time in the Mediterranean, Ford participated in training, exercises and operations, the Navys statement said.

In addition to Normandy, the Ford group includes the destroyers USS McFaul, USS Thomas Hudner and USS Ramage. McFaul and Thomas Hudner already transited the strait, Lt. j.g. Triona Swanson said Friday.

During its time on patrol in the Middle East, USS Thomas Hudner shot down multiple attack drones launched from Houthi rebel-controlled areas of Yemen on Nov. 28.

Ramage returned to its homeport, also in Norfolk, on Dec. 3.
A coalition of business groups has filed suit to stop the Bring Chicago Home referendum question from appearing on March primary ballots, in the real estate lobbys latest attempt to stymie Mayor Brandon Johnsons bid to deliver on a key campaign pledge.

The suit was filed Friday in Cook County Circuit Court by opponents of a tax increase on higher-priced property sales, including the Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago, the Chicagoland Apartment Association, the Neighborhood Building Owners Alliance and other real estate groups. They have fought the proposal, claiming it will dampen sales in an already-fragile market.

Their 12-page suit alleges the referendum question  passed by the City Council in November to dedicate new revenues to address homelessness in Chicago  should not go to voters because it violates the states municipal code and constitution.

It was brought against the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners, which claims it is not the proper defendant in this case, and that the city and the council are.

Given the city is not currently party to the suit, Mayor Brandon Johnsons administration said in a statement the question will be on the ballot and Mayor Johnson believes it would create even more much-needed resources to address homelessness in our city and provide support for tens of thousands of our unhoused neighbors.

In his own release announcing the suit, BOMA/Chicago Executive Director Farzin Parang said Homelessness is a critical issue in our city that should be addressed with a serious plan involving all stakeholders.

These important public policy questions should be presented to voters with fairness, detail, and transparency. Instead, this referendum is playing politics, Parang said.

Doug Schenkelberg, executive director of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, said in a news release homeless advocates are confident the ballot measure is constitutional and believe in its full integrity.

Story continues

The suit is a political maneuver, orchestrated to protect the interests of greedy landlords and multinational real estate corporations at the expense of Black, brown, working class, and homeless Chicagoans, Schenkelberg said.

The referendum asks voters to change the way property sales are taxed. Currently, the city charges the same, flat 0.75% rate on all property sales. Bring Chicago Home calls for slightly reducing the tax charged on the first $1 million in value  to 0.6%  while increasing the rate on properties valued between $1 million and $1.5 million to 2%, and boosting the rate even more on properties valued above $1.5 million, to 3%.

While the vast majority of sales would have a lower taxed rate, larger commercial properties such as offices, large apartment buildings, stores and industrial sites would shoulder more of the burden.

The lawsuit takes issue with the three-part nature of the referendum question and the portion that decreases the tax rate for lower-value homes. And it argues there is a lack of clarity about what specific programs the estimated $100 million in additional annual revenue would pay for.

Recent legal challenges involving other high-profile referendum questions have been unsuccessful. A judge denied a bid from the Illinois Policy Institute to provide a corrective notice to voters about what they said was misleading language in the statewide progressive income tax referendum. The question was ultimately rejected by voters. Another lawsuit to prevent the proposed Workers Rights Amendment from making it on the ballot also failed. Voters approved the amendment last year.

The real estate groups are represented by two politically connected attorneys: Mike Kasper  a longtime top lawyer for former House Speaker Michael Madigan and the states Democratic Party  and Michael Del Galdo, who recently represented former Madigan aide Will Cousineau.

Vote by mail ballots are scheduled to start shipping by Feb. 8. If there is a court order to remove the question after voting begins, then its most likely that the board will just suppress the election results, instead of reprinting ballots/reprogramming early voting machines, election board spokesman Max Bever said.

aquig@chicagotribune.com
Wanted poster for Clyde Barrow and his brother, from 1933. The document is part of the Bonnie and Clyde collection in the Dallas Municipal Archives. (Juan Figueroa/Dallas Morning News/TNS)

DALLAS (Tribune News Service)  Deep in the innards of Dallas City Hall  its concrete floor still striped from the years it served as underground parking  a treasure trove of historical curiosities hides.

Clyde Barrows wanted poster. Jack Rubys fingerprints. Century-old demands from residents for streetlights to discourage teens petting parties at the neighborhood park.

Photos of comedian Carol Channing awarding crisp $10 bills to schoolchildrens horticulture projects at the old Farmers Market. Stunning 1910 drawings of long-gone Trinity Play Park, which provided children in the Cotton Mill District their only access to hot showers.

A radio from the Cold War civil defense headquarters buried underneath Fair Park. An original $500 bond certificate from the East Dallas Water Supply Company, dated July 1, 1886, and adorned with scenes of waterfalls and mountains.

Thats a fraction of whats stored in the Dallas Municipal Archives vault, home to the citys historically relevant and permanently valuable records. From the amazing to the mundane, you can find it here.

Ive known forever about the existence of the vault, but always on one deadline or another, I had never visited. After all, city archivist John Slate is only a phone call or email away. He has long been a secret resource for those of us looking to get our facts straight on Dallas, past or present.

This time though it was Slate reaching out to me with a question. His department had just acquired the papers of former Mayor Annette Strauss. Would I like to see them?

City Archivist John Slate, holding Volume No. 1 of the Dallas City Council's minutes from 1874-75, and Assistant City Archivist Kristi Nedderman inside the Dallas Municipal Archives vault in late December. (Juan Figueroa/Dallas Morning News/TNS)

A history-based field trip is always hard for me to turn down, especially when it involves pivotal moments in our citys political narrative. Strauss 1987-1991 tenure marked two firsts: She was the first female and first Jewish mayor elected by Dallas voters.

(If right about now you ask, What about Mayor Adlene Harrison? she was appointed to serve as acting mayor for several months in 1976 after Wes Wise resigned to run for Congress.)

Most interesting, and also disturbing, about the Strauss documents is how tightly Dallas still gripped the Its a mans world mantra when it came to power and politics.

Throughout the pages of her scrapbooks and correspondence, its evident how people often underestimated her political and financial savvy. They were quick to view her as a kindly older lady, and she used that to her advantage.

Letters occasionally still addressed her as Mrs. Theodore Strauss. Her keen interest in the fiscal health of the city was noted as if it was an extraordinary attribute in a woman. Despite her years as a world-class fundraiser and City Council member, her campaign literature strained to persuade voters Strauss is ready to be your mayor.

Slate pointed to the prevailing theme of the collection: She had this society background, so she had to work harder to convince people that she was serious about governing Dallas.

Boxes sit organized over the white lines of a portion of the underground parking lot at Dallas City Hall, which now serves as part of the records management operation for document storage. (Juan Figueroa/Dallas Morning News/TNS)

The papers shed fascinating light on a Preston Hollow woman who, at 63, led the City Council through a time of painful budget cuts and a protracted, racially charged redistricting battle. Strauss ultimately sided with advocates of the 14-1 single-member districts option, the system still in place today.

After Strauss died in 1998, her papers went to the Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life at the University of Texas at Austin. They were transferred to the Dallas Municipal Archives late last year, and Slate hopes to have the collection organized by midsummer.

When citizens need information about the past, they often first think of the Dallas Public Library. The citys business and social history is kept there; the municipal archives holds governmental history.

We protect the assets of the city and that, in turn, protects the rights of citizens, Slate said. They have the right to use these documents to prove or disprove something or some action by city government.

In the 24 years Slate has been on the job, hes helped folks research the history of neighborhoods, elections, zoning decisions, City Council votes and milestone Dallas events. About 80% of the requests come from city staff and elected officials; the rest are from people like you and me.

If you think you arent interested in history, think about the park closest to your house and come look at the aerial photos that show what grew up around it, Slate said.

Drawings for the proposed development of Dealey Plaza, from October 1939 and prepared for the Dallas Park Board, are among the items in the permanent collection of the Dallas Municipal Archives. (Juan Figueroa/Dallas Morning News/TNS)

The climate-controlled vault includes far more than pretty pictures. City staffers research old budgets to find original funding details. Building owners look for exemptions tucked into long-ago zoning codes. After the devastating freeze of February 2021, original plumbing schematics were in high demand as pipes needed repair all over the city.

One of those calls came from Fair Park: Any chance you have the drawings of the plumbing underneath the band shell? As a matter of fact, we do, Slate responded, pulling out one of the ornate blueprints to show me.

When I first entered the records management location, I was taken back to that final scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark  you know, the one where the camera pans across an endless swath of identical crates in a giant warehouse.

The City Hall space allows for storage of about 17,000 boxes. The remainder, more than 60,000 containers worth, are stored offsite. The vast majority contain documents no longer needed on a daily basis but still requiring retention. Many of those are Dallas police case files and municipal personnel records.

Peter Kurilecz, the citys records management officer, is always on the lookout for items that need to be transferred to Slates domain. For example, as he documented 50-year-old records eligible for destruction, Kurilecz found two boxes labeled historical preservation. Inside were hundreds of 35 mm transparencies of historic and potentially historic Dallas buildings.

Also last year, while searching for a police case file, Kurilecz came across a familiar name: Santos Rodriguez. Inside were some of the official documents in the case involving a Dallas police officers murder of 12-year-old Santos in 1973.

Both discoveries were sent to the historical archives section which, along with Kurileczs operation, is part of the City Secretarys Office.

Kristi Nedderman, assistant city archivist, told me its almost impossible to say which item she most admires in the collection. Thats like picking your favorite puppy, she laughed.

A page from one of Annette Strauss' many scrapbooks, part of the collection now with the Dallas Municipal Archives, includes campaign photos, handouts for voters and a bumper sticker for her supporters. (Juan Figueroa/Dallas Morning News/TNS)

If she had to choose, it would be the several thousand blueprints of city buildings and parks, many drawn and colored more than 100 years ago. Shes also fascinated by the artistry of the longhand script that clerks in the late 1800s and early 1900s used when transcribing City Council minutes into oversized ledgers.

Slate had as difficult a time as Nedderman when asked about the most memorable items in the collection. He fell back on the most sought-after: the JFK collection, which is available in digital form, and the Bonnie and Clyde material.

It pains the archivist when hes asked for a copy of the iconic but spurious Bonnie and Clyde poster out of Arkansas, the one headlined Wanted for murder and rape and featuring multiple photos of the couple.

It says they were wanted for rape, Slate said, but no documentation exists for that charge.

Factual history is what the archivists work is all about. Sticking to the true stories of Dallas and making sure interested citizens have access to them, as well.

2024 The Dallas Morning News.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Harriet Tubman commemorative $5 gold coins. (U.S. Mint)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Tribune News Service)  The U.S. Mint announced that it has released three commemorative coins this year honoring civil rights pioneer Harriet Tubman.

The release of the $5 gold coin, $1 silver coin and a half-dollar coin comes as efforts to have Tubmans image replace Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill appear to be stalled. The coins honor the bicentennial of Tubmans birth.

Tubman was an escaped slave who helped lead dozens of other slaves to freedom as a conductor with the Underground Railroad. She also was a spy, scout, guerrilla soldier and nurse for the Union Army during the Civil War, according to the National Womens History Museum.

The coins represent three periods of Tubmans life, the U.S. Mint says. The silver dollar shows Tubmans time as a conductor, and the half-dollar shows her holding a spyglass during the Civil War. The gold coin represents her life after the Civil War.

Every coin produced by the United States Mint helps to tell a story that teaches us about Americas history or connects us to a special memory, U.S. Mint Director Ventris Gibson said in a statement. The Harriet Tubman coins celebrate the life and legacy of an incredible woman. We hope this program will honor the bicentennial of her birth and inspire others to learn more about this amazing woman.

The gold coin is $718, the silver dollar $82, and the half-dollar is $49. The U.S. Mint says the prices include surcharges of $35 for each gold coin, $10 for each silver dollar, and $5 for each half-dollar, with the money going to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the Harriet Tubman Home Inc. in Auburn, N.Y.

In 2021, President Joe Biden said his administration would resume plans to put Tubman on the $20 bill, which had been delayed during President Trumps administration. No progress has been announced.

Last year, Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, introduced a bill that would require all $20 bills printed after Dec. 31, 2026, to feature Tubman on front, NPR reports.

2024 Advance Local Media LLC.

Visit cleveland.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The new Japanese chai tea latte, purchased from a 7-Eleven convenience store in Fussa, Japan, on Dec. 28, 2023. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes)

Starbucks Japan has an enviable corporate ability to market its seasonal products across more than one platform, including the ubiquitous convenience stores found throughout the country.

As an avid Starbucks drinker, I always enjoy Starbucks seasonal drinks in convenience stores because of the unique flavors and cup designs.

This year, the chain is selling a spicy, new, chilled seasonal drink in convenience stores in celebration of the new year, in the Chinese zodiac the Year of the Dragon.

The new drink, a Japanese chai latte, comes appropriately with a taste of fire. Its a roasted green tea latte with cinnamon and Japanese pepper. The cup is designed with a red and yellow dragon for 2024.

I sampled one recently and discovered a pleasant, subtle spiciness that didnt overpower the green tea flavor. The drink is 219 yen or $1.55 in convenience stores for a limited time only.

During 2023, the Year of the Rabbit, Starbucks outlets in Japan sold merchandise bearing rabbits, including mugs, tumblers, gift cards and plushies. Prepare now for dragon-clad merchandise to take their places on those shelves.

Starbucks Japan sells seasonal drinks throughout the year at convenience stores including 7-Eleven, Family Mart and Lawsons. Past drinks include a cherry blossom flavored latte for Sakura season, which is celebrated in March and April. That the drink was served in a cup covered with cherry blossoms. For Christmas, the coffee company served up a mocha Frappuccino with white chocolate in a red cup.

The latte is unique because instead of using black tea, which is normally in a chai latte, this seasonal specialty features green tea instead.

CHILLED DRAGON CHAI LATTE

Location: Most convenience store chains in Japan

Price: 219 yen or $1.55
A man stands in front of a fallen house in Suzu, Ishikawa prefecture, on Jan. 4 following a series of earthquakes that struck Japans western coast. (Kyodo News via AP)

TOKYO  The U.S. military will deliver aid to areas of central Japan devastated by a deadly 7.6 magnitude New Years Day earthquake, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel said Friday.

The death toll from the temblor, which toppled buildings, buckled roads and set off landslides in Ishikawa prefecture, has topped 90, The Associated Press reported Friday.

U.S. forces are readying logistical support, food and other supplies, Emanuel announced in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

A true friend shows up when times are good but more importantly when times are challenging, he wrote. The [U.S.] is here to support our friend and ally [Japan] in its earthquake response. We will stand with Japan every day forward and stand by their side on their path to recovery and rebuilding.

U.S. Forces Japan is still planning its response and could not provide specifics about the equipment and units that will be involved, a spokesman for the command, Air Force Maj. Thomas Barger, said by phone Friday.

Our thoughts are with our Japanese Allies and all of those affected, he wrote in a follow-up email. All of U.S. Forces Japan remain ready to support our Japanese Allies during this difficult time.

The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo released a statement later Friday announcing that the United States is providing an immediate $100,000 aid package that includes essential resources like blankets, water and medical supplies through Pace Winds Japan.

We understand that the challenges in Ishikawa Prefecture are significant, with access to the disaster-hit areas being severely hampered, the statement said. Our commitment goes beyond this initial contribution, and we stand ready to provide additional support as needed and requested, in line with our deep-rooted alliance. The United States will continue to stand with Japan through the immediate response and the longer recovery and rebuild journey.

U.S. helicopters will help move resources to and from the disaster zone, Emanuel told the Kyodo news agency Thursday.

Weve offered [assistance]; its been accepted, he said. And this is a down payment. If they need more, they know they can always call.

U.S. forces will do whatever Japan says to move resources anywhere, Emanuel said.

This is a Japan-led effort. Were in an assistant, secondary role, he said, without giving a timeline for when U.S. support will begin.

The Japanese government is only accepting support that does not burden affected areas, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters Friday at a Tokyo news conference.

Cooperation with the U.S. during the emergency response will take locals needs into account, he said.

We are grateful from our heart for the countries and regions, including the U.S., that sent condolences, and offers for support as they encourage those in the affected areas, he said.

In a statement shortly after the earthquake, President Joe Biden said he and his wife, Jill Biden, were praying for the people impacted.

My administration is in touch with Japanese officials, and the United States stands ready to provide any necessary assistance for the Japanese people, he said.

In April 2016, U.S. forces airlifted thousands of pounds of supplies to Kumamoto, on Japans southern island of Kyushu, after a series of quakes killed dozens of people and damaged thousands of homes.

Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey aircraft moved supplies during that operation. However, the U.S. militarys tiltrotor fleet has been grounded since the crash of an Air Force CV-22 Osprey off the coast of Japan in November.

In March 2011, more than 20,000 American troops worked alongside their Japanese allies during the emergency response to a magnitude 9 earthquake, the biggest ever recorded in Japan.

The resulting massive tsunami that inundated the northeastern coast killed more than 19,000 people and caused a meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

Stars and Stripes reporter Hana Kusumoto contributed to this report.
Outgoing mail waits to be processed at Camp Foster, Okinawa, Dec. 12, 2017. (Kelcey Seymour/U.S. Marine Corps)

TOKYO  Mail sent home by Marines on Okinawa will take a little longer to arrive while Japanese officials investigate the cause of a fiery collision at a major airport.

Five of six crewmembers aboard a Japan coast guard plane died Tuesday when it was struck by a Japan Airlines Airbus A350 on a runway at Haneda Airport. All 379 people on the passenger jet evacuated safely before the plane was engulfed in flames.

Marines may experience mail delays due to the accident, according to a statement provided Thursday to Stars and Stripes by Postal Director Marine Corps Installation Pacific  Marine Corps Base Camp Butler.

The organization supports mail services for Marines on Okinawa.

We are currently working to establish alternate routes of travel, the statement said. Updates will be provided when we have them. Your patience and understanding is greatly appreciated.

Outgoing mail could take an extra 24 hours to arrive at its destination, according to Second Lt. Kelsey Enslow, a spokesperson for Marine Corps Installations Pacific at Camp Butler.

Outgoing mail that would normally go through Haneda is being routed through Narita as the investigation continues to have impacts on available runways at Haneda, she said by email Friday.

Once the investigation is complete, the Marines expect normal mail routing to resume, she said.

This delay is only affecting some outgoing mail based on priority and destination and is not affecting incoming mail or packages, she said.

Mail sent from U.S. military bases in other parts of Japan isnt impacted, Yokosuka Naval Base spokesman Randall Baucom said by phone Friday.

I have talked to the leadership at Naval Supply Systems Command, Fleet Logistics Center Yokosuka, who operate the Fleet Mail Center in Yokohama, he wrote in an email that day. At this time, mail operations for installations in the Honshu region are not expected to be see delays.
North Korea fired more than 200 artillery rounds into the Yellow Sea near two South Korean islands at the countries maritime border, South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. (Pixabay)

SUWON, South Korea  North Korea fired more than 200 artillery rounds into the Yellow Sea near two South Korean islands at the countries maritime border, South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said Friday.

Two barrages occurred around 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Friday near the Yeonpyeong and Baengnyeong Islands, the Joint Chiefs said in a statement. No damage or injuries were reported.

The rounds landed north of the Northern Limit Line, the unofficial maritime border separating the two countries territories, the Joint Chiefs said.

The Joint Chiefs said it warned North Korea that it is solely responsible for this escalating crisis and urged the communist regime to stop immediately.

South Korean marines stationed near the islands conducted shooting exercises in response to the Norths artillery, the Ministry of National Defense said in a news release Friday.

Loudspeakers advised Yeonpyeong residents to seek shelter between noon and 2:30 p.m. due to a South Korean military unit training in the area, a Yeonpyeong township official told Stars and Stripes by phone Friday.

South Korean officials regularly speak to the media on a customary condition of anonymity.

North Korea last fired artillery rounds toward the Northern Limit Line in December 2022. The regime shelled Yeonpyeong Island 12 years earlier, killing two South Korean marines and two civilians.

Following the 2018 diplomatic summits between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and then-President Moon Jae-in, the two leaders on Sept. 19 signed an agreement to prevent accidental military clashes in the Yellow Sea.

Seoul partially suspended that agreement in November after Pyongyang successfully placed a reconnaissance satellite into orbit on Nov. 21.

North Korea scrapped the accord entirely on Nov. 23, saying it was no longer bound to the agreement and that it would redeploy armed troops at outposts near the Demilitarized Zone, according to a state-run Korean Central News Agency report.

Fridays artillery fire comes two days after South Koreas navy conducted its first maritime gunnery exercise of the year. Over a dozen South Korean warships sailed in waters off the countrys east, west and southern borders to perform anti-ship live-fire drills, antisubmarine exercises and tactical maneuvers, South Koreas navy said in a news release Wednesday.

Stars and Stripes reporter Yoo Kyong Chang contributed to this report.
Key Insights

Altium's estimated fair value is AU$43.78 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

Current share price of AU$44.72 suggests Altium is potentially trading close to its fair value

Analyst price target for ALU is US$45.58, which is 4.1% above our fair value estimate

How far off is Altium Limited (ASX:ALU) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by projecting its future cash flows and then discounting them to today's value. Our analysis will employ the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. It may sound complicated, but actually it is quite simple!

Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model.

See our latest analysis for Altium

Step By Step Through The Calculation

We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$88.5m US$106.7m US$126.6m US$151.6m US$180.4m US$201.6m US$219.5m US$234.4m US$247.1m US$258.0m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x6 Analyst x6 Analyst x6 Analyst x3 Analyst x2 Est @ 11.77% Est @ 8.86% Est @ 6.83% Est @ 5.40% Est @ 4.41% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 7.0% US$82.7 US$93.1 US$103 US$115 US$128 US$134 US$136 US$136 US$134 US$131

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$1.2b

Story continues

The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (2.1%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 7.0%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = US$258m (1 + 2.1%)  (7.0% 2.1%) = US$5.3b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$5.3b ( 1 + 7.0%)10= US$2.7b

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is US$3.9b. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of AU$44.7, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent.

ASX:ALU Discounted Cash Flow January 5th 2024

The Assumptions

Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Altium as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 7.0%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.991. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

SWOT Analysis for Altium

Strength

Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry.

Currently debt free.

Weakness

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Software market.

Expensive based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value.

Opportunity

Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the Australian market.

Threat

Revenue is forecast to grow slower than 20% per year.

Next Steps:

Although the valuation of a company is important, it shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. For Altium, there are three further items you should consider:

Financial Health: Does ALU have a healthy balance sheet? Take a look at our free balance sheet analysis with six simple checks on key factors like leverage and risk. Future Earnings: How does ALU's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Australian stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagons top spokesman, conducts a news briefing at the Pentagon on Dec. 21, 2023. (Cesar J. Navarro/U.S. Air Force)

WASHINGTON  A U.S. airstrike on Thursday that targeted an Iran-backed militia in Baghdad killed one of the groups high-ranking commanders, a Pentagon official said.

U.S. forces took necessary and proportionate action against Mushtaq Jawad Kazim al-Jawari, a.k.a Abu Taqwa, who was a Harakat al-Nujaba leader, said Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagons top spokesman. The strike was taken in self-defense, no civilians were harmed and no infrastructure or facilities were struck.

An associate of Abu Taqwas was also killed in the strike, Ryder said. But the general would not provide further information about the strike or why the group was targeted now.

The Harakat al-Nujaba group was designated a terrorist organization by the United States in 2019.

This particular individual was actively involved in carrying out attacks against American personnel. As weve long said  we will take necessary action to protect our personnel, Ryder said.

Thursdays strike comes as tensions in the Middle East increase amid the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, as well as regular attacks against U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq and Syria. Iranian-backed militant groups have carried out more than 100 attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

This is the second time in more than a week that the U.S. has targeted Iranian proxy groups inside Iraq. On Dec. 25, U.S. forces struck three facilities used by Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated groups in Iraq after the group attacked Erbil Air Base and wounded three U.S. service members, leaving one in critical condition.

The Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen have also carried out 25 attacks against commercial ships in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, who commands U.S. Navy operations in the Middle East, told reporters on Thursday.

To safeguard key commercial shipping routes for international trade, the Pentagon announced Operation Prosperity Guardian, a multinational security pact to increase patrols and bolster defenses in the area.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Displaced Palestinian families from the northern and central Gaza Strip evacuate toward southern Gaza on Oct. 13, 2023. (Loay Ayyoub for The Washington Post)

Nearly three months of war have left Gaza in ruins. Israels quest to eradicate militant group Hamas after it carried out its deadly Oct. 7 attack looks far from finished, no matter the skyrocketing death toll for Palestinians. More than 20,000 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip due to Israeli bombardments and the ongoing offensive. A sprawling humanitarian crisis has seen close to 90 percent of Gazans displaced and the majority of the embattled territorys more than 2 million population teetering on the brink of famine.

Ive been to all kinds of conflicts and all kinds of crises, Arif Husain, chief economist for the U.N.s World Food Program, told the New Yorker this week. In my life, Ive never seen anything like this in terms of severity, in terms of scale, and then in terms of speed.

The human misery unfurling across Gaza finds little sympathy in the Israeli public discourse, where the priority remains the vanquishing of Hamas - perpetrators of the single bloodiest slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust - and the freeing of hostages held in Hamass Gazan redoubts. Indeed, a steady drumbeat of sound bites from Israeli lawmakers and other politicos has urged an even more devastating fate for the territory.

Members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus right-wing coalition have called for the dropping of a nuclear bomb on densely-populated Gaza, the total annihilation of the territory as a mark of retribution, and the immiseration of its people to the point that they have no choice but to abandon their homeland.

This week alone, a parliamentarian from Netanyahus Likud party went on television and said it was clear to most Israelis that all the Gazans need to be destroyed. Then, Israels ambassador in Britain told local radio that there was no other solution for her country than to level every school, every mosque, every second house in Gaza to degrade Hamass military infrastructure.

This accumulating rhetoric forms part of the 84-page application filed by the government of South Africa at the International Court of Justice, accusing Israel of actions that amount to genocide or failure to prevent genocide. Though it condemns Hamass Oct. 7 attack, the South African case argues no armed attack on a States territory no matter how serious - even an attack involving atrocity crimes - can . . . provide any possible justification for, or defense to, breaches of the Genocide Convention. Israels military campaign in Gaza, it explains, has already laid waste to vast areas of Gaza, including entire neighborhoods, and has damaged or destroyed in excess of 355,000 Palestinian homes, rendering swaths of the territory uninhabitable for a long period of time to come. Israeli authorities, claimed the South African complaint, have failed to suppress direct and public incitement to commit genocide from a host of Israeli politicians, journalists and public officials.

That includes far-right figures like finance minister Bezalel Smotrich and national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who do little to hide their vision of an ethnically-cleansed Gaza. What needs to be done in the Gaza Strip is to encourage emigration, Smotrich said in an interview Sunday with Israeli Army Radio. If there are 100,000 or 200,000 Arabs in Gaza and not 2 million Arabs, the entire discussion on the day after will be totally different. Ben Gvir separately called for the de facto forced migration of hundreds of thousands out of Gaza.

U.S. and other Western officials condemned these statements as inflammatory and irresponsible. But such pushback is doing little to change the tone of the conflict. Netanyahu himself, according to The Washington Post, tried to cajole Egypt and other Arab governments and states elsewhere into taking Gazan refugees - a non-starter for many in the Middle East, who fear further Palestinian dispossession of their lands.

Israeli calls for de facto ethnic cleansing and potential Israeli settlement of Gaza may not reflect the actual position of Israels wartime cabinet. In private, Israeli officials say the proposals [to relocate Gazans] stem from the political imperatives of Netanyahus coalition and his dependence on far-right parties to maintain power, The Post reported.

The professionals in the military and the security establishment know this is not even in the realm of possibility, a person directly familiar with conversations inside the Israeli government told The Washington Post, speaking on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. They know there is no future without Gazans in Gaza and the [Palestinian Authority] as part of the government.

But Netanyahu and his allies remain conspicuously vague about their imagined endgame for Gaza. That uncertainty, analysts contend, only deepens concerns about Israels intent among its Arab neighbors, including Gulf monarchies that were warming to the Jewish state.

Nobody is going to take the steps that would precede new normalization agreements when Netanyahu is rebuffing Arab states demands on a two-state political process and also insisting that they should fund Gaza reconstruction with no questions asked or strings attached, wrote Michael Koplow and David Halperin of the Israel Policy Forum.

Iran and its proxies are not going to be deterred when visiting high-ranking U.S. officials repeatedly lay out their vision for a postwar Gaza and Israeli cabinet members fall over each other in their rush to the television studios to offer public rebuttals, they added, arguing that it was vital for the Biden administration to push the Israelis to face up to these realities.

Meanwhile, a group of prominent Israelis, including former lawmakers, top scientists and intellectuals, wrote a joint letter Wednesday condemning Israels judicial authorities for not reining in the genocidal rhetoric widely on show. For the first time that we can remember, the explicit calls to commit atrocious crimes, as stated, against millions of civilians have turned into a legitimate and regular part of Israeli discourse, they wrote. Today, calls of these types are an everyday matter in Israel.
Naveh, an Israeli soldier who was previously fighting in Gaza, guards a road near a cement barrier wall close to the Israel-Lebanon border that was erected after Oct. 7., 2023. (Heidi Levine for The Washington Post)

EILON, Israel - For years, David Shtift tried to convince the Israeli army that Hezbollah militants, a mile away in Lebanon, would make good on their threats to attack Israel.

Shtift and his neighbors said they saw Hezbollah special forces amassing along the border and establishing lookout posts in structures allegedly built for environmental protection. Sometimes, they heard what sounded like the digging of underground tunnels. The army claimed Israels enemies were deterred, its borders impenetrable.

But the kibbutz, unwilling to take their chances, rounded up funds and drafted contingency plans - buying long guns for its 25-member local defense unit, securing emergency sources for water and electricity and building a military clinic.

On Oct. 7, when thousands of fighters led by Hamas - the Gaza-based militant group with increasingly close ties to Hezbollah - breached Israels southern border, slaughtering 1,200 people and taking 240 more hostage, Shtift sensed, bitterly, that they had been right to worry.

What happened in the south was exactly what we were saying could happen here, and still could, said Shtift. Its real.

At least 70,000 Israelis from the northern border have evacuated their homes in the wake of the attack, turning the area - like the devastated south - into a closed military zone. Several Israeli battalions, comprising thousands of soldiers, have moved in. Across the border, Hezbollah fighters trade fire.

This is not an official war zone. Yet explosions from Israeli artillery and Hezbollah missiles echo across the rock-strewn mountains nearly every day. Israels military says Hezbollah has used short range mortars, Russian Kornet antitank missiles and thermobaric bombs to destroy homes in the Israeli kibbutzim.

More than 100 Hezbollah fighters and at least 20 civilians, including three journalists, have been killed in Lebanon. Twelve soldiers and five civilians have been killed on the Israeli side.

On Tuesday, a suspected Israeli airstrike in Beirut killed Saleh Arouri, a senior Hamas official who helped the group nurture its ties with Hezbollah and was designated by the U.S. as a global terrorist.

The strike heightened fears in the region that the skirmishes along this volatile borderland could explode into all-out war. Hezbollah, unlike Hamas, is regarded by Israel as a proper army with sophisticated training and an arsenal of some 150,000 missiles. Many Israelis fear their government is, once again, underestimating a deadly threat.

Ezra, an Israeli reservist soldier by his tank near the Israel-Lebanon border on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2023. (Heidi Levine for The Washington Post)

Hasan Nasrallah, Hezbollahs leader, warned in a speech Wednesday that retaliation for Arouris assassination was coming. And if Israel were to wage war on Lebanon, he said, it would be very, very, very costly.

Moshe Davidovich, the head of a local council who sent 40,000 people packing even before the official evacuation order came in, said many residents saw the battle on the northern front as a fight for their homes. But they struggled, he said, with where they would live and how they would get their children to school. And they didnt trust their nongovernment in Jerusalem, Davidovich said, where leaders are consumed with politics and tactics - no strategy.

For the unprecedented number of Israeli evacuees, from north and south, the state has seemed largely absent. It took weeks for authorities to facilitate hotel stays and rental agreements. And northerners have been given few answers about the state of their homes or a timeline for when they will be able to return.

Israels government may again be relying on the illusion that agreements can be made with our enemy, said Davidovich, before pausing to take a call from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office.

Until Oct. 6, we were seen as the sheriff of the Middle East. After Oct. 7, we are being viewed as having lost our capability to deter, he said. There is no question for us but to regain that.

Israel is negotiating with the Lebanese government and representatives of Hezbollah - the countrys dominant military and political force - to de-escalate the situation. But on Thursday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told Amos Hochstein, a senior White House envoy, that there is only a short window of time for a diplomatic solution.

We will return our citizens in the north and in the south, Netanyahu said Thursday. For that well apply maximum power with maximum precision everywhere thats needed.

But many along the northern border have no faith in Netanyahu, who told Israelis for years that Hamas was contained in Gaza. Similar assurances about Hezbollah will be a hard sell here.

What was before Oct. 7 can never be again, said Dotan Razili, a reserve soldier serving in his hometown of Kibbutz Eilon. He pointed to the zigzagging border wall - part concrete, part barbed wire, reinforced by high-tech sensors and cameras that feed into monitors in nearby military bases. After Hamas used grenade-laden drones and snipers to shoot out the cameras along the Gaza border, the smart wall no longer feels sufficient, he said.

We fell in love with technology and forgot some very critical and basic things, said Razili.

Rachel Rabin, sister of the late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, was evacuated from her home in Kibbutz Manara due to rising tensions between Hezbollah and Israel. (Heidi Levine for The Washington Post)

He said his units have embraced low-tech solutions, relying on IDF strategy manuals from the 1950s and old-fashioned two-way radio telephones.

Though Hezbollah forces have been retreating from the border in recent weeks, he said, after Oct. 7, no Israeli can ever say that it could never happen again.

Israeli officials are floating the idea of buffer zones - similar to the one that existed when Israel occupied southern Lebanon from 1985 to 2000 - extending around 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) inside southern Lebanon and several kilometers inside Gaza, an enclave that is only 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) wide. Netanyahu has also said that Israel wants to control the Philadelphi Corridor, running along the Gazan border with Egypt.

Yossi Harpaz, a sociologist at Tel Aviv University, said that there has been a shift in Israel perception of defense - and the role of its border towns - after Oct. 7.

The buffer zone is now in our own territory, in the border areas, he said, populated now by soldiers rather than civilians. Oct. 7 was also a violation of the IDF doctrine, to take the fight to the territory of the enemy.

Noam Erlich ran a craft beer company out of Kibbutz Manara, a northern community evacuated for the first time in its history on Oct. 8. Including his, 86 of the towns 155 homes have been destroyed. He sees the strength of frontier kibbutzim like Manara as a matter of national security.

If Manara goes, then the next border line will be Kiryat Shmona, he said, referring to another Israeli city farther from the border. Slowly, Israels northern border will reach Tel Aviv.

The kibbutzim cannot exist without the collaboration of the government, and the government and the infrastructure have been collapsing, said Tirtsa Valentine. Her mother, Rachel Rabin, was among the founders of Kibbutz Manara, and the sister of slain Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, the last Israeli leader to get close to a peace deal with the Palestinians.

Buffer zones dont work, she said. And if the only solutions that are being discussed are the ones that just go from one war to the next, then were in trouble.

Sarah Dadouch in Beirut contributed to this report.
Police dogs sniff the outside of the Pulaski County courthouse in Little Rock, Ark., on Jan. 4. (Andrew DeMillo/AP)

Bomb threats at government buildings in at least four states were reported Thursday, one day after similar threats forced lockdowns and evacuations at state capitols and courthouses across the country Wednesday.

Additional security threats have been reported Thursday in Arkansas, Florida, Maine and Mississippi, according to officials and local news outlets.

In Arkansas, Pulaski County government officials received a bomb threat Thursday morning that prompted evacuations of the countys courthouse, juvenile court and district court. All were cleared to reopen within two hours.

Multiple bomb threats were reported at various locations across Mississippi on Thursday morning, according to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety. The department said precautionary measures were being taken at all locations and that bomb teams had been deployed to the sites in question but did not provide further updates. The Mississippi Capitol had been evacuated Wednesday because of a similar threat, but a search of the building found no explosives or suspicious equipment.

In Maine and Florida, multiple courthouses were evacuated then cleared to reopen  because of similar threats.

The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the latest round of threats.

The Thursday threats followed similar security concerns that were reported in more than a dozen state capitols Wednesday in Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Wisconsin, Hawaii, Maine, Oklahoma, Illinois, Idaho, South Dakota, Alabama, Alaska, Maryland and Arizona.

The FBI said Wednesday that it was aware of hoax bomb threats in state capitols around the country and urged the public to report any suspicious activity to law enforcement.

It is unclear why the emails targeted the states above, a mix of red, blue and swing states. The threats come amid an increase in attacks  threatened and real  on public officials, including a spate of swatting incidents recently that targeted politicians from both sides of the aisle.

A majority of Americans said they are worried about an increased danger of politically motivated violence in the United States, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll conducted around the 2022 midterm elections.

The threats also come as officials prepare to mark the third anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, when a pro-Donald Trump mob overran the U.S. Capitol in a bid to stop the certification of Joe Bidens electoral win. The unprecedented attack left five people dead, including a police officer and a woman shot by police. Two other officers who were on duty that day later died by suicide, and more than 100 officers were injured.

Maegan Vazquez contributed to this report.
More than 1,300 people in nearly all 50 states and the District of Columbia have been charged in connection with the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, including many from Missouri and Kansas. (Neil Nakahodo/TNS)

(Tribune News Service)  They were church staffers, business owners, schoolteachers, engineers, grandparents and decorated military veterans. Some had never had so much as a speeding ticket; others had done prison time as convicted felons.

These 46 Missouri and Kansas residents are now part of a club that was launched on Jan. 6, 2021, the day a mob of then-President Donald Trumps supporters stormed the nations Capitol to protest what they claimed was a stolen election.

Since that day three years ago, these defendants  36 from Missouri and 10 from Kansas  have been charged for their roles in the Capitol attack, their offenses ranging from misdemeanor counts of demonstrating or picketing to felonies that include assaulting officers and civil disorder.

Many were turned in by their friends, co-workers, online sleuths and even family members. Others were identified through social media posts that contained photos and videos theyd taken of themselves inside the Capitol. And still others were tracked down from Capitol security video and through search warrants served on communications companies that identified their cellphones as being in and around the building that day.

Of the 10 Kansas residents charged, eight have pleaded guilty. Six of those have been sentenced  two received probation, one got 30 days home detention plus probation, one received 70 days incarceration, one got four months incarceration and another, 20 months in prison. The other two  Olathe Proud Boys William Chrestman and Christopher Kuehne (who since has moved to Colorado)  await sentencing.

The cases of two other men are working their way through the courts. One is expected to plead guilty as early as this month and the other, William Pope of Topeka  whose case has attracted national attention over his efforts to force the government to release Capitol security footage  is set for trial in July.

Among the three dozen Missouri residents charged, 27 have pleaded guilty or have been found guilty in a bench trial before a judge. Of those, 19 have been sentenced, with nine receiving jail time ranging from 14 days to 2 years.

Several were charged with assaulting officers. A Raytown man carried a pitchfork to the Capitol. A man from Drexel stole a baton and fought with police.

And a Kansas City man  with his mother in tow  helped other rioters push against the police line in a tunnel entryway on the Lower West Terrace of the Capitol where a Metropolitan Police officer was dragged outside, beaten and shocked with stun guns by the mob. Court documents said the man told authorities that he brought his elderly mother to the tunnel to fully experience the moment.

Nationwide, the arrest tally now stands at more than 1,230 from nearly all 50 states in what U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland calls one of the largest, most complex and most resource-intensive investigations in our history. And prosecutors  who have two more years before the statute of limitations runs out  vow to continue tracking down the rest of those who breached the Capitol, causing nearly $2.9 million in damages.

On January 6, 2021, the United States lost control of the grounds around its Capitol and most of the Capitol itself, said Matthew Graves, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, at a news conference Thursday acknowledging the anniversary. Thousands of people descended on the Capitol, and hundreds of people within the mob used force and violence to overwhelm the vastly outnumbered law enforcement officers protecting the building and those who work within it.

In scenes often reminiscent of a medieval battle, officers engaged in hand-to-hand combat with members of this invading force, many of whom carried dangerous weapons, including firearms, chemical sprays, Tasers, stabbing weapons and makeshift weapons across the Capitol grounds and in the Capitol itself. 

The siege of the Capitol, Graves said, is likely the largest single-day mass assault of law enforcement officers in our nations history, with 140 officers reporting physical injuries.

But we know from talking to the hundreds of officers guarding the Capitol that day that this 140 number undercounts the number of officers who were physically injured, let alone those who have suffered trauma as a result of the days events, he said.

Graves requested the publics continued assistance in identifying those who committed crimes that day, particularly the roughly 80 still unidentified individuals who are believed to have committed acts of violence against law enforcement officers.

Statistics released Dec. 6 by the Justice Department show that of those arrested nationally so far, 714 have pleaded guilty, 210 to felonies and 504 to misdemeanors. Another 170 have been found guilty at trials. Overall, 723 defendants have been sentenced, with about 454 of them receiving periods of incarceration.

The longest sentences to date have gone to leaders of the far-right Proud Boys and Oath Keepers. Former Proud Boys chairman Henry Enrique Tarrio was sentenced in September to 22 years in prison for his role in the attack after he and other members were found guilty of seditious conspiracy. Some of his co-defendants received prison terms of 10 to 18 years.

And Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, who also was found guilty of seditious conspiracy, was sentenced in May to 18 years in prison.

Emily Hernandez, of Sullivan, was the first Missourian to be arrested. She was charged Jan. 16, 2021, accused of possessing a wooden nameplate torn from the entrance to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosis office. Hernandez appeared in numerous videos and photos displaying Pelosis splintered nameplate like a trophy.

She pleaded guilty on Jan. 10, 2022, to one count of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, a misdemeanor. She was sentenced April 11, 2022, to 30 days in jail, one year of supervised release, 80 hours of community service and $500 restitution for damage to the Capitol building.

The arrests havent subsided. The most recent Missouri cases involve Jared Luther Owens, of Farmington, and Jason William Wallis, of St. Clair, charged Oct. 26 with obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder and assault on law enforcement with a deadly or dangerous weapon, both felonies. The two also face six misdemeanor offenses. Records show the men are being held in the Correctional Treatment Facility in Washington, D.C., pending trial.

Many of the defendants expressed remorse during their sentencing hearings.

Jonas Buxton, of St. Charles, who holds a bachelors degree in physics, was sentenced in December 2022 to 18 months probation after pleading guilty to a single count of parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.

At his sentencing, Buxton told Senior U.S. District Judge John D. Bates: I sincerely regret the fact that I participated in an event that has done so much harm. My love for this country extends to its institutions and to its buildings, and the fact that I played any small participation in an event that has done harm to those is something that I sincerely regret.

And Kasey Hopkins, a Kansas City, Kansas, window contractor, was sentenced in April to four months incarceration and two years probation after pleading guilty to a parading count.

Im ridiculously ashamed to be here right now, he told U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan at his sentencing, but added that he was not the man he used to be. If theres any takeaway from January 6, it was that I allowed myself to get caught up  and bringing fear to people is something that goes against everything I am.

Other defendants, however, changed their tunes after they were sentenced. Zachary Martin, of Springfield, who was turned in by a family member and charged along with some friends, got three years probation after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor parading count.

At his sentencing in March 2022, he told U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich: Its just been really hard, and I cant believe that I made the decision to do what I did that day. I just want you to know that I just am truly sorry. It is just totally embarrassing to be here right now.

But during an interview last Fourth of July weekend at the J6 Truth and Light Freedom Festival in Rogersville, held to support Jan. 6 defendants, Martin wasnt apologetic.

Im not remorseful for standing up for what I believe in, Martin said in the interview, which was posted on Rumble, an online video-sharing platform. I believe that the election was stolen. I believe it was fraudulent and has been for a long time. I think people should just wake up to it and stand up to it and dont be afraid.

Many Trump supporters continue to insist that federal agents instigated the riot, calling Jan. 6 a Fedsurrection.

Pope, the Topeka man charged with multiple felonies, has been at the forefront of the push to make Capitol surveillance footage from Jan. 6 public.

Representing himself in his case, Pope has filed a series of motions requesting the release of videos that he says include footage of undercover Metropolitan Police officers inciting protesters to breach the Capitol.

Had the government not prosecuted non-violent January 6 protestors so viciously, and for so long, they might have gotten away with the J6 Fedsurrection, Pope posted Dec. 31 on X, formerly known as Twitter. But because they raised the stakes for so many Americans and put January 6 in the spotlight for so long, they will be exposed.

The government has argued that the Capitol surveillance videos have been designated sensitive and highly sensitive and that it would be a matter of grave national security to make them public.

In November, newly elected House Speaker Mike Johnson said he would publicly release thousands of hours of the footage, saying in a statement that it would provide millions of Americans, criminal defendants, public interest organizations, and the media an ability to see for themselves what happened that day, rather than having to rely upon the interpretation of a small group of government officials.

About 90 hours of footage that had already been released to media outlets was posted on a public website on Nov. 17, with the rest of the 44,000 hours expected to be released over the next several months.

In December, however, Johnson said House Republicans were going to blur the faces of some participants before the remainder of the videos were released because we dont want them to be retaliated against and to be charged by the DOJ and to have other, you know, concerns and problems.

Now, its unclear when the releases will occur.

Meanwhile, Trump is fighting battles of his own in connection with Jan. 6. He was indicted on four felony counts in August for plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 election and recently has been banned from being on the 2024 primary ballots in Colorado and Maine. Trump has appealed the Maine case in state court and on Wednesday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to keep him on the ballot in Colorado.

The early front-runner for the 2024 Republican nomination, Trump has repeatedly said that if he wins back the presidency in November, he will pardon many Jan. 6 defendants, whom he refers to as political prisoners.

Some who monitor extremist groups say fallout from Jan. 6 raises multiple concerns as the country heads into the election year.

There are a bunch of different scenarios and factors that are going to be coming together this year, said Daryl Johnson, a former senior analyst for domestic terrorism with the Department of Homeland Security. Trump is being taken off the ballot in some states, hes still going around the country stirring people up about immigration and hes also got these different indictments going on.

Any one of these things could be triggering to some of his followers. If he gets convicted, if he is not allowed to run, they see that as a deep state coming after a patriotic president who is trying to do the right thing and clean the swamp.

And that could provoke someone to retaliate, Johnson said, against government agencies like the Justice Department or FBI.

The biggest thing that I see thats kind of occurring in the background, and I see evidence of it getting more frequent or potentially more violent, is targeting of elected officials, he said. It could be the 60s all over again.

2024 The Kansas City Star.

Visit kansascity.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Changing demographics in the military has led to modest growth in small business ownership for women and minorities who are veterans. (Small Business Administration)

WASHINGTON  As a graying workforce of veterans who own small businesses in America retires, fewer younger veterans are stepping up to replace them, according to the Small Business Administration.

There are nearly 2 million veteran-owned small businesses across the United States that provide an annual payroll of $256 billion and employ 5.5 million workers, administration officials said.

But veteran-owned small businesses are on a steady decline, dropping by more than a half in a decade. They also represent a dwindling share of the nations small businesses  decreasing from 11% in 2014 to just more than 5% in 2021, the SBA said.

Ownership is concentrated among older workers who are aging out of the workforce. More than half of veteran business owners were 65 and older, while less than 10% were younger than 45, according to an SBA study published in May 2023.

Contributing to the decline is a lack of access to capital  money to invest in starting and growing a business, according to a December 2023 report by the Government Accountability Office that looked at resources for veteran business owners.

Veterans reported conventional banks and lenders were sometimes unfamiliar with their business model and did not understand how their military service represented work experience, according to the GAO.

I am stepping away. I needed a 9-to-5 job to be home with our son as my wife attended college, 37-year-old Mike Wood of Colorado said about his reasons for ending his carpentry business in 2023. He could not afford to keep it running.

There was too much financial uncertainty, and the people I hired did not have the work ethic I did as a former Marine, Wood said.

Post-9/11 veteran business owners such as Wood, who served from 2006-2011, are more likely to experience acute financing shortfalls and have lower credit approval rates than their nonveteran peers, according to the SBA.

More than half of veteran business owners who took part in the Federal Reserves 2022 Small Business Credit Survey described their financial situations as poor or fair even though they considered their credit as strong.

Veterans often encounter obstacles to raising money, according to the GAO. Challenges include establishing credit and forming lasting business relationships, especially if they are new to a community after leaving the military.

Veterans interviewed for the GAO report said they faced cumbersome requirements on credit applications and long waits for approval.

Darrin Pruitt, 57, owns Pirate Island Events of Maryland, which produces live concerts and festivals. Pruitt has run three small businesses since leaving the Navy in 1996. Pruitt said raising capital has been a significant issue and sometimes a barrier, especially when he first left the service.

People on the outside dont understand what we did on the inside, he said. Military veterans dont have the references and credentials civilians recognize. For example, when trying to get credit, you get asked why you have had so many addresses.

But the SBA is working to smooth the lending process for veteran business owners. The number of loans to veteran-owned business increased by 33% in 2023 and loan dollars rose by nearly 40%, after declines from 2016-2020.

The SBA backed 2,800 loans to veteran-owned businesses, totaling $1.2 billion, in fiscal 2023. Changing demographics in the military are having a positive impact on business ownership as armed forces personnel exit the military. There is modest growth in ownership among veterans who are women and minorities, the SBA reported.

Business ownership among women rose by 5% from 2017 to 2021, and minority-owned businesses increased 3%, according to SBA figures.

The SBA in fiscal 2023 increased services to our veterans and active-duty service members and their families through multiple programs enabling them to start, grow and expand their businesses, an SBA spokesman said. SBA continues to increase outreach to all service-disabled, veteran-owned, and military spouse-owned small businesses by counseling, training and federal contracting certification.

To reach more veterans, the SBA expanded the number of veteran business outreach centers in 2023 to 28 locations. The regional hubs provide education, training and support.

More than 50,000 participants received training and assistance at the centers in fiscal 2023. The centers enabled 352 veterans and spouses to start new businesses, according to the SBA.

Organized as a one-stop shops, the centers offer business training, counseling and resource referrals for transitioning service members, veterans, National Guard and Reserve members and military spouses starting or growing a small business, said Timothy Green, acting associate administrator for the Office of Veterans Business Development.

Veteran-owned businesses overall received 2% to 5% of loans through SBA-administered programs from 2016-2021 when seeking capital to fund small businesses, according to the GAO report.

The SBA must give special consideration to veterans for its lending programs. But the agency hasnt developed policies and procedures to do so, the GAO report concluded. For example, SBA committed to processing applications for veteran-owned businesses promptly. However, it doesnt define what promptly means... We recommend SBA establish specific procedure to ensure veterans are given special consideration.

The SBA administers three primary loan programs for small businesses. The loans give entrepreneurs access to commercial lenders, assist with financing for fixed assets such as buildings, and provide microloans of up to $50,000 for technical assistance, among other areas. SBA resources include the Boots to Business education program offered in communities and at military bases.

Boots to Business is an entrepreneurial educational and training initiative offered as part of the Defense Departments transition assistance program, known as TAP. It provides an overview of business ownership.

There also is SBA-funded training for disabled veterans, as well as small business support for spouses of military veterans.
With lawmakers still negotiating spending levels for the 2024 fiscal year, the government is operating under a continuing resolution that maintains the federal budget at 2023 levels until January 19 for some agencies and February 2 for the rest. The unusual structure of the continuing resolution as chosen by House Speaker Mike Johnson means that Congress faces two fiscal cliffs in rapid succession, each of which could produce a partial government shutdown.

Thats not the only unusual dynamic in play. Under the terms of the debt ceiling deal agreed to by President Joe Biden and Congress last summer, the federal budget faces automatic cuts if lawmakers decide to extend the continuing resolution for the rest of the year, as has happened in the past. Under the terms of the agreement, federal agencies would be hit with across-the-board cuts of 1% on May 1 if lawmakers fail to pass appropriations for 2024 and instead rely on a continuing resolution beyond the deadline of April 30.

Under the Fiscal Responsibility Act, signed into law in June just days before the U.S. faced a potential default on its obligations, discretionary federal spending in fiscal years 2024 and 2025 is capped. For 2024, total discretionary funding is capped at $1.59 trillion  $886 billion for defense and $704 billion for nondefense. However, if lawmakers dont pass the required appropriations bills by the end of April and instead operate under a continuing resolution, automatic cuts take effect. Defense spending would be capped at $850 billion, while nondefense would be capped at $736 billion (an increase over the agreement, but a cut from 2023 spending levels of $777 billion).

On Thursday, the Congressional Budget Office provided a more detailed estimate of how those spending cuts would actually play out. The math is complicated due to factors that exempt some spending from cuts, lawmakers ability to move funds around and the fact that the fiscal year is already underway, but overall, CBO found that the caps would produce significant spending cuts, especially in nondefense spending.

Story continues

Heres the summary: In the scenarios CBO examined, if enacted funding equaled the annualized amount of funding under the continuing resolution, sequestration would be required and would result in across-the-board reductions ranging from 5 percent to 9 percent for nondefense funding and from zero to 1 percent for defense funding, depending on when appropriations were enacted and what form they took.

As CBO notes, the final numbers would be determined by the Office of Management and Budget, which could make adjustments within the terms defined by the FRA. Congress could also affect the outcome by adjusting or eliminating the caps.

Rep. Brendan F. Boyle, the senior Democrat on the House Budget Committee, highlighted the CBO letter Thursday and called on Republicans to pass 2024 appropriations. Passing full-year government funding bills is the most basic task of Congress, Boyle said in a statement. We cannot allow indiscriminate and harmful cuts to happen because House Republicans are incapable of doing their jobs. We have a bipartisan budget agreement which two-thirds of House Republicans voted for: Its time for Republicans to stop the posturing, get back to governing, and write appropriations bills that honor the full terms of that agreement.

The Republican chairman of the Budget Committee, Rep. Jodey Arrington of Texas, issued his own statement calling for spending cuts. With U.S. debt at a record $34 trillion, deficits of almost $2 trillion, and interest payments alone projected to be at $1 trillion next year, it is imperative that elected leaders on both sides of the aisle follow through on their commitment to rein-in spending, he said.

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Declan Murphy (48) of The Orchard, Greenwood, Ayrfield, Dublin, was charged with two counts of criminal damage and one for dangerous driving at North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7

A CARER, who allegedly drove after and twice rammed a Garda car in Dublin, has been remanded on continuing bail pending directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Two gardai were taken to the Mater University Hospital shortly after midday, December 15, after the incident but discharged that night.

Declan Murphy, 48, of The Orchard, Greenwood, Ayrfield, Dublin, was charged with two counts of criminal damage and one for dangerous driving at North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7.

A day later, he was granted bail with conditions pending possible additional charges. He faced his second appearance today at Dublin District Court.

Judge Fiona Brennan noted the case was listed for the DPP's directions to be given.

However, Garda Sergeant Nigel Petrie said they were not yet available, and he sought an eight-week adjournment.

Murphy, a part-time homeless shelter carer, did not address the court.

Defence solicitor Sean McCormack said his client consented to the investigating sergeant's application. Judge Brennan ordered him to appear again on February 29.

During Mr Murphy's contested bail hearing last month, Garda Sergeant Petrie alleged that at about 12.20pm, the accused approached a patrol car carrying Garda Philip Carroll and Garda Shane Barrett, who was driving.

The patrol car had been stationary at traffic lights when the accused attempted an "unwanted approach" and interaction with Garda Barrett, who knew him and declined. The court heard he told the accused to speak to his sergeant.

It was alleged Mr Murphy said, "Wait and see what happens so," and the Garda car moved on when the lights turned green.

The contested bail hearing was told that the driver of a black 2020-reg Renault Cleo intentionally rammed the garda car from the rear, pursued it, and rammed it again on the driver's side.

The court heard it caused "significant damage", and the two officers were treated for neck and back pain.

Garda Carroll had told the bail hearing he heard loud revving, and there was a collision from the rear, which "flung" him forward before a second ramming.

Garda Carroll had described it as "an attempt to stop us and get us off the road". He had claimed the two cars "became interlocked".

He said he got out, enquired about what happened, and alleged that the accused "pointed at my colleague and said, 'Ask him'."

Garda Barrett had said that 15 to 20 seconds after he drove on, he heard revving behind and saw the Renault Cleo "ramming us from the rear".

Both officers said they were in a lot of pain afterwards and had been prescribed medication, and Garda Carroll had also said he had whiplash.

The accused waited at the scene and gave gardai his licence. The defence solicitor had told the bail hearing his client would abide by any conditions and "it will be a matter that will be contested".

Mr Murphy had to provide his phone number to gardai. He must sign on daily at Raheny Garda station, stay out of parts of north Dublin except for work or visits to his parents and have no contact with Garda Barrett, directly or indirectly.
The defendant appeared via video link from prison.

A convicted double rapist accused of breaching the conditions of the Sex Offenders Act has had the charge struck out after it was disclosed that the alleged injured party in the case did not want to attend court.

Simon McGinley (50) was accused of, on 25 February 2023 at an address in north Co. Dublin, contravening the conditions of a Sex Offender Order made on 14 December 2022 at Dundalk Circuit Criminal Court, that he did cold call to the house of an 81-year-old woman demanding to carry out unnecessary work and started to power wash her driveway.

The defendant appeared via video link from prison.

Inspector John Boyle said that the elderly lady was not willing to come to court. He added she was quite infirm.

Judge Jones struck out the charge.

He granted Mr McGinley legal aid and certified for counsel.

McGinley walked from Arbour Hill prison in 2022 after serving time for the shocking rape of a pensioner.

His release came at the conclusion of a 21-year sentence imposed in 2009 for the sexual attack on the 85-year-old woman in Monaghan.

The sex beasts previous rape of a 13-year-old girl sparked the C Case legal battle over whether she was allowed to travel to the UK for an abortion.

McGinley was told at his sentencing hearing for raping the pensioner that he will be under post-release supervision for 12 years.

When passing sentence in 2009, Justice George Birmingham said the case was one of the worst he had heard, considering the age and frailty of the victim.

Then aged 35, McGinley was found guilty by a jury of raping the elderly woman on June 16, 2008.

The woman known as Miss C was also in court for McGinleys sentence hearing, where the daughter of the elderly woman outlined the devastating impact of the rape on her mother.

The most heart-breaking thing is the loss of joy from our mothers life, said the victims daughter.

The elderly woman had been unfit to give evidence during the trial due to her worsening dementia, but a statement she gave at a previous District Court hearing in October 2008 was read to the jury.

A drunken McGinley had raped her repeatedly during the night and put his hand over her mouth at one point when she cried out.

Judge Birmingham said the crime was about as bad as it gets and at the upper end of the spectrum.

The one place that an elderly lady should be able to feel safe and family members should feel she was safe was in her home, he said.

It was also heard how cowardly McGinley had wanted to serve his time in Arbour Hill because he was deeply worried about his safety behind bars.

In 2009, Miss C spoke to RTE radio about the brutal attack by McGinley that left her pregnant and sent to various care homes.

She was also caught at the centre of an infamous legal battle over her right to have an abortion when a decision to send her to the UK was opposed by pro-life activists.

He ruined my life and I am still coming to terms with that. My life is destroyed, she said.

I never got schooling or anything like that. I dont know how many times I tried to kill myself but I have a little five-year-old son now, so he keeps me going, she said at the time.

She spoke about living in constant fear and receiving death threats.

Her ordeal began as a 13-year-old schoolgirl in 1997 when she babysat for McGinleys children and he insisted on dropping her home afterwards.

He drove past the halting site [where she lived] and I said where are you going? and he said, Im going up the road to get matches and smokes and then he pulled into the side of the road and dragged me into the back of the van and raped me and started punching me around.

He did it again. He did it about 20 times that night maybe.

I tried to escape. I got out of the van and he ran after me, grabbed me by the throat and threw me back into the back of the van and raped me again, and after he finished raping me, he dropped me home, put a knife up to my throat and said if I told anybody hed kill me and all my family.

She only discovered she was pregnant when a foster mother took her to the doctor because she kept getting sick.

Next morning, I woke up and there was all social workers at the table, she said.
The victim sustained serious facial injuries as a result of the incident

The scene of the incident at The Mall in Longford town last August

A cordoned off section of The Mall in Longford town where the alleged assault is believed to have taken place

A man has been arrested and charged in connection to an alleged violent assault of a woman in Longford town last year.

The woman, aged in her 50s, was attacked during an incident at the Mall in Longford town at around 2:30am on August 7.

She sustained serious facial injuries as a result of the incident and was taken to Mullingars Midland Regional Hospital for treatment.

A sizable section of walkway at the rear of the park's leisure complex, which is also known as The Albert Reynolds Peace Park, was cordoned off for several hours following the incident.

Gardai believe the woman was confronted by her alleged assailant at approximately 2:30am during which she was punched several times.

The scene of the incident at The Mall in Longford town last August

The woman managed to flee the scene by running towards the main exit of The Mall where the alarm was raised.

The investigation has also been the subject of two major public appeals with detectives also releasing an evofit of the suspect.

He was described as being in his early 30s, around 56 to 57 in height, of broad or heavy build with a square face.

Gardai arrested a male in his 30s as part of this investigation, a garda spokesperson told Independent.ie

He subsequently appeared before Athlone District Court on 3rd January 2024.
The suspect is due before a judge in Blanchardstown District Court.

Some of the drugs seized by Gardai. Photo: Gardai.

A man is due in court later this morning after being charged in connection with the seizure of 235,000 of heroin discovered in Dublin and Meath.

The drugs were found following a number of searches in Navan, Co Meath and Finglas on Wednesday.

A total of 81,200 worth of heroin was discovered at a location in Finglas while 155,400 worth of heroin was found in a follow-up search in Navan.

A man, who is in his 30s, was arrested and later taken into garda custody in connection with the drugs haul.

A garda spokesman has confirmed the arrested man will now be brought before a judge this morning.

He said: The man in his 30s arrested in connection with the seizure of over 235,000 of suspected heroin during searches in Dublin and Meath on Wednesday 3rd January 2024 has been charged.

He is expected to appear before Blanchardstown District Court at 10:30am this morning, Friday 5th January 2024.
Sergejs Laurenouies, 38, of Ballytrasna, Ballycullane, Wexford, was handed a six-month suspended sentence following his hearing at Dublin District Court.

A MECHANIC has been found guilty of assault after a court heard he tried to throw a Dublin Airport security official from a Ryanair plane during a leg-room seating row.

Sergejs Laurenouies, 38, of Ballytrasna, Ballycullane, Wexford, was handed a six-month suspended sentence following his hearing at Dublin District Court.

Judge John Hughes also fined father of two Laurenouies 1,000 and ordered him to pay 1,000 compensation to Dublin Airport Police officer Barry Nevin.

Judge Hughes also directed that he could not board any flight from Ireland unless sober and presented himself to airport officials four hours before departure.

The accused has to prove he has completed anger management and alcohol awareness courses and remain on supervised probation for two years.

He had denied attacking the authorised officer, Mr Nevin, on a Ryanair Dublin  Majorca flight on October 22, 2022, at Terminal 1.

Judge Hughes noted that the flight was delayed, and the captain refused to take off when Laurenouies refused to sit away from his family group.

Laurenouies had complained that another passenger was in his booked seat, and he was offered an alternative seat, but it did not have enough legroom.

The plane was fully boarded and ready to depart when Laurenouies became agitated, and there was a strong smell of alcohol from him.

He was asked to sit down three times before the captain intervened and refused to take off with Laurenouies on the flight.

Officer Nevin and two colleagues got on board, but Laurenouies was allegedly abusive and attempted to throw him out the door of the plane.

The air bridge was not present, and officer Nevin held onto the railings, resulting in abrasions and cuts to his hands.

Laurenouies denied attacking them and claimed he suffered two broken arms and had to wear a cast as a result of being hurt during his arrest.

However, the court heard he was seen by a doctor when taken to a Garda station, and he did not provide medical evidence to support his claim.

Convicting him of the assault, Judge Hughes said he did not accept his evidence. He described the incident as serious, adding that travel was stressful at the best of times and Laurenouiess holiday plans turned into a nightmare.

Prosecuting Garda Emmet OByrne said the accused spent most of the night of his arrest in station custody after repeatedly refusing to sign a bail bond.

The Latvian national had lived and worked in Ireland for 20 years and had no prior criminal convictions.

Following legal submissions from defence solicitor Michael French, the accused was cleared of a connected charge for being intoxicated to the extent he was a danger to himself and others on the plane. The judge set recognizance bail at 500 in the event of an appeal.
Wayne Deegan (25) was brought before a sitting of Blanchardstown District Court today

This is the man who has been charged with assaulting a gunman who was tackled after he opened fire in a steakhouse in Dublin on Christmas Eve.

Tristan Sherry (26), a father of one, was disarmed and fatally injured as he carried out a gun attack in Brownes Steakhouse, Blanchardstown on the night of December 24.

Wayne Deegan (25) was brought before a sitting of Blanchardstown District Court today charged with producing a knife, assault causing harm to Mr Sherry and violent disorder.

Tristan Sherry

Detective Garda Sean Kelly said he arrested Mr Deegan for the purpose of charge at Blanchardstown Station at 11.59pm yesterday.

He was charged at 12.31am this morning and made no reply to any of the charges after caution, Det Gda Kelly said.

Mr Deegan's solicitor Sandra Frayne said she was not making a bail application but was reserving her position and "may be making" an application on the next court date.

Judge Connelly also granted free legal aid in Mr Deegan's case, subject to a statement of his financial means being filed. She remanded him in custody to Cloverhill on January 12.

According to his charges, it is alleged Mr Deegan produced "an article capable of inflicting serious injury, to wit a knife" while committing the offence of assault causing harm in the course of a fight.

This was allegedly "in a manner likely unlawfully to intimidate another person."

David Amah

The violent disorder count alleges that Mr Deegan with other persons namely David Amah and Michael Andrecut, used or threatened to use unlawful violence that would cause another to fear for their safety.

David Amah (18) also appeared at the same court sitting where he was charged with the murder of Tristan Sherry at the restaurant.

Mr Amah from Hazel Grove, Portrane Road, Donabate and Mr Deegan, from Linnetsfield Avenue, Phibblestown, Dublin 15 were both remanded in custody at Blanchardstown District Court.

Garda Sergeant Emma Ryan told Judge Maire Conneely she arrested Mr Amah for the purpose of charging him at Finglas station yesterday.

He made no reply when charged in her presence at 6.08pm and was handed a copy of the charge sheet, she said.

Bail doesnt arise, Judge Conneely said, as bail can only be granted in the High Court on a murder charge.

She granted free legal aid following an application by the defence solicitor Tertius Van Eeden who said Mr Amah was unemployed.

Mr Van Eeden asked for solicitor Simon Fleming to be assigned on legal aid. The accused was remanded in custody to Cloverhill District Court on January 9, for the directions of the DPP.

Mr Amah, dressed in a grey tracksuit and Mr Deegan, in a green, hooded puffer jacket were not required to address the court during the brief hearings and have not yet entered pleas to the charges.

They are the second and third men to be charged following Mr Sherrys death.

Michael Andrecut (22), of Sheephill Avenue, Dublin 15 was earlier charged with his murder and is currently before the courts awaiting DPP directions.

During the Christmas Eve shooting, Jason Hennessy Snr (48), suffered gunshot wounds. He died from his injuries in hospital yesterday.

A second gunman was also involved in the attack and gardai have since launched a separate murder investigation into Mr Hennessys death.
He is the second man to be charged over Mr Sherrys death.

A SECOND man has been charged over the killing of a gunman who was tackled and fatally assaulted after he opened fire in a steakhouse in Dublin on Christmas Eve.

David Amah (18) appeared in court today charged with murdering Tristan Sherry at a restaurant in Blanchardstown.

Sherry (26), a father of one, was disarmed and fatally injured as he carried out a gun attack in Brownes Steakhouse, Main Street on the night of December 24.

This morning, Mr Amah from Hazel Grove, Portrane Road, Donabate, Co Dublin, was brought before Blanchardstown District Court charged with murder.

Judge Maire Conneely heard garda evidence of the accuseds arrest charge and caution.

Garda Sergeant Emma Ryan said she arrested Mr Amah for the purpose of charging him at Finglas station yesterday.

He made no reply when charged in her presence at 6.08pm and was handed a copy of the charge sheet, she said.

Bail doesnt arise, Judge Conneely said, as bail can only be granted in the High Court on a murder charge.

She granted free legal aid following an application by the defence solicitor Tertius Van Eeden who said Mr Amah was unemployed. Mr

Van Eeden asked for solicitor Simon Fleming to be assigned on legal aid. The accused was remanded in custody to January 9, for the directions of the DPP.

Mr Amah, dressed in a grey tracksuit was not required to address the court during the brief hearing.

He is the second man to be charged over Mr Sherrys death.

Michael Andrecut (22), of Sheephill Avenue, Dublin 15 is also charged with his murder and is currently before the courts awaiting DPP directions.

A third man has been charged in connection with Mr Sherry's death and is due before the court later today.

During the Christmas Eve shooting, Jason Hennessy Snr (48), suffered gunshot wounds. He died from his injuries in hospital yesterday.

A second gunman was also involved in the attack and gardai have since launched a separate murder investigation into Mr Hennessys death.
Gangland criminal Tristan Sherry had opened fire in the restaurant in Blanchardstown, Dublin.

The third man arrested in connection with the killing of gunman Tristan Sherry is due in court later this morning after being charged by gardai.

He will be brought before a judge in Blanchardstown District where a second arrested man is also due to face charges in connection with Sherrys death.

Sherry (26), a father of one, was killed after opening fire inside Brownes Steakhouse in Blanchardstown on Christmas Eve.

Jason Hennessy snr was struck several times after Sherry fired at him with a sub-machine gun.

Mr Hennessey (47) was rushed to hospital but died of his wounds on 4 January.

Sherry was disarmed at the scene and was then fatally assaulted.

Three men have been arrested by gardai in connection with the investigation into the death of Sherry.

One man, Michael Andrecut, has already been charged with murder.

However, the other two men  including an 18-year-old  are now due in court later today after being charged by gardai.

Last night, a garda spokesman confirmed the second man arrested would be brought before Blanchardstown District Court this morning.

However, they have now confirmed the third man will also come before a judge.

A spokesman said: Gardai have charged the third man arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into a fatal assault that occurred at a premises on Main Street, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 on Sunday, 24th December 2023.

He is due to appear before a sitting of Blanchardstown District Court this morning, Friday 5th January 2024, at 10:30am.

On Saturday, Michael Andrecut (22) appeared before Dublin District Court where he was charged with Mr Sherrys murder.

Andrecut, with an address at Sheephill Avenue in Dublin 15 was brought before Judge Stephanie Coggans at a special court sitting at the Criminal Courts of Justice where he was remanded in custody.
Dad-of-three Clinton McCormack passed away at St Vincent's Hospital in Dublin on December 19 as a result of an undiagnosed brain condition

A suspect arrested by gardai during a day of action in relation to the shooting of a 44-year-old man at a Co Wicklow building site is suspected of being linked to the car used by the gunmen to take them to and from the scene.

Dad-of-three Clinton McCormack passed away at St Vincent's Hospital in Dublin on December 19 as a result of an undiagnosed brain condition, five days after he was shot in the legs at a housing development in Delgany.

Since then gardai have carried out a major investigation and have trawled through hundreds of hours of CCTV footage as well as identifying the Bray organised crime gang involved in the attempted murder.

This led to six properties being searched on Thursday morning  four in Bray and two in south Dublin.

A man in his 40s was arrested at a property in the Loughlinstown area where officers recovered 2,500 worth of drugs.

He is being questioned about his links to a 2007 black Ford Focus hatchback which gardai previously made a public appeal for information about.

This vehicle was observed near the scene of the shooting specifically between Bellevue Hill and Kindlestown Woods car park between 3pm and 5pm on December 14.

Mr McCormack was targeted at Bellevue Hill at around 4.30pm that day where he and his adult teenage son had been carrying out exterior insulation work on a house.

The teenager was assaulted during the attack on his dad.

Sources have also revealed that four of the other five searches that took place targeted young people who are still living at home with their parents.

A number of mobile phones and other devices were seized in these searches which were carried out by detectives from Bray and Shankill garda stations.

A clear enough picture has now developed in this case  the analysis of these devices may prove to be very important, a source said.

Mr McCormack was targeted by two masked gunman who fired multiple shots from two handguns but still failed to cause serious injury to their target even though they "cornered him behind a van ' in a reckless gun attack.

It is understood that the victims subsequent death is not being treated as homicide.

Almost 200 mourners attended his funeral in Gorey, Co Wexford last Saturday many wearing matching red and black outfits.

Following the funeral mass, one of the deceased's favourite songs, Maniac 2000, was played from a speaker set on top of the black horse-drawn carriage that transported his funeral casket to the adjacent cemetery for burial.

Gardai announced details of their search operation on Thursday.

Gardai investigating a shooting incident and assault that occurred in Delgany, County Wicklow on Thursday 14th December 2023, have arrested a man, a spokesman said.

Earlier this morning, Thursday, 4th January 2023, Gardai carried out a total of six searches across Co.Wicklow and Dublin as part of their investigations.

The man, aged in his 40s, is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda Station in the Eastern Region, he added.

The chief suspects for the gun attack are a Bray based organised crime gang considered the main supplier of drugs, particularly heroin, in the north Wicklow area and are led by a criminal aged in his early 40s.

Jailed rapist and gun-for hire Eoghan O'Connell (34) is serving a 12 year sentence for a previous attempted gun murder on Mr McCormack.

That incident happened in 2016 when O'Connell approached the victim and attempted to fire at him but the shotgun jammed. A struggle ensued and O'Connell was later identified before being arrested.
Its understood that two of the complainants against him were male and two were female.

A former Northern Ireland prison governor has been appointed to investigate complaints of bullying and misogyny against a senior prison officer in the Midlands Prison.

Austin Treacy, a retired Governor Director who worked in the Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) for more than 30 years, conducted interviews earlier this month with three staff members who made complaints against the officer. Its understood Mr Treacy is being assisted in carrying out the investigation by retired NIPS Governor Gary McClean.

Sources confirmed to the Sunday World this week that a decision to draft in external investigators was made to ensure there can be no questions as to the objectivity of those involved.

There are four staff members in total involved here so it was considered vital there could be no suggestion of any connection between the investigators and those involved, the source said.

But its also reflective of just how seriously complaints of this nature are being taken within the Irish Prison Service.

The Sunday World reported in October how multiple allegations of bullying and harassment had been made against the senior officer before he was suspended from his duties at the Midlands Prison.

Its understood that two of the complainants against him were male and two were female.

The complaints from a male member of staff are understood to relate to repeatedly alleged incidents of shouting and abusive comments allegedly made to him by the officer.

The complaints from the female members of staff relate to similar type incidents that at least one of the two claimed were misogynistic in tone.

When the Sunday World called to the prison officers address in October, he declined to comment. After our reporter asked to speak with him by name, the suspended officer responded: And you are?

When our man gave his name, the suspended officer replied with a curt no before closing the door in his face.

A source told the Sunday World at the time that the complaints have been received with the utmost seriousness by authorities in the prison and were forwarded to the Irish Prison Services headquarters in Longford.

The Irish Prison Service declined to comment on the specifics of the case.
New year, new job  old 401(k)?

Moving retirement savings when switching jobs isnt always top of mind. Its one more thing on your to-do list, and frankly, many folks are flummoxed by the process. But kicking the decision down the road can set you up for a fiscal pitfall.

Think of it as retirement lost.

And while hiring has slowed in recent months, there are still plenty of people changing employers and starting new positions.

In December, employers added 216,000 jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics latest jobs report, a sign that the labor market remains robust. And that may continue for a while longer. In a recent survey conducted by consulting firm Robert Half, nearly 6 in 10 managers said they expect to increase the number of permanent roles in the first half of 2024.

What that means is more workers changing employers this year, which can significantly impact retirement planning.

If thats you, pay attention. Once the new-kid nerves fade and on-ramping is done, its time to focus on what to do with the 401(k) or other work-sponsored retirement account, such as a 403(b) parked at your former employers plan.

Read more: How much can you contribute to your 401(k) in 2024?

Changing jobs means a new employer and taking control of your old 401(k) retirement account so it's not forgotten. (Getty Creative) (SrdjanPav via Getty Images)

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that people hold about 12 jobs throughout their working lives, so the odds that youll need to decide what to do with a 401(k) at some point are high, Anne Ackerley, head of BlackRock's Retirement Group, told Yahoo Finance. Its important to understand your options  and the tradeoffs they come with.

Heres the breakdown of options when you change jobs to maximize the return on your 401(k) retirement plan.

You basically have four choices.

1. Take the money and run

The first one: cash out. One in 3 workers cash out their retirement accounts when leaving jobs, according to research provided by the Womens Institute for Secure Retirement (WISER). For workers between the ages of 20 and 30, that pops up to 41% or higher, Cindy Hounsell, president and founder of WISER, told Yahoo Finance.

Story continues

Changing jobs opens the door to taking your money out of your retirement plan and spending it. But this has huge repercussions. In general, you pay tax on the distribution and a 10% penalty if youre younger than 59  per IRS rules.

I cashed out when I was 30. It's the biggest financial misstep I ever made when considering what those savings would have added up to today. So that's No.1: Try not to cash out.

Skip the smile. Cashing out a 401 (k) account held at a former employer's plan can be a big mistake. In general, you pay tax on the distribution and a 10% penalty if youre younger than 59  per the IRS rules. (Getty Creative) (Denis_Vermenko via Getty Images)

The other three options are much more preferable.

2. Leave it behind in your old employers plan

Every 401(k) plan will have its own set of rules, but one likely option is that you could leave your savings where they are in your old employers plan, Ackerley said. This do nothing option might seem convenient in the moment, but the biggest risk is that you forget its there or how to access it down the line.

Its estimated that there are nearly 30 million forgotten 401(k)s out there. So it can happen to the best of us.

Another downside to keeping retirement savings at a former employer, of course, is that you can't add any more money to it. And youre stuck investing only in that specific menu of investments.

But the truth is many workers, especially younger ones who have a small account, may not have a choice.

If you're leaving $7,000 or less, your former employer might put the money in an individual retirement account, or IRA, in your name and invest the funds in low-yielding CDs or money market funds. If it's under $1,000, they may just cut you a check. If they cut you a check, you don't want that. They're taking the taxes out, and you're paying the penalty.

3. Move the money from your old employers plan to your new one

The third option is transferring your old 401(k) savings to your new employer plan. You need to talk to the plan administrator about doing a direct transfer, avoiding all taxes and penalties because youre not taking any money out. If you like the options in the new plan, it can be a good opportunity to consolidate your retirement savings in one place.

This can help streamline things, though youll want to make sure you carefully follow the plans transfer rules, so you dont incur any penalties or taxes, Ackerley said. Its also a good idea to look at the fees associated with both your old and potential new 401(k) when making this decision.

A bit of promising news on this front: In November, a voluntary system that automatically moves old retirement accounts into the plan of the workers new employer was officially launched. The Portability Services Network matches Social Security numbers on workplace accounts, gets your approval, and shifts your savings from your former employers plan into your new employers one. Plan administrators in the network include Alight Solutions, Empower, Fidelity Investments, Principal, TIAA, and Vanguard.

Do some homework. It's a good idea to look at the fees associated with both your old and potential new 401(k) when making a decision about what do do when you change jobs.(Getty Creative) (DNY59 via Getty Images)

4. Rollover to an IRA

The final option, often recommended by financial advisers, is to roll over balances in your old employer-sponsored retirement accounts to an IRA. You do a direct transfer to an IRA at a financial institution. The folks there will help set that up for you. And you can keep adding more dollars earmarked for retirement to it.

You, in essence, take control of your retirement savings.

This option provides a much wider array of investment choices, such as ETFs, direct stock and bond holdings to name a few, and not just the menu of mutual funds common to 401(k)s, Jim Colavita, a certified financial planner and managing director at GenTrust, told Yahoo Finance.

Another advantage to rolling into an IRA is the ability to then convert to a Roth IRA. The two types of accounts are taxed differently  in a Roth, the assets will grow tax-free, not just tax-deferred. Income taxes will be due upon conversion though so savers should consult with their tax adviser about this impact, Colavita added.

Something to remember: If you have a Roth 401(k), you need to transfer that directly to a Roth IRA, whether you already have one or open a new one. But it's got to go into a Roth.

Read more: These are the new traditional IRA and Roth IRA limits in 2024

Fees can whittle down your future nest egg

One important caveat: That rollover advice can be costly.

Many IRAs charge higher fees than your former employer plan does  even for the same investments, research from Pew Charitable Trusts found.

That means those IRA fees chew up more of your nest egg, making it even tougher to hit your retirement goals.

Because of the compounding effects of fees, even seemingly small investment fees can add up over time, John Scott, director of Pews retirement savings project, told Yahoo Finance. A slightly higher fee difference can have an outsized effect on your retirement savings over time.

Reaching your retirement goals depends on making the right moves with your retirement accounts when you change employers. (Getty Creative) (Peathegee Inc via Getty Images)

Rollovers are not bad by themselves and can be useful, such as for consolidating accounts from different plans, he added. But a participant must pay attention to fees  specifically the fees of the investments in the former retirement plan versus fees of investments in an IRA.

Employer plans often use investments that receive institutional pricing while IRA investments can be sold with retail pricing  even if its the same mutual fund. In 2022 Pew found annual expenses for average retail shares in mutual funds were 0.34 percentage points higher than those for institutional shares  a seemingly negligible amount.

Although this seems like a small difference, Scott said, it represents about 37% higher fees.

There are other fees, too  the cost of setting up an IRA as well as annual maintenance costs. And roughly a third of Americans use a financial adviser, who charges a fee, Scott said.

You can find help, too. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), a government-authorized not-for-profit organization that oversees brokerage firms, offers an online fund analyzer that lets you compare information about different funds, including expenses. And Pew has a calculator to help you see how fees impact your retirement savings.

Of course, you might find that your new job doesnt offer a 401(k) at all. Research shows that only around half of US workers have access to an employer-sponsored retirement savings plan.

But there are still ways to stay invested for retirement. For instance, you can invest in a target date fund through an ETF or brokerage account, Ackerley said. These funds are commonly used in 401(k)s and can offer the same automated asset allocation, just in a different structure.

To be fair, theres no big rush.

Youre probably drinking from a fire hose as you start a new job, and its okay to let things settle down a bit before making this decision, Liz Davidson, CEO of Financial Finesse, told Yahoo Finance.

Kerry Hannon is a Senior Columnist at Yahoo Finance. She is a workplace futurist, a career and retirement strategist, and the author of 14 books, including "In Control at 50+: How to Succeed in The New World of Work" and "Never Too Old To Get Rich." Follow her on X @kerryhannon.

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A third man arrested over the Christmas Eve killing of gunman Tristan Sherry (26) was still being questioned by gardai on Thursday evening

A second man has been charged and will appear in court over the killing of gunman Tristan Sherry, who attacked Jason Hennessy Senior in a restaurant in Blanchardstown on Christmas Eve.

A third man who was arrested over the killing of Mr Sherry (26) is still being questioned by gardai.

Mr Hennessy Senior (48) was shot a number of times and died in hospital earlier on Thursday.

He had been on a life support machine at Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown since he was rushed there on Saturday, December 24.

However, although he was initially stabilised, its understood his condition worsened in recent days and he was moved to the Mater Hospital where he died today.

Mr Hennessy was known to gardai and was facing money laundering charges before Dublin Circuit Court. He was due to go on trial next year.

However it is understood that he had been a working man who had no involvement in organised crime until recent years.

He was shot in the neck and suffered other catastrophic injuries when he was hit with bullets from a machine pistol in the shooting which was carried out by Tristan Sherry (26).

Tristan Sherry

Mr Hennessy Senior was rushed to hospital in a car driven by a relative after being hit three times with bullets fired from the machine gun.

Mr Sherry was disarmed and then fatally assaulted at the scene in Browne's Steakhouse on Main Street in Blanchardstown.

On Saturday, a 22-year-old man appeared before Dublin District Court where he was charged with Mr Sherrys murder.

Michael Andrecut, with an address at Sheephill Avenue in Dublin 15 was brought before Judge Stephanie Coggans at a special court sitting at the Criminal Courts of Justice where he was remanded in custody.

Two other men including an 18-year-old have also been arrested in relation to the murder and remain in garda custody.

In an update on Thursday evening, gardai said: Gardai have charged the second man arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into a fatal assault that occurred at a premises on Main Street, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 on Sunday, 24th December 2023.

He is due to appear before a sitting of Blanchardstown District Court, tomorrow morning, Friday 5th January, 2024 at 10:30am.

A third individual arrested in connection with the investigation remains in Garda custody at a station in west Dublin.

Jason Hennessy Senior was considered a key player in an organised crime gang in recent years who have been heavily involved in what is known as the Corduff feud as well as other serious criminal disputes.

The gang have also been involved in large scale drug debt intimidation.

The Christmas Eve gun attack made international headlines and more arrests are expected as part of the garda investigation into it.

There has also been an increase in armed garda patrols in the locality because of concerns of revenge attacks.

Sources said machine-gun wielding attacker Tristan Sherry had been the target of a series of attacks over the past year.

A gangland criminal who was a known associate of the criminal nicknamed Mr. Flashy, the 26-year-old was said to have been set upon by a gang during an incident in Blanchardstown earlier this year and stabbed multiple times with one source describing him as having been butchered.

On another occasion, it was alleged a car was reversed into a property where he was staying while another property housing a relative was set ablaze.

Gardai are expected to draw up detailed security plans for the funerals of both men.
Former breakdown driver who has died following attack at Blanchardstown restaurant was influenced by others and became a player late in life

Irelands latest gangland murder victim was not destined for a life in organised crime, sources who knew him have said.

Jason Hennessy Snr (48) died in the Mater Hospital yesterday after his life-support machine was switched off. He had been gravely ill for a number of days.

Hennessy, who was shot three times in the Christmas Eve restaurant attack in Blanchardstown, only became involved in serious and organised crime in the last decade of his life.

He was facing money laundering charges before Dublin Circuit Court in 2025 in relation to the activities of the gang of which he was a key member  one that is heavily involved in drug debt intimidation and other violent crime.

Coming from a well-respected family in the Corduff area, he was a talented boxer in his teenage years and then spent many years working as a truck driver for a breakdown recovery company.

He grew up on the same estate as the Sugg brothers, key members of the Westies gang, who were murdered a year apart two decades ago as part of a bitter West Dublin feud.

No one could have imagined Jason would have the same fate as the Suggs if you knew him when he was a young man, but it has happened, a source said.

But he came under the influence of others as the years went on, and some gardai who watched this change would say he grew into himself  grew into being a player, and he certainly was that by the time he was murdered.

It is unclear when it all started, but he was involved in selling alcohol from his home after hours and thats where it seems he realised there was money to be made in drugs.

There was a big vacuum in what is a very lucrative market after the Westies gang imploded 20 years ago and the IRA, who used to tax dealers, became less and less of a factor, so he jumped into a situation with some of his very closest associates and could not get out. There was a lot of money to be made.

He was heavily influenced by others, including women and much younger men, but that is not to say he was an innocent person.

In fact, it is remarkably rare that he got involved in organised crime at the age he did.

Gardai have charged a second man  a teenager  in relation to the death of Tristan Sherry, who was attacked after he shot Hennessy in the steakhouse on Christmas Eve.

The 18-year-old is due to appear before Blanchardstown District Court this morning.

A third suspect remains in custody being questioned about Sherrys murder.

The machine gun used to kill Hennessy has not been recovered.

Sources say this is a matter of grave concern, with fears of reprisal attacks considered legitimate.
Aoife Johnston (16) died on December 19, 2022, after waiting 12 hours in University Hospital Limericks emergency department for treatment for sepsis

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has said the family of teenager Aoife Johnston, who died after waiting for treatment in hospital for 12 hours, did not have input into the terms of reference for an upcoming review in order to ensure accountability.

Aoife Johnston (16) died on December 19, 2022, after waiting 12 hours in University Hospital Limericks emergency department for treatment for sepsis.

An initial review into Aoifes death described the overcrowding in University Hospital Limerick as endemic and Mr Donnelly said the report made for sobering reading.

Aoife Johnston (16) from Co Clare died in December 2022 in University Hospital Limerick.

The HSE has announced that an independent inquiry would be carried out into Ms Johnstons death, led by retired chief justice Frank Clarke.

The Johnston family have expressed their concern at not being consulted on the parameters of the inquiry.

A solicitor for the family Damien Tansey said that they are haunted by their memories of being in hospital waiting for Aoife to receive treatment and after due consideration and consultation with the family, we expect that we will seek to add to, or perhaps alter, some of the terms of reference.

Speaking to RTEs Morning Ireland today, Mr Donnelly said he will soon meet with the family, adding that on a human level he understands their perspective, but the HSE must not receive input from third parties in order to ensure a process for accountability can occur at the end, if necessary.

Mr Donnelly said: I just want to offer my deepest condolences, as a minister and as a father, to Aoifes mum and dad, Aoifes entire family for her tragic death.

The report, the initial report, makes for very sobering reading and on the back of that, I think the chief executive has taken a very important step.

He has appointed retired Chief Justice Frank Clarke to have an independent investigation not just into what happened around Aoife Johnston but more broadly into the management, as you say, around the hospital.

Mr Donnelly said he will soon meet the Johnston family in Limerick and that on a human level he understands "exactly where theyre coming from.

I hear that and I acknowledge that. We would always want to include families in setting terms of reference for various reviews and that is normal practice. It doesnt happen always the way it should, but it is the way things should always work.

In this particular case, because this is an investigation that could result in accountability at the end, something that the HSE is criticised for not normally doing. Indeed, myself in opposition I would have criticised the HSE for not doing it.

This approach is different, its a new approach being taken by the new chief executive that can have accountability at the end.

On what accountability might look like, Mr Donnelly said: If adverse findings are made, then there are processes that might follow from this investigation.

Now, the advice that the HSE got was, in order to have a process whereby you could have accountability at the end, there were no third parties could input into the terms of reference.

None of the management, none of the staff involved, none of the clinicians and the family. So, at a human level, you always want to do it but, we always want a process where there can be accountability at the end.

Mr Donnelly said there must be changes made in terms of patient flow and management, including in rostering  an issue he said he had personally raised following the report.

He said new practices at UHL, mirroring those in place in hospitals in Waterford, will ensure that the people in the region will have the urgent and emergency care service that they need and havent had for a very long time.

Mr Donnelly added: "We know that in too many of our hospitals, there are too many patients waiting on trollies, particularly those waiting in the Emergency Department (ED) who are most at risk.

"About six or seven hospitals account for about half the patients on trollies. We know that more and more hospitals are getting it right, places like Waterford, Laois, Tullamore and others.

And we know that there are some hospitals who are still struggling.

He said that when he was appointed Minister for Health, the team at UHL quite rightly told him that there needs to be an increase in staff, beds, funding and discharge options at the hospital.

Mr Donnelly added that 130 beds have been added, with 200 beds currently being built on the site now and the staff have been increased in Limerick by over 1,000.

Weve added a lot of capacity, and that capacity is helping but the second thing is you have to have reform. One of the most important reforms is a 7 day a week discharge. You see in the hospitals that are doing the best their discharge rates on a Saturday and Sunday are very high.

Limerick, in contrast to that, has the second lowest weekend discharge rate of any hospital in the country.

Asked whether he has confidence in the management of UHL, Mr Donnelly said he is very confident in the appointment of Sandra Broderick as the new regional executive officer for the mid-west, adding that she is excellent and on the ground.

He said the trolley figures in Limerick are amongst the most under pressure in the country.

On the upcoming Covid-19 inquiry, Mr Donnelly said the Taoiseach will be bringing a proposal to cabinet in the coming weeks and he has not yet seen the final document.
A vacant former nursing home in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 is to reopen in the coming days as a 40 room, 220-bed emergency accommodation facility for families seeking international protection, the Department of Integration has confirmed.

St Marys Home will be used to accommodate up to 220 people and is expected to house families for up to a year.

The Victorian building near St Conleths College on Pembroke Park was built as a school in 1891 and was used as a nursing home until 2020.

Labour Party Dublin City Councillor Dermot Lacey said he and Labour leader Ivana Bacik had a very good meeting with local residents on Thursday night about how the facility was set to be used.

"There were around 70 or 80 people there and it was a very constructive meeting, he said.

"People had questions mainly to do with the suitability of the building and mainly to do with fire safety. I dont think anybody voiced outright opposition.

"Some people certainly werent enamoured by it but the vast majority were happy enough that it was going ahead."

Labour councillor and former Dublin lord mayor, Dermot Lacey. Photo: Caroline Quinn

Mr Lacey said a Dublin 4 welcome group will be established to help new residents settle in, to which more than 20 people have already signed up.

"They have offered their services to engage with the new residents and to provide links to the local community, which is what weve done already in Rathmines and Ranelagh, so that was very constructive and positive, he said.

Last month more than 200 international protection applicants were left without State accommodation due to a shortage of beds.

"The Department are currently providing over 26,100 people seeking international protection with State-sourced accommodation and support services, in addition to that, since February 2022, we are also providing accommodation to 74,000 people who have fled the war in Ukraine, resulting in over 100,000 people in State-provided or pledged accommodation in Ireland, and that number continues to increase, a spokesperson for the Department of Integration said.

It follows the destruction of the vacant Shipwright pub, also known as Sallys bar, in Ringsend, Dublin, over the weekend after speculation it was going to be used to house asylum seekers.

However, the Department of Integration has said there were no plans to use the building to accommodate asylum-seekers.

A statement from the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) on Sunday said it had informed local politicians that the building was to be used for emergency accommodation for homeless families.

The fire follows a spate of attacks on premises earmarked to house asylum-seekers as the Government struggles to accommodate Ukrainian refugees, homeless people and asylum-seekers.

Last month, the Ross Lake Hotel in Co Galway was burnt out after it emerged it was to be used to house asylum seekers.
This was the second time this year the ECU has dismissed a complaint about The Nolan Show.

Northern Ireland budget...SDLP Leader of the Opposition in the Northern Ireland Assembly Matthew O'Toole MLA speaking to the media as he arrives at Hillsborough Castle where Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris is meeting with the main Stormont parties to discuss the budget. Picture date: Thursday April 27, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story ULSTER Budget. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire...A

Northern Ireland Troubles legacy...File photo dated 20/3/2018 of even of the 14 'Hooded' men, who were kept in hoods interned in Northern Ireland in 1971, (from left) Jim Auld, Patrick McNally, Liam Shannon, Francis McGuigan, Davy Rodgers, Brian Turley and Joe Clarke. Senior officers are waiting for a Supreme Court ruling on whether the Police Service of Northern Ireland is sufficiently independent to carry out investigations into two events during the Troubles in Ulster half a century ago. Seven justices based in London heard arguments, at a Supreme Court hearing in June, relating to proposed police investigations into the killing of a Catholic woman in 1972 and the treatment of 12 people, who have become known as the "hooded men", detained in 1971. Issue date: Wednesday December 15, 2021. PA Photo. Lord Hodge, Lord Lloyd-Jones, Lord Kitchin, Lord Sales, Lord Hamblen, Lord Leggatt, and Lord Burrows were asked to consider issues relating to the shooting of 24-year-old Jean Smyth in Belfast and the detention of the "hooded men", following rulings by judges in Northern Ireland. See PA story COURTS Independent. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire ...A

Another complaint about The Nolan Show on Radio Ulster has been dismissed by the BBC.

It was made following a discussion on the show in November about the Hooded Men.

This refers to 14 men who were arrested in 1971 during the British governments internment-without-trial policy and questioned by the police and the Army.

Two years ago, the UK Supreme Court ruled that the interrogation techniques the men were subjected to would be characterised as torture by todays standards.

During a chat about the Hooded Men on November 17, a reference was made by a caller to people being thrown out of helicopters by the British government during the Troubles.

However, one listener lodged an official complaint, arguing the comment about the helicopters was an unsubstantiated and defamatory allegation which should have been challenged by presenter Stephen Nolan.

The BBCs executive complaint unit (ECU) looked into the matter.

In its report into the complaint, the ECU said it understood the caller to the Radio Ulster phone-in show was referring to the testimony of the Hooded Men and the interrogation techniques used on them by the police and Army during internment without trial.

The BBC has covered this story on a number of occasions and the ECU noted the mens account of having been thrown from helicopters a short distance off the ground, whilst being told that they were hundreds of feet in the air, the report said.

The Supreme Court ruled that the techniques used on these men in 1971 would amount to torture by todays standards. In the context of a phone-in, and in a fast-moving conversation that was substantively focused on other (unrelated) issues, the ECU considered a claim of this type would not breach the BBCs Editorial Guidelines on due accuracy.

Listeners would have understood the point that the caller was making about the (widely reported) experiences of the Hooded Men and other events during the Troubles period. It was also clear that he was expressing a personal opinion.

In the ECUs view, an explicit challenge from the presenter on each of these specifics was not necessary and would not have been expected by listeners in general.

This was the second time this year the ECU has dismissed a complaint about The Nolan Show. In June, the complaints department said Nolan was justified in kicking a politician off his radio show during a heated discussion about loyalist paramilitaries.

On March 3, Nolan abruptly took SDLP MLA Matthew OToole off air during a debate about the chair of a group that represents the UVF and the UDA.

The SDLP was furious with Nolan and said it would not allow its elected representatives to appear on his Radio Ulster programme again until it received an assurance from BBC bosses that they would be treated properly.

The BBC received 115 complaints after the on-air clash between Nolan and OToole.

In its report into the matter, the ECU said the complaints claimed Nolan had cut off the South Belfast MLA without giving him a reasonable chance to state his case about what David Campbell, the chair of the Loyalist Communities Council (LCC), had said in a broadcast interview the previous evening.

Speaking on BBC NIs The View programme on March 2 about the new Windsor Framework agreement between the UK and European Union, Campbell suggested there was a credible threat if unionism and loyalism is continually undermined.

The ECU said it considered the complaint against Nolan against the standards for due impartiality set out in the BBC Editorial Guidelines.

The subject under discussion was comments that had been made about the position of the LCCs member organisations (including the UVF and UDA) in relation to the Windsor Framework, the report stated.

The ECU understood the programmes editorial team had concerns about the potential for defamation, notwithstanding the efforts that had been made to mitigate this risk.

In the units view, this was sufficient to justify Mr Nolans decision to conclude the interview.
Thoughts of healthy waterways get Dr Belinda Margetts out of bed in the morning.

The passionate ecologist loves knowing she can contribute to improving the health of New Zealands waterways  and the flora and fauna they support.

That love, she says, is a pre-requisite for her work.

Belinda, who started as a senior ecologist at DairyNZ in August, has 20 years experience in her field.

Her role supports DairyNZs approach to improving waterways  considering the health of streams and rivers, the fish and macroinvertebrates (insects/animals that can be seen by the naked eye) that live in them and how that links to farmers continued work to improve and sustain these environments.

My role is to help DairyNZ build on its long-standing work around water quality, helping the team and farmers better understand ecosystem health, and what can be done to improve waterways and their condition  so we know where we sit compared to where we need to be.

Were also looking at how best to measure waterway health and, from that, what our priorities should be to continue improving on the great work the sector and farmers have done to date.

Dairy farmers have made significant progress over the past 20 years to support healthy waterways.

For example, the Sustainable Dairying: Water Accord has seen 99.8 per cent of waterways more than 1m wide fenced to exclude dairy cattle, and bridges and culverts installed at 100 per cent of stock crossing points.

Keeping cows out of waterways is a big part of protecting waterways.

Many dairy farmers are also restoring or constructing wetlands, which can treat contaminants before they enter waterways, significantly reducing nutrient and sediment losses on farms.

Its important to consider nitrogen and phosphorous, and to understand how to reduce those inputs, Belinda says.

Nationwide, 77 per cent of dairy farms have farm environment plans  which identify environmental risks on individual farms and address them through good farming practices  and 55 per cent have greenhouse gas farm plans.

All farmers are required to have a farm environment plan by 2025 and are progressing towards this goal.

Much of this work has happened well ahead of regulations.

However, there is still work to be done and this will continue as regional councils progress with setting limits to meet National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS-FM) requirements.

The sector remains committed to improving waterway health and can deliver on that, thanks to the expertise of water quality scientists such as Belinda.

Continued work includes DairyNZ-led water quality research, often in collaboration with other science organisations, to identify solutions for farmers at a farm and catchment level

This will ensure we prioritise actions in areas where they can make the most difference, Belinda says.

She brings an in-depth understanding of farming to her role.

She grew up on a sheep and crop farm in North Canterbury that has been in her family for almost 110 years.

This background, she says, serves her well in her DairyNZ role.

The understanding of how connected farmers are to the land helps  Im aware of the challenges farmers face that are out of their control, such as droughts and floods, and the stress that can bring.

I think thats why my career has funnelled into pragmatic roles.

I want to improve waterway health while considering farmers challenges.

At high school, Belinda discovered she was good at biology, which, combined with her love of the environment, led her to ecology.

I followed what I loved  nature and the outdoors.

She has an Honours degree in zoology from Canterbury and a PhD in ecology from Lincoln that focused on how possums move in their home ranges and how control operations to reduce populations change those movements.

So, she knows a bit about possums.

Its a little bit funny, she says, that her work experience is predominately in the water space  since her degrees are land-based.

Though there are many things you can learn from both, so the two areas complement each other.

Before starting at DairyNZ, Belinda worked for 10 years as a principal waterways ecologist at Christchurch City Council, a role that saw her running monitoring programmes and advising on what could and couldnt be done around waterways, and how to improve waterway health.

Its important to bring people along on the journey, engaging them, helping them connect the dots, and understanding cultural and community values as well as Western science, she says.

I believe scientists need to be able to communicate their work and relate to end users in simple ways.

Thats a big way to keep people engaged.

DairyNZ is focused on advocating for better policy and environmental outcomes for the dairy sector and supporting farmers through changing regulations.

Its research, expertise and data, and its connection to the wider scientific community, support this work.

Belinda is now a key part of that.

Shell help provide robust scientific data and understanding to ensure the rules work towards fair and practical outcomes for dairy farmers.

Its a big role, she says, that will bring challenges shes looking forward to. It also means she can keep thinking about healthy freshwater.
Public art in downtown Tauranga will soon have a new exciting addition following the selection of an artwork and artist by a locally formed art trust.

"We are delighted to announce that our curatorial advisors have selected an artist to deliver the first artwork in the Font Tauranga public art collection," says a Font Public Art Trust spokesperson.

Peata Larkin  Ngati Whakaue, Ngati Tuwharetoa  says she was overwhelmed to be awarded the Red Square commission.

We have friends and whanau that live in Tauranga, so we visit often," says Peata.

"When I was young, we made heaps of day trips over as Rotorua is not that far away from here.

"It is an honour to be chosen to create an artwork that celebrates Toi Maori and Taurangas natural and historical attributes. I am hoping that it will entice people to walk/run/ride through it, to congregate within and around it, and to contemplate what it means to them and others.

Peatas design, which will be revealed in full when the work is installed ahead of Matariki 2024, acknowledges Tauranga Moanas place as a safe anchorage.

Peata Larkin was born in Rotorua in 1973. A graduate of the Elam School of Fine Arts, University of Auckland, 2004, she completed her masters degree at RMIT University, Melbourne, in 2007.

In 2018, Peata was awarded the prestigious Kaipara Wallace Arts Trust Award, which provides a three-month residency at the Altes Spital in Solothurn, Switzerland.

Her work is part of important collections both in New Zealand and internationally, including the Memphis Museum of Fine Arts in the USA.

Previous public art commissions include the ANZ tower lightbox in 2013, the New Zealand International Conference Centre spine wall from 2016 til present - this is due to be completed in 2025, Westfield shopping centre in Newmarket in 2018 and the Park Hyatt paint/lightbox panels in the Auckland Viaduct in 2018/19.

Peata recently made the transition to outdoor sculptures and has been selected to be a part of the Boon Sculpture trail in Kirikiriroa, Hamilton in February 2024.

Fonts independent curatorial advisory panel has three members - Karl Chitham, Julie Paama-Pengally, and Serena Bentley.

Peata Larkins proposal will be a landmark work for the city centre," says the panel.

"It responds sensitively to the local environment while making an impact and reflects the culturally rich histories and whakapapa of the site. We think this will be one of those works that locals will love and visitors will seek out.

Co-chair Vanessa Hamm says Font owes its start to enthusiastic support from Tauranga City Council and TECT, which had agreed to fund the first artwork with a grant of $150,000 each.

The $300,000 project budget covers all costs from consent to construction, including materials, manufacture, and artist's fee.

Commissioner Anne Tolley says she expected public funding of the first artwork would prove the value of the Font concept, and encouraged private businesses to step forward with support for subsequent artworks.

Were proud to be supporting this first commission and are looking forward to seeing this and future artwork led by Font adding vibrancy to the city centre over the coming years," says Anne.

TECT Chair Bill Holland says working together with TCC and Font for this art installation is exciting as it links to the city centre revitalisation.

"Incorporating a significant art installation in the city centre will add more vibrancy to what is planned to be a captivating space for locals and visitors," says Bill.

The hapu is excited at the prospect of a modern public art installation that captures the dynamism and diversity of the Tauranga community, while being rooted in its deeper histories and environmental relationships," says Fonts Ngai Tamarawaho trustee Ngairo Eruera.

Vanessa says Font has audacious plans to create a collection of several artworks for placement throughout the city centre, creating a drawcard for Tauranga and enriching the experience of living in our seaside city.

Our intention is that these artworks not only become iconic landmarks of Tauranga Moana, but that they help nourish creative spirit in our arts community and inspire a love of all things creative in younger generations," says Vanessa.
SUR in English Gibraltar Friday, 5 January 2024, 17:35 Compartir Copiar enlace

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Chief Minister Fabian Picardo has congratulated the Gibraltarian recipients of New Year's Honours Awards.

Among the winners is former minister for Digital and Financial Services Albert Isola who will receive a CBE.

A recipient of an OBE for his services to banking in Gibraltar will be Lawrence Podesta, CEO of Gibraltar International Bank from its start in 2014 until his retirement earlier this year. Podesta worked closely with Albert Isola on behalf of the Gibraltar Government to create a retail bank owned by the people of Gibraltar.

Gibraltar Award

There were also two locals honoured with the Gibraltar Awards. Jack Prior, champion rower for the British team, and Terence Lopez, director of the Gibraltar air terminal.

Picardo said, "Jack has made all of Gibraltar proud with his magnificent achievements and, in particular, how he has flown the Gibraltar flag internationally as part of the British Family of Nations in sport. Jack's achievements are, no doubt, inspiring other young people in sport in Gibraltar."

Picardo continued, "Terence has dedicated so much of his life to Gibraltar Airport that today this recognition will be well received throughout Gibraltar by all those who have benefited from his expertise and commitment."
SUR in English Gibraltar. Friday, 5 January 2024, 13:35 Compartir Copiar enlace

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Excitement is mounting among children on the Rock - and many grown-ups as well - as the Three Kings will be arriving this evening (Friday 5 January). Not just a visit reserved for children in Spain but across the border in Gibraltar as well, Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthazar will be taking part in a cavalcade from 7.30pm onwards.

This will start from Casemates Square and end at the John Mackintosh Hall. Cavalcade organisers will start giving out sweets along the route at 7pm.

Police are warning spectators to get behind the barriers at 6.45pm to clear a way for the floats and suggesting that there will be fewer crowds at the southern end of the route, away from Casemates Square. Road closures will be in place across parts of the Rock for several hours, police said.
F. Grinan Malaga. Friday, 5 January 2024, 17:49 | Updated 18:09h. Compartir Copiar enlace

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Fishing nets had been cast, then suddenly something put the brakes on the boat. Off the coast of Huelin an object, about 40 fathoms down (73 metres deep), was holding them back. The crew of the fishing boat Jose Jimenez worked to haul in the rigging and, once on the water's surface, they saw that their catch was not what they expected. It was an elongated device measuring almost 7 metres and, although very damaged, it clearly had the appearance of a torpedo.

That same day, 3 October, they reached port with their unusual cargo. It weighed over three tonnes as the torpedo was still stuck in the firing tube. It was quickly assessed by experts from the navy's high command and both the catch and boat were held there until any explosion risk was ruled out.

The G7, after it was confirmed that it could not explode. SUR

A couple of days later, and with the aid of a heavy-duty crane, the torpedo was offloaded. By then, they already knew that it was a Nazi-made weapon as it was inscribed with the wording 'G7e', the identifier for German torpedoes at the time. We could call it the 'first cousin' of the torpedo that sank the Republican army's C-3 submarine in El Palo in December 1936. What was unknown at that time was how the device had reached the bottom of the Bay of Malaga.

Thanks to a SUR publication in October, we can now complete the tale. The missile came from the torpedo boat Falange, part of the arms supplied by Hitler to Franco in 1936. Based in Ceuta, the boat had a confrontation in Malaga waters with the Republican battleship Jaime I, although it withdrew owing to the enemy's fire power.

In May 1937, when returning to Malaga from a mission and before entering the port, a fire broke out onboard that caused an explosion, inevitably sinking the boat with its military cargo. Part of that payload was the Nazi G7 torpedo that, 47 years later, was caught by the crew of the Jose Jimenez. Fortunately for them, the torpedo had no fuse, so it could not have exploded when it became trapped in the nets and hoisted onto the boat.
Kevin Hillier owned one of Europe's most famous music clubs in London for nearly 30 years and used to run the Mijas Blues Festival

Jennie Rhodes La Herradura Friday, 5 January 2024, 18:16 Compartir Copiar enlace

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Any blues fans on the Costa del Sol will have probably already heard of, or even know Kevin Hillier. Not only did he run the Mijas Blues Festival from 2007 to 2014, but until 2020 he was also the owner of one of Europe's best-loved blues clubs, 'Ain't Nothin' But - the blues bar near Carnaby Street in London's legendary Soho district.

Originally from the UK capital, Kevin, 64, says that he first got into blues at the end of the 1980s. "I'd been into all kinds of music but when I heard blues it struck the right chord," he told SUR in English. "I see blues as a fun music. We managed to create this every night in the bar. Blues is the base to most music which is why most people like it, even subconsciously."

He goes on to say, "Blues is the flamenco of the Black and flamenco is the blues of the Spanish  it's the passion in music that people feel and get connected to  it's emotion. I think just about everybody loves blues without knowing it."

We have made our mark here already and have organised a few gigs. I always want to give something back and I can do that through music

Fed up of working in accounting, Kevin decided to open a blues bar in the city, which he ran for 27 years before selling it during the Covid pandemic and retiring. Kevin says that the bar is still going under new management.

While he was at the helm he explains, he would "fly people in from the US especially to play there. There was live music every night".

He designed and developed the club himself and says he "introduced young people to blues in London".

The club occasionally saw celebrities and Kevin mentions Russell Crowe, Meg Ryan, Suggs from Madness and Mick Jagger's brother, Chris Jagger "was a regular". Kevin says, "but you left them alone". He also adds that there are "hazy clips of Amy Winehouse singing there with the band during one of the jam sessions on YouTube".

For a number of years Kevin divided his time between London and the bar and Mijas, where the family initially bought a holiday home in 1999. It would eventually go on to become the family home and his son was born in Mijas.

It was while he was living there that Kevin decided that the town would "be a good place for a blues festival". Over the years it attracted some big names and Kevin describes it as "an extension of the bar" which he says "is very small" and therefore not big enough to pull in large audiences.

In fact he says that profits from the club helped to pay to fly performers, including blues legends like Little Freddie King and Henry Gray, to Malaga for the festival.

La Herradura

After leaving the Mijas festival, Kevin also left Spain and went to live in London permanently for a time, but it was after selling the London club that he decided that he wanted to return to Andalucia, but this time, and with his new wife, he was drawn to "the other side of Malaga" and the couple found a house in La Herradura in Granada province around eighteen months ago.

"It's a really nice town, not overly touristy, the locals are friendly and Granada is still old school Spain - you get free tapas with your drink. It has a pretty bay  we get dolphins. And there's a lot of music here which is important. There's a real mixture of nationalities," Kevin says.

The couple continue to divide their time between Spain and the UK, where they both have family.

"We have made our mark here already," says Kevin who adds that he is passionate about wanting to "give something back" to the place where he lives and that he can do this through music.

He has already organised a few gigs in the town and started a Facebook page to bring local musicians together, which he says has about 600 members. "That is the momentum for doing the festival," he says. He has the backing of Almunecar town hall, to which La Herradura belongs, and the event will be taking place on 28 and 29 June 2024.

More information laherradurabluesfestival.com

Kevin is now looking for sponsors and acts to perform at the event and says that he has already had a lot of interest from Spanish as well as international musicians.
Tony Bryant Benalmadena Friday, 5 January 2024, 10:45 Compartir Copiar enlace

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As part of its latest promotional campaign to consolidate the Benalmadena brand as a first-class tourist destination, the town hall has announced that it will use tourist buses that operate in Malaga to attract visitors who are staying in the city.

The advertising campaign will last for three months and consists of placing various images of the new-look Benalmadena on the back of tourist buses.

The towns mayor, Juan Antonio Lara, visited the city on Thursday to see some of the buses, where he was met by the director of operations of the company, City Sightseeing Spain, Luis Miguel Labrado.

With this action, we take another step forward in the tourism strategy that we are carrying out to promote our destination and consolidate it as a flagship on the Costa del Sol, Lara said.
Starlite Occident's concert venue in Marbella, the old quarry that will be reproduced in Estepona.

Regina Sotorrio Malaga. Friday, 5 January 2024, 15:14 Compartir Copiar enlace

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After twelve solid years with each season running longer than the previous one, the Starlite festival has now outgrown its Nagueles quarry venue. The brand recently dipped its toes in the Madrid music scene with Christmas by Starlite. And now the festival's promoters have announced their most ambitious plan to date: to create a new music complex in Estepona.

Bendeus, the company behind Starlite events, wants to build a supersize cultural venue in the town with a large auditorium (15,000 capacity), a hotel and a multifunctional conference centre, among other facilities.

The proposal has already passed its first hurdle: the committee responsible for economic affairs within the regional government has approved that the project be declared a business investment of strategic interest for Andalucia. This should speed up planning procedures and it is expected that this approval will be considered at the next meeting of the regional cabinet on 9 January.

In figures 286 million euros The planned investment in the music complex and audiovisual project. 15,000 people The proposed capacity of the concert venue to be built in an artificial quarry to reflect the original Marbella Starlite festival site. 450 jobs The employment expected to be created by the project which has been named Starlite Music World.

"Starlite Music World is our expansion, our growth as well as our consolidation of the Starlite Occident Festival," said Sandra Garcia-Sanjuan, festival founder and the real heart and soul of the company.

The new development will involve a hefty investment of more than 286 million euros, giving the brand a fixed venue for the first time ever and the possibility of hosting all kinds of events year-round.

Until now, with Nagueles being a publicly owned venue, all festival facilities have to be set up and dismantled once the three-month season is over. Instead, Starlite Music World will occupy land already owned by the company. But one does not cancel out the other: "Naturally we'll be keeping the Starlite Occident Marbella Festival because it's our flagship, it's where it all began."

Eleven hectares

As in Marbella, Starlite has opted for a green location for the new complex in Estepona, namely the hilly area of La Panera, next to Selwo adventure park. There, on just over eleven hectares of land, an artificial quarry will be created in tribute to the Nagueles venue, such a part of Starlite's easily recognisable trademark. The centrepiece for the complex will be the large, open-air auditorium capable of holding 15,000 people, four times the capacity of Marbella (3,500).

It will be one of the largest permanent concert venues in Malaga province. Also it will come with the option for different configurations. Lastly, it will give audiences access to global music stars whose popularity rules out a medium-sized venue.

"Now we will be able to compete at that higher level," said Garcia-Sanjuan. It will not be as intimate and up-close a venue as Starlite Occident Marbella can offer as a good example of a boutique festival but, as the founder put it: "The concept is still to deliver a premium experience, and we'll take great care of the public."

The complex will have its own boulevard, a lake, a central square and an area dedicated to hospitality. Garcia-Sanjuan added: "It will be like a theme park for music where many things can happen."

Starlite Music World plans to build a hotel as well as a multi-purpose conference centre that can adapt to the different needs of companies seeking to organise meetings, trade fairs and conferences. It could even become a magnet for dance schools and music academies. The development will also entail improvements to the surrounding area in terms of transport, security, lighting, water and waste management. All must adhere to the maxim of "sustainability, all construction work must blend with nature, with eco-friendly materials and renewable energies".

Audiovisual hub

But there's more. Starlite Music World will incorporate something that has been seriously lacking on the Costa del Sol for years: a permanent hub for all things audiovisual. This means providing different recording studios and sets, each measuring between 1,500 and 3,000 square metres, with warehousing for AV equipment and in-house service areas. In total, the space reserved for all AV work will occupy six hectares.

Garcia-Sanjuan explained that this is a natural addition to what they already do.

"Within the group we have our own production company. For each festival run we produce 16 episodes for television called Starlite, the Festival of the Stars that is broadcast in 60 countries across many of the major platforms and TV networks, with many millions of viewers," she said.

An addition to this year's festival was the making of a daily programme for Movistar summarising events and news from the previous day.
Europa Press Malaga Friday, 5 January 2024, 17:01 Compartir Copiar enlace

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Spain's flag carrier Iberia has cancelled a total of 58 flights departing from or arriving at the various Andalusian airports from today (Friday 5 January) until Monday due to the national strike call for the airline's ground handling workers.

The cancellations affect five of the airports in the region, with special significance in Seville (16 flights cancelled), Granada and Jerez (14 each) and Malaga-Costa del Sol (12), while in Almeria there are only two flights affected. According to a list posted by the airline on its website, these flights were scheduled during the four days of industrial action between these airports and Madrid, in both directions, in all cases except a couple between Malaga and Melilla on the 7 January and another two on the 8th.

At a national level, the strike called by UGT, CCOO, USO and Comite Interempresas has meant the cancellation of 444 flights of the Iberia group airlines (Iberia, Iberia Express and Air Nostrum), affecting more than 45,600 passengers.

However, the Iberia group has reported that it has rebooked more than 80% of the passengers affected by the strike, while more than 10% have requested refunds. In this regard, the company "thanks all its customers, both passengers and airlines served by Iberia Airport Services, for their understanding and patience, and apologises for the inconvenience caused by the strike called by the unions," it said in a statement.

Iberia has assured that it is continuing to work to relocate the rest according to the options, taking into account the complexity of the dates, just after Christmas, and the high occupancy of flights.

Passengers can still request flight changes through the Iberia website, travel agencies where they have made their bookings or via the company's customer service centre, which has reinforced its call handling staff, but where they may encounter longer waiting times than usual.

"Occasional incidents"

Today, on the first day of the strike, Iberia recognised that there have been some "occasional incidents" in the loading of suitcases.

It also reported that the minimum service requirements were being complied with and that among workers without a minimum services charter, the unions' strike call was being followed by 14.61% of staff in Spanish airports.

Possible problems on other airlines

The strike could also affect the operations of almost a hundred airlines that Iberia Airport Services provides services at Aena airports across Spain, on dates that coincide with the Three Kings celebration and the return from the Christmas holidays.

This is why Spain's main airport operator (Aena) has asked all passengers travelling between Friday 5 January and Monday 8th to check the status of their flights before going to the airport to avoid possible problems, as some flights of other airlines could also suffer from cancellations or delays. Passengers are advised to contact the airlines direct in case of doubt.
Chus Heredia Malaga Friday, 5 January 2024, 12:48 Compartir Copiar enlace

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Connecting Malaga city and Marbella by train is an old aspiration that has notched up as many false dawns as different railway formats proposed for it. On Thursday this week, Malaga city hall hosted the presentation of a study written by veteran engineer Jose Alba and attended by the city's mayor, Francisco de la Torre, and the president of the Diputacion provincial authority, Francis Salado. Their aim was to kick start a new project against the background of so many unfulfilled promises over the years.

The latest Malaga city plan would have trains running at up to 160 kilometres per hour that combined high performance with Cercanias short-distance capability. The line would be entirely new from the airport to Marbella and would therefore coexist with the current C1 suburban service to Fuengirola. It would have fewer stops linked with bus services and with parking areas.

SUR

The aim would be for cut-and-cover tunnelling most of the way not far from the route of the existing A-7 coastal road and a deeper tunnel near El Faro on Mijas Costa. A non-stop journey from Malaga Airport to Marbella would take 22 minutes. Adding in stops on the way, it would take 55 minutes.

The aim of the study, promoted by the council, is to stimulate discussion on getting a plan approved, steps for which can take up to eight years. "The report proves it is a profitable project and it could be opened to public-private partnership," said Malaga's mayor Francisco de la Torre.

SUR

The line would cost 2.7 billion euros to build and early forecasts are that it could see 46 million journeys a year. "Except for Madrid or Barcelona, no Spanish city offers a similar scenario," said study author Jose Alba.
Juan Cano Malaga Friday, 5 January 2024, 12:14 Compartir Copiar enlace

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A police officer and a nurse have helped save the life of a four-year-old girl, Maria, who choked on a sweet during the Puerto de la Torre parade in Malaga city on Wednesday.

The Local Police officer was on patrol when he was approached by a man with a little girl in his arms about 6pm on Avenida Lope de Rueda. The little girl was unresponsive, so the policeman performed the Heimlich manoeuvre on her. It caused the child to cough up a piece of sweet, however she was still unresponsive.

A nurse from the nearby crowd then appeared who performed another manoeuvre and helped extract a second piece of sweet from the girl's mouth. The youngster then started to respond and was taken to hospital for observation.

Destiny

Guillermo Pulet had taken his two children to the Puerto de la Torre parade on Wednesday (his wife could not accompany them because she was at a relative's funeral) and the incident happened as they were walking home. Speaking after the event the father told how he had warned his daughter to be careful about sucking on the sweets. He tried to do the Heimlich manoeuvre but Maria remained unresponsive. Then, I saw a Local Police officer in the distance and I carried my daughter to him," said the father. By then, the little girl had begun to bleed from her nose and mouth, although Guillermo said she did not lose consciousness.

Maria's parents, along with Barbara (left), at the family home SUR

At the same time a nurse, Barbara Munoz, a friend of the family who works in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Regional Hospital of Malaga appeared on the scene. "We were planning to go to Torremolinos and, since my children are very young, I didn't know how to explain to them that they couldn't see the kings twice." In the end, her friends convinced her to go to Puerto de la Torre. "Destiny wanted me to be there that afternoon," she admitted.

Yesterday, fully recovered from her scare, little Maria gave a bouquet of flowers to Barbara while she, in a shy voice, hugged her and said: "Thank you for removing the sweet from me.
Tony Bryant Mijas Friday, 5 January 2024, 15:09 Compartir Copiar enlace

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Margery Anne Taylor, president of the Mijas Costa branch of the Royal British Legion (RBL), has been awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire), a recognition that comes after 25 years of hard work in various roles within the RBL.

As well as being the president of her local branch, the former accountant is a frontline volunteer supporting serving personnel and veterans and providing valuable training to volunteers who want to follow in her footsteps.

However, she says that news of her MBE was unexpected, but a tremendous honour and privilege.

I was absolutely speechless when I received the call from the ambassador. I just sat there stunned. Im not sure who nominated me, but I would assume it was my peers from within the RBL. I am grateful and very proud to have the continued support of other Legion members in Spain South. Without them, this would not have happened, Margery explained.

Margery, whose parents were both members of the RBL, acquired her charitable nature from childhood. She participated in fundraising events for the Legion in the UK, and this commitment has continued throughout her entire life.

I was brought up to do whatever I could for whoever needed help, regardless of who they were or where they come from. I grew up fundraising for the Legion, helping out during the Poppy Appeal and doing anything else that was necessary, so I have been associated with them all of my life, she said.

Complete surprise

Margaret moved to Spain with her husband in 1999 and, following his death in 2006, she needed something else to do, because just working was not enough.

My husband had died and most volunteer-run associations seemed to want couples. I contacted the RBL and they were so helpful, so I made the commitment. I have held several roles with them since then. To do things within the community and caring for people who need help can be so rewarding in such a spectacular way, although I never thought for one minute that I would receive this sort of recognition, she explained.

Margaret explained that the response to the news of her MBE has been lovely from other members of the Legion, from family and also from well-wishers from Spain and the UK.

The response has been overwhelming. I have had messages from people I have not seen or spoken with in years. My family are also very proud to hear this news, especially my daughter, who is excited about the prospect of returning to the UK to accept the medal, Margaret said.

However, Margaret says that the importance is not that she has received the MBE. She hopes the recognition will help to focus more on what the Royal British Legion are doing. She also says that the new title will not change the way she works because her ethics are based on the simple joy of knowing that she can make a difference by helping others.

I am the type of person who believes that if something needs doing, then you just do it. This is how I was raised. Throughout my life I have tried my best to help people in whatever way I could, so to be rewarded for doing something that already gives such fulfilment to my life is amazing, she concluded.
New chaplain for St Andrew's church on the Costa del Sol Revd William Small joins the Costa del Sol East chaplaincy which covers Fuengirola, Calahonda, Benalmadena, Coin and Alhaurin el Grande

Tony Bryant Friday, 5 January 2024, 14:45 Compartir Copiar enlace

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St Andrew's Costa del Sol East has welcomed a new chaplain, Reverend William Small, who recently finished his curacy training under the tutelage of Father Louis Darrant of St George's church in Malaga.

Revd William Small, who was licensed last month, is chaplain to the congregations the Anglican church on the Costa del Sol East. This covers Fuengirola, Calahonda, Benalmadena, Coin and Alhaurin el Grande.

St Andrews has been without a Chaplain for more than two years, but a team of retired and lay ministers has been very active in taking care of the congregations in the interim.

The new chaplain was born in Zambia, but has lived in seven other countries and worked in many more as a hydrogeologist before, while in the UK, he felt God calling him to full-time ministry.

He began his curacy in a church in Shrewsbury, but due to a change in family circumstances, this was cut short and he and his wife Lissi moved to Spain to take care of an elderly relative.

Here he took up his curacy training again under the auspices of the Diocese in Europe.
SUR in English Madrid Friday, 5 January 2024, 15:31 Compartir Copiar enlace

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Demonstrators against the government's planned Catalan amnesty law gathered outside the Socialist party's offices once again on New Year's Eve.

As part of added festive spirit, a large image of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez - in the form of the celebratory pinatas hit by children with sticks - was hoisted above the crowd.

The abuse of the PM's effigy has not gone down well, with the PSOE party claiming it was a hate crime. But even the PM's coalition partner, Sumar, has said it was merely free speech and right-wing parties have pointed out that the left is prone to doing similar things.
Chinese electric vehicle (EV) start-up Hozon New Energy Automobile expects its sales outside mainland China to jump five-fold in 2024 as the country's increasingly confident carmakers look to international sales to counter slowing growth at home.

The Shanghai-based maker of Neta-branded cars, aims to deliver a total 100,000 units in 60 overseas markets this year, mainly in Southeast Asia, as it starts operations of assembly plants in Thailand and Indonesia, according to vice-president Zhou Jiang.

At that level, overseas sales would account for a third of Hozon's total deliveries in 2024, which are likely to hit 300,000 units, he said.

Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.

"Overall, Chinese-made electric cars are well received by customers around the world," he said in a media briefing on Thursday. "Moreover, we are confident of our company's global perspective with the goal of designing and manufacturing EVs for all the people."

Hozon New Energy Automobile EVs await shipment overseas from Shanghai. Photo: Weibo alt=Hozon New Energy Automobile EVs await shipment overseas from Shanghai. Photo: Weibo>

At the end of November, Hozon, also known as Neta Auto, started assembling vehicles at its first overseas factory in Thailand, about two months ahead of schedule. The plant, with an annual capacity of 20,000 units, produces right-hand-drive versions of Neta vehicles.

Hozon's second assembly facility outside China will be operational by the second quarter, Zhou said.

"Owing to a slowing domestic market, Chinese EV makers whose brands and vehicles can attract foreign buyers will step up their overseas expansion in the coming years," said Eric Han, a senior manager at Suolei, an advisory firm in Shanghai. "Indeed, they enjoy a higher profit margin in other markets because of price competition at home."

Story continues

Neta is a variation of the name Nezha, a protection deity in Chinese mythology. The brand falls into the category of budget EVs in China, aimed at middle- and low-income drivers who prefer battery-powered vehicles to cars powered by petrol-guzzling internal combustion engines.

EV sales in mainland China are seen growing 20 per cent year on year in 2024, according to a Fitch Ratings' report in November, slowing from the projected 30 per cent increase in 2023.

With the EV market crowded with 200 players, a new round of price cuts is in effect, with top players like BYD, the world's largest maker, and Xpeng offering discounts to lure buyers.

Hozon delivered a total of 127,496 vehicles to domestic and overseas customers in 2023, down 16 per cent year on year.

In August, the company announced it had raised 7 billion yuan (US$986 million) in a crossover financing deal, without disclosing the names of the investors.

Crossover financing typically gives a start-up more time and capital to develop its business before an initial public offering (IPO). Investors normally close cross-financing deals at a discounted price while gaining a foothold in the prospective IPO.

Hozon reported a net loss of 6.9 billion yuan in 2022, 138 per cent wider than a 2.9 billion yuan loss in the previous year, according to the annual report of 360 Security Technology, one of the EV company's investors.

Zhou said the carmaker targets total sales of 1 million EVs in 2026, including 400,000 outside mainland China. It also plans to build plants in markets like the Middle East, Africa and South America, he said.

This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright  2024 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

Copyright (c) 2024. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Update 5 p.m.: A man is in custody after he tried to escape troopers who were executing a search warrant Friday in a drug investigation at a home in the Westcott neighborhood of Syracuse, according to the State Police.

The man went out the back of the home, ignored police commands and drove a Chevy Tahoe through several backyards, said Trooper Jack Keller, a spokesperson for the State Police.
Athens, N.Y.  A town judge from Greene County awarded his own company a no-bid contract to make improvements to the towns courthouse, officials said Friday.

The state Commission on Judicial Conduct Friday announced it is recommending that E. Timothy Mercer should be removed from the Athens town court bench.

Mercer was first elected a town judge in 2020. His term expired Dec. 31. He ran for reelection last year but was beat by his challenger. The commission made its determination Dec. 27.
Syracuse, NY -- Covid cases in Central New York hospitals are at a seasonal high, with 93 new Covid-positive patients being admitted to local hospitals in the past week.

But unlike past years, this surge isnt catching anyone off-guard, a local health official says. In fact, these winter-time spikes are likely the new normal.

Its really not surprising, given the time of year were in, said Dr. James Alexander, of Onondaga Countys health department. We dont really have a definitive seasonality for Covid, but weve certainly seen an increase in this time of year.

The number of hospitalized patients with Covid jumped to 154 across Onondaga, Cayuga, Madison and Oswego counties, including 93 newly diagnosed cases. Thats a spike similar to one from last cold season.

Its also the trend across the country, where hospitals this week are reinstating mask mandates to combat the viruss spread. Local hospitals are ramping up their masking policies, too. Upstate University Hospital, which has had a mandate in clinical areas since the summer, has now extended mask wearing to all inpatient and outpatient facilities.

But Alexander said that hospitals are actually coping better with Covid than a year ago. And Covid-related deaths so far are the lowest theyve been during a spike, averaging about three a week across Central New York, state data shows.

Its a new normal, where Covid-19 is lumped in with flu, RSV and other similar respiratory diseases, collectively called influenza-like illnesses, Alexander said.

Looking at emergency room admissions for all of those kinds of illnesses, theyre not outside the realm of whats expected, Alexander said.

Such illnesses are never good: they come with hospitalizations and deaths, especially among newborns and the elderly, Alexander said. But theyre here to stay, and this years numbers may be what to expect going forward.

Dreams we have had previously -- that we may isolate and practice good respiratory hygiene -- and Covid would be out of our lives, thats not going to happen, Alexander said. Were going to be stuck with Covid-19 for the foreseeable future: the rest of our lives and beyond.

This week, Syracuses three hospitals combined to report 100 patients positive with Covid-19. Upstate University and Community General hospitals reported 39 hospitalized patients, Crouse Hospital also had 40 and St. Josephs Hospital Health Center had 31.

Its the most weve had this year, said Crouse spokesman Bob Allen.

Upstate also reported 34 patients with RSV, 22 with flu and four with a combination of the respiratory illnesses. The other hospitals also reported a handful of flu and RSV cases.

Last year, the region was slammed in November with the combination of Covid, flu and RSU, overwhelming the hospitals and forcing some sick patients to be transported to hospitals across Upstate New York.

That hasnt happened this year, Alexander said.

This season, the RSV surge happened in November. I dont think we will see a return with RSV this year, Alexander said.

But Covid is just spiking now. Alexander said that fewer and fewer people are getting the updated vaccines that have come out since the pandemic. The latest vaccine was only administered to roughly 17% of the population nationally, he said. By comparison, more than 50% of people got the initial Covid vaccine.

Thats obviously disappointing, he said. Thats one of our major weapons against mass hospitalizations and mass-scale mortality and severe disease.

Alexander said that too many people have assumed that getting Covid wont have long-term effects. But a growing body of research shows that up to 30% of people who get Covid will experience long-term side effects that could last years.

Those complications include brain fog, fatigue, memory problems and more, he said.

Long-term Covid is a real thing, Alexander said.

Staff writer Douglass Dowty can be reached at ddowty@syracuse.com or (315) 470-6070.
A bill making its way through the New York State Legislature aims to regulate future contracts for food concessions on the State Thruway. It also mentions the national restaurant chain Chick-Fil-A by name.

But, despite some headlines and social media posts, the bill would not force the Atlanta-based company to reverse its long-standing policy of not opening its restaurants on Sundays.

The bill introduced in the Assembly and Senate would require that future contracts for Thruway food vendors specify that rest stop concessions must be open seven days a week. The bill also sets that requirement for concessions at the Port Authority of New York-New Jersey.

The bill, as written now, would not affect the Chick-Fil-A locations that are already open on the Thruway. Those restaurants operate as part of a 33-year contract the Thruway Authority signed in 2021 with Applegreen, an Irish convenience store company. Applegreen manages leases as part of the Thruways ongoing $450 million project to renovate 27 rest stops across the state.

Chick-Fil-As leases are with Applegreen, not the Thruway itself. Applegreens current contract makes no mention of seven-day operations.

In addition, the bill has no impact on Chick-Fil-A or any other restaurants and businesses operating elsewhere in the state.

We are not talking about businesses on the corner of Main Street, said state Sen. Michelle Hinchey, a Democrat from the Hudson Valley who sponsored the bill in the state Senate. Were talking about the businesses on the state Thruway that are utilized as a public good.

It makes sense, Hinchey says, because Sunday is often the busiest travel day of the week on the Thruway.

If there is going to be a food establishment on the Thruway, they should be open on the busiest day, Hinchey said. She noted that even in rest areas that have other food options, a Sunday closing for one can create longer lines and wait times for service at the others.

But the bill has come under attack, including from those who believe it violates religious freedoms. Chick-Fil-As closed-on-Sunday policy is attributed to its founders Christian faith.

U.S. Sen. Lindsay Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, posted his opposition on X (formerly Twitter) and during a visit last month to New York City.

This is war, Graham posted to X. If this goes forward, I will be introducing legislation withholding federal funds from any city or state that requires @ChickfilA to stay open on Sunday. The founders of Chick-fil-A made a decision early on to close on Sunday, consistent with their faith. For any government to try to reverse this decision flies in the face of who we are as Americans. ... New York is off base and their actions will not go unanswered.

A memo explaining the bill does mention Chick-Fil-A as the example of a Thruway concession not currently open seven days a week. The chain has seven existing restaurants on the Thruway under its agreement with Applegreen, with three more under development.

Applegreens Thruway operations include several restaurant concessions that are open seven days, including Shake Shack, Panera, Popeyes, Burger King and Panda Express.

Heres what the bill memo says about Applegreen and Chick-Fil-A:

Applegreens portfolio of companies include Chick-fil-A, which by company policy is closed on Sundays, and which has already opened at seven service areas. While there is nothing objectionable about a fast food restaurant closing on a particular day of the week, service areas dedicated to travelers is an inappropriate location for such a restaurant. Publicly owned service areas should use their space to maximally benefit the public.

The bill specifies that the food concessions that must be open seven days do not include temporary operators, such as farmers markets. It also notes that the requirement affecting the Port Authority would need approval from the state of New Jersey.

Don Cazentre writes for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook.
Washington  Lawyers for former President Donald Trump on Thursday pressed to have special counsel Jack Smiths team held in contempt, saying the prosecutors had taken steps to advance the 2020 election interference case against him in violation of a judges order last month that temporarily put the case on hold.

Citing outrageous conduct, the Republican presidential candidates attorneys told U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan in Washington, D.C., that she should consider holding Smith and two of his prosecutors in contempt for turning over to the defense thousands of pages of evidence and an exhibit list while the case was paused and for filing a motion that they said teems with partisan rhetoric and false claims.

In this manner, the prosecutors seek to weaponize the Stay to spread political propaganda, knowing that President Trump would not fully respond because the Court relieved him of the burdens of litigation during the Stay, the lawyers wrote. Worse, the prosecutors have announced their intention to continue this partisan-driven misconduct indefinitely, effectively converting this Courts docket into an arm of the Biden Campaign.

Smith, a Central New York native, grew up near Syracuse and graduated from Liverpool High School in 1987.

A spokesman for Smith declined to comment on the motion. The motion says that Trumps lawyers have conferred with prosecutors, who object to the defense attorneys request.

The contempt motion lays bare the simmering tension between prosecutors and defense lawyers in the landmark case charging Trump with scheming to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, which he lost to Democrat Joe Biden. It also highlights the stark division between the Smith teams desire to keep the case on track for a March 4 trial date and Trumps efforts to delay the prosecution, until potentially after the November election, in which Trump is the Republican front-runner.

At issue is a Dec. 13 order from Chutkan after Trump appealed to a higher court an earlier ruling that rejected his claims that he is immune from prosecution.

In her order last month, Chutkan, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, said that Trumps appeal automatically stays any further proceedings that would move this case towards trial or impose additional burdens of litigation on Trump.

Chutkans order suggested that requiring additional discovery or briefing would impose a burden on Trump. However, it does not appear to explicitly bar the filing of court papers or prohibit prosecutors from providing information to the defense.

Prosecutors acknowledged in a filing late last month that the case had been paused, but they said the government would continue to meet its own deadlines as previously determined by the court to promote the prompt resumption of the pretrial schedule if and when the case returns to Chutkan.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit is set to hear arguments on Tuesday on the immunity question and has signaled that it intends to move quickly, though additional appeals are still likely after that. The arguments are crucial because they concern the legally untested question of whether a former president is immune from prosecution and because the outcome is expected to help determine the fate and timing of the case.

In their motion, defense lawyers say Smiths team should be punished for nudging the case forward during the pause by producing nearly 4,000 pages of potential evidence. The lawyers also objected to a Smith team motion last month arguing that Trump should be prevented from raising irrelevant political issues or arguments in front of the jury, including that the prosecution against him is vindictive and selective or was coordinated by Biden.

Besides a contempt finding, Trumps lawyers are asking the court to require prosecutors to get permission from the court before submitting any further filings. The defense wants prosecutors to reimburse Trump for attorneys fees and other expenses that he has incurred responding to the prosecutors improper productions and filings.

The election case is one of four criminal prosecutions against Trump. He is charged in Florida with illegally retaining classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate, and faces a state prosecution in Georgia that accuses him of trying to subvert that states 2020 presidential election as well as a New York case charging him with falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment to a porn actress.
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Tui

Travel giant Tui has said there are clear advantages to abandoning the London Stock Exchange as its board pursues a delisting in the UK.

Europes biggest travel operator on Thursday urged investors to support its plans to quit Londons bourse ahead of a meeting in February where shareholders will cast their vote.

Tui, which currently holds a dual listing in Frankfurt and London, said that switching to a sole listing in Germany would reduce complexity.

Mathias Kiep, chief financial officer, said: Terminating the listing in London would offer clear advantages for investors and the company: Simplification of structures, improvement in liquidity and indexation as well as benefits for the EU ownership of our airlines.

Tuis planned departure deals yet another blow to the City amid concerns about its ability to attract and retain companies following a recent exodus of listed firms being taken private or moving overseas.

The company first announced it was considering the move in December after shareholders questioned whether its dual listing structure was still optimal and advantageous.

Tui became a member of both stock exchanges in 2014 after West Sussex-based leisure group Tui Travel, known for its Thomson and First Choice travel agencies, merged with its largest shareholder, Germanys Tui AG.

The 4.5bn deal created one of the worlds largest tourism businesses, which boasted more than 400 hotels, 16 cruise ships, 1,200 travel agencies and five airlines.

Mr Kiep said that although the dual listing had been the right decision and offered many advantages, most of Tuis stocks are now bought and sold in Germany.

The company said: There has been a notable liquidity migration from the UK to Germany, around 77pc of share transactions are conducted directly through the German share register and less than a quarter of trading in TUI shares is carried out in the form of UK depositary interests.

Tui instead wants to be upgraded to Frankfurts Prime Standard, the premium end of the German stock exchange which only lists companies that comply with higher transparency standards.

Story continues

Delisting from London would also see Tui join MDAX, an index tracking the performance of mid-cap companies trading in Germany.

The tourism group said it is seeking to upgrade its Frankfurt listing by April and leave the London Stock Exchange by June.

The latest plans were recommended by Tuis executive and supervisory boards following extensive consultations with shareholders.

Tui was relegated from Londons blue-chip FTSE 100 index in early 2020 after global travel restrictions during the pandemic caused its shares to crash.

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Pannag Newbie

Join Date: Jul 2023 Location: Hubli-Dharwad Posts: 21 Thanked: 198 Times

Re: Maruti Alto Restoration Project with Brotomotiv . I do have certain questions on alloys, should we continue in this thread or go to already available thread section?







Quote: psyph3r Originally Posted by Car's looking great, Please DM me the costs incurred if you're not comfortable sharing here.



Quote: gauravdgr8 Originally Posted by Absolutely stunning. I have seen this video on YT. As a matter of fact, have booked an appointment with them for my Harrier's PPF.



Quote: self_driven Originally Posted by Welcome to the forum Pannag! Great colour choice and great workmanship by the team at Brotomotiv. I already watched your car's video on their channel before this thread went live. Your trip to Pune for this restoration paid off well, as the car looks chic. The steelies probably need a fresh coat of paint, in silver or black.







The small mods that you've done on the car look interesting. I'd love to know more about the door ajar warning lamp in particular.



About the door ajar warning system (with lamp and buzzer that buzz when any door is not latched and vehicle crosses 20kmph) I will put it probably in DIY thread section.



Quote: Jeroen Originally Posted by Absolutely great thread!



I love the way you restored this car, very well done. It's great to see so much time and effort being poured into it. The results are terrific. Love the colour!





I would like to hear more about the other modifications too, especially the electrical ones.



Did you do anything to the engine, brakes, suspension too?



Jeroen I did not modify anything in mechanical, brakes or suspension, just that I changed my suspension some 6 months ago as they had given up almost.



Quote: youknowitbetter Originally Posted by Hey Pannag, congratulations, the car looks fabulous. I am guessing it 1.1 litre engine. Are you planning any performance/mechanical changes or for now the focus is on cosmetic changes? Also, what's your usage like, will this be your primary car or a special occasion car?



Quote: CLS_06 Originally Posted by Hello pannag

The Alto looks really nice in this color and your love for car seems true.

Just one question are doing anything about the wheels. Just got me thinking why no paint or alloys were added during this proper restoration. .



Quote: hothatchaway Originally Posted by Absolutely stunning! I had stumbled upon this video a few days back on YT and was impressed by the attention to detail. The Alto looks like a million bucks and will grab attention on the streets.



Do you mind sharing how much you paid for the LED Projectors and if they are plug and play?



Wish you many more happy memories with the car.



Quote: svsantosh Originally Posted by



Congratulations on restoring something so close to your heart. Dad lives through the Alto amongst your family, nothing can replace that feeling. I wish I can find my 1st Alto inside TN and relive my mums gup-shup from her co-drivers seat.



PS - Since you must be close to Brotomotiv please give them a feedback. Looking at your lack of pictorial records I was afraid this thread would be a dead end until I scrolled down to the you-tu-be video link. That was a life saver and commendable capture and editing and presenting on a global platform like u -tube.



Could you pass on the message that while the uniform is a nice touch, enforcing a covered shoe on the workshop floor adds not only safety but also goes a long way in showcasing India on the global AFM scene. I also saw a few employees without a standard uniform. Will be a very nice touch if small things are taken care in brand building.



But the end result is very commendable and I am a B.M fan for few years nonetheless. Dear Pannag,Congratulations on restoring something so close to your heart. Dad lives through the Alto amongst your family, nothing can replace that feeling. I wish I can find my 1st Alto inside TN and relive my mums gup-shup from her co-drivers seat.PS - Since you must be close to Brotomotiv please give them a feedback. Looking at your lack of pictorial records I was afraid this thread would be a dead end until I scrolled down to the you-tu-be video link. That was a life saver and commendable capture and editing and presenting on a global platform like u -tube.Could you pass on the message that while the uniform is a nice touch, enforcing a covered shoe on the workshop floor adds not only safety but also goes a long way in showcasing India on the global AFM scene. I also saw a few employees without a standard uniform. Will be a very nice touch if small things are taken care in brand building.But the end result is very commendable and I am a B.M fan for few years nonetheless.



Quote: greenhorn Originally Posted by Nice end result - my only comment is that the door pads look a bit spartan in an otherwise nice car. you should be able to get some fabric inserts installed to add some colour to the car in those areas where fabric insert provision is there in the door pad I actually changed them few months ago, but now feel they can have better look with colour inserts on those small sections. Thank you BHPians, for showering congratulations and complements. I do have certain questions on alloys, should we continue in this thread or go to already available thread section?Sure I will DM you all details and thank you so muchThanks a lot Gaurab. Awesome, please share the feedback. If I am not mistaken, they will be using Garware for PPF?Thanks a lot self_driven, and yes I was already planning for alloys, but Brotomotiv doesn't deal, they did suggest me some wheels though their contacts, but I felt they were expensive and was also worried if they could be best fit.So thought I will source them locally, or from B'lore. I am already in touch with local person and will join relevant thread as I have lot of questions.About the door ajar warning system (with lamp and buzzer that buzz when any door is not latched and vehicle crosses 20kmph) I will put it probably in DIY thread section.Hey Jeroen, Thanks a lot, and sure I will be having new thread by this weekend for extra DIYI did not modify anything in mechanical, brakes or suspension, just that I changed my suspension some 6 months ago as they had given up almost.Thank you so much youknowitbetter , aha no, I would love that 1.1L but it was no longer available in 2007 (was discontinued in 2005) so this is 0.8 3 pot F8D. I guess you might have gotten confused because of rear WiperHey CLS_06, I agree alloys would have blasted the appearance, and I am already working on it, but I really need help on it, would be asking question on threadsThank you so much hothatchaway. and I got those headlamps customised from twobrothers.com as they had similar design but with tube type dry running on top part of headlamp (unlike bottom as in my case which are also dotted running type amber DRLs), and HID. I asked them to add LED projectors and Dotted DRLs. Costed about rs. 25,800. They shipped it on second day, so can vouch that they are fast. They are plug and play to certain extent, for example DRL may need explicit wiring, but Projector lamps already have ballasts with short wiring harness that can connect to existing connectors.Thank you so much svsantosh, sure I will pass the feedback.I actually changed them few months ago, but now feel they can have better look with colour inserts on those small sections.
In context: We're used to seeing major tech companies accused of using dark patterns  a user interface designed to trick or deceive people into taking specific actions. However, this practice isn't exclusive to companies like Amazon and Google. A consumer group alleges in a complaint that Starbucks also employs similar tactics with its app, which has reportedly helped the company accumulate almost $900 million over the past five years.

The Washington Consumer Protection Coalition says that the dark patterns in Starbucks' mobile app relate to the way it makes low funds unusable.

The coalition writes in its complaint, filed on December 19, that in cases where the balance is less than the cheapest drink at Starbucks, the money essentially becomes stuck in the app. The platform doesn't allow users to combine the funds with other payment methods or use it as a tip, meaning the only option beyond leaving it there is to add more funds. The coalition compares this to an "involuntary subscription," though it does admit that reloading an account in stores for a custom amount of $5 or more can make hitting zero easier.

The group adds that customers can reload their Starbucks cards in specific amounts with a $10 minimum. But the app displays the minimum amount as $15 and automatically sets a default reload amount of $25.

"The Starbucks Payment Platform involves unfair and deceptive digital dark patterns that effectively trap its customers into prepaying for the company's services," the complaint states. "The Attorney General should take immediate action to put a stop to Starbucks' unfair and deceptive conduct and make Washington's consumers whole for the harms it has caused them."

Starbucks told Gizmodo that customers can ask an in-store barista to combine their app balance with another payment method when paying for an order. It never said why this option isn't available in the app itself.

"Starbucks rigs its payment platform so consumers are encouraged to leave unspent money on their cards and apps," said Chris Carter, campaign manager for the group, in a statement. "A few dollars here and there left on a payment platform may not sound like a lot but it adds up. Over the last five years, Starbucks has claimed nearly $900 million in unspent gift card and app money as corporate revenue, boosting corporate profits and inflating executive bonuses."

In an official response to the complaint, Starbucks said it is "committed to working with the State of Washington to ensure it remains in compliance with all state laws and regulations."

Google and Facebook were fined by a French regulator in 2022 for their use of dark patterns relating to how confusing and difficult it can be to reject their cookies. Google also had to pay almost $40 million in the US for collecting location data on users without their knowledge. Amazon, meanwhile, has been accused of using deceptive UIs to push people into signing up for Prime and making canceling the service an arduous chore.
A hot potato: Even if you are not one to read a company's terms of service agreement, it should go without saying that unless it's a porn site, uploading NSFW content is not a good idea. But what if that content was not uploaded directly by you?

That's what many Xbox owners are facing now after Microsoft banned their accounts when spicy video clips from mega-hit Balder's Gate 3 were automatically uploaded publicly. Xbox Series consoles can upload saved video clips to Xbox servers as an easy way to share content with other users.

Unfortunately, many account holders were unaware that this clip sharing is on by default. So their, ahem, "saved-for-later" Baldur's Gate 3 clips were going straight to the cloud for everyone to see. Of course, this breaks Xbox's rules about uploading NSFW content, so many users woke up to find their accounts banned last week.

Balder's Gate 3 developer Larian Studios got wind of the situation earlier this week. The company felt slightly responsible for the foul-up since the risque content was from its game. So Larian contacted Microsoft requesting it lift the bans since the users were not directly at fault for breaking the rules.

AA Xbox Players AA



Players whose capture clips have been flagged on Xbox should now see their bans begin to lift.



Work is ongoing, and the Microsoft team is aware of the issue!



If you're wanting to upload any clips in the meantime, make sure to turn off mature content i'i  Larian Studios (@larianstudios) January 5, 2024

Larian posted an update on the situation this morning, letting players know that they should begin seeing their bans lifted. It also warned them to be careful about what they share and, if they want to continue auto uploading, to "turn off mature content" in Balder's Gate 3 settings.

Larian should be commended for its action because many studios would have left players to battle it out with Xbox customer support. The fact that it lent a hand means that the issue can be dealt with on a global level rather than on an individual basis. Plus, it was just a nice thing to do.

Meanwhile, Microsoft might want to set the Xbox auto-sharing feature default to "disabled" in the next system update. While it is ultimately users' responsibility to ensure they are not uploading racy content, it doesn't help when the hardware does it automatically without as much as a confirmation dialog.

It's one thing to strive for a seamless experience, but safeguards are necessary when that seamlessness could lead to a ban or other complicated user issues.
SpaceX is taking legal action against the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) following accusations from the agency claiming that the Elon Musk-owned company unlawfully terminated employees.

(Photo : Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

The National Labor Relations Board finds that SpaceX "illegally" kicked out its employees who criticized Elon Musk's post on X (Twitter's former name).

Initiating Legal Actions

In a federal court filing on Thursday, SpaceX asserts that the NLRB's actions are unconstitutional, as reported by The Verge.

SpaceX has filed a lawsuit asserting that the open letter served as a distraction to SpaceX employees around the country. The company argues that the NLRB's proceedings, which involve a hearing in front of an NLRB administrative law judge (ALJ), violate SpaceX's constitutional right to trial by jury.

Moreover, SpaceX accuses the NLRB of contravening the Constitution's principles on the separation of powers, asserting that the agency's structure deviates significantly from the traditional understanding of the concept. The NLRB has chosen not to comment on the matter.

SpaceX seeks court intervention to declare the provisions limiting the removal of NLRB members and ALJs as unconstitutional. Additionally, the company requests the court to affirm that the NLRB's proceedings deprive SpaceX of its right to a fair trial.

SpaceX is also urging the court to halt the ongoing proceedings. A hearing is scheduled in front of an NLRB ALJ on March 5th, 2024, with the option to appeal the decision to the board and subsequently a federal appeals court.

Also Read: NLRB says SpaceX Employees were Illegally Fired After Criticizing Elon Musk's Tweets

As a self-proclaimed advocate of "free speech absolutism," Fortune reported that Elon Musk confronts a paradox as allegations of stifling employee speech emerge against his companies, including SpaceX.

Past settlements, such as the curbing of an employee's expression and a case involving Musk's social media venture X, underscore the ongoing conflict between Musk's avowed commitment to free speech and the accusations of suppressing workers.

Receiving Complaints from NLRB

The NLRB complained on Wednesday, alleging that SpaceX unlawfully fired a group of employees for drafting an open letter critical of Elon Musk's conduct.

The complaint alleges 37 violations of labor laws. These include coercive statements, implied threats, unlawful instructions, interrogation, creating an atmosphere of surveillance, and reprisals against those participating in protected concerted activity.

The complaint further contends that SpaceX interrogated employees about their involvement in the letter and encouraged them to resign if engaged in organized activities. NLRB complaints can have significant implications for companies accused of unfair labor practices.

The legal clash involving SpaceX not only hangs in the balance the destiny of terminated employees but also illuminates the broader interplay between corporate management and the rights of employees to express themselves collectively.

The employees who assert that SpaceX unjustly terminated them are far from concluding their battle. Investigations into the unfolding events will continue over the coming months, unraveling the complexities of the incident.

Related Article: SpaceX Faces NLRB Accusations Over Wrongful Termination Due to Elon Musk Criticism

 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Japan's recent seismic activity raises concerns about the resumption of its nuclear facilities, sparking renewed discussions about the country's dependence on nuclear power, which constitutes around 30% of its energy mix.

(Photo : TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP via Getty Images)

Debris blocks a road in the city of Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture, on January 5, 2024, after a major 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck the Noto region on New Year's Day.

Lifting Ban on Nuclear Plant

The earthquake occurred shortly after regulators lifted the ban on operating the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, the world's largest, owned by Tokyo Electric (Tepco).

Located approximately 120 kilometers from the earthquake's epicenter, the plant had been offline since 2012 due to safety violations, including the inadequate protection of nuclear materials.

Despite Tepco's aspirations to restart the plant by the end of 2024, it encounters staunch opposition from residents and activists who fear a recurrence of a Fukushima-like disaster. This led to water spillage from the nuclear fuel pools at the facility, although Tepco assures that radiation levels remain within normal parameters.

Interesting Engineering reported that analysts at Rystad Energy noted that the Japanese public is still generally less positive toward nuclear power now than they were before the Fukushima disaster.

They emphasize that public sentiment and potential government policies might be sensitive to any new disruptions caused by the recent quake or future seismic events. Japan had initially planned to phase out nuclear power after the 2011 disaster.

However, facing escalating energy costs and recurrent power shortages, there has been a shift towards restarting inactive reactors and developing new ones.

Affecting Stock Market

According to Reuters, the earthquake had a notable impact on the stock market, witnessing a significant decline in shares for Tepco and other utilities on Thursday, the first trading day following the seismic activity.

Tepco's shares experienced an initial drop of up to 8%, recovering to close with a 2.2% increase. Hokuriku Electric, whose Shika plant is approximately 65 kilometers from the quake's epicenter, also faced a decline, initially dropping by 8% before ending down 2.2%.

Reporting incidents of water spill-over from spent nuclear fuel pools and oil leaks at the plant after the earthquake, Tepco expressed its intention to restart the No.2 reactor there sometime after April 2026, as stated in October.

In the wake of the earthquake, Rystad indicated that it doesn't foresee Japan, the world's second-largest importer of liquefied natural gas (LNG), resorting to spot markets immediately, a trend observed after an earthquake in March 2022.

Although extended power plant outages, as witnessed in 2022, could prompt purchases of liquefied natural gas, current spot power prices suggest a return to business as usual.

Also Read: How to Survive an Earthquake: Tips to Remember Before, During, and After

Associated Press reported that Japan experienced a formidable earthquake that claimed the lives of over 80 individuals and plunged thousands into darkness in the western Hokuriku region.

With a magnitude of 7.6, the quake not only prompted a tsunami warning but also triggered memories of the catastrophic 2011 disaster, resulting in a nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima plant.

This seismic event has rekindled discussions about Japan's dependence on nuclear power, which constitutes around 30% of its energy sources. Japan is inherently susceptible to earthquakes and tsunamis.

Despite the rapid dissemination of public warnings and swift responses from both the public and officials, certain areas continue to grapple with the absence of essential amenities such as water, electricity, and mobile connectivity.

This left residents uncertain about their future, underscoring the importance of proactive disaster preparedness and response strategies.

Related Article: Seattle's Growing Earthquake Risks Require Urgent Hazard Assessment Update, Study Says

 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Security researchers have discovered a sophisticated malware exploit that poses a significant threat to the security of Google accounts, Independent.co.uk reports.

This exploit, which allows cybercriminals to gain unauthorized access without passwords, uses a third-party cookie hack, making it a particularly insidious and difficult-to-combat threat.

A Closer Look

The journey of the exploit began in October 2023, when a hacker revealed its existence on a Telegram channel.

A leading security firm, CloudSEK, conducted an in-depth analysis and discovered that the malware, which is now being actively tested by hacking groups, manipulates third-party cookies to compromise user accounts.

The ability of this exploit to bypass two-factor authentication provides cybercriminals with continuous access to Google services, even after a user resets their password.

Pavan Karthick M, a threat intelligence researcher at CloudSEK, emphasized the exploit's extent, stating, "It underscores the complexity and stealth of modern cyber attacks. This exploit enables continuous access to Google services, even after a user's password is reset."

Continuous monitoring technical vulnerabilities and human intelligence sources is recommended to stay ahead of emerging cyber threats, according to Karthick.

Passing Through Google's Fraud Detection

CloudSEK's detailed report, titled "Compromising Google accounts: Malwares Exploiting Undocumented OAuth2 Functionality for session hijacking," sheds light on the exploit's discovery, evolution, and its broader implications for cybersecurity.

The report reveals that the exploit, rooted in an undocumented Google OAuth endpoint named "MultiLogin," allows for generating persistent Google cookies through token manipulation.

A timeline of events highlights the rapid evolution of the exploit within various malware groups. Lumma, Rhadamanthys, Stealc, Meduza, RisePro, WhiteSnake, and Hudson Rock all implemented the exploit, enhancing its features and countering Google's fraud detection measures.

Read Also: Chrome Malware: Restores Cookies to Get Access to Your Google Account via API

Google's Next Steps

The Chrome web browser, boasting a market share of over 60%, is currently in the process of clamping down on third-party cookies.

However, this exploit poses a severe challenge, and Google has issued a statement acknowledging the threat. The tech giant encourages users to remove any malware from their computers and activate Enhanced Safe Browsing in Chrome to enhance protection against phishing and malware downloads.

The implications of this exploit on user privacy and the security of Google services cannot be overstated. Google's ongoing efforts to fortify its defenses and the vigilance required by users are crucial in mitigating the risks associated with this new malware threat.

In Other News

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has ruled that Google's claim that it should not negotiate with a group of YouTube Music employees is illegal.

This decision prompted the tech giant to negotiate with the workers' union, which is made up of YouTube music content operation workers.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.

Related Article: Google, Ordered by US Labor Board to Negotiate with YouTube Worker Union

 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
There was a mix of questions, compliments and fiery criticism Thursday night during a public hearing on proposed tax-capture incentives for a $3 billion collaborative development in Detroit's New Center area involving Henry Ford Health, the Detroit Pistons and Michigan State University.

Tell Tom Gores to build it out of his own pocket," Linda Campbell, an activist with the Detroit People's Platform, said of the Pistons team owner. "It doesnt deserve the kind of public subsidy that Tom Gores is asking for. Use his own money  then we may not like it, but we dont get a say, because its his own money."

Orange is proposed new housing. Green is the joint Henry Ford-MSU research center. Light blue is the Henry Ford Hospital expansion. Purple is parking.

Yet other speakers, including Pierre Haden, president of the Historic Boston-Edison Association, said they support the development and are looking forward to it spurring growth in the area.

"Henry Ford is not perfect, the Pistons (organization) is not perfect. But can you imagine when they first introduced Whole Foods  people thought it was crazy. That spilled out into our communities, and did something magnificent," Haden said. This is epic for us as a whole.

The hearing was held in a meeting room inside the Pistons Performance Center, 6201 Second Ave., and ran for more than two hours.

At issue was a proposed local- and state-level tax-capture incentive, known as a Transformational Brownfield, that would capture $232 million for the developers over a period of 35 years.

Housing planned for 725 Amsterdam

The capture would apply to five of the development's six projects that have $773 million in development costs. The sixth and largest project  a $2.2 billion Henry Ford Hospital expansion with a new 21-story hospital tower  isn't seeking any incentives or tax breaks.

Two of the projects would break ground this year; all are to be completed by late 2029.

The Transformational Brownfield incentive would apply to:

662 planned new apartments, to be built by a Pistons-related entity.

A new eight-story medical research center, to be a joint venture between the health system and MSU.

A six-story parking deck for residents of the new apartments and workers at the research center.

Story continues

Projects of this size and scope, by their nature require a broad variety of financing sources," Richard Haddad, chief operating officer for the Pistons, told the several dozen people in the audience.

"We are not here as real estate developers who do this to make a profit," he continued. "Without the benefits and the incentives that were pursuing, it would be impossible to get financing, it would be impossible to get loans, it would be impossible to get investors on board ... the package of incentives were pursuing is really the amount thats necessary to make this viable."

The hearing wasn't the first time residents have sounded off on the plan. After weeks of presentations and back and forth, a neighborhood group last month gave preliminary approval to a Community Benefits package of various concessions, commitments and future gifts from the three developers to those in the area.

A few key items were $500,000 for rental assistance, a $2-million home repair fund for existing neighborhood residents, 50 free tuition MSU scholarships for area high schoolers and a promise to accept Section 8 housing vouchers for the 20% of the development's apartments to be set aside as "affordable."

Reaction to new housing details

The 662 total apartments would be spread across three projects:

Redevelopment of Henry Ford's headquarters, One Ford Place at 6005 Second Ave., into 403 apartments.

Construction of a six-story, 154-unit apartment building at 725 Amsterdam St.

Construction of a six-story, 105-unit apartment building at 675 Amsterdam.

At Thursday night's hearing, resident Latanya Pitts said she thinks it is a mistake to only build apartments and not any houses, which would be better suited for families.

More: New details revealed on $3B development set to transform Detroit's New Center

Can you go back to the drawing board and build affordable homes  single-family homes  that everybody can enjoy?" she asked.

Another resident, Ralph Simpson, shared similar thoughts.

I have a concern that projects of this type  at heart represent a substantial subsidy to people who are more well-to-do and less likely to have families than the average person in Detroit," Simpson said.

Haddad, the Pistons executive, said they devised their plan by examining the housing situation in the neighborhood and seeing how demand exceeds supply.

"Were not saying every person who wants to live in Detroit is going to be able to live here, or is going to want to live here," he said. "We understand that theres families and theres individuals this may not make sense for. But we do believe that anybody who wants to live in an apartment here in this neighborhood, adding 660 units at deep levels of affordability for 20% of those units, is going to make it easier.

Why Henry Ford will still own the land

Henry Ford Health currently owns all of the land for the six project sites and would continue to own all the land once the projects are done.

Even though Henry Ford wouldn't be involved in building or operating the apartments, it would enter into long-term ground leases with a Pistons-related entity (up to 99 years) for the three apartment sites.

"The reason we do a ground lease is for just long-term viability around our campus," Jerry Darby, vice president of development for Henry Ford Health, told the Free Press. "So if the housing goes away at some point in time, we still can control the property over the long haul. It allows us to make sure  over the long run  we have viable properties around us."

Of the 133 apartments being set aside as "affordable," 13 units would be reserved for those making no more than 30% area median income (AMI) or $19,890 a year for a single person; 107 units reserved at 50% AMI or $33,150, and 13 units at 70% AMI or $46,410.

A rendering of the joint Henry Ford/MSU medical research center.

Actual rents for the 50% AMI units would be about $828 per month for a studio unit, $888 per month for a one-bedroom and $1,066 per month for a two-bedroom, according to a project presentation.

The Transformational Brownfield still needs approval by the Detroit Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, followed by Detroit City Council and the Michigan Strategic Fund in Lansing.

A groundbreaking for the Henry Ford-MSU research center and hospital expansion could happen this year. Construction of the first apartment building could start in 2025.

The developers are also seeking an unspecified amount of federal low-income housing tax credits and potentially federal historic tax credits for housing components.

Henry Ford officials have previously said that their $2.2 billion hospital expansion project, which isn't seeking incentives, is not contingent on the housing, parking deck and research center incentives happening.

What makes up the $232M ask

Incremental local property taxes  30 years

Construction materials for the buildings  100% sales tax exemption

Construction labor  100% state income tax capture

Permanent employees in the new buildings  50% capture of those employees' paid state income taxes for 20 years

Residents in the new apartments  100% capture of those residents' paid state income taxes for 20 years

Contact JC Reindl: 313-222-6631 or jcreindl@freepress.com. Follow him on X @jcreindl.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroiters sound off at hearing over $3B New Center development
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Key Insights

Institutions' substantial holdings in Compass Group implies that they have significant influence over the company's share price

A total of 25 investors have a majority stake in the company with 50% ownership

Ownership research along with analyst forecasts data help provide a good understanding of opportunities in a stock

If you want to know who really controls Compass Group PLC (LON:CPG), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. With 86% stake, institutions possess the maximum shares in the company. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn).

Given the vast amount of money and research capacities at their disposal, institutional ownership tends to carry a lot of weight, especially with individual investors. Hence, having a considerable amount of institutional money invested in a company is often regarded as a desirable trait.

Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Compass Group, beginning with the chart below.

View our latest analysis for Compass Group

LSE:CPG Ownership Breakdown January 5th 2024

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Compass Group?

Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing.

As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in Compass Group. This implies the analysts working for those institutions have looked at the stock and they like it. But just like anyone else, they could be wrong. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It's therefore worth looking at Compass Group's earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters.

LSE:CPG Earnings and Revenue Growth January 5th 2024

Investors should note that institutions actually own more than half the company, so they can collectively wield significant power. Compass Group is not owned by hedge funds. Looking at our data, we can see that the largest shareholder is BlackRock, Inc. with 8.4% of shares outstanding. With 4.9% and 4.4% of the shares outstanding respectively, Artisan Partners Limited Partnership and The Vanguard Group, Inc. are the second and third largest shareholders.

Story continues

Our studies suggest that the top 25 shareholders collectively control less than half of the company's shares, meaning that the company's shares are widely disseminated and there is no dominant shareholder.

While studying institutional ownership for a company can add value to your research, it is also a good practice to research analyst recommendations to get a deeper understand of a stock's expected performance. There are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too.

Insider Ownership Of Compass Group

While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO.

Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group.

Our information suggests that Compass Group PLC insiders own under 1% of the company. It is a very large company, so it would be surprising to see insiders own a large proportion of the company. Though their holding amounts to less than 1%, we can see that board members collectively own UK16m worth of shares (at current prices). Arguably recent buying and selling is just as important to consider. You can click here to see if insiders have been buying or selling.

General Public Ownership

The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 14% stake in Compass Group. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

Next Steps:

I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. To that end, you should be aware of the 1 warning sign we've spotted with Compass Group .

If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
A business manager suspected of having ordered the attack on an elected official from Saint-Denis

Tigrane Seydoux, the Frenchman behind the fashionable Italians in Madrid in which you always have to visit the bathroom

Energy transition: The experts say so, the Court of Auditors says so

Ticks: How to protect yourself from the increasing tick population when taking a walk in the forest

A member of the Fatwa Council in Britain calls on Western Muslims to adhere to their religion and identity

Death and stuff, the worst series of the week: the copy of a copy of a copy of Agatha Christie

Alaska Airlines passenger about hole in plane wall: "I kept staring into the hole and hoping it wouldn't tear any further"

Alaska Airlines passenger about hole in plane wall: "I kept staring into the hole and hoping it wouldn't tear any further"

La Fievre with Ana Girardot and Nina Meurisse: what is the new event series from Canal+ worth?

Ines Reg criticized for her attitude in Dancing with the Stars: the comedian breaks the silence

Fatal accident in Wesseling: "Don't be a pathetic coward, come clean, turn yourself in to the police"

Trump describes Zelensky as the best salesman and calls for him to loan him money.. How did tweeters comment?

IN PICTURES - Football: discover the new Blues jerseys for Euro 2024 and the Olympics

For the fifth time in a row: Medvedev lost again to Alcaraz in the Masters final in Indian Wells

Badminton Akane Yamaguchi "Shidamatsu" pair and others are guaranteed to participate in the Paris Olympics

Rugby: here is the program of the French XV for the rest of 2024

Jean-Marie Rouart, the writer-academician, looks back on December 19, 1964, the entry of Jean Moulin into the Pantheon

2nd Bundesliga: FC Schalke 04 is in the black  and fears falling into the 3rd league

La Unio denounces the second detection of Moroccan strawberries with hepatitis A in nine days

Without unnecessary risks: the ruble has risen in price on the Moscow Exchange following the results of the presidential elections in Russia

The "wave of rework" after the Spring Festival has driven the rental market in Guangzhou to heat up rapidly

In the first two months, the total foreign trade import and export value of Kashgar, Xinjiang increased by 90% year-on-year.

King Felipe VI presents Isak Andic (Mango) with the VIII Kingdom of Spain Award for Business Achievement: "Thank you for making a better country"

The Government rescues the precedent of Arabic in the UN to defend Catalan in Europe

Garibaldi, Pablo Iglesias' bar in Lavapies, vandalized by anarchists before its opening because of the name of a cocktail

Doing harm while being playful: how fireworks mortars became the weapon of choice for delinquents

The EU supported the use of Russian assets for Ukraine, but the decision was postponed

Haiti in the grip of gangs: in Port-au-Prince, at least ten bodies found

The Russian Guard shot down a UAV that the Ukrainian Armed Forces wanted to attack an enterprise near Belgorod

Civil servants will have the salary increase after Easter and before the Budgets are approved

Urgent | Al Jazeera obtains exclusive photos showing the Qassam tracking the movements of officer in the Shaldag unit, Yitzhar Hoffman, before he was killed by a snipers bullet.

The central parity rate of RMB against the US dollar increased by 32 basis points to 7.0943 yuan.

Niger: what follow-up after the denunciation of the military agreement between Niamey and Washington?

Putin: all traitors fighting against Russia will be identified by name and they will not be given peace

Operational-tactical aviation and artillery: the Russian Armed Forces struck the site of a meeting of the command staff of the SBU and the Armed Forces of Ukraine

IN PICTURES - Football: discover the new Blues jerseys for Euro 2024 and the Olympics

Defeat in the FA Cup: Klopp breaks off interview  I have no nerves for you

Operation seduction of the head of Chinese diplomacy in New Zealand and Australia

 Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
A business manager suspected of having ordered the attack on an elected official from Saint-Denis

Tigrane Seydoux, the Frenchman behind the fashionable Italians in Madrid in which you always have to visit the bathroom

Energy transition: The experts say so, the Court of Auditors says so

Ticks: How to protect yourself from the increasing tick population when taking a walk in the forest

A member of the Fatwa Council in Britain calls on Western Muslims to adhere to their religion and identity

Death and stuff, the worst series of the week: the copy of a copy of a copy of Agatha Christie

Alaska Airlines passenger about hole in plane wall: "I kept staring into the hole and hoping it wouldn't tear any further"

Alaska Airlines passenger about hole in plane wall: "I kept staring into the hole and hoping it wouldn't tear any further"

La Fievre with Ana Girardot and Nina Meurisse: what is the new event series from Canal+ worth?

Ines Reg criticized for her attitude in Dancing with the Stars: the comedian breaks the silence

Fatal accident in Wesseling: "Don't be a pathetic coward, come clean, turn yourself in to the police"

Trump describes Zelensky as the best salesman and calls for him to loan him money.. How did tweeters comment?

IN PICTURES - Football: discover the new Blues jerseys for Euro 2024 and the Olympics

For the fifth time in a row: Medvedev lost again to Alcaraz in the Masters final in Indian Wells

Badminton Akane Yamaguchi "Shidamatsu" pair and others are guaranteed to participate in the Paris Olympics

Rugby: here is the program of the French XV for the rest of 2024

Jean-Marie Rouart, the writer-academician, looks back on December 19, 1964, the entry of Jean Moulin into the Pantheon

2nd Bundesliga: FC Schalke 04 is in the black  and fears falling into the 3rd league

La Unio denounces the second detection of Moroccan strawberries with hepatitis A in nine days

Without unnecessary risks: the ruble has risen in price on the Moscow Exchange following the results of the presidential elections in Russia

The "wave of rework" after the Spring Festival has driven the rental market in Guangzhou to heat up rapidly

In the first two months, the total foreign trade import and export value of Kashgar, Xinjiang increased by 90% year-on-year.

The US said it does not plan to congratulate Putin on his victory in the Russian elections

Wretched Creatures... Visual creativity and the brilliance of Emma Stone in the role of the child

The Government rescues the precedent of Arabic in the UN to defend Catalan in Europe

Garibaldi, Pablo Iglesias' bar in Lavapies, vandalized by anarchists before its opening because of the name of a cocktail

Civil servants will have the salary increase after Easter and before the Budgets are approved

Urgent | Al Jazeera obtains exclusive photos showing the Qassam tracking the movements of officer in the Shaldag unit, Yitzhar Hoffman, before he was killed by a snipers bullet.

The central parity rate of RMB against the US dollar increased by 32 basis points to 7.0943 yuan.

Niger: what follow-up after the denunciation of the military agreement between Niamey and Washington?

Putin: all traitors fighting against Russia will be identified by name and they will not be given peace

Operational-tactical aviation and artillery: the Russian Armed Forces struck the site of a meeting of the command staff of the SBU and the Armed Forces of Ukraine

IN PICTURES - Football: discover the new Blues jerseys for Euro 2024 and the Olympics

Defeat in the FA Cup: Klopp breaks off interview  I have no nerves for you

Operation seduction of the head of Chinese diplomacy in New Zealand and Australia

 Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
ZEELAND  Creative Dining Services has announced the acquisition of Pedestal Foods, a food service provider for private K-12 schools in the Southeast and Midwest.

The acquisition continues Creative Dinings growth plan of diversifying and extending its reach across the country.

Our team is enthusiastic about keeping dining on par with the brand and reputations of these renowned schools and joining in their efforts to support the next generation of community leaders, said CEO Jim Eickhoff.

Creative Dining Services has announced the acquisition of Pedestal Foods, a food service provider for private K-12 schools in the Southeast and Midwest.

With the acquisition of Pedestal Foods, Creative Dining adds national reach and infrastructure, greater leveraged purchasing power, accelerated growth and market expansion.

We seek to become part of the fabric of these premier schools  that they value us as partners who are integrous, transparent and responsive, Eickhoff said.

Creative Dining Services, based in Zeeland, launched 1990 with services to two colleges and a senior living community.

Believe it or not, the company was a brainstorm between Hope College and Calvin College to create a joint food service and hospitality effort, Eickhoff, a Hope College graduate, told The Sentinel in 2019.

I worked in the food department of the college. While working there, I think I had three different uniforms. So, they were frustrated. The founders got together with the colleges and decided to create their own business in 1990.

Subscribe: Get all your breaking news and unlimited access to our local coverage

By 1995, the company had 16 clients across four states. Today, it serves over 70 businesses, colleges and senior living communities across the country with a focus on West Michigan, including LG Energy Solutions in Holland, Wolverine Worldwide in Grand Rapids, Stryker in Kalamazoo and Whirlpool's Brandywine Creek near South Haven  as well as Hope College, Camp Geneva, Calvin College and Grand Rapids Community College, as of 2022.

Creative Dining also partnered with Gateway Mission to develop the new Gateway Spoon Cafe & Grill.

 Contact reporter Austin Metz at ametz@hollandsentinel.com.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Creative Dining grows further with purchase of Pedestal Foods
The telecommunications sector is ripe with competition, with products and services becoming increasingly commoditized. As a result, major players in the space are forced to compete on price -- a dynamic that can impact a company's bottom line.

But amid the competitive landscape, one company in the industry looks potentially undervalued. Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) may not be a company that is synonymous with monster growth, but its combination of strong cash flow and a high dividend yield could make it attractive for passive income investors.

Let's dig into Verizon's business and assess why 2024 could be a great time to open a position.

Cash flow is king

In addition to competition from the likes of AT&T, T-Mobile, and Comcast, Verizon also faces intense pressure from the rise in streaming services. This has caused customer churn to increase, which impacts the company's revenue and profitability. Unsurprisingly, Verizon's top line has decreased about 3% year over year through the first nine months of 2023, which ended Sept. 30.

But even as revenue decelerates, Verizon has found ways to sustain robust free cash flow. Through Sept. 30, Verizon's total free cash flow increased 18% year over year to $14.6 billion. The consistent generation of cash flow not only allows Verizon to pay off its debt but also to reward shareholders in the form of a dividend.

Image source: Getty Images.

Take note of the dividend

VZ Dividend Chart

The chart above illustrates Verizon's dividend growth during its tenure as a public company. The basic takeaway is that throughout its corporate history, Verizon has demonstrated its commitment to loyal shareholders time and again. In fact, back in September, Verizon increased its dividend for the 17th consecutive year. That milestone alone makes me feel pretty confident that the company's dividend isn't going away.

The valuation is compelling

The chart above shows that Verizon's forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 8.3 is far below its 10-year average. Moreover, it also pales in comparison to competitors T-Mobile and Comcast, which trade at forward P/E ratios of 20.7 and 11.2, respectively.

Story continues

The deterioration of Verizon's forward P/E ratio makes sense on some level, given the amount of competition among other telephone companies and streaming platforms. However, I think that these concerns are rooted more in perception as opposed to reality -- thereby cratering Verizon's stock to overly depressed levels.

I think you'll be hard-pressed to find a company that manages cash flow such that paying a dividend isn't in jeopardy even in the face of decelerating revenue. While the stock is likely not going to handily beat the S&P 500, dividend investors might be eager to scoop up shares at its current 7% yield. Furthermore, with valuation levels below long-term averages, as well as other competing telco providers, Verizon stock looks pretty cheap. Now could be a great opportunity to begin dollar-cost averaging into a position at a bargain price.

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This Dividend Stock Looks Like a Bargain Going Into 2024 was originally published by The Motley Fool
FILE - Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump speaks at an annual leadership meeting of the Republican Jewish Coalition, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, in Las Vegas. Court arguments are beginning in the effort to bar former President Donald Trump from running for his old job again. The first set of arguments start in Colorado, Monday, Oct. 30. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)
An oil and gas industry executive will head the state Department of Natural Resources under Gov.-elect Jeff Landry, who also has tapped a college vice president as the Louisiana Workforce Commissions next director and a former National Guard colonel to lead the Governors Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.
Louisiana State Climatologist Barry Keim, familiar statewide for his explanations of hurricanes, tornadoes and other weather events during his 19 years in the position, has been removed from the post by LSU officials, possibly due to a dispute over whether last summer's intense drought conditions were being accurately portrayed.
Hailee OSullivan was seated next to her father as Japan Airlines flight 516 approached the runway at Tokyos Haneda airport.

The wheels touched down in what seemed to be a routine landing, but within minutes the 17-year-old found herself watching flames lick the windows outside and waiting for her plane to explode.

The OSullivan family watched their plane burn after they escaped. Credit: Nine News

I was in a way just waiting for it to blow up, the Queenslander told Nine News in an exclusive interview after her familys escape from the fiery runway crash on Tuesday.

As flight attendants yelled instructions in a language she could not understand and black smoke filled the cabin, OSullivan and her family found themselves trapped in the second-last row of the plane.
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 The down payment for housing security for Linda Seaborn was just $1. That was not in the very distant past. Nor was it for a spot in a rustic commune in the bush. Seaborn paid $1 for a townhouse in suburban Hobart in 1999. She moved in the following year and still lives there today. Seaborn lives in a housing co-operative. While common in cities such as Zurich and New York, they make up a vanishingly small proportion of housing in Australia. Co-operative housing is the missing middle in Australias property landscape, and those who work in the emerging local industry argue it should be harnessed by state and federal governments to help solve the countrys housing crisis. The security of housing co-ops gives people a secure and stable old age [and] retirement, Linda Seaborn says. Co-operative housing can include anything from public housing rental schemes to collectives that work together to build a complex before switching to a strata plan. Melina Morrison, chief executive of the Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals (BCCM), says when you boil it down, housing co-ops look like ordinary housing. The issue here is that somethings exotic until its not, she says.

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What is co-operative housing? The easiest way to explain how a housing co-op works is to compare it to buying a unit or apartment in a complex that has strata. That purchase includes a separate title for the unit, and the new owner becomes a member of a strata group that is responsible for maintaining common areas such as a pool and the buildings exterior, and ensuring the property is insured. Morrison says a shared equity housing co-op is a similar concept but goes a few steps further. Loading A group of people come together and decide they want to build on a block of land but have separate properties. Rather than buying individual property titles, they form a co-op that purchases the title. The individuals then buy a share in the co-op, which can cost anything from $1 to tens of thousands of dollars. The co-op, as a business, takes on the title mortgage for the property, controls the construction of the homes and has responsibility for maintaining the property. The share purchased  say, the $1 invested by Seaborn  gives the shareholder the right to live in the property. They also make ongoing payments towards co-op fees and any mortgage the co-op holds.

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But co-ops are not run to grow profits, so when a resident leaves, they simply get back their initial outlay for a share of ownership, plus a little interest. A new person moving in would pay a similar amount for their share. Morrison says that means co-operatives can offer a more affordable buy-in point for people otherwise priced out of the property market. One of the purposes of that property is for it to be affordable in perpetuity, she says. The downside The trouble with co-op housing in Australia is that it is so uncommon  roughly 1 per cent of all housing, according to the BCCM  that there are few examples for governments and investors to assess. One challenge co-ops face is the emphasis in Australia on property as a financial asset, says Michael Fotheringham, managing director of the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute.

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Places like Zurich or areas with really strong welfare systems and strong social housing systems often have quite a lot of co-operative housing, he says. Places like Australia, theres not so much social housing and the property market is dominated by the financial framing of property rather than the shelter framing of property. Loading Australians aspire to own land, Fotheringham says. When you talk about housing at a barbecue with your friends over Christmas, youre not talking about how can we set up a shared arrangement, youre talking about what you can get for what youve got or how you can get a foot on the ladder. Youve also got to register as a co-operative society, so theres an extra step there, but also what the lenders  the major banks  are willing to lend for. We have a fairly concentrated banking system with four or five major banks and that tends to shape less competitive behaviour. Its about security

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While co-operative housing cant be used as an investment vehicle, Morrison says it delivers something vital: stability. Loading Its housing security, she says. It shouldnt be a profit-making investment. It should be about meeting peoples needs for a home and shelter. Thats something that all the housing co-op models have in common  it provides a secure home for the people that live in it, whether youre putting in $1 or $200,000. For Seaborn, who has been the senior policy adviser for the BCCM since late 2022, that security meant she could study again. She adds that the benefits of co-op living extend beyond working-age life. The security of housing co-ops gives people a secure and stable old age [and] retirement. One model working in Melbourne

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Andrew Dyson Credit: .

To submit a letter to The Age, email letters@theage.com.au. Please include your home address and telephone number. No attachments, please include your letter in the body of the email. See here for our rules and tips on getting your letter published.

Before the United States-led invasion in 2003, an international team of weapons experts searched Iraq and found no evidence of weapons of mass destruction. This was the best intelligence ever gathered on the question, and should have concluded it. But the US proceeded with the invasion, based on this supposed threat. Despite the clear evidence, John Howard went along and sent troops into war. Either (a) he knew there werent really any WMDs, and committed our troops under false pretences; or (b) he was gullible and foolish enough to believe the assertions of George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld, and ignore the report of the international experts. So which was it?

Geoff Dalton, East Malvern

Howard should have remained independent

Your correspondents (Letters, 3/1) defence of the Howard governments record on the Iraq war is misguided. The Bush administration, seeking an excuse to respond to the 9/11 tragedy decided, without solid supporting intelligence, that not only was Iraq a supporter of the terrorist attack but was also developing weapons of mass destruction and nuclear bombs and therefore should be attacked. A US Senate Intelligence Committee report (2008) states there was little good intelligence on the intentions of Iraq to develop WMD and nuclear weapons. Bush and his administration chose to highlight aspects of the available intelligence that helped to make their case for going to war in Iraq, while playing down other evidence that did not. It was all hype, particularly the supposed links to al-Qaeda and the 9/11 attacks.

John Howard accepted this woefully wrong intelligence. In retrospect that was a decision that could have been avoided if Howard, rather than being eager to please his US ally, had instead sought independent analysis that may have shown that Bush ignored substantial disagreements in intelligence communities on the status of Iraqi WMD and nuclear weapons programs in order to manipulate public opinion. Howard fell for the hype.

John Togno, Mandurang

Consequences are still being felt

David Livingstone (Comment, 5/1), in his analysis of the folly that was Australias decision to join the war against Iraq, provides crucial context to the current Gaza Strip tragedy. As he argues, the invasion engineered by George W. Bush and Tony Blair had the dreadful consequence of elevating Iran to its current effectively hegemonic hold on much of the Middle East: a ruthless power led by fanatical, misogynistic mullahs in league with a corrupt well-armed Revolutionary Corps exporting mayhem via the likes of Hamas and Hezbollah and the Houthi rebels in Yemen. For all its faults, Israel now stands as the only bulwark against such tyrannical elements in a region where Iraq is now a proxy of Iran. Those Australian-based useful idiots now viewing Hamas as freedom fighters for a Palestine construct need to be schooled in the stark geo-politics of a region where the malign shadow of Iran is all-pervasive.

Jon McMillan, Mount Eliza
Some members of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government are pushing to relocate Palestinians from Gaza to another country, possibly Congo, at the end of Israels war against Hamas under a voluntary migration scheme.

The government is reportedly conducting secret talks in which it is seeking to have Congo and other nations accept thousands of immigrants.

Congo will be willing to take in migrants, and were in talks with others, a senior source in the security cabinet told news site Zman Israel.

Displaced Palestinians walk along the Salah al-Din road towards the southern Gaza Strip in November. The UN estimates more than 80 per cent of the Gazan population of 2.3 million is displaced. Credit: Bloomberg

The news report said that Gazan migration was becoming the leading policy of the government as a solution to the conflict. Another unnamed government source later told journalists the government was not in talks with Congo: It could be between Congo and Gazans, but Israel is not conducting any talks with any country on this issue, the official said according to The Times of Israel.
Bill Hall left his job as a senior marine engineer at age 59, earned his CDL and started Coyote Container with two trucks and one trailer in Northern California.

Now he is among the first retail purchasers of a zero-emissions Nikola fuel cell electric truck.

Pragmatist or pioneer?

Hall sees himself as more of a pragmatist than a pioneer. He paid cash for a hydrogen fuel cell-powered Class 8 Tre after a $360,000 spiff from the California Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP). Hall did not disclose how much he paid for his truck.

It [cost] me less than buying a [new] diesel drayage truck, Hall told me in an interview this week. It depends what youre looking at. But different brands that would work for my use were in the $225,000 to $250,000 [range].

Hall expects to put 40,000 to 50,000 miles a year on the Nikola Tre, driving it with loads anywhere in California that he would be able to refuel with hydrogen. So far, there are just a few stations capable of transferring 50 kilograms of super-chilled hydrogen gas into his truck.

Bill Hall of Coyote Container is among the first retail customers for the Nikola Tre hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric truck. (Photo: Nikola)

Hunting for hydrogen

Once a week  sometimes more often  Hall travels from the Port of Oakland to Southern California, about 400 miles. A fuel cell Tre can make the trip on a single fill, which takes as little as 22 minutes. Hall is required to take a 30-minute break as part of a maximum 11-hour day under federal hours-of-service regulations.





Wherever I know theres [hydrogen] supply and range, Im going to use it, Hall said.

According to the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Partnership, California has 55 hydrogen fueling stations. Most target fuel cell passenger vehicles.

Those stations are designed to deliver to a small car thats taking 3 to 5 kilograms, Hall said. Our needs are much greater. Its a growing pain.

But he is optimistic for a build-out of hydrogen infrastructure by established businesses like FirstElement Fuel and stations planned under Nikolas Hyla brand with partners Voltera and BP-owned TravelCenters of America.

Story continues

There is a Hyla station down in Southern California, so thats the one I plan to use for now, Hall said. Theyre working on a second mobile fueler thats actually closer to the port. So itll be great when that comes online.

The hydrogen supply industry is an interesting study. The prices are projected to come to parity [with diesel] in the near term and less than half in the longer term. I have pricing that I think will work in my use model.

Bill Hall changed careers at 59 to become a truck driver. His is among the first to purchase a zero-emissions fuel cell electric vehicle. (Photo: Nikola)

Nikola built 42 FCEVs in Q4 and sold 35 at wholesale

Nikola built 42 fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) in the last three months of 2023 and wholesaled 35 of them to Toms Truck Center in Santa Ana, California, Ethero in Mechanicsville, Virginia, and ITD Industries in Toronto. The company did not say how many were in customer hands, only that it was in the process of deliveries.

Hall received his Tre FCEV on Dec. 13, his 61st birthday.

I went to the [Advanced Clean Transportation Expo] in 2019. Thats where I became aware of Nikola, Hall said. I began calling Nikola because I knew they were developing this hydrogen truck, and I never stopped bugging them. I had to get their corporate phone number to call them because there really wasnt any sales [team].

Fast forward five years. Nikola is building a sales team in Southern California to press its first-mover advantage and capitalize on HVIP incentives like Halls that can dramatically cut the $450,000 base price of the Tre FCEV.

I see this whole evolution in a broader sense, Hall said. This technology is going to blossom and spread to other industries. The trucking industrys way, way, way ahead, and Nikola is the only one that has a truck you can use.

Aurora freezes designs for autonomous hardware scaling

Aurora Innovations announcement Friday that it has frozen the design for autonomous hardware that Continental will build isnt sexy. But that doesnt mean its unimportant.

As Aurora prepares for commercial launch of a few driverless trucks on a Houston-to-Dallas route later this year, plans continue for hardware scaling covering thousands of future trucks.

Bringing new automotive-grade hardware to market can take years from initial design to end user. Aurora established a long-term partnership with Tier 1 supplier Continental in April 2023. The German supplier is building, validating and taking costs out of Aurora Driver hardware for Volvo and Paccar trucks.

Finalizing the hardware architecture, specs and requirements is a big deal because it is foundational for eventually making Aurora profitable.

From day one, we knew wed need to build a strong ecosystem of partners to bring this technology to market safely and at a commercial scale, said Chris Urmson, Aurora co-founder and CEO. Finalizing the design of our future hardware is a meaningful step toward making the unit economics of the Aurora Driver compelling and building a business for the long term.

German auto supplier Continental will build automotive-grade autonomous hardware for Aurora Innovation. (Photo: Aurora Innovation)

Emergency fallback upgrade also in the works

Aurora is also working with Continentals engineers on an updated industrialized fallback system  a specialized secondary computer that can take over operation if a failure occurs in the primary system. It is expected to go into production in 2027.

Continental is investing more than $300 million and will directly ship the Aurora Driver hardware to Volvo Truck and Paccar Inc. plants for integration on assembly lines. Continental will build initial versions of the hardware for testing at its new facility in New Braunfels, Texas, and at other global manufacturing sites.

Being the industrys only Tier 1 supplier with a commitment to industrialize autonomous hardware at scale allows us to be at the forefront of and capitalize on this groundbreaking technology, said Philipp von Hirschheydt, Continental executive board member for the Automotive Group sector.

Trevor Milton bets the ranch

Convicted Nikola Corp. founder Trevor Milton may be going to prison for four years. But he is still fighting.

Miltons attorneys wrote to U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos on Dec. 28 opposing the governments plan requiring Milton to forfeit a Utah ranch that he purchased with cash and Nikola stock options in 2020. The stock options and land sale formed one of three wire and securities fraud convictions in October 2022.

Ramos said during Miltons Dec. 18 sentencing that he generally agreed with prosecutors seeking forfeiture.

The letter said Milton paid $8.5 million in cash plus the stock options to purchase the Wasatch Creeks Ranch, $1.6 million more than seller Peter Hicks paid for the property in March 2020. The letter also said Hicks could have sold the options for $1 million but declined to do so. Milton later exchanged the options for $1.6 million in discounted Nikola stock.

The defenses bottom line is that making Milton give up the ranch is too severe a penalty for the conviction in part because no criminal proceeds resulted.

Trevor Milton outside court following his Dec. 18 sentencing. (Photo: Matthew Lee/Inner City Press)

Briefly noted 

Kodiak Robotics has selected Ambarella Inc.s AI domain control system-on-chip as a complete embedded compute solution for its next-generation autonomous vehicles.

The city of Tucson, Arizona, wants to claw back about $110,000 from autonomous truck developer TuSimple Holdings after the startup shut down operations.

Volvo Trucks North America will reveal its next-generation VNL sleeper truck on Jan. 23.

Thats it for this week. Click here to get Truck Tech via email on Fridays. And catch the latest in major events and hear from the top players on Truck Tech at 3 p.m. Wednesdays on the FreightWaves YouTube channel.

Thanks for reading. We value your feedback. Please write to aadler@freightwaves.com with suggestions and comments on Truck Tech.

The post Early Nikola fuel cell truck buyer confident about hydrogen fuel appeared first on FreightWaves.
Iowa: US President Joe Biden has kick-started the election year with a dire warning about Donald Trumps campaign of revenge to return to power, using his first major speech of 2024 to frame the contest as a fresh test for American democracy.

In a searing address marking the third anniversary of the January 6 Capitol attack, Biden sought to shift the focus away from his own political woes and place it squarely on his predecessor, who is on the verge of winning the Republican nomination to run for the White House again in November.

US President Joe Biden speaks in Pennsylvania to kickstart the campaign year and mark the third anniversary of the January 6 riots. Credit: AP

Speaking in the battleground state of Pennsylvania as Trump rallied supporters in Iowa, Biden warned Americans that Trumps previous attempts to overthrow the election result were just the beginning. He attacked the former president as a denier in chief and a loser who wanted an all-out war.

Trumps assault on democracy isnt just part of his past. Its what hes promising for the future. Hes been straightforward. Hes not hiding the ball, Biden said, highlighting Trumps recent comments about being a dictator on day one and references to immigrants poisoning the blood of America.
Conagra Brands Inc (NYSE: CAG) reported mixed financial results for its second quarter and cut 2024 guidance.

The Chicago-based reported a second-quarter FY24 sales decline of 3.2% year-on-year to $3.21 billion, missing the analyst consensus estimate of $3.24 billion. Adjusted EPS of 71 cents beat the consensus of 68 cents, according to data from Benzinga Pro.

Conagra lowered its FY24 organic net sales outlook from a growth of 1% to a decline of 1% - 2%. The company also cut its FY24 adjusted EPS outlook from $2.70 - $2.75 to $2.60 - $2.65 versus the estimate of $2.67.

With the recent buzz around Conagra Brands, some investors may be eyeing potential gains from the companys dividends too. As of now, Conagra Brands offers an annual dividend yield of 4.87%, which is a quarterly dividend amount of 35 cents per share ($1.40 a year).

So, how can investors exploit its dividend yield to pocket a regular $500 monthly?

To earn $500 per month or $6,000 annually from dividends alone, you would need an investment of approximately $123,094 or around 4,286 shares. For a more modest $100 per month or $1,200 per year, you would need $24,613 or around 857 shares.

Read This: $1M Bet On This Healthcare Stock? Check Out These 3 Penny Stocks Insiders Are Aggressively Buying

View more earnings on CAG

To Calculate: Divide the desired annual income ($6,000 or $1,200) by the dividend ($1.40 in this case). So, $6,000 / $1.40 = 4,286 ($500 per month), and $1,200 / $1.40 = 857 shares ($100 per month).

Note that dividend yield can change on a rolling basis, as the dividend payment and the stock price both fluctuate over time.

How That Works: The dividend yield is computed by dividing the annual dividend payment by the stock's current price.

For example, if a stock pays an annual dividend of $2 and is currently priced at $50, the dividend yield would be 4% ($2/$50). However, if the stock price increases to $60, the dividend yield drops to 3.33% ($2/$60). Conversely, if the stock price falls to $40, the dividend yield rises to 5% ($2/$40).

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Similarly, changes in the dividend payment can impact the yield. If a company increases its dividend, the yield will also increase, provided the stock price stays the same. Conversely, if the dividend payment decreases, so will the yield.

CAG Price Action: Shares of Conagra Brands fell 1.9% to close at $28.72 on Thursday.

Read More: Hedge funds intend to snatch all pre-IPO shares of future AI unicorns before you can. But there is one venture product investing on your behalf.

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This article How To Earn $500 A Month From Conagra Brands Stock Following Latest Earnings Report originally appeared on Benzinga.com

 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Verizon customers could soon be eligible for part of a proposed $100 million class action settlement.

The lawsuit, which was filed in New Jersey, alleges customers that had some of the network's monthly plans were charged undisclosed administration fees in a deceptive and unfair manner.

The settlement pertains to charges issued to customers between Jan. 1, 2016, to Nov. 8, 2023, and those who were affected have until this spring to file a claim.

Here's what to know about the settlement and how it affects consumers.

What to know about Verizon class action lawsuit

In this case, the suing party and Verizon have agreed to a settlement to resolve the lawsuit.

Despite the settlement, Verizon has denied wrongdoing. By agreeing to receive payment, the settlement class, as well as Verizon, don't make any admission that Verizon is liable or that the allegation and defense in this case have any merit.

Those who opt into the lawsuit cannot sue Verizon over the issue in the future.

Verizon will continue to charge the administrative charge in question, the settlement website reads, and contends that it has the right to increase the charge.

"As part of this settlement, Verizon will amend its Customer Agreement to include revised Administrative Charge disclosures," according to the settlement agreement posted to the website.

"Verizon clearly identifies and describes its wireless consumer Admin Charge multiple times during the sales transaction, as well as in its marketing, contracts and billing," Verizon spokesperson Rich Young said in a statement to USA TODAY. "This charge helps our company recover certain regulatory compliance, and network related costs."

Who qualifies for the Verizon settlement?

Current and former customers with wireless or data services that were charged administrative charges between Jan. 1, 2016, to Nov. 8, 2023, are eligible.

Each eligible customer will qualify for up to $100 each. The final amount each customer will receive depends on how long they've been a customer.

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How to get your settlement

Those who qualify will either receive a letter in the mail or an email with instructions on how to get paid.

Eligible customers must file a claim by April 15, 2024, to receive a settlement payment.

If you do nothing, you will not receive any settlement payment. You must file a claim by April 15, 2024, to receive a payment.

Those who don't file a claim will lose any rights to sue Verizon over these issues and also be legally bound by all orders and judgments the court makes on the lawsuit.

If you'd like to opt out of the lawsuit, you must mail a signed request for exclusion to Verizon Administrative Charge Settlement Administrator, Attn: Exclusions, P.O. Box 58220, Philadelphia, PA 19102, by Feb. 20, 2024.

For more information, or to start a claim, go to: www.VerizonAdministrativeChargeSettlement.com

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Who is eligible for $100 million Verizon class action settlement?
Photo-Illustration: The Cut; Photos: Getty

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One evening last November, Heather*, a mother of two on the Upper West Side, was on her phone, trying to stay awake until it was time to walk the dog, when she pulled up the Facebook page of her neighborhood moms group. If you have a nanny that goes to the Riverside Library, (65th and Amsterdam) with your kid (ginger boy, around 2yo) she lost him today at the library, read the top post. The poster said that shed often seen the nanny glued to her phone, ignoring the child, and that he was missing for as long as 15 minutes: The librarians were about to call the cops when they found him.

Heather immediately recognized her 19-month-old, Caleb*, and his nanny, Katie*, in the description. I was just shaking, she says. The scene vaguely aligned with a story Katie had mentioned before leaving that day: Caleb had snuck behind the stroller and wandered into the librarians office, Katie told her with a laugh. Now, the whole incident seemed much darker.

The next morning, Heather went to the library to investigate. The branch manager confirmed that her son had been left alone and added that Katie had refused to pass along Heathers name or number when asked. I was crying in the lobby of the library, Heather says. No one knew what happened in the 15 minutes before Caleb was found, inexplicably splattered with paint.

Heather fired Katie. And then things took an unexpected turn. The next nanny Heather hired, Sara*, started getting confronted on the street by a group of six or seven caregivers who were loyal to her predecessor. They would call out to Caleb by name, take videos and pictures of him, and sometimes malign Heather to Sara. They told her I was a bitch who couldnt be trusted, says Heather. At the Childrens Museum, they called Sara an idiot in front of Heathers mom. A nanny in New York for 34 years, Sara had never experienced that level of harassment and intimidation; at times, she thought about quitting. Its been rough. Some of these nannies were very, very creepy, and at some point I felt very scared of them, says Sara. They were not only lashing out at me, but they had so many bad things to say about his parents. It was an unpleasant feeling to be around them.

One day in May, more than six months after the library incident, two of Katies friends taunted Caleb as Sara pushed his stroller through the neighborhood. Caleb, are you a good boy? one called out. The other added, Caleb wouldnt be a good boy if you poured holy water on him.

Sara says she began worrying what the nannies were capable of and that Caleb could be caught in the middle of a treacherous situation. I felt so bad, because hes a child, and theyre making him out to be a bad person, when he did nothing wrong, she says.

Heather and Sara felt powerless to stop the pestering, which got less nasty but continues even now, with nannies screaming out Calebs name on the street, always from behind. Heather says shes grateful to the mother who posted about Katie and wants other moms to continue reporting what they see. Still, she never imagined that one Facebook item could spark such a traumatic ordeal for her family. The post, Heather says, made her question her own judgment and opened her eyes to just how tenuous child care in New York City can be.

Meanwhile, a few blocks away, Isabella* became the target of Upper West Side parents. A nanny for more than a decade, Isabella had been working with a family for over two years when, one Thursday at the beginning of the summer, she needed to board the bus at 63rd Street while the baby was in the stroller. The bus driver, she says, was already yelling at her when she tried to board, arguing that she wasnt allowed to bring the stroller without folding it, despite a new policy that had relaxed the rules on many buses. Finally, the driver relented and let her stand near the back door, but when she said she would pay her fare on the way out  not wanting to navigate a moving bus with a stroller or leave the baby alone in the back  he continued to demand she pay immediately, and they argued. Isabella swears she paid the fare before getting off the bus, but not before another passenger took a picture of the scene and uploaded it to the UWS Mommas Facebook group and an app called Stroller Patrol, which has a feature for sharing bad nanny sightings. Isabella learned about the post four days later, when her employer texted her a screenshot of it and then called to tell her she was fired.

We are not disposable. We are people with feelings. We are human.

It was lies, Isabella tells me. For me it was shocking, and it came out of the blue, and it was really hard for me. I almost got depressed, because I dont have family here, and all the love I can give to my son, I am giving the babies I am taking care of. She called a lawyer who agreed to take her on as a defamation client, but soon Isabella realized she lacked the funds to press her case. Isabella still nannies on date nights for another family that stood by her after she told them about the incident. But she hasnt been able to find another full-time nannying position; for now, she works in retail on the weekdays. Why do they want to accuse nannies when you dont know what is going on? she says of local parents, adding that she now jumps to the defense of nannies who have been similarly accused online. We are not disposable. We are people with feelings. We are human.

Lately, Ive been speaking to mothers and caregivers to gauge what happens after a bad nanny post. If youre a parent or a caregiver in New York City who belongs to any online forum, you know this phenomenon well: A concerned member  almost always a mom  writes to the group that she has witnessed an unidentified caregiver doing something wrong. Theres usually a photo or physical description; typically, the face of the child is obscured with an emoji but the nannys is not. The poster gives a summary of the offending behavior or simply says forebodingly, Please contact me immediately.

The posts have been around as long as the social internet, and an entire etiquette has evolved to shape them. The Park Slope Parents group has a cautionary 350-word policy titled What To Do When You See Someones Nanny Do Something You Dont Approve Of. (The document notes that in one incident, the upsetting Nanny turned out to be the childs grandmother.) Ive lurked in the comments section of enough posts to know that to some parents, bad nanny reports are a digital version of the Jane Jacobs eyes on the street mentality that has always safeguarded the citys children, while to others, they are toxic catalysts of hysteria, racism, classism, and more.

Some parents will go to extremes to monitor their nannies. For a minimum of $125 an hour, you can hire a private investigator to babysit your babysitter, as is custom among a certain strata of Manhattan parents  whether they have specific doubts or just want reassurance that their nanny is taking good care of their child. But most of the time, the worst behavior the PIs catch is a self-proclaimed nonsmoker lighting up a cigarette at the park or an occasional inattentive moment. Weve had a lot that were great, they were wonderful. It was like watching Mary Poppins all day, says Terri Dornfeld, a private investigator in Connecticut and New York who since the pandemic receives about five to seven nanny cases per year, spending up to 100 hours spying on each. But for most parents, paying a detective is a step too far. Outside of their apartments  beyond the digital eyes of Nest and Nanit in-home cameras  the eyes-peeled, phones-out surveillance state has to suffice. Of course, that doesnt mean it functions well.

In my conversations with dozens of parents and caregivers, I discovered that bad nanny posts had led to resentment, angst, and mistrust that grated on the relationship between employers and employees. Nannies wouldnt refer me to their employers, and mothers often didnt want me speaking to their nannies. And in the cases where a nanny was fired, I was also only able to talk to one of the parties, as the nanny and her former employer were no longer on speaking terms. Getting a complete picture of a single bad nanny report proved nearly impossible, because nannies and mothers are divided  and the space between them has only widened since the pandemic.

With more parents working from home, nannies are spending more time out of the apartment, where their behavior can be more readily judged and photographed by spectators. Lidia*, a former nanny who spent 17 years working for families in New York and New Jersey and now consults in the child-care industry, recalls an incident last year when her friend was in the park nannying for two kids and was reported on Facebook for ignoring the children while she was busy having a dramatic phone call. The person on the other line was in fact her boss, the childrens mom, whod called with the upsetting news that shed had to take her third child to the emergency room. Some nannies are like, I dont even want to take the kids to the park anymore, for fear that something will be misinterpreted or misunderstood, filmed or photographed and thrown up in a group, and the next thing they know theyre out of a job, says Lidia. They worry about it a lot. And I think it feeds that us-versus-them mentality.

The dynamic between parents and nannies has, of course, been problematic long before the invention of Facebook. Although the word nanny instantly brings to mind a certain air of old-school Park Avenue luxury (and Fran Drescher tottering around a mansion), for most families, the setup is a child-care necessity and challenging from a regulatory and tax perspective. Day cares have Department of Health inspectors; 3-K programs and nursery schools have the Department of Education. But nannies have always operated in an unregulated space. Many of them are undocumented immigrants. Most of them also get paid off the books, sometimes without so much as a contract, which is to say they receive none of the standard benefits of a traditional workplace: no health insurance, no guaranteed severance, and few paid sick or vacation days, if any. They can be fired at any time, and those fired for cause can be denied unemployment benefits  but of course, thats at the mercy of the employing family, who exercise discretion over virtually every aspect of a nannys professional life, from how much beyond minimum wage she can earn to when she can take breaks to when she can go home.

Then theres the fact that rarely are the nannies who get reported in mom groups white; in almost every case, the accused nanny is a person of a color different from the child she is watching. Its important to note that theres been a history of criminalization of domestic workers, as a Black and brown immigrant workforce, says Blithe Riley, a senior communications director for Hand in Hand, which teaches domestic employers about creating a just workplace. Sometimes domestic workers come into a job feeling like theyre already on the defense.

The acrimony has not only begun to fray the trust upon which the nanny-parent relationship rests, but also to poison the entire system of New Yorkers looking out for each others children. Nannies typically rely on one another for advice in navigating tricky employment problems and abuses, but lately they also band together to plot potential recourse or even retaliation when they are fired or their photos are taken without their permission. Some parents told me they now feel too intimidated to speak up online about other peoples nannies given the potential backlash  whether thats getting called out as racists by their peers or stoking the ire of the caregiver community.

In 2016, Michelle Wreesmann, a nanny from Brooklyn, started a private Facebook group called The Nannies of New York City! that has since amassed more than 20,000 members. When one of them sees a bad nanny post out in the wild, theyll share it with Wreesmanns group, typically cuing a round of mom-bashing, defense of the accuseds behavior, and attempts to identify the party involved so they can warn her she is in danger of getting fired. I always tell nannies: Youre a very valuable human being, and you have to speak up for yourself, and your name is your brand, so try your best out there and be professional, says Wreesmann. But if somebody is going to harm you, defend yourself.

Since 2020, the groups No. 1 enemy has been Erin Maloney, the founder of the household-staffing agency Abigail Madison. Maloney had access to the nannies Facebook group, and this fall, Wreesmann heard that Maloney had tattled on a caregiver to her employer, sending screenshots of the womans posts venting about her work. Wreesmann  who, like Maloney, is a mother  says she understands the instinct to give a fellow mom important information about the person looking after her kids. But she also believes that parents are running amok with their online monitoring, forcing nannies to close ranks and take sides. Wreesmann ejected Maloney from the group. PLEASE REFRAIN FROM WORKING WITH THIS WOMAN, she wrote to everyone. SHES NOT FOR NANNIES, SHES ACTUALLY AGAINST NANNIES!!! (Maloney declined to discuss the incident, but said in a statement that Wreesmann has been harassing me and my company since 2020.)

I think there has been a swinging of the pendulum the last five to seven years in terms of the nanny world, says Holly Flanders, whose agency Choice Parenting places nannies in the New York area. Nannies started to stick up for themselves. And I think they are oftentimes more assertive than they had been in the past.

The aftermath of some bad nanny posts can be unbelievably nasty. Jamie*, a Manhattan nanny, told me about being the subject of such a report. Recently, she was at a playground in Stuyvesant Town when she saw a child try to kick the boy she was watching. Jamie screamed out, No, no, no, we dont do that, we keep our feet on the floor! The kicking boys mother approached, telling Jamie she had it under control, but Jamie pressed her, asking, Where were you? A third woman approached to tell Jamie that she and the other parents werent scared of her. I took that as a threat, says Jamie, who admits she then spouted off a few expletives before retreating to a bench.

That night, there was a post about the incident in the Stuytown Moms Facebook group. It included a picture of Jamie taken by the third woman in the encounter, whom Jamie had seen walking her dog at the park shortly afterwards. Jamie saw it and realized she also possessed a photo of the third woman. At the playground a few months earlier, this woman had been lying on the ground in a skirt, exposing her underwear. Jamie, on impulse, had taken a deeply embarrassing picture and kept it. Now she DMed it to the author of the Stuytown Moms post, writing, I would be wrong if I posted this picture. The post came down, and on Monday, the third woman sought out Jamie outside the local playground and tearfully apologized. I didnt feel good, says Jamie. But she also says shes still glad she did it. I think the only reason she apologized to me was because of that picture.

Many bad nanny posts function as an inkblot test of child-rearing philosophies  especially in the era of the gentle parenting movement. What one mother or father sees as a fireable offense, another may see as proof that a nanny is teaching children valuable lessons of independence and consequences.

Madeline*, a downtown executive, says shed always appreciated her nannys disciplined style. But a few months ago, she was sitting at Dos Caminos in Soho with her then-15-month-old when a nanny who recognized her son approached. Thank God I ran into you, the woman said. She put Madeline in touch with a number of people who said theyd seen her nanny mistreating her child: shouting, being rough, ignoring his cries. I was obviously freaking out, says Madeline. She didnt know who to trust: her nanny, who had never before given her cause for doubt, or this circle of concerned strangers. They may be wrong, she says. They may be gentle parents. Her nanny told her she was treating her son with the same discipline she would use on her own child. But, ultimately, Madeline felt she had no choice but to let her nanny go; she couldnt forget the comments. I just cant live with that doubt, she says of her worry that the discipline could escalate. Id be here all day in my office thinking, Is he going to come back spanked today?

I dont know if someone wanted her job. I dont know if she was really crossing any limits. Ill never know.

Madeline says she collapsed after the experience. She canceled an upcoming IVF cycle and reconsidered signing for a new condo. l felt like  is my judgment failing me? she says. It was hell breaking loose in my head. When nannies started calling her to refer their friends for the newly open position, Madeline began to question the accusers motives. I dont know if someone wanted her job. I dont know if she was really crossing any limits. Ill never know, says Madeline. I dont want to know at this point.

I also spoke to Emily*, a mother in Hoboken. When her son was 6 months old, a bystander posted a photo of her nanny, claiming she was being aggressive at a park. Emily talked to the witness and tried to reenact the scene: She went to the park and sat on a bench while her husband stood by the playground exit, playing the role of the nanny. There was no clear line of sight, so Emily dismissed the allegations as baseless, the result of her sons usual fussiness when being buckled into his stroller; she kept her nanny. But Emilys experience highlights how these posts, regardless of their validity, have a way of corroding trust  in a nanny as well as in a parents own confidence  that often cannot be fully repaired. For more than two years after the incident, Emily frequently walked by the park when the nanny and her son were there, just to make sure all was well. Its in the back of my head now, Emily says.

In some corners of the city, tattling on nannies online is in decline  or at least being reconsidered. ISawYourNanny.blogspot.com, once a hot spot of bad nanny posting, went dormant in 2020 after one of its moderators died. Please let this blog disappear, one commenter wrote as an epitaph. The GPS-based app Stroller Patrol was released in 2022 by a New York City mom named Diana Toyberman who wanted to increase the odds that nanny reports reached the right parent  and only parents whose stroller was in the immediate vicinity of an incident, rather than the tens of thousands in mom groups. But so far, it is only available on the Upper East Side and has just 500 members.

Anna Grossman, who founded the Hudson River Park Mothers Group, disabled replies to bad nanny posts several years ago. The breaking point was the infamous Marshalls thread, as Grossman now calls it, when a debate raged over whether it was appropriate for nannies to shop with their charges in tow. It became about our values and how our nannies represent our values in their behavior, says Grossman, whose group has around 3,000 paying members (including myself). We certainly dont want a whole nanny-bashing fest. Weve heard from moms who are working full-time that its demoralizing for them, and were a support group. Grossman also banned including names of children or caregivers, details about the incident (just the time, place, and a description of the stroller or the childs age are allowed), as well as any racial descriptions in the posts. In some cases, the moms message Grossman directly, and Grossman is able to supplant the need for a post at all, instead relying on her knowledge of the community to connect the witness to whom she believes to be the relevant parent. One reason, she says, is that the relevant parents often do not find the reported behavior to be problematic.

Its now common for bad nanny posts to include preambles of reluctance, with lines like I never thought Id write one of these and acknowledgments that they might be crucified for sharing. Some moms told me they learned about their nannys concerning behavior weeks after an incident occurred, because the witness only worked up the nerve to come forward after what shed seen began eating away at her.

And sometimes, the accusations against nannies prove to be entirely unfounded. Just before Labor Day, a pseudonymous Reddit user uploaded a photo of a Black woman and a child to the Park Slope sub-Reddit, titling the post, a Nanny was hitting a child in the Park Slope library bathroom. The outrage briefly made its way onto the Park Slope Parents forums, until the duplicate posts were removed. Upon the parents investigations with the librarians, police, and security footage, no one could corroborate the allegations  and the original poster never responded to inquiries. (The family declined to comment for this story.)

When she sees a post these days, Emily questions the intentions behind it. I do wonder if its a busybody or truthful, says Emily. I just cant imagine why people would tell, if its not true.

Grossman says she can recall just two situations where it was unequivocal that a child was in danger, and concerns about generally neglectful behavior are much more common. But she still believes that when parents see something, they should report it to a mom group, and in truly serious situations, alert the police. Helping those kids in scary situations is worth all the false and borderline accusations, she says.

Caregivers, who are at risk of losing their livelihoods, question whether its ever worth it to post. Theres no one defending the nanny, Wreesmann says of the mom groups. They always say, Fire her, get rid of her, get a new person. Not like, Oh, maybe you should give her a chance. Its Fire her, theres a million nannies out there.

*The names of some sources have been changed to protect their identities.

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By Xie Yu and Samuel Shen

HONG KONG/SHANGHAI (Reuters) -Beijing has informally asked some money managers in China to prioritise the launch of equity funds over other products, four sources with direct knowledge of the matter said, as authorities scramble to revive its lagging stock market.

The "window guidance", or unofficial, verbal advice from regulators, was given by the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) to some of the country's biggest mutual fund managers in recent weeks, the sources said.

All the sources spoke on condition of anonymity because the information was not public.

The CSRC did not respond to Reuters' request for comment.

China's $3.8 trillion mutual fund industry is a key pillar of the country's capital markets, but has seen sales, especially those of equity funds tapering off over the past year as stock benchmarks test multi-year lows.

The move to prioritise the launch of new equity funds is part of a campaign by the authorities over the past year to revive the stock market and boost investor confidence dented by a destabilising property sector crisis and sputtering growth.

While Beijing has rolled out a raft of measures aimed at boosting the economy in recent months, analysts have said the moves are not sufficient to restore market confidence and it is not clear if the latest guidance will either.

Past stock market support measures included halving stamp duty on stock trading, slowing the pace of initial public offerings (IPOs), encouraging margin financing and protecting small investors.

Despite those measures, China's stock market was among the worst performers globally in 2023, with the blue chip CSI300 index closing the year with 11% losses, against a 20% gain for global stocks.

One of the sources, who works at a state-backed mutual fund, said the CSRC had recently required some fund managers to launch at least four new equity funds before launching any new bond fund.

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A second source, at a foreign fund manager, said they had also received guidance from the regulator that raising equity funds should be prioritised over any other products, although no ratio limit on equity and bond funds was set.

"Putting more products on the shelf doesn't mean investors would buy them," said Gary Ng, Natixis' Asia Pacific senior economist.

"The core of the problem right now is confidenceso unless we see a very strong momentum in things like corporate profits or a general economic growth rebounding, it's really hard to revert the sentiment," he said.

QUICKER APPROVALS

In 2023, 334 new equity funds were launched in China, down 22% from 2022 and 49% from 2021, according to data from Shanghai-based Z-Ben Advisors, a funds industry consulting firm.

The proceeds raised by these funds also dropped 39% and 89% from 2022 and 2021, respectively, to 137.5 billion yuan ($19.18 billion).

In comparison, institutional-tailored bond funds, one of the most popular type of bond funds, saw the number of new launches fall 13% from 2022, but 14% above 2021 levels. The proceeds raised increased for the last three years.

As part of Beijing's latest push, the private funds sector, with assets of around 20 trillion yuan, has also seen quicker approvals for new equity funds than funds tracking other asset classes over the past two months, said two additional sources.

The CSRC since July has been rolling out reforms in the funds industry, guiding managers of all types of funds to cut management fees. Some announced fee cuts or started to purchase units in their own funds in the following months.

Recent fund announcements reviewed by Reuters show many bond funds cut short subscription periods or restricted investor subscriptions, while it has taken much longer for equity funds to raise money and many have struggled to meet sales targets.

Even though the regulator is now nudging mutual fund managers to prioritise equity fund launches, there is no certainty that local investors, reeling from diminishing stock market returns, will invest.

Xia Chun, chief economist at Forthright Holdings Co, said he doubted promoting equity funds would have a significant impact.

"It's tough to sell equity funds when the market is sluggish. The marketing cost is high but the effect could be low," Xia said. "This is the type of thing that would be better left to fund companies to decide for themselves."

(Reporting by Xie Yu in Hong Kong and Samuel Shen in Shanghai; Editing by Sumeet Chatterjee and Jamie Freed)
Twenty-first century is all about excellence





Business Reporter

Expressing his views at the inaugural function of 37th National Convention on Quality Concepts (NCQC) at Shri Ramdeobaba College of Engineering and Management (RCOEM) on Thursday, Satyanarayan Nuwal, Chairman, Solar Industries India Ltd. said that twenty first century is all about excellence. Incorporating quality and sustainability in practices is the mantra to chase it. Countries like Japan have shown that wonders can happen when being stringent about quality is adopted as philosophy and not just a compliance. Delivering world-class quality is the key to make India a global leader, and attract global investments, he said. . Nuwal was chief guest of the NCQC, the annual event of Quality Circle Forum of India (QCFI). QCFI is an institution representing The Quality Circle Movement in India. The Nagpur Chapter of QCFI is hosting the vent this year.

This three-day event is witnessing the participation of professionals from diverse industries in the case study presentations and other programs next two days. The QCFI Awards 2023 for quality practices were presented during the inauguration ceremony. JSW Steel Coated Products Ltd., Kalmeshwar, Nagpur was given the Best Supporting Organization Award (Private Sector). SAIL  Bhilai Steel Plant, Bhilai, CG won the Best Supporting Organization Award (Public Sector). Shyam Singh, Tata Motors, Pune ; Anil Kumar Srivastava, Executive Director, RDF, Trombay ; S G Snacks, Dindigul, Madurai ; Ni-msme, Hyderabad and Thiagarajar College of Engineering, Madurai were the other awardees under different categories.

Eight best performing coordinators of QCFI from all across India were also awarded. Speaking earlier, Srinivasan Iyer, MD, Elkem South Asia Pvt Ltd, the Guest of Honour, highlighted the importance of sustainable practices in manufacturing sector. A K Jain, Chairman, QCFI Nagpur Chapter elaborated the Convention Theme Nurture Quality Concepts for a better future. Avinash Mishra, National President, QCFI and DK Srivastava, Executive Director, QCFI also spoke at the ceremony. Vivek Shrouty, Secretary, QCFI Nagpur Chapter proposed the formal vote of thanks.
Andhra CM Jagans sister Sharmila joins Congress





NEW DELHI,

Y S SHARMILA, the daughter of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and founder of YSR Telangana Party, joined the Congress here on Thursday. She also announced the merger of her YSR Telangana Congress with the Congress, and said she would fulfil any responsibility given to her. Sharmila, who is Andhra CM Jagan Reddys sister joined the Congress in the presence of party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and former party president Rahul Gandhi. Lauding the Congress, she said it is the largest and most secular party in the country as it unwaveringly serves all communities and unites all sections of people.

I am very happy to be merging the YSR Telangana party with the Congress. It gives me immense joy that the YSR Telangana party is going to be a part of the Indian National Congress from today onwards, she said. Describing her father and former Chief Minister YSR Reddy as a legendary leader of the Telugu people, she said he not only served the Congress all his life, but also gave his life serving the Congress. Today, it would give him great joy that his daughter is following in his footsteps and is going to be a part of the Congress itself, she said.

She said it was her fathers dream to see Rahul Gandhi as Prime Minister and she would be happy to contribute to it.

It was my fathers dream to see Rahul Gandhi as Prime Minister of our country and I am very glad that I am going to be a part in making that happen. Whatever responsibility the Congress will lay on me, I promise to fulfil that responsibility with all loyalty, integrity and diligence, Sharmila said. She also raised the issue of ethnic violence in Manipur.
CLOSURE!





THE Adani Group of companies has received a new years gift in the form of the Supreme Court verdict on the allegations of manipulation of stocks levelled by US-based short-seller Hindenburg Research. The apex court has rejected the demand for a transfer of the Adani-Hindenburg case from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a Special Investigation Team (SIT) thus reposing faith in Indias market regulator. The development has brought a near-closure to the issue that had severely jolted the Adani Group last year, in the process wiping out over 100 billion dollar investor wealth. With the rejection of the demand for a separate probe, the apex court has made two things clear -- One, it has hailed the SEBI and its robust systems to regulate the markets. Two, it has concluded that mere speculations against top companies, based on some media reports, would not hold ground henceforth. The message is clear for the habitual schemers -- Dont try to mess with the India Growth Story! As expected, the Adani Group stocks recorded a fine rally even before the verdict was announced. It was a message of confidence by investors in the port-to-energy conglomerate helmed by billionaire Mr. Gautam Adani. It was also a solid riposte to the serious allegations levelled by the US short-seller which had warned of largest con in corporate history but failed to substantiate the wild allegations.

The issue had also assumed political colour with many in the Opposition gunning for the Adani Group on the nonsensical premise of the conglomerate getting undue advantage from the Central Government. All the hullabaloo created on the streets, in the media, and in the Parliament against the group should now come to a rest. Ever since the Hindenburg Research report was made public there was a lurking suspicion about its authenticity and timing of the release. The short-seller was clearly at advantage as it had taken positions before the groups stocks plummeted over the allegations of manipulation. It was a clear indication that the move was planned to accrue financial gains for short-sellers. The timing was also suspicious as Mr. Gautam Adani had just scaled the ladder as Worlds 3rd Richest Man. The group was also on the verge of bringing out an FPO worth Rs 20,000 crore which finally had to be cancelled due to the sudden fall in stock prices. Within a short time there was another round of allegations against the Adani Group with the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), of known India-baiter billionaire philanthropist Mr. George Soros, accusing the group of using dubious means for business gains.

The chronology of all these events looked highly incredulous. Its fallacy slowly unravelled when the group stocks made a resurgent return on the bourses. Now, with the Supreme Court refusing to deal with petitions demanding probe by special agencies on the basis of newspaper articles or third-party reports, the issue has become non-existent. The bench headed by Chief Justice of India Mr. Justice D Y Chandrachud has understandably refused to take media reports as evidence, for, such external reports can only be treated as information. The apex court has also done well to express faith in SEBIs working, noting that the regulators conduct inspires confidence. It has established the market regulators authority and credibility which could have been undermined if the probe was handed over to other agencies. SEBI has arguably done everything under its powers to probe the issue. It now needs to find ways to dig out ownership of FPIs sitting in tax havens for the sake of total closure.
Israel Held Hostage





By Gwynne Dyer

ISRAEL is withdrawing some troops from Gaza, because the reservists who were called up for the fighting amount to 10%-15% of the countrys workforce and the economy is showing the strain. But nobody is talking about doves of peace flying, said a senior Israeli official. The intense fighting in Gaza will continue for six months at least. The people around Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu regularly describe the war in Gaza as existential, but thats nonsense. The existence of Israel is in no danger whatever. The only thing facing an existential risk is Netanyahus Government, which would immediately collapse if the shooting stops. The extreme right-wing and religious nationalist parties who made Netanyahus coalition possible are hoping that prolonged fighting will drive the Palestinians (22,000 dead so far) out of part or all of the Gaza strip and/or the West Bank. As national Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir put it, the war presents an opportunity to concentrate on encouraging the migration of the residents of Gaza. They want that land for more Jewish settlements, and if Netanyahu made peace they would instantly abandon him. Even worse than that, from Netanyahus point of view, is the fact that a return to normal would allow his trial on corruption charges to resume. That could ultimately send him to jail, and anything is better than that.

Even endless war. At this point you are probably saying to yourself: But Netanyahu must know that the war has to end some time. Whats his strategy?Alas, he probably doesnt even have a strategy. He just knows that if the war goes on long enough, something might turn up to save him. If it stops, hes politically doomed. Why else does he refuse to hold any discussions about what will happen after Hamas is eliminated? He wont talk about how Gaza will be rebuilt, or who should pay for it. He wont talk about who should run the place after the war, not even with his own Cabinet or his military leaders, let alone with his loyal supporters in the United States. Why else would Netanyahu now be preparing for a back-up war with Hezbollah in Lebanon? He and his ministers are constantly warning that such a war may be necessary  the situation on the Lebanese front will not be allowed to continue, one said  even though it is obvious that Hezbollah does not want a war now. Hezbollah is a formidable organisation that fought the Israeli army to a standstill in their last major confrontation in 2006.

Deliberately going to war with it when Israel is already fighting Hamas in the Gaza Strip makes no sense in terms of the countrys interests  but in terms of Netanyahus personal interest, it makes perfectly good sense. Some Israeli military leaders may also see a short and victorious campaign against Hezbollah (if such a thing can be arranged) as a chance to restore their reputations, shredded by their failure to prevent the slaughter of 1,200 Israeli civilians by Hamas on 7 October. But this is entirely Netanyahus show. The Israeli Prime Minister is holding his entire country hostage in this war, and the five million Palestinians in the occupied territories as well. He is also bringing the US Government, and particularly President Joe Biden, into the deepest disrepute. And yet Biden will not repudiate him. Why not? He is not deceived by Netanyahu, whom he clearly sees as a fraud and a scoundrel. His loyalties lie elsewhere. You dont have to be a Jew to be a Zionist, Biden said recently. I am a Zionist. Were there no Israel, there would not be a Jew in the world who is safe. What does that even mean? Israelis certainly dont see it as their responsibility to protect Jews elsewhere.

On the contrary, the Zionist dream has failed them, because Israel today is the only country in the world where Jews are seriously unsafe. Bidens self-identification as a Zionist is very much a relic of his own youth, when idealistic young Americans sat around campfires singing Hava Nagila. It was sweet, innocent, and very stupid. They meant well, and they didnt have a clue about the cost to others (Palestinians) of founding Israel  any more than they understood the cost to others (First Nations) of founding their own country. Joe Biden is now old enough to know better. Israel is not special, just another country with a complicated past, and most young Americans of today know that. Biden rightly despises Netanyahu as a person, and yet he refuses to call time on him because he is still romantically entangled with Israel. That could cost him next Novembers Presidential election and give us all four more years of President Donald Trump. Somebody should have a word with him.
Make India self-reliant in pulses production by December 2027, Shah exhorts farmers







NEW DELHI,

UNION Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah has appealed to the farmers to focus on the production of pulses to make India self-reliant in this sector before December 2027. Taking another step towards Modis vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, Shah launched the e-samridhi portal for registration, purchase and payment of tur dal producing farmers. Produce pulses and make the country self-reliant in this sector. It is necessary to make India self-reliant in pulse production. I assure you that before December 2027, India will become self-reliant in the production of pulses, Shah said at the event.

Beginning by you is going to bring drastic changes in the field of agriculture, Shah assured the farmers. Its a guarantee from Modi that if you register with the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) and the National Cooperative Consumers Federation of India Ltd (NCCF), we will purchase your pulses. It is the responsibility of the Modi Government to purchase your pulses on MSP (Minimum Support Price), Shah said, adding that the current tur dal MSP rate is Rs 7,000 compared to Rs 4,350 in 2014-15, a 65 per cent increase.

Addressing the national symposium organised on self-reliance in pulses, Shah said the farmer-centric initiative aims to empower tur dal producers with better prices through procurement, streamlined processes and direct bank transfers by NAFED and NCCF to boost domestic pulses production and reducing import dependence. Under this, the buffer stock of pulses will be purchased from the farmers registered on the portals of NAFED and NCCF as per the guidelines of the Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India and MSP or market price, whichever is higher, will be paid to the farmers, Shah said. This initiative complements the Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign, Shah added.
Nepal-India sign long-term power deal





By Shirish B Pradhan

KATHMANDU,

NEPAL on Thursday signed a long-term agreement that will facilitate the export of 10,000 MW of electricity to India in the next 10 years during the two-day visit of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to the Himalayan nation. India and Nepal on Thursday signed a slew of agreements as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a comprehensive and productive meeting with his Nepalese counterpart NP Saud and discussed overall bilateral ties, trade, connectivity projects and cooperation in defence and security among others. The agreement on power export was inked in the presence of Jaishankar and Nepalese Minister for Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation Shakti Bahadur Basnet during a bilateral meeting here. Nepals Energy Secretary Gopal Sigdel and his Indian counterpart Pankaj Agrawal inked the bilateral agreement that will facilitate the export of 10,000 MW of electricity from Nepal to India in the next 10 years. The two countries had reached an understanding on the electricity export during Prime Minister Pushpakamal Dahal Prachandas visit to India from May 31 to June 3 last year. Both sides had signed several major pacts including one on increasing New Delhis import of power from the neighbouring country to 10,000 MW in the next 10 years from the current 450 MW.

Jaishankar, who arrived in Nepal earlier in the day on his first visit to a foreign country in 2024, co-chaired with Saud the 7th India-Nepal Joint Commission meeting. Discussions focused on our overall bilateral ties, trade & economic relations, land, rail & air connectivity projects, cooperation in defence & security, agriculture, energy, power, water resources, disaster management, tourism, civil aviation, people-to-people & cultural exchanges and development partnership, Jaishankar said in a post on X. The two sides also exchanged agreements on implementation of High Impact Community Development Projects, Long Term Power Trade, Cooperation in Renewable Energy Development, Munal Satellite and Handover of 5th tranche of post-Jajarkot earthquake relief supply. The two leaders also jointly inaugurated three cross-border transmission lines. Nepals Foreign Ministry said that various aspects of Nepal-India relations were discussed on the occasion under the thematic areas of economic relations, connectivity, trade and transit, power and water resources, education and culture and political matters among others.

EAM calls on Nepals top leadership: Jaishankar on Thursday called on Nepals President Ramchandra Paudel and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda here during which the two sides exchanged substantive views on the age-old, unique, and multifaceted Nepal-India relations. Jaishankar, who arrived in Nepal earlier in the day on his first visit to a foreign country in 2024, called on Prime Minister Prachanda at the latters office, Singhdurbar and conveyed the warm wishes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Called on Rt. Honble PM @cmprachanda. Conveyed the warm wishes of PM@narendramodi. Recalled his successful visit to India in June 2023 which has imparted a new momentum to our ties. Discussed the follow-up, including through the Joint Commission Meeting today, Jaishankar said in a post on X after the meeting. India-Nepal friendship is indeed unique and our partnership is moving from strength to strength, he added. Prachanda said that during the meeting they exchanged substantive views on age-old, unique, and multifaceted Nepal-India relations. Earlier, Jaishankar paid a courtesy call on President Paudel at the Presidential Office Sheetal Niwas here. Honoured to call on @OOP_Nepal Ramchandra Paudel. Conveyed the warm greetings of President Droupadi Murmu. Valued his guidance and sentiments for a strong and expanding India-Nepal ties, the minister said in another post on X.
Old Pension Scheme for Mah employees who joined service after November 2005





MUMBAI :

THE Maharashtra Cabinet on Thursday cleared a proposal that offers an option of availing the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) to the State Government employees who joined the service after November 2005. The decision comes days after the Government as well as semi-Government employees and officials went on a strike to press for their demand of restoring the OPS. The Cabinet gave its nod to the proposal that offers an option of the OPS to the State employees who joined the service post-November 2005, the Chief Ministers Office (CMO) said. Talking to PTI, Vishwas Katkar, General Secretary of the Maharashtra State employees confederation, said, The Cabinets decision will benefit some 26,000 State Government employees who were selected before November 2005 but received joining letters later. This decision will benefit only these 26,000 state employees.

There are as many as 9.5 lakh State employees who joined the service before November 2005 and they already enjoy the benefits of the OPS. Under the OPS, a Government employee gets a monthly pension equivalent to 50 per cent his/her last drawn salary. There was no need for contribution by employees. The OPS was discontinued in the state in 2005. The State Cabinet asked these 26,000 employees to opt between the OPS and New Pension Scheme within six months and submit relevant documents to their departments in another two months. It is a one-time option for these employees, the CMO statement said. Under the New Pension Scheme (NPS), a State Government employee contributes 10 per cent of his/her basic salary plus dearness allowance with the State making a matching contribution. The money is then invested in one of the several pension funds approved by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) and the returns are market-linked. The State Cabinet also cleared a proposal to charge Rs 250 as toll amount for cars for using the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), the countrys longest sea bridge that connects Sewri in Mumbai to Nhava Sheva in neighbouring Raigad district. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the MTHL on January 12.

The 21.8-kilometre long bridge will bring down the journey from the current two hours to around 15-20 minutes. The Cabinet gave its nod to the proposal to issue Rs 5 per litre subsidy to the milk producers in the State. The decision was announced in the Winter Session of the State Legislature held last month. The subsidy will remain effective for January and February, which will take the total subsidy amount to Rs 135.44 crore. The cooperative dairies in the State have a daily milk collection of 43.69 lakh litre. Once the cooperative dairies pay Rs 29 per litre to the milk producers, the State will transfer the subsidy amount to the bank account through direct benefit transfer, the CMO said. In another proposal okayed by the Cabinet, the clerks-typists working in the Mantralaya will be given a monthly allowance of Rs 5,000 over and above their current remuneration, the CMO said. The Government has approved expenditure of Rs 11.34 crore for the benefit of 1,891 clerk-typists working in Mantralaya. The decision has been taken as their attrition rate is high with many giving reasons as inadequate and costly accommodation, non-availability of houses on rent and difficulty in travelling to workplace, it added.

The State Cabinet cleared a proposal to give Rs 750.49 crore as Maharashtras contribution to build a broad-gauge railway line between Nanded district and Bidar in Karnataka. The State Government has adopted a policy of bearing the cost of railway line construction up to 50 per cent to connect rural and backward regions. Of the 157 km route between Nanded and Bidar, 100 km lies in Maharashtra, the CMO said. With the State Government relaxing NPA conditions, some 400 units in Ichalkaranji Powerloom Mega Clusture (in Kolhapur district will benefit, the CMO said. The Cabinet also cleared a proposal to disburse 45 per cent subsidy as a one-time transaction instead of the earlier decision of giving it in three instalments. A proposal of the State cooperation department that a no-confidence motion cannot be moved against officers for two years, up from the earlier six months, was also accepted. The wine industry stimulus scheme will be implemented for the next five years to develop the sector in the State, the CMO said. Industries that have paid the value-added tax would get their rebate in time, which will help people set up units for raisin production and encourage farmers to opt for grape cultivation, the CMO said.
General Motors has ordered sales of its 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV to stop until it can find a fix to owner-reported software problems that include intermittent issues with in-vehicle screens and problems using DC fast charging.

GM ordered the stop-sale of the Blazer EV on Dec. 22 and it has no time frame for when it will be lifted, but Chevrolet spokesman Chad Lyons told the Detroit Free Press that engineers are "working around the clock" to resolve the problems.

2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV electric five-passenger midsize SUV

The software quality issues are not safety related and GM has not issued a recall, GM said. It continues to build the EVs at its plant in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico. GM will update those EVs with appropriate software before they are shipped, said GM spokesman Mikhael Farah. Current owners will be notified to bring their Blazer EVs to Chevrolet dealers once the software update is available.

Analysts view the stop-sale as another blow to GM's attempted transition to all EVs by 2030.

Wall Street anticipated GM rebooting its dismal launches of the Ultium-propelled EVs, which includes the Blazer EV, this year. In November, CEO Mary Barra told investors she was "disappointed" in the company's launch of those EVs last year and blamed it on battery module production. She vowed to improve EV production and sales this year.

But now this stop-sale happens.

"Its a shame to have more delays given I think the upcoming (Chevrolet) Equinox EV and the Blazer EV both look great and are well equipped with good looking interiors and technology," Morningstar autos analyst David Whiston told the Free Press.

Wall Street ultimately cares about cash flow regardless of if it comes from EVs or gasoline-powered vehicles, Whiston said. He does not anticipate the Blazer stop-sale as a long term cash burn. But he worries about perception.

"They need to execute well on Ultium though," Whiston said. "Because they had so many 2023 problems with Ultium production that the market doesnt want to see more for all of 2024."

Story continues

A danger to GM's reputation

GM's Farah said the company is taking proactive action in this stop-sale and by doing so it will get its EV sales on track for the rest of the year.

"GM has a long history of overcoming challenges and we remain confident that we have the right team and the right strategy to help us successfully reach our EV goals," Farah said in an email to the Free Press.

But, said Sam Abuelsamid, principal analyst for transportation and mobility at Guidehouse Insights in Detroit, "Its definitely a very bad start" to the year.

On Wednesday, GM reported in its 2023 U.S. sales that it delivered a total of 482 Blazer EVs last year. GM started shipping the vehicles to dealers in July 2023.

Sam Abuelsamid

"Its extremely disappointing," Abuelsamid said of the number of Blazers sold, saying by now GM should have been delivering "many thousands." But he said what is most at risk is GM's reputation.

In fact, GM missed its goal of producing 150,000 EVs last year with the goal of half of those being the new models. Instead, it sold a total 75,883, with most of them being the Chevrolet Bolt compact and the slightly larger Bolt EUV, lower-priced models not using the Ultium propulsion system that will soon be discontinued in their present form.

"Will anybody trust GM to build an EV that works?" Abuelsamid said. "Right now, I would not be inclined to buy a GM EV except for a Bolt and thats based on old technology. But any of the new EVs, I dont know if Id trust it to work.

'Serious software problems'

The Blazer, which starts at $60,215 and has an estimated range of 279 miles on a full charge, is the fourth of GM's new EVs to come to market. The first was the 2022 GMC Hummer EV pickup launched in late 2021, followed by the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq in 2022 and the Chevrolet Silverado EV work pickup for commercial consumers last year.

Abuelsamid, who is an engineer by training, said most of GM's new EVs have had problems beyond the battery module assembly. The stop-sale of the Blazer is "an indicator of the real serious software problems GM is having with developing their software platforms."

Part of GMs $2 billion investment saw Spring Hill Assembly retooled with new machines, conveyors, controls and tooling for 2023 Cadillac LYRIQ production which started March 21, 2022.

In June 2022, Abuelsamid said he test drove the Cadillac Lyriq and "there were all kinds of software bugs in that vehicle and that was one of the reasons that launch was so slow. The Hummer also has had a lot of software problems."

In January of last year, the Free Press reported delays in delivering the first Cadillac Lyriqs built at Spring Hill Assembly in Tennessee. At that time, Cadillac spokesman Michael Albano pointed to software glitches and problems with a trim panel on the rear liftgate as the holdups.

The launch of the Hummer, built at Factory Zero in Detroit and Hamtramck, got hung up by some early issues too, as the Free Press reported. GM had to recall about 800 Hummers in late 2022 for a battery connector problem, thereby halting production to fix it.

GMC Hummer EV pickup sits on display before U.S. President Joe Biden speaks at the grand opening of GM's Detroit-Hamtramck EV Factory Zero on Nov. 17, 2021. The president added $7.5 billion to create new electric vehicle charging stations as part of his infrastructure package recently passed by Congress and signed into law on Monday.

In the case of the Blazer, Chevrolet's Lyons said, "We are working quickly to address these issues and to implement a fix. Our engineering teams are working around the clock toward a solution. It's important to note that this is a voluntary action to address a quality software issue. It is not related to our Ultium platform, nor to the Google Built-in technology."

The specific problems

When pressed by the Free Press as to what the exact problems are, Farah said in an email, "Some customers have experienced intermittent issues with in-vehicle screens and, in rare instances, issues when attempting to DC fast charge at certain public stations."

The web site www.edmunds.com reported testing a Blazer EV last month and experiencing multiple problems with its software crashing that led to serious concerns with the brake system, the motor, the battery and some control systems. It could have been just that particular vehicle but, "To say we're stunned to see a list of problems this lengthy on what is, effectively, a brand-new car is an understatement," wrote Nick Yekikian of Edmunds in the review.

Another site, www.insideevs.com, wrote of the Blazer EV it tested, "the infotainment would randomly crash, then reboot and flicker for a very long time, until the infotainment just would crash entirely."

In response to the criticism of GM's software development, Farah said, "Software is a critical piece of GMs strategy and the new Software & Services team, under the leadership of Mike Abbott, are actively engaged in an early assessment of each product launch."

Abbott's organization will have a centralized team "dedicated to rigorously testing the software for the highest quality and stability," Farah said.

GM must avert a crisis

Launches of new vehicles often have some glitches that many automakers have faced fixing, but in GM's case, the timing couldn't be worse, said Ivan Drury, director of insights at Edmunds.

"Rushing to market with a product that isn't fully vetted, coinciding with the market overall facing skepticism and doubt from mainstream shoppers, this could become one of those 'one-off' incidents that immediately scares off any potential buyers for years to come or just adds fuel to their already anti-EV mindset," Drury said.

Three-quarter view of 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS in Radiant Red Tintcoat. Preproduction model shown. Actual production model may vary. 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV available Spring 2023.

More: Ford, Toyota, Kia snag North American vehicle of the year awards

More: GM to offer $7,500 discount on EVs that don't qualify for tax credit in 2024

Drury said if the stop-sale is short and there is a comprehensive fix for all the issues, a crisis to GM's Blazer launch could be averted.

"But every day counts when it comes to a more mainstream launch like Blazer," Drury said. "With Lyriq or Hummer, you had first production run vehicles that were seen as pushing the boundaries into a new era, there is a little more wiggle room for error. But mass market stuff isn't as forgiving. GM has a lot to prove when it comes to EVs, they talked a good game, but they're coming up short."

Contact Jamie L. LaReau: jlareau@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. Read more on General Motors and sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Experts: GM must fix Blazer EV problems to avoid reputational damage
Woman, son killed in ghastly mishap





Staff Reporter

A mother-son duo were killed in a horrific mishap on Amravati Road under the jurisdiction of Wadi Police Station on Thursday. The incident once again underlines the perils of movement of stray animals on the highway, as it was the prime cause of the mishap. The two deceased have been identified as Rajni Subhash Girnale (50) and Akshay (28), both residents of Anjangaon Surji in Amravati district. The sister of Akshay identified as Shraddha was left injured in the accident. According to police, the mishap occurred around 12 noon and Akshay was on the drivers seat of the car (MH-12/LV-5939) and the Girnale family was on way to Amravati from city. The primary probe revealed that Akshay was driving the four wheeler and was driving at normal speed on the highway and as they were crossing the 8th Milestone former lost control over the vehicle. The car flipped over as Akshay reportedly tried to avoid hitting the animal that came in front of the car. The car first slammed into the road divider and thereafter further flipped over onto the other side of the road.

The moment the car flipped over to other side of the road, at the same time a truck coming from Amravati towards Nagpur rammed into the four wheeler. The truck driver had no time to respond for slowing down as entire incident occurred in a flash even as passers-by watched in disbelief. Some of the eye witnesses told the Wadi police that Akshay to avoid hitting a stray animal that crossed the path moved the steering wheel and that resulted in him loosing the control. The truck (MH-40/3088) rammed with full speed in the car that remained a mangled heap of steel. People nearby stopped on hearing the loud crash and rushed to help the trapped family. However the impact of the dash by the truck was very powerful and front portion was broken in multiple pieces that were beyond repair. Akshay and his mother were trapped in between the seats and steering wheel and two were very serious condition and died soon after on the spot itself.
monkeybusinessimages / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Any psychologist worth their salt will tell you that if you want to be happier, you need to build healthy habits  and stick to them. This could mean regular exercise, structured meals or a nice warm bath at night to close your long, busy days.

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Learn: 3 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000

Part of being happy is being financially secure, and health doesnt end with your physical self  it extends to your bank account. Research shows that when youre in a financially fit position, youre more inclined to make wiser decisions in all areas, and youre definitely way less stressed out. Plus, research has shown that money, to some extent, does bring happiness.

So heres where things get interesting: If there are habits and routines that can make you healthier and happier, body and mind, are there also habits that can help you build and maintain financial wellness? There absolutely are!

To learn more, GOBankingRates talked with financial experts to hear about their morning routines that keep them grounded and connected to their fiscal wellbeing so that they can maintain their wealth and success.

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Read the Top Money-Related Headlines

Every morning, Jay Zigmont, Ph.D., MBA, CFP, the founder of Childfree Wealth, does a quick scan of the biggest money-related headlines of the day thus far.

Im looking to see if there are any major events that I need to research, Zigmont said. I dont try to time the market, so Im not likely to make huge changes to my investments, but a general awareness helps.

Check Out: 9 Books Mark Cuban Recommends If You Want To Be Successful

Have a Homemade Breakfast

When youre in the thick of the morning rush, its tempting to run over to Starbucks or another coffee spot to get a meal and a latte. But this is a poor habit for your financial health.

Each morning, I make breakfast, said Zigmont. It is cheap to make at home, and we have a nice coffee maker, which prevents the need for expensive coffee trips.

Story continues

Meal Prep and Cook

Speaking of breakfast, you may want to pick one or two mornings a week to cook in batches so that you will be set up for success for days at a time.

I make a giant frittata Monday morning that lasts for four or six breakfasts, said Anne Lester, a personal finance and retirement expert and the author of Your Best Financial Life.

Jot Down Thoughts of Gratitude

You may have heard about how helpful journaling with a focus on gratitude can be for your mental health, but its also helpful for your financial health.

Every morning, I have a ritual of jotting down thoughts, usually three to five, in my gratitude journal, said Jeff Rose, CFP, founder of Good Financial Cents. This simple act of acknowledging the things Im thankful for grounds me in a sense of contentment. Its a powerful tool that keeps me focused on what truly matters, reducing the temptation to make unnecessary purchases.

Practice Mindfulness, Such as Meditation or Prayer

If youre religious, you may want to start your day off with a prayer or two. If not, you can still benefit from mindfulness activities, such as meditation.

Starting the day with meditation and prayer helps in maintaining a calm and focused mind, which is crucial for making sound financial decisions, Rose said.

Set Daily Financial Goals

Each morning, I set small, achievable financial goals for the day, Rose said. This could be as simple as not spending on non-essentials or finding ways to save a few dollars. I also review my long-term goals and make sure my daily goals help keep me on track.

Read for Pleasure and for Business

I always have a book or two that Im either reading or listening to on audio. I tend to have a fun fiction book on audio, Zigmont said. And Im reading other [books] for professional development and the book club for our podcast.

Exercise

Exercise is absolutely great for all aspects of your health  including your financial health.

Morning exercise is a vital part of my routine, and taking my puppies for a walk is one of my favorite ways to get moving, Rose said. Its an enjoyable and effective way to keep fit, and the benefits extend to my financial health, as well. Walking with my pets in the fresh air clears my mind, reducing stress and enhancing my ability to make thoughtful financial decisions.

In all, youll find that these habits are powerful tools to implement in your morning for a few key reasons. Theyll help keep you on track physically, mentally, emotionally and financially, too!

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Experts: Heres a Morning Routine That Can Improve Your Financial Health
Generally, when a single insider buys stock, it is usually not a big deal. However, when several insiders are buying, like in the case of Watkin Jones Plc (LON:WJG), it sends a favourable message to the company's shareholders.

While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether.

See our latest analysis for Watkin Jones

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Watkin Jones

Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by Independent Non-Executive Chairman Alan Clifford Giddins for UK194k worth of shares, at about UK0.47 per share. We do like to see buying, but this purchase was made at well below the current price of UK0.55. Because the shares were purchased at a lower price, this particular buy doesn't tell us much about how insiders feel about the current share price.

In the last twelve months Watkin Jones insiders were buying shares, but not selling. The average buy price was around UK0.54. Although they bought at below the recent share price, it is good to see that insiders are willing to invest in the company. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date!

AIM:WJG Insider Trading Volume January 5th 2024

Watkin Jones is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

Insiders At Watkin Jones Have Bought Stock Recently

Over the last quarter, Watkin Jones insiders have spent a meaningful amount on shares. In total, insiders bought UK46k worth of shares in that time, and we didn't record any sales whatsoever. That shows some optimism about the company's future.

Insider Ownership

Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. We usually like to see fairly high levels of insider ownership. Our information indicates that Watkin Jones insiders own about UK491k worth of shares. We do note, however, it is possible insiders have an indirect interest through a private company or other corporate structure. This level of insider ownership is notably low, and not very encouraging.

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So What Does This Data Suggest About Watkin Jones Insiders?

Insider purchases may have been minimal, in the last three months, but there was no selling at all. The net investment is not enough to encourage us much. But insiders have shown more of an appetite for the stock, over the last year. We'd like to see bigger individual holdings. However, we don't see anything to make us think Watkin Jones insiders are doubting the company. So while it's helpful to know what insiders are doing in terms of buying or selling, it's also helpful to know the risks that a particular company is facing. You'd be interested to know, that we found 1 warning sign for Watkin Jones and we suggest you have a look.

But note: Watkin Jones may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with high ROE 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.
Bahamian Catholics must have a come to Jesus moment with Pope Francis
Gautam Adani has had a good start to 2024.

After a tumultuous year, the Indian tycoon has just retaken his former position as Asias richest man, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. The founder of the sprawling Adani Group is now worth $97.6 billion, which makes him the 12th wealthiest person on the planet.

The self-made industrialist and college dropout has gained more than $13 billion in net worth over the last two days, which has allowed him to overtake fellow countryman Mukesh Ambani as the continents biggest billionaire, the tracker said. Ambani, the chairman of Reliance Industries, is currently worth $97 billion.

Adanis jump in wealth  the worlds largest this year, according to the index  comes almost 12 months after his ports-to-power conglomerate was accused by the US short-seller Hindenburg Research of brazen stock manipulation and accounting fraud scheme.

As a result of the scrutiny that followed those accusations, Adanis fortune, which in September 2022 was worth more than that of Jeff Bezos, saw a stunning fall. At one point, the businessman lost over $80 billion following Hindenburgs release of the report in January 2023.

His net worth recovered somewhat in the months that followed. At the end of last year, the Bloomberg index put his wealth at a healthy $84.3 billion, but that was still over 40% below the September 2022 level.

In its investigation, which Hindenburg said took two years to compile, the American firm had questioned the sky-high valuations of Adani companies and said their substantial debt put the entire group on a precarious financial footing. Short-sellers make money by betting that a companys stock will fall.

The Adani Group published a 400-page rebuttal, calling the Hindenburg analysis nothing but a lie. But that did not prevent the stock market meltdown early last year, which hammered the conglomerates market value and Adanis personal fortune. The countrys market regulator also launched a probe into the group.

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But Adani stocks have rallied this week after Indias top court ordered the regulator to wrap up its investigation quickly and said that no further probes into the group were needed.

Adani welcomed the ruling, saying truth has prevailed and that his humble contribution to Indias growth story will continue. Shares in Adani Enterprises, his flagship firm, have risen almost 7% this week.

Seen as a close ally of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Adani has at times been compared to business magnates such as John D. Rockefeller and Cornelius Vanderbilt, who built vast monopoly businesses in the 1800s during Americas Gilded Age.

He began his career with diamond trading, before setting up a commodity trading business in 1988, which later evolved into Adani Enterprises. He now has firms in key sectors ranging from ports and power to media and clean energy.

Before the start of the Hindenburg saga, markets had relentlessly cheered for Adani, betting on his ability to grow his business in sectors that Modi has prioritized for development.

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(Bloomberg) -- Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. warned of its fourth consecutive decline in quarterly sales after a 5.4% slide in the last three months of 2023 suggested consumer electronics demand remains muted.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The Taiwanese firm, also known as Foxconn, reported a steep 27% drop in December sales to NT$460.1 billion ($14.8 billion), concluding a NT$1.85 trillion quarter. It now sees sales falling in the current period as well, adding to concern about the latest iPhone generations momentum heading into the new year.

As Apple Inc.s foremost iPhone assembly partner, Foxconn provides insight into broad consumer demand for personal tech. Apples iPhone 15 went on sale in September, to a mixed early reaction in key markets: the US saw it kickstart an upgrade cycle from earlier iterations while sales in China declined.

China will again be a focal point of challenges for the iPhone this year, as the ban on the handset and other Apple hardware at Chinese agencies and state-backed companies has widened and local tech giant Huawei Technologies Co. is reclaiming market share with its premium Mate 60 series.

Read more: China Rattles Foreign Firms With New Arrests, Foxconn Probe

Foxconn has also been the subject of a regulatory investigation in China, which shook investors and the confidence of foreign companies operating in the country late last year. The Taiwanese device builder is facing a growing challenge from Chinese rival Luxshare Precision Industry Co., which is set to expand its iPhone production capacity.

iPhone sales volume is likely to grow 2% this year, short of the overall mobile market growth of 5%, according to Counterpoint Research associate director Liz Lee. Huaweis smartphone sales, on the other hand, are expected to grow 37%. This week, Barclays and Piper Sandler cut theirs ratings for Apple due to soft demand for its latest iPhone.

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Foxconn is reliant on Apple for the bulk of its revenue. Its cumulative sales in 2023 were NT$6.16 trillion, down 7%.

Read more: Apple Hit With Second Downgrade This Week on iPhone Worries

(Updates with additional details from Hon Hai statement)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Vivek, a docu-film, directed by noted television personality Abhijit Dasgupta will be uploaded in the Youtube channel on 12 January, the birthday of Swami Vivekananda. Swami Suviranandaji, general secretary of Ramakrishna Math and Mission has welcomed the venture and wished it all success. The docu-feature that has bagged 39 international awards and has great response from the Western audience. Mr Dasgupta said he had received mail requesting him to make the film in Spanish and Portuguese languages. He regretted that though the response is very high among the youths in south India, the response in eastern India is still lukewarm.

He said as the youth use digital platform, the edited version from 5-part docu-film Naren will be uploaded so that the youths can get themselves acquainted with the life and work of Swami Vivekananda. Industrialist Harshvardhan Neotia, who is the producer of the film, recalled how he had been influenced by Swamijis thoughts from youth. I had frequently visited Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Gol Park to listen to speeches on Swamiji with my great grandfather.

Later, I bought the Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda and read it. It is still with me and I read it. The docu-film has been made to address the present day youths. It is a smart production and the life and work of Swamiji has been shown from different angles. Few people know that when young Swamiji was travelling in Porbandar in Gujarat, the native king had provided him with security guards to ensure a smooth journey

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Parliamentarian and chairman of Public Accounts Committee, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and the divisional railway manager of Howrah, Sanjeev Kumar conducted a joint inspection of passenger amenities at eight stations over Katwa-Azimganj section today.

During the inspection, the focus was on identifying areas for enhancement based on passengers demand and requirements. Local residents also voiced their concerns about railway facilities and submitted demands to Mr Chowdhury, who assured them of a thorough review of their demands.

Simultaneously, during his visit to Khagraghat, DRM/Howrah raised the issue of encroachment in the railway area, which is hampering the improvement works planned under Amrit Bharat Scheme. Mr Chowdhury assured that in the next visit he would discuss with all the parties connected with the issue to arrive at an amicable solution

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Keeping an eye on the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls the Trinamul Congress leadership in Cooch Behar has decided to stage a demonstration in front of Dinhata police station tomorrow demanding arrest of Union minister of state for home affairs Nisith Pramanik. The TMC leaders have taken the decision today just after the Circuit Bench of Calcutta High Court in Jalpaiguri has rejected Mr Pramaniks appeal in connection with alleged involvement in a murder case at Gitaldaha in Cooch Behar.

The TMC leader Rabindranath Ghosh, chairman of Cooch Behar Municipality, said, Our party leader Abu Mia, gram panchayat member, was murdered at Gitaldaha in 2018 as he was returning alone from BDO office. We had demanded the arrest of Nisith Pramanik. Since the Circuit Bench in Jalpaiguri has rejected his bail plea, we have decided to gherao Dinhata police station demanding his arrest.

We have spoken to the police today and demanded that the police arrest him within 24 hours. We will gherao police station tomorrow around 11 am. If the police do not arrest him we would continue our agitation, Mr Ghosh said. Notably, the TMC leadership in Cooch Behar has started organising Assembly segment-wise party workers meet to begin campaigning for Lok Sabha polls showcasing series of developments in Cooch Behar during the tenure of Mamata Banerjee as chief minister since 2011.

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The Cooch Behar TMC leaders were united in Sitai Assembly Segments workers meet today. Almost all leaders claimed that there was no factional feud among us and there was no fiction between Rabindranath Ghosh and Udayan Guha and others. Significantly, several leaders including former minister for north bengal development department Rabindranath Ghosh, and former forest minister Binoy Krishna Barman and the present north bengal development (NBDD) minister Udayan Guha were present today.

Notably, addressing the workers meet, former minister Mr Barman urged the party workers to showcase the report card of Mamata Banerjee-led state government for Cooch Behar district. Talking to media today, NBDD minister Guha said, We, who are involved in rural politics, are embarrassed following the debate on the leadership of Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee. I am an old man but I am new in Trinamul Congress. Without Mamata Banerjee none can think of the Trinamul Congress.

But we cannot rule out the present role and leadership of Abhishek Banerjee. We used to say Abhishek has become leader since he is a nephew of Mamata Banerjee. But he has gradually proved himself as a leader. Abhishek is even younger to my son but I respect him as my party leader now since he has proved his important role to lead the party, Mr Guha said, adding,

I think Abhishek Banerjee deserves to replace Mamata Banerjee in future. Abhishek is unparalleled not only in the TMC but also in other political parties in West Bengal. There is no such leader in his age group in other political parties in Bengal
HAI PHONG, Vietnam, Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Haitian International ("Haitian" or "the Company") has celebrated the inauguration of its new state-of-the-art experience center in northern Vietnam. This marks a significant milestone in its global expansion strategy. Haitian is committed to optimizing its service quality and strengthening its position as a leading industrial manufacturer in the country and Southeast Asia.

Opening cerenomy

Unveiled on December 31st, 2023, the Haitian Vietnam Experience Center spreads over 15,000 square meters and is purpose-built to showcase Haitian's industry-leading product portfolios and serve as a hub that will greatly enhance logistical capability and customer experience. High-level leadership together planted the tree of prosperity, symbolizing their collective dedication to fostering progress and prosperity.

Haitian Experience Center in Hai Phong, Vietnam

Built in Haiphong (Thanh pho Hai Phong), the third-largest city located in Vietnam's north-eastern coastal area, the new center will benefit from the city's robust transportation and industrial infrastructure, which will give Haitian a strategic advantage as it seeks to improve its operational efficiency and response times to the customer's demand.

The center is a platform that allows local customers to tap into Haitian's decades-long innovation and the newest technologies and solutions for injection molding machines, as well as the flagship offerings from other divisions under Haitian Group, such as CNC machine tools, die-casting machines and intelligent manufacturing solutions. With a focus on creating one-stop services and strengthening its inventory management capabilities, the center will translate to over 75 percent increase in delivery speed.

"Haitian has established itself as a market leader in Vietnam famed for standard-setting quality and commitment to excellence after over a decade of strong focus on technological innovation and customer satisfaction. The opening of the new experience center will help complement our resources in southern Vietnam as we continue to expand our footprint across the country," said Le Andun, Sales Director of Haitian Southeast Asia.

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Haitian first ventured into the Vietnamese market 13 years ago with a factory in Pingyang. Now, its corporate presence spans Hanoi, Haiphong, Ho Chi Minh City, and Dong Nai, coupled with two exhibition centers in Bac Ninh and Long An, providing strong support for sales and service teams in Southeast Asia. The inauguration of the new center ushers in a new growth chapter for Haitian which will see the Company synergizing its service networks in northern and southern Vietnam, offering tailor-made products to the local market.

As it continues to consolidate its global stronghold, Haitian will invest in high-quality projects and bridge market gaps by pinpointing customer needs and localizing services, providing global customers with top-tier products and service support throughout the entire product lifecycle.

About Haitian International

Haitian International Holdings Ltd. (stock code: HK.1882) in Ningbo, China, is the world's leading manufacturer of plastic injection molding machines, specialized in the manufacturing the precise, efficient, energy saving injection molding machines. Haitian has a presence in all major global markets, supplying and servicing more than 50,000 customers in over 130 countries.

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/haitian-international-strengthens-its-leadership-position-in-vietnam-with-new-experience-center-in-haiphong-302027097.html

SOURCE Haitian International Holdings Ltd.
The Kolkata International Book Fair will be thrown open to the book lovers on 18 January, the day it will be inaugurated by chief minister Mamata Banerjee. It is the convention that the book fair is open to people from the next day after inauguration.

The book fair will be held from January 18 to 31 at Boi Mela Prangan behind Central Park in Salt Lake. Sudhangshu Dey, secretary of Publishers and Booksellers Guild said as many small publishers had approached the guild, there will be more than 1,000 stalls from 900, last year. In 2023, books worth Rs 25 crore were sold.

He said work to set up the stall has started and they will be ready two days before the fair. We have asked the publishers, both big and small, to put the books in their stalls two days before the fair so that it could be thrown open to the public on 18 January, the day it will be inaugurated. Steps have been taken to ensure smooth parking for cars and two wheelers. The problem of using Wi-Fi connectivity from the fairground, which was made by some people, will be taken care of properly this year, Mr Dey said.

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The state transport department will deploy additional buses to carry the book lovers to the venue. Meetings between the representatives of the guild, Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation and Bidhannagar Police are held regularly to ensure a smooth fair. People from the neighbouring districts visit the pair and there will be more buses to take them to Howrah and Sealdah stations.

The Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation will provide additional staff of the solid waste management department to keep the fairground clean. There will be provision for bio toilets and water pouches will be available for the visitors.
After a rollercoaster ride in 2023 due to Hindenburg, and a couple of days after the hearing at the Supreme Court, Gautam Adani is back to being Asias wealthiest person surpassing Chairman of the Reliance Industries Mukesh Ambani.

According to Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Adanis net worth rose $7.7 billion in a day to $97.6 billion. With this he reclaimed the top spot in the region from Indian compatriot Mukesh Ambani.

Notably, Ambani was trailing by a narrow margin with a net worth of $97 billion, the index shows.

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After the Hindenburg Researchs bombshell allegations against the tycoons conglomerate, Gautam Adani has been on a rollercoaster ride when it comes to wealth gain and loss. He lost over 34 per cent of his net worth in January 2023.

The Adani Group has lost more than $150 billion in market value at one point last year and spent months wooing back investors, lenders, repaying debt and assuaging regulatory concerns.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday said there were no grounds for taking away the investigation of the Adani group of companies in the Hindenburg report from the markets regulator.

It granted the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) three months to complete the investigation of two pending matters and also refused to interfere in the agencys matter.

The CJI-led bench refuses to nix SEBIs FPI regulations, saying courts cannot enter into the domain of regulatory regime. The apex court also refuses to interfere with SEBIs probe into the episode and declines to set up a SIT.

Adani Groups stocks rallied after the Supreme Courts decision.
Public sector power major NHPC has signed an MoU with Gujarat Power Corporation Limited for an investment of Rs 4,000 crore in the proposed 750 MW Kuppa Pumped Hydro Storage Project situated at Chhota Udaipur in the state, according to an official statement issued on Thursday.

The NHPC and the Gujarat government plan to develop and utilise pumped hydro storage projects as an effective solution for energy storage. The implementation of this project will create significant employment opportunities and boost the local economy, the statement said.

The MoU signed on Wednesday in Gandhinagar under the aegis of Vibrant Gujarat aims to contribute towards achieving the national objective of setting up 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030 and Net Zero target by 2070.

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The agreement was signed by Arun Mahesh Babu, Managing Director, GPCL, Government of Gujarat, and V.R. Srivastava, Executive Director, Renewable Energy and Green Hydrogen, NHPC, in the presence of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.

NHPC has a total installed capacity of 7,097.2 MW of renewable energy (both wind and solar) through its 25 power stations, including 1,520 MW through subsidiaries.

At present, NHPC (including subsidiaries and joint venture companies) is engaged in the construction of 15 projects with an aggregate installed capacity of 10,449 MW.
Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely launched the Apne Booth Se Jude (Join Your Booth) campaign in a bid to strengthen the party at the grassroots level party workers ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

He launched the campaign during a meeting with the partys district presidents, observers and booth level agents at the partys office here.

The Delhi Congress chief made an appeal to all booth level agents and others holding responsible posts to enroll maximum people for the Join Your Booth campaign.

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The party should be strengthened and fully activated at the booth level to face the Lok Sabha elections. We should strengthen the hands of Rahul Gandhi, as the Parliament elections will be fought on national issues, he said.

Congress general secretary in-charge of Delhi Deepak Babaria said, Through the Join Your Booth campaign, the party workers will be made accountable at the ground level for strengthening the party.

Lovely also constituted a War Room at the party office for the Lok Sabha elections, which will be headed by Rajesh Garh and Rajiv Sharma will be the vice-chairman.

In the 2019 general elections, the grand old party drew a blank in Delhi.
District administration officials met with the local leaders and representatives of the Delhi villages falling under the South-West district as they visited Issapur village, and met people talking about developing the places as model villages.

Palam 360 Khap pradhan Surender Solanki proposed to the district magistrate and other officials that villages be developed on the lines of smart villages with developing broad central road, revamped community centres and stressed the need to have an entrance gate to each village with the information about its history engraved on it.

Speaking on the occasion, South-West Delhi DM Lakshya Singhal said after the decision was taken earlier at the Raj Niwas and based on the directions, 57 villages under the South-West district will be developed as model villages and further told people that the administration had come to their doorstep to know about their problems.

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He said the solution will be chalked out as per the issues faced by the people of the villages.

Along with the DM, the area SDM noted down all the problems mentioned by the people and assurance was given with regard to soon begin with the developmental process to solve the issues.

Several other local leaders and former councilors took part in the discussion and gave valuable suggestions.

Last month, Lieutenant Governor of Delhi V K Saxena had announced a Rs 800-crore package for the development of Delhis villages.

LG VK Saxena on December 3 launched the Dilli Gramoday Abhiyaan, a programme for the development and rejuvenation of urbanised villages in Delhi.

The campaign to develop villages launched by LG will be funded and implemented by the Delhi Development Authority(DDA), and the amount will utilised for creation and upgradation of basic infrastructure, livelihood, scientific livestock management, healthcare, proper land use, and water management among other developmental works to make the Delhis villages better.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday stressed the need to link databases with AI-driven analytics to tackle the emerging security challenges in the country.

Inaugurating the 58th DGsP/IGsP Conference 2023 here, the home minister highlighted that in 2023 the nation has entered the Amrit Kal and stressed on two important developments viz. the formulation of New Education Policy and enactment of 3 New Criminal Laws replacing British era laws.

He said the new laws are focused on delivery of justice instead of punishment and implementation of these laws would transform our criminal justice system as modern and scientific.

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The HM pointed to an overall improvement in the security scenario in the country since 2014, especially the reduction of violence in the three critical hotspots, i.e, Jammu & Kashmir, North-East and Left Wing Extremism. He observed that this Conference over the years has emerged as a Think Tank, facilitating decision making and formulation of new security strategies. He emphasized on uniformity of structures, size and skill of counter terror mechanisms across the country.

Shah also underlined the role of internal security in realising the Prime Ministers vision of India becoming a developed nation by 2047.

The Conference would deliberate on a range of security related issues of critical importance including security of borders, cyber-threats, radicalization, fraudulent issuance of identity documents and threats emerging from AI, according to a PIB release here tonight.

The Conference is being held in hybrid mode with DGsP/IGsP and Chiefs of Central Police Organisations attending physically from Jaipur and over 500 Police officers of various ranks participating through video conferencing from across the country. The UHM distributed Police Medals for Meritorious Service to IB officers and awarded trophies for the three best Police Stations. The Union Home Minister paid homage to the martyrs from the Security Forces who had laid down their lives in the service of the nation and commemorated their supreme sacrifice.
BJP National President JP Nadda said on Friday that the Congress leaders used to say that they would retain all the three states Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. However, we overturned the governments in these states, he added.

PM Modi changed the political culture of the country. Today, the Prime Minister has brought a big change in the politics of the country through his works. Now the people of the country have unwavering faith in PM Modi, said Nadda.

The BJP President was in Shimla for a congratulatory programme after the saffron partys victory in the three states.

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The Congress leaders give guarantees and do not fulfill them, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi does what he says and also does what he does not say, he said.

He added that after the big victory in three states, the people of the country have shown that if they have faith in anyone, it is in Modis guarantee.

He pointed out that the BJPs vote share increased by 7 percent to 14 percent in Telangana and twice in Mizoram too.

In Himachal Pradesh, we will score a hat-trick by winning all four Lok Sabha seats. In the Centre as well we will once again score a hat-trick and make Narendra Modi the Prime Minister of the country. This will be a journey from one hat-trick to another hat-trick, he said.

Under Ayushman Bharat, 50 crore people are getting Rs 5 lakh annually. In our times, we had to work hard to get money for treatment, now the facility is available at our doorstep. Former BJP Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur provided health security even to those who were not covered under Ayushman Bharat by bringing Him Care Scheme in Himachal Pradesh, he said.

The IMF report says that 13.5 crore people have come out of the poverty line in the country and extreme poverty has come down to less than 1 percent in India, said Nadda.

Today a Chinese newspaper says that India is progressing at a fast pace, he said.

Modi guarantees that in the year 2027, India will become the third largest economy in the world. Today India has become the medical hub of the world, and India is sending medicines to the entire world, he asserted.

The Central Government has provided all possible assistance to Himachal during the disaster. Till now the Centre has sent Rs 1782 crore for disaster relief, he claimed.

Now let us talk about the guarantees of Congress. I would like to ask  Did the public get anything from these guarantees? Did the women get Rs 1500? Did they buy cow dung? Did they get milk, electricity, or anything? There is no, he said.

Mentioning Ram temple function in Ayodhya, Nadda said that from January 22, the BJP workers will run cleanliness campaigns in all the pilgrimage sites and temples.

Celebrating Diwali in the name of Ram Jyoti, we will light 5 lamps in every house, he said.

He said that Himachal had made a big contribution in the construction of Ram Mandir as on June 11, 1989, the proposal for the temple was passed in Palampur.

Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee and former Deputy PM, Lal Krishan Advani had come to Palampur and worked to pass this resolution, it is a matter of pride for Himachal, he said.
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday lauded the NCC for heralding a new era of youth development and contributing to national progress by channelising the youths energy towards positivity.

Describing NCC cadets as important stakeholders in the rise of Bharat, Dhankhar said they are role models for the nations youth.

Addressing a gathering during the inauguration of the NCC Republic Day Camp-2024 at Delhi Cantonment, the Vice President fondly recalled his days as an NCC cadet, underlining that the cadet spirit is eternal and lasting.

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Urging the cadets to maintain the highest standards of dignity, he exhorted them to work with enthusiasm, valour, and dedication to make Bharat a truly developed nation and a world leader by 2047. The qualities of discipline and patriotism must remain alive in your hearts. This is the greatest tribute we can pay to our motherland, he said.

Recollecting his advice to NCC cadets last year, Dhankhar expressed delight in their remarkable contributions to initiatives such as Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, digital transactions, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, and environmental conservation. NCC ensures your holistic development as ambassadors for national awareness campaigns, and fosters integration across cultural, religious, and geographical lines, he remarked.

Commending the rising participation of women in the NCC, Dhankhar stated that female cadets will proudly march down the Kartavya Path in two exclusive contingents, accompanied by two female bands, this Republic Day.

During the inauguration of the NCC Camp, the Vice President also visited the flag area which displayed tableaux of different NCC directorates. Thereafter, Dhankhar visited the NCCs Hall of Fame and witnessed mesmerising cultural performance by the cadets.

Second Lady of India Dr Sudesh Dhankhar, Lieutenant General Gurbirpal Singh, AVSM, VSM, Director General, NCC, senior officials from tri-services, and NCC cadets from across the country participated in the ceremony.
The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government on a plea challenging the 18 November, 2023, notification banning the production, storage, distribution, and sale of halal-certified meat products in the state which had ramifications across the country.

Issuing notice returnable in two weeks, a bench of Justice B R Gavai and Justice Sandeep Mehta, however, refused to pass any interim order that no coercive action be taken under the notification. The bench said that the prayer for interim order would be considered later.

As, in the course of the hearing, Justice Gavai asked: Doesnt the High Court have jurisdiction to consider it, senior advocate Raju Ramachandran appearing for the petitioner said: It has pan-India effect.

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The senior advocate said that there is an immediate effect on interstate trade and industry and on the consumer, which will have a pan-India effect. He also submitted that similar demands for a ban are being raised in other states as well.

The court issued notice as the bench was told that the ban affects a community across the country and therefore has national implications.

In November last year, the Uttar Pradesh government banned the production, storage, distribution, and sale of halal-certified products in the state. It, however, exempted exports from prohibition.

It is pertinent to note that halal certification is a guarantee that the product is permissible and in accordance with Islamic law. Besides, it is unadulterated, meaning no harmful ingredients are used. In India, the halal certificate is issued by private bodies.

Lucknow police had registered an FIR on 17 November at the Hazratganj police station against some organisations, production companies, their owners and managers as well as other unidentified people involved in unnecessarily extorting money in the name of halal certification and promoting enmity in the name of religion and also funding different anti-national, separatist and terror organisations.

Petitioners said in the FIR they have been implicated despite the fact that they have no role whatsoever to play in relation to issuance of halal certification.
A notorious criminal carrying a reward of Rs 1 lakh on his head was shot dead in an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force, police said on Friday.

Vinod Upadhyay was seriously injured in the encounter which took place in Kotwali dehat area Thursday night. He later succumbed to injuries at the medical college in Sultanpur, they said.

ADG (STF) Amitabh Yash said the Gorakhpur police had announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for the arrest of the criminal. He said Upadhyay was booked in several cases, including land grabbing, murder and attempt to murder.

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The police have seized a .30 bore pistol, 9 mm Chinese sten gun along with live cartridges and a car from the possession of the criminal.

Upadhyay, a resident of Maharajganj in Ayodhya, is a big name in the world of crime. His name is also included in the list of top 61 mafia men in the state.

A total of 35 cases are registered against him in different police stations, police added.
The Social Security Administration says retirement benefits typically replace about 40% of pre-retirement income, but the precise payout depends on several variables. Understanding those variables can help workers and retired workers alike score a bigger benefit.

Read on to see the average Social Security benefit for retired men and women at ages 62 through 70, and to learn how lifetime earnings, work history, and claiming age impact the payout.

Image source: Getty Images.

Here's the average Social Security benefit for retired men and women

The Social Security Administration publishes anonymized beneficiary data throughout the year. Doing so fosters transparency and provides the public with valuable insights that can help with retirement planning. For instance, a biannual report details the average Social Security benefit paid to different types of beneficiaries at different ages.

The chart below draws information from the most recent version of that report. It shows the average monthly retired-worker benefit for men and women from ages 62 through 70. It also shows the average monthly Social Security benefit for both groups combined. All data comes from June 2023, and all payment amounts have been rounded to the nearest dollar.

Age Average Benefit (Men) Average Benefit (Women) Average Benefit (Total) 62 $1,419 $1,145 $1,277 63 $1,488 $1,206 $1,342 64 $1,577 $1,279 $1,421 65 $1,691 $1,374 $1,525 66 $1,919 $1,536 $1,724 67 $2,052 $1,638 $1,844 68 $2,083 $1,665 $1,873 69 $2,061 $1,649 $1,856 70 $2,184 $1,753 $1,970

Data source: The Social Security Administration. Chart by author. (Note: Payment amounts have been rounded to the nearest dollar.)

There are three noteworthy trends in the data above:

The average man received a larger retired-worker benefit at every age, as compared to the average woman.

The average retired-worker benefit was smallest at age 62 for both men and women.

The average retired-worker benefit was largest at age 70 for both men and women.

Story continues

The first bullet point can be explained by differences in lifetime earnings and work history. The second and third bullet points can be explained by differences in claiming age. I'll provide more context in the next section.

Here's how Social Security benefits are determined

Social Security retirement benefits depend on lifetime earnings, work history, and claiming age. The two-step process described below explains how those three variables come together.

Step 1: Earnings from the 35 highest-paid years of work are run through the Social Security benefits formula to determine the primary insurance amount (PIA). The PIA is the benefit a worker receives if they claim Social Security at full retirement age (FRA).

Step 2: The PIA is adjusted for early or delayed retirement. Workers who claim Social Security before FRA have their benefit reduced by a predetermined amount, meaning they'll get less than 100% of their PIA. But workers who delay claiming Social Security beyond FRA have their benefit increased by a predetermined amount, so they'll get more than 100% of their PIA.

There are two important qualifications. First, eligibility for retirement benefits begins at age 62, so retirees can't claim Social Security any earlier. Second, delayed retirement credits stop accumulating at age 70, so retirees should never claim Social Security any later.

We can now reconcile that two-step process with the three bullet points from the previous section, which I've listed again below:

The average man received a larger retired-worker benefit at every age, as compared to the average woman.

The average retired-worker benefit was smallest at age 62 for both men and women.

The average retired-worker benefit was largest at age 70 for both men and women.

The first bullet point can be explained by differences in work history and lifetime earnings. The gender wage gap has narrowed over time, but women still earn less than men. The female-to-male earnings ratio was 83% in 2021, meaning the median woman earned $0.83 for every $1 earned by the median male.

Women are also more likely to take time away from paid work, often following the birth of a child. Both variables -- lower earnings and a shorter work history -- will reduce Social Security benefits.

The second and third bullet points can be explained by differences in claiming age. Claiming Social Security at age 62 will result in the largest possible benefit reduction, while claiming benefits at age 70 will result in the largest possible benefit increase. For context, a retired worker born in 1960 received 70% of their PIA if they claimed Social Security at age 62, but that same worker will receive 124% of their PIA if they delay Social Security until age 70.

Here's the bottom line: Workers can substantially increase their future retirement benefits by ensuring they remain in the workforce for at least 35 years, maximizing their earnings while in the workforce, and delaying Social Security until age 70.

The same tips apply to retired workers. The Social Security Administration reviews work records each year and will recalculate benefits if a current beneficiary has new earnings that rank among their 35 highest-paid years. Current beneficiaries may also be able to suspend benefits or undo a claiming decision to earn delayed retirement credits. Any of those tips could result in a larger benefit.

The $21,756 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook

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Here's the Average Social Security Benefit for Men and Women at Ages 62 to 70 was originally published by The Motley Fool
Uttar Pradesh continues to consolidate its position on the global tourism map setting new milestones each year. In 2022, the number of tourists visiting UP was 31.85 crore, while in the first nine months of 2023, over 32 crore tourists, including a significant number of international visitors.

Among the various destinations in the state, Kashi attracted the highest number of tourists while Prayagraj and Ayodhya witnessed arrival of crore visitors.

The year 2023 set a significant milestone for the state across diverse sectors. Achieving top positions in both the Central and state welfare schemes, the state also experienced notable progress in the field of tourism. From January to September 2023, the number of domestic tourists visiting Uttar Pradesh was 31,91,95,206, and 9,54,866 foreign tourists also explored the state.

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Notably, Varanasi, in particular, witnessed the highest number of tourist arrivals. From January to September, a total of 8,42,04,814 tourists visited Varanasi, with 8,40,71,726 being domestic tourists and 1,33,088 being international tourists.

After Kashi, Prayagraj emerged as the second choice for tourists. A total of 4,49,95,996 tourists visited here from January to September 2023. Among them, the number of domestic tourists was 4,49,93,289, while 2,707 foreign tourists also explored Prayagraj.

Similarly, Ayodhya secured the third position in terms of tourist arrivals. From January 23 to September 23, a total of 2,03,64,347 tourists visited Ayodhya. Among them, the number of domestic tourists was 2,03,62,713, while 1,634 were international tourists.

It is noteworthy that the highest number of tourists coming to Uttar Pradesh was recorded between January and July, ranging between 5.56 and 5.80 crore.
As Friday arrives in a Bengali household, animated discussions unfold about the elaborate Bengali dishes planned for the weekend. The excitement culminates in a delectable Saturday morning Bengali breakfast, a gastronomic showcase of tradition and heritage. Each Bengali breakfast dish boasts unique flavors, intriguing textures, and appetizing aromas. Heres a list of immensely popular Bengali breakfast items you shouldnt miss.

Koraishutir Kochuri

Winter breakfasts in Bengali homes remain incomplete without koraishutir kochuri. These deep-fried flatbreads come with boiled green peas mashed and sauteed with chillies, ginger, and an array of spices. While delightful on its own, koraishutir kochuri pairs excellently with alur dom and cholar dal.

Radhaballavi and Alo Torkari

A Bengali breakfast enjoyed throughout the year, radhaballavi is akin to koraishuti kochuri, differing only in the spiced lentil filling. It is typically served with alur torker (potato curry), creating a rich and flavorful combination that embodies a literal match made in heaven.

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Luchi and Alur Dom

A staple Sunday breakfast in many Bengali households, luchi with alur dom or luchi with ghugni is available in every nook and cranny of Kolkatas streets. This deep-fried flatbread served with spicy potato curry or chickpea stew is a perfect introduction to Bengali cuisine.

Panta Bhaat

As summer approaches, many Bengali households opt for panta bhaat over deep-fried options. This simple dish features pre-cooked rice soaked overnight or for a few hours, served with side accompaniments like chillies, onion or posto fritters, and perhaps a fried egg. Though seemingly straightforward, its flavor profile promises to be a delightful surprise, turning it into your go-to comfort food.

Gola Roti

Another breakfast staple, gola roti is a modified Bengali pancake made with wheat flour, fresh veggies, and spices. Some variations even include an egg. Enjoy this cozy breakfast without any side dish or pair it with a touch of ketchup.

Indulge in these tantalizing Bengali breakfast options that promise flavor explosions with every bite.
The burgeoning energy demand in our nation, propelled by its growing economy, currently witnesses approximately 98 per cent of the transportation sectors fuel needs being fulfilled by fossil fuels, while the remaining 2 per cent is sourced from biofuels.

Attaining energy security and pivoting toward a flourishing low-carbon economy stand as critical imperatives for a nation such as India. Renewable ethanol emerges as a catalyst for a net reduction in CO2 emissions, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons (HC). Notably, ethanol combustion demonstrates superior cleanliness and completeness compared to petrol. The imperative for biofuel production to escalate by an average of 11 per cent annually throughout this decade, as outlined by the International Energy Agency, remains crucial in steering the globe towards a netzero trajectory.

To facilitate this growth, the Global Biofuel Alliance has set its targets. Ethanol presents a low-carbon alternative to fossil fuel-based transportation, spanning from gasoline to aviation turbine fuel. Bio-ethanol, an agricultural by-product derived from processing sugarcane, cane juice, and molasses, undergoes fermentation to yield ethanol.

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Additionally, ethanol production extends to grains, broken rice, maize, and agricultural residues like rice husk and stubble. Technologies applied to ethanol production span across distinct generations, encompassing 1G, 1.5G, and 2G methodologies. The blending of bio-ethanol with petrol has stood as a flagship initiative under Prime Minister Narendra Modis government since 2014.

The programmes resounding success manifests in the escalating blending percentage, surging from 1.6 per cent in 2013 to nearly 12 per cent by 2023. In absolute terms, the initial blending of 38 crore liters of alcohol burgeoned to approximately 470 crore liters in 2023. With an eye on the future, the government has unveiled a roadmap targeting a blend of up to 20 per cent ethanol in petrol by 202526, underlining the necessity for a nationwide production capacity of up to 1,500 crore liters of ethanol.

This pioneering programme not only champions the use of renewable fuels but also curtails greenhouse gas emissions while fortifying energy security. The governments expeditious advancement of the blending programme, via streamlined environmental clearances and backing through tax credits, subsidies, and financial incentives for biofuel producers and distributors engaged in ethanol blending, reflects an Indiacentric energy trajectory, reliant on local raw materials, technologies, and plant machinery.

Furthermore, the government guarantees ethanol purchase by Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), ensuring a secured off-take. This has unlocked avenues for profitable enterprises and catalyzed the establishment of biorefineries across the nation, luring in billions of rupees in investments, fostering ethanol distilleries across nearly every district in India. Ethanol, blendable up to 85 per cent with gasoline, finds common usage in Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) engineered to function optimally with ethanol blends.

FFVs are equipped with specialized engine and fuel system components to accommodate higher ethanol concentrations. Ethanol amplifies octane ratings, curtails dependence on fossil fuels, and diminishes greenhouse emissions, thus nurturing energy sustainability and security. Most distilleries in the country primarily produce bio-ethanol from C-heavy molasses, Bheavy molasses, or cane sugar. However, alternate feedstocks like food grains, broken rice, corn, etc., are gradually gaining traction.

These stocks are transformed into sucrose, glucose, and fructose, which are subsequently fermented into ethanol utilizing yeast. The governments practice of offering higher prices for ethanol produced from certain feedstock, such as anything other than C-heavy molasses, lacks a rational basis. Ethanol producers should have the autonomy to select technologies and feedstock based on economic viability. The pricing framework requires rectification to ensure a level playing field.

A recent governmental policy announcement imposing restrictions on cane juice utilization for ethanol production has unsettled bioethanol producers. This move appears to signal a slowdown in ethanol blending due to dwindling sugar stocks. Instead of an outright ban on ethanol production from sugar, the government could have explored options such as sugar imports, analogous to stockpiling cooking oil and onions during scarcity.

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A flagship initiative like ethanol blending, with its unequivocal success, should encounter minimal hindrances on its path to realizing its full potential. Additionally, billions of rupees invested in distilleries currently hang in uncertainty. Capitalizing on abundant biomass resources as feedstock for Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) plants could catapult India toward an impressive daily CBG production capacity of 170,000 MT.

This surge could potentially supplant one-third of crude oil imports or triple the imported LNG. The government has recognized the potential of biogas generation, given the livestock population of 536 million. The governments policy document spanning from 2021- 2022 to 2025-2026 underscores this pursuit. Biogas, comprising approximately 55-65 per cent methane, 35-44 per cent carbon dioxide, and traces of Hydrogen Sulphide, Nitrogen, and Ammonia, can serve as a substitute for LPG. Cow dung and organic waste serve as primary sources for biogas generation.

The governments annual budget outlay of Rs. 858 crore encompasses Rs. 100 crore dedicated to small plants (generating 1 m3 to 25 m3 biogas per day) and mediumsized biogas plants (ranging from 25 m3 to 2500 m3 biogas per day and within the spectrum of 3 kW to 250 kW biogas for thermal/cooling energy). Building upon the triumph of the ethanol blending programme, the Government of India proposed the establishment of a Global Biofuel Alliance during the G20 summit. Led by nations within the G20 like India, Brazil, and the US, along with 12 international organizations, the Global Biofuel Alliance aims to channel technology investments, foster expert collaboration, and set global standards to diminish reliance on hydrocarbons.

Bio-ethanol, biodiesel, and Aviation Turbine Fuel are slated to supplant fossil fuels. Biofuels, derived from renewable sources like vegetable oils and animal fats, emerge as cleaner alternatives to traditional diesel and can be blended with petroleum diesel in varying ratios. The Global Biofuel Alliance pledges support for second-generation (2G) ethanol crafted from agricultural waste, used cooking oil, and processed animal byproducts like fats. Presently, Indias biofuel market encompasses 230 biomass pellet manufacturers and 1,030 briquette manufacturers, catering to power plants and industries.

Bolstered by investments from global green energy entities and governmental initiatives, the Indian biomass market is poised to reach INR 320 billion by the fiscal year 2030-31. Given the substantial growth potential of biofuels and compressed biogas, unwavering government policies stand as an imperative. These policies can substantially curtail Indias reliance on imported fossil fuels, resulting in reduced carbon emissions.

Recognizing the significance of biofuels and compressed biogas, coupled with the unwavering support provided by the government in this sector, it becomes indispensable for the government to ensure the consistency of policies.

(The writer is Managing Director, Greenstat Hydrogen India Pvt. Ltd., and Chairman, Environment & Green Hydrogen Committee, PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry, New Delhi. He can be reached at jpglobalconsultinggroup@gmail.com)
In world fraught with geopolitical tensions and animosity, the regular exchange of lists between India and Pakistan stands out as a unique ritual, showcasing a commitment to maintain communication even in times of strained relations. The recent 33rd consecutive exchange of lists of nuclear installations, prisoners, and fishermen between the two nuclear-armed neighbours is a testament to the endurance of diplomatic protocols established more than three decades ago. The exchange, rooted in the Agreement on the Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear Installations and Facilities signed in 1988, underscores a shared understanding of the catastrophic consequences that a nuclear conflict would unleash. While both countries remain tight-lipped about specific details of the installations, the mutual acknowledgment of the need for a degree of transparency in this critical area is a commendable aspect of this ritual.

It serves as a stabilising force, fostering an environment where dialogue on nuclear-related concerns can persist despite broader geopolitical challenges. The lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen exchanged twice a year add another layer to this intricate diplomatic dance. Amidst the political posturing and historical grievances, the act of sharing names, albeit devoid of personal details, reflects recognition of the human element within the broader geopolitical landscape. It is a reminder that beyond the grand narratives of statecraft, there are individuals caught in the crossfire, awaiting repatriation and consular access. The call from India for the expedited release of 184 Indian fishermen and access to 12 prisoners believed to be Indian nationals underscores the humanitarian aspect of this exchange. The reciprocal request from Pakistan for the release and repatriation of its prisoners and fishermen, coupled with consular access, highlights a shared concern for the welfare of those detained on this side. Despite the absence of formal dialogue between India and Pakistan since the 2008 Mumbai attack, the consistent exchange of these lists reflects a commitment to address humanitarian matters. It becomes evident that even in the absence of high-level talks, back-channel contacts and intelligence-driven interactions have played a pivotal role.

The revival of the ceasefire on the Line of Control in February 2021, a result of such contacts, demonstrates the resilience of diplomatic efforts in the face of adversities. However, challenges persist. The shadow of past terrorist attacks and the complex historical backdrop continue to hinder sustained talks. The delicate balance of diplomatic overtures and security concerns is evident in the cautionary tone of both nations. The 2019 Pulwama attack and subsequent escalations underscore the fragility of the situation, requiring delicate diplomatic manoeuvring to avoid descending into hostilities. As the two nations navigate a complex geopolitical terrain, the exchange of lists remains a glimmer of hope, a reminder that amidst the tumultuous relationship, a diplomatic thread endures. It is a small yet crucial step towards fostering an environment where dialogue, however cautious, prevails over confrontation

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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.
Supporters of Donald Trump try to break through a police barrier during the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol in Washington.
Before diving into mutual fund NAV, you must first understand that all mutual fund transactions in India take place in the form of individual shares. Each units price is the NAV, which stands for a mutual funds Net Asset Value. That means NAV is the basis of all mutual fund investments. As multiple types of mutual funds invest in bonds and stocks, their investment value depends on the scheme, which changes from time to time. That indirectly impacts their NAV in a way similar to stock prices. However, one thing to note is while equity share prices fluctuate several times in a day, NAV is calculated at the end of each trading day, changing the NAV only once.

Let's explore more about NAV and what all investors should know about it.

Impact of Mutual Fund NAV on Investments

Here is an example to better understand the impact of NAV on mutual fund investments:

Support you invest  4000 in a debt mutual fund of NAV 20. At this price, you can purchase 4000/20=200 debt mutual fund units. If you decide to invest  4000 more in the same mutual fund a week later, and if its price has increased to  25, you can purchase 4000/25=160 units now.

As evident, even if you invest the same amount in both instances, the number of mutual funds you buy decreases as the NAV increases. Similarly, if the NAV decreases, you can buy more units for the same amount. Finally, the mutual fund NAV forms the basis of rupee cost averaging, one of the most sought-after benefits of SIP investments.

Impact of NAV in a Fund Performance

Most investors look for an asset with a low NAV because they believe such funds are cheaper and will deliver better returns in the future as their NAV increases. However, a mutual fund's NAV has no relation to its performance in the future. For instance, the lower NAV of debt mutual funds does not make them a lucrative investment. An assets NAV merely indicates how it has performed in the past few years. Therefore, it cannot be an investors determining factor when choosing a fund to invest in. One must check the returns to make informed decisions.

Factors Affecting NAV Calculation

Based on the NAV, mutual funds allocate units to each investor. The bigger the investment, the more units the investor gets. After collecting money from several investors, fund managers invest in bonds, stocks, debt mutual funds, and other financial instruments based on the schemes investment goals. The total investment value impacts the mutual fund's total assets. As the price of these instruments changes, the total assets also change.

Another factor affecting the NAV is the liabilities of a mutual fund scheme. These include the costs related to the scheme management. The AMC administering the fund must cover various costs comprising the mutual fund liabilities, including custodial expenses, marketing budgets, administration fees, brokerage commissions, initiative expenses, etc. One must deduct these liabilities from their total value to calculate a mutual fund's NAV.

Formula to Calculate the Net Asset Value

Here is the formula to calculate the NAV of a mutual fund:

NAV = (Total Assets  Total Liabilities) / Total number of outstanding units

In the above formula, the total number of outstanding units refers to the total number of units the mutual fund distributes to its investors.

Importance of NAV for Investors

Investors trying to time the market prefer making lump sum investments when a fund's NAV is low and redeeming them when it increases. The objective is to maximise profits from the investment. Although it is a nice strategy, implementing it practically is challenging as market movements are too complex to predict. So, rather than focusing on NAV, investors should focus more on being systematic and staying invested for a long time through SIPs.

SIP investors can leverage rupee cost averaging to reduce the impact of NAV changes on the investment. Additionally, it gives more time for fund growth, allowing investors to benefit from compounding interest.

Now that you know what NAV mean and its calculation method, remember that it determines the number of units allotted for the investment. Rather than concentrating on the NAV of the acquired units, one must focus on how much their investments appreciate in value. Simply put, appreciation of the NAV is more crucial than the NAV itself. With this information, investors can now make smarter investments in different types of mutual funds and earn the expected returns.
Frontdesk, an online rental platform, laid off its entire workforce in just two minutes.

According to media reports, all the 200 employees of the start-up, including full-time and part-time workers, were laid off during a "two-minute Google Meet call".

Business Insider reported that the CEO of the company, Jesse DePinto, told Frontdesk employees that the company would be "filing for a state receivership, an alternative to bankruptcy".

The layoffs come barely months after the company, which was founded in 2017, acquired its rival Zencity.

While the company hasn't responded to the reports of layoffs, TechCrunch reported that calling the number given on the website of Frontdesk elicited the following recorded message: Currently, Frontdesk is unavailable. If you have a reservation, please seek alternative accommodations and expect to be contacted within the next two weeks.

In fact, the company had posted job openings on LinkedIn two months ago.

Frontdesk used to manage more than 1,000 furnished apartments across the US.
The speculation on whether Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Sonia Gandhi will attend the Ram temple consecration ceremony continued with the party on Thursday saying that their decision would be conveyed at the "right time".

Asked whether Kharge and Gandhi will attend the ceremony, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh, at a media briefing after a meeting of general secretaries, state in-charges, state unit chiefs and Congress Legislature Party leaders at the AICC headquarters here, said, "Don't try to divert, this is about 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra'. There was no discussion on this topic (at the meeting)."

"There was discussion about the 2024 (Lok Sabha) elections and about 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra'. You asked about the invitation, I have said it again and again, I will say it once again... Kharge ji has received the invitation, Sonia ji has received the invitation. At the right time, I will tell you their decision," Ramesh said.

Besides Kharge and Gandhi, Congress' leader in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has also been invited to the ceremony.

The consecration ceremony will be held on January 22 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and more than 6,000 people are expected to attend it.
Grievously injured in an attack by loyalists of a TMC leader during a raid in West Bengal, Friday's assault on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officers has ignited a political fury, prompting the opposition to demand President's Rule, while Governor CV Ananda Bose stressed that the state government's duty is to quell "barbarism," asserting that Bengal is not a banana republic.

While the BJP termed the attack on the central agency sleuths investigating the ration distribution scam as "a direct assault on the federal structure", the Congress demanded President's Rule, and the ruling TMC refuted the charges and accused the ED officials of inciting locals.

The governor, while signaling his intent to explore constitutional options and take appropriate action, urged police to abandon their "ostrich-like attitude" of pretending not to see lawlessness around.

The incident occurred when ED officers raided the residence of TMC leader Sheikh Sajahan regarding investigation of a ration distribution scam, where they faced attacks from his supporters, resulting in substantial damage to both officers and their vehicles.

Sajahan is considered to be a close aide of state minister Jyotipriyo Mallick, who was arrested last year in connection with the multi-crore ration distribution scam.

This ED raid was a crucial aspect of the agency's ongoing probe into the scam.

The tense situation reached a boiling point as a large number of TMC loyalists assaulted ED officials and personnel of central forces during the raid, forcing the officers to abandon their damaged vehicles and seek refuge in auto-rickshaws and two-wheelers.

At least two officers sustained serious injuries, necessitating hospitalisation.

Even CAPF troopers accompanying the Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials were not spared by the rampaging mob.

"This kind of attack is unprecedented. We have sent a report on Sheikh Sajahan to our Delhi office," an ED officer told PTI.

Meanwhile, police detained 10 persons for their alleged involvement in the assault on ED officers, an official said.

The episode drew sharp criticism from the governor, who slammed the state government's "ostrich-like attitude" for its inability to contain the turmoil in Sandeshkhali.

The Raj Bhavan occupant, with whom the TMC dispensation shares a torrid relationship on a host of issues, said a civilised government must stop "barbarism and vandalism in a democracy".

"The ghastly incident in Sandeshkhali is alarming and deplorable. It's the duty of a civilised government to stop barbarism and vandalism in a democracy. As a governor, I will explore all my constitutional options for appropriate action in the appropriate manner," Bose said in a voice message released from the Raj Bhavan.

He also asserted that West Bengal is not a "banana republic," and "Jungle Raj and gunda raj will work in a fool's paradise".

"The government may better open its eyes and see the reality and act effectively or face the consequences. The ostrich-like attitude of the police pretending not to see the lawlessness around should go," Bose said in an audio statement.

The incident triggered a political storm in West Bengal, with opposition parties criticising the deteriorating law and order situation.

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nisith Pramanik emphasized the failure of respective state governments to provide adequate security to central agency officers, stating, "The attack on the officers of the central agency is an attack on the federal structure of the state."

He said the Centre is taking serious note of the incident and its commitment to investigating why similar events persistently occur in West Bengal.

BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah requesting for an immediate National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into the incident and demanding imposition of President's Rule in the state.

Majumdar also requested deployment of central paramilitary forces to safeguard the integrity of investigative procedures.

Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari asserted that the TMC schemed to provoke the central forces into opening fire, intending to generate an issue and disrupt the ongoing investigation.

"The TMC orchestrated a plan to create a scenario wherein the central forces would be compelled to resorting to gunfire. Subsequently, the TMC aimed to manipulate the circumstances to hinder the central agency's investigation into other scams. I thank the central forces for exhibiting restraint amidst such challenging circumstances," he added.

State Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury echoed similar sentiments and said there is a complete lawless in Bengal.

"Under the TMC rule, law and order ceased to exist in West Bengal. We demand President's Rule should be immediately imposed," he said.

In response, senior TMC minister Shashi Panja charged the central agency officials with inciting locals leading to the situation.

"Union minister Nisith Pramanik spoke about the attack on the federal structure. The withholding of the state's dues in a real sense is an attack on the federal structure," she said.

The senior TMC leader also criticised the governor for his "biased" statements and "dared" the opposition to implement President's Rule and topple a democratically elected government.

"The central agency went for a raid without informing police or the state government. Is this an example of following the norms of federal structure," she said.

TMC state spokesperson Kunal Ghosh criticised both the Congress and the BJP, contending that the law and order situation in West Bengal is far superior than other states.

"The governor instead of looking into the entire incident impartially is jumping to conclusions. He should stop acting like a BJP leader," he said.

Media persons from news channels, who went to Sandeskhali to cover the ED raids, were also assaulted and their vehicles ransacked.
Former chief minister and ad-hoc president of Janata Dal Secular H.D. Kumaraswamy accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of trying to plant evidence against Mysuru BJP MP Pratap Simhas younger brother Vikram Simha in the tree felling case.



On Friday, talking to presspersons, Kumaraswamy endorsed Simhas claims and said the Hassan case (arrest of Vikram Simha) was a clear case of gross misuse of power by the Congress government in Karnataka. The chief minister is trying to silence his political opponent Pratap Simha, who is a vocal critic, alleged Kumaraswamy.

Last week, Vikram Simha, accused of illegally felling 126 trees on a forest land in Hassan district was arrested from Bengaluru and later released on bail. Pratap Simha claimed that the arrest was politically motivated and a ploy of Siddaramaiah to tarnish his image as the latter was hoping to field his son Yathindra from Mysuru in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Vikram Simha is not the owner of the land in question. He had only taken it on lease for ginger farming, from January 24, 2024. The land owner Jayamma fell some wild trees and although the FIR did not mention Vikram Simha's name, he was arrested for the offence on December 28. The FIR mentioned only Jayamma and Rakesh Shetty (landowners) as accused no. 1 and 2. Simhas name was added as accused no.3 later with the ill-intention of framing him," Kumaraswamy charged.

"Heeding a local goon, the CM tried to fix a false case against Simha. He made a call to the PCCF in this regard and the call records are enough evidence to prove it. In fact, the CM asked forest officials to cut down high-value beete mara (Rosewood) trees from Ghendekere forest area and dump them in the private land to frame Simha. And, five forest officials including DFO Mohan Kumar, a Dalit officer, were suspended when they refused to do it, alleged Kumaraswamy.

Elaborating on the case, Kumaraswamy stated that the land measuring 40 acres and 38 guntas in Nandegowdanahalli in Belur, Hassan is being claimed as forest land although it has already been distributed among 16 families, who hold the title deeds for the land.

Jayamma, daughter of Rakesh Shetty is the owner of four acres and two guntas, which Simha had taken on lease. The forest officials booked an offence only against two individuals  Jayamma and Rakesh Shetty based on a (mahazar) report given by the tahsildar. The forest officials gave the two accused bail at their office but arrested Vikram Simha before the magistrate. After the magistrate rapped them, they sought his bail to save their face, claimed Kumaraswamy. He added that in a senior forest officers meeting convened by the chief minister earlier this week, the officers had advised the CM against suspending the officers.

Further, Kumaraswamy slammed Siddaramaiah for suspending a Dalit officer (DFO) and said, Siddaramaiah claims to be the leader of Ahinda and now Dalits. Why did he suspend an honest Dalit officer?" Kumaraswamy alleged the DFO was forced to pay a huge sum, in lakhs, as a bribe to the local MLA for the posting as the latter had collected the transfer order copy from the government(DPAR).
Contract electronics manufacturer Jabil (NYSE: JBL) was a top performer on the stock market in 2023 with gains of 87% -- well ahead of the S&P 500 index's jump of 24%. And the stock remains incredibly cheap even after its impressive rally last year.

Shares of Jabil, which provides contract manufacturing services to multiple industries ranging from automotive to healthcare to cloud computing, are trading at just 0.5 times sales right now. What's more, its trailing price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is just 21, in line with the S&P 500 index's average P/E multiple. The forward P/E multiple, meanwhile, stands at a cheaper 11.

So, should investors start buying Jabil stock hand over fist considering its attractive valuation?

Jabil warns of a slowdown, but that's only half the story

In mid-December, when Jabil released fiscal 2024 first-quarter results (for the three months ended Nov. 30, 2023), it became evident that not all is well for the contract electronics manufacturer. Its revenue was down 13% year over year to $8.4 billion. Jabil's non-GAAP (adjusted) earnings, however, increased 12% year over year thanks to the company's focus on improving its margin profile.

Jabil recently divested its mobility business, which was one of its "highest fixed cost businesses." Also, Jabil is pushing out its planned investments in light of the near-term macroeconomic headwinds that are impacting its business.

The company is forecasting fiscal 2024 revenue to land at $30.6 billion following the recent divestiture, along with adjusted earnings of $9 per share. The mobility business generated $4 billion in revenue for Jabil in fiscal 2023, so investors should not be disheartened by the year-over-year revenue decline that the company is going to witness in the current fiscal year.

Jabil earned $8.63 per share in fiscal 2023 on revenue of $34.7 billion. So, while the company's top line is on track to decline nearly 12%, its earnings are expected to increase slightly. The improvement in its bottom line despite the top-line contraction suggests the steps that Jabil is taking to boost its margins are working.

Story continues

What's more, the company is expected to return to top-line growth from fiscal 2025, when analysts are forecasting $32.7 billion in revenue. Additionally, Jabil estimates that its earnings growth could accelerate in the next fiscal year to $10.65 per share, which would be an 18% increase over what the company has guided for fiscal 2024.

It is worth noting that analysts have raised their earnings expectations for Jabil over the past year. The chart below indicates that Jabil stock could indeed deliver healthy gains over the next couple of years.

JBL EPS Estimates for Current Fiscal Year Chart

The bigger picture remains bright

Jabil management pointed out on the company's previous earnings conference call that it is witnessing a "broad slowdown of demand across multiple end markets." But at the same time, management is confident that the "slowdown will be temporary in nature."

That's not surprising as the global contract electronics manufacturing market is anticipated to clock annual growth of almost 10% through the end of the decade, according to Grand View Research. The market's growth will be driven by the growing need for contract manufacturing in electric vehicles, AI-powered data centers, and renewable energy infrastructure.

As a result, Jabil seems capable of hitting its fiscal 2025 earnings-per-share target of $10.65. Assuming it does hit that mark and maintains its current P/E ratio of 21.7 at that time, Jabil stock could jump to $230 in a couple of years. That points toward an 80% jump from current levels. Given that Jabil is currently trading well below its five-year average P/E ratio of 29, investors are getting a good deal on this stock right now. They should consider grabbing this opportunity before this hot tech stock flies higher.

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The Congress party has intensified preparations for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, with it holding discussions on the manifesto and seat sharing with its allies in the INDIA bloc.

Crucial meetings were held on Thursday by Congress's top leadership, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, with the members of the party's Alliance Committee and Manifesto Committee.



In the Alliance Committee meeting, feedback from state units on seat-sharing with other INDIA bloc parties for the Lok Sabha elections was discussed. It was also decided that the state-wise talks with coalition partners will commence soon.



Committee convener Mukul Wasnik told reporters that Kharge was handed over the report from the state units. "The Congress Alliance Committee held deliberations with leaders from various states within the INDIA bloc in the last several days. Today, their details were given to party president Kharge, former president Rahul Gandhi and Organisation general secretary KC Venugopal. Now, soon Congress will hold state-wise discussions with other allies of the INDIA bloc," Mukul Wasnik said.



While Wasnik is the convener of the panel, other members include former chief ministers Ashok Gehlot and Bhupesh Baghel as well as Mohan Prakash and Salman Khurshid.



Wasnik said the party was aware that seat-sharing has to be done soon and it will give it top priority. "We will be talking with parties that influence areas and keeping their influence in view, we will have our dialogue. Certainly, this will be a state-wise discussion and then we will move forward," he added.



On seat-sharing in Punjab and Delhi, Wasnik said that he was not in a position to talk about specific states and parties. "Our objective is to ensure that the INDIA bloc forms government after the Lok Sabha polls," he added.



The Manifesto Committee too held its first meeting. "This was the first meeting of the Manifesto Committee. There will be a meeting again next week regarding the manifesto of Congress for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Preliminary views were exchanged in today's meeting," said Rajya Sabha MP P Chidambaram.


The Centre ordered CBI on Friday to probe alleged irregularities in Delhi's Mohalla clinics. Lt Governor V.K. Saxena had on Thursday recommended a probe following reports of fake tests and ghost patients at the clinics.

The flagship healthcare scheme of Aam Aadmi Party ran into controversy following reports of doctors recommending pathology and radiology tests allegedly with fake data. According to reports, a recent investigation by Delhis vigilance and health departments into lab investigations outsourced to private diagnostic companies found patient data being duplicated and use of non-existent, fake mobile phone numbers to register patients. The probe also found that at certain clinics, doctors manipulated attendance data, they marked present while the doctors actually did not report for duty on the day.

The probe team reviewed sample lab testing data for three months -July to September last year- retrieved from two private service providers and found discrepancies in details of over 11,000 patients. A source in the know of developments told PTI, "It was found that fake or non-existent mobile numbers were used for registration of patients and subsequent lab tests that were supposedly done on them. Also, there was duplication of mobile numbers. The data has clearly revealed that fake lab tests were carried out at these mohalla clinics that need to be further inquired.



According to the inquiry report, there were 3,092 records of different patients with the same mobile number--9999999999--while in the case of 999 patients, their mobile numbers were repeated 15 or more times. Similarly, 11,657 patients had the mobile number zero registered against their names while in the case of 8,251 patients, the mobile number column was left blank. As many as 400 patients had a single-digit phone number.

The Lt Governor had earlier recommended a probe into alleged distribution of substandard drugs to Delhi government hospitals.

Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj had said on Thursday that the health secretary should be suspended for alleged wrongdoings.

"As far as the health department is concerned, or mohalla clinics, drugs, and whether the standard is good or not, or if anyone is entering a phone number or entering random digits, or some wrong number (at mohalla clinics), this has to be checked by officials, and they have a DGHS above and above that health secretary is there. It is their job to do random checks at their level, he had said.

Who has appointed the DGHS? not us. Who has appointed the health secretary? not us. Who has chosen them, you all know. People chosen by them (for these posts) are committing wrong things. And, they themselves are probing it, Bharadwaj charged.

-with PTI inputs.
Former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda, on Friday, dubbed the ruling Congress in Karnataka as corrupt, alleging that the party swindled the taxpayers money to fund the assembly polls in five states. Vowing to defeat the Congress in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, Gowda said it would also spell the end of the Congress era in Karnataka under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.

Addressing a press meet in Bengaluru, the JD(S) patriarch, while justifying the JD(S)-BJP alliance, hinted that his partys ultimate goal is to defeat the Congress, for the humiliation caused to him and his decades-long career as a secular leader.

Answering a query on the seat-sharing formula between the alliance partners and the chances of JD(S) candidates winning the seats, Gowda shot back saying the question as to how many seats his party would contest or win was immaterial.

We want to defeat the Congress for humiliating Deve Gowda, who did not compromise on his secular ideology in the last 60 years. Today, the INDIA alliance is questioning my credentials. Let me tell you, we are determined to see that the Congress in Karnataka is defeated and the era of Congress ends under D.K. Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah, said Gowda, making his annoyance public over the INDIA alliance partners mocking at the JD(S) joining hands with BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for the upcoming LS polls.

As long as my party continues to remain an alliance partner of the NDA, we will continue to raise our voice when the ruling Congress is indulging in vindictive politics, as in the case of Srikanth Poojary who has been arrested following the revoking of a 30-year-old case, asserted the patriarch.

Further, he alleged that the Congress government spent Karnataka taxpayers money on the recently concluded assembly elections in five states.

Our deputy chief minister (Shivakumar), his arrogance, the places he has visited and the amount of money he has carted away for elections and how much money the election commission confiscated is now out in the open. Where does such huge money get generated? All the illegal transactions are taking place in the organisations and departments that are under him, the Bengaluru development, and water resources. Whatever is happening here is shameful. It is a pity as I don't know if Siddaramaiah has the power to control all this. He preaches the country and claims his administration is clean and pro-poor. Now, why did he fail to stop these irregularities? In Telangana, a person who was minister (Zamer Ahmed Khan) in Kumaraswamys cabinet thinks there is no other business for us other than discussing Tipu (Sultan) day and night, charged the veteran.

Recalling an incident of a royal from Oman gifting him a gold sword, Gowda said, I have no hesitation to say I worship Lord Rama. There is no question of disbelief. The sword I got as a gift from a Sultan, I donated to a Ram temple in Bengaluru after paying the taxes. I have devotion and belief. The sword was gifted by a Muslim. We worship Lord Rama. But that does not mean, the one who is in power should not protect other communities if they are feeling threatened. During Eidgah maidan communal row, I handled it meticulously. As prime minister, I visited Ajmer Dargah, Golden Temple, and Tirupati. The communists asked me how can you visit a temple as the PM. I told them it was because I believed in god but that would not come in the way of me discharging my duties as a PM. I have always been impartial. So today, as an NDA partner, it is my duty to oppose the Congress that is indulging in vindictive politics.

Earlier, Gowda drew a parallel between Modi and Siddaramaiah and said, On one hand, we see Modi chanting the name Sri Rama, and is going to fast and take a dip in Sarayu river (for the consecration of the Ram temple at Ayodhya). Here, we see the Congress, in the name of Siddarama, they are creating these (false cases), in the hope of winning 20 seats after defeating the NDA in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. But it will remain only a dream. It is not possible in this state as people will support Modi exceeding all our expectations.
Foreign-made weapons, about 300 cartridges, Rs 5 crore cash and more than 100 liquor bottles have been recovered during searches conducted by the Enforcement Directorate against former INLD MLA Dilbag Singh and his associates, official sources said on Friday.

The central agency had launched raids against the former legislator and Congress MLA from Sonipat, Surender Panwar on Thursday as part of a money laundering case linked to alleged illegal mining in Haryana's Yamunanagar district. About Rs 5 crore cash, alleged "illegal" foreign-made weapons, around 300 cartridges, more than 100 liquor bottles, 4-5 kg of gold and documents pertaining to assets in India and abroad have been recovered from the premises linked to Singh and his associates, the sources said. The searches at some locations are continuing, they said.

Around 20 locations of the two politicians and linked entities in Yamunanagar, Sonipat, Mohali, Faridabad, Chandigarh and Karnal were covered during the raids conducted under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Singh is a former Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) MLA from Yamunanagar.

The money laundering case stems from several FIRs registered by Haryana Police to probe alleged illegal mining of boulders, gravel and sand that took place in the past in Yamunanagar and nearby districts even after the lease expiry period and court's order.

The central agency is also probing alleged fraud in the 'e-Ravana' scheme, an online portal that was introduced by the Haryana government in 2020 to simplify collection of royalties and taxes and to prevent tax evasion in mining areas.
In a swift, strong and resolute action, a team of Indian Navys marine commandos or MARCOS boarded a hijacked merchant vessel in the northern Arabian Sea on Friday and sanitised it confirming the absence of hijackers.

The Liberia-flagged bulk carrier MV Lila Norfolk had a 21 member crew of whom 15 were Indians.

An Indian Navy official release said: The attempt of hijacking by the pirates was probably abandoned with the forceful warning by the Indian Navy, marine patrol aircraft of interception by Indian Naval warship.

#IndianNavys Swift Response to the Hijacking Attempt of MV Lila Norfolk in the North Arabian Sea.

All 21 crew (incl #15Indians) onboard safely evacuated from the citadel.



Sanitisation by MARCOs has confirmed absence of the hijackers.



The attempt of hijacking by the pirates https://t.co/OvudB0A8VV pic.twitter.com/616q7avNjg  SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) January 5, 2024

The MV Lila Norfolk was subjected to a hijacking attempt in the north Arabian Sea by five to six unknown armed persons on Thursday evening.

Soon after getting the information, the Indian Navy immediately got into action and diverted its INS Chennai from her anti piracy patrol and intercepted the merchant vessel at 3:15 pm, Friday.

INS Chennai is in the vicinity of MV and rendering support to restore the power generation and propulsion, and commence her voyage to next port of call, the release added.

Before the MARCOS team boarded the vessel, it was constantly watched and monitored by a slew of assets that included a maritime patrol aircraft, integral helos and a Predator MQ9B drone.

The Indian Navy has taken two MQ9B on lease from the United States even as a USD 4 billion deal to buy 31 Predator drones in a government-to-government deal is set to be finally inked.
On August 4, 2019, a day before the abrogation of Article 370, regional parties in Jammu and Kashmir met at the residence of National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Gupkar Road in Srinagar, forming the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), also known as the Gupkar Alliance. They vowed to defend Article 370 and warned the BJP against proceeding with the move.

But, the BJP went ahead and abrogated Article 370 the next day, dividing Jammu and Kashmir into two Union TerritoriesJammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Many political leaders, including three former chief ministers  Farooq Abdullah, his son Omar Abdullah (also the NC vice president), and Mehbooba Mufti of the PDP  were detained.

The BJP prevented a backlash to the Article 370 move by imposing a lockdown and communication blackout in Jammu and Kashmir. While some political leaders were later released from detention, the three former chief ministers were freed months later after their detention was challenged in the Supreme Court.

In the District Development Council (DDC) polls in October 2020, the Gupkar Alliance put up an impressive show, winning half of the 220 seats in the UT. The BJP emerged as the single largest party, securing 75 seats.

However, the saffron party's expectation that the Gupkar Alliance would boycott the polls in protest against the abrogation of Article 370, allowing the BJP to win more seats and make inroads into the bastions of regional parties, did not materialise.

After the DDC polls, Sajjad Gani Lone of the Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference quit the Gupkar Alliance, citing lack of support from the alliance partners to the joint candidates put forward in the polls, especially in Kupwara, his hometown.

Since the DDC polls, the BJP has made significant changes in Jammu and Kashmir through delimitation and constitutional amendments, bolstering the political influence of Hindu-majority Jammu, the partys stronghold.

Now, Jammu holds 43 seats and Kashmir 47 of 90, potentially electing 32-35 Hindu representatives. The delimitation also proposed five nominations, potentially benefiting the BJP.

The Gupkar Alliance was hoping the Supreme Court would restore Article 370 and statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. However, on December 11, the court upheld the Article 370 move by the BJP, leaving regional parties shattered.

The apex courts decision has come as the last straw for the regional parties in Jammu and Kashmir, and also for the Gupkar Alliance.

What has rattled the Gupkar Alliance the most is that despite acknowledging the assurance of Jammu and Kashmir's eventual restoration of statehood, the court showed no urgency in reinstating democracy in the former state.

A frustrated Omar Abdullah said he was going off-grid, post the Supreme Court's decision, and the Delhi High Court's dismissal of his divorce plea a day later. Farooq Abdullah, too, expressed frustration about the lack of development and elections in the region.

After the Supreme Court verdict, the Gupkar Alliance now faces an uncertain future, especially because the NC believes that continuing with the alliance may not hold political benefits anymore. But, observers believe that joining forces, like in the DDC polls, is still the best bet for the regional parties to take on the BJP.

But that is easier said than done as the NC believes that departing from the alliance could prove advantageous in the imminent Lok Sabha polls and subsequent assembly elections.

The PDP, its main rival before the reading down of Article 370, has suffered serious setbacks. Many of its leaders and elected members who joined the party during its founding by Mufti Muhammad Sayyed in the late 90s, shifted their allegiance.

Observers believe that Mehbooba Mufti has handled confronting the BJP and its Kashmir policies better than other leaders, boosting the morale of PDP supporters.

Apart from the PDP, the Congress and the CPI(M) also advocate a united stand against the BJP in Jammu and Kashmir.

There are smaller parties in Jammu like the National Panthers Party, Mission Statehood, and Dogra Swabhimani Sangathan who are willing to collaborate with the Gupkar Alliance. But, without the NC, the alliance is unlikely to stop the BJP. The collapse of the alliance will also benefit the BJP in Muslim-majority areas of Jammu as the Muslim vote will be divided between regional parties while the minority Hindu vote, will rally behind the BJP.

The NC has also made it clear in the INDIA bloc meetings that there should be no seat-sharing arrangement on the Lok Sabha seats won by the alliance partners in the last polls. The NC won all three Lok Sabha seats in the Kashmir region in the last elections, while the BJP won the remaining three - two in Jammu and one in Ladakh. Such a stand by the NC makes it clear that the party is no longer keen on any pre-poll alliance with any party, sealing the fate of Gupkar Alliance much to the delight of the BJP.
A Hubballi court on Friday granted bail to Hindu activist Srikanth Poojari, who was recently arrested for allegedly being involved in riots after the Babri Masjid demolition in Ayodhya in 1992.

According to Poojari's lawyer, Sanjeev Badasaka, he was granted conditional bail and will be out from the jail by Saturday evening.

The copy of the order is yet to be released.

Poojari, a right-wing activist from Karnataka's Channapet in Hubballi district, was accused of setting a few shops on fire during the riots. A total of three cases were booked against him for allegedly causing riots and causing hurt. Poojari was arrested in connection with the commotion in Hubballi in 1992.

BJP on Wednesday launched massive protests across the state against the arrest of the Hindu activist. He was arrested by the Hubballi police last week.

Recently, Karnataka Home Minister Dr G. Parameshwara directed the police to pursue pending cases.

BJP has accused the Congress government being harsh on Hindus, and also indulging in minority appeasement. While, the Congress charged BJP for politicising the issue.

The Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had described Poojari as a "social miscreant" and "criminal suspect" and said he is facing allegations of involvement in 16 anti-social activities, including illegal liquor sales, gambling and matka.

The government counsel had submitted objections to his bail plea saying he was wanted in several other cases.
The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a plea challenging a recent Allahabad High Court order rejecting a PIL demanding recognition of Shahi Eidgah Mosque site in Mathura as Krishna Janmabhoomi.



The Supreme Court refused to entertain the plea and said the PIL was rejected to avoid multiplicity of litigation, as there were similar petitions pending before the court, LiveLaw reported. Hearing Advocate Mahek Maheshwaris petition, a bench comprising of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta said the petition was rejected since it was filed as PIL and said counsel was free to file it as a separate petition.

"We are not inclined to interfere with the impugned judgment and hence the special leave petition is dismissed. We clarify that the dismissal of the special leave petition nowhere comments on the right of parties to challenge the vires of any enactment or prevents or bars any party from challenging the vires of any enactment," LiveLaw reported quoting the judgment.

Meanwhile, the mosque committee has moved the Supreme Court challenging a recent Allahabad High Court order that allowed a court-monitored survey of the Shahi Idgah adjoining the Krishna Janmabhoomi temple in Mathura. The high court, on December 14 last year, had agreed to the appointment of a court commissioner to oversee the survey of the mosque premises which, the Hindu side claims, hold signs suggesting that it was a Hindu temple once.
A Liberian-flagged vessel 'MV LILA NORFOLK' has been hijacked near Somalia's coast, said Indian Navy sources.

A statement by the Navy said it was closely monitoring the vessel about which information was received last evening. There are 15 Indian crew members on board. "Indian Navy aircraft have been keeping a watch on the ship and communication has been established with the crew," ANI quoted Navy officials.

The statement added that Indian Navy's Mission Deployed platforms responded swiftly to a maritime incident in Arabian Sea. "The vessel had sent a message on United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) portal indicating boarding by approx five to six unknown armed personnel in the evening on 04 Jan 24. Responding swiftly to the developing situation, Indian Navy launched a maritime patrol aircraft and has diverted INS Chennai deployed for Maritime Security Operations to assist the vessel," the statement added.

"The aircraft overflew the vessel on early morning of 05 Jan 24 and established contact with the vessel, ascertaining the safety of the crew. Naval aircraft continues to monitor movement and INS Chennai is closing the vessel to render assistance," the statement added.

According to British maritime security firm Ambrey, the vessel was destined for Khalifa bin Salman port in Bahrain.

Last month, the Indian Navy has responded swiftly to the hijacking of Malta-flagged vessel MV Ruen in the Arabian Sea. The Navy had diverted its naval maritime patrol aircraft and a warship to assist the distressed vessel. However, no Indians are present on the MV Ruen, which has 18 crew on board.
In a relief to arrested Tamil Nadu minister V. Senthil Balaji, the Supreme Court on Friday dismissed the plea by a social activist seeking his removal from the state cabinet.

The SC agreed with the judgment of the Madras High Court and refused to direct DMK leader Balaji's removal.

The Bench of Justices Abhay S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan said that "no interference is called for under Article 136" in connection with the money laundering case, in which he is arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). He was arrested in June last year in the case linked to a cash-for-jobs scam when he was the Transport Minister during an earlier AIADMK regime.

The bench orally observed that a governor cannot dismiss a minister without the recommendation of the CM, reported LiveLaw.

The Special Leave petition was filed by M.L. Ravi. Earlier the petition, seeking his removal, was dismissed by the Madras High Court saying the decision is left with the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu to take a call on Balaji's continuation in the TN Cabinet as a minister without portfolio.

"The Chief Minister of the State of Tamil Nadu may be well advised to take a decision about the continuance of V.Senthil Balaji (who is in judicial custody) as a minister without portfolio, which serves no purpose and which does not augur well with the Principles of Constitutional ethos on goodness, good governance and purity in administration," the Madras High Court had said.

Meanwhile, a sessions court on Thursday extended Balaji's remand till January 11.
Market participants closely follow insider activity, as the transactions can reflect current sentiment surrounding the trajectory of the business. Of course, investors also typically get a confidence boost upon seeing an insider swoop in for a buy.

Insiders are defined as a company's officers, directors, or someone controlling at least 10% of a company's equity securities. To little surprise, many strict rules apply to insiders. And they typically have a holding horizon longer than most, a critical aspect to be aware of.

As of late, the insiders of several companies, including FedEx FDX, Dollar Tree DLTR, and Nucor NUE, have acquired shares. Lets take a closer look.

FedEx

FedEx provides an extensive portfolio of transportation, e-commerce, and business services through companies competing collectively, operating independently, and managed collaboratively.

A director recently made a splash, acquiring 200 shares at a total transaction value of roughly $50k.

Dollar Tree

Dollar Tree is an operator of discount variety stores, offering a wide range of quality everyday general merchandise in many categories.

A director recently made a massive purchase of roughly 740k shares at a total transaction value of nearly $100 million.

Nucor

Nucor is a leading producer of structural steel, steel bars, steel joists, steel decks, and cold-finished bars in the United States.

An insider of Nucor scooped up 1000 shares in late December, with the total transaction totaling approximately $175k.

Bottom Line

Its easy to understand why investors closely follow insider activity, as it can provide a snapshot of current sentiment surrounding a company's future.

An insider buy is undoubtedly a positive, whereas a sell could carry negative undertones in certain situations.

And for those seeking stocks insiders are diving into, all three above FedEx FDX, Dollar Tree DLTR, and Nucor NUE  fit the criteria nicely.

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Move over the Maldives, Modi has just chosen to throw his weightand 9.4 million followersbehind Lakshadweep.



It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is hoping to use pictures of 'paradise on earth' to change geography. White sandy beaches, clear blue waters and snorkeling in Lakshadweepseen in the photos that Modi postedare likely to change the fortunes of the tiny group of islands, and make it a sought-after tourism destination.



Modis visit to Lakshadweep was aimed at putting the islands on the tourism map. With Indians flocking to Maldives in droves, and the numbers to the desi version of these virgin white beaches only in thousands, the idea is to boost tourism numbers. The relationship between India and the Maldives may be tense over removing the military presence in the country; the government appears to be trying to divert Indian tourists to a closer destination and using economics to prove a point.



The Maldives ministry of tourism revealed that by June 2023 the country had welcomed 8,61,167 tourists, with Indian travellers amounting to a whopping 101,348.



At a time when the new President Mohamed Muizzu is due to travel to Beijingthe first Maldivian President to choose to visit China before Indianext week, Modis break for tranquility acquires a less than sunny spin for the Maldives. And using tourism to change the fortunes of the place is very much part of the Modi mantra. The push on Kashmir, especially post the G20 programme, is proving to be a gamechanger for the state. Together with the emphasis on wed in India, Modi has chosen to use nationalism to try to nudge Indians to take a more made in India holiday.



However, there is a little more than tourism at stake. The archipelago is also a very much strategic location. With over 96 percent Muslim population that Modi is wooingat a time when there is growing anti-Indian sentiment in Maldives together with a certain radicalizationit is also a message. There is also the aspect of the islands being essential to Indias Indo-Pacific strategy. It is close to the Nine Degree Channel; 12 ships cross this channel every minute. This is an advantage that India hasand Modi is counting on that message going through.
Citing massive improvement in Bangladesh's economic and human development indices during her 15-year rule, incumbent prime minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina has urged the pro-democratic and law-abiding parties not to fuel ideas that disrupt" the country's constitutional process.

Delivering an address on state television ahead of Sunday's general elections, Hasina said the Awami League, whenever it came to power, ensured the economic and social development of the people of the country.

"People's food, safety, medicare, housing, education, employment and massive infrastructure development is ensured," she said in her address on Thursday as she highlighted her party's goals to turn the county into "smart Bangladesh" by 2041.

My request to political parties and institutions that believe in democracy and the rule of law is not to indulge and fuel any idiosyncratic/peculiar ideas that disrupt the constitutional process in the country, the 76-year-old prime minister said, in a veiled jibe at the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) which is boycotting the voting on Sunday for the 12th National Parliamentary Elections.

Starting Saturday, the BNP, led by former prime minister Khalida Zia, has called for a 48-hour nationwide general strike.

It has demanded an interim non-party neutral government to hold the election, which was rejected by the Hasina government.

Over 1,500 candidates from 27 political parties are contesting in the election besides 436 independent candidates. A total of 119.6 million registered voters are eligible to vote at Sunday's polls in more than 42,000 polling stations, according to the country's Election Commission.

Hasina was one of the 18 leaders from various political parties, sans the BNP, to address the electorate on state television, state-run news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) said.

Referring to the first-ever Election Commission (EC) in Bangladesh that was formed by enacting a law, Hasina said, We expect a free, fair and neutral election. The election commission has been given financial independence, while administration and law enforcement agencies are vested under the EC.

The election commission is conducting the election fully independently. Our government is giving all kinds of support to the election commission for conducting fair and peaceful elections, she was quoted by BSS as saying.

Since winning the national election in 2008, the Awami League has been in power for three consecutive terms from 2009 to 2023.

As she highlighted her party's goals to turn the country into a Smart Bangladesh by 2041, Hasina said there is a huge gap between Bangladesh of 15 years ago and today's Bangladesh, as people's quality of life has improved and people today dream of a better life.

Asserting that her party wants to make this development sustainable, to improve quality of life and make Bangladesh a hunger-poverty-free developed Smart Sonar Bangla, Hasina said: Today, I have come to you to seek your vote for the boat.

Hasina pointed out that the economy of Bangladesh has excelled in 2023 with a multi-fold growth compared to 2009. In 2009, the GDP was only USD 102 billion while in 2023, the GDP will increase to more than USD 450 billion, she said.

Recounting the development over the last 15 years, the Awami League chief rattled number after number: the growth was 7.25 per cent, per capita income increased five times, budget size increased 12 times and the annual development programme (ADP) increased 13 times.

The size of the GDP also increased 12 times, foreign exchange reserves increased 36 times, export earnings increased five times, annual remittance increased six times, foreign investment increased five times and the wages of workers increased nine times.

She also mentioned poverty reduction rates (from 41.51 per cent to 18.7 per cent), drinking water coverage (up from 55 per cent to 98.8 per cent), sanitary latrines' coverage (up from 43.28 per cent to 97.32 per cent), decreased infant mortality (from 84 per thousand to 21), decreased maternal mortality (from 360 per lakh to 156) and that the average human lifespan in Bangladesh was 72.8 years.

The AL President also mentioned a dozen-odd issues from her party's manifesto for, what she described as the socio-economic development of the people.

Hasina also invoked her late father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as she said, Let's all make this Bangladesh a Smart Golden Bangla and fulfil the dream of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The Taiwan People's Party will play a crucial role in the coming days and months as Taiwan chooses its next President on January 13. After the democratic process is over, once again the concerns around Taiwan's national security will be centre-stage for the next government as it tries to balance Beijing and Washington.



Rong-I Arthur Hong, advisor of security and defence to Taiwan People's Party Chairman Ko Wen-je, exhorts New Delhi to play a larger role in the Indo-Pacific region and to strengthen stronger economic ties with Taiwan. "India is not the same as it was ten years ago. It is much wealthier and stronger and regaining international status and prestige. I strongly believe India can be more active in the Indo-Pacific region," he tells The Week.

Q: What are the key issues for the next government in Taiwan?

The first thing in national security is our relationships with Washington DC and Beijing. How should we try to strike a balance with Beijing between security and economy? And how do we balance between Beijing and Washington DC? These are the issues people have been trying to answer since the last elections. But we do not have good answers yet. For internal issues or domestic agenda, governance, integrity, transparency, anti-corruption and fake news seem to be ruling the top. And, of course, our economy is still the biggest concern.

How badly has Chinas economy suffered?

The global economy is not in good shape, so China is not the only country which is not doing well. But there are other countries whose economy has bounced back and is doing quite well. India is one of them. India is becoming one of the major manufacturing partners not only for the United States but also for other Western countries. So India is in very good shape in the transit economy.

Of course, Vietnam is another good example. For Taiwan's economy, we still have to focus on our energy security. There is a raging debate in Taiwan if we should go back to nuclear energy or stick to so-called green energy? The other big concern is changing demographics and declining economic growth. The generational gap and generational inequality on the Island is emerging as one of the biggest concerns.

What is your outlook towards India?

As we can see there are increasing investments from Taiwanese companies in India. And I think we should promote more joint ventures between India, Japan, the U.S. and Taiwan for the consideration of supply-chain resilience. India is not the same as ten years ago. It is much wealthier and stronger and regains international status and prestige. I believe India can be more active in the Indo-Pacific region in many dimensions. Its role in the Indian Ocean is essential and important for our regional security and prosperity

What were the reasons for a third party, Taiwan Peoples Party to emerge?

The TPP is a small party established in 2019 by its chairman Dr. Ko Wen-je, a former Mayor of Taipei. When I met him the first time, he stressed a lot on anti-corruption, integrity and transparency. In a democracy, we can say corruption is like cancer. It is not curable but it has to be manageable. So instead of focusing on wiping out corruption completely, will that be more logical to put human behaviour under control with measures and mechanisms? Ko is more pragmatic and logical and less ideological than traditional politicians. And I think for the younger population it is a good change, which is why he has got a lot of support from youngsters.

What is TPPs approach towards China?

The problem between Taipei and Beijing is not a simple one. And I will say most of the people in Taiwan do not believe or think that war is a mechanism to solve problems across the strait. TPP's approach to China is part of TPP's approach to Taiwan's future. From a pragmatic perspective, the questions we ask are whether independence or reunification is the end, the way, or the means.

Is there is a must for Taiwan to give an immediate answer to any ideological considerations? Or should we construct a mechanism to pave a pathway of progress for Taiwan and to build a better life for its people? Then, our young generations can enjoy stable security, strong and fair economy, and resolute faith in democracy to work for the best of Taiwan's future.

How do you analyse the threat from China to Taiwans democracy during incumbent President Tsai Ing-wens tenure?

I have to say President Tsai carefully and cleverly managed issues for Beijing and for cross-strait relations. She is cautious enough not to embarrass Beijing with unchecked language or uncontrolled anger. Even though she extended a warm welcome to former US speaker Nancy Pelosi to visit Taiwan, in the meantime, Beijing also understood President Tsai could not have shut the door on her for both domestic agenda and international courtesy.

We saw great power rivalries throughout the period of tensions till the end of 2021. The lessons are that the cost of changing this dynamic status quo across the Strait is too high for all stakeholders, and an approach of not putting your counterparts in an awkward situation is critical.

What do you think should be Taiwans national security strategy?

The most important step in national security is a stable economy, shared by Taiwanese people fairly, integrated into the changing global orders and with sustainable developments. The winner of the 2024 Presidential election has to demonstrate an administration of good governance, integrity and transparency in order to strengthen the Taiwanese people's faith in democracy. From the security perspective, re-aligning Taiwanese people's identities and consensus on a mechanism of searching for pathways for Taiwan's future is a must. How to re-construct Taiwan's credible deterrence and re-establish reliable communications with all stakeholders in the region is another must.
Ignoring the final warning issued by the US to stop attacks on ships in the Red Sea, the Iran-backed militant group Houthis launched a drone boat, for the first time since October 7, to strike cargo vessel Maersk Gibraltar on Thursday.

The Houthi rebels said the Maersk Gibraltar container ship was "targeted with a drone and the hit was direct." The militant group's spokesman Yahya Saree said the attack came after the ships crew "refused to respond to the calls of the Yemeni naval services" and that it was intended as retaliation for the "oppression of the Palestinian people."



The latest attack came one day after 12 countries including the US, UK, and Japan issued a joint statement cautioning the Houthis of unspecified "consequences" unless it halts its attacks.

According to Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of US Navy operations in the Middle East, it was the first time the Houthis had used an Unmanned Surface Vessel or USV since the Israel-Hamas war began. They have used USVs in the past against Saudi coalition forces that intervened in Yemens war. The USVs, a key part of the Houthi maritime arsenal, are suicide drone boats that explode upon impact.



However, the US Navy claimed that the attack failed to cause any damage or casualties. Cooper added that the Houthi exploding boat drove out about 50 miles (80 km) into the Red Sea and then detonated in dense shipping lanes. "It came within a couple of miles of ships operating in the area - merchant ships and U.S. Navy ships - and we all watched as it exploded," Cooper told reporters, adding the target of the attack was not clear.

Danish shipping giant Maersk confirmed no one was hurt in the incident involving its ship, which was sailing from Salalah in Oman to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. "The crew and vessel are reported safe," Maersk said in a statement, adding that the company was "still working to establish the facts of the incident."

Cooper added that despite the warning, there are "there are no signs that their irresponsible behaviour is abating", adding that there have now been 25 attacks by the Houthis against merchant vessels transiting the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.



On whether Operation Prosperity Guardian might target Houthi positions with strikes to stop them from attacking ships, Cooper said that the 22-nation coalition was purely defensive. "Anything that happens outside of the defensive aspect of this operation is a completely different operation," he said.



Though Houthis claim their attacks on commercial shipping target vessels with Israeli links or were sailing to Israel, the US claims many of the targeted vessels had no Israel connection. Cooper said the ships that have been attacked have direct connections to 55 countries. "So regardless of the vessel's company ownership or its destination, these Houthi attacks are for sure destabilising and contrary to international law and clearly ... must stop immediately," Cooper said.


Peers got suspicious when a priest failed to make it to a pre-arranged meeting in Ceskobudejovick -- a town in the Czech Republic's Southern Bohemia. They alerted the emergency service, who rushed to the priest's residence that was reportedly locked in.



The firefighters who arrived on the scene broke open as many as three doors to reach the priest, who was found unconscious in a pool of blood. Turns out, the priest was fighting for his life after having severed his genitals using a kitchen knife.

The unnamed priest, who was reportedly rushed to hospital, is suspected to have chopped off his own penis after suffering a tick bite. He was driven psychotic by the bite, doctors assume.

The doctors put the priest into an induced coma after his condition worsened, the DailyMail reported. He was put on ventilator support as he developed breathing difficulties.

Later, the vicar general of the Ceske Budejovice diocese reportedly told the press that the victim suffered tick-borne encephalitis, which caused the psychosis. The encephalitis had caused inflammation of his nervous system that led to the psychosis, he elaborated to the press.

An investigation by the Czech police have ruled out any foul play behind the incident. The priest reportedly hurt himself while alone at his residence, the cops maintain.

What are tick bytes and how do they cause brain disease?

According to the website of the Scottish NHS, Ticks are small, spider-like creatures which feed on the blood of birds and mammals, including humans. Tick bites arent usually painful and sometimes only cause a red lump to develop where you were bitten.

Encephalitis is a life-threatening condition that causes the brain to swell. Confusion, seizures, fits, behavioural changes, difficulty speaking, weakness, and loss of consciousness are among the symptoms caused by encephalitis. Ticks, mosquitoes, viral and fungal infections can cause encephalitis in human beings, medical websites.
Ahmedabad, Jan 5 (PTI) With a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 15 per cent from 2002-03 to 2022-23, which was higher than the national average during the period, Gujarat has maintained its position of being one of the fastest-growing states in the country, the state government said.

With such strong economic fundamentals, Gujarat has for long been recognised as the 'growth engine of India', it said.

"When we started the Vibrant Gujarat Summit (two decades ago when he was Gujarat CM), it was our intention that the state should become the growth engine of the country's progress. With only 6 per cent of India's land mass and 5 per cent of its population, Gujarat has achieved the distinction of being one of the most industrially developed states," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said recently.

The latest edition of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit (VGGS) is expected to accelerate the pace of development in the state and help further strengthen the fundamentals of the economy of the state and India.

The 10th edition of the VGGS will be held between January 10 and 12 in Gandhinagar.

At Rs 22.61 lakh crore, Gujarat contributes around 8 per cent of India's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), government data said.

Gujarat-based economist Hemant Shah said, "Gujarat's GDP growth rate was higher than the GDP growth rate of India. Although the GDP growth rate of other states went up over the years, our economic growth rate remained higher than other states. This was one of the reasons why business houses look towards Gujarat for investment."

In terms of the sectoral contribution within Gujarat, the manufacturing sector contributes around 36.7 per cent in Gujarat's GSDP, as per the official data of financial year 2021-22.

Executive Committee member of Gujarat Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI), Sachin K Patel, explained how business-friendly policies of the Gujarat government gave a boost to the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector.

"MSME is the backbone of our country and it gives the maximum amount of employment in the country and in Gujarat. Thanks to the business-friendly policies of the state government, more and more MSME units are being set up in the state," he said.

This economic growth has had a transformative effect on employment and living standards of workers, a government release said.

According to the annual report of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), in the year 2020-21, Gujarat had a Labour Force Participation Rate of 44.3 per cent, Worker Population Ratio (WPR) of 43.3 per cent (for all age groups) and unemployment rate of 2.2 per cent, which was the lowest among the major industrialised states.

"I have been associated with the ceramic line for a very long time. My family members were also associated with it in the past. A lot of people like me are getting employment in this sector. Not just Gujarat, people from outside the state are also getting employment opportunities here," said Jagdish Chaudhary, a worker in the ceramic factory.

The growing economy has also helped the state make substantial strides in the social sector, especially education and health.

Primary health centres (PHCs) and community health centres (CHCs) in Gujarat registered a growth of 41 per cent and 37 per cent, respectively, from 2001-02 to 2021-22.

A total of 319 CHCs, 1463 PHCs and 6575 sub-centres were functioning in the state at the end of November 2022, the government release said.

There are over 30 medical colleges functioning in Gujarat today as compared to only nine medical colleges in 2001.

"The initiative of Cataract-mukt Abhiyan (cataract-free mission) was initiated by our CM Bhupendra Patel. We conducted 8 lakh cataract operations. We identified a total of 19,000 patients who had cataract in both their eyes, we did cataract surgeries which came out to be successful. If we talk about cataract, it is getting well treated in Gujarat," Dr Nilam Patel, additional director of the health department, said.

The state has made giant strides in the field of education during the two decades. The dropout rate in elementary school has decreased substantially from 22.30 per cent in 1999-00 to 1.32 per cent in 2020-21. Similarly, the dropout rate between standard I and VIII has decreased from 41.48 per cent in 1999-00 to just 3.07 per cent in 2020-21.

India's first Vidya Samiksha Kendra (VSK) was set up in 2019. The VSK was aimed at leveraging data and technology to bring a big leap in learning outcomes. PM Modi visited the facility in Gandhinagar in April 2022 and asked other states to study and replicate Gujarat's VSK model to holistically develop education.

VSK has been deemed a Global Best Practice by the World Bank.
Mumbai announces the 67th batch of the Post Graduate Diploma in Foreign Trade



Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], January 5: World Trade Institute, the education wing of MVIRDC World Trade Center Mumbai, is to conduct its 67th batch of the six-month Post Graduate Diploma in Foreign Trade (PGDFT) both in the online and offline modes.



The online batch will commence on January 8, 2024, and the offline batch on January 13, 2024. The virtually held batch will be held thrice weekly (Monday-Wednesday-Friday) from 6-8 pm while the offline batch will be held every Saturday at WTC Mumbai between 1 pm-7.45 pm.



The course curriculum of PGDFT is spread over 150 hours enabling participants to prepare and update in the arena of international trade and gear up to an ever-changing world economic scenario.



The course assumes significance at a time when Indian exporters are optimistic about new export markets to offset the economic slowdown in the USA and EU, which are the traditional destinations of our exports.



India is also emerging as an attractive hub for the global supply chain, with multinational companies in electronics, consumer goods, automotive and other industries looking to India as the centre for manufacturing and export.



Moreover, the policy and procedures imbibed in the curriculum would enlighten and empower the participants to be a key stakeholder in the foreign trade segment in the years to come.



The curriculum with five modules will be taught through case studies and real-time perspectives by visiting faculty having years of hands-on experience having academics and industry background. The course will impart in-depth knowledge on overseas markets, marketing methods, documentation, finance, insurance, shipping, and logistics as well as importing goods from other countries, foreign exchange and regulations pertaining to exports and imports.



Registered participants will undergo Internal Continuous Assessment besides examinations to gauge the application aspects of the modules studied.



Students and professionals from varied industry verticals can enrol for the course, which includes exporters, importers, MSMEs, entrepreneurs, professionals, international marketing executives, domestic and international government officials, manufacturers, and students.



Interested candidates can enrol https://forms.office.com/r/mTW74twpmp



For more details, contact: Tripti Chakravorty World Trade Institute. 31st floor, World Trade Center Mumbai, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai  400005. Cell  8655710175



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Surat (Gujarat) [India], January 5: KP Group, a leading player in the renewable energy sector, has signed two Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government of Gujarat to invest Rs. 17,690 crores in the state. The investment is earmarked for different renewable energy projects including setting up a green hydrogen plant.



The MoUs were signed in the presence of Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel and senior ministers in Gandhinagar on Wednesday ahead of the 10th edition of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, slated to take place from January 10 to 12.



As per the first MoU, KP Group proposed to invest Rs. 16,690 crores for 2,675 MW wind, solar and hybrid power projects at multiple locations in the state. These projects are expected to create 13,000+ direct and indirect jobs. Additionally, KP Group also signed a second MoU, pledging investment of Rs. 1,000 crores for developing the groups first green hydrogen plant. The plant is expected to become operational next year.



Commenting on the development, Dr Faruk G Patel, Chairman and Managing Director of KP Group, said, It is our privilege to sign MoUs for 2.6+ GW of solar, wind and hybrid power projects in Gujarat with the government of Gujarat. These MoUs mark a significant stride towards powering Indias green energy future by decarbonising the economy and reducing the countrys dependence on fossil fuel imports. These projects are scheduled to initiate operations from 2024 to 2026, solidifying KP Group's prominent role as a frontrunner in the Indian renewable energy sector. Additionally, these ventures are poised to emerge as significant economic catalysts in the state, fostering the creation of thousands of new jobs.



As part of the MoUs, KP Group company, KPI Green Energy, will establish a 250 MW solar park in Bharuch with an investment of Rs. 1,000 crores and a 200 MW solar park in Kutch with an investment of Rs. 800 crores.



The group will invest Rs. 1,875 crores for a 250 MW wind park in Surendranagar and Bhavnagar and a further Rs. 5,500 crores for a 500 MW hybrid park in Bharuch, Bhavnagar and Kutch, 475 MW wind park in Kutch and Devbhumi Dwarka with an investment of Rs. 3,565 crores. KP Group will also allocate Rs. 1,700 crores for a 1,000 MW hybrid solar park in Kutch and a world-class fabrication plant with an investment of Rs. 2,250 crores in Bharuch.



The new agreements mark a renewed commitment to sustainable development and build on KP Groups continued success from the earlier Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit editions. Notably, KP group has entered into MOUs and successfully completed various projects including Solar Parks in Bharuch district.



The recently signed MoUs closely follow the financial strides of KPI Green Energy, (market capitalization of Rs. 5,998+ crores as of January 1, 2024) which recently raised Rs. 300 crores through a Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP), issuing shares to Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs). With an impressive order book exceeding 750 MW, KPI Green Energy targets the ambitious goal of reaching 1 gigawatt by 2025. In parallel, KP Group is ambitiously marching towards achieving 10 gigawatts by 2030. Notably, KP Group's second listed entity, KP Energy, holds a market cap of Rs. 1,724 crores as of January 4, 2024.



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NEW DELHI, Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ayouthveda has roped in Genelia Deshmukh as its first-ever Indian brand ambassador in the new campaign Ayouthveda #ExpertKiSunoExperimentMatKaro.



The campaign showcases Genelia discussing her facewash issues with Dr. Sanchit Sharma (Expert Scientist) and his modern take on the Ayouthveda Sparkling Gold Face Wash



Commenting on the association, Dr. Sanchit Sharma  PhD Phytochemistry (Founder & Director), AIMIL Ayouthveda India Ltd, said, "Ayouthveda is synonymous with Ayurveda. Our new campaign Ayouthveda #ExpertKiSunoExperimentMatKaro is embracing the essentials and excitement of visualizing Ayurveda in an iconic style with Ms. Genelia Deshmukh for the first time ever. We are thrilled to have Ms. Genelia as our first Indian brand ambassador as her work and values align with our brand's philosophy. With her we are able to show our brand evolving with modern times. We are confident that everyone will love this campaign and enjoy our New Sparkling Gold Facewash & our remaining skin care range."



Genelia Deshmukh said: "I am delighted to be associated with a brand as iconic as AIMIL Ayouthveda which has got a legacy of 40 Years into manufacturing and marketing Ayurvedic Pharmaceutical products. I have always believed in the importance of Modern Ayurveda as a key step in our commitment to a healthy skincare and overall wellbeing and the Ayouthveda #ExpertKiSunoExperimentMatKaro campaign celebrates just that."



Ayouthveda launched in 2020 and with its Omni Channel presence in General Trade, Modern Trade, leading E-Commerce sites and its Exclusive Business Outlets is maintaining a steady growth of 20-25% YOY in the last three years in the domestic market. Ayouthveda has also diversified its operations in 38 countries and is also accepted in global markets including Europe with its safe & effective product range with a Trust of 40 Years of AIMIL Pharmaceuticals India Ltd.



The integrated campaign will be promoted across various platforms, including Television, Digital, Out-of-Home Media, Influencer engagement, Offline display, OTT platforms, and much more. Genelia will also be part of Ayouthveda Skincare product packaging.



Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2311720/Genelia_AYOUTHVEDA.jpg



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New Delhi, Jan 5 (PTI) Jindal Stainless on Friday said it has sought continuation of zero customs duty on stainless steel scrap, steel scrap and pure nickel.

"As we approach the Union Budget for 2024-25, we request continued support from the Ministry of Steel. In particular, we propose a long-term exemption of basic customs duty on ferro nickel and ferro molybdenum to ensure the industry's access to this important raw material at competitive rates.

Additionally, we advocate for the continuation of zero customs duty on stainless steel scrap and steel scrap, besides pure nickel," Jindal Stainless Managing Director Abhyuday Jindal said in a statement.

The present customs duty on ferro nickel is 2.5 per cent while in the case of ferro molybdenum it is 5 per cent.

According to the statement, Jindal Stainless is confident that these proposals will help the stainless steel industry thrive.

"We also request continuing export duty of 30 per cent on exports of chrome ore from the country. The issue of dumping and substandard imports from China, especially 200 series grades, is a well-established challenge. To address this issue, we propose the establishment of fixed tariff values for stainless steel and also amendment of the trade remedial laws to delete the 'lesser duty rule' and impose duty based on subsidy margin/dumping margin," Jindal added.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will be presenting the interim budget on February 1.
Dubai, UAE, --News Direct-- 500NewsWire

Dubai, UAE, Jan. 5, 2024 - (500NewsWire) -- Invest Group Global, a leading platform in Fintech, Business Consultants, Recruitment Agency, Digital Marketing and Regulated Investment Firms, has announced an achievement under the visionary leadership of Founder, Angel Investor, and CEO Gennaro Lanza, boasting a yearly revenue that has soared to an impressive Global Holdings's $15 million for 2023.

With the latest developments, Invest Group Global celebrates Gennaro Lanza's latest entrepreneurial triumph with Global Holdings's $15 million in revenue. This substantial financial success is a testament to Gennaro Lanza's exceptional leadership, strategic acumen, and unwavering commitment to steering Invest Group Global toward sustainable growth and excellence, as well as a constant diversification of products and services. As a dynamic entrepreneur, Gennaro significantly contributed to the global business landscape.

Invest Group Global's journey under Gennaro's guidance has been marked by continuous innovation and a relentless pursuit of excellence. The $15 million revenue milestone reflects the company's ability to navigate the dynamic and competitive world of business successfully. The remarkable revenue achievement is a result of Gennaro's strategic initiatives and his ability to identify and capitalize on emerging opportunities in the market.

In addition, Invest Group Global's success in reaching the $15 million revenue mark is a clear indication of the company's resilience and adaptability in an ever-evolving industry. The company's $15 million revenue milestone is a financial accomplishment as well as a reflection of the company's impact on the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem. Additionally, Gennaro Lanza's commitment to excellence and his ability to foster a culture of innovation has positioned Invest Group Global as a leading platform in the Fintech industry.

Story continues

Furthermore, Invest Group Global's dedication to pushing boundaries and setting new standards for the industry under Gennaro Lanza's leadership. The $15 million revenue achievement catalyzes further innovation, expansion, and impactful contributions to the global business landscape.

About the Company - Invest Group Global:

With over 10+ years of Finance experience, Premier holding company Invest Group Global has emerged at the forefront of the financial licensed business. The company boasts a team of over 130 professional employees worldwide and offers top-tier financial solutions with a global office presence spanning Dubai, Cyprus, Seychelles, Nigeria, Canada, Malta, and South Africa and still developing an extensive network, branches as well as partners all over the world.

About the Subsidiary - DB Investing:

Invest Group Global is the holding company owning the regulated forex Broker DB Investing, owning a Seychelles license since 2020. In 2023, the company became one of the leading online brokers offering trading services in forex, CFDs, stocks, commodities, and cryptocurrencies, has been lately recognized as The Most Innovative Broker for the MENA region at the Smart Vision Investment Expo 2023 in Cairo, Egypt, with the previous 2023 Awards Fastest Growing Broker, TOP 100 Brokers, Fastest Payout Broker.

Gennaro Lanza, the companys Founder, remarked: We are committed to providing our clients with the best possible trading experience, and we are constantly striving to develop new and innovative solutions that will help them achieve their financial goals. Our trajectory since our establishment in 2018 has been characterized by steady and sustainable growth, fuelled by our unwavering passion for trading.

Presently, our robust footprint spans key locations in Seychelles, Cyprus, Dubai, Nigeria, and Malta, with plans underway to inaugurate additional offices in 2024 in Latam, India and Asia regions. We aim to expand the services for our clients and partners but also increase the number of Investment firm licenses in our portfolio, offering the best-regulated brokerage and tailor-made service as well as the best customer service to our clients with a target to become one of the top 10 Investment Firms by 2025.

This prestigious award underscores DB Investings commitment to providing cutting-edge trading solutions and platforms that empower traders to navigate the complexities of the financial markets.

About Gennaro Lanza:

Gennaro Lanza stands as a distinguished and award-winning Italian entrepreneur, leaving an indelible mark on the global business landscape. As the Founder, Angel Investor, and CEO of enterprises spanning Fintech, Business Consultants, Recruitment Agencies, Digital Marketing and Regulated Investment Firms, Gennaro has demonstrated remarkable vision and achieved outstanding success in his ventures in the last 10 years.

His entrepreneurial journey has been adorned with accolades, including the prestigious 2023 Awards Fastest Growing Broker, TOP 100 Brokers of 2023, Fastest Payout Broker, and The Most Innovative Broker. These honours are a testament to Gennaro's innovative spirit, strategic insight, and ability to navigate the dynamic and competitive world of business. At the helm of worldwide enterprises, Gennaro has steered companies towards remarkable heights, boasting an impressive Global Holding yearly revenue exceeding $15 million. His leadership has been instrumental in cultivating a culture of excellence, innovation, and sustainable growth within his organisations. Beyond his corporate triumphs, Gennaro Lanza is committed to nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs. He has established a mentorship and startup advisory platform, providing invaluable guidance and support to aspiring young minds looking to carve their path in the business realm. This commitment to fostering talent underscores Gennaro's dedication to not only achieving personal success but also contributing to the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem. His journey is marked by financial success and a commitment to innovation, mentorship, and the continual pursuit of excellence in the ever-evolving world of business.

Website link: www.investgroupglobal.com

Media details

Company Name: Invest Group Global Limited

Contact person: Gennaro Lanza

Contact email: media@investgroupglobal.com

Country: UAE

City: Dubai

Contact Details

Gennaro Lanza

media@investgroupglobal.com

View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/invest-group-global-celebrates-gennaro-lanzas-latest-entrepreneurial-triumph-with-15-million-revenue-561439827
New Delhi, Jan 5 (PTI) SJVN Green Energy Ltd has signed a pact with Uttarakhand Power Corporation Ltd (UPCL) to supply 200 MW solar power from a 1,000 MW Bikaner project in Rajasthan.

State-owned SJVN, through its wholly-owned subsidiary SJVN Green Energy Ltd (SGEL) has signed a Power Usage Agreement (PUA) with UPCL.

The solar project is being developed by SJVN through SGEL in Rajasthan under CPSU (Central Public Sector Undertaking) scheme of IREDA (Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency), a statement said on Friday.

The development cost of the project, which is under construction, is Rs 5,491 crore. It is being developed under the domestic content requirement mode and is scheduled to be commissioned by April 2024.

The power generated from the project will be used by government entities, either directly or through discoms. President Droupadi Murmu laid the foundation stone for the Bikaner solar power project in January 2023.

The project is expected to generate 2,455 million units in the first year and about 56,838 million units cumulatively over a period of 25 years, while reducing carbon emissions by 27,85,077 tonnes.
New Delhi, Jan 5 (PTI) The road transport and highways ministry on Friday said it has suggested that truck drivers could be allowed to use a technology system wherein they can inform authorities about an accident so that such an incident will not be considered as a hit-and-run case under the new law.

"The matter comes under the Ministry of Home Affairs and it will take the final decision," road transport and highways secretary Anurag Jain said.

His comments come days after some truckers went on a strike to protest against stringent provisions for hit-and-run cases under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which is yet to come into force. Earlier this week, the protesting truckers resumed work after talks with the government.

According to Jain, truck drivers feel that if they stop after hitting a person to help the victim, they will be harmed by the public.

"So we can use technology innovatively to find out the solution... We have suggested that the driver use a technology system to inform authorities, and then it would not be treated as a hit-and-run case.

"After that, the driver can subsequently inform police within 25-50 km area from the accident site," he added.

Against the backdrop of the truckers' protest, representatives of All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) held a meeting with senior home ministry officials.

On January 2, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said the decision to invoke the new hit-and-run cases-related penal provision, which has sparked protests by truckers, will be taken only after consultation with the AIMTC representatives.

Some truck, bus and tanker operators had gone on a three-day strike in several states to protest against the "stringent punishments" provisions.

Under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, set to replace the Indian Penal Code, drivers who run away without informing authorities after being involved in serious road accidents due to negligent driving face up to 10 years in prison or a fine of Rs 7 lakh.

The punishment in such cases was two years in the British-era Indian Penal Code (IPC).
New Delhi, Jan 5 (PTI) India will flag issues such as proposed social security agreement, visas, and promoting agri trade in the meeting of India-US Trade Policy Forum (TPF) during January 13-14, a top government official said.

US Trade Representative Katherine Tai will be here for a meeting with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.

It will be the 14th ministerial-level meeting of the India-US TPF. India is seeking social security of totalisation agreement with the US.

"There are issues pertaining to table grapes. The US also has certain issues. Social security agreement and mobility are our main focus areas," the official said.

Under the agreement, an expatriate in either country need not contribute to the social security schemes of the host country. It will benefit a number of Indians, particularly from the IT sector, who are working in America and paying social security but are unable to get any benefit out of it.

The last meeting was held in Washington in January 2023. India in that meeting highlighted the delay in issuance of business visas to people from India.

Both countries in the last TPF meet had noted that the movement of professionals and skilled workers and business travellers between the countries contributes to enhancing bilateral economic and technological partnership, the official added.

TPF is a platform to resolve trade and investment issues between the two countries. It has five focus groups -- agriculture, investment, innovation and creativity (intellectual property rights), services and tariff and non-tariff barriers.

The US is the largest trading partner of India. America accounts for about 20 per cent of India's total exports in goods and is a key market for services sectors like IT.

The bilateral trade between the countries has increased to USD 129.4 billion in 2022-23 from USD 120 billion in 2021-22. India received USD 6 billion in foreign direct investment from the US in 2022-23.
New Delhi, Jan 5 (PTI) The escalation of troubles in the Red Sea has started impacting India's exports as shippers have to take longer routes to reach destinations in the US and Europe, an official has said.

The situation around the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial shipping route connecting the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean, has escalated due to recent attacks by Yemen-based Houthi militants.

Due to these attacks, the shippers are taking consignments through the Cape of Good Hope, resulting in delays of almost 14 days and also higher freight and insurance costs.

The issues being faced by the concerned stakeholders were discussed at a high-level meeting in the commerce ministry on January 4.

Stakeholders, including traders, shippers, container firms and freight forwarders were there at the meeting.

"They told us that freight cost has increased. They have to take a long route now and due to that, the turnaround time has increased. It has increased by 14 days," the official said.

Exports to Europe, the east coast of the US and Latin America are facing problems.

Due to attacks, shipping lines have reduced their movement through the Red Sea and taking the longer route via the Cape of Good Hope, encircling the African continent.

"Insurance costs have also increased because they are not sure what (will) happen to the ships. Some consignments have passed through the long route. Some ships are also being escorted, provided by the government," the official added.

The trade route of Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, the Suez Canal and the Red Sea is shorter and faster than the Cape of Good Hope route, making it the preferred option for most shipping companies.

The route starts from major Indian ports like Mumbai, JNPT, or Chennai, heads westward through the Arabian Sea, enters the Red Sea, and navigates through the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean Sea.

From there, ships can reach various European ports depending on their destination.

The Cape of Good Hope route is longer and slower than the Suez Canal route, but it avoids the potential for delays or disruptions at the Suez Canal.

It is typically used for bulk cargo shipments where time is less critical or when political instability in the Middle East raises concerns about using the Suez Canal.

The route starts from the same Indian ports, heads southward across the Indian Ocean, rounds the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa, and then sails northward along the west coast of Africa before entering the Mediterranean Sea and reaching European ports.
New York, Jan 5 (PTI) A 61-year-old Indian-origin medical biller has been arrested for stealing more than USD 1 million from doctors who provided medical care to injured workers in New York, according to the Attorney General's Office here.

Amrish Patel and his two companies -- Medlink Services and Medlink Partners -- were charged on Wednesday with 27 felony counts for the thefts they allegedly committed from January 2012 through January 2019, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced.

Patel and the companies were charged with one count of insurance fraud in the first degree, one count of grand larceny in the first degree, one count of grand larceny in the second degree, one count of grand larceny in the third degree, one count of scheme to defraud in the first degree, 11 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree and 11 counts of workers compensation fraud.

He was released with electronic monitoring and a USD 100,000 bond, according to the New York Attorney General's Office.

Patel, who provided billing services to a Brooklyn-based orthopaedic surgery practice, submitted falsified claim forms to the New York State Insurance Fund (NYSIF) to steal at least USD 1.1 million in workers compensation reimbursements for himself. Doctors and health care professionals provide crucial care to our communities, and they rely on accurate and ethical billing to sustain these services and ensure our wellbeing, said Attorney General James.

When money is illegally diverted away from doctors and providers, all New Yorkers suffer as a result. Fraud of any kind will never go unchecked in our state, and my office will continue to use every measure to hold accountable those who seek to cheat New Yorkers for personal gain. I thank our partners for their invaluable support and collaboration on this case, James.

Fraud in any part of the workers compensation system is detrimental to trust and hurts the entire system, including medical providers, carriers, businesses, and injured workers, said New York State Insurance Fund Executive Director and CEO Gaurav Vasisht.

I am thankful for the collaboration of the Attorney General and Inspector Generals offices on this investigation, Vasisht.

Workers compensation fraud is not a victimless crime, said New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang.

The defendant compromised the integrity of this crucial safety net when he took advantage of his trusted position to ensure accurate billing for medical providers and health insurers. I am grateful to the Office of the Attorney General and the New York State Insurance Fund for their partnership in rooting out this fraud.

Starting in 2011, Patel and his companies handled billing services for a Brooklyn-based orthopaedic surgery practice and were responsible for submitting billing for surgeries related to work-related injuries under the New York State Workers Compensation Law.

Under the law, authorised providers are reimbursed for their treatment of injured workers by the insurance carrier for the employer.

In total, Patel allegedly stole at least USD 1.1 million in payments originally intended for three doctors for services provided between January 1, 2012 and January 4, 2019.

Patel was arraigned on January 3 in Albany City Court. He was later released with electronic monitoring and a USD 100,000 bond.
Colombo, Jan 5 (PTI) The Sri Lankan government on Friday repatriated 21 Indian fishermen to Chennai, days after they were arrested by the island nation's Navy for illegally fishing in the country's waters.

The Navy said in 2023 they had arrested 240 Indian fishermen along with 35 trawlers for poaching in Sri Lankan waters.

"21 #Indian fishermen have been repatriated from #SriLanka to #Chennai a short while ago," the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka posted on X.

The fishermen issue is a contentious one in the ties between India and Sri Lanka, with Lankan Navy personnel even firing at Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait and seizing their boats in several alleged incidents of illegally entering Sri Lankan territorial waters.

The Palk Strait, which is a narrow strip of water separating Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka, is a rich fishing ground for fishermen from both countries.

There have been periodic instances of Indian fishermen being arrested by Sri Lankan authorities for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line and fishing in Sri Lankan waters.

On December 18, at least 14 Indian fishermen were arrested with their trawler seized off the coast of Karainagar in the northern Jaffna peninsula.
Seoul, Jan 5 (AP) North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered authorities to increase production of mobile launch vehicles for missiles because the country faces a looming military showdown with its enemies, state media reported Friday, as it pushes to make its launches harder to detect.

The report on Kim's order came hours after the White House said US intelligence has determined that North Korea has supplied ballistic missile launchers to Russia for its war in Ukraine. The US and its allies have previously accused North Korea of sending artillery and ammunition to Russia in return for Russian technologies to enhance its own military programmes.

The official Korean Central News Agency said Kim visited a factory that produces transport erector launchers, or TELs, without saying when he went or where the factory is.

TELs are mobile launch vehicles which give North Korea the ability to move missiles around its territory, making it more difficult for its adversaries to detect launches in advance. Some South Korean experts have estimated that North Korea has about 100-200 such vehicles.

Kim said the factory's role is very important in bolstering North Korea's national defense given the prevailing grave situation that requires the country to be more firmly prepared for a military showdown with the enemy, KCNA reported.

He took an important measure for expanding the production capacity of the factory, it said.

In a key ruling party meeting last week, Kim vowed to expand the country's nuclear arsenal, launch three additional military spy satellites and take other steps to build up the military this year to acquire overwhelming war readiness to cope with what he called U.S.-led confrontation. Kim cited the expansion of U.S.-South Korean military drills that sometimes involve U.S. long-range bombers and a nuclear-armed submarine.

Experts say Kim is likely to increase weapons tests ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November because of a belief that a boosted military capability would increase his chances of wresting U.S. concessions if former President Donald Trump is reelected.

Kim's factory visit may also be related to arms supplies for Russia. Last year, Kim toured weapons factories and pledged to speed up efforts to advance his military when speculation about North Korea-Russia weapons transfers was widespread.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Thursday that recently declassified intelligence showed that North Korea has provided Russia with ballistic missile launchers and several ballistic missiles. He said Russian forces fired at least one of those missiles into Ukraine on Dec. 30 and it landed in an open field in the Zaporizhzhia region.

In November, South Korea's military said North Korea is suspected of sending short-range ballistic missiles, anti-tank missiles and portable anti-aircraft missiles to Russia, in addition to rifles, rocket launchers, mortars and shells.

Julianne Smith, the US permanent representative to NATO, said last month that US intelligence indicates that North Korea has provided Russia with more than 1,000 containers of military equipment and munitions. Smith said North Korea is suspected of seeking Russian technologies related to fighter aircraft, surface-to-air missiles, armoured vehicles and ballistic missile production. (AP)



NSA

NSA
Bandung (Indonesia) Jan 5 (AP) Two trains collided on Indonesia's main island of Java on Friday, causing carriages to buckle and overturn and killing at least four people, officials said.

The accident happened about 500 meters (yards) from Cicalengka train station in West Java province, said Ayep Hanapi, a spokesperson for PT Kereta Api Indonesia, the national railways.

He said the Turangga express train carrying 287 passengers was traveling from Surabaya, the capital of East Java province, when it plowed into a Bandung Raya commuter train with 191 passengers heading to Padalarang from Cicalengka station at about 6:30 a.m.

All passengers of the two crashed trains have been evacuated safely, Hanapi said, adding that 28 people were injured. He said 22 were being treated at a hospital, mostly with head injuries.

West Java Police spokesperson Ibrahim Tompo said at least four train crew members were killed  the driver and his assistant on the commuter train and a steward and a security guard on the express train.

Television video showed several carriages overturned or badly mangled. One carriage plunged into a nearby rice field. People screamed as panicked passengers tried to get out of the train. Some walked through the fields carrying suitcases and other items as ambulances evacuated the injured.

Transportation ministry spokesperson Adita Irawati apologized for the accident and for the disruption of railway services across Java island.

She said the cause of the accident was being investigated and that rescuers had evacuated all passengers and were working to remove the trains to restore service.

Train accidents are common on Indonesia's aging railroad network, especially at crossings.

In October 2013, a passenger train slammed into a minibus that was carrying families of hajj pilgrims at an unguarded crossing in West Java's Indramayu district, killing 13 people. A train from the capital, Jakarta, in 2010 plowed into the rear of a train that was sitting at a station in Central Java province, killing 36 people.

The government has spent billions of dollars on improving infrastructure, including roads, railways, airports and power plants, in the world's largest archipelago nation, home to more than 270 million people.

A $7.3 billion high-speed railway, Southeast Asia's first, has been operating commercially since October. The 142-kilometer (88-mile) railway, a key project under China's Belt and Road infrastructure initiative, has drastically reduced travel time between Jakarta and Bandung from three hours to about 40 minutes. (AP) AMS
Colombo, Jan 5 (PTI) Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday backed the India-mooted 13th Amendment as a solution to address the minority Tamil community's long-pending demand for political autonomy.

India has been pressing Sri Lanka to implement the 13th Amendment which was brought in after the Indo-Sri Lankan agreement of 1987. The 13A provides for the devolution of power to the Tamil community.

Addressing a group of professionals in Jaffna, the capital of the Tamil-dominated Northern Province, Wickremesinghe said the devolution of power shouldnt merely be a political concept but an economic reality.

The 13A became a part of Sri Lankas constitution in 1987 through the direct intervention of the then-Indian government led by prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.

It created nine provincial councils for nine provinces with a temporary merger of the North and East which the Tamil minority claims is their traditional homeland.

If we examine the provisions of the 13 Amendment, there is ample authority to establish a robust local economy. We pledge not to intervene in those affairs. I am encouraging you to take the initiative," Wickremesinghe said.

Presently, the Western Province is the sole region capable of substantial independent spending, while others are financially dependent on it, he said. "This situation warrants reconsideration. By utilising the powers within the 13th Amendment, each province can chart its course to development. Its time to put these powers into action, he said.

Wickremesinghe's willingness to grant full powers other than police to provinces was shot down by the powerful Buddhist clergy who claimed the move could endanger the unitary state of Sri Lanka.

An all-political party meeting called by Wickremesinghe last year to reach a consensus on implementing the 13A ended up in a stalemate.

Take Japan, for instance, it is not a federal state yet various departments and regions are well developed...Look at the United Kingdom - Scotland and Wales have their own developed economies. Why cant we emulate such functioning regional economies, the president asked.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) which fought for a Tamil homeland for nearly 30 years had rejected the 13A.

They fought the Indian Army that was deployed as part of the Indo-Lanka Accord.

In 2013, the Tamils for the first time voted for their own chief minister for the North. The previous provincial elections were severely hampered by the LTTEs armed campaign.

The current Tamil political parties stay sceptical of the political will in the majority Sinhala south to fully implement the 13A.

The Tamils put forward their demand for autonomy since gaining independence from Britain in 1948 which from the mid-70s turned into a bloody armed conflict.

Over the years, the Sri Lankan government has been aggressive against Tamilian groups following its war with LTTE which collapsed in 2009 after the Sri Lankan Army killed its supreme leader Velupillai Prabhakaran.
Islamabad, Jan 5 (PTI) Pakistan's Senate on Friday approved a resolution seeking a delay in the general election, citing cold weather and security concerns, increasing the political uncertainty ahead of the planned polls on February 8.

The resolution, tabled by independent Senator Dilawar Khan, received overwhelming support in the upper house of Pakistan's Parliament.

However, Information Minister Murtaza Solangi and three-time Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party opposed the move.

Senator Khan said that most areas of the country were currently experiencing harsh cold weather, so participation in elections in those areas was unmanageable.

Raising concerns about the security situation, he said the law and order situation was not good and added that politicians were being targeted, including an attack on Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) chief Fazlur Rehman.

"Even security forces are being attacked in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (provinces)," he added.

The resolution was passed with only 14 lawmakers in attendance, according to the Dawn newspaper, despite clear orders by the Supreme Court to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to stick to its announcement to hold the elections on February 8.

The move by the Senate is expected to increase political and economic instability in the country.

The Pakistan Stock Exchange reacted negatively to the resolution, and the share market immediately fell by more than 800 points.
Key Insights

The projected fair value for Vereinigte Filzfabriken is 504 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

Current share price of 600 suggests Vereinigte Filzfabriken is potentially trading close to its fair value

Peers of Vereinigte Filzfabriken are currently trading on average at a 24% discount

How far off is Vereinigte Filzfabriken AG (BST:VFF) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. We will take advantage of the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model for this purpose. Believe it or not, it's not too difficult to follow, as you'll see from our example!

Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model.

View our latest analysis for Vereinigte Filzfabriken

The Calculation

We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Seeing as no analyst estimates of free cash flow are available to us, we have extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the company's last reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate:

Story continues

10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (, Millions) 574.8k 597.7k 615.2k 628.7k 639.2k 647.5k 654.3k 660.0k 665.0k 669.4k Growth Rate Estimate Source Est @ 5.49% Est @ 3.98% Est @ 2.93% Est @ 2.19% Est @ 1.67% Est @ 1.31% Est @ 1.05% Est @ 0.87% Est @ 0.75% Est @ 0.66% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 4.5% 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.4

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = 5.0m

After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (0.5%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 4.5%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = 669k (1 + 0.5%)  (4.5% 0.5%) = 17m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= 17m ( 1 + 4.5%)10= 11m

The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is 16m. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of 600, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind.

BST:VFF Discounted Cash Flow January 5th 2024

Important Assumptions

Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Vereinigte Filzfabriken as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 4.5%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.800. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

Next Steps:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. For Vereinigte Filzfabriken, there are three further elements you should further examine:

Risks: Be aware that Vereinigte Filzfabriken is showing 3 warning signs in our investment analysis , you should know about... Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! Other Environmentally-Friendly Companies: Concerned about the environment and think consumers will buy eco-friendly products more and more? Browse through our interactive list of companies that are thinking about a greener future to discover some stocks you may not have thought of!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every German stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Kyiv, Jan 5 (AP) Russian air defences downed dozens of Ukrainian drones in occupied Crimea and southern Russia on Friday, officials said, as Kyiv pressed its strategy of targeting the Moscow-annexed peninsula and taking the 22-month war well beyond Ukraine's borders.

Air raid sirens wailed in Sevastopol, the largest city in Crimea, and traffic was suspended for a second straight day on a bridge connecting the peninsula, which Moscow seized illegally a decade ago, with Russia's southern Krasnodar region. The span is a crucial supply link for Russia's war effort.

The Russian Defence Ministry said its defences intercepted 36 drones over Crimea and one over Krasnodar, part of an emerging pattern of intensified Ukrainian aerial attacks in recent days.

A Ukrainian Neptune anti-ship missile also was destroyed over the northwestern part of the Black Sea, the ministry said.

The developments came after three people were injured Thursday night by other Ukrainian rocket and drone attacks on the Russian border city of Belgorod and the surrounding region, said Belgorod Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov. On January 6, Ukrainian attacks on Belgorod killed 25 people, officials there said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pledged to strike more targets on the Crimean Peninsula and inside Russian border regions this year. The goal is to unsettle Russians as President Vladimir Putin seeks another six years in power in a March 17 election.

Following a drone strike deep inside Russia last year, Zelenskyy said Ukraine had developed a weapon that can hit targets 700 kilometres away. He said last month Kyiv plans to produce 1 million drones, which have become a key battlefield weapon.

Other Ukrainian officials said it aims to manufacture this year more than 10,000 attack drones with a range of hundreds of kilometers, as well as more than 1,000 longer-range drones that can hit targets well behind the front line and inside Russia.

Both sides are raising the stakes of their long-range warfare as soldiers remain bogged down on the wintry battlefield. The UK Defence Ministry said on Friday that ground combat has continued to be characterized by either a static front line or very gradual, local Russian advances in key sectors.

The Kremlin, meanwhile, has acquired ballistic missiles from North Korea and fired at least one of them into Ukraine on December 30, the White House said Thursday, citing recently declassified US intelligence. It also is seeking close-range ballistic missiles from Iran, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.

Ukraine said it stopped 21 out of 29 Russian Shahed drones launched late on Thursday and early on Friday. The assault injured two people, including a 14-year-old, and was the latest of almost daily Russian drone attacks in the new year.

Zelenskyy thanked Germany late on Thursday for a delivery of military aid, especially air defence materiel that he said is timely and focused on our priorities.

Ukraine should look to continue degrading Russia's ability to wage war by conducting an escalating campaign of airstrikes on targets far behind the front lines throughout occupied Ukraine and inside Russia itself, according to Mykola Bielieskov, a research fellow at Ukraine's National Institute for Strategic Studies.

This could include attacks on troop concentrations, military bases, and munitions stores along with logistical hubs and armament production facilities, he wrote in an assessment published by the Atlantic Council, a US think tank. (AP)



GRS

GRS
Beijing, Jan 5 (AP) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday that the United States and China must insist on peaceful coexistence and transcend their differences like they did when they established diplomatic relations 45 years ago this week.

Wang also promised that giant pandas would return to the US  and specifically California  by the end of the year.

"China-US cooperation is no longer a dispensable option for the two countries or even for the world, but a must-answer question that must be seriously addressed, he said.

Wang struck a largely conciliatory note at a lavish banquet marking the anniversary with 300 guests at a hall in the sprawling Diaoyutai state guest house complex in the Chinese capital.

The two countries are trying to navigate  and avoid a war  in what may be their most difficult waters since the US ended official ties with Taiwan and recognised the communist government in Beijing as the government of China on January 1, 1979.

China's rise as an economic and military power is challenging long-standing American leadership in the Asia region and globally.

The world is currently undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, Wang said. We must think about how to calibrate the direction of the large ship of China-US relations (and) avoid hidden reefs and dangerous shoals.

Both Wang and David Meale, the deputy chief of mission at the US Embassy, cited congratulatory letters exchanged by Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden on Monday's anniversary.

Meale, who spoke after Wang, said Biden expressed his commitment to managing the relationship responsibly and said he looked forward to building on the progress made by past leaders of the two countries.

Wang did criticise the use of the big stick of sanctions and engaging in power games, charges that China often levels at the United States. He denied that China seeks to supplant any other country and called on the US to respect China's development path and core interests.

The giant pandas in Memphis, Tennessee, and Washington, D.C., returned to China last year, and some feared that China would stop lending pandas to American zoos because of the tensions between the two countries.

But Xi raised hope for California in November when he told an audience in San Francisco that China was ready to continue cooperating with the US on pandas and do our best to meet the wishes of the Californians.

Wang told Friday's banquet audience that preparations are ready for a giant panda return to California within the year. (AP)





GRS

GRS
Rio De Janeiro, Jan 5 (AP) Brazil postponed for the second time the reintroduction of requirements to obtain tourist visas for citizens of the US, Australia and Canada, officials said.

Former president Jair Bolsonaro scrapped the visa requirements in 2019 to support the tourism industry, but the three countries continued to demand visas from Brazilians. The South American country requires visas from travellers based on principles of historical reciprocity and equal treatment.

The government initially postponed the visa implementation on October 1. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in September then set January 10 as the new deadline. On Thursday night, Brazil's presidency said it would be postponed yet again till April. 10.

The statement said the government was still finalizing the new visa system and wanted to avoid implementing it close to the high season, mainly during the New Year's celebrations and Carnival festivities in February, which attract tens of thousands of tourists.

Lula reinstated the visa requirements after he took office one year ago. The countries in question initially included Japan, but the east Asian nation struck a deal with Brazilian authorities in September to ease travel provisions between the two, keeping its citizens off of the new list.(AP)



RUP

RUP
Ancient Aigai (Greece), Jan 5 (AP) It was the largest building of classical Greece: the palace where Alexander the Great was proclaimed king before he launched a conquest that took him as far as modern-day Afghanistan.

The Palace of Aigai in northern Greece was fully reopened Friday following a 16-year renovation that cost more than 20 million Euros (USD 22 million) and included financial support from the European Union (EU).

It was built more than 2,300 years ago during the reign of Alexander's father, Phillip II, who had transformed the kingdom of Macedonia into a dominant military power of ancient Greece. Aigai was its royal capital.

After many years of painstaking work, we can reveal the palace  What we are doing today is an event of global importance, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said at an inauguration event at the site Friday.

The palace contained column-rimmed courtyards, courts, places of worship, and spacious banquet halls, its floors decorated with patterned marble and intricate mosaics. The building covered a ground area of 15,000 square metres (1,60,000 square feet), a little under the area covered by the US Capitol building.

Shaped like two adjoining, unequally sized, square donuts, the Palace of Aigai was the administrative and spiritual centre of the kingdom. The palace remains and nearby royal tombs are a United Nations World Heritage Site at the area next to the modern village of Vergina. Like a three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle, the marble columns were resurrected by fitting pieces of stone unearthed in the ruins together with replica replacement parts.

Some 65 kilometres (40 miles) southwest of the port city of Thessaloniki, in northern Greece, Aigai drew international attention in the late 1970s during burial mound excavations in the area of rolling green hills with patches of wild poppies and daffodils.

The late Greek archaeologist Manolis Andronikos led the digs and discovered the royal tombs, recovering a gold casket and other gold artifacts as well as the bones widely believed to belong to Philip II. The discoveries revealed the sophistication of the ancient Macedonians, who had often been sidelined in historical accounts by attention on Athens.

Angeliki Kottaridi was still an archaeology student at university when she joined the project as a young assistant. She devoted her life's work to the excavations and decades later became the driving force behind the new museum at Aigai, which opened a year ago, and the palace restoration.

She retired on December 31 as head of the region's archaeological service and was honoured at Friday's ceremony.

What you discover is stones scattered in the dirt, and pieces of mosaics here and there, Kottaridi told state television ahead of Friday's inauguration.

Then you have to assemble things and that's the real joy of the researcher, Kottariridi said. So when people ask me what makes me happy, I tell them it's not the moment something is revealed. It's the moment you realize you can take the knowledge one step further.

The renovated site will open to the public Sunday. (AP) NPK

NPK
London, Jan 5 (AP) Residents of riverside towns in England that were swamped by rains that washed over Europe this week bailed out Friday as flooding disrupted train service and officials warned that waters could rise in the days ahead.

A powerful storm that brought damaging winds inundated more than 1,000 homes and businesses and left several communities under muddy brown water, officials said. Buildings and cars were submerged as streets turned to streams, farmland was flooded and boats were torn from their moorings.

A landslide and floodwaters disrupted train travel on several lines operating out of London and on routes in southwest England that stretch into Wales.

It's been a terrible start to the new year, Ken Button said as he pumped water out of the furniture shop where he works in the town of Newark-on-Trent. We'll have to see what we can salvage.

Heavy rains also left other parts of Europe under water as a cold snap gripped northern areas of the continent.

Water levels remained extremely high in the Netherlands on Friday. Many flood plains in the low-lying nation were inundated and residents in some towns around the Ijsselmeer inland sea near Amsterdam used sandbags to protect their homes.

Dozens of Ukrainian refugees were evacuated overnight from a hotel near the town of Monnickendam north of Amsterdam after it was cut off by floodwaters, local broadcaster NH Nieuws reported.

Several roads in the north and northwest of the Netherlands were closed Friday because of flooding.

In France, a flood warning issued at the highest level was lifted near the Belgian border as waters receded.

But several hundred people had to be evacuated and thousands of homes were damaged in a repeat of floods that hit the same region of France in November.

French authorities warned that waterways would likely remain extremely high in the coming weeks.

In the UK, the ground was already saturated from a series of fall tempests when Storm Henk struck with intense rainfall. Even as drier weather arrived, hundreds of flood warnings were in place Friday and the Environment Agency warned that the impact from flooding could last another five days.

There's really nowhere for the water to go, Caroline Douglass, the flood director for the agency, told the BBC. The ground is completely saturated, so in that situation we get more flooding and greater impacts than we've seen, and probably in areas where people aren't used to.

Almost every river in England was listed as exceptionally high by the agency and some set records. The River Itchen in Southampton doubled its previous record for December.

The River Trent through Nottinghamshire county topped its banks, leading the county to declare a major incident, which can help it obtain government assistance. Residents of a trailer park for those over age 55 were evacuated.

Firefighters helped about 50 people evacuate their homes in the Hackney Wick section of East London after a canal burst its banks.

Aerial footage showed where narrow rivers had escaped their channel and spread across lower-lying land.

In Gloucestershire, a county in southwest England, residents waded down a street in knee-deep water. A man with a handsaw strapped to his back canoed across a meadow in the town of Henley-on-Thames.

Cars parked in the town of Wallingford were buried up to their windows in water. A long canal boat that broke free of its tether had tipped on its side and was pinned against a bridge on the River Soar in Leicestershire county. (AP) NPK

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New Delhi, Jan 4 (PTI) More than Rs 7 lakh in cash and 21 cartridges of different calibres were seized from the premises of Sahibganj deputy commissioner (DC) Ram Niwas Yadav, the Enforcement Directorate said on Thursday, a day after conducting searches against him and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren's press advisor in an illegal mining case.

The federal agency said in a statement that apart from seizing "incriminating" digital devices, it recovered a total cash amount of Rs 36.99 lakh, including Rs 7.25 lakh from the camp office of Ram Niwas Yadav, DC of Sahibganj.

Apart from this, 19 cartridges of 9mm bore, two of .380 mm and five empty cases of .45 pistols were also recovered from the residential premises of Yadav, it said.

Thirty "benami" bank accounts, whose documents were found during the daylong searches, have been frozen, it said.

A dozen locations in Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal and Rajasthan were covered during these fresh raids conducted in this case on Wednesday.

The residences of Abhishek Prasad alias Pintu, press advisor to CM Hemant Soren, Yadav and Rajendra Dubey, a DSP of Sahibganj, were covered.

The ED said the action was related to a case of "illegal stone mining prevalent in Sahibganj, having proceeds of crime of more than Rs 1,000 crore."

"Rampant illegal mining activities were being done in Sahibganj area and in order to ascertain the extent of this act, twenty joint inspections of illegal mining activities were carried out by the officers of the ED along with administrative, forest, mining, pollution control departments of Jharkhand government," it stated.

"The joint inspection has confirmed the instance of huge illegal mining as well as denudation of land and forest area leading to environmental hazards," the ED alleged.

During the joint inspection, the quantum of illegal mining of more than 23.26 crore cubic feet having approximate market value of Rs 1,250 crore has been detected and determined, it said.

The money laundering case stems from state police FIRs filed against Bishnu Yadav, Pavitra Yadav, Pankaj Mishra, one of the political advisors of Soren, and others. The case was later taken over by the CBI as per the direction of the Jharkhand High Court, the ED said.

Probe found that the "kingpin" of this illegal mining was Pankaj Mishra.

The ED arrested him in July, 2022 and he is currently lodged in a jail in judicial custody.

The agency had first conducted raids in this case in 2022 and by now it has undertaken 51 such operations and arrested eight persons.
New Delhi, Jan 4 (PTI) The Congress' National Alliance Committee, which met party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday and apprised them about the feedback from state units on seat-sharing with other INDIA bloc parties for the Lok Sabha polls, asserted that state-wise talks with coalition partners will commence soon.

The committee, of which Mukul Wasnik is the convener and has former chief ministers Ashok Gehlot and Bhupesh Baghel as well as Mohan Prakash and Salman Khurshid in it, held final talks and suggested the way forward to the party leadership.

"Over the last few days, the committee held extensive deliberations with party leaders of various states on alliance with INDIA bloc parties. We have put before Kharge ji, Rahul ji and Venugopal ji, the details of the discussions," Wasnik told reporters after the meeting at the Congress president's residence.

"Now after this we are going to soon commence talks with alliance partners. We will look at the convenience and availability of various paries and then proceed further with discussions," he added.

Wasnik said the party was aware that seat-sharing has to be done soon and it will give it top priority.

There will be no delay in this, added Wasnik, who was flanked by Gehlot, Baghel, Prakash and Khurshid.

It is important that discussions are held state-wise because there is a unique situation in various states, Wasnik said.

"There is already an alliance called Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA). We will be talking with parties that have influence in areas and keeping their influence in view, we will have our dialogue. Certainly this will be a state wise discussion and then we will move forward," he added.

Asked about seat-sharing in Punjab and Delhi, Wasnik said that he was not in a position to talk about specific states and parties.

"Our objective is to ensure that INDIA bloc forms government after the Lok Sabha polls," he added.

Wasnik asserted that the party and leadership were giving priority to seat-sharing.

The TMC has been pushing for an early settlement on seats to be contested for the Lok Sabha polls. It had kept December 31 as the deadline for seat-sharing talks, however, that could not fructify.

The opposition bloc parties are now keen to finalise the seat-sharing arrangement with the clock ticking for the Lok Sabha polls.
Mumbai, Jan 4 (PTI) Police have filed a case against a doctor for alleged rape and abetment of suicide in connection with the death of a teenage girl, whose body was found in his clinic in Mumbai suburb of Malad, an official said on Thursday.

The incident took place on December 28 at the clinic where the girl (age not disclosed) was working, the official said.

The girl was found hanging at the medical facility run by the doctor. After being alerted, a team of the Kurar Police Station rushed to the spot and sent the body to a civic-run hospital for post-mortem examination, he said.

The mother of the deceased said her daughter had not committed suicide and claimed she had complained about the doctor's rude behaviour, said the official.

Based on her complaint, the police have registered an offence against the doctor under IPC sections 306 (abetment of suicide), 376 (punishment for rape) and relevant provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act), he said.

A probe in the case was underway.
Pune, Jan 5 (PTI) Gangster Sharad Mohol was shot dead by the members of his own gang here on Friday, police said.



One suspect has been detained, said an official.



Three to four assailants opened fire on Mohol (40) at point blank range in Sutardara locality in Kothrud around 1.30 pm. A bullet pierced his chest and two bullets entered the right shoulder, the police official said.

He died during treatment at a private hospital in Kothrud, the official added.

One person was nabbed while multiple teams have been formed to nab the remaining assailants, he said.

Mohol had several cases including those of murder and dacoity registered against him. He was an accused in the case related to the murder of suspected Indian Mujahideen operative Mohammad Qateel Siddiqui inside the Yerawada jail here, but was acquitted.

A dispute over land and money within his gang is suspected to have led to his killing, the official said.



Speaking to reporters here, Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis said it was not a gangwar as Mohol was killed by his own associates.

"As our government knows how to deal with such notorious elements, no one dares to get involved in a gangwar," he said.
Ranchi, Jan 5 (PTI) The ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) on Friday urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to conduct a by-election to the Gandey assembly seat "at the earliest".

The seat has fallen vacant after JMM legislator Sarfaraj Ahmad resigned from the assembly on December 31. A notification in this regard was issued by the assembly secretariat on January 1.

A six-member delegation of the JMM led by party general secretaries Vinod Pandey and Supriyo Bhattacharya visited the office of Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) K Ravi Kumar during the day and submitted a memorandum to him with a request to conduct the by-election.

Later, Pandey told reporters, "We urged him to conduct the by-election to Gandey assembly seat within six months (from the date of resignation). The seat has fallen vacant after party MLA Sarfaraj Ahmad put down his papers."

According to Section 151A of the Representation of People Act, 1951, there is a provision to hold a by-election within six months in case the tenure of the assembly is more than one year, he said.

"The first session of the fifth Jharkhand Assembly was convened on January 6, 2020. According to Article 172 of the Constitution of India, the tenure of the fifth Jharkhand Assembly is till January 5, 2025," the JMM said in its memorandum.

Pandey said that since more than one year is left in the tenure of the fifth assembly, the by-election should be conducted within six months.

"The CEO assured us that our request would be forwarded to the ECI and whatever guideline is received from the commission will be followed," he said.

Earlier, BJP MP from Godda constituency, Nishikant Dubey, in an X post, had said that with assembly elections in Jharkhand due in less than a year, by-election to Gandey cannot be conducted now.
McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski said the restaurant chain is seeing a "meaningful business impact" in the Middle East and elsewhere related to the Israel-Hamas war.

In a letter posted to LinkedIn, the executive said Thursday that "misinformation" related to the conflict has affected several of McDonald's markets across the world. Companies including McDonald's and Starbucks have faced boycott campaigns from both pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel groups over their perceived support for one side or the other following Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

"This is disheartening and ill-founded," Kempczinski said in the letter.

Kempczinski didn't disclose how much the conflict has hurt sales. McDonald's is expected to report its earnings later this month, which could reveal more about the effect of the conflict on its operations.

McDonald's did not immediately respond to CBS MoneyWatch's request for comment.

McDonald's came under fire this fall after one of its Israel-based restaurants offered discounts to Israeli military personnel, prompting some customers to boycott the burger joint. Some of the company's franchises in Pakistan and Indonesia have made donations to aid organizations in Gaza, Al Jazeera reported.

More than half of McDonald's restaurants are located outside the U,S., with many of those restaurants locally operated franchises, according to the company's data.

Last fall, supporters of Palestine boycotted and vandalized several Starbucks stores, decrying what they characterized as the company's support for Israel. Around the same time, the coffee chain also drew criticism from pro-Israel groups in the U.S., with the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce calling for a boycott after the Starbucks Workers United expressed support for Hamas' cause.

In a letter to employees last month, Starbucks CEO Laxman Narasimhan expressed concern about the impact of rising tensions over the conflict.

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"While I am grateful for so much, I am concerned about the state of the world we live in, " Narasimhan said. "There are conflicts in many parts. It has unleashed violence against the innocent, hate and weaponized speech and lies  all of which we condemn."

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Bhubaneswar, Jan 5 (PTI) A man who was thought to have succumbed to burn injuries in Odisha, following which his wife died by suicide out of grief, was found to be alive and under treatment, officials of the hospital concerned said on Friday.

The body of the man who actually died had been handed over to the family of the person alive and it was cremated. Now, the deceased's family is demanding his body.

The doctors said the confusion was because the persons' faces were beyond recognition due to a blast that occurred while servicing an air-conditioner late last month.



Four people, including Dilip Samantray and Jyoti Ranjan Mallik, were admitted to Hi-Tech Hospital here after being severely injured in an explosion that occurred while filling gas in an air-condition at the rooftop of the same medical establishment on December 29.

Of the four, two persons succumbed to burn injuries while two others were undergoing treatment at the hospital. All the four persons had suffered severe burn injuries and their faces were beyond recognition, the officials said.

Samantray was initially identified as among the two deceased. The body was cremated and his wife later died by suicide out of grief.

However, on Thursday evening, the person who was undergoing treatment in the name of Jyoti Ranjan Mallik, was brought out of the ventilator and he responded. During interaction with doctors, he claimed to be Samantary, and not Mallik.

Hospital CEO Smita Padhi said, "The four persons who were injured in the incident were staffers of an outsourcing agency, not regular employees of the hospital. After the blast, a staffer of the agency identified them, on the basis of which, we maintained the records. The kin of the victims also identified them."

"The person identified as Dilip Samantray died during treatment on December 30 and as per protocol, we informed the police and his family members also signed the documents concerned and received the body from the police," she said.

However, after the confusion came to the fore with the person undergoing treatment claiming to be Samantray, psychiatrist Amrit Pattojoshi was assigned to examine the mental condition of the patient. On being asked about the names of Samantray's family members, the patient answered correctly, Padhi said.

"Since the matter could not be resolved, we urged the police to investigate the matter," she added.

Psychiatrist Amrit Pattojoshi said, "The patient correctly told us details about Samantray. Family members of both the persons were present at that time. As a doctor, I am 90 per cent sure that the patient is Dilip Samantray. If required, DNA analysis will be done.

On the other hand, Mallik's family members, who were hopeful of his recovery, are now demanding his body. But the hospital authorities have handed over his body to the family of Samantray and it has been cremated.

The doctors said the confusion was because the persons' faces were beyond recognition due to the blast.

Bhubaneswar DCP Prateek Singh said an ACP rank officer will investigate the matter.

"So far, we have not received any case of medical negligence. Action will be taken if negligence is found. The four persons were critically injured and they were identified by the contractor," he added.
Bhubaneswar, Jan 5 (PTI) Not ruling out the possibility of Kalpana Soren taking over as Jharkhand's chief minister from her husband Hemant Soren under changed circumstances, Odisha JMM chief and Sibu Soren's daughter Anjali Soren said on Friday there is a conspiracy against her brother.

Soren, who is currently in the state capital, claimed that her brother Hemant is a victim of a conspiracy against tribals.

"The British have left India, but the tribals continue to suffer. In every field, tribals face atrocities. The Jharkhand CM is also facing the same atrocity. The BJP and other parties will not get tribal properties if there is a tribal chief minister. This is a conspiracy," Soren told PTI video.

Asked if Kalpana should take charge as CM from her husband, Soren said, "We do not have any such motive at the moment. However, I do not rule out this possibility."

Despite Hemant Soren rejecting the possibility of his wife taking charge as Jharkhand CM under changed circumstances, the people of Rairangpur sub-division in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district are happy as another daughter of the soil has made it to the national news headlines after Droupadi Murmu became the President of India.

One SK Mohapatra wrote on X, "We will be happy and congratulate Kalpana as she is our daughter of Odisha."

Kalpana hails from Tentala village of Bahalda block under Rairungpur sub-division of Mayurbhanj. She is the eldest daughter of a retired defence personnel. She completed her schooling at Kendriya Vidyalaya in Baripada, the district headquarters town of Mayurbhanj.

She also obtained her BTech degree from an institute in Bhubaneswar and then an MBA degree, as informed by her uncle Jagannath Murmu.

The marriage of Hemant and Kalpana Soren was solemnised according to Santhal rituals at Baripada on February 7, 2006.

Kalpana Soren's father, Ampa Murm, resides in his own house in the Murgabadi area of Baripada town.

Sujata Murmu, a former Mayurbhanj zilla parishad president, said if Kalpana Soren becomes the chief minister of Jharkhand, it will further boost the morale of tribal girls and women in that state as well as in Odisha..
Aizawl, Jan 5 (PTI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah has informed Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma that the Centre wont deport Myanmar nationals who sought refuge in the state since February 2021 until normalcy is restored in the neighboring country, according to an official statement on Friday.

During their meeting in Delhi on Thursday, Shah discussed with Lalduhoma the importance of collecting biometric data of foreigners, which the previous state government had refused to do, the statement added.

"I want the people of Mizoram to know that the Centre will not deport the Myanmar nationals seeking shelter in the state until normalcy returns there," Shah was quoted as saying in the official statement.

According to officials, more than 31,000 individuals from Myanmar have sought shelter in Mizoram since February 2021, following a military coup in their home country.

The majority of these nationals belong to the Chin community, which shares ethnic ties with the Mizos.

of them reside in relief camps, while others are accommodated by their relatives or live in rented houses.

The Union home minister and Lalduhoma also discussed the Mizoram Maintenance of Household Registers Bill, which is currently awaiting approval from the President.

The Bill, passed in March 2019, aims to identify foreigners and prevent the influx of illegal immigrants from neighboring countries.

Shah advised Lalduhoma to resubmit the Bill after making necessary corrections and improvements, the statement added. PTI CORR

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New Delhi, Jan 5 (PTI) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is set to embark on a three-day visit to the UK to inject a new momentum in strategic and security engagement between the two countries, including possible collaboration for joint development of fighter jets and other military platforms.

Singh is scheduled to hold wide-ranging talks with his British counterpart Grant Shapps with a focus on sharing of critical technology and expanding bilateral industrial defence cooperation, people familiar with the matter said.

Singh and Shapps are also expected to delve into the situation in the Indo-Pacific, West Asia and Ukraine, they said.

In April 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his then British counterpart Boris Johnson agreed on a new and expanded India-UK defence partnership.

During his visit to India, Johnson announced that the UK is creating an Open General Export Licence (OGEL) for India to "reduce bureaucracy and slashing delivery times for defence procurement.

The British prime minister also said the UK will help India in the co-development of military hardware including indigenous production of fighter jets.

A statement issued after the talks between Modi and Johnson said the two leaders reiterated their commitment to "transform" defence and security cooperation as a key pillar of the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The India-UK relationship was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the India-UK virtual summit held between Modi and Johnson in May 2021.

At the summit, the two sides adopted a 10-year roadmap to expand ties in the key areas of trade and economy, defence and security, climate change and people-to-people connections among others.

Both sides are also keen to expand cooperation in the maritime sphere.

In June, 2021, the UK posted a liaison officer at the Indian Navy's Information Fusion Centre (IFC) that has emerged as a key hub in tracking movements of ships and other developments in the Indian Ocean region.

The UK joined a select group of countries such as the US, Australia, Japan and France to depute officials at the Gurugram-based facility.

The Indian Navy established the IFC-IOR in 2018 to effectively keep track of the shipping traffic as well as other critical developments in the region under a collaborative framework with like-minded countries.
Rishikesh (U'khand), Jan 5 (PTI) The endangered hog deer has been spotted for the first time in the Chilla Range of Uttarakhand's Rajaji Tiger Reserve, being captured recently by trap cameras, a top official said on Friday.

The hog deer captured by trap cameras installed in the reserve shows its growing biodiversity range, Rajaji Tiger Reserve Director Saket Badola told PTI.

He attributed the spotting of the hog deer in the reserve to the work done on a war footing to improve the habitat.

Various habitat improvement steps have been taken of late, he said.

Vegetation and prey are being increased as part of the exercise so that both herbivores and carnivores get the ideal conditions in their habitat to live, reproduce and expand their population, Badola said.

Camera traps were installed at various places in the reserve recently to see the results of the habitat improvement work.

When the data was examined, it was found that the hog deer was present in the range, Badola said and added that the animal might have moved from the nearby forests after finding ideal habitat conditions.

The hog deer population has seen a decline in recent years, he said.

Talking about his stint as deputy director of the Corbett Tiger Reserve, Badola said there has been an alarming decline in the animal's population at the famous reserve.

The discovery of the hog deer in Rajaji Tiger Reserve is no less than a wonderful New Year's gift for wildlife lovers, he added.
Solan/Shimla, Jan 5 (PTI) Several BJP workers thronged the Mall Road at Solan on Friday to welcome the party's national president J P Nadda on his first visit to the Shimla Parliamentary constituency after victory in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhatisgarh Assembly polls.

Braving intense cold with the minimum temperature of 1.0 degree Celsius, the party workers showered flowers on Nadda, who also held a roadshow. The BJP workers, who also chanted the slogan of 'Jai Shri Ram', presented a 'trishool' (trident) to Nadda at the culmination of the roadshow at the old bus stand.

State BJP president Rajiv Bindal and Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur welcomed Nadda on his arrival at Solan in the morning. PTI BPL MNK

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Jaipur, Dec 5 (PTI) A turnout of over 40 per cent was recorded in Karanpur by early afternoon as polling took place for the Rajasthan assembly constituency where minister Surendra Pal Singh is contesting as the BJP nominee.

The election for this seat was postponed due to the death of the Congress candidate and the then MLA Gurmeet Singh Koonar. The Congress has fielded Koonar's son, Rupinder Singh, from the seat.

Surendra Pal Singh has already been inducted into the Rajasthan ministry after the BJP won the assembly polls, bagging 115 of the 199 seats where the elections were held.

Voting began at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm. Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Gupta said 40.45 per cent of voters had cast their vote till 1.30 pm.

"Voters are coming to cast their votes amidst severe cold and fog," he said.

The Congress has criticised the BJP nominee's induction in the ministry, terming it a violation of the model code of conduct.

As per the rules, Kooner has six months to get elected to the assembly after being inducted as a minister.

According to officials, there are 2,40,826 voters in the Karanpur assembly constituency, which includes 1,25,850 men, 1,14,966 women and 10 transgender voters.
New Delhi, Jan 5 (PTI) Editors Guild on Friday voiced deep concern over the registration of an FIR against the editors and managing director of Prabhat Khabar, a daily headquartered in Jharkhand, on the complaint of a person lodged in a Ranchi jail.

In a statement here, the Guild noted that Jharkhand Police has registered a first information report under sections 469, 501, and 502 of the Indian Penal Code against Prabhat Khabar chief editor Ashutosh Chaturvedi, resident editor Vijay Kant Pathak, as well as managing director Rajeev Jhawar, in response to a complaint filed by one Jogendra Tiwari.

"The Guild also expresses its deep concern on the misuse of criminal defamation laws against journalists in an effort to intimidate and harass them," the statement said.

It said that Tiwari, who is currently lodged in the Birsa Munda Central Jail, had allegedly made threatening calls to Chaturvedi in response to some reports published in the newspaper on charges filed by the Directorate of Enforcement, against some members of the liquor mafia in the state.

Earlier, the Guild had written to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren as well as top state officers urging the government to initiate an inquiry against the liquor mafia and to take necessary steps for ensuring the safety of Chaturvedi.

The Guild also demanded that the criminal defamation law be scrapped, and such matters be left to be adjudicated in the civil domain.
Chandigarh, Jan 5 (PTI) Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Friday wrote to Bhagwant Mann asking him why state minister Aman Arora  convicted recently in a family dispute case  had not been divested of his membership despite the Supreme Court's directions.

The governor, who received a representation in connection with the matter, has sought a full report from the chief minister on the entire issue.

Purohit in his letter cited the apex court judgement, according to which, a lawmaker stands divested of membership if convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for a term not less than two years by a trial court.

Punjab Minister Aman Arora and eight others were sentenced to two-year imprisonment by a court in Sangrur district on December 21 in a 15-year-old case in which a relative of Arora had accused him of attacking him in his house.

Arora holds the new and renewable energy, printing and stationery, employment generation, and training and governance reforms portfolios in the Bhagwant Mann cabinet.

"This is a serious matter involving non-compliance of the directions given by the Supreme Court of India and can I have a detailed report on the entire issue," the governor wrote to Mann.

"Please find enclosed representation received regarding the conviction of the minister Aman Arora, Cabinet Minister, in a criminal case," he added.

The representation which the governor received has not been shared with the media.

"From the representation, I understand that on December 21, 2023, a court of law convicted Mr Aman Arora for two years and the conviction has not yet been stayed by the competent higher court," Purohit wrote.

"As per the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in the case of Lilly Thomas versus Union of India, the members of Legislative Assembly (MLA) stand divested of their membership if convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for a term not less than two years by a trial court," he added.

Purohit also said the representation also raised the question of national flag hoisting by Arora on January 26.

The representation alleged that the act of entrusting the legislator with the symbolic representation of the nation on a day as momentous as Republic Day not only undermines the sanctity of the legal system but also sends an unsettling message to the citizenry regarding the government's commitment to ethical governance, he said.

The court of Gurbhinder Singh Johal, Sub-divisional Judicial Magistrate, Sunam, had last month convicted Arora and eight others in a 2008 case filed on the complaint of the minister's brother-in-law Rajinder Deepa.

The nine were booked in the matter under several sections of IPC, including 452 (house-trespass) and 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt).

The court sentenced them to two-year imprisonment under section 452 and one-year imprisonment under section 323 of the IPC. Both sentences will run concurrently.

A counsel representing Deepa had last month said the convicts, after the court verdict, had moved an application before the court that they wanted to file an appeal in a higher court.

They have a 30-day time period to file an appeal, he had said.
New Delhi, Jan 5 (PTI) A court here on Friday granted regular bail to an accused arrested in connection with the alleged firing incident in the Tis Hazari district court premises during a fight between lawyers.

The court granted bail after noting that custodial interrogation of the accused was not required and 12 other co-accused in the case were already provided the relief.

A gunshot was allegedly fired in the Tis Hazari court premises on July 5 last year during a fight between two groups of lawyers, following which police arrested 13 people, including some non-lawyers.

Assistant Sessions Judge Rakesh Kumar was hearing the regular bail plea of accused Sandeep Sharma.

The plea filed by the accuseds counsel, Advocate Sanjay Sharma said no recovery was made from his client and that Sandeep was suffering from some medical ailments.

The court noted that nine accused in the case were granted regular bail, while three others had secured anticipatory bail.

Keeping in view the fact that other co-accused persons have already granted bail, as such no further custodial interrogation is required, applicant Sandeep Sharma is admitted to regular bail on furnishing a personal bond of Rs 30,000 with one surety in the like amount," it said.

The court rejected the prosecutions argument against bail on the ground that Sandeep was involved in seven other cases, including a matter where he had threatened a witness, saying the details of these cases were not provided.

It said that Sandeep was also provided interim bail with certain conditions and the accused had complied with the terms.

The other conditions of bail included the accused joining the investigation when required, not tampering with evidence, not contacting the complainant or other witnesses and informing the court in case of a change in his address.
DataHorizzon Research

The expanding adoption of refined treatment alternatives is boosting the microcurrent facial market.

Fort Collins, Colorado, Jan. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Microcurrent Facial Market was valued at USD 384.7 Million in 2022 and is expected to reach USD 814.1 Million by 2032 at a CAGR of 7.9%.



A microcurrent facial is a procedure that uses weak electrical signals to make a face look brighter, smoother and rejuvenated. Estheticians offer this service, but a personalized handheld device is also available for daily skincare routines. The process includes cleansing, exfoliation, and masking with gel applied to the face. The microcurrent facial device is used on the face, passing painless currents that lift, tone, and freshen the skin. This painless process with immediate visible results makes it a popular cosmetic treatment choice.

The demand for microcurrent facial treatment is rising, especially among women aged 40 and above due to aging skin. This demand is also driven by the increasing trend of cosmetic treatments and surgeries, particularly after the pandemic, influenced by social media and the desire for social validation. Young people are more inclined to these treatments due to the trend of presenting perfect pictures on social media. Additionally, people's interest in movies and series contributes to the growth of this market as they aspire to look like their favorite characters.

Another reason is the growing desire to look young and graceful with aging. The number of people growing old is rising, leading to the rising demand for anti-aging and anti-wrinkle products. Microcurrent facials are one of the safe and best ways to reduce aging skin signs like sagging skin and wrinkles. The microcurrent facial effectively reduces these skin conditions and makes skin appear smoother and brighter, thus helping people appear young and boosting their confidence and self-esteem. Additionally, this cosmetic treatment is well-suited to all skin types, making it a preferred option for all users.

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Segmentation Overview:

The global microcurrent facial market has been segmented into application, end-use, and region. The microcurrent facial market is growing primarily due to skin rejuvenation. This process reduces fine lines, wrinkles, and dullness while lifting the skin and improving blood circulation, resulting in bright and glowing skin. Commercial service centers like medical spas, dermatologists, and estheticians, who use approved products and devices, hold a significant market share.

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Microcurrent Facial Market Report Highlights:

The global microcurrent facial market growth is anticipated at a CAGR of 7.9% by 2032.

Microcurrent facials are gaining popularity due to the rise in nonsurgical skin care options, with the growing number of professionals, emphasis on anti-aging treatments, and social media influence to drive market growth.

North America, especially the United States, has a high demand for cosmetic treatments and surgeries, with social media and Hollywood playing a significant role in the increasing demand for flawless skin.

Some prominent players in the microcurrent facial market report include American Face and Body Clinic, Medicis Medical Spa, 7E Wellness, SkinLab, Wyndham Place Clinic, Renajo Skin Clinic, NuFace, Foreo, Bhakti Wellness Center, Magnitone and others.

Industry Trends and Insights:

- Orange County Migraine & Wellness Center has chosen eClinicalWorks and Healow to improve patient engagement and practice efficiency.

- Kollo Health introduces the UK's most awarded liquid collagen, specially formulated to support whole-body health for men and women.

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Microcurrent Facial Market Segmentation:

By Application: Anti-aging, Skin Tightening, Skin rejuvenation and Others

By End-Use: Household and Commercial

By Region: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa.

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New Delhi, Jan 5 (PTI) The Supreme Court collegium headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud has recommended five names to the Centre for appointment as additional judges in four high courts.

The collegiums, also comprising justices Sanjiv Khanna and B R Gavai, also recommended the names of additional judges -- justices Rahul Bharti and Moksha Khajuria Kazmi, both from the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, for appointment as permanent judges.

One of the recommendations said additional judge Justice Abhay Ahuja be also considered for appointment as permanent judge in the Bombay High Court.

Several collegiums resolutions, uploaded Thursday night on apex court website, provided details of the deliberations leading to recommendations of names of judicial officers and advocates for judgeship in high courts.

The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the name of Smt. Chaitali Chatterjee (Das), Judicial Officer, for appointment as Judge of the High Court at Calcutta in the following terms..., one of the resolutions said.

It also forwarded the names of Arvind Kumar Verma, a judicial officer, for appointment as a judge of the High Court of Chhattisgarh.

Another resolution asked the Centre to consider appointing Rohit Kapoor, an advocate, as a judge of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana.

The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the names of (i) Ms Shamima Jahan, Advocate and (ii) Ms Yarenjungla Longkumer, Judicial Officer, for appointment as Judges of the Gauhati High Court..., it said.

While making the recommendations, the apex court collegiums made clear that the seniority of those, whose names were recommended prior to Kapoor for appointment as judges of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana, be not disturbed.

The Collegium further resolves to recommend that two advocates namely S/Shri (i) Harmeet Singh Grewal and (ii) Deepinder Singh Nalwa, whose names have been approved by this Collegium earlier in point of time i.e. on 17 October 2023, be given precedence in the matter of appointment over Shri Rohit Kapoor. The inter se seniority of all the three Advocates be fixed as per the existing practice, it said.

The collegiums took assistance of consultee apex court judges besides considering the inputs of respective governments and the professional competence of persons before recommending the names for judgeship.
New Delhi, Jan 5 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a plea challenging an Allahabad High Court order dismissing a PIL seeking a direction to the Uttar Pradesh government to acquire the Krishna Jahmabhoomi Janmasthan at Mathura and hand it over to the Hindus for worshipping Lord Krishna.

"The issue is already pending before the high court. Lets not have multiplicity of litigation," a bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta said while dismissing the appeal against the October 11, 2023 order of the high court.

Petitioner Mahek Maheshwari's counsel said the high court has dismissed the PIL on the ground that suits are pending.

The bench said the petitioner had filed a PIL and that is why it was dismissed by the high court.

"We are not inclined to interfere with the impugned judgement and hence the SLP is dismissed. We clarify that the dismissal of the SLP does not comment on the right of parties to challenge the vires of any enactment or prevents or bars any party from challenging the vires of any enactment," the bench ordered.

Maheshwari had said in his PIL that he is a devout Hindu and prayed that his fundamental right to worship be facilitated and protected.

His PIL before the high court said that the actual place of Krishna Jahmabhoomi Janmasthan over which the Shahi Idgah Mosque exists should be acquired by the state government and be handed over to the Hindus for worshipping Lord Krishna Virajman in the Krishna Janmasthan.

The state government's counsel had opposed the PIL, saying it is not in public interest and espouses a personal cause inasmuch as the petitioner claims to be a devout Hindu and ardent Krishna devotee.

The counsel pointed to the order passed by the high court on May 26, 2023 by which it transferred to itself 10 cases pending before the Civil Judge, Senior Division, Mathura. The cases raise the same issues as in the PIL.

The high court said, "The suits (pending before the high court) are for declaration, injunction and right to worship at the site of Shri Krishna Janmasthan and also for removal of the structure alleged to be the Shahi Idgah Mosque. The pending suits involve the issues relating to the interpretation of various facts of statutes, constitutional law, personal law and common law."

"Since the issues involved in the present writ (PIL) are already engaging attention of the Court in appropriate proceedings (i.e. the pending suits), we are not inclined to entertain the instant writ (PIL) and the same is accordingly dismissed," it ordered.
Bengaluru, Jan 5 (PTI) A single-judge-bench of the Karnataka High Court on Friday referred the petition challenging the withdrawal of the sanction given to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate a case against D K Shivakumar to the High Court Chief Justice for placing before a larger bench of his choice.





I am afraid because of the enormity of the questions, in deciding the enormity of such a large issue, I think Division Bench is required, Justice Krishna S Dixit said and then ordered, Having heard the learned counsel for petitioners and learned Advocate General for the State, I am of a considered opinion that the paper be placed before the Honble Chief Justice for consideration at the bench and strength of his choice.



Two separate petitions filed by BJP leader and MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal and the CBI came up before the single judge bench on Friday.



Yatnals petition was filed earlier and the court had questioned the validity of his petition and how he could be considered an affected party in the criminal proceedings. Yatnals counsel submitted to the court that any private citizen has locus standi to challenge a cabinet decision of the government which has stifled criminal prosecution.



The court observed that it was a unique case.



This is a first of its kind case in the state. It is a virgin case in the state, it said while observing that similar cases have happened in other states.



The court said that the question is whether the decision taken by the previous government (giving sanction) is binding on the government which is elected subsequently.





The HC also said that since the CBI has also filed a challenge to the withdrawal of the consent, the validity of the petition filed by Yatnal also has to be considered.







CBI counsel Prasanna Kumar submitted that the Lokayukta has been handed over the investigation by the state and it has filed an FIR. The CBI sought the records of this new investigation and asked that the investigation be handed over to it.



The HC issued notices to the respondent state and Lokayukta. The HC also directed that until the final hearing of the petitions, the Lokayukta should not proceed in the case.







The counsel for the CBI argued that in a similar situation, the Supreme Court had taken the view that once a state government has accorded consent for a probe, it cannot be withdrawn with retrospective effect.



Therefore, the investigation at the hands of CBI should go on to the final product, it was submitted.







Considering the enormity of the issue, the single judge referred it to the chief justice for a larger bench.







Based on the Income Tax Department raids and Enforcement Directorates probe, the CBI had sought sanction from the state government to file an FIR against D K Shivakumar which was granted on September 25, 2019.



Following a change in power after the May assembly elections, the new government, in which D K Shivakumar is deputy chief minister, withdrew the sanction on November 28, 2023.



Challenging the November 28 order of the government withdrawing consent, Yatnal approached the HC alleging that it is illegal. The CBI has also approached the HC challenging the withdrawal of consent.
Thane, Jan 5 (PTI) A well-known supermarket chain cleared its outstanding property tax in the face of action by the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation, an official said on Friday.

The chain owed the civic body's property tax department Rs 1.60 crore and was asked to pay it within seven days, the official said.

"Getting no response, a team under additional municipal commissioner and property tax department head Sujata Dhole arrived at the D Mart facility in Sanpada on Friday with plans to attach assets," he said.

A release from NMMC said the supermarket chain acknowledged its dues and offered to pay by cheque, though this would have taken time for clearance.

With the NMMC team ready to act, the supermarket chain paid the amount online and, thus, avoided civic action, the release said.
An airstrike on the logistical support headquarters of an Iran-backed militia in central Baghdad Thursday killed a high-ranking militia commander, militia officials said.

Thursdays strike comes amid mounting regional tensions fueled by Israel-Hamas war and fears that it could spill over into surrounding countries. It also coincides with a push by Iraqi officials for US-led coalition forces to leave the country.

The Popular Mobilization Force  a coalition of militias that is nominally under the control of the Iraqi military  announced in a statement that its deputy head of operations in Baghdad, Mushtaq Taleb al-Saidi, or Abu Taqwa, had been killed as a result of brutal American aggression.

It was not immediately clear who had carried out the strike.

Iraqi military spokesman Yehia Rasool said in a statement that the Iraqi army holds the International Coalition Forces responsible for this unprovoked attack on an Iraqi security body operating in accordance with the powers granted to it by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

Officials with the U.S. military and embassy in Baghdad did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The primary mission of the U.S.-led coalition is to fight the Islamic State militant group, which continues to carry out periodic attacks in Iraq despite having lost its hold on the territory it once controlled in 2017. Since then, the coalition has transitioned from a combat role to an advisory and training mission.

The PMF, a group of Iranian-backed, primarily Shiite militias, were also key in the fight against the Sunni extremist group after it overran much of Iraq in 2014. The PMF is officially under the command of the Iraqi army, but in practice the militias operate independently.

Thursdays strike killed two people and wounded five, according to two militia officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

One of the officials said al-Saidi was driving into the garage of the headquarters affiliated with the al-Nujaba militia, one of the members of the PMF, along with another militia official when the car was hit, killing both.

Heavy security was deployed around the location of the strike on Baghdads Palestine Street, and Associated Press journalists were not allowed to approach the targeted area. Iraqi war planes could be seen flying overhead.

Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7, a group of Iranian-backed militias calling itself the Islamic Resistance in Iraq has carried out more than 100 attacks on bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria.

The group has said the attacks are in retaliation for Washingtons support of Israel in the war against Hamas that has killed more than 20,000 people in Gaza, and that they aim to push U.S. forces out of Iraq.

Thursdays strike is likely to increase calls for a U.S. departure.

Last week, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani  who came to power with the backing of Iran-linked political factions but has also attempted to maintain good relations with the U.S.  said that his government is is proceeding to end the presence of the international coalition forces.

The strike also comes two days after a suspected Israeli drone strike in the suburbs of Beirut killed Hamas deputy leader Saleh Arouri.

Asked whether Israel had involvement in Thursdays strike in Baghdad, an Israeli military spokesperson declined to comment.

(AP)
Former President Donald Trump will spend Saturdays third anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection on the campaign trail in Iowa, holding two rallies in his bid to win back the White House.

That is set to come a day after President Joe Biden visits a site near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, where George Washington and the struggling Continental Army endured a tough winter during the American Revolution. His advisers say the stop in a critical swing state will highlight Trumps role in the Capitol riot and be a chance for him to lay out the stakes of this years election.

With Biden and Trump now headed toward a potential 2020 rematch, both are talking about the same event in very different ways and offering framing they believe gives them an advantage. The dueling narratives reflect how an attack that disrupted the certification of the election is increasingly viewed differently along partisan lines  and how Trump has bet that the riot wont hurt his candidacy.

Rioters loyal to Trump stormed the Capitol building in an attempt to stop Congress from certifying Bidens victory, forcing lawmakers and then-Vice President Mike Pence to flee for their lives. Many walked to the Capitol after a rally outside the White House in which Trump exhorted the crowd to fight like hell or youre not going to have a country anymore.

Nine deaths were linked to the attack and 700-plus people have gone to court for their roles in it, with more than 450 sentenced to prison.

Federal prosecutors in Washington have charged Trump in connection with the riot, citing his promotion of false and debunked theories of election fraud and efforts to overturn the results. Trump has pleaded not guilty and continued to lie about the 2020 election.

The former president has still built a commanding lead in the Republican primary, and his rivals largely refrain from criticizing him about Jan 6. He has called it a beautiful day and described those imprisoned for the insurrection as great, great patriots and hostages. He has played at some of his rallies a recording of The Star-Spangled Banner sung by jailed rioters interspersed with him reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

Republican strategist Alice Stewart said that a lot of Republican voters dont love Jan. 6, but theyre not obsessed about it either and may support Trump because they oppose Bidens economic policies.

Republican voters can hold two consecutive thoughts and say, Jan. 6, that wasnt great, but that doesnt affect my bottom line, she said.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called Jan. 6 a protest that ended up devolving, and has more recently said Trump should have come out more forcefully against the rioters. Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley frequently tells crowds that Jan. 6 was not a beautiful day, it was a terrible day.

But views overall of the attack have hardened along partisan lines.

In the days after the attack, 52% of U.S. adults said Trump bore a lot of responsibility for Jan. 6, according to the Pew Research Center. By early 2022, that had declined to 43%. The number of Americans who said Trump bore no responsibility also increased to 32% in 2022 compared to 24% in 2021.

A Washington Post-University of Maryland poll released this week found that about 7 in 10 Republicans say too much is being made of the attack. Just 18% of GOP supporters say that protesters who entered the Capitol were mostly violent, down from 26% in 2021, while 77% of Democrats and 54% of independents say the protesters were mostly violent  essentially unchanged from 2021.

A December poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, meanwhile, found that 87% of Democrats and 54% of independents believe a second Trump term would negatively affect U.S. democracy. Some 82% of Republicans believe democracy would be weakened by another Biden win, with 56% of independents agreeing.

Biden marked the first anniversary of the riot in 2022 by standing inside the Capitols National Statuary Hall  which was flooded by pro-Trump rioters during the attack  to suggest that his predecessor and his supporters had had a dagger at the throat of America.

Ahead of the 2022 midterm elections, the president repeatedly characterized Trump as a threat to democracy. That included a speech at Philadelphias Constitution Hall, where he said that the extreme ideology of Trump and his supporters threatens the very foundation of our republic.

On the second anniversary of the attack in 2023, Biden awarded presidential medals to 14 people for their work protecting the Capitol during the attack and decried a violent mob of insurrectionists. More recently, he said there was no question Trump supported an insurrection.

Not even during the Civil War did insurrectionists breach our Capitol, said Julie Chavez Rodriguez, manager of Bidens reelection campaign, in a call with reporters this week. But, at the urging of Donald Trump, insurrectionists on January 6, 2021 did.

Biden originally planned to speak near Valley Forge on Saturday but moved the speech up because of weather concerns.

But Trump now argues that the federal charges hes facing related to Jan. 6  as well as authorities in Maine and Colorado trying to keep him off primary ballots on grounds that he incited an insurrection  show that Democrats are the ones looking to undercut the nations core values.

Joe Biden and his allies are a real and compelling threat to our democracy, Trump senior campaign advisers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles wrote in a memo this week.

Aside from the back and forth of politics, such arguments over who endangers America more could indicate a deeper problem.

When each side starts talking about the other as a threat to democracy  whatever the reality is  thats a sign of a democracy thats deconsolidating, said Daniel Ziblatt, a government professor at Harvard University and co-author of the book How Democracies Die.

(AP)
Russian air defenses downed dozens of Ukrainian drones in occupied Crimea and southern Russia on Friday, officials said, as Kyiv pressed its strategy of targeting the Moscow-annexed peninsula and taking the 22-month war well beyond Ukraines borders.

Air raid sirens wailed in Sevastopol, the largest city in Crimea, and traffic was suspended for a second straight day on a bridge connecting the peninsula, which Moscow seized illegally a decade ago, with Russias southern Krasnodar region. The span is a crucial supply link for Russias war effort.

The Russian Defense Ministry said its defenses intercepted 36 drones over Crimea and one over Krasnodar, part of an emerging pattern of intensified Ukrainian aerial attacks in recent days.

A Ukrainian Neptune anti-ship missile also was destroyed over the northwestern part of the Black Sea, the ministry said.

The developments came after three people were injured Thursday night by other Ukrainian rocket and drone attacks on the Russian border city of Belgorod and the surrounding region, said Belgorod Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov. On Jan. 6, Ukrainian attacks on Belgorod killed 25 people, officials there said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pledged to strike more targets on the Crimean Peninsula and inside Russian border regions this year. The goal is to unsettle Russians as President Vladimir Putin seeks another six years in power in a March 17 election.

Following a drone strike deep inside Russia last year, Zelenskyy said Ukraine had developed a weapon that can hit targets 700 kilometers (400 miles) away. He said last month Kyiv plans to produce 1 million drones, which have become a key battlefield weapon.

Other Ukrainian officials said it aims to manufacture this year more than 10,000 attack drones with a range of hundreds of kilometers, as well as more than 1,000 longer-range drones that can hit targets well behind the front line and inside Russia.

Both sides are raising the stakes of their long-range warfare as soldiers remain bogged down on the wintry battlefield. The U.K. Defense Ministry said Friday that ground combat has continued to be characterized by either a static front line or very gradual, local Russian advances in key sectors.

The Kremlin, meanwhile, has acquired ballistic missiles from North Korea and fired at least one of them into Ukraine on Dec. 30, the White House said Thursday, citing recently declassified U.S. intelligence. It also is seeking close-range ballistic missiles from Iran, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.

Asked about the development, Ukrainian air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said in televised comments Friday that he couldnt immediately confirm the use of the North Korean-supplied missiles, adding that experts need to study the fragments. Russian officials have refrained from commenting on previous U.S. claims that North Korea has supplied ammunition to Moscow.

Ukraine said it stopped 21 out of 29 Russian Shahed drones launched late Thursday and early Friday. The assault injured two people, including a 14-year-old, and was the latest of almost daily Russian drone attacks in the new year.

Zelenskyy thanked Germany late Thursday for a delivery of military aid, especially air defense materiel that he said is timely and focused on our priorities.

Ukraine should look to continue degrading Russias ability to wage war by conducting an escalating campaign of airstrikes on targets far behind the front lines throughout occupied Ukraine and inside Russia itself, according to Mykola Bielieskov, a research fellow at Ukraines National Institute for Strategic Studies.

This could include attacks on troop concentrations, military bases, and munitions stores along with logistical hubs and armament production facilities, he wrote in an assessment published by the Atlantic Council, a U.S. think tank.

(AP)
Sam Altman says he's spoken with employees who feel uncomfortable speaking about their recent experiences - Dustin Chambers/Bloomberg

Muslim technology workers are afraid to speak out over the Israel-Gaza conflict amid fears it could harm their careers, the boss of OpenAI has claimed.

Sam Altman, who leads the company behind ChatGPT, said: Muslim and Arab (especially Palestinian) colleagues in the tech community Ive spoken with feel uncomfortable speaking about their recent experiences, often out of fear of retaliation and damaged career prospects.

The remarks from Mr Altman, who is Jewish, echo concerns from civil rights and pro-Palestinian groups that have said workers risk losing their jobs if they share posts criticising Israel or supporting Gazans caught up in the fighting.

Mr Altman said: I believe that anti-Semitism is a significant and growing problem in the world, and I see a lot of people in our industry sticking up for me, which I deeply appreciate. I see much less of that for Muslims.

In the US, law firms and Wall Street executives have said they will refuse to hire students from Harvard who blame Israel for the conflict.

This came after Harvard student groups signed a letter in October blaming Israel for deadly attacks carried out by Hamas terrorists.

The statement said: We, the undersigned student organisations, hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence.

A number of companies have since rescinded offers of employment to students who signed the letter and said they will not hire students from other universities who have expressed similar views.

Claudine Gay was Harvard's first black president and the second woman to hold the post - ZUMA Press, Inc./Alamy Stock Photo

Earlier this week, Claudine Gay, the president of Harvard, resigned after she refused to say at a senate hearing whether calling for the genocide of Jews would violate college policies.

The conflict has also caused tensions among Silicon Valley companies.

In November, a group of Google employees published an open letter alleging they had been subjected to hate, abuse and retaliation for their criticism of Israel.

Google said at the time that the row involved a small number of employees and it encouraged those concerned to speak to its human resources team.

Palestine Legal, a US-based civil rights group, claimed those who showed support for Palestinian causes were having job offers revoked as part of a McCarthyite backlash.

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The rival Koreas fired artillery rounds into the sea as part of provocative drills along their disputed sea boundary Friday, in violation of the fragile 2018 inter-Korean agreement, and threatened strong responses against each other if provoked.

The development is expected to escalate tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The last two years have seen North Korea performing a record number of missile tests and South Korea and the U.S. expanding their defense exercises in a tit-for-tat cycle. Experts say North Korea will likely intensify a run of weapons tests ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November.

South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea fired more than 200 rounds in the waters north of their western sea boundary on Friday morning. It was North Koreas first front-line maritime firing exercise in about a year.

Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson Lee Sung Joon told a televised briefing that the Norths artillery firing was an act of provocation that threatens peace and heightens tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Lee said South Korea suffered no damage.

In a corresponding step, South Koreas Defense Ministry said it had its troops on two border islands fire artillery rounds south of the sea boundary later Friday. Local media said South Korea fired 400 rounds. A Defense Ministry statement said the military will maintain a firm readiness to strongly punish any provocations by North Korea.

North Koreas military later said that its firing drills were a sort of natural countermeasure against the Souths other military drills earlier this week. It said the military gangsters of South Korea must not shift blame for tensions to the North.

If the enemies commit an act which may be regarded as a provocation under the pretext of so-called counteraction, the (North) Korean Peoples Army will show tough counteraction on an unprecedented level, the KPAs General Staff said in a statement.

Ahead of the South Korean drills Friday, authorities blared broadcasts via street loudspeakers and sent text messages to residents on the five major border islands, asking them to evacuate to safe places. They worried North Korea could conduct a new round of firing training in response but lifted the evacuation order a few hours later as they detected no suspicious activities by the Norths military, according to local officials.

The Koreas poorly marked western sea boundary witnessed bloody naval clashes in 1999, 2002 and 2009. The Norths alleged torpedoing of a South Korean warship killed 46 South Korean sailors in March 2010, and the Norths artillery bombardment of Yeonpyeong Island  one of the five border islands where the evacuation order was issued on Friday  killed four South Koreans in November 2010.

The 2018 agreement  reached during a short-lived era of reconciliation between the two Koreas, requires them to halt live-fire exercises and aerial surveillance in buffer and no-fly zones established along their border. But the deal is in danger of collapsing after both Koreas took steps to breach the accord amid bickering over the Norths first successful military spy satellite launch in November.

South Korea resumed front-line aerial surveillance in protest at the Norths satellite launch. North Korea responded that it would deploy powerful weapons at the border and wont abide by the 2018 deal any longer. South Korea later accused North Korea of restoring front-line guard posts that it had dismantled under the 2018 deal.

South Korea has previously accused North Korea of having already breached the deal numerous times with firing drills at the buffer zones, including one as recently as December 2022 off the Korean Peninsulas east coast.

North Korea is now in the stage of finding a justification for provocation after scrapping the 2018 military agreement, said Lee Sang Sook, a research professor at the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security. There is a possibility for North Korea to ramp up provocation steadily, so big and small provocations along the western sea boundary and the land border are expected this year.

In a recent key ruling-party meeting, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un fired off fierce, derisive rhetoric against South Korea, saying South Korea must not be considered as a partner for reconciliation or unification. He ordered the military to use all available means  including nuclear weapons  to conquer South Korea in the event of a conflict.

Experts say Kim likely believes that a boosted military capability would increase his chances of wresting U.S. concessions if former President Donald Trump is reelected in the U.S. presidential election. In the ruling party meeting, Kim vowed to expand the countrys nuclear arsenal and launch three additional military spy satellites this year.

Earlier Friday, North Koreas state media said Kim ordered authorities to increase production of mobile launch vehicles for missiles during a visit to a munitions factory. Kim said the role of the factory producing transport erector launchers, or TELs, is very important in bolstering North Koreas national defense because of a looming military showdown with its rivals.

Mobile launch vehicles give North Korea the ability to move missiles around its territory, making it more difficult for adversaries to detect their launches in advance.

Yang Uk, an analyst at Seouls Asan Institute for Policy Studies, said that North Korea is estimated to have more than 200 such launch vehicles, about 20-30 of them likely for intercontinental ballistic missiles designed to attack the U.S. mainland.

Kims factory visit may also be related to the Norths purported shipments of conventional arms to Russia for its war in Ukraine in return for receiving high-tech Russian weapons technologies.

U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Thursday that recently declassified intelligence showed that North Korea has provided Russia with ballistic missile launchers and several ballistic missiles. The U.S. and South Korea have previously accused North Korea of supplying ammunitions and artillery to Russia.

The Russia-Ukraine war is really a good opportunity for North Korea. Its likely operating its weapons factories at their full capacities to satisfy Russia, a big customer, Yang said.

(AP)
Nikki Haleys rivals for the Republican presidential nomination are ratcheting up their attacks on her as Iowas first-in-the-nation voting draws closer.

The barbed news releases, attack ads and amped up back-and-forth come as the former South Carolina governor and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis battle for a distant second place to former President Donald Trump with less than two weeks until Iowas leadoff caucuses. DeSantis and Haley each appeared on CNN Thursday night for separate town halls in Iowa.

For months, Trump has trained his focus on DeSantis, who has long argued that hes the partys best chance at unseating Trump from atop the field. But in recent weeks, Trumps campaign has increasingly shifted its target to Haley, calling her a sellout and criticizing her stances on taxes and the U.S.-Mexico border.

Her campaign on Thursday said Trumps attention to Haley, who served as his United Nations ambassador, reflects his concern that she is gaining on him.

DeSantis, who is preparing to face off against Haley next week in their first one-on-one debate, jumped on Haley, too, for telling a roomful of likely voters Wednesday night in New Hampshire  the first-in-the-nation GOP primary state  that they would have the opportunity to correct the decision made by Iowa caucusgoers. The comment could signal that she not only doesnt expect to win Iowa but that she doesnt expect to place second to DeSantis.

You know, Iowa starts it, said Haley. You know that you correct it  and then my sweet state of South Carolina brings it home.

DeSantis campaign called Haleys comments insulting to Iowa voters. In a radio interview Thursday, he said her characterization was disrespectful.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, who has endorsed DeSantis, posted on X, I trust Iowans to make their own decisions. No corrections needed!

Asked by CNN Thursday night about her characterization of the caucuses  and drawing an initial groan from the crowd  Haley made light of her comments, saying the early states have a friendly rivalry, faulting politics for being too serious and too dramatic and pointing out, If I didnt love Iowa, I wouldnt keep coming to Iowa.

DeSantis has also been critical of Haleys omission last week of slavery when a voter asked her about the causes of the Civil War  a response she walked back 12 hours later.

You know, I noticed that Nikki Haley has had some problems with some basic American history, DeSantis said last week in Iowa.

Haley was asked again about her Civil War answer Thursday night, giving a wide-ranging response that ran from facing discrimination as a girl of Indian descent growing up in rural South Carolina to her push as governor that the state remove the Confederate battle flag from its Statehouse grounds.

Moments later, DeSantis campaign posted a clip on X with the comment, DAY 9 of Nikki Haley trying to clean up her Civil War gaffe. It also pointed to a quote from her response: I had Black friends growing up.

Trumps conservative allies have recirculated an old clip of the then-South Carolina governor urging an audience not to reference people who entered the U.S. illegally as criminals. Those comments came a month after Trumps 2015 launch speech, in which he said immigrants from Mexico are bringing drugs and crime with them.

Make America Great Again Inc., Trumps super PAC, sent out a release blasting Haleys 2015 border comments  without pointing out when they occurred. In her presidential campaign, Haley has argued for more border security, visiting the U.S.-Mexico border and arguing that we need to do whatever it takes to actually stop this inflow of illegal immigrants.

On Wednesday, Trumps campaign went up with an ad characterizing Haley as weak on immigration and lumping her in with President Joe Biden in opposing Trumps commitment to a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

In response, Haleys campaign sent out a fact check, pointing out that she had said in 2015 that more than a wall was needed to secure the border and that, as governor, she had fought to implement E-Verify. That program required South Carolina employers to substantiate workers permission to work legally in the state  something she has pledged to take nationwide if elected president.

Haleys campaign said Trumps increasing focus on her showed that he was getting nervous.

Donald Trump must be seeing the same Nikki momentum were seeing, and hes clearly threatened, spokesperson Olivia Perez-Cubas said. This is a two-person race between Nikki and Trump.

(AP)
Tragedy struck Kiryas Tosh near Montreal on Friday, when an elderly couple was tragically killed in a devastating fire at their home.

The fire was sparked in a multifamily home around 8:20 am Friday. The fire department and other agencies, including Hatzolah and Shomrim/Chaveirim, successfully evacuated the families in the various homes in the area. However, they were unable to gain entry into one of the residences, with the occupants unresponsive.

Emergency personnel were able to break into the apartment several minutes later, pulling out two victims, who had suffered severe smoke inhalation.

Hatzolah immediately provided aid to the stricken victims, but despite their valiant efforts, the pair were tragically pronounced deceased rl at around 10 AM.

The victims were identified as R Dovid Teichner zl, 93, and his wife ah, 46 years old.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
A former police officer who defended the U.S. Capitol against rioters on Jan. 6 announced Friday he is running for Congress in Maryland.

Harry Dunn wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he will be running in a crowded Democratic primary to replace Rep. John Sarbanes, a Democrat who is not seeking reelection.

Dunn made the announcement a day before the third anniversary of the attack at the Capitol that disrupted the certification of the 2020 election, saying in his campaign announcement that former President Donald Trump was hell-bent on finishing what he started three years ago.

On January 6th, I defended our democracy from insurrectionists as a Capitol Police Officer. After, President Biden honored me with the Presidential Citizens Medal, Dunn wrote in the announcement of his candidacy. Today, Im running for Congress to stop Trumps MAGA extremists & ensure it never happens again.

Dunn is running in Marylands 3rd Congressional District, which stretches between Baltimore and the nations capital. The race already has drawn five state legislators to run in the heavily Democratic district.

In a video Dunn released on the social media site, he said he left the police force a few weeks ago after more than 15 years of service to make his congressional bid.

Im stepping into a new role today, but I cant do it alone, Dunn said. I believe everyone of us has a role to play in this fight. So join me. Weve got a democracy to protect.

Dunn, who testified before the Jan. 6 committee in Washington, told lawmakers about an exchange he had with rioters who had fully bought into Trumps false claims that the election was stolen and believed nobody voted for Joe Biden.

In his testimony before Congress in 2021, Dunn, who is Black, described how rioters yelled racial slurs at him after he told them that he voted for Biden and his vote should be counted. Dunn said a crowd of Capitol intruders yelled a racial slur at him, something that never happened while he was on duty during more than a dozen years on the force.

(AP)
An armed unmanned surface vessel launched from Houthi-controlled Yemen got within a couple of miles of U.S. Navy and commercial vessels in the Red Sea before detonating on Thursday, just hours after the White House and a host of partner nations issued a final warning to the Iran-backed militia group to cease the attacks or face potential military action.

Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of U.S. Navy operations in the Middle East, said it was the first time the Houthis had used an unmanned surface vessel, or USV, since their harassment of commercial ships in the Red Sea began after the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war. They have, however, used them in years past.

Fabian Hinz, a missile expert and research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said the USVs are a key part of the Houthi maritime arsenal and were used during previous battles against the Saudi coalition forces that intervened in Yemens war. They have regularly been used as suicide drone boats that explode upon impact.

Most of the Houthis USVs are likely assembled in Yemen but often fitted with components made in Iran, such as computerized guidance systems, Hinz said.

At the United Nations, U.S. deputy ambassador Christopher Lu said at a emergency Security Council meeting on Wednesday that Iran has supplied the Houthis with money and advanced weapons systems, including drones, land attack cruise missiles and ballistic missiles. He said Iran also has been deeply involved in planning the Houthis attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea.

He said the United States isnt seeking a confrontation with Iran, but Tehran has a choice.

It can continue its current course, Lu said, or it can withhold its support without which the Houthis would struggle to effectively track and strike commercial vessels navigating shipping lanes through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

This raises questions as to whether any action against the Houthis would also address Irans role in any way, which could risk widening the conflict.

A statement Wednesday signed by the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom gave the Houthis what a senior Biden administration official described as a final warning.

Let our message now be clear: we call for the immediate end of these illegal attacks and release of unlawfully detained vessels and crews, the countries said in the statement. The Houthis will bear the responsibility of the consequences should they continue to threaten lives, the global economy, and free flow of commerce in the regions critical waterways.

Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder would not say whether any military action would follow Thursdays launch of the sea drone.

Ill let the statement speak for itself, which, again, represented many nations around the world and highlighted that if these strikes dont stop, there will be consequences, Ryder said.

Since late October, the Houthis have launched scores of one-way attack drones and missiles at commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea. U.S. Navy warships have also intercepted ballistic missiles the Pentagon says were headed toward Israel. Cooper said a total of 61 missiles and drones have been shot down by U.S. warships.

In response to the Houthi attacks, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in December announced Operation Prosperity Guardian, with the United States and other countries sending additional ships to the southern Red Sea to provide protection for commercial vessels passing through the critical Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Cooper said 1,500 commercial ships have been able to transit safely since the operation was launched on Dec. 18.

However, the Houthis have continued to launch missiles and attack drones, prompting the White House and 12 allies to issue what amounted to a final warning Wednesday to cease their attacks on vessels in the Red Sea or face potential targeted military action.

Cooper said Operation Prosperity Guardian was solely defensive in nature and separate from any military action the U.S. might take if the Houthi attacks continue.

The U.S., United Kingdom and France are providing most of the warships now, and Greece and Denmark will also be providing vessels, he said.

(AP)
Senior Hamas leader Khaled Mashal issued a warning on Friday, declaring that Israel is digging its own grave with its ongoing conflict against the terror group in Gaza.

Speaking in the aftermath of the alleged Israeli assassination of Hamas terror chief Saleh al-Arouri in Beirut, Lebanon, Mashal accused Israel of being delusional and expressed his belief that Palestinian resistance groups will only grow stronger in response to the war against Hamas.

According to Arabic media reports, Mashal said, This arrogant, criminal Zionist enemy, despite its failure and disappointment after three months of its barbaric aggression against Gaza wants to export their crisis abroad. They want to expand the circle of aggression, thinking that this will confuse the calculations of the resistance and the calculations of the region.

Mashal continued, saying, The enemy also thinks that the assassination of our leaders will break the will of the resistance and weaken the leadership. It does not know that this is a big illusion, emphasizing that, historically, every time a leader fell, a leader rose, and the martyrdom of a leader sets others on the same path, with the same will, with the same determination.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
In a statement made during the funeral of the victims of the ISIS double bombing near the gravesite of former Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi proclaimed that the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas would ultimately lead to the destruction of the State of Israel.

Raisi specifically referred to the Al-Aqsa Flood operation, Hamas term for the October 7 massacre, as a catalyst for what he predicted to be the demise of the Zionist regime.

Our enemies can see Irans power, and the whole world knows its strength and capabilities. Our forces will decide on the place and time to take action, Raisi declared.

During the funeral, mourners chanting slogans such as revenge, Death to America, and Death to Israel, despite the ISIS terrorist organization claiming responsibility for the bombings.

Major General Hossein Salami, the top commander in Irans Revolutionary Guards Corps, went further, alleging that the ISIS bombers were only acting as agents for America and Israel.

Salami additionally contended that the hated Zionist regime is on the verge of destruction, accompanied by a claim that every day 20 Zionists are killed by the Palestinians.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
StockNews.com upgraded shares of Alaska Air Group (NYSE:ALK  Free Report) from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note published on Saturday.

Several other analysts also recently commented on ALK. Melius downgraded shares of Alaska Air Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, January 8th. TD Cowen lowered their target price on Alaska Air Group from $45.00 to $40.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 26th. Raymond James lowered shares of Alaska Air Group from a strong-buy rating to a market perform rating in a report on Monday, December 4th. Susquehanna downgraded shares of Alaska Air Group from a positive rating to a neutral rating and upped their price target for the company from $39.00 to $40.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 10th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of Alaska Air Group from a hold rating to a buy rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $44.00 to $51.00 in a research note on Tuesday, February 20th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Alaska Air Group presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $56.13.

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Check Out Our Latest Analysis on ALK

Alaska Air Group Price Performance

ALK opened at $37.36 on Friday. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $36.83 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $36.86. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a current ratio of 0.61. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.64, a P/E/G ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 1.62. Alaska Air Group has a 52-week low of $30.75 and a 52-week high of $57.18.

Alaska Air Group (NYSE:ALK  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, January 25th. The transportation company reported $0.30 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.18 by $0.12. The business had revenue of $2.55 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.53 billion. Alaska Air Group had a net margin of 2.25% and a return on equity of 14.72%. The firms revenue was up 3.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.92 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that Alaska Air Group will post 4.28 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity at Alaska Air Group

In related news, EVP Andrew R. Harrison sold 6,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $38.36, for a total transaction of $249,340.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,048 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $999,201.28. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.68% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Alaska Air Group

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in Alaska Air Group by 4.4% during the 2nd quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC now owns 5,289 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $281,000 after acquiring an additional 221 shares in the last quarter. US Bancorp DE increased its holdings in Alaska Air Group by 0.9% during the second quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 24,708 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $1,314,000 after buying an additional 222 shares during the period. McIlrath & Eck LLC raised its stake in Alaska Air Group by 12.2% in the fourth quarter. McIlrath & Eck LLC now owns 2,149 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $92,000 after buying an additional 234 shares in the last quarter. Prospera Financial Services Inc increased its holdings in shares of Alaska Air Group by 2.5% in the 2nd quarter. Prospera Financial Services Inc now owns 12,134 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $645,000 after acquiring an additional 293 shares during the period. Finally, Geneos Wealth Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Alaska Air Group by 19.9% in the 1st quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 1,811 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $105,000 after acquiring an additional 300 shares in the last quarter. 80.58% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Alaska Air Group

(Get Free Report)

Alaska Air Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, operates airlines. It operates through three segments: Mainline, Regional, and Horizon. The company offers scheduled air transportation services on Boeing jet aircraft for passengers and cargo in the United States, and in parts of Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Belize, Guatemala, and the Bahamas; and for passengers across a shorter distance network within the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

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Neri Oxman at an event in 2017. Riccardo Savi / Getty Images

Neri Oxman, a former tenured professor at MIT, apologized for parts of her dissertation.

Business Insider found that Oxman, the wife of Bill Ackman, had multiple instances of plagiarism.

"I regret and apologize for these errors," she wrote on X, and said she would update her work.

Neri Oxman, the wife of billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, admitted to failing to properly credit sources in portions of her doctoral dissertation after Business Insider published an article finding that Oxman engaged in a pattern of plagiarism similar to that of former Harvard president Claudine Gay.

BI identified four instances in Oxman's dissertation in which she lifted paragraphs from other scholars' work without including them in quotation marks. In those instances, Oxman wrote in a post on X , using quotation marks would have been "the proper approach for crediting the work. I regret and apologize for these errors."

Ackman has been on a crusade to force Gay to resign , which she did this week. Revelations that she had plagiarized portions of academic articles, publicized by far-right activist Christopher Rufo, added fuel to his calls for Gay to step down after protests against Israel's war in Gaza rocked Harvard's campus.

Ackman said Gay had mishandled the student protests and created a culture of antisemitism at the elite Cambridge institution. Gay's plagiarism underscored her lack of fitness to lead the institution, or even to teach at Harvard, Ackman wrote on X, calling Gay's plagiarism "very serious."

Oxman, an architect and artist, received her Ph.D. from MIT in 2010 and became a tenured professor there in 2017 before leaving the university in June 2021, an MIT spokesperson said. Her failure to use quotation marks to identify passages of text from other sources meets the definition of plagiarism as spelled out in MIT's academic integrity handbook.

Oxman wrote on X that after she has reviewed the original sources, she plans to "request that MIT make any necessary corrections."

Story continues

"As I have dedicated my career to advancing science and innovation, I have always recognized the profound importance of the contributions of my peers and those who came before me. I hope that my work is helpful to the generations to come," she wrote.

Oxman now leads an eponymous company, Oxman , focused on "innovation in product, architectural, and urban design," she wrote on X. "OXMAN has been in stealth mode. I look forward to sharing more about OXMAN later this year."

Her husband, Ackman, lauded her transparency in his own post on X following the publication of Business Insider's article.

"Part of what makes her human is that she makes mistakes, owns them, and apologizes when appropriate," he wrote .

Read the original article on Business Insider
(Bloomberg) -- Just about a week after signing a controversial contract with the UKs national health service, Palantir Technologies Inc. launched an influencer marketing campaign to counter criticism of the patient data platform its building, potentially breaching terms of the deal.

Most Read from Bloomberg

After winning the bid on Nov. 21, Palantir contracted with a digital marketing agency to solicit interest from content personalities. Im getting in touch regarding one of our current campaigns, the marketers wrote in emails to influencers, according to copies of communications obtained by the legal nonprofit Good Law Project and shared with Bloomberg. The pitch said the objective was to clear up misinformation relating to some recent data privacy concerns that were shared in the UK press.

But the US data-analysis company co-founded by billionaire Peter Thiel hadnt cleared the campaign with NHS England, a spokesperson told Bloomberg. According to the heavily redacted version of the deal, published in late December, Palantir is prohibited from making any press announcements about the contract or referencing the NHS in any marketing campaign without prior written consent. The NHS takes any potential breach of contract by a supplier seriously and is investigating what happened, the spokesperson said.

Read More: Peter Thiels Palantir Had Secret Plan to Crack UKs NHS: Buying Our Way In

Palantir called the campaign, run by Topham Guerin, an exploratory project that never took off. We decided not to pursue the project  as such, the campaign was not discussed with NHS England, said Louis Mosley, Palantir executive vice president for UK and Europe. Palantir is no longer working with Topham Guerin, which has previously run campaigns for the Conservative Party.

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According to a briefing document dated Nov. 28 that was sent to influencers last month, Palantir planned to take the campaign live before Dec. 22.

The possible breach of contract represents a shaky start for Palantir, whose involvement with Britains health service has been heavily scrutinized by patient advocacy groups concerned about the companys ability to safely handle private medical data. Palantir bid together with Accenture Plc for the contract to overhaul the National Health Services patient data system and will receive 330 million ($419 million) to build the so-called Federated Data Platform, according to the contract.

The Good Law Project has been a particularly outspoken critic, in part because of Thiels disparaging comments about the NHS. The organization has for months raised concerns about how Palantir and NHS England will safeguard patient information while creating a platform to help hospitals analyze medical data, detect patterns and allocate resources. The organization has described Palantir as possibly the dodgiest company ever to gain access to our medical records and criticized the lack of transparency about the way the platform will process patient data.

Read More: Peter Thiel Says British Affection for NHS Is Stockholm Syndrome

Palantir has concerns about the Good Law Project spreading misinformation about its work, Mosley said. Last month, an agency subcontracted by Topham Guerin contacted health care, tech and data privacy influencers to ask about their fees for posting a video and tweet to help raise awareness and educate the public about Palantirs contract.

A separate briefing document called out the the Good Law Project as being extremely critical and noted that it circulated misinformation online. It outlined key messaging for the influencers, including highlighting Palantirs previous work supporting the NHS Covid vaccine rollout, explaining the purpose of the data platform, and countering allegations that the company would sell patient data. Influencers were instructed to keep the brand confidential and not tag Palantir in their posts.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
By Yuka Obayashi

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's top steelmaker Nippon Steel is confident of successfully completing its planned acquisition of U.S. Steel, despite opposition from labour union and certain U.S. senators, its president said on Friday.

The world's fourth-largest steelmaker's planned $14.9 billion deal has drawn criticism from Democratic and Republican lawmakers and the powerful United Steelworkers union, the main union at the third-largest U.S. steel company.

The White House has also expressed the need for "serious scrutiny" of the deal given the company's role in U.S. steel production that the government regards as critical to national security.

"I believe we can successfully complete the planned acquisition," Nippon Steel President Eiji Hashimoto told reporters on the sideline of the Japan Iron and Steel Federation's new year party on Friday.

"The deal poses no harm to America... as we will make investment in line with the economic security strategies of the United States and other Western nations," he said.

Hashimoto said the substantial investment from Nippon Steel and the use of the Japanese company's advanced steel-making technology would be advantageous to the United States.

He also said the current labour agreement would be maintained, adding: "Taking good care of our employees and labour union is our speciality."

Acknowledging the challenges, Hashimoto said that Nippon Steel had anticipated hurdles, including differing opinions, objections, and government's scrutiny.

(Reporting by Yuka Obayashi; editing by Barbara Lewis)
By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said on Thursday he felt members of the Muslim and Arab communities in the tech industry were uncomfortable speaking about their recent experiences, in an apparent reference to the impact of the ongoing war in Gaza.

"Muslim and arab (especially palestinian) colleagues in the tech community i've spoken with feel uncomfortable speaking about their recent experiences, often out of fear of retaliation and damaged career prospects," Altman wrote on social media network X, formerly known as Twitter.

The Microsoft-backed ChatGPT maker's high-profile boss urged the tech industry to treat members of those communities with empathy.

A user on X asked Altman in a reply how he felt about the experiences of the Jewish community.

Altman responded: "I am jewish. i believe that antisemitism is a significant and growing problem in the world, and i see a lot of people in our industry sticking up for me, which i deeply appreciate. i see much less of that for muslims."

Rights advocates note that antisemitism and Islamophobia have risen sharply in the U.S. and elsewhere since Oct. 7 when Palestinian Islamist group Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel's subsequent assault on Gaza has killed more than 22,000 Palestinians, almost 1% of its 2.3 million population, according to Gaza's health ministry.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations said last month that in the two months after the war began, incidents motivated by Islamophobia and bias against Palestinians and Arabs rose by 172% in the United States compared to the same period last year.

The Anti-Defamation League said in December that between Oct. 7 and Dec. 7, U.S. antisemitic incidents rose by 337%.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Jamie Freed)
The rebuild is ongoing at the Ottawa Beach General Store, with plans for the iconic business to reopen by Memorial Day weekend.

PARK TWP.  The rebuild is ongoing at the Ottawa Beach General Store, with plans for the iconic business to reopen by Memorial Day weekend.

Crews began demolition in September, and have taken advantage of this year's mild winter to forge on. According to store manager Linda Dykert, the project remains on schedule, with the foundation laid and the bones of the structure complete.

More: Historic Ottawa Beach General Store demolished as rebuild begins

There's good progress happening, Dykert said. Everyday, there's more progress. It's been very fun for me to drive by and watch."

The original building stood for 85 years, serving locals and tourists alike. It was a place to get ice cream and donuts, stock up on camping gear, buy last-minute groceries, and visit with strangers.

A rendering of the new Ottawa Beach General Store. The similarity to the original is intentional, as ownership seeks to retain nostalgia while updating infrastructure.

But ownership determined in 2022 the building had reached the end of its useful life. Despite efforts to rehabilitate it, the foundation was crumbling.

The new building will resemble the original, with the same paint color and roofline  but it'll meet modern codes and business needs, including a 10-foot extension near the ice cream serving window.

It'll have the same look and feel as the old store, Dykert said. "It's not red yet, but it will be, and we're working on interior fixtures and giving it that same charm and vintage feel that it had.

Dykert will attend trade shows in the coming weeks to prepare to refill the store. Offerings will remain consistent, she said, but workers face the challenge of stocking the entire shop before opening.

Mostly, Dykert is just grateful for the local support.

Subscribe: Get all your breaking news and unlimited access to our local coverage

Thank you for being our regulars," she said. " We're excited to share with our customers. We're excited to have them walk in and experience that vintage feel but also enjoy the improvements."

 Contact reporter Austin Metz at ametz@hollandsentinel.com.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Ottawa Beach General Store construction on schedule, hopeful for spring reopening
The fact that multiple American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) insiders offloaded a considerable amount of shares over the past year could have raised some eyebrows amongst investors. 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, shareholders should take a deeper look if several insiders are selling stock over a specific time period.

Although we don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions, we do think it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing.

See our latest analysis for American Express

American Express Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider sale was by the insider, Monique Herena, for US$2.6m worth of shares, at about US$173 per share. That means that even when the share price was below the current price of US$187, an insider wanted to cash in some shares. We generally consider it a negative if insiders have been selling, especially if they did so below the current price, because it implies that they considered a lower price to be reasonable. 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. It is worth noting that this sale was 53% of Monique Herena's holding.

All up, insiders sold more shares in American Express than they bought, over the last year. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date!

For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

Insiders At American Express Have Bought Stock Recently

Over the last quarter, American Express insiders have spent a meaningful amount on shares. insider Walter Clayton spent US$144k on stock, and there wasn't any selling. This makes one think the business has some good points.

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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. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. American Express insiders own 0.1% of the company, currently worth about US$175m 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.

What Might The Insider Transactions At American Express Tell Us?

It is good to see the recent insider purchase. On the other hand the transaction history, over the last year, isn't so positive. The recent buying by an insider , along with high insider ownership, suggest that American Express insiders are fairly aligned, and optimistic. Of course, the future is what matters most. So if you are interested in American Express, you should check out this free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

Of course American Express may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of high quality companies.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions 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.
As flu season continues in Chicago, some hospitals are reinstating mask mandates.

All three Rush hospitals  including Rush University Medical Center, Rush Copley Medical Center and Rush Oak Park Hospital  are again requiring patients, visitors and staff members to wear masks on-site.

As of this week, masks are mandatory for everyone at registration and in patient waiting rooms, along with other parts of each hospital.

We reinstituted masking primarily because of the fairly dramatic increase in influenza in the last two or three weeks, said Dr. John Segreti, medical director of infection control and prevention at Rush. Influenza numbers are going up pretty dramatically. The numbers for COVID are going up slightly. Hospitalizations are going up.

For hospital systems like Rush, bringing back mask policies is a low-cost way to keep patients and staffers from transmitting respiratory viruses to each other, Segreti said.

If you wear a mask for protection, theres evidence that it works, Segreti said. It may not add very much, but it probably does help to prevent transmission if youre not infected.

Segreti recommends that residents resume masking indoors throughout their daily lives, especially in poorly ventilated rooms.

Currently, NorthShore University Health System requires masking for patients with symptoms of respiratory viruses, and recommends everyone else mask up in patient care areas regardless.

Northwestern Medicine clinics and hospitals also require patients wear a mask if they have symptoms of a respiratory virus. Patients and staff members can also ask each other to wear a mask while doctors are in a patients room.

A pedestrian wears a mask while passing the Olson Pavilion at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago on Jan. 4, 2024.

Flu and COVID-19 vaccination rates have been low this year, Segreti said. Staying up to date on vaccinations is especially important if youre older, immunocompromised or experiencing comorbidities like heart or lung disease.

The Chicago COVID-19 risk factor rose to medium this week, for the first time in a year. About 34 patients per day are being hospitalized with complications related to COVID.

You cant tell COVID from flu from RSV just based on symptoms, Segreti said. You really have to get tested to be able to differentiate those.

Though influenza cases are rising, along with COVID cases to a lesser extent, RSV cases are becoming less common, Segreti said. Still, Rushs mask policy is meant to work against all three respiratory conditions, as well as others with similar symptoms.

Segreti expects flu season to last another four to eight weeks.
The public is being lied to: Elon Musk says major money funds like BlackRock, Fidelity inflicted ESG on American investors  as states like Texas move to ban these policies, is he right?

Millions of Americans are happy to hand over the power of their portfolio to a professional.

And while asset managers should, in theory, be more successful than the average American investing for themselves, Tesla CEO Elon Musk worries theyre not always making decisions in the best interest of individual investors  especially when it comes to promoting an Environmental, Social, and Governance policy.

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We dont basically do some sort of like bizarre, like communism rebranded thing, which is like a lot of what ESG is and to be inflicted upon corporate America without the knowledge of the actual shareholders, which is what's going on, he said during a 2023 discussion with GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy on X Spaces.

Musk may have a long history of supporting environmental causes, and sure, his car company, Tesla, is one of the most common ESG investments, but that doesnt mean hes on board with investment world titans pulling the strings.

The public is being lied to  And I'm naming names here: BlackRock, Fidelity  I know you guys and you need to tell your customers that you're not making the optimal decisions for shareholder value because that's what's going on, he said.

Musk, to be fair, isnt the only party with concerns along these lines. Texas Republicans, in particular, have been in the news for blocking certain financial corporations from participating in a huge municipal bond deal because of their ESG policies for everything relating to boycotting of the fossil-fuel industry to discriminating against the firearms industry. The state has also passed a few bills to stop both insurance companies and global financial companies from imposing ESG regulations. Heres why Musk theorizes it may get litigious.

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Musk sees massive class-action lawsuit coming

Major asset managers are increasingly considering ESG factors when evaluating their investment strategies.

BlackRock, for instance, has emphasized incorporating climate change impacts into investment decisions and offers a variety of ESG-focused funds. Vanguard has set specific corporate goals for reducing carbon emissions and offers both index and actively managed ESG funds. Fidelity, similarly, integrates ESG considerations into their investment processes and offers a range of ESG-focused products.

According to projections by PwC, global asset managers are expected to increase their ESG-related assets under management to $33.9 trillion by 2026.

And when these asset managers hold board positions in the companies they invest in, they can also end up influencing company decisions.

Musk sees potential issues arising from this increasing emphasis on ESG principles.

The big firms that you hear, BlackRock, you know, Vanguard, all them, theyre like, theyre setting themselves up for the biggest class-action lawsuit in the history of class-action lawsuits by an order of magnitude, because they're breaking the deal with their customers and they're not maximizing shareholder value, he told Ramaswamy.

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

An industry thats ripe for corruption

Musks concern lies in the fiduciary duties that asset managers have to their customers. However, Ramaswamy points out that many of these so-called customers are really just intermediaries.

The problem is, the people who are giving them the money aren't even giving them their own money, he told Musk. Those are either pension funds or they are intermediaries like investment advisers across the country.

Ramaswamy highlighted a complexity in the relationship between asset managers and capital owners. He noted that while asset managers can claim transparency with clients  who may continue to invest  these clients arent the actual owners of the capital.

This distinction, he argued, could complicate a potential class-action lawsuit if Musks hypothesis proves true.

The wave of lawsuits is first going to probably come to the BlackRocks and Vanguards and State Streets of the world. They're going to kick it upstream and say, No, no, no, we disclosed it and our clients still sent the money, but their clients were themselves money managers for other people, Ramaswamy explained.

The problem, according to Ramaswamy, stems from the inherent structure of the financial sector.

That's what happens when you have an industry that's so intermediated that there's so many layers to the waterfall that's actually ripe for corruption, he remarked.

Musk concurred, noting, The average investor is being misled.

What to read next

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has said he raised concerns about rosters at University Hospital Limerick before the death of 16-year-old Aoife Johnston.

She died on December 19 2022 after waiting 12 hours in University Hospital Limericks emergency department for treatment for sepsis.

Her family has said her condition deteriorated so much that other patients began advocating for her to be seen.

Mr Donnelly expressed his condolences to her family for her tragic death and said he planned to meet her family in Limerick soon.

An independent investigation led by retired chief justice Frank Clarke is to examine the circumstances surrounding Aoifes death as well as the clinical and corporate governance of the hospital.

An initial report found that overcrowding in UHLs emergency department is endemic, and doctor and nurse staffing levels are insufficient.

Mr Donnelly said the report made for very sobering reading.

I think there are changes in terms of patient flow, patient management, that needs to be made, he told RTEs Morning Ireland.

Certainly, when I read the report into the tragic death of Aoife Johnston, there were practices being followed in terms of rostering which I had personally raised with the hospital previously and asked to be changed. And at this weekend, they certainly hadnt been changed.

Addressing the familys concerns about not being consulted before the terms of reference of the investigation were announced, Mr Donnelly said officials could not consult the family as there was a new approach being taken that can have accountability at the end.

We would always want to include families in setting terms of reference for various reviews and that is normal practice. It doesnt happen always the way it should but it is the way things should always work.

In this particular case, because this is an investigation that could result in accountability at the end, something that the HSE is criticised for not normally doing  indeed myself in opposition, I would have criticised the HSE for not doing it  this approach is different.

Its a new approach being taken by the new chief executive that can have accountability at the end.

If adverse findings are made, then there are processes that might follow from this investigation.

Now, the advice that the HSE got was, in order to have a process whereby you could have accountability at the end, there were no third parties that could input to the terms of reference. Thats none of the management, none of the staff involved, none of the clinicians and the family.

So at a human level, you always want to do it. But we also want to have a process where there can be accountability at the end.
Two men are due before court on Friday in relation to the death of a suspected gunman who was assaulted following a shooting in a Dublin restaurant on Christmas Eve.

Tristan Sherry, who was one of two suspected gunmen involved in the shooting, suffered fatal injuries after being tackled and assaulted inside the premises in Blanchardstown after the shooting.

One man has already appeared in court charged with Mr Sherrys murder.

Two other men who were arrested by gardai are due to appear before a sitting of Blanchardstown District Court on Friday morning.

The man who was shot in the initial gun attack inside Brownes Steakhouse in Blanchardstown died on Thursday, gardai said.

Jason Hennessy Snr, who was in his late 40s, sustained multiple gunshot wounds.

Mr Hennessy, who was known to gardai, was treated at Dublins Connolly Hospital and then transferred to the citys Mater Hospital, where he died.

A second murder investigation has been launched after Mr Hennessys death.

Two gunmen had entered the busy restaurant at about 8pm on December 24 and opened fire.

Last week, Michael Andrecut, 22, of Sheephill Avenue, Corduff, appeared at a special sitting of the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin charged with Mr Sherrys murder.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) have issued a warning to Irish households about potential tumble dryer fires, and have published tips on how to avoid causing one.

The CCPC have published their top ten safety tips for tumble dryers online, which include simple steps householders can take to avoid potential fires in their homes.

Lint and fluff should be cleaned from the filter and around the door after every use, and fibres, dust and dirt should not be allowed to accumulate around the exhaust exit or nearby areas.

A tumble dryer must be placed in a spot with enough ventilation to prevent overheating, and should never be placed on a carpet covered floor.

Extension cords, multi-plugs or adaptors should never be used to connect a dryer to the power supply, as doing so increases the potential for electric shock or fire.

More tips are available on the CCPC website here.
An opponent of a planned 4.7-mile bikeway along St. Pauls historic Summit Avenue filed an injunction against the city last March, arguing that no work should move forward until the city releases copies of thousands of internal emails, text messages and planning documents.

City officials have maintained for months theyve done just that, though bikeway opponent Robert Cattanach has argued that the citys review of its own records was incomplete.

On Dec. 21, Ramsey County District Court judge Patrick Diamond issued a 28-page order calling for the city to fully comply with Cattanachs information requests within 45 days, which would put the deadline in early February.

Among the issues considered by Diamond, a drop-down menu on the citys online information portal allows users to make information requests of particular city departments, such as St. Paul Public Works or St. Paul Parks and Recreation, but that does not necessarily trigger a keyword search within all city offices.

Cattanach, in his legal filings, objected to the citys practice of limiting the scope of its search for documents to a single or small number of city departments.

Diamond largely agreed, noting that while the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act requires a responsible government body to exercise judgment as to where and how to look for data responsive to the request, throughout the government entity, the city had failed to show that most searches were conducted outside of the pre-determined city departments.

While searches roping in other departments occurred only on exceptional occasions, the judge wrote, the city has steadfastly maintained that a limited, departmental response is sufficient.

Following hours of public testimony for and against the curb-protected bikeway project, the St. Paul City Council approved the Summit Avenue bikeway by a vote of 6-1 last May.

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The most you can lose on any stock (assuming you don't use leverage) is 100% of your money. But when you pick a company that is really flourishing, you can make more than 100%. Long term West African Resources Limited (ASX:WAF) shareholders would be well aware of this, since the stock is up 287% in five years. It's also good to see the share price up 37% over the last quarter.

Since the long term performance has been good but there's been a recent pullback of 7.6%, let's check if the fundamentals match the share price.

Check out our latest analysis for West African Resources

While markets are a powerful pricing mechanism, share prices reflect investor sentiment, not just underlying business performance. One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS).

During the last half decade, West African Resources became profitable. Sometimes, the start of profitability is a major inflection point that can signal fast earnings growth to come, which in turn justifies very strong share price gains. Given that the company made a profit three years ago, but not five years ago, it is worth looking at the share price returns over the last three years, too. We can see that the West African Resources share price is down 17% in the last three years. Meanwhile, EPS is up 312% per year. So there seems to be a mismatch between the positive EPS growth and the change in the share price, which is down -6% per year.

You can see below how EPS has changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image).

ASX:WAF Earnings Per Share Growth January 5th 2024

It is of course excellent to see how West African Resources has grown profits over the years, but the future is more important for shareholders. It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on how its financial position has changed over time.

A Different Perspective

West African Resources shareholders are down 24% for the year, but the market itself is up 12%. Even the share prices of good stocks drop sometimes, but we want to see improvements in the fundamental metrics of a business, before getting too interested. Longer term investors wouldn't be so upset, since they would have made 31%, each year, over five years. It could be that the recent sell-off is an opportunity, so it may be worth checking the fundamental data for signs of a long term growth trend. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 1 warning sign with West African Resources , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

Story continues

If you are like me, then you will 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 Australian 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.
Caveat . . . This is merely the perspective of a lowly basement blogger who dares not dream of breaching the elite world of cowtown journalism . . . However . . .

ACCOLADES FROM ACTIVISTS TYPICALLY SIGNAL DOOM FOR JOURNALISTS!!!

Again . . . Take this advice for what it's worth . . . But, in our experience, activism and reliable journalism are typically two VERY DIFFERENT THINGS.

Few people can do both . . . One typically has to suffer . . . And often that's fine as long as readers aren't mistaken about what they're consuming . . . Which is mostly just social media garbage in between pay-for-play hotties and cat videos.

Still . . .



As the newspaper loses readers, advertisers and influence . . . We notice more high praise from the chattering class proving an age-old axiom that we'll paraphrase:

In Kansas City, you can die from encouragement.

Check-it:



"While we await the tangible impact of these changes, it is encouraging to see the beginnings of a more equitable and inclusive media landscape that can better reflect the realities and perspectives of Black Kansas Citians."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
In this update we cover police action, tragic updates, court cases and all manner of critical KC crime reporting.



Check TKC news gathering . . .

Homicide claims life of Captain Vonzell, Kansas City DJ, party promoter Kansas City friends of Vonzell Bryant said the former business owner, DJ, and party promoter, was much more than just the city's first homicide of 2024.

Authorities investigating attempted bank robbery in Platte City, Missouri Authorities say a man entered the Bank of Weston shortly before 11 a.m. on Friday and threatened a bank employee.

Lenexa man charged with robbing 2 Johnson County QuikTrips A Lenexa, Kansas, man has been arrested after allegedly robbing multiple Johnson County gas stations in mid-December, police say.

Judge sentences Iowa man in Prairie Village Murder Michael L. Balance was sentenced to 618 months in prison for murdering a Prairie Village man two years ago.

Appeals court denies UMB's attempt to revive RICO claim against Benton heirs - Kansas City Business Journal UMB Bank's attempt to reinstate a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act lawsuit it filed against the heirs of the Thomas Hart Benton estate was denied by the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. But the legal wrangling between the parties will continue in state court.

Law enforcement continued to follow suspect after KC police say they called off chase The wrong-way crash killed two people, including an innocent bystander and the fleeing driver.

Cops shot on the job in 2023 hit new high, report says (The Center Square) - A new report shows the number of police officers shot on the job hit a new high in 2023. The National Fraternal Order of Police, a national police group with nearly 400,000 ...

Kansas City's Santa Fe neighborhood sees decline in homicide cases during deadliest year on record KCPD says the area accounted for 20 percent of the city's homicides since 2000

Developing . . .
Right now hottie Jeannie and her winter fashion advice inspires our peek pop culture, community news and top headlines.



Check TKC news gathering . . .

Local Tee Opportunity

Kansas City graphic artist capitalizes off 'Steamboat Willie' becoming public domain After 95 years of copyright, Steamboat Willie is now in the public domain.

Rerouted . . .

Southbound I-35 reopens after being closed for Buck O'Neil Bridge project After nearly 6 months of being closed, crews working on the new Buck O'Neil Bridge project have opened SB Interstate 35 at WB Interstate 70.

Growing Fight Against City Hall

KC urban farm takes fight to City Hall to keep composting after neighbor complaints The city zoning board's decision could lead to the end of Urbavore Farm's curbside composting operation.

Best Practices Across Bridge

North Kansas City Hospital warns patients of possible data breach North Kansas City Hospital says some patient data may have been breached last year after an outside vendor experienced a security incident.

Song Of Survival

Faced with his parents' deaths, a Kansas City musician took solace in composing music A new, four-hour-long piece of music by Collin Thomas is two years in the making, and explores the grief that comes with losing family.

Diva Shares Milestone Fashion

Jeannie Mai sizzles in gold bikini to celebrate 45th birthday Jeannie Mai turned up the heat on Thursday as she celebrated her 45th birthday.

Prez Confronts Border Backlash

Biden increasingly under pressure from Democrats on migrant crisis: 'We are so frustrated' Democratic officials across the country are complaining of "mounting crises in their cities" as illegal immigrants continue to strain local services.

EPIC MAGA Money Demanded

NY attorney general seeking $370 million from Trump and co-defendants in civil fraud trial | CNN Politics The New York attorney general is seeking more than $370 million from Donald Trump and his co-defendants and to bar the former president from doing business in the state, according to a post-trial brief filed Friday in Trump's civil fraud trial.

Gun Honcho Calls It Quits

Wayne LaPierre announces resignation as NRA chief Longtime NRA CEO and executive vice president Wayne LaPierre announced his resignation from the NRA after more than three decades serving as its chief.

Debating Disaster

Dylan Butler transgender claims flood social media Dylan Butler killed one person and wounded others in a shooting at a high school in Iowa on Thursday.

Retreating From Russia

Ukraine war: Some residents leave Belgorod after deadly attacks Twenty-five people were killed on Saturday in Belgorod - the biggest city near Ukraine.

Holy Land Pull Back

Israel tries to appease US with proposals for Gaza as Blinken heads to Middle East Washington wants concessions from the Netanyahu administration, as critics say plans lack detail or commitment

Beatle Legacy Disputed

Nepo Baby Sean Ono Lennon Trashes Harvard Diversity Sean Ono Lennon has needlessly forced his way into debates in the past where he defended the use of ivermectin to treat COVID-19, despite FDA warnings.

Hawking Had Nasty Time???

New Epstein documents reveal more contact names in ongoing release. What's in the latest files? The new Jeffrey Epstein-related documents add to a trove of names of people connected to the investigation - most of whom have not been accused of any wrongdoing.

Local Rolling Tragedy

Woman says fiancee in coma days after being struck by tire in Independence A Kansas City metro man is currently in a coma and is fighting for his life after his fiancee said he was the victim of a freak accident.

Under The Weather

Weekend Possibilities | Hiking, The MGDs and Winter Waterland The first weekend of 2024 is here. Here's your winter fun agenda. Start with One Direction, The MGDs or a take a hike.

Newsies Share Snow Forecast

Kansas City's First Alert Winter Weather Guide Here are resources to help you through winter weather conditions.

The Chainsmokers - Think Of Us ft. GRACEY is the song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.
Of course we do.

One more time with more enthusiasm for the cheap seats . . .

ABSOLUTELY!!! KANSAS CITY NEEDS MORE LADY POLITICIANS & SAYING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY WILL LIKELY EARN HATE CRIME CHARGES SOMETIME SHORTLY AFTER NOVEMBER 2024!!!



Until then . . . Apropos for #TBT lets not forget that our blog community boldly documented the KCMO council when it hosted more women than at any point in history.

We were gonna write a book on it and call it:

Jan Marcason: The Potato Salad Years.



Their greatest accomplishment . . . Uniting to work against an incompetent Mayor & his wife mostly because she refused to keep her shoes on during the work day.

But I digress . . .

Here's a new hope and effort to recruit more lady candidates that offers high hope and encouragement who aren't quite as socially conscious , hot or charismatic as hottie Pamela but seek power & influence nevertheless . . . Check-it:



The campaign school is a one day training, run by the Greater Kansas City Women's Political Caucus. It teaches women the basics of running for office and working on campaigns: how to fundraise, talk about their positions on key issues, managing volunteers and more.



"What we're trying to do is build confidence, build knowledge, build skills, and connect them with women mentors and other elected officials who have been in their same position," Loyacono said. "To see that they can do it, but also to make sure that their eyes are open when they go into running for office, that they understand some of the pitfalls."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
What are the early trends we should look for to identify a stock that could multiply in value over the long term? Typically, we'll want to notice a trend of growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and alongside that, an expanding base of capital employed. This shows us that it's a compounding machine, able to continually reinvest its earnings back into the business and generate higher returns. And in light of that, the trends we're seeing at Scorpio Tankers' (NYSE:STNG) look very promising so lets take a look.

What Is Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)?

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 Scorpio Tankers:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT)  (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

0.23 = US$833m  (US$4.3b - US$706m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2023).

So, Scorpio Tankers has an ROCE of 23%. That's a fantastic return and not only that, it outpaces the average of 16% earned by companies in a similar industry.

View our latest analysis for Scorpio Tankers

roce

Above you can see how the current ROCE for Scorpio Tankers compares to its prior returns on capital, but there's only so much you can tell from the past. If you'd like to see what analysts are forecasting going forward, you should check out our free report for Scorpio Tankers.

The Trend Of ROCE

Scorpio Tankers has broken into the black (profitability) and we're sure it's a sight for sore eyes. While the business was unprofitable in the past, it's now turned things around and is earning 23% on its capital. While returns have increased, the amount of capital employed by Scorpio Tankers has remained flat over the period. So while we're happy that the business is more efficient, just keep in mind that could mean that going forward the business is lacking areas to invest internally for growth. Because in the end, a business can only get so efficient.

Story continues

The Bottom Line

To sum it up, Scorpio Tankers is collecting higher returns from the same amount of capital, and that's impressive. Since the stock has returned a staggering 260% to shareholders over the last five years, it looks like investors are recognizing these changes. So given the stock has proven it has promising trends, it's worth researching the company further to see if these trends are likely to persist.

One final note, you should learn about the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Scorpio Tankers (including 1 which is a bit concerning) .

If you'd like to see other companies earning high returns, check out our free list of companies earning high returns with solid balance sheets 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.
A day ahead of an American holiday commemorated mostly on MSNBC . . . Cowtown dead-tree media remains laser focused on the home front war targeting anybody unfortunate to attend the most horrific panty-raid in American history that terrified AOC nearly as much as the impending destruction of planet Earth she predicted in less than 8 years . . . Check-it:



They were church staffers, business owners, schoolteachers, engineers, grandparents and decorated military veterans. Some had never had so much as a speeding ticket; others had done prison time as convicted felons.



These 46 Missouri and Kansas residents are now part of a club that was launched on Jan. 6, 2021, the day a mob of then-President Donald Trumps supporters stormed the nations Capitol to protest what they claimed was a stolen election.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Three years after Capitol riot, 46 Missouri and Kansas residents have now been charged More than three-quarters of those MO and KS residents charged have pleaded guilty or been found guilty in a bench trial. Many were turned in by their friends, co-workers, online sleuths and even family members.

Missouri Jan. 6 rioter has no business on school board or any other public office | Opinion Kimberly Dragoo and her husband pleaded guilty to participating in the attack on the U.S. Capitol. St. Joe's school board doesn't need an anarchist, writes Toriano Porter.

Developing . . .
Ancient American zeolot John Brown and his body a-mouldering in his grave is a low bar for bi-state relations but even in an election year we're probably doing better than that . . . Accordingly, this late night post chronicles a great many local topics from state houses that we'll fight about all winter long.

Check TKC news gathering . . .

Missouri legislators express hope for session during 2024 election year (The Center Square) - Missouri legislators praised last year's accomplishments and expressed hope for the 2024 legislative session as it started on Wednesday. "I know we can work together and...

Kansas lawmakers want to cut taxes. Here's what they're thinking. Kansas has more than $2 billion in its reserves. Republicans and Democrats have opposing ideas for tax cuts.

Missouri legislators hope to fully lift felony drug ban from food assistance program * Missouri Independent Two lawmakers filed legislation to remove remaining restrictions on providing food benefits to those convicted of felony drug offenses.

Pair of Kansas GOP lawmakers file lawsuit in quest to call U.S. constitutional convention - Kansas Reflector Two Kansas legislators want to lower the vote threshold needed for the Legislature to pass a resolution calling for a federal constitutional convention.

Missouri representative files bill to eliminate state sales tax on diapers, feminine hygiene products House Bill 2187 would repeal the state sales tax on diapers, feminine products and other incontinence product purchases.

Bill introduced in Missouri House would eliminate food tax over four-year period beginning in 2025 If legislators approve, the bill would reduce the food tax over four years starting in January 2025.

Kansas Chamber puts shoulder behind 2024 income tax, health care, education reforms - Kansas Reflector Kansas Chamber's agenda for 2024 legislative session touts single flat-rate individual income tax, supports school vouchers and rejects Medicaid expansion.

Developing . . .
The inauguration of the restored palace of the king of Macedonia, Philip II in Aigai, which has been called the "Parthenon of Macedonia", is an event of global importance, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Friday during the inauguration ceremony, ANA reports.

"It is not by chance that I have chosen to be here again, in the first, essentially, visit of the new year, honoring a monument of the Kingdom of Macedonians," the prime minister said and stressed: "Our bet is to be able to make Aigai a point of reference, a landmark of our ancestors' greatness, but also a part of our modern life. This wonderful archaeological park can and should become a catalyst of economic development for Vergina, Imathia, and all the region of Macedonia."

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: Klaus-Peter Simon
His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America will be visiting Mount Athos on the occasion of the Feast of Epiphany accompanied by 40 pilgrims from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

The pilgrimage will begin on January 18, 2024, at the Holy Monastery of Xenophontos, where His Eminence will officiate at the vigil and the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy for the Feast Day of the Epiphany as well as the blessing of the waters on January 19.

On Saturday, January 20, the Archbishop and his accompanying pilgrims will visit the Holy Monastery of Philotheou. This is the historic parent monastery where Geronda Ephraim served before coming to the United States and establishing new monasteries all around the country.

On January 21, the Archbishop will attend the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at the Holy Monastery of Philotheou. On the same day, the Archbishop and the pilgrims will visit the Holy Monastery of Pantokrator, where they will stay overnight.

On January 22, the pilgrims return to Thessaloniki, and on January 23, they will visit the new Metropolitan of Thessaloniki His Eminence Philotheos at the headquarters of the Holy Metropolis. Archbishop Elpidophoros will also have meetings with Deputy Minister of the Interior Stathis Konstantinidis at the Ministry offices of Macedonia and Thrace, Regional Governor of Central Macedonia Apostolos Tzitzikostas in the Region of Central Macedonia, new Mayor of Thessaloniki Stelios Angeloudis at City Hall, U.S. Consul General in Thessaloniki Jerry Ismail at the U.S. Consulate and Consul General of Turkey in Thessaloniki Orhan Yalman Okan at the Consulate of Turkey.

Pilgrims will also visit the Holy Monastery of St. John the Theologian in Souroti, Thessaloniki, where the tomb of St. Paisios lies in the New and the Holy Monastery of Timios Prodromos in Akritochori, Serres.

On Saturday, January 27, the Archbishop will officiate the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at the Holy Church of Saints Constantine and Helen of Ilioupolis, where the ordination to the priesthood of Deacon Petros Gomez of the Holy Archdiocese of America will take place.

On the same day, Archbishop Elpidophoros will visit His Eminence Metropolitan Varnava of Neapolis and Stavropoleos at the headquarters of the Holy Metropolis, while visits will be made to the Municipality of Ampelokipi, where there will be a meeting with Ampelokipi Mayor Lazaros Kyrizoglou, and to the Pharos tou Kosmou in Dendropotamos.

In the afternoon of the same day, the Archbishop will attend the cutting of the AHEPA vasilopita at the Hyatt Hotel.

At the invitation of the Central Jewish Council, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America will be the keynote speaker at the events for the National Day of Remembrance of the Greek Jewish Martyrs and Heroes of the Holocaust that will take place in Thessaloniki on Sunday, January 28.

On Sunday morning, Archbishop Elpidophoros will concelebrate Divine Liturgy with His Eminence Metropolitan Philotheos of Thessaloniki at the Holy Metropolis, the Church of St. Gregory Palamas, and will then lay a wreath at the Holocaust Memorial in Eleftherias Square.

The keynote address at the Central Jewish Council will take place in the afternoon of the same day at the Aristoteleian University of Thessaloniki.

Read more at thenationalherald.com

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: cod gabriel
The United Kingdom has made visiting school groups from France easier. This new rule, announced by the UK government, applies to groups with five or more children under 18. The change, effective since Dec. 28, was agreed upon by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron last March.

United Kingdom Eases Entry Rules for French School Groups

The United Kingdom has relaxed its entry requirements for French school groups in a significant move. This change, announced by the UK's Home Office, is aimed at making travel easier for young students from France visiting the UK. The decision comes after discussions between UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Previously, after the United Kingdom left the European Union, all travelers needed passports to enter the UK. This change was hard for many school students who didn't have passports, especially those from non-EU countries who also needed visas.

Now, under the new rules, students from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein in French school groups can enter the United Kingdom with just an ID card, as reported by Study Travel. They must also have permission from their parents and a copy of their parent's ID. Students from other countries in these groups need a passport but won't need a visa. The school's head teacher must fill out a form and send it to the French authorities 15 days before the trip.

Adults leading these groups still need passports, and people from countries outside the EU that require a visa will still need one.

Related Article: UK Passport Holders Face Boarding Denials Due to Brexit Rules Confusion

Groups and associations in education and tourism have had mixed reactions to this change. The British Educational Travel Association (BETA) feels that the new rule is a start but doesn't fully solve the problems caused by the UK's strict travel rules. They want the rule to include more countries and other types of groups.

English UK, a group representing English language teaching organizations, also thinks this is a step in the right direction but not a complete solution. They hope to extend this rule to other EU countries and different types of junior groups.

UNOSEL, a French travel association, is happy with the new rule. They say it is great news for students, families, and teachers. They hope the rule will soon include all groups, as school trips have been challenging to organize since the United Kingdom left the EU.

UK Plans to Test 'Smart' Passport Gates for Easier Travel

The United Kingdom is set to trial innovative 'Smart' passport gates to simplify border crossings. Phil Douglas, head of the UK Border Force, told The Times that the new system will use facial recognition for a smoother entry process. Travelers won't need to show their passports but will simply look into a camera.

According to The Independent, this advanced method differs from the current eGates, which match faces to passport photos. The new 'Smart' gates will use a central database, requiring travelers to be pre-registered. If they are over ten years old, eGates are open to people from the UK, EU, and several other nations, including the USA and Canada.

The UK is also introducing the Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme, assisting in the pre-arrival information gathering of travelers. Similar technology is already used at airports like Dubai, which boasts rapid processing times.

Initially, the UK will conduct a trial at one airport with select travelers. This upgrade, involving the replacement of numerous eGates, is expected to be costly. After a system failure last May caused significant delays, there might be concerns about the reliability of this new technology.

Read Also: Solar Storms May Lead to Train Accidents in the UK, New Study Reveals
When you think of Africa, chances are one of the first things that comes to mind is the safari. You probably have an idea of how a safari typically looks like and how it goes. But did you know that there is such a thing as a boat safari?

A boat safari can be seen as a more relaxing yet no less exciting way of seeing the wildlife and scenery around you. If you happen to be wondering where you should go to experience it, you shouldn't look any further than Kenya.

Here's what you should know about going on a boat safari in Kenya.

Boat Safaris in Kenya: The Basics

Those hoping to go on a boat safari in Kenya should head to Lake Naivasha, one of Africa's best known freshwater lakes. Boat safaris here can accommodate six to 20 persons at a time depending on boat capacity.

Do take note that boat safari tours take around one hour and take place during the following time periods:

7 a.m. to 11 a.m.

2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

There are boat companies in the area that provide boat safari services. However, do check if the lodge you are staying in also offer such experiences.

Related Article: 6 Tips for Planning the Perfect African Safari Trip

Wildlife You May Spot During a Boat Safari

Lake Naivasha is home to different species of wildlife, which make going on a boat safari an exciting and surreal experience. If you are hoping to see hippos in person, then you are in luck. This is because over a thousand hippos call Lake Naivasha home.

Other land animals you have the chance of seeing are giraffes, zebras, and wildebeests. If you want to spot birds, you are also in luck as there are around 400 bird species that have been spotted in the area. These include herons, giant kingfishers, pelicans, flamingoes, and fish eagles, among others.

Read Also: Top 5 Offbeat National Parks You Need to Visit in Africa Now
Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS) shareholders should be happy to see the share price up 12% in the last month. But that doesn't change the fact that the returns over the last three years have been less than pleasing. After all, the share price is down 13% in the last three years, significantly under-performing the market.

With that in mind, it's worth seeing if the company's underlying fundamentals have been the driver of long term performance, or if there are some discrepancies.

See our latest analysis for Las Vegas Sands

While markets are a powerful pricing mechanism, share prices reflect investor sentiment, not just underlying business performance. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price.

Las Vegas Sands became profitable within the last five years. That would generally be considered a positive, so we are surprised to see the share price is down. So given the share price is down it's worth checking some other metrics too.

With a rather small yield of just 1.6% we doubt that the stock's share price is based on its dividend. We note that, in three years, revenue has actually grown at a 23% annual rate, so that doesn't seem to be a reason to sell shares. It's probably worth investigating Las Vegas Sands further; while we may be missing something on this analysis, there might also be an opportunity.

The graphic below depicts how earnings and revenue have changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image).

Las Vegas Sands is well known by investors, and plenty of clever analysts have tried to predict the future profit levels. If you are thinking of buying or selling Las Vegas Sands stock, you should check out this free report showing analyst consensus estimates for future profits.

A Different Perspective

Investors in Las Vegas Sands had a tough year, with a total loss of 1.8% (including dividends), against a market gain of about 22%. Even the share prices of good stocks drop sometimes, but we want to see improvements in the fundamental metrics of a business, before getting too interested. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 0.9% per year over five years. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Like risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for Las Vegas Sands (of which 1 is a bit concerning!) you should know about.

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If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of companies that have proven they can grow earnings.

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.
Understanding the Dividend Dynamics of Shoe Carnival Inc

Shoe Carnival Inc (NASDAQ:SCVL) recently announced a dividend of $0.12 per share, payable on 2024-01-22, with the ex-dividend date set for 2024-01-05. 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 Shoe Carnival Inc's dividend performance and assess its sustainability.

What Does Shoe Carnival Inc Do?

Warning! GuruFocus has detected 4 Warning Sign with SCVL.

High Yield Dividend Stocks in Gurus' Portfolio

This Powerful Chart Made Peter Lynch 29% A Year For 13 Years

How to calculate the intrinsic value of a stock?

Shoe Carnival Inc is a family footwear retailer that offers a broad assortment of dress, casual and athletic footwear for men, women, and children with an emphasis on national name brands such as Nike, Skechers, Adidas, Puma, HEYDUDE, Converse, Vans, and Crocs. It operates a retail-focused business model that aims to deliver the footwear shopping experience with the national name brands desired by its customers. Its bricks-first, omnichannel approach provides customers easy access to a wide assortment of branded footwear for work, athletics, daily activities, and special events via a choice of delivery channel.

Shoe Carnival Inc's Dividend Analysis

A Glimpse at Shoe Carnival Inc's Dividend History

Shoe Carnival Inc has maintained a consistent dividend payment record since 2012. Dividends are currently distributed on a quarterly basis. Shoe Carnival Inc has increased its dividend each year since 2013. 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 11 years. Below is a chart showing annual Dividends Per Share for tracking historical trends.

Breaking Down Shoe Carnival Inc's Dividend Yield and Growth

As of today, Shoe Carnival Inc currently has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.46% and a 12-month forward dividend yield of 1.68%. This suggests an expectation of increased dividend payments over the next 12 months.

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Over the past three years, Shoe Carnival Inc's annual dividend growth rate was 28.90%. Extended to a five-year horizon, this rate decreased to 19.40% per year. And over the past decade, Shoe Carnival Inc's annual dividends per share growth rate stands at an impressive 12.60%.

Based on Shoe Carnival Inc's dividend yield and five-year growth rate, the 5-year yield on cost of Shoe Carnival Inc stock as of today is approximately 3.54%.

Shoe Carnival 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 2023-10-31, Shoe Carnival Inc's dividend payout ratio is 0.14.

Shoe Carnival Inc's profitability rank, offers an understanding of the company's earnings prowess relative to its peers. GuruFocus ranks Shoe Carnival Inc's profitability 8 out of 10 as of 2023-10-31, suggesting good profitability prospects. The company has reported positive net income for each 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. Shoe Carnival 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 Shoe Carnival Inc's revenue per share, combined with the 3-year revenue growth rate, indicates a strong revenue model. Shoe Carnival Inc's revenue has increased by approximately 8.70% per year on average, a rate that outperforms approximately 64.03% 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, Shoe Carnival Inc's earnings increased by approximately 39.50% per year on average, a rate that outperforms approximately 80.12% of global competitors.

Lastly, the company's 5-year EBITDA growth rate of 45.60%, which outperforms approximately 92.95% of global competitors.

Next Steps

Shoe Carnival Inc stands out as a company with a solid track record of dividend payments, a commendable growth in dividend rates, and a prudent payout ratio that underscores financial stability. The company's profitability and growth metrics paint a picture of a business that is not only maintaining its competitive edge but also expanding its financial health, which is a green flag for dividend sustainability. Investors considering Shoe Carnival Inc for its dividend prospects should be encouraged by these indicators. However, they should also stay informed about the broader economic conditions and the company's operational performance, which could influence future dividend payments and growth.

GuruFocus Premium users can screen for high-dividend yield stocks using the High Dividend Yield Screener.

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.


The Poor Man Tyre Shop in Valencia and a nearby apartment building were destroyed by fire 
Udaku Special

AJIRA ZA UHAKIKA NJE NJE, BONYEZA HAPA









NECTA Matokeo ya Darasa la Nne 2023/ 2024

Let us explore the NECTA Matokeo ya Darasa la Nne 2023/2024 Dates on today's update , as Many Parents , Guardians and Students are wondering as to what are the NECTA Matokeo ya Darasa la Nne 2023 Dates, this after thousands of students sat for the NECTA SFNA 2023 exams, this was after they completed their fourth year of primary schooling in Tanzania.

Normally each year students take the academic tests and they are currently looking for their NECTA STD Four results, Matokeo Darasa la Nne results, and NECTA SFNA results. The NECTA Standard Four National Assessment (SFNA results show the students' performance on their fourth-year exams; in Swahili, this exam is also known as Matokeo ya Darasa la Nne.

In Tanzania the Primary, Secondary, and Teacher education National Examinations are managed and administered by Tanzania's National Examinations Council (NECTA). Everything you need to know about NECTA Matokeo ya Darasa la NNE 2023/2024 Dates will be covered on this update.

In addition this update also offers a thorough how-to guide for checking the Matokeo ya darasa la nne 2023/2024  NECTA standard four 2023 results. It will include official links, detailed instructions, and fixes for often encountered problems. To make sure that students have access to all the information they need, we will also offer a breakdown of the 2023/ 2024 SFNA results. With this knowledge, students and their loved ones can go toward their academic objectives by checking their results with assurance.

What are the Potential NECTA Matokeo ya Darasa la Nne 2023 Dates ?

To get a precise indication of the NECTA Matokeo ya Darasa la Nne 2023 Dates , it is of vital importance to have look back on the previous NECTA Matokeo ya Darasa la Nne Release Dates.

MATOKEO DARASA LA NNE

For Instance on January 15, 2021 the then Executive Secretary of the Tanzania Examination Council (Necta) Dr. Charles E. Msonde concurrently announced the results of Standard Four (Darasa la Nne ), Form Two ( Kidato cha Pili ) and Form four ( Kidato cha Nne) for the 2020 exams on that same day.

While the NECTA Matokeo ya Darasa la Nne release Date for the year 2019 exams was Thursday January 9, 2020 . Again this time around Dr. Msonde announced the results of Standard Four, Form Two as well as the Form Four National Examination results all at the same date & time.

While the most recent NECTA Matokeo ya Darasa la Nne Dates for those who to took the Exam in 2022 was January 4 , 2023 when they were released officially singularly this time and posted on www.necta.go.tz .

Thus, based on the above previous trends, we can infer that the NECTA Matokeo ya Darasa la Nne 2023 Dates will most likely be officially released by the NECTA Executive Secretary Dr. Said Mohamed at some point early in January 2024, likely even this week.

How to Check NECTA Matokeo ya Darasa la Nne 2023 / 2024

Now that we have the NECTA Matokeo ya Darasa la Nne 2023 Dates in mind , let see how we can easily check and confirm the Standard Four National Assessment (SFNA) results as soon as they are out.

An easy to follow , step-by-step tutorial on verifying the NECTA Matokeo ya Darasa la Nne 2023 follows below :

Open your preferred web browser such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari. Visit the NECTA SFNA page at https://matokeo.necta.go.tz/results/2023/sfna/sfna.htm Select your Year as 2023 Click on Your Region and District: The results are organized by region and further subdivided by districts. Find and select yours. Click on Your School: Results are categorized by schools within the districts. Locate your school. Search for Your Name: Within your schools list, find your name. View Your Results: Your scores will be displayed alongside your name.

If you follow the above steps are still your results are no where to be found online, then you should contact NECTA for resolutions of such a rare problem.

Conclusion on NECTA Matokeo ya Darasa la Nne 2023 Dates

Finally, regarding the NECTA Matokeo ya Darasa la Nne 2023 Dates it is important to keep in mind that the NECTA, or National Examinations Council of Tanzania, conducts the NECTA SFNA exam in compliance with the planned schedule. As a result, NECTA Matokeo ya Darasa la Nne 2023 won't be made public until this pertinent Authority has certified them as such.

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The Office for Support of Changes in the Ministry of Defense proposes to introduce a full-time procurement position in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This will make army procurement more efficient and effective.

This was stated in an interview with Ukrinform by Yevhen Silverstov, Head of Procurement Policy at the Ministry of Defense System Change Support Office.

"Now we in the Office of Change Support, together with the relevant units of the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff, are conducting research, analysis and formulating more specific proposals for the creation of such a position [procurement officer] in the regular system of the Armed Forces," Silverstov said.

He explained that the army currently has centralized procurement - clothing, food, fuel - handled by the State Logistics Operator, as well as decentralized procurement carried out directly by military units. We are talking about office supplies, drones, trucks, and much more.

"If you have a regular procurement function, it is obvious that there should be a separate official. In addition to logic, there is the aforementioned law on public procurement. It stipulates that an authorized person reports and plans procurement. For this function, there should be either a special position of a procurement officer or another official who holds another position, and procurement for him or her is an additional job with the corresponding additional payment. So, neither of these two options exists in the army. That is, there is no procurement specialist, because it is not provided for by the staff. And other officials who perform these functions cannot be paid extra for the additional workload because there is no such calculation. Thus, the absence of a procurement officer in military units is also a violation of public procurement legislation," explained Silverstov.

Answering the question of how many such positions are needed for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, he said that there are currently about 750 structures that are defined as defense customers. About 450 of them are subordinated to the Ministry of Defense.

Mr. Silverstov also noted that different structures carry out procurement in different volumes, so the expediency of having a procurement officer on staff will depend on this.

"Some units can make purchases for several hundred thousand UAH a year, some units can make purchases for several million UAH, some units can make purchases for tens of millions. I am talking about what is happening at the level of military units. Because at the level of the Ministry of Defense, which is the central level, there are billions of dollars in procurement. Of course, some military units may not need a separate position. After all, there are only a few hundred thousand UAH of procurement there. But in military units with tens of millions in procurement, at least one position is needed, and in some - brigades or commands - a department of several people is needed," he said.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, State Enterprise "State Logistics Operator" is a state agency that meets the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in food, clothing, fuel and lubricants. On October 30, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov signed a contract and an order appointing Arsen Zhumadilov as the Director General of the State Enterprise "State Logistics Operator". On December 18, 2023, Umerov, during a presentation of the "State Logistics Operator", noted that this is not just a new procurement agency, but the creation of a new architecture of public procurement in the defense sector of Ukraine.
Germany and Luxembourg believe it is important to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia, as it is a matter of protecting democratic values.

This was stated by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Luxembourg Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel at a joint press conference in Berlin on January 5, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"We see that European values are under fire... Putin wants to stifle Ukraine's aspirations for freedom and thus threatens the peace of the whole of Europe," Baerbock said.

According to her, Russia continues its tactics of warfare - with bombs, missiles and artillery on maternity hospitals and civilian homes, so it is important to strengthen the winter protective shield over Ukraine with generators and transformers, as well as Patriot and Iris-T air defense systems, which can prevent much more dire consequences. The federal government, she promised, will continue to expand its support for Ukraine.

"We have no right to forget in the new year that Russia's terror against Ukrainians continues every day," the diplomat emphasized.

Her Luxembourg counterpart agreed that it is a wrong approach to think that it is "just a war in Ukraine and it does not concern us".

"We have to realize that if we do not help, if we look the other way, other countries will follow Ukraine," Bettel said.

Read also: Germany sends new military aid package to Ukraine

He noted that he was one of the few government officials who maintained contact with President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky.

"And I can state that last year there was no desire on the part of the Russian side to seek any solution at all. I broke off contact with President Putin," the Luxembourg foreign minister said.

He added that the Russian leadership has destroyed and ruined everything that has been jointly built over the past 20-30 years together with Europeans - political, economic, cultural, scientific, educational cooperation - and all this cannot be restored with a snap of the fingers.

"Helping Ukraine defend itself also means standing up for values and continuing the European project," the diplomat said, reminding that Putin was happy about the escalation in the Middle East because he hoped it would divert attention from Ukraine.

Bettel is on his first visit to Germany as the Duchy's foreign minister (he has been in office since November 17, 2023). From 2013 to 2023, he was the country's Prime Minister.
The statement by the representative of the U.S. State Department that Washington's military support for Ukraine will not be consistently provided at the level of 2022-2023 referred to the period when Ukraine will have gained enough resources to counter Russian aggression.

This was emphasized by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba, who spoke during a live broadcast on Instagram with journalist Vadym Karpiak, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"This is not about support in the year 2024. The State Department said that once Ukraine is firmly on its feet, has enough weapons and resources to counter Russian aggression, then the amount of support may be reduced. It is not about the fact that it can be reduced in 2024, because as the representative of the State Department himself said, currently Ukraine still ... needs support in the declared amount," Kuleba said.

As Ukrinform reported earlier on January 5, State Department spokesman Matt Miller said the U.S. strategy for supporting Ukraine remains unwavering, but this does not mean that, in particular, military support will be allocated in the same volumes as in 2022-2023.

According to Miller, America's goal is to help Ukraine build its own military-industrial base.
Russia's recent brutal airstrikes against civilian infrastructure in Ukraine only underscore the urgency for the EU to agree on the Ukraine Facility to continue its sustainable financial support for the country.

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen stated this at the joint press conference with Prime Minister of Belgium Alexander De Croo, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

According to her, the European Commission will work during the Belgian Presidency on priorities, including the support for Ukraine.

We all witnessed Russia's recent brutal airstrikes on civilian targets in Ukraine. After the historic decision to launch accession negotiations with Ukraine, we must urgently move forward on stabilising our financial aid to the country. The Commission will come to the European Council with operational solutions to ensure that we can agree on the Ukraine Facility. Belgium will then have the key task of transforming the political agreement on the Facility through Council and Parliament as quickly as possible, von der Leyen said.

According to her, the European Commission will submit to the European Council operational decisions that will allow EU leaders to agree on the Ukraine Facility. The Belgian Presidency will then have the key task of getting this political agreement through the legal procedures in the Council and the European Parliament as quickly as possible.

The European Commission president reminded that the Ukraine Facility is a central element of the EU's multi-annual budget, but not the only one. In particular, during the Belgian presidency, the EU should consider achieving other political priorities, including migration regulation, maintaining the competitiveness of the European economy, and overcoming the financial consequences of the pandemic.

As reported, the European Council at the summit in Brussels on December 14-15, 2023 made a historic decision to start membership talks with Ukraine and Moldova. At the same time, European leaders did not to agree on amendments to the EU's 2024-2027 multi-annual budget, which, in particular, provided for the creation of a EUR 50 billion Ukraine Facility. The decision on this document was blocked by Hungary.

A special meeting of the European Council will be held in Brussels on February 1, 2024 to consider budget issues and the continuation of financial assistance to Ukraine.
The New Year is a moment when many of us begin to contemplate the looming labors of tax season.

When is the earliest I can file a return? When is the latest? Have the income brackets changed? What about deductions?

Here are answers to common questions that crop up as tax season begins:

When is the tax deadline in 2024?

April 15. Tax Day always falls on that date, unless April 15 falls on a weekend or holiday. Next year, it comes on that darkest of days, a Monday.

Tax season typically starts in late January. Last year, the IRS set Jan. 23 as the official start of tax season, marking the date the agency began accepting 2022 tax returns.

When does IRS open for tax season?

Tax season officially starts Jan. 29, the date the IRS begins accepting 2023 tax returns.

How early can I file my 2023 taxes?

Again, January 29.

Does the IRS offer free tax preparation?

Yes. Select taxpayers in some states will be able to prepare and file their 2023 federal income taxes online directly to the IRS through the Direct File pilot. And the IRS Free File program will offer free filing to taxpayers with limited income.

IRS Free File will be available on IRS.gov starting Jan. 12, ahead of the 2024 filing season. The IRS Direct File pilot will be rolled out in phases as final testing is completed and is expected to be widely available in mid-March to eligible taxpayers in the participating states.

The agency anticipates that hundreds of thousands of taxpayers, at least, will join the pilot, which will be available to individuals but not to businesses.

"At first, the Direct File pilot will only be open to a small group of taxpayers," the agency says on its Direct File page. "(We) will open the Direct File pilot to more people later in the filing season to file their 2023 tax returns."

Initially, the pilot will be available to eligible taxpayers in these states: Arizona, California, Florida, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington state, and Wyoming.

What are the new income tax brackets?

Income tax brackets jumped by 7% for 2023. Income tax is progressive: the more you earn, the more you pay as a percentage of your earnings. Each bracket represents a range of incomes subject to a particular income tax rate. Tax brackets will rise again in 2024.

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Here are the 2023 tax brackets:

For individual filers:

 37% for incomes over $578,125.

 35% for incomes over $231,250.

 32% for incomes over $182,100.

 24% for incomes over $95,375.

 22% for incomes over $44,725.

 12% for incomes over $11,000.

 10% for income below $11,000.

For married couples filing jointly:

 37% for income greater than $693,750.

 35% for incomes over $462,500.

 32% for incomes over $364,200.

 24% for incomes over $190,750.

 22% for incomes over $89,450.

 12% for incomes over $22,000.

 10% for income below $22,000.

What is the new standard deduction?

The standard deduction for 2023 also increased by about 7%, to $13,850 for individuals and $27,700 for married couples filing jointly.

What is the standard deduction for seniors?

People over 65 qualify for an additional standard deduction. For 2023, its $1,850 if you are single or filing as a head of household, and $1,500 for married taxpayers. Both figures increased by $100 over 2022.

Have itemized deductions changed?

Itemized deductions mostly remain the same in 2023, according to Charles Schwab. A few specifics:

 State and local taxes: Taxpayers who itemize may deduct up to $10,000 in property, sales, or income taxes they have already paid to local or state governments.

 Mortgage interest: You can generally deduct interest paid on the first $750,000 of mortgage debt, according to NerdWallet. People who bought a house before Dec. 16, 2017, may deduct interest on the first $1 million.

 Medical expenses: You may deduct only medical and dental expenses that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income.

What is the Social Security tax limit for 2024?

There's a limit to how much of your earnings are taxed by the Social Security Administration, at a rate of 6.2%. (Self-employed workers pay 12.4%.)

In 2023, wages beyond $160,200 were not taxed for Social Security. In 2024, the limit rose to $168,600.

When you reach the Social Security tax limit, you get to keep that much more of your earnings.

What are the new IRA and 401(k) contribution limits?

Employees who participate in company retirement plans could generally contribute $22,500 to their 401(k) this year, up from $20,500 in 2022. Those who didnt participate in an employer-sponsored plan could contribute $6,500 to an individual retirement account (IRA). People 50 and older have higher limits.

For 2024, the limits rise to $23,000 and $7,000.

What is the new health savings account (HSA) contribution limit?

HSA contribution limits were $3,850 for individual coverage and $7,750 for family coverage in 2023, according to Fidelity. In 2024, they rise to $4,150 and $8,300.

What is the income limit for child tax credits?

The 2023 child tax credit is worth up to $2,000 per qualifying dependent under age 17, according to NerdWallet. The credit decreases if your modified adjusted gross income exceeds $200,000, or $400,000 for a married couple filing jointly.

Whats the difference between filing as single or head of household?

You can claim Head of Household status if you are single or unmarried and maintain a household that includes a child or relative. The status provides for a larger standard deduction and more generous tax rates, according to H&R Block.

Early birds: Your single largest payday may be a 2023 tax filing away. File early to get a refund sooner

Where can I find a tax refund estimator?

TurboTax, H&R Block, NerdWallet and AARP all offer tax refund estimators.

When can I expect my refund?

In a month or less, in most cases. The IRS says it issues most refunds within 21 calendar days. Paper returns, however, can take four weeks or more. Allow for time for the refund check to reach your bank account or mailbox.

More of your 2024 tax season questions answered

IRS announces new tax brackets for 2024. What does that mean for you?

Flush with new funding, the IRS zeroes in on the taxes of uber-wealthy Americans

Your single largest payday may be a 2023 tax filing away. File early to get a refund sooner

Is it better to pay someone to do your taxes or do them yourself? We'll help you decide.

New IRS tax brackets and standard deductions for 2024: See how much they were raised

IRS delays 1099-K rules for ticket sales, announces new $5,000 threshold for 2024

IRS to offer pandemic-related relief on some penalties to nearly 5 million taxpayers

Driving for work will pay more next year after IRS boosts 2024 mileage rate

What is OASDI tax on my paycheck? Here's why you and your employer pay this federal tax.

A 30% national sales tax? Abolishing the IRS? Here's what the FairTax Act of 2023 would do

These 8 states dont have an income tax. Does yours make the list?

What is net pay? How it works, how to calculate it and its difference from gross pay

Daniel de Vise covers personal finance for USA TODAY.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tax season 2024 explained: Your biggest questions answered
In a dramatic turn of events, Ohio's Eastern Gateway Community College finds itself under intense scrutiny as the state auditor's office, accompanied by a coalition of law enforcement agencies, including U.S. Secret Service agents, conducts a search warrant operation on its Steubenville campus.

This high-stakes raid follows months of turmoil, triggered by concerns from the U.S. Department of Education over potential violations of federal law in the college's payment structures for student attendance.

Ohio Auditor's Investigation into Financial Irregularities

Ohio Auditor Keith Faber, in a video statement, sheds light on the nature of the investigation, emphasizing the need to delve into matters of financial irregularities at the institution. The involvement of various agencies points to a comprehensive examination, signaling potential discrepancies in the college's financial practices and expenditures.

READ ALSO: Financial Pressures In Edinburgh: Scottish Universities, Local Authorities, And Legal Services Navigate Austerity Measures

Financial Struggles and Request for State Funds

Eastern Gateway Community College has been grappling with financial challenges, with a recent plea in December for a $12 million advance on state funds to meet pressing payroll obligations. The college's fiscal woes were compounded by the termination of a widely popular program that offered free college education to thousands of students.

The Rise and Fall of the Union Free College Benefit Program

In 2015, Eastern Gateway launched the Union Free College Benefit Program, aiming to provide members of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees union and their families with access to a college degree without out-of-pocket expenses for tuition, fees, or books after applying federal or employer grants. However, the program faced criticism from state lawmakers, questioning the use of taxpayer money to support out-of-state students.

U.S. Department of Education's Intervention

In July 2022, the U.S. Department of Education initiated a review of the federal financial aid program, raising concerns about the Union Free College Benefit Program. The department alleged that Eastern Gateway was disproportionately using excess Pell Grant funds to cover expenses for non-Pell Grant-eligible students, prompting a cease-and-desist letter to stop new enrollments.

Legal Battle and Program Termination

Despite the cease-and-desist order, a federal court injunction allowed students to enroll in classes during the spring and summer semesters of 2023. However, in July of the same year, Eastern Gateway officially halted the admission of new students to the program. This decision was framed as a strategic move to facilitate settlement agreements with the Department of Education.

The Multi-Agency Raid and Its Implications

The recent search warrants executed by state auditors, U.S. Secret Service agents, and other law enforcement entities are likely linked to the financial turbulence and questions surrounding the college's utilization of funds, particularly in the aftermath of terminating the free college program. This multi-agency involvement suggests a comprehensive examination of financial records, practices, and potential irregularities contributing to the college's precarious financial situation.

Established in 1968, Eastern Gateway Community College serves students across several Ohio counties, operating campuses in Steubenville and Youngstown. As the investigation unfolds, the implications for the college, its students, and the broader community are profound. The focus on financial accountability, governance, and the institution's long-term viability raises critical questions about the challenges faced by educational institutions in navigating financial complexities while striving to provide accessible and affordable education. As the community awaits answers, the spotlight on Eastern Gateway serves as a stark reminder of the delicate balance educational institutions must strike in fulfilling their mission amid financial constraints.

RELATED ARTICLE: News Update: University Of Arizona Announces Budget Cuts And New CFO To Address Multimillion Miscalculation
It's time to get your finances in order because Tax Day is approaching.

Tax Day, the annual day when individual income tax returns are due to the federal government, is April 15.

But when is the earliest day you can file a return? When is the latest? How can you track your tax refund? Here's what to know.

When is the tax deadline in 2024?

Tax Day is always on April 15 unless the day falls on a weekend or holiday. Tax Day this year will be Monday, April 15.

When does tax season start?

The IRS will begin accepting tax returns Jan. 29.

How early can I file my 2023 taxes?

If you've received all your tax documents, you can complete the forms now and have them ready to send electronically Jan. 29, USA TODAY reports

If you use a tax preparer, they can complete your return ahead of the tax season start date. As soon as the IRS opens for business on Jan. 29, your return will automatically get filed.

What if my taxes aren't done by April 15?

If a taxpayer isn't able to file by the April 15 deadline, they can request an extension through form 4868. However, this extension to file is not an extension to pay taxes. Any owed taxes should be paid before the due date to avoid potential penalties and interest on the amount owed.

If you request a six-month extension to file taxes, you'll have until Oct. 15 to file your 2023 federal income tax return.

If a taxpayer isn't able to file by the April 15 deadline, they can request an extension through form 4868.

Victims in disaster areas designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency may also have an automatic extension. Taxpayers in those affected areas do not need to file for an extension or call the IRS to qualify for the extended time.

To check if your area is included, visit the IRS webpage on tax relief in disaster situations.

When are state taxes due?

Most states have the same deadline as the federal government: April 15. It's a good idea to check your state's tax office website, which should have the most up-to-date information and state tax filing deadlines.

Ohio and Indiana's state tax filing deadlines are April 15. In Kentucky, the state tax filing deadline is April 18.

Story continues

What happens if I don't file taxes?

If you don't file your taxes by April 15  or by the extended deadline, Oct. 15, if you qualify for an extension  you will receive a notice from the IRS if you owe a Failure to File Penalty. The penalty is a percentage of the taxes you didn't pay on time.

The Failure to File Penalty amounts to 5% of the unpaid taxes for each month, or part of a month, that a tax return is late. It won't exceed 25% of your unpaid taxes. If your return is over 60 days late, the minimum Failure to File Penalty is $435 or 100% of the tax required to be shown on the return, whichever is less.

If you're able to show reasonable cause why you weren't able to meet your tax obligations, the IRS may be able to remove or reduce some penalties.

If you filed your taxes online, you can expect to receive a refund in a month or less, in most cases.

When can I expect my refund?

If you filed your taxes online, you can expect to receive a refund in one month or less, in most cases. The IRS says it issues most refunds within 21 calendar days. Paper returns, however, can take four weeks or more. Allow time for the refund check to reach your bank account or mailbox.

How to check my tax refund

You can check the status of your federal tax refund online at irs.gov/refunds.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: When is tax season 2024? How early can you file? What to know
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Jan, 2024) The speakers in seminar have discussed the Pakistan Regulatory Modernization Initiative (PRMI) and its pivotal role in enhancing the regulatory landscape of the country.

Representatives from across Pakistan gathered in Islamabad for an enlightening seminar organized by ReMIT to discuss the Pakistan Regulatory Modernization Initiative (PRMI) and its pivotal role in enhancing the regulatory landscape of the country, said a press release issued here on Friday.

The event served as a platform for provinces and regions to showcase progress, share successes, address challenges, and outline future plans regarding regulatory reforms. Secretary board of Investment, Dr.Sohail Rajput expressed the paramount importance of regulatory reforms in adapting to changing circumstances and optimizing governance structures.

As Pakistan strives to enhance its investment climate, the focus lies in reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens and streamlining business processes at provincial and local levels, he said.

Addressing the audience of the seminar, Secretary Rajput expressed gratitude for their presence and underscored the importance of the gathering, emphasizing the need to discuss the evolving regulatory landscape in the country.

He highlighted that in an era marked by rapid technological advancements, shifting economic landscapes, and evolving societal expectations, regulatory reforms have gained paramount significance.

Secretary BOI said that such reforms are deemed vital for adapting to changing circumstances, fostering innovation, and ensuring the efficient functioning of both public and private sectors.

Acknowledging the diligent efforts of provincial and regional governments in the past year, Secretary Rajput commended positive changes brought about through business reforms in various economic sectors. He stressed the role of reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens and streamlining business processes at the provincial and local levels to enhance the investment climate in Pakistan.

The seminar provided each province and region with the opportunity to present progress in areas like PRMI, key regulatory reform successes, ongoing challenges, and plans for the future.

Secretary Rajput highlighted the importance of collaboration and knowledge sharing between provinces and regions to establish uniform best practices and ensure regulatory coordination across Pakistan.

"With continued support from our development partners like FCDO and ReMIT, I am confident that our collective efforts will make Pakistan an even more attractive destination for investment and business over the coming years," said Secretary Rajput.

He concluded by expressing gratitude for the participants' commitment to the agenda of regulatory reforms, highlighting the ongoing role of the Board of Investment as a platform for meaningful engagement between Federal and provincial governments.

"I am certain that this collaborative approach will significantly expedite the reform agenda and help us in attaining our economic objectives in a shorter period of time. Thank you all for your participation and commitment to this important agenda of regulatory reforms," concluded Secretary Rajput.

This collaborative approach is expected to expedite the reform agenda, contributing significantly to the attainment of Pakistan's economic objectives in a shorter period.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Jan, 2024) Caretaker Minister for Communications, Maritime Affairs and Railways Shahid Ashraf Tarar on Friday called on Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar.

In the meeting, the matters pertaining to the relevant ministries were discussed, a PM Office press release said.
Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Irfan Nawaz Memon has inaugurated an extensive anti-polio campaign aiming to vaccinate 400,000 children under the age of five years

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Jan, 2024) Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Irfan Nawaz Memon has inaugurated an extensive anti-polio campaign aiming to vaccinate 400,000 children under the age of five years.

Accompanied by a dedicated team, including Additional Deputy Commissioners, District Health Officer and Assistant Commissioners, the Deputy Commissioner personally administered polio drops, setting a determined tone for the initiative, ICT spokesman Dr Abdullah Tabasum told on Friday.

The week long drive involves a comprehensive strategy to reach and every household and street in the Federal capital. The polio workers and teams are diligently going door-to-door, ensuring that no child is left without the vital vaccine to guarantee effective coverage, Assistant Commissioners will supervise the teams in their respective jurisdictions.

Highlighting the importance of the campaign, the DC emphasized the presence of positive polio cases in nearby areas. With Islamabad being a hub of nationwide movement, he urged the citizens to exercise heightened caution.

The Deputy Commissioner's call for vigilance underscores the need for a collective effort to maintain the capital's polio-free status.

The DC urged the parents to ensure their children receive two doses of polio drops. The emphasis on the dual doses aligns with the global strategy to eradicate polio and underscores the community's role in achieving a polio-free Pakistan.

Deputy Commissioner Memon's proactive approach is mirrored in the coordinated efforts of the entire team, which includes Additional Deputy Commissioners, Magistrates, and various stakeholders. The campaign's success hinges on this collaborative spirit and the effective supervision by Assistant Commissioners across different areas.

With the campaign set to continue until January 15, there is a palpable sense of determination to achieve the ambitious target. The Deputy Commissioner's foresight and strategic planning are evident in the ongoing efforts to secure the health and well-being of children.

The collective dedication of the entire team, coupled with the public's active participation, reinforces the vision of a polio-free Islamabad and a healthier Pakistan.
MIRPUR ( AJK) :, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point news - 5th Jan, 2024) The people of Jammu Kashmir, state on both sides of the line of control and rest of the world, on Friday commemorated the Right of Self Determination Day with the renewal of the pledge to continue their ongoing indigenous struggle, with full vigor for securing their legitimate right of self determination through implementation of the U.N resolutions passed this day 75 years ago in 1949.

This year too, the Day was observed when India abrogated the special status of the internationally-acknowledged disputed state of the Himalayan state of Jammu and Kashmir through scrapping article 370 and 35-A of her own constitution since August 05, 2019 sinister act by turning entire Indian Illegally occupied Kashmir valley into the worlds largest prison for the last over 04 years through confining freedom-monger innocent population in the bleeding valley of Kashmir into their houses and complete information blockade since the above bleak day of the history of the internationally-acknowledged disputed Himalayan state of Jammu and Kashmir.

In Azad Jammu Kashmir, special gatherings were hosted by various social and political organizations in various parts of the liberated territory were the hallmark of the day. The special meetings highlighted the importance of early grant of the right of self determination to Jammu Kashmir people.

They vehemently condemned the repeated violation of the line of control by India through the frequent incidents of the unprovoked firing by the Indian troops on the LoC in AJK facing occupied Jammu and Kashmir state. They called upon the UNO and other international community to take immediate notice of the increased aggressive designs of India in the region, which they warned, may turn into a conventional war in the region.

The speakers called upon the world body to fulfill its due responsibilities to ensure early holding of plebiscite in the disputed Jammu Kashmir state to pave the way for early grant of right of self determination to Kashmiris being waited for last 75 years.

The speakers reiterated the Kashmiris just and principled stance before the world that they would continue their struggle for the right of self determination till the achievement of the ultimate goal.

They particularly highlighted the reality with the earnest demand about early grant of the birth right of self determination to Kashmiris without further loss of time and which was being denied by India since last 75 years because of her traditional hostile and stubborn attitude.

The Day reiterates the long cherished demand of the Kashmiris that they should be granted their birth right to decide about their destiny under the spirit of the internationally-acknowledged U.N resolutions.

Kashmiris observe this day every year to invite the attention of the world especially to remind United Nations Organization to immediately move for implementation of January 5, 1949 UN resolutions on Kashmir to ensure the early grant of Internationally-acknowledged right to self determination to the people of Jammu and Kashmir enabling them to decide about their destine through a free and fair plebiscite in the internationally-acknowledged disputed Himalayan state of Jammu and Kashmir without further loss of time.

New Delhi is denying the Jammu and Kashmir people of their legitimate right of self determination at the might over a million of her occupying troops in occupied Jammu and Kashmir since over last 76 years and most particularly through the unilateral August 5, 2019 nefarious act of scrapping the special status of the internationally-acknowledged disputed Jammu Kashmir state.

Addressing a rally in Mirpur, the speakers demanded immediate taking up of the Indian sinister and unilateral act of August 05, 2019 that had scrapped special status of the disputed Jammu Kashmir State, in the international court of justice to challenge the unlawful action exercised at gun point by the fascist Modi-led Indian government.

The Self Determination Day protest rally was staged in collaboration with district administration, civil society, lawyers, trade unions, teachers, students from Kachery to Chowk Shaheedan.

Chairman National Events Organizing Committee and Deputy Commissioner Yasir Riaz Chaudhry, Extra Assistant Commissioner Syed Kaleem Abbas, Tehsildar Mirpur Ch. Imran Yousaf, Joint Secretary District Bar Association Mirpur Faisal Usman, President Sabir Hussain Shah of Mirpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry, DFO Raja Imran Shafi and others led the rally.

Furious congregation comprising thousands of people chanted anti India slogans by demanding of UNO to implement its resolution of 5 January 1949 on free and fair plebiscite in Jammu Kashmir state. The speakers strongly condemned the human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

Reiterating full solidarity with valiant armed forces of Pakistan, the participants raised Pakistan Zindabad and Pak Army Zindaabad slogans. They were holding placards and banners bearin slogans of 'Give Kashmiris their birth Right to Self-Determination.

In Kotli district, a rally was held by trade union leaders, local journalists and lawyers, in collaboration with district administration Kotli.

Deputy Commissioner Kotli Ch Haq Nawaz and other representative leaders of the local civil society led the rally from DC Office kotli to Aabshar chowk Kotli.

Addressing the rally, the speakers including DC Ch. Haq Nawaz called upon the UNO to immediately move for holding free and fair plebiscite in Jammu Kashmir State under its resolutions to pave the way for grant of right to self-determination to Kashmiris without further delay.

In forward town of Samahni close to the LoC in Bhimber district, the a rally was held to mark the Day.

An identical mammoth rally to mark Self Determination Day was also held in Kotli district.
The Senate on Friday adopted a resolution calling for the postponement of general elections scheduled for February 8 in order to facilitate the effective participation of people across the country in the electioneering process in view of security and harsh weather conditions

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Jan, 2024) The Senate on Friday adopted a resolution calling for the postponement of general elections scheduled for February 8 in order to facilitate the effective participation of people across the country in the electioneering process in view of security and harsh weather conditions.

The resolution, moved by independent Senator Dilawar Khan, was passed by the House with a majority vote. However, there was low attendance.

Caretaker Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Solangi and Senator Afnan Ullah Khan of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) opposed the resolution.

Senator Dilawar, while presenting the resolution, urged the chair to postpone the agenda for taking up the matter of serious concern. He read out the resolution, which maintained that the Constitution of Pakistan "upholds the right to vote for every citizen of Pakistan."

The resolution read: The constitutional duty assigned to the Election Commission of Pakistan to conduct free and fair elections is contingent upon inclusivity and ensuring the participation of all regions and people.

"The voter turnout in colder areas remains notably high during moderate weather conditions; January and February are recognized as the coldest months in a majority of the areas of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

"Various groups and political parties have expressed significant reservations regarding anticipated difficulties in ensuring the participation of residents in cold areas during the electioneering process.

It noted that the recent incidents, including the foiled attempts on the lives of Jamiaat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and former MNA Mohsin Dawar, as well as threatening calls targeting Awami National Party's Provincial Chief Aimal Wali Khan and other political figures, had raised concerns about the safety of political leaders.

"The Ministry of Interior has convoyed serious threats to the lives of prominent politicians, further exacerbating the challenges faced by political parties in exercising their right to free and fair election campaigning," the resolution added.

There had been a marked increase in attacks on security forces and citizens claiming precious lives particularly in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, it further said.

The resolution read: "The intelligence agencies have warned of militant attack threats on election rallies in the two provinces; increase in attacks targeting both security forces and civilians, resulting in the loss of valuable lives, particularly in the northwestern region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces;

"Alerts issued by intelligence agencies, indicating imminent threats of militant attacks on election rallies within the aforementioned provinces may have potential impact on the safety of citizens and the democratic electoral process;

"Cognizant of the resurgence of the Covid-19 virus in the country and health sector's concerns about potential further spread;

"Reaffirms that while holding the judgment of the Honourable Supreme Court of Pakistan regarding the elections date in the highest esteem for the Upper House of the Parliament, the Senate of Pakistan, being the defender of the rights of all federating units, is obligated to ensure the constitutional guarantees and to alleviate fears of the smaller provinces especially vulnerable geographical territories.

The Senate of Pakistan hereby resolves that conducting elections without addressing legitimate concerns, facilitating sufficient opportunities for election campaigns, and guaranteeing the safety of politicians and citizens would amount to a violation of the fundamental right to vote and political participation, as safeguarded by the Constitution of Pakistan;

"The elections scheduled for 8th February 2024 may be postponed to facilitate the effective participation of people from all areas of Pakistan and belonging to all political shades in the electioneering process. This delay aims to protect and uphold their constitutional right to political participation;

"The Election Commission of Pakistan is urged to promptly implement the postponement and ensure that all necessary arrangements are in place to facilitate the smooth conduct of elections on the revised date;

"The process of filing of nomination papers and scrutiny shall continue with the revised/extended timelines;

"The Election Commission of Pakistan shall engage proactively with relevant stakeholders, political parties, and communities in to address their concerns and foster an environment conducive to free and fair elections.

"The Senate of Pakistan expresses confidence in the ability of the Election Commission of Pakistan to effectively manage and oversee the revised election schedule, ensuring the integrity and fairness of the electoral process.

Opposing the resolution, Senator Afnanullah said though the current security situation in the country was not good but the elections could not be delayed on that count. The polls were held in 2008 and 2013 despite worst conditions then.

Moreover, two general elections in the past had been held in the month of February, he added.

Afnanullah questioned whether the country of 240 million people could be run without constitutional institutions. The mover probably "dont want a parliament in the country", he added.

The United Kingdom and the United States had not deferred elections even during the World War II, but here weather conditions were being cited as an excuse to delay the polls, he regretted.

Some elements wanted delay of elections for their personal benefits, he added.

Speaking in the House, independent Senator Hidayatullah said that he had got registered nine first information reports in the past two weeks against threats he had been receiving.

The provincial candidate of the JUI-F escaped a bomb blast yesterday," he added.

Balochistan Awami Party's Senator Manzoor Ahmed Kakar supported the resolution, saying that both security and economic conditions in the country had worsened over time.

Senator Kauda Babar said elections could not be held in many parts of the country because of extreme weather conditions in February.

Later, the session was prorogued sine die after passage of the resolution.

APP/ajb-muk-zah
(@FahadShabbir)

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Jan, 2024) Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Murtaza Solangi said on Friday reiterated the commitment of the government and people of Pakistan to contribute support for Kashmir cause.

"Today we reiterate our commitment that Pakistan will continue to support Kashmiris politically, diplomatically and morally till they get their rightful rights and the success of their freedom struggle," Murtaza Solangi said in a message on the occasion of Kashmir Self-Determination Day.

Kashmiri people on both sides of the Line of Control and around the world were celebrating the right to self-determination today, Murtaza Solangi said.

The minister said that United Nations Security Council, through a resolution on January 5, 1949, gave the Kashmiri people the right to decide their future as per their wishes.

Today, 75 years have passed since this promise made to the Kashmiri people, but unfortunately this promise has not been fulfilled till date, Murtaza Solangi lamented.

The minister urged the United Nations to honour the promises made to the Kashmiri people and support their struggle for self-determination.

The people of Jammu and Kashmir were waiting for a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute as per the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, he maintained.

The minister said the UN Security Council should fulfill its commitments.

India was trying to strengthen its grip on occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Murtaza Solangi said adding the decision of the Supreme Court of India on 11 December 2023 regarding the status of the disputed territory was the latest step in this direction.

India, he said was leaving no stone unturned to change the demography of Occupied Jammu and Kashmir based on religion.
(@FahadShabbir)

Mexico City, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Jan, 2024) The kidnappers of 32 migrants who were rescued in northern Mexico sought to extort money from their relatives in the United States, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Thursday.

The migrants were abducted on Saturday while traveling by bus to the US border through Tamaulipas state, whose highways are considered among the most dangerous in Mexico due to the threat of kidnapping and extortion.

The kidnappers released the bus drivers and Mexican passengers, who reported the incident.

The abductors "decided to let them go free" when they realized authorities had been deployed as part of a search operation, Lopez Obrador said during a regular morning briefing.

"The investigation is ongoing," he added. "For now, let's celebrate that they were released alive" and "safe and sound".

Mexico's National Migration Institute said late Thursday that it would grant the migrants visas on humanitarian grounds, allowing them access to public services.

Tamaulipas governor Americo Villareal told Milenio television that nine children were among those kidnapped, including a one-year-old.

He said the majority of the rescued migrants were Venezuelans and some were Hondurans.

Earlier, authorities put the figure at 31.

Presidential spokesman Jesus Ramirez said the migrants were receiving medical care and published photos of them, including a child holding a teddy bear.

The government said earlier that, according to the driver, the bus was intercepted by five vehicles and migrants from countries including Venezuela, Colombia, Honduras and Ecuador were taken away.

The bus had left the city of Monterrey, in the neighboring state of Nuevo Leon, and was headed to Matamoros across the border from Brownsville, Texas.

Abduction by criminal gangs is one of the main dangers facing migrants crossing Mexico, along with other threats including road traffic accidents and extortion by security forces.

With migration surging, in recent weeks US border police have reported around 10,000 crossings by migrants every day.
Brasilia, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Jan, 2024) A year after Jair Bolsonaro supporters stormed the seat of power in Brazil, the senior justice on the country's Supreme Court says the far-right ex-president bears "unequivocal" responsibility for the unrest.

But Justice Gilmar Mendes says the court must now decide whether Bolsonaro is guilty of a crime for his alleged links to the January 8, 2023 riots, which stunned the world with striking echoes of the US Capitol invasion two years earlier.

"His political responsibility for January 8 is unequivocal," Mendes told AFP in an interview at his office in Brasilia ahead of the anniversary.

"His legal responsibility is still being examined in court."

Bolsonaro's arch-rival and successor, veteran leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, had been in office just one week when tens of thousands of protesters overwhelmed security forces to storm the presidential palace, Congress and Supreme Court.

Alleging foul play in Bolsonaro's narrow loss in Brazil's bitterly divisive October 2022 elections, they smashed through doors and windows, vandalized priceless artworks and trashed the premises, urging the military to intervene to oust Lula.

Bolsonaro, who was in the United States at the time, denies responsibility.

But the Supreme Court is investigating allegations the polarizing ex-army captain instigated the riots, including with his repeated attacks on the credibility of the election system -- which already earned him an eight-year ban from running for public office, in a separate case.

Mendes says he thinks that before Bolsonaro left office, his government "had encouraged some sort of anarchy, especially among the police forces."

"I believe the military even refrained from removing the invaders because of (Bolsonaro's) encouragement," says the 67-year-old judge, who took his seat on the 11-member court in 2002.
(@FahadShabbir)

On a grey, cloudy morning in December, London police deployed a state-of-the-art AI-powered camera near the railway station in the suburb of Croydon and quietly scanned the faces of the unsuspecting passersby

London, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Jan, 2024) On a grey, cloudy morning in December, London police deployed a state-of-the-art AI-powered camera near the railway station in the suburb of Croydon and quietly scanned the faces of the unsuspecting passersby.

The use of live facial recognition (LFR) technology -- which creates biometric facial signatures before instantaneously running them through a watchlist of suspects -- led to 10 arrests for crimes including threats to kill, bank fraud, theft and possession of a crossbow.

The technology, which was used at the British Grand Prix in July and at King Charles III's coronation in May, has proved so effective in trials that the UK government wants it used more.

"Developing facial recognition as a crime-fighting tool is a high priority," policing minister Chris Philip told police chiefs in October, adding that the technology has "great potential".

"Recent deployments have led to arrests that would otherwise have been impossible and there have been no false alerts," he added.

But the call to expedite its roll-out has outraged some parliamentarians, who want the government's privacy regulator to take "assertive, regulatory action" to prevent its abuse.

"Facial recognition surveillance involves the processing, en masse, of the sensitive biometric data of huge numbers of people -- often without their knowledge," they wrote in a letter.

"It poses a serious risk to the rights of the British public and threatens to transform our public spaces into ones in which people feel under the constant control of corporations and the government."
Israeli military forces have have attacked hospitals in Gaza and other vital medical infrastructure nearly 600 times since the war erupted on October 7 last year, the UN health agency said on Friday

UNITED NATIONS, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Jan, 2024) Israeli military forces have have attacked hospitals in Gaza and other vital medical infrastructure nearly 600 times since the war erupted on October 7 last year, the UN health agency said on Friday.

Since then, some 613 people have died within the medical facilities and more than 770 have been injured, according to the latest data on healthcare attacks from the Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO).

Condemning the continuing fighting and bombardment, WHO Spokesperson Christian Lindmeier said that the ongoing reduction of humanitarian space plus the continuing attacks on healthcare are pushing the people of Gaza to breaking point.

Children in the Gaza Strip face a deadly triple threat to their lives, as cases of diseases rise, nutrition plummets and the escalation in hostilities approaches its fourteenth week.

Thousands of children have already died from the violence, while living conditions for children continue to rapidly deteriorate, with increasing cases of diarrhea and rising food poverty among children, raising the risk of mounting child deaths.

WHOs online platform covering attacks on healthcare indicated that more than 550 medical facilities and vehicles had been impacted in the almost 100 days since constant Israeli airstrikes began in Gaza.

The attacks have affected 94 healthcare sites including 26 hospitals damaged out of a total of 36 in the enclave.

The head of the UN Childrens Fund UNICEF, Catherine Russel, said in a statement on Friday that children in Gaza are caught in a nightmare that worsens with every passing day.

Ms Russell noted young lives were increasingly at risk from preventable diseases and lack of food and water. All children and civilians must be protected from violence and have access to basic services and supplies.

Cases of diarrhoea in children under five rose from 48,000 to 71,000 in just one week starting December 17, equivalent to 3,200 new cases of diarrhoea per day.

She said the significant increase indicated child health in Gaza was fast deteriorating. Before the escalation in hostilities, an average of 2,000 cases of diarrhoea in children under five were recorded per month.

In a statement, Eri Kaneko, Spokesperson for United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) made clear on Thursday that the speed and volume of relief was being continually hampered by conditions on the ground.

The UN and our humanitarian partners are committed to and continue to do all they can to meet the growing needs in Gaza.

However, the operating environment and response capacity continues to be hindered by security risks, mobility constraints, delays and denials, she said.

Multiple inspections, long queues of trucks and difficulties at crossing points continue to hamper operations. Inside Gaza, aid operations face constant bombardments, with aid workers themselves killed and some convoys having been shot at."

She made clear other challenges included poor communications, damaged roads and delays at checkpoints.

An effective aid operation in Gaza requires security, staff who can work in safety, logistical capacity and the resumption of commercial activity.

Meanwhile, the UN agency providing help to Palestinians, UNRWA, said that the total number of staff killed since the beginning of hostilities stands at 142.

The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees also reported that since October 7 last year, up to 1.9 million people have been displaced across the Gaza Strip, some multiple times.

This number represents over 85 per cent of the population of the Gaza Strip, UNRWA said, adding that families have been forced to move repeatedly in search of safety.

Nearly 1.4 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) now shelter in 155 UNRWA facilities across all five governorates of the Gaza Strip.

This figure includes 160,000 in the north and Gaza City according to the data last revised shortly after the escalation began.

Another 500,000 people are in close vicinity of these installations and receiving assistance from UNRWA, the UN agency said in an update.

The UNs migration agency IOM launched an urgent appeal on Friday for $69 million to support its response to rising and critical humanitarian needs in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The appeal also covers neighbouring countries affected by the ongoing hostilities in Gaza.

In a statement, IOM said that hundreds of thousands of civilians need aid desperately. But getting help to them continues to be hampered by long clearance procedures for humanitarian aid trucks at the border (and) the intense ground operation and fighting.

Frequent disruption to communication networks has also prevented humanitarian aid coordination, the UN agency said along with insecurity, blocked roads and scarcity of fuel.

Outside Gaza, IOM noted that deteriorating security situation along border areas between Israel and Lebanon has forced some 76,000 people from their homes in southern Lebanon.
telegraph newspaper

The independent directors of The Telegraph have declined to comment on a news report that the National Crime Agency (NCA) has been alerted to suspected financial irregularities uncovered as part of preparations for new ownership.

It is understood that advisers to the independent directors, Stephen Welch and Boudewijn Wentink, issued Suspicious Activity Reports to the NCA last year after reviewing the accounts of Telegraph Media Group (TMG) and associated companies.

The reports, required under the Proceeds of Crime Act, were triggered by the movement of sums of money between TMG and other companies controlled by the Barclay family.

Sources said that under their ownership orders to pay out sums of cash in the multiple millions of pounds at very short notice were received by the finance department.

The Barclay family lost control of The Telegraph and the independent directors were appointed in June after Lloyds Banking Group sent in receivers. The bank had lost patience with the Barclay family over an overdue debt of 1.2bn which had been secured against the group of companies including The Telegraph and The Spectator magazine.

The issuing of Suspicious Activity Reports was first reported by The Times. A source close to the board on Friday said the directors were unaware of any open NCA investigation into The Telegraph.

However, the NCA acts as a clearing house for hundreds of thousands of Suspicious Activity Reports every year and forwards them to other agencies including HM Revenue and Customs and the Serious Fraud Office. A spokesman for Telegraph Media Group declined to comment on the potential involvement of either. The NCA declined to comment.

A spokesman for the Barclay family said: The accounts, including to the year ended 31 December 2022, have been fully audited and signed off by PwC.

Their debt to Lloyds was repaid last month with new loans including 600m from RedBird IMI, an Abu Dhabi fund which hopes to convert the lending to ownership of The Telegraph.

Story continues

On Friday it said that an editorial charter and a trust of media luminaries will protect journalism.

Three-quarters funded by Abu Dhabi, Redbird IMI is seeking to persuade an inquiry by the media regulator Ofcom that it does not represent a threat to press freedom.

It said it had submitted the details of legally binding proposals which would establish a governance structure to ensure editorial independence of The Telegraph and The Spectator, which it is also seeking to acquire.

RedBird IMI would effectively enter into a contract with the Government that would pledge that the editor would have control of all editorial matters. The charter would also protect the editors freedom to hire and manage journalists, and bar anyone from RedBird or IMI from seeking to influence Telegraph journalists.

Compliance with these undertakings would be monitored by a 5-person editorial trust, made up of independent public figures of senior standing with experience in media, journalism, compliance, governance or ethics. RedBird IMI said it is in talks with potential trustees but declined to name them.

The trust would need to approve the appointment of any new editor, who would be chosen by the head of RedBird IMI Jeff Zucker, the former CNN chief.

A spokesman said: We are fully committed to the editorial independence of The Telegraph and the Spectator. This is a business investment for us and we will play no part in the running of The Telegraph or The Spectator.

Ofcom must deliver recommendations to the Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer by 26 January.

A further potential investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority could take several months and lead to the takeover being formally blocked. If Ofcoms findings derail RedBird IMIs plans sooner an auction would be relaunched. It previously attracted bidders including the publisher of The Daily Mail and Sir Paul Marshall, the co-owner of GB News.

Many of our readers have raised concerns over the potential sale of Telegraph Media Group to the Abu Dhabi-linked Redbird IMI. While Ofcom carries out its investigation we are inviting the submission of comments on the process. Email salecomments@telegraph.co.uk to have your say.

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.
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Russian officials in the southern border city of Belgorod offered to evacuate worried residents on Friday, an unprecedented announcement that follows waves of fatal Ukrainian attacks

UKRAINE, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Jan, 2024) Russian officials in the southern border city of Belgorod offered to evacuate worried residents on Friday, an unprecedented announcement that follows waves of fatal Ukrainian attacks.

The Kremlin has tried to maintain a semblance of normalcy on the home front, but the recent strikes on Belgorod have brought the Ukraine conflict closer to home for Russians.

Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov's assurance that scared civilians can relocate represents the furthest-reaching measure taken by any major Russian city since Moscow ordered the invasion of Ukraine nearly two years ago.

"I see several appeals on social media where people write: We are scared, help us get to a safe place," governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said in a video message.

"Of course we will! We have already moved several families," he added.

His offer came a day after overnight shelling wounded at least two people and knocked out glass from high-rise buildings, prompting widespread concern from residents.

The bout of shelling prompted city officials earlier Friday to urge residents to secure their windows with tape to prevent shattering from blast waves -- a measure widespread across Ukraine.

Ukrainian shelling in Belgorod less than a week ago killed 25 people -- the worst attack on Russian civilians since the conflict began.

Gladkov said residents would be transported to the towns of Stary Oskol and Gubkin, further from the border, where they would be housed in "comfortable conditions".

"You will stay there for as long as necessary," he added, but warned there would not be sufficient accommodation to house everybody.

"I will appeal to my colleagues, the governors of other regions, to help us," he said.

His announcement came hours after Ukraine said it could not confirm that Russia had fired North Korean missiles into Ukraine after Washington accused Moscow of using weapons provided by Pyongyang.

US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby described the deliveries as a "significant and concerning escalation" but Ukraine said it had no independent evidence.

"So far, we have no information that such missiles have been used. The United States made a statement to that effect," Ukraine's air force spokesman Yuriy Ignat told state media.

"So experts will study the wreckage, and then we can say whether this is a fact or not. I can't confirm it yet," he added. In the grinding war of attrition, Kyiv and Moscow have struggled to refill stockpiles of artillery shells, drones and long-range missiles. The Pyongyang-supplied missiles with a range of around 900 kilometres (550 miles) were fired by Russia in two attacks within the past week, Kirby said.

He said at least one of the North Korean-supplied missiles had landed in an open field in the Zaporizhzhia region on December 30. It is one of four regions that the Kremlin claimed to have annexed in September 2022 but still does not control entirely. Moscow's forces then fired "multiple" ballistic missiles into Ukraine as part of a mass aerial attack on January 2, he added. Russia rained down missiles on Ukraine's two largest cities, Kyiv and Kharkiv, on that date. Ukraine hit back at the Russian border city of Belgorod, forcing schools to close.

Kirby said the North Korean missiles underscored the need for the US Congress to pass a package of major military aid for Ukraine, without which the pipeline of support will soon run dry, he added.

Air defence for Ukraine, which has come under a barrage of aerial attacks by Russia in recent days, were "absolutely" a priority, he said. Ukraine has substantially boosted its air defence system compared to last winter, when systematic Russian strikes on energy infrastructure left millions in the cold and dark for extended periods.

Russia's defence ministry said its forces had repelled a Ukrainian attack over Crimea, shooting down 36 drones over the peninsula annexed in 2014.

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Geneva, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Jan, 2024) Former Gambian interior minister Ousman Sonko goes on trial in Switzerland on Monday accused of crimes against humanity committed under the regime of ex-dictator Yahya Jammeh.

The trial takes place under the principle of universal jurisdiction, which allows a foreign country to prosecute crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide regardless of where they were committed.

Sonko was interior minister in The Gambia -- a small West African nation ruled with an iron grip by Jammeh from 1994 to 2016.

He has been in custody since his arrest in Switzerland in January 2017 after applying for asylum following his sacking as a minister.

Sonko, who turns 55 years old on Tuesday, was detained after a complaint by Geneva-based NGO Trial International.

He is "the highest-ranking state official ever to be tried for international crimes in application of the principle of universal jurisdiction in Europe", Leslie Haskell, president of Trial International, said in a statement.

Sonko is accused of "having supported, participated in and failed to prevent systematic and generalised attacks as part of the repression carried out by the Gambian security forces against all opponents of the regime".

He denies all the charges, according to his lawyer Philippe Currat.

If found guilty, he faces life imprisonment.
Washington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Jan, 2024) Donald Trump will face US voters for the first time in years when Iowa's presidential nomination contest on January 15 offers the clearest insight yet into whether he can convert his expansive polling leads into a stunning White House return.

The Republican ex-president had looked out for the count after leaving Washington under a cloud following the 2021 assault on the US Capitol by a pro-Trump mob seeking to keep the defeated tycoon in power.

Out on bail in four jurisdictions and facing the potential collapse of his business empire in his native New York, his prospects have hardly improved during his years out of office.

Yet the 77-year-old showman has turned his legal woes -- 91 felony charges over business fraud, mishandled classified documents and a criminal conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election -- into a rallying cry to galvanize his loyal base.

He is now well-placed to be named the party's standard-bearer to take on President Joe Biden in November, with a commanding lead in polls and momentum in the early states that his rivals have been unable to blunt.

The RealClearPolitics polling average shows Trump leading the field in Iowa's caucuses -- where Republicans gather to pick their preferred nominee -- with 51 percent support.

Florida governor Ron DeSantis and former UN ambassador Nikki Haley trail at 18 percent and 16 percent, respectively.

Trump's campaign -- a more professional and focused operation than in previous elections -- hasn't been resting on its laurels, building a network of "precinct captains" to corral support in Iowa.
Washington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th Jan, 2024) The United States on Friday urged North Korea to end its "destabilizing" actions and to return to diplomacy after it fired an artillery barrage near two South Korean border islands.

"We call on the DPRK to refrain from further provocative, destabilizing actions and return to diplomacy," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said, referring to the North by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

"In particular, we encourage the DPRK to engage in substantive discussions on identifying ways to manage military risks and create lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula," he said.

"As we have repeatedly made clear, the United States harbors no hostile intent towards the DPRK."

North Korea's military said it had conducted a naval live-fire drill as a "natural countermeasure" against alleged threats by South Korea, a treaty-bound ally of the United States, which stations troops in the democratic country.

North Korea has repeatedly rebuffed offers for dialogue with President Joe Biden's administration.

North Korea leader Kim Jong Un met three times with Biden's predecessor Donald Trump, an unusually personal diplomatic approach that reduced tensions but produced no lasting agreement.
Attorneys for Chicagos police superintendent have taken legal action to ask a Cook County judge to reverse a recent Chicago Police Board ruling that cleared a controversial police officer of wrongdoing  the first time in the consent-decree era that the city and its police boss have made such a request.

County court records show the complaint for administrative review was submitted on behalf of Chicago police Superintendent Larry Snelling in late November amid an ongoing fight over the way serious police misconduct cases are ultimately adjudicated.

The board voted in October to find Officer James Hunt not guilty of all the administrative charges brought against him in late 2022, charges that stemmed from a chaotic arrest scene in the River North neighborhood during the civil unrest and looting in May 2020 after the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Hunt was accused of violating nine different Chicago Police Department rules during the arrest of a woman who struck a police officer with her car as she tried to drive away from a violent scene near Kinzie and Dearborn streets. After he saw the collision, Hunt ran over to the vehicle and broke the rear drivers side window with his baton, records show.

The driver was soon arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, but prosecutors later dropped the case.

The boards decision to acquit Hunt was nearly unanimous. In its October ruling, board members said that attorneys for the city werent even close to proving Hunts guilt, though they said the officers behavior at the time of the arrest was not ideal.

(Hunt) acted in the best way he saw fit within the limited amount of time he had to ensure everyones safety in the context of a chaotic and violent scene, the board wrote in its decision.

While the Board finds the Superintendent has not met his burden of proving the charges, (Hunts) conduct was not exemplary, the board added. The scene was chaotic, an officer was struck by a car, and (Hunts) safety concerns were justifiable, but more effort to communicate with (the driver) and understand the situation was called for. The Board urges (Hunt) to bear more closely in mind when responding to future challenging situations that a persons encounter with the police can be a very frightening experience and, under such circumstances, the risk of misunderstanding is great.

The board  whose new president, Kyle Cooper, presided over his first meeting in December  unanimously acquitted Hunt in eight of the nine charges against him.

In the lone disputed charge, police board Vice President Paula Wolff and board member Aja Carr-Favors said that Hunt was rash, disrespectful, (and) unjustified when he broke the cars window with his baton. Wolff and Carr-Favors said Hunt should face a suspension, but they stopped short of recommending he be fired.

CPD records show Hunt joined the department in 2013. He was the subject of at least two other internal investigations in recent years, too. The Independent Police Review Authority cleared him in the fatal 2014 shooting of a 17-year-old boy in the Chatham neighborhood. Four years after that, Hunt was captured on cellphone video telling two men, I kill mother-.

Hunt is currently assigned to CPDs District Reinstatement Section, according to a department spokesperson.

The administrative review lawsuit was filed on Snellings behalf weeks after the boards decision was announced, Cook County court records show.

The complaint argues that the boards decision to clear Hunt of wrongdoing was against the manifest weight of the evidence, arbitrary, unreasonable, capricious, unrelated to the requirements of service, and contrary to law and sound public opinion.

County court records show the last CPD superintendent to make such an appeal was Garry McCarthy in 2015.

Spokespeople for the CPD and citys Law Department declined to comment on the pending litigation. The first hearing in the case is scheduled for March, court records show.

James McKay, Hunts attorney, blasted the renewed attempt to fire the officer and pointed to the complaining witness failure to identify Hunt during his police board evidentiary hearing.

She testified that the person who violated her rights looked completely different than Officer James Hunt, McKay said. This was a case of mistaken identity. James Hunt didnt do anything wrong.

The police board noted that during Hunts evidentiary hearing the driver of the vehicle testified she did not recognize him and had never seen him before.

McKay was specific in criticizing the lawyers at City Hall that are doing this, and he questioned whether Snelling was even aware of the complaint being filed.

There is no factual basis for these lawyers for the superintendent to do this, and I would call on Larry Snelling to pick up the phone and call his lawyers and tell them to stop this (expletive), he added.

Police board decisions can be appealed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, and its common for officers to do just that after the board issues disciplinary measures against them. Its much rarer, though, for the CPD superintendent to appeal a board decision and argue for a heftier punishment.

The complaint against Hunt comes at a precarious time for the future of the citys police discipline apparatus.

Contract negotiations between the city and Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 concluded last year. And while the agreements economic package was approved by the City Council, another provision has generated much more pushback.

The arbitrator who oversaw the negotiations, Edwin Benn, ruled last year that CPD officers accused of serious misconduct have the right to have their cases decided by a third party instead of the Chicago Police Board. The FOP then tried to remove nearly two dozen pending disciplinary cases from the police boards docket, though that effort was denied.

The contract was split into two votes. The first, which covered the economic package that provided a nearly 20% raise to officers over four years, was unanimously approved. The second vote, to approve the disciplinary arbitration award, was denied and the tentative contract agreement was sent back to the bargaining table.

But in a new ruling made public Thursday, Benn doubled down. FOP members, he said, have an unequivocal right to disciplinary arbitration and any court challenge by the city is doomed to fail.

From my view of this matter, the Citys chances of prevailing in that litigation will be a very steep hill to climb that will be a very challenging legal proceeding for the City (indeed, a course of action with no possibility of prevailing), Benn wrote.

The Rule of Law mandates arbitration as required by the Final Award; the parties should work in collaboration to overcome the remaining differences and in the end, because the law requires arbitration, if issues remain that cant be resolved, then the proper avenue for attempting to correct differences is to make efforts to change the law.

In an emailed statement, a spokesperson for Mayor Brandon Johnsons office said, Again, we disagree with the arbitrators ruling against public accountability and transparency in the most severe cases of police misconduct. We remain firm in our commitment to improving community safety for both the people of Chicago and law enforcement.
telegraph newsroom

The Abu Dhabi-backed fund pursuing a takeover of The Telegraph is pinning its hopes on an editorial charter and a trust of media luminaries it says will protect journalism.

RedBird IMI, three-quarters funded by the Gulf autocracy, is seeking to persuade an inquiry by the media regulator Ofcom that it does not represent a threat to press freedom.

It said it had submitted the details of legally binding proposals which would establish a governance structure to ensure editorial independence of The Telegraph and The Spectator magazine, which it is also seeking to acquire.

RedBird IMI would effectively enter into a contract with the Government that would pledge that the editor would have control of all editorial matters including the scope and nature of news coverage and comment.

The charter would also protect the editors freedom to hire and manage journalists, and bar anyone from RedBird or IMI from seeking to influence Telegraph journalists.

Compliance with these undertakings would be monitored by a five-person editorial trust, made up of independent public figures of senior standing with experience in media, journalism, compliance, governance or ethics. RedBird IMI said it is in talks with potential trustees but declined to name them.

The trust would need to approve the appointment of any new editor, who would be chosen by the head of RedBird IMI Jeff Zucker, the former CNN chief.

A spokesman said: We are fully committed to the editorial independence of The Telegraph and The Spectator. The legal undertakings we are making to the UK Government to protect the journalistic freedom of the titles include a separate independent editorial trust to act as guardian, an additional undertaking from IMI to not engage in any way with journalists or their reporting.

This is a business investment for us and we will play no part in the running of The Telegraph or The Spectator.

The trust structure is likely to invite unflattering comparisons with the six independent directors appointed as protection for the independence of The Times when it was acquired by Rupert Murdoch in 1981.

Story continues

In its submission to the Ofcom inquiry into RedBird IMIs planned takeover, the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) said: History shows that promises made when newspapers are bought are not always kept.

In practice Mr Murdoch sometimes exercised close control of editorial matters, such as by avoiding criticism of China in the 1990s and 2000s as News Corp sought access to its media market for its satellite television empire.

The independent directors were ditched last year when then-culture secretary Nadine Dorries released Mr Murdoch from his undertakings.

The NUJ said: Anyone with wider experience throughout the industry knows that owners can find a multitude of ways to influence and interfere with editorial matters, whatever ownership or governance structures are in place.

The fund is a joint venture between the US private equity firm RedBird and International Media Investments, an Abu Dhabi vehicle controlled by the Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahyan.

RedBird IMI said The Telegraph will also be protected by the agreement which established the fund, which keeps IMI away from the management of all companies in which it invests. That agreement is confidential, however, so it is offering further legally binding undertakings to the Government, it said.

Last year RedBird IMI derailed an auction of The Telegraph by lending to the Barclay family and allowing them to repay an overdue debt to Lloyds Banking Group in exchange for The Telegraph, which was valued at 600m.

The deal for The Telegraph is in limbo, however, amid concerns from senior politicians and Telegraph commentators about a foreign state becoming the majority owner of an influential news outlet.

The United Arab Emirates human rights record and history of media censorship have intensified fears over its involvement.

Mr Zucker, based in New York, is expected to travel to the UK in the coming days for further discussions with Ofcom. The regulator must deliver recommendations to the Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer by 26 January.

It could suggest that she accepts RedBird IMIs proposals on editorial independence in lieu of referring the deal to the Competition and Markets Authority.

A further investigation could take several months and lead to the takeover being formally blocked. If Ofcoms findings derail RedBird IMIs plans the independent directors who currently control The Telegraph would relaunch an auction which previously attracted bidders including the publisher of the Daily Mail, and Sir Paul Marshall, the co-owner of GB News.

The NUJ warned that rival prospective owners of The Telegraph pose their own risks to competition and media plurality, as well as the threat of cost cuts.

In a BBC interview on Friday morning the former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: No newspaper title should come under the ownership of a foreign government. I would have the same objections if the French government decided they were going to buy The Telegraph.

Even though they want to guarantee the independence, at the end of the day those who have the money can influence the executive chairman [Mr Zucker] to change people on these so-called independent boards.

Many of our readers have raised concerns over the potential sale of Telegraph Media Group to the Abu Dhabi-linked Redbird IMI. While Ofcom carries out its investigation we are inviting the submission of comments on the process. Email salecomments@telegraph.co.uk to have your say.

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.
Vietnam Tax Updates for the New Year 2024

In the first week of the new year there were a handful of changes to taxes in Vietnam that foreign firms may need to be aware of. Heres what they are.

Changes to several taxes have taken effect this week in line with the new calendar year. Some of these changes have been made to provide economic stimulus, whereas others have been made in order to bring Vietnams tax policies inline with changes into broader, international tax regimes.

There are the key changes that have taken place this week that foreign firms should be aware of.

Top-up tax goes into effect

Vietnams National Assembly passed a top-up tax in response to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Global Minimum Tax (GMT) initiative back in November. This will see companies currently paying less than 15 percent tax required to pay a top-up tax covering the difference from the start of next year.

For some time, Vietnam has offered foreign investors very generous tax breaks to encourage them to open factories and plants around the country. This, in turn, has helped Vietnam to cement its place as an important block in global supply chains and a major global manufacturing hub.

Per Resolution 107/2023/QH15, from January 1, 2024, firms will need to ensure they are in compliance with Vietnams top-up tax requirements.

Webinar  Unveiling Southeast Asias Opportunities: 2023 Achievements and 2024 Prospects [February 29, 2024 | 9:00 AM Los Angeles / 12:00 PM New York / 6:00 PM Brussels] Join us in this data-driven webinar as Kyle Freeman, Partner and Head of the North American Client Services Desk in Asia, shares insights on Southeast Asias 2023 economic indicators and provides an overview of what to expect in 2024. The focus will be on trade and investment trends, noteworthy developments affecting businesses, and opportunities for foreign companies. Register Now

Environmental Protection Tax cut extended

On the books since 2010, Vietnams Environmental Protection Tax (EPT) has been a key pillar of Vietnams transition to a cleaner, greener economy.

In April of 2023, in response to a number of challenges, the EPT on fuels and lubricants was cut in an attempt to stimulate the economy. This cut has now been extended through to the end of 2024 by Resolution 42/2023/UBTVQH15. It has been estimated that this cut to the EPT will see tax revenue decrease by about VND 42,822 billion (US$1.76 billion).

EPT tax rate, fuels and lubricants, to December 31 2024

Description Unit Tax per unit (VND) Gasoline, except ethanol liter 2,000 Jet fuel liter 1,000 Diesel oil liter 1,000 Fuel liter 600 Fuel oil liter 1,000 Lubricant liter 1,000 Grease kilogram 1,000

See also: Vietnams Environmental Protection Tax in 2023

VAT tax reduced to 8 percent

Normally levied at 10 percent, Vietnam VAT was reduced to 8 percent from July 1, 2023 for the last half of this year  a reduction that has now been extended to June 30, 2024 per Decree 94/2023/ND-CP.

The cut will apply to most sectors except for telecommunications, information technology, finance, banking, securities, insurance, real estate, metals and metal products, mining, refined petroleum, chemicals, and items subject to excise tax.

In February of 2022, under a similar policy, the Vietnamese government cut the VAT from 10 to 8 percent to boost the pandemic-hit local economy. The cut, which was in place until the end of December 2022, cost Vietnams state budget an estimated VND 49.4 trillion (US$2.2 billion) in revenue.

This latest iteration of the VAT reduction is expected to follow the same basic guiding principles as previous VAT reductions.

Car registration fee cut ends

In July of 2023, a cut to vehicle registration fees was introduced to try and stimulate the local car manufacturing industry. This was detailed in Decree 41/2023/ND-CP and effectively halved registration costs for cars, trailers, and semi-trailers assembled in Vietnam.

As of January 1, 2024 this fee reduction has been removed and vehicle owners are once again required to pay the full registration fee. This is outlined in Decree 10/2022/ND-CP.

Tax support

Changes to the taxes listed above will have varying impacts depending on a businesses chief operations. For business specific tax support, firms should contact the tax experts at Dezan Shira and Associates.
Joe Youssef and his wife, Kara, overlook the Bosporus in Istanbul on Dec. 11, 2023. They sold most of their belongings and withdrew their savings to join a three-year cruise that never sailed.
If the dormitory vending machine and a rough class schedule are conspiring to add extra pounds, students might consider a workout routine to stay trim and beat stress.

But which workout is best? Fitness instructor Sam Stahl offers some suggestions in Health Tech Zone.
The Biden administration hopes that Taiwans voters can freely choose their next leader when the island votes next week in a general election, says John Kirby, National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, in an interview with VOA's White House Correspondent Paris Huang on Thursday.

Kirby also reiterated that President Joe Biden and his administration are all in on cooperation with the African continent in the coming year.

The interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

VOA: Lets start with Taiwans elections. According to the Taiwanese government, China has been interfering in the election, including spreading disinformation and misinformation. Taiwanese prosecutors are investigating allegations that China bribed Taiwanese officials with travel and money to influence the election. When they met in San Francisco, President Biden told President Xi Jinping not to interfere with the Taiwan election. Is President Xi is ignoring his advice?

John Kirby, National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications: I can't confirm these individual reports of interference with the electoral process in Taiwan. We've been very clear that we respect Taiwan's democratic institutions. We respect the will of the people of Taiwan to make these sorts of decisions in terms of their own governance. And we don't want any other actor, be it a nation state or otherwise, to interfere in this election.

VOA: Will the United States have confidence in Taiwans election results if there's hard evidence that China did influence the election?

Kirby: Look, that's a hypothetical. I'm just not willing to speculate at this point. We want these elections to be free and fair and transparent. We want the will of the people of Taiwan to be respected. We'll just monitor this as closely as we can.

VOA: This year, China has sent at least nine fighter jets, four navy ships and at least six balloons over Taiwan. What is the White Houses message to China regarding rising tension in the region before the Taiwan election?

Kirby: Again, it's important that as the people of Taiwan go to the polls to cast their ballots, that they can do so with a feeling of safety and security and comfort in the knowledge that their vote matters, and that it's going to be appropriately tallied. And that's really what we're focused on. That's what we want to see happen.

VOA: Moving on to the South China Sea. The United States and the Philippines recently had a joint exercise in the South China Sea. Now China is holding a rival exercise in the same region. And recently, China finally appointed a new defense minister, Navy Admiral Dong Jun. Is the White House watching this? Does this mean that China could be more aggressive in the South China Sea region in the future? And has Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin reached out to the admiral?

Kirby: You'd have to talk to Secretary Austin. I don't know whether he's reached out to the new nominee for defense secretary. I think we should be careful before drawing conclusions over somebody's nomination to a job and how they're going to execute that job based on the jobs that they've had in the past. We'll have to judge this individual as we would judge any leader around the world by their actions, not merely by their resume.

We don't seek a conflict with the [Peoples Republic of China]. We don't want to see conflict in the South China Sea. We do want to make sure that our national interests and the national interests of our allies and partners are respected in the South China Sea and elsewhere in the Indo-Pacific, which is why we have a robust military capability there. It's why the president felt it was so important to get military-to-military communications back up and running between the United States and the PRC, and they have, and that's a good thing.

I'm sure Secretary Austin, at the appropriate time, will speak to the new defense minister. And it's our hope that that relationship, while we don't expect to agree on everything, can at least provide yet another layer of insulation in terms of preventing miscalculation and misunderstanding between our two countries. The PRC has made some unfounded maritime claims when it comes to the South China Sea. We expect that we're going to maintain the capability for our allies and partners there to be able to manage their own national security and to protect the free flow of international commerce there.

VOA: Moving on to Africa. What is next for U.S.-Africa engagement? Could we see more military cooperation or some high-level trips this year?

Kirby: I think you're going to see us continue to be all-in when it comes to Africa. We have already made terrific progress on many of the commitments that we made in the Africa Leaders Summit, and there have been visits by some 17 senior-level officials of the United States government. I fully expect that those high-level engagements will continue.

VOA: The U.S. has imposed sanctions on individuals in several African countries that are experiencing conflict, like the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan. President Biden also recently revoked [African Growth and Opportunity Act] access over human rights issues in the Central African Republic, Gabon, Niger and Uganda. Is this type of economic statecraft the main lever that the United States has for managing its relationship with the continent? And is this enough to counter China's rising influence and massive expenditures on the continent?

Kirby: Well, first of all, these actions we're taking, these economic actions you're talking about, were designed to express our deep concern and to do it tangibly about some of the practices by leaders in these countries. It has nothing to do with trying to counter China. It's about leading our foreign policy with a strong focus on human and civil rights and doing what's right and making it clear what we will and what we won't stand for.

We have other tools at our disposal, which, again, I'm not in a position to speculate about right at this time, but it's not about China. These countries all get to decide for themselves what kind of relationship they want with the United States and what kind of relationship they want with China. That's up to them. We're comfortable that we've got a strong network of relationships across the continent. We're comfortable that we're taking real action to give African nations and African leaders alternatives in terms of financing, transparent, healthy, vibrant financing opportunities that won't push their countries further into debt the way that other financial relationships with other countries outside the continent have caused to our African friends.

We're going to keep doing what we've been doing, meeting the commitments that we made during the Africa Leaders Summit, offering opportunities for infrastructure growth and development and investment that are sound and viable and transparent, and continuing to honestly put our money where our mouth is when it comes to standing up for shared principles and values.
Chinas new and sweeping Patriotic Education Law, which targets all types of education including religious teaching, officially went into effect on January 1. Church leaders say they are already struggling to adapt to the new guidelines.

State media have said the Patriotic Education Law aims to target all levels of society, including schools, churches and international institutions.

According to the law, the Chinese government encourages religious groups, schools and places of religious activities to conduct patriotic education, aiming to strengthen national awareness among clergy and believers and guide religions to align with socialist society.

Late last month, on Christmas Eve, China's top political adviser, Wang Huning, delivered a stern message to Christian leaders, urging "strict" management of religious affairs and unwavering allegiance to the Communist Party's vision for Christianity.

Wang outlined a clear vision for the future of Christianity in China, insisting that religious leaders must "adhere to the direction of Sinicization of Christianity."

Churches already are raising questions and concerns about how they will comply with the new law.

Some churches are being cautious

In its bid to comply, U.S.-based Christian rights group China Aid said that one Christian church in the northeastern city of Shenyang, Liaoning Province, changed its Sunday worship activities from performing gospel songs to performing patriotic songs and dances and telling patriotic stories of the Chinese Red Army's Long March during the Chinese Civil War.

Pastor Guan, who has worked in the southern city Guangzhou for many years, told VOA that he and his believers have always supported the rule of the Communist Party and love China because they believe this is God's arrangement. What they object to is the party's request that they preach false doctrines that are not in line with the Bible. Guan requested that only his surname be used for security reasons.

Guan was expelled from Guangzhou last summer and can live only in another city in Guangdong Province to continue his preaching work.

"We live under Chinese laws and regulations. We have not committed any crime. Our 'sin' is not following the Sinicization of Christianity and not sacrificing faith to safeguard the leadership of the Communist Party," Guan said.

Last month, the Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau of Guangzhou released a video on how to report illegal religious activities and said those who provide clues and assist in investigating unlawful religious organizers could receive rewards up to 10,000 yuan, roughly $1,400.

The local official Catholic churches in Henan Province have explicitly prohibited young people under 18 from entering churches to participate in Mass and priests from hosting activities such as youth training classes and summer and winter camps.

Officials would impose heavy fines of up to 838,000 yuan, roughly $117,700, on those who hold Sunday school, according to the Christian Post, an online news site based in the United States.

Harassment and jailing

Pastor Mu began preaching in Beijing more than 20 years ago, through family gatherings. He and his church have been unwilling to register under the governments Three-Self Patriotic Movement, which supervises Protestant churches. Mu asked that only his surname be used for security concerns.

Mu has been under government surveillance for more than 20 years. The church he worked for had to move several times due to harassment by the authorities. He told VOA that some of his church colleagues were recently arrested by authorities and are still in jail.

Chienyu Shih, a researcher at Taiwan's Society of Central Asian Studies, said Chinese leader Xi Jinping has always viewed Christianity as a tool used by foreign countries to influence China.

"They believe that Christianity is the spokesperson of European and American countries, Shih said. Through Christianity, European and American ideas, whether social values or political views, arouse reactions from the Chinese people and even generate dissatisfaction and resistance among the common people toward the Communist Party, which is not what they want.

Therefore, they must cut off Chinese people's foreign connections through the Sinicization of religion."

Shih said the Chinese Communist government has made so many big moves against Christianity mainly because it has no confidence in itself and is worried that other countries will use religion to challenge its legitimacy. He said the party's control over religion is bound to become tighter this year.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is heading back to the Middle East late Thursday to visit multiple countries, including Israel, amid rising fears that the conflict is spreading. Tensions have surged between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah after a deputy Hamas leader was killed in Beirut on Tuesday. VOA's Senior Diplomatic Correspondent Cindy Saine reports.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets Saturday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul, during Blinkens latest trip to the Middle East and Europe aimed at ramping up diplomatic efforts over the Israel-Hamas war and preventing an expansion of the conflict.

His weeklong visit, which will also take him to Israel, the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Greece, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, is his fourth trip to the Middle East since the outbreak of the war between Israel and Hamas on October 7.

The tour will largely focus on preventing an expansion of the conflict in Gaza to the West Bank, Lebanon and Red Sea shipping lanes.

The Middle East has been a tinderbox since Iran-backed Hamas launched a terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 people while taking about 240 people hostage, Israel said. Some of the hostages have been released, with about 130 still in Gaza.

Israel's response has killed more than 22,600 Palestinians, a large percentage of them women and children, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. Neither side differentiates between combatants and civilians.

Blinken also will reaffirm calls for increasing humanitarian aid in Gaza, the State Department said.



Fears of a widening conflict grew this week after a presumed Israeli strike on the Lebanese capital, Beirut, that killed a senior Hamas official.

On Friday, the leader of the Lebanese militia Hezbollah said his group must retaliate over the strike.

"We cannot keep silent about a violation of this seriousness," said Hassan Nasrallah, according to The Associated Press. He said the cost of staying quiet is "far greater" than the risks of retaliating.

Hamas and security officials in the region attributed the strike that killed Saleh al-Arouri to an Israeli drone, although Israel has not directly acknowledged responsibility.

In the southern Gaza areas of Khan Younis and Rafah, as well as parts of central Gaza, more than 100 targets were struck, including military positions, rocket launch sites and weapons storage facilities, Agence France-Presse quoted the Israeli military as saying.

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have evacuated to southern Gaza, where most have been reduced to living in squalor without access to food, clean drinking water or working toilets.

Israel's defense minister announced Thursday plans for a new stage in its ongoing war in Gaza, including a more targeted strategy in the territory's north. There has been no official acceptance by the Israeli government of the defense ministers plan.

The announcement comes amid rising international pressure, including from the United States, to transition to less intense combat.

Some material for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Chinas top diplomat said Friday cooperation between his country and the United States is no longer a choice but an imperative and called for a healthy development of China U.S. relations.

Speaking at an event in Beijing commemorating 45 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries, Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi said under current global circumstances, the U.S. and China have more common interests than ever and the need for cooperation is enhanced.

It can be said that China-United States cooperation is no longer a dispensable choice for the two countries or even for the world, but a mandatory question that must be seriously addressed," Wang said.

He called for the two sides to make full use of all mechanisms that have been restored between them to build bridges of communication between them. Wang called for cooperation in the areas of diplomacy, economy, finance, commerce and agriculture.

The foreign minister's conciliatory words come after a year in which tensions between the two superpowers intensified. Early in 2023, the discovery of a Chinese spy balloon floating through U.S. airspace delayed a U.S. diplomatic visit to the country by Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The ballon was eventually shot down.

Chinas relationship with Russia, its ongoing threats against Taiwan, territorial disputes in the South China Sea and fair-trade issues have also hampered Beijings ties with Washington.

China- U.S. relations thawed somewhat toward the end of 2023, with Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden holding a meeting in San Francisco on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. Biden administration officials held visits and meetings with their Chinese counterparts soon after.

Xi and Biden exchanged New Years greetings early this week, with both leaders noting the anniversary of diplomatic ties.

Some information in this story came from Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
The Horn of Africa is facing two diplomatic crises. Somalia recalled its ambassador from Ethiopia and Sudan recalled its ambassador from Kenya. Both countries complain of alleged interference in their internal affairs and threats to their sovereignty.

Experts warn that the two diplomatic crises, one between Kenya and Sudan, the other between Ethiopia and Somalia, could threaten the stability of East Africa.

Sudans government, led by the head of the Sudanese Armed Forces, General Abdel Fatah al-Burhan, expressed its displeasure with Kenya after the government there gave a warm welcome to Burhans rival, the leader of Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti.

Kenya received Dagalo Wednesday as part of its efforts to find a peaceful settlement to the nearly nine-month-old Sudan conflict.

Angered by the move, Sudans government recalled its ambassador from Nairobi.

Al-Burhan sees Kenya as favoring Hemedti in the conflict and has called for Nairobi not to be part of mediation efforts spearheaded by regional bloc IGAD.

In the other crisis, Somali leaders were angered by the agreement this week between Ethiopia and the breakaway region of Somaliland. The deal would give landlocked Ethiopia access to the sea and allows it to establish a military base in Somaliland, which Somalia considers part of its territory.

To protest the deal, Mogadishu recalled its ambassador from Addis Ababa.

The head of the Horn Institute for Strategic Studies, Hassan Khannenje, explained what the latest diplomatic spats mean for a region that has a history of border disputes and conflicts.

"For Sudan, it complicates efforts to mediate that conflict, considering Kenya has been a key player in the IGAD quartet," Khannenje said. "It also opens another area of potential conflict between Ethiopia and Somalia, considering that just in the recent week, Mogadishu had made efforts to restart the reconciliation talks with Hargeisa. What that does is it torpedoes all those efforts and sends the entire region into a tailspin with regard to diplomacy."

Both Somalia and Sudan have long struggled with internal divisions and conflict, which have displaced millions.

Nasong'o Muliro, an international relations and diplomacy lecturer in Kenya, said some foreign powers, including countries in the Gulf, are fueling the potential conflict between the African countries.

"So many foreign actors are at play in the region, and it's creating alliances that are now also degenerating into inter-state conflicts because the Horn of Africa was basically suffering from internal conflict, but now, we see a spike of inter-state conflicts whether they are armed, but then they are conflict between states," Muliro said.

Muliro said countries like Kenya and Ethiopia should not be taking advantage of the weak central governments in Sudan and Somalia to engage local leaders and pursue their own interests in those countries.

"We are seeing a situation where the tradition that has been there of engaging the government of the day, no matter how weak it is, but now it's almost changing," Muliro said. "We are looking at Hemedti and Burhan and in any case, Africa should be behind Burhan but you can see that the states are selectively almost recognizing Hemedti.

The African Union and other international actors are calling for de-escalation of tensions and respect for each nation's territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Stranded in a corner of southern Gaza, members of the Abu Jarad family are clinging to a strict survival routine.

They fled their comfortable three-bedroom home in northern Gaza after the Israel-Hamas war broke out nearly three months ago. The 10-person family now squeezes into a 16-square meter tent on a garbage-strewn sandy plot, part of a sprawling encampment of displaced Palestinians.

Every family member is assigned daily tasks, from collecting twigs to build a fire for cooking, to scouring the citys markets for vegetables. But their best efforts cant mask their desperation.

At night "dogs are hovering over the tents," said Awatif Abu Jarad, an older member of the family. "We are living like dogs!

Palestinians seeking refuge in southern Gaza say every day has become a struggle to find food, water, medicine and working bathrooms. All the while, they live in fear of Israeli airstrikes and the growing threat of illnesses.

Israels bombardment and ground invasion of Gaza, now in its 13th week, have pushed almost all Palestinians toward the southern city of Rafah along the Egyptian border. The area had a prewar population of around 280,000, a figure that has bulged to more than 1 million in recent days, according to the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees.

Rafahs apartment blocks are crammed with people, often extended families who have opened their doors to displaced relatives. West of the city, thousands of nylon tents have sprung up. Thousands more people are sleeping in the open, despite the cool and often rainy winter weather.

Most of northern Gaza is now under the control of the Israeli army, which early in the war urged Palestinians to evacuate to the south. As the war progressed, more evacuation orders were issued for areas in the south, forcing Palestinian civilians to crowd into ever smaller spaces, including Rafah and a nearby sliver of land called Muwasi. Even these purportedly safe spaces are often hit by airstrikes and shelling.

The war broke out on October 7 after Hamas militants stormed into southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and abducting 240 others. The fighting has killed over 22,400 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-run territory, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.

According to Nouman, Awatifs brother, the conflict drove the family the entire length of Gaza. They fled their home in the northern border town of Beit Hanoun on the first day of the war and stayed with a relative in the nearby town of Beit Lahia.

Six days later, the intensity of Israeli strikes in the border area sent them south to Al-Quds Hospital in Gaza City. As people started to evacuate the hospital two days later, they traveled to the Nuseirat urban refugee camp in central Gaza, making the 10-kilometer journey on foot.

They stayed in a cramped U.N. school building in Nuseirat for over two months, but left on December 23 as the Israeli army turned its focus toward Hamas targets in central Gaza refugee camps.

They escaped to Muwasi on December 23, believing it was the safest option. On the first night, they slept out in the open. Then they bought nylon and wood in a Rafah market to build a tent.

Nouman, an accountant, sleeps on the nylon-covered floor with his wife, sister, six daughters and one grandchild. They sleep on their sides to conserve space.

He said the tent cost 1,000 shekels, about $276. "It is completely crazy," he said. In Rafahs demand-driven war economy, larger pre-built family tents now range from $800 to $1,400.

The familys hardship begins at 5 a.m. Nouman said his first job is to start a small fire to cook breakfast, while his wife and daughters knead dough for flatbread and then wash their utensils and metal cooking griddle.

After eating, their attention turns to fetching water and food, tasks that take up most of the daylight hours.

Nouman said he and several of his younger relatives collect jugs of water from one of the public pipes nearby, water that is exclusively used for washing and not suitable for drinking. Next, they head to one of the dozens of drinking water tankers dotted across the city, where they wait in line for hours.

A gallon of drinking water costs one shekel, or 28 cents. Some, so desperate for cash, wait in line just to sell their space.

After the water is fetched, family members move between several open markets to hunt for vegetables, flour and canned food for that evenings meal. Meanwhile, Nouman busies himself with scouring the ground for twigs and bits of wood to make a fire.

Food prices have soared. Gaza is facing acute food and medicine shortages and is dependent largely on aid and supplies that trickle in through two crossings, one Egyptian and one Israeli, and what has been grown in the recent harvest. More than half a million people in Gaza  roughly a quarter of the population  are starving, the United Nations said in late December.

Dalia Abu Samhadana, a young mother sheltering with her uncles family in a crowded house of 20 in Rafah, says the only food staples at her local market are tomatoes, onions, eggplants, oranges and flour. All are virtually unaffordable.

A 25-kilogram bag of flour before Oct. 7 cost around $10. Since then it has fluctuated between $40 and $100.

"My money has almost run out," said Abu Samhadana, unsure of how she will be able to feed her daughter.

Displaced Palestinians in Rafah are entitled to free aid if they register with the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, which hands out flour, blankets, and medical supplies at 14 spots across southern Gaza. They often spend hours in line waiting for the aid to be distributed.

Abu Samhadana, who is originally from the nearby southern town of Khan Younis, said she has tried to register for free aid several times but has been turned away due to the lack of available supplies.

The U.N. agency is simply overwhelmed and is already providing support to 1.8 million people in Gaza, according to Juliette Touma, its communications director. She said she did not know if the agency had stopped registering new aid seekers.

With few options left, some hungry Palestinians in Rafah have resorted to grabbing packages from aid trucks as they pass by. The U.N. refugee agency confirmed that some supplies of aid had been snatched from moving trucks but did not provide any details.

Hamas police escorting aid trucks from border crossings to U.N. warehouses have been seen beating people, mostly teenagers, as they try to grab what they can. In some cases, they have fired shots into the air. In one incident, a 13-year-old boy was killed when Hamas police opened fire.

Meanwhile, health officials warn of the growing spread of diseases, especially among children.

The World Health Organization has reported tens of thousands of cases of upper respiratory infections, diarrhea, lice, scabies, chickenpox, skin rashes and meningitis in U.N. shelters.

The rapid spread of disease is mainly due to overcrowding and poor hygiene caused by a lack of toilets and water for washing.

The Abu Jarad family dug its own makeshift toilet attached to the tent to avoid communal bathrooms. Still, the family is vulnerable to disease.

"My granddaughter is 10 months old, and since the day we came to this place, she has been suffering from weight loss and diarrhea," said Majeda, Noumans wife.

Going to the pharmacy offers little help. "We cant find any (suitable) medicines available," she said.
The longtime head of the National Rifle Association said Friday he is resigning, just days before the start of a civil trial over allegations he diverted millions of dollars from the powerful gun rights organization to pay for personal travel, private security and other lavish perks.

Wayne LaPierre, the executive vice president and chief executive officer, said his departure is effective Jan. 31. The trial in New York Attorney General Letitia James' lawsuit against him, the NRA and others who've served as executives is scheduled to start Monday. LaPierre is among the witnesses expected to testify. The NRA said it will continue to fight the lawsuit.

"With pride in all that we have accomplished, I am announcing my resignation from the NRA," LaPierre said in a statement released by the organization, which said he was exiting for health reasons. "I've been a card-carrying member of this organization for most of my adult life, and I will never stop supporting the NRA and its fight to defend Second Amendment freedom. My passion for our cause burns as deeply as ever."

James, a Democrat, called LaPierre's resignation an "important victory in our case" and confirmed that the trial will go on as scheduled. His exit "validates our claims against him, but it will not insulate him or the NRA from accountability," James said in a statement.

Andrew Arulanandam, a top NRA lieutenant who has served as LaPierre's spokesperson, will assume his roles on an interim basis, the organization said.

LaPierre, 74, has led the NRA's day-to-day operations since 1991, acting as the face and vehement voice of its gun-rights agenda and becoming one of the most influential figures in shaping U.S. gun policy. He once warned of "jack-booted government thugs" busting down doors to seize guns, called for armed guards in every school after a spate of shootings, and condemned gun control advocates as "opportunists" who "exploit tragedy for gain."

In recent years, though, the NRA has been beset by financial troubles, dwindling membership and infighting among its 76-member board, along with lingering questions about LaPierre's leadership and spending. In 2021, at LaPierre's direction, the NRA filed for bankruptcy and sought to incorporate in Texas instead of New York  but a judge rejected the move, saying it was a transparent attempt to avoid culpability in James' lawsuit.

Gun control advocates lauded LaPierre's resignation, mocking his oft-repeated talking point in the wake of myriad mass shootings over the years.

"Thoughts and prayers to Wayne LaPierre," said Kris Brown, president of the gun control advocacy group Brady. "He's going to need them to be able to sleep at night. Wayne LaPierre spent three decades peddling the Big Lie that more guns make us safer  all at the expense of countless lives. He has blood on his hands, and I won't miss him."

James' lawsuit accuses LaPierre and other executives of abusing their power and spending tens of millions of dollars in organization funds on personal trips, no-show contracts and other questionable expenditures.

The suit claims LaPierre spent millions on private jet flights and personal security and accepting expensive gifts  such as African safaris and use of a 32-meter yacht  from vendors.

He is also accused of setting himself up with a $17 million contract with the NRA if he were to exit the organization, spending NRA money on travel consultants, luxury car services and private jet flights for himself and his family.

Phillip Journey, an ex-NRA board member who clashed with LaPierre and is expected to testify at the New York trial, said LaPierre's resignation doesn't resolve open questions before the court or fix persistent rot within the organization.

"Honestly, the grifters are a snake with many heads, and this is just one," said Journey, a Kansas judge who is running to rejoin the NRA board.

Journey also testified at the NRA's bankruptcy trial in Texas and said he anticipates there is enough evidence for James to prove her case.

James is seeking to ban LaPierre and the other executives from serving in leadership positions of any not-for-profit or charitable organization conducting business in New York, which would effectively remove them from any involvement with the NRA.

Although now headquartered in Virginia, the NRA was chartered as a nonprofit charity in New York in 1871 by returning Union Army officers who sought to improve marksmanship among soldiers. It remains incorporated in the state.
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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is headed back to the Middle East to visit multiple countries, including Israel. The Islamic State group claims responsibility for the explosions in Iran. And smaller, faster, stronger: a new generation of semiconductors heralds a new era for electronics.
On January 3, two explosions in the Iranian city of Kerman killed nearly 100 people and injured 284 others, including children. The attacks targeted mourners gathering at the burial site of General Qassem Soleimani, who was commander of the Quds Force of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, to commemorate the fourth anniversary of his assassination in a January 2020 U.S. drone strike.

Immediately after the explosions, before anybody had claimed responsibility for the attack, top Iranian officials blamed the United States and Israel for targeting the Soleimani memorial ceremony.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi told a crowd in Tehran: I warn the Zionist regime, dont doubt it, you will pay the price for this crime. These crimes that you have committed, [you] will deeply regret.

Soleimanis successor as head of the Quds Force, Esmail Ghaani, said: And you will see by the power of God that the one who has failed in this field and will leave this field more disgraced than today is the Zionist regime and the criminal America.

Raisis deputy chief of staff for political affairs, Mohammad Jamshidi, wrote in a post on X:

Washington says USA and Israel had no role in terrorist attack in Kerman, Iran. Really? A fox smells its own lair first. Make no mistake. The responsibility for this crime lies with the U.S. and Zionist regimes and terrorism is just a tool.

Irans baseless claims against the United States and Israel have proven false.

The U.S. State Department called the Iranian accusations against the U.S. ridiculous, and the White House said there were no indications at all that Israel was involved whatsoever.

Yet Irans accusatory rhetoric and threats against the U.S. only accelerated, so much so the White House has renewed the protection services for former Secretary of State Mark Pompeo and his aide, whom Iran blames for the killing of Soleimani.

Irans anti-U.S., anti-Israel claims proved false 24 hours after the attack in Kerman, when Islamic States media wing, Al-Furqan, released a statement on its Telegram messenger claiming responsibility for the attack. IS said two suicide bombers carried out the attack, activating their explosive vests in the crowd.

The New York Times reported that Islamic State, a Sunni terrorist group, views the elimination of those it considers apostate Muslims, including Shiites, as part of its mission. Iran, a majority-Shiite country, is led by a theocratic Shiite government.

Meanwhile, Iranian opposition figures noted the absence of Soleimanis family members and top government officials at the memorial.

In a post on X, Iranian journalist and activist Masih Alinejad speculated that the attack might have been orchestrated by Iran.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to arrive Friday in the Middle East, his fourth visit to the region since the war between Israel and Hamas began on October 7.

The focus of Blinkens trip will be on the management of Gaza after the war, the State Department said Thursday.

Blinken also will reaffirm calls for increased humanitarian aid into Gaza, the State Department said.

During the weeklong trip, Blinken will visit Israel and the West Bank, in addition to Turkey, Greece, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have evacuated to southern Gaza where most have been reduced to living in squalor without access to food, clean drinking water or working toilets.

Israeli bombings continued overnight in the southern Gaza areas of Khan Yunis and Rafah, as well as parts of central Gaza. Agence France-Presse quoted the Israeli military as saying more than 100 targets were struck, including military positions, rocket launch sites and weapons storage facilities.



Officials with the Israel Defense Forces are quoted as saying a fighter jet attacked positions in the central area of Bureij overnight, killing an armed terrorist cell attempting to attack an Israeli tank. The army added that a number of Palestinian militants were killed in clashes in Khan Yunis.

Israel's defense minister on Thursday announced his plans for a new stage in its ongoing war in Gaza, including a more targeted strategy in the territory's north. There has been no official acceptance by the Israeli government of the defense ministers plan.

"In the northern region of the Gaza strip, we will transition to a new combat approach in accordance with military achievements on the ground," the office of Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said in a statement.

Tactics are set to include raids, demolishing tunnels, air and ground strikes, and special forces operations, Gallant said.

Israel began its military campaign to wipe out Hamas after Hamas fighters crossed into southern Israel on October 7. Israel said about 1,200 people were killed and some 240 captives taken in the terror attack.



Some of the hostages have been released, with about 130 still in Gaza. Gaza health officials say more than 22,400 Palestinians, a large percentage of them women and children, have been confirmed killed in Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip.

The announcement comes amid rising international pressure, including from the United States, to transition to less intense combat.

Meanwhile, Gallant said Israel will continue to try to eliminate Hamas leaders in Gaza's south, where most of the territory's 2.3 million people have been living under brutal conditions for weeks.

"It will continue for as long as is deemed necessary," the statement said.

Under Gallant's plan, the war in Gaza will continue until all of the hostages taken on October 7 are released, Hamas is demolished, and remaining military threats are neutralized.

Once those goals are accomplished, the plan calls for a new phase to begin during which "Hamas will not control Gaza and will not pose a security threat to the citizens of Israel." Under the plan, unspecified Palestinian entities would govern the territory.

The outline also said there would be "no Israeli civilian presence in the Gaza Strip after the goals of the war have been achieved," but Israel would still reserve the right to operate in the territory.

Washington has suggested that a revitalized Palestinian Authority, which is based in the occupied West Bank, would govern Gaza.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who left for the Middle East on Thursday, will focus on how Gaza will be managed after the war, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters.

This visit marks Blinken's fourth visit to the region since the war began on October 7.

Blinken will also reaffirm calls for increased humanitarian aid into Gaza, the spokesperson said.

During the weeklong trip, Blinken will visit Israel and the West Bank, in addition to Turkey, Greece, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

Earlier on Thursday, an Israeli airstrike in Gaza killed 14 people, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, as Israel conducted new airstrikes and ground operations against the Palestinian militant group.

The Health Ministry said the Israeli strike happened in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, and that the dead included nine children.

Israel did not directly comment on the strike but reported carrying out an airstrike in Khan Younis that killed three militants who tried to plant a bomb. The Israeli military said its ground forces killed two other militants in a nearby building.

Israel also reported Thursday new strikes against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon and new cross-border rocket launches coming from Lebanon toward Israel.

The strikes came a day after Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, in a televised speech, warned Israel against attacking Lebanon.

"If the enemy thinks of waging a war on Lebanon, we will fight without restraint, without rules, without limits and without restrictions," Nasrallah said.

His comments followed a drone strike that killed a senior Hamas official in Beirut.

Hamas and security officials in the region attributed the strike that killed Saleh al-Arouri to an Israeli drone, although Israel has not directly acknowledged responsibility.

The chief of Israel's Mossad intelligence service, David Barnea, said Wednesday the agency would hunt down every Hamas member involved in the October 7 attack on Israel, no matter where they are.

Hezbollah  like Hamas, an Iran-backed militant group designated as a terror organization by the United States  has been firing rockets across Israel's northern border since the Israel-Hamas war broke out in October.

Some material for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
In what has become a customary move to mark Myanmar's Independence Day on January 4, the military junta announced a mass amnesty, releasing nearly 10,000 prisoners. The action, however, was criticized by political and human rights activists who said it lacks political significance, with less than 100 political prisoners among those granted amnesty.

Bo Kyi, a former political prisoner and co-founder of the Assistance Association of Political Prisoners, or AAPP, a Myanmar human rights monitoring group, expressed concerns about the release's impact on public safety.

In a statement to VOA, he said, "As usual, only a few political prisoners were released. It is customary to release them on big days like this. Among those released are usually only criminals. This is a concern for public safety. This release has never contributed to national reconciliation and peace. If it is a true act of service, all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, must be released unconditionally."

Over the past three years, the military junta has announced 12 amnesties, resulting in the release of nearly 90,000 prisoners. However, according to AAPP's list, 5,800 political prisoners have been released, less than 7% of the total.

According to AAPP's latest statement, from the February 2021 coup until January 3, 25,730 people were arrested by the military council. Currently, 19,930 people remain incarcerated, with 8,457 of them sentenced to prison terms.

Myanmar's ruling military leader, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, pardoned 9,652 prisoners Thursday, on what a statement referred to as humanitarian and compassionate grounds.

The the junta chief also pardoned 114 jailed foreigners, who the government said will be deported. While the identities and nationalities of the foreign prisoners were not disclosed, the junta said the pardons were made for the sake of bilateral relations and on humanitarian grounds.

Selective release among detained NLD leaders

Among those freed by the mass amnesty were two high-profile members of the National League for Democracy, or NLD  Dr. Hla Myat Thwe, former minister of social welfare in the Ayayarwady Region during the NLD government, and Dr. Ye Lwin, ousted mayor of Mandalay, Myanmars second-largest city after Yangon. Nearly 2,000 NLD party members, including other top leaders, remain imprisoned.

Sithu Maung, Myanmar's youngest lawmaker and an NLD member, expressed his views from a liberated area controlled by ethnic armed groups. Speaking with VOA via Zoom on Thursday, he said, "Without the release of the partys top leaders, including Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners, the juntas so-called amnesty was completely absent with its political will and willingness to solve the problem."

Suu Kyi, the 78-year-old Nobel laureate, remains sentenced to 27 years in prison on various charges brought by the military, including election fraud, coronavirus restriction violations and corruption.

Maung said the Independence Day celebration are devoid of political substance, emphasizing the ongoing challenges in a country under military control.

Since the coup in February 2021, the junta has arrested 1,910 NLD members, with at least 1,269 still in detention, according to a report by the NLDs Human Rights Documentation Team in October.

Maung pointed out that the international community, as per United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2669, encourages the release of Suu Kyi and her political associates. The current situation, he argued, falls short of international expectations for a genuine resolution.

A bittersweet liberation

Outside the infamous Insein Prison in Myanmars old capital, Yangon, the families of freed prisoners waited for their loved ones to be released. Videos and photos of the scene show tearful reunions as mothers, fathers, sons and daughters embrace after years of imprisonment in a prison known for its inhumane conditions.

Photojournalist Kaung Sett Lin, a member of the Myanmar Pressphoto Agency, or MPA, like many released on Thursday, could be seen waving from the window of a prison bus before rushing to hug his family.

Kaung Sett Lin and a fellow photojournalist, a woman named Hmu Yadanar Moh Moh Tun, were arrested on December 5, 2021, while covering a coup protest in Yangon.

Both journalists were seriously injured during the incident, with Kaung Sett Lin suffering a broken back and leg, as well as serious head and eye injuries. Hmu Yadanar reportedly received serious head injuries from being hit by a military vehicle during the arrests. Reports at the time said that five protesters were killed during the incident when the military opened fire on the crowd.

Despite Kaung Sett Linns early release, his female colleague remains imprisoned, having received a 10-year sentence.

J Paing, the chief editor and co-founder of the MPA, expressed mixed emotions about the release of his colleague. "It's good news that he was freed, Paing told VOA on Thursday. However, after being released, there are those who have reposted opinions on the military junta's lobby channels expressing a desire for him to be rearrested. We are, therefore, worried about him."

The Committee to Protect Journalists, based in New York, has called for the release of all detained journalists in Myanmar.

Critics of the junta say that mass pardons often involve those who have already served most of their sentences, and there have been instances of rearrest shortly after release.

Research by the VOA Burmese service indicates that approximately 40 journalists are still held in prisons across Myanmar, even after the recent mass pardon.

Among them is VOA Burmese contributor Sithu Aung Myint, sentenced to 12 years in prison by the junta. Sithu Aung Myint had contributed fact-based news analysis to a VOA Burmese weekly program until his arrest in August 2021.
The rival Koreas fired artillery rounds into the sea as part of provocative drills along their disputed sea boundary Friday, in violation of the fragile 2018 inter-Korean agreement, and threatened strong responses against each other if provoked.

The development is expected to escalate tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The last two years have seen North Korea performing a record number of missile tests and South Korea and the U.S. expanding their defense exercises in a tit-for-tat cycle. Experts say North Korea will likely intensify a run of weapons tests ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea fired more than 200 rounds in the waters north of their western sea boundary on Friday morning. It was North Korea's first front-line maritime firing exercise in about a year.

Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson Lee Sung Joon told a televised briefing that the North's artillery firing was "an act of provocation that threatens peace and heightens tensions on the Korean Peninsula." Lee said South Korea suffered no damage.

In a corresponding step, South Korea's Defense Ministry said it had its troops on two border islands fire artillery rounds south of the sea boundary later Friday. Local media said South Korea fired 400 rounds. A Defense Ministry statement said the military will maintain a firm readiness to strongly punish any provocations by North Korea.

North Korea's military later said that its firing drills were "a sort of natural countermeasure" against the South's other military drills earlier this week. It said "the military gangsters" of South Korea must not shift blame for tensions to the North.

"If the enemies commit an act which may be regarded as a provocation under the pretext of so-called counteraction, the (North) Korean People's Army will show tough counteraction on an unprecedented level," the KPA's General Staff said in a statement.

Ahead of the South Korean drills Friday, authorities blared broadcasts via street loudspeakers and sent text messages to residents on the five major border islands, asking them to evacuate to safe places. They worried North Korea could conduct a new round of firing training in response but lifted the evacuation order a few hours later as they detected no suspicious activities by the North's military, according to local officials.

The Koreas' poorly marked western sea boundary witnessed bloody naval clashes in 1999, 2002 and 2009. The North's alleged torpedoing of a South Korean warship killed 46 South Korean sailors in March 2010, and the North's artillery bombardment of Yeonpyeong Island  one of the five border islands where the evacuation order was issued on Friday  killed four South Koreans in November 2010.

The 2018 agreement  reached during a short-lived era of reconciliation between the two Koreas, requires them to halt live-fire exercises and aerial surveillance in buffer and no-fly zones established along their border. But the deal is in danger of collapsing after both Koreas took steps to breach the accord amid bickering over the North's first successful military spy satellite launch in November.

South Korea resumed front-line aerial surveillance in protest at the North's satellite launch. North Korea responded that it would deploy powerful weapons at the border and won't abide by the 2018 deal any longer. South Korea later accused North Korea of restoring front-line guard posts that it had dismantled under the 2018 deal.

South Korea has previously accused North Korea of having already breached the deal numerous times with firing drills at the buffer zones, including one as recently as December 2022 off the Korean Peninsula's east coast.

"North Korea is now in the stage of finding a justification for provocation after scrapping the 2018 military agreement," said Lee Sang Sook, a research professor at the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security. "There is a possibility for North Korea to ramp up provocation steadily, so big and small provocations along the western sea boundary and the land border are expected this year."

In a recent key ruling-party meeting, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un fired off fierce, derisive rhetoric against South Korea, saying South Korea must not be considered as a partner for reconciliation or unification. He ordered the military to use all available means  including nuclear weapons  to conquer South Korea in the event of a conflict.

Experts say Kim likely believes that a boosted military capability would increase his chances of wresting U.S. concessions if former President Donald Trump is reelected in the U.S. presidential election. In the ruling party meeting, Kim vowed to expand the country's nuclear arsenal and launch three additional military spy satellites this year.

Earlier Friday, North Korea's state media said Kim ordered authorities to increase production of mobile launch vehicles for missiles during a visit to a munitions factory. Kim said the role of the factory producing transport erector launchers, or TELs, is "very important" in bolstering North Korea's national defense because of a looming military showdown with its rivals.

Mobile launch vehicles give North Korea the ability to move missiles around its territory, making it more difficult for adversaries to detect their launches in advance.

Yang Uk, an analyst at Seoul's Asan Institute for Policy Studies, said that North Korea is estimated to have more than 200 such launch vehicles, about 20-30 of them likely for intercontinental ballistic missiles designed to attack the U.S. mainland.

Kim's factory visit may also be related to the North's purported shipments of conventional arms to Russia for its war in Ukraine in return for receiving high-tech Russian weapons technologies.

U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Thursday that recently declassified intelligence showed that North Korea has provided Russia with ballistic missile launchers and several ballistic missiles. The U.S. and South Korea have previously accused North Korea of supplying ammunitions and artillery to Russia.

"The Russia-Ukraine war is really a good opportunity for North Korea. It's likely operating its weapons factories at their full capacities to satisfy Russia, a big customer," Yang said.
A Bexley home for sale in September

Ohio home shoppers hoping for a bargain this year are likely to be disappointed.

The real-estate service Zillow predicts that three Ohio cities will be among the nation's 10 hottest, or most competitive, real-estate markets in 2024. Zillow forecasts that Cincinnati will be the second-hottest market, followed by Columbus at #3 and Cleveland at #8.

Leading the nation is Buffalo, New York, while Indianapolis lands at #4.

More: How Ohio cities fared in latest home-price rankings

Zillow reported that cities on the list "should stand out as strong in a housing market still buffeted by low inventory and relatively high mortgage rates and prices."

But the company cautioned that the housing market will remain tight for most buyers in 2024.

"While mortgage rates have come down significantly in recent weeks, and projections for improved affordability and more homes for sale have become more common, the challenges that limited the U.S. housing market last year are unlikely to disappear entirely in 2024."

Zillow's list attempts to measure how "competitive" housing markets will be. The ranking is based on several calculations including anticipated home value appreciation; the speed of home sales; and the estimated number of new jobs per new home. The last metric in particular resonates in Columbus, where job growth is expected to be weak this year, but the number of new homes built might be even weaker, leaving buyers fighting for available homes.

Zillow's list comes a few weeks after Realtor.com's similar forecast of hot housing markets. Realtor.com's list included none of the three Ohio cities on Zillow's list but pegged another Buckeye city, Toledo, as the nation's hottest market for 2024. Realtor.com's lineup is based on expected sale and price growth rates.

No matter which list proves more accurate, Ohio homeowners and shoppers should expect more price hikes and competition this year.

In central Ohio, home prices have risen more than 40%, or nearly $100,000, since the end of 2019. Columbus-area prices stabilized some in 2023, but continue to rise faster than the national average.

Story continues

But despite the big jumps, Midwestern cities on Zillow's Top 10 list are more affordable than nationally. In Columbus, for example, the typical home value is $301,138, well below the national average of $347,415.

Housing markets are healthiest where affordable home prices and strong employment are giving young hopefuls a real shot at buying and starting to build equity, Anushna Prakash, data scientist for Zillow Economic Research, said in a news release.

Im cautiously optimistic that the housing market will get back on stable footing in 2024  we shouldnt see the massive price spikes of the early pandemic or fast-rising mortgage rates of recent years.

jweiker@dispatch.com

@JimWeiker

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio home shoppers to find no relief in 2024, according to forecasts
Mongolian police on Friday raided the office of a local news outlet in the countrys capital, Ulaanbaatar.

The raid on the Zarig news website came as authorities filed more serious charges against its editor-in-chief, Unurtsetseg Naran, who has been in custody since December 4.

Authorities initially arrested Unurtsetseg on accusations of spreading false information and contempt of court. She was ordered to be held in custody for one month, but a court in late December extended that period to two months.

Since then, her lawyer told VOA, authorities have added more serious charges, including allegedly conspiring with foreign intelligence organizations.

Unurtsetseg, who denies the charges against her, faces eight years in prison, said attorney Erkhembayar Purevdorj, who is representing the journalist.

Speaking with VOA around 10:30 p.m. local time Friday, Erkhembayar said the raid on the media outlets office was ongoing.

Its not necessary to raid the newsroom, the lawyer said. This action shows us that the law enforcement are not respecting human rights.

Mongolias Washington embassy did not immediately reply to VOAs email requesting comment.

The initial charges against Unurtsetseg, which her lawyer described as minor, related to a Facebook post in which the journalist had said it was inhumane to prolong the court hearing of an elderly individual, according to local reports.

International and Mongolian press freedom groups have called for Unurtsetseg to be released.

In a December statement, the International Federation of Journalists said it urges the Mongolian authorities to release Unurtsetseg immediately, allow journalists in Mongolia to perform their work without interference, and ensure the press freedom and the freedom of speech is upheld.

Unurtsetseg is known in Mongolia as a journalist who is not afraid to hold officials accountable.

While some say she has a brash gotcha style of journalism, others praised her investigative work, including coverage of companies that had defaulted on loans to the countrys Development Bank.

Shes a national debt collector, and she saved Mongolia from failing to pay foreign debt bond payments, Khaliun Bayartsogt, an independent journalist in Ulaanbaatar, told VOA.

While Unurtsetsegs lawyer awaits details of Fridays raid, he told VOA that for now the priority is securing Unurtsetsegs release from pretrial detention.
This week the United States Department of Justice unsealed formerly confidential documents pertaining to convicted sexual offender Jeffrey Epstein. Some of the documents mention big names, including former U.S. Presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, Britains Prince Andrew and others. Aron Ranen reports on the story from New York City.
A deadly Russian missile strike hit the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk on Saturday, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) northwest of Donetsk, the governor of the Ukrainian-held part of the region, Vadym Filashkin, wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

"Eleven dead, including five children  these are the consequences for now of strikes on Pokrovsk district," Filashkin said, posting pictures of rescue squads sifting through large piles of smoldering rubble in the dark along with a burned-out vehicle.

Filashkin said S-300 missiles had been used in a series of Russian attacks, with the main strike hitting Pokrovsk and nearby villages. He said the attack showed Russian forces were "trying to inflict as much grief as possible on our land."

The Kharkiv region prosecutor's office provided evidence Saturday indicating Russia may have attacked Ukraine with missiles supplied by North Korea.

Examining fragments of one of several missiles that hit the city of Kharkiv on January 2, Dmytro Chubenko, spokesperson for the prosecutor's office, said it was visually and technically different from Russian models.

Chubenko declined to provide the missile's exact model name but showed remnants of the missile to reporters and said its production method was not very modern, and it differed from the standard Iskander missiles that had previously struck Kharkiv.

"This missile is similar to one of the North Korean missiles," Chubenko said, adding that the missile's diameter was slightly larger than a Russian Iskander missile and its nozzle, internal electrical wiring and rear parts were different.

"That is why we are leaning toward the version that this may be a missile which was supplied by North Korea," he said.

A senior adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy alleged Friday that Russia hit Ukraine this week with missiles supplied by North Korea for the first time since its invasion in February 2022.

Russia attacked Kharkiv with several missiles this week, killing two people and injuring more than 60 in one of its biggest missile and drone strikes since the start of the large-scale war.

Drone production

Russia plans to domestically produce more than 32,000 drones each year by 2030 accounting for 70% of its drone stockpile, the TASS news agency cited First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov as saying Saturday.

"The annual production volume of unmanned aerial vehicles [UAVs]  excluding educational UAVs  is planned at 32,500 units," Belousov told TASS. "This is almost three times higher than current production volumes."

Russia will finance the national project on UAVs with $7.66 billion by 2030, Belousov said, and will publish more details this month.

Both Russia and Ukraine are ramping up their drone production as UAVs have been widely used by both sides since the beginning of the war.

Moscow has been using the cheaply produced, Iranian-made Shahed drones, known in Ukraine for their noisy petrol engines.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has been modifying personal civilian drones for the battlefield, a cheap but effective option for reconnaissance and attacks and a tactic Russia has adopted.

Ukraine said in December it planned to produce more than 11,000 medium- and long-range attack drones in 2024, as well as 1 million FPV  first-person-view  drones that are widely in demand on the front line.

In his nightly video address Saturday, Zelenskyy said Ukraine is working hard so it can rely mostly on Ukrainian weapons' production.

"The strength of our Ukrainian forces must be much greater. It will happen," said the president. "We will rebuff every manifestation of Russian terror, every attempt by Russia to increase its pressure on our state, our people, our positions."

Targeting Crimea

Russia's Defense Ministry said Russian air defense units intercepted and destroyed Ukrainian guided missiles over Crimea early Saturday.

It also reported that air defense units had downed drones from a series of Friday night attacks over the Crimean Peninsula and the western part of the Black Sea.

Zelenskyy had pledged to hit more targets on the Crimean Peninsula and inside Russian border regions this year, alarming Russians as President Vladimir Putin seeks reelection in March.



Casualty rates

Meanwhile, the British Defense Ministry said Saturday on social media platform X that Russia's casualties in Ukraine rose by almost 300 soldiers per day last year in its war against Ukraine.

The increase "almost certainly reflects the degradation of the Russian readiness force and their movement to a low quality, high quantity mass army."

If the casualties continue at the current rate, according to the ministry, Russia is on course to "have sustained over half-a-million personnel killed and wounded in Ukraine" by the end of 2024.

By comparison, the ministry said, the Soviet Union suffered 70,000 casualties in Afghanistan between 1979 and 1989.

On Friday, in a stark warning, U.S. President Joe Biden's top budget official said time is running out for lawmakers to replenish U.S. aid for Ukraine  with the decision bogged down in Congress over budget negotiations on immigration, where a deal has so far eluded lawmakers.

Shalanda Young, director of the Office of Management and Budget, said there is no avenue to help Ukraine, aside from Congress approving more funding for Kyiv as it tries to repel Russia in a war that is now nearly two years old.

While the Pentagon has some limited authority to help Kyiv, without new funding from Capitol Hill, "that is not going to get big tranches of equipment into Ukraine," Young underscored.

Some material for this report was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
South Africa is taking the war in Gaza to a top global court, accusing Israel of genocide in a lengthy court filing that the International Court of Justice is preparing to hear next week.

Israel says the filing constitutes "blood libel," and the White House dimisses it as "meritless."

More than 22,000 Palestinians have perished since the start of Israel's offensive on Gaza, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. U.S. officials have previously cast doubt on those figures, noting that the ministry is run by Hamas, the group that was elected to govern Gaza and whose armed wing launched the October 7 attack on Israel that killed more than 1,200 people.

Hamas, which is designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. and some of its allies, lists the killing of Jews and the elimination of the Jewish state as its main objectives.

South Africa's 84-page submission, filed last week, says that Israel's actions in its Gaza offensive "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."

Israel's use of state organs and agents to do this, they say, is a violation of its obligations under the 1948 Genocide Convention.

Alarms over possible war crimes

International organizations, including United Nations agencies, have raised alarms over possible war crimes, with the U.N.'s human rights agency calling in November for "prompt, transparent and independent investigations into allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity, perpetrated in Israel and in the Occupied Palestinian Territory on 7 October 2023 and thereafter."

Israel's government has slammed the move as a "decision to play advocate for the devil" and accused South Africa of "blood libel." The accusation that Jewish people use the blood of Christians in religious rituals has been touted for centuries  notably by the genocidal Nazi regime, which oversaw the extermination of some 6 million Jews  to justify targeting Jews.

"History will judge South Africa for its criminal complicity with the bloodiest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, and it will judge it without mercy," said Israeli government spokesman Eylon Levy.

The White House, when asked by VOA, dismissed South Africa's argument.

"We find this submission meritless, counterproductive and completely without any basis in fact whatsoever," said John Kirby, director of strategic communications for the National Security Council.

South Africa's Foreign Affairs Ministry did not respond to requests for comment, but spokesperson Clayson Monyela said on the social media platform X that this is an example of his nation's decision to "flex its diplomatic muscle in defense of humanity."

South Africa's ruling African National Congress has historically supported the Palestinian cause, with the nation's first democratically elected president, Nelson Mandela, saying, "We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians."

In the court application, South Africa argues that the treatment of Palestinians also bears strong resemblance to South Africa's own racially motivated apartheid regime, which ended in 1994 with Mandela's election.

"It is important," the submission reads, "to place the acts of genocide in the broader context of Israel's conduct towards Palestinians during its 75-year-long apartheid, its 56-year-long belligerent occupation of Palestinian territory and its 16-year-long blockade of Gaza, including the serious and ongoing violations of international law associated therewith, including grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention, and other war crimes and crimes against humanity."

The grassroots Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) says it supports South Africa's submission, which has also been endorsed by Muslim-majority nations Turkey and Malaysia.

Robert McCaw, government affairs department director for CAIR, notes that while the group has "condemned the killing of Palestinians and Israelis alike" and the actions of both Hamas and Israel's government, it believes South Africa's case "fits the definition of genocide."

"When you are systematically erasing Palestinians from Gaza, that is a genocide," he said. "And you can, you know, use whatever terms you want to dismiss this claim, but it's a genocide."

But can it stop the war? South Africa, in its submission, asks the court to immediately call upon Israel to halt attacks, but it's not clear whether such a ruling would stick.

"It can't enforce its verdicts, but members of the United Nations, which are all the world's government, they can accept its findings, and that impacts the types of policies that are put out by the U.N.," McCaw said.

"So, this can have a significant impact in how we might be able to get a cease-fire or to hold Israel accountable by other means for its ongoing genocide of Palestinians. Also, it's a very good way to legally document the crimes that are occurring."

Proceedings begin January 11 and will be streamed live on the United Nations' web-based TV site.
Officials say South African athlete Oscar Pistorius has been released from prison on parole and is now at home.

The Department of Corrections gave no more details of Pistorius' release.

The announcement came at around 8:30 a.m., indicating officials released the world-famous double-amputee Olympic runner in the early hours. Pistorius has served nearly nine years for killing girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day 2013. Hed been sentenced to 13 years and five months.

He was approved for parole in November. Serious offenders in South Africa are eligible for parole after serving at least half their sentence.

Steenkamp's mother, June Steenkamp, said in a statement that she had accepted Pistorius' parole as part of South African law.

"Has there been justice for Reeva? Has Oscar served enough time? There can never be justice if your loved one is never coming back, and no amount of time served will bring Reeva back," June Steenkamp said. "We who remain behind are the ones serving a life sentence."

"With the release of Oscar Pistorius on parole, my only desire is that I will be allowed to live my last years in peace with my focus remaining on the Reeva Rebecca Steenkamp Foundation, to continue Reeva's legacy."

Pistorius will live under strict conditions until the remainder of his sentence expires in December 2029, the Department of Corrections said. It emphasized that the multiple Paralympic champion's release  like every other offender on parole  does not mean that he has served his time.

Some of Pistorius' parole conditions include restrictions on when he's allowed to leave his home, a ban on consuming alcohol, and orders that he must attend programs on anger management and on violence against women. He will have to perform community service.

Pistorius will also have to regularly meet with parole officials at his home and at correctional services offices and will be subjected to unannounced visits by authorities. He is not allowed to leave the Waterkloof district without permission and is banned from speaking to the media until the end of his sentence. He could be sent back to jail if he is in breach of any of his parole conditions.

South Africa does not use tags or bracelets on paroled offenders, so Pistorius will not wear any monitoring device, Department of Corrections officials said. But he will be constantly monitored by a department official and will have to inform the official of any major changes in his life, such as if he wants to get a job or move to another house.

Pistorius has maintained that he shot Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model and law graduate, by mistake. He testified that he believed Steenkamp was a dangerous intruder hiding in his bathroom and shot through the door with his licensed 9 mm pistol in self-defense.

Prosecutors said he killed his girlfriend intentionally during a late-night argument.

Steenkamp's family did not oppose his parole application in November, although June Steenkamp said in a victim statement submitted to the parole board that she didn't believe Pistorius had been fully rehabilitated and was still lying about the killing.

Before the killing, Pistorius was held up as an inspiring role model after having had both of his legs amputated below the knee as a baby because of a congenital condition. He became a champion sprinter on his carbon-fiber running blades and made history by competing at the 2012 London Olympics.

But his murder trial destroyed his image. He was accused of being prone to angry outbursts and acting recklessly with guns, while witnesses testified about various altercations he had with others, including an argument in which he allegedly threatened to break a man's legs.

Pistorius was first convicted of culpable homicide  a charge comparable to manslaughter  and sentenced to five years in prison for killing Steenkamp. After appeals by prosecutors, he was ultimately found guilty of murder and had his sentence increased, although that judgment by the Supreme Court of Appeal still didn't definitively rule that he knew it was Steenkamp behind the toilet door.

Pistorius was first sent to prison in 2014, was released on house arrest in 2015 during an appeal and was sent back to prison in 2016. He was initially incarcerated at the maximum security Kgosi Mampuru II Prison in Pretoria but was moved to Atteridgeville early in his sentence because it is better suited to holding disabled prisoners.

Reaction to Pistorius' parole has been muted in South Africa, a stark contrast to the first days and months after Steenkamp's killing, which sparked angry protests outside of Pistorius' court hearings calling for him to receive a long prison sentence. There is no death penalty in South Africa.

"He has ticked all the necessary boxes," said Themba Masango, secretary general of Not In My Name International, a group that campaigns against violence against women. "And we can only wish and hope Oscar Pistorius will come out a better human being."

"We tend to forget that there is a possibility where somebody can be rehabilitated."
The Taliban have arrested women for the first time in Kabul for wearing "bad hijab," which women's rights activists in Afghanistan say is an effort by the group to restrict women further and shut them out of public life.

"This is an excuse for putting further restrictions on women," said Sanam Kabiri, a member of the rights group Unity and Solidarity of Afghan Women, adding that "they aim to stop women from going out even when they need to go."

Abdul Ghafar Farooq, the Taliban's spokesperson for their Ministry of Vice and Virtue, told The Associated Press on Thursday that the women were arrested three days ago over their "bad hijab."

However, he did not provide details on the number of women arrested and how they violated the Taliban's dress code.

Kabiri told VOA that the women in Afghanistan are wearing hijab, but that they could have been arrested simply for "wearing jeans, tight clothes, or color scarf."

In May 2022, the Taliban issued a decree calling for women to wear the head-to-toe burqa and to only show their eyes.

"Despite depriving women of their rights, they are now arresting women over hijab," said Kabiri, adding that the Taliban "aim to omit women from public life and make their lives hell."

Since seizing power in 2021, the Taliban have imposed repressive measures against women in Afghanistan.

Under the Taliban, women are now barred from attending secondary schools and universities, working with government and nongovernment organizations, traveling more than 45 miles, leaving the country without a close male relative, or going to parks and gyms.

Richard Bennett, the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, in a post on X, said the arrests "regrettably [signify] further restrictions on women's freedom of expression and undermine other rights."

Bennett called on the Taliban to release the women "immediately and without conditions."

The Taliban's government has continued its crackdown on women and women's rights activists in Afghanistan.

"In general, we are witnessing the Taliban's continued violence [against women] in the past two and a half years," said Deeba Farahmand, an Afghan women's rights activist.

She added that the Taliban have arrested, imprisoned and tortured women's rights activists.

In November, Human Rights Watch reported that detainees are kept in "abusive conditions, and sometimes tortured."

"It is not clear where they [the Taliban] took them [girls] and what is going to happen to these young girls," said Taranom Seyedi, the head of the Women's Political Participation Network, a group coordinating activities of women activists in Afghanistan.

The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, in a post on X on Wednesday, expressed concern over the "arbitrary detention" of the Afghan girls' education activists.

"UNAMA urges [an] end to arbitrary arrests. Rights to family, lawyers, care, fair trial must be upheld."

The Taliban's spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, however, rejected the U.N. statement, saying that "no arbitrary arrests have been made and their actions are lawful and based on the Sharia law."

On Wednesday, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said the United States "remained concerned about the Taliban's repressive edicts against women and girls and its unwillingness to foster inclusive governance."

The international community has called on the Taliban to respect its commitment to uphold women's rights and form an inclusive government.

Seyedi said that by arresting women over how they wear a hijab, the Taliban are trying to make the lives of women in Afghanistan "more difficult."

She called on the international community to raise its voice against the detention of women and officially acknowledge the Taliban's actions in Afghanistan as "gender apartheid."

Roshan Noorzai of VOA's Afghan Service contributed to this story, which originated in VOA's Afghan Service.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday Ukraines No. 1 priority is delivery of additional air defense systems and missiles because many Ukrainian locations have been subjected to Russian shelling and missile and drone attacks.

Speaking in his daily address, Zelenskyy also said support packages for our warriors, consisting of artillery, electronic warfare equipment and drones, are also a top priority.

Zelenskyy said Russia is trying to break Ukraines spirit by threatening the destruction of its energy sector, which the president described as "the foundations of our life.

Meanwhile, the British Defense Ministry said Friday in its daily intelligence report on Ukraine that ground combat over the last week has maintained a static front line for Ukraine but has also included some loss. In central Donetsk, the ministry said, Avdiivka is still heavily contested, but Russian forces in Marinka have finally advanced to the western edge of town after nine years of combat in the area.

Meanwhile, in southern Ukraine, the ministry said Russian airborne forces have highly likely made minimal progress in dislodging the Ukrainian Bridgehead on the eastern bank of the Dnipro, near the village of Krynky.
Anti-corruption and government transparency activists say a new U.S. law that allows federal prosecutors to bring criminal charges against officials of foreign governments who solicit or accept bribes from U.S. companies will fill a major void in the global fight against corruption.

The Foreign Extortion Prevention Act (FEPA), part of the National Defense Authorization Act, was signed into law by U.S. President Joe Biden in December. Advocates say it will serve as a much-needed adjunct to the nearly 50-year-old Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), which makes it a crime for U.S.-based persons to pay bribes or otherwise corruptly influence foreign officials.

The U.S. government regularly files FCPA charges against U.S. companies for engaging in corruption overseas but until now, has had limited ability to punish the officials seeking or accepting a payoff.

Legal experts point out that when it comes to cross-border corruption, there are two sides of every equation: the "supply" side, populated by companies and individuals willing to pay bribes, and the "demand" side, made up of foreign officials who request or accept bribes. FEPA, for the first time, explicitly criminalizes the demand side.

Penalties include prison, fines

Under the law, U.S. prosecutors can file charges against any "foreign official" who solicits or accepts a bribe from a company or individual that does business in the United States, even if the illegal activity takes place outside of the U.S.

The law provides for fines of up to $250,000, or three times the amount of the bribe received, as well as up to 15 years in prison. Prosecutors will be able to request the extradition of individuals charged under the law, in the case of countries that have an extradition treaty with the U.S.

In cases where a foreign official remains out of the reach of U.S. authorities, prosecutors could seek to freeze their assets and issue orders that they be arrested if they appear on U.S. soil or in a third country with a U.S. extradition treaty.

'The first enforceable law'

"We fully expect that this will be the first enforceable law to go after foreign officials for demanding or accepting bribes, and the implications of that are massive and tremendously positive for good government all around the world," said Scott Greytak, director of advocacy for Transparency International U.S.

Greytak told VOA that Transparency International, which has chapters in 120 countries around the world, has seen a positive response to the new law from its members. Many of those chapters report that their home governments have little capacity or willingness to prosecute corrupt officials, meaning that a large amount of graft and bribery goes unpunished.

"The overwhelming majority [of corrupt foreign officials], they're just getting away with it, and we know all the horrific consequences that has," Greytak said. He cited low confidence in government, political instability, economic inequality, environmental damage and poor public health outcomes, among other things.

"So, this gives some real hope for those folks that, if they cannot prosecute their own corrupt officials at home, now, the United States government has authority to go after them, which is a potentially big game changer," Greytak said.

Years of pushing for legislation

In a statement emailed to VOA, Noah Bookbinder, president and CEO of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, said that his organization has been backing the introduction and passage of the new law for years and predicted that it will have far-reaching effects.

"The Foreign Extortion Prevention Act is the most important expansion of our country's bribery and foreign anti-corruption laws in decades," he said. "Foreign and domestic corruption are inseparable, and fighting one is truly fighting both."

Bookbinder continued, "We are optimistic that FEPA, which criminalizes the demand side of bribery, will make corrupt foreign officials think twice before bringing that corruption into the American market via demands for bribes from American companies."

Future prosecutions possible

Experts say that in the future, prosecutions under the FCPA might be accompanied by mirrored charges brought under the FEPA.

For example, in 2021, the Department of Justice brought charges against a U.S. woman employed by an Ohio-based international adoption agency. The indictment included allegations that she paid bribes to a series of public officials in Uganda, including probation officers, court registrars, and high court judges in order to facilitate the adoption of Ugandan children by Americans.

According to Transparency International, if that case were brought today, in addition to the FCPA charges brought against the U.S. participants in the scheme, FEPA charges could have been levied against the Ugandan participants.

In another instance, the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2019 alleged that a Wisconsin-based printing and marketing services company engaged in multiple bribery schemes in China and Peru.

Under the FEPA, in addition to the action taken itself, the SEC would be able to refer the allegations to the Justice Department for prosecution of the Peruvian and Chinese recipients of the bribes.
Vietnamese General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has hailed improved relations with the U.S. and China as significant gains in the country's "bamboo" diplomatic strategy of balancing ties with superpowers.

Last year, Vietnam hosted U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping little more than three months apart, moving closer in relationships with the top two powers  both of which want to court Vietnam, according to experts interviewed by VOA.

Between these two moves, Vietnam elevated Japan to one of its six comprehensive strategic partners, along with the U.S. and China.

When addressing the 32nd National Diplomatic Conference on December 19 in Hanoi, Trong said Vietnam's diplomatic tradition is deeply ingrained with the essence of Vietnamese bamboo, which has "firm roots" and "flexible branches," reported VCCI News.

Vietnamese diplomacy, according to the party leader, should be adaptive and flexible, aligning with the core tenets of "firm in objectives, flexible in strategies and tactics."

Flexible for balancing

The idea of "bamboo diplomacy" was first coined by Trong in 2016 following his reelection to lead Vietnam's Communist Party for the second time. Vietnam has actively pursued this diplomatic approach to navigate rising global tensions since 2021.

The policy is exemplified by Vietnam's careful balancing act. It shares concerns with the U.S. over Beijing's growing assertiveness in the disputed South China Sea, but it has significant economic links with China.

Following an unprecedented double upgrade of its relationship with the U.S. in September, Vietnam committed to developing a "shared future" with China in December.

"In a world where great powers are constantly competing, and in a world with an uncertain future, it is evident that Vietnam has created certain successes, especially in maintaining and keeping the balance between two great powers who are competing so fiercely," Hoang Viet, a Ho Chi Minh City Law University lecturer and international dispute expert, told VOA.

Lawyer Dang Dinh Manh, who is following Vietnamese politics while living in exile in the U.S., said that after their upgrades with Hanoi, the U.S. and Japan "are reassured that Vietnam is not too inclined toward China, while the Chinese side is affirmed that Vietnam continues to be in the orbit in the name of friendship with big brother China."

Hoang Viet, also an expert on China's South China Sea expansion, said Vietnam had to accept participation in a "community of shared future" with China so as not to upset Beijing and maintain the diplomatic space to establish deeper cooperation with the U.S., Japan and other Western countries for economic development purposes.

"Vietnam was most afraid of adverse reactions from China when it comes to upgrading relations with the U.S. and Japan," said Hoang Viet. "The U.S. had pushed Vietnam for the relationship elevation for a long time, and Vietnam had to choose a right time for it. Otherwise, it will face anger from China."

During Xi's visit, Hanoi and Beijing signed 36 cooperation documents in areas such as infrastructure, trade and security. They also published a joint declaration outlining broad pledges.

Carl Thayer, a professor at the University of New South Wales, branded the declaration as "window dressing," saying Vietnam is "giving lip service" to Chinese ideas like its Belt and Road Initiative and its "Community of Shared Future."

"It doesn't cost [Vietnam] anything," Thayer, an expert on Vietnam, told VOA. "They are not making a firm stand, and they're giving the impression that they are supporting, or at least not opposing."

Trade is an important part of Vietnam's balancing strategy. The United States, a former enemy of Vietnam, has become its greatest export market for goods, while China is its largest import market.

Following the establishment of new relations with the U.S. and China, Vietnam, as an increasingly strategic player in global supply chains, is projected to see a large influx of foreign capital.

Jensen Huang, CEO of chipmaker Nvidia, visited Hanoi last month and told domestic media that he aimed to set up a base in Vietnam. Meanwhile, the Southeast Asian country is seeing a wave of Chinese firms arriving.

Neutral in a polarized world

Although bamboo diplomacy has served Vietnam well in the face of superpowers' competition for influence and investment, analysts have warned of limits to Vietnam's neutral approach.

"Bamboo diplomacy is really about Vietnam maintaining its autonomy and independence and not becoming aligned," said Thayer. "But now the world is more polarized than ever, and it's going to make it more and more difficult, I think, to stay out of it."

Vietnam's White Paper 2019 stated that the country is pursuing a nonaligned policy known as "Four No," which means no military alliances; no siding with one country against another; no foreign military bases; and no use of force or threat to use force in international relations.

Vietnam chose to refrain from condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine and voted against suspending Russia, Hanoi's largest arms supplier and longtime ally, from the U.N. Human Rights Council.

"Vietnam, in the sense, will lose some credibility by not speaking out on human rights issues," Thayer said, adding that "the case of Russia and Ukraine was a prime example."

According to Alexander Vuving, a professor at the Hawaii-based Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies, the growing chasm between the West on the one hand and China and Russia on the other, will make this approach ever trickier for Vietnam.

"'Bamboo diplomacy' won't provide a sustainable way for Vietnam to cope with the vagaries of Cold War 2," Vuving told VOA, adding that Vietnam needs "a new 'safety net' suitable for the new conditions of the times."

Similarly, Vu Duc Khanh, a law professor at the University of Ottawa who follows Vietnamese politics, questioned whether Vietnam could retain neutrality in the face of increasingly fierce competition between superpowers.

"The war in Ukraine has changed the entire strategy of countries like Finland, Sweden and Denmark," Khanh said.

Finland and Sweden applied to join NATO in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, while Denmark, a founding member of NATO, signed a defense basing agreement with the U.S. last month.

On the same note, Thayer said he believed "Vietnam is going to find it's hard" if the wars in Ukraine and Gaza intensify the competition between the U.S. and China.

Other potential stumbling blocks

"The Biden administration could be replaced by Trump's. Or the American Congress might get angry with Vietnam on particular issues. Or Vietnam's position will be an impediment to improving bilateral relations with the United States," said Thayer.

According to Hoang Viet, Vietnam is watching to learn these lessons against the backdrop of its confrontation in the South China Sea with China.

"For now, Vietnam, as well as Southeast Asian countries, are trying not to take sides as long as it's possible for them," said Hoang Viet. "Vietnam will maintain this policy until they cannot do it anymore."

Last month, General Secretary Trong anticipated that global and regional dynamics would be "complex and unpredictable."

He warned that "in a multipolar, multicentered world, strategic competition among major nations is inevitable, with heightened risks of conflict and confrontation posing significant challenges for developing countries."

He urged Vietnamese diplomats to keep a careful eye on the situation to make accurate forecasts and "be persistent yet flexible" in diplomacy.
Although two women  Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia  served as prime ministers of Bangladesh for 31 out of 33 years since 1991, the representation of women in national politics is still negligible.

The low rate of participation of Bangla women in politics is clear when looking at the number of women candidates contesting the upcoming 12th general election. According to the Election Commission, 92 contestants out of 1,891 vying for 300 seats are women. That's 4.86%.

In the last general election held in 2018, women accounted for 3.67% of the candidates.

Women leaders and political analysts think the lack of political muscle and monetary power, religious-social prejudices and a patriarchal society are the main obstacles to Bangla women's advancement in politics.

While the participation of women is slowly increasing, the concern is that women run for office mainly because members of their family are already involved in politics.

Women who are politically active at the grassroots level, without any family connection to get a leg up, are few and far between. As a result, the same familiar faces are seen contesting in the polls over and over.

For example, in the current election, the Awami League party is fielding 20 women candidates. Of them, 17 are members of the current 11th parliament. Of the remaining three, one was a member of 10th parliament, and one got the party's nomination in ninth parliament. Only Nilufar Anjum, who is contesting from Mymensingh-3, has no history of contesting in any parliamentary election. Anjum is the wife of Mahbubul Haque Shakil, who was special assistant of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Similarly, three out of nine female candidates from the Jatiya Party were MPs from seats reserved for women.

Sharifa Quader, the Jatiya Party's candidate for Dhaka-18, won a reserved seat for women in the previous election and is the wife of Jatiya Party chairman G.M. Quader.

"Gender-based discrimination still exists in our society," Quader told VOA. "Male leaders don't want women to lead, as they think women are not competent. They think only men are entitled to leadership. Again, women have to manage the family. Moreover, society also tries to prevent women from advancing further."

"Our prime minister is a glaring example that the women can march forward in the realm of politics if they are given opportunity," said Quader. "We had another woman as prime minister in the past. Yet, our society and political parties don't give women priority."

Shantanu Majumder, a political analyst and political science teacher at Dhaka University, said a handful of independent women candidates are contesting from small parties.

"It is an expression of their personality," said Majumder. "But they are not game changers in voting."

Social factors restrict women

While influence, money and religious prejudice are mainly to blame for the low number of women in politics, social factors and lower rates of higher education by women also hold women back in politics.

"The women cannot show the courage of joining politics due to religious and social prejudices," Shamsul Alam, a government and politics professor at Jahangirnagar University told VOA. "The girls are expected to follow purdah. The families think that, 'Why should the women who are supposed to do household chores join politics?' On the other hand, the women who are elected in the Union Parishad don't get enough space or allocation from their male colleagues. They often become suppressed, as the use of muscle flexing can be seen here."

Majumder said women in Bangladesh "have made strides in terms of coming out of home. But women's participation in politics is still rare. You cannot judge only by the situation in Dhaka, but should look to other areas too."

Majumder said political activity requires influence, social connections and availability all the time.

"Not only in Bangladesh, women from many countries of the world are struggling over these," he said. "Given this situation, political parties consider winnability first before picking a candidate rather than considering intellectual ability or people with social responsibility. This is where the women automatically get dropped out."

Activist Khushi Kabir told VOA that "our political parties seek immaculate candidates before picking up women in election."

"They look for candidates who must have all sorts of capabilities and no flaws," said Kabir. "But this does not happen in terms of male candidates."

Parties not 'women-friendly,' says scholar

Kabir noted that women work more than their male counterparts in grassroots politics.

"Actually, the women are used as workers, but the political parties do little to make them able to lead," Kabir said.

The Bangladesh Election Commission directed political parties to ensure that a third of their leadership positions are occupied by women. Even major political parties such as Awami League, Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Jatiya Party could not fulfill the quota.

"It means that the parties do not have a women-friendly environment and they don't want women in politics," Alam said.

If this obligation is fulfilled, said Quader, "Women will advance in politics naturally."

Seats reserved for women

Bangladesh's constitution requires a percentage of seats in parliament be reserved for women. Currently, that means 50 of the legislative body's seats must be held by women.

"The reserved seat in fact indicates that the women are still lagging behind here socially and politically," said Shammi Ahmed, the Awami League's international affairs secretary whose candidacy for Barishal-4 was cancelled by the Election Commission  a decision she is appealing to the supreme court. "The system is still in place on the grounds of women empowerment and making the women familiar with politics."

Reserved seats, said Quadar, "are required since the women are getting less opportunity to contest in direct elections."

"If every party had 33% women representation, then there would be no necessity for reserved seats," said Quader. "The reserved seat for women should be in place for some more years."

Kabir said some MPs of reserved seats have contributed well in parliament and for their constituencies.

"The objective of the reserved seats for women was to prepare the women for contesting in direct voting," said Kabir. "Some MPs from reserved seats have later become elected in direct vote. So, I think the system of reserved seats for women should no longer exist and they should contest directly. The system of reserved seats should be abolished. Also, there can be a proportional system of election."
US President Joe Biden launched his harshest attack yet on Donald Trump as he kickstarted his 2024 reelection campaign Friday, accusing the Republican of echoing Nazi Germany and posing a threat to democracy.

The 81-year-old Democrat branded his likely challenger in November a "loser" and "sick" in a speech on the eve of the third anniversary of the deadly January 6 Capitol attack by pro-Trump supporters.

"He's willing to sacrifice our democracy, put himself in power," Biden told supporters, alternating between whispers and furious shouts as he laid into the man he beat in 2020.

Not only had the twice-impeached former president instigated the Capitol attack, but the tycoon and his followers were still embracing "political violence" ahead of the 2024 vote, said Biden.

"He calls those who oppose him vermin. He talks about the blood of Americans being poisoned, echoing the same exact language used in Nazi Germany," he added.

Biden chose a symbolic location for the speech near Valley Forge in Pennsylvania, the historic site where George Washington rallied American forces fighting their British colonial rulers nearly 250 years ago.

He portrayed himself as a defender of America's institutions, warning that if Trump won a second term in the White House then democracy itself was at risk.

"Trump's assault on democracy isn't just part of his past. It's what he's promising for the future," said Biden.

- 'Sick' -

Biden's full frontal attack on Trump came after criticism from some Democrats that the campaign has gotten off to a slow start.

Biden lags behind Trump in some polls, and also has the worst approval rating of any modern president at this stage in his term of office.

The president has failed to convince voters the economy is improving, while migration remains a headache and US support for Ukraine and Israel remains divisive among voters.

But perhaps Biden's biggest vulnerability is his age: as America's oldest-ever president, he has suffered a series of trips and verbal slips.

Biden however warned that the biggest issue of all was Trump, saying that "your freedom is on the ballot."

"Today I make this sacred pledge to you that the defense, protection and preservation of American democracy will remain, as it has been, the central cause of my presidency."

He accused Trump of being "sick" by laughing at a hammer attack on the husband of former US House speaker Nancy Pelosi, and called him a "loser" over the 2020 election.

Biden also lashed out at Trump for his "love letters" to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his "admiration" for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

- 'Threat to democracy' -

The Trump campaign swiftly hit back.

"Biden is the real threat to democracy by weaponizing the government to go after his main political opponent and interfering in the 2024 election," Trump spokesman Steven Cheung told AFP.

The ex-president, himself on the campaign trail, added that Biden was "fear-mongering."

"Biden's record is an unbroken streak of weakness, incompetence, corruption and failure... That's why Crooked Joe is staging a pathetic, fear-mongering campaign event in Pennsylvania today," Trump told supporters in Sioux Center, Iowa.

Trump was impeached but acquitted over the January 6 riots. The 77-year-old now faces a criminal trial on charges of trying to subvert the 2020 election.

The US states of Colorado and Maine have also barred him from standing in presidential primaries on the grounds that he had engaged in insurrection over the Capitol events. Trump has challenged both rulings.

Biden's campaign has however identified Trump as their likely opponent, even though the official battle for the Republican nomination doesn't even start until the Iowa caucuses on January 15.

His campaign push will continue Monday when the president visits a South Carolina church where a white supremacist shot dead nine Black parishioners in 2015.

Analysts say the 2024 US presidential election remains a very tight race.

"If the election were held tomorrow, President Biden would lose," William Galston, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, told AFP.

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Walgreens stock (WBA) sank as much as 12% Thursday before paring losses after saying it would slash its dividend by 48%  to $0.25 a share from $0.48 a share.

New CEO Tim Wentworth, formerly the CEO of pharmacy benefits manager Express Scripts (CI), said the move was a difficult decision supported by the board and one that is necessary as the company moves forward on its strategy to revamp stores and double down as a retail giant.

That strategy is, for now, not pivoting entirely away from the focus on retail stores, Wentworth said.

The company reported that first quarter sales for the period ending Nov. 30, 2023, rose 10% year over year totaling $36.7 billion, beating Wall Street expectations. Walgreens also beat the Street's expectations for adjusted earnings with $0.66 per share, compared to consensus estimates of $0.62 per share.

The adjusted earnings per share was a result of a tax hit from sales of shares of Cencora, formerly AmeriSource Bergen. The company is maintaining its 2024 earnings guidance of $3.20 to $3.50 per share.

Walgreens, the second largest retail pharmacy chain, has recently made moves in healthcare services and clinical trial offerings, prompting speculation the company would mimic its rival CVS (CVS) and get into the insurance business, as CVS did by acquiring Aetna.

"I do not want to write insurance, I don't know why we would do that," Wentworth said.

"But I also don't want to turn away from the store. I think one of the mistakes in the narrative (is) that we are going to, or are, turned away from the store. I think what we have to do is use the store as the point of engagement," he told Yahoo Finance.

Wentworth said he is invigorated by the potential Walgreens has as a trusted healthcare brand. The pharmacy counter, he added, is where trust begins, as evidenced by the willingness of customers to "put a needle in their arm" or consult on medical needs. (Wentworth also said that COVID-19 vaccine volumes haven't been as low as expected in the quarter.)

Story continues

This all comes at a time when retail healthcare is competing with traditional facilities like doctor's offices and hospitals  and also e-commerce giant Amazon (AMZN).

But Wentworth thinks there is still room to win the battle if he can redefine how the store operates. He sees three ways to do this:

Pare down. "We've got too much of an assortment, for sure," he said. "And that's inefficient for a lot of reasons. ... The national brands would start competing to be the one that's on our shelves alongside our own brand.

The Walgreens brand. Walgreens is in a great position to be trusted as a private label, but it needs to be repackaged, Wentworth said, and the pharmacists could help with sales by recommending Walgreens branded products as needed.

"Turning the store managers loose." Managers don't currently get paid based on store performance, but Wentworth wants to change that.

Turning managers loose? A Walgreens store in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa.) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

International bright spot

Despite recent reports that Walgreens is looking to offload its UK chain, Boots, Wentworth said all options are still on the table. "I've got nothing to share on a decision, at all," Wentworth said, noting that it is one of the best-performing assets in the company.

But, he added, "Everything is on the table."

Walgreens was looking to unload Boots two years ago when market conditions weren't great, but that is no longer the case.

The international segment, meanwhile, performed well with first quarter sales of nearly $6 billion, or an increase of 12.4% year over year. Boots.com reported sales growth of 17.5%, accounting for 19% of Boots' total retail sales, Walgreens reported.

Anjalee Khemlani is the senior health reporter at Yahoo Finance, covering all things pharma, insurance, care services, digital health, PBMs, and health policy and politics. Follow Anjalee on all social media platforms @AnjKhem.

For the latest earnings reports and analysis, earnings whispers and expectations, and company earnings news, click here

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Photo-Illustration: Vulture

Where were you when the four-way military enlistment dropped? Last month, HYBE announced that RM, V, Jimin, and Jung Kook were the final members of BTS to start their mandatory stint in the South Korean armed forces. This meant the group actually had to go on a break. BTS previously announced a hiatus in June 2022, but each of the seven members  RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook  went on to drop solo music afterward. And sure, thats technically not new  theyve all released individual songs before, from separate tracks on group albums to OSTs to their own mixtapes. But their solo debuts in 2022 and 2023 were official, arriving with full rollouts and performances (and in one case, a solo tour). It was our first introduction to how the Tannies operate as individual artists.

While theyre away, were still getting new BTS material, in the form of Disney+s eight-part docuseries BTS Monuments: Beyond The Star, which is currently exploring the history of the group and their music. Ahead of the shows finale on January 10, lets analyze all the solo releases, from their sounds to promotional approaches, and assess how much BTS DNA is in each members post-hiatus project.

RM

Indigo

Release date: December 2, 2022

Whats the vibe? Everything from boom bap to classic funk. Theres a laid-back, contemplative feeling even in the more uptempo raps  no wonder RM has described the album as a sun-bleached record faded like old jeans.

Who shows up? Erykah Badu, Anderson .Paak, Tablo, Kim Sa-wol, Colde, Youjeen, Park Ji-yoon, Paul Blanco, and Mahalia.

Billboard Hot 100 peak: 83 (Wild Flower with Youjeen)

The moment that attacked ARMYs: His delivery of eyebrow-raising bars like They got you by your balls and your socioeconomics and I make her body di-di diddy diddy bop.

Rollout notes: RM was choosy with press, participating in only a handful of interviews with people he said he personally likes, including Zach Sang and the Psick Show. Rather than a tour, he held a small concert for just 200 ARMYs. His only other major performances were NPRs Tiny Desk and a live set at an Upstate New York art museum without an audience.

BTS DNA: . Sonically, Indigo is different even from his 2015 RM and 2018 mono mixtapes. But there are faint traces of this albums vibe in group tracks co-written by RM like Hold Me Tight and Embarrassed.

He also previously revealed that he hasnt found his signature style yet. So it makes sense that an album that experiments with different approaches would be less of an appeal to the general public than to already-loyal ARMYs and to indie music fans who might not be familiar with him.

Jin

The Astronaut

Release date: October 28, 2022

Whats the vibe? An otherworldly pop-rock single that, given its title, is perfect for spacing out and thinking about a loved one.

Who shows up? Jin co-wrote the Kygo-produced track with his Coldplay hyungs.

Billboard Hot 100 peak: 51

The moment that attacked ARMYs: In the music video, Jin has a neck tattoo that appears to spell ARMY in Braille. Its briefly visible right as he sings, And I love you.

Rollout notes: Jin introduced an astronaut character named Wootteo, who got a line of galactic merch (and more than a million Instagram followers). He also gave his debut live performance of The Astronaut with Coldplay in Argentina, just hours after the song dropped.

BTS DNA: . Mostly because it sounds like a cousin of My Universe; its easy to imagine this being reworked as a group track.

Even if Jin hadnt previously confirmed the song was a goodbye present for ARMYs, a surprise drop that sounds pretty similar to something weve heard BTS release before certainly comes across as a gift for existing fans (as opposed to an attempt to attract new listeners or tread into uncharted artistic territory). Maybe his approach will change after his military release?

Suga / Agust D

D-Day

Release date: April 21, 2023

Whats the vibe?: Its intense, but not quite as angry as the previous installments in the rap trilogy from his hard-hitting alter ego, Agust D.

Who shows up?: J-Hope, IU, Ryuichi Sakamoto, and Woosung.

Billboard Hot 100 peak: 58 (Haegeum)

The moment that attacked ARMYs: The deeply personal stories he shared in Amygdala.

Rollout notes: Suga performed his pre-release single People Pt. 2 with IU on her show, and was interviewed on his own Suchwita show by guest host RM. He also took his album  and a guitar with messages from all of his members  on a solo world tour not long after the drop.

BTS DNA: . While BTS has plenty of rap-heavy songs (think Ddaeng, UGH!, and Baepsae), those tracks dont necessarily have the rawness imbued in this solo work.

Because D-Day is the conclusion of a trilogy, it allowed Suga to reflect on his past and present. Fans who fought for tickets to the first stop of his tour had less than a week to learn the lyrics, suggesting that the album wasnt as much about making hits as it was about gifting ARMYs a live storytelling experience. In fact, he told Marie Claire Korea the intention behind his solo tour was not to realize my full potential nor to succeed as a solo artist, but rather to pay back fans who have waited for another BTS tour.

J-Hope

Jack in the Box

Release date: July 15, 2022

Whats the vibe?: An ode to old-school hip-hop, with grunge, alt-rock, and punk influences adding extra layers of angst.

Who shows up?: Jack in the Box was a solo effort, but he hit up longtime muse, J. Cole, for the 2023 single, On the Street.

Billboard Hot 100 peak: 60 (On the Street)

The moment that attacked ARMYs: His unfiltered attitude at his Lollapalooza performance, which caused some fans to make Hobipalooza cursing compilations. Plus, the fact that Jimin came to Chicago to support the performance.

Rollout notes: J-Hope headlined both Lolla and the MAMA Awards, accepting awards for both himself and his group. The initially digital-only album was re-released as a CD in 2023 with new tracks, including his live Lolla sets.

BTS DNA:  . The group hasnt really dipped into grunge, alt-rock, and punk.

After dropping his much brighter debut mixtape Hope World in 2018, J-Hope wanted to reintroduce himself with a grittier sound on a global stage  which is fitting for an album with a title that refers to the myth of Pandoras box and whats been locked inside. A festival like Lolla would ostensibly be a chance for him to perform for a lot of people that werent his fans (though the Hobipalooza of it ended up kind of disproving that).

Jimin

Face

Release date: March 24, 2023

Whats the vibe? Vocal effects help carry Jimins voice through genres from trap soul to synth pop.

Who shows up? No features, but RM helped co-write several songs.

Billboard Hot 100 peak: 1 (Like Crazy)

The moment that attacked ARMYs: The cursing in Set Me Free Pt. 2 (Hey fool, just get out of my way / Shut up, fuck off, Im on my way), plus his poetic chest tattoos in that music video.

Rollout notes: Jimins Production Diary offered a behind-the-scenes look at his album recording process. He also spent a day with Vogue in New York before his performance on The Tonight Show, where he joked that his favorite nickname is Jimin Fallon.

BTS DNA: . Grand production and instrumentals call to mind songs like On and Black Swan, but theres a dreamier aspect to some of these tracks that Jimin leans into.

While his new 2023 single Closer Than This is addressed to fans, FACE is directed inward; the album title refers to Jimin facing himself at this point in his career. Jimin did the press rounds, but his promotional period was fairly short. And while he still topped the charts, his emphasis seemed to be more on pushing himself as a performer, particularly through visuals that nod to his abilities in contemporary dance.

V

Layover

Release date: September 8, 2023

Whats the vibe? Layover is full of jazzy, soulful songs. The baritone vocalist has expressed his appreciation for vintage items, and theres a certain old-fashioned charm to this release, down to the design.

Who shows up? NewJeans creative director Min Hee-jin oversaw production of the entire release.

Billboard Hot 100 peak: 51 (Slow Dancing)

The moment that attacked ARMYs: When V grabbed a hat and performed a chill dance break set to the minute-long flute solo at the end of Slow Dancing.

Rollout notes: Fifth gen It boy Yeontan (a.k.a. Vs dog) made his stage debut on Mnet. We got aesthetic music videos for five tracks, and V performed for the new Tiny Desk Korea.

BTS DNA: If youre looking for chill group tracks, you can try Outro: House of Cards, 134340, and Fly to My Room, but Layover is more laid-back than those.

If the sound of his music and relaxed nature of his promotions werent enough evidence, V literally explained in an interview that since his previous stage performances have been fancy and over-the-top, for his solo debut, he wanted to strip back some of those elements and show his original color. That approach pairs well with an album title that calls to mind a moment of pause, and is also evident in his latest feature with UMI.

Jung Kook

Golden

Release date: November 3, 2023

Whats the vibe? Though it does dip into R&B and EDM, its definitely a pop record. It feels like Michael Jackson and NSync were on his mood board.

Who shows up? Jack Harlow, Major Lazer, Latto, and DJ Snake (plus Usher and Justin Timberlake on remixes). Ed Sheeran and Shawn Mendes are credited as co-writers.

Billboard Hot 100 peak: 1 (Seven with Latto)

The moment that attacked ARMYs: The explicit version of Seven (youll be what-ing me right?), plus the DNA choreography reference in Standing Next to You.

Rollout notes: Jung Kook performed a surprise free concert in Times Square, got deep with Apple Musics Zane Lowe, traded choreo with sister group Le Sserafim on TikTok, and recruited some big-name backup dancers for his music videos.

BTS DNA: BTS has done plenty of pop. Your closest bets would probably be Butter (feat. Megan Thee Stallion), Paradise, and Make It Right (feat. Lauv), though Jung Kooks solos lean slightly more into a 90s/early 2000s sound.

This album is an effort to solidify Jung Kook as a sexy pop soloist, particularly in the West. The release feels like it was built in a lab to please TikToks gen pop, from its radio-friendly singles and remixes down to its successful dance challenges. Hes also singing in English. Are the lyrics super deep? No. But is it a crime to want to look hot and sing some innuendos?
Expedition Unknown host Josh Gates inside New York Citys century-old Explorers Club. Photo: Annie Forrest

Beneath the baleful gaze of taxidermically preserved animals, three members of New York Citys Explorers Club sit around an antique table drinking scotch. Well over a century after the professional society was founded as a meeting place for explorers and scientists, a Discovery Channel microcelebrity, a veteran History Channel host, and a video-game developer are stationed on the clubs topmost floor, discussing their predecessors: the Apollo astronauts; South Pole explorer Ernest Shackleton; the first climbers to get to the top of Mt. Everest, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay. All were members of the Explorers Club, still headquartered in a Jacobean Renaissance townhouse on East 70th Street near Central Park.

Conversation in the warmly lit, high-ceilinged gallery eventually turns to crates of fossilized dinosaur remains stacked in the downstairs lobby. Bolortsetseg Minjin, a paleontologist who works with the American Museum of Natural History returning stolen fossils to her native Mongolia, is set to open the crates at a presentation that night. She has a warehouse nearby overflowing with dinosaurs that they cant yet ship back to Mongolia because theres no museum yet to house them, explains Richard Garriott, the video-game developer, noted space tourist, and current president of the Explorers Club. But shes raising money to build that. Were helping her.

One of the crates down there was seized from Nicolas Cage, points out Josh Gates, the TV presenter who supplied Discovery Channel with an enormous amount of unscripted adventure content leading up to, during, and following the pandemic, including the popular Wednesday night show Expedition Unknown. Cage, of National Treasure fame, bought a Tyrannosaurus skull at a 2007 auction for $276,000, outbidding Leonardo DiCaprio, but agreed to return it in 2015 when the U.S. Attorney for Manhattan filed a civil forfeiture complaint stating that the skull had been illegally removed from Mongolia by a Florida paleontologist turned smuggler named Erik Prokopi.

The U.S. government took the skull away from Nicolas Cage, Garriott says.

Hell be okay, Gates says with a laugh, smiling at the former History Channel personality, Digging for Truths Josh Bernstein, across the table. Hell be fine!

Gates is easily the most recognizable of the contemporary Explorers Club cohort and the reason for this visit to its hallowed halls today. Expedition Unknown has been on TV for almost nine years, following Gates as he travels the world in search of new evidence for old mysteries  the disappearances of Amelia Earhart, pirate ships, entire kingdoms consumed by the sea  and enrapturing men ages 25 to 54 in the process. Before Expedition, Gates was a SyFy fixture, hosting a globetrotting paranormal show called Destination Truth and appearing regularly on Ghost Hunters. Gates offered to give me a tour of the club and discuss how hes sustained a nearly 20-year career as a modern-day Indiana Jones  if Indiana Jones was a full-time reality-TV star instead of a tenured professor of archaeology.

Television has a long tradition of making stars out of men who visit far-off places, and theyve tended to fall into one of two categories: soft-spoken explainer types like undersea explorer Jacques Cousteau, or chiseled stoics like Man vs. Wilds Bear Grylls, a former SAS soldier who broke three vertebrae during a paratrooper mission in Kenya and climbed Mt. Everest after recovering. Gates fits neither description. His screen energy is more like Mike Rowe, the affable frontman of Discoverys Dirty Jobs, or Scottish mountaineer Cameron McNeish. His series merge the TV-adventure-show template with elements of the Hollywood action-comedy blockbusters that he used to watch as a child of the 80s: Romancing the Stone, Jewel of the Nile, The Goonies, and yes, the Indiana Jones franchise.

Over the course of 12 seasons of Expedition Unknown and five seasons of SyFys Destination Truth, Gatess brushes with death have rivaled those of Dr. Jones. While shooting a 2007 episode of Destination Truth about a mythical creature known as the Namibian Night Stalker, Gates was hallucinating with chills until a a Hail Mary pass of antibiotics from a village clinic saved his life. While flying over Romania in a 40-seat Antonoff biplane in search of a haunted forest near Bucharest, the roof ripped off like a can opener taking off the top of the can. While rappelling into some supposedly haunted mines in Chile in 2010, Gates and a cameraman got trapped in a lightless mine shaft. I was just scared to my core that I was suddenly going to be weightless and falling for infinity into this blackness, he says.

Although Gates is six-two and built like a lineman, he tends to be the least imposing person on his shows. He could be your genial uncle  the one who was heartbroken when National Geographic ceased putting its print edition on newsstands. Any given episode of Expedition Unknown is likely to feature him sampling unusual-to-Yankees cuisine, trying on hats that dont do him any favors, and taking part in feats of strength that end with him getting his ass kicked. When hes huddled with an expert translating a scroll or ancient map, hes blurting out Thats amazing! and grinning like a kid looking at his birthday cake.

In the end, Gates knows hes not going to solve the disappearance of D.B. Cooper or conclusively determine if the Yeti is real. The quest is usually just a pretext; he and his crew go places where other people have already been and are at the mercy of inclement weather, illness, and air-travel red tape just like the rest of us. Back when the Explorers Club was founded, adventure heroes were trekking to the edge of the planet with pencils and paper and the promise of scientific discovery, but today, Josh Gates is nearly falling out of cruising altitude with a camera crew and the promise of shooting one more season if he keeps viewers amused. Its adventure with more chuckles than screams, just the way Steven Spielberg liked it.

Theres something about seeing your host, your Everyman, out there. Theres a Schadenfreude thing where people want to see you as a real person, Gates explains. If theres a flat tire on my show, they shoot me changing the tire and struggling to get the bolts off. One of the things I think people forget about Indiana Jones is that sometimes he misses the ledge.

Josh Gates beneath the aforementioned taxidermy at the Explorers Club. Photo: Annie Forrest

But Gates and his crew usually find something when they visit a ruin or tomb. The moments when he digs an old coin or helmet out of the ground arent exactly staged for the Expedition Unknown camera, but they are facilitated  or the odds of their occurrence increased  by, for instance, having the crew hang around a very active dig site where lots of objects are being unearthed daily or following a tip from working archaeologists whove found a door to a thing and are willing to wait for production crew to be there when they open it.

I do think its important that there are moments of discovery, Gates says. And sometimes they are big moments. Weve been there to discover entire pyramid complexes and platforms that nobodys seen in centuries. Still, people who watch the show need to know that if were gonna go look for the lost tombs of the Snake Kings of the Maya empire, Im probably not going to find the lost tombs of the Snake Kings in the next 43 and a half minutes.

This seasons two-part Expedition Unknown opener sent Gates and company to Truk Lagoon in Micronesia to try to locate the remains of 200 American airmen who were downed there in World War II. They had to take what he describes as an incredibly circuitous plane route across the Marshall and Caroline Islands in a United Airlines 737 called the Island Hopper that was the only mail or supply transport in the region.

We cut together this sequence on what it means to take the Island Hopper  what it means to get out of the plane on the tarmac and stand under the wings and then get back on the plane, Gates explains. We have this debate a lot in postproduction on the show as to what is this balance between the mission  which is usually an archaeological, investigative, hands-in-the-dirt kind of thing  versus the travel and the humor.

Because its an unscripted show, the humor is always ad-libbed. While driving a Porsche on the Autobahn in an episode about finding Hitlers hidden treasure, Gates turns to the cameraperson in the passenger seat, holds up the car phone, and says gravely, Ive actually had to delete all the German names from this phone because, by law, it needs to be Hans free. While searching Scotland for gold that went missing after the Jacobite Uprising of 1745, outdoorsman Gregor Ewing tells Gates he walked 500 miles re-creating Bonnie Prince Charlies flight after the Battle of Culloden, and Gates instantly asks, But would you walk 500 more? Making jokes without seeming disrespectful  to the episode subjects, to the audience  is a tightrope walk, and Gates has resigned himself to the inevitability of falling off the wire.

Ive spent an enormous amount of my life now carefully treading into other cultures and experiencing their cultural norms and their ceremonies, he says. You have to really have a good internal barometer.

Gates built his barometer in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts, mostly in movie theaters and in front of TV screens. He learned about life outside the United States through his dad, a former commercial diver who worked all over the globe. My dad was always going away to what seemed to me like very exotic places. He was off in West Africa, he was in the Middle East, he was in the North Sea, he recounts. And every year, wed go over to England to visit my moms family, so from an early age, I was going to Europe and had this understanding: Wow, theres a big world out here.

In high school, a drama teacher cajoled him into auditioning for a production of A Midsummer Nights Dream and he got cast as Bottom the Weaver (an ass, which seemed appropriate). He realized that he didnt just love movies, he loved acting, despite suffering from an intense stage fright that persists to this day. When he attended Tufts University, he co-majored in archaeology and drama, and despite his choosing the two lowest-earning fields you could major in, his parents were very supportive, even when Gates decided to take a gap year after graduation and spend it in Hollywood in lieu of his original plan to enroll in grad school at Texas A&M and get a masters in underwater archaeology.

Gatess gap year ended in 2007, when his obsession with acting and exploration (and a growing fascination with screenwriting) converged and he was hired to host Destination Truth and investigate paranormal phenomena around the world. Two million viewers regularly tuned in to the shows third season, a series high. It was kind of the ooga-booga version of Expedition Unknown, with me looking for monsters and ghosts and cryptozoological creatures. It ran five years and helped form what would now be considered Gatess brand, which he describes as a weird intersection between documentary and narrative and performance and verite.

The Gates brand might have a protracted description but its quicker to visualize, thanks to a singular sundial necklace Gates dug out of a drawer and has worn during every episode of every show hes done since Destination Truth, and nearly every one of his TikTok videos that have racked up over a million views. (He sometimes wears a brown leather fedora and scarf like Indy, too.) Gates doesnt quite remember where he got the necklace  probably at a museum shop or a cathedral gift shop or something when he was 11 or 12. I tell my kids its the source of magic powers, and they roll their eyes at that, he says. But then they go, Is that true? Thats all you can hope for in life.

Blind optimism, gleaned from the annals of Explorers Club history, is the deep core of his success and has turned him into something of a corporate mascot, necklace and all. During the pandemic, neither Gates nor any other Discovery host could travel, so he did an interview show titled Josh Gates Tonight. They were so desperate that they said, You can film it on your iPhone if you want. We filmed the first month in a makeshift studio we made in my bedroom. Gates interviewed everyone from race-car driver Danica Patrick to director Baz Luhrmann to Matthew McConaughey, along with various Discovery personalities, including Drew and Jonathan Scott (Property Brothers) and Sandra Lee (Dr. Pimple Popper).

That same year, Gates debuted Expedition X, a throwback to Gatess SyFy days. Nearly all of the on-site exploring was done by scientist Phil Torres and paranormal researcher Jessica Chobot, and Gates interviewed them about their experiences like an old-fashioned news anchor asking follow-ups of a field reporter. In 2021, he co-hosted a four-part miniseries with Back to the Future star Christopher Lloyd in which they traveled North America searching for the seven DeLoreans used in the production of the trilogy. Titled Expedition: Back to the Future, the series was genuinely funny, thanks mainly to Gatess chemistry with Lloyd, and became one of the channels biggest limited-series hits.

Gates says he used to feel some pressure from executives and viewers, mainly when he was on SyFy, to produce momentous TV every week. Now hes at the point where he can end part one of an Expedition Unknown two-parter stuck in a jungle hut waiting for a storm to wear itself out and feel confident that viewers will think, Of course  this is the kind of thing that happens to Josh.

The history of the world is this incredible Game of Throneslike drama and you need the right person to clue you into how interesting it all is, Gates says. If Im doing that even a little, Im thrilled.

Not every planned adventure works out. At the Explorers Club, Gates originally wanted to talk to me in his favorite room in the building, the Roosevelt Room, named for former president, conservationist, Manifest Destiny advocate, and trophy hunter Teddy Roosevelt, but it was unexpectedly nabbed by a group of skiers for a meeting. Still, were able to explore the guts of the place. Lacey Flint, the archivist and chief curator of the Explorers Club, leads us to a room filled with bound volumes of research material and ephemera from the clubs history and presents a few highlights. Gates already knows most of what Flint has to say about the significant objects in the room  he did a whole series titled Tales From the Explorers Club about this stuff  but he nevertheless seems enraptured by the chance to be in the same room with them again.

He picks up the framed original of Roosevelts application for membership. Its so goofy that he had to fill this out, Gates says, pointing to a list of accomplishments that includes serving as governor of New York and president of the United States. Other treasures laid out by Flint include a bullwhip that belonged to naturalist Roy Chapman Andrews, one of the inspirations for Indiana Jones; astronaut gloves worn by Owen Garriott, Richards father, on the Skylab space station; balsa fragments and a length of rope from the Kon-Tiki raft that brought Thor Heyerdahl and his five-man crew across the Pacific Ocean to the Polynesian Islands; and an Explorers Club flag brought to the moon by Neil Armstrong.

Gates gets emotional as he speaks about the tradition of flags being brought on expeditions, whether to jungles or into space, then retired in the Explorers Clubs archive. The fact that Neil Armstrong had that flag tucked away on the moon flight is pretty amazing and gives you all the context you need about the club as a real gathering place for pioneers, he says. Its a very special thing.

But Gatess attention keeps returning to a large wooden crate on the library floor. Inspection of the label confirms its the repatriated Nicolas Cage T-rex skull thats supposed to be opened later tonight. Gates and Garriott urge me to stick around for a couple more hours and watch the contents of the crate be unveiled, but prior commitments make that impossible.

This is so frustrating, to have this right in front of us and not be able to open it, Gates says. He and Garriott query employees of the building for tools they can use to open the quarter-ton crate a little early. No luck. I leave him an unsatisfied man. But 45 minutes after my Explorers Club departure, Gates texts me a set of close-ups of the T-Rex skull in the just-opened crate, braced with foam and wood. The caption reads, Richard Garriott found a screw gun.
Role Call Role Call is a series in which Vulture talks to actors about performances theyve probably forgotten by now, but we definitely havent. On her first mother-daughter pairing with Laura Dern, why Blue Velvet made her angry, and what went through her mind during that improvised lipstick scene. Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photo: Samuel Goldwyn/Everett Collection

Diane Ladd had a handful of great movies to her name when Wild at Heart opened in 1990: Alice Doesnt Live Here Anymore, Chinatown, The Wild Angels. But shed never stared into a mirror and smeared red lipstick across her face because her daughter ran off with an Elvis-talking smoothie and the gangster shes hired to execute him is about to kill her boyfriend too. David Lynchs incendiary fantasia divided audiences from the moment its Palme dOr win provoked boos at Cannes. Still, the electricity in Ladds performance was indisputable, especially that barn-burning lipstick scene.

As Marietta Fortune, a vampy martini guzzler who has assassins on speed dial, Ladds desperation makes her seem like shed rip her own skin off if it didnt mean shedding her southern glamour. Marietta has murdered before, and shell do it again. Shes just trying to protect her baby girl, uninhibited 20-year-old Lula (Laura Dern, working with her mother in earnest for the first time). Or is she getting back at Lulas beau, Sailor Ripley (Nicolas Cage), for rejecting Mariettas advances? You can watch Wild at Heart a dozen times and come away with a dozen different readings. Lynchs Wizard of Ozinspired odyssey through the dark American spirit plays even better today than it did 34 years ago, Cannes jeers notwithstanding.

Wild at Heart was a modest hit at best, but Ladd made off with a much-deserved Oscar nomination. As a campaign tactic, she wrote letters to voters and hosted a spaghetti dinner reportedly attended by the likes of Esther Williams and Shelley Winters. She believes she could have won had the studio, the Samuel Goldwyn Company, put a little more juice behind her bid. Regardless, Marietta has surpassed the test of time. To commemorate her volcanic turn, Ladd called up Vulture to reminisce.

I adore this movie, and I understand that you do too, right?

Yes, I do. Because in spite of all the violence  lets say theres a Schwarzenegger movie with a kid, and he says, Heres a gun. You just go ahead and shoot granddaddy in the knee. Everybody laughs. You know what I mean? But if you were despondent, you lost loved ones, you lost your fortune, youre ill, whatever, and youre going home to kill yourself, on the way home, if you stopped and saw a David Lynch movie, you wouldnt do it when you got home. David does not make fun of violence. Its so violent that you abhor it.

What was your first interaction with Lynch like?

David told Laura he wanted to meet me. Shed done Blue Velvet with him. I knew he was a genius, but I had a very busy day, unfortunately, that I couldnt get out of. He wanted me to join him for lunch, and I really could not. But I went by to say hello. He was lovely. We talked, and I never said, I love your film Blue Velvet. So as I got up to leave, before I hit the door, he turned to Laura and said, Your mama hates my movie. And she said, Yeah, she does. She told me this later, and I said, My God, why did you tell him that? She said, Well, its the truth. You tell me always be truthful. I said, But maybe I want to work for him anyhow.

So it is true that you werent a fan of Blue Velvet?

I was except for one reason. I was angry that he would let one of the most beautiful women in the world, Isabella Rossellini, who he was in love with, stand nude in front of the whole world and light her so horribly. It wasnt just bad  it was really bad. I thought, Thats a desecration. Would he do that to the blessed Virgin Mary? Why would he do that to his own true love? Shes got one of the most beautiful bodies in the world, but it didnt look like it when he showed it. As a woman, I took exception just to that. Thats all it was.

So what convinced you that you did want to work with him?

Well, I figured Id never hear from him again. And then all of a sudden, out of the blue, I get this phone call and its David Lynch. He says, Diane, Ive written a script, and its gonna star your daughter and Nicolas Cage. But theres a starring role of the mother. And you know what he says to me? He doesnt say anything about the past. He didnt ask me if I could meet again. He says, I would be honored if you would star in this role for me. Now, listen. When somebody appreciates you  a painting youve done, a meal youve cooked, a smile you gave them  and theyre honorable with integrity, that is like sunshine, healing every wound in your body.

Thats incredibly well said.

I said, Of course Ill read it. And it was a magnificent role to begin with. That was it. I got hired. And let me just say that David Lynch is one of the most gentle and gracious and kind directors Ive ever been privileged to work with. The man never, never, never says a dirty word. A curse word never passes his lips. He never blows his top. When hes directing you, hell say, May we try it again? If youve poured your soul out in a scene and then you look up to see his face, you want to know, Did I do it okay? Were all vulnerable human beings. And if youve done it, David has a tear in his eye. And he whispers almost to himself because hes a great artist. He says, I want to paint a picture. If you hear that man say, I want to paint a picture, youve just given him real gold, not fools gold.

Wild at Heart is sort of a demented take on The Wizard of Oz. How much were you channeling the Wicked Witch of the West?

None. Im a Method actress. Even if its watching one little child be mean to another child and you take that into your soul  or anything you see human beings do to one another that you put in your mind and that hurts you  you pull that out and relive that. So all of the pain or anything you do is real in a film. Its not just fake. Your body relives it.

Shes putting lipstick on her lips and thinking, Yeah, Ill attract them. If I use it all over my face, will the whole world come? More, more, more. Ill use it all.

In your eyes, is Marietta so hell-bent on keeping Sailor and Lulu apart because she cant have him herself? Or does she actually think that she is protecting her daughter?

No, she didnt want Sailor at all. She wants her daughter, as did I  as should every parent  to have a better life than she had. Marietta, in my mind, had a very hard life. She wants her daughter to be somebody, to learn something, to evolve, and she dont think Sailors the way. She thinks hes trouble. Instead of pulling her daughter up in life, she thinks hell pull her down. She doesnt care what she has to do. Shes going to make sure her daughter has a better life. Shes the tigress mother.

You said she had a hard life. What biographical details did you fill in for her? Did you and David talk about her background?

No, I made it all up for myself to make her real. One day, the script said that Marietta gets in bed, curls up with her baby dog, and is sucking her thumb. I looked at him and said, David, I dont want to do that. He said, What do you want to do? I said, I want to put on a long satin nightgown, I want to stand in the middle of the bed holding a martini and drinking it, and I want to sway to the old music within my head. He said okay, I did it, and he loved it. Laura saw it and said, David, you didnt know that my mother was the perfect David Lynch actress, did you? But the big scene, as we know, was the scene where I painted my face red.

Yes, of course. Obviously the best scene in the entire movie. Was that in the script?

No. She was just looking in the mirror. But heres the thing. I stare at myself and I have her thinking about cutting her wrist, which shes not going to do because shes too strong a woman. But as I sat there staring in the mirror, at that time in television they were constantly using perfume and lipstick and makeup on women. They were starting to really use sex as a weapon to sell cosmetics. The sublingual motto of programming they were feeding all young women is, Use this lipstick and all the men will come racing to your door cause youre not good enough. Who are you without powder? It was ticking me off. So I took the lipstick, and Im holding it to put on my lips. Shes thinking about her wrist, but shes putting lipstick on her lips and thinking, Yeah, Ill attract them, maybe if I put the lipstick bigger. If I use it all over my face, will the whole world come? More, more, more. Ill use it all. So thats what that was and then the whole face became painted red.

Wow. That is incredible. Did David know you were going to do that before you started?

No, he just let me do it. The thing is, there is a connection between a director and an actress, as there is between two best friends or a husband or a wife, where somebody can start to say something and the other person finishes it. Olympia Dukakis and I could work like that. We were like Frick and Frack. You start to get a symmetry between you. I could feel without looking at him that it was okay. If he didnt like it, I could feel it without having to stop the scene. But that whole scene was simply my comment on the sign of the times, on commerciality, which, as we know today, has gone way too far.

After you did that for the first time, what was Davids response?

He just said, I love it. Im keeping that.

Had you tried the scene without smearing the lipstick all over your face?

No, it came like water down your throat.

You must be aware by this point of how much people just eat that scene up and love it.

I know theres a lot of performers, especially in New Orleans, who painted their faces red and pretended to be Marietta. They got it, somehow, without me ever explaining it. It wasnt a joke. It was a comment on our time. You know, Im not an actor. Im a teacher. The screen or the stage is my blackboard, and so whatever I taught is whats in you. Its reflecting you, saint or sinner, male or female, child or old person. Im reflecting parts of your soul, parts of who you are. The work is for you.

Another little moment that I adore comes early in the movie. When Marietta first forbids Lulu from seeing Sailor, you guzzle a martini while looking directly at the camera. Did David tell you to do that, or was it also instinct?

It was just pure instinct, I guess. He didnt tell me to do it. I was just doing my thing.

Apparently it was also your idea to give Laura a lollipop in the abortion scene.

I honestly dont remember if it was my idea or not. But Marietta, for all her earthly problems, was a good mother, or at least a caring mother. The scene at the end, where they set fire to the house  the whole thing about the witch flying on the broom was added at the end. I said, David, I cant be setting fire to that house. My whole character has been fighting to save Lula. Why would I turn around and endanger her? He said, I dont know, but youve gotta do it. I need it. So I said, Well, theres only one way I can do it. Ive got to play her stoned out of her gourd so she doesnt know what shes doing. So I played it like someone had given me something crazy, some horrible thing like ecstasy or something.

Did you know before the shoot that Nic Cage would be doing an Elvis voice throughout the whole thing?

No.

What was he like in general?

He was very lovely. Charming to work with. When I met Bruce Dern, Lauras father, I was very, very young, like 18. We were doing a play Off Broadway in New York called Orpheus Descending, by Tennessee Williams, who incidentally was a distant cousin of mine. Bruce wore a snakeskin jacket in the play. When Nicolas was at Lauras house and they were rehearsing, he saw a picture of Bruce in his snakeskin jacket, and thats why he wanted a snakeskin jacket.

Thats a fun connection. After the movie came out, you said you had to essentially run your own Oscar campaign. You took out your own trade ads and hosted a spaghetti dinner for a handful of voters. I assume that means the studio wouldnt do those things for you. Do you know why?

No, thats not completely true. Was my first Oscar nomination Alice Doesnt Live Here Anymore?

Thats right.

Thats when I had no money. The first person that saw that film was Gena Rowlands, who said to me, Im gonna vote for you for Best Supporting Actress. And I said to her, What are you talking about? I dont have a big enough part to win that. Gena is an amazing soul, one of our greats. And she said, Oh, honey, you do. She gave me great encouragement. But at the time that this happened, I was new. I remember Marlon Brando saying to me, What do you do with all your money? And I said, What money? All I was paid for that whole performance was $5,000. This was my first big movie. I called up Mr. Scorsese, and I said, Mr. Scorsese, my agents are negotiating. I just want you to know I dont care what they pay me. I want to do this part for you, so dont let them give this to anybody else.

A very powerful person who ran a magazine called me on the phone and said, Honey, if youve got enough money to spend, you can win this Oscar. I said, But I dont have any money, and she hung up in my face.

With Alice, some of my friends would throw a spaghetti party. Theyd invite people over to watch my film, to make sure people saw it. I think thats okay, but everybody has to be allowed to do it. That helped me get nominated for Alice Doesnt Live Here Anymore. I won the British Academy Award. Now, weve changed the rules and you are not allowed to have a showing in your home. The only way you can show the movie with food is to have a legitimate screening room where people are invited. But I didnt have to do much for Wild at Heart. I really didnt. Goldwyn, the company that was doing it, did not send videos to everybody. So again, I was left without the support that was needed. Still, the picture caught on, because Whoopi Goldberg won that Oscar and she bet in Las Vegas that I would win.

Oh, thats funny. So did you take out trade ads for yourself?

Im trying to think clearly. I tried to do it for Alice, but I didnt have the money. In fact, a very powerful person who ran a magazine called me on the phone and said, Honey, if youve got enough money to spend, you can win this Oscar. I said, But I dont have any money, and she hung up in my face. It was the lady who was the head of The Hollywood Reporter. Now, when it came to Rambling Rose, I think people did have some parties for me. I think Esther Williams had a swimming party. Some people who were fans who I didnt even know had parties. But Wild at Heart kind of caught on on its own. I think if I had had a big studio behind me I would have won, because on Rambling Rose they spent $75,000 on our campaign, whereas Whoopi Goldbergs Paramount spent $1 million and a half.

But I feel at Oscar time that all those who are nominated are winners. They take the work to an elevated stage, which helps prevent mundanity from taking over. There was a lot of politics last year. Weve had enough of that in Washington. We dont need that kind of tap-dancing going on in our own Academy.

Lets loop back around to Laura. Wild at Heart must have been a great experience for the two of you considering you turned around and did Rambling Rose the following year and then Enlightened years after that.

Its a very wonderful thing to work with your own, like when you walk into a butchers shop and he goes, Thats my son helping me. If you find the truth, then you remember who you are. So these pictures are to help us all find the truth. David Lynch is a genius. I think Mr. David Lynch is gonna stand up and do a new movie soon. I got that feeling.

Do you have any intel? There were rumors at one point that maybe he had a secret movie premiering at Cannes, and that ended up not happening.

Hm, I cant tell his business. But let me just say I just feel like the angels are talking to him. I dont know everything for sure, but instinct says, Cmon, David, here we go. Youre not through yet. Youve got some destiny yet. He honestly is one of the most pleasurable, wonderful human beings to be around. That is a real blessing.
The greatest trick Reacher ever pulled was convincing the world that a bunch of homicidal killjoys would be fun to spend time with, at least in 39-to-44-minute increments. Episode six of the shows second season, New Yorks Finest, opens with the four reunited Special Investigators on a playground near enough to the scene of the warehouse explosion that ended the prior episode that we can see the emergency-vehicle lights reflected in the smoke cloud just behind them. Theyre debating what sort of explosives whoever set the trap used  though that whoever, in the estimation of all except their leader, Dont-Call-Him-Major-or-Mister-Reacher, seems to be their former comrade Tony Swan. Im not going to assume Swans dirty, Reacher reiterates.

Detective Russo swings by to tell them that examination of the bombed building indicates a skilled saboteur set the charges  someone with military training, perhaps? Also, the cops have found the car of one Marlo Burns, the New Age Technologies executive who sent the Special Investigators into an ambush in episode three and fled her home in episode four, abandoned somewhere north of Manhattan. Russo declines to accompany the team northward but warns them not to leave a trail of corpses in their wake. Hes like that angry, pissed-off detective from that movie, ODonnell observes.

Which one? Neagley asks.

All of them, ODonnell says. (It was a late night in the writers room.)

Cut to our four heroes examining Marlos car, which seems to have collected a windshield full of parking tickets already. Reacher divines that Marlo must have stopped for a snack at a nearby convenience store before finding another ride. This could just be Reacher getting hangry, but no, the team instantly spots Marlo and her tween daughter Jane on the convenience stores surveillance video feed. We dont even get to see them cajoling or threatening the kid minding the register into sharing the video!

The kid invites Neagley to squeeze in next to him for a better look at the low-res black-and-white screen, but shes not the squeeze-in type, Reacher says. Besides, she only has eyes for the Nintendo Switch Jane is carrying in the surveillance video. Neagley figures she can go back to the Burns house and find Janes gamer tag on a smart TV or some other wired device, then use the I.P. address of wherever Jane is playing from to determine her geographical location. Sounds plausible-adjacent to me!

Somewhere in Pennsylvania, Azhari Mahmoud  the arms broker whos been driving cross-country from Colorado using the I.D. of the plastic surgeon he killed because the doc had the bad luck to resemble Mahmoud  has attracted the notice of a State Trooper because of the apparently illegal air freshener hanging from the rear-view mirror of his rental car. This sounds like the sort of law thats intended to be enforced selectively and invites abuse, so its ironic that the trooper is a Black woman and the man shes citing for this misdemeanor is also a person of color.

Mahmoud tries to charm his way out of the ticket, but she has to run his license anyway, sealing her fate. Hes already stabbed her by the time her dispatcher radios her back with the news that the license shes just checked on belonged to a homicide victim and that backup is en route. Its another inert scene intended to burnish Mahmouds shitheel cred and another airball. Theres just nothing Ferdinand Son-of-Ben Kingsley can do to make Mahmoud a memorably loathsome villain, no matter how many plastic surgeons or policewomen we see him shiv.

The team makes themselves at home at Casa Marlo while Neagley prepares to game the night away until Jane pops up online. I cant believe people actually play this shit, gripes Reacher, who presumably spends his long bus-travel hours reading paperbacks or staring out the window at this great nation of ours. Neagley tells Reacher he might go for a first-person shooter. I am a first-person shooter, he retorts. But then, so are all his friends.

He announces hes going to get some shut-eye while Neagley works the joy-cons, but no sooner has he helped himself to Marlos bed than Dixon lets herself into that same borrowed boudoir to help herself to Reachers  well, shes tense, she says, after getting shot at so often and so recently. Doffing her blouse and climbing atop him  though scaling might be a more apt verb  she half-apologizes for interfering with his oft-stated sleep when you can rule.

Its not that firm a rule, Reacher says. Shell be the judge of that, amirite?

This is going to be a big episode for Domenick Lombardozzis Detective Russo. He visits his boss, Lieutenant Marsh, at home to tell his old mentor that he knows Marsh set up the Special Investigators to be killed by the biker gang in Boston (Toronto, obviously) in episode four. Russo didnt sell them out, and Marsh was the only other person who knew where theyd be. Marsh denies it until Russo invokes 9/11, telling his boss that hes sullying the greatest police force in the world by aiding and abetting terrorism. Marsh finally admits guilt, telling Russo hes been assured that none of the missiles changing hands while he looks the other way will be used in the United States. Marsh took a payoff to keep New Age security chief Langston briefed on the Special Investigators progress because he feared that standing on principle would get him killed  just like Russos old man was murdered after refusing a bribe. Lombardozzi and Al Sapienza, the Sopranos and cop-show veteran who plays Marsh, do a more-than-competent job of chewing their way through this cliche pile-up.

Back at the Burns residence, Reacher and Dixon skip the cigarettes and instead enjoy a post-coital flashback to their Army days. The flashback opens with a close-up of Dixon and returns to the present with a shot of Reacher, making it unclear exactly whose recollection weve been watching. This has been a problem with the flashbacks all season: We never quite know which member of the team is doing the remembering. With all of them save for Reacher now convinced Swan has betrayed them, theres an opening here for some Rashomon-style narrative trickery, with Swan behaving differently in the memories of different people.

Showrunner Nick Santora has not availed himself of this opportunity. Reacher is not interested in the subjective nature of truth and the soft lie of memory (though it wouldnt surprise me if Reacher had read Marcel Proust on one of those long bus trips). Reacher is about the fantasy of an invulnerable, incorruptible, and fearless Size-XXXL man breaking the hands or splitting open the skulls of the bastards. Reacher is about the freedom of owning nothing but a toothbrush and being answerable to nothing of ones own Size-XXXL conscience.

Anyway, that flashback shows us another authority figure letting Reacher down, just like Russos mentor, Lieutenant Marsh, has disappointed him. He and Dixon are doing some sexually frustrated paperwork when their C.O., Lieutenant Colonel Hortense Fields, drops by the office to order them to terminate Operation Kite Runner, the big heroin bust the team has been working on for two years. The discovery of a drug-trafficking conspiracy within this command would embarrass its senior officer, a colonel whos about to be awarded a long-sought promotion. So rather than stain his record with a public scandal, the colonel has ordered the Special Investigators to drop the case. None of the soldiers found to be involved thus far will face anything more than minor penalties. All will receive honorable discharges. The big fish the Special Investigators were chasing will be allowed to continue pushing smack using all the tools and resources of the United States Army. Reacher swallows this shit pill, but we can see it wont be long at all until he spits it right back up in the colonels face.

Back in the present, Reacher confesses to Dixon that hes been thinking about Operation Kite Runner. For a moment, it seems as though Dixon interprets Reachers uncharacteristic indulgence in reflection as him asking if theyll keep sleeping together after their current entanglement is over. Then she remembers who shes talking to and shifts to the kind of pillow talk Reacher needs: Shes grateful for all hes done for her over the years and in the extremely recent past. So when the time comes, shell do the dirty deed of killing Swan. There, there, silly boy. Go back to sleep.

Neagley bursts in with the news that shes tracked Marlo and Jane to a residence less than an hour away. Curtis, the friend who has taken Marlo in with the belief that shes fleeing an abusive boyfriend, refuses to call Marlo out to the garage, where the team has cornered him at gunpoint until Reacher threatens to shoot him in the leg. Shut up, Curtis! is the scenes comic refrain. Curtis is a funny name! This particular Curtis appears to be a prosperous gay man who is neither a terrorist nor an arms dealer nor a crooked cop, so I wished the team couldve found a less menacing way to approach him. Still, they were operating on the assumption  despite Reachers oft-repeated warnings against assumptions  that Marlo, whom Curtis was sheltering, was part of the conspiracy thats been bumping off their former comrades in the 110th.

Marlo manages to convince them otherwise, probably because she insists Swan was a good man, as Reacher still wants to believe he was, covertly working with her to try to puzzle out why so many of the Little Wing guidance chips New Age was manufacturing were being rejected as faulty. (A: So they could be written off and sold under the table to Mahmoud for a cool $65 million.) Marlo says she only accepted the bag of cash Dixon and Neagley found at her house to convince Langston, New Ages bent security chief, that she wouldnt make waves, lest he harm her and her daughter. At the teams behest, she calls Langston and arranges to meet him in an ambush-friendly locale selected by Team Reacher. But first they have to deposit Jane into Russos care to keep the kid out of danger.

The site Marlo has given Langston as their meeting place is revealed as a parking lot for buses and semi trucks, exactly the sort of remote but obstacle-strewn locale where a Reagan-era shoot-em-up, or a 2020s streaming throwback to films of that golden era, would end. Dixon and ODonnell have taken up a position on the upper deck of an open-top tourist bus to kill Langston and his lackeys after Reacher and Neagley box them in.

Why Langton doesnt recognize this as a setup from the jump is a reasonable question, but he figures it out soon enough when Russo calls Reacher with the inconvenient news that he and Jane are in a high-speed chase, fleeing gunmen armed with automatic weapons. Reacher orders all three of his comrades to go help Russo, leaving him alone to deal with Langston and his three yegs. There follows a funny bit of Batman-style ninja craft wherein Reacher  who, the show has reminded us only a few scenes earlier, in the words of poor Curtis, is eight feet tall and 300 pounds  somehow conceals his Chevy Suburbanesque bulk inside a passenger bus so effectively that hes able to surprise, disarm, and kill two gunmen who venture inside looking for him. He drags the third beneath a nearby truck like hes Pennywise the Clown in Dickies. Langston, however, eludes him when hes rescued by several other gunmen in a helicopter  one that Reacher, who again is an extremely large target, emerges from cover to fire upon ineffectually with his pistol. This guy is a genius, except for when hes an absolute fucking idiot.

Meanwhile, Neagley is somehow following Russos extremely vague directions to intercept him with Dixon, ODonnell, and Marlo in the car with her. She arrives at Russos never-stated location in time to run down the last gunman. The kid is safe. But the same cant be said for Russo, who took two rounds to the chest while heroically covering Janes escape. The honest cop holds up his bloody hand, silently imploring Neagley  whose most oft-reiterated character trait, even more fundamental than her love of video games and sugary breakfast cereals, is an aversion to physical contact  to take it. In this silly series most stirring moment to date, Neagley hesitates for a beat before seizing the dying mans hand and squeezing it hard.

Look, Im not some 300-pound sociopath who only lowercase-r reaches out to his friends when he needs their help killing some people and who owns nothing but a passport and a toothbrush. This scene got to me. I salute you, Maria Sten and Domenick Lombardozzi.

In an Investigation, Details Matter

 Taking Jane into protective custody, Russo takes a sweet but oddly specific swing at making it fun for the kid, promising her theyll get a chicken cutlet sandweeeech and watch an Adam Sandler movie or something.
The King George Board of Supervisors started the new year with fireworks as members voted to reconsider last months performance agreement with Amazon  a procedural move that is allowed under county bylaws  and accepted the resignations of two key officials.

Its not clear how much the resignations were related to the Amazon deal. Chris Miller, who became King Georges county administrator in July 2021, said he was not forced to resign, but that it was a mutually agreed decision to go in another direction, he said in a text. New board and board relationship.

Kelly Lackey, the county attorney since November 2021, could not be reached for comment.

However, what has been clear in recent meetings is that the actions of Miller and Lackey, especially in regards to Amazon, havent found favor with Supervisor T.C. Collins. He was elected chairman on Tuesday and was joined by three new members whom he had supported during their campaigns.

The other returning member, Supervisor Cathy Binder, initiated the move to have King George renegotiate its deal with Amazon. She said she voted for the agreement on Dec. 19 so that she could make a motion to reconsider the deal in January after new members joined the board.

Many times, I felt that we did not negotiate well enough to make sure we got  the best deal, she said during a phone interview. I did not like a lot of the terms, I felt there could have been more negotiations.

Collins voted against the agreement last month, but Binder voted for it, along with three outgoing supervisors: Board Chairman Richard Granger, who was not reelected, and Supervisors Annie Cupka and Jeff Stonehill, who did not seek a second term on the board.

Binder said at the time she did so to make sure she had a seat at the table to negotiate future terms because it had become apparent that you have to be part of the yes vote to have a say in negotiating.

Turns out, a member has to be part of the yes vote in order to bring a vote back for reconsideration.

The countys rules and procedures say action on an ordinance, resolution or motion may be reconsidered one time and only upon motion of a member voting with the prevailing side on the original vote.

King Georges performance agreement with Amazon pertains to the first phase of an 869-acre data center campus at the old Birchwood power plant on State Route 3 near Sealston.

When Lackey explained in details the incentives Amazon would get at the Dec. 19 meeting, she said they were more like rebates, paid back to the company out of taxes that Amazon paid to King George. She stressed the agreement was almost identical to ones approved recently in Spotsylvania and Caroline counties and showed the seriousness of Amazon and this mega investment its making in Virginia.

When she finished, Collins told Lackey shed done a good job of selling for Amazon, adding: Im not sure exactly who you work for anymore.

After Tuesday, she and Miller no longer worked for King George. Both submitted letters of resignation effective immediately. Both also received severance pay, as agreed upon in their contracts and accumulated annual leave, up to 240 hours.

Collins also balked at the idea, on Dec. 19, that Miller would be the primary point of contact between Amazon and King George. He said that was a terrible idea, as hes accused Miller repeatedly in the past year of not including him in correspondence. He also chastised the board for having too many closed meetings, out of the public eye.

New board members Bill Davis, David Sullins and Ken Stroud campaigned on the same platform, more transparency in government. In November, Davis said he was going to get rid of these closed sessions  and do business in the open.

Yet, a few minutes into their first meeting, after the board elected leadership and announced theyll have a work session at 4 p.m. Monday to go over current bylaws and procedures, the supervisors went into closed session.

When they returned, almost 2 hours later, the seats of Miller and Lackey were empty. Audio of the meeting, on the countys YouTube channel, wasnt working so those watching remotely couldnt hear what was being said.

They could see, however, as Lackey walked out of the board room, crossing paths with Sen. Richard Stuart as he headed toward the podium in his new role as interim county attorney. The audience clapped at that point.

This is not how we thought we would start the first meeting of the year, with a closed session, Sullins said later, after a new video was started to pick up the sound. Just the nature of it, it had to be done that way.

After the closed session, Binder motioned to accept both resignations and to appoint Stuart, a state senator and Westmorelands county attorney, to oversee legal matters in King George as interim county attorney. He lives in King George and always said hed help us out if we ever needed him, Binder said.

His compensation wont exceed $140,000 a year and there are no benefits, according to the motion.

Stuart has expressed concerns about water issues related to data centers. After a September story about Caroline Countys plan for a water-intake facility on the Rappahannock River, he told The Free Lance-Star he would make sure the General Assembly looked into the issue.

On Tuesday, Stuart said Binder had made a very astute move by voting for the Amazon performance agreement because that allowed her to bring it back for reconsideration in front of the new board.

This now gives the new board the opportunity to visit that agreement and make decisions that this new board wants to make. They can renegotiate, they can disapprove it, they can do whatever they want to do with it.

The board also moved to have Stuart renegotiate the Amazon agreement.

Binder also motioned to revisit the boards decision to dissolve the King George County Service Authority in June. She said she wanted to explore all options and felt that hadnt been done.

Miller had served as interim general manager of the Service Authority as well. He said he was grateful to have been able to work with the county team.

Board members said they plan to review several items this year, including what to do with the old courthouse, plans for a new preschool and revisiting some newly adopted zoning ordinances.

Were looking forward to big changes in King George County, Collins said.
The results of the election, widely denounced as neither free nor fair, suggest that the Kremlin is now more focused on creating a cult of personality around Putin as Russias undisputed national patriarch.
Virginias constitution still includes a prohibition against same-sex marriage, but Democratic lawmakers are hoping to remove it.

Though such unions are protected at the federal level by a 2015 U.S. Supreme Court ruling and Congress 2022 Respect for Marriage Act, if they were reversed, those marriages would not be legal in Virginia.

Approving a constitutional amendment in Virginia requires a multiyear process. The measure would need to pass the General Assembly two years in a row, with an election in for the House of Delegates in between, before appearing on ballots for statewide approval in a referendum as early as 2026.

While the lawmakers have introduced such measures before, they could have a better chance now that Democrats will control the House and Senate  pending the House elections in 2025. A proposed constitutional amendment does not require a governors signature.

If passed, the amendment would remove prohibitions that Virginia first enshrined in 2006, recognizing marriage as only a union between one man and one woman  which Ebbin called a discriminatory stain on the constitution. The language has been rendered moot since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of same-sex marriages nine years ago.

Virginians want a chance to remove the noxious marriage language that was added to our constitution in 2006, Sickles said in a release. Over the years, minds have changed and over 1.8 million voters have come of age  this is not the constitution they want.

An effort cleared the state Senate with bipartisan support early last year before failing in the GOP-led House. Another attempt cleared both chambers in 2021, when Democrats controlled the House and Senate, before being defeated in 2022 when Republicans controlled the House. While Democrats have largely pushed for the law, it has occasionally garnered support from the other side of the aisle. Then-Del. Tim Anderson, R-Virginia Beach, had also carried a similar measure.

However, the matter is starting to feel more urgent for some, amid concerns that Obergefell v. Hodges  the 2015 Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide  could be undone.

When the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the decision that protected abortion access, justices diverged in their opinions on whether the latest ruling could lead to reopening other decisions.

Justice Samuel Alito, who wrote the majority opinion in the abortion case, stressed that nothing in this opinion should be understood to cast doubt on precedents that do not concern abortion.

But Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in a concurring opinion that the due process clause in the 14th Amendment at most guarantees process and does not secure any substantive rights.

Thomas asserted that in future cases, the court should reconsider all of this Courts substantive due process precedents, including cases that guaranteed married adults the right to obtain contraceptives, the right to engage in private, consensual sexual acts and Obergefell v. Hodges.

In early 2023 when the most recent attempt to enshrine same-sex marriage in Virginia was voted down, a representative from The Family Foundation  an advocacy group that opposes same-sex marriage  noted that the Supreme Courts actions on abortion could mean action on marriage is likely, too.

With the courts precedent in Dobbs, the abortion ruling, the court is clearly in a position to reverse its erroneous 2015 decision, Todd Gathje said. And if and when it does, Virginias constitution should continue to reflect the truth about marriage.

The Family Foundation believes marriage is only between a man and a woman.

Narissa Rahaman, executive director of Equality Virginia, says the matter is personal. Her organization has lobbied in support of Ebbins and Sickles bills and supports laws that benefit LGBTQ people. Rahaman also became engaged to her partner shortly after the Supreme Court removed federal abortion protections.

It was like a bit of a jolting moment, Rahaman said of potentially losing the same rights that opposite-sex couples have.

In the meantime, Del.-elect Rozia Henson Jr., D-Prince William, is introducing a bill to ensure the issuance of marriage licenses without regard to the sex, gender or race of the two adults seeking to enter into a marriage.

Ebbin also has a Senate version of the measure.

Henson said in a release that while efforts to enshrine protections in the constitution may get underway over the next two years, putting protections into state code could take effect sooner should Congress or the Supreme Court undo a decision at the federal level.

That is why Senator Ebbin and I have also introduced legislation to codify marriage equality in Virginias Code  not just its Constitution  so that marriage equality is protected under Virginia law beginning July 1, 2024, he said.
BIOGRAPHY

James Joyce: A Life

Gabrielle Carey

Arden, $39.95

Gabrielle Carey was most famous as the co-author (with Kathy Lette) of Puberty Blues, but she was also a passionate enthusiast for the fiction of that greatest of English language modernists, the author of Ulysses, James Joyce. Its good to have Careys short life of the great Irish wizard in the wake of her tragic death in May.

Gabrielle Carey adored the writing of James Joyce. Credit: Domino Postiglione

In Ulysses, Buck Mulligan taunts Stephen Dedalus (modelled like the hero of A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man on the young Joyce) because he would not kneel down and pray at his mothers deathbed. Carey quotes Joyce saying she was killed by my cynical frankness of conduct. He had every kind of ticket on himself, declaring that Dubliners was his chapter of moral history and the first step toward the spiritual liberation of my country. He was only 24.

But Carey is not one for fancy critical theories, and says the ending of The Dead, the final story in Dubliners, is one of the most beautiful literary passages ever written: snow was general all over Ireland ... It was falling too, on every part of the lonely churchyard on the hill where Michael Furey lay buried.
Its no spoiler to say theres an engagement just 13 minutes into the show. In that sense, its more a plot detail in the series premise. Maybe think of this as Pride & Prejudice: The Blink-and-Youll-Miss-It Edition.

Tailor-made for the we-just-watched-the-trailer-so-we-might-skip-the-series generation, Belgravia: The Next Chapter does something quite unexpected: it opens at the mid-point, during a ball. Just one scene in which the mesmerising ingenue Miss Dunn (Harriet Slater) accompanies the pianoforte, and she and Lord Trenchard (Ben Wainwright) are smitten.

Somewhere out there, in the period playbook, the story goes something like this: boy has title, girl comes from well-to-do but unexpectedly impoverished family, nebulous aristocratic mutual friend thoughtfully throws ball, boy meets girl, chemistry ensues, romance follows, and they all live happily ever after.

Despite the resemblance, Belgravia: The Next Chapter is less a Jane Austen piece, in which the wheels of romantic destiny turn as slowly as the storylines on The Bold and the Beautiful, and more Daphne du Mauriers Rebecca, which runs through the romance on fast-forward to essentially set up the real story: the troubled infancy of a marriage.

If youre coming here fresh from Belgravia, Julian Fellowes television adaptation of his own novel, there are a couple of things you will immediately notice. The key one being that there isnt a familiar face in sight. Thats because this series has spun the clock forward several decades, to 1871.

The Marquise DEtagnac (Claude Perron) in Belgravia: The Next Chapter. Credit: Binge

A few clues are dropped in the first few scenes to recalibrate the calendar, but if youre not completely up to speed with the architectural dates of Victorian London  the opening of the Royal Albert Hall in 1871 is date-checked in the first few minutes  then this may not be immediately obvious. In terms of universe detail, things run mostly to the playbook: Lord Trenchard has an estranged brother, Reverend James Trenchard (Toby Regbo), who will no doubt become a source of trouble, and Clara has a ladys maid named Davison (Elaine Cassidy). Shes got a whiff of something-not-quite-right about her, a detail that is confirmed when she meets the valet Fletcher (Liam Garrigan) and the air almost freezes between them.

Theres also a dashing young medico, Dr Stephen Ellerby (Edward Bluemel), whose good looks can surely also bring no good to the House of Trenchard, and then theres the striking and sultry French businesswoman, the Marquise DEtagnac (Claude Perron).
If reality cooking competitions were cakes, the contestants would be the fluffy sponge and the judges would be the creamy filling, keeping the airy layers intact. But what is a cake without some decoration?

Thats what the hosts are for. They may only be a small component, but theyre the first thing you see  and for anyone who has tried to pick just one gateau from the counter of a fancy cake shop, you know that first impressions count. So, when the first episode of The Great British Bake Offs most recent season aired on Foxtel in September, its no surprise all eyes were on the baking shows shiny new facade. Would the new fondant icing entice viewers, or have them reaching for an alternative confection?

Prue Leith, Noel Fielding, Alison Hammond and Paul Hollywood in The Great British Bake Off season 14. Credit: Channel 4

For three years, Matt Lucas (best known for his role in the sketch comedy series Little Britain) helmed the famously feel-good baking competition alongside comedian Noel Fielding (The Mighty Boosh). But in 2023, he cheerfully passed the baguette to Alison Hammond, a British television personality known for her time on Big Brother and Strictly Come Dancing.

Initially, the switch-up seemed stark, perhaps a little too stark. Wed become accustomed to the constant riffing between Lucas and Fielding, two comedians famous for their eye-rolling puns and double entendres. Hammonds nurturing, perpetually positive energy seemed entirely different, if not dull. Fieldings corny jokes about egg-washing his legs and his eclectic jumper collection would surely outshine someone who appears to only bring nice to the table.
Bruce Lehrmann should still receive substantial damages in his defamation case against Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson even if the Federal Court finds he lied when he said he did not have sex with Brittany Higgins, his barristers have told the court.

Federal Court Justice Michael Lee reserved his decision in the high-stakes defamation case on December 22 after a month-long trial. He will deliver his decision at a later date.

Bruce Lehrmann outside the Federal Court in Sydney on December 15. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer

On Friday, the court released written submissions filed in December by barristers for Lehrmann, Ten and Wilkinson, which supplement the oral submissions delivered by the parties that month.

Lehrmanns lawyers said their client should receive damages if Lee found Lehrmann did have sex with Higgins in Parliament House but was not satisfied on the balance of probabilities that it was rape.
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 Copenhagen: Twenty-two years ago, when Mary Donaldson was still trying to keep her courtship with Denmarks Crown Prince Frederik under the radar, she flew from Australia to Germany on a secret mission. It was December 31, 2001 and a friend of the future king, Jeppe Handwerk, had driven to Hamburg to collect the princes secret girlfriend and drive her across the border, up through the snow-covered forests of the Jutland peninsula. Mary Donaldson and Crown Prince Frederik in the Royal Box at the Gala performance in the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen, Denmark, the night before their wedding in 2004. Credit: Rick Stevens At a rest area along the way, as it dumped snow, Frederik was waiting in his car. The pair reunited in the cold and then drove to a New Years party at a country manor house in Birkelse, a small village near Aabybro, where a group of his close friends were waiting. You werent in doubt for a second about the royal love that evening, Danish actress Ellen Hillings, a friend of the couple, said years later. It was magical because she just had it all, it seemed. And then their relationship was still super fragile and painful, difficult and everything. But it lasted  because she held on. In cold Copenhagen this week, as the royal-loving Danish public walked around shocked at the news their long-serving queen, Margrethe II, will abdicate on January 14 after half a century on the throne, the idea that Crown Princess Mary will take on her title had only just begun to set in.

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From left: Marys father John Donaldson, her stepmother Susan Moody, Mary, Crown Prince Frederik, Prince Consort Henrik and Queen Margrethe II at the couples engagement announcement at Amalienborg Palace in 2003. Credit: AP To be honest, it has been a big shock, says Amalia Nielsen, who brought her visiting friends from France to catch a glimpse of the royals the day after Margrethe announced she would become the first Danish monarch to abdicate in 900 years. She has been all we know, really, and she is very popular. But Princess Mary is popular too, perhaps more than her husband, and she will be fantastic when the time comes. Nielson explains to her friends that Mary is a modern and hard-working woman who has made the monarchy relevant to young people like her. Through her Mary Foundation established in 2007, she fights for the vulnerable, womens rights, and against bullying in schools. Even the most staunch republicans  although in this country, there are surprisingly few  concede that the soon-to-be Queen Mary of Denmark has added life, warmth, elegance and modernity to an ancient institution that traces its line back to a Viking named Harthacnut in the 9th century through his son, Gorm the Old. The Danish royal family in Bondi in 2022. From left: Princess Isabella, Crown Princess Mary, Princess Josephine, Prince Vincent and Crown Prince Frederik. (Their eldest child Prince Christian, not pictured, will become heir.) Credit: Matrix The 51-year-old mother of four has taken on centuries-old traditions but given them both a modern and personal twist. Its as if, some say, it was she who was born for the role.

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From her early days of being a mother, she won public affection by rejecting nannies and sending her children to state schools. She has often been praised by her mother-in-law, the outgoing queen, just as she has recorded huge public support among the public, most recently confirmed by a poll by national broadcaster DR just days before Margrethes announcement. Having made it clear ahead of her 2004 fairytale wedding that she was just an ordinary girl from an ordinary family, Mary has become a powerful advocate in Denmark for womens reproductive rights  historically a taboo subject for a future queen  as well as maternal health, sexual and reproductive rights in developing countries, and international LGBT rights. Some, like royal historian Sebastian Olden-Jrgensen from the University of Copenhagen, have dubbed her a woke princess, with progressive issues of the day such as climate change high on her agenda. But he concedes she has been clever at what shes decided to take on, bringing the royals in line with mainstream Danes. Shes been a very progressive representative for Denmark, he says. The royal family has always been internationally minded, but the crown princess has really immersed herself in work of a big-scale and global nature. She has brought a very level head to the role that, to be honest, people havent seen in her husband.

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Her relationship with the Queen is very good. Ultimately, we do not know whether thats a personal fondness for her or a respect for the way she goes about her job, but I think she has helped make him [Prince Frederik] a more serious person. Mary received fierce praise and piercing criticism for her decision to become patron of World Pride in Copenhagen 2021, but the events director, Lars Henriksen, said the presence of a crown princess made a huge impression. She was a star that day, he says. So everyone wanted to get close to her and have a selfie. She would stand up to them all and lean in and people would put their hands on her shoulders and sometimes she would take the camera. That she made herself available this way to people who are otherwise often the outcasts and the marginalised, but who suddenly got the little attention that it was, but which really mattered a lot for them. The princess has said that from very early on it was clear that there were expectations about what causes she supported, what events she attended, and, especially, what she wore.

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That was pretty daunting for me. I was a T-shirt-and-shorts girl, known to go barefoot, she told the Financial Times in 2022. At times it can feel frustrating that what youre wearing can overshadow the cause at hand. But Im sensing and hoping that theres a shifting focus, that theres less focus on the outer than there has been. In her speech at the Pride Event, which was lauded by the nations progressive press, she said she wanted everyone to feel valued and accepted unconditionally. Loading I feel it on journeys where I am met with admiration all over the world because we in Denmark dare to take the lead in securing rights for all people regardless of gender, gender identity and sexuality, she said. We must be united in the fight against discrimination [in the hopes of] a life of dignity for all. Combating loneliness has also been one of Marys passions, having talked openly about how she dealt with isolation and depression when, at 25, she lost her mother, who died following heart surgery.

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Houthi rebels have defied international calls for them to stop targeting ships passing through the Red Sea by launching the groups first drone boat attack since hostilities flared in the crucial trade passage.

The Houthis detonation of the one-way unmanned surface vessel in the Red Sea did not damage any ships, but marked a significant escalation in their harassment campaign just a day after Australia and 11 other nations warned of consequences if the Iranian-backed rebels did not cease their attacks.

The Iran-aligned Houthis, who control much of Yemen, have launched wave after wave of exploding drones and missiles at commercial vessels since November 19, trying to inflict a cost in what they say is a protest against Israels war in Gaza.

Houthi fighters have been harassing container ships in the Red Sea since the outbreak of Israels war with Hamas. Credit: Getty

Meanwhile, tensions continued to flare across the Middle East with the US killing a high-ranking commander of an Iran-backed militia group in Baghdad, Iraq.
First Lutheran Church at 3200 E. Military Ave. in Fremont will be hosting an American Red Cross Blood Drive from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 7.

Due to the holiday season and winter months, as well as being flu and cold season, donations are down. Everyone is asked to consider scheduling an appointment at redcrossblood.org with sponsor code First Lutheran or call Niki at 402-720-1825. The goal is to collect 38 units.

Be sure to bring your donor card or photo ID and eat and drink plenty of water prior to donating blood. Those donating will automatically be entered for a chance to win a trip for the donor and a guest to Super Bowl LVIII in Vegas. It includes travel, hotel, $1,000 gift card, and pre-game activities and more.

The blood drive is in memory of Renae Proskovec of Fremont.

During her short, but beautiful life, Renae left an impression of love and joy on the world. She is cherished for her humor, her dance parties and so much more, the press release said. Renae is remembered most for helping people live their best lives. Her family invites the community to continue spreading Renaes joy and kindness through the selfless act of giving blood.
Under the auspices of the WCO/JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) Joint Project and with the kind host of the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) represented by the Kenya School of Revenue Administration (KESRA), the fourth Working Group Activity of the Master Trainers Programme (MTP) on Rules of Origin (RoO) for East and Southern Africa was held in Mombasa, Kenya, from 4-8 December 2023. The same group of Master Trainer candidates who participated in the previous three Working Group (WG) activities from thirteen Customs administrations in East and Southern Africa, namely Botswana, Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe got together again for this sub-regional activity.

This WG activity was the fourth in a series of progressive activities for the MTP on RoO. The Master Trainer Programme aims to develop sustainable training capacity within the Customs administrations by developing 1) a pool of well-experienced trainers and (2) regionally featured training materials and programmes to be used by these trainers. The MTP on RoO also aims to support the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). To this end, the MTP trains the same nominated participants (WG members) from respective Customs Administrations through 5 working groups and intersessional activities for 2-3 years. In addition, the MTP on RoO, which started in September 2021, is intended to cooperate with African WCO Members to support the smooth implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

This workshop comes after the MTP WG4 for West Africa that was held from 20-24 November 2023 in Cotonou, Benin. The result of work related to the development of training materials on RoO featuring the AfCFTA was passed to the WG participants in Mombasa, where further review and improvement were carried out to complete the final draft of the consolidated materials. During the workshop, twenty-five (25) RoO officials worked intensively to finalize the development of training materials and teaching slides. Experts from the WCO and Japan Customs facilitated various sessions and shared their valuable knowledge and expertise with the WG members (participants). Once finalized, this material will cover the RoO technical matters and accelerate and support the implementation of the AfCFTA. The participants demonstrated their commitment to the MTP and actively participated in working sessions and discussions during the five days of the workshop.

Both the WCO and JICA welcomed their commitment and positive approach to ensuring the long-term sustainability of capacity building within their organizations. At the end of the workshop, WG members revised their work plan towards the final working group activity, WG5, which is expected to be held in early 2024. Meanwhile, their development journey will continue intersessionally.
A 47-year-old woman has been sentenced to prison for not only failing to protect her 12-year-old daughter from sexual abuse, but also actively encouraging her abuser and even taking money from him.

Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Jason Cooper said the woman's case was one of only two cases on his docket where he's prosecuted parents of a child sex assault victim, "which says something about how uniquely insidious her conduct is."

The Journal Star has chosen not to name the woman, who has been living in northeast Nebraska, to protect the victim's identity.

Cooper said that in March 2020, after Beatrice police arrested Joseph Hochstein for having sexual contact with a 12-year-old girl, her mother said she didn't believe it, despite texts that showed he had sent her money to get her daughter the morning-after pill.

Hochstein ultimately went to prison for contributing to the delinquency of two minors, child abuse and tampering with a witness. But within a month of getting work release in 2022, Cooper said, Hochstein was sending texts to the woman asking to take her daughter to another state to marry her, and she was signing off on the illicit relationship and dropping her daughter off at his work-release job.

He said she didn't just disbelieve her daughter or turn a blind eye to what was happening, "she actively encouraged Mr. Hochstein's pedophilia for her own daughter."

In September, District Judge Darla Ideus sentenced Hochstein to 15-20 years in prison for attempted first-degree sexual assault of another teenager while on work release, to which he pleaded no contest.

He hasn't been charged in connection to the woman's daughter because the girl denies he sexually assaulted her.

The mother's attorney, Dustin Garrison, said it wasn't his client's intention to allow her daughter to be sexually assaulted. Hochstein manipulated her and she didn't initially take his texts about her daughter seriously but now does, he said.

He said Hochstein has ruined her life.

"Throwing her in prison isn't going to accomplish anything," Garrison said, arguing for probation.

In the end, Ideus said the woman's claims denying her daughter had been sexually assaulted and having knowledge about it lacked credibility. Despite what the woman says, Ideus said she believes the woman did know her daughter, when she was 12 and 13, was having sex with a 35-year-old predator.

"I think the information in the investigation reveals that you knew about it, you lied to authorities, ... you encouraged the sexual assaults, you allowed them and, in fact, I think you facilitated them," the judge said.

Ideus sentenced the woman to five to 10 years in prison for being an accessory to child enticement and/or sexual assault of a child, to which she had pleaded no contest.

Photos: Nebraska Legislature gavels in for first day of 2024 session
The surge of migrants to Chicago, arriving by busloads from Texas, hardly marks the first time a Chicago mayor new to the job has faced an all-consuming challenge.

Four years ago this March, Chicago saw its first COVID-19 fatality. And Mayor Lori Lightfoot, just 10 months in office, had a historically destabilizing emergency on her hands.

The contrast in responses by Lightfoot and successor Brandon Johnson to the defining early challenges of their terms tells us a lot about their capabilities as leaders. And Johnson has a lot to learn from the person he defeated to become mayor.

Lightfoot at the time of Chicagos first COVID-19 death had not yet found her footing as mayor. She had an early win on City Council ethics reform, but the new mayor had fired a police superintendent and hired a new one who disappointed from the start. She had reversed herself on campaign promises to oppose the controversial Lincoln Yards development and support an elected school board. Her signature economic development program, Invest South/West, was just getting underway.

Once the COVID-19 pandemic erupted, lives were at stake. Politics fell to the wayside. Leadership was in high demand, and Lightfoot responded with some of her finest work as mayor.

She was decisive and articulate. She even showed a flash of self-deprecating humor, poking fun in a series of public service announcements at her new role as public health proctor for a locked-down city.

Over the next several months, Lightfoot took all sorts of extraordinary measures: implementing hybrid teaching in Chicagos public schools; closing beaches and bikeways; commissioning a field hospital at McCormick Place; establishing a rapid response team to guard against racial inequities in the citys pandemic response; and introducing a five-phase reopening plan.

Lightfoot calculated and set plans to manage a $1.2 billion budget deficit for 2021. And she allowed Dr. Allison Arwady, the citys health commissioner, to become the daily public face of the citys COVID-19 fight.

The mayors relationship with Gov. J.B. Pritzker was fraught, yet they mostly coordinated on COVID-19. They astutely concluded that the federal government, under President Donald Trump, would offer little more than money, and they resolved to get through the pandemic mostly on their own.

Lightfoot could not sustain her leadership quotient once the worst of the crisis passed  but at least it was there when the city needed it most.

To this point in time, the same cannot be said of Johnsons response to the migrant challenge.

Seven months into the job, Johnson has notched a few successes. His new top cop, Chicago Police Department veteran Larry Snelling, is an upgrade from Lightfoot-appointed predecessor David Brown. Johnson reined in some of his most progressive yearnings in order to pass a responsible $16.6 billion city budget. He is focused on driving city resources to underinvested communities.

Yet the successes he has will all be overshadowed if he cant get a grip on addressing the surge of asylum-seekers from the southern border.

Its notable that Johnson had far longer to prepare for the biggest test of his administration than the overnight notice Lightfoot received. After all, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott began sending busloads of migrants to Chicago two months before Johnson launched his campaign  yet Johnson still expresses befuddlement, lays blame or plaintively but ineffectually pleads for federal help.

Mayor Brandon Johnson speaks in Chicago, Aug. 18, 2023.

In contrast to Lightfoot, who delivered concrete, programmatic approaches to the citys pandemic response, and reported progress or problems daily, Johnson remains mostly improvisational in his approach. His communication remains stuck in a sloganeering rut, more fitting to an election campaign than to inspiring the publics resolve and articulating the work of the citys chief executive.

Johnson has gotten crosswise with Pritzker, a costly and unnecessary feud that brings no advantage to the city. And the mayor still has not recovered the publics confidence following his single biggest blunder in office  pushing forward with a 2,000-bed tent encampment in the Brighton Park neighborhood despite evidence that toxic chemicals on the site created a clear and present health hazard. It fell to Pritzker to pull the plug.

Some 26,000 new arrivals are overtaxing city resources. At a cost of around $40 million a month, resources are being stretched thin as the city deals with the crisis. And the problem will get only worse. President Joe Bidens administration still cannot control the Texas border, and Abbott can be expected to intensify his malignant mischief with a surge of migrant bus arrivals in Chicago just before the 2024 Democratic National Convention opens here in August.

Its well past time for Johnson to find his footing and step up as a leader. He can start with the playbook Lightfoot left behind from the COVID-19 pandemic: Build systematic approaches; communicate progress against measurable plans; hold city staff, community players and fellow officeholders accountable; and be accountable to them.

Johnson could leverage his own strengths, such as his deep ties to the progressive movement and standing in the Black community, to put to rest the growing tension between the Black and Latino communities over how city resources are being allocated. A comprehensive approach to migrant housing, leveraging the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago and other community partners, could be another near-term objective.

Its not too late for him to reboot with Pritzker and forge a working relationship that makes the most of state assets. The small-minded rivalry between the mayor and governor is impeding progress and damaging them both.

An impression is growing that the job of mayor is too big for Johnson to handle. Even small but measurable steps toward addressing the migrant problem could begin to offer a counternarrative.

The progress needs to start now. The migrant problem wont solve itself. And Johnson needs to exhibit the leadership thats called for, or the problems will get only worse.

David Greising is president and CEO of the Better Government Association.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
Long-awaited redevelopment works at Ballina District Hospital are expected to get underway early this year.

Minister of State Dara Calleary confirmed that the HSE intends to progress Phase 1 of the planned works in early 2024. The project has been the subject of much public discussion over recent years.

Officials from the HSE recently visited the facility on the Crossmolina Road and Minister Calleary was later informed of the development plans.

I have been informed that it is the HSEs intention to advance Phase 1 of the redevelopment of Ballina District Hospital to design stage in early 2024, he said.

The works involve the development of a new state-of-the-art 75-bed facility over three storeys. Currently, the hospital contains 62 beds and provides step-down facilities for patients discharged from Mayo University Hospital.

The project team will meet again later this month to finalise and approve the plan and more definite timelines are expected to become available after that meeting.

I wish to acknowledge the enormous contribution of the Director of Nursing Fidelma Gallagher and her staff in providing first-class care at the existing facility," said Minister Calleary. "I want to assure them and the public that the redevelopment project is a priority as we move into 2024."
The Irish Georgian Society has made a representation to Sligo County Council over the continued dilapidation and decline of an iconic Easkey house.

The move comes after Ballina-based architect David Hicks highlighted the precarious condition of Templeview House.

The imposing 19th-century property, located outside the seaside village of Easkey, has become a local landmark but there are fears that the crumbling house could soon be beyond saving.

Mr Hicks, the author of Irish Country House  A Chronicle of Change, has been documenting the rapid decline of the building since 2018.

Everyone who has driven up and down that road will be familiar with the house. It would be top of many peoples lists of a house to buy if they ever won the Lotto, said David.

Templeview House has an intriguing Mexican backstory. The construction of the house in the 1800s by Easkey native Peter Hale was funded by money made in the banking industry in Mexico. From a well-connected family, Hale had lived in Mexico for 20 years and also had considerable assets in New Orleans and Louisiana in the United States.

When built in 1855, the demesne around Templeview extended to 54 acres which was surrounded by a high wall, Templeview has passed through generations of the family and was put on the market in 2004 when it went unsold. It was again put up for sale in 2010 with a guide price of 350,000.

David now fears for the future of Templeview House.

By the winter of 2023, a large section of the roof had collapsed and the hugely ornate decorative barge boards are no more, said Mr Hicks. Usually with these types of houses when the roof goes, the support of the wall goes and they begin to collapse, he added.

He has urged Sligo County Council to intervene but his pleas have so far fallen on deaf ears.

Even if they tried to at least engage with the owner it would be something, said David.

The architect is heartened by the interest the Irish Georgian Society has shown in the plight of the building.

Sligo County Council seems to have a very complacent attitude to this house in particular. I would hope that a national organisation such as the Irish Georgian Society, who have a huge national profile, by making contact with Sligo County Council might actually galvanise them into doing something about the house.

He has urged the local authority to at the very least collect and record the unique features of the house that could be utilised if the house is ever sold and restored. David said if structural supports are put in place now it could prevent the house from falling to the ground.

If simple things could be put in place like supporting the gables and the chimneys. Put supports in place that will mean the house wont just fall down because that is the next phase. Once the roof goes the house will collapse, David warned.
A West of Ireland woman, who dreamed of becoming an astronaut as a child, has spoken about her burgeoning career and her work on her first piece of equipment that is being launched into space.

Niamh McDermott, aged 25, from the Athleague area of Co Roscommon, graduated in 2020 from NUI Galway with an Honours Degree in Physics and Astrophysics. Now a systems engineer with Realtra, she develops hardware and spent several months last year working on a camera that is being sent into space before the end of March.

Realtra is an Irish company dedicated to the design, development and manufacture of cost-effective space electronic systems using cutting-edge technologies. Ballina native Dr Norah Patten, an aeronautical engineer and Irish astronaut candidate, is the companys Space Systems Engineering Business Development Manager and she has praised Niamhs work.

When interviewed by the Western People, Niamh said she is grateful to her colleagues for their support.

"When I was a child I would have said astronaut was my dream job but when I did the courses in secondary school and I then got into college I found more of a passion for telescopes and optics, Niamh said. I started working on telescopes through NUI Galway and I did the ELT (Enterprise Leadership for Transformation) in South America as part of my final year.

After graduating Niamh got a job in Oxford, England with the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) as an optical engineer. She is now back in Ireland and thoroughly enjoys her job with Realtra.

[Most people] want to work for ESA (European Space Agency) or NASA, but those kind of areas are very competitive because they take in academics and industry people alike, she said. But the smaller space industry where I am is much less competitive, especially if you have projects behind you."

Niamh mainly works with cameras in Realtra and is involved from start to finish on elements such as design, testing, documentation.

"Because we are a small company everyone is all hands on deck all of the time so it does not matter what your role is because everyone needs you to do whatever has to be done at the time, she added.

Niamh said it is enjoyable and she is getting great experience.

I get to do things I never would have done anywhere else, I just sent off a camera to a customer in September and it is supposed to be launched in the first quarter of 2024, she added.

Niamh said the customer was a private purchaser as opposed to a large space sector firm and they worked with another Irish company Ubotica Technologies who specialise in software-based technology.

"We worked with them as well to create this camera and they managed to get a spot on the SpaceX flight to go up with it, she added.

Elon Musk's SpaceX, formally known as Space Exploration Technologies Corp, is a California-based company that dominates the market for commercial space launch services with its Falcon rockets.

Niamh spoke about the elements of the camera that needed to be developed and said Ubotica wants to use it to monitor Earth observation and cloud detection.

At Realtra, we take the software and hardware and build the enclosure (metalwork) which protects the camera from the environment the rocket flies through and the shock when the bearings separate," she said. "We are focused on making sure our camera never leaves the rocket but instead monitors the satellite as it goes on its journey to space."

Niamh said it is very rewarding but there are challenges such as so many documents, so many parts and things to order. She believes all her hard work will be worth it when her camera goes up to space in the coming months. She is also very excited about her future role.

People need technology, they need electronics and software to survive and we rely on it so much in our day-to-day lives, she said. So it definitely creates more chances to have products in space and new projects.

Realtra Space Systems Engineering was recently awarded a milestone contract of nearly 1 million by the prestigious French launch provider ArianeGroup to develop a state-of-the-art Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) telemetry system.
Ann Cresham is 77 years young and has a vibrancy that would put some people decades younger to shame. She is an integral part of Castlebar Tidy Towns and Castlebar Tourist Office and has no intention of slowing down.

Ann is a Westport native who moved to Castlebar to work in the lab at the then Mayo General Hospital, where she remained for over 40 years. But its her love of improving the community for those who live in it that makes her stand out. She is passionate about how organisations like Tidy Towns can not only provide a cleaner environment, but also a place for people from all ethnicities and backgrounds to integrate and learn from each other. Along with her fellow Tidy Towns members, she is helping to create a space for people to go and participate in something that is benefitting the local community on many levels.

We meet at the Linenhall Arts Centre and Ann chats animatedly about her love of all things community.

Angelina: Ann, thanks for talking to me. Tell me a little about your background.

Ann: I'm a Covey, which for those who don't know, means I'm from Westport! I grew up in Westport, went to the Sacred Heart Secondary School, then I went to Kevin Street College of Technology and did Medical and Laboratory Sciences. I came back to Castlebar, thinking I was staying for a month. Yet 50 years later, I'm still here.

It was karma. The day I came went to work in Mayo University Hospital, there were two people working in the lab, and one of them was going off on long-term sick leave. The guy almost handed me the white coat and said, 'Are you ready to go?' That was how I came to stay in Castlebar. Then, of course, I met my husband, and that was that.

I grew up in Westport as I said. My father died when we were very young. My mother opened a shop and we worked very long hours, but loved it. I loved meeting people. I suppose I was always social and I liked talking to people. I had a problem with hearing. It was in the family, but I was the only one in this generation that got it. I had several operations on my ears, but nothing worked.

Angelina: How long did you work in the lab at Mayo University Hospital?

Ann: Forty years. I loved it. We evolved with it. It was a time of technology developing, so we developed with the technology. We were self-taught to a certain extent, but we loved it. I love the technology. And I evolved with the systems, and I loved the people I was working with. In fact, there were four of us, we worked together for 22 years. Nobody came, nobody left. We were so close and we went through marriages, deaths, births, everything. When my husband died suddenly at 41, they were all there for me then. They were like family. Over the years, I've found out that I have very good friends. My son also died earlier this year and I have wonderful friends that have supported me in tough times.

Angelina: How did you get involved in the Castlebar Tidy Towns organisation?

Ann: I decided one day, 'Oh, I don't do anything with the community, I think I'll join the Tidy Towns.' A

At that time, Ger Deere was the only man standing in the Tidy Towns. Gradually we made our way back and we started to win medals and we started off with bronze, then silver and we're on our fifth gold now, and we've had a lot of people come and go over the years. It's that type of organisation. We have people who stay in the area for a few years.

The ethos of the Tidy Towns has changed from picking up litter to biodiversity, community and engagement, and sustainability. We evolved that way and people came in and they were good experts in various areas. This was their passion, which was great. Then last year, the International Protection Agency people started coming in. One lady contacted us to say that she had been in Tidy Towns in Wicklow. We said, 'Fine, come into us and bring your friends'. So she did - about 30 of them!

They are so enthusiastic. They're like a breath of fresh air. They've done so much for the town, and we're getting so much from it because I've become friendly with a large number of them now as well. They just want to integrate and it's giving them such a huge opportunity to do that. I think we have 13 or 14 different nationalities involved with us now, and it's so interesting. Sometimes they tell you stories, sometimes they don't. But that's okay because how they get here is not always the easiest story.

Angelina: Ann, you said to me before we started, you love meeting people - this is a huge part of your life.

Ann: Yes, I do. I love to talk to people, and I love trying to help people. My philosophy would be to try not to do any harm and do some good if you can - and if you can do somebody a favour, then do it.

Angelina: Ann, you were also involved in the Castlebar International Four-Day Walks as well?

Ann: I was, I loved that too. I was lucky enough to travel a good bit to a lot of European walks. I'm an International Master Walker, because I was in Japan, and that's entitled to me to the International title, and then I got all the European walks in. That was quite an experience to travel to different countries.

Angelina: And you volunteer in the Castlebar Tourist Office?

Ann: I've worked for the tourist office for about 12 years. I love it and I love talking to the tourists and I love promoting our county. I think Castlebar has so much potential and it's central for so many other locations around the county. Tourists can drop into us and chat to us about what they'd like to see. You can chat with them and see where they'd like to go and take out the map of Mayo and have a look and suggest locations to them.

Angelina: Ann, where does your passion for staying involved in community projects come from and what keeps you going?

Ann: I suppose it's like most people, it was just something to do initially, and then I got passionate about the Tidy Towns. Then when we started to win competitions and we started to win medals, that was an extra incentive too. Then we got more people involved and there's more enthusiasm and people come along with ideas and push it on again. Then I suppose social media happened and we could post stuff on social media and people can see what we are doing.

Anybody is welcome. If you come for an hour or you might come for a year, that's okay, that's fine. You're not signing a contract. You're talking to people and you're chatting with them, you're pulling weeds and you're saying, 'Well, where are you from? What do you do?' I suppose some people come too because they're lonely and it's something to do for an hour on a Saturday. The way it helps people keeps you going.

Angelina: Will you continue with your volunteering?

Ann: I'm 77 now, so I'm hoping I'll be back at the tourist office next year. It's not very heavy work, but it's important work. It's lovely. I'm very interested in the history of the town and the history of Mayo. We had one very memorable trip to refurbish Louis Brennan's grave in London, a man with great Castlebar connections. It was a really great trip. You learn so much from people that are not in a textbook. At the age of 75, I became a tour guide. That was a great course, the class was great. Everybody was from different backgrounds and all different places, and they were great to talk to. We learned so much from the course and from each other. And that's what I love doing!
A judge decided to accept a motion Thursday from Jon Hallford's attorney, lowering the former funeral home owner's bond from $2 million to $100,000.

The move, despite a request against emotional outbursts from 4th Judicial District Judge William Moller prior to the ruling, elicited immediate gasps from the packed courtroom. Some family members gathered out in the hall were visibly upset and crying.

Hallford is facing over 100 felony charges stemming from the discovery of 190 improperly stored bodies at a building in Penrose connected to the Return to Nature Funeral Home that he ran with his wife, Carie Hallford. In November, probable cause for 190 preliminary counts of abuse of a corpse, 61 counts of forgery and four counts of theft and money laundering were listed.

The lowered bond will likely allow Hallford to be released from custody. The court set bond conditions including GPS monitoring, sober monitoring and the surrender of Hallford's passport. He will also be required to check in with pretrial services three times a week. Hallford is also prohibited from contacting family members of alleged victims.

The judge took into account Hallford's lack of criminal record when making his ruling, despite Chief Deputy District Attorney Rachael Powell's argument that Hallford presented a flight risk after being apprehended in Oklahoma. Powell also shared text messages from unreleased court records seeming to show Hallford's knowledge of wrongdoing and intent to evade custody.

Powell quoted several messages allegedly sent by Hallford, including one text to Carie Hallford from August 2023 that stated If Penrose were to be exposed, we both lose everything anyway.

Another text sent by Jon Hallford in May 2020 and read to the court:

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I dont give a F about this family. Ill give a F- about whats happening in Penrose and not going to prison and getting the F- out of this community. My one and only focus is keeping us out of jail.

The judge said that without the context of the text messages he would not factor them into his ruling.

Dozens of family members of victims attended Thursday's hearing in the courtroom and in an overflow room.

"I am floored by the ruling today," said Abby Swoveland, who was at the hearing representing her mother, a victim. "The trauma to our families, our communities, our first responders, law enforcement - the impact is immeasurable. And yet he will be walking among us. The revictimization continues."

Thursday's hearing precedes Hallford's preliminary hearing and the formal reading of charges. During the hearing the court also considered a motion to release a probable cause affidavit to the public, but deferred the decision until Jan. 11 when Carie Hallford is scheduled to be in court.

Jon Hallford's next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 8.
READING, Pa.  Snow removal crews were gearing up Thursday as the first snowstorm of the year approaches.

Officials with a landscaping company say they've been prepping for snowy conditions since August  that's actually August 2022.

Like most of us, they are continuing to check the radar to track this weekend's storm.

"Right now, we are preparing," said Brad Stephenson, owner and vice president of New Castle Lawn and Landscape. "We're getting our trucks ready, making sure all our routes are set for the storm."

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the upcoming storm, landscaping crews all around Berks County are preparing to dash in the snow, including New Castle Lawn and Landscape.

Stephenson said one thing is for sure: They will be salting.

"Which is exciting for us because it's been a little while since we had snow," said Stephenson.

He said as soon as mowing season ends, the snow equipment comes out.

"Salting, plowing. It's mostly commercial; we do a little bit of residential snow removal," explained Stephenson.

Stephenson said crews are getting their equipment, such as skid loaders and larger loaders, to properties before the snow comes.

"So, it's a lot of staging," he said. "And a lot of just making sure mechanically that all our vehicles and everything are working properly as well."

And if things take a turn for the worst, there's a plan for that, too.

"We have a service truck and some mechanics that are available, if anything breaks down, anything, any issues," said Stephenson.

The company plows business parking lots like restaurants and homeowners association communities.

Stephenson said it's all about the timing of the storm to determine which areas, like restaurants, might need extra attention this weekend.

"We're always going to have salt with us in case we have to throw salt as we plow, just to make sure the businesses can stay open," said Stephenson.

Crews also want to remind people to be aware of any plows, machines or trucks that are backing up in parking lots. While you may hear a "beeping" sound, that doesn't mean a truck driver can actually see you.

It's a friendly reminder, officials said, to help keep people safe and businesses open this winter.
ALLENTOWN, Pa. - We're hearing from the family of two people who were killed in a shooting in Allentown last Friday night.

This comes after the suspect in that shooting turned himself in to police Thursday. He has been identified as 43-year-old Gabriel Cartagena. Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan said Cartagena broke into a house on the 100 block of Chestnut St. in Allentown last Friday and started shooting with a handgun at anyone inside.

"I don't know why he did it. The only thing I know is that he knocked on her door and she opened it and he shot her and kept shooting," said Carmen Rodriguez.

Rodriguez lost her daughter, 44-year-old Ada Ortiz, and her great-grandson, 1-year-old Sebastian Serrano, that night. After learning the suspect's identity, she's left wondering who he is and why he would target her family.

"It gave me a pain in my heart because I don't know why he did something like that. He didn't know my daughter, my daughter wasn't a problematic person and she didn't mess with anyone," said Rodriguez.

Holihan said the crime could have been worse, because Cartagena almost shot a 7-year-old boy in the house as well.

"As the suspect at that time pointed the gun at the 7-year-old child Leandro Ortiz stepped in front of the gun, at which point the assailant fired the gun," said Holihan.

Ada's husband Leandro Ortiz was shot, but he will survive. Cartagena is now facing charges of homicide, attempted homicide, and aggravated assault. As detectives continue to investigate, Rodriguez said she's trying to support her surviving family.

"I'm going to try to help my grandkids the best that I can," said Rodriguez.

The District Attorney's office told us the affidavit is going to remain sealed in the case for at least 60 days. After that, we expect to learn even more details about how and why authorities believe this crime was committed.
ALLENTOWN, Pa. - Authorities have issued an arrest warrant for a man in a shooting that left a woman and a one-year-old boy dead in Allentown last Friday.

Officials consider Gabriel Cartagena, 43, armed and dangerous, Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan announced in a news conference Thursday.

He faces several charges, including homicide, attempted homicide, and aggravated assault, Holihan said.

Anybody who sees him is asked to call 911, and to not approach him.

"I would say for a man who shot and killed a grandmother and child he's a danger to the public, if those allegations are correct," Holihan said.

44-year-old Ada Ortiz and 1-year-old Sebastian Serrano were killed at their home in the 100 block of Chestnut Street on Allentown's north side Friday night. Holihan said Cartagena broke into the home and shot Ortiz and Serrano.

Holihan said Cartagena then ran away from the scene.

According to the Lehigh County coroner, the baby was pronounced dead inside the home.

Holihan said police found a third victim, who had a gunshot wound to his upper left side chest, in the kitchen of the home.

The third victim told police the shooter was armed with a gun and took aim at a 7-year-old child. The third victim told police he was shot when he stepped between the shooter and the child, Holihan said.

A GoFundMe page is set up for the victims.

The DA did not specify the relationship between the man and his alleged victims.

In a news release Thursday night, the Allentown Police Department said enhanced patrols and resource allocation is taking place to ensure the safety of the community.

City police encourage anyone with further information to contact the Criminal Investigations Division at 610-437-7721 or to submit tips to its Tip411 site.

"This abhorrent crime strikes at the very core of our community and the Allentown Police Department remains committed to working ceaselessly with our partners in this case," city police said.

State Rep. Josh Siegel issued a statement Thursday afternoon on the latest developments:

I commend the swift and decisive action of Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan, the Allentown Police Department, and our state and federal law enforcement partners in quickly identifying a suspect in the tragic and senseless murder of two Allentonians. We owe them a debt of gratitude for once more ensuring that violence in our streets will neither be tolerated nor go without the harshest possible punishment and response.

This was a particularly heinous crime, and the suspect in question not only murdered a grandmother and child but attempted to murder a second child. The speed and determination of our law enforcement community sends a strong message to the those who would seek to deprive our community of safety and security, that Allentown and Lehigh County will not surrender its streets and communities to murderers and violence.

I further commend the Allentown Police Departments continued commitment to community engagement which has helped create trust within our neighborhoods and resulted in the public providing information instrumental in identifying the suspect. It demonstrates that when the community comes forward, there is both justice and accountability, and that public safety, requires public faith in our system of justice to remove violence from our streets.

We must take from this moment of grief, a renewed sense of urgency to eradicate gun violence in our community, one life lost is too many, one less child in our community is too much to bear and one more family made less whole is all our loss. We have more work to do together."
Findbusinesses4sale explored what the rise of vertical farming can mean for domestic food production, using Department of Agriculture data.

Could vertical farming change what local food means? US relies on other countries for much of its produce Not all crops are ideal for vertical farms

Originally published on findbusinesses4sale.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.
Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Brian D. Boatright announced Thursday that Erin Sokol has been appointed as chief judge in the 4th Judicial District, which includes El Paso and Teller counties.

Sokol will assume the role on Feb. 5, replacing Judge William Bain, who has served as a judge on the bench since 2010, and as chief judge since Aug. 2017, according to a press release sent out by the Colorado Judicial Department. He was preceded in the role by Judge Gilbert Martinez, who retired in 2017.

Bain chose to make the change so he could return to presiding over a full-time docket, the release states.

Chief Judge Bain has proved to be an exemplary administrative leader for a very busy system of courts and probation in the 4th Judicial District, Boatright said in the release. We are happy that the people of Colorado will continue to benefit from his skills as a judicial officer. At the same time, I am confident that Judge Sokol will continue the tradition of very able leadership in the district.

The Colorado Judicial Department says that Sokol will be the first female chief judge in the 4th Judicial District's history. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan and earned her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 1999. She had a private practice in Washington, D.C., and in Colorado Springs before being appointed to the bench in August 2017.

According to the Colorado Judicial Department, a chief judge serves as the administrative head of the district, "responsible for appointing the court executive, chief probation officer and clerk of court, assisting in personnel, financial, and case-management duties, and seeing that the business of the courts and probation is conducted efficiently and effectively."
The Teller County Sheriff's Office is investigating an explosion at a parcel mailbox south of Florissant, according to a news release.

Sheriff's Office officials said that shortly after 5:30 p.m. Thursday, law enforcement received reports of an explosion inside a parcel box at the intersection of County Road 11 and High Chateau Road near Wrights Reservoir.

Deputies said a unit of four oversized parcel mailboxes were destroyed.

The United States Postal Inspection Service has been made aware of the situation. It is not believed the explosion was a part of a parcel delivery, officials said.

According to Teller County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Renee Bunting, an incident like this has never occurred, to her knowledge, in the county.

Law enforcement officials were able to determine the explosive was not sent through the mail because the keys were still in the mailbox when it detonated.

"When a parcel is placed (in a mailbox), the keys are put (back) in the recipients box," Bunting said.

Whomever is responsible could be facing both federal and state charges, according to Bunting.

Four Mile Fire Protection District Chief Christ Hawkins said his department was not called to assist in the incident Thursday, and many of his staff learned of the explosion Friday morning.

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"My volunteers did not hear the explosion yesterday, and we weren't called to the scene," Hawkins said.

Due to the nature of the mailbox structure, Hawkins said the explosion wouldn't have been of fire concern  regardless of the season.

"The way these mailboxes are designed, there's 25-30 feet of gravel surrounding them. Even on the driest, hottest day in July, it wouldn't have been a fire threat. I wouldn't have been concerned."

Community resident Vicki McDaniel said the situation was disturbing.

"It (the explosion) is not ordinary and it's very unsettling, obviously," McDaniel told The Gazette.

According to the United States Postal Service, tampering or vandalizing a mailbox is a federal crime, as mailboxes are considered federal property. Additionally, crimes against mailboxes are always investigated by a postal inspector.

"Mail cannot be delivered to a damaged mailbox, and mailboxes cost money to replace. Plus, the mail inside will be destroyed and that could be important documents, necessary medicine, or priceless family treasures," the U.S. Postal Inspection Service states.

Those who are convicted of destruction of a mailbox, federal property, could face up to three years in jail and be fined up to $250,000, U.S. Postal Service officials said.

Officials are asking the public to be aware and report any suspicious mailbox activity to the Sheriff's Office.


Mohamed Alsalami, from the Republic of Yemen, has been living in China for more than 20 years. In 2001, after sensing the huge development potential of Yiwu, in East China's Zhejiang Province, Mohamed established an international trade company in the city. Now, he is not only a successful businessman, but also a cultural ambassador on the new Silk Road. He has spared no effort in promoting friendly exchanges between China and Arab countries.

Mohamed with his family



Bond with Yiwu

Mohamed was born in 1973 in Sanaa, capital of Yemen. During his childhood, many items commonly used by his family were closely related to China. For example, they called ceramic cups "Chinese bowl" in Arabic. The sewing machine in his aunt's house was made in China.

Outside of the home, he would pass by a construction site on his way to school, and many of the contracting companies on that site were Chinese enterprises. He and his classmates often said "hello," in Chinese, to the Chinese construction workers. At that time, Mohamed was full of curiosity and longing for China, the distant and ancient oriental country.

In 1990, he participated in several rounds of the selection process, and he was eventually selected by Yemen's Ministry of Education to study in China. After he studied the Chinese language for a year, at Beijing Language and Culture University, in Beijing, he was enrolled in the civil engineering department of Tongji University, in Shanghai.

In 1995, after he graduated from Tongji University, Mohamed returned to Yemen and began working for a construction enterprise in Sanaa.

As time passed, Mohamed began to worry that his Chinese-language skills were fading, because he had few chances to speak and write Chinese, either during his work or daily interactions. He did not want to lose his Chinese, which he had studied so hard to master.

Mohamed (fourth from the left) with his colleagues



One day, in 2000, he was contacted by a friend, whom he had met while he was a student in Shanghai. His friend, also from Yemen, ran an international trade company in Shenzhen, in South China's Guangdong Province. He told Mohamed China was developing fast, and "opportunities are everywhere in China today." He invited Mohamed to join his company, and help him expand the business.

Without hesitation, Mohamed returned to China, and he began working at his friend's company. Mohamed often visited Yiwu on business.

Sensing the huge development potential of Yiwu, Mohamed decided to strike out on his own. He started his own business, in Yiwu, after having spent less than a year in Shenzhen.

In 2001, Mohamed established his own international trade company in Yiwu. Given the concerted efforts of Mohamed and his employees, his company has been performing well, and it has been growing alongside the booming Yiwu market.

Yiwu is known as the "world's capital of small commodities," as it connects Chinese and foreign businesspeople, who deal in more than 2.1 million commodities, with buyers from more than 230 countries or regions. By the end of March this year, the number of foreign-funded companies in Yiwu reached 4,996.

During the past 20-plus years, Mohamed has witnessed the rapid development of foreign trade by Yiwu-based firms, and he has become a "spokesman" for local investment.

"I often tell people Yiwu is the paradise of entrepreneurs and investors. People are willing to do business with you, even with the language barrier. When I first visited Yiwu, in 2000, Yiwu was still a small town. The development of Yiwu has really been rapid, and I have witnessed it all. The great changes of Yiwu cannot be separated from the diligence and efforts of Yiwu's people. China's development is tangible, and is made up of many successful stories like Yiwu's," Mohamed says.

Mohamed enjoys a vacation with his family



Big Plan

Fluent in Arabic and Chinese, Mohamed is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Arab countries. He says he wants to convey China's history, culture and development experience to the Arab world, so more Arabs can understand China, and grow to like China.

Mohamed has a short-video account on WeChat, a popular Chinese messaging and socialmedia app. He shares short videos on various topics involving traditional Chinese culture  including tea culture, Chinese idioms, calligraphy and philosophy  in both Chinese and Arabic.

To mark this year's Dragon Boat Festival, which fell on June 22, he posted a short video, in which he explained the origin of the festival, in Arabic, and shared poems of ancient poet Qu Yuan (340-278 BC) to help foreigners learn about traditional Chinese festival.

Now, Mohamed is writing a book about China's industrialization and its reform and opening up. He spends about two or three hours a day reading books about China. While interspersing his own thoughts and opinions, he hopes to record the stories of China's development from the perspective of an Arab. He plans to have the book published in Arabic.

Mohamed (right) and his children



Caring Father

In the film, B for Busy, which hit the big screen in China at the end of 2021, there was a foreign character, Alexander, whose parents were doing business in Yiwu.

The actor who played Alexander was Mohamed's eldest son, Hamzah Alsalami. The character was based in part on Hamzah's real life experience, as his father owns a company in Yiwu.

Many film-goers were impressed by Hamzah's excellent acting. As the film was set in Shanghai, Hamzah was sometimes required to speak the Shanghai dialect.

It was the second time Hamzah had acted in a film. When he was 14, he played a role in Jackie Chan's film, Dragon Blade, which hit the big screen in February 2015.

Hamzah was enrolled in Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, to study international finance, in 2019. However, his personal goal is to become a professional actor.

Since he performed the role of Alexander, Hamzah has won many opportunities to act in commercials, stage plays and online dramas. "People should do what they really want to do when they are still young. Even if you may not succeed, you must have a try," he says.

Hamzah has an account on China's famous short-video app, Douyin, known as TikTok outside of China, to share his life and work experiences in Yiwu and Shanghai. His short videos had received more than 120,000 likes by the end of July. Hamzah also likes to shoot videos with his father.

"I hope he can focus on his acting career, and bring more good works to audiences," Mohamed says.

Mohamed has two sons and a daughter, all of whom enjoy living in Yiwu, and who consider Yiwu to be their hometown in China. "If my children would like to start their own businesses in China, I will do my utmost to support them," Mohamed says.

Photos Supplied by Mohamed Alsalami

(Source: Yiwu Foreign Affairs Office and Yiwu Federation of Literary and Art Circles / Women of China English Monthly August 2023 issue)
Weather Alert

...Elevated Fire Danger Today and Tuesday... ...Hard Freeze Expected Tonight... The combination of very dry air and northwest winds gusting up to 20 mph will create an elevated risk of uncontrolled fire spread this afternoon. Relative humidity values will fall to 20 to 35%, with the lowest humidity levels over the Ozark Foothills of southeast Missouri. A more substantial fire danger is expected Tuesday, as southwest winds increase significantly, with gusts of 25 to 40 mph forecast Tuesday afternoon. Relative humidity values Tuesday afternoon will fall to 25 to 35%. If you are planning outdoor burning today and Tuesday, use extra caution and have fire suppression equipment ready. Tonight, very cold and dry surface high pressure will allow temperatures to drop into the middle and upper 20s throughout the region. Although the growing season has not officially started, tender vegetation could be impacted by these cold temperatures. Please take necessary actions to protect any tender vegetation tonight.
The German government (a coalition of the Social Democratic Party/SPD, the neoliberal Free Democratic Party and the Greens), headed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), is stepping up its attacks on the working class to finance its war budget for 2024. This is the significance of the governments latest proposal to withdraw citizens allowance from welfare recipients who are alleged not to have fulfilled all the requirements of Germanys labour laws.

Labour Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) [Photo by Dirk Vorderstrae / CC BY-SA 2.0

The measure pushed by Labour Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) serves two primary objectives: firstly, the countrys already rampant low-wage sector is to be further expanded. The sanctions will force the unemployed to accept the worst type of jobs for a pittance, which in turn will lower wages even further. At the same time, the billions allocated for rearmament and war in the new year is to be financed at the expense of workers.

In November, the countrys Federal Constitutional Court declared the governments planned climate fund to be unlawful. Since then, the Scholz government has faced a huge deficit of 60 billion in its 2024 federal budget. In order to raise a part of this sum, 170 million, Labour Minister Heil announced the following step shortly after Christmas: Welfare recipients who repeatedly fail to fully cooperate with the requirements of employment centres will be threatened with the complete withdrawal of their citizens allowance, i.e., all social benefits except rent and heating, for a period of up to two months. Anyone who does not fully cooperate and refuses all offers must expect harsher consequences, Heil told the Bild tabloid.

The move underlines the aggressiveness of the German ruling class. Many FDP, opposition Union (CDU/CSU) and SPD politicians are delighted with Heils proposal, with several of them using the spurious phrase: Solidarity is not a one-way street.

The new measure is reminiscent of the demand and promote rhetoric with which the former SPD-Green government led by Gerhard Schroder and Joschka Fischer pushed through the repressive Hartz IV reforms between 2002 and 2005, forcing millions into low-wage labour and condemning them to abject poverty. Heils initiative emphasises that it was never the aim of the current government to alleviate the hardship resulting from the Hartz laws. From the outset, the Citizens Income reform was Hartz IV under a new name and now serves as a lever to intensify exploitation even further, pushing redistribution from the bottom to the top to new extremes.

The announced sanctions will inevitably affect people with special needs, declared one leading welfare organisation, for example those who cannot read and write well, or people with mental illnesses or addiction problems. Ulrich Schneider, spokesman for another welfare organisationthe Paritatische Wohlfahrtsverbandtold Welt-News that such a 100 percent withdrawal of basic income support is not only illegal according to the German constitution. It would also affect people who may have missed appointments or those completely overwhelmed and afraid to leave their homes to go to the authorities.

Already, entire neighbourhoods in socially deprived areas are sinking into poverty. In addition to poverty among the elderly, child poverty is also on the rise, officially standing at over 22 percent. Low-paid work is rampant and 4.5 million people have at least two jobs to make ends meet. Homelessness is also on the rise: more than 600,000 people in Germany are currently without a home. Many more do not have a warm home. According to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), last year 5.5 million people lived in flats they were unable to heat adequately for financial reasons. This figure has doubled in just one year.

People collecting bottles to redeem the deposit are a common sight in Germany. [Photo by Sascha Kohlmann / CC BY-SA 2.0

Politicians like Heil live in a completely different world. As ministers, they receive more than 20,000 a month, including bonuses, i.e., around five times as much as the average salary (which many employees do not receive). Added to this sum are the annual increases for all MPs, an entitlement to a pension after only four years as a minister and, for some, supervisory board bonuses on top. The phrase Solidarity is not a one-way street certainly does not apply to the top politicians themselves.

Nor does it apply to the super-rich and billionaires whose interests are represented by government politicians. In reality, their assets and incomes are even greater than is generally recognised.

This was recently pointed out by journalists Julia Jirmann and Christoph Trautvetter from the nongovernmental organisation Netzwerk Steuergerechtigkeit (Tax Justice Network). Sponsored by the trade union-affiliated Hans Bockler Foundation, the pair have spent years compiling their own report: Billionaire fortunes in Germany. Gaps in wealth recording and taxationproposal for an alternative wealth report.

The two authors describe the knowledge gap on billion-euro assets in Germany as huge. They write: We have already found 11 previously unidentified billionaire fortunes, including the richest German family. And we estimate previously unaccounted wealth at 500 billionenough to buy up all the property in Berlin.

According to the report, there are more than 200 billionaires in Germany, and together their assets total at least 1,400 billion, possibly significantly more. This huge total private wealth of 1.4 trillion corresponds to a third to a half of Germanys annual gross domestic product (GDP) and massively exceeds the current budget gap of 60 billion.

In total, only around 4,300 households are involved in the assets of the 200 billionaires, or around 0.01 percent of all households in Germany. The same government politicians who are prepared to let thousands of welfare recipients starve have no objection to a wafer-thin upper layer of 0.01 percent owning assets worth 1.4 trillion, or 1,400,000,000,000.

The authors from the Tax Justice Network rebuff claims that todays billionaires are also the captains of large companies. They are rarely entrepreneurs. One in five billionaire dynasties have already sold their companies, and of the remaining billionaire concerns, only around half are still actively managed by the family. In other words, while they endlessly enrich themselves as wealth owners and shareholders at the expense of society, these billionaires contribute nothing of worth to the real economy.

The obscene orgy of enrichment is the result of an aggressive class-war policy from above. Over the past 30 years, every successive government has cut taxes for the rich. Under Helmut Kohl (CDU), wealth tax was abolished. A top tax rate that was as high as 95 percent immediately after World War II, and remained at 56 percent at the end of the 1980s, was reduced to 42 percent during the reign of the SPD-Green government at the turn of the millennium. Federal Chancellor Schroder and Finance Minister Hans Eichel (both SPD) were responsible for this policy.

At the same time, the gap in social polarisation has widened. The social democratic Agenda 2010 and Hartz lawsthe relaxation of protection against dismissal, the liberalisation of temporary work, the introduction of precarious types of employmenthave caused the low-wage sector and the associated poverty in old age to explode.

Regarding the current situation, the authors of the aforementioned study write: Since 1996, the typical effective tax rate on billion-dollar assets has roughly halved. Few people realise this. By exploiting loopholes and tax tricks, the super-rich can even reduce the rates to 1 percent in some cases.

It should be seen as a warning when Heil and the government parties declare welfare recipients to be shirkers and social parasites in this exacerbated situation. The ruling class is aware that the growing social divide is generating anger and resistance. It senses the developing social explosion and is responding with increasingly right-wing policies, turning to war abroad and a police state at home. To this end, it is trying to divide the working population and prevent genuine solidarity. Just like the non-stop agitation against refugees, the agitation against welfare recipients serves the same purpose: workers who have to toil for low wages are now being incited against the unemployed.

Workers must fight this attack on social conditions by building the Socialist Equality Party as their new, revolutionary leadership, uniting the working class and arming it with a socialist programme against capitalism and war.
We are publishing here the tribute to Helen Halyard written by Liz Smith, a writer for the World Socialist Web Site and a member of the Trotskyist movement in the UK. Comrade Helen, a leader of the Socialist Equality Party (US) and the International Committee of the Fourth International for more than half a century, died suddenly on November 28 at the age of 73.

I was shocked when I heard the news of Helens untimely death. My thoughts go out to all her close family, friends and Comrades.

Helen was like no other. I always think of her as the big sister I never had.

Helen Halyard joins Australian comrades, (front left to right) Ken Mantell, Linda Tenenbaum and Sue Phillips, singing the Internationale during the last leg of her world tour as US Presidential candidate, October, 1992.

She was funny, caring and intensely interested in all aspects of the political struggles of the working class and young people internationally.

She inspired so many and as a Young Socialist member in Britain from the mid-1970s onwards during the period of Gary Tylers arrest, and the murder of Tom Henehan, I came to know Helen as she was always at the forefront of such political struggles.

Helen encapsulated everything that was principled, human and combative in the American working class and that came across in the many times I met her.

I worked with her in Britain in the late 1970s and met her at several schools following the International Committees split with the Workers Revolutionary Party.

Her political knowledge, drive, and patience to fight for and explain a Trotskyist programme and perspective to workers throughout the world was exemplified in her world tour in 1992 as presidential candidate.

We have lost a remarkable comrade far too soon but she will live on in the many lives she touched and inspired and the revolutionary movement of the working class that she dedicated her life to.

With fond memories,

Liz Smith
The New Zealand Herald, the countrys major newspaper, published two major articles on Wednesday by reporter David Fisher, under the headlines NZ Defence Force in crisisour ships cant sail, planes cant fly and soldiers have left in droves and NZDF needs a lot of cash and [new Defence Minister] Judith Collins could be the way to get it.

New Zealand Army troops in 2023. [Photo: New Zealand Army/Facebook]

These articles are part of an escalating media campaign to prepare public opinion to accept a major increase in military spending, as New Zealand is integrated more closely into US-led war preparations against China, the ongoing US-NATO war against Russia in Ukraine, and potentially new wars in the Middle East.

By actively supporting Israels genocide against the people of Gaza, US imperialism is showing that it is determined to maintain its dominant global position using the most ruthless and barbaric methods.

Minor imperialist powers such as New Zealand are scrambling to ensure that they can take part in, and profit from, the new redivision of the world. New Zealand is a US ally and sent troops to join the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The previous Labour Party-led government deployed forces to the UK to assist in training Ukrainian soldiers for the proxy war against Russia.

As a member of the US-led Five Eyes intelligence sharing network (which also includes Australia, Canada and the UK), New Zealand also plays a significant role in spying throughout the Indo-Pacific region, including against China.

The New Zealand Herald, however, is giving voice to growing concern in sections of the ruling class that the armed forces are not prepared to play a more substantial role in a major war. According to official documents cited by the newspaper, the NZDF faces a retention crisis having lost almost a third (31.25 percent) of its full time personnel in the 21 months to April 2023.

A sharp drop in technicians and maintenance staff means aircraft and navy vessels frequently cannot be operated safely, with four out of nine naval craft currently unable to leave port. It is the same across the three branches of service, Fisher says. In the Army, the significant loss of senior NCOslance corporals, corporals and sergeantshas removed a depth of experience critical in maintaining and developing a strong military.

Fisher also laments the lack of investment in new technology and weapons, such as drone-enabled explosives, which will be a necessity on the modern battlefield. He says there is a chasm of need which will need a lot of money to fill.

Fisher notes with concern that the recently formed coalition governmentled by the conservative National Party with the libertarian ACT and the right-wing nationalist New Zealand First playing major rolesdoes not mention defence spending in its list of priorities for its first 100 days.

Pointing out that New Zealands annual military spending of $5.3 billion equates to 1.3 percent of gross domestic productplacing the country 94th in the worldFisher says ACT has previously called for it to be increased to 2 percent.

The New Zealand Herald writer does not spell out exactly why such a vast expansion is needed, but says ominously that it is expected our military is going to be called on more often than in the past and into more dangerous situations. Without mentioning the US alliance, Fisher says: Our ability to project our military force in a particularly New Zealand way buys seats at many tables. It brings returns in the form of better economic and foreign relations.

Fisher also warns that an inability to deploy forces into the Pacific region to assist in climate-related disasters would create a void that might be exploited by China. Climate change and natural disasters are frequently used, including by the Green Party, to justify increased military spending.

In reality, as Andrew Little, defence minister in the previous Labour Party-led government, openly declared last August, the ruling class wants the military to be ready because New Zealand may be called on to play a role should conflict break out between the US and China.

The new government is already involved in the war planning. In his first overseas trip since taking office, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon visited Australia in December to discuss stronger military cooperation in the Pacific region. He raised the potential for New Zealand to participate in the anti-China AUKUS (Australia-UK-US) pact, which will supply Australia with nuclear-powered attack submarines and strengthen interoperability with US and allied forces.

Strategic analysts and media pundits in the US and elsewhere are discussing war with China as an inevitability and warning of the need, as one Foreign Affairs article puts it, to sustain popular support for the war effort, along with a willingness to sacrifice. If the New Zealand media is less forthright, that is bound up with the countrys economic dependence on exports to China, NZs largest export market, as well as concerns about widespread anti-war sentiment in the working class.

Attrition in the armed forces reflects not only low wagesthe NZDF has offered large retention bonuses in a desperate attempt to stop staff from leavingbut broad hostility to militarism.

Since the October 14 election, tens of thousands of people in New Zealand have joined global protests demanding an end to the genocide in Gaza. Protesters have denounced Labour and National governments for supporting the Netanyahu regime, as well as New Zealands alliance with the United States.

Plans to boost military spending will fuel further opposition, particularly as the government is imposing austerity and demanding thousands of job cuts in public services. New frigates, air force planes and more powerful weapons, along with a vast increase in personnel, will have to be paid for with even deeper cuts to healthcare, education and other vital services.

To carry out a sustained struggle against this agenda, the anti-war movement must be fused with the emerging movement of the working class against the attacks on wages, living standards and public services.

War cannot be stopped by appealing to imperialist governments and parties, such as Labour and its allies in New Zealand, any more than the Democrats in the US. The fight against war requires a break with all capitalist organisations, including a rebellion against the trade unions in every country, which are enabling the production and shipment of weapons for the genocide in Gaza.

Above all, there can be no serious talk of stopping a Third World War outside of the fight to abolish the source of warthe capitalist system and the brutal struggle by rival nations over resources and territoryand to reorganise the world along socialist lines.
This is the third of a four-part statement. Part one was published January 3, part two was published on January 4 and part four was published on January 6.

The resurgence of the extreme right and the global breakdown of democracy

1. Just as genocide is being openly adopted as an instrument of policy in the imperialist-backed Israeli assault on Gaza, and mass death has been normalized in the ruling class response to the pandemic, fascistic and authoritarian movements are again part of the mainstream political landscape throughout the world. In the absence of any genuinely anti-capitalist response by the middle-class and pseudo-left organizations to the intensifying economic crisis and deteriorating living standards, the political gains are being accrued by the extreme right.

2. In the initial days of the new year, commentaries proliferated in the bourgeois media on the perilous position of democratic forms of rule in 2024: A Make-or-Break Year for Democracy Worldwide, (Time magazine); 2024 Brings Wave of Elections with Global Democracy on the Ballot (Washington Post); 2024 Could Be a Very Rough Year for Democracy (New Yorker); Why 2024 Could Be the Biggest Year for Democracy Yet (Economist); and Can Democracy Survive in 2024? (Financial Times).

3. The comments note that in 2024, there will be between 70 and 80 separate elections worldwide, involving an estimated 4.2 billion people, or more than half of the global population. This includes the presidential election in the United States, along with elections in India, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Indonesia, Bangladesh, South Africa and dozens of other countries.

4. Amidst these elections, the framework of bourgeois democratic institutions is breaking down. In society after society, illiberal values and politicians who embrace them are gaining ground, writes the Post. Numerous elected governments seem bent on undermining core tenets of the democratic project, from the freedom of the press to the independence of institutions such as the judiciary to the ability of opposition parties to fairly compete against the ruling establishment. The Financial Times writes, The Global State of Democracy Initiative by Swedens International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance found that 2023 marked the sixth consecutive year in which democracy declined in half of all countries, the longest retreat since their records began in 1975.

5. Nowhere in the capitalist media, however, is there any historically informed analysis of the political processes underlying this crisis of democracy, let alone an examination of the fundamental social factors behind the drive toward dictatorship and authoritarianism.

6. The strengthening of the far-right is a universal phenomenon. Elections in the US this year will be held only three years after the January 6, 2021 fascistic coup. Trump, the leading contender for nomination by the Republican Party, is currently ahead in polls in any contest with Biden. In the EU elections in June, current polls project that the far-right Identity and Democracy Group, which includes Marine Le Pens Rassemblement National in France and the fascistic Alternative for Germany (AfD), will win enough seats to make it the third or fourth largest party in the EU parliament.

Javier Milei, president-elect of Argentina, speaks at his campaign headquarters after polling stations closed during primary elections in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, August 13, 2023. [AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko]

7. Last year saw the election of fascistic TV personality Javier Milei in Argentina in November, and the elevation of Geert Wilders anti-Muslim Party for Freedom (PVV) in the Netherlands, which became the strongest force in Dutch politics following elections in December. The prime minister of Italy is Giorgia Meloni, elected in 2022, whose political pedigree goes back directly to Mussolini. In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his fascistic Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are expected to win a third term following victories in state elections in December.

8. Politically, the rise of fascistic parties and individuals is far less a mass movement from below than the result of a universal shift to the right of the ruling class. Whatever their labelSocial Democratic, Democratic, Labor, or Conservativethe policies of the establishment parties are essentially the same: Massive cuts in social spending and increases in military spending, along with support for the US-NATO war against Russia in Ukraine and the Israeli genocide in Gaza.

9. At the same time, the established capitalist parties are increasingly adopting the program and policies of the fascists. The year concluded with the representatives of the EU member states and the European Parliament adopting the Common European Asylum System (CEAS), which abolishes the right to asylum, extends Fortress Europe, and sanctions mass deportations and the detention of refugees in what amount to concentration camps.

10. This shift to the right includes parties of the nominal left: Syriza in Greece, which came to power in 2015 with promises to end IMF-backed austerity and proceeded to implement even deeper austerity measures than its predecessor; Corbynism in the UK, which worked to channel opposition behind the Labour Party, culminating in the rise of Keir Starmer and Corbyns own eviction from the party; the Left Party in Germany, whose right-wing policies have led to a collapse in support among workers and youth.

Oligarchy and social inequality

11. Underlying these political processes are more fundamental social processes. Explaining the crisis of bourgeois democracy in the period between World War I and World War II, Trotsky compared democracy to a system of safety switches and circuit breakers for the protection against currents overloaded by the national or social struggle Under the impact of class and international contradictions that are too highly charged, the safety switches of democracy either burn out or explode. That is what the short circuit of dictatorship represents.

12. The international contradictions short-circuiting the safety switches of democracy are the same contradictions that underlie the expanding global conflict and the normalization of genocide as an instrument of foreign policy. As Lenin explained, imperialism is reaction all down the line. Finance capital, in both its foreign and domestic policy, strives not for democracy but for dictatorship. The subordination of all of society to a policy of endless war entails not only the diversion of social resources to finance exploding military budgets, but ever more direct moves to suppress anti-war opposition at home.

13. The essential class contradictions undermining democratic forms of rule are manifest above all in the extreme growth of social inequality. Capitalist society has taken on the form of an oligarchy, in which all economic, social and political life is controlled by a tiny elite. To use another analogy, the extreme concentrations of wealth are metastasizing like an uncontrolled tumor, infecting every institution of the state, the courts and the media.

14. Globally, according to Oxfam, the richest 1 percent of the population now own almost half of the worlds wealth, while the poorest 50 percent own just 0.75 percent. Just 81 billionaires have more wealth than half of the global population.

15. The World Inequality Database (WID), developed by Thomas Piketty, Emmanuel Saez and Gabriel Zucman, calculates that the wealth owned by the richest 0.01 percent of the population (today, approximately 800,000 people) rose from 8 percent in 1995 to 12 percent today. The wealth gap between the top 0.01 percent and the bottom 50 percent is 50 percent higher today than what it was in 2008. Income inequality is also rising. The richest 10 percent of the worlds population takes in more than half (52 percent) of all global income, while the bottom half takes in just 8.5 percent.

16. The WIDs World Inequality Report 2022, the latest update available, found:

Global multimillionaires have captured a disproportionate share of global wealth growth over the past several decades: the top 1% took 38% of all additional wealth accumulated since the mid-1990s, whereas the bottom 50% captured just 2% of it. This inequality stems from serious inequality in growth rates between the top and the bottom segments of the wealth distribution. The wealth of the richest individuals on earth has grown at 6 to 9% per year since 1995, whereas average wealth has grown at 3.2% per year. Since 1995, the share of global wealth possessed by billionaires has risen from 1% to over 3%. This increase was exacerbated during the COVID pandemic. In fact, 2020 marked the steepest increase in global billionaires share of wealth on record.

17. The United States is home to the highest concentration of billionaires in the world, whose collective wealth, according to Americans for Tax Fairness, rose to $5.2 trillion in November 2023, the highest amount ever recorded. As of the third quarter of 2023, the top 10 percent of the US population owned two-thirds of total wealth, while the bottom half owned only 2.6 percent.

18. Accumulation of wealth at one pole, Marx noted, is at the same time accumulation of misery, agony of toil, slavery, ignorance, brutality, mental degradation, at the opposite pole. Some 700 million people, or nearly 9 percent of the global population, including 333 million children, live in what the United Nations defines as extreme poverty, subsisting on less than $2.15 a day.

19. The accumulation of personal wealth, while immensely significant in its own right, is secondary to and connected with the immense concentration of economic power in a small number of mega conglomerates owned by the capitalist ruling elites.

Jamie Dimon at the JPMorgan Healthcare Investment Conference. [Photo by Steve Jurvetson / CC BY 2.0

20. The scale of resources controlled by the giant banks and financial institutions is enormous. In 2023, JPMorgan Chase (CEO Jamie Dimon) became the largest bank in the world after acquiring First Republic, with $3.7 trillion in assets (more than the GDP of the United Kingdom). Gigantic private equity firms like Vanguard (assets under management, $7.7 trillion) and BlackRock ($9.4 trillion) control through their holdings large swaths of the economy. By itself, Vanguard is the largest shareholder of 330 companies in the S&P 500, while BlackRock is the number one investor in another 38.

21. The sharp increase in the S&P 500 stock index in 2023 was driven by seven technology companies: Amazon, Apple, Alphabet (Google), Meta Platforms (Facebook and Instagram), Microsoft, Nvidia and Tesla. Their combined market capitalization rose by $5.2 trillion in just the past year, accounting for more than 60 percent of the $8.2 trillion increase in the S&P 500 as a whole. Just four investors in these stocksJeff Bezos (Amazon), Mark Zuckerberg (Meta), Elon Musk (Tesla) and private investment manager Vanguardmade $491 billion from their holdings. According to Forbes, half of the gains in US billionaire wealth last year came from rising technology stocks, with eight tech billionaires increasing their fortunes by at least $10 billion.

22. These companies and their owners exercise enormous power over the internet and social media, particularly after Musks acquisition of Twitter/X in 2022. They are closely connected to the state and use their control over communications to censor oppositional and antiwar views. The World Socialist Web Site is regularly demoted in search results for key terms, a process of censorship initially exposed in 2017 that has continued ever since.

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Louvre museum before a dinner in Paris, Friday, July 14, 2023. [AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard]

23. This social dynamic exists in all of the imperialist countries, along with lesser powers. Asias richest man is currently Mukesh Ambani of India (net worth $100 billion), one of the principal backers of Modi, whose wealth soared following BJP victories in state elections in December. Ambanis wealth derives from his control of Reliance Industries, Indias largest company by market capitalization, a conglomerate with major businesses in energy, retail, telecommunications and textiles. The richest person in Mexico is Carlos Slim (net worth $105 billion), who controls large sections of the Mexican economy through his conglomerate Grupo Carso and other investments.

24. These are the forces sucking the oxygen out of democracy all over the world. The idea that basic democratic rights can be preserved without addressing the underlying economic forces and interests at work is mere wishful thinking.

The crisis of American democracy and the 2024 elections

25. Nowhere are these processes more evident than in the United States, the cockpit of world imperialism and the global center of finance capital. The 2024 election campaign is unfolding beneath the shadow of the fascistic coup of January 6, 2021, during which Donald Trump sought to stop the congressional certification of his election defeat to Biden, abolish the Constitution and establish a personalist dictatorship.

Former President Donald Trump speaks during a commit to caucus rally, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023, in Waterloo, Iowa. [AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall]

26. In its statement published the day after the coup, the World Socialist Web Site wrote that it was a turning point in the history of the United States:

The hoary glorifications of the invincibility and timelessness of American democracy have been totally exposed and discredited as a hollow political myth. The popular phrase, It Cant Happen Here, taken from the title of Sinclair Lewis justly famous fictional account of the rise of American fascism, has been decisively overtaken by events. Not only can a fascist coup happen here. It has happened here, on the afternoon of January 6, 2021. Moreover, even if the initial effort has fallen short of its goal, it will happen again.

27. In the months leading up to the coup and in its aftermath, the WSWS documented the extensive conspiracy behind the fascistic insurrection, in which the storming of the Capitol, at Trumps urging, was only the final stage. The conspiracy involved not only the sitting president, but most of the Republican Party leadership along with significant sections of the military-police apparatus and judiciary.

28. No institution of the political establishment actively opposed the attempt to establish a dictatorship, which came very close to succeeding. The military and National Guard stood down while Trumps fascistic mob took over the Capitol building, seeking hostages. The Democratic Party said nothing as the coup was unfolding, with Biden himself waiting hours before finally issuing a pathetic appeal for Trump to go on national television and call it off.

29. The substantial information about the events of January 6 that has come out over the past three years has confirmed this appraisal of what transpired. The social and political conditions that produced the coup have only intensified in the intervening period.

Members of the fascistic Oath Keepers on the East Front of the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, in Washington. [AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta]

30. The 2024 elections take place under conditions of existential political crisis and the breakdown of all the institutions of the state apparatus. It is not clear that the election, assuming it is even held as scheduled, will produce an outcome that is accepted as legitimate by the losing party.

31. As 2023 drew to a close, the Supreme Court in Colorado and the secretary of state in Maine both ruled that Trump could not appear on the ballot because of his anti-constitutional actions on January 6, while officials in Republican-controlled states have threatened to remove Biden in retaliation. The state of Texas has taken actions that openly challenge the constitutional authority of the federal government to determine immigration policy. A similar challenge to the result of the November election is entirely possible, and not just in Texas.

32. The escalating sectional tendencies threaten to break apart the entire post-Civil War settlement which reestablished unified federal authority over the separate states. It is worth recalling that in 1860 Lincoln did not appear on the ballot in any of the southern states. The decision of seven southern states to secede and form the Confederate States of America, prior to Lincolns inauguration, set in motion the events that led to the outbreak of Civil War a few months later.

33. Of course, the conflict tearing apart the existing political structures is not between progressive and reactionary factions of the ruling class. The Democrats and Republicans are two reactionary factions of the corporate and financial oligarchy. However intense their tactical differences, they are entirely subordinate to their common reactionary agenda.

34. Biden is reported to have claimed that he will put Trumps threat to democracy at the center of his reelection campaign. This is akin to a brothel keeper proclaiming that he will build the reputation of his establishment by championing ethical business practices. It was Biden who declared, within days of the January 6 insurrection, that it was his goal to have a strong Republican Party. The Democratic Party has done everything it can to prevent any exposure of the political and social forces behind the coup. The various investigations and hearings meandered on and off, producing, in the end, nothing.

President Joe Biden is greeted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after arriving at Ben Gurion International Airport, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023, in Tel Aviv. [AP Photo/Evan Vucci]

35. Over the past three years, the central preoccupation of the Biden administration has been to escalate the war against Russia, followed by open support for the genocide in Gaza. As the year came to a close, top Biden administration officials reiterated their pledge to support the fascist anti-immigrant agenda of the Republicans in exchange for increased military funding for Ukraine.

36. The Democrats and the Republicans have joined forces in supporting the genocide in Gaza and in the ever more vicious campaign to brand opposition to Israel as antisemitic. The forced resignation of Harvard President Claudine Gay is part of a campaign of political intimidation and censorship on college campuses, including the banning of student groups opposed to the genocide.

Socialism vs. capitalism and oligarchy

37. To claim that democratic forms of rule can be defended outside of a frontal assault on the wealth of the ruling elite and its domination over the economy is the height of political and intellectual charlatanry.

38. The fact that the right wing is gathering strength has less to do with its intrinsic power than the complete bankruptcy of what passes for the left. Underlying the fecklessness of the various forms of pseudo-left politics  Bernie Sanders and the Democratic Socialists of America in the US; the Left Party in Germany; Podemos in Spain; Syriza in Greece; the Pink Tide movement and the backers of Lula in Latin America  is genuflection before the holy of holies: private property, corporate profits and personal wealth. Their occasional invocations of socialism consist entirely of hot air. The socialism they dream of is one that can be achieved without causing a fall in share values on Wall Street, that is, a socialism without the class struggle, without the expropriation of the ruling class, and without the transfer of power to the working class. The socialism of Jeremy Corbyn makes that of the old Fabians appear almost Bolshevik. That of Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez and the Democratic Socialists of America is well to the right of the bourgeois reformism during the period from Roosevelts New Deal to Johnsons Great Society.

39. The real social constituency for the pseudo-left is privileged sections of the upper-middle class. Their aim is not the radical restructuring of social and economic life, but rather the redistribution of wealth at the top. The endless promotion of various types of racial and gender politics is the form through which sections of the upper-middle class compete for positions of power and privilege within corporate boardrooms, academia, the media, the trade union apparatus and the state.

40. In the United States, the three years of the Biden administration have served to comprehensively expose the left pretensions of the Democratic Socialists of America. The leading members of the DSA in Congress, including Ocasio-Cortez, have voted to outlaw strike action by railroad workers and finance the US-NATO war against Russia in Ukraine. In the midst of the Israeli genocide in Gaza, Ocasio-Cortez announced that she would support funding for Israels Iron Dome.

41. All talk about defending democracy and fighting fascism while ignoring the fundamental question of class and economic power  and, therefore, recognizing the necessity for the mobilization of the working class on a global scale for the overthrow of capitalism  is cynical and politically impotent demagogy. The wealth of the billionaires must be expropriated and the gigantic corporations must be transformed, without compensation to the large shareholders, into publicly controlled utilities, run on the basis of social need, not private profit. The anti-democratic institutions and repressive organs of the capitalist state (the professional military, police and intelligence agencies) must be abolished and replaced by organizations of workers control and power, to establish a democratic and planned economy on a world scale.

42. The growing struggles of workers throughout the world is the objective basis for the development of a mass, international movement for socialism. The transformation of this objective movement into a conscious struggle for power requires the development in the working class of a mass international socialist movement based on Marxist theory and the program and principles fought for by the International Committee of the Fourth International.
Members of an Iraqi Shiite militant group carry the coffin of the funeral of an fighter who was killed in a U.S. airstrike Province, in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

The US carried out an illegal missile strike on Baghdad, Iraq, on Thursday in the latest escalation of the US-Israeli rampage throughout the Middle East.

Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder confirmed that the US killed its target, identified as Mushtaq Jawad Kazim al-Jawari. Iraqs Popular Mobilization Forces said that al-Jawari was the head of the Iranian-backed militia group Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba, and that the strike also killed an Iraqi official and wounded five people.

Iraqi officials condemned the attack, making it clear that the US has no mandate to carry out attacks inside Iraq. The strike is thus a violation of Iraqi sovereignty and an act of aggression in violation of international law.

The United States illegally invaded and occupied Iraq in 2003, and US proxy forces executed its president, Saddam Hussein, in 2006, following what Amnesty International called an unfair trial.

The United States maintains 2,500 troops inside Iraq, but the Iraqi government asserts that the United States does not have authorization to carry out military strikes inside the country.

Iraqs foreign ministry issued a strong condemnation of what it called a blatant attack on Iraqs military headquarters.

The attack on a security formation linked to the commander-in-chief of the armed forces and subject to the authority of the state is a dangerous escalation, read the statement, adding, we affirm that Iraq reserves its right to take a firm stance and all measures that deter anyone who tries to harm its territory and its security forces.

An Iraqi official called the strike a flagrant violation of the sovereignty and security of Iraq and no different from a terrorist act.

Ryder, the Pentagon spokesman, absurdly claimed that It is important to note that the strike was taken in self-defense.

The same day as Ryder admitted US responsibility for the attack in Iraq, the Islamic State Sunni terrorist group claimed responsibility for Wednesdays bombing that killed 84 people in Kerman, Iran, at a memorial for Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani, who was killed four years ago by a US drone strike in Iraq.

These attacks set the stage for US Secretary of State Antony Blinkens week-long trip to the Middle East, including a prominent visit to Israel.

A State Department spokesman said Thursday that this will be Blinkens fourth trip to the Middle East in the past three months. Blinken will visit Turkey, Greece, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the West Bank, and Egypt.

These moves come as Israeli officials are openly advocating the ethnic cleansing of Gaza through the expulsion of the Palestinian people.

On Tuesday, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir called for the Palestinian population to be expelled from Gaza, declaring in a Twitter post that the migration of hundreds of thousands from Gaza will allow the residents of the enclave to return home and live in security and protect [Israel Defense Forces] soldiers.

This followed a statement on Sunday by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, What needs to be done in the Gaza Strip is to encourage emigration. He added, If there are 100,000 or 200,000 Arabs in Gaza and not 2 million Arabs, the entire discussion on the day after will be totally different.

In an interview Monday on the British LBC talk show program, Israeli ambassador to the UK Tzipi Hotovely refused to deny that Israel was intent on destroying the whole of Gaza in an interview.

I really want to mention that Gaza has an underground tunnel city, and in order to get to this underground tunnel city, those areas must be destroyed, she said, adding, every school, every mosque, every second house, has access to the tunnels. And of course, ammunition.

LBC presenter Iain Dale asked, Thats an argument for destroying the whole of Gaza, every single building in it.

To this, Hotovely replied, So, do you have another solution?

US officials have attempted to distance themselves from the statements by Smotrich and Gvir, falsely claiming that their statements do not represent the official position of the Israeli government.

This assertion contradicts multiple public statements by Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said in a meeting of his parliamentary faction, Regarding voluntary immigration This is the direction we are going in.

In private, Netanyahu has been lobbying countries, including Egypt and the Democratic Republic of Congo, to accept the transfer of the population of Gaza onto their territory.

On Wednesday, the Times of Israel reported, The voluntary resettlement of Palestinians from Gaza is slowly becoming a key official policy of the government, with a senior official saying that Israel has held talks with several countries for their potential absorption.

At the White House daily briefing on Thursday, White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby was asked to respond to assertions by multiple UN officials that Israel was engaging in systematic war crimes.

He was asked by a reporter, Have you taken any action to this day to assess whether Israel is following the rules of war or not?

To this, Kirby replied, I am not aware of any kind of formal assessment being done by the United States government to analyze the compliance with international law by our partner Israel.

Having made this statement, Kirby declared, I would just tell you that we have not seen anything that would convince us that we need to take a different approach.

This declaration follows the admission by President Joe Biden on December 12 that Israel has carried out indiscriminate bombingby definition a violation of the laws of war, which require that efforts be taken to limit civilian casualties.

Kirbys statement constitutes an endorsement of all of Israels war crimes up to this point, including the systematic bombing of densely populated areas that has killed nearly 30,000 people, the mass displacement of 1.9 million people, the deliberate mass starvation of the population of Gaza, and the deliberate targeting of housing, schools, hospitals and religious buildings.

On Thursday, Tariq Habash, a political appointee at the Department of Education, issued an open letter announcing his resignation from the Biden administration, condemning it for enabling Israels war on the population of Gaza.

The letter declared, Over the last three months, our government has aided in the indiscriminate violence against Palestinians in Gazaover 22,000 civilians killed, thousands more buried under rubble, and the vast majority displaced from their homes.

It continued, Meanwhile, the President has publicly questioned the integrity of Palestinian death counts frequently used by our own State Department, the United Nations, and numerous humanitarian non-governmental organizations. Our representatives at the United Nations have repeatedly voted against the vast majority of the international community, including vetoing resolutions calling for a ceasefire. And administration leaders have even repeated unverified claims that systematically dehumanize Palestinians.

On Thursday, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees warned that disease is spreading throughout Gaza amid mass starvation, noting that there are more than 180,000 people in Gaza with upper respiratory infections, and over 136,000 cases of diarrhea have been reported, half of them in children under five.

On Thursday, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said that he was very disturbed by high-level Israeli officials statements on plans to transfer civilians from Gaza to third countries. He added, 85 percent of people in Gaza are already internally displaced. They have the right to return to their homes. International law prohibits forcible transfer of protected persons within or deportation from occupied territory.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer delivered a New Year speech Thursday to kick off the partys campaign for the 2024 election. It confirmed Labours intention to run as the continuity alternative to a Conservative government that is too discredited and reviled to carry on.

Starmer announced no new policies. Besides occasional rhetoric about working people, fairness and efforts being rewarded, it was an open pitch for stability, security and business as usual.

UK Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer making his New Year's speech in Bristol [Photo: screenshot of video: Sky News/YouTube]

A series of interviews and opinion pieces by leading shadow cabinet members have made clear Labours pro-austerity and pro-war agenda.

Starmer built on this propaganda offensive, denouncing the big state chequebook, grandiose utopian hope and populism and calling on the population to moderate your political wishes out of respect for the different wishes of others.

This demand for an end to social protest and fights for higher wages to offset the crushing cost-of-living crisis was packaged as the politics of national renewal, national unity and service, a word repeated thirteen times across the speech even when discounting Starmers regular references to his time heading the Crown Prosecution Service and working with the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

These provided the sole counterpoints to the Tory Partys politics of divide and decline and of cronyism. Unable to offer the working class anything, Labour is reduced to the thinnest not the Tories campaign imaginableone shorn of any actual policy differences with the Tories and relying exclusively on how hated they are for Labour to be elected.

Starmers speech was an appeal to all that is complacent in the middle class and all that is despondent in the working class. He promised a politics that treads a little lighter on all of our lives. Because thats the thing about any politics fuelled by division. It needs your full attention. It needs you constantly focusing on this weeks common enemy. And thats exhausting, isnt it?

The Labour leader has consistently pitched to the ruling class that he can offer better conditions for doing business at home and a better standing for British imperialism in international politics than a crisis-ridden Tory Party that has burned through five prime ministers since it was first elected in 2010, of which four have occupied the position since September 2022.

By service, Starmer means the service demanded of the working class by the capitalist class. By national renewal, he means a renewal of corporate profits and of the armed forces.

Labour has made clear the national unity it intends to create; one based on the principles it has firmly established in the years since Starmer came to office: no magic money tree public spending, an efficiency drive in the National Health Service, no support for strikes and above all no toleration of opposition to war.

He railed again against gesture politics and the party of protest Labour had become under his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn. As he has said on previous occasions, his is instead the party of government, the party of fiscal responsibility, the party of NATO and of strong borders.

Long prior to these interventions, Starmer put himself at the head of the left antisemitism witch hunt, expelling Corbyn from the parliamentary party and declaring that he would never again represent Labour, as punishment for even hinting at such accusations being politically motivated, while driving out tens of thousands of Labour Party members. The full purpose of this campaign has become clear with the Israeli genocide in Gaza, with hundreds of thousands of anti-war protestors slandered as antisemites and their democratic rights attacked.

On these and every other fundamental issue, Labour and Tory policy is indistinguishable and seen as such by large swathes of workers. Despite delivering major speeches on migration, supporting the offshoring of asylum claims, and the military, both were excluded from Thursdays speech because Starmer knows he and his party is so thoroughly hated, especially among young people, for their xenophobia and naked defence of war crimes.

Making a supposedly popular pitch meant drawing a veil over Labours declared agenda, knowing that this is already well understood in ruling circles.

Besides promising to run a less scandal-prone government, Starmers sole significant difference with the Tory Party is over his willingness to work with the trade unions. Where Johnson, Truss and Sunaks governments have taken the inflammatory position that social tensions mean the union bureaucracy must be taken on and defeated, Starmer argues that the bureaucracy provides a means of suppressing the class struggle far more effective than anti-strike legislationwhich only makes it more difficult for the unions to police their members.

The results of Britains strike wave are winning many in the ruling class to the Labour leaders point of view. From a militant movement encompassing millions of workers unseen on that scale since the 1980s, the trade unions have, through a systematic campaign of demobilisation and betrayal, reduced industrial action in Britain to a strike of a few tens of thousands of junior doctors and limited action on the London Underground. Pay has fallen well behind rising prices.

At the same time, the union bureaucracy has refused to mount any action against Britains support for NATOs de facto war against Russia in Ukraine and the Gaza genocide, even as the US and Britain threaten a regional war against Iran and its allies. The Trades Union Congress conference has instead passed resolutions pledging the union movement to support the development of the UK arms industry and NATOs war aims against Russia in Ukraine. It has issued platitudes opposing Israeli excesses in response to mass murder and ethnic cleansing while pathetically urging a return to negotiations on a two-state solution.

When Starmer promises to work with the trade unions, it is to achieve these results without Tory belligerence provoking a fresh eruption of widespread industrial action. The hope he offers, the frank hope, a hope that levels with you about the hard road ahead, is the hope of the ruling class for law, order and uninterrupted profit-making at home, and unrestrained imperialist violence and plunder abroad.

But it is a forlorn hope. Social and international relations have been brought to such an acute state of tension that the class struggle cannot be contained for long. When it inevitably re-erupts, a Labour government will respond just as savagely as the Conservative, deploying the state to repress strikes and protests.

The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) fights to lead these struggles to victories for the working class and to the establishment of a socialist society, with the trillion-pound assets of the major corporations and the super-rich placed under democratic control to meet the needs of a society in free fall.

When a general election is called, the SEP will under no circumstances call for a vote for Labour and will stand its own candidates against the twin Tory and Labour parties.

This goes for all Labour candidates, including the dwindling number of tame lefts who profess socialist politics and urge their warmongering party to back a ceasefire in Gaza while rejecting any struggle against its leaders.

We reject the argument put forward by Counterfire and the Stop the War Coalition that pressure can be placed on Labour by backing a supposedly left-wing faction of this utterly reactionary party of war and austerity.

We also reject the arguments of organisations like the Socialist Party, which insist that the task for workers is to convince leaders of the trade union bureaucracy, left Labour MPs and the exiled Jeremy Corbyn to form a new socialist party. These forces have proven time and again their hostility to the struggles of the working class and their commitment to the pro-capitalist politics of the Labour Party.

More fundamentally, Corbyns five years as party leader proved that in a fully globalised economywith multinationals scouring the globe for profits and countries at the mercy of the marketsthe political project of national reformism is dead and cannot be revived. The trajectory of the Labour Party is not a case of bad leaders, bad though they all are. Every social democratic organisation around the world has seen the same lurch to the right.

The challenge confronting the working class, amid plummeting living standards and the eruption of war, is to build a genuinely revolutionary socialist party as the only organisation capable of fighting for its interests in the 21st century. That party is the Socialist Equality Party and its sister organisations around the world united in the International Committee of the Fourth International.
The New York Times has joined in celebrating the ouster of Harvard University President Claudine Gay, who was forced out as part of a coordinated McCarthyite campaign based on fabricated plagiarism charges and ludicrous accusations that she supported genocide of the Jews.

Bret Stephens, a Times opinion columnist and NBC News contributor wrote on Tuesday, The point may now be moot, but the important question for Harvard was never whether Gay should step down. It was why she was brought on in the first place, after one of the shortest presidential searches in Harvards recent history. This line was echoed by other Times columnists, such as A.O. Scott and David Leonhardt.

Harvard President Claudine Gay. [AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein]

Even while acknowledging the central role of far-right figures like Christopher F. Rufo, an adviser to the fascistic Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, the Times waited until January 4 to finally post one op-ed essay, by Tressie McMillan Cottom, opposing the campaign to oust Gay. More typically, a piece published Thursday that sought to portray her resignation as part of the whipsawing argument over merit, rights and race that seems to have no end, also denounced her clumsy handling of the campus conflict over the Hamas attacks in Israel on Oct. 7 and the war in Gaza.

In December, John McWhorter, a Columbia Professor and Times opinion writer, joined the chorus of far-right hacks and figures calling for her resignation. Even while acknowledging that allegations against Gay did not rise to the level of plagiarism, he said, Harvards president, Claudine Gay, should resign. Framing the campaign to oust her in racialist terms, he wrote, if Harvard declines to dismiss her out of fear of being accused of racism  a reasonable although hardly watertight surmise  Dr. Gay should do the right thing on her own. For Harvard, her own dignity and our national commitment to assessing Black people (and all people) according to the content of their character, she should step down.

On the surface, the Times has done an about-face on Gay. When Gay was named as president in 2022, the Times celebrated her as an historic first, the universitys first Black leader, and the second woman. It cited glowing reviews from several individuals on Harvards presidential search committee, such as billionaire and US Special Representative for Ukraines Economic Recovery Penny Pritzker, who proclaimed, Claudine is a remarkable leader who is profoundly devoted to sustaining and enhancing Harvards academic excellence.

But from a more fundamental political standpoint, the New York Times complicity in the far-right take-down of Gay is consistent with its record in justifying and spearheading attacks on democratic rights, preferably under the banner of racial and identity politics.

The Times produced the 1619 Project, a racialist falsification of the history of the American democratic revolutions. The Times was also the main purveyor of the #MeToo witch-hunt, whose fundamental aim was to undermine basic democratic rights, such as the presumption of innocence.

At Harvard University, this campaign involved the attacks on John Comaroff, who was placed on unpaid administrative leave and barred from teaching required courses through the coming academic year. These disciplinary actions, taken while Gay was the dean of Faculty of Arts and Sciences, were based on phony claims that Comaroff violated the schools sexual harassment and professional conduct policies. The Times and more openly right-wing outlets such as the New York Post signed onto the McCarthyite campaign against him.

Now, the very same newspaper denounces Gay for not being sufficiently aggressive in the prosecution of another McCarthyite campaign, this time against opponents of genocide in Gaza.

The witch-hunt which the Times has signed onto is led by far-right figures such as Rufo. However, the Democratic Party has played a central role in it from the beginning. The December 13 congressional resolution calling for the resignation of Gay and the president of MIT, Sally Kornbluth, was supported by 84 Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Moreover, had Gay, who, as president of Harvard University occupies not just a central ideological but also political position, received support from the White House or prominent Democrats, she would have likely refrained from resigning in the first place.

It is not a coincidence that the Democratic Party and Biden administration are working hand in glove with the fascist Republicans in this campaign. The Biden administration is supplying the weapons, logistics and political support that are indispensable for Israels genocide in Gaza.

The public emboldening of the far-right and openly fascist forces is the mechanism through which the ruling class as a whole seeks to do away with academic freedom and freedom of speech on the campuses.

From the standpoint of this broader goal, the take-down of the president and restructuring of the leadership of Harvard University is of strategic significance. Harvard is among the most prestigious universities in the world. Its board includes many of the most important figures of the US state and financial elite, and its alumni staff the key economic and political institutions of the ruling class. The removal of Gay can therefore only be understood as the opening shot in a much broader and fundamental overhaul of higher education, which is to be placed entirely at the service of US imperialist and state interests.

At Harvard, the complete restructuring of Harvard Corporation, the universitys governing board, is next. Rufo already announced provocatively that he would be happy to join the board.

An anonymous Harvard employee said that a senior Harvard leader told colleagues Wednesday, I heard someone say at the Overseers meeting last night that there is blood in the water.

The employee also reported:

It seems that one of the first tasks of the interim president [Provost Adam Garber] is standardizing rules about protests, which vary across units. I wouldnt be surprised if it results in a further crackdown, with more of a police character as seen at Brown and other universities. The mention was vague. Gay and her family have received a torrent of death threats and racist abuse over the last several weeks, and Harvard has had to prioritize her safety. Experiencing it second-hand is clearly having an effect on staff, even the [senior colleague] with 40+ years in academia. They also dont see the threats to her or Harvard as being likely to decrease in the near term. The announcement of the resignation was supposed to have been today, but was preempted by the media. Deans found out from the media instead of the university.

The ouster of the president of Harvard University through a concerted effort by the state, both bourgeois parties and their media appendages, marks a turning point in the assault on democratic rights. The goal is nothing less than the ruthless suppression of any expression of left-wing, anti-war opposition to genocide, fascism and war. This shift is taking place on an international scale. In Germany, even the carrying of a Palestinian flag at a protest has now been outlawed. Speakers at the most prestigious universities, such as Humboldt University, are not allowed to even utter the word genocide in relation to Gaza.

Youth, students and academic employees must oppose the ouster of Gay as a dangerous escalation of the attack on democratic rights and demand her immediate reinstatement. But this fight requires a clear political and class orientation. Both the international character of the attack on democratic rights and the sinister role played by the Democratic Party underscore that the fight to defend democratic rights and against war cannot be waged through appeals to the ruling class in the US or any other country.

The only viable social and political basis for the fight to defend democratic rights and put an end to the genocide in Gaza, imperialist war and fascism, is the international working class. It is to this force that all young people and academic workers determined to wage a serious fight for these principles must turn.
This article is the second in a series devoted to the 2023 DOC NYC film festival, which was held on November 826. The first article is available here.

The Riot Report (2023), a film focused on the Kerner Commission, had its world premiere at the DOC NYC film festival. Directed by Michelle Ferrari, the movie is a serious attempt to examine the commission that President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed to investigate the causes of the race riots that had erupted in cities such as Los Angeles, Newark and Detroit in the 1960s.

Making use of archival footage and contemporary interviews, The Riot Report discusses the events leading to the commissions appointment; the members, work and findings of the commission; and the events that followed the publication of the commissions report. But despite its conscientiousness, the film fails to grasp the commissions true character or the roots of the social wretchedness it uncovered. This failure results from Ferraris implicit acceptance of race, and not capitalism, as the fundamental question at issue. In this way, the documentary mirrors the conclusions of the commission itself.

President Lyndon Baines Johnson with some members of the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders (Kerner Commission) in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Washington, D.C.

The Riot Report begins by discussing the uprising in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles in 1965 and the rebellions in Newark, New Jersey and Detroit in 1967. Police brutality provided the spark for these explosions of anger and frustration. Militarized police, sent to repress these rebellions, contributed to their escalation. News broadcasts of the resulting scenes of violence, some of which are presented in the film, sent shock waves across the country. A commentator observes that streets in American cities suddenly looked like war zones in distant lands.

While the disturbance in Detroit was ongoing, Johnson publicly announced the formation of the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders, which was later nicknamed the Kerner Commission after its chair, Illinois Governor Otto Kerner Jr. Johnson asked the commission to answer the following three questions: What happened? Why did it happen? What can be done to prevent it from happening again and again? He urged the commission to seek the truth.

The film introduces the members of the commission, including Kerner, a reform-minded Democrat; Mayor John Lindsay of New York, a liberal Republican (one of a species now extinct); and Senator Fred Harris of Oklahoma, the son of a sharecropper and a Democrat, still alive (born 1930) and interviewed extensively for the film. The commission also included representatives of industry, the trade unions and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

Though the members had ideological differences, they made a good faith effort to investigate the uprisings and develop, within the limits of official bourgeois politics, a humane social response. Viewers who do not remember these events may be surprised to learn that members of the commission visited the cities themselves and talked to people on the street, in barbershops and in their homes about their experiences.

Gov. Otto Kerner of Illinois, speaking outside White House, August 1967

But the film does not make the point that immediately strikes any politically conscious viewer: such a serious investigation into an urgent social crisis could never happen today. The federal governments responses to the George Floyd protests, the COVID-19 pandemic and President Donald Trumps attempted coup amply demonstrate this point. In addition, Kerner, Lindsay and Harris seem to resemble not just creatures from another era, but also another planet, compared with contemporary reactionaries and ignoramuses like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, and Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene. US imperialism in its decay and disintegration is no longer capable of offering reforms, and its human personnel reflect its inner rot and putrefaction.

Although the commission was divided on many questions, it nevertheless adopted its final report unanimously. It found that the riots occurred in response to inadequate opportunities for education, a lack of jobs, overcrowded neighborhoods, substandard housing and police harassment and violence. These intolerable conditions were the fruits of a society based on the private ownership of industry and the profit system. But as earnest and well-intentioned as many of the commissions members were, they did not draw this conclusion, of course, because they accepted and upheld capitalism.

Instead of identifying the profit system as the source of acute deprivation, the commission pointed to white racism. Racism was a significant and pressing issue, but it could not explain the persistent poverty and social inequality in America, which was not unique to the inner cities, nor could it then or now be solved through admonitions and moral appeals.

The social forces promoting racism and the class interests that it served had to first be understood. The Kerner Commission, however, evaded such questions for definite political reasons, thereby obscuring the objective economic process that created the conditions for the riots. The Riot Report takes the commissions statements on racism at face value, thus perpetuating the obfuscation.

Sen. Fred R. Harris of Oklahoma

Although it shielded US capitalism from blame for the riots, the commission nevertheless called for massive social expenditures to improve conditions of life. It proposed government spending to create a million new jobs, increased school funding, the building of six million affordable housing units, the expansion of welfare and the establishment of a guaranteed minimum income. These proposals again underscore the political gulf between that era and the present. When the report was published, it quickly became a bestseller.

But Johnson saw the report as a threat and an indictment of his administration. He had already overseen reforms such as Medicaid and declared a war on poverty, which he believed that the government could afford to wage simultaneously with the Vietnam war. But the imperialist war received far more funding than the war on poverty, as the documentary observes. And the ongoing decline of Americas industrial and financial hegemony meant that Johnson could not afford both guns and butter. Finally, he opted for guns. Johnson never thanked the Kerner Commission for its work nor accepted its report. The recommendations were conspicuously ignored.

Perhaps unintentionally, Ferraris The Riot Report reveals the negative consequences of the commissions focus on racism and its exoneration of capitalism. In a contemporary interview, a distraught Harris describes his fathers objection to the report. Harris father, a struggling farmer, asked why he should pay more in taxes to help black people when he was not receiving any assistance himself in exchange for his tax payments. The commission tacitly accepted the premise that the total quantity of jobs and resources in society was limited, and therefore enabled the issue to be framed as though ethnic or racial groups had to be pitted against one another in a fierce struggle for pieces of the pie.

The emphasis on race also was a political gift to Richard Nixon, who exploited the fears of sections of the white middle class and called for law and order during his 1968 presidential campaign. Nixon would also extol so-called black capitalism, which elevated a layer of African Americans into the corporate and financial oligarchy while leaving the system of exploitation and all its social miseries untouched. With Nixons victory, says Harris, the country began to move backward on race and every other issue. Nixon oversaw carpet bombing of North Vietnam and Cambodia, introduced wage controls and declared a war on drugs that started a decades-long increase in the incarceration rate.

The Riot Report includes much footage that not only provides firsthand information about the events it examines, but also brings immediacy to the latter. The questions of poverty, racism and rebellion hardly belong to the past. Conditions have worsened for great numbers of people, while a handful control the wealth of kings.

Ferrari has made a thoughtful and broad-ranging effort to understand the Kerner Commission and its time. Yet the film accepts the commissions perspective uncritically and thus obscures the fundamental cause of the riots. Nor can the film explain the rise of Nixon or the tide of reaction that followed. Finally, the films failure to compare the political environment of the late 1960s with todays is a missed opportunity to provide historical perspective and shed light on current conditions.

To be continued
About 26,000 power workers in Sri Lanka began a three-day sicknote campaign on January 3 to protest the privatisation of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB). They did so in defiance of government and management threats.

Ceylon Electricity Board workers protesting against privatisation in Colombo on January 4, 2024.

On Wednesday and Thursday an estimated 10,000 workers, including from the countrys north and east, demonstrated outside the CEB headquarters in Colombo. The government responded by mobilising the police and its armed riot squad. Hundreds of navy soldiers were also deployed with water cannons.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has issued an extraordinary gazette declaring electricity supply and fuel production as essential services. Under these orders, any employee who does not attend work and is convicted after summary trial before a Magistrate, can be imprisoned for two to five years, fined between 2,000 and 5,000 rupees ($US6 to $16), or both. Their movable and immoveable property can be seized by the state and their names removed from any register maintained for profession or vocation.

CEB acting general manager Narendra Silva issued a circular cancelling the leave of all workers from January 2 until further notice. Social media censorship has also been imposed on CEB employees, effective from December 19, banning workers from revealing the boards secret information, making defamatory, false or political statements or declarations that can provoke people and defame the institute.

Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera has instructed CEB management to take action against any worker who fails to follow all directives from the board administration.

The three-day sicknote action was called by the CEB Joint Trade Union Collective (JTUC). It includes the All Ceylon Electricity Employees Union (ACEEU), Samagi Employees Union (SEU), Sri Lanka Nidahas Electricity Employees Union (SLNEEU), Engineers Association, Electrical Superintendents Union, Clerks Association, and the Drivers Union. The ACEEU, SEU and SLNEEU are controlled by parliamentary opposition parties, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) and Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) respectively.

This weeks action by CEB workers is part of a developing working-class opposition to the Wickremesinghe governments International Monetary Fund (IMF)-dictated austerity measures and associated attacks on democratic rights. About a million public sector workers participated in a series of struggles in November and December demanding higher wages and protesting the IMF measures. These struggles are in line with mounting strikes and protests by workers internationally.

Sections of the ruling elite are fearful that the governments repressive actions against CEB workers will backfire and lead to the struggle spreading to other sections of the working class now facing the same IMF-dictated assaults.

The concerns were spelled out in an editorial in the Island on Thursday, which accused the Wickremesinghe government of failing to understand the lessons of the 2022 mass popular uprising that forced the resignation of Gotabhaya Rajapakse and brought down his government.

Let the government be urged to abandon its belligerent approach, get the representatives of the protesting CEB unions around the table and try to arrive at a negotiated settlement, the newspaper advised. In other words, make a deal with the unions to block the working class and ensure the privatisation plan proceeds. In fact, the CEB unions have already signalled their willingness to carry out such a betrayal.

Ceylon Electricity Board workers demonstrate outside the Colombo head office on January 4, 2024.

While the deep-seated opposition of CEB workers to privatisation has forced the trade unions to call strikes and protests, the unions are opposed to any mobilisation of their members in a genuine struggle against the Wickremesinghe government. Their aim is to restrict workers to limited protests, while smothering them in demagogic denunciations and promises about future struggles against the government.

JTUC convenor and ACEEU secretary Ranjan Jayalal told a media briefing on Wednesday that if the government did not immediately withdraw the privatisation bill, the unions would organise a big struggle.

Kanchana Wijesekera should immediately withdraw this [the privatisation act], Jayalal said. If he fails to so, we will come to the parliamentary circus on the day that the act is be presented to the parliament after this three-day action. We have decided to strike from 12 noon on the day before the act is adopted in the parliament.

Yesterday Jayalal told CEB workers outside the state-owned companys Colombo headquarters: We dont care about [government] circulars. If we have to die during our struggle, we are ready to happily accept death. We will end this struggle with a victory.

Desperate to contain workers opposition, Jayalal and other union leaders have repeatedly made similar empty threats. Like other government sector unions, the CEB union front has insisted that isolated protests will force the government to change course.

Jayalal also told the media on Tuesday that if the act was passed, unions would take legal action. While he admitted that he could not predict any future legal decision, the courts have already made clear that they will not block privatisations. Sri Lankas Appeal Court has rejected a petition filed by unions against the sacking of workers attached to the Cooperative Wholesale Corporation, insisting that it would not obstruct the governments economic reforms.

Sri Lankas public sector unions oppose a unified struggle of the working class against privatisation. On December 28, the leaders of about 40 unions from the power, telecom, postal, bank, insurance and other state-owned sectors met at the postal auditorium in Colombo.

The meeting, they fraudulently claimed, was to coordinate a unified fight. They told the media after the event that if the government did not end its privatisation policies, they would organise a large, united struggle. Contrary to these claims, the unions are doing their utmost to dampen down the willingness and determination of public sector workers to fight.

The privatisation of CEB is integral to the governments IMF-dictated policies and privatisation of hundreds of state-owned enterprises, including the Petroleum Corporation, Ports, Railway and Sri Lankan Airlines. These IMF demands, which must be met in return for its $US3 billion bailout loan to Sri Lanka, will result in the direct destruction of about half a million public sector workers jobs.

Under the current plan, which has been approved by cabinet, the CEB will be divided into 14 separate parts with power generation, transmission, distribution, trading, supply and procurement sold off to private entities. On January 3, Power and Energy Minister Wijesekera revealed in a note on X/Twitter that the plan had already been presented to the parliament.

The majority of Sri Lankas public sector unions, which are controlled by the opposition SJB, JVP and SLFP and the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, do not oppose the IMFs demands. If elected, the so-called parliamentary opposition would ruthlessly implement these austerity measures.

In order to fight the governments privatisation agenda and all of the IMFs brutal demands, workers have to take matters into their own hands.

This means building action committees, democratically controlled by workers and independent of the trade union bureaucracies and all the capitalist parties, at every workplace, factory, plantation and neighourhood.

What is required is a unified independent political and industrial struggle of the working class, rallying the rural poor, against the Sri Lankan capitalist elite. The aim must be to abolish capitalist rule and establish a government of workers and peasants, committed to socialist policies.
The World Socialist Web Site interviewed a New York City educator about the genocide in Gaza and its impact on educators and students in the New York City Public Schools. The educator asked to remain anonymous due to concerns over possible victimizations.

Educators who publicly speak out on the Gaza genocide face intense repercussions, including harassment, threats and job loss.

Right-wing media outlets have already slandered educators who have spoken out against the mass slaughter by Israel in Gaza and sought their dismissal. The right-wing gutter press, such as the Murdoch-owned New York Post regularly attend pro-Palestine demonstrations looking for individuals whom they can misquote or doxx. No doubt the photographs they take supplement the dossier of the New York Police Department, who have been out in force at protests against the Gaza genocide.

The schools chancellor, David Banks, a close associate of the citys right-wing Democratic Mayor, Eric Adams, as the educator notes below, issued a warning in November in an email to educators: When speech and actioneven on ones personal timeundermines the mission or core functions of NYCPS, we will review and take appropriate action on a case-by-case basis.

Educators have received little support from the organization that claims to represent their interests, the United Federation of Teachers (UFT), or its parent body, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). While some educators have been fairly represented in conflicts over their freedom of speech by their building representatives recently, the UFTs bureaucratic apparatus, headed by President Michael Mulgrew, has refused to call for a cease-fire or call the Zionist military incursions into Gaza what they are, a genocide.

On November 9, about 200 New School students in New York City, organized by the Students for Justice in Palestine, assembled in front of the student center on 5th Avenue. Counter-protesters attempted to disrupt the speeches given by students as police looked on

Randi Weingarten, president of the AFT, called for a cease-fire in Gaza in a highly qualified statement at years end, but she continues her central role as a state operative and supporter of the Biden administration. She had earlier opposed a cease-fire resolution put before the AFL-CIO executive council and flew to Israel to give political cover to Israeli leaders. (The interview below was conducted before Weingarten made her reversal on the cease-fire.)

Not only educators, but students as well, have been called antisemitic whenever they opppose the genocide in Gaza. Students who protested last month against support for Israel at Hillcrest High in Queens were vilified in the media and by right-wing City Council members. Students in West Orange, New Jersey, received death threats after they organized a walkout in November against the genocide.

The censorship of pro-Palestinian views among educators and student has become even more egregious with the McCarthyite campaign organized by Zionists, the far right and the state, which forced the resignation of Harvard University President Claudine Gay.

Nevertheless, the repressive atmosphere has not prevented New York City educators from protesting the crimes of the Netanyahu regime. One protest in November demanded that the UFT issue a resolution calling for a cease-fire. Another last month protested Randi Weingartens appearance at an awards ceremony.

We encourage other educators around the United States and internationally to contact the WSWS to register their opposition to the genocide. A powerful movement can and must be built that will orient educators and students toward the working classthe single social force that can stop the mass murder in Gaza and prevent the Biden administration from implementing its plans for world war.

World Socialist Web Site: Why do you think the United States has collaborated so closely with Israel in implementing this genocide?

Educator: The US and Zionist influencers have always had a close relationship since World War II. Its been a discreet but strong relationship, one that many would consider unethical, given the outright violations of the Geneva conventions and the illegal settlements on Palestinian land.

Many US citizens dont agree with such close ties with such an aggressive colonial power like Israel. Theres a false notion of democracy, but democracy has been eroded systematically. Our government is only able to present itself as a great example of democracy and transparency because of the corporate media propaganda that dominates every aspect of our lives. Theyd like us to believe that by voting, the people directly elect their leaders.

But more and more, its becoming clear that politicians can be bought and sold by corporations, campaign lobbyists, and private interests who financially benefit from politicians acting in their interests, including the interests of the Zionist lobby. The US has a geopolitical stake in maintaining Israel as a friend in the Middle East. There are gas fields there, and the erasure of Palestinian people, culture, heritage and institutions means complete dominance in trade routes and economic development for Israel and the US.

WSWS: What is the mood among educators in New York City that you know?

Educator: The mood is disgust and irritation. Since Israels bombing of Gaza started, teachers and students alike have been mortified. Many students ask questions about how the conflict started, what the fighting is all about, and what they can do to stop the bombings. They want to know the truth. Everywhere, students and everyday people started to recognize the Palestinian flag and saw it as a symbol of resistance from colonial occupation, repression of an indigenous people, and apartheid. Our schools chancellor, David Banks, weaponized his position and privilege to email all staff to threaten NYCPS staff rights to free speech outside our workplace.

This infuriated many NYC public school staff, as we felt we were being silenced, even if and when we chose to engage in expressions of concern or outrage after contractual hours, as private citizens. Since then, the mood has been one of utter rage that our boss would dare to tell us what we cant do on our own time.

WSWS: What has been educators reaction to the media witch-hunt against support for Palestine and the chancellors letter?

Educator: For some, David Banks threat served to force us into self-censorship. Many educators just do whats expected of them, that is, teach the curriculum that we are expected to teach. But for others, it drove many to create lesson plans explaining how the Palestine-Israel conflict got started, how Palestine got partitioned and why, who became oppressed, and who the oppressors were. Students, when given both sides of the story, are very quick to think critically and formulate their own opinions. As the carnage rages on, more and more teachers are teaching current events because (1) the students want to know, (2) whats happening today is unprecedented, and (3) civic engagement and political discourse have always been encouraged in NYCPS.

Israels genocide against the Palestinians will change the future of the world for generations to comeit has to be explained.

WSWS: There have been attempts by educators in New York to demand Randi Weingarten as well as the UFT leadership call for a cease-fire, which have fallen on deaf ears. Can you comment on this?

Educator: Randi Weingarten has been a longtime, blind supporter of Israel. Its unconscionable that after 85+ days of daily massacres of civilians, mostly children, she has not yet called for a cease-fire, which is the bare minimum.

As a leader of school districts nationwide, she is exposing herself as a hypocrite if she professes to care about millions of small children across America and yet watch 10,000 Palestinian childrens skulls and bodies get crushed under two-ton bombs, paid for with our taxpayer dollars. Shes in a privileged position to use her platform to lead teachers nationwide in a work stoppage until the Israeli government stops the carnagebut no. Shes been in bed with the Israel lobby for years, without apology. She should be investigated and deposed.

Protesters cross the Brooklyn Bridge during a Pro-Palestine demonstration demanding a cease-fire on Saturday, October 28, 2023, in New York. [AP Photo/ Andres Kudacki]

WSWS: While Biden is supplying billions to Israel, New York City schools will receive some of the deepest budget cuts ever. How will this impact you and your students?

Educator: Our school buildings are aging fast, many of the oldest buildings are over 100 years old, and are in need of repairs, upgrades, modernized HVAC systems, and even pipes that arent corroded and carrying drinking water. Many fountains emit brown water, our plumbing is old, and most buildings have bare minimum custodial staff.

In addition to building integrity issues that school facilities directors turn a blind eye to, we have hundreds of schools relying on parent donations, fundraising efforts, and other means in order to get our students basic necessities, like supplies for all their classes. Arts and humanities programs get cut, after school programs get cut, and theres just a paucity of resources. Its shameful.

Theres also a lot of waste, fraud and abuse, such as multimillion-dollar contracts with vendors who offer products and services, devices and equipment that dont last. Its so frustrating. It leaves many Title 1 schools especially scrounging around and making do with what little we have. The school budgets keep shrinking, despite the needs that keep growing.

Meanwhile, Mayor Adams prioritizes corporations and businesses over the basic needs of millions of working class students and families. There are corporate tax breaks, real estate subsidies and incentives to landlords and bourgeois investors who gentrify neighborhoods, but no money for education, housing or healthcare. Its deplorable that still, we have no single payer healthcarenot in New York state, not anywhere.

People are dying. People have died of COVID needlessly. Many lives could have been saved. We mourn our dead and have to fight for the living. Our citys children deserve better, this pro-police, pro-corporation, anti-people mayor has to step down. Hes done enough damagesome irreparable. We have to end mayoral control and give control of schools back to the communities who know our students best.

WSWS: Would you support strike action by workers against arms production and transport of weapons to Israel? Can an anti-genocide movement by educators contribute to this?

Educator: Its workers that hold all the labor power. If workers anywhere agreed to a work stoppage, even just for a day, it would cost the company bosses millions in profits. So yes, not enough workers realize that if they were to unite on the issues of morality that we are faced with, we could send a very strong message to the powers that be, that we are not just cogs in a wheel. We are the ones who hold the true powerlabor power. And a genocide could be stopped, just like that.

Its workers who steer the ships, planes, and trucks, workers who operate the machinery, workers who educate the next generation of workers. Class consciousness is something that develops when our working conditions make us see that the current system we live in benefits a minority class of billionaires, and hurts the majority classthe working class.
The following interview is with an Australian media studies teacher and former photojournalist who wants to remain anonymous because he fears being victimised by pro-Zionist elements at the tertiary institution where he works. He will be referred to as Vincent.

A man sits on the rubble as others wander among debris of buildings that were targeted by Israeli airstrikes in Jabaliya refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Abed Khaled)

Richard Phillips: Thanks for speaking with us today. Theres a lot to discuss. Can you begin by commenting on the current situation in Gaza?

Vincent: Like lots of rational, reasonable people around the world, Im appalled by what has been going on in Gazahour by hour, day by dayover the past three months. Whats happening in Gaza is ethnic cleansing and ticks all the boxes defining genocide.

Theres a groundswell of protests happening globally, which is gaining momentum, but Im outraged that the politicians, the statesmen, the captains of industry, the people who have the power to stop this violence are refusing to do so. Their endorsement of the horrendous violence being unleashed against the Palestinians is shocking and at times for me hard to even process. Its horrendous.

RP: Israels agenda, which is fully backed by the US government and its allies, is for destruction of Gaza and the removal of all its Palestinian residents.

Vincent: Thats right. The US is fully invested in this agenda, economically and geopolitically. Its supported by [Rishi] Sunak in the UK and others, with Australia, as usual, being the little lapdog. Its unconscionable.

The IDF [Israel Defense Forces] and the Zionists claim theyre going after Hamas to defend Israel but when you look at the Palestinian death toll and the massive destruction being unleashed this has nothing to do with defence. Tens of thousands of innocent men, women and children are being killed, far in excess of the number of Israelis Hamas is alleged to have killed on October 7.

Its disproportionate, grotesque and ultimately futile, because you cant kill an ideological movement with bombs and bullets. The IDF might win the military battle against Hamas, but it wont win this struggle and is sowing seeds for future conflicts.

RP: And this is just a glimpse of what Washingtons rules-based order looks like.

Vincent: It shows what the US is prepared to do to maintain its dominant position even if that means thousands of innocent Palestinians suffering the most horrific deaths or being maimed, and everything around them destroyed. The US is incredibly invested in selling arms to the Israelis and, as we all know, a lot of money is made in war, so theres a capitalist agenda as well.

RP: Journalists are being deliberately targeted by the IDF. The Committee to Protect Journalists estimates that at least 69 journalists, the majority Palestinians, have been killed in Gaza in the past three months. According to Al Jazeera, over 50 media premises or offices have been completely or partially destroyed by Israeli attacks in Gaza. Could you comment on this?

Vincent: All sorts of horrible things happen in war. Journalists get killed in crossfire, of course, but the death rate of journalists in Gaza now is alarming and probably the highest number killed in such a short time frame.

Relatives mourn Adel Zorob, a Palestinian freelance journalist who was killed with his family in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip outside a morgue in Rafah, Dec. 19, 2023. [AP Photo/Hatem Ali]

These are not crossfire deaths but orchestrated events and singular in their intent. Theyre aimed at stopping the real story of Gaza being told. This contravenes everything related to the so-called rules of war. The targeting of journalists, like doctors, nurses, and other medical workers, is a war crime.

The IDF has a long history of targeting and intimidating journalists. Ive spoken to journalists who have worked in the West Bank and have been threatened, arrested and roughed up by IDF soldiers. The soldiers knew everything about them. They knew their faces and had read all the stories they had written about their assignments in Israel and the West Bank.

RP: What do you think about mainstream media coverage of Gaza?

Vincent: Most of it is pro-Israel and pro-IDF and shockingly so. The coverage has little to do with providing honest and accurate information. It doesnt matter whether it is opinion journalism, tabloid journalism or quality journalism, theres no objectivity or balance, even from so-called internationally reliable publications. Its all about presenting Israel as the victim and its right to defend itself, even as the IDF is killing tens of thousands of Palestinians.

The Palestinian case is not being presented in an objective, clear and cogent way. Much of this is because of direct editorial interference and connected to capitalism and money. Media organisations are concerned about advertisers pulling their ads and losing profits. Australians love to say that they live in a democracy but if the media is being censored and journalists told what they can or cannot write or being blacklisted from reporting on Gaza because they signed an open letter supporting the Palestinians then its not a democracy. Freedom of speech is one of the basic pillars of a democratic society.

Palestinians flee to the southern Gaza Strip during the ongoing Israeli bombardment on Nov. 22, 2023. [AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano]

RP: And now artists, actors, writers and other creative workers are being threatened with dismissal or have their contracts torn up for speaking out against the horrors going on in Gaza.

Vincent: Yes, thats right. We seem to be rapidly approaching a society where youre no longer allowed to have a public opinion about any political event and express it artistically. Like journalists, artists inwardly reflect on and are influenced by the external world, including wars and catastrophes such as Gaza.

Art since the beginning of time has a long and rich history of political storytelling.

To declare that art must not be political means its transformation into visual wallpaper, into a meaningless decoration. Its absurd and reminds me of the McCarthy era witch hunting in the US or the thought police in 1984, George Orwells novel.

Mike Parrs blind painting performance at the Anna Schwartz Gallery in Australia on December 2, 2023. Schwartz unilaterally ended her three-decade collaboration with Parr because he dared to paint the words Israel, Nazis, and apartheid during the painting performance. [Photo by Zan Wimberley]

What does it say about the degenerated state of the civilised world when people are branded as antisemites or peddlers of hate speech for just voicing their empathy for the tens of thousands of innocent people being killed and maimed in Gaza. Not being able to enter into a conversation about societys searing and most fractured and destructive events like Gaza without fear of retribution is regressive and counterintuitive to conflict resolution.

If you subtract the basic human right to be able to express and debate things about society or your country or the world at large, then youre not living in a democracy but a fascist state. What about Goya and his Disasters of War or Picasso and his Guernica? Should their work be banned?

RP: Finally, what do you think of the analysis being provided by the World Socialist Web Site?

Vincent: Its very good. Its direct, thorough, fact checked and historically baseda reminder to the world of what real journalism looks like. Millions of people are shocked by what they see going on day after day in Gaza, but they need to understand the whole brutal history of the oppression and dispossession of Palestinian people under the Ottoman and British empires and then, after World War Two, the Israelis.
An article last month in the World Socialist Web Site, exposing how the US Post Office is increasingly functioning as a delivery service for Amazon in rural areas, has been widely read among US postal workers. Dozens of USPS workers around country wrote in response to describe the impact which the overwhelming Amazon workloads are having at their facilities.

We reproduce a selection of these letters below, edited for length and clarity. If you work for USPS and want to speak out about conditions at the Post Office, fill out the form below to contact the WSWS. All submissions will be kept anonymous.

A US Postal Service letter carrier delivers mail in Atlanta. [AP Photo/David Goldman]

A rural carrier from Colorado: The Rural Regular Carriers are working 12-hour shifts right now at our office. However, the [lower tier] RCAs are mandated to come in at 6 AM, and we have been getting off after Midnight. Some of us live about an hour away from the office. Working six days a week like this with less than four hours of sleep a night is crazy. Then we are getting yelled at by the Postmaster, that if we dont finish delivering everything, that we also must work on Sundays too, which means no days off at all. This is inhumane treatment.

Some of us started wearing diapers to work, since our Postmaster has pointed out that there are no bathroom breaks listed in the rural carriers labor contract. To use the bathroom we have to clock out for our 30-minute lunch break, since that is the only break time we are allowed per our contract. So we are working an 18-hour non-stop shift, and we are being forced to choose between eating and going to the bathroom.

One of the RCAs in our office slipped on an icy driveway on a snowy day. This fall caused her to break her right foot. When she called the office to report that she was in extreme pain and couldnt walk or drive, the Postmaster told her that she had to keep going to finish the route. She was forced to continue working for 4 more hours on her broken foot. When she got back to the office, she was crying from the excruciating pain and had been crying the whole time. Her foot was so swollen that she couldnt even get her shoe off. The Postmaster was extremely mean and rude to the RCA, because her injury meant that the Postmaster had to actually do some work and fill out paperwork. ...

The cruel, inhumane, lawbreaking treatment didnt stop there. This RCA is a single mom of two school-aged children and lives on the 3rd floor of an apartment building. The Postmaster told her that if they offer her work and she turns it down, then workers comp wouldnt pay her at all. The RCAs doctors note says sitting duties only, so the Postmaster has been forcing her to run errands all over the building, carrying tubs of mail, throwing packages, etc.  The Post Office is destroying this familys life and wrecking their Christmas, all while torturing this poor RCA by forcing her to do things that physically hurt her.

How is this legal? Why does the government get away with doing this to people? Look at how the government treats it own workers. How can we trust them to take care of the country when this is how they treat their citizens?

A letter carrier from Alabama: Amazon packages are a headache. We were going in at 7 am to start running packages, then we come back to start delivering mail plus packages. We are understaffed and were told 12 hours was mandatory this holiday season. I was doing over 12 hours a day, 7 days a week. Even on your one day off, you had to get up and go to work. Next year something needs to be done.

A postal worker from Fort Worth, Texas: In about 2013, or whenever USPS started delivering Amazon, there was a very bad weather day that was undeliverable. But managers told us to deliver Amazon no matter what, even if we had Priority packages as well. So anyone in postal management that says Amazon didnt take priority over everything else is not being honest.

All these hand-off parcels from FedEx and UPS are killing morale due to the overwhelming amount of parcels to deliver, especially during holidays. The heat in summer in Texas doesnt help, or the poor heaters in winter.

A rural carrier from Tennessee: There are multiple offices here that are completely overburdened. I was a rural carrier in [three locations] and all offices have RCAs (rural carrier assistants) working 6 days a week and 12 to 14 hours a day year round. Time off isnt approved. If you call out you are threatened and called lazy. Career rural carries at one location are forced to work 6 days a week year round.

A rural carrier from South Carolina: This story is absolutely true everywhere nationwide. The subs are quitting because they are being sent from their home offices to offices in cities they have never been in. That causes even more delays. New people are sometimes thrown out on a route with no training.

More than 60 percent of the routes are highly overburdened and not properly counted, causing workers to be underpaid. In addition, carriers are being made to deliver the heaviest packages. Its crazy. A route that is 60 hours long gets paid the max of 48 hours. The stipend for mileage doesnt even cover gas money, never mind vehicle maintenance. This used to be a great job.

A letter carrier from New Hampshire: I work for the post office in New Hampshire, and there are a number of post offices that cant keep new hires. This is because theyre overwhelmed with the amount of work and the hours theyre required to put in. Whats more is that as a rural carrier, you could work 13 to 14 hours, but if the route is rated for 9 and a half, you only get paid 9 and a half. The only exception to that has been the first of January, where they changed to a straight hourly rate because so many people were either getting sick or calling out or leaving.

A lot of people have retired, because were told every day we go in that Amazon packages are more important than the mail. My frustration is the people that have bought the stamps have paid for the service and Amazon should not take priority over that. On one route I worked on recently, the mail had not been delivered for 3 days, and the postmaster there is trying to get me to come back on my days off because he has multiple routes that have no mail carriers. That is common throughout the post office, and it all is because Amazon is crushing the job. We used to love being mail carriers, and now all we are all package people.

A rural carrier from Minnesota: At our office, unless you have a doctors note, we are working a minimum 60 hour work week, and we have been for going on five years. This is solely because of Amazon. We cant keep any new folks because they can be worked 84.5 hours a week, meaning they hardly ever make it through their probationary period before they quit. The management tells folks they arent prioritizing Amazon, which is a complete crock. It doesnt matter how many full routes of mail are left behind in our office as long as all the Amazon is delivered. Then to get the mail delivered, they just force everyone in on Sunday to deliver mail plus Amazon. I have to agree that Postmaster General Louis Dejoy is making us look as horrible as possible so he can privatize USPS and sell us to the highest bidderwhich would probably be Amazon. Thats my two cents.

A rural carrier from Iowa: I have been working six days a week for the past five to six months, and I do not see an end in sight. Like other carriers have said, they cant get anyone to work, and those that do quit within a few weeks or months because they are worked like animals.

Our pay is not even close to what UPS workers are getting, but we are also having to deliver their packages too. We are told to do more in less timeand oh, by the way, make sure youre safe, they add. But I have been delivering out of a vehicle whose wipers have not worked in months, and the turn signals have not been working for even longer. The list goes on.

We are not given bathroom breaks, as that would take time away from deliveries. And dont even get me started on the required 10-minute breaks that we are entitled to but cant take, lest we get asked why we were stationary for more then 45 seconds.

A rural carrier from Northern California: Ive never been treated with such disrespect as I have at the post office. Management has no problem destroying our bodies and our personal lives for their own gain. We do the job that matters, and they take all the credit. They work 8-hour days in the office, while we work 10 and 12 hours in the elements.

Want a vacation or time with your family? Too bad. The mail is more important. They break the rules, manipulate our paychecks and nothing happens to them. They make bad decisions constantly, and we suffer the consequences. Then, if we speak up, we get in trouble.

We are working wage slaves to management. We are nothing but numbers to them. Ive been there 6 years as an RCA and make the same as a new hire, while expected to do double the work. Im still not a regular [employee]. Once I do get promoted to regular, I cant buy back my time so these six years dont count towards service or retirement.

The system is rigged against the working class. We can do our job without them, but without us they wouldnt have a job.
On New Years Eve in Irvine, a city in Southern California, over 600 people participated in an afternoon protest against the Israeli genocide in Gaza. Protesters gathered at the busy intersection by the City Hall building and peacefully marched together.

A section of the rally in Irvine, California on December 31, 2023.

Sundays event was larger than the previous demonstration held two weeks ago and is part of an ongoing series of weekly protests since the Zionist terror began on October 7. On December 23, hundreds of people also held a protest at the Irvine Spectrum shopping mall.



As of this writing, over 22,000 Palestinian civilians, overwhelmingly women, children and the elderly, have been killed by the Israel Defense Forces with US-supplied bombs and artillery shells. Thousands more may die of starvation. In a recent interview with the New Yorker, Arif Husain, chief economist at the United Nations World Food Program, estimated that pretty much the entire population of Gaza, some 2.2 million people, is in a food-security crisis or a worse situation.

Like the mass demonstrations all over the world, Saturdays rally was very diverse. Young and old alike expressed their solidarity with the Palestinian diaspora, many of whom live in the US, while family members remain in Gaza or the occupied West Bank.



Hundreds of demonstrators expressed outrage at the Zionist barbarism and the Biden administration, chanting in both English and Arabic. There were many people holding up homemade signs, wearing kaffiyehs and waving Palestinian flags. There were no speakers at the march, but participants chanted for a ceasefire.

Chants included, Biden, Biden, you cant hide, we charge you with genocide Biden, Biden, youre a liar, we demand a ceasefire, Raise your hand, raise your fist, Palestine will exist, and Resistance is justified, when you are occupied. When a large red truck stopped at the intersection and the truck driver raised his fist and blared his horn, the crowd cheered.

Protesters demand a ceasefire in Gaza in Irvine, California, December 31, 2023.

Among the many handmade signs was Stop killing children! Another read, You dont need to be Muslim to stand up 4 Palestine. You just need to be human. One students sign showed a flying ginsu Hellfire missile saying, How is this humanitarian aid? Another read, We cant breathe since 1948.

One woman in a wheelchair held a sign that read, I am here for you, Reem, & 1,000s of children being slaughtered in Gaza. Ceasefire now! This was in reference to Reem, a three-year-old Palestinian child, and her five-year-old brother Tarek, who were killed as they were sleeping in their home by an Israeli airstrike in the Al Nuseirat refugee camp in southern Gaza at the end of November.

The sign reads: I am here for you, Reem, & 1,000s of children being slaughtered in Gaza. Ceasefire now!

This reporter distributed leaflets explaining the call by Will Lehman, a socialist autoworker who ran for UAW president last year against Shawn Fain, for the building of rank-and-file committees. Lehman is calling on workers to support the Palestinian unions call for workers all over the world to refuse to engage in war production and to stop shipments of war materiel heading for Israel, at docks, train stations and airports .

At one war-production plant, Allison Transmission in Indiana, the Rank-and-File Committee of Allison Transmission Workers was recently formed to oppose UAW President Shawn Fains sellout and blocking of a strike. The plant produces tanks and other military vehicles vital to the US military support for Israel and Ukraine.

After hearing about Lehmans call for workers of the world to engage in a political general strike to stop the genocide, one elderly man, Mohammed, asked if he could help distribute the leaflets, and he returned to get more.

Rihab, a 73-year-old Palestinian woman, recounted her familys long history prior to and after the 1948 Nakba, including the expulsion of her father:

They prepared the house and everything in Jaffa. In 1948, they kicked him out, and he went out of Jaffa with nothing, just his keys.



He lived in Hebron, and he married my mom, very poor. He struggled to build his life again. Then we were two, me and my brother. [My father] worked with the United Nations to help refugees. And we lived nicely there in Hebron.

An anti-genocide protester plastered his car with photographs of a fraction of the thousands of Palestinian civilians murdered by the IDF since October 7, 2023.

Then in 1967 they kicked us out again from Hebron to Amman. And then we had nothing again; we lived again on the floor another time. And then I went to another school, to a different school, different people.

Then I had to go and work in Saudi ArabiaI was 18 years oldto help the family and my people. I worked as a teacher. I registered at the university and worked at the same time. After that, I met my husband, and I got married. I finished studying, and I have a good occupation.

I have seven kids, and every one is different, but they are very goodfour doctors and three engineersbecause we are Palestinians. We work very, very, very hard. And now I have hope that in Gaza they will stand again. They will never be under the ground.

But if they stop the war, they will be very, very excellent, because we are harder. We are hard-working. And Palestine will be free. Even if one child is still alive, Palestine will be free.

Rihabs granddaughter, Salma, is a student at Cal Poly Pomona. She held up the sign with a picture of a drone-fired missile, labeled, How is this humanitarian aid? She described how the Israel Defense Force soldiers constantly harass and beat Palestinian residents in their daily lives.

The students sign depicts a US-made RX-9 flying ginsu Hellfire missile with text that asks, How is this humanitarian aid?

My aunt is in Hebron. Normally it takes seven minutes to get from where our house is, my family's house, to her house. And it took her an hour and a half just to get there because the IDF were just stopping everyone. They didn't let anyone move. They were harassing people, beating people.



So it's very, very difficult for people, even in the West Bank. That is what a lot of people dont know. And the media doesnt show also what's happening in all of Palestine, not just in Gaza.

There were growing expressions of awareness of the interconnection between the Israeli genocide and social conditions at home. One of the main banners in the protest read, Fund our services and education, not bombs and occupation.

Hundreds of anti-genocide protesters march in Irvine, California, December 31, 2023.

Joseph, an auditor, told the WSWS, Its not justified, 20,000, 30,000 people killed, and its just not right. Innocent kids, innocent women, its just not right.

Maria, a paralegal, concurred, Our tax money is going to fund the genocide, so thats not appropriate.

Joseph continued, Especially when we have so many issues here, like healthcare, housing, homelessness. I mean, the money should be used for Americans.



Im against helping another country commit genocide.

Maria said there should be more funding for college education, just in schools in general.



Our schools need money. Our teachers need to be paid more too.

Joseph added, Programs such as music and art, they are being cut. Everything could be funded. There are people out there that dont have health insurance. I know someone who is sick with the flu, and they could not go and get medical attention because they did not have insurance.

This reporter informed Edgar, a young warehouse worker, about actions by workers in Spain, Belgium and Australia to block war supplies to Israel, and the brief incident at the Port of Oakland of workers refusing to handle war materiel going to Israel.

Edgar, a young warehouse worker.

He said, I think its a good thing that they were doing what they could to stop the shipments. Nobody really wants all this to be going on. But theres only actually a few people that will do something about it. So I think its good that theyre all coming together to actually do something about it.
China commits to Red Sea de-escalation efforts, says envoy

Xinhua) 09:14, January 05, 2024

UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Wednesday expressed China's steadfast commitment to collaborate with all involved parties in ongoing efforts to facilitate de-escalation in the Red Sea.

"China stays committed to working with all parties to make unremitting efforts to promote de-escalation in the Red Sea, a political settlement of the Yemen issue, the cessation of hostilities in Gaza, and long-lasting peace and stability in the Middle East," Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, told the Security Council.

Geng emphasized the critical role of the Red Sea as an international transportation route. "Ensuring unimpeded access to the waterway and the safety of passing vessels contributes not only to the security and stability of the region, but also to global supply chain security and the maintenance of international trade order," he stressed.

"We call on the relevant party to cease assaulting civilian ships and respect and protect the freedom of navigation of all countries in the Red Sea," Geng articulated China's position when addressing the recent security breaches in the area.

Geng further highlighted the broader geopolitical implications of the situation. He pointed out that "the Yemen issue is at a critical juncture," with the tensions in the Red Sea introducing new challenges and complexities to the already unstable Middle East.

"We call on all parties concerned to remain calm, exercise restraint, stay committed to dialogue and consultation, and promote a political settlement," the ambassador urged, emphasizing the need for diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions.

Moreover, Geng drew a connection between the situation in the Red Sea and the ongoing conflict in Gaza. He stated: "The current tensions in the Red Sea are one of the manifestations of the spillover effects of the conflict in Gaza."

The envoy asserted that resolving the Gaza crisis is crucial, as "only by achieving an early ceasefire in Gaza and easing the humanitarian crisis on the ground can we avert any further escalation in the Red Sea."

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Chicagos COVID-19 risk level has risen from low to medium for the first time since last January.

The heightened warning, spurred by a jump in hospitalizations, shows the viruss spread is creeping up, said Dr. Alex Sloboda, medical director of immunization and emergency preparedness programs with the Chicago Department of Public Health.

COVID-19 is still with us, Sloboda told the Tribune on Thursday. Weve seen it has the potential to be significant, severe and make people ill. We have a solution to all this: the vaccination.

Over the last week, 34 people per day have been admitted to Chicago hospitals because of complications with COVID-19, CDPH data shows.

Hospitalizations have slowly risen since July, when admissions hit a pandemic low of three per day. COVID-related hospital admissions rose 11% in the last week, according to the CDPH.

Other transmission indicators have also steadily risen throughout the city. COVID-19 patients are taking up 4% of the citys hospital beds and account for 2.6% of Chicago emergency room visits, while on average 1.6 Chicagoans are dying from the disease daily, CDPH data shows. City testing also shows COVID-19 viral load levels in wastewater have recently increased.

However, the number of lab-confirmed cases in Chicago dropped 21% in the last week to a daily average of 254 cases. Medical experts have previously told the Tribune lab-based testing is a less useful metric as fewer people seek testing.

The reason for the heightened numbers is simple, UChicago Medicines hospital epidemiologist Dr. Emily Landon said.

Its because theres a lot of people with COVID, she said. Its time to find your masks.

The increased spread isnt unexpected, Landon added. Respiratory viruses spread easier through cold air and as people gather inside in winter. During the holidays, as people mix with more and more groups before returning to work or school, respiratory illness transmission can ramp up even faster, she added.

Im not surprised at all, Landon said.

The epidemiologist believes the rise in COVID-19 hospitalizations is related to people not getting the updated vaccine made public in the fall. Only 12.6% of Chicagoans are up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations, according to the CDPH.

Whether people are thinking about it or not, the virus can still kill and seriously harm, Landon said. People should get the vaccine every year, she added.

I think the numbers are still increasing dramatically, and we can expect that to happen for a little bit longer here, she said. Individuals should definitely go ahead and get that vaccine if they havent gotten it yet.

A pedestrian alks across the Main Quadrangle at the University of Chicago on Jan. 4, 2024.

Chicagoans can also protect themselves by wearing highly-protective, well-fitting masks, especially if they are in medical care facilities. Even wearing simple surgical cloth masks can make a big difference, she added.

You can make decisions about times when its worth the risk to you to be unmasked, Landon said. But honestly, if youre going to the grocery store or if youre going to go wait in line at the DMV, Id be wearing a mask right now  and I am.

People who are sick need to stay home, including kids who might miss school, Landon said. If sick people must go out, they need to wear a mask, she said. At-home tests are sometimes slow to show positivity in the early stages of COVID-19 illness, she added.

Its really important that we think about our neighbor. If you wouldnt slap someone in the face, you probably shouldnt spend time around them unmasked if youre not feeling well, Landon said. Its a different situation than it was in the last six months, and its time to start worrying about keeping yourself and your family healthy.

The virus is spreading faster while causing more hospitalizations and deaths across the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National hospitalizations rose 16.7% in the most recent week with data, while deaths jumped 10%, bringing the pandemics total to 1,163,040 people in America dead due to COVID-19.

As COVID-19 spreads with a new variant, called JN.1, influenza is also suddenly spreading much faster in Chicago. Medical experts flagged the concurring spread of COVID-19, influenza and RSV as a tripledemic in December.

At Northwestern Memorial Hospitals intensive care unit, medical director Dr. Susan Russell has seen an uptick in COVID-19 patients.

Its certainly not the surge levels weve seen in the past few years, but there is a definite increase, Russell said. Im disappointed, but not surprised.

The hospital isnt seeing the prolonged severe illness that many caretakers handled early in the pandemic, she said. But while hospitalized patients are generally having shorter ICU stays, many people  especially immunocompromised people  are still facing severe complications.

We are still seeing some very bad infections and people ending up on a ventilator, Russell said. Its not the same volume as it was before, but we are seeing it.

Russell called on Chicagoans to use common sense by staying home if sick and getting vaccinated. Those dealing with COVID-19 should reach out to their physicians, who can provide medicines effective in treating the illness such as Paxlovid, she said.

While the current rate of transmission is far lower than during spikes in 2021 and 2022, its so far difficult to compare to last winters Chicago spread, Sloboda said.

COVID-19 hospitalizations were higher this time last year, but trending down, he said. The viruss current rise will be tested in the next two months.

Hopefully things dont get worse, but last winter we did kind of get up into that high-risk zone, and years before its gotten bad, Sloboda said. Honestly, it could also be worse than it was last year if we continue on this trajectory.

The city is not currently considering any mask mandates, Sloboda said. Chicagos hospitalization levels remain far below high levels. However, some hospitals across Chicagoland, including all three Rush hospitals, are requiring patients, visitors and staff to wear masks.

Masks and vaccines remain the best tools to fight the virus, Sloboda said. The CDPH is currently studying the low vaccine uptake across Chicago, he added.

Thinking about what hed say to people worn out in the viruss fourth year, Sloboda said rising COVID-19 spread could mean longer emergency room waits and fewer medical appointments available for everyone.

Before he started his new position at CDPH last month, Sloboda worked in emergency departments. He saw firsthand how bad waiting rooms can be and how often hospitals are stretched for beds.

Our whole health care system is already strained, he said. Preventable cases of COVID-19 could only further strain it, he added.

jsheridan@chicagotribune.com
Banged Up Abroad Season 5 is the fifth installment in this British documentary series created by Bart Layton. The show focuses on the stories of real-life people who get arrested while traveling abroad. Smuggling illegal substances often proves to be the major cause behind these arrests. In this edition, an English teacher engages in drug smuggling after getting tempted by the financial gains it promises. Another case sees an American backpacker get abducted by guerilla soldiers in Panama.

Heres how you can watch and stream Banged Up Abroad Season 5 via streaming services such as Disney Plus.

Is Banged Up Abroad Season 5 available to watch via streaming?

Yes, Banged Up Abroad Season 5 is available to watch via streaming on Disney Plus.

The intense docuseries showcases harrowing cases of actual people who get incarcerated while traveling abroad due to their involvement in illegal activities. The show sheds light on the intricacies of their arrest and the crime that they had committed. It effectively builds up to the moment through a combination of extensive interviews and dramatic reimagining. This time out, a woman encounters an Israeli smuggler and ends up joining him in his operation. After evading arrest four times, she is finally pinched by the authorities. In another case, an English teacher decides to smuggle eight kilos of heroin to cure his financial woes.

Multiple real-life personalities make an appearance on the show through interviews, sharing their experiences after getting involved in the aforementioned international debacles. The dramatic reenactments feature a series of actors portraying the roles of real characters, including Robbie Jarvis, Alexandre Ottoveggio, Simon Lee Phillips, James Scales, Julie Patzwald, Christian Storms, Curran Hendry, and Justin Melican, among others.

Watch Banged Up Abroad Season 5 streaming via Disney Plus

Banged Up Abroad Season 5 is available to watch on Disney Plus. The American streaming platform is widely known for the variety of content it harbors. Aside from such celebrated sitcoms, a subscription to Disney Plus will also give you access to the complete oeuvre of Pixar, Lucasfilm, and National Geographic.

You can watch via Disney Plus by following these steps:

Visit DisneyPlus.com Select Sign Up Now Enter your email and password Select a subscription plan $7.99 per month (Basic)

$13.99 per month or $139.99 per year (Premium) Enter your payment information

The Disney Plus Basic plan allows users to stream the services content with ads, while the Premium plan lets users stream with no ads and download content to supported devices. There are also a variety of bundle packages, scaling from Bundle Duo Basic, which pairs Disney Plus with Hulu for $9.99 per month, to the Disney Bundle Trio Premium for $19.99 per month, which bundles Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Plus.

Banged Up Abroad Season 5 synopsis is as follows:

Documentary series where viewers are taken inside accounts of capture, incarceration, and terror far away from home with intimate personal interviews and dramatic reenactments.

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 Banged Up Abroad Season 5 Streaming: Watch & Stream Online via Disney Plus appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Banged Up Abroad Season 6 is the sixth installment in this documentary series that showcases the tales of people who got arrested on foreign soil. While in most cases, the arrest happens due to their involvement in criminal activities, some special cases tend to contain a much more surprising reason behind their incarceration. In this edition, a Scottish chef arrives in Saudi Arabia and begins a side business of bootlegging. In another case, a man decides to pursue love while risking a 14-year prison sentence in the Philippines.

Heres how you can watch and stream Banged Up Abroad Season 6 via streaming services such as Disney Plus.

Is Banged Up Abroad Season 6 available to watch via streaming?

Yes, Banged Up Abroad Season 6 is available to watch via streaming on Disney Plus.

The documentary series returns for another season to convey an added set of stories involving people getting arrested abroad for engaging in illegal practices. Through interviews with real-life personalities and dramatic reimaginings, the show spins an intricate tale of the incident. This time out, an episode showcases the story of Henry Hill, a drug-dealing wise guy whose life inspired the movie Goodfellas. Another case sees a Scottish chef relocate to Saudi Arabia only to engage in a side hustle of bootlegging.

Through intricate and detailed interviews, the docuseries utilizes stories from real people to shed light on the matter. Multiple actors also make an appearance, doing so in the dramatic reenactments that lend a hand in expanding the narrative. Such actors include Max Wrottesley, Maxeem Ayyad, Peeka Emna Poell Rejel, Yousef Shweihat, Cale Epps, Carissa Dalton, Greg Bronson, and Joe Jones, among others.

Watch Banged Up Abroad Season 6 streaming via Disney Plus

Banged Up Abroad Season 6 is available to watch on Disney Plus. The American streaming platform is widely known for the variety of content it harbors. Aside from such celebrated sitcoms, a subscription to Disney Plus will also give you access to the complete oeuvre of Pixar, Lucasfilm, and National Geographic.

You can watch via Disney Plus by following these steps:

Visit DisneyPlus.com Select Sign Up Now Enter your email and password Select a subscription plan $7.99 per month (Basic)

$13.99 per month or $139.99 per year (Premium) Enter your payment information

The Disney Plus Basic plan allows users to stream the services content with ads, while the Premium plan lets users stream with no ads and download content to supported devices. There are also a variety of bundle packages, scaling from Bundle Duo Basic, which pairs Disney Plus with Hulu for $9.99 per month, to the Disney Bundle Trio Premium for $19.99 per month, which bundles Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Plus.

The Banged Up Abroad Season 6 synopsis is as follows:

Documentary series where viewers are taken inside accounts of capture, incarceration, and terror far away from home with intimate personal interviews and dramatic reenactments.

NOTE: The streaming services listed above are subject to change. The information provided was correct at the time of writing.

The Leftovers Carrie Coon is reportedly in talks to play a major role in the third season of HBO and

TV Brandon Schreur 11 mins ago

Arrow has laid out the January 2024 lineup dedicated to cult hits and rare gems for its streaming service. Arrow

Movies Neil Bolt 4 hours ago

Screambox, Cineverses horror streaming service has revealed its January 2024 lineup, containing two exclusives alongside classic horror and underseen tales

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Kino Lorber is bringing together three cult sci-fi horror B-movies into one Sci-Fi Chiller Collection this year. Sci-Fi Chillers Collection

Blu-Ray Releases Neil Bolt 16 hours ago

Read more

The post Banged Up Abroad Season 6 Streaming: Watch & Stream Online via Disney Plus appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
The Gee Family, also known as The Bucket List Family on Instagram, shared the terrifying video of a worm being pulled from their toddler's head

TheBucketListFamily/Instagram Garrett Gee pulls botfly larva from son Cali's head

What looked like a pimple or an insect bite on Jessica and Garrett Gee's toddler's head during a trip to Botswana turned out to be far more invasive.

"WARNING this video includes worms and is NOT for the faint of heart," wrote The Bucket List Family mom Jessica, in an Instagram post showing the video of her husband slowly pulling a botfly larva from the head of their 5-year-old son Cali.

"This incident actually happened while we were in Botswana this past Summer but we only shared it on our Bucket List Friends video : THINGS GONE WRONG IN AFRICA," she continued.

The Bucket List Family  Garrett, Jessica and their three kids Dorothy, Manilla and Cali  spend as much of their free time as possible traveling to foreign countries. It was during one of their adventures that things went a little buggy.

"Cali had been complaining of a pain on the top of his head but it just looked like a little red bump," Jessica wrote. "The next day it had a white tip like a pimple but after showing our guides and a local medic nobody knew what it could be. Randomly, I texted a photo of it to my girlfriend back home and her husband recognized it as a boy fly! A BOT FLY!!?!?!!"

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Related: Surgeon Finds Live 3-Inch Worm in Womans Brain After She Becomes Accidental Host

The video shows Garrett using a pair of tweezers to slowly extract the larva, which looks like a whitehead pimple about to pop at first but then reveals itself to be a small, maggot-like worm.

"A bot fly bit Cali on the head and laid its egg inside his skin. The egg then hatched and the larva continued to live in his head and would have been there for ~20 more days until it was ready to crawl out and fly away on its own!!" Jessica continued.

"It was late into the night when my girlfriend notified me it may be a bot fly so I woke up Garrett and with tweezers in hand said 'youre not going to believe this. I think the pimple is alive and we need to operate,' " she continued. "Those who know Garrett know he hates gross stuff like this but he went total Papa Bear mode and with steady hands, got it out! We didnt know what to expect so you can imagine our shock and terror as that long worm began to pull out!!"

The video shows their son crying as Garrett gently extracts the larva, before soothing Cali and then giving his wife a shocked, clearly uncomfortable look.

"That look on Garretts face at the end says it all!" Jessica wrote. "Cali immediately felt better and fell back asleep, and as soon as the next morning he was bragging to his big brother about the 'head monster' that dad pulled out of his skin. MORAL OF THE STORY : Traveling isnt always rainbows and butterflies. Sometimes its tweezers and bot flies."

TheBucketListFamily/Instagram The Gee family

Related: Young Millionaire Utah Couple Sells Their Belongings to Travel the World with Their Kids  and Finds a Way to Give Back

The Gees, who call Hawaii their home base, have said that they've experienced other misadventures during their travels.

"We had three accidents that led to stitches  in Thailand and Nepal, and at the Male airport in the Maldives," Garrett told Drew and Jonathan Scott during an interview in 2020. "The key is to have travel insurance that includes medical coverage. Its no more complicated than running into an accident or incident back at home."

That hasn't slowed them down, though they did note during the interview that they now have their kids on a consistent school schedule.

As Jessica explained, "Through travel, we hope our children gain a love for our earth and wildlife. We hope they are open-minded and open-hearted to people from other cultures. We hope they gain a love for trying new things."

"But, most of all, we hope they know that we love them and treasure this time we have to experience the world together," she added.



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Read the original article on People.
While at the mansion of billionaire sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein sometime in the early 2000s, celebrity illusionist David Copperfield once asked one of the young women there if she was aware of Epsteins sex trafficking scheme. Thats according to Johanna Sjoberg, the young woman in question who was one of Epsteins victims and later testified against him in a 2016 deposition.

The story came to light Wednesday as part of several hundred pages of court documents related to Epstein, who died of an apparent suicide in 2019 while in a New York federal detention center awaiting trial for sex trafficking.

The documents include the unredacted names of several people within his orbit. The documents do not reveal any new details about Epsteins operations, and the named affiliates were already known. More documents are expected to be released in the coming days.

Sjobergs comments about Cooperfield, who to be clear has never been accused of wrongdoing in connection to Epstein, come from a deposition, given in 2016 to the attorney representing another Epstein victim. She worked for Epstein from 2001-2006, but does not provide a specific date on which she met Copperfield. Its known that prior to Epsteins 2008 conviction on sex trafficking charges in Florida, Copperfield frequently visited his Palm Beach mansion.

Sjoberg says she and Epstein once had dinner with Copperfield, who performed magic tricks and appeared to be friends with Epstein. But, she continued, He questioned me if I was aware that girls were getting paid to find other girls.

Its unclear from the deposition what Copperfield may have meant by the question.

The murky circumstances of Epsteins death continue to fuel speculation and numerous conspiracy theories. He was arrested in July, 2019 and held at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan, one of the most secure federal detention facilities in America.

Nevertheless, he was found dead in his cell, in what was officially ruled a suicide by hanging, on August 10. Notably, according to several reports at the time, in the 40 years prior to this the facility saw only one suicide and three unsuccessful attempted suicides.

In 2023, a Department of Justice investigation identified numerous and serious failures by staff. Among these, Epstein wasnt given a cellmate despite recommendations otherwise and he was allowed to make a phone call unmonitored just hours before his death. Staff also failed to comply with an order to check on Epsteins cell every 30 minutes, and some of them even falsified records about such checks.

The post Epstein List: David Copperfield Asked One of Billionaires Victims if She Knew About the Sex Trafficking, Deposition Says appeared first on TheWrap.
An alleged toilet explosion at a Dunkin in Florida is at the center of a new lawsuit.

Per a report from USA Today, Dunkin initially declined to comment on the case due to the fecal fulmination having taken place at a franchised store. The plaintiff, Paul Kerouac, alleges he was in the mens room at the Winter Park establishment in January 2022 when the toilet exploded, thus leaving him with severe and long-term injuries.

Furthermore, Kerouac says he was covered in human feces and urine as a result of the blow-up. When Kerouac informed workers of what had happened, they allegedly told him they were already aware of the issue, citing other "incidents" of a presumably similar nature.

More on this

The suit argues negligence and calls for more than $50,000 in damages, as well as a jury trial. According to publicly available court docs, Kerouac suffers continuing trauma due to the exploding toilet and has sought out mental health treatment.

Complex has reached out to Kerouac's lawyer and a Dunkin rep for comment. This story may be updated.

In October of last year, a 70-year-old woman won a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against a Dunkin franchise location in Georgia after allegedly sustaining serious burns from spilled coffee.
Mayra Flores, who is running to reclaim her former Texas congressional seat, has described herself as a proud Latina who knows how to cook  now shes enmeshed in a scandal dubbed Grubgate

Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Congressional candidate from Texas Mayra Flores participates in the news conference to announce the formation of the Hispanic Leadership Trust at the Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington on Tuesday, May 17, 2022.

A former Texas congresswoman has been accused of downloading other peoples food pictures and passing them off as her own on social media.

Mayra Flores was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 2022 to 2023, making history as the first Mexican-born member of the House before being voted out after one term. In recent days, her name has been in headlines for non-political reasons: shes reportedly been posting food photos that she didnt take and pretending theyre her own.

Related: Republican Mayra Flores Flips House Seat in South Texas to Become First Mexican-Born Congresswoman

On Monday, X user Ben Anderson confronted Flores, 38, by sharing side-by-side screenshots showing how Flores' recent post about her "ranch life" in Texas used a photo that was seemingly lifted from a Guyanese Facebook page.

Flores post said, The Ranch life with family is the best, and included a photo of food being prepared over an open fire. The Facebook page Visit Guyana posted the same photo in March 2022, crediting someone named Gwen Phillips.

Heres @MayraFlores_TX trying to convince people that shes living the high life and making dinner over an open fire at the ranch. Only problem is: this picture was stolen from a Guyanese facebook page, Anderson said, calling out the former congresswoman. Why would you lie, Mayra?

Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Rep. Mayra Flores, R-Texas, is seen outside of the U.S. Capitol during the last votes of the week on Friday, December 2, 2022.

Since Anderson broke open the scandal, multiple people and news outlets, including the Texas Tribune, have scoured Flores social media and found other instances of her taking credit for other people's food photos. Internet users quickly dubbed the controversy Grubgate.

Another example of a pilfered post was a photo originally posted in 2021 by Izabal Magazine, similarly about preparing food on a ranch. Flores shared it, writing, As a proud Latina who knows how to cook, homemade Mexican food tastes better from a gas stove, per MSNBC.

In August, Flores shared a post reflecting on the Rancho life surrounded by my beautiful family, and the photo she posted was traced back to a Facebook page called Comida De Rancho, who originally posted the photo in 2019, VICE News shared. That post has since been deleted.

PEOPLE reached out to Flores for comment.



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Flores announced in December that she is running to reclaim her former seat in Texas' 34th Congressional District, which is now occupied by Democratic Rep. Vicente Gonzalez.

In an Instagram post, she said that she's "running to help restore the American Dream for future generations to come ." She continued of her platform, "We must secure our borders, create American independence, strengthen our economy, protect our constitutional rights and hold big government accountable."



Flores' initial term was short-lived, as she was elected via a special election to succeed Democratic Rep. Filemon Vela after he resigned to become a lobbyist.

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In the end, whether or not Providence's Matt Harvey won his round of the "Jeopardy!" Second Chance Tournament and $10,000 came down to the last question of the game, under the category state capitals.

The clue was: "The 2 closest state capitals, at about 40 miles apart, one was founded by someone no longer allowed in the other."

And that was an easy one for Harvey, who was the only one to get it right. And it's probably an easy one for most of the people who read The Providence Journal.

What are Boston and Providence?

Having bet big with an $18,000 wager  representing all of the "money" he had won in his third night of the tournament  the answer catapulted him into first place. Up until that point, he was in second place.

Do you know the correct response to the Final Jeopardy! answer on Monday, Jan. 8?

It also was one of the many times throughout his Jeopardy! run that what he called a "Rhode Island cluster" has been created, where another Rhode Island moment happens that same week or in this case, the same show  that he's playing in.

With this win, he advances to the Champions Wildcard tournament.

How he did earlier in the tournament

In his second night in the "Jeopardy!" Second Chance Tournament, Providence's Matt Harvey once again won.

Playing against previous winners Michael Cavaliere and Randall Rayford, Harvey ended with $10,000 despite missing the final question. That left him with a $1,700 lead over Cavaliere and a $5,000 lead over Rayford.

All three return to the Alex Trebek Stage on Monday.

In his first game in the Second Chance Tournament on Thursday night, Harvey dominated.

First to the buzzer and taking an early lead in the game, Harvey dominated in his return to the Alex Trebek Stage. Except for one brief moment when another opponent tied with him after correctly answering a Daily Double, he held his lead throughout the game. He cinched it by correctly answering the final question, finishing with $29,400.

Matt Harvey, a health care administrator from Providence, with Ken Jennings, host of "Jeopardy!"

Who is Matt Harvey on 'Jeopardy!'?

Harvey moved to Rhode Island more than 30 years ago to attend Brown University and never left. He works in administration at Integra Community Care Network, a division of the Care New England Health System, is married and has twin 15-year-olds.

He first competed on "Jeopardy!" in November 2022, coming in second to Cris Pannullo, who was on game 16 of what ended up being a 21-day streak.

"When I got the text message from 'Jeopardy!' asking me to come back, it almost didn't quite feel real," Harvey said in an interview ahead of the Jan. 4 game airing. "This Second Chance Tournament that they do is such a great idea, I think, for people exactly in my position."

The second Rhode Islander on Jeopardy this week

The strangest thing about Harvey's "Jeopardy!" appearances is that this is the second time he has been part of what he dubbed a Rhode Island cluster, with two Rhode Island contestants competing in the same week and a Rhode Island question.

The first time he played, North Smithfield resident Meghan Mello also played, and there was a question asking the contestants to identify "The Renaissance City" and "PVD" that no one got. (What is Providence?)

This time, Pawtucket resident Sharon Bishop played on Tuesday night, and there was another Rhode Island-themed question.

Do you know? Can you answer this Rhode Island themed question they asked on "Jeopardy!" tonight?

"What are the chances, given the size of our little state, that there are two of us?" Harvey said. "I guess I bring clusters around. I'm a Rhode Island 'Jeopardy cluster' creator."

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Here's the question PVD's Matt Harvey got right to win Jeopardy!
The 94th Aero Squadron Restaurant, designed to look like a World War I-era French farmhouse, closed in June and was razed in December.

Seven central Ohio restaurants with a combined 251 years in business closed their doors in 2023, and at least four of them seem to be gone for good.

Although far more restaurants opened than closed last year  190 vs. 69, according to our monthly recaps  those lost include some iconic, longtime destinations for dining.

More: New specialty groceries and return of Columbus' only Kenyan restaurant highlight December

Rice Bowl

The Rice Bowl relocated in 1991 from the Great Southern Shopping Center to South High Street at Route 104. The property will make way for a 240-unit housing complex.

Ho Toy and Rice Bowl, among the citys oldest operating Chinese restaurants, both closed early in the year, in February and May, respectively.

After 64 years on the South Side, first in the Great Southern Shopping Center and then farther up High Street near Route 104, the Rice Bowl turned off its green-and-red neon sign and sold its furnishings. Its property was sold to NRP Group of Cleveland, which plans to break ground soon for a 240-unit affordable housing complex undertaken with nonprofit Community Development for All People.

Rice Bowl fans still reminisce online via a 600-member Facebook group called, We Love Rice Bowl!! Theyve urged owner Connie Pui King Tang to publish a cookbook, start a food truck or host cooking classes to teach former customers how to make her egg rolls, wonton soup and war su gai.

Thanks for the supportive comments, she responded a few months ago. Let us consider the suggestions.

Ho Toy

Ho Toy, which also dates back to 1959, closed with less fanfare. Its owners posted a sign on the door in late January that read, Restaurant is closed. Thank you for (your) support.

Ownership of the building at 11 W. State St., changed in August, according to property records with the Franklin County auditor. A website for the new owners, Bonnier Building LLC, include links for a restaurant and dance club.

Hunan Lion: Well definitely be back

Hunan Lion, another Chinese restaurant that has been in business for 36 years, shut down in October after an early morning fire damaged its kitchen. General Manager Steven Chang recently told The Dispatch, though, that he and his parents hope to reopen by April.

Well definitely be back, said Chang, whose parents, Allyson and Jason Chang, own the Northwest Side restaurant.

The next course: Columbus restaurant industry experts share the dining trends coming our way in 2024

94th Aero Squadron Restaurant

The 94th Aero Squadron Restaurant didnt take its name and location lightly. Named for the World War I unit commanded by hometown hero Eddie Rickenbacker and located just outside John Glenn International Airport, the restaurant rotated its displays of memorabilia every six months to give diners something new  make that old  and interesting to see.

The 43-year-old restaurant closed in June and sold off its collection. Its building, designed to look like a French farmhouse from Rickenbackers era, was razed in December.

Omega Artisan Bakery

Its focaccia, cinnamon rolls and rustic French loaves added to the melange of smells at the original North Market. And with one last run on Thanksgiving butter rolls, Omega Artisan Bakery closed in November. Founder Amy Lozier said she was doing so with a great deal of gratitude (and some misgivings).

I want to thank the patrons of North Market who embraced us from that first Saturday morning over twenty years ago and kept coming even through the pandemic when we ran your purchases out to your car, she wrote on social media.

Tasi Cafe

Three months after a lukewarm Columbus Monthly review concluded, Its the barren tables during prime, weekday breakfast meeting hours that make me wonder if Tasi Cafe is still on the menu for us locals, the 17-year-old Short North restaurant shut its doors.

Will it return, though?

We are coming back strong!!! Tasi posted on Instagram after its last day in August. Nothing new has been announced, though.

Dining coverage: 2023 was a year well-eaten for Columbus foodies. Here are my favorites

Smith & Wollensky: Coming back?

Boston-based Smith & Wollensky closed its Easton Town Center restaurant in January with a promise that it was committed to the Columbus market.

Columbus is still listed on the chains website with the message: More details regarding our newest Columbus location are coming soon. It is reported to be Downtown.

Other closings of note

A year after it was honored by the Ohio Restaurant & Hospitality Alliance as the top place to dine in central Ohio, Kona Craft Kitchen shut down abruptly. The closing came after owners Stacy and Frank Leary were sued by separate parties who claimed they were owed more than $4.2 million.

Easton Town Centers first Black-owned restaurant, Black Box Fix, closed in October. The restaurant reopened after a January 2023 kitchen fire, but owners cited post-pandemic realities for the eventual shutdown. Black Box Fix remains open in its northeastern Ohio hometown, Lyndhurst.

Four Columbus locations of the Michigan soup-and-sandwich chain Zoup! closed operations in 2023. The former Arena District restaurant is now a second location for Si Senor, which specializes in Peruvian sandwiches. A Tuttle Crossing restaurant will become a Five Guys. Zoup! restaurants Downtown and in the Lennox Town Center remain vacant.

Casual dining chain OCharleys shut down four central Ohio locations: near Westerville, near Gahanna, in Grove City and on the Far West Side. Its last two restaurants in the area are in Reynoldsburg and Canal Winchester.

In August, Barrel & Boar abruptly closed its high-profile restaurant inside the old State Theater in Uptown Westerville. Less than two months later, though, Cantina Blue Santa opened in the space. Barrel & Boar, meanwhile, announced that it would become a tenant at East Market on the Near East Side. It will be the fourth location for the restaurant.

The Crest shut down in September after a decade-long run in Clintonville. Yellow Springs Brewery opened at the Indianola Avenue location two months later.

Taprooms that closed in 2023 include Platform Brewing, Zaftig Brew Pubs Italian Village location, Sideswipe Brewing Co., Holy Trinity Brewing Co., and Buzzsaw Brewing.

rvitale@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus restaurants that closed in 2023
Maurizio Gucci was a member of one of Italys most prestigious fashion families. The familys empire was started by his grandfather, Guccio Gucci, in the year 1923, after he opened a small shop in the city of Florence. Maurizio Gucci was born on September 26, 1948, in Florence to Rodolfo Gucci and Sandra Ravel.

After Guccios demise, half of the family business was inherited by Rodolfo. Furthermore, Maurizio was raised by his father. Although the company was doing well and making profits regularly, there was an internal conflict and struggle for power within the family. Things only worsened after Rodolfo Gucci died in 1983 and Maurizio inherited half of the company. This meant he owned more shares than anyone else.

According to Oxygen True Crime, on March 27, 1995, a hitman gunned down Maurizio Gucci while he was on his way to work. Initially, authorities believed that Maurizios financial problems made him an enemy, which ultimately led to his murder. He was known for his lavish lifestyle and he owed millions of dollars. Furthermore, the bank threatened to seize his shares in the company if he failed to repay his debts.

However, upon further investigation, authorities discovered that Maurizio Guccis assassination was orchestrated by his ex-wife, Patrizia Reggiani. Maurizio Gucci and Patrizia Reggiani met for the first time in the 1970s. They fell in love and it didnt take long for Maurizio to propose to Patrizia. Maurizios father, Rodolfo, was against this marriage, and reports suggest that he even asked the Cardinal of Milan to prevent it.

In the year 2021, Ridley Scott directed a film titled House of Gucci, in which Adam Driver played Maurizio Gucci and Lady Gaga played Patrizia Reggiani.

Who killed Maurizio Gucci?

Maurizio Gucci and Patrizia Reggiani tied the knot in 1972. People close to Patrizia stated that she revered her new-found status and even tried to make business decisions for her husband. The couple had two daughters, but Maurizio soon began getting frustrated with Patrizias domineering attitude.

Maurizio soon began an affair with a 25-year-old sailing enthusiast named Sheree Loud and decided to leave his wife. According to Loud, in May 1985, Maurizio packed his bags and told his Patrizia that he was heading to Florence for business and never went back to her.

Sarah Gay Forden, Bloomberg editor/ author of the book, House of Gucci said, It must have been incomprehensible to her because you know. They had built so much of what they had together, in her mind. And I think that it was also the fact that he couldnt tell it to her face was also indicative of how far apart theyd already grown.

Patrizia Reggiani knew she was losing her ties with the Gucci family. Furthermore, her resentment only grew when she learned that her husband was moving in with interior designer, Paola Franchi. Sarah Gay Forden said,  Her anger starts to grow as she realizes shes really suffering this deep loss. And its really a loss of her own identity too because she had come to identify herself with Gucci.

Maurizio could not divorce Reggiani for several years but it was finalised in 1994. According to People, the court found Patrizia Reggiani guilty in 1998 for orchestrating her husbands murder. Furthermore, four other individuals were involved in the plan. 18 years after jail time, she was released in 2016.

Patrizia Reggiani was born on December 2, 1948. She is currently 75 years old.

The post Maurizio Gucci Assassination: What Happened to the Gucci Fashion House Head? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Going into making the film, I always had in my head that it would be great to get to represent the country and help it have more of a voice in terms of world cinema, says Michael A. Goorjian, the writer, director and star of Amerikatsi, Armenias submission for Best International Feature at the 96th Academy Awards. Not a lot of films have been made in Armenia, partially because its a post-Soviet country, and when the Soviet Union collapsed, a lot of the infrastructure for film fell away. It was one of our goals with the film to help showcase whats possible in Armenia. Im very excited about it. Watch the exclusive video interview above.

The film follows Charlie (Goorjian), who escapes the Armenian genocide as a boy by fleeing to the United States. When he returns as an adult and is arrested, he watches an Armenian couple from his prison cell, finally learning about his homeland. Amerikatsi is among the 15 international films shortlisted for the Oscars.

More from GoldDerby

SEE Gold Derby interviews with 2024 Oscar contenders

Despite the dark themes, the story is told with optimism and humor. I wouldnt call it historic fiction, its more of a fable, Goorjian explains. Theres a concept called the Holy Fool in dramaturgy, and Charlie is a bit of that. Its like, if you remember the film Being There with Peter Sellers, its similar sort of. You need a clown, someone who is not really part of the world that hes in, to be able to reflect and show whats going on. And so Charlie, as a character, being this optimist and despite everything thats going on and how terrible it is, is always just trying to find a way to make it okay. Its a way of reflecting and showing the circumstances.

Goorjian was just 23 years old when he won an Emmy for Best Supporting Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries (Davids Mother in 1994). He was considered an underdog as he faced off against veteran actors Alan Alda, Matthew Broderick, Richard Gere and Ian McKellan. I felt like, What am I doing here?,' he admits. I think a lot of people thought that as well, which may be why I won. They were like, Wait a minute, whos that guy? And maybe, I dont know, hopefully if we get nominated, maybe Armenia will be the same thing. Well be like, Wait a minute. Okay, yeah, France, England, of course. Armenia, what are they doing here? Yeah, I was a bit of the dark horse then, and hopefully Armenia will be the dark horse this year.

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From Freehold with love.

A painting of the former home of Bruce Springsteen at 87 Randolph St. in Freehold was formally unveiled Thursday, Jan 4, at the Rathangan Library in Ireland, the ancestral home of Springsteen's family on his father's side.

The Susan Winter painting was commissioned by Glenn Cashion, Springsteen's cousin and author of Baseball Is In My DNA: A History of Baseball in Freehold, New Jersey 1857-1973. In October, Cashion presented the work to the people of Rathangan.

Springsteen lived in the home until he was 6 with his parents, Doug and Adele Springsteen, as well as his younger sister Virginia and his paternal grandparents, Fred and Alice Springsteen. The house no longer stands, and the land is now part of the St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church parking lot.

Bruce Springsteen attends an event on March 8, 2022, to announce the creation of an exhibition space to celebrate the life of Freehold's most famous son. The current Freehold Fire Department on Main Street will become a museum dedicated to the rock star's life.

More: Big Man's sons, family, Springsteen and more carry on legacy for Clarence Clemons Day

The painting was rendered through the recollections of Bruce, Virginia and Cashion, who relayed the descriptions to Winter. There are no known photographs or renderings of the house.

I think we did a pretty good job, right down the color, the number of steps, where the tree was and the kind of windows, Cashion said. Even the color of the bicycle on the stoop, which is Bruce's bike.

The family connection to the house goes back to 1856. According to family lore, Ann Garrity, Bruces great-great-grandmother, brought a copper breech sapling with her from Rathangan, planted it in front of the house, and it grew into a titan that Bruce would write about generations later in Born to Run.

A painting of Bruce Springsteen's former home on 87 Randolph St. in Freehold by Susan Winter.

Our house was old and noticeably decrepit, wrote Springsteen his memoir, Born to Run. One kerosene stove in the living room was all we had to heat the whole place. Upstairs, where my family slept, you woke up on winter mornings with your breath visible. One of my earliest childhood memories is the smell of kerosene and my grandfather standing there filling the spot in the rear of the stove.

Bruce fans from around the world visit the spot. It's one of three childhood homes Springsteen lived in Freehold. Catholic Masses were held in the home's living room before the incorporation of St. Rose in 1864, Cashion said.

Springsteen took in sights and connected with the locals of County Kildare when the E Street Band played three shows at the RDS Arena in Dublin in May 2023 during their European tour. The Boss and the E Street Band return to Ireland for four shows in May 2024.

Cashion also presented a letter to Rathangan officials from Freehold Mayor Kevin Kane about establishing a sister city relationship between Rathangan and Freehold.

Bruce Springsteen attends an event on March 8, 2022, to announce the creation of an exhibition space in Freehold to celebrate his life. The Boss is shown walking downtown with his cousin, Glenn Cashion.

More: 'My Hometown': Tour the Jersey Shore spots that Bruce Springsteen made famous

More: Bruce Springsteen childhood homes: See where The Boss grew up in NJ

More: Here are iconic female characters in Bruce Springsteen songs, from Mary to Wendy

More: Springsteen Archives celebrates 60th anniversary of Beatles arrival with 'Get Back 1964'

Subscribe to app.com for the latest on the New Jersey music scene.

Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at @chrisfhjordan; cjordan@app.com

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Bruce Springsteen: Painting of Boss home presented to Irish town
Jimmy Sengenberger is an investigative journalist, public speaker, and host of The Jimmy Sengenberger Show Saturdays from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. on News/Talk 710 KNUS. Reach Jimmy online at Jimmysengenberger.com or on X (formerly Twitter) @SengCenter.
The incident caused the flight to land at Winnipeg Richardson International Airport, according to a news release from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Getty Stock image of a cabin view of an Air Canada flight

A flight traveling to Calgary, Canada, from Toronto on Wednesday had to be diverted after a 16-year-old male allegedly assaulted his family member.

The incident caused Air Canada Flight 137 to divert from its original travel plan and land at Winnipeg Richardson International Airport, according to a news release from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

The Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada, teen was arrested after being restrained by airline employees and passengers and was transported to the hospital for medical evaluation, per the release.

Getty Stock image of a passport and boarding pass

Related: Hailey Bieber Shares Cheeky Photos from Her Beach Vacation to Kick Off the New Year: Along for the Ride

While no other passengers required medical assistance, the victim  described as an "adult male passenger"  was treated at the scene for "minor physical injuries."

PEOPLE has reached out to Air Canada for comment.

The International Air Transport Association categorizes unruly passenger cases as "incidents that involve violence against crew and other passengers, harassment, and failure to comply with safety and public health instructions."

"Committed by a minority of passengers, unruly incidents have a disproportionate impact, threatening safety, disrupting other passengers and crew, and causing delays and diversions," the IATA adds on its website.

According to Airlines magazine, intoxication, verbal abuse, and non-compliance have been reported as the most common incidents in unruly passenger cases.

Getty Stock image of the bottom of an airplane

Related: Sarah Michelle Gellar Says It's 'Not Easy' to Get Husband Freddie Prinze Jr. in Photos During Family Vacation

"There was one incident reported for every 568 flights in 2022, up from one per 835 flights in 2021," the outlet reported in August. Incidents of physical abuse have remained rare but had an "alarming increase of 61% over 2021, occurring once every 17,200 flights," according to the outlet.

Air Canada made headlines recently after aviation analytics firm Cirium ranked them last in a report of the worst on-time performance from major North American airlines.

Airlines, including Delta, United, and Southwest, were also on their list. The airline responded to the report in a statement to Now Toronto.

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"Our operation has been consistently improving so that by year end our monthly on-time performance showed a double-digit improvement over July, a significant increase. Our focus remains on further raising on-time performance (OTP) this year," their statement read.



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Read the original article on People.
One month before The White Lotus anticipated third season begins filming, TVLine has learned that six actors  including TV vets Jason Isaacs (Star Trek: Discovery, Awake), Michelle Monaghan (The Path), Parker Posey (Lost in Space) and Leslie Bibb (Popular)  have closed deals to star in the latest installment of HBOs Emmy-winning series.

Also joining (previously announced) returning cast member Natasha Rothwell in Season 3: Relative newcomers Dom Hetrakul and Tayme Thapthimthong (pictured below alongside Bibb).

More from TVLine

The White Lotus Season 3 Cast Leslie Bibb

HBO is keeping character details for Isaacs, Monaghan, Posey, Bibb, Hetrakul and Thapthimthong under wraps.

HBO, meanwhile, is for the first time officially confirming Thailand as the locale for Season 3, with production set to commence in February in and around Koh Samui, Phuket, and Bangkok.

We are pleased to partner with the Tourism Authority of Thailand to execute Mikes creative vision and showcase all that the beautiful country of Thailand has to offer, as the next group of guests check in to the White Lotus, HBOs EVP of production Janet Graham said in a statement Friday.

Added Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand: We are honored to have Amazing Thailand featured as the filming location for the highly anticipated upcoming season of The White Lotus. The kingdoms exotic natural beauty, rich historical sites and diverse landscapes are the perfect settings to share our fascinating culture, fantastic cuisine, top-notch wellness and luxury offerings, and most importantly our people and Thai hospitality. Thailand has long been considered one of the worlds favorite filming locations. The White Lotus project will certainly strengthen the kingdoms status as a preferred filming destination and a beacon of experience-based tourism, inspiring even more visitors to Amazing Thailand.

As we reported last year, one Season 3 scenario that series creator Mike White was allegedly toying with had Season 1 star Connie Brittons Nicole resurfacing alongside Laura Derns Abby, the estranged wife of Season 2 guest Dom (Michael Imperioli). Rumor had it that viewers wouldve learn that Nicole and Abby (whom Dern supplied the voice of in Season 2) were, in fact, sisters. Scheduling conflicts, however, killed the storyline.

The White Lotus Season 3 is slated to make its debut on HBO in 2025.

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Orange paint isn't always the first choice that comes to mind when you start designing the color palette for your home. But this cheerful, vibrant hue is more versatile than you might imagine, and it doesn't have to be deeply saturated and neon (though it can be!). You could choose a warm apricot, a sunny peach, or a rich rust.

There's an orange that can work in almost every home, especially when you bring in complementary colors that can either temper its brightness or add a lighter, airier feel. Try a deep, muted orange in a moody cottage or a crisp, clear orange paired with white and pink in a feminine, classic space. You can make orange work with nearly any decor style.

Ready to embrace this citrus hue? Here are 14 designer-approved orange paint colors that you can try in your own home.

In this small, but efficient kitchen, Matthew Boland, Founder of MMB Studio, decided to lean into a bold, refreshing, pure orange that transports you right into a tropical Florida scene.

"Bold color is one way to grow a space that may physically have a small footprint," says Boland. "It's unexpected."

"The room's showstopper is the custom orange bookcase in Benjamin Moore Tangy Orange, adding a bold dose of excitement," says Courtnay Tartt Elias, Principal and Creative Director at Creative Tonic.

The vibrant and energetic classic orange plays perfectly with the light blue wall behind it.

A dusty orange with a hint of brown feels like the color of desert clay. It feels sophisticated and serene against a Southwestern-style palette of neutrals.

The Chippendale-style vanity in this bathroom was perfectly matched to the wallpaper for a traditional spin on a soft shade of coral-tinged orange.

Depending on the light, Greenfield Pumpkin can lean more orange or brown, but it's a lovely orange hue that's reminiscent of a warm fall pumpkin. Try it layered with rich jewel tones to bring out its autumnal qualities.

Obstinate Orange is one of the most timeless shades of orange on this list. It's a crisp, warm orange that looks minimalist and modern next to dark brown and ivory, but it can learn fresh when paired with a bright green, pure white, or blue.

This earthy orange is inspired by the mesmerizing landscape of the Southwest US' rock formations, but that doesn't mean it has to lean rustic. In this eclectic living room, Benjamin Moore Bryce Canyon gets a modern look thanks to a sculptural chandelier and curvy furniture.

This sunny breakfast nook gets even brighter with the help of Dunn-Edwards' Tangerine Tango. If going all-out orange is a bit too much for you, try using it on an accent wall instead.



Jen Bienvenu, Interior Decorator at J. Bienvenu Interiors, used a designer trick to make this cognac-tinted orange work in a traditional dining room.

"I lightened it by 50%, giving a historical feel," Bienvenu says. "Adding a chair rail to the perimeter of the room reduced the intensity of the bold color."

Marielle Conlon of That Table Lady

"A lot of people tend to underestimate the mood boosting powers of bright bold colors," says Marielle Conlon of That Table Lady.

But that doesn't have to mean painting an entire room. Conlon had an Hermes box color matched, and Citrus Orange by Benjamin Moore was the best way to get that signature Hermes look. This color is a cheerful, invigorating orange that leans slightly cool and absolutely Palm Beach inspired.

Imagine stepping into a pumpkin, in the best way possible: that's Sherwin-Williams Navel. This nearly technicolor orange hue straddles the line between vivid and natural, making it the right accompaniment to offset shades like lime green and pink.



When you're not remotely scared of going all in on bright colors, Behr Florida Sunrise is the color for you. This delicious, refreshing orange is reminiscent of a creamsicle.

"Nobody wants to feel like theyre living inside of a piece of fruit or like their home is Halloween-ie," says Imani Keal, DIYer and content creator at Imani at Home. "But I think if you find a really good shade of orange and the right accessories, orange brings a lot of life and interest to a space. I used Cattle Drive by Valspar in my kitchen and its a bit of a warmer, cozier orange."

Who knew orange could be calming? This sherbert-inspired, muted shade of orange feels natural and relaxing next to a rich moss green.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is orange a good wall color?

All colors can be good wall colors! Within the orange family, you'll find everything from a soft peach to rich pumpkin to traffic cone bright orange. Each of these can look eye-catching on a wall, but it comes down to the natural light within the space, the room's function, and the other colors used in the room's palette.

What color goes best with orange?

The colors you pair with orange depend on the mood you're trying to create within a space. A calming, autumnal palette could feature orange alongside olive green, brown, and ivory, while a bold, eclectic color palette could pair orange with purple or royal blue. Meanwhile, if you pair a bright orange with white, you could get a look that feels like midcentury Palm Beach.

Read Next: 48 Best Bedroom Paint Colors in Every Shade of the Rainbow

Read the original article on The Spruce.


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Due to the events of yesterday, January 4, there is reason to hope and believe that 2024 will actually come through for us. And naturally I speak only of Jeremy Allen White's Calvin Klein campaign, which casually launched in the morning with a series of images featuring The Bear star posing in various states of undress while lurking on what appears to be the luckiest rooftop in New York.

Obviously, it ended up being a very horny day for most people with eyeballs, and now that we're coming down from the initial waves of shock and awe, we can take a moment to reflect. To give voice to those among us who bravely took their thirst to the public forum that is Twitter.

Theres a big moving billboard of Jeremy Allen Whites Calvin Klein ad on sunset and thank goodness I wasnt driving tonight!!  pic.twitter.com/2YYaeiyGJC  linda is not a cat (@riokitty) January 5, 2024

Jeremy Allen White for Calvin Klein. pic.twitter.com/Y5FMusDJw4  Maria Cafagna (@mariacafagna) January 4, 2024

RIP Michelangelo, you would have loved Jeremy Allen White https://t.co/nI92rMHSqQ  Meech (@MediumSizeMeech) January 4, 2024

Jeremy Allen White you would be unstoppable in Ancient Greece pic.twitter.com/nKdneJtAxc  Meech (@MediumSizeMeech) January 4, 2024

me liking every jeremy allen white for calvin klein tweet i see on the timeline pic.twitter.com/iTzWgMHxOb  juan (@redrumjuan) January 4, 2024

talking to people who dont find jeremy allen white attractive pic.twitter.com/elj8Jy1nnF  rad libs (@Rad323) January 4, 2024

me liking every jeremy allen white x calvin klein post I see on my tl pic.twitter.com/VQ51rzLxeB  pau (@lukymayer) January 4, 2024

January 4, 2024.



The day of Jeremy Allen White for Calvin Klein. pic.twitter.com/xS7KEI039z  Jessica Crabaugh (@jlcrabaugh) January 4, 2024

me double tapping to zoom in on all the jeremy allen white pictures this morning pic.twitter.com/Ya6bPhhhof  monica (@waystarroyhoe) January 4, 2024

Believe it or not, Jeremy didn't plan for this campaign, telling GQ, I didn't see this in my future necessarily. Who grows up thinking, Yeah, I'll be in a Calvin Klein campaign? Though he noted, I was used to running around in front of large groups of people in my underwear because of [The Iron Claw]. So maybe there was some mental and emotional prep from that job.

Jeremy also said he suffered from imposter syndrome ahead of the shoot, explaining In my head, I was just like, I can't see myself on a billboard. I shouldn't be here. Just real imposter syndrome."

Um, he was! Wrong!

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Delta, United Airlines, American Airlines, JetBlue, and Spirit Airlines each issued travel alerts.

Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

A winter storm is preparing to pelt the East Coast with snow, ice, and rain this weekend, and airlines are preparing by issuing travel alerts.

The worst of the storm is likely to hit north of New York City with areas into the Hudson Valley and along the Connecticut coast expected to receive up to 10 inches of snow, CNN reported. In Boston, residents may see 4 to 7 inches of snow from late Saturday through Sunday night, and areas like Worcester, Massachusetts, may see as much as 6 to 12 inches.

Several airlines were preparing for the storm by proactively issuing travel advisories for large swaths of the Northeast. Delta Air Lines issued an alert for cities as far south as Roanoke, Virginia, and as far north as Maine for travel on Saturday and Sunday. Similarly, United Airlines, American Airlines, JetBlue, and Spirit Airlines each issued weekend alerts for states including New York, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, and beyond.

Airlines that issue these travel alerts waive change fees and fare differences so passengers can reschedule their flights around the storm.

Flight disruptions were possible over the weekend, but travel on Friday was relatively smooth with about 700 delays within, into, or out of the United States as of Friday morning and about 30 cancellations recorded, according to flight tracker FlightAware.

In New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement the state was monitoring the forecast, but urged people to be vigilant as she expected heavy, wet snowfall across various regions, potentially causing power outages and hazardous travel.

While winter storms present travel challenges, one group was ready to welcome the snow: New Yorks snow-starved ski resorts. Belleayre Mountain in New Yorks Catskill Mountains wrote it was intently watching the forecast, and Hunter Mountain wrote it was gearing up for the storm.

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Read the original article on Travel & Leisure.
If you're looking to expand the contents of your liquor cabinet, you might be wondering about Amaro Montenegro. This bottle stands out in the world of herbal liqueurs, offering a unique blend of forty botanicals that have been carefully curated since its inception in 1885. Crafted in the heart of Bologna, Italy, this amber elixir is a tasty addition to any collection of spirits. However, it's natural to want to know more before you buy it.

In this exploration of Amaro Montenegro, we'll delve into its origins, the blend of botanicals, and the meticulous process of its production. We'll uncover the historical roots that have embedded this liqueur in Italian culture and explore the sensory journey it provides, from the initial aroma to the bittersweet finish.

Our journey will not only reveal the intricacies of Amaro Montenegro's composition but also highlight the various ways to enjoy its richness. From classic cocktails that honor its heritage to modern mixology creations, the versatility of this liqueur opens up a world of possibilities.

Get ready to discover the essence of Amaro Montenegro, learning more about what it is and how to drink it. We've got all the information you need to decide whether Amaro Montenegro is right for you and how it compares to other amari (that's the plural of amaro).

Read more: Popular Vodka Brands Ranked From Worst To Best

What Is Amaro Montenegro?

bottles of Amaro Montenegro - BalkansCat/Shutterstock

The first thing you need to know about Amaro Montenegro is that it belongs to the illustrious family of amari. But what exactly is an amaro? Amaro is the Italian word for "bitter" and an amaro is a drink  more specifically, it's a type of herbal liqueur. Amari originate in Italy, where they're enjoyed after dinner as digestifs. They are revered for their complex flavor profiles that dance between bitter, sweet, and herbal notes. Drinks in this family are crafted by infusing a blend of herbs, spices, botanicals, and often citrus peels into a base spirit.

But what about Amaro Montenegro? As we know, it's a type of amaro  but what's great about amari is that they're all somewhat different. This one is a mid-colored amaro with a strength of 23% alcohol by volume (ABV), which is on the lower end of the spectrum for an amaro. It's fairly balanced between sweetness and bitterness, which means some describe it as a "gateway amaro." It's a good one to get started on if you're new to the world of amari but want something a little different from orange amari, like Aperol and Campari.

History Of Amaro Montenegro

shot of amaro in glass - Mrkornflakes/Getty Images

Amaro Montenegro traces its roots back to 1885 when it was first created by a man named Stanislao Cobianchi. In the small village of Bologna, Italy, Cobianchi sought to craft a bitter liqueur that not only celebrated the traditional Italian amaro profile but also stood out with its own unique character. Cobianchi made this new amaro with a blend of 40 botanicals. This recipe is still used to this day.

Back in the 1800s, amari were considered health tonics with a range of (since debunked) medicinal benefits. As such, it was originally called Elisir Lungavita, which translates to the elixir of life. However, it was only 11 years later, in 1896, when its name was changed to Amaro Montenegro. The reason for this is a simple one: It was named after Princess Elena of Montenegro, who was part of the Royal House of Savoy. She married Italy's Prince Victor Emmanuel III and was therefore in line to become Queen of Italy. It was in honor of this royal marriage that Amaro Montenegro received its new name.

This popular amaro has stood the test of time and is still produced today and enjoyed across the world. It's still made in the province of Bologna, even though many things have changed in the area since the drink was first invented.

What Does Amaro Montenegro Taste Like?

drink with amaro - siamionau pavel/Shutterstock

Before you shell out on a bottle, here's the important question: What does Amaro Montenegro taste like? There's no point in spending money on something you aren't going to enjoy, after all. And just because you've tasted one amaro, it doesn't mean that you'll know exactly what others taste like, as they all have their own flavor profiles.

So, what can you expect? Well, Montenegro starts with a bittersweet kick  a mix of herbs that give way to a subtle sweetness. Its flavor is a blend of bitterness, sweetness, herbs, and spice, making it both complex and easy to enjoy. Many people notice the sweetness of the liqueur upon first sip. It has notes of cherry, orange, and rose that come to the forefront. It's more heavily spiced than some and you should be able to detect hints of sweet, fragrant spices, such as cinnamon and cloves. It then turns mildly bitter, as you'd expect from an amaro, finishing on bitter notes of citrus and wormwood.

Overall, it's a well-balanced drink. While some amari are more pronouncedly bitter and others more pronouncedly sweet, this one bridges the divide quite nicely. It's perhaps more sweet than bitter, but it isn't sickly or lacking in complexity.

What Ingredients Are In Amaro Montenegro?

botanical ingredients in jars - Barmalini/Getty Images

The exact recipe for Amaro Montenegro is a closely guarded secret, known only to a select few. However, we do know that this is renowned for its complex blend of 40 botanicals, including a variety of herbs, spices, and citrus peels. The specific combination of these ingredients contributes to the unique flavor profile of Amaro Montenegro.

While the precise list of botanicals remains undisclosed, the makers of this drink have disclosed some of its ingredients. These listed botanicals are split into three categories: sweet, citrusy, bitter, and herbaceous. In the sweet zone, we have cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon. In the citrusy category, the listed ingredients are sweet and bitter oranges and petite dried oranges. Finally, we're told that Amaro Montenegro included the following bitter and herbaceous ingredients: coriander seeds, marjoram, oregano, and an artemisia (wormwood) blend.

Of course that still leaves us with more than 30 botanical ingredients that we don't know. These are categorized into seven flavor notes: bitter and herbaceous, spicy and floral, sweet and roasted, fresh and balsamic, fruity and sweet, warm and tropical, and the seventh note  the mysterious "premio." As well as the botanicals, Amaro Montenegro includes alcohol, water, and sugar. The meticulous infusion and blending of these ingredients create a distinctive, well-balanced amaro that has captivated the palates of enthusiasts around the world.

How Is Amaro Montenegro Made?

equipment used for distilling alcohol - Powerofflowers/Shutterstock

The process of making Amaro Montenegro is a relatively complex one. First off, the botanicals are selected and prepared. Various herbs, roots, spices, and citrus peels are selected from four continents for their aromatic and flavor properties. Then the selected botanicals are chopped, mixed with water, and boiled, after which they're macerated (soaked) in a base alcohol. This allows the flavors and aromas of the botanicals to be extracted into the liquid. The maceration period is between 20 and 30 days.

After maceration, the infused liquid undergoes distillation to further concentrate the flavors. This creates the heart of the spirit, containing most of the key flavor notes that you'll recognize as Amaro Montenegro. After this process, makers are left with 12 essences that are blended together according to the recipe. Then the bitter, aromatic liquid obtained from maceration and distillation is sweetened with sugar. At this stage, alcohol and water are also added.

Finally, it's time for the last flavor note to be added: the premio. This is perhaps the most secret ingredient in Amaro Montenegro. It's what rounds out the flavor, making it the drink that people know and love. The premio is a blend of five botanicals that are blended separately from the others. It's so intense that just a single drop is needed for each bottle of Amaro Montenegro. Just one liter of this secret ingredient is needed for every 15,000 bottles of amaro.

How To Drink Amaro Montenegro

drink with amaro on ice - SergeUWPhoto/Shutterstock

Amaro Montenegro is a versatile Italian herbal liqueur that you can enjoy in various ways, depending on your preferences. Drinking it neat is a popular choice for those who appreciate the complexity of its flavors. Serve it at room temperature and sip it slowly to savor the herbal and citrus notes, as well as the balance between sweetness and bitterness. We'd recommend trying Amaro Montenegro (and any other amaro) straight up at least once, so you can get an idea of its flavor notes.

Serving it over ice is another straightforward and enjoyable option. The ice can slightly dilute the liqueur, mellowing its intensity and providing a refreshing chill. This method is particularly suitable for those who enjoy a cooler, more diluted beverage. What's more, you can enhance its citrus notes by adding a twist of orange peel or a slice of orange.

For a lighter, effervescent option, mix Amaro Montenegro with club soda. The carbonation of the soda can open up the flavors of the amaro while adding a refreshing quality. Use a highball glass filled with ice and garnish with a twist of orange or a slice of orange for an extra citrusy kick. Tonic water is another mixer that pairs well with Amaro Montenegro. The bitter notes in tonic complement the bitter notes of the amaro, so you're left with a drink that's refreshing and not too sweet.

Can You Use Amaro Montenegro In Cocktails?

an amaro cocktail - matthewjohn5539/Shutterstock

If you don't want to drink it straight or with a simple mixer, you can absolutely use Amaro Montenegro in cocktails. If you aren't sure where to start, begin by replacing other, more widely-used amari with Amaro Montenegro in popular cocktails.

For instance, a negroni is equal parts gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth. You can easily use Amaro Montenegro in the place of Campari, imparting a slightly different flavor profile. This is sometimes known as a Montenegroni. You can also try a Montenegro spritz instead of an Aperol spritz. The classic ratio is three parts prosecco, two parts amaro, and one part soda water, but you can experiment with your own ratios. It's also good in a take on a whiskey sour, where  to  of the whiskey in the chosen recipe is replaced with Amaro Montenegro.

Of course, you don't have to try takes on classic cocktails. You can find Amaro Montenegro cocktails in their own right. One recipe is the sword and shield, developed by mixologist Yael Vengroff, which is two parts Amaro Montenegro, two parts blanc vermouth, one part lemon juice, and half a part simple syrup, topped up with soda water. Some people also drink this amaro as an M&M, which is equal parts Montenegro and mezcal.

Can You Cook With Amaro Montenegro?

chocolate orange cake - Yurawhite/Getty Images

If you've got an open bottle of Amaro Montenegro or are looking for some interesting liquors to experiment with in the kitchen, you might be wondering if you can cook with it. Amaro Montenegro isn't a popular culinary ingredient (nor are other Amari) because of its complex flavor profile, but you certainly can cook with it if you want to get creative.

It's more common to find Amaro Montenegro in sweet recipes than savory ones. It's a bittersweet drink, so its flavors can add sweetness to desserts with bitter notes for complexity and balance. You can use it in a range of cake recipes  such as chocolate cake and almond cake  and in chocolate truffles. It can also enhance the richness of chocolate sauces, ice creams, or tiramisu. Consider using this amaro in glazes for cakes or drizzling it over poached fruits.

You can also try using it in savory dishes, though its pronounced flavor means that it won't work everywhere. Consider it in savory recipes that have a sweet glaze, such as ham or tofu. It can also work in marinades or as part of salad dressings. However, you should be prepared to experiment a little and prepare for the eventuality of having a few misses before you stumble on a hit.

How Does Amaro Montenegro Compare To Other Amari?

closeup of amaro bottles - Sergio Hernan Gonzalez/Shutterstock

Amaro Montenegro is just one of many amari, and each amaro has its own unique flavor profile, combining a variety of botanicals, herbs, and spices. So how does this one compare to others in the same family? Amaro Montenegro is known for its well-balanced and approachable flavor profile. Amari can vary significantly in their bitterness. Amaro Montenegro is often described as bittersweet, making it appealing to a broad range of palates. Some amari  like Fernet Branca and Amaro dell'Erborista  can be intensely bitter, while others  like Averna and Cardamaro  are on the sweeter side.

While the exact recipes of most amari are secret, they certainly play a huge part in how they taste. Amaro Montenegro is heavy on citrusy notes and has a distinctly spiced flavor, with spices such as cinnamon and cloves coming to the front. But some amari have quite different flavor profiles. Cynar, for instance, has an earthiness that comes from artichokes, while Zucca Rabarbaro and Sfumato Rabarbaro have distinctly smoky notes from dried Chinese rhubarb. Then there's a subcategory of Alpine amari  such as Braulio  which are heavy on menthol and piney notes.

You might also want to compare amari based on their alcohol content. Aperol has one of the lowest alcohol contents of all amari  at just 11% alcohol by volume (ABV)  on the other end of the spectrum is Fernet Branca, with a 45% ABV. Amaro Montenegro is in between, with its 23% ABV.

Where Can You Buy Amaro Montenegro?

man browsing in liquor store - Hispanolistic/Getty Images

If, after reading this far, you've decided you want to buy some Amaro Montenegro, you may be wondering where you can pick it up. It's not as easy to find as Aperol or Campari, both of which can be found in most supermarkets that sell alcohol and in practically any liquor store. However, it's certainly not too tricky to find either.

Exactly where you can find it will vary. If you live in a dry state or an area where you can only buy alcohol from authorized liquor stores, your mileage may vary. In some areas, it's available in Whole Foods. You'll also find it in most decent liquor stores, especially those with even a moderate stock of amari. Amaro Montenegro has a location finder on its website to help you find your nearest stockist. If you're in doubt, we'd recommend emailing your local liquor store or calling ahead to avoid a wasted trip. If you can't find it locally, you can also order it online.

How Much Does Amaro Montenegro Cost?

bottles of Amaro Montenegro - Chiara Paolini/Shutterstock

The exact cost of Amaro Montenegro varies depending on where you buy it. During our research, we've found it for as little as $32.99 and as much as $45.99 for 750 milliliters. So if you want to get the best price, you may need to shop around. If you're buying online, you'll also need to factor in shipping costs, noting that some retailers charge more for shipping.

This may seem like a moderate amount to spend on liqueur, but it's hard to get a picture of how cheap or expensive it is without comparing it to other amari. So let's start with arguably the best-known amaro in the U.S.  Aperol. Again, this amaro has a wide price range depending on where you buy it, but it is generally cheaper than Amaro Montenegro. We've found it starting at $21.49 for 750 milliliters, working up to $32 for the same quantity.

But what about the pricier amari? Both Varnelli Amaro dell'Erborista and Braulio cost around $65 per liter, which is significantly pricier, but you also need to take the larger bottle size into account: The liter bottle contains 25% more liqueur. You might even find some small-batch artisan amari that cost even more than this.

How To Store Amaro Montenegro

alcohol cabinet with assorted bottles - Texturemaster/Shutterstock

Unlike some amari made with wine as the base, Amaro Montenegro is shelf-stable and doesn't need refrigeration. Store it in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight and heat. Exposure to light and high temperatures can accelerate the aging process and negatively impact the flavors of the liqueur.

Keep the bottle tightly sealed when it's not in use to prevent excessive exposure to air. The airtight seal helps maintain the integrity of the flavors and prevents evaporation. Store the bottle in an upright position. This helps minimize the surface area of liquid in contact with air, reducing the potential for oxidation and flavor degradation. Try to avoid significant temperature fluctuations. Extreme temperature changes can affect the composition of the liqueur and alter its flavor profile over time.

As for the shelf life of Amaro Montenegro, it is generally considered a spirit with a long shelf life. Properly stored, unopened bottles can last for an extended period. Once opened, the liqueur may begin to oxidize, and its flavors can evolve over time. However, Amaro Montenegro is known for maintaining its quality for an extended period, especially if it is stored correctly. It's worth noting that while Amaro Montenegro doesn't spoil in the same way that perishable food does, its flavor profile may change subtly over time. Some people even find that they appreciate the evolving complexity of amari as they age.

Read the original article on Mashed.
A squid swims in black waters with thousands of eggs suspended from its arms.

A deep-sea squid has been filmed gliding through inky waters with thousands of eggs suspended from its arms.

Researchers spotted the black-eyed squid (Gonatus onyx)  one of the few squids known to brood their eggs  off the coast of Costa Rica in December. Mesmerizing footage shows the squid trailing its cargo of eggs like a long gown and flapping the fins protruding from its head to move through the water.

"The large egg mass is suspended from hooks on the squid's arms, and while carrying it for several months, the cephalopod will go without feeding," representatives of the Schmidt Ocean Institute, which organized the expedition, wrote in a post on Instagram .

A squid swims in black waters with thousands of eggs suspended from its arms.

Marine biologists had long assumed that black-eyed squid and other squids lay their eggs in clusters on the seafloor, leaving them to develop and hatch independently. However, in 2001, Brad Seibel , a postdoctoral fellow at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), turned this assumption on its head. Seibal observed a black-eyed squid brooding an egg sack in Monterey Canyon, off the coast of California, through the lens of a remotely operated submersible.

Related: Watch elusive, sucker-less squid in rare footage captured off the Galapagos

"I just remember jumping out of my seat," Seibel, now a professor of biological oceanography at the University of South Florida, told Science Friday in 2016.

In a 2005 study , Seibel and colleagues described the brooding behavior of G. onyx females, which carry up to 3,000 eggs through open water until the young hatch and swim away. The squid use their arms to pump fresh water through the egg mass, which may help keep them supplied with oxygen.

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Black-eyed squid are among the most abundant cephalopods in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, according to the study. In the North Pacific Ocean, the species is typically found at depths above 6,200 feet (1,900 meters).

These squid are neutrally buoyant, meaning they don't require any effort to float or swim, but "brooding squid cannot swim very quickly, and may be easy prey for deep-diving marine mammals," according to the Instagram post.
Join travel journalist Chris Schalkx as he checks in to andBeyond Punakha River Lodge, Bhutan.

Chris Schalkx/Travel + Leisure

"NO HURRY, NO WORRY," reads a hand-painted roadside sign on the way to Punakha, a tropic-tinged valley in the heart of Bhutan. Its an apt descriptor for this former capital, where even for Bhutans already laid-back standards, life seems to slow down to an even more syrupy pace.

Ive taken three trips around Bhutan, and Punakha has become one of my favorite Bhutanese valleys for good reason: the Punakha dzong, a whitewashed fortress wedged between two rivers, is one of the kingdoms oldest and prettiest. And thanks to its year-round balmy weather, Punakha is one of the only places in Bhutan where resorts come with outdoor swimming pools  a welcome perk after a long day of temple-hopping around the surrounding countryside.







andBeyond Punakha River Lodge, Bhutan

With just six tented suites and two family-friendly villas, the camp feels delightfully intimate.





Bathrooms in the tented suites come with a skylight in their bamboo-covered ceiling, making them perfect for stargazing from a hot herbal bath on clear nights.





The pop-up cocktail carts, candlelit destination dinners, and excursions are all included in the rate, so theres no need to worry about surprises on the bill.





One of Bhutans prettiest stupas, the Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten, is visible from the restaurant and just a 40-minute hike away.







No wonder, then, that luxury hospitality company and tour operator andBeyond recently pitched up its first Bhutanese camp in a river bend between Punakhas rice fields. The views are beautiful, but Punakha is also central enough for us to operate excursions to various areas like Gangtey, Gasa and Laya, says Rishi Sarma, andBeyond Punakha River Lodges general manager. Its an activity-rich destination full of hikes, rafting, mountain biking, and fishing. And with its proximity to red pandas and snow leopards, we can hone the wildlife conservation efforts andBeyond is known for.

Spoiler alert: stop reading if youre already planning a visit, because Namgay, the camps experience manager, had lots of surprises up his tartan-patterned sleeves. One steamy morning, when I reached the Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten stupa after a 40-minute uphill hike, he and his team awaited me with a picnic breakfast of fresh juices, flaky pastries, and Amarula-spiked coffee. Another day, after I had finished a tour around the Punakha dzong and the sun began to dip behind the mountains, he appeared with a pop-up cocktail bar on a nearby riverbank  ice-cold G&Ts, mini-quiches, chili-cheese poppers, and all.

The Rooms

As specialists in Africas tented safari camps, its no surprise that andBeyond chose a similar setup for its first Asian outpost. The idea was to bring in the real Bhutan, Sarma says. It needed to feel wild and not too manicured. Tents lend themselves well to this immersion into the wilderness, without leaving a carbon-heavy footprint on the land.

Chris Schalkx/Travel + Leisure

I stayed in one of the six tented suites, which was, in fact, more like a tent-villa hybrid. Pitched up in a traditional Bhutanese timber frame, the bedroom area had a canvas ceiling and wall-spanning windows that could zip open to let the outside in. The decor could only be described as Bhutanese chic: a mix of wood and bamboo, with jolts of blue suede (inspired by the blue poppy, Bhutans national flower, Sarma says.), licks of brass, and vintage carpets adding a pop of color. I particularly liked my beds headboard, which was covered in kaleidoscopic local fabrics made by Renew, a Thimphu-based nonprofit that helps women around Bhutan learn new skills (weaving, in this case) to generate an income. The ensuite bathroom eschewed canvas walls for gray slate and stacked sandstone. There was an outdoor shower for balmy summer days (in addition to a spacious one indoors), and a brass-clad bathtub positioned right under a skylight in the bamboo ceiling for stargazing on clear nights.

For more space, theres the 1,615-square-foot River House, a two-level villa built like a traditional farmhouse on one of the loveliest spots around the property. From the plunge pool on its verandah (or the bathtub near the window upstairs), you can watch the river rush past and the Himalayan peaks on the horizon. Surrounded by tall grasses farther back on the property, the Family Suite is even larger (3,337 square feet, to be precise) and features two bedrooms separated by a living- and dining area, alongside a large private pool and multiple pillow-strewn terraces.

Food and Drink

The lobby flows into the camps only restaurant, but during my four-night stay, I only had dinner there once (because it rained). Instead, the team had set up my table at a different spot around the property every night  near the fire pit, between tangles of prayer flags in the citrus orchard, or on a pretty spot along the river. Led by the amiable South African chef Rudolf van der Westhuizen, the kitchen team draws on local ingredients to design a new menu every night, which included, during my visit, chicken ramen, beef curry, and Himalayan trout ceviche. They also got creative with Bhutanese food: apart from a brilliant dinner spread of my favorite Bhutanese classics (kewa datshi potatoes and cheese among them) I requested one night, some menus included playful riffs on local comfort foods such as momos (dumplings) with apple and arancini-like bites stuffed with ema datshi (chili and cheese).

Chris Schalkx/Travel + Leisure

Experiences and Amenities

The camp has a lounger-lined pool and both indoor- and outdoor yoga shalas overlooking the rice fields. And while theyre lovely, its the off-camp activities where andBeyond really shines  those are what you come to Punakha for after all. There are guided tours around that pretty dzong, of course, but also visits to temples and nunneries few others get to see, such as the Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Lhakhang Nunnery, which has a stunning mountaintop setting. For activities of a more active kind, the camp can organize rafting trips down the Mo Chu river; treks through the surrounding valleys; and mountain bike bike rides to the old-timey villages dotting the hillsides.

The Spa

The spa was still under construction at the time of my visit (a few weeks after the camp started welcoming guests), but when it opens, itll be a small village of treatment rooms for all-natural Bhutanese massages and mineral-rich herbal hot stone baths.

Chris Schalkx/Travel + Leisure

Family-friendly Offerings

Most of the activities  from Bhutanese darts games to cooking classes in the outdoor kitchen  are fun for all ages. The Family Villa comes with two bedrooms and a private swimming pool, while the sofas on the ground floor of the River House can be converted into beds.

Accessibility and Sustainability

Chris Schalkx/Travel + Leisure



The bedrooms in the Family Villa are wheelchair-accessible, and ramps can be arranged to cover some of the steps around the property. That said, the landscape is hilly and pathways are made from stepping stones, leaving most of the resort off-limits to guests with limited mobility. On the sustainability front, single-use plastics are banned and the camp sources almost all of its kitchen ingredients locally. Like its African andBeyond counterparts, tents were chosen as a way to tread lightly on the land  a plot of which 75 percent is allocated to local farmers to grow crops. Besides, the camp aims to uplift the local community by hiring almost 80 percent of its staff from local villages, and most of them receive on-the-job training for this first foray into their hospitality careers.





Location

Every visitor in Bhutan has to travel with a guide and driver (which andBeyond can arrange through its tour-operator division), which puts Punakhas sights within easy reach. The valleys main draw, one of Bhutans oldest  and prettiest  dzongs, is about a 20-minute drive away, while the drive to the of-visited Chimi Lhakhang (fertility temple) will take about 45 minutes. There are plenty of sights within walking distance, too: the Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten, a gold-rimmed hilltop stupa visible from the resort, is reachable via a 40-minute hike. Punakha lies some three hours from Thimphu, and four hours from Paro airport, which makes stopping here worthwhile even if youre visiting Bhutan for only a few days.

How to Get the Most Value out of Your Stay

The tented suites, which are the entry-level rooms at andBeyond Punakha River Lodge, start from $890 per night. Not cheap, but a fair bit more affordable than the other five-star competitors in the valley. Plus, everything from meals to drinks and activities (with the exception of spa treatments and river-based excursions) is included in that rate. But thats not all: Bhutans Sustainable Development Fee will cost you $100 for every day you spend in the Kingdom, and youll need to hire a guide and driver. To make a trip hassle-free, your best way is booking through one of the travel agencies specializing in Bhutan, such as andBeyonds tour-operator arm which takes care of everything from flight bookings to visas  and might even be able to hook you up with some extra perks at the camp.

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LONDON  Central Retail will invest further in the British department store only if the conditions are right, the company said in a filing to the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

Central Retail is the publicly traded division of Central Group, the majority owner of Selfridges, which it purchased two years ago alongside the troubled property giant Signa Holding.

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On Friday, Central Retail said it would assess future investment opportunities based on strategic fit, appropriate pricing and optimal timing.

The company, which is thought to be mulling a further investment in Selfridges, said any business venture must contribute positively to the interests of the company and all shareholders.

Central clarified its position following speculation in the U.K. media that it might buy Signas remaining stake in the store.

Two years ago, Signa and Central joined to acquire Selfridges for a reported 4 billion pounds. They each took a 50-50 stake in the retailer, which they split into two businesses, a property one and a retail one. The latter pays rent to the former.

As reported last week, Signa Prime Selection AG, which has stakes in retailers including Selfridges, KaDeWe, and Karsdadt, has filed for bankruptcy and submitted its restructuring plan to a Vienna court.

After Signas troubles surfaced, Central took control of the operating company that oversees the Selfridges stores in the U.K.; Brown Thomas and Arnotts in Ireland, and De Bijenkorf in the Netherlands, which are all part of the Selfridges Group.

Central has said that regardless of the position of our JV partner, it is committed to supporting all of its European luxury stores. We will ensure that they have all the backing they require to continue to operate as normal.

The property company which owns the Selfridges Oxford Street and Manchester Exchange stores is still 50-50 owned by Signa and Central. It is understood that Central still has to decide whether it will take full ownership of that company following Signas insolvency.

Separately, earlier this week Fitch downgraded Signas Development division to D from C following its declaration of insolvency in Vienna in late December.

Fitch said Signas constrained liquidity, including nonpayment to suppliers, caused a halt to some of its development projects. This has led to contagion effects on other Signa entities including Signa Development.

Fitch noted that Signa Development plans to continue operations and repay its debt according to its presented restructuring plan, which is scheduled for approval at its creditors meeting in March.

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The Formosan black bear, an endangered species endemic to Taiwan, is under threat from poachers.

Experts warn that there may be as few as 200 remaining in the wild, with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature warning that the species is vulnerable to extinction.

What is happening?

Over the past three years, nine suspects have been indicted for poaching these bears  however, there are likely many more cases that go unreported.

One of the biggest threats the bears face is the snaring crisis that exists in Taiwans mountainous forests, where hunters set ground snares ostensibly to catch wild boar or deer.

The snares are extremely widespread, however, and trap all kinds of animals indiscriminately. When a bear is trapped, it is often injured, and the hunters often opt to kill it illegally and sell its parts on the black market.

Some escape, often losing a toe or paw, some are illegally killed and sold on the black market. Development is also a serious threat, particularly road building. Also, as tourism increases in bear habitat, the risk of conflict with humans rises, Bear Conservation wrote.

Why is this concerning?

Any species becoming extinct is a great tragedy, and it has ripple effects throughout the entire ecosystem.

Since living organisms interact in dynamic ecosystems, the disappearance of one species can have a far-reaching impact on the food chain, the European Parliament wrote. It is impossible to know exactly what the consequences of mass extinctions would be for humans, but we do know that for now the diversity of nature allows us to thrive.

What is being done about it?

According to an op-ed in Mongabay, it is vital that Taiwanese national park and forestry officials get a handle on this crisis before it is too late.



Do national park and forestry officials have a grasp on just how serious the snaring situation is in this country, of how many snares are out there, who is setting them, and how to combat it? Gregory McCann, who wrote the piece and is an assistant professor at Taiwans Chang Gung University, asked.

McCann also calls for enforcement against spotlight hunting, where hunters go out at night and use spotlights to look for eye shine and then shoot anything that moves indiscriminately.

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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signs three bills into law at a border wall construction site in Brownsville, Texas, on Dec. 18.
If you were to take a peek inside Atelier Eva's location on Grand St. in Brooklyn, NY, you wouldn't assume it's a tattoo studio. With its custom terrazzo decor, indoor plants and Togo sofa, chances are you'd suspect it was a day spa or an independent boutique.

A signature gardenia scent wafts throughout the space as you make your way towards the artists' stations, each one accented with its own archway  a nod to founder Eva Karabudak's own tattoo work.

Atelier Eva is part of the next wave of tattoo studios boasting an entirely new look, one that's much more aesthetically minded than its predecessors. Gone are the framed tattoo posters, sterile panel ceiling lights and neon-studded storefronts: Now, it's all about creating the most inviting and, of course, content-worthy experience for new and returning clients. And as tattoos continue to become normalized among adults, the spaces to get them are taking design notes from retail, fashion and other service-oriented industries.

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A number of tattoo studios across major cities like Los Angeles and New York are using these spaces as an opportunity to stand out and create a more aesthetically branded experience around getting inked. In Brooklyn, Haven Tattoo Studio boasts a pink and green color scheme with plenty of amenities catering to women and the queer community, while Vestige is accented with social-media-friendly details, like squiggly mirrors, boucle furniture and painted murals on the walls. Puppy in L.A. resembles a cool apartment loft, and Supersweet Tattoo not only offers a hyper-feminine space, but coffee and pastries, too.

"While the core of a successful studio will always revolve around having exceptionally talented artists who are deeply committed to their craft, the environment in which they create has now taken on more significance," Karabudak tells Fashionista.

Alongside her business partner and husband Peter Jenkins, the duo have opened not one, but two Atelier Eva studio locations in Brooklyn, catering to a growing clientele that includes celebrities like Sam Smith, SZA and Joe Jonas. "We believe it's crucial to be in an environment that fosters creativity while simultaneously creating a sense of comfort," Jenkins says.

Atelier Eva in Brooklyn, NY. Photo: Courtesy of Atelier Eva

A calm and comforting place was the directive for Alp Bozkurt, the designer tasked with transforming a historic building's 3,000 square feet of wooden beams and skylights into what Atelier Eva's Grand St. location is today.

"The tattoo industry is very male-dominated. Having worked in previous shops that were traditionally grungy  even the higher-end places  they all had a certain old-school tattoo parlor feel to them, and Eva wanted a clear break from that," notes Bozkurt. "The best way to do that is to get a guy who doesn't know what a tattoo studio is supposed to be like."

He instead turned to architect greats like Rem Koolhaas and Richard Gluckman as inspiration for Atelier Eva. The polycarbonate paneling along the space, for example, is an homage to Koolhaas and Gluckman's work behind the Soho flagships of Prada and Helmut Lang, respectively.

"Some of [my] initial conversations [with Eva and Peter] were around whether we should be thinking of this as a fashion brand more than a tattoo brand because that's really what it is," recalls Bozkurt. "Tattoos are accessories now. They say as much about you as your shoes or outfit."

Photos: Courtesy of Atelier Eva

While tattoos have been around for thousands of years, their infiltration into mainstream pop culture has only spanned a handful of decades. In fact, tattoos were still considered illegal in most states throughout the U.S. during the '60s and '70s. New York City didn't lift a ban on tattooing until 1997; Oklahoma was the last state to legalize it in 2006.

Across social media, any stigma around the practice appears to be long gone  a new tattoo is as post-worthy as a 'fit pic. As celebrities and fashion people promote their fresh ink on Instagram, tattoo culture has become more widely embraced, with the artists themselves garnering their own fanbases online; brand deals and big-name collaborations have followed. So it's no surprise that the industry is going through a bit of a revamp. Fine-line and hand-poke tattoos have increasingly replaced Sailor Jerry styles (though the classic aesthetic is still a popular choice), and these days, you could probably get away with a neck tattoo.

Growing demand for tattoos has also given rise to a new generation of self-taught artists. Los Angeles-based Max Lilien pursued tattooing as a hobby in college after purchasing a DIY kit; eventually, his side hustle turned into a full-time gig when he was laid off from his tech sales job in 2020. Over the past three years, he's built a steady roster of clients who would visit his home for a fine-line, hand-poke tattoo. In August 2023, he opened his own private studio, called The Sunroom, in Santa Monica.

The Sunroom in Santa Monica, Calif. Photo: Tanner James Chergosky/Courtesy of The Sunroom

"I was always a little embarrassed of tattooing out of a home studio, but I always got great feedback from clients saying that they actually enjoyed how the experience was less stressful and a little less intimidating," recalls Lilien.

He knew he wanted to capture that same feeling with The Sunroom, so he hired his friend and interior designer Daniella Fields to take on the job. By sourcing the majority of furniture secondhand, she was able to create a modern and cozy space with a bright and clean aesthetic. Five skylights bring in a ton of natural light, while the common area for visitors is studded with ceramic pieces and plants (like an Australian bottle tree  "the most money I've ever spent on a plant," says Lilien), as well as a massive conference table for artists to collaborate with their clients on a design.

"I'd like to think the success of the studio so far has been from the artists and all of the great guest artists we've had since we opened up," says Lilien. "But I think those artists have wanted to guest here because this space is cool. It's a way to cross-promote the studio and their own work. And I think a lot of those artists also want to work here because they know they're going to be in a mellow environment where it's going to be a little more intimate between them and their clients."

Of course, a tattoo studio will always pride itself on having talented artists first. But the benefits behind a desirable location come in at a very close second.

"Space is essential to building strong brands. Physical space embodies your brand and provides a multisensory experience," says Jesse McGowan, the designer behind Keith "Bang Bang" McCurd's Bang Bang Tattoo, one of the most sought-after studios in New York City. (Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, Cara Delevingne and many more are fans.) "Bang is a huge Disney fanatic, and you can see the impact a compelling physical experience can have in places like theme parks." The two-level Soho space boasts marble fixtures, a black-and-white color palette, an entry tunnel showcasing video art and  wait for it  a koi pond.

"We all agreed that for Atelier Eva's business to be successful, the artists will want to come there to work," says Bozkurt. "The space is now very much a part of their identity. They market it as much as they market their artists. I think that speaks volumes in terms of the real value of design. I feel like I'm constantly trying to prove my value to people, and stuff like this kind of proves it. The end result is it lifts everybody who works there and visits, and it's better for business."

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The changing year signals a new start to a lot of things, including health legislation. While legislation can move slowly  for example, despite being signed into law last October, California's so-called Skittles Ban (aka the California Food Safety Act, which forbids the sale of the food additives brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben and red dye No. 3.) won't actually be implemented until 2027  a wave of new laws went into effect in and around Jan. 1. Many have the potential to make a powerful impact on people, while others may even signal a shift in the national consciousness around a particular issue

A lot will change in 2024 in the health sphere, according to the law. Here's a breakdown of some of the biggest shifts in health legislation.

Gender-affirming care: It will be harder for young people to access gender-affirming care across the country. In 2023, at least 20 states passed tight restrictions or even bans on gender-affirming care for minors. On Jan. 1, changes to laws around gender transition care for minors went into effect in Louisiana and West Virginia. In Louisiana, the "Stop Harming Our Kids Act" prohibits gender-affirming care, stating that "a health care professional shall not knowingly engage in any act that attempts to alter a minor's appearance or to validate a minor's perception of his sex if the minor's perception is inconsistent with his sex." The law prohibits care that includes medications and surgery. West Virginia also restricts gender-affirming care for minors, but stops short of banning it. House Bill 2007 states that "a physician may not provide irreversible gender reassignment surgery to a person who is under 18 years of age." However, the law allows minors to receive gender-affirming care with parental consent and after receiving a diagnosis of severe gender dysphoria from two doctors. Under the law, a minor may also be able to be prescribed care if they're considered at risk of self-harm or suicide.

Abortion rights: A flurry of legislation took place on a state level around abortion last year. However, there are some new changes in 2024 designed to protect those seeking an abortion, as well as care providers. California's laws around abortion care have changed slightly in response to the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade more than a year and a half ago. The state's Senate Bill 345, which went into effect on Jan. 1, protects doctors who ship abortion pills to states where medication abortion is criminalized. The law states that prosecution from other states against California doctors in this situation "interferes with a legally protected health care activity." Women's health expert Dr. Jennifer Wider, co-host of the Open Wider podcast, tells Yahoo Life that she expects this to become a growing trend. "Other states where abortion is legal are likely to follow this precedent and pass this bill in their own state," she says. In Illinois, House Bill 3326 bans law enforcement officers from sharing license plate reader information with other states in order to protect people who come to the state for an abortion.

Birth control: In New Jersey, Bill S275 allows pharmacists to dispense self-administered hormonal contraception to patients without a prescription. Pharmacists must complete a training program first and need to counsel patients before they're given the medication. Patients also need to use a self-screening tool to check for risk factors in advance. This is a growing trend: Currently, 25 states and the District of Columbia allow pharmacists to prescribe hormonal contraceptives. "There are several benefits to allowing pharmacists to prescribe contraceptives on their own," Wilder says. "It makes contraception much more accessible to the average patient by eliminating a separate visit to a health care provider. It also cuts down the extra cost of an appointment." This can also "help underserved communities and people living in rural areas the most," she adds.

Vaping: Indoor vaping is now banned in Illinois thanks to an amendment to the Smoke-Free Illinois Act. The act now prohibits the use of "electronic smoking devices" like vape pens and e-cigarettes inside public spaces, and requires smokers to be at least 15 feet away from the doors and windows of any public entrance. Texas is also banning the marketing of vaping products to minors under House Bill 4758. The law prevents cartoons, celebrities and likenesses to food or drinks from being used in marketing e-cigarettes, and considers these a misdemeanor. "Laws around e-cigarettes have been gradually expanding," Kevin Schroth, tobacco control legal expert and associate professor in the Rutgers School of Public Health, tells Yahoo Life. "I'm surprised it hasn't expanded more quickly  there's no significant pushback against the expansion of applying smoke-free air laws to e-cigarettes." The new law in Texas has "a beneficial purpose, given that nobody wants young people to use e-cigarettes, but it's a legally tricky and vulnerable concept," Schroth says.

Postpartum depression: This will get a closer look in Arkansas, where House Bill 1302 requires all new mothers to be screened for the condition. The screening will be paid for by health insurance providers in Arkansas. This lines up with recommendations from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists that everyone who receives a postpartum care visit be screened for depression and anxiety. "This is incredibly important as it aims to lower poor maternal health outcomes due to undiagnosed mental health issues," Wider says. "Postpartum depression and anxiety are very common and too many women suffer in silence without being properly diagnosed or treated." Early diagnosis of both conditions "is key to better outcomes for both mother and baby," Wider says, noting that women have the right to refuse the screening if they wish.
Traditional Italian food favorites, like pasta and pizza, get a lot of attention, but there is another classic Italian dish that doesn't get as much buzz: gnocchi. Gnocchi is potato dumplings served like pasta. The word itself is the plural form of gnocco, but you would never have just one gnocco so you only see the plural gnocchi on the menu. And to make it more confusing, there is a pasta called gnocchetti from the Italian island of Sardinia, but it's unrelated to potato gnocchi.

While gnocchi is a carbohydrate like pasta, it has no connection to pasta and is actually thought to predate pasta. Gnocchi has been linked to the Roman empire, and it is believed to have spread throughout ancient Rome by the Roman soldiers. But the gnocchi of the Romans only resemble today's gnocchi in shape because instead of potatoes, they used a mix of milk and flour to get that dumpling shape.

Today, gnocchi is a staple on the menu at Italian restaurants everywhere. It is versatile like pasta and can be served with classic Italian pasta sauces like marinara, pesto, or vodka sauce. If you are new to gnocchi, you will want to know everything about it so you can order it the next time you visit your favorite Italian eatery.

Read more: 15 Tricks For Making The Most Crispy Chicken Thighs Ever

What Is Gnocchi?

Fresh gnocchi on plate - alinicolae01/Shutterstock

Gnocchi is a small potato dumpling with a mild flavor, usually served covered in sauce. These little dumplings are an Italian specialty with a soft and chewy bite. The dish is popular all over Italy and has many regional variations. The classic potato gnocchi is the most well-known version but not the first version of gnocchi. Before the arrival of potatoes, which were introduced to Europe in the late 17th century, gnocchi was made with other ingredients. When potatoes were introduced, they became a staple crop in northern Italy, and the classic potato gnocchi was born.

The regional variations of gnocchi are diverse and range from savory to sweet. In the Piedmont region, gnocchi is made with chestnut flour and pumpkin. In Abruzzo, spinach is the star of gnocchi, and in South Tirol, gnocchi is made with bread and served in broth. Sweet gnocchi is popular in Fruili and is made with prunes, cinnamon, and stale bread.

Over in Tuscany, gnocchi is so popular that there are two different versions. One is made with spinach and ricotta called malfatti, which translates to badly made because this gnocchi looks more like little meatballs than classic gnocchi. And the other is a polenta-based gnocchi. In Rome, gnocchi is made into an au gratin and baked in butter. If you want to try these regional versions of gnocchi, you may have to travel to Italy because most Italian restaurants stick to the classic potato gnocchi.

How Is Gnocchi Made?

Fresh gnocchi with flour - Gaffera/Getty Images

Potato gnocchi is made with boiled potatoes and flour. The two are mashed together, creating a dough. Then, the dough is rolled into long ropes, and the pieces are cut and rolled on a gnocchi board to get those little ridges. To cook gnocchi, just add them to a pot of salted water. When they enter the water, they will sink. When they start to float to the top, they are ready. Gnocchi usually takes around three to four minutes to fully cook.

If you are making gnocchi at home and don't have a gnocchi board, you can use a fork to make those little ridges. You don't want to skip this step because the ridges aren't just decorative. They actually serve the purpose of holding the sauces, so you get a tasty bite of potato gnocchi and the sauce that it's served with.

Gnocchi seems like an easy dish to make at home, but it's challenging to get the right texture, and often, homemade gnocchi is too dense or sticks together in the cooking process. To avoid those common mistakes, use a starchy potato like Russett and stick to 00 flour, which is a finely ground flour that resembles baby powder.

What Does Gnocchi Taste Like?

Gnocchi in sauce with cheese - Kivoart/Getty Images

Gnocchi is similar to pasta in that it has a neutral flavor. With gnocchi, the texture is more important than the flavor because it just takes on the sauce and seasonings, so it's difficult to make a bad-tasting gnocchi. But if gnocchi doesn't have the right light texture and instead is dense and gummy, it will ruin the whole dish.

The key to making homemade gnocchi and getting that texture just right is to make sure the ratio of potato to flour is correct and avoid over-kneading the dough. Gnocchi that has been over-kneaded or made with too much flour can be tough and rubbery. Getting homemade gnocchi just right may take a few tries, but once you get it, you will want to add it to your repertoire of dishes because it's so versatile. You can serve it on its own as a main dish, fry it in oil for a tasty appetizer, or add cooked gnocchi to soup for a light lunch.

Gnocchi Vs. Pasta

Fresh pasta and gnocchi plated - Marko Jan/Getty Images

When it comes to gnocchi and pasta, they have some similarities and some key differences that make each unique. Let's start with the similarities: Both pasta and gnocchi are Italian staples served with sauce as a main course. Both can be made at home or found in stores, and both have a fairly neutral taste and make a filling meal. The differences lie in the ingredients: Gnocchi is made with potatoes, and pasta is made with semolina wheat flour. They cook differently, too; gnocchi cooks quickly in just three to four minutes, and pasta cooks closer to 10 minutes.

There is a misconception that gnocchi is a healthier version of pasta, but that isn't true. While they are made from different ingredients, they are both carb-heavy foods with minimal nutritional value. A cup of cooked pasta has 220 calories, and a cup of gnocchi has 250 calories. So, if you choose gnocchi instead of traditional pasta for health benefits, there really aren't any.

Gnocchi Vs. Stuffed Pasta

Fresh ravioli and cutter - Cappels/Getty Images

Gnocchi and stuffed pasta look similar; they are both pillowy little puffs of flavor. However, gnocchi is all potato and flour, and stuffed pasta is filled with cheese, meat, or vegetables. Both can be served with sauce or in a soupy broth. And while traditional gnocchi is never stuffed, there is one regional variety of stuffed gnocchi in Piedmont in Northwest Italy.

While gnocchi and stuffed pasta are completely different from ingredients to taste, the thing they both share is that they come in various shapes and sizes. Stuffed pasta has many forms, like round tortellini, square ravioli, hat-shaped capelleti, and rectangle-shaped tortelli. And gnocchi has several different looks throughout Italy.

Gnocchi and stuffed pasta can both be made at home, but they aren't great recipes for beginner home cooks. Skills, like thinly rolling out homemade pasta and making dough from mashed potato and flour take some practice and are best left to experienced home cooks or professional chefs for best results.

Other Ways To Make Gnocchi

Purple beet gnocchi on board - OlgaBombologna/Shutterstock

Some creative chefs have started making healthier versions of gnocchi by replacing carb-heavy potatoes with other vegetables like cauliflower. Cauliflower is one of the most common potato replacements because when cauliflower is cooked and mashed, it resembles a potato, making it an easy choice for a healthier, low-carb version of everything from tater tots to French fries to gnocchi.

Some stores are even starting to carry premade cauliflower gnocchi. Winter squash, like butternut or pumpkin, is also a good choice to replace potatoes. Summer squash like zucchini and pattypan would work, too.

Another root vegetable getting in on the gnocchi trend is brightly colored beets. Beet gnocchi are purple and almost too pretty to eat. Vitamin-rich veggies like spinach, carrots, and sunchokes make deliciously gnocchi, too. There is a lot of wiggle room when it comes to gnocchi, so don't be afraid to get creative and try new ways of making it.

Ways To Serve Gnocchi

Pesto gnocchi in white bowl - NADKI/Shutterstock

The classic way to serve gnocchi is to cover it in your favorite sauce and sprinkle it with parmesan cheese. But that isn't the only way to enjoy these dumplings. Instead of heavy sauce, you can pair gnocchi with olive oil and fresh herbs. Or mix them with roasted veggies. Or take a cue from another classic Italian dish, baked ziti, and mix gnocchi with sauce and cheese and bake into a casserole. Adding gnocchi to simple soups like a basic chicken broth turns it into a hearty meal. Or fry them in oil to get some crispy edges and serve with a dipping sauce, similar to fried ravioli.

Since the mild flavor of gnocchi mixes with just about anything, the best way to pair it is to think about texture and contrast. Soft, puffy gnocchi is excellent when mixed with crispy bits of guanciale or salty olives. Creamy goat cheese, pungent gorgonzola, and umami-rich mushrooms are great choices. Spicy chunks of andouille sausage and roasted red pepper give some depth to a simple plate of gnocchi.

Where To Buy Gnocchi

Close up fresh gnocchi - Jiri Hera/Shutterstock

Most supermarkets sell packaged gnocchi near the other pastas. And some specialty shops may sell fresh gnocchi. Store-bought gnocchi varies in quality, and not all brands are created equal. You might have to try a few brands before you find the one with the best texture. International markets may have more choices and high-quality Italian brands. Online specialty stores are another excellent place to find quality gnocchi. You can also check with your favorite Italian eatery; some Italian restaurants may make gnocchi to sell to customers to make at home.

When buying store-bought gnocchi, you need to read the label. Potato gnocchi is surprisingly different than gnocchi made with potatoes; the former means the starchy tuber was the main ingredient, while the latter means flour was the key ingredient. If the package has dehydrated potatoes on the ingredient list, it is still a good option because dehydrated potatoes are the same as fresh potatoes in terms of nutrients and flavor.

Nutritional Information For Gnocchi

Gnocchi with vegetables in pan - Haoliang/Getty Images

Gnocchi will vary depending on how it's made. Some versions of gnocchi use very little flour, and others have a ratio of 50% flour and 50% potato. The De Cecco brand gnocchi equates a single serving to 1 cup, which has 240 calories with 55 grams of carbohydrates, only 5 grams of protein, and 3 grams of fiber. The real kicker is that it has 620 milligrams of sodium per serving, which is almost half a daily serving of sodium in just 1 cup of gnocchi.

The American Heart Association recommends adults cap their sodium intake at 1,500 per day. So, while gnocchi is a filling meal, it doesn't have much nutritional value. One way to add more nutrients to gnocchi is to serve it mixed with sauteed vegetables or in homemade marinara with chunks of fresh tomatoes.

If you love gnocchi but want to avoid filling up on empty carbs, then lower-carb vegetable-based gnocchi, like cauliflower gnocchi, is a better choice. Or just save classic potato gnocchi for special occasions and enjoy it in moderation.

How To Store Gnocchi

Gnocchi sealed in plastic container - Stock liberi/Shutterstock

Store-bought gnocchi are shelf-stable, but once opened, they should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It is best to store cooked gnocchi rather than uncooked because uncooked gnocchi loses its all-important texture in the refrigerator. When storing leftover cooked gnocchi, lay the pieces on a baking sheet so they are not touching. Cover them with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and use them within 48 hours. If you store cooked gnocchi covered in sauce, you can keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for three to four days, similar to leftover pasta.

Freshly made gnocchi is generally eaten on the same day. But if you are batch cooking and making a large portion of gnocchi, the best way to store them is to cook them first and then freeze them. Work in small batches, cooking the gnocchi, then lay them on a baking sheet covered in parchment paper. Let the cooked gnocchi cool to room temperature, then freeze them on the baking sheet. When frozen, put the cooked gnocchi in a sealable freezer bag and use within a month or two.

Read the original article on Daily Meal.
Gypsy Rose Blanchard-Anderson , a victim of child abuse who served eight years in prison for her role in her mother Dee Dee Blanchard's murder , is starting a new life since leaving prison. This begs the question: Where is her ex-boyfriend, who allegedly conspired in the crime with her?



If youre not familiar with the sordid story, Dee Dee pretended that her daughter Gypsy was sick, with diseases ranging from leukemia to MS and others, as a result of her Munchausen syndrome by proxy . In 2015, Nick Godejohn , Gypsy's boyfriend at the time, stabbed Dee Dee to death in her home in Springfield, Missouri. Both Gypsy and Nick were arrested for Dee Dee's murder, with Gypsy accused of masterminding the crime and her ex executing the plan.

In 2016, Gypsy, who is now 32, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 10 years at Chillicothe Correctional Center in Missouri, per People . Nick Godejohn was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison after first pleading not guilty.

Is Nicholas Godejohn still in prison today?

Yes. While Gypsy worked out a deal with prosecutors because of the extraordinary circumstances of her abuse and was given a lighter sentence, Nicholas remains in prison, serving a life sentence with no opportunity for parole at the Potosi Correctional Center, according to The Springfield News-Leader .

In August 2022, Nicholas requested a judge to strike his previous conviction and grant him a new trial, claiming he had ineffective counsel, per the newspaper. His request was denied, pe KYTV .

How did Gypsy and Nicholas meet?

Nicholas, who was living in Big Bend, Wisconsin, met Gypsy on a website for Christian singles in October 2012, per the Springfield News-Leader.

The pair dated long distance and exchanged hundreds of text messages that were read out loud at Nicholass trial in 2018, per the newspaper. They fantasized about getting married and having children. In a 2019 Oxygen documentary, Nicholas said the days he spent with Gypsy were the most intense and magical and awe-inspiring days of his life.

They plotted to kill Dee Dee.

During her trial, Gypsy said she and Nicholas planned her mothers murder. Nicholas traveled from Wisconsin to Gypsy and her mothers home in Missouri, per the Springfield News-Leader. Nicholas stabbed Dee Dee in her sleep, killing her, while Gypsy hid in the bathroom. He and Gypsy had sex and then fled for Wisconsin, per the newspaper.

Are Gypsy and Nicholas still together?

No. Gypsy married Ryan Anderson Scott in June 2022, per The Springfield News-Leader . But Nicholas said Gypsy was his soul mate in the 2019 doc and said hell always have feelings for her.

A new documentary on Gypsy will air on Lifetime January 5  7.

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The Highline Trail in Glacier National Park, Montana, can be treacherous at the best of times. Loose stones on the path can make walking difficult, while the sheer drops are enough to give anyone vertigo.

Now imagine youre negotiating the path, and youre greeted by a family of mountain goats heading your way.

Thats what happened to one group tackling the trail, and they caught the remarkable encounter on video.

An adult goat and two kids happened to be taking the opposite route, but thankfully, these tourists had the presence of mind to keep out of the way, remain still and calm, and let the goats pass without bothering them.

This little family of mountain goats kept getting closer, we gave them plenty of space until they made it clear they just wanted to pass us, TikToker Marisa Nelson (@risa_nelson) captioned the post. One of the coolest things Ive ever experienced!!

Mountain goats can be dangerous, as their behavior is unpredictable and their sharp horns and bodily strength can result in serious injury if you get on their bad side and they charge.

Indeed, the Glacier National Park website asks visitors to remain at least 25 yards from the animals at all times. Of course, it was difficult for this group of tourists to keep their distance in this scenario, but they handled the situation correctly.

Far too often we see videos of entitled tourists putting their lives  and the lives of animals  at risk when coming across wildlife in areas of astounding natural beauty.

Whether its mountain goats, elks, or bison  or even bears  some park-goers just dont give animals the respect and courtesy they deserve, and the consequences for both parties can be dire.

For humans, there is the risk of injury or death, but for animals, some have to be euthanized after encounters with people because they begin to lose their natural defensive instincts and can become a threat to visitors.

TikTokers watching the video were extremely impressed by the restraint and smarts these particular tourists demonstrated.

You handled this so respectfully, thank you! one user said. That is so cool! You let them be as it should, added another.

I applaud you for the space and respect you gave to them, yet another TikToker praised. Thank you.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
With Houthi militants roiling Red Sea transit, Indias textile exporters have been overwhelmed by expensive delays.

In response, the countrys Synthetic and Rayon Textiles Export Promotion Council (SRTEPC) is seeking relief under the Indian governments Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL) scheme, as well as its Remission of Duties or Taxes on Export Products (RoDTEP) program. The trade group, which represents producers of fabric and apparel made with synthetic materials like polyester and acrylic as well as man-made fibers like viscose, also known as rayon, believes duty reductions and government rebates could help textile shippers currently struggling to get their goods on the water.

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Militants began attacking cargo ships in the Red Sea in December, congesting the busy Suez Canal. Shippers including Maersk, MSC and CMA CGM have recently rerouted vessels around southern Africas Cape of Good Hope. These diversion have spiked ocean freight rates and shipment delays that could last for weeks.

Introduced by the countrys Ministry of Textiles in 2019, the RoSCTL scheme supports Indian textile exporters selling to international markets, incentivizing them through credits that can be used to pay customs duties, as well as rebates on state and federal taxes if their exports qualify. The program helps curb logistics costs for vendors or manufacturers of textiles and apparel made in India.

We are requesting the governments support to help sustain textile exports amidst the Red Sea crisis, SRTEPC chairman Bhadresh Dodhia said in a statement. This crisis has caused significant impacts on textile exports, including shipment delays and increased costs. Dodhia wants the Indian government to use existing schemes to bolster businesses during the crisis. Most of their shipments pass through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal to reach their final destinations, he said.

According to Dodhia, the problem has sent India-to-Europe freight rates up more than 40 percent, crippling textile and apparel exporters. If the crisis continues and is not contained quickly, it will not only harm exports from India but will severely disrupt the global supply chain and hurt the world economy, he said.

SRTEPC reported that the Indian textile and apparel sector saw declines throughout 2023, though it rebounded in October with significant growth of over 6 percent from the same period the year prior. While aggregate exports remain in the negative, the rate of decline has significantly decreased, Dodhia said at the time, citing big impacts in the man-made textile and technical textile categories.

Established in 1954, SRTEPC is one of Indias major export promotion councils. It focuses on growing production and export of synthetic and man-made fabrics, which make up 17 percent of the Indian textile market. Exporting to more than 140 countries, India is the worlds sixth-largest exporter of man-made textiles.

The global financial ecosystem and consumer sentiments are gradually improving, and we expect exports to pick up in the upcoming quarters, Dodhia said. The commendable efforts and resilience displayed by our members in the face of export challenges are truly appreciated.
Warning: Disturbing and graphic content ahead.

1.France  Marcel Petiot, a medical doctor and serial killer convicted of 26 murders (though suspected of killing as many as 200 victims), during the 1940s. The majority of his victims were Jewish refugees fleeing France during the Nazi occupation.

According to the National Library of Medicine, "He pretended to have a means of getting people wanted by the Germans or Vichy government to safety outside France for a price of 25,000 Francs. He had three accomplices who directed victims to him. [...] Once victims were under his control, he told them that they required an inoculation for entry into the receiving country. He then injected them with cyanide. He took all their valuables and disposed of their bodies." After complaints from neighbors about a "foul stench" in the area, Petiot evaded capture for several months. Eventually, he was recognized and arrested at a Paris Metro station and finally tried in March 1946. In May, Petoit was beheaded by guillotine. Bettmann / Bettmann Archive

2.Brazil  Pedro Rodrigues Filho, aka "Killer Petey" (among many other monikers), who was charged with 71 counts of murder, but claimed to have killed over 100 drug dealers, rapists, and murderers.

According to All That's Interesting, "He ultimately only served 34 years in prison for the 70-plus murders he committed  and then an additional seven from 2011 to 2018 for crimes he committed while he was detained at Sao Paulo. Then, Filhos career took another surprising twist: He became a YouTuber with a channel that urged people to stay away from a life of crime." Filho was killed on March 5, 2023 by two men who shot him from a car in Mogi das Cruzes, Brazil. Cometa Podcast / Sub BR Content / Via youtube.com

3.Denmark  Dagmar Overbye, a serial killer who worked as a child caretaker and murdered somewhere between 9 and 25 children (including one of her own) from 19131920.

According to All That's Interesting, "She either strangled, drowned, or burned them to death in her masonry heater. Then she either hid the cremated ashes in her stove or buried the corpses. In 1921, she was found guilty and given the death penalty, making her the first woman sentenced to death since 1861. However, the reigning monarch, Christian X, was against the death penalty for women, saying that in an enlightened Denmark, 'we dont put our women to death.' Thus, her sentence was commuted to life in prison." Ilbusca / Getty Images

4.Egypt  Gaddafi Farag, aka the "Giza Butcher," who violently killed at least four people from 2015 to 2017 (including his wife) in an attempt to cover up fraud. A true crime TV series about Farag's exploits was recently released on Shahid TV and became a huge hit.

According to the New Arab, Farag was tried, found guilty, and given four death sentences in 2021. His execution is currently on hold, after an appeal. While a court upheld one of the sentences, the other three are set to be reviewed in 2024. Amir Makar / AFP via Getty Images

5.Mexico  Juana Barraza, aka the "Little Old Lady Killer," a former professional wrestler who reportedly killed between 4248 elderly women from the late '90s until the mid '00s  although the true number is unknown.

According to Inside Edition, "She terrorized senior females in Mexico City as a serial killer who strangled women with a stethoscope. She was sentenced to 759 years in prison in 2015, convicted of killing 16 women." Azteca Noticias / Via youtube.com

6.Scotland  "Bible John," an unidentified serial killer who's believed to have murdered three women between 1968 and 1969 in Glasgow. The killer was dubbed "Bible John" because, according to a witness, he would quote Bible scripture.

According to BBC News, "The Bible John investigation became one of the largest ever carried out by Scottish police. More than 5,000 people were interviewed  and the inquiry saw the first use of a police photofit of the suspect. But no arrests were made. One suspect's body was exhumed after the case was reopened in 1995, but he was eliminated after tests failed to find a DNA link to the killings." Mirrorpix / Mirrorpix via Getty Images

7.South Korea  Yoo Young-chul, aka the "Raincoat Killer," a convicted serial killer and self-confessed cannibal who murdered (at least) 20 people in and around Seoul from 20032004. When asked about his motive, he told the media, "Women shouldn't be sluts, and the rich should know what they've done."

According to the Toronto Sun, Yoo testified that in order to cleanse his spirit, he ate some of the internal organs from the bodies of four of his victims." The article continued to explain that prosecutors added in 2004, It is difficult to believe Yoos statement because serial killers tend to exaggerate. Kim Mi-ok / Getty Images

8.England  Harold Shipman, a doctor who became known as one of the most prolific serial killers in modern history and was active from the 1970s to 1990s. Although he was convicted of only 15 murders, it is believed he actually had as many as 250 victims. Shipman would kill his victims, who were mostly elderly patients, by giving lethal doses of drugs.

Shipman was convicted in January 2000 and sentenced to life in prison; however, no motivation was ever determined. Shipman later died by suicide, in prison, on Jan. 13, 2004. According to the Independent, "Serial killer Harold Shipman timed his suicide so his wife could cash in a 100,000 pension payout, according to secret prison records." The article continued, "He plotted to end his life before his 60th birthday so he could guarantee Mrs. Shipman a 100,000 lump sum payment and 10,000 a year later from his GP pension. If he died after that point, she would have only been entitled to 5,000 a year." Universal History Archive / Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

9.Germany  Niels Hogel, a former nurse and convicted serial killer responsible for at least 85 murders from 20002005. Since his conviction, estimates of his victim count have been as high as 300, and he is considered "Germanys deadliest post-war serial killer."

According to CNN, "Hogel was accused of giving his victims various non-prescribed drugs, in an attempt to show off his resuscitation skills to colleagues and fight off boredom." He is currently serving a life sentence. David Hecker / Getty Images

10.Australia  John Justin Bunting, Robert Joe Wagner, and James Vlassakis, who were convicted of killing 11 people from 19921999 in what became known as the "bodies-in-the-barrels" serial killings. The victims' bodies were found in barrels of acid in an abandoned bank vault in the small town of Snowtown, near Adelaide. It was reported that the smell inside the vault was so bad "that police needed breathing gear."

According to ABC News Australia, "The Snowtown trial was one of the biggest and longest in South Australian legal history, running for 11 months, hearing from 227 witnesses and costing about $15 million." Although no clear motivation was ever determined, it was reported that the killers "hacked some flesh from [their last victim's] right thigh, fried it up, and shared it out." Fairfax Media / Fairfax Media via Getty Images

11.Japan  Tsutomu Miyazaki, aka the "Otaku Murderer," a serial killer who was responsible for the abduction and murder of four young girls from August 1988June 1989. The gruesomeness of his crimes included the fact he dismembered and molested their corpses as well as engaged in cannibalism.

According to the Guardian, "Miyazaki's crimes provoked widespread revulsion after it emerged that he had slept next to his victims' corpses and drank their blood, left the remains of one on her parents' doorstep, and eaten the hands of another." Miyazaki was executed in June 2008. Jiji Press / AFP via Getty Images

12.Canada  The "Highway of Tears" killer (or killers), which refers to a 450-mile corridor of Highway 16 in British Columbia where many Indigenous women have gone missing and/or been murdered since at least 1986.

According to the Highway of Tears Governing Body, "From 1989 to 2006, nine young women went missing or were found murdered along the 724-kilometer length of Highway 16  now commonly referred to as the 'Highway of Tears.'" All but one of these victims were Indigenous women. Additionally, they explain, "There is still much debate over the exact number of women who have gone missing in northern BC, but many people living in the north believe that the number exceeds 30." Andrew Lichtenstein / Corbis via Getty Images

13.Turkey  Yavuz Yapcoglu, aka the "Screwdriver Killer," who, as the name suggests, used a screwdriver to kill his victims. Yapcoglu is considered one of the most prolific serial killers in Turkish history, having killed at least 18 people from 19942002.

Reportedly, according to eyewitnesses, he may have killed as many as 43 people. Yapcoglu was sentenced to 44 years in prison for his crimes. Show Ana Haber / Via youtube.com

14.India  The "Stoneman," an unknown serial killer who murdered at least 26 people experiencing homelessness, while they were asleep, in the mid to late '80s. The moniker comes from the fact that the killer would crush the victims' heads with a large stone.

According to Yahoo News, the Stoneman was active from 1985 until 1988 in Mumbai. However, in 1989, a similar series of murders started happening in Kolkata. Dinodia Photo / Getty Images

15.Colombia  Luis Garavito, aka "La Bestia" ("The Beast"), a serial killer, sex offender, and necrophile who confessed to the violent murders of at least 140 minors, mainly young men and boys, during the '90s.

According to the Guardian, "To his child victims the killer would appear in different disguises: as a beggar, a cripple, and as a monk. Only 114 of the bodies have been found. The victims were mostly poor, and many were the children of street vendors. They were often left unattended in parks or worked at city stoplights soliciting money from motorists." Jj Bonilla / AFP via Getty Images

16.Belgium  The "Butcher of Mons," an unidentified serial killer who is believed to have killed at least six women in or around Mons between January 1996 and July 1997. The victims' bodies were dismembered with "anatomical expertise," and various body parts were left in "neatly tied" bags.

According to a report by the Guardian, a police spokesman at the time said, "This is clearly the work of a highly intelligent, ritual psychopath, as you can see from the way the body parts are cut, the way they are wrapped, and the places in which they are deposited." The same article reported some of the bags had been found in locations with suspiciously specific names like "Worry Street" and "Deposit Street." Jean-francois Deroubaix / Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

17.Italy  The "Monster of Florence," an Italian serial killer (or killers) active in the areas in and around Florence from 19681985. Their killings were so shocking they inspired the creation of the character Hannibal Lecter.

According to the Guardian, "The novelist Thomas Harris, sitting in on the original hearings, seemed to share suspicions that a society figure had masterminded the gore and so made his fictional killer, Hannibal Lecter, a psychiatrist." Spoor / Getty Images/iStockphoto

18.Namibia  The "B1 Butcher," a serial killer who murdered at least five women between 20052007 and was never identified. The killer was dubbed the "B1 Butcher" by the media because the victims' remains were found near the Namibian National Road B1.

Groblerdupreez / Getty Images/iStockphoto

19.Russia  Mikhail Popkov, aka the "Werewolf," a former police officer and serial killer, rapist, and necrophile who murdered at least 78 girls and women from 19922010 in different parts of Russia.

According to the Economic Times, "He was found guilty in December 2018, at the age of 54, of 56 murders. He was already in jail for 22 killings. Between 1992 and 2007, he raped and killed women with an axe or hammer after offering them late-night rides, sometimes in his police car. He also killed a male policeman." Anton Klimov / AFP via Getty Images

20.China  Yang Xinhai, aka the "Monster Killer," a serial killer who confessed to murdering 67 people from 19992003. Allegedly, his motivation for the killings was "revenge against society," after a breakup.

According to BBC News, "He used a hammer to carry out some of the attacks in four provinces, sometimes murdering entire families. Some reports suggested he was angry after being rejected by his girlfriend, but others said he was a motiveless killer who simply enjoyed death." Yang was executed in 2004. Wong Bin / Getty Images/iStockphoto

21.Argentina  Carlos Eduardo Robledo Puch, aka "The Angel of Death," a convicted serial killer who came from a wealthy family and murdered 11 people in the greater Buenos Aires area in the early 1970s.

According to Rolling Stone, "He never gave a motive for his crimes, seemingly killing indiscriminately, as two of his victims were asleep at the time of their deaths. These nighttime visitations helped earn him the nickname of the 'Angel of Death.' A judge eventually deemed him a psychopath, to which he replied, 'Someday, I'm going to get out and kill you all.' He was sentenced to life in prison in 1980 and has never been granted parole." Telefe / Via youtube.com
Jasmine Sanders first posed for the SI Swimsuit Issue in 2019, and her feature in Costa Rica with James Macari was so breathtaking that she earned Rookie of the Year honors. The following year, she landed the cover of the annual magazine after traveling to Bali with visual artist Yu Tsai.

Shes returned to the fold each year since, and her work with SI Swimsuit has landed her in Tampa, Fla., Belize and Puerto Rico. Sanders, who was born in Germany and is known to her Instagram followers as Golden Barbie, is also a fashion influencer and has collaborated with notable brands like Puma, Victorias Secret and Tommy Hilfiger.

The 32-year-old has been in the industry since the age of 13, and two years before her SI Swimsuit debut, Sanders told British Vogue that shes experienced plenty of positive change throughout that time.

I feel like the industry is just a lot more open now, she told the publication at the time. I started modeling when I was very young and at that point it was nice being the new mixed race girl coming into the industry but it was a lot of pull your hair straight and dont show too much personality. Now people are much more interested in getting to know a models lifestyle and what we represent as people ... I love being able to wear my hair curly, I never thought I was going to be able to do that. Its fun being able to just be yourself.

Below are just a few of our favorite pics from Sanderss 2022 SI Swimsuit feature in Belize, captured by Yu Tsai.

Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Make sure to follow SI Swimsuit on YouTube!
PureWow Editors select every item that appears on this page,, and the company may earn compensation through affiliate links within the story You can learn more about that process here. Yahoo Inc. may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.

Read the original article on Purewow.

Royals, theyre just like us: When it comes to accessories, they know what they like. Still, its fun to celebrate the repeat choiceslike this simple, yet classic clutch from Emmy London ($440) that Kate Middleton owns in a whopping 14 colors, according to our latest count.

Samir Hussein/Getty Images

About the most recent sighting: Kate perfectly paired the Natasha clutch in lake blue ($440) with her royal blue Alexander McQueen coat while attending a Christmas Day service with the royal family at Sandringham on Christmas day.

Jo Hale/Getty Images

But theres another detail worth calling out about this style: Kates younger sister Pippa Middleton owns one, too. She carried the exact same stylein a candy-colored red ($440)to an event hosted by the British Heart Foundation in December last year.

So, why is this particular clutch so beloved by the Middleton clan? Well, for one thing, its quite versatile, especially given the color range. Made from high-quality suede and handcrafted in Portugal, it also features an interior zip pocket and is sized big enough to fit the essentialskey, phone, lip color, cashrequired for an elegant evening out. (Not that the future Queen of England necessarily needs to carry any of that.)

More than anything, the Emmy London Natasha clutch feels polished, yet effortless: Its the type of bag that you can dress up or down. (We also love that it comes with a detachable gold and leather chain strapalthough we havent noticed Kate or Pippa wearing it that way so far.)

Samir Hussein/Getty Images

But is there a chance that Kate loaned her Emmy London style to Pippa for her event? (Kate did bring the clutch in red to an event in 2017.) Do the Middleton sisters borrow from each others closets? Inquiringand royal-loving mindswant to know.

In the meantime, well be shopping for our own Emmy London clutch. The only challenge: Choosing our favorite hue from the rainbow selection.

buy it ($440)

Kate Middleton Just Tried Bag Layering with Her Latest Wimbledon Look
New year, no bra.

Kendall Jenner Instagram

It may be a new year, but some things never change.



Case in point? Kendall Jenner and her naked-forward fashion. On Wednesday, the supermodel shared her first Instagram post of 2024, and in a slideshow of photos of her drinking white wine on the beach in Barbados, she wore a completely sheer gown with no bra. In addition to its see-through fabric, Kendall's dress, which is from Helsa (model Elsa Hosk's clothing brand), featured a massive diamond-shaped midriff cutout, ruffles along the sleeves and its high-low hem, and a sexy ruched waistline.



Kendall Jenner Instagram

Jenner opted to go barefoot and accessorized the pale yellow gown with just a pair of pearlescent teardrop earrings and a messy updo.

The model got deep with the caption of her post, writing: "years pass, and they seem faster and faster. presence and time is all i can ask for. so grateful for what has past, so optimistic for whats to come. go love on the people you hold close to your heart, and dont waste a second ." She added, "2024, shower me with love and laughter, gratitude and growth, patience and presence."



Related: Fans Think Kendall Jenner and Bad Bunny Had a New Year's Eve Rendezvous

Kendall is currently celebrating the New Year in Barbados with Hailey and Justin Bieber, and quite possibly her ex-boyfriend Bad Bunny (born Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio). Fans are convinced the former couple reunited after Kendall's friend Renell Medrano shared a now-expired Instagram Story of Bunny wishing everyone on the trip a "feliz Nuevo Ano."

Reports of Jenner and Bunny's rumored split surfaced a few weeks ago, but neither have officially said anything about the breakup.

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Hovering over the 2024 election are redistricting fights in several states that could change the makeup of Congress and aid either Democrats and Republicans in regaining control of the House or the Senate.
A man in Melbourne, Australia is out nearly $20,000 after buying seven pairs of sneakers from a then 17-year-old student that he now believes are fake.

In October 2023, Jayson Martinovic took the minor and his father, Damien Digby, to civil court to ask for a refund on shoes he purchased from the teen between June 29, 2020 and Oct. 7, 2020.

More from Footwear News

According to Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (Vcat) court documents, Martinovic purchased four pairs of Dior x Air Jordan 1s ranging in price from $3,200 to $6,700 as well as three pairs of Nike Jordan 1s in Chicago, Royal and Bread colorways for $1,800 each.

After receiving the first pair of Dior x Air Jordan 1s, Martinovic told the Vcat that he noticed defects and contacted the seller for a refund  but did not receive a reply and went on to contact the teens father.

The filing stated that Digby said if Martinovic established that the sneakers were counterfeits  by having their authenticity tested by a non-biased sneaker authenticator who is acceptable to both parties  Digby would accept responsibility and sort it out.

Following this action, Martinovic visited Secret Sneaker Store for this authentication. According to the documents, authenticators faces completely dropped on hearing the name of the teen, acknowledging that he was allegedly a fraudster and a scam artist who had been blacklisted from the store. The authenticator reported that all sneakers were counterfeit, court documents said.

Dior x Air Jordan 1s Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Martinovic also claims that Digby offered to remedy the situation by offering him $2,700 in compensation, which was rejected. Digby then offered $6,700 in compensation, which was also rejected.

Dismissing the claim in December, Vcat member Katherine Metcalf said that due to the fact that the seller was a minor when the shoes were sold, he was not legally able to enter into a contract or liable to make any refunds under law. Whats more, the court found that the father was not liable for payment as well, thus dismissing Martinovics claim on Dec. 22.

Had the agreement been entered into when [the seller] was 18 years old the result might have been different, Metcalf wrote in her dismissal. Whilst the law generally protects minors from the consequences of their own actions, it could be argued that in the present circumstances it is not the minor who needs protection, but rather the people with whom he chose to do business.

As for the Dior x Air Jordan 1s, more than 1,800 fake pairs of the hype shoe model were seized as part of a larger bust by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in August 2020. The total value for the entire shipment of counterfeit footwear eclipsed $4.3 million.

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Average monthly expenses in Colombia run between $1,000 and $2,000.

DC_Colombia/Getty Images

Cost of living is a major factor when considering where to live out your golden years. Those looking for an affordable retirement destination without sacrificing good weather, a laid-back lifestyle, and a rich culture should consider Colombia, according to International Living's 2024 Annual Global Retirement Index.

The company considered global destinations with established expat communities and ranked them in seven categories such as housing, cost of living, climate, healthcare, and visas. And while Costa Rica won the overall top spot on this year's list, Colombia came out first in the cost of living category.

"When it comes to bang for your buck, it's hard to beat friendly, polite Colombia, where the lifestyle is sophisticated, yet the cost of living is remarkably low," Jennifer Stevens, International Living's executive editor, told Travel + Leisure.

So, how much exactly does it cost to retire in Colombia?

"In a very nice neighborhood in Medellin, for instance  a truly green city that closes a huge thoroughfare to traffic on Sundays to free up the space for walking and biking  you can rent a two-bed place for between $700 and $1,000 a month. With a total budget (housing included) of between $1,700 and $2,200, a couple will find they have plenty of funds to eat out a few times a week, pay a housekeeper, travel locally, and live well without counting pennies," Stevens explained.

She also pointed out that the country's topographic diversity means retirees can choose from various destinations  and lifestyles  with different climates like tropical towns and islands along its Caribbean and Pacific Coasts or cooler spots in the mountains and the rainforest.

Colombia also has a high score in the healthcare category. The report highlights cities like Bogota, Medellin, and Cartagena, which have excellent medical facilities and where preventative care comes at a fraction of what it does in the U.S. "Even without insurance (which is not recommended), you pay as little as $20 for a consultation with a specialist, and a cleaning at the dentist will cost you $60," the report states.

According to The Legatum Institute, a London-based think tank that ranks the world's best healthcare systems each year, Colombia placed 36th in 2023, ahead of countries like Greece and Portugal, and well ahead of the United States, which ranked 69th.

However, the report also states that at least a basic level of Spanish is required to live comfortably in Colombia and warns that retirees should still exercise caution when choosing where to settle down. It recommends avoiding the Arauca region at the border with Venezuela.

That said, there are plenty of other places to consider. For those who want to experience island living, International Living recommends the Caribbean islands of San Andres, Baru, and Providencia, while urbanites should look into cities like Manizales, Bogota, and Pereira.

Last year, financial website Insider Monkey ranked the best places to retire in Colombia, and the top three destinations were Santa Maria, where it estimated that a retiree could live comfortably with $733 per month; Cartagena, where you'll need on average $1,047; and Medellin, with $829.

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As waves crested upwards of 20 feet, pelting Californias coast over the New Years weekend, a mysterious WWII-era bomb washed ashore in Santa Cruz. USA Today reported that around 2:20 pm on Sunday, the Santa Cruz Sheriffs Offices bomb team was called to the Pajaro Dunes, located between Santa Cruz and Monterey. There they discovered what they believed to be an inert military ordnance, or a practice bomb.

Due to the devices significant decomposition, the bomb team was unable to verify whether or not it posed a lethal threat. They called in the Travis Air Force Base Explosive Ordnance Disposal team, who performed X-ray scans and visual inspections to determine that the bomb was inactive before carting it offsite.

According to officials, the device was identified as a WWII-era dummy bomb belonging to U.S. forces. It was taken back to Travis AFB, where its currently being stored.

"Every few years we will see military ordnances wash up, Santa Cruz County sheriff's office spokesperson Ashley Keehn told USA Today. We occasionally see sea flares uncovered [as well]. This ordnance washing up on shore goes to show the intensity of the high surf we saw in Santa Cruz County this past week."

Though the origin of the practice bomb is currently unknown, Instagram user @ray_parga762 shed a bit of light on how it might have ended up in the Pacific.

"There is actually a pile of ordnance in the Monterey Bay. [They] used to drag up torpedos, mines, and the most recent I remember was a pile of 50BMG ammo about 15 or 20 years ago. The Navy had a range at Monterey airport up until the early '70s. They had an excess of 600,000 rounds of WWII 30.06 ammunition that was ordered to be dumped into the bay."

Officials urge caution and avoidance should you come across any items that appear to be military ordnances, such as bombs, grenades, and landmines. Even if they look old, the devices can still be active and might explode if moved or touched.
One of the specialties of Granada Hills home bakery Rose & Rye is nazook, the traditional Armenian spiral pastry that's in high demand for Armenian Christmas. (Michael Blackshire / Los Angeles Times)

In her family's Granada Hills kitchen, Kristine Jingozian, one of the founders of Rose & Rye bakery, takes a tray of fresh nazook out of the oven  the flaky, rolled, traditional Armenian pastries that have a butter-and-sugar filling, scented with vanilla and burnished golden on top. Brown paper boxes would be neatly filled with nazook by the half and full dozen in preparation for the weekend of Armenian Christmas, which takes place on Saturday, when families share sweets with relatives to celebrate the holiday.

While the batch is cooling, Jingozian starts to roll delicate gel-like rose delights into sticks and arrange them along with walnuts onto rounds of dough that she shapes into crescents, called lokumlu  in high demand for Armenian Christmas Eve, to drink with cups of tea.

The flavors of L.A. meets Armenia: Rose & Rye's nazook with fillings such as classic vanilla, strawberry matcha, chocolate hazelnut, black sesame matcha, and brandied dates and walnuts. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times)

Its one of the cookies Jingozian recovered from her grandmothers old book of recipes, which reflect influences from the years she spent in Soviet Armenia, intertwined with her Syrian and Lebanese background.

I watched her make lokumlu during my entire childhood. When we decided to add it to the menu, she came and stayed with us, following our every move and making sure we made it properly, Jingozian recalls.

Los Angeles is home to one of the largest Armenian communities outside of Armenia, and dozens of bakeries throughout L.A. reflect its tradition of pastry making, culturally connected to Russia, Iran, Lebanon, France and beyond. To be Armenian is to be of many places.

Rose & Rye is the story of one familys journey of refuge and immigration told through pastries and cakes that so many like the Jingozians adopted during displacement and changing political regimes, theirs perfected by testing hundreds of recipes.

Kristine Jingozian, left, and her sister, Rose Jingozian, started the family bakery with their mom, Karine, re-creating the Armenian pastries of several generations and adding flavors "to incorporate other cultures into our own culture," Kristine says, "because Rose & Rye is a diasporic project." (Michael Blackshire / Los Angeles Times)

Karine Jingozian started the home bakery in May 2017 with her daughters, Rose and Kristine. From their kitchen they also make Persian halva, Russian layer cakes, borek, pirog shortbread tarts and ashtamali, a cross between two iconic desserts (orange blossom semolina cake layered with thickened cream and pistachios) with flavors and ingredients that root them in California, including local olive oil, mandarinquats, blood oranges, black sesame, strawberries and matcha.

I am obsessed with matcha, I drink it everyday so I decided to add it to the traditional nazook, Kristine says. It was a way for me to incorporate other cultures into our own culture because Rose & Rye is a diasporic project.

Kristine Jingozian brushes matcha black sesame nazook with a final egg wash before they go into the oven. "I am obsessed with matcha," she says. (Michael Blackshire / Los Angeles Times)

Diasporic food means that its not just Armenian: It means that everywhere Armenians went they cooked and its Armenian food.

The tangy smell of baked yeasted dough prevails in the sparkling clean kitchen with four ovens placed strategically in different corners, allowing the family of bakers to make their signature cakes and cookies simultaneously.

The tidy German-made wooden mill situated on the counter turns grain into flour that Rose & Rye uses in baked goods. When they started their business, the Jingozians set out to work with the Tehachapi Heritage Grain Project, which grows and preserves heirloom organic grains. The project aligned with Rose & Ryes goal of supporting the local economy and keeping generational traditions alive through food.

Read more: The secret to the most delicious jam I've ever tasted? Hot, sunny days

Food has always played a significant role in the Jingozian family. Karine grew up with the vivid stories of her great-grandfather, a chef in Iran. He was known for his shakshuka, which Karine re-created for her family. After repatriating to Armenia, her family moved to Siberia and later, in 1988, to the U.S.

For her 40th birthday, Karine decided to apply to culinary school and convert her passion for cooking into a profession. In 2016, she decided to quit her job as a pastry chef in West Hollywood and bake classic French cakes with Rose. Soon, Kristine, who worked at Republique, joined her mother and sister with the idea to modernize traditional recipes and make them accessible for others outside her community. Thats how centuries-old nazook received a makeover with hazelnut, chocolate and matcha fillings.

Rose & Rye was meant to be a temporary project, but as the customer base grew, with orders for dozens of nazook and full cakes, the Jingozians expanded the menu.

Thats when the Jingozians Russian honey cake, medovik, was born. The only good honey cakes that I tasted were the homemade ones. Store-bought ones were either dry or too sweet or didnt taste like anything, Kristine says. So she decided to create a cake based on one from her grandmother's recipe book as a starting point, but redeveloped with a flour called Rouge de Bordeaux, a hard red French wheat by Tehachapi Heritage Grain Project with a specific nutty taste that enhances the honey flavor.

Freshly baked, golden brown nazooks are packed carefully into boxes by the half and full dozen. They're especially popular at Armenian Christmas, when families exchange sweets with relatives. (Michael Blackshire / Los Angeles Times)

After six months of trial and error, researching 600 different recipes and an endless stream of YouTube videos, they landed on an ultimate multilayer honey cake with strata of honey sour cream whip and a little golden bee on top.

The next project was to revitalize another childhood favorite popular in Armenia and other countries under Soviet rule: the Birds Milk Cake with white cream between layers made with Muscovado sugar and covered with a chocolate glaze.

The way I describe this cake to non-Armenians or someone who is not from Eastern Europe, Kristine says, is that it has the flavors of untoasted smores.

Weekly pre-orders for pickup at Rose & Rye are booked through its website. Cakes by the slice are available at pop-ups in Los Angeles announced on Instagram.

Read more: 19 dishes from all over the world that blew our minds in 2023

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Adam Guettel has been in New York this week, helping to put finishing touches on the Broadway musical based on the much-lauded 1962 film Days of Wine and Roses. The composer said he has a lucky life, because even though he lives part-time in Manhattan, the beauty of his job means he can write music anywhere that has a keyboard.

Sometimes anywhere can be Vermont, specifically Guettels home in Vermont. The Tony Award-winning composer for the 2005 Broadway musical The Light in the Piazza lives much of the year in Tinmouth, the Rutland County town with a population eking above 500  very different from the hubbub near Guettels childhood home in the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

I always had this weird sort of whispering thought that I was going to live in Vermont one day, Guettel told the Burlington Free Press in a Jan. 2 phone conversation from New York, where Days of Wine and Roses was in tech rehearsals before the opening Broadway preview performance Jan. 6. I think I may have grown up with an inarticulate desire to get the hell out of this concrete jungle from time to time.

Kelli O'Hara and Brian d'Arcy James perform in the Broadway musical "Days of Wine and Roses," with lyrics and music written by part-time Vermont resident Adam Guettel.

Grandson of Richard Rodgers

Guettels family has a rich Broadway history. One could easily argue that his grandfather, Richard Rodgers of Rodgers & Hammerstein fame, helped create the all-American artform known as the Broadway musical. Guettels mother, Mary, wrote the music for Once Upon a Mattress.

Guettel displayed his own musical talent at an early age. He said family lore has him singing The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin Groovy) by Simon & Garfunkel when he was 2.

It was my first favorite song, Guettel said.

His own Broadway career took off with The Light in the Piazza, which on Broadway starred Kelli OHara, who performs with Brian dArcy James in Days of Wine and Roses. (OHara has her own Vermont connections: She married Greg Naughton in Goshen in 2007, and Naughton is in the musical trio The Sweet Remains with Burlington resident Rich Price.)

Tony Award-winning composer Adam Guettel, a part-time resident of Tinmouth.

Guettel said he began talking with OHara about Days of Wine and Roses in 2002, noting how much she resembles Lee Remick, who starred opposite Jack Lemmon in the film. Guettel began working in earnest on the musical in 2011 and has since completed other projects, including the Tony Award-nominated score for the 2019 Broadway revival of To Kill a Mockingbird. He wrote the music and lyrics for Days of Wine and Roses while his partner on The Light in the Piazza, Craig Lucas, handled the book.

Its been a wonderful touchstone for me, Guettel said of his longtime work on Days of Wine and Roses.

Kelli O'Hara and Brian d'Arcy James perform in the Broadway musical "Days of Wine and Roses," with lyrics and music written by part-time Vermont resident Adam Guettel.

Granular memory of substance abuse

Days of Wine and Roses takes a realistic look at addiction. Guettel has struggled with substance abuse and said that while it didnt directly inform his lyrics and music for the production  its not a writerly catharsis, he said  the very granular memory of it all is there perpetually.

I thought it was a beautiful love story with a tough obstacle, Guettel said, adding that every Broadway show needs a significant hurdle for its protagonists to face. Theres no doubt that addiction is a great obstacle.

Days of Wine and Roses shows a couple falling apart from alcoholism. They take turns, with one suffering and the other trying to offer support.

Its really about human beings, Guettel said of the story. I dont write about winners. I write about people. Ive had my own ups and downs and bumps and hiccups and problems and I draw on those things heavily in terms of these characters and how theyre feeling.

Days of Wine and Roses ran off-Broadway in 2023 at the Atlantic Theater Company, which is based in Manhattan but with roots in Vermont. Guettel said the time between the off-Broadway and Broadway runs has been fairly generative as far as modifications to the production go.

I cut a song and I substituted something else, Guettel said. It wasnt because the song was a total drag. It was just that I feel that one has to abide by ones own rules, especially in terms of emotional scale. This particular song that went the way of the dodo was out of scale. It was too big and so I made something smaller, something that allows us to remain in the story and in the bounds of the rules we had already established.

The subject matter of Days of Wine and Roses lends itself to a musical with its dramatic turns. Music also serves to leaven what can feel like too much work for an audience, according to Guettel, who said the talent and humor James and the Tony-winning OHara bring to the production ease that heaviness as well.

Guettel expects to spend more time in Vermont once Days of Wine and Roses is fully up and running. For years he taught aspiring theater professionals each summer at whats now known as the Weston Theater Company in southern Vermont. He said he has spent an entire year in the state more than once, otherwise spending four-to-six months a year in Vermont.

Im definitely looking forward to dying there, as much as one can look forward to that, he said.

If you go

WHAT: Days of Wine and Roses: The Musical

WHEN: Jan. 6-April 28

WHERE: Studio 54, 254 W. 54th St., New York

INFORMATION: $68-$298. www.daysofwineandrosesbroadway.com

Contact Brent Hallenbeck at bhallenbeck@freepressmedia.com.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: 'Days of Wine and Roses' musical by Vermont resident heads to Broadway
Being a friend is one of my favorite things in the whole world. I love my friends like they're family. However, from all of the friends we meet and leave behind, we all have to learn the hard lesson that some friends are here for a lifetime while others are only meant to be here for a season.

Azmanl / Getty Images

A while ago, I made a post sharing stories of what happened to people's childhood best friends. Some were devastating, and some made your heart full. It also prompted even more people from the BuzzFeed Community to share their stories, and here's what they had to say:

1."We grew apart after high school. We grew up together, went to high school together, had sleepovers, etc. She got into boys at a young age, and I was a late bloomer (wanted to play with Barbie and listen to Spice Girls), so we did not have a lot of things to talk about. She failed a year of high school, and I graduated, and we just fell out of touch."

"This was the time when you had to pay to send messages. Picture an old Nokia phone. Fast-forward to the Facebook era; we connect on Facebook but do not meet up, just Facebook friends. We had a reunion when she gave birth three months after I had my son, but again, we had nothing in common. I did invite her to my sons first birthday party, but after that, we remain just Facebook friends." ryrashii Fatcamera / Getty Images

2."My best friend is still in my life; we met each other when we were 5. We have had a 30-year friendship, and I would be devastated if we didnt remain friends. I had a friend in junior high who drowned during a summer break, and I still think about her all the time."

sdalejg

3."I had a best friend whose family moved into my neighborhood as immigrants from Italy. The family barely spoke English, and my parents welcomed them, and we exchanged our traditions with each other. They had a daughter named Catia that I became best friends with. We lived across the street from each other and became like sisters."

"As the years passed, her parents decided that they were going to move back to the 'Old Country' so her dad could take care of his ailing parents. I was heartbroken, to say the least. We did keep in touch via mail. Years later, I had the opportunity to visit with her a month after I graduated high school. She said she missed me and would cry thinking of me. I said the same. About eight years later, she came to visit me just before I got married. Its been over 35 years since Ive lost touch with her, but I know that she still thinks of me as I do of her. I still have dreams of us meeting up either in Italy or when she is visiting me here in the United States." pamelavanhollenbeck Antonio_diaz / Getty Images

4."We talked about an hour ago, actually. Were both 37, and weve been best friends for 35 years. He lives on the other side of the country, but we spent Fathers Day together with our kids in Boston."

awfulpenguin75

5."We were besties  the kind that walks into your house and calls your parents Mom and Dad. We got an apartment together, and they changed. I got tired of keeping their secrets of being a cheater and a shitty person."

"They ditched me all the time because I worked two jobs trying to keep up with their parents' money. We ended up in a fight. I kicked their ass and moved to another state. Now, they live in the same state as I do, probably within a few hours of me. I get Facebook memories that come up, and I delete or untag them. I don't wish them ill, but I hope they shit their pants in public on a consistent basis." txbelle Granger Wootz / Getty Images/Tetra images RF

6."My first best friend grew up on the same street. We were the same age and 'knew' each other as babies. She moved away when we were in the fourth grade. We tried to keep in touch but eventually lost contact around middle school. I would love to know how she is doing. Courtney, if you are on BuzzFeed, I hope you are doing great."

"My other best friend and I became friends around middle school. We had an apartment together in college. She met a racist cop (a racist cop, such a surprise) and became a racist right-winger. I lost contact shortly after her marriage. I wish her the best and hope she has gained compassion."

beverlysharp82

7."We were best friends from elementary to junior high. Then we drifted apart because we went to different high schools. Then, in 2001, 15 years after high school graduation, my wife was having her yearly gynecologist appointment with a new doctor. While she was having the examination, naturally, she and the doctor were talking."

"She mentioned that her husband, me, grew up in San Rafael, California, because he had mentioned that he was from there. He noted that her last name was the same as his childhood best friend's, and then he said my name. She replied, 'He is my husband!' Afterward, they both agreed that she should see another doctor, as it was too weird for the both of them." majorh Endopack / Getty Images/iStockphoto

8."I lost touch with everyone from my school. Now most of them drank the orange foolaid and spew garbage on Facebook all day. The only person I thought was my best friend blew me off after I moved away. Im in vague touch with a couple people I knew as a kid who didnt drink the orange foolaid, but both have suffered major health issues and awful adulthoods. We are still close, like no time has passed."

judir2

9."Thirty-four years of friendship; there have been ups and downs; we moved out of state within weeks of each other (and a 20-minute drive from each other). We met our significant others and moved again to the same city. Finally, I moved to one coast, and she moved to the other! We talk every day and support each other. We have been through every life moment together, and that will never change."

planenacho07 Fotostorm / Getty Images

10."We went to different elementary and high schools but stayed super close, having regular sleepovers growing up. We graduated and moved in together, living together for three years. We are still very close; we don't talk nearly as much as we used to, but she is my unofficial lifemate, and I love her to death."

"We celebrate our friendaversaries; we got tattoos to commemorate our 25th friendaversary, and we want to go to Greece for our 30th. Our husbands refer to us as their other 'wives' because we call each other 'wife' LOL."

j489792481

11."Her little sister was friends with my little sister. We moved when she and I were in fourth grade, and we lost touch. Two years later, we ran into each other in the restroom at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC (neither of us are from there or lived there). I kick myself all the time that we didnt at least take a picture together then, but in the late 1980s, you just didnt take pictures of everything. Carrie and Katie, I hope you guys have a great life!"

freyathwarrrior Paulmaguire / Getty Images

12."She had to move away to another state (in the middle of the night) because her husband had a plot to murder her, their two kids, and himself on his birthday (which was a week away). I didn't hear from her for a few months, for safety, and then one day she popped up in my DM's to tell me everything. It's been a few years, and she and the kids are doing much better. I still miss her. Her ex is still living in town, so she doesn't want to come back."

heb86

13."For years, I was friends with a girl whose one leg was almost two and a half inches longer than the other. When we were 14, her doctors told her parents they could operate on her to even out the legs. She and her parents were terrified, but I convinced her that this would be an amazing opportunity, and she eventually begged her parents to agree. They did, and the surgery worked."

"It worked even better than expected; her shorter leg was supposed to be 'stretching out' for about six months, but it only took two, and the pain was mild. After the surgery, she started ignoring me, and whenever we met, she looked down on me. I wasn't expecting gratitude or anything like that, but her ditching me this way after everything we've been through still hurts." dajcia Evgeniyshkolenko / Getty Images

14."Our moms were friends in high school, so I dont have any memory of not knowing her. I am less than a month older than her. We officially met when we were about 2 and a half because I was born in a different state and then moved back to my moms hometown. We call each others moms 'aunt,' so everyone in elementary school thought we were cousins."

"I moved out of state when I was 10, and we sort of kept in touch, but our moms really did, so that helped. Thanks to early Facebook, we reconnected, and over the last couple years, shes been there for me every step of the way as my mom has battled cancer. Sadly, its mutual now, and we have to be there for each other while both our moms have cancer. Thank God for texting since we live 1,400 miles apart."

keri1986

And finally, this person shared the most wholesome story of friendship that's sure to make your heart swell up to 30 times its normal size:

15."We always dreamed about moving out of our home state together. London was the dream when we were kids, but once we became adults and couldn't stomach the political climate in Texas, Colorado became the dream. After 29 years of friendship, we are happily living as roommates just outside of Boulder, Colorado!"

"We are so happy we did not do this in our 20s, as we are both much more secure and happy with ourselves in our 30s. We make each other better. Most of our neighbors assume we are a couple, which makes sense given how close we are, but we are just two happy single ladies loving life in the same house. Our cats are also best friends, so that's an added bonus!" kate3 South_agency / Getty Images

Note: Submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.

Want to share your story of what happened to your childhood best friend? Let me know in the comments.
Editors Note: Call to Earth is a CNN editorial series committed to reporting on the environmental challenges facing our planet, together with the solutions. Rolexs Perpetual Planet initiative has partnered with CNN to drive awareness and education around key sustainability issues and to inspire positive action.

In the race for alternative, sustainable jet fuels, some companies are getting creative. Weve heard about planes powered with cooking oil, but what about jet fuel made entirely from human poop? Firefly Green Fuels, an aviation company based in Gloucestershire, UK, has created just that  and, unsurprisingly, the prospect of poop-powered planes is attracting attention.

While sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is not new, the idea of using sewage  an abundant and unavoidable waste  is a novelty. So, could it really be the future of air travel?

Commercial aviation produces about 2.5% of global carbon emissions, contributing to climate change. Efforts to reduce the sectors impact are underway, with the development of electric and hydrogen-powered planes. But the technology is still a long way off powering long-haul passenger flights. Instead, the industry is looking to use SAF  with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimating that it could contribute up to 65% of the reduction in emissions needed for aviation to reach net-zero in 2050.

SAF burns like normal jet fuel and produces the same amount of emissions while a plane is flying, but it has a lower carbon footprint during its entire production cycle, because its usually made from plants that have absorbed carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere when they were alive. Or, in the case of sewage, its made from plants and other food that have been eaten by humans and passed through the digestive system. That absorbed CO2 is released back into the atmosphere when the SAF burns, whereas burning jet fuel made from fossil fuels emits carbon that has been locked away.

So far, sewage has been an untapped resource when it comes to SAF, but James Hygate, CEO of Firefly, thinks this is a missed opportunity. Theres loads of it, its everywhere in the world and theres not really any good use for it at the moment which makes a very low-value material, he tells CNN.

Thats why the company, a spin-off from Green Fuels, which has been developing low-carbon fuels since the early 2000s, including biodiesel made from rapeseed oil for cars and trucks, turned its hand to jet fuel  and poop.

The sewage is processed and converted into crude oil through a process called hydrothermal liquefaction. - Firefly Green Fuels Ltd.

Processing poop

To turn human waste into a usable fuel, Firefly uses a method called hydrothermal liquefaction, which is good for wet waste. By combining high pressure and heat, it converts the sewage into carbon-rich biochar (a powder that can be used as a crop fertilizer) and crude oil.

So far, production has been on a small scale in a laboratory. But early results have been promising, with independent analysis by researchers in universities in the EU and US finding it almost identical to standard fossil jet fuel. According to a life cycle analysis carried out by Cranfield University in the UK, it also has a 90% lower carbon footprint than standard jet fuel.

Firefly is looking to scale-up production in the coming years. The company expects to submit an application this year for a fuel qualification process with the standards body ASTM International. Then it will start building a processing facility in the UK, which Hygate hopes will be operational before 2030 and capable of handling 100,000 tons of biocrude oil a year  or producing around 40 million liters of SAF. To put that in perspective thats enough for 800 flights from London to New York, according to Hygate. He adds that it would be more expensive than conventional kerosene used by planes, but cheaper to produce than other biofuels.

Getting hold of the sewage should be straightforward, he says, adding that Firefly is already in talks with a number of UK water utility companies. But he admits that financing the processing facilities could be a challenge. These are big infrastructure projects that need money behind them to actually come to fruition, he says. So far, the company received a 2 million ($2.5 million) research grant from the UK Government and a 5 million ($6.3 million) investment from the European airline Wizz Air.

James Hygate founded Firefly Green Fuels with the goal of developing low carbon biofuels. - Firefly Green Fuels Ltd.

However, the quantity of sewage is one thing that cant be scaled up. Hygate estimates that if all usable UK sewage waste was put into making aviation fuel, it would still only meet 5% of the UKs demand for jet fuel. Therefore, it would have to be used alongside other SAF feedstocks, like rapeseed oil.

A 2023 report from the Royal Society on net zero aviation solutions found that the scale and availability of feedstock is a restriction for biofuels, and that producing enough to sustain the UKs aviation demand would require more than half of the countrys agricultural land.

It also noted that there is some debate over whether agricultural waste is really waste, since it is often used for animal bedding or feed. Cait Hewitt, policy director at the Aviation Environment Federation, a UK non-profit that monitors aviations environmental impact, asks the same question of sewage.

One of the important questions you need to ask about any form of feedstock for alternative fuels, including waste, is what would have happened to this stuff otherwise? she says. In the UK, a large quantity of sewage is currently used by farmers as a fertilizer, she adds. If its used to make SAF instead, that fertilizer would need to be replaced.

Hygate says that the biochar by-product could be used as an alternative by farmers, although potentially not at the same scale. He adds that there is a possibility that the UK may follow other countries like the Netherlands in banning the spread of sewage on fields. If this happens, the other most common disposal route is incineration, an energy intensive process.

Not to be sniffed at

Despite their limitations, biofuels are likely to play a big part in the future of aviation. The first commercial transatlantic flight powered by 100% SAF, made from waste cooking oils and animal fat, took off from London to New York in November.

Sewage is an interesting potential solution and is not one to be sniffed at, says Hewitt. But she cautions that, as with all SAF, it will still produce the same amount of carbon emissions when the plane is flying, and it doesnt solve the problem of contrails, which also contribute significantly to the warming created by aviation.

To have a chance of getting from where we are today to net zero aviation by 2050, we need to be really focused on genuine, scalable, zero-emission solutions, she says.

There might be some limited role for some of these alternative fuels in the short to medium term, Hewitt adds. But the big danger is when you hear something like this, it sounds like intuitively such a good idea, and people say, Thats great, we are on the way to sustainable flying, we dont need to worry about how much we fly.

Jacopo Prisco contributed to this report.

This story has been updated to correct inaccuracies about the analysis and qualification of the biocrude oil, and the proportion of jet fuel demand that it could supply.

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The Porsche 918 Spyder is one of the greatest supercars so far this century. And back in 2015, if you ordered a brand-new one with the added Weissach package, you could essentially have it painted any color your heart desired. For one Swiss buyer preparing to hand over more than $1 million, it had to be a hand-painted psychedelic design inspired by some of the legendary Le Manswinning Porsche 917s from the early 1970s.

Yet it came with a twist. Instead of choosing Porsches iconic Guards Red paint to complement the cars complex stark-white swirls, he picked Rosso Corsa. As in the Prancing Horses Rosso Corsa. Thats right, a Porsche 918 painted Ferrari red. Sacrilege? Well let you decide. Not that it will likely matter when this Porsche 918, one of the rarest examples, is offered through RM Sothebys in a two-day Sothebys Sealed auction opening Wednesday, January 17.

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The 2105 Porsche 918 Weissach Spyder being offered from January 17 through 19.

This is arguably the finest and most lavishly specified 918 Spyder in existence . . . Offered directly from its first and only owner and having been driven less than 800 km (500 miles), states RM Sothebys in its auction notes. In addition to that psychedelic paint job, its the cars exclusivity that undoubtedly sets it apart. Between 2014 and 2016, Porsche built just 918 examples of the 918 Spyder model. This car, No. 680, was delivered in January of 2016.

While many of the Weissach-package 918s received a vinyl wrap in one of the so-called hippy liveries (remember the famous pink pig design?), No. 680 was one of only three to have this specific livery painted, and the only one to feature that retina-searing red-and-white color scheme.

The interior is trimmed in custom red leather with contrasting white piping on the seats.

The cars customization also included white-painted magnesium Weissach wheels, silver brake calipers, No. 8 racing nomenclature on the doors and hood, and discreet Martini Racing badges on the lower rear fenders. The Spyders jaw-dropping interior is trimmed in custom red leather with contrasting white piping on the seats, and the trunk and firewall are dressed in black-quilted fabric. Even the keys are unique, painted matching red and white, and housed in red-leather pouches.

The hybrid power-train configuration delivers 887 hp and more than 940 ft lbs of torque.

The options alone are said to have totaled more than $192,000. Thats on top of the original cost of roughly $860,000 for the vehicle. Add to that value the sheer overwhelming appeal and collectability of the 918 Spyder. Here was the spiritual successor to the iconic 959 and Carrera GT with hybrid power creating a technical masterpiece. Output comes from a 608 hp 4.6-liter V-8 with electric motors front and rear. The setup delivers a combined 887 hp and more than 940 ft lbs of torque. At its launch, independent testers recorded zero-to-60 mph acceleration in 2.2 seconds and a top speed of 214 mph, while Porsche took the 918 Spyder and set a record-breaking time of 6 minutes, 57 seconds around the Nurburgring track in Germany.

The car has less than 500 miles on the odometer.

According to RM Sothebys, after the owner took delivery of the car from Porsches headquarters in Stuttgart, it has spent its life in the Swiss Alpsthe town of Gstaad to be exact. In July of last year, with just 760 km (472 miles) on the odometer, it went to the local Gstaad Porsche Center for an oil change and four new Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires. The bill came to $15,874.

Will the car sell for close to its $2.35 million high-end estimate? Even in todays softening supercar market, theres a strong likelihood. In 2022, at a Bring a Trailer auction, a similar 918with the Weissach package and 1,000 miles on itgarnered $2.025 million. And only last month, at RM Sothebys The White Collection sale in Houston, Tex., a 2015 Porsche 918 Weissach Spyder sold for $3.94 million. Well know for sure whether this cars psychedelic paint helps fetch a dizzying price when the Sothebys Sealed auction ends on January 19.

Click here for more photos of this 2015 Porsche 918 Weissach Spyder.

A 2015 Porsche 918 "Weissach" Spyder.

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When Ron Raasch works on restoring old structures, he focuses on doing work both he and the homeowners will be proud of. But, he admits, his mind often wanders to thoughts of the history of the buildings and those who worked there before him.

History is a big driving force for me. I like to hear the stories about these old houses. I often do research on the houses I work on. I do it for myself but also for the homeowners," he said.

Ive found things in the walls of buildings many times. Its so wonderful to find these things. I found shoes from a whole family in one wall, and I found part of someones lunch, once. I found bones and an old bottle.

At a Wauwatosa mansion he once found a time capsule, then left one there himself.

Retaining the history of a building, both manually and mentally, is clearly a passion for Raasch, who is the owner of Two Hands Restoration, (twohandsrestoration.com) a Greendale firm that does design, consulting, construction and preservation of historically significant buildings  from log cabins to sprawling mansions.

Its a business he started 32 years ago, after learning his craft mainly from his father, who he said "did all manners of woodworking projects."

Ive always been fascinated by the process of combining design and function. I learned the value of things well made," he said.

Raasch said his dad learned his trade at Milwaukee's Boys Technical and Trade School (now Bradley Tech High School), then later was a carpenter at Allen-Bradley.

At his job people started noticing his unique talents and he was called upon to do side jobs for the higher ups at their homes, and I often followed along," he said. I enjoyed watching the interaction between the people and I enjoyed watching the work my dad was doing. I can remember holding the nails for him. I would put all the nails heads up and then I would hand them to my dad and then grab more.

Then he might say, Saw three more board like this. I learned how to measure accurately and learned what the next steps were in the projects he was doing. While he worked, he was always explaining what he was doing.

That got me interested in construction and remodeling, but I also took note of things that were more stylized  things that had more of an aesthetic. I appreciated the intricacies involved in old houses, he said.

Raasch took his first woodworking class at the former Fritsche Middle School. By then he already knew the basics and while others in his class were told to make simple projects such as bookends, his teacher told him to make whatever he wanted.

I made a coffee table. It was in a mid-century modern style and it had simple curving lines. I made it out of cherry wood. It was an easy grade for me and I enjoyed being in the workshop. The teacher told me I was already very competent and I told him that this kind of work was my fathers livelihood.

That was the only class he ever took in pursuing his career.

My apprenticeship was literally just following my father around, he said.

After high school Raasch worked at Falk Corporation where he met others he learned from.

I worked at a loading shed with 12-by-12 timbers. We were building very customized-shaped cradles and skids for motor drives and gears. This was heavy-duty work and the pieces were very fitted into each other like pieces would fit into a log cabin," he said. There were a couple of older European gents I worked with and they could do anything with an ax. Thats when I thought, I have to learn how to build or restore a log cabin.

He later worked for builders who made modern houses, at Discovery World where he made exhibits, then at a restoration company where he headed its design and woodworking department.

I found that I liked working directly with the homeowners. So after that company closed I felt it was time to go on my own, he said.

Today he works mainly on buildings built between the 1830s and the 1930s. But he admits he is always open to an interesting project.

If someone called and said they had a 1950s building with unusual features, I might consider it. But for the most part I dont work on McMansions of the '90s or on more contemporary homes, he said.

So that his work matches or historically complements the original structures, he uses both old and new tools and old lumber.

I do use what is most appropriate to the project," he said. "When it comes to things like carving, you have to use old-style tools. For example, chisels for carving come in different orientations that arent just flat. You need different sizes and different curves. And when doing fine work, instead of using a hammer you would use a mallet, because a hammer could break the wood.

Some jobs require using more labor-intensive hand tools  maybe something like a coping saw. Sometimes those old tools are handier or more efficient than using electric tools.

Work on a log home or a barn might require the use of an adz, he said.

Its like an ax but with the cutting edge going perpendicular to the handle, and its also curved. You would use the adz to make a log from round to square, and it leaves a pattern of chipping. You are chipping the round part of a log until you have a flat surface on four sides.

Old molding planes would be used when working on old mullioned glass windows to get the exact contour of the dividing pieces in the windows.

He said its also important to use old-growth wood when trying to replicate historical features.

You have to use old-growth wood whenever possible to match existing wood. It has capabilities for longevity and its also more resistant to bugs and weather as it has a very tight grain," he said. And when you find clear stock, which is wood with no knots in it, you buy it and keep it until its called for. Sometimes people will give it to me. They might say they want to clear out their garage.

Raasch said while he has no special training or licensure to work in historical restoration, he does research on the properties he works on in order to make changes look like they are original to the building.

Generally I know what to do at this point, but (for information) you can look at Sandborn maps at the local historical societies. Sandborn maps are insurance maps that existed before building codes. You can also look for old photos.

One of his favorite projects to date is the Dr. Fisk Holbrook Day House, an 1874 high Victorian gothic revival house in Wauwatosa that is on the National and State registers of historic places.

In 1988 I did an extensive exterior and structural restoration to make the house waterproof and to replicate exterior detailing. And in 1990 I designed and built a new front porch in the space where a porch had once been, he said.

To build a porch that would look like it was original to the house, he looked to an old photo and a bracket on a bay window nearby.

I got the photo from the homeowner. They had done some research and they found a glass plate negative from when the house was built. It was a picture of the front of the house that showed me that the bracket on the nearby bay window was used on the porch. So I could use the existing bracket as a guide, and as a unit of measure to gauge the size of the porch.

He also worked as a consultant when the homeowners had the home gutted and restored.

It was the finest home Ive ever worked in, but it was a wreck. It had live and dead animals in it, and it had been made into a three-family residence. Someone had added walls, staircases and bathrooms, and there was a lot of deterioration.

Another project Raasch enjoyed was the coach house at the Kneeland-Walker House in Wauwatosa. There, he built an interior staircase using materials found on-site and did restoration work on the building's exterior. The Kneeland-Walker House is on the National and State registers of historic places.

Another memorable project was a large building with a storefront and second-floor residences on Milwaukee's east side that had been covered with asphalt brick siding for 50 years.

There I replaced much of the wood siding and strap-work  which are the vertical and horizontal boards that form an aesthetic to the building  and I carved two decorative inset panels. I also added period doors from another building," Raasch said. Then I devised a five color scheme to paint the exterior in the style of a painted lady that was neither cute or garish.

Current projects include work on two buildings on the National and State historic registers, the Matthew Keenan House on Jefferson Street and the Andrew Frame House in Waukesha.

The Andrew Frame House stands in Waukesha on Dec. 8, 2023. Milwaukee architect Edward Townsend Mix designed the 1879 Cream City brick Italianate home that Ron Raasch, owner of Two Hands Restoration, has been working to restore.

The Keenen House, built in 1860, was designed by Milwaukee architect Edward Townsend Mix. Raasch described it as a brick Italianate double house with two entryways and six bays or quadrants and said he's restoring the front porch, including the porch's balustrades.

At the Frame House, an 1879 Cream City brick Italianate also designed by Townsend Mix, work has been done inside and outside, and started soon after Karen Frame, the current owner, purchased it in 2017. The house was built by her great-great-grandfather, Waukesha philanthropist Andrew Jay Frame.

Ron Raasch, owner of Two Hands Restoration, and home owner Karen Frame at the Andrew Frame House in Waukesha on December 8, 2023.

One of the major projects outside was re-creating a rear porch that had been removed. To be sure the porch fit the style of the house, Raasch looked to the design of the front porch. He also built new decorative storm and screen doors and added newel posts with rounded tops that fit the style of the house.

Inside he added a transom window over a first floor bathroom door, filling the opening with a piece of decorative stained glass he designed. The glass complements an exterior stained glass window already in the bathroom.

Ron Raasch, owner of Two Hands Restoration, added a transom window above a first-floor bathroom door at the Andrew Frame House in Waukesha, pictured on December 8, 2023.

In an area at the front of the house that was originally a parlor but was later used as an office, he changed a bookcase that had been added by attorneys who worked there after members of the Frame family sold the building and it was zoned commercial.

It was something Karen knew was not original. It was literally two boxes above four doors. There wasnt even a quarter round on top. It had no sense of style. It was simply a functional bookcase for the attorneys who occupied the house for decades," Raasch said. I asked her to consider letting me help the bookcase belong to the house. She basically said, 'OK, I know you will do a nice job.

To create a design for the top of the bookcase, he looked to her family history for inspiration. He ended up using artwork found on the cornice of the former Waukesha National Bank in downtown Waukesha that her great-great-grandfather built.

I copied part of the cornice that was above the entryway, but I also added a thistle because the Frame family emigrated from Scotland and a thistle is an emblem of Scotland, he said.

Ron Raasch, owner of Two Hands Restoration, found inspiration from a bank building and the Frame family's Scottish heritage to create an embellishment for the top of a bookcase at the Andrew Frame House in Waukesha, as seen on Dec. 8, 2023.

Another project was to turn a former pass-through between the home's kitchen and dining room into a display area for a collection of antique firearms and family photos.

The suggestion from Karen was for me to put the firearms on the wall someplace. They had been lying on the floor. ... I said, let me sleep on it. The former pass-through was just deep enough to allow me to make something more playful and to depict the family history.

He built a display where he mounted the firearms, and he also had historic photographs enlarged and built decorative frames for them, carved a garland of flowers at the top of the display, and added doors.

Karen Frame called Raasch a detailed craftsman and said he has been helping her fine-tune her home since she bought it.

Ron is fantastic with details and bringing the things that looked real basic from the '70s to life, she said.

After Andrew Jay Frame died, she said various members of her family lived in the house and she remembers how grand it was.

I remember being there as a child when my aunt, Mable Frame, lived there. Then later it wasnt in the family for a few years, and I always wanted to buy it back.

She said when she bought the house the front half of the first floor was being used as offices by attorneys, but the two upper levels were residential.

Today, she uses the commercial space as a family museum of sorts, and there are residential units on the second and third floors. She said she currently rents the units to relatives, but she hopes to live there one day.

In addition to work done by Raasch she also had a new kitchen added as the original kitchen had been removed by the previous owners. She also remodeled the first floor bathroom, and on the second floor she updated a guest bathroom and added a primary suite with a bathroom.

Her biggest project was in 2019 when she had the home's original belvedere replicated. She said the space, at the very top of the building, had been taken down in the '50s or '60s after it had fallen into disrepair.

She had it rebuilt on-site, then two cranes hoisted it up and it was bolted on to the existing structure.

Raasch said he believes these kinds of restoration projects are important because the kind of work done years ago is a lost art.

Its something that is less and less available. There are fewer and fewer people practicing these skills," he said. Its also environmentally sound to maintain things that are already built versus building something new. Its a bigger carbon impact, to build something new versus to restore or maintain a structure.

He added that while so many wonderful historical buildings were lost when the freeway system was built in the Milwaukee area, there is still an enormous amount of old housing stock here on the east side, in the Bay View neighborhood, Waukesha and other areas in southeastern Wisconsin.

Raasch recently answered a few questions about his background and his business.

What is it about historic homes you love so much?

The sense of understanding a developing community and how people lived at whatever level they could afford. And all the building techniques. Things dramatically changed in building materials, techniques and aesthetics after World War II. Then everything shifted. It was the era of the ranch home.

What's the oldest building youve ever worked on?

An 1830s log cabin in the Town of Erin.

Any other interesting finds on projects?

At a building on Brady Street I found an old radio transmitter in the attic that no one had seen in the last 40 years. It was from the '30s. It was probably used by a hobbyist and was very elaborate.

What are the oldest tools you have?

I have some marking tools and calipers that are quite old. I have some handsaws that are unique because of the number of teeth they have or the way the teeth are set. My father would sharpen his own saw blades and I still sharpen some of mine by hand. Nowadays most people throw them away. I have some of my dads old tools and some of the machinery he brought after he graduated from Boys Tech.

Do you still have the coffee table you first made?

No. But I have a couple of little tables my dad made when he was at Boys Tech. They are little walnut side tables.

Has there ever been renewed interest in this kind of work?

When the PBS Program "This Old House" came out in the late '70s there was a rise in awareness, but thats fallen off. There is a shortage of young people entering all trades in general. Therefore the skills for older more unique rebuilds are harder to find. This has me considering more consulting and teaching as time goes on.

Do you have to follow certain regulations when restoring historical structures?

Sometimes you have to set up a meeting and talk to historic preservation organizations or other bodies that have a say on the house. If you want to get the tax credits, you have to go along with what they say you can do. You say, This is what we propose to do. But this is mostly about the exterior of the house and what the public sees.

Any more projects planned at the Frame house?

No. Just maintenance work. Thats always required when you have an old house.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Restoring historical homes is a passion for Two Hands Restoration's Ron Raasch
Medically reviewed by Robert Burakoff, MD

A coffee enema is a type of colon cleanse. It involves adding room-temperature brewed coffee to your rectum. It is the same process as a standard enema but coffee is used instead of other liquids.

While a standard enema clears your bowels to counter impacted stool or to empty the bowels before a procedure, a coffee enema is promoted as a way to detoxify your body. There are also claims that it can stimulate your liver. However, no quality scientific research has proven that it achieves these results.

Like other enemas, a coffee enema can lead to health problems if not used the right way. An infection or tissue damage can occur with misuse. A coffee enema carries the added risks of rectal burns and excess caffeine use.

This article describes why coffee enemas are used, their safety, and who should not get them. It also explains the methods and tools used to give a coffee enema.



burakkarademir / Getty Images

Coffee Enema: What Benefits Are People Looking For?

The coffee enema was popularized in the 1920s and 1930s by Max Gerson, M.D., a German-born U.S. physician, as a component of what became known as Gerson therapy, although there is evidence of coffee enemas being used as long ago as ancient Egypt. The coffee enema as part of the complex Gerson therapy is promoted as a treatment for degenerative diseases like diabetes, skin tuberculosis, and cancer.

According to Gerson therapy, coffee enemas stimulate the liver and help detoxify blood and tissues by doing the following:

Eliminating waste

Regenerating the liver

Reactivating the immune system

Restoring your body's essential defenses, including the enzyme, mineral, and hormonal systems

Regarded as a treatment of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), laypeople have adopted the use of a coffee enema cleanse for detoxification therapy, often hoping to achieve relief from the following:

Constipation

Obesity

Pain relief

Research indicates that drinking coffee promotes bowel movement with a laxative effect in about 30% of people (mostly women). However, there is no well-regarded scientific evidence that suggests that coffee enemas do much more than that. Research indicates they provide no more than the average laxative results from standard enemas containing saline and water.



How Safe Is a Coffee Enema?

Enemas work by adding fluid into your rectum and large intestine through your anus. The liquid softens your stool and helps it pass.

Any type of self-administered enema can lead to side effects. When using coffee enemas, some of these problems can be severe or potentially harmful because they remove too much potassium, which can lead to the following complications:

Infections, including sepsis (a serious reaction to a blood infection)

Dehydration

Fits (uncontrollable shaking and jerking)

Salt and other mineral imbalances in your body

Heart and lung problems, possibly causing death

Constipation and colitis (bowel inflammation) due to frequent and long-term use of coffee enemas, which can weaken your bowel muscles

Other potential side effects of coffee enemas include the following:

In a 2020 systematic review of nine case reports, researchers reviewed the safety and efficacy of home coffee enemas. All nine case reports warned against using coffee enemas. Of those cases, seven involved colitis, and two had more serious complications.

Another review reported that coffee enemas were linked with adverse effects that included sepsis, electrolyte balance, and proctocolitis, an inflammation of the rectum leading to three deaths in separate cases.



Read Next: Enema Side Effects

Who Should Not Use Coffee Enemas?

Evidence from a systematic review found that the effectiveness of coffee enemas is unclear. Based on their potential adverse effects, researchers reported that coffee enemas can't be advised without further studies on their safety and effectiveness.

Most healthcare providers warn against the use of coffee enemas. This aligns with guidance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which has not approved Gerson therapy or coffee enemas in general for the treatment of cancer or any other disease.

While coffee enemas are a key component of Gerson therapy, the Gerson Institute warns that the use of coffee enemas is not advised for people with the following characteristics:







Talk to a Healthcare Provider

If you are considering a coffee enema, consult a healthcare provider for advice on how it can affect your health.







Learn More: Is Coffee Bad for You?

Coffee Enema Kit: What's Inside?

The contents of a coffee enema kit can vary by manufacturer. Most kits include latex-free materials. A typical coffee enema kit includes the following components:

One-half pound to 1 pound of organic enema coffee

Bisphenol A (BPA)free and latex-free enema bag or stainless steel bucket

6 feet of clear silicone enema tubing

Tapered 30-inch silicone colon tube

Enema tubing ratchet clamp

Salve or lubricant



Practitioners who promote the use of coffee enemas advise using organic light- or medium-roast coffee that is blended to include high amounts of caffeine for the greatest benefits. Instant or decaffeinated coffees are not recommended because they are processed and contain chemicals.









Alternatives to a Coffee Enema

While there is little evidence to support the use of enemas for detoxification, they can be used to relieve impacted stool or clear your colon for a procedure. While there is little evidence to support the safety of coffee enemas, the following liquids are more commonly used and accepted when an enema is needed:



Saline solution : A saline or sodium phosphate enema is used to relieve constipation.

Mineral oil : A mineral oil enema can relieve constipation and lubricate a sore anus in the case of problems like hemorrhoids.

Bisacodyl: A bisacodyl enema is used to prepare for a procedure like a colonoscopy.









How to Do a Coffee Enema on Yourself

To do a coffee enema on yourself, carefully read the instructions that accompany your coffee enema kit. Every kit and its components can vary, affecting the results you achieve.

Common instructions for doing a coffee enema on yourself typically align with the following instructions:

To prepare for a coffee enema, do the following:

Add 3 rounded tablespoons of slightly roasted drip ground coffee into approximately 1 liter (a little over 1 quart) of boiling distilled or filtered water.

Continue boiling for three minutes and then simmer for 15 minutes.

After cooling, filter and add water to replace the evaporated liquid to achieve a solution of about 900 milliliters (almost 1 quart)

Wait until the solution is close to body temperature before using it.

Set up a space on your bathroom floor lined with old towels to do the enema. The place you do your enema should be a spot where the enema bag can be hung overhead, like near a door.

Position a timer or stopwatch nearby so you can track the timing of the procedure, which should take about 15 minutes.

To administer a coffee enema, do the following:



Hang the enema bag so the top is about waist-high. Close the clamp on the hose to avoid leakage when it is filled.

Pour the enema coffee into the enema bucket or bag.

Use a salve or lubricant to moisten your anus and the end of the hose or nozzle.

Hold the end of the hose slightly higher than the coffee in the enema bag. Open the clamp just enough to purge air from the hose and allow coffee to fill the hose almost to its end.

Pulsed squeezing of the hose will force trapped air pockets out. Then, close the hose clamp.

Lie on your left side, pull your knees up, and gently insert the nozzle of the enema hose or colon tube 4 to 6 inches into your colon.

Allow the coffee to flow in slowly, using the clamp or squeezing the hose with your fingers to regulate it.

Hold the coffee in your colon for about 15 minutes, then proceed to the toilet to release the enema.



Learn More: How to Use an Enema Safely

Where to Find a Coffee Enema Kit

You can get a coffee enema kit from major online and brick-and-mortar retailers such as Amazon and Walmart. They are also available from online websites that specialize in organic and natural health treatments.

You do not need a prescription to purchase a coffee enema in the United States. These kits are sold over the counter with instructions and supplies intended for home use.

You may also be able to book a coffee enema treatment at a local holistic health or colonic hydrotherapy center, depending on your location.



Summary

Current research does not support the use of coffee enemas to cleanse your colon and detoxify your body. Case reports show that using these products can lead to adverse effects that can be severe.

Without studies that show coffee enemas are safe and can achieve promised results, researchers advise against them. Many healthcare providers support this view.

While coffee enemas are touted as a treatment for many health problems like cancer, proof of these claims is lacking. To help reduce your risk of adverse effects, consult your healthcare provider before using these products at home.



Read the original article on Verywell Health.
An Albany man was sentenced to eight years in prison following a bizarre car chase and crash.

Authorities said Steven Michael Anderson, 52, chased two women and crashed into their truck because he thought a family member was in danger inside the womens vehicle.

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.

Anderson was arrested in September on suspicion of second-degree assault, second-degree attempted assault, reckless driving, two counts of menacing and two counts of recklessly endangering another person.

Convicted on all charges, Anderson was sentenced in late December to 70 months for second-degree assault, the minimum under state law, and an additional 30 months for second-degree attempted assault. He was also sentenced to 60 days in jail on each of the remaining charges and his license was suspended.

The state sought an enhanced sentence for Anderson, who was on conditional release when the crimes occurred, based on his involvement in similar offenses and the belief that rehabilitation efforts would fail.

Anderson is currently held at the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility, according to the Oregon Department of Corrections.

On Sept. 27, Albany police responded to a suspicious circumstance call in the 1600 block of Industrial Way Southwest after two women reported an unknown man, later identified as Anderson, was chasing them in a white F-150 Ford truck, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Linn County Circuit Court.

A police officer saw the womens vehicle, a black GMC Sierra truck, at a stop sign on Queen Avenue Southwest and Industrial Way, according to the affidavit, which states the driver honked to get the officers attention.

While the officer was turning around, she reportedly saw the Ford driven by Anderson heading south on Industrial Way at high speed. The GMC driver turned west on Queen and was followed by Anderson, the affidavit states, with the officer also following and turning on her emergency lights.

Both trucks were traveling at a high rate of speed as they ran a red light at Queen and Pacific Boulevard Southwest, according to the affidavit. At the intersection of Queen and Elm Street Southwest, the Ford crashed into the GMC.

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Both trucks came to a stop, and the officer saw Anderson exit his vehicle and sprint towards the GMC and its occupants, who had gotten out, the affidavit states. The officer intervened and stopped Anderson from chasing the women.

Anderson told the officer he saw his niece in the passenger seat of the GMC and she gave him a weird look that he took as her needing help, the affidavit states. He reportedly admitted to following and trying to stop the GMC, including multiple attempts to hit its rear bumper before the crash.

One of the women suffered a bloody nose from the crash, the affidavit states.

Police determined Andersons niece was not in the GMC, and he had not seen her in a couple of weeks, according to the affidavit. Anderson reportedly could not explain why he felt his niece was in danger inside the vehicle.

Anderson was previously convicted of assault, unlawful weapon use, menacing, arson, and meth possession among other crimes. Court records show he has open cases in Benton County alleging stalking, false reporting, disorderly conduct, violating a stalking protective order, and possession of meth.

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Joining the class of rookies for the 2019 SI Swimsuit Issue was nothing short of a dream come true for Olivia Brower. The model, who has worked for swimwear brands and appeared on the cover of Harpers Bazaar, could barely contain her excitement on the set of her debut in Great Exuma, Bahamasand it showed in the fantastic, bubbly pics that photographer Laretta Houston captured.

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED SWIMSUIT!! This has been a dream of mine since I started modeling, she expressed in an Instagram post at the time. Overjoyed to be apart of such an iconic magazine. @si_swimsuit. HUGE THANK YOU to @mj_day @alyssaconroy @kbhendrix for believing in me, giving me a chance, and making my dream come true!

She brought that very same energy to the set of her first feature, posing in a series of appropriately vibrant bikinis on the white sand beaches and in the clear blue waters of the island destination.

Browers fantastic skill earned her a second feature in the magazine only a year later, giving her the chance to travel to an equally idyllic tropical location, Scrub Island, British Virgin Islands. Like the first, she made the most of that second experience, posing in a series of shimmery swimsuits thatcombined with her personalitymade for a bright, shining feature.

Though we could always say more about that sophomore appearance, today were taking a look back at Browers incredible debut. Below, we have curated just a few of the stunning photos that we just cant get over.

Laretta Houston/Sports Illustrated

Laretta Houston/Sports Illustrated

Laretta Houston/Sports Illustrated

Laretta Houston/Sports Illustrated

Make sure to follow SI Swimsuit on YouTube!
If youve been looking forward to your next meal at TGI Fridays, you might be out of luck. The casual dining chain just announced it has closed 36 underperforming locations across the country.

The company cited its ongoing growthy strategy as motivation for the move, adding that the 36 stores are located in select markets across the U.S.

Our top priority has always been delivering a superior experience for each and every TGI Fridays guest, and weve identified opportunities to optimize and streamline our operations to ensure we are best positioned to meet  and exceed  on that brand promise, TGI Fridays U.S. president and chief operating officer Ray Risley said in a press release. By strengthening our franchise model and closing underperforming stores, we are creating an unprecedented opportunity for Fridays to drive forward its vision for the future.

TGI Fridays noted that its offered job transfers to more than 1,000 employees, which equates to 80% of affected employees.

Which locations are closing?

TODAY.com obtained a list of the affected restaurants from a TGI Fridays spokesperson, who confirmed that they have all been closed as of Jan. 3.

The closures affect restaurants in 12 states, with the following ones being most heavily impacted: New Jersey (seven closures), Massachusetts (six closures) and New York (five closures).

Here is the full list of closures:

Fresno, California: 1077 E. Herndon Ave. 93720

Denver, Colorado: 8104 Northfield Blvd., 80238

Longmont, Colorado: 125 Ken Pratt Blvd., 80501

Newington, Connecticut: 3025 Berlin Turnpike, 06111

Ormond Beach, Florida: 24 Ocean Shore Blvd., 32176

Royal Palm, Florida: 580 N. State Road 7, 33411

Berlin/Marlbourough, Massachusetts: 601 Donald Lynch Blvd., 01752

Danvers, Massachusetts: 49 Newbury St., 01923

Dedham, Massachusetts: 750 Providence Hwy, 02026

Mansfield, Massachusetts: 280 School St. Suite A100, 02048

North Attleboro, Massachusetts: 1385 S. Washington St., 02760

Seekonk, Massachusetts: 1105 Fall River Ave., 02771

Bowie, Maryland: 15207 Major Lansdale Blvd., 20716

Columbia, Maryland: 8330 Benson Dr., 21045

Amherst, New Hampshire: 124 NH-101A Ste. 28, 03031

Eatontown, New Jersey: 180 NJ-35 Ste. 6000, 07724

Hacksensack, New Jersey: 411 Hackensack Ave., 07601

Iselin/Woodbridge, New Jersey: 401 Gill Ln., 08830

Marlton, New Jersey: 970 Rte. 73 N., 08053

Princeton, New Jersey: 3535 US-1 #275, 08540

Springfield, New Jersey: 40 US-22, 07081

Wayne Town Center, New Jersey: 71 Route 23 South, 07470

Albany, New York: 1475 Western Ave, 12203

Bay Shore, New York: 1725 Sunrise Hwy., 11706

Hauppauge, New York: 3045 Expy Drive N., 11749

Massapequa, New York: 5204 Sunrise Hwy., 11762

Woodbury Township, New York: 5 Centre Dr., 10917

Willow Grove, Pennsylvania: 2500 W. Moreland Rd., 19090

Corpus Christi, Texas: 5217 S. Padre Island Dr., 78411

Houston Almeda, Texas: 12895 Gulf Fwy., 77034

North Arlington, Texas: 1524 N. Collins Street, 76011

The Woodlands, Texas: 1105 Lake Woodlands Dr., 77380

Fredericksburg, Virginia: 1160 Carl D Silver Pkwy, 22401

Manassas, Virginia: 7401 Sudley Rd., 20109

Springfield, Virginia: 6751-B Frontier Dr., 22150

Woodbridge/Potomac Mills, Virginia: 13237 Worth Ave., 22192

TGI Fridays is also selling eight restaurants to its former CEO

The chain also announced that its selling eight previously corporate-owned restaurants in the Northeast to former TGI Fridays CEO Ray Blanchette.

With a history of deep involvement and unwavering confidence in the Fridays brand, Mr. Blanchette brings an unmatched understanding of the TGI Fridays business and the restaurants commitment to delivering excellence for guests. Following the finalization of the sale, Blanchette will lead the locations into a new phase of revitalization, the press release reads.

TGI Fridays closed over 30 restaurants in 2020

In 2020, the restaurant chain announced the closure of 34 restaurants across the country, citing a decline in sales in 2019.

A spokesperson offered the following statement to TODAY.com at the time:

As part of the early stages of our business turnaround, we bought underperforming franchises, which creates a temporary loss of near term profit, including store closures. This investment materially changes the influence we hold over the brand domestically and meaningfully increases the impact to the company as we change the trajectory as demonstrated in Q1 2020. We are committed to investing in our people and creating jobs worldwide.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Formentera is using circular tourism.

Courtesy of Teranka Formenteta

Around 6 a.m., I woke up well ahead of my alarm to a sleepy, fog-swept Formentera. I slipped on my woven sandals, and my friend and I packed our canvas tote bags for a quick, two-minute jaunt to Migjorn Beach.

We arrived at a completely deserted patch of sand ahead of the cerulean Mediterranean Sea. In my hotel robe  with my journal, pen, oracle cards, and espresso in tow  I settled in for our morning breathwork and meditation practice. After a refreshing session, we shed our robes and did as one does during a visit to Formentera and took a nude plunge in the sea.

Even though it was the beginning of the high season, we were completely alone for the entire morning. And I believe that this very quality is what truly entices visitors to the Spanish island: its wild, freeing effect makes us feel as if we have the entire island to ourselves.

Courtesy of Teranka Formenteta

Courtesy of Teranka Formenteta

I arrived in Formentera exhausted after two weeks of traveling through the Balearic Islands  first in Menorca, then in Mallorca  and was ready to relax by the sea. My home on the island was Teranka Formentera, a 35-room property that opened for its official first summer season in May 2023, and it was just the respite I was yearning for.

Nestled amongst a canopy of pine trees, the hotel is just steps from the beach, which stretches for nearly four miles along the islands wilder southern side. It was the perfect base to become enmeshed with Formenteras laidback ethos, a place where the islands poetic energy and sense of freedom radiate through every part of a stay.

In fact, Teranka takes its name, which was coined by the hotel's original owner, from the Spanish words for "land" (tierra) and "anchor" (ancla). The name is evocative of being connected to the sea while being firmly grounded and at one with the land.

Courtesy of Teranka Formenteta

Courtesy of Teranka Formenteta

Mayans Garcia, the Balearic Islands' tourism minister, told Travel + Leisure that the island's magnificent nature lends itself to heightened tourism interest. For an island as small as Formentera, this could be disastrous if gone unchecked. To protect Formentera both now and in the future, Garcia and her team are seeing through a form of sustainability known as circular tourism.

From the moment I arrived on the island, I noticed the measures theyve put in place, from a tourism sustainability tax to ground-breaking legislation that regulates vehicle permits to drive on local roads during the busy summer months. The regulation is about maintaining environmental harmony and ensuring visitors and islanders can enjoy the tranquility they expect to find in Formentera, Garcia told T+L. (And the measures have worked, as vehicle traffic has drastically decreased from 2019 to 2023.)

Fortunately, Formentera can be easily explored by bike. Most of the island can be reached by bicycle along its green routes and through its inland areas, where you will find villages with an authentic Mediterranean touch, said Garcia.

And she's spot on: I discovered Formentera in its entirety by bike. I ventured off to the likes of the tucked-away coves of Calo des Mort and the stunning, mile-long Ses Illetes beach. During my rides, I learned Formentera is the smallest inhabited island of the archipelago, and that its somewhat peculiar, indented shape lends to its unique geography. This includes the flat profile that makes it especially easy to cycle  the highest point is Sa Talaiassa in the Mola plateau, just over 600 feet above sea level  and its beloved stretch of coastline, a little over 43 miles, made up of numerous beaches and coves and coastal nooks and crannies.







"Even though it was the beginning of the high season, we were completely alone for the entire morning. And I believe that this very quality is what truly entices visitors to the Spanish island: its wild, freeing effect makes us feel as if we have the entire island to ourselves."







Complementing the tourism ministrys work to protect the island are several projects with a mission to keep Formentera safe and thriving. One project is Formentera Eco, which is an initiative to safeguard the islands roads during the summer season.

There's also the Save Posidonia Project, which protects an underwater seagrass plant named Posidonia that lends Formentera its characteristic clear and pure waters. (The plant forms meadows between the surface and around 130 feet deep in high-quality waters. It is so prized that it was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.) Because Posidonia represents one of the island's most important natural assets, the Consell de Formentera launched the Save Posidonia Project to raise funds and awareness of its vital importance to the island's ecosystem.

Both projects offer benchmarks of the islands model of green tourism. These initiatives are complemented by the arts, too, as many of the islands local artists create their works from recycled materials.

I witnessed the latter in person during my stay at Teranka Formentera. From its secluded location to its dining and sustainable artistic touches, I found the hotel is a living model of the islands greater sustainability efforts.

Courtesy of Teranka Formenteta

On my last night at the property, I learned more about the hotels art program. Developed by the Ibiza-based curator Katrina Phillips, all of Terankas commissioned pieces serve as a poetic, philosophical view of nature and the human-planet relationship.

Most featured works are by female artists, both local and international. It includes a 23-foot wall by Formentera resident Anna Ametller, a shoal of fish and sea creatures made from beachcombed materials from the shore of the island. There's also a collection of pieces from Griffin Prize winner Elizabeth Rose Langford using natural pigments of Ibiza and dried Posidonia to highlight the awareness of our surroundings.

It's hard to miss how each piece finds inspiration amidst the island's nature, a wild oasis that surely inspires every visitor to protect its shoreline for years to come.

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Read the original article on Travel & Leisure.
Logistics services company IGH Holding Inc. celebrated 20 years of business in 2023, and it has even bigger goals later this decade.

IGH Holding, a self-described global total logistics solution for B2B and B2C clients, is in full-throttle expansion mode ahead of a potential initial public offering (IPO) that could land by 2026.

More from Sourcing Journal

Founded as an air and ocean freight forwarder in 2003, IGH has since expanded to include trucking, customs clearance, warehousing, distribution and small parcel services across a series of subsidiaries.

Headquartered in Valley Stream, N.Y., IGH has several business units including its freight forwarding division Infinity Trans USA, warehousing and distribution business United Way, customs brokerage JV CHB, trucking and transportation services provider Universal Trucking & Logistics (UTL) and parcel delivery segment Global Parcel Service (GPS).

The Long Island company believes this all-in-one approach helps shippers who often have to negotiate multiple quotes, reconcile myriad invoices, and manage several relationships with different logistics providers.

IGH has offices across China, including in Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen and Hong Kong, as well as Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Expansion plans to India, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are also in the works.

According to Jeff Lim, CEO of IGH Holdings, the company has been able to rapidly grow overseas largely through M&A deals with businesses local to the market. He indicated that an IPO would help the logistics provider scale in these new markets. With that in mind, the firm is securing investment from a Korean apparel manufacturer and already partnering with multiple investment banks to assist in the IPO process.

One of the reasons for the IPO is because this is a huge setup, in which well need to build warehouses everywhere. Well need to buy a lot of trucks. We need to have strong finances to support this model, said Lim. Thats why were going to need a lot of funding to make our group grow further.

Lim said that by 2022, IGH revenue had nearly doubled from 2019, after the company benefitted from the Covid-era e-commerce surge. Although the freight recession drove revenue down nearly 20 percent last year from the prior-year peak, the company says sales growth is up 60 percent compared with the year before the pandemic.

During Covid, everybody was so happy in logistics, and a lot of expansion occurred through the industry. However, after Covid, a lot of companies went under because of overcapacity, and then a lot of trucking companies like Yellow had been washed out from the market, Lim told Sourcing Journal. For those that can survive during this time, the demand [is] going to be very strong when the market comes back. So we are preparing for the market to get stabilized and grow.

Lim anticipates 40 percent to 50 percent growth over the next few years.

The Infinity Trans USA freight forwarding unit remains the companys core across air and ocean services, representing 40 percent of IGHs total revenue.

Currently, IGH operates 11 U.S. warehouses spanning 1.5 million square feet, and distributes for retail giants including Walmart, Target and TJX. IGH also handles transloadingthe process of transferring goods from one mode of transportation to anotherfor Amazon shipments.

Roughly 60 percent of IGHs customer base falls in the apparel, footwear and handbag categories, but the company has been looking to push further into more categories with the GPS segment, which was established in 2018.

GPS, which Lim calls the companys e-logistics division, is IGHs fastest-growing segment by revenue. The delivery unit has already forged partnerships with e-commerce giants including Shein and Temu, as well as several sellers on Amazon.

The e-logistics unit is strong, but its still only 10 percent of total revenue, Lim said. However, the growth potential is highits going to reach 25 percent or more in one or two years.

Complementing the parcel service, Lim sees greater opportunities in last-mile delivery. This year IGH plans to start a regional last-mile carrier that will serve California, New York and New Jersey.

IGHs expansion roadmap comes amid growing interest in supply chain digitization.

For my 20-plus years in this industry, what I can tell you isthe technology in logistics is not there, Lim said. The IT in logistics is behind compared to other industries. After we built all the infrastructure, and weve invested a lot into IT integration over the past two years, were starting to build the our team to digitalize our logistics operations further.
Like most of us, my school curriculum did not include the basics of budgeting, financial planning, and investment  excluding that one lesson about how to fill out a paper check, which was squeezed in between how to sew a pillow and how to read a recipe. I wasnt modeled these financial literacy concepts at home either  thats a function of growing up in a single-parent home that scraped by paycheck to paycheck rather than a reflection of my moms parenting.

Taken together, it means I never learned the basics of financial literacy  certainly not financial planning and investing. As a result, as an adult, despite my best efforts to learn now, I always feel like Im playing catch-up. Its not a pleasant feeling, especially since now Im the one running the single (solo) parent household and its my job to teach my children.

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I want better for my kids. I want them to walk into a room with a financial advisor and feel comfortable expressing their opinion. I want them to be confident investors who make choices based on intentional planning and thoughtfulness. I want them to learn all the things I didnt. (If Instagrams 2024 Trend Report  which noted that financial literacy is a priority skill for Gen Z  is any indication, they want better too.)

Wanting better is easier said than done. Im dealing with tweens who still vaguely believe credit cards are magic pieces of plastic that make the things you want simply appear. Luckily, according to financial expert Jen Hemphill, Its never too late. A lot of grown-ups never talked to their parents about money, right? In a conversation with NPR, Hemphill encouraged parents to start talking about money with their kids even if they themselves arent entirely comfortable or confident in the topic. The sheer act of talking about it brings confidence.

Talking about it is certainly a great start, but it is only that  a start. This year, Im committed to teaching my kids about financial literacy, and heres how.

Giving Them Opportunities to Earn Money

In an article for Fatherly, Dr. Matthew Pagirsky, neuropsychologist and certified New York State School Psychologist, noted that research suggests children who receive [an] allowance are more sophisticated about money than those who dont.

Paying my kids to help out around the house doesnt sit quite well with me, though. Theres something slightly uncomfortable about the idea of paying my children to help out around the house. Were all in this family unit and all need to chip in. That being said, I like the idea of creating responsibility and understanding the connection between effort and income. And the truth is, most people, kids included, value money differently when they earn it.

For me, a better option is a hybrid approach. In this version, my tweens have some chores that theyre responsible for because theyre a part of the family, and others which, when completed, will earn them an allowance.

Teaching The Basics of Savings and Budgeting Through Setting Goals

Once theres money in hand, the next building block toward financial literacy is learning how to save and budget.

Saving teaches discipline and delayed gratification, Sam X Renick, co-creator of Sammy Rabbit, a childrens character and financial literacy initiative told Forbes Advisor. Saving teaches goal-setting and planning. Saving stresses being prepared. Saving builds security and independence.

One way to teach kids about saving is to help them identify a savings goal. For my son, for example, its a new gaming system. The idea is that each week hell put away some of his allowance to save up for that gaming system.

With this approach, kids get to experience the win of reaching their goal.

Educating Them On The Fundamentals Of Investing

Earning, saving, and budgeting are undoubtedly important concepts related to financial literacy, but the real test of financial literacy is investing  and this is where I always feel slightly behind. Understanding how, when, and why to invest; understanding the vocabulary related to investment; and understanding the risk-benefit calculation are the real principles of true financial literacy, and the keys to building long-term financial health.

The best way to learn about investing is to invest  see the process and participate in it. Investopedia encourages parents to open custodial accounts at brokerages like Charles Schwab. For kids, [t]heres nothing like firsthand experience to teach them about the volatility of different investments and the need for a long-term outlook.

Giving Them Practical Experience With Credit Cards

No conversation about financial literacy is complete without a discussion about credit and credit cards. Regardless of your thoughts on credit cards versus cash, theres no doubt that our children will need to understand how to use a credit card, how to build credit, and how bad credit can impact your future.

Its important to teach your kids about credit early on, because establishing good credit takes time, Erin McCullen, head of consumer deposit products at Bank of America, told Real Simple. Building credit from a young age through responsible habits can help pave the way for major purchases and life moments, since credit impacts future living arrangements, the ability to purchase a car, and even employment opportunities.

Much like investing, the best way to teach kids about credit is through real-life experience. My bank offers a kids credit card, which I can put money into and monitor how much is going out. (Side benefit: I can pay them their allowance through the bank versus having to find cash every week.) Another option is to get them their own prepaid card through Greenlight.

Every day is a chance to start something new. That being said, the start of the calendar year is an easy milestone from which to implement a new financial mindset. Its a memorable landmark from which to mark progress, which is important  especially when that landmark can help my children lead more financially stable lives.

Because the truth is, regardless of where life takes them, theyll be more secure if theyre traveling on a foundation built with a strong understanding of financial literacy.

Before you go, check out this list of celebrity parents who wont spoil their kids with huge inheritances.



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Gypsy Rose Blanchard, the child abuse victim who was convicted of killing her mother, in 2015, has begun a new life since leaving prison.

But what has become of her ex-boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn, who was also convicted in the case?

In 2016, Blanchard, now 32, was convicted of second-degree murder for her role in the 2015 slaying of her allegedly abusive mother, Clauddine Dee Dee Blanchard.

Godejohn was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison after first pleading not guilty to stabbing Dee Dee Blanchard to death in her bedroom.

Gypsy Rose Blancharde and Nicholas Godejohn. (Greene County Sheriff's Office)

He spoke out for the first time in a 2019 Oxygen documentary, saying that he regrets killing Dee Dee Blanchard. If I had to change anything at all, of course, one of the obvious ones is that I wouldve ran away with Gypsy. I dont want to be staying with a murder on my hands. Being labeled as a killer  I dont want to stay with that, but Ill live with it, he said.

Godejohn said with the publicity that comes with the case, he feels a responsibility to be somewhat of a role model. He continued, I want to let everyone know that Im not this cold killer that doesnt have any feelings. Im a human being. Human beings make mistakes.

Blanchard said in an interview with People prior to her release from prison she wouldn't allowed to have contact with Godejohn as a condition of her parole  and that she doesn't want to contact him.

"A condition of my parole is that I cannot have any contact with him, and I dont want contact," she said. "I feel responsible for putting him in this situation. However, the acts (to) commit murder was on him as well. I mean, everybody has a choice, and he went through with his, and so hes paying his sentence. I paid mine, and thats my thoughts on it."

Read on to learn about Godejohns relationship with Blanchard, his role in the 2015 murder of her mother and where he is today.

Who is Gypsy Rose Blanchard?

Gypsy Rose Blanchard and her then-boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn, were arrested in 2015 in connection to the murder of her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard, who was found stabbed to death in her bedroom at the Blanchards Springfield, Missouri, home.

On Dec. 28, 2023, Gypsy Rose Blanchard was released three years early from Missouris Chillicothe Correctional Center after being granted parole, a spokesperson told NBC News.

Upon her release, Gypsy Rose Blanchard has gained millions of followers on social media, where shes shared both post-prison selfies and photos of her husband, Ryan Scott Anderson, whom she married in 2022 while in prison, according to the Springfield News-Leader.

Blanchard is set to share her story in the upcoming Lifetime special The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, which premieres Jan. 5, and will publish a book, Released: Conversations on the Eve of Freedom, later this month.

How did Dee Dee Blanchard allegedly abuse her daughter?

Gypsy Rose Blanchard is believed to be a victim of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a psychological disorder in which a caretaker makes someone ill or creates the illusion of them being ill in order to receive attention.

She testified during her trial that her mother Dee Dee Blanchard took her to medical specialists to seek treatment for various conditions, including leukemia and muscular dystrophy, that she later learned she never had.

In an interview with Dr. Phil McGraw in 2017, Gypsy Rose Blanchard said her mother shaved her head, forced her to eat through a feeding tube. According to the Springfield News-Leader, she was made to use a wheelchair and an oxygen tank, although she required neither.

How did Nicholas Godejohn meet Gypsy Rose Blanchard?

At Godejohns 2018 murder trial, Gypsy Rose Blanchard revealed that she met Godejohn, who lived in Big Bend, Wisconsin, on a dating site for Christian singles in October 2012, according to the Springfield News-Leader.

What was the nature of the pair's relationship?

According to hundreds of text messages that were read aloud and shown to the jury during Godejohns 2018 trial, he and Gypsy Rose Blanchard were a long-distance couple who dreamed of getting married and having children, according to the Springfield News-Leader. Godejohn confirmed plans for marriage and children in a 2019 Oxygen documentary.

At Godejohns 2018 trial, Gypsy Rose Blanchard said she knew her mother would have never have allowed the couple to get married.

She controlled every aspect of my life, she told the jury.

Godejohn said in his 2019 interview that the five days he and Gypsy Rose Blanchard were together were the most intense and magical and awe-inspiring days hes ever had.

Did Gypsy Rose Blanchard tell Nicholas Godejohn to kill her mother?

During her trial, Gypsy Rose Blanchard told the jury that she arranged for Godejohn to travel from Wisconsin to the Blanchards home in Springfield to kill her mother, according to Ozarks First.

Text messages read aloud and shown at Godejohns 2018 trial that Gypsy Rose Blanchard helped Godejohn plan her mothers murder, the Springfield News-Leader reported.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard took the stand at Godejohns trial, where she told jurors that she believed killing her mom was the only way she could escape the abuse and have a life of her own, according to the Springfield News-Leader.

I wanted to be free of her hold on me, she said on the stand, adding of Godejohns participation in the murder, I talked him into it.

Godejohns trial attorney Dewayne Perry argued in court that his client had been manipulated into murdering. Nick was so in love with her and so obsessed with her that he would do anything, Perry told the jury, according to NBC Chicago.

Godejohn said at his trial that after he killed Dee Dee Blanchard, he and Gypsy Rose Blanchard engaged in sex in her bedroom, according to the Springfield News-Leader.

The two then left the Blanchard home and fled to Wisconsin.

In the 2019 Oxygen documentary, Godejohn said he felt she was not taking responsibility for her actions, but at the same time, due to the way she was raised I cant say I blame her.

Were Gypsy Rose Blanchard and Nicholas Godejohn both convicted of murder?

In 2016, Gypsy Rose Blanchard was convicted of second-degree murder for her role in her moms 2015 murder.

Godejohn was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after first pleading not guilty to stabbing Dee Dee Blanchard to death in her bedroom while Gypsy Rose Blanchard hid in a nearby bathroom.

At his sentencing hearing in February 2019, Godejohn reiterated that he murdered Dee Dee Blanchard because he wanted to help free Gypsy Rose Blanchard.

I was blindly in love. That was always very much the case, he said, according to The Springfield News-Leader.

Why was Gypsy Rose Blanchard's sentence shorter than Nicholas Godejohn's?

Gypsy Rose Blanchard made a deal with Greene County prosecutor Dan Patterson, who took into consideration the "extraordinary and unusual abuse she had suffered at her mothers hand, according to the Springfield News-Leader.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard pled guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced in 2016 to 10 years in prison.

She was released early on Dec. 28, 2023.

Are Gypsy Rose Blanchard and Nicholas Godejohn still a couple?

No. In August 2022, The Springfield News-Leader reported that Gypsy Rose Blanchard had married Ryan Scott Anderson of Saint Charles, Louisiana, in June of that year.

Godejohn called Blanchard his soul mate in the 2019 Oxygen documentary. I will always have feelings for her, he said.

Is Nicholas Godejohn still in prison today?

Godejohn is still serving a life sentence with no chance of parole at the Potosi Correctional Center, according to The Springfield News-Leader.

In August 2022, Godejohn appeared with new attorneys in a Greene County courtroom, where he asked a judge to set aside his previous conviction and order a new trial on the grounds that he had ineffective counsel in his trial, according to The Springfield News-Leader.

Godejohns request was denied, according to NBC Affiliate KYTV of Springfield, Missouri.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Weve all been there, especially when trying to make a quick decision in a wine shop or restaurant. Deciphering the code of wine labels is no easy task. Is this appellation better than that one? Should I choose a better producer from a less important region or is it the other way around? There are two here from the same winery at wildly different prices, but one is a Reserve and the other is their run-of-the-mill offering. Is that distinction worth the difference? Theres no one-size-fits-all answer to any of these questions other than to say that it depends.

Lets get back to the question of Reserve, which you may encounter written that way as well as the Italian Riserva and Spanish and Portuguese Reserva. In those countries as well as Argentina, this designation means something, while in the rest of the world reserve has no actual definition and is on the label at the discretion of the winery. In many cases in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Chile, among other countries, producers will use reserve to indicate their highest quality, top-tier, or longest-aged wine. That said, weve seen plenty of reserve wines in the $20 and under category in which the use of the word falls somewhere between meaningless and misleading. It may be the producers best wine in terms of grape selection or production methods, or it may simply be a marketing ploy.

More from Robb Report

Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Argentina have strict regulations set by the regional wine authorities that dictate how the terms riserva and reserve can be used. In addition to aging time, local rules also govern the area in which grapes may be grown, which varieties can be used, whether irrigation may be employed, vine density, and amount of grapes grown per hectare. In all cases, reserve or riserva wines will age longer than non-reserve wines. Heres what you need to know about the countries where this label actually means something.

Italy

Cortonesei La Mannella 2015 Brunello de Montalcino Riserva Italy

The four main regions that produce riserva wines are Brunello di Montalcino, Barolo, Barbaresco, and Chianti.

Brunello di Montalcino Riserva: Wine from this Tuscan region is made with 100 percent Sangiovese. Brunello di Montalcino Riserva must age for at least six years, with a minimum of two years in oak barrel and minimum 6 months in bottle and may be released January 1, six years after the harvest. Astute readers will note that two years and six months do not add up to six years; these are minimum aging requirements and many producers age in barrel for longer than two years. Riserva Brunello is not made every year, only in those that winemakers believe they have had an exceptional harvest.

Barolo Riserva: Made with 100 percent Nebbiolo, Barolo Riserva is required to age for a minimum of five years before being brought to market. At least three of the five years must be in wood barrels.

Barbaresco Riserva: Sometimes considered Barolos little brother, Barbaresco is also produced with just Nebbiolo. Barbaresco Riserva must age for at least four years; and nine months must be spent in oak barrels.

Chianti Classico Riserva: Grapes must come from the Chianti Classico subregion, and wines have to be a minimum of 80 percent Sangiovese to earn this title. Additional grapes that are allowed are Canaiolo Nero, Colorino, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah. Wines must age at least two years before release, including at least seven months in oak barrel and three months of bottle rest. There is a higher level as well, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione, which is made only with estate-grown grapes and requires 30 months of aging before release.

Spain

Carlos Serres Carlemagne Gran Reserva

Almost every Spanish region has a set of aging requirements for their red wines, with Reserva being the second-longest aging period, behind Gran Reserva.

Ribera del Duero and Rioja: Ribera del Duero wines are likely to be 100 percent Tempranillo, while many Rioja wines blend 85 percent of this grape with Graciano and Mazuelo.

Reserva wines age for at least three years, with at least one in oak barrel and the remainder in bottle.

Gran Reserva may be released after five years, with a minimum of two years in oak.

Portugal

Vallado Douro

Unlike Italy and Spain, most of Portugals labeling requirements have to do with alcohol content rather than specified aging schedules. These refer to wines from a vintage year (and not to non- or multi-vintage wines) from a specified Denomination of Origin (DO) or Geographical Indication (IG) region. In all cases the terms are applied to wines that have outstanding organoleptic characteristics, which is open to interpretation.

Reserva and Reserva Especial: These refer to wines that have an alcohol content at least 0.5 percent above the minimum alcohol content laid down for the region. If the minimum in a region is 12 percent ABV, then a Reserva or Reserva Especial must have a minimum of 12.5 percent alcohol.

Grand Reserve: Portuguese Grand Reserves must have a minimum ABV at least 1 percent higher than the minimum required for the region.

Velha Reserva: This is the only Portuguese term we have noted that has aging stipulations attached. Red Velha Reserva wines must age for three years prior to being released, while white and rose requires two. All of them need an higher level that is at least 1 percent above the minimum for the region.

Argentina

malbec wines from argentina

The only non-European country that appears to have any rules for the use of reserva, Argentina requires less time than Italy or Spain in order to label wine with the term.

Reserva: This indicates at least one year in barrel for red wine or six months for white.

Gran Reserva: A red Argentine Gran Reserva has spent at least two years in oak, while white wines must oak-age for one year.

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Wake up, Mr. WestCalifornia wants around $1 million from you and Yeezy.

Yeezy Apparel LLC, owned by Ye, the rapper and controversy-courting celebrity formerly known as Kanye West, has four outstanding tax liens in California, one of which dates back to 2021.

More from Sourcing Journal

These outstanding bills mean Yeezy Apparel owes California $934,033.56.

Receiving a tax lien means an individual or entity has tax debt it has refused to pay. A company or individual can be issued a tax lien by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or by a state government. In this case, each of Yeezy Apparels liens came from Californias Employment Development Department (EDD).

The first notice arrived in July 2021. After failing to pay $8,866.30 in taxes, Yeezy Apparel incurred a penalty of $4,681.85 and interest amounting to $451.13, bringing its outstanding debt to $13,999.28.

Though that may not be a large chunk of change for someone with Yes status and bank account, the problems only worsened in the past two years.

In February 2022, California forked over a notice for an additional $279,085.99 in cash owed. Yes brand, which previously had collaborations with Adidas, Balenciaga and Gap, had failed to pay $186,080.72 in taxes, which triggered an $85,810.33 penalty and $7,194.94 in interest.

In September 2022, Yeezy Apparel received a third notice of state tax lien, this time stating it owed an additional $319,356.58. Per state records, the Donda artists brand had refused to pay $212,648.40, which resulted in a $97,063 penalty and $9,644.40 in interest.

The latest blow came in March last year, when California dropped another $319,356.58 state tax lien on Yeezy. That came from the companys failure to pay $212,648.40 in taxes, which instigated a $97,063.78 penalty and $9,644.40 in interest.

But Richard Gano, a tax lawyer with Holtz, Slavett & Drabkin and former IRS attorney, said that the presence of the liens on Yeezys records may not mean the company hasnt paid part of its balance.

When I look at these liens, they dont tell us what the current balance is, he told Sourcing Journal.

Thats because California doesnt remove liens from a company or individuals record until they have been paid in full. Gano said a company can pay a lien outright or hammer out a payment plan. But even if Yeezy and Ye have chipped away at some of their tax obligations, that is not reflected until it has been paid in full.

And if Yeezy hasnt paid anything toward its balance, it has accrued more interest since the liens were first filed.

Upon looking at the liens, Alexandra Eaker Perez, a tax attorney at Eaker Perez Law in San Diego, said the issues that resulted in the liens being filed were likely due to payroll taxes. Gano and Nicholas Rozansky, a partner at Stubbs, Alderton & Markles in Sherman Oaks, Calif., agreed.

Eaker Perez said Yeezy likely had a number of chances to pay the outstanding taxes or work with the EDD prior to a lien being filed against it.

The state doesnt file a tax lien until a tax is final, due and payable, and thats after lots of notices and lots of appeal rights have all gone out and lapsed, she said.

The California EDD declined to comment on the liens against Yeezy Apparel.

Despite the companys tax troubles, it continued with business as usual last year. The polarizing brand opened a new headquarters in California and was looking to hire interns to staff that office.

Rozansky said its not unusual that a business would stay the course while its saddled with tax liens.

However, he said, refusing to quickly settle those liens can be a tough look when trying to find lenders and partners.

Its an indication that things are not going well in some way, shape or form, for you or for your business, and as a result lenders are going to look at them very seriously, he told Sourcing Journal.

Individuals can be held personally responsible for outstanding business liens in some cases, Eaker Perez said.

Aside from Yeezys tax woes, Ye has personal liens out against him for failing to pay property taxes. The Daily Mail uncovered documents that show Ye tried to Runaway from paying taxes on his properties in Calabasas, Calif. Per the documents, the Vultures rapper owes $101,093 total in property taxes for a mansion and an apartment nearly 30 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

Ye has never been averse to attentionbut tax liens could be just the kind to sink his reputation where money and loans are concerned.

Gano said tax liens effectively act as a scarlet letter for future business considerations, until these debts have been paid in full.

[Liens] put the world on notice, and and they put creditors and other businesses that want to do business with Yeezy on alert. This matters because if Yeezy wants to get funding or deal with lenders, when they see these liens, it does raise flags to them, in terms of their [creditworthiness], whether or not they want to business with them, Gano said.

Yeezy could not be reached for comment.
In June, the Burlington Free Press published a four-part series by reporter April Barton about problems with Vermonts Child Protection Registry, regarding a record of child abuse instances maintained by the Department for Children and Families.

The registry and the department had been criticized for using the registry and an administrative process that avoids the court system and unfairly accuses parents of child abuse, causing them to lose job opportunities and their children without adequate means for contesting the designation, which lasts a lifetime.

Bartons series is just one example of the impactful journalism we strive for at the Burlington Free Press.

Barton spent months reviewing thousands of documents and coaxing parents  fearful of retaliation by the department that could threaten custody of their children  to speak on the record.

Her efforts paid off with a series that untangled the arcane maze that parents must navigate when even threatened by being placed on the registry, and put a face to those who suffer under an imperfect system.

Following the Free Press story, Commissioner Chris Winters of Vermont's Department for Children and Families convened a work group of DCF workers and child advocates to evaluate the Child Protection Registry.

The four-part series, in its entirety, is here:

Critical errors on the list: Child abuse or parenting 'in todays complex world'? Some say Vermont DCF gets it wrong

Putting a spotlight on an emerging drug threat

In September, Dan DAmbrosio wrote about xylazine, known on the streets as tranq, a large animal tranquilizer, as DAmbrosio wrote, being mixed into Burlington's illicit drug supply, along with fentanyl and other substances.

The story included Vermont Sen. Peter Welch's effort to work with Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas to pass a bill aimed at developing an antidote, and directing the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop new tests to detect the drug in patients.

In a statement following the signing of the bill by President Joe Biden in December, Welch concluded, The Burlington Free Press put the spotlight on Tranq and Sen. Welchs bill in their September 2023 piece: 'It came out of nowhere': Xylazine makes Vermont street drugs more dangerous and deadly.

Thank you for supporting our work and please subscribe so that we can continue to provide stories that have a meaningful impact. Count on us to keep serving our communities in 2024.

Aki Soga is the editor of the Burlington Free Press. Contact him at asgoa@freepressmedia.com.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Burlington Free Press journalism focuses on local impact
Former President Donald Trump has a 29-point lead among South Carolina Republican voters over the states former governor, with less than two months until the states GOP presidential primary, according to a new Emerson College Poll.

Trump received 54% of support from the 584 people polled on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who has been solidly in second place for several months in her home state, was supported by 25% of people in the poll, who were surveyed via phone call, text messages and online.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis received 7% of support in the poll, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was at 5%, and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy was at 3%.

Emersons latest poll is similar to a poll of South Carolina voters released by the Trafalgar Group about a month ago that had Trump at 49% and Haley at 23%. However, DeSantis polled at 14% in that survey.

Haley is looking to make it a two-person race for the Republican presidential nomination after the nominating contests in Iowa and New Hampshire this month. Haley has seen the gap between her and Trump shrink in recent weeks in New Hampshire, which holds its GOP primary one month before South Carolina.

The current state of the race in South Carolina finds Trump as the frontrunner with Haley as his main opponent. DeSantis has seen a decline in support, and similar to our New Hampshire poll has faded into the pack with single-digit support Spencer Kimball, the executive director of Emerson College Polling, said in a statement. A key question arising from this poll is whether Haley can mobilize ample support in her home state before the primary, in the case the race becomes more competitive after New Hampshire.

South Carolinas primary is open to voters of any party, as voters dont register with parties in the state, which could provide an opening for Haley.

The poll found Haley leads among independent voters 37% to Trumps 33%, but she trails among those who consider themselves Republicans, 21% compared to Trumps 62%.

Trump leads Haley 57% to 24% among respondents who said they are very likely to vote in the primary. Among those who are somewhat likely to vote in the primary, Trump only has a 34% to 31% lead.

Haley also needs to the field to narrow for her to win her home state. She is the second choice of 20% of respondents in the poll. DeSantis is the second choice of 26% of respondents.

Haley currently earns the support of a plurality of Christie voters, 44%, as their second choice for the nomination, but others split their vote between the top candidates, said Matt Taglia, the senior director at Emerson College Polling. With limited undecided voters, a path for Haley in South Carolina could depend on converting some of these first and second choices.

Democratic primary race

Emerson College also polled 320 Democratic primary voters ahead of the Feb. 3 First in the Nation Democratic presidential primary in South Carolina.

President Joe Biden leads with 69% of support in the Palmetto State, which propelled him to the Democratic nomination in 2020.

Minnesota Congressman Dean Phillips is at 5%. Self-help author Marianne Williamson is at 3%.

The poll found 22% of Democratic voters are undecided.

Biden holds a strong base of support among South Carolina Democrats, no alternative presents any challenge for the president, Kimball said. The 22% still on the sidelines present an opportunity for Biden to begin his 2024 primary elections with a strong showing to open for the Democratic nomination.
The CEO of Trump Media and Technology Group has dismissed his lawsuit against Sarasota Herald-Tribune columnist Chris Anderson and other media outlets for alleged defamation related to a column published in March 2023.

Court records indicate Devin Nunes voluntarily dismissed all the defendants in the case without prejudice on Dec. 15, four days before a scheduled case management hearing and eight months after filing suit.

Nunes filed the lawsuit in the 12th Judicial Circuit Court in April 2023 against The Guardian, Penske Media Corp., owner of Variety magazine, Anderson and Will Wilkerson, who the lawsuit claimed had been "ousted" from Trump Media.

Legal counsel for Nunes was unavailable Tuesday when a Herald-Tribune reporter reached out by telephone.

Previous reporting: Devin Nunes, CEO of Trump's media group, sues Herald-Tribune columnist for alleged defamation

More court updates: Sarasota judge to interview 'Take Care of Maya' case juror over alleged misconduct

Nunes sought compensatory and punitive damages with a cover sheet in the case noting the claims exceeded $100,000.

The lawsuit stemmed from a March 15 article published by The Guardian, which included information from an interview with Wilkerson. The suit alleged several false statements and defamatory implications concerning Nunes, including the article's headline, subheading, and information throughout the story.

The Guardian reported that federal prosecutors in New York were investigating Trump Media for possible money laundering and the company's acceptance of $8 million with suspected Russian ties. Nunes's complaint states that the information was false, and additional false and defamatory statements were made in a second article by The Guardian published two days later.

The complaint added that PMC's magazine, Variety, republished the statements from The Guardian article in stories on March 15 and March 22.

Anderson's column in the Herald-Tribune referred to The Guardian article and how the issue might impact Trump's reelection campaign. The Trump Media company, which owns the social media platform Truth Social, is based in Sarasota.

Gabriela Szymanowska covers the legal system for the Herald-Tribune in partnership with Report for America. You can support her work with a tax-deductible donation to Report for America. Contact Gabriela Szymanowska at gszymanowska@gannett.com, or on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Truth Social CEO Devin Nunes dismisses lawsuit against local columnist
FILE - Rioters loyal to President Donald Trump gather on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021.

Saturday marks the third anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021 attack of the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C., when supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the building in an attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

At least 24 people with ties to Kentucky were arrested on federal charges for their roles in the insurrection, according to a database compiled by the U.S. Attorney's office. As of July 2023, 1,069 Americans have been charged with crimes in relation to the Capitol attack.

Records from the U.S. Attorney's office show some Kentuckians were arrested by the FBI or sentenced to prison in 2023, two years after the insurrection took place.

Here is what we know about the Kentuckians arrested in relation to the events of Jan. 6:

Robert Lynn Bauer

Bauer, of Cave City, was sentenced to 45 days in jail in October 2021 for parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building, The Courier Journal previously reported. Bauer and his cousin, Edward Hemenway of Winchester, Virginia, entered into a plea deal that reduced their number of charges to one after federal prosecutors also charged them with disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building and violent entry and disorderly conduct at the grounds and in a Capitol building.

In addition to the jail sentence, federal Judge Tanya Chutkan ordered Bauer and his cousin to complete 60 hours of community service and pay $500 in restitution.

More: Kentucky man who sought to 'occupy' the US Capitol during Jan. 6 riot will go to jail

Roger Kent Baugh

In January 2023, Baugh, of Louisville, was sentenced by a federal judge to a year in prison after he pleaded guilty in October 2022 to interfering with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder. Additionally, the judge ordered Baugh to pay $2,500 in restitution and be under supervised release for 24 months, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney's office.

Damon Michael Beckley

Beckley, of Cub Run, was charged entering restricted grounds and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. After initially pleading not guilty, Beckley would later change his plea to no contest, meaning he would agree to accept punishment without confirming or denying responsibility.

On Jan. 20, 2021, Beckley was released on a $25,000 bond after he was taken to the Grayson County Detention Center following his arrest, The Courier Journal previously reported.

More: FBI arrests Louisville man who was at the US Capitol riot

Eric Douglas Clark

Clark, of Louisville, was charged in May 2021 with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority and of violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

More: FBI arrests another man in Louisville in connection with deadly U.S. Capitol riot

Benjamin Cole

Cole, who was arrested in Louisville in August 2022, was charged in U.S. District Court with civil disorder, of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds and of disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Gracyn Dawn Courtright

A former University of Kentucky student, Courtright, a native of West Virginia, was sentenced to 30 days in jail in December 2021, The Courier Journal previously reported. A federal judge also ordered her to pay $500 in restitution and complete 60 hours of community service.

Dalton Ray Crase and Troy Dylan Williams

Crase and Williams were friends living in Lexington when they were both arrested in February 2021 and charged with entering a restricted building or grounds, entering restricted grounds with the intent to impede government business, disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, picketing on Capitol grounds and aiding or abetting a crime against the U.S. government, The Courier Journal previously reported.

In January 2022, a federal judge sentenced Crase and Williams to three years of probation and 15 days of intermittent confinement, which was to be served at a jail or halfway house over the course of five weekends. The two men had pleaded guilty to parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building, according to previous reporting.

More: Judge sentences 2 friends from Kentucky who entered the US Capitol during Jan. 6 riot

Luke Hoffman

Hoffman, of Dover, was arrested on seven charges in July 2023, according to court documents. Federal prosecutors stated Hoffman had sprayed a "substance consistent with that of a chemical irritant" at Capitol Police officers and tried to grab an officer's baton.

Joseph Howe

Howe, of Magnolia, was charged by federal prosecutors on felony and misdemeanor charges, including assaulting law enforcement officers, in October 2022, The Courier Journal previously reported. A year later, he was sentenced to 50 months in prison for obstructing an official proceeding and assaulting, resisting or impeding law enforcement officers, both of which are felonies. A federal judge also ordered him to pay $2,000 in restitution and be under supervised release for 12 months, according to a media release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Joseph Irwin

Irwin, a former deputy with the Hardin County Sheriff's Office, was charged by federal prosecutors in August 2021 with unlawful entry and disorderly conduct in a restricted building and disorderly conduct and parading/demonstrating in the Capitol building, according to court documents. Irwin, of Cecilia, left the sheriff's office in 2015, according to previous reporting.

More: Kentuckian arrested in connection with Jan. 6 insurrection was formerly a sheriff's deputy

Chad Barrett Jones

A federal judge found Jones, of Mount Washington, guilty of two felony and misdemeanor charges in July 2023, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office. Jones was accused of attempting to break into a door to the House of Representatives chambers.

Jones' charges included assault on a federal officer, certain acts during a civil disorder, destruction of government property over $1,000, obstruction of justice, unlawful entry on restricted building or grounds, violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

Clayton Ray Mullins

Mullins, of Magnolia, pleaded guilty to the charge assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers in September 2023, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office. A federal judge scheduled Mullins' sentencing for Jan. 17.

Michael Orangias

Orangias was charged by federal prosecutors with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds and violent entry, and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, The Courier Journal previously reported in March 2021. A year later, he was sentenced to 36 months probation, including 90 days of home detention, and ordered to pay $500 in restitution, according to court records.

Kurt Peterson

Peterson, of Hodgenville, was sentenced by a federal judge to 45 days in jail, followed by two months of home incarceration in November 2023, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office. Peterson pleaded guilty in September 2022 to the charge of engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon. Federal prosecutors said Peterson used a wooden stick to smash through part of an exterior window of the Capitol.

Stephen Chase Randolph

Randolph, of Harrodsburg, was charged with assaulting a federal officer and inflicting bodily injury, obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder and obstruction of Congress in April 2021, the Courier Journal previously reported. After being indicted on April 30, 2021, Randolph pleaded not guilty to nine charges on May 7, 2021, according to court documents.

Jordan Revlett

Revlett, of Island, was sentenced to 14 days in jail in July 2022 for parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building, according to a previous report. He was given one year of supervised probation and 80 hours of community service, and was also ordered to pay $500 in restitution and not possess firearms while on probation.

More: He claimed police let him into the Capitol. Now Kentucky man going to jail for Jan. 6 riot

Michael Sparks

Sparks allegedly entered the Capitol through a broken window, The Courier Journal previously reported. Federal prosecutors indicted him on nine charges in November 2021, including civil disorder, according to court documents.

Shelly Stallings

Stallings, of Morganfield, pleaded guilty to five felony charges, including a assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers using a dangerous weapon, and two misdemeanor charges in August 2022. Stallings was sentenced to two years in federal prison in April 2023, according to a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review report.

William Stover

Stover, of Elizabethtown, was arrested in July 2023 on four charges, including civil disorder, The Courier Journal previously reported.

Reva Vincent

Vincent, of Brownsville, was ordered by a federal judge in September 2021 to serve 24 months of probation, take part in 60 hours of community service and pay a $1,500 fine, The Courier Journal previously reported.

Lori Ann and Thomas Vinson

A federal judge sentenced Lori Ann and Thomas Vinson each to five years of probation, a $5,000 fine, $500 in restitution and 120 hours of community service in October 2021, The Courier Journal previously reported.

More: Kentucky nurse, Air Force veteran sentenced for their roles in Jan. 6 riot at US Capitol

Daniel Edwin Wilson

Wilson, of Louisville, was charged by federal prosecutors in May 2023 for felony obstruction and four misdemeanors, according to a previous report.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: What happened to Kentuckians charged in the January 6 attack?
Araminta Minty Ross. was born around 1822 to enslaved parents in Dorchester County, Maryland. Minty matured into a young woman, and she earned a reputation as a hard worker.

She was around 22 years old when she met John Tubman. They fell in love and were married in 1844. When she took Johns last name, she also changed her first name, perhaps in honor of her mother, and Minty Ross became Harriet Tubman.

In October 1849, Harriet left her family, ran away from her master, and started toward Delaware. She reasoned, There was one of two things I had a right to, liberty or death; if I could not have one, I would have the other; for no man should take me alive; I should fight for my liberty as long as my strength lasted.

Crossing Chesapeake and Delaware Canal was formidable task

Tubmans exact route out of Maryland has not been determined, but using the North Star as her guide, Tubman moved up the western edge of Delaware.

On cloudy nights when the stars were not visible, she followed the streams and creeks that moved generally from north to south. This kept her west of the high ground that ran down the spine of Delaware and separated the waters that flowed into the Chesapeake Bay from those that emptied into the Delaware Bay.

A formidable task that all freedom seekers traveling from southern Delaware was crossing the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. The waterway stretched across the peninsula about a dozen miles south of Wilmington.

HISTORY: Tubman site discovery offers big clues on life of enslaved people there. What we know.

The canals waters were 66 feet wide and could be crossed by a swimmer of moderate ability. Those who could not swim could use a log as a rudimentary raft and paddle their way across in a matter of minutes. Close to either end of the canal were locks, whose doors could provide nimble fugitives a foot bridge over the canal, but they risked not only falling, but also discovery by the locks operators.

There were also several swing bridges along the canals route, but they were not always in place for a fugitive to cross the canal, and freedom seekers also risked discovery by the bridges attendants. The easiest crossing was a 247-foot covered bridge at Summit near the middle of the canal. It is not known how Tubman crossed the canal.

Walking by night and hiding by day, Tubman continued to make her way northward. Not knowing whom to trust, she used her intuition to ask strangers for food or to guide her on her way.

'I looked at my hands to see if I was the same person'

A state historic marker in Seaford details the risky escape of a former slave named Tilly with the assistance of Harriet Tubman.

When Tubman realized that she was in a free state, she recalled, I looked at my hands to see if I was the same person now [that] I was free. There was such a glory over everything, the sun came like gold through the trees, and over the fields, and I felt like I was in heaven.

She also realized the bitter truth that the rest of her family, her husband, parents and siblings were still enslaved in Maryland, and unless Harriet Tubman made an effort to go back and rescue them, they would be condemned to a life of slavery.

Tubman did what few escaped slaves ever did. She returned to Maryland and Delaware (two slave states) to lead them to freedom. Harriet Tubman made over 10 trips to guide her relatives and others to freedom. If she had been captured on one these expeditions, she faced a severe flogging or worse, and a lifetime sentence of slavery.

Her most brazen exploit was leading a young woman named Tilly through Seaford in broad daylight. After slavery was abolished during the Civil War, she continued to advocate for the rights of others, but no cause was more dangerous when Harriet Tubman faced liberty or death on the Delaware Underground Railroad.

Michael Morgan

Principal sources

Larson, Kate Clifford. Bound for the Promised Land, Harriet Tubman, Portrait of an American Hero. New York: One World Random House, 2003, pp. 62-63.

Bradford, Sarah H. The Moses of Her People. New York: Geo. R. Lockwood and Son, 1897, pp. 28-32; 58-60

Gray, Ralph D. The National Waterway. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1967, p. 52

DELAWARE HISTORY: Delaware's history as part of the Underground Railroad to be preserved in new museum

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: How Harriet Tubman crossed Delaware in search of liberty
Barbed wire fences encircles the Potosi Correctional Center on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, in Mineral Point, Mo. The prison houses Missouris male death row inmates.

A bill in the Missouri General Assembly seeks to expand the use of the death penalty beyond murder.

State Sen. Mike Moon, an Ash Grove Republican, sponsored the measure, which would allow capital punishment in cases of first-degree statutory rape and first-degree sex trafficking of a child. It would apply to crimes committed after Aug. 27.

The measure contradicts a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that prohibits capital punishment for crimes where someone did not die. But according to the Death Penalty Information Center, a handful of states still have such laws on the books.

Last year, Florida passed a new law permitting the death penalty in child rape cases, the Associated Press reported. Prosecutors in Lake County, Florida, announced in December that they will seek the death penalty for a man indicted on six counts of sexual battery of a child under age 12.

Moon did not respond to a call seeking comment.

State Rep. Maggie Nurrenbern, a Kansas City Democrat, said she has serious concerns about trafficking and abuse, especially when it comes to children. But she said, the death penalty does not deter that sort of behavior.

In recent years, the Legislature has moved in the opposite direction, she continued, and there is growing support to limit the use of the death penalty or eliminate it altogether.

Elyse Max, co-director of Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty, said the organization would track the legislation, but that it was viewed by most as radical.

I dont think theres going to be a lot of mainstream support or conservative support for this bill, she said.

Support for limiting death penalty

Support for reducing the use of the death penalty extends across party lines in the Missouri General Assembly.

Three House bills propose abolishing capital punishment. They are sponsored by two Democrats and one Republican.

A fourth measure, sponsored by Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, a Jefferson County Republican, would change a sentencing loophole. Missouri and Indiana are the only two states that allow a judge to impose capital punishment when a jury cannot make a decision.

In a 2006 murder trial, a jury could not reach a sentencing decision and a judge handed down a death sentence for Amber McLaughlin. She was executed a year ago in Missouri.

When a jury deadlocks and a sentence is left to a judge, Colemans bill would take the death penalty off the table.

Max said the push to repeal the death penalty has gained momentum in Republican circles.

On Tuesday, Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty will hold a news conference at the Missouri Capitol. In a news release, Demetrius Minor, the national manager for the organization, said the group supports ending the death penalty.

It does not align with our conservative principles of limited government, fiscal responsibility, and valuing life, Minor said. The death penalty gives an often-incompetent government too much power, it wastes enormous resources that could be used to make us safer like solving cold cases, and it puts innocent lives at risk.

Missouri was one of five states that carried out executions in 2023.

There is one execution scheduled so far this year in Missouri. The execution warrant for Brian J. Dorsey, who was convicted in a double murder, will go into effect at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9.
WASHINGTON  Nikki Haley used an Iowa town hall Thursday to outline her plans to topple former president and Republican frontrunner Donald Trump  and to try and deal with some of the obstacles in her way.

"We've got momentum," the former South Carolina governor said during the CNN event in Des Moines, predicting strong showings in Iowa, New Hampshire, and her home state of South Carolina.

It's no easy task, given Trump's leads in most polls, although Haley is moving up in some surveys in New Hampshire.

The former United Nations ambassador also faced questions about recent controversy prompted by her comments  and lack there of  about the legacy of slavery and the importance of Iowa voters, as well as attacks from Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Among the town hall takeaways:

Haley has a plan - so do others

Republican presidential candidate former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley speaks during a campaign event at the Lawrence Community Center in Anamosa, Iowa, on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023.

In setting up the race, Haley said that a strong showing in the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 15 will lead to wins in New Hampshire (Jan. 23) and her home state of South Carolina (Feb. 24).

Republican rivals have similar ideas.

DeSantis, who headlined a CNN town hall right before the Haley event, says he will do better than expected in Iowa, propelling him into future contests.

Trump, meanwhile, is arguing that a big win in Iowa should end the contest then and there  but that likely won't happen.

Cleaning up flubs

Put on the defensive, Haley again said she made a mistake when she omitted slavery as a cause for the U.S. Civil War of the 1860s.

Haley said "I was thinking past slavery" and focused on how to move forward in dealing with racism. She again discussed her removal of the Confederate flag from the South Carolina statehouse following the 2015 mass shooting of Black churchgoers in Charleston.

If you grow up in South Carolina, literally in second and third grade you learn about slavery," Haley said. "You grow up and you have - you know - I had Black friends growing up. It is a very talked-about thing."

Dealing with another flap, Haley said she was joking when she advised New Hampshire voters that they could "correct" Iowa if it picks another candidate in the caucuses.

"We banter against each other on different things," Haley told Iowa voters, insisting that she loves the Hawkeye State. "New Hampshire makes fun of Iowa. Iowa makes fun of South Carolina. It's what we do."

"I'm fighting for every state," she added.

Reminded that DeSantis described her "correct" comment as disrespectful to Iowa, Haley said: "Of course, he did."

Stepping up criticisms of Trump

Haley, who was loathe to attack Trump in the early part of the campaign, is stepping up her critique of the ex-president as actual voting nears.

During the CNN town hall, Haley said Trump was a good president for his time, but is now trailed by "chaos" and criminal indictments that would make him a bad general election candidate against President Joe Biden.

"No more drama," Haley said. "No more taking things personally."

After a critical question from a voter, Haley defended her pledge to pardon Trump, should that become necessary. "We have to move on past that," Haley said.

Throughout the town hall, Trump allies took after Haley on social media, on issues ranging from border security to China policy.

"Nikki will say anything to anyone and take any position at anytime, as long as she thinks it will help her political career," said Trump senior adviser Jason Miller on X, formerly Twitter.

No to gun control

At the start of the event, Haley expressed sympathy for the victims of the school shooting earlier in the day in Perry, Iowa.

Seeking the nomination of a party that believes in gun rights, Haley also said the solution is to address mental health, not more gun control.

"We have got to deal with the cancer that is mental health," Haley said.

The Democratic National Committee, meanwhile, denounced Haley as a Trump-like candidate who "dodged answering for her anti-choice agenda and her support for election deniers." A DNC statement also said she "found new ways to prove her MAGA bona fides by callously siding with the gun lobby over the safety of Americas children."

'The right woman'

Haley expressed confidence that being a woman is not an impediment to her campaign.

The nation is ready to elect a female president, she said, but it has to be "the right" woman.

"So is America ready for a female president?" Haley said. "You bet they're ready for a female president, and I'm going to be the one that makes them proud."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nikki Haley town hall takeaways: From mental health to Trump 'chaos'
Shooting down Russia's overhyped missiles with Patriots is a win for more than just Ukraine. The war is an 'intelligence bonanza' for the West.

Ukraine says it has shot down 25 Russian Kinzhal missiles with Patriot systems since last May.

Any such kill improves the Patriot's accuracy and algorithms, benefiting other users of the system.

It's invaluable intelligence for the West and further highlights the need for more air defenses.

Ukraine's made good use of its Western-provided Patriot air-defense systems, shooting down plenty of Russian missiles, aircraft, and drones, including some advanced, albeit overhyped, weaponry.

But the intercepts, while a win for Ukraine, are also gathering hoards of data for other Patriot operators, making the system smarter and better. It's just one example of how the war in Ukraine is, as one missile-defense expert told Business Insider, an "intelligence bonanza."

And as Ukraine defeats threats, there's also a growing recognition of the importance of robust air and missile defenses, vital for defending and deterrence and, in Ukraine's case, survival amid an increase in missile and drone attacks.

On Tuesday, Ukraine said it shot down all 10 of the new Kinzhals fired during a vicious air assault, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine praising the incident as "what heroism supplied with advanced systems looks like." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, too, hailed Western-provided air defenses like Patriots, IRIS-T, and NASAMS for saving "hundreds of lives."

The reported kills nearly doubled the tally of Kinzhals destroyed in the war. Just Sunday, Ukraine said it had shot down 15 Kinzhal missiles using Patriot batteries since the first recorded intercept last May, which was confirmed by the Pentagon.

The Patriot air-defence system during Polish military training at the airport in Warsaw, Poland, in February of last year. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel

A Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson, Col. Yurii Ihnat, praised the Patriot's ability to counter a variety of missile threats. The rate at which the Patriot may have intercepted Kinzhals indicates Ukraine has learned well how to operate its Western air defenses and developed a strong defense against the missile the Russians have touted as an unstoppable hypersonic weapon.

But Ukraine is not the only one benefiting from these engagements. For other Patriot operators, such as the US, new data about how to counter specific threats, such as the Kinzhal, is incredibly useful information.

"Every Ukrainian downing of Russian hypersonic Kh-47M2 Kinzhal with the Patriot missiles will improve the Patriot missile intercept algorithm  and increase accuracy for all Patriot systems, a benefit for the US, the rest of NATO, and other Patriot AD users," Jan Kallberg, a senior fellow with the Transatlantic Defense and Security program at the Center for European Policy Analysis who was a professor at West Point, posted on X.

That data is valuable for both the US and its NATO allies, giving them a rare opportunity to live test systems and learn more about how not only to engage but also defeat Russian weaponry.

"The larger point is the intelligence bonanza that we are capitalizing on by observing or capturing Russian systems" without actually having any troops on the ground, Tom Karako, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies who's the director of the Missile Defense Project there, told Business Insider. He said the opportunity was giving the US valuable data on Russia for potential future conflicts.

US soldiers with the 3rd Battalion of the 2nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment after a routine inspection of a Patriot missile battery at a military base in Gaziantep, Turkey. US Army photo

Russia's Kinzhal is an advanced air-launched ballistic missile that has been celebrated by Kremlin officials, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, for its "unique flight characteristics," high speed, maneuverability, and ability to "overcome all existing" and "prospective antiaircraft and antimissile defense systems," characteristics that supposedly make it unbeatable.

The MIM-104 "Patriot" air-defense battery, an older system that first entered service in the 1980s but has nonetheless been praised by the Pentagon as "one of the world's most advanced air-defense systems," arrived on the battlefield in April 2023. The system, once operational, quickly put an end to Russian narratives about the Kinzhal, shooting one down in early May.

Later that month, Ukraine said its Patriot air defenses eliminated six more of these missiles.

The Kinzhal is an advanced capability, but so far, it hasn't really lived up to its overhyped narrative of being an unstoppable hypersonic missile.

"The Kinzhal doesn't fit into the category of either a scramjet cruise missile or a hypersonic boost-glide vehicle," Karako explained.

He added that the term "hypersonic," when used to refer to the Kinzhal missile, tended to be in a more literal sense, as in it could exceed speeds of Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound.

But while the Kinzhal is going fast, "it doesn't really constitute sustained and controlled flight in the hypersonic flight regime," Karako explained, adding that "it's essentially a somewhat maneuvering ballistic missile."

Maj. Peter Mitchell, an air-defense officer who's an instructor at West Point, previously characterized Russia's Kinzhal as "more akin to a giant lawn dart loaded with explosives," saying it wasn't capable of sharp turns or quick changes in flight direction.

That doesn't mean Ukraine's reported wins aren't impressive  or that it's not a boon for the US and its partners to see Russia use the Kinzhal. Instead, it's quite the opposite.

Similar to just about any data collected in the war, whether it's information on how Russia's operating its Shahed one-way exploding drones, defending against Ukrainian strikes, or pounding Ukrainian defenses, the takeaway is a beneficial one for the West: By helping defend Ukraine, they learn more about how their enemy could fight them in the future.

The Patriot system firing in Greece in November 2017 as part of a NATO exercise. Sebastian Apel/U.S. Department of Defense, via AP

Ukraine's successes with the Patriot and other Western systems also highlight the enormous importance of air and missile defenses.

While the drone war being fought between Ukraine and Russia has been eye-opening for many armies, including the US, the air campaigns have also reinforced the realization of how much armed forces need robust air defenses.

The successful engagement of "high-end missile threats from a major power like Russia is ratifying and bolstering the demand signal for both the Patriot family and other air defenses more broadly," Karako said.

During his December visit to Washington to plead for more aid amid Republican roadblocks in Congress, Zelenskyy expressed a dire need for more Patriot batteries in Ukraine. But the demand goes beyond that.

Take, for example, recent news of a handful of NATO nations' plans to buy 1,000 Patriot missiles or Japan's landmark decision to remove its self-imposed ban on weapons exports to transfer dozens of missiles to the US. Other air-defense systems, too, have been prioritized, as seen in the US aid packages to Israel in recent months.

"We're seeing an increased salience and demand for air and missile defense because missiles have become 'weapons of choice,'" Karako said. He said air and missile defense was not a peripheral concern but rather a central concern.

Read the original article on Business Insider
An innocent bike race between two young boys turned into a tragedy when one was fatally shot after his friend lost.

The sudden killing of 10-year-old Keith KJ Frierson in Sacramento County, California, has left his family in shambles. The incident happened on Saturday, Dec. 30, around 4:30 p.m. on Greenholme Drive, local officials said.

My baby  asked me can he go outside to ride. Not even 15 minutes later, my baby was gone, Brittani Frierson told KCRA. All because he was enjoying a race with some other kids he considered his friends on his new bike. This wasnt supposed to happen. Its not OK.

Keith Frierson was fatally shot on Dec. 30 in Sacramento County, California. (Photo: ABC10/Youtube screenshot)

When deputies arrived at the scene, they discovered a juvenile bleeding out from the head and neck, according to the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office. They attempted life-saving efforts until first responders got to the area. Frierson was sent to a local hospital, where he was said to have died.

Eyewitnesses told law enforcement that the suspects fled to a nearby apartment building and detained two juveniles, including a 10-year-old and his father, 53-year-old Arkete Davis.

During the probe, investigators found out that the child was sent to get cigarettes out of his fathers car. He allegedly also removed his fathers firearm from the vehicle and started boasting about it.

He then proceeded to shoot the victim once and ran into a nearby apartment. Detectives located a firearm in a nearby trash can, where Davis is believed to have tried to dispose of it, the sheriffs office said. Detectives confirmed that Davis was legally prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm. The recovered firearm was also reported stolen in 2017.

Officials said the 10-year-old was charged with murder and taken to a juvenile detention center. Davis was also taken into custody on $500,000 bail. He is facing firearm-related charges, child endangerment, and accessory after the fact.

Prosecutors dropped the charges against the boy on Wednesday.

Based on the facts currently known, the sole criminal liability and responsibility for the childs death lay exclusively with this Defendant, a statement from the Sacramento County District Attorneys Office said of the shooters father.

Fiersons family is now trying to pick up the pieces and point the finger at Davis for how the incident played out.

It starts at home, the childs godmother, Nina Trepagnier, said to the news station. This is the parents fault. They failed that child. And it took our baby, because they failed him, because they were poor examples.
Juan Manuel Rodarte appears via Zoom in Yakima County Superior Court Tuesday, July 11, 2023. Rodarte is charged with first-degree assault and other charges after prosecutors alleged he shot at a woman.
Jasper Kenzo Sundeen's reporting for the Yakima Herald-Republic is possible with support from Report for America and community members through the Yakima Valley Community Fund. For information on republishing, email news@yakimaherald.com.
Santiago Ochoa's reporting for the Yakima Herald-Republic is possible with support from Report for America and community members through the Yakima Valley Community Fund. For information on republishing, email news@yakimaherald.com.
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ACS Targu Mures: Trei meciuri castigate de echipa U7

In urma etapei a III-a din liga SzLB, organizata pe terenul propriu al celor de la ACS Targu Mures, echipa U7 a castigat toate cele trei meciuri disputate. Echipele adversare au fost Sporting Reghin, Sepsi OSK si Odorheiu Secuiesc, echipe care nu au reusit sa marcheze niciun gol in fata [citeste mai departe]
(VIDEO) Revolta in Cuba pentru lumina si mancare

Protest neobisnuit in al doilea oras ca marime din Cuba, Santiago. Locuitori au iesit in strada scandand lumina si mancare, in timp ce in anumite zone se intrerupe curentul electric timp de de 18 ore sau mai mult pe zi. S-a strigat de asemenea, Libertate! Cuba se afla intr-o criza [citeste mai departe]
Hungary drew record investments of more than 13 billion euros in 2023, Peter Szijjarto, the minister of foreign affairs and trade said.

The global economy faced very serious crises last year, Szijjarto said in a video message, noting that global investments fell by 12.5% from 2021 to 2022 and were down another 30% in the first half of 2023.



This, he said, showed that global investments still fell short of pre-pandemic levels. Hungary, however, has been seeing record investments in these years, the minister said, noting that the economy drew 6.5 billion euros in FDI in 2022 and more than 13 billion last year, supported by 2 billion euros in government grants.



The investments created a record 19,000 jobs, he said. China was the biggest foreign investor in Hungary last year, with the second largest group of investors being Hungarian businesses, Szijjarto said.



This, he added, meant that Hungary now had a strong business sector that could compete with foreign investors.



Szijjarto said Hungarys investment records clearly made the country a winner of the new era of the global economy, pointing out that it had attracted many investments from the electric vehicle industry, which he said would define the new era.



He noted that the worlds biggest electric vehicle producer was set to build the sixth e-vehicle manufacturing plant in Hungary.



Hungary will also have the second-biggest EV battery manufacturing capacity in the world, making it a global leader and the European champion of the green auto industry, Szijjarto said.



Finmin Hails Lower Deficit



Hungarys public finance deficit narrowed in 2023 from 2022, Finance Minister Mihaly Varga said on Tuesday, after receiving the first aggregates of budget data from last year.



Varga also hailed that revenues in corporate tax totalled 1,013 billion forints (EUR 2.6bn), over the target, which he said was another sign of favourable changes in economic trends.



State debt relative to GDP continued to decline, Varga said, adding that data from the Central Statistical Office were to be received to determine the final figure.



In 2024, we will continue to reduce the deficit and state debt with the start of stronger economic growth, he said.



Finance Minister: 2024 The Year Of Boosting Growth



The year ahead will be the year of boosting Hungarys economic growth, the finance minister said on Thursday, adding that the state budget remained stable.



Mihaly Varga told a press conference that the governments main goal was to keep reducing the deficit and the public debt, adding that were on the right track.



While 2023 had been a better year for the central budget than 2022, it was not as good as what the government expects from this year, the minister said. A total of 650 billion forints (EUR 1.7bn) was used to pre-finance European Union projects from last years budget, he added.



The budget withstood difficulties without significant external assistance last year, Varga said, noting that even with increased spending on pensions and defence, the cash flow-based budget deficit fell to 4,593 billion forints.



He said Hungary was one of only 16 EU countries last year to reduce its public debt-to-GDP ratio.



The minister also noted that the EU has transferred 470 billion forints in funding to Hungary over the last 10 days, adding that Hungary has reserves of over 1,200 billion forints.



Meanwhile, Varga said Hungary issued 2.5 billion US dollars of forex bonds on Wednesday. Offers for the 12-year bonds came to 5.6 billion dollars, showing investor confidence in the Hungarian economy remains strong, he added.



Varga noted that all of the big three rating agencies have Hungarys sovereign rating in the investment grade category.



Whereas 10 years ago, half of Hungarys debt was held by foreigners, today this has been lowered to a quarter, he added. In response to a question, he said the government put GDP growth at 3.6% for this year and had a deficit target of 2.9% of GDP.



Hungary Trade Surplus Euro 1.7 Billion In November



Hungary posted a trade surplus of 1.7 billion euros in November, up from 1.0 billion in the previous month, the Central Statistical Office (KSH) said in a first reading of the data on Thursday.



Exports fell by 3.8% year on year, while imports dropped by 25%. In volume terms, exports were up 1.0%, while imports were down 5.0% month-on-month. Hungarys trade balance improved by 3.2 billion euros.



Govt Sector Deficit 3.7% Of GDP in Q3  KSH



Hungarys government sector had a 701 billion forint (EUR 1.8bn) deficit in the third quarter, equivalent to 3.7% of GDP, preliminary data released by the Central Statistical Office (KSH) on Wednesday show.



Government sector revenue rose by 12.7% to 7,661 billion forints, while expenditures climbed 7.7% to 8,362 billion.



Hungary PMI Edges Up To 52.8 in December



Hungarys seasonally-adjusted Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) edged up to 52.8 points in December from 52.2 in November, staying over the 50-point threshold that signals expansion in the manufacturing sector, the Hungarian Association of Logistics, Purchasing and Inventory Management (Halpim) said on Tuesday.



Among the PMI sub-indices, the new orders index rose and was over the 50-point mark. The production volume index also increased and was over 50.



The employment index rose and indicated an expansion again. The gauge of purchased inventories climbed and was over the 50-point mark.
A nonpartisan civic organization has filed a friend-of-the-court brief in a case before the Nebraska Supreme Court over the law that added restrictions for abortion and gender-affirming surgeries for transgender youth.

The League of Women Voters of Nebraska isnt a party to the case filed by The ACLU of Nebraska on behalf of Planned Parenthood and later appealed when a district judge ruled against them this summer.

But in December, the group that encourages informed and active participation in government and increased public understanding of major policy issues asked for  and got  permission to file a so-called amicus brief in support of Planned Parenthood.

Based on its expertise and experience, the LWVNE believes the legislative single subject rule in Article III, section 14 of the Nebraska Constitution serves important democratic purposes that were failed in the case of LB574, attorney Beth Neitzel wrote.

She said, accordingly, the group seeks to participate in the case to urge the court to vacate the trial courts judgment, reaffirm the single subject rules significance, and invalidate LB574.

Neitzel said the case presents an important constitutional question for the state of Nebraska.

Does the single subject rule in Article III, section 14 of the Nebraska Constitution still serve to check legislative misdeeds and safeguard political transparency? Does it, in other words, still have teeth? she said.

The ACLU of Nebraska, which sued the state on behalf of Planned Parenthood after the new abortion restrictions were signed into law by Gov. Jim Pillen in May, raised the same issue unsuccessfully in Lancaster County District Court in May.

Their attorneys argued the Legislature had violated the single-subject rule of the Nebraska State Constitution by jamming together two unrelated provisions into a single bill.

After a six-week abortion ban fell one vote short of advancing in April, senators successfully amended a 12-week abortion ban onto another bill (LB574) prohibiting certain medical procedures for transgender youth in Nebraska late in the legislative session.

The bill passed on a 33-15 vote, just enough to defeat a filibuster.

In August, Lancaster County District Judge Lori Maret rejected the argument, siding with the Attorney Generals Office, which said all parts of the bill related to health care.

They are both medical treatments involving surgery or pharmaceuticals, the judge wrote in an order that left in place Nebraskas 12-week abortion ban, which took effect in May, and restrictions related to gender-affirming care that took effect Oct. 1.

Neitzel said that in the mid-20th century the single-subject rule was enshrined in the constitutions of 43 states, including Nebraskas, to prevent proposals from being rolled together into one bill to gain majority support and to facilitate political transparency for both citizens and legislators.

These concerns remain relevant today  as LB574 well illustrates, she said.

In a brief filed last month, Nebraska Solicitor General Eric Hamilton said LB574 did not violate the Constitutions single-subject rule for legislative bills.

The bill had a single subject expressed in its title  public health and welfare. Each provision of the bill was germane and related to public health and welfare. This is sufficient under this courts precedent. Appellants attempt to cast LB574s subject as something other than public health and welfare departs from this courts history of deferring to the Legislatures description of its own bills, he wrote.

The case is not yet set for oral arguments.

Photos and video: Scene at Nebraska Capitol as lawmakers pass LB574
NEW DELHI: In a surprising and dramatic turn of events, Chief Justice DY Chandrachud was taken aback on Friday as two whiskey bottles were prominently displayed during the hearing of a trademark violation dispute between two liquor companies.

What Was The Matter?

The three-judge bench, led by CJI Chandrachud, was actively engaged in hearing an appeal challenging the Madhya Pradesh High Court's decision, which rejected the appeal of Pernod Ricard's, a liquor company. The appeal aimed to restrain Indore-based JK Enterprises from manufacturing alcoholic beverages under the brand name 'London Pride.'

As the legal proceedings commenced, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi made an unusual request to introduce alcohol into the court for demonstration purposes. After receiving approval, Rohatgi brought in two whiskey bottles, initiating a unique discussion during the ongoing legal arguments.

The unexpected display of whiskey bottles amused Chief Justice Chandrachud, who, along with Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Mishra, shared a moment of laughter and asked, "Have you brought bottles with you?"

Responding to the curious inquiry, Rohatgi clarified that he intended to demonstrate equality between the two whiskey bottles and proceeded to elaborate on how the trademark violation had transpired in this particular case.

Insight Into The Trade Dress Issue

In response to Rohatgi's explanation, the Chief Justice remarked, "The issue here is about the trade dress. In one of my decisions in Bombay, this aspect was considered, which included the size of the bottle."

Following this exchange, the bench took a significant step by issuing a notice, putting a stay on the Madhya Pradesh High Court's order. A detailed hearing was scheduled two weeks later to delve into the intricacies of the case. Post-notice issuance, Rohatgi sought permission from the CJI to retain the whiskey bottles, to which the Chief Justice, with a smile, replied, "Yes, please."
New Delhi: In preparation for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, held meetings with the members of the Alliance Committee and Manifesto Committee in the national capital on Thursday.

The party convened twice, initially gathering for a Congress Alliance Committee meeting at the residence of party chief Kharge, followed by a Congress Manifesto Committee meeting at the AICC headquarters, led by party Rajya Sabha MP P Chidambaram.

Briefing about the Alliance Committee meeting, committee convener Mukul Wasnik said that in the meeting, a discussion regarding seat-sharing of Congress within the INDIA bloc was held.

"The Congress Alliance Committee held deliberations with leaders from various states within the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA bloc) in the last several days. Today, their details were given to party president Kharge, former president Rahul Gandhi and Organization General Secretary KC Venugopal. Now, soon Congress will hold state-wise discussions with other allies of INDIA bloc," Mukul Wasnik said.

Meanwhile, Chidambaram, while informing about the Manifesto Committee meeting, said, "This was the first meeting of the Manifesto Committee. There will be a meeting again next week regarding the manifesto of Congress for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Preliminary views were exchanged in today's meeting."
New Delhi: Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of missing an opportunity to send a message against untouchability by taking the lead role in the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. The inauguration of the Ram temple, which will be attended by Prime Minister Modi, is scheduled for January 22. Gehlot told reporters in Jaipur that the prime minister should have let the Dalits, tribals, OBCs and people of all faiths perform the pran pratishtha (consecration) of the temple, while keeping Shankaracharya in the front.

He said that the President and the former president, who are both from the Dalit community, as well as veteran BJP leader LK Advani, should have been invited to the event. Gehlot, who is a senior Congress leader, said that the prime minister should have also announced that there will be no untouchability in the country after January 22, just like he had asked people to beat thalis (plates) during the Covid pandemic.

He said that untouchability is a blot on humanity and the prime minister should have vowed to erase it. He said that the prime ministers stature and respect would have increased by doing this, regardless of whether people liked him or not. I too would have liked it, but you (Modi) are doing pran pratishtha alone, he said.

Gehlot also accused the BJP of using the Ram Temple inauguration ceremony for political gain. "The way the NDA government, Prime Minister Modi and Yogi Adityanath are taking interest in the construction of Ram temple... In the name of Ram temple, politics is being played only to win the elections," the former Rajasthan CM said.

Gehlot Attacks BJP Over Democracy, Governance

The former chief minister also alleged that democracy is under threat in the country and that the central agencies like the Income Tax department, the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) were being misused by the BJP. He also lashed out at the BJP leadership over the delay in allocating portfolios to the ministers in Rajasthan. He said that Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, who is a first-time MLA, needs time to learn the ropes, but he is being controlled by a remote.

I had congratulated the chief minister. He became an MLA for the first time and becoming the chief minister is a big opportunity. His party high command should do justice to him. The way the party is treating him, he is being run by a remote, Gehlot said. He said that the formation of the cabinet took time and now the portfolios are not being distributed.

Gehlot Comments On DGPs Retirement

Gehlot also remarked on the voluntary retirement of Rajasthan Director General of Police (DGP) Umesh Mishra, who quit his post with immediate effect due to personal reasons after the change of government in the state. The DGP has taken VRS, he was a good man, Gehlot said.

Mishra, a 1989-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, was replaced by Director General (Home Guards) UR Sahoo, who was given the additional charge of the DGP by the Rajasthan government on December 29, 2023.
New Delhi: Delhi's Patiala House Court on Friday granted seven-day custody of Javed Ahmed Mattu to the Special Cell of Delhi Police. He is allegedly involved in 11 known terror cases, including an attack on the residences of SP and CRPF personnel. He had been evading arrest for the last 13 years. Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Nabeela Wali allowed the application of Delhi police and granted seven-day custody for Javed Ahmed Mattu, alias Irshad Ahmed Malla, alias Ehsan. The Delhi police special cell sought seven-day custody of the accused to interrogate him.

Delhi police sought police custody remand on the ground that the accused, Javed Ahmed Mattu, collected the arms and ammunition from Delhi at the instruction of his Pak-based handler. The source who provided arms and ammunition to the accused is to be traced. Secondly, the police said that the accused revealed that he planned to carry out terror strikes in Jammu and Kashmir with the assistance of his accomplices based in Delhi. The accomplices are to be traced in Delhi. Thirdly, the police said the custody remand is required to unearth the entire conspiracy hatched by his Pak-based handler to carry out terror strikes in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of India.

Delhi police also submitted that the accused can identify the houses of his accomplices in Jammu and Kashmir who were to help him carry out terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. The police submitted that the data from the mobile phone of the accused is to be extracted and the same has to be confronted with the accused. Advocate Rahul Sahni appeared for the accused, Javed Ahmed Mattu. Hizbul Mujahideen operative Javed Mattu was produced before the Patiala House Court on Friday after his arrest by the special cell of Delhi police on Thursday. He has allegedly been involved in multiple cases of terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.

As per Delhi police, Mattu is an operative of the banned terror organisation Hizbul Mujahideen. He is involved in 11 known terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. On January 4, 2024, information was received that Javed Ahmed Mattu, a resident of Sopor, would be coming to Delhi to collect arms and ammunition from his associates at the behest of PAK ISI, Delhi police said. The Delhi police were also informed that his Pakistan-based handler Abdul Majid Jergar, alias Shaheen, would be coordinating the delivery of arms and ammunition, and Javed Ahmed Mattu would carry out some audacious terror strikes in J & K and another place on the instructions of his Pakistan-based handler.

Delhi police arrested Mattu and recovered one 9 mm Star pistol with six live cartridges, one extra magazine, and one stolen Santro car from him. A case has been registered in this regard at the PS Special Cell. Delhi police also stated that Javed Ahmed Mattu is a college dropout. He is a member of the gang of seven dreaded terrorists of Hizbul Mujahideen operating in the area of North Kashmir, particularly Sopore, J&K.

After getting injured in an exchange of fire with security forces, he went underground and fled to Nepal on the instructions of Pak ISI, as J&K police were hotly on the chase of him, Delhi police said on Thursday.

It is alleged that he was involved in the killing of HC Mohd. Yousf of CID, Sopore, near Police Station Sopore in 2010. He was also allegedly involved in an attack on the residence of SP, Sopore, in 2010, resulting in the residence being partially damaged.

It is also alleged that he committed the killing of two CRPF personnel in Pattan and the snatching of their service rifles in 2010. As per Delhi police, he was also involved in a case FIR of PS Sopore relating to fire upon the patrolling party of police at Bough, Sopore, in 2011.

He, along with his associates, was also involved in the killing of one police constable, Mohd Shahfi Lone, in 2011, Delhi police stated. He, along with his other associates, was also involved in an IED blast at Police Station Sopore, in which one police personnel, Morifa
New Delhi: The world is no stranger to the enigmatic North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, often dubbed the "missile man" on the global stage. Beyond the borders of his nation, Kim's allure lies not in popularity but in his obsession with weaponry, an infatuation that extends to explosives, missiles, and a relentless pursuit of military might. Conducting missile tests almost annually, Kim flaunts his arsenal, menacingly waving the spectre of atomic bombs at his adversaries on a near-weekly basis.

In an unprecedented move, Kim's eccentricity took centre stage in the first week of the new year. Just two days ago, he issued a chilling nuclear threat against the United States, vowing to annihilate the nation. Now, South Korea, a long-standing foe, finds itself under a barrage of threats from Kim Jong Un. In a world already contending with conflicts like Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas, North Korea sits ominously, presenting a confrontational front to its significant adversary, South Korea.

On January 1, Kim Jong Un warned his military that any military action from South Korea and the United States would trigger a forceful retaliation from North Korea, delivering a potentially devastating blow to its enemies. The aggressive actions, marked by missile launches, in the first week of the year, have escalated tensions between the two nations, capturing the world's attention.

Kim's recent display of firepower not only unnerved the United States and South Korea but also disrupted global peace. The international community is now anxiously monitoring North Korea's actions, contemplating whether Kim's provocations could propel the world into a third global conflict.

As the world grapples with mounting tension, Zee News anchor Sourabh Raaj Jain delves into the intricacies of the global situation in tonight's edition of DNA. His in-depth analysis aims to illuminate potential consequences and diplomatic manoeuvres in response to Kim Jong Un's alarming moves, providing viewers with crucial insights during these critical times.
California: A Hindu temple in Hayward, California, has been defaced with pro-Khalistan graffiti. This incident at Sherawali Temple comes weeks after the Swaminarayan temple in Newark, California was defaced by anti-India graffiti.

The Hindu American Foundation has reported that the Sherawali Temple in California was defaced with pro-Khalistani graffiti. It has also shared a picture of the defacement.

In a post shared on X, the Hindu American Foundation stated, "#Breaking: Another Bay Area Hindu temple attacked with pro-#Khalistan graffiti. The Vijay's Sherawali Temple in Hayward, CA sustained a copycat defacement just two weeks after the Swaminarayan Mandir attack and one week after a theft at the Shiv Durga temple in the same area. HAF is in touch with temple leaders and in contact with @AlamedaPD & @CivilRights."

The Hindu American Foundation also highlighted the importance of installing working security cameras and alarm systems, considering the rising threat from Khalistan supporters.

Taking to X, the Hindu American Foundation stated, "We are once again encouraging all temple leaders to download the @HinduAmerican temple safety guide. The guide specifically discusses that temple graffiti qualifies as a hate crime and also the importance of installing working security cameras and alarm systems in view of the rising threat from #Khalistan proponents as well as the omnipresent risk from anti-Hindu actors."

Earlier in December, suspected pro-Khalistan activists had allegedly defaced the Swaminarayan temple in Newark, California, police said. The exterior wall of the Hindu temple was defaced with anti-India graffiti.

The Newark Police Service had started an investigation into the vandalism. "One of the devotees, who lives close to the shrine, discovered anti-Hindu and anti-India graffiti in black ink on an exterior wall of the building, and the local administration was immediately informed," Bhargav Raval, the spokesperson for the temple administration, told ANI.

The spokesperson added the temple authorities were 'shocked' to find the anti-Indian graffiti on its wall. Shedding more light into the incident, Jonathan Arguello, a police captain for the city of Newark, said the 'targeted act' was being investigated.

"Based on the graffiti, we believe it was a targeted act, and it's going to be investigated with full thoroughness. I can also tell you that as a member of the Newark Police Department and the Newark community, we're deeply saddened when these types of acts occur, and we think they're senseless and they have no room. We won't tolerate them here in Newark. So today, I wanted to make sure that you understand how seriously we take these situations and know that we will investigate as thoroughly as possible with utmost care and sensitivity. I can also tell you that officers are currently investigating this via evidence collection," the captain told reporters during a press conference.

The police official said to piece together the chain of events leading to the act of defacement, the footage from surveillance cameras in the neighbouring residences were being looked into.

"Our policies that any acts of violence or threats of violence, property damage, harassment, intimidation, or other crimes motivated by hate or bias are considered very serious and given the utmost care. We're handling this investigation as a hate crime at this point, based on our conversations with you and the physical evidence we've seen," he said.

The US State Department had condemned the vandalism of the Shri Swaminarayan Temple in California. It welcomed the Newark Police Department's efforts to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.

In a post shared on X by the official handle of the US State Department for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs stated, "We condemn the vandalism of Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu Temple in California. We welcome efforts by the Newark Police Department to ensure that those responsible are held accountable."
New Delhi: A boat loaded with explosives by the Houthi rebels of Yemen blew up in the Red Sea on Thursday, but did not harm any ships or people, according to the U.S. Navy, news agency Reuters reported. The attack was the latest in a series of assaults by the Houthis on commercial vessels, despite growing international pressure to stop. The explosion occurred a day after 12 countries, including the U.S., Britain and Japan, issued a joint statement warning the Houthis of possible consequences if they do not cease their attacks, which one U.S. official said on Wednesday was a final notice.

The Houthis, who are backed by Iran and control much of Yemen, have been launching drones and missiles at ships since Nov. 19, claiming to protest against Israels military actions in Gaza. The Houthi attacks have disrupted international shipping, forcing some companies to avoid the Red Sea and take the longer and more expensive route around Africa.

U.S. Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, who commands U.S. Naval forces in the Middle East, told reporters on Thursday that the Houthi boat bomb traveled about 50 miles (80 km) into the Red Sea and then exploded in busy shipping lanes. It came within a couple of miles of ships operating in the area - merchant ships and U.S. Navy ships - and we all watched as it exploded, Cooper said, adding that the intended target of the attack was unclear.

Cooper said the Houthis have now carried out 25 attacks on merchant vessels sailing through the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and said there are no signs that their irresponsible behavior is abating. The Houthi attacks have also increased the pressure on President Joe Biden to take military action, something his administration has been hesitant to do for fear of escalating the already high regional tensions.

Retired Marine general Frank McKenzie, who led U.S. forces in the Middle East until 2022, said the Biden administrations response to the attacks in the Red Sea and on U.S. troops at bases in Iraq and Syria has been too tentative and unfocused. To reset deterrence, we must apply violence that Tehran understands, McKenzie wrote in an Op-Ed in the Wall Street Journal on Thursday.

The U.S. and other countries launched Operation Prosperity Guardian last month to protect civilian vessels, which Cooper said now involved 22 countries. Cooper said U.S. warships and their partners have shot down two cruise missiles, six anti-ship ballistic missiles and 11 drones so far. On Sunday, U.S. warships sank three Houthi speed boats that tried to hijack a commercial vessel.

A senior Biden administration official said on Wednesday if that happened again, we would probably do the exact same thing. The official, who spoke anonymously, said the 12-nation statement to the Houthis was very clear. I would not anticipate another warning, the official said.

At the U.N., a U.S. envoy told the Security Council that the U.S. believed the situation in the Red Sea had reached an inflection point. When asked if Operation Prosperity Guardian might strike Houthi positions to prevent them from attacking ships, Cooper said the 22-nation coalition was only defensive in nature.

Anything that happens outside of the defensive aspect of this operation is a completely different operation, he said. The Houthis have said they target ships with Israeli ties or heading to Israel with their attacks.

But many ships have had no link to Israel and were not going to Israeli ports, and major shipping lines have stopped their operations through the Red Sea. Cooper said the ships that have been attacked have connections to 55 countries.
New Delhi: In a heartfelt letter to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his profound sorrow and concern over the significant earthquake that struck Japan on January 1, 2024.

Solidarity In Grief

PM Modi conveyed, "I am deeply anguished to learn about the major earthquake, and I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved families of those who lost their lives. We stand in solidarity with Japan and its people affected by this devastating disaster."

India Stands Ready To Assist

Highlighting the special strategic and global partnership between India and Japan, PM Modi on Thursday affirmed, "As a special strategic and global partner, India values its relationship with Japan and is ready to extend all possible assistance at this hour of need."

Tragic Loss Of Lives In Japan

The earthquake, measuring 7.5 magnitude, struck the Noto Peninsula and surrounding areas in central Japan on Monday, resulting in at least 64 casualties, according to Kyodo News. The extensive damage hampers search and rescue operations in the affected regions.

City In Distress

Wajima City in Ishikawa Prefecture bore the brunt of structural damage and fires. The full extent of the disaster caused by the powerful earthquake is still unfolding, with rubble and severed roads posing significant challenges.

Restricted Access And Rescue Efforts

The northern area of the remote Noto Peninsula faced restricted access for over 24 hours after the earthquake, complicating the ongoing search and rescue operations. Prime Minister Kishida, during a disaster emergency meeting, informed the media that the location became inaccessible due to a wrecked road.

Wajima City witnessed the collapse of 25 buildings, including houses, with ongoing rescue operations by firefighters. Approximately 200 buildings, including shops and houses, are reported to have been burned around Asaichi Street, a popular tourist spot.

US Geological Survey's Report

The United States Geological Survey reported that the earthquake occurred on the Noto Peninsula of Ishikawa Prefecture around 4.10 pm (local time), at a depth of 10 kilometres (6 miles).
NEW DELHI: Indian marine commandos have rescued all 21 crew members, including 15 Indians, aboard the hijacked vessel MV Lila Norfolk in a daring operation off Somalia's Coast on Friday. Navy officials further stated that the top deck of the hijacked vessel MV Lila Norfolk has been sanitised by the Marine Commandos (MARCOS).

''All the crew, including 15 Indians, onboard the hijacked vessel MV Lila Norfolk have been secured and are safe. Indian Navy Marine Commandos are carrying out sanitisation operations in other parts of the vessel,'' Military officials were quoted as saying by news agency ANI. The Indian Navy headquarters is keeping a close watch on operations in high seas, the officials said.

#WATCH | Indian Navys boat near the hijacked vessel MV Lili Norfolk in the Arabian Sea. Indian Navy commandos secured the hijacked ship and rescued the crew including 15 Indians. The sanitisation operations are still on: Indian Navy officials pic.twitter.com/fJz02HSExV  ANI (@ANI) January 5, 2024

In a statement, the Indian Navy said, ''All 21 crew (including 15 Indians) onboard safely evacuated. Sanitisation by MARCOS has confirmed the absence of the hijackers. The attempt of hijacking by the pirates was probably abandoned with the forceful warning by the Indian Navy, and MPA of interception by the Indian Naval warship. INS Chennai is in the vicinity of MV and rendering support to restore the power generation & propulsion, and commence her voyage to the next port of call.''

All 21 crew (including 15 Indians) onboard safely evacuated. Sanitisation by MARCOs has confirmed absence of the hijackers personnel. The attempt of hijacking by the pirates was probably abandoned with the forceful warning by the Indian Navy, MPA of interception by Indian Naval  ANI (@ANI) January 5, 2024

The rescued crew members informed that the pirates had fired at the ship during the hijack attempt after which they all hid themselves in the citadel.

Warning Issued To Pirates

Upon reaching the hijacked vessel, MARCOS issued a stern warning to the pirates on board the MV Lila Norfolk, urging them to abandon the hijacked vessel immediately. The Indian naval warship, with its formidable capabilities, was rushed immediately to ensure the safety of all individuals involved in this perilous situation, the officials said earlier.

INS Chennai diverted from her Anti Piracy patrol and intercepted the MV at 1515hrs today, on 5th Jan. MV was kept under continuous surveillance using Maritime Patrol Aircraft, Predator MQ9B and integral helos. The Indian Navy Marine Commandos present onboard the Mission Deployed https://t.co/0xP4JF94ID January 5, 2024

INS Chennai Takes Charge

The Indian naval warship INS Chennai, upon reaching the hijacked vessel, deployed its helicopter and initiated communication with the pirates. The vessel's crew, consisting of Indian nationals, were confirmed safe, providing a crucial assurance amid the ongoing operation.

Rapid Response To Hijacking Attempt

The hijacking of the Liberian-flagged bulk carrier, MV Lila Norfolk, occurred 300 nautical miles east of Somalia. The vessel, en route from Port Du Aco in Brazil to Khalifa Bin Salman in Bahrain, fell victim to an attempt by approximately five to six armed individuals.

In a statement, the Indian Navy revealed that its Mission Deployed Platforms acted swiftly upon receiving an alert on the UKMTO portal about the boarding attempt. The Navy's Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) was immediately deployed, and INS Chennai was diverted to assist the beleaguered vessel.

Ensuring Crew Safety

The Maritime Patrol Aircraft overflew the hijacked vessel on Friday morning, establishing contact with the crew and verifying their safety. This proactive approach underscores the Indian Navy's commitment to swiftly addressing maritime threats and ensuring the well-being of its seafaring citizens.

As the situation unfolds, the Indian Navy's comprehensive response showcases the prowess and dedication of its personnel, emphasizing the nation's commitment to safeguarding maritime security on the global stage.
New Delhi: Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Friday announced the allocation of portfolios to his cabinet colleagues, keeping the Home department with himself. Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari, who is also the BJP state president, has been given six portfolios, including Finance, Planning, Urban Development, Housing, Information Technology and Statistics. Another Deputy Chief Minister, Prem Chand Bairwa, who is a Dalit leader, has been given charge of four departments, namely Transport, Revenue, Labour and Employment.

Other Cabinet Ministers Get Their Portfolios

Among the other cabinet ministers, Kirodi Lal Meena, a prominent Meena leader, has been entrusted with the portfolios of Agriculture and Rural Development, Disaster Management and Public Deprivation Prosecution.

Madan Dilawar, a former speaker of the state assembly, has been allotted the Education department, while Babulal Kharadi, a tribal leader, has been given the Tribal Regional Development portfolio.

Hiralal Nagar, a former minister of state, has been given the Energy portfolio. The other ministers have also been assigned their respective portfolios, which can be seen on the official website of the Rajasthan government.

22 Ministers Took Oath On December 30

The portfolio allocation comes after 22 ministers, including two deputy chief ministers, took oath on December 30, following the BJPs victory in the state assembly elections. The BJP had won 115 seats out of 200 in the elections, while the Congress had won 55 seats.

The cabinet formation had taken some time due to the negotiations between the BJP and its allies, as well as the balancing of caste and regional factors.

Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, who is a first-time MLA from Sanganer, had thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president JP Nadda for reposing faith in him and giving him the opportunity to serve the state.
Hubballi: A Sessions Court on Friday granted bail to Srikanth Poojari, a Hindu activist, who was arrested for his alleged involvement in the riots after the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992. He was arrested by the Karnataka police in connection with a case of rioting registered in December 1992. The Additional District and Sessions Court Judge Parameshwara Prasanna B announced the order granting bail.

Welcoming the order, Shrikanth Pujari's advocate Sanjeev Badasaka said, "We welcome the court order...The conditions (of the bail) are yet to be seen, the copy is not yet available. After taking the copy we will apply. He will be released by tomorrow evening."

#WATCH | Advocate for Shrikanth Pujari, arrested for alleged involvement in the riots after the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992, Sanjeev Badasaka says, "We welcome the court order...The conditions (of the bail) are yet to be seen, the copy is not yet available. After taking the https://t.co/0AwPNullxE pic.twitter.com/90HzEf0Atv  ANI (@ANI) January 5, 2024

The opposition BJP had been holding protests against his arrest on Wednesday in connection with a 31-year-old case related to the Ram Janmabhoomi agitation. and demanded his release. The BJP has accused the Congress government of being harsh on Hindus, and also indulging in minority appeasement. The Congress had charged the BJP with politicising the issue.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had described Poojari as a "social miscreant" and "criminal suspect" and said he is facing allegations of involvement in 16 anti-social activities, including illegal liquor sales, gambling and matka.

The government counsel had submitted objections on Thursday and claimed that Poojari was wanted in several other cases and had been avoiding attending court hearings.

Who Is Srikanth Poojari?

Srikanth Pojari, 51, is a Hindu activist from Karnatakas Channapet in Hubballi district and part of many fringe groups. He is accused of being involved in riots at Hubballi in 1992, right after the Babri Masjid demolition in Ayodhya and allegedly set a few shops on fire at Hubballi.

According to Hubballi police, Poojary has been booked under 16 cases in the last 31 years. A total of three cases were booked on him for allegedly causing riots and causing hurt. Apart from 1991, he was also reportedly charged with rioting in 1999, 2001 and 2014.

Apart from these, Poojary also has multiple cases against him in connection with gambling and illegal liquor. Hubballi police also allege that Poojary has never appeared before the court. The local media reports say that Poojary has been working as an autorickshaw driver for the past few years.
A coalition of business groups has filed suit to stop the Bring Chicago Home referendum question from appearing on March primary ballots, in the real estate lobbys latest attempt to stymie Mayor Brandon Johnsons bid to deliver on a key campaign pledge.

The suit was filed Friday in Cook County Circuit Court by opponents of a tax increase on higher-priced property sales, including the Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago, the Chicagoland Apartment Association, the Neighborhood Building Owners Alliance and other real estate groups. They have fought the proposal, claiming it will dampen sales in an already-fragile market.

Their 12-page suit alleges the referendum question  passed by the City Council in November to dedicate new revenues to address homelessness in Chicago  should not go to voters because it violates the states municipal code and constitution.

It was brought against the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners, which claims it is not the proper defendant in this case, and that the city and the council are.

Given the city is not currently party to the suit, Mayor Brandon Johnsons administration said in a statement the question will be on the ballot and Mayor Johnson believes it would create even more much-needed resources to address homelessness in our city and provide support for tens of thousands of our unhoused neighbors.

In his own release announcing the suit, BOMA/Chicago Executive Director Farzin Parang said Homelessness is a critical issue in our city that should be addressed with a serious plan involving all stakeholders.

These important public policy questions should be presented to voters with fairness, detail, and transparency. Instead, this referendum is playing politics, Parang said.

Doug Schenkelberg, executive director of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, said in a news release homeless advocates are confident the ballot measure is constitutional and believe in its full integrity.

The suit is a political maneuver, orchestrated to protect the interests of greedy landlords and multinational real estate corporations at the expense of Black, brown, working class, and homeless Chicagoans, Schenkelberg said.

Ald. Carlos Ramirez Rosa, 35th, celebrates with Mayor Brandon Johnson and members of the Bring Chicago Home coalition during a news conference after a City Council committee advanced an ordinance that would ask voters about raising the real estate transfer tax to combat homelessness, Oct. 31, 2023.

The referendum asks voters to change the way property sales are taxed. Currently, the city charges the same, flat 0.75% rate on all property sales. Bring Chicago Home calls for slightly reducing the tax charged on the first $1 million in value  to 0.6%  while increasing the rate on properties valued between $1 million and $1.5 million to 2%, and boosting the rate even more on properties valued above $1.5 million, to 3%.

While the vast majority of sales would have a lower taxed rate, larger commercial properties such as offices, large apartment buildings, stores and industrial sites would shoulder more of the burden.

The lawsuit takes issue with the three-part nature of the referendum question and the portion that decreases the tax rate for lower-value homes. And it argues there is a lack of clarity about what specific programs the estimated $100 million in additional annual revenue would pay for.

Recent legal challenges involving other high-profile referendum questions have been unsuccessful. A judge denied a bid from the Illinois Policy Institute to provide a corrective notice to voters about what they said was misleading language in the statewide progressive income tax referendum. The question was ultimately rejected by voters. Another lawsuit to prevent the proposed Workers Rights Amendment from making it on the ballot also failed. Voters approved the amendment last year.

The real estate groups are represented by two politically connected attorneys: Mike Kasper  a longtime top lawyer for former House Speaker Michael Madigan and the states Democratic Party  and Michael Del Galdo, who recently represented former Madigan aide Will Cousineau.

Vote by mail ballots are scheduled to start shipping by Feb. 8. If there is a court order to remove the question after voting begins, then its most likely that the board will just suppress the election results, instead of reprinting ballots/reprogramming early voting machines, election board spokesman Max Bever said.

aquig@chicagotribune.com
LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath attended an Army event in the state's capital on Friday, unravelling a side of him rarely seen. The event intended to shed light on military preparations, took an unexpected twist as CM Yogi, with a glint in his eye, not only observed but actively engaged with an array of weapons, showing marksmanship. The sight of UP CM holding a Sig Sauer - an American assault rifle - at the event soon triggered a social media frenzy, with his photos becoming viral.

       'Know Your Army Festival-2024'      



                      



         ! pic.twitter.com/Pp1ECo28pN  Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) January 5, 2024

New Agency ANI also shared a video showing the 51-year-old monk-politician displaying his marksmanship while aiming at an imaginary target.

#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath inaugurates 'Know Your Army Festival' in Lucknow. pic.twitter.com/qnacC3iG9W  ANI (@ANI) January 5, 2024

The Deadly Sig Sauer Assault Rifle

While the specific rifle Yogi wielded remains undisclosed, a quick Google search hints at a resemblance to the Sig Sauer assault rifle - an armament previously ordered by the Indian government. Recent deployments in Jammu and Kashmir, replacing the outdated INSAS rifles, indicate the weapon's significance.

Outclassing The Legendary AK-47

With a staggering range exceeding 600 meters, the Sig Sauer rifle has earned the title of the "father" of the AK-47, showcasing its lethal capabilities. The government's strategic acquisition aims to bolster the armed forces' offensive power, evident in the deployment of these rifles along the borders with China and Pakistan.

Diving Into Sig Sauer's Elite Variant In Yogi's Hands

This semi-automatic assault rifle, manufactured in Germany and the United States, boasts six variants, with Yogi Adityanath wielding the elite version. Operating on a closed-bolt and a direct impingement gas system, the rifle weighs approximately 3.4 kilograms. Its barrel length ranges from 9 to 20 inches, depending on the variant, accommodating 5.56x45mm NATO, .223 Remington, and .300 AAC Blackout ammunition.

The rifle features an STANAG magazine, and its effective range can span from 100 to 600 meters, contingent upon the specific variant in use.

Unveiling The 'Make in India' Connection

The firearm in Yogi's hands draws parallels with modern Israeli assault rifles, particularly the Arad and Carmel models. Speculations from 2020 hinted at the initiation of production under the 'Make in India' initiative in Madhya Pradesh, aligning with Yogi's commitment to indigenous manufacturing.

Why UP CM Keeps A Revolver?

In a thought-provoking interview from a few years ago, Yogi Adityanath openly disclosed his ownership of a one-lakh-rupee revolver and an eighty-thousand-rupee rifle. When questioned, he elaborated, "As a monk, our training encompasses both scriptures and weapons. While one side involves chanting beads, the other entails wielding a weapon. We carry both for our security." This revelation provides insight into Yogi's unique perspective as a monk immersed in both spiritual and protective practices.
New Delhi: In the wake of intense cold weather, the winter break for kids in Classes 1 to 8 in Jaipur and Sikar districts of Rajasthan has been extended until January 13. With January 14 being a Sunday and January 15 being a holiday for Makar Sankranti in Jaipur, schools in the district will resume on January 16. Meanwhile, in Sikar, schools are set to reopen on January 15.

The minimum temperature has reached below 5 degrees Celsius in Jaipur. The district administration on Thursday extended the winter vacation of students from Classes 1 to 8 by eight days.

Jaipur District Collector Prakash Chandra Rajpurohit issued an order in this regard and said that the weather will continuously fluctuate for the next one week.

Considering the changing weather conditions, the winter vacation period is extended till January 13. However, during this period the pre-scheduled examinations will remain the same. Strict action will be taken against schools that disobey the government's rules.

Earlier the Rajasthan government had declared 13 days winter holidays starting from December 24, 2023.
New Delhi: Fintech unicorn MobiKwik on Friday filed its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) with the markets regulator SEBI in its second attempt, to raise Rs 700 crore this time via fresh issues of shares.

The DRHP comes without any offer-for-sale (OFS) component but the company aims to raise Rs 140 crore in a pre-IPO round.

The company, founded in 2009 by Bipin Preet Singh and Upasana Taku, doesnt plan to sell any existing shares in the IPO, according to the prospectus.

In 2021, MobiKwik which is backed by Peak XV, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and American Express, had filed for an IPO to raise about $250 million through sale of new and existing shares, however, it deterred the IPO plans amid the global meltdown and worsening funding winter.

The digital banking platform in October this year released its financial results (unaudited) for the second quarter in the current financial year (FY24) with a 52 per cent growth in revenues over the corresponding period in FY23 and its second consecutive quarter of PAT profitability.

The revenues for the July-September quarter stood at Rs 208 crore, a growth of 17 per cent over the previous quarter in the same fiscal, with a profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 5 crore.

With a 58 per cent increase in revenues compared to the first half in FY23, MobiKwik scaled its revenues to Rs 385 crore with a PAT of Rs 8 crore in H1 FY24.

Our purpose is to make digital banking services accessible to people across demographics pan-India, and we are seeing positive uptake on our platform. The results are evident with another quarter of sustained revenue growth in line with our vision for the year, said Taku.

MobiKwik has grown to serve over 140 million registered users across the country, with a merchant network of over 4 million.
New Delhi: State-owned India Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd (IIFCL) plans to go public in the next financial year, company's Managing Director P R Jaishankar said on Friday.

"We are examining the listing...Hopefully it should be done next financial year. IIFCL has come to a stage where we unlock the value for the benefit of the government," he said on the sidelines of the company's foundation day. (Also Read: First Gold Bond Of 2024 Opens For Subscription On February 12: Check More Details)

The company will very soon initiate the consultation process, he said, adding various approvals are required including from the government. Asked about the quantum of stake dilution, he said, the decision about that would be taken after detailed discussion.

As of now, IIFCL is 100 percent owned by Government of India. From the performance perspective, he said the company has been consistent both on topline and bottomline parameters. He expects the FY24 profit to cross Rs 1,500 crore.

IIFCL reported a two-fold jump in standalone net profit to Rs 1,076 crore for FY23 aided by an increase in lending and reduction of bad loans. The infra lender posted record sanctions and disbursements at Rs 29,171 crore and Rs 13,826 crore, respectively.

Since the inception, the company has given Rs 2.5 lakh crore loans to 750 infra projects. As of December 2023, the company has earned a profit of Rs 1,189 crore with loan sanctions of Rs 30,315 crore, exceeding the figures of last fiscal in just three quarters.

Given the demand so far, he said, the loan sanction would cross Rs 40,000 crore by March 2024. He emphasized on the role that IIFCL is set to play to fund the next phase of infrastructure growth story and the slew of reforms needed to take the infrastructure sector to the next level.

Gross non-performing assets (NPAs) and net NPA ratio has been consistently falling and stood at 3.77 percent and 0.85 percent, respectively, as on September 30, 2023.

Asked about the next year's profit, Jaishankar said, the company is aiming Rs 2,000 crore.

Speaking during the occasion, IIFCL Deputy Managing Director Pawan K Kumar said the company has done credit enhancement of instruments worth Rs 2,500 crore.
New Delhi: India's largest lender, State Bank of India (SBI has announced the conclusion of successful placement of USD 250 million senior unsecured Green floating rate notes, referred to as "The Green Notes."

The Green Notes rated BBB- by S&P, were issued on a floating rate basis of 1.20% above SOFR and has been listed on the India International Exchange.

"This issuance, maturing on December 29, 2028, is part of SBI's USD 10 Billion medium-term note program and was conducted through a private placement facilitated by its London branch. Continuing its commitment towards sustainable development, proceeds will be allocated to eligible green projects according to the Bank's ESG Financing Framework," said SBI in a statement.

MUFG acted as the sole green note coordinator and placement agent for this placement.

Commenting on the occasion, Dinesh Khara, Chairman, SBI said The successful placement is testimony to SBIs commitment towards its sustainability objectives in creating a positive impact on the environment. Green banking and sustainability have long been areas of priority, Towards this end, SBI has enunciated its ESG framework earlier this year. Issuance of green bonds is one of the steps towards building up a green portfolio.
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New Delhi: The Caribbean island owned by the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, where he allegedly hosted sex parties with underage girls, has come under the spotlight after thousands of pages of documents were unsealed in a defamation case involving his ex-girlfriend and associate Ghislaine Maxwell. The documents reveal the names of people who were connected to Epstein or Maxwell in some way, and some of the horrific acts that took place on the island.

The island, known as Little St. James, is part of the US Virgin Islands and was bought by Epstein in 1998 for $8 million. He also owned another island nearby, called Great St. James.

Epstein Brought Girls To His Island

According to a lawsuit filed by the Virgin Islands Attorney General Denise George, Epstein trafficked girls between the ages of 12 and 17 to his 577-million-dollar estate on the island by boat, helicopter and plane between 2001 and 2019. The lawsuit claims that the air traffic controllers in the Virgin Islands saw Epstein leaving his private plane with girls who looked 11 years old in 2018.

Epstein, who was a registered sex offender, also refused to let investigators enter his island and met them at his office instead. The lawsuit alleges that a 15-year-old girl, who was raped and forced to perform sex acts on others by Epstein, tried to escape from the island but was caught and imprisoned.

Epstein Invited Hawking To His Island For A Science Trip

One of the documents unsealed in the defamation case is an email that Epstein sent to Maxwell, claiming that the late scientist Stephen Hawking had participated in an underage orgy at the island. People magazine reported that Hawking visited Epsteins private island as part of a science trip in 2006, months before Epstein was first charged with sexual offences. Hawking, who died in 2018, was one of the worlds most renowned physicists and cosmologists.

Epsteins Islands To Be Turned Into A Resort

The New York Post reported that the controversial islands are set to be transformed into a resort soon, after they were bought by billionaire Stephen Deckoff, the founder of private equity firm Black Diamond Capital Management, for $60 million in May 2023. The islands, which have been on sale for over a year, are expected to open as a resort in 2025.

The islands were listed to be sold for $125 million in 2021, and most of the money will go to the compensation fund for Epsteins victims. Epstein, who was accused of running a sex trafficking ring involving minors, died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial. Maxwell, who was his former girlfriend and alleged accomplice, is currently in custody and faces multiple charges of sex trafficking and perjury.
New Delhi: Oscar Pistorius, the Paralympian who shot and killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013, has been released on parole from a South African prison, officials confirmed on Friday. Pistorius, 37, served half of his more than 13-year sentence for murder and will now live under strict conditions until his sentence ends in 2029. He claimed he mistook Ms Steenkamp for an intruder when he fired four bullets through a door at his home in Pretoria.

Ms Steenkamps mother, June, said she accepted the parole decision, but added that her family was the one serving a life sentence. She said there was no justice for her daughter, who was a law graduate, model and TV presenter.

Pistorius, who had his lower legs amputated as a baby, became a global sensation as the blade runner, competing at both the Paralympics and the Olympics in London in 2012. His fall from grace and his trials captivated the worlds media.

Pistorius will have to follow strict rules while on parole, such as staying at home for certain hours, not drinking alcohol and not talking to the press. He will also have to undergo therapy to address issues of gender-based violence and anger.

He is expected to stay at the house of his uncle Arnold Pistorius in a wealthy suburb of Pretoria. While in jail, Pistorius worked as a tractor driver, a librarian and a cell cleaner, according to legal documents quoted by South African journalist Karyn Maughan. She told the BBC that social workers and psychologists also wrote positive reports about him.

June Steenkamp said in a statement that she respected the parole system and the conditions imposed by the parole board, which affirmed Barry and my belief in the South African justice system. She was referring to her late husband, who died in 2018.

But she added: Has there been justice for Reeva? Has Oscar served enough time? There can never be justice if your loved one is never coming back, and no amount of time served will bring Reeva back. We, who remain behind, are the ones serving a life sentence.

She said her only wish was to live her last years in peace and to focus on the Reeva Rebecca Steenkamp Foundation, which aims to continue Reevas legacy.

Pistorius was first jailed in October 2014, after his initial conviction of culpable homicide. He was released on house arrest in 2015, but his conviction was overturned by an appeal court and changed to murder. His sentence was also increased to 13 years and five months.

South Africas department of correctional services said that Pistorius would be treated like any other parolee, despite his fame.

Ms Steenkamp, who was 29 when she died, had a promising career as a lawyer, model and TV personality. She appeared in a reality show called Tropika Island of Treasure and had plans to start a law firm to help abused women.

She was in a relationship with Pistorius for three months when he killed her in the early hours of Valentines Day in 2013. She died almost instantly.
Putin Set His Sights on Europe. Which NATO Countries Will He Attack After Ukraine?

 EPA-EFE/ALEXANDER ZEMLIANICHENKO/POOL Author Volodymyr Kravchenko Columnist of the International Politics Department at ZN.UA

During Russia's massive missile attack on Ukrainian cities, Poland scrambled two pairs of F-16 fighters. So far, the Poles have limited themselves to this. But they are bracing themselves for the worst. After all, the countries of Western and Eastern Europe may be the next to fall prey to Russia's aggression.

For some, such a course of events probably seems to be an unlikely scenario since these countries are under the umbrella of Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty. But for many experts and politicians, Russias large-scale invasion of Ukraine, which was protected by the assurances of the Budapest Memorandum, looked equally unlikely. However, an attack on one of the NATO countries is a more realistic scenario: Putin has set himself a goal to restore the Russian Empire and reshape the international order.

And so far nothing indicates that he has abandoned these plans.

Not all EU and NATO countries have yet come to realize the danger, although in the Baltic and Scandinavian countries, Poland, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands, the military and politicians have realized the reality of the threat. For instance, the commander-in-chief of the army of the Netherlands, General Martin Wijnen, has recently stated that the Kingdom should prepare itself for a possible military confrontation with Russia. We should not think that our safety is guaranteed only because we are 1,500 kilometers away from them, the general noted.

However, Putin's most likely military target today is not the Netherlands, Finland or Poland, but the Baltic states. On the one hand, the Russian leadership cannot forgive Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia (one of the first republics of the USSR to declare their independence) for the events of 1990. On the other hand, the Kremlin fears the transformation of the Baltic Sea into an internal NATO sea after Finland and Sweden join the Alliance. To open a window to Europe, Putin is ready to follow in Stalin's footsteps and occupy the Baltic states.

The scenario of a Russian attack on these Baltic countries looks realistic not only because they have weak armed forces, but also because there is no 100% certainty that NATO will apply Article 5. The Kremlin belligerence is fueled by both the prospect of Donald Trump's return to the White House and the threat of the US leaving NATO, as well as the apparent organizational and technical unpreparedness of the West for a prolonged armed confrontation in the conditions of a modern war.

As it turned out, states members of the Alliance, which do not even participate in the hostilities, do not have enough ammunition and equipment to fully support Ukraine in a high-intensity war. Restarting the defense industry requires time and money. Our Western partners are slowly bestirring themselves, stepping up the production of tanks, air defense systems, artillery and ammunition, which are so necessary for us to confront the aggressor effectively. And most NATO countries have not yet reached the stated level of military spending of 2% of GDP.

Putin's confidence in his own strength is growing against the background of political disagreements in the US and the EU regarding support for Ukraine and increasingly loud calls for negotiations with Russia and freezing the conflict. Of course, in Moscow, they cannot help but rejoice at the results of polls of Western Europeans, which show an extremely low willingness of the population of EU countries to defend their country in the event of an attack.

For instance, according to the results of polls by the German publication Stern and the Polish Rzeczpospolita, only one in sixth Germans (17%) and Poles (15%) are ready to fight for their country. At the same time, 19% of Germans said that they are probably ready to defend the country, while a staggering 61% (!) replied they were probably or under no circumstances ready. In Poland, 29% are ready to volunteer, for example, in a hospital, and 15.7%  in the army, but as volunteers, 25.5% of respondents intend to leave for a safe regions of the country, and 11.9% plan to move with their family abroad. 22% will not do anything, and 11.6% do not know what they will do.

The Kremlin's hands are untied by the West's lack of determination to respond to Russian missiles and drones flying into Poland and Romania. Of course, one cannot rule out an accidental rocket attack on their territory. But there are also suspicions that in this way Russia conducts both a practical reconnaissance of the air defense capabilities of NATO member countries and a test of the country's political leadership for the ability to respond to threats appropriately.

In response to similar incidents, Warsaw and Bucharest still prefer to summon ambassadors and express their concern: Washington imposes an anti-escalation model of behavior on NATO's eastern wing.

Against this background, Gabrielius Landsbergis, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, warns the allies against repeating historical mistakes and urges the West not to wait for the Pearl Harbor effect.

The German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) believes that if the war in Ukraine is frozen, Russia will need 6 to 10 years to redirect its current production to rebuild its armed forces to the level where it can attack NATO. Moreover, the combat power of the Russian army will exceed the current deterrence potential of the Alliance in a conventional war in Europe. German experts suggest that NATO members in Europe have five to nine years to get ready to repel a possible Russian attack.

In turn, Warsaw predicts that they have three years to prepare for such a scenario. According to Jacek Severy, Head of the Bureau of National Security, the Russian military-industrial complex works in three shifts and can restore the Russian army in the next three years. If we want to avoid war, the NATO countries on the eastern flank must accept a shorter, three-year time horizon to prepare for confrontation. This is the time when capabilities should be created on the eastern flank, which would be a clear signal for deterring aggression, Severa said.

However, these estimates are overly optimistic: Europe does not have five or three years. Ukraine believes that a military campaign against the Baltic states can begin as early as 2025, and it is not necessary to freeze the war with Ukraine for an invasion: Putin can start a war on several fronts at the same time.

Albeit reluctantly, Europe is gradually rethinking the threat emanating from Russia. First, under pressure from the United States, European countries have begun to increase their defense spending. Second, under the influence of Russia's aggression against Ukraine, the EU and NATO states have started to wake up from Putin's hypnosis and more realistically assess the risks that the Kremlin is creating. But everything goes very slowly. Europeans themselves can become the next victims of Russia's attack before they know it.

The price for this unwillingness to respond to risks from Russia promptly will be the death of people, the destruction of villages and cities  all that the Europeans are witnessing in Ukraine today. Just witnessing  for now

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DES MOINES  Proposed rules meant to provide guidance to physicians for performing abortions under a new law that remains tied up in court are too vague and restrictive and would hinder efforts to recruit and retain physicians, doctors and opponents argued Thursday to the Iowa Board of Medicine.

The warnings came during a public hearing in advance of the board meeting Jan. 12 to review feedback and further consider rules for the implementation of the law that would ban most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy.

Lawmakers last year passed and Gov. Kim Reynolds signed into law House File 732  which remains tied up in court  during a rare special session of the Legislature. It would change the amount of time women have to seek an abortion from 20 weeks post-fertilization to as little as six weeks  before many women know theyre pregnant. The legislation prohibits abortions after cardiac activity is detected in an embryo.

The law quickly was stayed by a Polk County District Court judge, who granted a request from Iowa abortion providers to halt enforcement of the new restrictions until the laws constitutionality can be considered by the courts, while allowing the process that will draft rules for the laws implementation to continue.

The proposed rules include specific guidance on how medical providers are to implement exceptions for rape, incest, fatal fetal abnormalities and medical emergencies contained in the new law.

While the ban contains some exceptions for abortions, some Iowa physicians have warned the restrictions do not account for complications that occur during pregnancy, and would hinder their ability to provide care and respond to time-sensitive issues.

There is no set of rules that ever adequately address the spectrum of pregnancy emergencies or private reproductive health decisions we are entitled to make for ourselves, Leah Vanden Bosch, of Des Moines, said during the hearing.

Bosch said she struggled with severe depression and eating disorders, and chose to receive a safe and legal abortion due to medical concerns pregnancy would cause.

Republican lawmakers and supporters of the law say the exceptions allow medical providers to exercise judgment and provide abortions when they believe one applies. Opponents contend the uncertainty and worry among physicians of potentially losing their medical license could prompt providers to put off abortions if they're uncertain.

Under the proposed rules, to determine whether patients qualify for the exceptions for rape and incest, physicians would be required to gather details from women to determine when a sex act occurred, including if and when the act was first reported to law enforcement, a public or private health agency or a family physician.

Doctors would be required to document the information in the patients medical records and make a good-faith assessment" that the woman is being truthful, and may require them to attest the information was true and accurate to the best of her understanding.

Dr. Emily Boevers, an obstetrician-gynecologist in Waverly, said the rules mandate medically trained professionals to try to interpret legal concepts.

Dr. Rebecca Shaw, an OB-GYN and associate professor at Des Moines University, speaking on behalf of the states sexual assault response teams, encouraged the board to consider input from sexual assault nurse examiners before implementing the rules.

As for determining whether a fetus has an abnormality that in the physician's reasonable medical judgment is incompatible with life, doctors would be required to document diagnostic tests and procedures performed and their results, along with a description as to why they support the diagnosis.

Sue Huppert, chief external and government affairs officer at Des Moines University, said she worries the rules would prevent the full scope of medical training necessary to practice in Iowa.

The University of Iowa houses the only obstetrics and gynecology residency program in the state. However, Huppert, said there has been interest from other health care organizations to create another residency program in the state. She urged the board consider national accreditation requirements that are needed for the programs.

Iowa has among the fewest OB-GYN specialists per capita of any state in the country, according to data from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. One-third of Iowa counties are considered maternity care deserts without a hospital or birth center offering obstetric care and without any obstetric providers, according to a 2022 report by the March of Dimes, a nonprofit focused on maternal and infant health.

The lack of providers, particularly in rural areas, force expecting women to frequently take off work and drive long distances for appointments.

Obstetrician gynecologists are already rare in Iowa, Boevers said.   I do anticipate that adopting rules like these will make that situation even harder.

Boevers said she is the only OB-GYN at the hospital where she practices, and has been unable to recruit another to replace two who retired.

Treating our patients as people who need to be interrogated about their traumas, and treating providers as extensions of government needed to gather these details and document them in what should be records that reflect medical care, is going to jeopardize our ability to form a bond with our patients and provide them good care, she said. And its also going to jeopardize our ability to recruit and retain providers in the state.

Steven Wahle, a physician and member of the board at of UnityPoint Health-St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids, urged the board to provide better clarity to help avoid some of the risks that our provides face under these uncertain type of parameters.

This is not a Democrat or Republican issue. This is a health care issue, Wahle said. ...Physicians are very risk averse. They have their patients interests in mind. And when theyre faced with this dilemma of not knowing whether theyre going to be adversely affected in their careers, making clinical decisions is not the appropriate direction they need to be faced with.
DES MOINES  By a scant six votes out of more than 394,400 cast, Mariannette Miller-Meeks was elected to Congress from Iowa in 2020.

The recount procedures that certified that historically narrow election revealed some inconsistencies and inefficiencies in Iowas recount laws, election officials found.

Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate, the states top elections official, said Wednesday he is imploring state lawmakers to use the upcoming legislative session to streamline and strengthen the states recount laws.

The 2024 session of the Iowa Legislature begins Monday at the Iowa Capitol in Des Moines.

In a Wednesday interview, Pate spoke with urgency in describing the need for updating election recount procedures.

He said elections officials across the state are already preparing for the 2024 general election season  Iowas primary election is June 4 and the general election is Nov. 5  and if any elections laws are going to be changed, those officials would appreciate knowing that sooner than later.

My conversations with legislative leadership (have been), We have to have the conversation. Theyll need to have this done. And it needs to be done soon because the filings for candidates starts Feb. 26, Pate said. So we want to make sure that were getting these things ironed out and done.

State lawmakers during the 2023 session considered legislation that would have addressed the issues Pate would like to see addressed. But lawmakers ultimately put the bill on hold and left the Capitol without passing it, pledging to return to the issue in 2024.

Its so important to assure the details are there, and we get to that point of being able to say, Yep, Iowa got it right again. And that makes the voters much more confident, Pate said.

Pate said his office is proposing a bill very similar to the one briefly considered last year. Under that proposal:

 The deadline to request a recount would be moved from the third day following the canvass of election results to two days after the canvass, and a recount board must convene within six days of the canvass.

 Recounts would be required to be completed within 17 days of the canvass for a presidential election, within 21 days of the election for Congress or state office, and within 13 days of any other election.

 A recount request would be required to include all precincts in a county, the request must state whether a machine recount is requested or a machine and hand recount. Any request for a hand recount must include all counties in a district.

 More populous counties would be given the ability to add more workers to its recount board, which oversees the process. Under current law, each county  regardless of its size  can have only three recount board members.

THE 2020 RECOUNT

Many of those proposed changes to state elections law were inspired by the recount process in the 2020 congressional election in Eastern Iowas 2nd District.

That recount spanned 24 counties, with counties conducting some of their recount operations differently than others, including the use of hand vs. machine ballot counts.

We saw the need to improve that (recount) process, Pate said. So we spent a lot of time listening to voters, listening to county auditors, listening to poll workers, our own staff taking a look at it, to make sure that we improve that process so that everything is much clearer and much more consistent, so if youre going to start counting a ballot or a race, its done the same way all the way through.

Pate said his proposed legislation also will include new funding for elections staff and more training for Iowans who volunteer to work at poll sites on Election Day.

How to keep your personal data a little more private while pursuing higher education How to keep your personal data a little more private while pursuing higher education
Its status quo for leaders on the Danville School Board following a reorganizational meeting Thursday.

TyQuan Graves will remain as chair and Tyrell Payne stays as vice chair after a nomination process that lasted less than two minutes.

Alan Spencer, the school board attorney, conducted the annual reorganizing meeting.

Graves  nominated by Payne  was the only name tossed out for chair. With the exception of Keisha Walker, who abstained from voting, all members favored Graves to retain his post.

For the vice chair, Charles McWilliams nominated Payne and Keith Silverman submitted Walkers name for consideration.

All members except Silverman and Walker voted for Payne for the vice chair.

Gathering an hour later for the official first meeting of the year, the board adopted the systems calendar for the upcoming two years.

Olivia McCraw, director of assessment and state reporting for Danville Public Schools, presented the results of an online survey for two options.

About 400 people took part in the survey seeking input on the proposals.

The two drafts differed when it came to spring break. In draft No. 1, spring break aligns with the Easter holidays in April 2025, which also matches the plan for Pittsylvania County Schools. The second draft schedules spring break for March 17-21.

The drafts also move high school graduations to Fridays instead of Saturdays. Graduation day becomes a teacher workday, making it easier for educators to attend the ceremonies, McCraw said last month.

Both options set the first day of school as Aug. 7, and graduation as May 30, 2025. For the next cycle, school would start Aug. 6, 2025, and end with graduations on May 29, 2026.

Veterans Day and Juneteenth remain holidays in each version.

Election Day would become a teacher workday for both options. Right now its a holiday for all staff members. Also, professional development weeks are eliminated in October and February/March.

The survey showed that 54% favored the Easter spring break in the 2024-25 year and 55% liked the same idea for the 2025-26 cycle.

McCraw noted some feedback with one parent saying the second option basically provided two breaks since Easter resulted in a four-day weekend, something that can be troublesome when finding child care options.

A staff member said in the survey that sending the school year in May was most important, something the calendar committee team also made a priority.

The board unanimously approved the first draft for both years.

In other action, the board also approved changes to the attendance zones.

This current school year, feeder patterns were established for the citys two middle schools. Students are assigned to an elementary and middle school based on a physical address.

For O.T. Bonner Middle School, students come from Forest Hills, Park Avenue and Schoolfield. For Westwood Middle School, the students feed from E.A. Gibson Elementary School, G.L.H. Johnson and Woodberry Hills.

For Elementary shifts, Forest Hills would gain the most students going from the current enrollment of 186 to the proposed 326.
Carl Chavis YMCA MLK Black and White Minority Achievers Award Gala: 7-11 p.m. Jan. 12, High Point Country Club, 800 Country Club Drive. Live music and food. $65. Semi-formal attire. 336-434-4000 or hpymca.org/mlkgala.

Ministers Conference of High Point & Vicinity's MLK Celebration: 6 p.m. evening worship Jan. 15, Williams Memorial CME Church, 3400 Triangle Lake Road, Greensboro. Theme: "Let's Chat for Change in an AI World." 8 a.m. breakfast and oratorical contest, Qubein Conference Center, High Point University. $20. kdryedan@highpoint.edu.

Greensboros Human Rights Commissions 38th Annual Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. Jan. 15, Koury Convention Center, 3121 W. Gate City Blvd. Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives co-founder and President Kenneth B. Morris Jr. is the featured speaker at this years breakfast, which is themed, Inspired to Dream. $20. https://form.jotform.com/232424345814150 or 336-373-2038.

Second Annual MLK Freedom Walk: 11 a.m. Jan. 15, Country Park, Shelter #1, 4301 Lawndale Drive, Greensboro. Rain or shine. Recognition of local leaders, a Day of Service activity and a walk/stroll/run. Free. Paper towels, toilet paper, diapers, sanitary napkins and food gift cards will be collected to support children experiencing homelessness in Guilford County. Drive-through donation drop off will be available. With Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and the Mid-Atlantic Region. biopublicrelations@gmail.com.

MLK Day of Service: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Jan. 15, parking lot between 201 Fourth St. and 215 Fourth St. in High Point. With Bold 2 B U Community and the Washington Street community in High Point. Fun activities, games, community cookout, free produce, free hygiene kits, voter registration and more. https://bold2bu.wixsite.com/community.

Free Dental Care to Veterans, Teachers and First Responders: Jan. 15, HPU Randolph Dental, 511 Greensboro St., Asheboro and HPU Hillandale Dental, 1904 Front St., Suite 530, Durham. More than a dozen Workman School of Dental Medicine faculty and staff members from High Point University will provide free oral exams, head-and-neck exams, limited same-day care and information about their oral health needs. Walk-ins are welcomed. Individuals can make an appointment by visiting www.highpoint.edu/randolph/ or www.highpoint.edu/hillandale/.

42nd Martin Luther King Jr. Coalition Breakfast Celebration: 7:30 a.m. Jan. 16, Occasions Restaurant, 286 E. Front St., Burlington. The Rev. Kendall McBroom, director of civil and human rights at the general board of the church and society, The United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C., will speak. $30. 336-264-5769.
GREENSBORO  The funeral service for fallen police Sgt. Philip Dale Nix will be next week.

According to the Hanes Lineberry home, where Nixs body was returned on Wednesday, his funeral will be held on Jan. 11 at Westover Church on 505 Muir Chapel Road in Greensboro. The service will begin at 2 p.m. although its unknown whether it will be open to the public.

Nix, 50, died last Saturday after witnessing a gas station robbery and approaching the suspects.

Three people were arrested in Winston-Salem  two of them 18 years old  and charged with Nixs death.

Carrie Howard, who worked with Nix for seven years at the Family Justice Center, said that he was indispensable to her job as a victims advocate.

He always had an open-door policy and made time to assist me in any capacity he could, she wrote in an online post. He was kind, funny, patient and dedicated.

Its not every week a Greensboro police officer dies in the line of duty. The incident has since rippled through a city that, like many municipalities, is struggling to contain a troubling spike in violent crime.

Still, many residents like Melissa Gaiser have found themselves profoundly touched by the tragedy. So much so the Greensboro resident, with friends and family in law enforcement, wanted to find some way to honor Nix and his service to the community.

That led her to positioning a blue flood light on the American flag outside her house, and then using color-changing bulbs to complete the display in support of the Greensboro Police Department.

It really struck a chord in me when I heard about it, Gaiser said. There was a murder in our immediate family back in 2002, so it brought back a lot of those feelings. Its so disturbing to lose someone so suddenly and violently around the holidays. My heart goes out to the Nix family.

Gaiser said her cousin worked as a homicide detective in Virginia, and that her grandfathers brother was chief of police in Culpeper.

I know my cousin saw a whole lot more than he ever wanted to, Gaiser said. Im sure that stayed with him forever.
What Im about to share with you might amaze you. Weve all heard it said before that you dont know what you dont know. And when something that has been hidden suddenly comes into your understanding, we call it a revelation. That has happened to me numerous times during my life.

One odd example happened about 20 years ago. For decades, I had spent all my time in the United States. A business trip had me travel to Toronto. Its a huge city, and while being driven to a television station, I looked at the traffic signals at a busy intersection. Much to my surprise there was no separate green light turn arrow. After several seconds, the green light began to flash. Instead of having an extra light, the clever Canadians told their drivers to turn against traffic when the light started to flash!

Im about to do the same with you right now. Im willing to bet you two cheese coneys that youve never seen cork flooring  or had the pleasure of walking on it. Tell the truth. Did you even know cork flooring existed?

When I saw cork flooring for the first time, it put my head on a swivel. It was the most unique flooring I had ever seen. My father-in-law took me one day to visit Carl, his investing partner. Carl had built a stunning ranch home on a bluff overlooking the great north bend of the Ohio River.

The cork flooring was in his kitchen, of all rooms. It was plank flooring about 8 inches wide. The color was a rich medium brown and the pattern or grain was mesmerizing. I had never seen such material before in my twenty-three years on the planet.

What in the world is the floor made from? I asked.

Why, its cork, Carl responded.

Arent you worried about the water from the kitchen ruining it? I asked. Carl just chuckled. He knew that cork was waterproof. He also knew that under typical residential use installing cork was like putting sheets of iron on your floor. Its nearly indestructible.

As time passed, I discovered cork was the flooring material used at the main public library in Cincinnati. Its closed-cell structure contains about 100 million air cells in each cubic inch of material. This allows it to absorb shock as well as sound. Its the perfect flooring material for so many rooms in a home, church, busy office space, or other place where peace, quiet, and comfort are commodities in high demand.

I decided to try cork flooring in my own home. It was the perfect material to use in my basement recreation area and office space. It glued down with ease over the smooth concrete floor. I wanted a waterproof material in case the basement flooded. I also wanted flooring that would hold up to rambunctious teenagers and office chairs. It excelled at both challenges.

Visit a home center big-box store and youll see them pushing luxury vinyl plank (LVP) flooring. I just had my first hands-on experience with that this past summer. Cork, in my opinion, is a superior material. Its not as fussy as LVP with respect to humps and bumps on the floor. Cork is quieter and doesnt expand or contract to the extent of LVP.

If youre all about the environment, youll love cork. Cork is a renewable resource. The material is generated by harvesting the bark from cork trees. The bark grows back after 10 years or so, and the average cork tree lives for 150 years.

My most recent experience with cork was in Bar Harbor, Maine, of all places. Several years ago I was in town to meet my sister. I had some time to kill before meeting her and decided to visit the historic Jesup Memorial Library.

This stunning building was built in the early 1900s. As soon as I walked through the front door I saw it. A magnificent cork floor covered the entire main floor of the library.

I was walking on a floor that was installed 107 years earlier! While it was in need of a little tender loving care, the floor was still in remarkable shape after all that time. Imagine how many people had walked across that flooring in all those years! You can install it in your home knowing that it will outperform any other flooring you can purchase.

If you want a flooring material that is easy to maintain, that will get you compliments from your friends and visitors, and that is easy on your back and legs should you have to stand up on it, cork should be on your radar. When you see the different styles, sizes, patterns and colors, Im convinced youll then say, What other building materials dont I know about? Well, keep reading me each week and Ill do my best to share them with you!

Subscribe to Tims FREE newsletter at AsktheBuilder.com. Tim offers phone coaching calls if you get stuck during a DIY job. Go here: go.askthebuilder.com/coaching

(c)2024 Tim Carter. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
GREENSBORO  Two Jewish congregations received a bomb threat by email Tuesday morning, but no explosive devices were found, according to the congregations.

That threat apparently went out to many Jewish congregations across North Carolina, including Beth David Synagogue and Temple Emmanuel in Greensboro.

According to Neil Rabinowitz, Southeast regional director of the Secure Community Network, over 300 Jewish (and other) organizations nationwide have received these hoax email bomb threats over the past several weeks, Temple Emmanuel shared in an email to members and friends on Wednesday.

Corie Hampton, the executive director of Beth David Synagogue, said she called 911 and implemented security procedures after receiving the threat. She said officers with the Greensboro police swept the building using a bomb-sniffing dog before declaring that the property was safe.

Hampton added that the congregation is very, very thankful for Greensboro polices quick response.

We feel comforted by them being here, she said.

She called the bomb threats pure anti-Semitism intended to terrorize Jews.

Similarly, Temple Emmanuel said in an email that their facility was cleared after a thorough search by Greensboro police, which followed an immediate evacuation of the building.

U.S. Rep. Kathy Manning, whose Sixth District includes Guilford County, condemned the threats in a social media post on Wednesday.

Im relieved nobody was hurt and thankful to our local law enforcement for responding swiftly, she wrote. Let me be clear: The Greensboro community will not be intimidated. Ill keep fighting in Congress to enact meaningful legislation to counter antisemitism and protect the Jewish community.

Manning also said she alerted the Department of Homeland Security and hoped federal authorities would be able to find the perpetrator.

Its part of what weve seen across the country with this rise of anti-Semitic threats, she said.
A Helena man was sentenced Thursday in District Court Judge Christopher Abbott's courtroom to five years, with four suspended, to Montana State prison for felony strangulation.

Richard Thomas Duane Baxter choked his partner in August 2022 and told her, "You are not going to die you will just feel like you are going to die," court documents state.

The documents state Baxter choked her several times and would choke her until she almost passed out and then stopped.

After the choking stopped, his partner got up and went downstairs where Baxter followed her and continued to verbally abuse her, court documents stated.

Baxter then tried to apologize by saying he was sorry.

His partner went to the emergency room because she thought Baxter broke her ribs, according to court documents.

This was confirmed with X-rays that showed she suffered fractures to her fifth, sixth and seventh ribs on her left side.

The documents mentioned that Baxter had hit his partner over 10 times with open-handed slaps and a closed fist.

On the night of the events on Aug. 2, 2022, she noticed Baxter was in a "bad mood" and he began yelling at her and became "aggressive."

Documents state that she tried to call the police by pulling her phone out of her pocket, but Baxter grabbed the phone and threw it, so that she could not contact police.

According to her, at some point after throwing the phone, he picked up a rotisserie chicken and threw it at her, hitting her in the back of the head.
ABINGDON, Va.  A Virginia political expert predicted a political standoff during the upcoming General Assembly session but area lawmakers said they can work across the aisle on some issues.

Bob Holsworth, managing partner of DecideSmart, a Richmond-based consulting group, forecasts little progress or agreement between the Democratically controlled General Assembly and Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin when lawmakers return to Richmond next week.

His comments came during the inaugural Road to Richmond legislative breakfast hosted by the Bristol Chamber of Commerce and the Southwest Virginia Government Relations Coalition.

More than 200 attended the event at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center.

The Democrats are probably more liberal today than they were in the last decade. Some of the moderate, centrist Democrats were beaten in primaries by more progressive Democrats, Holsworth said. There is also a change geographically that is to the detriment of Southwest Virginia.

Calling it a division by geography, Holsworth said the majority of elected Democrats are from urban areas while the majority of Republicans hail from more rural areas.

The only things theyre going to get done are where the parties can agree, Holsworth said. The Democrats are going to put forward a lot of legislation on guns, on social justice reform, on minimum wage issues. And all of that, the governor says he wants to veto and all those vetoes will be upheld because the Democrats dont have enough majority.

On the other side, Republicans are going to put forward some legislation, the governor will put forward some legislation and I dont think that will go very far, he said.

Area lawmakers took a more positive stance about the upcoming General Assembly session, emphasizing working across the aisle and finding common ground when it comes to issues that will impact Southwest Virginia.

Republicans lost control of the House as Delegates as Democrats now enjoy a slim 51-49 edge while the Democrats maintained control of the Senate by a 21-19 margin. The regions All-GOP delegation stressed cooperation during their remarks.

Economic development is something we always concentrate on and we can do that in a bipartisan way, Sen. Todd Pillion, R-Abingdon, said. Behavioral health is something that affects all Virginians. Thats what were going to be looking for is common ground; things that dont just affect Southwest Virginia but Southside Virginia and Tidewater and Northern Virginia. What is better for Virginians?

Extending broadband service to unserved and underserved areas also remains a bipartisan issue, Pillion said.

Del. Israel OQuinn, R-Bristol, said there are others.

I think on economic development, workforce development; I think there is general consensus our community colleges and higher education institutions here in the region are very important, OQuinn said. Transportation, although the issues they have in Northern Virginia with transportation are not the same issues we have here but theyre issues and theyre important to us. I think there are a lot of places we can find agreement but there are some issues were never going to agree on. There is just a vast philosophical difference, OQuinn said.

Were always keeping an eye on anything that affects Southwest Virginia, from education to transportation, public safety, economic development  so youre always looking for those bigger, over-arching things, OQuinn said. I will have bills on energy innovation, economic development, trying to smooth out the SOL [Standards of Learning] process our students have to go through.

Sen. Travis Hackworth, R-Richlands, said hes never served in a majority role but looks forward to what the session may hold.

Hackworth noted Gov. Youngkin has proposed doing away with the state income tax while increasing the sales tax to balance the revenues and that will likely generate much debate.

Were obviously going to look at the tax structure to try to make us more competitive with our border states. I think thats a big agenda item for the administration, Hackworth said.

OQuinn isnt certain how that will play out.

Its an interesting proposal. Certainly we see it with border states that dont have a state income tax. The tradeoff is increasing the sales tax, which Im not crazy about. The sales tax is a regressive tax to begin with. Utlimately its something were all looking at to see what the best way forward is and well see how it makes it through the process.

The General Assembly convenes Jan. 10 in Richmond.
Police Chief John Thompson struggled to find the words to console a group of more than 200 people gathered at the Phill G. McDonald Plaza in downtown Greensboro to honor fallen police Sgt. Philip Dale Nix.

Nix was off-duty last Saturday when he was killed while attempting to stop the robbery of a Sheetz convenience store in Colfax. He served the department for 23 years.

I really just dont have the words right now that I can muster to console my agency or those in the community, Thompson said. Dale will be irreplaceable.

Thompson paused, looking out at the crowd, who held lighted candles aloft in remembrance of Nix.

The one piece of comfort that I have standing in front of this group, and the hundreds of people Ive interacted with in the past few days, is to know that he has left his mark on this community, Thompson said.

So much compassion

An especially notable part of Nixs career was his leadership of the departments Family Victims Unit, which investigates cases of domestic violence, sexual assault and crimes against juveniles.

Nix served as the sergeant of that unit for the past six years and led a corporal and team of detectives.

Catherine Johnson, the director of Greensboros Family Justice Center, said that there were countless stories of victims entering the building thinking no one would believe them  only to meet Nix.

Nix could talk one-on-one with a survivor who didnt trust law enforcement, Johnson said, and at the conclusion of that conversation they would walk out of the room with a hug.

He had so much compassion and care for the vulnerable people in our community, Johnson recalled. He could connect so naturally. It is a tough, tough job investigating child abuse and sex abuse cases. (Nix) was by far the most passionate law enforcement officer I have had the opportunity to work with in my career.

Johnson said that a few weeks ago Nix had proudly told her that he was the longest-serving sergeant in that unit.

Sometimes I joked with Dale that he loves the (Family Justice Center) more than me, said Johnson, who has led the organization since 2014. He called those at the center his family.

My heart breaks

In addition to the crowd of hundreds gathered at the plaza, a number of elected officials attended and spoke at the vigil.

My heart breaks for the Nix family, said U.S. Rep. Kathy Manning, whose Sixth Congressional District includes Guilford County. We will do everything we can in Washington, but things really need to be done right here at home. As a community, we need to figure out how to stop young people from engaging in acts of violence that destroy lives.

The person charged with the slaying of Nix  Jamere Justice Foster  is 18 years old. ZQuriah Blackwell, who is charged with accessory to murder and accused of knowingly assisting in Fosters attempting to escape, is also 18.

Theres no promise that well get home tonight to our loved ones, City Council member Hugh Holston said during the vigil. Make sure you tell your loved ones that you love them and that you care about them, and then love them and care about them.

Councilman Zack Matheny said that he personally identified with the loss Nixs family suffered because he lost his spouse three years ago.

Losing a loved one during the holidays is awful, Matheny said. Losing one in Sgt. Nix, who fought for our protection, is tragic and gut-wrenching. My heart as a widower and a man who understands loss bleeds for the Nix family.

In his speech, Thompson mentioned that Sgt. Nix was just one of the 74 homicide victims in 2023  a record for Greensboro.

Our officers need your support, and the community needs the support as we go forward and try to understand why this has happened and how we stop this from continuing to happen, Thompson said.

Here to honor him

Hours earlier, Nixs body was escorted back into the city from Raleigh at 1 p.m. on a route that ended at Hanes Lineberry Funeral Home.

A dozen officers on motorcycles arrived at the funeral home first around 2:30 p.m. followed by dozens of squad cars and an ambulance containing Nixs body.

Service members from the police departments in Greensboro and High Point as well as the Forsyth County Sheriffs Office lined West Gate City Boulevard watching the procession from the sidewalk and the median.

Judy Brenner, a crime analyst with High Point police, arrived almost an hour early. Brenner said she used to work as a dispatcher with Nix.

This city lost a great police officer, said Brenner, standing on the sidewalk a block from the funeral home. There is nobody here that will tell you different.

When asked about her favorite memory of Nix, Brenner paused and her expression brightened.

His smile, Brenner said. And he never had a single negative thing to say about anybody.

Residents from the neighborhood near the funeral home watched firetrucks lift an American flag high in the air.

Harlon Costner, a retired U.S. Marshal, said he heard about the procession and decided to show his support for Nix.

The more I learn about his legacy, the more I respect it, Costner said. Im here to honor him and his family, and all fellow law enforcement officers.

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PHOTOS: Fallen Greensboro police officer honored with an escort Nix Escort Nix Escort Nix Escort Nix Escort Nix Escort Nix Escort Nix Escort Nix Escort Sgt. Philip Dale Nix procession Sgt. Philip Dale Nix procession Sgt. Philip Dale Nix procession Sgt. Philip Dale Nix procession Sgt. Philip Dale Nix procession Sgt. Philip Dale Nix procession
LINVILLE  Grandfather Mountain is inviting folks to take their careers to new heights  literally.

The Linville, N.C.-based nonprofit nature park and preserve, owned and operated by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, is hiring across its various departments for the 2024 season and beyond. Both seasonal and year-round positions are available, offering mountains of opportunities for job- and career-seekers.

The organization is kicking it all off with the Grandfather Mountain Job and Volunteer Fair on Thursday, Jan. 18, from 2-5 p.m. The event will take place in the Wilson Center for Nature Discoverys Classroom in the Clouds. Nine departments from across the mountain will be represented. Attendees will be able to chat with staff members from each department, learn about Grandfather and the open positions on the mountain and enter to win door prizes.

New this year, the event will also provide the chance for those interested in being a volunteer to hear more about this program, for which the nature park is currently recruiting.

We encourage folks who are in search of either a job or a volunteer opportunity in the area to join us on the mountain for our Job and Volunteer Fair, said Tommy Oakley, vice president of operations for the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation. We have a lot of fun here, and we plan to make this a fun and informative event. The team looks forward to sharing more information about working at Grandfather and what types of opportunities are available at the park this year.

It is an exciting time to join the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation team as the park continues to add learning spaces (like the new Williams Outdoor Learning Space that features an amphitheater with terraced seating and a pavilion), programming and experiences for guests.

In June 2022, the park opened the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery, a building with 10,000 square feet of education space, including state-of-the-art museum exhibits, three classrooms and an ADA-accessible auditorium, as well as enhanced food-service facilities to allow for catering and serving educational groups and expanded capacity for hosting conferences, seminars, receptions and community events.

The park is seeking staff to assist with its slate of expanded programming and experiences for guests, as well as the work it takes to operate the nature preserve on a daily basis. Grandfather Mountain is extending such opportunities for positions in many departments, most of them seasonal unless otherwise noted. Seasonal employment runs from roughly mid-February through mid-November (though this time frame will vary depending on the department), and applicants of all ages, including high school and college students, are welcome to apply.

Positions are currently available in the following departments:

Education

Entrance Gate

Facilities

Food and Beverage (full-time)

Habitats

Maintenance (full-time)

Natural Resource Management

Park Support/Operations

Retail (full-time)

Grandfather is such a special place to work  not only because of its beautiful setting, but, more importantly, because of the people on this mountain, said Jesse Pope, president and executive director of the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation. There are staff members who have been here for decades. This is indicative of the emphasis put on taking care of our employees and making the work we do both fun and meaningful, always aiming to have an impact.

As a nonprofit, Grandfather Mountain strives to inspire conservation of the natural world by helping guests explore, understand and value the wonders of the mountain.

Aside from the powerful purpose of the organization and the park being one of the most scenic workplaces in the world, Grandfather Mountain has a mile-high list of employment perks: competitive pay; a friendly environment; free access to approximately 20 area attractions, including destinations in Western North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia; employee discounts; and more.

Those with an interest in learning more about job and volunteer opportunities at Grandfather Mountain for the 2024 season, as well as for year-round roles, are invited to attend the Jan. 18 Job and Volunteer Fair. The event will run from 2-5 p.m., with 1:45 p.m. being the earliest that attendees will be able to enter the park. No advance registration is required to attend the event. Casual or business casual attire is welcome, and bringing resume copies to share is encouraged.

To learn more and see the positions currently open, visit www.grandfather.com/jobs.

To learn more about the organizations volunteer program, visit www.grandfather.com/volunteer.
MOUNT PLEASANT  One of the more visible, and interesting, yet overlooked artifacts at the Eastern Cabarrus Historical Museum, greets visitors when they arrive.

On Aug. 30, 1863, Lt. Jonas Cook (of Mount Pleasant) was resting on a beach near Fort Moultrie, South Carolina, north of Charleston Harbor. Nearby was the grave of Seminole Chief Osceola, who died while a prisoner at the fort (1838).

As Lt. Cook sat there, Union gunboats were actively blockading the harbor. A round fired from a Union gunboats Dahlgren gun landed on the beach beside him, embedding itself in the sand.

To his great relief, it failed to detonate. Thanking his great luck, Lt. Cook and his fellow soldiers disarmed it and took it back to camp. The men crated the Yankee Dud and shipped it by train to Concord, where Lt. Cooks father picked it up and brought it to Mount Pleasant.

Cook was later promoted to captain of the Co. H 8th NC Infantry. Cook donated the shell to his alma mater, North Carolina College in Mount Pleasant, (the current museum) where it was displayed in the debating halls.

After the school closed in 1933 (then as Mount Pleasant Collegiate Institute), the shell remained in the custody of the Cook family, until donated to the museum in the 1970s.
The number of flu-related deaths has reached 30 in North Carolina, including three among children ages 5 to 17, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services weekly update on Wednesday.

So far, the state has recorded 22 deaths among those 65 and older, two for ages 50 to 64 and three in ages 25 to 39.

The state has had three deaths among children ages 5 to 17.

DHHS does not provide the region of the state in which flu-related deaths occur, citing patient privacy policies.

We are approaching the peak of winter respiratory virus season and encourage people to get tested early and seek treatment as soon as they begin to develop symptoms, said Dr. Elizabeth Cuervo-Tilson, the states health director and chief medical officer.

Dont wait to seek treatment if you test positive for the flu or COVID-19, as treatments can help prevent severe illness, especially for those who are high risk of serious complications based on their age or medical conditions.

DHHS advised that people with mild symptoms should seek testing and treatment from their regular health care provider, urgent care or a telehealth provider instead of going to the emergency department during the increase in respiratory illnesses.

Flu vaccinations are especially important for children who are at higher risk of developing severe disease or complications, including those younger than age 5, especially those under age 2, or those with chronic health problems like asthma, diabetes or a weakened immune system.

Vaccination is the most effective protection against serious illness, hospitalization and death from flu, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) and COVID-19 infections, and there is still time to protect children this respiratory virus season, DHHS state epidemiologist Dr. Zack Moore said.

RSV is a common virus that can cause severe infections in children and adults over age 60.

RSV symptoms typically include a runny nose, cough and low-grade fever that can be treated in many cases with over-the-counter pain relievers.

The state also continues see cases of COVID-19.

Dr. David Priest, an infectious diseases expert with Novant Health Inc., said Wednesday that most new COVID-19 variants are more contagious than previous versions, while the flu and RSV continue to circulate in the Triad.

The good news is there is no evidence that new variants cause more serious illness, Priest said. The other good news is that we have vaccines that protect people from newer COVID variants, and we have oral medications that treat COVID infection.

Priest recommended getting the most recent COVID vaccine booster, as well as getting an RSV vaccine for individuals over 60, pregnant women and preventive therapies for infants.

We also have treatment and vaccines for the flu, which can go a long way in preventing serious illness from the virus, Priest said.

DHHS continues to monitor COVID-19 related emergency department visits, hospital admissions and tracks the virus in wastewater.

According to the dashboard, cases of influenza and COVID-19 have been on the upswing the past 10 weeks statewide, while RSV cases have dropped since late November.

As of last Saturday, 22.2% of emergency department visits statewide involved a respiratory virus  the highest level in more than a year.

Patients with COVID-19 symptoms represented 6.8%, the most since 7.3% for the week that ended Jan. 7, 2023.

Meanwhile, influenza was at 4.5% last week compared with 4.9% in the previous report. RSV cases slipped from 1.9% to 1.6%.

In terms of hospital admissions, influenza jumped to 1,055 from 722 in the previous report, while COVID-19 related admissions reached 923, compared with 710 in the previous report.

All three major Triad healthcare systems have implemented visitor restrictions for those under age 13.

At Novant Health Inc. hospitals  Clemmons, Forsyth, Kernersville and Thomasville medical centers and Medical Park Hospital  children under 13 are barred from the hospital unless theyre seeking care or there are other special family circumstances.

For Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, the tighter visitor restrictions are in effect at the Ardmore campus, as well as Brenner Childrens Hospital and in Bermuda Run, High Point, Lexington and Wilkesboro.

For Cone, those restrictions are at Moses Cone Hospital in Greensboro and Alamance Medical Center in Burlington.

Meanwhile, masking remains optional for visitors at all three systems.

In all of the communities we serve, we are observing an increase in flu, COVID-19 and RSV cases, Priest said.

Those ages 13 years and older who are experiencing flu-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, sore throat, fever or cough, are asked to not visit patients at area hospitals.

The systems are asking that patients seek care in emergency departments only if they are experiencing a serious or life-threatening illness or injury.
The 2004 Consumer Electronics Show, CES, kicks off the year in tech next week in Las Vegas, with Samsung promising some major innovations to be unveiled.

First up, Samsung will be expanding its Odyssey Gaming Monitor line-up with the launch of three new OLED models, all bringing incredible detail and performance.

Odyssey OLED G9 - a 49" curved ultra-wide gaming monitor with DQHD resolution - that's a huge 5,120 x 1,440 pixels - and a 32:9 aspect ratio

Odyssey OLED G8 - Samsung's first flat 32" OLED gaming monitor with 4K UHD resolution and a 16:9 aspect ratio

Odyssey OLED G6 - a 27" QHD monitor (2,560 x 1,440) with a 16:9 aspect ratio, 360Hz refresh rate, and 0.03ms GTG response time

Next, Samsung will be unveiling the Bespoke Jet Bot Combo vacuum - not only will it be a powerful vacuum, but comes infused with enhanced AI technology. The Bespoke Ket Bot features integrated AI object recognition to identify space and stains and provide users with better cleaning experiences.

Pricing and availability will be announced after CES.

What's more, Samsung will be showcasing a service integration with Tesla during CES, that will connect SmartThings Energy to Tesla products such as Powerwall home batteries, Solar Inverter, Wall Connector charging solutions, and electric vehicles, all made possible through Tesla's open APIs.

Samsung EVP and head of IoT development Chanwoo Park said, Tesla Energys customers can now manage and monitor the power status of their homes through SmartThings Energy and Samsung devices in addition to the Tesla app, ensuring more access and connectivity. This new collaboration is a key milestone for Samsung Electronics in making our solution more widely available beyond home appliances.

Additionally, consumers will be able to better prepare for power disruptions and outages through SmartThings Energys ability to sync with the Tesla apps Powerwall Storm Watch function. This means that in the case of extreme weather events such as typhoons or heavy snowfall, users can be alerted through SmartThings on their connected compatible Samsung TVs and mobiles in addition to the Tesla app.

Samsung will also expand SmartThings to support connected cars, and has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 3 January 2024 with Hyundai Motor Group to develop solutions for future lifestyles that fully integrate the smart home and connected cars.

This will allow users to perform actions related to their cars while at home, via SmartThings, such as starting cars, controlling air conditioning, opening and closing windows, and checking on the charging status.

Samsung will also be showcasing new innovative products developed from its C-Lab program at CES 2024, with 15 startups and projects, the highest number they have ever featured. Samsung expects start-ups from C-Lab to assess global market responses, strengthen their business feasibility and meet with investors.

Samsung EVP and head of creativity and innovation centre Pilgyu Jeon says, The goal of the C-Lab program is to elevate a platform for start-ups to grow and flourish, CES is the perfect venue for these exciting companies and projects to show major tech players that they belong on the global stage.
Will Countys Eagle Watch returns Jan. 13

Winter weather may seem prohibitive for outdoor events, but dont tell that to the eagles.

The bird so majestic that it was adopted as a national symbol will be the centerpiece of a celebration of all things eagle during the Forest Preserve District of Will Countys annual Eagle Watch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon.

In addition to eagle-watching, the event will feature live bird presentations, Talon Talks, guided hikes, family crafts, an Eagle Eye Scavenger Hunt and food from Lil Debs Mobile Eats, according to a news release from the district.

Forest preserve officials said winter is the best time to look for these magnificent raptors as they flock to open water to hunt fish, their primary food source, making Four Rivers Environmental Education Center, where the DuPage, Kankakee and Des Plaines rivers converge to form the Illinois River, a prime spot to catch them.

Freezing temperatures bring bald eagles in large numbers to the water around Four Rivers, said Jess McQuown, a Forest Preserve program coordinator. The Des Plaines River is so large, deep and active with barge traffic, the water is always flowing, even when other rivers are freezing over.

Two 45-minute presentations by Wisconsin-based Hoos Woods Raptor Center are planned at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. A shorter 20-minute meet and greet is set for 12:30 p.m. The shows feature a bald eagle named Victor E., Garfield the juvenile great horned owl, Wesley the snowy owl and Oopsie the northern saw-whet owl.

The event schedule also includes three 40-minute guided hikes at 11:50 a.m., 12:55 p.m. and 2:20 p.m. Two 15-minute Talon Talks will be offered at noon (Eagles of the World) and 2:30 p.m. (Eagle Eyes and Other Awesome Adaptation). Registration is not required. More information is at ReconnectWithNature.org.

Winter Wonderland festival set at Eggers Grove

A tree identification walk highlights the 23rd annual Winter Wonderland festival at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 13 at Eggers Grove Forest Preserve in Chicago. Sponsored by the Association for the Wolf Lake Initiative, the walk will be led by Marianne Kozlowski, co-steward of Eggers Grove.

Entrance to Eggers Grove is at East 112th Street and South Avenue E, Chicago. Participants should wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather. Registration is required by Jan. 11 at www.wolflakeinitiative.org.

Stagg student artwork exhibited at McCord Gallery

Students from Amos Alonzo Stagg High School are exhibiting artwork this month at McCord Gallery & Cultural Center, 9602 W. Creek Road, Palos Park.

The 2D and 3D works are on display through Jan. 26, with a closing reception from 6 to 8 p.m. that day.

Displaying their works of art in our gallery space allows students to see how art is truly appreciated and respected by others, and we hope it encourages them to continue to pursue their interests in art, McCord officials said in a release.

More information is at mccordgallery.org or 708-671-0648

Mental health seminar offered by NAMI

A 90-minute Family and Friends seminar for people who have loved ones with a mental health condition or experiencing difficulty with mental health how best to support them is set for 10 a.m. Jan. 13 at Bremen Senior Center, 15350 Oak Park Ave., Oak Forest.

The free program also is an opportunity to meet other people in similar situations and gain community support, according to NAMI, which is hosting the seminar.

Led by trained people with lived experience of supporting a family member or friend with a mental health condition, discussion topics will include understanding diagnoses, treatment and recovery, communication strategies, importance of self care, crisis preparation and community resources.

Registration is required with Marianne Bithos at 708-852-9126 or namisouthsuburbsofchicago@gmail.com.

After hours trivia event in Midlothian

The Friends of the Midlothian Public Library will host an after-hours trivia night for adults from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 19 at the library, 14701 Kenton Ave. Trivia presenter Jay Johnson will conduct the event. Light snacks and nonalcoholic beverages will be provided and people can bring their own alcoholic beverages. This is an age 21+ event, and library staff reserve the right to request ID.

The event is free, but registration is requested at midlothianlibrary.org or 708-535-2027.

Send news to communitynews@southtownstar.com.
Google has started testing out the killing of third-party cookies which are used to track users from site to site and build profiles of them for the purpose of targeting advertising.

The Wall Street Journal reported that trials restricting these cookies for about 1% of Chrome users had begun on Thursday, despite protests from others in the US$600 billion (A$894.7 billion) online ad industry. The plan is to complete the killing of third-party cookies by the end of 2024.

Chrome is used by about two-thirds of the desktop market but it has a much bigger share of the mobile browser market through the Android mobile operating system which is present on about 80% of mobiles in use.

Google has introduced tools that it says will help replace these cookies, but others in the industry say not enough has been done to prepare the market for the change.

The UK Competition and Markets Authority, a regulatory authority, is overseeing the plan to eliminate third-party cookies under an agreement Google signed with it. The CMA can effectively veto the plan if it concludes that other businesses are being harmed.

Google has said it will ensure that its own products do not benefit from the elimination of third-party cookies. The plan is part of a Google initiative known as Privacy Sandbox that also covers Android.

Firefox and Apple began killing third-party cookies in the last decade. Google follows in 2020, but delayed its implementation a number of times due to pushback from the industry and privacy campaigners.

Anthony Chavez, a Google vice-president in charge of the changes, told the WSJ: Were confident in the ability for the industry to navigate the transition."
Adult dancers in Washington state, who often must fend for themselves for safety, are fighting for statewide worker protections that advocates say would be the most comprehensive in the U.S.
SPRINGFIELD  Illinois was among several states on Wednesday to receive an emailed bomb threat to its statehouse, though no bombs were found and the FBI deemed the wave of threats to be a hoax.

The Illinois Secretary of State Police hazardous device unit conducted sweeps inside and outside the Capitol itself and the nearby Howlett, Stratton and state archives buildings. No evacuations were ordered, officials said.

The Secretary of States office takes these threats very seriously and is working with other law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of employees and the public and to determine the source of the threat, Deputy Secretary of State Scott Burnham said.

Statehouse offices or other government buildings in Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Wyoming, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Missouri and Maryland also received threats.

The FBI said it was aware of numerous hoax incidents.

While we have no information to indicate a specific and credible threat, we will continue to work with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to gather, share, and act upon threat information as it comes to our attention, the FBI said in a statement. We urge the public to remain vigilant, and report any and all suspicious activity and/or individuals to law enforcement immediately.

The wave of bomb threats came as several public officials across the U.S. were subjected in recent days to swatting calls, which are prank 911 calls aimed at bringing a police response to a particular location.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Photos: Illinois State Fair political days through the years 2012 State Fair 2012 State Fair 2015 State Fair 2015 State Fair 2015 State Fair 2007 State Fair 2008 State Fair 2008 State Fair 2009 State Fair 2012 State Fair 2012 State Fair 2005 State Fair 2004 State Fair 2003 State Fair 2003 State Fair 2006 State Fair 2007 State Fair 2012 State Fair 2018 State Fair 2012 State Fair 2021 State Fair 2021 State Fair
Editor's note: This article was produced for ProPublicas Local Reporting Network in partnership with Capitol News Illinois.

The judge responsible for the administration of a troubled juvenile detention center in rural southern Illinois abruptly moved to close it as of Dec. 31, citing staffing shortages that made it difficult to meet new state standards governing the treatment of youth in custody.

The Franklin County Juvenile Detention Center had been featured in a November report by Capitol News Illinois and ProPublica that exposed the states lax enforcement of its own standards, despite audits that repeatedly found poor conditions at the facility.

Those standards were updated by the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice in 2021; the changes aimed to improve education and mental health services for detained youths, and to limit the use of restraints and seclusion, or locking kids alone in their cells for hours. But in an inspection the following year, the state agency described the Franklin County Juvenile Detention Center as a facility in crisis: It did not provide the required mental health care, schooling and recreation for the children in custody, and staff locked youth in their rooms for up to 24 hours for behavioral infractions or because of short staffing. Facilities are only allowed to use seclusion to prevent someone from harming themselves or others.

That same year, the Illinois Supreme Court, which shares oversight of the states juvenile detention centers, also found that the Franklin County center did not meet its standards. In the summer of 2023, the facility was sued by the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, alleging it had violated youths constitutional rights by subjecting them to excessive forms of restraint and seclusion while denying them adequate education and mental health services. The facility had still not come into compliance as of the end of 2023.

In the face of these reports, in the late summer and fall of last year, the Franklin county board publicly debated the fate of the building, which is owned by the county. In hopes of keeping the juvenile detention center open, the board approved about $200,000 for upgrades. Earlier, workers salaries had also increased from $28,000 to $43,000 annually, according to the juvenile justice departments January 2023 audit.

The November article by Capitol News Illinois and ProPublica found that some of the conditions noted by state auditors more than a year prior had continued at the facility in Benton, as well as in some of the other 15 juvenile detention centers where problems had been identified.

The news organizations reporting also revealed that the centers staff often relied on backup from the local sheriffs office, which sometimes used restraints in ways that are not typical or not allowed in juvenile detention centers, as law enforcement records obtained by Capitol News Illinois showed. Franklin County Sheriff Kyle Bacon defended the actions of his deputies and said that he did not believe his office was bound by the state standards for juvenile detention centers as his office was not involved in the centers administration.

Despite these mounting concerns, the closure of the Benton detention center took some county officials, state lawmakers and employees by surprise. One longtime employee told county officials during a Tuesday night board meeting that staff were blindsided by the announcement four days before Christmas.

Two state lawmakers who represent the region, Rep. Dave Severin, R-Benton, and Sen. Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro, expressed frustration that they had not been made aware of closure plans in advance and had learned of them from an employee after the decision was made.

Melissa Morgan, chief judge of the 2nd Judicial Circuit Court of Illinois, who made the closure decision, declined an interview through her administrative assistant.

Her court issued a statement about the closure late last week. It did not mention the critical audits, but it did say workforce shortages made it difficult to comply with the new standards and laws.

Youth detention facilities in Illinois operate like adult jails and hold youth in custody while their cases are pending in court. When the 32-bed facility closed last month, it housed only a handful of youth, though it was designated as a holding place for 26 southern Illinois counties  the lower quarter of the state. Most youth from those counties will now be sent to facilities in metro-east Illinois, bordering St. Louis, or out of state, potentially moving them further from their support systems.

The news organizations November reporting highlighted the fact that Illinois officials charged with inspecting the detention centers have little authority to enforce compliance. State Sen. Rachel Ventura, D-Joliet, said that she is in talks with state and court officials about how to strengthen that oversight. She said the many layers of government involved complicates the process, but she plans to propose legislation in the spring session of the Illinois General Assembly that would streamline the process for closing facilities.

Kevin Fee, a staff attorney with the ACLU of Illinois, said that his organization sued the facility in June when it found that the troubling state audits had not led to improvements.

Lawyers for the court and the county denied the allegations in court filings in November. The case is pending, though it may be rendered moot because it sought to improve conditions for youth into the future, not to win remedies for those it alleged had been previously harmed.

I think that the closure of the facility is a good outcome, and we read it as an acknowledgement that the facility really has not been serving the youth that it houses adequately for some time, as we alleged in our lawsuit, Fee said. We hope that other facilities in the state that house youth will use this to measure their own conditions, and well continue to monitor them.
The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County said Friday that president and chief executive Chase Law is stepping down from both posts on Feb. 16.

The council will be searching for its third top executive in about 5 years.

Law, 47, joined the council on Dec. 1, 2020, taking over following the departure of Winston-Salem attorney Randy Eaddy after more than two years.

Law said in a council news release that she submitted her resignation to accept an undisclosed new position in Millburn, N.J. that aligns with my background in theater and fundraising.

This decision was not made lightly, and it is quite a bittersweet move into the next chapter of my career.

However, after much consideration I know this is the right choice for my family and me. Additionally, this role will also bring me closer to my daughter who lives in New York City.

Chad Cheek, chairman of the councils board of trustees, said in the news release that Law will assist the board over the next six weeks on a plan of administrative tasks for the organization that will aid in the seamless continuation of the organizations operations.

I have already begun working with the board of trustees to develop an interim leadership plan and start the process of conducting a search to find the next leader of the Arts Council. We will share the job announcement soon.

Law has more than 21 years of experience in the non-profit sector. She came to the council after serving as vice president of development for Blumenthal Performing Arts based in Charlotte. She also worked at Discovery Place, Charlottes Arts and Science Council, Carolinas Concert Association and Community School of the Arts, all based in the Charlotte area.

Cheek praised Laws for her efforts to reestablish and expand the Arts Councils mission and increased support and outreach of the arts and cultural sector in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County.

Cheek cited as examples:

* Exceeding the $2 million fundraising goal by an average of 35% during her first two years of service;

* Prioritizing community engagement, which aided in more transparent communication and renewed donor, partner and community trust;

* Expanded organizations programming to include new local, regional and national offerings; and

* Her efforts in helping Winston-Salem to be selected as one of 18 cities to participate in a national initiative from One Nation One Project and the National League of Cities, known as Arts for EveryBody, focused on arts and wellness.

We are grateful for the dedication and enthusiasm she has given the Arts Council over the last three years, Cheek said.

We are confident that with Chases support, this transition will be smooth for our team, partners, and generous supporters.

Law said that she is grateful for the opportunities and experiences that the Arts Council has provided during my time here. I have learned a great deal and have grown both professionally and personally.

This is a truly special community with an incredible love for the arts, and it has been a joy to work alongside you, our community, as well as all of the partners in our industry.

Both Winston-Salem mayor Allen Joines and Forsyth County commissioner chairman Don Martin praised Law's efforts with the arts council.

"Chase has had a remarkable impact on not only the Arts Council, but also the broader community as well," Joines said.

"Her strong leadership skills, coupled with a passion for the arts, have allowed her to establish a strong foundation for the arts here in Winston Salem."

Martin cited Law's leadership during the pandemic, "an incredibly challenging time for everyone  but especially so for local artists."

"Chase vigorously pursued various funding avenues to support local artists and prepared a compelling ARPA grant application that Forsyth County funded for over $4 million. Our loss is New Jersey's gain."
Truist Financial Corp. has gained permission from the N.C. Commissioner of Banks  its primary regulator  to close four Triad branches by March 19.

The banking commission posted this week its approval of Truists request  made in December  to close at least 71 branches overall.

Meanwhile, Truist appears to be moving forward on the next wave of workforce reductions that chairman and chief executive Bill Rogers disclosed to investors on Sept. 11. According to social media posts, some job cuts were announced to employees Thursday.

Truist has declined to comment on specific job-cut projections, and when and where they would take place.

We continue to transform Truist to focus on our strengths and drive long-term growth and profitability, Truist said in a statement Friday.

Were hiring in some areas and rightsizing in others through natural attrition and planned staffing reductions.

The Winston-Salem branch slated for closing is at 3410 Robinhood Road. It leaves Truist with eight Winston-Salem branches, along with two in Kernersville and one each in Clemmons and Lewisville.

The Greensboro branches slated for closing are at 201 W. Market St. in the downtown area and 1310 Battleground Ave. It leaves the bank with 12 in Greensboro.

The High Point branch slated for closing is at 1301 Eastchester Drive. It leaves the bank with two in High Point.

As of June 30, the bank had 20 branches in the five-county Winston-Salem metro area and 24 in the Greensboro-High Point metro area. The closing list also includes a Truist branch in Aberdeen, Concord, Durham, Gastonia and Morrisville for a total of nine overall.

Overall, Truist will close 13 branches in Florida, along with 10 in Pennsylvania, eight in Georgia, seven in Maryland, five in Virginia, four in Washington, D.C., three in Texas, two each in Alabama, Kentucky, South Carolina and Tennessee, and one each in Mississippi, New Jersey, Ohio and West Virginia.

Truist had a net decline of one branch during the third quarter for a total of 2,002 as of Sept. 30. The branch count is down 118 since Sept. 30, 2022.

Overall, the branch count is shrunk from more than 2,900 in December 2019, which met the cost-savings initiative goal to close 800 branches between the end of 2019 and March 31, 2022.

Workforce status

The bank announced Oct. 19 it had eliminated 621 job positions during the third quarter in the first wave of sizable reductions in force over the next 12 to 18 months.

Truist is scheduled to release its fourth-quarter earnings report Jan. 18. The bank typically provides a quarterly workforce update in the report.

The workforce reduction is projected to represent at least $300 million in annual cost-cut savings as part of an overall $750 million expense-reduction initiative.

A sizable reduction in force could be between 1,500 and 2,000 employees, projected Tony Plath, a retired finance professor at UNC Charlotte.

The overall workforce was 51,943 as of Sept. 30, down 1.2% from June 20. The workforce has been reduced by 705 over the past 12 months.

Since BB&T Corp. completed its $33.4 billion purchase of SunTrust Banks in December 2019 to form Truist, the banks workforce is down 12.4%, or by at least 7,357 positions from about 59,300.

Truist said in its third-quarter presentation to analysts and investors that the workforce reduction would factor: spans and layers; consolidation of redundant/similar functions; select business restructuring; and geographic simplification.

One example of geographic simplification took effect Oct. 1 when the Triad began to share a regional president in Charlotte amid the banks move to go from 21 to 14 commercial banking regions.

However, the recently named North Carolina West regional president, Heath Campbell, resigned on Oct. 31 and announced on Nov. 3 he had been hired as executive managing director for the Carolinas at Huntington Bancshares.

Truist has declined comment on Campbells resignation and plans to fill the N.C. West regional president role.

Truist announced Oct. 2 plans to reduce the board from 21 to 13 with eight board members either retiring or stepping down by the end of the year.

Those include retired chairman and chief executive Kelly King and High Point University President Nido Qubein, who has been a board member of legacy BB&T Corp. and Truist since 1990.

Rogers said on Sept. 11 that the board has been presented with an improvement plan addressing operational efficiencies and long-term goals.

We have demonstrative plans, and we have to have better revenue growth, Rogers said.

We have the structure in place, the leadership in place, the commitment, the intensity and the support. And were moving fast, and our team can feel it.
A Winston-Salem man was sentenced to prison Thursday after he pleaded guilty to a criminal charge for his role in another mans shooting death in March 2020.

Kevin Antonio Saenz, 23, pleaded guilty to one count of being an accessory after the fact to first-degree murder.

Judge Stephanie Reese of Forsyth Superior Court sentenced Saenz to serve four years and 10 months to six years and 10 months in prison. Reese also gave Saenz credit for the three years and eight months that he spent in custody awaiting his court hearing.

Saenz was initially charged with first-degree murder and obstruction of justice, offenses that prosecutors dismissed.

Jonathan Rene Rodriguez, 24, of Winston-Salem was shot to death March 21, 2020 outside the Travelers Inn in the 5900 block of University Parkway. Saenz was one of six people facing charges in connection with Rodriguezs death.

Prosecutor Brian Taylor told Reese that Saenz was sitting in the backseat of Rodriguezs car when he got out and went to the rear of the hotel. A co-defendant, Jose Emanuel Cruz-Rivera, then approached Rodriguezs vehicle and fired multiple times at Rodriguez.

Rodriguez then got out of the vehicle, walked about 40 feet, collapsed and died at the scene, Taylor said. Saenz then left the scene with at least two other co-defendants, Taylor said.

This was a drug deal that turned into a robbery that turned into a homicide, Taylor said.

On May 4, 2023, Cruz-Rivera pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in connection with Rodriguezs death in Forsyth Superior Court. A judge sentenced Cruz-Rivera to serve 15 years and five months in prison.

On March 25, 2020, Saenz initially gave false statements to Winston-Salem police about his involvement in the shooting, Taylor said. Investigators discovered that Saenz exchanged phone calls and text messages with the co-defendants before Rodriguez was shot, Taylor said.

U.S. Marshals arrested Saenz in Charlottesville, Va., on May 11, 2020.

Stephen Ball of Winston-Salem, Saenzs attorney, said that his client was hanging out with people who were involved in a gang. Saenzs associates were members of MS-13, an international criminal gang, Taylor said.

Ball told Reese that his client was being recruited into the gang at the time of Rodriguezs death, and that Saenz was scared to inform on Rodriguezs killer.

Kevin didnt know what was going to happen that night, Ball said.

It was a drug deal gone bad, Ball said. What he did afterward was wrong and criminal. He has never been in trouble before this.

Reese said that Saenz acted as a lookout to provide information to Rodriguezs killer.

Reese said Saenz didnt pull the trigger, but his actions helped violent people to take Rodriguezs life.
A Winston-Salem man received a suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to assault charges in a shooting last year at a downtown bar.

Joey St. Christopher Hodges, 23, pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, assault with a deadly weapon, inflicting a serious injury and carrying a concealed weapon.

Judge Stephanie Reese of Forsyth Superior Court gave Hodges two consecutive suspended sentences of 15 months to 30 months in prison and put him on probation for two years.

Winston-Salem police responded at 10:53 p.m. Oct. 12, 2023, on a reported shooting at the Reboot Arcade Bar at 534 N. Liberty St, Prosecutor Belinda Foster told the judge.

Prior to the shooting, Hodges and the father of his girlfriends child got into an argument inside the bar, Foster said. Hodges and the man then left the bar, with that man believing that he and Hodges would have a fistfight.

Hodges, however, fired a shot at the man. The bullet hit another man in his buttocks, Foster said.

The victim left the scene before police arrived, and sought medical attention later on Oct. 12, police said. The victim was uncooperative with investigators, Foster said.

Reese said Hodges actions were foolish, dangerous and reckless.

Alexander Stubbs of Winston-Salem, Hodges attorney, said that his client has accepted responsibility for his actions.
Winston-Salem police have identified the man who was struck Thursday while trying to cross Hanes Mall Boulevard.

Police said Robert Charles Holcomb, 18, with no permanent address, was trying to cross Hanes Mall Boulevard about 12:30 p.m. Thursday when he was struck by a 2011 GMC driven by Narciso Salinas-Vega of Ararat.

Police said Holcomb darted in front of the GMC and that Salinas-Vega was unable to stop.

Holcomb remains hospitalized with serious injuries.

The case remains under investigation. Police said anyone with information on the case may call 336-773-7700 or Crime Stoppers at 336-727-2800.
Happy Friday. Forget the bread and milk; get a decent ice scraper instead.

Kathryn Jordan always feared a day like Tuesday might come.

Her husband Robert Jordan, a devoted cyclist and small businessman, often insisted on commuting to his dance studio on Reynolda Road.

Hed leave early in the morning and return at dusk. He was careful about safety; he wore reflective clothing and had lights on his bike. Yet Kathryn Jordan still worried.

I warned him that he might get hit by a drunk driver, she said. Hed just say I cant spend my life worrying about something that might happen. I cant live that way.

Her worst fear came true almost five years ago when Jordan was struck by a motorist and left with life-changing head injuries.

Winston-Salem police quickly identified a suspect, Gregory Lucas Jr., a man with a history of drunk driving arrests and skipping court.

But before he could be served, Lucas blew town and managed to stay away for years.

On Tuesday, after years of false starts and dashed hopes, the Jordan family came to court.

Theyd been led to believe that at long last, the wheels of justice might finally creak to a final resolution.

A warrant charging Lucas Jr. with felony hit and run was taken out March 20, 2019  one day after a driver hit Robert Jordan near the intersection of Yadkinville and Reynolda roads.

He was arrested twice  in Wake County in July 2019 and again in January 2020. Both times, he was given bonds of less than $20,000 despite a history of not showing up for court.

Both times he walked out of jail and back into the wind.

Forsyth County authorities finally got their hands on him last spring. His bond was set at $100,000  an amount no bail bondsman would dare post.

A few more kick-the-can court appearances came and went, one in summer and one in September, before signs of movement.

But on Tuesday, despite bringing Robert Jordan to court in a wheelchair to lay eyes on the man police believe maimed him, closure again proved elusive.

The verdict?

Stay tuned. Come back downtown Friday afternoon, Kathryn Jordan was told by a prosecutor. We should know more.

A guilty plea is possible, but without any agreements or conditions about a sentence. If a plea comes, that will be left to a judge.

Im glad there could be a resolution, Kathryn Jordan said. Hes been in jail. Im just glad hes not out there running around.

Penalties for overcharges

RALEIGH  The consumer-standards division of the N.C. Department of Agriculture has collected fines from 18 stores in 12 counties because of excessive price scanner errors.

And you thought the ag department was only concerned with hogs and tobacco farms.

Our Standards Division remained diligent in its effort to protect consumers across our state in 2023, Commissioner Steve Troxler said in a prepared statement. Inspectors continued to find significant numbers of price scanner errors at stores across the state, which serves as a reminder that consumers should check their receipts and notify store managers if they see an error.

The department conducts unannounced inspections of price-scanner systems in businesses to check for accuracy.

If a store has more than a 2 percent error rate on overcharges, inspectors discuss the findings with the store manager and conduct a more intensive follow-up later. Undercharges are noted, but not penalized.

Penalties are assessed if a store exceeding the 2 percent rate fails a follow-up. In addition, offending stores are subject to reinspection every 60 days until it meets the 2 percent-or-less error rate.

Without comment, though the opportunity for some is ample, here are the local stores cited by the Department of Agriculture.

* A Family Dollar at 550 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Winston-Salem paid $5,000 in penalties. The store failed eight inspections between February 2022 and August 2023. A follow-up inspection in October found an error rate of 7.67 percent based on 23 overcharges in a 300-item lot.

The store paid $5,000 of its penalties in October and still has an outstanding balance of $5,000 from failed inspections.

* A Family Dollar at 1425 Waughtown St. in Winston-Salem paid $12,795 in penalties. The store failed five inspections between November 2022 and August 2023. A follow-up in October found an error rate of 5 percent based on 15 overcharges in a 300-item lot.

The store paid $12,795 in penalties in October and still has an outstanding balance of $4,550 due from the failed inspection in October.

* A Family Dollar at 2017 S. Broad St. in Winston-Salem paid $3,110 in penalties. The store failed three inspections between November 2022 and March 2023. It did pass a follow-up inspection in June and paid its penalty in October.

* A Dollar General at 600 Whitsett Ave. in Gibsonville paid $1,635 in penalties. An inspection in August found an error rate of 8 percent based on four overcharges in a 50-item lot. A follow-up in September found an error rate of 5 percent based on 15 overcharges in a 300-item lot.

The store paid its penalty in October and passed a follow-up inspection in November.

Huh.

Dollar stores known for selling cheap goods and processed food in locations in poor urban and rural neighborhoods nailed for high error rates and overcharges.

Shoppers who find scanner mistakes on receipts can call the Standards Division at 984-236-4750.
A Chicago man is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of two people in Calumet City early on New Years Day in what police said was a domestic dispute.

Pedro Tovar, 58, is being held in Cook County Jail following his arrest Thursday, and was previously in a relationship with one of the victims, police said Friday.

Police said officers responded at about 1 a.m. Monday to a home in the 1200 block of Hirsch Avenue for reports of gunshots fired.

Responding officers found a 53-year-old woman who had been shot, and also located a 45-year-old man shot next door to the home.

Eduardo Chavez, 45, of the 1200 block of Hirsch, was shot in the chest and pronounced dead at the scene at 3:52 a.m. Jan. 1, according to the Cook County medical examiners office, which ruled his death a homicide.

The female victim, with whom police said Tovar previously had a relationship, was identified as Corrine Mirelez, of Whiting, Indiana, who suffered multiple gunshot wounds as well as stab wounds, according to the office.

She was pronounced dead shortly after 2 a.m. Jan. 1 at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to the office.

Police said Calumet City detectives and investigators from the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force identified Tovar as a suspect.

mnolan@tribpub.com
Holappa is an alcoholic construction worker who meets Ansa, a lonely woman who has just been fired from her job at a rundown karaoke bar in Helsinki.

So begins Fallen Leaves, the charming romance of sorts presented in writer-director Aki Kaurismakis trademark deadpan style that explores the bleakness of its characters lives and their harsh reality with empathy and sweet humor.

The film opens with Ansa (Alma Poysti) stocking shelves in a supermarket where shes being closely monitored by a security guard. Caught first giving expired food away, then trying to take some home, Ansa is unjustly fired  the brutality of authority in a bleak world is another standard Kaurismaki theme.

Going out to the karaoke bar with a friend, Ansa sees Holappa (Jussi Vatanen), whos been dragged to the bar by his friend Huotari (Janne Hyytianinen), who wants to sing. While Huotari hits on Ansas friend, the central couple agree to meet again. But, get this, they dont exchange names.

That sets the stage for some of the comedy, when Holappa loses the scrap of paper with Ansas phone number and spends night after night standing and smoking outside the movie theater where the pair went on their first date, hoping shell return.

The alcohol that he stashes away at work and in the room he shares with Huotari eventually catches up to Holappa  Im depressed because I drink and I drink because Im depressed  and seemingly ends the romance, such as it is.

But Kaurismaki isnt telling a bleak story of heartbreak and misery. And he finds a unique, touching and funny way to bring the couple back together, adapting the rom-com formula for the picture in which the lovers dont spend all that much of the films blissfully short 80 minutes together on screen.

And they dont say that much when they are together. Thats part of the Kaurismaki oeuvre as well, helping to create the deadpan approach that is never broken, even in the movies happy ending.

Poysti and Vatanen couldnt be better, each managing to convey the essence of their characters within the flat, near-emotionless portrayals. Suffice it to say there are no explosive, emotional reactions to the hurt inflicted upon them by bosses, booze and life in general.

And Timo Salminens cinematography and the spare sets contribute to the relentlessly bleak tone that even carries through to the radio, which, when Ansa turns it on in her apartment (theres notably no TV), seemingly carries only news reports of the war in Ukraine.

Its unfair to Fallen Leaves to try to pigeonhole it as a romance or a romantic comedy. With its close examination of the characters and their worlds, its more than just a genre picture.

That may be why it won the grand jury prize at the Cannes Film Festival and is Finlands Oscar submission. Its sure why, at least for me, Fallen Leaves is one of the best movies of 2023.

Best movies of 2023: Associated Press film writers make their picks 'Oppenheimer' 'The Zone of Interest' 'Priscilla' 'Asteroid City' 'Asteroid City' 'Fallen Leaves' 'The Holdovers' 'The Holdovers' 'Poor Things' 'A Thousand and One' 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse' 'Barbie' 'All of Us Strangers' 'Bottoms' 'Perfect Days' 'Totem' 'The Eight Mountains' 'La Chimera'
The city and opponents of the controversial Wilderness Crossing development near Wilderness Park and a Native sweat lodge have reached a settlement, ending an ongoing legal dispute over the citys handling of the housing development.

The settlement will require the city of Lincoln to hold two training sessions for city directors and staff, support advocates in their attempt to conserve green space within the development, conduct an environmental impact analysis of development in the area and help update city code regarding Native ceremonies.

Advocates said they were proud of the terms of the agreement, but stressed more work remains to ensure Native residents concerns are heard in future city planning decisions.

Even though we faced much disappointment in this entire process, going forward, the hope we have is that the city of Lincoln will be honorable in their commitments for the well-being of future residents, Native and non-Native alike, said Renee Sans Souci, who helped organize the Niskithe Prayer Camp formed in opposition to the development.

City officials declined to comment on the settlement, which will result in dismissal of a lawsuit against the city filed in March by Native and environmental advocates.

The lawsuit asked a court to require the citys Board of Zoning Appeals to hear opponents' appeal of the annexation and zoning changes that allowed the Wilderness Crossing development to move forward.

The lawsuit was the latest step in legal wrangling and protests that began in 2022 after the City Council approved annexation and zoning changes allowing a housing development on 75 acres south of Pioneers Boulevard between First Street and U.S. 77 to move forward.

Wilderness Crossing LLC plans to build 162 single-family homes, 134 town homes and 205 apartments on land it bought from the Catholic Diocese of Lincoln. Sam Manzitto Jr., president of a construction and development company, is the registered agent of the limited liability company.

Environmental advocates opposed the development because of its proximity to Wilderness Park and concerns about flooding and the negative impact of traffic, light and noise on wildlife and native habitat. Native advocates had similar concerns and said it threatened the sanctity of a sweat lodge located across First Street on private land known as the Fish Farm.

Those advocates sent more than 100 letters opposing the development and turned out in force to speak at a City Council public hearing in 2022, and after the councils actions allowing the development to move forward, they created the Niskithe Prayer Camp.

The prayer camp set up tipis on the land, then participants marched to City Hall two weeks later when they took down the camp. They came back to the site when developers began moving trees, and at least two protesters were ticketed and found guilty of obstructing a public roadway.

Those advocates on Thursday filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit.

The settlement agreement includes five commitments from city officials, including:

* Holding two training sessions for city staff and directors conducted by the Indian Center or a mutually agreed-upon group to help foster better relationships with Indigenous people.

* Supporting advocates in efforts to conserve green space if they acquire property within Wilderness Crossing, though it doesnt obligate the city to approve specific land use applications or building permits.

Erin Poor, one of the prayer camp organizers, said the advocates hope to purchase four lots in the development directly west of the land where the Sweat Lodge is located to create a park with Native plants that would act as a buffer between the development and the sweat lodge.

She said they hope to work with the Lincoln Parks and Recreation Foundation to raise money to purchase land to create a park.

*Appointing Poor to a committee selecting a firm to conduct an environmental impact analysis of development on the upper watershed of Salt Creek.

Poor said that as part of the settlement, the city agreed to do the environmental impact analysis on the area, including the Wilderness Crossing development, something the advocates have been asking for from the beginning to assess the impact of the development. The request for proposals for firms must be issued by Aug. 1.

*Working in good faith with the advocates on legislation they're drafting to exempt Native ceremonies from city ordinances regarding fire and noise, something necessary since the land on which the sweat lodge sits was annexed into the city as part of the development, Poor said.

*Adopting a proclamation that commits to honoring the land, its Indigenous people and committing to the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The prayer camp organizers said that in addition to the settlement, Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird committed to creating a subcommittee of the mayors multicultural advisory committee, and to making an effort to add Native residents to city boards and commissions.

Poor said she feels bittersweet about the settlement. She and other advocates were honored to work with the ACLU of Nebraska and Big Fire Law and Policy Group on the issues, she said, and based on their research of litigation in other cities, Lincoln agreed to significant concessions.

At the same time, we are disappointed with the city, she said. Every step of the way we were met with resistance. Every step of the way when we asked them to take responsibility for their actions or right their wrongs, they abdicated that responsibility on every single front.

The efforts to buy land to create a park as a buffer, for instance, arose after the city refused to require the developer to create a buffer along the entire development, Poor said.

The work the city has done with the Otoe-Missouria tribe from Oklahoma to acknowledge Lincoln sits on their ancestral land has been performative only, Poor said, and theres so much work left to do to make Lincoln a welcoming and inclusive place for all residents.

Im proud of us but disappointed in the city, she said.

Top Journal Star photos for December 2023
Nebraska would become the fourth state where condemned prisoners could be suffocated to death by forcing them to breathe pure nitrogen gas under a bill introduced at the Legislature on Thursday.

Sen. Loren Lippincotts proposal (LB970) would require the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services to develop a protocol for nitrogen hypoxia in addition to the existing method of lethal injection, which was last used in 2018.

While nitrogen hypoxia has never been used as a means of carrying out the death penalty in the U.S., and despite recent warnings from the United Nations' watchdog for human rights, Lippincott said he believes it would be effective.

That is a very humane way of putting a person to death, the Central City lawmaker said in a phone interview.

According to the Death Penalty Information Center, three states  Alabama, Oklahoma and Mississippi  have all authorized using nitrogen gas to execute prisoners, largely because obtaining drugs for lethal injections has become increasingly difficult.

Only Alabama has developed a protocol for actually carrying out executions using the method, however, and plans to be the first to do so later this month.

In those states where nitrogen hypoxia is available, inmates are given the choice between that method and other procedures on the books, but under Lippincotts proposal the method for executing death row inmates would be made by the state.

We would leave that choice up to the leadership of the prison, said Lippincott, who has 17 co-sponsors for his bill. Hopefully, they will be open to any suggestions the prisoner would have.

Death penalty opponents in Nebraska and elsewhere say nitrogen hypoxia remains untested and could inflict serious suffering for the prisoner, potentially in violation of the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment.

Alex Houchin, the development coordinator at Nebraskans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, said the new method being adopted is an attempt to sanitize state executions for backers.

"We're lying to ourselves if we think there's a clean way to kill somebody," Houchin said. "We're trying to sanitize it as not as violent as it is."

The Human Rights Council, a branch of the United Nations, said on Wednesday it had concerns about forcing the condemned prisoners to breathe pure nitrogen.

"We are concerned that nitrogen hypoxia would result in a painful and humiliating death," the UN said, adding there was "no scientific evidence to prove" that nitrogen hypoxia would not cause "grave suffering."

An Alabama inmate named Kenneth Smith, who was sentenced to death for a 1988 murder-for-hire of a 45-year-old woman, is currently slated to become the first death row prisoner to be executed by nitrogen hypoxia later this month.

Alabama officials previously attempted to execute Smith in November 2022, but could not place an IV line for the lethal injection. Following the failed execution, the state set a new date for Smiths death in November 2023, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.

Smiths attorneys have objected to what they described as a novel and experimental method of carrying out an execution, likening their client to a test subject for an untested execution method.

Alabamas protocol for executing prisoners, released in 2023, requires nitrogen to be administered for 15 minutes or five minutes following a flatline indication on the EKG, whichever is longer.

Others have raised concerns about the safety of the procedure for staff, medical professionals, spiritual advisors or witnesses, should the mask delivering the nitrogen not be correctly sealed or have leaks.

Houchin said the shift to using nitrogen for executions has come as pharmaceutical companies have limited the availability of certain drugs like sodium thiopental for those purposes.

"People who make pharmaceuticals, generally speaking, make them to help people," he said, adding the same kinds of objections have started emerging surrounding nitrogen.

Nebraska remains one of 27 states where the death penalty is still on the books, but the state has only carried out one execution in nearly a quarter century.

Only four death row inmates have been executed in the last half century; three of those were by electric chair before the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional in 2008.

In 2015, the Legislature abolished the death penalty in Nebraska, overriding a veto from then-Gov. Pete Ricketts to do so, but voters reinstated it at the ballot box a year later.

Two years later, in 2018, the state executed Carey Dean Moore by lethal injection for the killing of two Omaha cab drivers in 1979, but its stockpile of drugs has since expired.

Aubrey Trail, who was sentenced to death in 2021 for the murder and dismemberment of 23-year-old Sydney Loofe, filed a petition last August seeking to force the state to carry out his sentence, saying he was not interested in languishing on death row for years or decades.

Nebraska effectively does not currently have a method to carry out the sentence it handed down to the 56-year-old, nor to the 10 other people currently on death row.

In July, the Department of Correctional Services confirmed to the Journal Star the state does not have any lethal-injection chemicals in its possession.

Lippincott, who said a constituent in his central Nebraska district brought nitrogen hypoxia to his attention, said he believes in the death penalty for capital crimes and that the state should carry out the sentence it imposes.

The argument for it is very, very straightforward, he said.

Co-sponsors of Lippincotts bill include: Sen. Ray Aguilar of Grand Island; Sen. Joni Albrecht of Thurston; Lincoln Sen. Beau Ballard; Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon; Sen. Rob Clements of Elmwood; Sen. Barry DeKay of Niobrara; Sen. Myron Dorn of Adams; Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard; Sen. Brian Hardin of Gering; Sen. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue; Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte; Omaha Sen. Kathleen Kauth; Sen. John Lowe of Kearney; Sen. Fred Meyer of St. Paul; Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil; Sen. Rita Sanders of Bellevue; and Sen. Julie Slama of Dunbar.

The inmates on Nebraskas death row and their crimes Raymond Mata Jr. Jose Sandoval Jorge Galindo Erick F. Vela Jeffrey Hessler John L. Lotter Roy L. Ellis Marco E. Torres Jr. Anthony Garcia Nikko Jenkins Aubrey Trail
In the waning days of 2023, the State of Nebraska completed its first purchase of land in Colorado for a proposed canal that would bring water from the South Platte River in that state into southwest Nebraska.

The Nebraska Department of Natural Resources purchased just shy of 90 acres east of Julesburg, Colorado, for nearly $90,000 on Dec. 29, according to property records in Sedgwick County, Colorado.

Jesse Bradley, the department's deputy directory, confirmed that the purchase is Nebraska's first buy in Colorado for the proposed Perkins County Canal.

Under a century-old compact with Colorado, building the canal would entitle Nebraska to 120 cubic feet per second of water from the South Platte River during the summer irrigation season and 500 cfs during the non-irrigation season. But the state must build the canal to secure the water. Nebraska lawmakers have set aside a total of $628 million for the project.

Former Gov. Pete Ricketts made the project a priority during his last year in office, arguing that Nebraska could lose access to water if Colorado proceeded with plans to use South Platte water to meet the demands of its growing urban areas. Gov. Jim Pillen also has indicated support for the project.

Bradley said the agency is homing in on a route for the canal and on potential reservoir locations, with a goal of having conversations with landowners in Colorado and Nebraska this spring that eventually translate into potential property acquisitions. The agency is about a year into its projected three-year design timeline. Agency officials held an informational meeting last month in Ogallala to update area residents.

"We don't have a line on a map ready to go out," he said. "But we're getting closer to that. We've been focusing our efforts preliminarily in Colorado and now starting to look in Nebraska."

Typically, he said, designers of such projects propose a draft route and see whether accommodations are needed to alleviate disruptions. Then they work to finalize it. Officials are trying to stay within the 100-year-old "line of survey" in the original compact, based on local topography and the fact that the canal flows by gravity. As much as possible, planners will work around potential obstacles such as interstate highways and cemeteries.

The Sedgwick County property, Bradley said, potentially could be part of the canal route itself and serve as an ancillary construction site.

The property was purchased from Ray Hendrix of Holyoke, Colorado.

His son, Loren Hendrix of rural Holyoke, said the property is situated about a mile south of the point on Interstate 76 marking the border between the two states.

The land represents a portion of two larger parcels, he said. The family runs cattle and harvests hay.

Loren Hendrix said Nebraska officials initially talked about routing the canal through the property. He said he was concerned that the family might not get fair value for the land if Nebraska invoked eminent domain. He also wants to make sure adequate funds were available to care for his 90-year-old father.

Bradley told attendees at the Ogallala meeting that the state prefers to reach fair land deals in both states, the North Platte Telegraph reported.

In an interview, he noted that the state also is working with various federal agencies to determine permitting requirements for the project.

"There are a lot of steps to get a large project like this completed," Bradley said, "and we're still pretty early on."

The Journal Star's most memorable photos of 2023
YORK  When Kylianna Roy arrived at Nebraska's only womens prison in September 2021, she heard some advice from the other women incarcerated at the facility: dont drink the water and dont wash your hair every day.

If she drank it, they warned her, she would get sick. And if she washed her hair every day, they said, it would fall out.

For nearly a decade, the people incarcerated at the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women have been raising concerns about the appearance, taste, odor and potential health effects of the facilitys water. But prison administrators have failed to respond adequately to their complaints, according to accounts from more than a dozen current and former inmates, as well as public records that span nine years.

Even as the Department of Correctional Services has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on infrastructure upgrades and chemicals to address the facilitys water quality issues, those housed at the York facility continue to complain of water that is often murky, plagued by a pungent smell and littered with sediment.

They have dealt with hair loss, nausea and gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea, which they attribute to the water that, they say, has also dried out their skin and sometimes caused it to break out in rashes.

In November, Valeisha Walker, who has been incarcerated at the prison since January, filed a handwritten federal lawsuit seeking an injunction over the prisons water and its possible health consequences.

Pointing to the installation of filters and a facility-wide chemical injection system, among other efforts to address the water quality issues in recent years, a corrections department spokesperson said in December there are "no unresolved issues at this time, relative to water operations and quality at the facility."

But that claim is disputed by accounts of the current and former incarcerated individuals who spoke to the Lincoln Journal Star and York News-Times, many of whom risked or faced punishment to talk with reporters through unsanctioned phone calls about the physical and mental effects of the facility's water.

It was degrading, said Roy, who spent more than two years in the facility before her release in October. It was degrading to already know that youre at your lowest and you cant even have good drinking water.

Destiny Miller, who arrived at the York prison in September 2021, like Roy, said that upon arrival she encountered stomach issues, thinning hair and an itch that I cant scratch.

Miller has tried changing her soap, detergent and shampoo to no avail; she has received no diagnosis or explanation for her chronic stomach problems. But prison administrators have told her over and over again, she said, that there is nothing wrong with the water.

It just feels like theres something really wrong here, she said in a phone interview.

The issue, too, has been a source of strife for the families of women incarcerated in York who have, at times, had to act as advocates for their loved ones, pressing prison administrators for fleeting answers on the state of the facilitys water and sounding the alarm to advocacy organizations and news outlets.

My daughter is my life, said Brenda Flores, whose daughter, Priscilla Camacho, is among the approximately 304 inmates housed at the 275-bed prison. I told the warden and I told the nurses, I said, Thats my daughter. If it was your kid, you would do the same exact thing.

These women are human beings, she added. Theyre humans. Theyre not animals.

The prisons warden, Angela Folts-Oberle, declined an interview request. Tom Fritz, the prisons maintenance manager, had previously referred questions to Folts-Oberle.

In an emailed statement, Dayne Urbanovsky, the corrections departments director of strategic communications, maintained that there are no ongoing issues with the water at the York facility, pointing to the prisons on-site licensed water operator and monthly water samples, which are submitted to the Public Health Environmental Laboratory.

We also work with the York City Water Department to ensure that water testing continues and that staff are trained appropriately, Urbanovsky said. There is regular communication with (Nebraskas Department of Environment and Energy) to make sure concerns are addressed in an appropriate and timely manner.

Just trying to make sense of things

One of the first documented signs of trouble in the prisons water system occurred in 2014, when a water sample taken from a single building on the York campus offered an early indication of the issue that would afflict the facilitys water system for years to come.

The sample had higher concentrations of copper than federal regulations allowed for, according to public records provided by the Department of Environment and Energy. Ingesting copper at high levels can cause adverse health effects including gastrointestinal distress and liver and kidney damage, state health officials told prison administrators.

After learning about the high levels of copper in the facilitys water, Carla Walker, then an inmate at the prison, wrote in December 2014 to the Department of Health and Human Services, warning that women incarcerated there were losing clumps of hair, developing skin discoloration and breaking out with acne.

Please understand that I am not screaming, 'The sky is falling!'" she wrote. I am just trying to make sense of things.

An uptick in complaints about the facility's water prompted the State Ombudsman's Office, the watchdog created by the Legislature, to begin monitoring the prisons water issue in 2016. Since then the office has received 22 complaints about the prisons water quality.

By 2017, water samples taken from multiple prison buildings contained high concentrations of copper, leading HHS officials to require the Department of Correctional Services to perform a corrosion control study to identify the best way to keep copper out of the prisons drinking water.

The states water quality division  which used to be a subset of HHS but is now a division of the Department of Environment and Energy  called for the corrections department to install a corrosion control treatment system by Oct. 1, 2021.

Meanwhile, the department renovated the prisons 200,000-gallon water tower tank in 2017, adding a mixer to help with water movement in response to complaints about water quality. The department spent $22,000 replacing the mixer two years later.

And the state installed a reverse osmosis filtration system in the prison's nursery, which temporarily houses babies born to incarcerated mothers, and where water samples contained almost twice the allowable limit for copper.

The reverse osmosis systems use multiple filters to remove contaminants, such as copper, from water and are typically installed underneath sinks, providing filtered water through a single faucet, not the entire water system.

The department has since installed five more reverse osmosis filtration systems, including at least one in each of the prisons housing units, but most of the prisons water  including water used for showering, laundry, other hygiene needs and water routed directly to in-cell sinks in some housing units  is not filtered through reverse osmosis systems.

The state in 2018 paid HDR Inc., an Omaha-based engineering firm, $86,566 to study the corrosion in the York prisons water supply in order to determine how best to reduce its copper levels. The firm carried out the study and ultimately recommended that the prison pilot a chemical treatment of the water that included injecting orthophosphate and chlorine into the water supply.

HDR and prison officials moved forward with the chemical treatment over a handful of alternative approaches  even though the chemical injections could only combat the corrosion, while some alternatives may have eliminated it altogether.

One such alternative included lining the prisons copper pipes with an impermeable epoxy barrier, which would have kept the water supply from coming into contact with the copper pipe walls, according to a proposal HDR provided the Department of Correctional Services in 2018.

Another alternative, which an HDR engineer had called the other main option besides chemical treatment, was a total pipe replacement, which had proven in previous projects to be an effective method for reducing copper levels in drinking water supplies.

However, corrections staff told the firm that replacing the facilitys pipes was not a feasible alternative due to the cost of such a replacement and the logistics of replacing the prisons pipes while maintaining prison security, according to the proposal.

The state moved forward with the chemical treatment of the water as engineers warned that the source of the copper was the pipes themselves, according to minutes from a November 2018 meeting between HDR engineers and officials from the states prison and water quality departments.

The copper is coming from the plumbing, not the groundwater, an HDR engineer said in the meeting, in which an HHS official also said the state already has data that says the copper is coming from (the) pipes, according to the minutes.

Still, in the end, all parties agreed to move forward with a pilot project to examine the efficacy of the chemical injections, indicating chemical treatment of the water was the surest feasible path forward.

State officials rejected the proposal to line the pipes with the epoxy barrier after studies performed elsewhere suggested that it could bring changes in water color and a slight plastic taste, according to the minutes.

The DHHS and NDCS dont want changes in color or taste, even if the water is perfectly safe to drink, a state health official said in the 2018 meeting.

Years of delays

Though the department decided in late 2018 to move forward with its plan to inject chemicals into the prisons water on a test basis, contractors didnt start feeding orthophosphate and chlorine into the water at the prisons test site until March 2021, according to emails between HDR engineers and HHS officials.

Before the pilot could begin, pandemic-related supply chain disruptions and two failed bidding processes caused the Department of Correctional Services to requir(e) more time than anticipated, HDR officials said in a letter to HHS.

And the implementation of a facility-wide chemical injection system  which was the ultimate goal of the pilot project  was delayed by at least six months after the early results of the chemical test showed that water samples taken from one test site actually contained higher copper levels than before the water was treated with the chemicals, according to the letter.

In a November 2021 report detailing the results of the pilot study, HDR engineers described challenges in the evaluation of the test results, including inaccuracies with gauges that made it impossible for operators to determine how much of each chemical they were actually injecting into the water.

For the first month of the study, operators hadnt injected any chlorine into the test sites water supply at all after a relief valve was erroneously left open, meaning a month of the partial system test was lost, engineers said in the report.

The engineers also noted the prison staffs unfamiliarity with the chemical injection equipment and water quality sampling procedures as a reason for the studys delay.

HDR engineers nonetheless recommended that the prison move forward with a full-scale implementation of the chemical feed system to treat the facilitys entire water supply, recommending the prison consider hiring a third party that specializes in drinking water systems to operate the one at the York prison  a step that the department did not take as it moved forward with the chemical injections.

Contractors finished constructing the full-scale chemical feed system in May 2022, according to a letter from HDR. The work cost the state $145,234.

After a final inspection and approval from the Department of Environment and Energy  and more than seven years after the 2014 sample had high copper levels  the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women started treating its full water supply with orthophosphate and chlorine in June 2022.

In the years between when the prison began exploring a corrosion control study and when the full-scale chemical treatments were implemented, water samples collected from the facility continued to contain high concentrations of copper. Samples collected in July 2020, December 2020 and June 2021 all had higher concentrations of copper than federal regulations allow for.

As brown as brewed tea

Though copper levels recorded in prison water samples started to decrease in July 2021  before the prison actually implemented the chemical treatment of the water  and decreased substantially after the treatment began, the facilitys water issues remain unsolved, according to public records and inmate accounts.

Christian Henderson, a transgender man incarcerated at the prison who has filed more than a dozen grievances or other written complaints over water quality, access and general sanitation issues in the past three years, began raising concerns with prison officials in November 2021, according to documents he provided.

He filed his initial grievance form around the same time that the state began piloting its routine chemical injections, imploring officials to provide free bottled water for the incarcerated population.

In a written response to Henderson, prison administrators said the water quality is perfectly fine for drinking, and there is nothing wrong with the water.

Henderson filed 17 more grievances and interview request forms between December 2021 and April 2023 over water quality, access to drinking water and timely water testing results, according to the documents.

In April, the facility's then-maintenance supervisor called Eric Cox, a Department of Environment and Energy water system inspector, and asked him to investigate the issue following complaints of discoloration and sediment, according to an inspection summary filed by Cox and posted on his departments public records portal.

Coxs summary noted the same discoloration and attributed it to iron pipes in the facility's water system reacting to the chlorination, noting higher amounts of iron and manganese in (the) water.

The prison had previously issued a health advisory in 2020 over high levels of manganese in the water.

Coxs April report also noted black sediment appearing in the prisons drinking fountain water  which is filtered through the reverse osmosis systems meant to ensure such water is safe for consumption.

Chlorine is affecting the treatment of (the reverse osmosis) device and deteriorating the filters, he said, adding that reverse osmosis filtering could be discontinued and that the facility's chemical feed schedule may need to be adjusted.

Coxs report suggests the reverse osmosis systems and the chemical injection system  the prisons two recent attempts to address the historically high levels of copper  have been working against each other.

The chemical injection system appears to pump inconsistent levels of chlorine and orthophosphate into the prisons water supply, according to monthly chemical reports. The inconsistencies sometimes lead to excess orthophosphate, which the Department of Environment and Energy acknowledged can lead to aesthetic issues like turbidity or color.

It stains our sinks, said Henderson, who is incarcerated in the prisons North Hall, where he said he was constantly cleaning the sink because it is being stained brown by the facilitys water.

In a November phone call from inside the prison, Henderson described the composition of the facilitys water by referring to a bottle he had filled from the sink inside his cell.

Right now, its been sitting on the shelf for a good 24 hours, and the water is perfectly clear, he said, describing sediment that had settled at the bottom of the bottle.

If I shake it, he said, itll be as brown as brewed tea.

An Oct. 4 maintenance report obtained through a public records request noted that one sink in a North Hall cell fills with black/dirty water when the adjacent room uses their sink. The issue, which was the subject of a work order, had not been fixed as of Nov. 29, the latest date for which a maintenance report was available.

Though Henderson said inmates arent made to drink the water from their cells sinks, he said those incarcerated in North Hall  unlike other housing units  are locked in their cells for 12 to 14 hours a day, unable to access water filtered through a reverse osmosis system, leaving some inmates with little choice but to store bottled water in their cells for the hourslong lockdown periods.

I survive off $50 in an entire month, Henderson said. I cannot afford to purchase bottled water.

Since the reverse osmosis systems were implemented, the prison has not provided incarcerated individuals with bottled water for free anywhere in the prison, the inmates said  not even when well maintenance work left the facility reliant on water from a 1930s-era backup well for weeks this fall.

Staff members, meanwhile, are allowed to bring outside water into the prison for their shifts, inmates said.

One woman incarcerated at the prison took inmates' pleas for change to federal court in late November.

In a lawsuit, Valeisha Walker wrote that the facilitys water has been coming out brown and questioned how the prison had been accredited by independent auditors if we are living in these conditions, according to the suit, which names Folts-Oberle, the prisons warden, as the respondent. The case has not yet had a hearing.

"Some of the inmates are getting sick" with a bacterial infection, H. pylori, Walker also wrote, naming one woman who had been hospitalized recently for another illness: inflammatory colitis, or inflammation of the colon.

Eleven women separately said that they had tested positive for H. pylori while incarcerated at the prison. The infection, which can cause anything from no symptoms to gastric cancer, can be caused by contaminated water but is more often spread person to person.

Urbanovsky, the Department of Correctional Services spokeswoman, did not directly respond to questions over how many inmates at the York prison have tested positive for H. pylori this year, saying the infection is not a mandated reportable infection.

Theyre allowing things to break down

Months after Coxs inspection of the prisons water system, a separate inspection of the prisons primary water well in late September revealed critical issues with the wells lining and bowl assembly that prompted emergency repairs in early October, according to emails between prison staff and Department of Environment and Energy employees posted to the departments public records portal.

The $56,052 maintenance on the prisons primary well forced it to rely on a 1930s-era backup wells nonpotable water for bathing, hand-washing, laundry and nearly every use except drinking. Prison occupants had to use the water filtered through the facilitys six reverse osmosis systems for drinking and food preparation.

We would stand in line all night just for water, said Antwanique Crawford, who has been incarcerated in York since January 2022, and who said the water from the system in her housing unit was dripping out at a slow pace, while the prison relied on a backup well that an engineer from the Department of Environment and Energy had recommended be replaced in an email from August.

A Department of Environment and Energy spokesperson pointed to this recent maintenance on the water system, which can dislodge built-up iron and manganese, as a possible explanation for any potential aesthetic issues with the water, but public records and inmate accounts suggest the problem started long before this most recent maintenance.

The prison has spent at least $389,514 on water system maintenance, filter installations and other efforts to address the facilitys water issues since 2018. And the Department of Correctional Services has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on general facility maintenance at the womens prison over the past three years, according to the departments latest operating budget request.

But when the department made its most recent budget request to the Legislature in 2022, officials sought hundreds of thousands of fewer dollars for maintenance than had been spent in previous years.

Urbanovsky, the departments communications director, said it is difficult to estimate the amount of repairs that a facility will require, when budget requests are created.

Now that the work has been completed, the facility should only need to complete regular preventative maintenance to the system.

Still, internal inspections of the prisons facilities  documented in weekly reports  provide a window into the prisons general state of disrepair and suggest that maintenance issues often go unresolved for weeks, if not months or longer.

In the weekly reports, obtained through a records request, prison staff have sought repairs for dozens of issues, including a cooler not cooling in the facilitys kitchen, ongoing sewer problems in North Hall, broken toilets in a housing unit known as The Bay, baseboards falling off the walls in the facilitys canteen and the need for a new ceiling in the laundry room and a new floor in the property unit.

Theyre not fixing the things that we need fixed, said Miller, who lives in The Bay and described the same broken toilets in a November phone call that prison staff noted in reports as far back as January.

Theyre allowing things to break down, she said.

The prison sought a $200,000 renovation of the showers in North Hall in a September 2022 budget request meant to address mold, among other issues. A quarterly inspection in September 2023 suggested that the showers still had not been renovated.

The mounting maintenance needs at the York facility come as the state moves forward with the construction of a $350 million mens prison in Lincoln, even as the inmates in the state's only women's prison say that their concerns over the condition of the facility, its water and the populations health needs are often ignored.

They dont do anything about peoples health until its too late, said Janessa Arias, who tested positive for H. pylori in October and who pointed to the 2021 death of Nicole Wetherell, who died of cervical cancer while incarcerated at the facility after prison health officials failed to provide her a Pap smear for nearly a decade.

It shouldn't take someone losing their life for them to believe something is going on with our bodies if were saying something, Arias said.

The states Inspector General for the Department of Correctional Services faulted the prison system for Wetherells death in an October 2022 report that highlighted gaps in preventative care and an antiquated medical records system that runs afoul of state law.

Six months after Wetherells death at the prison, Amanda Nelson, who was incarcerated in York from September 2020 to September 2022, wrote a letter to the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy  yet another inmate to raise alarm to government officials about stomach issues at the facility.

She sought an explanation of the prisons water testing practices. She warned that she wouldnt forget about the letter nor let the prisons water issues go unaddressed. And she signed the handwritten note with her name, inmate ID number and an explanation for her urgency.

Thank you, she wrote. Myself and other females are sick of always feeling sick.

About this report We spent months talking to incarcerated individuals and their families, filed numerous public records requests and reviewed hundreds of documents to tell this story. Support local journalism and consider subscribing to the Lincoln Journal Star or the York News-Times.

Photos: Nebraska's new Reception and Treatment Center
YORK  In early October, Janessa Arias, who is incarcerated at the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women, said that she began experiencing stomach pains and a burning in her throat, which she initially passed off as an upset stomach. But after hearing that other women at the facility had tested positive for a bacterial infection called H. pylori, she decided to take a test.

Her results came back positive, Arias said. She said that her health care provider told her that she didnt know how (she) got it.

Arias is among 11 women who told the York News-Times that they had tested positive for Helicobacter pylori, or H pylori, while incarcerated at the womens prison  some years ago and at least seven in 2023, including one Dec. 18. Nebraska Department of Corrections spokesperson Dayne Urbanovsky did not respond to a question about how many women at the facility had tested positive for H. pylori in 2023.

Urbanovsky said that H. pylori is not considered a mandatory reportable disease, meaning that cases of the disease do not have to be reported to the state.

In November, Valeisha Walker filed a federal lawsuit in which she said that "some of the inmates are getting sick" with H. pylori. She also mentioned one woman, Holly Green, who had been hospitalized recently for another illness, inflammatory colitis  inflammation of the colon. Green had separately told the News-Times about her illness.

Priscilla Camacho, who said she tested positive in November, said the spread of H pylori is not something that just started. It has been going on. Diane Holbrook, for instance, said that she arrived at the prison in 2014 and since then has tested positive three separate times. Individuals can become infected with H. pylori more than once.

Women at the prison have described a range of symptoms due to H pylori, including cramps, bloating, constipation and general stomach pain. Areli Aragon, who tested positive in January, said she felt ashamed and dirty when she tested positive, comparing it to a sexually transmitted infection.

H. pylori infects about half of the world's population and is more prevalent in low or middle income countries, according to Katia Martinez, a health communication specialist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It causes anything from no symptoms to gastric cancer, she said.

H. pylori can be treated with antibiotics and stomach acid reducers, according to Jeff Powell, director of communications for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

Powell said that although H. pylori is not considered reportable, meaning individual infections do not have to be reported, all outbreaks are considered reportable.

An outbreak is defined as an increase of disease among a specific population in a geographic area during a specific period of time, Powell said, adding that H. Pylori outbreaks are rare. On Jan. 3, he said that there was no outbreak reported at the York prison.

Still, some women at the prison remain concerned by the number of positive cases for H. pylori. They are trying to understand why, as they claim, it is actively spreading. Jill Walker, for instance, said that she tested positive on Dec. 19 after testing negative in October.

Incarcerated individuals have been raising concerns about stomach issues at the prison for a while, often in connection to the water. In August 2021, Amanda Nelson wrote to the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, which monitors the water at the prison, asking about the water testing at the facility and saying that she had stomach problems. An endoscopy, she said, had found my stomach lining all red and inflamed.

Nelson also wrote that during the time she had been there  less than a year  a few women had had their gallbladders removed. Three women incarcerated at the prison told the News-Times they have had their gallbladders removed while at the prison, and in 2006 a woman unsuccessfully sued prison staff for failing to treat her abdominal pain for five years, alleging, among other things, that the prison had removed her gallbladder for no reason.

NDEE responded to Nelsons letter by explaining that drinking water systems with high levels of copper, such as the prisons water system at the time of Nelsons letter, could cause gastrointestinal issues in certain individuals.

The facility has since reduced its copper levels, but women have continued to complain about gastrointestinal issues.

In her 2021 letter, Nelson also mentioned a case of H. pylori. Water is not a common source for infection of H pylori, according to Powell and Martinez. Person-to-person transmission is more common, Powell said.

In addition, Martinez said that H. pylori is sensitive to common water treatment methods, so it should not be a problem in properly treated water supplies. The womens prison, for instance, chlorinates its water, which would kill pathogens if present, a Department of Environment and Energy spokesperson said.

But some research has indicated that contaminated drinking or well water is linked to H pylori infections, Martinez said. The water at the womens prison is not tested for H. pylori, according to the state Department of Environment and Energy.

Urbanovsky noted that the water at the prison is tested for total coliform bacteria, including E. coli. However, such tests do not accurately track H. pylori contamination, according to Martinez.

While it is not clear what is causing the spread of the bacterial infection, Martinez said that factors in a prison like overcrowding and poor sanitation could contribute.

Dr. Mark Rupp, chief of infectious diseases at the Nebraska Medical Center, agreed, saying, Seeing some sporadic cases in a population doesnt surprise me. If you were to see a clustering of persons above that baseline level, then you would start to have some concerns as to whats the hygienic practices within a facility, how crowded is the facility, how well is it cleaned.

Rupp could not give a specific number for that baseline, but he noted that if you had one or two people in a prison system that had helicobacter, that probably wouldnt give me a whole lot of concern. If I saw a handful, a dozen, then I would say something probably needs to be looked at there.

Regardless of how H. pylori is spreading, women said that it is hard to get tested for the infection. On Dec. 3 Rikki Morrow said that she had asked to be tested for H. pylori two weeks before. But on Dec. 21 she said that she had still not been tested, though she continued to experience symptoms.

Research suggests that women, and in particular women of color  who are overrepresented in Nebraska's prison population  face gender and racial bias when it comes to the treatment of their pain.

As of September the womens prison had three vacancies for licensed practical nurses. Taking into account each facilitys average daily population, this is the highest rate of licensed practical nurse vacancies of any state prison, according to the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services most recent quarterly population summary.

Its like pulling teeth to get seen, said Holly Liner, who said she has been at the prison for five years and said she tested positive for H. pylori on Dec. 8. Im sure there (are) worse things, she said about H. pylori, but I didnt have it until I came here.

The Journal Star's most memorable photos of 2023
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services confirmed Thursday that two pediatric deaths related to influenza have occurred in the state.

A pediatric death involves a person younger than 18. No additional information was available about the children. The state has recorded a total of three flu-related deaths for the current season.

One of the deaths occurred in the North Central District Health Department, which covers Antelope, Boyd, Brown, Cherry, Holt, Keya Paha, Knox, Pierce and Rock counties. No information was available on the other death.

Leah Bucco-White, a spokeswoman for the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department, said Lancaster County has not had a pediatric flu death so far this winter.

Nationally, 20 children have died from flu this season, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency estimates there have been at least 7.1 million illnesses, 73,000 hospitalizations, and 4,500 deaths from flu so far this season.

But the report comes as not just flu but also COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, continue to tick up in the state. While levels of all three are lower so far than the COVID-19 peak in 2021 and last year's surges in flu and RSV, data reporting appears to be delayed by the holidays. The impact of holiday gatherings and this week's post-holiday return to schools and workplaces is not yet clear.

Still, plenty of Nebraskans know someone who has been ill in recent days.

State health officials recommend that those with flu-like symptoms get tested and, if positive, start the anti-viral drug Tamiflu as early as possible. Tamiflu can be used to safely treat flu symptoms in infants as young as 2 weeks old. Another anti-viral drug, Paxlovid, is available for eligible people who test positive for COVID-19.

Statewide, positive flu tests were up by nearly 300 for the week ending Dec. 23, according to state data. However, the CDC indicated that flu activity in the state remained minimal at that time, while many states to the south were at high or very high levels.

RSV cases continued to increase last week in Nebraska but appeared to have hit a peak, according to state data for the week ending Dec. 23.

Positive COVID-19 tests in the state were similar to those for the same time last year, according to state data. The CDC tallied 268 new hospital admissions due to COVID-19 in Nebraska for the week ending Dec. 23, up 9.4% from the week before. Nationally, 29,000 new admissions were reported, up 16.7%.

Health officials also have been urging residents to get vaccinated if they're eligible. Uptake of the latest COVID-19 booster, released this fall, has been particularly low. Nationally, 7.8% of children and 18.3% of adults, including 37.4% of those age 65 and older, had gotten the updated COVID shot, according to the latest CDC data.

Americans have done better at getting flu shots  43.3% of children and 42.2% of adults, including 69.3% of those 65 and older, had received that vaccine. That shot is for everyone 6 months and older.

The Journal Star's most memorable photos of 2023
Today's other top stories include an arrest in the killing of a pregnant woman and her boyfriend in Texas, Trump and Biden planning events for Jan. 6 anniversary, and more.
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers said its unlikely an agreement will be reached with Republicans on new legislative district boundaries following the state Supreme Courts landmark ruling that existing maps are unconstitutional  which would leave the map-selection process in the hands of the states high court and its two court-appointed consultants.

The majority decision last month by the Wisconsin Supreme Court  penned by liberal Justice Jill Karofsky, who was joined by liberals Rebecca Dallet, Ann Walsh Bradley and Janet Protasiewicz  urged the Legislature to draw new maps but said the court will proceed toward adopting remedial maps in case the legislative process stalls or Evers vetoes any redistricting proposal.

Evers told the Wisconsin State Journal on Thursday he isnt holding out hope that legislative Republicans will send him boundaries he will be able to sign. Republicans have already asked the court to reconsider the ruling, which could delay the process. The court has said new maps must be in place for the August legislative primary.

I think its probably unlikely that they are going to have something for me to sign, Evers said. We are already ready to propose our maps to the Supreme Court.

The governor didnt provide specifics on the boundaries he plans to propose.

Were focusing on competitive races and hopefully we are successful on that  the largest number of competitive races possible, Evers said.

The offices of Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, did not respond to requests for comment this week on whether they planned to push new maps through the legislative process.

The majority opinion calls for new districts to be equally populated; be bounded by county, precinct, ward or town lines; include only contiguous territory; be as compact as possible; and comply with federal law. It also calls for preserving communities of interest, keeping municipalities whole and ensuring the new maps not favor one party over another.

The state Supreme Court opinion called on parties to propose new remedial maps and provide supporting briefs by Jan. 12, with response briefs due 10 days later.

Republicans asked the court to reconsider the ruling, saying in legal filings last week the states high 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.

Evers said its possible the matter ends up in federal court, but added, I dont think its going to matter. He noted that the U.S. Supreme Court in early 2022 rejected the governors maps and sent the matter back to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which ultimately adopted GOP-drawn boundaries.

If Evers and the Republican-controlled Legislature do not come to an agreement on legislative boundaries, the court will turn to maps submitted by parties in the case. Two court-hired redistricting consultants, University of California, Irvine political science professor Bernard Grofman and Carnegie Mellon University postdoctoral fellow Jonathan Cervas, will evaluate the maps by Feb. 1.

Grofman and Cervas will be paid an hourly rate of $450 and up to $100,000 each, though the state director of courts could increase that amount if deemed necessary, according to contracts filed with the court Thursday.

If none of the maps are determined to comply with the courts original opinion, the consultants will be able to submit their own boundaries.

From there, parties will have one week  until Feb. 8  to respond to the experts report.

Wisconsin Elections Commission officials have said new maps will need to be finalized by about mid-March in order to have ballots ready for the August legislative primary.
Nearly three months ago, a Charlotte County, Florida judge told Lisa Marok that if she didn't renounce her Second Amendment rights, give up her Florida Concealed Weapon or Firearm License and remove every single firearm and every single round of ammunition from her home, her husband would be sent to a state prison for 19 months. If she complied and relinquished her civil rights and her firearms, her husband would walk out of the courtroom a free man.

"You have a choice," Circuit Judge Shannon H. McFee told her. "Your husband or your guns."

Critics  and there were more than a few  described Judge McFee's decision as illegal, unconstitutional and possibly even criminal.

A story published in October revealed how Lisa Marok's husband, Ralph Marok, shot his neighbor's home and Mercury Montego in April 2022. No one was injured during the late-night shooting.

Charlotte County Sheriff's Office deputies seized all of the firearms from Marok's home, not just those involved in the shooting. Many of the firearms belonged to Lisa Marok and the couple's son, Thomas Marok. .....
Harvey recorded the most homicides of any Cook County suburb last year, although that city saw a slight decline from its 2022 total, according to the Cook County medical examiners office.

Preliminary data from the medical examiners office show 13 homicides were recorded in Harvey last year compared with 15 in 2022, while Chicago Heights and Dolton each had a dozen homicides last year. Harvey had 31 homicides in 2021.

Eleven homicides were reported in Riverdale last year and six in Calumet City, according to information from the medical examiners office and tracked by the Daily Southtown.

By comparison, 11 homicides were reported in 2022 in Dolton, nine in Riverdale and seven in Chicago Heights, according to the medical examiners office.

There were four homicides reported last year in Country Club Hills and Markham, and three each in Calumet Park, Posen, Sauk Village and South Holland, according to the data.

Two homicides were reported in 2023 in Alsip, Burbank, Ford Heights, Homewood and Lansing, and one each in Blue Island, Burbank, Crestwood, Evergreen Park, Glenwood, Hazel Crest, Justice, Oak Forest, Oak Lawn, Park Forest, Phoenix, Robbins and Worth.

Of the 828 homicides countywide investigated last year by the medical examiners office, 729 were gun related and 651 occurred in Chicago, according to the medical examiner.

The office said 92 homicide victims were under the age of 18 in 2023, and 15 were younger than 10.

Overall, homicides in Cook County last year were down from the peak of 1,094 recorded in 2021 and lower than the 962 investigated by the office in 2022, the office reported.

Last year 76% of homicide victims in Cook County were African American, and males accounted for 84% of all homicide victims in the county last year, according to the office.

The youngest homicide victim locally in 2023 was a Park Forest girl, 5-year-old Jada Moore, who was alleged to have beaten over a period of time by her grandparents.

In July, Klent Elwoods and his wife, Lisa Jones, were ordered held without bond after being charged in the girls death, and prosecutors allege the pair began beating the child in their Park Forest home shortly after they began caring for her last March.

Prosecutors said they used a belt, shoe and their hands to beat the girl over a period of time, causing extensive injuries to her brain.

In some instances, arrests were made and charges filed shortly after the homicides, including one of five homicides recorded last year in Matteson.

Two Lansing residents  Jamaine Rush and India Williams  were charged with first-degree murder in the April shooting death of an 18-year-old Justice woman, Kyla Precious Ankum, in Matteson.

In one of three homicides recorded last year in South Holland a 16-year-old girl, Daysha Cazley, of Whiting, Indiana, was fatally shot in March at a hotel, and an Olympia Fields woman, Kennisha Laing, 21, was arrested and charged.

In the single homicide last year in Worth, two Harvey residents  Tamara Jailynn Johnson and Jason Terry Johnson  were ordered held in the Nov. 4 shooting death of single mother Jonnie Angel Klein, 31, of Oak Lawn.

The mother of a 14-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter, she was shot while using an ATM at a bank branch in Worth.

In some instances, months can pass between a homicide and arrests.

In November 2023, Calumet City police announced two men were charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death a year earlier of a security guard at River Oaks Center mall.

Norman Thomas, a 57-year-old U.S. Army veteran from Blue Island, was gunned down during the Nov. 16, 2022, armed robbery of a jewelry store at the mall. Frank Adkins and Maxx Walker are being held in the Cook County Jail on first-degree murder charges.

Messages left with police in Chicago Heights, Dolton and Harvey seeking information about 2023 homicides and any arrests and charges filed were not returned.

mnolan@tribpub.com
1. Yes. It will be convenient and the fares are cheap. I plan to use the transit system often.

2. Yes. I have a vehicle, but I may still use the service now and then, especially in bad weather.

3. No. I dont use the current bus service, and I dont plan to use the micro-transit service either.

4. No. It may be fine in town, but it still involves a transfer for longer trips. That wont work.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say. It depends on how well the service works once its in place.

Vote

View Results
A UW-La Crosse students research on brine has led to a more budget-friendly and earth-friendly snow removal solution for campus this winter.

Casey Christ learned of the impact of salt contamination on aquatic life during a fall 2022 class project. In the communication and civic engagement class, she also learned about using brine as an alternative to rock salt, one of UW-Ls primary methods for removing snow and ice in winter months. Switching to brine reduces the amount of salt needed on sidewalks, parking lots and roads, saving money and reducing water contamination from salt runoff.

All my life Ive grown up thinking salt was a normal and necessary part of Midwestern winters. But the more I learned about the long list of issues its use creates, the more I knew something needed to change in La Crosse, and that I had to take this a step further than a class research project, says Christ.

Although salt is a natural part of the environment, too much salt comes with an environmental cost. Salt applied to roads and sidewalks hangs around after the snow melts, leaching into lakes, rivers and groundwater. Over the years, these freshwater systems have become saltier, and thats a problem for wildlife. It takes only one teaspoon of salt to pollute five gallons of water to a level this is toxic to native aquatic organisms.

The Mississippi River and the marsh are home to hundreds of unique species that are harmed every winter we continue to overuse road salt, not to mention the havoc it wreaks on infrastructure and human health, says Christ. La Crosse County and the UW-L campus use a lot of it. Through my extensive research, I discovered the steps that other universities in Wisconsin had implemented to mitigate salt use, and I knew La Crosse needed to follow suit.

Christs research is just one example of research that emerges from the Communication Studies course, where students complete a civic engagement project. They are tasked with identifying a community problem, conducting extensive community research and developing a plan to address it. At the culmination of the semester, students present their plan to community stakeholders.

Campus embraces brine

Christ shared her findings about rock salt contamination with stakeholders on campus including UW-Ls Sustainability Manager Andrew Ericson and Director of Facilities Management Scott Brown. The group looked into brine as a less-salty alternative. And, in the spring of 2023, UW-L Facilities Management invested in new brine equipment.

We have very driven students on this campus who are looking for ways to make a difference for their community and for the environment, says Ericson. It was so impressive to see how Casey championed this initiative that she cared about.

Facilities management purchased two Hilltip Spray Strikers, which have GPS tracking that controls the rate that brine comes out, along with a 1,200-gallon storage tank where brine will be stored in bulk. Brine will be purchased from La Crosse County, an early adopter of brine.

Facilities Management is always trying to improve the sustainability of our operations. Brine was a win both financially and environmentally, says Brown. We are looking forward to the challenges and opportunities of this new method of winter maintenance.

Ericson says the initiative to bring brine to campus is an example of how sustainability intersects with UW-Ls strategic plan to provide transformational education and community engagement.

We are always looking to improve sustainability efforts across the campus as UW-L aims to be a leader in sustainability in our region, says Ericson. When it comes to sustainability, we can think of campus as a living lab to apply whats taught in our classrooms. But sometimes we need a champion for those efforts, and we are very grateful that Casey stepped up.

Brine is salty water that is used for snow removal. If you have ever seen faint white stripes on driving lanes, then youve seen brine in action. A 23.3% NaCl solution, brine works in the same way that rock salt does, but it has many added benefits.

Why brine?

It reduces the amount of salt applied, which saves money and prevents water contamination.

It sticks to where it is placed and is not subject to being moved around like rock salt

It prevents snow/ice from adhering to the pavement surface if applied before a winter storm. This makes removal easier.

It works quicker than rock salt. Rock salt needs to become brine on the pavement surface, and then it will start working. Using brine from the start accelerates the process.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates  The Islamic State group claimed responsibility Thursday for two suicide bombings targeting a commemoration for an Iranian general slain in a 2020 U.S. drone strike, the worst militant attack to strike Iran in decades as the wider Middle East remains on edge.

Experts who follow the group confirmed that the statement, circulated online among jihadists, came from the extremists, who likely hope to take advantage of the chaos gripping the region amid Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken headed to the region for the fourth time in three months on a tour expected to focus largely on easing resurgent fears that the Israel-Hamas war could erupt into a broader conflict.

With international criticism of Israel's operations in Gaza mounting, growing U.S. concerns about the end game, and more immediate worries about a recent explosion in attacks in the Red Sea, Lebanon, Iran and Iraq, Blinken will have a packed and difficult agenda.

We dont expect every conversation on this trip to be easy," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said. "There are obviously tough issues facing the region and difficult choices ahead. But the secretary believes it is the responsibility of the United States of America to lead diplomatic efforts to tackle those challenges head on, and hes prepared to do that in the days to come.

Blinken was scheduled to leave late Thursday on his latest extended Mideast tour, which will take him to Turkey, Greece, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the West Bank and Egypt.

Wednesday's attack in Kerman, Iran, killed at least 84 people and wounded an additional 284. It targeted a ceremony honoring Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani, held as an icon by supporters of the country's theocracy and viewed by the U.S. military as a deadly foe who aided militants who killed American troops in Iraq.

On Thursday, chunks of asphalt appeared missing from the roadway where one bomb went off, suggesting the bomb was packed with shrapnel to increase its deadly effects. Another spot still bore congealed blood from the wounded.

"The moment I turned around to tell my husband's sister, 'Let's go to the square,' the bomb exploded," 38-year-old Mahdieh Sazmand told The Associated Press from her Kerman hospital bed. "If we were just 10 steps further we would have been right over the bomb."

The Islamic State group claim said the bombers carried out the attacks with explosive vests. It also used disparaging language when discussing Shiites, which the Islamic State group views as heretics.

The group likely hoped to see Iran strike at Israel, widening its war on Hamas into a regional conflict that Islamic State could potentially take advantage of, said Aaron Y. Zelin, a senior fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

"This falls under the modus operandi of IS, especially since it was such a mass casualty attack," Zelin said. "They are kind of like the Joker. They want to see the world burn. They don't care how it happens as long as it benefits them."

The Islamic State group previously claimed a June 2017 attack in Tehran on parliament and a mausoleum of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini that killed at least 18 people and wounded more than 50. The group has claimed two other assaults as well.

The extremist group, which once held vast territory across Iraq and Syria in a self-described caliphate it declared in 2014, ultimately were beaten back by U.S.-led forces. It has been in disarray in the years since, though it has mounted major assaults.

In neighboring Afghanistan, for instance, the Islamic State group is believed to have grown in strength since the fall of the Western-backed government there to the Taliban in 2021.

The claim came as the extremists separately called on supporters around the world to avenge the bloodshed in the Gaza Strip by attacking Christians and Jews. The group also criticized Palestinian factions for allying with Iran, saying that Tehran has taken advantage of the situation to appear as the defender of Palestinians.

Iranian government officials did not immediately acknowledge the claim, though state media reported on it. Officials indirectly blamed Israel for the attack and in Kerman on Thursday, passers-by stepped on signs bearing the image of the Israeli flag with the slogan "Death to Israel" written in Farsi across them.

The Iranian state media reports gave new distances for how far apart the blasts happened, describing them as occurring about a mile and about 1 miles away from Soleimani's crypt. The official said the bombers likely chose the locations because they were outside of the security perimeter for the commemoration.

An earlier death toll of 103 was twice revised lower after officials realized that some names were repeated on a list of victims and due to the severity of wounds suffered by some of the dead, health authorities said. Many of the wounded were in critical condition, however, so the death toll could rise.

Today in history: Jan. 4 1935: Franklin D. Roosevelt 1948: Burma 1964: Pope Paul VI 1974: Richard Nixon 1987: Amtrak 1999: Jesse Ventura 1999: The Euro 2006: Ariel Sharon 2007: Nancy Pelosi 2012: Richard Cordray 2013: Cotton Bowl. 2015: Pope Francis 2017: Obamacare 2018: The Dow Jones Industrial Average 2021: Donald Trump 2021: Julian Assange
The city of Elgin has become another temporary suburban stop for migrants being sent across the country from southern border towns.

As has been the case in other communities, buses have dropped off asylum seekers at local Metra train stations so they can be transported the landing zones set up in Chicago to receive them.

The most recent group, 33 people from a planeload of 350 who landed in Rockford on New Years Eve, arrived in Elgin Sunday morning and boarded a 9:55 a.m. Metra train to the city, Elgin Mayor Dave Kaptain said.

Nobody saw them in Elgin. They didnt contact anyone here, he said.

City officials became aware of them only when a Metra conductor contacted the Kane County Office of Emergency Management to alert them to the situation, Kaptain said. We would never have known (otherwise), he said.

It was the third time in recent weeks that migrants have made the trip to Chicago after being brought to an Elgin train station, the mayor said. Each time, they have been dropped off, walked a few hundred feet to the catch train and left, he said.

Its really been very low-key, Kaptain said.

Texas has been sending migrants to sanctuary cities around the country for months, but Elgins not one of them.

We are not a sanctuary city, Kaptain said, and Elgin hasnt received federal funding to assist migrants.

Officials for Gov. JB Pritzker have talked about Elgin being a possible migrant housing site, but the city doesnt have the means to accommodate them, he said.

We dont have enough hotel space. It would be too difficult, he said. We are just a pass-through community, and I want to make that as easy as possible.

That said, the city does have an emergency plan should migrants arrive in the city without any recourse, he said.

We dont want them dumped off without a place to go, he said. If they have train tickets, well make sure they get on the train. If they come during off-hours (when a train isnt scheduled) or are left standing in the cold, we will have a place to shelter them until they can get on the train the next day.

So far, we havent had any incidents, but we are prepared to deal with it, he said said.

Some council members have broached the idea of an ordinance similar to those passed in other suburbs that would prohibit bus operators from dropping off migrants if they dont provide advance notice, the mayor said, but he prefers to view the situation from a human perspective.

I dont want people to be outside in the cold and be dumped off, he said. Personally, I dont know why I would vote for an ordinance for a problem thats not there yet.  Until the plan fails, well stick with what we are doing.

Although it is not dealing with migrants directly, Elgin did receive $1.3 million in state funding to help with migrant situation last year. The money was distributed to Food for Greater Elgin, Well Child Center and Centro de Informacion, a Hispanic social service agency that can certify migrants seeking asylum.

Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
ATLANTA  Citing gun violence in the U.S., the deaths of families in Ukraine and Gaza from war, and threats from artificial intelligence, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.s daughter said the world urgently needs to study and adopt her father's philosophy of nonviolence to avoid self-destruction.

The Rev. Bernice King used an address Thursday to announce events for the upcoming holiday in honor of her father to warn that humanity was at a critical juncture.

We are witnessing unprecedented loss of human life and especially among the Black, brown and indigenous people throughout the world," she said.

She also mentioned conflicts in Yemen, Congo and Ethiopia and cited racism against Black people as another threat to humans, saying it remained a blight more than 50 years after her father was assassinated.

Overall, humanity was dangerously close to fulfilling her father's prophecy that it could destroy itself through the misuse of its own instruments, she warned. But she also offered a solution.

The study and practice of her father's philosophy of nonviolence could teach people how to live together peacefully, she said. The events the King Center has planned this year for the week leading up to the MLK holiday, including a teach-in and training seminars, are therefore centered on the theme of shifting "the cultural climate through Kingian nonviolence.

We face individual and collective choices that will determine whether we will continue to diminish and devastate humanity and the earth or if we will become co-conspirators to shift the cultural climate throughout our nation and world," she said.

King said the center also plans to honor her mother, Coretta Scott King, with a virtual exhibit later this year that will highlight her work to advance civil rights and her husband's legacy.

5 films to watch for MLK Day Brother John, 1971 Sidney Poitier, arguably American cinemas most-influential Black actor, died Jan. 6 at 94. Even after his death, "Brother John" is Poitiers most-overlooked film. The story of John Kane returning to his little hometown in rural Alabama is a tale of pain, suppressed rage and a fate all of us may face because of our inhumanity to one another. Poitiers pivotal scene with co-star Will Geer is one of the best in all of cinema. 13th, 2016 Want to feel a tad uncomfortable? Want to explore how some rights can be used as a way to disenfranchise people? Watch Ava DuVernays documentary "13th" about our prison system and the 13th Amendment. MLK/FBI, 2020 Everyone claims the cuddly, generic legacy of MLK these days, but there was a time when powerful forces in this country believed he was a dangerous radical. Others claimed he was under Soviet influence. The documentary "MLK/FBI" captures an overlooked, important part of history. I am Not Your Negro, 2016 Based on an unfinished manuscript from writer and activist James Baldwin, the documentary "I am Not Your Negro" offers us the voices of the people who fought for civil rights and paid dearly in the effort to stand for others. In the Heat of the Night, 1967 A must-watch. "In the Heat of the Night" was not played in many theaters throughout the South. Why? Because Sidney Poitiers Virgil Tibbs raised his voice to the Sparta police chief played by Rod Steiger. An incredible score from Quincy Jones, as well as strong supporting performances from Warren Oates and Lee Grant.
With fangs that could pierce a human fingernail, the largest male specimen of the world's most venomous arachnid has found a new home at the Australian Reptile Park, where it will help save lives after a member of the public discovered it by chance.
Certain Hyundai and Kia models saw a 10-fold increase in thefts in just the past three years, a wildly dramatic increase in the wake of a series of social media posts showing people how to steal the vehicles.

Theft insurance claims for vulnerable Hyundais and Kias increased more than 1,000% between the first half of 2020 and the first half of 2023, according to data from the Highway Loss Data Institute, an industry group that tracks insurance statistics.

In the first half of 2020, roughly 1.6 out of every 1,000 insured Hyundais and Kias were reported stolen. That was about the same as for all other makes of cars. By the first half of 2023, though, that figure had risen to 11.2 per 1,0000. Meanwhile, the theft rate for all other makes of cars stayed about the same.

During the first half of 2023, Hyundai and Kia theft claims were also more than seven times higher than for cars from other manufacturers, according to the HLDI.

Certain older Hyundai and Kia models made between 2015 to 2019 are particularly vulnerable to car thieves. Less-expensive versions of vehicles such as the Hyundai Santa Fe and Tucson and the Kia Forte and Sportage equipped with turn-key ignitions  as opposed to cars that only require a button press to start  are roughly twice as likely to be stolen as other vehicles of a similar age.

Many of these vehicles lack some of the basic auto theft prevention technology, such as electronic immobilizers, included in most other vehicles even in those years, according to the HLDI. Electronic immobilizers rely on a computer chip in the car and another in the key that communicate to confirm that the key is authentic and really belongs to that vehicle.

Hyundai and Kia operate as separate companies in the United States, but Hyundai Motor Group owns a large stake in Kia, and various Hyundai and Kia models share much of their engineering. More recent models are less vulnerable to theft.

Some states, such as New York, Washington and Delaware, had marked increases in Hyundai and Kia theft claims during the first half of last year, according to HLDI data. In Maryland, for example, theft claims increased from four per 1,000 insured vehicles in the last half of 2022 to 14 in the first half of 2023.

The method of theft, which involves using the metal tip of a USB cable to start the car, spread through social media, especially TikTok.

Vandalism claims also soared for the afflicted Hyundais and Kias, peaking at three times the rate of other vehicles on the market in the first half of 2023, the HLDI said. The spike was likely the result of failed theft attempts, it added.

Presumably, the rapid increase in thefts is tied to broader awareness of the vulnerability and techniques for exploiting it, said Matt Moore, senior vice president at HLDI. While the theft trend initially spread on social media, traditional media stories about the trend also carry information how vulnerable these vehicles. But media coverage can also serve to let people know there are ways to protect their vehicles.

I think at this point, like its its important to help consumers understand, the folks who own these vehicles that have the vulnerability, that there there is a remedy that that is available, he said.

Earlier this year, Hyundai and Kia agreed to a $200 million settlement with as many as 9 million vehicle owners to settle claims that the automakers didnt do enough to make the vehicles secure. Along with payments for stolen and damaged vehicles, the settlement also included installation of anti-theft software and the costs of other theft-preventative measures.

The issue has become so prevalent that some auto insurers in certain markets have simply refused to cover these older Hyundai and Kia models, something insurers dont often do.

Both automakers pointed to the steps they have taken to provide anti-theft equipment and technologies to customers. They have also worked with local police to distribute steering locks to owners of these models.

Kia continues to take significant steps to support our customers in response to criminals using methods of theft promoted and popularized on social media to steal or attempt to steal certain vehicle models, Kia spokesman James Bell said as part of a lengthy statement detailing steps the company has taken. He urged eligible customers to install the software upgrade that his Kia rolled out earlier this year.

Hyundai said it has also set up temporary service centers in a number of major cities to install anti-theft software in vehicles.

10 most commonly stolen car models in every state Vehicle thefts by state Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Kansas Kentucky Louisiana lowa Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington DC West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
On Dec. 13 the city of Chicago amended a bus safety ordinance, threatening to tow and impound buses that refuse to comply with the safety protocols by dropping passengers off late at night, or dropping migrant passengers off at a designated landing zone.

In the weeks following, more than 5,000 migrants were dropped off in surrounding municipalities prompting several suburbs like Rosemont, Cicero and more recently Hinsdale, to pass similar ordinances cracking down on rogue buses.

Since Dec. 14 the DuPage County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (OHSEM) tracked 72 buses dropping off 2,988 migrant passengers across the county leaving local authorities scrambling to organize transportation efforts to the designated landing zone in Chicago.

The OHSEM has been the lead coordinator between DuPage, its communities and neighboring counties, DuPage County Board Chair Deborah Conroy said in an interview with Pioneer Press.

So far, weve been very fortunate, weve had no incidents, you know, its all been done very, very well, Conroy said. Our partnership with the other collar counties emergency managers has been amazing, law enforcement, Metra police, everybodys working together.

In an email response to questions from Pioneer Press, DuPage County officials said OHSEM is collaborating with local municipalities, police departments, Metra police, and its collar county and Chicago colleagues in keeping open lines of communication as buses arrive to ensure all asylum-seekers can get to Chicagos landing zone as quickly as possible.

Illinois has a single landing zone for migrants at 800 S. Desplaines Street, near the citys Ogilvie Transportation Center, and Union Station where many of the migrants are sent to from the suburbs.

This has become a humanitarian issue, Conroy said. These folks primarily, young families are on these buses, many of them get off at these Metra stations and dont even understand theyre not in Chicago yet, have to get on a train and then take the train into the city. The governor [of Texas] has chosen to play politics with peoples lives.

According to DuPage County officials, all of the migrant bus arrivals have been unannounced.

Gov. [Abbott], I think, premeditatedly planned this to try to cause chaos over the holidays, Conroy said, accusing the Texas Governor of targeting predominantly democratic areas.

Conroy requested Gov. J.B. Pritzker supply the county with buses in the event someone is dropped off away from a metra station, but expressed concern over statewide coordination efforts.

I dont think anybody, I dont think the press, I dont think the state, I dont think anybody knew what was going on here in DuPage County over the holidays.

Since August 2022, when Texas began busing migrants to Chicago, the city has recorded more than 29,000 people and 636 buses arriving.

The DuPage County Board has no plans to pass a similar ordinance as Chicagos, Conroy said. Its not the right thing to do; its not going to prevent folks from coming, its just going to create more chaos as to where theyre going to end up.
Chinese lawmakers recently entered a fierce online debate on whether fireworks should be used to celebrate the Lunar New year this February. They said a total ban on fireworks in the country credited with inventing the noisemakers would be hard to enforce.

Lawmakers said air pollution prevention and fire safety laws have led to "differences in understanding" of the ban on fireworks. However, it was never a total ban.

In 2017, official data showed 444 cities had banned fireworks. Since then, some of the cities have loosened the bans. They permit fireworks at certain times of the year and at special places.

This month, however, many counties made announcements banning fireworks, restarting discussion on the ban.

"We've the right to fireworks," wrote a user of Weibo, a popular Chinese online discussion service.

Chinese folklore says the earliest fireworks were invented 2,000 years ago to drive away the "nian. The nian, the story goes, was a monster that hunted people and animals before the Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival.

Since then, fireworks came to be used to celebrate other events. This January, after three years of COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, some people ignored bans - and officials - and set off firecrackers.

Some Chinese say the fireworks bans were necessary to protect the environment.

An online opinion study by the official Beijing Youth Daily found that over 80 percent of people supported fireworks during Spring Festival. The festival is the most important holiday on the Chinese calendar.

Some also said the ban was ironic after the United Nations recently named the Spring Festival an official holiday, a move supported by Chinese officials.

"The Spring Festival belongs to the world, but China's is almost gone," wrote another Weibo user.

Southern Hunan province is a worldwide supplier of fireworks. Its exports totaled $579 million from January to November, state media reported. That number is far greater than domestic sales.

Im Dan Novak.

Dan Novak adapted this Reuters report for VOA Learning English.

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Words in This Story

county n. the government for an area bigger than a city but smaller than a state or province which deals with local matters

folklore n. traditional customs, stories and beliefs

calendar n. a system for organizing days, weeks, months and years

ironic  adj. something that is funny in a way because it seems to be the opposite of how something should be
Freuds Last Session, starring Anthony Hopkins as Sigmund Freud, adds to a string of sterling late-chapter performances by the 86-year-old actor. He was the soul of Armageddon Time, the reason to see The Father and the papal foil to Jonathan Pryces Pope Francis in The Two Popes.

Freuds Last Session, which expands in theaters this weekend, also comes from the stage and, like The Two Popes, centers on the tete-a-tete of intellectual opposites. Mark St. Germains 2009 two-character play brought together Freud and C.S. Lewis (played by Matthew Goode in the film) for a speculative meeting between the two in 1939 London.

An aged Freud, suffering from oral cancer, prepares to receive the Oxford academic at his London home while war with Germany is growing inevitable. The factual jumping off point is that Freud, three weeks before his death, is recorded as meeting with an unnamed Oxford don. As Freuds daughter Anna (Liv Lisa Fries) prepares to leave in the morning, he mentions Lewis impending arrival. The Christian apologist? she responds. Yah, he chuckles.

Their conversation, which makes up the bulk of the film, imagines a spiritual debate between the father of psychoanalysis, a proud atheist and man of science, and the theological Lewis, a believer who in the years after Freuds Last Session takes place would pen his Christian apologetic novel The Screwtape Letters and, later, the fantasy parables of The Chronicles of Narnia.

If their adverse positions didnt make for enough drama, air raid sirens are sounding (Hitler has just taken Poland) and Freuds health is bad enough that he, in between dripping morphine into his whiskey, several times eyes a suicide pill during the day. Death and history buffer their talk of God, fear and pain.

But the elements never quite cohere in Freuds Last Session. The rhythm of conversation feels choppy and lacks the probing give and take that can electrify a two-hander. Freud  or it it Hopkins?  so dominates their talk. Goode, with less to chew on, remains more observational and removed for his Lewis to ever fully engage Freud.

Annas story, including a relationship with a woman, Dorothy Tiffany Burlingham (Jodi Balfour), not acknowledged by her father, is too complex to graft into the theological debate. It feels like a movie in its own right. That Freuds Last Session is overly murky in shadows also contributes to the movies lack of clarity.

But Freud and Lewis dialogue sometimes finds compelling points of commonality. Fantasy figures prominently into both minds  Freud in his analysis of dreams and Lewis in the dreamworlds hell create. And both come to their beliefs in part from childhood experiences that color their lives. I have only two words to offer humanity: Grow up, says Freud.

And Hopkins remains riveting. JAKE COYLE, Film Writer, MDT/AP

Freuds Last Session, a Sony Pictures Classics release, is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association for thematic material, some bloody/violent images, sexual material and smoking. Running time: 108 minutes. 
A less flashy Chinese electric vehicle maker is fast closing the gap with Tesla, the longtime, market-leading pioneer.

BYD Co., based in the southern China tech hub of Shenzhen, dethroned Texas-based Tesla Inc. as the top seller of electric cars in the last three months of 2023, according to sales figures released by the companies this week.

Tesla retained the crown for all of 2023, but BYDs sales have skyrocketed on the back of a government-driven EV boom in China. The rise of BYD and other Chinese electric vehicle makers is a challenge not only for Tesla but also the worlds major automakers as Chinese competitors push into Europe, Southeast Asia and other overseas markets with a relatively affordable option for drivers who want to go green.

Car makers like Volkswagen, Ford, Honda and Toyota all are playing catch-up with both BYD and Tesla, said James Attwood, acting managing editor at Autocar magazine.

I think perhaps the most interesting thing is less about the battle between Tesla and BYD and more about what the big established manufacturers that have a hundred years of history in making cars are going to do to catch these upstarts, he said.

HOW DID BYD OUTSELL TESLA?

Aggressive price cutting helped Tesla beat analysts estimates for sales in the October to December quarter, but BYD did even better. The Chinese automaker sold 526,409 electric cars in the three-month period, topping Teslas 484,507 units.

Its results were boosted by a surge in sales of small, low-cost EVs such as its Seagull and Dolphin models, said Cui Dongshu, secretary-general of the China Passenger Car Association. Whether that growth in small vehicles can be sustained remains to be seen, he said.

For the entire year, BYDs EV sales rose 73% in 2023 to nearly 1.6 million vehicles, the company said in a filing Monday with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The total still fell short of Tesla, which announced the next day that its annual sales were up 38% to 1.8 million cars.

Unlike Tesla, BYD also makes hybrid vehicles. Including its 1.4 million hybrids, BYD far outpaced its American competitor in 2023 with sales of 3 million passenger cars.

Chinas subsidies for EVs were phased out at the start of this year, but a fierce price war among makers including BYD and Tesla has kept sales buoyant. China is a major market and production base for Tesla, which exports cars to Europe and elsewhere from China.

WHATiS NEXT FOR BYD?

BYDs growth has been primarily at home, where it has benefited from the huge Chinese market and government policies to encourage the EV industry. It rivals Tesla in size but not yet in reach.

Most of BYDs EVs were sold in China despite its fast-growing overseas sales, whereas Tesla is already a global player, said Jing Yang, the director of China corporate research at Fitch Ratings.

The company is expanding into new markets. Its exports more than quadrupled to 242,765 vehicles in 2023, accounting for 8% of its sales, and BYD announced last month that it would build an electric vehicle factory in Hungary, its first in Europe.

Chinese EV makers are still in the early stages of going abroad and may run up against regulatory or trade barriers, Yang said, particularly in markets that are home to major automakers such as the U.S., Europe, Japan and South Korea.

The EU has launched a trade investigation into subsidies to electric vehicle makers in China and the U.S. has passed legislation that blocks consumers from getting a full $7,500 tax credit for an electric vehicle if its battery components come from China and a few other countries.

The main concern for global automakers is the influx of cheap Chinese EVs into their home markets and other major markets before they can produce EVs at lower costs, Yang said.

HOW DID BYD GET ITS NAME?

Company founder Wang Chuanfu has said that BYD, or Biyadi in Chinese, was chosen mainly because it was a simple and unusual name, two characteristics that make it easier to register a new company in China.

At the time, it was a rechargeable battery maker that Wang set up in Shenzhen in 1995. From batteries, BYD expanded into other fields including consumer electronics. BYD launched an automobile subsidiary in 2003 that initially made gasoline-fueled cars. By 2008, Wang was eyeing the electric vehicle market.

BYD has stopped producing gasoline cars. It also manufactures electric buses, including at a U.S. factory in Lancaster, California. While the origins of its name are unclear, the company has turned its acronym into a slogan: Build Your Dreams. KEN MORITSUGU, BEIJING, MDT/AP
A pair of Oak Park-River Forest High School seniors have returned from an international field trip  and experience  they wont soon forget, especially as they continue their individual efforts to address climate issues.

Katie Stabb and Kate Wallace are concerned about the environment. Thats why they wanted to attend Conference of the Parties, or COP 28. The United Nations Climate Change Conference, as it is officially known, was held in Dubai Nov. 30 to Dec. 12, and the students attended Dec. 3 to Dec. 8.

Katie Stabb, 18, a senior at Oak Park-River Forest High School in Oak Park, is pictured at the U.N. Climate Change Conference in December 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Stabb, 18, and Wallace, 17, were part of a six-student delegation from Its Our Future, a youth group to which they belong, that is part of Seven Generations Ahead, an organization dedicated to building healthy and sustainable communities.

I thought it would be a great opportunity to see how the process at conferences like this is carried out, Stabb said about her desire to attend the international conference. But also to meet people from so many different sectors who care about the environment and see what they do.

Wallace said she has previously been involved in mock United Nations events.

Im very interested in climate change and fighting the climate battle, Wallace said. So I was really interested in exploring the climate battle on an international stage, combining that with my little bit of United Nations background.

More than 70,000 delegates attended the conference, including senior U.S. government officials the Department of State described as working on issues related to the nexus of climate with conflict, food security, gender, global health, subnational diplomacy, youth, and more.

The U.S. delegation was led by Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry. Vice President Kamala Harris attended Dec. 1 and Dec. 2, according to the state department.

The sheer number of people and number of different professions and niche passions that are all contributing to environmental solutions is really amazing, Stabb said. I talked to a farmer, a chef, a psychologist. Theres such a wide variety of roles that need to be played in combating climate change.

Stabb was particularly interested in talking with the psychologist who works with children of newly arrived immigrants in England.

She has them get in touch with their elders who are still back in their home country to learn about how they care for the land and the plants that they grow, Stabb told Pioneer Press.

Kate Wallace, 17, right a senior at Oak Park-River Forest High School in Oak Park, listens as U.S. Department of Energy Deputy Secretary David Turk speaks while at the U.N. Climate Change Conference in December 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The goal is to have the children copy some of those practices that help the environment.

A big takeaway for me was the people and seeing that many, Wallace said in an interview with Pioneer Press. I think being there as a high schooler was very significant. We did meet some other youth but mostly college students. Also, seeing all the adults that are fighting for our generation  most of the people there arent going to see the impact that we are.

The participants saw protests, including one about the need for increased funding for an environmental fund.

Stabb and Wallace attended a number of panel discussions and presentations on climate change at the conference. The chef Stabb met gave a presentation on how he uses wild plants that he forages in his recipes.

Wallace was particularly impressed with a tour of the largest single site solar park in the world.

It supplies 15% of Dubais electricity and its supposed to supply a quarter by 2030, she said.

Stabb said that her goal after attending that conference is finding ways to get more people involved in protecting the environment.

There are so many things that people can do. We need to spread the word about that, she said.

One way that young people can help is by urging their schools to create more sustainable cafeterias by providing more environmentally-friendly food, Stabb said.

She reported that Oak Park and River Forest High School already has a Sustainability Plan, addressing such issues as water use and energy use. It was created by members of the Environmental Club and the School Board.

The whole experience was very empowering and inspiring, seeing so many people fighting in different ways in their communities, Wallace said of the trip to Dubai.

One of her goals is bringing that energy and enthusiasm back and trying to inspire people in our community.

Myrna Petlicki is a freelancer.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson this week urged relevant countries to fully respect the fact that Hong Kong has already returned to China and abandon their colonial mentality.

Spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks at a daily press briefing when asked to comment on a Hong Kong-related statement recently issued by countries including the United Kingdom and the United States in the name of Media Freedom Coalition.

Noting this is a smear against press freedom in Hong Kong, an attack on the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Governments legitimate law enforcement and a move to embolden those who are anti-China and engaged in destabilizing Hong Kong such as Jimmy Lai, Wang said China deplores and firmly rejects this so-called statement from a handful of countries in the name of Media Freedom Coalition.

The cases of Julian Assange and Edward Snowden have already shown the world that the so-called freedom of press is just a tool some countries use to attack and smear others, Wang said.

These countries care little about the freedom of press when their selfish interests are involved. They made irresponsible remarks on matters concerning Hong Kong in the name of freedom of press only because they are not happy that Hong Kong is prospering, and they still hope to keep their past privileges and influence in Hong Kong but to no avail, Wang said.

Wang said Hong Kong follows the rule of law, and all laws in Hong Kong must be observed and those who break the law must be held accountable.

Since the national security law entered into effect in Hong Kong, Hong Kong has restored order and is set to thrive.

The rule of law has been upheld and justice served. The lawful rights and freedoms including the freedom of press and freedom of speech of Hong Kong residents have been protected in a safe and stable environment under the rule of law, Wang said.

The spokesperson said that the number of international media outlets and journalists in Hong Kong has increased from before the national security law was introduced. This is a fact that could not be denied by any unbiased person, he added.

In recent years, over 100 countries spoke up in multilateral fora, including the third committee of UNGA and Human Rights Council, to voice their support for China in various ways on matters concerning Hong Kong. This fully shows that the world is not blind to the truth, Wang said.

Any attempt to interfere in Hong Kong affairs in the name of the freedom of press is doomed to fail, he said. Xinhua
Local gaming industry expert and analyst Ben Lee has projected that local casinos gross gaming revenue (GGR) in 2024 should increase by some 15% when compared year-on-year with 2023.

The managing partner at IGamiX forecasts that the industry should reach the end of this year with an accumulated GGR of MOP210.52 billion, as 2023 closed with a total of MOP 183.06 billion.

This is also the most conservative forecast for 2024 so far, presenting a result even below the local government expectations of MOP216 billion.

Prior to Lees forecast, the most conservative projection was from another local analyst, Davis Fong, who said that the industry should generate as much as MOP220 billion in 2024.

The gaming sector scholar at the University of Macau and director of the Institute for the Study of Commercial Gaming presented this projection in November last year.

International brokerage companies seem more optimistic with Morgan Stanley recently forecasting a 28% increase for this year (MOP234.32 billion). Less than a month ago, Fitch Ratings provided a forecast of Macaus gaming industry in 2024 as some MOP231 billion in revenue.

Traditionally, forecasts from the local government have been the most conservative, including in 2023 when the government estimated the GGR to be around MOP130 billion, a figure far from the actual one of over MOP183B.

Lee has previously explained to the Times that it is very difficult to make an accurate and reliable projection for the local market one year ahead. This is because the local market is special in that it is subject to several decisive external factors, other than the will of the players, that are not easy to predict. Among such factors are aspects such as the issuing of individual visas to mainland visitors (the large majority of Macau gamblers) as well as other aspects related to potential constraints to be imposed on visitors influx that can come at any time and that are not market regulated.
Sands China Ltd. announced a discretionary bonus for all eligible full-time team members on Jan. 31, as well as a salary increase effective March 1.

Discretionary bonuses are usually paid by the gaming operators to their employees during Chinese New Year and summer. MGM had announced theirs earlier this week.

In a statement, the gaming operator said that on Jan. 31, a discretionary bonus equivalent to one months pay will be paid to non-management team members who have been with the company for one year or more.

For management team members, the discretionary bonus will be paid based on the companys Management Incentive Plan.

Meanwhile, the company has also announced a salary increase that takes effect March 1, a move the government had previously called for.

Eligible full-time team members earning monthly salaries up to MOP13,000 (before tax) will receive a pay rise of MOP 600, while eligible full-time team members earning monthly salaries above MOP 13,000 (before tax) will receive a 2.5% pay rise.

In a Legislative Assembly plenary session back in August, the Chief Executive announced the proposal to increase civil servants wages, and called on the gaming concessionaires to follow suit.

I can only negotiate with the gaming concessionaires and hope that post-pandemic they can assume their social responsibilities. We can and will follow up on this matter, but we cannot order them to do so, the CE previously remarked.

Late last year, Uniqlo Macau also announced a salary adjustment for its frontline store staff, with an average increment of approximately 10%, effective from October 2023. LV
The United States and 12 allies issued what amounted to a final warning to Houthi rebels yesterday [Macau time] to cease their attacks on vessels in the Red Sea or face potential targeted military action.

The Yemen-based militants have carried out at least 23 attacks in response to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza since Dec. 19.

A senior Biden administration official declined to detail rules of possible engagement if the attacks continue, but underscored that the Iranian-backed Houthis should not anticipate another warning from the U.S. and its allies.

The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the White House, spoke soon after the countries issued a joint statement earlier condemning the attacks and underscoring that international patience was strained.

The statement was signed by the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom. Separately, the U.S. called on the United Nations Security Council yesterday to take action against the Houthis and warned their financier Iran that it has a choice to make about continuing to provide support to the rebels.

Let our message now be clear: we call for the immediate end of these illegal attacks and release of unlawfully detained vessels and crews, the countries said. The Houthis will bear the responsibility of the consequences should they continue to threaten lives, the global economy, and free flow of commerce in the regions critical waterways.

For weeks, the Houthis have claimed attacks on ships in the Red Sea that they say are either linked to Israel or heading to Israeli ports. They say their attacks aim to end the Israeli air-and-ground offensive in the Gaza Strip that was triggered by the Palestinian militant group Hamas Oct.7 attack in southern Israel.

However, the links to the ships targeted in the rebel assaults have grown more tenuous as the attacks continue.

The attacks have targeted commercial shipping vessels transiting through the critical Bab el-Mandeb Strait that links markets in Asia and Europe since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas and Israels subsequent war against the militant group in Gaza.

The U.S. and its allies have formed Operation Prosperity Guardian to protect ship traffic, and currently, warships from the United States, France, and the United Kingdom are patrolling the area. On Sunday, U.S. helicopters opened fire on Houthi rebels after they attacked a cargo ship in the Red Sea, killing several of them.

The U.S. Navy helicopters returned fire in self-defense sinking three of the four boats and killing the people on board while the fourth boat fled the area, according to U.S. Central Command said. The Houthis acknowledged that 10 of their fighters were killed in the confrontation and warned of consequences.

U.S. ships in recent weeks have shot down waves of Houthi ballistic missiles and one-way explosive drones.

President Joe Biden has sought to keep the three-month war between Israel and Hamas from escalating into a broader regional conflict. But the official stressed that the U.S. and its allies would respond similarly to such malign action that has impacts on global commerce anywhere around the globe.

As the President has made clear, the United States does not seek conflict with any nation or actor in the Middle East, nor do we want to see the war between Israel and Hamas widen in the region, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said. But neither will we shrink from the task of defending ourselves, our interests, our partners, or the free flow of international commerce.

The official said any potential action against the Houthis will be done in a very smart way that does not potentially draw us in deep to a situation with Iran and its proxy groups.

At the U.N., U.S. deputy ambassador Christopher Lu said that without Iranian support the Houthis would struggle to effectively track and strike commercial vessels navigating shipping lanes through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

Biden last week ordered U.S. airstrikes against Iranian-backed militia groups, including Kataib Hezbollah, after three U.S. servicemembers were injured in a drone attack in northern Iraq.

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-Asad Air Base in western Iraq. Iranian-backed militias also carried out a drone attack at the same air base in October, causing minor injuries. ZEKE MILLER & AAMER MADHANI, WASHINGTON, MDT/AP
A man who was severely injured when his home in Fitchburg exploded as the result of a gas leak in 2016, destroying the home and others around it, has settled his lawsuit against Sears and other defendants for an undisclosed sum.

In a letter this week to Dane County Circuit Judge Stephen Ehlke, attorney Daniel Rottier said the claims filed by Brian Grittner against Sears and others have been settled ahead of a trial before Ehlke that is set to begin on Feb. 5.

Rottier said in an email Thursday that the amount of Grittners settlement is confidential, and he declined to comment further because of the trial thats still scheduled involving insurers of other homeowners who, like Grittner, lost their homes or suffered damage in the blast on Aug. 25, 2016.

Rottier noted that progress in the lawsuit was long delayed by bankruptcy proceedings for Sears, which has since closed all but about a dozen stores in the U.S. The court docket for the case indicates it was on hold from October 2018 until late 2022 because of the Sears bankruptcy case.

Other damage

The explosion also destroyed two homes next to Grittners, which was at 5573 Cheryl Drive, and badly damaged several others. Grittner sustained severe burns and multiple broken bones in his ribs, vertebrae, hip, left arm and left foot. Nobody else was injured.

Grittner lost everything he owned in the explosion, including his four cats.

The court has not been notified that any of the other plaintiffs have reached settlements with Sears and the other defendants, which include HomeDeliveryLink Inc., Ricardo Moreno Jr. and various insurance companies.

Sears current parent company, Transformco, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Old gas line

The lawsuit, filed in October 2016, alleged that a disused gas line was improperly capped in 2011 when Grittner bought new appliances for his home, including an electric dryer to replace a gas dryer. The lawsuit states that when Morenos company, which was contracted by HDL to perform the delivery and installation, removed the old gas dryer, it failed to properly cap the gas line.

Hours before the explosion, Grittner had workers in his yard removing and trimming trees and shrubs, the lawsuit states. One of the workers asked him to turn on the water to the outside spigot, and Grittner turned what he thought was the correct valve in the basement.

Instead, natural gas flooded the home. Grittner could not smell the gas, however, because he has never had a sense of smell, Rottier told the Wisconsin State Journal in a 2017 story that included interviews with Grittner, Rottier and neighbors affected by the blast.

A state investigators report, released in August 2017, states it could not be determined definitively what ignited the gas. But in the State Journals story in 2017, Rottier said he believed the gas was ignited when the homes water heater in the basement kicked in after Grittner had run hot water to wash dishes in his kitchen.
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JakartaIn an upscale area of the capital Jakarta, Ganjar Pranowo says he can win Indonesias upcoming election against the odds by focusing on bread-and-butter issues, a lesson learned from his upbringing in a mountainside village.

Siding with the small the poor. Why do I say that? Because I myself experienced that situation since childhood, the ruling party candidate told AFP in an exclusive interview.

The matters are simple. Access to education, access to health, access to housing, access to food, which they want to get equally like others.

The former governor of Central Java will face defense minister and frontrunner Prabowo Subianto and former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan in February in a vote that will decide which will lead the worlds third-largest democracy.

Pranowos humble demeanor is a stark contrast to the political dynasties and ex-military figures with deep roots in the Suharto era who have dominated Indonesian politics since the end of the dictators three-decade rule in 1998.

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The 55-year-old Pranowo is the candidate for President Joko Widodos ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), which has ties to one of the countrys founding fathers.

But Subianto, 72, chose Widodos eldest son Gibran Rakabuming Raka, 36, as his running mate, casting doubt on Pranowos chances as the benefit of a link to the president goes to his main rival.

Yet he says he remains very, very optimistic he can pull off an upset without Widodos explicit support.

We cant depend on one person. Not at all, he said.

Critics fear Widodo is trying to usher in his own political dynasty with his son entering the race after a controversial court ruling that lowered the eligible age of candidates, handed down by the presidents brother-in-law.

Subianto has opened up a wide lead over his rivals in opinion polls after appointing Gibran, with Pranowo in a distant second place.

Recent surveys also show third-place Baswedan threatening to overtake Pranowo for a potential place in any second-round runoff vote.

But Pranowo remains cautious to criticise the man he is trying to succeed, who has said he supports the tickets of all the candidates, or the decision of Widodos son to enter the race for a rival.

Its an ordinary political choice. And we are never afraid of that, he said.

While Baswedan has taken up the position of the governments main opponent, Pranowo is largely promising to carry on Widodos policies alongside running mate and chief security minister Mahfud MD.

On Indonesias capital moving from Jakarta to Nusantara on Borneo Island in August, he says he will proceed despite criticism from environmentalists and Baswedan that other cities like Jakarta should be prioritised first.

If it has been decided, thats it, he said. There is no other word than to carry it out.

Frontrunner Subianto is pledging the same tact, but Pranowo remains optimistic he can secure the highest office with a campaign focused on grassroots support by appealing to ordinary Indonesians.

We are supported by the strength of the communities. We go down (to the grassroots) every day. We can feel the voices of the people, he said.

We want to be fast, not a slow bureaucracy. And usually those who have many complaints are the small people.

But his challenge to the presidency has come under threat from other parties in Indonesian society, including sections of the army.

After an assault against a group of his volunteers in Central Java last month in which seven civilians were injured and six soldiers were named as suspects, he demanded his campaign be treated fairly.

We use this as an education, that hey, election workers, the government, be careful, he said, adding representatives of the state should remain neutral.

Dont destroy the democratic process.

If he does secure the mantle from Widodo, he says he will put the interests of Indonesians first.

Serving the people. Nothing else, he said. From birth to death, thats the duty of the state.

The second of three presidential debates takes place on Sunday. AFP
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MORE than 500 foreign English teachers are needed by Taiwan schools, with salaries amounting to P150,000 a month, according to the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO).

MECO chairman Silvestre Bello III said Taiwan will need around 800,000 foreign workers this year, including English teachers, hospitality workers, caregivers, and factory workers.

For English teachers there, I think our teachers there get as high as P150,000, Bello said.

According to Taiwans Ministry of Education, Taiwan will hire more than 500 foreign English teachers to work in public elementary schools in a bid to support the countrys bilingual policy.

A total of 501 individuals have been hired in 2023, the Taiwan Ministry said.

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The schools will support the admitted international English teachers in their job applications while the Ministry of Education will also pay for annual air tickets for foreign English teachers, their spouses and members of their families.

Meanwhile, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) Representative Wallace Chow said applicants must be education graduates with a license to teach from the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

MECO estimated that there are around 200,000 OFWs in Taiwan
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THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Friday said it has no information on the supposed presence in the Philippines of International Criminal Court (ICC) investigators to look into the countrys bloody anti-drugs war under the watch of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Sa ngayon, wala pa po kami nakukuhang information about it. Siguro hindi pa kami makabigay ng sagot dahil wala pa kami nakukuhang formal communication about anything about the ICC (As of now, we have not gathered any information about it. Maybe, we cannot give a reply yet because we have no formal information on anything about the ICC),BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said in an interview.

The Department of Justice (DOJ said it was checking with the BI if ICC prosecutor Karim Khan or any official of the organization had entered the Philippines.

Were still verifying, although I would assume that the first name the Bureau of Immigration will look into is Prosecutor Kharim Khans name, and as of right now, we have no feedback if Prosecutor Kharim Khan indeed entered the country, Justice Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano said.

He added however, that ICC officials or personnel could have entered the country without properly identifying themselves.

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Of course, as representatives of the International Criminal Court, it would be in their best interest to let us know because the mechanisms by which they would be conducting their investigations, their inquiry here would be with the assistance, of course, of the government, Clavano said.

And for them to come in and to avoid detection, siyempre medyo ayaw natin yon dahil medyo parang pinapasukan tayo ng dayuhan na wala namang timbre (because it would look like foreigners are getting in without any notification), Clavano said.

He reiterated that the local justice system is working on the matter.

Hindi naman natin kailangan tumakbo sa kahit sino mang tao or organisasyon or sa ICC dahil dito naman sa Pilipinas, kayang-kaya naman natin to (We need not go to any person or entity, or th ICC because we can handle this on our own). And I think it would be a testament also to not only the President, the [justice] secretary, but also ourselves no as Filipino people na kaya nating i-resolve yung ating sarili, di ba, Clavano said.

The Office of the Solicitor General declared earlier that the Philippine government has no legal duty to cooperate in the International Criminal Courts (ICC) investigation of the Duterte administrations illegal drug war.

As far as the government is concerned, it has maintained its position that the state has no legal duty to cooperate with the ICC investigator, Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra said in an interview.

Guevarra made the statement following reports that investigators of the ICC have arrived in the country.

Guevarra said the ICC could investigate the drug war without coming to the Philippines.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier said that members of the ICC must make contact with the government if they are already in the country.

When asked whether the ICC probers may enter the country informally, Remulla reiterated that protocol must be established if their investigation will be used legally.

The Philippines, under then-President Rodrigo Duterte, withdrew from the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC, in 2019 after the tribunal began a probe into the drug war, followed by a formal inquiry in September 2021.

In January 2023, the ICC authorized the reopening of the inquiry after it was suspended in November 2021.

Senator Ronald Dela Rosa meanwhile again said that the ICC has no jurisdiction to investigate the Duterte administrations bloody drug war.

Dela Rosa was responding to a query asking if he had already been contacted by ICC prosecutors who are reportedly in the country for the said investigation.

Being the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief when the drug war was carried out, Dela Rosa was among the respondents in the ICC probe along with former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Dela Rosa said he remains unconvinced by the statement of lawyer Harry Roque that the ICC prosecutors already entered the Philippines.

Well, if they are already here, theres nothing we can do. But as far as I know, that is only one source of information and that should be validated and confirmed, he said. So far, I just heard it from Atty. Harry Roque, no other (person).
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Officials from Saudi Arabia, India, Turkey, Democratic Republic of Congo and the Philippines were among some 20 countries representatives who paid money to Trumps hotel and real estate businesses during his presidency, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee wrote in their report.

The authors said that such revenues from overseas governments violated a constitutional ban on foreign emoluments.

As President, Donald Trump accepted more than $7.8 million in payments from foreign states and their leaders, including some of the worlds most unsavory regimes, said the report titled White House for Sale.

We know about only some of the payments that passed into former President Trumps hands during just two years of his presidency from just 20 of the more than 190 nations in the world through just four of his more than 500 businesses.

Regarding China, the report alleged that Beijing as well as businesses including ICBC bank and Hainan Airlines spent $5.5 million at Trump-owned properties.

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Former President Trump violated the Constitution when the businesses he owned accepted these emoluments paid by (Beijing) without the consent of Congress, the report said.

The authors say that the full amount could be higher as the $5.5 million figure is based only on limited disclosures from Trumps accountants Mazars and filings with the American financial regulator, the SEC.

In one expenditure dated August 27, 2017, a Chinese embassy delegation spent $19,391 at the Trump International Hotel in Washington.

The report also claims that Saudi Arabia paid at least $615,422 in prohibited emoluments to former President Trumps businesses over the course of his term in office from just (the Trump World Tower) and the March 2018 stay at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, DC.

Former President Trump has also boasted about the continued willingness of the Saudis to do business on terms highly favorable to him, the report stated.

Trumps Washington hotel was sold in 2022 to a private investor group and rebranded under the luxury Waldorf Astoria line.

The frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, Trump separately faces a civil fraud trial in New York over claims that his real estate businesses fraudulently inflated the value of their assets.

He is to go on trial in Washington in March for conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 election, and in Florida in May on charges of mishandling top secret government documents.

The twice-impeached former president also faces racketeering charges in Georgia for allegedly conspiring to upend the election results in the southern state after his 2020 defeat by Democrat Joe Biden.

Asked about the report at a regular press conference, Chinas foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said: I dont have any information on that.

I advise relevant US politicians not to attack China at every turn.
It may bear its name, but the opportunity for the town of Griffith to own and operate the Griffith-Merrillville Airport has come and gone now that Gary/Chicago International Airport (GCIA) has acquired the facility in a $1.8 million deal announced on Dec. 13.

Following the Griffith Town Council meeting on Dec. 29, council members took questions about why they previously passed on the airport  and wished Gary well on having purchased the property and assets.

The Griffith Town Council initially considered the idea in February 2018 and conducted a financial study to that effect. After about nine months of study and discussion, the council voted on the matter. The vote was 4-1 against purchasing the airport, with Councilman Jim Marker, R-1st, voting in the minority.

The Gary/Chicago International Airport recently acquired the Griffith/Merrillville Airport to the tune of $1.8 million.

I am grateful that the Gary/Chicago Airport Authority also saw the important impact of the Griffith-Merrillville Airport, Marker said. As a councilman and pilot, I was disappointed that the Town of Griffith did not seize the opportunity to acquire the airport. I look forward to seeing its success under the new ownership.

Town Council President Rick Ryfa, R-3rd, explained that questionable revenue streams made the airport a risky deal for Griffith.

If you look at the numbers, most of the revenue is generated from storage units, and if you look at the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) plan, they may force those storage units to come down, Ryfa said. That revenue could be gone, and we dont have any experience running an airport. Gary has tons of experience running an airport. I think it worked out best for everyone.

Councilman Tony Hobson, R-5th, added that if the town had purchased the airport and accepted FAA money to improve the facility, the town could have potentially lost control of future development of the property. Hobson and Ryfa said they were also concerned about the airports potential tax impact on Griffith residents and businesses.

The bottom line is, the airport is not making money, Ryfa said. Its a money loser when half of your income is on storage units and a big portion of the other income was on Chinese students that were there for aviation classes, who havent been there since probably pre-COVID. So the revenue was gone. Yeah, it was questionable for us.

Gary officials said they used existing revenue previously budgeted for the purchase. The airport will continue to be managed by Craig Anderson, one of its owners who took part in the sale. Anderson will also continue to operate his fixed-base operator enterprise that serves about 65 business and recreational small plane owners.

Anderson said he initially began talking with the town of Griffith and then Gary airport officials. He said hes been looking for a public buyer for about the past five years to ensure the airports sustainability.

Griffith-Merrillville is a key reliever airport in the Indiana Aviation System, Marty Blake, INDOT state aviation director, said in a statement.

Commenting on Garys announcement, GCIA executive director Dan Vicari said, GCIAs acquisition will allow for continued partnership with our office to improve facilities at Griffith-Merrillville and will reinforce the $21 million regional annual economic impact this airport provides.

Vicari added that if Griffith-Merrillville Airport closed, Gary could have been overwhelmed with traffic from smaller single and twin engine planes. He explained that the FAA has provided millions of dollars to the Gary airport toward a mission of commercial and cargo operations with larger planes on its nearly 9,000-foot expanded runway. But because of an FAA policy change, privately-owned airports like Griffith-Merrillville are no longer eligible for federal grants.

Gary airport officials said cargo service was growing in Gary and the airport is now ranked third in the state on its freight volume. In 2020, GCIA began cargo service operations with the United Parcel Service (UPS), which signed a long-term lease agreement.

The Griffith-Merrillville Airport was completely rebuilt in 2001 and is designed for smaller aircraft that have a single wheel load of 38,000 pounds or a dual wheel load of 50,000 pounds. The airport consists of a paved and grooved 4,900-foot by-75-foot runway, with full pilot-controlled lighting.

Freelance reporter Carole Carlson contributed.

Jim Masters is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
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Senator Grace Poe said the government should not abandon students-learners who will be affected by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) memo stopping state universities and colleges (SUCs) and local universities and colleges (LUCs) from accepting senior high school (SHS) students.

The CHED earlier announced its decision to halt the SHS programs in the said universities and colleges.

Poe said the affected students should not be forced to drop out of college and that education authorities should sit down and firm up a plan for a seamless transition for SHS students affected by the discontinuation of the program.

There should be an assessment to know if public schools nationwide have the facilities and personnel to accept the expected influx of students, she said.

Furthermore. the SHS program should hold its promise of employability and more competitive graduates.

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Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said he supports the CHEDs memo. He noted that the accommodation given by SUCs to SHS students earlier was part of a transition program following the implementation of K-12.

So it is just right to phase out the SHS program in SUCs and LUCs. But they need to make an inventory of those who will be affected, Pimentel said.

Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva said the move to discontinue the offering of SHS programs in SUCs and LUCs is in line with the mandate of higher education institutions.

Villanueva said, however, that there should be coordination between the Department of Education (DepEd) and CHED regarding affected students.

DepEd Education Assistant Secretary Francis Bringas meanwhile said the CHEDs decision is anchored in a law.

Bringas cited Republic Act (RA) 10533 or the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013.

Thats the K to 12 Basic Education law, its in the IRR, Section 32 states that the SUCs and LUCs will offer the SHS program during the five-year transition period, Bringas, quoted by reports, said.

Thats because during the time we transitioned when we opened Grade 11 in 2016 there were no incoming freshmen in the tertiary. Therefore, they had facilities and teachers that would not be used. So it was best to utilize them so the teachers would not lose their jobs, the official added.

Bringas explained that the recent memorandum of CHED is only a reiteration of a previous memorandum in 2015 and 2016.

I would presume that since 2016, the LUCs and SUCs were already aware that they would offer the SHS program only until 2021. So since we reached 2022, 2023, we have seemingly extended the offer of the SHS in the state and local universities.
With the resignation of Del. Les Adams, R-Pittsylvania County, two people will be on the ballot vying to fill the House of Delegates seat in a special election on Tuesday.

Melody Cartwright, a Martinsville Democrat, and Eric Phillips, a Henry County Republican, are running to represent District 48, an area that includes the city of Martinsville and the counties of Henry and Pittsylvania County.

Henry County Registrar Dawn Stultz-Vaughn sent out a notice Wednesday encouraging voters to vote early to avoid the winter weather expected to arrive Friday night and continue through Saturday. Sunshine is expected to return on Monday, but snow and sleet are forecast to return Monday night, changing to rain on Tuesday.

Precincts throughout District 48 will open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Voters participating in the Special Election will vote at their assigned precincts just as they would if it were a general election.

Cartwright is a graduate of Martinsville High School with credits from Patrick & Henry Community College and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Virginia Commonwealth University.

She worked as an advertising manager with Miller and Rhoads Department Store, at a newspaper in South Boston, and was a graphic and exhibit designer at the Virginia Museum of Natural History in Martinsville for more than 25 years before retiring.

Cartwright said she had no plans to run for public office until she was encouraged to do so.

I had no plans for running for office until Dec. 15 when someone recruited me, Cartwright said. I believe in the democratic process and you need to have [at least] two people running. We havent had a Ddemocrat represent us since Ward Armstrong and Roscoe Reynolds. I liked them both, but the landscape has changed.

Phillips, a small business owner, is on the Board of Directors for the Boys and Girls Club of the Blue Ridge and serves as the chair of the Henry County-Martinsville Republican Committee, chair of the Martinsville Industrial Development Authority, and chairman elect of the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

Phillips said it had been rumored for some time that Adams might resign in order to pursue a possible judgeship, but until Adams issued notice, no one could put a plan into motion.

He hasnt been appointed yet, so I dont want to interfere, said Phillips. We had no idea if his resignation would take place or the timing. It was a big surprise to us as it was to the general public.

Phillips says his top priority will be providing relief to Virginias middle class by cutting taxes and getting the government out of the way of small businesses. As a member of the Blue Ridge Innovation Corridor Committee, he says he is keenly aware that the area he would represent has been overlooked and left behind when it comes to much-needed road and infrastructure improvements.

Phillips says he is also a strong advocate for the Second Amendment and understands the importance of responsible gun ownership, is unapologetically pro-life, and is a strong ally to the men and women in law enforcement.

Cartwright said she will work hard to make sure everyone receives a fair and impartial path to the basic right to live with better standards, believes that no one should interfere with a persons right to make decisions about their own body, that the government should stay out of personal conversations between an individual and their doctor, and believes in fully funding and staffing all public school systems.

Cartwright added that she will be an advocate in Richmond for people who feel like the bills keeps adding up and struggle to stay afloat. Access to health care at lower costs and affordable homeownership are also among her priorities.

Im a serious candidate, Cartwright said. Im not a placeholder.

Phillips said District 48 was divided into three jurisdictions with some of the needs among them overlapping and other needs unique to each locality.

My goal and my plan is to represent the entire 48th District. I will certainly say there are places and parts of the district that are in need of more help than others, but Im going to fight for all of them, said Phillips. Youre going to hear more about the needs of the community you live in, but I have to be mindful that this seat has been in Chatham for many years. I have to work extra hard to gain the trust of those folks.

Cartwright agreed that the winner of the special election needed to commit to representing the entire district.

My daughter has moved to Danville and these things are going to affect her as well, Cartwright said. I used to live in South Boston, but hey, Im here to serve rural Virginia and weve got a lot of rural area around here. If Im lucky enough to win, Martinsville is not going to lose, so thats a good feeling.

Cartwright said she was disappointed to see what she considers a lack of commitment by Gov. Glenn Youngkin to fully fund education.

We cant afford to lose any money for education because education is the best way, and for some, the only way to get out of poverty, said Cartwright. Not too long ago I was very concerned with Youngkin dropping the Berry Hill project. People would drive that distance if they could get a good paying job.

Phillips, who has been endorsed by Youngkin, said plans for a $3.5 billion Ford Motor Co. battery plant at the Berry Hill Mega Site in Pittsylvania County were brought to a halt because of Youngkins concerns over a partnership between Ford and Contemporary Amperex Technology, a Chinese company.

The stalemate cost the Dan River Region a reported 2,500 jobs with potential for more and the location still has no tenant.

At the end of the day, I ask voters to ask themselves whos the most effective advocate for the 48th District, Phillips said. I have no doubt in my mind that Im it.

Phillips said he had already voted early and although on Wednesday Cartwright said she had not, she intended to do so before Saturday.

The last day to register to vote in the Special Election was Tuesday and the last day for in-person early absentee voting is Saturday.

Ballot drop boxes will be available through Saturday and again at all regular polling places on Election Day on Tuesday from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m.
President Joe Biden leads former President Donald Trump 49% to 43% in Virginia in a potential 2024 rematch with 8% undecided, according to a new survey from Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy.

In 2020, Biden beat Trump in Virginia by 10 percentage points, 54.1% to 44%. Democrats have carried Virginia in four straight presidential elections after Republicans won the states electoral votes in every presidential contest from 1968 through 2004.

In the new survey of 625 registered Virginia voters, conducted Dec. 15-19, Bidens lead is based on Democrats traditionally large margins in the populous so-called urban crescent that stretches from Northern Virginia through the Richmond metro area to Hampton Roads.

The survey found that Biden led Trump 63% to 27% in Northern Virginia, 59% to 35% in Hampton Roads and 53% to 38% in the Richmond metro area. Trump scored strongest in the region from Roanoke to the southwest, followed by the Central/Shenandoah region and the Lynchburg/Southside region.

While Virginians do not register by party, Trump led among self-described independents  46% to 41%, with 13% undecided.

Bidens job approval rating in the survey was mixed, with 49% approval and 49% disapproval and 2% not sure. His numbers have improved since January 2023, when 45% approved of how he was performing the job, 52% disapproved and 3% were not sure.

Trump now faces four criminal cases, including a federal case in Washington and a state case in Georgia alleging he sought to obstruct the peaceful transfer of power. Saturday marks three years since Trump supporters rioted at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in an effort to prohibit lawmakers from certifying Bidens 2020 victory.

There is a clear disconnect between Bidens job rating and his current election performance against Trump, wrote Brad Coker, CEO and managing director of Mason-Dixon Polling and Strategy. Under normal circumstances, a 49%/49% incumbent job rating would show a similarly close margin in a re-election matchup.

However, Biden runs ahead of his performance. This shows that while there is speculation he is losing his Democratic base  demonstrated to some extent in his mixed job rating  these base groups (younger voters, women and Black voters) still vote for him against Trump.

Coker noted a parallel trend in Gov. Glenn Youngkins 58% approval rating in December despite his November losses in the legislative elections. Coker wrote that the results suggest that the GOPs close losses in many legislative contests were much more about a rejection of former President Donald Trump than a reflection of voter attitudes about Youngkin.

Youngkin has said he will not endorse a presidential candidate ahead of Virginias March 5 Super Tuesday primary. He has said he will support Trump if he becomes the partys presidential nominee.

The survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.
The African Union on Thursday January 4 called for calm and mutual respect between Ethiopia and Somalia, following the renewed tensions between the two countries caused by a maritime agreement signed between Addis Ababa and the breakaway region of Somaliland.

With this memorandum of understanding signed on Monday, the region of Somaliland  which unilaterally proclaimed its independence from Somalia in 1991 but is not recognized by the international community  intends to grant Ethiopia access to 20 kilometers of its coastline for a period of 50 years, via a leasing agreement. Addis Ababa has indicated that this will enable it to benefit from a permanent naval base () and commercial maritime services on the Gulf of Aden, notably in the port of Berbera.

Mogadishu denounced an aggression and a flagrant violation of its sovereignty, promising to fight this illegal text by all legal means. In a statement on Thursday, the Chairman of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, called for calm and mutual respect to ease the simmering tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia.

He urges them to refrain from any action that could unintentionally lead to a deterioration in the good relations between the two neighboring countries and asks them to engage without delay in a negotiation process. It underlines the imperative of respecting the unity, territorial integrity and full sovereignty of all member states of the African Union, including the Federal Republic of Somalia and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the text adds.

The United States affirmed on Wednesday that it recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia, calling on the parties to engage in diplomatic dialogue. Following the signing of this memorandum of understanding, Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi asserted that, in exchange for access to the sea, Ethiopia would formally recognize the Republic of Somaliland.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Ethiopian government said it would carry out an in-depth evaluation with a view to taking a position on Somalilands efforts to obtain international recognition. Ethiopia, Africas second most populous country, had been seeking access to the sea for thirty years, but lost it when it gained independence from Eritrea in 1993.

A relatively stable region of 4.5 million inhabitants compared with neighboring Somalia, the self-proclaimed republic of Somaliland prints its own currency and issues its own passports, but the absence of international recognition keeps it in certain isolation. It remains poor despite its strategic location on the southern shore of the Gulf of Aden, on one of the worlds busiest trade routes leading to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.
A prominent Ugandan LGBTQ activist was stabbed to death on Wednesday by unidentified motorcycle riders on his way to work, police and a human rights activist said.

Steven Kabuye, 25, was wounded and left for dead in the attack, which took place on the outskirts of the capital Kampala, before being rescued by local residents, the police said. Human rights activists have previously warned of the risk of attacks on members of the LGBTQ community in Uganda after the country passed one of the worlds toughest anti-gay laws last year.

A police spokesman, Patrick Onyango, said, According to Mr. Kabuye, two helmeted individuals on a motorcycle approached him. The passenger attacked him, aiming a knife at his neck, said Mr. Onyango. The assailants chased him and stabbed him in the stomach, before leaving him for dead, he added, adding that local residents rescued him and took him to a hospital. According to the police spokesman, his prognosis is not life-threatening.

Mr. Kabuye, who works for the Coloured Voices Media Foundation, which campaigns on behalf of LGBTQ youth, told investigators at his hospital bedside that he had been receiving death threats since March 2023.

In May 2022, Uganda passed anti-gay legislation containing provisions making aggravated homosexuality a capital offence and punishments of up to life imprisonment for consensual same-sex relations. This law has been denounced by human rights defenders and Western countries.
The Angolan government plans to raise a total of 10 billion kwanzas (10 billion euros) to cover the deficit in the 2024 General State Budget (OGE), as set out in this years Annual Debt Plan (PAE).

The PAE, approved by Presidential Decree no. 02/24, states that 6.1 billion kwanzas (6.6 billion euros) must be raised through the foreign market and the rest from the domestic market.

According to the order, signed by Angolan President Joao Lourenco and published in the Diario da Republica, the PAE materializes the financing strategy for the 2024 State Budget, taking into account the sources of internal and external financing, as well as the limits of the level of indebtedness considered sustainable.

This legal instrument should favor the contracting of instruments that help active liability management, promote the elimination of exchange-indexed securities, improve the maturity profile of public debt, encourage benchmark bonds and promote the secondary public debt market.

The 2024 State Budget, which sets out expenditure and estimates overall revenue of 24.7 trillion kwanzas (27.9 billion euros), began to be implemented on January 1, 2024.

At least 57.8% of the total expenditure in the Budget for the 2024 financial year, estimated at 14.3 trillion kwanzas (16 billion euros), will be allocated to servicing public debt, both internal and external.

According to the PAE, around 81% of the Angolan governments debt stock is exposed to exchange rate risk, namely Treasury Bonds (OT) in national currency indexed to the exchange rate, OT in foreign currency, Loan Contracts with local banks in dollars and euros and the entire stock of foreign debt.

In another decree, Joao Lourenco also authorizes the Minister of Finance to resort to issuing OT with the characteristics and conditions set out in the 2024 State Budget to cover the financing needs arising from public investments.
Guinean President Umaro Sissoco Embalo on Thursday January 4 laid the foundation stone for the construction of the new control tower at Osvaldo Vieira International Airport in Bissau and announced major modernization works at the airport.

The new control tower will replace, within 12 months, the old infrastructure built during colonial times, noted the Guinean head of state.

Umaro Sissoco Embalo also laid the foundation stone for the construction of a new technical block, a building that will house various support services for Osvaldo Vieira airport.

Both projects will be financed by ASECNA (Agency for the Safety of Air Navigation in Africa and Madagascar), an organization made up of 16 African countries, including Guinea-Bissau, and France.

According to ASECNAs international director-general, Mohamed Moussa, the two infrastructures will cost 4.5 billion CFA francs (around 6.8 million euros).

The Guinean President congratulated ASECNA for its confidence in Guinea-Bissau and said that the modernization works at Osvaldo Vieira airport, whose other infrastructures are being built by Turkey, will allow the country to receive flights from several airlines.

I remember a conversation a few months ago with President (Alassane) Ouattara, and I told him that Air Cote D`Voire (Ivory Coasts national airline) flies to Senegal and Gambia, that it should [also] come to Guinea-Bissau. He told me that, even if we dont have passengers, it will come and now its coming (to Bissau), he said.
The National Union of Tunisian Journalists (SNJT) on Thursday condemned the arrest of Al Jazeera Tunis bureau journalist Samir Sassi during a raid on his home by the National Guards Terrorist Crimes Investigation Unit in Ettadhamon district.

The SNJT denounced in a statement the journalists abusive detention for more than 12 hours and the fact that he was taken to an unknown destination without informing his family.

According to the union, this is a violation of the right to defense guaranteed by Law No. 2016-5 of February 16, 2016 amending and supplementing certain provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

The union said a National Guard unit searched the journalists home before confiscating his computer, telephone and the mobile phones of all his family members and taking him to an unknown destination. It was only Thursday, that his place of detention was revealed.

The SNJT added that Samir Sassis lawyer stated that the unit in question had received an order prohibiting the presence of a lawyer for 48 hours. Suspicions of terrorism could be linked to this case, according to the lawyer.

Samir Sassi is the second Tunisian journalist to be arrested in a week. On December 28, 2023, Zied El Heni was arrested and detained, following a broadcast on the private radio station IFM wherein he criticized the Trade Minister. His detention was described by rights defenders as part of a crackdown on independent journalists and dissent since Presidents Kais Saied power grab in 2021.

In 2023, 30 journalists were arrested in Tunisia, according to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).

In an open letter to Saied published on Thursday, the IFJ expressed its deepest concern at the frequent imprisonment of journalists, in total contravention of the provisions of the Tunisian constitution in respect of freedom of expression and the media.

Last summer, the UN human rights chief, Volker Turk, said he was deeply concerned about the crackdown on media in Tunisia, with vaguely worded legislation used to criminalize criticism.

Seventeen journalists in Tunisia currently face trial, according to local media.

Heni and some other journalists have been prosecuted under the provisions of decree 54, which punishes those accused of spreading false news with a prison sentence of up to 10 years.

The legislation is being used to silence journalists and opponents of the president, Anthony Bellanger, the general secretary of the IFJ, said earlier this week, accusing the Tunisian government of attacking journalists.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

A mobile phone app which helps patients with alcohol-related liver disease to stay sober could help save hundreds of lives every year, according to researchers from UCL and the Royal Free Hospital who developed the app.

The study, published in the journal JHEP Reports, found that 57% of those using the AlcoChange app remained abstinent over a three-month period, compared with just 22% of those who did not use the app regularly.

AlcoChange uses several behavioral change strategies, including a mobile phone-based breathalyzer and personalized messages, to help patients abstain, including telling them how much money they will save by not buying alcohol to sending them pictures of loved ones and providing them solutions to overcome cravings. The breathalyzer allows the patients to show their families and friends that they are sober, helping to build trust.

The trial resulted in fewer hospital admissions among the group using the appeven a year after they had stopped using it.

Dr. Gautam Mehta, first author of the study from UCL Division of Medicine and the Royal Free Hospital, said, "This pilot study is very promising and if the results are replicated in larger trials, we think that this could pave the way to using digital tools to provide high-intensity alcohol abstinence support in people's own homes.

"It has the potential to be particularly useful, given that few patients receive medication or talking therapy to help maintain abstinence. Alcohol-related liver disease is an increasing health problem worldwide, with a huge cost to health systems.

"In the group who were using the app, there were fewer hospital readmissions, which ultimately could lead to fewer people dying of this disease, which worldwide kills an estimated three million people every year."

Professor Rajiv Jalan, senior author of the study from UCL Division of Medicine and the Royal Free Hospital, said, "It is exciting to see the positive results of this study. Harnessing digital technology has the potential to revolutionize the management of patients with liver disease as it can be delivered continuously at home, reducing the need for patients having to travel and impacting dramatically on costs of health care delivery."

AlcoChange was developed by Cyberliver Ltd, a UCL spin-out company co-founded by Professor Jalan.

A larger randomized nationwide study has now been launched to establish which patients are likely to benefit the most and evaluate its cost-effectiveness.

Susan (not her real name), 50, from north London, was one of the original participants in the initial AlcoChange study. For Susan an abusive relationship had led to depression and anxiety, which she had sought to numb by drinking.

She said, "I'd ended up as an inpatient undergoing a detox at the Royal Free Hospital because I'd been drinking up to three bottles of wine a day and frankly I jumped at the chance to take part in the study.

"What really helped me was when I clicked on the app to report I was having a craving a picture of my daughter came up which reinforced for me why I wanted to stop drinking. I found it incredibly easy to use and there's nothing like it out there which compares with it. I also loved the breathalyzer part of it. It took a picture of you while you were using it and showed your score so you could prove you weren't drinking to others."

Susan said although she was still struggling with her relationship with alcohol, she was now getting support from a charity for her addiction.

She added, "I didn't start drinking again until after the trial was over. Personally, it was a great experience for me and to be honest I was gutted when the trial finished. I think for someone like me who is confident using their smartphone it was good to have something so accessible and interactive."

More information: Gautam Mehta et al, AlcoChange: a digital therapeutic for patients with alcohol-related liver disease, JHEP Reports (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2023.100993
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:

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School connectednessthe degree to which students feel part of their school communityinfluences more than grades. For Black students, it's a protective factor against depression and aggressive behavior later in life, according to a Rutgers University-New Brunswick study.

"Our data provide fairly strong evidence for the idea that the experiences Black adolescents have in their school impacts their long-term mental health," said Adrian Gale, an assistant professor in the Rutgers School of Social Work, and lead author of the study published in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence.

Researchers have long understood the benefits of school connectedness for youth well-being and physical health outcomes. But most research into the topic has been focused on White adolescents, with limited research exploring the relationship among Black youth, Gale said.

To address this gap, Gale and Lenna Nepomnyaschy, an associate professor in the Rutgers School of Social Work, analyzed longitudinal data from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS), a population-based birth cohort study following children born in large United States cities between 1998 and 2000.

From the total cohort of nearly 5,000 children included in the FFCWS, Gale and Nepomnyaschy identified 1,688 who self-identified as Black or African American, were interviewed at ages 9 and 15, and whose primary caregivers were interviewed at the 15-year follow-up.

At age 9, participants were asked about their connectedness to schools. Participants were asked to rate the frequency they felt "part of your school, close to people at your school, happy to be at your school, and safe at school." Six years later, caregivers were asked about their children's propensity for aggressive behaviors, and youth reported their experiences of depression.

Using these data as inputs, the researchers then used linear regression models to control for variables that could influence the association between school connectedness, depression and aggressive behaviors. Covariates included family characteristics, mother's education, neighborhood characteristics and perceived neighborhood disordersuch as the presence of garbage.

Even with this "rich set of child, parent, family, neighborhood and school-district characteristics that could potentially confound the associations between school connectedness and mental health," the researchers said they found evidence that early school connectedness may reduce depressive symptoms and aggressive behaviors later in life. The association was strongest for girls.

"These findings demonstrate that when Black children felt connected to their school at age 9, they had fewer depressive symptoms and less aggressive behavior issues as adolescents," Gale said. "Simply put, when Black kids feel closely tied to their school, their mental health benefits."

Gale said these findings have implications for school districts nationwide and should be viewed as more evidence to support increased school funding.

"School connectedness, no matter how it's defined, is about the relationships people in school have with one another," he said. "The extent that you can improve the quality of those individual relationshipswith funding for smaller classes, for exampleis what will lead to improved school connectedness and better student outcomes."

More information: Adrian Gale et al, School Connectedness and Mental Health Among Black Adolescents, Journal of Youth and Adolescence (2023). DOI: 10.1007/s10964-023-01898-0 Journal information: Journal of Youth and Adolescence
China speeds up fostering new drivers in foreign trade

09:18, January 05, 2024 By Du Haitao ( People's Daily

Photo shows container vessels at a terminal of the Haikou Port, south China's Hainan province. (People's Daily Online/Yang He)

The recently hosted central economic work conference stressed that it will be imperative to foster new drivers of foreign trade, reinforce the stable performance in foreign trade and foreign investment, and expand trade in intermediate goods, trade in services, digital trade and exports of cross-border e-commerce.

In 2023, China's foreign trade sector has withstood external pressures and continued to demonstrate its resilience.

Recently, the first batch of 50 new energy buses made by Chinese bus manufacturer Higer Bus were shipped from the Taicang port in east China's Jiangsu province, heading to Brazil.

With the support from the local customs, hawthorns grown in Laiwu, east China's Shandong province were exported to Thailand for the first time.

Last year, China faced a complex and challenging external environment, as well as multiple difficulties at home. Precise policy implementation, proactive efforts from businesses, and active market exploration have promoted stability and improved quality in China's imports and exports of goods amid uncertainties.

Since October 2023, China's foreign trade has shown year-on-year growth for two consecutive months. In November, the total imports and exports increased by 1.2 percent compared to the same period in 2022, 0.3 percentage points higher than that in October. These figures fully reflected the good momentum for steady and improving growth of China's foreign trade.

Photovoltaic modules are produced in a workshop of an energy technology company in east China's Zhejiang province. The photovoltaic modules will be exported to more than 40 countries. (People's Daily Online/Wu Xiaohong)

Foreign trade is one of the important driving forces of economic growth. Promoting the sector to stabilize the scale and optimize the structure has a crucial supportive role in maintaining stable growth and employment, building a new development pattern, and advancing high-quality development.

Currently, the number of foreign trade enterprises in China with import and export records has increased to 597,000, and the import and export value of enterprises that have stayed active since 2020 accounts for nearly 80 percent of the whole.

In the first 11 months of 2023, the imports and exports of general trade, which features longer industrial chains and relatively higher added value, accounted for 64.8 percent of China's total foreign trade, growing 1 percentage point year-on-year. This further reinforced the high-quality development of foreign trade.

In the first three quarters of 2023, the combined exports of new energy vehicles, lithium batteries, and photovoltaic products rose 41.7 percent year-on-year, with their share in China's total exports up by 1.3 percentage points from a year ago.

The world has entered a new period of turbulence and change. The momentum of world economic growth is sluggish. Destabilizing, uncertain and unpredictable factors are increasing.

Faced with a complex external environment, various regions and departments in China have enhanced the internal driving force with reform and opening up. They coordinated efforts to promote deepened reform and high-level opening up, continuously liberated and developed social productive forces, stimulated and enhanced social vitality, and accelerated the cultivation of new drivers of foreign trade, thus promoting the sustained improvement of foreign trade.

Ladder trucks manufactured by Qingdao Jiuhe Heavy Industry Machinery Co., Ltd. in east China's Shandong province go through inspection before being exported. (People's Daily Online/Liang Xiaopeng)

From the perspective of development trend, China's foreign trade in 2023 continued to consolidate the foundation of "stability" and kept the momentum of "progress," expanding the space for economic and trade cooperation.

China's exports of goods have been moving up the value chain. The share of electromechanical product exports in the total has expanded, and the exports of green, low-carbon and smart products have grown rapidly.

While fostering new drivers of foreign trade growth, China has not only focused on leveraging the new advantages of traditional products, but also continuously expanded new areas of growth such as new energy vehicles, lithium batteries and photovoltaic products, so as to further utilize its advantages in new arenas.

China has employed digital technologies to improve the efficiency in all links of foreign trade, facilitate the foreign trade sector and unleash the vitality of foreign trade entities. At the same time, it has actively expanded trade in intermediate goods and expedited the growth of service trade.

With the continued strength of domestic policies to stabilize foreign trade and the steady progress of foreign trade reform measures, China's foreign trade will maintain stable growth, with continuous optimization of trade structure and strengthening of internal growth drivers.

Various regions and departments across China will prioritize efforts to accelerate the optimization and upgrading of the foreign trade structure. They will focus on cultivating new drivers of foreign trade growth that are technologically advanced, high value-added, green and low-carbon, to further promote high-quality development of the country's foreign trade sector.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
Indiana Democrats and some Republicans will once again seek to pass legislation legalizing marijuana during the 2024 legislative session, which begins on Monday.

Past attempts at liberalizing Indianas marijuana laws have proved fruitless. During last years legislative session, more than a dozen bills that would have loosened restrictions on the drug to varying degrees  from legalizing adult recreational use or medical use to decriminalizing possession of small amounts  all failed in the Statehouse, where Republicans hold a supermajority in both chambers.

Cannabis is one issue where Indiana has set itself apart from its neighbors. Michigan and Illinois legalized recreational marijuana in 2018 and 2020, respectively. Ohio, where Republicans control the governors mansion and both chambers of the state legislature, became the latest state to join them in November. So far, 24 states have legalized recreational marijuana and a majority of Americans now live in a state where cannabis can be accessed legally. The Hoosier state is one of just 12 holdouts that allow neither medical nor recreational cannabis use.

A marijuana joint is passed along during The Original Cannabis Crown at the Hartford Motor Speedway in Hartford, Michigan Friday August 27, 2022. The Original Cannabis Crown is a two-day event featuring cannabis products, live music, art and vendors. (Andy Lavalley for the Post-Tribune)

State Sen. Rodney Pol, D-Chesterton, hopes to change that. He told the Post-Tribune that he is optimistic that his bill  which would legalize the use of cannabis by adults over 21 and anyone with a serious medical condition as designated by a physician  will pass.

The legislation would create a state level cannabis commission to oversee, implement, and enforce regulations on cannabis products grown and sold in the state. Marijuana-related products, including CBD, Delta-8 and Delta-9 products, can be legally sold in Indiana, but they are not overseen by a state regulatory body.

In November, Pol participated in a meeting of the Interim Study Committee on Commerce and Economic Development, which heard six hours of testimony related to marijuana legalizations potential impacts from medical and legal experts.

Delton Huffman, of Michigan City, Indiana, takes part in the two-day Original Cannabis Crown event at the Hartford Motor Speedway in Hartford, Michigan Friday August 27, 2022. This was the first year for two-day Original Cannabis Crown which featured live music, food and vendors. (Andy Lavalley for the Post-Tribune)

It was a great conversation, he said, though the committee ultimately did not arrive at any recommendations for the 2024 session. I thought there was a lot of good information that was presented.

Pol pointed to recent moves by the White House toward a more liberal stance on marijuana, which remains federally illegal, as cause for hope. In October of 2022, President Joe Biden announced a pardon of all prior federal offenses for simple possession of marijuana and urged governors to follow suit at the state level. Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb has indicated that he would not do so unless federal cannabis laws change. Biden also directed the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Attorney General to begin a review of how marijuana is scheduled under federal law.

The federal government currently classifies cannabis in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, a designation reserved for the most dangerous drugs that also includes LSD and heroin. On Aug. 29, HHS recommended to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) that marijuana be moved from Schedule I to Schedule III, the designation given to ketamine, anabolic steroids, and testosterone.

Reclassifying marijuana as a Schedule III drug would reduce the tax burden on marijuana businesses by allowing them to deduct business expenses associated with cannabis production from their taxable income. In December, five governors signed a letter to Biden urging him to ensure that the proposal goes into effect before the end of the year. Pol sees the still-looming possibility of rescheduling as one of the biggest winds at our back for state-level legalization advocates.

That tears away yet another one of the barriers that we continuously hear about at the Statehouse, he said. As time has moved on, all of the factors have really been in favor of moving toward legalization.

Pols legislation, Senate Bill 99, was referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce and Technology, along with a similar bill authored by Sen. David Niezgodski, D-South Bend, and a medical-only cannabis bill authored by Sen. Greg Taylor, D-Indianapolis.

Another medical cannabis bill, authored by Rep. Jim Lucas, R-Seymour, was referred to the House Committee on Public Health. Lucas, unlike many of his GOP colleagues, has been a consistent advocate for loosening cannabis laws and has introduced medical marijuana and decriminalization legislation in past sessions.

Lucas believes that the 2024 session will more than likely not see movement on cannabis legalization.

Thats just because of leadership, he told the Post-Tribune. They keep kicking the can down the road.

Like Pol, Lucas supports the legalization and regulation of adult use cannabis. He has offered more modest proposals so far as a matter of political expediency.

Right now, to think that we are controlling it is an insult to all rational, logical thinking human beings out there because were not, he said. You can get it in any middle school or prison.

Medical marijuana is, to Lucas, the bare minimum. He pointed to the support of veterans groups like the American Legion, which in 2016 adopted a resolution urging the DEA to license privately-funded medical marijuana production operations in the United States to enable safe and efficient cannabis drug development research and to remove the drug from Schedule I.

Neither Sen. Brian Buchanan, R-Lebanon, who chairs the Commerce and Technology Committee, nor ranking member Eric Koch, R-Bedford, returned a request for comment.

Former state Sen. Karen Tallian, D-Ogden Dunes, who was succeeded by Pol in her 4th District seat after she resigned mid-term in 2021, was a longtime supporter of cannabis legalization. Her decision to leave the Senate, she said at the time, was motivated by a sense of frustration with Statehouse Republicans stonewalling of liberal action items.

Some time in the future, maybe near, maybe nearer than you think, Indiana will join the rest of the country and address the marijuana question, Tallian, a 16-year State House veteran said on the Senate floor. And when you do, think of me.

adalton@chicagotribune.com
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

University of Pennsylvania's Abramson Cancer Center is attempting to address one of the most common challenges cancer patients face: Lack of transportation to critically important appointments. Now in its fifth year, the cancer center's transportation program provides free rides to hundreds of cancer patients and has recently expanded to include certain cancer screening appointments, such as colonoscopies and mammograms.

The program is part of a community outreach initiative to address barriers to care. Organizers say it has helped reduce appointment no-shows and enabled more patients to enroll in clinical trials that require repeat visits to medical clinics.

Just 2% of Abramson's hematology oncology patients missed their appointments between July and November of last yeardramatically lower than the double-digit no-show rates that are common among cancer centers. And 24% of Abramson patients were enrolled in a clinical trial in 2021, up from 12% five years earlier.

The gains can't entirely be attributed to the transportation program. But in an interview with The Inquirer, Abramson Director Robert Vonderheide cited the program as a critical component in the cancer center's strategy for improving access to treatment and clinical trials, especially among Black and Latino patients, who experience higher rates of missed appointments and who are underrepresented in clinical trials.

"These things sometimes don't sound so breakthrough, compared to a new cell or gene therapy," he said. "But imagine if we solved the transportation barrier for patients."

Penn launched its rideshare program in 2017 through a pilot with Ride Health, a New York-based health-care company founded by Penn graduate Imran Cronk.

As an undergraduate studying hospital administration, Cronk volunteered in a North Carolina hospital, helping patients navigate the emergency department. Late one night, he met an elderly patient who had been discharged but had no one to pick him up and no money to pay for a cab or bus ride home. Cronk decided to drive him.

"It got me thinking how often this must happen," he recalled.

About 5% of people nationwide have missed medical care in the last year because they didn't have transportation, according to a nationally representative health-care survey of 9,000 adults by the Urban Institute, a nonprofit research organization.

Black and Hispanic patients, as well as those with lower incomes, were most likely to miss medical appointments due to lack of transportation, according to the study. Twenty-one percent of people who didn't have a car and lived in a neighborhood with limited public transit said they'd missed an appointment in the last year because they had no way to get there.

Transportation is one of the primary issues that cancer patients encounter, said Heather Sheaffer, director of patient and family services at Abramson. Many have treatment plans calling for lots of appointments and often are not allowed to drive themselves home because of the medications they receive.

"People are so stressed out and feel a lack of control of what's happening in their lives when they're diagnosed with cancer," she said. "This is one thing we can say, "Your ride fell apart? We'll fix it. You're not going to miss your appointment.'"

Before patients begin treatment at Abramson, they're assigned a social worker or case manager who talks to them about the logistics of their care, including how they will get to their appointments. Patients who don't have reliable transportation are eligible for the rideshare program.

Case managers use an online portal to request the type of ride their patient needs. Ride Health partners with Uber and Lyft, as well as medical vans and private ambulances when needed.

In a typical month, Penn schedules about 150 rides a month for patients getting treatment at Abramson's main location and satellite offices in Valley Forge, Radnor, and Cherry Hill.

Last year, Penn expanded the effort to include patients who need a lift to get preventive cancer screenings, such as colonoscopies and mammograms.

Carmen Guerra, a Penn professor of medicine who specializes in cancer health equity, said that improving screening rates and diagnosing cancer earlier could reduce overall treatment costs for patients. The initiative could save money for health systems, too, if the cost of rides to screening exams is less than the cost of missed cancer treatment appointments.

"It makes so much sense to invest in helping patients access a $15 ride to get a potentially lifesaving test, rather than waiting until they end up in the ER," she said.

2024 The Philadelphia Inquirer, LLC. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

In a scientific breakthrough that aids our understanding of the internal wiring of immune cells, researchers at Monash University in Australia have cracked the code behind Ikaros, an essential protein for immune cell development and protection against pathogens and cancer.

This disruptive research, led by the eminent Professor Nicholas Huntington of Monash University's Biomedicine Discovery Institute, is poised to reshape our comprehension of gene control networks and its impact on everything from eye color to cancer susceptibility and design of novel therapies. The study, published in Nature Immunology, promises pivotal insights into the mechanisms safeguarding us against infections and cancers.

When the transcription factor Ikaros/Ikzf1 was deliberately obstructed, whether in preclinical models or humans, the once-mighty activity of natural killer (NK) cells, our immune system's frontline warriors, plummeted. Loss of this transcription factor in NK cells resulted in widespread dysregulation of NK cell development and function, preventing their ability to recognize and kill virus-infected cells and clear metastatic tumor cells from circulation.

Aiolos/Ikzf3 and Helios/Ikzf2, a related family member, were found to partially compensate for the loss of Ikaros, as such when multiple IKZF-family members were inhibited, NK cells underwent rapid death. Mechanistically, Aiolos and Ikaros were found to directly bind and activate most members of the JUN/FOS family, transcription factors known for their essential roles in human embryo development and tissue function.

This discovery opens the door to the prospect of potential novel cancer therapeutics. NK cells, our first line of defense against pathogens and internal threats like cancers, could be fortified by therapies enhancing their killing prowess by targeting Ikaros and JUN/FOS biology.

Professor Huntington notes that drugs targeting Ikaros/Aiolos have already received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and local Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for the treatment of B cell malignancy.

He noted, "But until now we haven't understood how these drugs work. Armed with this new information, it could be possible to develop novel drugs targeting these complexes which may offer differentiated pharmacology and therapeutic index for treating disease."

Importantly on this front, Professor Huntington's team was able to show that Ikaros had a conserved role in healthy B cells and thus potentially B cell cancers.

More information: IKAROS and AIOLOS directly regulate AP-1 transcriptional complexes and are essential for NK cell development, Nature Immunology (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41590-023-01718-4 Journal information: Nature Immunology
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Credit: RDNE Stock project from Pexels

For military veterans, many of the deepest wounds of war are invisible: Traumatic brain injuries resulting from head trauma or blast explosions are a leading cause of post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression and suicide among veterans. Few treatments have been effective at diminishing the long-term effects of TBI, leaving many veterans feeling hopeless.

Now, Stanford researchers have discovered that the plant-based psychoactive drug ibogaine, when combined with magnesium to protect the heart, safely and effectively reduces PTSD, anxiety and depression and improves functioning in veterans with TBI. Their new study, published in Nature Medicine, includes detailed data on 30 veterans of U.S. special forces.

"No other drug has ever been able to alleviate the functional and neuropsychiatric symptoms of traumatic brain injury," said Nolan Williams, MD, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences. "The results are dramatic, and we intend to study this compound further."

Alternative options

Traumatic brain injury is defined as a disruption in the normal functioning of the brain resulting from external forcessuch as explosions, vehicle collisions or other bodily impacts. The trauma associated with TBI can lead to changes in the function and/or structure of the brain, which, in turn, contributes to neuropsychiatric symptoms.

Hundreds of thousands of troops serving in Afghanistan and Iraq have sustained TBIs in recent decades, and these injuries are suspected of playing a role in the high rates of depression and suicide seen among military veterans. With mainstream treatment options not fully effective for some veterans, researchers have sought therapeutic alternatives.

Ibogaine is a naturally occurring compound found in the roots of the African shrub iboga, and it has been used for centuries in spiritual and healing ceremonies. More recently, it has gained interest from the medical and scientific communities for its potential to treat opioid and cocaine addiction, and research has suggested that it increases signaling of several important molecules within the brain, some of which have been linked to drug addiction and depression.

Since 1970, ibogaine has been designated as a Schedule I drug, preventing its use within the U.S., but clinics in both Canada and Mexico offer legal ibogaine treatments.

"There were a handful of veterans who had gone to this clinic in Mexico and were reporting anecdotally that they had great improvements in all kinds of areas of their lives after taking ibogaine," Williams said. "Our goal was to characterize those improvements with structured clinical and neurobiological assessments."

Capturing 'before and after'

Williams and his colleagues at Stanford teamed up with VETS, Inc., a foundation that helps facilitate psychedelic-assisted therapies for veterans. With support from VETS, 30 special operations veterans with a history of TBI and repeated blast exposures, almost all of whom were experiencing clinically severe psychiatric symptoms and functional disabilities, had independently scheduled themselves for treatment with magnesium and ibogaine at a clinic in Mexico.

Before the treatment, Stanford researchers gauged the participants' levels of PTSD, anxiety, depression and functioning based on a combination of self-reported questionnaires and clinician-administered assessments. Participants then traveled to a clinic in Mexico run by Ambio Life Sciences, where under medical monitoring they received oral ibogaine along with magnesium to help prevent heart complications that have been associated with ibogaine. The veterans then returned to Stanford for post-treatment assessments.

"These men were incredibly intelligent, high-performing individuals who experienced life-altering functional disability from TBI during their time in combat," Williams said. "They were all willing to try most anything that they thought might help them get their lives back."

At the beginning of the study, participants were experiencing clinically significant levels of disability as measured by the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Scale 2.0, which assesses disability in six functional domains, including cognition, mobility, self-care, getting along, life activities and community participation. In addition, 23 met the criteria for PTSD, 14 for an anxiety disorder and 15 for alcohol use disorder. In their lifetimes, 19 participants had been suicidal and seven had attempted suicide.

Life-changing results

On average, treatment with ibogaine immediately led to significant improvements in functioning, PTSD, depression and anxiety. Moreover, those effects persisted until at least one month after treatmentthe endpoint of the study.

Before treatment, the veterans had an average disability rating of 30.2 on the disability assessment scale, equivalent to mild to moderate disability. One month after treatment, that rating improved to 5.1, indicating no disability. Similarly, one month after treatment, participants experienced average reductions of 88% in PTSD symptoms, 87% in depression symptoms and 81% in anxiety symptoms relative to how they were before ibogaine treatment. Formal cognitive testing also revealed improvements in participants' concentration, information processing, memory and impulsivity.

"I wasn't willing to admit I was dealing with any TBI challenges. I just thought I'd had my bell rung a few timesuntil the day I forgot my wife's name," said Craig, a 52-year-old study participant from Colorado who served 27 years in the U.S. Navy. "Since [ibogaine treatment], my cognitive function has been fully restored. This has resulted in advancement at work and vastly improved my ability to talk to my children and wife."

"Before the treatment, I was living life in a blizzard with zero visibility and a cold, hopeless, listless feeling," said Sean, a 51-year-old veteran from Arizona with six combat deployments, who participated in the study and says ibogaine saved his life. "After ibogaine, the storm lifted."

Importantly, there were no serious side effects of ibogaine and no instances of the heart problems that have occasionally been linked to ibogaine. During treatment, veterans reported only typical symptoms such as headaches and nausea.

Lessons for PTSD, depression and anxiety

Williams and his team are planning further analysis of additional data collected on the veterans but not included in the current study, including brain scans that could help reveal how ibogaine led to improvements in cognition. They also hope to launch future studies to further understand how the drug might be used to treat TBI.

However, they think ibogaine's drastic effects on TBI also suggest that it holds broader therapeutic potential for other neuropsychiatric conditions. "In addition to treating TBI, I think this may emerge as a broader neuro-rehab drug," Williams said. "I think it targets a whole host of different brain areas and can help us better understand how to treat other forms of PTSD, anxiety and depression that aren't necessarily linked to TBI."
When Missoula County and the city of Missoula adopted Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion bylaws in December, the decision came after much mental wrangling on the part of many elected officials.

Missoula County Commissioner Josh Slotnick, for instance, initially hesitated to support the JEDI effort.

I struggled with this at the very beginning, Slotnick said. How are we going to evaluate this? Crunch the numbers, how are we going to know if we succeeded or not? It took me a while to wrap my mind around this, that that isnt quite the way to look at this just yet.

To Slotnick and the many supporters of JEDI work, simply kicking off the initiative is in itself a success. Missoula has never taken a concerted approach to addressing inequities baked into and perpetuated by local government.

Trust the process

The problem JEDI seeks to address, according to the citys JEDI Specialist Alex Lawson, is underrepresentation of traditionally marginalized identities in Missoulas civic life. Lawson cited sobering statistics, like Missoula County Public Schools data that demonstrates 10% of enrolled students are Native, yet that group makes up 27% of those who do not graduate.

People who are Native account for less than 2% of Missoulas overall population, Lawson went on, but they make up 14% of the local incarcerated population. Additionally, 25% of the local unhoused population is Native, Lawson said.

If you look at the data, there is a very clear picture that there are disparities in our community, Lawson said. And the whole point of JEDI is to hold local government to a standard of accountability that we are going to recognize our part in maybe contributing to those disparities.

To put JEDI into practice, Lawson wants to take that information and use it to inform code reform, zoning updates and internal government practices. The next step is a needs assessment of internal operations to make sure recruitment and retention are inclusive of diverse Missoulians. But Lawson and her colleagues recognize the process will be messy, and they will make mistakes along the way.

Its a sensitive topic and its also something that is new, said Mayor Andrea Davis. And so it feels like you can say something wrong that could polarize the issue further when that is not your intention. Just by having that conversation and being vulnerable to that point is progress in and of itself.

Davis previously worked on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the nonprofit Homeword. She urged her partners in the JEDI effort at the city and county to embrace the uncertainty inherent in the process.

I think one of the things we hear a lot in this work is imperfect progress, said Elisha Buchholz, Missoula County equity coordinator. If you wait for perfection, it will never happen.

Buchholz offered colleague Rozlyn Haleys metaphor comparing JEDI work to a potluck, in the sense that adding more diverse representation doesnt diminish the amount of food available to each person. Instead, diversification and inclusivity make it so that even more options are on the table.

That comparison gets at the mentality that Buchholz shares with Lawson, Davis and Slotnick. They see the JEDI initiative as a way to move forward, not a chance to reopen old wounds.

Our goal isnt to lay blame, Buchholz added. Our goal is to identify the root cause so then we can fix it.

An abusive relationship

But as rosy a picture as Buchholz paints, not everyone is on board with JEDI work. Longtime City Councilor Heidi West from Ward 1 declined to seek reelection this year, in part because of her struggles with the JEDI push.

I just was so disappointed, said West, referring to a report the city conducted to learn about disparities. I just was devastated. I bawled my eyes out. What are we doing?

West, who identifies as a Big L and little l liberal, doesnt deny there are inherent inequities in Missoula. In fact, she spearheaded an effort to redirect JEDI funding toward Lowell Schools after-school program. The innovative program serves a population with a generally lower socioeconomic status than much of Missoula, and West thought adding support for that service would directly address the issues at the heart of JEDI.

But she takes serious issue with JEDI work as its been laid out at the city and county. For one thing, West explained, she feels the new JEDI board transcends the traditional checks and balances that make government accountable and effective.

Its gameable, West said. If its a system thats being kept in place by a couple people with good intentions, its not good enough.

For West, the imperfect progress discussed by some of her peers also isnt good enough. West wants measurable outcomes and standards to be put in place to determine whether JEDI is having its intended effect. Shes worried JEDI could exacerbate the gulf between people and foster animosity.

Past discrimination cant be solved with current discrimination, said West. Its gaslighting. Its almost like an abusive relationship.

West believes many of the other changes proposed by JEDI proponents are equally counterproductive. Shes troubled by language shifts, for example, because she feels they create a power dynamic bestowing control to those who insist on particular verbiage. Using certain words and phrases, West explained, can cover up inherently prejudiced beliefs and systemic issues at play.

Ive been told Im in a position of power, West said at a City Council meeting when discussing JEDI. It is a statement that has always confused me. I do not feel powerful.

West thinks JEDI isnt nuanced enough to account for experiences like hers as a low-income Missoulian at one time. By privileging certain hardships over others, she said, JEDI pits people against each other instead of bringing them together.

You either buy in or you get out, she said. We are not creating an inclusive space. The only way to move forward is through slow and incremental change. There are no winners and losers.

Think bigger

Max Cumming is a Jewish pro-Palestine organizer in Missoula who is equally troubled by the city and countys JEDI efforts  but for different reasons. Cumming, unlike West, supports JEDIs essential intentions. But hes concerned the rollout doesnt go far enough.

JEDI is an attempt to address a problem that absolutely is in need of attention and addressing, said Cumming. That is a good thing.

For Cumming, theres no question that white supremacy, misogyny, homophobia and transphobia, and the legacy of colonialism in Montana all contribute to current circumstances around Missoula. The problem, he said, is in taking on these massive structures too superficially.

None of this can replace challenging these power structures, said Cumming. Its not going to happen at the level of staff trainings. Those are cosmetic changes, but theyre still important.

Cumming wants to see transformational changes at a fundamental level. He believes theres the political will and human capacity in Missoula to make those big shifts.

That would look like, in Cummings vision, serious conversations about Indigenous sovereignty, reparations and empowerment of Missoulas unhoused population. One of Cummings top causes these days is a ceasefire in Gaza, an effort he believes the City Council should back if members are dedicated to JEDI principles.

If were committed to justice, we shouldnt be bombing civilians, he said. I think its so imperative to start at the local level and engage with this issue.

Like the JEDI backers at the city and county, Cumming recognizes JEDI work will be imperfect no matter what. Thats not a barrier, in his eyes, to giving it a shot.

We dont have to continue reaffirming broken structures and systems, he said. Its incumbent on us to consciously decide to leave systems of oppression behind. Ultimately, JEDI is the most important work, but we have to think bigger.
The prevailing assumption suggests the great gray owl, being a tree-cavity nester, mistook the vault toilets ventilation pipe as an appealing hole worth investigating.

Instead, on Dec. 9, the pipe led the large, majestic bird into the bottom of the Forest Service toilet near Georgetown Lake, where she became trapped.

Anglers who were ice fishing noticed the owl in the latrine and reported the birds plight to Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks game wardens.

Typically, grates block air ventilation pipes for vault toilets to prevent such owl entrapments, but the Forest Service said weather and wear and tear can displace the grates.

The female owl that was trapped, too big to coax back out of the angled pipe.

Lara Chodelski, wildlife biologist for the Pintler Ranger District of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, responded to the scene.

Owls are not birds that commonly fly directly upwards from standing and are built to sweep outwards from trees, Chodelski said.

With assistance from FWP game wardens Ezra Ginzberg and Sara Basso, and clad in nice, tall rain boots, Chodelski climbed down into the toilet  which had been recently pumped.

It wasnt bad, she said.

A report from the Forest Service described the owl as very cooperative and bemused by the situation. Chodelski wrapped the bird in a towel and passed her to the wardens.

The great gray owl got a ride to the Wild Skies Raptor Center in Missoula for an evaluation and clearance for release, which happened last week in the vicinity of Georgetown Lake.

The Forest Service said great gray owls have long been known to nest around Georgetown Lake, usually in tree cavities.
Charging international tourists more to visit U.S. national parks has the potential to raise millions of dollars in fees that could help offset costs for park infrastructure, staffing and maintenance.

Thats the gist of a new study written by Tate Watkins, a research fellow at the Bozeman-based Property and Environment Research Center. The center touts as its goal finding market solutions for conservation issues.

Based on his research, Watkins said about 14 million people from other countries visit a national park each year. If they paid a $25 surcharge the parks system could raise around $330 million annually, he calculated.

At Yellowstone National Park, a modest surcharge on overseas visitation would likely double revenues from gate fees, while a higher one could triple current receipts, Watkins wrote.

Yellowstone and Glacier currently charge $35 per private vehicle to enter the park. An annual pass is $70 and an interagency pass, good at all national parks, costs $80. Eighty-percent of entrance fees remain in the parks. Those fees generated an estimated $12.1 million for Yellowstone.

Past ideas

Proposals to raise national park entrance fees have been floated in the past, but have always withered. In 2017, Montana Congressmen and then Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke proposed raising entrance fees for all visitors to $70 a vehicle at 17 of the nations most popular parks. The idea faced fierce headwinds since park passes had been boosted a year earlier.

The same year, the University of Montanas Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research authored a report looking at park entrance fee increases and the possible effect on gateway communities. The study estimated the Yellowstone area could see a loss of $3.4 million in revenue as some tourists would choose not to visit.

In 2019, then Wyoming Sen. Mike Enzi sponsored legislation to place a surcharge on foreign tourists visas. In 2021 the National Park System Advisory Board also considered the idea, but again it has never advanced beyond the idea phase.

Elsewhere

As Watkins noted, charging international tourists more to enter national parks is not unprecedented. His research showed foreign visitors to Galapagos Island pay $100 while Ecuadorians pay only $6. In Chile, international visitors to Torres del Paine National Park are charged $55 for extended visits compared to $14 for citizens.

The PERC researcher also noted out-of-state residents pay more for hunting and fishing licenses in many states. Using Montana as an example, he noted a nonresident may pay more than $1,200 for big game hunting licenses and permits compared to $50 for a resident.

Moreover, many states offer tiered pricing based on residency to visit state parks and campgrounds, often charging about $10 more per night, Watkins wrote.

Melissa Weddell, director of the Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research, said raising fees for international travelers is, a complex decision that involves weighing financial sustainability, visitor access, and public sentiment."

Budget talk

There is undoubtedly a need for additional park funding. The backlog of deferred maintenance at national parks was last estimated at $22 billion. In 2022, Yellowstone alone had a backlog estimated at $1 billion.

Although funding from the Great American Outdoors Act has provided money for recent infrastructure improvements, park budgets remain strained. According to reporting by Greenwire, Yellowstone had a budget of $36 million in 2020. Ten years earlier, its budget was $35 million. In that same period, visitation has risen by as much as 400,000 to 500,000 visitors, depending on the year. In roughly the same time period, National Park Service full-time employees have decreased by about 3,400 or 15%, according to the agency.

For too long, the National Park Service has been operating on a limited budget, dealing with decreases in staffing, increases in maintenance needs and record-high numbers of park visitors, said Emily Douce, National Parks Conservation Associations deputy vice president of Government Affairs, in an email.

Entrance and recreation fees are an important source of funding for parks, she noted, but should be used as a supplement, not a replacement, for congressional assistance.

NPCA supports efforts to tackle funding challenges in our parks with fees, but implementation is key, as is not increasing barriers for people to visit, she said. A fee for international visitors is a good idea. However, if implemented, that fee revenue must be used as Congress intended to supplement and not replace annual appropriations.

Suggestions

Watkins report outlines several possible ways to boost entrance fees, they include: authorizing park superintendents to implement the surcharge.

A degree of regional coordination could optimize fee structures by ensuring prices are harmonized across comparable parks, Watkins wrote. As an example, he said Utahs five largest parks might find it advantageous to coordinate pricing.

Implementing a fee for international visitors should be studied by park superintendents, Watkins suggested, in a search for solutions to overcome any challenges.

He also proposed parks experiment with different approaches to see what works and the logistical challenges involved.

If Congress decides to collect an international surcharge through visa fees or another indirect mechanism, then the revenue should be distributed to parks based on foreign visitation, Watkins wrote.

According to a 2016 study conducted in Yellowstone, 83% of Yellowstones visitors were from the United States with 17% from abroad. Of those international visitors, 49% were from Europe, 34% from China and 10% from Canada.
U.S. Sen. Jon Tester and several other Democratic lawmakers in tossup Senate races are asking the Biden administration to abandon plans for tougher air pollution standards for power plants.

In a letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan, the senators requested the agency collaborate with unions and power plant owners on maintaining affordable, reliable power; protecting American energy independence; protecting jobs; and lowering emissions.

Tester coauthored the letter with Sens. Sherrod Brown, of Ohio; Joe Manchin, of West Virginia; Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly of Arizona. Republicans have made flipping the seats in Arizona, Montana and West Virginia a 2024 priority. The Republicans benefit, Manchin has announced he wont seek re-election. Sinema has left the Democratic Party and is running as an Independent.

At issue are EPA plans for tighter limits on power plant greenhouse gas emissions. Power plants account for 25% of carbon dioxide emissions in the United States. The proposed New Source Performance Standards for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from New, Modified, and Reconstructed Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating Units would require power plant owners to capture most carbon dioxide emissions within 16 years.

Colstrip Power Plant is one of the nations biggest emitters of carbon dioxide pollution, with about 10.9 million tons emitted in 2021. Announcing the proposed limits in May, EPA Secretary Michael Regan said that innovative technology will be key to curbing greenhouse gases. But Tester and the other Democrats questioned whether the technology was far enough along to serve as a parachute for coal power.

Regan suggested in May that technology standards would compel power plants to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 617 million metric tons by 2042.

The pollution would likely be cut through best-available-science emissions controls, a pivot to cleaner burning fuels, or a combination of both.

The possibility of tougher pollution standards was met with alarm by two owners of Colstrip Power Plant, namely NorthWestern Energy and Talen Energy, both of which are trying to acquire more shares of Colstrip from owners facing bans on coal power in Washington and Oregon. NorthWestern expects to double its owned coal power generation in Montana at the end of 2025 and indicated it would be looking for more Colstrip power if it became available.

Kathleen Potter, Talen Energys senior environmental professional, told EPA the new standards would drive Colstrip into closure.

Talen has significant concerns about the proposal, particularly as it pertains to existing coal-fired steam generating units. The concerns stem from the unique circumstances of Colstrip, said Potter, in testimony to EPA. Per the Proposal, Colstrip would be forced to either: (1) retire by the end of 2031; (2) retire by the end of 2034 but adopt an annual capacity factor limit by 20 percent from 2030; (3) retire by the end of 2039 and co-fire 40 percent natural gas from 2030; or (4) operate past 2039 and install CCS with 90 percent carbon dioxide (CO2) capture by 2030. For it to operate beyond 2034, Colstrip would need to make massive capital investments, including on supporting infrastructure such as pipelines, to co-fire natural gas or to implement CCS. Colstrip currently does not have any ability to implement either technology.

Talen, the power plant operator at Colstrip, emerged from bankruptcy in late 2022. Potter told EPA that Colstrip would shut down rather than operate intermittently during times of peak demand.

Montanas congressional Republicans, Sen. Steve Daines and Reps. Matt Rosendale and Ryan Zinke were quick to blast the EPAs proposed rule in May. Zinke suggested the rule would lead to high priced electricity and brownouts.

The threat of shutdown over tougher pollution limits is similar to Colstrip owners response to the Clean Power Plan of the Barack Obama presidency. That plan proposed that each state as a whole meet tougher greenhouse gas emissions standards, which in Montanas case meant shutting down the two dirtiest of Colstrips four units. The Clean Power Plan died in court, while Colstrips Units 1 and 2 were shuttered for being uneconomical. But the politics of a Democratic president attempting to curb climate change, put the partys statewide elected officials on the hot seat in Montana.

Steve Bullock, Montanas former Democratic governor, accused President Obama of moving the goalposts of climate change policy to Montanas disadvantage. Bullock was up for reelection in 2016 when EPA informed Montana it would have to cut carbon emissions by 21%.

Votes in Rosebud Co.

Colstrip is in Rosebud County, which combined with neighboring Big Horn County, comprise the heart of Montana coal country. Both counties have coal-fired power plants, though Hardin Generation Station in Big Horn County operates little to not at all.

Both counties are home to Montanas largest, open-pit coal mines, which are also struggling. Big Horn Countys Decker Mine closed in early 2021 after losing its last powerplant customer. There were no takers for Decker Mine, which remains closed. The Absaloka mine, with mineral rights owned by the Crow Tribe of Indians, produced less than 2 million tons of coal in 2023 as its mainstay customer Sherburne County Generation Station in Minnesota transitions to solar power.

In Rosebud County, the closures of Colstrip Units 1 and 2 have cut into the coal production of Rosebud Mine. EPAs proposed greenhouse gas emissions are just one of the pollution regulations on the horizon that could drive up the cost of operating Colstrip. There are tougher mercury air toxics emissions standards in the works, as well.

Testers share of the vote in these two coal counties has been shrinking over the past three elections. Voting records show the Democrat won 55% of the vote in Rosebud County in 2006 when he unseated incumbent Republican Sen. Conrad Burns. In 2012, Tester won 48% of the vote. By 2018, he was down to 44%.

In Big Horn County, Testers share of the vote has slid from 74% in 2006 to 64% in 2018. In the 2018 election, Republicans were trying out a new slogan Big Horn Countys American Indian majority: A war on coal, is a war on Indian families.
The University of Montana Western's Department of Mathematics invites all interested high school juniors and seniors to compete in UMWs second annual BrainFest mathematical modeling competition Feb. 16 from 10 a.m.3 p.m. in the STC Great Room.

According to a university news release, during BrainFest contestants will work in small teams led by Montana Western math majors to model pterosaur hunting behaviors. A team of UMW mathematics professors will be present to pose questions and offer guidance throughout the process. Pterosaurs were reptilian cousins of dinosaurs.

This free event also includes lunch for all participants.

BrainFest will provide an opportunity to dive into an immersive, hands-on, problem-solving, mathematical experience  giving participants a taste of what Montana Western students and faculty do. The competition will conclude with presentations, and the competitors with the most effective models will receive a $500 scholarship to Montana Western.

Students interested in the following topics are encouraged to sign-up:

Mathematics and/or natural sciences

Problem solving

Asking questions and learning how to design a project to answer them

Working with peers, math major mentors, and/or math professors

Making connections

To register for the competition, visit bit.ly/47niCzO. Space is limited. For more information, contact Liz Wright at liz.wright@umwestern.edu.
Its been years since folks have used the copper-clad revolving door to come and go at the Butte-Silver Bow Courthouse  the peoples house in the Mining City for more than a century.

It was made by the Atchison Revolving Door Co., was part of the building completed in 1912 and was operational for decades. But it hasnt been accessible since the 1990s, perhaps even earlier.

John Sullivan, who manages Butte-Silver Bows government buildings, hopes to change that by landing a $10,000 grant, combining it with other funds and getting the door  or what many refer to as doors  restored to use.

Im actually really excited, Sullivan said. We dont have a town square in Butte so really, the courthouse becomes the defacto town square.

And the revolving door is truly the focal point of its most public facade.

Whats amazing is even now, when were out shoveling the stairs or if youre outside and around, how many people still come up to the center doors, Sullivan said.

They realize quickly that they have to use the side doors.

The Government Buildings Department will soon apply for a $10,000 grant from the Foundation of Montana History to help fund the project. Butte-Silver Bow commissioners OKd the request this week.

If the grant comes through, Sullivan hopes to cobble together existing funds and perhaps get additional grant money from other entities to cover the rest of the estimated $50,000 project.

Almost every part of the door  the trusses, the posts, the turnstile frames, the upper-ring structure, the supports  is plated in copper. The door is still operational  it still turns  but it needs repairs and renovations for regular use.

The hinges are coming off the center pole, Sullivan said. Its warped, its aged and they basically need to be broken down, rebuilt and probably re-covered with the copper sheeting. Some of the glass fittings, the locking mechanisms, the hinges, are in disrepair.

Ive talked to a couple of people back East who do repair and restoration type work and the big issue, the challenge were looking to overcome, is this is an Atchison door set, he said. They were one of the first revolving doors but theyre very rare.

Theres another company out there  that has parts more readily available, but thats going to be a challenge well be up against to keep it historically intact.

While Sullivan was explaining the doors parts and needed repairs, District Judge Kurt Krueger walked by and was pleased to hear about the project. Krueger is retiring at the end of this year after 24 years on the bench.

I was a young lawyer the last time I walked through those doors, he said.

Theophilus Van Kannel of Philadelphia was awarded the U.S. patent for the revolving door in 1888, and it soon became a feature of big city skyscrapers.

There are several reasons why, which the National Inventors Hall of Fame sum up this way:

The revolving door helped alleviate several problems associated with conventional doors. It served as an airlock, preventing the rapid influx of cold air into warm buildings on chilly, windy days. The revolving door also kept out street noises and fumes.

The door proved particularly useful in skyscrapers, where the pressure differences created by a large column of warm air inside the building and the outside cold air made conventional doors difficult to open or close. Architects also liked the doors, since moving from the small, enclosed space of a revolving door into a lobby made the space seem large and majestic.

In modern considerations, revolving doors save energy.

Theyre still used in construction today, Sullivan said. I dont know that they (those built now) will last 100 some years.

If the project pans out, the revolving door at the courthouse would be fully functional and back in action, perhaps for years and years.

Were going to try to get it as much back to the original as possible, hopefully the entire thing, Sullivan said.
You are here: Arts

French musical "Romeo and Juliet" is touring Chinese cities this summer. [Photo/Xinhua]



Hundreds of cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and France will be held in 2024 during the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism.

The announcement was jointly made by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the French Embassy in China on Thursday at a press conference.

The year 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and France, and is also the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism.

A series of activities covering performing arts, visual arts, cultural heritage, and tourism promotion, among others, will be held, including an opening concert, a tourism promotion event, and an exhibition featuring China's Forbidden City and France's Palace of Versailles.
A Billings man admitted Friday to threatening to kill Montana U.S. Senator Jon Tester in voicemail messages, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

Anthony James Cross, 30, pleaded guilty to threats to injure and murder a United States Senator. Cross faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The court set sentencing for May 1. Cross was detained pending further proceedings.

Under the terms of a plea agreement in the case, if the court accepts the agreement at sentencing, the government will seek to dismiss count two of the indictment, which charges Cross with threats against the president.

At 5:34 a.m. and 5:37 a.m. on April 17, two voicemails were left at Sen. Jon Testers Billings, Montana and Washington, D.C. offices. In the first voicemail, the caller stated that Jon Testeris gonna die a horrible death and so is your familyyoure not gonna do anything about this.

In the second voicemail, the caller stated, I swear to God, you and your family will suffer such a horrendous death. And its not going to be by some white boy, no its gonna be by some Indian like meIm gonna kill every single one of your (obscenity) family members. Law enforcement determined that the phone number associated with the calls was attributed to Cross.

On April 25, Google contacted the FBI regarding multiple comments made to YouTube videos flagged as threatening. The comments were attributed to Crosss YouTube account. Some of the comments made in April included:

 Im going to kill every trans I see.

 We are actively hunting down and killing any trans in our major cities. You wont hear about it until Trump overcomes his indictment and Biden loses the re-election.

 I will personally kill Joe Biden.

During an interview with law enforcement, Cross admitted to making the comments posted on YouTube and to using his cellular phone to make the comments.

The FBI and United States Secret Service conducted the investigation.
The Governments Care Reform Strategy for Kenya 20222032 Children Reintegration Program has provided training to a total of 12 foster care families.

This decade-long initiative aims, among other goals, to ease the responsibility of caring for vulnerable children in Charitable Children Institutions (CCI) and to reintegrate them into families and the community.

The program, based on the Children Act of 2022, seeks to transform former Charitable Children Institutions (CCIs) into community facilities. Here, previously rescued children can seek guidance and counseling services before returning to their homes.

Mwaniki Kungu, the Nyeri County Director of Children Services, stated that his office has engaged all pertinent stakeholders in the program, including managers of all 28 CCIs in the county, to ensure a smooth transition in executing the process.

We have 28 Children Homes in Nyeri and all are engaged in this process. So far, we have trained 12 foster care families that are ready to take the children. We are doing the sensitization for all the stakeholders, including the police, the judiciary, parents, and churches, so that this project succeeds, because without the participation of all stakeholders, this can be sabotaged. It can fail, he told KNA.

The officer also dispelled the myth suggesting that children in Charitable Children Institutions (CCIs) receive better care compared to those in natural settings. Instead, he advocated for the family as the optimal environment for nurturing children into responsible adults.

Mwaniki emphasized that while childrens homes play a crucial role in rescuing and caring for children from violent and abusive homes, the family remains the only haven capable of guaranteeing these victims a sense of belonging and identity.

He highlighted that the government intends to promote the family, whether biological or otherwise, as the ideal solution to address the challenges associated with abused children residing away from their families.

What we are talking about is called the Care Reform Strategy for Kenya 2022-2032. It is government-funded, and it is taking ten years, from 2022 to 2032.It is also captured in the transitional clauses of the Children Act of 2022. Basically, this is what we are calling de-institutionalization, or removing children from institutions, because research has shown that children growing up in such environments dont develop as normally as other children who are brought up in family setups, Mwaniki explained.
The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has denounced a viral online post claiming that the taxman plans to inspect and conduct a census of home appliances in each household.

Anonymous individuals shared the poster featuring the KRA logo, urging all Kenyans who own television sets to ensure they obtain operating licenses.

Please note that starting 2024, televisions will be required to have operating licenses. TulipeUshuru Tujitegemee, the post said.

The statement indicated that KRA would dispatch field marshals to every county to inventory all home appliances and initiate assessments aligned with filed tax returns.

But the taxman on Thursday issued a statement, dismissing the reports as fake. KRA further warned Kenyans against being deceived.

Fake news!! Dont be a victim of misinformation! the taxman said.
Homicide detectives have exhumed suspected remains of Sylvanus Tubei, the former Managing Director of the Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA), who has been missing since 2012.

On Thursday, the investigators exhumed the remains from a shallow grave located 50 meters from Mr. Tubeis luxurious residence at Kapyemit Village, Chepkurmum sub-Location in Keiyo South, Elgeyo Marakwet County.

A farm worker clearing a thicket on the 60-acre farm discovered the human remains wrapped in a blanket on December 31, 2024.

This prompted detectives to seek a court order from the Iten magistrates court to exhume the remains. They secured the order on Wednesday with a view to reviving a case that fell apart 10 years ago.

On Thursday, the homicide squad investigators from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) announced their intention to conduct a DNA test on the remains to confirm whether they belong to Tubei.

Court Released Estranged Wife And Another Suspect

In the event of a positive DNA match, the DCI stated its commitment to reopening the case that had been dismissed by the courts due to insufficient evidence, leading to the release of the former MDs estranged wife and another suspect.

Authorities apprehended the estranged wife when she was found in possession of Mr. Tubeis cellphone.

Twelve years ago, when he was reported missing, family sources informed the media and the police that Tubei vanished from his home at 10 am on the morning of September 26.

Mr. Adan Dahir Abdullahi, the Keiyo South sub-County police commandant, said a new investigation would commence in light of the discovery of the remains.

He urged the public to provide any information that could help apprehend Tubeis killers.

Kibet Kitany, a pathologist at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital-Eldoret, who participated in the operation, reported that they found skeletonized remains of a human dressed in a black t-shirt and trousers, and covered with a blanket.

He mentioned that the samples collected during the process would be sent to the Government Chemist for additional analysis to determine the persons identity.

We have found samples that include bones belonging to a human. Analysis will establish the identity of the person, the pathologist said.

Tubei, the first Managing Director at KVDA, is credited with supervising the construction of the multi-billion Turkwel Dam and the development of the corporations 14-story headquarters in Eldoret.
California's recent approval of the controversial Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta tunnel water project is causing at least some ripples in Napa County, even though the tunnel would be some 40 miles away.

That's because the cities of Napa, American Canyon and Calistoga receive drinking water from the Delta. The source is Barker Slough along Highway 113 in rural Solano County, with the North Bay Aqueduct providing the connection through Jameson Canyon.

None of that would be changed by the Delta tunnel, should it ever be built in coming decades amid a variety of challenges. The 45-mile-long tunnel is to carry water for shipment to Southern and Central California.

Still, the tunnel would change the Delta water regime. Some of the Sacramento River water that presently runs through the Delta would instead be shipped under the Delta. The question is how that might affect Barker Slough.

The city of Napa has a stake in the answer. The city receives about 40% to 60% of its water from the Delta in any given year, with the rest coming from local reservoirs.

One concern is that environmental mitigation for the tunnel would include tidal habitat restoration in northeast Solano County. The fear is more tidal habitat might attract more longfin and Delta smelt to the Barker Slough pumping area, requiring more North Bay Aqueduct pumping restrictions.

The longfin smelt is listed as threatened and the Delta smelt as endangered under the state Endangered Species Act. Water pumps can suck up the fish and kill them.

Joy Eldredge, the city of Napa's deputy utilities director, said there have been North Bay Aqueduct pumping reductions in the January-to-March time frame because of smelt.

To date, it really hasnt affected our operations, Eldredge said. But its one of those things were still very cautious of and still very concerned about.

Another concern is whether the Delta tunnel project would affect water quality at Barker Slough. Less fresh water running from the mountains through the Delta could allow more salt water to intrude from the ocean, some tunnel critics say.

Napa and Solano officials have wondered, for example, whether the tunnel project could lead to an increase in bromide levels at Barker Slough. Bromide is associated with salinity.

Bromide can react with chemicals used during drinking-water treatment to form brominated trihalomethanes, which have been linked in studies to tumors and health problems. Fixing this problem results in higher water treatment costs.

The state points to computer models that show a Delta tunnel wouldnt cause additional water quality problems at Barker Slough. The Solano County Water Agency has expressed doubts that the model is accurate for the slough area.

For some 15 years, Solano and Napa counties have lobbied for what they see as the solution. They would like to create an alternate North Bay Aqueduct pumping location to Barker Slough, one in the Sacramento River north of the Delta.

Solano County Water Agency General Manager Chris Lee said the project could cost $650 million to $700 million or more.

The agency is doing studies to show that moving the North Bay Aqueduct would have multiple benefits, such as being good for fish habitat. Lee said that could help attract federal and state dollars. Local funds would also likely be needed.

The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is a 738,000-acre world of sloughs, wetlands, levees, farms and small towns. Its the hub for state and federal water systems that supply water to 25 million people, more than five-eighths of all Californians.

Delta tunnel proponents say a tunnel would help the state take advantage of intense winter flows. It would protect a major state water supply if an earthquake devastated the Deltas fragile levee system and allowed seawater intrusion.

This proposed project is essential to updating our water system for millions of Californians, Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a news release. This new approach, redesigned following community and environmental input, is how we can build a California of the future.

Napa and Solano counties have only a small straw in the Delta with the State Water Projects Barker Slough pumps. But those pumps serve more than 400,000 people across the two counties.
AIZAWL: Mizoram chief minister Lalduhoma met union home minister Amit Shah at the latters office in New Delhi on Thursday (January 04).

During the meeting, Mizoram CM Lalduhoma discussed the Myanmar refugee issue with union home minister Amit Shah.

Amit Shah reportedly assured Mizoram chief minister Lalduhoma that no refugee from Myanmar will be sent back, until situation improves in the neighbouring country.

The union home minister also stressed upon the Mizoram CM on the need to collect biometric details of the Myanmar refugees taking shelter in the state.

Mizoram CM opposes India-Myanmar border fencing

Mizoram chief minister Lalduhoma said that any move to fence the Indo-Myanmar border was unacceptable for the Mizo people, an official statement

Mizoram shares a 510-km long unfenced porous border with Myanmar.

During a meeting with Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Delhi on Wednesday, Lalduhoma said that the British demarcated the present boundary between Mizoram and Myanmar against the consent of the Mizo people, the statement said.

He said that the British had separated the Mizos by carving out Burma from India and they divided the Mizo land into two parts.

The Mizo people consider the present Indo-Myanmar border as an imposed boundary and that is why we cant accept the border, Lalduhoma told Jaishankar in their first meeting after he became the chief minister of Mizoram on December 8.

Citing that the Mizo people still dream of re-unification under one administration, Lalduhoma said that any move to fence the Indo-Myanmar border will be unacceptable for the Mizos.

He said that the move to fence the Indo-Myanmar border would approve the border created by the British dividing the ethnic Mizos.

This came amid reports that the Centre plans to fence 300 km stretches of the unfenced border with Myanmar.

Sources also said that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is going to end the Free Movement Regime (FMR), which allows people living on both sides of the border to travel within 16 km without a visa

Four Indian states- Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh share 1,643 km long international border with Myanmar.
Azerbaijan and USA discuss Armenian-Azerbaijani issues

Putin: Russia may create a "sanitary zone" in Ukraine

Czech Rep. parliament speaker sends EU flag to Armenia colleague as token of support

Premier on Tavush Province meeting: I also showed here Armenia outline that I showed at press conference

Secretary General Stoltenberg's visit to Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia is historic NATO says

Aliyev renames Revival Square in occupied Stepanakert

Armenia opposition MP: PM told Tavush Province residents that 4 villages must be handed over to Azerbaijan immediately

Aliyev warmly congratulated Putin

Videos of Armenia PM Pashinyan's meetings in Tavush Province to be publicized later, spokesperson says (PHOTOS)

Young man throws stone at Armenia government building window

Armenia premier meets with Kirants village residents of Tavush Province (PHOTOS)

RFE/RL: Putin loses in Armenias Yerevan, wins in Gyumri in Russia presidential election

High-tech minister on removing Russia TV channels from multiplex: Armenia's dignity is at core of decisions

Kazakhstan FM considers it necessary to increase trade with Armenia

Armenia, Kazakhstan FMs discuss new logistical opportunities

Armenia 2041 Foundation launches Galvanizing Diaspora program

Kazakhstan FM notes Armenias Crossroads of Peace projects importance for Middle Corridor

Armenia, Kazakhstan FMs sign 2024/25 action plan

Armenia PM is in Tavush Province, meeting with residents of Voskepar, Baghanis, neighboring villages

Archaeologists find inscription of King Antiochus I of Armenian Yervanduni Dynasty, in Turkey

Kazakhstan FM is in Armenia (PHOTOS)

Rolls-Royce Ghost to be retired and replaced by new Alpina sedan

Ardshinbank cardholders can now enjoy a 10% cashback!

Withdrawal from lawsuits against Azerbaijan in international courts will cause irreparable damage to Armenia, Armenians

EU Council to discuss assistance to Armenia, Armenian-Azerbaijani normalization

7,825 Karabakh residents who left Armenia since September 2023 have not returned, new data say

Armenia to submit application for EU membership?

Archaeologists discover where legendary British warship that disappeared in 17th century sank

Large number of Russians came from Georgia to Armenia to vote in presidential election, envoy says

Stoltenberg: NATO hopes to have stable peace between Azerbaijan, Armenia

Belgorod attacked by two rockets during the day: there are dead and injured

Media: Elon Musk's company is building a network of hundreds of spy satellites for US intelligence

Shooting in Pennsylvania: at least three dead, gunman took hostages

MEPs appeal to EU leadership to protect cultural heritage of Artsakh Armenians

New talks between Israel and Hamas are scheduled in Qatar on Sunday

India's national elections will be held from 19 April to 1 June

Aliyev: Azerbaijan and Georgia have always supported each other's sovereignty

Iran calls for formation of international coalition against Israel

Biden told Aliyev of US commitment to peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan

Stoltenberg will meet in Yerevan with the President and Prime-minister of Armenia

Turkish Foreign Ministry issues anti-Russian statement on Crimea issue

Zakharova: There is a historical answer to Armenia's doubts about sincerity of Russia's intentions

Zakharova: Moscow discusses with Armenia dragging Yerevan into anti-Russian course

Zakharova: Armenia's withdrawal from CSTO should be based on real needs of the country, not on "flirting" with West

Amazon and Microsoft suspend their cloud products in Russia

Dollar, euro lose value in Armenia

Armenia deputy FM: There has been considerable regress regarding visa facilitation with EU

Deputy FM: As landlocked country, Armenia recognizes vital importance of inclusive connectivity, open borders

FM: Armenia made every effort to prevent de-Armenianization in Karabakh

FM to reporters: You will be the first to know when Armenia intends to apply for EU membership

Ararat Mirzoyan: All Armenia authorities have negotiated on territorial concessions to Azerbaijan

FM: Deepening of Armenia's relations with the West, EU not directed against Russia

Mirzoyan: Unprecedented number of senior French officials visited Armenia in 2023

Ararat Mirzoyan: Armenia, Azerbaijan are close to mutual understanding on recognition of 1991 borders

Armenia made very active efforts to have minimal mutually acceptable wording with CSTO partners, FM assures

FM: Georgia ready to contribute to process of establishing peace in South Caucasus

Armenia FM: Events have occurred that have made it impossible to do certain things

Armenia FM: Ultimate goal not materialized yet in relations with Turkey

FM: There are international players interested in Armenia ceasing to exist

Mirzoyan: No agreement between Armenia, Azerbaijan to withdraw international lawsuits against each other

Armenia FM reiterates PM's arguments on handover of 4 villages in Tavush Province to Azerbaijan

FM: Armenia still doesnt understand how CSTO partners present their area of responsibility in South Caucasus

Mirzoyan: EU monitoring mission in Armenia has become factor of stability on Azerbaijan border

Dennis Francis: UN hopes for signing of Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty

FM: 23 Armenians still kept in custody in Azerbaijan

Armenia FM: Still not many tangible results on fundamental issues, we are still negotiating with Azerbaijan

European Commission official underscores provision of assistance to people affected by Karabakh conflict

Peter Stano: Armenia can apply for EU membership

MFA: Genocide prevention agenda is among Armenias priorities

Russia holding presidential elections

US intelligence warns of potentially devastating new pandemic

Newspaper: Birth rate in Armenia 19% lower than last year

Stoltenberg: NATO sought to maintain stronger relations with Armenia and Azerbaijan

Georgian Prime Minister to visit Armenia

Premier receives IMF Armenia mission chief

Anne-Laurence Petel-led delegation to arrive in Armenia

FM: Armenia looks into prospects of further deepening partnership with EU

New technologies at the core of rural infrastructure development

Russia is world leader in nuclear technology, Putin says

Vardges Sureniants Salome painting returns to National Gallery of Armenia exhibition

Dollar drops, euro rises in Armenia

Sunak: There is historic opportunity to put an end to Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict

Armenia authorities, who paid $6M for Snoop Dogg concert, still dont know when this postponed event will be held

Deputy economy minister: Matter of opening India-Iran-Armenia trade corridor being discussed

Armenia official: Trade with India amounted to $380M in 2023

ICC NCA head: India considers Armenia an important bridge to enter larger markets

Anne-Laurence Petel welcomes resolution on EU-Armenia relations

India ambassador: We are happy that our relations with Armenia are developing in defense sector also

Indians are now 2nd largest community in Armenia after Russians, envoy says

India-Armenia business forum kicks off in Yerevan

Armenia parliament speaker on European Parliament resolution: We thank European partners for this important step

PM: European Parliament resolution is another opportunity to discuss vision of Armenia's future

Azerbaijans next target in Karabakh is Artsakh State University

Russia deputy FM in Turkey, discusses process of normalizing Armenia-Azerbaijan relations

14-karat gold LEGO piece sells for over $18,000

Newspaper: Armenia to leave CSTO on Putin's reelection day?

Young lords 1,200-year-old tomb with treasure discovered in Panama

European Parliament resolution demands Azerbaijan troops withdrawal from Armenia territory

European Parliament adopts resolution proposing to consider possibility of Armenia's candidacy for EU membership

Russia MFA spox: We are concerned by Armenia leaderships sometimes offensive rhetoric on CSTO topics
Many people ran for their lives. And some fled the invading forces to not only save themselves but also national treasures.

It's this saga, which unfolded during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), that's being recounted at the Shanghai History Museum through to March 29.Subsequently, The Long March of the National Treasures: An Exhibition Commemorating the Southward Evacuation of the Palace Museum's Artifacts will tour other cities, including Guiyang, Guizhou province, and Beijing.

After the Japanese invaders occupied regions in northeastern China in 1931, the Chinese government decided to relocate the Palace Museum's treasured artifacts to the south. It took over a year to pack the selected artifacts in more than 13,000 wooden crates. In 1933, they were sent to Shanghai by train, along with over 6,000 boxes of relics from other historical sites in Beijing, and were stored in a warehouse in the former French Concession.

By the end of 1936, a new warehouse was built in Nanjing, the then capital of China, and the artifacts were transported there. The following year, fighting battles against Japanese invaders broke out in Shanghai and Nanjing, and the artifacts had to be relocated again. They were eventually transported to three counties in southwestern China's Sichuan province: Baxian, Emei and Leshan.

In 1946, just after the war, these artifacts were moved to Chongqing and the next year to Nanjing. From the end of 1948 to 1949, a portion was shipped across the Strait after the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.

The 2,971 boxes of artifacts later made up the Palace Museum in Taipei's core collection.

By 1958, more than 10,000 boxes stored in Nanjing had been shipped back to the Palace Museum in Beijing. The 2,221 boxes left behind then became the main collection of the Nanjing Museum in Jiangsu province.

The Palace Museum later sent many objects from its collection to other museums, libraries and archives around China to support the construction of cultural facilities all over the country.

"Spanning more than two decades and covering thousands of kilometers, the 'Long March of the National Treasures of the Palace Museum' was a miraculous achievement in the protection of cultural heritage for all human civilization," says Wang Xudong, director of the Palace Museum in Beijing.

It was common for museums around the world to relocate their artifacts to avoid damage during the war, points out Zheng Xinmiao, a former director of the Palace Museum in Beijing, who is also a senior scholar researching on this chapter of the Palace Museum's history.

What's unique about the Palace Museum's collection, compared to other leading museums in the world, is that these objects have been accumulated across centuries and dynasties as testimonials to Chinese civilization, Zheng says. Such relics as ancient books and documents, as well as fine bronze, jade and ceramic pieces, represent China's collective cultural identity. So, when the country was fighting against Japanese invaders, their protection stoked the flames of patriotism, Zheng says.

The items' initial relocation from the Palace Museum immediately captivated public attention. Some feared the objects could be damaged, sold or lost.

"People working for the Palace Museum cherished the artifacts like their own lives and carried out strict measures to ensure their protection throughout the lengthy process," Zheng says, noting that workers at the Palace Museum in Shanghai produced more than 90 volumes of documentation about the objects.

As the items were moving around, the Palace Museum held several exhibitions, the most important of which took place in London from 1935 to 1936.

"It was the first overseas exhibition of artifacts from the Palace Museum and, for that matter, also the first large-scale overseas exhibition of any artifacts from China," Zheng says.

Before they were shipped overseas, 735 objects were showcased at a preview exhibition in Shanghai. After their return to China, another exhibition was held in Nanjing.

People from China's cultural and intellectual circles were actively involved in these exhibitions. They engaged in heated discussions about which objects could travel abroad and which could not.

Many acclaimed collectors in Europe, such as Percival Victor David, a prominent connoisseur of Chinese ceramics, had previously recognized only porcelain as representative Chinese artifacts, while other items, such as jade ware, were considered unimportant ornamental handicrafts, but this exhibition "helped them realize that paintings and calligraphy are truly the essence of Chinese culture", Zheng says.

Over the past decades, more people have started to realize the significance of this history. While there are two Palace Museums, in Beijing and Taipei, both are dedicated to promoting Chinese culture. In 2010, workers from the Palace Museum in Beijing and their colleagues in Taipei took a journey together along the relocation route's important locations.

"We had received lots of important historical documentation about the relocation from our colleagues in Taipei," says Zheng.

In 2017, the then director of the Palace Museum in Beijing, Shan Jixiang, called for the protection of the locations where the artifacts were stored in Sichuan. A center to research this subject was established at the museum later that year. And in 2021, a memorial museum commemorating this legacy was founded in Chongqing.

The Shanghai exhibition features three chapters.

The first showcases historical photographs and documents about the journey. The second highlights the four years that these artifacts were stored in Shanghai. And the final chapter depicts the artifacts' long journey through multimedia displays.

"Shanghai is the first leg, and we hope to add new materials and improve the exhibition design during the tour," Zheng says.

He adds that there are plans to hold the exhibition in the Palace Museum in Beijing in 2025, when it celebrates its centenary.

It seems many more stories are yet to happen to these once roved relics.

IF YOU GO

The Long March of the National Treasures: An Exhibition Commemorating the Southward Evacuation of the Palace Museum Artifacts

Dec 28-Mar 29, 9 am-5 pm (last entry by 4 pm), Tue-Sun.

Shanghai History Museum, 325 Nanjing Road West, Huangpu district, Shanghai.

021-2329-9999
This photo taken on March 15, 2023 shows a container terminal at the Manzhouli Railway Station in Manzhouli, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]

The rail freight volume passing Manzhouli, China's largest land port in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, exceeded 21 million tonnes in 2023, logging a decade high, according to the China Railway Harbin Group Co., Ltd., which administers the port, on Thursday.



The figure was an increase of 35.4 percent from the previous year. Among the total rail freight the port handled last year, the volume of ore powder and coal rose by 45.9 percent and 109 percent year on year, respectively.

To improve the customs clearance and reloading efficiency at the port, the group has improved infrastructure facilities and optimized relevant procedures, reducing the average time of reloading freight train goods by nearly an hour.
The unblocking of regional communications shall take place under the sovereignty and jurisdiction of Armeniaand based on the principles of reciprocity and equality. Armen Grigoryan, the Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia, stated this in response to Armenian News-NEWS.am's questionand responding to latest statements by Hikmet Hajiyev, head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Azerbaijani presidential administration.

In an interview Thursday with the Berliner Zeitung, Hajiyev had accused Armenia of avoiding "its obligations stemming from the tripartite statement of 2020 " by introducing its Crossroads for Peace project.

According to Armen Grigoryan, Azerbaijan should publicly confirm that the principles of sovereignty, preservation of jurisdiction, reciprocity, and equality will be taken as the basis for the opening of possible communications via Armenia, after which, according to him, it will be possible to talk about more specific mechanisms.

"Armenia will continue to work towards the unblocking of regional infrastructures. Recently, the [Armenian] prime minister proposed the Crossroads of Peace project, within the framework of which additional stability and peace will be ensured in the region if the unblocking is implemented in compliance with these principles. There is also a need to work towards a peace treaty [with Azerbaijan] so that we have peace in the region. It is very important that the positions of Armenia and Iran coincide in the matter of unblocking," said Grigoryan.

When asked what Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan meant by declaring that there might be a simplified procedure to ensure a land connection between the main part of Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan through the territory of Armenia, the latters Security Council chief responded that this is the more technical part of the matter.

"After publicly announcing the agreement on the four principles of unblocking that I noted, we can already work on that simplification mechanism also. We have heard agreement from Azerbaijan on these principles, we expect that they will announce [it] publicly as well, and we will continue to work on clarifying the next steps," said Grigoryan.

Azerbaijani presidential aide Hikmet Hajiyev had added in the aforesaid interview that considerable progress had been made in the text of the peace treaty, but several unresolved issues remain. But Grigoryan did not give details to Armenian News-NEWS.am's question about what points there are in the latest proposals transferred from Yerevan to Baku, which the leadership of Azerbaijan considers a significant progress for them.

"We will talk about this in the future when we have clearer progress towards the peace treaty. The negotiations are going on in the sense that we are exchanging texts. Hopefully there will be an opportunity for more factual discussions soon, and as a result of them we will speak more clearly, in public," said Armen Grigoryan.

Commenting on the chances of holding a meeting between the FMs of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Washington in January, the secretary of the Security Council of Armenia said that the latter expressed readiness to participate in these peace talks in the near future and is waiting for the response of its partners.

Recently, Azerbaijan has proposed several times to separate the border delimitation and demarcation process from the signing of the peace treaty, thus trying to leave the matter of defining its border with Armenia uncertain. In that case, will it turn out that the peace treaty will be signed, but the Azerbaijani troops will continue to stay in Armenias territories they have occupied? In response to this question, Armen Grigoryan said that the Armenian side proposes a simultaneous withdrawal of troopsand based on the Soviet maps between 1974 and 1978.

"We are continuing the negotiations, and we hope that we will be able to reach agreements and will continue the work in this direction," concluded the secretary of the Security Council of Armenia.
Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh) [India], January 5: In a heart-wrenching appeal, Pratibha Gaur reaches out to the community for crowdfunding support as her premature twins battle for their lives in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Yashoda Hospital and Research Centre in Ghaziabad.

Born on 19th November 2023, the twins are facing an uphill struggle, and the doctors have advised that they remain in the hospital for an extended period, exceeding a month, to receive the critical treatment they require.

Pratibha Gaur expressed, "As parents, witnessing our babies fight for survival is a harrowing experience. The financial burden is overwhelming, with the daily cost of treatment reaching INR 30,000. We are at a point where we cannot shoulder this immense responsibility alone."

The estimated total cost of the twins' treatment is a staggering INR 7 Lacs, a sum far beyond the means of the Gaur family. In a plea to the community, Pratibha Gaur stated, "We are humbly requesting your kind assistance. Premature birth poses significant risks, and our little ones desperately need specialized medical attention for a chance at survival."

The Gaur family is reaching out to compassionate individuals, hoping for a collective effort to alleviate their financial strain. Every contribution, regardless of its size, can make a profound impact on the lives of these premature infants.

For further updates and contributions, please visit

https://www.impactguru.com/fundraiser/help-twin-babies-of-pratibha?utm_source=press&utm_medium=press_blog

(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by India PR Distribution. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
NewsVoir Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], January 5: The Tamil Nadu Government's plan to establish a 1703-acre knowledge city in Tiruvallur District has excited real estate investors. This ambitious project, touted as one of the largest and the most expansive knowledge hubs in India, is poised to transform the landscape of the entire district, turning it into an attractive destination for investments in lands and properties. Multiplier effect of knowledge The Tamil Nadu Knowledge City (TKC) will come up in Uthukottai taluk and Vengal village, in Tiruvallur District. It will house branches of global universities with research and development centres, skill training centres, and knowledge industries from diversified sectors. It will also promote sustainable social living. TKC is expected to benefit around one lakh people in terms of providing them with direct and indirect employment opportunities. Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Limited (TIDCO), the nodal agency for the project, is in the process of selecting consultants to prepare the techno-economic feasibility report. Locational highlights The state had earlier proposed Periyapalayam, another village in the same district, as the destination for the knowledge city. However, there were several parameters that tilted the project in favour of the present location. Those parameters include elevation, slope, groundwater potential, population density, social dimension, proximity to an educational facility, proximity to a healthcare facility, road connectivity, rail connectivity, presence of ecologically sensitive zones, flood susceptibility and the percentage of unbuilt land available. Opportune moments for investment The establishment of TKC is all set to contribute to the overall growth and prosperity of the region, creating a transformative impact on various aspects of the local economy, employment landscape, and social living. There will be a positive impact especially on the real estate market as the influx of professionals and knowledge workers to TKC can drive the development of residential and recreational spaces. The demand for office spaces and commercial real estate around the knowledge city is expected to grow multi fold, to provide the infrastructure for support services such as healthcare, hospitality, transportation, and security. The land parcels are being identified and construction activities are getting developed around TKC. Any investment in real estate at this opportune moment, be it in plots, houses or commercial and industrial buildings, can pave the way for unprecedented returns in the near future. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
NewsVoir New Delhi [India], January 5: Baking, often considered a labour of love, is an art that relies on the finest ingredients to achieve culinary excellence. One such crucial ingredient that can elevate your baking to new heights is Pure Flour from Europe. Renowned for its superior quality, this flour has become the secret ingredient of bakers and chefs around the world, and it's set to make your baking experience better than ever. The hallmark of European flour is its commitment to purity. From the very inception of wheat cultivation to the milling process, European flour is designed to be free from impurities, additives, and contaminants. This exceptional purity ensures that the flour's performance is predictable and consistent, enabling bakers to achieve the perfect results they desire. Another distinguishing feature of European flour is its unwavering reliability. Bakers and culinary experts demand flour that is consistent and uniform. European flour's rigorous quality assurance protocols and the meticulous choice of wheat strains guarantee that every batch of dough, batter, or pastry delivers the desired results. This consistent performance forms the bedrock of successful and hassle-free baking. European flour is customisable to meet a variety of baking needs. A light and fluffy cake or a chewy and well-structured bread, European flour offers a range of protein levels, allowing you to choose the exact type that suits your recipe. The versatility of this flour is a boon for bakers with diverse culinary aspirations. European flour, with its rich history and expertise, is a go-to choice for artisan bakers. Traditional bread-making techniques are supported by the quality of this flour, which has been perfected over generations. For those passionate about baking, European flour becomes an indispensable companion, transforming your creations into delightful masterpieces. The flour is readily available in many parts of the world, including North America, Asia, and beyond. This accessibility ensures that bakers, regardless of their location, can access this superior ingredient to enhance their baking endeavours. Thus, Pure Flour from Europe is the secret ingredient that transforms your baking experience like never before. The unparalleled purity, consistency, and adaptability of this flour makes it an essential ingredient for both professional bakers and home enthusiasts. Discover the difference for yourself and let your creations shine! Pure Flour from Europe is a marketing and promotion programme launched in India by ITALMOPA, the Italian Milling Industry Association and co-funded by the European Union. italmopa@italmopa.com. Find out more www.pureflourfromeurope.com. Social media Facebook - www.facebook.com/pureflourfromeurope Instagram - www.instagram.com/pureflourfromeurope/?theme=dark YouTube - www.youtube.com/channel/UCrgSrhdVJ835Y7G8bF1lKYw. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Gujarat's industry minister, Balvantsinh Rajput, categorically said on Friday that high-level talks are going on for potential investment from Elon Musk-owned electric vehicle maker Tesla. "I want to state that Tesla is in the pipeline, the minister said in response to reporters' questions at a presser. "Quite a few companies are in touch. Talks are going on at higher levels, and we are positive," the minister added. Weighing in on the Tesla investment matter, SJ Haider, Additional Chief Secretary, Industries and Mines Department, said, "We have more than 20 investor policies and we are a policy-driven state. We have policies for semiconductors, IT, and electronics. We assist within the rules and regulations of the policy." Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk in June last year that he was planning to visit India in 2024, adding that he was confident that the electric carmaker will be in India and will do so "as soon as humanly possible." He had told reporters in New York, following a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was in a historic four-day State visit to the US. Musk had said that PM Modi invited him to India. "I would like to thank PM Modi for his support and hopefully, we will be able to announce something in the future," Musk had said. Tesla has been interested in investing in India but "high import duty" structures apparently were a bone of contention. Musk had reportedly requested India to lower taxes and also allow the company to first sell vehicles built elsewhere at a competitive price. Import duty in India is 25 to 100 per cent on completely built unit (CBU) vehicles. In November 2023, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal visited Tesla's manufacturing facility in California's Fremont and said that the US electric car maker is on its way to double its components imports from India. Goyal had stressed that he was proud to see the growing importance of auto component suppliers from India in the Tesla EV supply chain. (ANI)
Sources in the government said that they were closely watching the unfolding situation in the Red Sea amid growing global concerns over attacks on several commercial ships in the region by suspected Houthi rebels.

Sources told ANI that the cost of freight and insurance has risen due to ships being compelled to avoid the region and take a longer route which has increased the turnaround time of 14 more days.

Further, according to sources, the cushion of a month's inventory currently available for imported items may face disruptions if the Red Sea conflict prolongs.

At present, there is no shortage of containers, but a longer turnaround time of 14 days due to longer routes across Africa and European countries could be a concern.

Export of goods to Europe, the US, and Latin America is taking longer time, increasing the cost of transport. Many consignments were being escorted by naval assets on the high seas following intervention by the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

Reportedly, the Houthis are believed to have been armed and trained and there are fears that their attacks could escalate and fuel a wider regional conflict. (ANI)
As part of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit scheduled for next week, a seminar on renewable energy for a sustainable future will be held in Gandhinagar on January 11. While sharing the details of the event, Mamta Verma, Principal Secretary, Energy and Petrochemicals Department, Gujarat, said that the inaugural session will witness addresses from senior officials from the central and state government along with eminent industrialists. Other notable speakers at the conference include Ajay Mathur, Director General, of International Solar Alliance, Martin Keller, Laboratory Director, of National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Pramod Jain, Founder and President, of Innovative Wind Energy, Inc., Alp Gunesever, Head of Secretariat at CoE, offshore wind and RE, Denmark, and Gauri Singh, Deputy Director General at International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). The seminar aims to provide a comprehensive understanding, enabling informed decision-making across diverse topics in the renewable energy sector. Beginning with a focus on emerging technologies, participants can gain insights into the latest advancements and trends, identifying opportunities for collaboration and innovation. Some of the key aspects of discussions will include Emerging Technologies and Trends in the Renewable Energy Sector; RE Power Evacuation and Grid Integration Strategies; and Global Scenario and Emerging Trends in Offshore Wind: Success stories and key learning. Mamta Verma highlighted that with India's energy demand on the rise, Gujarat spearheads a seminar to explore solutions and strategies for sustainable development. Over the last decade, Gujarat has surged in the renewable energy sector, increasing capacity from 8 GW to 22.7 GW. The state's per capita electricity consumption is nearly double the national average and has set ambitious targets ahead of India's goal of 100 GW renewable energy installed capacity by 2030. Separately, two seminars themed "Gujarat - The Green Hydrogen Destination of India" and "Watts to Gigawatts - To meet Round the Clock Clean Energy" respectively, will be held on January 12. At the COP26 summit in Glasgow in 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi committed to an ambitious five-part "Panchamrit" pledge, including reaching 500 GW of non-fossil electricity capacity, generating half of all energy requirements from renewables, and reducing emissions by 1 billion tonnes by 2030. India also aims to reduce the emissions intensity of GDP by 45 per cent. Finally, India commits to net-zero emissions by 2070. Notably, the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit was initiated by Narendra Modi in 2003, the then chief minister, to put Gujarat on the world map of trade and industry. The tenth edition of the Summit will be held from January 10 to 12. The Summit event will be inaugurated by PM Modi on January 10. (ANI)
A child looks at an intelligent delivery vehicle at the China International Big Data Industry Expo 2023 in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province, May 26, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

China has issued a three-year action plan to promote the use of data as a factor of production and let data play a more significant role in driving economic and social development.



According to the plan published by 17 government departments, including the National Data Administration (NDA), the data use will be boosted in 12 sectors, from manufacturing and finance to technological innovation and green and low-carbon development.

By advancing the use of data, China expects to improve resource allocation and foster new industries and patterns as well as new growth drivers, Shen Zhulin, deputy head of the NDA, said last month.

Over the three years starting in 2024, China will increase efforts to promote the high-level application of data, ensure the quality of data supply, improve the environment of data circulation, and strengthen data security, according to the action plan.

The NDA was inaugurated in October 2023 as part of the country's efforts to advance the planning and building of a "Digital China," including a digital economy and society.
American actor and writer Colman Domingo, who has been nominated for Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards (for 'Rustin'), said he is "going to make room for two Oscars," reported People. Domingo is optimistic as awards season kicks off and he has every reason to be. The actor, who won an Emmy in 2022 for his performance as recovering addict Ali on HBO's Euphoria, is getting more attention for his critically acclaimed turns in 'Rustin', as the passionate civil rights activist Bayard Rustin, and 'The Color Purple', as the charismatic but abusive Mister. "I recognize that I'm having a moment," says Domingo, who could potentially be the first out gay Black man to take home an acting Oscar. If he wins any of the Academy Awards or other events, his trophies will most certainly be displayed alongside the Emmy he has in his office. "I like it in an enclosed space," says Domingo. "I can't walk into my house and feel like, oh, I'm Emmy Award-winner Colman Domingo." "I look up from my desk and I'm like, oh, that's beautiful," he added. The only thing keeping it company is his recent Toronto International Film Festival Tribute Award. Domingo has been demonstrating his versatility for years, having been on Broadway in the 2008 musical Passing Strange, cut up with Kate McKinnon on The Big Gay Sketch Show from 2008 to 2010, and enthralled TV viewers on Fear the Walking Dead. So now, he's soaking up all the love coming his way. "I'm being feted, and I'm enjoying it because I don't know how long this moment will last. I want to shake hands and kiss the babies and drink champagne. People are having dinners for me, toasting me. Give it to me," he says, tossing his head back and letting out a robust laugh. "I want more!" Given his journey to this point, achievement (and bubbly) tastes much sweeter to the Philadelphia native. According to People, asked if he ever dreamed of this type of life when he was younger, he responded succinctly, "No." Domingo -- one of four siblings raised by Edith, a housekeeper and bank customer-service rep, and his stepfather, floor refinisher Clarence Bowles -- wasn't aiming for the stars. (His mom and biological father split when he was young.) "I grew up in the inner city. What people wanted from me is to be a healthy citizen, go to college, get a job with some benefits," said Domingo, whose mom and stepdad both died in 2006. "I couldn't see all of this," he added. Domingo said he now allows himself to imagine that he has "all of this" -- the complicated roles he's landed, popularity, and honours. As an example, consider the possibility of earning more prizes. Regardless of who wins during awards season, Domingo has a 'champion' in his husband of nearly ten years, producer, writer, and director Ral Domingo, 42, whom the actor describes as "a light and a love." When the SAG-AFTRA strike ended in November, the star's publicist called and asked him to get on a plane that evening to start a press tour. "Before she got the words out of her mouth, my husband grabbed a suitcase, threw it down and said, 'Put everything in there,' " he recalled, adding, " 'This is your moment, Go.' " 'Rustin' is now streaming on Netflix and 'The Color Purple' is now playing in theaters, reported People. (ANI)
As the Enforcement Directorate tightens its grip on Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Congress leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir has said that the coalition in the state is strong and it will contest the elections ahead. "The situation in Jharkhand is fine. The coalition is also fine. If there is any discrepancy, then the concerned people will have a look. As far as the coalition of JMM and Congress is concerned, it is strong. The government will function and we'll contest the elections ahead," he told ANI. Meanwhile, amid speculations that the Jharkhand Chief Minister may be out of power in view of the ongoing Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids against his associates, Hemant Soren chaired an important meeting of ministers and MLAs of the ruling alliance to discuss the political situation. In the meeting, the Chief Minister gave his views on the entire incident of being issued a summons by the ED and informed every party leader about it, a press release from the Chief Minister's Secretariat stated. The Chief Minister was issued a 'last opportunity' on Tuesday by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) to record his statement in an alleged land scam days ago. Soren, in turn, replied to the agency, labelling the summons as 'illegal.' In the meeting, all the MLAs expressed their full confidence in the Chief Minister. Soren assured his support to all his ministers and MLAs and said that he would continue to support them in future. Following the meeting, Congress MLA Pradeep Yadav said that Hemant Soren will continue to be the Chief Minister. "In the meeting, there were 43 MLAs and the thing that has come forward is that Hemant Soren is Chief Minister and he will remain Chief Minister in the coming days also," Pradeep Yadav told reporters. Jharkhand Congress MLA Irfan Ansari who also attended the meeting, said that all of them will support Hemant Soren, who will stay in power as the Chief Minister for the next 25 years. The Congress is a partner of the JMM government in Jharkhand. "We are with Hemant Soren. He will stay the Chief Minister for 25 years," Irfan Ansari told ANI after the meeting." The ED issued fresh summons to Hemant Soren on Saturday for questioning in connection with an alleged land scam. This was the seventh summons issued to Soren by the ED under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, asking him to appear before the agency and record his statement in connection with the alleged scam. (ANI)
A 51-inch-tall idol of Lord Ram Lalla, prepared by a Jaipur-based sculptor, reached Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya on Thursday. Chandresh Pandey, the sculptor of the idol, said that he was among the artists who were tasked with carving Lord Ram Lalla's statue, which would then be selected to be installed in the Ram Temple on January 22--the consecration ceremony. "This idol has been made in Jaipur. There was a condition that only that design would be selected, which would be made inside Ayodhya. This idol has a fusion of Lord Ram and Lord Vishnu with a touch of childlikeness. I could not prepare it in Ayodhya because my wife had collapsed. So, I prepared the idol in Jaipur," he said. Pandey said, "This design, however, is out of the race as of now, but Champat Rai, the General Secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, has accepted my idol." He added that, apart from the abovementioned condition, this statue is not fit to be installed because the trust has already finalised the design. The idol of 'Ram Lalla' carved by Karnataka's renowned sculptor Arun Yogiraj will be installed in the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Days after the design was finalised, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said that a renowned idol-maker from the 'land of Hanuman' will see his piece of creation find pride of place at the Ram Temple on January 22. With Karnataka home to a grand Hanuman temple and believed to be the birthplace of the deity, Joshi termed the selection of the idol shaped by a sculptor from the state for the Ram Temple as an "example of Rama-Hanuman's inextricable relationship". "Where Rama is, there is Hanuman, The selection of the idol for the Prana Pratishtapana of Lord Rama in Ayodhya has been finalised. A renowned sculptor of our country, our proud Mr @yogiraj_arun, the idol of Lord Rama carved by him will be installed in Ayodhya," the Union Minister posted from his official handle on X on Monday. "This is another example of Rama-Hanuman's inextricable relationship. There is no mistaking that this is an important service to Ramlallani from Karnataka, the land of Hanuman," Joshi added in his post. Meanwhile, idols of elephants, lions, Lord Hanuman and Garuda, said to be 'Vahana' of Lord Vishnu in Hindu mythology, have been installed at the entrance gate of the grand Ram Temple. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to attend the consecration ceremony of the temple on January 22. (ANI)
After the Punjab police arrested Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira in a fresh case, his son, who is an advocate by profession, has alleged that a new case has been initiated against his father to prevent his release from jail. Speaking to ANI, his son Mehtab Singh Khaira said that a new case has been registered against his father in the city and further action has been initiated against him on the charge of threatening the witnesses. "In the eight-year-old drug case, my father had been arrested on the orders of the Supreme Court. Now, the High Court has given us relief by issuing regular bail. But the Punjab Police have begun new trials for him since yesterday night so that he cannot leave jail. A new case has been registered against my father in the city and further action has been initiated against him on the charge of threatening the witnesses," said Mehtab Singh Khaira. The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday granted bail to MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira in a case registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and the Arms Act. However, before he could be released from prison, the Punjab police arrested him in a fresh case. While allowing his bail plea, a bench of Justice Anoop Chitkara said that Khaira was arrested prima facia on the evidence of calls he had made to his personal security officer, personal assistant and a handler from the UK, as well as unexplained money linked to the drugs trade. However, before he could be released from prison, the Punjab police arrested him in a fresh case. The latest case was registered against Sukhpal Singh Khaira in the Subhanpur police station under sections 195A (threatening any person to give false evidence) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code. Reacting to the fresh FIR against Khaira, Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring posted on the social media platform X, "The recent FIR against @SukhpalKhaira is a proof that the @AAPPunjab govt is doing vendetta politics. The FIR has been registered just to harass him even further. This is not Badlaav... this is Badla!". (ANI)
The Indian Civil and Administrative Services Officers' Association (ICSA) on Thursday praised the Supreme Court's January 3 judgment on the personal appearance of officials in court proceedings. The judgment clarifies the law on officials' appearances in court proceedings and establishes a standard operating procedure. The ICSA said the judgment is "erudite and equitable" and demonstrates the fairness and majesty of India's judicial system. "The Indian Civil & Administrative Services Officers' Association, on behalf of all IAS officers, expresses its deep appreciation for the landmark judgment of the Supreme Court on 3rd January (Civil Appeals No 23-24 of 2023 in the matters of State of Uttar Pradesh & Ors. Vs Association of Retired Supreme Court and High Court Judges at Allahabad & Ors.), which has clarified the law on personal appearance of officials in court proceedings and laid out a Standard Operating Procedure," a release said. The judgment of the three judges bench comprising of Chief Justice Dr DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra is erudite and equitable on one hand, and comprehensive and clear on the other, it said. "It is a testimony to the fairness and majesty of India's judicial system and reinforces the faith and trust that every citizen reposes in it," the release added. "For its part, the Association urges all officers to redouble their commitment to the implementation of orders of all courts with diligence and expedition, subject to lawful remedies and adherence to Government procedures," the release said on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has formulated a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to guide High Courts across the country in directing the personal appearance of government officials in the courts. The apex court noted that courts must refrain from making humiliating remarks against government officers on their appearance, dress, etc. unless there is a violation of the dress code. The Supreme Court said the personal presence of officers may be required in evidence, summary proceedings, etc., and apart from this if issues can be sorted out by affidavit then such personal presence may not be called for. It added officers should not be made to stand during the entire proceeding unless needed or asked. The Supreme Court said while summoning government officials, that advance notice must be given for adequate preparation and the first option for such appearance must be through video conferencing. In August 2023, the apex court said that it would lay down guidelines for courts on summoning government officers in pending cases. The verdict came on an appeal against an Allahabad High Court decision which had summoned two UP government officers who were taken into custody for not complying with its directions. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the three-day annual All India Conference of Director Generals and Inspector Generals of Police at the Rajasthan International Centre in Jaipur on January 5-7. The Bharatiya Janata Party office was decked up on Thursday ahead of PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to the city to participate in the 58th DGP-IGP national conference. Moreover, PM Modi is also expected to reach Rajasthan BJP headquarters where he will address the party workers, leaders and state unit BJP leaders. The three-day conference will deliberate on challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI), cyber security, counter-terrorism, left-wing extremism and narcotics smuggling. "The conference, being held from January 5 to 7, will discuss a wide range of policing and internal security issues, including cybercrime, technology in policing, counter-terrorism challenges, left-wing extremism, and prison reforms, among others," the official statement said. Further, the Conference will also deliberate on futuristic themes in policing and security like the challenges posed by new technologies such as AI, Deepfake etc. and ways to deal with them, the Prime Minister's Office stated. The conference also provides an opportunity to identify tangible action points and monitor their progress, which is also presented before the Prime Minister every year. The conference is the culmination of extensive deliberations involving police and intelligence officers from district, state and national levels on identified themes. Best practices from States/ UTs under each of the themes will be presented at the Conference so that States can learn from each other. Since 2014, the Prime Minister has taken a keen interest in the DGP conference. "Unlike the symbolic presence of Prime Ministers earlier, he sits through all major sessions of the conference. Prime Minister not only listens patiently to all the inputs but also encourages free and informal discussions so that new ideas can come up," PMO stated. Free-flowing thematic discussions over breakfast, lunch and dinner have also been planned for this year's conference. This will provide an opportunity for senior police officials to share their views and recommendations on key policing and internal security issues affecting the country with the Prime Minister, it added. Prime Minister has also encouraged the organisation of annual DGP conferences all across the country since 2014. The conference was organised at Guwahati in 2014; Dhordo, Rann of Kutch in 2015; National Police Academy, Hyderabad in 2016; BSF Academy, Tekanpur in 2017; Kevadiya in 2018; IISER, Pune in 2019; at Police Headquarters, Lucknow in 2021; and at the National Agricultural Science Complex, PUSA, Delhi in 2023. Continuing with this tradition, the conference is being organised in Jaipur this year. The conference will be attended by the Union Home Minister, National Security Advisor, MOS for Home Affairs, Cabinet Secretary, Senior officials of the Government of India, DGP of States/UTs and Heads of Central Armed Police Forces and Central Police Organizations, among others. (ANI)
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the national capital on Thursday and discussed several issues of Telangana. The Chief Minister requested the Union Home Minister to allocate more IPS officers to Telangana and stressed about the settlement of pending dues from Andhra Pradesh. CM Revanth Reddy also called upon other Union Ministers Hardeep Singh Puri and Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat at the Shram Shakti Bhawan. He presented the proposal to Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat to give national to the 'Palamuru-Rangareddy lift irrigation scheme'. "We represented to the central water resources minister to consider the Palamuru-Rangareddy lift irrigation scheme in Telangana as a national project and to give central funding for it. The ministers responded by saying that we don't have anything like a national project status now but considering on the basis of our representation, that this is a droughted district and that this is a fluoride-prone area, we will try and accommodate in some other scheme and give funding for this Palamuru-Rangareddy lift irrigation scheme," said Telangana MLA Uttam Kumar Redd, while speaking to the media. The Palamuru-Rangareddy lift irrigation scheme was inaugurated in the previous year by the then Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao at Narlapur in Nagarkurnool district. Palamuru-Ranga Reddy Lift Irrigation Scheme envisaged to create irrigation potential in upland areas of Nagarkurnool, Mahabubnagar, Vikarabad, Rangareddy and Nalgonda districts for an ayacut of 10.00 lakh acres, (proposal for enhanced ayacut of 12.30 Lakh Acres is under consideration at Government)drinking water to enroute villages, GHMC and industrial use by lifting 2 TMC per day for 60 days during the flood season (1.50 TMC for PRLIS + 0.50 TMC for Dindi L.I.S) from foreshore of Srisailam Reservoir on Krishna River near at Yellur(V), Kolhapur (M) to KP Laxmidevipally(V), Kondurg (M) with 5-stage lifting and then utilizing water by gravity. (ANI)
Terming the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple on January 22 in Ayodhya as the "biggest win" for all the "Hindus and Sanatani", Bageshwar Dham's Dhirendra Shastri on Friday said that Lord Ram devotees across the world had been waiting for this day. Shashtri, who has been invited for the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple, said that the event is more special than the festival of Diwali. "It is the biggest win for all the Hindus and Sanatani. This event is more special than the festival of Diwali...All Lord Ram devotees across the world have been waiting for this day," Shastri told ANI. He further urged people to "celebrate Diwali" on January 22, the day of consecration of Lord Ram temple in Ayodhya. "I just wanted to say on the consecration ceremony of Ram Temple please celebrate Diwali and celebrate it with joy," he said. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi requested people to refrain from visiting Ayodhya in large numbers in view of security and logistical reasons. Acknowledging that Lord Ram's devotees are eager to be part of the inauguration day of Ram Mandir, PM Modi said that only a few people have been invited to the inauguration ceremony. "I have a request to all. Everyone has a wish to come to Ayodhya to be a part of the event on January 22. But you know it is not possible for everyone to come. Therefore, I request all Ram devotees that once the formal program is done on 22nd January, they should come to Ayodhya at their convenience, do not make up their minds to come to Ayodhya on 22nd January," PM Modi said while addressing a mega public gathering in Ayodhya. Preparations are underway in full swing for the Ram Temple inauguration which is expected to draw dignitaries and people from all walks of life. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the installation of the idol of Ram Lalla at the grand temple. The Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirath Kshetra Trust has decided to enthrone Ram Lalla at the sanctum-sanctorum of the Ram Temple at noon on January 22. Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Rama, holds great spiritual, historical and cultural significance for the people of India. The trust has also invited 4,000 saints of all sects for the ceremony. Vedic rituals for the Pran-Pratishtha (consecration) ceremony of Ram Lalla (infant Lord Ram) in Ayodhya will begin on January 16, a week before the main ceremony. A priest from Varanasi, Lakshmi Kant Dixit, will perform the main rituals of the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla. From January 14 to January 22, Ayodhya will mark the Amrit Mahautsav. A 1008 Hundi Mahayagya will also be organised, in which thousands of devotees will be fed. Several tent cities are being erected in Ayodhya to accommodate thousands of devotees, who are expected to arrive in the temple town of Uttar Pradesh for the grand consecration of the Ram Temple. According to the Sri Ram Janambhoomi Trust, arrangements will be made for 10,000-15,000 people. (ANI)
The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed an appeal against the Allahabad High Court order which rejected a PIL seeking recognition of Mathura's Shahi Idgah Mosque site as Krishna Janmabhoomi and the removal of the mosque. A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta refused to interfere with the High Court order and said the PIL is not maintainable as the several civil suits on the issues raised in it are already pending consideration. "Let's not have a multiplicity of litigation. You filed it as a PIL, which is why it was rejected (by the High Court). File it as otherwise, we will see," Justice Khanna told the petitioner. "We are not inclined to interfere with the impugned judgment and hence SLP is dismissed. We clarify that the dismissal of the SLP nowhere comments on the right of parties to challenge the vires of any enactment or prevents or bars any party from challenging the vires of any enactment," the apex court stated in the order. October 12, 2023, the Allahabad High Court dismissed a PIL seeking the removal of Mathura's Shahi Idgah Mosque, allegedly built on Krishna Janmabhoomi, which the petitioner advocate Mahek Maheshwari claims to be the birthplace of Lord Krishna. It was contended in his PIL that various texts had recorded the site in question as Krishna Janmabhoomi land and claimed that it was not a proper mosque, as the same was built by forcibly acquiring the land in question. The plea said that it was not a proper mosque because as per Islamic jurisprudence, a mosque could not be built on forcibly acquired land. On the other hand, as per Hindu jurisprudence, a temple was a temple even if it was in ruins, added the petition. (ANI)
Amid the tussle over the seat-sharing among parties of the newly established INDIA alliance, Jharkhand Minister and Congress party leader Alamgir Alam on Friday said that the "high command" will decide on the seat-sharing among the parties. "We will be contesting the elections with the INDIA alliance. All the feedback has been given to our High Command. I don't think there will be any issue with seat sharing...The High Command will decide who will contest from which seat according to the potential of the candidate," Alam said while speaking to ANI. Earlier on Thursday, former Rajasthan Chief Minister and member of the Congress's alliance committee Ashok Gehlot ahead of a major party meeting spoke on seat-sharing for the Lok Sabha elections 2024. "The agenda was clear when Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge constituted our committee for the alliance. The committee decided on how the alliance must proceed and what our party leaders think." "The first phase was completed in which discussions with our state leaders were held on what they think about Congress-ruled states", said Ashok Gehlot. "At what level do we have to interact with leaders of other parties? How many seats do we have to give and take? Today, there will be a meeting with Rahul Gandhi and Congress chief Kharge. There will be a discussion on in which direction we have to proceed. Kharge ji will decide on whom to give responsibility and if to give it to some AICC workers officially", Ashok Gehlot added further. "He will also decide on who will communicate, with which party and at what level", Ashok Gehlot revealed. However even as the Alliance committee works out details of prospective alliance within the INDIA bloc there appears to be trouble on the horizon in several states. In West Bengal, senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chaudhry questioned Mamata Banerjee after it was reported that the Trinamool Congress would give only two seats to the Congress in a potential Lok Sabha alliance. "We won two seats on our own, we are not begging for these seats. On one hand, Mamata Banerjee says that the INDIA bloc will contest together and on the other hand there are such statements" Adhir Ranjan Chaudhry said. In Punjab, Congress has been vehemently opposed to the AAP which is the ruling party in the state. State Congress President Amarinder Raja Warring said that the Congress high command has asked the state unit to prepare itself to contest all 13 seats in Punjab in the 2024 Lok Sabha Alliance, virtually ruling out an alliance with the AAP. "AICC has told us to compete on all 13 seats...In the meeting today there was no discussion about Punjab on seat sharing or alliance. We have prepared to compete for all 13 seats. We will discuss the candidates and strategy to contest elections in the coming 3-4 months" Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said. India's political landscape is undergoing a significant transition as the 2024 Lok Sabha elections draw near. INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) consortium is gearing up to challenge the established National Democratic Alliance. The bloc is struggling to resolve key challenges including finalising seat-sharing arrangements most importantly deciding on a PM face while the BJP has started executing strategies it laid off in 2023 to secure victory in General elections. (ANI)
The scale of Shanghai's intelligent manufacturing equipment sector has surpassed 100 billion yuan (around 14.09 billion U.S. dollars), with plans to build 70 smart factories in 2024, according to a local conference on Wednesday.

Established smart factories in Shanghai have seen an average 50-percent surge in production efficiency and a 30-percent reduction in operating costs, resulting in an accumulated 13.8-percent decrease in unit energy consumption, according to the conference on building smart factories.

The metropolis has pledged to cultivate 10 companies in the field of robotics, aiming to achieve a total market size of 100 billion yuan in robot-related industries by 2025, according to an action plan.

China has built over 10,000 digital workshops and smart factories, and has become the world's largest intelligent manufacturing application market, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath marked the birth anniversary of former UP CM and Governor Kalyan Singh in a prominent program in Lucknow. During the event, CM Yogi paid floral tributes to Kalyan Singh's portrait, extending a profound gesture of respect and homage to the esteemed leader on this significant occasion. "Humble tribute to the pioneer of the Shri Ram Mandir movement, former Governor of Rajasthan, and former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, 'Padma Vibhushan' Revered Kalyan Singh 'Babuji' on his birth anniversary," CM Yogi Adityanath posted on his X. "Revered 'Babu Ji' will always be remembered for his selfless service to society and the nation" he added. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma also paid his tributes to the former UP Chief Minister saying "Remembering one of the tallest leaders of our party, known for his bold and decisive stand, Shraddheya Kalyan Singh ji on his Jayanti. He displayed remarkable courage to give up power for the ideals he believed in and is a source of inspiration for all the karyakartas of Bharatiya Janata Party." BJP President JP Nadda also remembered Kalyan Singh's contribution to the BJP "Respected Kalyan Singh ji, a symbol of intense nationalism and a strong supporter of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi movement, has laid the foundation stone of good governance and social justice in Uttar Pradesh. Today, with his inspiration, the state is moving on the path of public welfare and historical development. Today I pay my respects to Babu ji on his birth anniversary. Your sacrifices and struggles for national upliftment and cultural renaissance always inspire us." Kalyan Singh passed away on August 21, 2021, at Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI) in Lucknow due to sepsis and multi-organ failure. A two-time Chief Minister (June 1991 to December 1992 and September 1997 to November 1999), Kalyan Singh also served as Governor of Rajasthan (2014-2019). Singh also held various organisational posts in the BJP, both at the state and the central level. (ANI)
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in his remark on covid cases in the state said "We are conducting a daily review of the covid situation in Maharashtra. All the officials of the administration and health department have been instructed to take precautionary measures". "We expect people to cooperate like the previous time. Cooperation from all made it possible to control the situation earlier", Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar appealed to the public. "The current variant of coronavirus is mild but we need to use masks when in public", Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar appealed further. "Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and we all are taking stock of the situation", Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar further said. As of now, a total of 914 active, and 171 new cases have been recorded in the state of Maharashtra. 15,404 tests have already been conducted. Among them, 3045 RT-PCR tests and 12,359 RAT tests were done. Yesterday, 117 patients were discharged and 2 deaths were reported in Maharashtra. The recovery rate, positivity rate and case fatality rate stood at 98.17%, 1.11% and 1.81% respectively. As of now, Maharashtra recorded 110 patients infected with the JN.1 variant. The status of COVID-19 cases as per inputs of IDSP (NCDC), media bulletins and websites of various States at 08:00 AM on 05.01.2024 is as; Total Active cases are 4,334 (A decrease of 89 since Thursday morning, Recovered cases are 4,44,78,885 (An increase of 838 since Thursday morning). Total number of cases are 4,50,16,657 (An increase of 761 since Thursday morning), Total number of deaths are 5,33,385 ( An increase of 12 since Thursday morning). The state-wise distribution of mortality figures is; Kerala-05 deaths, Karnataka- 04 deaths, Maharashtra- 02 deaths; Uttar Pradesh- 01 death; Bihar - Reconciliation of mortality figures is ongoing. Odisha - Reconciliation of mortality figures is ongoing, 36,090 tests done on * 4th January, 2024* reported by ICMR. Since January 1, 2023, 139 Covid-19 deaths have been recorded. 71.11% of these deaths occurred in individuals above 60 years of age, 84% of the deceased had comorbidities, and, 16% did not have any comorbidities. (ANI)
Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Kunal Ghosh on Friday said that the attack on the team of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) at Sandeshkhali in the North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal was an "effect of provocation". Kunal Ghosh further alleged that the Central agency is working against the leader of his party at the behest of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). "What happened in Sandeskhali was an effect of provocation. In West Bengal, central agencies and forces on the instructions of the BJP are going to the residence of one or the other TMC leader or workers to harass, spread negative statements and provoke people. We are receiving such allegations and that's what happened in Sandeshkhali yesterday," Ghosh said. He further said that the residence of BJP West Bengal chief Suvendu Adhikari, once branded as a 'thief" by his own party was not raided. "BJP had called Suvendu Adhikari a thief but there was no raid in his residence, they only conduct raids at TMC leaders' residence..." the TMC leader added. On Thursday night, an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team was attacked and its vehicles damaged in Sandeshkhali village of North 24 Parganas in West Bengal, when it tried to raid the residence of block-level leaders of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in connection with an alleged ration scam case, an official of the agency said. As per reports, the ED was conducting raids at the residence of former Bongaon Municipality Chairman Shankar Adhya in Bangaon and TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan's house in connection with the alleged ration scam case. Sheikh Shahjahan is the Fisheries and Animal Resources Officer of North 24 Parganas Zilla Parishad as well as Block President of Sandeshkhali 1. The Trinamool Congress leader's supporters started protesting outside the leader's residence while the raid was underway and later on a mob attacked ED officials and vandalized their cars, according to ED officials. Two officials of the agency sustained injuries in the incident. A member of the raiding ED team said, "Eight people came to the spot. We three moved from the incident spot ...they attacked us." BJP MP Jagannath Sarkar, while condemning the incident said that 'democracy is falling again and again in West Bengal' and advocated to declare an emergency in the state. "Democracy is failing again and again in West Bengal that's the reason why the ED team was attacked. The organisations working against the nation are getting powerful. Bombs, pistols etc are recovered every day but no proper action is being taken against them. Hence, it is important to remove the government and declare an emergency in the state. Once it's done everything will improve and nobody will dare to attack the ED team," he said. Reacting to the attack on the central agency team, West Bengal BJP Chief Sukanta Majumdar said "There is a complaint and corruption charges against all of them. It is natural that ED will take action. It is quite obvious. The attack on ED in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali shows what the Rohingya are doing to the law and order in the state." (ANI)
The medical examination of a wanted Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist involved in 11 known terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, Javed Mattoo is being done at Safdarjung Hospital Delhi on Friday. He was arrested on Thursday in the national capital, Delhi Police said. Matto0 (32), a resident of Jammu and Kashmir's Sopore, is an A++ category terrorist of the banned terror organisation Hizbul Mujahideen. He had been evading his arrest for the last 13 years, the police said. Delhi Police informed further that it seized several arms and ammunition from Mattoo. "One 9 mm Star pistol with six live cartridges, one extra magazine, and a stolen car were recovered from him," an officer said. According to the sleuths, the Hizbul terrorist was planning to carry out 'audacious' terror strikes in Jammu and Kashmir and at another place on the instructions of his Pakistan-based handler. According to the police, they received information that Mattoo would be coming to Delhi-NCR to collect arms and ammunition. "On this information, sources keeping tabs on sleeper cells and weapon suppliers were activated. Today, i.e., on January 4, specific source information was received that Javed Ahmed Mattoo, resident of Sopore J-K, a wanted A++ category terrorist of Hizbul Mujahideen, would be coming to Delhi to collect arms and ammunition from his associates at the behest of PAK ISI," Delhi Police informed through a statement. "Mattoo's Pakistan-based handler was about to coordinate the delivery of arms and ammunition," Delhi Police informed further, adding that Mattoo was planning to carry out some 'audacious terror strikes' in the Union Territory at the behest of his handler. A case under appropriate sections was registered in this regard at the Special Cell police station, the sleuths said, adding that further investigation is underway. The police added that Mattoo was one of a gang of seven dreaded terrorists of Hizbul Mujahideen operating in North Kashmir, particularly Sopore. After being injured in an exchange of fire with security forces, he went underground and allegedly fled to Nepal on the instructions of Pakistan's external espionage agency, ISI, even as the Jammu and Kashmir Police were in hot pursuit. Besides indulging in terror activities, he also managed finances and logistics, including the procurement of weapons from ISI handlers across the border, the police added. Mattoo was involved in the killing of HC Mohd Yousf of CID, Sopore, near Sopore police station in 2010. He was also involved in an attack on the residence of Sopore SP in 2010. Also, in the same year, Mattoo was involved in the killing of two CRPF personnel in Pattan and the snatching of their service rifles. Mattoo, along with his associates, was also involved in the killing of one police constable, Mohd Shahfi Lone, in 2011. "He, along with his other associates, was also involved in an IED blast at Police Station Sopore, in which one SgCt Morifat Hussain of PS Sopore was killed in 2011. He was also involved in the grenade attack on Sopore police station, which involved Ishfaq Kana and Saleem Beig in 2011. In 2012, Mattoo was injured after he, along with other cadres of the outfit, attacked Sopore Police. He came to be associated with a disability after the injury. He was also involved in a grenade-throwing incident at the CRPF station in the SBI Complex of Hathishah. Many civilians were injured in the incident," the officer added. (ANI)
A Special Court on Friday convicted a Maharashtra-based company and three of its former office bearers for cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy in a case related to the allocation of Marki Mangli-Il, Ill and IV coal blocks in Yavatmal district, Maharashtra, to the company. Special Judge Sanjay Bansal convicted them under Section 120B, read with sections 417, 420, 468 and 471 IPC, and fixed January 11 and January 12, 2024, for the arguments on the point of the sentence. The court on Friday convicted Topworth Urja and Metals Ltd. (formerly known as Virangana Steels Ltd.). Anand Nandkishore Sarda, the then Director of Virangana Steels Ltd (Now Topworth Urja and Metals Ltd.), Manoj Maheshwari, the former Director and CEO of Virangana Steels Ltd. (Now Topworth Urja and Metals Ltd.) and Anil Kumar Saxena, the then President of Virangana Steels Ltd. (Now Topworth Urja and Metals Ltd.) The accused persons were the office bearers of the company at the time the coal block was allocated to Topworth Urja and Metals Ltd, earlier known as Virangana Steels Ltd, and its former officer bearers, Anil Kumar Saxena, Manoj Maheshwari and Anand Nand Kishore Sarda, were put on trial for offences punishable under the Indian Penal Code. During final arguments, it was submitted by Sanjay Kumar, Additional Legal Advisor of CBI, that the prosecution has successfully proved its case against the accused persons beyond reasonable doubt and therefore they may be convicted and punished as per law. The coal scam prosecution team was constituted by the Supreme Court of India in its order dated September 1, 2014. In 2020, the court discharged three people in connection with the coal block allocation case concerning Topworth Urja and Metals Limited (TUML). The Court had discharged TUML Director Surendra Lodha, its President Anil Nevatia, and Vice President SK Mittra in a coal block allocation case concerning Topworth Urja and Metals Limited (TUML). However, the Court had framed charges against the company TUML and three others--Anil Kumar Saxena, Manoj Maheshwari and Anand Nand Kishore Sarda--for their alleged role in the execution of mining leases pertaining to Marki-Mangli II, III and IV coal blocks in Yavatmal District, Maharashtra. TUML was formerly known as Virangana Steels Ltd. According to the prosecution, Virangana Steels Ltd., along with its officers and directors, conspired to cheat the Ministry of Coal (MoC) to procure the allocation of captive coal mining blocks for its proposed 3 LTPA sponge iron plant, Captive Power Plant (CPP) and Steel Melt Shop and even succeeded in obtaining an allocation of three captive coal blocks, said the CBI. (ANI)
Coming down heavily on AIUDF chief and minority leader Badruddin Ajmal, after he said people won't vote for the Congress despite the launch of another march by Rahul Gandhi; the party's Jharkhand president Rajesh Thakur on Friday accused him of working for the BJP. Speaking to ANI on Friday, the Congress state chief said, "There are a lot like him who are working for the BJP. I don't think too much importance should be given to what he says." "I don't know who Ajmal Sahab is. However, many like him are working for the BJP on the sly. We aren't bothered about what he says. I am not even aware of the state he belongs to," Thakur said. Ruffling feathers in the Congress, the AIUDF chief claimed earlier that Rahul's 'Bharat Nyay Yatra', which will be set rolling from the Manipur capital, Imphal, from January 14, won't bring much electoral benefit to the grand old party in the Lok Sabha elections this year. The march, which will follow from Rahul's 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' last year, will straddle several states in the Northeast, including Assam, before culminating in Mumbai. Still smarting from the poll routs in the heartland states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, the Congress is desperately counting on the march to pick up some momentum going into the general elections. "Since he belongs to the Gandhi family, crowds will gather to watch Rahul Gandhi. However, none of the people who would crowd the streets to welcome him will not vote for the Congress. The march won't work," Ajmal told the media persons on Thursday after attending a public meeting in the Baghmara Char area of Assam's Barpeta district. On the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', the AIUDF chief said earlier that while it was good that Rahul travelled 50 per cent of the country, the Congress had nothing to show for it in the elections. (ANI)
The Indian Railways (IR) has signed an MoU with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to reduce energy and water consumption, lowering GHG emissions. IR and CII have renewed their MoU for a third consecutive term. The MoU was signed and exchanged on January 4, 2024, between Railway Board Principal Executive Director/ME (EnHM & Project), Shailendra Singh, and CII Deputy Director General, Seema Arora, in the presence of Railway Board Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Jaya Varma Sinha, Board Members, and other senior officers. Indian Railways (IR), as a major stakeholder in the transportation sector in India, shared the responsibility of environmental protection. IR itself has set a "Net Zero Carbon Emission" target by the year 2030. Indian Railways have a significant number of railway stations, production units, major workshops, and other establishments, for which various green initiatives have been taken with the objective of environment protection and reducing carbon footprints. CII has been actively partnering with IR since July 2016 to promote and facilitate green initiatives over Indian Railways. The first MoU was signed in 2016 for 3 years and upon its expiration, another MoU was signed in 2019 for another 3 years. Significant progress has been made so far under the above two MoUs in achieving: Energy efficiency in manufacturing facilities and railway workshops: This initiative resulted in energy savings of 210 lakh kWh, monetary savings of Rs. 16 crores, and resulted in a significant GHG emission reduction of around 18000 ton of CO2. GreenCo rating: This initiative has been implemented in 75 railway units (workshops and manufacturing facilities) and has improved their environmental performance substantially. Green Railway Stations: Around 40 stations have achieved a green certificate and have demonstrated significant improvements by saving 22 million KWh of energy and 3 billion liters of water annually. Green Buildings, Hospitals, Schools, and Colonies: Over 40 building facilities, including administrative buildings, hospitals, schools, and colonies have been facilitated to achieve green certification. Capacity building and skill development: More than 20 new technology suppliers have been introduced, with around 150 IR officials have been exposed to the six best energy-efficient private sector plants in India. Also, around 900 IR officials were trained on different aspects of energy efficiency. Railway Board Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Jaya Varma Sinha, expressed optimism about the renewed collaboration, stating, "Indian Railways has consistently demonstrated its commitment to sustainable practices. This renewed MoU with CII-GBC marks a significant step towards our collective goal of achieving "Net Zero Carbon Emission". She emphasised that green is the most desirable option, incorporated as fundamental in the 'Planning, Design, Development and Operations' of the Indian Railway. Deputy Director General of CII, Seema Arora, appreciated Indian Railway's efforts in implementing green measures, reducing energy and water consumption and promoting sustainable practices across the built environment. She accentuated the importance of this partnership in driving sustainable development, stating, "Our renewed partnership with Indian Railways signifies a strategic shift towards the Net Zero framework. This alignment with global sustainability goals underscores our dedication to creating a greener, cleaner, and more sustainable future for generations to come. We look forward to implementing cutting-edge solutions that will pave the way for a more environmentally responsible railway network." Under this MoU, besides initiatives already being undertaken, CII will collaborate in bringing new or relevant technologies and their implementation; assistance in achieving ISO 50001 certification of workshops and production units; the development of the Net-Zero Energy Railway station framework; and an information dashboard will also be created to highlight the advancement in green initiatives throughout the year taken jointly by IR and CII. (ANI)
Two foreign nationals were apprehended at Indira Gandhi International Airport for carrying fake Bulgarian passports, according to an official statement issued by the Central Industrial Security Force on Friday. The identified individuals, David Verov and Asen Filipov Hristov, both Bulgarian nationals according to their passports, were observed engaging in dubious activities before their scheduled departure to Paris on Vistara flight at 1:45 pm, it said. The passengers have been handed over to the Delhi Police for further legal action, it added. "The matter was promptly reported to the officials of the Bulgarian Embassy, who subsequently confirmed the fraudulent nature of the passports," the statement added. On January 5, at 12:30 pm, on the basis of behaviour detection, CISF surveillance and intelligence staff at IGI Airport noticed suspicious activities of two foreign passengers who were roaming in the check-in area near 'A' row. "Acting on strong suspicion, the passengers, along with their belongings, were subjected to a comprehensive examination through the random X-BIS screening. Although no suspicious items were found in their baggage, a deeper investigation of their mobile phones revealed soft copies of Iranian passports. The names in these passports were identified as Kiarash Niazmand and Farid Sadeghi Pour, both Iranian nationals," the statement added. During the inquiry, it came to light that the passengers were carrying counterfeit Bulgarian passports bearing the names David Verov and Asen Filipov Hristov. The entries in these passports indicated that they had recently arrived from Istanbul on December 31, 2023, with plans to travel to Paris from IGI Delhi, as per the statement. (ANI)
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has moved the Karnataka High Court after the state government dropped the CBI case against Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar. The High Court is hearing the plea filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal challenging the state government's withdrawal of consent for the CBI probe. The Congress-ruled Karnataka government, in November, approved a proposal to withdraw the CBI probe against DK Shivakumar in the alleged disproportionate assets case. Talking about the state cabinet's nod to the proposal, Congress leader and Karnataka Law Minister HK Patil said the former BJP-led state government's decision to hand over the case to CBI was "not in accordance with the law". This decision triggered a massive political fight in the state between the BJP and the Congress with the former criticising the state cabinet's decision as "totally illegal". Karnataka BJP chief BY Vijayendra urged Shivakumar to trust the legal process and not support such cabinet decisions and demanded that the Chief Minister revoke this decision. "The decision taken by the state cabinet pertaining to DK Shivakumar's disproportionate assets case The decision of the cabinet is totally illegal under the Constitution. I request our deputy CM, DK Shivakumar, that if you have faith in the legal process and legal remedy, then please don't entertain such decisions taken by the cabinet...I demand CM take back this decision. Crores of money have been seized in Karnataka and other states. When the ED is investigating the entire issue, then the decision of the cabinet is completely illegal," Karnataka BJP chief BY Vijayendra said. The Congress government however has defended its decision, claiming the case against DK Shivakumar was politically motivated. "BJP can only threaten. They tried it through social media and agencies. Since yesterday they have been doing the same thing in the disproportionate case of DK Shivakumar. BJP is just spreading misinformation on this issue. The case against DK Shivakumar was politically motivated and it was filed to control Congress and Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar because they (BJP) were losing the elections" Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge said. (ANI)
Managing Director of Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation, Roopwant Singh, on Friday announced that the state is all set to host the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit (VGGS) 2024. The Country and State Seminar will be organised from January 10 to 12 in the manufacturing and service sector as part of VGGS 2024 at Seminar Hall-2 at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar. A total of 38 seminars have been planned by 25 countries, 10 institutions and 9 states during the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit. Elaborating on the seminars, Singh in a press conference said that 25 countries including Australia, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Japan, Kingdom of Morocco, Kingdom of Thailand, Malaysia, The Netherlands, Norway, Estonia, Kazakhstan, Republic of Korea, Mauritius, Mozambique, Poland, Rwanda, Russian Federation, Slovak Republic, Singapore, Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates and United Kingdom will be organizing the country seminars to showcase the opportunities in their respective countries. He further said that to contribute to the vision and roadmap of Viksit Bharat@2047, Madhya Pradesh and the Department of North Eastern Region (DoNER) will be organizing state seminars. "A Transition Towards Green Economy, 'Next Phase Of Japan's Contribution to 'Make in India', 'Partnership for Value Creation through Innovation and Sustainability', 'Gateway to International Markets: Sohar Port and Technology', 'Freezone Contributing to Technology, Sustainability, And Innovation' are some topics that will be discussed at this Country and State Seminar. All these topics are based on the theme of the 10th Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit - 'Gateway To The Future'," he said. The Country and State Seminars will be attended by top officials of the Department of Finance, Government of Gujarat, Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC), and General Administration Department (GAD). Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Government of India Piyush Goyal, Chief Minister of Gujarat Bhupendra Patel, Minister of Finance and Energy and Petrochemicals, Government of Gujarat Kanu Desai, Minister of Industry, Civil Aviation, Khadi and Village Industries, Labour and Employment, Government of Gujarat, Balvantsinh Rajput, Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of Gujarat Jagdish Panchal and Minister of State for Industries, Government of Gujarat Harsh Sanghvi will be present at this seminar. Besides this, senior government officials of the Government of India and the Government of Gujarat, heads of states and ministers of various countries as well as eminent speakers from all over the world will also be present in the Country and State Seminar. (ANI)
The Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on Thursday held a meeting to hear a series of work reports.

The reports were from leading Party members groups of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), the State Council, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the Supreme People's Court, and the Supreme People's Procuratorate, as well as from the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the meeting and delivered an important speech.

It was the first time that the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee heard such work reports since the Party's 20th National Congress, with the aim of maintaining and improving this institutional arrangement, according to the meeting.

The meeting acknowledged the work that the leading Party members groups of the NPC Standing Committee, the State Council, the CPPCC National Committee, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate have carried out since the Party's 20th National Congress.

These leading Party members groups have fulfilled their responsibilities in exercising full and rigorous Party self-governance, and made positive contributions to the country's economic development and social stability. Progress has been made in various areas of work, the meeting said.

The meeting also noted that under the leadership of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, the new Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee has taken on an active and proactive role and conscientiously performed its duties since the 20th National Congress of the CPC.

The Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee has made a lot of effective efforts to promote the implementation of the decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee, improve the framework of Party regulations, and guided the reform and establishment of various organizations for the people, said the meeting.

The meeting emphasized that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and that it is a critical year for achieving the goals and tasks of the 14th Five-Year Plan.

The leading Party members groups of the NPC Standing Committee, the State Council, the CPPCC National Committee, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate should focus their work on advancing Chinese modernization, which is of the utmost political importance, the meeting said.

It also stressed the need for concerted efforts, under the guidance of the CPC Central Committee, to put in place the strategic plans set out at the 20th CPC National Congress and make greater contributions to building a strong nation and realizing national rejuvenation.

For the new year, the meeting urged the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee to focus on the arrangements and requirements put forward by the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and its standing committee, prioritize key areas, ensure sound implementation work, and continue to fulfill the tasks assigned by the CPC Central Committee.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, accompanied by Union Minister for Earth Science Kiren Rijiju, made his inaugural visit to Nilling Circle in Upper Subansiri district on Friday. During the visit, he officially inaugurated the new administrative circle headquartered at Nyinya Rega and also unveiled the new CO office building. Congratulating the local residents for this significant development, Khandu commended their efforts, along with the local MLA Tanya Soki, for their sincere dedication and cooperation in fostering development in the area. Assuring full support on behalf of the government, Khandu pledged to facilitate the comprehensive development of the recently established Nilling circle. Responding to people's requests, he assured phased fulfillment of all genuine demands crucial for the area's progress. These commitments encompass the upgrading of the Daporijo-Taliha road at Sippi to Guha village to a double lane covering approximately 60 kilometers, the construction of a 750 kW micro hydel project at Hayung, infrastructure development at Nyonia Rega, and the construction of an inter-district road from Guha village to Tali ADC headquarters in Kra-Dadi district. Meanwhile, Rijiju inaugurated PMGSY roads of around 60-km length which include roads from Sippi to Chetam, from Chetam to Guha, and from BRTF road to Marbom. Later in the day, they attended a public meeting at Lingdam in Giba circle of the district wherein the Chief Minister assured to address a few public demands that include the construction of road from Lungte-Marging PMGSY Road at Taberijo to Dargung via Chaba, Rago, Rava, Markia, and Umpra villages in Gyadu area, approval for upgradation of Giba EAC HQ to ADC HQ, creation of Gyadu Circle Administrative Centre to enhance local governance and construction of a micro hydel project at Rhyoh Koro (Nallah) under Giba Circle. The duo was accompanied by MLAs Tanya Soki, Nyato Dukam, Rode Bui, Jikke Tako, Advisor to CM Tapen Siga and others. On arrival at Daporijo, Khandu and his entourage inspected the Sigin Steel Truss bridge at Sigin colony. The bridge will enhance connectivity and ease traffic in the Daporijo township. They also inspected the Subansiri brigde at Sikarijo and took updates from the engineers on site. (ANI)
Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Raj Bhavan in Jaipur on Friday. The Rajasthan Governor greeted PM Modi, who is on a visit to the desert state, with a flower bouquet. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma was present on the occasion. PM Modi is in Jaipur to attend the 58th All India Conference of Director Generals and Inspector Generals of Police, which commenced on Friday. The three-day annual meet of top cops was inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The conference is being held in hybrid mode with DGsP/IGsP and Chiefs of Central Police Organisations attending physically from Jaipur and over 500 police officers of various ranks participating through video conferencing from across the country. The Union Home Minister distributed Police Medals for Meritorious Service to IB officers and awarded trophies for the three best police stations. Shah paid homage to the martyrs from the Security Forces who had laid down their lives in the service of the nation and commemorated their supreme sacrifice. The Union Home Minister highlighted that in 2023 the nation has entered the Amrit Kal and stressed upon two important developments viz. the formulation of New Education Policy and enactment of three new Criminal Laws replacing British era laws. He mentioned that the new laws are focused on delivery of justice instead of punishment and implementation of these laws would transform our criminal justice system as most modern and scientific. The Union Home Minister stressed the need for training from SHO to DGP level and technology upgradation from Thana to PHQ level for successful implementation of new laws. UHM also stressed the need for linking of databases and adopting AI driven analytical approach for tackling the emerging security challenges. He pointed out an overall improvement in the security scenario in the country since 2014 especially the reduction of violence in the three critical hotspots, i.e, Jammu & Kashmir, North-East and Left Wing Extremism. He observed that this conference over the years has emerged as a 'Think Tank', facilitating decision-making and formulation of new security strategies. He emphasized on uniformity of structures, size and skill of counter terror mechanisms across the country. The Union Home Minister also highlighted the role of internal security in realizing the Prime Minister's vision of India becoming a developed nation by 2047. The Conference would deliberate on a range of security related issues of critical importance including security of borders, cyber-threats, radicalization, fraudulent issuance of identity documents and threats emerging from AI. (ANI)
Kathmandu and New Delhi on Thursday inked a long-term agreement on electricity trade, as part of which Nepal will export 10,000 megawatts of electricity to India over the next ten years. The agreement was signed in the presence of Nepal's Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Shakti Bahadur Basnet. Secretary at the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Gopal Sigdel and India's Energy Secretary Pankaj Agrawal signed the agreement on behalf of the two countries. The bilateral understanding on electricity exports was reached during Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal's visit to India from May 31 to June 3, last year. During the visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed India's commitment to long-termelectricity purchase from Nepal and both nations reached a consensus in this regard. The Council of Ministers in India has already endorsed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reached between the two neighbours in this regard. The agreement was signed during the ongoing two-day visit of External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar, starting Thursday. Further, by virtue of this agreement, various government and private entities in India will engage in power trade with Nepal through short-term, medium-term, and long-term contracts. Private sectors in Nepal can also participate in the import and export of electricity after completing the necessary procedures. In the joint statement issued during the visit of the Nepalese PM to India last year, the premiers of both nations said the power export deal was historic and significant. Nepal has already devised an energy development strategy with an objective of producing 28,000 MW of electricity in the next 12 years. Of the 28,000 MW of power, a target has been set to export 15,000 MW of electricity to different countries, including India. Earlier, a delegation led by the Indian Energy secretary paid a courtesy call to Nepalese Energy Minister Basnet. Expressing happiness over the start of a meaningful cooperation between the two countries in the energy space, Basnet pointed to the need for taking it to a logical conclusion. He stated that the deal to export 10,000 MW of electricity in the next 10 years would take the relations between the two countries to new heights. The Energy minister urged Indian officials to accelerate other projects and complete them within the stipulated time while voicing hope of further investment in large projects across sectors. (ANI)
China's state-controlled Global Times has applauded India's economic policies and diplomatic achievements over the past four years under PM Modi's leadership in an article titled "Bharat Narrative," highlighting that New Delhi's strategic thinking in "foreign policy has evolved, moving towards a great power strategy." An article written by Zhang Jiadong, the Director of the Centre for South Asian Studies at Fudan University, Shanghai, highlighted India's remarkable achievements over the past four years. Moreover, it acknowledged India's robust economic growth, improvements in urban governance, and a shift in attitude towards international relations, notably with China. "For example, when discussing the trade imbalance between China and India, Indian representatives earlier used to primarily focus on China's measures to reduce the trade imbalance. But now they are placing more emphasis on India's export potential," Jiadong wrote. The article also commended India's proactive approach to fostering a "Bharat narrative" and emphasised the nation's strategic confidence. The author further stated that with its rapid economic and social development, India has become more strategically confident and proactive in creating and developing a 'Bharat narrative'. "In the political and cultural spheres, India has moved from emphasising its democratic consensus with the West to highlighting the 'Indian feature' of democratic politics. Currently, there is even more emphasis on the Indian origins of democratic politics," he added. According to the author, the shift reflected India's ambitions to escape its historical colonial shadow and position itself as a global influencer, politically and culturally. The article by the Chinese media further lauded India's foreign policy strategy under PM Modi, which highlighted the nation's multi-alignment approach and bolstered ties with major global powers like the US, Japan, and Russia while displaying a nuanced stance in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Highlighting India's strategic thinking in foreign policy, the article stated that it has undergone another change and is "moving towards a great power strategy". "Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed power, he has advocated for a multi-alignment strategy, promoting India's relations with the US, Japan, Russia and other countries and regional organisations," Zhang stated. The article further noted that India has always considered itself a world power. However, it has only been less than 10 years since India shifted from multi-balancing to multi-alignment, and now it is rapidly transforming towards a strategy of becoming a pole in the multipolar world. While concluding, Zhang said, "It appears that a transformed, stronger, and more assertive India has become a new geopolitical factor that many countries need to consider." Furthermore, this rarely-seen acknowledgement of India's advancements and PM Modi's strategic vision by the Global Times indicates the growing recognition of India's burgeoning global influence and the implications of its assertive posture on the international landscape. (ANI)
Highlighting that Russia has become increasingly isolated on the world stage due to sanctions and export controls, the White House said on Thursday that North Korea is providing Russia with ballistic missiles to attack Ukraine. The US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications, John Kirby, said that Russia is receiving support from third countries. "As Russia continues to launch these brutal attacks, the United States has new information to share about the support that Russia is receiving from third countries," he said. Russia has been isolated globally and has been forced to look to like-minded states for military equipment. "Due in part to our sanctions and export controls, Russia has become increasingly isolated on the world stage, and they've been forced to look to like-minded states for military equipment," Kirby said. "As we've been warning publicly, one of those states is North Korea. Our information indicates that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea recently provided Russia with ballistic missile launchers and several ballistic missiles. On December 30, 2023, Russian forces launched at least one of these North Korean ballistic missiles into Ukraine," he added. Reportedly, the missile landed in an open field in the Zaparicia region. Russia launched multiple North Korean ballistic missiles into Ukraine on January 2, to which Kirby responded that the US is still assessing the impacts of these additional missiles. "On January 2, Russia launched multiple North Korean ballistic missiles into Ukraine, including as part of its overnight aerial attack. We are still assessing the impacts of these additional missiles," Kirby said. On December 30, Russia launched its most extensive air attack on Ukraine since the commencement of the full-scale invasion, as reported by the Ukrainian military to CNN. The onslaught, characterised by an overwhelming number of drones and missiles, targeted various locations across the country, resulting in at least 31 fatalities and over 150 injuries. The scale of the assault was staggering, involving 158 drones and missiles, including hypersonic Kinzhal missiles, cruise missiles, and Shahed drones, according to Ukraine's air force. Urging Congress to release more funds for providing military aid to Ukraine, US State Secretary Antony Blinken said "Congress needs to act in the new year". In a post on X, Blinken expressed the gravity of the situation, stating, "The US strongly condemns Russia's horrific strikes across Ukraine today. As Putin continues his brutal war of aggression, we must support Ukraine in defending itself." (ANI)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will begin his visit to the Middle Eastern countries from January 4 till January 11, to address ongoing concerns, including the release of remaining hostages and delivering life-saving humanitarian assistance to Gazan civilians. US Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller on Friday emphasised that Blinken will travel to Istanbul, Turkey; Crete, Greece; Amman, Jordan; Doha, Qatar; Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates; Al 'Ula, Saudi Arabia; Tel Aviv, Israel; the West Bank; and Cairo, Egypt, from January 4. State Secretary Blinken will further underscore the importance of protecting civilians' lives in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza. "Throughout his trip, the Secretary will underscore the importance of protecting civilian lives in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza; securing the release of all remaining hostages; our shared commitment to facilitating the increased, sustained delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza and the resumption of essential services; and ensuring that Palestinians are not forcibly displaced from Gaza," Miller said. Moreover, Blinken will hold discussions on recent Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and avoiding escalation in Lebanon. "Blinken will also discuss urgent mechanisms to stem violence, calm rhetoric, and reduce regional tensions, including deterring Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and avoiding escalation in Lebanon," he added. The US State Secretary will further reaffirm the US commitment to working with partners to set the conditions necessary for peace in the Middle East. It will include comprehensive and tangible steps towards the realisation of a future Palestinian state alongside the State of Israel, with both living in peace and security, Miller said. Recently, in another move that sidesteps congressional approval, US President Joe Biden's administration authorised the immediate transfer of nearly USD 150 million in military equipment to Israel for its ongoing conflict with Hamas. It marks the second such bypass within the month, CNN reported. Secretary of State Antony Blinken apprised Congress of his emergency determination, allowing the prompt transfer of "155mm ancillary items, including fuzes, charges, and primers that make 155mm shells functional," as revealed by a State Department spokesperson. The spokesperson said the additional items were added to previous sales, which "increased the total value of the sale to USD 147.5 million," according to CNN. (ANI)
Tel Aviv [Israel], January 5 (ANI/TPS): The Investments Authority of the Ministry of Economy and Industry and the Tax Authority are working to provide individual support to entrepreneurs among the evacuees from the war zones who own residential buildings. As such, it has already been approved for a company that owns a residential apartment building, which holds written approval from the administration in the "building for rent" route, to contract with a government company for the occupancy of the apartments in this building by the evacuee population. An entrepreneur who applies to the administration and receives approval will be entitled to tax benefits in accordance with Chapter Seven 1 of the Incentive Law - accelerated depreciation and low taxation on the income from the building, all subject to compliance with all the conditions in the Incentive Law and the procedures of the Investment Authority. It was further determined that after the end of the rental period to the government company, the renting of the apartments to other tenants (individuals) will be exempt from tax subject to compliance with the provisions of the VAT Law. The sale of the apartments, insofar as it is done according to the provisions of the Incentive Law and subject to compliance with the other conditions stipulated therein, will be exempt from tax according to the VAT Law. Following the start of the "Iron Swords" war the government evacuated more than 100,000 citizens from the areas surrounding Gaza and near the Lebanese border, mainly to hotels. This is a temporary solution, which causes significant difficulties and challenges among the evacuees and government officials. The evacuation requires permanent housing solutions for many of the evacuees, which is why the Tax Authority and the Easy Investments Authority initiated the "apartments for rent" track in the Law to Encourage Capital Investments, with the aim of increasing the stock of rental housing. (ANI/TPS)
After being granted post-arrest bail on Tuesday, the chief of Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM), Manzoor Pashteen, was re-arrested and taken to an undisclosed location. Manzoor Pashteen expressed his frustration on social media, stating that court orders were not accepted, jail rules were manipulated, and the existence of a normal state was only on paper. Sharing on his social media X, Pashteen stated that the court orders were not accepted and jail rules were twisted, adding that a normal state existed but only on paper. He further stressed that brutal colonial rule continues in Pakistan. "Despite the release orders of #ManzoorPashteen he was again arrested by deep state & taken away to undisclosed location. Court orders are not accepted, jail rules are twisted & normal state exists only on papers. Brutal colonial rule continue in Pakistan," he posted on X. https://x.com/ManzoorPashteen/status/1742978045223526529?s=20 The session court in Islamabad approved the post-arrest bail of PTM chief Manzoor Pashteen on Tuesday in the Tarnol police station case, ARY News reported. The federal capital police -- after completing the judicial remand -- presented the PTM chief before the senior civil judge Shabbir Bhatti's court, where the court, after hearing the argument, approved the post-arrest bail of Pashteen. Manzoor Pashteen, who founded PTM in 2014, advocates for the rights of Pashtuns, who are affected by Pakistan's war against the Taliban and its local affiliate, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The PTM has also been raising its voice for the Baloch, who have been facing similar atrocities at the hands of the security agencies, according to Express Tribune. Manzoor Pashteen was arrested on December 4 for addressing a protest in Turbat and went missing, allegedly abducted by the intelligence agencies of his country. Earlier this month, Pashtuns in Pakistan held protests against the detention of the chairman of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), Manzoor Pashteen. The protesters in various parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces had blocked the roads to raise their protest against the arrest of a Pashtun leader and human rights activist. Police claimed that Pashteen was arrested after officers were reportedly fired upon his vehicle, The Express Tribune reported. Furthermore, he was arrested for breaching a ban preventing his entry into Balochistan. However, the PTM accused law enforcement of firing at Pashteen's vehicle, according to The Express Tribune. (ANI)
An accountability court in Rawalpindi on Thursday deferred the indictment of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in the Toshakhana reference till January 6, Pakistan-based Geo News reported. According to details, accountability court Judge Muhammad Bashir put off framing charges against PTI founder Imran Khan Bushra Bibi as the National Accountability Bureau's (NAB) prosecutor, Amjad Pervaiz, requested more time to advance their arguments in the case. A five-member special prosecution team of the anti-grant watchdog is pursuing the case against Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi, according to Geo News reported. Meanwhile, the accountability court judge set January 6 as a new date to frame charges against Khan and Bushra Bibi in the case. The court resumed hearing the case in Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail where the PTI founder is currently incarcerated. Under the gifts governing Toshakhana, government officials can keep gifts if they have a low worth while they pay a reduced price to the government for extravagant items. The Toshakhana has been under close watch ever since the emergence of the allegations that Imran Khan bought the gifts he received as Pakistan's PM at throwaway prices and sold them off in the open market for staggering profits. PTI founder is accused of misusing his position as Pakistan's PM from 2018 to 2022 to purchase and sell gifts in state possession that were received during visits abroad and were worth over Pakistani Rupees (PKR) 140 million, Geo News reported. The government officials said the gifts included watches given by a royal family, who have previously alleged that Khan's aides sold them in Dubai. The gifts included seven wristwatches, including six Rolex watches, and the most expensive, a "Master Graff limited edition" worth Pakistani Rupees (PKR) 85 million (USD 385,000). The order issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) stated that Imran Khan stood disqualified under Article 63(1)(p) of the Constitution. On December 9, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has summoned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan's wife in the Toshakhana case, Pakistan-based ARY News reported. According to details, the NAB Rawalpindi has issued notice to Bushra Bibi. The NAB had summoned her on December 11 at 11 am (local time) in connection with the Toshakhana case, according to ARY News report. NAB has also asked Bushra Bibi to bring the gold necklace, diamond ring and bracelet with her in connection with the Toshakhana case. (ANI)
Baloch activist Mahrang Baloch on Friday termed the court's silence on the rearrest of Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) chief Manzoor Pashteen a "joke with the constitution and the law." She stated that Pashteen was arrested in front of the prison despite the High Court's order to release him, calling it the "height of fascism." In a post shared on X, Mahrang Baloch stated, "After the release of PTM leader Manzoor Pashteen, the abduction-like arrest in front of the jail is the height of fascism. For those who say that why are you disappointed with the courts, it is a request to them that when the courts fail to provide justice to the people, then disappointment with the courts is a thousand sins better. The order to release Manzoor Pashteen came from the High Court, but to trample the court order and re-arrest it and the courts are silent on it is a joke with the constitution and the law." After being granted post-arrest bail on Tuesday, PTM chief Manzoor Pashteen was re-arrested and taken to an undisclosed location. Manzoor Pashteen expressed his frustration on social media, stating that court orders were not accepted, jail rules were manipulated, and the existence of a normal state was only on paper. He stressed that "brutal colonial rule" still continues in Pakistan. Taking to X, Pashteen stated, "Despite the release orders of #ManzoorPashteen he was again arrested by deep state & taken away to undisclosed location. Court orders are not accepted, jail rules are twisted & normal state exists only on papers. Brutal colonial rule continue in Pakistan. #WhereIsManzoorPashteen." On Tuesday, a sessions court in Islamabad approved the post-arrest bail of Manzoor Pashteen in a case lodged at the Tarnol police station, Pakistan-based The Express Tribune reported. After completing the judicial remand, the Islamabad police presented the PTM chief before the senior civil judge Shabbir Bhatti's court, where the court, after hearing the argument, approved the post-arrest bail of Pashteen. The court asked him to submit a surety bond of Pakistani Rupees (PKR) 5000 against the bail. According to details, Pashteen was arrested for breaching a ban stopping his entry into Balochistan. The police claimed that PTM chief was arrested after a vehicle of officers was fired at in Balochistan. However, the PTM accused the law enforcers of firing at Pashteen's vehicle, according to The Express Tribune report. Manzoor Pashteen, who founded PTM in 2014, advocates for the rights of Pashtuns, who are affected by Pakistan's war against the Taliban and its local affiliate, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The PTM has also been raising its voice for the Baloch, who have been facing similar atrocities at the hands of the security agencies. Earlier in December, Pashtuns in Pakistan held protests against the detention of the chairman of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), Manzoor Pashteen. The protesters in various parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces had blocked the roads to raise their protest against the arrest of Pashtun leader and human rights activist. (ANI)
Nepal on Thursday received the fifth tranche of earthquake relief materials which included pre-fabricated houses as an aid assistance from India for earthquake victims in Western Nepal. Addressing a public event on Friday, the Minister for External Affairs of India, S Jaishankar made the announcement of the arrival and handing over of the relief materials to the November earthquake victims."Like rest of the world we were saddened to learn of the casualties and devastation caused by the earthquake that struck the Western parts of Nepal in November last year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed solidarity with the people and leadership of Nepal and committed to extend all possible assistance. In line with this commitment the government of India started providing emergency relief in less than 48 hours after the earthquake. Five tranches of such relief has been already supplied to the affected people including one consisting of pre-fabricated houses which were handed over yesterday to the people in the earthquake affected districts," Jaishankar said. External Affairs Minister Jaishankar also announced an aid package to Nepal from Indian Government as a reconstruction bid in those affected area amounting 1000 Crore Nepali Rupees. "I also communciated yesterday to Prime Minister Prachanda Ji- our decision to extend financial package of Nepali rupees 1000 crore (75 million USD) for the reconstruction of the infrastructure in these affected districts," Jaishankar added. Likewise, the EAM on Friday also handed over the newly constructed building of the Tribhuvan University Central Library alongside, Nepali Foreign Minister NP Saud. "Joined my colleague FM @NPSaudnc at the inauguration of Tribhuvan University Central Library, 25 schools, 32 health facilities and culture sector project. Concrete delivery of the commitments made by PM @narendramodi on Nepal's post-earthquake reconstruction," Jaishankar tweeted. Along with, the External Affairs Minister also inaugurated 25 schools and 32 health facilities and a culture sector project under post 2015 earthquake reconstruction programme in Kathmandu. "In past few year reconstruction has been an area where we have received substantial level of financial support from the Government of India for which we are really thankful. We extend our sincere appreciation to the Government of India for supporting us in the reconstruction works following the 2015 earthquake as well as the recent earthquake in Jajarkot. With the support of India significant number of private homes have been successfully rebuilt in Gorkha and Nuwakot Districts. Resources also were availed for the reconstruction of educational institutions, health facilities and cultural heritage sites," Nepali Foreign Minister NP Saud said. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday said that bilateral ties between India and Nepal witnessed a real transformation in recent years with significant strides made in various sectors. In his address after joint inauguration of Tribhuvan University Central Library and other post-earthquake reconstruction projects in Kathmandu, Jaishankar said, "In recent years, we have witnessed the real transformation of the India-Nepal relationship. With significant strides made in a variety of areas, this partnership has expanded multifold and connectivity, be it physical, digital or energy-related, has become a cornerstone of this expanding collaboration, and this has further strengthened the people-to-people linkages between our two countries," Jaishankar said today. The external affairs minister who arrived in Nepal a day ago today e jointly inaugurated with his Nepalese counterpart N P Saud the Tribhuvan University Central Library and other reconstruction projects undertaken in Kathmandu after the 2015 earthquake in Nepal. Highlighting the India's efforts in Nepal after the devastating earthquake of 2005, Jaishankar said, "I stand before you today with a sense of satisfaction, even pride as we gather here to celebrate the inauguration of this newly constructed Central Library of the prestigious Tribhuvan University as well as 25 schools, 32 health projects and a Cultural Heritage Sector project which were undertaken as part of a collaborative effort to support the people of Nepal in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake of 2015." He said Nepal's government, after the initial rescue efforts prioritized housing, education, health and cultural heritage as part of its reconstruction drive. Jaishankar stated that India is pleased to be part of Nepal's reconstruction efforts and noted that the Indian government has funded the project for the construction of 50,000 houses that were completed in November 2021. "We have been pleased to be part of these efforts as we contributed USD one billion in this regard consisting of USD 250 million in grant and the remaining as a line of credit. We are very satisfied that the Government of India has funded a project for the construction of 50,000 houses that were completed in November 2021. "I'm happy to know that today's handing over of 25 schools and the inauguration of this very prestigious library, all the 71 projects being undertaken with reconstruction grant in the education sector have been completed and handed over to the Government of Nepal," Jaishankar said. The external affairs minster appreciated the partnership of governments of Nepal and India and recognized the efforts of all the concerned agencies of Nepal government. He expressed hope that other projects will be completed soon and put to use as soon as possible. Jaishankar stressed that India like the rest of the world, was saddened to learn about the casualties and devastation caused by the earthquake that struck Nepal's western regions in November last year. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed solidarity to the people and leadership of Nepal and had committed to extend all possible assistance. In line with this commitment, the Government of India started providing emergency relief in less than 48 hours after the earthquake. Five branches of such relief have already been supplied to the earthquake affected people, including one consisting of essential requirements and pre-fabricated houses which were handed over yesterday to the people in the earthquake- affected districts," he said. "I also communicated yesterday to Prime Minister Prachanda Ji, our decision to extend a financial package of Nepali rupees 1000 crores, that is USD 75 million for the reconstruction of infrastructure in these affected districts. We shall continue to stand by the people of Nepal and contribute to the efforts of the Government of Nepal in this regard," he said. Jaishankar who is on a two-day visit to Kathmandu, on Thursday called on Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda.' Jaishankar conveyed the greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Dahal. In a post shared on X, Jaishankar stated, "Called on Rt. Hon'ble PM @cmprachanda . Conveyed the warm wishes of PM @narendramodi . Recalled his successful visit to India in June 2023 which has imparted a new momentum to our ties. Discussed the follow-up, including through the Joint Commission Meeting today. friendship is indeed unique and our partnership is moving from strength to strength." (ANI)
It was previously believed that 38-year-old Adar was alive in Gaza. But the Nir Oz announcement said he was killed on Oct. 7 and his body remains in Gaza.

His grandmother, Yaffa Adar, 85, was also taken hostage and released during a week-long ceasefire in November. (ANI/TPS)
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday questioned the Narendra Modi-led government over its approach towards China. He asked the Modi government to decide on its policy towards China. Kharge cited Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal's statement that ties between India and China are "not normal." He said reports have claimed that Chinese diplomats visited Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters. He said reports have claimed that the Modi government has given exemptions in visas to Chinese technicians and professions for manufacturing under the PLI scheme. In a post shared on X, Kharge stated, "On one hand, the Foreign Ministry of Modi government admitted for the first time that relations with China are not normal. On the other hand, according to the news - 1. Diplomats from China went to the headquarters of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Why did they go? What did they go for? What conversation took place?" "2. Modi government has given exemption in visa to Chinese professionals and technicians for manufacturing under PLI scheme. Why did you give it? Didn't China give stapled visas to our talented players for the Asian Games? Did 20 of our brave soldiers not sacrifice their lives in Galwan while fighting China in 2020?," he added. Taking a dig at PM Modi, Kharge said that he has given a clean chit to China and even mentioned in his statement, "Nobody entered our border." On Thursday, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Official Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India and China continue to engage on the diplomatic and military sides for some sort of a resolution. While addressing a weekly media briefing on Thursday, Jaiswal said, "India's position on China is very well known. It is a relationship, which is not normal, but we have had dialogues both on the military side and on the diplomatic side in October and November. And the idea is that we engage so that we can have some sort of resolution." Jaiswal said he wanted to pull out what was discussed in these meetings that were held in October and November. He said, "The commander-level meeting was held in October where there was an agreement to maintain momentum of dialogue and negotiations through relevant military and diplomatic mechanisms. And they also committed to maintaining peace and tranquillity on the ground at the border areas." He stated further that India and China also had the 28th meeting of the WMCC (Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs). "This is at the diplomatic level. We had our joint secretary East Asia participating there. They had a very good in-depth discussion, constructive discussion, frank discussion and they looked at all the proposals to resolve remaining issues and achieve complete disengagement in eastern Ladakh," he added. Jaiswal said the two countries agreed on the need to maintain peace and tranquillity along the border areas, ensure a stable situation on the ground and avoid any untoward incident. "And then thereafter, the two sides agreed to continue the dialogue through military and diplomatic channels and hold the next round of senior commanders meeting at the earliest to achieve the above objective," he said. The 28th meeting of the WMCC was held on Thursday. The Joint Secretary (East Asia) from the Ministry of External Affairs led the Indian delegation and the Director-General, Boundary and Oceanic Affairs, of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs led the Chinese delegation, the MEA informed. The two sides reviewed the situation along the LAC in the Western Sector of the India-China border areas and engaged in an open, constructive and in-depth discussion of proposals to resolve the remaining issues and achieve complete disengagement in Eastern Ladakh, the MEA stated in a press release. They further agreed on the need to maintain peace and tranquillity along the border areas, ensure a stable situation on the ground and avoid any untoward incidents. The two sides agreed to continue the dialogue through military and diplomatic channels and hold the next round of the Senior Commanders' Meeting at the earliest to achieve the above objective, the MEA added. Earlier in October, India and China held the 20th round of Corps Commander-level talks at Chushul as part of the ongoing efforts for overall disengagement and de-escalation to resolve the stand-off in eastern Ladakh. The meeting was held at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Indian side on October 9-10. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the two sides exchanged views in a frank, open and constructive manner for an early and mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC in the Western Sector, in accordance with the guidance provided by the national leadership of the two countries, and building on the progress made in the last round of Corps Commanders' Meeting held on August 13-14, 2023. Earlier in 2020, the Indian and Chinese troops clashed at Galwan, the same year the pandemic started.Since May 2020, when the Chinese troops tried to aggressively change the status quo on LAC in eastern Ladakh, both sides have been deployed in forward positions near Patrolling Point 15, which emerged as a friction point in the wake of the Galwan clash. Over 50,000 Indian soldiers have been stationed since 2020 at forward posts along the LAC with advanced weapons to prevent any attempts to change the status quo unilaterally on the LAC. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Friday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Lakshadweep has drawn global attention to the archipelago and its immense tourism potential. "By visiting Lakshadweep, PM @narendramodi has focused attention on its immense potential for tourism. This is a great inspiration for all of us. More visitors will contribute to Lakshadweep's prosperity. They will also experience its unique culture and traditions," the External Affairs Minister posted from his official X handle on Friday. He added that as India becomes more world-ready, "let's showcase the beauty and diversity of our great nation". PM Modi recently visited the Union Territory of Lakshadweep and shared several pictures, including an 'exhilarating experience' after he tried his hand at snorkelling. In a series of posts on X, PM Modi shared pictures of the white beaches and the pristine blue skies and the ocean, and tagged them with a message that read, "For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list." He also thanked the people of the cluster of islands for their hospitality. "Recently, I had the opportunity to be among the people of Lakshadweep. I am still in awe of the stunning beauty of its islands and the incredible warmth of its people. I had the opportunity to interact with people in Agatti, Bangaram and Kavaratti. I thank the people of the islands for their hospitality. Here are some glimpses, including aerial glimpses from Lakshadweep...During my stay, I also tried snorkelling - what an exhilarating experience it was! For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list," PM Modi posted on X. Sharing a photograph of him seated on a beach, the PM posted, "And those early morning walks along the pristine beaches were also moments of pure bliss." "In addition to the scenic beauty, Lakshadweep's tranquillity is also mesmerising," he added in his post. He captioned one of his posts as, "It gave me an opportunity to reflect on how to work even harder for the welfare of 140 crore Indians." PM Modi said Lakshadweep is not just a group of islands but a timeless legacy of traditions and a testament to the spirit of its people. "My visit has been an enriching journey of learning and growing," PM Modi posted. He said his government was focused on lifting the living standards of locals through enhanced development. "Our focus in Lakshadweep is to uplift lives through enhanced development. In addition to creating futuristic infrastructure, it is also about creating opportunities for better healthcare, faster internet and drinking water, while protecting as well celebrating the vibrant local culture. The projects that were inaugurated reflect this spirit," PM Modi posted. He also shared pictures of his interaction with the beneficiaries of various government schemes during his visit to the archipelago. "Had excellent interactions with the beneficiaries of various government schemes. It's inspiring to see firsthand how these initiatives are fostering better health, self-reliance, women's empowerment, improved agricultural practices and more. The life journeys I heard were truly moving," PM Modi posted. He also laid the foundation stone for development projects worth over Rs 1,150 crore in Agatti on Tuesday. He also inaugurated the Kochi-Lakshadweep Islands Submarine Optical Fiber Connection (KLI - SOFC) project, which is aimed at overcoming the challenge of slow internet speed in the Union Territory. He also inaugurated the Low-Temperature Thermal Desalination (LTTD) plant at Kadmat, which will produce 1.5 lakh litres of clean drinking water every day and Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) in all households of Agatti and Minicoy islands. Among the other projects that he dedicated to the nation was the solar power plant at Kavaratti, which is the first-ever battery-backed solar power project of Lakshadweep. Prime Minister Modi also laid the foundation stone for the renovation of the Health Care facility in Kalpeni and the construction of five model Anganwadi Centres (Nand Ghars) in the five islands of Androth, Chetlat, Kadmat, Agatti and Minicoy. (ANI)
With the general elections just around a month away, the Pakistan Senate passed a resolution on Friday seeking to delay the polls due to 'security concerns', Dawn reported. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Afnan Ullah Khan opposed the non-binding resolution, which was moved by independent Senator Dilawar Khan during a session with only 15 lawmakers in attendance. The Upper House of the Parliament has a total of 100 members. Notably, the general elections in Pakistan is scheduled to be held on February 8, according to Election Commission of Pakistan. https://x.com/SenatePakistan/status/1743236123604963570?s=20 Dilawar said the Constitution upheld the right to vote for every citizen of Pakistan and the Election Commission of Pakistan was bound to conduct free and fair polls contingent upon inclusivity and ensuring the participation of all regional people, as per the Dawn report. "The voter turnout in colder areas remains notably high during moderate weather conditions. January and February are recognised as the coldest months in the majority of the areas in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa," he said. Dilawar noted that various political parties had expressed reservations about facing difficulty ensuring participation in colder areas during the electoral process. He also expressed "great concern" on recent attempts on the lives of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F (JUI-F) chief Fazlur Rehman, former lawmaker Mohsin Dawar, and other political figures. "The Ministry of Interior has conveyed serious threats to the lives of prominent politicians, increasing the challenges faced by political parties in exercising their right to a free and fair election," Dawn quoted Dilawar as saying. He further highlighted that there had been a spike in attacks on security forces and citizens, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. "The intelligence agencies have warned of militant attacks threats on election rallies in both provinces". The senator said alerts had been issued by intelligence agencies indicating "imminent threats" of militant attacks on election rallies, which could have a potential impact on the safety of citizens and the democratic electoral process. The election schedule may be postponed to facilitate the "effective participation of people from all areas of Pakistan and belonging to all political shades", he demanded, adding that the delay aimed at upholding constitutional rights to political participation. Speaking on criticism of the resolution, Dilwar said that the senators from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan had raised concerns regarding rising terrorism in the two provinces and the impossibility of elections in such an environment, according to Dawn. He said a group of senators had then consulted each other and agreed that "as ensuring elections within 90 days after an assembly's dissolution was a constitutional requirement, so was ensuring the fundamental right to vote for every citizen". Pointing to weather conditions and threats to politicians, he argued that is why the group of lawmakers had felt it necessary if elections could be delayed for an "appropriate time" of "two to four months so the weather improves somewhat", Dawn reported. Notably, the elections in Pakistan would have been held in October-November after the National Assembly was dissolved in August. However, the polls got delayed after Election Commission of Pakistan decided to conduct fresh delimitation ahead of the polls. (ANI)
They were detained by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly being involved in illegal poaching in the Lankan waters.

"21 #Indian fishermen have been repatriated from #SriLanka to #Chennai a short while ago," the Indian High Commission posted from its official X handle.

https://twitter.com/indiainsl/status/1743189610237415620?s=46&t=TbrKHKgG29uXA1CMFN38Pw

At least 33 Indian trawlers and 220 Indian fishermen were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy in 2023, the Sri Lankan Navy said in a statement back in December, last year.

Six Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu were arrested by the Lankan Navy in December.

In a separate incident in the same month, 25 fishermen -- 12 from Tamil Nadu and 13 from Puducherry -- were also detained by the Sri Lankan navy.

The arrests of Indian fishermen by the Lankan navy in the recent past have been a matter of concern not just for the Centre but also the Tamil Nadu government.

In October, last year, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin wrote to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, expressing concern over the repeated arrests of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy, while reiterating his demand that the Centre do the needful in safeguarding the traditional fishing rights of the state's anglers in the Palk Bay region.

Tamil Nadu BJP president Annamalai also wrote to EAM Jaishankar over the issue.

Notably, the issue was also discussed during the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Sri Lankan counterpart Ranil Wickremesinghe during the latter's visit to India in July this year.

"We also discussed the issues related to the livelihood of fishermen. We agree that we should proceed with a humane approach in this matter," the official statement by PM Modi after the meeting read. (ANI)
United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai will travel to New Delhi on January 12 to co-chair the 14th Ministerial-level meetings of the United States-India Trade Policy Forum with Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal. US Trade Representative Tai will be in New Delhi from January 12 to January 14. On her first day of the visit, Tai will meet with Piyush Goyal, following which she will co-chair the 14th ministerial-level meetings of the United States-India Trade Policy Forum with Piyush Goyal. The United States-India Trade Policy Forum was established in 2010 and plays an important role in strengthening and expanding the bilateral economic and trade relationship. Moreover, under both ministers' leadership, the Trade Policy Forum has helped remove trade barriers and facilitate cooperation on key issues. During this year's meeting of the Trade Policy Forum, Ambassador Tai and Minister Goyal will discuss a broad set of issues to enhance the resiliency of the trade relationship, including agriculture, industrial products, services, and the protection of intellectual property, among other topics. Later, Ambassador Tai will meet with India's Minister of External Affairs, S Jaishankar. On January 13, Ambassador Tai will meet with civil society representatives, business leaders, and stakeholders to discuss the Biden-Harris Administration's engagement and commitment to fostering closer ties between the two countries. The United States-India trade relationship has continued to grow stronger and benefit both nations throughout the past year as Ambassador Tai and Minister Goyal reached several milestone agreements that deliver crucial market access for American farmers and producers and high-quality products to Indian consumers. These included a 70 per cent reduction of the tariff on pecans and the removal of retaliatory tariffs on almonds, apples, chickpeas, lentils and walnuts, boric acid, and diagnostic reagents. Moreover, it included commitments for additional tariff reductions on frozen turkey and frozen duck, as well as fresh, frozen, dried, and processed blueberries and cranberries. Furthermore, the US and India have also reached agreements to resolve all seven of their outstanding World Trade Organisation disputes. Additional details on Ambassador Tai's schedule will be provided at a later date. Earlier in November, Piyush Goyal visited the US and met with US Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai on the sidelines of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) in San Francisco. The two leaders held talks on the IPEF and trade pillars. The IPEF seeks to strengthen economic engagement among partner nations with the goal of advancing growth, peace and prosperity in the region, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a statement. India and the US are natural partners and have trade complementarities, long-standing strategic and economic relationships, and people-to-people contact, and both are vibrant democracies too. The two nations are also collaborating under other frameworks, such as QUAD and I2U2 (India-Israel, UAE-US). Regular exchanges at the leadership level have been an integral element of the expanding bilateral engagement. (ANI)
The Committee for Protection of Journalists (CPJ) has strongly condemned the harassment of female journalist Fatima Razzaq who was covering Baloch protesters in Islamabad, as reported by the Balochistan Post. The international organisation CPJ stated that five plainclothes gunmen forcibly detained a female journalist while she was waiting for her bus in Rawalpindi, near Islamabad. "The accused (Police) kept Fatima Razzaq in custody at gunpoint for forty minutes and asked her various questions about the activities of the Baloch Yakjetti Committee (BYC) in Islamabad and harassed her," the CPJ said in a statement. According to the statement, the persons demanded the journalist's camera, which the journalist refused to hand over. Then they took the mobile phone of the female journalist and started looking for things and then damaged the mobile phone, Balochistan Post reported. Further, the organisation has demanded the government ensure the safety of journalists so that they can cover the protest without fear or hindrance. Notably, during the coverage of the Baloch Yekjetti Committee's sit-in protest against the "Baloch Genocide" in Islamabad, a female journalist, Somaiyah Hafeez, was also detained by the Islamabad police. Additionally, several other journalists were under severe criticism by the government authorities, as reported by the Balochistan Post. Senior Pakistani journalist and columnist Hamid Mir posted on social media that another journalist, Somaiyah Hafeez, was also arrested by Islamabad police the same day. Earlier, as the seven-day ultimatum given by the Baloch Yekjehti Committee (BYC) ended on Wednesday, Baloch activist Mahrang Baloch announced that a protest camp would be set up in front of the United Nations (UN) offices, Pakistan-based Dawn reported. Moreover, social media activist Fazila Baloch took to her social media X, stating that despite Mahrang Baloch facing prison and being tortured, she never gave up and stressed, "She is true leader." "They wanted to control her voice, but she returned in millions. She herself faced prison, torture but she never gave up, as a human she is a real activist & As a Baloch she is true leader. Brave daughter of Balochistan Dr Mahrang," Fazila Baloch said. https://x.com/IFazilaBaloch/status/1743372575902990813?s=20 The decision of the Islamabad High Court after increased police activity around the Baloch protest camp sparked concerns about a potential crackdown. Earlier on Wednesday, Mahrang Baloch said that the seven-day deadline given to the government for the recovery of missing persons had ended, however, relevant authorities have not given any response. Meanwhile, in the wake of ongoing protests in Balochistan, a complete shutterdown strike on Wednesday was observed in multiple areas of Pakistan against the extrajudicial killings and forced disappearances of Baloch people, the Yakjethti Committee said on Wednesday. (ANI)
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Kent District Library had a busy 2023.

It won the Jerry Kline Community Impact Prize, which came with a $250,000 prize that will be used for four capital projects and scholarships for community students.

It saw the passage of a 15-year millage renewal that lowered its current millage rate.

It also saw a record-breaking year for its digital collection, with readers checking out 1.6 million digital books. Of those, around 960,000 were e-books, while around 860,000 were audiobooks, KDL says.

Also in the digital collection, patrons checked out around 427,000 songs, 92,000 magazines and 75,000 videos. Altogether, the value of digital items checked out by Kent County patrons was around $37 million.

(Courtesy Kent District Library)

(Courtesy Kent District Library)

BRING OUT THE GATORADE

Collection Development Librarian Alison Kuchta said the digital trend is partially because West Michigan knows good value when they see it.

Why did KDL order 850 copies of the same book?

She explained digital books gained popularity during the pandemic, when they were the only game in town, and have only gained traction since then, with readers liking how convenient and easy they are to access.

This is the third year in a row KDL surpassed one million checkouts on Libby, the digital collection KDL uses through OverDrive. Thousands of libraries use Libby  90% of North American public libraries have OverDrive, according to its website  and Kuchta said KDL was No. 49 for circulation numbers, up from its No. 54 spot last year.

Our library system is number 49 on that list for circulation, which is really impressive, she said. I think were going to keep climbing that list.

Only 123 public library systems worldwide hit that million checkout milestone on Libby in 2023.

The community should give itself a pat on the back for breaking the record for digital books, Kuchta said.

Heres what Kent District Library will be doing with $250K prize

Im not super sporty, but Id like to take a big Gatorade bath because thats pretty amazing, she joked.

She said she hopes to see that number grow again in 2024, saying shed parade around with the trophy if KDL hit 2 million digital book checkouts this year.

The community loves reading, she said, and KDLs total circulation numbers have surpassed pre-pandemic numbers.

THE TITLES KENT COUNTY IS READING

Romance held the hearts of Kent County readers this year, coming out on top as the most popular genre.

The most circulated title was Verity by Colleen Hoover, a romantic thriller about a writer hired to finish a book series for a mans injured wife.

Also popular this year was mystery, fantasy, children/young adult and romantasy, which Kuchta said is a growing trend and includes popular titles like A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas.

Two of Maas books were among the top five KDL patrons listened to. The most popular audiobook was Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros.

Top five KDL digital audio books in 2023:

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese

Top five KDL digital e-books in 2023:

Verity by Colleen Hoover The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover Beach Read by Emily Henry

Kuchta noted that kids books are also rising in popularity for e-books.

Parchment library announces book for Great Michigan Read

Patrons can access KDLs digital collections using their library card, which can be acquired online or at any of the branch locations, by going to KDL.org/downloads. Readers looking for books can check for titles that are available now, or they can put themselves on the hold list if theres a particular title theyre interested in.

HOW DOES KDL ACQUIRE DIGITAL COPIES?

The process of adding digital books to KDLs collection isnt nearly as simple as procuring physical books. Kuchta said each publishers process for licensing books is different. Some material expires after a year or two or after a certain amount of uses, and its becoming more rare for it to never expire.

Some materials, like magazines, are available for simultaneous use by multiple readers, while others are not. Digital material can also be more expensive, Kuchta said, saying sometimes it costs around $60 to $70 to license a book.

Were always having conversations with our vendors on ways they can talk with publishers on our behalf to make it more affordable, she explained.

KDL is also working to make wait lists shorter, she said.

You just have to weigh what kind of value you see your users getting, our community getting out of those materials and what type of licenses are available, she explained.

For example, On the Same Page is a new program inviting patrons to read Tom Lake by Ann Patchett. As KDL prepared for the program, it acquired 76 e-books and 61 audio books  read by Meryl Streep  of the featured title, along with 720 physical copies.

More than books: 8 ways to best use your local library

As KDL works to continue its digital services, Kuchta encouraged those who enjoy them to share it with others.

No matter how patrons are reading or listening to books  read six books and earn a free mug through KDLs Let it Snow winter reading club  Kuchta said its important, as they can learn about a new topic, find ways to connect with others or learn a new skill.

Its connecting with community and finding out what others are interested in, she said. You can find materials that would introduce you to places or people or ideas to make us a more successful community.  (Its also) a way to bring people together.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
Border guards in Vinnytsia Oblast have prevented a group of men from illegally crossing the Dnister River to Moldova.

Source: Ukraine's State Border Guard Service

Details: Border guards reportedly detained 10 men from different regions of Ukraine near the border, on the banks of the Dnister. The "international transfer" was supposed to take place by boat from Moldova, but the border guards were ahead of the "ferry".

As it turned out, the men found a channel on the Internet providing services of transportation of people across the border. Then, following instructions, in the darkness of night, they arrived in a border settlement, where the scheme was to be carried out. At the end of the trip, the "travellers" had to pay the businessmen USD 5,000 each.

The police filed reports on administrative offences against all the persons who tried to illegally get abroad under Article 204-1.2 of the Code of Administrative Offences on illegal crossing or attempt to illegally cross the State Border of Ukraine.

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Nora Clock, left, consoles Stella Lovelace as they stand by photographs, from left, of Katherine Koonce, William Kinney, Hallie Scruggs and Cynthia Peak at a makeshift memorial by the entrance to the Covenant School on March 29, 2023, in Nashville after the March 27 shooting at the school that killed three students and three adults. (Credit: Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean)

Ten officers within Metro Nashville Police Department's specialized investigative unit will be reassigned following an investigation of the March 27 Covenant School shooting writing leaks.

Those officers  not named by MNPD  will be reassigned next month to unnamed positions within the department. Their positions at the specialized investigation unit will be filled, a spokesperson said.

MNPD said the 10 were questioned during an internal investigation into writings leaked to a conservative media personality. Seven were placed on administrative leave as part of the investigation. Four returned to duty Nov. 17.

Police said in December they were unable to identify the source of the leak but told The Tennessean the leak did not come from a current MNPD officer or staff member.

A former officer police sought to interview a former detective who had the images at one time, but the detective declined the interview request and is no longer working in law enforcement.

Police did not name the former employee.

During the investigation into the source of the pictures, the police department's Office of Professional Accountability determined that the three cell phone photographs were taken at The Covenant School immediately after the shooter's writings were discovered.

Two detectives assigned to the Specialized Investigations Division took them as a way to learn more about the shooter and determine whether anyone else was involved in the case, the news release noted. One of the detectives took two of the pictures, while the other detective took the third, it said.

The Metro Police Department has forwarded the case to the District Attorney's office for review.

Tennessean reporters requested several records within days of The Covenant School shooting, when the shooter, a former Covenant student, entered the school and killed six people, including three children.

Several groups, including The Tennessean, sued Metro Nashville after those records requests were denied. The school, church and Covenant families are intervening in the lawsuit and seeking to prevent the city from releasing the records.

More: Why the Nashville Covenant shooter's notebooks haven't been publicly released

The case is currently pending in chancery court.

The Tennessean has no plans to publish the writings verbatim and has sought to center coverage on public policy, the victims and the community.

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: 10 Nashville officers from Covenant School leak to be reassigned
A 12-year-old died and three other children including another 12-year-old boy who was driving were injured after they crashed an SUV into a tree Thursday morning, according to the Dallas Police Department.

At around 8:40 a.m. Thursday, Dallas police were called to the 14000 block of Lasater Road, near the intersection of Champlain Way, about a car crash.

The preliminary investigation determined an SUV traveling south on Lasater went off the road and hit a tree.

One of the passengers, a 12-year-old boy, died at the scene, according to police.

The driver, identified as another 12-year-old boy, and two other passengers identified as 11- and 12-year-old boys, were taken to a local hospital in stable condition, police said.

The investigation into the crash is ongoing.
A 12-year-old student in Rowan County is accused of taking a gun on a school bus, according to the Rowan County Sheriffs Office.

Around 5 p.m. Thursday, the Rowan County school resource officer learned that a student onboard a bus was in possession of a gun, according to the sheriffs office. The resource officer interviewed the student and found the weapon, a .22-caliber handgun, with the help of the students parents, according to the sheriffs office.

The student took the gun to school but did not plan to harm anyone, according to the sheriffs office. The gun was unloaded and the student did not have any ammunition.

The student was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon on school property, the sheriffs office said.

Following the incident, there will be a parent meeting Tuesday to discuss officer positions and ways parents can contribute to school safety.
A 47-year-old man has been arrested after being accused of fatally shooting a 63-year-old in 2011, California officers said. And a docuseries had a role in solving the case.

On Nov. 15, 2011, Nevada County Sheriffs Office deputies responded to a requested welfare check and found Delbert Wilder dead from a gunshot wound at his home, according to a Jan 3. news release by the sheriffs office.

The case went cold, but 12 years later, Wilders family shared videos that gave an insight into his life, deputies said.

The 9-minute video, called Murderer Among Us, was released as part of a docuseries by the sheriffs office on the 12th anniversary of Wilders death and asked anyone with information to step forward, deputies said.

Police received tips and calls that led them to Eric Craig Hodges, officers said.

Detectives showed the evidence to the district attorney in December, and an arrest warrant for murder was issued for Hodges, deputies said. He was arrested Jan. 3.

Twelve years is a long time to wait for an arrest, but when we bring a homicide case to our DA, its imperative that we have sufficient evidence and proof of the crime committed and who committed it, said Shannan Moon with the Nevada County Sheriffs Office, according to the release. Along with recent advances in DNA technology, new witness statements as a direct result of our video, and the DA reviewing our new evidence and filing this case, we hope justice will finally be served.

Hodges is being held at the Wayne Brown Correctional Facility without bail, deputies said.

Nevada County is about 50 miles northeast of Sacramento.

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Iranian people attend a gathering to mark top Iranian General Qassem Soleimani's second martyrdom anniversary in Tehran, Iran, Jan. 3, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua]

The Islamic State (IS) terrorist group on Thursday claimed responsibility for two deadly bomb blasts in the southeastern Iranian city of Kerman.

The IS released a statement saying two of its suicide bombers had used explosive belts in two "operations," according to Iran's official news agency IRNA.

At least 84 people were killed and 284 others injured on Wednesday in the twin bombing near the tomb of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in Kerman while there was a crowded gathering to mark the fourth anniversary of Soleimani's death in a U.S. drone strike.

Earlier, IRNA citing an informed source reported that surveillance camera footage and other evidence around the first blast pointed to a suicidal attack. The second blast, still under probe, was "most probably" also a suicide attack, said the source.

The first blast was about 700 meters from the tomb and the second was a kilometer away. Rahman Jalali, the deputy governor of Kerman province for political and security affairs, told the agency the explosions were carried out by "terrorists," according to IRNA.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei vowed on Wednesday in a statement that a "harsh response" would be given to those who perpetrated and ordered the deadly "act of terror."

Soleimani, one of the most powerful military commanders in Iran, was killed on Jan. 3, 2020, near Baghdad's international airport in a drone strike ordered by then-U.S. President Donald Trump.

He was buried in his hometown of Kerman after a funeral that drew millions of mourners across Iran. Iran denounced the assassination as "state terrorism" and vowed revenge.
2024 GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley told Erin Burnett at a CNN town hall Thursday night that she should have said slavery in her viral response to a question about the causes of the Civil War, but said in her mind, thats a given. In South Carolinayou grow up...you know, I had Black friends growing up. It is a very talked-about thing, Haley said. Heres the full exchange:

BURNETT: So, I want to ask you about something that's been a challenge for your campaign over the past week. And this, of course, is referring back to New Hampshire, where you were asked to explain the cause of the Civil War. You obviously did not mention slavery. And afterwards, you came up, you said, that was a mistake. In fact, you said it should have been the first thing that you said. So you did come out and say that. Chris Christie, though, came out and said that you gave that answer not because you're, in his words, dumb or racist, but because you're, quote, unwilling to offend anyone by telling the truth. What do you say to that?

HALEY: No one's ever said that I am unwilling to offend. I offend plenty of people because I call people out when they do something wrong. What I will tell you is Chris Christie is from New Jersey. I should have said slavery right off the bat. But if you grow up in South Carolina, literally in second and third grade, you learn about slavery. You grow up and you have  you know, I had Black friends growing up. It is a very talked about thing. We have a big history in South Carolina when it comes to, you know, slavery, when it comes to all the things that happened with the Civil War, all that. I was over  I was thinking past slavery, and talking about the lesson that we would learn going forward. I shouldn't have done that. I should have said slavery. But in in my mind, that's a given that everybody associates the Civil War with slavery.
Indiana Democrats and some Republicans will once again seek to pass legislation legalizing marijuana during the 2024 legislative session, which begins on Monday.

Past attempts at liberalizing Indianas marijuana laws have proved fruitless. During last years legislative session, more than a dozen bills that would have loosened restrictions on the drug to varying degrees  from legalizing adult recreational use or medical use to decriminalizing possession of small amounts  all failed in the Statehouse, where Republicans hold a supermajority in both chambers.

Cannabis is one issue where Indiana has set itself apart from its neighbors. Michigan and Illinois legalized recreational marijuana in 2018 and 2020, respectively. Ohio, where Republicans control the governors mansion and both chambers of the state legislature, became the latest state to join them in November. So far, 24 states have legalized recreational marijuana and a majority of Americans now live in a state where cannabis can be accessed legally. The Hoosier state is one of just 12 holdouts that allow neither medical nor recreational cannabis use.

State Sen. Rodney Pol, D-Chesterton, hopes to change that. He told the Post-Tribune that he is optimistic that his bill  which would legalize the use of cannabis by adults over 21 and anyone with a serious medical condition as designated by a physician  will pass.

The legislation would create a state level cannabis commission to oversee, implement, and enforce regulations on cannabis products grown and sold in the state. Marijuana-related products, including CBD, Delta-8 and Delta-9 products, can be legally sold in Indiana, but they are not overseen by a state regulatory body.

In November, Pol participated in a meeting of the Interim Study Committee on Commerce and Economic Development, which heard six hours of testimony related to marijuana legalizations potential impacts from medical and legal experts.

It was a great conversation, he said, though the committee ultimately did not arrive at any recommendations for the 2024 session. I thought there was a lot of good information that was presented.

Pol pointed to recent moves by the White House toward a more liberal stance on marijuana, which remains federally illegal, as cause for hope. In October of 2022, President Joe Biden announced a pardon of all prior federal offenses for simple possession of marijuana and urged governors to follow suit at the state level. Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb has indicated that he would not do so unless federal cannabis laws change. Biden also directed the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Attorney General to begin a review of how marijuana is scheduled under federal law.

The federal government currently classifies cannabis in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, a designation reserved for the most dangerous drugs that also includes LSD and heroin. On Aug. 29, HHS recommended to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) that marijuana be moved from Schedule I to Schedule III, the designation given to ketamine, anabolic steroids, and testosterone.

Reclassifying marijuana as a Schedule III drug would reduce the tax burden on marijuana businesses by allowing them to deduct business expenses associated with cannabis production from their taxable income. In December, five governors signed a letter to Biden urging him to ensure that the proposal goes into effect before the end of the year. Pol sees the still-looming possibility of rescheduling as one of the biggest winds at our back for state-level legalization advocates.

That tears away yet another one of the barriers that we continuously hear about at the Statehouse, he said. As time has moved on, all of the factors have really been in favor of moving toward legalization.

Pols legislation, Senate Bill 99, was referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce and Technology, along with a similar bill authored by Sen. David Niezgodski, D-South Bend, and a medical-only cannabis bill authored by Sen. Greg Taylor, D-Indianapolis.

Another medical cannabis bill, authored by Rep. Jim Lucas, R-Seymour, was referred to the House Committee on Public Health. Lucas, unlike many of his GOP colleagues, has been a consistent advocate for loosening cannabis laws and has introduced medical marijuana and decriminalization legislation in past sessions.

Lucas believes that the 2024 session will more than likely not see movement on cannabis legalization.

Thats just because of leadership, he told the Post-Tribune. They keep kicking the can down the road.

Like Pol, Lucas supports the legalization and regulation of adult use cannabis. He has offered more modest proposals so far as a matter of political expediency.

Right now, to think that we are controlling it is an insult to all rational, logical thinking human beings out there because were not, he said. You can get it in any middle school or prison.

Medical marijuana is, to Lucas, the bare minimum. He pointed to the support of veterans groups like the American Legion, which in 2016 adopted a resolution urging the DEA to license privately-funded medical marijuana production operations in the United States to enable safe and efficient cannabis drug development research and to remove the drug from Schedule I.

Neither Sen. Brian Buchanan, R-Lebanon, who chairs the Commerce and Technology Committee, nor ranking member Eric Koch, R-Bedford, returned a request for comment.

Former state Sen. Karen Tallian, D-Ogden Dunes, who was succeeded by Pol in her 4th District seat after she resigned mid-term in 2021, was a longtime supporter of cannabis legalization. Her decision to leave the Senate, she said at the time, was motivated by a sense of frustration with Statehouse Republicans stonewalling of liberal action items.

Some time in the future, maybe near, maybe nearer than you think, Indiana will join the rest of the country and address the marijuana question, Tallian, a 16-year State House veteran said on the Senate floor. And when you do, think of me.

adalton@chicagotribune.com
Twenty-four people have been sickened in 14 states in a salmonella outbreak tied to charcuterie meats, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said Friday.

Salmonella was identified in an unopened sample of Busseto Foods Charcuterie Sampler Prosciutto, Sweet Soppressata, and Dry Coppa collected by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture as a part of the investigation, a CDC alert on the outbreak reads. Testing is being conducted to determine if the Salmonella in the sample is the outbreak strain.

The CDC also noted a recall of 11,097 pounds of Busseto Foods brand ready-to-eat charcuterie meat products by Fratelli Beretta USA on Wednesday. The recall covered 18-oz. plastic tray packages containing BUSSETO FOODS CHARCUTERIE SAMPLER Prosciutto, Sweet Sopressata, and Dry Coppa, according to the recall.

The recall also said that the products were shipped to Sams Club distribution centers in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Texas.

In its alert, the CDC said people should check their refrigerators for possible recalled foods and reach out to health care providers if they experience severe salmonella symptoms such as bloody diarrhea and [s]o much vomiting that you cannot keep liquids down.

Last month, Quaker Oats Co. recalled some granola bars and granola-based cereals due to the risk of salmonella.

Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, the Quaker announcement read. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Lexington Police Department has arrested a second suspect in connection to a shooting that happened in downtown Lexington on New Years Day.

Jonneisheia Lewis, 33, has been charged with first-degree wanton endangerment, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon and discharging a firearm in city limits. Her arrest citation says she fired a gun near a large crowd of people, which resulted in other people firing shots in return.

Lewis was shot during the incident, according to court documents. Police previously said a woman was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Lewis was being held at the Fayette County Detention Center on a $5,000 bond, according to jail records. She was scheduled to make an initial court appearance Friday.

Police are also looking for a third suspect. Lavonne Smith, 30, has an active warrant for possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, police said.

Anyone with information or knowledge of Lavonne Smiths whereabouts can call Lexington police at (859) 258-3600. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Bluegrass Crime Stoppers by calling (859) 253-2020, online at www.bluegrasscrimestoppers.com, or through the P3 Tips app at www.p3tips.com.

The shooting happened at 1:59 a.m. on the 100 block of West Main Street. Police previously said a disorder preceded the shots being fired.

It was the first shooting reported in Lexington in 2024. There were 84 non-fatal shootings reported in Lexington in 2023, down from 119 in 2022, according to ONE Lexington.

Monteza Long, 24, was previously arrested and charged with first-degree wanton endangerment and discharging a firearm within city limits in connection to the shooting, according to police. She was being held in the Fayette County Detention Center. She is being held at the Fayette County jail on a $25,000 bond, according to jail records.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  In the three years since the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S Capitol, two men with Las Vegas ties have been imprisoned, one is awaiting a trial and one is awaiting sentencing.

The man deemed the Spider Nazi, who climbed on the exterior of the U.S. Capitol building and then went inside through a broken window most-recently pleaded guilty.

After his arrest in December 2022, Brandon Dillard, 40, of Las Vegas, initially faced charges of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a Capitol Building; and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol Building, documents said.

In November, Dillard agreed to plead guilty to a charge of disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, documents said. The charge faces a prison sentence of a year in prison and a $100,000 fine.

Brandon Dillard, of Las Vegas, is accused of entering the U.S. Capitol through this broken window. (KLAS)

In January 2021, a person uploaded a 90-minute video of the insurrection to an FBI database, documents said. The video includes a person, wearing a spider web-hooded sweatshirt, climbing down an exterior Capitol wall. The same person then entered the Capitol building through a broken window, documents said.

Online comments gave the person seen climbing on the building the moniker #SpiderNazi, documents said.

Investigators reviewed more videos, finding the same man in videos with his face exposed, they said. The FBI then compared the man in the video to Dillards Nevada drivers license photo, finding a strong resemblance, they wrote in court documents. The FBI also obtained data from Dillards phone carrier, which showed his phone in the area of the Capitol on Jan. 6, they said.

Travel records also showed Dillard traveled from Las Vegas to the Washington Area on Jan. 5 and returned to Las Vegas on Jan. 8.

Two other men with Las Vegas ties were already serving prison sentences for their roles on Jan. 6.

Ronald Ronnie Sandlin, who was living in Las Vegas, began serving a 63-month prison sentence in December 2022. Nathaniel Nate DeGrave, also of Las Vegas, started his sentence last summer.

On the day of the riot, DeGrave, Sandlin, and a third man, Josiah Colt, of Idaho, met in a hotel room in Maryland and later entered the Capitol. Prosecutors said DeGrave assaulted at least two U.S. Capitol Police officers and was armed with bear spray, according to documents.

The 8 News Now Investigators interviewed both DeGrave and Sandlin from jail in 2021. Inside the Capitol, Sandlin attempted to rip off an officers helmet before reaching the U.S. Senate Chamber. While leaving the building, Sandlin took an oil painting off a wall before leaving it behind, prosecutors said.

The FBI arrested Ronald Ronnie Sandlin outside of Nathan Nate DeGraves apartment near the Las Vegas Strip on Jan. 29, 2021. (KLAS)

Sandlin was also seen on video smoking weed inside the building. He is heard on the video saying, People are smoking weed in here. Thank you, patriot. We made history in here, according to court documents.

In the months after Jan. 6, DeGrave raised more than $120,000 where he called himself a political prisoner, prosecutors said.

Last March, the FBI arrested Bradley Nelson, a North Las Vegas truck driver, for allegedly entering the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 and then tweeting about it, saying in part, I was in the capital [sic] and all hell broke loose, documents the 8 News Now Investigators obtained said.

Nelson, who the FBI said is a commercial truck driver, drove his truck from southern Nevada to Washington, D.C. in January 2021, and parked it at an inspection station, they said.

Bradley Nelson as seen in various surveillance images on Jan. 6, 2021, according to prosecutors. (KLAS)

The FBI later identified Nelson from his Nevada drivers license and videos of the insurrection. Federal investigators also said Nelsons cell phone was in the area, including inside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Nelson has pleaded not guilty and remained out of custody pending trial.

Last April, a judge sentenced a fifth man, Josiah Kenyon, of Winnemucca, to six years in prison for his involvement. Kenyon attacked officers and caused more than $40,000 in damage.

Kenyon was seen in and around the building wearing a Nightmare Before Christmas Jack Skellington costume, documents said. While outside the building, he tried to break a window with his fist before using a flagpole to hit it.

A judge scheduled Dillards sentencing for Feb. 8. He remained out of custody.

Seven people died in the riot or in the immediate days after, including an officer for the Capitol police, the Jan. 6 committee found.

Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed special counsel Jack Smith to oversee the departments investigations into the former president and the lead-up to the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol insurrection.

The FBI has arrested more 1,200 people for crimes related to Jan. 6, the department said. More than 450 people face charges of assaulting or impeding law enforcement. As of Friday, the longest Jan. 6-related sentence a judge has imposed is 14 years for a man who threw a chair at a line of officers. Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI or online at tips.fbi.gov.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
The stronger your relationship with your adult child, the less likely you are to run into conflicts over care of your grandchildren.

The stronger your relationship with your adult child, the less likely you are to run into conflicts over care of your grandchildren.

We tend to think of grandparenting as easy and filled with joy compared to the long slog of parenting your own children. And its true that being a grandparent may allow you to participate in fun and festive occasions without having to sacrifice your financial security or uninterrupted sleep.

But there are a number of ways that being a grandparent can cause stress as well as amplify any tension with your adult children. If youre hoping to nourish strong relationships and minimize conflict with your grandchildren and their parents, here are a few missteps experts suggest you avoid, as well as what you can do to repair the damage when you do something you regret.

Giving gifts parents havent approved or giving money without communicating expectations.

Its considered typical grandparent behavior to shower grandchildren with gifts, but gift giving can become a source of tension if you and the childs parents dont agree on what constitutes an appropriate gift.

Sometimes grandparents can get into trouble because they buy things for their grandchildren that their parents may not approve of, are too expensive or too excessive in nature, Christopher Hansen, a licensed counselor in San Antonio, told HuffPost.

A good way to avoid this is to clear any purchases, or a plan for purchases, with parents beforehand. For example, Grandma is taking you to the zoo. You can look in the gift shop at the end of the visit and pick out one small stuffy for her to buy you. This clarifies expectations for everyone and lets the parent know that you respect their authority, which helps cultivate trust.

Complications from gift giving frequently arise when it comes to financial gifts. With the cost of child care taking an average of 27% of families earnings, its common for grandparents to either step in as child care providers or contribute to costs such as day care and tuition. But financial gifts can result in hard feelings if the money is used in a way you didnt intend.

Clarify whether there are any expectations that accompany the gift, Robin Kay Stilwell, a licensed marriage and family therapist, told HuffPost.

Is it a gift for the adult or child to use as they see fit, or do you have expectations regarding how you want it to be spent? added Stilwell, who has practices in Washington, D.C., and Florida, and is a grandmother herself.

Again, the best way to prevent issues from cropping up is through clear communication beforehand. You might agree, for example, to pay 50% of a childs preschool tuition for two years with the understanding that you wont be able to continue with similar amounts once the child enters kindergarten.

Not respecting parents schedules.

Dropping by unannounced, Stilwell said, is a definite no. Doing so sends a message that your convenience takes priority regardless of the disruption to the flow of the family unit. It is particularly difficult during dinner time, homework time or bedtime.

You also want to show understanding for how tightly packed parents schedules are. Many times, grandparents forget that their children have lives with work and other commitments and dont always have time nor want to have the time to have grandparents over because they simply are tired and are living their own lives, Hansen said. This can sometimes mean that you dont visit as often or for as long as you would like  but remember that the quality of the time you spend with your grandkids is more important than the quantity. Do your part by showing up and honoring any commitments you make to them.

Parents primary loyalty needs to shift to their family of creation, Stilwell explained. It can be a challenge to see them as adults with their own lives, making decisions that are disappointing to you but work for them. Avoid framing this as disloyal.

Of course, you want parents to respect your schedule as well  particularly if youre one of their child care providers. If youll be providing child care regularly, it can help to set a schedule. Likewise, youll want to let parents know about any ongoing commitments as well as your ability (and willingness) to drop everything to care for grandchildren if the parents are in a pinch.

If a grandparent acts as a caregiver without clear parameters or expectations, resentment can develop, Stilwell said.

Criticizing the parents parenting style.

It can be a challenge to keep quiet if you see parents making what seem to be clear mistakes, but make sure that if you do raise concerns you maintain respect for their authority.

The grandparents often have a different approach to parenting that may be contrary to how the kids are raising the grandkids. It may also be different from how they parented the now-grown children. Both the parents and grandparents can be judgmental and critical of the others style. This can create a wedge in the relationship with the grandkids, Stilwell said.

You may feel disrespected if parents seem to dismiss your many years of experience, but at the end of the day, they have to make decisions that feel best for their family.

Sometimes grandparents take for granted that their childrens belief system and the way they want to raise their children matches what they did, and many times thats simply not the case. Communicating and finding out how they feel about certain subjects and other things regarding their child goes a long way toward ensuring grandparents dont overstep, Hansen said.

When it comes to things like household rules and discipline, its helpful to have these discussions beforehand. Clear expectations can prevent conflict later on.

Extra caution is warranted with in-law relationships, particularly in cases of divorce.

A good rule of thumb is to avoid criticizing your childs spouse or partner, directly or indirectly, even if they are the ones to vent or initiate negative comments, Stilwell said.

Not respecting boundaries.

Circumventing the authority and wishes of the parents, Hansen said, is another area where grandparents get into trouble.

Whether the issue is gift giving or household rules, if the adult children feel that their parenting rules or schedules are ignored or undermined, it can bleed into other aspects of the relationship, including their trust, Stilwell said.

If you want to be part of your grandchildrens lives, it will need to be on terms that both you and their parents agree to.

Talking with one another is always the best way to gain an understanding of what is acceptable and what is not acceptable, Hansen said.

The stronger your relationship and communication with your adult child, the less likely you are to run into conflicts over care of your grandchildren.

Communicating and finding out how they feel about certain subjects and other things regarding their child goes a long way toward ensuring grandparents dont overstep, Hansen said.

Not working through issues as they arise.

Of course, caring for kids can be complicated, often requiring you to make many decisions in rapid succession. Its inevitable that at some point you will do something counter to parents wishes. How you handle this will set the tone for your relationship moving forward.

A sincere apology, Hansen said, is an excellent place to start. Making amends to your grandchildren or children is not a sign of weakness and demonstrates for both that even grandparents make mistakes and are human.

As with any repair work, youll want to acknowledge the other persons feelings, take responsibility for your actions and offer a pledge  and perhaps a plan  for not repeating the mistake in the future. You might say, for example, Next time I will set a timer to remind all of us when its time to turn off the iPad.

Though you may not feel that your actions were a mistake, You can acknowledge that your intentions were positive and that you will work on respecting who they are and what they need from you, Stilwell explained.

It can take time and practice for everyone to become comfortable with your role as a grandparent. Have some compassion for yourself, too.

As a new grandfather, I have absolutely made all the mistakes I have mentioned myself, Hansen said. Its easy to forget that our children are now parents and have their own belief system, rules and the way they want to do things.

Showing your adult children that you respect their time and their authority as parents will help cement your role as the beloved, trusted grandmother or grandfather.

Related...
Central Asian farmers learning from China

09:21, January 05, 2024 By Qin Feng ( China Daily

A class of farmers from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan graduated from a specialized training program in Weinan, Shaanxi Province, last Wednesday, further cementing agricultural exchanges and cooperation between China and Central Asia.

Following the inaugural China-Central Asia Summit in May, the 20-day program held by the Weinan Vocational and Technical College was designed to address the challenges and opportunities in the agricultural sector in Central Asian countries, combining theoretical knowledge with hands-on practice to illustrate the ideas of agricultural modernization in China.

In Central Asia, dry farming, irrigation farming and sheep herding are the primary farming activities. Due to low rainfall and technical limitations, the output of agricultural products is relatively low with few processed agricultural products.

As a prominent agricultural production hub in Northwest China, Weinan, though home to vast areas of saline-alkali soil, holds significant importance in Chinese agricultural history and has developed advanced techniques in desertification and saline-alkali soil treatment and farming, and technology for agricultural products.

During a field visit, Anvar Israilov, one of the 20 graduates and a Uzbek breeding expert, observed intelligent agriculture by Chinese enterprises and experimental bases. He saw QR codes used in the growing of grape trees, modernized dairy processing and delicious apples.

He said his knowledge of the agriculture sector in China was inadequate and that he craved to learn more.

"I have been involved in the cultivation of wheat, grapes, peas and sheep on my farm. These are all areas covered in the training program," said Jasur Duvlaev, another Uzbek participant, adding that he intended to apply techniques such as water-saving and drip irrigation to improve his farm's productivity.

"I will pass on the knowledge and techniques in various aspects I've acquired here to other farmers in my country," said Duvlaev.

Abdukhalim Qodirov, a participant from Tajikistan, expressed his eagerness to utilize the skills to contribute to agricultural development in his own country.

Well-chosen from experienced farmers and experts, participants brought practical problems to the courses, and were inspired by in-depth discussions with teachers while at the same time enlightening the teachers with their indigenous methods, Wang Weihua, a teacher in the training program and deputy head of the Weinan Vocational and Technical College, said in an interview with Xinhua.

The college has designated dedicated teachers to proceed with communication and exchanges with the participants when they return to their countries.

"China has a profound historical connection with Central Asian countries. Based on the advantage of regional agricultural resources, we will make timely adjustments to the curriculum considering the actual needs of the participants and carry out more targeted training and exchanges," said Yuan Xiangyong, deputy director of the foreign economic and technological cooperation bureau in Weinan.

Li Menghan contributed to this story.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
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People walk past buildings destroyed in Israeli strikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Jan. 4, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

Palestinian death toll from Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip rose to 22,438 since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out on Oct. 7, 2023, said the Gaza-based Health Ministry on Thursday.

The Ministry Spokesperson Ashraf al-Qedra said in a statement that the Israeli army killed 125 Palestinians and wounded 318 others in the Gaza Strip during the past 24 hours.

It brings the total deaths to 22,438 and injuries to 57,614, he said, noting that 70 percent of the victims are children and women.

He added that 99 health workers, including the directors of three major hospitals in Gaza City and north, have been held by Israeli forces.

Al-Qedra warned that in the southern Gazan city of Khan Younis, the Nasser Medical Complex and the Al-Amal Hospital affiliated with the Red Crescent Society, have come under a series of Israeli strikes, calling on international institutions to take urgent action to protect hospitals and ensure access for the wounded and sick to medical facilities.

Meanwhile, a major Israeli military operation in the city of Tulkarm in the northern West Bank has continued for two days, primarily focusing on the Nour Shams refugee camp, according to local Palestinian sources.

The sources told Xinhua that the Israeli forces left major destruction to the roads and infrastructure in the area.

At least 325 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli gunfire in the West Bank since a new round of Israeli-Palestinian conflict broke out on Oct. 7, 2023, according to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA.
Seven defendants have been sentenced to prison for their involvement in a meth ring born out of a Mississippi federal prison that operated out of Natchitoches and throughout Central Louisiana.

Seven defendants have been sentenced to prison for their involvement in a meth ring born out of a Mississippi federal prison that operated out of Natchitoches and throughout Central Louisiana.

The investigation began with information received by the Natchitoches Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force that a group was selling large amounts of meth in their area.

That led investigators to an inmate at the Yazoo City Medium Federal Prison, 51-year-old James Christopher Weeks of Montgomery in Grant Parish, reads a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Louisiana.

Weeks was serving a 16-year sentence on a drug conspiracy conviction and, through another inmate, had been connected to someone who could supply him with meth, it reads.

Weeks used Facebook Messenger to chat with his daughter, 31-year-old Savannah Maria Weeks of Arcadia in Bienville Parish, as well as with Adam James Johnson, 41, of Natchitoches, and others about trafficking meth.

On March 3, 2020, a Pineville man already on probation in Louisiana was arrested on a drug charge out of Oklahoma. When officers went to Eric Joseph Sandifer's home, the 36-year-old man told them meth was inside a vehicle in the yard that he'd been using for several weeks.

After getting a warrant to search, officers found about 127 grams of meth and paraphernalia.

"Sandifer also had messages on his cellphone in which he was communicating with Johnson regarding methamphetamine trafficking in Natchitoches," it reads.

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Later that month, a package in San Bernardino, California, that was addressed to Savannah Weeks' home was intercepted after a K-9 alerted to it. It contained 6 pounds of meth.

James Weeks eventually told investigators he had introduced his meth source to Johnson, who had bought meth from the source several times, reads the release.

Surveillance was started on Johnson's Natchitoches home, and investigators saw Ashley Danielle Dowden, 39, arrive. She and Dowden soon left in separate vehicles.

They were stopped for traffic violations, according to the release, and Dowden was found in possession of drugs.

"A search warrant was also later executed at Johnsons residence which resulted in the discovery of approximately 3,720 grams of methamphetamine in the attic of Johnsons home," it reads. "Dowden hid two large bags containing the suspected methamphetamine in the attic at the direction of Johnson and also took trips to Dallas with him to retrieve the methamphetamine in exchange for large amounts of cash."

As part of the investigation, agents did surveillance at a Motel 6 in Natchitoches and the Best Western in Alexandria.

On April 16, 2020, they saw Louis V. Jackson, 39, of Natchitoches, pull into the Motel 6 parking lot and later leave. Search warrants for several rooms found 34 Tramadol pills, several weapons and pieces of paper with the name of Alexandria resident Candiace Shree Bronson, 39.

Then, on May 13, 2020, agents watched as Savannah Weeks and a man went into a room at the Best Western. She was pulled over after she left, and investigators found about 132 grams of meth, reads the release.

Because of that find, investigators got a search warrant for the Best Western room. Bronson and Jackson were found there, along with Bronson's purse, approximately 498 grams of meth about $11,300 in cash. Both were arrested.

A nine-count indictment against the seven was issued in June 2021. In addition to the drug charges, it alleged that three of the defendants possessed weapons and were felons.

Six of the seven took guilty pleas, but Jackson elected to go to trial. He was found guilty by a jury in April of conspiracy to distribute meth, being a felon in possession of firearms and possession of meth with intent to distribute.

Jackson was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dee Drell to 30 years in prison and 10 years of supervised probation.

The remaining defendants and their sentences are:

James Weeks, 20 years in prison and 10 years supervised probation.

Savannah Weeks, six-and-a-half years in prison and five years supervised probation.

Eric Sandifer, 10 years in prison and five years of supervised probation.

Ashley Dowden, eight years in prison and five years of supervised probation.

Candiace Bronson, six-and-a-half years in prison and five years of supervised probation.

Louis Jackson, 30 years in prison and 10 years of supervised probation.

Adam Johnson, 19 years and seven months in prison and five years supervised probation.

This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: 7 Louisiana residents sent to federal prison after meth ring busted
Wayne LaPierre resigned Friday as head of the National Rifle Association, after more than 30 years at the powerful gun lobbys helm.

Although LaPierre cited health reasons, his exitscheduled for the end of the monthcomes as he and three other current and former NRA leaders face trial for a lawsuit from New York Attorney General Letitia James. James accused the group in 2020 of violating nonprofit laws and misusing millions of dollars from the NRA to pay for extravagant lifestyles for themselves.

Heres a look back at seven of the most outlandish things LaPierre has said.

1. He said the only thing that can stop a shooter is more guns.

Just one week after the tragic Sandy Hook elementary school shooting in 2012, LaPierre insisted that there was no point in trying to pass restrictions on gun access. The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun, he said.

2. He said gun restrictions wont stop school shootings.

We cant lose precious time debating legislation that wont work, he said in his postSandy Hook speech. I call on Congress today to act immediately to appropriate whatever is necessary to put armed officers in every single school in this nation.

But as the country saw almost a decade later, the presence of police officers on campus did not prevent the shootings in Parkland, Florida, or Uvalde, Texas.

3. He said women are only free if they can own a gun.

During the 2016 presidential campaign, LaPierre said that Hillary Clinton didnt actually care about women because she supported gun control laws.

All of Americas women, you arent free if you arent free to defend yourself, he said. If President Obama, Hillary Clinton, or anyone else denies you that right, they dont really care about you at all.

4. He said guns are necessary because Latin American gangs have taken over the U.S.

In a 2013 op-ed for The Daily Caller, widely criticized for its racist undertones, LaPierre justified gun rights on the premise that Latin American drug gangs have invaded every city of significant size in the United States.



Blaming Latin American immigrants, or gangs, was a popular talking point for LaPierre. In 2018, just a week after the Parkland shooting, LaPierre fully embraced xenophobia as he accused Democrats of passing ineffective laws.

Their laws dont stop illegal criminals from crossing our borders every single day, he said, as if gun control was thus completely unnecessary.

5. He did not see the irony of his own words.

It should not be easier for a madman to shoot up a school than a bank or a jewelry store of some Hollywood gala, LaPierre said during that 2018 speech, not seeming to realize he had just advocated for gun control.

6. He pushed antisemitic conspiracy theories.

In the same speech, LaPierre fell back on a favorite Republican talking point: blaming prominent Jewish people for the worlds problems. He claimed that socialism was on the rise in the U.S. thanks to the social engineering and the billions of people like George Soros and Michael Bloomberg.

7. He said all pro-gun control politicians should be afraid to go to bed at night.

The NRAs annual 2023 convention took place in April, on the anniversary of one of the deadliest mass shootings in the citys history and just weeks after two major mass shootings in Nashville, Tennessee, and Louisville, Kentucky.

During his speech, LaPierre issued a casual threat. Gun-hating politicians should never go to bed unafraid of what this association and all of our millions of members can do to their political careers, he said to cheers from the crowd.
Brown vs. Board of Education, the pivotal Supreme Court decision that made school segregation unconstitutional, turns 70 years old on May 17, 2024.

At the time of the 1954 ruling, 17 U.S. states had laws permitting or requiring racially segregated schools. The Brown decision declared that segregation in public schools was inherently unequal. This was, in part, because the court argued that access to equitable, nonsegregated education played a critical role in creating informed citizens  a paramount concern for the political establishment amid the Cold War. With Brown, the justices overturned decades of legal precedent that kept Black Americans in separate and unequal schools.

As a professor of education and demography at Penn State University, I research racial desegregation and inequality in K-12 schools. Im aware that, after several decades of unraveling of desegregation progress, the upcoming Brown vs. Board of Education anniversary comes at an especially uncertain moment for public education and efforts to make Americas schools reflect the nations multiracial society.

Recent setbacks

In June 2023, the Supreme Court ended most race-conscious college admissions efforts. The decision followed the COVID-19 pandemic, which exacerbated racial inequalities in the U.S.

Meanwhile, politicians and school boards have banned or removed books by authors of color from school libraries and restricted teaching about racism in U.S. history. I believe these legal setbacks amid the current political climate make finally realizing the full promise of Brown more urgent.

Resistance to Brown ruling

The Brown vs. Board of Education decision did not immediately change the nations public schools, especially in the completely segregated South, where there was massive resistance to desegregation. Resistance was so fierce in the first decade after Brown that compliance with desegregation orders at times required federal troops to escort Black students to enroll in formerly all-white schools.

It would be a decade after Brown before the federal courts, a newly enacted Civil Rights Act and expanded federal education funding spurred greater compliance with desegregation requirements.

The Little Rock Nine leave Little Rock Central High School in 1957 with a military escort after the governor of Arkansas tried to prevent them from attending the racially segregated school. Bettmann/Getty Images

While only 2% of Southern Black K-12 students attended majority white schools in 1964  10 years after Brown  the number had grown to 33% by 1970. The South surpassed all other regions in desegregation progress for Black students.

Segregation persists

Public school students today are the most racially diverse in U.S. history. At the time of Brown, about 90% of students were white and most other students were Black.

Today, according to a 2022 federal report, 46% of public school students are white, 28% are Hispanic, 15% are Black, 6% Asian, 4% multiracial and 1% American Indian. Based on my analysis of 2021 federal education data, public schools in 22 states and Washington, D.C., served majorities of students of color.

And yet, public schools are deeply segregated. In 2021, approximately 60% of Black and Hispanic public school students attended schools where 75% or more of students were students of color. Black and Hispanic students who attend racially segregated schools also are overwhelmingly enrolled in high-poverty schools.

A 2019 report by EdBuild, a nonprofit that produced reports on school funding inequities, found that schools in predominantly nonwhite districts received $23 billion less in funding each year than schools in majority white districts. This equates to roughly $2,200 less per student per year. Unequal funding results in less student access to advanced, college-prep courses, to name just one example.

Benefits of diversity

While Brown was an attempt to address the inequality that students experienced in segregated Black schools, the harms of segregation affect students of all races.

Racially integrated schools are associated with reduced prejudice, enhanced critical thinking or simply building cross-racial friendships that teach children how to work effectively with others.

Racially integrated schools are associated with building cross-racial relationships that teach children how to work effectively with others. Klaus Vedfelt/DigitalVision via Getty Images

White students are the least exposed to students of other races and ethnicities, and therefore they often miss out on the benefits of diversity. Nearly half of white public school students attend a school in which white students are 75% or more of the student body.

Factors that exacerbate segregation

Although residential segregation is slowly declining, many U.S. communities remain both racially and economically segregated. Segregated schools, therefore, often reflect segregated neighborhoods.

However, how students are assigned to schools and districts can play a key role in how segregated those schools are.

This is because school attendance boundaries often determine which local public school a student may attend. How those boundaries are drawn or redrawn can exacerbate or alleviate school segregation. More than 13,000 U.S. public schools that are predominantly of one race are located within 10 miles of a school that is predominantly of another race.

Studies show that redrawing school attendance zones within school districts could make a substantial number of schools less segregated.

The same is true when it comes to school district boundaries. A high level of income and racial segregation also exists between neighboring school districts. And district secession  when schools leave an existing school district to form a new district  is linked to higher segregation. Redrawing district boundaries or preventing the formation of new boundaries could affect segregation.

Another key factor is the rise of public school choice, which allows parents to send children to charter schools or other schools beyond their zoned school. One study found that areas with more students enrolled in charter schools were associated with higher school segregation.

Potential solutions

Several hundred remedial court desegregation orders, which require districts to eradicate segregation that existed prior to the Brown decision, still exist. These are largely concentrated in some Southern states.

For the rest of the country, voluntary integration efforts are attempts to finally achieve the goals of the Brown decision. These include Berkeley, Californias elementary school assignment plan and legal cases brought against states including Minnesota that challenge existing segregation under state constitutions.

Finally, since reducing residential segregation could also reduce school segregation, some efforts have combined school desegregation and housing integration policies. Connecticut, for example, has piloted coordinating housing mobility vouchers for eligible participants in its interdistrict school desegregation program.

Like 70 years ago when Brown was decided, addressing public school segregation remains important for a healthy democracy  one that today is more multiracial than ever before.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and analysis to help you make sense of our complex world.

It was written by: Erica Frankenberg, Penn State.

Read more:



Erica Frankenberg does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
8 On Your Side helps disabled Tampa vet get power, water back weeks after driver crashes into home

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) A dim and dry holiday season for a Tampa veteran and his family finally came to an end after weeks of what he called a frustrating runaround.

An uninsured driver plowed through a shed, and under Mike Downeys home Dec. 16, taking out the electrical panel and damaging the water supply line.

Inside, Downey and his family felt the impact.

It was scary for us, my granddaughter and great grandchild, Downey said. It felt like something blew up.

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Downey, 74, knows what explosions feel like. He heard them a lot after he volunteered to serve in the Vietnam War and was seriously injured during a rocket attack that was part of the notorious Tet Offensive.



All of a sudden, all hell broke loose, Downey said, recalling the 1968 attack. We finally got other patrols out there but not until we already lost everybody but myself and one other man.

Compared to the injuries that left the Marine 100 percent disabled, Downey thought the damage to his home would be relatively easy to repair.

But the motorist was uninsured and even though that mans son paid for the new electrical panel, Downey said an electrician who identified himself as a TECO subcontractor told him a wiring issue prevented him from connecting the power.

Days without electricity and water turned into weeks without any answers.

Its just miserable, he said. I was a frustrating runaround. I have no idea what was taking so long.

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Downey said he never got a clear reason why the power could not be reconnected and he did not get any help from the now, former manager of the trailer park.



He shrugs his shoulders and smiles and says, I dont know. Were not the ones that hit you,  Downey said. It all made me angry but I had to walk away so that I wouldnt get in trouble.

Downey was so frustrated, he contemplated moving out if his family had to live much longer without bare necessities.

Having to live like this is ridiculous, and for such a long time, Downey said. It makes you feel like you just want to go away someplace and hide. Its just horrible.

8 On Your Side took Downeys complaint to the owner of the trailer park, Yes Communities and reached out to TECO to ask why he was still without power after more than two weeks.

Within a few hours, TECO crews restored his power and Yes Communities hired a plumber to repair his water supply line.

After more than two weeks, he could finally turn off his generator and turn on the lights.

My granddaughter went crazy. She was tickled to death, Downey said. If you guys hadnt shown up, Id still be without electricity and water but it seems the minute after you were out here, within hours everyone was scurrying around.

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As far as what caused the delay, TECO spokesperson Lauren Nieves said the repair work by a private contractor did not meet the companys standards.

Since the repairs were not done in a timely manner, due to his extenuating circumstances, we decided to intervene and do the remaining work ourselves, at no expense to the customer, Nieves said.

Downey said he and his family are just relieved to have power and water again.















For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
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China on Thursday urged the United States to stop bullying and restricting Chinese students in the name of national security, adding the U.S. needs to ensure the security and lawful rights and interests of Chinese students and scholars in the country.

Spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks at a daily press briefing in response to a related query.

Wang said the U.S. has long been wantonly suppressing and ill-treating Chinese students traveling to the U.S. with lawful and valid identifications and visas. Some of the students were interrogated, confined, forced into confession, induced and even deported without just cause. Every month for the past few months, the U.S. deported dozens of Chinese arriving in the U.S., including students. "This is a clear case of selective, discriminatory and politically motivated law enforcement. We strongly deplore and firmly oppose this."

He said the U.S. likes to portray itself as open, inclusive and a place for academic freedom, but it wrongly adopted Proclamation 10043 and put it into force, overstretched the concept of national security, politicized and weaponized academic research and repeatedly interrogated, harassed and deported Chinese students.

"Such behavior has seriously undermined the students' lawful rights and interests and poisoned the atmosphere for China-U.S. people-to-people exchanges. It goes against the two Presidents' agreement to promote and facilitate people-to-people exchanges and the two peoples' shared desire for more friendly exchanges," said Wang.

China urges the U.S. to act on its commitment of welcoming Chinese students to study in the U.S., withdraw the unjust Proclamation 10043 and stop bullying and restricting Chinese students in the name of national security, the spokesperson said.

The U.S. needs to ensure the security and lawful rights and interests of Chinese students and scholars in the U.S. and take concrete steps to support and facilitate people-to-people exchanges and cross-border travel between the two countries as it has promised, said Wang. "China will continue to take necessary measures to resolutely protect Chinese citizens' lawful rights and interests. We also remind Chinese students traveling to the U.S. to be mindful of such risks."
As U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and other congressional Republicans gathered on the banks of the Rio Grande to highlight the migrant crisis at the Texas-Mexico border and criticize the Biden administration's handling of it, Gov. Greg Abbott suggested that a resurfaced video appeared to show the Biden administration violating a federal court order barring Customs and Border Protection agents from cutting razor wire the state installed to discourage unlawful immigration.

Posted by Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., during his visit Wednesday to Eagle Pass with Johnson and about 60 other House Republicans, the video shows Border Patrol agents snipping concertina wire along the banks of the Rio Grande as dozens of migrants wade toward U.S. soil. Some are shown reaching land with the aid of a rope affixed to a CBP pickup.

"Importantly, if this video was taken today, it means that the Biden Admin. is in direct violation of a current court order by the 5th circuit court of appeals prohibiting the border patrol from cutting the razor wire erected by Texas," Abbott wrote in a fiery post on X, formerly called Twitter, on Wednesday afternoon.

Migrants are taken into custody by officials at the Texas-Mexico border in Eagle Pass on Wednesday, the same day that U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson led a group of about 60 fellow congressional Republicans on a border visit to Eagle Pass.

Abbott vowed to prosecute CBP for contempt of court if the claim were confirmed.

Abbott, however, should have known the video was taken several weeks before the court order came down because he posted a video of the same incident in September.

Gaetzs tweet of the video was also misleading.

"Im currently in Eagle Pass, TX witnessing the intentional destruction of our Southern Border by the Biden administration," Gaetz said in the video post on X just before 2 p.m. Wednesday. It had been viewed more than a million times by Wednesday night and received more than 5,000 retweets.

A video posted on social media Wednesday shows Border Patrol agents cutting concertina wire at the border in Eagle Pass. But the video wasn't new; it first circulated in September.

Gaetz wrote that an unnamed "Texas bc official" had sent the video, which "shows how illegal aliens are being encouraged to invade our country while the fencing put up by Texas is cut open by @CBP."

Abbott's post, which cited Gaetz's video, had been viewed more than 500,000 times and liked more than 15,000 times by Thursday afternoon.

Abbott's office did not respond to American-Statesman requests for comment. In an emailed statement, a spokesman for Gaetz said that "the post did not indicate that the video was taken this week."

Importantly, if this video was taken today, it means that the Biden Admin. is in direct violation of a current court order by the 5th circuit court of appeals prohibiting the border patrol from cutting the razor wire erected by Texas.



If true, we will seek contempt of court. https://t.co/d8i3DGzCKT  Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) January 3, 2024

Similar video first circulated in September

The incident shown in Gaetz's video occurred several weeks before a federal appeals court in late October issued an order temporarily barring the Biden administration from removing the barbed barrier.

A very similar video of the same incident circulated widely in late September, a CBP spokesperson told the Statesman, which conducted reverse image searches of several stills from the clip to confirm it was first circulated several months ago.

A screenshot of a video posted by Gov. Greg Abbott on X in Sept. 20, 2023, before Texas had sued to stop the federal government from cutting the razor wire that state had placed along the border.

Shared by Abbott along with the Daily Mail and numerous X users, the video from September shows the two CBP agents cutting a section of wire, albeit from a minutely different angle. The September video and the one Gaetz shared Wednesday show the exact same attire, foliage, background and wire arrangement  including a pink plastic object on the right side of the section of exposed wire  and the same migrants wading through the river below the agents.

Texas installed razor wire in Eagle Pass to stop illegal crossings.



Today the Biden Admin CUT that wire, opening the floodgates to illegal immigrants.



I immediately deployed more Texas National Guard to repel illegal crossings & install more razor wire. pic.twitter.com/eMtLS8Z6WI  Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) September 20, 2023

After that video first circulated in September, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a suit to stop the federal government from removing the wire. The Homeland Security Department released a statement at the time saying that border agents "have a responsibility under federal law" to protect migrants from being injured regardless of their legal status. Migrant children have been lacerated by the fences, needing stitches in some cases, USA TODAY has reported.

Judge Alia Moses, the chief judge for the U.S. Western District of Texas who was appointed by former President George W. Bush, issued a temporary order Oct. 30 barring the wire's removal except in cases of emergency.

More: Along Texas' floating border barrier, migrant children left bloody by razor wire

"The Court shall grant the temporary relief requested, with one important exception for any medical emergency that mostly likely results in serious bodily injury or death to a person, absent any boats or other life-saving apparatus available to avoid such medical emergencies prior to reaching the concertina wire barrier," the judge wrote in the court filing.

More: Federal judge orders US border authorities to cease cutting razor wire installed by Texas

The issue then ping-ponged between opposing rulings. Moses reversed her position and issued a new order authorizing the federal government to continue cutting the wire in November, but a Dec. 19 decision from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals again prohibited cutting of border wire.

The Justice Department appealed the case to the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday.

American-Statesman staff reporter John C. Moritz contributed reporting.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas governor claims feds violated order on razor wire, but cites old video
Gov. Greg Abbott (R-Texas) responded Thursday to a lawsuit filed by New York City Mayor Eric Adams over the Lone Star States migrant transportation program, calling it baseless.

Its clear that Mayor Adams knows nothing about the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution, or about the constitutional right to travel that has been recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court, Abbott wrote in a statement.

His comments come after Adams announced the lawsuit against 17 charter companies, alleging they broke state law by transporting buses and planes of asylum-seekers from Texas to the city on Abbotts order. The suit seeks more than $700 million to cover the costs of caring for the migrants.

Abbott denounced the suit, claiming it is a violation of the Constitution.

Every migrant bussed or flown to New York City did so voluntarily, after having been authorized by the Biden administration to remain in the United States, he said. As such, they have constitutional authority to travel across the country that Mayor Adams is interfering with.

If the Mayor persists in this lawsuit, he may be held legally accountable for his violations, the governor added.

Texas has sent more than 90,000 migrants to cities all over the country since April 2022 via buses and planes as part of Operation Lone Star, Abbotts office said this week, specifically targeting so-called sanctuary cities with more liberal migrant policies.

That figure includes more than 33,000 migrants to New York City, with Chicago, Denver and Washington, D.C., also receiving thousands of migrants, often without prior warning.

New York City has and will always do our part to manage this humanitarian crisis, but we cannot bear the costs of reckless political ploys from the state of Texas alone, Adams said in a statement Thursday.

Last week, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D), Denver Mayor Mike Johnston (D) and Adams condemned the migrant transportation program at a joint press conference.

We cannot allow buses with people needing our help to arrive without warning at any hour of day and night, Adams said last week. This not only prevents us from providing assistance in an orderly way, it puts those who have already suffered so much in danger.

Chicago and New York City also announced increased restrictions on buses unloading in their cities last week, threatening fines for transportation companies that drop off migrants.

The lack of care that has been on display for the last year and a half has created an incredible amount of chaos, Johnson said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A Florida ballot measure aimed at protecting abortion rights in the state has gotten enough signatures to qualify for the 2024 ballot, according to data the Florida Division of Elections published Friday.

The measure acquired 910,946 verified signatures, more than the approximately 890,000 needed to qualify. Floridians Protecting Freedom, the group pushing for the ballot measure, also acquired enough signatures in 17 of Floridas 28 counties, when they needed 14 to qualify.

Hitting the mark moves the measure forward, setting up what is likely to be an intense legal battle over ballot initiative wording.

The issue is now headed for the state Supreme Court, which must rule on the specific wording that will be on the November ballot. A hearing is scheduled for Feb. 7.

The fact that we only launched our campaign eight months ago and weve already reached our petition goal speaks to the unprecedented support and momentum there is to get politicians out of our private lives and health care decisions, Lauren Brenzel, campaign director for Floridians Protecting Freedom, said in a statement Friday.

Most initiative campaigns never make it this far, she added. The ones that do usually spend far more or take much longer to qualify, which is why were so confident that voters will approve our amendment once theyre given a chance to vote.

The Florida Womens Freedom Coalition, one of the groups affiliated with the ballot campaign, said it estimated about 150,000 people whove signed the petition are Republican voters.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody (R) has opposed the measure, and said in a November filing that advocates use of the term viability in the draft measure to determine when abortion care can be provided is meant to hoodwink voters.

If the court approves of the measure and finalizes wording, it would need 60 percent support at the ballot box to pass.

Florida currently has a strict abortion ban, preventing access to the procedure after 15 weeks. The ban is currently under scrutiny in the state Supreme Court.

Abortion rights ballot measures are likely to be a major part of the 2024 election, with activists in South Dakota, Arizona and Missouri also pursuing measures. Ohio passed an abortion rights ballot measure in November.

The proposed ballot measure reads as follows:

No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patients health, as determined by the patients healthcare provider. This amendment does not change the Legislatures constitutional authority to require notification to a parent or guardian before a minor has an abortion.

Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried lauded the ballot measure in a statement Friday.

We know what will happen if reproductive rights make it onto the ballot in 2024  just like in every other state since Dobbs, Florida voters will choose to keep the government out of their healthcare decisions, she said. Florida is the next battleground in a wave of post-Dobbs movements to protect our freedoms, and the Florida Democratic Party stands ready to help get this movement across the finish line in November.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Actor Christian Oliver has died in a tragic plane crash in the Caribbean alongside his two daughters.

Oliver, known for his roles in Speed Racer and Valkyrie, was 51 years old.

Deadline reports that the small plane they were in crashed into the ocean off a Caribbean island on Thursday. The planes owner and pilot, Robert Sachs, also passed away in the accident.

Oliver, whose real name is Christian Klepser, and his daughters Madita, 10, and Annik, 12, were the only passengers on the flight, according to TMZ.

Hooliganism: Actor Ian Ziering addresses Hollywood mini-biker brawl

Authorities say the flight took off from the J.F. Mitchelle Airport, known as the Bequia Airport, which serves St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and was headed to St. Lucia.

Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft experienced difficulties and nose-dived into the ocean, the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force said in a statement obtained by Deadline. Fishermen and divers from Paget Farm went to the scene of the incident in their boats to render assistance.

Local reports say that the last communication from the plane was when the pilot radioed the tower, which was not long after takeoff. The pilot was reportedly having issues with the aircraft and was going to turn back.

All four bodies have been recovered.

The cause is currently under investigation.

Tributes have been posted to social media in honor of Oliver from his colleagues of his last film Forever Hold Your Peace.

Christian Oliver

This is our 5th film together. @christianoliverofficial and me produced this one, and this is our last day of filming! We talked about producing a film together for years and finally did it! Thank you for being a great colleague, actor and friend, wrote director Nick Lyon to Instagram.

Actress Bai Ling, who played his lover in the film, also took to the platform for a heartfelt tribute.

He was so. nice, (worked) so hard and such a brave #actor and a beautiful gentle person, she wrote in part alongside one of the last photos the two took together.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Authorities are searching for a suspect accused of taking an Atlanta Fire Rescue Department truck on a joyride.

Atlanta police said on Thursday at 11:30 p.m., officers received reports of a stolen vehicle near Cameron M. Alexander Boulevard NW.

When officers arrived, they met with AFRD crew members, who said one of their fire trucks had been stolen.

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According to the investigation, crews were investigating a fire at that location and were putting it out when a witness came up to them and said that their truck had been stolen.

AFRD crews quickly alerted Atlanta police, who put out a city-wide lookout on the vehicle.

Later that night, officers located the truck abandoned in front of a home on Harriston Street SW.

Neighbors told Channel 2s Courtney Francisco that they were shocked.

I just couldnt believe it, like in awe. Like how did that happen? Who would steal a fire truck? Tyson Hall questioned.

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Authorities said K-9 Units searched the area for a suspect but found no one. Luckily, when officers checked inside the vehicle, nothing was stolen.

It is unclear if the truck suffered any damages.

The investigation into who stole the fire truck remains ongoing.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
CHICAGO -- Mohamed Tageldin has worked at the intersection of artificial intelligence and pathology, the study and diagnosis of diseases, for six years.

Tageldin, a resident physician at Northwestern Universitys McGaw Medical Center, is part of a team of researchers that has developed an artificial intelligence model to more precisely predict long-term outcomes for breast cancer patients.

At a time when some industries are shying away from and questioning the use of AI in daily work, those in the medical field are leaning into the support the technology can provide to doctors.

Theres almost too much excitement, Tageldin said of attitudes toward AI in the medical field.

The team hopes the new model, designed specifically for breast cancer, will aid patients with more personalized recommendations and agency in their choice of treatment plans. It may also spare patients unnecessary chemotherapy treatments, according to a report published in late November.

Researchers found that with current prognosis methods used by pathologists, some patients are placed into higher-risk categories when, in reality, the patients could undergo shorter and less intense treatment plans.

For those people we recategorize, we could reduce the duration or intensity of their chemotherapy, and hopefully, achieve the same clinical outcome with less side effects, said study co-author Lee Cooper.

Cooper, an associate professor of pathology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, said the algorithm assesses patients differently from human pathologists and previous models by studying both cancerous and noncancerous cells  such as immune cells  in a prognosis.

Noncancerous cells can attack and inhibit cancer growth and provide shape around a tumor, which can lead to better long-term outcomes for a patient. But noncancerous cells are hard to analyze with the human eye, making it difficult for doctors to predict if a patient needs an aggressive form of treatment like chemotherapy.

The AI model is not meant to replace the role of pathologists in providing the best care to patients, Cooper stressed. Rather, it is to help pathologists  who are tasked with grading how cancer cells appear and predicting how theyll grow  feel more confident about the grade they send to the oncologist, who then determines a treatment plan with the patient.

Lauren Teras, senior scientific director of epidemiology research at the American Cancer Society, said the algorithm is promising for breast cancer patients because the current treatment options are brutal, with often strenuous side effects that affect day-to-day life. She said doctors should avoid using harsh treatments when possible.

We need to have tools to help doctors identify which women are at the highest risk of dying from their cancers and need more aggressive treatments, Teras said. But also, we need to identify women who do not need these treatments.

There are more cancer survivors in the United States than ever, Teras said, partly due to advancements in treatment plans.

As of Jan. 1, 2022, there were more than 18 million cancer survivors nationally, according to the most recent ACS Cancer Treatment & Survivorship report. Women with a history of invasive breast cancer made up the largest subgroup, with more than 4 million survivors recorded.

The Cancer Society says 1 in 8 women in the United States will receive a breast cancer diagnosis in their lifetime.

When Cooper began the research, the original AI model would study an image given to it and produce a prediction. That output did not provide any reasoning behind the prediction, which was a simple number, or grade. The updated model gives more information to doctors, including the steps the AI took to determine its prognosis, which addresses a main concern of AI for pathologists.

With the new model, doctors would acquire tissue from the patient during a surgery or biopsy. They would then use the tissue to produce a digital image slide for the AI model to view, identify the different cells and, ultimately, examine the cells relationship to one another.

Researchers used sample tissue from 3,177 breast cancer patients through a partnership with the ACS Cancer Prevention Studies program, where people sign up to donate their cancer tissue before they are diagnosed with the disease. When they donate, a high-resolution digital image is taken of their removed tissue and saved in the data set.

Markups and images of breast cancer tissue were studied by a team of around 40 doctors, residents and researchers around the world to train the algorithm on how to analyze the cells, Tageldin said.

Tageldin said he was grateful for the thousands of volunteers, as the model would not have been possible without the people who donated their body tissue and time to train the algorithm.

Using the ACS data means the algorithm is exposed to a more diverse set of patient tissues in its training stages since the ACS collects data from a variety of medical clinics, including community centers in low-income and rural areas. Most other public data originates in academic medical institutions and can have a select set of patient profiles, Cooper said.

By building a model on this (ACS) data, were better able to capture the true spectrum of disease in the United States, Cooper said.

With comprehensive and diverse training, the AI could also largely benefit patients in lower-income areas where the model could aid doctors who are not specialized pathologists in providing grades and treatment care options.

If you can make a slide and you have a microscope with a camera and an internet connection, we could probably find a way to deliver these assessments anywhere in the world, really, he said.

The use of digital images in medical practice has increased in recent years, with Northwestern Medicine transitioning to digital imaging over the next three years.

Next, researchers will need to evaluate the model using data from clinical trials, tackle operational challenges and ensure predictions are generated on time for pathologists. Cooper said if the model is approved for clinical use, he could see the same template applied to other cancers as well.

Teras said the ACS is cautiously optimistic about AI in the cancer research field, adding that the organization is taking steps forward with models but not moving too quickly. However, she emphasized that doctors will not be replaced by AI innovation.

Patients will always need doctors, but this tool can help doctors help patients, she said.
The Biden administration is withholding more than $2 million from three of the nations largest student loan servicers after they failed to send timely bills to 758,000 borrowers during the return to repayment last fall.

The move, which is largely centered on a $2 million fine to the servicer Aidvantage, is part of a larger effort by the administration to hold student loan companies accountable and ease the already-messy return to student loan repayments.

The move also means affected borrowers will be placed into administrative forbearance. During this period, those borrowers wont need to make payments, and any accrued interest they owe will be adjusted to zero.

The penalties are the latest indication of just how error-prone the return to repayment was in October, after a pause that lasted more than three years and the U.S. Supreme Courts rejection last summer of Bidens plan for broad student loan forgiveness.

Todays actions make clear that the Biden-Harris Administration will not give student loan servicers a free pass for poor performance and missteps that jeopardize borrowers, said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona in a statement. As millions of Americans return to repayment, the Department of Education will continue to engage in aggressive oversight of student loan servicers and put the interests of borrowers first. When unacceptable errors are uncovered, servicers should expect to be held accountable and borrowers should count on this administration to hold them harmless.

Student loan servicers laid the blame squarely on the Education Department. Scott Buchanan, the executive director of the Student Loan Servicing Alliance, said the fines were indicative of problems that servicers had long been warning the department about.

Punishing student loan companies, he said, will only end up hurting borrowers customer experience.

Theyve under-resourced this entire resumption effort, he said of the Biden administration. These are all things weve been telling the department and the bureau would happen.

Which servicers are being penalized?

The largest withheld payment  at $2 million, accounting for the bulk of Fridays actions  is from Aidvantage. The administration is also withholding another $161,000 from EdFinancial and $13,000 from Nelnet.

These amounts are based, according to the department, on the number of borrowers who were affected by the servicers lapses.

Nelnet referred USA TODAYs request for comment to the Education Department. Aidvantage and EdFinancial could not be immediately reached for comment.

Last October, the department took similar steps to penalize MOHELA, which was at the center of the litigation challenging Bidens mass loan forgiveness plan. In that case, officials withheld $7.2 million after the servicers failures to send out on-time billing statements resulted in more than 800,000 borrowers being delinquent on their loans.

What does this mean for affected borrowers?

Borrowers who were affected by the three servicers errors will get placed into administrative forbearance. During that period, they wont owe payments and any accrued interest on their loans will be set to zero.

The time spent in administrative forbearance will also count toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness or forgiveness through an income-driven repayment plan for borrowers who are on those tracks.

The Education Department also recently issued a letter to credit reporting and scoring entities stressing that late or missed payments dont necessarily mean the borrowers are unable or unwilling to pay off their loans.

We will not allow servicers to cause harm to borrowers as they resume making their monthly payments, said Rich Cordray, chief operating officer of Federal Student Aid, in a statement. We are committed to providing a seamless repayment experience for borrowers. We will continue our strong oversight and efforts to hold servicers to their contractual obligations and make sure borrowers are not harmed by these errors.

In an effort to make the return to repayment easier for borrowers, the department last October created a 12-month on-ramp that shields them from major penalties for missed or late payments. The period lasts through September of this year.

Government report details chaos as billing resumed

A report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau released Friday details just how problematic jumpstarting the student loan system has been for some borrowers.

From extended hold times on the phone to inaccurate billing and disclosure statements, it concludes the challenges may have serious implications for borrowers as well as for servicers compliance with state and federal consumer financial protection law.

The CFPB determined that the return to repayment of federally owned student loans presents significant consumer risks, the report says.

In the last two weeks of October, which was the first month during which payments came due for tens of millions of borrowers after the pause, the average hold time before callers could speak to a live agent was 73 minutes, according to the CFPB.

Buchanan, who represents servicers, said the hiccups were due to a lack of resources and planning on the federal government's end.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, the ranking Republican on the Senate's education committee, agreed.

"The Department of Education missed deadlines and was unable to provide timely and basic information the servicers need to do their job," he said in a statement. "Now they are blaming the crisis they created on the servicers they set up to fail."

Mike Pierce, the executive director of the Student Borrower Protection Center, lauded the Biden administration's move Friday as an important accountability measure, but said it still didnt go far enough.

Borrowers didnt choose to be thrown back into a broken student loan system and they should never be forced to pay the price for student loan companies abuses, he said in a statement.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Amid student loan repayment chaos, Biden fines servicers over errors
One airman was hospitalized Friday with non-life-threatening injuries after a B-1 Lancer bomber from Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, crashed Thursday evening, the service said.

The bombers four crew members safely ejected from the aircraft, which was attempting to land at the installation around 5:50 p.m. Thursday during a training mission, the base said on Facebook. The National Weather Service reported low visibility and freezing conditions at the time of the crash.

Three airmen were treated on base for minor injuries and released, the Air Force added Friday. The service declined to offer additional details about the incident, including the nature of the airmens injuries and the aircrafts condition, but will investigate its cause.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the aircrew and their families as they recover from this event, Col. Derek Oakley, commander of the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth, said in a statement. It is important that we support each other as we work to learn more about what occurred.

Farewell, Bones: Air Force finishes latest round of B-1B bomber retirements

The mishap, just four days into the new year, marks the Air Forces first major aircraft safety incident of 2024.

The B-1 is a conventional supersonic bomber that was delivered to the Air Force in 1985 and first deployed in combat in Iraq in 1998. It has been used to support the U.S. bomber presence in Europe and the Pacific, and to conduct close air support missions in U.S. operations in Afghanistan. It does not carry nuclear weapons.

While 100 B-1s were originally built, the fleet has dwindled to 45 aircraft based at Ellsworth and Texas Dyess Air Force Base, including the jet that crashed Thursday, according to Air Force Global Strike Command. Two pilots and two combat systems officers, who handle the back-end electronics and weapons in flight, fly aboard each Lancer.

The aircraft has suffered from numerous safety issues in recent years. In 2021, it was pulled from service after a ground emergency at Ellsworth revealed a problem with its fueling system, prompting a fleet-wide inspection. That stand-down followed one in 2018 after a bombers wing caught fire and its ejection seat malfunctioned. Another stand-down followed the next year over ejection seat concerns.

New in 2024: With first B-21 flight done, Northrop eyes next contract

Still, major accidents are relatively uncommon among the Bones. Thursdays crash may become the third B-1 mishap in the past 10 years classified as a Class A incident  those that result in fatalities or permanent and total disability, destroy the aircraft, or cause damage in excess of $2.5 million, according to the Air Force Safety Center.

Among Class A mishaps, B-1 crashes are even rarer. In 2013, a Lancer assigned to the 34th Bomb Squadron at Ellsworth went down in southeastern Montana after a fuel leak set off a series of explosions during a training flight. All four airmen aboard safely ejected from the aircraft, which was destroyed. Damage costs totaled more than $317 million.

In 2022, a cracked engine part sparked a fire that torched a B-1 when mechanics with the 7th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Dyess ran the bombers jet engine while fixing its hydraulics. Shrapnel from the blast struck one maintainer in the leg, causing cuts and bruises, according to an accident report following the incident. Damage to the aircraft totaled about $15 million.

In their accident report, investigators noted that fewer than 70% of the B-1s belonging to the 7th Bomb Wing could perform at least one core mission in the weeks surrounding the accident. That rate dipped to about 55% across the entire Lancer fleet in fiscal 2022, according to data provided to Air Force Times last May.

The Air Force is in the process of retiring its B-1B fleet after two decades of wear and tear in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria tanked the aircrafts readiness. The last Lancer is expected to leave service in 2036.

That fleet, as well as the services B-2 Spirit bombers, will be replaced by the highly secretive B-21 Raider stealth bomber now in production at Northrop Grumman. The first Raider flew to Edwards Air Force Base, California, in November and is undergoing flight testing. Ellsworth is expected to receive its first B-21 later this decade.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Akron Citizens' Police Oversight Board moved closer to hiring an independent police auditor at a special meeting Wednesday night, voting 7-2 to extend a job offer to Anthony Finnell  currently an independent consultant and president of the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement.

While board members praised Finnell as the most qualified candidate considered for the position, disagreement arose Wednesday over the need for public participation in the hiring process. The board also briefly addressed Seattle media reports about a whistleblower complaint criticizing Finnell's performance in a previous auditor role.

CPOB Chair Kemp Boyd and fellow member Caitlin Castle voted against extending the offer, with Boyd saying he wanted to bring Finnell back for a third interview that would have involved input from the public, an idea that Castle agreed with.

Board member Diane Lewis, who voted in favor of the offer, said she thought a third interview was called for  but she didn't see the need to involve the public. She said she was concerned that Finnell, who plans to rent an apartment in Akron while maintaining a residence in Indianapolis, would be away during weekends  when a considerable amount of police enforcement activity takes place.

"My concern is the accessibility," Lewis said. "I want to ask him a bit more about what that looks like."

Board member Bob Gippin emphasized that Finnell won't be hired until the board votes on a final contract. He said that while he is unsure how long that process will take, the public can provide feedback on the pending appointment during comment periods at regular board meetings or via email to CPOB@akronohio.gov. According to its website, the board's next regular meeting is scheduled for Jan. 10 at 6 p.m. at Akron City Hall, located at 166 S. High St.

Vice Chair Donzella Anuszkiewicz said Finnell was the only candidate the board interviewed who had worked both on police oversight boards and as an auditor.

"We had good candidates," she said, "but he was the best. He was the absolute best."

Who is Anthony Finnell?

Finnell has served in various roles with the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (NACOLE) since 2016. He also serves as an independent consultant in the fields of civilian oversight of law enforcement policy and procedures, investigations and community-based policing and security.

He is a retired sergeant from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department whose career in law enforcement spanned more than 20 years.

Starting in 2014, he became executive director of the Citizens Police Review Board in Oakland, California. In 2017, that board was disbanded and replaced by the Community Police Review Agency, for which he was named interim executive director. In 2018, he was abruptly fired from that role without public explanation.

A story published by the East Bay Express, however, noted that Finnell had clashed with the Oakland Police Commission, telling commissioners that they would not have access to investigative files, including during closed session meetings.

According to a story published by The Oaklandside in 2022, Finnell sued Oakland for wrongful termination in 2018. In 2019, Oakland City Council voted to settle the suit, awarding $40,592 to Finnell. Oakland, however, admitted no liability or wrongdoing.

Before working in Oakland, Finnell worked in Chicago, as supervising investigator for the city's Independent Police Review Authority.

Performance questioned in Seattle

In 2021, the South Seattle Emerald, a nonprofit news outlet in Washington state, published a story saying Finnell, who at the time was the auditor for the Office of the Inspector General, was under investigation after a whistleblower claimed he insufficiently reviewed evidence in cases that he certified. A 2022 report on the Seattle-area news site PubliCola noted that Finnell had left that office before the external review concluded  with a report listing recommendations for improved practices at the office.

The Akron oversight board received an email pointing to the Seattle review after a Dec. 20 special meeting during which the board mentioned Finnell was being considered for the position. Gippin said he had already read the article cited in the email, and opted not to ask Finnell about it during the interview process because he didn't think there was much substance to the complaints.

"Nothing I've seen since changes my mind about that," Gippin said. "It creates no concern."

Fellow board members Anuszkiewicz and Brandyn Costa said they agreed with Gippin's assessment of the situation .

Contact reporter Derek Kreider at DKreidr@Gannett.com or 330-541-9413

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Nominee for Akron police auditor faced job turmoil in Seattle, Oakland
An illustration of a string of Earths cascading into space. Lots of galaxies are seen in the background.

Alien hunters should search for technological life on planets that possess a high oxygen abundance in their atmospheres, according to new research that aims to hone the search for technosignatures from extraterrestrial civilizations.

Amedeo Balbi, who is an associate professor of astronomy and astrophysics at University of Roma Tor Vergata in Italy, and Adam Frank, who is a professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Rochester in the U.S., argue that a planet's atmosphere needs to contain at least 18% oxygen to facilitate a technological civilization. The reason for this, they say, is a simple one: oxygen is needed for fire.

"You might be able to get biology  you might even be able to get intelligent creatures  in a world that doesn't have oxygen," said Frank in a statement . "But without a ready source of fire, you're never going to develop higher technology because higher technology requires fuel and melting."

Related: James Webb Space Telescope could look for 'carbon-lite' exoplanet atmospheres in search for alien life

Balbi and Frank describe the 18% level as an "oxygen bottleneck" that potentially hinders intelligent life from developing sophisticated technology that we could detect via radio signals. This includes any alien city lights , infrared emissions of Dyson swarms or perhaps megastructures transiting alien stars. This concept joins other such bottlenecks scientists discuss during the search for extraterrestrial life, including a bottleneck that dictates the evolution of multicellular life, one that deals with the development of tool-using intelligence, and even one that regulates whether an alien society can avoid blowing itself up. Together, they form the "Great Filter," a concept introduced by economist and futurist Robin Hanson while describing a series of barriers to the development of technological life in an effort to explain why it seems scarce in our galaxy.

Exoplanets with an oxygen abundance below 18% would not be sufficient for prolonged open-air combustion, the team says. This would limit metallurgy, for example, and constrain the burning of fossil fuels . While a lack of the latter might lead to a cleaner environment, without the former it would be difficult to sustain any kind of widespread industry or fabricate materials necessary to build radio transmitters that can send signals detectable by our devices.

On Earth , the abundance of oxygen in our atmosphere is 21%, but this has not always been the case. For the first half of its life, Earth's atmosphere was dominated by nitrogen and carbon dioxide, and oxygen may have made up just 0.001%. Then, around 2.4 billion years ago , the molecular oxygen abundance in our planet's atmosphere began to dramatically rise. This increase is attributed to the evolution of cyanobacteria that produced oxygen as a waste product, but the rising oxygen levels are also known to have been harmful to the anaerobic life forms of the time, reducing the abundance of hydrogen sulfide and methane necessary for their life.

Hence, the arrival of extra oxygen in Earth's atmosphere is sometimes called the "oxygen catastrophe" because many microbial species were wiped out.

Within 400 million years of this event  two billion years ago  atmospheric oxygen levels were at 10%, meaning they would have still been too low for Balbi and Frank's bottleneck.

Consequently, the duo's research points to the kinds of planetary systems that the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) should focus on during the hunt for technosignatures.

Related Stories:

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 Life beyond Earth may form in the coldest depths of space, Ryugu asteroid samples reveal

"Targeting planets with high oxygen levels should be prioritized because the presence of high oxygen levels in exoplanet atmospheres could be a major clue in finding potential technosignatures," said Frank.

Furthermore, given how long it took for Earth's oxygen levels to rise above 18%, it might make sense to target older planets that would have had enough time to develop their own stores of oxygen.

The research can even be used to rule out false alarms, says Balbi, who suggests "we should be skeptical of potential technosignatures from a planet with insufficient atmospheric oxygen."

The findings also suggest that if technological life on Earth can continue to flourish for the next few billion years, we might find an additional challenge on our hands. In a 2021 study by Kazumi Ozaki of Toho University in Japan and Christopher Reinhard of NASA and the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, it was shown that, as the sun ages and brightens to produce more heat that warms our planet in turn, Earth's atmosphere will become deoxygenated, with oxygen levels dropping below 10%. Of course, a billion years is a long time to be able to prepare; by then, our descendants may have technology to mitigate this, or might have left Earth entirely.

The research was published on Dec. 28, 2023 in the journal Nature Astronomy .
The author holds her 1-week-old son after returning home from the hospital, in the wake of an emergency D&C and postpartum hemorrhage.

The author holds her 1-week-old son after returning home from the hospital, in the wake of an emergency D&C and postpartum hemorrhage.

After I almost bled out during the delivery of my first child due to postpartum hemorrhage, or PPH, I had nightmares about it happening again. One week after giving birth to my second, my fears came true. I developed a pulling pain in my abdomen and called my doctor. Instinctively, I knew it was another retained placenta.

The World Health Organization recently released a road map to address PPH, the leading cause of death for women in childbirth globally. According to WHO, around 70,000 women die from PPH every year.

During the delivery of my first child, the doctor spent over 45 minutes trying to manually remove my placenta from my uterine wall. It ended up taking too long and I was losing too much blood, so I received an emergency dilation and curettage, or D&C. I returned to my hospital room after the surgery  shaking from adrenaline, pain medication, and the shock of losing so much blood  with my husband and baby by my side. I had survived  barely.

When I became pregnant with my second child, my doctors assured me that I didnt need to worry about the same complications happening again. They said things like youre overthinking it and we have you covered if we run into any trouble. Though I trusted my doctors, I also trusted my intuition. With my first delivery, I knew it was not normal for the doctor to be visibly frustrated when removing the placental tissue from my uterus. I always wondered: Why did it take so long for them to decide to do a D&C?

This wasnt just anxiety-based fear. I had done my own research, and I knew that as a woman who had experienced PPH, I had a higher likelihood of having the complication again.

My fear manifested itself in panic attacks, along with nightmares about dying from bleeding out on the delivery table. I had many therapy sessions about it, and ruminated over it for days at a time. My therapist attempted to rationalize away my fear, but the intrusive thoughts continued to incessantly creep into my mind. I hoped that my providers were right and my anxiety was wrong.

When I finally faced the delivery of my second child, my son came out, but the placenta did not. Once again, the doctor spent a long time removing the tissue, and parts of the placenta were extracted like puzzle pieces, one by one. My husband and I looked at each other as my anxiety increased by the minute.

I asked the doctor if she got it all and she replied, Yes, I think its all here? Uneasy with her response, I requested an ultrasound to confirm. She wheeled forward the dated-looking machine and placed the wand on me, as a grainy black-and-white image appeared. She squinted while examining the screen and said, It looks OK. I glanced at my husband and felt unsure. But still heavily medicated and numb  and going against what my body was screaming at me  I let it go.

One week after delivering my son, the nightmares I had about experiencing another medical emergency due to PPH began to unfold. I called my doctors office with sudden acute abdominal pain. The nurse told me, It could just be bladder retention, but I insisted that I go in for another ultrasound. After the imaging was done, my provider came into the exam room, sat down in her chair and looked up at me. We found retained tissue in your uterus, she said. My anxiety suddenly rose in my chest until it took over everything and it was all I could feel. It turned out that I had been right to be worried. I was terrified.

We discussed the options  either taking a drug like misoprostol to force my body to shed the tissue on its own, or doing a D&C. I chose the latter, as I knew the sooner that all of the retained tissue was removed, the less likely it was that I would end up with an infection. I hoped the procedure would be quick and go smoothly, as I wanted to get home to my newborn.

The author's husband, Ryan, and their daughter, Ella, helped feed the couple's newborn son, Noah, while the author recovered in the hospital.

The author's husband, Ryan, and their daughter, Ella, helped feed the couple's newborn son, Noah, while the author recovered in the hospital.

That night, just before they took me back to the operating room, the nurse reviewed the protocol, which is now ingrained in my memory. It will be a routine surgery, she told me. You will go to sleep. We will remove the remaining tissue. You will wake in recovery and then go home later this evening. I texted my husband that I loved him, and then everything went black.

Hours later, I woke up in excruciating pain. I cried out to the nurse who was leaning over me: It hurts! What happened!? I was groggy from sleep medication, but I knew I felt worse than I had after delivering a child.

Why is this happening to me?! I loudly sobbed. The nurse put her hand on my hand and squeezed tightly. You will be OK, she said. I found some brief comfort in her comments, and then she pressed the pain medication button and I fell back asleep.

The next time I opened my eyes, my doctor was standing at the end of my bed. What happened? I asked. You hemorrhaged again, she said. This time you lost over a liter of blood. I was stunned by what she was telling me.

When I went in to remove your retained placenta to take it out, you hemorrhaged, she said. She paused and then added: We put a balloon in your uterus to stop the bleeding. You are lucky to be alive.

I started to cry. My instinct had been right. Regardless of how experienced and well trained a doctor was, no one knew my body better than I did. My husbands face said it all when he walked into the room. He went pale when he saw the bag of blood next to my bed draining into me. We almost lost you ... again, he said quietly.

Twenty-four hours later, the doctor removed the device she had placed inside me, after paperwork was signed to indicate that I agreed to undergo a hysterectomy to potentially save my life if necessary. My hands gripped the sides of the bed and I prayed I wouldnt bleed. When she was done, she gave me a look of relief and said: I think you are going to be OK. It clotted. I dont see any more blood.

I stayed in the hospital for two days  more time away from my newborn son  and was eventually able to stand again using a walker. When I finally made it to the bathroom on my own, I cried over the toilet, grateful that my body was healing.

The hospital released me, and I cried again when my husband and my children came to pick me up to go home. If I hadnt listened to my body and hadnt pushed to have that second ultrasound, I could have lost my life. After experiencing two hemorrhages and facing death, I promised myself that I would tell people my story when I was ready, so that others would know what to do if it happened to them.

These are my biggest takeaways related to retained tissue and PPH:

If you are experiencing some mental or physical issue during your pregnancy, explain the concern to your doctor and ask them to address it.

This doesnt have to be pain; if anything doesnt feel normal, tell your doctor. You know your body better than anyone.

If your medical team has trouble removing your placenta, ask to get a high-quality ultrasound  the type that is available at a maternal-fetal medicine doctors office  and not a low-quality ultrasound. My retained placenta was overlooked due to poor imaging.

If you do not have access to a high-risk pregnancy doctor, ask your current physician if they can refer you to a specialist covered by insurance.

If you experience new pain, especially after childbirth, talk to your doctor. New pain could signify a new problem that your doctor needs to address.

If you have a general feeling of malaise or a fever, you should be seen as soon as possible. This can be a sign of a secondary infection, and timing is important. If you wait too long, this can result in more complex issues such as sepsis.

If you feel lightheaded or dizzy, this can be a sign of anemia, especially if you have experienced a complication of hemorrhage.

Here are questions you should consider addressing with your doctor:

Are they familiar with PPH, and do they have experience with treating it? If so, what is the typical protocol in such situations?

If they run into problems, what are the emergency plans that they will put in place and which techniques can they utilize (e.g., the use of a uterine balloon) to save your life?

What is the protocol for dealing with retained placenta if you require treatment  or follow-up treatment  to remove it?

The best thing you can do is to be informed and advocate for yourself and your health. You could end up saving your own life  just like I did.

Lisa McCarty is a women's health advocate. She is working on a book about infertility, and can be found on Instagram.

Do you have a compelling personal story youd like to see published on HuffPost? Find out what were looking for here and send us a pitch.

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WAUKEGAN, Ill.  The man accused of killing seven people by firing an assault rifle into the crowd at a Fourth of July parade in a Chicago suburb has reversed his decision to represent himself in court.

Robert E. Crimo III, 23, asked the judge on Friday to reappoint a public defender to represent him, the latest curveball in his court proceedings. At his last court appearance in December, he requested to represent himself without providing any explanation.

On Friday, Crimo appeared at the Lake County Courthouse wearing a red jail shirt and a mask, his hair pulled back in a ponytail and hands chained together. His parents were in court observing the proceedings, which lasted less than five minutes, sitting directly behind the defense table.

The hearing took place on the last day of the deadline to file motions in his case. At the opening of court, Judge Victoria Rossetti asked Crimo if he still wished to represent himself and he replied, With thorough consideration, I am requesting to reappoint the Lake County public defenders.

Crimo's first act after motioning to represent himself was to invoke his right to a speedy trial, prompting the judge to move the trial start date up by a year, from February 2025 to next month.

Prosecutors said they anticipate discussion of the trial date at the next court hearing, on Jan. 10. Our victim specialists have been in constant communication with the victims and their families throughout the case and will continue to do so, Lake County States Attorney Eric Rinehart said in a release. Our office has no comment on the defendants legal representation.

Crimo is facing 117 charges related to the deadly shooting at the parade, where seven people were killed and dozens were injured. Rossetti has said she expects the trial to last a month or more, with jury selection lasting seven to 10 days.

Crimo's parents declined to comment after the hearing. His father, Robert Crimo Jr., was released from jail on Dec. 13 after serving a sentence for seven misdemeanor counts of reckless conduct related to signing off on a card that allowed his son to legally obtain the gun used in the shooting.

The Lake County Sheriffs Office said the father's jail time was cut in half after receiving credit for good behavior. He did not have contact with his son while in the jail because family is not housed in the same area, the sheriff's office said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Dec. 29, 2023 - Jan. 4, 2024

A firefighter works to extinguish a blaze after a Russian airstrike in Kyiv. Pope Francis presides over an end-of-year thanksgiving service, as revelers celebrate the New Year in Paris, Moscow and Johannesburg. A man returns home after the dancing bear festival in Comanesti, Romania.

This gallery highlights some of the most compelling images made or published in the past week by The Associated Press from Europe and Africa. The selection was curated by Europe and Africa Global Photo Editor Anne Marie Belgrave.

___

Follow AP visual journalism:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apnews

AP Images on X: http://twitter.com/AP_Images

AP Images blog: http://apimagesblog.com
Dec. 29 - Jan. 3, 2024

This photo gallery highlights some of the most compelling images made or published by Associated Press photographers in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Venezuelans celebrated New Year's Eve outdoors in public squares. Brazilians watched fireworks glistening over the bay in Rio de Janeiro and Ecuadorians dressed up in devil costumes to dance out the old year and bring in 2024. The Brazilian city of Sao Paulo hosted its annual, 15-kilometer New Year's Eve race.

French highliner Nathan Paulin wowed spectators with his tightrope performance in Santiago, kicking off Chile's largest performing arts festival. In Mexico, the president inaugurated a mega-pharmacy" to help end a medicine supply issue for hospitals, and the Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN) marked the 30th anniversary of their uprising.

The selection was curated by Senior Photo Editor Leslie Mazoch in Mexico City.

___

Follow AP visual journalism:

AP Images blog: http://apimagesblog.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apnews

X: http://twitter.com/AP_Images
Editors note: The above video shows KXANs morning headlines for Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024.

AUSTIN (KXAN)  A man accused by police of fatally shooting his girlfriend before turning the gun on himself in southeast Austin was arrested Monday.

The Austin Police Department said 20-year-old Martin Rodriguez was being charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of 19-year-old Naomi Davis.

According to APD, on Monday evening, officers responded to multiple calls of a shooting in the 4900 block of East Oltorf Street.

APD said when officers arrived, Davis was found unresponsive with a gunshot wound, and Rodriguez appeared to be assaulting her. Davis was later pronounced dead.

Police said despite Rodriguez having a self-inflicted gunshot wound, he resisted arrest and engaged in a physical altercation with the officers.

Rodriguez was eventually arrested, and he was taken to the hospital and treated for his self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to APD. As of Thursday, he remained in stable condition.

APD said homicide detectives and crime scene specialists were called to the scene to investigate the incident. This case is being investigated as Austins first homicide of 2024.

It is important to note that Rodriguez was arrested on December 1, 2023, for the crime of carrying a weapon unlawfully for the second time with a previous felony conviction in Travis County. He was permitted to post a personal recognizance bond and was released on December 15, APD said.

Anyone with information regarding this incident was asked to contact APDs Homicide unit at 512-974-TIPS or email homicide.apd@austintexas.gov. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or calling 512-472-8477.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
The Arizona College of Nursing, a for-profit institution, is on track to open two Wisconsin campuses: the first in Milwaukee by spring 2024 and a second in Madison by spring 2025.

The college still has a handful of administrative hurdles to cross before its programs are fully approved in the state. But, so far, the Wisconsin Board of Nursing has given the green light for the school to administer its accelerated program for a three-year bachelor of science in nursing.

By 2040, more than 1 in 4 registered nurse positions in Wisconsin could go unfilled, according to a 2022 projection report.

Although Wisconsin is home to more than 40 in-state nursing programs, just one other  Rasmussen University  is a for-profit. Others, whether private or public, are nonprofits. Despite those options, more than 1,000 qualified applicants for BSN programs in Wisconsin are denied admission annually.

School faces opposition

The potential new school is facing opposition by the Committee for Equity in Nursing Education, which includes representatives from Milwaukee chapters of the National Black Nurses Association, National Association of Hispanic Nurses and NAACP. Two people have filed complaints with the Wisconsin Educational Approval Program as of mid December.

In the committees online petition, educators and health care professionals point to a 2022 lawsuit in Texas brought by a group of Arizona College of Nursing students accusing the school of fraud, breach of contract and deceptive trade practices.

For-profit schools are more likely than nonprofits to enroll students whose parents did not attended college, as well as Black and Latino students, according to a 2022 Federal Reserve survey. For-profits are also more likely to put students at a "greater financial risk, because students are more likely to take out loans, default on those loans, and struggle to find employment with their degrees, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research.

The Wisconsin Board of Nursing did not respond to an emailed request for comment regarding concerns about the quality of the Arizona College of Nursing program. The Arizona College of Nursing also did not respond to request for comment via email.

In 2022, 65% of Arizona College of Nursing students completed the program

The Arizona College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools. The CCNE is the same organization that accredits nursing programs for University of Wisconsin programs.

As of December 2022, the Arizona College of Nursings program completion rate was 65% across all of its campuses nationally. Those figures have fluctuated in recent years, from 82% in 2018 to 58% in 2021, which the college attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The CCNE requires a 70% program completion rate  the percent of students per year who pass the NCLEX, or the standardized test for entry into the nursing profession  for its accredited programs. The state of Wisconsin requires an 80% pass rate, and publishes data annually online. Wisconsin schools that fall below the 80% benchmark recieve a warning letter from the state and must create a plan for improvement.

Those figures were presented to the Wisconsin Board of Nursing, prompting members to request further information about student support services before allowing the Milwaukee program to admit students.

Documents presented to the board include a list of student support services implemented since 2019 in order to increase student achievement rates. They include an advising program, new college counsleor job position intended to support students with "psycho-social" challenges and tutoring services through tutor.com.

"Over 60% of Arizona College of Nursing students drop out for 'personal reasons' (such as) depression, abusive relationships, homelesness, pregnancy, work conflict, financial hardship, illness and death,'" according to a slide deck presented to the Wisconsin Board of Nursing.

The Arizona College of Nursing, a national for-profit college offering a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, presented a slide deck about its student support services to the Wisconsin Board of Nursing in December 2022. The public nursing board eventually approved the college's request to admit students to a new campus in Milwaukee by spring 2024.

The three-year student loan default rate for the Arizona College of Nursing's Tempe location was 21% as of fiscal year 2019. That was higher than other programs in Wisconsin, like Milwaukee Area Technical College (19%), University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (8%), Alverno College (6%) and the University of Wisconsin-Madison (1%).

The Arizona College of Nursing's 2020 three-year loan default rate fell to 14% for fiscal year 2020. That put the college on par with Milwaukee Area Technical College (14%), but higher than UW-Milwaukee (6%), Alverno College (5%) and UW-Madison (1%).

The Arizona College plans to use a mixture of real-world clinical sites and on-campus simulations for its nursing program. In Wisconsin, nursing students can spend up to half of their clinical instruction hours in simulated settings.

The college has selected dozens of clinical sites for its Wisconsin programs across a mixture of hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities and schools. Clinical sites for the Milwaukee program extend into Oconomowoc, Racine and Watertown; Madison sites extend into Beloit, Janesville and Baraboo.

The three-year bachelor's degree program is designed to be accelerated, taking place over the course of nine 16-week semesters. The same undergraduate degree typically takes four years to complete at other institutions such as the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

What steps has the Arizona College of Nursing taken to open new campuses in Wisconsin?

Getting a new nursing college approved in Wisconsin requires a series of three votes from the Wisconsin Board of Nursing: approval to plan a school, approval to admit students, and a final program approval.

The Arizona College of Nursing cleared the first of those two votes in 2022 for its Milwaukee campus. The college can legally begin enrolling students before it receives program approval; if the request is ultimately denied, students would need to transfer to another school.

A building permit that would allow a college to operate at 9000 W. Chester St. is pending. The Milwaukee Common Council is expected to vote in January on that request, according to Ald. Michael Murphy, who represents the address.

The Madison campus is listed at 2501 W. Beltline Highway, according to documents submitted to the Wisconsin Board of Nursing. As of an October vote, the Arizona College has so far received state approval to plan a school at that address large enough for 400 students.

Editor's note, Jan. 5: A previous version of this story incorrectly identified the public board in Wisconsin that received complaints related to the Arizona College of Nursing. The complaints were filed to the Wisconsin Educational Approval Program.

Cleo Krejci covers higher education, vocational training and retraining as a Report For America corps member based at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact her at CKrejci@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @_CleoKrejci. Support her work with a tax-deductible donation atbit.ly/RFADonation.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin location of Arizona College of Nursing could open in spring
A colonel who was the top lawyer for the D.C. National Guard during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection is accusing Army officials of retaliating against him for disputing two generals' account of why the National Guard was slow to deploy during the attack on the Capitol.

In a whistleblower reprisal complaint filed in October and made public this week, Col. Earl Matthews, now a member of the Army Reserve, alleged he was passed over for promotion and publicly kicked out of a conference he was assigned to for work in retaliation for testifying to Congress that two Army generals were "absolute and unmitigated liars" in how they described the military's response to the insurrection.

"The retaliatory actions taken against Col. Matthews are a textbook example of the vice [the whistleblower protection law] was intended to both remedy and deter," his lawyers from the nonprofit legal assistance group Whistleblower Aid wrote in their complaint on his behalf to the Defense Department.

Read Next: Soldier Wounded in Christmas Day Drone Attack in Iraq Could Return to US as Soon as Next Week, Family Says

Army spokesperson Cynthia Smith declined to comment directly on Matthews' complaint, which was first reported by The New York Times, because it is an "ongoing action."

But Smith added that "the Army's actions on January 6th have been well-documented and reported on" and that Army officials "stand by all testimony and facts provided to date, and vigorously reject any allegations to the contrary."

During the Jan. 6 insurrection, in which supporters of then-President Donald Trump overran the Capitol in an attempt to prevent lawmakers from certifying President Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 election, the National Guard took more than three hours to deploy to help besieged Capitol and D.C. police officers regain control of the building.

Both a Pentagon inspector general report and a report from the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6 attack concluded that no Pentagon officials deliberately delayed the deployment. But debate and disputes over the exact events in the Pentagon that day continue to rage.

After the inspector general's report was released in November 2021, Matthews sent a memo to the House Jan. 6 committee and a Senate committee accusing two Army officers of misleading both the inspector general and Congress.

At the heart of the dispute is whether Lt. Gen. Walter Piatt and Gen. Charles Flynn delayed deploying the Guard over concerns about the optics of sending troops to the Capitol. Piatt is the director of the Army staff. Flynn, who is now the commanding general of U.S. Army Pacific, was a deputy chief of staff at the Army at the time. Flynn's brother is Michael Flynn, a retired lieutenant general who was one of the Trump allies who pushed for the military to seize voting machines after Biden won the election.

Local D.C. officials and D.C. National Guard officials have testified Piatt and Charles Flynn expressed concerns about optics during a frantic phone call on Jan. 6 where D.C. and Capitol officials pleaded for help. Piatt has denied ever using the word "optics," but he acknowledged to the Jan. 6 committee that he believed using the Guard was "not my best military judgment or my best military advice." Flynn testified he didn't participate in the call but was fleetingly in the room.

"Gen. Flynn and Lt. Gen. Piatt have been open, honest and thorough in their sworn testimony with Congress and DoD investigators," Smith said in her emailed statement.

But Matthews' December 2021 memo to Congress accused the two officers of providing "perjured testimony."

Since sending the memo, Matthews hasn't been promoted despite a promotion board recommending in November 2022 that he be promoted to brigadier general after finding he was among the "best qualified" of a group of reserve colonels, according to his whistleblower reprisal complaint. The board's recommendation "displeased several senior officers within the Pentagon and the Office of the Chief of the Army Reserve," the complaint alleged.

Additionally, the complaint alleged that Army officials had security escort Matthews out of a hotel in February after falsely accusing him of being disruptive at a seminar at the hotel. Matthew was assigned to the seminar as part of his reserve duty, and removing him early resulted "in the loss of military pay and reserve retirement points," the complaint said.

"What plausible reason could there have been to remove a senior colonel, with an unblemished record of service, under such circumstances, except as reprisal for protected disclosures that negatively impacted a serving general officer who had responsibility for the War College?" the complaint said. "There is none."

The complaint asked for Matthews to be promoted to brigadier general and for those who retaliated against him to be reprimanded or otherwise disciplined.

"If public confidence in the integrity of government operations is to be restored," the complaint said, "he must be made whole and the responsible officials appropriately disciplined."

Editors note: This story has been updated to include the name of the organization providing legal representation to Matthews.

Related: Guard Deployment Wasn't Intentionally Delayed on Jan. 6, House Committee Finds
As of December 27, 2023, the United States has sent 198 155mm howitzers to Ukraine. Over half of these guns were M777 towed artillery pieces. In addition to the U.S., Canada and Australia have provided M777s to Ukraine. With so many howitzers sent to Ukraine from allied stockpiles, the Army signed an agreement with the manufacturer of the M777 to put it back into production.

Marines fire an M777 on exercise in Latvia (U.S. Marine Corps)

On January 4, 2024, BAE Systems announced the production of major structures for the M777 under an Undefinitized Contract Action limited to $50 million. Supply chains in the U.S. and United Kingdom will produce titanium structures which form the basis of the howitzer. While BAE starts delivering on the program, details and the total value of the contract will be finalized with the Army.

A soldier loads a primer into an M777 (U.S. Army)

This restart of production of the major structures for the U.S. Armys M777s comes at a critical time, with howitzers deeper on operations in Ukraine, Vice President and General Manager for BAE Systems Weapons Systems UK John Borton said in a company statement. The U.S., as well as Canada and Australia, has donated M777s to Ukraine. We understand that they are performing well and we are very proud of our role in supporting our allies. The M777 will remain at the forefront of artillery technology well into the future through the use of technical insertions, long-range precision guided munition developments, and flexible mobility options.

The U.S. has provided Ukraine with over 2,000,000 rounds of 155mm ammunition (U.S. Army)

The lightweight howitzer system is easy to tow and transport, with six howitzers fitting into a C-17 Globemaster III cargo plane. However, the M777s reduced mobility compared to self-propelled howitzers makes it more vulnerable on the battlefield. Spotter drones used by both Russia and Ukraine make it easier to zero in on established artillery positions when they fire and employ counter-battery fire against them. As a result, many of Ukraines M777s have been damaged or destroyed.

Marine M777s on their way to Ukraine (U.S. Marine Corps)

With advanced air defense systems on both sides of the conflict, the use of fires in the Russo-Ukrainian War has fallen mostly to artillery. The Armys move to acquire more M777s will replenish its stocks and ensure that the force is equipped to fight a similar war. BAE noted that total orders for the M777 currently exceed 1,200.
Law enforcement officials talk with Kai Zhuang, a 17-year-old Chinese exchange student, after he was found safe in a tent near Brigham City on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023.Weber County Sheriffs Department | Weber County Sheriffs Department

In the snowy canyons of the mountains near Brigham City, Riverdale police found a missing foreign exchange student camping in a tent with no heat source.

The teenager disappeared from his host familys home and went to the mountains. We believed the victim was isolating himself at the direction of the cyber kidnappers in a tent, Riverdale police said. His parents, who live in China, told police, they had transferred approximately $80,000 U.S. dollars to bank accounts in China due to continuous threats from the kidnappers.

Riverdale police said the teen was being manipulated and controlled by kidnappers, saying they believe him to be the victim of a crime known as cyber kidnapping.

Cyber kidnapping, also known as virtual kidnapping, is typically a ploy people use to extort money out of victims. Heres a closer look at what these kinds of crimes are, how artificial intelligence will impact them and safety tips.

What is cyber kidnapping and how does it occur?

Cyber kidnapping is always an extortion scheme, according to the FBI. Its different than abduction where a person is taken by force against their will. A virtual kidnapping involves coercion, where a victim is tricked into paying a ransom for a family member they believe is threatened.

At its core, cyber kidnapping is sophisticated social engineering, Utah Valley University national security studies expert Brandon Amacher said. Its a deception.

In terms of how prevalent cyber kidnapping is, Amacher said, it sounds like it would be fairly rare, but its actually more common than people would think.

The specifics of a cyber kidnapping differ among individual cases, Amacher explained. Often what happens is the cyber kidnappers will reach out to a person and deceive them by having a voice in the background recreating the sound of a family member. Then, the cyber kidnappers will request money from the person threatening their family member with harm  even though their family member is not in the presence of person.

What appears to have occurred with the Riverdale case was essentially social engineering on both ends, deception on both ends, Amacher said.

Speaking generally, Amacher explained, those who perpetrate this crime will gather as much information as they can online about a potential victim and that persons family. Knowing all of this information, they will create a ploy with a time element to it. If you dont do something  like send them money in a certain time frame  they will claim some harm will come to the person you love, he said.

Chris Bertram is a retired deputy chief of police and current private investigator. He said if he were to explain to his teenagers what a cyber kidnapping was, he would give example scenarios of what to look for and explain what sorts of guidelines the perpetrators will put in place.

My father, whos a retired FBI agent, got a call years ago and it was one of his grandkids that he didnt talk to a lot. But they said Hey grandpa, its Nick. Im in some trouble and I need some money, Bertram said. His father immediately asked his wife to call his brother and find out where the location of the grandson. They discovered that the person on the phone wasnt Nick and that it was a scam.

The unfortunate thing is that situation works a lot of the time, Bertram said, adding that its important for people to use due diligence and to take some time to figure out whats happening.

In a statement, Riverdale police explained what they learned from the FBI about virtual kidnappers.

The cyber kidnappers convince the victim under duress to take photos of themselves that make it appear they are being held captive and send the photos to their parents, the statement said. The victims comply out of fear that their families will be harmed if they dont comply with the cyber kidnappers. The cyber kidnappers continue to extort the family by using fear tactics, photos, and voice recordings of the victim leading the family to believe the kidnappers are with the victim causing them harm.

How will AI impact cyber kidnappings

As artificial intelligence becomes more advanced, cyber kidnappings are an area where it could potentially have a damaging effect.

Those ruses that have tricked elderly people and parents into sending money, I think, is going to play right into it, Bertram said. He explained that since artificial intelligence has the ability to make pictures and videos look real and sound real, its going to be easy to automatically process those as real  even when they may not be.

Do some due diligence, he said.

Bertram advised that if you receive a photograph or video, call a trusted person like a family member or law enforcement officer.

Amacher agreed that as artificial intelligence becomes more advanced, the content it generates will become more difficult to detect. We might get to a point where these deep fakes are so good that theyre undetectable to the naked eye.

I think its going to ... potentially lower the barrier of entry for malicious actors in terms of being really effective with virtual kidnappings, he said. As AI gets better and better at imitating people, theres going to have to be some kind of a shift in terms of how do we verify that someone is who they say they are or that content being generated is actually that person.

When asked if current legislation is set up in a way that adequately addresses all aspects of a cyber kidnapping with artificial intelligence in the mix, Amacher said, its a difficult question to answer because in certain ways, there is a legal framework. There are penalties for extortion, penalties for fraud, but is it technically illegal to create that type of content? Yes, in some ways, and in other ways, no.

This becomes more complicated if the person perpetrating the crime is not in the U.S. and the victim is in the U.S., he said.

Related

How to protect yourself against cyber kidnappings

There are basic online safety tips  like not talking to people on the internet who you do not know and exercising caution around unsolicited messages  that can be the first steps in protecting yourself from cyber kidnapping. Experts say there are other ways to try to remain safe.

The FBI recommends that people do not post their travel plans online and that they make a verbal password family members can ask each other for in the case of emergencies.

Bertram recommended that people make a plan ahead of time about how they would address a potential cyber kidnapping situation.

Giving the example of a fire in the house, Bertram said that before the fire even occurs, people should have a plan how to exit a building and where to meet. The same is true about virtual kidnappings. I think people need to look at the possibility of something like this potentially happening to them in one form or another, he said

Part of the plan should include a trusted person to talk to. A virtual kidnapping can induce stress and anxiety, making it difficult to parse through whats actually happening. We need to reach out to that trusted person to give us perspective and to now allow us in a time of chaos and mental disruption to make bad decisions potentially, he said.

Bertram explained that having fresh pair of eyes can be helpful because when a person receives a call saying that their loved one is missing, as it can be hard to think clearly and to function under duress. Taking the time to talk through whats going on can help you take the best course of action.

Whether its a trusted family member, an attorney, a police officer, a family member, a friend, trying to have somebody that can put at least a little context ... to that immediate crisis situation, can help you to see whats really going on, Bertram said.

If you think that someone may have initiated the beginning of an extortion scheme or a virtual kidnapping, Amacher advised to call the family member or loved one whom you are told is being held or under threat of harm. In an instance where youre receiving a phone call from an unknown number and the caller is claiming to have your loved one, he said to reach out using multiple lines of communication to your loved one to verify.

Asking your loved one questions only they would know the answer to can also be helpful in the verification process. For example, you can ask them what their favorite ice cream flavor is or where their favorite park is.

On top of making contact with the person who the cyber kidnappers claim they are holding, Amacher also recommended that people familiarize themselves with law enforcement. Whether youre traveling or at home, he said knowing where the nearest police station is and the location of the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate is important.

In the case that is a traditional kidnapping, not a cyber kidnapping, calling law enforcement is the best step. If it is, in fact, a kidnapping, theres resources that we need to out to such as law enforcement, Bertram said, adding that the FBI may get involved.

Amacher said if you suspect you might be the victim of a cyber kidnapping, talk to the police.

Reach out to law enforcement. More often than not, they will know how to handle the situation.
WASHINGTON  Defense contractor Artis is unveiling an active protection system it says addresses a gap the U.S. Army and other forces are looking to fill: the defense of attacks from above.

The service years ago evaluated the companys Iron Curtain active protection system for combat vehicles but never adopted the technology. Now, Artis is presenting its Sentinel third-generation APS that the firm said is able to defeat so-called top-attack threats.

Artis said has it demonstrated the Sentinel can protect vehicles and infrastructure from nearly all direct-fire threats, including tank-fired rounds, anti-tank guided missiles, rocket-propelled grenades and loitering munitions  otherwise known as exploding drones, which target vehicles and infantry alike, often with deadly effect.

The Army launched an effort in 2016 to rapidly field interim solutions to protect Abrams tanks, Stryker combat vehicles and the Bradley infantry fighting vehicles. The service pursued options through a demonstration phase.

The Army had selected Iron Curtain as an interim protection system in 2017 for the Stryker but decided against fielding the system after the testing and demonstration phase in 2018. Service leaders said at the time that while Iron Curtain worked in concept, it would take too much time and money to mature the system.

The Virginia-based business has spent 20 years refining and expanding a capability versatile enough to handle nearly all threats to combat vehicles, including top-attack threats, long before the war in Ukraine and the use of loitering munitions highlighted the need for such robust protection.

What can the Sentinel do?

The Army did not require any active protection system under consideration as an interim solution address threats from above; the service was solely focused on protecting the sides of tanks and vehicles. But leadership has turned to addressing top-attack threats upon seeing their proliferation in the Russia-Ukraine war.

Artis developed its first design for top-attack protection through a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency around 2008, the companys president, Keith Brendley, told Defense News. The company has since continued work on the design through investors. But Sentinels capability gained significant traction through a contract with the Armys Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office, awarded shortly after the service rejected Iron Curtain for the Stryker, he explained.

Artis concluded its work with the office in June 2023.

The focus wasnt on top-attack; it was on sabot rounds and chain gun threats, Brendley said of the companys work with the Army office. So not only can Sentinel defeat top-attack threats, but we can also defeat tank-fired rounds, sabot rounds, things of that nature.

Sabot rounds are metal rods that can pierce armor and explode, spraying metal shards.

Developing technology to defeat threats like chain gun rounds is challenging and requires a set of sensors, radars and highly lethal projectiles, according to Brendley.

Sentinel is an affordable APS solution that provides substantial multi-shot protection, excellent minimum-range performance, and very low collateral damage, which make[s] it ideal for both wide-open terrain and close-in urban warfare, he said.

And the Sentinel, he added, packs a punch many, many times more than the Iron Curtain. Users of the Sentinel can also steer its munitions, making instantaneous adjustments based on sensor data, he said.

The design also allows the countermeasures to shoot up or down  or at other angles  he added, and are not required to be situated on the vehicle in very close proximity to a sensor.

The arrangement allows for the countermeasures to be distributed around the vehicle, Brendley added. I think the remarkable difference is in how you can configure the system, he said. You can use different sensors, which we are. And No. 2, the countermeasures dont have to cantilever far from the vehicle. They can be right up against the vehicle, then fire out at an angle.

Artis President Keith Brendley, left, discusses a Sentinel component design with company engineers. (Courtesy of Artis)

Is the Army interested?

The Armys way ahead for active protection systems for its fleet of combat vehicles is unclear. The service installed the Trophy APS, made by Israels Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, on M1 Abrams tank fielded in Europe.

Those tanks have operated on the continent over the last three years, but even that setup has proved challenging. Maj. Gen. Glenn Dean, the Armys program executive officer for ground combat systems, told Defense News in the fall that its a little bit of a challenge to operate and really deploy and sustain it because installation on tanks is a little bit of a burden.

The Army has also long held that Iron Fist, an APS capability from Israeli firm Elbit Systems, is right for the Bradley vehicle. But technical issues first prevented its fielding, and the program has not received the funding to move into production.

The Army has evaluated other options for Stryker but hasnt moved forward on any program to outfit the vehicle with protection.

The service is working continuously on our ability to defeat hemispheric threats all around the vehicle against a range of threats with a range of technical approaches, so not looking for one system that is one-size-fits-all and does everything. But beyond that Im not going to go into any more detail, Dean told Defense News in the fall, noting the information is classified.

Brendley said he gets the feeling the Army is very prudent and cautious in how it decides which APS to buy.

Artis has been demonstrating the Sentinels capability at a West Virginia range. In addition to talking with the Army, the company is also showing its technology to prime contractors building various platforms that could benefit from active protection, Brendley said.

He added there is international interest for the Sentinel, particularly in the Middle East.

The APS market is like any other market. If you take a look at emerging markets, automobiles or smartphones, what have you, the markets are always there, but they didnt materialize until the right product came along, Brendley said, and we think we have the right product. I think the market is going to respond to that.
Republican Presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson says he plans to "beat" expectations and wants to outperform Vivek Ramaswamy in the Iowa Caucuses.

About 25 people attended Hutchinson's meet-and-greet event Wednesday night at Confluence Brewing Co. in Des Moines, including students from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. The stop kicks off Hutchinson's Return to Normal tour, with plans to visit 30 Iowa cities until caucus day on Jan. 15. The tour name, Hutchinson says, is reflective of his campaign: "Iowa understands normal," he tweeted on Dec. 28.

Today, I am announcing my RETURN TO NORMAL Tour through Iowa where I will visit more than a dozen cities next week. I have been called normal and America wants to return to controlled borders, job creation and a balanced budget. Iowa understands normal #IowaCaucus  Gov. Asa Hutchinson (@AsaHutchinson) December 28, 2023

During the event, an audience member reminded Hutchinson of a conversation they had where the former Arkansas governor told him he wanted to be ahead of Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur, in the Iowa Caucuses. The audience member then asked Hutchinson if it was still a possibility.

"I want to beat as many as I can in the Iowa Caucuses," Hutchinson replied. "And yes, I think I should be able to beat Ramaswamy here in Iowa, that's important. One, his ideas are bad. And secondly, we've competed hard, we've got the predictions there ... to be a better president, so I expect to win.

"Certainly, Chris Christie, he hasn't campaigned in Iowa, but he's somebody that shouldn't get any delegates out of here. And so yes, I want to win, I want to be able to even do better than that, hopefully," he added.

More: Asa Hutchinson is polling at 1% in Iowa. He says he's still in the race to the caucus.

Hutchinson, who announced his candidacy for the presidency in late April, has spent the better part of the year campaigning in Iowa and early primary states like New Hampshire and South Carolina. Since then, Hutchinson has stopped in more than 40 Iowa cities, according to the Des Moines Register's candidate tracker. His campaign says he's been to more places in Iowa  80 cities  though that includes some unplanned stops.

Overshadowed by dominating presences such as former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Hutchinson's campaign has largely flown under the radar, with events often topping out at a dozen people. And even as the GOP field has continued to narrow, he has been unable to steer prospective voters in his direction.

A December Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom Iowa Poll showed Hutchinson polling at 1%  leagues behind Trump, whose support now sits at 51% among likely Republican caucusgoers, up from 43% in October; DeSantis, at 19%; and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, at 16%.

But Hutchinson, who has often shrugged off polls, has been banking on a long-haul strategy, with immediate sights set on Iowa. With eight candidates who've dropped out  most recently North Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, former Vice President Mike Pence and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum  Hutchinson calls himself the "wild card" in the race.

Republican presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson speaks to Brian Lazo Casanave after signing an autograph at Confluence Brewing Company on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024, in Des Moines.

"No one can predict what's going to happen next year," he said Wednesday. "Just the fact that I'm in the race, I think I can make the case that I'm the wild card in this race. And so I can sort of analyze the other candidates and, you know, they might be up, they might be down, but we are in the race and I think people know that we intend to last."

Hutchinson previously told the Register that candidates who are serious about running for president should also be on ballots for Super Tuesday and beyond. He has qualified for ballots in a dozen states, including Florida, New Hampshire and Michigan, according to campaign manager Alison Williams.

Cheryl Musser of Des Moines, who attended her first meet and greet for any candidate this cycle, told the Register that Hutchinson is the only candidate she has "any interest in."

"I go along with what he is saying and I think he's truthful and he has courage to speak out as far as ... Trump, and I think the presidency needs someone with courage and I don't see courage in the other candidates," Musser said.

Musser says she has switched her party affiliation multiple times over the years between Republican and Democrat. Currently, she's a registered Democrat in Iowa. While President Joe Biden is high on her approval rating, she said she wanted to make sure she evaluates all the candidates.

"I think Governor Hutchinson would probably be the only Republican I would even consider if I was to vote Republican," Musser said. "In this case, the reason I would switch and caucus would be for the governor because I feel he is the only one who's qualified, the only one who's normal, the only one that I think will stand for truth, and that is what I feel is the most important qualities."

Republican presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson speaks to voters at a meet and greet at Confluence Brewing Company on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024, in Des Moines.

In an audience question on Wednesday about how he would break through the "noise" of the remaining candidates, Hutchinson said he was the only candidate who's campaigned in Iowa who hasn't promised to pardon Trump amid the former president's ongoing legal battles. When asked if he would vote for him, he responded: "If he's a convicted felon, I'm certainly not going to vote for him."

He also predicted DeSantis could be the "next one to drop out."

Later, he told reporters that a candidate's success in the caucuses should be gauged by factors like expectations based on early polling and how much money they've spent on their campaign.

"I expect that we're going to beat expectations, we'll probably define those later," he said. "I have them in mind but that's how the media should measure it. And I joke that we've intentionally kept expectations low here in Iowa so we can outperform those."

Republican presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson speaks to voters at a meet and greet at Confluence Brewing Company on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024, in Des Moines.

Virginia Barreda is the Des Moines city government reporter for the Register. She can be reached at vbarreda@dmreg.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @vbarreda2.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Asa Hutchinson aims to beat Vivek Ramaswamy in the Iowa Caucuses
James Hall Jr. is being remembered as a quiet but powerful force for civil rights and youth development in Milwaukee for decades. Hall died Jan. 1 after a battle with cancer. He was 69.

Former NAACP Milwaukee Branch President Fred Royal said Halls work as a lawyer, along with volunteer efforts on many city boards and committees, helped improve the lives of the disadvantaged in the city.

He was a quiet force, but man, he was powerful, Royal said.

In September, the Social Development Foundation presented Hall with its Don Sykes Legacy Award for his commitment to impoverished people.

One of the many highlights of the gala was a Legacy Times newspaper listing Halls accomplishments and commitment to Milwaukee and African Americans in southeastern Wisconsin.

During his acceptance speech, Hall, the son of a peanut farmer in Smithfield, Va., said the Social Development Commission was essential to him moving to Milwaukee in 1978.

Working with SDC provided a tremendous opportunity for me. I owe a great debt to Milwaukee for providing a landscape where I could focus on civil rights matters. Each of us has a role to play as organizers, change-makers, and visionaries, Hall said.

We must not view the challenges as intractable," he added. "If we remain true and committed to the mission, we can transform our city, county, state, and beyond."

When Hall was honored, Royal was one of hundreds in attendance.

I've known James for 20 years and never knew everything he accomplished. Hes been committed to fighting for civil rights his entire life. Im just happy he could receive his flowers while he could enjoy them, Royal said.

At Halls gala, his Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity brother, Ron Richards, spoke of Halls work as a change agent. During the 1970s, Hall paired members of his fraternity with high school students who wanted to become lawyers and provided campus tours and insight on the requirements needed to enter the profession.

After Hall graduated from the University of Virginia Law School, he moved to Milwaukee. He joined the law firm of Charne, Clancy & Taitelman in June 1979, where his focus was civil rights and discrimination.

Hall worked on Milwaukee school desegregation case

Years before Hall moved to Milwaukee, another attorney, Lloyd Barbee, was in a fight over racial segregation in Milwaukee Public Schools, as Black students were often bused to white-majority schools but taught in separate classrooms.

Barbee filed a lawsuit against the Milwaukee School Board and would go on to win the case in 1976. A judge ordered MPS to desegregate but dealt with many appeals and new trials over the next several years.

Hall would work with Barbee in that process, and the men would devise a plan to desegregate Milwaukee schools. Over the next decades, Hall participated in a number of other high-profile court cases.

In the 1990s, he would serve as co-counsel in the landmark class-action redlining suit the Milwaukee NAACP brought against American Family Insurance, resulting in a $16 million settlement.

Hall represented Black firefighters in their discrimination lawsuit against the Milwaukee Fire Department. He challenged the Wisconsin Voucher Program and provided legal counsel to other clients, including the Milwaukee Area Technical College, City of Milwaukee Ethics Board, City of Milwaukee Pension Board, and SDC. In 2011, he served as president of the local NAACP chapter.

James Hall Jr.

He also counseled the City of Minneapolis on programs to benefit American Descendants of Slaves.

He was such an excellent and skilled attorney and one of the most gracious gentlemen you would ever want to meet, said retired Milwaukee attorney William Lynch.

Lynch worked with Hall for years, and the two served on the board of the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin.

Hes one of the most intelligent men Ive ever met, but I think the thing I loved the most about him was his generosity and care for those in need. He cared, Lynch said.

Attorney Celia Jackson, who first met Hall in the mid-1970s when they both attended Hampton Institute, which would later become Hampton University, said Milwaukee was the perfect place for Hall to work because it allowed him to take on the challenges many others would run away from.

Jackson said Hall wanted to change the statistics here when it came to discrimination and segregation, and he knew we could be better. While many know Hall for his work in the courtroom, he was equally committed to Black youth.

Idea for 100 Black Men of Milwaukee came at lunch

Hall was co-founder of 100 Black Men of Milwaukee, an organization committed to the intellectual development of youth. The organization lives by the motto, What they see is what theyll be.

The idea for 100 Black Men of Milwaukee came to Hall when he was having lunch with several women in the city. The women wanted to know if he could gather men to mentor kids by showing them alternatives to the negative images many encountered in their lives.

After the luncheon, Hall got on the phone and reached out to other men in the city, including Oshiyemi Adelabu, Bill Rogers, Tony Courtney, and Greg Williams. A few months later, 100 Black Men Milwaukee was incorporated.

Thats who James was. He was a problem solver, and he was not one to stand by when he saw a problem and not do something about it, Jackson said.

Hall met the love of his life on a vacation trip to London

Hall loved to travel in his free time, and on a vacation to London, he bumped into the woman who would later become his wife.

Pauline Hall said her sister persuaded her to attend a Halloween Party 1995. After making the rounds at several events, Paulines sister convinced her to go to one more spot when she met a charming gentleman.

James Hall introduced himself, and they hit it off perfectly. He gave her his card and told her he wanted to stay in contact. The two called each other weekly and visited one another every three months or so for three years.

In 1998, the couple got married in Virginia.

He was my best friend and so kind and good to me. He was a gentleman. He cared for the disadvantaged, but he also cared for animals. He believed every living thing deserved to live, Pauline Hall said.

When groundhogs were digging holes and causing problems, and people wanted to kill them, Pauline joked that Hall, in true lawyer fashion, delivered a case for the groundhogs to live.

Halls brother, Warren G. Hall, called his brother his idol.

James was studious and smart, and because he was ten years older than me, he paved the way, Warren Hall said.

Hall said family folklore has it that his brother was driving the tractor on the familys peanut farm at the age of four while sitting on their fathers lap. In high school, James Hall sped around in a yellow Dodge Charger RT with mag wheels; he was also in a garage band called 'Everyday People,' playing the keyboard while wearing an Afro and dashiki.

In school, Warren Hall faced the pressure of living up to the academic success of his brother, whom all the teachers loved.

They would tell me, I know who your brother is. He was so smart. So, it was pressure for me to succeed, he said.

Despite their age difference, the two remained close, even attending the same college. Warren credits his brother for getting him to move to the Midwest. Warren moved from Minnesota to Milwaukee a decade ago and said it was his best decision because it allowed him to spend valuable time with his brother and sister-in-law.

I moved seven minutes away from him; my brother was the best brother anyone could ever have. James deserves every accolade received because he did so much for so many, and he will be missed, he said.

A gathering to honor James Hall Jr. will be held Tuesday, Jan. 9, from 10 to 11 a.m. at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 2207 N. 2nd Street. A memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. A funeral service on Jan. 13 at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Smithfield, Va.

Email James Causey at jcausey@jrn.com; follow him on X@jecausey.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Hall longtime lawyer and volunteer, formed 100 Black Men of Milwaukee
Police officers stand at the scene, where police shot and killed a man who had allegedly attacked law enforcement officers with a machete. Thomas Lenger/APA/dpa

Officers called to a domestic dispute in the eastern Austrian state of Burgenland shot dead a German man wielding a machete on Friday, police said.

Officers went to a house in Bad Sauerbrunn on Friday and encountered the 55-year-old suspect, who was threatening his wife with a machete.

He ignored police orders to put down his weapon. The use of pepper spray also had no effect, officials said. The man then attacked and injured a policeman, leading officers to fire shots.

According to authorities, the German man lived in Austria.

But police and the public prosecutor's office did not provide any information about where in Germany he had come from.

Police officers stand at the scene, where police shot and killed a man who had allegedly attacked law enforcement officers with a machete. Thomas Lenger/APA/dpa
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has canceled an alert for a missing 14-year-old.

FDLE sent out a notice of cancellation by email at 4:04 p.m. Friday and said the child was safe. No further information was provided.

Bailey Standfield was last seen on the 1900 block of Applegate Drive in Ocoee on Thursday, according to a press release from FDLE.

Officials said she was wearing a jacket with grey, pink and purple horizontal stripes.

Standfield was also wearing dark-colored leggings and fuzzy grey Crocs.
(KRON)  The National Weather Service has issued a Beach Hazards Statement for Friday from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. The warning is for the coastal North Bay, San Francisco Peninsula coast, Monterey Bay and Big Sur coasts.

The NWS forecasts an increased risk of sneaker waves up to 10 feet and breaking waves. The unexpected waves have the potential to sweep people into the sea from rocks, jetties, and beaches.

Beach Hazards Statement issued Jan. 5, 2024. (Image: National Weather Service)

Pacifica Pier closed after being damaged by high waves

The NWS warns that the waves are dangerous conditions for inexperienced surfers and swimmers.

For your safety, NWS reminds beachgoers to never turn their back on the ocean.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
In this photo provided by the Belarusian Presidential Press Service, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko attends the New Year Eve's children's charity event held as part of the country's charity campaign Our Children, in the Palace of the Republic in Minsk, Belarus, Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. (Belarusian Presidential Press Service via AP)

TALLINN, Estonia (AP)  Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has signed a law into effect that significantly tightens control over various religious denominations and organizations.

The law, published on the presidential website this week, mandates that all denominations and religious groups reapply for state registration, which authorities reserve the right to refuse.

It's the latest step in Lukashenko's a crackdown on dissent, which intensified after a disputed presidential election in 2020 gave the authoritarian leader a sixth term in office. The government arrested more than 35,000 protesters in demonstrations that denounced the vote as rigged, and thousands of them were beaten in custody. Many were forced to leave the country to escape prosecution.

Since 2022, involvement in unregistered organizations became a criminal offense, punishable by up to two years in prison.

According to official data in 2023, a total of 3,417 religious groups were registered in Belarus, a country of 9.5 million. About 80% are Orthodox Christians; nearly 14% are Catholics, residing mostly in western, northern and central parts of the country; and about 2% belong to Protestant churches.

During the 2020 anti-government protests, some Catholic and Protestant churches gave shelter and support to the demonstrators.

The new law gives authorities broad powers to deny registration and to shut down any religious organization. It stipulates that in order to be registered, a religious group or denomination needs to have at least one parish that operated in Belarus for at least 30 years. All denominations and groups must reapply for registration within a year.

It also prohibits those accused of involvement with what authorities deem as extremist or terrorist activities from running a religious organization, and it bans the use of any symbols other than religious ones in church services. It also outlaws any gatherings in churches other than for a service.

The Rev. Zmitser Khvedaruk, a Protestant pastor, said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press that the law was repressive.

He expressed concern that Protestant churches in Belarus will become the main target of the new law" in the predominantly Orthodox country, especially given their popularity among younger people.

Many Protestant churches in Belarus will face a tough choice  to either cease their activities or return to the dark Soviet times, when Protestant churches effectively worked underground and illegally gathered at people's homes, with (believers) praying under the threat of criminal prosecution, Khvedaruk told AP.

Analysts say Belarusian authorities are seeking to tighten control over the entire public sphere ahead of parliamentary elections set for next month and a presidential vote in 2025.

The Belarusian authorities view the clergy as leaders of public opinion, who influence large groups of people; therefore, they strive to take all denominations under tight, centralized control, said Natallia Vasilevich, coordinator of the Christian Vision monitoring group. The new law is repressive and doesn't conform to international standards of freedom of conscience.
Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko hosts more abducted Ukrainian children from Russia-occupied territories amid escalating international concern. Ukraine's Commissioner for Human Rights says Russia is seeking to conceal illegal deportations by making transfers through Belarus.

YouTube experienced partial blocking around midnight on Dec. 31 as Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya made her New Year's speech.

Belarus' Investigative Committee launches in absentia proceedings on charges of "elections obstruction" against four activists who exposed electoral fraud during the 2020 presidential race.

Belarusian authorities intensify crackdown on private language schools teaching Polish, with police raiding several institutions, shutting down two, and detaining five directors and teachers.

A family of four living near the Ukraine-Belarus border was arrested on charges of treason.

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Lukashenko throws holiday event for kids, including abducted from Ukraine

Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko, defying international outrage over his complicity in the kidnappings of Ukrainian children from Russian-controlled Ukrainian territories, has spoken at an annual government-organized event for children  attended by some of the abducted kids.

In his address to the 3,000 attendees, Lukashenko cynically claimed that there were no alien children in Belarus.

There should not be children running away from the war, he said. We should embrace these children, bring them to their homes, warm them and make their childhoods happier.

Lukashenkos press office reported that there were children from the Russian-occupied parts of Ukraines Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts at the New Years event, along with Belarusian kids. The children at the event were selected for their academic and artistic talent, and attended along with children from large families, kids with disabilities, and orphans.

Ukraines Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, told Ukrinform in an interview that the deportation of Ukrainian children through Belarus was becoming systematic, and served to conceal unlawful deportations and make it harder to find the children.

Lubinets alleged that thousands of Ukrainian children might currently be in Belarus but added that the country was likely just a staging point before they were taken to Russia.

Read also: As sanctions bite, Russia eyes Ukraines mineral resources to fund its invasion

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe or PACE declared on April 27 that Belarus was complicit in the forced deportation of Ukrainian children, while Ukraines Prosecutor Generals Office said on May 23 that it was investigating Belarus potential role in the illegal transfer of Ukrainian children in the wake of a report by exiled Belarusian opposition members.

The National Anti-Crisis Management (NAM), a Belarusian opposition organization, said it had submitted evidence to the International Criminal Court or ICC on June 27 revealing Lukashenkos complicity in kidnapping at least 2,100 Ukrainian children during Russias full-scale war.

A recent Yale University Public Health Humanitarian Research Lab study confirmed the NAMs findings, reporting that over 2,400 Ukrainian children aged 6-17 have been brought to Belarus from occupied Ukrainian regions.

The European Parliament called for an ICC arrest warrant against Lukashenko on July 18.

In December 2023, the International Red Cross suspended the Belarus branch of the organization and cut its financing after its Secretary General, Dzmitry Shautsou, confirmed its involvement in the forced transfers. The Belarusian Red Cross dismissed the allegations as absolutely politicized.

Despite mounting international pressure, Belarusian authorities and Paralympian athlete Alexei Talai, who was also involved in the forced transfers, pledged to continue the practice.

The latest group of 35 children, abducted from Antratsit, a city in the Russian-occupied part of Ukraines Luhansk Oblast, arrived in Belarus on Dec. 22, 2023.

A cover of a biographical book by writer Ruslan Szoszyn about Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is seen during a demonstration of solidarity with Belarus at the Main Square in Krakow, Poland, on Oct. 2, 2022. (Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

YouTube partially blocked in Belarus during Tsikhanouskayas New Years address

YouTube was inaccessible in Belarus for 20 minutes around midnight on Dec. 31, exactly the time that Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was delivering her New Years speech, Belarusian independent media reported, citing their readers.

According to Euroradio, the first signs of blocking at 11:40 p.m., when the search query Whats wrong with YouTube spiked in Belarus. Readers reported that the platform was inaccessible to users of two major telecom operators, with the block likely made at the level of one of the two primary Internet providers in the country. The blocking ended about 5 minutes after the broadcast, which was only reachable in Belarus by using VPN services.

Political analysts linked the blocking with Tsikhanouskaya's address, but also noted that the measure might be revenge for a cyberattack on a major propaganda source  the state-owned agency BelTA  conducted on Dec. 31 by the anti-government Cyberpartisans hacker group.

This is the third time that Tsikhanouskaya, an opposition leader who claims to have beaten Lukashenko in rigged 2020 presidential elections, and who has assumed the role of president-elect in exile, has broadcast a New Years message. In the message, she described the fatigue Belarusians are suffering in their struggle, and called for endurance and tenacity in defending their ideals.

Belarus Investigative Committee launches in absentia trials against 4 activists for alleged election obstruction

In absentia criminal trials for election obstruction have been launched against Aleksandr Dabravolski, an advisor to Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, and the leaders of three initiatives that exposed the rigging of the 2020 Belarusian presidential elections  Alena Zhyvahlod, Pavel Liber, and Pavel Marynich, the Belarusian Investigative Committee announced on Dec. 28.

The Investigative Committee accuses the activists of hindering "the lawful activities of the Central Commission without specifying whether this refers to the presidential elections in 2020 or the upcoming 2024 parliamentary elections in Belarus. The charges carry sentences of up to five years of imprisonment.

Dabravolski has linked the case to the 2020 presidential elections: I see this as an attempt to avenge what happened in 2020, the fact that people rose up not to celebrate the victory of a former president, but to tell him Go away! he said.

But Zhyvahlod, the leader of Chestnye Liudi (Honest People) initiative, suggested that the investigation is part of preparations for the upcoming 2024 parliamentary elections.

In 2020, the Chestnye Liudi (Honest People) initiative encouraged Belarusians to monitor the elections as members of election commissions and independent observers. Independent monitoring was organized at 1,310 polling stations across the country.

The third person charged  media manager and politician Pavel Marynich  led the ZUBR platform for online monitoring of the voting process, which collected in a database 6,774 reports from independent observers of voting irregularities at polling stations.

Holas (the Voice) platform, overseen by the fourth person charged  former tech executive Pavel Liber  asked Belarusians to share their voting ballot with a Telegram chatbot, and kept an alternative registry of over 545,000 ballots at over 5,700 polling stations, helping to prove mathematically that there had been mass-scale vote rigging.

The listed initiatives were instrumental in proving exactly how and at what scale the electoral fraud was carried out in Belarus in 2020. Although the Central Election Committee declared another landslide victory for Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko, the results were not recognized internationally and sparked mass protests, as well as a political crisis that continues to this day.

Read also: Kyrgyzstans trade is booming as Russia masters sanctions circumvention

Belarusian police crackdown on private language schools teaching Polish

Belarusian police have raided several private language schools that teach Polish, shutting down two of them and detaining five directors and teachers in another round of intimidation campaign against the countrys Polish minority and Belarusians seeking refuge in the neighboring state.

On Dec. 21, a Telegram channel affiliated with the Belarusian General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime and Corruption shared a video of five individuals confessing to teaching Polish and helping Belarusians obtain a Polish card  a document affirming the Polish ancestry of an individual, and with which one can enjoy simplified procedures for acquiring Polish citizenship.

Holding this type of document is legal in Belarus. However, state-funded enterprises in Belarus have started requesting employees to tell them if they have Polish cards, and have fired them if they do.

The exiled director of one Polish language school anonymously shared with RFE/RL on Dec. 27 that police had blackmailed the schools founders, threatening the schools employees unless the founders shared full lists of the schools former and current students.

Most likely, their goal was intimidation, RFE/RL said. Allegedly, the police suggested that the schools stop their operations or face more raids by more serious people wearing masks  a reference to riot police, who typically wear balaclavas.

Two schools were reportedly shut down.

Persecution of Poles in Belarus intensified after Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko claimed that the West, and particularly Poland and Lithuania, were supporting anti-government protests against the rigged presidential elections in Belarus in 2020.

During the march in Warsaw on Aug. 9, Belarusian dissidents wave banned white-and-red flags, the symbol of free Belarus. (Attila Husejnow/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Family arrested in Belarus on charges of high treason

A family of four from a village bordering Ukraine was arrested on charges of high treason on Dec. 28, the local branch of the Viasna Human Rights Center has reported.

Human rights advocates reported that the Prokharau family, father Vasil (54), mother Larysa (48), and their adult children Anastasia (23) and Paval (27) had all been detained. Each of them faces from seven to 15 years of imprisonment.

No further details about the case have been provided.

After investigating, RFE/RL found that the family lives in the village of Hrabauka, 15 kilometers from the Ukrainian border and 17 kilometers from the village of Ziabrauka  where there is a Belarusian air base extensively used by the Russian military.

In January 2023, a resident of Ziabrauka, Yauhen Hlushkou, was sentenced to nine years of imprisonment because a photo of the Ziabrauka airfield and contact details of Ukrainian citizens were found on his phone.

Although Belarus has not joined Russias war on Ukraine directly, Lukashenko has put the countrys territory and infrastructure at the disposal of the Russian military. Following the beginning of Russias full-scale war against Ukraine, the Belarusian regime started targeting Ukrainian nationals in Belarus.

According to the former Ukrainian ambassador in Belarus, Igor Kizym, as of March 2023, after a sabotage attack on a Russian A-50 early warning and control aircraft, seven Ukrainians were detained by the Belarusian security agency, the KGB, for alleged espionage.

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The Russian's hysteria became a cause for ridicule on the part of Ukrainians

A Belgorod resident, who lost his car during a recent attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, has become a new meme.

Initially shared in local online communities, the Russian mans story turned out to be so ironic that Ukrainians couldnt pass by without noticing.

Read also: Belgorod Governor complains after claims of two more incidents of shelling

I live near Kreida (Belgorod city station), near the house where the car was overturned, an eyewitness said.

Ill never forget how the car owner came out and screamed for two minutes: KHOKHLY!!! (khokhol is commonly used as an ethnic slur for Ukrainians - ed.)

Read also: Russias political clown Medvedev calls French frog eaters and f*gs in unhinged post

He dragged out the Y for so long, that I felt his pain... Maybe hed been saving up for that car his whole life.

Meanwhile, Ukrainians, whose territories are regularly shelled by the Russian Armed Forces, including from Belgorod, showed no sympathy. On the contrary, a wave of well-deserved mockery immediately hit the Russian man.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Family, friends and colleagues are remembering 27-year-old Fulton County middle school teacher John Goodwin, who was killed over the weekend.

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Channel 2s Michael Seiden was at Clark Atlanta University Friday, where Goodwin earned two degrees and attended church services on campus.

As a student at Clark Atlanta University, his former classmates told Seiden that Goodwin was known for giving inspirational and impactful sermons. After graduation, he continued to give back to the campus.

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Now, those who knew him want to know why someone would take his life.

The principal of Renaissance Middle School in Fairburn, where Goodwin worked, said she was in shock.

He was a great guy, Dr. Ava Williams said. Got along with everyone, all of our students, faculty and staff. Everyone loved him.

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Investigators said police responded to reports of a shooting on Southwood Boulevard and Highway 166 on Dec. 30. When officers arrived, they found Goodwin suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police issued murder arrest warrants for Denisha Rosser 24 hours later. Shes currently in jail in South Carolina awaiting extradition to Fulton County to face charges.

Right now, police are not releasing a motive. Its unclear if the two were in a relationship, but court records showed that they once lived together in an Atlanta apartment.

At Renaissance Middle School, Goodwins students remember the impact he made on his community.

Our students created cards for Mr. Goodwin and his family which we will present to the family at his memorial service, Williams said.

Funeral plans are pending.
OXON HILL, Md. (DC News Now)  A bet is a bet, and its left the Prince Georges County council to be out in the cold all because the Washington Commanders lost to the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving day last year.

In July of last year, the county council went against the police department in a friendly competition at the National Harbors Escapology to benefit the Police Athletic League and Explorers.

Prince Georges County police chief talks curbing crime in 2024

The referee ruled the challenge a tie, which led a second challenge a bet on the November game between the Washington Commanders and the Dallas Cowboys.

If the Commanders won Chief Malik Aziz, a Cowboys fan, would wear the Commanders Jersey and sing the Commanders fight song at a full County Council meeting. If the Cowboys won both Vice Chair Sydney Harrison and At-Large Calvin Hawkins would wash the Chiefs car at the National Harbor under the big screen.

But the Commanders took a big loss with the score 45-10 against the Texas team.

On Thursday, Harrison and Hawkins honored the bet and washed Azizs cruiser at the National Harbor in the cold. Council Chair Jolene Ivey also showed up to support and watch as her fellow co-workers got to work.

Western Maryland prepares for weekend winter storm

(Ya-Marie Sesay / DC News Now)

I thought they would let us off the hook but theyre not. We have to wear Cowboys paraphernalia, We have to sing the Commanders song but put the Cowboys, when we say hail to the Commanders we say hail to the Cowboys, Hawkins said.

Harrison said this speaks to the faith Prince Georges County has for the Commanders which is another reason the stadium should stay in the county. This comes after concern of whether the team would remain at FedEx Field in Landover now that the team is under new management.

People adjust to new plastic bag ban in Prince Georges County

We believe Prince Georges County is prime to house the Commanders right here in Prince Georges County and we look forward to working with the Washington Commanders to ensure they stay, he said.

Thursdays event also sheds light on local leaders and law enforcement working together to build a better Prince Georges County.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
ASHEVILLE - The vote on a new Biltmore Village hotel was delayed during the Planning and Zoning Commission's Jan. 3 meeting after discussion indicated some commissioners didn't favor the proposed hotel and retail space set for 10 Kitchin Place and 1 Angle St.

One of the major topics of discussion was the selection of the conditional zoning process, instead of a Level II planning application.

During the meeting, Commissioner Geoffrey Barton acknowledged some of the differences between the application types, where, in the case of this hotel, a conditional zoning review allows "a weird relaxing of standards."

Site elevations of the Kessler Hotel, which is included as part of the conditional zoning application reviewed during the Jan. 4 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting.

As proposed, the hotel will have 99 rooms, a restaurant, retail space and 186 below-grade parking spaces over five unique buildings. The building is estimated to employ 50, according to planning documents.

The proposal comes from The Kessler Collection, a Florida-based hospitality brand that runs and owns the Grand Bohemian Asheville across the street from the proposed hotel.

Currently, the location is a former ATM and vacant bank building. The site is just a stone's throw away from Biltmore Estate entrance off of Hendersonville Road in South Asheville.

The location of where The Kessler Hotel is proposed to be located at 10 Kitchin Way in Biltmore Village, Oct. 31, 2023

What's the difference between application types?

The conditional zoning process creates different requirements for hotels, where a hotel application would otherwise have to provide Public Benefits if entered under the lower level applications. The Public Benefits table was created after the 2019 hotel moratorium, and requires hotels developers seeking Level I or Level II approval to provide cash toward affordable housing or reparations funds or provide residential units to meet a required standard amount of Public Benefit points.

Architectural Details for 10 Kitchin Place by willhofmann2 on Scribd

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Senior Assistant City Attorney Jannice Ashley explained the difference between the conditional zoning reviews and lower level applications.

"You can request conditions that you think are applicable to the impact of this development, but it's a whole different process to be pulling off a Public Benefits table," Ashley said.

"You have a choice, you do a Level II and you do the Public Benefits table, or you go through this process of conditional zoning, which can often be any conditions. It can often be an onerous process. So most hotels  many hotels have been selecting the Level II."

A conditional zoning review is required for every development over 100,000 square feet. The new Kessler hotel is proposed to be 101,000 square feet. The applicant is seeking a request to conditionally rezone the property from Community Business II to Commercial Expansion.

"So by virtue of this being a conditional zoning, they don't provide the benefits table, they don't provide the traffic impact analysis," Barton said. "I think it's a fair question: What benefit is being provided?"

Site plans showing adjacent ownership, basic layout and sidewalk adjustments proposed for the 10 Kitchin Place hotel.

Pedestrian access?

Commission Chair Kim Levi brought up another topic: transportation and pedestrian access.

"What I'm seeing on Hendersonville Road is an elevation full of infill panels with vines growing on them and there's no way to get in the building," Levi said. "There's no activation, and that's a primary transportation corridor. So where's the activation?"

The term "activation" is the placement of commercial, retail or public space for pedestrian use.

"There's the back of a ballroom, a spa that no one can get into and a receiving area. So, how is that pedestrian oriented?" Levi asked.

Addressing concerns of pedestrian traffic and increasing pedestrian safety  along with the mission of the development  applicant representative Christian Sottile said the project had the goal of "restoring this block in the village which was lost to auto oriented use in the 20th century."

Despite having no traffic study, the developer and the N.C. Department of Transportation have been working together to provide more pedestrian safety in the project.

"The DOT has been in this conversation through the process to look at increasing pedestrian safety on Hendersonville Road and actually closing curb cuts that are on Hendersonville Road today," Sottile said.

The location of where The Kessler Hotel is proposed to be located at 10 Kitchin Way in Biltmore Village, Oct. 31, 2023

In regard to Levi's question, Sotille said the Biltmore Village master plan called for the active entrances to exist on Kitchin Road, not Hendersonville Road  leading to the omission of more storefronts on Hendersonville Road. Sotille clarified some of the elements of pedestrian access along Hendersonville Road.

"We do have access points along Hendersonville Road, but it is really designed to sort of strengthen and create urban definition to the street front and safe pedestrian passage," Sottile said.

The site plans indicate a planting strip will separate the road from the sidewalk, along a series of trees along Hendersonville Road. The project would take about two years to complete, said Jason Hammond, a project manager with The Kessler Collection.

While discussion about the hotel continued, Commissioner Bryron Greiner commended the applicant for "coming up with a really great design" that will "improve the overall look of Biltmore Village." Greiner said he was comfortable for the "lack of orientation toward Hendersonville Road," noting traffic could pose a safety issue.

After further discussion about the project, a motion to continue the hearing and vote to the Planning and Zoning Commission's Feb. 8 meeting was unanimously approved.

Hotel applications change

Additionally, the meeting saw a new update to hotel application process, where all Level I or Level II hotel applications will now require the inclusion of a Public Benefits table when applications are submitted, according to Planning and Urban Design Assistant Director Chris Collins.

"That requirement has been moved up to the initial application phase. So you will see at least whatever their application version of the Public Benefits table is," Collins said during the meeting.

More: 'It's coming': Asheville Amtrak feasibility study brings calls for funds, advocacy

More: New hotel proposed for Biltmore Village area; what do plans say?

Will Hofmann is the Growth and Development Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Got a tip? Email him atWHofmann@citizentimes.com.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: New Asheville Biltmore Village hotel vote delayed
Cambridge, MA - December 15: Claudine Gay speaks to the crowd after being named Harvard Universitys next president. Harvard University on Thursday named Gay as its next president in a historic move that will give the nations oldest college its first Black leader.



Cambridge, MA - December 15: Claudine Gay speaks to the crowd after being named Harvard Universitys next president. Harvard University on Thursday named Gay as its next president in a historic move that will give the nations oldest college its first Black leader.

Former Harvard President Claudine Gay announced her resignation on Tuesday  to the disappointment of many who lauded her appointment as the first Black president as a major achievement. For weeks, accusations of plagiarism plagued Gay. But many Black scholars argued that her real crime was being a Black woman in a position of power.



Its worth asking how high-profile cases of plagiarism and other similar (and in some cases more egregious) forms of misconduct have been handled when the person accused was Black woman and when they were white.

Read more

Former Harvard President Claudine Gay is obviously the most high profile case involving accusations of plagiarism right now. The accusations, which emerged publicly in December, primarily came from right-wing journalists, including Christopher Russo. Harvard University investigated, finding multiple incidents of duplicative language, and poor citations but nothing that rose to plagiarism or misconduct.



Claudine Gay Aftermath

Claudine Gay, president of Harvard University, during a House Education and the Workforce Committee hearing in Washington, DC, US, on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. Lawmakers on the education committee will grill the leaders of Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology about their responses to protests that erupted after the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas.



Claudine Gay, president of Harvard University, during a House Education and the Workforce Committee hearing in Washington, DC, US, on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. Lawmakers on the education committee will grill the leaders of Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology about their responses to protests that erupted after the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas.

As we all obviously know now, Gay resigned from her position on Tuesday while engulfed in a media firestorm. Countless articles have been written about the allegations and while Gay has held on to her teaching position at Harvard University, she lost her position as President only six months into her tenure.



WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 29: Attorney Alan Dershowitz, a member of President Donald Trumps legal team, speaks to the press in the Senate Reception Room during the Senate impeachment trial at the U.S. Capitol on January 29, 2020 in Washington, DC. Wednesday begins the question-and-answer phase of the impeachment trial that will last up to 16 hours over the next two days.



WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 29: Attorney Alan Dershowitz, a member of President Donald Trumps legal team, speaks to the press in the Senate Reception Room during the Senate impeachment trial at the U.S. Capitol on January 29, 2020 in Washington, DC. Wednesday begins the question-and-answer phase of the impeachment trial that will last up to 16 hours over the next two days.

In 2003, then-Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz was accused of plagiarizing multiple parts of his book The Case for Israel. Dershowitz vehemently denied the allegations arguing that this was a witch hunt against him because he was pro-Israel.



Alan Dershowitz Aftermath

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 27: Attorney Alan Dershowitz, a member of President Donald Trumps legal team, leaves the Senate chamber at the end of the days Senate impeachment trial proceedings at the U.S. Capitol January 27, 2020 in Washington, DC. The defense team continued its arguments on day six of the Senate impeachment trial against President Donald Trump. (



WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 27: Attorney Alan Dershowitz, a member of President Donald Trumps legal team, leaves the Senate chamber at the end of the days Senate impeachment trial proceedings at the U.S. Capitol January 27, 2020 in Washington, DC. The defense team continued its arguments on day six of the Senate impeachment trial against President Donald Trump. (

Alan Dershowitz was cleared by the university remained in his position at Harvard University. He later retired from teaching there in 2013. Dershowitz was a major ring-leader in the movement to get Claudine Gay fired, writing in an op-ed that we have to the D.E.I. bureaucracy must be dismantled, discredited and utterly destroyed.



Former Stanford President Marc Tessier-Lavigne

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 02: Marc Tessier-Lavigne attends the World Science Festival - On The Shoulders Of Giants: A Speical Address by E.O. Wilson Brunch at a private residence on June 2, 2012 in New York City.



NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 02: Marc Tessier-Lavigne attends the World Science Festival - On The Shoulders Of Giants: A Speical Address by E.O. Wilson Brunch at a private residence on June 2, 2012 in New York City.

Last year, an investigation by Stanford University found that there was manipulation of research data in several papers authored by then-Stanford President Marc Tessier-Lavigne. However, they concluded that he did not personally engage in research misconduct.



Marc Tessier-Lavigne Aftermath

19 June 2018, USA, California: German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (4-R) and his wife Elke Buedenbender (6-R) walking on the grounds of Stanford University with the President of the University, Marc Tessier-Lavigne (2-L), Bernd Girod (4-L), Professor of Electrical Engineering, and the delegation and looking at a cast of the Rodin sculpture The Burghers of Calais.



19 June 2018, USA, California: German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (4-R) and his wife Elke Buedenbender (6-R) walking on the grounds of Stanford University with the President of the University, Marc Tessier-Lavigne (2-L), Bernd Girod (4-L), Professor of Electrical Engineering, and the delegation and looking at a cast of the Rodin sculpture The Burghers of Calais.

Marc Tessier-Lavignes accusations were given significantly less media scrutiny than Gays case. The accusations that data had been manipulated in his research were lodged publicly in earnest against the former university president in November of 2022. He resigned in July of 2023.



WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 22: Judge Neil Gorsuch testifies during the third day of his Supreme Court confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill, March 22, 2017 in Washington. Gorsuch was nominated by President Donald Trump to fill the vacancy left on the court by the February 2016 death of Associate Justice Antonin Scalia.



WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 22: Judge Neil Gorsuch testifies during the third day of his Supreme Court confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill, March 22, 2017 in Washington. Gorsuch was nominated by President Donald Trump to fill the vacancy left on the court by the February 2016 death of Associate Justice Antonin Scalia.

The Supreme Court had its own plagiarism scandal. Prior to his confirmation, Politico reported that he had copied the structure and language used by several authors and failed to cite source material in his book and an academic article. Multiple scholars interviewed by the outlet agreed that it was plagiarism.



Neil Gorsuch Aftermath

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 07: United States Supreme Court (front row L-R) Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts, Associate Justice Samuel Alito, and Associate Justice Elena Kagan, (back row L-R) Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett, Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch, Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh and Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson pose for their official portrait at the East Conference Room of the Supreme Court building on October 7, 2022 in Washington, DC.



WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 07: United States Supreme Court (front row L-R) Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts, Associate Justice Samuel Alito, and Associate Justice Elena Kagan, (back row L-R) Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett, Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch, Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh and Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson pose for their official portrait at the East Conference Room of the Supreme Court building on October 7, 2022 in Washington, DC.

Obviously, there were no consequences because he ended up sitting on the Supreme Court with a lifetime appointment.



Neri Oxman Wife of Bill Ackman

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 15: David Tuveson, Neri Oxman and Bill Ackman attend 2023 CSHL Double Helix Medals Dinner at American Museum of Natural History on November 15, 2023 in New York.



NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 15: David Tuveson, Neri Oxman and Bill Ackman attend 2023 CSHL Double Helix Medals Dinner at American Museum of Natural History on November 15, 2023 in New York.

Billionaire and Harvard donor Bill Ackman was a major force behind the push to oust Claudine Gay over plagiarism. But his wife, Neri Oxman, a former tenured professor at MIT had her own plagiarism scandal. Business Insider reported that Oxman plagiarized multiple parts of her dissertation.



Neri Oxman Aftermath

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 19: Founder and CEO of OXMAN, Neri Oxman attends The Future of Everything presented by the Wall Street Journal at Spring Studios on May 19, 2022 in New York City.



NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 19: Founder and CEO of OXMAN, Neri Oxman attends The Future of Everything presented by the Wall Street Journal at Spring Studios on May 19, 2022 in New York City.

Oxman apologized on Thursday for not properly citing her sources. She said that she was no longer at MIT as of 2020 and had started a company.

Patricia Smith

A security guard stands in front of the Boston Globe.



A security guard stands in front of the Boston Globe.

Boston Globe Columnist Patricia Smith, who is Black, admitted to fabricating people and quotes in several of her columns in the 1990s.



Patricia Smith Aftermath

CHINA - 2023/02/15: In this photo illustration, the American daily newspaper The Boston Globe logo seen displayed on a smartphone with an economic stock exchange index graph in the background.



CHINA - 2023/02/15: In this photo illustration, the American daily newspaper The Boston Globe logo seen displayed on a smartphone with an economic stock exchange index graph in the background.

Smith was ousted from her job after admitting to the fabrications. Before the scandal, Smith was a celebrated and talented poet in the poetry slam scene and a beloved columnist, who nearly won a Pulitzer prize. Smiths career as a journalist ended with her firing. Although she continued to be successful in her poetry career  winning the Rebekah Johnson Bobbitt National Prize for Poetry, she has kept out of the spotlight eversince leaving the journalism.



Mike Barnicle

Mike Barnicle with Matt Storin, editor, in background at The Boston Globe press conference.



Mike Barnicle with Matt Storin, editor, in background at The Boston Globe press conference.

Mike Barnicle was a peer of Smiths at the Boston Globe also working as a columnist. The Boston Globe reportedly concluded that he had repeatedly stolen lines from comedian George Carlin and not come clean about it to the paper. The alleged plagiarism was discovered within weeks of the Smith ousting. He was also later suspected of potentially fabricating the existence two boys with cancer for a column.



Mike Barnicle Aftermath

MORNING JOE  Decision 2010  Pictured: (l-r) New York Magazines Mike Heilemann, MSNBC Contributor Mike Barnicle



MORNING JOE  Decision 2010  Pictured: (l-r) New York Magazines Mike Heilemann, MSNBC Contributor Mike Barnicle

Barnicle was initially suspended from the paper for a month, according to a contemporary Washington Post article. He was later asked to resign, but ultimately was allowed to remain on at the paper. Weeks later, he was eventually forced to quit after his editors were unable to determine whether two boys with cancer in his columns were real. Even at the time, the handling of his case drew comparisons to Smiths. Unlike Smith, he maintained a career in journalism. He was hired as a columnist at the Boston Globe and became a regular contributor to MSNBC and the Today Show.



Janet Cooke

Original Caption) Janet Cooke, the former Washington Post reporter who won a Pulitzer Prize for a contrived story on an eight-year-old heroin addict, blamed the episode on stupidity rather than ambition during a taped interview with Phil Donahue. The taping will be broadcast on 02/05. She said she worked on the bogus story for months, that it was not one of her prouder moments. She is still unemployed.



Original Caption) Janet Cooke, the former Washington Post reporter who won a Pulitzer Prize for a contrived story on an eight-year-old heroin addict, blamed the episode on stupidity rather than ambition during a taped interview with Phil Donahue. The taping will be broadcast on 02/05. She said she worked on the bogus story for months, that it was not one of her prouder moments. She is still unemployed.

Janet Cooke, a Black Washington Post reporter, admitted to fabricating a story about an 8 year-old boy who was addicted to heroin. She had won a Pulitzer Prize for the story.



Janet Cooke Aftermath

Photo: Jasper James (Getty Images)

Janet Cooke was forced to resign from her position at the Washington Post. Cooke never worked as a journalist or writer again. The one-time Pulitzer Prize winner was later interviewed about her life, and said she was working at a department store for around minimum wage because she couldnt get other work. I dont think that in this particular case the punishment has fit the crime. Ive lost my voice. Ive lost half of my life. Im in a situation where cereal has become a viable dinner choice, she told the Washington Post in 1996. Her current whereabouts and career are unknown.



Honorable Mention: President Joe Biden

Democratic politician Joseph R. Biden Jr, the United States Senator from Delaware, circa 1980. He became the US Vice President in 2009 under President Barack Obama.



Democratic politician Joseph R. Biden Jr, the United States Senator from Delaware, circa 1980. He became the US Vice President in 2009 under President Barack Obama.

Speaking of allegations of plagiarism, the President of the United States had his own run-in with plagiarism allegations. During the 1980s, the New York Times reported that the then-Senator had plagiarized several parts of his speeches from British politicians.



President Joe Biden Aftermath

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 06: U.S. President Joe Biden gestures to members of the press prior to his departure from the White House May 6, 2022 in Washington, DC. President Biden is traveling to Hamilton, Ohio, to visit United Performance Metals.



WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 06: U.S. President Joe Biden gestures to members of the press prior to his departure from the White House May 6, 2022 in Washington, DC. President Biden is traveling to Hamilton, Ohio, to visit United Performance Metals.

President Joe Biden did face consequences for the New York Times report. He left the 1988 Presidential race. However, that (obviously) didnt tank his political career. Hes now the President of the United States.



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Eden Getahun was ecstatic when, just 13 months ago, she learned Harvard University would have its first Black female president. But she sensed even then that Claudine Gay, a prominent African American studies scholar, would face harsh obstacles leading the predominantly white institution.

There was excitement and hope in terms of what it represents for Black women everywhere to see someone like them in a position of authority like this, said Getahun, a Black woman and a junior studying social studies at Harvard. But I did, from the very beginning, recognize there is a chance that she is just going to be used as a puppet of the institution. This situation has proven she still is a victim of these controlling forces.

Gay resigned as president of the university Tuesday after she faced backlash for her testimony at a congressional hearing last month about antisemitism on U.S. campuses, which was followed by allegations of plagiarism. The charge was largely led by conservative activists who deemed her a diversity hire.

The Harvard Corporation, which oversees the universitys governance, has not yet responded to a request for comment. In a statement issued Tuesday, the corporation said it had accepted Gays resignation with sorrow and condemned the repugnant and in some cases racist vitriol directed at her through disgraceful emails and phone calls.

Getahun and Aimee Howard are both members of the Association of Black Harvard Women, but are not speaking on behalf of the organization. They say their situation is a disappointing reminder of the ways Black women are undermined and scrutinized no matter how high up the ranks they climb.

Its really heart-wrenching, Howard, a Harvard junior government and African American studies major, said of Gays resignation. Its very telling that this type of scrutiny, this type of backlash, was aimed at the universitys first Black woman president. I feel like Claudine Gay is becoming the scapegoat for everything.

Pressure for Gays resignation mounted after last months hearing, when she appeared to avoid questions about whether calls for the genocide of Jews violated college conduct rules. Gay, alongside Liz Magill, then the president of the University of Pennsylvania, and Sally Kornbluth, the president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, condemned antisemitism and Islamophobia in broad terms. But when they were asked whether calls for the genocide of Jews would break college codes of conduct, Gay said it depends on the context and added that antisemitic rhetoric would be considered bullying, harassment, intimidation.

The comments were widely condemned, including by the White House. Magill resigned days after the hearing, and Kornbluth is facing increasing calls to step down. While Kornbluth initially faced less ire, activists are signaling their attention will turn to her now that Gay has stepped down.

Right-wing attacks on Gay were swift, with conservative activists like Christopher Rufo and billionaire investor Bill Ackman using the situation and allegations of plagiarism to attack diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Getahun and Howard said they did not feel Harvard did enough to protect Gay from the targeted right-wing attacks.

The campaign against Gay has only shown the intense standard that Black women are held to, Getahun said. As you get higher up, it doesnt afford you more safety but makes you more subject to that scrutiny. If it had been a white male in her position, as you get higher up, youre afforded more impunity.

Last month, more than 700 members of Harvards faculty signed a letter urging the administration to keep Gay. And it looked like the university would. On Dec. 12, the Harvard Corporation announced it would allow Gay to remain in her role, saying in a statement that we today reaffirm our support for President Gays continued leadership of Harvard University. The corporation addressed allegations of plagiarism, saying an investigation revealed a few instances of inadequate citation but no violation of Harvards standards for research misconduct.

Gay acknowledged the attribution issues in her past work and said she requested corrections for the articles in the appropriate academic journals.

Gay decried the racial stereotypes used to attack her in a New York Times op-ed published after her resignation Wednesday and wrote that she regretted not having condemned calls for a genocide of Jewish people as abhorrent and unacceptable. She did, however, defend her research in the op-ed and expand on the circumstances surrounding her resignation.

It is not lost on me that I make an ideal canvas for projecting every anxiety about the generational and demographic changes unfolding on American campuses: a Black woman selected to lead a storied institution, Gay wrote. Someone who views diversity as a source of institutional strength and dynamism.  Someone who believes that a daughter of Haitian immigrants has something to offer to the nations oldest university.

Both Black and non-Black leaders and supporters have shared similar sentiments, linking the scandal to anti-Blackness, white supremacy and right-wing attacks on education.

Kyla Golding, a Black Harvard senior, wrote in an op-ed in the student newspaper, The Harvard Crimson, that at the mountaintop for the Black woman, there is no promised land. No liberation, no forgiveness, no love, no protection.

As if surviving the cruel cold misogynoir of the world while simultaneously being burned by the heat emanating through the intensified pressure Black women constantly face isnt enough to conquer; the higher up she goes the thinner the altitude gets, Golding wrote.

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This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The case of a Blendon Township police officer who shot and killed Ta'Kiya Young and her unborn baby in August in a Kroger parking lot is being turned over to Montgomery County prosecutors to present to a Franklin County grand jury for possible indictment.

The case made national headlines and sparked local outcry after a Blendon Township officer shot Young, a 21-year-old pregnant woman, on Aug. 24 through her car windshield after she drove forward, hitting him, during a confrontation over shoplifting allegations in the parking lot of a Kroger store at 5991 S. Sunbury Road.

The officer has not been identified by the Blendon Township Police Department, but Young's family and their attorney have identified the officer who shot Young as Connor Grubb.

The Ohio Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Investigation completed its investigation into the shooting and handed the information over to Franklin County Prosecutor Gary Tyack's Office in December.

Tyack's office has sent the case in a swap of officer shooting cases to Montgomery County Prosecutor Mathias Heck Jr.'s Office. Attorneys in Heck's office, Jennifer Buschur and Richard Glennon, will present the Blendon Township case to a Franklin County grand jury, and attorneys from Tyack's office will present a shooting case there to a Montgomery County grand jury.

Buschur told The Dispatch on Friday that they received information over the holidays about the Blendon Township shooting and are now reviewing it. She said they hope to present the evidence to a grand jury within the next two months.

A Franklin County grand jury will decide whether to charge Grubb for his actions. If jurors return an indictment, Buschur and Glennon will prosecute the case.

Franklin County First Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Janet Grubb, who oversees the office's criminal division and has no relation to the Blendon police officer, said swaps like this are standard procedure in Ohio.

In exchange, the Franklin County office is taking on handling the case of a couple fatally shot on Aug. 2 by Ohio Highway Patrol troopers during a multi-hour standoff the patrol alleged involved a hostage.

Multiple law enforcement agencies say Elaine Helman, 51, and her husband Rodney Helman, 54, stole a tractor-trailer cab, took the driver hostage and led officers on a chase across multiple counties. The incident began in Madison County but ended on Interstate 70 westbound near the Dayton International Airport Access Road in the Vandalia area.

After the couple stopped in Montgomery County, the highway patrol said troopers tried to negotiate for about four hours with the couple. The patrol said that during an attempt to rescue the driver, one of the Helmans shot at troopers, who returned fire.

Franklin County Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys Dan Cable and Sheryl Prichard, who prosecuted ex-Columbus police officer Andrew Mitchell's murder case, have been assigned the Montgomery County case.

Montgomery prosecutor Heck had announced in 2020 that his office would no longer handle officer-involved shootings and always use outside attorneys.

Grubb said Tyack's office does not have a set policy about officer-involved cases, but decides on a case-by-case basis. Since these two shootings happened around the same time, the swap made sense, she said.

Grubb said the Franklin County office is overwhelmed with cases, including about 250 untried homicides.

The Blendon Township shooting

On the day of the fatal shooting in Blendon Township, two officers were already in the Kroger parking lot helping someone locked out of their car when a Kroger employee told them Young stole multiple bottles of liquor from the store, the department has said.

Body camera footage shows one officer stood next to the driver's side window, speaking with Young, while Connor Grubb pulled his gun and stood in front of the vehicle. The officers told Young to get out of the car multiple times.

The video shows Young turned the steering wheel and the car slowly moved forward, hitting Grubb, who fired one shot that went through the front windshield and struck Young. Her car continued forward until striking the exterior of the Kroger store.

Officers broke the driver's window and rendered aid until paramedics arrived, as did a doctor who happened to be at the store. Young was taken to Mount Carmel St. Ann's hospital, where she and her unborn baby were pronounced dead.

jlaird@dispatch.com

@LairdWrites

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Blendon Township police shooting investigation sent to prosecutors
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  U.S. officials are concerned that the conflict in Gaza could spread throughout the region. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is traveling to the Middle East to make sure progress is made on that front.

As Israel continues its efforts to crush Hamas, the Biden administration is doing everything it can to prevent a region-wide war from breaking out.

Secretary of State Blinken is headed to the Middle East to focus on fears that the Israel-Hamas war could erupt outside of Gaza.

It is no ones interest For this conflict to spread beyond Gaza, said State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller.

This is Blinkens fourth time traveling to the region in three months.

He believes we need to make progress on continuing to try to keep the conflict from escalating which is why hes returning to the region, Miller added.

Earlier in the week a senior Hamas leader was killed by an alleged Israeli strike in Lebanon.

With international criticism of Israels operations in Gaza on the rise and recent explosions in other areas in the Middle East, the State Department says this is a job for the U.S.

The secretary believes it is the responsibility of America to tackle these challenges, said Miller.

Blinken is arriving a day after a U.S. strike in Baghdad killed the commander of the Iranian-backed Shia militia.

Obviously we want to prevent the conflict from spreading but part of that means that people need to stop taking strikes against our soldiers, said Miller.

However, there are growing calls for a ceasefire on Capitol Hill.

There have been too many civilian casualties we have to bring this war to an end, said Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif).

The State Department says that Blinken is also focused on increasing humanitarian aid to the people in Gaza as well as an effort to curb violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Semafor Signals

Insights from Time, The Washington Post, and Politico

NEWS

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to arrive in the Middle East on Friday, marking his fourth trip to the region since the Israel-Hamas war began in October.

Americas top diplomat is expected to visit Israel, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, as the White House prepares for a protracted conflict amid growing concerns of an expanding, multi-front war.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

US military drafts Red Sea defense plans

Sources: Politico, BBC

U.S. defense officials are drafting plans to strike back at Yemens Iran-supported Houthi rebels, who have been attacking ships in the Red Sea. The proposals include the possibility of striking targets within Yemen, Politico reported. Major shipping companies have suspended their operations in the area in response to the attacks, a diversion that has had a profound impact on global trade: The International Chamber of Shipping has said that 20% of container ships are avoiding the Red Sea, and instead traveling around Southern Africa. U.S. officials fear the threat could escalate. From our perspective, the most worrying thing is that the Houthis might sink a ship, one defense source told Politico.

Washington must push for Gaza's future

Sources: The Times of Israel, Time

Israeli officials presented for the first time this week a plan for how the Palestinian enclave would operate after the war, but did not include a role for the Palestinian Authority, Washingtons preferred government. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly rejected calls for a two-state solution, a stance contributing to growing frictions with U.S. President Joe Biden. Netanyahu has always been more comfortable saying no than he has in taking the initiative. It is up to the U.S. to get him to where Israel needs to be, David Halperin and Michael Koplow, from the Israel Policy Forum, argued in Time.

Israeli strikes fuel genocide concerns

Sources: The Washington Post, The Associated Press

Members of Netanyahus far-right government have repeatedly called for the destruction of Gaza in retaliation for Hamas Oct. 7 attacks, More than 20,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli strikes, and thousands more have been displaced from their homes. The rhetoric and continued onslaught has prompted South Africa to file a genocide case at the International Criminal Court, a suit Israel has roundly criticized. Netanyahu and his allies remain conspicuously vague about their imagined endgame for Gaza, Ishaan Tharoor wrote for The Washington Post, only deepening concerns about Israels intent among its Arab neighbors.
The United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Greece next week to discuss their support for Ukraine, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller announced at a briefing on Jan.4.

Blinken embarks on his fourth trip to the Middle East with stops in Europe on Jan.5.

Over the course of the next week, the Secretary will visit Turkiye, Greece, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the West Bank, and Egypt for meetings with foreign counterparts and others, said Miller.

Read also: Greece extends temporary protection status for Ukrainians

Blinken will be focused on a number of critical issues, including a conversation with the Greek government about their continued support for Ukraine and ensuring regional maritime security.

Greece is an important NATO ally and hes looking forward to visit there to talk about Greeces support for Ukraine, which has been longstanding, really since the outset of the conflict, safeguarding regional maritime security, and there will be other issues that well talk about as well that Im sure well read out afterwards, said Miller.

Read also: Zelenskyy enacts economic sanctions against collaborators and businesses in occupied territories

In response to a journalist's question about whether the U.S. expects any specific outcomes regarding Greek support for Ukraine, the State Department representative said that more information would be available after the meetings conclude.

It was reported that the U.S. was negotiating with Greece about purchasing munitions for Ukraine in late November.

Three major Greek shipping companies had ceased transporting Russian oil in to avoid U.S. sanctions in November.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Where do I start? I havent talked about him in quite a while  not that anyone has asked.

Marjorie Schultzs voice wavers with emotion as she remembers Jan. 31, 2008, the day her son, 1st Lt. David Schultz, died.

He was killed by a bomb that they sent from the mountains over to the base where he was stationed in Iraq, she recalls. He was killed while he was in his office.

The 72-year-old Tinley Park resident has spent 30 years of her life in Blue Island. For the past two years, the town where she raised David has allowed veterans and their families to recognize those who served through a program called Hometown Heroes.

In 2021, as newly elected Mayor Fred Bilotto took office in Blue Island, City Clerk Raeann Zylman began thinking about ways to honor the multitude of men and women from the town who served. A program called Hometown Heroes in Lansing caught her eye and she decided to pitch the city on a similar program.

Homeland Heroes allows the family and friends of veterans to hang banners around the city with their service members face, name and rank printed on the front. Bilotto says the resident pays only for the cost of the banner, which is $100, and the city uses taxpayer dollars to cover for the installation, which costs roughly $5,000 a year.

We thought that the heroes need to be, you know, recognized in Blue Island, Zylman says. They had never been recognized like this before.

Blue Island is a town of 21,700 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Being on the smaller side means most folks know one another. Bilotto grew up with Dave Schultz and remained close until his death. Schultz was a member of Bilottos wedding party.

The city definitely wanted to show support to people in the military currently and those who served in the past, says Bilotto. We have a history of that in town.

Taking the connection even further, Zylman, who taught sixth through eighth grade in Blue Island for 35 years, had both Schultz and Bilotto as students.

The banners stay up for two years, but a resident can extend that by paying another $100. The program, which went live in 2022 and is now beginning its third year, has honored about 100 veterans with the 7-foot banners hung on light posts and in public buildings.

The third year of the program is kicking off now, as holiday decorations and lamp posters are replaced by images of local heroes.

David Schultzs banner is a little different from most of the others. In the bottom right corner he has a designation noting he not only served, but also never made it home. He is survived by his wife and his child, who was a newborn baby when he was killed.

Now 16 years removed from his death, Marjorie says people dont ask about David much anymore. The flags help keep him alive.

I think it is very important that he is not forgotten. He grew up in that town. Blue Island was very special to him, Marjorie says. I think its important that his hometown always remembers him.

hsanders@chicagotribune.com
The British Medical Association has allowed one junior doctor to work in neonatal care for a single shift on Friday - Andy Rain/Shutterstock

A single striking junior doctor has been allowed to cross the picket line after around 30 requests by NHS medical directors were turned down.

The British Medical Association (BMA) said it had allowed one junior doctor to work in neonatal care for a single shift on Friday Jan 5, after University Hospital Lewisham, in south-east London, put in its second request for help to the union in two days.

Under strike protocols, hospital trusts can ask unions to allow doctors to return to work and cover shifts if patient safety is compromised. However, all other known requests have so far been rejected by the BMA.

Health authorities were also privately bracing for an increase in vulnerable patients arriving at hospitals this weekend, with cold weather alerts across England and temperatures set to plummet to sub-zero in some parts of the country.

The UK Health Security Agency has issued a yellow alert for cold weather across the whole of England, coming into effect on Saturday morning and lasting until Tuesday.

The health agency said the elderly, very young and other vulnerable people were likely to struggle to cope in these conditions and warned of an increase in hospital admissions and risk of death during the cold snap.

A surge in winter viruses ahead of the strikes resulted in more than 5,000 patients in hospital with Covid or flu as of the start of the week, according to NHS data published today.

We have granted a derogation for one junior doctor for the neonatal unit at University Hospital Lewisham for the day shift on 5th January, the BMA confirmed. The trust has informed us that alternative sources of staffing have been exhausted. Our priority is patient safety.

A spokesman for the trust said it would do what is necessary to keep our hospitals safe and was pleased this had been recognised.

But every other request to the union to allow junior doctors to return to work has been refused, with some hospitals having more than one plea turned down. Senior NHS sources said around 30 requests have been submitted as pressures mount.

Great Western Hospitals Foundation Trust, which declared an internal incident even before strikes were under way, was among the trusts making pleas for junior doctors to be allowed to cross the picket line.

The trust, in Swindon, Wiltshire, requested that junior doctors be allowed to work in surgery and in its outpatients appointments departments, in order to deal with the most urgent cases. Both requests were rejected.

A spokesman said the trust was focusing all efforts on generating bed capacity and maintaining safe staffing amid extremely high demand for our services.

Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation trust in London is also understood to be among those to have had requests rejected. Other hospitals have issued pleas for the public to help free up beds by collecting relatives who can safely go home.

Junior doctors on a picket line at St Thomas Hospital, central London - Justin Tallis/AFP

South Warwickshire NHS Trust and Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust were among those asking for relatives to take loved ones home, and were among the four hospitals in England at full capacity ahead of the strikes.

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, which asked family members to collect relatives who are ready to go home to free up beds on Thursday, declared a critical incident on Friday afternoon and urged the public to only seek help with a life-threatening emergency.

The head of the trust was among those hauled in by Victoria Atkins, the Health Secretary, just before Christmas when average delays for ambulances outside A&E had reached five hours.

A row over safety protocols broke out on Wednesday night with the BMA claiming hospital medical directors and NHS officials were bowing to political pressures to undermine the strikes without evidence to justify their appeals.

But senior officials at NHS England responded on Thursday by setting out steps to strengthen safety protocols and log evidence of all harm occurring when such requests are rejected.

Hospitals have been told to specifically record all safety incidents during strikes so that we can evidence harm and near misses that might have been avoided.

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AMERICAN FORK, Utah (ABC4)  Police have identified the two bodies that were found during a welfare check earlier this week and said they do not believe outside foul play was involved.

The occupants have been identified as Sally and Duane Francom, both 84. The two were married and lived in the home together, according to American Fork Police Lt. Stuart Fore in a press release.

A concerned caller asked police on Wednesday, Jan. 3 to do a welfare check on the Francoms, as they had not been seen or heard from since November. When police found the two bodies inside, they said they were in intermediate-to-advanced stages of decomposition. Police also said the Francoms were found in different rooms and one of the rooms was in a state of disarray.

Body discovered in Midvale massage parlor treated as suspicious death

Investigators observed a chair lying on its side and items that appeared to have been knocked off a table in the room in which Sallys body was located, Fore said in the press release. There were no weapons located in the home that appeared to have been used in this incident.

Detectives said a preliminary examination did not reveal any observable traumatic injury on either Sally or Duane, however, the Office of the Medical Examiner is still conducting its investigation. Police said the OMEs final report isnt expected for another several weeks if not months.

The department would like to reassure the community that it does not believe there is any foul play by anyone outside the home. Additionally, there were no signs of forced entry to the home, explained Fore. Investigators believe all circumstances surrounding the death of Sally and Duane Francom were isolated to the inside of the home at the time of their respective deaths.

SLCPD detectives arrest Glendale murder suspect

Fore said the investigation into the deaths of the Francoms is still highly active and ongoing and what specifically caused their deaths is still unknown. Fore expects the investigation to remain active and open for several weeks as detectives gather evidence and information.

Anyone with information regarding Sally and Duane Francom that may help the investigation to contact the American Fork Police Department at 801-763-3020 or Central 911 Dispatch at 801-794-3970.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as more information becomes available.

MIDVALE, Utah (ABC4)  A body was discovered inside a Midvale massage parlor near State Street and 7400 South on Thursday night, Jan. 4. Police have not released many details regarding the body that was found, only that they were treating it as a suspicious death.

Unified Police Department Sgt. Aymee Race told ABC4 the body was found around 9 p.m. on Thursday. When officers arrived they spoke with two individuals outside the parlor before finding the body inside.

Body recovered after vehicle plunges into Pineview Reservoir

Detectives have not provided information regarding why they believe the death to be suspicious. Details on the victim and their relation to the massage parlor have also not yet been released.

This is a very active case at this time, said Race. Officers and detectives are working very diligently right now on figuring out what occurred this evening.

Race said police will make more information public as soon as it is available.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
President Volodymyr Zelensky was said to have "resembled a walking corpse" in the first weeks of the full-scale invasion, which he did not believe would happen "until the final hours," the Telegraph reported on Jan. 4 in an excerpt of a book on Zelensky by Time journalist Simon Shuster.

Zelensky and his team reportedly lived in the bunker under the President's Office with little sunlight and with "not much to eat," other than sweets, tinned meat, and stale bread. One minister told Shuster he "survived for days on chocolate."

Some government officials had "packed up their cars and fled" in the early hours of the morning of February 24, 2022, with the "worst defections" affecting the Security Service of Ukraine, according to Shuster.

Those working in the bunker slept for just a few hours every night, and Zelensky would request updates from his team "as early as 4:50 a.m."

"Eventually life in the bunker settled into a more manageable routine," with staff served hot meals and meetings shifted to 7 a.m, Shuster wrote.

A makeshift gym was installed for the president, which he reportedly often used at night, and a ping-pong table for staff.

"Zelensky and his team kept a supply of alcohol even after the government banned its sale, and he would on occasion pour wine for the aides who joined him for a meal," according to Shuster.

Read also: 10 Ukrainian books about Russias war available in English

Staff would occasionally be invited to watch a film, "often new Hollywood releases," as Zelensky "could no longer stomach Soviet comedies."

The president was also deeply affected by the Russian attack on Kramatorsk station on April 8, 2022, according to Shuster.

The attack coincided with a visit by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to Kyiv, but Zelensky struggled to speak at the podium with her as his mind was "on the puddles of blood on the pavement."

Thinking of the images of the 60 bodies of those killed, "it was one of those times when your arms and legs are doing one thing, but your head does not listen," Zelensky told Shuster.

The book excerpt also revealed that Zelensky would prefer to be associated with George Orwell or Charlie Chaplin than British wartime leader Winston Churchill, as they were "artists who helped society" whose influence "was often stronger than artillery."

Zelensky's previous life as a comedian is covered in more depth in an excerpt of the book published in Time on Jan. 4, with Zelensky crediting his hometown of Kryvyi Rih and his Jewish roots as responsible for forging his character.

Zelensky said he avoided the gangs and crime that the city was infamous for in the 1990s due to his family, particularly the fact that his grandfather had been a senior police officer.

Growing up in a Jewish family also affected his early life, with his parents believing that Zelensky had to be better than everyone else in order to achieve in a Soviet system that was "rigged against them," Shuster wrote.

The Holocaust, which killed his great-grandparents, as well as his grandfather's military service in the Second World War "made a profound impression on the young Zelensky."

When he began his comedy career, his parents hoped it was a temporary phase and he would become a lawyer. Contemporaries from his time as a comedian remember him as having "chutzpah" and a "bulletproof belief in himself."

"I think that this confidence of his betrayed him in the end," Alexander Rodnyansky, a Ukrainian television network executive told Shuster, as it led him to believe he could "outmaneuver Putin and negotiate his way out of a full-scale war."

Read also: Oksana Zabuzhkos The Longest Journey. An excerpt

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Indonesia seeks to raise export value to China in 2024

Xinhua) 09:26, January 05, 2024

JAKARTA, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia has increased its export target to China to 70 billion U.S. dollars in 2024, an Indonesian government official said Thursday.

Director General for National Export Development of the Ministry of Trade Didi Sumedi told a press conference that from January to November 2023, the total export value to China was 56.57 billion dollars, and it is estimated to reach 60 billion dollars after the December data comes out.

These figures will still be lower than that of 2022 which reached 65.9 billion dollars due to the decline in global commodity prices, according to Sumedi

"As an effort to reach the target, this year we will add several programs to China. For example, we plan to work with several provinces in China to be able to showcase our products there in all related exhibitions," said Sumedi.

He also said the government remains optimistic that Indonesia's exports are still strong and competitive in the global market.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Key Realty opens new branch

ONTARIO  Key Realty is celebrating the grand opening for its branch office in Ontario. Located at 2230 Village Mall Drive, Suite 600, across from the Ontario Branch Library, the space features a large meeting room for hosting trainings, meetings and networking events.

Regional Manager Melissa Viers started the process of opening the office for Key Realty in the fall.

"I have been watching Key Realty grow by leaps and bounds in the Findlay and Columbus areas," Viers said. "I have been impressed with the professionalism, education, and support Key provides and I thought we need them here in the Mansfield area."

Key Realty is located at 2230 Village Mall Drive, Suite 600, in Ontario.

Two agents committed early on to help finalize the details on bringing a brand new real estate company into the Mansfield market. Amanda Sheets, formerly employed in the banking industry and three-and-a-half years of real estate experience, was the first to transfer her license in mid-October. Adam Gongwer, former marketing manager for a large real estate firm in Mansfield, was the second to transfer his license at the end of October.

Two additional agents  Chris Trease and Julie Roth  have transferred their licenses to Key Realty Mansfield, bringing the number to five agents in less than two months.

The Mansfield branch should have over 20 agents within one year based on past growth trends across new offices that opened around Ohio, projected Joe Albring, Key Realty CEO.

For more information, call 419-617-0603.

Gorman-Rupp assigned new patent

The Gorman-Rupp Company of Mansfield has been assigned a patent developed by four Indiana inventors for "pin vent assembly" designed to mitigate explosions in pumps that moves hazardous fluid, such as gasoline, from a storage tank to a vehicle.

Ohio Department of Agriculture announces $12.6M to support the middle of the food supply chain

REYNOLDSBURG  From farm gate to the plate, the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) is offering financial support to businesses and producers who work in the middle of the food chain sector.

ODA has been awarded $12.6 million through the federal Resilient Food System Infrastructure (RFSI) Program to fund projects that support supply chain coordination activities, create more and better processing centers, and increase accessible, affordable and efficient distribution of Ohio products. Projects may also include the construction, expansion, and modernization of supply chain facilities.

RFSI aims to support growth in the middle-of-the-food-supply-chain and strengthen local and regional food systems by creating new revenue streams for Ohio producers, keeping profits circulating in rural communities, and increasing diversity in processing options.

Those interested in receiving funding should apply directly through ODA by March 15. ODA encourages applications that serve smaller farms and ranches, new and beginning farmers, underserved producers, veteran producers, and underserved communities.

Firelands Electric Co-Op announces December A Team winners

Firelands Electric Cooperative announced the winners of The A Team drawing for of December.

Brookelyn Cox is a sixth grader at New London Middle School and is the daughter of Raymond and Crystal Cox. Max McKee, son of Jim and Alicia McKee, is an eighth grader at South Central Middle School. Garrett Tracy is the son of Perry and Gretchen Tracy and is a sixth grader at C.E. Budd/Loudonville Schools.

The A Team recognizes students in grades six-eight who had a minimum of three As on their most recent report card. Applicants must reside in a home served by the co-op. Students who submit a qualifying report card are entered into a drawing held at the end of each grading period. Three winners are randomly selected at each drawing to receive an Amazon gift card and be recognized in Ohio Cooperative Living magazine and on Firelands website and social media outlets.

Complete guidelines are available at firelandsec.com/team. The next drawing will take place Feb. 10. For more information contact Firelands Electrics Member Services Department at 1-800-533-8658 or members@firelandsec.com.

Mansfield News Journal

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An Army reservist assigned to the California National Guards headquarters in Sacramento County and to a counter-drug-trafficking task force has been arrested by the FBI on a weapons charge and is believed to have leaked sensitive information on drug raids to an individual involved in illegal drug activities, court records say.

Ruby Celly Uribe, 34, a 17-year Army veteran and sergeant first class, was arrested by the FBI and booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail early Friday on a charge of possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle.

Uribe made a brief appearance in federal court Friday afternoon, wiping her eyes with a tissue as U.S. Magistrate Judge Deborah Barnes noted she had no criminal record and agreed to allow her release on an unsecured $25,000 bond.

As part of a 17-page criminal complaint and affidavit unsealed Friday, FBI Special Agent Deanna Williams described a series of suspicious activities by Uribe that included providing military ammunition to a close associate and leaking sensitive information to him about upcoming drug raids.

This investigation revealed that Uribe leaked operational intelligence and law enforcement plans to people involved in drug trafficking organizations, that she misappropriated military property and funds for personal use, and that she illegally possessed and trafficked firearms, an affidavit from Williams states. In particular, Uribe leaked operational information to Person 1, a person she knew to be involved in illegal drug activities, and whom she believed to be connected to other drug trafficking organizations.

The investigation, which included task force briefings on phony drug raids conducted to ferret out possible leaks, included a review of Uribes text messages to others involving counter-drug operations, court records say.

Based upon my training and experience, a trusted insider leaking this kind of information in advance of troop movements could not only have compromised the mission, but also led to the injury or death of military and law enforcement officers, Williams wrote in the affidavit.

The National Guard said in a statement to The Bee that since the beginning of this investigation, the California Military Department has been cooperating with and in support of federal law enforcement authorities.

The allegations against this Soldier do not reflect the highest standards held by the service members of the California Military Department, Lt. Col. Brandon Hill wrote in an email. Due to this being an ongoing civilian criminal investigation and prosecution, we are unable to provide further comment.

Reservist faces weapons charge over short-barreled rifle

Uribe, an Antelope resident, is charged only with the weapons possession charge, one involving a short-barreled .223-caliber Remington rifle found in a safe at her home during a December 2022 search, court records say.

The rifle had a barrel length of 9 inches, only slightly more than half the required size of 16 inches, court records say.

The rifle had a hole drilled above the selector to allow for an autosear to be installed, court records say. The rifle also had parts installed that allowed it to fire in full-automatic mode (i.e., as a machine gun).

The affidavit says that in addition to possessing the weapon and attempting to sell an unserialized ghost gun, Uribe leaked operational intelligence to Person 1, who had then recently retired from the military.

That individual was not named, but court papers say he was arrested by Turlock police in March 2022 on marijuana trafficking charges and was a close associate to someone identified as Person 2, who was charged in a federal drug trafficking indictment out of Fresno.

That case that involves controlled buys of fentanyl and cocaine from Person 2s drug trafficking organization, court records say.

In an image included by federal prosecutors in a criminal complaint against Ruby Uribe, a non-serialized short-barreled rifle is seen in a safe inside Uribes home. The weapon was seized by federal authorities following a court-ordered search of her Antelope home.

Phony raids to ferret out leaker

After the arrest of Person 1 and the discovery of 223 marijuana plants, six high-capacity magazines and 90 rounds of ammunition, FBI and drug task force investigators held a briefing on Nov. 9, 2022, describing phony plans for an upcoming raid to task force members, including Uribe, court records say.

With the CDTFs cooperation, a fake marijuana grow interdiction operation was briefed to the CDTF National Guard members, court records say. The operation was briefed on November 9, 2022 at approximately 3:30 p.m.

The operation was described as a large scale, multi-resident operation happening in the Turlock, California area. The day of the operation was set for November 11, 2022, and all members of CDTF were required to attend the operation.

Following the briefing, investigators extracted information from Person 1s cell phone that included a Nov. 9 text chat with Uribe in which she shares details of the (ruse) operation, court records say.

Theres a mission manana alli en Turlock apparently its something big, Uribe texted, according to court records.

Oh no s---, Person 1 replied, court records say.

In an image included by federal prosecutors in a criminal complaint against Ruby Uribe, four firearms are shown after they were seized from a person connected to Uribe, a California National Guard reservist from Antelope. Prosecutors allege Uribe, working with a joint counterdrug task force, tipped off a recently retired service member who was involved in drug trafficking.

You couldve saved my life

The examination of the phone also revealed a text conversation between the two of them regarding a Jan. 5, 2022, raid wherein Uribe leaked information about another CDTF mission, court records say.

In two weeks they have a big bust starting from LA...taking down everything thats excess..., Uribe texted, court records say. we have box trucks committed to this.

Oh dammm, Person 1 replied, according to court records, adding, You couldve saved my life.

During an interview of Person 1 with the FBI on January 24, 2023, agents asked why Uribe would share information about CDTF operations with him, court records say. Person 1 responded that Uribe believed Person 1 knew all the weed dealers in the area because Person 1 had his own marijuana grow.

Court records also say FBI surveillance of her home revealed that she had a military-owned truck at the residence without permission and that she was using a government credit card to purchase diesel for the truck for personal trips.
SACRAMENTO  Jewish lawmakers in California whose legislative session was shut down by a cease-fire demonstration this week say this is an unprecedented moment in American political life where the far-right and far-left are aligned in dangerous, antisemitic beliefs about Jews.

Wednesdays protest in the California statehouse, where singing and chanting brought the Assembly floor session to a halt, was the latest in a series of disruptions to Democratic events in Sacramento, San Francisco, Washington, D.C. and elsewhere over the Israel-Hamas war in an increasingly tense fight within the party. A number of Jewish organizations were behind Wednesdays demonstration, including Jewish Voice for Peace, an anti-Zionist group.

The activism following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack and Israeli counteroffensive has put many Jewish lawmakers in an impossible position  trapped, as Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel described it, between political extremes and worried about their personal safety.

They say the dual attacks are unlike anything theyve faced in decades.

The one thing that they seem to agree on is that Jews are uniquely evil, and that we are responsible for the world's problems, Gabriel, 42, said of the opposing groups.

Protesters have called for a halt to Israel attacks that have resulted in thousands of civilian deaths in Gaza. But Gabriel, and many American Jews, feel that demonstrators have largely ignored what sparked the war: The attack by Hamas militants on southern Israel that left 1,200 people dead, mostly civilians, in a horrific display of violence.

Rather than waiting for the temperature to drop, California's Legislative Jewish Caucus has decided to lean into the fallout, with bills aimed at stopping antisemitism in public schools and college campuses  policy debates that are likely to spur more protests at the statehouse.

Gabriel, a Democrat who represents parts of the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, is the caucus' co-chair. He sat down with POLITICO to speak about the urgent need to crack down on antisemitism, and the caucus legislative game plan in 2024.

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

What was your first reaction when you heard the protestors in the Assembly on Wednesday?

I had a sense that it was coming when we walked over to the building and saw a bunch of folks, and it was much more crowded than usual and a lot of people in masks and everything else. We had a sense that potentially there would be some protest activity. And I thought that it might be on this. This is obviously a very contentious topic of conversation right now.

There were complaints about interrupting the democratic process, but how do you balance that with the right to free speech?

The way I think about it is you have thousands of groups and Californians who come up to Sacramento every year who have passionately-held beliefs on a whole range of issues, and the overwhelming majority of them manage to express those beliefs without interrupting the democratic process.

So it cant just be that some folks get to interrupt the democratic process and everybody else has to play by the rules.

What do you know about the protesters? They identified as Jewish groups, but its also clear that some of the Jewish caucus felt intimidated by what they were doing.

I dont know that I would say that we felt intimidated by it. I certainly didn't. I think it was upsetting for some folks and members of our caucus, but I dont think anybody felt intimidated.

Let me say that some of these groups I know, Ive heard of  others I know less about  it has sometimes rubbed me the wrong way that they describe themselves as Jews and quote unquote allies, because I think many of the folks in these groups are not Jewish, and purporting to speak on behalf of the Jewish community.

While they are speaking on behalf of themselves, I would argue very strongly that theyre not speaking on behalf of the Jewish community.

I think the overwhelming majority of folks in the community feel a very, very strong emotional connection to Israel. Many of us have friends and family over there, people that we love, that we care about, that we are connected to. So a lot of this is not a theoretical war for us. This is something that we are experiencing through phone calls and emails and text messages with loved ones who are sitting in bomb shelters who are worried about the safety of their kids.

For us, it is a deeply personal issue. And that is both separate and very much intricately linked to this explosion in domestic antisemitism that we have experienced that, for reasons that I don't fully understand, seems to be going below the radar.

When you think about it, if there were 225 Black churches that have gotten bomb threats in the last week, I think wed be reading about it all over the news.

There is an incredible sense of vulnerability in the community right now. Some of the rhetoric around this has been very dehumanizing of Jews. There seems to be this sense that we should believe victims of sexual assault, and yet there was so much pushback and continues to be so much pushback on the notion that Hamas committed mass rape and mass sexual violence on Oct. 7.

I think a lot of folks are able to hear opinions that we disagree with. And thats OK. Thats part of democracy, thats part of education, thats part of the world we live in. But some of this rhetoric gets into a place where it becomes about longstanding stereotypes about our community, about dehumanizing Jews, that we have a long history, that our history teaches us this rhetoric leads to violence.

And we now find ourselves in this incredible situation, where we are trapped between the far-right and the far-left. Those two groups hate each other, see each other as a threat to everything that they love and believe is holy, and the one thing that they seem to agree on is that Jews are uniquely evil, and that we are responsible for the world's problems.

We know that in recent years, we know theres a trend where the far-right and far-left are growing. Those are two segments of our society in the United States and around the world that are growing. And if one of the core ideologies thats made its way into both of those groups is that Jews are bad and Jews are oppressors and Jews are evil, thats a very problematic and scary thing for us, given how weve seen this unfold in history over and over again.

The Jewish caucus this week released a letter specifically lamenting a lack of support from labor and advocacy allies. Who does that refer to?

I think part of the challenge is that there are people here who are not particularly well-informed about everything that is going on, that the challenges and the trauma that the Jewish community is experiencing are somewhat invisible to them.

That's part of what that letter was doing, is letting them understand how our community is feeling at this moment. And that we, frankly, would expect more of them and hope that they'll engage with us and take the time to learn.

What has been so interesting to me about recent weeks is a lot of Jews that I know that are very far-left, that are very critical of the Israeli government, are also deeply, deeply feeling the antisemitism in society right now, and have expressed that to me and to members of the caucus, in really emotional and evocative terms.

And the same thing is true of Jews on the right, and Jews in the middle and Jews whose politics I don't know, and Jews who are religious and walk around in ways that they're easily identifiable as being Jewish, and Jews who are not particularly observant.

So we're getting this feedback from all corners of our community: That people are feeling this in a way that they haven't felt. And I will tell you, I am feeling differently than I have felt at any moment in my life.

What would you like support from those groups to look like?

Many and, maybe most, people in the Sacramento ecosystem have been incredible.

But we have also seen a number of folks who have put out some really reprehensible statements, and then others who just seem to be blind to facts and to Jewish suffering. I dont have problems with people expressing sincerely-held beliefs. But they ought to think about, if you were silent on Oct. 7 and Oct. 8, if you had nothing to say about this, really unspeakable, act of brutality, and then youre going to say things in a really one-sided way that doesnt acknowledge Jewish pain, that doesnt acknowledge the suffering thats going on, that feels pretty rough.

Are there going to be consequences for that inaction or some of those statements, as far as damaging relationships?

One hundred percent. And Ill just say Im always eager to have conversations with people and to learn from them and hopefully to have them learn from me.

Have you been specifically targeted at all?

Not in a way thats made me feel particularly threatened. My wife was freaking out [Wednesday] when everything was going on at the Capitol, and I was trying to calm her down.

Members of our caucus have been targeted, a number of them have not wanted to share that publicly, and this is something weve struggled with.

There are a number of members of our caucus that have been targeted in the most despicable personal terms at their homes, at their work. I think we have received stuff at the office and other things, and I think most Jews in elected office in publicly visible places right now have been targeted.

As a state lawmaker in this moment, do you bring the temperature down or stand up and call attention to the problem  knowing that it could continue to escalate these tensions?

I think there's been a lot of conversation as we've seen little incidents of antisemitism over the past number of years. How widespread is this belief? Is this just some misinformed person? Is that some crazy person that really doesn't understand this? Can we go have a conversation with them? Can we deescalate?

There's a sense now in the community that, given what we have seen in recent months, that we have to assert ourselves and we have to pull the fire alarm, because this is a moment that feels different than any other moment in our lifetimes.
SACRAMENTO, Calif.  California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis was the victim of a swatting call last weekend at her San Francisco home, authorities confirmed exclusively to POLITICO, following a series of elected officials being targeted with phony calls to police after they pushed to remove former President Donald Trump from the 2024 ballot.

The incident at Kounalakis Pacific Heights condominium came days after Californias No. 2 official wrote to California Secretary of State Shirley Weber urging her to exclude Trump from Californias 2024 primary. Weber did not acquiesce to Kounalakis request, siding with Gov. Gavin Newsom who telegraphed to fellow Democrats not to get ahead of the U.S. Supreme Court and dismissed the moves as political distraction.

San Francisco Police responded to Kounalakis home about 11:20 a.m. on Dec. 30 after receiving reports of a possible shooting. The officers arrived on the scene and determined there was no merit to the call, public information officer Eve Laokwansathitaya said Thursday.

Kounalakis and her husband, Markos, were not at home at the time, said Aleksandra Reetz, the lieutenant governors deputy chief of staff. Their two college-aged sons were there when police arrived, Reetz confirmed to POLITICO.

Kounalakis, a candidate for governor in 2026, is the latest politician to have an armed response arrive at her doorstep since the Colorado Supreme Court on Dec. 19 ruled that Trump was ineligible to run for president due to his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection. Last Friday, state police went to the home of Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows after she barred Trump from the ballot, sparking widespread condemnation from Republicans who note that he hasnt been convicted of a crime. That incident remains under investigation, and Bellows and her staff continue to receive threatening communications, she told the Portland Press Herald.

A broad range of politicians and other public figures have been targeted by swatting calls for a variety of reasons that arent always tied to Trump. The pranks are designed to fool unsuspecting police into responding with force, sometimes with their arms drawn. Callers have reported fake incidents at the homes of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, a Democrat, and Republican Rep. Majorie Taylor Greene of Georgia has claimed multiple incidents, criticizing the FBI while lauding local police for their response.

Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, also a Republican, said that his Naples home was targeted while he and his wife were out on Dec. 27 and called the incident a waste of law enforcement resources in a sick attempt to terrorize my family.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis battle of optics reached a fever pitch last November when they debated live on Fox News. But the Florida-California debate isnt just a matter of personalities, its a matter of real policy.

In the past three years, Newsom and California lawmakers have positioned themselves as offering a legislative alternative to DeSantis agenda, passing a slate of bills to rival Floridas immense output and influence, particularly on free expression issues.

With Congress gridlocked, it is state-level policy and laws that dominate the playing field. Model legislation, from lobbyists and legislators, offers fill-in-the-blank bill templates that enable legislators to easily duplicate bills across the country. This includes policy on free expression-related issues  the subject of a pair of PEN America reports, which I co-authored, released late last year.

Opinion

Newsom and his legislative supporters have embraced the role of legislative trendsetter, labeling many recent laws models for the nation. These are bills that impact our speech online and the teaching of history in schools. Indeed, some of them have expanded protections for free expression in California, but some of the states exported laws lack the safeguards to work in other states.

Take Newsoms flagship legislation: an anti-book-banning law, passed in September, that establishes financial penalties for any school district in the state that does not accurately portray the cultural and racial diversity of our society. Its easy to understand why lawmakers chose an enforcement mechanism with teeth: Just two months before the law passed, Newsom successfully levied the threat of a $1.5 million fine to defeat a southern Californian school districts proposed ban on a textbook featuring Harvey Milk, the states first openly-gay elected official.

But such a strategy could backfire and further the very conservative tactics it aims to extinguish.

Last May, Vox identified a rising Republican movement to defund public libraries for their refusal to comply with book bans. And last August, multiple 2024 Republican hopefuls floated the idea of defunding the federal Education Department altogether. In these instances, fines arent the deterrent we think they are  theyre the incentive.

Even absent nefarious intentions, states from New York to Ohio have increasingly slashed public funding for libraries, so its not a leap to fear that in this precarious climate, some localities could use a financially punitive anti-book-banning bill to simply eliminate services for schools and libraries or cut them altogether.

The states Age-Appropriate Design Code Act (AADCA) is another example of a law that is wide open to interpretation depending on the state. Drawing on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the act aims to reduce minors exposure to potentially harmful content online by requiring new privacy and reporting standards for social media companies.

But the law has a glaring omission: nowhere does it define what harmful content actually is. In some cases, these distinctions may feel intuitive  the law limits data collection and sets default privacy settings for minors. But the laws ambiguous language can be interrupted widely; what one state legislature views as beneficial for childrens well-being (for example, a video featuring a same-sex couple, or information about sexual health and contraception) could be deemed harmful by another.

In California, this uncertainty risks incentivizing businesses to play it safe and pull back the information offered to all users.

Californias impulse to leverage its own legislative laboratory as a model for bills that expand rights protections is laudable, and some of the states newest laws can stand as-is. But a new model for legislative leadership is overdue: one that values precision over pace; explicitly acknowledges where bills that work in some states can go wrong in others; and promotes a goal, not a single boilerplate solution.

California already has the tools and experience to do this. Last summer, lawmakers decided to delay a new local news funding bill after advocates expressed concerns that the bill in its current form would disproportionately benefit large corporations and drive out online news access.

California leaders might argue that it is not its job to make airtight policies for Minnesota, but perhaps it is the responsibility of a policy leader to flag that their laws may need amendments to work in other environments.

It is often said: As goes California, so goes the nation. If Newsom and California lawmakers intend to heed this call, theyll want to make sure they can stand by the nations direction.

Ryan Howzell is research program coordinator at PEN America and lead author of the new report, The California Effect: How the Golden State is Driving the Progressive Agenda on Free Expression.
(BCN)  Californias legislative advisors Thursday lambasted the states ambitious proposal to regulate urban water conservation, calling the measures costly and difficult to achieve, in many cases without compelling justifications.

The proposed rules, unveiled in August, call for more than 400 cities and other water suppliers serving about 95% of Californians to meet conservation targets beginning in 2025.

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The state Legislative Analysts Office suggested significant changes to the State Water Resources Control Boards proposal, warning that the regulations would set such stringent standards for outdoor use that suppliers will not have much wiggle room in complying. They also warn that the added costs will ultimately be borne by customers.

Whether the benefits of the new rules ultimately will outweigh the costs is unclear, the report says. These doubts are particularly worrisome given we find that suppliers will face notable challenges complying with these requirements.

The report recommended that lawmakers direct state regulators to make several of the proposed requirements less stringent (such as the residential outdoor standard), consider how to target state funding to assist lower-income customers, and extend some of the deadlines for suppliers to ensure they can actually achieve the frameworks goals.

Water board officials didnt comment on the criticism or recommendations, but spokesperson Edward Ortiz said the report, along with other feedback received from industry and the public, will be considered. He said a new draft of the rules will be released this spring.

With changing weather conditions threatening to reduce the states water supply 10% by 2040, California is advancing an all-of-the-above strategy to bolster water supplies throughout the state, including conservation, Ortiz said.

Heather Cooley, director of research at the Pacific Institute, a global water think tank, said conservation and efficiency are the cheapest, fastest ways to meet Californias water needs as climate change renders supplies more variable and uncertain.

We have to take real action to ensure we can provide safe, clean, reliable water for California communities, she said. Retrofitting and taking out old devices, transforming our landscapes, all of those things have a cost. But its far less than developing new sources of supply.

Mandated by a package of 2018 laws, the intent of the rules is to make conservation a way of life in California. The rules, which are two years behind schedule, are expected to be adopted by the water board this summer before taking effect in October.

The rules dont target individuals or businesses, instead setting individualized conservation targets for urban water agencies across the state based on goals for indoor and outdoor water use, leaks and other factors.

By 2035, water providers will collectively need to reduce water use by 14% . The savings would be enough to supply about 1.2 million homes every year, or about 1% of the states total water use.

The report called this amount modest, noting that the agricultural sector uses about four times as much water as the urban sector.

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Water agencies and city officials warned state regulators last fall that complying would be costly  roughly $13.5 billion from 2025 to 2040 for rebates and other efforts to cut residential use. The benefits are anticipated to reach about $15.6 billion, in large part because suppliers and customers will buy less water.

The Legislative Analysts report noted that an assessment by a consulting firm commissioned by a water supplier raised questions about those calculations. They noted that customers  particularly low-income households  would likely bear the brunt of rates increased to cover the costs.

Even if benefits outweigh costs in the long run, whether they merit the amount of work and costs to implement the requirements as currently proposed is uncertain, the report said.

Jay Lund, vice-director of the Center for Watershed Sciences at the University of California, Davis, called the report an unusually frank assessment.

Although there is good room for further conservation, this additional State effort seems like it is probably not needed, or at least, need not be as stringent and complicated as it seems. It has been asked, Is this juice worth the squeeze?' he told CalMatters in an email.

During the last three-year severe drought, which ended last year, the Newsom administration set voluntary conservation goals that were largely ineffective. Californians used only about 6% less water from July 2021 through the end of last year compared to 2020, far less than Gov. Gavin Newsoms 15% goal.

Some areas, especially in hot, inland areas of the state, will require more stringent conservation than others under the proposed rules. Inland and eastern California will be required to cut back the most, with the biggest cuts, up to 34%, needed in desert areas, followed by the Tulare Lake region.

Even in the North Coast area, which as a whole is not expected to need to cut back at all to meet the 2035 targets, two large suppliers serving more than 1.6 million customers will nevertheless need to reduce their water use by a quarter.

But increasing conservation in the places that need it most will seem a bargain when inevitable longer and drier droughts occur, said Felicia Marcus, former chair of the water board and now a visiting fellow at Stanford Universitys Water in the West Program.

The goal is both to make each locality more resilient to the nightmare curveballs climate change is throwing at us, and to do it in a way that integrates efficiency first and foremost as the most cost and carbon effective measure in the long run, Marcus said.

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Sonja Petek, the principal fiscal and policy analyst who authored the report, said the office isnt saying to abandon the conservation regulations, its just recommending changes to make them more feasible.

Water conservation is one of the important components of the states overall water management strategy, she said, citing more severe and prolonged droughts and the need to reduce reliance on overdrafted groundwater basins. Our concern is that if these regulations were adopted as written, it could lead to a scenario where compliance is not feasible for some water suppliers, so the state might not achieve its ultimate goals.

Assemblymember Laura Friedman, a Democrat from Burbank and an author of the original legislation, said the report raises some valid concerns with the rulemaking process thus far, however, I have faith in the water board to do its due diligence in implementing the standards that were passed.

Copyright  2024 Bay City News, Inc.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
Proving yet again that she is a terrible person, right-wing political commentator Candace Owens went on a homophobic, anti-trans rant on social media, calling LGBTQ+ people a "sexual plague" and surprising no one.

On Thursday, January 4, the 34-year-old Republican took to X (formerly Twitter) to blame "big Pharma and its clinical promotion of insanity" for mass shootings in schools in a chilling reference to gender-affirming care.

"I am not interested in engaging in another discussion about a school shooter that does not begin and end with discussing big Pharma and its clinical promotion of insanity," she wrote. "We are mass drugging children and conducting psychiatric experiments on them in classrooms across America.".

I am not interested in engaging in another discussion about a school shooter that does not begin and end with discussing big Pharma and its clinical promotion of insanity.



We are mass drugging children and conducting psychiatric experiments on them in classrooms across America.  Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) January 4, 2024

Right, because puberty blockers are to blame for mass violence and not, I don't know, America's gun problem.

Then, Owens doubled down, spewing more hate about the queer community. "Gender dysphoria is a mental disorder and the entire LGBTQ movement brought with it a sexual plague on our society," she posted.

Gender dysphoria is a mental disorder and the entire LGBTQ movement brought with it a sexual plague on our society.  Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) January 4, 2024

Trans journalist Erin Reed rightly pointed out on X that Owens, who hosts a conservative talk show on The Daily Wire, was "jumping straight to the genocidal language," Queerty reports.

This is not the first time Owens has spouted hateful garbage. Just last year, she was demonetized by YouTube for intentionally misgendering trans people, and in October, she claimed that transgender rights would lead to pedophilia while being interviewed in the U.K. It's not even the time she's blamed a school shooting on the trans community. After six people were killed in Covenant School in Nashville, she blamed the shooter's trans identity and "pharmaceutical drugs" for the loss of life, reported The Advocate.

She can't even be creative with her hatred; she's just reusing old talking points. Ya boring!
Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Three years after the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, a prevalent divide remains over what people believe happened and who bears responsibility. This split has scholars concerned about how this chapter of history will be written and how the tears in civil discourse can be mended to strengthen American democracy.

"We are still almost 250 years into an experiment in democracy. There is no guarantee this would work," Lindsay Hoffman, associate professor of communications and political science at the University of Delaware, told UPI. "For a democracy to work, we have to learn how to listen to each other better and not to listen to create a better argument."

President Joe Biden is set to cast the presidential election as a test for the fate of democracy in his first major campaign speech in Valley Forge, Pa., on Friday, with the 2024 election potentially bringing a repeat of the 2020 matchup if Donald Trump again wins the Republican nomination.

'Powder keg'

The events leading up to the riot are still being disputed in court. A Colorado judge ruled last month that Trump incited the riot with his rhetoric in the weeks following the 2020 election.

"It felt to many that were engaged politically that it was the culmination of that powder keg," Hoffman said. "It was an outlet for pent up anger and frustration."

More than 1,200 people have been charged with crimes related to the attack and they have come from nearly all 50 states, according to the U.S. Justice Department. More than 400 have been charged with assaulting, resisting or impeding officers or Capitol employees.

About 120 have been charged with using deadly or dangerous weapons or causing bodily injury to an officer.

Five deaths were directly connected to the attack, including that of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick.

Trump has also been charged with attempts to interfere with the certification of the election, as well as other efforts to change the outcome.

While many decisions relating to Jan. 6 and the events preceding it are being decided in court, those rulings are not the paramount concern of historians.

Fritz Fischer, professor of history and director of history education at the University of Northern Colorado, told UPI he is concerned about how younger generations will think and learn about the insurrection.

"They're a part of history, but any legal conclusion is not necessarily the same kind of conclusion that a historian is going to come to," Fischer said. "It was an insurrection. And whether or not that has legal or political implications is a different question."

Fischer was quoted in his university's newspaper days after the riot wondering if it was an attempted coup. As more details have emerged over the past three years, he said many of his fears have been confirmed.

The challenge the 30-year educator and others in academia face is finding a way to teach students about such a divisive event. It becomes especially challenging in the face of numerous conspiracy theories.

A new study by the University of Maryland reports that about 25% of Americans believe the FBI was involved in orchestrating the attack.

Fischer notes that conspiracy theories follow many historically significant events. After the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, some conspiracy theorists blamed Franklin D. Roosevelt. Fischer said these theories largely came from FDR's political opponents and critics.

"It's really important that we give students the opportunity to find the facts and not be swayed by various conspiracy theories that are out there," Fischer said. "That's going to be a challenge, and again with some of the other things that are happening as far as politicians trying to dictate what is being taught in schools. It worries me that future students might not be able to find the facts."

Political violence 'can silence'

The Capitol riot highlighted the American divisions that many educators and researchers had already observed. But more Americans than ever -- 49% -- identified as politically independent, according to a poll by Gallup last year.

The issue with highly polarized partisanship is that the people who fall somewhere in the middle of political extremes -- or who are not generally engaged -- are overlooked. Events like Jan. 6., chill some people's willingness to engage in civil discourse, Hoffman said.

"Political violence like that is dangerous for the populous. It can silence some voices," she said. "The people on the margins or in the middle, it puts them in more of a defensive position and not wanting to engage out of fear of ruffling feathers, out of fear of getting taunted or attacked."

"It's dangerous for our democracy for people to sense danger and not engage with each other and feel isolated," Hoffman said.

She has been researching civil discourse and dialogue interventions in recent years. She has found that engaging in conversations about otherwise divisive topics, with some guidelines in place, can increase "intellectual humility and curiosity." It can also "tone down polarization and animosity."

"There are ways that we can combat this but we have to come at it in good faith," she said. "Let's come together with a promise to each other to engage in civil dialogue around difficult issues."

Dannagal Young, professor of communications and political science at the University of Delaware, told UPI that events like Jan. 6, are an example of what many people hate about politics.

In her book Media and January 6th, she discusses how the people who went to the Capitol and those who have or continue to deny the results of the election do so to meet some basic motivations. They sought to comprehend the election loss, feel a sense of control over the world around them and find community.

Social media's role in the festering divisions in society is also a prominent factor, she said.

"The machinery of social media is really tailor-made to prime divisive identities," Young said. "It's an unfortunate synergy for citizens and democracy."

Young suggests pulling back from engaging with social media posts that elicit strong emotional reactions can be a path to positive change.

"If we decide to stop rewarding emotional content or change the way we perform our mega identities in public spaces -- because we know performing them is harmful democratically -- we could change the calculus of all these entities that are making profits off our backs," she said.

Both Young and Hoffman describe themselves as optimistic and hopeful that the conversations about divisive topics like Jan. 6, can change in a positive way. But it will require self-reflection and curiosity about opposing views.

"The caveat is if we can all take a step back and say we saw the same thing but interpreted it differently based on affiliation and identity, let's be curious about that," Hoffman said. "Ask, 'why do you see it that way?'"
Several homes in Hopkinton were damaged after an alleged drunk driver hit them before he was arrested Thursday night.

Stephen Murphy, 52, of Hopkinton allegedly hit two homes on Grove Street with his van before he sped off and crashed on the intersection of Main Street and Pleasant Street.

One of the homes was severely damaged because a load-bearing wall was taken out. The home was unoccupied at the time and the family living there will spend the night elsewhere.

Murphy was arrested and charged with operating under the influence of liquor, driving to endanger and leaving the scene of a property damage crash.

Hopkinton Fire Chief Gary Dougherty said that due to this weekends encroaching noreaster, he was worried about the homes sustaining severe damage. Crewes are working to stabilize the severely damaged homes first and second floors.

Were fortunate that no one was hurt in this incident, said Chief Daugherty.

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

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The new year is just a few days old, and for many Idahoans, a New Years resolution may have been to find a new job or career. Fortunately, the Treasure Valley isnt short of available jobs that pay a good salary.

In Ada County alone, numerous jobs are available that pay at least $60,000 per year, plus benefits such as health care, paid vacation and sick leave.

Here are seven current job openings in Ada County that pay at least $60,000 annually. Only some of the job responsibilities and requirements are listed below; you can find more information by clicking the link for each job.

You can also find additional job listings on the Ada County job opportunities website.

Criminal Child Protection Attorney I

Salary: $75,080 annually



Deadline: Continuous



Summary: To handle and manage cases filed under the Idaho Child Protective Act and to monitor childrens removal or protective supervision during a case until an appropriate permanent plan is achieved.



Notable requirements: Graduate of an accredited law school and a member of the Idaho State Bar, and knowledge of the Idaho Statutes, including case law, rules of evidence, criminal procedure and criminal jury instructions.

Civil Attorney II

Salary: $82,000 Annually



Deadline: Continuous



Summary: Predominantly working independently on civil litigation and transactional matters and advising clients. The civil attorney will also supervise the deputy prosecutor on various projects and cases.



Notable requirements: Graduation from an accredited law school, membership of the Idaho State Bar, and a minimum of five years of civil litigation experience.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, Criminal Division

Salary: $75,080 annually



Deadline: Continuous



Summary: This position is for an attorney new to the legal profession. Job responsibilities include drafting legal documents such as motions, orders and memoranda, participating in case negotiations with defense attorneys, and reviewing reports and legal issues regarding cases.



Notable requirements: Graduate of an accredited law school and a member of the Idaho State Bar, and knowledge of the Idaho Statutes, including case law, rules of evidence, criminal procedure and criminal jury instructions.

Detention Deputy

Salary: $61,050 - $77,744 Annually



Deadline: April 24



Summary: Maintaining the security and custody of inmates at the Ada County Jail. The jail is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a week, meaning the position requires working on weekends, nights and holidays.



Notable requirements: A high school diploma or equivalent, United States citizenship and at least 21 years of age.

Geographic Information Systems Analyst

Salary: $60,000 - $75,000 annually



Deadline: Jan. 8



Summary: To provide analysis, technical support and expertise to Ada County projects involving the Geographic Information System, an open data source for topics such as future land use and solid waste management maintained by the county.



Notable requirements: Bachelors degree in computer science, GIS, geography or another related field, and two or more years of GIS experience.

Mental Health Clinician

Salary: $33.61 - $37.83 hourly



Deadline: Continuous



Summary: To provide mental health services such as assessments, crisis intervention and counseling to the Ada County Jail inmate population. The clinician will also provide clinical consultation to Ada County Sheriffs Office staff and the Health Services Division.



Notable requirements: A masters degree in social work or counseling from an accredited college, and must be a licensed social worker or professional counselor in the state of Idaho.

Registered Nurse

Salary: $78,998 - $103,502 Annually



Deadline: Feb. 12



Summary: To provide general health care to Ada County Jail inmates and to administer treatment and medicine to patients. The nurse will also maintain treatment records and make notes of all medications given to inmates.



Notable requirements: Graduation from an accredited school of nursing as a registered nurse.
More than a year after Casey Anthony made explosive accusations that her father molested her two-year-old daughter Caylee and was responsible for the childs 2008 death, he is putting his story to the test  via lie detector.

In the new A&E and Lifetime special Casey Anthonys Parents: The Lie Detector Test that premiered on 2 January, Caseys parents George and Cindy Anthony each took a polygraph in front of the cameras.

George, now 72, became emotional as he confronted the questions related to allegations Caseys defence team made about him at her trial  including that he helped cover up Caylees death.

I didnt know where she was at, he explained on the special after appearing to struggle through some of the questions. "Did I conceal her whereabouts? I did not know where she was at.

In December 2008, five months after Caylee was reported missing by her grandmother in July, her remains were found in the woods near the Orlando, Florida home where she lived with her mother and grandparents. Her death was ruled a homicide.

George Anthony, 72, became emotional as he confronted the questions related to allegations Caseys defence team made about him at her trial (A&E)

During Caseys murder trial in 2011, her lawyer Jose Baez alleged that Caylee drowned in the family swimming pool and that George helped to cover up the accidental death.

Now, years later, her parents have volunteered for the test in response to the allegations.

When the test administrator asked George if he knowingly concealed the toddlers whereabouts during the six months authorities were searching for her, he responded, No. I mean, I didnt know where she was at.

Casey Anthony at the Orange County Courthouse on 30 June 2011 in Orlando, Florida (Red Huber-Pool/Getty Images)

The administrator then asked why he appeared to be struggling with the question.

George responded, Maybe its because I  it was close to our house, that she was found.

The polygraph comes more than a decade after Caseys highly publicised trial in July 2011 in which she was infamously acquitted of killing her two-year-old daughter  a verdict that shocked the country.

She was, however, convicted on four counts of providing false information to the police. Her defence team had said that Casey lied about the nanny due to a dysfunctional upbringing.

Casey served prison time for those charges and was released later that same month with credit for time served.

Caylee Anthonys remains were found in the woods near the Orlando, Florida home (Caylee Anthony)

Last year, in her first on-camera interview for the docuseries Where the Truth Lies, Casey claimed she had protected her abuser, explaining that her father sexually assaulted her and alleged that he killed her daughter Caylee to cover up that he had been sexually assaulting the child as well.

Casey was dubbed Americas most hated mom by cable television news amid reports she went to nightclubs and got a tattoo in the month her daughter was missing.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  The Clark County School District announced Thursday it will be hosting several job fairs for prospective bus drivers.

According to a release, the job fairs will be held on Jan. 6, Feb. 3, and March 2 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Arville Bus Yard, located at 4499 Arville Street.

Transportation officials will be on-site to provide additional information and answer questions. CCSD offers paid training and also assists applicants in obtaining the proper license, the release stated.

Training for the position will last two and a half weeks.

The release stated that pay for bus drivers starts at $24.28 an hour. According to the CCSD Transportation website, jobs available include bus driver trainee, bus driver, and special education bus driver.

The website said there are flexible bus driver positions available as well.

The CCSD Transportation website said those who wish to apply should be at least 21 years old, have a valid drivers license, a 10-year DMV driving history, a seven-year work history, three verified references, and have completed and accepted an application.

Those interested in applying can do so here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Akron Fire Chief Joseph Natko talks about how the department is moving forward and improving after American Medical Response ended its contract last year to transport non-life-threatening patients to the hospital.

Since American Medical Response left town five months ago, Akron Fire Department personnel have been picking up the slack.

According to Fire Chief Joseph Natko, the people of Akron and the department are better for it.

Now that Akron paramedics stay with every call for the duration, not just in the most serious cases, patient care has improved, he said. Studies have shown incorrect and incomplete handoffs of patients from one provider to another can increase the risk of errors.

I'm not afraid to say it  you get pretty good care, Nakto said. You get the best of the best.

Additionally, Akronites needing an ambulance ride no longer require deep pockets to pay for the transport. AMR got by for years with a no-cost contract with the city because it billed almost double what the Akron Fire Department charges for the same ride.

We could bill $800 for an ambulance transport, Natko explained, but if insurance only pays $200, that's all we do. We don't chase the individual for that extra $600. AMR was different. They would aggressively chase the patient for all their deductibles. And their figures were almost twice ours. They were billing $1,500 to $1,600 for an EMS run.

The city has collected $372,106.45 more in revenue from hospital transports in 2023 than it did in 2022, according to a city spokesperson.

Although the number of patients the department transports has doubled since AMR's departure, Natko said the city has faith in the fire department's ability to shoulder the burden because it has proven itself capable in that time.

The city's immediate response to AMRs departure was to authorize about $6.5 million in overtime for existing fire department personnel. Long-term, the department is increasing its staffing, but thats a lengthy process, Natko said.

Despite the increase in transports, overtime costs actually decreased last year under management from Natko, who became fire chief in November 2022.

According to a spokesperson for the city, overtime costs in 2023 totaled $6,243,219, while overtime costs in 2022 totaled $6,779,780.

A new fire academy class of 43 people  including 15 who are training to be paramedics  started in October. When the class graduates in March, the 350-person departments ranks will swell, and overtime costs are projected to drop by $1.5 million. The focus in 2024 will be maintaining and possibly increasing staffing levels.

There also is a class of 31 paramedics that started in September. However, the class is made up of active-duty personnel who have to juggle work and training.

Kevin Gostkowski, president of the Akron Firefighters Association Local 330, said the back and forth of those 31 people from active duty to paramedic schools is causing some strain, but their graduation in June will mean the number of paramedics in the city will reach almost 200.

The department will need to boost its payroll to meet the staffing increase, which means a budget increase that will fall partially on Akronites to provide. Grants, specifically the federal governments Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program, will help alleviate the taxpayers' burden.

Natko said hes not sure yet how much money hell need to ask for from City Council. If need be, he said, hell adjust staffing to meet the citys budget.

Finance Director Steve Fricker said the department's budget was $73,959,938 in 2022 and $82,352,320 in 2023. Approximately half of the $8.4 million increase was paid for with carryover balances from a fund created by a 2017 income tax increase approved by voters, and additional grants budgeted for the fire department in 2023.

"The Fire operating budget went up about $1.2 million, and the EMS budget went up about $2 million," Fricker told the Beacon Journal in an email.

Why did AMR leave?

AMR, a Colorado-based private ambulance company, previously contracted with the city to transport patients with non-life-threatening illnesses or injuries to the hospital. The company parted ways with Akron last year after the two entities failed to reach a new contract.

According to the city, AMR wanted almost $11 million over the next five years.

Officials requested that AMR extend the contract through the end of 2023 so the fire department could prepare to take over operations. But, city officials say, AMR asked nearly $2 million in return.

Last year, AMR emailed the Beacon Journal saying it hoped to continue its 50-year relationship with Akron, blaming a 2022 Ohio law prohibiting surprise medical billing for undermining the company's profits. AMR said it needed more revenue for recruitment and employee retention.

On Aug. 1, the closure of AMR's facility at 485 S. Broadway St. was complete, costing 50 people their jobs  25 emergency medical technicians, 20 paramedics, four supervisors and one mechanic.

Whats different?

Akron Fire Chief Joseph Natko says now that city paramedics stay with every call for the duration, not just in the most serious cases, patient care has improved.

The Akron Fire Department responds to every 911 emergency medical call made in the city, so the volume of calls hasnt increased. However, the number of patients the fire department transports has gone up.

In 2023, the department responded to roughly 44,000 EMS calls versus approximately 6,000 fire calls, Natko said.

Emergency medical technicians with the department previously transported only the most serious emergency calls in the city, while AMR took over non-life-threatening emergencies.

Now, the fire department handles everything  a change Natko said has increased the level of care patients receive.

Any time you transfer care from one caregiver to another, you lose a little bit, he said.

In September, Natko warned that the city was dangerously close to having a situation in which the department didnt have enough staffed med units or firetrucks to dispatch to a call.

The overtime model the department introduced to address staffing has helped, he said, but there are still instances where every med unit is on the street.

In 2022, the department ordered ambulances, but they wont arrive in Akron until 2025.

Over the summer, City Council authorized funds for the department to buy two new med units that AFD received at the end of December.

I didn't even think we could find them, Natko said. But we found them on a lot out there somewhere.

Additionally, Natko has "de-comboed" the staff at nine of the department's 13 stations by designating some employees each shift to respond to medical emergencies and others to take fire calls.

Ellet's Fire Station 5 is an example.

"That station has a ambulance and a fire engine," Natko explained, "and typically, we would put in that station three to four people."

If a fire call came in, everyone would jump on the fire engine and rush to the scene, leaving the ambulance out of service. Likewise, an EMS call meant that everyone got in the ambulance, leaving behind the fire engine.

Now that the station is "de-comboed," two people are assigned to the medical unit while three stay with the fire engine.

"So we now have two units that are independent of each other in that in that station," Natko said. "We've increased our availability to the citizens."

This is a model the department is looking to implement citywide. Gostkowski said it will take about 86 additional people to accomplish that implementation. In the meantime, what progress they have made has been accomplished through the use of overtime.

Stepping up to the challenge

Firefighter and medic Dusty Willoughby, 32, an eight-year veteran of the department, says although the workload has increased since AMR left town, its nothing he and other members of the Akron Fire Department cant handle.

Natko is proud of the way department personnel have tackled the increased workload.

And it kind of gives me goosebumps, you know, to know that they that they stepped forward and said, 'Yeah, we understand, and we'll make it work,' Natko said. So what they've done, they've continued to bear the burden of, the absorption of, the additional transports with very little grumbling.

Gostkowski said the amount of overtime it has taken to fill the void left by AMR is having an effect on personnel. Some are working hundreds of hours extra, he said.

"And any normal human being working that much extra a year, that's going to take a mental toll on you," said Gostkowski. "But I think the group that we have here, the people that work for Akron fire, are in a good spot. They like to help, they like to go out and do their job."

In addition to the boost in personnel, Gostkowski said activation of the the Summit County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board's mobile crisis unit  a response team staffed with a clinician, paramedic and police officer that's dispatched to non-emergency psychiatric calls  will also help alleviate the strain.

More: Akron will send new mental health team out on some emergency calls starting in 2024

Firefighter and medic Dusty Willoughby, 32, an eight-year veteran of the department, said although the workload has increased, its nothing he and his comrades cant handle. He said department personnel were more concerned with delays at the hospital, but it turned out not to be an issue.

In general, they've been able to take our increased workload, and it hasn't added that much more time to our [runs], Willoughby said.

There wasnt much to acclimate to because, aside from the workload, Willoughby said, the calls the department is now responding to is more of the same.

Sometimes all of AMRs units were on the street, so AFD had to handle calls start to finish regardless of the patients condition.

Natko said department paramedics have borne the brunt of the labor, working on the med units day in and day out, sometimes without a break.

They are constantly just going going, going. And they see some brutal, nasty stuff, not to mention just the chronic stuff, said Natko. It's not just the brutal ones that wear on them; it's the chronic, constant calls that are less than serious.

Willoughby said that at first, after AMR left, there was a drop in morale stemming from apprehension of the unknown. Now, however, spirits are up, bolstered by the knowledge that theyll be getting some relief when the cadets-in-training graduate.

We know helps coming, he said.

Asked if the department is up to the challenge in the meantime, Willoughby answered bluntly.

Yeah, theres not another option, he said. It is what it is.

Contact reporter Derek Kreider at DKreider@Gannett.com or 330-541-9413

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron Fire Department confident in ability to pick up slack post-AMR
A St. Paul man is jailed and charged with possessing hundreds of pounds of marijuana, bags of psychedelic mushrooms and illegal guns at a house in the citys Battle Creek neighborhood that prosecutors say was set up like a store for drug sales.

A 16-year law enforcement officer had never seen the quantity of marijuana that was recovered during Tuesdays search, according to charges filed in Ramsey County District Court against Brian Terrance Krueger, 39.

The small, yellow and white rambler in the 2100 block of Bush Avenue, just west of McKnight Road, was Kruegers store and stash house, the criminal complaint states. In the living room, a U-shaped glass display case presented 1-pound bags of marijuana and large bags of mushrooms and marijuana edibles. An electronic money counter was found in a bedroom.

Krueger is jailed in lieu of $1 million bail ahead of an initial appearance on the charges Friday morning.

Drugs, guns and cash

According to the criminal complaint:

Officers on Tuesday obtained a search warrant for the house after learning Krueger was allegedly growing marijuana in Michigan and selling the drug and mushrooms in Minnesota.

Officers conducted surveillance at the house and saw Kruegers rental car there and his pickup truck parked nearby. When officers approached to execute the search warrant around 4:30 p.m., three men ran from the house and were arrested by other officers. They were identified as Krueger, his father, and a 37-year-old man who police believe was there to make a purchase as he had over $6000 in cash on him when he was detained, the complaint states.

The front door of the house was barricaded, and officers used a battering ram to get inside. No one else was in the house.

In the living room, bags of marijuana were piled on top of the display case and inside black storage bins. Officers recovered hundreds of pounds, well over 50 kilograms, of cannabis flower from the store, the complaint states. Just over $1,000 cash was also in the living room.

Four bags of mushrooms recovered from the store tested positive for psilocybin, an illegal hallucinogen. The bags weighed just over 2 pounds in total.

In a bedroom safe, officers found two 9mm ghost guns and $125,475 in cash. A loaded shotgun was also found in the bedroom.

Prosecutors charged Krueger with first-degree drug possession, first-degree sale of drugs and six illegal weapons counts.

Kruegers criminal history includes a simple robbery conviction in 2011 and DWI convictions in 2006 and 2007.

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China has constructed a new aircraft carrier target on a sprawling range in the northwestern end of the country that is a dead-ringer for the U.S. Navy's newest supercarrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford . The target underscores the People's Liberation Army's continued focus on expanding and refining its ability to engage American carriers and other warships over long distances, which includes a growing arsenal of anti-ship ballistic and cruise missiles . This is all part of China's evolving anti-access and area denial strategy across much of the Western Pacific .

The image of the new carrier target on the range in the Taklamakan Desert in China's Xinjiang province was taken on January 1 by Planet Labs. A full-scale black-colored silhouette in the shape of the USS Gerald R. Ford, and future carriers in that class , roughly 1,085 feet long, is plainly visible. There is also a structure in the same position as Ford's island, as well as four catapult tracks marked on the 'deck' in the same places they appear on the real ship. The unique sponsons and other outcroppings, including a broader, squared-off stern, that are found on the Ford are also present in the target silhouette.

A side-by-side comparison of the new carrier target in China's Taklamakan Desert, at top, and the USS Gerald R. Ford, at bottom. PHOTO  2024 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION / USN

Various masts can be seen dotted around the new Ford target. Generally speaking, these masts are used as radar reflectors, which can be used in combined form to mimic the real ship's full radar signature. This, in turn, would help create a full 'phantom' carrier in the desert without the need for more extensive construction. The masts can also be used as surrogates for separate features if used in smaller groups.

Some of the masts could also be topped with antennas or other equipment for various testing purposes. Masts like this have been observed on other targets at the Taklamakan Desert range , as well as elsewhere, including at sea . In the past, The War Zone has highlighted how these features are particularly relevant to the development of new and improved radar seekers for weapons, other sensors, countermeasures, and electronic warfare systems.

A close-up look at some of the masts that are visible on the carrier target, including on the island structure. PHOTO  2024 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION

Work on the new carrier target began in November 2023. A review of past satellite imagery available through Planet Labs also shows that a rough outline of a carrier has been present there for some time. Several smaller aircraft carrier silhouettes have also been erected within the larger outline and subsequently removed at this site in the Taklamakan Desert on multiple occasions since 2021.

Two smaller carrier targets, as well as the outline of a larger one, can be seen in this satellite image taken on July 28, 2023. This is the same location where the larger Ford target is now present. PHOTO  2024 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION

The U.S. Navy took delivery of Ford in 2019 after years of technical issues and other delays. The real carrier is currently on its way back to its homeport in Norfolk, Virginia, after concluding its first fully deployment . Ford's time at sea had been extended due to the Israel-Gaza conflict.

The site of China's new Ford target is just under 2.8 miles (around 4.5 kilometers) southeast of another full-scale carrier target in the Taklamakan that garnered significant attention back in 2021 . That target also has the same general dimensions as a Ford class carrier, but still lacks any significant structural additions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3ETjguV7Xw

Additional ship-type targets, including others meant to represent aircraft carriers and ones that look to be based around U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke class destroyers , dot the Taklamakan range. Satellite imagery shows that at least one of the destroyer targets, which had previously been just a silhouette with various radar reflector masts, has now been upgraded with additional structure features. Similarly enhanced destroyer targets have been observed on this range in the past.

The destroyer target with structural improvements is seen in this image taken on January 1, 2024. PHOTO  2024 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION

PHOTO  2024 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION

The Taklamakan range complex is also home to at least one very large rail-based mobile ship target that you can read more about here .

All of this reflects a steady trend on the part of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) to create higher and higher fidelity land-based naval targets to train and test against over the past few decades. The new Ford target is a world apart from the concrete rectangles and other crudely ship-shaped targets that Chinese forces used years ago. Using targets that are more representative of the real thing helps produce more accurate data during testing. They can also add additional realism during training exercises, though ranges like the one in the Taklamakan Desert are more focused on supporting research and development and test and evaluation activities.

Older ship silhouette targets arrayed as part of a mock port facility at a Chinese range in the Gobi Desert. Google Earth via The Federation of American Scientists

The new targets also underscore the PLA's significant and ongoing investment in capabilities to neutralize U.S. Navy carriers and their associated strike groups. China's anti-access and area denial arsenal continues to expand with a particular focus on anti-ship capabilities. The country has a growing array of air-launched and land and sea-based anti-ship ballistic missiles . This is on top of increasingly advanced anti-ship cruise missiles that can be fired from more and more capable aircraft, ships , and submarines , as well as ground-based launchers. Hypersonic anti-ship cruise missiles are on the horizon for the PLA, too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAv6cNdRnaY

At the same time, the PLA's ability to detect and track carriers and other warships, and do so persistently further and further away from its shores, has grown in recent years. Drones are an ever-more important part of this equation for China. The PLA also has a still-expanding array of space-based surveillance and intelligence-gathering assets that increasingly rivals that of the United States . These are all capabilities that could be particularly critical to the targeting process for longer-range weapons, such as anti-ship ballistic missiles.

A picture of a Chinese WZ-7 surveillance drone taken from the cockpit of a Japan Air Self-Defense Force aircraft during an intercept last year. Japanese Ministry of Defense

"Recent improvements to China's space-based ISR [intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance] capabilities emphasize the development, procurement, and use of increasingly capable satellites with digital camera technology as well as space-based radar for all-weather, 24-hour coverage. These improvements increase China's monitoring capabilities  including observation of U.S. aircraft carriers , expeditionary strike groups , and deployed air wings ," the Pentagon's most recent annual report on Chinese military capabilities, released last October, explained. "Space capabilities will enhance potential PLA military operations farther from the Chinese coast. These capabilities are being augmented with electronic reconnaissance satellites that monitor radar and radio transmissions."

All of this comes amid a now decades-long modernization push by PLA. This has produced significant results, especially in terms of its naval capabilities, something The War Zone has explored in depth previously. In addition to new anti-ship capabilities, the PLA Navy (PLAN) has been working steadily increasing the size and capabilities of its own surface warship and submarine fleets . It now moving ever closer to commissioning its third aircraft carrier, Fujian, which will be its most capable to date, as you can read more about here . There is already talk about an even more advanced nuclear-powered flattop , as well as smaller drone carriers , being in the PLAN's future.

In recent years, there has also been a surge in concerns among U.S. officials about the potential for a future high-end conflict with China in the Pacific, possibly over the status of Taiwan or another flashpoint, such as the hotly contested South China Sea . The PLA routinely harasses American ships and aircraft operating in international waters and the airspace above them across the Pacific, and has reportedly conducted mock attack runs on Navy warships in the past.

Still, even with all of these other developments, the new target in the Taklamakan Desert representing the USS Gerald R. Ford makes clear the PLA continues to put great emphasis on being able to challenge American carriers in any future conflict.

Contact the author: joe@thedrive.com
Late last month, China launched two clusters of small satellites to provide commercial meteorological data.

Two separate Kuaizhou 1A solid rockets lifted off from transport erector launchers at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert at 8:00 p.m. EST on Dec. 24 (0100 GMT and 9:00 a.m. Beijing time on Dec. 25) and 1:50 a.m. EST (0650 GMT, or 2:50 p.m. Beijing time) on Dec. 27 .

Aboard each launch were sets of four Tianmu-1 satellites . The satellites were numbered Tianmu-1 (11-14) and (19-22). The spacecraft were developed by a subsidiary of the state-run China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, or CASIC.

Related: China launches remote-sensing satellite for Egypt (video)

side-by-side photos of two daytime rocket launches

The new satellites entered near polar orbits with an altitude of around 323 miles (520 kilometers), according to U.S. Space Force space domain awareness data.

Tianmu satellites detect changes to signals transmitted by navigation satellites such as GPS and Beidou as they pass through Earth's atmosphere . The technique is known as GNSS radio occultation.

The constellation is intended to provide global commercial meteorological data services. Available data will be able to assist with numerical weather forecasting, typhoon monitoring and forecasting and climate change research, according to CASIC.

The eight spacecraft join 10 other Tianmu-1 satellites in orbit, which were launched earlier in 2023. The first pair were launched in January last year on a Ceres-1 solid rocket developed by Chinese launch startup Galactic Energy. The rest have flown on Kuaizhou-1A rockets.

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The Kuaizhou 1A was developed by CASIC and is operated by Expace, its launch spinoff. The small launcher can carry a payload of 440 pounds (200 kilograms) to a 345-mile-high (700 km) sun-synchronous orbit.

CASIC is a giant state-owned enterprise but, unlike its sister corporation CASC  China's main space contractor for civil and military missions, and the maker of Long March rockets  it mainly launches commercial payloads or satellites for its own projects.

A third Kuaizhou 1A launch is currently set for early Jan. 5. Aboard will be the next quartet of Tianmu-1 satellites, numbered 15-18. CASIC says it aims to complete the constellation in 2025.

That mission will likely be China's first launch of 2024. The country conducted a national record 67 launches in 2023.
China launched an anti-dumping probe Friday into European Union brandy exporters after a preliminary inquiry found their products dominated its multi-billion dollar market and could be unfairly disadvantaging domestic producers. File Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI

Jan. 5 (UPI) -- China launched an anti-dumping probe Friday into European Union brandy exporters after a preliminary inquiry found their products dominated its multi-billion dollar market and could be unfairly disadvantaging domestic producers.

The Chinese Commerce Ministry probe into brandy imports in containers under 53 gallons, in response to a November complaint filed by the China Liquor Industry Association on behalf of the domestic brandy sector, will look at the impact on Chinese firms, the Ministry of Finance said in a news release.

"According to the evidence provided by the applicant and the preliminary review of the Ministry of Commerce, the total output of the applicant's relevant brandy accounted for the main part of China's total output of similar products in the same period in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and the first half of 2023 which meets investigation criteria set by Anti-Dumpling Regulations," the MoF said.

"Dumping" is the practice of selling goods in another country at below-cost prices as a way of offloading excess supply or increasing market share.

The Chinese probe is an apparent jab at France, the world's largest exporter of fine brandies such as Remy Martin and Hennessy, after Paris played a central role in persuading the European Commission to launch an investigation in September into whether subsidies China provides to its electric vehicle makers were anti-competitive.

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at the time that global markers were "flooded with cheaper Chinese electric cars and their prices are kept artificially low by huge state subsidies."

China reacted angrily to the probe, calling it a "blatantly protectionist act."

Three weeks ago, the commission launched a second separate investigation into allegations China was dumping biodiesel onto the E.U.'s $34 billion market for the renewable fuel after a complaint from the bloc's producers that the prices of Chinese imports were "artificially low."

China's probe into EU brandy has echoes of a wine war with Australia in 2020 amid deteriorating relations between the two countries in which China slapped duties on Australian imports of up 212% after an investigation found China's domestic winemakers were being unfairly disadvantaged.
(Bloomberg) -- China is launching an anti-dumping investigation into liquor products like brandy from the European Union, in a relatively modest step after the bloc opened a probe last fall into its electric vehicle subsidies.

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The investigation, which Beijing said was prompted by an application from a domestic liquor association, targets French cognac, a niche but lucrative product in China for producers like Pernod Ricard SA and Remy Cointreau SA, and sent their stocks plunging. France was the main backer of Brussels probe into Chinese EVs, with French carmakers Renault SA and Stellantis NV particularly exposed to the threat of imports.

The brandy industry is a small one  China imported $1.57 billion worth of spirits from distilled grape wine in 2023 through November, while exporting about $12.7 billion worth of electric vehicles to the EU in the same period  and appeared aimed at negotiating with Brussels.

The European Commission is assessing the documentation it received and will intervene as appropriate, in close cooperation with the EU industry concerned, spokesperson Olof Gill said in response to a query from Bloomberg.

A trade group for the cognac industry said the Chinese probe is taking place in the context of an unrelated spat between the EU and Beijing.

We are confident that our products and commercial practices fully comply with Chinese and international regulations and also that EU & China will find a constructive way to resolve any bilateral disputes, as has happened in the past over other matters, Valerie Mabin, a spokesperson for BNIC, said in an emailed statement.

France has the biggest exposure to the investigation into brandy, said Bruce Pang, chief economist at Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. China is trying to add pressure on the biggest supporter of the EUs Chinese EV probe.

News of the probe sent Remy Cointreau tumbling as much as 12.5% in Paris while Pernod Ricard fell as much as 5.6%. These companies sell French brandy called cognac in China under brands like Remy Martin and Martell.

Analysts for Jefferies Financial Group Inc. wrote in a report that the selloff in Pernod shares was overdone, since China accounts for about 10% of Pernods overall sales, of which about 8% are cognac. A 2013 China dumping probe into EU wine imports, launched in response to tariffs on Chinese solar panel imports, was dropped within a year, the analysts noted.

Beijing has a history of using trade to help it achieve its policy goals. It previously looked into foreign liquor imports when geopolitical tensions flared with Australia, resulting in the imposition of anti-dumping tariffs on Australian wines, decimating what had been one of the countrys major overseas markets. As ties improved, China started to review the curbs.

China is showing Europe what retaliation could look like if it slaps duties on Chinese EVs, said Noah Barkin, senior adviser at Rhodium Group. This move would hit wine-producing countries like France the hardest  and that is probably no coincidence. Macrons government was the strongest supporter of the EUs anti-subsidy probe into EV imports from China.

While China represents a major market for European liquor brands, which have been struggling with a sharp drop in US demand, it is a small industry in a country that largely drinks the local alcohol called baijiu.

Chinas investigation will focus on brandy products that come in smaller than 200 liter containers from the EU, Chinas Ministry of Commerce said Friday.

With cognac considered a premium product in China that sells at prices far higher than local alcohols, the dumping charge is quite stretched, said Gilles Guibout, a portfolio manager at Axa Investment Managers in Paris. This is purely retaliation for EV.

The EUs recent trade actions toward China have extended beyond electric vehicles. Last month, the EU also opened anti-dumping probes into Chinese biodiesel and melamine exports. In November, the bloc imposed provisional anti-dumping duties on imports of some plastics products from China.

Zhao Yongsheng, a professor at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, said he doesnt think the new brandy investigation is a sign of a trade war starting between China and EU.

Its a retaliation but a reasonable one, he said. China has chosen a product with little impact on EU, but the message is that it can target much more important European goods in the future such as wine, luxury products and cars.

--With assistance from Jinshan Hong, Julien Ponthus, Dong Lyu, Kevin Whitelaw, Fran Wang and Yujing Liu.

(Updates with EU reaction the in fourth paragraph)

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China reaffirmed Friday the U.S. could see the return of giant pandas by the end of the year, as long as the two countries can peacefully coexist.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the announcement Friday at an anniversary celebration marking 45 years since China and the U.S. established diplomatic relations, The Associated Press reported.

Giant pandas at the Memphis, Tenn., and Washington, D.C., zoos returned to China last fall. The move caused some to worry that rising tensions between Washington and Beijing could lead China to cut off the lending program altogether  depriving U.S. zoos of the bears.

Chinese President Xi Jinping raised hope for California in November at a San Francisco summit, when he said Beijing was ready to continue cooperating with the U.S. on panda conservation. He added China will do its best to meet the wishes of the Californians so as to deepen the friendly ties between our two peoples.

At the event Friday, Wang said preparations are ready for a giant panda return to California within the year.

The panda exchange program with China began under an agreement brokered by then-President Nixon in 1973 and has led to several of the popular animals being loaned to U.S. zoos for research purposes. The only remaining pandas in the U.S. are at the Atlanta Zoo, with that agreement set to expire this year.

Wang pointed to the recent meeting between President Biden and Xi as optimism for future relations. He added that the two leaders also recently exchanged congratulatory letters marking the anniversary of diplomacy.

China-U.S. cooperation is no longer a dispensable option for the two countries or even for the world, but a must-answer question that must be seriously addressed, Wang said at the 300-person event in Beijing.

China and the U.S. are attempting to navigate new relations following the November meeting between Biden and Xi. As Beijing continues to rise economically and militarily, and tensions flare over self-governed Taiwan, questions remain on how the two global powers can coexist.

The world is currently undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, Wang said at the event. We must think about how to calibrate the direction of the large ship of China-U.S. relations [and] avoid hidden reefs and dangerous shoals.

Nicholas Burns, the U.S. ambassador to China, said in December that relations between the two countries are not necessarily improving, but he remains hopeful for the future.

The Associated Press contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Police are searching for a fourth suspect in connection to a drive-by shooting that killed a toddler back in 2021.

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Three-year-old Asiah Fiquero died on Sept. 7, 2021.

We are trying to make it and put everything in Gods Hand to help us, but its been very hard, Susie Whitley, the childs great-grandmother, said on Friday.

According to detectives, two cars pulled up in front of a house along Richard Rozzelle Drive, off Rozzelles Ferry Road, around 11:45 p.m. Several shooters unloaded more than 150 rounds at the home, hitting Asiah as he slept in his bed.

A child was killed after people in several cars opened fire on a home in northwest Charlotte late Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021.

A child was killed after people in several cars opened fire on a home in northwest Charlotte late Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021.

A child was killed after people in several cars opened fire on a home in northwest Charlotte late Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021.

A child was killed after people in several cars opened fire on a home in northwest Charlotte late Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021.

A child was killed after people in several cars opened fire on a home in northwest Charlotte late Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021.

They took his life away at a very young age, Whitley said. That he would never grow up to see age, 18, 21 or go to school or play with his sister or be with his friends anymore.

Detectives said the shooting was one of several linked to fights between students from Hopewell, North Mecklenburg and Julius L. Chambers high schools. The superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools at the time, Earnest Winston, held a news conference two days after Asiahs death, where he pleaded with students to stop the violence.

Since the shooting, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has arrested three people. All three were 21 years old at the time of their arrests back in 2021.

(From left to right) Kaleb Lawrence, Jacob Lanier, Qua'tonio Stephens

Kaleb Lawrence was charged with first-degree murder, eight counts of attempted murder, nine counts of shooting into an occupied dwelling and conspiracy to commit murder.

Jacob Lanier was charged with murder, eight counts of attempted murder, 14 counts of shooting into an occupied dwelling, and conspiracy to commit murder.

Quatonio Stephens, 21, was charged with accessory.

Im glad police is doing what they got to do and bring comfort to the family, like we know they are still working on the case, Whitley said.

Now, CMPD is looking for a fourth suspect: 21-year-old Bryce Felder. Detectives have taken a warrant out against him for a murder.

Police are searching for a fourth suspect in connection to a drive-by shooting that killed 3-year-old Asiah Fiquero back in 2021.

Asiahs sister often asks about her brother.

I just tell her hes in heaven and she will see him again one day, Whitley said.

Police asked anyone who knows where Felder may be to call CMPDs Violent Criminal Apprehension Team immediately at 704-336-VCAT (8228). Felder should be considered armed and dangerous, police said.

(PREVIOUS: CMPD: High school students tied to drive-by shooting that killed sleeping toddler)
CNNs inaugural Road to 270 electoral map shows President Joe Biden struggling to recreate his Electoral College majority from his successful 2020 run and former President Donald Trump with enough states solidly in his corner or leaning in his direction to put him in a position to win the presidency again.

This first look at a potential Biden vs. Trump rematch  and the electoral math each would need to capture 270 electoral votes  captures the dynamics at play 10 months from Election Day. Biden is an incumbent president with stubbornly low approval ratings, persistent questions and concerns about his ability to serve another term, and diminished support from some key components of his winning coalition from 2020.

Trump is a seriously flawed candidate who has promised to govern in undemocratic ways and who has already been rejected once by the American people after serving one term as president. He faces four criminal indictments consisting of 91 charges related to his attempts to overturn the legitimate 2020 election results, his mishandling of classified documents after leaving office and allegedly obstructing law enforcements attempts to retrieve them, and his falsifying of business records to conceal a hush payment to keep an adult film star from going public with claims of an extramarital affair, which he denies, in the weeks leading up to the 2016 election. Hes pleaded not guilty to all charges against him and maintained no wrongdoing.

We should be very clear about what this electoral outlook is and, more importantly, what it is not. It is the first snapshot of the Electoral College landscape in what will likely prove to be another very close and extraordinarily consequential presidential election. It is not a prediction of how things will turn out in November. Its not even a prediction of what things may look like when the parties gather for their nominating conventions this summer.

This is an exercise designed to capture where the race stands today. If we have learned anything in recent American political history, it is to expect the unexpected. We dont even know for certain if Biden and Trump will be the two major party nominees in the fall. However, since that appears to be the likeliest choice at this point, we have explored this initial outlook through the lens of a Biden vs. Trump race. Future versions of this outlook will similarly reflect the realities of the race, as best we can assess them at the time.

It is critical to remember that in the last two presidential contests, the loser and the winner were separated by fewer than a combined 80,000 votes across three battleground states out of more than 130155 million votes cast nationwide.

There will be endless fixation on national polls in the months to come, but it is the state-by-state battle for 270 electoral votes that will determine who sits in the Oval Office next year.

And it is that path to 270 that we attempt to explore here. We base this current outlook on public and private polling, conversations with campaign advisers, Republican and Democratic political operatives, members of Congress, and political professionals involved with outside groups poised to be active in the race.

The map will undoubtedly change as the race formally takes shape and campaigns place their strategic bets on where to spend tens of millions of dollars on advertising, build organizations on the ground, and dedicate candidate and surrogate time on the trail. It will also shift as the issue set evolves for Americans over the course of the election year. How will Americans perceive the state of the economy several months from now? What will the situation look like on the southern US border in the summer and the fall? How many voters will be motivated to show up at the polls because of perceived and real threats to democracy? What impact will Bidens decisions and actions in Ukraine and Israel have on voters?

We also wait to see where abortion rights  a proven motivating issue for supporters (which recent elections have shown goes beyond just Democrats)  qualifies to be on the ballot in some of the key contested states.

There are far more unknowable factors than knowable ones at this point. Those unknowns include the potential impact of several third-party candidates that could scramble the math for the major party nominees in some of the critical battleground states in the fall and, perhaps, prove decisive.

While the year ahead is filled with uncertainties, one dynamic that has become increasingly entrenched in American politics is the polarization of the electorate, accelerated by Trumps arrival on the political scene. That means the 2024 campaign, at least at its outset, is likely to be waged on an electoral map largely unchanged from the 2020 and 2016 elections.

Build your own road to 270 map

In this initial electoral map outlook, Trump has 28 states (and one congressional district in Maine) either solidly in his corner or leaning in his direction that total up to 272 electoral votes  two more than what is required to win the presidency.

For his part, Biden has 19 states plus the District of Columbia either solidly in his favor or leaning in his direction, which brings his total electoral vote count to 225  45 votes short of the 270 required to win.

We rate three states (and one Nebraska congressional district) totaling 41 electoral votes as true toss-ups at the start of this 2024 election year. If Biden were to win all the current toss-ups, hed still need to claw back at least one of the three states he won in 2020 (Georgia, Michigan, and Nevada) that are currently slightly leaning Trumps way. It is not difficult to imagine all three of those battleground states moving into the toss-up category once the campaign becomes more engaged.

Solid Republican: (TOTAL: 188 Electoral Votes)

Alabama (9), Alaska (3), Arkansas (6), Idaho (4), Indiana (11), Iowa (6), Kansas (6), Kentucky (8), Louisiana (8), Mississippi (6), Missouri (10), Montana (4), Nebraska (4), North Dakota (3), Ohio (17), Oklahoma (7), South Carolina (9), South Dakota (3), Tennessee (11), Texas (40), Utah (6), West Virginia (4), Wyoming (3)

Leans Republican: (TOTAL: 84 Electoral Votes)

Florida (30), Georgia (16), Maine 2nd Congressional District (1), Michigan (15), Nevada (6), North Carolina (16)

Toss-ups: (TOTAL: 41 Electoral Votes)

Arizona (11), Nebraska 2nd Congressional District (1), Pennsylvania (19), Wisconsin (10)

Leans Democratic: (TOTAL: 50 Electoral Votes)

Colorado (10), Minnesota (10), New Hampshire (4), New Mexico (5), Oregon (8), Virginia (13)

Solid Democratic: (TOTAL: 175 Electoral Votes)

California (54), Connecticut (7), Delaware (3), DC (3), Hawaii (4), Illinois (19), Maine (3), Maryland (10), Massachusetts (11), New Jersey (14), New York (28), Rhode Island (4),

Vermont (3), Washington (12)

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
The moon has long been revered by Indigenous people. (Photo/University of Nebraska-Lincoln)

The Coalition of Large Tribes, an organization representing more than 50 tribes with reservations of 100,000 acres or more, signed on to the Navajo Nations request for consultation before NASA sends human remains to the moon.

On Jan. 8, NASA has plans to launch a rocket to the moon containing human remains, based on a contract it has with two private companies that make up part of the agencys commercial arm.

Among the 28 payloads, or cargo on a rocket, going to the moon are some by Celestis and Elysium Space, companies known for providing memorial services by shipping human cremated remains.

Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren wrote a Dec. 21 letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, and Transportation Assistant Secretary for Tribal Government Affairs Arlando Teller objecting to the mission without proper tribal consultation for a sacred place.

It is crucial to emphasize that the moon holds a sacred position in many Indigenous cultures, including ours, President Nygren wrote. We view it as a part of our spiritual heritage, an object of reverence and respect. The act of depositing human remains and other materials, which could be perceived as discards in any other location, on the Moon is tantamount to desecration of this sacred space.

In his letter, Nygren said this situation was a repeat of an event in the late 90s when NASA sent a rocket carrying the remains of a former astronaut to the moon.

At the time, Navajo Nation President Albert Hale voiced our objections regarding this action. In response, NASA issued a formal apology and promised consultation with tribes before authorizing any further missions carrying human remains to the Moon, President Nygren wrote.

On Jan. 4, COLT tribal chairman Marvin Weatherwax sent a similar letter as Nygrens to Buttigieg, Nelson, and Teller.

As there has been no tribal consultation on the matter, the Coalition of Large Tribes demands that the launch either be delayed or that the cremated remains be removed from the payload until there has been appropriate tribal consultation, Weatherwax wrote.

Celestial bodies play an important role in our ceremonial life and cultural heritage for most, if not all Tribes in the United States. NASA has acknowledged this and, on its own website, stated: The Indigenous Peoples Initiative focuses on building relationships across NASA and Indigenous communities through place-based remote sensing training, community engagement, and co-production of knowledge, and yet ignores its own commitment.

NASA did not respond to Native News Onlines request for comment. But NASA representatives addressed the controversy during a Jan. 4 meeting, according to Space.com.

"We don't have the framework for telling them what they can and can't fly," said Chris Culbert, Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program manager at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. "The approval process doesn't run through NASA for commercial missions."

At the end of his letter, Weatherwax demanded tribal consultation be respected, even when it is inconvenient.

About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. "

Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net
A man in his seventies says he was shot in the face with a pellet while he was leaving a grocery store on New Years Day in Cobb County.

He was looking around to see if it was hail and realized it wasnt, his wife, Susan Reid, said.

Smyrna police told Channel 2 Cobb County Bureau Chief Michele Newell that they are investigating two similar incidents that happened in the same parking lot on New Years Day.

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As he was coming out of the Kroger doors, this is when he felt the pellets all over him; his chest and his face, said Reid.

Reid said her husband saw two young people take off in a white Chrysler with no tags.

He saw a person behind the driver laughing, and I mean its not a laughing matter. My husband will be 73 in a week or two. You know, you get old and you have things happen. This is not something that with a heart condition, that he needed. This is crazy, said Reid.

She said she called police when he got back home and told her what happened.

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Police say they arent sure about the exact make or model of the pellet gun used, but say many of them look like real guns.

The victims in each case did not meet directly with police about what occurred, but police say they searched the area for clues and didnt find anything.

Smyrna police say they havent received calls about pellet gun shootings in a very long time. Police say the victims in the most recent cases told them they werent injured. Incidents like this could result in serious charges.

Its very frustrating. It wasnt like this when we bought our house here. To have this creeping in is just terrible, said Reid.

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HANOI, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam's sex ratio at birth remained at a high level in 2023, with 112 boys born for every 100 girls, while the natural ratio is around 105/100, according to the latest statistics of the General Statistics Office (GSO).

According to the office's recent report on population, labor and employment, Vietnam's sex ratio at birth has shown signs of slowing down in recent years and is expected to decrease in the following years, Vietnam News Agency reported Friday.

Vietnam needs to continue efforts to achieve the government's goal set out in the country's population strategy by 2030 in which the sex ratio at birth is below 109 boys for every 100 girls, said the report.

Vietnam's total fertility rate in 2023 was estimated at 1.96 children per woman, lower than the average rate of Southeast Asian countries (two children per woman).

According to the GSO, Vietnam's population in 2023 reached 100.3 million people, of which the male and female population ratio was quite balanced with 49.9 percent of men and 50.1 percent of women.

Vietnam is the third most populous country in Southeast Asia after Indonesia and the Philippines.

Vietnam's population structure has witnessed an increasing proportion of elderly people and a decreasing proportion of young people, currently experiencing population aging, according to the report. 
A Cochise County judge with a history of violating the Arizona judicial code has once again been officially reprimanded.

The Commission of Judicial Conduct reprimanded Cochise County Superior Court Judge John Kelliher, Jr. after two people filed complaints about his behavior toward a mother during a preliminary protective hearing in October 2022.

The commission investigates complaints against court justices and judges. It can order a public reprimand or sanction if a judges conduct is improper.

During the October hearing, court documents show the judge asked the mothers attorney if the mother was high after the state requested the hearing be closed to the public.

The attorney allegedly denied impairment, and the judge continued to lecture the mother.

Maam if youre not high, then I need to find a different job. I dont think I need to find a different job, he said.

Documents show he did not clarify why he thought the mother was under the influence of substances.

The court documents also show after the hearing was closed to the public, the judge told the mother her words dont matter and disparaged her about being homeless after she told him she was renting a room in a house.

We dont believe you. Your words dont matter. Trust but verify, Kelliher reportedly told the mother.

The commission called the judges statements to the mother condescending and irrelevant to the request, only serving to extend the hearing and cause the mother unnecessary distress.

In a letter responding to the allegations, Kelliher said he was direct with the mother. He said he asked her if she was high because she clearly appeared to be under the influence, without clarifying how she appeared to be under the influence of substances.

He also denied allegations that he was disrespectful to her.

This is Kellihers third reprimand. He previously engaged in insulting, demeaning, and unnecessary dialogue with a father present at a juvenile proceeding, according to the commissions investigation.

Court documents also show the judge was reprimanded after making a mocking gesture with his hand mimicking a talking puppet.

In all the incidences, the commission found the judge to be violating Arizona Supreme Court code when he failed to promote public confidence in the judiciary, and to act in a "dignified" way, among other violations according to court documents.

According to the commission, censure, suspension, or removal can happen if formal charges are initiated against a judge. In these instances, the commission opted for public reprimands.

Superior court judges in Arizona's smaller counties are elected to four-year terms. If he seeks another term, Kelliher could face a challenge on the ballot in 2026 after winning reelection unopposed in 2022.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona judicial commission rebukes Cochise County judge a third time
A 15-year-old Colerain High School student is facing charges in connection with the assault of a teacher.

A 15-year-old Colerain High School student is facing felony charges after allegedly assaulting a teacher Thursday, police said.

Colerain Township police school resource officers were alerted around 2:18 p.m. that a teacher had been assaulted by a student in a classroom, officials with the department said in a news release Friday.

The student punched the teacher in her head causing "a severe brain injury requiring extensive medical treatment," according to an incident report obtained by The Enquirer through an Ohio Open Records Act request.

Police said the 60-year-old teacher was taken by paramedics to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

The teen is also accused of harming another 15-year-old student by grabbing him and pinching his neck.

Police said officers confronted the student in the lobby of the school's career center, where he appeared to be experiencing hallucinations and suffering from a self-inflicted head wound.

Before the alleged assault, the teen had started acting distraught, according to the report.

The teen was taken to the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center for treatment before being released into police custody and sent to the Hamilton County Juvenile Detention Center.

The teen is charged with felonious assault and assault. The Enquirer does not name juveniles charged with crimes unless their charges are transferred to adult court.

Officials initially said in their release that the student is 16 years old, however, police records show he is 15.

"Northwest Local Schools has confirmed that the incident was isolated and that there is no current threat to the school community regarding the matter," the release states. "The district remains resolute in their commitment to providing a safe and nurturing environment for all students and staff."

Counselors were made available Friday morning to students and staff emotionally impacted by the incident.

The investigation by the Colerain Township Police Department and Northwest Local School District is ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to call Colerain Township police at 513-321-2677.

The Northwest Local School District serves over 8,600 students in suburban Hamilton County, according to U.S. Department of Education data. The school district covers a 56-square-mile area and services Colerain, Green, Ross and Springfield townships.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Colerain High School: 15-year-old student accused of teacher's assault
Colorado ranchers said they are concerned about their personal safety and that of their livestock after the photo of what is believed to be one of Colorado's 10 recently released wolves was shared.

Grand County resident Todd Schmidt told the Coloradoan the lone wolf he captured images of on his cellphone Jan. 2 was only 20 yards off a fairly busy rural road and didn't appear to be concerned about his presence. He added it also was less than a half-mile from a house where people lived about 6 miles south of Kremmling.

Wolves generally avoid humans, but the proximity of how close Schmidt was able to get to the wolf concerned some.

Kathryn Schlatter, her husband and three children live on the Windler Ranch near Yampa. She said they reported to Colorado Parks and Wildlife a sighting Dec. 21 of what they believe were four of the released wolves on a ranch neighboring theirs. She talked about the experience on the ranch's Instagram page.

The Windler Ranch, which is about 30 miles from where the Grand County photo was taken, is awaiting a Colorado Parks and Wildlife investigation into if what they saw were indeed wolves.

Schlatter said after seeing Schmidt's photos, she is concerned about the safety of her children, despite knowing wolves rarely attack people.

"His photo was a little terrifying because the wolf was pretty bold and wolves aren't supposed to be that comfortable around people and loud noises," she said. "When you see something like that, it makes you question that."

Since 1900, there have been no reported fatal human attacks by wolves in the lower 48 states and one nonfatal attack since 2002. Wolves do kill dogs, including four in Jackson County in the last four years, as they see them as competition for prey and territory.

"Wildlife is part of living up here and so we teach our children to be aware of their surroundings," Schlatter said. "But this is a new experience, and it brings a certain level of concern.''

Jackson County rancher Don Gittleson, who has had seven cattle killed by the North Park pack in the last two years, said the wolf should be especially afraid of humans if it was captured by Colorado Parks and Wildlife in Oregon and released into Colorado.

His request for the state wildlife agency to remove the two known remaining North Park pack members under the federal 10(j) rule that allows for removal in certain situations was denied.

"I rarely can get that close to a coyote and they are way easier to get closer to than wolves,'' he said. "If it doesn't have a fear of people, that is not a good sign.''

Gittleson said some members of the North Park pack exhibited a similar lack of fear of humans as shown by videos and photos prior to being legally shot in Wyoming. He is concerned the wolf in Tuesday's photo might have been involved in livestock depredations in Oregon and could continue that behavior in Colorado.

"Wolves are no different than mountain lions or bears in their fear of people and when they don't show that fear, that is a problem," he said.

Schmidt said he took several photos of the collared wolf while driving to work Tuesday morning along the Trough Road (Grand County Road 1) and about 5 miles from the initial release site.

It is unknown if the wolf was released at the initial site. Colorado Parks and Wildlife released the wolves at several sites in Grand and Summit counties in late December as part of its reintroduction effort. The wolves released were fitted with GPS satellite collars.

"When I stopped, it wasn't like he was hauling a-- like he'd seen a ghost," Schmidt said. "He just meandered up the hill, at one point just looked at me, then parked himself in the sun on the rock."

Schmidt said as of late Friday morning, he had not reported the sighting to Colorado Parks and Wildlife and has not heard from the state wildlife agency, which has not confirmed the sighting.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Colorado 'bold' wolf photo evokes safety concerns
A Columbus man is serving a minimum 14-year prison term for killing a man his defense attorney said shot at his client first.

Mohamed Abdi, 18, pleaded guilty in Franklin County Common Pleas Court to voluntary manslaughter for shooting 20-year-old Musa Aliyow on Feb. 1, 2023, at the Ashton Square Apartments complex on Columbus' West Side. Aliyow was taken to a hospital in critical condition, but died on Feb. 9, 2023.

Because Abdi was 17 at the time of the shooting, he was initially charged in Franklin County Juvenile Court before his case was bound over to adult court.

As part of the plea agreement, county prosecuting attorneys dropped other charges, including a murder charge.

Judge Sheryl Munson sentenced Abdi to 14 years to 19 years in prison, at the recommendation of the prosecution and Abdi's defense attorney, Lewis T. Dye.

Abdi was scheduled to appear in court next week, but his case was moved up. He pleaded guilty on Dec. 21 and was immediately sentenced.

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Steven Schott told The Dispatch that Abdi admitted to being a member of "Bantu Life" or BL-800, a criminal gang based out of the Wedgewood Apartments complex in the city's Hilltop neighborhood.

Abdi pleaded guilty to a criminal gang participation specification on the manslaughter charge.

According to Dye, Aliyow shot first while Abdi was sitting in his vehicle.

"The guy who got killed was trying to do a hit on my client and put two shots in my clients door," Dye told The Dispatch on Friday.

Aliyow's gun jammed and Abdi got out and shot him, according to Dye. Aliyow tried to run away but fell to the ground, and Abdi shot him again, Dye said.

Schott said surveillance video showed Aliyow put his hands up before Abdi shot him the second time.

On a recorded call made from jail, Abdi laughed about Aliyow begging for his life, Schott said.

"Once the guy's on the ground begging for his life, you can't finish him off. And that's what he did," Schott said.

Because Aliyow was unarmed when he was shot again, Dye said the judge probably would not instruct a jury to consider a self-defense argument. But there was sufficient provocation, making this manslaughter, Dye said.

jlaird@dispatch.com

@LairdWrites

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Gangster sentenced in Franklin County court for manslaughter
In 2020, after the tragic murder of George Floyd, there was a moment when it seemed as if America, California included, was ready to reform our broken and discriminatory criminal justice system.

In 2024, as the California Legislature returns from vacation, criminal justice is once again at the forefront. But now, the proverbial pendulum has swung and a new tough-on-crime era seems to be creeping up through the cracks of our good intentions.

Proposition 47, which helped lower California's prison population by changing certain nonviolent crimes from felonies to misdemeanors, is likely to be rolled back, if not undone this year.

The California Highway Patrol has been called in to stop retail theft, despite the fact that no one is entirely sure just how big a problem it is.

Drug dealers are being charged with murder as deaths from fentanyl overdoses continue to spike, a new tactic in a new war on drugs, little different from the one that led to overincarceration of Black and brown people during the crack epidemic of the 80s when we insisted we could arrest our way out of poverty and addiction.

It is a troubling reversal of both attitude and reform that, as history has proven, will not lead to the safer communities we all want.

But what is about to happen inside San Quentin State Prison has the potential to fundamentally change crime and punishment in the Golden State, and beyond.

Because as much as we want to believe that a single law, more police or a tougher sentence can protect us, the truth is that the best way to cut crime is to stop it from happening in the first place  not with the pounding fist of punishment that for decades has left us with jails and prisons where more than a third of people return within a few years of release.

But instead by helping people to find other paths, and giving them opportunities to survive in ways that uplift rather than prey upon our communities  an approach with proven results both in the U.S. and other countries, where incarceration decades ago embraced rehabilitation not as an option but a mandate.

Read more: California to transform infamous San Quentin prison with Scandinavian ideas, rehab focus

Last year, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that he wanted to transform San Quentin, California's oldest and most famous prison, into a new kind of incarceration facility modeled after Scandinavian principles of rehabilitation, where that mandate for changing lives is written into law.

With his love of catchphrases, he dubbed it the California Model and left the details for later. On Friday, a long-awaited explanation of what the California Model will look like in practice was released, providing both an ideal and a blueprint for what is a radical, subversive and important shift in what it means to be in prison.

"This is a big deal," Darrell Steinberg told me. He helped chair the committee that created the recommendations, and is the mayor of Sacramento, a city as plagued as any by the drug addiction, mental illness and homelessness that have driven much of the shift in attitudes around crime. So he knows as well as any that voters want results, not experiments.

"This will enhance public safety for the self-evident reason that when people have the tools to succeed on the outside they will have better lives and are much less likely to commit another crime," he said.

It is visionary, he said, but also doable.

A core part of the transition involves changing the job of correctional officers from enforcers and adversaries to participants in rehabilitation, a metamorphosis that the union representing correctional officers supports. Under the plan, officers would take college-level classes on trauma-informed practices, and be expected to interact with inmates as mentors and guides.

Read more: California prison guards are dying too young. How Norway (yes, Norway) can help

San Quentin itself would also receive a makeover, albeit one curtailed by our current economic realities. Cramped cells that currently house two people in 46 square feet, about half the size of a decent bathroom, would be removed to allow for single-occupancy spaces that Steinberg said are the minimum dignity demands.

Correctional officers would also see an upgrade. Housing prices are so high in Marin County, where San Quentin is located, that it is impossible for many to live close enough for a daily shift (a two-bedroom averages more than $3,000 a month), leaving them with hours-long commutes.

So some officers have resorted to "dry camping" in trailers with homeless-like conditions that lack running water, electricity or even sewers. They are packing a week's worth of work into a few days just to get by. The new plan would give correctional officers a campground with basic facilities and access to showers and safe spaces to relax  perhaps making the job less stressful.

For incarcerated people, the change will mean that on Day 1 of their sentences, there is a coordinated effort to arrange services  mental health care, education, job training, substance abuse treatment. And that there are people to implement those plans, and support them.

While that seems basic, it doesn't happen now. People are largely left to their own devices to navigate an opaque and inefficient system that is so archaic that some of it isn't even computerized. Wait lists are long and information can be hard to come by.

If the ideas laid out in the plan makes it through the upcoming budget negotiations (in a year with a large and unexpected deficit), it will be a culture change inside the most infamous prison in the country's second-largest state prison system (Texas is the only state with a larger incarcerated population).

Read more: In L.A., a new vision of incarceration proves rehabilitation works

Though taking the California Model from paper to practice is the work of years, the proposal for San Quentin has the potential to be the largest and most meaningful criminal justice reform in decades  if we get it right, which of course is always an if when it comes to government.

But it is a big swing with the potential for real payoff  not the knee-jerk anger and fear of proposals like gutting Proposition 47, which will only repeat the mistakes of the past.

There will always be predators and there will always be crime. And admittedly, it all sounds touchy-feely and nebulous, like we are about to spend a bunch on money on holding criminals' hands while they talk about their childhoods and get their GED.

And to be honest, that's part of it, one we shouldn't ignore.

At its root, the California Model is about dignity and compassion, creating policy around the belief that healing isn't just for the innocent, and it isn't soft.

Fixing humans, especially ones broken enough to hurt others, is the hardest of tasks.

But it can be done.

And if California turns San Quentin into a place where that happens, we will all be safer.

Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The Oklahoma Tax Commission has approved more than 11,000 applications for new private school tax credits.

The Oklahoma Tax Commission has approved thousands of applications for new private school tax credits.

About 11,600 applications had been approved as of Wednesday, said Tax Commission spokesperson Emily Haxton.

All of those applications were from Oklahomans who were given priority status due to their household income, she said. Families with a household income of $150,000 or less that apply before Feb. 5 will receive priority consideration.

The amount approved is about $70 million in total tax credits, Haxton said. Thats nearly half of the $150 million lawmakers earmarked for the first year of the program.

The Tax Commission has received more than 30,000 applications for the tax credits approved by the GOP-led Oklahoma Legislature last year. About 45% are from priority applicants and 55% are from families earning more than $150,000 annually, Haxton said.

More: Could the Oklahoma Legislature make more funds available for private school tax credits?

The refundable tax credits offer $5,000 to $7,500 per child to offset the cost of private school tuition and related educational expenses.

The amount of the tax credit depends on household earnings. There is no maximum income limit, but lower-income families receive a larger credit.

After applications are approved, the Tax Commission will send checks to the students schools where a parent or guardian can use it to pay tuition or collect it to cover other educational expenses.

The Tax Commission has not begun issuing those checks, Haxton said.

The tax credit program is likely to be a hot topic during the upcoming legislative session.

Several key lawmakers have expressed interest in tweaking the program to make it more user-friendly and open to more applicants. House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, previously said he thinks Republicans in his chamber would support accelerating a funding increase for the program.

For more information on the tax credits, go to parentalchoice.ok.gov.

Oklahoma Voice is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oklahoma Voice maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Janelle Stecklein for questions: info@oklahomavoice.com. Follow Oklahoma Voice on Facebook and Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma Tax Commission approves private school tax credit applications
The Scene

Harvards president had resigned, and Ron DeSantis knew just what to do next. At a Wednesday morning stop outside Des Moines, he spent 60 seconds describing how a president could pressure accrediting agencies, unelected and obscure, to make colleges unwind diversity and inclusion programs.

You will not get accredited if youre doing discriminatory policies, DeSantis said in Waukee. You know, Trump was president for four years. Did he do anything to challenge the orthodoxies at these universities? Did he do anything to push back and reform? No.

It was a new addition to DeSantiss big theme, succeeding where Trump had failed. Finishing a border wall, smashing drug cartels, winning by a landslide  he had thought this through, and he would get it done. But before DeSantis left, one voter asked for clarification: What was he saying about predators?

Accreditors, accreditors, DeSantis said. Ideological predators maybe, with the leftism  but, no. Accreditation.

In the final days before the Jan. 15 caucuses, Donald Trumps competitors in Iowa have honed their closing messages. For DeSantis, its that Trump is promising conservative wins that he failed to deliver as president  and might not know how to implement now. For Nikki Haley, its that chaos follows Trump, and she polls far better than him against Joe Biden. For Vivek Ramaswamy, its that the greatest president of his lifetime started an America First revolution that a newer, younger candidate can build on.

DeSantis has looked to raise doubts about Trumps commitment to the conservative cause. He outright told a CNN town hall audience on Thursday that Trump was not pro-life, arguing the former presidents criticism of Floridas strict six-week abortion ban showed a second Trump term would be less dependable on the issue than his first. Hes hit out at Haley for taking money from Democrats, and for a joke she told in New Hampshire, where shes polling more competitively: You know Iowa starts it. You know that you correct it.

Trumps closer is more succinct: He is beset by lawsuits and enemies because hes going to win. As his rivals barnstormed Iowa this week, the former president posted more than 40 Truth Social items denouncing the fraudulent civil suit brought by E. Jean Carroll and making lurid personal attacks against her. A jury previously found Trump defamed Carroll and was liable for sexually abusing her; the upcoming trial concerns how much he should pay in damages in a related case.

DeSantis and Haley, battling for second place, have both tried daily to move on from Trumps personal problems. Theyve consumed news cycles and attention that both would rather redirect to their agendas, and their narrow differences with the former president.

It has not been easy. At the CNN town hall on Thursday night, after Haley repeated a stock line about Trumps headline-grabbing scandals  chaos follows him  moderator Erin Burnett whether he was causing the chaos, or was merely a victim of it. Its a question all the candidates have struggled with because of its broader implications: If Trump is the innocent target of a vast conspiracy to abuse the legal system in order to stop him  his version of events  then its a lot harder to tell Republican voters they shouldnt rally behind him in response.

I mean, you see a lot of these cases they brought against him are political in nature, said Haley. And theres no basis on it, and then you see some that hes gonna have to answer for.

She moved on to the contrasts she wanted in her closing message, that Trump had added $8 trillion to the national debt and that he was too friendly with dictators.

Davids view

DeSantiss exchange in Waukee stood out to me because hed been trying to do this sort of thing for nine months, contrasting his thought-out, detailed plans with Trumps failure to execute.

The Harvard imbroglio was a perfect hook for him. Not only had he gotten rid of lifetime tenure in Florida, and sued the Biden administration to weaken accrediting agencies  Chris Rufo, the conservative hero of the Harvard story, was one of the conservatives hed put in charge of transforming Floridas New College.

Trump did fight, and I give him credit for that, DeSantis said later in the event. But he didnt win enough.

There are three basic critiques of Trump from each candidate here  that Trump failed to deliver (DeSantis), that Trump made a few gigantic errors (Haley), and that Trump created a blueprint for someone younger, with fresh legs, to execute (Ramaswamy.)

None of them talk about Trump as much as Chris Christie. He isnt seriously competing in Iowa; his New Hampshire town halls sometimes start with commentary on fresh Trump posts and gaffes, made while the former New Jersey governor was en route.

For everyone else, the Trump issue is something to bring up as a contrast, then move on from quickly. And in Iowa, Haley is the only candidate not running consistently to Trumps right, and the only one breaking with him on support for funding Ukraines defense against Russia. Her audiences sometimes gasp when she talks about Vladimir Putin raising the countrys draft age to 65. DeSantis may be the first candidate to tell them about college accreditation and why conservatives should care about it; Haley is often the first to get into detail about the current phase of the war.

Trump, returning this weekend to start closing out his Iowa campaign, doesnt need new hooks. His pitch is a combination of nostalgia for the four years before Joe Bidens presidency, condemnation of the negative stories that the media runs about him, and frequent invocation of his indictments and legal problems.

Theyre willing to violate the US constitution at levels never seen before in order to win this election, Trump said in a pre-Christmas trip to Waterloo, his last swing through Iowa. Theyre weaponizing law enforcement for high level election interference because were beating them so badly in the polls.

Notable

In the Washington Post, Caroline Kitchener, Josh Dawsey and Hannah Knowles talk to anti-abortion leaders whove given up demanding specific promises from Trump, because they trust him to deliver and appoint the right personnel.

In the Des Moines Register, Virginia Barreda looks at how the straggling candidates are closing things out: Asa Hutchinson says he plans to beat expectations and wants to outperform Vivek Ramaswamy.
A federal judge ruled that a conservative vote-monitoring group that challenged the voter eligibility of hundreds of thousands of Georgia voters during a 2021 runoff election didnt engage in voter intimidation.

The group True the Vote claimed that nearly 365,000 voters in Georgia werent qualified to vote in a 2021 Senate runoff election just after early in-person voting began. True the Vote claimed that many of the voters they listed no longer lived in the counties where they were registered, making them ineligible to vote.

A Vote Here sign directs voters to a polling station set up at the Israel Missionary Baptist Church on May 24, 2022, in Atlanta, Georgia. Election Day in the Georgia primaries allows people to vote on Republican and Democratic nominees for offices. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

In 2021, Georgia lawmakers upheld individuals rights to submit unlimited voter eligibility challenges in restructuring a state election law. This gave True the Vote the opportunity to file their mass challenge. While many of the challenges were dismissed, some people on the list had to appear in front of their local election board to prove their eligibility.

In response to the challenge, Fair Fight Action, a voting rights group founded by former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, accused True the Vote of voter intimidation, alleging that their mass voter challenge violated a clause in the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

However, a judge just sided with True the Vote and ruled that Fair Fight Action didnt sufficiently prove that any Georgia voter was reasonably intimidated.

U.S. District Judge Steve Jones, a Barack Obama appointee, ruled that True the Votes actions never caused (or attempted to cause) any voter to be intimidated, coerced, or threatened in voting.

However, Jones did find fault with True the Votes methods for issuing the challenge. He wrote that the list of voters the group compiled utterly lacked reliability and verges on recklessness.

State election officials only rejected a few dozen ballots cast in the runoff, which Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff ended up winning, giving Democrats control of the U.S. Senate.

Jones concluded that the arguments Fair Fight Action outlined in their suit suggest that any mass challenge of voters near an election (especially if negligently or recklessly made) constitutes intimidation or an attempt to intimidate.

In making this conclusion, the Court, in no way, is condoning TTVs actions in facilitating a mass number of seemingly frivolous challenges, Jones also wrote. The Court, however, cannot under the operative legal framework say that these actions were contrary to Georgia law (which is unchallenged by Plaintiffs).

Fair Fight Actions executive director, Cianti Stewart-Reid, released a statement following the judges ruling, stating that True the Votes mass challenge has incited other groups to launch similar campaigns that could undermine eligible voters in other states.

We believe True the Vote used Donald Trumps Big Lie as the basis to launch eligibility challenges against more than 364,000 Georgians ahead of the runoff  many of whom were Black, brown, and first-time voters, stated Stewart-Reid. Over the last two years, we have seen a growing number of groups follow suit across the country, drawing from True the Votes anti-voter playbook to launch their own mass voter challenge efforts that continue to this day.

True the Vote President Catherine Engelbrecht celebrated the ruling in her statement, saying it sends a clear message to those who would attempt to control the course of our nation through lawfare and intimidation.

This decision is monumental, True the Vote lead attorney Jake Evans said. It vindicates True the Vote in totality and establishes that eligibility challenges under Section 230 are a proper method to ensure voter rolls are accurate.
PORTLAND  City officials are crediting quick action by a police officer and a public works employee for saving lives as fire tore through an apartment building for seniors Friday morning.

Portland Officer Chris Walker and DPW employee Ryan Honsowitz noticed smoke coming from Edgemont Apartments on Charlotte Highway and immediately began evacuating residents, Portland City Manager Tutt Gorman said on Friday afternoon. They managed to get all 22 residents safely outside before other responders arrived, he said.

"No doubt, those two employees saved lives," Gorman said. "It if weren't for the actions of those two people, it would have been a gravely different outcome."

More than a dozen fire agencies responded to the blaze, which Walker first detected about 6:35 a.m., officials said. No injuries were reported, but the apartments appear to be a total loss, they said.

Gorman described the apartments as an assisted living center for seniors and people with disabilities. Edgemont's website describes it as "an elderly apartment community" for seniors 62 or older and disabled people over 18.

A coalition of groups were working on a long-term housing solution for the displaced residents, Gorman said. Only three residents were taken to the high school for immediate shelter, he said. Local business stepped up to provide pizza and other food, he added.

"Our local community is amazing," he said.

Bonnie Rockey, left, is joined by fellow family members wanting to help her aunt Joan Rockey, 90, after an early morning fire at Edgemont Apartments in Portland.

"There was a meeting at the Senior Center for all the residents to go and receive assistance," the Portland Area Ministerial Association announced in a Facebook post Friday. "The Red Cross, Victims Advocates and Portland Community Fund were all working together to make sure each resident got the help they needed. It appeared that most of them have family they will be able to stay with."

At this point, the association said in the post, donations of clothing or household items are not among fire victims' needs.

Alicia Dorr, regional communications manager for the American Red Cross, said an agency representative was on the scene to help fire victims with immediate needs. She confirmed that all residents of the apartments had been accounted for and were safe.

Anyone who needs assistance can call 1-800-Red Cross (733-2767), she said.

In a social media message Friday morning, city officials said Walker first spotted smoke and then flames coming from the apartments while he was on patrol shortly after 6:30 a.m. Honsowitz also noticed smoke and also went inside to help residents reach safety.

They managed to get everyone outside before fire crews arrived.

Portland Area Fire Authority officials could not be reached for comment on Friday.

City crews were helped by firefighters from the Delta Township, Berlin-Orange, Pewamo, Grand Ledge, Westphalia, Lyons-Muir, Ionia, Sunfield, Lake Odessa, Dewitt Township, Saranac and Clarksville fire departments.

Portland police, Michigan State Police and Ionia County Sheriffs Office also responded.

The scene of an early morning fire at Edgemont Apartments in Portland. All 22 residents at the senior apartment community made it out safely.

Contact Ken Palmer at kpalmer@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBPalm_lsj.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Cop, DPW worker credited with saving lives as fire destroys apartments in Portland
A flooded path is seen in the town of Montreuil-sur-Mer, Pas-de-Calais, northern France, Jan. 4, 2024. French firefighters in the northern French department of Pas-de-Calais rescued on Thursday 59 more people from floods caused by extreme weather, bringing the total number of rescuees to 710 since Dec. 30, 2023, the local prefecture announced Thursday night.

According to the prefecture of Pas-de-Calais, some 189 municipalities and 2,016 households are currently impacted by rising water levels in the department. (Photo by Franck Duval/Xinhua)

People walk on a flooded street in the town of Montreuil-sur-Mer, Pas-de-Calais, northern France, Jan. 4, 2024. French firefighters in the northern French department of Pas-de-Calais rescued on Thursday 59 more people from floods caused by extreme weather, bringing the total number of rescuees to 710 since Dec. 30, 2023, the local prefecture announced Thursday night.

According to the prefecture of Pas-de-Calais, some 189 municipalities and 2,016 households are currently impacted by rising water levels in the department. (Photo by Franck Duval/Xinhua)

A flooded street is seen in the town of Arques, Pas-de-Calais, northern France, Jan. 4, 2024. French firefighters in the northern French department of Pas-de-Calais rescued on Thursday 59 more people from floods caused by extreme weather, bringing the total number of rescuees to 710 since Dec. 30, 2023, the local prefecture announced Thursday night.

According to the prefecture of Pas-de-Calais, some 189 municipalities and 2,016 households are currently impacted by rising water levels in the department. (Photo by Franck Duval/Xinhua)

People walk on a flooded street in the town of Arques, Pas-de-Calais, northern France, Jan. 4, 2024. French firefighters in the northern French department of Pas-de-Calais rescued on Thursday 59 more people from floods caused by extreme weather, bringing the total number of rescuees to 710 since Dec. 30, 2023, the local prefecture announced Thursday night.

According to the prefecture of Pas-de-Calais, some 189 municipalities and 2,016 households are currently impacted by rising water levels in the department. (Photo by Franck Duval/Xinhua)

A flooded street is seen in the town of Arques, Pas-de-Calais, northern France, Jan. 4, 2024. French firefighters in the northern French department of Pas-de-Calais rescued on Thursday 59 more people from floods caused by extreme weather, bringing the total number of rescuees to 710 since Dec. 30, 2023, the local prefecture announced Thursday night.

According to the prefecture of Pas-de-Calais, some 189 municipalities and 2,016 households are currently impacted by rising water levels in the department. (Photo by Franck Duval/Xinhua)

A flooded street is seen in the town of Arques, Pas-de-Calais, northern France, Jan. 4, 2024. French firefighters in the northern French department of Pas-de-Calais rescued on Thursday 59 more people from floods caused by extreme weather, bringing the total number of rescuees to 710 since Dec. 30, 2023, the local prefecture announced Thursday night.

According to the prefecture of Pas-de-Calais, some 189 municipalities and 2,016 households are currently impacted by rising water levels in the department. (Photo by Franck Duval/Xinhua)

A flooded street is seen in the town of Arques, Pas-de-Calais, northern France, Jan. 4, 2024. French firefighters in the northern French department of Pas-de-Calais rescued on Thursday 59 more people from floods caused by extreme weather, bringing the total number of rescuees to 710 since Dec. 30, 2023, the local prefecture announced Thursday night.

According to the prefecture of Pas-de-Calais, some 189 municipalities and 2,016 households are currently impacted by rising water levels in the department. (Photo by Franck Duval/Xinhua)

Rescuers work on a flooded street in the town of Arques, Pas-de-Calais, northern France, Jan. 4, 2024. French firefighters in the northern French department of Pas-de-Calais rescued on Thursday 59 more people from floods caused by extreme weather, bringing the total number of rescuees to 710 since Dec. 30, 2023, the local prefecture announced Thursday night.

According to the prefecture of Pas-de-Calais, some 189 municipalities and 2,016 households are currently impacted by rising water levels in the department. (Photo by Franck Duval/Xinhua)

A flooded street is seen in the town of Arques, Pas-de-Calais, northern France, Jan. 4, 2024. French firefighters in the northern French department of Pas-de-Calais rescued on Thursday 59 more people from floods caused by extreme weather, bringing the total number of rescuees to 710 since Dec. 30, 2023, the local prefecture announced Thursday night.

According to the prefecture of Pas-de-Calais, some 189 municipalities and 2,016 households are currently impacted by rising water levels in the department. (Photo by Franck Duval/Xinhua)
The National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NAZK) began monitoring Energoatom President Petro Kotin over suspicious property purchases by his mother-in-law, lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak said on Jan. 5, citing a letter from the agency.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's investigation project Schemes reported on Dec. 21 that Kotin's mother-in-law bought a house and land worth Hr 7 million ($183,000) near Kyiv and plots of land in Kyiv Oblast worth almost Hr 1 million ($26,260) during the full-scale war without having an official income.

According to the investigation, Kotin himself has settled in the house registered to his mother-in-law.

In a written response to Schemes, the Energoatom president claimed that his 70-year-old mother-in-law accumulated funds for the purchase by 50 years of savings, cash from close relatives, and loans.

The NAZK began monitoring Kotin following an appeal by a group of lawmakers from the opposition Holos (Voice) party, including Zhelezniak.

"The national agency is monitoring the lifestyle of P.B. Kotin, and the facts stated in your appeal will be taken into account," the agency's letter read.

Part of the NAZK's responsibilities is monitoring discrepancies between officials' standard of living and declared income to determine potential illicit revenue sources and other violations.

The state-owned Energoatom is the operator of Ukraine's four nuclear power plants, one of which  Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant  remains under Russian occupation.

Formerly a director of the Zaporizhzhia plant, Kotin headed Energoatom since 2020, being formally appointed as its president two years later.

Read also: Opinion: Are Ukraines anti-corruption efforts at a standstill?

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Three years after the harrowing events of Jan. 6. 2021, echoes of the Capitol insurrection continue to reverberate through our democracy. Today, dangerous rhetoric is spreading similar sentiments that instigated one of the darkest days in our nations history.

Former President Donald Trump, the Republican Party's leading candidate for the 2024 presidential nomination, has urged his supporters to guard the vote." Weve already seen the consequences of similar rhetoric play out when armed vigilantes stood watch at Arizona polls in 2022.

These are not isolated incidents, either. More than half of experts in a comprehensive 2023 survey by Protect Democracy and the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University said the effects of political violence on our elections is leading to a significant erosion of democracy in the United States.

It is not too late to heed their warnings. As we enter a consequential election year, it is imperative that we take decisive steps to protect public health and civil rights by safeguarding the spaces sacred to the political process.

Poll workers are afraid this election. Take Trump and MAGA mob's threats seriously.

Central to this effort, and often overlooked, is the need to strengthen our nations disjointed gun laws. Policymakers have tools at their disposal to protect Americans and our democracy. They just need to act on them.

The focus on protecting democracy must start with limiting the public carry of firearms, especially in locations where political participation occurs. Seeing a firearm in a polling place, legislative building or at political protest is inherently threatening. It puts everyone on notice that their life could be ended in an instant.

Guns at protests make violence more likely

Evidence from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project and Everytown for Gun Safety suggests that protests are 6.5 times more likely to be violent when guns are present, which can dissuade people from practicing their First Amendment rights.

The Second Amendment can, and must, be balanced to protect other liberties. People should know they are safe when exercising one of our countrys most sacred rights  to make their voice heard at the polls.

For local governments to make these changes, many states must repeal or modify firearm preemption laws, which make it illegal for local leaders to enact stronger firearms laws than those provided under state policy. To date, 45 states have firearm preemption laws on the books.

Insurrections loyal to President Donald Trump try to break through a police barrier, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, at the Capitol in Washington. The Department of Justice is prosecuting those who violently stormed the Capitol.

But regulating public carry is just the start. Every state should enact Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) laws to temporarily disarm people found by a court to pose a high risk of violence. ERPO laws can, at least temporarily, prevent armed individuals threatening violence from possessing firearms to reduce their danger to the public.

States also must strengthen the enforcement and implementation of existing laws to prohibit illegal paramilitary activity. That means banning military-style training, parading and shows of force by civilian groups that are unaccountable to the public. Even the nation's Founders warned of the dangers posed by armed groups not accountable to the states, fearing insurrection and the "treasonable fury of splinter groups disrupting the stability of the republic.

My husband died by suicide after Jan. 6. His line-of-duty death deserves to be honored.

Colorado strengthened gun laws after mass shooting

Several states have begun to adopt these critical changes. Colorado is a great example. In 2021, the state became the first in the nation to empower local governments by substantially rolling back its firearm preemption law. Colorado policymakers were inspired to make this change after a shooter killed 10 people soon after a court struck down the city of Boulders assault weapons ban for violating the preemption statute.

Although it is commendable to respond to tragedy, states need not wait to take meaningful action. In 2022, Colorado passed the Vote Without Fear Act, prohibiting open carry near polling places, ballot drop boxes and vote counting centers. Colorado, along with 20 other states plus the District of Columbia, has also implemented ERPO laws. These proactive measures can prevent potential threats to democracy before they escalate, protecting public safety and basic democratic principles.

Ban Trump from ballot for Jan. 6 role: Supreme Court should ban Trump from the ballot. And not worry about the political fallout.

As we mark the third anniversary of Jan. 6, let us reflect on the resilience of democracy and acknowledge the work that must be done. The danger of future armed insurrection is real, but so are the solutions.

Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store.

Beyond telling our elected officials to implement the policy recommendations discussed above, there is direct action all Americans can take in our daily lives to prevent violence before it occurs. Research, conducted by Nathan Kalmoe and Lilliana Mason in their book Radical American Partisanship, aligns with common sense: people who trust you are less willing to commit political violence if you openly disavow it.

This is especially true for political and cultural leaders, though it can apply to all our relationships. Its a choice as easy as it is impactful. From the top to the bottom, the American people must break the insurrectionist permission structure by openly denouncing violence. These dangerous ideas thrive in silence, but crumble when challenged.

Research-informed gun violence solutions are a crucial component in fortifying our democratic foundations. As we enter another general election year, the time is now to ensure that our democracy not only endures but thrives in an atmosphere of safety, inclusivity and respect for the principles we hold dear.

Tim Carey is a law and policy adviser for the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions at the Bloomberg School of Public Health. Carey is the lead author of "Defending Democracy," a report addressing the dangers of armed insurrection in the United States.

You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will Jan. 6 insurrection happen again? Weak gun laws increase the risk
Islamic extremists killed a 75-year-old woman and her two grandchildren in western Uganda on Christmas Day, sources said.

The bodies of Edrine Ngwabize and her two grandchildren, 5-year-old Emoni Niwalindwa and 13-year-old Mathias Byamukama, were found inside their home in Nyabitutsi village, Kamwenge Sub-County in Kamwenge District after Muslim extremists broke into their home on Dec. 25, the slain womans son said.

The attackers were shouting the Muslim slogan, Allah Akbar [God is greater] and saying, We have to teach these infidels a lesson during this Christmas celebration, Wilson Byaruhanga told Morning Star News.

Byaruhanga said he saw the assailants first set ablaze the farm of a church pastor that is 500 meters from his mothers home at about 7 p.m. He rushed to warn his mother and the two children, one of them his own, to take cover. Then he returned to hide his wife, who was ill, in a safe place.

On coming back to pick up my mother and the children, I found the Muslim terrorists were already at my mothers house, and there was a loud bang [from gunshot] and sound from the iron sheet roof, which was so frightening, Byaruhanga told Morning Star News. I turned back quickly to check on my sick wife and moved her farther away but did not know the whereabouts of my mother and the two children.

One of the children belonged to his previously deceased sister, he said.

He rushed to a nearby police station, and officers promptly went to the site to begin an operation that continued throughout the night, he said.

Early in the morning when I visited my mothers house, I found out that the Muslim terrorists had killed my mother and the two children, and that the house had been damaged, Byaruhanga said.

Police had shot dead the leader of the assailants, Musa Kamusi, as he was fleeing near the house, said local councilman area Yonasani Muhwezi. Another Islamic extremist leader, Abdul Rashid Kyoto, alias Njovu, had been arrested in November, he said.

We need security from the government to be tightened because of the great fear that has come upon our residents here, Muhwezi told Morning Star News.

The assailants were also said to have slaughtered five goats and taken some food items from the home of the deceased.

In the same district on Dec. 19, rebels from the Democratic Allied Forces (ADF) killed 10 Christians, sources said.

The Dec. 25 killings were 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.

 2023 Morning Star News. Articles/photos may be reprinted with credit to Morning Star News. https://morningstarnews.org. Morning Star News is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that relies solely on contributions to offer original news reports of persecuted Christians. By providing reliable news on the suffering church, Morning Star News mission is to empower those in the free world to help and to encourage persecuted Christians that they are not forgotten or alone.
The CTA Yellow Line reopened Friday morning, seven weeks after a crash on the tracks injured more than a dozen people and left the train line to Skokie closed.

CTA has attributed the nearly two-month closure to testing the agency was conducting on the line and a desire to have National Transportation Safety Board investigators return to Chicago for a second visit, as questions lingered about the factors contributing to the crash and whether it could have been prevented.

CTAs reopening of the line, also known as the Skokie Swift, comes with several new safety measures, including lowering train speeds to a maximum of 35 mph, down from 55 mph before the crash. Speeds in the area of the collision were to be lowered to 25 mph.

On Nov. 16, a Yellow Line train was approaching the Howard station, near the border of Chicago and Evanston, when it rear-ended a snow-fighter track-plowing train that was on the tracks for scheduled training. At least 16 people were taken to hospitals after the crash, three of them critically injured, according to a preliminary NTSB report. Initial reports from first responders had indicated 23 people were taken to hospitals.

The crash also caused about $8.7 million in damages to equipment and sparked multiple lawsuits. Yellow Line service was replaced with free shuttle buses.

In the mid-December preliminary report, the NTSB found the trains operator tried to brake before the crash, and a system designed to reduce sliding by the trains wheels while braking had activated. The train was made up of two, nearly decade-old 5000-series cars, which is CTAs most common model railcar.

The NTSB is still investigating the crash, but Chair Jennifer Homendy has previously said the CTAs signal system, which controls train movement, was old, and if it were designed today it would have to allow for a longer stopping distance for trains. She has also said there was residue on the tracks and that the trains wheels slipped as the operator tried to brake, and the NTSB is examining organic material on the tracks that can include contaminants such as leaf debris.

Homendy has previously said it was up to CTA to decide when to reopen the line, and ensure it was safe.

During the seven-week closure, CTA examined various factors that might have affected the crash. The agency tested all of its train models on the Yellow Line, and ran tests in a variety of weather conditions and at a variety of speeds. Officials reviewed tracks, signals, train operations and communications.

Test runs did not identify any issues, CTA said.

The agency also requested the NTSB return to Chicago to conduct further testing and meet with the manufacturer of the railcar that crashed. Federal investigators had previously been on-site immediately after the crash, and ended their second visit Dec. 20.

CTA President Dorval Carter told board members in December nowhere else in the system has the same design as the Yellow Line, so the agency was focusing on measures on that route.

When the three-stop line reopens at 4:45 a.m. Friday, trains will temporarily run at lower speeds, CTA said.

Crews have power-washed the line to clear rails of debris and residue, and are allowing equipment to move on the tracks only after receiving a verbal command from CTAs control center. Supervisors will also join operators on the first few Yellow Line runs.

Carter has previously said the NTSB did not direct CTA to make any of the changes.

As CTA president, the safety of CTA riders and employees is of absolute paramount importance to me, and an incident like the one on Nov. 16 warrants intensive reviews, he told board members in mid-December.

sfreishtat@chicagotribune.com
Former Dallas Mavericks majority owner Mark Cuban blasted Elon Musk in a lengthy rebuke on social media Wednesday after the billionaire Tesla owner described corporate diversity initiatives as racism.

Cuban took Musk to task in a statement posted to the executives social media platform X on Wednesday night, hailing support for diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at U.S. companies.

Elon Musk and Mark Cuban (Photos: Getty Images)

Good businesses look where others dont, to find the employees that will put your business in the best possible position to succeed, Cuban said in the series of posts. I take it as a given that there are people of various races, ethnicities, orientation, etc, that are regularly excluded from hiring consideration, he said, adding, By extending our hiring search to include them, we can find people that are more qualified.

Cuban seemingly did his homework on the topic as he spelled out the advantages of DEI policies in five long takes after Musk condemned the practice in a statement to his platform.

Discrimination on the basis of race, which DEI does, is literally the definition of racism, Musk wrote Tuesday.

In another post minutes earlier, Musk complained DEI, because it discriminates on the basis of race, gender and many other factors, is not merely immoral, it is also illegal.

After about an hour, Cuban weighed in, emphasizing the importance of diverse voices for businesses to serve a wide range of consumers from varying backgrounds. He criticized corporate executives who treated DEI priorities as a checklist item instead of a core principle, emphasizing the positive impact on employee productivity.

When companies do DEI well, you see a well-run, successful company, he said in the post.

Many corporations and institutions have worked to integrate DEI values into their operations over the last decade as brands shift their stance on recruiting to attract diverse talent.

Advocates say DEI is critical to creating an inclusive and respectful workplace environment for marginalized employees. However, critics contend that many companies are too fixated on numerical goals rather than addressing deeper issues.

Before Musk was schooled on the subject by Cuban, the Tesla owner expressed support for the opinions of billionaire activist investor Bill Ackman, who posted a 4,000-word essay on Wednesday condemning DEI initiatives in light of the recent anti-Semitism controversy surrounding former Harvard President Claudine Gay, who has benefited from such policies.

The issue has become the latest culture war on the national political landscape, with conservative advocates continuing to urge colleges and universities to abandon initiatives that they assert promote diversity by disenfranchising white men.

In another tirade assailing DEI last month, Musk declared, DEI must DIE, while basically describing the initiatives as a form of reverse discrimination.

Last month, Musk also praised one of Ackmans letters to Harvard calling for Gay to step down.

Your letter simply articulated, with great clarity, the severe concerns held by many, Musk said at the time, while Ackman also rushed to Musks defense in December when the X owner was accused of being anti-Semitic, calling him a free speech absolutist after reopening the platform to extremist viewpoints.

To use a Muskism, Earth is fortunate that X is owned by an individual that is largely insulated from financial and other influence, Ackman said on X.

We all should be grateful that X is owned by Musk, Ackman wrote.
A former employee for the St. Croix Chippewa Housing Authority is headed to federal prison for embezzling more than $200,000 from the tribal agency.

Karen Johnson, 55, of Cumberland, was ordered to serve one year and one day in prison for wire fraud, followed by three years of supervised release.

U.S. District Judge William M. Conley handed down the sentence Thursday.

Johnson pleaded guilty to the charge on Sept. 1.

In a statement, Timothy M. OShea, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, said Johnson stole over $200,000 from the housing authority between 2014 and 2019. The housing authority is an agency of the St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin and is responsible for providing and maintaining housing for low-income tribal members.

The housing authority gets more than $1 million in grants each year from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to fund its efforts.

Prosecutors argued Johnson, who had worked for the housing authority since 1995, used her position to write checks for personal expenses.

More: Reedsburg lawyer stole $1.6 million from client's trust to pay for home improvements, 2 trucks and a tractor

More: Former Wisconsin postal worker pleads guilty to stealing Menards rebate check; he may have stolen more

O'Shea said the scheme involved Johnson generating and approving false invoices that billed the housing authority for work purportedly done by a contractor. Johnson then wrote checks drawn on housing authority funds, forged the contractors signature and deposited the checks into her own bank account.

At sentencing, Conley said Johnsons conduct was serious because she took advantage of her position within the housing authority and deprived other tribal members of financial support. A custodial sentence was also warranted due to the length of time Johnson stole funds from the agency, the judge said.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Woman stole more than $200K from St. Croix Chippewa Housing Authority
Cutting through a parking lot to get around a red light may seem harmless, but it has its risks  and could even cost you a ticket.

The practice, known as rat running, is illegal in many states and parts of Georgia.

Deciding to rush through an area dedicated to slower driving, parking, and foot traffic, a drivers negligence can result in damages to other vehicles and injuries to other persons or themselves, according to 1-800 Ask-Gary, a lawyer and physician referral service.

If youre caught, the violation could lead to a steep fine and points on your license, though penalties vary from state to state, legal database Nolo.com reported.

So what about in the Peach State? Heres what the law says:

Is it legal to cut through a parking lot to avoid a red light in Georgia?

In Georgia, there is no law on the books that says its illegal to cut through a parking lot to avoid an intersection, Ben Michael, an attorney at Michael & Associates, told McClatchy News. As long as you do so safely.

However, Georgia law requires drivers to make a complete stop at a red light and wait for it to change before continuing through an intersection, according to the Department of Driver Services.

Though theres no state law that specifically addresses rat-running, some local laws do.

In Macon-Bibb County, for instance, its unlawful to cut across private property when the driver of such vehicle has no intention to stop ... so as to avoid entering any intersection, according to a municipal code.

Taking a shortcut around a traffic light is also illegal in Augusta-Richmond County.

Except when directed to proceed by a deputy sheriff, no driver of a vehicle shall purposely leave the road or highway to avoid having to stop, slow or yield for a traffic sign, signal or light, the county law states.

There isnt a law in Columbus that makes it unlawful for drivers to cut through a parking lot to skip a traffic light.

Theres no rat-running law on the books in Atlanta either, though its unlawful for drivers to disregard or disobey a red traffic signal. Doing so could result in a maximum $70 fine, the citys law states.

Can you run a red light that just wont turn green? Heres what Georgia law says

Want to carry a concealed handgun in Georgia? Heres what the law allows

Can you leave car running to warm it up in cold weather? Heres what Georgia law says
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  The Erie County District Attorneys Office has filed a motion to dismiss the indictment against a Buffalo woman who was convicted of murder over 20 years ago.

Renay Lynch, 67, was sentenced to serve 25 years to life in prison in the 1995 murder of her landlord, 82-year-old Louise Cicelsky. In 1998, Lynch was found guilty of murder in the second degree and robbery in the first degree.

In May of 1995, Cicelsky was found dead inside her Eggertsville apartment. Authorities said she had been beaten and stabbed multiple times. During an investigation, Lynch confessed to Amherst police that she went to Cicleskys residence with another person with the intent to commit robbery. Lynch, according to authorities, confessed that the other individual committed the murder of Cicelsky during the robbery.

Lynch was arrested and charged for the crime. The other individuals alleged involvement, according to authorities, was not corroborated and he was never charged in connection to the crime. The individual is currently serving a life sentence in Florida for an unrelated crime, according to authorities.

5 arrested after raft attempted to illegally cross Niagara River into U.S.

In 2018, Lynchs attorney filed a motion requesting additional DNA testing of evidence from the crime scene be conducted. Authorities said the DAs office opposed the request on the basis that according to Lynchs confession, she was not in the area of Cicelskys residence where the homicide occurred and therefore, it was unlikely that her DNA would be found on that evidence.

A State Supreme Court granted the motion and additional testing found no DNA evidence linked Lynch or the other individual she claimed committed the crime, authorities said.

Lynch was released from prison in January 2022.

In 2020, the DAs offices Conviction Integrity Unit began a collaborative re-investigation into Lynchs case with her attorneys. In November 2023, Lynchs attorneys filed a motion to vacate her conviction on the basis she did not receive a fair trial due to police failing to provide the DAs office and the defense with fingerprint evidence that was collected from the scene, authorities said.

The DAs office did not oppose Lynchs attorneys motion and on Dec. 11, 2023, a justice issued a decision and order vacating Lynchs conviction.

According to authorities, the DAs office filed a motion to dismiss the indictment in January 2024 due to insufficient evidence to proceed with a second trial. The order to dismiss was signed Thursday.

Friday press conference

Emily Miller is a digital producer who has been part of the News 4 team since 2022. See more of her work here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
The daughter of the school administrator injured in an Iowa school shooting Thursday said she anticipated her father would attempt to distract the shooter, as he did, and would therefore be a victim in the shooting.

Claire Marburger shared a post on Facebook thanking the community for its support while her dad, Perry High School principal Dan Marburger, was in surgery after he was shot. The shooter  who was also a student  killed a sixth grader and injured four other students in the incident.

As I heard of a gunman, I instantly had a feeling my Dad would be a victim as he would put himself in harms way for the benefit of the kids and his staff, Claire Marburger wrote. It is absolutely zero surprise to hear he tried to approach and talk Dylan down and distract him long enough for some students to get out of the cafeteria. Thats just Dad.

Marburger said her father is in stable condition, describing him as a gentle giant and an amazing Dad. She added that her father is devastated about what happened, about the suspect, the victims and the community.

The suspect, identified Thursday as 17-year-old Dylan Butler, shot and killed himself as police responded minutes after first reports of the shooting, The Hill previously reported.

Two friends and their mother spoke with The Associated Press following the incident, claiming Butler was a quiet person who had been bullied for years. Local authorities said the teenager was found with a pump-action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun.

Show grace to the Butler family, as we are not our kids mistakes and actions or our parents mistakes and actions, Marburger wrote. Remember this is something Dylans family has to live with too, as well as losing their child.

Police have not confirmed any potential motive, citing early stages of the investigation.

Shortly before the shooting, Butler posted a photo on TikTok inside the bathroom of Perry High School, an official told the AP. The shooting happened around 7:30 a.m. Thursday, just before school started on the first day back after winter break.

Marburger called for positivity despite the tragic event.

Please, please lets share the positive memories and things of our school and community, she wrote. If you have a funny, uplifting story, or something dumb you did that got you in trouble with my Dad please share that.

We need a smile and laugh, she added.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Musician Kip Winger, best known for '80s hits like "Seventeen" and "Hungry" with his eponymous hair metal band, Winger, will release a classical album this spring.

The premiere, three-suite collection features the artist's tribute to Russian dancer Vaslav Nijinsky, "Conversations with Nijinsky." The album also includes "Ghosts," Winger's ballet that was previously performed by Christopher Wheeldon and the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra.

The album's honoree, Vaslav Nijinsky, is often recognized as one of the 20th century's greatest male ballet dancers. Born in the Russian Empire to touring dancer parents, Nijinsky emerged from a deep family history of ballet performance. He became a soloist at the age of 18 and later gained renown as a choreographer for itinerant Paris ballet company Ballets Russes.

As reported by Loudwire, 96-year-old Dame Tamara Nijinsky, the youngest daughter and only living child of the famed dancer, spoke fondly of Winger's classical salute to her legendary father:

"Kip Winger has captured my father's heart and soul. Many have been inspired by Nijinsky in words and dance, but no one, until now, in music. Nijinsky was inspired by the music he heard. And now, Kip Winger reminds us of Nijinsky's genius with his work."

Winger's first classical album is sure to be a thrill for both the songster's former heavy metal fans and contemporary classical lovers. Although this is the musician's debut collection of classical material, Winger has been composing the music for nearly 10 years -- the aforementioned "Ghosts" was begun in 2007.

In an interview with Grantland, Winger spoke of his compositional aesthetic:

"[M]y brain works like a classical musician. I'm more interested in the really complex stuff. Like, when I hear really complicated counterpoint, a fugue, or something like that, it turns my brain on. Like, 'Wow, what the f*ck is that?' I latch onto it and I can track it really well."

The album -- Conversations With Nijinsky, Ghosts, A Parting Grace -- is available on May 27 from Varseau Music.

We'd love to hear from you. Let us know your favorite Winger song in the comments section below.

 2024 Classicalite All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Deltona Mayor Santiago Avila, Jr., says during a City Commission meeting Tuesday that allegations brought by the vice mayor about his home lease are incorrect.

Two top elected officials in Deltona traded accusations and barbs at the end of a four-hour meeting this week, with the vice mayor suggesting the mayor got a special deal on a rental home.

Vice Mayor Jody Lee Storozuk said he had heard from an attorney  who he did not name  that the mayor, Santiago Avila, Jr., was living in a home that had recently been bought by a developer who routinely has business before the city, and that the home was being leased at a low cost.

The vice mayor assembled packets of public records and other documents he had gathered and placed them on a table for public consumption in the City Commission Chambers before Tuesdays meeting.

Supposedly, a house was purchased just for the mayors rental, Storozuk said to the mayor, seated directly to his left. So as you said, if you hear something, you report it. So thats what I did.

Storozuk said he shared the information with authorities, including the State Attorneys Office and Florida Commission on Ethics. Storozuk also said the Florida Department of Law Enforcement called him in reference to the allegations. An FDLE spokeswoman said Thursday she was trying to verify the agencys involvement, while Haley Harrison, a public-information officer for the state attorney, said she could not confirm nor deny any investigation.

Deltona Vice Mayor Jody Lee Storozuk shares information during a City Commission meeting Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024, that he said suggests the mayor got a special deal from a developer when renting his home last fall.

Avila told The News-Journal on Friday that he is paying $1,899 per month for the four-bedroom, two-bath home. The real-estate website Zillow reports the median home-rental price in the city is $1,905.

During the meeting, he defended the rental arrangement, pointing to factual errors, such as the timeline Storozuk presented.

Supposedly, Mr. Storozuk says I moved into my home on Nov. 1, Avila said, adding that he didnt move in until Dec. 1.

Avila then ran through a timeline of events.

A pending sale was noted on Sept. 27. The home was sold and listed for rent on Oct. 31. The rental price was reduced on Nov. 9 before finally being removed from listings on Nov. 18.

Avila showed copies of text messages he said prove his case.

On Nov. 13, as he and his wife were contemplating moving, he texted her three possible options, including a home on Paragon Street, where they now reside.

On Nov. 16, his wife texted him about the Paragon Street home, pointing out that the offer included free rent in the first month and a $600 security deposit. They applied later that day and were accepted on Nov. 18.

Avila described a situation at his previous home that led him to contact the Volusia County Sheriffs Office.

A person, who happens to be one of your friends, Avila said to Storozuk, ... was literally standing in front of my house, taking photos of his wife and young children.

He sarcastically thanked Storozuk for completely putting them at risk again, by publicly sharing his new address.

Home sold for less than estimate

Storozuks packet included the four-bedroom, two-bath homes sales price at $220,000, well below the city median, $333,500, according to realtor.com.

Orlando Area SF Holdings LP, a business that appears to own more than 20 properties in Volusia County, bought the home. The business address is a postal box in an Orlando UPS store.

According to state business registration records, Orlando Area SF Holdings general partner is Scott Esmail, who has a website offering tips on investment properties.

Esmail did not respond to an email seeking comment.

On Wednesday, Storozuk responded to a text, writing: I definitely believe its fishy as hell. Unless God himself tells me theres nothing to it. There is I just gotta find it.

Avila questions Storozuks motivation

The mayor also suggested Storozuks decision to publicly share what he had heard, both during the City Commission meeting Tuesday and in handout packets placed on a table in the commission chambers before the meeting, was politically motivated.

I understand youre in a rush to become the mayor. I get that, Avila said.

Storozuk, whose District 6 seat is up for reelection in 2024, hasnt yet officially filed, and said he doesnt want to be mayor.

That didnt deter Avila, who offered this suggestion to the vice mayor: Drop out of the (District 6) race and run for mayor in three years. Meantime, some of us can sit here and try to fix the problems.

The mayor grilled Storozuk on who the attorney was who provided the tip.

It was one of the attorneys, Storozuk said.

Avila asked whether it had been a specific land-use attorney, Kim Booker of Orange City. Storozuk denied it was her.

Special treatment for water hookup?

Storozuk levied another allegation, that the mayor had gotten the water at the home turned on by telling the city manager to do it, implying Avila did not pay the customary deposit.

Avila turned to Glen Whitcomb, the interim city manager.

Mr. Whitcomb, the water in my house was already turned on, correct?

Whitcomb responded: The water at the house was left on by the person that owned it at that time, yes.

Avila asked Whitcomb whether his deposit was waived. Whitcomb said it had not been.

Leadership Leaves: Deltona's city manager and deputy city manager resign within days of each other

No Charges: State attorney declines to pursue open meetings charges against 3 Deltona commissioners

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Deltona Mayor Santiago Avila denies special treatment for home rental
One of two newly redrawn State House districts centered in Macon-Bibb County has its first, and for now only, candidate  Tangie Herring, a Democrat.

Herring had been gearing up for a primary challenge against House Minority Leader James Beverly before the court mandated redistricting by the General Assembly near the end of 2023, but the new maps approved by the court carve Herrings home in Macons Bealls Hill neighborhood out of Beverlys seat in House District 143.

During a press conference Wednesday, Herring said shifting maps have not deterred her from seeking office.

Regardless of the district, I am in this race to represent the people of Middle Georgia, she said in prepared comments.

Meanwhile, like Herring, Republican Robert Dickey has seen the maps shift underneath him, too.

The Crawford County resident has been drawn out of House District 145 which now sheds parts of Peach County, Crawford County and Houston County. That leaves HD 145, newly focused on western Bibb County and southern Monroe County, with no incumbent.

Its also where Herring, a Macon native who spent 28 years working in the Atlanta Public School system, now lives.

Herring said the wide-open HD 145 presents a new opportunity to elevate the concerns of Middle Georgia under the Gold Dome.

I know that education is important, she said. I know mental health is important for a lot of people. I know that public safety is important. But I want to really hear from the people to see what they want in their representative.

With no Republican, or even another Democrat, yet challenging her, election day for HD 145 could be during the general primary on May 21.
Iowa's Democratic legislative leaders expressed condolences for families in Perry following a school shooting and laid out their vision for the state at a legislative forum Thursday.

Senate Minority Leader Pam Jochum, D-Dubuque, and House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst, D-Windsor Heights, took questions from reporters during the hourlong forum, which took place at the Iowa Capitol and was hosted by the Iowa Capitol Press Association.

The top Republicans in the Iowa Legislature, Senate Majority Jack Whitver, R-Grimes, and House Speaker Pat Grassley, R-New Hartford, were invited to speak at the forum but declined to participate or send another Republican lawmaker to speak in their place.

Iowa Senate Minority Leader Pam Jochum, D-Dubuque, and House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst, D-Windsor Heights, take questions from reporters at a legislative forum hosted by the Iowa Capitol Press Association on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024.

'Our hearts go out to the families': Lawmakers express condolences after Perry shooting

Jochum opened her remarks at the forum shortly after 9 a.m. Thursday by addressing the Perry High School shooting that killed one student and wounded five other people.

"I want to start by just extending condolences to those in Perry, Iowa," Jochum said. "I know that we are still waiting for more details on what happened there, but I think I can speak for all the Democrats and actually everybody in the state of Iowa that our hearts go out to the families, whatever has occurred there. And we will wait for more detail on that as well."

Konfrst said she didn't want to discuss suggestions for gun policy changes in Iowa without knowing more about what happened in Perry.

"Its fair to say that at this point we dont know whats happening in Perry, and so we dont know what the impact of legislation in this state or gun policy in this state is on what happened in Perry," she said at the forum. "So right now were focused on monitoring whats happening there and Id rather keep the students and the faculty and the families as the focus right now on the Perry incident until we know what happened."

More: Sixth grade student killed in Perry school shooting; five other victims shot

On Thursday afternoon, police said the suspect, 17-year-old Dylan Baker, a Perry High School student, fatally shot a sixth-grader and shot and wounded five others at the high school before dying of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

In a Thursday afternoon statement, Konfrst said "my heart goes out" to the family of the sixth-grader who was killed and to the families of the others who were injured.

"We are all shaken and devastated by what happened this morning," she said in the statement. "It will take time to heal, and we will support the entire Perry community in whatever way possible."

"Gun violence has become far too common in our country today," Konfrst added. "When the investigation is complete, its our job as state lawmakers to do all we can to prevent mass shootings like this from happening again."

Democrats say tax cuts aren't the solution to every problem and call for child care, housing aid

Republicans have said they intend to speed up the implementation of a phased-in income tax cut that will bring Iowa to a flat tax of 3.9% by 2026.

Iowa ended the last fiscal year with a $1.83 billion budget surplus, as well as $902 million in reserve funds and $2.74 billion in the Taxpayer Relief Fund, which may be used only to reduce taxes. Republicans have pointed to the surpluses as evidence that there is room to further reduce taxes.

More: Tax cuts, special ed audit, birth control access. What to watch in the 2024 Iowa Legislature

Konfrst said House Democrats will be proposing bills to help Iowans with child care and housing costs and to make sure lower-income families benefit from tax cuts. She said half a million Iowans won't see a benefit from the 2022 flat tax as it phases in.

"Were tired of the idea that for every problem in the state theres a solution thats a tax cut," Konfrst said. "There are problems facing this state, there are issues facing this state and it seems that the Republicans are often quite willing to cut taxes for special interests and the wealthiest Iowans while leaving 500,000 Iowans behind without really looking at the real problems the state is facing."

Jochum said families in Iowa who earn more than $1 million per year will see a tax break of $1,300 a week from the flat tax.

"An Iowan who has a $40,000 a year taxable income will see little or nothing," she said. "And if theres any group of people that need to see a tax break it should be those who are earning less than $100,000 a year. And thats not what weve seen."

Democrats call Area Education Agencies 'invaluable' for students with disabilities

The Democratic leaders said Republicans need to move cautiously with potential changes to the state's Area Education Agencies, which provide services to students with disabilities.

The AEAs help to identify young children with special needs and provide them with extra support before they enter school. School-age children can also access additional services through the AEAs, including speech therapy, physical therapy and behavioral and academic counseling.

More: Poll worker training a priority for Iowa secretary of state heading into 2024 election

Gov. Kim Reynolds said she intends to pursue a "comprehensive review" of AEA services in the state, which she said would improve student outcomes. She said on social media that she has "no intention of closing AEAs."

Jochum said she saw firsthand how important the AEAs were when they provided services to her daughter, Sarah, who was born with a severe intellectual disability.

She called the AEAs "invaluable to tens of thousands of families and children in Iowa."

"I would hope that the governor and the Republicans will move very cautiously on this issue," she said. "Because this is one mother thats going to stand up pretty strong on fighting back if they try to make anything dramatic."

Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on Twitter at @sgrubermiller.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa Democratic lawmakers lay out vision on taxes, education in forum
House Democrats are urging Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to recuse himself from any decisions related to former President Donald Trumps place on Colorado state primary ballots  a case the high court could soon take up.

Your impartiality is reasonably questioned by substantial numbers of fair-minded members of the public, a group of eight lawmakers told Thomas in a three-page letter Thursday.

Colorados Supreme Court ruled last month that Trump could not legally appear on state primary ballots due to his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Trump appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this week. At least four of the nine justices must agree for the case to be added to the courts docket.

The group of voters who sued to keep Trump off the ballot also asked the high court to weigh in, as did the Colorado Republican Party.

Led by Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), the ranking member of the House judiciary committees subcommittee on the federal courts, the House lawmakers reminded Thomas about the Supreme Courts new code of conduct, which was agreed upon by the justices amid public pressure to assure their impartiality  in large part due to a string of alarming reports about Thomas own conduct.

The two-month-old code specifically states that justices should disqualify themselves in situations where their spouse has a financial interest in the subject matter in controversy or in a party to the proceeding.

Thomas wife, conservative activist Virginia Ginni Thomas, has campaigned fervently to keep Trump in office by pushing disproven claims about election fraud.

Her for-profit consultancy firm is clearly aligned with Mr. Trumps interests, the House Democrats wrote.

Ginni Thomas even helped plan and attended Trumps Jan. 6, 2021, rally before the crowd turned their sights on the U.S. Capitol. It was this violent event that the Colorado Supreme Court deemed an insurrection, disqualifying Trump from appearing on the ballot.

It is unthinkable that you could be impartial in deciding whether an event your wife personally organized qualifies as an insurrection that would prevent someone from holding the office of President, the lawmakers wrote Thursday.

You have a financial stake in the outcome of this case, which disqualifies you from any involvement in it, they told Thomas.

Last month, congressional Democrats similarly urged the justice to recuse himself from decisions involving Trumps claim of immunity from federal prosecution.

Thomas has given no indication he would do so. The Supreme Court denied a request from federal prosecutors to settle Trumps immunity argument extra quickly, but the order did not attach names to the decision.

On social media, Johnson got right to the point.

Ill say it once again, he wrote on the platform formerly known as Twitter. If SCOTUS wants to show the American people that its two-month-old Code of Conduct is worth more than the paper it is written on, Thomas must do the honorable thing and RECUSE himself  immunity & ballot cases.

Related...
Deputies with the Hays County sheriff's office shot and killed a man in Buda on Friday morning, authorities said.

A press release sent by the sheriff's office stated that officials received a 911 call just before 8 a.m. about a man attempting to kick in the front door of a home in the 100 block of Hunter Creek Cove. The 911 caller told law enforcement that the person was their daughter's ex-boyfriend and that he was holding two knives.

Once deputies arrived, they saw a male with a knife in each hand and told him to drop the weapons. Two of the deputies then shot the person  whose name and age were not released  because he "would not comply," according to the press release.

Law enforcement officers investigate the scene where Hays County sheriffs deputies shot and killed a person Friday morning on Hunter Creek Cove in Buda. The person was reportedly carrying two knives.

The man died at the scene, the release said.

Both deputies were placed on administrative leave and a criminal investigation is underway with assistance from the Texas Rangers, according to the sheriff's office.

Deputy Alyssa Marley, a public information officer with the sheriff's office, told the American-Statesman via email that a press conference would not be taking place and that the office would not make anyone available for an interview.

The Statesman sent a list of questions via email to the sheriff's office related to the moments leading up to the shooting, the name of the person shot and other relevant details such as whether the male was an adult. In response, the sheriff's office said that "its an active investigation. Should more info become available and a press conference scheduled, media will be invited."

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Hays County deputies shoot, kill male who was holding knives in Buda
Emotions ran high as Orange County deputies packed into a courtroom Thursday for the sentencing of a man convicted of Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer with a deadly weapon.

Deputies took the stand urging an Orange County judge not to let 40-year-old Avery Williams off too lightly.

He was ultimately sentenced to 30 years behind bars.

Deputies said Williams shot at his brother and attacked a pregnant woman before trying to shoot them in December of 2021.

I dont believe in judging people by their past, however in this case I would say that Williams is clearly unwilling to learn from his mistakes, said Orange County Deputy Alexandra Pearce.

Pearce testified that she shot at Williams after getting called to an attempted murder scene where Williams ran away and then turned a gun on her.

The trial revealed Williams never actually shot at officers, but experts testified that was only because his gun had malfunctioned.

Read: Records show: OnePULSE foundation dissolves, unable to pay off all debt

I remember seeing the firearm in his hand and he pointed it directly at me. And all I could think in that moment is I dont want to die. It was a terrible moment to have to choose between my life and someone elses, said Pearce.

Pearce went on to detail the trauma that followed the incident.

Another deputy also submitted a written impact statement that shared how the incident led him to have suicidal thoughts.

Orange County Sheriff John Mina made a rare court appearance for the sentencing as well and spoke only to Channel 9 about the judges sentencing decision.

Hes a repeat violent offender, a habitual felony offender and someone who obviously has been given multiple chances to conform to society and refuses, said Mina.

Read: Judge hits juror who lied, caused mistrial with max sentence

Mina praised his deputies who took the stand and ultimately said he was pleased with the judges decision.

He had previously been vocal against a plea deal offered to Williams in November of 2022 that would have sentenced Williams to 15 years.

Mina argued Williams was a danger to our society and that wasnt enough time for the crimes he committed and his felony history.

Prosecutors Thursday also made that argument to a judge, pointing out 6 prior criminal cases where Williams was charged with felonies ranging from Aggravated assault to Grand Theft in various Florida counties.

The fact that he was willing to shoot at sworn law enforcement officers means he was going to shoot at anyone.

Read: Man arrested in connection with deadly Christmas Day shooting at hookah bar near Kissimmee

He had just been released months prior for pointing a firearm at someone else, said Mina.

During his sentencing, Williams did apologize for what happened and the effects it had on everybody involved before a judge officially sentenced him.

Williams was found guilty at trial by jury for two counts of Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer with a Firearm on Sept. 20.

He previously pled guilty to one count of Possession of a Firearm by Convicted Felon.

The Orange County Judge sentenced Williams to 30 years in jail.

He would need to serve at least 15 years before becoming eligible for parole.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Mariana Bezuhla, an MP from the ruling Servant of the People party, has been removed from the position of Deputy Head of the parliamentary Committee on National Security, a source told NV on Jan. 5.

Reportedly, the decision was unanimous by the members of the committee, but will have to be confirmed by at least 226 MPs.

No details regarding possible reasons for such a decision have been received so far.

People in crucial roles in the Verkhovna Rada must bolster our standing in political and informational arenas, Vadym Ivchenko, a lawmaker from the opposition Batkivshchyna party, said on Jan. 5.

Dear Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence, decisions can only be made by voting in the hall, Bezuhla responded on Facebook.

Workaholics, love you :) Special thanks to (MP Oleksandr) Zavitnevich for initiating such a recommendation. Boss.

Read also: Parliament begins review of new conscription law with top military leadership in attendance

This development comes after Bezuhla said that Ukraines military leadership must go due to the absence of a clear plan for 2024.

On Nov. 7, MP Volodymyr Ariev, citing a reliable source, released information claiming that Defense Minister Rustem Umerov had purportedly submitted a request to the Supreme Commander-in-Chief (Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy) for the dismissal of Ukraines top general, Valerii Zaluzhnyi.

Russian channels quickly amplified Arievs post. Later, Ariev retracted the statement, citing many other sources that, according to him, contradicted the claims of the initial source.

On the same day, Umerov denounced Arievs statement on Facebook as disinformation. Umerov said that, unscrupulous politicians today are attempting to divide Ukrainian society, likening these actions to those of Russian propagandists.

In an earlier series of articles in UK news magazine The Economist, General Zaluzhnyi warned that the war might transition into an arduous positional phase for Ukraine. Subsequently, the Presidents Office issued several statements indirectly refuting the generals assertions.

Information surfaced on Nov. 3, regarding the dismissal of Special Operations Forces Commander Viktor Khorenko without the knowledge of Khorenko and Zaluzhnyi. The Presidents Office clarified that Umerov had submitted a dismissal request for the commander in accordance with the law.

Read also: Objective component of war: Zaluzhnyi and Umerov comment on increased mobilization at Parliament Committee

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
Los Angeles' The Broad museum celebrates the summer with an avant-garde helping of sound, art and performance. "Nonobject(ive): Summer Happenings at the Broad" presents a series of art showings steeped in a progressive movement of creativity.

The intention for the string of events is to enliven various artworks stationed at the Broad with an invigorating combination of unique music and and dance recitals, forward-thinking original installations and an otherworld artistic ambience.

"Nonobject(ive)" runs all summer long, wrapping up in September. In addition to indoor exhibitions, many of the nighttime events will occur in the Broad's outdoor courtyard, incorporating the dusky Los Angeles twilight into the artistic theme.

The Los Angeles Times reports on the Broad's upcoming summer shenanigans:

"A monthly string of summer happenings at the downtown institution pairs young sonic innovators with creators working in dance, video and performance art. The newly announced series is a prominent addition to summer music offerings coming out of the region's art museums."

The series begins on June 25. One unique highlight of the various showings will be former pianist and guitarist of indie rock band Vampire Weekend, Rostam Batmanglij, in an Aug. 20 performance with electronic musician Jerrilynn Patton. Batmanglij recently quit Vampire Weekend and relocated to LA. Musicians Preston Wendel and William Basinski present their Sparkle Division suite the same night.

Time Out LA champions the string of art occurrences as an imaginative festivity:

"Spend a late night at the Broad during its first after-hours programming series, which finds musicians, dancers and poets collaborating in the museum's outdoor plaza as well as in gallery spaces."

The art series takes its title from 1960s American pop artist Roy Lichtenstein's like-wised named, Mondrian-esque painting, Non-Objective I.

For more information on "Nonobject(ive)," visit www.thebroad.org.

Below, get a taste of sound artist Tim Hecker's 2011 experimental noise mix as an installation at the Broad, Really Eternal Music.

We want to hear from you. Let us know if you plan on attending one of the Broads Nonobject(ive) performances in the comments section.

 2024 Classicalite All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Derek Draper, who has died aged 56 after suffering prolonged complications from Covid-19, was a buccaneering back-room boy-turned lobbyist during the New Labour governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

In later life he married the popular Good Morning Britain presenter Kate Garraway and trained as a psychotherapist, putting behind him the unbalanced, stressed-out, empty existence that he had led in Westminster. But the controversy that had dogged his name in his political days faded away after Draper became seriously ill with Covid in March 2020.

Admitted to an intensive care unit and put into an induced coma, he remained in hospital for more than a year. The virus inflicted long-lasting damage to his organs and after his release from hospital he needed round-the-clock care.

His plight, and that of his wife and two teenage children, evoked considerable public sympathy, particularly after the airing in 2021 of an ITV documentary, Finding Derek, in which with unflinching candour Kate Garraway allowed television cameras to record the life-changing effects of severe Covid on Draper, as well as on some other patients, and her fears about the future.

Draper with his children Darcey and William on Good Morning Britain in 2019 - Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock

Derek is probably the cleverest person Ive ever met, she says in Finding Derek. Is he going to be alive but no longer the same person? Am I grieving for the man I married? Or fighting to hold on to him when I should be trying to adjust?

Later she concludes that it may be a rather beautiful thing, as the couple might have to fall in love all over again.

A follow-up was released a year later, Kate Garraway: Caring for Derek, charting how family life had changed since Draper returned home to continue his recovery, in a house specially adapted with ramps and widened doorways. She also published a bestselling book, The Power of Hope.

Derek Draper originally came to the attention of Westminster-watchers as an aide to Peter Mandelson in the early 1990s and, from 1996, as a director of the lobbying company GPC Market Access. Colourful and brash, he drove a vintage Mercedes and was an enthusiastic, champagne-swilling frequenter of private members clubs. He also had a reputation for never understating his own role in British politics.

My message was quite simple, really, he recalled in 2005. Im rich and a bit of a w----r; who cares; you can still be that and be Labour.

Draper in his lobbying days, 1998 - Andrew Crowley

For an undercover journalist equipped with a tape recorder he was a sitting duck. In August 1998 a reporter for The Observer claiming to represent clients from the American energy industry wanting to seek exemptions from pollution rules, approached Draper asking for help.

In remarkable exchanges, Draper boasted that he had passed inside information about Gordon Browns spending plans to an American bank; that he had wangled a seat for a leading businessman on a government task force, and that a 60,000-a-year weekly column he wrote in the Daily Express was vetted by Mandelson, then Minister without Portfolio.

He went on to disparage various ministers before offering to go to Liz Lloyd, one of my best friends, who had been put in charge of the environment in the Downing Street policy unit by Tony Blair.

There are 17 people who count in this government, Draper said, and to say I am intimate with all of them is the understatement of the century. Digging himself into the mire ever more deeply, he explained his motivation: I just want to stuff my bank account at 250 an hour.

What became known as the Lobbygate scandal cost Draper his Express column, his editorship of the New Labour magazine Progress, and his lobbying job.

The episode was also deeply embarrassing for Blair, seen as evidence that his creation, New Labour, was not a party but an incestuous clique.

The scandal caused Draper to suffer a full-blown nervous breakdown. A few years later he trained as a psychotherapist in California, returning to London to establish a practice  so successfully that in 2007 he was joint winner of the Mind journalist of the year award for a feature on depression.

In 2005, by which time he had taken to referring to the 1990s as his idiot years, he married the GMTV presenter Kate Garraway in a wedding featured in OK! magazine.

Drapers demons, however, had not been completely slain, as became clear in 2009 when he was caught up in another scandal.

In the summer of 2008, with Gordon Brown in No 10 and Labour fortunes at a low ebb, Draper was approached by Ray (now Lord) Collins, the partys new general secretary, and agreed to help prepare for the forthcoming general election.

Many expressed reservations, pointing out that in the 2005 election Draper had urged people to vote tactically against Labour. But Lord (Roy) Hattersley, an old friend, was one who felt confident that Draper was now a changed man. Hes got older, is more measured He will be an asset to the party.

Draper with Kate Garraway and Damian McBride at a launch for his book Life Support: A Survival Guide for the Modern Soul in 2009 - Alan Davidson

In a presentation at Labour HQ Draper proposed setting up a website that could target the Tories and counter Right-wing bloggers such as Guido Fawkes. In February 2009 he launched LabourList, a website where people can find out about the party, declaring: My return to politics seems to be going well so far.

On April 11, however, The Daily Telegraph reported that Gordon Browns Director of Strategy, Damian McBride, had sent a series of emails from the Downing Street Press office to Draper discussing plans to post false rumours about the private lives of senior members of the Conservative Party on a blog to be called Red Rag.

These included challenging David Cameron, the Conservative leader, to come clean about an embarrassing illness and putting the fear of God into George Osborne, the shadow chancellor, by spreading false rumours that he had taken drugs and had sex with a prostitute. These are absolutely totally brilliant, Draper replied.

The two men initially tried to brazen it out, dismissing the exchange as ill-judged gossip between friends which was never meant to see the light of day. Draper claimed that he had only responded to McBrides email to gain favour from Downing Street for LabourList.

But it soon became apparent that their plans were much more fully developed when it emerged that Red Rag had been set up in November 2008  the same day as Draper had made his presentation at Labour HQ.

McBride resigned; 10 Downing Street issued an apology for the juvenile and inappropriate emails; Gordon Brown sent personal letters to those who had been traduced, expressing his regret, and eventually bowed to pressure to make a rare public apology. In May, Draper yielded to pressure to resign from LabourList.

Draper as a young political consultant, 1997 - Tony Buckingham

Around the time the scandal broke, Draper published a self-help book entitled Life Support: A Survival Guide for the Modern Soul. In our very worst moments, when we knowingly lie to steal an advantage, we may even secretly glory in our mendacity, he wrote. More usually, though, we try to bury the memory of the deed, or distract ourselves from the guilt, because its too uncomfortable to live with the lie.

Derek William Draper was born on August 15 1967 at Chorley in Lancashire. His mother was a cleaner and his father a British Leyland shop steward. From Southlands High School, Chorley, and Runshaw College, Leyland, he went to Manchester University to read Economics.

There he threw himself into student politics, waging war on the Trotskyites who controlled the student union, and, after graduation, worked his way on to the executive.

With Kate Garraway before she appeared on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! - James Gourley/ITV/Shutterstock

One day, however, infuriated by an article in a student newspaper that was critical of him, he broke into the newspapers office and poured paint over the offending publication. As a result he was kicked off the union executive, though he later claimed to have been jettisoned for sleeping with the Lesbian Liberation Officer.

He began his political career in 1990 when he moved to Newcastle to work as constituency assistant to Nick Brown (later Labours Chief Whip). Through Brown he met Mandelson, moving to London after Mandelson entered Parliament in 1992 as MP for Hartlepool.

As Draper moved into the world of lobbyists, his reputation as a chancer grew. In 1997 he published Blairs 100 Days, a gushing account of the early months of his premiership. Many of those quoted in the book protested that the quotes attributed to them were made up, and when a BBC political correspondent approached Draper at a party and whispered a rumour going around that he had not actually written it, Draper replied: Write it? I havent even read it.

Following the Lobbygate debacle, the former editor of The Sun, Kelvin MacKenzie, gave Draper a political show to present on Talk Radio, but it was short-lived. On a weekend break in Amsterdam, Draper put in a call to the stations James Whale Show from a Jacuzzi in a brothel. He was promptly sacked again. In 2001 he left Britain to train as a psychotherapist at the Wright Institute of California, a graduate school in Berkeley.

Back in England, he set up in private practice as a psychotherapist, describing himself as experienced at treating emotional and psychological issues including: self-esteem, personal development, depression, anxiety, addictions, self-harm, personality problems and family and relationship concerns. In 2009 he took a second MA in the Foundations of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy from the Tavistock Centre.

A member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, he wrote occasional columns for The Mail on Sunday on psychotherapy issues and also for specialist magazines.

In May 2019 Draper announced he had resigned his Labour Party membership. The following year he contracted Covid-19, and in December 2023 Kate Garraway announced that he had suffered a heart attack and returned to hospital.

Interviewed by Celia Walden in the Telegraph in 2021, when Kate Garraway was caring for Draper at home, she said:  I feel like I understand so much more about Derek, like I Love him more? Oh God. I didnt think it was possible, but I really do And now I would give everything I own to hear him being really loud and shouty and full of opinions, ruffling feathers in the way that he used to. 

Derek Draper is survived by his wife and their son and daughter.

Derek Draper, born August 15 1967, died January 5 2024

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Its that time again. The Florida Legislatures 2024 session begins on Jan. 9, and lawmakers have been meeting for months to line up an agenda that includes weakening child labor laws, expanding the states healthcare workforce, continuing to attack LGBTQ people and public schools and figuring out how to rein in artificial intelligence. (Good luck with that one.)

But the big question hanging over this years lawmaking session will be the role of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Last year, the session was essentially a coronation for presidential hopeful DeSantis, touted back then as Republicans strongest hope to derail Donald Trump after his attempt to overthrow the 2020 election. The Legislature last year served mostly as a rubber stamp for DeSantis. In those heady days, after his 2022 reelection by a 20-point margin, he was dubbed DeFuture in a New York Post headline.

This time around, though, the 2024 session could be mighty awkward for both the governor and the Republican Legislature. In the first few weeks of the session, Republicans in both Iowa and New Hampshire will be choosing a nominee for president. Will those votes end DeSantis White House bid? He has staked nearly his entire campaign on Iowa. And yet polls continue to show him fighting with former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley for a distant second place, with Trump way out ahead.

State lawmakers, whose futures often rely on aligning themselves with those in power, are no doubt watching closely. They may well face the question in just a few weeks of how much they need to listen to a term-limited governor whose presidential ambitions were thwarted.

DeSantis was angry enough before  just ask Disney. And hell have three more years in office, through 2026. What kind of damage could he do to the state in that time? Will he be able to wield the same force, or something close to it?

In politics, if theres a vacuum of power, someone will fill it. DeSantis has already been absent for important committee meetings held in Tallahassee before the session, the ones lawmakers use to hammer out which bills to focus on and what the years legislative priorities will be.

The governor did release his proposed budget in December, offering some ideas of his focus for Florida in 2024. It included tax breaks on hot-button items like property insurance policies, more money for Everglades restoration, $10 million for security at houses of worship and other gathering places threatened by antisemitism and more money for teachers and to handle the demand for school vouchers. He also asks lawmakers for another $5 million to continue his controversial migrant relocation efforts.

Iowa caucuses

But his main focus in the last few months? Theres no question about it: Iowa.

Republicans, of course, will spin this sticky situation as no big deal. The governor is as strong as ever with the Legislature, so whats happening nationally will have no impact here, Sarasota Sen. Joe Gruters, former chair of the Florida Republican Party and a Trump supporter, insisted to the Orlando Sentinel.

That sounds a lot like wishful thinking. House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell of Tampa was probably closer to the truth when she said a presidential defeat for DeSantis may embolden the Florida GOP to not be so lockstep with him.

If polling is an indication, the governor really might have a hard time reasserting himself. In a Mainstreet Research and Florida Atlantic University poll last fall, about half of those surveyed  49%  disapproved of the way he is handling his job as governor, up from 43% earlier in the year.

As governor, DeSantis would retain his power to veto legislation, which could be a useful cudgel to force lawmakers into submission. And, with so much time left in his term, perhaps he would be able to carve out a role as a chief spokesman for Republicans. Hes certainly familiar to Fox News viewers.

Theres no doubt DeSantis, if defeated in the presidential primary, will still carry a lot of weight among Florida lawmakers and voters. But will it be a return to 2023? Highly doubtful. And that would be a good thing for the people, who deserve a robust debate in government, not a government run by one man.

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said the Jan. 6 rioters did not display patriotism, responding to a question from by an Iowa voter during a town hall Thursday.

Did the Jan. 6 insurrectionists display patriotism, as some of them claim they did? the voter asked at a CNN town hall in Iowa.

No, of course not. That was not a good day for the country, DeSantis responded. I think the media has taken that and the left has taken that and really tried to politicize it, but it was not a good day for the country.

Patriotism, to me, is when you put yourself out there and put service above self, the governor continued.

DeSantiss remarks come two days before the third anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, attacks on the Capitol. Jan. 6 has become a major part of President Bidens campaign message in particular. On Thursday, Bidens campaign rolled out its first ad of the year, zeroing in on Jan. 6, and the president is set to mark the anniversary Friday near Valley Forge, Pa.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) stayed on message Thursday when asked about immigration and gun reform during a presidential town hall in Iowa.

Responding to a question from an Iowa voter about how he would deal with school shootings without infringing on gun rights, DeSantis cited policies he implemented in Florida following the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.

I was charged with implementing reforms to be able to provide security for schools, the governor said. So weve done everything, like school resource officers, help with hardening, but also help identify students that are exhibiting really problematic behavior.

DeSantis also took an opportunity to criticize former President Trump over his failure to deliver on previous promises to end birthright citizenship.

All he had to do was put his John Hancock on a piece of paper, and he did not do it, DeSantis said. When I tell you Im going to do something, you can take it to the bank.

DeSantiss remarks come after a gunman opened fire at Perry High School in Dallas County, Iowa on Thursday, killing one student and injuring five other people. Police said the gunman died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to NBC News.

DeSantis avoided saying if he would support any federal gun control regulations Thursday when asked about the shooting and voiced support for local law enforcement.

Meanwhile, Republicans on Capitol Hill and the campaign trail have gone on the offense against President Biden for the flow of migrants over the southern border. Earlier this week, DeSantis wrote in a Des Moines Register op-ed that he would declare a border emergency on the first day of his presidency.

On day one of my presidency, I will declare a national emergency and shut down all illegal entries, he wrote. Phony asylum claims aimed at bypassing proper immigration processes will no longer be entertained.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
(Bloomberg) -- Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley used televised town halls in Iowa to attack Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump with less than two weeks to go before the state holds the first Republican presidential contest of 2024.

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Although they are competing for second place in the nomination contest, each largely ignored the other on Thursday night to single out the former president. They were far more critical, however, of President Joe Biden, particularly over migrants coming across the southern US border.

Haley said that when she was Trumps United Nations ambassador she told him he was his own worst enemy. Addressing his legal troubles, she said that if elected, she would pardon him were he convicted  for the good of the nation.

Its not about guilt or innocence, she remarked. I dont think our country will move forward with an 80-year-old president sitting in jail that allows our country to continue to be divided.

The town halls were broadcast back to back on CNN from Grand View University in Des Moines.

Going first, DeSantis portrayed the former president, on whom he had modeled himself while campaigning for Florida governor, as a candidate who failed to keep pledges made when he won the White House in 2016. He faulted Trumps position on issues such as immigration and abortion, suggesting he shouldnt be trusted now.

What Im saying is if youve run before, promised things, didnt deliver and then youre running on the same things, wouldnt it be reasonable to say, well gee, I dont know that I can take that to the bank going forward? DeSantis said. So yes, I think the fact that hes campaigning on something that does not mean that he would actually follow through on it.

He tried to cast both Trump and Haley, the former governor of South Carolina, who has been rising in the polls, as the wrong choices for Republican voters. Donald Trump is running for his issues. Nikki Haleys running for her donors issues. Im running for your issues, he said.

The governor, who has been characterized as rigid and humorless during the campaign, came across as amiable and sharp at the town hall.

Asked about her failure, at a recent town hall in New Hampshire, to cite slavery as the cause of the civil war, Haley tried to deflect criticism from DeSantis and another candidate, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.

I should have said slavery right off the bat, she said. But if you grow up in South Carolina, literally in second and third grade, you learn about slavery. You grow up and you have you know, I had Black friends growing up. It is a very talked about thing.

She went on to describe being part of the only Indian-American family in a rural South Carolina town.

Biden is also taking aim at Haley, with plans to speak in her home state on Monday at Mother Emanuel AME, the historic Black church in Charleston where a white supremacist killed nine people in 2015.

On Thursday night, Haley spoke of that tragedy and her efforts shortly afterward to ban the Confederate battle flag from the state house grounds.

DeSantis and Haley have escalated their rivalry as they seek to position themselves as the top challenger to Trump. DeSantis entered the race with that mantle last May but has slid in polls as Haley has surged, driven by her strong performances in GOP debates.

Trump, the Republican frontrunner nationally by a wide margin, leads DeSantis in the state by over 32 percentage points, according to the RealClearPolitics average of polls.

Earlier: Biden to Speak at Valley Forge, Black Church in 2024 Pivot

Much of DeSantis focus in recent weeks has been on Haley, who was Trumps United Nations ambassador. The RealClearPolitics average shows her now tied with DeSantis nationally. Haley is nearly neck-and-neck with him in Iowa and leads him in the next nominating state, New Hampshire, where she stands in second place behind only Trump.

Haleys campaign has increasingly tried to frame the GOP race as a two-person race between her and Trump. Haleys rise in the polls has brought her new interest from prominent Wall Street executives and deep-pocketed donors who are dismayed by the likelihood of a Trump rematch with Biden in November.

--With assistance from Jon Herskovitz.

(Updates and recasts.)

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More than three years after New York authorities sued the National Rifle Association and four of its current and former leaders, the trial will begin on Jan. 8, 2024.

In her complaint, New York Attorney General Letitia James alleges that outgoing NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre exploited the organization for his financial benefit, and the benefit of a close circle of NRA staff, board members, and vendors, ultimately diverting over US$63 million from legitimate uses.

And yet, the NRA had a 76-member board of directors, as well as a designated audit committee, which both had mandates to monitor the organizations financial health. By reviewing transactions involving the NRA and its leaders more skeptically, the board might have helped the NRA avert some of its current legal troubles.

Im a nonprofit law scholar. Together with Claire Hill, a University of Minnesota law professor, Ive explored one way nonprofits might theoretically avert debacles, both large and small, in the future. We believe nonprofit boards should require their members to take turns serving as designated contrarians. When its their turn for this role, board members would be responsible for asking critical questions and pushing for deeper debate about organizational decisions.

Board culture

State law in New York, where the NRA is chartered, tasks boards of directors with the ultimate oversight over nonprofits and their leaders.

Theyre responsible for everything from weighing in on strategies to advance the organizations mission to hiring and evaluating top executives and setting their salaries.

Directors arent supposed to manage a nonprofits everyday affairs. But they are supposed to be on the lookout for major problems and speak up if its resources are being wasted  or worse.

The NRAs board, like all nonprofit boards, had an obligation to detect the alleged wrongdoing and intervene to stop it.

Some NRA leaders did object to what they perceived as wasteful spending by the nonprofit and its leaders, according to James complaint. In some cases, concerned trustees resigned or were forced out.

But in general, it appears that NRA board members did little to oversee or restrain LaPierre, even when one top leader unsuccessfully sought big changes.

On Jan. 5, three days before the trial was scheduled to begin, LaPierre announced his resignation  effective Jan. 31. The 74-year-old NRA leader cited health reasons rather than board pressure for his exit from the organization he had led since 1991.

James responded to the news by promising that this move will not insulate [LaPierre] from accountability.

Wayne LaPierre was still calling the shots at the NRA until January 2024, long after serious allegations against him came to light. Jeremy Hogan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Too passive

Not every nonprofit board needs to rein in leaders squandering millions on personal travel and hundreds of thousands on bespoke suits, as LaPierre allegedly did. But its too easy for their members to be too passive.

That is, board members often fail to ask hard questions and challenge the organizations paid staff  especially when there are more than a dozen or so people serving as directors.

One reason for this is that nonprofit directors usually volunteer their time and dont get paid for their contributions. In fact, they often donate their own money to their organizations because they value their charitable missions.

The NRA strayed from this norm. The group was paying 18 of its board members when much of the alleged wrongdoing occurred.

Its only natural for nonprofit directors to presume that their colleagues on the board share their good intentions. Whats more, its natural to show deference in the presence of the executives leading the organization full time and the major donors upon whose generosity the group may depend.

No matter the context, many people will simply find it uncomfortable to rock the boat. Sometimes, overly passive and deferential boards turn into rubber stamps that fail to challenge sloppy bookkeeping or question unwise hires.

What should they do?

We propose that trustees take turns being a designated contrarian, temporarily becoming a devils advocate obliged to challenge proposed board actions.

To be clear, they wouldnt be naysayers out to block everything. They would instead ask probing questions and offer feedback on reports by executives and officers. They would also initiate critical discussions by challenging conventional wisdom.

The goal would be to encourage debate and reflection about the nonprofits decisions, slowing  or halting, if necessary  the approval of business as usual.

Board members might serve as the designated contrarian for only a few meetings. The duration of this role would probably depend on how big a given board is and how often it meets.

While this is primarily just a theory at this point, we anticipate that over time, as more and more directors have served as designated contrarians, boards will become more open to constructive dissent.

Rare examples among nonprofits

Although using designated contrarians is not yet a widely used practice, a few nonprofit boards may have already embraced this concept.

For example, Ive been told but have been unable to confirm that one major grantmakers investment committee tasks one of its members with challenging particular investment decisions.

This technique may have been gleaned from experiences in finance, where some fund managers rely on a devils advocate to test investment decisions, and at least one study found that this practice can improve outcomes.

Harvard Business Review has published guidelines recommending the designation of strategic dissenters, and experts from the McKinsey consulting firm cite the value of assigning devils advocates on high-functioning, for-profit boards.

Ive also heard about another unnamed nonprofit tasking a board member as a process observer. They were responsible for speaking up when their board was either overly passive or the opposite  micromanaging staff.

No sure thing

Of course, embracing a rotating contrarian alone would not be enough to convert the NRAs unusually large board into a lean and engaged governing body able to detect and prevent all of its alleged wrongdoing. And even for nonprofit boards in less dire circumstances, using rotating contrarians has its challenges.

Most serious among these is whether rotating contrarians will offer only inauthentic dissent, which studies show provides limited benefits. Serving a term as contrarian will not magically transform a passive and deferential person into someone who actively challenges dominant voices or forcefully advocates alternatives. And directors wearing the contrarian hat may be too easily discounted if others perceive them as merely mouthing their assigned lines.

To be sure, organizations that adopt this approach would need to be patient.

I doubt that they will be able to summon authentic dissent right away. And newly designated contrarians will be no match for long-standing organizational leaders willing to deceive their boards and punish dissenters.

But I do believe that once board members who have served as contrarians get the hang of articulating authentic dissent, they could begin to make the nonprofits that they oversee more accountable.

This article was updated on Jan. 5, 2024, with news of Wayne LaPierres resignation.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and analysis to help you make sense of our complex world.

It was written by: Dana Brakman Reiser, Brooklyn Law School.

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